Awesome Product Alert: Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner

I think the most amazing product I discovered this year is Suave's Dry Shampoo , which, by the way, I use all the time and I'm still on my first can---but I just had to share this new product with you because I have really been enjoying it.

It's called Organix Ever Straight Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner.  Don't let the name fool you---I don't find it to really be straightening, but it is really smoothing.

I have used this a few times now and I've just found that it makes my hair soft and smooth. In this humidity, it's always a bonus to find a product that can do this.

The best part? It smells amazing. Like sweet coconut.  And the smell LASTS. The other day, while I was working out, one of my workout buddies even noticed the smell. It is not strong or overbearing, but a fan was blowing on us and I was like "mmmm I can smell my conditioner"---and she said she smelled it too and it smelled like the beach!

I got mine at WalMart for just under $8.00 but it seems that Amazon sells it cheaper!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Rave Review: HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

***This is a re-post of my review of the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer. Some of you may know that blogger failed and crashed last week and everyone who posted Wednesday lost their posts.  Unfortunately, a lot of us were unable to have ours restored. I want to give a big thank-you to Natalia (http://nataliavalerieblog.blogspot.com/) for sending me the text from this entry so I didn't have to re-write it. You made my week!***

I have been ridiculously excited to write this review because when a product is awesome---and I mean really awesome, I want to shout from the heavens and let everyone know about it (so you can experience the awesomeness too!)

About a month ago, I was contacted by Misikko.com---they sell CHI flat irons and other brands as well as blow dryers. I was actually familiar with their products---I won a blog contest a long time ago where I got one of their Hana flat irons (the baby pink one that I have).

Now, I'm going to preface this post by saying that I don't accept most products that are offered to me to review.  I really try to focus on only reviewing products that I either purchase on my own, or that I think my readers would be interested to know about.  Since I knew the Misikko brand and had been using their flatiron for over 6 months, I was comfortable reviewing the hairdryer since I felt familiar with the line and quality of the products.

The hairdryer I am reviewing is their brand new Italian Design Hair Dryer called the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer.

The dryer came beautifully packaged with a bunch of extras---shampoo, styling products and styling tools galore!  Those additions were so sweet and very much appreciated---but what I actually enjoyed most was the hand-written note I got along with my package. Not many people take the time to do that these days and the note was very genuine and you could tell that the person who wrote the note read my blog.

One of my extra perks was a set of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny shampoo and conditioner (conditioner pictured below). I really like it and have been using it for a few weeks now:

Here are my thoughts (more like raves!) on the hair dryer:

• Beautiful, sleek design---okay, so how pretty things are doesn't matter if they don't work---but when something is pretty and works great, then that my friend, is a bonus
 

• It's easy to hold---it's not too heavy and it fits well in my hand
  
  
• It's SO  powerful---here's where it gets good ladies---this thing is like nothing I've ever experienced in a hair dryer. I can only describe it as "turbo power." This hair dryer has an incredibly powerful force to it---you can feel how strong the air is that's coming out of it...which brings me to...
   
• Faster drying time---because of its power, my hair dries faster than before
  
  
• No overheating/burning---my old hair dryer sometimes felt like it got too hot and I'd sometimes smell burning hair---that has never happened with this hair dryer---it gets hot, but not so blazingly hot that it scorches your scalp or hair.
  
  
• The cord is SUPER long. There's nothing worse than a cord that's too short and this is the longest cord I've ever had on a hair tool and I absolutely love it. I watch the Today Show every morning and it's nice to be able to travel from my bathroom to my bedroom and be able to catch glimpses of the show as I'm drying my hair.
  
  
• The COOL setting is fantastic. It's perfect for setting your style.
  
  
  The ONLY con I could find was that the buttons were a bit confusing to figure out at first (thought admittedly, I didn't read the instruction manual, I just assumed what each button was for)  Basically there are 3 sets of buttons---the bottom one is for heat levels (red), the middle (blue) is for power level and the circle button at the top is the toggle between hot and cold.
  
  
  
  
  My hair after a blow-out with the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer.
  

You can buy the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer here.

xoxo,


Veronika.


PS- if you have any questions about the hairdryer I am happy to answer them! Please send them to my formspring page or comment below!

FTC Disclaimer: I was sent this hairdryer by Misikko for consideration.  My review is based on my personal experience with the product and I am not being compensated to write it.

