I’m a huge fan of Instanatural products having tried a few of the products they offer in the past and still continuing to use some of them. Recently I have been using their Age Defying Skin Clearing Serum for flawless and youthful skin and here are my thoughts on this product.
Retailing for about $38.00 (currently on sale on Amazon for about $24.00), this serum includes 1 fl oz worth of product and comes in a pretty attractive dropper type bottle. With 20% Vitamin C, this formula contains professional strength ingredients to offer a powerful antioxidant that repairs damaged skin and protect against future damage. Like some of my favorite Vitamin C serums, this product also contains Hyaluronic Acid which helps to boost the skin’s ability to retain moisture – which is important for my dry skin. Together these two ingredients work well to renew skin and reduce the signs of aging to include wrinkles, fine lines and hyper-pigmentation. This particular serum is a gentle formula and suitable for all skin types – even oily skin and glides on smoothly, absorbs quickly and won’t irritate or burn your skin. Made in the USA & Cruelty Free, this serum does not contain harmful ingredients such as alcohol, parabens and sulfates.
Used in combination with my normal skin care products, I apply this serum at night to help rejuvenate and soothe my skin and prep it for the next day. This serum is not too heavy – liquid like in texture with very little scent. It applies nicely and soaks into the skin quickly allowing me to be able to apply my other skin care products shortly after. Like any of the vitamin c type serums I use or have used, I have noticed similar results but I love using this product in combination with my favorites because it works just as well if not better.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I have been told before that I am often at the end of hair envy from friends and family members, but like I’ve said in previous posts – I really did not embrace my crazy curly and long hair until a few short years ago. Gone are the days of continuous heat to keep my hair straight in order to keep it down and now while I still love wearing my hair in a bun, I try to keep it down and long as much as possible. But the upkeep of long hair is difficult and sometimes takes a toll on me and my ever evolving hair regimen. Recently I dove into the hair supplement trend, testing out different products to see if they would meet my expectations. Over the last year I have tried several different hair growth and rejuvenating supplements and I’m not gonna lie, they all have definitely improved the texture and overall appearance of my hair. Over the last month my most recent test has been with the Hair La Vie Revitalizing Hair Blend and I’ve been pretty impressed so far with the results.
Formulated with all-natural ingredients to help repair and stimulate your hair’s growth from the inside out, Hair La Vie retails for $39 for a 30 day supply. If you are looking to purchase more at any given time, they do offer discounted rates for more bottles. La Muse’s Hair La Vie encourages hair repair and growth with it’s 16 all natural clinically proven ingredients that helps damaged, thinning and balding of your natural hair. Suggested use is to take 2 capsules daily with meals – one in the morning and one in the evening. The pills are a little larger than I like, so splitting them up and taking one capsule at a time really does make a difference.
Each capsule or the bottle when you open it up does have a scent to it (like that of vitamins) so if you are a bit sensitive to smell, you definitely want to keep that in mind. They are easy to swallow which makes it easy to take and I like that they are made in the USA.
How Hair La Vie Works
Our special blend of antioxidants starts nourishing and cleansing your scalp by combining our vitamins B2, B3 and B6 with Pantothenic acid. Next, we repair damaged follicles and roots with B1, folic acid, organic kelp powder and Saw Palmetto berry powder. Our MSM, vitamin A, horsetail herb powder and hydrolyzed collagen work together to help strengthen your hair and protect the cortex.
Hair La Vie includes key ingredients: Vitamin A, Biotin, Folic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, B Complex Vitamins, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3 and B6, Pantothenic Acid, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), Kelp (Organic Kelp Extract), Saw Palmetto Berries, Horsetail (Equisetum Arvense) Herb, Bamboo Stem & Leaf Extract, Flax Seed Oil Powder and Borage Oil Powder.
Like most vitamin supplements, there is a slight after taste if you take too long to swallow the pill – though since I take vitamins on a daily basis – this did not affect me much. I definitely suggest swallowing quickly and make sure you take this pill with a good amount of water.
