Makeup Withdrawal

Showing posts with label Hair. Show all posts

Review: Amika Reset Products

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Last summer I tried out a mini set of Amika products, I want to say it was a GWP Sephora code that offered a deluxe duo of Amika Reset Pink Charcoal Scalp Cleansing Oil and Exfoliating Jelly Shampoo. I liked them so much that I ended up buying the full sized products.

Some Things I Like A Lot

Friday, August 17, 2018

What a long winded way to say "favorites"!

Just a collection of products that I've been using a lot lately.

Hair Care Routine

Monday, March 5, 2018

I've been cutting back on my skincare purchases lately... or so I thought. In reality, I adjusted to the cutbacks in one area of beauty by augmenting another. I've been pretty focused on my hair these past few months, so I thought I would write up a post about my hair care routine.

Review: Milk + Blush Extensions

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Have you ever had a haircut go horribly wrong? It's not the end of the world, but in the case where a hairstylist lops off more of your locks than you anticipated, it can feel incredibly crummy. A year ago my steady hairstylist of 3+ years cut closer to four inches when I asked for just one inch off, to say I was upset is a bit of an understatement. That stylist and I, well we broke up and I spent that night looking online for hair extensions. I wish I had found the Milk + Blush website!

A few months ago a representative of Milk + Blush got in touch with me and after browsing the website, I was convinced that these were the extensions that would have suited me best. I truly had been considering purchasing extensions before I was approached, to have a thick head of hair.

[Yungo by ReEn] The First Hair Cleansing Treatment & Ampule Drop Essence

Thursday, August 24, 2017

It's been a while since I reviewed any haircare on the blog, today I'd like to talk about a brand that was first introduced to me by my sister. She had originally picked [Yungo] The First Hair Cleansing Treatment when Memebox was having those ludicrous clearance sales earlier this year. When we met up in Shanghai, I had the chance to try this product for myself, and ultimately I ordered the Ampule as well.

50 Words or Less, Vol. VIII: More Fall Empties

Monday, November 21, 2016

Recently I was talking to my pal Kate about this series; where I talk about products that I was either lukewarm about or just did not find super interesting, and it tickled me to find that these that I find really hard to write are well received.

50 Words or Less, VII: Visit The Skincare Graveyard & Some Empties

Friday, September 9, 2016

Good afternoon!

Today's post is an installment of 50 Words or Less, a series where I lump together products that I didn't think deserved their own individual post. A lot of skincare, some things that I liked to the last drop and some stuff that just didn't work for me.

My Time with the T3 Micro Twirl 360 Motion Sensing Iron was Rather Brief

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Hello folks!

When this T3 Micro Twirl 360 Motion Sensing Curling Iron first popped up in my email, I was all sorts of excited. I love new hair tools and I love anything that will ease wrist strain. I'm not the only one who is fascinated by smart tools that move on their own, right? So I looked forward to the iron's arrival in anticipation.

Review: Toppik Hair Building Fibers Starter Kit

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Over the last couple months, I noticed that I was losing quite a bit of my hair. For me, it wasn't a copious amount of daily shedding (like the kind that happens fairly often postpartum as hormones level out) but my hairline started to recede and I started developing those pockets of visible scalp near the temples that you would associate with male pattern baldness. While I'm glad that it's not very visible in pictures, it was definitely something I (and husband) noticed in person. Though I do not base my self worth on my appearance, the seemingly rapid loss of hair was nevertheless distressing. After moping about it for a bit, I looked into Toppik Hair Fibers.

Summer Favorites - 2014

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Good Afternoon!

I didn't mean to go a week without blogging but I was just short on time last week! We were in LA last weekend for our wedding reception (which I uh, managed to miss by being really sick). If you remember, we were legally married last year, but since my family is so spread apart (most of my family lives in Shanghai and LA), my parents wanted to throw us a reception when more of us could get together. It was really nice to see my aunts and uncle who live in China, since I haven't been back there since 2008.

