With my favourite season just around the corner, hair is starting to be more of a focus.
I feel like in the summertime hair kind of takes a back burner to everything else. Because it’s so hot and laid back, I don’t usually find myself always styling my hair, unless it’s the weekend. Just wash and go. With fall though, I find my hair completes the outfit. I start bursting out the curling irons and actually for the first time in a long time, I actually straightened my hair the other day (which I never do, but it went with the outfit).
Anyways, this brings me to styling products. I am a firm believer in styling products. My hair needs product. Seriously, if I don’t use a split-end tamer my ends just frizz out. Aside from serums that make my locks smooth, I love a little volume.
I recently got the chance to try out three of L’Oreal Professional’s new products from their Wild Stylers line.
Crepage de Chignon – Mineral Powder Fixing Spray Wild Mane Effect ($23.50)
A volume-boosting mattifying hairspray enriched with micronized calcium carbonate and non-ionic setting polymer to a create an XXL look.
Beach Waves – Texturing Salt Spray Beach Effect ($25)
A texturing salt spray to create a sexy, beachy look. Spray all over the hair to style and achieve natural surf waves with a matte finish.
Next Day Hair – Micro-propelled texturing powder, tousled dishevelled effect. ($23.50)
With a non-ionic setting polymer that leaves no residue, this product instantly create a light, but grunge look.
Since I have naturally straight hair, I got the help of my bestie Jess to try out the Beach Waves spray, since honestly, when I sprayed it on my hair it did absolutely nothing. We first curled her hair and then sprayed it throughout, twisting the curls to create that “just out of the sea” effect. This product is definitely more of a summertime staple, but it’s still nice to have on hand for those days when you are beach dreaming.
As for the Crepage de Chignon and Next Day Hair, I absolutely love these products. I am obsessed with anything that gives a little texture mixed with volume. I’ll first wash my hair, then as I dry it with a round brush, I’ll spray Crepage de Chignon to my roots for some extra oomph. To keep the volume high, just scrunch your roots to reactivate the product throughout the day.
If I want bigger hair for a night out, I’ll first curl it, brush out the curls, then spray Next Day Hair on the mid to ends of the hair and then lightly backcomb. Seriously, this leaves your hair looking so pretty and sexy, definitely emulating runway-worthy hair (umm perfect for NYFW).
I have a lot of hair products in my collection (and that would probably be an understatement), but I always love trying out new stuff. I highly recommend these for big volume, and if you already have curly hair, give the Beach Waves spray a try for some effortless waves.
What are your favourite hair products?
Please note, this post contains products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.
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Ah yes, one of my favourite things to review. A CC cream. Or BB cream… but in this case, we are working down the alphabet.
If you are a easy-going gal, you may know of BB or CC creams. Those one-size-fits-all 10-things-in-one miracle workers that you wear all over your face instead of foundation. If you’re a reader of my blog, you will know that I love me some full-coverage foundation, but for the days where I’m lazy or just want to take it easy, I’ll slap on one of these genies in a bottle and be on my way.
I have many of these beauty balms and colour control creams and I have to admit that some work better than others. My favourite beauty balm (BB cream) is hands-down Dior’s DiorSkin BB, but at $50, it’s quite the investment. If you want something cheaper, I’ve been loving Olay’s Total Effects7 CC Cream, which launched last year. It gives you great coverage, sun protection, and moisturizes. Yes, yes, and yes!
I guess Olay’s CC cream was sick of being an only child, so the brand gave birth to a sister to the original, Olay Total Effects7 Pore Minimizing CC Cream, which is a multi-tasking moisturizer with CC coverage that minimizes the look of pores. Available in two shades, light to medium and medium to deep.
Olay’s new CC cream is designed to reduce the look of pores and uneven skin tone to reveal flawlessly beautiful skin in one simple step. With continued use, you’ll see smoother, younger-looking skin and smaller-looking pores. In addition, it also provides the seven benefits of a CC cream:
- Even skin tone appearance
- Minimize the look of pores
- Enhance brightness
- Visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduce the look of spots
- Hydrate for a firm look
- Replenish moisture
This one, unlike its predecessor though, doesn’t seem to have an SPF in it (the original has SPF 15, which to me is a benefit, especially in the summertime).
So how does it actually perform?
