Agave Heating Oil Treatment

When Beverly Hills hairdresser Fernando Romero created Agave Heating Oil Treatment, he must have had me in mind!  I have the world's most unruly hair ever!  OK so i may be over-dramatizing things a bit but seriously, my hair is quite the diva!  It's thick, rarely obedient and frizzes at the mere mention of the word 'humidity'... sigh.  What's a beauty blogger to do about such travesties? Why arm herself with products that will quickly vanish these types of hairy situations (pun intended) of course!  

So lets chat ingredients!  Did you know that Mexico's blue agave is best known as the soure of tequila?  Well no salt or lemon necessary here!  This beauty lets the amino sugars in agave work their miracles by soothing hair and infusing it with moisture.  It doesn't stop there however!  This heating oil is packed with an array of natural conditioning ingredients to keep hair soft and beautiful such as vanilla, coconut and baobab seed oil, to name a few.  Oh and no worries, this beauty is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates! Cheers to that... Phew! 

For best results, i use a dime-sized dab of Agave Heating Oil Treatment between the palms of my hands and distribute it evenly throughout my damp hair.   Now that the weather is warmer, i love to air dry my hair as to avoid further damage from styling tools.  This beauty keeps my curls defined and my hair looking healthy!  When i do however opt to blow dry, i know i can reach for this amazing product to help keep my locks looking smooth and sleek.  I also love to add a dab of this oil on my ends when my hair is dry.  I feel like it really helps to seal in the cuticle!  Pssst... this baby can double as a body oil!  Oh yeah! Oh and another major bonus alert... it smells uhhhhhh-mazing!  Yum!  

Want gorgeous hair stat?  Don't we all!  Well, head on over to BirchBox and stock up!  If you already subscribe to the monthly BirchBox service (of course you do), you'll get BirchBox points just by reviewing your box every month!  Also remember, for every 100 points you spend, you'll earn $10 to spend at Birchbox!  Now that's a great deal!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  xoxo, Carla - FMM

Press sample - all opinions are my own based on my experience with this product.

Beauty Protector Protect and Oil

Certainly you've heard me vent my frustrations about my thick, unruly hair right?  Well, lucky for me, Birchbox introduced me to the most uhhhhh-mazing product E V E R!  No, seriously... I've been having the best hair days thanks to Beauty Protector Protect and Oil.  After washing my hair, i simply apply one to three drops of this little miracle worker through my hair and just let it do its magic.  I love that it nourishes my locks while packing on the shine!  But that's not all... this baby protects hair against UV rays and heat damage (don't you just love a great multi-tasking product?!)  This is exceptionally good news for me when i opt for textured waves using my curling wand.  While i don't do this often for fear of burning my hair to a crisp, i can breathe a little easier knowing that this little powerhouse will protect my locks from such travesties!  You'll be happy to know that this formula is light weight and works on all hair types!  Woohooo!  I especially love to add a few drops of this beauty on my ends once my hair is dry for some added shine!  Yep, I'm officially obsessed!

I've actually sampled Beauty Protector's shampoo and conditioner via one of my recent Birchboxes and loved how they made my hair feel!  Have you signed up for Birchbox yet?  It's a great way to sample new beauty products! For $10 a month, you can have an average of 5 beauty samples delivered right to your doorstep.  Oh and here's a great perk... if you review your products on Birchbox.com you'll get 10 points for each product review.  Once you reach 100 points, you'll get $10 to spend in the Birchbox shop!  I've gotten some amazing products this way!  Go ahead... subscribe here!

*Disclosure - this product was provided by Birchbox for consideration.  All opinions are my own based on my experience with this product.

Sparkle With Essie's Encrusted Treasures Collection!

'Tis the season... to SPARKLE!  Essie's Encrusted Treasures Collection for Holiday 2013 packs on the shine, glamour and all that glitters! This collection consists of six stunning shades that innovatively add layers of texture, jewels, and a full coverage 3D finish.  One thing this is not is your typical glitter nail polish collection... yawn, been there, done that! Instead you'll get a caviar effect minus the mess, tons of head turning sparkle, and a glittering multi-dimensional effect all in one swipe. 

