In love with Lush! Lush Favorites Series- Ultrabland Cleanser

I have a sordid love affair with Lush cosmetics, a UK based company specializing in fresh handmade cosmetics. I love almost every product I’ve tried at Lush. I’m particularly a fan of their fresh face masks and bath bombs (just found out my absolute favorite bath bomb “enchanted” has been discontinued…my heart weeps. If they every get rid of “sex bomb” there is going to be a problem). 

I’ve always heard a lot about Ultrabland; a non-irritating beeswax cleanser, but the though of rubbing something as greasy as beeswax into my skin just never appealed to me as someone with excessively oily/combination skin (mainly oily). This was until I started doing more research into oil cleansing and cream/ wipe off cleansers. I’ve used wipe off cleansers in the past and had decent results but couldn’t really get past wanting a product to lather up on my face and having that squeaky clean feeling. This is because I’ve always dealt with oily skin. Most of the products recommended for oily skin are products designed to cut through grease or products with salicylic acid (which I seem to be allergic to- boo!). I have had a solid skincare regimen for as long as I can remember. The last few years I’ve really been looking into products for “aging” skin. Whilst I’ll still in my twenties I have been noticing subtle changes in my skin as I approach 30 and have been wanting more of a preventative skincare routine. Anyway, I’m saying all of this to say, I quickly discovered the benefits of oil cleansing (blog post on the way) for oily skin and so I was much more open to trying out Lush’s Ultrabland cleanser, and I’m so glad I did. 

It’s a little pricy at $16.95 for 1.5oz or $29.95 for 3.5oz but well worth it. This stuff is the nectar of the God’s, packed full of great quality natural ingredients. My skin is looking the best it’s looked in ages, I don’t get as oily at all. My skin is clear, smooth, soft and radiant…I’m sold! I’ve been pairing this with Lush “Grease Lightning” gel, a spot cleansing aloe vera gel infused with thyme, tea tree and rosemary; a delicious cocktail for oily skin.

Pretty Pink Pout- MAC “Kittenish” Patentpolish Lip Pencil Review

 "The colour and shine of a gloss, the precision of a lip pencil."

New MAC Cosmetics Patentpolish lip pencils come in 12 rich colors ranging from light lilacs to rich reds and gorgeous grape shades. I recently found myself at a MAC counter looking for a good light- mid pink lipstick that would complement my dark (NW50) skin. I actually really wanted something like “Saint Germain” lipstick but after swatching similar colors I decided to look for something a little less bright and a little more muted and mauve-y. One of the Make up artist suggested I try the new Patentpolishes. He didn’t have to ask twice! I tried on the “Patent Pink”, “Kittenish” and “Sultana” (randomness- but I love the word “sultana”… and I love sultanas). I decided to go with “Kittenish” since I was looking for a nice pink and the makeup artist and other customers thought it looked the prettiest. Also, I was determined to only spend the money left on an old Macy’s gift card I had in my purse…restraint people…restraint! Lol.

I adore the texture of these lips pencils. They are creamy and smooth but not overly sticky, with great staying power. The color is also buildable. A light coating gives you a sheer wash of color but you can add more for a more pigmented effect. I have other lipstick pencils but this could really be a favorite. These are $20 a pop, so cost a little more than your average MAC lipstick. There’s a decent amount of product, though not as much as a lipstick.

Swatches

If you want to splurge on a department store lipstick pencil, I’d say go for it!

Product Review - Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback Treatment

I always found Miss Jessie’s products intriguing. The jazzy packaging, expensive cost and their cult following made me think the products must be something special. For years I had tried to stay away from hair products packed with icky ingredients like mineral oil, petroleum, sulfates, cones, parabens, cheap hydrogenated oils etc. and was always willing to pay the price for quality all natural ingredients. So I was surprised to read Miss Jessie’s ingredient lists considering what their hefty price tags.  Anyway, throwing all caution to the wind, and removing the stick from my….I decided to take advantage of their holiday 2 for 1 sale and was able to get my hands on some deep conditioners. I purchased the Miss Jessie’s Super Sweetback Treatment and their Rapid Recovery Treatment. After my first use of the Super Sweetback Treatment…I fell in love. I have fine, porous 4C type kinky hair and have always found it difficult to find a great moisturizing deep conditioner. This one does the trick!

                                                                              

                                                                               

 Description (from Miss Jessie's Website)
“Want long curly hair? Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback treatment is an essential treatment for growing out naturally curly, tight curly,kinky, and transitioners hair. Healthy growth and length is what most curlies covet. Miss Jessie's can assist you in this process. An elongated curl has more bounce, is more manageable, and is less prone to frizz. Be super sweet to your curls* Miss Jessie's Super Sweetback treatment is a decadent softening treatment which ensures that your curls reach long luxurious length. This rich treatment full of Shea butter and centella extract is a growth stimulant that promotes long healthy curls. Your hair is going to love you for this! Great for: Curly, tight curls, kinky and transitioning hair                                                                        

My experience
Promoted as an “essential growth treatment”, this is a very thick and creamy deep conditioner and a little goes a long way. A golf ball size amount is more than enough for my shoulder length hair.

Scent

Smells like bubblegum, candy, gumdrops, rainbows and unicorns. Those who aren’t a fan of strong scents may find this sickeningly sweet. I find the scent bearable but it is pretty strong and does stay in the hair after being rinsed out.

Does it do the job?

I must admit this product really does make my hair feel soft and moisturized. I give it a 7.5/10. It loses points because at $32 for 32oz I will never pay full price for this product. If it were cheaper I can see it being more of a staple. However, there are cheaper products that also do a great job. If you don’t mind splurging, I’d say this is worth a try.