eSalon, Color Me Pretty (Review)

Here's the thing. Once you start coloring your hair, you just can't stop. Especially since my hair grows so freakin' fast and dark roots just don't look sexy at all. Plus once the greys start popping up, that just adds to my woes. The trouble with having to touch up my roots every 3 weeks is that going to the salon every 3 weeks or so, is just not in my budget. So I usually end up buying a box of one size fits all at Target. Plus, if you're as lucky as me, you will purchase a box that someone decided to switch the color as joke, and end up with jet black hair like I did one time. Trust me, it was not fun at all!

So the other day, I joined a BzzAgent Campaign for eSalon. So how does eSalon work? It's easy peasy. You log on, answer a few survey questions. A colorist will go over your answers and custom blend a color just for you. You can even submit a photo of yourself if you'd like. Then you sit back and wait for your package to arrive.

My box arrived within a week. In addition to my hair color, I received a few extra goodies thanks to BzzAgent.

The photos above include my extras, but a regular eSalon order includes the following:

~ Your individually crafted hair color.
~ Developer
~ A packet of Stain Guard
~ A packet of Stain Remover
~ Two Pairs of Gloves (non-Latex)
~ A Packet of Shampoo
~ A Packet of Conditioner

The shampoo & conditioner are Sulfate-free and packed with beneficial amino acids and proteins to nourish hair and seal in color. I love that!

The process is easy. Just like store bought stuff, only better because it's custom blended for you.


So how did I like it? Well, the color was perfect! It was easy to apply and the scent was not horrible. After all was said and done, my roots matched the rest of my hair and my hair felt soft too. Grey coverage was pretty good too. Just a couple of shiny stragglers. I like the gloves that they supply, professional quality. The ones that come in the store bought box are like cellophane and sized to fit a large bear or maybe Mickey Mouse. I also like that they supply stain guard and stain remover.


I also want to make one quick comment about customer service at eSalon. When I submitted my order, my coupon was not applied. One quick call and it was taken care of. No long wait, no run around. You speak to a real live person and the call is not re-routed to a foreign country.

You can get your own custom color blend plus get 50% off your recurring order via this link to eSalon.

*** I am a BzzAgent. I received complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion. This is not a paid or sponsored post ***

Review: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream

Forty-Five! Forty-Freakin'Five years old. I can't even believe that I am admitting this in public. So now that I am this age that I will not mention again, skin care is of the upmost importance to me. I will be fighting and hiding any signs of aging til I die!

I have been lucky so far. My only complaints are a few sun spots (I refuse to call them age spots) and a few broken capillaries around my nose. I HATE (and do not wear) foundation. I may use a bit of concealer if necessary along with my tinted moisturizer.

I recently received a tube of Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream to sample from BzzAgent. I was really excited to try this product after reading about B.B. creams. This is a perfect fit for me! The coverage is way better than that of my tinted moisturizer plus it evens out my skin tone and hides imperfections. I have been using it for over 2 weeks with no break outs or complaints.

B.B, Short for Beauty Balm, Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream combines intense hydration with tinted minerals and Vitamin C, so you can ditch that drawn-out beauty routine for naturally more even, radiant and smooth skin in minutes.
Used as often as you want to refresh your look, Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream instantly delivers big results:


Renews radiance
Brightens your complexion
Evens skin tone and blurs imperfections
Hydrates for 24 hours
Protects against UVA & UVB rays with SPF 15

Works on all skin types with two shades: Light/Medium and Medium/Deep
Contains mineral pigments which melt instantly upon application to even out skin tone for a lightweight, flawless finish
Formulated with the antioxidant Vitamin C to help renew your skin's natural radiance, creating that healthy glow every gal wants
Available at mass retailers (such as Target and Wal-Mart) for a suggested retail price of $12.99

I only need a tiny pea size drop to cover my entire face. I also wipe up any additional cream left on the opening of the tube and add it where I need a little more coverage. It does have a slight scent, but it's not a bad scent. Just putting it out there for anyone that may be sensitive to scents.

Now, like with almost everything, the Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream has both pros and cons.

Pros:
* It provides good coverage and evens out tones
* Feels light, not heavy
* Contains SPF 15
* Price is decent at about $13 plus you can find coupons

Cons:
* Feels a bit greasy/ shiny at first until it dries
* SPF 20+ woul be ideal

The pros outweigh the cons. The price is great when compared to other B.B. creams and seems to work just as well. I, for one, will continue using it. Like with anything else, results may vary from person to person. But at this price, it will not hurt to try it out and see if it's for you.

