I Smell Like a French Woman

I have an aunt who is a world traveler.  She always brings back the most amazing things.  I live through her travels a little because I'm not able to jet set quite yet.  I'm a single lady with a little one, and stability is my life.
On one of her many trips, she stopped in France.  While there, she was able to visit some of the oldest perfumeries in Europe.  Good stuff.
At any rate, she picked up a lovely scent called Diamant by a brand called Fragonard and gave me a bottle.

Let me explain something.  I am typically a fan of sweet, fruity, floral scents.  I'm talking straight up cotton candy sugar candied vomit.  I like to smell like I walked out of a fantasy bakery.  This is one of the few perfumes that doesn't even fall into that category that I am absolutely in love with. It's a perfect balance of sweet florals and toned down vanilla and patchouli.  It's amazing.  It's slightly peppery and so full without being overwhelming.  It's fragrance art in a bottle.

Because this was give to me as a gift, I have no idea what pricing is like, but I recommend this.  It's intoxicating.  I will be hunting this down and storing for life.

Bumblewood Soap Review

This past Saturday was International Lolita Day.  For those that are curious, just Google it and Lolita Fashion for more information.  I am so excited about soap, and I don't want to get side tracked.

At any rate, my friends and I stopped into a local shop called Pretty+Planned.  It's a lovely shop. We were lured in by a sign that read "Pretty things inside", and they delivered.  It was a shop dedicated mostly to weddings, but they happened to carry some nice skincare items.

Being a soapaholic, I picked up a bar of soap from a company called Bumblewood Handmade.  I decided on the Apple Pie bar because it is a holiday exclusive, and I am all about that holiday spirit.

As the name suggest, it smells just like a fresh baked apple pie, right down to the spices.  Delicioso. It lathers nicely and makes you feel squeaky clean without drying out the skin.  I have my eyes on a few other scents and products I would like to try from this company.  I love how they combine rustic and pretty.  It's highly appealing.

I paid $8.00 for this bar which I feel is a fair price.  One must remember that handmade soaps are expensive to produce and are considered a luxury item. It is indulgent and carefully crafted with love. It is not a massed produced item that you can just purchase from a your local department store. This soap is special. :)

If you would like to try this bar or any other items offered by this company, please click the link below.

http://www.bumblewoodhandmade.com/

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Review

I know there are a million other people with this palette already, but I want to have my say as well.

The reality is that many makeup palettes look differently on woman of color.  We have deeper tones, and this does impact the wa that certain colors look on us compared to someone with a light to medium complexion.  So I am going to review from that perspective.

Let's just talk about the packaging for a moment.  Too Faced never ceases to amaze me with their lovely packaging.  The design team needs to stay paid, consistently.  It's cute, evocative of what they are offering, and functional.  This is not a flimsy thing.  It's sturdy.

The smell is WOW!  It smells just like chocolate.  Smells good enough to eat, but I will refrain from doing so. :)  The color concentration is fantastic.  It's build-able and goes on smoothly. I did't experience any fall out or patchiness.  Once I put them on my skin, I did realize that the lighter colors did appear true to color with building and were visible with building.  Everything is vibrant and works for me perfectly.  The browns actually show up on my skin and the pinks are pink on my skin as well, but I still use a white base for a brighter pink at times.  That is a huge plus because there have been times where I bought something that just looked like a base for the other colors I use in my makeup look.

I was afraid that I was buying for beauty and would only be using a few colors.  But I have used every single shade. This is actually my go to palette for most of my makeup looks currently.  It's versatile and so pretty.  I just can't help myself.

Etude House

I love beauty products.  I like sampling something from all over the globe when I can. It's an adventure of sorts.  Different ingredients and fragrances make taking care of m outside that much more fun.  This time, I wanted to try some Korean beauty products.  Etude House is widely popular, and the packaging is alluring.

I had been eyeing some products from Etude House for a little while and finally purchased them.  I must say that I'm rather impressed by the quality.  I will do a short review of each item.

Etude House Berry Delicious Strawberry Body Soft Milk

I am in love with this.  It spreads easily and is absorbed into the skin easily.  The scent last quite awhile.  My only complaint is how runny it is.  It's less cream, and definitely more milk.  This a actually a benefit though.  I just don't like how messy the cap can get, but I can live with that.  It does a great job on my dry skin.  Especially my hands. I plan to buy this in bulk at some point.  It's quite nice.  I got this on eBay for right under $10.

