Beauty Crush: Ojon Volume Advance

I have been meaning to post about these fab products for ages because they are truly amazing. Ojon Volume Advance Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for not only fine hair types, but those with strands on the drier side as well. I come from the school of thought that body and volume is really more about the styling products and blow drying than the actual shampoo/conditioner, but this line totally changed my mind. 

I really put it to the test, by not using any products or fancy blow drying techniques, just the simple round brush blow out. My hair felt really light and bouncy (and it is in desperate need of a trim so this is saying something), really clean and super soft. Volumizing shampoos/conditioners have always been a slippery slope for me because on the one hand I have find strands that need volume and body, but on the other I color so I need moisture. Volume Advance is the best of both worlds thanks to Ojon oil, which repairs damage and protein-rich Peruvian Amaranth, which builds body. 

Bonus: Ojon products are free of parabens, pthalates, synthetic dyes - all the yucky stuff. The only downside is the products are definitely pricey ($22 for 8.5oz.) but I say if it works, it's worth it. Scoop up at Sephora.

The Eye Cream Diaries: La Mer The Eye Concentrate

Few things are as luxurious as Creme de la Mer, but it takes a lot to impress this jaded beauty girl, especially when it comes to eye cream. I've been testing out La Mer's The Eye Concentrate for awhile and have been pretty happy with the results thus far. I dug this eye cream out of my stash when I was battling serious dehydration and fine lines, not to mention insane dark circles due to lack of sleep from my work overload and was hoping this would be the ticket. 

It's definitely hydrating alright. As rich and moisturizing as this is though, I love that the texture is still light and refreshing instead of heavy, tacky and sticky. It's definitely too rich for daytime for me though (I get oily throughout the day) so I stick to pm use. The Eye Concentrate absorbs super quickly and almost gives my eye area a glossy bright eyed look. The fine lines have definitely been reduced and dark circles have lightened up. 

The Verdict:

If you need an intensely hydrating eye cream that tackles fine lines and dark circles without harsh anti-agers that can irritate like retinol, leaves eyes with a luminous and you have cash to burn (retail price is $165) pick up La Mer's The Eye Concentrate and you'll look bright eyed and refreshed in no time. Head over to the La Mer site if you're planning on ordering because you'll receive complimentary shipping and two samples.

Beauty Crush: John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist

I have a scandalous confession to make: I wash and blow dry my hair everyday. A total no no according to every stylist, but I can't help it; I just need freshly washed and blown out hair. And to top it off, I don't spray on a heat protectant.  Now that I haven't been highlighting my hair (God I hope this baby appreciates the fact that her poor mom spent 9 months walking around with drab, dirty blonde 7-inch roots) my ends have been in better condition but they still look totally frayed from the constant heat styling. 

I was majorly intrigued by John Frieda's new Full Repair line when I first spotted it while in the drugstore picking up a card. The first weightless solution for over-worked hair? Yes, please. I decided my foray into the line would be with the Perfect Ends Sheer Mist, which repairs and protects fine-textured hair damaged from high heat (cue spotlight on this girl). The key ingredient is Incha Inchi Oil, a lightweight micro-oil rich in omega-3. When I first sprayed it on my hair, concentrating on the ends, it felt like it was really sinking in. I also sprayed a little bit in my hand and then coated my ends again for extra smoothing. 

After I blew my hair dry I was impressed. It felt so soft and smooth, the ends weren't their usual bone dry self and my frizzies and flyaways were better tamed than when I used an actual frizz-reducing product. Plus, it feels super lightweight and not weighed down one single bit. My new hair care obsession. 

The line includes shampoo and conditioner, Root Lift Foam, Perfect Ends Deep Infusion (which is the counterpart to Sheer Mist, except it's for medium-textured hair) and Touch Up Flyaway Tamer. I need to own everything stat. I predict a long-term relationship on the horizon.

And Baby Makes Three

Where does the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted in an entire month. It certainly isn't due to lack of product testing and beauty news, but more so to do with the fact that...drum roll please... Mr. M. and I are expecting our first child! We will be having a beautiful little daughter come July and between all of the researching what to eat/not to eat (bye bye sushi and booze), what beauty products and treatments you can't use (um, basically everything you actually want to), numerous doc appointments (it's one a month but feels like 80 for some reason) and other freelance work, something had to give. 

