L'Oreal Healthy Look Sublime Mousse Permanent Hair Color (shown in Pure Dark Brown)

$9.99 at Walgreens

• As easy to apply as shampoo
• For perfect gray coverage

We've all had that identity crisis stage where we want to have any color of hair but our own, right? Back in my high school days (once I finally convinced my parents to let me dye my hair) I remember feeling the need to change my hair color almost every other week. My natural color is a medium brown, but I have been everything from blonde, to black, to auburn, to half and half. My thirst for change couldn't be quenched.

Lately, I've laid off of the extravagant highlighting, toning, and salon dying and only use box color if I really need to change up my hair.

Box color? You might say. Doesn't that fry your hair? In some cases, yes - it most certainly does. L'Oreal's Healthy Look line of drugstore colors actually claims to nourish and condition your hair while you dye...kiss your crispy ends fear goodbye! But box colors look so obvious - so fake... You are always going to see those people who have no clue what they are doing when it comes to coloring their own hair, which will always leave you a little hesitant towards dying your own hair. But never fear: L'Oreal has really made things easy for us: "You’ll get soft, natural-looking color every time that’s full of healthy shine. Natural never looked so beautiful. Always glossy color, that’s never dull or fake. Like your own color, only better." But what about when my roots start showing? I hate having to dye my hair every other week - it's such a pain! "Healthy Look colors blend in naturally and washes out gradually over 28 shampoos so you never see obvious roots. You’ll stay natural-looking from day 1 until you color again."

Alright - and now the real kicker: Dying my hair at home is such an awful mess. I end up getting dye everywhere and my face and neck have dye marks on them for days afterwards. Your prayers for a mess-free, at home, and wonderfully affordable hair dye have been answered! L'Oreal Sublime Mousse is fabulous - that is really the only way I can put it. Remember those terrible nights after you'd just dyed your hair spent trying to scrub the dye marks off of your face with nail polish remover? Remember them no more: the mess-free Mousse is here. I really didn't believe it until I tried it - a mouse dye? How am I going to be sure that I get even color? How is it even going to work? Although I'm not sure of the chemical specifics, I'll do my best to briefly enlighten you. The color kit comes with a developer, the colorants (in a convenient pump-operated bottle) and a conditioner. After mixing together the developer and colorants, we all know the next dreaded step is sectioning off our hair, right? Not anymore - Mousse is a straight shot. You basically apply it like you would shampoo: pumping the product into your glove-covered hand, and massaging it through your hair, root to tip. No drips. No mess. What more can you ask for?

In addition to the cleanly convinience, I found that the formula was very gentle. My head usually starts to itch or burn when I am using box colors, but I didn't experience either of those unpleasant side effects with the Sublime Mousse. This product really takes the worry out of at-home, self hair coloring (and can save you a significant amount of $$ caching by eliminating all of those salon visits!) If you are looking for a simple, at home hair color kit, definitely give this one a try. While I am trying to stay away from coloring my hair, I still can't resist but return time after time to this product.

Dove Go Fresh Cool Moisture Beauty Bar Cucumber and Green Tea Scent

4.25 oz. / $3.79 at Walgreens

• Refreshingly light sensation
• Crisp, soothing scent
• Ultra-light hydrating formula

If you are no newbie to the cosmetics scene, I'm sure you have heard some rave review about this product at one point or another. It seems like everyone loves Dove Moisture Beauty Bars...but why?

Dove brand soap bars aren't just any ordinary soap bar, you see. Along with the soap aspect, they also include a moisturizing, hydrating lotion element which makes up 1/4 of the bar ratio wise. Dove moisture bars don't leave your face feeling stripped of all moisture - in fact, they leave you feeling rejuvenated, fresh and clean. 

I'm sure by now you've noticed that rather than reviewing Dove Beauty Bars in general, I am gearing this towards the Cucumber and Green Tea beauty bar. Why? Because I simply can not get over how wonderful the scent is. It is the perfect mix of relaxing and refreshing. Although, I would not recommended a scented bar for anyone with sensitive skin or sensitivity to fragrances.

In addition to being a great facial cleanser, Dove Beauty Bars make amazing makeup removers. My beauty bar is the only thing I can trust 100% to remove all of my makeup completely the first time. The soap is gentle enough to where it does not irritate the sensitive eye area, which makes it a great candidate for a makeup remover. I'm not saying that my layers upon layers of waterproof mascara are magically wiped clean from my eyelashes - it does take some scrubbing, but it's the fact that with this product I am able to entirely remove my eye makeup (something I have never been able to do before).

I use my Dove Beauty Bar every morning and night on my eye area as a makeup remover, but I have only used it as a facial cleanser a few times in short intervals. It's usually during times when my skin is a mess - I am breaking out absolutely everywhere. This moisture bar seemed to help calm and soothe my skin. It sort of was like rehab for my face...when all else fails, I turn to this moisture bar to help things get back to  normal, and then I return to my regular facial cleanser.

All in all, I would recommend Dove Beauty Bars to everyone. Sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin, combination skin - everyone. I would caution those of you with sensitive skin to stay away from the scented bars, just in case.

