BirchBox September: Beauty Protector Shampoo and Conditioner

I already have a shampoo that I am in love with, but I'm always happy to try something new! It helps that I adore Beauty Protector's UV Spray.

This shampoo and conditioner combo smelled just like that spray. Beachy, soft coconut. It smells like breezes on islands and summer memories. It's a gentle smell, not one that lingers all day, but enough to give me a little pep in the morning.

As far as product goes, these were all right. Nothing really amazing about them.

I feel like if you were to pair these up with a whole line of similar products, it might make a difference. But as stand alone products, they were just kind of meh. I didn't notice  a disitinct difference in my hair's texture or shine. Just clean and a little softer than when I don't use conditioner. Which makes sense.

Although I have to say, for the price tag of $22 a pop, I'd look for something a little more sensational.

Nice try, Beauty Protector, but not for me.

August Birchbox 2013: uniqONE All In One Hair Treatment

This is a product genre that I'm starting to get tired of. 

Just for reference, I usually don't mess with my hair. I let it air dry. I don't blow dry it. I don't add any product. I just let it do its thing so I don't end up looking like a disaster. 

So when I saw ANOTHER hair treatment in my box, I sighed a little. Another product to cramp up my counter until I give it to my best friend. Figures.

Aaaaand another BB picture because of camera issues.

Over all, though, this isn't a bad product. 

It smells alright, but the smell fades quickly. I'm fine with that. I don't necessarily want to catch huge whiffs of floral smell all day. It was just pleasant enough that I didn't mind using it. Sweet, but not girly. Fragrant, but not overpowering. 

This was also very easy to apply. Unlike some issues I've encountered with similar bottles, this created a fine, even mist that didn't leave clumps of shine in my hair. It combed out easily and thoroughly, leaving every hair protected.

The hair treatment also left my hair feeling soft and silky, as promised. My hair didn't dry out when I hit it with my blow dryer. It stayed shiny and soft all day. However, once I stepped outside, the Southern humidity took its toll and I had frizzies like you wouldn't believe. 

In the end, this isn't a terrible product. It's just not one I'm going to use. I don't style my hair enough to use something like this every day. 

Time to shuck it off on a friend!

Thanks for reading. 

May Birchbox 2013: Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask

I’m a huge fan of hair masks. I feel like they’re great for when I have a day off and want to make myself feel awesome. I’ll thrown on a face mask, a hair mask, and watch some Lost Girl. Maybe wash my makeup brushes or something like that while I’m relaxing.

                                 

Not to mention, most of the hair masks I’ve tried lately have been awesome. There were some duds, but the macadamia oil mask? Glorious. I’m still using that sample of macadamia oil treatment and it always makes my hair look like I just stepped away from a photoshoot.

So when I saw a hair mask in my box, I was super excited. I was already planning a spa day at home!

In the end, though, this mask was kind of a let down.

I felt like it was just a hyped up conditioner. I didn’t notice as much of a difference with this as I did with my other masks.

Sure, it made my hair soft and smooth, but no more so than the Suave Naturals that I have sitting in my shower. It smelled nice, but that smell didn’t last long at all.

About the only good thing about this product was the adorable packaging.

I honestly don’t think I could shell out so much money for this product when I can just buy a super high quality conditioner that does the same thing.

It’s a shame, but I think this Birchbox was my biggest let down thus far. The Coola sunscreen was good, the Sumita eyeliner was decent. The Runa tea (which isn’t getting its own dedicated post) was delicious and pumped me up. But the Marvis toothpaste and the Amika mask were both a little on the underwhelming side. Hopefully my next box will be better.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Serge Normant Meta Revive Volumizing Dry Shampoo

This product was provided to me by my friend Patricia.

Patricia received this product from Birchbox, but since I didn't get it in my Birchbox, I'm reviewing it like any other product. 

First off, I don't normally use dry shampoos. I already wash my hair only every other day, so I never felt the need. But then, to test this product, I waited a third day. I was in a hurry before leaving for work, so I read some quick directions online and then went to town. 

Note: A little goes a very long way. I barely sprayed any into my hair and I got results. I also didn't hold down the nozzle. I spritzed it, almost. Little bursts was all I needed. And the results were great!

