Thursday, June 27, 2013

In which I try a mayonnaise hair treatment...

For years, I've heard about people using mayonnaise as a conditioning hair treatment. I've never personally know anyone who's tried it, though. However, lately my hair has been looking a bit... tired, I guess. Kind of dull and lackluster. And, with a sudden light-bulb of inspiration, I decided to look into the legendary mayonnaise treatment. I researched it a bit online, and found that it's generally worked well for people who've tried it. So, Saturday night, I decided to try it for myself.

I was a bit nervous when I first opened the packet of Mayonnaise. How would it affect my raven locks, and what's more, did I want my head to smell like a turkey sandwich? But, I finally got the nerve to smooth it into my hair. It smelled very strong, and was a bit nausea-making at first. But once I got past the smell (it seemed to fade after a moment), I massaged the mayonnaise into my hair from root to tip, trying to evenly coat every strand of hair. That done, I let it sit for about 10 minutes. After that, it was time to wash it out. I rinsed the excess mayo out with cool water from the sink, then I showered, washing my hair like I normally would. I let my hair dry naturally and combed it with a wide-tooth comb. The next morning, my hair was very shiny and soft, and less frizzy than usual. Today, almost a week and several washings later, my hair is still soft and manageable.

All in all, I was pleased with the results of the mayonnaise hair treatment. It may not be the most "pleasant" of treatments, but it's cheap, easy, and seems to work. I'll consider repeating the treatment every few weeks, as needed.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Lemonade Hand Scrub

This homemade hand scrub couldn't be easier to make, feels great, and smells like fresh-squeezed lemonade!

What you'll need:
-a small bowl
-about 10 tsps. granulated sugar (equal to 5 or 6 sugar packets)
-juice from 1 small lemon wedge
-water

Here's what to do:
Squeeze the juice from 1 small lemon wedge into your bowl. Add sugar to lemon juice, mixing lightly with a spoon or your fingers, until the sugar in grainy in texture, like wet sand. If needed, add a few drops of water or more sugar to achieve the right texture. Now your Lemonade Hand Scrub is ready to use! Gently scrub hands with mixture to exfoliate and soften skin, then rinse hands with water.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Product Review: Lip Smacker Strawberry Lover's Collection

Today I'll review the Lip Smacker Strawberry Lover's Collection. Like the Cupcake Lover's Collection, this six-flavor set is part of Lip Smacker's 40th anniversary celebration. The flavors included are; Strawberry Coconut, Strawberry Watermelon, Strawberry, Strawberry Cotton Candy, Strawberry Vanilla, and Strawberry Cheesecake. They come packaged in an adorable Strawberry shaped pouch. Want to know more about these exciting flavors? I'll review them right here:

Strawberry Coconut:
This refreshing flavor is sweet, tangy and very tropical! If it was a drink, it would have a little paper umbrella in it, and you would be sipping it on the beach. I have to say, this is my favorite flavor of the set. Grade: 5/5

Strawberry Watermelon:
This fresh-tasting flavor is perfect for Summer. It's sweet, juicy, and brings to mind picnics and sunshine. It's a bit heavy on the watermelon for my tastes, but that's more of a personal preference. If you like watermelon, you will love this flavor! Grade: 4.5/5

Strawberry:
This is the original tried-and-true Lip Smacker. It tastes and smells like fresh-picked strawberries, and reminds me of being a kid. The Strawberry flavor was my first Lip Smacker ever, and guess what? This one still tastes exactly the same as it did back then! The one downside is, I feel like Strawberry becomes a bit overlooked among the other, more unique flavors. However, this nostalgic flavor absolutely has to be part of this collection. You can't go wrong with it, and that's why it's been a Lip Smacker favorite for 40 years! Grade: 4/5

Strawberry Cotton Candy:
This has a sweet, but slightly artificial strawberry scent and flavor. It's candy-like, rather than having a more "fresh-picked" strawberry flavor, like the other glosses in this collection. It's prefect for those times when you're craving a sweet, but don't want to indulge in real candy. I have to admit, this is my least favorite in the collection, but the fun flavor has grown on me. Grade: 3.5/5

