REVIEW: MAIX Professional Cosmetic Lip Stain

 Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Shade Range - 4 (very good)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Texture - 5 (excellent)
Overall:


You guys, I am truly shook by this product. It has changed the way I look at lip stains. I typically do not like lip stains at all. Maix Pro is a super new cosmetics line and when I was looking through their products I wanted to try a stain, simply because I don't review them often. That is because I don't use them often. I simply don't care for them at all. They are usually tacky, sticky, drying, and impossible to use with other shades. This stain, is a game changer.

The packaging is super pretty. It's sleek and black, with clear segments that show the shade. It has a matte black raised text with the brand name and product name on it too. It looks and feel high ends and sturdy, and it's very functional. This lip stain is actually hydrating. My lips feel soft while being worn and it doesn't dry them out. A little also goes a very long way, which I always appreciate.

The two stars of this show are shade range and texture. The texture is so glossy and smooth and silky. There was no stickiness at all and it blended nicely without feathering out. The shade range I struggled to rate. As you see it got a 4. I was really toying back and fourth between a 3 and a 5 star rating, so I just went with a 4. Why? The 3 would have been because there are only six shades, although the brand is in it's infancy so I am sure that more are on their way. But the 5 would have been because this is one of the first stain lines that actually MIXES well! Most stains are fast drying and sticky and you can't put one on, and then add a dot of another and mix them on your lips. They dry to fast. Some you can layer, but the layering technique is always so patchy and results in a heavy, caked look with a sticky finish. This satin smooth glossy application sat on my lips very wet and full like a gloss.  I was able to combine various shades together to get my desired look, and then give it about five minutes to absorb and set. Because of this ability, you can create many shades with even the 6 provided, and I am certainly stoked to see more come out!

Overall, I absolutely recommend this product and will be purchasing many more for my pro kit and personal arsenal.

I am crushing on this brand and I hope you guys will too! Use the coupon code ANG20 to hook you up with 20% off your purchase at Maix-Pro.com. You can also click here to see the highlighter itself.

I do not make any money, kickbacks or commissions on products purchased through this link or with this code.

Best Dupe for the Beauty Blender

Beauty Blenders were the original blending sponge, having that tear drop shape and the perfect texture to blend makeup into a skin-like flawless finish. But beauty blenders are pricey, costing $20 for just one sponge. A lot of brands have come out with their own blending sponges since, and I want to help you find the best dupe to the original beauty blender.

You will find that a lot of people like different sponges for different reasons, I have tried so many sponges out there, and I personally like the Beauty Blender best, so my goal is to give you a run down on the top 5 best selling sponges that are less expensive than the beauty blender, and how they are similar or different. Then I will announce which one I believe to be the closest match.


FIRST
Here is a picture of the original beauty blender for reference a small break down of why this sponge has disrupted the beauty industry in such a big way.

The original sponge came in a bright pink shade, but can now be found regularly in cream, black, pink as well as seasonal colors (ranging from blues, reds, purples, greens and any other color you can think of). It is small and compact, but with water it expands and becomes very soft. It's texture is skin like and blends makeup in smoothly, evenly and makes it look natural. The tear drop shape makes it ideal for covered large areas lip your cheeks (using the base of the tear drop), or small crevices like around your eyes (using the tip of the sponge). It almost triples in size when wet, but remains durable. I use my beauty blender every single day and typically replace my personal one every 2 years. This makes the price point seem not so cray at $20 per sponge.


1- Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge

Size - This sponge is MUCH larger than the brand name Beauty Blender. I was honestly surprised at how big it was.
Shape - This blender has the teardrop tip shape, and then a more triangular flat surface on the base.
Material - This sponge is far firmer than the original, which I feel makes it more difficult to blend.
Strength - based on the firmness, density and wear on my own Morphe Sponge I would assume this may be even slightly more durable than the brand name beauty blender.
Get it here for $7

2- ULTA Super Blender Sponge with Stand

Size - The ulta super blending sponge is a little wider than the original beauty blender. It is also shorter than the original and over all smaller.
Shape - It is an exact match for the shape.
Material - This material is SUPER dense and does not absorb water well. A lot of users (myself included) have commented that if felt like you were using plastic to blend your makeup, it was so rough, and left a patchy and streaky finish.
Strength - I am going to assume it's durable because it is so dense. But to be honest I only used it three or four times and washed it twice. Each time I had to re-blend my makeup, so I got tired of trying it.
Get it here for $6.99

