hey guys—
I am so, so sorry for the lack of posts! My laptop stopped working right before my queue ran out! I am trying to fill my queue back up as quickly as possible, but life is SO busy this week! thanks for sticking with me!
xoxo
Mane ‘n’ Tail Shampoo
I started using Mane ‘n’ Tail quite unexpectedly. My vet actually recommended it for my dog, who has extremely dry skin. I went on vacation and forgot to bring my shampoo and conditioner home with me (I usually switch between Pantene Pro-V Nature Fusion with Cassia and Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Castille Soap), so I used this, and guess what? I really liked it.
I remember reading so many teen magazines with ads talking about how Man ‘n’ Tail helps make your hair grow super fast, and while I did not find that to be true (who knows, though, I already have pretty long hair and let’s face it: I do not measure it), it did really make my hair manageable.
My hair is long, dry, and prone to knotting—even with conditioner, oil treatments, etc., and this shampoo really does make hair manageable. When I first used it, I did not have my conditioner home with me, so I rubbed a dot of Alba’s Un-Petroleum Jelly through my ends. I had a lot less tangling and knotting than I usually do, and I could go a bit longer between washes, which is amazing, considering it was summer! It also helped keep my waves/curls in check, which is awesome.
Some people ask if using Mane ‘n’ Tail makes you smell like a horse—I don’t think so? I have never smelled a freshly-bathed horse, so I can’t say for sure. Usually, when I think of ‘horse smell’, I think of hay and manure, and I DEFINITELY don’t smell like that!
I definitely recommend this to anyone, even if it is just to try! I enjoy the scent and I love how moisturizing it is. It is super cheap, too, so if you hate it, just use it for your dog (or give it to a friend or family member with a dog)!
I give it five stars
We’re Attracted to Magnetic Nail Polish
Images from All Lacquered Up
Even though we have nail art out the wazoo lately, we’re still loving this new discovery: magnetic nail polish. Apparently it’s possible to include iron powder in polish and when you hold a magnet over freshly painted nails, create a ripple line or pattern effect. Fashionista alerted us to this trend yesterday but it’s actually not a new idea. Several years ago Lancome and L’Oreal released limited editions of Le Magnetique collections to American and European customers respectively. It never really took off but now LCN, Essence (only available in Europe as far as we can tell), and Nails Inc. (to be released soon), are carrying magnetic collections. Given the nail art fervor right now this may have more staying power this time around. Different magnets allow you to create different designs so we could see some creative girlies integrating this into their routines.
All Lacquered Up gave the LCN polishes a try a few weeks ago and they’re definitely fun but may require too much patience (and steady hands!) for us. Will you be snapping these up?
-Lorelei
Shop our favorite nail polishes in the Birchbox Shop.
would anyone be interested in this?
The Canadian versions of Birchbox
Hello beauties!
For those of you who are as obsessed with the beauty community as I am, you’ll know all about Birchbox. Yet for those of you who don’t know, oh let me tell you. Birchbox is an American subscription based service where each month you receive 4 to 5 deluxe sized samples in the mail. Samples from many popular and high-end beauty brands such as Benefit, Stila, Laura Mercier & Nars.
Unfortunately though, for international beauty lovers, Birchbox currently only ships within the US. Boo.
Yet here in Canada, there are two beauty box services very much similar to Birchbox that will hopefully satisfy your cravings. Yay!
The first is Loose Button’s Luxe Box. A beauty box service and company founded by Ray Cao and Aditya Shah, sends 3 to 5 deluxe beauty samples each month to your door. Luxe Box offers many of Birchbox’s brands as well as Clinique, Dermalogical and MAC. Often includes a yummy treat. Soon to be available internationally. Cost: $12 CND per month
Second is the Glymm Box. Another beauty box service that also sends 3 to 5 luxury samples in the mail. A fairly new box on the market (June or July being their first box) so its list of brands is not as extensive as Birchbox’s. Yet they do have quite a few popular names and also include samples from Cake and La Roche-Posay. Glymm also offers a points system similar to Birchbox where points can be redeemed for full sized products in their soon to open Beauty boutique. Also includes a yummy treat. Also soon to be available internationally. Cost: $10 CND per month
For a look into this month’s Glymm Box, check out Aleeza’s review here.
With all of that said, I am currently subscribed to both services for a year, sharing the cost & products with my mother (I paid for one subscription and she paid for the other). My first Luxe Box will be arriving sometime in August and my first Glymm Box in September. So I will hopefully be doing a review for both and give you my first impressions. After the subscriptions are over we’ll see which one we like best. Maybe both or neither. Who knows?! But I’m excited!