The Product You Never Knew You Needed (Because it Didn't Exist): Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara Review

Do you ever buy a new product and wondered how you ever lived without it?  Perhaps it tamed your frizzy hair, added a curl to your lashes or made you smell like a beautiful spring day.  Whatever that miracle product is for you---did you ever think "why didn't I use this sooner?"

I know I've felt like that about a lot of my holy grail products, but what I've never really felt is a "why didn't anyone think of this before?"(though, I have to admit when flat irons became all the rage, I wondered why they were never popular before and how I had lived without one.)

Today's post, my friends, is about Clinique Bottom Lash mascara.  I think anyone who brushes off this product as a "gimmick" needs to take another look and discover the awesomeness of this product.

To the people who argue it's just another mascara, I beg to differ.  The brush is teeny tiny. Like as small as the length of your pinkie nail tiny (or even smaller than that!)

TINY!!!

Bigger isn't always better, I've learned, especially when it comes to our bottom lashes. I used to use regular mascara on my bottom lashes, but now I understand why Clinique invented this mascara and brush. It really does make it easier to get at all of those tiny little hairs without getting it all over your skin or it becoming too clumpy. It separates the lashes and makes them long and pretty.

I would love to post better photos, but I took these after being at work all day. I assure you, it looks much better in person and works like a dream. It also stays on forever. It's not waterproof, but it's pretty resistant to smudging. I find I need makeup remover to get it all off (which I use anyway because I only use waterproof mascaras). 

I'm so very glad I got this product, and with a price point of $10, you just can't lose.  I 100% recommend it and hope you'll make it part of your collection too :)

Why hadn't they thought of this before!?

xoxo,

Veronika.

Product Rave: Living Proof's "Full" Line

***We are still in Paris but I wrote this last week so the blog could be updated a bit while we were traveling!***

Product rave alert!  I was lucky enough to score one of the Today Show deals on the Living Proof line. I got three products from their FULL line all for $10 ($5 of that was shipping!)

I was excited to try this volume/thickening line because I remember being really disappointed in their frizz products (I had tried the frizz styling cream and didn't like the results.)

The best part about the shampoo and conditioner is that they are sulfate free. I started to use the Pureology line for that reason and was thrilled to discover that the Living Proof line was also free of sulfates---but this shampoo lathers like it does have sulfates which is awesome.  I find the Pureology shampoos take a little more effort to get a great lather going but the Living proof shampoo lathers very easily---I would have never thought it was sulfate free if I hadn't read the label.

One con of this product is that it has a weird lemon-peppery after-smell to it. I can't quite explain it...the products all have a lovely lemon scent...but there is this strange black pepper after-scent which mixes with the lemon.  I find the smell does stay in my hair after I've washed it (because the thickening lotion I apply on towel-dried hair has the same smell) but it fades significantly and it quite pleasant when hair is dry. But yes...the peppery thing is a bit odd.

I must say I love this line. The shampoo makes my hair feel super-clean and the thickening lotion is lovely.  I just enjoy the entire line and believe it adds volume to my hair.  I don't know that my hair is thicker when I use it, but the texture is nice and overall feels good---and because it's volumized, it probably looks thicker.  I've actually been using this line every time I wash my hair since I've gotten it.  I like it as much as or maybe even a tiny bit more than Pureology.  That could change over time---I'm a big believer in switching up shampoos every few months.

Have you tried anything from the Living Proof line?  Share your thoughts in the comments below!

xoxo,

Veronika.

FTC: I was not paid to review this product.  I bought this product with my own money because the Today Show had an awesome deal on it. 

My Top Mascara Picks: Dior, L'Oreal, CoverGirl and Make Up For Ever

I've been on a roll lately with my product reviews so I thought I would continue my review-a-thon with a post about my favorite mascaras.  Plural, because, uh, I love too many of them to choose just one.

From L-R
(please note that I only use waterproof mascaras. I don't like any formulas that aren't waterproof)

Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara, Waterproof, Very Black
The CG Lash Blast is a great mascara overall. I wouldn't say it's my favorite of all of the ones I own, but I love it. It goes on nicely, doesn't clump and defines, thickens and lengthens lashes. It's a great bet if you're trying to find a great drugstore mascara. I tend to like a dry formula and this is dry, but not as dry as some of the other mascaras I love.