The photos above are provided to show the progress of this product over the last month. The one on the left was taken a few years ago, the one in the middle take about two weeks ago and the one on the right taken about two weeks ago as well. A few years ago after the birth of my twins, while I always have had thinner hair near the temples of my hair line, it was quite noticeable. Two weeks ago I took the other two photos and loved that I could see in the photos that my hair was thickening in that area as well as not looking so sparse. While I do attribute to the fact that I have been keeping up with my hair regimens and supplements over the last year – I wanted to note that these products have all contributed to my hair being thicker in those areas. I also love that I can see little hair in the hair line growing which makes it exciting to watch as it fills in.
Heredity, age, environment, hormones and even environment are contributors to thinning hair, lack of hair growth or even lack luster hair and sometimes everyone needs a little boost. Hair La Vie products help your hair from inside your body – but I also find that the vitamins help your body as well. My hair receives damage from being dyed and colored often but also because of my environment, past pregnancies and the fact that I can be a little more brutal on my hair than I should be. These supplements have helped to strengthen my hair, minimize breakage and while I haven’t noticed much length, it definitely has helped in regrowth of hair in areas where I had been thinning. What I love is that I haven’t noticed ANY additional or rapid growth in other areas of my body… i.e. Legs, underarms, facial hair or brows. All of those areas that would normally start growing faster with supplements actually didn’t grow any faster than its normal growth rate – MAJOR PLUS.
Every La Muse product comes with a 90 day money back guarantee. Also available to you for purchase from La Muse besides Hair La Vie is their Phyto Cera Cermide Capsules for skin and Certified Organic Moroccan Oil.
Have you tried a hair supplement before? What are you thoughts on using supplements in the process to hair growth or making your hair healthier?
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Taming my already long and curly hair is a task all its own and sometimes too much of a fuss to deal with… but it’s my hair and I have to make do. Recently I was sent some fun gadgets to play with and incorporate into my hairstyle routine and I’ve been having some fun testing them out. As a child of the 80’s some of these brought back a few memories and also a few ideas in how I could incorporate these into styles I like to wear often today. I introduce you to the Whirl A Style Ponytail Extender and 6″ ponytail elastic.
The Fashion Obsessed Ponytail Extender (1.5 Inches) retails for $15.00 for one piece. I received the hot pink color and have been using this particular product to help me create a quick messy and large bun (similar to a sock bun). This extender comes in a variety of colors and sizes so you can pick and choose what works best for you.
The 6″ Ponytail Elastics retails for $10.00 for a pack of three hair elastics. These are perfect for those that are looking for an elastic that does not pull on the hair and is easy to remove.
It’s no secret that I am a bun wearer… I will wear a bun every day of the week if it means that my hair will be out of my face. Because of that, I have been enjoying using the Ponytail extender for just that purpose. The ponytail extender was developed to add structure and thickness to your ponytail. It offers a texturized surface to grip your hair and has a unique patented design that keeps your ponytail from falling out. It is a non-latex product made in the USA.
To create a high pony tail and to use the extender to create a volumized pony tail, I first added a pony elastic to hold my hair in place and then took the ponytail extender and attached it to my hair. Simply wrap the extender around the base of your ponytail and secure by taking the black elastic and attach to the button like closure on the opposite side.
Since I wanted to go for a bun look. I simply took my hair and wrapped it around the ponytail extender then secured in place with any bobby pins if I needed to. While the ponytail extender is in place and not budging, it doesn’t add extra pressure to my head and doesn’t cause me headaches like a bun tool may cause. It’s lightweight and I don’t even notice I have it on most of the time.
The 6″ ponytail elastics are fun and great for me when I braid my hair as it allows me to secure my braid without tugging or pulling and removing the elastic is as easy as releasing the little ball and presto, it’s opened. I have been trying to use these elastics to hold a ponytail for me but if I’m looking for a tight hold, these are a little too small for my thick and curly hair.
Because of my thick/curly hair, the elastics will only go around the base of my hair once, leaving my ponytail a little looser than I would like. However, these have been a godsend for my hair when I’m braiding them or securing small sections of hair. I love that they do not pull, tug or yank on my hair and removing them is so simple and doesn’t cause any pain or hair loss while doing so. These hair elastics pop open whle in the ponytail to release the elastic, which I really like. They grip tightly and won’t pull hair out and they don’t stretch. These are especially safe for hair extensions since there will be no tugging when removing them and the rubber texture is soft and slides nicely against the hair.
