Matrix Biolage Advanced~Fiber Strong Shampoo & Conditioner

I am so excited to be bringing you a review of this particular product. If there was ever a product line that proved it self time and time again to me, Matrix is it. I am absolutely in love with the matrix line. I originally heard of the Fiber Strong Shampoo & Conditioner through a beauty guru that I subscribe to on YouTube. This particular line from matrix is targeted towards strengthening hair that has become weak through processes done to the hair. One thing that I noticed immediately about this product was its lack of false promises. Usually hair products that are targeted towards strengthening hair, or repairing damage will often give you a false promise. They will often say something such as "repairs up to two years of damage in one use" or "strengthens your hair up to ten times in one use". Obviously these hair products that promise such things, often (if not always) do not live up to their promises. The Fiber Strong Shampoo & Conditioner is not a line that makes unattainable promises. It simply states that the product is for weak and fragile hair. The very next thing that draws me to this product is its smell. I know that there are many people out there in the world who are very sensitive to smells that are too packed with fragrances. Now, while this product does contain some fragrance, I do not consider it to be overpowered with fragrance. I find the smell of the product to be very pleasant and not overpowering in any way. Depending on how sensitive you are to smells, this is a factor of the product that you will have to decide on yourself. The Fiber Strong Shampoo & Conditioner  are both paraben free, and I understand that is a must for some people. This product says that it contains Intra-Cylane + Bamboo. 

The back of the Advanced Fiber Strong Shampoo states:

BIOLAGE ADVANCED FIBERSTRONG strengthens weak hair, formulated with the power of Intra-Cylane plus Bamboo and Ceramide to fill in the hair structure. Fortifies fragile areas as it conditions for super-charged strength with a soft touch.* 

FIBERSTRONG SHAMPOO gently cleanses as it helps reinforce strength* and elasticity for shiny, healthy-looking, resilient hair. 

*When used as a system with Shampoo, Conditioner and Intra-Cylane Fortifying Cream. 

TO USE: Wet hair and lather with a gentle massaging motion. Follow with Fiberstrong conditioner. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately. 

The back of the Advanced Fiber Strong Conditioner states:

FIBERSTRONG CONDITIONER detangles as it helps reinforce strength*, moisture and elasticity for hair that's resistant to damage, yet soft to touch and healthy looking. 

TO USE: After BIOLAGE SHAMPOO, massage into wet hair. Leave on 1-3 minutes. Rinse. In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately. 

*When used as a system with Shampoo, Conditioner and Intra-Cylane Fortifying Cream.

I find that when both of these products are used together, they product a magnificent result on the hair. I am in love with these products, and am going to more than likely repurchase this product again. I only own the Fiber Strong Shampoo & Conditioner. The Fiberstrong Line also has a Intra-Cylane Fortifying Cream  as well as a Intra-Cylane Concentrate.

You can read more about this product on www.matrix.com. I purchased this product from my local Ulta store. It looks as though the most reputable sellers of this product would be Ulta or a professional salon.

Have a great day! 

Thanks so much for reading my review, 

                                         Ryan    

             

Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

I really don't think there is a person on this planet has not suffered from those dreaded clogged pores, or black heads that tend to pop up on your nose. From time to time we all need a deep cleansing product that will extract impurities from the skin. At this stage in my life, I am dealing with a younger skin that is very prone to blackheads and acne. It is very important to me to keep those stubborn blackheads and clogged pores at bay. I always find myself reaching for this product when I start to feel that there is a buildup of dirt and oil on my nose. I have use this product for probably 3-4 years, and it still to this day seems to do the trick for me. For those of you who are not familiar with this type of product, it is simply a white strip (wide enough to cover your nose) that comes with a clear plastic backing. Each strip is individually wrapped. You apply the strip to a clean nose that is moderately damp. You leave the strip on until it feels that it is dry, or up to 15 minutes. After this time the strip is pealed away, and all of the impurities that were on your nose are not stuck to the strip. The strip is then disposed of. As a word of caution, the very first time that I tired this product I left the strip on past the 15 minute mark and wound up with a "Rudolph" nose! :) So I would that say that this product is very deep cleansing. If you experience any discomfort with this product, other than the sensation of it being removed, then I would discontinue use. Your skin may be to sensitive for the product. You could also try leaving it on for a less amount of time. I really love this product, and will continue to purchase it in the future. I can see a big difference in how clean and fresh my nose appears after one use of this product. I think that directions instruct you to only use this product once every three days.

Here is what www.biore.com has to say about how their product works, a few cautions, as well as some interesting facts that I didn't even know until visiting their site:

How it Works

• Bioré® Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, with selective bonding ingredients, work like a magnet by instantly locking onto and removing deep-down dirt that can cause blackheads so you get the deepest clean.
• When used weekly, you will have fewer clogged pores and the appearance of pores will actually diminish.
• It may be disgusting...but it's also oddly satisfying. And in just 10 minutes it cleans a week's worth of dirt buildup.

How to Use

1. Remove strip from pouch. Twist strip to loosen and separate slits prior to use.
2. After washing your face, thoroughly wet your nose. The strip won't stick on a dry nose.
3. Dry hands. Peel strip off plastic liner. Apply to nose area, smooth side down, pressing down to ensure good contact with skin.
4. Let dry for about 10-15 minutes until stiff to the touch — like papier-mâché.
5. Slowly and carefully peel off starting at edges, pulling toward center.

For best results, do not use more often than once every three days.

Cautions

1. Use only on the nose.
2. Avoid using on acne blemishes or swollen, sunburned, excessively dry skin, or skin prone to spider veins.
3. Consult a physician before using on skin being treated with prescription acne medication.
4. Avoid using on skin which is sensitive to bandages or peel-off face masks.
5. Remove strip as directed promptly after it becomes stiff. If strip is difficult or painful to remove, wet strip thoroughly until it slides off easily. Forceful removal of the strip should be avoided and may cause skin abrasions. If this occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician.
6. Do not use more often than once every three days.

