PRODUCT REVIEW: MAC Opulash Mascara

PRODUCT: 5/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
QUALITY: 5/5
GRADE: A
PRICE: $14 from MAC counters, stores, and maccosmetics.com
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Yes

WHAT MAC SAYS
Superlative style & state-of-the-art science merge. A new formula in a more saturated intense black with extra-volumization, expansion & curl delivered dramatically with our most bodacious brush yet. Lasts 15 hours!

PROS
+ Lengthening
+ Volumizing
+ Really lasts 15 hours!
+ More 'affordable' higher end mascara

CONS
- Brush may be too big for people with smaller lashes
- Can be a little difficult to come off

I've been using this mascara to the very end of its 3 month term and I love it! MAC mascaras get a lot of flack for not working to well but MAC's Plushlash has been my HG ever since I discovered it a few years ago. One of my MAC MUA's described Opulash as "Plushlash on crack" so I had to have it. But like most products, I was really skeptical in the beginning. I feel like a lot of gurus/bloggers say they "love" a product without thoroughly testing it or just saying it because they're sponsored but I feel like I'm the other way. I always dislike it in the beginning, keep using it because I don't wanna waste and discover I like it!

I have longer lashes so I appreciate a bigger brush, but it might be a problem for those of you with shorter, thinner lashes. The brush is pretty dense and I feel like it packs on a lot of mascara without clumping and adds a lot of length to my lashes. The tube itself is pretty big and even after 3 months, I think there's still a ton of product in there. MAC claims that it last 15 hours - and it definitely does for me! Sometimes I fall asleep with this mascara on - I know, it's bad! But don't act like you don't once in a while! - and it's still perfect when I wake up in the morning. In fact, its harder to take off then other mascaras. Usually my MAC wipes will take most of my mascara off, but I have to wash my eyes with baby shampoo to get these off.

I thought this review might be helpful since MAC is releasing their Opulash Optimum Black next month (but for $1 more!). At $14 a piece, it's one of the more affordable "higher end" mascaras which I think is pretty reasonable considering a lot of them are $20+. I think it's worth trying and I'll definitely be repurchasing this again.

REVIEW: Essie Turquoise & Caicos

PRODUCT: 3.5/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
QUALITY: 4/5
GRADE: B
PRICE: $7-8 at Target (also at other drugstores)
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Yes

PROS
+ GORGEOUS color!
+ Lasts a week or longer on (which is great for me!)
+ Love the brush

CONS
- Not pigmented by itself, need at least 3 coats to get a solid color
- It's a little pricey for nail polish

I've been eyeign out this specific shade of Essie nail polish ever since I saw Target got Essie nail polish in. This minty turquoise color is probably my second favorite color but I was totally avoiding buying it because $8 for a nail polish from Target seemed kinda pricey to me, but I finally caved and bought it! The down side is that it's really sheer. I had to apply 3 coats to get it completely opaque, but it isn't as streaky as MAC nail polishes (wish are the worst!). After the first coat, you can see through it. The second, you can still see parts of your nail through it. Third coat and it's completely opaque. Since 3 coats is pretty thick, my manicure lasted me longer than a week which is really good for me considering I'm always washing dishes, cleaning, etc. and manicures start chipping really quickly.

Overall, it kind of sucks that you have to apply a few coats, but for me the color payoff is worth it because I LOVE this color. $8 for a bottle of polish is a little pricey but it's right around the range of China Glaze and OPI polish (my fave polish brands) so I really can't complain. The color kind of reminds me China Glaze For Audrey, but leans more green than For Audrey. This was my first Essie nail polish and I'm not sure if every Essie polish is like this, but I would definitely buy this shade again.

one coat


two coats


three coats

What's Your Opinion: My Honey Child Products?

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I received a request via my Facebook page regarding My Honey Child natural hair products. I have never tried this line and therefore have no idea what the products are like. So, I thought I would turn it over to you. Has anyone tried anything from this line? If so, what is your opinion? Would you buy again or recommend to a fellow natural? Help us out!

Product Review: Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara

PRODUCT: 5/5
PACKAGING: 4/5
QUALITY: 4.5/5
GRADE: A
PRICE: $19 from sephora.com
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Yes

WHAT BENEFIT SAYS
Sexy, sultry, pure unadulterated black mascara for full, voluminous lashes. It's as BAD as you want to be! Famously big, bodacious brush coats lashes with our super black formula. [from benefit.com

PROS
+ Lengthening
+ Somewhat volumizing
+ A lot of product
+ Easy to take off

CONS
- A little pricey [$19 for full size]
- Huge brush - might be hard to use for people with short lashes

OVERALL
As you can tell I REALLY liked this mascara and I think it's saying a lot because I'm not easily impressed at all by make up products. In fact, at first I didn't think this mascara was anything special! The thing about people who make reviews right away, I feel, is that they don't really get the full experience using the product for a couple days and then judging it, which is why I don't do reviews right away. But I used this for a good 3 - 4 months and I definitely liked it a lot. I didn't start liking it til after a few weeks of use because as it got exposed to air, it got a little thicker and I started to notice a lot more volumizing and lengthening. I didn't fully see the difference until I stopped using it and started using MAC Opulash and realized it didn't work as well as Bad Gal Lash!

