LOTS OF STUFF !!

HEY REMEMBER ME ??? The fact that I haven't blogged in over 2 months is reprehensible. I am officially the world's worst blogger.

BUT. Guess what ? Joluxe turned 1 year old today :o) I can't believe it !! I'm looking forward to the next year being much more productive.

Why haven't I blogged in 2 months ? My only (weak) excuse is that my two "real" jobs (the ones that pay me slightly more than nothing) have been pretty hectic. And also I was being very lazy. About writing. NOT about trying products. I'm just as obsessed with that as ever. So I've been saving up PLENTY of material.

Today I want to talk about some of L'Oréal's new haircare products. I was really excited when the Advanced Haircare line came out. I thought it was especially interesting because they seem to have loaded the formulas up with ingredients that you usually only see in skincare products (ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, antioxidants). First I tried the Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm.

Unfortunately I didn't like it. But I'm kind of giving it the benefit of the doubt because maybe it just isn't right for my hair. My hair isn't damaged at all, but it's EXTREMELY dry, and products touted as damage-erasers are usually super-hydrating. This wasn't the case here. I felt like it did absolutely nothing for my hair. I'm really curious to know if the ceramides actually do anything for damage.

After the Damage-Erasing Balm debacle, I was hesitant to try anything else from the line. With hair products you almost ALWAYS get what you pay for. But I couldn't pass up trying out the products that are specifically for dryness. And I'm really glad I did, because I LOVE the Power Moisture Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner.

These are right on par with salon brands I've used. I have a sixth sense about hair products; I can tell if I'm going to like a shampoo or conditioner as soon as it touches my hair. Both of these are rich in texture and feel immediately hydrating. The morning after using them, my hair is hydrated and soft, but not at all weighed down. And they retail for about $4.99 each !!

So if you have normal to dry hair and are in the market for a good quality drugstore (or high street) shampoo and conditioner, you have to pick these up. I haven't tried the Power Moisture Rush Mask yet, but when I do, I'll post a review. I'd like to compare it to my holy grail hair mask, the Kérastase Masquintense for thick hair, although I'm skeptical that anything could come close to it. 

That's all for now, folks. I'll be back before 2 months, I promise :o) 

Images: L'Oréal Paris USA

Trader Joe's Lavender Salt Scrub

I go to Trader Joe's ALL the time and already love their Oatmeal & Honey Soap, but I didn't notice the Lavender Salt Scrub until last week. It only costs $5.99 for 20 oz so I thought, OK, this stuff has to suck. I was very wrong. First of all, check out the absolutely lovely list of ingredients:

* Sea Salt
* Sweet Almond Oil
* Safflower Seed Oil
* Sunflower Seed Oil
* Lavender Oil
* Grape Seed Oil
* Apricot Kernel Oil
* Avocado Oil
* Green Tea Leaf Extract
* St. John's Wort Extract
* Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

That's it. That's the entire ingredient list. It's beautiful.

Then I took it home and used it and this stuff is completely legit. It smells like heaven (if you're into lavender, which I absolutely am) and gently but thoroughly scrubs your skin. And thanks to all the natural oils, it leaves behind a heavy dose of moisture. It would be great to use before shaving your legs.

Do not use this on any open cuts, because it will sting like a mother (sea salt). And be careful because your tub will be very slippery after using it. Also, I wouldn't recommend this for use on the face.

It's so fun to be pleasantly surprised by inexpensive beauty products. Especially ones with fabulous natural formulas that any other company would charge an arm and a leg for.

Avocado Moisture Mask

I don't know if you've been watching the news lately, but yesterday the Northeast had a random blizzard. Like, out of nowhere. I ended up having to walk around outside yesterday at the tail end of it. It was less than pleasant. And today my skin is rough and dry.

PERFECT EXCUSE TO MAKE A FACE MASK.

I needed moisture so I came up with this little beauty:

An Avocado Moisture Mask !! It only has two ingredients:

* Half an avocado

* Half a tablespoon of Aura Cacia Grapeseed Skin Care Oil

Mash it together with a fork and it's ready to go.

After smoothing it on and leaving it for about ten minutes, my skin felt moisturized, smoother, and suppler. I decided to go all the way and follow up my mask with some Avène Cold Cream, a super thick ointment for very dry skin. It's extremely intense, but 100% gentle on sensitive skin. I would never use it as a day lotion because it leaves a thick protective barrier, but it's great to use as an overnight treatment.

Much loved this winter.

I expect to wake up to pretty fabulous skin.

You can buy Aura Cacia skin care oils at Whole Foods and Avène products right over at drugstore.com.      

Attenzione Italian Readers !!

I'm going to Italy in the fall and I'd really like to know which Italian beauty products I should pick up ! Is there anything absolutely fantastic that I can only get in Italy ?? Any fab Italian drugstore picks ?!? I'm dying to know :o)


Mille Grazie !!!

Homemade Face Masks !!

Ok. So. Homemade face masks are my lastest endeavor and I'm more than a little excited about it.

This is how it came about: A week or so ago I had a wicked bad reaction to an antiaging night cream I tried and I needed something to help my skin. I'm sure most people could use this night cream with no problem at all, but I have super sensitive skin. And it was bad. Red, scaly, dry, itchy, painful, AWFUL. I had to layer on the foundation to make myself look semi-normal for work, but you could still see the dry flakiness. When you have a reaction like this, it can be injurious to layer more product onto your skin in it's compromised state, but I knew I needed SOMETHING. And I was broke. I was going to have to work with what I had on hand at home.