This product can be purchased at many leading drugstores in the US, as well as many places online such as www.target.com (for $8.59), www.walmart.com (for $8.47), and www.cvs.com (for $7.99). You can go to http://www.biore.com/en-US/biore-skincare, to learn more about the Bioré Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, and all of their other products. I would also like to mention that deep cleansing pore strips are also available in many generic brands, but I have always found Bioré strips to be the most dependable and high quality.  If there are any further questions you may have about this product please leave them below, and I will answer them to the best of my ability. Even if you don't have any questions, please leave me a comment. Let me know about your experience with this product, did you like it or hate it? Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review. I know it's been a while since I've written a review, I just took a little break to get re-inspired and now am back in full force. Thanks so much!!!

Have a fabulous day,
                       Ryan

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture SPF 15

If you are one who has oily/acne prone skin, this one is for you. As we have all been told before, even oily skin people need to use a moisturizer. If you have oily skin, that means that the oil glans in your skin are already in over-drive. When you wash your face and do not replenish the lost moisture, your already over active oil glans will produce even more oil. So when you wash your face (whether you have oily, combination, or dry skin) you essentially strip the existing oil from your skin, and when you don't replenish that moisture via a moisturizer your oil glands tend to become even more active. This is where a oil-free moisturizer comes into play. You replenish the moisture in your skin, but not with an oil based product. This should help reduce the amount that shows up on your skin. Now as addressed previously, this one is also for those of you with acne prone skin. There are many aspects of a moisturizer (in my opinion) when is comes to acne prone skin (which I have). You must use a moisturizer that is hypoallergenic. This simply means that the product is very unlikely to cause any irritation or "allergic reaction". You also must have a moisturizer that is non-comedogenic. This means that the moisturizer will not clog your pores. Clogged pores lead to even more acne, so we must stay way from products that are not non-comedogenic. One final aspects of a moisturizer that is important to those of us who have oily/acne prone skin, is that it must be fragrance free. I apply this moisturizer first thing in the morning after washing my face. Only a small amount of it is necessary, and it does not have me oily hours later.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

NEUTROGENA oIL-fREE MOISTURE SPF 15 IS CLINICALLY PROVEN TO COMBINE LONG-LASTING MMOISTURIZATION WITH EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION FOR SOFTER, SMOTHER, YOUNGER-LOOKING SKIN.

ALL-DAY MOISTURIZATION. lIGHTWEIGHT, NON-GREASY FORMULA KEEPS SKIN MOISTURIZED FOR 12 HOURS.

EFFECTIVE SUN PROTECTION. BROAD-SPECTRUM UVA-UVB SPF 15 SUNSCREENS HELP PREVENT PREMATURE SIGNS OF AGAIN CAUSED BY EVERY-DAY SUN EXPOSURE TO SUN'S DAMAGING RAYS.

*wON'T CLOG PORES            * aLCOHOL-FREE         *hYPOALLERGENIC        *fRAGARANCE-FREE

dIRECTIONS: uSE 1 PUMP AND APPLY ALL OVER FACE AND NECK. uSE DAILY, ALONE OR UNDER MAKEUP.

aCTIVE INGREDIENTS: oCTINOXATE 7.5%, OCTISALATE 5.0%, oXYBENZONE 3.0%

wARNING: fOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. aVOID CONTACT WITH EYES. iF PRODUCT GETS INTO EYES, RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH WATER. dISCONTINUE USE IF IRRITATION OR RASH APPEAR. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. IF SWALLOWED  GET MEDICAL HELP OR CONTACT A POISON CONTROL CENTER RIGHT AWAY. 

To learn more about this product you can visit Neutrogena's website (CLICK HERE). 

I found this moisturizer to be fantastic. I did not have a problem with it at all. It did everything it claimed to do, and worked well with my oily/acne prone skin. Not to mention (compared to some other moisturizers) it is very budget friendly. I found this moisturizer to be high quality, and not break me out like some other moisturizers have in the past. Another great aspect (not addressed thus far) is the fact that it has SPF 15. If you're looking to protect your skin from premature aging because of sun damage, this product will be fabulous for you.  I am very happy with the packaging of this moisturizer. It comes in a 4 FL OZ container complete with a pump. I feel that putting your fingers into a tub of moisturizer, and using it over and over is unsanitary. So for me a pump is necessary. If you do not think this moisturizer would be right for you, you can still try Neutrogena's line of moisturizers. They offer a variety of different types for other skin types. You can view them by CLICKING HERE.  I purchased mine at CVS (To find this moisturizer through CVS...CLICK HERE). This particular moisturizer can be found at multiple drugstores and beauty stores. If you are an Ulta shopper CLICK HERE.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review. If you have any questions or comments on this product, please leave a comment. Have a great day.

Thanks, 

     Ryan 

Fekkai Shea Butter Damage Protecting Hair Mask

If you are familiar with any of my other "hair product reviews", you would know that I am a hair treatment junkie. It is highly important to me to take extra good care of the hair, because my lifestyle requires daily hair styling. With lost of heat styling, come lots of damage. To me, if the hair doesn't appear healthy then it is not worthy of being worn longer. While in search of a new hair treatment I found this particular product at my local Target store, and decided to give it a try. For the price of this product, I am overall slightly disappointed in it. The smell of this product is very pleasant, and would be fantastic for those of you with sensitivities to smell. The overall result that this product gives the hair, is very similar to a lot of very low end drugstore hair treatments. It does provide your hair with a certain degree of moisture, but I did find that it faded very quickly. Usually after I do my weekly hair treatment, I can tell a few days later if the results the product gave lasted through several washings. I found that this product absolutely did not. A day after I used this product, I could not even tell I had done a hair treatment. Another turn off about this product (for me) is its consistency. I feel that it was way too thick! Trying to work and comb a very thick treatment through your hair, can cause a lot of excess pulling and tugging that is just unnecessary! I would compare the results that this product gives to the results of a daily conditioner (and I will probably use it as just that from now on). This product is about $22 for 4.4 oz, so I defiantly do not think this product is worth the money. I would recommend this product to anyone who has hair that is not heavily damaged. If you are someone who does minimal damage to your hair, this product would fabulous. Someone who has colored, or heat damaged hair would not find this product to pack enough of a punch. This product is available at Target  (where I purchased it, it may be available at other drugstores). It is also available on Targets website.           **CLICK HERE FOR TARGET WEBSITE**
Thank you so much for reading my review. Please take a few seconds to leave a comment, with any questions or thoughts. Also, recommend this blog on Google (side bar).
     Thanks and have a fantastic day,
                                                Ryan 