I have thick, long-ish lashes and I could REALLY see the difference. I think you can really tell in my August 2010 Favorites Video and I think you can really see my lashes there. I tried to think of major cons with this mascara, but I really don't have any. It didn't give me racoon eyes, clump, or crack when I wore it. The only thing I really didn't like about it is the price, but I think in terms of size, it has more product than Dior Show Mascara. I've heard some girls complain about how huge the brush is but I actually liked the big brush. If you're not too keen on spending $19 on a mascara either, you could always opt for the mini sizes that Sephora has in it's little bins or even online. Mascara is kind of easy to grade because you either love it or hate it and Benefit's Bad Gal Lash was definitely love!

the huge brush


my youtube review

Product Review: Maybelline Fit Me Powder Foundation

PRODUCT: 3/5
PACKAGING: 3/5
QUALITY: 3/5
GRADE: B
PRICE: $6 - $8 at drugstores [I got it for $7 at Target]
WOULD I REPURCHASE? No [read my overall for reasons!]

WHAT MAYBELLINE SAYS:
WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT
It's makeup that doesn't mess with you.
• Natural coverage that leaves skin the way it was meant to be…fresh, breathing, flawless
• No oils, no waxes, no nonsense

"Flawless that lets the real you come through. Beyond matching: fresh, breathable, natural, natural finish."
[from maybelline.com]

PROS
+ Affordable
+ Feels lightweight
+ Wide range of colors for light to medium skin tones
+ Doesn't look cakey, even with a lot of layers

CONS
- Doesn't last all day
- Packaging is kind of cheap
- Not a wide range of colors for darker women






OVERALL

I thought it was just OK. I like that it's really affordable (under $10!) and that it doesn't apply cakey at all. If I keep layering MAC Studio Fix, it starts to look cakey, but with this foundation, if I applied 3 layers with a dense kabuki brush, you could just barely tell that I have make up on. I really like that for everyday use because nobody wants to look like a cake face! I couldn't tell that I was wearing powder at all when I had this on. The powder is light to medium coverage, which might explain why it doesn't look cakey.

The "Fit Me" line seems to have expanded the color choices for light to medium skin tones, but the darker skin tones are SOL. I'm an NC42-44 in MAC and in the fit me line, I was shade 325 which is the 3rd or 4th darkest one. I'm pretty sure women of color have as much variety in shades as lighter women do, so it kind of annoys me when brands claim that you can find your "perfect match" and they don't really have a huge variety. The packaging feels like cheap plastic, which doesn't bother me, but I'm sure if you dropped it enough times, it would crack. Another thing I noticed was it doesn't last all day. I have an oily t-zone, but it's not as oily in the winter, and I noticed the foundation faded first from there.

I personally wouldn't buy this foundation again just because I prefer the way higher end foundation works with my skin and this didn't wow me enough to get HG status. But if you're on a budget and you don't need a lot of coverage, this foundation is definitely worth at try. But if you need heavier coverage and especially if you have oily skin, I don't recommend this at all. I did a short review video on YouTube, too, if you wanna check it out! I'm not sure why it looks like there's a little cloud in front of my face though... lol

Review: EOS Lip Balm Review

PRODUCT: 3/5
PACKAGING: 3/5
QUALITY: 3/5
GRADE: B
PRICE: about $3 each at Walgreens & other drugstores
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Probably not

WHAT EOS SAYS: eos lip balm is 95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

PROS
+ Really affordable
+ Unique packaging
+ Organic
+ Smells yummy!

CONS
- Feels waxy when applied
- Have to reapply often, doesn't keep lips moisturized long
- Bulky packaging
- A little expensive for drugstore lip balm

OVERALL: I bought this from Ulta in Honeysuckle because I've seen so many people rave about this product and you have to admit, the packaging is definitely eye catching. The lip balm is $3 each which is really affordable, but when you think about chapstick being $1 each it seems kind of expensive. I was expecting to be wowed by this product because I have SUPER chapped lips all the time, especially in the Winter, but I wasn't. It moisturizes my lips when I do apply it, but when it fades my lips go back to being chapped. It actually feels kind of waxy on the lips like the product is just sitting on there instead of moisturizing.

The packaging is kind of bulky, but it make sit really easy to find in your purse or make up bag, but I feel kind of awkward busting it out in the middle of class because it's so big! It does smell really good - my sister had the Summer Fruit and it smelled amazing - but I don't think I would repurchase this just because it didn't moisturize my lips, but I'm sure someone who doesn't have chapped lips all the time like I do would like it. I'm kind of sad that it didn't work for me because so many people love it, but it was just okay to me.

