I thought I’d do an “empties” post to show which items I’ve liked so much lately that I used every drop!

Bath Roman Relax Rose bath salt
Urumoa Moisturizing Bath
LUSH Rose Jam body wash
GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment
L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel
Honeyce’ Moisture Repair shampoo and conditioner
Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration After Sun
LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

Bath Roman Relax Rose bath salt

Ulmore Moisturizing Bath

Bath Roman is a good staple brand of bath salts. They usually come in large metal containers and last a while. The fragrance and colors are always nice. This Relaxing Rose version was fantastic. The rose fragrance is a rich perfume rose. The powder turns the water into a gleaming pool of rose-pink.

The Ulmore [ウルモア] moisturizing bath cream was one of the best things I picked up in spring. Its “Creamy Rose” fragrance is unique and intoxicating. It’s sweet like rose candy. The milky liquid is squeezed into the cap much like those ACT for Kids mouthwash bottles. You pour it into your bath and it adds a softness to the skin but leaves the tub clean afterwards. I haven’t seen it in the stores since I bought it but next time I come across it I’m definitely repurchasing!

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration

I picked this lotion up because I wanted something that smelled like tanning oil but wasn’t actually tanning oil since I don’t sunbathe much. This has a coconut papaya fragrance that’s really nice. The lotion contains aloe so it’s moisturizing but not tacky like an aloe gel. Plus the bottle is incredibly appealing with its mint green and cream swirled lotion. There was a version with glitter in it but I didn’t pick it up and then I never saw it again… Oh also this was great for when I actually did get very sunburned a few weeks ago.

LUSH Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner

LUSH Rose Jam body wash

I already mentioned these while using them but definitely liked both these rose items from LUSH. The Rose Jam is so sweet in fragrance and the body wash isn’t too drying.

The Ro’s Argan body conditioner is fantastic and the small jar lasted me a long time. I liked using this to add extra softness to my skin. My past products, which were pure oils, sometimes clogged my pores. This didn’t cause any break outs while using it. And the fragrance is like a honey rose mix that lasted long after the bath.

GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment

L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel

GLAMGLOW… I really wanted this to not be as awesome as it was because, you know, the price. But it was honestly worth every penny for my skin. It cleared me up so quickly. Removed so much redness. I actually stopped using acne creams after purchasing this product. This is all I use for any breakouts now and yes I’ve already repurchased it. There’s also a face wash in this line and I highly recommend it if you suffer from adult acne that doesn’t respond well to a lot of other products. Don’t save this stuff for a rainy dat, use it! I used it as spot treatments more than a full mask and it worked wonders on big morning zits.

The L’Occitane Angelica Hydra Vital Gel is a moisturizer I end up buying every summer. It’s very cooling and moisturizing. It’s good for no makeup days or before bed. It has a really fresh aloe scent that dissipates immediately after applying. It’s calming for blotchy skin and never causes me acne.

Honeyce’ Moisture Repair

Bouncy bouncy hair with a sweet honey scent that lasts. I love this shampoo and conditioner set. The fragrance alone is worth a repurchase but the packaging and formula make it one of the best hair care series I’ve tried in a while.

I’ve been saying it on twitter and tumblr a lot so here’s a real review.

I bought my first one while I was still recuperating from “the injury.” Squeezing bottles just wasn’t in my wheel house at the time. I got the Soak and Float and ended up liking it so much that I bought 3 more versions. Then a few more after that!

LUSH Shampoo Bar Introduction

Now when I find myself going back to my traditional shampoos, even my previous favorites, they just don’t compare. Mostly they all weigh my hair down drastically compared to the LUSH Shampoo Bars. The difference is so great that I never use my old shampoos unless I know I’ll be staying in that day.

Seanik

LUSH Quote – “Solid seaweed shampoo bar for shine and body”

This is one of my favorites. Leaves my very thin and flat hair full of volume! Smells pretty good and the bar itself is quite pretty.

Soak and Float

LUSH Quote – “Sort out itchy, flaky scalps. We’re just going to say it upfront: this shampoo bar smells like campfires, but it is incredibly effective…”

Agreed. At first the bar’s scent was annoying and I left it in a shampoo can. But after a week it grew on me. I even started leaving it out to dry because I enjoyed the woodsy scent in my bathroom. At the time my scalp was all annoyed from being home 24/7 and not being able to do more than just wash my hair. I saw results after just 1 use and by the 3rd use I was convinced this was a way better alternative to medicated drugstore shampoos.

