Sunny Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil (Part 2)

I taped this a while ago, but didn't include it in my blog post about Sunny Isle JBCO so here it is:







(If this isn't motivation for me to lose some weight, I don't know what is! There will be more videos, mostly product reviews, etc. Subscribe to my channel on YouTube to see more! XxO, Q)

CGC: L'oreal EverCreme Cleansing Conditioner

photo via naturallycurly.com

Product Info:  EverCreme Conditioning Cleanser is an innovative, gentle way to cleanse and condition in one simple step. Ultra concentrated conditioning power for ultimate moisture and shine. Sulfate-free formula won't strip hairs natural moisture. Low-lathering creme thoroughly cleanses while reducing friction on the hair fiber to minimize breakage. Triple action conditioning formula, with Omega 3-6, leaves hair soft and controlled. 100% Vegan-formula not tested on animals, no animal byproducts. (It is also paraben, silicone, and protein free.)

My Take:  I actually like this product, because I really put it to the test. I experimented with a DIY Honey Mask and this cleanser was able to thoroughly remove all traces of stickiness with ease (and that was after leaving the honey concoction in my hair for over 30 minutes). Like, it got my hair SQUEAKY clean. Which is a good thing, I suppose. But it' s also why I don't exactly love the product. I feel like it misses the mark on the whole "conditioning" claim.   I guess I was hoping that I wouldn't need an additional conditioner to feel that my hair was properly moisturized, but really, I did. 

Final Verdict: Stellar as a cleanser, as a conditioner not so much. Best for use to get your tresses super clean, just be prepared with an additional conditioner afterwards.

L'oreal EverCreme Conditioning Cleanser retails for $6.99 on Amazon.com

Disclaimer: The product reviewed was sent to me for consideration by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and the opinions stated are honest and my own. 

I Don't Know What Took Me So Long! (Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Strips)

I recently got the chance to (finally) try Sally Hansen's Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips and I have no idea what took me so long to try them! If I could, I'd probably change my nail color every other day; the only reason I don't is because a base coat, two coats of color, and a top coat take FOREVER to dry (even with my beloved Seche Vite)! So it's hard to find the time to go through the process and when I do manage to do my nails (at least once a week), nine times out of ten I end up messing it up within hours of finishing it.

Salon Effects in Lust-rous

So it should've been a no brainer to give these strips a try. They require no base coat or top coat; Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips offer DBP, Toluene and Formaldehyde Free, no dry time nail looks for the style that lasts up to ten days. This easy and affordable at-home nail technology puts bold color, high shine, and intricate design at your finger tips-just peel, apply, file, and go!

It took a little finagling to apply them (mind you I had the two little ones clamoring all over me), but the process was fairly simple, and I love the results!

I used 360 Laced Up (and Essie Luxe Effects on my accent nail)

I definitely plan to use these again (though probably not right before I clean up the kitchen and cook, or on a night I detangle Lo's hair like I did this time), and next time I'll try to be a little more careful and precise. I would love to try the set that Christina Aguilera wore recently on the voice, Lust-rous (pictured above)!

Christina Aguilera on the set of The Voice (isn't she gorg!)

Have you had a chance to try these yet? How often do you change your nail color? Are you a DIY girl or do you go to the salon to get your mani/pedis done? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know all about it! Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

PS: The strips were supplied to me for consideration by PR. I was not paid to review them and all opinions stated are honest and my own...

Philosophy 101

As a mommy to two little ones, it's very seldom that I get a moment to myself; it seems as if I have at least one permanent companion at all times. I'm not complaining; I'm kind of enamored with my babies and I love that they seem to be endlessly fascinated with me and all my doings. It's like having an in house fan club! The only time it gets a bit tiresome is when it comes to going into the bathroom, for any reason whatsoever. I tend to have tagalongs for that, regardless of the, uh, task at hand.

I took ill over the weekend, and was literally down for the count and weak with fever until last night. When I finally surfaced from my haze (and got a proper whiff of myself), I decided to indulge in a bath (as I was still too weak to stand in the shower for a substantial amount of time and it seemed as if the babies were sufficiently distracted at the time).

