Clear Hair and Scalp Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner Review and Giveaway

I've been lightening my hair like I do every summer, adding highlights and brightening overall, but it's murder on my hair, especially since it's fine and a bit fragile to begin with.  I'm always trying the latest new shampoos and conditioners that promise to mend my broken ends and add shine, but recently, I spotted something new on the shelves that promised to nourish my roots and scalp, called Clear Scalp and Hair Therapy.

The idea is that if you nourish the scalp and roots, your hair will grow in stronger and healthier, and in turn, will be better equipped to handle all the stress you throw at it. This makes total sense to me, as it's more of a solution to the problem, rather than a quick fix.  But I'm also an impatient girl, and don't want to wait for my roots to grow out to the ends, so I was hoping that Clear made the rest of my hair look healthy and shiny in the process (hint- it does!).

The secret behind Clear is Nutrium 10, which is a blend of 10 vitamins and nutrients that feed your scalp and give you stronger, more beautiful hair in 7 days.

The line consists of shampoos and conditioners for different hair types, including Damage and Color Repair, Volumizing Root Boost, Strong Lengths, Total Care (for all hair types), Moisturizing Dry Scalp, and Complete Care (for dandruff prone hair/scalp). There is also a men's line that focuses on anti-dandruff.  The retail price ranges between $4.99-$5.99, and the bottles are 12.9 fl. oz. (shampoo) and 12.7 fl. oz. (conditioner), available at drugstores.  


Heidi Klum is the spokesmodel for Clear and was recently at a launch at Rite Aid in L.A.  
 “I love the way Clear Scalp & Hair Beauty Therapy makes my hair look and feel,” Heidi said. “It’s a revolutionary new approach in caring for your hair – feed the scalp – it makes sense to me.”

The people at Clear were nice enough to send me samples of the Total Care shampoo and conditioner, which is a formula for all hair types.  


Here are some bottle shots: 

I started using Clear about 2 weeks ago, and so far I love it!  The shampoo is very thick, which I was worried would weigh down my fine hair, but it didn't at all.  In fact, it lathers without much effort at all and you only need a little bit.  It feels very moisturizing and doesn't strip the hair.  The conditioner is creamy but not heavy and also doesn't weigh the hair down. After the first day, my hair was silky and easy to manage with less frizz, but nothing too extraordinary.  But after using it for two weeks, I've noticed that my hair continues to improve and look better.  I did notice that the conditioner contains Lactic Acid, which can create bonds between the keratin in your hair and basically fill the holes, so to speak.  So while Clear is nourishing my scalp, it's also helping to repair some of the damage.  

Overall, I think that Clear is something I will continue to use for the long term to get my hair back into good condition, and at $6, it's way cheaper than salon brands.  

Want to try Clear?  Two lucky readers (U.S. residents only, please) will win a full sized Total Care Shampoo and Conditioner!  To enter, all you have to do is post a comment below, stating that you'd like to enter (be sure to leave an email so I can contact you if you're the winner!).  I'll choose two people at random one week from today, on May 27th at 11:59pm Eastern Time.  Good Luck to All!

***This contest is now over.  Winners were sent an email- congrats to Hannah and Vickie!***

Disclaimer: The products featured in this review included products sent for consideration by a company or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review.

Marc Anthony Dream Waves Amplifying Shampoo, Conditioner, Lotion and Beach Spray Review

I've always envied those girls who have that perfectly tousled beach hair look that seems effortless, especially in the summer.  It just seems to look perfect with a sundress or a tank top and shorts.  But whenever I try to replicate it, I end up spending a half an hour with a curling iron, and when I'm finished, instead of effortless waves, I end up with springy curls that look too uniform and not as natural as I'd like.
So I was really excited when Marc Anthony sent me the whole Dream Waves collection to try.  The four products in the line are: Amplifying Shampoo, Amplifying Conditioner, Amplifying Lotion and Beach Waves Spray.

