REVIEW: Function of Beauty Shampoo and Conditioner

Packaging - 3 (average) 
Scent - 4 (very good) 
Process - 5 (excellent) 
Effectiveness - 2 (not very good) 
Value - 3 (average)
Overall: 

I was so hyped to try Function of Beauty. It is a personalized shampoo and conditioner, and the only reviews I have found are from people who have been paid or sent free product to promote them. I wanted to try them for myself. Unbiased, unpaid, real. I am going to walk through the whole process and results for you. 

So you start by going onto the website, creating a profile and making your own formula. I like the process itself. It was easy to do, took maybe ten minutes and they asked all the relevant questions. Allergies, sensitivities, hair goals, hair type, etc. They also let you pick your product color (which can be different for your shampoo than your conditioner) and if its pearlized or matte. You also get to choose your fragrance between 4 options (peach, pineapple, floral and eucalyptus) as well as three exclusive scents for those who are yearly subscribers (bubblegum, cedar wood and ocean options) and then there is also a fragrance free choice. You also get to choose on a scale of 1-3 how strong you want the fragrance. So I would have given the fragrance a 3, because I chose peach on the most subtle choice. I like a little fragrance, but not to much. It was SO STRONG. I kept thinking "what would this have been like if I had chosen medium or strong?" BUT the options and the fact that the peach did smell very fresh was worth the extra point to me. 

So then they sent me my shampoo and conditioner. I chose a shampoo and conditioner that were supposed to hydrate and heal my hair, while allowing for volume and movement. The actual packaging was not my favorite. I got both the small travel sizes and the full sizes. The travel sized were in these funky silicone plastic bottles that were super easy to squeeze, but the lids came off a lot, and they weren't easy to put back on. And the product clung to the soft silicone sides. The larger sizes were a clear plastic, they weren't particular easy to squeeze, they were very sturdy. BUT the lids are SO TINY, so you can not store this upside down at all, and this stuff is THICK. So it doesn't come out easily. You have to wait forever for a little to drip on your hands. The lids is metal, it's slippery and has no grip, and it is also made of a material that can rust (not wise for shower products). 

For the actual effectiveness my hair was dry and brittle and my split ends were out of control by the end of 3 weeks of continuous use. I was not a fan at all. There ARE shampoos and conditioners out there that are light weight and hydrating at the same time. So this is possible. With that being said I can adjust the products next shipment until I get it right, but I feel like it's to expensive for that. If you pick up a high ends shampoo and conditioner at Ulta or your local salon you can probably return it if it isn't the right fit, with Function of Beauty you are out of luck until next month. And this stuff is SO expensive. They have a "free returns" policy, but when I forgot to cancel my autoship for the next month they told me that I would have to cancel for the next month and get this one because of the customized nature of the product, and that I would not be able to cancel for this month. So I'm not sure what the "free returns" thing they advertise means. 

The cost is not bad though comparatively. An 8 ounce shampoo and 8 ounce conditioner rings in at $36, and the 16 ounce ones are $49. I do like that they have options for A large conditioner and small shampoo set (since many of us use more of one than the other). But these range from $2.25-$1.53 per ounce. Living Proof (my favorite brand) ranges from $3.25-$2.45. Redken ranges from $1.73-$.93. I would say Function of Beauty isn't quite Living Proof quality or convenience, but it is more on par with Redken. The price is a little to high end for what I got. However what I got is not everyone's experience. I am sure some people nail their formula first try and love it. This is just my experience.  

 

If you want to try Function of Beauty for yourself click here.

Let me know if you've tried it and what you think! 

Rarity Nails vs. Color Street

Honestly, this is one of the hardest battles I have ever done because these two products are almost identical. I do have a favorite, but I really tried to be objective and compare these one at a time in the way I would other brands. In fact I went through and broke down every single area I did during my last brand battle for two nail strip companies. I am going to go through some different factors and dole out the winners for each one and then explain the reasoning. You may want to read my comparison between Color Street and Jamberry, which was done similarly. At the end I will announce the winner of this brand battle. For those of you who don't know, both Color Street and Rarity Nails are 100% Nail Polish Strips that sold by direct sales consultants.

I have had some feedback from sales consultants from Color Street. I am aware that the owner of Color Street has told you all that Rarity Nails and other brands do not offer 100% Nail Polish strips. I went ahead and did my own research by looking up every single ingredient listed in Rarity Nails sets and they are all ingredients commonly found in nail polish, the same as Color Street. Just like there are hundreds of brands of nail polish out there with different formulas, there will be other nail polish strip brands out there with different formulas too! Regardless of semantics, both of these items work similarly, and I will go ahead with my review now.

Variety goes to Color Street. Color Street is a little over a year old now and has 136 designs. Rarity Nails on the other hand is only 4 months old and has 80 options. I remember when Color Street was at that stage and if I believe they had around 50. I have to go off of current numbers for this review but something tells me that in a few months Rarity Nails will have pulled ahead here.

UPDATE - Rarity is now only 6 months old and has 98 options. Color Street has added some options and also discontinued some options so they are down to 131. It looks like my prediction might be right!

If you know me then you know I care about ingredients very much! Rarity Nails and Color Street are both free of Parabens, Formaldehyde, DBP, Toluene, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, and Xylene! Woo! But Rarity Nails beat out Color Street by also being free of Triphenyl phosphate. However I will admit that of all the "toxic" ingredients often found in nail polish, this one is the least worrisome to me. It is used to improve flexibility as well as being a fire retardant. However in a study TPHP was linked to endocrine disruption, and although scientists insist that the amount in nail polish is not harmful, it is always good to be safe.

These two products are easy to use, to remove and they don't require any special glues ore removers. Both are gentle on the nails and honestly, it's a tie as to which brand is better for nail health. Both work wonderfully.

To me Rarity Nails is the hands down winner of this category. They are a little thicker, they stretch better and they don't chip as easily. Even the packaging is less likely to tear and easier to re-seal.When I use Color Street I do tend to tear the nail strips and I often end up tearing them so that they don't evenly cover my nail anymore. I know that is user error in a lot of ways, but the strips are simply flimsier. I don't have that issue with Rarity Nails because they are more durable. 

This one was to close to call. Color Street and Rarity Nails are used the same way and take the same amount of time to apply.

Once again they are used the same way. I wouldn't say that one is easier to apply than the other. I am mostly adding these so that people can see how similar they truly are, as well as because these are areas I have compared other brands in before.

Both Color Street and Rarity Nails are 100% nail polish, but because Rarity Nails are a little thicker, they are also a little harder to remove. Color Street's are absurdly easy to remove. You can use nail polish remover or acetone, wet down a cotton pad and just wipe it right off. With Rarity Nails I did have to use Acetone, polish remover wasn't cutting it. And I definitely had to let the pad sit on my nails for a minute or two. There was no damage or scraping on either side, and neither were hard or time consuming, but in comparison Color Street is the obvious winner here.

Inclusiveness is a weird way of me saying, what all comes with the nails strips? Do I need extra parts? So in the package of Color Street Nail Strips you get 16 polish strips, 2 alcohol wipes and 1 mini nail file. In the Rarity Nails Package you get 18 polish strips, 1 alcohol wipe, 1 mini nail file and 1 double ended orange wood stick.

So first of all the nail files that come in the Color Street ones are garbage in my opinion. I have always used my own because I feel like they don't do anything. The Rarity Nails nail files are a little larger and sturdier. I can use one file for multiple applications. The alcohol wipes are very different too. The Color Street ones are branded with the logo and come with two, while rarity nails uses generic medical looking ones, and it only comes with one. However I feel the color street ones are smaller and dryer than the ones that Rarity Nails have.I have to use one wipe on each hand with color street, and can use the same on both with Rarity Nails.

Then you have the orange wood stick. You guys, this is genius. You really have to push back your cuticle to use these properly or they will look grown out day one. The Color Street doesn't come with anything for that but Rarity Nails includes a pretty nice mini orange wood stick that is double ended! One end is the classic cuticle pusher. The other end is a pointed tip and it works great for pressing down on the edges of your nails firmly and securing them. Rarity Nails has Color Street beat here handily.

