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!

New Recipe Resolution: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo

In the days when I used to eat at Olive Garden, I always ordered either the Ravioli di Portobello or the Chicken Con Broccoli. Then, for whatever reason, I didn't order alfredo-based sauces anymore for a long time. They were too heavy. And when reheating leftovers, the amount of oil that had separated out was kind of eye opening.

Well, I decided to give it another whirl. At home. Since one of my 2015 goals is to make one new recipe a week, I figured that Chicken Broccoli Alfredo would be easy and tasty, and it was!

I used: 

- 1 package of uncooked chicken already cut up in small, thin strips
- 1 package of uncooked broccoli
- 1 package of penne noodles
- 1 jar of Alfredo sauce

Four ingredients! Woo! I sauteed the chicken in a little bit of oil and added salt, pepper, and garlic salt for added flavor since chicken is so bland. I steamed all the broccoli and boiled the penne. Once everything was cooked, I drained the noodles, then added the broccoli and chicken to the pot. 

Finally, I poured the Alfredo sauce over everything and mixed well. I filled up the sauce jar halfway with water and put the lid back on, shook it up, and poured in the pot to get every last drop out. My mom taught me that trick when cooking with jarred sauces. Top with parmesan cheese and serve with garlic bread. 

Bonus of making this meal: Although I could have made my own sauce, the kind I used only had 4.5 grams of fat per serving, so I was able to make the pasta broccoli heavy and light on sauce. Just like I wanted it.

Mikey told me it was excellent! Then again, he says that about everything I cook. Smart man. His only request for next time: use bowtie pasta. 

As you can tell, I'm a fan of the quick and easy recipes that aren't too expensive. The whole meal came to about $15 for two people with leftovers. Later on in the year, I will try to attempt to be more ambitious with recipes that contain more than four ingredients, but in the meantime, it feels good just to be cooking at home.

Bonus kinda-sorta recipe: I enhanced my leftover rice and veggies from the other night by heating them up and adding a perfectly fried egg on top, soy sauce, then doused it all with sriracha. Everything is better with that stuff.

I'm learning to use what's in the fridge and cabinets, which isn't much, but it's helping me get creative and planning out the exact groceries I need when shopping. So far, so good. 

Enjoy the eats!

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.