Happy Hair with Foxbrim!

I've shared my love for Foxbrim with you in the past; most of their products are skin care items.  So, I'm really excited about their Total Hair Repair Oil!  Its pretty great!

Product Description:

- Light natural oils nurture hair health from root to tip, strengthening while hydrating.

- Formulated to give you silky, free-free, manageable, soft hair with natural shine.

- Formulated for all hair types!

- Sunflower oil helps to nourish hair and prevent breakage. Organic Argan Oil creates a tight seal for the hair cuticle. Panthenol fills in cracks and fractures. Shea butter builds volume and movement.

- Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!  Love you results or let us know.  We will offer you a full refund. No questions asked!

What I Love about Foxbrim's Total Hair Repair Oil:

- I love Foxbrim's high quality products, customer service and 100% money back guarantee!

- I used it as a moisturizing 10 minute mask, and my wavy hair is frizz-free & bouncy!

- I'll probably use this as a mask 1-2x/week.

- I can tell that my hair feels silkier and healthier.

A Few Critiques:

- I definitely can't put this on dry hair; its just too heavy for my hair.  So, be aware of that.

- I feel like this hair oil has more of a learning curve about how to use it with my hair than other oils I've worked with in the past.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with this hair oil.  You can find it on Amazon.com for $17.95!  This is a great price compared to other hair oils that cost at least $25-$30.

Verdict: Happy, but really Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Tomoson.com and made possible by Foxbrim.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Today's Reason to Smile ~ Happy St. Patrick's Day!

There are so many things right in this picture on my Saint Patrick's Day Morning.

I'm rockin' out my layered gold necklaces from Rocksbox.

I'm seriously owning some green eye shadow & eye liner from Bare Minerals.

My hair is actually behaving thanks to the art of reading instructions on a hair oil I was reviewing the night before . . . and my skin is happily glowing thanks to Radha's Argan Oil and Cremo's Face Wash & Moisturizer.

PLUS, I am holding a golden mug filled with Moustache Coffee.

But the best part is that I FREAKING REMEMBERED TO WEAR SOMETHING GREEN on Saint Patrick's Day!!

I just don't own very many green items.  I never, ever have.  As a small child, I was the epitome of the girly-girl . . . except that I wasn't afraid to skin my knees when running or riding on my bike in my frilly dresses (no really, they had lace; they were frilly).

My favorite color was of course pink, and this was back before pink & green were cute.  There were no cute combinations of pink & green in the 1980s.  To make matters worse, I could never remember to wear green on St. Patrick's Day, and I was subjected to the constant pinching of my compatriots throughout elementary school.

So, today's reason to smile is remembering to wear green! 

February's Freebies! How I Scored Them & You Can Too!

Okay, now all you wonderful ladies & gents who follow me know how much I LOVE a freebie!  Well, here are all the freebies or almost-freebies I scored for the month of February and how I did it! 

Enjoy!

Fun Stuff to Read:

The magazine subscriptions are still going strong!  Make sure to check out Hip2Save on a daily basis to score these bad boys.  Subscriptions go really quickly on this site!  They also find plenty of other exciting giveaways, so check this one for daily finds!

     

Can I just say how important it is to enter giveaways?

I don't even know how I won this lovely book that I've been coveting!  It seriously just showed up in the mail one day!  No. Joke. 


Beauty Products!

So excited to try out GlamGlow's newest product! I love being on company mailing lists; I actually have an entirely separate email account just for this purpose.  Since I'm on GlamGlow's mailing list, they sent me the information to request this free sample!

These two little get clean goodies were courtesy of GetItFree.  Thrilled to try out Nivea's new body wash plus score a coupon!  Hubby got a free full-size deodorant from Dove, which is awesome!

Sometimes freebies come in the form of coupons!  I got a BOGO coupon in my sunday paper for purchase of one Revlon Mascara and get one eyeliner free.  Yep!  Cashed that bad boy in for goodies for an upcoming giveaway! 

I mentioned the importance of mailing lists right?  I am a huge fan of being on BeautyJunkees mailing list.  (Hang around on their site long enough and a pop offer to join will show up!) They recently sent out a promo code that allowed me to get one mini-kabuki brush (regularly $18) of my choice for $1.95!  Pretty good!  

Love Harvey Prince!  I'm following them on Facebook, and recently joined their mailing list (sound familiar?!).  So, when they advertised another free fragrance, for which I only paid s&h of $8.99, I was pretty excited.  I threw in the samples for $3!  WOOT!

Edibles:

Totally love some free tea!  Scored this free sample of tea from Twinings from GetItFree.