Overall I think these are pretty cool inventions. I will need to order larger size Ponytail elastics since the 6″ ones do not allow me to secure a normal ponytail due t my thick and curly hair. I love the fact that these do not tug or pull on my hair, which is a big bonus since many elastic type hair ties will do so causing my hair to get stuck in them. The Ponytail extender is definitely a great tool for those looking to rock out a high ponytail and I love using it as the base for my buns. I have been playing with more ideas so when I have them nailed down, I’ll be sure to update on my progress on different hairstyles I’ve been able to utilize these in. I do think they are well made, very durable in my opinion and I like that they come in different colors. Seeing as none of these products cause any headaches while using them, which is a bonus, I’m pretty impressed. The only thing that would make me do a double take in purchasing these would be the cost of the item. While they are well made and I think definitely worth the cost because of the fact that they are gentle on hair, I think that if you didn’t try the product first… the cost may steer you away from purchasing the product. I do however, recommend these. If you have curly hair like I do – you know how difficult it is to find a hair tie that will not cause problems with your hair, these work really well.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
I am addicted to glitter and sparkle. Don’t get me wrong, I am the biggest tomboy you would have ever encountered, but there is something about a sprinkle of glitter that makes you feel like you can conquer the World. I know you agree, lol. Glitter flows through my veins and you can find it in a variety of things through out my beauty arsenal – including my nail polish stash. Today I bring to you gorgeous nail polishes by Alter Ego Nail Polish, an Indie brand.
Alter Ego offers glittery and sparkly nail polishes for any taste. Ranging in shades and affordable for your pocket book, these gorgeous goodies are favorites of celebrity manicurists and nail junkies because they only require one coat for complete coverage and dry to a semi-matte finish. These polishes are long lasting and I love that they give my nails a stronger feel. The shades are formaldehyde, toluene and DBP free, Vegan and never tested on animals. This cruelty free brand has certainly stolen my nail polish lovin’ heart.
Alter Ego Plumber, two coats – no top coatAlter Ego Plumber with Top Coat. Accent Nail is Alter Ego Vintner
Plumber is a gorgeous blue hued lavender with fuchsia and purple glitter. Vintner is a gorgeous glitter with a blend of hex and circle glitters. Colors include purple, green, pink and a soft purple hued mixture.
Alter Ego – Rows Her Boat with 2 coats, no top coat.Alter Ego’s Row Her Boat in two coats with top coat
Row Her Boat is probably my favorite out of the four. We all know I love Purple and Teal and this one has gold in it… hello, major crush. This gorgeous shade has little gold sparkle in it that gives it a really nice effect whether with or without top coat.
Alter Ego Well Read, two coats – no top coat.Alter Ego Well Read, two coats with top coat
Well Read is a pink toned red with micro silver shimmer. While this is not a shade I would gravitate to on my own, I really enjoyed using this shade and thought it was gorgeous. I definitely think this shade looks better with a top coat, but to each his own.
These gorgeous polishes can be found on Gloss48 and are sold in duos for $14.00 (currently on sale – retail $17.00). Pick the colors you want and have some fun with the finish of each one or add your top coat to give it that polished off look. I will admit that I never used a polish with this type of finish or texture before, but I really like how strong my nails felt with the lacquer on. My nails felt like I had a layer of gel coat and they were quite strong. I have my eyes on a few more shades and can’t wait to order them.
Have you tried or heard of Alter Ego Nail Enamels before? What is your favorite Indie Nail polish brand?
Products mentioned in this post were sent to me for consideration and review. I was not paid to provide this post and all opinions are my own.