"Like" Garnier on Facebook at facebook.com/GarnierUSA

*** I am a BzzAgent. I received complimentary products in exchange for my honest opinion. This is not a paid or sponsored post ***

Review: Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase®

Living in S. Florida can be a blessing and a curse. The humidity can leave you melting on the sidewalk like the Wicked Witch of the West. However, the same humidity can leave your skin looking and feeling younger than your years.

I am quite fortunate when it comes to wrinkles. At 45 the only visible signs of wrinkles are tiny lines around the eyes. After trying the Under Eye Recovery for a few weeks, I did notice a bit of improvement. Lack of sleep causes a bit of puffiness and dark circles under my eyes. The Under Eye Recovery seemed to minimize the puffiness and made the area around my eyes seem brighter. The dark circles are still there but do seem slightly lighter.

As part of a BzzAgent Campaign, I received the Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase® Under Eye Recovey & the Anti-Winkle Daily Cream

Dr. LeWinn by Kinerase® product line

• Consists of 10 anti-aging cleansers, moisturizers and daily treatments
• Combines exclusive clinical strength kinetin with potent cosmeceutical ingredients
• Awarded Prevention Magazine's 2011 "Defy Your Age" Beauty Award – Best Eye Cream for the DLK Lift & Resculpt Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
• Available exclusively at select Walmart and Walgreens stores as well as at all Duane Reade locations for $25-$35

DLK Anti-Wrinkle Daily Cream SPF 30

• Softens lines and wrinkles
• Brightens skin and makes it more vibrant
• Makes skin feel soft and hydrated
• Helps skin stay youthful with fewer wrinkles and dark spots
• Protects against sun damage – the number one cause of aging

DLK Under Eye Recovery

• Uncovers fresh, energized and beautiful eyes in 14 days*
• Soothes and deflates puffiness
• Decreases dark circles as it brightens
• Boosts collagen to smooth the signs of wrinkles
• Minimizes future eye bags by stopping liquid accumulation and inhibiting loss of elasticity

The Wrinkle Repair Cream was too heavy for my taste, I do not like using heavy creams on my face, I prefer sticking to lotions that are easily absorbed and do not leave my face shiny. I tried it on my face for a few days but it just felt too heavy and my complexion looked too shiny. It did not cause breakouts though. I did, however, use the cream on my décolletage, primarily the cleavage. This area, although not wrinkled, did appear to show the beginning signs of aging. After using the cream, that area appears smoother. I do love that the cream contains an SPF of 30 which is an every day absolute necessity for me.

I would definitely consider using the Under Eye Recovery in the future. My eyes did look brighter and less puffy. The Anti-Winkle Daily Cream is just not for me. But I do see it possibly working out for those that have more wrinkles and/ or live in harsher, dryer climates.


**I am a BzzAgent. I received the products free of charge to review, share, and provide my honest opinion.***

Review: Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician® Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner

Through the years, I have abused my hair to no end. I have permed, colored & highlighted. I blow dry, curl iron & flat iron. I'm always looking for a way to keep the signs of abuse from showing. BzzAgent recently sent me the Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician® Color Care Shampoo & Conditioner to try. I was also sent samples of the Glossing Cream™.

Products within the Fekkai line:

• Have luxurious textures and refreshing, invigorating scents
• Help maintain the healthy look of your hair
• Have all been tested in the world-renowned Frédéric Fekkai Salons
• Are developed to meet the standards of Fekkai's A-list clients
• Address specific needs of different hair types
• Include shampoos, conditioners, masks, glazes, mousse, creams, lightweight hairsprays and shine mists.

With four high performance collections available, beautifying your hair is easy:

Glossing™
With olive oil
Helps restore shine to normal or dull hair

Shea Butter
With shea butter
Helps restore moisture to dry, unruly hair

Technician® Color Care
With Triple Color protection complex
Helps prevent fading and guard against UV rays

Full Volume®
With botanicals
Adds body and volume to fine, limp hair

Glossing Cream™ – The Fekkai Finishing Touch
This award-winning, frizz-fighting, soft-seeking shine cream works for nearly every hair type. With olive oil, it reboots shine. This superstar formula is a secret from the runway to the red-carpet for that finishing touch.
The trick is using just the right amount – a pea size is enough to add that perfect finishing touch. Rub in your palm and run through your hair – avoiding the roots.

