hair therapy: Infusium 23 Frizz Controller Collection

the new Infusium 23 Frizz Controller Collection should be on your beauty must-have list this season ~ with unpredictable weather comes the threat of frizz {if you're prone to it}, so having a defense plan is crucial.

wow. that sounded a bit too so serious...

but really, when it comes to a beauty girl's hair, it could be!

think about it: the air goes from humid to dry and back again, wreaking havoc on tresses. i love that i can help prevent this with these fabulous products.

full disclosure, i've always loved the original Infusium23 leave-in treatment. growing up, my mom used it on my hair and i always remember how soft and shiny my hair was. as an adult, i continued to use it, and love it for the same reason.

 this 3-step system consists of a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment {love!} designed to tame and smooth frizz as well as pamper distressed hair. the signature blend of moisture enhancers and anti-frizz ingredients are the perfect booster to Infusium's unique i-23 complex enriched with pro-vitamins, proteins and amino acids.

in a very rare move, so to speak, i let my daughter use these products first; she was beyond thrilled. her verdict? "really good; i like them a lot!" this gave me such a happy feeling, especially after using them myself. it's like my fabulous bestie is now even better and more fabulous ~ you should definitely try!!

find the new Infusium Frizz Controller Collection at your favorite drug and mass retailers and be sure to take some time to visit their website, infusium23.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; opinions my own; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: leave-in conditioners from Alberto VO5 and Dove

there's nothing i love more than a good leave-in conditioner ~ they're key to keeping parched hair in shape! i've been using two in particular from the very well-known brands, Alberto VO5 and Dove, and let's just say they've been making this beauty girl quite happy...

Alberto VO5's new Simply Stunning Leave-In Conditioner is said to be an all-in-one leave-in miracle conditioner...the secret weapon for smoother styling and manageability for all hair types. well, i'm happy to report that my experience with this has been true. my hair loved it the first time i used it, and continues to do so even after using it a few more times over the past week and a half {and i'm pretty sure yours will, too}! this vitamin-enriched formula packs a serious moisture punch without weighing hair down and also protects against damage caused by heat styling. another plus ~ it can be used on wet or dry hair. simply stunning indeed...

Color Care Leave On Conditioner is the other gem of a leave-in that comes from Dove. it not only gives my tresses a soft, beautiful look and feel, but it's specially formulated to protect color-treated hair with its Vibrant Color Lock technology and UV complex {while i haven't been coloring my hair for almost a year, i plan to again in the near future, and uv protection is good for all hair}. this is recommended for use only on damp hair. i found it makes for the perfect extra boost of moisture when i don't have time in the shower for a longer deep condition.

the new Alberto VO5 {vo5haircare.com} Salon Series includes shampoos, conditioners, treatments and styling aids i highly recommend you give some attention to. find more info about the  Dove Color Care collection {i've also been using the shampoo and conditioner, by the way ~ love!} by visiting dove.com

products featured sent to me for review consideration; pics taken by me :)

hair therapy: No Frizz Shampoo, Conditioner & Leave-In Conditioner

when it comes to the battle against frizz, Living Proof's No Frizz line is the crème de la crème. now, to make matters even better, they've added to the range a shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner that will keep your hair looking smooth and feeling soft.

when i was sent these products, i couldn't wait to try them-- i am such a huge fan of No Frizz. i found the shampoo to be pretty basic in that it cleansed my hair well and left feeling clean-- of course, i knew it had to be working in other ways; as for the the conditioner, i left it in my hair for a couple of minutes per the directions since my hair is on the dry side (if you have a different hair texture, leave it in the same amount of time you would leave in your normal everyday conditioner). it left my hair feeling smooth, soft and manageable-- fabulous!


No Frizz in-store display


the leave in conditioner is for dry hair types and is amazing because it will give your tresses the added moisture on top of the regular conditioning. i knew all of the products were doing their "thing" when i let my hair air-dry: very little frizz was to be found!

once my hair was mostly dry, i applied the No Frizz Cream and style my hair as usual-- needless to say, i have no fear of moisture, my hair is protected. :)

visit livingproof.com for more info about No Frizz. you can also find it in Sephora stores and on their website, sephora.com

xo
images courtesy of BOLD PR

My Favorite Products of 2008

happy new year! how would you say 2008 was for you? good? better or worse than most? i would say, for me, it was a good year overall. i have learned a lot, and grown a lot. i hope 2009 will be even better!

this is my first-annual "favorites of 2008" post, and i have chosen the products i absolutely loved this year, but i have to say, it wasn't easy! but, i had to choose, so here they are...