I'm back in a comfortable groove though and promise to devote more time to you; I've definitely missed posting! And stay tuned because I'm working on a spin off blog dedicated to staying beautiful through pregnancy and being a new mom (have no fear! This won't all of the sudden morph into a mommy and me blog where every post is about babies).

I will say it has been fun to daydream about what our future offspring will look like and grow up to be. I naturally think our daughter will make the perfect beauty editor at Allure magazine. Mr. M. seems to think she'd be much more suited as an equity research analyst at Goldman Sachs. We'll see who ends up being right.

Sundance 2011: Emma Roberts

As I'm sitting and staring outside my window at the blizzard happening right now, I figure I might as well be at Sundance because it's just as cold and snowy.

The totally cute Emma Roberts is at the festival promoting her movie "Homework," and I have the scoop from her makeup artist, Sonia Lee, on what she used to prep her skin for her radiant look.

“Emma Roberts has gorgeous young skin. I started with Votre Vu SpecialEyes Intensive Eye Treatment before I applied makeup, and used a bit of Amour d'Ore multi- vitamin oil for face, body and hair to prep her skin and keep the moisture in. 

Champagne Kisses Enhancing Lip Balm made her lips feel soft and gave me the perfect base for lip color.”

Sundance 2011: Elizabeth Banks

It's that time of year again... Sundance! All the celebs gather in freezing Park City to basically gather swag, watch movies and bum around. I was there a few years ago and it is a great time, but being out in that cold weather can really take a toll on your hair and skin (although it's also basically -3 where I am too).

Elizabeth Banks is looking totally radiant promoting her two movies: My Idiot Brother and The Details and I have the scoop from her hair and makeup team.

Says hairstylist Creighton Bowman:

“On Elizabeth, we wanted a sexy natural wave with lots of shine. I started by using Lait Luminescence Bi-Phase detangling milk by Leonor Greyl from root to end on towel dried hair. 

I did a soft blow dry using a medium round brush, and then used  a medium curling iron to create her soft waves. With a light back combing at the roots I finished with one of my all time favorite products, Serum De Soie Sublimateur!”

Says makeup artist Sonia Lee:

“I used the Votre Vu Champagne Kisses lip balm of course – everyone gets chapped lips in cold weather. (ED note: I've been using this too so look out for a review in the coming days). I prepped her skin with Attentive Serum for sensitive skin and Attentive Crème de Jour sensitive skin to keep her skin looking flawless for her long press day. I used the SpecialEyes Intensive Eye Treatment as a base on her eyes and it really kept her looking fresh all day. The Amour d’Ore body and face oil and Tarte d’Amande body soufflé also helped keep everything moisturized in Sundance’s dryyyy weather.”

Click here for the scoop on Leonor Greyl products, and here for the deets on Votre Vu. 

Redken Launches Nature's Rescue

My fave hair care brand Redken just launched Nature’s Rescue, a collection of paraben-free, sulfate-free and silicone-free haircare products inspired by the ocean and enriched with plant and marine extracts. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, sea polish and sea spray that thoroughly cleanses to remove impurities and buildup while helping nourish and refine the hair. 

I'm loving the fact that Nature's Rescue is sulfate free because as someone who has colored their hair more years than they care to admit, I can attest to the fact that sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners absolutely preserve and protect hair color from fading and are just all around more gentle and less damaging to hair.

Nature’s Rescue includes four products formulated with water-fresh fragrances, cooling sensations and ocean-inspired textures that provide the perfect balance of moisture:

• Step 1: Detox with Nature’s Rescue Refreshing Detox Shampoo
• Step 2: Refine with Nature’s Rescue Refining Sea Polish - this is an exfoliant that removes impurities and reduces frizz
• Step 3: Replenish with Nature’s Rescue Cooling Deep Conditioner
• Step 4: Uplift with Nature’s Rescue Radiant Sea Spray - this spray adds texture and a fresh fragrance

Log onto Redken.com to locate a salon near you.