Reviews

Review: Sibu Beauty

Balancing Facial Cleanser
Hydrating Serum
Replenishing Night Cream
Cleanse & Detox facial soap
by Sibu Beauty

A couple weeks ago we discussed ways to achieve more radiant skin. Today I get to share with you a brand that helps you to get just that…and more. Sibu Beauty is a brand with a short list of amazing items, including vitamins, that feature the Sea Buckthorn berries from the Tibetan Himalayas. The fruit, they said, “resists the harsh weather conditions and high altitudes. The sea buckthorn berry fortifies itself against the elements by producing an array of powerful nutrients. With over 190 bioactive compounds, sea buckthorn is an unsurpassed source of Omegas 3, 6, and 9. And it’s a rich source of the elusive essential fatty acid, Omega-7, an essential fatty acid vital to collagen production and healthy skin, hair and nails.”

Deeply intrigued I decided to give the potent berry a go. I have been using the products for a little over 4 weeks now and I love them. The cleanser was refreshing and had very small beads in it for a very light exfoliating–killing two birds with one stone. I used that more so at night and the facial bar soap in the morning. The hydrating serum was non-greasy and extremely light. Any skin type could benefit from it’s hydrating effect and it’s protection from environmental stresses. The night cream was slightly thicker than what I would normally use, but if you have mature or dry skin you would love it. I just chose to go a lot lighter with the application. With any new routine I did experience a small breakout (yeah just one!) the first week. I decided to add my toner back into the regime and didn’t have a problem after. My skin seems to love a three step process.

All in all these products were great to try and I’m so glad to have had the opportunity and would like to thank Debi for her help.  To learn more about the Buckthorn berry and Sibu Beauty you can go to their site HERE.  Next I’ll be trying their Revitalize & Renew supplement that is rich in all those omega fatty acids and also a free radical scavenger. I believe that taking care of your skin from the inside can be just as important as the out.

xoxo Heather

Mascara Monday: d.j.v. beautenizer

Volume Lash

by d.j.v. beautenizer

via sephora.com

Cost: $24 at Sephora

Just a short and sweet review for this mascara.  Don’t buy it.  Sorry if that was to harsh.  After talking to a Sephora clerk about makeup and mascara she recommended I try it.  So $24 and clumped up gross lashes later I was deeply disheartened.  The formula is just to thick and wet for my taste.

after 1 coat

attempt at coat 2

xoxo Heather

Mascara Monday: Lash Stiletto

Lash Stiletto Volumptuous

by Maybelline

image via target.com

Cost: $6.94 @Target

Sometimes you don’t have quite the same outcome as another person when it comes to a product.  I reiterate this because I asked two of my beautiful girlfriends what they use for mascara and both said Lash Stiletto.  They looked beautiful(!!) and I thought I must try this mascara for my next Mascara Monday post.

The packaging was simple and straight forward.  The brush was made of the traditional bristles but was very thin and not nearly as densely filled.  There seemed to be no pattern to the individual bristles like you would find with the average brush, but when you look from the top down the brush you will notice it mirrors the same square design as it’s packaging.  In the picture above the brush has a slight wave to it, mine did not come like this though.

The formula was a little wet at first so I would recommend some kind of transition from one to another.  You can tell this formula really had potential but the brush just got in the way for me.  First coat went on easy with little clumping, it’s the following coats that didn’t work.  The formula wanted to build for a bigger look but the brush just pushed my lashes together instead.  After a little finagling I pulled out the Benefit Badgal wand and separated all my lashes (pic 4).

I’m starting to see a pattern here with Maybelline’s mascaras; They don’t like me! hahaha

1. Before

2. One full coat

3. Tried multiple coats

4. Separated with Badgal Lash wand

xoxo Heather

Review: Wella Professionals Care

Brilliance shampoo and conditioner

Pearl Styler styling gel

by Wella Professionals Care

I’m so excited to talk about my first hair product review with Wella Professional Care!!  Wella has been in the hair coloring game for over 130 years and this month is launching a full range of high performance care and styling products all across the states in salons for a more at home salon experience.

The back story on my own hair is that I have non-dyed, fine, and slightly wavy hair.  It’s VERY hard for me to find products that don’t cause my hair to feel greasy.  I’m so glad I gave this new line a shot because not only did the shampoo and conditioner do an amazing job but the gel was amazingly light, my hair looked awesome!  Before I started using these products I was also having trouble with extreme static too due to the changing of the seasons.  After using Wella for several weeks now my hair still looks as great as the first time I used it.

Wella’s Professional Care also comes in 3 other formulas to fit anyone’s needs.

• Brilliance for colored hair:  Helps protect color from fading as well as enhance its brilliance and vibrancy
• Enrich for dry hair:  With creatine and caring polymers, strengthens hair against damage while boosting shine, smoothness, and moisture levels
• Balance for special scalp needs:  Helps condition the sensitive scalp area, leaving it moisturized and smooth
• Age Restore for mature hair:  With protective and strengthening antioxidants and panthenol to reinvigorate hair for renewed softness

You can see more about the brand on their website HERE and the more on their styling products HERE.

Thank you Brianne for giving me the opportunity to review the Wella line.

xoxo Heather

Mascara Monday: BADgal Lash

BADgal Lash

by Benefit Cosmetics

image via sephora.com

Cost: $19 @ Sephora

Direct from their website:

“Sexy, sultry, pure unadulterated black mascara for full, voluminous lashes. It’s as BAD as you want to be!”

I could not agree with this statement more, and when you see the photos below you’ll see why.

This mascara is full volume in more ways then one.  The wand is a standard bristle type as you can see in the picture above, in fact it’s almost the size of the one in the picture.  Yea size matters with Benefit and this wand is HUGE.  By the third application though I was pretty proficient in using it.  I do occasionally bump the bridge of my nose when getting in the inner corner of my one eye, which I think can be expected from time to time.  Lower lashes proved to be a little more difficult–but if you go slow you’ll be fine.

The formula was basically flawless and met all of my expectations in a mascara–was not super wet (no transition needed), created major volume, and was build-able for more length.  It didn’t dry to quickly so you have plenty of time to add as many coats as you want to get your desired look.  The pictures below I’m sure speak more than any words that I write here.  Clean-up was a snap, I used the black non-waterproof formula.

For added fun, which is why I love Benefit, they’ve added a Brown, a Blue and a Plum shade to their fleet of Badgals.  A girls’ gotta have options!

good girl aka one coat

badgal status aka multiple coats

xoxo Heather