Product review: Maybelline Colossal Big Shot volum' express mascara

Disclaimer: I received the Colossal Big Shot mascara by Maybelline in an influenster voxbox. It was complimentary (free) for testing purposes, which in no way affects my opinion on the product.

Now this was my first voxbox so I felt like a big deal receiving this box with maybelline and influenster marked on it. When I opened it up it was packaged perfectly. In the box was the Maybelline Colossal Big Shot volum' express mascara, Master Precise curvy liquid eyeliner, a card with info on the mascara and instructions on how to post reviews about the product on social media (specific tags and hashtags). And packing paper to keep everything from flopping around in the box.

What it promises:
WASHABLE MASCARA
•Lashes go so powerful, fully loaded volume in one coat.
Ophthalmologist tested. •suitable for contact lens wearers.

•To use: sweep brush from root to tip for dramatic volume. Re-dip and apply to other eye to see similar dramatic results. Removes easily with oil free make-up remover.

Ok so I had some other new make up items I'd recently bought (including Maybelline's FIT me! matte + poreless foundation) I wanted to try so now was the perfect time to try everything out and beat my face. This mascara really hit the mark. It does what it says, the brush is made with tons of bristles that loads more product so you don't have to put on so many coats to get the full effect it boasts.

I was left with full lashes without the clumpy tarantula look you get from other mascaras. It builds well, so you can add a couple of coats if you need to without the fear of clumping. The shade of "blackest black" they sent me was a rich jet black. It also claims to wash off easily, and it really did come off with one wash.

Product Review: Avanti Silicon Mix Bamboo Leave in

Everyone who knows me and my staple products knows I've been a faithful Giovanni Direct leave in user for 2yrs now since I found a bottle in Miami at Ulta. 

But I recently had to move and put things into storage except my essentials: shoes, clothes, toiletries, oh yea... and food. I also had a chest full of my basic hair needs, appliances and products. I specifically said I'd be taking it with me, but my movers didn't listen so it ended up going into storage. In that chest... Yes, my direct leave in. 

So off I went to find a replacement bottle (which I knew would be a problem), and of course no one had it in store. I started to pick up a bottle of mixed chicks leave in, it almost made it home too, until I read a few reviews while in store. It doesn't do well with blow drying, I read, so nope... Didn't wanna chance it because I blow my hair dry more often than not. 

So off I go to find another alternative and I see three versions of Avanti silicon mix. I know they use this product in the Dominican salons, and I've heard so people raving about it. Now I was hesitant because I've had my hair on a very low to no cones diet, so this silicon mix seems to be detrimental to my hair's new healthy lifestyle. I read the ingredients list and some reviews while walking around the store picking up other needed items. There are no more comes than are in mixed chicks or any other typical leave in, plus the good reviews out weighed the bad... So I chose the one with bamboo extract and to the check out counter I headed. 

Hard to believe, I didn't use it right away, I waited a few days. So this wash day I only co-washed (I needed a deeper wash but 1) I was in a hurry, and 2) I'm waiting on the product I really wanna wash with to be delivered). So I co-washed and detangled using Shea moisture African black soap balancing conditioner, air dried a bit, and applied Avanti silicon mix w/ bamboo. My first impression is: 

• TEXTURE is thick and creamy (for those of us with drier, thirstier curls) but not so heavy it'll weigh your hair down. 

• SCENT is a little perfume-y but in a good way, it's a warm amberish scent... It's not overpowering or overbearing. It leaves the hair smelling clean once the hair is blowdried. 

• GOING ON it went on impressively, it had a good amount of slip for some detangling before blowdrying. I also felt the bamboo strengthening my hair, it didn't feel fragile or weak. And my hair felt pretty protected before applying blow dryer heat to my hair. 

• RESULTS left my hair incredibly soft and manageable. It was moisturized and didn't leave my hair feeling like it needed any added moisture. Two days later...my hair still feels soft and moisturized. 

So far, so good. I will post an updated review when I use my new products and flatiron my hair. Can't wait!!!

Product Review: ALTER EGO NEQUAL ENERGIZING INTENSIVE LOTION for Hair loss

I've been using this energizing scalp treatment (for hair loss) occasionally for two years now with great results. Although I haven't experienced hair loss, I started using this to thicken my hair and encourage growth when and where I felt it was slow. I use this when I wear a sew in weave on wash days to give my scalp an extra boost and relieve that insatiable itch that I can't get to under the braids, net, and tracks. I also use this when I'm weave free, on days my scalp gets really itchy. This acts as an astringent/ clarifier. It works by clearing and unclogging the pores, increases circulation and strengthens the hair.

I would recommend this product for anyone experiencing excessive breakage, shedding, or dry/itchy scalp. It really works. You may experience some redness of the scalp due to the minty tingle, but don't be alarmed, that just means its working and only lasts maybe 5 mins.

What it promises: neQual INTENSIVE ENERGIZING HAIR LOTION Stimulating lotion useful in helping to prevent hair loss. Formulated with Capilectine, which contains a "growth factor" that helps to stimulate hair bulb activity. The extract of capsicum helps reactivate and restore energy to the micro-circulation. The synergic action of the Soya and Wheat proteins restore vitality and shine to the hair and rebalance dry and delicate scalps. Maintenance treatment recommended for hair loss due to physiological and/or pathological causes. USE: after cleansing with Shampoo Active Therapy, apply to the scalp and gently massage. Do not rinse off.

