It's a Hairicle: Living Proof

Hairicle: Living Proof by elbonner featuring living proof hair care

It's cold outside, and unless you live in a tropical climate or you are one of those freaks who enjoys it, life is pretty terrible right now. It was 18 degrees last Thursday morning; what the hell is that?! Anhywho, something that goes hand-in-hand with frigid temperatures is dryness, whether it be your hands, face or hair, it's all over the place! Winter is literally sucking the moisture from your body!When the going gets tough, this woman gets going to Sephora to pick up things to make life worth living again int he winter. Now, I have mentioned this brand before, but only very briefly, and it deserves much more attention than a blog blurb every once and a while. So here it is, my ode to Living Proof: my favorite haircare line ever!

Living Proof was created by a bunch of eggheads up at Harvard University, citing that haircare has evolved little in the past 40 years and it was time for a shake-up! They created a molecule, OFPMA (Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate to be exact) that was created to seal the hair shaft without the use of oils or silicones which can weigh hair down and hold onto dirt. OFPMA is responsible for Living Proofs amazing ability to keep styles cleaner and longer lasting, making it easier to go between styling and keep dryness at bay by reducing the frequency of washings. I thought this was a bunch of bologna until my mom got me a few products for Christmas 2013, after that I couldn't bring myself to really care about any other line of hair care. It keeps my hair from being greasy, smells AMAZING, and just makes my hair look healthier. I have collected a few favorite products and I am going to share them with you!

Frizz Shampoo and Conditioner- Great for frizz (no way!), this shampoo has the signature Living Proof scent which I cannot help but huff in the shower. This contains OFPMA which smooths out hair, helping to keep excess moisture out. This combo is also very moisturizing if you have issues with dryness, but it also isn't so heavy that it makes hair greasy. All-in-all a great combo!

Style Extender- Touted as "primer for your hair", this product is put on after washing to help keep your styles lasting longer. It's free of anything heavy or greasy and can be used from root to tip to keep hair looking good for way longer than normal! If you don't shampoo your hair daily, this can be used after a quick rinse to add some moisture to ends. I love this stuff and use it a lot!

Restore Instant Repair Lotion- Like a leave-in conditioner that really leaves frazzled hair feeling stronger. I think this is a great winter hair treat when the weather is drying out everything and it needs a little TLC!

Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment- This is probably my favorite Living Proof Product. This stuff smooths, shines, and volumizes without being heavy or sticky. I use it daily and I will always have it around. It makes everything easier and more manageable!

Straight Styling Spray- This stuff is incredible. It gives you a flat iron-like straight style with just a blow dryer and a flat brush, getting rid of an extra steps worth of heat damage. Just spray all over damp hair, grab your paddle brush, and get to drying! I couldn't believe I could get a style as straight as I did without a flat iron. Why didn't I have this when I was obsessed with super straight hair, which lead to it's ultimate destruction from all the heat damage! A must-buy for those who crave straightness!

Satin Hair Serum- After you straighten your hair and you want a little extra shine, try the satin hair serum! It's light and doesn't contain silicones like most hair serums that leave hair with that weird, pseudo-greasy feel that builds up over time and weighs hair down. This one makes things shiny and smooth for multiple wears. It's probably the only hair serum I've ever really liked.

Instant Texture Mist- After being a long-time user of Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, this stuff is a pretty good alternative. It gives damp or dry hair windblown texture that looks super cool and undone. We spend so much time trying to make done hair look un-done; this mist makes it easy! Just spray and go!

Now, I am in now way bring sponsored or paid by Living Proof to rave about these products, but I wouldn't hate it if they did. The truth is, Living Proof is definitely pricier than your typical drugstore haircare, but if you want no nonsense, excellent style every time you use a product, I feel like that's worth it. The only time I have really awful hair days are when I decide to use something different (fool!). If you've got some extra dough around or just want to try something new, give one of these products a try! Good hair days for all!

