Macarons and Mischief

A Hairy Necessity: Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion

Hair looking dull? Spray some Bumble and Bumble!

Need to straighten hair with an iron? Spray some Bumble and Bumble!

Flyaways? Spray some Bumble and Bumble!

When I got my haircut and the stylist used Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion, I knew I needed that thing. I bought a small bottle- 2 oz from Sephora for $11.50. A bit steep- but a little goes a pretty long way, and this lotion is such a great multi-tasker!

Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion

Description, according to Bumble and Bumble

  • A versatile styling option for control, body building or sleekness, plus a nourishing moisturizer which leaves the hair soft with natural movement.
  • Who: Anyone; a good choice for fine, frequently styled, fragile or chemically treated hair.

    When: Anytime; after Prep or Tonic Lotion and before heated tools.

    How: Spray on damp hair evenly by sections; work through and style.

Key ingredients, according to Bumble and Bumble

  • Ascophyllum Nudosum Extract: moisturizing; adds elasticity, lustre, softness, body; reduces flyaways
  • Biotin (Vitamin H): strengthens hair follicle
  • Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein: moisturizing, conditioning, reparative, improves feel and gloss
  • Hydroxyethyl Cetyldimonium Phosphate: hold, volume, conditioning
  • Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey: moisturizing, repairs split ends
  • Polyquaternium-7: combability, body, reduces static
  • PVP/VA Copolymer: body, fullness
  • Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A): sheen, gloss, elasticity, flexibility
  • Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E): protects hair, moisturizing
  • Wheat Amino Acids: shine, gloss, moisture retention

My Opinion:

I love this product, and I use it almost everyday. It smells amazing, and it acts as a great protectant between your hair and heat! My bangs are usually very straight, and it is hard to get to stay to the side. I spray a bit of the styling lotion, then I use a hair iron or blow driver to style it- and it stays! There are days when I have bed head on the ends of my hair- they’re all over the place! I tame them by spraying it 4-5 times and comb it evenly, and my hair will start to look a lot less messier! I also get GREAT shine and my hair looks and feels a lot silkier.

Additionally, I have used Bumble and Bumble for a day and not wash my hair the next day- my hair did not feel oily or sticky; nor was there any residue! Love that! This is important for my lazy days, since I wash my hair approximately every 2-2.5 days!

The product works extremely well also with wet hair- spritz some on and blowdry it, and I find my hair paying attention to my needs. Bumble and Bumble gives me a great quick fix as they act as a last minute hair solution! I am planning to buy the bigger version in the future possibly, but I love the mini size of this- I can carry it around, and I can foresee this bottle will last me for a very long time!

Get it here at Sephora, or here on Bumble and Bumble, or hair salons carrying this product.

~* This product was purchased by me, and my opinions belong to me 🙂

Do you use Bumble and Bumble? What’s your favourite hair product?

Five Favourite Body Shop Products that I’m Using!

I’ve always been a bit uncomfortable wearing shorts and tees sometime, because my skin isn’t naturally extremely smooth and glossy. 🙁 Luckily, some recent body shop purchases has helped me achieve that, along with some other regular skincare products I use. With the constant sales they have at Body Shop and my 10% off membership card, I do like to come here once in a while to stock up on products. This isn’t a sponsored post or anything, just sharing what I use and love! 🙂

Body Shop Family

1) Shea Body Scrub 

Shea Body Scrub-image from bodyshop.ca

My favourite line of the body products is definitely the Shea butter line. I have tried their lotions and body butters (however I ran out at the moment, and will restock after I finish using my other lotions.) I got this on sale for $8CAD, and have been using it for couple weeks now. I got immediate results with this product as my skin felt smoother already! The scent of this product is very shea buttery. I like to exfoliate my skin in conjunction with the Body Shop Exfoliating Bath Gloves.

2) Exfoliating Bath Gloves 

Bath gloves in coral- image from bodyshop.ca

Thanks to storybookapothecary who had a post on some of her favourite products, one which included the eco bath gloves, I was on the hunt for something similar. I found a pair of exfoliating bath gloves at body shop for $5. I got the colour coral, but there’s other colours to chose from, such as green or blue. This works extremely well! I also use shower gel for more gentler exfoliation, but I also use the shea butter scrub with these gloves. These are very gentle and now a must in my shower routine.

3) Spa Wisdom Polynesia Monoi Miracle Oil 

Miracle Oil-image from bodyshop.ca

This is my third bottle in a year, and this product is amazing, because my mom approves. Usually she doesn’t like anything I buy, but she uses this faster than I do, which makes me weep because of the hefty price tag. This costs $20CAD. I usually buy it during the Buy 1 get 1 50% off sale or Buy 2 get 1 free. My last purchase of this costed $4.90, because I had a $15 instore gift credit, since I achieved 4 points on my Body Shop Membership Card (1 point =$25 purchase; and thanks to my mom, I got 4 points easily.)

