Recent Purchases + Haul Video

After sharing my hair tutorial video recently on my YouTube channel, I got a lot of sweet notes and wonderful feedback about making more of an effort to keep my channel up. I promised to try and film one video per month so I shared some recent purchases today in a "haul video" (I still think that's a bit of a funny term, but it is what it is). You can watch the video, below, or simply check out the items in this post!

nordstrom  |  halogen calf hair leopard print heels

banana republic  |  adelia pumps |  burgundy/deep wine tee

bauble bar earrings |  turquoise tassel   |  baby pink tassel

kendra scott  |  rayne necklace |  morgan stud earrings

dolce ave  |  necklaces  |  keyring 

groopdealz bracelets + more daily deals

hair products  |  oscar blandi blow out creme |  living proof prime style extender   |  ojon damage reverse restorative smoothing glaze

Hope you had a great weekend!

New Haircut & Hair Products I'm Loving

This past weekend, I had my hair cut and I realized that I haven't posted about my favorite hair products in quite some time.

I had more hair cut than usual---I asked my stylist to shorten my layers and overall length because my hair was feeling really dry and heavy.  I am really pleased with the results. My hair holds style better now and overall has a more defined shape.

Here are some snaps:

This was the first day I had it cut---I was playing around with it later in the day parting it in various ways to see how the layers fell.

This is the back of my hair on the first day it was cut-  a lot of my readers request to see the back so you can really see how the layers are cut.

This was my hair on Monday when I washed and styled it myself. I am still using the same blowout/rollers routine that I always use. Refer to this post for details.

This photo was taken this morning when I curled my hair with a curling iron. Refer to this tutorial for how I curl my hair.

Now onto products, here are a few I've been obessessed with lately:

Ojon Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo (buy it here)

This is my second bottle of this shampoo. The first was actually a full-sized sample I got as a promotion at Sephora. I had to repurchase because it really is that good and is one of my all time favorite shampoos. It leaves hair feeling clean, yet soft and also allows for ample volume in your hair, which I can't say about a lot of other damage-geared formulas which tend to weigh hair down. I also love the smell and love how it lathers. You don't have to use a ton either. It's absolutely amazing.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime- (buy it here)

I have had this product for over a year and when my Crystalliste serum ran out (which I love) I decided to try using this for my blowouts (previously I was using it as an overnight treatment). I use a few pumps of the Elixir Ultime from the nape of my neck down to the ends of my hair prior to blow-drying. It is really smoothing and overall I love how it makes my hair feel.  It also combines well with other products.

Kerastase Masque Force Architecte- (buy it here)

This (pricey) mask was sent to me over a year ago but I just started to use it over the last few months. My hair has been really dry lately so I wanted to use something that is made for damaged hair. I apply the mask in the shower after shampooing and then I wash my body and shave to let it sink in before I rinse it.  I really like it and my hair feels good after using it.  As a side note though, I do still love my Macadamia Hair Mask, but will probably wait to repurchase until this runs out as I am working on using up products before I buy new ones so I don't have a ton in my shower and cabinet waiting to be used.

Wishing everyone a great week!

Living Proof's Prime Style Extender Really Does Extend Your Style (Really!)

When I first saw a magazine ad for Living Proof's "Prime Style Extender" I totally thought it was a gimmick.  In the past couple of years, makeup primers have become a "must-have" item for every girl's makeup routine, but I personally never cared for them.

I had always been pleased with Living Proof's products and have used many of them including their full shampoo, straight spray and thickening cream.  But for some reason, the style extender just sounded gimmicky.

However, I kept seeing it promoted in the Sephora catalog and when I was making my Sephora friends and family sale wish list, I decided to check out the reviews for the product and was stunned to find an abundance of rave reviews.

At just $20 for a 5 oz tube, I thought it wouldn't hurt to test it out.  One of the issues I have with my hair is that I do have to re-style in in the morning after sleeping on it. It kind of gets kinks in it and if it's straight (blown-out) it just doesn't hold the same shape once I sleep on it.

When I use the Prime Style Extender, I apply it from the nape of my neck down to the ends of my hair only. Personally, I do not apply any kind of smoothing products to my roots, only volumizing ones.  You can also add any other product on top of the primer, so I add some Kerastase serum or another smoothing product.

I blow out my hair as usual with a round brush and set it in Velcro rollers like I do every time I have first day (just-washed) hair.  The ONLY difference was that I used the Prime Style Extender.

Typically, I curl my hair with a curling iron the day after I do my blowout (so, on second day hair). I then touch up my curls on my third day hair before washing it again that 4th morning. However, after using the Prime Style Extender, I literally brushed my hair after waking up and it looked good enough that I did not have to curl it or apply heat. It just somehow retained its shape from the day before better than I ever remember.

I have no idea how or why it works, but it just does  (the description on Sephora.com says Prime Style Extender is powered by Living Proof�s �miracle molecule,� OFPMA, which protects and extends the life of your style twice as long, saving you time, day after day. It weightlessly perfects strands while smoothing and correcting hair texture).

Science.  Always winning.  Thank goodness for miracle molecules.  You can purchase Prime Style Extender here.

Have you tried this product? Do you love it as much as I do?


FTC: I purchased this product with my own money and these are my honest thoughts.