Seventeen April 2013

This month it was all about hair and the issue was jammed packed with other cool tips. It seems a lot of magazines this month has hair tips mostly I am guessing because of the warm months coming up.

The hottest new trend for shoes are neon, funky details, cool metallics, and bold prints. Just don’t try to wear all four trends at once as cool as it sounds.

Seventeen gave tips for wearing jeans for your bodytype.

“1. Boyish - Destroyed. Look for a pair with cool details like random rips and wild bleaching - the texture fills out your slender hips and legs.

2. Curvy all over - Ombre. Accentuate your shape with denim that gets darker to bring the eye downward and visually elongate your body.

3. Long Torso - High Waisted. This style was made for you! the high waisted cut raises your waistline so your middle looks more in proportion.

4.Petite - Ankle.  Longer jeans swallow you up! Seek out skinnies that hit right at the ankle so your pants won’t pool around your shoes. [Or do what I do and get it tailored]

5. Curvy Booty - Trousers. The wide legs make a round backside look smaller by comparison.”

Just in time for the sun - shorts! Instead of wearing minis, why not try one of these trends instead - fancy metallic, high - waisted, camo cutoff, tropical floral, silky pattern and neon bermudas.

To match the new fashion trends, there is no reason why your hair should take the backseat. In this month, sweet and low pony, graphic parts [no more regular old down the middle parts], glam pouf, and  super slick hair.

With the warm weather and heat from styling tools, you want to keep your hair looking healthy. Depending on your hair texture, Seventeen recommends a different product type.

“Straight - Hot oil treatment. Split ends are your biggest problem. The reason: Sleek strands show damage more than waves or curls. Keep your ends smooth and healthy with a weekly lightweight oil treatment. Pick one with naturally rich ingredients like calendula, sage, and rosemary for maximum repair.

Photo credit - L'Oreal Paris,
L’oreal paris advanced hair care total repair 5 multi restorative dry oil

Wavy - Shine treatment. Sometimes you want your waves to be beachy, sometimes you want to go bouncy - but all the heat styling can dull wavy hair fast. Get fresh out of the salon shine with an at home gloss treatment twice a week.

Photo Credit - Oscar Blandi, oscar blandi at home salon glaze

Curvy - Leave in treatment. You want volume without pouf, and frizz free locks that don’t go limp. So use a leave-in conditioner packed with nutrients, like coconut and grape seed oils. it will weigh your curls down just enough so they stay perfect 24-7.

Photo Credit - L'Oreal Parism, L'Oreal paris evercurl hydracharge leave in cream

Super curly - Deep conditioner. Kinkier curls are coarser and stiffer, which makes them challenging to style. Keep ‘em soft and manageable by using a deep conditioner once a week. Go for one with shea butter - it’s the secret ingredient in the most uber-hydrating treatments used at salons.

Photo Credit - Fekkai, Fekkai essential shea ultra rich mask

Relaxed - Gel Masque. Relaxing is an intense process, so you have to hydrate if you want your strands to stay silky. But you also don’t want your do to look greasy. That’s where a gel masque comes in - it locks in moisture without leaving a product-y look behind. Just coat clean [wet or dry] hair with it from roots to ends, leave on until it hardens, then rinse out. “

Photo Credit - Philip B, Philip B katira hair masque

My favorite part of this issue was the DIY hair mask.

“Revive Dull Strands - Banana Paste

1 over - ripe banana, smashed into a paste and wide tooth comb

How to - Hairspray, mousse, and gel can help score you great styles, but over time they build up and make your hair look blah. To get the glossiness back, mash an overly ripe banana until it’s creamy and apply it to wet or dry hair. Leave it on 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly, running a wide tooth comb through your hair to help remove the banana. Shampoo and condition thoroughly. Once your hair is dry, it will look fresh and vibrant again. The potassium and vitamins in these guys give hair shine without weighing it down.

Get Rid of Grease - Herbal Shampoo

½ cup distilled water, 2oz. liquid castile soap, 4 tsp. dried mint, 1 tsp. dried sage, and ⅔ cup regular shampoo

How To - On days when your strands are extra oily, clarifying shampoo gets squeaky clean. Make your own by combining water and liquid castile soap. Then add dried mint, sage, and a few squirts of your regular shampoo to the mixture. Wash your hair as usual.

Add Bounce - Mint Splash

2oz. witch hazel and 2oz. mouthwash

How To - You’ll get instant volume with a tonic that makes your strands swell, giving them body. Just mix ingredients together and apply the liquid to your scalp with a cotton ball. Massage it in for five minutes, and then shampoo, condition, and style as usual.

Make it Sleek - Rose Oil Mask

½ coconut oil, 2 tbsp rose mask, and ½ cup mixed fresh flower petals such as rose or jasmine.

