Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener Review (Guest Post)

The following post was written by Shipra, enjoy - Mani :)

Hello! I am a follower and fan of Makeup Newbie. I myself am a newbie with much less experience with beauty products (and much fewer lip glosses in my stash), but I enjoy reading and learning. A particular interest of mine is hair care.

My curls are not extremely tight but curlier than Mani’s soft waves, and a whole lot frizzier too. It’s frustrating when my curls aren’t in a cooperative mood, and so, for special occasions when I want to look a bit more polished, I always reach for my straightener.

Unfortunately, an awesome and very cheap Revlon straightener I owned for a couple years experienced electronic shock in London this last July and refused to turn on after the trip. Thus, after reading Mani’s post about straighteners in August, I hung around the hair supplies aisle in Wal-Mart to find a nice replacement. After purchasing the new straightener and trying it out for a couple months, I asked Mani if I could review it here on her blog.

PACKAGING:

 “Conair Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener”

(I don’t remember how much it was exactly, but it was definitely between $25 - $30.)

The Conair Professional tourmaline ceramic 1" straightener features 25% longer plates. Promotes healthy looking hair-micro particles of pure ceramic generate infrared energy to gently penetrate hair follicles while straightening. To give you faster styling, the 1" plates are 25" longer than our standard straighteners. Promotes shiny results the micro particles of tourmaline crystals emit natural ions that reduce frizz. Conair, 1" Tourmaline Ceramic Straightener, MODEL #CS58W.

The straightener offers heat levels up to 392F, auto-off, and dual voltage (a plus considering my London problem). Conair also promises professional results, reduced frizz, and smooth hair. Sounds promising, right?

THE EXPERIENCE:

While I’ve used this straightener a couple times before, most of those times were not as relaxed as a most recent attempt to get my hair straight just after finals ended a couple weeks ago.

Right out of the shower, after applying Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine and lots of TRESemmé Heat Tamer Spray from Thermal Creations, I blow-dried my hair, not trying to make it straight, but letting it transform into a 70s fro. It took me about 10 minutes.

I then spritzed the entire poof with heat spray again and waited 10min for it to dry. After the hair was completely dry, I straightened section by section: below the ears, above the ears, around the forehead, crown, and bangs. It took me about 40 minutes to straighten my medium-length hair. Finally, I applied a tiny bit more Sleek and Shine to tame frizz, then pulled the hair back in a loose bun to consolidate the hair for about 15 minutes.

The end results were very satisfying! My hair fell nicely around my face, styled in the exact way that I had moved the straightener. Since I had paid particular attention to the roots, which I always used to mess up, the hair was smooth from the top to the ends, a very new effect for my hair!

Because I agree with Mani that the stick-straight-hair look isn’t enormously flattering, I worked in a small curve to the ends of my hair which made it more natural. My mom (I’m 20, so I’m still at home with the parental units) told me my hair looked much nicer this time than other times I straightened it (underhanded diss?) and that she even preferred it to my curly hair (which I got from her)!

PROS AND CONS OF THE STRAIGHTENER

Pros:

• Because it’s only 1”, the straightener is very light and easy to maneuver. For hard-to-get pieces, like the hair on the back of my head, holding the straightener up doesn’t hurt.
• Three heat settings—some straighteners don’t offer heat setting options while some offer precise, exact-degree settings. I find that exact degrees help when baking cookies, not when straightening hair. The three settings provide easy control over how much heat is applied to the hair without getting overly technical.
•  As Mani always says, a little goes a long way, especially with my hair which isn’t very thin, but still straightens very easily. I can do the entire bottom layers on the Low setting and switch to Medium only for the crown.
• My hair doesn’t feel burnt or damaged after use. However, the heat tamer spray probably also had a hand in that.

Cons:

• Because the straightener has an auto-off mechanism, the straightener sometimes turns off while I’m still working with it. I’m okay with the safety of it though.
• Since this is a cheaper straightener and I have curly hair, I find that I often have to go over the same piece a couple times, which is not necessarily the case when I use more high-end straighteners. That could, however, stem from the fact that I don’t use the High setting on the straightener.

