You've Got Mail!: February 2014 Birchbox

Happy Valentine's Day to me!! My Birchbox arrived on the 12th and I've been sampling my little heart out. I really am enjoying this month's box. I will say I was a tad disappointed when I opened the box, because my hair oil had leaked everywhere. I still had the majority of the sample left, but it had gotten all over everything else. Normally they put the smaller or more fragile items in a little cardboard box to help cushion some things, but I guess they decided not to this go around, when they really should have. Because of that, I threw the box and wrappings away immediately (well, after rubbing them on my ponytail in an attempt to save the oil) I didn't take pictures right away, but I did manage to get some after.

Beauty Protector Protect & Oil
I was most excited about this little guy coming to me this month. I've loved everything that I've sampled from Beauty Protector. Their heat protecting spray is the best smelling thing ever. Ever. This hair oil boasts that it works on every hair type, protects against UV rays (very important for color treated hair, especially in the summer), heat, and breakage. I've not had a chance to jump on the Argan Oil train yet, so I was very excited to give this a go. I tried putting some on my dry ends and then running it through my damp hair. Oh, the SHINE! It did a great job on my ends, but it really made my hair super soft when I let it air dry in my damp hair. I think I don't have much of a choice on this one. My hair will revolt if I don't buy the full size. My only complaint is that this product is chock full of silicone, which are cheap to make, yet the full size bottle is $25. What gives?

COOLA Tinted Matte SPF 30 for Face
Birchbox loves COOLA sunscreens. I loved that this was a tinted sunscreen with a matte finish. I do not love that the coverage is pretty sheer. This would be great for someone who just needs a little oomf, but not a lot of coverage. Unfortunately, I need some extra coverage. Even if I use half the sample trying to build up coverage on my skin it doesn't do a whole lot. I'm going to pass on this one.

Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish in Kitten Heels
I've sampled a different color of this polish earlier and loved the formula. There are some issues with the color changing piece to this polish, mainly that a top coat really interferes with it (and no top coat means no longevity). I love this hot HOT pink and it was perfect for Valentine's Day. I've had this color on for 4 days straight and it is just now starting to show some wear. Not bad!

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara
I'll be honest, I've not sampled this one yet. Since you're supposed to pitch your mascara every 3 months I thought I'd save this one for when mine needs to go and use it for 3 months. But the sample size is deluxe and that excites me.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Palette
This was my Beauty Extra and it was...not very extra. I would have preferred a smaller selection of colors to sample, but more product. This card has a nice selection of shadows (matte and shimmer) but not a ton of product. Not very thrilling, and I'm glad this didn't take away from my actual samples.

What was in your Birchbox this month? What's your favorite item? Do you like it when other people shop for you?

Sample Colleen at @bevilledeggs.

YoungBlood mineral cosmetics: my new love!

Hello again, lovelies! Feel free to watch the video review on these products here: 

 

Or continue reading for the wordy version!

Ok I mentioned in a previous post about the Almay Concealer and Highlighter that I'm looking for the perfect under eye concealer. Well, I think I've finally found it! A couple of weeks ago, I picked up the Ultimate Concealer in the colour Medium by a company called YoungBlood Mineral Cosmetics. I find a great selection locally at the Pharmasave in the town where I work.

Swatch of the Ultimate Concealer in medium

After trying the concealer for the past couple of weeks, I am so very much in love! It has a thin, creamy texture that blends like a dream. It also doesn't settle in my fine lines around and under my eyes, which has been a problem recently with some of the other concealers I've been using. It also has enough pigmentation to actually COVER the under eye circles. Now, it doesn't completely blank them out, so I still look human (which, in my opinion is what you want). I set it with the YoungBlood Pressed Mineral Rice Powder in Medium, which I picked up at the same time as the concealer because I was literally scraping the sides of my Korres Olive Oil and Rice pressed powder that I've been using for about a year now. (A side note, I LOVE that powder, but cannot find it anywhere anymore which is why the switch). I also love that the concealer is an excellent match for my skin. It still amazes me that I have to use a medium because I am so pale (comparable to MAC NC15 or Mary Kay Ivory 3) But, hey! It matches, so who cares!? 

