Wedding season PLUS a brand new house= poor, neglected blog!

Hey all! I know I've been neglecting the blog as of late, and I've had a few messages on my business page asking about it, so here I am! It's wedding season here in DFW, so that means that I am jam packed every weekend with GORGEOUS brides and trails. I love my job so very much, and feel so grateful to be able to be a part of your special day... I can't say it enough, you are all making my dreams come true, every time you trust me with your face!

Take a look at a bridesmaid I had a few weeks ago... isn't she positively GLOWING?

Another big deal in my life right now... we bought our first house in June! No more country living for me! I am now smack dab in the middle of the metro plex... woohoo! This means more work for me, but it also means that I am a single mom most of the time, since my husband is still working near our old house, 2 hours away. He's looking for work out here, fingers crossed!

Next up for me? The Makeup Show Dallas! If you don't know about TMS, and you are in the beauty industry, you NEED to be there. It's a 2 day trade show, featuring all the brands you love, and some you haven't heard of yet (but will soon be your favorite). I'll be working with Frends Beauty, which is both a brick and mortar store as well as an online shop with brands from Dermalogica, to Ben Nye, to Make Up For Ever. If you're there, you better come say hi! Comment if you would like more info, and I'll be happy to hook you up.

So that's it with me, what's new with you? Are you getting married this season? Did you buy a house? Are you feeling the craziness that I am?? Haha

-C

Hey, I'm goth!

Not really, BUT my work did get published in Aprils issue of Gothesque magazine... Yay! 

Quick little brow review! MUFE Aqua brow

Hey all! I ran to the Dallas Make Up For Ever boutique on Sunday for a few supplies for my afternoon shoot (more to come on that soon!), and one if the products that I decided to give a go, since my model was blonde, and I didn't have a great taupe brow filler, was the Aqua brow I've been hearing so much about. 

Now, I've added a TON of different brow products to my personal stash over the years. Everything from Anastasia to MAC, NYX to Covergirl. I'm a brow girl, and I'm always looking for the next best thing. As a matter if fact, if you search my blog, you may or may not find somewhere between 2-5 other brow posts. Brows... It's an obsession. 

So, I loved the way it went on my model, and decided to give it a go on myself. Luckily my hair is purple, so I can rock whatever color brow I want :)

Here are the results! 

I'm in love with the application, and I took a 2 hour nap today and still woke up with perfect brows... Yay! So, MUFE gets a 10/10 from me! 

Thanks for reading!

-C

TCA peel... it just got real.

I say it just got real, because this is SERIOUS business. If you aren't sure if you need a peel, this isn't the peel for you. If you have a few spots you want to fade, this isn't the peel for you. If you aren't confident going out of your house looking like leather face, or don't have the luxery of 5 days of downtime, this is NOT the peel for you.

However, if you have acne scarring, blackheads, pitting, fine lines, oily, congested pores... or in my case, all of the above, this might be up your ally. I say this as a normal gal, not an esthetician by any means. This is not meant to be instructional in any way, simply a timeline of my procedure for those considering it. Please follow the instructions provided to you with purchase. I consulted a lot of websites to determine that I could handle this. This review is also sponsored by Makeupartistchoice.com who provided me with the peel in exchange for my honest opinion. There were pros and cons, and I will go through each one. Getting these products at no charge does not in any way impact my review.

That said, here we go! I took pictures each day, and followed the step by step provided to me (and every customer) by makeup artists choice. Their customer service is superb, and they are always willing to help.

Prep: I had prepped my skin 2 weeks prior by using a alpha hydroxy cream. The one I used was by Gunilla of Sweden and can be found on Amazong. Its the best I've used so far, and reasonably priced, too. Prepping this way will make the peel much more effective (an esthetician can probably tell you why/how). Do not use this

Day 1: I prepped my oily skin by washing with baby soap (so gentle) and swabbing acetone over my skin to rid of any oily residue. I then used vaseline around my mouth, eyes, and below my jawline. After I layed the ground work, I took a qtip and swiped the TCA solution (I used 24% since I had done the 18% before, years ago, and knew my skin could handle it). It started burning immediately, and I even had to walk outside to keep from getting sick... it was a lot to handle. I let it sit for about 3 minutes, and it started frosting. This is where your skin turns white from the chemical getting all up in there (technical term). When that happened I added another layer (cause I'm just a little crazy) and waited about 2 minutes. I then neutralized with baking soda and water.

