Give Your Hair a Shake with Open Sundaes Chocolate Shake Hair Powder

Image Credit: Open Sundaes

In between the days I don’t wash my hair or when I cannot shampoo (ie camping), I use a dry hair shampoo by Open Sundaes. Open Sundaes is a Vancouver based beauty and bath product company and most products are hand made. Think Lush but everything looks like a dessert. The hair poweder I use is call Chocolate Shake Hair Powder for medium brown to very dark shades. The hair powder also comes in Lemon Shake for shades of blonde and Strawberry Shake for shades of red and auburn.

This hair powder works quite well in eliminating oiliness and makes my hair feel refreshed without shampooing. I find that the powder also adds body and volume to my hair. It gives my hair a clean feeling and non-greasy look for a whole work day before I shampoo in the evening. Even though the hair powder is a great standby for days you don’t have time to shampoo or can’t, it just doesn’t beat a nice long shower with shampoo. However, I do think it would be a nice product for people with curly hair or very dry hair who don’t have to shampoo often.

When I use the powder, I would use about a 1/4 teaspoon, put it on my roots and fluff it out all over my head. Then I would follow by brushing out the excessive powder to make sure it really absorbs into my scalp. A little bit goes a long way because when I use too much my hair looks very ashen and powdery and I would have a hard time brushing the powder out. The powder’s texture looks like cornstarch with colour corresponding to their scent: chocolate (brown); strawberry (pink); lemon (yellow). I have the chocolate and the scent is light and not overly sweet; however, I find the colour a bit light for my hair as it is a light brown colour and sometimes not all the powder absorbs into my scalp and my hair looks a bit ashy. Having said that, I think it doesn’t  matter what scent/colour you choose if your hair is medium dark to dark. I would just choose the scent I like. However, the fair hair beauties would probably need to use the corresponding colours. I wished that Open Sundaes would have a bit more range in the colours, especially for the dark hair girls.  I bought my hair powder at The Bay for $5.00 CAD.

Style Spy: Fine Finds Shopping Party with Benefit Cosmetics Goodie Bag

Image Credit: Fine Finds

Yesterday I went to a RSVP shopping event at Fine Finds sponsored by Style Spy. Fine Finds is a boutique in Vancouver, located in the Yaletown neighbourhood. Style Spy is a blog/shopping guide that features shopping, beauty and social events in Vancouver and Toronto. Fine Finds is a cute little boutique that showcases many Vancouver designers as well as designers from all over Canada. Although the price points are higher than shopping at the mall franchises like H&M and Forever 21, I love supporting local businesses and Canadian designers whenever I can.

The Fine Finds event was on October 15 and is an one night shopping event where almost everything is at least 20% off. There were also additional discounts and goodies if you pick certain raffle tickets. It was a fun night of free Yellow Tail wine tasting and tasty delights such as French macaroons and mini cupcakes.

The shopping theme is Gossip Girl style fashions and makeovers. I would have loved to get a Gossip Girl makeup over and try a rocker chick Jenny Humphrey look, but it was so crowded in there and the line up for the cash desk was at least 20 minutes long, I didn’t have time for a mini makeover, so I had to pass. There was also, Haute Nails demonstrations and I tried that because it was a quick application. Haute Nails are Japanese rubber nail sticks used to bling up your nails. I  picked up a pack and I will do an entry on that soon.

At the event I picked up a cute little feather headband made of duck and chicken feathers with a brass maple leaf charm on it.

For the purchase I got a “swag” bag full of goodies from Benefit: a full sized That Gal Brightening Face Primer, sample sized Eye Con and sample sized B Spot eau de toilette. These Benefit items have been around for awhile now but I have yet to try any of these except for the Eye Con eye cream. I will be back with an entry on these items as soon as I can.

Above bottom left to right: Benefit B Spot eau de toilette; Benefit Eye Con; and Benefit That Gal Face Brightening Primer

Included in this goodie bag are samples of Marc Jacobs’ Daisy eau de toilette and Daisy Luminous Body Lotion. I am please that the fragrance comes in a decent size of 4ml/0.130z and it is in a miniature replicate bottle of the full size fragrance. I will report back on my views of the fragrance and lotion as soon as I can.

Above: Marc Jacobs Daisy eau de toilette and Marc Jacobs Daisy Luminous Body Lotion

The goodie bag also include sample vials of Lancome Tresor and Magnifque and Fast Food Leave on Conditioner. There were also vouchers from various Vancouver restaurants and beauty salons included.

I can’t wait to try the Benefit and Marc Jacobs goodies and report back. Stay tuned!

Image Credit: Style Spy

Source: Fine Finds, Style Spy

Schwartzkopf Citre Shine Shine Miracle Anti-Frizz Serum

Image Credit: Citre Shine

I have been using the same 118mL bottle for 2 years and I haven’t even used half a bottle. I remember buying this at London Drugs 2 years ago for $2.99. This smells great like lime and oranges. A little bit goes a long way. I only use a small pea size drop and I rub it over the palm of my hands to distribute this through out my hair from roots to ends and really concentrate on rubbing it on to my ends. I would also gently pat this on the top of my hair near the roots to provide shine.  This feels very light and silky and it doesn’t feel greasy at all. My hair is colour treated and I use heat styling almost everyday and this product keeps my hair from drying out from the heat. You can use this for wet hair or dry hair.  I like to use this when I air dry my hair to keep it smooth and frizz free.  My hair dries straight and smooth when I put this in my hair as it air dries.  I always use this after I blow dry and straighten my hair  to add shine and to keep the ends from drying out. The Citre Shine website states that this serum is specially formulated with a customized blend of vitamins, silicone, and a UV protectant.  The shine enhancing citrus extracts protect hair from styling damage and environmental stress.  According to Paula Begoun, author of “Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me,” this is one of the best hair serums on the market, in terms of quality and price. I definitely agree!