Peak of Chic

 

This is one of those colors that is absolutely stunning on the bottle.  However, I was quite fearful that i would not love it on my actual nails.  Well, much to my surprise, I actually fell in love with it.  This bar glitter polish reminds me of snow.  The application is not easy... you're better off starting light and building from there or you'll end up with a great big mess.  Once you've mastered the application, this polish is quite different from anything I've tried and I'll say i really love it.  Pair it with a fab pair of crochet fingerless mittens and show off this unusually pretty sparkler!



Hors D'Oeuvres

 

When i first laid eyes on this beauty, I instantly knew this was the stand out color for me.  You know what?  I was right!  This polish is the perfect combo of silver and gold.  It reminds me so much of last year's Beyond Cozy which i reviewed here but even better!  I think this polish looks best with three coats because you'll get a perfect 3D effect and your nails will sparkle for miles!  This beauty makes me want to reach for a winter white cozy sweater!  Note that it's a b*tch to remove!  If you opt for three coats like I did, prepare to soak your pretty little fingers in acetone for a few minutes to fully remove this polish.   That's OK, it's so cute that it's totally forgiven! 



On a Silver Platter

 



This was another pretty sparkler with a perfect mixture of golds and blues!  I think this would make a great accent nail color paired with a great midnight blue.  This polish looks even better after a few coats as it highlights the various glitter hues. 



 

Lots of Lux

 

This pretty little blue sparkler seems to be a favorite amongst many of the reviews I've seen.  It applies really well and completely coats the nail for a matte textured look.  While i loved the ease of application, i wasn't overly crazy about the color.  I would have preferred a darker blue.  If you like matte shimmery polish, you'll definitely love Lots of Lux!



Ignite The Night

 

While this hue was not overly impressive on the bottle for me, it actually applies quite beautifully.  It's a perfect marriage of gun metal shimmer and glitter.  A few swipes of this baby and your nails will be ready for a night out on the town!  Kind of obsessed!







Belugaria

 

Soooooo where do i begin with Belugaria!  Well, I'm actually obsessed with this color... on the bottle!  You see, this is not your typical glitter nail polish.  You'll immediately realize this upon application.  If you are a fan of caviar nails, you'll LOVE this nail polish!  Its texture is heavy and grainy with a sprinkle of glitter peeking through.  Personally, i prefer glossier nails... I have such a rough time with textured matte nails (pun intended).  However, if you're a caviar nail lover, you'll become instantly smitten with this polish as it gives you the same effect all in one stroke!



 

Overall, I was quite impressed with this collection!  I will definitely give Essie a big shout out for innovation!  Love it or hate it, this collection encompasses a new movement in nail polish trends and I love that!  On that note, thank you Birchbox for sending this collection my way!  I was the lucky winner of a recent Birchbloggers contest and was beyond excited to learn that I'd won this entire collection!  SCORE! Exciting stuff! 

 

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO Carla - FMM

JR Watkins Hand and Cuticle Salve

The beautiful thing about monthly delivery beauty boxes, is the ability to sample products you would have perhaps never learned about.  Such is the case with JR Watkins Hand and Cuticle Salve which arrived in April's Birchbox!  A few nights ago, while giving myself a manicure, i opted to give this baby a try.  Wow... before i even go into how great it works, let me tell you a little bit about how uhhhh-mazing it smells!!!!  I'm a big time lavender fan and this product smells as if you are strolling through the most luscious lavender gardens somewhere in Provence!  In general, lavender is a powerful scent that can instantly take your day from stressful to a calm day at the spa.  One sniff.... and my routine mani went from 'omg lets get this over with... the girls might walk in and there go my nails" to "ahhhhhh calming spa manicure"!  Now on to how great this product works!  I dabbed a little on each nail and massaged it into my cuticles.  I then pushed my cuticles back making them look fresh and beautiful.  My hands felt hydrated and wonderful without feeling greasy.  I have honestly found the holy grail of cuticle creams!  L O V E!