 

I do need to mention that it is a little pricy as  YoungBlood claims to be a luxury company, so the $30 price point will certainly be a turn off for some. BUT if you consider that the line is touted as a very natural line of cosmetics, it might not be a bad price point for many. Here's a quote from their website: "Our products are free of talc, parabens, oil and fragrance, and have earned numerous awards including "Best Foundation" (Beauty Launchpad) and "Best Mineral Blush" (NewBeauty). We are herald by professional makeup artists, celebrities and customers alike for our comprehensive assortment of natural-looking shades that are easy to use, long-lasting and able to stand up to heat, humidity and perspiration." As for the longevity of their products, it's winter so I can't really speak to it, however I can say that once it's on, it doesn't move around like a lot of other products do.

And I love the packaging. It's sleek, the concealer and powder both come with a mirror for convenient application, and they store and stack nicely. 

The powder, also in medium, is lovely. It's $33, so comparable in price to other higher end companies. It's Rice based and has no talc in it. It is quite finely milled, so you do get a bit of dust kicked up when you apply it, but it goes on like a dream. It really mattes down the skin and I find that I only need to touch up at around mid-afternoon if I apply my makeup at about 7 in the morning. So for the longevity of this one - in the winter, anyway - I'd say is pretty good!

The other product that I have by the company is one of their cream blushes. It's actually a highlighter, and it is gorgeous! It's quite comparable in colour to MAC Shell, though MAC's product has larger particles and is a little more chunky looking. I really love this highlighter. I've had it for several months now, and use it very regularly. I like to apply it with a brush to the top of my cheekbones, and use my fingers to put some down the bridge of my nose and at the top of my cupid's bow. The price on these puppies is $27 and you get quite a bit of product. Also, because it's cream, a little goes a long way!

Cream Blush in Champagne Life

Swatch of the Champagne Life

Overall, I think YoungBlood is really onto something. The prices are quite reasonable for what you get, and the fact that the company was founded by a medical aesthetician (Pauline Youngblood), it stands to reason that the products should do what they claim to. In my opinion, they do, and I can't wait to try more products from this company!

Lazy Day Hair Fix: Lululemon Headbands

So many people are all over dry shampoo these days, but I cannot for the life of me get it to work. I have very dark hair, and none of the ones I've tried do a darn thing for me other than leave a greyish white cast over my hair which looks nasty. I will admit I haven't tried one formulated for dark hair, but I have tried everything from sprays to powder. The powder ones have a better texture in my opinion, since the propellant in the spray ones seem to leave my hair even greasier by the end of the day, but I still can't really make them work. So long story short, I give up on them!

I do not, however, give up on lazy day hair! I want to roll out of bed and go! I have curly-ish hair (it's actually more wavy at this length and the climate right now is super dry, so the curls don't stay) which makes it naturally dry. This in combination with dry skin, means I do not shower every day (gasp!) I will bathe every other day, be it a shower or a bath, but I wash my hair only 2-3 times per week usually. My regular hair washing schedule is Wednesday morning and Saturday morning, with another day in there if I've gotten gross and sweaty or if I've been sick. But I'll admit that by the end of the 3 or 4 day period, my hair is sometimes a little gross at the scalp (somehow I still have dry scalp, even when I have oily hair o.O) So what do I do for that last day or two? I put on a headband to cover my roots! 

I started collecting Lululemon headbands last year because I was looking for something to keep my hair out of my face and the frizzies down while I was skating. I figure skate and there's nothing worse than hair in my face when I'm trying to concentrate on not falling flat on my face. So my cousin who is a Lulu

connoisseur suggested the bangbusters because they have a wider front and will work to keep more of the hair out of my face. I took her suggestion and purchased my first one. I put it on as soon as I walked out of the store. 10 minutes later, I walked back in and bought another one, I loved the first one that much!

Since then, I have added 2 more to my collection, as well as 3 other ones in 2 different styles. I've included a picture of 6 at the bottom of this post. You can check out the video above for the 7th one I have as I'm wearing it in the video. 

I will admit that these headbands are a little pricy. A Lululemon headband will run you anywhere from $12 to $18CAD. Admittedly, you can find cheaper ones at the drugstore, or even the dollar store. BUT I have yet to see a silver lined one or a reversible one at the drugstore. And they're nowhere near as cute! 

