When I started my blog five years ago (has it seriously been FIVE years?), I focused a lot on reviewing beauty products. My blog was new, and I was so excited to share products that I had been using for years and new ones I had discovered along the way.
I don’t try as many new products as I used to, but every once in awhile I find products worthy of sharing—and today I’m also sharing a few products that didn’t work out for me.
I ran out of my usual Suave dry shampoo right before my trip to San Francisco, so while there, Jen recommended I try the Big Sexy Hair dry shampoo. I picked some up at CVS and I really like it a lot. It goes on clear and has a nice scent. It also makes hair feel more textured and volumized. It’s pricier than Suave, but I don’t mind splurging once in awhile.
I made a video about this awhile ago, but I have chronic urticaria (hives), diagnosed by my dermatologist, and they are primarily induced by changing temperatures. I often break out in hives in very cold or hot weather. I typically use cheap razors, but I noticed that my skin would break out in hives immediately after I shaved and would be very irritated. I finally started to use the Schick Intuition razor in the pomegranate scent. It gives such a close shave but it’s so gentle. I get less nicks and my skin is less reactive when I use this razor, which is great, because when I break out in hives they itch and I sometimes ruin my skin scratching my legs. Totally worth the extra cost.
I shared this NouriShine lipgloss in my recent Mary Kay/Project Runway post (there’s still time to enter that giveaway here!) The color is called “au natural” and I wear it nearly every day. It’s neutral and looks great layered over any lip color as well as on its own.
When I reached into my makeup bag on the plane ride to SF to find some chapstick, I realized that I forgot to pack my MAC StudioFix powder foundation. I figured I’d stop at a drugstore and pick something up to use for the next few days, but there was a Body Shop at the airport so I ended up picking up their “all in one face base.” I don’t love it as much as my StudioFix, but it was nice on my skin and was easy to apply. I will say it doesn’t last as long as MAC’s version, but we were out and about in the sun all day so it’s hard to tell if that had an effect.
Last on my love list, I’m sharing the Hot Iron Holster, which has become an permanent fixture in my bathroom. I was contacted by the company and was sent one for review and I’m only sharing it because I truly love it. I get a lot of emails from companies asking me to review products, and to be honest, I’m not interested in 90% of them. If I can’t incorporate the product into my daily routine or see myself genuinely using it and wanting to share it with my readers, it’s not worth it for me, even if it’s free. I don’t like clutter, so accepting things just because they’re free isn’t my style. I want this to be a place where you can come for honest reviews. If I don’t like a product I am sent, I would send it back or simply not blog about it. That hasn’t happened more than once because I typically really look into products before I accept them to make sure they’re a good fit. Just wanted to clear that up!
The Hot Iron Holster is basically a silicone holster that attaches to your bathroom counter on its own. To remove, you just peel it off and can re-apply it anywhere. I love it because it keeps my hot tools off of my counter and stores them off to the side so that they’re easy to access but not in the way when they’re not in use. I just keep my curling iron plugged in and inside the holster and when I’m ready, I turn it on and wait for it to heat up.
Before I had the holster, I used to unplug my curling iron and store it on top of the 3-drawer unit tucked under our sink. I know this sounds lazy, but it was annoying to reach down and get it and plug it in. I much prefer having it in the holster. I can imagine this would be an amazing tool for hairstylists too. You don’t have to worry about your hot tools ruining it and it keeps them all easily-accessible in one place.
Now onto the products I didn’t love…
One of my co-workers told me about this Aveda product— i’s a damage remedy hair repair product. Her hair literally looks like gorgeous mermaid hair so I thought I couldn’t go wrong. It was just “meh” for me. I didn’t feel like my hair was smoother or more repaired and the texture of it was weird. I’m actually contemplating calling Aveda because it almost seemed as though my product had “broken down” somewhat or was on its way to expiry, which is odd, since I bought it at an actual Aveda store.
Though I’m absolutely obsessed with my Ojon shampoo, this oil was just so-so for me. I am using it as a smoothing serum on second or third day hair and it’s a little too heavy for what I need it for so I went back to my Frederick Fekkai Glossing Creme. Overall it was just a little too oily for me. I will likely use this as an overnight treatment now to infuse moisture into my hair since I know it’s so rich…so it may end up being a “like” after all, but not for the purpose I bought it for.