This was a few hours after I did it, you can see it's red and it was inflamed a bit. Do you see that sun spot at the very top left by my eye? That's my litmus test for all 'fading' products. None have eve gotten rid of it!

Here is what I looked like the next day:

A little red and shiny, no big deal, right? I decided not to moisturize, doing a 'dry peel' to make the peeling a little more dramatic (shedding off in sheets instead or flaking. Gross.) You can see the parts that frosted were already starting to turn dark.

Day 2! (Later in the day) It's turning brown and so gross looking!

Day 3... I had to go to walmart that day! It was AWFUL. I suggest stocking up before the peel, lol. It was Itchy and flaky and I was mortified!

So the next day I started peeling more, and admittedly I forced it a bit. Don't do that. It was raw and red, but would have been less so if I hadn't messed with it.

A few hours later, doused in moisturizer. I chose one with very few ingredients and no scent to minimize irritation. 

Aaah, finally! I look human... Hey, where's that sun spot?!

In case you're wondering, it's GONE. Now I do have makeup on on this picture, but that spot is no longer there, and it makes me so happy! It also really smoothed out the texture of my skin, and made my pores look a lot smaller. All in all I'm happy I did it. I hated the downtime, and I need to do another (3-5 for optimum results) but I'm putting it off because I just hate the first 3 days! 

What do you think, would you do a peel? Would you do a less harsh one or could you deal with the downtime?

-C

Review: Koren EnKore Zander Morphe brush set

Hey guys, I have a review for you! I grabbed this brush set at IMATS LA at the pro event, and I was just so excited to have gotten my hands on it, and really stoked that it was all in a handy cross body, as opposed to a belt. Unfortunately, as a set, this was a bit of a let down for me, let me tell you why:

Okay, first the bad, then I'll redeem with a few great things. 

I was able to use these brushes in my kit just a week after purchasing. I washed them once before to reduce any possible shedding, and get rid of the VERY strong smell these had (plastic like odor). I washed them in a very gentle brush cleaner, layer flat to dry after I reshaped them. To my surprise, a few of the brushes were very worn and frayed after just one wash 

That is the same brush from different agles. It's now very scratch (don't have that problem with the black haired brushes) and just worn out looking. Here's another 

It's an eye blending brush, used once, and also very scratchy. 

Speaking of scratchy, this next brush is my favorite type of brush, it smudges eyeliner, which I usually use on or very close to my waterline... Not somewhere you would want scratchy hairs, right? Sadly, I prefer my ELF version, and cannot use this one on clients. It literally hurts! 

Lastly, I'm left wondering why my brushes aren't branded... Not that it's a big deal to me, but in his videos they are, and mine (bought directly from the Morphe booth) is not. 

Okay, now the good! The whole reason I chose this kit, was for this brush. I'm a big fan of contouring, and was coveting this awesome brush for months! 

It makes contouring cheeks a breeze, since it fits so perfectly into that space under your cheekbones. I used it all weekend, and just loved it. This. Brush. Rules. Get it, and get it now. It's dense, soft, and picks up product wonderfully. 

This angled liner brush (complete with gel liner, since I have yet to wash my brushes after marathon shoots all weekend) is now my favorite. I have a few different brands, but this one glides the cat eye wings in like a dream. LOVE.

The large powder brush is soft, picks up and distributes powder perfectly, and not a single hair fell out. Ideal, inexpensive brush. Not my favorite (Real Techniques holds that title), but a great brush to have in my kit.

So that's it... All in all I give the set a 6/10, since I do love a few and it was inexpensive at $55 for IMATS. If I had paid more I would probably be pretty unhappy. 

So what so you guys think? What are your favorite brushes? 

