Smashbox Faves

Ever since getting the Smashbox Click You're It Holiday Eye Palette from Sephora before Christmas, I've been obsessed with the brand! The eye shadows are so finely milled-they actually feel creamy and they are so pigmented (so a little goes a long way). In addition to the shadows, the palette included a mini Photo Finish Lid Primer and 5 of their spectacular cream eyeliners. They are perfect for tightlining and in the water line because they DO NOT BUDGE! I love it!

Since I was so pleased with everything in the palette, I had to see if I would be similarly impressed with other products from the brand, and boy was I ever! Here is just a sampling of some of my faves:

CGC: Arrojo Gentle Shampoo

Arrojo Gentle Shampoo (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:   Sulfate and sodium-chloride free. Repairs and nourishes, with natural and organic ingredients. Lightly scented with fresh verbena. 

Ingredients: Water/Aqua/Eau, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl, Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Decyl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-7, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Honey/Mel/Miel, Polyquaternium-10, Passiflora Incarnata Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil, Amodimethicone, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, Propylene Glycol, Agave Americana Leaf Extract, PEG-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Extract, Butylene Glycol, Garcinia Indica Seed Butter, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, C12-14 Sec- Pareth-7, C12-14 Sec- Pareth-5, Panthenol, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Fragrance/Parfum, Citric Acid, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, d-Limonene, Linalool.

sulfate free, paraben free, organic, glycerin free

My Take: I was surprised with how watery it was when you squeeze it out of the bottle, and perhaps because of that consistency, I feel like I had to use a lot of product to thoroughly cover my head. That being said, I really like this shampoo. The scent is light and wonderful and it lathers like a dream. I used it after spending the day at the pool and it effectively removed all remnants of chlorine (and sweat) from my hair and scalp. I will definitely be using this all up! 

PS- Product was sent for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

THE Concealer: Evie Evan Part One

I've already shared my affection for subscription services with you lovelies (here and here), among the hits (New Beauty Test Tube, Birchbox, and Julep Maven) there has been a miss (I'm talking to you Beauty Box 5). I don't want to even get into what's wrong with that whole operation; let's just say, if you want to check it out, do so at your own risk. I'd advise that you spend your money elsewhere, but that's just my humble opinion. 

The one shining light out of my 3 months with BB5 (well, one of the two, the full size Rosebud Salve was pretty cool) was a skincare sample from a company that I had never heard of, Evie Evan. Included with the sample was a product menu/business card, and I can't even describe how stoked I was to see that the phone number was local! 

CGC: Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love

Karen's Body Beautiful Butter Love (photo via NaturallyCurly.com)

Product Description:  Made only from rich, thick butters and luxurious oils, Karen's Hair Butter conditions, softens and adds sheen to fragile, stressed hair. Great for natural, relaxed or pressed hair. Use twice a week on hair and scalp or more as needed. (Works best on dry hair.)  Adds moisture and shine.

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter, Jojoba Butter, Aloe Butter, Essential and/or Fragrance Oils, Grapefruit Seed Oil & Vitamin E

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, protein free, glycerin free 

MyTake:  This butter was soft and rich and gave my daughter's 4a/b hair great sheen without being greasy. However, while the Lavender Vanilla scent is nice, it is also very powerful and my scent sensitive hubby found it to be a bit... cloying. I like it though; I just recommend not using this in conjunction with other products that have any discernible scent as I could see that being a tad overwhelming to the senses. But as far as how the product itself performed, I was very pleased. I will be using it for myself when doing up do's and to smooth down my edges and for both of my daughters (to seal the ends of 2 strand twists after detangling and to smooth edges).

PS- Product was provided for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)

A Day in the Life: Piedmont Park (Again)

We headed back down to Piedmont Park with the lil bits. We didn't quite make it for the Farmer's Market (sigh), but it was a gorgeous day nonetheless and we enjoyed a delicious picnic of fried chicken, cole slaw, and potato salad (it was my cheat day, and I only had a spoonful each of salad and slaw, and I NEVER eat the skin on my chicken and ALWAYS only have one breast piece). We didn't walk around the park as planned, but we enjoyed watching the girls run around (and around and around) with each other...

CGC: Entwine The Manipulator Creme Jelle Styler

Entwine The Manipulator Creme Jelle Styler (photo via naturallycurly.com)

Product Description:  Designed with real-world technology, perfected with natural Honey, Safflower Seed Oil & Vegetable Protein for limitless, re-definable styling for natural and transitioning. Adds definition, provides frizz control.

Ingredients:  Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Oleth-20, Polyacrylate-14, Candilla Wax, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Stearic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Behenyltrimonium Chloride, Ceteareth 25, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol (Hair Strengthening Complex), Ethyl Hexylmethoxycinnamate, Fragrance, PEG-90M, Aminomethylpropanol, Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Phenoxyethanol

silicone free, sulfate free, paraben free, glycerin free 

My Take: I really like the packaging on this product. That alone had me intrigued. It has a very light, pleasant scent, but a very unusual, almost chunky texture. I used just a little bit to smooth down the edges of my 3rd day hair and while it worked fairly well at that (my edges didn't look as dry and it definitely tamed my mane in front, which is what I was looking for). However, I am skeptical to use this all over, as it felt a bit waxy and sticky and was actually kind of difficult to remove from my hands. Let's just say I'm not looking forward to the task of having to wash it from my hair. After I test to see how easily (or not) it washes out of my hair, I think that it will be perfect to use on London's 4a/b daughter, to seal the ends of 2 strand twists and to smooth her edges as well as Peyton's (who has transitioning 4b/c hair). 

PS- Product was sent for review by NaturallyCurly.com. I was not paid for this review and all opinions stated are 100% honest and my own :)