Last but not least is value. This is a big one and the major difference between the two honestly. Color Street only has 16 strips per pack, while Rarity Nails has 18. But Rarity Nails are also half the price of Color Street. Color Street ranges from $11 for their solid colors and $13 for their designs, with $14 being the rate for their french manicures. Rarity Nails is $5 across the board. Color Street has a buy 3 get one free deal that puts their sets at $9.75, while Rarity does buy 8 get one free making their sets $4.44. However the sale price of the Color Street ones are still more than the full price of the Rarity sets. Now before you say that that must mean Rarity Nails aren't as high quality, you are wrong. Color Street is owned by Incoco, which is a polish strip brand that also sells at $7.99. Incoco and Color Street are practically identical. So you are paying a premium for the Color Street name when you buy them.


and the winner is.....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

So here is the deal, I am still a fan of color street, I still own a bunch of their product and I like their wraps a lot. BUT because of the high prices I am leaning towards Rarity Nails and will pick them up more often! If you are already a Color Street fan, you may want to try Rarity Nails too! The designs are totally different and you  may end up finding some you are in love with. If you have wanted to try color street but can't afford them, these are a great alternative.

Full disclosure guys, I am going to post an affiliate link and will be getting kickbacks off purchases made through the links to Rarity Nails on this page. Hopefully you don't stone me for it, but I am always transparent with you. You should consider getting onto social media and seeing if you have a friend or family member you could support first, but if not I'd love for you to support me. You can pick up some Rarity Nails for yourself by clicking here. 

You can pick up Color Street Nails here.

REVIEW: Matrix Style Link Skinny Queen

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Scent - 3 (average) 
Heat Protection - 5 (excellent)
Smoothing - 6 (incredible)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Overall:



 The Matrix Style Link has a Blowout line with three different options. I have fallen for the Skinny Queen product. Let's just dive right into the ratings. The packaging isn't my favorite to be honest. I am not a fan of the pink on pink, it clashes, and it looks kind of cheap to me. It did get bonus points for being functional and I really like it when my products can be stored with their cap as the base so the product runs that way. The scent is very faint and kind of has like a water scent, but it's a little more chemically than I'd like. Fortunately it's very faint and you can hardly smell it at all.

This product offers some major heat protection. Myself and my clients that have used it have noticed a big difference in their hair's health. A little goes a decently long way, it's nothing crazy, but you get your money's worth out of the smaller bottle. However the real game changer is it's smoothing power. It really does tame frizz and leave your hair feeling smooth, silky and amazing. I have never seen anything that smooths frizz the way this does. All in all, if you dry your hair at home and struggle with frizz and dryness, I recommend this product for you for sure.

REVIEW: Focallure Beauty Babe Box

Packaging - 3 (average)
Quality of Items - 2 (not good)
Value - 2 (not good)
Overall:
 


I have tried a lot of subscription boxes and I am just not a fan of this one. It's hard to review a subscription box honestly. I am going to just break down each item I got and my thoughts and feeling on the box as a whole.

The whole point of these boxes is to try new and fun things, and to get a really good deal. So for example with Ipsy you pay $10 a month, but you get 5-6 times that are mostly travel sized (once in a while you get a full item) and the value fluctuates from $40-$80. With Boxy Charm you pay $24 a month and you get 5-6 full sized items that are all guaranteed to be high end or indie brands. Your box will always be of a value of no less than $125. So I just wanted to break down what I got and paid for with the Focallure Beauty Babe Box to compare them.

This box is $29 a month. So it is the most expensive subscription beauty box I have gotten thus far. I did get the Beauty Con Box for a while, but it's very different since it's seasonal (4 times a year) as opposed to monthly. It was also only 5-6 full sized items like Boxy Charm. So I am mostly going to compare them to that. In my Boxy Charms some of the things I have gotten included $44 Cover FX Setting Sprays, $35 Moda Makeup Brush Sets, $42 Tarte Eye Shadow Palettes, $39 Becca Pressed Highlighter and more. The box I got from Babe Box just didn't measure up.

I did get 5 items. But they weren't high end. I got a 3 piece liquid lipstick trio from Focallure Beauty. These liquid lipsticks are a decent quality, but the colors were all pretty light pink. These are valued at $11 each and $33 retail price. Not bad right? I also got a SUPER cheap and awful "jelly highlighter" that was bright purple and full of a chunky glitter. I haven't been able to find the brand or product online anywhere, but it's honestly dollar tree quality.I also got a 4 piece brush set. These makeup brushes were a pink, purple and blue ombre bristle set with swirly mermaid-esque handles. They were completely brandless and the bristles were definitely 100% synthetic. It was definitely something I would expect to pick up in a discount bin at a kids novelty store. Not a high end item.  The last item I got was a calming face sheet mask from Tony Moly. I use the I'm Real masks from them all the time and was happy to see this item in the box, but it is one that retails for under $4.

