Review- Living Proof Full Thickening Cream

This styling innovation allows fine, thin hair to act like thick hair with naturally soft, touchable body. By depositing thickening points on the hair strands, Full creates a thicker surface that enables fine hair to have natural movement and bounce, beautiful shape, and volume throughout the day. While traditional thickening products create a hard, brittle hold that collapses upon touch, Full allows your style to remain flexible, soft, and resilient. Go ahead, run your fingers through your hair, no need to fear a style fall. 1.8 oz.=$14 3.7=$24

This product is like my dream come true. If you've ever been plagued by limp locks, those days are over! I combed a dime-sized blob through my damp hair and blow dried as usual and voila! I had totally full, bouncy, sex kitten hair that lasted for days and smelled divine. It didn't flatten out when I put on my winter hat, or tied it up in a ponytail for my workout. All I had to do was brush it gently back into place, and it bounced back beautifully, with no flaking, or weird dents like some other thickening products can leave. And the best part is its totally affordable, and since you only need a tiny bit each time, it will last and last.

Hillary says: This product should be called "No More Bed Head" because that's my favorite thing about it! True I like the additional fullness it imparts to my hair, but since I have straight hair that I wear down, this stuff does add volume, but it's not my favorite part. My favorite part is the new found hair freedom this stuff gives me. I can put my long hair back in a ponytail and not have to straight iron it the next day. I don't have to wet and blow dry my bangs in the morning when I wake up. It's as if this cream holds the memory of the last way you blow dried your hair and puts it right back into place. And it lasts for days. I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week because it's so dry & colored, but this stuff stands up even on the third day. You simply apply a nickel sized amount for longer hair avoiding the roots. comb it through and blow dry as usual. Then you've got voluminous hair that will keep it's shape no matter how you tie it up or scrunch it down w/ a hat. Seriously, everyone needs to try this stuff. It's my new favorite product. Considering the price and the small amount one has to use, it's a real bargain. I loved Living Proof's No Frizz and now I love their Full. The secret is they hired a bunch of scientists to come up with totally unique formulations to use in their hair products. All I know is I hope they keep them happy so they keep churning out awesome products like this!

Review - Lisa Hoffman Spa Bath Packet

A complete bath care regimen offered in a portable and resealable packette. Each airtight ampoule contains the following products: Bath Soak, Body Wash, Body Polisher, Body Cream, and Hand & Foot Butter. Each product aims to cleanse, protect, nourish and moisturize for a softer and more radiant finish.

I hate to review any product badly, and I would have to say that I am not completely reviewing it badly. I just cannot in good faith review this Spa Bath Packette really well. The small sampling of the best reviewed products on her site were just too small to be able to really experience the goodness of these products! They really were wonderful. Except I needed more to get the bubbles from the bath soak. The shower gel was lovely except I could only really get a bit of lather and I was just yearning for more.... I loved the body polish. It is lightly granulated, but with plenty of emulsion to keep your skin happy and lovely. All in all you can totally appreciate the goodness of the products and the lovely scent they leave in the bathroom during and after your tub, but I really needed more. The after tub cream and foot butter kicked butt, though, and I was able to use them a couple of times.
If you are going for a long weekend, and the aim is to relax this would be a great investment.... or stocking stuffers of course, and your giftee will surely appreciate the quality of product you have bestowed to them. Just don't expect to be completely indulged unless you invest in the larger sizes!

Free Printable Coupon to bring to Aveda for Color Conserve Trio Samples

Simply click on the link above and a page will open with a printable coupon good at Aveda Stores (and participating Aveda Salons) for a generous sample-sized Color Conserve Shampoo, Conditioner & Strengthening Treatment. The coupon is good until 6/30/10, but I'd go sooner than later as they do run out sometimes. Enjoy!

Review - Advance Techniques Moisture Sleek Smoothing Serum

Simply apply a quarter-sized dollop into palms and distribute evenly throughout hair. 2.03 fl. oz.

I have long blond hair. It is pretty temperamental. It doesn't like humidity, blow drying, not blow drying, most conditioner. Like I said, temperamental. This Advance Techniques Smoothing Serum is the best thing for the price I have tried in a really long time. I have yet to make my hair look greasy and dirty, which is quite a plus for me, and it leaves things literally sleek and smooth. I prefer a spritz on serum in principle, but I have definitely noticed that this serum really works better. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to keep your straight hair a bit straighter when blow drying and using a straightener I would say go no further. You have found your product!

Review - All About Hands Avocado Hand Lotion

Packed with nourishing ingredients and emollients, this lightweight lotion has been specially formulated to be absorbed quickly into the skin and is perfect for hard-working hands

So, if we are all living in the same world here I have to assume that everyone else is just as sick and tired of their hand cream feeling sticky and greasy and leaving finger prints all over EVERYTHING. I know I only gave it ten minutes to soak in but SERIOUSLY I have a life here people! Finally, an answer that will not leave your mind worrying about ingredients, your hands unhappy and not moisturized, and you wallet all but empty. All About Hands comes from the Upper Canada Soap Co. which seams like a small, but very contentious company that I would be more than happy to support. I mean the first ingredient is aqua for goodness sake! It is paraben free, synthetic dye free, & phthalate free (Im not sure I know what that means, but I like it!) aaannnddd it leaves my hands moist, but not greasy in literally seconds. All of a sudden I have beautifully soft hands with very little effort on my part! It smells very lightly of avacado, kind of. More like if you made an avacado mousse. I love it, and it is $12 for 10oz. In my opinion that might be the best part!

Review- BrushLab Volumize Square Cushion Paddle Brush

Get big hair with the Volumize Hairbrush by BrushLab. Paddle brush's cushioned design and ball tipped tines provide a comforting massage. The Volumize Hairbrush by BrushLab features a non-slip handle.