What's in it: Aqua (Water), Denatured Alcohol, Hydrolized Soy Protein, Propylene Glycol, Menthol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Hydrolized Corallina Officinalis Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methyl Nicotinate, Limonene, Linanool, Methylparaben, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten, Hydrolized Wheat Protein, Propylparaben, Citronellol, Simethicone, Citral, C.I. 19140 (FD&C YELLOW 5), C.I. 42090 (FD&C Blue I)

Product review: Trader Joes coconut body butter

This stuff is the truth!! I could leave it at that but I will elaborate.

I've been meaning to write a review for this stuff, but I admit I haven't partly because I selfishly didn't wanna put people onto it for fear I won't find it when I need a re-up. And then I just couldn't get the words out to describe it.

I was introduced to this product last year when I was at my dads house and seen a jar on my little sisters dresser. I flipped the top for a whiff of what was inside, and immediately started scheming on how to Deebo this from her without her missing it. I decided against it and went to Trader Joe's for my own especially after I found out the price of this yummy-ness. When I like something I love it hard so I grabbed two jars without hesitation. And I haven't used anything else since. Aside from the smell, this thick creamy, buttery, heavenly delight goes on smooth and goes to work immediately. It's fast absorbing so there's no greasy after feel and it's not heavy, just truly moisturizing and it lasts all day. This is especially great on those rough dry troublesome areas like hands, heels, elbows and knees, it really softens those areas. And a little goes a loooong way.

Price: 5.99 for 8 oz jar

What it smells like:
It has a sweet coconut/ cake batter type of fragrance. I've gotten a lot of compliments just wearing this alone. It's not an overbearing, nauseatingly nose raping smell, it just smells lovely yet it's noticeable.

I use this after I shower with Dove's Shea and vanilla body bar. They compliment each other well. And then I spray on some Victorias Secret very sexy now (which I think is discontinued) I bought some bottles on a clearance sale.

What it promises: no promise, the product speaks for itself.

What's in it: purified water, coconut oil, cetyl alcohol, capric/caprylic triglyceride, glyceryl stearate se, glycerin, stearyl alcohol, Shea butter, aloe leaf juice, clary extract, vitamin E, grapefruit fruit extract, yucca extract, dimethicone, orange peel extract, rosemary leaf extract, marshmallow extract, lemongrass extract, carbomer, centella asiaica extract, matricaria flower extract, polysorbate, 20, hops extract, sodium benzoate, disodium EDTA, lemon peel extract, horsetail extract, vaccinium myrtillus fruit/leaf extract, fragrance, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, sodium hydroxide, potassium sorbate.

Product review: Organix vanilla silk

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker and a huge fan of the organix line. So it's no surprise that I had been eyeing this duo for a while now. I have the biggest obsession with all things vanilla so that only added to the fiendish-ness.

On first sight when I flipped the lid to sniff it, the yummy goodness in this bottle was enough to make me want to impulse buy this. It smells like creamy vanilla mixed with white chocolate. Reading what the product promises "soft & silky" hair, "nourish and moisturize", "strengthen and seal... Cuticles". Plus the already known fact that its sulfate and paraben free... I could not resist!!

Once I got it home I jumped in the shower and... Honestly it's been a good while since I used their shampoo... But instantly it made my hair feel exactly the way I've been craving for a shampoo to make it feel. It's rich, creamy lather moisturized my strands leaving them soft and silky, and manageable not matted or stripped. It felt like I could detangle it with the shampoo on my hair. It rinsed clean and left my hair feeling soft.

Then the conditioner... It's thick consistency can double as a deep conditioner. When applied to soaking wet hair it produced a foam that moisturizes the strands and combs thru easily. It also rinses out clean yet leaves the hair soft, silky, and conditioned. It also gave my hair a noticeable, glowing shine, I hadn't seen in a while. And of course it leaves my hair smelling like vanilla... Mmmmmm.

I just wish they had vanilla silk styling products to enhance my vanilla experience after I wash and condition. I know they had a serum, which was discontinued for one reason or another and replaced by the Moroccan oil serum. But that's not vanilla.... So no. They need to fix that.

I did straight my hair to style and it was soft and sleek, it didn't puff up at the first sign of moisture as it usually does. So I think I'm loving this stuff beyond the scent.

Soft & silky vanilla silk:

indulge your senses with this exclusive blend of smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils to instantly nourish and moisturize, while silk amino proteins strengthen and seal your hair's cuticles, revitalizing your hair, creating silky, smooth shiny hair.

What you want: smoothing Tahitian vanilla bean oils blended with exotic silk amino proteins create a decadent treat. All you need for soft, smooth and seductive hair in one irresistible formula.

Shampoo:
What you do: apply organix shampoo generously to wet hair, massage into a lather through to ends, then rinse the hair thoroughly. After shampooing, follow with organix conditioner.

Ingredients: water, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, sodium c14-16 olein sulfonate, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, parfum, glycol distearate, dimethicone copolyol, cetyl alcohol, cocamide DEA, DMDM hydantoin, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, polyquarternium-11, silk amino acids, panthenol, vanilla oil, shea butter, vitamin E, limonene, CI 19140 (yellow 5)

Conditioner:
What you do: after shampooing with organix shampoo, apply organix conditioner generously to hair, working through ends. Wait 3-5 minutes. Rinse hair thoroughly.

Ingredients: water, parfum, behentrimonium chloride, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, cetearyl glycoside, glyceryl stearate, glycerin, cetearyl alcohol, jojoba seed oil, cetyl alcohol, panthenol, silk, amino acids, vanilla oil, DMDM hydantoin, shea butter, vitamin E, tetra sodium EDTA, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, limonene, CI 19140 (yellow 5)

Results w/ macadamia oil

Products used:

Herbal essences honey I'm strong shampoo and conditioner

Organix hydrating macadamia intensive moisture mask

Giovanni direct leave in

Hask exotic macadamia oil treatment