So that was it. I was told there would be 5-6 items, maybe they figured four was fine for this one since there was a brush set and a liquid lipstick set. But to me, three middle ground lipsticks, a cheap sheet mask and 2 dollar store beauty items are not worth $29 at all. I would never subscribe to this box again. I highly recommend against it.

UPDATE: I spent months trying to unsubscribe to find out that when you get your first "free box" you commit to three months paid in the fine print. So if your cancellations aren't working that is likely why!

Thank You ♥

I have not been very consistent with posting over the last week. With Thanksgiving I am super busy in the salon, and I also have had family in town (and have had to prep for that family to come stay with us too). But even though I miss a day here or there I am so very grateful for each and every single on of you.

Without my family, friends, clients and readers I would not be in business. I wouldn't be able to do what I love each and every day. I wouldn't be able to make a living by writing a blog, building confidence, sharing advice and encouraging others. I love everything about my career. I couldn't have any of it without you. My sincerest thanks. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. 

REVIEW: Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo and Conditioner

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Scent - 5 (excellent)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Gentle - 5 (excellent)
Smoothing - 5 (excellent)
Overall:

I was super impressed with the Redken Frizz Dismiss product line. Frirst of all the packaging is super chic. It was a pretty metallic sheen to the bottle with a fun and current gold chevron. It looses points though because I like the cap of the shampoo to be wide enough that it could sit upside down. This on won't because the cap is to narrow. 

It smells AMAZING. It has a warm musk to it that smells like rain on pavement or towels fresh from the laundry. It is amazing and cozy. It hydrates a lot. If your hair is dry and coarse or frizzy, this is for you! Because it is sulfate free it is super gentle on your hair and color safe. It also smooths super well without being super heavy. If you hate the build up the cowashes or no-poos give your hair, but you need frizz control, try this one! It's Dynamite.

Bridal Inspiration

This wedding was so much fun to work on. I had an absolute blast. I am so excited to share the pictures from this and key you in on all the vendors involved. I hope you get inspired by the stunning photos from this wedding.

First of all this venue was INSANE. They just barely opened up in Midway Utah and are the perfect location for your destination wedding. The space is surrounded by mountains, include multiple breathtaking views, balcony, and even has a space for your family to cook meals in and stay the night in the venue. It's just a few minutes away from Park City and is absolutely breath taking. The whole thing is decked out in wrought iron light fixtures, chandeliers, windows and stunning hard wood. They have paid attention to even the smallest of details and you can't go wrong doing your wedding here (call me up for hair and makeup if you do). River Bottoms Ranch in Midway, Utah is now open for business.

this photo is of the bride's room. It was the best Bride's Room I have ever seen. Tons of light, huge, couches, vanities and a balcony too! It was stunning.

Some Classic Cars showed up to show the bride and groom off in style! You can get your own from Something Vintage Something Blue based in Salt Lake City.

 

All these photos were taken by the wonderful Jessica Dawn Studios. She is based in Wyoming, but travels for weddings and events. Her editing style is light, bright and colorful, and she is great at paying attention to all the little details. 

 The Floral Arrangements at this event were stunning. They were done by the incomparable Intrigue Designs. She is based in Maryland, but travels to share her craft, teaches workshops and designs events. You won't be sorry if you work with her. 

 

Good Karma Paper did the invitations, place cards and other printed details. They specialize in unique and stunning paper suits and will add class and elegance to your next event. 

 

Let's talk about this gown though. It was stunning, fit like a glove, and had the finest and most amazing details. Looking for something awe-inspiring for your wedding day? You can't go wrong with Enaura Bridal.

Obviously I did the hair and makeup for this bride. You can check out more of my work on my main website. For those of you who didn't know I am a licensed cosmetologist and traveling hair and makeup artist. I do hair and makeup locally in Utah as well as all over the country. I specialize in Weddings and Events, but I also do work for runways, editorials and more. Check me out at Angela Woodward Cosmetology by clicking here. 

Simply Stunning cake by Flour and Flourish

Rentals from Diamond Rentals in Utah.

This event was styled and planned by Heather Benge of Heather Benge Events. She is based in Texas I believe, but travels internationally to help people have their dream weddings and events.