Strawberry Vanilla:
This Lip Smacker smells like a strawberry Starburst candy, and tastes like strawberry ice cream. It's creamy and juicy at the same time, with a nice balance of flavors. I like that you can taste both the strawberry and the vanilla. One doesn't overpower the other- they work together perfectly! Grade: 5/5

Strawberry Cheesecake:
This flavor is similar to Strawberry Vanilla, but with a lighter, more delicate scent, and a "baked" note. The fresh berry flavor is not too sweet and tastes great! Grade: 4.5/5

Overall, the Strawberry Lover's Collection is very good. I was concerned that the six strawberry flavors would be too similar, but they all have a unique flavor. High-notes are Strawberry Coconut and Strawberry Vanilla, in my opinion. This collection is great for anyone who loves strawberries. However, if I had to chose between the two special collections, I would choose the Cupcake Lover's Collection, for it's variety of flavors.







Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Product review: Lip Smacker Cupcake Lover's Collection

The Lip Smacker Cupcake Lover's Collection is part of Lip Smacker's 40th anniversary celebration. The six new cake-themed flavors, Red Velvet, Strawberry Sprinkle, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Coconut, Birthday Cake, and Berry Buttercream, come in a cute pink cupcake pouch, making this a fun set for Lip Smacker fans. Here, I'll review each flavor:

Red Velvet:
Honestly, I've never eaten real Red Velvet cake, but I imagine this is what it would taste like. It has a creamy cocoa flavor that isn't too sweet, with a hint of cream cheese frosting flavor. The lip gloss itself has a slight pink tint, which I enjoy. Grade: 5/5

Strawberry Sprinkle:
This is a sugary strawberry flavor. It tastes similar to the classic strawberry Lip Smacker, but has a lighter flavor. It tastes good, but I don't think it stands out from the crowd as much as it could. Grade 3.5/5

Salted Caramel:
This is my favorite in the collection! It tastes similar to caramel corn. The flavor is rich and warm, with a unique salty bite. A nice deviation from the usual sweetness of other flavors. Grade: 5/5

Vanilla Coconut:
This tastes just like coconut cake! It's creamy and sweet, and the coconut flavor is light enough that it doesn't taste like sunblock. It has a good balance of both flavors, with a fresh-from-the oven warmth. Grade 4.5/5

Berry Buttercream:
This is another favorite. The flavor is creamy with a tangy berry flavor. It reminds me of mixed berry yogurt. Although it's meant to represent a frosting flavor, I find that it isn't overly sweet. The tartness of the berries gives it a great flavor that stands out in this collection. 5/5

Birthday Cake:
This tastes of yellow cake with vanilla frosting. The buttery, fresh-baked taste is delicious. Although the flavor is not as intense as I'd like, it has a very realistic flavor. You can almost taste the frosting and smell the melting birthday candles. Make a wish! 4.5/5

Overall, this is a great collection! If you love cupcakes, you'll enjoy this set. All of the flavors are very good, with the high-notes being Salted Caramel and Berry Buttercream, in my opinion. The Cupcake Lover's Collection is a fun and flavorful way to celebrate 40 years of Lip Smacker!




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Mousturizing foot soak

If you're feet are sore or tired, here is a relaxing scented foot soak you might enjoy!
 
What you'll need: -a pan or tub deep enough to cover your feet -towel -comfortably warm water -scented bath salts -body lotion, unscented or a complimentary scent -polished rocks or marbles (optional)
 
Fill your pan or tub with enough warm water to cover your feet (important: make sure the water is not too hot! It should feel like bath water). Add a small scoop of scented bath salts (I used Red Velvet scented), and let them dissolve. Next, add a few squeezes of body lotion (I used Cherry Blossom scented). Spread a towel and put your tub on top of it. Then, if you wish, add polished rocks (found at craft stores) or marbles, for a massaging effect. Now, sit in a comfy chair with a good book or magazine, dip your feet into the foot soak, and relax! If your feet feel prune-y after you're finished,  dry them thoroughly with a towel and smooth on more body lotion.
 
Important: do not stand up while your feet are in the tub! Especially if you are using rocks or marbles. Dry your feet thoroughly before standing/walking.