Influenster Goodies: Hair Care Herbal Essences biorenew

Hey folks so photos first for a change.  This is a quick post until I use the product.  Influenster sent me a new full size set of biorenew from Herbal Essences.  I haven't sniffed them yet but I was hoping for something that looked less heavy which to me means not a flower scent cause they are usually stronger.  I'll tell you how I like it and about the scent later. 

Wash Day Sort Of & Reviews

I shouldn't say sort of.  I did wash my hair today.  I didn't take my hair down on Monday night as planned because I wasn't going to get my hair cut until tomorrow.  Plus there was no time to sort out what to do with my hair while I still got two workouts in before the holiday.  I took it down last night, well I started out right after I finished running around but because they were so small it took me almost six hours to wrap that process up, but was so tired that all I did was did a brief fluffing out and then went to bed.  I noted a few spots that were knotted but nothing that couldn't be addressed after some conditioning.

I woke up this morning and grabbed almost ever deep conditioning mask and treatment I had (Dr. Miracle's, Moroccan Oil, It's a 10 and an Organix blend) and took some time to fully cover my hair.  Then I did my first really good detangle and covered my hair with a plastic cap and the Hot Headz (I think that's the name, don't hold me to it) cloth cover and went about my day.  I cooked breakfast and the turkey for lunch/dinner, almost took a nap and then had my only two meals of the day thus far.  Then I figured I should wash this out because I wasn't sure how long this was going to take to wrap up.  My hair felt like it was okay but I detangled again just to be safe.  I washed it out and felt a little place where it could mat if I wasn't careful but fingered it loose and then went for the post poo deep conditioner which in this case was just Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and a store freebie that I can't remember lol.  I only left it in for like an hour and washed it out in the sink to hopefully prevent any kind of post love matting.  I finger detangled until I put in my leave ins following the LOC method with an added bonus of an Aveda Smooth Infusion treatment to help the hair straighten.  And then I fired up my new hairdryer.

I will say I had massive reservations about how this dryer would hold up with all of the poof that was my almost five month and change post relaxer hair.  I knew it was more powerful than my other one which was supposed to mean it would dry faster but yeah life could super suck if the comb attachment and dryer didn't live up to its billing.  This was the only time ever that my hair felt like butter when a dryer hit it.  It worked quickly and really just made the entire process super easy.  I had to stop for a while because my other dryer I could hold like a big brush versus this one.  But the comb and dryer moved through all of the poofiness with not a bit of trouble.  I stopped short of flat ironing it since I'm going to have it trimmed tomorrow and her flat iron skills far exceed my own.  I'm going to tie it down at the gym tomorrow morning if I can wake up on time.  Hair appointment at 2 and then new photo when I'm not quite looking homeless.  I don't now just like dang have you EVER put a relaxer on your hair.  Now onto the reviews.

New Products: I have used Shea Moisture products before and my hair super duper did not like them.  I was hesitant to buy them as part of my transition but Carol's Daughter discontinued their transitioning line and Shea Moisture was recommended as a good alternative both online and by my old stylist (hey Keshia).  First it took a while for it to lather but when it did my hair felt clean and fresh and a few finger curls through stopped any major issues.  After I figured out how to open the conditioner it worked equally well and I probably could have stopped with the two of them but I added parts of my old staples just to keep it balanced with protein and moisture.  I will give a total thumbs up to the Raw Shea Butter and Argan Oil product line (I didn't purchase this kit because it's not available in the store but it shows you all the products I used except the finishing elixir which they didn't have in the store).  Maybe they aren't great for super straight hair but for hair in need of some love and moisture they were well appreciated.  For those of you that like numbers better 9/10, I do like more lather but it seems to do the job well so far.

