All Things Beautiful XO

Stephanie Louise Telford & her guide on beauty, style, & glitter!

It Factor Quick Blow Dry Shampoo & Conditioner Review

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So what would you change about your morning routine?  Well for me its being too busy to blow dry my hair. When I do have the time, it is time consuming. More like a time sucker really. It may be hard to tell, but  have crazy thick hair. I curl & straighten it in layers, one of mine is about the same as most people’s whole heads. Its a lot of work! So when someone told me I could cut my blow dry time in HALF, I jumped at the chance to give it a shot.

Being the skeptic I am I was unsure. I mean, I really have a love/hate relationship with the blow dryer after all. Plus if it made it dry faster, would it change my hair texture? Would it make my hair dryer to compensate? That’s something I do not need! But like all exciting new things in the beauty world, I’m willing to give it a shot.

 What It Factor says: It FactorTM Quick BlowdryTM shampoos and conditioners are nothing short of a hairstyle revolution: the first and only shampoo and conditioner system combination to reduce drying time by up to 50%.
Available exclusively through professional salons, It FactorTM is safe for all hair types and free of harsh sulfates, parabens, sodium chloride and alcohol. It FactorTM“s proprietary VaporBoost SystemTM speeds up the natural process of evaporation by reducing the bond between water and the hair shaft. When heat is applied, the water releases from the hair more easily and turns to water vapor more quickly, creating extraordinary hair in a fraction of your normal blow-drying time.

My Take:  When given the option of choosing between their two types, I hit the dilemma I often do. For “Fine Hair” & “Medium to Coarse Hair” always bites me in the bum. My super fine but thick hair is so darn difficult. In the end I got both & have been using the “IT Factor Quick Blowdry Shampoo & Conditioner for Medium to Coarse Hair” & love it. I use a shampoo/conditioner for at least a few weeks before I review it because I don’t always notice issues right away. These smell great & the conditioner is SUPER thick, so no moisture issues here! I’m happy to report, this leaves my hair healthy, smooth, & cuts down on my blow dry time! I timed myself 3 days in a row (I should’ve taken video, I looked a fool)& averaged 14 minutes off my original time. Woohoo!

Is this a type of product that interests you? You can check out more info on the IT Factor website to do the whole salon location dealio. I this becomes more available. The packaging is a gorgeous light pink with a somewhat pea/olive green & gold detailing. Love the look & feel of these bottles. How long does it take you to properly blow dry your hair in the morning?
*Product provided by PR for consideration.

Mani of the Day: Zoya Wednesday & Zoya Maisie is Bliss

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Zoya Wednesday has become this twisted little obsession. This is from the Zoya Beach Collection for Summer 2012 & ever since I swatched it it has been at the front of my collection. I just like looking at it when I’m wearing something else. I almost feel like we’re having an affair. So yesterday when the clouds & rain rolled in, this dusty teal came out to play. I loved the Zoya flakies as well & pulled out Maisie to layer over top to put some spark in a dreary day.

Here is Zoya’s Wednesday with of Maisie over top. I got very little done as I had a distraction on my hands. Glorious. No top coats here folks. I used 2 coats of each although I could’ve just done 1 for Wednesday.

Happy Friday guys! This has been like….a ridiculously long week for me! I’m looking forward to this weekend though! I have a new giveaway for you guys, getting started filming a few collection videos, &….it the weekend of course! What is everyone up to? XO

*Products in this post were provided for consideration by PR.

MyGlam Bag April 2012…Underwhelming but Funny.

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 If you saw my April Birchbox review/unboxing, then you know I wasn’t impressed. Then I opened my MyGlam bag (also $10) & was underwhelmed. Again.


At this point I feel like I’m getting a MyGlam bag just to be let down. For one thing, they don’t address customer issues the right way. I feel like they have tried sweeping things under the rug & making big excuses instead of just doing the right thing & straight-up apologizing. Here’s what I’ve been hearing:

“Aren’t the brushes nice? She went all the way to another country & hand picked them for you!” 