Etude Hose Belle Dress Pretty Look Shower Cologne

There are actually several scents from this line.  This is just the one that I decided to try first.  Not only is the packaging cute, but the smell is intoxicating.  It almost smells like Pure Seduction by Victoria's Secret, but sweeter and a tad lighter.  It is my personal opinion that perhaps the scent would last longer if I had used all the items from the line, but it does well.  I will be trying all the others. This is an older release, so eBay or Amazon are your friend.  I found mine on eBay for just under $9.

Finishing Up

The great thing about his whole transitioning process is how much less time I spend on my hair.  The routine is easy to follow, and I can do it even when I'm busted tired.  What's also great is how I deal with my hair after the washing and conditioning are completed.

After rinsing out my conditioner, I towel dry my hair for about 10 minutes.  Some use a wet t-shirt, but the towel works just fine for me.  Next, I section my hair into quadrants and pin each section in place.  I just want to note that I don't use a comb for sectioning.  I just glide my finger along my scalp and GENTLY section the hair.  If you are using a good conditioner, your hair shouldn't be tangled. Especially if you comb your conditioner through root to tip during the conditioning process.

The next step is a detangler and leave in conditioner in one and it is my absolute favorite.

I divide my sections in half so I work with a total of 8 sections.  I apply a dime sized amount to each section and work it through root to tip.  Then I detangle with the comb going from end to root.  The reason I do this is because the new growth needs the most moisture and convincing.  This product is amazing.  It's $11.99 at Target.  It seems a a bit pricey, but you will have no tangles or frizz.  It does the job of about 3 or 4 products as well which makes it a good value.

Next, I moisturize my hair, evenly distributing the product.  

I use about a quarter size for this because I don't manipulate my hair much during the week.  So I need to make sure there is enough product to keep my hair from drying out.  Then I just seal it all in with coconut oil. This is $5.50 and available at Dollar General stores.

Once I have done this to each section, I just braid my hair.  Right now I like the goddess braids. Mainly because I can wear them just as they are or let them down for a pretty, soft braid out.  It only takes about 5 minutes to do that and pin them up.  I never use heat.  I just let my hair air dry.  I also wear satin to cover my hair every night.  It doesn't snag or dry the hair like cotton.

Sometimes a styling gel is necessary to keep wispy hairs or stubborn strands in place.  Especially the edges.  They can get pretty rough when transitioning.

This gel is alcohol free, works for all hair types, will not dry your hair or cause breakage, and it's cheap. $2.99

And that's it.  Not a bunch of products.  Not a ton of money.  Growing healthy, natural hair should be simple.  It is what you're born with after all.  I'm glad to be loving mine.  I just wish it hadn't taken me so long to get there.

Conditioning Time

My conditioning routine is simple.  I start with a scalp massage of my favorite oil (usually a blend of JBCO and coconut oil in equal parts) the night before or with a hot oil treatment an hour before washing.  Covering the hair with a plastic cap or a thermal cap really helps these things penetrate. After this, I wash or co wash and move on to the deep conditioning part.

I currently have three of them in rotation.  Each week, I choose the conditioner based on my hair needs.  I don't mix them or get interesting with oils.  I deep condition once a week, religiously, because my hair is thick and soaks up everything. These are my current favorites:

I have great success with this deep conditioner. I love the smell, the thick texture, and the lack of harsh ingredients. It does fairly well with detangling because it has nice slip.  I feel like my scalp is moist but clean after using this.  Because I am transitioning, I focus on the entire hair shaft.  My chief complaints is the price which is a steep $16.99

I only use this every other week.  It does a wonderful job.  I actually like the smell which is reminiscent of my childhood.  The texture it thick and it slides down the hair nicely.  However, this is best as protein treatment for me.  It has great slip, but it makes my hair tougher.  It does ease the detangling process quite well.  It's moderately priced at $11.99

Let me just state up front that this conditioner does contain a "cone", but it is listed as one of the last ingredients.  This stuff is magic.  It has all the slip.  It is by far the best for detangling.  I wasn't sure about it at first, but I'm in love with it.  I will be clarifying regularly because it does have cone, but this has made my life so much easier.  I picked this up at Sam's Club for $2.91

Tomorrow I will post my after wash routine which is even simpler.

Changes...Lots of Changes

It has been forever!  And rather than bore, I want to do a short update.  So here it goes.  I have decided to go natural.  I am only about 6 months post relaxer bur managing it well.

