*~~~~ (1/5)

Pros:

-soft bristles

-good sized handle (perfect for contouring)

Cons:

-poorly made & handle is not secured well (My brush literally fell apart the FIRST time I used it – not a good first impression!)

-bristles were not all going in the right direction and seemed very sparse

-too expensive for an item of such poor quality

The slogan for Posh brushes, on the package of my brush reads,”You could purchase a more expensive make-up brush-but not a better one!” This is FALSE in my opinion, at least in terms of the Angle Blush Brush. If you are looking for a quality angled blush brush, check out the Sephora brand brushes, I know they sell at least two different ones and I love both of them! You should definitely avoid the Posh Angled Brush because it is a waste of money and poor quality. This experience with Posh brushes will most likely result in me staying away from this brand altogether & you should too! :)

-Katie xo

****½ (4.5/5)

Korres Mango Butter Lipstick in Peach 18 ($18 on Sephora.com and korresusa.com)

An amazing product! Korres Mango Butter Lipstick makes wearing lipstick enjoyable which seems to be a difficult endeavor. The lipstick goes on smoothly. It has a great consistency – smooth and shimmery but not drying. The product independently creates a colorful shine. With SPF 10, it is a perfect beach pick.  In terms of the shade, Peach18  is perfect for summer and it is a universally flattering hue. A deep blend of coral and watermelon with bits of gold shimmer complement a great range of looks. This lipstick is a great investment in your makeup collection!

****½ (4.5/5)

Korres Lip Butter Pomegranate – $8.00 on sale at Sephora. I also like to use this product as a blush – use your middle finger to pick up some of the butter and then dab it on your cheeks. It will seriously look like you just worked out for an hour. Love it! So pretty and healthy!

I will  be repurchasing both of these products – even if they are at the normal price… :)

-Katie x0

P.S. My awesome experience with korres led me to purchase more of their products: primer, tinted moisturizer & bronzer – I will review each soon!

Why do you put yourself at risk for health issues and other unfavorable outcomes by using shampoo? Well, I like to think that it is because you have been conditioned (hah, no pun intended) to think that you NEED shampoo to make your hair clean. False! The lather that your shampoo creates is not solely responsible for cleaning your hair. You actually help the cleansing process along by massaging your scalp and rubbing your hair between your fingers. So when you replace your shampoo with a conditioner, preferably an organic one, you will be making a great choice.

So the concept is simple and it is likely something that you will be able to experience for free. Start off co-washing by swearing off shampoo, at least give it a week or so. Use your current conditioner in the shower to wash your hair. Make sure you use the conditioner in the same way that you would a shampoo – massage it around your scalp and rinse it well. Follow up with more of the same conditioner. Let the product sit for a few minutes while you do whatever else you must while you are in the shower. Rinse with cool water and enjoy!

I love co-washing. I think you will too!

xo Katie

p.s. Renpure conditioners work really well with co-washing. : )

Renpure organics shampoo and conditioner was an impromptu purchase at Harmon’s recently. I am trying to reduce my dependence on shampoos and conditioners that are laden with parabens, sulfates and harmful chemicals. A series of bright bottles caught my eye and I was delighted to see organic in the title of the brand! I popped open the top – sometimes these products can smell too earthy for me – but I was pleasantly surprised & impressed with the summery, fruity scent. I purchased three bottles (they were thankfully on sale!). I use A LOT of conditioner, about 2x as much shampoo I use – so I purchased two conditioners and one shampoo.

The moisturizing shampoo had a catchy tagline – “my pretty hair is parched.” So I bought this & the matching conditioner. Both products are fabulous. The shampoo is moisturizing but does not leave any type of unwanted sheen/oil on the hair. I use it every other day. Additionally, it smells awesome! It is definitely a great pick for the summer. I have incredibly tangly hair and this conditioner does a good (not great) job of detangling but in the defense of Renpure Organics, I have yet to find a great, organic, detangling conditioner.

I also purchased body & shine “i love my hair” conditioner which seems to be VERY similar to the moisturizing conditioner. I truly notice little difference – both work well, smell great and leave the hair soft & .:sigh:. nourished.  : )

Check out this brand if you happen to come across it! Otherwise, check out their website: http://www.renpure.com/. Their section on chemical exposure is of particular interest to me & it might be informative and useful for you as well!

xo Katie

Minty lip gloss in Nashville ***** (5/5)

This gloss is long-lasting and incredibly minty! It is great on its own or over a nude lipstick. A nude lip works best with a bold look elsewhere on the face. For example, pair smokey eyes with nude lips and nude cheeks for a sultry, sexy look.

Blush in Tickled Pink ****~ (4/5)

This blush reminds me of MAC’s mineralized blush in Love Thing. Use Tickled Pink to create a matte look on your cheeks. Matte blushes are versatile because you can pair them with shimmery or matte eyes and lips. Additionally, the compact comes with a mirror which makes application on the go simple & carefree.

Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in Blushed/Bronzed ***** (5/5)

This compact is excellent for traveling. The colors are both matte and will flatter many skin types & hues. The e.l.f. bronzer is similar to my favorite bronzer, which is Physician’s Formula SPF 20 Solar Power Bronzer ($12).

Two Waterproof Eyeliner Pens – Coffee & Black ***~~ (3/5)

The felt tip on these eyeliner pens makes it simple to create a winged or double-winged eye look. There is a downfall to these products, however, once applied, the product tends to travel. Skip using it on your waterline and you can easily avoid the problem!

