Review: DermOrganic® Argan Oil Hair Care

 

 

 

 

   

Yet another amazing find from a past beautypress.com event.  Even though Argan Oil has been around the beauty scene for a while and has been incorporated into many products on the shelves, DermOrganic®  has become my latest go-to for the stuff.  I've been using their fabulous foursome of Daily Conditioning Shampoo, Daily Hydrating Conditioner, Intensive Hair Repair Masque and Leave- in Treatment for two months straight now and have squeezed each bottle down to the very last drop. 

Quick run down of my hair: curly and on the dry/coarse side.  And I'm feeling like I've finally found my holy grail of the hair care world.    I performed the traditional shampoo, condition routine, and then applied the masque. 


Together the shampoo and conditioner reduced my frizz and my tangles seemed to slip right out.  Their formulas are super lightweight, but still penetrate deep enough to help nourish.  I've had issues with product buildup in the past, but these rinse out pretty well. 
I fell in love with the masque almost immediately.  Aside from its effectiveness, its FAST.  You just apply to wet hair and leave in for a minute or two- then rinse!  I've tried many hair masques in the pasts and no matter how effective they are, I always have the same complaint: They take too long.  They always require you to wait ten minutes before rinsing out and maybe its because I shower faster then the norm, but I simply don't have the patience to stand around and wait.  Nor do I feel like getting out of the shower only to break my neck trying to my stick my head under the sink to rinse it out.  #Annoying.   But the Intensive Hair Repair Masque is quick and still left my hair silky smooth.  I applied it twice a week, paying close attention to my ends.  After about four uses I started to notice less split ends and my curls became easier to style.  Its a good thirst quencher for hair that endures a lot of heat styling.  

 

 

 

After towel drying my hair, I added a few drops of the Leave-in Treatment to sections of my scalp and my ends and let it dry naturally.  I loved this because once again, no rinsing necessary and the results were strong and noticeable.  It left such a healthy sheen that it actually made my subtle blond highlights more vivid... and the light fruity scent was a yummy bonus :)          

 

 

Each are rich with vitamin E and Omega-6, not to mention sulfate and gluten- free which are huge pluses.  I'd certainly recommend these for anyone with dull or dry hair, but would say they're beneficial for all types.  They're good for reviving tired hair as well as maintaining an already healthy appearance.

Mother's Day Giveaway from Pura Botanica

 

 

 

Every year we struggle to find that perfect gift for Mom.  The one we know she'll get a lot of use out of, or the one that will make her smile and tear up just a little.. but sometimes all she really wants is some gentle TLC and a relaxing break from reality.

 

Christy Booth of leading spa company Pura Botanica recently partnered up with the Boys and Girls Clubs’ award winning ‘Art With A Heart’ Program to create the inspiring and beautiful artwork that became the foundation for Pura's campaign to Make a Difference for Mom this Mother's Day.  

 

The 11 Boys & Girls Clubs in Broward County drew on the love and admiration they hold for own moms to express What Mom Means to Me.

 

Pura Botanica chose two of the works of art to adorn its Mother’s Day Gift Box. A third image was chosen for an accompanying greeting card. The set includes Pura Botanica products meant to give mom the gift of relaxation and rejuvenation, a spa day at home:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Because Candle Tin

Botanic Bath Infusion

All-Natural Cleansing Bar

Freshly Minted Cleanser & Lotion

 

 

And the good news?  One lucky winner will win his/her own set to give mom on her special day!  This giveaway is open to all U.S. citizens and will end Monday May 5th, 2014.  Pura Botanica products are incredibly luxe and are widely popular among many celebs.  Its the perfect opportunity to give mom a well deserved opportunity to relax and enjoy an invigorating at home spa treatment.  To get a sense of the brand and its other products you can check out my past review here.

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NOTE: If you aren't the lucky winner but still want mom to indulge in the heavenly goodies the box includes, or are interested in other gifts ideas from the brand, visit Pura Botanica to make a selection.  There is even *Free Shipping* until May 5th, and Pura Botanica is donating $10 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County for every gift set sold. 

