Vanity Table Archives * Style Chicks

Luxury Hair Tools: The Mountaineer Comb by Tan Mujiang

November 6, 2019 · 12 Comments

Taking care of your hair shouldn’t be a task. It should be a luxurious ritual. Part of that ritual is having beautiful haircare tools, like this gorgeous The Mountaineer Comb by Tan Mujiang.

The Mountaineer Comb by Tan Mujiang

The Mountaineer Comb is both beautiful and beneficial for your hair health.

AREN’T ALL COMBS THE SAME?

No! Plastic combs are used by most people for a reason: they are cheap and easy to buy! The majority of combs you see are made of plastic. But that does not make them better. In fact, plastic combs can damage your hair. Hair breakage is common with plastic combs, and they also cause static electricity. Why would you want to use a comb that caused your hair to get frizzy due to static electricity? Additionally, plastic combs wear out far quicker than wooden combs, so you have buy them more frequently. Bad for your wallet, and bad for the environment.

SO WHY ARE WOOD COMBS A BETTER OPTION?

Several reasons:

1) Wood combs are high-quality. A good wooden comb such as The Mountaineer will last years and will just get better over time. While the price may be a little higher than you would pay for a plastic comb, the price per use is so much lower over the years, which makes it an environmentally sustainable item!

2) Tames Flyaway Hair

So here is a little beauty meets science lesson: human hair has a moderate positive electron charge. Basically, “flyaway hair” is static electricity at work on your hair. The motion of combing hair encourages more static electricity and more flyaway hair. Plastic and Rubber combs, due to their electron makeup, lead to even more static electricity! But wood is almost electron-neutral, so if you are combing your hair, using a wooden comb leads to the least static electricity and the least flyaway hair. A wide-tooth comb like The Mountaineer leads to even fewer flyaways!

3) Wood Hair Combs Lead to Better Distribution of Natural Hair Oils

The oil that your scalp produces isn’t a bad thing. It is your body’s own conditioner! Yes, you need to wash your hair to get out old oil and the dirt that accumulates, but the notion that you need to get rid of every bit of oil will only lead to dry hair! Use a wooden comb such as The Mountaineer to distribute your natural hair oil from root to tip for better hair health. Because wood combs distribute oil evenly, using one will lead to better hair health, and you can look forward to smooth, shiny, bouncy, and soft hair!

The same principle applies if you are doing a hair oil treatment. The oil will spread evenly with a wooden comb.

If you have long or thick hair, comb your hair in sections to distribute oil properly. I flip my head over and brush from root to tip to get the back sections of my hair – plus it feels really good! The size of The Mountaineer Comb is perfect for combing in sections: it is large enough to cover large sections quickly but easy enough to handle that fine hair can be gently combed.

And don’t worry about the oil ruining your comb – it conditions the wood as well so it will last longer!

4) Wood Combs Improve Circulation and Blood Flow to Follicles

Plastic and Rubber Combs scrape and damage your scalp. But the gentle pressure of a wood comb like The Mountaineer is like a mini-scalp massage, so it brings blood flow to your scalp. This brings nutrients and oxygen to your follicles, so your hair will grow in thicker and healthier!

5) Wood Combs are Gentle on Tangles!

Wood Combs gently ease out tangles as opposed to pulling on them. A wide-toothed comb like The Mountaineer is especially gentle on tangles and knots, so you will have less breakage!

Well spaced teeth suitable for all hair types, even curly or thick hair

The wood teeth are well spaced and do not snag the hair like man made materials such as plastic and acrylic.

WHAT MAKES THE MOUNTAINEER COMB UNIQUE?

The Mountaineer Comb is hand-painted, so each comb is unique. The comb itself is gorgeous and I love displaying it on my vanity table.

The Mountaineer is crafted from multiple kinds of wood to create its beauty and impressive results. They represent mountains, rivers, and water.

Lovely wood grain detailing

Black Ebony Wood: this type of wood is especially smooth and prevents any friction against hair.

Boxwood: Boxwood has a natural oil that makes it nourishing to hair. It won’t make your hair oily, but it won’t make your hair oily. Just smooth and shiny!

Bubinga Wood: Bubinga is especially good at preventing static and flyaway hair.

Pau Rosa Wood: Pau Rosa Wood is a dense and durable wood that is especially gentle on the scalp, making it great for sensitive scalps.