4- E.L.F. Cosmetics Sculpting and Blending Sponge
Size - It is very similar in size, probably a little wider
Shape - It is a very popular shape sporting the tear drop with only one flat edge (unlike the Morphe that has two flat edges)
Material - This is super soft and airy, but it does absorb the most liquid and product of all the sponges I am mentioning today.
Strength - I saw tearing after two washes with this. You may all think I am an "aggressive washer" and even if that is true, I wash my sponges after 3 uses, and I don't get tearing in my beauty blenders at all for MONTHS. I wash them all the same way.
Get it here for $4
4- L'Oréal Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender
Size - The L'Oreal Blender is larger overall than the beauty blender, but not all of it's surface areas is functional.
Shape - This is probably one of the more popular shapes of blending sponges, but it pretty far off from the original Beauty Blender. It's a tear drop shape with a dent in the middle. I feel that the weird dent makes it less functional personally. You basically can't use the side of the sponge.
Material - This material is very light and airy. It is super soft, springy and not dense at all.
Strength - It is kind of weak, I almost feel it is TO soft. I had tearing after washing it maybe 4 or 5 times.
Get it here for $7.99

5- Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge
Size - This is definitely larger than the beauty blender, but not by much.
Shape - This has a similar shape to the E.L.F. brand. I used to work at Ulta and this was hands down their most popular selling dupe. It has the tear drop shape with one flat surface.
Material - This has light and airy material, but not as light as the elf sponge.
Strength - This last me about 2 months before I saw tearing.
Get it here for $6


So let's find a winner for each section.

Size - E.L.F
Shape - Ulta Beauty
Material - Real Techniques
Strength - I am going to give to Real Techniques. Morphe's is stronger, but it is so dense and the performance is so bad, that I don't feel it serves points for not tearing.

Overall the winner in my mind is still the beauty blender, but I think the Real Techniques Sponge is the best substitute. What do you think? Have you used the Beauty Blender? What's your favorite inexpensive alternative?

REVIEW: MAIX Professional Cosmetics Powder Illuminator Highlighter

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Wear - 4 (very good)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Texture - 5 (excellent)
Highlight - 6 (incredible)
Overall:


I was super excited to be able to hear about this brand new company that only launched this month! MAIX is a makeup artist owned and operated brand that seeks to create products that meet the needs of professionals, while still being accessible to enthusiasts and the every day person. I have always wanted to keep my 6 star ratings "special" but this month it has been HARD, and I know a lot of you are loosing luster for the 6 star moments, because there have been a lot this month. BUT this month is "small business month" and a lot of small brands start up to fill a void in the market. They do things differently and better most of the time. So with all of these insanely awesome brands to explore, I feel I have fallen in love with a new regimen of products! Regardless, I hope you can trust my 6 stars for what they are still, next month you'll likely see less of them.

Now back to this specific review,  I love the packaging. It is sleek, pretty, sturdy, high end and functional. It has a mirror in the compact, and features a sleek black container with Matte black textured print. For wear, it does last a long time before needing reapplication. It's not an insanely long time, but it does last. I need to reapply it every four hours or so.

This has the perfect sheen to it, which is why it got a 6 in the highlight section. I had no idea that there was a "perfect sheen" until I tried this. When you put it on it isn't glitter, and you don't get a whisper of product. It's there. But it's not clunky, blinding or streaky. But if you want blinding you can build it up for sure. This gives it good longevity as well because one swipe is all you need. This product has a silky smooth and creamy texture. It's not powdery or crumbly which I love.

I am crushing on this brand and I hope you guys will too! Use the coupon code ANG20 to hook you up with 20% off your purchase at Maix-Pro.com. You can also click here to see the highlighter itself.

I do not make any money, kickbacks or commissions on products purchased through this link or with this code.