I recommend this straightener to anyone with thin to medium-thickness hair, curls or waves, or just anyone on a tight budget. I’m definitely keeping this with my hair care supplies! What straightener do you use? 

Shipra, a Steel City native and pre-law student, is a makeup and hair care enthusiast. Don't let her self-proclaimed 'newbie' status fool you, this girl knows her way around a makeup pallet...must be the artist in her :) Thanks so much!

MOROCCANOIL Oil Treatment Review

As I'm sure I've mentioned before, I have dry hair. I wash it and blow dry it every other day. I also use some sort of hot tool (curling iron, hot rollers) at least once a week. With all of this heat styling, my hair is crying out for hydration! I've been using frizz-reducing serums and leave-in conditioner treatments for many years now, but in the cold and dry winter months, I need something a bit more potent. Many Youtube Beauty Gurus have been touting the wonders of Argan oil, so when I saw MOROCCANOIL Oil Treatment near the checkout counter of my local Beauty Supply store, I decided to give it a try. 


MOROCCANOIL claims
The original MOROCCANOIL oil treatment revives hair, strengthens and conditions, and reduces drying time.


Here is my take on the product:


Pros

• A little goes a long way - the product is very thick so you only need to use a dime-sized amount for medium length hair. I have a 0.85 fl. oz. bottle that I've been using for over a month (and sharing with friends) and only a quarter of the bottle has been used.
• Delivers on its promise - I started noticing more healthy looking hair after two weeks of using this product!
• Smells heavenly - sometimes I open the bottle just to smell it :P

Cons

• Expensive! - I paid $15 for the tiniest bottle (0.85 fl. oz.)
• Packaging - It comes in a screw top bottle which I am always afraid will lead to a spill or too much product coming into my hands. Wish the bottle had a pump or test tube applicator.

I have been using this product for the past month and a half and it has become a necessary part of my hair care routine. I apply a dime-size amount of the product to the ends of my towel dried hair. I take any excess oil and apply it to any other areas that I notice are usually dry. I am very sure, however, not to apply this at or near my roots, it is very thick and oily!! After applying, I style my hair as I normally would. If my hair is looking especially dry after blow drying or even the next day, I take a teeny tiny amount and apply it to the ends, just to bring a little shine. 

I have been perusing the MOROCCANOIL website, and this exact product comes in a lighter shade to accommodate those with lighter hair. Also, for my male readers, my brother has coarse, curly hair and this product has been working well for him too, it is definitely gender neutral!

Will I repurchase? Yes! Even though it is expensive and I'm not a huge fan of how it is packaged, I really think this product has made a difference in the health of my hair and I love it! 

September Favorites

Happy October everyone :) I feel like I say it every year, but can you believe how fast this year is going by? Looking forward to watching the leaves change color, wearing layers and boots, and planning my Halloween costume!


Ok, back to the topic at hand...here are the products I found myself reaching for over and over in September:


1) Aveeno Nourish+ Volume Shampoo
I'm so happy to have found this shampoo, it really makes my hair shiny and full of body. Been using it for the past two months and it has yet to let me down! Check out my first impression here.


2) Johnson and Johnson's Baby Creamy Oil with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E
My skin has never felt better! It's soft and moisturized up until the moment I hit the shower, no more itchiness...what more can I ask for? Thanks to a nice deal on Amazon, I have really stocked up on this must-have! Check out my full review here.


3) Giovanni Frizz Be Gone Serum
This September was really strange...lots of super warm, humid days and then tons and tons of rain! Both types of weather wreak havoc on my hair. Now, while this isn't a miracle in a bottle, it really did help to tame my hair from extreme frizzy/poofiness...and for that, I have made it a daily staple. I apply a pea-sized amount to the ends while hair is both damp and dry. Check out my full review here.


4) MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer
I just reviewed this product, but I had to include it here as well. School and work kept me pretty busy in September and that unfortunately meant sleep had to take a minor hit. Thanks to this concealer, I looked fresh and alert! 


5) CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara
This mascara is just awesome! It holds curl well, doesn't give me the spider eye look, and does indeed give me the volume I'm looking for. Now that I've started applying it sans my Jane clear mascara (I think the non-waterproof primer was a bad idea!), I have had no issues with application. Check out my review here.