I use a couple drops of this on my skin, and it’s amazing! It lets my skin have a glowy look. I also sometimes mix it with regular lotion so I can spread it more. It has the scent of Tahitian gardenia flowers with coconut oil. Because I have no idea what those flowers actually smell like, I’ll describe it as a tropical, exotic, incensy floral smell. I normally dislike florals, but I love the scent of this.

This product contains sweet almond oil, brazil nut oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil. It can be multi-tasked as a hair product. Sometimes I rub 1-2 drops on the ends of my hair to remove the frizz and decrease the appearance of split ends. A little goes a long way for this product- too much oil can look greasy. This can be great as a pre-shampoo treatment, according to Body Shop.

4) Aloe Calming Toner

Aloe Calming Toner- image from bodyshop.ca

I got this product when I had a groupon- $20 for $4o worth of Body Shop items. This retails for $12CAD. This toner has helped immensely in cleansing the skin and removing any extra impurities, cleanser, and makeup traces. I have never broken out with this product, since this product is geared for those with sensitive skin. It doesn’t have a fragrance either. The ingredients list for this is very short : Water, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Glycerin. No alcohol to dry the skin! This toner is very gentle, and I recommend it for all skin types, since I have dry skin, not sensitive.

5) Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil- image from bodyshop.ca

A must have! A must have! I have a more in-depth review about this fantastic product here. This product pretty much prevents any incoming breakouts, and heals anything that has broken out. I have been using this product for around 7 years now, and will not stop! If you don’t mind a strong minty lemony smell, this product should be sitting on your counter- it’s a pimp/zit/acne 911 emergency product. If I have a skincare survival kit- this is going in!

These five products are stuff that I will continue to use in the future, because I have achieved the results I want! If you have tried any of these products, let me know your opinion! Or comment on what your favourite products are! 🙂 

Product of the Week: Josie Maran Argan Oil

Lately, my hair has been getting a bit frizzled. I have been trying to hunt down some hair products that can cure my split ends, and then I remembered I traded my 500 Sephora beauty points for a Josie Maran sample package which included a bottle containing 100% pure Argan Oil.

Josie Maran Argan Oil

The oil is grown in Morocco, and it contains Vitamin E and fatty acids.It is a multi-tasking product- you can use it to soften skin, nourish hair, and smooth cuticles. It is supposed to give your skin a youthful, dewy glow PLUS it has anti aging and healing properties. This is pretty analogous to Harry Potter’s  bottle of  Felix Felicis for girls.  (This product is not formulated with any chemicals or parabens either!)

What I use it for:

  • Hair: I noticed a considerable amount of split ends, and dry frizzy ends of my hair due to too much straightening. I use the dropper and put 2-3 drops on my fingers and rub it in the ends of my hair. The ends of my hair feel “straighter” and more alive, and definitely softer!
  • Hands: My hands are consistently dry, especially around the nails! I like to drop a bit of argan oil on my palms, then squeeze some lotion and mix it in my hands. I notice immediate hydration.

I haven’t tried this on my face yet, since I’m not sure how my face would react to it. However, I am perfectly happy with the product being used mainly for my hair. It is expensive, $14 USD for 0.5 oz, or $48USD for 1.7 oz at Sephora.

The size I received is perfect, since it can be easily carried around for shopping. Although I received only 0.5 oz, I use it a little bit at at time, so this product lasts for a while!

My Argan Oil

Dry Shampoo Roundup – Batiste vs TRESemmĂ©

As some may know, washing your hair on a daily basis is more damaging to your hair. Washing hair daily strips the hair of its natural oil, so by washing the oil, the hair becomes more dry and dull looking.

One of the main ingredients in shampoo is the chemical Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which makes the shampoo foamy.It is actually a dangerous chemical because it is a skin irritant. It also gets absorbed in our skin and can be a potential health hazard. It is used in common shampoos because it is inexpensive. Sulfate can also damage the hair roots and cause the follicle to be damaged.

I used to wash my hair everyday, but over the past year I tried washing it every other day, and I would wash my hair Friday night then Sunday night. I have also used sulfate-free shampoo (when it’s on sale) to strip less of the hair oil.

So for the days I don’t wash my hair, and I feel my hair may be getting oily, I use dry shampoo! Dry shampoo is another option to refresh the hair when you’re in a hurry and you don’t have to bother showering and lathering up your hair. Dry shampoo also gives hair volume! I’ve tried three types of dry shampoos and here’s a review of each one from worst to best:

Dry Shampoo

3) TRESemmĂ© Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo– for Dry/Curly to Normal Hair, Moisturizing cleanser with aloe vera & citrus. On the website it says:

How it Works

  • Formulated with Witch Hazel- a powerful natural astringent, absorbs excess oil and impurities when you skip a shampoo.
  • Aloe Vera containing formula conditions hair, replenishing moisture and restoring lustrous shine
  • Eliminates odor, adding a naturally fresh scent through formula with Citrus Extracts.