REVIEW: Rarity Nail Polish Wraps

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Ease of Use - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 4 (very good)
Removal - 5 (excellent)
Variety - 5 (excellent)
Value - 5 (excellent)
Nail Health - 5 (excellent)
Overall:


Nail wraps are all the rage right now, and honestly - I'm so on board! Nail wraps are so much easier and more convenient to use, they are faster than classic polish and several nail wraps come from direct sales companies, which means you are supporting a friend or family member when you buy them. It's a win all around. I have been a long time fan of Color Street, so when I heard a new 100% polish, non-toxic nail wrap direct sales company was starting up, I had to try them! This post will specifically talk about Rarity Nails, not compare them to Color Street, Jamberry or anything else. BUT if you'd like to see my review for Color Street it's right here. You can click here to see the review for Jamberry.

The packaging for Rarity Nails is SUPER cute!  It is a solid black packaging with the logo and information written in gold. The envelope it comes in has a clear window so you can see the strips inside and it comes with an alcohol prep pad, orange wood stick (to push back your cuticles) and a mini nail file. Of the sets I have tried this is hands down the best "add ons" kit I have ever seen. Others don't come with the cuticle pusher, and the nail file is really nice and sturdy. I can actually use it.

I love applying nail polish wraps you guys. It is SO EASY! I just use a little alcohol wipe, push back my cuticles and apply. It's so simple. There is no dry time and if you have to stop mid application to chase down your kid or use the restroom, you are not worrying about smudging your nails. I didn't give this area five stars because you do have to trim down some of the polish strips to make them fit your nails properly. But I do like the shape of the nail beds of these better than other brands I have tried. I also like how sticky the backs are. They adhere better. That plays into our next category which is longevity. Because they adhere better I feel like they do not chip as quickly. But these aren't gel polish or anything crazy. They last 1-2 weeks.

I love the removal process of these nail wrap. Some wraps are 100% nail polish and you take them off with acetone or polish remover. Others are more like stickers and you have to soak the and peel them off. The Rarity nails are real polish and you can remove them with polish remover and a cotton ball. This keeps your nails super healthy. No pulling, chipping or soaking is required. You also don't need to file or buff your nail beds to adhere them, so your nails stay super healthy. These are also free of toxins often found in polish so they keep you healthy too!

Last I have to talk about variety and value. The variety is awesome for a brand new company. Most launch with around 10-25 options. Rarity nails has been in business for 6 months and already has over 70 options. Awesome! Because they are newer their website lacks finesse, but they are actively working on it. In the last month I have seen their platform switch to be easier to navigate and they are slowly getting better pictures. This is THE BEST value for a direct sales nail wrap out there! It is the same price as many Wal-Mart brands, which I LOVE. It's half the price of some of their competitors and I am super on board with it!

If you are interested in learning more about Rarity Nails I'm going to link a page so that you can purchase them here. You should go onto Facebook and see if you have someone you know that is selling first to support your friends and family, but if no one is I'd love if you support me as well by purchasing through this link. You can pick up the nails pictured above (called 5th avenue) by clicking here.

REVIEW: Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Balm-to-Oil Pre-Shampoo Masque

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Scent - 4 (very good)
Hydration - 6 (incredible)
Longevity - 4 (very good)
Wear - 5 (excellent)
Overall:

This may very well be my new favorite deep conditioner. I had never heard of a pre-shampoo masque, but I had no objections. Bumble and Bumble is known for their quality products so I was stoked to try this out. I am not sure when the last time was that my hair felt so healthy, but I am getting ahead of myself. 

The packaging I gave a 4 because while it's BEAUTIFUL, I am not a fan of screw top caps and lids in the shower. My hands are wet, the product is wet, it is a nightmare. It is scentless for the most part. Maybe a light floral scent can be detected, but i's basically fragrance free which I like. A little doesn't go a super long way, but it's not bad itself either. 

So now for using the actual product. When you open the container you see an opaque gel-like whipped balm. You scoop out a little with your fingers and rub your hands together and you will feel the balm melt into an oil. It's really fun and satisfying to do. You put that in your hair and wait about 20 minutes and then shampoo it out. I used this once as directed and once I left it on overnight. The results from both were amazing! I did feel that my overnight treatment yielded in the best results, because the results lasted longer. 

Not only did my hair feel soft and healthy, it was easy to style and manage. There was less breakage too. My hair hasn't felt like this in AGES. Plus the results lasted a long time. Some treatments and masks you have to do twice a week. This one was amazing. The results lasted for a full week and a half when I used it as a pre-shampoo masque. When I left it on overnight it lasted for over two weeks! This product isn't cheap, but the results are worth it in my opinion!

What is the best Shampoo and Condtiioner for my hair type?