my favorites of 2008 by beauty girl

favorite cleanser: Philosophy Purity Made Simple-- really i can't say enough about this cleanser except that it is really the best cleanser for removing all traces of dirt and makeup (including mascara)! i love everything from the smell to the texture and i even sometimes use it to clean my makeup brushes! honorable mention: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

favorite eye cream: iQ Derma RestoreEyes Firming Eye Therapy-- this eye cream keeps my eyes looking bright, hydrates wonderfully, and i never have to worry about puffiness when i use it! honorable mention: L'Oreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum

favorite moisturizer: L'Oreal Skin Genesis Daily Moisturizer Oil Free Lotion-- to quote myself, "i love this stuff!" honorable mention: Bioelements Beyond Hydration

favorite acne treatment product: Bioelements Amino Mask-- this fabulous mask keeps my skin clear and works great as a spot treatment. honorable mention: iQ Derma Acne Treatment Lotion

favorite spf product: Lisa Hoffman Day Cream SPF 15-- non-greasy and keeps my skin looking healthy! honorable mention: Raw Minerals Active Veil

favorite oil-control product: Cosmedicine Medi-Matte-- controls oil, and contains an spf! honorable mention: MAC Oil Control Lotion

favorite foundation: Redpoint Transformative Dual Foundation- this full coverage foundation goes on smooth, blends easily and never feels heavy. honorable mention: Revlon Custom Creations Foundation

favorite new eyeshadow: L'Oreal HiP Metallic Eyeshadow Duos-- highly pigmented, long-lasting, beautiful colors for a beautiful eye look. honorable mention: Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadows

favorite mascara: Maybelline XXL Extensions Mascara-- gives me long, lush, beautiful lashes that wears all day and removes easily at night. honorable mention: CoverGirl LashBlast mascara

favorite blush: Redpoint Airbrush Effects Blushwhip-- love the beautiful sheer color it gives. honorable mention: The Body Shop's Nature's Minerals Cheek Color

favorite lipgloss: L'Oreal Infalllible Never Fali Lipgloss--the best long-wearing lipgloss that doesn't dry lips out in the slightest. honorable mention: Clinique Superbalm Lipgloss

favorite lipstick: Bobbi Brown Metallic Lipstick in Pretty Pink-- i don't usually like lipstick, but this one is easy to love. honorable mention: NARS Lipstick in Beautiful Liar

favorite body wash: Caress Cream Oil Body Wash really surprised me with how soft and smooth it left my skin! honorable mention: Jan Marini Bioglycolic Resurfacing Body Scrub

favorite shampoo: Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo-- the most moisturizing shampoo ever! honorable mention: none

favorite conditioner: L'Oreal Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioner-- a product i didn't expect too much from, but found to be truly amazing! honorable mention: none

favorite hair treatment: Moroccanoil Masque for Hair leaves my hair silky and shiny! a definite must-have! honorable mention: Bumble & Bumble Creme de Coco

favorite styling aid: Bumble and bumble Spray de Mode-- a fabulous and unique hairspray! honorable mention: Product

favorite multitasker: Ojon Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser-- cleanses the skin on your face (removes makeup, too!) and body, as well as your hair with good-for-you ingredients. honorable mention: Global Goddess Beauty South Pacific Shimmer

favorite body lotion/cream: Bioelements Vitalization-- leaves skin feeling and smelling fabulous! honorable mention: Elizabeth Grant Vitamin C Body Lotion

favorite nail color: NARS Jungle Red-- my perfect red. honorable mention: OPI Baby It's "Coal" Outside

favorite fragrance: Miss Dior Cherie-- an amazingly girly scent that is fun and still sophisticated! honorable mention: John Varvatos for Women

favorite beauty/fashion book: Carmindy's Get Positively Beautiful-- i love the makeup tips and how-to's, but i think it's great that there's so much more to this book than that. honorable mention: Rescue Your Nails by Ji Baek and The One Hundred by Nina Garcia

what were some of your favorite products this year?

happy new year!

xo

hair therapy: AG fast food leave on condition

i am a huge fan of leave-in conditioners. after all, my hair is on the dry side, and a little extra moisture never hurts. i have been using AG Hair Cosmetics leave-in conditioner called, funny enough, fastfood.

this fabulous leave-in helps to hydrate my hair, and give me the softness i desire from a conditioning treatment. i love the silkiness of the texture, and the creamy citrus scent- so yummy!

the formula features silk and keratin proteins to add moisture, strength and shine to the hair. bonus: fastfood also contains a sunscreen!


xo


photo: aghaircosmetics.com