The Dry Shampoo I Currently Can't Live Without

Hello Beautiful Ones,

It's no secret that I am a complete dry shampoo junkie. Not only do I constantly have a can of dry shampoo in my beauty arsenal but I also like to rotate and try different ones. I've had some favorites along the way, but there is one that stands out right now: Dove Refresh+Care Invigorating Dry Shampoo.

Dove has really been stepping up their beauty game in recent years. They aren't just all soap and lotion anymore. I wasn't even planning to buy this one in particular I was just scouring the hair care aisle for a new dry shampoo (like I said, dry shampoo junkie.) I'll be honest with you, the sleek white packaging is what caught my attention right away. I decided to give Dove a shot.

The reason I'm a religious dry shampoo user is because I have naturally curly hair. Washing curly hair too often can actually strip it of the natural oils it needs to keep your curls pretty and in tact. I usually stick to a schedule of washing my hair every other day. The problem is, that sometimes my roots can get a little greasy in between washes. That's where the dry shampoo comes in, it can help soak up that grease and add volume.

So what's so great about this dry shampoo from Dove? It does exactly what it says it is going to do. It invigorates your roots while absorbing the grease and giving your hair bounce. The directions suggest you spray your roots a section at a time, then massage the shampoo in, and finally brush it through (I use a comb, cause I don't like using brushes on my curls.) I love this dry shampoo because it really made me feel like I had just washed my hair. Not only did it eliminate the grease but it handled that itchy scalp you sometimes get with second day hair. I have used other dry shampoos before that have given me more volume, but this one still gives you a decent amount of bounce and volume.

I think I might actually be sticking with this dry shampoo for a while... or maybe not, who knows? :)

XO- Brittney

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Beauty on a Budget: Not Your Mother's Hair Products

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Who's doesn't appreciate a good bargain? That's not even a question is it? My naturally curly hair can be quite the handful so I'm always thrilled when I can find affordable products at the drugstore that will effectively calm my curls. Lately I've been completely obsessed with a bunch of Not Your Mother's hair care products so I thought I'd do a brand highlight.

Way to Grow Long & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner
Let's face it, good hair needs to start with great shampoo. Personally I like to rotate my shampoos and conditioners so that I'm not using the same one every time. This shampoo and conditioner is really good for strengthening your hair. My curly hair needs a shampoo and conditioner that adds a lot of extra moisture and this one does the trick.

Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo
This one is definitely a holy grail product for me. Dry shampoo is great for a curly haired girl because washing your curly hair too often can wash out the natural oils that make your curls look great. The problem is that great curls are cute, but greasy roots are not. It's hard to find a good dry shampoo and this one is amazing. It blends in easily and doesn't leave that icky white residue in your hair. It also adds volume and refreshes your roots. Total love!

Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream
Curl cream is another one of those products that is hard to get right. I want my curl cream to have a little bit of hold, but not so strong that it makes my hair crunchy. This one fits the bill. It's lovely because it makes my hair so soft and smoothes frizz.

She's a Tease Volumizing Hairspray
Again, I'm a little picky about my hairspray. I don't use it often, but when I do I want it to have a little bit of hold without making my hair hard or crunchy. This one is great! It helps add a little volume too.

My overall take is that this is a really great drugstore brand with a pretty small price tag especially when you consider how great the products are. Also, did I forget to mention that everything smells amazing?! And I know it has nothing to do with the actual usefulness of the products, but I just love the product names and the packaging. So cute!

Have you used anything in the Not Your Mother's hair care line?

XO- Brittney

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Beauty on a Budget: Curly Hair Favorites

Hello Beautiful Ones!

Today I'm calling all of the curly haired girls who don't want to spend all of their hard earned money on hair products (I know you're out there!). When I was younger I used to be caught in a constant power struggle with my naturally curly and extremely thick hair. After years of straighteners and ponytails I finally found peace with my hair! I realized that things go a lot better when you let your locks do their own thing, but what you can do is use products that will enhance your hair's natural beauty (instead of fight it).

You can easily spend a large amount of money on hair products (and most of the time they will do the trick) but I've found some inexpensive drugstore products that I'm really happy with, so I thought I would share with all of you!

