Conair Infinity Pro Ceramic Flat Iron Review plus Impressions Cushion Brush Giveaway!

Recently, I was given the opportunity to test the Infinity Pro by Conair 1 Inch Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron. (It also came with a sample bottle of One n' Only Argan oil, but I'll review that in a seperate post).   I currently own a T3 Tourmaline 1 inch iron, which I purchased at Sephora about 5 years ago for $150 (yikes!), and haven't used anything since, because I've had great luck with it.  But as soon as I took the Conair out of the box, I knew right away there were going to be a few differences! 

First, I'll just give you some info about the iron itself, taken from its packaging: 

"Sleek chic hair is attainable with the Infinity Pro by Conair 1 inch Ceramic Flat Iron.  Utilizing Tourmaline Ceramic technology, it provides anti-frizz and anti-static results with less damage.  

This flat iron heats up in 15 seconds and offers 30 heat settings with true ceramic heat, the highest reaching up to 455 degrees for even hard-to-straighten hair.  Hair is 89% straighter with less frizz (based on third party testing comparing use with and without a straightener)".  

Here's some box shots: 

The first thing I noticed when I took the flat iron out of the box was how lightweight it is, compared to the T3 I'm used to using.  It was amazingly lightweight, but felt solid and well-made at the same time.  

The next difference I noticed were the plates themselves- the plates on the Conair are significantly longer than my T3, and most other flat irons I've seen.  This results in being able to straighten your hair much faster. 

Here's a close up of the plates, and below that, the Conair compared to my T3:

The Infiniti Pro heats up incredibly fast.  When I plugged it in, it began to get warm immediately, and within 15 seconds, it was super hot and ready to go.  The first time I used it, I put it on a heat setting somewhere in the middle (which is where I set my T3), but I soon discovered that it was way too hot for my baby fine hair.  I turned it down to the second to lowest setting, and found that it was perfect for taking the slight wave out of my hair, as well as smooth my bangs. 

For those of you with hard-to-straighten, thick or coarse hair, let me just tell you, this iron gets hot and will likely straighten any type of hair no matter how difficult.  

The ceramic plates will help protect your hair from getting scorched, but I would recommend starting with a lower setting and working your way up to hotter settings to find the minimum heat setting that will straighten your hair.  

Two things you have to be careful of are the on/off switch, since it's on the handle, you can sometimes bump it accidentally, and also make sure you hold the iron where the silver hand grips are.  You might have an instinct to hold it further up since the plates are so long, but don't- you might burn your hand!  You get used to the length of the plates, and they really help you get your hair done in much less time. 

I think I'm going to retire my old T3 and use the Conair from now on.  At $39.95, I recommend it as an alternative to a T3 or Chi iron- it's just as capable for a lot less money.  

***Disclosure-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. ***

Conair Impressions Cushion Brush Giveaway! 

 The Conair Impressions Brush is ideal for everyday brushing of all hair lengths and is designed to gently detangle wet or dry hair.  The flexible cushion base allows for stress-free brushing and the ball tipped bristles will not snag or pull hair.

Want to win this super cute brush?  

Enter in Rafflecopter below!  The winner will be notified via email. 

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Spotted in Store! Neutrogena Shine Control Makeup

I spotted this new collection from Neutrogena at Harmon's this afternoon.  It's supposed to control shine for 8 hours and consists of foundation, primer, and a powder.  Just in time for summer, when even us dry skinned gals can get shiny!  Has anyone else seen this, or tried any of the products?

Boots No. 7 True Identity Foundation Review- Perfekt dupe!

I'm always on a quest to find the perfect foundation for my dry skin.  I need something that's smooth, hydrating and doesn't cake into fine lines.  And while I don't need a lot of coverage, I usually go for medium, because I have some redness around my nose and my chin that tends to show through sheerer formulas.

I was at Target the other day, and came across True Identity Foundation from Boots No.7.  It's hypo-allergenic and claims to adjust to the color of your skin (there were only 3 shades to choose from).  There were testers for the Medium and Dark shades, and both were super dark.  So even though there was no Light tester, I decided to just go for it and see what happens.

There's a lot of silicone in this foundation, which accounts for its super silky texture.  It feels just like a primer to me, which is a good thing!  It actually reminds me a lot of Perfekt's Skin Perfection Gel, which has a hefty price tag at Sephora of $57.50.  In fact, it's so similar, I'd even go so far as to call it a dupe!  When I worked at Sephora, I used to use the Perfekt Gel every day, but I just can't spend that much on a foundation now, so this was such a great surprise at only $12.49.

True Identity has a moussy-gel like texture and you don't need a lot, as it goes really far.  Now, when I say I have dry skin, I mean really dry.  Like, I can use the thickest hand creams all day and they still crack and look flaky. My face isn't nearly that bad, thankfully, but since I'm using my hands for the before and after shots, I decided not to moisturize them so you can see how this foundation adds moisture and doesn't contribute to the dryness.  So don't make fun of them if they look elephant-like! :)

Even the Light shade is quite darker than my skin, which worried me a bit when I first saw it.

But as you can see, it blended in really well and took most of the redness out of my skin.  It also managed to not sink into lines and even hid some lines and pores.  My hand still looks dry, but on my face, which is much less dry, this stuff is wonderful!  It feels really light and airy and while it doesn't cover everything, I would call it light to medium.  

Overall, I'm really happy with this foundation.  I would say it would probably work best on normal to dry skin types.  If you're oily, it won't clog your pores, but the silky texture might make it slide off after a few hours.  