Yes, another skincare serum review… you know I’m addicted to this stuff right? Over the last month I have been including the Yalmeh Vitamin C + Vitamin E…
For a few months now since the original sneak peaks were released, I have been anticipating the Lorac Mega Pro Palette going on sale. I stayed up most…
I absolutely love colored hair and this is no secret considering that I have had my hair dyed every single color of the rainbow. A few years ago I couldn’t go a month without sporting a new shade of red or purple or any color in between. But, after trying to embrace my “natural” hair, I stopped bleaching or stripping my hair of color and stopped with the bright bold shades. Of course, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like them anymore, it’s just that I was noticing my hair was not as strong or as silky and shiny as it used to be so I decided to make a choice to change how I treated my tresses. Having tried temporary hair color, chalking and other things, I was quite interested to see if Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup would offer me great temporary color for those days where I’m feeling I need a little color in my life. Here’s my thoughts on my use of this product.
Purple Riot, Rebel Without a Coral (both of which I have tried), Red-Y To Rock, Gilty As Charged, Punked Up Pink. Each canister can retail anywhere from $19.00 to $25.00 depending on where you purchase the product and should be found at most salons or beauty supply stores that sell Redken products.
Using the product is very easy… So easy that it will be a great addition to anyone looking to add color to their hair for Halloween or for the holiday trends. After choosing the color you are interested in you can go ahead and start the process. Make sure your hair is clean or day-after hair so the product will adhere well to your tresses.
Prime the product by shaking the canister well. Remove the cap and take off the little black plug that is on the white tip. Push the sponge onto the white tip and make sure it is secure. Twist the cap in the direction of the arrows until the tip is saturated with color.
Divide your hair into sections that will make it easier for you to work with. Pull each section taut and apply the color in a smooth sweeping motion. Start off applying a light layer and then add on more layers to build the color intensity.
Let your hair air dry (about 10 minutes) or blow dry for faster results. After applying the color, keep your combing and brushing to a minimum so you do not break up the color pigment.
I divided my hair into four sections and only applied the color to the bottom of my hair to create an ombre type look. Applying the color was simple and quick so if you are looking to add some color before a night out on the town or a big Halloween party or other, this is quick and effortless. After the application, my hair felt like it had a bunch of hairspray in it… it had a crispy/crunchy like texture and felt a little sticky. The first day I used the product (before my first shampoo), the color was very vibrant and you could see the color easily in or outdoors.
After applying Redken Color Rebel to my hair in the colors Purple Riot and Rebel Without a Coral. This photo was taken 15 minutes after applying the color.
While the application was easy and I would use this product again if I needed to add some color, I did not like the way my hair felt – even after my first and second shampoo. The Color Rebel Hair Makeup will last in your hair on average 2 shampoos depending on the quantity applied and the porosity of your hair.
My hair color after one shampoo, hair mask and conditioning.
After washing my hair three times – shampoo and conditioner and in two cases a hair mask, I still have some color left on my ends. The parts of my hair that I colored remained stiff and dry and felt like straw until the third wash and some portions that still have color feel dry. My hair also tangled really badly (after the first and second wash) and it took me a long time to untangle my hair. My hair doesn’t tangle as bad as it did with the product but I think the product made the ends of my hair so dry that it caused it to consistently tangle on its own. The color made my hair brittle and after washing my hair it still felt like I had hairspray in my hair after it had dried. I did an all over color with a dark brown/black shade about a month ago and I also notice that on the places where I added the Coral shade, it stripped some of the color I had so those ends are lighter and show the blonder side of my hair.
Overall – I would use this product again because I liked the effect it gave my hair and allowed me to use a product that was quick with big color payoff. However, I did notice that I had to do a lot of damage control, adding both hair masques and oil treatments to bring back the soft silky feeling that my hair once had. Even after three washes, a few strands that still had color are still rough and coarse. I think using this product for me is a bit of trial and error. While I did really enjoy the color, I wish I could figure out how to use it so my hair was not so dry, brittle and coarse after use. There is a possibility that my hair is just too fine to use products such as these, but I’m not sure.
If you have tried this product before, definitely let me know your thoughts on it. If you have had any similar experience with temporary colors like these, I would love to know how you dealt with the hair issues I did.
Products mentioned in this post were provided to me by Brandbacker for review. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide a review.
I always enjoy learning about new products coming out in the beauty industry or testing out brands I have never heard of before, so I was quite ecstatic to…