Product Review: MAC Prep + Prime Lash

This is an old review I found in my files and thought I might as well put it up! I didn't really go into much detail about it but all I can remember is I didn't like this product at all! LOL

PRODUCT: 1/5
PACKAGING: 3/5
QUALITY: 2/5
GRADE: F
PRICE: $13.50 @ MAC Stores & MACcosmetics.com

WHAT MAC SAYS: For use under mascara: a white coat that dries to a semi-clear base. Smoothes and conditions the lashes. Intensifies the build and lengthening quality of all formulas. Helps mascara last longer.

PROS: Honestly, I can't think of any!

CONS: MAC says it "intensifies the build & lengthening quality" but I don't see a difference when I use it & when I don't. It feels like an extra unnecessary step. I've been using it everyday since I got it, which is probably about a week or two ago? In fact, I think it kind of encourages clumps when I put on my mascara! I tried a couple days using it on one eye & none on the other hoping to see some kind of difference, but nothing. =[

COMMENTS: Wow, I never thought I would give any product such low reviews but this honestly was a waste of 13.50. I think the primer that comes with the Maybelline XXL mascara does a way better job at lengthening than this does. I know there aren't very many good reviews on MAC's Prep + Prime line, but I thought it might have been worth a try!

Benefit You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer Review

PRODUCT: 4/5
PACKAGING: 3.5/5
QUALITY: 5/5
GRADE: B
PRICE: $30 at Sephora, Ulta, or Benefit Cosmetics
WOULD I REPURCHASE: Probably not

WHAT BENEFIT SAYS: Our defiantly different tinted moisturizer gives your complexion coverage, moisture and SPF 15 protection all in one. For fair-skinned rebels. (Benefit Cosmetics)

PROS
+ Lightweight
+ Has sunscreen
+ Non greasy
+ Don't need to use a lot of product - one package lasted me months!

CONS
+ Doesn't come in many colors, only lite and regular
+ A little pricey
+ Packaging is a little tough to use

unblended


blended

I like this product, but I don't love it. At first I wasn't sure if it would be a good pick because it only comes in 2 colors, You Rebel & You Rebel Lite. Lite is for the really fair skinned ladies and regular is supposed to be for medium to deep skin tones. You can tell from my swatch that it doesn't even look like my color but blended in it doesn't even look like it's there! I've been using this everyday for the last 3+ months and it STILL has a lot of product left! It's not in the typical plastic packaging, it's in this really malleable metal packaging so it's not as easy to squeeze the product out but you can always tel how much product you have left. The coverage is really light, if you need a LOT of coverage, I don't recommend this for you, but if you have a few small blemishes, it covers it great. It is just a moisturizer! But I've just been putting it on in the morning after I wash my face and I'm ready to go out!

I wish it came in more colors, even though you can't really tell on my skin, I'm sure you could tell with women of color. Even though it lasts a while, I feel like $30 is a lot for something that I just find okay. I don't really recommend this if you have dry skin because I think you'll have to use twice as much product. It's worth a try if you're looking for a tinted moisturizer but it just doesn't wow me.

Review: L'Oreal 360 Clean Deep Facial Cleanser

PRODUCT: 2.5/5
PACKAGING: 4/5 [for the sample]
QUALITY: 3/5
OVERALL: 3 out of 5
PRICE: $5-7 at drugstores
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Probably not

PROS
+ Cheap & affordable.
+ The scrublet really deep cleans.
+ Innovative design, the concept is really different.
+ Bottle lasts a LONG time!

CONS
- The actual cleanser itself doesn't clean very well.
- Scrublet gets dirty after a while even after washing.
- NEED to apply moisturizer after

OVERALL: You get what you pay for. It's really cheap and does clean, but not as well as I'd like to. I don't plan on repurchasing this product, unless I absolutely need a cleanser (like I'm on a trip and I forget mine at home!).

If you watch my YouTube videos you'll notice in one of my favorites/rejects videos I said this is one of my rejects. Overall, I wasn't too fond of this product. I bought it because it was hyped up on a couple YT Guru's sites and I forgot my cleanser on vacation in Hawaii back in May and I thought I'd try it out. The phrase "You get what you pay for" fits this product. It's only around $5-7 so its not going to break the bank, but without the little scrublet that it comes with, the cleanser sucks.

I liked it at first, but found out the cleanser itself doesn't clean very well. Normally I wipe my face with a MAC wipe then use a cleanser if I'm wearing a full face of makeup, but if I go straight to the scrublet it really deeps clean! The scrublet is definitely the best part of it! It's really gentle and doesn't hurt your face like a face brush would but at the same time it deep cleans. I did see the same scrublet at Sephora that's pink! It's called the Precision Pore Cleansing Pad and it's $5 so in theory you could just buy the cleanser and just use the scrublet but I would hate to buy it and waste all that product. The scrublet does get dirty after a while, but that's given.

