Beauty Product Review: OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser

My skin can typically handle a lot. It doesn't become easily affected by temperature change or trying new or a lot of different products at once. Since I like to take good care of my skin, it's always great when I can try out new cleansers.

I recently had the opportunity to sample the OZ Naturals Ocean Mineral Facial Cleanser. I love anything having to do with the ocean and many body washes I've tried have been ocean-scented. 

Unfortunately, what I was hoping to be a fresh, maybe slightly salty smell was not what I experienced with the product. Instead, I was overwhelmed by the chlorine, more medicinal-type smell. 

The product itself is gentle on the skin and great for beauty lovers looking for more organic products. There are no parabens, alcohol, or sulfates and it is created to be beneficial for all skin types. 

I feel this cleanser would be best for those who have oily skin because it doesn't irritate or leave a film behind. It washes clean. The product itself works well, but I couldn't overcome the smell. 

This is a sponsored post by BrandBacker. All opinions remain my own.

Beauty Product Review: HASK® Macadamia Oil Moisturizing Hair Care Collection

The weather in sunny, Southern California doesn't get quite as cold as the rest of the country, but the chillier, drier temps can still do a number on my hair. I have thick, long, heavy hair that tends to be on the dry side already, so anything that will add in extra moisture is a must-have for me. I have tried going a day or two without washing it to give my hair a rest, but can't bring myself to do it. It requires daily washing! 

What a savior products like the HASK®  Macadamia Oil Moisturizing Hair Care Collection are for those who want to give their hair a "healthy drink," so to speak. When my hair is at its driest, my hair will soak up anything added to it quickly. This goes for my skin, too. 

Macadamia oil is a great beauty ingredient for both the hair and skin because it's nourishing and hydrating. For the hair, it leads to shinier strands and more conditioned hair. The HASK® shampoo formula works into a nice lather and rinses clean, meaning that there isn't a film left behind that can be the case with certain oil-based products. The conditioner is best left on the hair for a few minutes before rinsing out with extra love given to the ends. The brush that comes with the collection helps the oil to be distributed evenly through the hair and helps gently detangle any knots. 

The shampoo and conditioner can be used daily, while the deep conditioning treatment can be saved for once or twice a week. I usually reserve Sunday nights for hair and face masks -- like a mini-beauty night to end the weekend as a treat.

After three days of using the products, I have noticed an extra softness to my hair and the oil (just a little bit will do!) helps tame frizz for styling. I tend to have hairs that need smoothed out, especially if I wear my hair in a ponytail. It helps my hair look sleeker and more pulled together.

HASK®  products can be found online or in your local drugstore or beauty store. There is also a selection of other types of oils to use on your hair. I haven't noticed a difference between argan, coconut, or macadamia oils in products -- they all work well for me. 

If you're looking for a product that will nourish your hair during the winter months or keep it healthy in the summer, this is a good one to try. It absorbs well into the hair, but doesn't leave it feeling greasy. 

I am trying new products all the time and fortunately, my hair adapts well. What's your favorite hair care product? 

This is a sponsored post by BrandBacker. All opinions remain my own.

Treat Yo' Self: Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask Product Review

Every once in awhile a gal just needs some time for pampering. It doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money or time, but setting aside even an hour dedicated solely to you and you alone can leave you feeling rejuvenated. 

On Sunday nights, I usually like to take this time to prep for the week ahead and then relax with either a stack of magazines, reality tv, beauty pampering or all of the above. 

goPURE Naturals has a fantastic face mask for those of you want to do your pampering while in the comfort of your home. The Adovia Mineral Skincare Dead Sea Mud Facial Mask makes your skin feel loved. It infuses the skin with minerals from Dead Sea mud, in addition to vitamin C, aloe vera gel, and jojoba oil to help nourish the skin and leave it looking healthier. 

Wash your face per your normal skincare routine and then apply a layer of the mask all over the face and let dry for up to 30 minutes. This formula is different than others in that as it was drying, it didn't crack as much or make my skin feel tight. It was super simple to rinse off, no scrubbing necessary and my face indeed felt smoother and softer. I plan on using this mud mask on a weekly basis, if not more.

Don't hold back on allowing yourself little luxuries? How do you like to wind down the weekend?

This is a sponsored post by BrandBacker. All opinions remain my own.

Celebrate Earth Day with Neutrogena Naturals #WipeForWater Campaign

Just in time for Earth Day, Neutrogena and Influenster has hooked up a few of us lucky ones with their Purifying Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes while they encourage everyone to #WipeForWater. 

When water conservation is necessary (as it often is here in Southern California), these wipes come in handy to leave your face looking fresh and clean. This beauty product has a subtle, pleasing smell and removes dirt, oil, and makeup. 

