Hair cords have changed my life.
Okay, not really, but I do have to say that they have saved my hair. I can go days now without washing my hair with it still looking great. My saviour? Hair cords, you know the ones that look like telephone cords? Yeah, those.
I had previously been using scrunchies at night when I go to bed as I often found that when I would wake up in the morning my ends would look all tangly and feel really gross. This helped me immensely and because my hair no longer looked gross in the morning, I didn’t have to wash it so much.
I received some hair cords earlier this year from a Canadian brand and absolutely loved them, so when Invisibobble got in touch with me about giving theirs a try, I couldn’t say no.
Invisibobble changed the game when it comes to hair ties since theirs was the first traceless hair ring. The smooth surface doesn’t tangle with wet or dry hair, and since it’s plastic, it’s totally hygienic. The thing that really makes these incredible is the fact that it doesn’t really kink your hair (I have had some slight kinking, mostly at night if I freshly brow dry my hair then put it up), but compared to conventional hair ties, these are a game changer.
You’ve probably seen these at hair salons or places like Sephora, or Shoppers Beauty Boutique. Their original packs come in a set of three and are now available in a variety of different colours. Since they are so popular, the brand has branched out into different styles. I also received the Slim hair cords as well, which are slimmer in size, a little tighter, and look more like a bracelet than a hair tie.
I’ve been using these non-stop since I got them, and I do have to say there is a difference between these and the other ones I was using. The Invisibobble version is a lot more heavy duty. They feel like higher quality and are more heavy duty. They snap back into place quicker and it feels like a more durable plastic (although I will say that I have not had one break on me thus far). Since I have so many of the original size, I’ve been really digging the Slim version, since it’s more aesthetically pleasing, and it’s a tighter hold (I use this one for working out, since it will be too tight on my hair for nighttime use).
Although I have to say these are better than other versions, it still does the same trick. If you haven’t made the switch to these just yet, try it, I promise you will love them. I have pretty thick hair, so when I saw people starting to use these, I really didn’t think they would work for me, especially when working out. My hair doesn’t budge, and once I’m done at the gym, I come home and take my hair down and it’s like I never stepped foot in a gym to begin with.
Give them a try, I promise you won’t regret it.
Have you tried traceless hair cords before? What were your thoughts?
Please note, I received this product from PR. All opinions are my own.
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Whether it’s drugstore or prestige, I have been so impressed lately with what brands have been putting out.
Hot on the heels of their Photo Edit Eyeshadow Trios and the Always On Liquid Lipsticks, Smashbox has recently released a new mascara, a new liquid eyeliner, and some scented primer waters to their already impressive arsenal of products.
Since I love trying out new mascaras (especially ones from prestige lines – hey, if you’re going to spend a lot of money on something, it should be great), the brand recently released on March 15 the Super Fan Fanned-Out mascara. Smashbox promises standout, fanned-out lashes thanks to its lengthening formula, and since their whole schtick is photoshoot makeup, they call this a “wind machine for your lashes”, which is so Beyonce of them.
The 360-degree precision brush uses a double-bristle blend of firm brushes that are quite short to apply the product to your lashes. The comb is soft, thus reaching those shorter lashes you didn’t even know you had.
I’ve been using this mascara for the past week and do quite like it. Is it my favourite? No, but it does a good job. My lashes look longer and pronounced, however, I wish they looked more feathery and soft (more whispier), which is part of the claim by the brand (94 per cent saw a fanned-out look). I do find, however, that once the formula starts to dry a little, my mascara usually performs better, so I have a feeling that I’ll like it a little more down the road.
As for wear, there is zero flaking with this, and best of all, it stays on even through a sweaty spin class (and I mean sweaty). The mascara retails for C$24, which is a fair price for a mascara found at Sephora. I really liked the brush on this since the bristles are quite short, meaning you can really get in there and coat every lash.
Now since every mascara need a good liner, Smashbox has also released the Always On Liquid Eyeliner, which is a fine-point liquid liner that they promise has a 24-hour wear.
The packaging on this reminds me of a Christian Louboutin shoe thanks to its black and red branding. The liner applies like a dream and there was no skipping or smudging at all once it dries down (it also made it through the same sweaty spin class). Liquid liners can be quite finicky, since I find a lot of them to be not quite wet enough, but at the same time, I don’t want it too wet that it smudges. It’s hard to find a great liquid liner, but this comes damn close. The brand says its waterproof, but it is easy to remove at the end of the day, which is always a plus. The liner retails for C$28, but I definitely recommend it.
Finally, Smashbox has enlisted the help of popular YouTuber Nicol Concilio in coming up with three fruity scents for their Photo Finish Primer Water. These limited-edition spray-on waters set, refresh, and prime your makeup, while also heightening your mood, thanks to its soothing scent. Available in three scents, Serene Greens (cucumber), So-Chill Coconut (coconut and vanilla), and Centering Citrus (blood orange and grapefruit), these are infused with electrolytes to improve makeup application, skin hydration, and radiance. Spray it on before makeup application, after you’re done your makeup, and later on throughout the day for a little pick me up, both in how your face looks and your mood.
