Review: Fresh Supernova Mascara

I was able to get my hands on one of the Fresh Sugar Berry Holiday sets (an amazing deal) from Sephora when I was shopping the Holiday sales, and this deluxe Supernova mascara sample came with (the full size lip treatment, the Sugar Lip Polish, and the Soy Face Cleanser). Sadly, it's safe to say I will not be buying the full size after having tried this.

As far as the initial results went, I was pleased by this mascara. The brush made it easy to build up volume, and I got some dramatic, yet clump-free lashes that actually felt like lashes, not stiff bristles. It was also flake-free and easy to remove. However, this mascara smudged on me like crazy. I would have smudges all around my eyes by midday, and I was constantly having to touch up my under-eye. The first hours of the day of nice lashes just weren't enough for me, so I tossed this. I'm really disappointed I didn't like it, too, considering the high price point. 

As far as a great high-end mascara goes, I would recommend the Trish McEvoy ones (volumizing or curling). They don't clump, smudge, or flake, and are so easy to remove. The only problem is the price point, but for the perfect mascara, some of you might not care. As for drugstore, my favorite is the Maybelline Full n' Soft. It smudges/flakes a bit, but for the price and look (with a good powder under the eyes to help prevent smudges), it can't be beat.

What's your (least) favorite mascara?

January Empties

I'm just going to hop right in because I have a quite a few things to talk about, and any info about what Empties posts are can just be found in my last empties post. Click the links in the captions for product info (prices/where to buy).

1. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Primer | 2. Maybelline Master Precise Liner | 3. L'Occitane Shea Hand Cream

 1. I enjoyed this deluxe sample of primer while it lasted. For the most part it did what a primer is supposed to do: prepare the skin for makeup, hydrate, fill in some lines, not pill. However, it didn't really do anything to control my oil, so I probably won't be purchasing the full size. For those that have dry skin (and, therefore, don't worry about oil) this would be perfect for you, as it is nice and silky and gives that extra boost of hydration we all need in the winter.

2. This is a really good liner, and I enjoyed using this at first. It was really easy to achieve a fine, steady line with this, and it was nice and black. However, as it dried out, the end of the nib got dry and started to roll up into itself/dull (if that makes sense), it got less black, and it tugged at the eye area (not good). I guess I was disappointed about how long the product lasted even though it is pretty cheap for a good liner. I might just stick to shadow as liner. Just be prepared to replace this frequently if you do run out and get this. 

3. I love the L'Occitane hand creams, and after trying this sample, I got a few more in some different scents, and I will definitely continue to repurchase them. They're not greasy, they keep my hands moisturized (not intensely, but enough to keep them from getting cracked), they last a long time, and they're not even that expensive. However, I don't really like this original shea scent. It kind of smells like baby powder. I would recommend the lavender (which is even more moisturizing), the honey, and the vanilla scents. 

4. The Body Shop Moringa Body Butter | 5.  The Body Shop Strawberry Body Butter | 6. Rimmel Stay Matte Powder

 4/5. I had tried The Body Shop Body Butters before and didn't really like them. I thought they were way too greasy, so I was skeptical when buying these. However, that was years ago, and they changed the formula, and I really like it. The Moringa was by far my favorite: It's paraben-free and has a more buttery/whipped texture that kind of melts into the skin without leaving you greasy. Plus the smell is to die for. The strawberry had parabens, which I'm not fond of, and the texture of Greek yogurt (specific, I know, but true). It also didn't absorb as well, leaving a bit of a greasy feeling. The smell was a bit more artificial, and again, yogurt-y. Overall, I will repurchase the Moringa if I find the paraben-free formula. I'm curious to try the lotion for other times of the year, but the butter is great for winter. 

6. This is by far the best powder I have tried from the drugstore, and I will definitely repurchase. It sets the skin really well and absorbs oil, but it doesn't look like you're wearing makeup. The best powder I've ever tried, my favorite of all time, is the Trish McEvoy Even Skin, but for an inexpensive option, this is great. My only complaint is the packaging. It's hard to travel with because the lid could pop off at any moment, but this isn't a carry-in-your-bag-powder anyway because it doesn't have a mirror. It also begins to crumble when you hit pan.

7. Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer Moisturizing Lotion | 8. Dove deodorant | 9. Clean Outdoor Shower Fresh

7. I got this a year ago with the products that came with my Clarisonic, and this was definitely a product I was glad to finish. I pretty much hated this moisturizer and ended up using it on my upper body to get rid of it. I have oily skin, and when I used this (no matter how much powder I put over it or how many mattifying products I used) I was greasy after even an hour of wear. It's not like it broke me out, but it was just unattractive. I tried using it as a night moisturizer, too, and I would wake up with dry patches around my nose and corners of my mouth. For that reason, I can't even recommend it to dry skin girls. It's basically an expensive, greasy sunscreen, not a fast-absorbing moisturizer. Just don't waste your money.