Beautiful curved design is ergonomic and showcases the wood inlay

The wood has a luxe, natural luster

HOW I USE MY THE MOUNTAINEER COMB

I like to use the comb on clean hair at night after I have washed out any residue from styling products. The sensation of the wooden teeth against my scalp is soothing and relaxing before I go to bed, and makes me calmer and ready for a great night’s sleep! It is so soothing! Gentle scalp stimulation leads to the release of endorphins, so it is an amazing part of any relaxation routine before bed!

THE MOUNTAINEER COMB IS A GREAT GIFT!

Looking for a luxurious gift for someone whose hair routine is a ritual? The Mountaineer Comb is a great gift! It comes in a gorgeous, luxe box that is eminently suitable for gifting. As mentioned above, each comb is hand-painted, so each piece is unique.

Box and comb

The comb comes in a lovely presentation box suitable for gift giving

The gift box comes with a sleeve box cover with logo

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find the truly gorgeous The Mountaineer Comb at https://www.ctansusa.com/products/mountain-river-water-comb. And for our readers, get 15% off with code StyleChicks15.

The Mountaineer Comb Lovely foil and logo pattern presentation gift box

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

Have any comments or questions about The Mountaineer Comb by Tan Mujiang? The Style Chicks are here to answer them.

Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

ABOUT THIS POST

Like you, the Style Chicks team needs time to evaluate and form an opinion about the products we try. With The Mountaineer Comb by Tan Mujiang, we received compensation for our time and effort to form an opinion of the product. We produced this blog post because we think the product is great and want to share it with you!

Get Clean Makeup Brushes in 30 seconds with the Lammcou Makeup Brush Cleaner

May 21, 2018 · 4 Comments

The other day my dermatologist was showing the latest feature of her skin analysis machine: the bacteria analyzer. There is both good and bad bacteria on everyone’s face, and she was impressed at how low my bad bacteria score was. There are a lot of ways that bacteria gets on your face: touching your face with your hands, not changing out your pillowcase enough, but a big one is dirty makeup brushes. Keeping your makeup brushes clean is a huge step towards keeping bad bacteria off your face, and keeping your skin clear. That is why we love the Lammcou Makeup Brush Cleaner.

A good set of makeup brushes can be a big investment, and many cleaning methods can be rough on the fine hairs of a brush. Lammcou understands this and has developed a system to thoroughly wash and dry your brushes using only mild soap and water.

Here’s how it works best for us:

1) Find the collar that properly fits your makeup brush and insert the end of the brush handle into the collar. Attach it to the MiraCleaner.

2) Fill the bowl halfway with soap and water.

3) Insert the brush into the soapy water and turn on the brush cleaner. Choose the level of power you want depending on how much and what kind of product are on the bristles and how delicate the brush is.

4) Keep the brush in the water for ten seconds, and then turn the brush cleaner to check if the brush is clean. If it isn’t, put it back in the water and clean for another five seconds.

5) Once the brush is clean, take it out of the water and press the power button again to dry it. My fluffy blush brush was dry in less than 15 seconds.

What I really love about how fast this device works is that I can use a brush for one product, like foundation, and then I can clean it and use the same brush for a different product, like liquid blush, in the same sitting. This makes the Lammcou Makeup Brush Cleaner an ideal device for travel and destination weddings if packing space is at a premium and you can’t bring all of your brushes.

It is also fantastic for cleaning off an eyeshadow brush if you are blending several colors together. I love using the deeper shades in any of my Urban Decay Naked Palettes, but then there is dark eyeshadow on my brush when I want to use one of the lighter highlight colors. This brush cleaner gets the dark color off fast and cleans the brush so you don’t cross contaminate between pans.

Watch how easy it is to wash and clean your brushes:

Style Chicks received the Lammcou Makeup Brush Cleaner in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

The Decadent Multi-Tasker: Wild Beaute Coconut Tangerine Melt

April 10, 2018 · 9 Comments

We live in a day and age that a 13-step skincare process is not uncommon. But what if you could skip the other 12 products and just used one decadent product for multiple beauty needs?

Well now you can, with the incredibly luxurious Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt. Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt is made of only two ingredients: Organic Cold-pressed Coconut Oil, and Organic Cold pressed Tangerine Essential Oil. The two ingredients work in tandem to provide the skin with intense hydration. And the scent is absolutely amazing: I’ve been wearing it as my fragrance lately instead of perfume!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

TIP: To add a little bit more decadence, use a small silver spoon to measure out the amount you want to use. I use a beautiful vintage spoon, and it looks gorgeous next to the jar on my vanity table!

FACE

You probably don’t need me to extol the virtues of Coconut Oil, but it’s worth spending a bit of time on since this is an especially high-grade, well crafted Coconut Oil. Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil maintains more of the beneficial aspects and is a truer form of the oil. In traditionally pressed Coconut Oil, a lot of what makes Coconut Oil helpful is “cooked off” since heat is used. So when looking for Coconut Oil, always look for a Cold-Pressed one like Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt.

Tangerine Oil has antifungal and antiseptic properties, which makes it ideal for skincare, especially as a gentle treatment for acne. It also helps to heal skin – great for dabbing on acne scars!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

Everyday: I love using a thin layer of Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt under my sunscreen on days I know I’ll be in dry conditions, like forced heat in an office. My skin doesn’t get oily but remains dewy all day. It is also a fantastic lip primer. I haven’t had completely smooth lips since I was four, but Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt makes my lips smooth and ready for lipstick!

Intense Moisture Mask: As a soothing Sunday Night treat, I take a generous amount of Coconut Tangerine Melt, melt it slightly between my fingers, and smooth it over my face. Then I place a hot washcloth over my face, put on some relaxing music, and rest for twenty minutes. It smells amazing, and when my twenty minutes is up, I gently massage my skin to allow every last drop of moisture to absorb. My skin is so smooth and glowing, and it stays incredibly soft! Putting on makeup on Monday morning is so much easier since I have soft, plump skin to work with. And I don’t limit it to just Sundays, I use it as a moisture mask anytime my skin needs a shot of extra moisturizer!

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

HAIR

Ah, using Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt on hair. Your hair will thank you for this. Once a week, I like to melt some and use it as a hot oil treatment, and then wrap my hair in a hot towel. I leave it in for about an hour and then rinse it out. The result? My hair is amazingly shiny and soooooo soft! I also do mid-week treatments on my ends to keep them healthy.

It is also fantastic for second-day hair. I take a small amount and emulsify it between my hands, and then scrunch it into my hair and massage my scalp with it. My hair looks bouncy, shiny, and smells fantastic. It works the same if you want straight hair, just use a light hand.

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

BODY

Want the most decadent shave you’ve ever gotten? Use Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt as a shave cream. Apply it to your legs before you get in the shower, and let it set in the steam for a few minutes before you shave. Not only will you get the smoothest shave of your life, but your shower will smell amazing!

I also love using it as a post-shower moisturizer. It gives my arms a healthy glow and makes them so soft. I especially love it on elbows, knuckles, and the bane of my beauty existence, my cuticles. It moisturizes my cuticles and keeps hangnails from forming.

MAKEUP

Makeup is fun. Taking off makeup at the end of a long day is not fun. But using Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt to take off your makeup at the end of the day is a luxurious experience that you will look forward to. No more falling asleep in your makeup!

Just take a bit, rub it between your fingers, and spread it over your face. It will gently remove your makeup, even waterproof mascara. Gently wipe your face with a soft towel, and your face will be clean and moisturized at the same time!

A little makeup hack I love: if your skin is looking a little dull during the day, pat a tiny bit of Coconut Tangerine Melt onto your cheekbones, brow bone, or anywhere else that could use a little glow. Instant highlighter!

Something else we love about Wild Beauté products: they are made by a small company of four women. This means they know exactly what constitutes a great beauty product, because they are making the products that they need and use themselves! I love women-owned companies who just want to help other women! And as the icing on the cake, Wild Beauté supports Wildlife conservation and protection and works with global organizations to protect animals worldwide. And they are cruelty-free!

Find Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt at http://wildbeaute.com/product/coconut-tangerine-melt/ for $40.

Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt

Style Chicks received Wild Beauté Coconut Tangerine Melt in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Sortly – The App to Organize Your Massive Makeup Collection

September 16, 2017 · 1 Comment

Each year, Urban Decay gives away a free eyeshadow single of your choice to UD Beauty Junkie Members. Each year, I obsess over what color to choose – and for the past two years in a row, I mistakenly selected the same color (Urban Decay “Laced”) because I didn’t realize in my massive makeup collection that I already owned it and was not using this shade that just looked OK, nothing special on me. So now there is TWO of them sitting in my makeup collection unused. And worse than that, I have several dupes of that shade from other brands laying around unused as well. When faced with a dizzying array of shades of lippies, liners, shadows, and polishes at Ulta, MAC or Sephora, what do you already own the exact match or a dupe of at home in your palettes and quads?