I received Serene Greens, which is so nice to use first thing in the morning. Although I typically use a cream primer, I have been using this and have found that my makeup has been looking flawless. I also use it to set everything, and again, it’s really nice to spray on at the end of your makeup application to give you that little pick me up.
I really love these and although I haven’t smelled the So-Chill Coconut, I know that one would probably be my favourite since we are heading into the summer season and nothing screams summer to me more than coconut. This will definitely be in my makeup bag every time I travel this year.
I also want to note that the actual spray on this is phenomenal. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but with setting sprays you want the product to mist onto your face. I have a few sprays that squirt the product on, which doesn’t do much for my makeup, aside from potentially messing it up. Smashbox nailed it on the packaging and once I’m done the solution in the bottle, I’m definitely going to keep this on hand since it gives you the most perfect mist for primer/setting sprays.
Overall I’m very impressed with what Smashbox has come out with for spring. Out of the three, I recommend the scented Primer Waters the most, since they’re so versatile, but hey, who doesn’t need a good mascara and liquid liner as well? 😉
Will you be trying out any new products from Smashbox this season?
Please note, Smashbox sent me these products for review. All opinions are my own.
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When it comes to wacky beauty trends, I can definitely say that magnetic lashes definitely makes the list.
These false lashes that require no glue have been around for a few years now, but they are definitely making headway with lots more brands coming out with their own versions. Like I said, there is no glue required, and instead they are held together by tiny little magnets on the strip that sandwich the top and bottom lashes between your natural lash.
I had previously tried out another brand of the lashes and the thing about them is that they are so hard to apply. Since there are two lashes that you are dealing with, I found it beyond frustrating to get the two lashes to attach together without one end sticking out. They also just didn’t look natural, it looked like I was wearing fake lashes, but definitely not in a good way. Long story short, I said forget it, shoved them in my lash drawer, and moved on.
Shortly after that fiasco, I was sent a DM by a Canadian lash brand, TOK Beauty, who asked me to try out their silk magnetic lashes. I straight up told her I would try them out, but I had tried a different brand previously and was not happy with the results. She said she completely understood, but that they have a tool that helps with application, as well as YouTube videos, that help with getting the hang of it.
I received a couple pairs of their It Takes Two Silk Magnetic Lashes, which at first glance, looked to be of higher quality than the previous brand I tried. One pair is a more natural lash and the other is glamourous. Both lashes are half lashes, making them look very natural paired with your real lashes.
Each pair of lashes come with four strips, a top and bottom for your left eye, and a top and bottom for your right. Each strip has three magnetics on them, one on either side and one in the middle.
So how do you apply these? First do your makeup as you normally would do. I like using eyeliner since the eyeliner helps pull the look together and camouflage the band. Apply your mascara, then get ready to apply these. You can use your hands and try to sandwich them together hoping that the magnets will catch where they are supposed to, however, the real lifesaver here is the applicator. The applicator is a rose gold tweezer-looking device that has two curved ends where you are supposed to put the lashes. Since the applicator is metal, the lashes stick to the applicator (top strip has the magnets down and the bottom has the magnets facing up) and then you put it between your natural lashes, press down, and voila! Perfect application. Check out her YouTube video on it here.
I got the hang of this on my second try and I was so impressed with how the lashes looked that I jumped on Instagram Stories right away to chat about it. Not only did the applicator save the day, but the lashes themselves looked so natural with my real lashes. I was very impressed.
Unfortunately, the price on these are quite steep. They retail for $79.99 (I think this is in Canadian dollars), but I was told by the founder Tara, that if taken good care of, they can last you at least 20 wears. The lashes are made from 100 per cent handmade silk and are very soft and full. Once on, they really do look gorgeous and natural. To remove them you put your fingers on the lash and gently slid them apart to break the magnets.
So why magnetic lashes? Well, they are more sanitary since there is no glue involved (meaning you don’t have to worry about them coming off, perfect for brides or that day at the beach or pool). These also look very natural on, similar to the look you would have if you got lash extensions. They are basically lash extensions, but without actually attaching to your lashes, kinda like clip-in hair extensions.
There are a lot of different magnetic lashes out there at the moment (Ardell just came out with a pair), but the majority of the ones I have seen on people look very fake, and honestly, if you’re going to invest your money in these, spend wisely and get these ones by TOK Beauty. The other pair I got from the other brand had a full-length lash and a half lash and the half lash had the magnet in the middle, which was pointless since the ends would stick out.
Now with this being said, again, the reason these work so well is because they have the applicator to apply them, which I believe come free with the purchase. Without the applicator, I definitely would not have had the same experience. I did try to apply them first using just my fingers and it was frustrating. The applicator really makes all the difference in the world.
Although I have tons of traditional false lashes, I’m so excited to wear these, and I know they are quickly going to become my go to.
Have you tried magnetic lashes?
Please note, I was sent these products from PR. All opinions are my own.
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