I Tried It: Silky Sexy Hair's Conditioning Styler & Soy Renewal Argan Oil

As part of my ongoing quest to repair and strengthen my hair, I tried two new products: Silky Sexy Hair Conditioning Styler Lite and Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Argan Oil.  I'd used the agran oi for a couple weeks and then swapped it out with the silky sexy product for a few days to see how I liked it.  And of course, I used the "lite" version for my thin tresses.  Here's what Sexy Hair says about both products:

Conditioning Styler Lite is a lightweight leave-in conditioner with styling properties for fine/normal hair types.  Its silk-infused formula delivers a lightweight hold and conditioning properties to leave hair soft and silky.

Soy Renewal is a nourishing styling treatment made with Moroccan Argan Oil that addresses moisture, frizz, smoothness, elasticity and shine concerns.  Also protects from environmental stresses and reduces drying time.

The verdict?  I liked them both, but the conditioning styler not as much as the argan oil.  It's easy to use and glides on easily.  It also works well with other products and doesn't build up a residue, but it just didn't feel as nourishing as the soy renewal.  It's really nourishing and helps with frizz and the same time, although is can be greasy, so I'm always careful to apply only a small amount.

Both products would be great for giving your hair an extra dose of tlc.  Which one do you prefer?

I Tried It: L'Oreal Revitalift Miracle Blur

One of my favorite things about subscribing to beauty magazines are the beauty product coupons and new product samples that come tucked inside.  When flipping thorugh a recent Allure issue, I came across a sample of a new product: L'Oreal Paris Miracle Blur.  What is it?  I had to look as I had no idea, but it sounded fun.  The postcard the sample was attached to claimed it was a "30 second miracle."  Here's what the L'Oreal site says:

What is Miracle Blue?  It's NOT a moisturizer, it's MORE than a primer; it's the first of-its-kind Instant Skin Smoother. 

What does it do?  Miracle Blur instantly erases the look of lines wrinkles, and pores.  Skin instantly looks and feels smooth, leaving a velvet soft matte finish.

When should I use it?  Apply daily after moisturizing as the final step in every woman's skincare routine.  Wear alone for a matte finish, or wear under makeup for smoother application and wear.

My review?  Their description is surprisingly accurate.  It's thick, really thick, silky and leaves a velvetly finish that sits on top of the skin (even more so than a primer.)  It's smooth and not at all greasy and was indeed matte.  Although it didn't help with my redness at all, it seems like it would be great for wrinkles.

My verdict?  The $20-$25 price tag seems a bit steep, but I like the product.  If I was looking for a new priming or line filling product, I would definitely pick this up.

Have you tried it?  What products do you use under your makeup?
~Kirsten

I Tried It: Covergirl BlastFlipStick Lipstick

A well known makeup artist trick is to apply more than one shade of lipstick, creating a custom blended color.  I do this a lot, so I was pleased to be invited to try the new CoverGirl Flipstick for free as a part of BzzAgent.  I received three different colors (Perky, Minx, and Stunner.  The last of which I gave to my coral loving mother in law).

Each tube comes with a color on each end, one matte-ish and one with a pearl-iscent shimmer.  It's awfully convenient, having to only flip the wand back and forth to mix colors.  Although I found the shimmery color too shimmery for my taste.  The best look I found with them was to apply the matte color on the whole of the lips and then the shimmer shade on the cupid's bow and very center of the bottom lip (it makes them look a bit more plump).  The quality is what you would expect from Covergirl: decently intense color, smooth application, although not overly long lasting.  And the taste (because let's be honest, we all end up eating our lip color accidentally) isn't offensive.

The verdict?  Not a do over for me as I prefer an uber matte look for lips (on tap for Spring 2013 trends), but if you like playing with colors try them out.  They'd also be perfect for travel or schlepping back and forth in your bag to save space.

Have you tried the flipstick?

I (won) Tried it: Laura Mercier Makeup

I won a Pinterest contest!!!  My first ever from Laura Mercier and Marie Claire.  I "Pinned it to win it" from their Project Runway Allstars Season 2 board and they gifted me with makeup from the winning look of the Project Runway Finale!

Not going to lie...I was pretty pumped, and it was really exciting to open that box full of makeup when it came in the mail. I've had limited experience with luxury makeup brands, save from the occasional Lancome and Elizabeth Arden, and  I've never tried Laura Mercier, so I was looking forward to giving it a go.