They're perfect to take to the gym and definitely a must have while traveling. I'm mostly impressed with how hydrating and nourishing they are for the skin. The wipes contain vitamins B and C and Peruvian Tara Seed, which aids in preventing dehydration in the skin. 

They are easy to toss in your tote or travel bag and can be used day or night to leave your skin looking and feeling refreshed. They are definitely one of my new favorite products for makeup removal. They are 97% made from natural fibers and have not been tested on animals. 

Eco-friendly and effective, what more could you want? 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for test purposes. All opinions remain my own.

Product Review: Peppermint & Lemon Essential Oils from InstaNatural

I've never used essential oils before, but I do know it's all the rage, especially for people devoted to Pinterest. There are a limitless amount of ideas and recipes for creating your own bath products, including lotions, bath salts, and scrubs. Honestly, I wasn't sure how I wanted to use my samples at first, but found two fantastic uses for each of the oils I received. 

Note: Due to unavailability, I did not receive the Lavender Essential Oil, which would've been great to rub into my temples before bed or take with me to yoga. 

The InstaNatural Lemon Essential Oil is highly fragrant and I could smell it before even unpacking the shipping box. Its strong scent was citrusy and fresh-smelling and turned out to be perfect for cleaning my stove. 

Cooking can get messy and leave behind food and grease stains that can be hard to get off. I use cleaning supplies from the store, but they always leave behind that unappealing chemical smell. This time to clean up, I decided to apply the Lemon Essential Oil directly to the stove and wiped down with a cloth. While it didn't get every single spot, it still did a better job of cleaning my stove than the products I had, while also leaving behind a nice smell. 

I took the InstaNatural Peppermint Essential Oil to the bathroom. Until recently, we've been having a bit cooler weather and at night, nothing is better than taking a hot shower to relax before bed. I added two droppers of the Peppermint Essential Oil directly to my shower to create an invigorating scent that helped clear up my sinuses and make my shower feel more luxurious. Though lavender is a more calming scent, the peppermint actually helped both me and my guy feel more relaxed before bed. He commented that it reminded him of when he gets a shave at the barbershop and how good it makes him feel.

There are so many ways you can use essential oils and these are just two of the ways I've tried so far. InstaNatural products use all organic ingredients and come in easy-to-use bottles perfect for mixing up your own concoctions.

How have you used essential oils before? Have any "recipe" recommendations for me?

This is a sponsored post by BrandBacker. All opinions remain my own.

Beauty Review: Pura d'or Hair & Body Care

It's always great when I have the opportunity to try new products. Recently, I had the chance to try three separate beauty products (all full-size) from the Pura d'or Hair & Body Care line. I received the: 

• Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo
• Premium Organic Argan Oil Based Conditioner, Lavender Vanilla
• Pure and Organic Argan Oil

My hair is thick and long, which made the first product inapplicable to me. This product has a stronger scent, more clinical than soothing, and it seemed drying to my hair. But again, I am not the ideal candidate for this type of product. It just came as part of the complete package. I may send it to my mom who may benefit from it better than I will since she has always had thin hair. 

The second product, the conditioner, had a calming smell of lavender. Since I shower before bed, the aromatherapy kind of helps set my mind to relaxation mode. I worked this product mostly into the ends of my hair. I did feel like I had to use more than I typically do for conditioner, but the smell and product itself worked nicely on my hair. 

I use the Argan Oil following my shower, also on the ends of my hair, to further aid in conditioning, especially since my hair becomes drier during the colder month. Sometimes I will rub some of the oil between my palms and apply to my hair in the morning to tame flyaways. 

Many beauty lovers like using products that are all organic. One fantastic perk of using these products is that you can do so knowing that you are using 100% natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals. Everything is organic and the company is animal cruelty free. 

Have you tried Pura d'or products before? 

This is a sponsored post by BrandBacker. All opinions remain my own.

February Birchbox Review: Rent the Runway Collaboration

This was the first month for me to get one of the specially-curated boxes that Birchbox offers. If you're new to Birchbox, every month subscribers have the option of receiving the regular subscription with products chosen based on your profile or the curated box which includes items from the brand they've teamed up with for the month. 

For February, Birchbox joined with Rent the Runway to give an "all about the details" box and it was filled with some fantastic products. 

derma e Anti-Wrinkle Vitamin A Glycolic Scrub | Full-size, $12.95 

I'm a fan of derma e products, especially their night cream. This product works fantastically, makes my skin feel baby soft. The only slight drawback is the clinical smell, which is to be expected due to its ingredients. Fortunately, the scent isn't lingering and the results are worth it. I got the formula for normal to oily skin and I have dry to normal skin. Thought it'd affect my skin and have it flake, but it worked well. 