 

 

 

Have you shopped for Mother's Day yet?

Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange

 

 

Give the earth a helping hand by joining the healthy nail polish movement! Since its inception, ZOYA has been the pioneer of toxin-free nail polish, releasing the most beautiful colors in the healthiest formula available each season. With Zoya Nail Polish, you don't have to compromise a healthier lifestyle for a glamorous one. go worry-free with a formula that is BIG5FREE**

Now you can join smart, eco-chic women who are changing their world, one gorgeous Zoya Nail Polish bottle at a time! To help kick start your "color cleanse", the Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange is BACK for 2014. Not only is ZOYA making it easy to swap out old, unwanted color for the world's healthiest and longest wearing natural nail polish formula on the market, Zoya will dispose of your old shades in an eco-friendly manner! This offer is only good for 1 week - so hurry - Don't Wait!
Valid 4/21/14 - 4/28/14 (11:59pm EST)

Get the complete details here !

Have you participated in the Zoya Earth Day Nail Polish Exchange before?



Info courtesy of Zoya

Beauty Box 5 April Box

 

It's that time again to dish on this month's Beauty Box 5 delights!  As part of the official review team, I receive some of the industry's finest products delivered straight to my door, and tell you lovelies all about them :)  If you're not already in the know, Beauty Box 5 is a monthly subscription and is pretty affordable. 

 

Each month has a theme and this month's "Shades of Beauty" box was heavily makeup based- which made yours truly all smiles :)

 

 

To kick off the list of goodies, I'll start with the non makeup items:

 

 

 

 

 

$2.49

 

I was actually pretty happy to see a little container of Blum Natural All Purpose Cleasnsing Wipes because living in NYC, you can NEVER have enough of these.  They're infused with Aloe Vera so they don't dry out your skin and have a very faint citrus smell.  The nice thing is that they're all purpose so you can even keep them on hand by your computer or phone for a quick wipe down of your keys, or just slip them in your purse.    

 

 

 

 

$2.09

 

Coincidentally, I've been bitten by the self tanner bug and was super excited to get my hands on Jergens Natural Glow .  I remember using Jergens years ago and was always a fan.  I loved the scent, and the gorgeous golden tan that slowly appeared after a few applications.  Always very natural and sun kissed looking.  This particular sample is for medium to tan skin tones so it is a bit dark for me, but no doubt it will look fab on others.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

$2.70

 

The shadow palette of California Collections bh Cosmetics is perfect for Spring and Summer.  The colours include a vibrant purple to punch up your look, and (my favorites) a shimmery gold and medium brown with hints of gold tones.  The two compliment each other really nicely.

 

 

 

 

$4.99

 

 

 

$3.95

 

I think my favorite product this time around was the Nickak New York Hydro Lipstick in Daring which I paired with the Bonnebell Lip Definer in Baie.  For the record, I own countless red lipsticks and glosses, but this is the first one I've owned that has the perfect creamy texture and creates the perfect, dewy finish.  Rather then your typical glossy finish, this one left my lips with a sultry wet look and I l-o-v-e-d it.  It's a vivacious shade of red and thanks to the lip definer, it didn't run.  I also noticed it had a pleasant, fruity scent to it, and it was pretty long wearing.  Even though the texture is very silky, it didn't smudge off much.  Usually when I wear reds, I'm very aware of the smooch I leave behind on my coffee cups, but this one didn't do that. If I have the chance, I may pick up more in other shades.  A winner in my book!

New Trend: Punk Style Hair

 

 

 

From the edgy Fashion Week 2014 runways to Nirvana’s recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, grunge is making an intense comeback.  Kristen Stewart went orange, Katy Perry went green, and Amber Heard is sporting a dip-dyed punk style. From the runway to the real-way, colorful strands, spiked ends, and unkempt texture are not just a passing fad.