So lets chat!  Have you tried JR Watkins Hand and Cuticle Salve?  What did you think?  What are your go-to cuticle products?

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  XOXO Carla - FMM

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique

I'm a huge Kerastase fan... and so is my hair!  I swear, every product I've ever tried from their extensive collection, my hair immediately responds to!  Sadly, these products are really costly and for that very reason, I can't exactly use a whole lot of them.  However, when I find a gem, I commit!  Such a moment happened a few Birchboxes ago when I received a sample of Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique!  It was love at first application for me!  I applied a dime size portion to my wet locks and proceeded to blow dry.  I noticed such a difference when my hair was completely dry!  It was soft, completely manageable, and simply... gorgeous!  I immediately took to birchbox and purchased.  Lucky for me I had some birchbox points to help lessen the cost of this uhhh-mazing product!  It was worth the investment for me because a little goes a long way, so I know that I won't need to replenish for a while.  Meanwhile, I get to have way more 'good hair days' then ever!  Thanks Kerastase for making amazing products!  One suggestion however, will you kindly consider making a more affordable line so that no one will ever have to experience a 'not so great hair day' ever again?  Thanks!

Benefit's FakeUp

I've never met a Benefit product i didn't love!  So when Birchbox presented the opportunity to win Benefit's new launch 'Fakeup' with a simple tweet i thought, what have i got to lose right?
Well guess what?? I won!!!!  SCORE!  So when this beauty arrived in the mail, delicately wrapped in Birchbox's signature bubble gum pink tissue paper and ribbon, i was ecstatic!  It was almost too pretty to unwrap, but i couldn't wait to delve my hands into this very promising concealer!  You see, as a mommy of five year old twins who works full time and runs this blog, sleep is a bit of a myth in my life!  Well, with Benefit's Fakeup, no one will ever know about my little sleep deprivation situation.

Fakeup's creamy formula, provides mah-jor coverage while hydrating and brightening tired looking eyes!  It's formulated with vitamin E and apple seed extract to create a silky smooth application while minimizing the look of fine lines. Think of it as a concealer and eye cream all in one! Listen, if you know my blog, you know i love my multi-tasking products right?  To use this, gently swipe this twist up concealer under each eye, and use your finger to blend.  It's kind of like a magic wand... swipe and boom, dark circles disappear! So all you princesses out there, trot on over to Birchbox and be sure to pick up your very own magic wand!  Your eyes will thank you for it.  Now off to the ball you go!

Swipe

Blend

Off to the ball!

In case you're wondering, the lipstick in the last picture is Rubywoo from MAC which you can read about here!

Thank you so much for reading! XOXO Carla - FMM

Making Waves with NuMe's Pearl Curling Wand

Has your hair been looking a bit blah lately?  Do you want to take your locks from drab to hello gorgeous? Of course you do!  Good thing i'm here to show you how!  I first learned about NuMe from a blogger whose hair always looks uhhhhmazing!  Her hair always stuns with just the right amount of perfectly placed waves!  Is she human?  I seriously had my doubts... until she revealed her secret weapon!  NuMe's curling wands!  I immediately checked out the site in hopes that these potentially magic wands casted their stardust magic on my hair!  The prices were quite steep but i quickly rationed that if i want hair like that, i'm gonna have to buckle up and splurge!  Lucky for me, that same week, i came across a Groupon for $15 towards $115 worth of NuMe styling tools!  What? Certainly it was my lucky day... i even contemplated playing the lottery that day! Hey, ya never know!  So i immediately ordered my NuMe Pearl Curling Wand and saved myself $100!