-c

Boudoir pictures

Last night I did makeup for a few (7) lovely ladies. They were doing boudoir portraits for their husbands, as a valentines day gift. These women are not models, they aren't 19, they are moms. They are military women, teachers, survivors and students. They are beautiful women with confidence (or working on it) and it was a pleasure to be a part of that. A few of them let me take before/after shots, and here they are! I don't cheat my before and afters... I like them to smile in both, same lighting, position, etc. 

 

This one I took a little late, hahaz I had put her concealer on and then of course we remembered... Face palm. I loved the way it turned out. She wanted a lightly smokey eye, a healthy glow, and we thought these plum lips looked great with her coloring. 

This one had 2 afters. She wanted a classic pinup look, then after she shot for about an hour she wanted to switch it up to a more dramatic look, so we added gold and black for a very burlesque feel. And look at the power of brows here! She was a hoot, and I really hope to work with her again!

We wanted a very soft, bronze 'Victoria secret' look here, so I used my stila 'in the know' palette, and added a bit of sugarpills Goldilux to the center lid. Finished off with Nars Orgasm gloss. Isn't she pretty?!

This young lady isn't a makeup wearer (I could force lashes on her!) but we wanted to make those pretty eyes pop! Oh, and after the picture was taken I covered that tiny spot I missed in our lighting... Whoops! I think we accomplished her mission of looking natural for her husbands surprise!

What do you think? Would you do sexy pictures for your significant other? Would you enjoy having a team of people doing your makeup, hair, and taking your picture?

Do it! He will love it!

Imats la 2014

Hey guys! I know it's been a minute since I've posted, but last weekend was truly inspiring. I realized that not only do I love the art of makeup, but I truly and honestly love the culture of the industry. The people are colorful and creative of course, but beyond that they are a caring and right knit group. There are people that I've known through makeup groups on MYSPACE that I still talk to daily, and some who have really made a name for themselves. It makes me proud, even though I don't really 'know' them, I still saw them grow from makeup lovers to renowned artists (looking at you Queen of Blending and Spencer Lopez!)

With that said, here's a look at my haul, as well as some of the amazing people I had the pleasure of meeting! 

I was lucky enough to be invited to the Crown Brushes blogger event, where I got to watch Nix Hererra of Naked Vegaswork his magic. I've never thought I would be interested in body painting. In a lot of cases it ends up looking like (in the words of a photographer friend) 'hippie fest 2000', but with what I saw last weekend, this does not apply. This is art in every sense of the word. Check out his work: (obviously taken from his IG)

We also got a great little gift bag, loaded with Crown goodies! 

After the event I made my way to Pro Night, where I was able to shop a little more leisurely than I would over the weekend. I took full advantage and hit up SugarPill, Morphe Brushes, Ardelle, MAC Pro, and lots others. 

(Jeffree Star walked past me at the MAC booth)

My loot for the day...

The best packaging of the convention... And the sweetest staff. But more on that in a minute

The sugarpill pro palette is incredible!

And just for fun, my makeup of the day!

The next day I KNEW would be nuts, and it was. My sister and I decided to go around 10, thinking the line would be gone since the opened the doors at 8:30. We were wrong. The line wrapped the entire building! It was nuts, and if I can suggest anything it would be BE COMFORTABLE! I saw so many (adorable) chicks in miniskirts, heels, etc, looking MISERABLE. I understand wanting to look cute, but try and find a balance. You're going to be walking a LOT, and probably won't sit for 12 hours. 

I got to take pictures with some of my very favorite people in the business... Here we go! 

Alexys of Madeyewlook! I adore her fun and crazy personality, and she's a fellow type 1 :) she has some serious, major talent, too! She also hooked us up with a brush from her collection, can't wait to try that guy out. 

Porcelain and Shrinkle from SugarPill. These two are just the cutest, sweetest, most adorablest. And Porcelain called me pretty.

