New Products

Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics

October 25, 2016 · Leave a Comment

There has been a lot of talk lately about celebrities who allow their little girls to try on and play with makeup, and there has been a lot of blow-back for that online. But let’s face it: your kids/nieces/friend’s kids see you putting on makeup, having fun with it, and they want to have fun too! Makeup is colorful and feels nice and smells good; it is basically a kid-magnet!

Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics

That is why we love the Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics. Developed by a doting dad for his two little girls, it looks and feels like your real makeup, so your little makeup protege can experience the tactile fun of makeup without actually wearing makeup. While the makeup is fake, the feel and appearance are very real. No actual product is dispensed, but the feel is the same. None of the products are just a hard colorful plastic; they feel realistic. The construction of the product packaging is like actual cosmetic packaging. For example, the nail polishes open like real polish with actual polish brushes inside. The lipstick has a cushiony sort of give and “drag” when it is “applied” to the lip, just like an actual lipstick. The powder compact is very realistic looking, the powder puff is nicer than some puffs that come with actual compacts, and the powder has a cushioned feel and the surface feels just like a powder. The glitter pan blush/shadow pots are strikingly realistic to a well-known cosmetic brand, and the feel of the surface of the pot feels like a glittery multi-tasker makeup. The eyeshadow has the same kind of dual foam applicator as would come in a shadow quad. As a beauty blogger obviously I work with a lot of makeup, but it feels so much like real makeup in the container than I checked my fingers to see if there was indeed product on them!

Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics

My favorite kit, The Essentials Kit, contains:

Pink and Purple Nail Polish
Blue Ocean Glitter Pot
Silver Moon Glitter Pot
Powder Compact
Pink/Purple Eye Shadow
Set of Real Brushes
Pink Blush
BubbleGum Pink Lipstick (Made out of Silicone)
Polka Dot Makeup Bag

A real standout among this incredible set are the brushes. These are the softest, most luxurious feeling brushes I have ever seen. A kid will love the feel, and the tactile experience will satisfy many kids’ desire to play with your actual makeup. It will make you want to search for better brushes for yourself, though!

Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics

Now, some reading may feel that this encourages kids to wear makeup at too young of an age. Here is my feeling: Makeup is a powerful tool of expression. Children should learn to use that tool responsibly. If they are interested in makeup at a young age, then let them find a way to satisfy that curiosity in an age-appropriate manner. My mother gave me a powder puff and an empty container of loose powder when I was five or so. I got to experience the soft feel of the puff, and the lingering rose scent from the jar without actually wearing powder. But in the hyper-filtered world of social media, kids are going to want more than that. This is why I think the Cutegirl Cosmetics line is so great. As both of you play with the “makeup,” you can establish a discussion about when and how it is appropriate to wear makeup. Asking your daughter how old she thinks a girl should be when she wears glittery eyeshadow, or would she wear it to school or just to a fancy event gets both of you thinking through when it is appropriate to wear makeup and different kinds of makeup. This is a discussion that can continue over the years even when she outgrows the kit. But, just telling her that makeup “is for grown-ups” and shutting down the discussion will result in a kid who is wearing goth makeup by the time she’s twelve. Kids are hard enough to raise, don’t turn makeup into a contentious issue before it has to be.

Pretend Play Makeup Set by Cutegirl Cosmetics

But CuteGirl Cosmetics, would you mind making a real set for grown-ups too? The colors really are fantastic. 🙂

Find this great set at CuteGirl Cosmetics Â and Amazon.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWYFPfVgudM[/embedyt]

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.

Hair: Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

September 19, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

I have long work days, especially the days I commute into the city. My morning commute is about an hour, then a brief windy walk outside to the office building, a long day of work, and then usually some post-work socializing before going home. My hairstyle has usually fallen flat by 5:30, so I was excited to try something that could quickly enliven my style, smooth my wind-blown hair and add some shine.
It heats up almost immediately and quickly gives a nice shiny and smooth look to hair. The instructions outline how to hold the brush to add some volume to the roots, and the ends and length of the hair look smooth. It is no more work than brushing your hair. My hair did not feel dry or damaged like when I use hot rollers or other hot tools. My styling products such as any hair spray or spray in treatments like BlowPro Thickening Spray are not gunky or sticky after using the comb, which is a nice advantage over re-styling your hair with a curling iron.

There is a nice V-shaped tool for separating out sections – sort of a rat tail comb on one side, a thin brush on the other. I have found this useful with other styling products as well, such as when using hot rollers.

I also tried the brush on my Mom, who has dry, wiry hair that only briefly conforms to any straightening efforts with rollers. It smoothed her hair immediately with a very straightforward and quick brush through, it was smooth and shiny with a nice flip curl at the ends. It also imparted a bit of bounce.

There is an excellent swivel cord. Products often SAY they have a swivel cord, but this one completely swivels without adjusting how you hold your arm. This is a nice feature.