When it comes to hair brushes, I sure can fall in love quickly and develop the oddest and strangest attachments to them. And so it is with this lovely and highly effective Volumize Hairbrush from BrushLab. It comes in a generous 3.25 in. brush head (which I adore) and the bristles are light enough to not tug too tightly on the hair, yet incredibly strong to get through each and every strand or tangle and distribute the hair's natural shine and smoothness everywhere. The handle is nicely padded with a good grip, so no matter what state your hair is in, this brush can take it. I love how wild and full and big my hair looks after a thorough brush ...no need to worry though, the poofiness and frizz does calm down naturally on its own and if you're pressed for time like me, I either use anti-frizz serum right away and/or tie it up in a loose ponytail while getting ready. The final result: the fullest and thickest and waviest my hair has ever looked and shinier too! I love this brush so much, I really am attached to it. I think it's my favorite!

Deedlejuse says: I have to totally agree with Trish on this wonderful Volumizing Paddle Brush, and I have no idea what hair type she has (which means it must be super versatile!) Personally, I have super thick, but super straight hair. It isn't easily teased into anything close to "big" hair, but this brush does a pretty good job of getting it to look a lot closer to it. The best thing for me is definitely the fact that my hair looks soooo much shinier after using it for a while, it doesn't snag a lot so the amount of breakage and flyaways is minimal. This is something that my relatively thin hair desprately loves about it! All in all this is the one hair brush I haven't (and won't) be able to loose too easily. (two reasons: its my favorite. It's bright green....)

Review- Alcone Face-Matte Oil Absorbing Sheets

These powder-free blue oil-blotting sheets eliminate unwanted shine from your face without adding any powder and without disturbing makeup. Just blot shine with sheet and see the oil transfer from your skin to the sheet. The film becomes transparent as it absorbs the shine. Can be used over, under, or instead of makeup. We recommend you keep them with you at all times!


I've never actually used blotting sheets, even though technically I should because I do have combination-oily skin that sometimes gets out of control, especially in the summer months. Alcone's Oil Absorbing sheets come in a handy little package about the size of a business card case, so you can always have them with you in case of a sudden oil flare up. Just a quick dab of one across your face, and your skin is left looking smooth and matte, without messing up your makeup. I love that these don't have any powder in them, so you don't have to worry about looking washed out or ashy. Although I don't need to use them much these days, I can tell they will be my best friend come July.

Review- Rusk Sensories Wellness Bedew Conditioner with Exotic Organic Tahitian Oil

Conditions while intensely hydrating and moisturizing coarse, dry hair. Features a silicone combination for easy wet combing. Sodium PCA (a natural hydrator found in the skin) binds moisture to the hair for extra humectant power.Free of sulfates, parabens, petrochemicals, phthalates and MEA/TEA/DEA, Sensories Wellness provides a color-safe, organic and luxurious haircare experience. $15 for 13.5 oz.

Basically, this line of Rusk's smells ridiculously amazing. I am not one to seek out the whole "essential oils for sensory wellness" but I now think that's because I had not yet come across a product that lays claim to a cocktail of freaking Tahitian tiare flower, the Moroccan argan tree and Ethiopian abyssinica. If that weren't enough, "the bedew" as it's called around here is a supremely effective conditioner that loves every strand of your hair to a silken shiny divine work of art.

Malikah says: I'm always looking for a hydrating conditioner for my chemically processed locks, and Rusk's Bedew Conditioner does the job beautifully. After leaving the creamy formula on for just 5 minutes, my hair was soft and glossy, and I was able to comb it out with no stubborn tangles. I was a bit wary of the silicone combination in the formula, because some of those products can dull your hair, but this stuff left my hair super soft and shiny for days.

Review- Rusk Sensories Wellness Bedew Shampoo Hydrating Shampoo with Exotic Organic Tahitian Oil

Rusk Sensories Wellness Bedew Hydrating Shampoo contains superior moisturizing ingredients that intensely hydrate and moisturize while cleansing. This gentle shampoo is infused with Tahitian tiare flower extract, a natural oil that is knows for its powerful hydrating and soothing properties. This luxurious organic oil is partnered with panthenol to not only hydrate but also leave your hair with a lustrous, healthy sheen. $15 for 13.5 oz.

Just plain fabulous on every level. This shampoo softens like a dream, cleanses so gently that I never worry about my color and it begs to be inhaled every time you're in the shower for no other reason than you will sigh peacefully and feel like the world is alright. I wish I had an unlimited supply of it

Malikah says: I agree with Josephine completely! This shampoo smells incredible, making you feel like you've been instantly transported to an exotic island. It was especially refreshing to use it on a chilly winter day, as it keeps your mind on sunshine and beaches, rather than wind and snow. The organic formula cleanses gently, but thoroughly, leaving hair manageable and virtually tangle free.

Review - Lisa Hoffman Night & Day Vitamin A& C Serum

Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fades brown spots, and smoothes surface roughness

Improves the production of collagen and reduces skin damage caused by free radicals 1oz $95

Serums tend to be very heavy and leave a greasy look & feel on your face. That is why I don't use them. This serum is unique because it does the opposite. It goes on soft & smooth and leaves your skin feeling like a baby's bottom. After a few days of using this, my skin really felt smoother. My infant son had been sick on and off for about a month, and he was starting to develop red patches on his nose & face. I knew this serum would be gentle enough to use on him because it didn't make me break out. After a couple of days, the rough patches were completely gone. Vitamins A & C have great healing powers. To top it off, it prevents wrinkles. This has become part of my nightly routine. And ladies, don't be scared of the price, I have a .5 oz tube so I am sure it would be half the price of the 1oz bottle.