Monday, November 24, 2014

Zoya Holiday Mini Glam bottles available now!



Zoya is offering mini glam nail polishes in all of their favorite holiday colors!  Each mini bottle is $5.00 USD, or you can get any 5 for $20 USD with free shipping through Wednesday 11/26/14 at 11:59 pm ET!  So perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Go HERE to check out all of their amazing colors.  Remember to use code: GLAM

Happy Shopping!

KISS InstaWave hair curler - easy, fast, long lasting curls

*DISCLAIMER: Item sent by company for purposes of review.  I am not being monetarily compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.* *POWERED BY BRANDBACKER*


I have no talent for hair.  There, I've said it.  When it comes to hair styling, my skills are minimal, so I am always on the lookout for a new hair tool to help me along the way.  Little did I know that one of my favorite brands, who I only knew to product lovely false lashes and nail products, also made one awesome hair tool.  Here today we have the KISS InstaWave...

KISS InstaWave Automatic Curler
The KISS InstaWave is a revolutionary, fully automatic curler that creates tangle free, long lasting curls in the quickest way!  InstaWave can be purchased at Ulta, Target and Amazon.com.  This professional grade tool retails for $59.99 USD.

The InstaWave has some amazing features...

Specs:
1 inch ceramic ionic barrel
Curl dial - catches hair/creates curls for you
2 heat settings - maximum temperature of 420 degrees F
Auto Shut Off after 90 minutes for added safety
Right / Left directional button for creating a natural look
Swivel cord allows for comfortable movement of wand

KISS InstaWave
Kiss InstaWave Curl Dial
One of the most unique features of InstaWave is the Curl Dial with left and right directional movement.  This multi-pronged dial grabs the hair, allowing for hands free curling, and also holds the curl in place.  Since the InstaWave does not have a clip, there is no unflattering ridges left in the hair after styling!  With the curling dial holding everything in place, this is safe to use for everyone. The InstaWave has 2 heat settings (high/low) with a maximum temperature of 420 degrees Farenheit so you can safely style hair without any worry for hair damage.  Once hair is set in place, you can rotate the barrel left or right, which makes it easy to use from any hand, any angle.  There is also an auto shut off feature that turns the tool off after 90 minutes.  The InstaWave also comes equipped with a swivel cord which I found did not tangle and allowed for range of motion for both the curler and my hands.

BEFORE: Natural texture of my hair, no product
Above we have a picture of my hair and its natural texture.  A slight wave, with hair that was air dried with no additional product.  Here is how we can turn this hair from simple to GLAM in a few easy steps...

Step 1 using Kiss InstaWave
Place a section of hair on the InstaWave curling barrel, holding it vertically

Step 2 using KISS InstaWave
Touch the curl dial in either right or left directional, and the InstaWave automatically grips hair and curls it onto the barrel, holding it in place

Step 3 using KISS InstaWave
Hold for 5-10 seconds.  You can hold longer for tighter curls, less for more beach like waves.  Pull the InstaWave down vertically.

AFTER - KISS InstaWave
In the picture above, on the right side, I did a tighter curl, and on the left, a softer wave.  All of this was achieved by leaving the hair on the barrel for longer or shorter periods of time.  You may use left and right directionals on the dial to achieve natural looking curls.

KISS InstaWave results
You can really produce some glam results with the InstaWave.  The ease of automatic curling, plus the short amount of time you need on the barrel does equal professional results that anyone can achieve!

Get your hair party perfect for the holidays with the InstaWave.  An amazing value, professional results, in the comfort of your home, with any skill level!

To learn more about KISS InstaWave, go HERE.


*DISCLAIMER: Item sent by company for purposes of review.  I am not being monetarily compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.* *POWERED BY BRANDBACKER*

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Winter is coming...Let Julep help winterize your nails!- tutorial


Fall is here, and in some places of the country, it looks like winter is well underway.  Cold, harsh wind, dry indoor heat, constant hand washing all take tolls on our hands and nails, and with the holidays coming up, you want to make sure that your hands look amazing.  With a little help from Julep, you can now replace winter weary hands with beautiful skin and nails!