Source: Citre Shine

John Masters Organics Bourbon Vanilla Tangerine Hair Texturizer

Image Credit: John Masters

This smells so delicious and I have an affinity towards anything vanilla and citrus scents.  I don’t usually use this for styling or texturing as it weighs down my long, fine, straight hair; however, I do think this would be great styling tool for those who has short hair.  My former boss used this everyday to either make his hair spiky or flat but still with texture.  I normally used this to smooth my flyways during the winter months and to create shine.  I just dab a very miniscule amount on my index finger; rub it all over the palm of my hands; I pat and smooth the texturizer on top of my hair from roots to ends and I run my fingers through my hair to distribute the product.  My hair looks shiny with out looking greasy when I use this, unless I use to much.  This is also great for keeping my ends from looking frizzing. I only use this as a styling tool when I need to keep my bangs in place: straight and flat against my forehead.  I use the leftover texturizer residue on my hands as a moisturizer.  This is safe for colour treated hair.  For a 2 oz pot it retails at $29.50 and $21.00 USD.

Key ingredients include:

Castor oil: smoothes hair cuticle, increases strength and shine

Glycerin: softens and moisturizes the hair shaft

Shea Butter: adds moisture

Tangerine oil: provides toning effect on scalp

Vitamins E & C: help fortify the hair shaft

Source: John Masters

John Masters Organics Shine On Leave in Hair Treatment

Image Credit: John Masters

This is an all natural leave in conditioner hair treatment that uses organic kelp in place of synthetic silicone to smooth the hair shaft.  Like all John Masters products this does not have petroleum in it. The certified organic plant extracts help condition the hair. When I used this it doesn’t make my hair anymore shinier than it is, at least not as shiny as the silicone based products I am used to. It did; however, it made my hair soft and frizz free.  The treatment can be used with wet or dry hair. This treatment is very light and it did leave my hair weigh down with grease. This retails at $37.00 CAD and $30.00 USD for 4 oz.

Key ingredients include:

Organic sea kelp: shines and softens hair

Marine Phytoplankton: enables the hair shaft to retain moisture

Fagus sylvatica extract: enhances natural keratin for stronger hair

Carrot seed oil: phenomenal moisturizer and high in carotene and vitamin A

Calendula extract: an antibacterial for the scalp

Souce: John Masters

John Masters Organics Sea Mist Sea Salt Spray with Lavender

Image Credit: John Masters

This salty spray smells like the beach and every time I spray this on my hair it feels very refreshing.  It is supposed to make my hair looks “beachy,” which means very tousled and textured.  Since my hair is long, straight and fine,  I don’t get the sexy beachy slightly messy waves that I would get if I had wavy or curly hair, unless I use a curling iron afterwards.  It does, however, gives my straight layered hair more texture, without the weight of texturing creams weighing down my hair.  For girls with wavy or curly hair, I image the spray would give the same tousled waves look that many celebrities sport during the summer months.  I used this as I am blow drying my hair and I use my fingers to fluff my hair to help create and enhance the texture.  Sometimes I would just spray this in my wet hair and let it air dry and finger style it as it dries, so it would dry in a style I want.  Normally when I just let my hair air dry, it dries frizzy, but with this mist it dries smooth and frizz free. It would look even more textured and tousled then with heat styling. This mist is safe for colour treated hair and the certified organic lavender nourishes the hair and keeps it from drying out.  This retails at $22.00 CAD and $16.50 USD.

Key ingredients include:

Sea salt: adds texture and volume

Lavender: normalizes scalp, conditions, slows hair loss and anti-inflammatory

Source: John Masters

John Masters Organics Hair Pomade

Image Credit: John Masters

Like any pomade this acts as a styling and shine tool for hair. This has the typical texture of any hair pomade: thick and waxy, but not sticky. I find this a bit too heavy for my long and fine hair but I think this would work better for people with short hair or even long thick hair.  I think this works great for people who wants to achieve short spikier styles. This pomade is rich in moisturizing ingredients to tame frizz and to protect hair from heat damage through heat styling.  It is also safe for coloured treated hair. Because this is an all natural product, you can use this anywhere on your body. I don’t use this for my hair but I find that it makes an excellent moisturizer for my feet, knees and elbows.  During the very dry winter months, I like to slather this on my hands overnight and it hydrates my hands and keeps them supple. My cuticles were in tip top shape. This makes an excellent lip balm as well.  On skin this feels like a body butter.  A little bit goes a long way and this 2 oz container would last at least 1-2 years depending on use.  This retails for $28.00 CAD and $20.00 USD for 2 oz.

Key ingredients include:

Extra virgin olive oil: stimulates and moisturizes the hair shaft

Bees wax: natural holding material, which is a better alternative to petroleum based ingredients

Mango butter: adds moisture; protects hair from environmenal damage and heat from styling and protects scalp

Babassu oil: moisturizes hair

Vitamins A,C and E: fortifies the hair shaft