Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Leave-In Conditioner: A Review

I just want to say that I have NEVER finished a hair product. Barely finished any of my makeup. But if my memory serves me right, I've never finished any of my beauty products especially all by myself. This stuff is AMAZING.

Product: 5 out of 5!

Packaging: 5 out of 5!

Quality: 5 out of 5!

Price: $ 11.50 @ Sephora

My JKNM Stamp of Approval is for all items that are 5 out of 5 in all categories!

The Claim:

“Infused with lavender, rosemary, and super-conditioning marigolds, this leave-in is ideal for dry hair. The scent is a lovely warm complement to the fresh Rosemary Mint Shampoo with Sea Moss. What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates
- Synthetic Dyes
- Petro-Chemicals
- Phthalates
- GMO
- Triclosan"

- Sephora

The Good:

I cant say enough about how good this product is. Its amazing. I used it daily and it conditions my hair wonderfully without weighing it down. Its light, but you can definitely feel it working as soon as you put it on. Its great for ALL hair types. And it smells sooo good. Black Vanilla. Its really subtle too and not overpowering at all. With continued use you can feel your hair getting softer and softer. I usually use it in the morning when styling my hair, but admit, sometimes I even used it throughout the day just to give my hair a little pick me up. I have super thick hair and it just sucks up moisture and this definitely was a great moisturizer for me.

The Bad:

I have NOTHING bad to say about it.

Overall:

Its great for ALL hair types, that's one thing I love about this brand. It just caters to keeping hair healthy. There's so many things we don't know much about when it comes to additives, but we're becoming more and more aware of them as this knowledge is put out there. Carol's Daughter products specifically leave out certain harmful ingredients that can strip and dry out your hair, doing more harm than good. I'm definitely going to be reordering soon!

xoxo,

Jaimie

Zoya Nail Polish Review - Casey

Okay so back in the day, I was an avid OC watcher. It was my favorite show and I loveddddd me some Seth Cohen! My fave seasons where the first 2, after that it kinda went downhill. But ever since Marissa was going through her Volchek (mmm) dark and moody phase, I've been searching for the perfect dark color.

It was this unspecified dark and sexy color, not exactly black, there was a hint of color, but what I couldn't tell. All I knew was that I wanted my nails to have that perfect effect. Fast forward like 3 years later, and my once favorite show is off the air, but I haven't stopped searching for that perfect color. I knew as soon as I saw swatches of Zoya's Casey that it was a wrap!

Product: 5 out of 5!

Packaging: 5 out of 5!

Quality: 5 out of 5!

Price: $ 6.00 @ Art of Beauty

The Specs:

Tone: Cool
Finish: Cream
Color Family: Purples
Intensity: 5 (1= Very Shear to 5= Very Opaque)
Original Collection

The Good:

I LOVE THIS COLOR. Its so sexy!! I love the way it makes my hands look. They're just hot! I actually went to get my nails done at the salon with this color yesterday and I got stopped by this nice lady inquiring about my color. I gave her the stats and told her to keep an eye out for my review. If you're reading now, hi! This color is that show stopping. I love deep dark purples and grays and this is totally fitting my mood and my new fall wardrobe lol. All you need is two coats, hit it with a sealant and you have perfectly shiny lacquered nails.

Indoors its this dark almost black color, but in the sunlight you can see its blacked plum color. I'm in love and can't stop looking at my nails.

The Bad:

The first coat can be a bit streaky so take your time.

Overall:

This is a MUST HAVE polish in my opinion, looks great on all skintones. Just do your first coat, let dry for about 3 minutes, then do your second coat. So nice I even put it on my toes!

I'm giving away a Casey polish in the contest so don't miss out on your chance to win.

xoxo,

Jaimie

Zoya Nail Polish Review - Stephanie

As I'm sure most of you girls did, I cashed in on Zoya's 5,000 follower giveaway. I think it was if they reached 5,000 followers on their Twitter page, that they would be giving away $18 credits, that's 3 free polishes, per order. All you had to pay was shipping. One of the colors I was dying to get was Stephanie. I'm really weird regarding color, I'll first go to something something deep and dark or really pale before I go with bright colors, Maybe its my inner emo kid or somethin, I dunno. But as soon as I saw swatches of Stephanie I had to have it.

Product: 4 out of 5!

Packaging: 5 out of 5!

Quality: 5 out of 5!

Price: $ 6.00 @ Art of Beauty

The Specs:

Tone: Cool
Finish: Cream
Color Family: Purples
Intensity: 2 (1= Very Shear to 5= Very Opaque)
Original Collection

The Good:

Zoya describes this as the palest purple pink cream. I'd agree with all that but the purple part. I think its more baby pink with a milky cream mix. Either way I love it. I know it says the sheer factor is about a 2 and that is what I was expecting, but honestly, with a good two coats, like in the pictures below, the color is great and a little opaque.

I'm super hard on my nails and so my polish is usually always smudging or chipping within a week. But what I found with Zoya is that they really stay a lot longer than a lot of the other nail polishes I use. They also have this color lock formula, that I'm sure will help make it last even more.