The cleanser itself is like any other drugstore cleanser, it cleans, but not very well. This probably isn't a very accurate test but I tend to judge cleansing products (facial, body, etc) by how well they lather and how 'clean' I feel after and this cleanser fails on both counts. If I use the cleanser by itself and then use a toner after there is a TON of makeup still leftover and without the scrublet, it doesn't lather much at all.

I do like the packaging and how unique it is and you have some place to store the scrubber when you're not using it. I bought this thing 3 months ago, have been using it almost everyday twice a day and I STILL have a good amount of product left. So if you want a cheap, decent cleanser that'll last you a while, this ones for you. But if you're willing to shell out a little more cash for a much better cleanser, you might wanna skip this.


The scrublet


Back of the scrublet


Look how much product I have left!!

NOTE: There are other 360 Facial Cleansers but this review is specifically for the Deep Cleanser. I would not repurchase this but I might try out the others to see if I like them better.

Everyday Minerals Intensive Base Review

INGREDIENTS: Mica (CI 77019), Lauroyl Lysine. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Chromium Oxide Greens (CI 77288).

PRODUCT: 3.5/5
PACKAGING: 5/5 [for the sample]
QUALITY: 3/5
OVERALL: 3.83 out of 5
PRICE: $2.50 for a sample/$12 for 5.5 g
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Maybe. Most likely yes.

PROS
+ Affordable!
+ Can order samples for cheaper instead of buying full size foundations in the wrong color!
+ Don't use a lot of product.
+ Organic! Does not contain bismuth oxychloride which irritates people with sensitive skin.

CONS
- Not really good for oily skin.
- Can look cakey if you apply too much.
- Not a lot of choices for women of color



I've been using the foundation for - I think collectively? - a month. With foundation I feel like you can't review it right away because you don't know if it will break you out right away or have some weird effect on your skin and a lot of times you can't tell that after using a foundation for a couple of days. Overall I do like this foundation. I prefer using powders in the summer just because it's so hot! Only 2 of the 3 foundations matched me and this one is in Sandy Medium and it's full coverage. I personally don't like using full coverage foundation everyday because I don't think that I need it and I just kind of have this mentality that full coverage is completely covering up my pores and I don't like that idea! But Sandy Medium matched me pretty well out of the three. After the first week of us, I can say that it is a good everyday foundation. It's not heavy and I can't feel it on my skin at all. I started using it again a couple weeks ago when my skin started breaking out, and I can barely tell that my pimples are there! I broke out with those red irritated looking pimples too and a light dusting covered them completely. Also, I really think that it helped my skin because my break outs calmed down a lot when I used this for a week. When I came back from Hawaii in June, my skin was all out of whack! I think it was the weather change but for some reason it went on for a month and I finally decided to bust this out and it calmed down a lot. I really liked that the samples have a little sifter top, and I think the full size ones have a sifter you can twist to close and open. I like that you don't need a lot of product for one use - I still have about 1/4 of the mini jar left! This means if I used a full size foundation everyday it would probably last me at least 6 months [NOT packing on a lot!]

One con I can think of is that I have an oily T-Zone and it didn't really soak up oils very well. I felt like it actually encouraged my t-zone to be oily and on really hot days when I'm sweating, I have to use blot powder to touch up. Another con is depending on what brush you use, it can look cakey. If I used a kabuki brush, it packed on way too much on the brush head and you could really tell that I had foundation on. But when I use a duo fiber brush like my MAC 187 or Coastal Scents brush, the application was flawless. For someone who needs a lot of coverage, I don't recommend this because you don't want to look like a cake face! One more negative is that they only have like 3 shades for women of color which is a little disappointing. I'm a little on the darker side (NC42 - NC45) so I can kind of sympathize with other women of color because it's tough finding the right shade!


Sandy Medium compared to MAC Studio Fix in NC43

Overall, I think it's a great deal for the price. You don't need to use a lot of product and it's lightweight for everyday wear. It's reasonably priced - for $5 (which is basically just shipping) you can get 3 foundation samples, a blush, and concealer sample, or for $2.50 you can just get one sample, and the full size foundation (which they call "base" on their website) is $12 for 5.5 g. I think shipping depends on where you are. Also, I've never really experienced itching with any mineral foundations, so I couldn't tell you if this is good for sensitive skin. I would definitely buy this again, but I would not buy the full coverage foundation, because like I said, I don't think I need it and I think that's why it can look cakey. I said "maybe" under repurchase just because I wouldn't classify this as my holy grail foundation and I don't really use a lot of mineral foundation, but if I did I would repurchase this.

NOTE: This was sent to me for review, but I am not being compensated nor does this affect my opinion of this product. Also, I didn't do swatches because it won't show up on my skin!