Manicure Monday! Summery Watermelon Nails
My amazing boyfriend took me to Ulta this weekend and spoiled me a little bit :) As I was browsing the racks of polish, I instantly knew I needed to create a watermelon nail! I had been lusting over China Glaze’s Re-Fresh Mint, so I grabbed that, along with Evening Seduction and Make an Entrance (buy 2, get 1 free sales = love!)
I actually bought some fake nails for this look, because I had a feeling I was going to mess up a few times. It turned out not being that bad! First, I painted on the pink flesh of the fruit (Make an Entrance), leaving blank crescent for the rind. Once that dried, I slicked a coat of Re-Fresh Mint onto the tips, then I dipped a toothpick in Evening Seduction to create the seeds. If you try this and go the fake nail route, make sure that the ‘seeds’ are dry! I did have to start over because once I glued the nails on, I found out that the seeds weren’t as dry as they seemed.
MAC Pro Longwear Lip Colour in Perennial Rose
So many people I know are afraid to try a red lip for a multitude of reasons, but the two main fears in my life were having the wrong coloring (I’m paler than NC15 AND a bit of a redhead—dark auburn, really) and feathering! I attended a wedding this past spring, and once I found the perfect classic dress, I desperately wanted to pair it with a classic red lip, too!
I found the perfect red—for EVREYONE :)
Behold, MAC’s Pro Longwear in Perennial Rose!
THIS SHADE IS SO AWESOME AND PERFECT
It is the perfect balance of red, plum, and brown, and it lasts FOREVER. Seriously. I applied it around 1pm and didn’t get home until about 1am and it was still there! It lasted through snacks, dinner, dessert, and tons of glasses of water.
Unfortunately, most great things cannot be 100% great.
This is so ridiculously hard to apply perfectly. For one, your lips should really be exfoliated and totally dry. Next, you have to scrape the product off of the brush so that it looks dry, then sort of pat and glide it over your lips. I kind of like this, though, because it makes the product really buildable. Make sure you scrape the product, though, or else you will end up with a big mess that will dry before it is properly spread and ughhh it was horrible! I definitely had to try a few times before I got it right. Lastly: DON’T USE THE GLOSS THAT COMES WITH IT. Seriously. If you use the gloss, even after an hour or so, it causes the color to kind of…crumble off. It’s gross!
Here is a swatch:
this was one coat. it darkened my lips perfectly without looking vampy, and best of all, it didn’t clash with my hair or skin! since it lasted forever, there was no bleeding or anything. I definitely recommend this color to anyone that is willing to be really careful with application!
I would love to give this five stars due to the perfect color, but since half of the product sucks (the gloss) and application can be difficult, I can only give it three stars.
Favorite Friday! MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF15
There are three things I desperately need in life: sunscreen, moisturizer, and foundation. Unfortunately, I hate waiting around for my moisturizer and sunscreen to dry so I can apply foundation, only to have to start all over a few hours later when my SPF needs to be reapplied. This is my HG tinted moisturizer, and I loooooove that it also contains an SPF (even though it is quite lower than what goes on the rest of my body).
I keep a tube in my purse and in my makeup “stash” so that I can have a little refreshing whenever I need it, no matter where I am.
I am slightly lighter than NC15 (for those of you not familiar with MAC, it is the lightest shade they sell at the counter), and this moisturizer in “light” is just about perfect. It is still a tad dark, but it is so sheer that it really isn’t noticeable. It is also super buildable, so if you’re into sculpting and contouring, you can just layer a little more wherever you want it, saving you time and space!
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great tinted moisturizer with SPF. It helps smooth out my skin, protect it from the sun, and cover up blemishes without looking fake or cakey like Studio Fix Fluid sometimes can.
Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation
Sometimes, I wonder if I order from Sephora just so I can pick out samples! I chose to sample Ole Henriksen’s Sheer Transformation with my most recent order.
Sephora’s description:
Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation helps fade skin discolorations—hyperpigmentation, age spots, and sun damage—without the use of chemicals. It instantly nourishes and retexturizes the complexion, smoothing fine lines while providing intense free-radical protection to help prevent further damage. The light, creamy formula leaves skin feeling silky.
Since I only received a small sample (0.1oz), I wasn’t able to use the product enough to tell if it helped noticeably fade my hyperpigmentation, although it did really seem to help clear up my rosacea quite a bit. I definitely noticed a difference in the texture of my skin (SO much smoother!). It seemed to moisturize my skin really well, although it does feel a bit sticky (humid-sticky) as it is being absorbed, but it does feel very refreshing!