Here's what was in my winning package:
moisturizer with spf, primer, foundation, two types of concealer, powder, blush, eye liner, eye shadow, and a tube of lipstick.

My thoughts? It's great makeup!  The foundation is rich and creamy, the concealer colors are great and easy to apply, and the powder disappears perfectly.  I found myself using less powder eye shadow than I usually did, but I was most impressed with the primer.  I'd only tried a couple primers and didn't care for them, but Laura Mercier's primer went on like a dream.  It was creamy, but not overly so, didn't feel like I was smearing silicone on my face, and let my foundation slide on easily.  I can definitely see its appeal for long days and keeping makeup in place, although it does take a little getting used to as it's an extra layer I wasn't used to applying.

At left, my new stash!  The potted concealer and lip color are my favorite.  Their packaging is also extra lush, it has a nice weight and texture and almost all of the compacts come with mirrors.  It looks like the eye liner could be refillable too.  No doubt I'll be looking for upcycling ideas when all the makeup is gone, it'd be a waste to recycle such gorgeous packaging.

Check out the look I created with my Laura Mercier!  Not included for my daily makeup look was mascara and an eyebrow tint/wax, so I added those and the only other makeup I added to my look was prepping my eyes with a shimmery nude shadow.

I'd definitely recommend their makeup.  I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend $43 on foundation, but I am tempted to try out some of their other products.  If you're looking to start with their line, check out their awesome Flawless Face Finder, an interactive quiz to match you with their products.


A huge thank you to the ladies at Laura Mercier for all the makeup!  More looks sure to come.  Have you tried Laura Mercier?
~Kirsten

I Tried It: Using Blush as Eye Shadow

I've read a couple of times that you can double blush as eye shadow in a pinch and was always skeptical, so I thought I'd give it a try.  I used my Heather Pink blush from Laura Mercier (that I got free in a Pinterest contest) and applied it with my normal eye shadow brush.  It worked...alright.  It took several layers of color.  The formula was a little crumblier than I was used to, so I had to sweep fallen blush out from under my eyes a couple times and rinse out my contacts that had gotten little pink flecks stuck on them.  But the end result looked good.

The verdict?  Not a fabulous idea, but works okay.  If you're in a pinch or desperately need a color it would work, but I'll stick to eye shadow from now on.

How'd I create this look?  I swept on a shimmery nudish-pink shadow on my brow bone from nose to outer corner, then applied a couple layers of the blush powder on each eye from lash line and into the crease.  Then I wet the brush and applied 2-3 more layers to get a really poppy pink color.  I lined my lids with a wet angled eye liner brush dipped in grey shadow and piled on mascara.

Have you ever tried blush on your eyes or multi-tasked a makeup product?  Leave a comment and let me know how it went for you!

I Tried It: The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara

I'm always in search of the perfect mascara...and I've tried a lot.  My most consistent favorite has been Lancome's Hypnose, but I only buy it on occasion as a special splurge.  I've tried and found flaws with lots of mascaras...Covergirl's Eco Mousse version (too smudgy), Maybelline's Great Lash (didn't give me enough volume),  Lancome Defininils (again not enough volume), that big orange Lash Blast tube by Covergirl (the brush was just way too big), NYC's Show Time (actually not too bad).  So it was a shock to me to pick up this weirdly named tube of mascara and actually like it.

Correction.  I love it: Maybelline's The Rocket Volum' Express Mascara.  It applies effortlessly, it's easy to apply a coat or two and doesn't flake or get too crusty.  The large brush has lots of tiny bristles that make wiggling it to coat the base of your lashes super easy and it works on bottom lashes really well.  A small feature that's actually really cool?  The top of the brush is actually flat, so when you pull it out of the tub and have to wipe off the excess, it's really easy and mess free to do.  I opted for the waterproof version since my eyes tend to water a lot and all the non-waterproof mascara I've used just end up messy.  Oh, and did I mention it's easy to take off at the end of the day?

I think this will be my new go to mascara for a while.  What's your current favorite mascara?