Product Review: Suave Professionals Almond & Shea Butter Conditioner

Image from Suave.com

Product Description:

Salon quality shampoo and conditioner system proven to moisturize your hair as well as Aveda Dry Remedy shampoo and conditioner. This moisturizing shampoo is infused with 100% natural almond & shea butter, which are known for their rich emollients. It replenishes lost moisture leaving your hair well-nourished and beautiful.

Product Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice [Aloe Vera], Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil [Lemongrass], Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower/Leaf Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Dimethiconol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum), Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Lactic Acd, Disodium EDTA, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, PEG-150 Distearate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Where to Buy:

I purchased mine from Wal Mart but it is surely available at most retailers (CVS, Target, Walgreens, etc.) You can also purchase online at amazon.com if you like to buy in bulk.

My Take:

I love this stuff. Hands down it is one of the best cheap conditioners that I like to use as a leave in. It moisturized my hair both times I have used it. Combined with a bit of oil on damp twists, my hair was smooth and lightly frangranced for days. It has a very fruity smell, very fresh. It also works nicely as a cowash conditioner if you like to skip shampoo. I was able to detangle my hair pretty quickly with my wide tooth comb and my denman bush. It is not the most slippery conditioner I have ever used, I will probably reserve major detangling sessions for my Herbal Essences. But, it still got the job done and was a great leave-in/styler for my twists. Once dry, there were no flakes or visible buildup. Overall a keeper for the rotation.

Product Review: Pretty Curls White Orchid Shea Butter

One of my favorite parts of being a natural hair blogger is that I have the opportunity to try new products. I was contacted by Jarrai, the owner of Pretty Curls, to see if I would like to try a sample of their shea butters. Of course I agreed and within days I received a package containing a jar of White Orchid scented shea. The ingredients include unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, vegetable glycerine, jojoba oil, orchid and musk fragrance. Also in the package was a tiny sample of their Vanilla Cream whipped shea butter.

Jarrai told me that they are still working on the packaging to improve the appearance of their products. I really like the jar and top and I think whatever they do to the labels will only enhance the current look.

The texture of the shea is much like other whipped sheas I have used before. It melts easily into both my skin and hair.

The scent of the Vanilla Cream is not what I expected but is still nice. It is kind of sweet and a tad strong. The White Orchid, on the other hand, is not as pleasant. Again, I like the texture and I think it would make a great sealant or moisturizer for twists, but I don't like the smell much at all. They have a bunch of other scents that sound more appealing like Lavender Spice and Tropical Twist.

So, overall I think this is a nice shea mix that is worth another try. If I were to order, I would probably try one of the other scents.

Thanks to Jarrai of Pretty Curls for the chance to check them out!

A Review: Pantene Nature Fusion Moisture Balance Conditioner

Description: With a blend of Ginger, Calendula and Aloe Vera.

For touchable softness and strength.*

The purity of natural and power of science are brought together in Nature Fusion - a unique line from Pantene® Pro-V®. Pantene science combines Pro-V technology with naturally derived ingredients such as Cassia, to keep your hair naturally radiant and strengthened against damage.

Ingredients: Water, Stearyl Alcohol (Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil or Coconut Oil), Cyclopentasiloxane, Cetearyl Alcohol (Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil or Coconut Oil), Behenamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Cassia Tora Seeds), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract (Ginger), Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Citric Acid (Corn Starch or Sugar Cane), Dimethicone, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance, EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Yellow 5, Orange 4

Packaging and Scent: I love the "lightness" of this product's look. It says "fresh" and "modern" without looking overly floral or hokey. I like the white and green bottle and the digitized image of the leaves. I dunno, just looks pretty. The scent is a typical pantene-ish smell. It is fresh and bright, not at all heavy or stinky in any way. I like it. After using it, it lingered on my hair for a day or two and every time I turned my head I got a whiff...but in a good way. My boyfriend even commented on how much he liked the way my hair smelled.

I will start by saying have always loved Pantene. It as one of the first products I discovered when I went natural 10 years ago. The conditioners have always provided me with enough slip to detangle my kinks and coils. And you know how important that is, especially to a new natural who is learning how to work with her texture. I used to use the Sleek and Smooth line in the white and dark green bottle and I loved it too.

The last time I used this product was after the disaster that was Dr. Miracle's. My hair was impossible to get through and I knew I needed something with slip. I used at least 2 large handfuls of the Pantene and smooshed it through my hair. I worked it in with my hands and then proceeded to detangle in sections. It literally took me about 10 minutes (not bad!) and I was ready to proceed to the next step in my styling process.

Overall, I really like this product and will probably use it again. It can stay in the rotation along with my Herbal Essences and Aussie 3 min Miracle. They all do about the same thing for my hair so whichever is on sale at the time is what I'll go with. Hope this helps!

