Lipsense Dupes

here's a link to my youtube video if you'd rather watch that instead of read this.

don't know what lipsense is? here's the link to that video.

but basically all of you should know what lipsense is by now (incase you don't here's the quick rundown: it's a molecularly bonded liquid lipstick that doesn't smear, transfer, bleed, feather, smudge, no matter what you do for the entire day, you can eat, swim, kiss, even wash your face and it ain't goin' nowhere till you purposefully take it off.-if applied correctly-) but what you probably didn't know is that there are dupes for them at the drugstore!

yes, i said DRUGSTORE DUPES.

here they are:



i made an entire video where you see me apply one of these colors to my lips, and i give my review, plus swatch each of the colors i own on my arm. (and it's under 10 minutes long!) you can view that here.

but, i wanted to include some more information here on the blog that i didn't share on the video.

mostly, the pro's and con's:

also, here's a picture of the swatches up close.

from top to bottom:
-covergirl 512 "coral sunset"
-covergirl 555 "blossom berry"
-maybelline 070 "on and on orchid"
-maybelline 005 "everlasting wine"
-loreal 101 "rose tattoo"
-loreal 117 "permanent blush"
-loreal 119 "neverending nutmeg"
-loreal 213 "continual crimson"
-rimmel 200 "i'll call you"

and here are those same swatches 2 days later. 2 DAYS. you read that right. and i obviously showered, and washed my hands frequently in those two days. plus, i'm a hairdresser, so my hands are wet constantly from hair washing. and granted, that's an arm swatch, so they wear differently on the lips, but still. two days??

Favorite Find(s) Friday

It's been a HOT minute since i've written about a "favorite find friday" (which is a series i started about 4 years ago. haha!) but i have a few things i want to share and today just happens to be a friday so why not!?!

1.R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo this guy is a little pricey ($22.48) compared to my other favorite (Batiste which is usually around 7.00) BUT... after my friend said that it has lasted her for months and months i figured it was worth a shot. GUYS!!! no white cast. NONE. so, those of you that don't like that about batiste, or have dark hair need to get this! it smells amazing and works great and i will keep you updated about how long it really lasts!

2. this front door. i die.

3. we got this light for above our kitchen island and i'm in love! it's a statement piece without being overbearing. it's modern, and unique, and sleek and sexy and i'm just all heart eyes over here. plus, it's cheaper than most of the other options we were considering because you usually need more than one pendant light above an island, but this guy really long so it's all we needed for our larger than average island! pictures of it installed in our new kitchen soon to come!!

4. this tumbler has been my ever constant companion ever since my bff gave it to me for my birthday a few months ago. i have some Stainless Steel Drinking Straws coming in the mail because im a sucker for things that match, and you know... it will look cute. haha! i only use mine for water, but it keeps the ice all day long so i bet it would be great for sodas or smoothies. hot chocolate, or coffee. you know. anything.

5. this beautiful unique abstract painting that i wish was in my house right this second.

6. our about page for the blog. cause, i worked so hard on it, and it's finally updated and seriously i think it's cute and funny, and worth writing here on this list so you all know about it. :)

you wanna know what's NOT my favorite... picking out a back splash for our kitchen. it's the next step in our remodel and i cannot pick out what i want for the life of me. i want something that would fit in our mid-century modern kitchen, but i also want it to be unique, and sorta quirky, and inexpensive, and basically i have made too many decisions so far through this process that my brain has decided to quit on me now that we are almost done. any suggestions or ideas in the comments box below would be much appreciated.

A Hairstylist's Favorite...

Everyone has heard of the Wet Brush by now, and if you haven't... crawl out from under your rock and click that link and buy one right now. they are super cheap, and EVERY hairstylist at my salon uses one, not by force, but because it is truly the best. there are tons of reviews online, but i will add my review to the mix and say that the skinny long bristles help so much with detangling without pulling out hair, the bristles are long enough to brush your hair in one section, yet still flexible and soft enough not to cause any damage or scratching to the scalp. (which is crucial for us in the salon before we do any sort of chemical treatments or colorings.) plus, the biggest thing of all... my daughter loves it and if you have kids then you know that's saying something.

it's one of those brushes that you don't think or realize it's going to be as AMAZING as everyone says once you get it, and first start using it, it really looks just like a normal brush. But after you go on vacation and have to use your friends hair brush because you forgot to pack yours and put your hair through the torture you once did as a daily activity... you finally truly understand what is so amazing about it.

BUT that is not why i am here today. i'm actually here to talk about the wet brush's little sister The Shine Brush

i was at an event last night with some other bloggers and i started talking with Kayti from the BeYOUty Bureau, and as i was recommending this brush to her, a crowd slowly started to form around us and i started recommending it to all these girls that had never heard of it before. for some reason i don't hear anyone talk about the shine brush. it is just a bit more expensive than the wet brush. and while the wet brush can be used for basically any of your hair brushing needs, (detangling immediately out of the shower, daily brushing, use with blow dryer, etc) the shine brush has only one use, but by golly it's a good one. this brush was made to be paired with DRY SHAMPOO. which as we all know, is a growing trend and a passion of mine (or else i wouldn't have written this 21 product review about it. haha) so here's the deal...

dry shampoo usually has two problems: 1: sometimes it leaves a white cast, if using the wrong dry shampoo for your hair type, or over-spraying product. 2: the natural oils from your scalp don't travel down the mid-shaft and ends, and leaves your ends dry-er and more straw like as each day passes.

this brush remedies both of those problems. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

The Shine Brush has two types of bristles, the long skinny plastic ones we know and love from the wet brush, AND smaller boar bristle brushes that only go part way up the length of the plastic bristles. this does a few things, 1: the boar bristles absorb any extra dry shampoo, or "white cast" that is left behind,  2: using the natural oils from your scalp, as you brush your hair the boar bristles carry those oils down your hair shaft and to your ends to help hydrate and naturally adds shine to where you want it (at your mid-shaft and ends), and away from where you don't (at your root) 3. because the plastic bristles are also in this brush, it makes brushing so much easier than a typical boar bristle brush and your able to grab hold of bigger sections of hair instead of just brushing the very top of your hair like what usually happens with a normal boar bristle brush. -if you have ever used a boar bristle brush then you know what im talking about, if you haven't used one before, just be glad.-

one tip: don't use the shine brush with wet hair, it will get the boar bristles wet, which will defeat their purpose, and unlike the wet brush, it's not meant to be used with wet hair. like i said, there's really only one use, brush your hair with the shine brush before and after applying dry shampoo to both pull oils down your hair shaft, and remove excess product from your application of dry shampoo. (although i don't recommend using the shine brush with wet hair, it can be used with damp hair while you are blow drying to add even more shine)

Just so you know... Amazon has a deal where you can buy a set of each below for only 17 dollars!