Sally Hansen Precision Brush-On Hair Remover Extra Strength

2.0 oz./$7.99 at Walgreens

• Eliminates stubborn, hard to remove hair
• Perfect for face, chin/lip
• Helps reduce appearance of regrowth

I hate the fact that, with this post, I am admitting to having unwanted facial hair (not like I have a big terrorist beard or anything!), but I am super self conscious about having a mustache...I mean I always see those ladies with darker hair who have a mustache, or the older ladies with whiskers on their chins and I get so paranoid!
So I tried this guy out. If you've used Nair or Veet before, this is basically the same thing, but a more face-sensitive, not so harsh formula. It also claims to have moisturizers and other nourishing ingredients for your skin as well.
The applicator for this hair remover is kind of like a concealer brush, actually. You squeeze the tube and apply the product with this brush...easy enough, right? Uh not so much. When I first opened up my tube of hair remover, I just couldn't seem to squeeze hard enough to get the product to come out! So, of course I'd finally had it, move to where I'm over my sink and squeeze as hard as I possibly can, resulting in a huge mess. Bleh. Great first impression, huh?
As far as hair removal goes, the instructions say that you will see results in as little as 3 minutes, which I did find true. But of course, I wanted to be sure that I got all of the hair removed from my upper lip, so I left it on for the max amount of time. Not only does this product smell like Veet or Nair, but it BURNS like Veet or Nair too. Not just the sensation of burning, either (unfortunately). Although it did a great job of removing my unwanted hair, it also literally burned my upper lip. I had very light, but visible scabs and had to keep a cold wash cloth on my upper lip for an entire day. Embarrassing much?
I really don't ever recommend this kind of stuff to anyone, regardless of how severe of facial hair growth you may suffer from. I have since my trial with this product found these awesome "brow shapers" and they work great for removing unwanted facial hair, as well as taming unruly side burns and of course brows, as they were made for that type of thing. If you do decide to try this product out, please be careful! Leave it on for the least amount of time as possible to avoid total embarrassment!
Psst: for those of you who accidentally left the hair remover on for too long like I did and now have a nasty looking scab, try using some Neosporin or triple antibiotic ointment to help speed up the healing process! Do not use foundation or concealer on the burn - powder only to avoid bringing more attention to your traumatic injury!

Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser

16.0 oz./ 2/$15.73 or 1/$10.49 @ Walgreens

• Keep normal to oily skin clean & healthy
• Without leaving pore-clogging residue
• Removes excess oil without drying

I am constantly searching for a flawless facial cleanser, and have yet to find one that works 100% (no break-outs at all, whatsoever). I've heard that Cetaphil is great for sensitive skin, so I decided to give it a try.
It's actually kind of pricey for a drug store product...I was kind of surprised when I hit the check-out counter and was told that my total was over $10.00. Regardless, I decided that a potential cure-all would definitely be work $10 in the long run.
This Cetaphil product's name contains the word "cleanser" and in all reality, that's all it did - clean my face off. It doesn't do anything for acne as far as helping heal and/or preventing goes. It also does nothing for decreasing the size of pores, either. It was basically scent free, which was nice as you don't find any facial cleansers that are truly scent free. The product itself is basically the consistency of hand soap, which made it rather difficult to get a good lather. It seemed like I was using 2+ pumps per wash in order to get enough lather to thoroughly cleanse my entire face. Cetaphil really didn't help remove any of my waterproof eye makeup, which was an automatic 2.5 strikes against it. I wear dark black eyeliner pretty regularly and coat upon coat upon coat of waterproof mascaras every day, so I need a cleanser that is going to completely wipe it all off my face.
Basically, if acne isn't an issue for you, or you have extremely sensitive, but otherwise clear skin, this would be a great choice for you. A little on the expensive side, but it is well worth it. Unfortunately this product didn't work for me, but if you are one of the people who it works beautifully for, be sure to let me know about your experience!

e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/face/powder/high_definition_powder

Yes - another e.l.f. product. Why? Because I can’t hold in my enthusiasm towards it in any longer, and it’s simply too wonderful not to share.
e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder is to be used as a "setting" powder - you evenly apply the product to your entire face by using a brush. I must admit, I was very skeptical when I first read about the claimed translucent, versatile loose powder that creates a flawless, "soft focus" effect to the skin. What changed my mind, you may ask? Keep reading to find out :)
The packaging of the hi-def powder definitely leaves a bit to be desired. There is a sticky seal over the holes where the powder surfaces, and I found it rather difficult to remove this...I actually ended up having to use tweezers to get it off. Let me give you a warning now: be extremely careful when removing the seal as when it finally lets loose, you could end up dumping your powder everywhere and creating an awfully big mess. I would not recommend using the supplied "puff" applicator, but rather a nice big, flat topped brush, such as the one found here or something similar.
As I first applied the powder, I was thoroughly impressed. I have had issues with acne my entire life. And although it’s been a problem I had just sort of had to learn to deal with, that doesn’t make dealing with the blemishes any easier. I currently have a couple pretty decent sized blemishes and am super paranoid and self conscious about them. This morning when I was finally finished putting on my face, I came to the hi-def powder and thought Is this really going to do any good? I think I’m beyond all hope at this point...it surely can’t hurt any... And so the application began. I could notice a difference in my skin right away. Firstly, my face was now completely matte. For those of us with oily and semi-oily skin, you know how big of a deal that is. Not only was it entirely matte, but I couldn’t see any of my pores. My skin immediately looked flawless and felt silky smooth. I am now sitting here, 3 ½ hours later, and my nose still isn’t shiny. Kinda a big deal for me! I’m usually touching up my face after only an hour and a half. I did notice right after applying this powder that my face felt a little tight...it still does now as well. I would not recommend this product for those with dry skin as it may tend to hurt more than help - especially in trying to reduce the appearance of flakiness and dry patches. But, for those of us with oilier skin, this is a great find! I will be using this, along with my powder brush, for many many years to come I’m sure.