Today I just wanted to share some of the products that I've been really loving this summer. Is it hot where you live right now? It's been scorching here, with temperatures over 100F the past few days. Perfect pool weather.

KareCo Professional Brushes: Review and Pictures

Friday, October 4, 2013

Hello!

One of the brands that I learned about over the summer at CosmoProf North America was KareCo, a company that makes professional quality brushes, shears and other salon tools. I was sent three of their brushes and after a few months of vigorous use, I'm more than ready to share my thoughts!

First up we have the Oval Vent. One side of the oval brush has nylon heat resistant ball tipped bristles while the other side has boar bristles. It's very sturdy feeling but not too hefty. It took me a while to get the hang of using this brush to blow dry as I've spent years accustomed to using a round brush but when I did, this brush proved to be invaluable. I use the nylon side to lift locks to add volume to the root and the bristle side to smooth hair and eliminate frizz while blow drying. It's very handy for traveling because I can definitely make do with just this one brush instead of bringing a paddle brushes and separate round brush like I usually do.

Small Thermal. This one was my favorite! I've used upwards of 10 round brushes in the last few years but this one beats them all. The best feature of this brush is the vent tip, many brushes have a closed end that doesn't allow air to fully circulate. You would not believe how fast hair dries and the soft curl you can form with this brush! On a few of my other brushes hair also tends to snag in the gap between the handle and the barrel but not in this case. This brush is very well made, I definitely find myself preferring it to my Cricket, Olivia Garden and CHI round brushes.

Tunnel Vent Brush. A nylon brush with nine rows of ball tipped bristles. The balls don't snag though, which is a nice feature. As you can see the brush can slide out for easy cleaning. Good for untangling and smoothing down hair.

All three brushes were very well made, definitely quality materials and construction. I was really happy to hear that you should soon be able to find this professional line of brushes at your local Walmart, with suggested retail pricing of $12.97 each. I will for sure be picking up the Medium and perhaps even the Large Thermal Round brushes when I see them!

Products featured were sent to me for review. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Power Moisture Moisture Rush Mask

Friday, May 3, 2013

Long time no haircare post, no? Recently I picked up a tub of L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Moisture Rush Mask from the Power Moisture line. I'd been running low on my beloved Design Essentials Express Instant Moisturizing Conditioner treatment so when I saw that the L'Oreal Moisture Rush Mask was on sale for $5.99 and I had a two dollar off coupon, I was very eager to try it. I had read great reviews on it on MakeupAlley (4.5/5 lipsticks) but more importantly I saw that it was touted as a hyaluronic treatment. I love hyaluronic acid for my skin so I hoped that it would do great things for my hair.

The L'Oreal Moisture Rush Mask comes in a solid 8.5 fl oz tub. It's lightweight, almost watery gel-like in consistency. It is a pretty mint shade, the same color as the outside packaging. The scent is your typical ubiquitous drugstore hair product fragrance, mild and to me rather pleasant. It doesn't linger once you've used the mask and dried your hair.

The application is pretty straight forward, apply to your hair after shampooing instead of conditioner. Rinse out after 3-5 minutes. It recommends using it with the Power Moisture Shampoo, which I also have been using. I don't think it makes too much of a difference which shampoo you use, but to be honest I quite like the Power Moisture Shampoo despite it having sodium laureth sulfate.

My hair is color treated and quite dry at the ends. Since I have problems with limp, volume-less hair, I didn't apply it on my scalp the first time as to not weigh my hair down. Instead I applied it midway down the hair shaft and was extremely generous with it at my ends. I shouldn't have worried, the formula is really lightweight and once I rinsed it out and dried my hair, I didn't feel any sort of residual heaviness or stickiness. Just soft, silky hair that was not parched for moisture like it had been previously.

Overall, I really love the L'Oreal Paris Advanced Haircare Moisture Rush Mask. It does a great job of softening and moisturizing my hair. However, I feel like it is not quite as good as my HG Design Essentials Express, but it is close. It is however cheaper (Design Essentials Express is $9.99 for 6 fl oz at Ulta), especially with constant drugstore sales and coupons, so I will be incorporating into my haircare regime more often.

