Review: Phyto 9 Nourishing Hair Cream With 9 Plants

When it comes to beauty products I usually do some research before purchasing it at store.  I, like many others, don't enjoy pushy sales people, and I don't often purchase many beauty items on a whim, but sometimes life happens.  On a recent trip to Sephora (why must you be so close to where I work?!)  I was in the hair section,  casually browsing. From across the store this man, who was not wearing a Sephora uniform, saw my hair, which was long at the time, and couldn't stop himself from coming up to me and presenting this small gold bottle of Phyto 9 Nourishing Hair Cream with 9 Plants.  In fact, without saying a word he put a nickle sized drop in my hand and motioned me to try it,  and so I complied, secretly wanting to show him that taming my hair wasn't going to be that easy. After running my fingers through my hair I saw how easily this cream hydrated and tamed my curls back to life.  Even though he had given me a substantial amount to try, my hair looked shiny, but not greasy, and it didn't weigh it down, which is usually the Achilles' heel of really hydrating creams.  I showed my amazement and he responded by smiling, tapping me on the shoulder, and walking away. I don't even know if he worked there, but this guy knew that the product would do the talking, and I liked his style.  My hair felt silky for the rest of the day, and I even put it through the test during my vacation to Florida.  I was sans blow dryer for the whole trip, and only wore this for frizz control, and my hair stayed soft and manageable through beach days, and roller coasters.  I've said more about this product than that mysterious man ever said to me, but this is definitely one of those see-to-believe products, so give it a whirl.

Mani Roundup: Spring Edition

Summer is around the corner, and to celebrate I've been rocking the brightest polishes. Instead of explaining each color, I thought it would be better to show little photo diary of all of these beautiful shades.

Clockwise starting from top left: Dior Bouquet/ Essie Sittin' Pretty/ Ciaté Mojito / Essie Serial Shopper/

Dior Perle

 

 

Shampoos for Highlighted Hair

Jet black hair is lovely until you want to dye it. Back in March I bit the bullet and got a light brown balayage, which came out super nice despite my worries. My highlights looked seamless and I planned on keeping it that way. My hairdresser warned me that highlights on black hair have a tendency to turn brassy, so I took her advice of buying a quality everyday shampoo and purple shampoo. After a few trials and experiments I think I have found the best combination to preserve my highlights and prevent them from looking orangutan orange. 

Schwarzkopf Color Save Silver Shampoo

I love purple shampoos because it does wonders at neutralizing the yellow-orange hues in brassy hair. A cheaper purple shampoo would be the Clairol Shimmer Lights Blonde & Silver Shampoo, which does a pretty good job, but I prefer the Schwarzkopf because it has a thicker consistency, which coats my hair better. I apply this shampoo once a week, and leave it on for five minutes before rinsing it out. And don't be scared of the dark purple color staining your bathroom because I've had this splash everywhere and it all came off with a bit of water.

Pureology Volume Shampoo
This shampoo is great as an everyday shampoo because it's moisturizing, but not heavy. It's also sulfate-free, so it won't strip your hair, or leave it terribly dry. This is a pricey shampoo, but it will extend your highlights, which means less trips to the salon.

These shampoos will help revive your color, but if you have reached the brassy point of no return, I would recommend going to the salon and getting a toner. It's cheaper than dying your hair all over again, and it will significantly tone the brassiness, and make your hair more shiny. After that you can use these shampoos for maintenance mode. So, if you have dark hair like I do, don't be scared of going lighter because these products will have your back.

P.S. Tomorrow marks the one year birthday of my little blog. I quite enjoy blogging, and it has kind of become like my tamagotchi, which is the closest thing to a baby I've ever had. I can't believe a year has gone by, but I think it's time I rev it up a bit, and post more often. I'm holding myself to that promise, so expect more things!

Unlikely Purchases

I like bright makeup as much as the next girl, but sometimes I want something that's easy to wear for those I-can't-be-bothered days. That's the mood I was in when I spotted these two products among all the new spring collections at Sephora. There is something very cool and unique about these shades, but they are also versatile, and make it easy to look put together on those lazy days.

Dior Nail Polish in Junon
First and foremost, I want my next pet to be named Junon because it's a rad name, and secondly this slate blue nail polish is a head turner. The cool undertones make this polish super chic, and it's a refreshing take on a classic nude nail. The color looks more gray indoors, but in the sun the blue color comes out to play. Dior is my favorite high-end brand of polishes because their formula is great, never streaky, or clumpy, and it dries fast. I can't stop wearing this color, and I hope it isn't limited edition, so you can all experience the beauty.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting in Mood Exposure
I've already professed my love for the Hourglass Ambient Lighting blushes. They look beautifuly natural, and have an amazing lasting power. When I first saw this blush, I was hesitant because judging from the pan it looked too dark, but when I swatched it I saw it was actually a stunning plum. Hourglass is really blowing me away with their blushes, and hope they come out with more shades.

Left: Mood Exposure / Right: Luminous Flush

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to makeup judge away, and keep an open mind because you might be pleasantly surprised.