I Tried It: A (Healthy Hair) Pinterest Updo

As I've been embarking on my Hair Repair Challenge, I've been trying to wear my hair down as much as possible, but as I was headed to ballet class, I needed an updo.  Since I created a Pinterest board to help me with some healthy hair style and updo inspiration (check it out here) and I decided to take a stab at creating one of my pins.  The style (shown at left) seemed simple and looked great.  Here were the instructions that came with it:

Try this. 2 elastics. 1 at the scalp: high pony second at the end of the hair. Join the ends into the center of the first and pin. Do this all too often, get compliments all the time.

Seemed easy enough.  So I grabbed two elastics and some hair pins and got started.  After drying my hair I used an anti-frizz serum and spritzed the pony tail with some dry shampoo and a few sprays of beach spray to give it some texture, then did a touch of back combing at the base with a small, packed bristle brush for volume.  I used five hair pins (the open, "U" shaped kind, NOT bobbi pins...Patrick has banned me from those).  Since I would be dancing, I wanted it to stay in-place, but if you're creating this look for "normal life" you could get away with one or two at the point you tuck it in. Then I sprayed the crap out of it with hair spray.  It was easy enough to create, but didn't look as fabulous as the photo.  I think the model in the photo was blessed with MUCH thicker hair than I (at least that's my 
excuse). 

Here's what I ended up with.  See, the blonde chick above has WAY more hair than I do.  But, it's not too bad don't you think?  Have you ever tried a hairstyle you found online or on Pinterest?  How did it go?  Leave a comment and let me know! 
~Kirsten 

I Tried It: Goody Spin Pin - Spiral Hair Pins

As you know, I'm venturing on a hair repair challenge, ie - operation anti bobbi pin, which means I can't use bobbi pins anymore.  So Patrick handed me a box of these spiral hair pins to try.  He said it's the clamping action of the bobbi pin that makes them bad for hair, so these would be just fine as long as I used them on dry hair.  I'd seen the Goody Simple Styles Spin Pins before but never been tempted enough to try them since I had been successfully creating buns with bobbi pins for year, but I decided to give them a go.  

Here's what they claim to do:

The Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin allows you to easily achieve three chic updo styles.  Simpley twirl your hair up and spin the two spin pins in for a perfect undone bun, side bun or double bun!  Does the work of 20 bobbies.

My verdict?  A fail.  Here's what I managed to create with them:

While I was able to create a small bun and get it to stay in place with the spiral pins, it didn't stay that way for too long.  It definitely doesn't do the work of 20 pins...more like 2-4 pins worth of work.  I'll give them this though, they stayed in place, it was just my hair that slid out.   I have fine hair and even though I dry shampooed and beach sprayed it, after about an hour my hair just slipped out into sort of a limp, lame, non-puffy bun...and all I did was go to the grocery store.  It definitely wouldn't have made it through a dance class!

What I did like about them?  They're textured and incredibly easy to slide in.  Maybe some of my thick haired friends will have better luck.  I wouldn't recommend buying these to anyone with thin or fine hair, but with some thicker hair or lots of product and teasing they could work.  Maybe I need to try the mini size?

Have you tried the spin pins?  What did you think?

~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray

He Tried: Patrick
Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray Protective Primer

Kirsten let me know she was going to be doing a show and wanted a recommendation for a product to use to protect her hair from the intense curling that would be done. I wanted her to try this spray because I knew it was light weight enough to use on a daily basis and not build up. Plus, it would protect her color at the same time. This is one of my "go to" products on color treated tresses.

She Tried: Kirsten
Patrick gave me a bundle of products to check out and take with me on my last show trip (read about the details here).  In the bundle was a bottle of Pureology Fortifying Heat Spray Protective Primer.  I admit, at first I was skeptical about adding another product to my hair before blow drying or styling.  I'm not the best with blow outs and I didn't want to end up greasy or with limp strands, but my fears proved to be unfounded!  The Pureology Heat Spray was great!  It was light and pleasant smelling, and I didn't even know if was there.  When I spritzed it on my strands before curling it didn't gunk up my curling iron or leave my hair crunchy.  I would definitely recommend this product for anyone who uses a lot of heat.  Like I said, I didn't even know it was on my hair, which for a protecting spray, is the greatest compliment of all!

~Kirsten and Patrick

Have you tried this product?  Leave a comment or post on our facebook page and let us know what you think!

He Tried/She Tried:Finishing Touches

Today's He Tried/She Tried focuses on the final finishing touches of your hair style: hair spray, shine spray, and anti-humidity spray.  We all know that styling your hair is half the battle, what you put of when you've finished is what will help you keep your hair looking fabulous for hours to come.  Read on for three of Kirsten and Patrick's favorite finishing products from the Sexy Hair line.