Vitamins are so important, and I'm so excited that there are chewy vitamins for grown-ups now!  I got this free sample + coupon from Target.com!

So, there you go!  All my freebies this month, and where I found them!  Good luck in March and happy hunting!

February Birchbox Unboxing & Review!

This is my second Birchbox for February.  If you're interested in what I scored in my first box, check that out here. So, here are my thoughts on box #2!

February's Birchbox:

Product Information Card:

Reviews:

- MINU Shampoo: I don't have colored hair!  So, I'm shipping this sample off to Mommy along with the little blister pack sample of serum.

- Juicy Couture Hollywood Royal: Love this scent! Its fresh, a little fruity, and totally sassy!

- Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara: I'm a huge fan of this mascara!  The brush is perfect.  The formula is long-lasting, non-flaking, and super moisturizing!

- Marcelle Gentle Makeup Remover: Great for sensitive skin and highly effective at removing even waterproof mascara!

- PARLOR by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray: I have a new favorite sea salt spray.  This is fantastic as a wave refresher on days 2-3 after styling.  It doesn't dry out or frizz up my hair while enhancing my waves!

If you would like to score 5 awesome samples every month, earn points toward products you love, and to party it up, then check out Birchbox's monthly subscription (affiliate link)!  

Its only $10/month! Plus, by reviewing your samples & posting to social media, you can earn up to $6/ month toward products in the Birchbox store! SWEET!

My Current Favorite Products for my Wavy Hair! +Tutorial!

I have been embracing my wavy hair for a number of years.  During that time I have tried a number of various products, techniques and hair cuts to enhance my shy waves.

I think I have finally found an easy and effective system that works for me:

I wash & condition my hair; even if I use a co-wash product, such as the one I have from DevaCurl, I'll use a mask just for the added moisturizing benefits.  

I make sure to comb my hair in the shower; once I get out, its a few finger combs with products, and then no touchy!

I personally love a really good turban wrap for hair.  It coaxes my wet hair to form beautiful waves while keeping it from dripping everywhere.  I have to make sure that my hair doesn't get too dry or else products don't work very well.

Here are the products I use:

- Curl Keeper Total Control for Frizzy Hair Original: I love this stuff!  Wow.  Okay, so I gently apply this product to my hair as though it were conditioner.  This is the first thing I apply to my hair once I take the towel wrap off.

- Roux Anti-Aging Hair Serum Leave-in Treatment: I like how this product adds volume to my hair at the roots.  It also helps my hair appear brighter and healthier.  I add this second, massaging it  into my scalp and the roots of the hair

- Davines Replumping Hair Filler Superactive: This stuff is seriously my best friend.  I separate hair into two sections: one over each shoulder.  Then I apply 2-3 sprays of product per side.  Finally, I gently tousle my hair to encourage the waves.

- Then I allow my hair to air dry!

- Parlor by Jeff Chastain Moisturizing Sea Salt Spray: I add this after my hair is dry just to rejuvenate the waves, add a little volume, and finish the look!

Care & Maintenance:

- I put my hair into a half-pulled through ponytail bun when I go to bed.  This keeps my waves from flattening out while I sleep.  It also means that my hair is sometimes wavier on day #2!

- I have an empty sample size of the Davines SuperActive bottle that I've filled with water to evenly wet my hair the next morning and reactivate my waves.

- I sometimes use dry shampoo, but with this much product in my hair already, it usually just makes my scalp itch.

- I play around with different styles on days 1 & 2: headbands, pulling half my hair back in a clip, or putting hair in a high, scrunched ponytail are all fun ways of making my hair look last longer!

Interested in more Blog Posts about Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle? Check out some more blog links here!

January's Free Scores and How You Can Get Freebies, Too!

I love scoring freebies, and I want you to know how I do it so that you can get great products for free too!

Magazines!

      

Through Hip2Save, I have gotten many magazine subscriptions for free!

Skin Care & Beauty Items!

    

I received free samples of L'Oreal Hair Care, Stetson Claliber, plus a really cool sticker & bracelet about ending fear of not having my phone through GetItFree.com!

   

Keeping my eyes peeled on Facebook, I found free samples for GlamGlow and Philosophy!  I even found a deal for a free rollerball of Harvey Prince fragrance; I only paid S&H!  (I did add the shampoo & conditioner for $1/each, though!)

I am totally stoked, because I scored these two freebies by being accepted into Secrets #clearlybetter challenge!  This is an opportunity extended to bloggers!  Yay!  I got noticed!

Remember those free magazines I mentioned earlier?  Well, some of them stash amazing samples + coupons inside!  Triple score!