Now remember, this is day three of not washing my hair. Prior to this, my hair was greasy and stringy and awful. I didn't even take a picture because it looked so icky. In fact, it was so bad, I didn't think anything could help. After all, I touch my hair pretty often throughout the day, so by day three, my hair is pretty gross. 

But at work, when I told people that it was third day hair, no one believed me. They all thought I had washed my hair that morning. I didn't get any greasiness until later that night, when I finally pulled my hair out of its pony tail and brushed it through. And even then, I thought that it was more like the middle of day two. 

Also, this stuff smells amazing! It's woodsy and clean, and the cedar is a nice touch. It's not perfumey or anything. It hangs around, but it's not overpowering. 

As far as volume goes, I did notice a little bit of lift. My hair certainly wasn't as dead as it normally is on day two/three. But that could also be because they recommend you comb your hair upside down to work the powder through. 

Overall, this is a fantastic product that I see myself using a lot. It's great for when I'm running late and don't have time for a full shower. I can throw this in, comb it through, and then shower when I get home from work. 

Thanks for reading!

April Birchbox: Number 4 Blow Dry Lotion

First and foremost, I really don’t blow dry my hair that often. Maybe once in a blue moon. I usually just let my hair dry naturally, since that seems to be what makes it happiest. Not to mention, blow drying often can really damage hair, and mine is finicky enough without assistance.

So when I received this product in my Birchbox, I was pretty ambivalent. I knew it probably wouldn’t end up being purchased simply because I have no need for a blow dry lotion.

But I used it. And reviewed it. For you guys. (You’re welcome.)

And really, I’m glad I wasn’t too excited about it. I think I might have used too much, but even on the side where my hair soaked it in fine, it wasn’t impressive. My hair wasn’t shinier or healthier looking, and it didn’t seem to make the style stick anymore than usual.

On the side where I accidentally put too much in…well…My hair was mostly dried and I had to rinse it out in the sink because it was like wearing a helmet. A sticky, oily looking helmet.

Even after rinsing it out, my hair was kind of tacky all day. It certainly made my hair stay in place, but it worked almost like the hair putty that I have for costuming.

Overall, it just wasn’t a pleasant experience. Maybe if I used it properly, but even then I don’t think I would get the results I was looking forward to. Still, it was nice to try! And it also established BeautyProtector as my  number one hair product for blow drying.

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: F is for Folicure

This post is for my husband, since this is one of his products.

This is one of the products I picked up at Sally's out of necessity. 

You see, my husband has wonderful hair. It's relatively thick, grows lightning fast, and is adorably curly. Unfortunately  he also sheds more than my cat. We have spent so much money on drain cleaners because his hair falls out all of the time. And not just a hair here or there. I'm talking, you could make a pet of his hair. 

So when I saw this, I figured it might help. It's supposed to be for thinning hair, which he has a little bit of a problem with, but I was hoping it would cure his shedding problem.

Unfortunately, this was $7 down the drain. I don't know if it's because we only bought the conditioner and not the shampoo (he's hooked on Herbal Essences), or if it's just a waste of money. 

Either way, the shedding hasn't stopped or let up seemingly at all. Not to mention, this stuff smells dreadful. Like a chemical bath at a hospital. 

If anyone knows of any products that actually help with thinning hair (besides Rogaine, his pride won't let him use that), let me know in the comments! I would absolutely love to not find man hair all over the bathroom every day. 

Thanks for reading!

A to Z: D is for Dermorganic

This shampoo changed my life. And I'm not really exaggerating.

Look at that long list of goodness!

This is an all natural shampoo that trumps all of the other fancy shampoos I've tried. And my favorite part? It's dirt cheap online.

Dermorganic was recommended to me by an online friend, and I have to say that I am so happy that I gave it a shot. 

The formula is a little creamy, but the exciting thing is that even though it's SLS free, it still foams up! Not as heavily as you might expect, but the more water you add, the better it gets. Also good news: A little goes a long way. I've had this liter size bottle for a little over 8 months.