Why I Love My Pony 'Poo: A Review

As you may recall, I'm trying to grow my hair out, which is no easy feat. I've been battling breakage, damage, and other issues along the way, so the journey hasn't been the easiest. Getting myself aligned with the right products has really been helpful in not wanting to rip all of my hair out (counterproductive, much?).

If you look up "how to grow your hair out" or "how to make hair grow faster" you're bound to find someone mentioning Mane 'N Tail Shampoo and Conditioner, and with good reason. These have a cult following. I was really hesitant to try these because they aren't sulfate free, but sometimes I suffer from funky scalp issues. I usually get some flakes and junk in the winter months, but last summer my hair started stinking like wet dog. It was only the hair, and it was only when it was wet, but it was awful and embarrassing and concerning. I wound up being able to fix the problem with dandruff shampoo (the zinc that zaps dandruff also is antibacterial, so it can kill other things, too. That problem hasn't returned, but I have been looking for a dandruff shampoo that is color safe for quite a while for that reason. I found out that Mane 'N Tail has a specialty line that is offered at Sally's Beauty Supply, that they have a dandruff shampoo, and that it is color safe. Jackpot! A 16 oz bottle is right under $10, but if you only wash every other day or so, then it will still last forever. You also can alternate between the dandruff variety and the regular, depending on your scalp's needs. The shampoo has olive oil in it, so it is very hydrating and my color is no worse for the wear. This stuff is my holy grail shampoo. I haven't seen any flakes since I've started using this shampoo, and I've noticed my scalp isn't nearly as itchy as it used to be. The shampoo itself has the trademark blue hue from the zinc and is a bit on the thicker side.

I also picked up the Color Care version to alternate washes and I love it! It's clear and a bit thinner than the dandruff shampoo, but still has the olive oil complex to hydrate your strands. My only complaint about this version is that I could only find it in the 12 oz size, but Sally's is running a sale this month for Buy One Get One Free, so I was able to pick up twice as much. I know it's silly to worry about, since my old shampoo was around $6 for a 6 oz bottle and it lasted forever, but when you buy the regular Mane n' Tail shampoo and conditioner in the ginormo bottles you get kind of bummed about dinky 12 ouncers.

The conditioner (and original shampoo) can often be found in huge bottles in the pet section of stores. I felt kind of weird buying conditioner in the pet aisle, but I've done worse in the name of beauty before. The conditioner spreads well through the hair and is very moisturizing while still being light. My hair has plenty of "slip" to it (meaning friction is reduced, along with the odds of breakage happening) and is super soft and shiny, but is still light enough to have wave or curl in it (one of my major complaints about conditioner). And, bonus points, I can use the original formula on my dogs. Chloe has been accidentally shocking me lately with the freezing cold, DRY air, so I took a quarter sized amount of conditioner and worked it through her fur. She smelled delicious, her fur was soft and shiny, and I haven't been shocked by my dog since!  

And while it hasn't been long enough to notice a ton of new growth, I can definitely see how this line would contribute to hair growth. There aren't any products out there that can actually make your hair grow faster. If there were they would be classified as drugs. There are some things that you can do to encourage hair growth (lay off the heat styling, eat well, drink lots of water, and go a bit longer in between washes) but you're not going to speed the process up a lot. You grow, on average, half an inch a month. That's it. However, these products definitely help prevent your hair from breaking, don't overly cleanse, and keep the hair hydrated so it can grow. The breakage especially will make your hair appear to stop growing, because it keeps breaking off at a certain point. I love winding my hair into a twist and then running my other hand down it now because my hair literally feels like silk rope. It is so soft and bouncy, but strong. The pricing is incredible, too - about $6 for the 32 oz bottles of regular shampoo and conditioner (and I don't have to buy a second product for my dogs as long as it is the regular stuff, hooray!). I love my Pony 'Poo! Have you ever tried Mane 'N Tail? Are you trying to grow your hair out? Would you ever buy beauty products in the pet aisle?

Colleen is horsin' around on Twitter @bevilledeggs.

The Laziest Smokey Eye Ever

This is what we're working with.

