Review: Herbal Essences Naked

Disclosure: The products tested for review were provided courtesy of Influenster.

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo; $6.29
Herbal Essences Naked Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner; $4.59 each (full-size)

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo

Before I get into my review, I would first like to mention that (of no one's fault other than my own) I only got 2 uses out of the dry shampoo, so my review is limited to just those two uses.  My bottle took an unfortunate, intense tumble across my bathroom which was so damaging that the nozzle no longer works.  Again, the brand is not to blame, it was my own butterfingers and lack of coordination (one could also blame my aversion to mornings) that caused it to fall to its death.  RIP, dry shampoo.

Now, even though I only used it twice, I'm still pretty impressed.  I only wash my hair every other day and because my roots get oily even after just one day, I rely on dry shampoo to keep the grunge at bay.

I've been using dry shampoo by Batiste and Alterna, which are OK, but they both have some flaws.  Batiste works great at getting rid of the excess oil, but leaves residue on my hair.  The Alterna Bamboo Cleanse doesn't leave a residue and controls oil, but leaves my hair looking a bit dull.

The Naked Dry Shampoo, however, gets rid of the oil, doesn't leave my hair looking dry and dull, and doesn't leave as much residue (the residue is very minimal especially when compared to Batiste).  The smell is clean and fresh, but is not overpowering and doesn't linger throughout the day.  Suffice to say, I would have loved to get more than 2 uses out of this (darn you, uncoordinated self!), but will definitely be picking up a bottle when my current stash is running low.

Naked Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

I have fine, relatively oily hair, so I'm not the poster child for this particular set of products, but I thought I'd still let you know my thoughts on how they worked for my hair and how they might work for more dry, damaged, hair types.

I'm no stranger to moisturizing shampoos, so I do know how they have and how they do act with my hair type.  This shampoo, however, I would not even consider it to be a "moisturizing" shampoo.  After using this, my hair felt stripped down and not at all moisturized.  The moisturizing shampoos that I have used before left my hair feeling so moisturized I could have even skipped the conditioner.  This one, a conditioner is definitely needed after use.

The conditioner really is the saving grace of this duo.  It was even a little too moisturizing for my already oily, fine hair, so I definitely don't recommend this for anyone with fine or oily hair.  If you have damaged or dry hair, this could work wonders for you!  I also found that although my hair definitely felt moisturized, it also weighed my hair down and felt a little greasy.  

Again, if you have any other hair type and are in the market for a moisture-surge-level product, this one's for you!  I would just stick to the conditioner in this line and skip the shampoo.  If you're really in need of a good moisturizing shampoo, I'd recommend Suave Professional Moisturizing Shampoo.

Have any of you tried anything from the new Herbal Essences Naked line?  I'm curious to see how the Volume shampoo and conditioner have fared.  Any thoughts?  Comment below!

L.A. Colors 12-Pan Eyeshadow Review & Swatches

Hullo, there!  I'm back with a review of the brand new L.A. Colors 12 Color Eyeshadow Palettes!  I picked up two for $1.99 a piece at my local Rite Aid.  The palettes are available in six different colors, ranging from bright blues and pinks to neutral browns and grays.  I purchased the two neutral palettes Blushing Nudes and Smokey (I love my neutrals!):

Blushing Nudes (L) and Smokey (R)

I can't speak for the other four palettes, but these two contain 6 matte and 6 satin/shimmer eyeshadows each.  (At least I think so.  It was a little hard to tell which shades were truly matte in the Smokey palette).  A lot of palettes include far less mattes than shimmers, which I find disappointing, so props to L.A.C. for at least keeping things even!

I've never tried L.A.C.'s eyeshadows before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but at $1.99 each I definitely had to find out!  As you can see, the packaging is pretty much on par with every other drugstore palette, so nothing to brag about there.  Although it's not much to look at, it feels sturdy enough that I imagine it will hold up just fine.