Check out my other e.l.f. products reviews:
e.l.f. Studio Line Brushes, e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color (Shown in Brisk Blue)

0.31 oz./ $4.99 (buy one get one 1/2 off) @ Walgreens

• Covers in just one coat
• Color glides on precisely and quickly
• Dries in 60 seconds

If we are going to be friends, you may as well know right now: I have a fetish with painting my nails. Back in my high school days, I would paint them (sometimes daily) to match my outfits and other crazy things along those lines. My nails are rarely the same color(s) for more than a week. There is something so relaxing about painting my nails, and I always feel 100x's prettier with a fresh coat of polish to rock.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's get down to business with this particular polish. Let's start with the brush. It's about double the size of your typical nail polish brush, and rather than being in a rounded shape, it is flat. Weird, right? It's actually quite genius if you think about it - a wider brush can cover more of your nail with just one stroke. It makes it so much easier to get a nice looking, even coat of polish simply because you aren't having to re-dip your brush in the polish and frantically smear around the already drying polish on your nail. Speaking of drying polish, let's move to that next.
Insta-Dri lives up to it's name to say the least. I always start with painting my thumb and then move outward, ending with my pinkie; by the time I am finished with my pinkie, my thumb is usually dry. (Keep in mind that if you glob on the polish, you obviously won't experience the same results). It's such a relief to have fast drying polish for those with a busy on-the-go lifestyle; it completely removes the worry of smudging or bumping a nail and ruining it so that you have to completely redo it (and typically in the process of removing the polish from the ruined nail, you proceed to ruin another 4-5 nails with the nail polish remover...). Slow drying nail polish is such a hassle. How many of us really have an extra 10-15 minutes to sit around uselessly and wait for our nail polish to dry!? I'm sure there aren't many of you raising your hands.
The color quality of this polish is phenomenal. As said in the product description above, you really can get great coverage with just one coat. It's always beneficial to do an additional coat, though.
So how long does this polish stay on your nails? Well, I'm afraid that may be it's only downfall. I noticed chipping on the second day, mind you I wash dishes by hand and am also a hand-washing and sanitizing freak. I had applied two coats, and not used a base or top coat, so perhaps that would lead to a more desirable outcome.
All in all, I do love this nail polish line. I have tried this polish in the Brisk Blue, Lightening and Grape Going and simply love them all. They are so fun and vibrant. If you are looking for a quick drying polish with a lot of fun, outrageous color options, definitely check the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes out the next time you are at the drugstore. 4/5 stars.

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara

0.44 oz/$8.99 at Walgreens




So maybe it's just me, but I think there has been a TON of hype about this mascara lately. I see it seriously everywhere. TV commercials with the gorgeous Drew Barrymore, magazine ads, posters in stores...just everywhere. I'd finally had enough and temptation got the best of me - I had to buy a tube. So I went to Walgreens, grabbed a tube in waterproof black and anxiously waited for the next morning when I would try it out on my fresh, clean lashes.
The mascara itself is kind of a thinner consistency - more runny than whipped I would say. The black color was very rich and seemed to also have little flakes of sparkle in it. I can never have too much sparkle. Ever. I love it. I remember when I was in grade school I would use the Bonne Bell Smackers glitter and it would literally be ALL over my face, arms and legs if I was wearing shorts. I love my glitter. 
But anyways, back to the mascara! I was so anxious to see what this brush looked like as I'd heard nothing but raves about it, but as I remember that moment of pure joy and excitement as I was untwisting the top to reveal the wondrous brush within, I also remember the split second of "WTF!?" as the brush finally was in view. For real? This is what all the excitement is about!? What a waste of $9.00! I will post a better picture of the brush below:

It is a ton of little plastic bristles that seem to serve absolutely no purpose. The mascara was gloopy and after just the first coat, I already had clumpy, caked together lashes and I was not a happy camper. I did try to salvage them by using my lash comb, etc. and I went on to apply several more coats in hopes that perhaps this was more of a lengthening formula versus a volume formula. It didn't seem to lengthen or add volume to my lashes, and in fact did the opposite.

Covergirl Lash Blash Volume Mascara truly only lasted two days in my makeup bag...I then pawned it off on my mother, as I do with all of the reject makeup I acquire. I was not so long ago gifted a pack of this mascara and I in turn re-gifted it to my husband's little sister. So in conclusion, I do not recommend this mascara at all, whatsoever. It is talked up to be this great, miraculous product when in it's in fact the opposite of such. I did consider using one of the brushes from a used up Maybelline Volum' Express mascara with this formula...maybe then it would be better? But the brush makes this mascara near impossible to use without making a mess of both your face and your lashes. Please proceed with caution!

e.l.f. Studio 11 Piece Brush Collections

• Sleek, Water-Resistant Case
• Eyeshadow "C" Brush
• Complexion Brush
• Small Angled Brush
• Small Smudge Brush
• Fan Brush
• Powder Brush
• Angled Foundation Brush
• Concealer Brush
• Small Precision Brush
• Blush Brush
• Contouring Brush

$30.00 + shipping

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/tools/brush-sets/11_piece_brush_collection

To see my complete review of e.l.f.'s Studio line brushes, please visit my Brush Review entry.