Kandee Johnson... Do I need to say anything else? This woman's energy is contagious. She just exudes positivity and puffy hearts

Beat Face Honey... This woman is awe inspiring. Her story, her talent, her smize ;)

I also grabbed this awesome Z Palette and filled it with these Inglot pans. If you haven't tried Inglot, please do. Their shadows are intensely pigmented and blend like butter. Oh, and check out my sweet Goldstitches leggings... Love them!

So that's it! That was IMATS 2014 for me! I grabbed a few more random things, but nothing to crazy (disposables, moisturizer for my kit, etc). What should I review first? Maybe my NYX haul?

-C

Welcome, Fall! (it's still really hot)

With another Texas summer under my belt, I find myself relishing in the beauty of cinnamon apples, boots and scarves, and pumpkin everything. I live for fall, and especially the makeup looks that come along with it. The deep plums, the sultry jades, and the smokey greys are just a few of my favorite things. A few trends I'm digging right now... everything is multi purpose! For us moms (or students, or worker bees, or... pretty much any woman I know) always on the go, this is amazing. THe potted cream shadows that double as a long lasting primer, the chubby lip pencil that wears as a glossy, saturated lip color, and the shimmery blush that acts as a highlighter. Whatever your need(s) are, they are sure to be met two fold this fall! Here are a few collections I'm looking forward to:
Two Faced 'Pretty Rebel'
I've always loved Too Faced, but I feel like they've really stepped up their game here lately. With their new Lip Injection Color Bomb lipsticks, you can plump up your pucker and add a balmy, glossy satin color all in a convenient chubby pencil.

Nars is all about the modern matte this year, which is right up my ally. I love the sophistication and edge of a matte nail, a suede lip, or a shimmer free, smokey eye. What I'm not a fan of is their campaign this fall... it's a little tired looking, and is sort of a turn off for me. Step it up, Nars!

MAC Has a few new collections for Fall, but the one I'm most excited about it their new Pro Longwear collection! If you're anything like me, you don't want to have to touch up your makeup any more than necessary, and I LOVE a great 5 minute face. This product helps me achieve a pulled together look without spending 30 minutes wrestling toddlers off of my legs in front of the mirror. Thanks MAC! Check out 'Perky' (cream coral with white pearl), and 'Tailor Grey' (muted grey). I don't think you can go wrong with these! 

So, that's it for me... what collections are you coveting this fall? Or are you already looking forward to Holiday collections like I am? Haha. Seriously, how pretty would the last look from MAC look for a holiday party?! Just gorgeous.

Please check in next week, I'll be posting my results from the TCA peel I did last week. I was aiming to get it up sooner, but the website states that it takes 10 days to fully recover, and I want to be sure to give it a fair shot. Stay tuned!

-C

Vacation Time!

It's summer, so with that comes Family Vacation Time! We are heading to my hometown of San Francisco (East Bay, woop woop!). We will be traveling all over California for 2 weeks, spending time Sonoma county, San Francisco proper and West Hollywood. I know I want to hit up a lot of flagship stores, any recommendations for me? I'm also thinking about bringing my kit, any California peeps need their makeup done? I'm up for a TFP shoot! Wish me luck as I travel with my young boys, and I'll try to get a blog in while I'm out and about... happy Summer, everyone! -C

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Another Giveaway!

Hey all! This is a big one, you will WANT to be a part of it, I promise :)

I am part of a group of ladies with wonderful beauty blogs, and we decided it would be awesome to collaborate on a giveaway (super jealous of whoever wins this, but the way) that feature our favorite things! Another bonus? You may end up finding your next favorite beauty blogger!

blog URL

www.citizensofbeauty.com

www.CosmeticSanctuary.com

www.SetinLacquer.com

www.kaytivstheworld.com

www.brandibeeee.com

www.glistenandglow.wordpress.com

www.katstayspolished.com

www.beyondbeautylounge.com

www.muainparis.tumblr.com

www.manicurator.com

www.youhadmeatmakeup.com

www.rainysunraynails.blogspot.com

www.loveforlacquer.com

www.styleonmain.net

www.cosmetish.com

Box 1: NAILS INC. Nail Polish in Cambridge Terrace, Physicians Formula wet/dry formula eyeshadow, brown Tarte Eyeliner, Givenchy Nail Lacquer in Fuchsia Irrésistible, Reach vivid Dimensions Mascara, MCA Reality Cosmetics Eye-liner, Urban Decay Tint Blush, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable lip stain.