As far as pigmentation, it's hit and miss.  Much to my surprise, the shimmers seem to outshine the mattes in pigmentation (especially when used without a primer).  The mattes in the Nudes palette were the worst between the two, and although it helped to use a primer underneath, the payoff still wasn't great.

Mattes in Smokey weren't much better, especially with the lighter colors.  Overall, I did find the shadows in the Smokey palette to be slightly better in pigmentation.  I also love how they included browns and blues in with your typical smokey shades in this palette, which is something you don't see too often.  You can create tons of looks with the variety it offers, but unfortunately you'll have to look elsewhere for a decent highlighting shade.

Obviously I didn't swatch every single color, but I just wanted to give you a peek at how they performed.  The black in the top left was surprisingly good, but it does have coarse silver glitter throughout.  I know, it's a bummer, but the glitter is so sparse you may be able to work around it if you're not a fan of the glitter.  The dark matte browns in the middle were pretty bad, but as I said before, they do perform a little better when used over a primer.

In the Smokey palette, the blues were the most pigmented of the lot while everything else was just average.  Although the highlighter looks OK in the picture, it is quite powdery and you'd have to build it up a lot to get this kind of pigmentation.

I also noticed with the darker shades in both palettes that they are extremely hard to blend.  I tried blending with my finger, so I can't even imagine how hard it would be to blend with a brush!  So if you're wanting to use any of the darker shades, you would have to work pretty hard to make a smokey, blended out look.

Pros:
 - price
 - good mix of mattes and shimmers
 - variety of shades in Smokey palette
 - some were very pigmented
 - long lasting (when used with primer)
 - slim packaging

Cons:
 - pigmentation was hit and miss
 - darker shades are hard to blend or did not blend evenly

Overall, although there were some pretty awful shades, I will definitely be using the Smokey palette on a regular basis.  The blues are so beautiful and you can create a multitude of neutral looks just with the Smokey palette.  Though it's only $1.99, I would still say you can skip the Blushing Nudes palette.  There were maybe one or two decent shades, so I think you can get away with just the browns included in the Smokey palette.

I'm not a fan of green or purple shadows, but with the success of the two blues in the Smokey palette I will definitely be hunting down the all-blue palette in the collection.  Have you tried any of the colored 12-pan palettes from L.A.C.?  I'd love to know your thoughts!

L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga Mascara

Annnnnd I'm back!  Today we're looking at my favorite beauty product - mascara!  More specifically, the new L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga mascara.

Being my favorite and most-used product, I have pretty high expectations when it comes to mascara.  Unfortunately, most mascaras don't suit my long, thin lashes, and the Miss Manga mascara is no exception.

L'Oreal Voluminous Miss Manga mascara
Retail: $8

Although it did give a good amount of volume, I really didn't like that it clumped my lashes together instead of separating and defining.  If you already have thick lashes and are looking for length and a boost of volume, I think this would work great.  But if you're like me and have thin lashes, it won't do much more than lengthen and make your lashes look piece-y.

The wand: no complaints here!  It's easy to use, and the tapered end covers every single lash.  I'm not sure you can see it in the picture, but the bristle lengths vary, which I thought was unique to any other mascara I've tried.

The only way I could see this working for me is if I used it on top of a defining mascara.  I'm low maintenance (aka lazy), so I don't see myself taking the extra step to try it, however, if you're into it, I think it could work really well!

The only other complaint I have is that the packaging is really boring and feels pretty cheap.  I own a couple of other L'Oreal mascaras and the packaging looks and feels a heck of a lot better than the lightweight, unimpressive packaging of Miss Manga.  Being a drugstore mascara, it's not a big deal, but it's worth a mention.

Pros:
 - affordable and accessible
 - doesn't flake or smudge (even if you have oily skin)
 - holds a curl
 - easy application

Cons:
 - makes thin lashes look more sparse
 - less-than-stellar packaging


Have you tried this mascara?  Let me know your thoughts!