I just placed an order with e.l.f. last week and came home to a wonderful wonderful package sitting on my front porch, which I could only assume had to be my order. I wasted no time in opening everything and was thrilled to begin examining the newest additions to my ever-growing make up bag. Among my new goodies was this brush kit.

I know not a whole lot of people use brushes for every day make up application, but I've started to notice that the number of those who do is really starting to boom. If you are ready to make the plunge into makeup application brushes, I suggest checking out this collection.

The Studio 11 Piece Brush Collection comes with 11 brushes plus a water resistant case. You can easily fit more than 11 brushes in the case, which is very convenient. You get one of every type of brush you truly could ever need for day-to-day make up application. My favorite of these is the “C” Brush. I have 3 of these brushes now and use them for literally everything. The bristles of these brushes are shockingly soft – they are so gentle on your face. Although the bristles are luxuriously silky, they aren’t those annoying floppy, shapeless kind that are difficult to use. E.l.f. also makes an antibacterial brush cleaner soap for lengthening the life of these already great quality brushes.

There is currently a promotion going on at e.l.f. to where you can get this already great value collection for the alarmingly low price of $5.00 with any $25.00 purchase by using the code 11FOR5. This offer is only good up to 9/26, so get to ordering and enjoy! Let me know what you think!

St. Ives Mineral Therapy Moisturizing Body Wash

13.5 oz. - $2.99 at Walgreens

• For radiant, replenished skin
• Skin feels soft, smooth, revitalized
• Dermatologist tested
• Delivers maximum moisture
• Made with natural ingredients
• Formulated without parabens and phthalates
• Not tested on animals and does not contain animal ingredients

How the heck are you supposed to choose a body wash? I mean really. There are bars of soap, there are liquid soaps, there are scrubs and there are foams. For me, it's usually whatever is on sale or cheap and also doesn't look sketchy. How did I stumble upon this product, you may ask? On sale for $1.99.
Although it is normally cheap, this product really delivers. I love St. Ive's products to begin with - I use their facial moisturizer and have used their body lotions and absolutely cannot complain.
This product is a great addition to that list. The body wash comes out thick and creamy, and lathers almost effortlessly when used with a pouf. You really don't need to use more than a nickel-sized amount to get a great, luxuriously thick lather, unlike a lot of body washes out there. I am a bit of a lather freak...I love bubbles, what can I say? The smell is hard to describe...it kind of reminds me of an Biolage shampoo mixed with some relaxing aromatherapy scents from Bath and Body Works. In case you got lost along that scent trail, it smells deliciously feminine and is quite a pleasant aroma to help you awaken and prepare yourself to take on the day.
Typically, I need to put on body lotion the minute I get out of the shower or else my skin feels tight and dried out, but with St. Ive's Moisturizing Body Wash, I can do a whole face of makeup before starting to feel a bit itchy. The rich lather seems to engulf your skin in a sea of moisture and actually help lock the nutrients and moisture deep into your skin.
If you are looking for a new body wash, give this guy a try. It is dermatologist tested and it did not irritate my relatively sensitive skin. You won't be disappointed!



Nexxus Pro Mend Split End Binding Targeted Leave-In Treatment

Transform split ends to healthy hair

Daily repair for split end problems

Binds split ends back together

Transform split ends into healthy looking hair. This product line focuses on true split end repair, binds split ends back together in one use. This creme provides daily repair for split end problem areas, use after every shower to bind 92% of split ends back together before styling.

$9.99 @ Walgreens

I am not easy on my hair and that is putting it nicely. I blow dry and straighten every day. I tease at least three (if not more) times a week. I use way too much hair spray. But I still do it all in the name of my secret lover, Fashion.
Unfortunately, part of having "in style" hair, means taking the beating for it. Well, your hair taking the beating, that is. Split ends are close to unavoidable nowadays with all of the tempting different options of damaging your hair. Heat tools, such as blow dryers, straighteners and curling irons. Colors - box and salon. Bleach - box and salon. Add teasing and overuse of products to this luring list and be assured in your result of dry, frizzy, crunchy, damaged hair.
So how do you fix it? How do you reverse the damage? Unfortunately, as I found out the hard way, you quickly reach the point of no return where, despite how wonderful of products you may use and how great you begin taking care of your hair, the damage has already been done. There is only one thing left to do: the dreaded chop. :(
My hair was down to about three or four inches past my armpit when I finally gave up all hope of repairing my disgustingly damaged locks. My hair not only looked and felt fried, but it looked unhealthily thinned and dull. I had reached my last option and decided to cut off a good 3 inches.
The chop was my turning point. Since then, I have been using deep conditioners every, yes I repeat every day. On top of that, I have been using a leave-in conditioner spray as well as Nexxus Split End Binding Treatment. I can not begin to express how fabulous this product is. If ever a cure to damaged hair existed, this product would be it, no doubt in my mind.
The use is simple: you apply it to your ends after you get out of the shower and style as normal. Do this daily for best results (of course this is the case with just about anything). The treatment itself comes in a fairly small container which is operated by a pump. The pump conveniently turns to lock for traveling purposes (so that you aren't losing all of the product without knowing). The serum itself is a white and feels kind of like lotion or conditioner. The smell is wonderful. My only complaint is that it does make your hands a bit sticky. The amount of product you get for your money does seem a bit minimal, but let me assure that it is far worth it. This stuff may as well be called a miracle in a conveniently pumpable bottle. It is really that great, guys.
I cut my hair about two and a half months ago and have used this product every morning since. I have very few to no split ends and my hair still looks freshly cut. It is unbelievably shiny and soft and it feels extremely healthy and strong (something my hair has never been due to my love of heat styling tools and dying). I have no need to hesitate in saying that this is a 5 star product. A bit pricey, but very very worth it. Walgreens occasionally has sales where you can buy one Nexxus product and get the second ½ off - this is when I stock up! I literally buy the shelves clean :) I highly recommend this for anyone who feels they have damaged hair. Let me warn you though that this will not mend already hopelessly damaged hair! It is more of a preventative step in avoiding split ends and damage...the little guy can only do so much for your crunchy ends - it’s up to you to commit to all-around healthier treatment of your hair to prevent damage from occurring. Let me know what you think of this product if you have already tried it, or if you are a newbie, tell me if you think it lives up to my rave about it :) Thanks for reading!

