Dry Shampoo Review

     As part of maintaining my blonde hair, washing less frequently has been a necessity, and with that of course, comes finding a way to get rid of grease in between washes. I naturally tend to have oily hair, so dry shampoo has been a product that I've been using for a while. Recently, I feel that I've come across products that have really left an impression on me and obviously, I'd like to share the knowledge!

Osis+ Refresh Dust

     This dry shampoo was one of the first salon brands that I tested out and Schwarzkopf as a brand has some really great products, so I expected just as much from their dry shampoo. This particular dry shampoo works best for short-term use (i.e. we are just trying to extend in between a wash or so), but doesn't really do well for heavy duty use (at least not in my hair). Although it isn't my number one, it still is on my top five list mainly because it smells great and it does a great job not leaving a grey-cast in my hair.

AG Hair Simply Dry Dry Shampoo

     Ever since trying AG hair products in March, this product has been my ride-or-die. This dry shampoo does an excellent job keeping up with me no matter how long I would like to go in between washes (Which is typically around every three days...maybe four if necessary). Something that I've also noticed is that this is one of those dry shampoos that I don't have to pile on. I can put some on one day and the next day it still has pretty good oil control. As with other AG products, the scent is lovely, and it sprays on without leaving a residue. 

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Dry Shampoo

     This product was a recent discovery for me and let me tell you, I was impressed. I picked this up on a whim because I wasn't going to get a chance to make it to a salon store with my sister, so I bought this one at my local Target. This was pretty much the only dry shampoo that I used during SPP, and I thought it worked just as well as my beloved AG Simply Dry. Best part? It was only 5!!! So for the people that want to stay at a drugstore price point, I highly recommend that you try this one as it's probably the best drugstore dry shampoo that I've tried. 

Using Dry Shampoo

     

     To get the most out of your dry shampoo, it is best to apply about 4-7 inches away from your scalp and then give it some time to soak in. I typically will apply my dry shampoo and then will go off to do my makeup. When you've given it some time to settle, just use your fingers to work it into your scalp and then massage out the rest. In general, your hair will take some time getting used to not being washed as frequently, but using dry shampoo can help while you are in transition. Over time, your hair will get used to going longer between washes and you won't need to use as much dry shampoo.

     So, for the days that you woke up a bit late from your post-all-nighter nap and you don't have a lot of time to wash your hair, dry shampoo can be your best friend. Also, it is a great thing to use to freshen up after hitting the gym, when you don't want to walk out looking a hot mess, in case you run into the cute Histology T.A. 

I hope you are having a wonderful start to your week, and I will be talking to you soon! 

~Genesis<3

     

Current Beauty Faves: May 2016

     As a beauty lover, I enjoy trying new products to see if I can find new favorites. For this post, I wanted to share some of the repeat offenders that I've been loving as well as some new things that I've picked up and have been enjoying!

Hair

AG Hair Simply Dry Dry Shampoo

      Part of maintaining long and color-treated hair involves washing your hair less frequently. In order to fight off an oily scalp between washes, I enlist the help of a dry shampoo. Now, I've tried quite a few dry shampoos on the market and they can be hit or miss.  But, this one has to be one of my favorites. It smells lovely and it doesn't leave any residue which is always a concern for me because I have dark roots. Another really cool thing is that I don't have to re-apply every day. If I apply it one day, the next day my hair doesn't really get oily. So, I don't have to keep piling up product in my hair. The brand also offers tinted options within their dry shampoo range, which is also really nice.

Schwarzkopf Color Save Silver Shampoo

     In order to prevent my blonde hair from turning brassy, I've been using a purple shampoo. My sister recommended this one and It's been working really well. It's actually pretty fun to use because it comes out a really deep purple and the suds it creates have a lilac tinge. It smells great and It cleans my hair without stripping my color.

Blondme Keratin Restore Mask

     I've been using this product in place of conditioner as I want something a bit thicker since having blonde hair can be drying on your ends. When I have this in my hair, my hair feels super silky. About every other wash, I'll use it as an actual mask. So, I'll apply it, tie my hair up, leave it in for about 20 minutes and then wash it out. This leaves my hair feeling super soft and conditioned. I know that it is marketed towards blondes, but I'm pretty sure anyone who just needs a deep repair mask can use it as it's not tinted.

