Beautiful! I Just Want You to Know: Jane Carter Solution Review

 

Hair’s the Deal…

I’ve been having hair woes since November (when a large load of family stress plopped itself onto my back). Somewhere around that time, a sizeable amount of my already-shine resistant, un-relaxed (but color treated) hair decided we needed to part ways. Very quickly I went from a nice sized wild fro to something way too tame for my liking. PLUS it still didn’t wanna shine. (The one in the red chair was taken in June, the other was taken less than a month ago. See the difference in the size of my fro? I’m about to cry looking at the comparison.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, I lamented the loss of my beloved locks and the lackluster attitude of what remained to a friend and fellow diva. Poof! A box of complimentary samples arrived on my doorstep from Jane Carter Solution.

The package included Moisture Nourishing Shampoo, Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo, Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner, Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner, Wrap & Roll setting lotion, Condition & Sculpt liquid gel, Curl Defining Cream, Nourish and Shine hair butter, Hair Nourishing Cream, Scalp Nourishing Serum and Hair Nourishing Serum.

I liked the results of the Hydrating Invigorating Shampoo, Nutrient Replenishing Conditioner and Revitalizing Leave-In Conditioner. After washing, my hair didn’t feel stripped and dry the way it has with some other shampoos. Plus it’s sulphate free, and I love the tingly feeling from the peppermint in it. Conditioning left my hair soft, and I didn’t notice much breakage in my comb (always a good sign, right?).

Then I applied the Curl Defining Cream (because if I don’t use something my hair will look like some kind of shapeless cotton ball). Unfortunately, this product may work TOO well, my coils became a little too tight for my liking (but my hair is ‘funny acting’, so I may have to give it another try).

So far, the Hair Nourishing Serum and Hair Nourishing Cream are keeping my hair moisturized but not greasy (YES, I need BOTH, and the serum smells pretty fresh), and I like the Scalp Nourishing Serum, too (ylang ylang and cedar, anyone?). However, the STAR of this product show is the Nourish and Shine. It’s not sticky or greasy, but it leaves a nice luster.

All in all, I’m pleased with the kit. I’m not sure that I’ll convert totally to the brand but a few of the products will surely be added to my regimen (I think you know which ones). I’m hoping now my hair will be happy enough with me to grow back. I really don’t wanna go back to tracks on tracks on tracks *Roscoe Dash voice*.

Technorati Tags: Product Review,Natural Hair,Jane Carter Solution,Hair Care,Beauty Products,African American Hair

Beautiful! I Just Want You to Know! (Kiss My Face & E.L.F)

I'll Take You to the Candy Shop...

Whatchu know 'bout me (whatchu whatchu know 'bout me!)? Well here's one thing you need to know: StyleScrybe's lip gloss is officially cool (and poppin'). Since it's winter, I'm constantly re-hydrating my pucker, so I was super psyched to find a CP-time Christmas gift baggie loaded with lip goodies in my mailbox. When I saw the deep, bronzy color of the topaz Sheer Organic Shine by Kiss My Face, I was concerned, but I'm a sucker for anything minty (can't beat shiny lips AND fresh breath in one pop), so I gave it a try. Once I realized the subtlety of the color and read on the tube that it's 100% natural (and 91% organic), I was hooked. I think Opal will be my next color (they're all named after precious jewels).

Then, the sweet side of me swooned when I spotted e.l.f.'s Candy Shop lip gloss tins. I got "Cherry Bomb" and "Frosting Fanatic" and was impressed with both. Just enough shimmer and tint with believably yummy smells and a hint of flavor.


At least this year my lips will be ready for Valentine's Day even if my love life isn't. Oh... BTW, StyleScrybe is single and VERY ready to mingle. Any leads?

Just So Ya Know...

1.2.3.4.5. I'm Alive!!!

Sooo... um... er... uh... you know how sometimes you don't call a friend for a while and then feel guilty, so you don't call for an even longer while because you think said friend may be mad or something? Well, StyleScrybe has done that exact thing to all my cyber-girls (AGAIN). My bad. I hope you haven't given all the way up on me yet, though. I've been traveling quite a bit, so this go round, I'm just going to catch you up on a few things that grabbed my attention recently... then we can get back to our (semi) regularly scheduled programming.

1. Freedom Party at Canal Room in NY- If you're in the area and want to dance the ENTIRE night with a great crowd, make your way there ASAP! I normally don't like regular Friday night parties (I'm a little bougie... sue me), but this one had me doin every dance from "the butt" to the "bogle." I'm mad I missed the first 5 years of Freedom.

2.
J Holiday- I can't lie, I semi-slept on his vocal abilities. However, a few weeks ago he sang the National Anthem beautifully at Big Tigger's Celebrity Basketball Game in DC. I got a chance to chat with him afterward, and he's a cool cat, so I'm officially an advocate.