Sexy Hair All Nighter Hairspray
Patrick:  When Kirsten told me she had a show to do in the summer heat, I knew this would be the Hair Spay that would work best for her. It has a strong hold and is used to create strong memory and remains in tact during an all nighter perfomance. I explained the usage to Kirsten and let her know that it would hold her hair in place and give it a solid finish. I explained that she wouldn't have to worry about her hair falling out of place once styled and finished.
Kirsten: Hair spray is crazy important to me, especially when I'm doing shows, so when Patrick asked me to swap out my Tresseme 24 Hour Body hairspray for his bottle of Sexy Hair Hairspray, I wasn't sure.  My fear proved to be unfounded though, as the All Nighter spray did just what it advertised.  It kept my hair in perfect place.  It does get a little crunchy when you pile it on, but it brushes out quite easily.


Sexy Hair Big Shine Spray
Patrick:   This product is amazing and I knew Kirsten had to try it. It has a hold factor of a 1 and a shine and pliability factor of 9, and places a shine over the hair after, you have styled and finished with hair spray. This is a non-greasy, non-oily shine spray that does not break down product that has been used to finsih. It has a lightweight feel and will not weigh down the hair. Even the most delicate fine hair will benefit from this shine product.
Kirsten:  There's not much to say about this product, it's easy to use, smells pleasant, and leaves your hair with a perfect finish and extra shine!


Sexy Hair Weather Proof: Humidity Resistant Spray
Patrick: This is one of my "go to" products to fight humidity and frizz during the late spring and summer seasons here in Chicago (and all year round too).  This revolutionary product places a protective shield over the hair after you have finished your style.  Because of the technology used to create this product, it can be used to guard against these elements, it will wear on the hair very lightly and not produce a hard feeling.
Kirsten:  Frizzies be gone and stay gone!  This product goes on the hair light, non-sticky, and magically seems to keep your hair in perfect place regardless of rain and humidity!  A must use for outdoor updos.  See more of our thoughts on Weather Proof here.


~Patrick and Kirsten

I tried it: Curly Sexy Hair Shampoo

I was in the market for some new shampoo, so Patrick handed me some bottles of Curly Sexy Hair Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner.  I'm a fan!  The pretty blue bottles are slim and easy to open and contain the sweet smelling shampoo and conditioner.  I've only used it a couple times, so I'm not sure how much it helps my hair curl, but it lathers well and makes my hair feel squeaky clean and soft!  I'll definitely keep it my collection!

What's your go to shampoo?

~Kirsten

I Tried It: Glitter Eyeliner

Part of staying for a few days in a different city that I enjoy is shopping for different types of makeup.  Big box stores each carry different lines of inexpensive, fun makeup.  While in Wisconsin, I met a brand I hadn't seen before at Walmart: Hard Candy.  Their shelves are full of fun colors, glitter filled tubes and pencils with a punk rock feel.  I couldn't resist grabbing a cute little tube of glitter eyeliner: Hard Candy Walk the Line Liquid Eyeliner in Licorice.

The verdict?  A do.  I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.  It's easy to apply with the brush that is attached to the cap and it has the perfect amount of sparkle - not too much for daytime, but enough for going out.  I did have to apply around 3 layers to achieve the look I wanted, but I appreciate a product that you're able to amp up by layering.  It was easy to take off with an eye makeup remover as well.

I'd say it's worth picking up to add a little fun to your look.  It's available in other colors as well and under $5 a pop.

What's your favorite big box makeup item?

~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Silk Bodifier

He Tried - Patrick
Pureology's Silk Bodifier Volumizing Mousse is one my favorite mousses to use. Especially on color treated hair. I asked Kirsten to try out this particular mousse because I knew that it would work great for her texture and protect her colour treatment.