DiorShow Iconic Mascara, Waterproof, Black
This mascara, in my opinion works best on the lower lashes.  I actually only use it for that. There's something about the way the brush is shaped and the formula that is just an excellent fit for defining those lower lashes. it stays on all day, doesn't budge and creates separated, pretty lower lashes without clumps.  Like I mentioned, I don't use this on my upper lashes, because I find other formulas work better for that.  The brush is similar to the lash blast in that it's that rubbery plastic material with those stubby-like bristles.

DiorShow Mascara, Waterproof, Black
DiorShow was the first luxury mascara I ever bought.  I think the massive brush is what makes this a standout product (it also has a rose water smell but after awhile you don't notice it at all.)  I think this mascara has everything you'd want in a mascara- length, staying power, thickness.  It really creates those long, lush lashes we all hope for.  It takes some getting used to at first because the brush is so big, but it's worth it!

L'Oreal Volume Collagen Mascara, Waterproof, Blackest Black
This mascara is definitely a Holy Grail one for me.  It really creates very full, thick, lovely lashes.  The brush is different---the bristles are kind of all over the place going in different directions which I think it why this mascara really gives a gorgeous look to the lashes.  I can achieve thickness with this mascara in just one coat.  I like big hair, and I like big lashes---and this delivers---volume, thickness and overall just perfect lashes. This is a must-try, IMO.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash, Waterproof, Black

My newest addition, this mascara surprised me (pleasantly.)  I was a little skeptical but after reading all of the rave reviews I just had to try it during Sephora's F&F 20% off sale.  I'm so glad I did.  Out of all of my mascaras, this one definitely gives the most "feathery" lash look. I also notice that it seems to hold curl in my lashes really well.  It doesn't give quite the thickness of some other formulas I use...but it more than makes up for it because of the unique, soft, feathered appearance it gives to lashes. I'm not really sure how this formula creates that look---maybe the brush or the mascara itself, but I really do enjoy it and am glad I purchased it.

I hope this entry was helpful to anyone looking for a new mascara, or on the fence about trying a new product. What are YOUR favorite mascaras?  Share them in the comments below :)

xoxo,

Veronika.

Requested: Sigma Makeup Brush Review

I got my Sigma Brushes about a year ago and I've been requested many times to give a review on them and I'm finally getting around to it!

I bought one of their brush kits that had both face and eye brushes. As you all know, I'm not big on eye makeup during the day (aside from eyeliner) so I didn't make use of as many of the eye brushes, but I wanted to give you a visual of which brushes I use the most:

(From L-R):

Sigma SS 190- foundation brush (I use this to apply concealer to larger areas)

Sigma SS 194- concealer brush (for spot-use of concealer/smaller areas)

Sigma SS 224- blending brush- I use this to blend my YSL Touche Eclat or other under-eye concealer

Anastasia Brow Brush (I included this because I didn't get a brush for brows from Sigma)

Sigma SS 150- powder brush (I use this to apply bronzer---it's in bad shape because I abused it for a long time)

Sigma SS 239- eye shadow brush (I use this one to apply MAC's "blanc type" all over my lid---the only e/s I wear on the daily)

Sigma SS 168- blush brush

Sigma SS 209- pointer eyeliner brush (this is the best brush for gel liner applied to the upper lash line)

Sigma SS 266- slanted eyeliner brush (I also use this on my top or bottom lash line)

Overall I find the quality of Sigma brushes to be excellent and I enjoy using them. They are priced incredibly for what you get.  I've had no problems with any of the brushes aside from the powder brush.  I used to use it to apply both powder and bronzer and roughly brushed it on a towel over and over between uses.  That destroyed the bristles a bit, and I blame that on myself, not the quality of brushes.

It looks to me like the kit I got is no longer available the way I got it. I believe I paid about $69 for all of my brushes whereas now you can buy the eye brushes I have for $45 and the face brushes I have for $45. You can check those out here.

I still think these brushes are priced better than MAC brushes. My exceptions when it comes to Sigma brushes is the powder and slanted liner brushes.  I prefer MAC's powder brush (even if I hadn't destroyed my Sigma one) and I prefer MAC's slanted liner brush to apply eyeshadow to my lower lash line.  Otherwise, I love all of my Sigma brushes.

Do you own sigma brushes? What do you think of them?  You can now build your own brush kits on their website too, which I think is a great option, especially for holiday gifts!  I also love that their brushes come with pink handles too (I just had to add that in! they got the pink ones after I already bought mine though!)

I highly recommend Sigma brushes. The price and quality is wonderful and I've enjoyed using them for about a year now.

xoxo,

Veronika.