I really, really didn't want to like these products, and I'll explain why later. But I did. The shampoo has a nice, soft floral scent. The conditioner had a slightly bolder scent that leaned towards the fruity, but not bad plus a little goes a long way. I did not have to use huge globs. They not only leave your hair feeling super soft and healthy, but my color has not changed or turned brassy. You can also feel the difference as you are using. With some other shampoos, my hair feels like a blob of knots as I shampoo, not so with Fekkai. The Glossing Cream is AMAZING! At first I thought that a cream would weigh my hair down. Nothing could be further from the truth. After styling, my hair was soft, beautiful & shiny. I am my own worst critic and I loved looking at and touching my hair.

Now, for the downside. The product is very pricey. That is why I did not want to like it. At all. I mean the small 8 oz bottles are $22 at Target slightly less on Amazon. And I wash my hair practically every day! Can I afford myself that luxury? I have debated that question over and over. And although I really can't, I do love how my hairs looks & feels. So after a long debate with myself... shut up! yes, I do talk to myself!... I decided that I would use the Fekkai shampoo and conditioner every 3rd wash and the glossing cream every day! Might as well put truth behind my husband's claim that I am high maintenance! ;-)

**I am a BzzAgent. I received the products free of charge to review, share, and provide my honest opinion.***

DHC Summer Coupon

As some of you may already know, I am a huge fan of DHC. I absolutely love their Deep Cleansing Oil, among several other products.

This Summer they are offering $10 off $30. I already have my cart loaded and ready to check out. Plus, did you know that they send you 4 samples of your choice with each order? Great way to get addicted!



***Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link***

Review: TRESemmé® Color Revitalize

I have been coloring my hair for over 10 years. It all started when I spotted the first gray and I started to panic. I was not going to accept the grays! I started with reds and I LOVED the color. But red fades really fast. I couldn't afford keeping up with it. It would actually fade before the roots started to show. So I gravitated towards lightish auburn with blonde highlights.

I am a BzzAgent and I recently received samples of TRESemmé® Color Revitalize shampoo & conditioner. I figured, what better way to try it than by going back to red? So I did. After using both the shampoo and conditioner for 4 weeks, my color remained pretty much the same. It was still shiny and not as dull as it normally would be 4 weeks after coloring. After rinsing the shampoo off, my hair felt like a mass of knots but thankfully the conditioner de-tangled well and did not weigh down my hair. I did notice that although my hair did not feel weighed down, I did have a difficult time styling it. Even my curling iron did not give me the desired waves that I'm used to. Also, my hair did not feel as soft as I like.

All in all I would give the TRESemmé® Color Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner 3 stars because it did maintain my hair color. It did, however, seem to make my hair less manageable. It is not sulfate-free which may be a concern for some. The price point is very reasonable.It is worth a try for those with color treated hair.

So, have you tried TRESemmé® Color Revitalize? What did you think about it?

**I was given a coupon/products for free from BzzAgent.com. Opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid for this review***

Review: Perfective Ceuticals

Perfective Ceuticals is allied with renowned biochemists, medical specialists and doctors in developing the finest and most advanced anti-aging formulas to provide comprehensive solution targeting the aspects of aging.

Growth Factors are naturally occurring substance capable of stimulating cellular growth and proliferation. They participate in skin rejuvenation at various levels such as stimulating the synthesis of collagen and elastin and promoting growth of keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts and other cells with decreased prolific capacity due to aging. Medical studies indicate that Growth Factors are unparalleled in enhancing dynamic and rapid cell activity.


Perfective Ceuticals comprises holistic wisdom with cell biology technique to provide aging skin the most extensive compensation ever experienced in a skin care formulation. Famed Growth Factors, proven anti-aging ingredients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are included in our anti-aging creams and wrinkle treatments to reverse the ravages of time. Apply once in the morning before the sunscreen and at night after cleansing. Sleep on it and after 6 weeks you'll notice a smoother, plumper, younger complexion.



My Thoughts

I recently received samples of Perfective Ceuticals to review.  The following is my personal opinion, based on just under two weeks of use.  The products that I received included the Divine Age Guardian Serum with Growth Factor ($128) & the Divine Age Guardian Cream with Growth Factor ($96) . The instructions suggest using them in tandem  2x per day.