One of my pet peeves about mousse is the one dimensional styling aspect many mousses give. You put it on the hair, and boom, you have one choice. A hard crunchy finish with out the ability to style or blow dry. Pureology's Silk Bodifier Volumizing Mousse does the opposite. It will give the hair volume with a medium hold, shine, and most importantly, protect your colour treated tresses. I explained to Kirsten that it has many diverse styling options. With the diversity of this mousse a person can explore a multitude of different looks.
-Patrick

She Tried - Kirsten
I've become addicted to mousse.  Ever since reading about the return of mousse in a few magazines, I've been using it and loving it, so when Patrick handed me a bottle of Pureology's Mousse, I was happy to try it.  There's not much to say about this product other than I love it!  It's silky, soft, and completely non-sticky (which is a BIG selling point for me, I hate being sticky).  It smells great and applies to hair without creating a sticky or crunchy feeling.  Bonus points, the product brushes right out without any tangles.   I definitely recommend this product for creating body for almost any hair style!  It's especially nice with updos!
-Kirsten

Have you tried it?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

He Tried/She Tried: Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof

Need a perfect summer frizz solution?  Check out Weather Proof: Humidity Resistant Spray.  It's the latest product to get the He Said/She Said stamp of approval! Read on for the stylist/client point of view of this great product.

Partick - The Stylist
Kirsten called me prior to her trip to Michigan to see family and asked that I style her hair for her fabulous weekend. I agreed and thought about elements that could possibly affect her hair style: Humidity!

I knew that I could get into my styling kit and utilize Sexy Hair's Big Sexy Hair Weather Proof as a finishing solution to avoid humidity. This is one of my "go to" products to fight humidity and frizz during the late spring and summer seasons here in Chicago (and all year round too).  This revolutionary product places a protective shield over the hair after you have finished your style.  Because of the technology used to create this product, it can be used to guard against these elements, it will wear on the hair very lightly and not produce a hard feeling.

I asked Kirsten to take Weather Proof with her on her trip and let me know how it held up. I also let her know that she didn't need to overuse the product for protection. This is definitely one of those cases where "less is more."  Over use of this humidity spray may produce a build up that requires a clarifying shampoo to remove.  Although I have yet to meet anyone that has had this issue, I wanted Kirsten to be prepared. With a lot of professional products, a good use of thumb is "the smaller the bottle, the less you use.  The larger the bottle, the more you use."
Cheers,
Patrick

Kirsten - The Client
Patrick sprayed me up with Weather Proof for the first time when he blew out my hair for a weekend long surprise party on a rainy day.  Take this bottle, he said, and use it again if it gets humid.  But, I was to be careful because overuse would have to be clarified to remove.  Armed with my sample bottle and a slight fear of over application, I went on my way.  It was amazing!  My curly hairstyle lasted and looked lovely through a three hour car ride and a rainy walk into the restaurant.  Frizzies be gone!  I used it once more that weekend a couple days later, and although it wasn't particularly humid, my hair-do stayed perfectly in place and frizz free.  Check out the photo (left) of my fabulous hair-do from Patrick - snapped nearly 8 hours after the original styling - when I was orchestrating a family gift.

I definitely recommend this product.  You'll feel like you aren't putting anything on - the mist is fine like hair spray and it goes on top of your finished style, but it works somehow.  Combine this product with hair spray and you'll be good to go!
~Kirsten

Have you tried Sexy Hair's Weather Proof?  Leave a comment and let us know what you thought.

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Strengthening Control Hairspray

Looking for a new hair spray?  Check out  Pureology Color Stylist Strengthening Control Zero Dulling Hairspray.  See what Kirsten and Patrick think:

Patrick 
Simply put, this is an amazing product that I wanted to share with Kirsten. I explained to Kirsten that she could use this as a finishing spray to control frizz and humidity when she is done styling and that it would also help protect her color. It is a build-able hair spray that allows the user to control how much hold they receive during the finishing process of styling. Pureology products were designed with the color treated person in mind - they're specifically formulated so that the styling products won't harm color. They are gentle on the hair and won't expose the cuticle, which is what affects color treated tresses and creates dulling of the hair color. This is one of my favourite finishing sprays and a must have.
Cheers,
Patrick

Kirsten
Another product Patrick gave me a bottle to try was Pureology's Strengthening Control Hairspray.  There's color treated hair friendly hairspray, who knew?  So I swapped out my Tresseme 24 Hour Hairspray for the Pureology and I liked it.  It's a flexible hold, which was new to me.  I'm usually an Aqua Net style, lacquer up and pin it down kind of girl, but the Pureology was a nice change.

The flexible hold formula is perfect for summer.  It's light weight and perfectly easy to brush out when you're finished.  Plus, you can apply it day after day to dirty hair and it never gets that crunchy, built up feeling.  And the smell - perfect.  It reminds me of being in a salon and that wonderful "I just got my hair blown out" feeling.  I definitely recommend this hairspray if you're looking for a light, flexible hold.