e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen

$1.00 + shipping if ordering online.
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/elf/eyes/eyeliner/waterproof_eyeliner_pen

So I'm going to keep this very short and simple, but let me first begin by saying I am the biggest eyeliner junkie you will ever meet; I have tried them all. No, but really.
e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen claims to provide you with a no smudge with no-budge eyeliner, which creates a fabulous and fresh look of precision that lasts for hours. The smooth pen applicator easily glides on color for very fine to bold lines for effortless beauty.
It really did nothing for me. I picked one up at Target and was pumped to try it (as I always am to try new products, especially when they could potentially save me a significant amount of money in the future), but was thoroughly disappointed. I first tested the product on the back of one of my hands (as I usually do with just about any new product I am trying) and was initially quite impressed. The liner glided on, as stated in the description, easily and had a great, bold pigmentation. I tried smudge the liner with my finger and it (surprisingly) didn't budge. I then proceeded to use some hand sanitizer in attempts to move it and even then the liner was still somewhat visible. This looked promising.
Unfortunately the great results were only the case on my bare, makeup less hand. When I try to apply this liner on top of any sort of make up (concealer, foundation, mineral foundation, powdered or cream eyeshadow) it simply does not show up, which I found kind of frustrating. Replacing the lid doesn’t help to re-wet the applicator tip with more product, and shaking it certainly didn’t get the liner flowing either. Maybe if you are planning on having a naked eye with just liquid liner this would be a great product, but in correlation with any other types of makeup, this liner is close to useless.
Good thing it was only a dollar :)

Check out my other e.l.f. products reviews:
e.l.f. Studio Line Brushes, e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder

e.l.f. Cosmetics

I know I gave a short intro to this company in my e.l.f. Studio Line Brushes review, but I felt I needed to expand upon it just a tad more.
So hopefully you have all heard at least something about this fabulous company, and if not, let me introduce you to your next obsession: e.l.f. Cosmetics. "e.l.f." stands for eyes, lips, and face, and as I'm sure you have been able to guess by now, their main claim to fame is their almost scandalously affordable cosmetics line.
Affordable? you may ask. Well what exactly is affordable these days? But yes, trust me in the fact that e.l.f. may be starting an affordable beauty revolution. I remember the first time I heard about e.l.f.; I could hardly believe it - in fact, I didn’t. Everything a dollar? For makeup!? Either someone somewhere had misunderstood and passed along some rather exaggerated facts, or there had to be something sketchy going on here. There is no way you can buy decent beauty products for that cheap. No. Way.
After doing some research, I discovered that what I heard was actually the truth. e.l.f. Cosmetics has a complete line of beauty products all for ONE DOLLAR. Yes, I did type that correctly: one, uno, un, a single, ONLY ONE! Ludicrous? Maybe. Am I loving it? Definitely. e.l.f.’s Essentials line, which has products ranging from brushes to eye shadows to mascaras and eyeliners, provides you with beauty products all for the price of $1.00. e.l.f. has other lines (sort of like subdivisions of their general cosmetics production) such as Studio, which are a tad more pricey ($3.00 products), but there are also pallets and kits that range from $5.00 to $150.00 (the more expensive set comes with 150 pieces, mind you).
So what about quality? In my experience with e.l.f., I’ve found that products can be sort of a hit or miss. You either love them or hate them. They are either beyond fantastic or a prime example of you get what you pay for. My recommendation: check out the site before ordering; Most customers leave reviews, or there are at least enough reviews on each product to where you can determine whether it is worth the hassle or not. If you can’t conclude whether or not the product is what you are looking for, I always go with try it out (especially if it is one of those $1 products). You never truly know until you try it for yourself. It does seem to be a bit of a hassle at times to go through the shipping process (considering you can usually only order e.l.f. products from their website), but they are usually very good about offering free shipping on orders of $20 or more, and almost always have an additional promotion going on (although you can no longer combine coupons... :-/). I have noticed that the Target store in my city has started to carry a few things from e.l.f. (hurray!), which makes the testing process a lot easier - you aren’t having to pay shipping or wait a week until you get your products and have, in the mean time, already forgotten what you’ve ordered. Most of the products I saw at Target from e.l.f. were from the Essentials line, although I did see that they had a few Studio brushes, as well as products. Gordmans also sells some e.l.f. products, although it is very minimal and they are usually palates or kits. The thing about Gordmans is that their beauty products stock is never consistent...they may have e.l.f. products all of January and then not have them for the next two or three months. It’s sheer luck as to whether you catch them with the products or not.
So I think that is enough talk for now. All in all I'd highly recommend giving e.l.f. a chance. Their products are made with quality ingredients, so don't let the worry of putting some mystery matter on your face keep you from investigating. If you have any other questions regarding e.l.f. Cosmetics, please comment. I will post the link to their website below - check it out and let me know what you think!
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/

