Product Review: Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask

Hey guys!

Time for another blog post review! This time I'll be talking about the Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask.

I received this product in my May 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag. I received the 60mL size in a squeeze tube, which can be found HERE for $12.

This product also comes in a bigger tub size at 500mL found HERE that retails for $40.

This is one of those products I would have never heard of or thought to try out if it wasn't for Ipsy. I've had some hit and miss bags with Ipsy but this was definitely one of those "hit" products for me!

I use this hair mask once a week, just as I've done with every other hair mask I've used in the past. I'm the person who LOVES Macadamia Deep Repair Masque, despite the high price. I have to say, I've found a new favorite and that's not easy to do! I've tried a couple other hair masks, including the L'oreal Advanced Hair Care Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm (can the name get any longer?). I saw that several beauty bloggers and vloggers suggested using this one because it's a $7 price tag for the same results that the $36 Macadamia Deep Repair Masque gives you. Nope. At least, not for me...but that's a whole other review.

So the point is - I've found a new favorite hair mask with this one by Eva NYC. Not only does my hair soak it up, it makes my hair feel incredibly soft the whole week. No lie. My hair feels amazing throughout blow drying, washing it, using dry shampoo, and more. I have yet to find that kind of result from any other hair mask. It also leaves your hair smelling amazing. The best way I can describe the scent is like a light, sweet, coconut kind of scent.

I would definitely look into purchasing the large tub size at $40. Yes, it's a bit of a price tag, but a little goes a long way and like I said, I haven't found a better hair mask yet. I really don't think you would regret trying it, even in the smaller size! If you also got this in your Ipsy Glam Bag a couple months ago, lucky you! We received a product that retails for $12 in a $10 bag, along with other goodies! If you're interested in signing up for Ipsy bags, you can do so HERE.

I also want to point out that I actually prefer putting this hair mask into dry hair and washing it out after a relaxing bath, or something along those lines. In the past, I usually always used hair masks in wet hair, then rinsed it back out. But I've found that doing it this way actually conditions the hair better and makes the effects more long lasting!

*Image courtesy of eva-nyc.com*

I hope this review was helpful for you guys! Thanks so much for taking the time to check out my blog! xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

Product Review: Nourish Organic Face Lotion

Hey guys!

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion. I received a 0.5oz sample in my January 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag. This product retails for $21.99 for a 1.7oz bottle, which can be found on their website HERE.

I was excited to try this moisturizer since I was running low on my favorite moisturizer by Skintelligence and wasn't re-ordering it until the end of the month. However, my excitement quickly started to end upon the first use.

Not only is it a greasy feeling, extremely light moisturizer, it smells horrible (like a really weird carrot/orange scent) and the smell lingers after application. The name holds true to it being a lightweight moisturizer, I'll give it that. But it has a greasy texture to it, which leaves the skin looking and feeling shiny and slippery. But honestly, even if it didn't perform that way, the smell is still enough for me not to want to use it.

I also disliked that the moisturizer made my breakout after just a couple days of using it. I continued to try using it to see if my skin would get used to it and it didn't. The breakouts kept coming, even with using my acne lotion, which to me means that this moisturizer is just not right for me.

In the end, I gave it a go with high hopes and it just didn't work out for me. Results obviously will vary from person to person, but I personally can't wait to get my favorite moisturizer refilled in a couple weeks. It's also just about the same price as the one I already love, so why switch?

Image courtesy of ipsy.com

Good luck if you're going to try it and thanks so much for reading this review! xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

Product Review: Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant

Hey guys!

I noticed while getting ready to prepare this week's Motivational Monday that I haven't written a full-length blog post in a while. Well, it's time to change that!!

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion Skin Exfoliant. I have a decent sample size at .25oz or 7.5g. The full size product retails for $78 for a 2oz or 60g bottle at the Dr. Brandt website. So the sample size offers 1/4 of the size that can be purchased.

I received this product in my April 2014 Ipsy Glam Bag. You can sign up for these sample bags that also occasionally offer full size products for $10 a month HERE. You will receive 4-5 deluxe samples each month.

My first impression was that I was glad to see a decent size sample of this product in the bag since although at the time I didn't know the specific price, I knew it had to be a high end product.

On their website, the product claims it "polishes away dead skin cells, leaving skin radiant". It was also a 2012 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner for Best Scrub.

