Carol's Daughter Chocolat Shampoo and Conditioner

I saw this video on YouTube on Sephora's channel and thought it was a great opportunity to share my experience with the Chocolat Smoothing Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner.

Chocolat Smoothing Sulfate Free Shampoo, Conditioner, and Smoothing  Blow Dry  Cream

The shampoo and conditioner smell FABULOUS! Both were oh so creamy, and even though the shampoo is sulfate free (a huge plus) it lathered wonderfully. I did feel an immediate difference in my frazzled tresses after using the shampoo; it really did smooth my hair and left it soft and silky. The conditioner was like chocolate icing on the cake. It felt rich, but did not weigh down my curls. It left them feeling bouncy and luxurious. I loved the scent so much that I left a bit of the conditioner in to serve as a sort of leave in conditioner, and it worked beautifully in that capacity. Major bonus: the hubby couldn't stop smelling my hair!

I was so impressed with the shampoo and conditioner (and after seeing the results in the video), I definitely want to try the Blow Dry Cream. It seems like the perfect product to use when I want to switch to a straight style! There's actually a really great starter set that will let you try all 3 products at a reasonable price...

Chocolat Smoothing Collection 3-Piece Starter Set $24 at Sephora.com

I realize I'm a little late on the train, but the more exposure I have with Carol's Daughter products, the more I love them! What's your experience with the brand? What are your fave products from the hair care line? And have you had a chance to try any of the skin care products? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

PS: PR provided me with the shampoo and conditioner to try. I was not paid to do a review and all of the opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

A Day in the Life (A Little Something Different)...

I thought I'd share a little bit of my life with you all. Nothing major; my hubby took the day off yesterday and we took the lil bits (London and Kensington) to the mall (The Mall of Georgia, to be exact) just to walk around and play in the big fountain they have out front. I got some really cute pictures and a video of them playing around so I thought I'd share. I keep trying to get my oldest (Peyton) in some of these shots, but she's at that age where she's uber camera shy, so that's a bit of a work in progress. 

Kenzie is almost the polar opposite of London. Where London was a total ham from very early on, Kenzie blatantly avoids eye contact with the camera. She will literally run away and duck behind something when she sees a camera!

London posing for the hubby (Kenzie running away from me and my camera)

London debating over whether or not to touch the water

We live within walking distance of the Mall of Georgia

London posing again

My hubby and my girls are the BEST parts of my life. I write about things that aid in improving superficial beauty, but my family helps me to remember what REAL beauty is: giving and receiving LOVE...

Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

CGC Review: TIGI Bed Head Urban Antidotes Resurrection Shampoo and Conditioner

Favorite Looks from the Met Gala Red Carpet 2012

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite looks from last night's Met Gala. So many beautiful looks (both fashion and beauty wise, but sometimes not simultaneously), it was hard to narrow it down.

Disclaimer: These photos are NOT mine. I give credit to the source from which I got them in the caption of each picture.

Nina Dobrev in Donna Karen Atelier via FabSugar

Jessica Pare in L'Wren Scott via FabSugar

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada via FabSugar

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier via Independent Fashion Bloggers

Solange Knowles in Rachel Roy via FabSugar

Honorable mentions: Mara Rooney, Coco Rocha, Emma Stone, Lana Del Ray, and Beyonce. You can see all of my picks on this Pinterest Board. 

What were your favorite red carpet looks from last night's event? Are there any makeup looks that you are interested in recreating? Who dropped the ball or went a little overboard? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think! Until next time...

Ciao, XxO

Q

Kimbra - Settle Down (live SXSW 2012 - Spotify Sessions)

This is not fashion or beauty related but I really feel like I had to share this performance. Music is very important to me and nowadays good music and true artists are so hard to come by. So I when I saw this, I felt compelled to share it.




Now that is impressive! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. What musical discoveries have you made recently? What do you think of the state of music today? My inquiring mind wants to know! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. Until next time...


Ciao, XxO

Q

Carol's Daughter "I AM Because You Are" Competiton

So, perhaps I’m going a bit overboard in my love affair with oils, but I can’t help it! I’m starting to think there is an oil (or oil based product) out there for just about any purpose you might need it for.

I’ve known for years that the best time to moisturize your skin is while it’s wet; sealing in water while it’s still on your skin is the optimal way to maintain properly balanced and hydrated skin. Trouble for me is, I can never seem to get moisturizer on my skin straight out of the shower or bath. I either get distracted by my hubby or one of my girls, or I’m tending to the needs of my hair or face before I turn my attention to my body. So this morning, I had a revelation: What if I had a dry oil mist to spray as soon as I got out of the shower? Kind of as a base, to seal the moisture in? Then I could do whatever else I needed to do, and if I wanted to layer on more moisturizer later I could. Genius, right?

I was going to use Facebook and Twitter to ask if anyone had any recommendations as far as dry oil mists, and then I stumbled on to this little gem…

Memorable Mists Trio; $29.50 on CarolsDaughter.com

(Just in time for Mother’s Day) Carol’s Daughter has created a custom Mother's Day Gift Set: the Memorable Mists Trio. The set includes the Almond Cookie, Sugared Violets and Orange Ambrosia Dry Oil Mists to pamper mom (or any woman, really). These delectably scented mists will keep your skin moisturized and positively glowing. Each fragrance is wonderful on its own, but you can also blend them together in order to create your own custom scent. This limited-edition gift set will be available in Carol’s Daughter stores and CarolsDaughter.com.

Carol's Daughter is also inviting fans to celebrate their mothers with the "I AM Because You Are" competition, sponsored by Sprite. You can share the invaluable beauty lessons your mother has taught you by posting a note about it on the Carol's Daughter Facebook Wall. Here are the details: