HCB Product Spotlight: OPI Vodka and Caviar

Price: $8.00

Packaging: .5 fl oz in a glass container

From OPI: An elegant indulgent shade of crimson

OPI has excellent nail polish and they are my favorite nail polish brand. My new favorite red is Vodka and Caviar from their Russian collection that came out in 2007. It is a basic red polish with high shine and no shimmer. It is the perfect red (for me), not too orange and not too pink. I was on the hunt for a rich true red and when I picked this one up from ULTA my search was over.

HCB Spotlight: Ulta Sale

So I was browsing beauty websites earlier today and saw some great deals on ulta.com

The Ultra Chi 1” red flat iron is $74.95 with a coupon and it’s an Ulta exclusive. Chi is the brand of flat iron that I use, I bought my first one in 2005 and it lasted until 2010. When you consider $100 for 5 years of super straight hair its so worth it. What does it cost to get your hair straightened at a salon, $60? No thanks I’ll take my Chi.

OPI, my favorite nail polish brand, has a Katy Perry Collection that’s available in stores only. There are 5 colors (from left to right) Last Friday Night, Not Like the Movies, The One That Got Away, Teenage Dream and Black Shatter. They are priced at 8.50 each.

They also have a special that’s 20% off your purchase that you can use online or in stores so head on over to Ulta and shop!

Carol's Daughter Hair Must Haves

I have been using Carol’s Daughter products for years. I love that they are natural, affordable, and most importantly, they deliver. You can purchase them through the website www.carolsdaughter.com, at Sephora in stores or online, Macy’s and also at HSN.com. There are also several free standing stores check the website for locations. Here are some of my favorites…

Kizzi “Stay Put” Hair Pomade

Price: $9.50

Packaging: 4oz flat tin

I love this for when I need some extra hold in my hair. I’m really not a fan of hair spray or gel so this is perfect. It’s not too heavy or greasy and it comes in a tin that’s easy to take on the go. I use it for up-dos and when I need to really get my edges slicked down. Added bonus: it has a lovely smell.

Black Vanilla Leave in Conditioner

Price: $12.00

Packaging: 8oz plastic spray bottle

I love this for the smell if nothing else. It was a watery consistency which isn’t what I usually look for in a leave in conditioner, but it comes in a spray bottle for easy application. I use it on my hair when I’m wearing natural styles, it’s good especially for second day hair that needs a little sprucing up.

Lisa’s Hair Elixir:

Price: $20.00

Packaging: 8oz plastic bottle with a push top

This is a great hair oil. A little goes a long way with this one (trust me) It’s great to add to a deep conditioner or use it on damp or dry hair for added shine. It smells like peppermint and eucalyptus and I love it! The only problem is that oil permeates plastic bottles so after a while the bottle gets sticky. A glass bottle would be great to pour it into if you have one handy.

I’ve tried the Hair Milk and it was a little bit too heavy for my hair. I can’t stand for my hair to feel weighed down or heavy. They now have a Hair Milk line and a light version of the hair milk so I’m going to try that on my next trip to the store.

The Loc Butter is a favorite of mine for two strand twists or braids on thick, tightly coiled, coarse hair. It’s a bit too greasy for my curly hair but I definitely recommend it if that’s your hair type. 

*Images courtesy of Google

HCB Product Spotlight: Wen Cleansing Conditioner

The other day I used Wen for the first time. #latepass for all my twitter people.

Price: $30.00

Packaging: a plastic bottle with a pump

Where to Buy: www.wenhaircare.com

From the Wen® website:

Wen® Cleansing Conditioner is a revolutionary new concept in hair care. A 5-in-1 formula, this one product takes the place of your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler, and leave-in conditioner. It cleanses hair thoroughly but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos- it is designed so it wont strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils Your hair is left with sheen, moisture, manageability and better color retention.

When I used the product it definitely got my hair clean. The thing is I felt that it worked just as good as my VO5 conditioner that I get from CVS for a dollar. (see Favorite Drugstore Beauty Products post) I used it as is to see if it would really eliminate frizz like it said it would. I spent the day out and it had a normal amount of frizz.

I am going to do an update on how Wen works with my straightened hair and let you all know if it is as great as the commercial claims.

Lets Talk Brows

In my honest opinion brows are the most important part of a well groomed face. If your lipstick is perfect and your cut crease is bangin’ it won’t matter if your brows look like Bert from Sesame Street. My brows are a daily task especially because the hair is very sparse and thin. Here are my favorite tools for perfectly groomed brows.

MAC Eye Brows in Stud or Spiked

Price: $15.00

From MAC:

Self-propelling, self-sharpening, brow defining. Confidently adds what you need: shape, colour, density in one streamlined tool. Like a pen, creates its own just right point . Provides definition, shape, deepens/fills in colour. Creates striking arches. Easy to tote around. No sharpener needed

This is my #1 eyebrow product. All I need! This will last me at least 2 months with everyday use.

MAC #266 small angle brush

Price $19.50

From MAC:

For creating sharp, precise lines. This brush has fibres which are carefully arranged to form a perfect angle.

This is an amazing brush for precise application of powder shadow to your brows.  Powder can be messy and if you don’t have a steady hand application can be frustrating. I start with lining with Stud and then using shadow to fill in. Clean your brushes once a week.

Embark

Espresso

MAC shadow in Embark or Espresso

Price $14.50

This pressed powder shadow is a perfect color for dark brows. It needs to be a dark matte color, not with a ruddy tone unless that matches your hair color. These shadows can last at least a year with everyday use.

Iman Perfect Eyebrow pencil in blackest brown

Price: $8.00

This is a cheaper alternative to MAC eye brows. It stays well all day. My only complaint is that it’s not as precise because it is a normal pencil size not a self-sharpening pencil size. This lasts about 3 months with everyday use.

Tip: Never ever use a black pencil, shadow, or liquid liner to fill your brows. It will be too harsh and is totally unnatural.

*Images courtesy of Google

Favorite Drug Store Products

For the New Year I want all my HCB’s to be the best they can be and not spend a lot of money at the same time. These are my favorite products that I use that come from stores like CVS, Rite Aid, Walmart or Target.

Skin

Curel Extra Dry Skin Lotion is my favorite year-round lotion $7

Vaseline with cocoa butter $3 (great to help with makeup removal)

Johnsons Baby Oil Gel in Lavender $3

Makeup

Covergirl Queen Collection bronzer $6

Loreal liner intense in carbon black $7

Black Opal stick foundation $6

Hair

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 3 minute undo dryness reversal treatment $2.99 at Target

Suave conditioner –I use it as a leave in conditioner when I wear wash and go styles $1

VO5 conditioner –I use it to clean my hair (co-washing) $1

Extras

Baby wipes –great makeup removers, you can get a box of about 80 for around $3

Carmex $3 for 3 tubes

Johnsons baby shampoo –to wash makeup brushes with $3 for a large one

Plastic shower caps $1 for 10 at Walmart (great for deep conditioning)