I get this question CONSTANTLY. So I decided to write up a simple updated guide on what shampoos and conditioners are best for various hair types. This should be a relatively simple and straightforward guide. I have not been paid to link you to any of these products. These are my honest recommendations. If you click the name of each product you can learn more about it.

FINE HAIR  

You need a shampoo that is light, but not stripping. You don't want dry or frizzy hair after all. So I recommend the Living Proof PHD shampoo and conditioner (pictured to the left). It is free of wax, sulfates, parabens and toxins, and smells like heaven! I also love the Big Sexy Hair shampoo and conditioner as well as the Biolage R.A.W. Uplift. If you have oily scalp issues coupled with your fine hair, try the Paul Mitchell Tea Tree line. None of these choices will weigh your hair down or

NORMAL DRY HAIR

You really do have your pick here. But if you want your hair to stay hydrated I love the Living Proof No Frizz line, which is still light weight, butAmika Normcore and the Joico Moisture Recovery (pictured to the right) line. None of these are super light weight (which may result in frizz) and none of them are very heavy either. I personally use the Living Proof No Frizz right now. All of these choices are listed because they don't weight down your hair. They allow for volume and texture to come out, but they don't cause fizz. They are the perfect balance of not to heavy but not to light. They also hydrate which is so important.

COARSE FRIZZY HAIR

If your hair is coarse chances are it's either super dry or super frizzy. I love the Smooth Sexy Hair for this kind of hair. It smells amazing, it's infused with coconut oil and it simply works. I also love the Joico Smooth Cure and the Redken Frizz Dismiss lines for this hair type. All of these are free of sulfates and have a weight to them that helps to seal your cuticle and control frizz while trapping in hydration. Last one! I also love the Matrix Biolage 3Butter shampoo and conditioner.

COLORED HAIR

The best option when you have colored hair, is to choose a shampoo that protects color, but also focuses on other things (like the Framesi Color Lover Line (pictured on the right). For example the Living Proof PHD shampoo and I recommended for fine hair is also color safe. So is the Smooth Sexy Hair I recommended for coarse and frizzy hair. But if you have normal dry hair, I like the Vibrant Sexy Hair Color Lock line. These products are infused with rose and almond oil, and they smell divine! But they are also free of sulfates and are very hydrating. I also like the Redken Color Extend Magnetics line (but do not care for their standard color extend line in the red bottle). However the color extend magnetics is a little heavier, and may be best if you have slightly thicker hair.

DAMAGED HAIR

When your hair is friend it need protein and love! My favorite choice is the Joico KPak shampoo and conditioner, which also comes in a color safe option. It is full of keratin (which is the protein found in your hair) and it simply works. The KPak is best for normal to coarse hair types, but if your hair is fine then you need something lighter weight. Try the Redken Extreme (pictured on the left) or the Amika The Kure shampoo and conditioner.

BLONDE HAIR

If you need a toning shampoo and conditioner there are so many options. Some of my die-hard favorites are the Framesi Color Lover Dynamic Blonde Purple Shampoo, or the Joico Color Endure Violet shampoo. I also really like the Blonde Sexy Hair and the Amika Bust Your Brass options. They are all great for toning unwanted warmth out of your blondes. But purple shampoos can be drying, so I also recommend my new favorite toning product, the Kenra Brightening Treatment (pictured on the right)
which is an intense toning and deep conditioning masque. It smells like coconut and leaves your hair feeling silky, soft and brighter. What more could you want?

CURLY HAIR

If you hair is fine or normal and you are trying to bring curl out in it, you really just need something weightless. Try the Living Proof PHD shampoo, and don't try to cowash. You should really focus on styling aid like the Not Your Mother's Weightless Foam Styling Mousse to bring your wave out, as opposed to shampoo and conditioner. Now if your hair has it's own fully formed curls it's time to turn to DevaCurl. This line is nourishing to the max! It tames frizz while allowing curls to fully form and for hair to heal. This line is a game changer. If you have normally curly hair try their classic No-Poo Original and One Conditioner Original. If your hair is super kinky and coarse try their No-Poo Decadence and their One Conditioner Decadence (pictured on the left). Trust me, you won't regret it. I know they have a line called the Delight line, that is for wavy hair to bring out curl, but it's still to heavy for your average wavy haired gal in my opinion.


I hope this guide is helpful and I hope you find your perfect shampoo and conditioner match soon! Let me know what your favorite shampoo and conditioner is below!