All Products available at SEPHORA or LivingProof.com

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Pretty Livin!: New Beauty Goodies

Pretty Livin! by elbonner featuring a straight iron

It's been super cold and unseasonably warm, all within the same week. It's wreaking havoc on my poor hair and skin! Luckily, I've come across some products that will do well spanning the seasons and are helping with my weather-related skin and hair problems. 

My mom was lovely enough to purchase me some hair products from Living Proof for Christmas. This line did themselves a huge favor by making Jennifer Aniston their spokes-model because really, who doesn't want her hair?! First of all, it smells A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I often find myself just grabbing the bottle and smelling it whenever I'm in the bathroom like I have some kind of huffing problem. It's a fresh, almost peppery smell that just smell luxurious and fancy! My mom got me the anti-frizz line which is good for my wild hair. I have three different hair textures on my head: wirey and thick on the bottom, normal midway up my head, and then super fine on the top. That and it's super dry! This formula moisturizes while keeping the frizzies away without making my hair greasy. I can easily go a day or two between washings which is only helped by the style extender spray I also got. Top that off with the Nourishing Styling Cream and you've got yourself a fabulous head of hair. I feel like this will work well in the summertime too to keep the humidity from making my hair frizzy and flat.

My skin has been super dry too and I've been trying to solve the problem by slathering my face with various oils. They have been doing the job, but I always wake up with oily bangs and have to douse my hair with dry shampoo. I recently came across this moisturizer by Nuxe that is super moisturizing, but very light and not greasy at all. The Creme Fraiche 24 Moisturizer does have a pretty strong floral scent. It's very jasminey which is actually pretty nice at night time, but if you're sensitive to fragrance, be aware!

The BB cream I was using was also too drying for my face, so I bit the bullet and purchased the Tarte Amazonian Clay Tinted Moisturizer that I've been putting off for years. It's very light, but keeps my skin moisturized. I got the wrong color, but it blends so nicely that I can usually fix it with some blending and bronzer. It's got an spf of 20 which is also a big selling point. This is a great wintertime tinted moisturizer that provides light to medium coverage.

I actually had a great first week back to work after the holidays. It went by pretty quickly, and I received a beautiful gift from a great company. They took an interest in my previous post and showed me just how great of a company they are. The girls over at Pearl. Love. Jewelry sent me this beautiful bracelet as a thank you for my write-up and I haven't taken it off since I got it!

A little piece of Tahiti I can have with me every day! I don't want to be braggy, but I was so blown away by their generosity that I wanted to tell everyone how wonderful they are!  Thank you, ladies; you've made 2014 start off in the greatest way possible! Hope you all have a good mid-January and stay warm y'all!

Rescue Your Do!

Rescue Your Do! by elbonner featuring tigi haircare

Did you jack up your hair this summer? I sure did. After all my gallivanting amongst the wind and the waves, my hair is dry and brittleand my scalp is screaming for some attention. It's time to start undoing the damage that salt, sand, wind and heat puts on our hair throughout the summer (sorry Australia). You really have to baby your hair after putting it through hell all summer, but there are so many products that can help you do the job.

Cleansing
Wen Aloe Cucumber Cleansing Conditioner- Yeah, it's an infomercial product, but this stuff is great for cleansing your hair without drying sulfates and detergents found in other shampoos. There is even a knock-off version available at Sally Beauty Supply called HairOne that's just as good. Slather a big dollop all over your hair, from roots to ends, leave on for a bit, then wash out. You can follow with conditioner, but only on the ends or you can leave your hair a bit weighed down. If you have fine hair, just use the Wen, rinse, and go!

Deep Conditioning 
Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Reconstructor- Don't be turned off by the name brunettes, read heads, and raven haired maidens. This awesome conditioner is for all hair colors and utilizes oat proteins and keratin to repair damaged hair. Now, too much protein can actually cause the hair to break off, so use only once a week. That should be enough to get things back in tip-top shape. It smells like fresh pineapples and is one of my favorite deep conditioning treats! 