So I concocted my first ever homemade face mask: a soothing vegan oat mask !! Here's the recipe, along with the function of each ingredient.

1/4 cup old fashioned oats - soothing, gentle exfoliant.
1/4 cup soy milk - soothing.
1/2 a small banana - moisturizing.
1 tsp honey - soothing, moisturizing, natural antibacterial.


I tossed the ingredients in my Magic Bullet and blended until they were well combined.

Then I washed my face with The Body Shop Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser, a gentle, soap-free lotion cleanser for sensitive skin that I absolutely adore. 

Next, I smoothed the mixture onto my face, concentrating on the most irritated areas and let it sit for about 10 minutes.

It only looks a little bit like baby vomit. 

After rinsing off the mask and drying my face, I finished with a spritz of LUSH Eau Roma Toner Water and some The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Night Cream. I swear that when I woke up the next morning, my skin was almost back to normal.

Today I did another oat mask (see lovely photo above) because my face has been a little irritated from winter wind burn. I can't believe how soft and comfortable it made my skin. The best thing about this mask is it's simplicity. It only contains 4 natural ingredients, so there is nothing in it that could further irritate your skin. Plus, it's so inexpensive to make !!

Now that my oat mask was such a success, I'm busy brainstorming some new homemade face mask recipes. I even have a pinterest board for ingredient ideas because I am a gigantic nerdy loser.

I'll let you guys know as soon as my next homemade face mask comes into being !!
 

Disney JASMINE Collection by Sephora.

She's Here !! 

Princess Jasmine has arrived at Sephora as the second installment of the Reigning Beauties Series. Technically only Beauty Insiders can purchase the collection at the moment and only online, but it will be arriving in stores in March. At any rate, we know exactly what the collection looks like. Here it is:

The Palace Jewel Compact Mirror

One Is Never Enough Nail Set

Three Wishes Eyeliner Set

A Whole New World Eau de Parfum

A Whole New World Perfumed Oil Rollerball

Magic Carpet Ride Eyeshadow Palette

Storylook Eyeshadow Palette Vol. 2

A few things pop into my mind. One. Why aren't there any lip colors ? Two. That eyeliner set is AWESOME. Who needs that much eyeliner, you ask ? An Arabian woman. That's who. Three. Speaking of Arabs, we love perfume oil, so mad props go to Sephora for including that. Four. I'm sure the fragrance is lovely, but why on Earth doesn't it contain a Jasmine note ?! The list on the Sephora website says Carnation, Orange Blossom, Mandarin, Gardenia, Mimosa, Musky Accord, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Amber, and Benzoin. No Jasmine. I'm super confused about that.

Regardless, if anyone wants to buy me a late Valentine's Day present, or a very early Birthday present, any piece of this collection will suffice :o)

Images: Sephora

Allure Readers' Choice Awards !

Like every other self-respecting beauty freak, I'm a subscriber and avid reader of Allure magazine. I mean, obviously.

I just finished voting for the 2013 Allure Readers' Choice Awards and I wanted to post a quick run down of the products I voted for. I didn't vote in every single category. If I list a product that I've already reviewed here on my blog, I'm going to link directly to that review. Here goes !


MAKEUP

* Lipstick, Drugstore: Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids in Vivid Rose

* Blush, Drugstore: Rimmel London Lasting Finish Soft Colour Mono Blush in Santa Rose
* Blush, Specialty: NARS Blush in Orgasm

* Eye Shadow, Specialty: MAC Eye Shadow in Satin Taupe

* Eyeliner, Drugstore: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner
* Eyeliner, Specialty: Eyeko London Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black

* Mascara, Drugstore: L'Oréal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara
* Mascara, Specialty: Benefit They're Real! Mascara

* Foundation, Specialty: Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup


SKIN

* Facial Cleanser, Drugstore: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash
* Facial Cleanser, Specialty: The Body Shop Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser 

* Facial Scrub, Drugstore: St. Ives Naturally Clear Green Tea Scrub
* Facial Scrub, Specialty: Lush Dark Angels

* Facial Moisturizer, Drugstore: CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM
* Facial Moisturizer, Specialty: Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré

* Anti-Aging Product, Specialty: Juice Beauty Antioxidant Serum

* Eye Cream, Specialty: Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream


HAIR

* Shampoo, Drugstore: Suave Professionals Almond and Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo
* Shampoo, Specialty: Healthy Sexy Hair Color Safe Soy Moisturizing Shampoo

* Conditioner, Drugstore: Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Conditioner
* Conditioner, Specialty: Bumble and bumble Super Rich Conditioner

* Defrizzer, Drugstore: John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Crème
* Defrizzer, Specialty: Moroccanoil Treatment

* Home Hair Color: Clairol Natural Instincts


BODY

* Body Scrub, Specialty: The Body Shop Coconut Body Scrub

* Body Lotion, Drugstore: Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion 
* Body Lotion, Specialty: The Body Shop Mango Body Butter

* Pale Nail Polish, Specialty: OPI Nail Laquer in Did You 'Ear About Van Gogh

* Bold Nail Polish, Specialty: Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Nomad

*Classic Fragrance: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle

* New Fragrance: Balenciaga Florabotanica

* Deodorant: Tom's of Maine Naturally Dry Antiperspirant Deodorant 



If there's anything on this list that I haven't reviewed, but you would really like me to, let me know !

You can submit your own votes for the 2013 Allure Reader's Choice Awards here.

And finally, a picture of my cat.

Happy Sunday !!