I prefer using this product while I'm showering since my pores will be open from the steam. I use it once a week, two tops. Remember I have acne-prone, combination skin. I take only a little bit of product, since it's a pretty abrasive scrub and I have sensitive skin, and apply it all over my face in circular motions to massage the product over my face for a good couple minutes. It has a strong citrus scent, which isn't my favorite thing since I dislike citrus scents and tastes, but it's bearable. Once the scrub is rinsed off my face, there is an immediate cooling sensation that lasts only a couple of minutes. It can be refreshing to some or irritating to others, depending on your preference. I personally don't mind it. I also notice how soft my skin feels. Although, I have had similar results with smooth skin resulting after other scrubs, even from the drugstore.

Here are a couple other scrubs I like to use that offer similar results:

St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub: $3.79 at target.com

Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub: $18.50 at michaeltoddtrueorganics.com

If you'd like more on my opinion on the Michael Todd scrub, that blog post review can be found HERE.

In the end, I do enjoy using this product and I feel like it gives me good results for what it's claiming to do. However, I will not be repurchasing it because although you only need a little bit of product for each use, the price tag is just too steep for a 20 year old college student. I'm sure I will still enjoy my decent sized sample for a while to come.

 
*Image from drbrandtskincare.com*

I hope you guys enjoyed this review and found it helpful in your pursuit to find the perfect facial scrub for you! :)

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

Product Review: LA Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser Wipes

Hey guys!

I've been wanting to get this review up for literally, 1-2 months. But one thing lead to another and it just never happened with my hectic schedule and the fact that I prefer filming and uploading videos over writing blog posts. But I'm trying to get back in the swing of reviewing Ipsy Glam Bag products on here, so here we go!

Today's review is going to be on the LA Fresh Oil-Free Face Cleanser...wipes. I don't know why on the package it's just called a cleanser when these are clearly makeup remover wipes, so I added the word for less confusion.

I received a pack of 10 of these in the "refreshing scent" from an Ipsy Glam Bag a few months ago. I film monthly glam bag unboxings on my channel, so if you're interested in those, you can check out my "Sample Boxes" playlist HERE.

In a nutshell, these weren't terrible wipes. They removed my makeup fairly easily, including mascara and everything, but I feel like they could have been slightly more moist. But it was nice to not have to tug around my eyes too much for a decent amount of makeup to be removed. My biggest pet peeve was the scent. I'm more a sweet smelling scent kind of girl, so the refreshing "clean" scent just wasn't my favorite, but it was do-able.

A 30 pack of these wipes can be purchased HERE for $10, which is a bit pricey in my opinion, considering I prefer other brands of makeup remover wipes that give the same amount of wipes for a cheaper price.

Here's a few more affordable makeup remover wipes I love:

Motives Makeup Remover Towelettes - 30 for $6

CVS Brand Makeup Remover Wipes - 30 for $5

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes - 25 for $9

I hope this review was helpful and I gave you a few cheaper, effective options if you're in the market for some new makeup remover wipes! Thanks for reading! xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

Influenster Jolly VoxBox Review!

Hey everyone!

Today I'm going to be reviewing the Jolly VoxBox I received from Influenster as a whole. I will break down each item I received and give you my thoughts on how the product performed.

I will also give each product an overall grade to indicate how I enjoyed it and if it performed well or not.

I hope this is helpful and enjoy! :)

Photo Source: My Instagram

• Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolates w/ Peanut Butter Creme ($3.99/box): Let's break this down - you get 6 packs of 3 chocolates each that total 130 calories. The price seems average for these kind of "low calorie" snacks, but I must say...YUM! These are super creamy and taste like exquisite Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I give these an A+!
• Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong To Go Tissue Pack ($0.49/single pack): I'm obsessed with Puffs Plus Lotion during the winter when my skin is dry and I'm sneezing every five minutes. Now they're in a to go pack?! Definitely give these an A+!
• Rimmel London Lip Lacquer in "Luna" ($5.49-5.99): This was such a disappointment. The color is impressive. It glides on like a liquid lipstick. It's very opaque and stays on for a good amount of time. But the scent resembles something like burnt plastic and is very overwhelming. So for that reason, I'm giving this lip lacquer a C. Right in the middle because it has both strong and low points.

