The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly (A Slew of Reviews in One Post)

I’ve tried so many new products lately, I haven’t had the time or energy to write full-fledged reviews about all of them. But I still wanted to let you know which ones rocked and which ones stunk, so I’m combining several reviews into one post. You’ll find everything here, from makeup to skincare to haircare.

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size: I got this on sale at Sephora for $20 (normally $30)–the same price as the standard Primer Potion. But this tube contains 150% of the original size’s product. Good deal. This really, truly is the best eye primer out there. It’s the only one I’ve ever tried that completely resists creasing and smudging, even after hours. It keeps shadows exactly where you apply them until you take off your makeup. Genius.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment (approx. $5-6): I’m not one of those people who loooooves Moroccanoil. It’s ok, but it doesn’t transform my hair–but I still use it to nourish my ends and protect my strands from heat styling. This new product is Garnier’s version of Moroccanoil. I noticed no difference between the two, and guess what? I’ll be buying this $6 version from now on (even though the bottle is huge, and it’ll probably last me forever). (Image via drugstore.com)

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer ($28): This is an excellent highlighter. It’s a creamy nude base with a slightly pink pearl. I’ve been mixing it with my BB cream to give my complexion a pretty glow. You can also use it as a highlighter on the high points of your face (cheekbones, brow bones, etc.) if you want to accent certain features. I really like this — a lot. (Image via Sephora)

There’s a whole lot more (6 more reviews) after the jump.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Sleek Finish 5-in-1 Serum Spray

I abuse my hair. I’ve been highlighting it since I was a teenager, and I unleash a barrage of heat styling tools–blowdryers, flat irons, curling irons–on it on a regular basis. So it’s easy to see why my hair has kind of lost its luster. It’s just not as shiny as it used to be. I’ve been longing to ditch the dullness and (unsuccessfully) always try to make it look as gleaming as it does when I leave the salon.

I was pretty psyched to see Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Sleek Finish 5-in-1 Serum Spray (approx. $6) on the shelf at my local drugstore. For a gloriously inexpensive price, this product promised to boost shine, tame frizz, calm flyaways, sleek-ify my strands, and keep humidity at bay. Plus, it was formulated with argan oil, which is known to nourish stressed strands. Not a bad deal, right?

Find out why I’m crazy about this product after the break.

Recession Beauty: Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector

I admit it: I love a bargain. Beauty on a budget isn’t always the easiest thing to maintain, as really stellar products tend to have high pricetags. But occasionally, a hard-working, standout product comes along that performs almost as well as its pricier counterparts.

Garnier Fructis Blow Dry Perfector is one of those high-performance, low-cost products (I think I paid something like $3.50 for it). The thick, rich lotion is meant to straighten hair — and keep it that way. And for me, it did just that. I barely even missed my Living Proof No Frizz or my Pureology Super Smooth Smoothing Elixir (and those are 2 products I cannot live without). It also contains argan oil to nourish your tresses and help them look sleeker.

But…there’s a catch.

Recession Beauty – Drugstore Beauty Finds, Part 3: Haircare

I’m so over shelling out cash for high-priced hair products that perform basically the same as drugstore versions (Living Proof No Frizz Straight Making cream being the exception). Why not get your haircare at the drugstore, and pocket the extra cash?

Here’s the lowdown on the top cleansers and stylers for your tresses.

Best Overall Shampoo & Conditioner:
Garnier Fructis Shampoo & Conditioner (approx. $4 each)
The best shampoo. Period. I use Color Shield every day, and it makes my hair look full of life. The UV filters protect color from fading and brassiness, and the conditioner is super-moisturizing. And it smells lovely. Depending on your needs, they have a plethora of formulas: Fortifying, Color Shield, Sleek & Shine, Wonder Waves, Triple Nutrition, Hydra Curls, Body Boost, Length & Strength, Moisture Works, and Anti-Dandruff. Whew! They’ve got you covered!

Best Treatment-Specific Shampoo & Conditioner:
Nexxus Dualiste Color Protection + Intense Hydration Shampoo & Conditioner ($11 each)
A double-chambered pump spouts out color-protecting and hydrating shampoos for a blend that keeps hair in tip-top shape. What I love most about color-preserving shampoos is that they are ultra-moisturizing, so anyone can use them, even ladies with non-colored hair. The only change you’ll notice is softer hair, which is great for everyone. This particular combo is incredibly moisturizing, and will prevent your color from fading. Also available in Color Protection + Anti-Breakage and Color Protection + Volume formulas.

Best Glaze:
John Freida Luminous Color Clear Shine Glaze ($10)
This salon-like glaze seals the hair shaft and provides the shiniest, glossiest locks you’ve ever had. Use it once or twice a week to boost shine and improve hair’s texture and appearance. Suitable for all hair shades.

Best Treatment:
Queen Helene Cholesterol Hot Oil Treatment ($4)
This inexpensive treatment is just what parched, breakage-prone hair ordered. The oil is packed with cholesterol, which is bad for your heart, but great for your hair. Warm the tube in the shower, smooth on oil from roots to ends, and leave it on for at least 5 minutes (the longer it soaks, the more it repairs). Rinse and shampoo/condition as usual. You’ll have soft, supple hair with less noticeable split ends and more body. It’s like a healthy injection for the hair shaft. Each box comes with 3 resealale tubes (no waste for girls with shorter hair).