From the Marc Anthony Stylist Team: 

“We love the tousled sexy beach hair look. The issue is how to get it quickly with little effort. When shooting for magazines hair changes happen quickly and often. Dream Waves keeps up with both its delivery of amazing waves and the fact that it shifts hair from straight to sexy beach waves so quickly. For full-on beach waves we start with wet hair, but we can actually play with the stylers on dry hair for softer waves…this is amazing to us.” 

These products are supposed to encourage curl and waves in the hair whether your hair is straight, or already has some wave.  Here's how it works:

Special Conditioning Polymers help to add BODY to limp hair, create an EXTRA WAVY BOUNCE and BLOCK HUMIDITY for longer lasting style. Hydrolyzed Silk and Provitamin B5 add MOISTURE and high SHINE. Powerful UV Protectors absorb ultraviolet light to save your mane from harmful sun exposure, dehydration and color-fade. You’re left with manageable, touchable waves.

The process works like this:

 • Start with the Sulfate Free AMPLIFYING SHAMPOO and CONDITIONER to prepare your hair for a full day of volume and texture.

• For a voluminous, defined wave apply AMPLIFYING LOTION on damp hair and scrunch to boost volume. For maximum fullness and bounce, blow dry with a diffuser.

• For a super textured, disheveled wave use BEACH SPRAY on damp or dry hair and scrunch. Let hair dry naturally or use a diffuser for even more texture and wave.

I tried the products as directed, first I used the shampoo and conditioner.  They smell heavenly- just like coconut and remind me of being at the beach.  They rinse clean and don't weigh the hair down at all.  I think for anyone who has normal hair, or even a little bit of damage, the conditioner will be fine, but my hair is at the point of extreme damage from bleaching, so it wasn't quite enough moisture for my super dry ends.  However, the roots and mid-lengths of my hair were left soft and shiny.  

Next, I used the Amplifying Lotion (be careful when squeezing this bottle- it comes out really fast!).  I massaged it in from roots to ends.  It's got the soft texture of a lotion, but looks clear like a gel. 

Last, I sprayed the beach waves spray all over from roots to ends.  I let it air dry for a little bit, scrunching every once in a while, but then I finished up with a diffuser.  My hair is usually a disaster when it air dries, so I didn't want to take a chance.  When I was finished, I couldn't believe it- my normally straight, fine hair had tons of volume and wavy texture!

Here's what it looks like normally:

And here's what it looks like with beachy texture (it had more wave at first, but because my hair was so dry, I used some anti-frizz lotion and it relaxed some of the curl:

What I love about this Dream Waves line, aside from it's ability to create waves without a curling iron, is that the waves stay in place all day and my hair doesn't feel stiff or sticky at all.  I only wish my hair was longer, because I think beachy waves look best on long hair.  Hopefully by this time next year, I'll have my hair grown out again.  But in the meantime, I'll just have to be patient.  

To see video demos on how to use Dream Waves, please visit MarcAnthony.com.

Dream Waves products can be found at Ulta, Drugstore.com, Rite Aid and other retailers. Suggested retail price $6.99 - $8.99.

Disclaimer: The products featured in this review included products sent for consideration by a company or PR agency. This in no way influenced my experience with the product- all opinions are my own, and I was not paid to write this review.

Splurge! Too Faced Better Than False Lashes Mascara Review

Once in a while, even a girl on a budget has to splurge, and while I was in Sephora the other day, I spotted Too Faced's new Better Than False Lashes mascara.  I didn't think anything could get me to  plunk down $35 (yes, that's not a typo) for mascara.  Even my beloved Diorshow is only $23, and I thought that was steep.  Still, I had a $25 gift card from my sister to spend, so I decided to just go for it.

This mascara is a three step process.  First, you coat your lashes with the mascara itself.  Next, you add a layer of nylon fibers in the smaller tube.  Finally, you coat your lashes with the mascara again.

Even though it's a few extra steps, it's not really a difficult process.  I just make sure I have both tubes open and ready to go so my lashes don't dry between coats.  The fiber brush is a spoolie-type brush and the fibers are very dry, like cotton.  This is why you need the first coat of mascara- otherwise these wouldn't adhere to your lashes. 

The mascara itself has a medium sized brush and when you pull the brush out of the tube, it wipes very clean- no clumps.  

