The Beauty Critic

COVERGIRL | Blastflipstick

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:00:00 -0500

I just received 3 of these in the mail, and so far I have to say… WOW!!! I LOVE THEM! Swatches, pictures and more will follow soon… after I’ve had a full day of trying each color. ;)

Got the Garnier bottles...

Tue, 01 May 2012 14:26:00 -0400

So I have received my full-size bottles of Garnier Fructis and I am SUPER excited to wash my hair tonight! I’ll be posting soon on my first initial response to the product I received from Bzzagent.com as a Bzzagent.

*UPDATE* 6/26/12: Full review, click “read more”…

Well. I like them. I received the Triple Nutrition full sized shampoo and conditioner by Garnier Fructis. One thing I must make note of: I am a big, BIG fan of Aveda hair care. I tried to put my bias aside, I really did and I don’t think I did too bad of a job with that. So, after several weeks of using this duo, I did notice something: my hair was not breaking as much. Woo! For the first two weeks, I did not use ANY other products on my hair. I didn’t do anything with it EXCEPT blow dry my bang area. That’s it. I wanted to get the ‘real deal’ on this stuff so I could make the most of my review. Here are the pros and cons:

PROS:

• Slip Factor

• Shine

• Less-Breakage

• Smell

• Eco-friendly bottle

• Budget Friendly

CONS:

Hair was soft/fluffy instead of silky

After several uses, I needed a clarifying shampoo to get that squeaky-clean feeling again

Frizzy without other products

I had to wash my hair more frequently (usually every 3rd day - my hair is heavily highlighted and dry, so I can usually go 3-4 days without washing. Yes, I look like a Golden Girl when I wear a shower cap).

And that is what I have to say about that. I probably won’t purchase this unless for some unforeseen circumstance that I might be unemployed and in dire need of a budget cut to make ends meet. But, for me, when it comes to hair and skin care and nutrition… the buck doesn’t really stop. I mean, yeah, I have my limits and I always enjoy an inexpensive yet effective product, but I tend to lye in the middle range of spending where these types of products are concerned. Many times, you get what you pay for. But it also goes without saying that sometimes you really are just paying for a fancy name and some trendy packaging.

You can’t go wrong with this shampoo and conditioner, I do recommend it. Try it out and see for yourself!

Ch...ch...check it out! | Garnier Fructis

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:06:00 -0400

So, I’ll be getting a full size tester of the new Garnier Fructis shampoo and conditioner that they have recently reformulated. I’m pretty excited to try it since I have never actually used this product on my hair. I sort of swore off drug store hair products for the most part because of a few instances I had with lots of buildup and very little effect. However, I did open the Garnier Fructis bottles before and smelled them… and if the scent were all I was looking for, it gets a fat, five star rating on that note.

I am a Bzzagent which means I get to try free things often. Basically, a campaign is set up to get people to try the products and then to share their honest opinions of them through social networking websites (like tumblr here, Facebook, youtube etc…). It’s so simple and easy to get set-up and it’s absolutely free; you don’t even pay for the shipping! So do yourself a favor and check it out:

Check back for a thorough review of the shampoo and conditioner to see if it’s worth a trip to the store for! ;)

Macadamia Natural Oil | Healing Oil Treatment (Hair)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:25:23 -0500

Full review to come with a guest reviewer! Please check back soon!

L'Bri Pure n' Natural

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:41:00 -0500

So, I’m on a boat. The boat that is this amazing, all natural, Aloe Vera based skin care line called L’Bri Pure n’ Natural!

I am probably overly and annoyingly excited about the opportunities that will come along with this boat ride, but I am thoroughly impressed with the ingredients in these products and absolutely thrilled to see how effectively they work. I have been using the Deep Pore skin care trio for a few months now, albeit not religiously or even close to what I was supposed to. I know, tsk, tsk, tsk. But, as a cosmetic junkie, my obsession with buying and trying new products was (okay, IS) a difficult habit to just drop all cold turkey and stuff. No way. But, as my first motivation is usually centered around trying to make my life more comfortable (i.e. money, c’mon ladies…) I wanted to be true to this product and see if it really works. And it does.

My skin feels soft and supple. Not hard and flaky. Not sensitive and lumpy. I’m impressed, I really am. As a graphic designer who works in the advertising field, I would be lying if I said packaging didn’t play a crucial role into the products that I buy. This is just one of those things that I do and I don’t mind that I do it. I know it doesn’t make any logical sense, but hey, I am a girl and I am going to justify this as many ways as I can possibly find so I won’t bore you with all that.

Anyway, the L’Bri packaging design leaves a lot to be desired if you’re a twenty-something lover of packaging like I am. If you aren’t either one of those things, you probably couldn’t care less and I say to you: kudos! I kind of wish I could just design my own bottles… I bet I would have more luck getting people to buy it if it were packaged in prettier bottles. But, another thing to keep in mind is that the fancier the packaging, the pricier the product tends to be. So keeping that in mind, the price of these highly effective and department store brand competitors from L’Bri are savvy for all you frugal Frans out there. Keep your pennies pinched, just not too tightly because this stuff really will sell itself. Just give it a try!

I will be going into more detail about the regime I am currently on to clear up my acne and delve into what makes L’Bri so unique to its competitive marketplace. And of course, the most important aspects: ingredients and price point. These are important guys. You think you’d have learned this by now. ;)

"I’d like to know where Nancy Sinatra found a great pair of boots made for walking. These are..."