I LOVE that Ole Henriksen’s products are free of parabens, sulfates, fragrances, dyes, petro-chemicals, and phthalates. I also really like that it carries Sephora’s ‘Natural Seal’
I’m not sure if I would purchase this product since I own other moisturizers (with SPF!!) that I adore, although I wouldn’t turn it down if it were offered to me!
I am NOT rating this product based on what it is supposed to do (fade skin discoloration) since I only had enough to use it for three days, but I AM rating it on how it made my skin feel! I give it four stars since my skin felt really awesome :)
Biolage Thermal Active Setting Spray
I have curly/wavy hair, and I used to straighten it daily. My hairdresser recommended this to not only help protect my hair from the harsh heat, but to prolong the altered texture so I wouldn’t have to straighten it all the time. My mom used many Biolage products when I was younger, so I knew (or thought) I could trust any of the brand’s products. I purchased the spray and went home.
You know how your hairdresser can always make you look and feel great, no matter what, and then you get home and try and re-create everything and fail miserably? This was one of those times.
I was instructed to spray the product onto my hair while it was damp, then either let it air dry or blow it (I always air dry), then style as usual. At the salon, my hair was blow-dried and then straightened, so I tried that first. My hair just seemed…not greasy, but not clean. Kind of sticky? I can’t really describe it. Kind of like a hairspray mixed with a spray pomade, I guess. It was very weighed down, and I absolutely had to wash it the next day. After washing, I sprayed it on once more, then let my hair air-dry, and I straightened it—only to achieve the weird texture again! I thought maybe my straightener was just gunky, so I wiped it down and tried again later, but still no use. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to see if the spray helped prolong my style, since I always had to wash my hair! However, I did (and do!) really enjoy the scent—it’s the typical Biolage scent. It just smells…professional (?) without burning your nostrils like the smell of hair dye or perming solution.
I don’t know if I am just using this product incorrectly or what. It was awesome at the salon, but it is a disappointment at home. I will give it the benefit of the doubt since I have seen great reviews elsewhere, and award it two stars
Kind Fruit & Nut Bar: Almond & Apricot
When I first received my Birchbox and saw this bar in it, I felt a little conflicted—Should I review a fruit and nut bar on a beauty blog? Obviously, I decided to go with it. These have got to be healthier than a candy bar, and health is a beautiful thing!
I have been a fan of Kind bars for a few months now. A family member has a gluten allergy and has been keeping a basket of the peanut butter & strawberry bars in her kitchen.
I love that they are all natural, gluten and wheat free, low on the glycemic index, contain fiber (this flavor has 5 grams), are not genetically modified, contain no trans fats, are low in sodium, have no sulfur dioxide, and are available in a vast variety of flavors.
As previously stated, I had only tried the peanut butter and strawberry bars, which were like an extremely satisfying peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I was (and still am) surprised by how much I enjoyed these, because I HATE pb&j! When I opened my Birchbox to find an almond and apricot bar, I was so excited. I really like both almonds and apricots, so I knew I would love this bar.
A Kind bar, if you have never had one, is seriously the ultimate snack bar. They’re packed full of flavor (more on this in a minute), contain HUGE chunks of everything in them, and have the perfect sticky-chewy-crunchy ratio. I highly suggest picking one up!
The almond and apricot bar is amazing. Like, “O-M-G I want to eat this as slowly as possible so it will never be gone” amazing. My first bite was surprisingly coconutty. I checked the ingredients: almond, dried coconut, apricots, honey, non GMO glucose, puffed rice, chicory fiber, and soy lecithin. Well, that explained the coconut flavor, didn’t it? :) I really like coconut, so I was pleasantly surprised. I kept eating—and here is the thing—I’m a REALLY slow eater. I come from a family of foodies, so I was raised to eat slowly so that I can pick apart each layer of flavor, roll them around my tongue, and cherish the complexity (or simplicity!) of whatever I’m eating. Anyway! there are SO many different layers to this bar. My first bite contained hints of toasted coconut, then apricot, almond, and mixtures of each, ending with a delightful toasty, nutty, fruity…yumminess (there are really no words to describe it haha). Sadly, the bar is now gone :( I keep sniffing the wrapper hahah. So coconutty! I will absolutely be purchasing a box of these this weekend while I go grocery shopping. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm. They really hit the spot. Oh, and the nutrition facts aren’t too scary, either. I keep a little stash of Hershey bars in the kitchen, and here is a comparison (this is not meant to make Hershey look bad in any way!)
so, for the most part, the Kind bars are a bit better for you than a regular candy bar, PLUS remember—you’re getting actual fruit instead of chemicals!
I give these five stars. I will absolutely be purchasing them! I am so glad this showed up in my Birchbox :)
use the store locator to find a retailer near you!
Please reply to this post and let me know if you would like me to review more food in the future!