Check out my e.l.f. product reviews:
e.l.f. Studio Line Brushes, e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo Moisture Works

Walgreens: $5.49

• Moisturizes and adds shine
• With reinforced active fruit concentrate
  • Vitamin B + B6
  • Fructose + glucose
• Acts deep within and on the surface of your hair
• Strengthens and smoothes each strand

As I've mentioned before, I'm forever looking for new hair care products to help prevent (or even rejuvinate) damaged hair, in specific: split ends. I saw the commercial on TV for Garnier Fortifying Shampoo and decided to give it a try, along with it's conditioner counter part. I really did like the smell of it, but unfortunately I think that may have been the only thing I liked.
Rather than "fortifying" my hair and helping to strengthen it, I found that it made my hair feel very stiff and crunchy. It also didn't help with my split ends whatsoever. If you are looking for a product to help with damaged hair, I would suggest looking else where. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone and I definitely will not be purchasing it again.

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Mascara in Waterproof

Walgreens: $7.49 for .30 oz.

I'm not sure if this picture of the wand truly does it justice, but let me introduce you to my best friend of the drugstore make up world: Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express (in waterproof, of course).
The mascara itself is a little heavier than the one described in the Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara review (not really very noticeable, though), but if that mascara had a little sister, this would be it.
I found that this mascara really darkened and lengthened my lashes. Used in combination with a lash curler, a few coats of this stuff will very much play up your eyes.
The only negative about this product is that I've found that almost too much product comes out on the wand. I usually find myself having to either wipe some off in a tissue, or scrape it off of the wand back in to the tube. Other than that, though, it is a great product for the price. By far one of my top drugstore mascara choices (and let me tell you, I am picky when it comes to my mascara!) Give it a try!

Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara in Waterproof

Sephora: .61 oz. for $20

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P235801&categoryId=B70

I don't know what it is with me always beginning with my first impressions of products I'm reviewing, but once I again I'm going to tell you how I first encountered this product. As you may know, I live in South Dakota and we don't have a Sephora here, so I have to rely on friend's trips to cities that have the stores, or ordering online to get my Sephora products fix. One of my friends took a trip to California and visited a Sephora while she was there. She asked if I wanted her to bring me anything back, and I told her that I'd love to try one of Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliners. She responded with "I think maybe you need the big fatty mascara too..." and I replied "Are you implying something here!?" ;-P All in good fun, mind you.

But let's get back on topic! Urban Decay Big Fatty Mascara is seriously amazing. I am a huge mascara buff - I love love love trying out new mascaras, especially the cheap drugstore kinds. So how did I end up falling in love with this guy, you may ask? Pure chance - I'd really never heard of it until my friend brought me back a tube of it.

Let's start with the appearance. I absolutely love the retro look of it. Of course you aren't going to go out and buy a mascara just because it looks cute (or who knows, maybe some people do?) - it's what's inside that's really important. The texture of the mascara itself is fabulous - it's like whipped and light and fluffy...nothing heavy that's going to clump your lashes beyond all hope. The wand is double the size of a typical wand, but I think it is what makes this mascara so special. There are so many bristles that it's actually quite difficult for your lashes to clump together. The waterproof version of the BFM is without flaw. I've never had it flake, smear, drip, or smudge whatsoever. Even after crying hysterically, through the drippy eyeliner mess, my mascara still remains - tried and true!

I know what you are all thinking - $20 for a fricking mascara that will be either used up or dried out with in a few months...are you on crack!? I'll admit, it is outrageous. As much as I love the results, I truly can't justify spending that much money on a tube of mascara when I can get a drugstore one that I love almost as much for less than half the price. Honestly, I've never purchased this mascara myself...the few tube's that I've indulgently enjoyed have all been given to me.

If you are someone who can afford to spend $20 on a mascara, I'd definitely recommend checking Urban Decay's Big Fatty Mascara out...you won't be disappointed. I've found my tubes to (surprisingly) last 4-6 months, which is fantastic. Maybe that can help justify the cost for those of you who don't splurge often?

For those of you wanting a fabulous mascara at a drugstore price, check out this review:

L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

Plus White 5 Minute Teeth Whitening

This was my first ever video review, please don't hate ;-P I know I sound like a total dumby at times. Since recording this video I have concluded that I will stick with typed reviews versus video reviews. Enjoy! :)
Plus White 5 Minute Teeth Whitening Video Review

e.l.f. Studio Line Brushes

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/brushes

11 Piece Collection (shown in picture): $30

or $3/piece

E.L.F.....for those of you who have heard of it, I'm very glad, and for those of you who haven't, prepare to be enlightened. This is a fabulous makeup line where close to everything is only $1. Yes you read it right, and no it isn't a type-o...uno dolare, one dollar, a single buckaroo! Sounds sketchy, right? Last summer, when I first discovered the line, I decided to do some investigating. I tried out several of their products; just like you are most likely thinking now, I too was skeptical and thinking "I bet the quality is equivalent to cheap dollar store makeup for kids." After some researching, I ordered a few products and was actually very impressed. Mind you, the quality of some of the products (in specific the eye shadows) aren't the greatest, but still, for a dollar I was impressed!