I spent less than $15 and received all of these e.l.f. products. That is impressive! To put it in perspective, I could buy one MAC lip glass or five e.l.f. products! I will be purchasing different e.l.f. products and also repurchasing some of the products I own (especially the minty lip gloss in Nashville – it is the perfect nude lip color). Visit http://www.eyeslipsface.com/. (Fyi: There is a promotion going on right now on the website – make a $25 purchase and receive a free mineral starter kit! Enter this code: EGEDCQ for the promotion. It is going on until May 15th!)

-Katie x0

This mascara is definitely not a favorite. In fact, I am forcing myself to use up the remainder of the product.

A list can most easily display the qualities that I do not like about this makeup: the applicator – is difficult to hold and the tip does not apply the mascara well, the product is dry and clumpy, it has a strange and unpleasant smell, and at almost $10/piece, the price is not fabulous!

Skip it & opt for something else!

-Katie x0

Fragrance comes in several different forms. Some of these forms, which are listed according to their concentration from greatest to least, include: perfume, eau de parfum, and eau de toilette. Solid perfumes and fragrance mists are also available.

Perfume and eau de parfum are the purest and as a result, most expensive fragrance products. These forms of fragrance will often last longer on your skin.

Get your scent to stick by:

1. Selecting the purest form of fragrance available in the scent you like (most fragrances are easily accessible in eau de toilette form, however, if perfume or eau de parfum is available, invest & save it for special occasions)

2. Apply a small amount of Aquaphor or petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) to your pulse points (do not overdo it with this step! A tiny dab will work!)

3. Now, spray or dab your fragrance on your pulse points. Your pulse points can be found on your wrists, inside your elbows, behind your ears, behind your knees, at the base of your throat, and don’t forget to put a bit around your ankles.

Other tips:

Stick a travel size or small bottle of fragrance in your bag & bring it wherever you go.

Select a moisturizer that has the same scent as your fragrance of choice.

Keep your perfume out of the sun, and away from extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Pass on fragrances that don’t work on you – because of your body chemistry, a perfume might not work on you but might smell amazing on someone else. If you don’t like it, pass it on! Fragrances are most potent for about two years after they are created. So instead of wasting it or allowing it to expire, give it away.

Test a scent if it is possible before you buy it. I recently considered purchasing YSL Parisienne because I loved the way it smelled at the counter and in Glamour (there was a sample – I actually smell these things :)!) However, when I went to Macy’s to purchase it, and after one spritz on my wrist and about 5 minutes of wearing it as I walked around the store, I realized it was not what I thought it would be. I was not upset at that point, I was actually relieved that I had not purchased it at sephora.com or something because it really did smell quite unappealing!

x0 Katie

*USDA organic – always a plus ;)

*the scent – delicious but light

*the lip balm itself – incredibly moisturizing

*the packaging – easy to use and cute

I would definitely repurchase! I have tried several eos products in the past but this is a new favorite!

x0 Katie

Some fun trends this spring include: pastel paint for nails, tights (VS has them in every color) and tunics, nautical pieces & accessories (which I adore!), and floral prints – especially on sundresses and high-waisted miniskirts. Have I indulged in any of these trends? Of course.

Nail polish I am  loving right now (that do not cost a lot of $) – Pink Flamingo by Brucci; Intrigue by Brucci and Delia’s Lilac Purple Polish

Both Victoria’s Secret and Charlotte Russe have a plethora of tights and longer tanks and tunics. This style is adorable, wearable and versatile. Long tanks create the illusion of a longer torso and midsection which is slimming and suitable for everyone! :)

Nautical pieces & accessories – Urban Outfitters, Forever21, H&M, & Charlotte Russe are stocked with those shades of navy, red, and white/cream that scream summer! I purchased anchor earrings at Urban, a cute nautical bracelet at Charlotte Russe, and a bag with navy stripes at H&M. I love the nautical look! Rock you nautical wear with a touch of red lipstick to give your look a retro feel.

Floral prints – Florals are characteristic of spring but can truly be worn throughout both spring and summer. I have purchased several summer dresses and skirts at Charlotte Russe. On spring days when it is a bit too chilly to wear a skirt or dress, wear a matching pair of tights and a lightweight cardigan.

Favorite spring trends? Comment below!

Amazinggg hair product!

Let me prelude this review with this: I have been on the lookout for a great beach spray since John Frieda discontinued Beach Blonde Ocean Waves Sea Spray. I have no idea why this product was discontinued but it was really upsetting! Many of my friends felt the same way!

I came across David Babaii’s Bohemian Beach Spray when I was purchasing some conditioner. A sticker on the product initially caught my eye, it read: “2009 InStyle Best Beauty Buys.” So I thought hmm, maybe this product could be promising? When I realized it was a beach spray I immediately picked it up and unscrewed the cap…it smelled like coconuts and mango, so tropical and summery! So I bought it and used it as soon as I got in the car… amazing!

Some other product highlights include: cruelty free. sulfate free. paraben free.&  petrochemical free.

The cost is about $9.99 and ten percent of profits are donated to WildAid, a wildlife conservation, which is awesome!

Get this stuff, if not now, definitely in the summer. I prefer to wear it and pretend its summer but that’s just me. Oh & one more thing – this product gives your hair a great tropical scent (so skipping perfume is an option if you are in a rush or if you are trying to reduce your exposure to chemicals!)

-Katie x0