REVIEW: Gerda Spillmann Biofond Foundation

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Coverage - 5 (excellent)
Texture - 5 (excellent)
Scent - 4 (very good)
Wear - 5 (excellent)
Shade Range - 3 (average)
Overall:


I am super excited to review this product. It's been in my makeup bag since I got it, and I haven't wanted to use anything else. Gerda Spillmann is a Swiss brand that has been available to consumers in the United States for only the past few years. Their formulas are super high quality and this foundation is free of silicone (which is rare in a foundation) and made with 100% pharmaceutical grade ingredients, which means your skin can breathe and heal under it. It is also hypo-allergenic, non-comedogenic (doesn't clog your pores), and cruelty free. So the ingredients are simply amazing.

Let's get into the actual scores here. The packaging is gorgeous. As a rule I don't give 6 stars for packaging because while packaging matters, I don't want it to have THAT much influence over the total score. But I wanted to break that rule for this one. It comes in a gorgeous red compact. I really thought that it would make me feel like an old lady to be honest, but it didn't. The compact is sleek, it has a matte/pearl finish and the shade is super beautiful. It is sturdy and functional. It also has a bottom compartment where you will find a blending sponge, and a mirror on top. It looks and feels luxurious and high end. I love it.

This has a buildable coverage. What I love about the coverage is even on my "heavy" days where I want to look glam, I can put on an extra layer of this product, and my skin still looks like skin. It doesn't look heavy, flaky or caked on. It's perfect for "no-makeup makeup" as well as glam nights. It photographs well and has a great texture. I also like the actual product's texture. It is creamy and light. I love adding oils and serums to it to add some extra coverage, but that doesn't effect the overall products effectiveness.

This lasts all day long you guys. I can go from morning til night without touch ups on my foundation. But the packaging is so perfect for travel that I always put it in my bag anyways, not that I have ever needed it for a touch up. I have been seriously impressed.

There are a couple of things I would change about this product if I could. It has a scent that is a little on the strong side for me. It is a floral fragrance, and I actually like the scent, but when it comes to foundation I prefer fragrance free. The shade range is another issue for me. I am light, but typically I am not considered pale. I am usually within the range of the 3rd to 5th lightest shades in a foundation line. With this line I was the lightest shade. So that means for fair skinned people, they don't have a foundation that works for you. They have 21 shades, and the only work around for this is that they have correctors and blushes that are the exact same formula. You could mix some of the Highlight with the foundation to get your perfect shade, but I don't feel that's feasible for the every day person, because this product is high end. On the opposite end of the spectrum they only have 8 shades that could be considered dark. I think the world wants wider and more inclusive shades, and I don't disagree.

In the end this is a dynamite product. It's perfect for people who are conscious about what they put on their skin, who have skin problems, or sensitive skin. I love it because it looks natural and lasts all day long. I highly recommend this foundation.

You can learn more about Gerda Spillmann here and see the Biofond Foundation

If you want to make a purchase use the code

 AngelaW2018 at checkout to get free shipping.

REVIEW: Simply Smita Lip Balm

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


I have no idea why it took me so long to explore more small beauty brands! There is a reason I have been doling out so many 5 star reviews recently! I typically don't wear lip balm at all. This is because it is usually super waxy and I get a ton of build up. I do a scrub and mask twice a week, and my lips are DRY just like the rest of my skin. I am excited to have finally found a lip balm I love!

The packaging is cute and simple. They actually have different fun packaging for different balms, which I love, but couldn't find a good picture of. The fragrance is almost non-existent, which I also love, because my husband will use it too and it doesn't make me sick or mix poorly with anything else I wear (like lipstick or gloss).

A little goes a long way, typically with a balm I have to coat my desert lips 3-4 times. Then I usually have to reapply within the hour. Often my lips feel initially soft with their waxy coating, and then drier than ever after. This has been the case with major brands like Chapstick and EOS. Some heal better, but still need constant reapplication. Not Simply Smita. I was shocked by how my lips felt after applying this product. They felt like they were immersed in water, and enveloped in moisture that was pure and light, not waxy. I thought certainly I would have to reapply shortly after, but three hours later and I could still feel the hydration on my lips. They have never been so hydrated, and I only needed one pass on the top and bottom.