After ordering from the site, I became subscribed to their newsletter and began receiving email notifications about special deals and such. I received an email telling me that all brushes were 50% off, and had free shipping for some sort of special sale and I couldn't resist. I ordered a few different brushes, including a blush brush, C-brush, powder brush, smudge brush, angled brush, and well, you get the idea! Based off of the reviews on the site, I decided to spend .50 extra per brush and get the Studio line rather than the E.L.F. (dollar) line, just because the reviews were so much more positive for the Studio versus ELF.

I was very excited when they arrived - I don't buy brushes too often because I usually don't use brushes, but I was convinced that I would begin once these highly anticipated brushes arrived.

My first impression: Wow, these are soft! Then again, I had been using cheap-o brushes from Walmart that, even if you aren't a brush expert, you could obviously tell they were a bit on the scratchy side. The bristles aren't too stiff (to the point where they are painful to use) and they aren't too soft either (to the point where you can't really use them because they kinda just do their own thing). They are easy to clean and not very bulky for easy storage and travelling. Since I've had the brushes, I haven't noticed any shedding, which is fantastic - shedding brushes are the worst as the fallen out bristles can get caked to your face and cause all sorts of inconveniences.

If you are looking in to getting some brushes, or are just curious about using brushes, I would really encourage you to check out ELF's site. Do some research - read around in the reviews and product descriptions on the site to help you determine which brushes you would get the most use out of. Brushes make make-up application much neater and precise. Although they take some adjusting to, they are definitely worth the sloppy brush applied make-up training days :) 5 of 5 stars for ELF Studio Line Brushes...cheap, good quality, and aesthetically appealing as well.

Gonna try them out? Check out my review on e.l.f.'s Studio 11 Piece Brush Collections. Let me know what you're thinking!

Other e.l.f. products reviews:
e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen, e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deep Conditioner

Walgreens: 8 oz. for $3.99 or 2/$7.00
Ingredients: Water (Eau) , Stearyl Alcohol , Cyclopentasiloxane , Cetyl Alcohol , Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine , Dimethicone , Ecklonia Radiata Extract (Australian Sea Kelp) , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba) , Glutamic Acid , Fragrance , Benzyl Alcohol , EDTA , Methylchloroisothiazolinone , Methylisothiazolinone

Where to start? It may sound a bit cocky to proclaim that your product is a miracle in a weirdly shaped plastic dispenser, but I do believe Aussie is on to something with this product.
I can't even tell you how long I've been using 3 Minute Miracle for...I do remember when I first began, though. It was after I had become mildly addicted to dying my hair. In the span of a few months, I went from brown (my natural, lightish brown), to a more redish brown, to a dark brown, to a black under panel, to blonde with brown lowlights, back to brown...which kept fading due to the bleaching so I had to literally dye it brown every other week. If this doesn't sound like absolute hair torture, I don't know what does. Needless to say, my hair was crispier than Kentucky Fried Chicken! I was desperate for a way to help restore my hair without having to chop it all off.
So I headed to Walmart, saw Aussie's conditioner, figured I'd give it a try (it's cheap-you really have nothing to lose!) and ended up falling in love with it.
Let's just start with the design...I know that there are other products made to sit upside down so that it is easier to get the product out when you start running low, but the fact that there is no real lid to the 3MM is what really impressed me. It has like a plastic stopper that opens only when you squeeze, so product isn't going to come splooshing out the second you open the lid (I hate when that happens!)
I don't think I can do justice to the scent, trying to describe it in words I mean. It's like a coconut, slight vanilla, luscious yummy smell that honestly is one of the best smelling hair products I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. It isn't one of those nasty "fruit punchy" smells either...yuck! 3MM is a thicker consistency (about equal to a normal conditioner), so it stays put in your hair (you may think this is a random comment, but I hate when conditioners are thin and slide right out of my hair). I usually use 1/2 a palm full - I rub my hands together so I have some product in each hand, and then I pretend like I am putting my lower hair in to a pony tail. I then apply what is left on my hands to my roots, and let it sit for the remainder of the time I am in the shower (which usually amounts to anywhere from 5-10 minutes).
I give most of the credit to the Jojoba oil, but as soon as you begin washing out your hair, you can immediately feel a difference. I remember freaking out because it felt like I still had product in my hair and it wasn't washing out until I realized that my hair was ACTUALLY that soft now.
The scent and softness last all day - and no this isn't an exaggeration by any means. From the second you get out of the shower, you can tell a difference in your hair. Not only is it completely tangle-free and easy to brush through, but it smells great, feels stronger, and looks healthier.
I really can't find any negatives to this product...I do wish they would make a larger container though! I usually use this weekly to biweekly and go through a container fairly quickly. I used to use 3MM daily and the results were fabulous! My hair looked healthier than ever.
If you have damaged hair, dye your hair often, use heat styling on a daily basis, or just feel like your hair is coarse and needs some TLC, definitely give Aussie's 3 Minute Miracle a try...I can almost guarantee you won't be disappointed! This is a must try!
Let me know what you think!