The Prince of Primer

Which one of these primers is not like the other?  Let me rephrase, which of these primers actually does what it claims to do?

Is it the cult favorite Porefessional?  The ultra-affordable Baby Skin?

It's Boot's No7 Beautifully Matte Make Up Base (available at Target; $10)!  Not exactly what you were expecting?  Welp, I've tried every single one of these primers and it's the only one that controls my shine ALL DAY.  Make no mistake, this does not keep me oil-free; I'm still an oily mess.  It simply keeps me shine-free and helps my makeup last longer.

Do you have a foundation you love that doesn't stand up to your oily skin?  Give this guy a try.  I love Revlon's new Age Defying Foundation (it makes my skin look awesome without being too heavy), but my oily skin tears it apart!  So, I just put a little bit of this over a light moisturizer, and it lasts all day!  I kid you not, this can take your wimpiest foundation and make it last.

I've read a few reviews online, and the main complaint others have is that it leaves a white residue.  I've never had that problem, as I only apply very little product.  I place a pea-sized portion in the palm of my hand, rub my hands together slightly, and pat, not rub, the product onto my face.  Since this product dries very quickly, if you rub the product onto your face, it will ball up (you know, like when you rub glue between your fingers?).  Sounds pretty gross, but it's so worth it.

Pros:
 - keeps face shine-free all day
 - makes makeup last longer
 - works with any foundation
 - contains salicylic acid to control blemishes

Cons:
 - slightly more expensive than other drugstore brands
 - only available at select stores (at least in the US)
 - tricky application

With the annoying application aside, this has become my holy grail primer.  As you can see, I've tried many a primer (even more than the picture shows), and nothing has held it's claims more than Beautifully Matte.  Looks like my days of excessive blotting are over.

Julep Vanish

Unruly cuticles got you down?  Well, put your cuticle scissors down and read on 'cause I've got a product that not only gets rid of your stubborn cuticles, but also helps keep them at bay.  It's pain free, and you don't have to pick up your cuticle scissors again!

This miracle nail treatment is called Vanish by Julep.  It is a tad bit pricey ($18), but this works so much better than your run-of-the-mill drugstore cuticle remover.  It helps to keep your cuticles from growing back, removes stains, and generally improves the look of your nails.

I have a bad habit of picking away at my nail polish which really does a number on my nails.  A couple of drops of this, however, and they're back in tip-top shape!  If you like to wear gel or shellac, this would be a great treatment to use to get those nails looking their best.

The directions say to push cuticles back after applying, but I simply use a cotton swab to rub the remover and cuticle away and it works just the same (if not better).

As I said, it is a little pricey, but if you sign up to be a Julep Maven, the price goes down to $14.40 and you get free shipping!  You don't need a lot to get the job done, so you'll be able to use it for quite a while.

I received this product in a Julep Maven box, which is a monthly subscription service where you get $40 worth of nail or beauty products for $19.95 a month.  Your first box is free (plus shipping), and once you're a Maven you'll get 20% off and free shipping for every order!  You do have the option to skip the month without losing your other Maven benefits and you can swap products or add extras to your box.

If you're interested in becoming a Julep Maven and want to learn more about how you can get your first box free (use code FREEBOX at checkout), click here!

Helping Hands

I have a love/hate relationship with makeup application tools.  I love how quick and easy it is to apply makeup but I hate having to clean them.  I wish there was a machine akin to a dishwasher where I can just plop my brushes and sponges in and let it do it's magic.  Sadly, there is no such device (someone needs to get on that pronto), so I'm forced to clean them manually.

In any case, I've rounded up my top 5 makeup applicators in honor of our complicated relationship:

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, $9:  Pretty much all I use for applying foundation.  It is THE most difficult brush to clean, but it does a great job with applying liquid foundation.