Review: Korres Lip Butter

PRODUCT: 4/5
PACKAGING: 3/5
QUALITY: 4/5
OVERALL: 3.67/5
PRICE: $10 at Sephora and Ulta
WOULD I REPURCHASE? Yes

WHAT KORRES SAYS: Ultimate lip treatment with intensely hydrating formulas, packed with a juicy pop of color
• Shea Butter’s anti-inflammatory and potent moisturising benefits cushion the skin and help to restructure it
• Rice Wax helps to seal in hydration, leaving the lips smooth all day
[taken from korresusa.com]

PROS
+ It feels really moisturizing when you first put it on.
+ Really feels like butter!
+ Comes in a variety of colors.
+ Pomegranate gives a nice pink color to my lips.
+ Affordable
+ Smells yummy!

CONS
+ Comes in a pot - not really sanitary
+ Says it 'leaves lips smooth all day' but after a couple hours I needed to reapply
+ Sometimes lips felt drier than before I put it on.



Overall I really liked Korres Lip Butter. A lot of other people have said good things about it so I thought I'd give it a try. My lips are always dry so I feel like I ALWAYS have to have some kind of lip balm or gloss over it or it drives me nuts! IT feels soo good when you put it on and when you touch it in the pot it's not hard like other lip balms are. True to its name it really feels like butter! It comes it different scents and colors: Pomegranate, Quince, Plum, Guava, Wild Rose, and Mango. I've smelled all of them at Sephora and they all smell heavenly! However, I'm not a big fan of the pot form. I felt like I needed to sanitize my hand before I used it then I had to wipe my fingers after! Sometimes I tried to carry a lip brush with me but I just felt like that was too much trouble. Also, in the winter I felt like it actually sucked the moisture out of my lips because I kept having to reapply and when I did it felt a lot drier than before. The price is pretty reasonable at $10 a pot - but when I first got this a few months ago it was only $9! If you're looking for a moisturizing lip balm with nice sheer color this is for you! But don't expect it to last all day long like it claims. I just finished my pot and I would buy this again. In fact I really want to get the Mango Lip Buter it just smells so good! If only they made this in a stick balm form I would be totally in love!

PS sorry I forgot take lip swatches! =[

Dr. Miracle's: A Review

For this review I am going to talk about the Healing Leave In Treatment and Conditioner, the Damaged Hair Medicated Treatment, and the 2 in 1 Tingling Shampoo. All product descriptions and ingredient lists are directly from the Dr. Miracle's website.

Product Descriptions/Ingredients

2 In 1 Tingling Shampoo:

You can actually feel this shampoo promoting strong, healthy growing hair as it leaves strands shiny and clean. Doubling as aromatherapy in the shower, Dr. Miracle’s 2 in 1 Tingling Shampoo & Conditioner is the perfect tool to end dry, lifeless hair by way of moisturizing and conditioning.

Ingredients:Thermalceutical™ Complex [Water (Aqua), Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Menthol,

Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (And) Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10,
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil], Ammonium
Lauryl Sulfate, Polysorbate-20, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Lauramide Dea, Glycol Sterate, Peg-150 Distearate, Propylene Glycol (And) Diazolidinyl Urea (And) Propylparaben, (And) Methylisothiazolinone, Citric Acid

Damaged Hair Medicated Treatment:

This ultra intensive deep conditioner treatment masks hair with its rich essential oils, proteins, amino acids, and anti-oxidants, providing extra moisture for tresses damaged from over-processing and heat styling. Exclusive Thermalceutical Complex promotes blood flow to the scalp, helping to end slow growth problems.

Ingredients: Thermaceutical™ Complex (Aqua, Salicylic acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Olea Europaea, (Olive Oil) Fruit Oil, Persea Gratssima (Avocado) Oil, Frunus Amygdalus (Sweet Almond) Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Lanolin, PEG-75 Lanolin, Propylene Glycol, petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Sterate, Polysorbate 60, Eugenia Caryophullus (Clove) Leaf Oil, Menthol, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, PEG-40 Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Methylparaben Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea.

Healing Leave In Treatment and Conditioner:

This daily treatment restores and conditions cuticles for smooth and super-strong hair. Also creates polished wash-and-go looks.

Ingredients:Thermalceutical™ Complex (Water, (Aqua), Menthol, Eugenia Caryophllus (Clove) Leaf Oil,

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil), Glycerin, Propylene Glyco,
Peg-75 Lanolin, Polyquaternium-10, Polyquaternium-11, Diazodinyl Urea, Fragrance, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

The order of operations was first, I jumped in the shower and shampooed with the 2 in 1 Tingling Shampoo. I followed up with the Damaged Hair Medicated Treatment that I left in for about 3 minutes. After rinsing, I sprayed my whole head with the Healing Leave In Treatment and Conditioner.

Let's just say my hair was very mad at me by the end of this. The products were drying, the tingling felt like my head was freezing and on fire at the same time, and the smell was so over powering that it literally took my breath away. Menthol and clove overload! Why Dr. Miracle's?