See, when the little ones hear bath water running, it's like the Bat Signal: they stop whatever they are doing, run from where ever they were, and either disrobe (London) or attempt to catapult themselves, fully clothed (Kenzie) into the tub. So it truly is a luxury for me to take a bath, particularly one all by myself. As such, I have many accoutrements associated with taking a bath: oils, salts, candles, and my favorite, bubble bath.

Other than the Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser (which I love), I haven't had a lot of personal experience with Philosophy products, but I have heard a great deal of wonderful things about them. So I was very excited to try their Vanilla Birthday Cake Shampoo, Shower Gel, and Bubble Bath. I honestly got it with no interest in using it as anything other than a bubble bath, but I do think it's pretty awesome that it is so multi purpose.

photo via Philosophy.com

photo via Philosophy.com

So I was kind of psyched to be using this bubble bath for the first time; I was envisioning luxurious, frothy bubbles and for the bathroom to transform into a homey little bakery as it filled with the warm, sweet scent of  rich vanilla birthday cake. However, neither things occurred. Womp womp. Unfortunately, the bubbles were sparse, minuscule,  and faded within  minutes of forming in the bath water. And the scent was virtually nonexistent; I had to take a deep whiff straight from the bottle to reassure myself that it was supposed to be fragranced. Sigh.

Anyway, Kenzie decided to join me in the bath before the tub was even halfway full. C'est la vie. I ended up utilizing the other 2 purposes of the gel; I used it as shampoo and shower gel for the baby. It actually worked quite well in those capacities (though I truly wish the fragrance was little more potent). So it wasn't a complete fail, just one for the intents and purposes I actually purchased it for. 

What is your experience with Philosophy? Should I perhaps try another scent and consider this experience to be simply a one off? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO, 

Q

My Favorite Bedtime Story

I am a wife and a stay at home mommy to 3 daughters, aged 11, 3, and 1. The concept of “me time” (quality “me time” at least) has been nonexistent for over a year now. There was a little pocket of time when the two little ones would take a nap at the same time, while my husband was at work and my oldest daughter was still at school, but I usually used that time to get necessary housework done. By the end of the day, once everyone was clean, fed, happy, and drifting merrily off to slumberland, I was so drop dead exhausted, most days I counted myself lucky if I could muster up the energy to swipe a cleansing cloth over my face. Thus was the  extent of my skincare regimen.

But today is a new day! Yes, I’m still bone weary by the time the house falls silent and everyone else is asleep. Now I manage to stay awake to enjoy one of the best (and one of my absolute favorite) parts of the day, my “me time,” aka my Nighttime Ritual. I spend at least 30 minutes in my little bathroom, removing my makeup, cleansing my face, moisturizing my skin, and pampering my curly tresses. Sometimes I even play a little music and light a candle. It is one of the highlights of my day. It doesn’t matter how tired I am (or how many times my husband wakes up to ask me what I’m doing in there and why I am taking so long), I relish this time and have no idea what took so long for me to do this for myself. I sleep better, I am happier, and my skin looks PHENOMENAL.

The final part of my routine happens once I get back in the bed. Since my hands just spent the better part of 30 minutes immersed in water (and I wash them like 2 times during the course of the whole routine), the last thing I do before I go to sleep is put on a nice hand cream. Not just any old lotion, cream, oil, or butter-it has to be a legit hand cream (my husband has no idea why this makes a bit of difference, but it does to me). And I’m all out…

I really liked my old tube of hand cream (a marvelous concoction from Bath and Body Works), but as a beauty junkie, I love to try new things. So when I ran across this new (to me at least) brand, I had to take a closer look.

Jurlique is a brand being featured in April’s Birchbox. According to them (and experience has inclined me to take their word for it): “Not only do their skincare products feel (and smell) amazing on your skin, they also have an impressive dedication to planet earth. The eco-conscious company’s packaging is already 95 percent recyclable. And now Jurlique has pledged to reduce its energy and water consumption as well as its amount of waste to landfill by 20 percent by 2015.” Color me intrigued!

So I checked out Jurlique’s products on Birchbox’s website and found this lovely…

Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream

LAVENDER hand cream, people! What a perfect goodnight kiss!  This rich hand cream uses safflower seed oil and macadamia oil to restore moisture and protect from future dryness. Carrot root extract and aloe vera soften and soothe, while vitamin E provides antioxidant protection for the skin. It  would be the perfect addition to top off my night time ritual. 

