In LOVE with New Reisenthel Bags and Accessories

If you've never heard or tried Reisenthel, you need to, because you'll be hooked. The designs, quality, workmanship, practicality and just how beautiful they are. They will be your every day go-to bags and accessories ALL THE TIME... I'm not kidding.
They have just released some limited anniversary editions, which are gorgeous. Touch of Europe have the Pre-sale gear and I'm in LOVE with the gray polka dot stuff like this one

PRE-SALE Gray Polka Dot Reisenthel Loop Shopper M Tote Bag

Check it all out at the Reisenthel Designer Bags and Accessories - NEW Limited Edition and PRE-SALE at Touch of Europe

and remember at Touch of Europe, you get Free Shipping on all orders over $50

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

SlamPost : Balsamo Argan Oil Lip Balm from Italy

Argan Oil.
I will rave about the wonders of argan oil for you hair in another post and the famous Josie Maran cosmetic company uses it as a base for all their natural products that sell for a fortune in Sephora, but this just rocks for both winter dry lips and sun dried lips, plus as an everyday conditioning balm and wrinkle softener around the mouth..

Don't be scared of the price, it lasts, it's super high quality and pure, plus it supports a good cause.

Balsamo Argan Oil Lip Balm from Italy at Touch of Europe

The precious argan oil, rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, has a rare and totally natural anti-aging effect on the skin. Berber women gather kernels, gently roast them and extract the oil. Balsamo balms help support the Argan Oil Women's Cooperative Fair Trade of Morocco.


Three flavour fragrances:
Black Currant extract (ribes nigerum seed oil) is a source of natural fruit extract and promotes skin cell growth.
Honeysuckle extract (caprifolium oil) is a superior healthy cleaner and purifier of the skin.
Rosehip extract (rosa canina fruit extract) is high in vitamin C (antioxidant and healing agent), used for hundreds of years as a natural healing moisturizer. 


and remember at Touch of Europe, you get Free Shipping on all orders over $50

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

Glam Junkies love all pretty things. BloemBox Review.

Yes, we do. It's not confined to makeup, shoes, purses, hair stuff, clothes and well, you get the picture.... we like anything that's cute, pretty, sparkly, etc.

These are my new favorite things for spring (other than fashion). BloemBox Luxury Boxed Seeds, Flowers and Vegetables Garden in a gift box. I have this one below (Humming Bird Habitat Mixed Flowers) and just adore it !

BloemBox Luxury Boxed Seeds, Flowers and Vegetables 

First of all the little box with the flowers and in this case, hummingbird, on top is reason enough to buy it (it'a about 5 inches tall and 3.5 inches across) and just display it.. mine's right here on my desk hutch and it's just pretty, cheerful and makes me smile, but what a gorgeous gift too ! Beyond PRETTY !

But here's the thing, in these gorgeous packages are BloemBox premium flower or vegetable seeds. Seeds are channeled between sheets of biodegradable tissue paper that can be cut-to-size and planted in an outdoor patio container, raised bed or prepared garden bed. The plantable tissue paper holds the seeds in place and makes planting easy. Simply unroll, place in a shallow furrow in the soil and cover with ¼” to ½” potting soil. When the seeds sprout, the tissue paper completely biodegrades into the soil. Thin seedlings for vigorous growth and bloom. Unplanted seeds remain viable up to two years if kept in a dry, cool, consistent temperature location.


So it really is a GARDEN inside ! You can plant these in pots if you have a small balcony, deck or yard, or in the garden if you have the room.

They also have Veges, single flower types, edible flowers, gift tins and, as shown above, the MOST gorgeous Organic Fragrant Sachets in the same type of gorgeous gift box (perfect for the anti-gardener). 
The seed boxes have a cute little gift card attached, inside there are other goodies, including instructions and in the case of a mixed garden, like min, individual flower ribbons and descriptions.

The best part ? They're ridiculously inexpensive for the gorgeous things they are. Perfect easter or spring gfts and don't forget to treat yourself.
Touch of Europe sell these online (and ship all over the world) or in their Atlanta, Georgia store at 1765 Roswell Road Marietta, GA 30062 and you get Free Shipping on all orders over $50

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

I.C.O.N Hair Care & Styling Stuff. AWESOME !