 

 

Kristen Stewart

 

 

 

PRAVANA Artistic Director Vadre Grigsby explains the inspiration behind this hot new trend and dishes how you can get the look:

 

 

“This will mean dark roots, fun, faded-color ends and long, straight, unbothered-with hair.  I can see the trend of cornrow braids tying in here for those who want to lightly relive shaved sides.  Grunge back then was a mix of bohemian free-spirit with the irreverence of punk rock.  Although we haven’t dove completely off the stage into the anarchy of stringy, straight texture, get ready for the lived-in look.”

 

 

 

Katy Perry

 

For Katy Perry’s “Green Slime Bob” – Shampoo and condition with NEVO Moisture Rich to repair hair after bleaching and dying. Apply NEVEO Hydra Pearls  to wet hair for a healthy shine and NEVO Full Volume Mousse for body. Blowdry upside down, teasing with fingers as you go. Using a 1 inch curling iron create waves and finish with NEVO Invisible Control Manipulator Mist  for light hold and texture.

 



Amber Heard
 

For Amber Heard’s Pastel Princess meets Rebel Street Girl –Apply NEVO Intense Therapy Leave- In to wet hair and let hair air dry. Flat iron if needed, and style with NEVO Model Behavior Styling Cream  for texture and movement without looking overly styled.

 

What do you think of the bolder, rocker look?  Are you daring enough to go for it?   

 

 

The TotalBeauty.com Winner is...

 

 

The best of the best beauty products have been announced on TotalBeauty.com – and butter LONDON is a top pick! Patent Gel Tops & Tails was awarded Editor’s Pick for Breakthrough Nail Product of the 2014 Beauty Awards. Each product submitted is thoroughly tested by the editors of TotalBeauty.com. After narrowing down thousands of products, a winner is named in each category.

 

 

What TotalBeauty.com had to say about Patent Gel Tops & Tails: “Paint it on top of your favorite polish for a glassy, chip-free finish that lasts and lasts... and lasts.”

The set includes a flawless finish basecoat that acts as a tacky nail primer and a shiny topcoat for a gel-like finish without the harsh chemicals and UV lamps. The basecoat creates a perfect foundation for any lacquer while the quick-dry topcoat locks in color for a flawless, high shine manicure.

Retail: $40.00
Available at: Ulta.com 

Have you tried this dynamic duo?  If so what did you think?

 

How-to Combat Your Hair's 5 Biggest Woes

As a Salon, Fashion Week, & Editorial Stylist with over 18+ years experience, Cutler/  Redken Stylist Jenny Balding shares exclusive tips that can overcome the five most common hair issues: 

1: Lack of Volume

 

Lack of volume could be caused by a variety of reasons but most common is using the wrong shampoo/ conditioner for your hair type, followed by using conditioner all over instead of just the mid-length to ends.  It’s an easy problem to fix and makes a huge difference – talk to your stylist about the best regimen for your hair.

2: Damage Control

 

An easy way to prevent damage is being gentle when detangling your wet hair.  Use a large toothed comb or a brush designed to detangle wet hair as wet hair is very fragile and most damage can be created at this point.

3: Dulling Hair 

 

Product buildup can cause dull hair when a lot of product is used constantly overtime.  Make sure to use a clarifying shampoo once a week to rid of buildup and this will bring back life into your color and bounce back into your hair.

4: Constant Split Ends

 

Even if you love to keep your hair really long, make sure you are having it trimmed every 8-12 weeks as this will really help to keep it in healthy condition as dry, damaged ends split, and travel further up the hair shaft if you don't remove them.

5: Straight Up, Healthy Hair

 

How can you make your hair more lustrous, thick and healthy?  It really makes such a difference if you eat a healthy balanced diet, drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin each day.  Like your skin, your hair represents what you put into your body.

 

New: butter LONDON Sweet Somethings

 

 

 

Retail: $35.00

 

butter LONDON introduced their new bridal set, Sweet Somethings, backstage at Monique Lhuillier's bridal show. Launching April 15th on butterlondon.com the Sweet Something set pairs wedding classics with a modern edge and is the perfect accessory for the big day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Designer: Monique Lhuillier

 

Lead Manicurist: Katie Jane Hughes, butter LONDON Global Colour Ambassador

 

The Scoop: Monique Lhuillier's collection was inspired by an ethereal daydream. Gowns took on a visionary fantasy through lace infused with delicate detailing, embroidery and intricate beading, all coming together to create a dreamy, alluring vision. 