Have you tried this foundation?  Any thoughts?

Salon Perfect Lashes Review and Giveaway

I use mascara every day, but sometimes, you just want your lashes to have that extra oomph, whether you're at a party or event, or just want your eyes to really stand out.  I used them at my wedding last year to really make my eyes pop in photos.  They can really frame your eyes and give you a wide eyed look.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try Salon Perfect lashes.  The kit I received contained several pairs of lashes, along with the June issue of All You magazine (love it!).  Keep reading to find out how you can win the exact same kit I did! (Hint- 4 of you will win).  

About Salon Perfect:

Beautiful Salon Perfect Eyes

Salon Perfect’s quality handmade lashes give you the same gorgeous look as a department store lash for a lot less!

Salon Perfect offers a collection of professional-quality lash, brow and nail products. Available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide, Salon Perfect offers premium faux lashes in an assortment of styles ranging from natural to high drama.

These are the most reasonably priced lashes I've seen to date, and the quality is amazing!

Their regular price at Walmart is $2.98, and in this month's issue of All You magazine, there is a $1.50 off coupon, which brings the price down to $1.48.  (So if you don't end up winning the giveaway, you can still try them for next to nothing!).   

I'm going to review two pairs that I tried- the first one is the press on version.  You don't need glue with these- they come with an adhesive strip built right in, plus two extra strips.  I chose this more dramatic version first.

Before:

After:

These were super high drama, but really easy to use.  The adhesive was better than other false lashes I've used- I didn't have my usual issue with the lashes peeling up in the outer corner. 

Next, I tried a more natural look with the Perfectly Natural Starter Kit.  This comes with everything you need to apply the lashes including one pair of lashes, adhesive and applicator.  

I love the applicator that comes with this kit, because it makes it easy to apply the adhesive and also to apply without your fingers getting in the way.  

Just spread a thin layer of the glue along the edge of the lashes, and then use the applicator to place them at the base of your lash line. 

Here's my result with the Perfectly Natural lashes:

These were my favorites!  They were very lightweight and held on strong, yet were really easy to remove.  They peeled off without a lot of tugging on my eyelid, which I was happy about.  That part usually makes me nervous!

So, do you want to try Salon Perfect?  Four (4) readers will receive the exact kit I did (see the first photo above), including several pair of Salon Perfect Lashes and the June issue of All You Magazine (which contains the $1.50 off Salon Perfect coupon, along with tons of other great coupons and budget friendly advice). 

Enter Below. You'll get extra entries for liking us on Facebook and Twitter, or by answering the question in the raffle.  Good Luck!

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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.

Guest Post- Get Summer-Ready With an At-Home Spa Day

By: Leslie Silver 

With the official start of summer just weeks away, it’s time to prep your skin for swimsuits, shorts, tank tops, and more so that you look great all season long.  However, don’t break the bank going to the spa - You can exfoliate, cleanse, moisturize, and self-tan all with just a little help from products that you can purchase online and in the drug store. Turn your bathroom into a sanctuary with these tips!

Take a nice, warm bath or shower to open up your pores. Try a moisturizing bath gel or body wash to really get skin silky smooth. Also, it might be a good idea to exfoliate arms and legs if you plan to apply self-tanner; this will give you a more even “work area” when you apply lotion or spray.  If you don’t have an exfoliating wash, a great at-home remedy is a sugar scrub!

Then, cleanse your face with your favorite face wash. It’s also a great idea to exfoliate your face – even if you don’t plan to apply self-tanner to sensitive facial skin, exfoliation helps remove dull, dry skin, shrink pores, and more. A really effective way to achieve exfoliation is with microdermabrasion at home kits, masques, and more; these great products are spa-worthy at half the price. Kits often come with a microdermabrasion wand to gently slough off dead skin and reveal fresh, younger-looking skin underneath. This is a perfect way to keep your skin looking great all summer long! Find inexpensive microdermabrasion products online at retailers like ShopNBC.

Next, it’s time to moisturize away any dry skin, especially elbows and knees. Since they’re covered up all winter and even into the spring, these joints are often neglected. They also can get very dry, so it’s important to use a deep moisturizing cream.

Finally, finish up with self-tanner if you so desire, or simply relax and revel in the fact that you just completely pampered and polished your skin. And of course, don’t make all this hard work go to waste – be sure to wear sunscreen all summer to protect your skin. 

Revlon Colorstay Overtime Lengthening Mascara Review

As a part of Revlon's new line for summer, they've launched a new mascara called Colorstay Overtime that's supposed to lengthen, and also last 24 hours, and not smudge, flake or smear.  It's also supposed to be tear proof (great for wedding season), sweat, and humidity proof (great for summer!).  It comes in a sleek, gunmetal colored tube, and the brush is on the slimmer side and straight up and down with no curve to it.

Revlon's last mascara launch, PhotoReady 3D Volume gave me incredible lashes  so I didn't hesitate to pick this one up.  It didn't disappoint!  

Here, my results before and then after applying three coats:

All I can say is, wow.  Revlon has done it again!  This gave my lashes amazing length (not too much volume, but it didn't advertise that, so it's ok).  I didn't curl my lashes beforehand, but it really gave me a wide eyed look all by itself.  I applied this at about 9am this morning, and as I sit here writing this post at 11pm, I can honestly say there are no flakes or smudges in sight!  To be fair, I didn't cry or sweat today, so I can't say how it would hold up in those situations, but for an average day, it does what it claims! 

Have you tried this one yet? Are you thinking about it? 

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?