Box 2: Kate Spade mini polish set, Jouer cosmetics tinted blush, Jouer cosmetics crème eyeshadow stick, Urban Decay Palette Mariposa, 6 china glaze nail polishes, Shu Umera eyeshadow, Too Faced shadow insurance sample, Maybelline Illegal length mascara.

Box 3: Real Techniqes brush, Urban Decay Naked Polish set, EOS lip balm, Tarte Lipgloss, NYX sparkly eyeliner, STILA Spring Collection eyeshadow,

Box 4: Japonesque precision lash curler, Dior Nirvana polish, Bumble & Bumble Shine On spray, Sephora Pantone Universe Gleaming Lipgloss Collection, E.L.F 14 piece nail polish cube, fragrance flower ring. 

Enter now, and good luck!

-C

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A review! My take on makeup artists choice Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum

I really wanted to review the TCA peels first, but I haven't had a chance to do as many as I would like to do to get optimum results. The downtime on them is a mother, and I just don't have time for it with what we have going on with vacations and stuff (life's rough).

So I decided to go ahead and review this stuff now that my bottle is nearly empty. I have a hard time usually remembering moisturizer. I have crazy oily skin, and typically unless I see results immediately, I get bored. What's great about Hyaluronic Acid is that it is SO great for your skin long term, but it also has that instant gratification most of us love.

So, if you don't know exactly what HA is, let me tell you. From WebMD:

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in the human body. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. The hyaluronic acid that is used as medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made by bacteria in the laboratory.

People take hyaluronic acid for various joint disorders, including osteoarthritis. It can be taken by mouth or injected into the affected joint by a healthcare professional.

The FDA has approved the use of hyaluronic acid during certain eye surgeries including cataract removal, corneal transplantation, and repair of a detached retina and other eye injuries. It is injected into the eye during the procedure to help replace natural fluids.

Hyaluronic acid is also used as a lip filler in plastic surgery.

Some people apply hyaluronic acid to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer.

There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging.

How does it work?

Hyaluronic acid works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it might affect the way the body responds to injury.

Hold up... did someone say 'Fountain of Youth'? I'm in.

Really, though. It has a plumping effect, due to the fact that it holds 100x its weight in water. I have been using it as a primer on my oily skin and it just absorbs any oil my skin produces. It's literally amazing. I'm amazed.

So, this product I've been using is from Makeup Artists Choice, and you can find it here. It's $26.95, and in my opinion that's a very fair price.

There is little to no scent, and a little goes a VERY long way. I use one pump for my whole face. Here is an excerpt from their website:

When the air is dry and less humid, your skin will lose moisture.  Regular moisturizers typically give about 30 minutes of topical moisture...and they *feel* moisturizing for a brief period of time until environmental elements dry the skin once again.  Humectants work by helping the skin retain natural moisture from the liquids you drink and work as a "water-reservoir" for skin cells....they bind water within the intercellular structure of the skin.  When skin cells can't get enough water from the reservoir, aging issues are more pronounced.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is the most effective humectant available and is found in most hospital burn units for the hydration of severely damaged skin. 

The addition of MDI complex helps to protect the skin's matrix levels and ensures
proper bonding of hyaluronic acid to the skin's water reservoirs for maximum benefit.

Benefits:

• Deep hydration of skin cells.
• "Plumps-up" skin tissue to soften wrinkles, lines.
• Great for plumping lips.
• Reduces appearance of spider veins.
• Reduces the appearance of varicose veins.
• Reduces dark circles around eyes.
• Reduces appearance of Rosacea.
• Protects against environmental skin irritation.
• An excellent post chemical peeling humectant

She also addresses the issue of looking for 100% pure HA:

Let me address some very misleading claims other cosmetic companies may make regarding product percentage.  Hyaluronic Acid cannot be "pure 100% hyaluronic" as it must be mixed with water to become a serum or gel.  It's raw form is a thick pastey consistency that is too high in molecular weight to be an on-the-shelf skin care product in its raw form.  It must be diluted... and diluted with water, the product is no longer 100% pure.  Period. 