Let me point out that I am fortunate enough not to have many noticeable wrinkles... yet. I do have a few lines on my forehead and tiny crows feet. Plus, I live in in South Florida where the humidity is the death of my hair but the salvation for my skin.

First of all, let me say that I LOVED the packaging of the products. They are pretty enough to display on your vanity and not thrown in a drawer.  Also, the serum comes in a pump which retracts and locks. This is great for traveling!

Although, the suggested use is 2x per day, I found the creme to be a bit heavy for me for daytime use. I used the serum in the morning & before bed. I only used the creme at night though. Just a few pumps of the serum was enough for my face, neck & décolletage. I would venture to guess that both products should last me 1 1/2-2 months of continuous use.

After just 2 weeks of use, I do find my skin feeling smoother & more toned. It also looks brighter and healthier. I did use the serum around my eyes and the baby crow's feet are less visible, which is great. Aside from the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), the ingredients include peptides and retinol  which are scientifically backed ingredients. I also love that it contains Emu oil because...well, I love Emu oil! One thing to point out,  is that these products do NOT contain sunscreen. Be sure to use your sunscreen after applying the products. If they could find a way to incorporate sunscreen into their formula the products would be just perfect.

Pricing is a bit high and can be prohibitive for some. But it may be worth it to invest in these Perfective Ceutical products instead of an arsenal of many different products with sub-par ingredients. You can also tweak your regimen to make the products last longer.

All in all, I was very pleased with the products.  I probably will be tempted to purchase in the future, simply because I like the way it makes my skin look and feel. I would also like to see how it works when the real wrinkles start to make an un-welcomed appearance. I will, however, be tweaking my own regimen. Maybe by using it every other day instead of every day. Unless I win the lotto of course!


This post was written for Family Review Network & Perfective Ceuticals who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions.

Review: Système 41 Rejuvenating Masque

"Growing older may be inevitable, but looking older doesn't have to be!" 

                                                                                                                                                                       ~ Système 41

Système 41 combines 100% natural ingredients along with cutting-edge science for dramatic age defying results. It uses the latest micro-encapsulation technology to condense it's vitamins, marine extracts, and other active ingredients into tiny molecules, similar to those on the surface of your skin.


As a result, every active ingredients in the Système 41 formula acts as a deep-penetrating delivery system in and of itself. Together, they work synergistically  to defeat lines, wrinkles and other visible signs of aging down to the deepest levels of your skin.

The Système 41 Rejuvenating Masque exfoliates while restoring radiance. Amazon White Clay decongests pores and lifts impurities while Olive Squalane helps your skin hold moisture and suppleness. Natural Pomegranate and Papin Enzymes gently remove superficial dead skin cells. The special skin Probiotic Complex shields skin from harsh elements while supporting overall skin health.

My Thoughts


I received a sample of the Système 41 Rejuvenating Masque ($29.95) At my age, I am always looking for products that combat the signs of aging.  Short of surgery, I plan on fighting til the bitter end. One huge plus about the Système 41 products is that they contain all natural ingredients.  No animal testing, no artificial colors or ingredients, no chemicals or acids PLUS it's manufactured in the USA!


The texture of the masque is a bit odd and it doesn't go on smooth like other products that I've tried. You can just use it as a scrub and rinse off right away. Or you can leave it on for up to 20 minutes and use as a masque. I chose to do both.  I first applied it to my face while gently exfoliating. Then I left it on for 20 minutes.. You can immediately feel the slight tingling which, to me, is a sign that it's working.  It does not rinse off easy though, so I had to use a washcloth to wipe it off. My skin did feel cleaner and smoother. I am considering possibly investing in the complete line, just to see how everything works together.  The main selling point for me is that it contains absolutely no chemicals or acids. They offer a no risk "bottom of the jar" guarantee, so it's worth a try!


**This post was written for It's a Glam Thing & Systeme41 who provided the complimentary product for review in exchange for my honest opinions. No payment or compensation was received for my review**

$25 for $50 worth of DHC Products!

Ya'll know that I love DHC Skin Care Solutions. Especially the Deep Cleansing Oil. With today's deal you can get $50 worth of products for just $25! What a bargain! You can only purchase through 4/28 BUT there are limited quantities. So if you want it, get it! You can use the coupon anytime until October 28, 2011