REVIEW: Hot Sexy Hair Prep Me Blowout Cream

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Scent - 3 (average)
Protection - 5 (excellent)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 4 (very good)
Overall:



I love the Hot Sexy Hair line. all of the products protect up to 450 degrees of heat, which is way higher than you should ever need. I notice a big difference in my hair when I am using this product. I am not in love with the packaging though. It's functional and I like that it has a cap as it's base (which moves product downward naturally) but I am not in love with the shiny metallic pink. It's not my thing.

The fragrance is also a no-go for me. It has a definite synthetic smell to it. It kind of has a musky balsa wood fragrance, with a hint of citrus. It's an odd scent for sure. But it's super duper light and doesn't last so I don't mind it.

What I love about this product is that it does protect from heat while hydrating your hair. My hair is softer when I use it, and it doesn't get split ends as fast. I also love that a little goes a long way. It's not an insane amount, but I'd say longer than is average. This is a great option for protection when using hot tools as well if you have coarse and porous hair.

REVIEW: Cureology

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Scent - 5 (excellent)
Process - 4 (very good)
Acne Fighting - 5 (excellent)
Skin Care - 5 (excellent)
Overall:


I have had A LOT of you ask me about some of these new personalized skin and hair care companies and I am going to begin reviewing a bunch of them. This is the first. My skin is... well it's a hot mess. I review things as a job, so I am constantly switching brands and lines. Plus I wind up using products with questionable ingredients all the time. I have some acne scarring, but I also have pretty bad adult acne on top of that on my jawline specifically. Some things work temporarily, some things help. But rarely do I find things that fix it. My skin is super dry, so most acne treatments had a lot of direct acids and alcohols that dry out the skin to suffocate the acne. But then I end up with irritated dry and flaky skin. Anything super hydrating gives me tons of break outs!

So let me walk you through the process. You start by setting up an account as you would anywhere. You give them your name, address and so on. Then you take a survey or quiz or whatever you'd like to call it. It asks you a lot of great questions including your skin type, what your problems are, where your problem areas are at, if your skin is sensitive, allergies and more. Then at the end you upload 3 photos of your face without makeup on (one showing the left side, one showing the right and one straight on). Full disclosure - when I set up my account it was the early afternoon and I had a full face of makeup on and I was NOT about to wipe that off. I found a few older "before pictures" I had taken, but they were all from the left side. I uploaded three left side photos and moved on.

Well a few days later I got a message that my skincare professional needed better photos. So that night I took three quick shots before bed and uploaded them to the site separately. Then my formula was finished and my package was sent out. I got the package and it had some promo items in it that were... kind of odd I thought. It has some weird temporary tattoos, a small package of grape jelly beans (that were delicious) and two matching pins of ghosts hugging. The pins said "you're not alone" on the packaging and it looked like you were supposed to give one to a friend to show them you care, but also had "curology" written all over it, so it was kind of odd. Just not the kind of thing I expect to get with my skin care I guess. Maybe a sample of moisturizer would have made more sense?

Anyways, I actually got a "free trial" where you just pay shipping, which is $5. The bottle I got was a nice sturdy white plastic bottle with a pump nozzle. However I know the full sized product is a thick glass-like frosted bottle with a pump. So I did two pumps the first night after washing my face with cleanser, and it covered my whole face very well. But I only have acne on my jaw line, so now I only use one pump per night (because I am SAVORING this stuff)!

I noticed a huge difference night one. I kid you not. I woke up the next morning and thought "oh wow!" After using it for a week I was telling my husband about it once while I was getting ready. I was telling how great my skin looked. I do my eye shadow before my foundation usually, and that was the case that day too. I said "I mean look at these results" and he looked and said "it looks good, but you are wearing foundation so I can't really tell". YOU GUYS! My skin looked so good, that my husband thought I was wearing foundation when I wasn't! He was surprised when I corrected him.


After using it for a couple of weeks I stopped for three days, and my skin did get worse again. You definitely have to keep up with it. But it's so amazing! I am hooked. I really am. I highly recommend it. My skin is not only healing form acne, but it's hydrated and soft and wonderful.

CLICK HERE to get your own free sample 

(just pay $5 shipping) today!

I do not make any commission off purchases made through this page EXCEPT that it does give me a small amount off my next curology order. This is a referral link anyone can get and share, you too. I am not paid te review this by curology.