So let me tell you a little bit about my new purchase!  I realize that this wand has ahem an interesting shape... to say the least!  And if you thought that this was that kind of site, i'm so sorry to disappoint! All jokes aside, it was actually its unique shape that sparked my curiosity.  I was beyond excited when it arrived in the mail and quickly put it to use.  First, it comes with a heat resistant glove which i have to say came in super handy at first.  I highly recommend using it until you feel comfortable enough using this wand.  I also noticed that the Pearl heats up in a matter of a couple of seconds... it's that fast! Totally justifiable considering it is a magic wand!  All i can say is that it was love at first curl!  Wow... i couldn't believe how incredible that very first curl/wave looked!  I knew i was in for some mah-jor life changing curlage (um is that even a word?... I'm looking at you Webster's Dictionary!  After all, if Beyonce's bootylicious made the cut...I declare curlage as a relavant and necessary word!)  OK rant over!   When finished, my hair was filled with a mixture of waves and curls that lasted for 3 1/2 days!  I typically wash my hair every other day but noticed that with curly hair, i could go much longer!  I'm so pleased with the turnout!

I highly recommend using a heat protector on your hair prior to using this or any styling tool.  It's essential for protecting your pretty locks!  I'm currently using and loving Alterna BAMBOO UV + Color Protection Fade-Proof Fluide which i purchased through Birchbox.

Here's a little video tutorial i put together to show you just how amazing the Pearl Curling Wand is! Enjoy!

So lets chat!  Have you tried any NuMe styling tools or products?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  I wonder if their styling products are as good as their styling tools!  Are there any other NuMe styling tools i should try?  I can't even imagine the possibility of  a better curling wand then my beloved Pearl!  

Thank you SO MUCH for reading! XOXO Carla - FMM

Jouer - The Blushing Beauty Collection and Moisture Tint

I recently became acquainted with the wonderful brand Jouer after receiving a sample of one of their products in my Birchbox.  Curious, i browsed their gorgeous website not knowing that simple click of the mouse would be a life changing one.  I was quickly drawn to their stunning products and high end packaging.  Yet, as i glanced closer, i realized that the packaging was not only beautiful but functional!  In fact, it was kind of genius... GENIUS!  You see, all of their products are packaged to easily snap together and essentially create a palette customized by YOU!  Can you say uhhh-mazing??!!  I knew immediately i needed to check these out in person!  When The Blushing Beauty Collection palette and Matte Moisture Tint arrived at my door step, i am pretty sure i did cartwheels with excitement!   After hugging the package for a second or two (don't judge), I quickly ripped it open!  At first, i was a bit thrown off by it's size as i was anticipating a much larger palette!  Well, hullo... remember i said these products brilliantly connect to one another to create a palette?  Well, the geniuses at Jouer took this concept one step further!  They conveniently created the packaging so that it not only connects side by side but also top to bottom thus making this palette a cinch to travel with!  I literally had to sit down to take in all of this wonderfulness (if that's even a word!)

 

So now that I've officially declared my love for Jouer's jaw dropping packaging, lets chat about their equally amazing products!  The Blushing Beauty Collection palette consists of deliciously warm earth tones paired with luscious corals.  It's packed with all the essentials to make you look stunning!  The lip gloss in Cherish goes on smoothly leaving your lips feeling incredibly hydrated without the stickiness!  It's the perfect consistency and the color is so gawhgeous!  The highlighter and cream blush in Whisper Tint and Feather, are ideal for creating a sun kissed look.  The Sheer Matte Touch Powder and Bronzer duo are essential for contouring.  The Chocolat and Peach eye shadows are a perfect compliment of a warm bronze shimmer and matte vanilla!  The only thing you'll need to complete your look is a dab of liner, a touch of mascara and voila... stunning!

 

 

OK, so now that you're ready to go out and snatch this pretty baby right up, take note!   Pair this gorgeous palette with the BEST matte moisture tint I've every tried!  This creamy matte formula will indulge your skin in more ways than you know!  It's complete with SPF 15 and is oil free!   I love that it evens out my skin without feeling heavy creating a flawless complexion!  After all, who doesn't love themselves a beautiful complexion right?  This product is all you need to achieve just that!  

