Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know that I have my September Favorites post up on my new URL here! Be sure to follow me on the new URL because this site will be deleted at the end of the month!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
HURRY! $40 off ANY Paper Coterie purchase! + New Blog
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to pop in and share two quick and fun announcements.
1. I have a new (ish) blog! Basically, I've just been having a lot of trouble with this account (people hacking in, glitchy-ness), so I'm officially moving to this new URL! Be sure to check out my latest posts on my favorite outfits from the Emmys last night, and if you're kind, feel free to follow my new blog :) This address will only be up for the next few weeks, and all new posts will be on the other blog.
2. Today is the LAST day to take advantage of an amazing Paper Coterie deal. It's so easy- go to Paper Coterie, and you'll get $40 off ANY purchase (no minimums) when you enter the code Welcome 2012 at checkout! I've literally been scanning the website all day figuring out what to buy! They have the most adorable stuff, but here are some of my favorite ideas!
Just wanted to pop in and share two quick and fun announcements.
1. I have a new (ish) blog! Basically, I've just been having a lot of trouble with this account (people hacking in, glitchy-ness), so I'm officially moving to this new URL! Be sure to check out my latest posts on my favorite outfits from the Emmys last night, and if you're kind, feel free to follow my new blog :) This address will only be up for the next few weeks, and all new posts will be on the other blog.
2. Today is the LAST day to take advantage of an amazing Paper Coterie deal. It's so easy- go to Paper Coterie, and you'll get $40 off ANY purchase (no minimums) when you enter the code Welcome 2012 at checkout! I've literally been scanning the website all day figuring out what to buy! They have the most adorable stuff, but here are some of my favorite ideas!
I love their customized journals and planners!
I'm also thinking about creating a wedding book or a memory keeper from their templates!
Christmas gift tags! They also have adorable Halloween favor tags!
I love the idea of these swatch books! They have Christmas, birthday, and all sorts of fun templates! What a cute idea for recipes, gifts, keepsakes, or party favors!
I've never seen these pictures sleeves anywhere before! What a fun idea for holidays or birthdays!
And of course...they have some of the most adorable Christmas cards!
...and you can get $40 of them free here with the code Welcome2012 at checkout!
I hope you all get something awesome! I'm thinking I'll probably end up with the photo book, planner, and/or Christmas cards! Let me know what you end up getting :)
Monday, June 18, 2012
enjoy shampoo + conditioner {review + giveaway}
Like I mentioned in my last post, my hair and I do not get along. Even though my hair is naturally dry, I still color-process and heat-process it and use all sorts of fancy products to get my locks to mind their manners (fyi: i'll be doing a whole post of my fav hair products soon!). In my search for my the perfect products, many, MANY products have failed me. There are so many gimmicky products that claim miracles and do absolutely NOTHING, so when I find a product that actually makes a visible difference in my hair I am overjoyed. I've been experimenting with quite a few new hair products recently, and I honestly hated like five or six products in a row. They either didn't do anything or made my hair feel worse. Then these babies arrived in my mailbox.
I've heard so many good things about the Enjoy Luxury line from bloggers, YouTubers, and magazines over the past two years, but to be honest...I never gave it a chance because I thought it might be an overhyped, super-expensive product. While the price tag isn't small, I can now say that it is a great product. I've been using the Luxury Shampoo and Conditioner for a few weeks now, and I have seen a noticeable difference in my hair's texture and manageability.
Enjoy Sulfate-Free Luxury Shampoo 10.1 fl oz / 300 ml $24.14
When I saw that this shampoo was sulfate-free, I had my doubts. I've had REALLY bad luck with sulfate-free shampoos. I know that they're better for color-treated hair, but I honestly cannot stand a shampoo that doesn't lather. I also feel like most sulfate-free shampoos leave my feeling oily and flat. With all of that said, I could not have been more wrong about this shampoo. It lathers just as well as a normal shampoo would, and it leaves your hair feeling clean and not stripped. I really love this shampoo. The only thing I can fault it on is the packaging and the smell. I feel like the shampoo's quality matches but the price tag, but I feel like the plastic bottle does not. I wish it came in a little sturdier, higher-quality packaging. Also, I am not crazy about the fake banana scent, but I can live with it because it doesn't linger in your hair for too long. With all that said, it's my new go-to shampoo!
