Review Time! It's A 10: 5 Minute Hair Repair

It's a 10: Five Minute Hair Repair for Blondes

PACKAGING:

-Comes in a medium size yellow squeeze tube

-Contains 5 FL OZ of product

-Retail $19.96 at ULTA (Also available at selected drugstores, Wal-Marts & Targets) 

FORMULATION:

I recently got my hair lightened to a dark brownish blonde. This is my first time ever having any sort of blonde hair and surprisingly I'm loving it! However for those of you who have blonde hair or are familiar you probably know that blonde hair is a b**ch to take care off especially if its dyed. Dyed blonde hair can get super dry and brassy overtime even with the use of color treated shampoo and conditioner. For blonde hair it is essential to use a purple toned shampoo and conditioner to counteract the brassiness. Over the last couple of weeks I have tried a variety of products and unfortunately all of them have made my hair cracked dry. And as much as I wanted to make an appointment with my colorist, to me it just wasn't worth the money after already spending so much on the coloring itself. So I went to ULTA in search of more products and came across this one. I have been a fan of It's a 10 products since high school (I currently use the leave in spray). 

This product is an intense 5 minute repair mask designed to treat blonde colored hair. It repairs damaged hair, adds radiance to blonde tones, prevents brassiness, adds shine, stops hair breakage, deeply moisturizes, UV protection, improves elasticity, creates softness and silkiness, and last but not least a thermal protector (10 things just like the name). Unlike other products, It's a 10 stays true to all its claims. Just after one use my hair already felt so much smoother and less brassy. It has a nice thick texture but doesn't weigh your hair down and smells amazing. After shampooing, massage the product into your hair and leave for 5 minutes (you can leave it on a little longer but don't exceed 10 minutes).I recommend using this at least twice a week. If you have severely dry hair, you can replace your normal conditioner with this. It is a pricey product but a little goes a long weigh and if you are using it as a repair mask like I am, it will last you for awhile. 

OVERALL 

5/5

Tony Moly Banana Cream Foam Cleanser: Review

Packaging:

Comes in a yellow plastic squeeze bottle

Contains 150 ml of product

Retails for $10-$15 (depending on where purchased)

ULTA currently has them for $11.60 

Formulation:

Banana cleansers are very popular in Asian skincare and has only begun to touch the surface here in the states. Banana extract has properties that help eliminate dirt and other wastes from the skin's surface. Think of it as a natural exfoliate without the harsh beads that most exfoliates have these days. This cleanser also contains honey which not only moisturizes your skin but also contains anti-bacteria properties to keep your skin nice and clean. While this cleanser does contain natural ingredients such as banana and honey, it is not 100% natural. It has your typical skin cleanser ingredients that you would see almost everywhere these days.

The texture is a cross between a cream and a gel like consistency. It feels very smooth on the skin and foams up pretty nicely. I was surprised at how much I liked this stuff. It cleanses the skin very well even on days where I am wearing heavy makeup. It does feel a little drying right afterwards but not to the point where I feel my skin is cracking. It works well with steam in the shower, opening up any pores and also works with cold water in the morning to help wake you up. 

I have very sensitive acne prone skin and after using this for about 2 weeks, not only my skin has cleared up I haven't had any breakouts. I would say that this cleanser would work on a lot of different types of skin. Remember everyone's skin is different, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. When it comes to skincare it is all about trial and error.

The cleanser has a very potent scent which reminded me of banana popsicles I used to eat as a child. It also has an acetone scent to it when applied on the skin. I personally didn't mind the scent but for those of you out there who hate or can't handle strong scents I don't recommend this cleanser for you.