After using this shampoo, my hair has gotten less brittle, I don't have to wash it as often, and my hair is constantly shiny, silk, and beautiful. The argan oil really helps keep hair moisturized, but because it's argan oil, it doesn't make your hair greasy or slimy. Similar to the macadmia oil I reviewed a few weeks ago. 

One thing to note: This stuff doesn't necessarily smell wonderful. It's kind of an all natural, astringent-ish kind of smell. Luckily, it isn't strong at all and the smell fades the instant you step out of the shower. That way you won't have the weird "smell cocktail" if you use other products in your hair. 

This shampoo really does change the game as far as all natural shampoos go, and I wish more people knew about it. It's one of the things I'm most glad to have introduced into my routine. It's repairing years of mistreatment for my hair. It making my hair absolutely a delight to work with. And I can feel good knowing that this stuff is good my body chemistry AND good for the environment.

Knowing that you don't have to compromise is a very good thing indeed.

Thanks for reading!

A little late to the game: A to Z challenge!

This is for the A to Z challenge. I didn't make the original sign up because I'm a little slow on the uptake, a little nervous to try new things, but on of my friends encouraged me, so here we go!

A is for Avocados! 

Wait, what? Isn't this a beauty blog? 

Why, indeed it is. And now...I'm going to share with you the ultimate DIY hair and face masque that has saved me time and time again. 

It's really simple, actually. I discovered it when I was going through my fridge and needed to clear out some stuff. I remembered the beauty benefits of each of the ingredients and thought that they might work well together. And lo and behold, they did!

Mash one avocado with two to three tablespoons honey, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and two egg yolks. 

Mix together until a thick paste is formed. 

Work the mixture into your roots and scalps, then comb through the rest of your hair. If you have really bad split ends, work a little into the tips of your hair to give them a quick boost of nourishment. 

You can also use this as a purifying face mask. Simply smear all over your face, like any good mask, let sit for several minutes, and then rinse with warm water. 

It's as simple as that! 

You see, avocados (in addition to being delicious) are wonderful for your hair and skin. The fatty acids help to soften your skin and bring nourishment to the driest areas. 

Honey is a skin balancer. It is especially useful with combination skin and oily skin, as it can help to even out all of the weird areas you may have. This is important for me, because I have the absolute worst combination skin. Dry and flaky on my cheeks, oily and acne prone on my T zone. 

Lemon juice is an acid. Pretty straight forward. It works as a slight stripping agent to wash away dead skin cells and increase cell turnover rate. That's important for a fresh-faced look. 

And egg yolks, like the avocados, are nourishing and fatty, without being oily. The omegas also help to increase cell turnover rate. 

So there you have it. A little late, but better late than never! 

March Birchbox - Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

This is, honest to goodness, my first time trying hair oils. So take this review with that in mind, since I have absolutely zero basis for comparison. But as I have said, Birchbox is a great means to try new things. To step out of one's comfort zone and perhaps find something wonderful.

And that's exactly what happened!

This little miracle in a bottle is awesome!

First and foremost, a little goes a long (loooooooong) way. I only need a couple of drops for each of the three sections of my hair. And I have a lot of hair.

Second, the smell is fabulous. Clean, subtle, kind of beachy. But really, it smells like vacation. Like relaxation and calm happiness. I know, I know. Talk about abstract. But it really does make me feel happier with my existence.

Now, on the Birchbox website, it mentions that it shortens the dry time of your hair by pushing out excess water. I can't speak much to that, because I literally threw this in my hair, combed it through, and then put my hair into a bun.

What I can say is that when I took my bun down after a long day of work, my hair was gorgeous! Soft, silky, shiny, luxurious. It felt healed and supple for the first time in a long time this winter. I even made sure to leave a few days between this Macadamia product and the masque I reviewed a couple of days ago, just to be sure that I would get an honest opinion of each item on its own.

This stuff has blown me away. Really, it has.

I'm super excited to have found something new that can help with severely damaged hair. Now I have something I can strongly recommend to everyone I know. Because it honestly works!

Happy day! Thanks for reading!

March Birchbox - Macadamia Masque

I have a love/hate relationships with masques. I always have.