*disclaimer: This review is my honest opinion based on having used these brushes for the last year.  I am not being compensated for this review and have no affiliation with Sigma Makeup.

Product Rave: Philosophy The Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads

It's not often that I get to rave about a face product because my skin tends to be so sensitive and sometimes breakout prone.  I was really hesitant to try the Philosophy Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads ($35 for 60 at Sephora), but at my last visit with my dermatologist where I had a mole removed (benign, thank God!) I mentioned I was concerned about the texture of the skin on my forehead.

Allow me to elaborate.  Basically, my forehead has this weird texture to it.  It looks kind of bumpy (but not pimples) and the skin gets very flaky and peels off a lot.  I tried to just exfoliate and moisturize and use Tazorac on it, but nothing has worked as well as these peel pads.

The skin there got so bad that when I wore makeup, you could literally see the peeling skin on my forehead. It was so frustrating. My dermatologist mentioned I might benefit from an alpha hydroxy based face wash to exfoliate my skin.

When Sephora had their F&F sale, I decided to try the microdelivery peel pads because they got pretty good reviews. I'm so glad I did!  Now, when I put on my makeup my skin is smoother and softer.  Overall my skin just looks and feels better.

I only use HALF of one pad every night (I cut them in half). I don't feel that you need an entire pad for your face.  After cleansing, I pat my face dry and apply this all over. It's almost like a toner. You might notice your face will feel a little bit sticky as the product is drying but I don't mind that at all because I apply it right before bed. You can also layer other night products on once the peel is dry.

I have noticed that my pores are smaller as well, which is wonderful.

I just wanted to share this with you ladies because I love to rave about an incredible product when I discover one.  For those of you who are Sephora VIB's, they are mailing out 20% off coupons again to be used between November 11-15.  I'm probably going to pick up a few more things including:

Tarte Natural Lip Stain with LipSurgence™ Technology in the color "charmed" (light pink)
Ole Henriksen Ultimate Eye Lift Gel (I've been using a sample of this now at bedtime for about 2 weeks and it is absolutely amazing!!!)

Boscia Luminizing Black Mask (I've heard Tiffany D talk about this product and how incredible it is)
Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash (I've heard such incredible things about this mascara lately)

Do you plan to buy anything else at Sephora with your 20% off coupon?  It's a great idea to use your discount to stock up on Christmas gifts too!

xoxo,

Veronika.

Eyeliner Rave: L'Oreal for the Waterline, HIP Jelly Gloss & Some OOTDs

A week or so ago, I told you lovely ladies about my trip to Walgreens which resulted in the purchase of L'Oreals Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner and L'Oreal's HIP Jelly Balm in "plush."

Well ladies, I am here to report that both products are absolutely wonderful, with the eyeliner being a standout product. 

I've been using the eyeliner on my waterline since the day I got it. But today my friends, this liner proved itself a winner on a whole new level. I did an entire Bikram Yoga class with this stuff on my waterline (I didn't wash my makeup off before I went, didn't have enough time to do that.) The product did travel down a bit from my waterline, but stayed firmly in place on my bottom lash line without smudging or giving me racoon eyes. I couldn't believe it when I left class and looked in the mirror and my face didn't look like a meltdown of makeup. If this stuff can power-through a Bikram class, it might just be an HG product.

So, do I recommend this liner? Absolutely. Keep in mind I have ONLY used this on the waterline. It is very pigmented, easy to apply and the color, like the name suggests, really intensifies your eyes.

 

Here it is on my waterline (this picture was not taken today, but I am wearing the liner in it)

Love it!  I really like the HIP jelly gloss, too. In the pot it looks like a bright baby pink with a bit of a shimmer to it, but the shimmer doesn't show up on the lips (which is a good thing, IMO). It also smells nice and fruity.  Overall, a good buy!

And...there it is on my lips. Just a soft wash of pretty pink color.

I also wanted to show you ladies a top I bought at Marshalls last weekend that I don't think I posted yet. It's a simple, long tunic-style racerback tank. The fabric is heavier, yet sheer. It cost $12.99 and I just wore it with simple black tights to run some errands over the weekend.

So simple! It's such an easy top to just throw over leggings or jeans or to wear with shorts...and you can't beat the price.

I also have an Outfit of the Day from this past Monday:

Top- J.Crew Victoria Ruffle Cami; Skirt- Ann Taylor; Shoes- BCBG

Hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow (Thursday!) 

xoxo,

Veronika.

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