Fekkai Blowout Hair Refresher Dry Shampoo | Full-size, $10-$20

Gives you salon-fresh hair. I've been using dry shampoo more when my hair needs a pick-me-up. I haven't yet to use it post-workout when my hair is exceptionally sweaty, but the product works well on my roots. 

Net Soap, Radio Body Wash - The Stuff that Cupid dips his arrows in | Full-size, $16

Love, love, love the packaging. The smell, not so much. The product lathers well, but the blackberry/vanilla scent is too overwhelming for me (guess I don't enjoy those pheromone inducers!). However, I am one of the few who do not like the smell of Victoria's Secret bath products and this scent is similar to those. 

Sumita Color Contract Eyeliner| Full-size, $11-$21

The blue/teal color is remarkable. Not a color I'd use everyday, but it's a little bit rock 'n roll for a fun makeup look. It has great pigment and glides on easily. I'm happy that Birchbox sent me something I normally wouldn't pick for myself, but will definitely use. 

theBalm Read My Lips | Full-size, $15

The product was a mismatch for me. Anything bubblegum pink does not work well for my skin tone. It makes it look like I have frosted makeup. The texture was stickier rather than shiny. Not a fan. 

Overall, another beauty-ful box. There will always be a few misses among all the hits, and I love my first curated box experience. 

If you have yet to sign up for Birchbox and want to get beauty products delivered to your mailbox every month, then you can use my referral link by clicking HERE. 

January Birchbox Review: 2015. Let's Do This.

I love being part of the Birchbloggers group on Facebook where we all talk about makeup, beauty products, and of course, Birchbox! This is my inaugural Birchbox review and I got an extra bonus this month with the Love, Lashes and Lipstick book, which I haven't had time to read since this month's been a bit hectic. Is there any other way to enter a new year? 

So, without further ado -- here we go:

Essential Elements Wake Up Rosemary Body Lotion | Full-size, $19

I am a fan of this product line. When the product description says invigorating, they mean it. It's a little strong at first, makes me flashback to me as a young child having Mentholatum smeared on to help me with congestion (or whatever it was meant to help). But, the smell quickly turns subtle and more spa-like. I have the body wash sample in the shower and the body lotion by my bedside to rub into my arms, hands, and elbows before bed.

Katherine Cosmetics Everyday Eyeliner | Full-size $26

This eyeliner glides on well and doesn't smudge. I liked trying the dark brown color since I usually use black. The color is a better choice for a daytime, more natural look. It's a pretty high price point for me for an eyeliner, so let me know if you have any drugstore recommendations. 

Key West Aloe Gentle Aloe Facial Cleanser | Full-size $16.50

I was excited for this product after several people posted that they liked the line. I've tried this product and the lotion and...I wasn't crazy about either. I don't think the facial cleanser lathers that well and with the wide variety of beauty products available, I'm going to skip this line in the future.

Ren Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask | Full-size $55

Not my favorite mask. The smell was a bit off-putting and I was underwhelmed. I like the thicker cream or charcoal masks. It's not a bad product, just not for me. 

Sweet Science Invisible Daily Tint SPF 35 | Full-size $45

Three cheers for face products with a higher SPF! I love the lightweight feel of this product and how easily it glides on. I would use this as a stand alone in the summer when I ease up on my makeup routine, but in the winter, I still pair it with more coverage from a BB cream or foundation.

Extra January Favorite: Herbal Essences Naked Collection Shampoo, Dry Shampoo and Conditioner 

This did NOT come in my Birchbox, but I was sent samples from Klout for Herbal Essences newest line, which I love, and I'm adding it to my January list of favorites. The dry shampoo is fantastic and I used the BOGO coupon Klout sent to get the full-size shampoo and conditioner. It leaves my hair smelling fresh and it makes my hair feel super clean and hydrated. 

I look forward to getting my Birchbox in the mail every month and it's fun learning from other bloggers and YouTubers about new products to try. Let me know if you have any recommendations of recent must-haves you've used!

Battle of the Dry Shampoos: Amika Perk Up Vs. Herbal Essences Naked

I am not one of those girls who can go days without washing her hair. I know it's supposed to be healthier and hairstylists recommend it, but I just can't. 

Buuut once in awhile, I do. 

When I have gone without a washing, I turn to dry shampoo. Although I have not tried it after a super sweaty workout like TKB, I have tried it post-yoga, when my hairline only get a little bit sweaty and I am going to brunch or run errands after class.