Enjoy Luxury Conditioner 10.1 fl oz / 300 ml $27.84
Enjoy Sulfate-Free Luxury Shampoo 10.1 fl oz / 300 ml $24.14
When I saw that this shampoo was sulfate-free, I had my doubts. I've had REALLY bad luck with sulfate-free shampoos. I know that they're better for color-treated hair, but I honestly cannot stand a shampoo that doesn't lather. I also feel like most sulfate-free shampoos leave my feeling oily and flat. With all of that said, I could not have been more wrong about this shampoo. It lathers just as well as a normal shampoo would, and it leaves your hair feeling clean and not stripped. I really love this shampoo. The only thing I can fault it on is the packaging and the smell. I feel like the shampoo's quality matches but the price tag, but I feel like the plastic bottle does not. I wish it came in a little sturdier, higher-quality packaging. Also, I am not crazy about the fake banana scent, but I can live with it because it doesn't linger in your hair for too long. With all that said, it's my new go-to shampoo!
Enjoy Luxury Conditioner 10.1 fl oz / 300 ml $27.84
This conditioner is definitely more of a hair mask or deep conditioning treatment than a traditional conditioner. It's super rich and moisturizing and has an extremely thick consistency. My hair is very dry, so I only wash my hair about 2-3 times a week- so I can use this conditioner every time I shower. If you have normal hair, this conditioner might be better as a once a week treatment. Again, totally in love. My hair has been smooth, manageable, and much more obedient :) I have noticed less breakage on my ends, and I have had a substantial decrease in fly-away, wayward pieces of hair. I love, love, love this conditioner, but again...not a fan of the scent or packaging. This super thick conditioner would be much easier to use in a container with a screw-on lid. The plastic squeeze bottle is just too hard to get product out of. It also has a fake banana smell, but I love the texture of this product so much that I let it slide!
I would highly recommend this shampoo and conditioner to anyone with color-treated, very dry/damaged hair. It's definitely more of an investment purchase, but it might be a nice treat to use once a week if you're on a budget! Enjoy is sold exclusively at professional hair salons, and you can find a salon near you at the Enjoy Hair website.
I can now say that I'm definitely a fan of the Enjoy Luxury line, and I'm so happy that one of my readers will get a chance to try out these products for themselves! Enjoy has generously offered to giveaway one set of the Enjoy Luxury line!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product was sent for review; however, all opinions are my honest and genuine thoughts. Enjoy is generously providing the giveaway prize.
I would highly recommend this shampoo and conditioner to anyone with color-treated, very dry/damaged hair. It's definitely more of an investment purchase, but it might be a nice treat to use once a week if you're on a budget! Enjoy is sold exclusively at professional hair salons, and you can find a salon near you at the Enjoy Hair website.
I can now say that I'm definitely a fan of the Enjoy Luxury line, and I'm so happy that one of my readers will get a chance to try out these products for themselves! Enjoy has generously offered to giveaway one set of the Enjoy Luxury line!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Product was sent for review; however, all opinions are my honest and genuine thoughts. Enjoy is generously providing the giveaway prize.
yu-be skin and body {review + giveaway!}
While my facial skin is as oily as can be, my lips, hair, and skin are on the opposite end of the spectrum- super dry...and I mean dry. Alligator skin, flaky lips, and straw-like hair are not a good look, so I've made it my lifelong mission to find the most hydrating products to alleviate my dry skin. I'm always drawn to the moisturizers with fancy packaging and delicious scents, and while they do provide moisture temporarily, I don't really feel like they're treating the dryness- they're just covering it up.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a few products from the Yu-Be line, and I jumped at the chance because I had recently seen the line mentioned in Lucky, Elle, and InStyle. Apparently, Yu-Be's Moisturizing Skin Cream is the #1 selling medicated skin cream in Japan, and their entire line of products are medicated moisturizers formulated for sensitive skin. I was really curious to see how my skin reacted to these products because they seemed kind of hyped-up. I tested out five products in total, and I was really impressed overall- definitely lives up to the hype.
Moisturizing Body Lotion 10.25 fl oz / 300ml $29 : This body lotion has a glycerin-based formula with vitamin E, B2, and camphor. I really liked this lotion. While it wasn't greasy, it did take a few minutes to absorb into my skin completely. My skin felt completely moisturized and stayed smooth all day long. The camphor smell is definitely there (smells like Vicks Vaporub or menthol), but I noticed that it faded away completely about 1-2 minutes after applying the lotion. I also really like the functional packaging of this product. I love products that have pumps, and this lotion also has an additional piece that goes underneath the pump for traveling to prevent spillage. This product can be apparently be used on your body and face; however, I wouldn't use it on your face unless you have very dry skin. The price is a bit high for a lotion, though- even a very good lotion.