I am still obsessed with beauty products.

I am still on a journey for longer, healthier hair.  It just took me some time to figure out some things about myself.  30 came and went, and so did some enlightenment.  So here I am, loving me, living life and doing just fine.

I would like to talk about my current regimen.  It's not product heavy for a reason.  I am over being a product junkie.  It's a waste of money, honestly.  I am a sticking to something that works for my hair and helps me keep my sanity as I transition.  Today though, I will just be covering the shampoo portion.

Washing

I have a method to my madness.  I alternate between shampoo and co wash creme with one clarifying wash a month.  The reason for this is due to my frequent oil treatments whether it be for a scalp massage or keeping my scalp dandruff free. My hair is thick as well, so I use a decent amount of product.  All this has to come out and co washing isn't sufficient for total product build up removal. This is what 4 weeks of hair washing looks like for me:

Week 1: clarifying wash with clarifying shampoo

Week 2: Co wash with co wash creme

Week 3:shampoo wash with moisturizing shampoo

Week 4: co wash with co wash creme

Then I repeat.  It may seem crazy, but it works for me.

Here are the products I use:

This shampoo is free of parabens, sulfates, and other harsh detergents.  It does still remove build up like a dream.  I picked mine up from Sally for $6.99.

This is so much more than a conditioner. It gently removes debris from the hair and is gentle on the scalp.  It's affordable and easily accessible as it is sold at Dollar General for about $5.50

This shampoo is incredibly moisturizing.  It is not all natural, but it cleans without stripping my hair. The price is right as well at $4.99 for a large bottle.  It's a good staple item.  It is not paraben or sulfate free, but my hair likes it.

I will be back with information my current conditioning regimen.

Bite Beauty Honey Lip Laquer Review

I'm addicted to lip gloss.  The tubes are all over the place.  The purse, the make up bags, storage containers. The obsession is too real.  So on my quest I picked up an item that was recommended by a Sephora staff member.  It's Bite Beauty Honey Lip Laquer.  I was looking for something more nude, so I got Dolcetto which is a peachy pink.  It's lovely

Photo courtesy of Sephora.com

The texture is exactly as it sounds.  The same thickness as honey.  This is an all natural product that actually contains honey (and it's pretty tasty too).  Even though it is on the thicker side, it applies quite smoothly.  It's luxurious and smells so nice.  I just love it.

This has become my go-to lip for moisturizing and color in one.  The size is perfect, it matches whatever makeup I may (or may not) be wearing....It's great stuff.  It was a bit on the expensive side at about $24, but you don't have to use much to get the desired effect.  So you're using less.  It's also great for the skin.  No parabens, sulfates, or other ingredients that aren't that great for the lips.

I would highly recommend this gloss for everyday use and to help improve the health of the lips in general. Fall and winter are just around the corner, and this would be a great product to keep on hand to stop those dry, chapped lips and still get the hint of color and glamour.

I've Been Shopping...Again

I apologize for these awkward hiatuses.  I'm a working girl with not as much time on my hands that I used to have.  But I have tons of things that I've bought over the last few months that I would like to give some honest feedback about.  So please stay tuned. :)

P.S.  I haven't forgotten about the last haul products.  I will be sure to include them as well.

Sephora Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner Review

I must apologize for the hiatus.  I'm a very busy girl these days.  :)

At any rate, I'm going to get right into my review

I used this bottle to clean pretty much every brush I have (which is in the neighborhood of 20 or 30 brushes). I was quite impressed. It was a pleasant, clean scent.  Not harsh and chemical like some detergents can be.
I liked the idea that it came in a spray bottle too.  It was convenient and prevented mess.  That was a definite plus.

As far as cleaning power is concerned, it was pretty good.  I did have to spray the larger brushes several times, but that's standard.  Maybe it's not so great at removing stains from bristles, but it's only a daily cleaner.  I would also like to note that the brushes were super soft after they dried.  That's always a good thing.

If you're busy and hygienic, this the way to go.  It's quick, simple, and easy to use.  Relatively inexpensive as well.

Benefits Erase Paste Review

Image Courtesy of  Sephora.com

I'm back with another review.  Yay. This is for the Benefit Erase Paste in Deep

OK.  Let me get straight to the point.  It's just concealer.  I wasn't terribly impressed with it.  It seems like I had to use more product than was necessary.  The consistency is a little strange.  It's thick and a bit too oily at the same time. It feels like it's going to slide off my face.