New Dryer:  Hot Tools Professional Tourmaline Tools 2000 Turbo Ionic Dryer.  I played with about 6 dryers of varying price points before I went with this one and I'll admit a large portion of what I made my final decision on was that was red lol.  I was worried because when I have purchased dryers like this in the past the comb attachments weren't sturdy enough to handle the thickness of my hair.  They frequently broke and just left me irritated about finding a replacement.  My Gold N Hot was a god send when I found it but really after almost abandoning heat altogether over the last few years I hadn't noticed how ineffective it had become in working through my hair.  So yes it was time but no I wasn't confident.  As I mentioned earlier though it was amazing.  Watching the heat shift smoothly along with the fan speed was new.  On full blast though it would fry my hair so medium to high heat and no more than medium speed and I had dry soft poofy hair in a fraction of the time it would take with my old dryer.  I'd say really like half the time and that was with my old dryer being on bake your skull heat.  I highly recommend it especially if it keeps holding up with the wash days as the hair gets less and less relaxed.  Plus it's on sale right now and if you get it at Ulta (the link directs you there) then you can get a free styling tool with it and not the cheap stuff they are trying to get rid of either.  I got a 1 inch barrel curling iron (in purple no less lol) that was normally 52.99 for free.  So yeah it was 70 bucks but I got both products for 35 at that point plus the random coupons that Ulta gives out lol.  Thumbs up here as well.  For those of you that like numbers better 9.5/10--there's a knock on comfortability in the hold but it's good.  I'm pretty sure the Ulta model is missing the focused blow attachment but I wouldn't use that one on my hair so it wasn't a major loss that it wasn't in the box.  EDIT my box has all the attachments--I still won't be using the focused blower lol.

UPDATE: So I went in and got my trim today and the flat iron is so randomly foreign to me now that the smell of my hair is slightly maddening.  Regardless it wasn't as traumatic to do as I thought it might be so I'm going to just let the hair grow out slowly under a series of twists, braids, weaves and what not.  Here are updates of my barely neck length hair that will be hidden again in a few days.  Made it to the gym before the trim too--yippee!

Product Review: Just Be Carefree!

This post is overdue but with the end of the semester and beginning of summer school (tomorrow) I've been a little tied up.  So as I'm mentioned to you before I sometimes get products for free from Influenster to review honestly.  It's a good gig and has introduced me to a few new products I love and wouldn't have known about otherwise.  Well, they sent me a sample of Carefree panty liners about six weeks ago which I can admit to being a little hesitant to try out.  I'm familiar with Carefree and they make good products but Always are my people lol.  When I received the box I have to say that hesitation grew.  The box was TINY which meant the product would likely be small as well.  Granted I'm on a weight loss kick but I kind of like having a liner that covers more than the dead center of my underwear which is why I have stuck with Always as they have an extra long liner that accommodates the rounder behind legion. 

This is the size of the liner when it's sealed--which hey is great because you can tuck it in your purse easily.  I was nervous to put it politely and that nervousness didn't diminish when I opened up the liner.

The next two photos are of the liner on it's on and next to my normal liners.

But I'm a trooper and after shaking my head in disbelief for a day or so I tried them out.  Due to the aforementioned weight loss they were an ok fit in my size 6 undies, not at all great in the size 7s.  They held up well over the course of the day and were kind of unobtrusive which I guess is the point of them.  I don't know if I like them enough to forgo the Always liners at least not in their current size and thickness.  A little more length and padding and this would be a great go to product.

Influenster Moment: Neutrogena Hydro Boost

Howdy everyone.  I am late on this as with everything thanks to that week of crappy illness.  I received a sample of Neutrogena Hydro Boost to review from Influenster.com.  Y'all know I love the free stuff and Influenster so this was a win for me from jump.

I wasn't sure how big the box would be but when I opened the box up the first thing  I saw was this card.  For some reason I was being stupid or slow or something because even the image of the water didn't make me think of how the product would feel when I put it on my face.

The packaging itself is cute.  Pretty sturdy which I would know because I accidentally dropped it.  I followed the directions on the package and waited until I washed my face and went through my normal routine before I put this on my face as its more of a moisturizer finishing kind of step.  The product looks much thicker than it actually is when you apply it.

It looks more like water now that I'm looking at the photo again.  I mean the color not the texture.  It looked smooth and it smells great so I was excited about what it would feel like on my face.  Initially it felt kinda oily which was weird.  I think I just wasn't anticipating that it would be so slick on my face.  Immediately after that though my face felt like it was a little tighter and my skin was a little smoother.  The only thing that was a downside to the product for me as compared to my Clinique product was there's no SPF listed as being part of the product.  I'm not outside all day so it's not as crucial but it would definitely make a good product better.  You don't need very much of it to cover your face which is also a plusand it does feel very intensely moisturizing.  However, if you don't like strong--albeit pleasant--smells this could be a negative for you.  It mostly disappeared by the time I was done with my first class about four hours after I put it on but if you are hypersensitive to smells that could be a long time.  This could be an ideal winter product though because my skin never felt dry while this was on and the winter wind can be a bear.

