Just like how every other technology is evolving, so are curling irons.
I don’t want to say we are a lazy generation, but it seems like technology has taken over making everything easier for us. Including curlers. I received the Rowenta Beauty Curl Active iron last week, which includes an automatic barrel. Say what? The Rowenta Curl Active automatically rotates hair around a motorized barrel, which ensures hair is perfectly coiled. Basically all you have to do is push a button and the iron does the rest of the work.
I’ve never seen anything like this before and like any beauty enthusiast, I was so excited to try it out. I didn’t really understand the purpose of this curler other than the fact that it could be for lazy people (seriously, how hard it is to manually wrap the hair around the barrel and roll it up?), but it does have some perks. For instance, it’s perfect for those who may not be as experienced in curling their hair; you can multi-task while you are using it, and it saves you from burning yourself (it bounces back about an inch once you release the button, so you can’t burn your scalp). The iron also comes with a heat-resistant case, so if you are traveling and have to pack your iron ASAP, you can shove it in there without burning anything else.
Other perks of this iron include two rotation switches for various hair styles, variable temperatures (two heat positions of 180 degrees Celsius and 210 degrees Celsius), a fast heat up of 1.5 minutes, ceramic coating to protect hair and increase shine, and it’s the “ideal curl diameter” of 1 1/4 inches. The trigger to release the hair is also super sturdy; overall, this is a very well-made iron. For C$179.99, you are definitely getting what you pay for in terms of quality.
Now for performance… I started off my hair routine with using the Matrix Heat Resist shampoo, conditioner, and styling products, including their Blowout Tamer, Iron Tamer and Exquisite Oil (loooove the smell of this stuff). These products are formulated for heat styling so you don’t have to use a separate spray, just wash and go!
From there, I sectioned off my hair and then proceeded to use the iron. This tool definitely takes some getting used to, but once you have the hang of it, it’s super easy to use and quite convenient. Click on the video below to see it in action.
The iron does leave you with nice curls, but because of the size of the barrel, the curls are looser, and I found that they didn’t hold that well over time. I know in the marketing materials, if you take smaller sections of hair then it will give you that “head full of curls” look, but maybe it’s just my hair, but I didn’t get that at all. The next day my hair felt natty and the curls were all but gone. I really wanted to love this iron because I think it’s a really cool idea, but it just didn’t do much for my hair (especially compared to my other irons, which leave my hair curled for days on end). I know that this iron did get a lot of positive reviews from other bloggers and YouTubers, so maybe it’s just the texture of my hair…
If you are interested in this iron, it is available at Trade Secrets and select salons. Let me know if you have tried this and your thoughts!
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Tarte has released a showstopper of a collection for this holiday season. Sweetly titled, The Tarte of Giving, this collector’s set is housed in a fold-out travel bag and has a whopping $588 worth of products in it. Luckily, Sephora has this priced at C$71, so you can have it all for an affordable cost.
The set includes:
– 20 x .07 oz Limited-Edition Amazonian Clay Eyeshadows
– 8 x .059 oz Deluxe Maracuja Lipglosses
– 0.23 oz Deluxe Pure Maracuja Oil
– 0.08 oz Deluxe Maracuja C-Brighter™ Eye Treatment
– 0.05 oz Deluxe Limited-Edition Amazonian 12-Hour Clay Blush in Memorable
– 0.17 oz Deluxe Cheek Stain in Flush
– 0.16 oz Deluxe Lights, Camera, Lashes™ 4-In-1 Mascara
– Travel Makeup Bag
This is my first foray into Tarte cosmetics and if you are like me, this set is the perfect way to familiarize yourself with their products. I know that their blushes and the Maracuja Oil are best sellers and it is really nice to try out these two products, plus many others, for a great price. For those unfamiliar with the Maracuja Oil, “Maracuja oil is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin C to support firmer, brighter, smoother skin. Vitamin E acts as a natural preservative, an anti-inflammatory emollient, and an antioxidant. Mineral pigments are known to soothe and soften skin,” according to Sephora. In this set you get a mini of the oil, the eye treatment, and eight glosses that are infused with the stuff.
Out of everything, I was most excited for the eyeshadows. The slim palette has 20 shadows that are broken up into four sections in the palette. Each section has complementary colours so you can create four looks or mix and match them all together. The shadows are super pigmented and blend beautifully.
This set also includes a deluxe Amazonian Clay Blush in a gorgeous baby pink colour. This was my first foray into Tarte blushes after hearing so much about them. Tarte also released an Amazonian blush palette this holiday season (review coming soon), which I also got to try, so I have been on Tarte blushes overload these past few weeks. I have found when it comes to using these, you don’t need a heavy hand; a little goes a long way. In addition to the blush, they also threw in a cheek stain, similar to Benefit’s Benetint, and a deluxe sample of their Lights, Camera, Lashes mascara, which I love! If I didn’t have mascara overflow going on, I would definitely buy the full size, it’s a really great product.
