This Week's Beauty Purchases!

It's been quite a productive week in beauty buys for me. I haven't had a chance to try everything out yet, but I figured I'd introduce all of the products and we can go into them a little further later on. Let's get started!

NARS Bronzing Powder in Laguna: After a less-than-stellar experience with Too Faced Peach Leopard Bronzer, I thought I'd try this cult classic. I detest super-shimmery bronzers, but the shimmer in this bronzer is almost undetectable; it just imparts a radiant glow. The shade "Laguna" is good for my pale winter skin. Maybe I'll try "Casino" in the summer time.

Maybelline Volum' Express the Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara: Is it just me, or are long product names super annoying? Regardless, I have mixed feelings about this mascara. The curved brush doesn't really do much for me as far as volume, but it helps with curl. I think layering this with another mascara (probably my favorite L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black) would look nice. My only issue is that Maybelline mascaras are a real pain to take off.

Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama: If you're trying to get in on autumn's oxblood trend but don't want to take the full dive, this is a great way to start. I thought this color would just be a deep fuchsia, but the deep burgundy/maroon color is much more than that. Pretty and rich, perfect for fall and winter. 

Mary Kay NouriShine Plus Lip Gloss in Café Au Lait: I got this lip gloss for free with a top I purchased from Lulu's. Honestly, I thought the gloss I received was a sample size, so I reordered it thinking the retail size would be bigger. I was a little disappointed to find out the petite container is what you get. This gloss is nice and moisturizing, and the color is a great neutral for every day. Would I pay $14 for it again? Probably not. 

Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray: I am so excited for this product, and I haven't even tried it yet. I absolutely loooved Oribe Dry Texturing Spray. Maximista is a "thermal-protective body-builder," and I think using it in conjunction with Oribe Crème for Style will give fantastic results. Did I mention how amazing Oribe products smell? Mmm!

Real Techniques Powder Brush: This is my first Real Techniques brush, and I think it's great. Right now I use an Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush to apply bronzer, and I think it's a little too heavy-handed. For a lighter bronzer application, especially on my pale autumn/winter skin, I think this fluffy brush will do the trick. I had a coupon at Ulta (yay!) and was able to get this brush for around $7 USD. Quite a deal for such a fabulous brush. Now I really want to try the Expert Face Brush. It's supposed to be great for foundation.

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick in #001 Nude Beige: This lipstick is creamy. Too creamy? It's too early to pass judgement. The color is a beautiful pinkish-nude, and the packaging is luxe, to say the least. It's a great match for my NARS Fantasia Lipliner Pencil.

Phew! That was a lot. I'm very excited to get better acquainted will all of these products, and I'll definitely keep you posted on what I'm crazy about and what is underwhelming. Have you tried any of these products? Let me know in the comments. Until next time! Xx

Oh how I've missed you, Pureology!

My hair is fairly simple. Straight, normal texture, but lots of it. Sure, it's frustrating that it won't hold a style past 3 o'clock, but it's my hair and I like it. I've used almost every product line ever: L'Oréal Professionnel, Bumble & bumble, Shu Uemura, you name it. I've found products I like, products I hate, and everything in the middle, but nothing really compares to Pureology. Pureology is a 100% vegan (not that that's something I'm totally concerned about...terrible, I know), sulfate-free line that's all about color care. I used to use Pureology years ago when I worked at my old salon (and before I really knew how to maximize my own hair's potential), and I think I really took it for granted back then. Thankfully, I've been able to get a hold of it recently, and I am so happy I did. Pureology really is an amazing line. I've tried the Hydrate line and I like it, but I prefer to use the Pure Volume shampoo and Essential Repair conditioner every time I wash my hair. It feels sooo luxurious and smells amazing (the conditioner smells like vacation in a bottle). I've recently purchased the Colour Stylist AntiSplit Blowdry cream and the Silk Bodifier. I haven't used the mousse yet (I'll let you know when I do), but the blow-dry cream is simply fabulous. Not too sticky or too oily, and it makes my blowout look sleek and healthy. Pureology is a little bit on the pricier side, but I promise you, it's totally worth it. To find the Pureology collection that's right for your own hair type, check out the website here.

There's really nothing like a good hair day, right? Have you used Pureology before? If not, what line do you prefer? Leave comments below! Happy weekend everyone! Xx

Katy Perry's hair! Ahh!

This is literally going to be a teeny tiny post, but I just saw this picture and I had to share. Katy Perry recently switched up her hair game (again) and I absolutely love her new look.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not Katy Perry's biggest fan, but I do think her music is fun and I love her creativity. The violet hair was fun and shocking, sure, but this new look is extremely pretty without all of the craziness. She's still got some fun pink color in there, and the length is extremely sassy. Her makeup here is also stunning: bronzy and dramatic, without being cakey or overwhelming (let's face it, Katy Perry has been extremely guilty of cake-face in the past, evidence here and here).

So while I'm not planning on chopping and bleaching my hair any time soon, I find this new look very inspiring. Katy Perry isn't one to stick to one hair style for long, so it's always entertaining to see what she comes up with next. What do you think of this new 'do? Leave comments below! Xx

Luxor The "Wet" Brush

My hair is not particularly tangly. On a bad day, I've got to tug a brush through my hair extra hard, but usually it just glides right through. I'm lucky that way, I guess.