Now I really also want to try the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm, which is a protein treatment. Have you tried any products from the different L'Oreal Advanced Haircare lines? What did you think?

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

FOTD & a Change of Hair Color

Monday, October 22, 2012

I recently colored my hair color! I like it, though it is a tad bit more red than I would have liked. I think I may go a bit darker in the future, but I'm leaving it alone for now since lightening hair tends to be stressful for my locks.

I had finally found a brow shade that I think matches my hair pretty well without leaning too warm. I mixed LORAC Suede and Cappuccino, not too bad!

Brows: LORAC Suede & Cappuccino shadows
Face: G2Organics Hickey Stick*, Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk + MUFE HD, Guerlain Meteorites (Emilio Pucci edition), Chanel Notorious
Lips: Revlow Rosy Nude
Eyes: NYX HD Eyeshadow Base, Fyrinnae Polar Bear, LORAC Multi Platinum Palette (black & ivory shades), MAC Concrete

What sort of treatments do you like to do for just colored hair? My favorite is Design Essentials Express Moisturizing Treatment. It makes my hair feel so amazing! (If you're curious I blogged about it HERE)

*Indicates a product that was sent to me for review. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

I'm in Love- Sultra The Wicked Black Wave & Straight Iron

Monday, July 16, 2012

About a month ago, my flat iron died. It was a terrible moment. Time itself slowed down, the birds outside stopped singing and if you live within a five mile radius of my house you would have heard me shrieking "Nooo!" A few days later while shopping at CosmoProf, I was delighted to see that they were having a fantastic sale on quite a few of their hair tools. Remember now, my grief was still fresh and so I was easily swayed.

And that my friends, is how I came home with a spankin' new Sultra The Wicked Black Wave & Straight Iron.

After thoroughly testing it out, I'm very pleased to tell you that this iron is wicked awesome (see what I did there?). I liked that this Sultra iron heated up very quickly (less than 25 seconds). It beeps and lights up when it turns on and beeps again when it reaches the right temperature. There is something gratifying about how fast it was ready (I wish everything in my life was ready this fast. Like food. Or my nails drying completely). There is only one temperature setting (375 degrees F) but since my hair is on the finer side of medium, it worked quite well at that setting, even though the plates are slim at 1".

Performance wise, I have never used a better flat iron. Period. CHIs and Cricket flat irons have nothing on this baby! I was expecting straight hair (I know, I know- duh!) but I was not prepared for the crazy amount of shine that The Wicked imparts on my medium-fine hair. As a waving element, this iron did well too. I tested it out on my mother's coarse, unruly hair.

I also like that The Wicked comes with a heat/cleaning pad. I like to wrap it around my flat iron when storing it too. Another perk is the swiveling extra long cord, not to mention the automatic shutoff and the two year warranty. The only way that this iron could be even better is if it had a locking mechanism so that it could be locked shut for easier travel, but tying the heating pad around the iron works too.

How straight and shiny my hair becomes
after a single pass through.

Bottom line is that if you have fine to medium hair, I think that you'll really enjoy how wickedly shiny and straight that the Sultra The Wicked iron can make your hair. For hair that is on the coarse side, I'm guessing that The Slim Luxe or The Seductress irons would be even better because they have higher temperature settings. Remember though- you should always use heat protectant, no matter what temperature setting.

Sultra The Wicked Black Wave & Straight is $165 and can found on Sultra's website as well as Nordstrom online.

What is your favorite flat iron? Have you tried any of Sultra's heating tools? I have my eye on The Bombshell Cone wand since my experience with The Wicked was so phenomenal.

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Review: Shielo Antioxidant Leave In Protectant

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Recently, I was contacted by Shielo to see if I could review their hair protectant. My point of contact mentioned that it smelled amazing and I have to admit, my interest was immediately piqued. I have a love of trying new hair products (I think the haircare graveyard under my bathroom sink can attest to this) so combine that with a promise that it smells like and what does that equal? A beauty blogger with a bottle of Shielo Antioxidant Leave In Protectant.