How To - Ditch frizz with this delicious smelling concoction. Boil the coconut oil, rose water, and petals for three minutes in a pan. Let mixture cool, then strain it and massage into your scalp. Wrap hair in a towel for 20 minutes before washing out.

Repair Damage - An Avocado Treatment

2 eggs, 2 tbsp. olive oil, ½ ripe avocado, and 2 oz water

Transform crispy stands with a vitamin - spiked hair mask - it’s full of the fatty acids that fix damage. Combine all ingredients with your fingers, then apply mixture to dry hair and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual. “

Pick up the issue for more hair, fashion and makeup tips and exclusive discounts.

Burt’s Bees Muscle Mend

Photo Credit: Burt's Bees

Most normal people work out the months or weeks leading up into summer, I on the other hand work out the weeks leading up to winter. Why, you might ask? Quite simple, I already know I am going to be a sloth during the winter and probably gain like 25 pounds due the lack of moving and consuming warm comfort foods/drinks. So, imagine I am already a brownish hue, and a bit chubby and more so during the winter and extremely grouchy during the winter; I sort of resemble a bear. To alleviate some the weight gain I know will happen, I try to lose some weight prior. I been hitting the treadmill [twice week, better than nothing :) ] and running [more like walking] as fast  as I can. It is natural that being inactive for 49 weeks of the year, my muscles would be sore and stiff after working out. This is why I love this non greasy natural muscle balm. Not only does it make me  feel a bit athletic [long story] it makes it hurt less the next day walking around and makes me more readily wanting to continue my regime the next day. A must buy for anyone who is active or has sore muscles.

Lucky April 2013

This magazine is a shopaholic’s dream. It has a special guide for a new theme each month, this month it is Bags. Sometimes they have a special part where they show where to shop in different cities and the best part -- discounts!!

Here is the rundown -

A reader asked how can they organize their bags so they can carry smaller bag but not carry less stuff. I thought this was a good tip.

1. Get “colorful zippered cases in fabric or leather to put inside the bag will make your life simple and satisfying and easier than you ever thought possible” I actually do something similar, I keep all the little bags I get from makeup sets. They actually come in quite handy especially when traveling.

2. “Zip your keys into a case to make them easier to find and less able to slowly shred everything else in your bag the way keys do”. I also store my keys in a separate area because not only does it protect everything else it makes it easy to find.

3. “Your makeup bag should” contain your makeup essentials. They have a long list of items but I know everyone’s makeup must haves is different from the next. Like mines is just three types of lip products and solid perfume. :)

4. “Your wallet can also be your card case”. Lucky does recommend to make it bright and pretty, I guess to make it easier to find. I personally stop carrying a card case because no one ever asked me for my business card...in all honesty I only carry them now these days when I come across “Drop your business card for a free lunch” then I finally have a use for my cards.

5. “Your phone goes in a convenient, findable pocket”. I sometimes try to follow this but it is a lot easier just to chuck it and then five minutes later rummage through my bag in a fury looking for it.

Three new trends to wear to work : a leather jacket, a floral suit and a long skirt. I wonder if you can combine all three together.

It seems a lot of designers/actresses/singers are collaborating with retailers to create new lines. I think its a great idea because it makes their work more accessible to people can’t otherwise afford it. Derek Lam for DesigNation is teaming up with Kohl’s. Every piece is under a $100. Zoe Kravitz is teaming with Swarovski Crystallized to create crystal, turquoise and silver pieces.

Coach found inspiration in the outdoors for it’s latest collection.

The “Gingham” trend has popped up again. Here are some of Lucky’s picks

Photo Credit - Banana Republic

Flushed cheeks are in for the spring. “Blend a light pink cream blush with a dark purple lipstick” onto cheeks for a “sexy, flattering glow”. 

Photo Credit - MAC; Cremeblend Blush in Posey

Photo Credit - MAC; Mineralize Rich Lipstick in Lush Life

Lucky recommends having these 6 types of spring jackets -

“1. The printed denim jacket - keep everything else soft and neutral, and let this graphic style be your statement piece.

2. The sloped shoulder jacket - check the boxiness with super slim pieces [bonus if they have a narrowing vertical pattern]

3. The bright anorak - urbanize this outdoorsy style with frayed denim and cool, minimalist accessories,

4. The collarless blazer - add a collar! A boyish button down completely loosens up the ultra - ladylike cut.

5. The striped blazer - ticking stripes make this tailored style laid - back enough to pair perfectly with off - duty shorts and slouchy tops.

6. The baseball jacket - throw it on over your flirtiest skirts and tops - the mix of girly and tomboy is so nonchalantly cool.”

Pick up the issue for more fashion, makeup tips and discounts.

Pure Madness Smoky Almond Chocolate

 Peel back the foil and unravel the madness or better yet  watch sweet happiness unfold. The creamy chocolate that just melts in your mouth. The little bits of slivered almonds with hints of hickory smoked surrounded by silky chocolate is the perfect harmony of sweet and salty. It makes the perfect treat when watching movie during a rainy day. Then again it is chocolate and that’s perfect any time! Unless of course you are diabetic or allergic, then can I have your share?

*Disclaimer - I received a sample of this product and a media kit to give my honest feedback. This had no impact on my review. Any squeals  of joy or pains of agony that I had gotten from using this product are my own. Receiving this sample had no impact on my review of this product and these views are my own.*

Derma e Microdermabrasion Scrub

Photo Credit - Derma e

The microdermabrasion scrub promises to lessen the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars. The scrub is formulated with a crystal blend to help exfoliate away dead skin cells.  The consistency and texture scrub reminds me of the Bioelements Pumice Peel I have tried a while back.  I like how the scrub had a pleasant sweet scent not didn’t have a medical scent I was expecting. The scrub is packed with Dead Sea salt, volcanic sand, lime and lemon peel, grapeseed and vitamin E.  To apply the scrub, rub the scrub in an upward motion for 3 minutes and then rinse away. My skin felt smoother afterwards but it wasn’t softer at first [but it later got really soft and brighter] and felt a bit tight. Even after thoroughly washing the scrub and several paper towels later, there was still bit of the grains left my face. Overall, I liked the scrub but it was a bit messy and I was not particularly fond of the how my skin felt very tight afterwards. Although, most scrubs do make my face feel tight so this is not a deciding factor for me. I would most likely purchase this again.

Elizabeth Grant Total Regeneration Ultimate Cellular Concentrate

 

Photo Credit - Elizabeth Grant

I use this concentrate before going to bed and I love waking up and seeing my skin looking refreshed, moisturized, and feeling smooth and soft.  The serum promises to decrease the rate of surface skin cell deteriorates while improving the rate of repair at the same time. The concentrate is packed with natural amber, patent torricelumn, extracts from Uttwiler Spätlauber and Baobab Tree, Ceramides and Sodium Hyaluronate. Overall, I did notice a change in my skin texture and I loooove the compliments I get about my skin.

Deal - Cake Beauty, H20+, and Drugstore.com

Cake Beauty is having a 50% off sale on their sugar scrubs.

H20+ get 25% off your entire purchase using coupon code "PlusUs13".

Drugstore.com is offering 20% off their skin care department.

Deals - Murad, Pacifica and Lalicious

Murad is offering free trial sizes of it's new Radiance Boosting Solutions when you spend $65 and use code "ESNEW".

Get Pacifica's Tahitian Gardenia set for $30. I believe the price is valid all of April.

Get Lalicious Combo Deal for 30% using code "BB30"

Better Homes and Garden March 2013

Happy National Women’s History Month. It celebrates women in sciences. Women invented windshield wipers and the dishwasher.

For the gadget geeks who has a green thumb, here are some cool picks -

Photo Credit - Aero Garden

Photo Credit - Sprout Home

BHG recommend using “Mint Green” to waken up your surroundings. They recommend these picks

Photo Credit - BHG.com., Crushed Mint

Photo Credit - BHG.com, Wintergreen

Photo Credit - BHG.com, Mint Gala

Photo Credit - BHG.com, Garden Room

Photo Credit - BHG.com, Aloe

Designer Paige Sumblin Schnell gives these tips for the “soothing color” -

1. “Mint greens are happy colors that work in a lot of different climates as long as the room gets plenty of bright daylight”.

2. “Pale hues fare well in a high contrast palette. The complement needs to be either very dark or very light”.

3. “Paint finish affects how we perceive color. For a pale tone use eggshell which has a slight sheen”.

BHG’s picks for freshening up your kicks for Spring -

Photo Credit - Nine West

Photo Credit - C.Wonder

And for spicing up your makeup, BHG recommends using fuchsia to brighten up your face.  I love the colors but I don’t think it would look very good on me. 

 

Photo Credit - Sephora, Smashbox Blush Rush in Radiance

Photo Credit - L'Oreal, L’oreal paris colour caresse by color riche lipcolour in Pink Vinyl

Photo Credit - Nars,  Nars blush in Desire

Here is a random but nifty tip - to pick the best garlic bulb “look for one that is firm, plump cloves and unbroken, dry skin. Store them uncovered in a cool, dark place for about a month. Once a head of garlic is broken, it should be used within several days.”

Pick up the issue to read more tips on decorating tips, a walking tour of Karen Fabian’s house, how to read food labels [it was actually pretty interesting] and other neat tips.

Deal - Cake Beauty and Stila

Cake Beauty is offering a full size Satin Sugar Glistening with any $75 purchase.

Stila Cosmetics is offering a free gift if you reach the minimum purchase threshold. Personally, speaking it is a bit to high for me.

Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste - Multicare with Fluoride

 

Photo Credit - Burt's Bees

I bought the travel size version of this on a recent trip and it wasn’t what I expected. I thought it would be a bland tasting toothpaste that does a mediocre job. It was actually had a pleasant tasting [very tasty, indeed...waiting isn’t eating toothpaste frown upon?] toothpaste and it didn’t have a bad aftertaste. I did find the toothpaste a bit gritty and not as smooth other toothpastes.  Overall, it left my mouth feeling clean and refreshed. I am not sure if it actually whitens but I don’t really need to whiten my teeth. My go to whitening tip....don’t smile and it works every time and it’s free!

Goodies Company March Taster’s Box 3

This was my first Goodie box. The theme this month was “Breakfast Food”.  I was a bit impartial to this as I rarely change my normal “Honey Bunches of Oats or Honey Nut Cheerios with Reduce Fat Lactose Free Milk” or my favorite “Everything Bagel with boatloads of FULL FAT :) [Just in case you thought I was health nut :) ]Cream Cheese” on Monday mornings. But I guess, I can always try something new as a snack.

Here is what I got -

Alo Water Watermelon and Peach  - I was a bit hesitant to try this as I am not quite fond of peaches. I actually have no idea why I dislike them and find them so disgusting.  The juice was highly fragranced of peaches with a hint of watermelon. I took a sip and a gulped down a bit of aloe. While I did taste a bit of peaches and the aloe was a bit tasteless, I didn’t like it at first but after third or fourth taste I kind of like it. My brother took a sip and swallowed a piece of aloe and asked if he was going to die. And then he asked if we had any more coconut water. I can’t blame him, the juice does remind me of coconut water. Overall, I did enjoy the water but I would definitely try the other flavors instead.

Nabisco Newtons Triple Berry - I remembered wolfing down the fig newtons when I was younger. I can’t say these taste any different from the fig newtons. These were sooo delicious, I wish I had more than two. Make me wish I never did share with my brother.

BelVita Cinnamon Brown Sugar Breakfast Biscuits - These were so good!  They did have the whole grain taste but I didn’t mind it much because the cinna brown sugar tasted a lot better. I had them during lunch and it satisfied my sweet tooth  while not making me feel “ugh...I need to work off that 600 calories worth of cookies”. Best part, I only had two biscuits and felt completely full!

Erin Baker’s Breakfast Cookie - Peanut Butter - I was quite disappointed about this. I love  peanut butter but this tasted and remind me more of carrot cake. The cookie was hearty and had pretty strong whole grain taste. While, I wouldn’t recommend as snacking cookie it does seem like a breakfast cookie [just like the label says!]. Overall, I wouldn’t see myself going out my way to buy this to have for breakfast, I still rather my bagel or cereal.

Ola! Handbaked Granola - No Nut Vanilla - Handbaked? There better not be any human flesh in here as I already wolfed this down. My favorite part of this snack was on the packaging “Ingredients you heard of....Non-GMO Expeller Pressed Canola Oil”.. WTH is that? That sounds more like a Power Ranger. Anyways, enough with the fluff, I rarely eat granola, so I don’t really have anything to benchmark it against. I did taste a hint of vanilla and it was super crunchy. I ate out straight of the bag  and it did make me a bit thirsty but I imagine granola would do that. All in all, it was enjoyable but I wouldn’t go out of my way to get this.

Rickland Orchards Greek Yogurt Coated Granola Bar - Toasted Coconut  - The sweet pineapple and mild coconut complement each other so well. This tasty granola bar was sweet but not so overpowering in which gives you one of those nerve wracking toothache. My only qualm was I really thirsty after eating this. While eating this I imagined being in Hawaii at the beach with my toes buried in the sand or the very least at home watching Hawaii 5-0.

Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves -All I can say is, “Sweet Delicious Heaven”. When I popped the lid, the sweet scent of strawberries filled the air..[Is it wrong that I am drooling?] The jar was good for two slices of bread. I greedily used the whole jar in one serving on top of hearty whole grain wheat bread. The sweet jam was delicious but not overpowering and best part it was soo good I didn’t even mind eating wheat bread. Although, I was tempted to using my fingers to pick up the little preserves left in the nook and crannies. Okay, full disclosure, I did use my fingers to get every bit.

Even after a stiring and shaking for 4 minutes

Jovan’s All Natural Instant Breakfast - Rich Cocoa - In all honesty, I am not a fan of liquid diets or liquid replacement meals. I am a big on “I love chewing”. The instructions calls for 8oz of cold milk to mix the baby formula I mean instant mix with. I am not sure why it asked for cold milk because it took a bit of effort stir and the mixture just got clumpy. If I really wanted something that required this much effort, it better be “the best thing I ever had” good. It had mild chocolate taste but it had a weird aftertaste, overall I am not a fan.