Real Techniques Blush Brush, $9:  It's a blush brush.  Nothing groundbreaking here (not that it doesn't do a nice job).

e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush, $3:  This is just a larger version of the overpriced purminerals Chisel Brush.  Great for any kind of powder.

e.l.f. Studio Contour Brush, $3:  Great for the and defining shades of eyeshadow.  It's a little more dense than most, so the product doesn't fly everywhere during application.

Real Techniques Complexion Sponge $6:  I know, another RT product!  This thing's a wiz at applying cream blush!  I just pinch the two pointed ends together, dab it into the product, and apply to my cheeks.  Easy-peasy!

And, whenever I finally break down and clean my brushes (after days of applying foundation with my hands), I like to use Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Soap.  It's available at Target (and select Walgreens, I believe), and is the best cleaner to use for brushes and sponges!


What are your favorite brushes or other makeup tools?  Comment below!

G is for Giveaway

I've been amassing a nice collection of beauty bits I've picked up here and there and well, since I'm tired of looking at it, I figured it was time to give it away!  It's also just about time for my very first blog anniversary (wahoo!) so the timing couldn't be better.  Oh, and it happens to be the "G" day in the A to Z Challenge, so there's that.

If the product is still available (some of these were limited edition), links will be available if you'd like to see the product details.  Here are the goodies that are up for grabs:

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palettes in Pride, Lust, and Blue Had Me At Hello
Covergirl Nail Duo in Seared Bronze
BH Cosmetics Malibu Eyeshadow and Blush Palette
be Delectable Hand Cream in Strawberry & Cream
Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (Deluxe Sample)
Nicka K Nail Polish in Classic Taupe
Maybelline Color Show Polish in Lust for Lilac
Zoya Polish in Faye
Julep Polish in Bombshell
Nails Inc. Polish Mini in Baker Street
New York & Company Holographic Makeup Bag

I might even throw in a few surprise goodies to sweeten the deal!  The giveaway is international and all you have to do is follow the directions in the widget below.  Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beauty Busts

For today's A to Z Challenge, I'm focusing on the negative.  I've never done a post dedicated to crappy products, so now's the time!  Brace yourself for the worst.

The first bust is brought to you by NYX.  I've always wanted to try one (OK, all) of their mascaras, but for whatever reason I settled for this dud, mistakenly titled "Faux Lashes."  Only I would be inclined to purchase the worst-rated NYX mascara (seriously, it has the worst customer rating at Ulta).  Sure, it's got tons of fibers, but give luscious volume it does not.  Lesson learned: do your homework.

Pixi Lash Booster Mascara: pretty much the equivalent of rubbing a magic marker on your eyelashes.  I don't recommend.

Next up is the Neutrogena Shine Control foundation.  In case you haven't browsed the other 50+ posts where I mention I have super oily skin, I HAVE SUPER OILY SKIN.  It's both gross and quite possibly the 8th Wonder of the World.  Anyway, this did nothing for me except slip and slide all over my face.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream = same results as the Neutrogena Foundation except tenfold.  Just don't.


I could go on, but I can feel myself slipping into a fit of depression so I'm cutting myself off.  Just so I know I'm not the only one who has bad luck with makeup, what are your beauty busts?  Comment below!

New at the Drugstore (First Impressions and Swatches)

CVS recently had some sweet deals going on, so I was able to pick up a few (mostly) new goodies for super cheap!

Physician's Formula has come out with several new products (the new CC Concealer is pretty awesome, if you ask me) including the two new BB bronzers I snagged.  They both had a $5 off "peelie" coupon attached, so be on the lookout if you've been wanting to try either of these!

BB Powder Bronzer in Light to Medium ($14.95)

Physician's Formula has some of the best bronzers at the drugstore so I thought I would try this to see how it measures up.  Although it has shimmer, it doesn't have the satin finish the other bronzers do.  I'm not sure how or if the "beauty balm" concept works since I didn't notice a difference in consistency or application (it actually seems more powdery than the original).  Overall, a nice bronzer but not as good as the original Bronze Booster.