The Bad:

My only qualm with Zoya polishes and the only reason I gave the product a 4 out of 5, would be that in some of their formulas, like this one, they can go on a little thick and its a little hard to smooth onto your nails. Other than that I like everything about it. Some of their other formulas don't have that problem.

Overall:

I love it, it definitely makes my hand look more delicate haha. Its been on my nails exactly a week now and just starting to chip, I think that's good for me! Its a gorgeous color and I think every girl should have it :)

I'm giving away a Stephanie polish in the contest so don't miss out on your chance to win.

xoxo,

Jaimie

My Scent Arsenal Part 2

Last week I posted about my favorite daytime perfume, Burberry Brit. But today I’m going to finish up and tell you the one that completes my scent set. The other perfume I wear is Giorgio Armani’s Sensi. I think it is the ULTIMATE in evening fragrances.

Product: 5 out of 5

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Quality: 5 out of 5

Price: $ 75 for 3.4 oz. / $55 for 1.7 oz. at Ulta

The Claim: “A sensitive, serene blend of clean elegant notes, Sensi opens with a burst of Kaffir Lime softened with Acacia Farnese. Sensuous barley, Cape jasmine, palissander wood, benzoin and vanilla accents create subtle nuances of sensuality. Mood: Sophisticated, floral and soft.” – www.giorgioarmanibeauty.com

The Good: It must be the mix of lime and vanilla that does it for me in fragrances because I LOVE this scent. I think it’s sensual and feminine without being dainty and girly. Its deep and husky and sexy. Both men and women wonder what it is I’m wearing and I don’t blame them lol. I think it smells THAT good. The simple and clean clear bottle shows off the amber liquid and the Sensi Logo is printed inside the glass.

The Bad: None

Overall: A definite keeper. Perfect for nights out and the fall and winter seasons. Again, I will say, this may not work for you as everyone’s body chemistries are different, but atleast take the time to find out! =} I think its pretty long lasting; we always think our scent fades, but we really just get used to the smell being on us so we don’t notice it anymore. But for an even longer lasting application, you can also purchase the body lotion and apply it before you spray your perfume.

My Scent Arsenal - Burberry Brit

Are you guys OCD about some of your possessions? I know I am, and I'm not quite sure if anyone else does this. I can't have too much of some things because I feel I'm being "unfair" to the others. I can't have multiple necklaces that I really like and then not wear them. Yes yes, I'm a weirdo. My mother bought me a diamond heart necklace for my graduation in 2005 and I wore it almost three years straight everyday. Then this spring, I got a Tiffany Tag necklace and now that has become my everyday necklace. I have earrings that are for certain styles and looks (huge gold doorknockers, silver hoops, flashy nighttime gear), but the only ones I wear are a set of pearls and a set of diamond studs. They're classic and just my style and I go back and forth between the two pairs at different times of the year. The only thing this doesn't apply to is makeup, and even then I try not to have more than one of the same things. My perfume is no different. I have a couple of different fragrances, but I only really wear two. An everyday, daytime scent. And my special occasion, seductive, evening scent. Today I'm going to review my everyday favorite, Burberry Brit.

Product: 5 out of 5

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Quality: 5 out of 5

Price: 3.3 oz. - $85/ 1.7 oz. - $65 at Burberryusaonline.com, but is usually significantly cheaper at a department store, Sephora, or another online retailer.

The Claim: “Top notes are Italian lime, icy pear and crisp green almond. A green oriental fragrance that features a surprising mix of sugar and spice. Heart notes: sugared almond and white peony. Dry down notes: amber, mahoganywood, tonka beans and vanilla.” - Burberryusaonline.com

The Good: I'm in love with it! Though how can you be surprised when I wear it everyday? lol. While I've heard it described as fresh and floral, it is nothing of the sort and I'm glad. I'm not a "floral" perfume girl at all; I'm not a girlie girl either I'd say so I really don’t like the dainty rose scents. I personally don't like the smell of many flowers and having my perfume smell like a bouquet is not for me at all. But you really don't think "girly flowers" when you smell this. I think, “classy and sophisticated beauty”. I love the crisp scents of the lime, pear, and almond. I'd never think that the three of them would smell great together, but they do. Citrus and Sugar. It also gives off a scent of vanilla without it being too sweet. A woodsy vanilla and amber. Oh its just so good.

The Bad: I have nothing bad to say about it.

Overall: One of the best perfumes I've ever had. It’s perfect for everyday and I'd be surprised if you didn't get complimented on it. But you really have to try this perfume in person and let it marinate on you to gauge it adequately. Due to different body chemistries, perfumes and fragrances smell differently on different people. But I'd recommend that you definitely give it a chance. And the bottle is so cute. I'm not even a brand snob, I just like high quality things. But you can't deny how cute the Burberry plaid is on the bottle. =} If you're looking for this scent even lighter, try Burberry Brit, Eau de Toilette. I've owned it also and its just as good. I prefer the Eau de Parfum though, because it lasts longer on me and is stronger. I know that at different times during the year they have special sets for the Burberry Brit Collection. Twice I've got it in a set with a lotion and shower gel, so keep an eye out if you're looking for a set.