Never underestimate the power of the Giveaway, my friends!  These little bad boys both came from giveaways!  One was from a blog that hosted a giveaway by Not Your Mother's.  The other was from Allure's December Giveaway (yes, those prizes can take forever to arrive; I didn't even know I had won anything until this arrived!)

Food!

I scored this really cool box of individual packs of honey crystals from Abe's Market Try For $2!

I've snagged my second freebie from Swaagable! Totally excited to get a free Runa Tea!

I hope you've enjoyed this month's free score post!  How do you hunt down deals and freebies?  I'd love to hear from you!

My New Favorite Conditioner Perfect is for a Grad Student Budget!

Its no secret that I absolutely adore InstaNatural!  I feel like a kid at Christmastime every time the boxes with their sweet goodies arrive for me to review.  Now, I'll admit that I've never spent much money on skin care products until recently, so I'm still learning about really nice skin care items.

But, I'm the girl who chopped of 15 inches of hair for Locks of Love in college.  So, I know a little something about hair products.  I also know that the stuff I love is just way to expensive for me to keep in stock 24/7.  So, I leapt at the opportunity to review the Argan Oil Hair Mask from my new favorite company!

My favorite thing about this hair mask is that it is also great as a daily conditioner.  I couldn't wait to try this out, so when I washed my hair yesterday, I just applied InstaNatural's Argan Oil Hair Mask just like I would any other conditioner.  I did leave it on for at least 5 minutes, which is the suggested length for use as a hair mask.  

I love how thick and creamy this product feels.  It was absorbed quickly by my hair, and rinsed out very easily.  The slightly sweet, slightly musky scent is relaxing and enjoyable.  Unlike other products, the scent of this one is not overly sweet nor is it overpowering.  

What I find most impressive is how intensely soft my hair felt after using this product.  My thick, slightly wavy hair tends to feel very coarse when I allow it to air dry, but not with this Argan Oil Conditioner!  

InstaNatural does it again!  For $18, this 8 oz. conditioner comes in at a lower price point than other conditioners that I've fallen in love with recently, such as Davines Absolute Beautifying Shampoo currently on Birchbox.com, which costs $26 for 9 fl oz.  For my grad student budget, InstaNatural's Argan Oil Hair Mask  (affiliate link) is much more reasonable.

Verdict: Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brandbacker and made possible by InstaNatural.  Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own.

KISS Wave Revealed and Reviewed

I was super excited when KISS Hair Appliances invited me to review their new product, the KISS InstaWave! I am so terrible with curling irons that I threw my last one away over 4 years ago and have never replaced it. This item is supposed to create curls quickly and easily, so I couldn't wait to try it out! 

About KISS InstaWave:

This fully automatic, tangle-free curler creates lovely curls with extreme ease. Not only do you no longer need to book an appointment at the salon or struggle with regular curling irons to achieve beautiful curls for a range of looks. 

The single button that activates the automatic curler makes it easy to handle this appliance with one hand. Additionally, the dual direction button makes alternating curls for the most natural and on trend look a breeze. The 2 settings for heat, with a maximum temperature of 420 degrees, offers flexibility to you for creating your ideal curls.

The device automatically turns off after 90 minutes, which is a helpful way to ease your mind if you ran out the door so quickly you can't remember if you turned it off. 

Finally, the InstaWave's ceramic barrel is infused with diamond particles to assist its durability and conductivity. 

Before diving into my review of the KISS InstaWave, let's first look at how it actually works:

My Thoughts on KISS InstaWave:

The look that I was able to achieve for this video was actually my first time using this automatic curler. I have to admit that I got quite frustrated a few times, and had to pull out my instruction guide to make sure I was doing it right! The instructions provide a helpful guide for selecting low or high heat as well as how long to curl your hair for various desired effects. However, there's a part of me that feels like using this tool ought to be a bit more intuitive; it makes curls quite easily once you figure out how to use it!

Here before and after photos of my later, more practiced use of the KISS InstaWave:

Before

After ~ 20 minutes to achieve this look

What I love about KISS InstaWave is that it is very quick and easy to use. I also really like that the product is heavy enough that the cord doesn't pull it off my vanity. Plus, the curling clips create a sturdy heat-free surface so you can put down your KISS InstaWave without fear of it falling over or burning your bathroom counter-top. All of those traumatic 1990s experiences with curling irons can be put behind me!

What I don't love about KISS InstaWave is the constant, high pitched sound it emanates while plugged in. (Yes, the manufacturer is aware of this noise, but apparently it has no impact on the item's functionality.) I also don't love the learning curve for this tool; I'm pretty sure that it'll take me using this item at least 5-6 times before I feel like its 'no big deal' to pull this out to do my hair for the day.