Of course, like other hot tools, I would advise using a thermal mat to allow the brush to cool down after use. While the handle is not hot to the touch when using it, the brush itself is 450 degrees. I use a simple thin silicone cooling sheet for cookie trays, though there are dedicated thermal mats available if you prefer that.

Sensation Professional Electric Straightener Brush

Iâ€™m thrilled with this brush and use it a few times a week. I donâ€™t like using thermal tools too often because they damage my hair, but there seems to be far less damage and dryness using this brush than other tools, so I feel comfortable using it more often.

In the video below, it was incredibly humid all day with torrential downpours most of the day, and this brush left my mother’s hair smooth for hours. Nice!

Find it at Amazon.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_yxSX_h1VM[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Hair: Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

September 12, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Yesterday, I used a lot of straightening emulsifier in my hair to combat the humidity. A LOT of emulsifier. And by mid-day, my hair looked gunky because of the amount of product, not the sleek waves I had in the morning.

So it was time to pull out my new go-to product, Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo. The world was a happy, frizz-free place again.

Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

I’ve loved dry shampoo for quite some time now: it is great if you want to go an extra day or two before washing again, a lifesaver if you need to mitigate product overuse like I did yesterday, and it is the best texturizer even on freshly washed hair. Still, most that I have tried have had a downside. Some leave a shadow of white dust on hair; most leave hair dull, and some make hair feel dirtier than before you used them. None of these are problems with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo.

One of the reasons for this dry shampoo’s superiority is the amazing ingredients it contains. The first ingredient listed in arrowroot, which is a thickener, and is typically featured in high-end dry shampoos for its’ ability to soak up oil and freshen the hair. It also contains antioxidants like Vitamin B, and Vitamin A. Vitamin A is interesting here, as the Vitamin A derivative, retinol, has been shown in studies to promote hair growth. So (and this is me saying this, not the company), ostensibly if you are using this dry shampoo on your scalp to soak up oil, you could have the added benefit of promoting hair growth when used on the scalp. Plus, it is gluten-free!

The next ingredient is kaolin clay. You are probably familiar with kaolin clay from luxurious mud masks. But in dry shampoo, it is used to remove sebum and oil and keep it from forming. So, not only do you immediately refresh your hair with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo, but you get an extra day or two beyond when you use it because of the kaolin clay.

The third ingredient is rice powder. Rice Powder is found in a lot of good dry shampoos, but Pure Glam mills the Rice Powder to an exceptionally smooth and fine consistency, so you get the benefits without the usual tell-tale white dust in your hair. Nice!

Look at how finely milled Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo is!

The fourth ingredient is baking soda, which is an excellent way to freshen up hair. And I love the name of the essential oil that the dry shampoo contains: Organic Cymbopogon Martini. While it sounds like quite a drink, it is a scented essential oil with light rose and geranium hints, and it also has antibacterial properties. One of my big issues with a lot of dry shampoos is the overpowering scent, but this is light and refreshing, not perfumey or chemical scented. Just light and lovely.

So with all these great ingredients, how does this dry shampoo fair?

I love it. As I said earlier, yesterday I had a bit of a product mishap, and then the issue was compounded by extendedly being outside in the heat and humidity. It only took a small amount blended into my roots for my hair to feel clean and smooth again. The ability to control how much you sprinkle on an area is one of the things I find superior about Pure Glam. A lot of dry shampoos that come in an aerosol can are unpredictable when it comes to how much will be deposited in an area. Not a problem with this dry shampoo!Â It also gave my hair incredible, luxurious volume.

I worked it through the length of my hair in sections and brushed it out, and my hair had a great bounce, which is rare to get when using a dry shampoo. What impressed me as well is that my hair was incredibly shiny after using it: my blonde and red highlights shimmered in the sun, and the bulk of my brown hair had an incredible luster. A few strangers commented on it, which impressed me!

I also love how my scalp felt in using it. It gives a cool, refreshing feeling when it is being massaged into the scalp and roots of the hair. You know that saying “My hair hurts”? That was how I was feeling, and a nice massage with Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo made my scalp feel light again!

I am truly impressed with this dry shampoo. It has an impressive, all natural ingredient list, smells great, cleans fantastically, and makes hair so shiny!

Pure Glam Performance Dry Shampoo

Find this amazing Dry Shampoo at Organic Beauty Now.Â Style Chicks readers can get 20% off with coupon code SC20!

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAczSXmyBLo[/embedyt]

Lips: Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks

August 30, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks are bold, high pigment, full coverage lipsticks. They apply as a fully opaque pigment and have tremendous staying power, similar to a stain without the dryness or chapping.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks Swatches (Left to Right: Rapture, Envy, Fetish, Euphoria)

FEATURES
Moisturizing, Vegan, Cruelty-Free, long-lasting pigment, not sticky feeling on the lips, stays on while eating/drinking.