3.
Carol's Daughter Gelee de Soleil Browning Oil- On a recent trip to South Beach with the Cutie Crew, we laid out on the sand to score some of the Sun's smooches (yeah yeah, I know). One of my girls pulled out this beach in a bottle, and i fell in love instantly. It's got SPF 15 (again, I know), so there's a little UVA/ UVB protection, and my tan was puuuurtee after my trip.

4.
Smirnoff Watermelon Vodka- A very good friend of mine put me up on this perfect summer libation. Throw a few ice cubes in a glass, some watermelon chunks and as much of this smooth, sweet goodness as you can handle. It sho' am good! (I tried to resist, but I couldn't... have a sense of humor... kay?)






5.
Rimmel London 60 Second Vinyl Shine- Girls on the go still gotta get their "shine" on, and sometimes when you're stoppin' shows, there's no time to stop at the salon. This stuff got me right in one coat and one minute. My shade of choice is the fantastically fuschia "Stop Traffic."

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Coworker Claus)

Because Sometimes Secret Santa Sucks

You've picked the name from the hat and realized that a) you don't know the person you're supposed to gift, or b) you know the person and can't stand him or her. Hell, maybe you even like the person a little bit. Regardless, who wants to spend a bunch of hard-earned dough on a co-worker when you have real friends and family to buy presents for? Thank goodness there's a price limit for your office's holiday grab bag. Before you cop the cheesy reindeer socks or contemplate a $10 gift card (c'mon now), try getting something that's actually cool and has some personality. At least this way it'll be easy to re-gift. Here are five gifts I found fall under usual limits of $10-20. BTW, I'll gladly accept any of these if you want to be my Secret Santa :-).

Poppin' Bottles (10 Bucks or Below) For Wendy or Wendel Winelover, little friendly "Carlo" stoppers are a fun "welcome back" to unfinished bottles of vino. A set of two costs $8.50 at Retromodern.com. If your giftee is Mindy Manicure, this $9.95 Essie Winter '07 mini pack from Enailsupply.com is sure to make the "keeper" pile.











Fun & Yummy ($15 is Far Enough) Super Mario 'Shrooms take the mind back to simpler times. Pop of the top and take Sam Sweettooth's taste buds on a tart adventure. $15 at Fredflare.com gets your giftee a set of three. The J.R. Watkins Apothecary Sampler keeps skin butter-smooth and smelling sweet (I swear by this stuff, straight up). Carry-on friendly and made with natural ingredients, it's only $14.99 at Drugstore.com.













Treat your Nose ($20's the Top) Inhale, Exhale let good vibes flow. Ilio Nectaire Diffuser Duos from Target are great for gifting. For $19.99 choose from vanilla bean/ berry cinnamon bark or lavender/ cucumber. If the recipient isn't fond of one scent, there's another choice. Bigger than that, he or she can keep one home and put another in the office. Ain't no fun if the homies can't haaaave none, right?

Five, Six, Pick Up... (Gifts for Cosmetics Connoisseurs)

About Face

There's one in every crew... the girl whose wardrobe is a little blah, but her makeup is always perfect. She doesn't care much about the Christian trinity (you know, Louboutin, Lacroix and Dior), but she sure knows the ABC's of beauty (Anastasia, Bobbi Brown, Cargo, and so on). You and the rest of your gal gang give her fashion goodies every year, but she never seems to wear them (because she's given them to her other friends for their birthdays). This year, stop trying to reinvent the wheel, for once, and give her something she won't have to re-gift. If you're reading this, you've got more of a fashion focus than a beauty brain, so I did the foot- (er, finger-)work for you. Here are five glam-up giftsI found that should fit a variety of friendship (price) levels.

BFF on a Budget ($)

If it's a stocking you're stuffing, spend $5.09 for this set of 8 e.l.f. Hypershine Mini Cell Phone Lip Gloss Charms at drugstore.com, or up the ante a little for a $25 Sugar Cosmetics Zip Kit containing a lip gloss and 4 eyeshadow choices at makeup.com.












Generous Gal-Pal ($$)

Cargo's $45 collection of favorites makes it easy to achieve this holiday season's sophisticated looks. A $108 value, this festively packaged limited edition kit is available only at Sephora. Every face-ionista knows no face is completely "beat" without perfectly bowed brows. Give your homegirl the upper hand with this $75 Anastasia Beverly Hills kit.













Sister-friend with a Surplus ($$$)

If you got it like that, then give like this: Bobbi Brown's limited edition Rose Gold Collection. For $125 your beauty-addicted buddy'll get a glamorous 5-piece makeup set in an exclusive shimmery Beauty Kit.