Traceless Hair Ring

     One of the perks of having a hairstylist for a sister is being able to find great, inexpensive hair products. One of the most recent hair trends has been the Invisibobble traceless hair ring. When we were picking up some hair supplies, we stumbled upon a knock-off version and it has become my new fave. Having long hair can get hot sometimes and tying up my hair was always a struggle because I didn't always want to commit to the annoying ponytail indent in my hair. Now, that's not an issue. I can put up and take down my hair and it still looks great. I got mine for around 99 cents and the original retails for around $8. If you can find a cheaper version, I say totally go for it. Is the $8 justifiable? I'd say kind of. You'll only need one and if you don't lose it, you will have it for a pretty long time. I love mine because I can use it in the shower and all I have to do is rinse and dry it after, which is something I couldn't do with a traditional ponytail holder.

Skin

Boots Botanics Shine Away Mattifying Day Cream

     I'll be honest, when it comes to skincare, I am not always up on my game. I am pretty lax about moisturizing, but I do know it's really important. So, I made it a goal of mine to try to incorporate it into my routine. I picked up this little guy at Target and it has made it on the repeat offender list ( I am currently on my third jar!). I like it because it's pretty light weight and I've noticed that my skin hasn't gotten as oily. I will say that if you use this with makeup, you do want to give it a second to settle in. But otherwise, it works really well. The price isn't that bad either ($13), when you can easily spend $40+ on a good moisturizer.

Simple Cleansing Face Wipes

   One of my staples for my beauty routine is a good set of face wipes. I like to use them to remove my makeup before washing my face and on the very rare occasion, in place of face washing. I like these because they do a really good job at removing makeup (even waterproof) and they don't sting my eyes, which I have experienced with some other face wipes. They are also available at pretty much any drugstore so they are easy to get ahold of. They've been my go-to face wipes for a couple months now and I believe I'm on my at least 5th or 6th pack.

Makeup

CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Foundation

     I picked up this little guy about a month ago while I was perusing through the beauty aisle at Target. I was rather annoyed with the last foundation I tried (The Ever-Matte Shine Proof Foundation by BECCA) because it didn't work for me at all and it was rather expensive. As I hadn't tried a drugstore one in a while, I figured I'd give this one a go. I'll say, that I am rather impressed. It has been working much better than the BECCA foundation and the price point is really great. I picked mine up for around $7 which is on the lower end of the foundation spectrum (drugstore foundations usually run around the $10-$15 dollar range). I've been currently using this one as my everyday foundation and It lasts pretty well on my skin. The color doesn't oxidize and the color I chose matches my skin rather well. Is it the most amazing foundation I've ever tried? Not exactly. But, for the price, I am pretty content until I find something else higher end I'd like to try. SN: It currently holds up well, but I am interested to see how it performs during warmer weather.

Absolute New York Nano Liner and Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer

     I picked up the Anastasia brow definer the day after getting my hair dyed. I was looking for something that would help soften the look of my brows as they are naturally rather dark and I didn't want them to be too overwhelming with my blonde hair. My brows are naturally pretty full, so filling them in can make them look pretty intense sometimes. With this brow product, I don't really have that issue. The color is really great for my hair color (I use the shade soft brown). If you've been looking to try a brow product, this one is pretty great. Also, I went with the brow definer rather than the popular brow wiz because you get twice as much product in the brow definer for the same price.

     I got the Absolute New York Nano Liner in an ipsy bag a couple months ago and I am pretty impressed. I am a huge classic makeup fan, so naturally winged liner is a must-have for me. I tend to struggle with liners, though, because my eyes get watery from time-to-time and it causes my liner to run. Surprisingly, with this liner, I don't have that issue. The formula is pretty great and the tip of the liner is super fine, so it's really easy to use. If you are trying to get into winged liner or an easier application, I'd suggest finding something that has a fine tip like this one.

     So, that was a little glimpse into what I've currently been using. I have a couple other products that I just picked up and after I test them a bit, I'll most likely let you know what I think. I'm trying to streamline my makeup collection, so I'll hopefully be doing a bit of beauty clean up as well. I hope you guys are having a great week and that you enjoy your weekend. I'll talk to you soon!

~ Genesis<3

Makeup Save or Splurge

     Part of what came from loving YouTube was an obsession with all things beauty. Through watching many beauty videos and my own exploration with makeup, I've gotten a pretty good sense of what is worth shelling out the cash for and what you can definitely opt drugstore for. In order to put my hours of YouTube watching to good use and justify my countless beauty purchases, I'll break down what I've learned for you!

Foundation

     

     Foundation is definitely a makeup item that I'd say to go ahead and spend the money on. Having a really great quality foundation will create a beautiful base for the rest of your makeup and in general, high-end products will most often have better ingredients. That being said, by no means is drugstore foundation a no-go. I have tried some really great drugstore foundations ( I'm currently testing one out) and if you don't want to spend $30+ on a foundation, going drugstore is a great alternative.

