Product Obsession: Rosebud Salve (in a tube!)

 I know, I know, I'm late to the party on this one.  I've admired the cute little Victorian-inspired tins and incredible rose scent of this product for years, but ultimately never bought one because, well, it was in a tin and I detest applying lip balm with my fingers.

But now!  Those lovely geniuses at the Rosebud Perfume Co. have managed to package the famous Rosebud Salve in a tube!  Hooray!  I can have deliciously smooth rose scented lips too, but with no messy fingers or icky bacteria-ridden tin!  And so can you.

It's not a lip gloss, but it's not exactly a balm either.  What it is, though, is a miracle.  Rosebud Salve fixed my poor chapped lips after just one application when no other lip balm would.  That alone is enough to make me pledge my undying devotion to this cult-favorite product.  Another plus is the price: at only $6 per tube or tin, it's an incredible bargain.

It turns out Rosebud Salve is useful for healing other ailments, too, like minor skin irritations and cuts or burns.  How fantastic is that?  Neosporin isn't packaged nearly as pretty and doesn't smell anywhere near as nice.  If my chapped lips are any indication, Rosebud Salve works fast.  I'm probably going to buy another tube just for these purposes and alternate it with Neosporin the next time I get a scrape.  I'll let you know how it goes...

Survival Guide: Best Products for Curly/Wavy Hair

Last month I was deliriously bored with my hair and decided, for the first time ever, to get a BODY WAVE.  Suddenly I found myself with a tumble of waves and curls I'd always longed for and NO IDEA how to care for them.  Curls left me completely out of my element!  My glorious Rita Hayworth waves quickly dissipated into a giant frizzy mess.  I freaked out a little bit and headed back to my hair stylist (who is fabulous and also my stepmom!) for a keratin treatment to smooth out my hair.  It worked wonders and my hair was back to its normal straight-ness....that is, until our electricity was out for five days.

Devoid of my hairdryer, I finally learned how to properly deal with my wavy curls.  Did you know that brushing curls makes them frizzy?  I never knew!  How could I have known?!  After a lot of trial and error and frantic phone calls to my curly haired friends, I'm embracing my body wave.  I no longer look like a poor man's Carrie Bradshaw and am actually able to achieve Big Hair with hardly any effort!

I've never been one for hair products (I usually get by with shampoo + conditioner), but curl boosting products are essentials for ladies with curls or waves.  I polled my friends on which products they used and came away with a lot of great tips.  It seems everyone has some kind of product obsession!

Britt swears by John Frieda Frizz Ease, which is definitely an essential for any hair type.  I've used it too, both on my straight hair and the Body Wave, with great results.

Marian likes Rusk Str8 when she makes the time to straighten her gorgeous curls. 

Brittani can't live without Aveda Phomollient styling foam to add amazing volume and texture to her wavy hair.    

Jessie gives incredible definition to her curls with Garnier Fructis Curl Shaping spray gel.

For myself, I can't get enough of Hair Milk Lite from Carol's Daughter.  I work a small amount into my damp hair and let it air dry, occasionally scrunching it up for volume.

I'd love to hear from more lovelies with curls and waves! What are your favorite styling products?  Have any of you ever had a body wave?

Almay's Smart Shade Cosmetics

And now, I bring you the amazing properties of Almay's line of Smart Shade cosmetics.  Behold!  Out of the tube, the product is a weird grey color, but don't be misled.  Once you apply it, the foundation or concealer magically transforms to your ideal shade of makeup!  It sounds ridiculous but it is for real.  I have no idea how it works, I just know that it really, really does.  I used both the concealer and foundation recently at a bridal photoshoot where I worked as a makeup artist and it looked good on a variety of skin tones.

While both products are great, I was more impressed with the concealer.  The foundation offers minimal coverage, a little heavier than a tinted moisturizer.  The concealer gave great coverage on every facial woe, from redness and discolorations to acne scars and dark circles.  If you're torn between puchasing the two, I'd recommend the concealer.

In doing a bit of online research, I also discovered there is a Smart Shade blush version!  I immediately picked up a tube and was completely amazed at the gorgeous, natural looking rosy tint it gave my cheeks.  This is probably now one of my favorite products of all time.   

The key to application is blending.  You have absolutely got to blend this product effectively or risk unattractive streaks (pay really close attention to the edges, like around your hairline and jawline).  The biggest complaint I've heard about the foundation was the potential for orange hues, particularly from a friend who has freckles.  No complaints about the concealer or blush.  They're pretty much perfect.