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R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo and Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner Review!

September 24, 2015

Hello everyone! I have for you today reviews on two R+Co products that I have been testing out. I purchased the Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner from the Birchbox store and the Death Valley Dry Shampoo came as a sample in my August Birchbox. For reference, I have curly, color treated hair and I tried both of these with my natural hair and then also when I straightened it.

R+Co comprises “some of the most forward-thinking, rule-bending hairstylists in the business.” Their products are free of parabens, sulfates (SLS or SLES), mineral oil, petrolatum and gluten. They are also vegetarian, cruelty-free, color-safe and most of the retail packaging can be recycled. Also notable from this brand is their androgynous fragrances and the colorful images that mark the containers they come in.

Let’s get started.

Death Valley Dry Shampoo

Described as “the quickest way to get volume and body into your hair.

Pros

Adds volume to hair

Nice, clean scent

Good product to refresh hair

No white residue left behind

Unique packaging/pictures

Available in travel-size

Cons

Does not absorb oil

Can feel a little bit sticky at times

A bit pricey- $29 for 6.3 oz/$17 for 1.6 oz

Overall: This dry shampoo didn’t absorb any oil and I felt that when it mixed with the oil in my hair, it made it feel a bit sticky and heavy. It smells very similar to the Dry Bar Detox Dry Shampoo but leans more towards a woodsy scent-I love it! This is best used on straight hair that isn’t too oily and adds good volume. I doubt I would purchase this as both the Dry Bar Detox Shampoo and Bumble and bumble Pret-a-Powder work better at absorbing oil and I do prefer the Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray for adding volume/texture over this one.

Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner

Described as “the only step you need to weightlessly soften and condition, no matter what kind of hair you’ve got.”

Pros

Cleans pretty well for a product that doesn’t really foam up

Light, airy mousse-like texture

Doesn’t make hair feel stripped which is great for curly and color-treated hair

The scent is not overpowering

Unique packaging/pictures

Cons

You’ll still need to condition your hair despite the claims

Pricey- $29 for 6 fl oz

You do need to use quite a bit of product

Hard to tell how much product is left

Overall: I’ve tried several shampoos, including DevaCurl, that are designed to clean hair without foaming and while they were nice at first, my hair just looked greasy by the end of the day or over time. This cleansing conditioner though is one of the best formulations I have tried thus far. The product looks similar to mousse but a bit creamier and it really removes oil without making your scalp feel dry. I had to use about 3-4 pumps to cover my head and I did need to use conditioner on the end afterwards but my hair looked soft and significantly less frizzy. My only problem with this is that you can’t tell how much is left in the can and you do need to use more than is indicated in the instructions. It is pricey but well-worth the price and I will definitely be repurchasing this.

Have a great day and let me know in the comments below what your favorite or least favorite hair products are!

Stephanie

August Favorites 2015!

September 1, 2015

Happy September 1st everyone! I can’t believe how fast last month zoomed by, which brings me to share with you things I’ve loved this past August.

Let’s get to it!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick in Potent

My first Estee Lauder lipstick purchase and the credit goes to Cos from The World of Cos. 🙂 I love a great creamy lipstick and this one is perfect for everyday, a night out-virtually any occasion. It’s a light pink coral nude that glides on nicely over exfoliated lips and has good pigmentation. I’m not a fan of the scent, which I’m not sure how to describe, but once you apply it, the smell disappears. Pairing it with a lip pencil underneath extends its wear time.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lip Pencil in Nude

It’s been a while since I used a lip liner but I am happy I picked this up along with the lipstick. The shade Nude is a MLBB (my lips but better) and pairs well with a lot of neutral/pink lipsticks I own. While I don’t agree with the creamy consistency claim, it applies nicely and really extends the wear of lipstick. A lip brush is included on the opposite side of the pencil which is a nice addition and a magnetic cap.

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Flat Iron Smoothing Spray

I’m not a fan of Tresemme hair care products but this keratin infused heat protection spray is the exception. I love using this when I straighten my hair as it facilitates the straightening process and smooths hair without making it feel greasy. The style holds up very well and this product doesn’t make your hair smell burned when heat is used.

Below are swatches of the lipstick, lip liner and CC Cream.

A picture of me wearing the lipstick and lip pencil plus my hair after using the Tresemme spray.

Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35

A sample that came in my August Birchbox, this CC Cream, housed in a convenient squeeze tube, provided good coverage without the heavy feel. It evens out my redness while allowing skin to look like skin.