The ingredients from this brand are pure and simple. Everything is hand made in small batches. The ingredients and creation of the products are cruelty free, organic, fair trade and sustainable. Even the packaging is recycled and recyclable, and the box you receive your items in as well as all of the packaging materials are recyclable. You get a note reminding you of this and asking that you recycle what you get. I am all for being more responsible when possible. But typically products like this cost so much. It's hard when a Chapstick Lip Balm costs $3 and a conscious and small lip balm costs $10. But this is NOT the case with Simply Smita. A Lip Balm from Simply Smita costs only $3! You can even grab a 3 pack for $7.50! All with zero waste shipping, which I am such a fan of.

I highly recommend you check out Simply Smita here, and their lip balm here. 

Use the code ANGELA15 to get 15% off your order too! 

I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY OR KICKBACKS OFF THIS POST,

OR PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THIS LINK OR WITH THIS CODE.

How to get Your Hair to Hold a Curl

I consistently hear people in my chair say "I with my hair held curl better". Then later they often mention how surprised they were that the curls I gave them lasted! You guys, I am a beautician not a magician. I am not casting spells on your hair. My magic potions are simple products, and my wand is the right tools. You have access to all the same things I do. What DOES give me the upper hand is my ability to work with so many different hair types and textures for my job. This allows me to understand those products and tools better than most of you. So I am here to impart my secrets on how to help your hair hold curl better.

This really comes down to three things. Product, tools and technique. I am going to break down each category for different hair types and hopefully you'll be able to have long lasting curls in no time at all.

PRODUCT

FOR FINE TO NORMAL HAIR you need a product that is going to give you hold without being heavy in any way shape or form. Try the Redken Iron Shape 11 (pictured on the left) or the Hot Sexy Hair Support Me. Both of these products have that starchy pre-hairspray quality, but are weightless and won't weight down your hair. Make sure after you spray it into the hair, that you brush or comb through your hair to evenly disperse it and prevent clumps. This is also a heat protectant, and guess what holds curl better? Healthy hair!

FOR THICK OR COARSE HAIR you need something super smoothing and hydrating that will still support your curls. I recommend the Hot Sexy Hair Prep Me Cream (pictured on the right) or the Redken Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Treatment Primer Cream. Both of these will smooth fly aways, add weight to the hair, hydrate, support your curls, and protect your hair from heat damage.

TOOLS

A big mistake I see a lot of people make, is not choosing the right tools. My favorite affordable hair brand for tools is Hot Tools. They have great quality items that will last you a long time for anywhere form $35-70. Most of their curling irons are around $50. If you watch at Ulta Beauty, you can often find these curling on sale for $10 off, as well as use most of the 20% off coupons on them.

When choosing the right tool, it's about material. You need to have the right tool for your hair type. Hair that is damaged, bleached or lightened, or porous should never use a tool over 350 degrees, and even that's high. Someone with coarse but very healthy hair may need to reach up to 400 degrees, but it is rare. Typically, when choosing a curling iron you are going to encounter three words, titanium, ceramic and tourmaline.  Let me break down each one for you here.

CERAMIC PLATES are typically gentler on the hair and more smoothing. They heat up evenly which means you need fewer passes with a flat iron and you will get more consistent curl with a rod iron. They tend to be more cost effective than other options, and I personally recommend them for hair types that are damaged or porous. Babyliss Pro
is an excellent option for hot tools as well, and you can see their ceramic curling iron pictured on the left.

 TITANIUM PLATES are lightweight and powerful. They are super effective and conductive, and they work faster than other options. They can also be a little harsher on your hair. I typically use these on super coarse hair and healthy hair. You can see the Hot Tools brand Radiant Blue Titanium Curling Iron to the right.


TOURMALINE PLATES are actually only infused with tourmaline. Tourmaline is a precious mineral that is crushed into a powder and baked into the plates during manufacturing. It amps up the gentleness and safety of using a hot tool a lot, and allows your hair to retain moisture best. Ceramic Tourmaline plates are the gentlest plates, but are best for fragile and fine hair that holds style well. Titanium tourmaline plates are a dynamite combination, because the strength of titanium is present, with the conditioning elements of tourmaline. Most of my tools are a tourmaline-titanium combination. You can see a Ceramic Tourmaline Hot Tools Marcel Curling Iron pictured on the left.