Eyeshadow

     For eyeshadow, my consensus is right in the middle. Drugstore eyeshadow can at times be hit or miss as they can sometimes be chalky or lack pigment. But, I think if you are looking to try a color that you've never worn before, it's a great way to get your toes wet. Then, say you did love how bright blue shadow looks on you, you can always go back and find yourself a high-end version. But, if you are thinking of adding a palette to your collection, I'd say try to find yourself a high-end version especially if it's a neutrals palette. With a neutrals palette, you'll get a whole lot of use and for sure, get your money's worth. 

Mascara

     Mascara is a category that I think you should primarily shop drugstore for. The drugstore has some really great ones and they cost half of what you'd pay at Sephora or Ulta. Also, mascara is a product that has a shorter lifespan ( you want to switch it out, at least, every six months), so spending less on it is better for your pocket. But, if you occasionally want to feel bougie ( I know I do haha), go ahead and get yourself the high-end product.

Lipstick

     For lipstick, I'd say the same that I said for mascara, going drugstore is fine. I've tried a whole slew of lip products and when I bought high-end, it didn't feel dramatically different than what I had tried at the drugstore. If you are a girl that typically sticks to one or two lipsticks, splurging on a couple high-end products won't be a bad investment. But if you're like me and you want to have every color under the sun, go drugstore. You could also have a happy medium and have your "core colors" ( think a good neutral color and a staple red) which you buy high-end and then your fun colors (the fuschia you reach for only on occasion) that you buy drugstore.

Blush/Bronzer

     

     When it comes to blush and bronzer, I am all across the board. Like lipstick, I like to have a whole color range to choose from, so I have a fair amount of both. As with eyeshadow, you can risk getting some chalky or unpigmented products from the drugstore, but for the most part, this isn't a regular thing. Also, you definitely don't have to spend a fortune to get a pigmented blush. For example, I've bought some wet n wild blushes for about $3 and they were super pigmented and easy to blend.

Brushes

     If you've read my previous makeup posts, you'll know that I am a fan of drugstore brushes, especially if you are just starting out. Opting for something less expensive doesn't mean that you'll be compromising quality. Most of my most reached for brushes have been ones that I've picked up for a good price, and they are just as great as some of my more expensive brushes.

Powder/Highlight/Primer

     I've grouped these together because honestly, I haven't tried enough to opt for one end or the other. For face powder, I've only tried a few high-end ones because I was using a drugstore one that I really liked for the longest time. I haven't tried a whole bunch of highlighters because I tend to have oily skin, so I stayed away from them for the longest time. The most recent ones that I've tried have been drugstore though and they work pretty well for me. I do know that there are some really great high-end ones, though. I haven't tried that many primers, but I do know that most of what I tried at the drugstore did not work for me at all. But, I have seen that a couple drugstore brands have released new ones that have gotten pretty decent reviews, so going drugstore is not entirely a lost cause. 

     I hope this helps you as you are making decisions on what beauty items to spend your money on, but as I always say, how you want to build your makeup collection is entirely up to you. You are the artist and you get to choose your materials. I hope you guys are having a great start to your week. I am thinking up of some topics that I want to post on here. It's been a challenge trying to balance between pre-med and non-premed related content (sorry to my non-premed people), but I'll try to fix that. Have a great day and I'll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3

Beauty Products For Spring

     One of my favorite things to do every season is to switch out some of the products that I have in my makeup bag. Now that it has been feeling a lot like Spring, I thought it was the best time to do this. 

     Obviously, the best way to present this was to make a video so that I could better describe the products, but I'll put some pictures of the products below, so you can get a better look at what I show in the video.

Products Mentioned:

AG Hair Texture Kit

Powder Blushes

(L) Hikari blush in Tango (R) Sephora blush in Orange Pop

Cream Blushes

(L) MAC Casual Colour Lip and Cheek Colour in Relaxation (R) Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Pale Pink

Lip Products and Makeup Brush

Brush is the Contour Brush from the Real Techniques Core Collection Lipsticks: (Top) Rimmel Colour Rush in Lady Marmalade (Bottom) Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in  Showy

Bronzer

Tarte Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

Nail Polish

(L) OPI Nail Polish in "Do You Take Lei Away?" (R) OPI Nail Polish in "Rich Girls & Po-Boys"

Swatches

(L) Rimmel Colour Rush in Lady Marmalade (R) Revlon Colorburst in  Showy

(L-R) MAC-Relaxation, Bobbi Brown-Pale Pink, Sephora-Orange Pop, Hikari- Tango

   I hope you have a great weekend and I'll talk to you soon!

~Genesis<3