Overall

4.8/5

  

Review: NYX The Go-To Palette in Wanderlust

NYX The Go To Palette

PACKAGING:

-Comes in a black plastic case

-Palette contains 6 eyeshadows, a highlighter, a blush, and a bronzer

-$16.99 each @ ULTA (Comes in 3 other color combinations)

FORMULATION:

The Wanderlust palette offers a nice variety of neutral shades that work with every eye color. The shadows are nicely pigmented and easy to blend. You can mix and match to create tons of different looks. I wasn't a big fan of the blush and highlighter. They were a bit too powdery for my taste although both had good pigmentation. The bronzer is good for a nice all over the face color but maybe a little too light for contouring unless you are very fair. 

This is a great palette for traveling. It contains all your eyeshadows and face products in one. It is also super light and takes up no room in your bag. This is also a great alternative to the Urban Decay Naked on the Go Palette which is about $50. 

EYESHADOWS

From left to right:

Highlighter, blush, bronzer

URBAN DECAY NAKED ON THE GO PALETTE

NEW!!! Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin Foundation/Concealer

Maybelline SuperStay Better Skin 

PACKAGING:

-Foundation comes in a glass bottle w/a pump (Contains 1 fl oz of product)

-Concealer comes in a plastic tube with a doe shape wand (Contains 0.25 fl oz of product)

Foundation is available in 9 shades (not every place will carry all the colors)

Concealer is available in 5 shades

So far I have only seen this product at Wal-Mart and Target. You can also purchase it online from Ulta.

Depending on where you purchase these products prices will vary

Foundation $9-$11

Concealer $7-$9

FORMULATION:

I have been waiting for quite some time now for this product to be released in the States (this product has already been released in the UK). Maybelline foundations are some of the best drugstore foundations on the market today and this one is no exception.

The SuperStay Foundation not only gives you coverage (medium/medium full) but also helps improve the quality of your skin as you use it. It contains Actyl C and SPF 20 that helps dull uneven skin become radiant and glowing. The texture isn't too thin or too thick and blends flawlessly. It is great for dry skin providing a layer of hydration. It also works well with oily skin.

The staying power of this foundation is pretty impressive as well. I have wore this foundation almost all day and it still looked fresh.

I don't have too much to say about the concealer. It is decent enough and offers a reasonable amount of coverage nothing heavy. It is very light and blends effortlessly into the skin. It's perfect for days where you don't want to wear a lot of makeup but just enough to keep you from looking rachet.I personally prefer Maybelline's Master Conceal concealer. 

OVERALL

Foundation

5/5

Concealer

3/5

NEW!!! Maybeliine Eyeshadow Palettes

Maybelline The Blushed Nudes (top) & Maybelline The Smokes (bottom) Eyeshadow Palettes

PACKAGING:

Much like Maybelline's The Nudes palette (1st one released), both of these new releases come in the same plastic case with a clear top. It isn't the most sturdiest of cases so beware if you are traveling with them.

The eyeshadows in the palette are placed in a way that allows you to use them as duos, trios, or quads. All the colors mix and match pretty well together.

Each palette retails for around $9-$12 depending on where you purchase it. These particular ones can be a little bit difficult to find and may not be available everywhere just yet.

I have seen these palettes at...

Walgreens

Walmart

Target

Ulta

FORMULATION:

I was quite disappointed with these two palettes compared to the first one that Maybelline released awhile back (The Nudes Palette). The eyeshadows in both palettes did not have consistent pigmentation and some were a bit on the powdery side. I found myself really having to dig into some of the lighter colors just to get enough color. 

But overall for the price, these palettes are pretty decent and great palettes for starters or for those of you who are looking for a bang for their buck.

The blushed nudes palette contains beautiful pink and rosy hues while the smokes palette contains dark and sultry hues. The blushed nudes is a more affordable alternative to the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette which retails for about $50.

The Blushed Nudes

TOP ROW

BOTTOM ROW

The Smokes

TOP ROW

BOTTOM ROW

Tarte Poppy Picnic Palette (NEW!!!) LIMITED EDITION

TARTE POPPY PICNIC

PACKAGING:

-Comes in a pretty small hard plastic case w/poppy flower print

-Contains 6 eyeshadows (1.7 g each)  and 1 Blush (5.6 g)

-Comes with a little instructional pamphlet that showcases 2 looks using the palette

-Retails for $38

-Available at 

ULTA

SEPHORA

TARTE ONLINE

-LIMITED EDITION!!!

