Greetings, dear readers! It's been a few weeks since posting to my blog, but I am going to attempt to get things going back to business as usual. That's so much easier said than done given everything that is currently going on in the world and being personally affected, but my blog is my outlet and my distraction; I need it more now than ever at this time. It's funny that I had finally got my routine worked out where I could post on a regular schedule, but life sometimes just have to throw a curveball your way! I'm not really sure how my schedule is going to work out now that I've got my kids at home with me to teach, but I will do the best I can to keep posting here on my blog. I'm hoping having beauty content can be a distraction for you as well while it feels like the world is falling apart! Initially, I didn't feel "right" posting beauty content as it seemed so frivolous given the severity of life right now, but I have come to realize that this is exactly what some of us need, myself included, to help get through these trying times. With that, let's get into today's post!
I'm coming at you a little later than I would have liked, but today's post is about the products I loved throughout the month of March. It was a bit of an odd month for me beauty-wise as I found I didn't really wear much makeup and my hair became my main focus. That said, I still had a couple non-hair items I enjoyed a lot as well. Let's get a closer look at my picks for the month of March!
March was a rather wet and rainy month for us, and for me, that means the return of curly hair! My hair normally is slightly wavy, but add some humidity and it is ready to rock some crazy curls when left to its own devices. I used to hate it, but over the past few years, I have really embraced and learned to love my curls when my locks get a wild hair.
I happened to pick up this shampoo and conditioner set on a whim on a fairly recent trip to Ulta, and I am so glad I did! I've not exactly been the best about purchasing the best quality shampoo for my hair, and while the cheap stuff technically works, I know I should step it up and do more for my hair. I've been wanting to step away from sulfates and parabens in my haircare routine, all while keeping at a relatively affordable price, and the Hask brand in particular was one of the suggestions in one of my Facebook beauty groups.
Why I love it:
When faced with the selection of Hask Beauty products at my local Ulta store, I settled for this one quickly because of the smell. Obviously this isn't the most important aspect of a shampoo and conditioner, but I'm not going to use the best shampoo ever if it smells terrible! The Shea Butter & Hibiscus Oil duo fragrance is a delicious marriage of warmth and spice with a kiss of light florals. I'm generally not fond of overly floral scents, but this one is fantastic! Little did I know what I bought it that I would really get to test out the anti-frizz claims! I normally wash my hair every 3 days, and I was rather impressed with how smooth this made my hair! Yes, I still did have a little wave when left to air dry, and yes, I did still end up with curls on the humid days, but I was really impressed with how controlled my waves and curls looked after using this duo. There were definitely days when using any additional hair products did not happen, particularly when my hair was freshly washed, and my curls held up like a champ! I'm a little nervous about the current lack of availability on Ulta's website, but here's hoping that is temporary and I'll be able to purchase more when these run out!
The So Cozy brand may technically be designed for kids, but that won't stop me from trying out some of their products. I've actually used this particular hair product in the past, both on myself and on my now 7-year old. He was born with a head-full of hair that grew into the most beautiful curls! While I originally got my first tube of this to try on his hair, I started using it myself and loved it. I admittedly forgot about it after finishing up the first bottle thanks to my ever-growing hair product collection, but I was reintroduced when I stopped at Target for pull-ups for my youngest. I remembered loving it a few years ago and had to pick up another bottle!
Why I love it:
The consistency of this product is truly somewhere between a cream and a gel, and I am living for it! As much as I have enjoyed creams from other brands, I often find them to be just a little too thick and heavy, especially when I want my hair to live up to its curly potential. The So Cozy Curl Gel-Cream, on the other hand, is a little thinner, giving your hair the moisturizing and smoothing benefits of a cream without weighing it down. It also offers the better hold you would get from a gel product without that often felt stickiness. It truly is the best of both worlds! Because this was designed with kids in mind, it also doesn't have the sulfates and phthalates we should be limiting alongside other chemicals and potential allergens. Thankfully the allergen issue doesn't apply to me and my family, but I do know of a few moms that have to be mindful of their own haircare products because of the potential exposure to their kids. The fragrance is also nice: it has a light vanilla plus orange blossom fragrance with a touch of honey. While present, I don't find it to be too strong or overpowering for my sensitive nose and really don't smell it at all in my own hair.