All in all this is a good moisturizer and if you don't need an SPF rating on it you should definitely give it a shot.

Subscription Box Review: Hatchery

So I haven't been around lately mostly due to work and traveling but I have a series of posts I need to make over the next few days.  I was going to start with a hair post but then I got a surprise a few days ago. Ok not a surprise I knew it was coming but didn't realize it would be here so soon after hearing it would be shipped. It's from a subscription service which isn't hugely monumental but in my case it's a big deal because I've for the most part entirely shunned those services.  I mean I like healthy snacks but my version of healthy and their version not quite the same.  And while I enjoy fashion and beauty I very rarely use makeup so those services won't work.  I ditched Fabletics because the cute outfits never seemed to be in my size and I am one of those women that legitimately hates yoga/thing workout pants.  This box could be called a fit of food snobbery but you'd be somewhat wrong.  It's a gourmet food service that gives you samples of small shops across the country.  Living Social had a three month special which amounted to a third off so I figured it wouldn't hurt to try it out.

Hatchery.Co produces the Hatchery Box.  Once a month you get a sampling of products to cook with.  Some of it is tailored to your tastes along with what seems to be part of the selection for the month.  And they alert you before the shipment moves out so you know when you to look for it.  I had a few of the same items as featured on the website this month but have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the assortment and taste for those things in the box.  The only miss for me was the jelly and that's just cause I don't like jelly.  I will review each item below the picture.  First up though just some photos of what the box looked like as I was unpacking it.  Call me a sucker for the somewhat kitchy and vintage look but I loved the look of this box.  Each item is very securely packaged and there's a description of each item on the cards I snapped.  There's also a recipe included using at least one of the items in the box.  This month it was for barbecue peel and eat shrimp.  Sounds good but I'm lazy when eating so the shrimp would have to be peeled ahead of time lol. 

Now on to the reviews.  This box came the night I wasn't sure what to do with my salmon so it worked out fantastic really.  I used a bit of the mustard and paella spice mix on my salmon.  The paella didn't pack much heat for the amount I used but it could have been muted by the mustard which was AMAZING.

This is a sample of a very nice olive oil.  I've only used it to coat my baked potatoes but it was light and tasted okay.  I need to try it on a larger scale either in meal prep or marinade to give it a better marinade.

I'll admit to being confused by this one.  Pasta gravy is a new one for me and I was nearly ready to chuck it to the mom donation pile until I started reading.  It sounds like a really good and rich pasta sauce.  As soon as I try it I will let you know.

This was the miss for me.  I won't be trying it but I'll give it to mom to try like normal.

I haven't tried this one yet but I'm semi desperate to.  I love a good barbecue sauce so flipping much.  I might try it with my steak tonight.

 

This mustard is delicious.  I may actually have to order this full size and love it more.  It's got a nice tang to it on top of being a rich full flavor.  

 

I was a little disappointed in this on the salmon.  It just kind of lost it's totally imagined fire.  As I mentioned that could have been because I added the mustard to it but I will give it another try on another dish.

Ok I got a three month subscription for 51 bucks through LivingSocial.  Regular monthly price is 25 a month with cancellation anytime you would like or yearly 240 bucks (a whole savings of 5 bucks a month).  If you really like to cook and try new things without paying full price for things this isn't a bad deal.  It isn't anymore expensive than some of the other subscription services and if you're like me it will expose you to things you can't get locally.  

Six items would work out to be about 4 dollars an item each month including shipping.  Now you can see about what sized items you are getting so it may not be worth it to pay that monthly especially since you don't know what is coming.  If you were willing to commit for the year then it would be about 3 bucks an item plus shipping.  I like the idea of things being sourced from all over especially since I keep finding myself in smaller towns with seemingly limited palettes.  Having said that though I really do like knowing that my boxes will end in March unless I'm just so overwhelmed that I must continue.  I like having the finite ending point.  The same could be said of the yearly package so if you want to give it a whack for a longer time that's an option as well. 