Garnier Fructis Style- Volumizing Anti-Humidity Hairspray - Extra Strong

Out of all the hair product reviews on my blog, you would think by now I would have thrown in my opinion on some of the popular hairsprays on the market. In the past my motto with hairspray has been " spray your hair until you can taste it, then add 2 more sprays and you are good to go". OK, that was totally a joke, but I love hairspray. I must say I currently am trying to use a little less, but i'm hooked. Anyone who has lived in the South will tell you that the humidity can DESTROY any hairstyle, and so hairspray for many folks is a must! When choosing a a good hairspray, I feel there are many factors that must be obtained. A hairspray for me must: come in an aerosol can, have a FINE mist that is not too strong, have a fabulous smell, deliver an anti-humidity hold that lasts all day long, and not leave a visible residue on my brilliant brunette tresses. If you have dark hair you are well aware of the visible dulling residue that some hairsprays and styling products can leave behind. I have tried other hairsprays from Garnier in the past, that were good, but I must say this one takes the cake! To start out this hairspray is very affordable, I paid about $4.00 for a 8.25oz can. Since i'm trying to keep my hairspray use to a minimum lately, this can will last quite a while. The size of the can is rather slender, enabling you to hold and spray it with ease. The can itself is not very heavy. The smell of this hairspray is absolutely FANTASTIC. It claims to have "Natural Bamboo Extract, for Bounce Back Hold". The can clearly states that the hairspray provides "24-hour hold in 90% humidity". The spray is a very fine mist, that seems to dry very fast with no problem. The hold of this hairspray is very good, but not such a severe hold that you can't comfortably run a brush through your hair after the day is over. This product explains its use of bamboo by stating "Selected for its strength, suppleness and resilience, bamboo bends but never breaks, This formula keeps you in control of your style with frizz control and bounce-back hold that lasts all day". This hairspray claims to be a "volumizing hairspray", and says "This volumizing hairspray lifts from root to tip to boost flat, tired hair with body,fullness and extra strong hold--even with moisture in the air--all day, every day." I feel that the light weight that this hairspray has enables your hair to be more bodacious. I would recommend this hairspray to anyone in search of a hairspray that gives a descant amount of hold, without a sticky residue left behind. I find this product to be making its way onto my "FAVORITES LIST". I advise anyone to give it a try. It is available at many drugstores, and also online at www.target.com (this link goes directly to the product's information on targets website). It is very hard to find a hair spray that fits my needs, so when I am able to give one 5 stars, it says a lot about that product. You can find out more about this product, and other Garnier products at http://www.garnier.com/index2.aspx.
As always have a great day,
                                Ryan 

Nivea A Kiss Of Moisture Essential Lip Care

I do believe that this is the very first lip balm that I have ever reviewed. I must come clean and say that I am not your basic "Chapstick" kind of person. Chapstick does nothing for my lips. My lips need a little more love when it comes to lip care. I have searched high and low for the perfect product for my lips. Even though there are other lip care brands that I do love, Nivea is one that has always delivered great results for me! It is very easy for my lips to become dry and cracked when they are not properly cared for. There are many products out there that do nothing for my very troublesome lips, even after repeated use. However, I have found that "Nivea A Kiss Of Moisture Essential Lip Care" is not one of those products. When I apply this product I can feel the instant hydration on my lips immediately. If my lips were to be irritated in any way, I feel that this product would have no problem soothing them right off the bat. I do feel that this product is very much a long lasting lip product. With that said, I would not expect it to last all day. You would more than likely have to touch up a few times a day, as to be expected with any lip balm. Now for those of you out there who have a problem with having some shine on your lips, this is NOT the lip product for you. This product does give your lips quite a bit of shine. I do like that about this product. If you would like a lip product that does not give your lips shine, I would try other products in the Nivea family. If you do decide to try this fantastic lip product, do not let the packaging fool you. The blue portion of this product pulls off of the white portion, to reveal a retractable white tube of lip balm. I am not sure of where this product is available. The only two stores where I have been able to find this product are CVS and Rite Aid. To learn more about this product you can visit Nivea's website at http://www.nivea.com/pages/int-website-selection. If you wish to shop online for this product, it can be bought at http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/Nivea-A-Kiss-Of-Moisture-Essential-Lip-Care?skuId=468775. This product is going to run you between $2-$4 depending upon where you buy it. What could be better than that? A fabulous lip product, at a fantastic price.
Thanks for visiting my blog,
                              Ryan 

Hair Mask Day REVIEW ~ "Renpure Organics Color Protecting Deep-Deep-Deep Conditioner"

My Thoughts Before Masking (trying out the new product):

If there is one thing that I am, it is a "healthy hair fanatic". I love having healthy hair, and will stop at no cost to get it. No one can ever tell, not even myself, when the mood will hit me to do a hair mask! I absolutely love having a "Hair Mask Day". When it comes to hair masks I must be honest and let you in on a little secret, and that is that I NEVER follow the directions. When I get in the mood for a "Hair Mask Day", I throw one on, and leave it on the entire day. Of course I only do this when I have no place to go! Even though I am a hair mask freak, I would never be caught in public with a hair mask on! So needless to say that today the mood has hit me! I have had an inexpensive/budget friendly hair mask on hand that I have been dying to try for weeks! Now I do have to dedicate this one to my "home girlz" who have "color enhanced hair" like myself, shall we say. I'm very excited to try this mask, and can't wait to see the results! 