It also left my hair really bouncy and full! More volume than any other bar I’ve tried so far.

Jason and the Argan Oil

LUSH Quote – “Softening argan oil bar”

Yep, softens my hair up pretty well! Doesn’t add a lot of volume or shine but it smells like their rose jam and leaves my hair silky. My only complaint is I wish the fragrance lasted after washing but it doesn’t.

Montalbano

LUSH Quote – “Deep-cleansing lemon bar. Attention, dull hair!”

This one smells nice, adds a little volume, and adds some shine too.

Ultimate Shine

LUSH Quote – “Solid shampoo for hair that shines”
This would be a good one if you wanted something free of fragrance. I didn’t notice too much extra shine but made my hair feel squeaky clean

Lullaby

LUSH Quote – “An irritated and angry scalp is no one’s friend. It’s a calming lavender Shampoo Bar that’s gentle…”

I haven’t used this yet! It smells so good and is so pretty I’ve put it away until my Jason and the Argan Oil is used up!

Conditioning

Conditioning is a bit of a factor. Mostly I would use a lightweight conditioner from a different hair care line, or skip conditioner altogether, or doing a hair mask instead. So I thought I’d try their solid conditioner too since I liked the shampoo bars so much.

Big Solid Conditioner

LUSH Quote – “For big volume and tons of shine”

I wanted to like this. It doesn’t weigh my hair down too much and adds a bit of shine. But it’s so difficult to use! Especially on short hair. You have to soften it up in the water first, then drag it across strands of your hair. It’s gritty with a waxy texture. It rinses pretty clean but the main reason I’m not loving it is because I mostly condition for my scalps health. This bar does nothing for your scalp. I won’t be repurchasing. Maybe if my hair were longer.

Loretta Hair Wax 6.5

I saw the Loretta line being use a lot in salon tutorial videos for short cuts. The 6.5 wax was used for stronger more dynamic styling. It gives my hair a messy edgy look and allows me to shape and reshape it throughout the day. I bought mine from sleekhair.com.

Loretta Hair Wax 6.5

Pros
Smells fantastic with a rose-like aroma
The more you use, the better
Easily re-shape-able

Cons
Can weigh hair down a bit
Needs scrunching every few hours for volume
Waxy texture

I’m happy with it!
I use it for messy bedhead style days. The texture reminds me of a glue stick but it’s actually not that sticky of a wax!

Lucido-L Volume Airy & Natural wax

A brand I’m quite familiar with, I wanted to try their new “Volume Airy” wax since it seemed most popular for fluffy short styles. I ordered mine from Webichi.com.

I love it.
It’s the best soft with volume wax I’ve used. It works great combined with some light curling then scrunching with the wax. It keeps its shape but can be easily re-shaped throughout the day.

I also saw the “Natural” look version of the Lucido-L line when I was out shopping so I picked it up as well. It’s more milky in texture and I use it for sleeker hair days.

Lucido-L Hair Wax

Pros
Trusted brand with a long history of products
Never greasy feeling
Containers are really easy to open and close and store nicely
They work!

Cons
Style sometimes needs refreshing (hold doesn’t always last)
Can easily use too much weighing hair down

The textures are quite different between the two due to their varying holds. Plus these waxes are fragrance free. That can be a pro or con depending on your preferences.

Cocopalm Scalp Cleansing Gel

Why I like it

The bottle design makes it extremely easy to use. The tip allows for pinpoint application straight to the scalp with an easy squeezable bottle.

It smells fantastic with the ingredients of ginger, angelica, grapefruit, hibiscus, peony, and acerola. The fragrance is made up of passion fruit and neroli. (I’m a huge fan of neroli.)

The heat-up effect is extremely relaxing.

My hair is super soft and full of body after using this. Every single time!

I got a lot of compliments on my hair the first time I used it. Since my hair has only ever been short when using it it leaves it feeling soft, fluffy (volume,) and shiny. The fragrance is somewhat beachy and I can smell it every now and then the next day but it’s not overwhelming. I will definitely be buying more (if I’m lucky enough to find it locally again!)