Have a good Saturday and enjoy good eats every day.

Final Firmoo Review

I have been meaning to get this up for a while and keep forgetting.  So as I mentioned in my earlier post I got a pair of glasses to review from Firmoo.com.  I wanted to wait a few weeks after I started wearing the new prescription to give an honest review. 

Quality: The glasses were just as sturdy and well made as the glass I got at the local store.  Both frames were plastic and while that was disorienting from the metal lenses I had been wearing but something easily gotten over.  The lenses looked about the same and darkened as they should have when I went outside.  They were probably a little too big for my face but that's my fault for not measuring my current glasses before picking them out.

Prescription: This is where things go off for me a bit and I think it's because my prescription is on the stronger side.  The firmoo lenses continue to feel much more intense than the local lenses I bought at the same time.  The new script hangover wore off within an hour with the local lenses.  The firmoo still causes a bit of a headache that just gets worse if I need to be active.  If I want to sit and read not a huge deal but if I turn my head quickly it's back and not so much with the fun. 

Overall feedback: I think if you want fashion lenses or need a weaker prescription then they would be a great option.  Also if you have to wear glasses regularly make sure that you measure your face well and pick a frame that suits you.  Firmoo makes a good product though and I think you will be happy with your purchase.

Firmoo Review Part 1

I was contacted a few weeks ago to give a review of an online eyeglass store, Firmoo.com.  In exchange for a free pair of glasses I was just asked to give an honest review of the process, glasses themselves and so on.  I was also asked if I knew any bloggers that my like to partake in the offer and honestly I wasn't sure if anyone would or if anyone needed a pair of glasses so I have yet to follow up with that piece.  However, if after seeing these glasses you are interested let me know and I'll pass on your name.  Even if you don't want to do a review, Firmoo has reinstated their free first pair program so if you want to explore their options please do.

I was due for an eye exam otherwise I would have probably gotten these before the end of September as I was contacted early in the month.  I got a new script and the change was negligible again but I felt better having a more accurate view of well my vision.  That night I came home and ordered my free pair of glasses.  They would have totally been free had I not upgraded the lenses to progressives and the fingerprint resistant coating.  All told though even with those upgrades the glasses themselves were 45 bucks.  Compared to the pair I got at the store, totally cute retro glasses lol, I paid about a fifth of the price for the same type of glasses.  The process was pretty seamless but unless you are good at measuring things like your pupil distance or are fairly certain of your prescription I would recommend having all that measured by a professional before you start.  Payment is through Paypal so you don't have to pony up a credit card.  The company is based in China so while the glasses are made and shipped quickly it could take a few weeks for your glasses to arrive.  By my estimate it was under two from shipping to delivery, maybe a little over a week.  They are shipped well in a hard case and protected in a wiping cloth.

This review will focus on my current glasses and the new firmoo pair but when the others come in I will revisit the whole shebang.  Now the first thing I noticed was the difference in weight between my old glasses and the firmoo pair.  I haven't had plastic frames in years so I was unprepared for how light they felt.  These frames are also wider than my current pair so I would need to have them adjusted to wear long term so they stayed in place without me readjusting them.  Other than that though the prescription was a tiny bit sharper as it should have been and thus gave me the requisite headache that always comes with new glasses.  This is another reason why I am holding off on the final comparison.

The lens thickness looked about the same as my current glasses.  There was a little overhang I think because the lenses are plastic but it wasn't something that would make the glasses unwearable.  And they also included replacement screws and nose pads which is great as well.  So far so good on the firmoo glasses.

There was only one thing that I wasn't expecting and it could be the result of the new coating, or using my camera phone, that is not on my current glasses.  As I was preparing to take the up close and personal shots of the frames on my face I noticed that I could see myself in them and their was a green haze to it that I couldn't explain.  I walked around the bedroom and through different parts of the house to see if it got better and for the most part it did not.  I finally had mom take a photo of me in the new frames to minimize the green thing the most.  I only saw that when looking through the phone though and didn't notice it otherwise.  I will check it out again when the new lenses come as they have a similar coating on them.  I look asleep in the top photo with the new frames and cranky in the photo with the old frames lol.