My hair was so tangled and very snarly. I was unable to detangle successfully with any of this product so I ended up whipping out another staple condish to get through my hair. I was hoping the thick creamy Medicated Treatment would soften my hair so I could get through it. Well, it sat on top and did not seem to penetrate at all. The leave in made my hair almost squeaky and dried very quickly. I had to rewet my hair and apply castor oil to make it feel like hair again.

Overall, these three products did not work for my hair. I kept thinking that they might be better for relaxed hair that does not require as much effort to detangle. Although, I cannot imagine that anyone could use these three things back to back and not feel completely dried out.

Ok, so some constructive criticism. One, ditch the scent and opt for something softer. I get that these products are being marketed as medicated, healing, etc, but there is no woman (or man for that matter) that I know who would like to smell like a bag of cloves. Second, maybe take out the mineral oil and add some shea butter to the mix. I am no chemist or product specialist but I can feel a difference after using something with mineral oil, especially since I don't use it normally at all.

Final thoughts....not pleased, cannot see myself using these products again. :~(

I still have a few more to review so that will be coming up. I hope to use heat with one of them so maybe that will make a difference. We'll see....

Dr. Miracle's: A Review

A few months back I was gifted with a very generous box of Dr. Miracle's products. Inside the box I found the Intensive Healing Oil, Damaged Hair Medicated Treatment, Temple & Nape Gro Balm, Healing Leave In Treatment and Conditioner, Intensive Spot Serum, 2 In 1 Tingling Shampoo & Conditioner, Tingling Intensive Deep Conditioning Treatment. Wow, talk about a gift box!

Over the past few months I have tried the products and I will be giving my review for them a few at a time.

But before I get into the individual products, I want to talk about the packaging, the presentation, and the scent.

Packaging: Each product comes in a brown box. The paperboard containers look old fashioned with the Dr. Miracle's logo printed in black on the front and top. Something about them look serious, not at all fruity or floral like most hair products marketed to women. They seem to say "we mean business" or "we have a purpose and our product is more about functionality than beauty". The red, black and brown color scheme punctuate this ideal, accenting the medicinal or healing theme of the product. These are not for the average girl who wants a sensual hair experience. They are here to fix, cure, or heal damaged hair and scalp.

Presentation: In addition to the packaging, Dr. Miracle's is probably most easily recognized for their ads in magazines like Essence and their commercials. Clearly, these publications are aimed at Black women. As we know, we spend more money on our hair than anyone else in this country. Knowing this, and playing up the good hair/bad hair (although not directly so) debate, Dr. Miracle's tends to do before and afters that aim to persuade Black women that whatever is broke about their hair, Dr. Miracle's can fix. It's not just a hair product. It's actually a miracle! Hmmm... I will give it some points for hilarity (that scream at the beginning makes me laugh each time) but at the same time, it always makes me uncomfortable with how the before and after pics seem to say that something is inherently wrong with Black hair. Especially that one with the woman with the long curly hair. Yeah, it looks a bit frizzy before. Nothing a good leave in/gel/styler couldn't tame (if that is the look you're going for. Personally I like frizz every now and again). And I am not against the straight after pic either. But to imply that the before was unhealthy (read damaged, unruly, just not right) and the after is beautiful (read straight, fixed, cured, whatever) is just the wrong message to send, in my opinion.

Scent: This is what did me in. Ok, I get it. This product is supposed to be the cure. So that means it must smell serious and intense, like medicine, right? Wrong. Menthol, medicinal, just plain strong! I think I put off trying most of this stuff for the smell alone! I am very conscious about the scents that go in my hair and on my scalp. So right off the bat, Dr. M lost major points.

Ok so that is the preview. The first two products I will review are the 2 In 1 Tingling Shampoo & Conditioner and the Intensive Healing Oil. And don't get me wrong. Even though I have some strong opinions about many things about this line, there are some good ones too. Stay tuned...

Nourishing Hair Butter- A Review

Hey guys and gals! A few days ago I received a 2 oz sample of Nourishing Hair Butter in the mail. The company is called Nature's Indulgence and was founded by Dionne Murphy.

The ingredients are listed as:

Herbal Infused Water, Aloe Vera Juice, Shea Butter, Virgin Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera Gel, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, Steric Acid, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax, Glycerin, Optiphen, Vitamin E, Essential and Fragrance Oils and Grapefruit Seed Extract.

As you all know, I have my hair in box braids which I got about a week ago. This past weekend I spend some time in VA where it was really cold and dry. I decided this would be a good time to try out the product and see what benefits it could add to my hair.

The night before I left, I washed it and blotted dry. I added my conditioner on top and let my hair dry. After it was dry, I took a good sized dollop, about a quarter, in my hands and emulsified it. I applied it to the length of the braids on one side and added a little extra to the ends. I repeated this all over my head until each section of braids was moisturized.