Sephora Collection Mineral Loose Powder Foundation

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P260207&categoryId=B70

$10 on sale from Sephora (+shipping if you don't live near a store). Regularly $18

I finally did it...I've crossed the line and there is no turning back. Two words: Mineral. Foundation. What's the big hype about? this powdery foundation is 97% minerals and infused with hydrating properties, as well as antioxidants to help keep your skin healthy and glowing. But that really isn't what I'm so hung up on; it's the many other pro's of this product that have me stuck like glue.

The problem with liquid foundations, for me, has always been that they make my face greasey throughout the day. Mineral foundations help to elimitate this problem all together - it is powder, no liquidy, cakey, greasey, or smeary if, ands, or buts about it. Once applied, this stuff doesn't budge. Long lasting, flawless coverage? Yes, please!

But here's the catch: if you are willing to make the transition, you are going to have to trade in your soggy applicator sponge for a big, fluffy brush for the product's application. Sounds painless enough, right?

To apply, I transfer a small amount of powder from the top of the container to the lid. Then, you swirl it around in a circle 2-3 times (which makes sure that the powder is being evenly distributed on the brush) and then tap the handle (or side...just on the actual brush part) on the side of the container a few times, which will get rid of any excess fall out. Starting with the center of the face, start the application - keeping things even and working your way outwards. You can apply as many coats as you need to (I typically do 2-3) until you feel like you have the coverage you want.

This stuff is truly fabulous - as I said before, it really stays put. You can find other brands of mineral foundations at Walgreens, Target, Walmart, or any drugstore. When choosing the right shade, I'd recommend going a little lighter than you think you should be...all for the sake of prevention of turning orange :)

Remember - technique is key to getting the flawless, even coverage this product boasts about, so take your time and be patient! Play around and see what does and doesn't work for you.

Sephora's Mineral Foundation is a no brainer for me. It prevents oiliness, is long lasting, makes your face feel silky smooth, and it's relatively easy to apply...oh and did I mention it also makes you lose 10 pounds after just the first use? (Ha, just kidding! But I wish...it would make it all the more perfect!) This is a must try for oily, combo, acne-proned, and sensitive skin types (I didn't forget about the dries, but you may want to stick with liquid as the powder will tend to make your face appear to be flakey).

Ty it out and let me know what you think!

First Aid Beauty Products

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P266313&categoryId=B70

First Aid Beauty (FAB) Travel Kit: $15 from Sephora, includes:

- 1.0 oz Face Cleanser

- 1.0 oz Daily Face Cream
- 2.0 oz Gentle Body Wash
- 2.0 oz Body Moisturizer

Formulated without:

- Parabens

- Sulfates
- Synthetic Fragrances
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petrochemicals
- Phthalates
- GMOs
- Triclosan

...if you know what all of these things are, kudos to you! Maybe you should start a blog of your own :)

Keep in mind that these products do come in full sizes...check out Sephora's site for more info (you can follow the link above for a quick arrival to their site).

The facial cleanser says right on the front that it is for sensitive skin and I found this to be true. The creamy non comedogenic formula kept my skin feeling hydrated, even after I had patted my face dry. The product description states that it is oil-free - oil-free products typically suck every ounce of moisture from my face, but to my surprise FAB's cleanser really didn't. I noticed that it helped reduce my face's shininess throughout the day, and although it wasn't to the degree that I would have liked, ti was significant enough to take note of.

This product is also near scentless - if you are a face wash addict like me and have tried close to every drug store face wash, scrub, or weird little vibrating thingy, you can relate the smell to Clearasil, although it is very very slight.

As far as the acne aspect of this wash goes, I wouldn't go so far as to say it did absolutely nothing, but I definitely didn't find the results I was looking for. This product (for the first week or so) really did prevent new acne from forming, but it never cleared away the pimples that already existed, which was disappointing.

Along with the appearance and texture, my other favorite part about this cleanser/face cream duo was how silky it made my face feel - I can honestly say I was thoroughly impressed by how much softer my face was after only the first use.

The face cream also close to unscented, and I actually  love it. It is medium-thick, but absorbs relatively quickly. It didn't leave me feeling greasy or caked down and suffocated. Honestly, if it weren't for the outrageous price ($18 for 2 oz....) this would be my new daily moisturizer. I suppose you could justify the price with how long this product will last you, I mean you really don't need to use much to completely cover your face and neck, but since I'm no where near a Sephora (or CVS), ti sort of comes down to being an inconvenience...I'd rather be able to drive over to Walgreens or Walmart when I'm running low instead of having to go through the hassle of ordering it and waiting for it to arrive.

The body lotion was nothing special...I found my newly shaved legs getting itchy and burning not even 5 minutes after I applied it. As I am writing this (I used it this morning) my legs are itching once again! It is safe to say that I will be sticking with Curel, Victoria's Secret, and Bath & Body Works lotions.

I have yet to try the body wash and I am rather hesitant to, in all honesty. I don't want to sound stingy (although I am on a budget here, people), but a body wash truly isn't something I can bring myself to splurge on. If I feel like indulging in body wash form, I'll break out some Dove, or heck maybe even the Bath & Body Works goodies :)

Over all, this face cleanser isn't for me. I would, however, highly recommend it to anyone without acne-prone skin who is just looking for a great daily cleanser. I'll give it 4 of 5 stars... 5 of 5 if you aren't acne prone! Daily facial cream gets 4 of 5...just cause of the price. Lotion...1 of 5 (don't waste your time!). And the body wash is still a work in progress...could very well be a forever work in progress ;-P

Gonna try out these products for yourself?

Let me know your verdict!