This weekend I got a new sleeveless top and flats from Zara online. It doesn’t really match the tone of all my solid colored tees but something about that clashing with my closet made we really want to add it! After I made a wardrobe capsule for a Tumblr ask using all Zara I decided to order a bunch of stuff from Zara.com since it was free shipping & free returns. Today I returned about half due to fit (mostly too tight in the shoulders.) It was so, so, so much easier than shopping in their hectic store.

Also picked up this cocopalm scalp cleansing gel. I used it tonight. It smells so good and tropical. It’s an extra scalp cleanser you use prior to shampooing. With the heat and sweating waiting on the trains in the mornings and again in the afternoons plus riding my bike and that perm… my scalp could use some TLC.

And the Therapy Mineral Bath Soak is amazing for summer. It’s mentholated and leaves you feel really cool and refresh.

I bought a crap-load of shampoo this weekend too. If the local Japanese market carries a new hair care line there’s a 100% chance I’m going to buy it without considering how often a single person can actually wash their hair in their lifetime. Added ISM Hair care and Umi No Uruoiso to my collection. I haven’t opened them yet though but will pick one tonight because my current shampoo & conditioner went empty.

I’m actually most interested in the ocean themed line. It uses various seaweed extracts and just sounds all around summer-mermaid-themed.

I was subscribed to Mer for a few years and unsubscribed last summer. It was originally called “Vintage Mix Girls” [Furugi Mix Girls] until they made the change in February ‘13 to Mer.

I thought I’d post some of the pages from Mer+ that were put out as teasers. I’ll also post a few from the regular issues of Mer. Like Baila, Mer has a lot of “baby bangs” hair styles but the clothing is much more casual with emphasis on “adult cute” and girly clothing.

Maison de Reefur Petite Mer

Baggu Duffle in Sailor Stripe

Madewell bien fait surf tee

A Cup of Jo: Mermaid Tail Braid how-to

A Cup of Jo: Ponytail Twist how-to

And yesterday I got this huge birthday package from Anna filled with things she picked up on her recent trip to Japan. So many of these are my favorite things. Especially loving the yuzu essential oil for my aroma diffuser. It’s smells perfectly like yuzu!

A few things from Mike including Mermaid Shampoo and the “Flowers in Her Hair” Lippmann polish.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes on IG & Tumblr!

I listed over 50+ mini-reviews! They’re divided into the 4 categories below.

Skin Care

Makeup

Nail Polish

Hair Care

Juju Peach Whitening Water

A moisturizing and whitening toner. I really like using this in the summer. It smells wonderful and helps lighten acne scars and red, irritated patches. It’s not drying like a lot of toners and I can use it in the mornings since it absorbs completely into the skin. Really really love this stuff.

Juju Mary Mary Skin Conditioner Gel

This gel smells GREAT, like lemon meringue pie, and the formula is composed of very simple ingredients making it a fantastic night cream. Doesn’t break me out or leave a sticky feeling to my skin. It’s not particularly moisturizing but doesn’t leave the skin feeling too dry either.

My Beauty Diary Rose and Peony Sleep Concentrate

Favorite gel based moisturizer! It is so, so moisturizing and smells amazing. It’s really subtle and calming and the gel just left my skin so ultra-moist. And my skin was so clear and bright when I was using this! I was really sad when I ran out of it.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream

Loved this cream! I used it as a night cream and it smelled so great and kept my skin super clear and bright! Really moisturizing too. I love this whole line.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Emulsion

A more liquid’y version of the cream, this emulsion offers a lighter way to moisturize. Another one I’d use at night, and especially when my skin was feeling dry or sensitive, because this product is very mild.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Lotion

A moisturizing type of skin toner, I only ever used this at night because it’s a little heavy for wearing under makeup. It adds a nice layer of moisture that I could then top off with a night cream. Might be too heavy for oily skin.

Meishoku Organic Rose Skin Conditioner

A clarifying toner, I use this in the mornings. It dries clear and does a good job at brightening skin and shrinking pores. It can be a bit drying so I only use it on my T-zone (oily areas of combination skin.)

