Smashing!

I've kind of being doing a little lot of shopping lately...

In preparation for my upcoming trip to Miami,

I realized that I needed to freshen up my wardrobe, beauty case, 

and anything else that may come in handy for a bachelorette party. 

I'm such a girly girl when it comes to make-up. 

I've been testing out different brands and conjuring up various looks since high school,

and attending last year's IMATS was this girl's ultimate pleasure. 

During my latest haul at Sephora,

I settled on two items from Smashbox - 

a step-by-step contour kit and a legendary lipstick in Vivid Violet.

I always go through phases in my make-up routine. 

One day I'll be really into rosy cheeks,

and then a few weeks later, 

I'll ditch blush all together and stick strictly to bronzer. 

After watching Kandee Johnson's latest video on how to "slenderize your face",

I was on the prowl for a darker foundation/powder. 

The kit above seemed perfect for my needs -

it includes three different shades for contouring, bronzing and highlighting.

What I like the most about it,

is that the powders are shimmer-free. 

Sometimes a little glitter is nice.. but the older I get, the sillier I feel when my face shines like a disco ball.

Not everyone can pull of J Lo's glow... 

well, maybe just on special occasions,

and I have another set of products to achieve that look. 

I've been experimenting with different colors of lipstick lately,

and this new addition is unlike anything I have ever tried before. 

This is my first Smashbox lipstick,

but so far, I'm pretty impressed with how pigmented it is, 

and the amount of moisture it retains after a few hours. 

The picture above doesn't do this color justice - 

I posted a better picture of what it actually looks like on my lips on my Instagram.

I'm planning on bringing both of these items to Miami,

so stay tuned for more pictures of the combined look!

Oh Hana

Ello loves.

Happy Sunday.

I'm spending the day outside - 

taking in the California sunshine,

and catching up on some blogs and magazines.

I've been getting a lot of compliments about my hair lately,

so I'd like to tell you about some new products that I've been using.

First,

I need to point out that I'm a creature of habit. 

When I find something that works well for my body, skin and hair,

I tend to buy wholesale amounts of that product.

My secret fear is that it will all get discontinued at one point or another...

Don't laugh at me,

this has happened before, 

and I was devastated!

I have been using Chi Hair Straightners on my hair ever since high school. 

They've been doing a fabulous job of making my hair look healthy, 

despite the constant damage I put it through while highlighting, teasing, and styling. 

To be honest,

I've never given much thought about the type of blowdryers that I've been using. 

I've had the same cheap Conair one for the past few years,

and felt like it was sufficient enough...

That was until the lovely people of Misikko sent me 

the best blow dryer evah!

I promise you I'm not exaggerating. 

I came home one night to find a box waiting for me on my doorstep,

and when I opened it, 

I squealed like a little girl on Christmas morning. 

Talk about a care package - 

I got so much cool stuff!

Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner,

styling shields,

and of course the big Kahuna-

the Hana Air Blowdryer.

I never realized how much of a difference the air flow makes. 

Ever since I started using the new products,

my hair is shinier and fuller.

And the best part,

is that it takes half the time for me to get ready now. 

Success!

Obsessed

Now, I know that using argan oil to hydrate your locks is no new discovery, but I just have to say... I am OBSESSED with this stuff!! Seriously. I started using Moroccan Oil products a few months ago and will never ever stop, they're that good.

I have been bleaching my hair since god knows when, and although I love the look of sunkissed highlights in my hair, I just can't stand the damage it causes to my tresses. I've literally tried hundreds of repair products over the years but nothing has left me truly satisfied... until I tried Moroccan Oil. This stuff is the bomb!

Ok, so the first product I bought was the Restorative Hair Mask. Looooove it. Like most hair masks, you apply this bad boy after shampooing and let penetrate for a few minutes. I personally take it to a whole other level. After smoothing the mask throughout my hair, I actually get out of the shower and slip on a shower cap and a robe. This lets me walk around the house and go about my business while moisturizing at the same time. Extra points if you also slab on a colorful clay mask on that beautiful face. <-- This is a winning look to get caught with by the way... my husband loves it. Nooot. But hey, beauty is pain shame, right?

I typically use the hair mask about once every week and a half.. sometimes more often if I've done some serious styling over the weekend. It leaves my hair silky smooth, and the smell is to die for... kinda nutty.. a little musky? Anyhoo, get it. You won't regret it. Promise. 

The other two products that I most commonly use are the Original Moroccan Oil and the Hydrating Styling Cream. I just want to be clear.. I am doomed with the oily-scalp-dry-ends syndrome, so when my hair dresser first suggested that I use OIL to moisturize, I looked at her like she was crazy. Luckily, she had a small bottle of it at her salon so I was able to test a little bit on my hair that day. And. I. Was. Hooked. I don't know what the magic trick is, but when I apply a dab of this stuff to my towel dried hair, it leaves my locks shiny and moisturized for the whole day. No oil, no frizz, no fret. The difference between the two is that I usually use the styling creme when I'm planning to curl my hair or actually put more effort into it other than just gliding a hair straightner through it a couple of times. That's it. 

So now you know my secret. The products aren't the cheapest in the world, but you're only supposed to use a tiny amount each time, so they will last you foreeeeever. So worth it. 

What are your best hair tricks?! Do share!