As you can tell by the picture, this product comes in a small green squeezable tube that contains 7.0 fl.oz. or 207 ml of the product. The product claims "Seals and protects hair through a process using liquefied fruits and flowers" It also states on the packaging that it contains" NO sulfates, parabens, dyes, bluten, phthalates, or propylene glycol". The product goes on to exclaim "How does a rose maintain its vibrant color in the scorching Arizona sun? The answer is ANTHOCYANINS (an-tho-cy-a-nins)! We have selected fruits & flowers high in this protective component and incorporated them into our unique Color Protecting Formulas. Let nature protect the beautiful color of your hair. For color treated and natural hair colors. The directions (which I do not follow) say "Apply to hair and work through to ends. Wait 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Product can be used on a daily basis." Now one good aspect that I notice about this product right away is that it says clearly on the back "THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT TESTED ON ANIMALS". However it goes on to add "THEY ARE TESTED ON THE REDMONDS". Now I have researched "REDMONDS", and for the life of me I cannot determine what they are referring too. If you know, please leave it in a comment. I purchased this hair mask from CVS for $6.99. After doing a little research, I found that it is only available at "SELECT CVS'S" only. This mask cannot be purchased directly through www.cvs.com, but you can purchase it directly through the companies website at http://store.renpure.com/collections/color-protecting.

My Experience Applying The Mask:

Since I have thicker textured hair, I like to section the hair off when applying masks. I found this mask to be very thick in texture, and to have a very nice clean scent. I do have to say that I do not like the fact that this mask comes in a "squeeze bottle". I found that after applying to one section of hair, I would have to pick up the tube and the existing mask on my hands would find its way all over the tube. So needless to say, by the end of my application the tube was a tacky product mess. This means that clean up takes longer, and that is not something that I enjoy. (This is the reason you see that one star has been deducted from this products overall review.) If this is a product that you were going to use in the shower, I don't think this would be an issue for you. The product seemed to glide through my hair very easily, and I had no problem using a wide toothed comb to evenly distribute it. I must say once again that I find the smell of this product to be very pleasant.

My Experience Removing The Mask:
Due to the fact that this product is very thick in consistency, it is naturally going to take longer to rinse it out of your hair. I really like to make sure that I rinse thoroughly, so that I do not get any product build-up from the masks. I didn't take an incredibly long amount of time to remove the product, but I have had masks that were more easily removed. I did find that with an elongated rinse time, I was able to fully remove this product from my hair with no residue or anything left behind.   

My End Results:
After blow drying my hair, and smoothing it with a medium/large round brush I was very pleased with my results. My hair does not feel weighed down. My hair feels very nourished, and my medium golden brunette color has a slightly richer appearance to it. My hair is not flat, or weighed down by the product. My hair has been left with a nice clean scent. I would without a doubt say that this product helped in smoothing down my curly/frizzy hair. I do believe that I have found a new favorite mask to go under my inexpensive/budget friendly category. I do believe that I will use this mask again, and dare say even repurchase it when need be. You can learn more about this product, and brand at http://www.renpure.com/.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Remember to take a little time and have your self a hair or face mask day. It might sound like a cliche or a L'Oreal ad but YOU ARE WORTH IT! Remember there are products out there that you don't have to spend your life's savings on that will give fabulous results and make you feel special. This blog post is proof of that!
Thank you so much,
    Ryan 
   

Get To Know Me TAG

Kenra Root Lifting Spray #13

This product review is more than overdue! I have only recently weeded through my hair products, and gave this product a try. I must begin by letting you in on a little secret.....I LOVE BIG HAIR!!!! When it comes to hair my motto is "GO BIG OR GO HOME"! I feel that having root lift is key in attaining a BIG style! However, there is one problem when it comes to root lifters on the market. Most root lifters out there can leave behind a gunky feeling on your hair that will eventually lead to build-up, and AN'T NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! I feel that this product produces a result that is the complete opposite. This product gives an ample amount of root lift without leaving behind this gunky feeling. This has a "self proclaimed" 13 out of 25 hold ability. Another wonderful feature of this product is that it is in an 8 oz. aerosol pressurized can, which I have not found to be the case with any other root lifting product that I have tried. It is much easier to spray than a standard pump on many other root lifters. The texture of this product is very unlike any other root lifter that I have tried. It is almost like a mousse that is sprayed out of a pressurized can, unlike the usual liquid like root lifters. The spray pattern that this can has enables you to spray only your roots, and not your whole head in one spray like I tend to do with my other root lifters. One other aspect of this product that I absolutely LOVE, is that it is "Animal Testing Free". I do have to inform you that this product will initially cost you a few more dollars than some of the other root lifters, but I believe the results you get from it will be well worth it. The smell of this product is VERY pleasant, and will not trouble those of you with sensitivity to smells. I purchased this product from Ulta, and paid about $15 for it. This product is not available through Ulta's website, but I was able to easily find it at my local Ulta store. You can find more information about this product at www.kenra.com. You are not able to buy this product directly through www.kenra.com, but you can go to http://www.kenra.com/WhereToBuy.aspx, and enter your zip code or general area and the website will give you information on where to buy near you.  I am currently in love with this product, and have more Kenra products on the way to be reviewed! I will most likely buy this product again in the near future! The product promises "Satisfaction guaranteed or return to place of purchase for a full refund".  Please feel free to leave any question you may have below, and please remember to recommend this blog on Google plus.
Product INFO:
This Product Claims:

• Hold Index: 13
• Creates ultimate lift and long-lasting style support
• Provides flexible fullness without weight or stiffness
• Boosts hair at the roots and volumizes entire style

 Thank you so much for stopping by,
                         Ryan 

Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil

As I have mentioned in many other reviews, I have recently developed a great love for hair oils. I have come to realize that a 3rd step, after shampooing and conditioning, is a very important factor in a good hair care routine. This third step being a leave-in conditioner or a hair oil, and even a mixture of the both if you feel that your hair needs the excess care. Since my realization I have grown quite the collection of hair oils. I must say that the "Redken All Soft Argan-6 Oil" is one of my favorites. I apply this oil on clean and conditioned damp hair. You only have to use a very small amount of this oil, it is very concentrated and produces a very powerful moisturizing effect. I think that this oil is great for any person who likes to blow dry their hair to a smooth style. I feel that this oil will greatly help in smoothing the hair out, and leave you with less of a struggle while blow drying. If you are familiar with the smell of any of the products in the Redken All Soft line, then you will find this product to have a very similar smell. If not, I will say that it has a very light smell that is pleasant and does not last at all after application. This is a clear oil that comes in a slightly brown tinted plastic bottle, and has a gold colored metal pump. I paid $29.00 for this oil, and have been using it for probably more than 3 months. As far as I am concerned it will always be an oil that is in my hair oil collection. I am not so keen on the bottle that the oil comes in, however I did find that it comes in a prettily decorated box (pictured below, side view of the box).