Meishoku Organic Rose Skin Conditioning Gel

A moisturizing gel lotion I use as a night cream. It only takes a little and skin is hydrated immediately. Some of the gel can dry and peel off if applied too thickly.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Arbutin Toner

Though I like this series this toner didn’t really have any amazing effect for my skin. It didn’t break me out but it also didn’t really brighten my skin or fade acne scars or shrink pores either. A bit useless and non-effective.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Face Cream

Love to use this as a night cream. A little goes a long way so a single jar lasts a while. It really locks in moisture and helps fade dark spots. It’s also really gentle and never caused me any acne. I buy this again & again. It’s a great default night cream.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Q10 Essence

Very nice essence lotion! Lightweight and brightens skin by fading dark spots such as acne scars. Never broke me out. I would often use this after work after removing my office makeup. Because it’s very moisturizing and gives a clarifying glow to the skin I would sometimes wear it alone on makeup-free days.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Q10 Cleansing Wash

Broke me out. I have awful luck with washes. Nearly everything new I try breaks me out. I have a daily face wash from Clinique that I use but sometimes I like to try new stuff. This stuff was really gentle and thorough but gave me some zits.

SANA Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Wrinkle Eye Cream

This is a decent moisturizing eye cream. It helps keep my lids from getting too puffy. I apply it at night because it didn’t wear well under makeup. Not great but not bad either and keeps the skin moisturized.

Hadabisei Moisturizing Facial Mask (30 Day Wrinkle Care)

A daily mask that comes in a pop-up pack. It’s a quick 5 minute mask that I’d use for a refreshing moment or immediately after removing my makeup after work. Moisturizing and brightening. Nice for a daily treatment since the mask isn’t too wet and stays in place easily.

MSH EyesCream Liquid Eyeliner in chocolatte

Great rich brown shade with a good tip and formula for creating intricate lines. However it dries quickly which makes fixing mistakes somewhat difficult. The pen ran out really quickly too!

Bison Sweetsalon W liquid eyeliner and powder combo in bitter chocolate

Wow this was the worst thing I have ever tried ever. I actually threw this away after trying to use it a handful of times. The liquid side was a runny mess when applying. The liner bleeds as it dries not to mention the tip is so thick that you can only do super thick lines with it. The powder side was useless. I could get some of the color to show but not easily. It was very blotchy, uneven coloring from the powder. Just… wow, so bad.

Dolly Wink Black Liquid Eyeliner

Nice smudge proof liquid liner. It goes on easily and doesn’t pull. The tip is a little wide so it’s better for thicker lines. Dries quickly and easy to remove. A nice straightforward liquid liner!

Dolly Wink Brown Liquid Eyeliner

Decent brown liquid liner. Very similar to the black liner version. The shade is a very dark brown almost close to being black. I liked it but it wasn’t my favorite brown liner. There are better brown liners out there.

Dolly Wink Brown Mascara (Long)

Fantastic light brown shade that adds smudge proof length and is easy to remove. It’s not as dramatic as the black version though and can take a bit long to completely dry.

Dolly Wink Black Mascara (Long)

Great lengthening mascara that’s easy to remove with just warm water. This is the only brand I’ll apply to my bottom lashes because it’s the only formula I’ve found to be completely smudge proof.

Dolly Wink Black Mascara (Volume)

Volumizing mascara that’s easy to remove with just warm water. This mascara adds volume but also tends to clump and takes some extra time to dry. Not my favorite for volume in look but super love how easy it is to remove.

Lovedrops Mascara (Long, Deep Brown)

This mascara gives lashes a really natural look. I use 2 coats and my lashes always look a little longer and really feathery, no clumping at all. The formula smells like roses too. The mascara doesn’t smudge and is easy to remove with warm water. A very lightweight mascara.

Lovedrops Liquid Eyeliner (Deep Brown)

I like this eyeliner formula a lot. It’s a vivid brown color that looks good with both brown or black mascaras. The formula is really silky and dries nicely. You can draw really fine lines or use it to draw thick winged liner. It’s waterproof but removes easily with makeup remover. Also it smells like roses!

Bonavoce Liquid Eyeliner (Royal Brown)

Loved this liner for big cat eye looks! The brown shade is very light and super sweet. Only complaint is that it can get runny while inside the cap. A definite favorite!

Naris Up Wink Up Maxigrade Liquid Eyeliner (Black)

Really great, intense black liquid liner. Goes on smooth and doesn’t smudge. Good for medium thick lines but the tip is a little too fat for ultra-thin lining. I bought this one over and over in the past. Easy to remove with makeup remover.