It takes a lot for me to rave about hair products, because I have fine, thinning, naturally ratty curly (not in a good way), long, old damaged hair.
So this is lengthy, but pay attention if you have mad or bad hair and sick of products that don't do what they promise.

I have tried every cheap and expensive product out there and usually give away a bag of "no goods" a month, my friends can attest.
I have a mixture of stuff that sort of works, depending on if I'm going straight or curly that day, but have never, ever found a line, full product line that I could just have 6 products to do everything, instead of 30 that I make insane witches brews of mixed "stuff" to try and work it.

The proof is in my Hair Cupboard (yes, this is JUST MY HAIR STUFF, not even including shampoo, conditioner or masques/treatments and tools)

So, I recently got the opportunity to try some of the products in the I.C.O.N line from Escape Uptown Salon & Spa (I also LOVE their Biomega Mist, which is the tall aqua, white cap bottle there) and of COURSE I'm game to try anything new, so when Stephanie asked, I said "YO"

The big deal about this stuff is that care products are as good for the inside as they are for the outside. Shampoos are sulfate-free, conditioners and treatments are filled with anti-agers, A.C.E. of vitamins and all are color-safe and Eco-Tech. The "regimedies" combine a shampoo, conditioner and treatment to take hair to a new dimension repairing and preparing it for style & design.
Utilizing the smart technology inside EcoTech formulations I.C.O.N. works to give each you a new or consistent identity, because at the end of the day, identity is what defines your style. I.C.O.N’s liquid tools can be cocktailed or used alone to create new dimensions that they call “Liquid Fashion.”
Cool huh?

So that's the "about".

My experience ?

I was given samples or a trial size of these...

1. PROTEIN : Body Building Gel - (this is an unusual hybrid of moisture,  hydration and protein, plus a build-able light gel and styler), really innovative and it really works ! It's like a soft styling gel that treats your hair and protects it, but not too much protein to make it hard and brittle causing breaks, just enough for some strength. Very multi-tasking and infuses really well. You can use more to get a pretty impressive hold and hair design if that's your bag.
2. DONE : Build-able Finishing Spray - (my new fave finishing spray by a MILE, sorry Paul Mitchell Clean, you've been dumped). This is also like PM Clean, insofar as it's clean on the hair, doesn't build up, but it has a clean smell, it will add some shine to your hair, it's a great root lifter and use a little for soft movable hold or root lift, then more to lacquer that sucker down if that's how you roll, then it still washes or brushes out without a trace. LOVE IT
3. SERUM : Anti Age Therapy - Glossy anti-aging cuticle soothing, protection from free radicals and split end repairing treatment with hydration (it truly rocks), again really innovative, multi-tasking and incredible shine, protecting from flat irons and blow dryers.

The shampoo and conditioners have been used on my hair at the salon last week and I will have those too today, but I'll get advice on which ones for me, because there are a few and I have a few problems (hold your tongue) :-

There is Anti-aging, Detox, Indulgent, Hydration lines and Treatments as well as CURE Replenishing Spray for dry, over stressed, unruly "sick" hair with  each purchase of that getting a donation to organizations like STOP CANCER - Call the salon at 720 259 1370 for more information or email them.

But after my salon visit, with the Shamp/Condit and styling products, I got SO many compliments on how shiny, bouncy and cool my hair looked over the next 2 days before I washed it all out and did it myself.

And ya know what ? I got the same result as the salon, it's still looks great (miracles can happen?). Tons of shine, not limp and dry looking, volume, bounce.

SOLD !

The I.C.O.N line has a great pedigree, created by Jorge Rubin Owner and Master Stylist of Jorge Rubin Salons in California and Spain...and Chiara, the Hairdresser and mad genius behind the products research and creation, both no strangers to celebrity hair and all it's requirements to be perfect and constantly messed with.

Wrapping Up (or wrap it up)

It's not a cheap line, by any stretch, but it really does go a long way, you seriously don't need much of anything and in fact, you'll get in a mess if you over-do and over-use it. So in my book and given the money I've wasted over the years, this discovery of I.C.O.N is a relief and bargain for me.