We could certainly claim our HA is 100% pure *active* ingredient.  Yes, the active is 100%.  BUT, once the water is added, it is then diluted... thus making it a lesser strength.  In our case, our FDA/EPA registered chemists/lab have formulated our product to a very high 95% concentration.

Those offering convuluted explanations as to how their product becomes a 100% pure hyaluronic acid product *after* adding water, alcohol, and preservatives mislead readers into thinking they are getting a stronger product.  It's a ridiculous claim and quite simply a misleading ploy that doesn't provide you with a true understanding of what you are purchasing.  

So, there you have it! I love this stuff. I've seen a huge difference in how my makeup wears, as well as the feel of my skin when I don't have makeup on. I feel like it has probably decreased my oil production by at least 30%. 

Do you think you might give it a try? They have samples, too! 

-C

Before and after: beautiful moms edition!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of making a few ladies feel their best for a small photo shoot with my MOPS group. Myself and a friend who happens to be a hobbyist photographer thought it would be a great idea to get the moms and kids together for pictures in the park. As moms we are always the ones taking the pictures. A lot of times I think that we hide because we aren't dressed right, have no makeup on, feel fat, etc. We wanted to help these moms make memories with their kiddos. I loved the way these turned out, but left he pictures of the kids off of my portfolio and blog for privacy reasons. Here are a few I can share!

This is Chelsea. Chelsea has a 2 year old boy and a sweet 3 month old girl. She has the most perfect skin, and beautiful eyes, so I wanted to bring a little bit of glow to her face, nothing to distract from the flawless perfection! I evened her out a bit, added a peachy pink blush and a little bit of highlighter on her cheek bone. I finished it off with tight lining and a little bit of mascara. A lip stain added to her naturally pink pout, and she was ready to go!

Sisha is a lovely mom with 2 gorgeous boys. Needless to say, with 2 toddlers, makeup is not high priority. I wanted to show her how to achieve a natural and polished look in just 10 minutes. I evened out her skin tone with a cream foundation, which worked well for her having skin on the dry side. I filled in her brows a bit to frame her face, and bring out her gorgeous eyes. A dusting of a depp pink blush for her yellow undertoned skin really makes her glow! I created a lightly smoked eye using brown eyeliner and bronzer, then topped it all off with a little gloss... voila!

Thanks for taking a look, this was a fun day for me, and I got to multi task a little, since I had my own kids with me, too!

Lush!

I would like to preface this post by saying that I am no Lush expert. You can walk into any Lush store and the peeps there can tell you SO much about every product they have... especially if you are near the Dallas Galleria location! My great friend Meagan works there and happens to be incredibly knowledgable about all of the amazing, handmade cosmetics you will find in their lovely boutiques. That being said, here is a little review of my most recent Lush purchases!

Feeling Younger Skin Tint- This product is the first, because it is amazing! I have only had it a few days, but love it as if I've known it my whole life... when you know, you know! lol. Here is the Lush website description:
We wanted a highlighting skin tint that would give a gorgeous glow wherever it was applied, so we started with a base of beautiful ingredients (as we like to do). Soothing oatmeal decoction, cocoa butter and some of the best oils for the skin, jojoba and almond oils are blended together for a nourishing base that’s good for your skin. Blended in is a pigment that reflects light, brightening cheek bones, brow bones, the inner eyelid or even your décolletage for a sexy glow.

It's also vegan! 

My take? I have used it mainly under my eyes and on my brow bone to brighten things up. I even wear it to the gym (I typically run errands to and from and don't want to look a complete wreck) and love that it is great for my skin and looks great too! It's not obvious or glittery, but it does help me look as if I didn't just roll out of bed clocking 4 hours of sleep due to teething baby. 5 stars from this tired (but not looking it) mama!