Sigh. I may be the only person on earth who doesn’t love Urban Decay’s Perversion mascara. I wanted to love it so badly, but since it’s not waterproof and the formula is very “wet,” it pretty much makes my lashes go completely limp and straight. I have lashes that don’t hold curl well, so I have to use a hairdryer on my eyelash curler to even keep the curl in. Waterproof mascaras are more dry and they help keep the curl in my lashes. This was too heavy/wet of a formula for me, but I know plenty who love it, so don’t be discouraged to try it if you have lashes that hold a curl well and typically use regular mascara with no issues.
Have a wonderful week!
FTC Disclosure: all items except for the mary kay lipgloss and hot iron holster were paid for with my own money. These are my honest opinions and I am not being compensated to review any of these items.
That holster is genius! Need one!
It's really awesome to have. You can also place your hot tools on the part that's stuck on your counter and it can protect your surfaces. It can fit more than one hot tool as well. Love it.
Another blogger wrote up on the Big Sexy Volumizing Dry Shampoo; I've been thinking of trying it. Now, it's a must!
I really wish I could use on of those holsters (genius!), but my counter is setup so it goes wall-to-wall, and if I hung it off the front it would cover a drawer. Shame. I know what you mean about it being a hassle to plug and unplug every day…I only use my blow dryer a couple times a week so I keep it in the cabinet, but when I have to get it out it's like…ugh… 🙂
I didn't really like the Perversion mascara either. For a product with such high claims, it really didn't do much for my lashes.
I didn't even realize that brand made a dry shampoo! I'm going to try it- I love suave but I really like the idea of dry shampoo going on clear. I haven't tried any Mary Kay products besides their moisturizer and foundation but their foundation is definitely worth trying too! I use it everyday.
Question for you…when you heat your eyelash curler, are you then using the curler before or after putting on mascara? Thank you!
always before— don't want to damage my lashes! I have a post about it here: https://veronabrit.blogspot.com/2012/11/transformative-beauty-curled-lash_19.html
that silicone holder thing is definitely on my "to-buy" list. i am always struggling to find a place to store / hold my hot tools!!
you will love it molly! I bet they would send you one to review, happy to share my contact 🙂
Isn't a free product a compensation???
It is not monetary compensation. I am paid monetarily for some sponsored posts (which I always indicate when that's the case), but I am very careful to only work with brands and choose campaigns that are a good fit for me and my readers (ie: I genuinely like or use the products or I liked and used the product before I was ever contacted by the company for a sponsored post).
Using this product as an example, it retails for $29-$39 depending on the size. So even though the company takes a "risk" by sending me a product (the risk being if I don't like it or don't blog about it), it is a very small price for them to pay (especially considering that their own cost to make the product is much lower than its retail cost).
When I share a product I genuinely love, whether it was gifted or not, there is much more benefit to the company than there is to me. If they generate even one sale because of a review I write, they continue to make money and I make zero other than being gifted a product with a fairly low retail value—and that's fine, I want to support businesses whose products I like, and I am happy to get a product for free that I get to enjoy.
I want to help good businesses grow—that's why I support a lot of etsy shops too. It's not about what I can gain—I just want to share what I like with my readers.
Need to get one of those holsters, that would be so useful. I am always paranoid of burning things on my desk!
https://writtenbymexoxo.blogspot.co.uk
Mostly I love that it keeps it neatly tucked away 🙂
OH I love that Silicone Holder. What a genius idea. Plus the flat portion that rest on the counter top acts as a safe place to sit your hot tools while in use. The Pervision I have not tried….. I don't have an interest in wet mascaras and it didn't seem to capture my interest. BTW I follow you on Instagram and Harper is just the most precious little girl.
Thank you for your honest posts.
thanks for your comment! 🙂 yeah the flat portion is great because it protects your counters from your hot tools 🙂
That holster is amazing and I must try the dry shampoo! Thanks for the review!
you are welcome, have a great weekend!
I'm guessing you don't let Harper in the bathroom while you're getting ready? I let my little guy in there so I have to keep my hot tools on the counter away from him. I used to love the Aveda product you reviewed and it's actually always like that (runny texture). I have somewhat recently switched to the AG hair cosmetics repair serum and like it a lot better. Plus the company is women-owned and cruelty-free! You can buy it at Ulta or on amazon.
I NEED that hot iron holster!