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  Photo Source: My Instagram

• NYC New York Color HD Color Trio Eyeshadow in "Long Beach Sands" ($2.99): These eyeshadows are pretty pigmented and easy to blend. What throws me off is the darkest shade is for the overall eyelid color while the crease shade is a medium shade. Nevertheless, I applied it this way anyway and really liked the outcome. It felt odd to me with how I was taught to apply eyeshadow shades, but it ended up looking like a very natural, polished look. The eyeshadows were NOT flakey, like some people state. I give this palette a solid A grade.
• Ducklings Mini Rolls Duct Tape ($2-3): This was really interesting. I didn't even know they made duct tape this small! But essentially, it's like decorative tape you'd use in your scrapbooks or photo albums, but it's more durable. I made my iPhone charger look awesome and unique and for that reason, I give it a solid A. The only downside is it can be a bit difficult to cut with scissors since it is more durable, but I don't mind. :)

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  Photo Source: My Instagram

Check out this video for a more in-depth view at what I received in this box!

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

P.S. Stay tuned to my Instagram for more pics of the items from this box! :)

Product Review: Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover

Ever have those days when your best makeup remover wipes just don't do the job?

Yeah, we've all been there.

Today I felt the strong urge to write a review on the Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (woo, that's a mouthful!) because I've been using it a lot lately.

I enjoy using the Olay Daily Facial Cloths - you know, the ones that you need to run under water and rub together to activate. I've been loving those for so many years, I've lost count. I think I've been using them since middle school! (I'm in college now, so that's saying a lot!)

Anyways, I've been wearing more heavy duty makeup lately - the works. Waterproof mascara, "bulletproof" eyeliner - as Mally Roncal likes to put it, and everything else you can think of that isn't supposed to budge until you actually want to remove it.

Lately, even though I still love those Olay Daily Facial Cloths, they don't seem to be doing the complete job. The waterproof mascara will come off and my face looks clean, but it seems the eyeliner is still smudged on my lower lash line some, as well as a little smudged look on my eyelid. So basically, I look like a raccoon of sorts.

So when I get out of the shower, I shake the bottle of eye makeup remover so it mixes the two layers. It looks like one of those chemistry experiments where oil and water don't mix, but I'm sure it's more complex than that. Then I take a cotton pad or q-tip, depending on the amount of space that needs to be cleaned and dip it in the solution and bye-bye makeup! It comes off super easily and it's gentle. The only qualm I have about it is I'm not sure if this product is making my lower lash line burn - it may be an eye cream I'm testing out as well, because I don't see why it would only make that area burn and not the rest of my eye. But overall, I really like how this product performs. It takes barely any product to get the makeup off.

Just a tip - I like to rub a damp tissue over my eye when I'm done and then pat my eyes dry because this does tend to leave a greasy feel.

Lastly, how much does this wonderful product cost? According to Sephora, $28 for a 4.2 oz. It's on the pricey side, but even I would consider repurchasing it - and that's saying a lot.

I only have a deluxe sample size of 1.7 fl oz, but it's lasting quite some time!

Overall, I'm in love with this product. I'm not one to go out and buy higher end products when I know there's bound to be great drugstore alternatives, but when this bad boy finally runs out, I might just go do that. ;)

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,
Lauren

P.S. I received the deluxe sample size pictured above in a birchbox sampler box that I paid $10 a month for. You can sign up here.

First Impression: Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream

Hey girls and guys!

Today I thought I would try something different. As you may know, I'm trying my best to keep up with my blog more than I have lately since it's summertime. I'm also trying to incorporate my love for beauty over here, too, instead of just on my YouTube channel.

Therefore, I'm going to post my first impression thoughts on the Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream in the shade "Fair/Light". And just a heads up - I did receive this item complimentary from Influenster for review consideration. Just getting that out of the way, but if you'd like to learn more about Influenster and how you could qualify for free products, click here.

Here's a quick run down of the pros and cons of this product:

PROS

• Lightweight
• Evens skin tone
• Moisturizes
• Provides SPF

 CONS

• Feels greasy when first applied
• Smells heavily of SPF
• Watery consistency - be careful when squeezing this out of the tube! (almost ruined my shirt)

As you can tell, there are definitely more pros than cons to this product. Please keep in mind that this is only a first impression blog post, not a full length review. I will probably post an in-depth review on my YouTube channel once I've been able to test out the product more.

Here are some super awesome photos for your viewing pleasure:

I didn't realize the before picture was more yellow-tinted and the after picture was more pink-tinted. But there's only a slight difference, anyway. The sun protection is there, it gives very light coverage, and evens the skin tone.

Here's a nifty picture of the tube. Oooh, ahhh.

Here's a look at what the color looks like in the "Fair/Light" shade.

I hope this first impression blog post was helpful to some of you! Keep the look out for the in-depth video review coming soon!

xoxo

Remember to have a positive day! :)

Hugs,

Lauren