PACKAGING
The packaging is smart: a lightweight, sleek, shiny and aluminum silver, with magnetic top caps. I have had a few lipsticks that have come open in my bag, so a secure top is a nice feature, especially for high pigment colors.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks

CONSISTENCY
The Feral lipsticks are very creamy with no drag in the application, yet the finish is satiny and smooth. The lipstick stays put through drinking most liquids. The lipstick does not bleed into the lip line, and when wearing off, it is fairly even in color, sort of fading, not smearing. The feel on the lips is not sticky; it is so soft.

LIPSTICK SHADES

ENVY: A hot, vampy red, something of an Old Hollywood movie starlet type of shade. Bold, yet an elegant, sexy classic.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks in Envy

EUPHORIC: A pale bluish pink, but not exactly a lilac or a lavender, if you have clearly pink undertones to your skin, you may have difficulty finding a nude that works for you and is not too brown. This is not an invisible kind of nude, this is a VERY pale shade. This color is a good neutral for medium pink undertone skin and looks great with tinted lipgloss toppers. If you wear lots of edgy purples, this is a good match.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks in Euphoric

FETISH: Is a more orange-red that Envy, a bright classic suitable for golden undertones. Two coats give a true POP of color; one light coat is more of a natural look.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks in Fetish

RAPTURE: Is my favorite shade, a deep, rich, lush claret red that is not quite a burgundy, it works with both very fair and dark skin tones. I apply this one with a ginger hand, though, as the color is INTENSE, just one thin coat will do the trick. For a sheer but pigmented look, I also tried just dabbing it on lightly with my finger, and it gave a lovely end of summer / beginning of autumn / back to school shade. And while not the intended use, a small dot of Rapture on the apples of the cheeks makes for a beautiful blush color that blends well into the skin.

Feral Cosmetics Ultra Smooth Lipsticks in Rapture

Find these amazing lipsticks at Feral Cosmetics.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJqTGh-8fi4[/embedyt]

I received this item for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!

Skincare: Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum

August 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum

Divas Never Age Vitamin C Serum comes in an attractive bottle with angled tip dropper.

WHY USE VITAMIN C SERUM?
Vitamin C Serums are an important part of any skincare program. Vitamin C addresses many common beauty complaints including adult acne, scarring, wrinkles discoloration, age spots, and dull skin. Vitamin C can address all of these issues by increasing the production of more collagen and the cellular level of the skin. More collagen equals a more even skin tone, fewer breakouts, fewer wrinkles and less sagging of skin.

WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT DIVAS NEVER AGE VITAMIN C SERUM?
For a Vitamin C to be truly useful, it is helpful if Vitamin C is paired with other active ingredients to best support collagen production. Divas Never Age has Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, and Hyaluronic Acid, amongst other Vitamin C supporters. Vitamin B3 is becoming popular in anti-aging as it helps reduce redness and inflammation, including around acne and sensitive areas such as undereye skin. Less inflammation means less sagging and puffiness. The serum also contains Hyaluronic Acid, a go-to ingredient that makes skin look instantly dewy, plump and soft. It does this because it holds so much moisture, it just sucks hydration into your skin, acting as a temporary filler. Enlarged pores practically swell closed and appear smaller, wrinkles plump, and skin looks younger. Hyaluronic Acid also helps the Vitamin C sink deeper into the skin to reach deep skin layers including supportive layers of skin that tend to need support to prevent sagging and wrinkles.

In addition to great supporting ingredients, Divas Never Age Vitamin C serum goes on smoothly and is not sticky or drying to the skin like some serums can be. Skin will look better when wearing it, which is a very attractive quality in an anti-aging serum.

APPLICATION
It is not sticky or drying to the skin, rather it is plumping and leaves skin dewy and smooth to the touch. It dries down quickly, and makeup can be applied smoothly on top. Skin looks younger while you wear it because it has light-reflecting properties and the Hyaluronic smooths and plumps, acting as a filler for wrinkles and pores.

RESULTS: I love that my skin looks good while I wear it: soft, supple, dewy and fresh. It addresses dull skin immediately, even the next day my skin has a lovely glow. There is no sticky white residue after application. Uneven skin tone areas look better in a few weeks, and my acne improved in about a week. Darker age spots and wrinkles take more time; it is often two months of consistent use to see results with collagen-producing Vitamin C serums, but I am very pleased with the results so far, and the instant glow the serum gives my skin.

CONCLUSION: A powerful anti-aging treatment. If you have sensitive skin, this is a great Vitamin C serum as it is non-irritating but still quite effective in combating wrinkles, adult acne, uneven skin tone and dullness. Upon application, there is a youthful, dewy glow to the skin.

Find Divas Never Age Vitamin C SerumÂ at Amazon.

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ti9ouIGlGY[/embedyt]

I received this product for testing and review purposes. If you have any questions about my experience with it, leave it in the comments section below, and Iâ€™ll do my best to answer it!