Here's the thing though, everyone's hair is different. There is no one-size fits all. That is why MOST of my tools are tourmaline-titanium, not all of them. So play around with it. Have you been suing ceramic? Is it not working? Try tourmaline-titanium, does that not work? switch to titanium. It takes trial and error but it is worth it. Try borrowing friend's tools, or purchasing from a store like Ulta, that has a great return policy.

 TECHNIQUE

The biggest mistake I see people making, is they don't let their curls cool down. You have to let them cool! So curl your hair, and if you want your curls looser, brushed out into a wave,  beachier, STOP. Curl and stop. Don't brush, pull, twist or change. Just let the curl cool down. After a few minutes you can recurl, adjust, comb, brush or add texture. But wait first. If you comb through a curl that is newly formed, it will cool in a falling and relaxing motion and you comb through it, so it will CONTINUE to relax and fall after it cools. Don't do that, just be patient.

Thanks to Jilliane Gregorioff for asking this question ♥

REVIEW: Gerda Spillman Bio-Blends Eye Pencil

 Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Shade Range - 4 (very good)
Application - 2 (not very good)
Wear - 1 (bad)
Overall:
 

Earlier this week I reviewed a new-to-me skin care item from a new-to-me brand Gerda Spillmann. That was the Prestige Cell and you can read my review for it here. I was blown away by it and was so excited to try some more products from this company. Unfortunately I was not so impressed by classic eyeliner pencils.

I love the packaging, it's actually some of my favorite for liner. This is because it is a classic twist up, and has the smudger on either side, which we have all seen before right? But these caps! Is it crazy that I am obsessed with the caps? They just fit on really tight and well without cracking or coming right off. I love them. The shade range is pretty nice. They have the classics black, grey, and brown. They also have a plum and a navy shade, as well as gold, copper and green.

But now for the not so good stuff. The pencil just wasn't pigmented. I got the Dark Chocolate shade and I found that I had to put on several layers in order to get the color to show up. After wearing it, it just didn't last. It was gone within two hours. There wasn't any smudging or smearing, I didn't get racoon eyes, but it was gone. I was so bummed out by this, because their other products are so high quality, but I guess no brand can have every single item be a hero. I am working on the review for their foundation right now. Stay tuned because that should post soon, and I know you'll want to read about it.

You can learn more about Gerda Spillmann here and see the eyeliner here 

If you want to make a purchase use the code

 AngelaW2018 at checkout to get free shipping.

REVIEW: Sonia Roselli Water Balm

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Priming - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Overall:

 

I literally have nothing bad to say about this product. Sonia Roselli is a makeup artist based out of Chicago, and she started a skin care line because she had need for products that just weren't fulfilled with what others brands were offering, so she created them. Water Balm is supposed to be the ultimate hydrating skin prep, and I am hooked.

The packaging is pearlessent, which gives it that boost of sophistication. It's clean, elegant and high end. It is SO hydrating. It really does feel like you've splashed water on your skin, it has a clean hydration that isn't gunny, lotion-like or heavy. It doesn't make you look shiny or greasy and has a lasting hydration. Plus it seals in other oils or treatments you have on underneath it. It also works well as a primer, and really helps to blend out pores and fine lines. A little goes a super long way. I usually touch my finger to the top of it and that covers my whole face.

This product is a no brainer for me. It has been in my professional kit for a long time now. You can check out Water Balm from Sonia Roselli here.

Jaclyn Hill X Morphe Tea

 This video says it all. I wanted to bring it to the attention of my readers. But it essentially discusses the Jaclyn Hill X Morphe collaboration and how some of the shadows were reported as being pressed poorly and not very pigmented. They said they were going to delay the shadow launch, until they could get their manufacturing consistent. However after the launch people found that the batch numbers were the same as the original numbers, and further evidence and research showed that Morphe hadn't imported new product since before they announced the delay of launch.

Some people speculated that Becca (another cosmetics line Jaclyn Hill worked with) may have sent a cease and desist to Morphe because the artwork for the palette looked a lot like their palettes for their collaboration with Jaclyn Hill as well, they thought the lies about pigmentation and quality was a cover up. Turns out the opposite happened! Even though the Morphe palette came out WAY after the Becca one did, Morphe got their artwork trademarked and sued Becca! SUPER SHADY. 


Watch the video if you want to know more about this.