 

Get the Look: ​Katie applied butter LONDON Nail 999 Rescue System base coat followed by butter LONDON Nail Lacquer in Doily (part of the Sweet Somethings collection) covering the entire nail. Katie finished the look with butter LONDON's Nail 999 Rescue System top coat. butter LONDON Backstage Basics Hydrating Balm and Signature Lotion were used to soften and hydrate the skin. 

 

 

 

Do you have any weddings coming up?  Are you considering butter LONDON Sweet Somethings for that final touch?  

 

 

 

 

Charlotte Tilbury's Exclusive Coachella Beauty Tips

 

International makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury has her hand on the pulse of what’s hot in beauty through the decades spent creating unsurpassed beauty looks for her celebrity clientele. Charlotte has combed through her personal archives and pulled her picks for the perfect beauty looks to kick off the festival season.

 

Coachella is the ultimate cool, bohemian festival that often informs beauty trends and fashion styles for the season. The desert setting means dewy, creamy textures work well, rather than powder-based products which can slip off in the heat. These tips from Charlotte will keep you looking gorgeous from Coachella to Governor’s Ball and everywhere in between:

 

 

 

 

·                  Coachella is all about fringed crop-tops, and leg-baring denim cut-offs; so make like Gisele and use a moisturizing, gleam-getting, gorgeous illuminator cream to highlight your arms, legs, and décolletage. For the face, mix a high SPF with a light-reflecting illuminator like Tom Ford’s Summer Skin Illuminator for glowing protection. Build up the sheen on temples, cheeks and nose to mimic where the sun would light up the face.

·                  Create a seductive smoky eye in seconds with a crème eye shadow pen – you can keep it in your shoulder bag. Sweep over the eyelids, smudging outwards and upwards with your finger to create a winged look. For added summer sexiness, smudge underneath the lower lash line too.

·                  Add a pop of color to bronzed, freckled skin by using a striking stain on the lips – experiment with eye-catching coral, berry and plum tones of Becca’s Beach Tint. Cheat a smattering of freckles by painting them in using a soft, taupe eyeliner.

·                  Lipstick is your best friend. Vamp up your ethereal maxi-dress with a crimson pout and blend a little color onto the apples of the cheeks for an effortlessly pretty, dewy glow.

·                  Keep a little stash of pointed Q-tips, some face-wipes (festival is the only acceptable occasion to use these!) and a mini pot of moisturizer in your emergency kit. A Q-tip can help fix a poised feline flick on even the wildest of dance floors.

 

 

You can find more hot looks for this season by checking Charlotte out on:

 

Twitter and Instagram 

FreeBeautyEvents April Contest

 

 

You darlings already know one of my all time favorite sites to visit has been

FreeBeautyEvents.com  It's an incredibly useful tool that keeps beauty addicts up to date on all the beauty happenings in their area.  It also lets you read up on the latest in product reviews  , as well as enjoy monthly and weekly contests. This month, FreeBeautyEvents is giving away five awesome prizes including Simple Protecting Light Moisturizer SPF 15, POND’S Luminous Finish BB+ Cream Light, and Olay Fresh Effects Long Live Moisture! Satin Finish Lotion. The Contest runs from 4/1/2014 to 6/30/2014, winners will be chosen on 7/1/2014 and notified by 7/15/2014. To enter is simple, just click here and be sure to provide your name, email and zip code.   

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up, on May 2^nd, 3^rd, and 5^th, you can check out the L’Oreal Suncare events at CVS and Walgreens. There is also the Walgreens SaturDate with Beauty with Simple on April 12th where you will be able to sample their skincare products and even snag a few coupons.