Eh, they’re okay. Still smell a bit funky. I don’t see a difference from the two brushes in this bag & my ELF ones. Except that ELF packages them for me so they arrive in good shape.

“What about the eyeliner! Its Urban Decay!”

Yes, I know this! I do love Urban Decay! However, I have this shade & although I love it, wish I had gotten something else. I don’t hate this pencil, I just already own it. In a full size.

“Okay, well everyone loves false lashes!”

You know what, I do like false lashes sometimes. Not often do I wear a full set, but I do like them. You know what I don’t like? That the only thing I can read in English on this whole package is what I assume to be the brand name & the following phrases:

1. Yellow Haunt. WTF IS THIS?
2. Kevin. Um okay Kevin, what can you tell me about these lashes man?
3. Gamma Ray Sterilization. …WHAT?
4. Natural Soft Comfort. Natural for who? No, really?
5. We love the Earth. Me too man, internet high five.

“Wow, you guys are hard to please! Here’s a FULL SIZE lippie from Dermstore!”

Let’s get this straight, I love Dermstore. Really I do. But this lip quench was NOT created for me. It feels like I put silicone directly onto my lips & its wicked thick. The shimmers isn’t bad but the smell is. I say it smells like some kind of chemicals. Husband said it smelled like rotten skittles. Either way, not sexy.

Below are the swatches of my Urban Decay pencil in Radium & the Dermstore Lip Quench . You can see the lip quench is super heavy & thick in the middle. I smoothed out the edges so you could tell how thick it is.

So there you go! That’s my MyGlam bag summed up in a more entertaining form. What did you think of yours? Am I being a negative nancy? What issues have YOU had with MyGlam?

April 2012: My Birchbox Fail & Birchbox Customer Service

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Well, I think the viceo says it all so instead of me just typing it up like a script, watching it would be much faster!
So there we go. Once again, sorry about the cruddy lighting. Next time I’m passionate about a video I’ll put it aside & tweak my lighting haha.

What was in my Birchbox:

– Alima Pure Organic Nourishing Lipbalm in Rhubarb

Here’s the swatch. Top is swatched 3 times & bottom only swiped once. Not much of a difference from my super pale skin eh? Not a fan.

-Benta Berry G-1 Exfoliating Facial Cleanser (in the tiniest sample ever)

-Wonderstruck by Taylor Swift perfume sample


-Lifestyle extra was two tea bags from Le Palais des Thes

What was missing from my shipment was the Willa Clear Face Moisturizer. Birchbox let me know it should be on its way but I will let you guys know how that goes.

I’ve never not had a sample in my box before…have you? This Birchbox was a fail for me, how was yours?  I hope you liked yours a lot better!

Physician’s Formula pH Matchmaker Blush in Natural Swatches & Review

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Physician’s Formula pH Matchmaker Blush is similar to the pH lipgloss in light pink I reviewed in a few ways: the pH color matching system, the lighting, & I love it. Just like the gloss, this blush was created to be able to transform into the perfect shade for your skin tone within 60 seconds.

The packaging on this was fabulous. The black case is very sturdy & the compartments don’t pop open or flip-flop around like some of my blushes do. I don’t usually use brushes that come with products (what would be the point of buying my own?) but I honestly quite like this one. Its somewhat stiff so it applies the color perfectly. The lights on this one are just as bright as on the gloss but much more usuable to me. If you look on the right side of the mirror you will see the TINIEST of switches to turn it on. Some people might complain about how small the switch is but I think its perfect. If it was big it would pick up excess blush & get in my way.

As you can see, the swatch is beautiful. The silver shimmering dots along the edges add some silver spark to this swatch. The silver dots of shimmer on the blush can be wiped off if you don’t like them which is a plus as well. After the silver is wiped off, its gone. This color is a warm pink with very coral undertones. I was suprised this was “Natural” because normally that’s just a pink. I look much more natural in corals so this was a big bonus.