All steps are truly vital and help ensure that your nails will not only look healthy, but become healthy!  Julep offers a variety of products to help you along the way...from their Nail Therapy Serum and Oxygen Nail Treatment, to their Glycolic Hand Scrub to Go and Rock Star Hand Cream.  These tool will leave you with lovely hands and nails all year long!

And now that you have your nails and hands looking amazing...why not polish them with one of the nicest polish formulas around...


From creams to glitters, sheer to opaque, Julep has you covered with any and every texture and color to suit your needs.  Keep a lookout as they contiuously release collections that are perfect for all seasons.  Also, remember that you can receive your nail colors, as well as nail tools, through their subscription service.  Beat winter down with the best hands around!  To check out more of their awesome polish range, check .HERE.

To learn more about their polishes, nail tools and subscription service, go HERE


*images provided by Julep*

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Old Factory Candle Gift Set - Coffee Shop set - review

*Disclaimer: Product sent by company for the purpose of testing and review.  All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I being compensated for my opinion*  *POWERED BY BRANDBACKER*

Old Factory Candle Coffee Shop Gift Set
 Now that fall is starting to transition into winter, there is nothing I enjoy more than lighting a few candles around the house for added coziness.  With the added factors of scent and light, you can create a warm and inviting atmosphere around your home with the help of Old Factory and their scented candle sets.

Old Factory is a company based in the United States that hand pours these lovely soy-based candles.  These clean burning candles contain self-trimming wicks, premium fragrance oils and can burn for 20 hours.

Old Factory Candle gift set
Old Factory Candles offers 12 trios of scents:

Fall Harvest, Happy Holidays, Winter Wonderland, Romance, Fresh & Clean, Spa Day, Vacation, Coffee Shop, Man Cave, High as a Kite, Newborn Baby, 50 Shades.  When you read through all the scents, they are all set appropriate and all sound super delicious.  Each set comes with three 2 ounce glass jars that come in a super cute, yet super sturdy cardboard box.  You can purchase these sets on amazon.com through Red Rover Naturals for $25.00 USD.

Old Factory Packaging
Old Factory Coffee Shop set
The set I chose to go with was Coffee Shop, which contained Coffee Bean, Hazelnut and Chai Tea.  Coffee Bean smells like freshly roasted beans.  So you get a nice mix of warm coffee scent with a hint of bitter and smokiness that makes the scent a little more intriguing than that of just coffee.  Chai Tea is a creamy blend of spices that is unbelievably mouthwatering and warm.  Hazelnut is interesting in that it smells like a hazelnut perfume.  Out of the three, it smells most of a perfume with gourmand notes.  Dare I say it is almost pretty?

Old Factory Candles
For such small candles, these have a really nice throw.  When combined, all three produce a veritable coffee shop in your home!  The light these candles emanate is soft and small, but glowy.  I have not had any issues with drowning wicks or uneven burning, which is a huge plus!!!   And let us not forget that the candle jars themselves are really cute and found them to incorporate nicely to my home decor.  I have thoroughly enjoyed burning them in my home and am excited to get my hands on more of the sets.

To learn more about Old Factory Candles, please visit them at Old Factory Candles.

                   
*Disclaimer: Product sent by company for the purpose of testing and review.  All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this company, nor am I being compensated for my opinion*  *POWERED BY BRANDBACKER*

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Best Red - swatch

*Disclaimer - Product shown purchased by passengerelement blog.  I am in no way affiliated with this company.  All views are my own*

It is red lipstick time again!  This time from Milani Cosmetics...

Milani Color Statement Lipstick - Best Red
Specs:

Purchased at local Meijer for $5.99 USD
Gold metallic tube with click top
contains 0.14oz/3.97g of stick product


Best Red is from Milani's Color Statement lipstick line, and is one of 36 shades!  Aside from the diverse range of colors Milani offers, they also come in different finishes too.  Matte, cream, pearly shimmer, etc.  Best Red is a matte, but I want you to erase everything you know about mattes from your memory...here is why...