I am a rule follower. I can't help it, I LOVE to follow rules. So, as a rule follower, I make sure to remove my makeup before bed every night because it helps prevent breakouts, is better for your skin, ect. And because it is a Beauty Rule. It's a no brainer for me. Recently, Kristen Stewart stated in an interview that, while she cleanses her face every day, she never ever removes her eyeliner and mascara because it makes for a nice smokey, smudgy look in the morning. I thought she was nuts. How does she NOT get an eye infection, or go blind or whatever awful thing is supposed to happen when you do that?! Then I remembered my friend Hope once said that she never removes her eye make-up, either. Hope kind of looks like she could have taught Kristen Stewart how to be cool if she could be bothered to do so. What I'm saying is, the look obviously works, and works for a real life person who I know, so odds are this isn't one of those "I know I'm famous, but I just roll out of bed looking like this!" kind of gimmicks. It was enough to get my wheels turning. And I had run out of eye makeup remover. So I did my makeup in the morning like I normally would. Then before bed I cleaned my face, kind of wiped off some of the eye shadow, but didn't touch the liner or mascara.

The next morning I woke up, promptly forgot that I still had makeup on, and did a double take in the mirror when I stumbled in. I was amazed at how much of my makeup had come off on its own, so I did go over the liner again with a pencil and smudged it with my fingers and added another coat of mascara. When I washed my face (I use face wipes in the morning and save the deep cleaning for before bed) I did touch up where some liner had strayed and was getting racoony. I hate to say it, but I can't argue with the results.

This face means I hoped it wouldn't have looked so
good so I wouldn't have to worry about an eyeball falling out. 

 I added a hoodie and didn't brush my hair before pulling it back for maximum laziness points. And because it is cold and I had to be out in the snow against my will and I wound up falling on ice anyway so life is awful. But I looked really good while I did it. I'm not sure if this saved me much time in terms of every day makeup looks, but it normally would take me more time to achieve this look if I started from scratch. I'm not great with eyeliner and achieving that perfect, smudgey, dgaf look is time consuming if you're me. What do you think? Would you be willing to risk life and limb to try out a look? Are you a rule maker or a rule breaker?

Colleen is following the Terms of Service on Twitter @bevilledeggs.

Mani Mania!: Orly's Harmonious Mess and China Glaze's Travel in Colour

Do you ever need manicure ideas, or want to check out a swatch of a color? Enter in Mani Mania. These posts are designed to provide some ideas, maybe show off some nail art, and provide swatches. Today's manicure features Orly in Harmonious Mess, my favorite pastel lavender. It's bright enough to be interesting but grey enough to still be neutral. Over two coats of that I did one heavy coat of China Glaze in Travel In Colour from their latest holiday collection. I LOVE this glitter. It turns anything into an iridescent dream. I love to put it over pastel colors and pretend that I'm a fairy princess with unicorn nails. Or that I took my princess Barbie's holographic skate dress and painted my nails with it. It is still just icy enough to get away with for winter, but you might see it on me a lot since it helps tone down the pastels I'm eyeballing in preparation for spring. Is anyone else desperate for spring? Do you think if we just start wearing neons and pastels again it will magically appear again?

Manicure shots always look better if you hold something. Always.

Colleen is waiting for spring on Twitter @bevilledeggs

Almay Smart Shade CC Concealer

I am becoming a concealer junkie. For awhile now, I've been on the hunt for my new Holy Grail Concealer. So when, a couple of weeks ago while wandering through Wal-Mart, I saw the new one by Almay, I figured I should give it a try. At first I bought the Medium/Light shade and figured it would be too dark, so I had to return it and grab the lighter shade since, you know, I'm practically a vampire in the winter and all. But after trying the Light Pale 100 shade, I'm thinking I should have stuck to the medium one after all.

So before I go any further, here's what the packaging looks like:

It's a simple, plastic container with a clear lid that you can see the product through. It's nothing fancy, but it is compact and quite sturdy. I think it could certainly withstand some bump and bruises, so to speak.  I like that you can see the shades through the lid, because if you're like me, you have different shades of the same product for different times of year. And it's just nice to know what you're reaching for when you go into your stash to find something.