BB Cream Bronzer in Light to Medium ($14.95)

I'll be honest here, I really thought this would be your standard BB cream but with an added "bronze-y" glow.  This, as you can see, is not that product.  Although the packaging says this can replace your foundation, I would certainly only use this as a cream bronzer.  This is way too dark to be using as a foundation, but actually blends nicely and is not so orange-y when used as a contour or bronzer.


Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls in Light Bronze Pearl ($13.95)

I've been looking for a decent powder highlighter, and this certainly does the trick!  It's not too shimmery but still adds a nice glow to highlight those certain areas of the face.  I didn't realize it until after I took these photos, but like with most PF compacts, there is a thin layer of shimmer added to the top of the powder.  It's really not that shimmery once you get past that layer (a quick swipe with a brush will do the trick).

Dynamic Duo Lip Balm and Gloss in Hibiscus ($3.99)

If I remember correctly, only one of these duos were completely without glitter (the color Nude), which is a shame because they would be so much better without!  I do love this color though, and the balm and gloss are both moisturizing and last a decent while.  Not too bad for the price (they're even better if you like glitter).

Urban Identity Shadow Trio in On Point ($2.99)

These are the best shadows at the drugstore and I love that they include both matte and shimmers in every trio.  Again, a lovely formula, and the matte orange is a great addition to my collection!


Nicole by OPI Topcoat in Be Awesome ($7.99)

I had a hard time deciding between this and Lips are Dripping Honey (what a name!) from the Carrie Underwood collection, but since I've got plenty of gold glitter polishes, decided to go with this unique topcoat.  This would look great layered on top of a pastel or I think it looks equally great on it's own!


Have you tried any new products from the drugstore?  Any Spring collections you're anxiously awaiting?

Review: Wet n Wild Take on the Day Mattifying Powder

As you may know, I'm a sucker for powder.  More specifically, I'm a sucker for powders that claim to control shine and oil.  I'm pretty forgetful and/or lazy with remembering to touch up my makeup, so a product that will help me stay shine free the entire day?  I'm all over it.  Keep in mind, my skin is very oily so these are just my thoughts on how they worked for my skin.

$4.99 at Walgreens

Bold Brows and Other Beauty Blunders

I have a friend who recently decided to dabble in the whole "bold brows" trend, and while I admire her effort and literal interpretation of the fad, I have to admit they did not suit her.  They were far too harsh and defined for her face.

I really wanted to tell her to take it easy on the brows, but as I'd never encountered this kind of situation and since she's not a close friend, I withheld my opinion.  Thankfully, she has since taken a more natural approach to her brows, but this got me thinking - is it our place to tell others about their makeup mistakes?  Or what we see as a mistake?  I'm not talking about mascara smudges or lipstick on the teeth; I'm talking about those questionable makeup choices our friends and family make that, in our opinion, look ridiculous.

Is it our responsibility to point out others' mishaps?  Who's to say that what we see as hideous, they don't see as beautiful?  I'm sure I've had plenty of beauty blunders that no one (not even close friends or family) have pointed out.  Is it because they don't want to hurt my feelings?  Or is it because confrontations like these tend to get awkward real fast?

The other day, after visiting several stores, I got into my car, looked in the mirror, and found a tiny, rogue bat creeping its way out of the cave (if you catch my drift).  At first, I wondered why no one told me about my little runaway, but then I realized it would be far more embarrassing if someone had pointed it out.  Sometimes, I'd rather be blissfully unaware of what's going wrong with my face.

What side do you stand on?  Are you brave enough to speak your mind about someone else's makeup preferences?  Or do you let time do it's magic and pray that they'll eventually see what you see?  Would you want someone to speak out about your own beauty choices?

Ipsy Glam Bag: January 2014

It's the first bag of the year!  Wa-hoo!  Let's see what the first bag of 2014 has in store:

My No Brush Challenge!!!

Earlier this week, I wrote about an article I found in Elle called "The Brush-Off" by Celia Ellenberg.  Inspired by the article, I created the No Brush Challenge where, you guessed it, you're forbidden to use makeup brushes!