What kind of hairspray do you use?
~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried: Pureology Nourishing Nectar

This week, Kirsten and Patrick give their take on  the Pureology Color Stylist Nourishing Nectar Sculpting Gel.  Read on to see the stylist and client perspectives of this Pureology product:


Patrick Tries
I love Pureology products for color treated hair. These products can also be used on non-color treated hair. They are gentle and safe and don't disturb your fabulous tresses after you have had your color done. When I asked Kirsten to take some sample products to use and see how she liked them, I should have explained to her that this line has a very distinct scent. In looking back, I would have liked to take more time to introduce her to the line, however, I also wanted a very raw and organic review. (Which Kirsten lives up to and gives an honest assessment below). 

The Color Stylist Nourishing Nectar is a product that you may use on it's own to prep your hair for a blow out. You can also utilize this product as a cocktail with other Pureology Color Stylist products to add shape control and maximum volume, but sometimes hairdressers like to think out of the box.  For this product I like the way it air drys on the hair and love the feeling you get as a result of allowing the hair to dry naturally. Yes it does have a "funny color," as Kirsten mentioned: but don't worry, these are pearlescent beads designed to give the hair shine as should have explained that further to Kirsten so she wasn't confused.  Read on for her review.
Cheers,
Patrick

Kirsten Tries
Apparently, when you color your hair, they make special color treated products to go with it.  I'd known you needed to use shampoo for color treated hair, but I had no idea they made gel?!  So Patrick handed me his bottle of Nourishing Nectar Gel and asked me to try it and see what I thought.

The pros?
~ It's a great gel, it holds well and can take care of my face framing frizzies with only a small drop.
~The packaging is attractive.  If you've read my I Tried It: Baby Lips post, you know I'm a sucker for pretty packaging.
~ There's brushability.  There's no nasty snarling of your hair when it comes time to brush it out.

The Cons?
~ The Pureology website says you have to use it and then blow dry, and I don't blow dry often, so it makes me feel like I'm not using it to its fullest potential.
~ I'm not a fan of the smell.  It's probably because I'm used to more flower-y sweet or no smell gels, but there's just something off about the smell of this one.  It's not bad, just unusual.  That said, you don't smell it once it's in your hair.
~ It has a yellow paired with and metallic pink pearl look.  It's just an odd color.  Is it going bad?  Should it be that color?  I have no idea.

Overall, it was a fine product and I used it several times.   Would I purchase a bottle of it, probably not.
~Kirsten

Check out our other He Tried/She Tried Posts
Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray

I Tried it - Baby Lips

Packaging sucker here again - The pretty colors and cute bubbly writing - I've been looking at ads for these brightly colored balms for a while and when Maybelline was buy one get one 50% off at Ulta, I jumped at the chance to buy it.  They just look like fun in a tube.

I popped it out of the package right after I purchased it and swiped some on my lips.  I like it!  It's soft and buttery and gives off a subtle color.  I purchased the Peach Kiss color, number 030.  These little guys are popular - I only have two colors to choose from.  Peach Kiss ended up being the perfect nude.  You don't need a mirror to put it on because it's so waxy, plus it has spf packed inside - great for my upcoming beach trip!  Baby Lips are a great option for getting spf protection, chap stick, and color all in one.

The Verdict?  A do.

~Kirsten

I Tried It - DIY Sugar Scrub

My DIY Sugar Scrub

I always read in magazines, exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate.  They say it does wonders for making your skin look lustrous, glowing, and healthy.  So I decided to try it out myself.  I opted for the eco-friendly route and made my own DIY (do-it-yourself) sugar scrub with ingredients from my kitchen.  After some googling, here's the recipe I came up with:

Sugar (white or brown)
Olive Oil
Honey
Lime Juice (or lemon juice)

I mixed about 3/4 cup of sugar with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, a squeeze of honey and a dash of lime juice.  I definitely winged it, just dashing things in a bowl and stirring to combine.

It worked wonders!  I applied in the shower, rubbed in, and washed off with a wash cloth.  All the magazines' claims were true, a body scrub is the answer for healthy, happy, and soft skin.  I was super soft and smelled yummy, plus I got to feel good about using an all natural product.