Despite these qualities that I don't love, I'm extremely impressed with the overall quality of this tool. It is easy to handle with one hand. It eliminates all of those scary moments I had with curling irons earlier in my life - trying to fiddle with the kickstand, hoping the cord didn't pull it off the vanity and onto my feet, and that really annoying clip that was necessary to put your hair into just right.

You can find the KISS InstaWave on Amazon (affiliate link) for approximately $60.  For those of us on a budget who love curls and want a new hair tool, this is worth the splurge!

Verdict: Yay!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Brandbacker and made possible by KISS InstaWave. Products were provided in exchange for my time in assessing their quality and writing an honest review about them. All product information is gleaned from the manufacturer's product description.  All opinions are my own based on my experiences with the product.  All photos are my own. 

Monthly Obsessions! (Hair Products)

So, I've fallen in love with some new hair products this month.  I've chosen my top five to review and share with you, my lovely readers!  Of course I don't use all of these everyday, but I have found that they each are helpful in keeping my locks healthy, frizz-free, and easily styled.  As a graduate student, I'm very budget conscious, so none of these should break the bank!

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Shampoo & Conditioner

I really enjoy many of Burt's Bees products.  I fell in love with their lip balm in college, and my love for this company has only grown.  This shampoo & conditioner is 99% natural, and free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.  Their products use only natural fragrances.  I've been using this set for a while, and I just replaced both of them.  I love that this product is good for my hair, smells nice, and performs very well.  The shampoo and conditioner are very lightly scented with mango.  They make my hair hair feel smooth, clean, and fresh.  They are available at a reasonable price point of approximately $8 each.  You can find them at most natural grocery stores such as Whole Foods, Target, and online at burtsbees.com.

It's a 10 Miracle Dry Shampoo & Conditioner in One

This was my first investment in a dry shampoo.  I've been using this product since August, and I love it!  I've tried one other dry shampoo by Fekkai, but I found that it left my hair significantly stiffer and drier than It's a 10 Dry Shampoo & Conditioner in One.  I love that this product smells great, absorbs oils, and lightly conditions my hair, which leaves it feeling freshly washed even after 3 days without shampooing it.  I usually wash my hair every other day, but this product makes my blow-outs last for 3-4 without my scalp feeling gross.  This item cost me about $20, but it is a large canister.  I purchased this item at Supercuts, but its also available in many Ulta stores.

Davines Oi/ Oil Absolute Beautifying Potion

I received this particular item in my September Birchbox.  I love it!  It has a lovely fresh, clean, and light scent.  It definitely locks in moisture when I apply it to towel-dried hair.  It is light enough that I can reapply the next day to tame fly-aways and frizz.  I will say that I am careful about what other products I use in conjunction with this since it is a hair oil.  I will definitely be considering purchasing the full size version when this sample runs out.  Its available at birchbox.com for $40 and davines.com for $20-$40.  This seems expensive, but it lasts forever; I've been using this tiny bottle for almost two months, and its still half full!

Roux Anti-Aging Hair Serum Leave-In Treatment

I received this item in my single box from Beauty Box 5.  This item was very new for me.  I've used various anti-frizz creams and heat protecting sprays, but nothing designed to just make my hair more healthy.  I am highly impressed with this product.  It claims to make hair stronger, brighter and more voluminous.  It does precisely those things.  I've noticed my natural highlights re-emerging.  My hair has more volume near my scalp, which is helpful since my hair typically has lots of volume in the locks, but falls flat near my scalp.  My hair also just plain feels better when I use this product a few times a week.  Finally, it smells good!  Its usually about $12, and the Roux website will help you locate a retailer near you.

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave-in Treatment

I received this product in my October Birchbox.  Its a wonderful heat styling protector that also smooths, conditions, and protects your hair from UV waves.  And on top of all of that, it seriously smells like heaven in a bottle!  When I'm having a lazy day, I let my hair air dry and then apply a few spritzes of this product before doing a laid-back blowout.  This product makes my hair feel light, smell great, and leaves it feeling so smooth that its hard not to run my fingers through it.  I've been using this small sample bottle (1 oz.) for about a month, and I still have a ton left!  It runs about $22 on birchbox.com for an 8 oz. bottle.


Participate!

Have you tried any of these products?  What do you think about them?

Are there any new hair products you've fallen in love with over the last month?  How did you find out about them?  Where did you purchase them?  What kind of hair do you have, and what helps you tame your lovely locks? I'd love to hear all about your latest hair product obsessions!