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

A book that came in June’s PopSugar Must Have Box, In the Unlikely Event was a great summer read that was based one real life events. The book is set in Elizabeth, New Jersey in the 1950s and follows a young woman’s memorable journey in the aftermath of multiple plane crashes in her hometown. I was impressed at how well Judy Blume was able depict the emotions of all the characters who make up and tell the story- her writing manages to convincingly transport you back to the 1950s and experience the tragedy that occurred, offering multiple view points from different age groups and characters that feel so real. It made me feel nostalgic for a time period I didn’t even experience.

What are you favorite August items?

Stephanie

Summer Must Have: On the Go Beauty!

July 28, 2015

Hi everyone! How was your weekend? I had a great and relaxing weekend filled with yoga, massage, Pressed Juicery and Urth Caffe goodness. 🙂

I’m back today with products that are compact and simple to use. Travel and purse friendly, see what products are great to get when you’re on the go!

Hair and Body

Bumble and bumble Pret-a-Powder

Toss this in your purse to refresh your hair on the go. The powder quickly blends into the hair, absorbing any excess oil and is perfect if you have bangs that start to stick to your forehead after a few hours.

Davines SU Hair and Body Wash

Streamline your shower routine by using this gender neutral scented item that cleanses skin and hair but won’t leave it feeling stripped.

Spongelle

Included in June’s PopSugar Must Have, you can save time and space with this soap infused body buffer. Just wet the sponge and enjoy a rich lather that will leaves your skin (and bathroom) lightly scented.

Face

Dermalogica Precleanse Wipes

One of the best makeup remover wipes I have tired, these oil saturated towelettes break up makeup and sunscreen quickly without any harsh tugging or pulling.

Makeup

Fresh Sugar Berry Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

Easy to apply, this lip balm requires no mirror, protects lips for the sun and is on trend with this season’s berry lip!

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (my shade: Light 2 Vanilla)

The doe foot brush and formula conceals imperfections with a few dabs underneath your eyes.

*Note: If you’re concealing blemishes, dab some first onto a clean finger and then apply to affected area to prevent cross contamination.

NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (my shade: Iced Mocha)

Eyeshadow sticks are virtually the foolproof way to apply eyeshadow. Glide some over the eyelid for day and take it up a notch at night by applying it to the lower lash line along with black eyeliner.

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour

Featured in my June Favorites, this product sculpts your face with ease, no brush required.

What are your favorite travel friendly items?

Stephanie

Summer Must Have: Hair Tips!

July 16, 2015

Hi readers! Continuing with my ‘Summer Must Have’ series is a post dedicated to maintaining healthy hair during the summer. I sat down with cosmetologist and personal friend Kathryn DiGioia, who owns DiGioia’s Beauty Studio along with makeup professional and twin sister Katelyn DiGioia, and asked her to share tips on how to keep your tresses and scalp in tip top shape amid your sun, chlorine and salt water filled days.

Protect your hair against chlorine and salt water damage by wetting hair with cold water and conditioning before swimming (I’ve been loving Nelson J Beverly Hills Argan Oil 7 Moisture Healing Mask)
Color depositing shampoos help extend and refresh your hair color (Try Tressa Watercolors shampoo)
Use a UV protection spray for your hair when you’re outside (Try products from It’s a 10)
If you have thinning hair, make sure you apply SPF to your scalp and/or wear a hat
Keep up with routine hair trims every 4-6 weeks
Embrace your natural hair texture and use less heat. (Loose braids are a great alternative to give your hair a stylish and heat free finish-spritz Keratin Complex Texture Spray or Chi Silk Infusion before styling)
Use gentle shampoos and and nourishing conditioners to help combat frizz (Recommended: Davines Love Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner)

I hope you enjoyed these tips! Special thanks to Kathryn for answering my questions and be sure to check out DiGioia’s Beauty Studio for more information on their services and take a glance at their work by following them on Instagram.

See you tomorrow for my weekly skin tip!

Stephanie

Hair Haul!

March 19, 2015

Hi readers, it’s Thursday-yay! I feel like the days are zooming by right now. Hope all of you are doing well.

I have a few hair products I’m reviewing today so let’s get to it. 🙂

*Side note: I just realized some pictures came out a bit darker than I thought so apologies in advance!

HairGia Keratin Hydrating Masque; $24.99

Described as: “Moisturizing deep conditioner with keratin proteins for dry, damaged and chemically treated hair. This hair mask can be used daily as your regular conditioner or on a weekly basis as a deep conditioning mask treatment.”