Best Mask:
Garnier Fructis Fortifying Deep Conditioning 3-Minute Masque ($4)
This thick, rich cream penetrates deep into the hair shaft to perform maximum damage control in just 3 minutes. For ultimate damage defense, work this midway through hair to the ends, wrap in a warm towel, and let it soak for 15 minutes before rinsing. DO NOT apply this to roots; it can weigh hair down on top and make it flat. Use once a week for soft, shiny, stronger hair. Repeated use means more damage repair.

Best Leave-In Conditioner: 
Aveeno Nourish + Condition Leave-In Treatment ($6.50)
This gentle spray nourishes hair without weighing it down. You get extra hydration and protection without any heaviness, so hair is free to move and bounce.

Best Anti-Frizz Serum:
CitreShine Highly Laminating Anti-Frizz Serum ($7)
This serum zaps all frizz and imparts glossy, glass-like shine to tresses. It’s packed with vitamins and UV protectants to fortify hair and prevent sun damage. CitreShine just repackaged their products, so what you see in the drugstore may look different from the photo above, but it’s the same product.

Best Styling Cream:
Garnier Fructis Smoothing Milk ($4)
This creamy, citrus-scented formula absorbs quickly into hair, and help to hold your style while delivering the benefits of a leave-in conditioner. At the beach (in the most humid weather), I smooth this on my damp hair post-shower before straightening or curling; it keeps my naturally wavy hair locked in any style I choose for hours.

Best Pomade/Texturizer:
Sally Hershberger Wreck and Roll Texturizing Cream ($12)
The celebrity hairstylist’s eponymous line is just as good as her own hands. With this wax-like cream, creating piecey, shaggy, spiky, or undone-on-purpose styles is a piece of cake. Look like you just rolled out of bed — in a good way — with the dip of a finger.

Best Hairspray:
Herbal Essences Set Me Up Max Hold Hairspray ($4)
This stuff works. Hold it 10-12 inches from hair and mist to set soft styles like loose waves. Hold can about 8 inches from hair and spray liberally to lock updos and major styles in place for hours. Doesn’t flake, and doesn’t leave hair crunchy.

Best Curl Creator:
Samy Big Curls Curl Defining Cream ($6)
Soften your curls and zap frizz for a polished head full of expertly-crafted ringlets.

Best Mousse:
Aussie Aussome Volume Styling Mousse ($4)
Work this rich foam into damp hair for all-day volume that lasts. Great for girls with curly or wavy hair; it really pumps up ringlets. And for stick-straight ladies, this will give you voluminous body.

That concludes the Recession Beauty Drugstore Finds series! What are your favorite drugstore buys? Tell me in the comments!

In light of the economic downturn, Recession Beauty is a SugarSocial series that features low-cost, budget-friendly products as an alternative to luxury or designer brands.

The Joys of Wavy Hair

Meteorologists in the Philly metro area described today’s forecast as “raw and rainy” with high winds and pelting rain later in the afternoon. Last night, fresh from the gym and in desperate need of a shower, I was dreading straightening my hair. In the end, I succumbed to the waves.

Here’s the thing about wavy hair: it’s so in-between, it can be difficult to manage. It’s definitely not straight, but it’s not a cascade of bouncy ringlets either. So where do a lot of wavy tresses fall? In the sloppy, messy category.

My personal feelings about Gwyneth Paltrow aside, this is my single most favorite photo of wavy hair. This is the hair I dream of. I see it in magazines. I see it on the streets everywhere. In fact, the only place I don’t see it is on my own head. Which is why I rarely ever let my hair go au naturel.

Although it’s not the style I dream of, I have learned over the years to manage my wavy hair and keep it looking decent. After the jump, I share my tips with you in hopes that they’ll help you if you have wavy locks.

Recession Beauty: Garnier Fructis shampoos and conditioners

Of all the expensive salon shampoos and conditioners I’ve tried, I remain loyal to my absolute favorite brand: Garnier Fructis. I normally use the Color Shield line, which keeps my highlights bright — not brassy — and my long hair moisturized, even in the heat of summer. Seriously, I love fancy salon treatments, but this stuff is my hair miracle worker.

Aside from the great, citrusy (but not too fruity) smell, the product delivers on its promises. All of the lines deliver incredible hydration without weighing hair down or making it appear greasy. Choose from any of the lines (why not switch it up?) and you’re guaranteed a good hair day. In addition to my staple Color Shield, I like Sleek and Shine and new Triple Nutrition. I’m dying to try Wonder Waves for when I let my naturally wavy hair run loose. They even have an anti-dandruff formula to help those who deal with flakes.

In addition to the shampoos, conditioners, and moisture treatments, the styling products also rock. Their leave-in conditioner comes in a big round jar and only costs about $4 max. It will last forever. Talk about a deal! You never again have to feel guilty for buying awesome haircare products in a recession.

Their Hair 411 tool will assess your hair’s individual needs and help you to select which line is best for you. What could be easier?