Are you attracted to the same basic lipstick or nail polish and repeatedly buy basically the same thing? What have you tried and felt meh about? What shadows in a palette sit unused while other shades have hit pan? Which lipstick is it that you always get compliments when you wear it? What looks amazing on you? Empower your color selection with the Sortly app.

HOW SORTLY CAN HELP
Sortly is a free iOS Organizing app that makes sense of your makeup collection. It is a highly intuitive app that is easy to use and makes organization easy and fun – no more wondering if you have the exact right lipstick color, you can just check the Sortly App to find the perfect pink gloss in your makeup stash. You can also access your data via the Sortly.com website.

Here is how easy it is to organize your makeup collection with Sortly:

1) I like to organize everything into very specific categories, like Eyeshadow Palettes or Red Lipsticks. Start by adding a Folder and naming it. Add tags to help you find items easier, such as eyes, eyeshadow, smokey eye, etc. Add whatever tags will make it easier for you to find an item from your collection.

Organize your makeup collection into easy to browse folders, like Urban Decay Eyeshadow Palettes

2) Add images. You can take a picture of an item from the app or you can upload one from your library. Do you have a selfie wearing a specific shade? Add that to the pictures!

3) Add notes. Do you have any specific application techniques? Does the color match a certain outfit? Add information that will help you find the shade you are looking for.

4) Add a QR code to the item. Sortly gives you a QR code to be printed and applied to the item. So if you are looking for one specific shade within a shadow or lip palette or the lipstick you were wearing in a selfie, you can put a label on an item (or a box of items) and scan it to see if you found the right one. No more opening up every eyeshadow to find the right one!

Quickly find the item you are looking for with Sortly’s QR Code Labels

5) Add specific items. Add an individual item, and add details like the price, the best place to rebuy it, etc. Don’t forget pictures and individual QR codes!

Itemize each shade in your makeup collection with Sortly, a handy makeup organizing app

6) Add labels when packing items away. I just picked up eight of my favorite lip stain that has been discontinued (sniffle). I packed them away for safe keeping and added a label that Sortly generated for me. It let me add the info I needed to know what is in the box, it let me add a title, information and even let me pick a symbol to put on the label so it is easier to find.

You can easily add labels to boxes of makeup with the Sortly App

7) Add “throw-away” dates. I like adding the date I should throw away an individual item under “Warranty Expiring”. I used to put the date that an item should be tossed on a piece of tape on the item, but I often found that the ink wore off after a few weeks if I handled the item often (like mascara), so that wasn’t a great solution. Sortly clearly tells me when it is time to replace an item. I really enjoy this feature when I am headed to Sephora or Ulta and am looking to see what needs replacing soon, rather than just running out or realizing an item is expired. Then I can plan my shopping trips or online orders, and stock up on items so they are on hand when I need them!

I never really got into Makeup Apps for organization purposes until I tried Sortly. Sortly makes easy work of organizing a large makeup collection like mine and makes it easy to find the exact shade or look I am seeking. I love that I can access my collection via the app or my browser through the Sortly.com website and that I’m not forgetting makeup that looks great on me but that I forget that I own!

Sortly is free for everyone to use. Try a Free Trial of Sortly Plus for 14 days to get all the features for free. Find Sortly for iPhone and iPad at https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id529353551?mt=8

It is also available for Android at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sortly.mythings&hl=en

Style Chicks received compensation in exchange for our unbiased review and for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Organic Beauty: Pure Glam Dry Shampoo

June 13, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Love dry shampoo but hate damaging chemical ingredients? Pure Glam Dry Shampoo is made with natural ingredients and is actually good for your hair! It absorbs oil and provides texture, giving it gorgeous lift and voluminous body. Unlike so many dry shampoos, Pure Glam Dry Shampoo doesn’t leave my hair dusty or chalky. It makes my hair so bouncy!

Pure Glam Dry Shampoo: effective, natural, cruelty-free, Vegan, and Gluten-free!

Find Pure Glam Dry Shampoo at http://OrganicBeautyNow.com

Style Chicks received Pure Glam Volume Root Powder in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.