As you can see, you get 3.5g of product, and this runs around the $15 CAD mark. So it's not super pricy, but it's definitely not cheap. (Compare to the Maybelline Fit for around $7CAD)

So after using this fairly consistently for a couple of weeks, here's what I think:

If you're able to match your shade, it might be ok. I don't buy the smart shade'ness about this at all. The one side is quite yellow and the other side is super pale. Now, it is supposed to be a concealer and brightener, but unless you're super warm-toned, I don't think the concealer half would work for many people. I found it left me looking quite sallow under the eyes when I used just the left side (or the concealer as it's supposed to be). To counteract this, I found myself mixing both together so I didn't look like a cancer patient. The problem I found with that is the colour then becomes too light for underneath the eyes. So the brightener side certainly works. And I actually like it for a matte cream highlight above the eyebrow and on top the cheek bone. It's also great for the inner corner of the eye area where I tend to get quite dark.

The other thing that I find quite annoying about most creamy concealers, not just this one, is that they tend to settle in fine lines and wrinkles. And while I'm not super old - 29 plus tax ;) - I am starting to notice some under eye creasing. This one isn't as bad as some, but it's still not as good as I'm wanting. There HAS to be a creamy concealer that doesn't settle, dammit! And I'm going to find it!

All in all, this isn't a horrible product, and I can imagine that someone else will be totally in love with it. I'm just not. I don't regret the purchase, because I can still use the highlighter side of this, but I will not be repurchasing this item in the future.  

Until next time,

Llora

What do you think? Have you tried any of the Almay Smart Shade products? What's your Holy Grail Concealer?

Nutra Nail Gel Perfect UV Free Gel-Color

I had been eyeing Nutra Nail Gel Perfect UV Free Gel-Color for quite a while at the store, and finally decided to buy it on a whim. I don't know about you, but whenever I buy something on a whim I immediately Google it to see whether or not I am capable of discerning good products by some sort of beauty divination skills. According to Google I chose poorly. I almost turned around right then and there to return the thing, but then I noticed one of the major complaints was that the activator bottle was essentially nail glue. One of my thumb nails has a split in it that's too far down to clip. I figured if I didn't like the system, I could maybe at least try out whether or not nail glue would help with that situation. Plus, I picked the color Orchid in honor of the 2014 Pantone Color of the Year Radiant Orchid, so I felt super on top of things there.

Nutra Nail boasts that their product will be ready to go with a 5 minute dry time. I decided to really put it through the paces by doing my nails 20 minutes before I needed to leave to go to a Super Bowl party. I followed the instructions and grabbed a few paper towels, unscrewed all of the bottles, removed my nail polish completely, and got ready to rumble. It isn't mentioned in the directions, but I knew from reading about actual gel application that it really helps to wipe your nails down with rubbing alcohol (or vinegar in a pinch) before you start the process. Nail polish remover can sometimes contain other ingredients in it that can linger (especially if it boasts to have other properties, like it will strengthen your nails) and hydrate your nails. I then proceeded to paint one hand with the Activator, waited until it dried a little but was still damp, then applied one coat of color. I noticed if the Activator wasn't tacky the color would flood and water down, so I made that a priority. Then, as instructed, I switched hands. In between layers of color you're supposed to swap the brush in the color for the brush in the cleaner. Before I put the "new" brush into the color I would make sure to wipe off as much cleaner as I could so it didn't thin the color down and it worked really well. I also made sure to wipe off the excess polish from the brush so the cleaner would work a bit more effectively. You repeat these steps until you have two coats on each hand and then finish off with a top coat of Activator.

Everything dried rock solid within 5 minutes and they were SHINY! like gel manicures are. My nails felt really glossy and thick, like I was wearing acrylics, but not as pretty (or painful - I just can't handle those beasts). I was pretty pleased overall, and let out a huge sigh of relief that I wouldn't have to run off to the party with jankity nails.

That's some real, authentic running out the door blur right there!

But how did this hold up, you ask? That was a major test for me, since part of what you pay for with a gel manicure is  a long lasting manicure. I painted my nails on Sunday. This is what they looked like Thursday.