Maybe I can use my hair cupboard for something else with just 4-6 products in there ?

like... oh, maybe some more skin care or a laser hair removal at-home machine, or.....

hopeless :( 

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie

Still on the subject of eyelashes.... Lash Growers and Extensions

There are SO many things out there that promise the earth for your hair, looks or skin. 99% of it is just untrue or if it has a grain of truth, the result will be small. 

It's about realistic expectations and not abusing products. 

This guide/review is about Eyelashes. The frame of the eyes, window to the soul. Great looking lashes can really add to a look, be it natural and fresh or sexy and smoky. 

OTC Lash Growers 

These products in beauty stores from $10 to $150 and online DO NOT WORK. Please, I beg you, don't waste your money. The only thing that will grow your lashes fuller, thicker and longer, as promised is FDA approved LATISSE® available by prescriptions (and honestly, costs about the same as some outrageous LASH GROWERS from beauty stores). I have no affiliation with the brand, but I've asked my Aesthetics Doctors locally and the fact has been pounded in books, reputable magazines and on Dr Oz. 

In my experience, women who say the OTC ones work, are often women who have either changed some behavior when they start using it OR destroyed their lashes by wearing glued on fake eyelashes all the time. They simply stop the fakes or change some other behavior (conscious or not), apply one of them (growers) for a while and bingo, new lashes... that would have grown back with a rest from glue or habits change anyway and the nourishing agents in the OTC's do help a little for conditioning but they DO NOT grow lashes longer, thick, stronger. 

When to use an OTC Lash Product ?

If you're concerned about your lashes condition, by all means buy a cheaper nourishing grower and wear at night or throw on something like Buxom Gel Eyeliner for Conditioning Lashes or bareMinerals Big & Bright Eyeliner Pencils which have some conditioning properties, but expect the same from it as you would a conditioner for your hair (you don't expect conditioner to grow your hair do you?), because that's essentially what the OTC products are. If you don't abuse your lashes with fake lash glue or 24/7 waterproof high chemical mascara, then you have perfectly fine natural lashes 'for you'. If you want them longer, thicker and fuller, get LATISSE®
Fakes are fine for special occasions.

The skin has sweat glands and hairs. As the junction between skin and conjunctiva is approached, the hairs change their character to become eyelashes. These are NOT meant to be gummed up with chemical glue every day and WILL fall out or break if they are. Wearing harsh, chemical loaded waterproof mascara will cause a similar problem by drying out those brittle hairs and/or breaking when you try and remove it, especially if you don't clean it off at the end of each day and some of the OTC "growers" are Keratin Loaded and will do the same. NOT GOOD!

The solution?

Try to find more natural Mascaras (Korres, Tarte, Bare Escentuals, Josie Maran or some drugstore brands), don't wear waterproof if you don't need to and clean it off with a gentle but highly effective eye makeup remover like Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover that takes little scrubbing and otherwise LEAVE THEM ALONE. 

Leave fake lashes for special occasions and try the self adhesive ones to avoid the glue (Revlon have excellent self adhesive ones). If you must use glue, make sure it's a Surgical Grade glue like DUO, that's meant for skin and don't use it often. If they really are short, sparse and broken and make you miserable, talk to an Aesthetics Doctor about Latisse to see if it's right for you. 

Lash Extensions ?

I have absolutely nothing good to say about these, the cost, the upkeep, the procedure or the sometimes unlicensed and inexperienced people who apply this technology.
It's expensive, inconvenient, will destroy the lashes you have and the cost is ridiculous. You have to sleep on your back ALL the time, get them re-done every few weeks, the chemicals are horrible and potentially eye damaging and for the life of me, vain as I can be as a female, I'd rather you use fakes everyday with double glue than get these. Not every eyelash extensions practitioner is a charlatan, they are just providing the service and do it properly. It's the service itself that's the problem. I predict we'll see state licensers start to get into this at some point and/or the FDA. Ask anyone who's had it done. Anything that stings THAT MUCH and takes that much care and precaution around your eyes and ongoing maintenance just can't be good. Your hair will grow back if you trash it with extensions [maybe], but not your eyeballs. 

Please let common sense prevail and not try to look like someone on Dancing with the Stars... that's just not real Hope this was helpful.

If you have questions or just want recommendations, drop me an email, comment or facebook note

Ciao!

from Chez
a Bona Fide Glam Junkie