As for the color changing aspect, I found it lacking. You could visibly SEE my gloss change remember? So I thought this would work along the same lines. I am sad to report I didn’t notice it adjust. Here they are swatched the one on the right after 2 minutes & the one on the left immediately after application. Bummer right?

Well, not really. I love this blush. Its silky & smooth when applied. This color looks gorgeous on & I can build it if I want. Plus, its drugstore afforable which I always appreciate! On top of that, I really do love this packaging. In fact, I like this shade so much I want to check out the other shade in this line available which is called “Rose” when I can.

You can pick these up at your local drugstores for around $12.95 but, as always when I review Physician’s Formula, I recommend waiting for a bargain. CVS often has some amazing deals that will reduce this by around 50% if not more. If you don’t want to wait, I honestly don’t blame you. This shade really is that gorgeous.

* A sample of this product was provided by PR for review.

Mani of the Day: Jersey? Sure! Hand Mixed Polish from NailsByLaura

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Today we have a shade from Laura of Nails By Laura. You can find her on Etsy under the shop name NailsByLaura & her facebook page Nails by Laura. Definitely follow her on facebook because she has had some big things in the works both nail polish-wise & business-wise! If you remember WAY back to Halloween 2011, I showed you two of her pigments I used in my eyeshadow look using Witches Brew & Toil & Trouble. Clearly, her true passion is nails, & boy does it show. She has some greats in her shop including some inspired collections from Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Twilight, & lots of original designs. She will also make you a CUSTOM nail polish which is very cool!

Today I’m showing you Jersey? Sure! which is possibly one of my favorite nail polish names of all time. I mean, really? Laura, you crack me up!

According to Laura’s Etsy description of the polish, this is described as: “Jersey? Sure!” is a shiny, honey colored polish, hand mixed by me, and part of my “WanderLust” line of polishes.” My description is below.

 Ottolight.
 Shade.
Sun.

Jersey? Sure! from Nails by Laura- A bronze toned champagne that I classify as a soft metallic shimmer. Non-streaky, easy to apply, & opaque in 1-2 coats.

Here is Jersey?Sure! next to my Zoya Wednesday for size reference.

I have to tell you guys, its my dream to name nail polishes. I feel like I need a nail polish company JUST to name them honestly! When reading the name, I expected it to be a bit more orange but this is so wearable that it would even be office appropriate. Its buttery when applied & completely smooth. No streaks here! & you can see the finish has shimmer visible under direct sunlight & ottolight that is more multifaceted. Its not just silver or gold.

In honor of the name, here is my favorite body tanner which I absolutely swear by, especially in the summer months. Its the only one that isn’t stinky & makes me look healthy!

I can’t wait to show you my other polish I currently have from Nails by Laura & more in the future! I’d love to see a full summer line expansion with funny names like “Fake n Bake” & “Tee Shirt Time” to mimic Jersey Shore. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good name slapped on an excellent polish!

*This polish was provided for review however that in no way impacts my opinions.

Wet n Wild Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Peachy Keen, Ring Around the Rosy, & Birthday Suit Swatches & Review

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So here are the first 3 Mega Shield Lip Colors I picked up & I liked them so much I have picked up 2 more. Because these were the first its only fair you see them first right? All 3 of these are gorgeous.

Wet n Wild Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Peachy Keen- A peachy bronze frost that gives off the warmth of gold without being too over the top.

Wet n Wild Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Ring Around the Rosy- A rose shade that leans a bit raisin. This one is creamy & without shimmer. Very wearable.

Wet n Wild Mega Shield Lip Color SPF 15 in Birthday Suit- A pink toned nude with a frosted finish. For those who were digging my lip color for my Purple Smoky Eye Post I did for my birthday, this was the lip color used. Although its a frost I find it really easy to wear.

 So what makes these so great? Besides their price tag, color selection, & being from a brand I trust, these are great lip colors overall. Moisturizing but will last longer than other moisture rich shades. I love the feel on my lips as they aren’t thick or slick, two things I’m not interested in for summer. Plus…SPF! I LOVE that! I’ll be wearing these more in videos & pictures so stay tuned if you want to see them with a full face. All three are lovely against my skin tone & I can’t imagine them not working on someone else really.These also swatched easily & although they are buildable I can also wear them sheer because they are well pigmented.