The Verdict? A definite do over!

Have you created your own body scrub?  Do you have a favorite store bought scrub?
Leave a comment and let us know!
~Kirsten

He Tried/She Tried - Big SexyHair Volumizing Dry Shampoo

Welcome to the newest He Tried/She Tried!  Last time we tried the Healthy Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, now we're tackling dry shampoo.  Read on for Patrick's take and Kirsten's take on this Sexy Hair product.

He Tried: 

I recommended Kirsten use Sexy Hair’s Big Sexy Hair Volumizing Dry Shampoo because she does not like to shampoo on a daily basis, which is totally fine.  Even people with curly hair don’t need to shampoo on a daily basis - I have curly hair clients that don’t shampoo at all. They simply use conditioner in place of shampoo and say they love the result on their hair. (Stay tuned for another post about products by Sexy Hair that offer an alternative solution for curly hair clients who like to shampoo and condition).

Sexy Hair’s Volumizing Dry Shampoo has the ability to absorb dirt, excess oil and product buildup. Knowing Kirsten’s hair and her regimen, I thought this product would make a fabulous addition to Kirsten’s daily routine of caring for her hair. I also mentioned that I use this often to prep the hair for Up-Do’s. It is quick, easy and efficient. It leaves the hair feeling clean and adds volume to the hair.

The instructions that I gave Kirsten to use the product were very simple. I told her to hold the can 6 to 8 inches away from her hair and spray directly onto the scalp area, focus the product where she tends to be oily and that would keep the oil at bay between shampoos. Since this product won't build up on the hair so it can be used daily.  Here's what Sexy Hair has to say...

BIG VOLUMIZING DRY SHAMPOO
What it is:
Use on dry hair to absorb dirt, excess oil and product build-up. Creates volume, provides UV protection and helps maintain color by lengthening time between washes.

How to use:
Shake can well then hold 6-8 inches away from head. Spray lightly onto scalp, focusing on roots. Leave on for two minutes and brush out excess product.


She Tried
Patrick handed me a sample size bottle of Big Sexy Hair's dry shampoo and told me to give it a try and let him know what I thought.  I'm not a big proponent of dry shampoo as I usually wear my hair up everyday and if I do wear my hair down, I usually shampoo it before hand.  But I decided to give it a try - and I'll admit - I actually liked it.

I made sure to follow the instructions on the back of the bottle, which is very important.  Shake, spray on roots, and let sit for two minutes.  Letting it sit before brushing is VERY important.  Don't try this and brush your hair before letting the product soak in - You'll feel silly with hair sections every which way and all stiff, but trust me, it's worth it.  After the two minutes I brushed my hair lightly and I was moderately impressed with the results.  At the crown, the hair was lifted and had much more volume than it did before.  The back section of my hair that is always my problem spot was still a little oily, but this bottle of dry shampoo worked exponentially better than the Treseme bottle I had used a few times that was stashed in my cabinet.

My only disappointment was that it didn't smell nearly as nice as the beach spray I had tried before.  I can't say I'll be a dry shampoo convert, I still prefer to wear my hair down after washing, but I would definitely use this product again.

Have you tried the Sexy Hair dry shampoo?  Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

~Patrick & Kirsten

I Tried It - SatinLips Lip Mask

Confession time - I bite my lips on occasion, so sometimes they get a little chapped and peel-y.  So during a recent makeup chat with a friend that sells Mary Kay, it was suggested that I try the Mary Kay SatinLips Lip Mask.  Why not?  For only $9.50, I purchased this cute little tube and started my lip mask morning regimen.  After I moisturize my face, I slide on some of the Satin lips, do my makeup and then wipe it off.  Easy.

It has a beachy feel, with it's little granules feeling like sand, but it's pleasant smelling and smooth to apply.  Sometimes absorbs into my lips almost all the way if I leave it on too long, but when I wipe it off, my lips instantly feel smoother.  After using it for about a week, my lips were noticeably smoother and not as chapped or peeling as they used to be.  I follow it up with their Timewise Age-Fighting Lip Primer before applying lipstick, but this product doesn't seem to do as much as I expected.

Verdict: The lip mask, I love!  I will continue to buy this great little tube.   It's an easy to use, pleasant to use product that helped solve a major beauty problem I was having.

~Kirsten

Do you use a lip mask or lip scrub?  What are your favorite brands?