Pros

Deeply hydrating and great after color treating hair

Smoother hair appearance and straightening hair is easier after using this

Paraben, sulfate, and cruelty free

Vegan

Color and keratin treatment safe

Cons

Fragrance is overpowering

Due to its thick consistency, sometimes the product is hard to dispense

Bottom line: I really love this conditioner as much as the Macadamia Nut Deep Conditioner. My only complaints would be the smell which although isn’t bad is overpowering-kind of floral like. Also, there is an ingredient in here that makes my body itch if I use it on regular basis so I personally limit use to about 1x per week.

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray; $22

Described as: “Bigger, better, full-on glamorous hair. This invisible dry hair spray builds in incredible volume and sexy texture. Patented polymers absorb oil at the roots, leaving you with just-styled hair for days (and nights).”

Pros

Available in travel/purse size

Smells amazing

UV protection

Provides texture

Color and keratin treatment safe

Invisible spray-sprays clear

Good for holding styles

Cons

A little on the pricey side

Does not absorb oil

Doesn’t provide shine

Bottom line: I like this product as a styling product as it provides texture but I wouldn’t recommend it as a dry shampoo since it doesn’t absorb oil very well. This and the Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray are great when I style my curly hair.

Oribe Surfcomber Tousled Texture Mousse; $22

Described as: “Sexy, surfed-in hair is no longer the domain of beachgoers in their tropical climes. Texturize your locks with this hydrating mousse that creates perfectly imperfect separation for that effortlessly tousled look.”

Pros

Available in travel/purse size

Color and keratin treatment safe

Good for creating piecey/tousled hair

Doesn’t leave that ‘crunch’ factor in hair

Smells good

Cons

Sticky texture and residue

Doesn’t provide shine

Hair feels very dry after use

Bottom line: I did not like this mousse at all. I tried it both on wet hair and dry and I couldn’t get past the sticky residue left on both my hair and hands after use. It defines curls and provides texture to straight hair but left the ends feeling and looking dry. I wanted to like it but after many uses, it’s a no for me. 🙁

Dry Bar Detox Dry Shampoo; $12

Described as: “Prolong your blowout with Detox Dry Shampoo! It absorbs oils, impurities, and odor while providing body and fullness, leaving hair feeling fresh and clean. Lightweight and easy to use, the micro powder blends in perfectly with hair color, leaving no white residue behind.”

Pros

Safe for color and keratin treated hair

Available in trial/travel size

Affordable

Absorbs oil effectively

Provides volume

Great to use after the gym

Paraben, sulfate and phthalates free

Cons

There is a white residue left behind if you don’t work it into hair

Overpowering smell- you’ll either like it or hate it. I personally like it.

Bottom line: I had seen this reviewed in a couple of blogs before and I am so glad I tried it. It’s a really great product that helps refresh your hair and prolongs your style.

Skin Food Extra Virgin Olive Oil Hair Essence; $18

Described as: “ A hair treatment serum that contains refined extra virgin olive oil. Calms unruly curls and frizzy hair while adding shine.”

Pros

Adds shine

You can layer it without a greasy look or feel

Nice and subtle clean scent

Defines curls

Cons

Available in select Skin Food stores or online

Price fluctuates depending where you buy it from

Need quite a bit of product to add shine

Bottom line: I’ve purchased this product a few times already and I love it. It does sometimes take a little bit more product use to add shine while I am straightening my hair but the end result is soft and smooth hair.

Hope you enjoyed this post! What hair products are you currently loving? Any recommendations?

Stephanie

Oribe Gold Lust Collection Review!

January 15, 2015

$55; birchbox.com

A few weeks back, I did a post on my current hair care products and because I really loved the Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray, I treated myself to a couple of other Oribe goodies. I have been hearing rave reviews about Oribe’s Gold Lust Nourishing Oil and thought it would be a perfect item to try for my curly, color treated hair. After scrolling through multiple sites that retail Oribe products, I purchased the Gold Lust Collection from Birchbox since carried a set with 1.7 oz of this oil along with travel sizes of the Gold Lust Shampoo and Gold Lust Conditioner that when used in conjunction, “strengthens and rejuvenates hair to its natural brilliance.”

Gold Lust Shampoo

The Gold Lust Shampoo is described as a rejuvenating cleanser that, “combines centuries old healing oils and extracts-cypress, argan and maracuja-” with a “revolutionary bio-restorative complex to balance the scalp and reinforce the inner strength of each strand.”