That's clearly not the best wear time. I didn't touch my nails up at all in those four days, but I think my standard manicure lasts longer than this one does. By the end of Sunday night I had started to see crack lines in the polish. I get those in normal polish, too, as the nail bends and flexes, but it usually takes a lot longer than that because the polish isn't as rigid. When this stuff starts getting crack lines in it, it will eventually peel off at that line because of how rigid it is. Also, I'd like to note how difficult it is to get this stuff off. They (conveniently) sell a remover for this, but I found that the tinfoil fingertip method worked just fine. All of that aside, I was going to reuse this set for when I didn't care about longevity, but needed to get a mani done quickly, but I looked a lot closer at my nails and they were left with a rough finish, similar to when you have acrylics removed. I've been working for months to get my nails back in shape and was *this* close, so that pissed me off. I'll be holding on to the activator for my thumb nail until it grows out, and I might see if the polish works like normal polish without the activator, but I'm not going to mess up my nails again. I'll be passing from now on.

Have you ever tried this product before? What do you think? Ever have one of those products that is kind of a win/lose situation?

Colleen is testing it out at Twitter @bevilledeggs. 

Ace of the Base?: NYX Eye Shadow Base Review

Apparently NYX is the Goddess of the Night or something.

We have nothing but awful weather this winter. Seriously, we normally get about 6 inches total for the year and we are somewhere around the 30 inch mark with two more storms in sight. Llora thinks I'm being a weenie because she is from Canadaland and they get tons of snow like clockwork, but for little ole me it's a lot! The other day the heavens opened up and dumped 2 inches within an hour. An hour! It wasn't going to slow down, either. I made it from my office into town and decided to swing into Walgreens because I was stalling having to drive the rest of the way home in heavy snowfall with nothing plowed. I had some items on a wish list already and was messing around before I turned around and realized they now sell NYX!  I have been reading a lot about this brand forever (and have hunted down a few choice items) but here it was! Right in front of me! Not a full collection by any means, but it sure was enough to keep me busy. I settled on NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skin Tone.

That's my skin tone! Said no one ever.

First of all, I don't want to get too preachy with this, but, anyone else think the name is pretty pretentious? Skin Tone? Whose skin tone?! It doesn't come anywhere near mine, or, basically anyone else I can think of along the myriad of different tones and textures the human race has. My other two options were a matte white and a pearly white, so I thought skin tone would be my best bet in case I didn't accidentally get everything covered, but it makes me look really weird to have eyelids that area  totally different color of skin.

I applied this stuff in a thin layer and let it set for a little bit, then applied brown eye shadow on my mobile lid and a little bit of liquid liner. I then promptly forgot to take a picture because I do not have my shit together at 7:30 in the morning. The secret is out. I DID, however, take a picture of my eyes once I got home from work, approximately 8 hours later. And.....

RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!

It's terrifying, isn't it? Like I didn't even use the primer. Look at those greasy lids!

I didn't give up hope, though. The next morning I woke up with a new found determination. I put on some base, then I busted out Maybelline's Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadow in Bad to the Bronze. This stuff is supposed to wear like iron! Then for good measure I set it with a bronzey looking powder shadow, THEN spritzed my whole face down with a setting spray, while letting my eyelids dry. I remembered to take a picture this time.

Though apparently I didn't have it together
 enough to get my clothes out of the shot. Oops.

And at the end of the day?

That setting spray made me feel gross and look greasy
all day. I'm thinking that's a pass from here on out.

Better, but not great. Honestly, this is what my shadow looks like without the base anyway, so I think this little guy is going to go back to the store (which is why I shop at drugstores - they have excellent cosmetic return policies).

I'm just going to throw it out there - I don't know why, but I can't seem to keep eye shadow on my lids anymore. My Too Faced Shadow Insurance has stopped being a guarantee that if I put shadow on, it isn't budging until I take it off. Heck, I used to be able to use the Color Tattoo Cream Gel Shadows without a primer, but now if I don't use a primer and set with powder they slide off by lunch. I have no clue why all of a sudden this is a problem. Have you ever dealt with this? Have a holy grail eye shadow primer or secret trick to make my eyelids less oily? I'd love to hear it.

Colleen is primed and ready on Twitter @bevilledeggs.

Kevin Murphy Hair Care Products

A little while ago, I did a YouTube video review of some Kevin Murphy products I have tried. That video was published over 2 years ago and can be seen here on my SapphireMakeup YouTube channel:

Since then, I have tried several other lines of Kevin Murphy products and I am still in love as ever!