Sebastian Penetraitt- My all-time favorite conditioner. This stuff detangles and repairs in a fraction of the time a traditional deep conditioner does. You leave it one for 1-2 minutes, rinse, and cry as you behold your beautiful head of hair. I use this twice a week after I shampoo (I only shampoo twice a week, don't judge!) and I always feel like I have a new head of hair when I finish.

Super Treat
 Hei Poa Monoi Oil- Oil massages do wonders for sunburnt scalps and dry hair,so I try to do one at least once every two weeks. This traditional Tahitian blend of coconut oil and pressed tiare (gardenia)flowers create a super healing, amazingly scented oil that I swear is a freaking miracle. Just rub oil in your palms and apply to the scalp in sections. Then coat hair all the way down to the ends and leave in for as long as you want. This is a good Sunday afternoon/lazy day activity that gives you a reason no to leave the house. Monoi is solid at temperatures under 76 degrees and to heat the oil back up, just place the bottle in a bowl of hot water or run under a hot tap. NO MICROWAVE!

Leave-In/Styling
It's A 10 Leave-In Treatment- This is my miracle spray. Five to six sprays detangles my hair, conditions away dryness, and leaves everything looking shiny and new. I couldn't recommend this product more.It really is a 10 in my book.

Oribe Apres-Beach Wave and Shine Spray- Want beach hair, but not the damage salt sprays can leave? This beach spray is infused with all sorts of oils and other moisturizers that keep the damage at bay whilst giving you insane volume. Replace your normal drying hairspray with this stuff and you can thank me later (with chocolate).

Styles to Live By- The Power Bun! Everybody loves a giant cinnamon bun on the top of their head! This hairstyle can even disguise an all-day deep conditioning treatment. I use this on days when I didn't want to use heat tools or I'm just being lazy. Great for when I apply just a tad too-much monoi oil on my ends and I don't want to shampoo. Love the bun!

Hope this little glimpse into the world of hair saviors will help you recover from too-much beach fun. Use the products during the winter too to keep dryness at bay. Get conditioning, people!

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Get Your Snorkel On

Get Your Snorkel On by elbonner featuring paul mitchell

In Two weeks I jet off to sunny (hopefully) Oahu to spend some time in the sunshine and lots of time in the water. I plan on doing lots of snorkeling while I'm there and have a few little wants that can make my snorkel adventures a lot more fun. It beats having to rent equipment that numerous people have spat in to keep clean.

Roxy 2mm Wetsuit Jacket- It's summer, so I don't want a full suit, but when in contact with coral, some species can irritate your skin or you can cut yourself on its sharp edges. This super cute jacket will keep you from having a rash-filled vacation complete with open wounds. 

Color Correcting Snorkel Mask-The deeper you go, the more blue takes over. This mask has tinted lenses that keep the colors you see underwater vivid and true to life; like a color filter on a camera.

DaFin Kick Fins- You want to cover as much ground as you can and unless you were born with freakish human flippers, these adorable Kick Fins will help you move around better. They come in lots of different colors and are compact enough to fit in your luggage.

Sun Bum Pro spf 50- I've raved about this before. This mineral sunscreen is great for a day in crystal clear water where the sun still penetrates. So unless you want to spend the rest of the summer convincing your friends that a dive mask tan line is the cool thing to do, then slap on a high spf sunscreen like Sun Bum's. 

Paul Mitchell Sun Shield Conditioning Spray- Help out your poor hair; it's being dried out by the sun and salt and snagged on your mask. It needs all the help it can get. This conditioning spray contains UV filters that protect hair from sun damage and keep things smooth after a week in the ocean.

I'm so ready to see some beautiful tropical fish seeing as how the water here is full of churned up seaweed and millions of baby jellyfish at the moment. It's like swimming through half-hardened Jell-O. I'm positive these cool things would make for a great snorkel session. See you under the waves!

