Hair Crisis

A major hair crisis occurred this summer. I tried to change it up and go more natural with my haircare products. Don't want to die too soon and all! But honestly is bad hair worth good health? Still on the fence about that one so in the meantime I've been mixing and matching my natural products with my old drugstore standbys. I've always used Herbal Essences Shampoo & Conditioner - am I 12?? They're cheap and smell nice even if the bottle makes my bathroom look like a tween's - seriously the design is horrible. I started with Totally Twisted, but lately buy Tousle Me Softly on the reg. Every few days I use Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo to remove chemical build-up (fancy!). On a whim I bought Nature's Gate Biotin Strengthening Shampoo. Not sure why I bought the Strengthening version, but none of the other versions (color-treated hair, dandruff) fit me. Nature's Gate didn't sway me right away, but now I'm in love. Maybe my hair just had to get used to it? It's the best shampoo I own.



Thinking that all organic shampoos are the same (spoiler alert - they aren't!) I bought Avalon Organics Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner at Target when I was feeling really rich one day. They smell great, but the overall effect on my hair is just blah. My hair often feels more dry on the days I rotate these in. I do rotate my shampoo routine - used to do this based on my mood, now I do it based on how good I want my hair to look - so no day is the same, but I have found some combos that work well for me. Nature's Gate + Herbal Essences Conditioner is the best match-up I've found. It seems to be the magic formula and it makes me feel less guilty to use one natural product plus one "chemical" regular one. The Avalon Organics Conditioner works best with the Suave shampoo or Herbal Essences Shampoo - even still I use only a tiny amount of conditioner since I don't want to look like Kramer with no water pressure.

Fall Colors

I finally purchased Essie's fall color "Carry On" after avoiding buying it for months (exaggeration). Big mistake because they were out of stock foreverrrrrr. Luckily I snagged a bottle a few weeks ago and even though it reads more dark navy than purple on my nails (after 2 coats), I still love it.

I'm Lovin' It

Off brand Ped Egg

Bad Idea (Jeans)

I can't imagine anything worse than Eat Pray Love the book...now I know.

Drew's Pics

I don't know why, but for some reason anything Drew Barrymore is hawking out this summer I'm all over it. First, I decided to try Cover Girl Outlast Lip Stain - and I LOVE it! By far the best product I've tried this summer. I think another Beauty blog puts it best by comparing it to using a Sharpie on your lips. It's so fun! So you get the color (for maybe a half hour, a little less than I expected) without the worrying that a sudden gust of wind will suddenly stick a clump of your hair to your lips. Am I right ladies? There's no shine or shimmer, but I think that's OK for some of the bolder reds they offer. I want to look like Drew after all,

not her bff Cameron. An it even tastes good!

The second product I sprung for is the Cover Girl Lashblast Length Mascara. I had just finished using Loreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara and was really seeking a normal sized/shaped applicator once again. And, I was amazed at how Drew's lashes didn't flake when she rubbed her eyelids on the commercial. Sold. I've only used it once, so

I'll have to report back on the performance. I don't really think mascara shows its true colors for at least 3 applications. Would you agree Jacob?

Eyeliner and Eyebrow Pencils

I want to write a little about some cosmetic products I've been using lately.

Maybelline Ultra Liner Waterproof: I used to buy this as my number one liquid eye liner but then they must have changed the formula when they changed the bottle shape--because it is SO not working anymore. I put it on and by the end of the day it turns flakey, attaching itself to my eyelashes in clumps with a kung-fu grip hold of death. I'd try to pull it off of my eyelashes, but it would pull out three or so eyelashes with it! Other flakes wind up on my eyelid somewhere. This certainly will not do.

So I decided to switch brands. I tried out Almay i-color (so 21st c.) in brown topaz. I really liked the other colors too, and how it said "if you have blue eyes" use this one and "if you have brown eyes" use this one. So far so good, and it has kind of a metallic look.

Eyebrows! I think they are way underrated, they can really change your whole face a lot, depending on how full you leave them or how thin you pluck them. I'm into thicker brows, but I have to work with what I have, so I'm usually adding some eyebrow pencil to make them appear a little darker/fuller. I use Wet n' Wild eyeliner in kohl brown and its wonderful and so cheap too! Hmm, I didn't realize it was an allure winner!

Speaking of eyebrows, I think there could be another post or two on this, anybody use eyebrow pencils a lot/ have an eyebrow obsession out there or is it just me?

Nice eyebrows, Ashley!

Cosmetic Safety

I stumbled across the cosmetics database yesterday that ranks how hazardous your cosmetics and other products are to you. I have not stopped looking up my products since yesterday. It's addicting and also a little freaky??! It makes me wonder how far I want to go to actually cut hazardous products I love out of my life. How can I part with Clearasil Daily Face Wash after clear skin for the last 3 years?? My life is, all of the sudden, full of difficult choices. It is interesting (and not surprising) to note that some of the brands I would consider to be more "natural" and "organic" actually have higher hazard ratings than some of the more mainstream brands. Beware - if you have a tendency for OCD issues about health/chemicals, this website could put you over the edge.