What I love about Kevin Murphy products for those who haven't watched the video (or don't want to) Is that they are sulfate free and are packed full of all sorts of natural ingredients like Kakadu Plum, Mango Seed Butter and Immortelle to name but a small few. And they smell so good - earthy and herbal and natural, but not like dead rotting leaves earthy and natural.

I also really enjoy the packaging.  The Shampoo and Conditioner bottles are very angular and the opening is at the bottom of the bottle, allowing the product to easily dispense. The design also allows them to store neatly in the shower. As well, the containers are colour-coded so you know exactly what bottle is what.

This company is so awesome, I pretty much have my entire year planned out in Kevin Murphy hair products! Like, if you ask me what time of year it is, I would say "oh, it's Balancing Wash and Rinse season (summer), Angel Wash and Rinse season (Spring/Fall) or Hydrate Me/ Young.Again season (winter)". Ok, that's certainly going a little overboard and I actually wouldn't say any of that, but you get where I'm going with this!

Much like your skin care routine, your hair care routine should change with the seasons. I know that with curly/wavy hair my locks require more lovin' in the winter as opposed to the summer months because I live in North America, more specifically in Canada. Now not all of Canada is super dry, but I live several mountain ranges away from the nearest ocean and therefore do not get the benefits of humidity in the air. In fact right now, I'm looking at about 35% humidity at the start of February. That's DRY!

So what I'm using on my hair these days is the Young.Again Wash and the Hydrate-Me rinse. I may pick up the Young.Again rinse this week, since it's a new product and the wash has been amazing on my hair the past couple of times I've used it. I also use the Body Guard hydrating lotion as a leave-in treatment to help keep the static out of my hair.

As for styling products, Kevin Murphy stuff does what it says it should. The Powder Puff is an incredible volumizing powder, and the Session Spray really holds your hair in place. I will admit that those are the only two I've tried, but believe me I will be checking out some more of the line!

What about you? Have you tried any Kevin Murphy products? What are your favourite hair-care products or routines?

In Geeky Gorgeousness,

Llora

Lazy Beauty - How I Get Fabulous Hair While Sleeping

I am a night showerer. Some people have to bathe in the A.M. to wake up, but I just can't fall asleep unless I'm clean. It also helps me eek out just a bit more sleep in the morning, which is the most important thing ever. But my hair is thick and getting long, and while I am trying to avoid heat styling it takes forever to air dry. I often need to pass out while my hair is still wet, but need it to look presentable in the morning. My hair is naturally wavy and takes shape very easily, so I've been playing around with sleeping styles to get different results. There will be future posts detailing various other styles, but today I want to talk about waves.

My hair is naturally wavy, but it isn't naturally very wavy. The biggest indicator that it is wavy is that it holds a shape well, and air dries not stick straight. If I want it to actually look like I have wavy hair I need to do something to it. I wait until my hair is still damp but not excessively so before adding some curling cream to it (I like Not Your Mother's Kinky Moves because the name is funny, it is really hydrating, and smells really good. I'm not hard to please) and twisting into two Princess Leah buns. I try to place the buns higher on my head for sleep purposes, but sometimes if I can't get comfortable with them on the side of my head I'll move them a little to the back. I make sure to twist the hair away from my face for a more flattering hair pattern and secure with bobby pins (I think these are more comfortable, but softer hair elastics would work, too. You do you.). I try to leave the ends out because straighter ends look a bit more natural on wavy hair, but your could double back and curl them or tuck them it, it's up to you. In the morning I shake everything out and examine the damage.

I feel like the girl from The Ring if the girl from The Ring had fabulous hair.

I've noticed my roots tend to get a bit flat with this method, so I'll wet the top with some water, shove my fingers in there at random and blow dry in a really sloppy version of finger waves. Finish everything off with your favorite light hold hair spray and run out the door!

There should be more coffee in my life.

I do think it is worth mentioning that I don't have any luck with this style on dry hair. You would think winding your wavy hair back into the buns would help preserve the style, but I end up with straight hair that has super weird lumps in it. A loose, high pony is a great way to save the waves.

Are you a night or morning showerer? Do you ever go to bed with wet hair? What's your favorite Leah hair style? 

Colleen is waving on Twitter @bevilledeggs.