The box that contains the bottle of oil reads:

All Soft Argan-6 Oil intensely nourishes and protects dry, brittle hair. Versatile treatment can be used in six ways:

1.MOISTURIZE: Pre-Shampoo Treatment

2.PROTECT: Pre-Blow-Dry Shield

3.SMOOTH: Post Blow-Dry Perfector

4.ILLUMINATE: Styling Shine Booster

SOFTEN: Treatment Booster

RECONDITION: Overnight Treatment 

DIRECTIONS: Apply on dry or damp hair concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends. Re-apply on dry hair as needed. 

So if you were wondering what the "6" was all about, now you know. I wondered what on earth it meant until I took a look at the box. It simply means that the oil can be used in 6 different ways. I purchased this product at Ulta for $29.00, it can be purchased directly through www.ulta.com at the same price. The only size (that I am aware of ) that this product is available in is a 3 OZ bottle. You can find more information about this product at www.redken.com. However you cannot purchase the product directly from the Redken website. Thank you so much for reading! Until next time! HAVE A GREAT DAY! :)

May Empties Review

L'Oreal Age Perfect Hydra-Nutrition Golden Balm Eye Cream

Like many other parts of a daily skin care routine, I feel that a good eye cream is a necessary step. This product is more marketed toward individuals with aging skin, hits the title "Age Perfect". However, I do feel that individuals of any age group could use this product. As I have stated in a previous review "the skin around the eyes is ten times thinner than the skin on the face". Having said that it is easy to see why you would need a separate product targeted toward caring for the "delicate" skin under and around your eyes. I cannot comment on this products ability to "anti-age" the under eye area, because I do not have any aging effects under and around my eyes (YET....LOL). Just as this product states, it is a golden balm. It has a VERY thick consistency, unlike other eye creams that are not targeting an aging consumer. It has a very small amount of a fragrance to it. I do not like the immediate smell of this product. However, do not let that stop you from trying this product because the smell does not stay with you throughout the day (it dissipates). I feel that this product provides an ample amount of moisture to the under eye area. I am not fond of the price of this product, I feel that there are cheaper brands that could provide the same results. I purchased this product at CVS for $19.99. It comes in a glass jar, and contains 0.5OZ or 14g. (I always love my products to have fun and pretty packaging, so this product did not impress in that area.) You can purchase the product in many drugstores, and also at www.cvs.com. You can also purchase this product, and learn more about it at www.lorealparisusa.com. (The directions on this product read as follows: Apply daily around the eyes.) 

~I would love to hear your feedback on this product! Like I have mentioned above, I cannot give a review on this products ability to "anti-age" the under eye area. If you are someone with aging skin and have tried this product, please let me know what type of results you have had with this products. If you have any other questions or comments please leave a comment. THANKS! :)  

TRESemmé Split Remedy

Hi again readers! I have a review of a product today that has somewhat not held up to my high standards of hair care. I must come clean and tell you that I usually indulge in high end hair care brands. I feel that you get what you pay for. However, from experience I have found that there are a lot of drugstore brands that can produce fantastic results. From time to time I do find myself trying out different drugstore brands that catch my attention. The full titles of the products pictured above (from left to right) are TRESemmé Split Remedy shampoo, TRESemmé Split Remedy Leave-in Split End Conditioning Treatment (in the middle), TRESemmé Split Remedy Conditioner. These products claim that they repair up to 80% of split ends with just three uses! WOW!! Who wouldn't like to experience a hair product that could do that! Well don't get your hopes up, because I seriously do not believe that that is possible with any product. I firmly believe that after the ends are split, the only cure is a cut. To start off, I must say that all of these products have a very similar smell. It is a very pleasant smell that is not going to bother anyone who is very sensitive to smells. The shampoo has a very nice lather to it, and doesn't leave your hair as dry as some shampoos can before applying the conditioner. The conditioner is a thinner consistency than that of most other conditioners. Finally the Leave-in Split End Conditioning Treatment, is a thinner consistency as well and proves to help smooth out the hair. I feel that in any hair care routine, it is very important to add a leave-in product so I was very excited to try this one as opposed to my regular one. The over all result of these three products used in conjunction, is very heavy. I have found that they did weigh my hair down. I like hair products to condition my damaged hair, without weighing it down. I felt that it left a greasy effect to my hair, that I just did not like. However, for what I paid for this product I feel that results are not the best. I will let you decide for yourself.

This is my hair in its natural state: (no blow dryer, flat iron, etc...)

Below, the picture on the left is my hair blown out with high end products(reviews to come). The picture on the right is my hair blown out after using TRESemmé Split Remedy shampoo, TRESemmé Split Remedy Conditioner, TRESemmé Split Remedy Leave-in Split End Conditioning Treatment. 

I think the proof is in the pudding, and the results speak for themselves. I feel that the TRESemmé Split Remedy line left my hair with fly-away's, and did not smooth it out as well as my other hair products. If you would like to try these products for yourself you can get them at any store that carries drugstore hair products, or for sure you can get it online at walmart.com. I am in no way "downing" drugstore hair products, I use many drugstore products myself. However, I feel that there products on the market that can produce much better results than the TRESemmé Split Remedy lines. Depending on the type of hair you have, you may have different results. Depending on your hair type you may even love it. Thank you so much for reading, you can find much more information on TRESemmé hair products at tresemme.com. Also, I do not think that you can buy products directly from their sight. These are strictly my opinions from my own experience. Thanks for reading my blog, until next time! :) ..........PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT! :)