Blousey shampoo- for the longest time I wouldn't use a shampoo from Lush that wasn't a solid... I loved the novelty of these and wouldn't give it up, thinking that spending $25 on a shampoo was a little self indulgent. Well, I decided to splurge, and I am SO glad I did. This shampoo is amazing. Most of you know that I have purple hair, but do you know how I got it? Lots, and LOTS of chemicals. Bleach, developer, toner, dye... my poor hair was so fried and sad. I wanted a shampoo that would be gentle but still clean it of the daily styling products needed to manage my frizzy locks. 
Enter Blousey... This stuff is amazing. It doesn't fade my vibrant color, is cleans without stripping, and it smells heavenly. Here is what Lush says about this stuff:

Here is our gentle, non-stripping shampoo for damaged, over-processed, colored, bleached and fragile hair. It cleanses hair in the gentlest way, while locking in moisture with a huge helping of mashed-up fresh bananas, cocoa and cupuacu butters. These rich, nourishing and softening ingredients help bring damaged hair back to life and keep your locks in top shape.

I say go get it... now! Whether or not your hair is in as serious need as mine, you need this. Summer is coming, and your future is chlorine, sun and saltwater. All of those are going to dry your tresses, so preemptively strike and grab some Blousey!

R&B- This is one of those things you buy and your husband uses as much as you do... especially if he has a beard like mine does (and if your husband doesn't have a beard, you might consider a new husband... lol) I got this as a gift from my friend who works at Lush, and never used it until I caught a whiff of my husbands face one day. It smells so good! He said even the guys at work have commented on it (he works a very manly job... so this cracks me up). The tiniest bit makes your hair feel shiny and soft... so worth the splurge considering a tub will take at least 3-6 months to go through. Here is the Lush websites take on this wonderful hair product:

Enjoy some of our smooth R & B hair stylings to control your frizzy, flyaway hair. An instant best-seller, our easy-to-use “hair finisher” uses softening ingredients of organic avocado butter, oatmeal, olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil, jojoba oil and candelilla wax because they are extremely effective for conditioning the hair and scalp. Three of our UK shop managers came up with R & B to revive and balance their wayward follicles. It works well with African American or curly hair because it conditions with a lot of moisture. And once you smell the seductive orange blossom and jasmine fragrance, your hair will truly get its groove back.

Perfect for you if you are a guy, have a beard, have ethnic hair, have extremely fly away hair, or just like people to stop you and ask to smell your hair. 

Did I mention that every product I reviewed today is certified vegan? Thats right vegan friends, this ones for you! They also actively fight animal testing. Awesome company with great ethics... yes please!

-C

a new obsession, er... hobby?

It's music festival season! And amidst the fringe vests and cutoffs is a delightful accessory... the flower crown. I love the way these look so much, that I decided to look at grabbing one from one of the many talented designers on Etsy. Alas, though they are certainly worth every penny, they were far too expensive for my liking. Hand painted silk flowers are wonderful, but I have to be able to actually buy tickets to said festival... oh, and the kids gotta eat, too ;p

Once in a while I decide to get crafty, and more often than not I throw in the towel 5 minutes later (remember my furniture upcycling... 1 piece out of 7 painted isn't horrible, right?!). Well, that isn't the case here. Once I started making them for myself, for a photo shoot I have coming up, for a friend... well I just couldn't stop. I thought I may as well see if anyone want to buy some pretty head flowers for themselves, and sure enough, they do! So, that's where I'm at now. Taking custom orders, and loving it. Oh, and I decided to make mine about 1/2 the price as the ones I found on Etsy (again, their craftsmanship is superb, just not in my budget, and many attach the actual flowers the same way I do).

So, I did a little mini iPhone photo shoot to capture all of the glory of my first 4 pieces!

So many thanks to my gorgeous friend Meagan for modeling for me! love the juxtaposition of her edgy style with these delicate pieces.  And just for fun, a little close up of her makeup, done by me of course!

Are you wondering what I used on Meagan? Stay tuned for a breakdown tomorrow!

Thanks for looking, comment if you would like a custom flower crown!

-C