So, what is your definition of "me time?" How do you treat yourself? Does your bedtime routine rival mine? My inquiring mind wants to know. Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

Didn't Think That I Could Be More Excited About Birchbox Than I Already Was...

I've already shared my love for Birchbox  in a previous post (here), but I don't think that adequately expressed how great I think this subscription service truly is.  I can not explain the absolute excitement I feel when I get the email that my box has shipped and the sheer giddiness I get when I check the mail and find that it has finally arrived. Just the fact that I get to try out so many new (and awesome) products and learn about brands I would have not otherwise heard of is enough, but there's also the informative and fun emails, blog posts, and YouTube videos to enjoy. Birchbox is truly one of the most well rounded subscriptions services out there. And now there are two more reasons to love them.

Birchbox has just launched Birchbox Man, a $20 a month subscription that will deliver high end grooming and lifestyle goods direct to your door! What an awesome gift that would be for the discerning men in your life!

But what I'm truly EXCITED about (other than the arrival of my April box) is the May Birchbox. I just received this press release:

LIVE AND LOOK LIKE YOUR FAVORITE UPPER EAST SIDER WITH GOSSIP GIRL–INSPIRED BIRCHBOX 

 Curated by the Key Makeup Artist and Hairstylist of The CW’s Hit Series, Special Edition Birchbox Features Distinct Looks Inspired by the World of Gossip Girl 

 Whether your look is downtown chic or uptown fabulous, Birchbox—the company helping women discover the best new beauty and lifestyle products—will partner with The CW’s hit drama series Gossip Girl (Mondays 8/7c) this May to curate a special edition Birchbox filled with Gossip Girl–inspired glamour. 

The Gossip Girl Birchbox will contain chic beauty products inspired by Manhattan’s poshest social set, chosen in consultation with the series’ department head for makeup, Amy Tagliamonti, and department head for hair, Jennifer Johnson. New subscribers to Birchbox will receive the Gossip Girl box as their first monthly delivery in May—just in time for the season finale of Gossip Girl airing Monday, May 14, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. Fans can also watch Gossip Girl via The CW’s new app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. For more information on the special edition Gossip Girl Birchbox, or to join Birchbox’s growing number of subscribers, visit www.birchbox.com/gossipgirl.

 “We are so excited to announce Gossip Girl as the first entertainment brand to partner with Birchbox,” said Sonia Borris, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Operations, Warner Bros. Television Group. “Gossip Girl fans — like Birchbox subscribers — are cutting-edge trendsetters who easily navigate and populate the social media landscape, and are trendsetters in fashion and beauty. This is a perfect way to give these influential fans their own Gossip Girl experience.” “Gossip Girl is one of the biggest trendsetters in fashion, but also in beauty,” said Katia Beauchamp, Birchbox, Co-Founder. “At Birchbox, we are passionate about sharing the latest and greatest beauty products, styles and tips, so partnering with Gossip Girl was a natural fit. We think our subscribers will be delighted with the special Gossip Girl Birchbox.” 

 Gossip Girl airs Mondays at 8/7c on The CW. The series—from Fake Empire, Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios—was developed by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, who serve as executive producers with Leslie Morgenstein, Bob Levy and Joshua Safran. 

 About Birchbox Launched in 2010, Birchbox is the discovery commerce platform redefining the retail process by offering consumers a personalized way to discover, sample, shop and learn about the best beauty and lifestyle products and brands available. Birchbox members have first-touch experiences with products each month and access to educational content to help them get the most out of their products. Top brands like Kiehl’s, Benefit, Deborah Lippmann and Stila have partnered with Birchbox. 

I'll admit that Gossip Girl is one of my guilty pleasures. I DVR it every week and watch it while the hubby is at work (so I don't have to suffer his ridicule for watching it). I love it! The fashion, the style, the life in the city; I'm hooked. So I'm totally stoked about this collaboration and Birchbox set the bar awfully high after partnering with Teen Vogue for the March 2012 box (I received a full size Essie Luxe Effects nail polish AND a Tarte LipSurgence pencil in addition to several other goodies). 

If you haven't signed up for Birchbox, now's definitely the time to do it!

Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q