 

FreeBeautyEvents also gives spa and retailer vendors the opportunity to advertise their events.  Anyone looking to spread the word about a fab beauty event can make a posting for free here .  The site is easy to navigate and when you're searching for events near you, just enter your zip into the upper right hand corner or their homepage and viola!  It generates a list of makeovers, gift with purchase, spa open houses and sampling events starting with those closest to your area.  To learn more you can check them out on:

 

 Facebook

Google+,

 Pinterest

Tumblr 

 Twitter

 

 

Are you a FreeBeautyEvents addict also?  Have you attended one of the events you saw posted?

 

VIOLET GREY Launches "Shop The Shelves"

 

 

 

VIOLET GREY  is a luxury content and commerce beauty company. Through its editorially rich online destination and exclusive MELROSE PLACE beauty boutique, VIOLET GREY  showcases Hollywood’s HERO products, curated by its community of stars and artists exclusively for VIOLET GREY.

 

Now, it is selling top products from brands like NARS, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, RGB, Rubis and La Mer.  Each product sold on VIOLETGREY.com has been hand-picked by Hollywood’s leading artists, experts, and specialists, delivering an exclusive and highly edited selection of beauty.

 
 

 

 

On the Shelves:

 

An evolving curation of beauty products deemed necessary by those who know beauty best— Hollywood’s leading artists, experts, and specialists. Products are editorialized within the context of Hollywood beauty culture and are stocked seasonally with current must-haves from makeup artists’ kits. From the thousands upon thousands of beauty products available today VIOLET GREY and its community of artists have adhered to The Violet Code (a set of exacting standards for each product to be held accountable by) and rigorously tested, vetted, and authenticated an exclusive and highly edited selection of beauty—Hollywood’s hero products.

 

The Violet Code:

 

To meet VIOLET GREY’s exacting standards, products must satisfy a range of requirements:

1. Authentic: Discovered in artist’s kits.

2. Validated: Tested for performance and packaging by VIOLET GREY and its community.

3. Coveted: Declared necessary by influential names in the beauty and film industries.

 

Products that are approved by the VIOLET CODE can be found on the Shelves at VIOLETGREY.COM http://www.violetgrey.com/violet-code

 

Featured Brands:

 

Dior, Tom Ford, Serge Lutens, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, La Mer, La Prairie, BeautyBlender, Bobbi Brown, By Terry, Eve Lom, Hourglass, Jinsoon, Laura Mercier, Lipstick Queen, NARS, RGB, Rubis, Revive, and Utowa, with new brands and categories to be added throughout the year!

 

Are you familiar with VIOLET GREY?  Are you excited to "shop the shelves"?! 

Spring Launch: Algenist Catalyst Alguronic Acid Power Treatment

 

 

 

Retail: $195

 

 

This Friday, April 4^th on QVC, Algenist is launching the ultimate age-defying formula: Catalyst Alguronic Acid Power Treatment. This anti-aging powerhouse delivers the highest concentration of Alguronic Acid combined with 20 additional anti-aging ingredients for radiant, skin-enhancing results.

 

Alguronic Acid, Algenist’s patented ingredient, increases cell regeneration and stimulates the production of new vibrant and healthy cells, improving skin’s appearance of firmness by 32% and mending skin tone by 26%. This is combined with a blend of the best anti-aging ingredients, delivering unbeatable results. Skin will appear firmer with visibly improved density and elasticity, while skin tone will appear more even with increased radiance and luminosity.

 

 

Results expected after ten days:

• Appearance of fine lines, creases and wrinkles is visibly reduced
• Radiance and luminosity of the skin is improved
• Skin appears visibly firmer
• Skin density and elasticity appear visibly improved
• Skin tone is more even
• Results obtained after 10 days

 

To use:

Use one vial of the Catalyst Alguronic Acid Power Treatment for 10 consecutive days each month in place of a usual serum. Apply to the entire face in gentle circular motions. Use morning and/or evening after cleansing, then follow with your usual moisturizer. Use one vial per month.

 

 

 

Available at: QVC and QVC.com   

 

 

Have you tried Algenist before?  What were your results?