Foaming Skin Polish 7oz / 200g $18 : This exfoliating product contains rice bran grains, ginger and ginseng extracts, green tea, geranium oil, and camphor to gently remove dead skin while providing some hydration. I really like this scrub because it's a good moderate level of exfoliation. The rice bran grains are small enough to be gentle and non-irritating, but there are enough particles in the product to actually provide exfoliation. The skin polish is slightly moisturizing, but it's doesn't leave any film or residue. I didn't notice any smell with the skin polish, and I've really been enjoying using this before self tanning. This scrub is another product that can be used on the face or body. I really do enjoy using this product, but again...a little pricey!
Heel & Elbow Moisturizing Socks 1 pair / $13 : These are very thin socks that cover the heel of your foot or your elbow. They're made with a bacteria-absorbing material called chitosan, but they feel like a normal cotton sock. Basically, you soak your heels or elbows in warm water, apply the moisturizing skin cream to are, and cover the area with the socks to lock in the moisture overnight. I did feel like this product made a big difference to my dry heels, but I'm not really sure the socks were necessary. I think that normal socks could have easily been substituted in- the skin cream is really the miracle worker, not the socks.
Moisturizing Skin Cream 1.25 oz / 33g $16 : This cream is the signature product in the Yu-Be, and it's apparently the #1 selling medicate skin care cream in Japan. This thick glycerin balm can be used for extremely dry skin, cuticles, chapped lips, cracked heels, calluses, and sunburns. I really do love this stuff. So far, I've enjoyed using the skin cream as a heavy-duty lip balm, hand cream, and cuticle cream. The cream resembles a body butter in appearance, but it feels more like a hydrating makeup primer when you apply it. It's not greasy or oily, and while it does have a slight camphor smells at first it dissipates quickly. I do not use this as an all-over moisturizer- it's more of an ointment for severely dry areas and problem spots.
Moisturizing Skin Cream 1.25 oz / 33g $16 : This cream is the signature product in the Yu-Be, and it's apparently the #1 selling medicate skin care cream in Japan. This thick glycerin balm can be used for extremely dry skin, cuticles, chapped lips, cracked heels, calluses, and sunburns. I really do love this stuff. So far, I've enjoyed using the skin cream as a heavy-duty lip balm, hand cream, and cuticle cream. The cream resembles a body butter in appearance, but it feels more like a hydrating makeup primer when you apply it. It's not greasy or oily, and while it does have a slight camphor smells at first it dissipates quickly. I do not use this as an all-over moisturizer- it's more of an ointment for severely dry areas and problem spots.
Lip Therapy 0.15 oz / 4.2g $5 : This lip balm contains camphor and vitamin E to sooth dry, chapped lips. It's unflavored and has a light and slightly sweet rosemary scent. It's extremely moisturizing, yet there isn't a greasy or glossy appearance to the lips after applying this balm. I've been using this lip balm every day underneath my lipstick or lipgloss, and I feel like it's a great lip primer. Although it's marketed solely as a lip balm, I feel like this product could also be used on cuticles or extremely dry patches of skin.
Overall, I really enjoyed using Yu-Be's entire line, and I think the products are unique and effective. I'd definitely consider purchasing all of these products; however, I'm not really sure the socks are worth the money.
I do think the prices are a little on the steep side, but I can appreciate that they're multi-functional and gentle enough to use on your face and body. In my opinion, the standout is definitely their signature moisturizing skin cream.
Now on to the fun part! Would you like to try out these products for yourself? Yu-Be has kindly offered to send an Ashley Brooke reader a sample pack of products to try out for themselves! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!
Products were sent for review; however, all opinions stated my genuine and honest opinions. Yu-Be generously offered to provide the giveaway prize.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
new fav {styleunited}
I've always been fascinated with makeup and fashion. As a little girl, I smashed my mom's Chanel lipsticks all over my face and paraded around the house in her high heels and jewelry. Even though I looked like a crazy person, I felt so glamorous and grown up. Now that I'm older, I'm still style-obsessed, and I'm constantly searching the internet for new sources of tips, tricks, and inspiration.