The very first thing I did when I received it was take a good whiff. It's hard for me to pinpoint it- it smells fantastic! Sort of tropical, coconut (though no coconut is listed in the ingredients, how curious!), fruity yet flowery. It smells good enough to drink.

image from Shielo.com

I used this product for a good six weeks daily, before I wrote a review. I am nothing, if not thorough! I liked that it is not chock full of silicones like some of the other protectants out there and has multiple uses. I brought it with me on vacation and it served as leave in spray as well as a de-tangler and heated tool protectant. The Shielo Antioxidant Leave In Protectant was very lightweight- something I think that those with very fine hair would appreciate (don't you just hate it when your hair is weighed down, it makes me feel like I want to jump in the shower immediately). I misted it around my hair after it was towel dry, and went along with my normal styling.

It is also supposed to provide UV protection and help with color preservation. Since I no longer color my hair, I can't attest to that particular claim. Never the less, my hair has not lightened colorwise like it can sometimes from being sunkissed.
A few other nice points about this product- cruelty free, paraben free and made with certified organic ingredients.

I used it every day for quite a while, a bottle lasts quite a while. Priced at $19.99, you can find Shielo Antioxidant Protectant on their website, here.

Product featured was sent to me for review. The links in this post are not referral links, I am not compensated in any way for this post. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Review: BaByliss Pro 2800 Porcelain Ceramic Dryer

Thursday, May 24, 2012

I bought a new blow dryer about two months ago when my old one was on its last leg. I thought it was about time that I did a review!

This is not the first time I've used this blow dryer. When I went to cosmetology school, the BaByliss Pro 2800 was the blow dryer that was issued in the kits... until my class started. We received much cheaper, crappier blow dryers (but that's a story for another time). However, I handled the BaByliss quite often as I ended up doing my classmate's hair all the time. I ended up really liking it, which is why I ordered my own.

This model, 2800 runs $56.99 on Amazon (thank goodness for Amazon Prime and free shipping!). 2000 watts, ionic ceramic. To me, that's mumble jumble and quite technical- what you really want to know is how it performs.

It's hefty. Not needlessly heavy, more like a sturdy sort of way. It's definitely not flimsy, I can't tell you how many times I've seen this blow dryer dropped! It has two heat settings and two pressure settings as well as a cool shot button. The intake of the blow dryer screws off for easy filter cleaning.

The BaByliss 2800 gets HOT. Really, really hot. The first time I dried my hair, I accidentally burnt my neck because I wasn't aware of how hot the 2800 had heated up my round brush. HOT HOT HOT. Don't forget the heat protectant, ever. For the average user, you might find that the medium heat setting is all you need. Another nice thing about this model is the high pressure. For me, a blow dryer is nothing without steady, high pressure. It comes with a concentrator nozzle, which is nice because combined with a round brush and good technique, high pressure is the difference between frizzy hair and sleek hair.

If I had to name one flaw... well, the only thing that I can think of is that the cool shot button doesn't provide cool air instantly (you know me and my need for instant gratification). It takes about 5-8 seconds for the cool air to kick in, but that makes perfect sense since the blow dryer is blowing so hot- it can't instantly cool down.

What it comes down to is that for $57, I think that this is a fantastic personal blow dryer. I'm not sure how many years I'll get out of this model, but I definitely will repurchase this again unless something else better is available at this price.

What blow dryer do you currently use? What do you like about it, do the results justify the price?

**This is an automated post. I'm on vacation! I'll be back the last week of May, so it might take some time for me to read all of your comments. Thank you so much for being a reader and being patient with me!**

Product featured was purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Review: Conair You Curl XL Conical Wand

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

When it comes to hair tools and hair products... I'm a snob. I really am. I turn my nose up at drugstore products and insist on professional tools. The last time I bought a drugstore tool... must have been about three years ago, I bought a cheap Revlon iron that didn't heat up at all. However, I am really pleased to be able to tell you about how much I love my newest curling wand, the Conair You Curl XL.