I'm going to use the rest of this, but I probably won't buy it again.  It's not working for my oily skin.  One plus is that it does blend well with my foundation. The coverage is ok too.  I should've listened to the lady at the counter. But it was a Benefit product, so my hopes were high.

I paid $26 for this pot.  It seems like it would last awhile, so it's not a bad price.  It seems better suited for drier skin types. Sorry :(

Make Up Forever HD Foundation Review

I paid a lot of money for this foundation (42 dollars).  I love it.  It's the only foundation I've ever used that looked good in fluorescent lighting.  That almost never happens.  It spreads evenly, blends into my skin perfectly, and looks natural.  I love it.  It is expensive.  But it's so worth it.  It doesn't take much for full coverage either.  I'm in love with it.  It is an investment, but a good one.  I would highly recommend it.

Sephora Acne-Fighting Mattifying Moisturizer Review

Image Courtesy of Sephora.com

I'm not going to lie.  I love it.  It's everything I've ever wanted in a moisturizer for my oily skin.  It keeps me matte, it's not expensive, and I haven't had a pimple since I started using it.  I don't really have acne issues, but I just want to take note of that.  I got this mainly for the mattifying properties.  

The product itself is lightweight with a light scent that is clean and pleasant.  It only takes about a two or three pumps for my entire face.  Being the consistency of a serum, it absorbs quickly and spreads smoothly.  The packaging makes it easy for carrying as i can be applied (or is recommended that it be applied) three times daily.

I can't say enough about it.  I'm so satisfied with the amount of time it lasts.  Sure, 18 dollars is a little steep for moisturizer, but it's well worth it.  So if you're oily like me, Definitely use this.  It is also safe to use in conjunction with a primer for added oil control.

Length Check 2013/Sephora Haul

I promised this ages ago, but my life is crazy busy.  I'm pleasantly surprised with the length of my hair.  It's difficult to tell from the photo, but it's below BSL at this point.  I won't bore anyone.  Here's the pic.  And btw, I'm needing about a one inch trim.

I also wanted to share a small haul of items I picked up at Sephora.

Here is the list of items from left to right:

• Sephora Acne-Fighting Mattifying Moisturizer
• Sephora Supreme Cleansing Foam
• Make Up Forever HD Foundation (N177)
• Sephora Daily Makeup Brush Cleaner
• Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
• Benefit Erase Paste (No. 3 deep)

I will be reviewing these items over a period of time. So look out for those reviews. :)

With the Pudding...

I had to right this blog today, right now.

Here's the deal:  I am about 6 months post relaxer and didn't even realize it had been that long.  But that's ok.  My hair is doing fine.  But I am going to relax soon.

What I wanted to do was review a product that I've been using for a little while.  It's the
Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula Curl Condition Hair Pudding.

I'm in love with this stuff.  I had used another product they had that came in a bottle, but I wanted something a little less heavy and more value for my money.  This goes for about 5 dollars at Wal-Mart.  It's light, moisturizing, and makes my hair shiny and soft.  It smells amazing.  I also like that it doesn't contain alcohol or parabens that could damage the hair. 

This formula is supposed to be for curly hair, but here is my logic behind my purchase:  If it can tame frizz and give definition to curls, then it should be able to soften my hair as well.

I apply it twice a day to my ends and new growth to keep everything manageable and tie my hair down with a satin scarf.  That makes it work even better over night.  Especially after blow drying, which makes the hair feel bristle like and....just not very nice.

I can't get over how much I love this product.  There is no way I could have gone this long without relaxing and not had this by my side at this stage.  The detangling qualities are spot on.

I won't ramble on.  It's the week of my birthday, so a relaxer is a must so that I can look my absolute best. I'm going to attempt to locate a previous length check pic and compare it now.  My hair seems longer than I remember.  So I just want to check out where I stand.

Tangle Teezer Review

I am guilty of using every detangling device known to man.  I suffer from terrible cases of tangles and snags, especially when I'm stretching my relaxers.  My hair becomes a nightmare.  If that wasn't enough, my daughter has them even worse.  And she hates getting her hair combed.

I was just browsing YouTube a few days ago when I came across the Tangle Teezer.  I was actually looking at some other brush by Michel somebody (can't remember), and the Tangle Teezer showed up.  There were so many positive reviews.  The ringer was reviews from those with coarse hair that praised this brush.