I don't like Morphe as a brand because they aren't consistent, and because they aren't authentic. Their brushes are private label crown brush products, and their palettes are okay, but not professional quality. They try to make it sound like pros love and use their stuff, we don't. It's a decent brand if you can't invest, but frankly, skip the price tag and drama, and go with Crown Brush, who makes their products and are identical in performance for almost half the price.

Why you may want to find a stylist using Matrix SoColor Cult for your next fashion color.

As a stylist when a new brand or product line emerges, I LOVE being able to learn all about it. I love it when trends change because I feel it allows for more innovation in the technologies and supplies that are available. New products and technologies are typically born out of a need. So the newest innovation? Matrix SoColor Cult.

Obviously this is super exciting for us stylists, but why do you care as a client? You guys this means so many wonderful things for any of you who want or love fashion shades!Here are some differences you can expect when you switch to a stylist who uses the SoColor Cult line!


1- Longer Lasting Vivids
Does it always make you sad inside when three washes after you have gotten you $150+ mermaid hair done, it's faded so much? Fashion color is EXPENSIVE, because the process is intense. But for something that costs so much, it fades so quickly. For those who like to change it up often, SoColor Cult still comes in semi-permanent shades. BUT if you love your signature look and want to rock it for longer, we now have demi-permanent and permanent shades. I know you'll be in love. It means a longer return on your investment, fewer touch ups, and more money in your pocket.

2- Tone on Tone Fading
It's no secret, fashion colors fade. The worst part is what they fade to? For every unicorn hair junkie out there you've seen what happens when blue hair fades - it turns green. But the SoColor Cult is better, it is made to fade on tone every single time.

3- How about them Neons!
 The Neon shades in this line are INSANE. And what's better is they GLOW IN BLACK LIGHT! And I dont't mean they glow green in black light the day you get them. I mean a week later they grow on tone in black light, blue, green, red, yellow! So fun!

4- They Deposit more Evenly
It's not uncommon to go in for a full head of royal blue, and leave with a few patches that are more yellow, or slightly darker. Getting vivid shades to deposit evenly is really difficult. But the Matrix SoColor Cult have a color balancing pre-toning technology that helps your next rainbow hair look come out smooth and balanced. Your look will come to life when it isn't interrupted by spots where the color didn't pull right.

5- It Takes Less Time
Remember that color balancing pre-toning technology I just mentioned? It is amazing. It eliminates the need for your stylists to tone your hair before they put on your fashion color, which means that is a full step removed, and time saved! These colors take SO MUCH TIME and anything to save a little time is so worth it, right?

I will hopefully be uploading a fashion shade of my own using SoColor Cult soon! Tell me what you are most excited about for this line, and what you do or don't love about the mermaid hair trend? And for all my Utah readers, you bet that we are carrying SoColor Cult at Just Your Style Salon. Click here to see more pictures of my salon work, and click here to find out how to book an appointment to see me.

REVIEW: Gerda Spillmann Prestiege Cell

Packaging - 4 (very good)
Scent - 4 (very good)
Hydration - 5 (excellent)
Damage Repair - 6 (incredible)
Acne Treatment - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Overall:

I want to start out by mentioning that this is the first ever skin care product that has earned six stars in any category. Gerda Spillmann is a Swiss brand, that has only been available directly to consumers in the USA for the last few years. All of the ingredients are botanically derived so it is potent, long lasting, and effective. I am going to just jump in with my personal experience with Prestige Cell here.

I got a foil sample of this product, and my first thought was "that's not enough for me to try it more than twice". As you know I do not review any skin care on my blog if I haven't used it for a full week. But I decided to try it because I have some bad skin. How? When I was sixteen I had the chickenpox. I am a picker, so I got out of that with a lot of chicken pox scars. Along my jaw line I have chicken pox scars and acne. No matter what I try, even when my skin is "clear" it doesn't look clear because of scarring. I hate it. This product said it would repair damaged skin, and create a smooth and clear surface. I have tried a lot of products that claim to do this, but outside of getting rid of some acne, nothing ever seems to diminish my scarring and heal my skin.

So now let me break down the scores. The packaging for the full sized product is sturdy, and feels luxurious. I knocked it down one point because I feel it looks to plain and clinical. It is scentless. I am all for scentless. There is a faint natural fragrance, but nothing added to make it smell a certain way, and it's so faint that I certainly don't mind it.