Your Input Matters To Me

First and foremost, thank you so much for taking the time to scroll through my blog. It has recently come to my attention that I am getting a decent number of page views but, I have yet to get any feed back from my viewers. The purpose of my blog is to help everyday product consumers out when it comes to choosing, purchasing, and using products in the world of beauty and care. Therefore, your feedback is so important to me. I would like to know exactly what my audience would like to see reviewed. If there is a product able to be reviewed, then I am up for the challenge. So, please take the time to leave a comment on which ever blog post your heart desires. Tell me what you thought about the review, if you agree or disagree with me, if you have had a similar experience with a product, or anything else under the sun. Please leave suggestions of what products you would like to see reviewed. Last but certainly not least, please recommend this blog on Google. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME!
                                                            Your review guru,

Ryan

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream

Since I have recently highlighted my hair and am currently in the process of letting it grow out, I find it very important to do a deep treatment at least once a week. Deep conditioning your hair can add life to your hair, add moisture to your hair, give your hair an extra boost in shine, it can help in taking away the damages of heat and chemical processes or weather, add strength to your hair, and much more. The only cons that I find in doing weekly masks is that you must find the time. So for me the pros outweigh the cons by a heap! When you are one of the many people who find themselves partaking in chemical and heat hair processes, it is a must that you find a high quality product to restore your hair. I find that "Redken All Soft Heavy Cream" meets all of the needs that I have in a deep conditioning treatment. It has a very pleasant smell that is not too overpowering, as some hair products can be. It has a very thick consistency, which is very important when you are leaving a product on your hair for an extended amount of time. The product instructs you to leave the product on your hair for 5-15 minutes. I always leave my weekly hair mask on for a couple of hours. I find that the longer it stays on my hair, the more my hair is able to benefit from the product. So yes I break the rules! So what! Who cares! :) The picture above is a 1.7 FL OZ sample of "Redken All Soft Heavy Cream", I did not happen to have the full size container in my collection at the time of this review. However, after I am done with this sample I do plan to repurchase this product again! The full size of this product can NOT be purchased directly from Redken's Website, but their website is a great place to learn about their product and find other reviews of specific products. However, you can purchase this product from Walmart's Website, drugstore.com, and a variety of other websites. If you do decide to purchase this product, it is going to run you from $14-$20 depending on where you decide to purchase it. After all is said and done, I have no recognizable complaints about this product, and I highly recommend it for a quality at home deep conditioning hair treatment. These are strictly my opinions of this product. It seems to do a fantastic job on my type of hair, and I think it would be a great option for other hair types as well. Thanks for reading my blog! Please leave a comment!  

Crest 3D White Radiant Mint Toothpaste

I must preface my review by saying that I am not one to experiment much in the world of dental care. I usually stick to Crest, due to the fact that it comes highly recommended by my dentist. I have found that most of their products are very high quality, and produce the results that they claim. The Crest 3D line consists of a Radiant Mint flavored toothpaste, that comes in a plain and a "vivid" version. I have used both, and from my experience there is not much of a difference between the two of them. The packaging on both claim to "whiten by removing up to 80% of surface stains", and that it is a "fluoride anticavity toothpaste". Other claims on the packaging include: *Whitens by polishing and lifting away surface stains with proprietary micro-cleansing whiteners. *Gentle foaming action to help clean hard to reach places. With Regular Brushing, Crest 3D White Toothpaste: *Whitens by polishing away surface stains. *Fights Cavities *Refreshes Mouth. Lets start from the beginning people, right when we put the tooth paste on our toothbrush! :) The bottle comes complete with a flip open cap, so there is no annoying cap that you drop in the floor, or heavens forbid in the toilet! The toothpaste comes out a light blue color with pink/purple specks in it. (LOL at this point i'm laughing at myself, because I don't quite think I've ever thought this hard about my toothpaste) After I have brushed with this toothpaste my entire mouth feels squeeky clean. I have used the "Crest Whitestrips" in the past (reviewed previously), and I really feel that this toothpaste contributes to the overall upkeep of my whitening. I use this toothpaste two times a day, and I have found that it really helps keep my teeth white. This toothpaste does not under any circumstances leave any type of bitter taste in my mouth after I have used it, only a fresh feeling that does seem to last for an extended period of time. I know that there is a lot of controversy when it comes to whitening teeth, because many believe that some products are damaging to the enamel on your teeth. This product does say across the front of the box "enamel safe". I have to say that I have experienced no type of sensitivity or discomfort while using this toothpaste, and I have used it for a few years now. I really don't feel that the whitening agents in this product compromise the enamel of your teeth. Well at this point, WHAT MORE can you say about toothpaste??? LOL. I have not come upon any problem with this product, and had no problem giving it a full 5 star rating. This product is widely available. It can easily be purchased online at www.walmart.com. These are completely my opinions on this product. Thanks for reading! PLEASE COMMENT! I would love to hear from, and respond to anyone. THANKS! :)

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Smoothing Serum

If you are someone with hair that is full of frizz, rough, and difficult to smooth then this is a product you should get your hands on! I must tell you that the first thing that I noticed about this product was the smell! The best way that I can describe the smell is that of candy. It has a very sweet smell, which is one of the things that drew me to this product. Its not a very perfume like smell, but it's just a sweet smell. I really don't think that someone with sensitivity of smell would have a problem with this product. I could be wrong, but that's just what i feel. I apply the product to damp hair, and blow dry afterwards. This product does an exceptional job at smoothing hair down. I think that this would be a fantastic product if you only had time to blow dry, and not use a flat iron. I noticed that after I blew my hair dry with a metal round brush, my hair had that smooth flat ironed look without the excess heat from an actual flat iron. I must be the first to admit that I do not have much experience with the Paul Mitchell line. However, I will say that the little experience I do have with his products have been fabulous. (I know I'm a scatter brain, but back to the smell of the product) I feel that it is also important to let you know (in order to not deter you from trying the serum) that the smell does fade after its dry! So you don't have to worry about walking around smelling like a "candy head", LOL!! The smell is only obvious after applying the product, and during the drying process. It's not a smell that would bother me even if it did linger. I just cannot get over the smell of this product! I seriously have to give this product "The Best Smelling Hair Product of the Year" award! I sincerely don't think that there is a better smelling hair product, I trust me when I say that I have tried A LOT!!!! I feel like this product would hold up fabulously against harsh humidity, and would keep the frizz away even then. Don't feel that this serum requires you to blow dry your hair, or use some sort of heat tool. I think this product would be great for anyone with very curly and frizzy hair who likes to let their hair air dry! It would probably do a great job at keeping the frizz away in that situation too! The reason you see that this product got 4 1/2 stars is because, I had to be honest. The one very small issue I found with this product is it's weight. If you have very fine hair, too much of this product and you could very easily find yourself with a mess on your hands. Other than the "fine haired" issue this product comes with, it is otherwise a FANTASTIC product. I will more than likely purchase this product again. I fully wish to further explore the Paul Mitchel Brand, and of course let you know any results I get! :) The full size of this product, which is 150 ML, usually sells for around $20. I'ts worth the money! This is completely my opinion on the product. Thanks for reading my blog! :)

