The Body Shop Satsuma Body Butter

The freshly squeezed tangerine scented body butter is packed with fair trade shea butter. The  creamy body cream went on smoothly and absorbed quickly. The body butter wasn’t greasy and left my skin soft and smooth. The sweet scent lasted all day but it does transfer to my clothes.  While the body butter did promise 24 hour hydration but I didn’t really notice that because I was using the lotion every night and still get a bit of flaky and dry skin. I do like the body butter in general but I might try some of the other scents.

Maybelline The Falsies Volumin' Express Mascara

Before Mascara

After Mascara

The mascara promises 300% more visible lashes with the spoon brush. The pro-keratin rich formula promises to lift and separate lashes for fuller and visible lashes. I found the patent wand easy to use and get my lashes in the tiny corners. But my lashes were not separated and stuck together looking like spider webs. Plus the mascara smudged a lot, or maybe I just kept blinking too quickly. Overall, I didn’t really like this one that much.

REN Hydra Calm Global Protection Day Cream

Formulated especially for sensitive skin, the moisturizer to leave skin hydrated, soothed, and replenished. The non greasy moisturizer goes on smooth and doesn’t leave my skin sticky. It also surprisingly absorbed quickly. The day cream does make my skin feeling smooth and soft but it didn’t get keep my skin hydrated for very long.

Lucky February 2014

Master Class: Haircolor

1. If the product is made for color treated hair, it’s better. Low of no-sulfate formulas definitely make color last longer. And shampoo with a  violet base keeps blonde tones from going brassy.

2. Never wash after coloring. Wait at least 24 hours, or you’ll wash the dye right out. After,  a day, though, it’s sealed in.

3. Wash your hair less, period. It’s not just shampooing  that fade color - water alone will do it. Shampoo every two days - less if you can go longer. Use dry shampoo in between.

4. Conceal roots with texture - wearing your hair straight and parted just highlights regrowth. Tousled hair is not only sexy, it also hides roots.  

5. Deep condition twice a week. Color treated hair needs hydration, especially in winter. Pick a conditioner focused more on moisture than protein - overusing the later can actually weaken your hair.

6. Gloss every few weeks. It adds back pigment, correct brassiness and makes your hair shinier. And while in-salon glosses contain higher levels of pigment, at home versions.

7. Limit heat styling. Irons and dryers damage and fade color, so use heat protecting products. There’s something nice about letting your hair air-dry and take on its natural texture. Slick it back with leave-in conditioner into a low bun with a side part - it’s so chic; plus it gives your hair a rest.

8. Use a frizz fighter, even if you don’t have frizz. When your hair is smooth and the cuticle is flat, you can see the shine and dimensional color.

Lucky March 2014

Two ways to try the Crop Top Trend

1. Worn just on it’s own - the key to going bare? Limiting your exposure. Show just a few inches of skin by pairing a shorter top with a high-waisted pencil skirt or a longer crop top with a pair of mid-rise jeans. And play with a scale: a boxy top works perfectly with slim trousers; a sleeker cut tempers a voluminous skirt.

2. As a layering piece - give yourself a brand new silhouette by wearing a crop top over a longer shirt.  Make sure the piece you layer it over isn’t bulky - think thin knits and slims button-ups - and the possibilities are pretty much endless.

Looking good in a Selfie-

1. Clear your background - if there’s too much behind you, the picture looks cluttered

2. Lips are important

3. Hold the camera horizontally, and tilt it downward 45 degrees

4. Find your good side - most people look better with their face slightly to the side

5. Position so light shines toward you

6. Hold your arms away from your body - you always want your arms down and away from your body - they’ll look much slimmer

7. Use multiple apps

8. Frizz and flyaways don’t work

9. But the bigger your hair, the better

10. Take more shots than you think you need

Ladies’ Home Journal March 2014

Pretty and Polished

1. Give your skin some glow with CC creams

2, Keep your nails clean and neat

3. Get regular trims

4. Wear black mascara

5. Put on Lipstick

6. Define your brows

7. Whiten your teeth

Harper’s Bazaar February 2014

7 Key Pieces to Try

1. The Pleated Skirt

2. The Contrast Heel

3. The Soft Bag

4. The White Skirt

5. The Pouch Bag

6. The Sporty Heel

7. The Cropped Pants

New Trends to Try-

1. Orange lipstick

2. Blue Eyeshadow/Liner/Mascara

3. Gold Accents

4. Metallic Lids

Prestiche Indie Dreaming Soap

The soap is packed with lemongrass and olive oil. I love the citrus scent! It woke up and delighted my senses. It reminded me of a breezy day under the shade drinking lemonade. The scent scented up my room and the bathroom. The soap had a mediocre lather but it did leave my skin smooth and soft. The scent was wafting through the shower but I didn’t notice a scent on my skin. Overall, it is a nice soap but my favorite part was the scent; the soap itself is mediocre.

Naturopathica Oat Facial Polish

Photo Credit - Naturopathica

The creamy facial polish is packed with soothing oats, jojoba beads, and oat beta glucan. The polish promises to exfoliate, soften, moisturize and improve the appearance of skin. The polish had an odd scent, I couldn’t put my finger on it. It wasn’t pleasant or stinky either, I was just quite impartial to it. The polish didn’t rub even mostly because of the oats and the beads. It wasn’t a big deal but I tend to like an even application and not having clumps in random places, especially in the nooks of my nose and hair. The facial polish did wash off cleanly but it left my face feeling a bit tight. I followed up with lotion and it left my face feeling soft. Overall, the facial polish didn’t impress me much especially for $20 for 2oz.

Vichy CelluDestock

Photo Credit - Vichy USA

This gel formula is packed with caffeine and the trademark ingredient, lipocidine to minimize of appearance of cellulite and make skin look smoother. The formula works best on hips, thighs and butt. The formula melt in my skin and my skin feeling tighter and taut after one use. I noticed results but I couldn’t remember to keep using the lotion. Although it can reduce the appearance it doesn’t completely get rid of the cellulite.

Maybelline Great Lash Limited Edition Mascara - Vision in Violet

I finally got a chance to try the other colors of the limited edition of Maybelline's Great Lash mascara. This purple mascara isn't as bright as the Maybelline Great Lash Limited Edition Mascara - Wink of Pink. I only notice it when I am outside in the really bright sunlight. I hope next year's version is a lot more noticeable.