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:30:31 -0500

“I’d like to know where Nancy Sinatra found a great pair of boots made for walking. These are killing me!”

- Yours Truly

"If someone asks what kind of falsies you are wearing, but you’re not… is that a..."

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:30:20 -0500

“If someone asks what kind of falsies you are wearing, but you’re not… is that a compliment or is that like asking if your boobs are real?”

- Yours Truly

Laura Geller | Baby Cakes Baked Blush Palette

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:16:13 -0500

Ooh la la! These baked goodies are a must for any cosmetic sweet-tooth moments!

Terax | Crema Conditioner Review

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:16:00 -0500

Two week review: Not that special. Click to read more on that topic or check back in a couple more weeks for an in-depth review using the bC Review Formula!

Two Weeks into Use:

Alright, this stuff is just okay. I am not feeling the immense conditioning I thought I would get with this product. On the very first use, I left it in for at least 10 minutes. And my hair did feel nice. It was easy to comb through, and I could immediately feel a difference in my hair after I rinsed it out. At the same time, if you don’t feel that, then is it even a real conditioner? Not in my humble opinion. So, aside from that, this stuff has NO good smell to it at all. It doesn’t smell earthy like you would get from natural products. Okay, so this is not a natural product. Fine, that’s just fine. But, if you aren’t going for the all natural way in your product and its original, untouched scent is anything BUT desirable, why not add a little something in there for us ladies who like to leave the shower with nose seducing hair. Is that so much to ask? The best way I can describe it is unscented lotion, which always of course, smells like lotion, mixed with a very small amount of grease. Cooking grease. That’s all I can think of. So, as for now… I am not crazy about this stuff. And in two weeks time, it means I have used it at least 6-7 times (of course I don’t wash my hair every day, I’m dry and curly are you crazy?!). So, next time you check back here, there will be a more in depth review using my review formula. Stay tuned!

What's up with Parabens?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:13:12 -0500

Find out why Parabens are actually bad for you and some product lines that don’t contain any.

Wonder Ingredient: Tea Tree Oil

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:11:51 -0500

Come back to read about the amazing qualities of Tea Tree Oil!

New Hair Beware

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:06:00 -0500

As the winter months drone on, my skin has continued its usual path to enlightenment. And by that, I mean… it’s getting lighter, not smarter. As a result of my lighter skin, I usually opt to lighten my hair with golden radiance that reflects light seductively off every angle of my face in a way that would make Midas jealous. I may be exaggerating a bit (okay, a lot), but the point is when my skin is paler, I need to try and offset that by lightening my hair. Otherwise, my dark sable mane is going to make me look a bit vampiric. I know that’s totally in right now, but I’m just not on board that trend wagon (yet?).

So, I have been trying to cut my costs with hair care for a while and that led me into the fascinating art of cutting my own hair. I have only done it once thus far and I am happy to say, the results were pleasing. I was happy with the way it turned out and I can only see this endeavor going uphill from here on out. The thing I will not do on my own is color. I’ve seen some big color boo-boos in my life and I know they are costly to fix, not only in money but time as well. Not my cup of tea. Needless to say, I needed to get me some flaxen highlights to complete my winter look. Step in: my friend Aubrey. She recommended me a new stylist she started seeing and raved about the wonders of this new, high-end salon she had been going to. Aubrey has very tightly wound, beautiful, golden curls. Basically: high maintenance hair. If this chick can make Aubrey’s hair look it’s absolute best, I was sold.

The call was made, the appointment set and the hunt for my perfect golden color began. Upon my search I found out that “Bronde” is apparently a color… who knew? I didn’t. Okay, so I find the most amazing locks on this model named Bar Rafaeli and I am like “Holy moly, this is it”. Picture saved. Picture showed to friends at work with the accompanying “this is what my hair will look like on Monday” statement, blah blah blah.

I used this picture as a reference and showed it to the stylist several times throughout the appointment. She seemed very knowledgeable and excited to do this look for me. I also found out that I am an ash based brown… that was news to me. Anyway, it usually takes about 3 hours to give me a full foil, wash and dry. I was thrown off at first by the swatches she brought out which were matching my roots. Why do you need to match my roots when I want light golden hair? I’m not a professional, but it seemed legit when she was explaining my ash undertones to Bar’s golden undertones as seen in the picture. What I thought she meant by “base color” was touching up the hair that ISN’T highlighted with that golden undertone. Okay, cool.

I think I have 12 highlights all together, probably less. And when you need at least two bottles of color to give a full foil to someone with my amount of hair, that should mean much more than 15 highlights or at least, thick ones. Dudes. Let me just say, I was so upset. $150 for a full foil and I walk out with a base color that took my already existing highlights and made them dark again. So now I have DARKER hair than what I went in with, partnered with several face framing highlights.

I had to make an appointment for her to do my hair again on Thursday and she’s talking about doing some cap lightening thing. I don’t know what that is. But thanks a lot for making me have to fry my hair again because this picture apparently looks like a dark brunette with some highlights around the face. >:|

Did I mention that the entire back of my head was completely untouched by highlights? Yea. Not a happy camper.

Tarte | Mascara

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:52:31 -0500

The first review is still being written. Please check back at a later time, thank you!

"Do runway fashions ever leave the catwalk? If they do, are they avoiding all the places I go?"

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 22:35:17 -0500

“Do runway fashions ever leave the catwalk? If they do, are they avoiding all the places I go?”

- Yours Truly.