A Savior For Dry, Damaged, and Chemically Treated Hair-- Matrix by Biolage Conditioning Balm

Wow, wow, wow. So, I recently got my hair colored (ombre), which requires bleach on my ends-- not really a good thing, because of the ends of your hair are the most frail anyway; and my hair is also constantly exposed to chlorine. Needless to say, my hair was getting fuzzy, dry, and brittle as the days went on. As I was Christmas shopping, I wondered into the JcPenny salon (everything is SOOO much cheaper in there) looking for a new hair-mask to try. I ended up getting the Matrix by Biolage Hydrotherapie Conditioning Balm. This product made such a difference even after the first time I used it!! It's quite thick, smells amazing, and conditions better than anything I have ever tried. And this comes from someone who has had chlorine stricken hair all her life. This stuff WORKS. You don't use it everyday, as it would weigh down your hair causing it to produce more oils than usual, and because your hair would get used to the mask (resulting in less than satisfactory results). Also, if some of you are still washing your hair everyday....you really reallyyyy shouldn't. It's bad for your hair, and is the reason why scalps get oily quickly.

This balm is suitable for both thin and thick hair, wonderful for colored hair, and there is a seperate Matrix line for ethnic hair. Try this!!!! The jar is massive, so it will last you ages. It's a little pricey, but nothing outrageous--just remember to get it at JcPenny's, because their products are so so so much cheaper. If you want softer, hydrated hair, try this. I literally have no complaints.

Later, Lovelies!

Ash

Mascara That Makes Your Eyelashes Grow--Revlon Grow Luscious

OH

MY

GOODNESS.

This mascara is amazing!! I really wish I would've taken before pictures after purchasing it. My eyelashes were so short and stubby, and now they're actually a lovely length, as well as nice and full! This mascara does go one sort of....wet. Not really runny, but if you get too much on the wand it can be quite a hassle to get everything smoothed out, so be careful about that. And the wand is HUGE. Like...the length of my entire eye. And it's a normal bristle wand, not a plastic one--I know lots of people have preferences when it comes to that. It can get clumpy sometimes, but generally when a lot of it goes on at one time (it dries really quickly) and you don't get it smoothed out quick enough; which can be pretty tricky because your wand is so loaded with product already. So, my advice would be to get some spare (clean) wands and keep them handy at your dressing table, or wherever you do your makeup. Sometimes I swipe some from the MAC swatching stations.. Victoria's Secret has some as well. Oops...hope that's not illegal or something. Ha. But I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a little more length/volume to their lashes! It's not anymore expensive than other drugstore mascaras--i.e. Maybelline The Falsies. Soooo worth a try--I just had to share!!

I hope that helps some of you lovely people!!

Later Lovelies,

Ash

Lee Stafford BLEAch BLondes Shampoo & Conditioner

Hello, beauties!

When I first received this product, I was really nervous about the color of the shampoo--it looks like purple dye. I was actually plagued with the thought that it would streak or turn my hair purple, but (YAY!) it didn't! The BLEAch BLondes shampoo is a toning shampoo, and Lee Stafford's claim is that:

"with Pro-Blonde complex for BLEAched or partly BLEAched highlights or BLEAched hair; knowcks out brassy, canary yellow tones, to lightly tone, refresh and restore your BLonde hair to salon beautiful colour."

I must say, Lee's claim is absolutely honest. I could tell an immediate difference in my hair---both color and moisture. My hair felt light and very clean, as well as way softer and healthier. My color had gotten really brassy after the months that I had colored it (it was on its way to looking like it was box dye.....if that says anything) and after only one use, the blonde was much nicer..and well..blonder. I will definitely be repurchasing this product, because it did wonders from my hair's health and color. What's really awesome is that for a great toning shampoo, it is extremely affordable and lasts a long time, as you only use it once a week. 

The consistency of the shampoo is a lot more runny that I was expecting, so watch out for that. I have quite long hair (it's on the edge of being fine-normal thickness) and I only used a quarter sized amount. It lathers really nicely, and a little bit definitely goes a long way. The only thing that I don't get on with is the scent. If you have other Lee Stafford products, from what I've heard, it smells the same as his products normally do. As Lee Stafford is mainly sold in the UK, I'm assuming that the US readers don't know, so I'll just give you my description of the scent (again, it's all personal preference, really). When I sniff it, it reminds me of my grandfathers cologne or aftershave--along the lines of that. It isn't a feminine scent, really. I was worried it'd make me hate the product, but after I had showered and my hair started to dry, I didn't mind it. The scent does cling to your hair, though. But even if you find the scent heinous, the results are so worth it.

I ordered my shampoo/conditioner (I would recommend getting both, but the shampoo alone will work well) on ebay, but they're also available on Amazon for $10.99 each, and online from ULTA for $9.99 each (both not including shipping). It may seem a little bit pricey, but you only use it once a week, so one bottle of both will last you ages--even if you have long hair. Links are posted below if you want to purchase this product(s)!

Amazon

ULTA Shampoo

ULTA Conditioner

Hope this has helped your toning shampoo search! I genuinely highly recommend this shampoo! Stay tuned!