6) MAC Capricious Lustre Finish Lipstick
This is a my lips but better (MLBB) lipstick for me! I just love the plummy, pink color. It's as moisturizing as a chapstick, which I can't really say about too many other lipsticks I own. Pictures to come soon :)


7) Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef
Though the color of the tube seems a little shocking, this is a gorgeous milky coral gloss on! It isn't sticky at all and makes for a great spring/summer shade! I'm going to be sad to retire this guy for the fall and winter.


8) Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight
A wearable fushia stain that gives me the 'just finished a berry popsicle' look that I was going for! It's long-wearing and works great for those days when you just don't have the time to reapply. Full review to come soon!


I'm really looking forward to fall so I can bring out my darker lipsticks and give eye shadows a try! What products were your most popular for September? Share in the comments!

Anti-Frizz Hair Products and Giovanni Frizz Be Gone Review

My main hair concern has got to be frizz. I have been blessed/cursed with big hair. Thick wavy locks that have a tendency to fro, frizz, and look dull and dry unless I apply some taming product and blow dry with a diffuser. I have tried multiple different products over the years (since about the 10th grade when I got 'schooled' on hair maintenance by my hair guru bff). 


Here's a general list:

• John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Serum Extra Strength Formula - I still have a bottle of this on my vanity...can never seem to finish this product off. It's what I use when I run out of other products. Cannot really say I see a difference after applying this serum, hair doesn't appear less frizzy or dry looking. Also, I have to be very careful to apply a tiny bit, otherwise my hair just looks oily. Not worth the price for this high end drugstore product!
• John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Shine Shock Leave-on Perfecting Glosser - Now, this product is intended more to give hair a glossy shine, but it's thick oily texture also helped tame frizz somewhat, if you go tthe amount right...too much and you end up with greasy looking locks :( Again, not worth the price to me, does not fully deliver!
• Sunsilk Anti-Poof 24/7 Creme - Let's just say that with a name like that, I had high hopes! Unfortunately, instead of taming frizz while maintaining body, the cream simply weighed my hair down. 
• Dove Smooth and Soft Anti-Frizz Cream - Same story as with the Sunsilk creme, left my hair flat and coarse feeling...no smoothness or softness!
• Garnier Fructis Sleek and Shine Leave-In Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum - This product had been my HG for the past couple of years! I applied a teeny tiny amount to towel dried hair and not only did it smell divine, it also helped to tame the frizzies! Why, oh why, did it have to be discontinued? Garnier Fructis now has a Sleek and Shine Cream version, but I can't say I feel the same way about it. 
• Giovanni Frizz Be Gone Hair Serum - I recently discovered this product through TotalBeauty.com. It was highly rated as a top hair product under $10. Cheap, anti-frizz product in serum? How could I say no?? I've been using it for a month and am completely sold! I use a small amount (think diameter of pencil eraser) on the ends of my towel dried hair, concentrated on the ends. Since it is a serum and oily, I will apply any of the left over product on my hands to my bangs and the hair framing my face. I blow dry with a diffuser and then will apply the same amount after my hair is almost completely dry (don't usually have the patience to dry it the whole way!) to the ends and let them air dry. The result is a significant reduction in frizz while maintaining body and adding loads of pretty shine! It has a nice floral scent to boot. So glad to have found this Garnier Fructis Serum replacement...I honestly think it's an upgrade :) Also, since only a tiny amount is necessary for each use, the product will last a long time...how's that for great value?

Just what the doctor ordered: Target haul

Been feeling a little blue and in my book, there's only one fix for that, shopping!! Doesn't Tar-ghay just brighten up your mood? In the past, I focused more on their selection of shoes and clothes, but this time I decided to foray into the health and beauty aisles to have a little look-see...some may call this an addiction, I call it Retail Therapy!


Here is what I picked up:
1) Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm in Twilight
Have been dying to try this product since I saw Jessica Biel's ads :) My obsession with lip products combined with the fact that I have a major tendency to eat whatever I put on my lips made this product especially enticing to me! First impression: Non-drying, buildable, berry stain that lasts for 4+ hours! I like it!!