I got my brush from Sally Beauty Supply for 12.99.  It seemed a little steep, costing more that the Denman brush I bought a few years back for 9.99.  But my optimism was high and I was desperate.  Did I mention the school time rush and pressure to make my little princess look perfect?

At any rate, I tried it on myself first.  I was shocked.  I couldn't believe it.  It easily detangled my seriously post relaxer hair.  I just added a sufficient amount of moisturizer and went to work.The price tag is nothing compared to the satisfaction I got from using the brush.  Not to mention, it worked wonders on my daughters serious tangles.  My expectations for this were fairly low, but I was quickly proven wrong.

Something else about this brush I found amazing was the easy clean up and that it pops open to reveal a compartment to store hair ties and clips.

I would recommend this product for all hair types.  It is well worth it's price.  It's excellent.  I will definitely be putting these in some stockings this holiday season. :)

Smelling Good 101

About a month ago, on one of my numerous Wal-Mart runs, I came across something really pleasant.  It's the Bodycology "Pretty in Paris" Body Mist and Body Cream

OMG.  It's so light and feminine.  It's not too floral, not too sweet, not to musky.  It's absolutely perfect.  It has definitely become part of my everyday beauty routine.  I would say the scent is reminiscent of Love's Baby Soft (which is a classic favorite of mine) and Marc Jacob's Daisy, just more mellow.  Just try it.  You will love it.  I can't wait to check the shelves for more.  :)

Silky Smooth

Picture provided courtesy of Sephora

Several months ago, a wrote a review on the Too Faced Editor's Beauty Editor Darlings.  There were some items that I wanted the full size version of.  I bought the lip gloss first.  Well this last trip, I bought the Too Faced Primed & Poreless Smoothing Face Primer.  However, I looked around a little more before my purchase and discovered the sensitive skin version that's oil free.

I love it.  I know that $30 seems steep, but it only takes about the size of a pea to cover the entire face.  I don't necessarily have issues with my skin as far as breakouts are concerned, but I still treat my skin as such for preventative measures.  And this formula is gentle enough that it could be worn all day.

It fills in nicely and reduces the appearance of pores.  That works for me because mine are on the larger side.  It doesn't dry my skin out either.  Some primers can be a bit chalky or not absorb well.  I don't have that issue when I use this.

With the summer coming up, I want to look my best, but there is no way I'm wearing a full face of makeup.  Especially in my line of work.  NO way.  So this gives me the opportunity to have that appearance of naturally beautiful skin without the midday melts or staining my clothing.

I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for light to medium coverage or if you want to tame oily skin.  You likely won't be disappointed. :)

Bleach!

I'm not ashamed to admit this.  I am a woman that deals with unwanted facial hair.  I do cream removal, but that doesn't help the dark area.  NO NO NO.  See, I have very dark hair.  So I can remove the hair all I want, but the little bits the cream misses, I have to deal with.  So I've decided that the best option for me is to jump on the bleach wagon.

I tried the Jolen Bleach cream on a whim because I was frustrated.  And I must say that I was pleasantly surprised.  It turn my stubbornly dark hairs a bright honey color.  It was my first application, so I'm seeing the dark patches again.  But it took a few weeks before I started to notice.  I'm guessing that it will take some conditioning, i.e. continued usage before I can see even better results.

It is fairly easy to use.  The kit comes with everything you need to do several applications.  It's a gentle formula as well (which is essential since I have sensitive skin.  I didn't experience any burning, tingling, or redness during or after usage.  I'm not sure if the results will be the same for everyone, but I would recommend it.  It's less than 6 dollars at Wal-Mart, so it's a good buy.  Much cheaper than waxing or laser hair removal.

I don't really have any complaints.  I will try to update soon to let everybody know how it's going.

I am also looking to relax here very soon.  I haven't done so since November, and I'm not loving it.  LOL.  The stretch will be ending soon.  And since I have a better camera on this phone, I will actually be able to get up some decent pics.  Cross my fingers.  LOL.  I hope this review was helpful.

I've Opened Up Shop

Not many people know this about me, but I love making jewelry. I typically work with resin because it's my favorite medium. I love the versatile qualities. Getting a mold in the mail for my resin pieces feels like Christmas. :)

 At any rate, I suggest that you all have a look at my little Etsy shop. Tell me what you think or make suggestions on what I should make next. Click here to view my shop or just go directly to the store front here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KrissyKimonoKawaii?ref=si_shop

You can also visit my Facebook page here.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Krissy-Kimono-Kawaii/569849009691996