Crest 3D Whitestrips (Vivid)

I'm almost positive that everyone on this planet have seen this product in stores, and wondered "Do they really work?". I pondered this question myself for a very long period of time before I actually broke down and tried them. The first time I ever tried any type of "Crest Whitestrip" was when I was given one in a sample of Crest toothpaste. Needless to say, one whitestrip is not going to produce a very noticeable result. So I thought to myself "you only live once", so why not go ahead and try a full package of them. I paid $24.97 for this pack of 10 whitestrips. They are labeled as having a "whitening power" of 2, and claim to remove years of stains. The packaging instructs you to peel the strip from the plastic backing, apply to your teeth, and let sit for 30 minutes. It instructs you to do this everyday for 10 days (the total number of strips in the box). I opted to use this product at night before I went to bed, because the packaging also tells you after 30 minutes to lightly brush the remaining gel from the strips off your teeth. When applying the product to my teeth I immediately noticed that the strips were too narrow. They did not completely cover the outer and inner parts of your teeth. I chose  to make sure the outer part of my teeth (that everyone saw) was completely covered, leaving the inner (or backs) of my teeth partially uncovered. I also noticed that the strips were only made to cover the teeth near the very front of your mouth. So don't expect any whitening action on your back teeth. It also bothers me that during the 30 minutes you are instructed to leave this product on your teeth, the strips become very goopy and tend to slide. If this is something that would bother you, I would go ahead and try Crest's "Advanced Seal" line of whitestrips. The whitestrip I refereed to earlier, that I got for free, was from the Advanced Seal line and it did not goop or slide (LOL).  Aside from these somewhat minor complaints, you do begin to notice instant results as soon as you start to use the strips. Of course the longer you use them, the whiter your teeth will get. Now, the next "complaint" that I intend to chat about did not cause me to take any stars away from the overall review. After about 5 to six days of use, my teeth did become sensitive. They were not so sensitive that I refused to continue use of the product, but I did have some noticeable sensitivity. The reason I did not factor this "complaint" into the over all "star review"(LOL), is that many people have different kinds of sensitivities about their teeth. I have heard of others experiencing sensitivity in their teeth while using these products, but not everyone that uses them experiences it. So to finally sum it up, and answer the question "Does this product work?", from my experience YES it totally does. It does whiten your teeth, and the results do last for a prolonged period of time. If you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on whitening treatments at your dental office but want whitened results, I would without a doubt give this product a try. This product can be purchased in stores, and online at walmart.com. These are strictly my opinions, and experiences with this product. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. Please leave and comments or questions, I would be more than happy to respond to you. THANKS! :)..........By the way, This product is given the "Good Housekeeping Seal" which ensures a "Limited Waranty to Consumers, Replacement or Refund if Defective".

CeraVe PM & AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

PM & AM Moisturizer (Containers Specify)

1. Contains ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
2. Helps repair, restore, protective skin barrier.
3. Patented controlled-release MVE technology.
4. Non-comedogenic, non-irritating.

My Opinions On These Products:

PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion:

I do realize that many of my reviews have begun with the statement of one of the many skin care beliefs that I have. Having said that, I must tell you that I firmly believe nighttime is a time for the skin to heal and replenish itself. So it is of the highest importance to me that I incorporate a very good quality nighttime moisturizer into my skin care routine. (FACT) But for the sake of this blog, "In my opinion" thoroughly cleansing and moisturizing your skin at night prepares it for the day ahead. Including overall appearance the following day, and assisting with application of any type of makeup you may wish to incorporate the following day. Now, away from my rant and on to the product itself. The consistency of this "Facial Moisturizing Lotion" is unlike any other I have tried in the past. Instead of the usual plain white cream, this nighttime moisturizer has a gel-like consistency. It is a somewhat transparent white color, and is less dense than your typical run of the mill nighttime moisturizer.When you apply the moisturizer to freshly cleaned skin, it goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. With my skin being naturally on the oily side, this moisturizer enables me to put moisture back into my skin without the whole oily factor a few hours after after application, or even in the morning after it has sat on my skin all night. I would also like to finally add that this moisturizer is fantastic if you are prone to dry patches.

AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion:

The first thing that I really love about this daytime moisturizer is that, like any daytime moisturizer should, it has an SPF. This particular product contains an SPF 30. It is so important to me to have an SPF incorporated into my daytime skincare routine. If there is one sure thing that I have learned (not from experience, but from others) can rapidly age the skin is SUN EXPOSURE! If you are someone like me, who spends most of their time indoors, then an SPF 30 should be more than enough. If you spend most of your time outside I would recommend another sunscreen on top of this moisturizer. Through the past I have had my share of daytime moisturizers that have went on and absorbed completely fine, only to result in an oily complexion a few hours later. This is the one drugstore daytime moisturizer that I have found that does not cause this. This is a factor in a daytime moisturizer that is very important to me! Unlike the nighttime moisturizer, this daytime moisturizer is very much like your "run of the mill" moisturizers. It is a plain white cream. Like the nighttime moisturizer, it absorbs into the skin quickly and evenly. 

PM & AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion 

It is my experience with both of these products (with my acne prone skin) that neither of them have aggravated or caused more acne spots. Both of these products have pleasant low odor smells. I have heard through others that both of these products come highly recommended by dermatologists. If you are in the market for a great drugstore nighttime and daytime facial lotion, then this is a duo worth checking out! 