All in all I think these are decent glasses and as soon as I'm ready to transition over to the new script they will be part of the rotation.  I think Firmoo.com would be a good option for those that want a glasses to go with their personalities without having to break the bank when a new mood struck. Or for those that are in need of a new pair but not wanting to shell out a few hundred on designer frames.  Be careful with fitting and measurements but otherwise I can see why others have used the site repeatedly.  I seriously had no issues from the start of the process to the end.  The new glasses should be in hopefully this week and then I can follow up with the more complete review.

Who needs a new pair?

It's Review Time

I am totally off track with about 8 projects but since my wash day was a bit different this week I figured I could add in the reviews I mentioned and then revisit my very different wash day later.

So the first thing I was asked about was the As I Am Leave in Conditioner.  The As I Am line is meant for naturals but after learning more about what should and shouldn't be in my products throughout this hair journey I opted to give the line a try.  I have to say I have been happy with everything I've tried from them except the Moisture Milk but it could be that my hair just doesn't respond well to it.  It doesn't look like you can request a sample of items anymore but be on the look out for that on their website http://www.asiamnaturally.com to see if they are ever doing so.  You get enough product to make a good decision on what to buy or avoid.

As for the As I Am Leave In I love it.  I actually took more time to see how my hair responded to it since I knew I'd be doing this review.  But before I get to that let's talk about a few things.  An eight ounce bottle runs around 11 dollars at Sally's and the As I Am website.  It's under 10 bucks at Sally's if you have the club card.  It has a relatively light creamy coconut smell to it which isn't surprising since coconut is amongst the first ingredients listed on the bottle which looks like this.

The conditioner itself is pretty thick.  Which for me is a good thing as it feels like it penetrates my hair a bit better than thinner conditioners.  And as I noted a few weeks ago it actually helps detangle my hair a bit before I have to do much of anything to it.  My hair is VERY thick the further away from relaxer I get and this feels good without being heavy.  The photo below is what it looks like out of the bottle.  I use about twice that much on my entire head but I tend to be heavy handed with products.  I think it does a great job of keeping my hair protected and moisturized.   I just need to work on keeping my scalp from being dry and that has nothing to do with the leave in for me.  I do add Taliah Waajid's leave in as well but again as I was actually paying attention to my product application on this wash day I can't say I need it.  I just want to have it as a chaser as it were.  Truly I think the entire As I Am line is great for relaxed heads or naturals.  Just like anything though you have to figure out if your hair will respond to it.  As someone with dry hair I can say that my hair shaft tends to feel great till at least midweek when I use this product.  If I did more to baby my hair between washes it would probably last the entire week between was days.

Now the Dr. Miracle's deep conditioner was not planned to be part of my product line up.  I had been using a deep conditioner from the As I Am line (Hydration Elation) but my Sally's quit stocking it.  An 8 ounce jar is for sale on the As I Am website for 16 dollars if anyone wants that though.  As I was almost out of HE I opted for Dr. Miracle's and hoped HE would be back before I ran out of the new option.  The new option's actual name is Dr. Miracle's Double Deep Moisturizing Masque.  It's retailing at Sally's for nearly half the price of the HE for a 12 ounce jar (9.99 w/o card, 8.99 w/card).

 It's labeled as both being new and a repair product.  I hadn't seen it before I bought it so I'll take their word for it but as you can see on the box it is also sulfate/paraben free.  The box tells you to leave it on your hair for 10 minutes under a cap but I tend to leave this on my hair for 20 minutes to an hour depending on how distracted I am.  My hair feels refreshed and smells great after I'm done.

 This is a bit more creamy than the As I AM HE was or the leave in conditioner is.  I don't find this to be a good or bad thing the texture is just different.  It also has a light pleasant smell so that you aren't overwhelmed by the scent of it.

If there is a down side to this product is it is often easy to scoop out more than you planned lol.  I ended up just applying this amount to my hair but didn't necessarily need it all.  I would consider it on par with if not better than As I Am's Hydration Elation.  Both do a great job but this product feels much lighter and gave my scalp a light tingle while it was in my hair.  Great product and you really can't beat the price.

Let me know if you have other questions, these are my first reviews lol.  Oh and for those that this would matter to the PH on the As I Am Leave In and Hydration Elation are 5.5.