* Gifted Sample
March was not a makeup month for me overall, but that didn't stop me from sporting a little pop of colour on my lips. If I don't have on some foundation, I don't like to wear a lot of pigment on my lips. Tinted lip balms are definitely the way for me to go, and I particularly enjoy this one from Doubledown Cosmetics!
Why I love it:
This lip balm is cruelty-free, paraben-free, and gluten-free, so that's already off to a great start! I really like the flattering red hue, and I am particular fond that it is buildable for more colour payout if wanted. Some lip balms are just too waxy or have too high of an oil content, making them impossible to build up, unless you want a thick, waxy mess, of course. This tinted lip balm, on the other hand, is a little drier to allow buildup without feeling to drying on your lips. It really is a fantastic formulation! It also has peppermint oil, so it has a slight plumping effect on your lips, but it is overall light and still very comfortable. While I can smell the peppermint, I only notice the slightest cooling sensation, unlike the intense cooling-to-burning feeling of other peppermint oil-infused lip products. If you want a lip balm that really plumps up your pout, this one may not be enough for you; ultimately that would depend on how sensitive you are to peppermint oil in general. If you are looking for the perfect moisturizing daily-wear lip balm, this may be just what you are looking for!
* Gifted Sample
I had the pleasure of taking part in an Arizona nail fan meetup at Rogue brand owner Rachel's house earlier this year and left with this brush-on cuticle oil. I had been wanting to try the Nailixir line as I have heard god things about it, but with a rather substantial cuticle oil collection already, it sadly hasn't happened until now. All this hand washing has been hard on my hands, and I have been going through lotions and cuticle oils like crazy! I still had others open and in use, I spied this baby on my dresser and opted to pop it open and give it a go.
Why I love it:
The first thing you'll notice about this cuticle oil, after the application method, is the smell, and whoa baby, am I a fan! I had to ask Rachel details on it as describing scents just isn't my forte. Inspired by Canadian beaver tails, specifically the puff pastry Killaloe sunrise, this scent is a blend of cinnamon buns and sweet lemons. I find the cinnamon to be the most present aspect of this blend, but I can tell it is cut down with something to keep it from being too intense. The result is spicy and a little sweet, and it sure if giving me comfort during these crazy days! I'm generally not a fan of smelling like baked goods, but this combination is appealing to me and makes me want to attempt to create the inspiration! As for the cuticle oil itself, I am digging the formulation. The brush applicator allows for precise application that is absorbed quickly into the skin. If I apply with a heavier hand, I can rub it in for quicker absorption. I don't have to wait long until I can move on to another activity and haven't had to worry about oils getting where I don't want them. I like that it is composed of good oils that I love for my skin: grapeseed oil, avocado oil, almond oil, and jojoba oil alongside Vitamin E. The only hard part will be deciding what fragrance I want to use next when this one runs out!
And that, dear readers, concludes my beauty product picks for the month of March! It's still early, but April so far isn't shaping up to be much of a makeup month either. At this time, I've had to both put together curriculum and teach my kids since their schools haven't given us anything to go on, but that should be changing here soon. Hopefully that means I can have a little more time for me to wear more makeup again. Putting my contacts aside in favor of glasses has stymied my creativity, but perhaps this is the month I push past it. Only time will tell, and that certainly is something I have on my hands now!
Have you tried any of these products? If so, I'd love to hear what you think of them! Also, I'd love to hear what products you have been enjoying this month!
Have you tried any of these products? If so, I'd love to hear what you think of them! Also, I'd love to hear what products you have been enjoying this month!
Until next time, dear readers, have a wonderful day!
XO!
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