So were my results anything like that picture on the box?  Not quite...but my lashes got as long as they ever have without using falsies.  Take a look...

Here's my before:

Here's my lashes after adding the nylon fibers.  You can sort of see them on my lashes if you look closely:

Here's the after picture:

This is with one eye done, and the other with nothing.  You can really see how dramatic it is in this picture:

Finally, the last picture is with both eyes done:

So is it worth the splurge?  I would say yes and no.  Even though this gave incredible length and volume, I've tried some drugstore mascaras that come pretty close for a fraction of the price. And I probably wouldn't use this every day.  But on the flip side, it's totally worth having on hand for evening, because I'd much rather use this than false lashes.  

Have any of you tried this?  If not, do you think you would spend $35 on it?

Organix Argan Dry Body Oil Review

Since I had such a great experience with Organix Coconut Hibiscus Body Lotion (see my review here), when I saw this dry body oil, I had to try it.  

I'm a sucker for body oils, since I have dry skin, and the thing I like about this one is that it's a "dry oil", meaning that it sinks into the skin quickly without an oily/greasy residue.  Argan Oil is still a hot ingredient, because it's so moisturizing and good for the skin.  Here are some bottle and ingredient shots:

This does contain mineral oil, for those of you who don't like that.  It's a bit disappointing that it's the first ingredient, and Argan is third on the list, but I guess pure Argan oil would be really pricey, and this only cost around $6 at CVS.  

The scent is amazing!  It smells so fresh and clean- almost like a floral/herbal shampoo maybe?  I can't put my finger on it, but if you're in the store, you have to flip the top open and take a whiff...you'll want to buy it just for the scent- trust me.  It doesn't smell like your typical Moroccan Oil scent- it's less heavy and more light and fresh.  

The oil sinks right in and is super moisturizing without feeling heavy at all.  I like to use it right when I get out of the shower and my skin is still damp- it locks the moisture right in.

Now, my one complaint about this product, (and it's kind of a big one), is the packaging.  You dispense the product by pouring it out in your hand through this rather large hole in the top of the bottle.  When you tip the bottle, the oil runs all over the place, no matter how careful you are.  It runs down the bottle and makes a puddle on the sink every time.  I think I'm going to transfer it to a pump, which would be much easier to work with.  

Overall, I love this dry oil- have you tried it?  What did you think?

Spotted in Store- New Maybelline The Mega Plush and L'Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer and Power Volume 24 HourMascaras

Today at Harmon's I spotted a few new L'Oreal mascaras as well as a new Maybelline mascara.  

First up, is the Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer.  This is supposed to give lashes Vinyl-like shine with the lengthening magic of fibers.  

The second one L'Oreal has released is Power Volume 24 Hour, which reminds me of Cover Girl's Lash Blast 24 that was released around New Year's 2012.  

Maybelline's Volum Express The Mega Plush says it's the "World's First Gel-Mousse Mascara".  Sounds cool!  

So which one are you excited to try?  I bought the Mega Plush, so check back for my review soon!  

Spotted! New Revlon Products- Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick, Overtime Lengthening Mascara, French Mix Nail Polishes, Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain, and Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup.

Today at Harmon's I spotted tons of new Revlon products for Summer 2012!  I was so excited, I whipped out my phone and started taking lots of pics.  So without further ado, feast your eyes on the latest and greatest from Revlon...

First up, is Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick.  These look kind of like Cover Girl's smoky shadow sticks, but I'm hoping they have the staying power of Maybelline's Color Tattoo cream shadows.  Each one has 2 complimentary colors and I'm loving the shades!  Scroll down for some close ups.

Next up is a new mascara: Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara.  I absolutely LOVED thier last mascara 360 Volume, so I'm excited for this one!

Revlon's NailArt French Mix is two colors in one, and the packaging is the same as their crackle colors (which I wasn't too crazy about).  I like a lot of these shades, though, so I'll have to try some of them.

Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain- This is one I'm dying to try!  Clinique, Tarte, and Pixi all have versions of this, but for a lot more dough.  I'm not a fan of marker stains, since my lips are always dry and those just make it worse.  So this looks like a miracle product for me (I bought one, so we'll see!).