Milani Best Red - direct sunlight/flash
Best Red is a true red with subtle blue undertone to it.  It goes on incredibly creamy.  The lipstick has  a slightly thick formula, but never feels dry on application.  Once applied, it has shine that does linger for a bit, but dries down to the loveliest matte finish.  This does have a rather strong scent, so those with allergies/sensitivities may want to steer clear.  For me, it smells like cucumbers, and the scent does linger quite a bit.  I rather like this aspect, but buyer beware.

Milani Best Red - direct sunlight/no flash
For a matte, this negated everything I had known about mattes.  I never experienced dry lips while wearing this.  It is so richly creamy, and proceeds to stay creamy for a good 6 hours.  Though you do have a bit of shine at application time, this never affects the opacity of the product.  When worn for hours, and after normal activity (talking, drinking, eating), this wore down to a really vibrant stain.

I do wish that reapplication was a bit more pretty.  When I try to layer this hours later, I do get a bit of piling on the lips.  But that is a small price to pay for such beautiful color and quality!  Do yourself a favor and pick one of these up now.

Enjoy,

D - xo

*Disclaimer - Product shown purchased by passengerelement blog.  I am in no way affiliated with this company.  All views are my own*

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Tea Trea Oil - review



*Disclaimer - Product sent by company for the purposes of testing and reviewing. I am not being compensated for my opinions. All views are my own* *Powered by Brandbacker*


Ever think of trying a more organic alternative to everything from your skincare to household needs?  I have and came across Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil...

Apothecary Extracts 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil
I was lucky enough to be sent this for review and am loving the results and uses so far.  The Apothecary Extracts Tea Tree Oil (TTO) comes in a dark glass bottle that contains 4 fl.oz/118ml of oil.  The TTO retails for $24.99 USD. You can purchase the Tea Tree Oil on Amazon HERE.

Apothecary Extracts TTO is different than other oils in that is 100% pure.  There are so many oils out there that end up being blends, and you may not always know what is in it.  Apothecary Extracts has been accredited by the Australian Tea Tree Industry Association Code of Practice.  Purity of oil is proven using gas chromatography.  Having this TTO be 100% pure, ensures that you can use this safely on your face and body and for medicinal reasons!

The biggest benefit to Apothecary Extracts TTO is that you can use it anywhere on your body and everywhere in your home.  The versatility of this oil really impressed me, and the uses around the home just made this a homerun.  When you purchase the TTO, you will receive an e-brochure that is filled with over 50 recipes for everything from facial masks to household cleaners!  What?  Yes, this can literally be used in all aspects of your skincare and home.  Here are two recipes I tried...

Apothecary Extracts TTO Hand Scrub
In the above photo, I made the replenishing Tea Tree Oil Body Scrub.  I had to substitute the brown sugar for salt, but it worked nicely.  It moisturized without being overly oily, and gave my hands and feet a nice tingly sensation that was pleasing.  Please note that when you mix the TTO with other oils, the scent, still apparent, becomes more manageable.

Apothecary Extracts TTO body scrub
This scrub has been a godsend with the fall air turning dry and cold!  Really moisturizing and exfoliating.

Apothecary Extracts TTO Steam Facial
I love at home facials, and now with the TTO, I can have one that benefits my skin while I'm broken out.  Along with the TTO, a couple other essential oils, hot water and a towel, you can treat yourself to a steam facial that opens up your pores for better absorption of your facial products.  It also relieves nasal and sinus congestion.  Perfect as we are coming upon the cold weather season.  The steam feels lovely and refreshing.

For those into home decor, you can also use TTO in oil reed diffusers or the fortifying air freshener, in which you can choose whatever color to put into the gelatin used in the recipe to match your home.  This can also be mixed into an air mist that will kill odors and energize you.

It seems that whatever your concern, Tea Tree Oil has a recipe to suit your needs.  From cleansing to medicinal, relaxing facial to home decor, Tea Tree Oil has so many benefits that enrich our daily lives.  We now know we can acquire 100% pure oils that we feel safe about using on ourselves and around our family.  In an all natural way, you can take care of your home, yourself and your loved ones.

To learn more about Apothecary Extracts, please head on over HERE

*Disclaimer - Product sent by company for the purposes of testing and reviewing. I am not being compensated for my opinions. All views are my own* *Powered by Brandbacker*