set for summer...

I posted awhile back about Sephora's Set For Summer... well I had self-restraint for awhile but then last week I had to order DJ's Jack Black All-Over Wash [aka his favorite thing ever] and well, it's silly to order something online and not spend $50 to get free shipping [they don't sell the 33 oz size in stores] soooo... clearly I had to get something else and we all know what I chose...

let me just say, it did not disappoint.  The coral I'm Wired nailpolish is perfect for summer toes - and the small size is great because I wouldn't  use it often enough to need a large bottle.   The sugar lip treatment and mini-mascara are perfect for my purse and great quality! Also, I love the full size lipgloss and smashbox bronzer/eyeshadow!

Of course, I had to take some snapshots of the goodies when I got them... just lovely!

...and I then I proceeded to put them on [yup, all of them at like 10pm in my PJs just to play, and yes I tried one eyeshadow on each eye, haha] then I modeled them for DJ and told him what each product was [lucky guy!] while he attempted to watch the voice with Ollie... [see even Oliver thinks Carson sucks as a host, that's his "is this guy for real?!" face] 

anyways, back to the makeup - hurry over to sephora and snag one for yourself 
[frivolous purchase: yes, worth it: heck YES] 
$135 value for $39, can't beat it!

are you set for summer?

...I thought I was set for summer... 

...then I saw this...

Sephora's 10-piece collection of must-haves for a golden and glowing summer...

What it does: This complete collection, featuring two full-size and seven mini products, includes summer-perfect shades for the eyes, lips, nails, and face. It also includes a roomy, signature Sephora makeup bag for taking it all with you any time, whether you're just chilling poolside or you're dashing off for your next far-flung destination.

This set contains:

- 0.07 oz full-size Sephora Collection Mono Eyeshadow in Choco Excess 19 (dark chocolate with silver glitter)

- 0.13 oz Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dusk

- 0.08 oz Too Faced Mini Peach Leopard Brightening & Perfecting Bronzer

- 0.125 oz Sephora by OPI nail colour in I'm Wired (opaque electric coral red)

- 0.08 oz Fresh Sugar Rosé Tinted Lip Treatment (sheer berry rose in pink case)

- 0.18 oz Guerlain L'Or Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Make-Up Base

- 0.10 oz Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Mascara in Black

- 0.34 oz Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Make-Up Setting Spray

- 0.20 oz full-size Smashbox Lip Enhancing Gloss in Pop (cool pink)

- Sephora signature makeup bag

$135 value, only for $39!

come to mama... come to mama....

be-still my heart....

I got a lifechanging email yesterday -- from sephora... they'll now be carrying bumble & bumble [aka the savior of my hair]

yet another reason I would marry sephora if it was a person... 

...and polygamy was legal [I still love DJ, duh]

here are some of my favorite b&b products...

grooming creme - great for damp hair if you don't have time to blowdry or just to make your hair super soft on any given day...

spray de mode - one of the best hair/styling sprays I've ever used... holds so well but doesn't leave your hair sticky or stiff! 

styling lotion - a MUST have before you blowdry... I don't even have the words to describe it, it just makes such a difference!

let's be real though - b&b is a little pricey, and I've been on a "must not buy new hair products" kick until I run out of everything I already have - which is a LOT [I have unruly hair, what can I say]... and when I have been running out of things I've been trying to buy more economical choices [like from Target rather than Sephora]... so I ask you...

what are your "must have" hair products? 

love/loathe of the moment: Ojon Hair Products

LOVE:

Ojon Revitalizing Mist, 5.7 oz $26.00

This past fall of my bestests KJ let me try her Ojon's Revitalizing Mist at her bachelorette weekend [she was KG back then] and I fell in love with it so I promptly went home and ordered it [from sephora.com clearly]. I use it before I blow-dry or straighten my hair [and always use it if I'm re-straightening my hair... second day hair is so much better than first day], sometimes if I don't have time to do anything with it I'll just spray it in my damp hair. It makes my hair smell yummy and super soft, I LOVE IT. Yes, for $26 it is a little more expensive but for a product you can use daily, definitely worth it!

LOATHE:

Ojon's Winter Shine & Protect Ritual Kit, $44

So after I tried the mist I thought, wow - Ojon is a really great company, they must make other great products too... I should try out their shampoo and conditioner... BAD IDEA. 

This four item kit is not what I thought it would be.... I bought it in December before I headed up to the Berkshires [to then visit DJ...who knew we'd get married and I'd end up living there a month later]. The kit had four products in it:

-8.44 oz Shine & Protect Shampoo

-8.44 oz Shine & Protect Conditioner

-4.25 oz Shine & Protect Leave-in Glossing Cream

-1.35 oz Restorative Hair Treatment

I'll be honest, I've only used the restorative hair treatment once... I think I'm going to give it another shot this week but the other products I just feel make my hair [which is normal/dry] super oily and only last one day without having to wash it again... I'm all out of the shampoo and have half the conditioner left... I refuse to waste them and throw them away so I've used the Ojon shampoo with my B&B Creme de Cocoa Conditioner and now I'm using the Ojon Conditioner with my B&B Creme de Cocoa Shampoo [I love Bumble and Bumble... if only sephora sold them... but you can get them at Target occasionally on sale!]

So all in all... Ojon it's a toss-up, I love the way your products smell and that they are Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, and Phthalates free... but other than the Revitalizing Mist... it's pretty loathe-worthy.

love/loathe of the moment: sephora products

I have a major [MAJOR] obsession with sephora... here's what I am loving and loathing that I've gotten from sephora lately:


LOVE:

Sephora Collection Microfiber Hair Towel - $20, buy it {here}
super soft, helps dry my hair quickly and really cuts down on frizz! must have, especially if you have thick-ole-horse-hair like me! Love, love, love and definitely worth the $20!


LOATHE:

bareMinerals Glamarama -$39.00 - check it out {here}
Now, let me be clear... I don't loathe everything in this pack but I really was not satisfied... here's what came in it and my thoughts:
- 0.05 oz Original SPF 20 Mineral Veil - classic, nice finishing touch to makeup
- 0.02 oz SPF 15 Warmth - again, nice finisher and adds a touch of color!
- 0.02 oz Glamarama SPF 20 Eyecolor - classic, I wouldn't use it alone because my skin tone is already tan, but I like using it to add an extra sparkle
- Double-Ended Angled Eye & Cheek Brush - brush works well with the products


Here's where the loathing begins...
- 0.33 oz Waterproof Flawless Definition Mascara in Black - YUCK. clump. clump. clump. not good, and definitely does not hold a candle to my other two mascara loves [benefit badgal and smashbox bionic indigo ink]
- 0.14 oz SPF 15 Natural Lipgloss in Honey Bun- again YUCK. sooo sticky and thick and I just felt my lips screaming whenever I put it on.

The mascara and lipgloss have been thrown away. I even gave them a few tries... I considered giving them to a friend but I don't have any friends that I dislike enough to put through that.

All in all, I wouldn't recommend this product, just not worth it even for the low low price for $39 [buy yourself an extra microfiber towel instead].

also... you'll notice, I'm giving the blog a bit of an "overhaul"... bare with me as I try some stuff out.

until next time....