First up, Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo, which I have received more than once in my Birchbox. No complaints here! Its subtle berry smell is far better than the medical smell of other products I've tried. Since I usually shower at night, I often use this dry shampoo in the morning to perk up my locks a bit. It help maintains the wisps around the crown of my head and makes my hair feel fresher. 

The .75 oz can that I received in my monthly subscription comes in handy for travel, but you can buy a full 5.3 oz. size on Birchbox by clicking here.

Image from Birchbox.com 

As a Klout member, I often get free "perks" and last month I received a complimentary goodie basket of Herbal Essences Naked products. I love the smell of this product! It's refreshing, light, with just a hint of mint at the end. One of the interesting things about this product is that it contains tapioca starch, which apparently aids in absorbing oil. Sounds weird, but it works! The Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo does not leave a powdery residue and immediately makes my hair appear less dull. It works well to absorb oil when you work it through your roots.

I received a full 4.9 oz can with my Klout package, which retails at $4.99 at Target and other similar stores. 

Image from us.herbalessences.com

Which is better? 

While both products give amazing results, the scent and price point of the Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo makes it a winner...by a hair!

Which dry shampoos have you tried? Which are your favorites? And, who has used them for really greasy, post-workout hair? I'm scared to try!

What's In My Influenster #FrostyVoxBox?

For those of you signed up with Influenster, you know how great it feels to get the email that says: You are receiving a VoxBox! I got such an email last month and days later I received a red, festive box of products as part of their most recent #FrostyVoxBox campaign. Merry Christmas to me!

Eight products total, all from quality brands, to help make my holidays merry and bright. 

Let's take a peek inside, shall we?

First things first, I tore into those Fruit Vines Bites. The niblets are from the Red Vines candy family and have the same flavor and texture as the vines. The beauty about this sweet snack is that there are no preservatives.

Since the weather had turned chilly (at least by San Diego standards), I immediately made use of the Celestial Seasonings Candy Cane Lane Decaf Green Tea. Because it's decaf, it turned out to be a delicious way to wind down the day and snuggle in nice and cozy. I was apprehensive about the peppermint flavor, but it was subtle enough that it was light and refreshing. I'd like to get a small teapot and continue to enjoy a hot tea every evening this winter.

I was excited to see the EcoTools Hair Brush since I can't remember the last time I replaced mine. I typically use a paddle brush, so I appreciate the soft bristles of the EcoTools brush. However, my hair is so thick that it didn't feel like it was brushing all the way through. It did increase its shine, but on most days, I need something that brushes out the tangles a little bit better.

There were four beauty products in my #FrostyVoxBox:

- A sample of the No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Sachet, which is meant to help reduce the appearance of fine lines for healthier looking skin. Fortunately, I have not noticed too many fine lines yet, but it doesn't hurt to start good skincare with innovative products early.

- A full-size bottle of Rimmel's Gentle Eye Makeup Remover which is perfect if you use waterproof mascara. It helps clean the entire eye area. I just started using eye makeup remover in the past year and I think it makes a difference with my skincare.

- A jet black Rimmel Scandleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal Eyeliner, which is heavily pigmented and glides on easily. With the vibrant color, keep in mind that a lot can go a long way. Or, if you want a dramatic look, line those rims to your heart's content.

-The NYC Expert Last Lip Color in Sugar Plum is a complementary match for my skin tone. It is similar to my original lip color, but gives a slightly darker hue for depth and a bit of shine. The product is moisturizing, which leaves a smooth finish. I am a fan of NYC beauty products and I look forward to trying their different colors, especially since they're only $1.99 each!

The last product of the box threw me for a loop for a second, but inspired me to search for recipes, so that I could take full advantage of it. McCormick's Gourmet Thyme will be a good seasoning for chicken and lemon pasta or in a hearty stew. If you cook with thyme often and have recipes to share with me, that'd be great!

Can't wait until my next VoxBox, but until then, I have plenty of time to enjoy the products I've received. Cheers my fellow Influensters!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. All opinions remain my own.

L'Oreal Hair Makeover: Sweet and Simple

the tools

It's always fun to change your look and color your hair. But, it's even better when you can get a friend to help. After receiving the new L'Oreal Superior Preference Mousse Absolue in Light Auburn Brown, I knew just the gal who would want to try it out: my friend, Kim!

Kim has light to medium brown hair and I thought this color would be perfect for a richer hue just in time for fall. 

the before

The mousse is so much better than the hair dye that you mix in the bottle and usually drips onto your clothes, the floor, and everywhere else. The mousse bottle already comes pre-mixed and you just apply in sections of the hair. There is hardly any dripping during the process and there's not nearly the heavy scent of regular at-home color.

the after

The color was perfect for her, the process easy. If you're thinking of switching it up, for only fifteen bucks, this product is a good choice.