I very rarely use them, but that's mainly because every time I have used a hair masque, my hair has come out the other side greasy, smelly, and oddly textured. In fact, I recently purchased a hair masque from Sally's Beauty because I got one for free with the renewal of my membership. And you remember in the beginning, how I said sometimes it's great when you get something cheap or free because it sucks?

This was one of those times. The masque I bought left my hair so oily, that even after two washes later in the day, it still looked like I hadn't showered in a week. And now that dirt cheap product is sitting in my shower, languishing away because I refuse to use it.

So when I saw this Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Masque in my box, I was tentative. But I figured that it deserved a shot. Everything deserves a shot.

And I'm so glad I gave this stuff a chance!

This is made with macadamia and tea tree oil. I'm sure we all know the benefits of tea tree oil, but the macadamia is still a bit of a mystery for me.

Right out of the sample packet, this product is different from every other masque that I've tried. It was thick and felt kind of similar to room temperature coconut oil, but it didn't leave a greasy feeling on my hands. That's always a bonus.

It smelled nice. Clean, natural, nothing too overpowering. And it spread out nicely.

Now, on the Birchbox directions, they recommended rinsing it out with cool water. But I always use my masques when I'm in the shower, mainly so that I don't have to hop in and out over and over again, or lean awkwardly over the tub to rinse out my hair. 

So I did what I do with all conditioners (and you should do, too), and rinsed with lukewarm water. It helps seal your follicles to keep your hair looking cleaner, longer. And it seemed to suffice for this masque just fine. 

After my hair had dried, I noticed that it did seem pretty calm. Normally, winter for my hair is spent entirely up in a ponytail because the dry air makes it frizzy and unmanageable. But this product seemed to limit that. It kept it shiny and relatively free of flyaways all day long. 

But it was the next day where my hair truly shined! I only wash my hair every other day, so when I woke up to see that my hair looked soft, smooth, shiny, and flaw free, I about died. None of my usual lumps and bumps from a long night of restless sleeping. Just straight, calm hair. 

So yeah, I have to say, this product is pretty impressive. If I had more money, I would probably commit to the full size. My recommendation, though: put it in at night, rinse it out, then pull your hair into a loose top knot or sock bun to let it dry. I can guarantee you this will give you the best waves and curls ever. And no heat's needed!

If you try it, let me know how it works out for you!

Thanks for reading. 

Birchbox February 2013 - Beauty Protector

I've been looking for a heat protectant spray for what feels like forever. I've only recently started styling my hair (and in fact, only bought my first hair dryer a couple of weeks ago), so I didn't know where to start. Like BB Creams, it feels like there is a glut of product to protect your hair on the market. Everything ranging from leave in conditioners to styling products to hardcore shampoos.

I was about to purchase a spray from Birchbox when this awesome little solution rolled into my mailbox.

 This is a long list of uses, but let's start at the very beginning (a very good place to start).

Detangler? Yes. It's as simple as that. I rarely condition my hair, and I only wash it once every couple of days, so it's great for detangling when I haven't conditioned.

Thermal protector? Sure seems so. I used it a couple of days ago when I used my brand new blow dryer, and my hair didn't feel frizzy or damaged at all. Which is nice, because I love my hair and I treat it like it's some diamond from another planet. Seriously. One day I'll tell you about my hair care routine.

Alright, the list is too long for me to go over every item. But it definitely makes my hair shiny. It's not greasy in the slightest. It doesn't weight my hair down. So yeah, it seems like all of the important ones are taken care of.

But my favorite part? It smells amazing. Like fresh coconuts and just a hint of something beachy. It's fresh, not heavy, clean, not sugary. And it doesn't overpower my perfume. I just notice it every now and then when I turn my head.

I have noticed one thing, though. If you don't comb it through very well, you're bound to wind up with some "crunchy" spots. Some spots where you hair is really stiff. It combs out, though, so it doesn't make me want it any less. You just have to be careful with not spraying it too concentrated.

And just cause I took the pictures, here are some of my hair with this stuff in it. Freshly washed, not conditioned, and not all the way dry. And no, I'm not wearing makeup. I just got out of bed and got showered to write these blog posts.

Thanks for reading!