My latest find is StyleUnited - a beauty/fashion/hair website started by brands such as CoverGirl, Frederic Fekkai, Olay, and DDF Skincare. I personally love all of those brands, so I was excited to check the site out. I found out about StyleUnited from SheSpeaks (another GREAT resource for women!), and I almost always love their suggestions, so I figured I'd check out the website. StyleUnited offers quite a few features, but my personal favorites are the video tutorials from fashion, hair, and makeup professionals and one-on-one beauty consultations with professionals. I probably spent a good hour looking through all of the video tutorials, and my favorites were the tutorials on how to achieve a festive evening ponytail, the Hamptons chic look from DKNY's Spring/Summer fashion show, and seeing some hair looks from various Spring/Summer fashion shows in NYC.
I'm really excited to try out the one one one beauty consultation! Basically, you schedule an appointment online, and one of StyleUnited's beauty professionals will give you a free 30-minute consultation with advice on skincare, makeup, and hair products that would suit your particular needs. The consultation is via webcam or phone, and I just think it is the coolest idea. I'm scheduling mine soon, and I'll definitely let you know how it goes! After joining StyleUnited, you can also add your friends to your "Inner Circle" and share your finds with them or get their advice on products you might like. Also, StyleUnited is running a fabulous giveaway right now! You can enter to win a $500 gift certificate from Nordstrom or Macy's {here}
What are your favorite beauty and style resources online? Let me know your favorite blogs and websites!
I am not affiliated with StyleUnited, and I was not compensated for this post. I received the opportunity to check out the StyleUnited website from SheSpeaks, but it is a free service and everyone has the opportunity to join and browse the site for themselves :) StyleUnited will provide products for review to this blog.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
back from vegas!
Hi ladies! So sorry for the absence...I've been in Vegas! My dad has a work conference in Las Vegas every year, so he normally hops on over to LA to visit me. This year, I thought I'd visit him in Vegas- my dad couldn't believe that I lived only a few hours away and had never been. I'm pretty boring lol, so I thought Vegas wouldn't be a good fit for a vacation. I was definitely wrong! After touring all of the gorgeous hotels/casinos and eating at some amazing restaurants, I'm officially a fan! Here's a recap of my week- be sure to follow me on Instagram to get daily updates. I had such an amazing time, and I can't wait to get back into the swing of blogging. This week I'll be announcing the winners of my 1st Blogiversary Giveaway, reviewing a few products, and holding giveaways for My Memories scrapbooking software, Benefit cosmetics, Invite Cottage, Honey Bunches of Oats, and more!
Also, be sure to check out the group giveaway going on right now at Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson . I'm giving away a 250x250 ad space, and there are 10 other prizes up for grabs!
From top left clockwise: 1. Check in at the Paris hotel 2. Eiffel Tower at Paris
3. Another shot of the gorgeous Paris hotel 4. Inside the Venetian hotel 5. Gondala rides inside Venetian
6. City shopping streets inside the Venetian 7. Beautiful ceilings inside the Wynn 8. Waterfall near the exit of the Wynn 9. The BEST fried rice of my entire life at Red at the Wynn 10. Menu from Red at the Wynn
11. Super cool ceiling at Red 12. The most amazing umbrella waterfall at the Wynn 13. They had ongoing shows that displayed on this waterfall, and people also danced on the water in front of it! 14. My favorite garden walkway in the Wynn
3. Another shot of the gorgeous Paris hotel 4. Inside the Venetian hotel 5. Gondala rides inside Venetian
6. City shopping streets inside the Venetian 7. Beautiful ceilings inside the Wynn 8. Waterfall near the exit of the Wynn 9. The BEST fried rice of my entire life at Red at the Wynn 10. Menu from Red at the Wynn
11. Super cool ceiling at Red 12. The most amazing umbrella waterfall at the Wynn 13. They had ongoing shows that displayed on this waterfall, and people also danced on the water in front of it! 14. My favorite garden walkway in the Wynn
Monday, May 7, 2012
weekly beauty coupons!
Here are the latest beauty coupons for the week! As always, I'll be sure to update this post throughout the week to add any new coupons that I find! Be sure to combine these coupons with store sales to get the best deal. Let me know in the comments if you find any great deals to combine with these coupons! Also, don't forget to enter Ashley Brooke's 1st Blogiversary Giveaway {here}.
Makeup Products
Fragrance
Skincare Products
Hair Products
Body Products
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