I watch and read a lot of the popular beauty vlogs and blogs, and even I have been frustrated with the super complicated, brush-heavy tutorials that seem to be the norm these days.  I'll admit, I use brushes on a daily basis, but my two brushes are nothing compared to the handful most tutorials include.

So today, I'm giving my brushes a much needed vacay and using my God-given paintbrush--the almighty finger (that sounds weird, but I'm sticking to it).  I've created a simple, everyday look with products that are best applied with your fingers (well, most are best applied with your fingers; mascara would get pretty messy):

No Brush Challenge!

© Polusvet | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

I was reading the December issue of Elle magazine the other day (yes, I know I'm behind in my reading) when I happened upon an article called "The Brush-Off."  This piece by Celia Ellenberg questions the ever-growing reliance on makeup brushes versus the high fashion preferred method of using fingers.

The article first mentions a few popular YouTube beauty gurus known for their brush-heavy tutorials:

One of the most striking constants in [Michelle] Phan's now 270-clip beauty-video library is her reliance on makeup brushes to distribute concise, concentrated doses of pigment.  This technique has also become the hallmark of YouTube beauty gurus such as Kandee Johnson, From Head To Toe, and Blair Fowler, whose recent post titled 'Everyday Fall Makeup' included 23 steps and 11 different brushes.

My 2013 Beauty Favorites

Hello, 2014!  I'm ringing in the new year by sharing my beauty favorites from 2013 (I wouldn't be a true beauty blogger without sharing my yearly favorites!).  Although there are a few that made their debut in 2013, there are also some goodies that I just found myself using a lot more this year.  Let's take it away!

25 Days of Mascara: Day 25

Day 25: Tarte Lights, Camera, Flashes

Image Credit: Sephora

Merry Christmas, everyone!  I've made it (just barely)!  As I've said before, I don't usually buy higher end beauty products, but it's Christmas, so why not!  I received this in my Glossybox a few months ago and I fell in love with it!  It's Lights, Camera, Flashes by Tarte, of course (retail: $23)!

25 Days of Mascara: Day 24

Day 24: Jordana Best Volume Extreme

Oh, Jordana, I really had high hopes for this one.  With the success of Best Lash Extreme which I reviewed on Day 4, I figured SURELY this would be better.  Nope.  Best Volume Extreme (retail: $3.99) doesn't even come close.

25 Days of Mascara: Day 23

Day 23: CoverGirl Clump Crusher Water Resistant

Ok, folks - let's see if I can stick to the one-a-day posts for the last two days... Today's mascara is CoverGirl's Clump Crusher Water Resistant (retail: $8.99).  This claims to add 200% more volume with no clumps ("vs. bare lashes").

25 Days of Mascara: Day 22

Day 22: Wet n Wild MegaVolume Mascara

I know, I know, I'm slacking.  My laptop has suddenly decided that it doesn't like WiFi, so I'm stuck plugging in to the router the "old fashioned" way (I can't believe using network cables is now considered old fashioned).  Anyway, today, er, yesterday, we're looking at Wet n Wild's MegaVolume mascara (retail $2.99).

I really had high hopes for this product since most products that Wet n Wild come out with are awesome.  However, mascara must not be their strong suit as this one fell flat.

25 Days of Mascara: Day 21

Day 21: Physician's Formula Organic Wear Fake Out Mascara

No, you're not going crazy.  I did skip days 19 and 20 because I value my sanity.  It's been a pretty crazy past few days with me moving across town and working the life-sucking graveyard shift (I feel like I could sleep for at least two days).  Sorry, y'all, there just aren't enough hours in the day!

Let's get into why you're really here, shall we?

As I said when I reviewed the original Organic Wear, Physicans Formula mascaras tend to be pretty waxy and this one is no different.  Although Fake Out (retail: $9.99) definitely gives some volume, it's just no match for my oily face.