Finally, we have Colorstay Whipped Creme Makeup.  Since I have dry skin, this sounds fantastic, and the jars are really heavy and luxe-looking. Can't wait to try this one either!

So I don't know about you guys, but I'm totally excited to try everything in this post!  What about you?  Which one (or ones) are you dying to try?

Dove Show Us Your Skin- You are Guaranteed to be in a Dove ad!

One thing I've always loved about Dove (aside from their amazing skin and hair products), is the way they feature real women in their ads.  Now, with their new Show us Your Skin campaign, you can be in a Dove ad too- all you have to do is upload your photo.  

Here's how it works: Visit http://on.fb.me/DoveShowUsYourSkin to upload your photo.  

Then sit back and wait for an email from Dove that includes a photo of where your picture was shown, whether in an online digital ad, or on a giant billboard in Times Square.  You can then share it with family and friends!

I did it last week, and mine showed up in Times Square- how cool is that?  

So tell me, what's your favorite Dove product?  Right now, I'm loving their Style and Care line! 

The Budget List- March/April

I apologize, I haven't done the best job keeping the Budget List updated. Things have been kinda hectic the past few months, but I haven't forgotten about you guys!

So without further ado, these are my favorite products of the early Spring season:

Nip & Fab No Needle Fix- This serum instantly plumps up and tightens my skin taking off 10 years- no kidding!  The fine lines in my forehead, under my eyes, and the parentheses around my mouth temporarily disappear, and my skin looks like it did when I was in my early 20's (I'm 34).  Amazing stuff, but hard to get.  Nip & Fab's website is sold out, but I was lucky enough to find it at my local Target.  Check out my review on it, HERE. Currently on backorder at Target.com, but check your local store.

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara- I got this at Walgreens and bought it on a whim because it was $2.99.  I didn't expect much, but instead, got one of the best mascara's I've ever used- drugstore or high-end!  It plumps and lengthens without clumps or smudging.  My lashes look amazing when I wear this, and it's super-inexpensive.  Check out my review HERE.  At Walgreens, or Jordanacosmetics.com.

 Organix Coconut Milk Hibiscus Creamy Body Lotion- I purchased this deliciously scented lotion at CVS because it smelled like paradise in a bottle.  I'm a sucker for coconut scents, and this one is extra creamy and tropical.  But what really sold me on this was how smooth it made my skin!  It didn't just moisturize over my dry skin, it exfoliates and gets rid of the flakes, making my skin glowy and velvety soft. All without being greasy or too thick.  I was even carrying this giant bottle around in my purse so I could use it on my hands throughout the day (I finally put some in a small container).  I'm just obsessed with this stuff.  Check out my review HERE.
At drugstores.

Essie's Poppy-Razzi Collection.  I saw these neon brights at Walgreens recently, and had to have them.  So far, I bought the two on the right- Camera (a neon coral) and Lights (a florescent pink).  These are the perfect brights for Spring. www.essie.com

NYX Stick Blush in Orchid- I love the natural dewy flush cream blushes give my dry skin, but they often fade quickly.  Not this one- It's super pigmented, easy to blend and lasts through the day.  Plus, I love the peachy pink shade, Orchid for my fair skin.  www.nyxcosmetics.com or Ulta.com.

Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eye Liner- I purchased this at CVS, and it's the best liquid liner in a pen form I've used to date.  Once it sets, it's smudgeproof and lasts all day.  But the best part is the super skinny felt tip.  You can create the thinnest line ever, or go over it again for a thicker line, and it's super easy to control. At drugstores or Milanicosmetics.com.

Garnier XXL Body Thickening Mousse- As a girl with fine hair, I'm always looking for products to plump it up.  I haven't had too much luck with root lifting sprays, as they always leave my hair feeling sticky. Putting regular mousse at the roots creates lift for a while, but usually falls flat during the day.  This stuff is different in that it doesn't just prop up the roots, it adds thickness and volume throughout my hair.  And even though my hair is fine, it doesn't leave it feeling sticky or gross- just weightless and, well, thicker!  Love this stuff!



Stay tuned for May's List coming soon!