The first thing I noticed about this product is the smell. It is light and fresh and almost fruity in a way. The texture is light and whipped. It absorbed quickly into my hair and left behind the lovely scent which was present but not overpowering.

Overall, I like this product. It is a nice light moisturizer but probably not enough by itself if you really like heavy creams for your hair. I would use this under an oil probably. I will have to try it again after I take my braids out to see how my hair like it for twists and other loose styles.

Thanks to Dionne for the sample and good luck with your business.

If you'd like to check out her other products, visit her blog and site!

PRODUCT REVIEW: Eyeko Touch Up & Go Concealer

Product: 3/5
Packaging: 3/5
Quality: 2/5
Overall: 2.67 out of 5
Price: $8 at eyeko.com
Would I Repurchase? No

WHAT EYEKO SAYS: Put tired eyes to bed and banish blemishes. Featuring a skin friendly formula combining purified water and jojoba for colour that glides on for a seamless finish and stays put. "It's easy to fake a good nights sleep with this luminous concealer with a silky finish for wide awake eyes in an instant."

PROS
+ The packaging makes it convenient for ladies on the go.
+ Surprisingly, the consistency is nice. It's not too creamy, but not too thin. I think the right consistency for covering blemishes.
+ Comes with a built in brush, so you don't have to use your fingers.
+ Reasonably price at $8

CONS
+ It only comes in one shade.
+ You can't see how much product is left.



COMMENTS: Overall I like the Eyeko concealer. It has a great consistency and I love that you can throw it in your purse! But the deal breaker for me is that it only comes in one shade! And it's wayyy to light for me! If they produced more shades I think I would definitely repurchase this. Here's some comparison swatches with the eyeko concealer vs. my MAC Studio Finish Concealers.



But since I hate letting any products go to waste, I got this tip from Tina Marie! Use concealer that is too light for you to highlight under your brows after filling them in. It conceals those tiny hairs that are too small/thin to pluck out but are still slightly noticeable. After highlighting under the brows, I continue with my normal eyeshadow application and apply eyeshadow highlighter over the concealer.


Eyeko concealer applied under brows


concealer blended out

If you are one of the fairer skinned ladies out there, I think this is a great concealer to keep in your make up bag. But if you're darker toned like me, you can skip this!

BONUS: Purchase $25 or more of Eyeko products and enter code E129 and you'll receive a free full-size Eyeko product and also enjoy free shipping worldwide!

PRODUCT REVIEW: MAC Moisturelush Eye Cream

Product: 2/5
Packaging: 3/5
Quality: 2/5
Overall: 2.3 out of 5
Price: $30 at MAC and maccosmetics.com

WHAT MAC SAYS: A richly hydrating eye cream with optical effects. Rejuvenates, reconditions and refreshes. Visibly lifts and firms skin around the eyes: helps reduce early morning/late night puffiness and balance the skin’s moisture levels. Provides long-lasting moisture.

PROS: You know how much product you have left with the pot packaging and it generally does what an eye cream is supposed to do - moisturize your eye area.

CONS: It's not moisturizing enough for my eyes. $30 is a little on the expensive side.

COMMENTS: I'm still on the search for my HG eye cream so I thought, why not try MAC? I've been using this eye cream for 2 months and this product totally disappointed me. I have a little patch of eczema that goes away and comes back on my left eye (I know it sounds gross! But it's not that bad) and I think this irritated it more than it helped. I was using Clinique's Eye Cream before this and I think that worked A LOT better than this one did. It's also more expensive than Clinique's (I can get it for $22 at the BX on base lol) and they have the same amount of product. I will definitely not be buying this cream again.

Miss Jessie's Stretch Silkening Creme...an Update

Hey guys! So I tried this MJSSC and here are my thoughts. I like it for the most part. It has a nice scent and it is pretty light weight. This is not a product I would use every day or week because it does have some hold and it left a bit of a film on the ends of my hair. However, I would use it again to create a certain style or look that I only planned to wear for a special occasion or something like that.
I used it on my hair once and on my mom's hair once, both were two-strand twists. My mom's hair came out pretty nice; her twist-out was defined and shiny. On my hair, I washed, conditioned, detangled, and twisted using only the MJSSC to style. I liked how it defined the curls around my hairline and it laid down the frizz that I get at the crown area. I sat under a hooded dryer to help speed the drying process. Once I took it down, I actually did not wear it out but I pinned it up. That was the night I met up with Curly Nikki and some other lovely natural ladies for dinner. CN posted some shots on her site here. I kept my hair pinned up for the rest of the week so I was not able to really see how it would feel after leaving it out a few days. I have not used it since then so the next time I will try either a braid-out or a twist-out with it.

So to sum it up here were the pros/cons for me:





Pros:
Scent
Texture
Definition
Slight flexible hold
Smooth fly aways

Cons:
PRICE!
Slight film