I would say that this CC cream does it’s job. As per the photos above, my pores do look minimized. With that being said though, I would imagine that any coverage you put on your face would reduce the look of pores. I haven’t been using this product for weeks, so I can’t say if it will reduce the look of pores over time, and to be honest, I don’t have a big pores problem, but overall it works.
With that being said, if I had to choose between the original formula and the pore minimizing one, I have to say that I like the original better. I feel that it gives better coverage and I do like the fact that it has an SPF in it.
I don’t think that Olay has discontinued the original CC cream, but if you do have a problem with big pores, I would give this new one a try. If you are like me and that’s not an issue for you, stick with the original.
Do you use CC creams? What’s your favourite?
Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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It’s the most wonderful time…
Okay, does anyone else get flashbacks to that Staple’s commercial when they hear the words “back to school”? Although I’ve been out of school since 2010 (and out of high school since 2006), I have to admit that sometimes I get a bit jealous during this time of the year. I was in Target the other day and one of the sales associates stopped me and asked if I checked out the back to school section. I basically just stared at him and said I’m past those days. Still though, a part of me really wanted to check the stuff out because it’s all so darn cute. The clothes, the binders, the pens! Not going to lie, I kind of wish I were still in school just to do the back-to-school shopping.
Although I don’t really have much use for a cute notebook (although I am a writer, I just prefer digital. Plus I always feel weird writing in cute notebooks, I feel like I’m wasting the pages), I do have use for some new cosmetics. If you are going back to high school or entering university, here are some must-have staples.
eos Visibly Soft Lip Balm spheres
Although they aren’t the longest-wearing lip balms on the market, who can resist these little Easter eggs of goodness? The Visibly Soft formula provides softness you can feel, with ingredients like Vitamin C, shea butter, and natural conditioning oils. Available in two flavours – Coconut Milk and Vanilla Mint – they are small enough to toss in your backpack and at C$3.99 a pop, they are affordable enough to share.
Olay Fresh Effects Acne Control Scrub
Let’s be real here. High school is usually when a lot of teenagers first start to experience acne. Between the late-night studying and oh, I dunno, that thing called puberty, your skin and body goes through a lot. Olay Fresh Effect’s new Acne Control Scrub Salicyclic Acid Acne and Blackhead Clearing Exfoliant with mandarin orange and green tea essence is formulated with salicylic acid that penetrates pores to eliminate most blemishes and blackheads. For a deeper clean, the stuff has tiny microbeads to exfoliate skin and clear dead skin cells.
I’ve been using Olay Fresh Effect’s cleansers for a while now and they really do the job and are super affordable, perfect for any student on a budget (plus, the packaging is always so cute!).
Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream
If you are young, there is no need to go all crazy with full-coverage foundation. Instead, invest in a BB or CC cream, which will give you coverage, plus a whack of other benefits good for your skin. Olay’s new Pore Minimizing CC Cream airbrushes the appearance of pores for a flawless finish and is formulated with seven-in-one benefits to maintain healthy, younger-looking skin.
CoverGirl Clump Crusher LashBlast mascara
I’ve talked about this mascara lots on the blog and I still have to say that it’s my favourite drugstore mascara out there. The brush really gets in there to coat every lash for perfect separation and volume. Plus, since it retails for less than $10, you can invest in other things you’ll need like binders, pens, and lip gloss.
NYC IndividualEyes Eyeshadow palette
These come in a variety of different shades, but no matter which one you choose, you are making a great investment. Each palette comes with four shades, a primer base, and a highlight. If you have blue eyes like me, give Union Square a try.
NYC High Definition Liquid Eyeliner
There are a variety of different brands out there that make a good liquid liner, but no one can beat the price of New York Color. Since we all hit the snooze button one too many times in the morning (regardless if it’s school or work), a quick cat eye, some mascara and gloss is all you need to still be out the door in time.
Disclosure: I am a #BeautyUnited blogger. As part of my affiliation with this group I receive products and special access to P&G events. The opinions on this blog are my own.
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As for the Crepage de Chignon and Next Day Hair, I absolutely love these products. I am obsessed with anything that gives a little texture mixed with volume. I’ll first wash my hair, then as I dry it with a round brush, I’ll spray Crepage de Chignon to my roots for some extra oomph. To keep the volume high, just scrunch your roots to reactivate the product throughout the day.