This product was ultra hydrating. Like "no more flaking on my nose" levels of hydrating. I was super impressed. My acne was gone after two nights, and my scaring is almost gone you guys! I am not kidding or making this up! It took about 6 days for my scaring to vanish! I only wish I had taken a before photo, but I didn't think I would be reviewing this, because I thought I would only use it for a couple of days. But that little foil packet? It lasted me 8 DAYS! A little of this goes a super long way, and I am incredibly impressed by this product! It is well worth the cost and does exactly what it says it will! I am definitely putting in my order for the full size as soon as possible!

Use the discount code AngelaW2018 to get free shipping on your next order at GerdaSpillmann.com and click here to learn more about the Gerda Spillmann Prestige Cell. 

REVIEW: Keeva Acne Treatment

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Scent - 5 (excellent)
Hydration - 3 (average)
Damage Repair - 1 (bad)
Acne Treatment - 2 (not very good)
Longevity - 4 (very good)
Overall:



I have two parts to this review, so stick around. I based this rating off my own personal experience, which I am going to start off by going through. The packaging is gorgeous. You get a frosted glass container with a chrome metal lid. It is pretty and luxurious looking and functional. It smells awesome. It's not strong, almost scentless even. But there is that small hint of tea tree (which is kind of a minty scent) that makes it smell fresh.

Now for the performance. My skin is DRY. Typically things with tea tree in them do not work for my acne because tea tree dries out the skin. But my sister was swearing by this stuff (she has oily skin) and I thought I would take a stab at it. It is a moisturizer too, so I thought maybe that helped. It is no more hydrating than any cheap Walmart moisturizer. A little did go a long way for the most part though.

It did nothing for my flaky skin. I saw no damage repair or skin repair in this. My skin has a lot of scaring and dark spots (because I pick my acne and I had chicken pox as a teenager) and it didn't improve any of that, even though it claims to help minimize the look of scars. I used this for two weeks straight, and my acne got better for the first few days, but after that my acne got WORSE. You guys, don't believe the lie that some skin care makes it worse before it's better. That's not how it works for acne treatments. My acne became painful and cystic. I returned mine.

But how about that second part right? My sister has oily skin, and she has struggled with acne her whole life. You guys, her skin has never looked better. Her acne is gone and her face is smooth and clear. I haven't seen an improvement in the scarring, but no acne. That's HUGE for her. I don't think this works for those of us with dry skin, but if you have oily skin it's worth a shot.

Axe Cutting, Coloring with Nutella and other Viral Hair Videos

You guys, I hate viral hair videos. They are THE WORST. Why? Because they are all super fake, but people often don't realize it, and while whomever came up with the video is getting likes and shares, I am dealing with the spread of misinformation. Like this one right here:

This video includes a stylist who claims he uses Nutella to dye and tone hair. BUT in a "making of video" he admits that there is toner in those nutella jars, not a hazelnut spread. Regardless, Nutella can't tone hair. At best it might add to the warmth of the hair and darken it, resulting in a very warm yellow and light brown shade. It would last all of one or two washes (not weeks) and would also leave you hair feeling heavy and coated. Unfortunately I am the one who has to deal with this misinformation (as well as other pros).

I have literally had clients bring in their own Nutella and ask me to use it. NO! Just no. I don't care what Youtube says. I am a professional, and I say no.

Now for the next one. Axe Hair-cutting.

Luckily most people don't ask me to do this. But let me explain. Danil Estomin is a show stylist. What does this mean? He has come up with a cool unconventional way of cutting hair that doesn't produce good work, but looks cool. If you ever go to hair show there are TONS of these. Not necessarily cutting hair with axes, but just show stylists. Many at least START their presentation with some sort of showy display. I recall once going to a hair show where the presenter told us what haircut he would be doing, and then did a major showboating crazy cutting "technique" where he essentially flung the hair around and cut at random. He messed it up, hard. As he stopped showboating and began actually cutting the hair you could see it on his face that he had messed it up. He ended up doing a totally different haircut. He never acknowledged this, he never said why he changed it up, he just did a different haircut on his model. You'll notice that in this axe cutting video none of the clips show the finished product on the back of the hair. That's because it's horrible.