K-Palette Real Lasting Liquid Eyeliner (Black & Brown)

One of my favorite brands for both black and brown liquid liners. The brown is a deep, deep brown almost black. This liner never fades, smudges, or bleeds. It comes off easily with makeup remover and the pen lasts a long time. Love this brand for daily liquid liner!

La Rose de Versailles Princess Antoinette Lovely Eyes Liquid Eyeliner (Dark Brown)

One of my all time favorite brown liners. It’s a dark brown but still a soft color that’s not mistakenly black. It goes on extremely well and lasts all day. It also smells like roses!

Love Switch Pink Brown Liquid Eyeliner

One of the prettiest shades of brown liner out there! The formula is just OK but the color makes up for whatever it’s lacking. It’s such a soft and shiny pink brown shade that makes beautiful wing-liner looks!

Love Switch SWEET Pink Pearl Brown Mascara

Pretty! Very lovely color that does a great job of giving even the blackest of lashes a sweet look of pink brown. Color reflecting flecks in the mascara add a pretty sheen. The formula is clumpy and thick and takes a while to dry though. Also difficult to remove but does add volume because of the thick formula.

Love Switch Pink Brown Curl Mascara

Didn’t love it. The color was pretty enough but the formula was too thick and caused clumps plus impossible to remove! It stayed tacky and wet for so long and I didn’t notice any extra curl look.

Love Switch Pink Brown Mascara

The original version of Love Switch’s brown mascaras, this gives lashes a great light brown shade. The formula adds a little bit of volume and drama though takes a little longer to dry and is a little difficult to remove. It’s not the best formula but it’s a good brown mascara staple to have.

Majolica Majorca Lash King Black Mascara

Amazing volume and length! Makes my lashes look like falsies. This stuff says POW! Down side is it’s pretty difficult to remove but for ultra-knockout black lashes it’s KING!

Majolica Majorca Lash King Brown Mascara

Great volume adding mascara in a neutral brown shade. Not as dramatic as the black formula but adds a lot of natural looking drama. A little difficult to remove still.

Dejavu Fiberwig Extra Long Mascara

I’ve bought this mascara in black, brown, and wine red. It’s a fantastic daily-wear mascara. It’s extremely easy to apply and remove. Lasts all day, doesn’t smudge, and adds noticeable length to lashes. Easily one of the best (and original) fiber mascaras out there!

Dejavu Fiberwig Lash Knockout Mascara (Black)

I was disappointed with this mascara. I love the extra long version from Fiberwig but this mascara did next to nothing for my lashes. I couldn’t even tell a difference.

KISS Mix Heart Shade Blush (Dolly Pink)

A spontaneous purchase of an inexpensive brand, this blush is my favorite pinkest-pink shade. I wish I had bought all the shades in this series. The color is highly pigmented while the highlighter is shimmery but not overdone and blends really well. Even the included brush is good enough for application. I feel this is a really overlooked brand that deserves more attention!

Ettusais Zero Pore Coat

Broke me out. Made my pores disappear but what’s the point if it causes me zits? I was so disappointed because it’s oil-free, color-free, everything free, but I don’t have much luck with pore fillers to begin with due to my acne-prone skin.

Ettusais BB Mineral Cream

My bb cream for years now! I use the Light shade and it’s such a great color match. It’s really lightweight to wear, lasts all day, and doesn’t break me out.
Love it!

Ettusais BB Mineral White

Though I love my Ettusais BB Cream this “white” version, which has sparkling flecks that reflect light, clogged my pores a bit. I ended up switching back to the original after this whitening version broke me out.

MISSHA BB Cream

I like both Vita M and Perfect Cover. They’re a little heavy but the coverage is amazing. I never break out from MISSHA bb creams either. My only problem with them is color match. Sometimes I’m too light for the Vita so I go with the lightest of the Perfect Cover but sometimes I need to blend two shades of perfect cover to get a good match.

Bison Baby Pink BB Cream

I tried both shades of this bb cream formula. The color match to my fair skin was OK but the formula broke me out. It’s lightweight and has good coverage but clogged my pores badly.

Dior Addict Gloss “No Angel”

Favorite gloss because it’s gorgeous, adds a healthy pink tone, and I always get compliments on it. I can put it on without a mirror too which is a huge plus.

Ettusais Lip Essence

I used to really like these but over time I stopped. The formula has a sorta strange underlying smell. I tried various versions of it and they all have it, it’s sort of oily smelling. I don’t like them anymore.