As for the glosses, I’m not a huge lipgloss fan, but I am a big fan of the nude-pink one (surprise, surprise…). These glosses aren’t that sticky and they have a minty taste, so they make your mouth feel fresh. The colour payoff is pretty good as well and they have a gamut of different colours to suit any makeup look or skin tone. The best part of these glosses is that they have the Maracuja Oil in them, so they make your lips feel smooth during and after you wear them.
Overall, this is a great set for the price. You get a ton of product, and although nothing is full size, everything in here will last you a long time. I think just for the eyeshadow palette alone, this is worth it. Also, the case is super cute and perfect for travelling, all you need to do is throw this into your suitcase and you are set to go!
One last thing, to show how amazing these eyeshadows are, here are four looks; each one used every shadow from each section of the palette. I also used the Lights, Camera, Lashes and the nude Maracuja lipgloss in the first, third, and fourth photo. Each look also features Tarte blushes.
Is The Tarte of Giving set on your holiday wish list?
Please note, this set was sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Essie’s holiday collection for 2013 is all about sparkle and shine!
The six shades than encompass the Encrusted Treasures collection are diamonds in the rough. They may look like one thing in the bottle, but once you physically experience them, they are not for the faint of heart. From caviar-like beads to to hyper-reflective glitters to the finest holographic materials, these polishes are on another level compared to other holiday collections from different brands.
When I first saw the images of the collection it didn’t stand out to me at all. I thought, “great, glitters? How original…”, but then I saw swatches on other blogs and I knew I had to get my fingers on them. Many of the shades can easily be worn as topcoats, and although a lot of the textures in the collection have been done before by other brands, Essie just hits the nail on the head with these beauties.
Hands-down my favourite from the collection, Belugaria is described as a holographic jet black lace. This beauty is definitely not “what you see is what you get”. If you just look at it in the bottle, it appears as a black with chunky holographic glitter. Once painted on, the polish (which is quite thick) crumbles to represent a caviar-like texture and appearance on your nails. It’s like Sally Hansen’s Sugar Coat in Lick-o-Rich, but with glitter. I die. Seriously. If you have to choose one polish from the collection, this is it.
Lots of Lux is a shimmering lapis lazuli with a superfine matte finish. Personally, I was a bit let down from this colour. I loved how it looked in people’s swatches, but when I tried it, it was just meh. It’s gorgeous in the bottle and the only “colour” in the collection. It’s also not grainy but it does have a bit of texture to it (I thought it would resemble Belugaria). If you like blue glitters, this is a nice option, but otherwise, I personally would skip it.
On a Silver Platter is a pearlescent gold with holographic violet glitter. This polish didn’t really scream at me in the bottle, but once painted on, it’s so gorgeous. It is coming up a bit translucent in my photo, but after two to three coats it’s pretty opaque. I love this one, especially because of the combination between the silver and blue, it’s like Hors D’Oeuvres and Lots of Lux had a baby, and this is it.
Hors D’oeurves is a platinum gold with iridescent silver glitter. I thought this one would be very similar to On a Silver Platter, but the two are quite different. The gold is very prominent in this polish and it catches the eye due to its high-shine factor. It’s very different from other glitters I own and goes on quite smoothly (it doesn’t have that gritty texture common to glitter colours). I would pick this one up as well.
Peak of Chic is a alpine white holographic rainbow fringe. This fun polish seriously reminds me of a snow globe due to its confetti texture. I have tried these kinds of polishes before and haven’t really loved them, but there is something like Essie’s version that has me rethinking this fad. I love the combo of the white and holographic bar glitter, it’s like winter for your nails. As you can see, you will need a lot of coats to get this fairly opaque, but it makes for a gorgeous topcoat!
Ignite the Night is a sparkling hematite with a superfine matte finish. This black glittery polish is quite sheer, so you can either layer it up or wear it over the darker shade to experience its true effect. I did topcoat this and found that it was really pretty on, however, compared to other colours in the collection, I don’t feel like it’s a must have. I do want to say though, that the removal of this wasn’t as big of a pain as I was expecting it to be.
Overall, I absolutely love this collection. The shades I highly recommend at Belugaria (this is seriously a must-have!), On a Silver Platter, and Hors D’oeuvres. I also really like Peak of Chic. Lots of Lux I found to be prettier in the bottle than on and Ignite the Night is pretty, but I feel like it’s not as original as the colours in the collection.
The Essie Encrusted Treasures collection launches this month. What shades are on your wish list?
Please note, I was sent these products for review purposes, however, all opinions are my honest own :).
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