8. Deodorant is kind of boring, but we all (or most of us) use it. I really like this one. It's moisturizing, smells fantastic, and kept the sweat and odor at bay. I just purchased a deodorant without aluminum to try, but it's really not working (therefore, I got another really cheap one I hate to cover that stank up), so when those are done, I'll probably go back to this. I'll risk the health problems. 

9. There's something so satisfying about finishing a fragrance, and I feel like I've been running through mine (they're mostly half full bottles, and I've been sticking to one at a time). I wasn't happy or sad to see this go. For me, this is just a nice, fresh, everyday scent (good for summer and spring days and nights, but I used it now just to finish it and move on to something else). It's very green, easy to wear, and the only person who didn't like it was my mom (I got so many compliments on this, it was crazy). I won't repurchase for now, as I have three fragrances to get through, but it's a possible repurchase candidate.

So I hope this was helpful, and I have some products that I'm going to be finished with soon, so I'll probably be writing another one of these next month. Have a good February, y'all!

What did you finish this month?

Lush Lust: Hair Care Review

I've had this little series on this blog in which I am reviewing every Lush product I've tried. This is the haircare part of the series. Some of these products have their own posts, so I'll just link them for you to check out. 

*For pictures (and prices), click on the product name, and it'll bring you to the Lush website product page. I've finished all of these products, and I don't have the packaging, so I can't take my own photos. (I would get them from the Lush website anyway if I did want to show them in the posts). 

1. Godiva Solid Shampoo

This shampoo was pretty good. I love the concept of solid shampoos (good for the environment, easy to trave with, etc), and after trying Jumping Juniper, I wanted to experience some more. I got Godiva because it's supposed to be great for frizzy hair (it was really just okay). While this was a really nice shampoo for me (creamy lather, cleansed well without stripping (I still used conditioner after), smelled amazing (jasmine)), I won't be repurchasing. Towards the end, this completely fell apart. The cocoa butter chunks, which don't really do that much, were surrounded by tiny amounts of shampoo, and they just break off and get thrown away, and that's basically half of the product. While this was pleasant while it lasted, I guess I was just disappointed.

2. Jumping Juniper Solid Shampoo

3. Curly Wurly Shampoo

I didn't like this shampoo. It smelled nice, had a nice lather (when using lots of product), and was somewhat frizz reducing (not too much though), but it was just messy. There are tons of coconut shreds in this, and they just get caught up in the scalp, get all over the shower, etc. It's a nice idea, but I don't want chunks in my shampoo.

4. Rehab Shampoo

This shampoo wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It really is just average. The lather is average, the smell average (like cough drops), and it cleansed like any other shampoo. Lush promises that this will help frizzy hair, but it really just doesn't do anything (maybe boosts shine a tad, but that's not worth it to me). That stinks, because this is so expensive. 

5. Trichomania Solid Shampoo

I hated this shampoo. I was glad I only got a sample. On first use, the rough bar was pulling out my hair, breaking it, and just in general was hard to get going lather-wise. I used it for a week before I threw it out because I was starting to get dandruff and an itchy scalp, a problem I hadn't had since elementary school. When I switched shampoos to Jumping Juniper, my scalp cleared up. The smell is nasty, too. Just a bit too hippie for me. 

6. Retread Conditioner

I don't understand why Lush calls this their heavy duty conditioner. It's not really thick, and it isn't detangling or hydrating at all. It just smelled like musty yogurt. I hated this, and I would avoid this and go for American Cream instead.

7. Jungle Solid Conditioner

This conditioner is okay. I would say go for it if you have fine hair. While it gave my thick hair a bit of shine and scent, the detangling wasn't as great in the shower as I would have liked (I could get a brush though my hair out of the shower though). I ended up using the rest of the bar (because it broke into pieces, making it hard to put on my hair) as shaving cream, and it was actually nice as that. I do have to say though, smell before you buy. I hated the smell at first, but it did grow on me in the end. 

8. American Cream Conditioner

I think Lush should call this their full strength conditioner. My thick, dry, frizzy hair absolutely loved this stuff. It felt nice and thick, and just a bit helped detangle my hair, leaving it soft and way less frizzy. The smell lingers forever, too. This is a great conditioner, and I would definitely suggest going to get a sample if you have thicker hair. I know people with thin hair that love it, too. 