How about this gem? 

you guys there isn't even a chain on that chainsaw. It's 100% fake. 

Last but not least, this horrible, yet popular, viral technique.

 Another explanation is needed. You see that thick white stuff on the guy's hair? It's a combination of animal fat and other ingredients to protect the hair from the fire. The stylist is combing it to move it around and stoke the flames that would otherwise burn out quickly. Using fire to remove split ends will leave the new ends of your hair burnt. It will leave it weak and the hair will re-split super soon. It is a better idea  to just take some scissors, find your split ends and cut them off. Why do I even have to explain that burning your hair with fire is not good for it? I am not sure. But now you know.

Stop with the viral hair videos you guys. They are mostly lies and are designed only to get likes, shares and Instagram followers. They are not made to educate.

REVIEW: ColourPop No Filter Concealer

Packaging - 5 (excellent)
Shade Range - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 3 (average)
Wear - 4 (very good)
Crease-less - 2 (not very good)
Overall:




I know, it's supposed to be small business month, BUT I have had DOZENS of you ask me to review this, and you know I don't review anything without using it several times. This is an independent brand, so I am letting it slide.

This concealer is great, but not amazing. The packaging is elegant and sleek, high end looking too. I love how font choice and chrome lettering allows ColourPop to be fun and fresh, while maintaining an elegant overall look. They have a great shade range with 30 different shades!

Now for the actual using of the product. It was okay. It has a lot of pigment and is creamy and easy to apply. It has great immediate coverage. However it does settling into fine lines and wrinkles. You will NEED to use a setting powder over it, because it does crack for sure. It also breaks down and I found myself needing to apply it multiple times a day. It's decent over all, and a great quality for only $6, but not my new favorite.

REVIEW: Cheryl Lee MD True Lipids Duo

Packaging: 3 (average)
Scent - 4 (very good)
Hydration - 6 (incredible)
Healing - 5 (excellent)
Longevity - 5 (excellent)
Overall:






You guys this has been my saving grace for some time now. I have horribly dry skin, but what's worse? my heals! They are cracked and callous and SO EMBARRASSING (especially during flip flop season). You'd be right if you assumed that I've tried TONS of creams and lotions that say they are for cracked heals, but in the end they are short lived results that don't do much but relive some pain. I have had results with this that are unlike any other! Let me just break down my ratings for you.

The packaging is the only thing seriously lacking. It is to clinical for me. It looks no nicer than anything you might get at Walmart. It doesn't have any scent, what is there is pleasant and not plastic-smelling. But here's the thing, it works! It is insanely hydrating, and it penetrates DEEP, so I am not struggling to keep it moisturized. The system is two steps. You do the Cheryl Lee MD TrueLipids Relieve & Protect Ointment first, and then the Cheryl Lee MD TrueLipids TrueTherapy™ Ceramide+ Cream. You can also use the cream as a typical hand lotion to maintain your healthy skin after it's been healed. The ointment is a thick more petroleum jelly like consistency. When you put on the ointment it goes way down deep, and then you use the cream to add a protective barrier and keep the product working hard.

A little goes a long way. The ointment you don't have to use forever. I used it twice a day for 4 days, and then once a day (at night) for an additional 3 days and my feet were back to normal! ONE WEEK! Can you believe that!? Now I use it once every two weeks, or whenever I notice my heel starting to get a little dry. The same bottle has last me over a year now. The cream I try to use daily, but I am honestly not good about it. I use it whenever I use the ointment, and maybe once a week outside of that. But that's the best part! You don't become a slave to a new thing to add to your daily routine. I am seriously obsessed.

You can check out the ointment here for $32, the cream here for $32, or the set here for $55.99

***I do not get any kickbacks or discounts for product ordered through these links. 

I just wanted to share them with you!***

This month is ALL about small businesses in the beauty industry. I have found that some of the best products out there come from independent brands that were started by someone who saw a need in the market, and decided to fulfill it. So this month is all about independent brands, new lines and small companies, out to make a change in the multi-billion dollar beauty industry. I have specifically looked for brands that are very new or have small followings, so I am hopeful that this month you will be able to discover new lines that you never knew existed. Drop a comment below if there is a brand you'd like me to try out for you too!