Down a Beaten Path

Outfit: Pants - H&M; Shirt - Zara; Leather Jacket - H&M; Scarf - J.Crew; Shoes - Forever21; Bag - Aldo

Hope you're having a good weekend =)

Holy Grail Fail - Shu Uemura eyelash curler

Hello friends =)
I know that I, along with many others out there, am always on the lookout for holy grail products - products that do what they say they do, make you look amazing with every use, and alleviate your biggest beauty concerns.

The blogging and youtube community has made it so easy to find out what's hot, what's new, what works, and what is plain bad. When a product is raved about in countless videos and blogposts, I can't help but want to go out and buy it for myself so I can see if it is really a miracle product. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it isn't.
I've already purchased several of the "big hit" items that have hit the beauty community, and I've got a whole list of others that are waiting to be bought. Obviously I don't limit myself to only the most popular products, but when hundreds of other girls are talking about something, you want to know what's up.

So, I purchased the Shu Uemura eyelash curler off their website, because so many people have raved about how amazing it is, how it curls beautifully without the crazy "L-shaped" eyelashes, and how it is superior to all other eyelash curlers.

My eyelashes are naturally very straight so I need a heavy duty eyelash curler if I am to bat my eyes at anybody. I bought this one thinking it would be the the answer to my prayers, but it wasn't. I had a hard time getting even an L-shaped curl and the results weren't dramatically different than eyelash curlers I have used in the past.

This E.L.F. one I have been using works just as well, if not better than the Shu Uemura. Ergonomically, it is so much easier to use because it has that little finger support. And it costs 1 freaking dollar, a whole $18 less than what I paid for the Shu Uemura.

I thought about returning it, but honestly, I'm just too damn lazy. And also, I am hopeful that one day I will pick it up to use, and it will miraculously become the best eyelash curler I have ever used, maybe?

xx
Vida 

Review: Living Proof hair products

Ever since these fat little bottles popped up in Sephora, I have been wanting to try them. The "full" line of Living Proof products was especially appealing to me because I have very fine hair that tends to fall flat. 

These products boast natural, weightless volume and body. The thickening cream especially sounded like exactly what my hair needed - a lightweight cream that is supposed to create a thicker surface on the hairs, giving it a bouncy, flexible shape. 

When I saw the full kit, that includes the full thickening cream, as well as the shampoo and conditioner, I knew I had to try it. 

 The shampoo and conditioner are...nice. I don't think I could really say bad things about shampoo and conditioner unless they were absolutely despicable. These smell nice and they clean and condition your hair well. And while my hair does feel clean and very soft afterward, they don't have a very volumizing effect on my hair at all. The market for volumizing hair products has exploded and I am sure you can find a shampoo and conditioner that will give much better results for cheaper. A full size of this costs $24, and you don't even get that much! I will not be repurchasing this. 

The thickening cream on the other hand, I love. 

I use a nickel size amount on damp, almost dry hair and then I blow dry with my head turned upside down (I am handicapped when it comes to blow drying, so I don't have any crazy techniques or anything). The results are pretty amazing for me and the first time I used it I was like, whoa, my hair is big. I have tried a few other volumizing products in the past, and they have done nothing for me, other than add more product to my hair. With this I can actually feel a difference in my hair when I touch it, and it does feel much thicker and... fluffier is the word. 

Even though I have fine hair, I have a lot of it, and I think that's why this worked so well for me. This is not supposed to be a root lifter. It just really plumps up whatever you've got and gives you body and volume without feeling hard, crunchy, or like there's anything funky in your hair. My hair felt super soft and full after putting this in it. It is really effortless, and I love the effect it gives!

Me and my (relatively) big hair:

Have you ever tried any of these products? What are your favorite volumizing hair products?

Hearts and Recreation

The weather today is absolutely gorgeous, the perfect day for romance... =)

Was going to do a FOTD, but failed and only got a decent shot of my lips. I'm wearing viva glam cyndi lipglass, which I love. It's such an easy red lip!

Whatever your story is, I hope you have a great day. Happy Valentine's Day!