Goodies from Influenster

This may not be a REAL post because it's going to be sharing goodies from my new gift box which normally has nothing to do with hair but in this box actually does and in one of the best ways too. While not the box I was anticipating initially, too much demand not enough boxes it happens, this is a pretty cool VoxBox as well.

 This photo is of the entire unboxed package of goodies.  I always seem to end up with random nail polish colors but hey the polish is nice lol.

 This is a new clay infused fabric masque from Montagne Jeunnesse.  I really love them.  The masques are usually nice and purifying without being super perfume laced and creepy.  This sample is called Crushed Artic Cloudberries.  It will be my present to myself after I'm done with the grading.

 This is the only miss in the box for me.  I love a good healthy treat and have been turned on to some good snacks through Influenster but the Soyjoy did not make me remotely happy.  I don't really like fruit in my chocolate.  It should offend the chocolate Gods on some level to be so muddled up.  The bar itself was fine, the fruit not so much.

This polish is very vibrant green.  Sally Hensen makes fantastic polish and it coats well even if it's not my best shade lol.  It's okay I'll play with it when I see my nieces who will think it's Ninja Turtle green and be fascinated.

The two best items for me in this box are the Dry Shampoo from Not Your Mother's Clean Freak brand.  I haven't needed to use it YET because I'm so freshly out of the beauty show but seriously this may refresh the funk that the sweat can create when I'm working out.  I'll update you on that progress.

But absolutely the best part of the box has been the Goody Quik Style Dry Fit head band.  One of the things I hate about working out is how much the sweat pours from my head down into my eyes and just makes me a great big old mess.  I've used this band three times now and so far my face sweats yes but there's no downpour from my scalp.  It also keeps the sweat off my neck as much too.  And while I was original a little shocked at the bright pink trim I noticed it matched my sneakers and made me feel more coordinated.  I know there's that Keep Your Do head scarf but that feels like I should be tying my hair down for bed even if it works great it's not the aesthetic I'm going for when I get sweaty.  Plus I'm pretty sure when I look like it's time for bed I am more likely to go to bed.  Anyway if you wanted my best endorsement for anything in this box it would definitely be this head band.

There you go.  Updates from the newest cute little purple box of goodies.

All of the products reviewed were provided by Influenster for the purpose of giving honest feedback.

Eboost Review--Quickie Ish

Ok so this is the last of the reviews for the Holiday VoxBox I got from Influenster.com.  Eboost looks like a fancy packet of Crystal light honestly.  The packet is just big enough to add to a small ish bottle of matter (about 12 ounces) and then it bubbles up or effervesces for a while before you drink it.  I let it sit a little over five minutes and it was just clear and happy pink lemonade at that point.  I figured since I'd been sick a good pick me up would be fantastic.  And it would be, but this is not it.  There's an odd aftertaste that I really can't explain.  I'd say it was like cold medicine but after having so much of that in the last few days I'm sure that's not the flavor.  It's almost like the fake sugar taste when the packets were first released but I haven't had those in a while either so I can't nail it exactly.  If that taste could be eliminated I'm sure I'd like it more.  The lemonade flavor is tangy and a little tart which I like but this aftertaste keeps it from being something I'm likely going to finish or go purchase.  Another flavor may not have as strong as an aftertaste but this right here is a no go for me.

Overall, I'm glad I was chosen for the VoxBox.  The nails, brush, lip shine, face mask and oatmeal were great big hits.  The shoes were good but run into the same issue for me, found a cute pair or two but my style is so weird and precise what I'm looking for is hard to find online and in stores without paying a mint for.  And this eboost, just not a good flavor thing.  But hey six out of seven is GREAT since it was a total surprise to get it and what would be in it.

Another quickie--KISS Nails Review

So the KISS nails are an adorable pattern and I really wanted to like them a whole whole lot.  But applying them was odd even for me.  All the slicks were too long which is supposed to be rectified by filing down the strips to hit your nails.  I may have been impatient but they didn't seem stiff enough to file at all let alone with my cute baby file that was included in the package.  I do have to give them credit though they were wide enough for my nails and covered them well but it felt like it would need more of a clip down not a file.  Great patterns and rather affordable so if you're not a mani/pedi girl and want something cute to adorn your nails or to match a hot outfit these would be your go to products.  Especially if you have aren't easily frustrated lol.