So lets chat... do you own any Jouer products?  What are your favorites?  If not... hullo... stop reading and GO GO GO pick some up asap!

July Birchbox

So it took me a while to post this review but i have to say that i was so bummed that i did not get to review the June box at all because it was such a killer box!  I mean, June was pure madness around here!  Between finishing off the school year, packing for vacation and preparing for the HBA Global Expo with Allure Magazine, i just couldn't find the time to create a beautiful tribute to this box.  But i will tell you this, i got a ton of use out of it during my vacation!  I'll quickly tell you just some of the things included... Stila bronzer, Rose Water hydrating spray (hello, best thing on the airplane... even my little girls were asking for a spritz!), Staniac by the Balm which i happily applied on my cheeks and lips for a soft glow and my super cute and useful Tili bag which housed some yummy snacks for the plane!  So there you have it, a quick run down of what was possibly one of the best boxes!  Though this month certainly did not disappoint!

 

So without further ado, here are all the wonderful goodies that arrived at my doorstep this month!   For the month of July, Birchbox teamed up with Glamour magazine for a 'senses' themed box!   The first item i received was Blinc Mascara.  It was housed in a tube, making this product even more intriguing!  I'm a sucker for great packaging, and this certainly did not disappoint!  As for the product itself, it totally delivered making my lashes incredibly glossy!  Best part, no make up remover necessary... a dab of warm water will wipe this shiny beauty to mascara heaven!

 

The next product was a wonderful luxe salt scrub in lemon leaf by Dirt.  Honestly, it was like the people at Birchbox could read my mind!  I've been in the market for a body scrub, so the timing on this baby was puuuurrrrfect!  I actually used it for the first time today and loved, loved, LOVED it!  The texture was just abrasive enough to make me feel as though it was truly scrubbing away all the impurities, yet gentle enough that it didn't feel like i was getting sand blasted!  The delicious citrus scent was intoxicating in the most pleasant of ways making for a spa like shower experience for sure!

In this box, was a charming scent called Eau Flirt by Harvey Prince.  This fragrance was layered with notes of Jasmine and fresh citrus along with a base of lavender and pumpkin.  Although the scent is quite lovely, i don't foresee myself wearing it on a regular basis. 

 

So this next product was really interesting!  I received a Stila eyeshadow palette in 'the light eye'.  The colors consisted mainly of neutrals.  I can't wait to sample some of these since i love Stila products!  In fact, i already own some of the colors included in this palette.  I'd never seen a palette sample like this.  It basically resembles a post card.  I'll have a blast playing with these... i LOVE getting make-up samples! 

The next two products were actually Lifestyle Extras.  The first was a Larabar.  I personally am a huge fan of Larabars.  I was initially introduced to them by my wonderful yoga teacher during a 'detox' type seminar.  I've been in love with their products ever since!  Interestingly enough, i had yet to try this particular type of Larabar that fused sweet with savory making it the perfect snack!  I will absolutely purchase this again!

Lastly was a super cool and very useful item!  I received Birchbox Exclusive Earbuds!  Glamour put together a playlist available on their site that you can listen to using these sweet earbuds.  OR, you can simply use them on your ipod or iphone!  Can i just tell you how awesome it is to have an extra set of earbuds!  I go through these like water!  Oh and i was secretly hoping for this very color combo! (Here's a little secret.... they're washing machine proof... don't ask!)  Yay!

Overall, i thought this box was just as good as last months!  Birchbox is quickly becoming my absolute favorite monthly delivery service!  After all, for $10 per month, you actually get a lot more product than you pay for, that's for sure!  Thank you Birchbox!  I'm a very happy customer indeed!

Thank you SO MUCH for reading!  Don't forget to become an official follower of FMM!  XOXO Carla