My sister Melissa, on the other hand, has hair that gives me nightmares. I swear, she spends a half hour combing her hair out after she washes it. It looks painful. I've read about "The Tangle Teezer" a million times, and it looked like a beacon of hope in a sea of knots and tangles. I am just too lazy to order one, however, and decided to purchase The "Wet" Brush by Luxor instead. We carried them in my salon for a short period of time (I mean short...I'm talking a week or so), and I'll be honest: the packaging was hideous. It looked like it stepped straight out of the 90s. I took a chance though, and I'm so glad I did.

After washing my hair last night, I could tell it would be knotty upon brushing. Imagine my delight when this brush glided through the tangles like a hot knife through butter. It was magical. It felt great on my scalp, through my ends, everywhere. I knew this brush got my seal of approval when Melissa loved it too. Her testimonal: "It rips through tangles but didn't make my damaged ends break off." I probably wouldn't use the word "rip," but hey. It combats tangles like Dwight D. Eisenhower! (Stupid joke, I'm aware.) The best part is, it's cheap as heck. You can buy it here for less than $7 USD. I recommend this brush even if your hair isn't a knotted mess. It's a great brush, and it's gentle on the hair. My one caveat? It isn't the most effective brush on dry hair. When hair is wet, I give it two thumbs up.

Have you tried The "Wet" Brush yet? Do you swear by another brush or comb? Leave comments below and tell me what you think! Xx

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Working at a hair salon has resulted in my addiction to hair products.  I am always buying new products as soon as we get them, even if I don't necessarily need it (hello, my annoyingly soft hair does not need MoroccanOil, but does that stop me from getting it? NO).  Even though I bought dry shampoo, I never really jumped on the bandwagon; I didn't see enough of a difference to continue buying it (I used TIGI's Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo).  I couldn't resist, though, when one of the lovely ladies I work with started using Oribe products.  I had to try something from the line, and luckily, my introduction was the Dry Texturizing Spray.

 I'm not really sure if it's technically a "dry shampoo"; Oribe's website describes it as an "invisible dry spray [that] builds in incredible volume and sexy texture."  Let me tell you! Whether I use it in clean or dirty hair, I definitely see a difference.  When I spray it into my clean hair, I get loads of volume and my style stays in place.  Using it in dirty hair allows me to gather my hair in pretty buns and ponytails or restyle it loose and down.  The smell is really nice but sometimes comes off a little strong.  And the packaging is absolutely beautiful!

If you're looking for a dry shampoo but are turned off by the idea of white, powdery sprays, I would recommend Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray.  This product doesn't come cheap: one can (8.5 oz) will set you back 39 dollars.  But hey, for some of us, you can't put a price on good hair!!

Things I've been obsessed with lately

L'Occitane hand cream - In the winter, my hands get so disgustingly dry that they bleed. Literally. I am 21 years old with the hands of an 80 year old. I tried this cream once, and have been hooked ever since. The fragrance is so nice but not at all overpowering, and it's super thick without being greasy. It's worth every penny.

My Ray-Ban glasses - Every time I wear these in public, I get asked whether they are prescription glasses.  The answer is YES! I just bought Ray-Ban sunglasses and popped the dark lenses out. I feel like they are old-school and classic, but also very stylish. I think I can wear them for a while.

L'oreal Texture Expert Mouse Volupte - I can honestly say I have tried like, 90% of hair products on the market, and while I find some that I like, this one really takes the cake. My hair is weird- I've got a ton of it (making it a real pain to blowdry), but it's really soft and limp, meaning it never holds a style. This mousse makes my hair nice and big.

ASOS.com - This British fashion site has become my new go-to for accessories. Their stuff ranges from 5 to 500 dollars, and you can pick the maximum and minimum prices in your budget. I have found some really cool, affordable pieces on this site, and everything arrives very fast.

Nail polish - I don't know when I became a freak about nail polish, but my addiction has reached gross proportions. Every time a new polish collection comes out, I neeeed to try at least a few different shades. I don't even paint my nails that often! I've got so many, I could open a nail salon. I usually stick to dark polishes (let's be honest, most of them are black tinged with a hint of blue, green, etc.), but I like to try anything.

"My So-Called Life" on Hulu.com - The entire series is available on www.hulu.com right now. I'm not sure if it'll expire or not, but I've definitely been watching it. I totally remember watching it when I was young, but I was only 5 when it originally aired, so honestly, how much did I even understand? Catching up on it now makes it all the more addicting. I want to buy the DVD set!

MAC Pro Longwear Foundation - I always have a problem with my foundation staying on my face. No matter what kind of foundation I use, it comes off about an hour later. I don't know if it's because I touch my face or what, but trying this foundation was a smart idea. It literally stays on all day! It looks very natural on my skin, and for someone who is pretty picky about foundation, this one is a winner.

Rosebud Salve - No words necessary.  Just try it.

Phytomer Hydracontinue Moisturizing Base Skin Cream - Long name, I know. My esthetician recommended this skin cream for me, and I love love love it. It's got a gel-cream texture that isn't too heavy, but moisturizes beautifully, even in the winter. It doesn't irritate my skin, but just soaks right in and feels amazing.

My MAC Pro Palette - I just got one of these recently and I love it. I used to buy individuals of every single color, which was a pain because I was running out of places to keep them. It also became annoying to take a million eyeshadows with me whenever I travelled. This is much more convenient. I have a feeling I'm going to fill up a bunch of these.

Any new obsessions for you?