FORMULATION:

The eyeshadows in this palette are all in the neutral family. All the shadows are matte in terms of their finish. The texture is soft but easy to blend. The pigmentation of these shadows are on point but not overpowering. The color combination is great for everyday where and perfect for travel. The palette also comes with a blush in a beautiful pinky coral color with a hint of shimmer just enough to balance out the matte eyeshadows.

OVERALL 5/5

Eva NYC Clean it Up Shampoo (Review)

PACKAGING: 

-Comes in a plastic pink bottle

-Contains 16.9 fl oz of product

-Availability varies but can be found at most ULTA stores as well as some online retailers

-Retails around $5-$10

FORMULATION:

My hair has been feeling pretty dry lately with all these weather changes. I needed a little something more than just a deep conditioner. So wandering through the aisles of ULTA I found this little number. The Eva NYC is a restorative shampoo that cleanses and nourishes hair. It contains Argan oil that provides the hair with vitamins and nutrients to keep it shiny and healthy as well as Kervais protein that helps renew vitality and strength. Compared to most shampoos, I found this one to be more on thicker side. It does a great job cleansing all the dirt, oil, and other unnecessary things that fly into my hair on daily basis but at the same time doesn't dry out my hair. This is one of the first shampoos I have ever tried where I felt I didn't need to use a conditioner afterwards. The smell is so and so. It does have that Argan oil scent but nothing overpowering. If you are a fan of nicely scented hair products I don't recommend this but if you are looking for a moisturizing shampoo definitely give this a try! 

OVERALL 

4/5

NEW!!! COOLA SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray

PACKAGING:

-Comes in a plastic spray bottle (Very sturdy)

-Contains 1.7 oz of product (TSA APPROVED)

-Retails for $36.00 @ULTA as well as COOLA online.

FORMULATION:

COOLA is a fairly new brand to the skincare market. They are well known for their great smelling sun care products. All their products are eco-friendly, natural, organic, and sustainable. A very refreshing change to the world of skincare products. Not only good for you but for the world as well.

Recently they have expanded their venture towards the cosmetics industry with their SPF 30 Makeup Setting Spray. This is the first organic SPF makeup setting spray on the market and with summer right around the corner this is a perfect product to go pick up.

This product doesn't really need an explanation it basically is what it says to be... a makeup setting spray. But for those out there who are not as familiar with makeup setting sprays all they are is a liquid that helps your makeup adhere to your skin for a longer period of time. It is really great for those who wear foundation but don't like the feeling of powder in order to set their makeup. The COOLA SPF 30 Makeup Setting not only sets your makeup but also contains green tea and aloe to provide nourishment and also help with sunburns on your skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid which helps moisturize your skin. It sets matte and is completely weightless. It does have a sunscreen smell right after you spray it however that fades and a more delightful refreshing scent sets in. You can use it before or after your makeup routine as well as taking it on the go for quick fixes throughout the day. You can also just use it as a spray sunscreen for your face no makeup necessary. This is a great product to have in your purse or beach bag this summer.

The only downside to this product is that it is quite pricey for a sunscreen and the packaging is pretty bulky for the amount of product it contains. 

Great for all skin types

Review: Benefit Rollerball Mascara NEW!!!

Benefit Rollerball Mascara

PACKAGING:

When it comes to packaging, Benefit never disappoints. The Rollerball Mascara comes in a black tube with a "soft" baby pink cap that has little indentations in it. The cap not only is adorable but functional as well providing a nice grip during application. 

The brush is a curved rubber wand. The shape of the wand is functional for a nice curl and length but difficult to reach the inner corner lashes.

