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John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray Review

by / blog, Hair Care / 13 Comments
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I have been wearing my hair natural (relaxer-free) for nearly three years. There are times when I like wearing my hair straight, which I achieve through the use of a flat iron. However, one of the things with which I would struggle is my hair turning into a poof ball within 30-minutes after straightening my natural hair. Alas, I’ve found a solution: John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray.

John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat-Iron Spray

 

John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ description:

“Revolutionary heat-activated formula wraps each strand to seal in longer-lasting straightness without weighing hair down. Protects against heat damage and blocks frizz.”

For the last few months, I’ve been routinely using the John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray on my damp hair after washing. The fact that I’ve been using it for this long says a lot, especially since I’ve tried several anti-reversion hair products that haven’t worked, so my expectations for this product were low.

John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat-Iron Spray directions

The John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray is easy to use.

  1. Part your hair in four (4) sections
  2. Spray damp hair
  3. Place hair in two-strand twists
  4. Sit under hooded dryer or air dry
  5. Blow dry straight and/or
  6. Flat Iron

The John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray, unlike other flat iron sprays I’ve used, doesn’t weigh down my hair or leave it feeling sticky. It also has a nice, clean fragrance that isn’t overwhelming. My hair is softer and easier to manage when blow drying, and even shinier and more after flat ironing.

I’ve found that after using it, my hair, unless it gets soaked, stays straight for longer than three days. In fact, my last run with the John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray had my hair impressively straight for a little over a week! Even on days where the humidity is through the roof, my hair doesn’t frizz.

I love using the John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray whenever I need to flat iron my hair. I feel secure knowing that my hair is protected from the heat while it’s getting straightened. If you’re looking for a heat-protecting flat ironing spray that delivers on frizz control for three days or more, I suggest picking up a bottle of the John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray.

The John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray retails for $8.97 at Walmart.

 

Have you tried the John Frieda 3-Day Straight™ Flat Iron Spray? If so, did you like it?

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Panic on Brown Skin

by / Beauty, blog, Makeup Looks, Product Swatches, Reviews / 16 Comments
PR SAMPLE | AFFILIATE LINKS

 

I’m a fan of NARS, especially their beautiful blushers. I was happy to have been able to get my hands on their Spring 2015 release of the Dual-Intensity Blush in Panic.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Panic Collage

NARS’ description of the Dual-Intensity Blush:

Featuring NARS’ exclusive Translucent Prismatic Technology, the newly- imagined formula allows for multi-dimensional effects with a uniquely weightless, luxurious texture. Six modern shade pairings curated by Francois Nars offer a universal spectrum of hues that works across all skintones. Sweeps on dry for a bold flush or wet for a translucent wash of color. Dry pigments impart a natural glow that warms the complexion and fuses weightlessly. Dampen NARS’ exclusive Wet/Dry Blush Brush before application for a watercolor effect—dab over the apples of the cheeks and swirl in a circular motion to paint on a subtle tint.

NARS DUal-Intensity Blush Panic Packaging

The NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Panic is a beautiful blush compact housing two shades of blush: (r) bright pink and (l) golden coral.

I like applying the NARS Dual-Intensity Blush in ‘Panic’ with my NARS All Day Luminous Foundation (review) as a base. I first apply the left side (golden coral shade) blended lightly towards my temples, close to my hairline. Following that, I gently swirl the bright pink shade on the right on the apples of my cheeks.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Wet/Dry

Applied dry, the Dual-Intensity Blush ‘Panic’ blends smoothly with ease. I love the beautiful, healthy glow with a flush of color that it provides. These days I prefer a more natural look, and this is exactly what the dry application of Panic provides. However, applying the Dual-Intensity Blush when wet intensifies the pigments and shimmer in the blush, which I do not prefer for myself. The application when wet can also be a bit splotchy. It takes work, and I know that when I’m doing my makeup, I have no time for more work.

NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Panic Makeup by Kim Smith

Overall, I’m a fan of the NARS Dual-Intensity Blush ‘Panic’. It looks amazing on my brown skin, especially when applied dry. During the winter when my skin can look dull, a quick swirl of this blush brightens it right back up!

SONY DSC
SONY DSC

The NARS Dual-Intensity Blush retails for $45, and is available in five additional shades: Adoration, Craving, Fervor, Frenzy, and Jubilation.

Have you tried any of the NARS Dual-Intensity Blushers? If so, which, if any, are your favorites?

 

Weekly Beauty Blog Coalition Roundup (1/22/2016)

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Travel-Friendly Skincare for Warm and Humid Climates

by / Beauty, blog, Skincare / 20 Comments

I BOUGHT THIS | AFFILIATE LINKSPR SAMPLE | AFFILIATE LINKS

Not too long ago I returned from a seven-day trip to the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), which was a hot and relatively drier climate than where we are now headed – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. A change in climates and humidity means switching up my skincare needs since Puerto Vallarta during this time of year is not only hot, but also humid. Of course, for this trip I packed my favorite travel-friendly skincare that’s most suitable for the weather I’m going to experience.

One of the first rules of traveling is being able to pack efficiently; therefore, if I do not have travel-sized items of my favorite products, I siphon them off into travel-sized containers. I find the to-go condiment containers to be perfect for cleansers, into which I emptied some of my Paula’s Choice RESIST Foaming Cleanser .

Travel-Friendly Paula's Choice RESIST

Cleanse

Cleansing your skin is essential regardless of where you are; however, since heat and humidity can lead to more sweat, oil, and dirt, cleansing twice a day with my travel-friendly FOREO Luna is a necessity. The FOREO Luna (review) is gentle enough to use twice per day, and effective in removing the dirt and oil from my skin, thus preventing breakouts/blemishes while I’m away.

LUNA by FOREO Review in hand

Tone

I love, love, love the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater (review). I pack the travel-friendly 4 oz. bottle to refresh and rehydrate my skin post cleansing, and even give my skin a little spray post-moisturizer.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater

Moisturize

For daytime use when I travel, I’ve packed the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer (Martinique) with SPF 30 (review), and for evening use I bring along Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre (review). To the two, I add a few drops of the Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster. To keep my lips moisturized, I use my go-to lip balm, Carmex! I never leave home without it. Plus, its size makes it travel-friendly.

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Review

 

I’ve also packed something new to my skincare regimen, the Shiseido IBUKI Multi-Solution Gel that helps diminish breakouts, roughness, dryness and the look of visible pores. The salicylic acid formula helps aid in oil reduction, getting down into the pores drying up the oil caused by the humidity while also treating the actual bacteria that cause pimples. Even though I can use the gel either under or over makeup, I love using the IBUKI Multi-Solution Gel mostly at night over my moisturizer.

Travel-Friendly Skincare for Warm and Humid Climates

Do you have any skin care tips or tricks you rely on for travel?

Check out Beauty and the Bump’s Travel Essentials here.