Lavshuca Flower Syrup Gloss red

Meh. Very tacky texture. The color is really nice and the gloss lasts a while after applying but I have to use a mirror to make sure I apply it cleanly or else it’s very noticeable.

Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss Neo pk246

Smells and tastes amazing! Outside of that it’s just a typical gloss. It does feel a little moisturizing though and adds some pretty shimmer.

Estee Lauder Nail Lacquer

My favorite nail polish. This stuff can last an easy 5 days chip free. When I used to wear it with Ettusais gel top coat it would last 7 days chip free and 10 full days looking decent. Usually only needs a single coat for perfect color. Plus their Pure Red is pure perfection.

Ettusais Nail Polish Gel Top Coat

All time favorite top coat! It’s shiny as frick and looks gorgeous for days. It does crease a little after a few days but it’s only noticeable up close. A lot of people complain about this polish but I think you have to know how to apply it correctly. It dries to the touch so quickly!

Dior Gel Top Coat

I use this because Ettusais is hard to get in the States. Looks gorgeous, dries fast. Apply it using 1 drop per nail. It doesn’t go on like regular top coats. Adds lasting power to the underlying color polish. Can form hairline fractures after 4 or more days of wear but doesn’t start chipping until around day 6.

Majolica Majorca Glass Drop Gel Coat

Good & dries fast! Beautiful glossy gel look. Forms small cracks and scuffs easily after a few days but never thickens in bottle. I used an entire bottle of this because it was so nice.

Essential Ultra Honey Hair Mask

Best hair mask I’ve ever tried ever. It was perfect for my thin, flat hair! It added a ton of shine and volume that lasted multiple days even after shampooing. Also it smelled really great and uplifting. This hair mask is THE BEEEEST.

MA CHERIE Air Feel Treatment

Nice treatment that adds a bit of shine and a lot of softness. Effects last about 2 days. Smells really nice like the other items from this series with a sort of fruity floral scent.

Elence 2001 Twin Scalp Hair Pack EX-2 (For Fine Hair)

This hair mask focues on the scalp to promote healthy hair from the root. It smells pretty great! Fruity but not too sweet. It works nicely adding some softness and body for a day or two.

Elence 2001 Straight Water (Juicy Apple)

Smells great and works well to create sleek straight hair when used on damp hair and blow dried. But the scent fades immediately and the formula is a bit heavy. Looks greasy if applied to dry hair or not blow dried.

Elence 2001 Twin Scalp Treatment Water EX-2 (For Fine Hair)

A healthy scalp spray that guards your hair from styling damage. I guess it works? I didn’t notice any difference.

MA CHERIE Perfect Shower Smooth

Great for bedhead since it’s for use on dry hair. I really like this stuff. Adds a bit of shine, a bit of body, smells nice, and when used with a quick blow dry it makes hair look freshly washed.

MA CHERIE Perfect Shower Wave

For use on dry hair, I didn’t like this as much as the Smooth version. Adds a bit of body and leaves any waves you might have. Probably best for those with perms or naturally wavy hair.

Prostyle Morning Reset Water (Rose)

Fantastic reset spray for use on dry hair. Just spray it all over, brush and let air dry or blow dry and any waves, crimping, or messy bedhead is gone! Plus the scent, which I would describe as “clean rose,” is subtle but lasts throughout the day.

Venus Spa Hair Fragrance Spray (Marrakech Rose)

Disappointing. I used this on damp hair in hopes of adding some shine and fragrance. The scent doesn’t last at all and the spray is heavy leaving a greasy feeling behind.

Loretta Fluffy Hairspray

The packaging is cute as hell! This “hairspray” is less about hold and more about adding a light, airy texture to styled hair. I like it. It’s not too heavy but still adds some definition. It doesn’t have a fragrance which I found disappointing.

Baby Veil Floral Champagne Hair Fragrance

A light hair fragrance that smells of rose and helps neutralize odors like cigarette smoke, food smells, and anything else. This spray was really great at neutralizing odor but the rose scent didn’t last very long after applying it.

Sala Rose Hair Fragrance

MY FAVORITE JAPANESE HAIR COLOGNE! The rose scent is so luxurious and heavenly. Plus it lasts hours and hours. It goes on so light and easy and the can last for quite a while because the fragrance is so strong. It easily masks any unwanted odors like food.