9. Jasmine & Henna Fluff Eaze

This hair mask is okay. It's smells like a weird cross between jasmine and curry. Unfortunately, both smells linger for days in your hair (even after shampooing). I wish the curry scent would go, just leaving the jasmine. Anyway, for the price per use (about two for my long hair), this stuff isn't worth it. It minimized frizz a tiny bit, but it did nothing extreme for the health of my hair. It made it a tad greasy, too. 

10. H'Suan Wen Hua

This is really the same story as with the Jasmine and Henna Fluff Eaze. Smells okay (like gingerbread), but it's really just average on the moisturizing level, and not a lot of bang for your buck. 

11. Dirty Hair Cream

12. R & B

So I hope this was helpful, and I think that wraps up my Lush series for now. I know some of the product descriptions might not have been so in depth, but the Lush hair care, minus a few products, is pretty average and doesn't need much explaining. I know some people rave about it, but for my thicker hair, sometimes these "miracle products" just didn't get the job done.

What's your favorite hair product? 

Goody Quick Style Brush

I was actually thinking of buying this brush myself, so I was really happy to receive it in the Influenster Holiday Vox Box. After using it, I was really happy I didn't go out and buy it. 

The idea behind the brush is that it'll save you time due to little cloth "noodles" in between the bristles that are supposed to absorb excess water from your hair during styling. There are even little vents on the side of the brush to help airflow if you do decide to use a blow dryer. As far as styling with heat tools goes, I didn't use it for that, simply because this brush has an obnoxious cleaning process, and I use a lot of product in my hair while styling. Basically, this brush would get real nasty real fast. I did, however, just brush through my wet hair after my shower (hair sin, I know, I know). 

The cloth in the brush didn't absorb that much water, which defeats the purpose of the brush. However, that wasn't the worst quality for me. The reason I would not recommend this brush is that the bristles lack flexibility. I found that the stiff bristles were really just painful on my scalp, and I heard a lot of hair breaking. I think this could be a cool concept, but only if the bristles were made way more flexible in order to protect the scalp and the hair shafts.

Basically, just don't waste your money. When buying a new brush, look for bristle flexibility and give in the rubber pad. This helps prevent scalp irritation and breakage. You can also look for combo brushes of nylon bristles and boar hair bristles, as the boar hair will distribute oils from your scalp to the ends, making your hair healthier. Long, thick hair tends to love a bigger brush, while a smaller one is just fine for thinner hair. 

Do you have a brush you swear by?

Montagne Jeunesse Chocolate Face Mask

I received this mask in my Influenster Holiday Vox box, and on first sight, I was actually disappointed (keep reading, this isn't a negative review). This is a mask for dryer skin, and in the ingredients, there was cocoa butter and salt in the mix, and those ingredients are extremely comedogenic. I have oily, acne prone skin. However, I had just gotten off an airplane, so I thought I would give this a go anyway just to put some moisture back into my skin.

What I do and don't like about this mask is the packaging. I think it's really clever to have a mask in a one-time-use packet. That way if you're traveling, you can just bring a little treatment along with you, or if you just want a quick pick-me-up, you don't need to worry about storing a big tube of mask. This also gives you the option of trying a bunch of the masks, as Montagne Jeunesse has really good variety for all skin types. However, the packaging doesn't allow you to save the mask if you have leftover. I think you could probably get a good two to three uses out of one packet, and the packaging makes it very difficult to save for another time. To remedy this, I would either suggest adding a nozzle at the top that can screw off and on (like those new packets of baby food or something) or just making a smaller packet with less product (of course lowering the price as well).

The actual mask was very pleasant to use. First of all, it smells absolutely AMAZING. Just like chocolate. The consistency was also very smooth as well, which is something I haven't experienced from a clay-heavy mask before (they're usually very thick and difficult to spread). It basically just felt like I was spreading chocolate frosting all over my face.

My worries over the ingredients were gone right as the mask started drying. You can feel the mask drying over the skin and pulling your pores tighter. It's actually quite a nice feeling. It absorbed the oil in my skin, and didn't feel heavy. This isn't a pro or con, but the mask dries in patches, too. It's definitely weird, but it kind of looked cool.

The mask directions say to leave on for 10-15 minutes or until dry. I definitely left it on for over an hour. Oops. Anyway, nothing bad happened, and when I did go to clean the mask off (with warm water and a terry towel to give me some exfoliation), I was left with smooth, refreshed skin, and some blemishes I did have looked more soothed and a bit smaller. I didn't break out from this, and I was scared about that initially.

Anyway, I definitely will purchase another Montagne Jeunesse mask in the future when I need a quick but good treatment (it isn't too expensive, after all). I think it's great that you can try a bunch of their masks in one-go packets, and I would really like to try one suited to my skin type. The only flaw is the packaging, as I said above, so I think once that's fixed, these masks will get an A+ from me.