2) L'Oreal Hip Jelly Balm in Delectable
Another product I've been on the hunt for...Target really is a magical place :P Soo many Youtube vloggers have spoken highly of this product that I haaad to pick it up when I saw it! It being on clearance sale didn't hurt either ;) The second I opened it, I fell in looveeee!! Hip packaging (no pun intended), nice scent, and great color payoff! Delectable is a pretty raspberry shade. I've made quite a sizable dent in this recent purchase!


3) CoverGirl Last Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara in Black
I have already found my HG everyday mascara combination: clear Jane Curling Mascara + black CoverGirl Lash Exact. It gives my not so naturally impressive lashes a nice touch. That's all and good for work and casual events, but sometimes I want a little bit of drama! Also, I thought it was about time for me to try a waterproof formula. I really like mascara brushes with plastic bristles, give me a more smooth application. Here's hoping that this mascara gives me the diva glam lashes I'm looking for!!


4) Sonia Kashuk Dramatically Defining Eyelash Curler
MUA reviewers have compared this to the famed Shu Uemura. I like that at $9.99, it doesn't break the bank! 


5) Giovanni Frizz Be Gone Super Smoothing Anti-Frizz Hair Serum
I like to consider myself somewhat of a drugstore anti-frizz product connoisseur. Now that Garnier Fructis has stopped making my favorite Sleek & Shine Leave-in Weightless Anti-Frizz Serum (why!?!), I thought it was time to start looking into other options. So far, it smells amazing! Hope it works as well as it smells :)


6) EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Brush Set                   
My first official set of brushes, yay! This truly was a deal that I could not pass up, 5 brushes + a handy carrying case/brush roll all for $9.99, who'd have thought? And, this is eco-friendly and cruelty-free to boot. 


Ah, the joys of shopping! Now that I know all about the amazing-ness that is Target's Health and Beauty section, I will definitely be back :)


Let me know your thoughts on my haul and be on the look out for some product reviews in the future!                                                                                                                                                                     

My "Curly Girl" Experience

Earlier this year I was introduced to the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair and I decided to give it a try, here are my thoughts.

Quick Background Info:

My hair has a interesting history. All throughout childhood, up until my pre-teen years, I had stick straight hair. In middle school it was very frizzy and fro-y, bad memories :( Around 10th grade, I discovered that it was curly, so I'd just apply a bit of gel or mousse after washing and scrunch. About two years ago, my hair changed yet again, to wavy. Not quite sure why I've gone through so many transformations during the past 25 years...hopefully it won't change too much in the future!!

My take on the Curly Girl Method:

- No 'poo: I went shampoo free only once...and I kinda messed that up :P I made a brown sugar scrub, but I used a silicone conditioner by accident. Using brown sugar was interesting, but I felt like I needed to use a lot to properly cover my scalp as my hair was getting in the way. Afterwards, my roots felt very oily and weird...this may be because I didn't use a silicone-free conditioner. 

- Sulphate-free shampoo: I went in search of a sulphate-free shampoo and came back home with a big bottle Tresemme Naturals Moisture Shampoo which boasts lower sulphates and was on sale! I used this exclusively for about 3 weeks and I wasn't pleased with the results. I normally wash my hair every two or three days, but with this shampoo, I felt oiliness early on the day after washing and started washing more frequently. The Curly Girl Method recommends waiting for up to 6 weeks for your hair to adjust, but I was fed-up with over washing my already dry hair and not looking my best! I am still using it in conjunction with sulphate shampoos to finish it off, ugh!

- Silicone-free conditioner: I bought the Tresemme Naturals Moisture Conditioner and really love it! I have dry ends and this product has really been helping with that! I will definitely repurchase this conditioner :)

- Plopping: Besides as a way to amuse my family members, I really see no other benefit to plopping, for my hair at least. Added to my frizz factor and didn't define my waves!

Now, as I said before, I no longer have curly hair...its more wavy, so take my opinions with a grain of salt. I do, however, have family members with super curly hair who tried this method with me, and though they may have had more success with some aspects, stopped following it after a month or so. I will stick to using silicone-free conditioner and I am open to trying new sulphate-free shampoos if they are reviewed well. Being a true "Curly Girl" is a very time consuming process and I don't recommend it for the busy career woman/student.