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo- $5
First of all, I'd like to state that I love dry shampoo. I usually wash my hair every other day because if you wash curly hair too often you'll be stripping away the natural oils that make your curls pretty! The trick is to get rid of the extra grease at the roots so your hair doesn't look and feel greasy. I've been using this for a while and I really like it. I just spray some on my roots and then let it soak in for about 5-10 minutes while I continue getting ready. After I've let it sit for a while I brush it through the rest of my hair from roots to ends. It gets rid of the excess oil and it is refreshing, definitely a LOVE!

Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk- $4
One of my greatest struggles with my curly hair has always been fighting frizz. I love this product because it cuts down on the frizz, but is also lightweight. I run this stuff through my hair every day, whether it is damp or dry and it works like a charm!

Garnier Fructis Style curl Calm Down Anti-Frizz Cream-  $8
I use this as sort of a supplement to the smoothing milk, it just adds a little more definition to the curls. I've tried gels, but I'm just not into that crunchy look (yikes). This will give you really nice, soft curls. I just apply a little to the ends and then lightly scrunch my hair, and I'm done!

At the end of the day my advice is to embrace your hair's natural texture. Take down those ponytails and let it loose baby! :)

Let me know if you have any curly hair favorites!

XO- Brittney

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Spring Favorites!

Whoa, can you guys believe that spring is officially here?! That's no April Fool's joke (sorry that was cheesy). Spring is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. The grass is starting to turn green again and I've officially packed my winter coat away for another year. Unfortunately we usually don't get to enjoy a whole lot of spring here in Nebraska. We typically get a few nice weeks before heading into the unbearable heat of the summer so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts! I thought I would go through some of my absolute favorites things in beauty for spring this year! 

Nails

I'm going to start out with nail polish. I have my nails painted at all times, and spring always makes me gravitate towards bright cheery colors. Currently I'm loving bubblegum pinks and peaches. The polish that is gracing my nails right now Sinful Colors in Cream Soda ($1.99 at drugstores). I would describe this color as a cross between bubblegum pink and coral. It is looking a little more coral in the picture below, but it depends on how the light is hitting it. Sinful colors is one of my absolute favorite drugstore brands because it's cheap and lasts for a decent amount of time. As you can see in the picture there are only some minor chips on the edges and I've been wearing this polish for almost a week now.

Bonus: I'm also loving Clinique's A Different Nail Enamel for Sensitive Skins in the color Really Rio ($12.50 Clinique.com). It is a gorgeous peach color. My Mom and my younger sister are both rocking this shade right now, and I love it!

Hair

As a naturally curly haired girl I don't like to shampoo my hair every day because the natural oils in my hair make the curls look even better. However, I also don't love greasy roots (am I right ladies?!). So dry shampoo is my best friend! I've been trying some different ones and have just recently found one that I really love: Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo ($4.99 Walmart). First of all, I'm used to dry shampoos having a terrible smell, but this one was surprisingly fresh smelling! Also, when you spray it on you don't get that white powdery residue, which is a nice change of pace. My roots and scalp feel nice and refreshed after I apply it! A definite spring and summer staple for me!

Makeup

I'm going to confess to you all right now: I'm a total sucker for a new eye shadow. I was recently walking through Target the other day and I had to backtrack when I walked past a display for the new Covergirl Bombshell Shineshadow ($6.99 Target). It's a shadow that comes in a small little squeeze tube. I picked it up in the color Gold Goddess which is a gorgeous shimmering gold. Seriously, if you guys like shimmer you are going to love this one. As far as lasting power, I would give it about a 5: by the end of the day I was starting to see the product wear off. I wear it on its own for a little bit of shimmer on my lids, but you could also layer it with other shadows for a more standout color. 

Bonus: This isn't a new product, but it is one of my absolute spring staples: Maybelline New York Baby Lips ($2.99 Drugstores). I wear the clear Peppermint balm on a daily basis, it leaves my lips feeling soft and gives them just a hint of subtle shine. Also, this product has a sunscreen of SPF 20 which is perfect for the sunny months. The Baby Lips line also comes in tinted colors, try them out. You won't be disappointed!

There are some of my favorite beauty products for spring this year! Let me know what you're loving or if there is something in the drugstore you have been eyeing. I always love to try new products! Happy Spring!

XO- Brittney

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