A negative? Yep. The packaging on these is just …weird! The two photos above comes on each single tube. I’ll let my girl Kelly at Vampy Varnish explain because she does it so eloquently. Done ready? Okay so these are picking up fuzz like crazy around where the sticker was. So annoying. Other than the whole sticker dilemma, I rather like the tube. It feels sturdy & such.

These are $2.99 each but Wet n Wild is often sold in stores with great sales so be sure to check that out before you hunt them down. I believe I picked mine up from CVS or Walgreens. Have you tried these? What shades are you loving?

Quick Post: My Husband Made My Nail Polish Rack!

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Super quick post as I’m still organizing in preparation to be able to get everything in its place & such. But I wanted to show you guys really quickly! I promise to post better pictures soon! These are from my Instagram, follow me! My Instagram is StephanieLouiseATB XO

How do you organize yours?

Spring/Summer 2012 Picks: Shrimp on the Barbie by Spoiled

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I wasn’t looking for a Spring/Summer 2012 nail polish. I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but I have a lot of nail polish. In fact, hubby finished my shelf last night so get ready to see it in action ASAP! Anyway, I wasn’t. I didn’t think it could possibly. I can’t pick one of anything like ever. But then it hit me in the face. This is it. This is my top pick in the topic of new nail polish for Spring & Summer of 2012. Also, I find some of the prettiest shades are those that are practically indescribable.

Shrimp on the Barbie by Spoiled- A coral-toned mauve densely packed with golden glass flecks.
 

This mani has been worn numerous times, in fact, these photos are form 3 different times. This is sheer in the first coat but builds up beautifully by the third. The Spoiled line as a whole is really impressive. If you read my blog frequently, well, pictures say 1,000 words right? This shade in particular garners lots of attention because depending on lighting it takes on all kinds of gorgeous shades of wonderful. I get a ridiculous amount of compliments on it as well. You’ll see some chipping here above…that’s after a week. That’s a miracle on my nails, & no, there isn’t a top coat.

The Spoiled nail polish line is exclusive to CVS & only $1.99 each. Get up, scrounge together some quarters & dimes if need be, & go buy this polish. No, really.

Nail Comparisons: China Glaze Riveting + Other Orange Shimmers/Flecks

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Nail comparisons are always helpful for me. I am constantly stalking some of my favorite nail polish blogs to see if I have a dupe or to see what the differences are in case something else works better for me. I especially do this with colors my skin tone can totally reject (why hello nudes) & colors I wear less often like orange & yellow. Without futher rambling, here are 2 of my other oranges I love that have some sort of shimmer/fleck to them.

 Left to right: Pointer finger is Myrta by Zoya (Summer 2012) 2 coats, Middle is the Riveting by China Glaze 3 coats, Ring finger is 9.0.2.1.Orange by Wet n Wild 3-4 coats, & my pinkie is Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in Hard to Get 3 coats.

Myrta is clearly more pink toned & has yellow/gold shimmers that aren’t as fire-y so they look more silver. Myrta is extremely saturated though which is something Riveting has in common after its layered. 9.0.2.1.Orange is the closest thing I could find to an orange that appeared “lit from within” like Riveting. Clearly much lighter & leans way more yellow but if you like the fire look, this one is really fun. Hard to Get isn’t as sparkly as the others. It has some shimmers that end up looking more reflective because they are so small. In the shade, Riveting & 9.0.2.1.Orange can actually look similar in shade when in the bottle. The shimmers in Riveting really set it apart.

Well, that cements it! You NEED Riveting! haha What do you think of these other orange shades? Own any of them? All of these colors are linked above in case you want to check out older posts focusing on each shade.

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This blog at times uses affiliate links, sponsored material, & receives some products as samples in hopes of review. This in no way alters the articles/posts written & all opinions are my own or that of a guest writer. Please see my disclosure tab above header for more info.