FORMULATION:

I love love love the formulation of this mascara. It provides great length and holds your curls, even those stubborn Asian lashes. You really don't need more than 2 coats for long lashes. It doesn't provide as much volume as I would like, but if you already have voluminous lashes then this should not be a problem for you. The color payoff is pretty nice it isn't super dark but just enough to give your lashes a kick. As for the wear  time, the mascara isn't advertised as waterproof but rather long wearing for up to 12 hours and it is just that. I have had this mascara on for almost 24 hours and didn't have any big issues aside from a little bit of flakiness. I also had some issues with dryness of my lashes. It didn't harden them like rocks like what most mascaras do to my lashes but it was very dry a couple hours into wearing it.

But overall this is an amazing mascara and definitely worth trying!

OVERALL:
4.8/5

You can purchase this where Benefit is sold.

Retail $24.00

Macy's

Sephora

Ulta

Benefit online

REVIEW: Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue (NEW)

BARE MINERALS COMPLEXION RESCUE TINTED HYDRATING GEL CREAM

PACKAGING:

- Comes in a light bronze tube

-Available in 10 shades

Sold at Bare Minerals shops and online as well as Sephoras & Ultas

Retail $29.00

FORMULATION: 

Complexion Rescue is a combination of a BB cream, CC cream AND a tinted moisturizer all in one. I was fairly surprised at how much I loved this product. Over the years I have not been a huge fan of Bare Minerals' foundations. There was something about them that never looked 100% right on my skin. This foundation however I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! It is very hydrating and feels very light on the skin. The texture is a gel like consistency which makes for easy application and blending. 

It wears on skin for quite a long time especially with a primer underneath. The coverage is pretty great and adjustable to your preference. Layer as much or little as you like. The finish is a natural glow within look, not too matte or too shiny. It also contains SPF 30!!!

GREAT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

This is a great grab and go product. You can use your fingers for application so no need to fuss with so many brushes in the morning. It is also a one step product meaning you don't have to layer your moisturizer, SPF and foundation just put this on clean skin and you are good to go! 

OVERALL 5/5

Review: Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer (NEW)

Master Conceal in Light/Medium

PACKAGING:

-Comes in a skinny tube (very similar to Makeup Forever's Aqua Concealer)

-Comes in 5 shades

-Contains 0.4 FL OZ of product

Retails around $8-10 depending on where you purchase

Available at drugstores, Ulta, Select Targets & Wal-Marts

FORMULATION:

I absolutely adore Maybelline concealers! There hasn't been one that I haven't tried and not liked and this new one is no exception. 

Texture: Smooth and creamy but light at the same time for easy application and blending

Coverage: While it claims to be full coverage for me I find it more in the medium coverage range

Wear Time: Has pretty decent longevity wore around 6 hours without any changes could probably wore longer

OVERALL: 4.8/5

Tartelette Amazonian Clay Lipstick (NEW + LIMITED EDITION)

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Ethereal Pink (Tartelette Collection)

PACKAGING:

This limited edition lipstick from Tarte's 2015 Tartelette collection comes in a beautiful and fun purple and gold paper tube (Tarte is an environmental friendly beauty brand). 

Available at multiple retailers like...

ULTA (In-stores & online)

Sephora (In-stores & online)

Tarte Cosmetics Online 

As well as select Macy's 

RETAIL $16 (THIS PARTICULAR COLOR IS LIMITED EDITION)

FORMULATION:

Texture: Smooth like butter (hence the name) and glides on lips effortlessly

Pigmentation: Color saturation is just enough color that gives a pretty "natural" look without going overboard. A grab and go lipstick perfect for throwing into your purse.

Wear Time: The Butter lipstick line all have pretty decent wear time. A couple good hours if you are not eating or drinking much. 

OVERALL
5/5

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BRANDS FOR LIPSTICK!!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL THE COLORS!!!

Ethereal Pink: Soft peachy pink (PERFECT FOR ALL SKIN TONES)