(By the way... the box that it comes in was super large and impossible for me to photograph without glare)

I've been wanting a conical curling wand for the longest time now, but was a little hesitant to spend the money on one. By chance, I happened upon the reviews for the Conair You Curl on MakeupAlley. To my surprise, it had amazing reviews- and priced at around $30, it really was a pretty good deal.

I picked the XL version, which has a larger barrel than the original. At the widest, the barrel is 1 1/4" and tapers to a 3/4" point. I picked the XL because I wanted looser, more carefree curls. If you're going for tighter, more Taylor Swift-esque ringlets that are full of energy, I suggest getting the original size You Curl.

It comes with a heat resistant half glove, which is nice in theory but was way too big and awkward for my small hands. I found that I was more likely to fumble and drop the hot wand on my neck with it on, I'd rather risk a few burnt fingertips. The You Curl wand has a nice range of temperature, up to 400 degrees F and heats up very quickly. I found that the 330 setting was perfect for creating the soft spirals that I desired. Pair with a little bit of Kenra Hot Spray, these were my results.

For this particular relaxed, soft curls I started wrapping my hair about halfway down the length, widest part of the barrel first, alternating directions around the barrel for every section. I used large sections, holding each around the wand for about 10 seconds and completely curling my hair in roughly five minutes.

I'm really happy that I bought this Conair You Curl XL conical wand. It's a nice option to have, to make me look a little more polished and a little less "blah"!

Do you have a conical wand? Do you love it, hate it?

Product featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Review: CHI Keratin Mist

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

One of the products underneath my bathroom sink (known as the forest of hair products and where unloved skin care products go to die) that I reach for the most is my bottle of CHI Keratin Mist.

In addition to smelling great (not a whiff of alcohol or other 'chemical-y' scents), CHI Keratin Mist does a fantastic job of keeping my hair very soft and manageable. I usually use a few spritzes all over my hair when it is damp, straight out of the shower before I blow dry. It makes for a really nice leave-in conditioner, without weighing down my hair or making it feel oily or product laden. Another nice use for this product is as de-tangler. I've definitely woken up with some nasty snarls in my hair (what on earth am I doing in my sleep?) and a bit of Keratin Mist does the trick to comb them out without damaging my locks.

Last but not least, I found out while reading the CHI hair color manual that it's recommended to use Keratin Mist to restore porosity to hair (this is mumbo jumbo to most of you, I'm guessing).

A side note: be careful where you buy your CHI products. Recently Farouk Systems (makers of CHI and Biosilk) won a lawsuit against Costco for selling counterfeit CHI products. I've also heard from sales associates from CosmoProf that there are CHI products out there that can be old or watered down online and in stores, that are heavily discounted. Last week, I sniffed a bottle of Keratin Mist at Target and it smelled NOTHING like the bottle I bought from CosmoProf. It reeked of alcohol. Your best bet is to purchased from an authorized retailer of Farouk Systems products.

A 12 oz bottle typically runs around $12-14.

Product featured was purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo Roller Hairsetter

Sunday, February 12, 2012

I've wanted hot rollers for a while. I used to do roller sets all time when I was still at cosmetology school- the old fashioned way. You know, hair rolled up in jumbo rollers and sitting under a loud hooded dryer while reading a magazine. Does that remind you of old grandma hair? Honestly, I loved how they made my hair super shiny with lots of volume and movement. Sexy, not old-ladyish.

Since I have neither the space for a giant hooded dryer in my home nor the time it takes to set my hair, it made much more sense to get a roller set.
Last month, Morgan, being the epitome of Perfect Boyfriend Material, ordered me the BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo Roller Hairsetter as a Chinese New Year present (hey, I don't do very many traditional Chinese things... but New Year is mandatory) since he couldn't find red envelopes.
I couldn't wait to try them out.

