My New MAC

No, I didn't get a new computer although I wouldn't mind, but I did get some new makeup over the weekend.

After numerous years of only using Maybeline's Dream Matte Mousse, my daughter convinced me to switch to MAC Cosmetics a few years ago. I think her and her dad were sick of me frantically running around town once a month trying to find my oh so popular shade or the 50 percent off sales.

Making the switch, I got started with MAC's Select Cover-Up. I balked at the price of $17 for this puny tube, but that little tube lasted about six months versus buying the Maybeline at $10 a jar every month. 

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In conjunction with Select Cover-Up, I also used MAC's Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. Again, I balked at the $27 stick price, but the compact lasts me at least six months and the coverage is buildable.

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The past few years, I've been working really hard to achieve clear skin and I'm almost there, but I still need a little help. So, bored with my makeup routine, I decided to switch things up again by replacing Select Cover-Up with MAC's Studio Fix Fluid.

Sadly, my salesperson failed to sell me an $8 pump for my little bit of beauty in a bottle and she also failed to mention that this particular packaging is being phased out (I believe they'll be replaced by pump bottles), but I'm still happy with the overall results...even if it does cost $27.

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Studio Fix Fluid goes on uber smooth and provides buildable coverage that I've really come to enjoy. Just a little bit goes a looooonnnngggg way. Equally impressive is how matte the finish is. A lot of people prefer that dewey, fresh-faced look, but I have oily skin so matte is what I need. After a light dusting with the remnants of my Studio Fix Powder, I'm out the door! The best part, though, is this stuff lasts! With my previous makeup regimen, I had to blot my face I don't know how many times a day and it was annoying, but with this, I haven't had to blot at all! Not even once! I have no shine for at least 10 hours and I've never been able to achieve that unless you count my forays with Milk of Magnesia as an oil mattifier since I'm too cheap to buy one.

Since my powder is also a foundation, I think I'll go back to the MAC counter soon and switch to the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. Then again, I think I might have an unused jar of their Set Powder laying around somewhere. Or was it Prep & Prime? Upon reading about the differences between the two, I hope I have P&P!

OBI Natural Hair Care Update

As promised, I gave OBI Natural Hair Care's Curl Enhancing Custard a full week's try before issuing my final review. (drum roll, please!)

Big, big fail for me, but...

As I mentioned before, I knew I was in trouble as soon as I dipped my finger in the jar...the consistency was all wrong for my hair. Curl Enhancing Custard is like a thick version of Kinky Curly Knot Today which I've repeatedly tried, but could not like. Also, when my hair fully dried, it was hard, crunchy and extremely dry. I'm used to having soft, moisturized hair.

OBI Natural Hair Care's Curl Enhancing Custard is really designed for the style-conscious. If you only want a product to hold your locks in place or don't want someone's hands running through your hair, this is the product for you. I think this stuff could actually stand up in one of those wind test tunnels!

If you aren't style conscious and your foremost concern is having healthy hair, run from this product! Obviously, I'm of the latter ilk, putting health over style every single time so Curl Enhancing Custard is a no-go for me. Yes it held my curls all week without reapplication, but that's all it did. Perhaps the worst part was the thick white paste it left between my fingers when I began detangling. Way too much product build-up and it'd be super nasty if a devout cowasher used this product. GROSS! This gets one coil down!

So, today I skipped my weekly deep conditioning steam treatment and washed my hair loose...twice...with two different commercially-made shampoos to ensure I got all of this goop out of my hair. Now, back to the drawing board with my own Wash Day Bounce Butter for soft, shiny, weeklong curls!!!!!!

Holding All Curls!!!!!!!!

A few weeks ago, OBI Natural Haircare sent me a few full-size samples to try out. Y'all know I'm crazy about my own line, Wash Day, but I do love trying out other stuff from time to time.

Last week, I washed and conditioned as usual before spritzing with OBI's Curl Moisture Spray.

Pretty awesome stuff!

I immediately noticed a wonderful. My hair has some serious combination strands, but this spray helped my curls and waves look more uniform, and my hair felt really good! After a few spritzes and smoothing this through each section, I swear my hair had beautiful coils worthy of wearing it out in a WNG-something that's always alluded me. This product has earned a spot in my hair care closet and definitely gets two coils up! I only wish it came in a bigger bottle. I used almost half the bottle!

Then, I used OBI's Curl Moisture Cream. I might add that it's compatible with Giovanni Direct Leave-In.

Don't be fooled by the power of this light, fluffy cream.

Now, creams and I don't really get along, but to my surprise, this hair cream played quite nicely with my hair!  It's well-known that I wash and set my hair once a week with my chosen styling product, so whatever I use in my twist out has to have some staying power. And, this does the trick...for the most part. Mid-week, I did have to retwist the top half of my hair, but I used the Curl Moisture Spray instead of adding more Curl Moisture Cream. While my hair was gorgeous, it felt and looked dry, and lacked the bounce I'm used to having. So, I give this one coil up. Not sure I'd add this to my arsenal, but in a pinch, it'll do.

This week, I decided to try out the Curl Enhancing Custard, so that review will be posted soon. But, here are my thoughts so far...

Jury's still out on this one!

I'm a little concerned about how my hair will turn out tomorrow. So far, my hair is almost fully dry and it's stiff, dry and crunchy! While I was pleased with the amount of definition I can see I'm going to have and how nicely my ends coiled without any extra help, I do not like how my hair feels. But, I kind of knew this as soon as I dipped my fingers in the jar. The consistency is like Mod Podge mixed with hair gel, and I am not a fan of hair gels. But, if you like Kinky Curly Knot Today, you will probably like this as it feels like a much thicker version. Crossing my fingers...

I also used a different shampoo this week, thanks to the LUSH store in Novi, Mich.

I love me some LUSH, so I was happy to get a freebie of this to try out!

First, let me say it smells amazing, but looks like...chunky orange puke? Aside from what it's designed to do, I was intrigued by the texture which makes following the instructions incredibly important. Your hands and hair must be sopping wet. Scoop out a nickel-size amount of Curly Wurly, lather it up in your hands and apply it to your hair. Honestly, I thought my sample was way too tiny for me to be able to give this a try and I even contemplated stealing my daughter's sample (sorry Ana!), but I only used half of my sample and it lathered my whole head! 

Curly Wurly made my hair soft and if I didn't know any better, I swear I saw curls popping where I've never seen them popping before. Curly Wurly also cleansed AND conditioned my hair without stripping it, and it lathers up really, really well. Since it's chock full of coconut oil, some of the coconut oil did solidify due to our dropping temps in Michigan so I had to pick little white chunks out of my hair, but I like this product. Curly Wurly gets two coils up, but I don't think I like it enough to buy it at $23.95.