Both bottles of shampoo and conditioner are virtually identical so embossed on the top of the bottle is the letter ‘S’ signifying ‘shampoo’. This scent to this shampoo, like most of Oribe’s hair care products is laced with Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine and sandalwood. Personally, I love it. For a shampoo that’s formulated without sulfates, it lathers nicely and the best part, it rinses clean without stripping hair. As much as I like this shampoo, unfortunately there is an ingredient or ingredients that made my skin itch, so I will be sending this back. (Side note: I have very weird skin so sometimes it’s more difficult for me to find something that works amazing and that won’t cause a reaction.)

Gold Lust Conditioner

Using the same oils and extracts as the shampoo, this “ultra-hydrating conditioner softens and revitalizes, smoothing each cuticle to undo the damage of time (and style).”

Again, Oribe’s signature scent is present in this conditioner and the letter ‘C’ is written on top of the bottle for easy identification. The consistency is pretty thin for a conditioner as I am more accustomed to using thicker, masque type consistencies. Sadly, I didn’t find this conditioner hydrating and in fact, it seemed to tangle my hair even more. For a conditioner that boasts healing oils, I expected my hair to feel smoother which sadly ended up feeling and looking frizzy on the ends of my hair.

Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil

This oil is said to “deeply condition, strengthen and smooth-imparting intense nourishment and incredible shine. Works wonders on dry, damaged and color-treated hair.”

I agree with all the reviews out there on this product that state this oil doesn’t weigh hair down. It’s incredibly light-weight and absorbs quickly into hair. My ends are pretty dry and when I applied this oil on them, it helped their appearance slightly but not by much. Perhaps this would work better on my hair if it was straight, but I’ve been leaving it curly and I’ve found other products that work just as well, if not better, than this one.

Note: These products are formulated without parabens, sulfates (SLS or SLES) or sodium chloride. They are also color and keratin treatment safe, offer UV protection for hair, vegan and cruelty and gluten free.

Bottom Line: I wasn’t impressed with this line. Had I not reacted the way I did to the shampoo, I wouldn’t mind buying the shampoo as it’s hard to find a shampoo for curly hair that cleanses well without stripping it. Some shampoos clean too well while others I feel don’t clean at all, leaving a greasy appearance to hair. This shampoo manages to strike the perfect balance but alas, it wasn’t meant for me. 🙁 The conditioner and oil are items I would skip out on though.

Have a favorite hair care product you love? Share your favorites below!

Stephanie

My Current Products for Curly Hair!

December 16, 2014

Hi readers! How was your weekend? Mine was spent celebrating one of my sister’s birthday and shopping for Christmas gifts. 🙂

Today’s post is on hair care, especially those with curls. Awhile back, my hair was a dry, frizzy mess. Nothing I used seemed to work anymore and I found that the only way for my hair to look good was to throw it up in a bun. Don’t get me wrong, a bun style is great but when it becomes your only option, it’s both frustrating and boring. So, I decided to seek some help and visited my local beauty supply store. The lady there was super helpful and knowledgeable, and after assessing my hair, she gave me her recommendations on products. Now. I am not an expert on hair nor am I claiming to be one however, I thought I’d share what I’ve been using.

Shampoo

Since curly hair is dry by nature, using a shampoo that is sulfate-free or low suds is the way to go. Mastey Paris Traite Shampoo Sulfate-Free Moisturizing Creme Hair Cleanser (For Normal to Dry Hair) smells like coconut, cleanses without stripping your hair and protects color treated hair.

Also, since I recently colored my hair red, I use Tressa Watercolors Color Maintenance Shampoo in Fluid Fire. I use it about once a week as it’s a gentle, tinted shampoo that helps enrich my red hue.

Conditioner

For conditioner, I use Macadamia Nut Oil Deep Repair Masque in the shower and Enjoy Leave-In Conditioner when I am combing my hair.

Styling Products

After detangling my hair and applying a leave-in condtioner, I use ColorProof TruCurl Curl Perfecting Creme. This really helps define my curls. Also, sometimes I use a very small amount of Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Mousse. I know many have told me that this mousse isn’t ideal, but this is the only one that works for me so far.

Normally, I just use the above mentioned products and let air dry. Every now and then though, I use a curling wand to create looser curls. For this, I am really loving Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray. I purchased the travel sized version as Oribe’s products can be pricey, but I must say this product is well worth it.

Here is an older picture of my finished look. You can find other pictures of me and my hair on other posts/Instagram.

Taking care of curly hair requires a little extra effort but when you use the right products and understand its needs, it’s well worth it. 🙂

What hair products work for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Happy Tuesday,

Stephanie