This set comes with 12 jumbo rollers that are 1'1/2" in diameter. The rollers are flocked with soft velvet to hold onto your hair. The hairsetter also comes with 12 roller pins and 12 roller clips. The BabylissPro Nano Titanium Jumbo rollers cost about $45-60 for a set, depending on where you buy it. Morgan ordered mine off of Amazon.

First, I need to mention that I was NOT looking to create well defined curls, which is why I wanted jumbo sized rollers. I already knew that I can't get great curls from rollers (my hair does not hold curls well, I need a very hot marcelle style curling iron, a tremendous amount of hair product and lots of prayers in order to get a head full of curls), what I wanted was body and big loose waves.

After a few practice runs, I could easily do my hair in the morning in about 20 minutes (not including heating up time). I would get up and the first thing I would do was to turn on the setter so that it could heat up. There is a dot on one of the rollers that indicates when the rollers are hot, but I find that the dot would turn white before they were well and truly hot. During the seven minutes that it takes to heat up, I brush my teeth, wash my face, etc.
I use a heat protectant specifically designed for hot rollers that also provides a bit of hold (Kenra Platinum Hot Spray) and spritz it throughout my hair. Then it takes about 5-10 minutes to section out and roll up my hair. I like to use the clips instead of the pins, they're just easier to use (especially in the back of the head, where it is both hard to see and reach).
Then I apply my makeup while the rollers are in my hair (10min). I then go over my head with a blow dryer on cool. This step is super important because though the heat creates the curl shape, the cooling of the hair is what sets it.
All in all, I love my new rollers. If I had to name a flaw, it would be that the rollers do lose heat very quickly, so sometimes I put a hot air bonnet on top or wrap a towel around my head while the rollers are in. Oh, and that the heat indicating dot is a liar.

I'll try to have a tutorial up soon, because it is much easier to explain hot rollers with pictures!
Here's a sneak peak (using my sister's head):

Have a wonderful night, folks!

Product featured was given to me as a gift. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.

Design Essentials Express Conditioner (Your Hair Will Thank Me For It)

Saturday, November 26, 2011

I want to talk about my all time favorite hair treatment- Design Essentials Express Instant Moisture Conditioner. It's pretty freaking amazing, and I rarely rave about hair products.
What it is- an amazing deep conditioning treatment that leaves your hair tantalizing soft and smooth. The kind of smooth that makes you stroke your hair over and over again, completely mesmerized by the silky strands that is now your hair (this was my sister, about a month ago when she tried it for the first time. She just sat there and pet her own head for ten minutes. "It's so soft!").

I can't take a picture that shows you how soft my hair is. I wish I could let you touch my hair through the internet.

We used Express at my cosmetology school and without fail, every individual who used it would instinctively reach up to try to touch their hair, especially while I was blow drying. Hey! Lady! You can touch it when I'm done!
I recommend using it with heat, for the best results. I know not everyone has a hooded drying for use at home so I strongly recommend a bonnet attachment for your blow dryer, (like this one). Using a bonnet dryer does make me feel like a little old lady, but it works. I bought mine at Sally's for around $7.
Here's what I do. After shampooing my hair, I hop out of the shower and towel blot my hair. I comb a good portion gently through my hair, from root to end and put a shower cap over my head. I plop down in a chair, set my blow dryer to LOW heat, and attach the bonnet to it and put it over the shower cap.
15 minutes later, I'm comfortably drowsy and very warm and I step back into the shower. I'll rinse it out with cool water and proceed to dry and style my hair as usual.

What I like about this conditioner is that it is not heavy, my tresses do not lie limp with the weight of the moisture. It smells rather nice too. It's just such a nice pick-me-up for your hair, to keep it manageable and silky soft. I like to use Express every two weeks or so, and the difference is noticeable.
The easiest way to find this product is probably at salons that carry Design Essentials or online, at Amazon or Ebay for around $10.

What is your favorite conditioner?

Products featured were purchased by me, for my own use. For additional information, please refer to my Disclosure Policy.