How to Use

  1. FOR SALON-GORGEOUS RESULTS:
  2. Pump 2-3 times (for mid length hair) into your hand.
  3. Spread product throughout hair with fingertips.
  4. Using a towel, gently rub your hair to remove any dirt and excess oil
  5. Style as usual, if desired.

I didn’t like this product at all. I actually bought this as an accident because I thought it was the spray, but I was wrong. When you squeeze it out, you get a watery foam. My hair is somewhat long, and I tried one pump, but the overpowering scent prevented me to want to use anymore. It smelt like a mix of citrus fruits and windex.

When I distribute it through my hair, the scent lingers for a long time, which I disliked. I tried putting it in my roots, but my hair felt “wet” and even oilier. It felt like a damp hairspray that didn’t clean my hair.

To not waste this product, I would probably use it if I was staying at home and not washing my hair. It’s probably also useful to wash makeup brushes.

Price: $3.99-$6.99 (depending if there is a sale at specific stores) for 177 mL

Rating: 1/5

2) TRESemmé Fresh Start Volumizing Shampoo for fine/oily hair with mineral clay and citrus. The following information from their site:

How it Works

  • Formulated with Mineral Clay, seeks out and absorbs oil, injecting hair with instant salon-gorgeous volume
  • Citrus Extracts including formula, eliminate odor, infusing hair with a fresh, clean scent
  • Using Fresh Start to revive style instead of a shampoo helps preserve color and keep it looking fresh

How to Use

  1. Shake vigorously before use and in between spray bursts for best results.
  2. Lift sections of dry hair and spray lightly at roots using short bursts, holding 8-12 inches from head and leave-in for 1-2 minutes.
  3. Use fingertips to massage through hair and to distribute product evenly.
  4. Use throughout the day to absorb oil and refresh your style as needed.
  5. IF CLOGGING OCCURS, REMOVE NOZZLE AND RINSE NOZZLE UNDER WARM WATER. THEN RE-ATTACH NOZZLE.

This is the other product I tried from the Fresh Start line. This is a slight improvement compared to the waterless foam shampoo, but it’s very annoying. I must have to remove the nozzle constantly or I get a defective bottle- because have the time I spray it, nothing come out. I have to shake it couple times more to get some spritz. The smell is similar to the waterless foam shampoo, but not as overpowering once sprayed into the hair.

However, I didn’t feel like it made such a big difference. My hair still felt limp when I tried this dry shampoo. It doesn’t feel any different than a hairspray. Also, when you get to the end of the bottle, you can never finish it up!

Price: $3.99-$6.99 (depending if there is a sale at specific stores) for 161 g.

Rating: 2.5/5

1) Batiste Dry Shampoo (Original)

This is the newest dry shampoo I got and no complaints yet, except for its price compared to the others. This was on sale for 2/$14.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart. The description from amazon is as follows (sorry, for some reason I can’t get on the site)

Product Features

Scent Name: Original | Size: 5.05 oz
  • Leaves hair feeling clean, fragrant and full of body
  • Great product for active people on the go
  • Revitalizes greasy, dull and lifeless hair
  • Transforms your hair without water

Directions
Shake can vigorously before use and in-between spray bursts. Hold approximately 12″ from your hair and spray lightly and evenly. Massage through hair with fingertips and leave for a few moments. Brush out, preferably with a natural bristle brush.

Product Description

Batiste Waterless Dry Shampoo refreshes and revitalises hair in-between shampoos. A light citrus fragrance leaves hair fresh and deodorised! Simply spray on, fluff, then brush – no water required.

This product works! It has a light zesty floral scent that goes away after sprayed in hair. I put a bit on my roots and let it sit, then brush it out with a comb (use a bristle comb as it states on the bottle.) It feels light and non greasy. To create more volume between sprays, I flip my hair up, spray section by section, put my hair down, spray on the top, then brush it out. There is less product compared to the other dry shampoos, but I’m willing to pay a bit more if it works.

Price: Regular Price $9.49/bottle, Sale: $14 for 2 bottles – 150mL per bottle

Rating: 4.5/5

Size difference: Left- Batiste, Middle -Waterless foam shampoo, Right- Volumizing Dry Shampoo

 

There are also cheaper opportunities out there I have read from other forums- such as baby powder or cornstarch. Anyway, I’m happy with Batiste for now and hopefully one bottle will last me for a while!

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