On Straightening Brushes

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straightening brushes

I am lazy to a fault when it comes to styling my hair. On a given day, if there is a part of my professional appearance that has, “opportunity,” it is my hair. I don’t think it is ever appalling or flat-out unprofessional, but it isn’t consistently good, either. It lives in an octopus jaw clip a lot when I’m in the zone. I won’t apologize for this decidedly non-chic choice; it is functional. It saves me on, “nice,” and, “not-so-nice,” hair days alike when I tire of my hair falling forward one-too-many times. Emphasis on the not-so-nice days, though.

I Should Get Over It

It isn’t that hard to smooth the hair. It takes way less effort than curling it does! I realized I can get more mileage between washes when I blow-dry. To say nothing of my curling apparatuses, here’s what I’ve got:

  • This inexpensive, albeit effective blow dryer.
  • These also-inexpensive hot rollers that I really love. They’re lovely for volume, smoothing, and big curls depending on how you use them. I am an idiot – every time I use them I ask myself, “Why don’t you do this at least once a week?!”
  • I actually have two flat irons:
    • This Hot Tools iron that I bought in 2016.
    • And also this Wazor one that my husband surprised me with this summer (I’m still evaluating it).

Even when I intend to dry it properly, I sometimes leave my hair in a post-shower twist too long and the juice of the dryer isn’t worth the effort of the squeeze. So then I have weird hair for a bit. I could straighten it, but meh.

Straightening Brushes & Hype

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The Sickness; Sephora and Ulta Haul Chatter

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I seem to have a reasonably solid immune system and tend to only be taken down by the sick once or twice a year. Alas, this past week was one of those times. There’s been a lot of hot tea and chicken soup in this house in the last two weeks There wasn’t a whole lot (read: none) in the way of writing in the last week-and-a-half. The time I didn’t spend down and out (and re-watching Cowboy Bebop for the umpteenth time) I spent at work because I have a problem am a sucker didn’t want to leave things unfinished before my vacation (all are true).

Before The Sickness struck, though, I managed to get through my Ulta and Sephora purchases without going overboard.

Sephora Haul

Sephora still had Drunk Elephant’s Come C about Me set in stock, so I went for it. I haven’t gotten into any of the product yet; tragically the skin near my nose has been more reptilian than human since I received it. I’m excited to check out B-Hydra to see about the hype.

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Vera Mona Color Switch Dupe from J.Cat Beauty

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Earlier this year, I shared a review of the $18 Vera Mona Color Switch dry brush cleaner. Although it did what it promised, I ultimately landed on the decision to not repurchase. For nearly $20 it just wasn’t worth it.

I do use it every day I wear eyeshadow (so, about 3x a week). But if I suddenly went without, I wouldn’t shell out for it. Then, I decided I’d buy an inexpensive bun ring and chop it up since it’d be cheaper. The tin is convenient but not convenient enough.

Now, I don’t have to – because there’s a drugstore-priced Color Switch Dupe.

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Revlon Highlighting Palette is a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Dupe

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Doesn’t this

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Dupe - Revlon Highlighting Palette

look an awful lot like this?

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Dupe - Revlon Highlighting Palette

Cult of Shimmer

The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks are something of a cult favorite. They’ve been out and loved for years. As someone who isn’t inclined to be drunk on highlighter, though, they do little for me in terms of the excitement department. On top of that, for $48 the cult can keep their kool-aid.

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Dupe – Revlon Highlighting Palette

I was in Target and happened to see (as one does, ahem) this five-shade Revlon highlighter palette on sale for under $5 (regularly $6) and couldn’t help but think, “That looks awfully like a shimmer brick.” Lo and behold, down to the colors, it’s mighty similar.

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Invisalign Update: What is IPR?

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Aiming to correct my teeth - Invisalign

I just entered week 16 of my Invisalign treatment. Two weeks ago, I visited my orthodontist to undergo IPR to create some additional room for movement.

What is IPR?

IPR stands for Interproximal Reduction. IPR is an orthodontic procedure wherein tooth enamel is reduced to facilitate treatment. Interproximal Reduction is a common orthodontic procedure that you could encounter with traditional metal braces, lingual braces, or other clear aligner brands.

In short – they remove a bit of your tooth via what is essentially sanding. IPR:

  • Creates space without tooth extraction
  • Makes teeth fit together better

In my case, the procedure killed two birds with one diamond disc (see below).

What IPR Entails

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Every Cosmetic I Love Gets Discontinued – Gimme Brow Recall

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Gimme Brow Recall

This week, Benefit Cosmetics issued a recall of the best damn brow product I’ve ever used.

The Gimme Brow Recall Recall

Benefit states that they recalled the product after discovering (on their own) that it wasn’t up to par with their quality standards. Okay, good move, Good Guy Benefit.

Customers were instructed to return to their place of purchase for a refund. Benefit also clarified that the product is not problematic provided you are using as directed. Otherwise, if it comes into contact with the eye itself it could cause irritation.

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