These products are readily available at many drugstore chains, as well as on drugstore.com 

For a complete listing of CeraVe products you can visit their website at http://www.cerave.com/.  

Once again these are strictly my opinions only. Thanks so much for reading, and visiting my blog! :) 

Lanza Neem Plant Silk Serum

To begin I must give you a little personal information. I am a firm believer in hair serums and oils, and it is a must to incorporate them into my daily hair care routine. I am going to preface this review first off by saying that the only reason this product did not get a full 5 stars is because there is "ONE" other product (review to come) that works better "FOR ME" in the hair serums and oil category. Somewhat of another reason this product did not get a full five stars, is that if you make the wonderful decision to purchase this fantastic product, depending on where you purchase it, it is going to run you about $25 to $30. However, if you do wan't to try it I will honestly tell you that it is worth the money. I apply this product to clean and damp hair before blow drying. I noticed a tremendous difference in my hair after beginning the use of this product. I believe that this product does cut down on drying time, and improves the overall health and appearance of your hair. I believe that the result this product produces is very truthfully communicated through title of the product, "Healing Strength". If you are someone like me, with very brittle and over-processed hair that tends to break, this is the product for you. I noticed an enormous difference in the amount of hair breakage I experienced while using this product. I would say that this product has a distinctive smell that is quite pleasant, and yet not too overpowering. The product is packaged in a blue transparent container (as shown above), but the product itself is a clear liquid serum. Even though this product is labelled as having an "Anti-aging complex", i would say it is perfectly fine to use this product at any age. After all isn't hair dead to begin with! :) On the subject of this product being "healing", I would say that if there were a product that could truly heal the hair it would more than likely be from the Lanza line. Lanza products are available in Ulta stores, as well as online. You can check out http://www.lanza.com/ to view Lanza's full product line.(NOTE: Not to my knowledge are Lanza products sold on their website, but i'm sure you can get them other places on the web.)  If you have any questions or comments on this product leave them below. Once again, these are strictly my opinions on this product. Thank you so much for reading! :)        

Boots Expert Sensitive Hydrating Eye Cream

It is only recently through watching many skincare reviews on YouTube that I have discovered the "Boots" skincare brand. I'm not to sure of this products availability, but I was easily able to find this product line at target and online. I firmly believe that taking great care of the skin, even at age 19, can bestow many rewards as you get older. Since the skin under and around our eyes is 10 times thinner than the skin on our face, it is more than important to me to have a powerful moisturizer targeted toward this area. Since my eyes are more than sensitive to any product put near them, it is also important to me to have a product that is hypoallergenic. I recently had to stop using an under-eye cream because of eye irritation (review to come), so when I ran across this product in target that was clearly marked "sensitive" I was ready to give it a try. After using this product for more than 3 months now, I can honestly say that it is great for very sensitive skin. I have had no problems with my eyes becoming irritated or itchy. Usually eye creams come in very small containers and contain little product (which is usually okay because you don't need much). However, I like the fact that with this product you get 20 ml or .67 US Fl. Oz. This enables you to not be stingy with the product and fully saturate the entire eye area, with no fear or quickly running out of product. If you have ever been shopping for eye creams, then you know some of them can quickly run up a bill. So I was pleasantly surprised to only have to fork over $7.29 for this fantastic product. Using this product, I have had no problem of becoming oily around my eye area. The product seems to absorb fast, and not leave any type of sticky or damp residue under or around my eyes. I use this product first thing in the morning, and before bed.  I also love the fact that this product is almost odorless, since highly fragranced facial products tend to break my skin out. I took one of the five stars away from this product because I feel that SPF (sun protection) in the skin care routine is more than important, and this products lacks and SPF. Other than that one complaint, this product is FANTASTIC and I will more than likely re-purchase it when it runs out. These are strictly my opinions on this product for my type of skin! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

L'oreal Total Repair 5 Shampoo, Conditioner, & Damage-Erasing Balm

As someone who is always on the lookout for "drugstore" hair care products that can produce high end results, I was very excited when L'oreal came out with their new "Advanced Haircare" line. This product line can be purchased anywhere that drugstore hair care items are sold. L'oreal's new "Advanced Haircare" line consists of products for damaged, fragile/thinning, color-treated, normal to dry, and frizzy hair. My hair is bleached and flat ironed usually every single day, so its safe to say that my hair is "DAMAGED"! :) Based on this fact I figured that the "Total Repair 5" line would be the best for me, since it is marketed toward restoring overworked and damaged hair. The "Total Repair 5" line also consists of a Multi-Restorative Dry Oil. I do have this oil, however, I have not yet used it enough to give it an honest review. Assessing this product before purchasing it, I discovered that it has a very floral smell to it. The shampoo, conditioner, and damage-erasing balm all have a very similar smell. To someone who is very sensitive to smells the smell of this product may be a BIT overpowering. Not to turn you away from the product, if you are not very sensitive to smells you will be just fine using this product. Usually,in my mind, L'oreal is a higher priced "drugstore" brand. Price wise this product surprised me because it is a steal. The shampoo and conditioner each were only $4.99 in change, and the damaging-erasing balm was $6.99. The shampoo is very rich and sudsy. The conditioner is thick and rich as well. The overall result of this shampoo and conditioner duo on my damaged hair was good. It seemed to help keep the harsh winter dryness away from my hair, and produced some shine. Moving on to the "Damaging-Erasing Balm", I do hair masks on my hair usually 1-2 times a week. So I was excited to see a treatment balm that was lower in price when compared to a lot of my more higher end hair masks. The "Damage-Erasing Balm" claims on the packaging that it "Repairs up to 1 year of damage in 1 use". Obviously this is NOT TRUE, but the mask did put moisture into my hair, but I wouldn't say that it repaired any damage. I certainly think it's going to take A LOT more than a $6.99 hair treatment to do that for me (if you know what i mean). I gave this product 3 out of 5 stars because for a drugstore brand and its price range it is a good product. However, in comparison to some of the higher end hair care brands that I have used it lacks in many aspects.If you are someone who is on a  budget and looking for the best possible products for your hair, I would definitely look into this product. This is strictly my opinion after using the product on my type of hair! Please leave any questions or comments below!! THANKS for reading my review! :)