Je l’aime Secret des Bois Shampoo + Treatment

Very nature-focused hair care with a strong eucalyptus and tea tree scent. It smells and feels very clean! It’s a lightweight formula that leaves hair looking ultra-shiny and fresh.

Bene Premium Bluria Shampoo + Treatment

Really nice rose scented hair care that focuses on maintaining a healthy scalp. This shampoo and conditioner gives my hair a little body and a lot of shine. Pretty great shampoo especially for colored or permed hair.

Rose of Heaven Shampoo + Conditioner

I love this line! The rose scent is luxurious and last all day. The shampoo and conditioner add a nice volume and softness to my hair.

Well, they’re here! …
Some of them at least

One Amazon store called Beautyworks sent the Angel Heart Hair Wash instead of the Hair Treatment I ordered. They were actually out of the treatment when I contacted them so they refunded my money and told me to just keep the Hair Wash. OK, that was really cool of them and I would order from them again. :)

The other Amazon store sent me a single tracking code for my order. When it arrived there was only 1 item in the package! When I contacted them they apologized and said the other items were “lost in transit.” These items were now sold out so they refunded my money and shipping for those items. I was disappointed because I wouldn’t have ordered this body spray if I wasn’t already ordering the Angel Heart items. On the plus side the spray smells pretty good. A nice apple and does soften the skin some.

I get the feeling that ordering these things on Amazon can be really unpredictable. I had figured Amazon was a last ditch effort to get hard to find items and it seems proven right. Also it’s rare to find any of these items available for Prime. However, in the end, I did at least get my 1 bottle of Angel Heart Hair Wash so I’m still happy :)

Captain Blankenship
Mermaid Mane Sea Salt Hair Spray

I have a new favorite hair product. I picked this Captain Blankenship
Mermaid Mane Spray up at Urban Outfitters while looking for the Mermaid Shampoo to sniff (but it’s online only apparently.) I didn’t find that line but I did find this sea salt spray. I was a little skeptical until I watched this video tutorial on the best way to use the spray. Now I love it. No really, I’m thinking of buying another as backup already!

I had never used a sea salt spray before but I have used other “beach inspired” items like Bumble & Bumble’s Surf Spray and was never happy with how flat and greasy they made my hair. This spray adds a lot of volume and texture to my flat thin hair. The texture is a dry beachy feeling with lots of movement without being brittle or stiff.

And the scent is fantastic! It’s described as a “beach rose” but I find it to be more citrus smelling than floral. Very similar to neroli.

Captain Blankenship
Mermaid Mane Sea Salt Hair Spray

Pros
Extremely easy to use
Works on both wet or dry hair
Great fragrance that isn’t overpowering
All day style hold
Love the packaging design

Cons
Bottle size is small and you have to use a lot of the product
Price is a little high for how quickly you use up the product

As listed, my only complaint is the size of the bottle. It’s small and you tend to need to use a lot of the product for the really beachy look. I think the bottle should be a little bigger or the price should be a few bucks less. It’s more of a splurge item IMO.

But, ya know, mermaid. :)

I ordered a bunch of Angel Heart stuff today because I really wanted that nostalgic scent in my life again. I bought it as my “hotel” shampoo last time in Tokyo and brought the rest home. After trying to hunt down Ettusais’s gel top coat and having no luck on major sale sites I figured I should indulge this impulse while I can. I got the hair wash, hair treatment, and body lotion. I also got this apple scented body supplement moisturizing spray from the same brand. Looked too interesting to pass up especially with the apple scent and also I was having a crap day so why the hell not! Should be arriving in a few weeks. Good timing for spring.

I got a few Elence 2001 products recently including this above hair mask. This line of hair products is all about a healthy scalp and breaks their line down by hair needs (such as volume.) This mask smells really good and fruity. It doesn’t weigh my hair down as much as Essential’s does but I want to try it a few more times before I decide if I like it or not. :)

Also I was looking at Artifact Uprising earlier and felt really determined to put together a 2013 book! But like many past attempts at creating these online photobooks I wonder if it would just peter out. Currently I only seem to accomplish putting together old-fashioned style photo albums with printed photos and album sleeves. And then I’m also like, “is this something I want to haul around with me if I move?” I don’t know. Sometimes I feel I’m the only person who could ever talk themselves out of documenting wonderful memories!