Later, Lovelies!

Ash

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick

Hey, beauties!

So, (by the title, I'm sure you've guessed) I have tried out the fairly new CoverGirl lip product. I was just browsing Wal-Mart and decided to try the Lip Perfection Lipstick--I got the shade 405 Fairytale. It's a really nice pinky-coral, and I think that color is really flattering on pretty much anyone.

Now, this lipstick finishes really really matte. I wasn't exactly prepared for that the first time I wore it--before wearing this lipstick (because it's matte it's not moisturizing) you NEED to put on some lip balm or chapstick 5-10 minutes before you apply the product. I didn't (and I have quite dry lips anyways) the color--which is very very long lasting--stained the dry patches on my lips, even after I wiped it off, cleansed my face, and went to bed. They were still stained the next morning......so, moisturizing is really really important with this lipstick!

The second time I used the product, I moisturized before applying, and it didn't stain as bad, because the dry patches were all hydrated. It is a really drying formula, though, so be aware of that before you purchase it.

The great things about the product are:

1. It is extremely long lasting
2. It is beautifully pigmented, giving it a really nice color that matches the preview on the bottom of the tube really well (no deceit when it comes to choosing a color that ends up being way off from the preview)
3. It finishes matte, so you have the option of leaving it matte or adding a clear gloss on top to make it shiny--wearable both ways
4. It's affordable

The not so great things about the product are:

1. Because of the matte formula, it isn't moisturizing--in fact, it quite dried out my lips the longer I wore it
2. It stains any dry part of the lips, and is hard to get off said dry patches
3. After it has set (it takes only a minute or two) it is very difficult to correct mistakes. So, because of the long lasting formula, you need to be precise when applying. I would recommend using a lip liner, a lip brush, or both when applying.
4. If it gets on your skin and sits for a while, it stains.

I hope this was helpful! It's definitely a great product, but coming into the winter months be weary of the issues with dry patches on your lips if you invest in this lipstick. It clings to dryness, so it requires moisturizing. But you should be moisturizing your lips and skin--especially as the temperature drops!

That's all for now! Stay tuned for another product review!

Later, Lovelies!

Ash

P.S. If you've never heard of Lewis Watson, look him up--he's on Spotify. His music is wonderful, and definitely suits the cold weather...if that makes sense. :)

The Wonders of Dry Shampoo

Hello, beauties!

So, I finallyyyy gave in and bought some dry shampoo. Before purchasing it, I sprinkled baby powder on my roots to soak up the oil and rid my hair of odor (a cheap alternative if you can't work dry shampoo into a budget). Baby powder actually works well, but I found that if I didn't really massage the powder into my roots (and by really, I mean REALLY), they had a white powdery tinge to them. The other downside to baby powder is that it felt quite heavy on my scalp. It soaked up the oil and all that, but it stayed in my scalp and made it feel dirtier, even though it looked cleaner (weird, I know).

Now, I ended up getting TRESemmé's dry shampoo (after Tanya Burr raved about it more than once) for dry/prone to breakage hair. The first time I tried it, I absolutely hated it. It made my roots feel like they were just sprayed down with hairspray, and my hair was so tangled and nasty afterwards. Obviously I was disappointed, but I vowed to try it again. After a day of not washing my hair the same week (my scalp gets oily very quickly) I tried it again. This time I actually read the directions (oops...wasn't aware you have to shake the life out of these products before you spray them onto your roots) and I actually really liked it! My scalp looked normal instead of oily, and it actually felt clean, as opposed to how it felt when I used baby powder. It gives your roots the little bit of volume that you need, it smells nice, and makes everything look, feel, and smell clean! I am glad I didn't give up hope after the awful first try. I really recommend the TRESemmé dry shampoo for those of you who want to wane off washing your hair everyday (it's bad for your hair AND makes it easier for your hair to get oily). It's a great product and does the job nicely!

Stay tuned for another product review!

Later, lovelies!

Ash

Helloooo beauties!

Hello beauties!

So, I have decided to start a beauty blog. Why, do you ask? Because (besides the fact that I have been fangirling over people like Tanya Burr, Zoe from Zoella, Louise from Sprinkle of Glitter, Fleur from Fleur de Force—to name a few) I feel like most beauty bloggers/vloggers evaluate high-end, or “luxury,” products; and I don’t know about you guys, but I am in college and can’t afford/can’t justify buying some of the high end products that have equivalent (and sometimes better) products from drugstores/highstreet shops. Don’t get me wrong, I do spend more money on certain products, so I wouldn’t consider myself extremely thrifty or something like that, but I spend more for QUALITY, not name brand. There will be high-end products that I blog about, because I’m curious about their quality as it compares to brands like Covergirl, Rimmel, Maybeline, etc, but I have found some really wonderful products from drugstores. Like…Holy Grail beauty essentials. And that is saying a lot. Anyways, I’m off to write my first evaluation! Stay tuned! :)

Later, Lovlies!

Ash

By the way—if you haven’t bought T-Swift’s new album, DO IT. It is quality. And sort of pop-ish and super fun! Plus, she’s fabulous.

Byeeeeeeeeeeee