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Bumble and Bumble Favorites

Bumble and Bumble Favorite by elbonner featuring bumble and bumble

Damnit, Bumble and Bumble,  why do you make so many products I love? I mean, if it was socially acceptable, I would take my Bumble and Bumble hair products down to the town chapel and make an honest woman out of it. What's so great about B&B products is that they are made to be layered,  meaning you can use a bunch without ruining your do, but at the same time you don't really need to use a lot because B&B products do exactly what they're supposed to do. I love this company because of its dedication to one of my favorite things of all time: beach hair. If you tell me on the street that my hair looks like I've just come back from the beach, I will be your best friend forever, so seeing a company take such an interest in one of my lifelong loves makes me all warm & fuzzy inside. Above are my absolute favorites that I am sharing with you people!

 (L-R-C)

Surf Foam Wash Shampoo and Creme Rinse Conditioner: I don't know how they did it, but it gives you texture without using product. If you want big, bouncy, beachy waves then this stuff is for you. It smells fresh, clean, and even looks like a tropical lagoon!

Bb. Texture Hair (Un)Dressing Creme: Get hot, bedhead without the hangover and possible sleep-barf you may accumulate after a night of "you're-really-too-old-for-this" partying with this FRIGGIN' AWESOME hair creme. Just slap some on damp hair and let air-dry or diffuse to look like a hot mess (the good kind)!

Bb. Grooming Creme: When you want smooth hair that looks glossy, shiny, and well-coifed this is the stuff for you. When my hair is feeling way dry, I use this to restore my lustrous golden locks (ok, I'll shut up now).

Bb. Surf Spray: Sent down from Mount Olympus by the hair gods themselves, this is the best hair texturizer outside of dipping your head in the ocean. I tell everyone who wants beach hair to suck it up, pay the $25, and thank me forever for their beautiful beach hair. This can dry hair out so I use it on special occasions where I need to look awesome. It's nothing a good deep conditioning can't fix!

Bb. Thickening Hair Spray: Is your hair as limp as a sink drain full of wet spaghetti that you were too lazy to clean out a week ago? If so, get some of this spray on your roots! This won't make your hair sticky, but will make you look like you have extensions and Bump-its galore!

Hope this shed some light on a great company that gets hair right. Happy good-hair-days everyone! 

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Man Stuff!

Man Stuff by elbonner featuring baxter of california

Much to my surprise and delight, I've got some man readers! Never a bad thing, I just feel guilty that  a lot of what I feature on this blog is female-focused. I've decided to make this Sunday afternoon post just for the dudes. It's the manly thing to not care too much about what you put on your face and body to keep it rugged and majestic, but, you have to admit, this stuff is fun. Especially, all the cool shaving stuff that's coming out now. Being well-groomed doesn't make you less of a man, it makes you a much better looking one. Here are some of my picks to keep things simple, but to up your game a bit.

Skincare 
1. Cleanser: Earth-Tu Face Wash- Simple name, simple ingredients. My boyfriend, the product minimalist, likes products that don't have a lot of crap in them and this cleanser is as simple as they come. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, it cleanses without over-drying. 

2. Moisturize/Protect: Baxter of California Super Shape spf15: Guys, you need a sunscreen and you need to moisturize your face unless you want to look like a grizzled crab fisherman at 30. Keep it simple and get a moisturizer with an spf so it's done in one step. Baxter's of California makes some great stuff (they're cleanser was awesome) and has some of the simplest, classy packaging I've ever seen. 

3. Eye Care: Murad Essential-C Eye Cream spf15- Don't scoff at eye creams. Anyone can benefit to a little extra help around the most delicate part of your body. The spf keeps eyes protected during outdoor activities and vitamin helps counteract sun damage. 

4. Pores: Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Mask- the minerals in this mask help to calm skin whilst clearing pores of gross stuff and keeping you pimple free. Masks are fun and your face feels sooo much better after a nice mask! 

5. Exfoliation: Lush Ocean Salt- Men, you have to exfoliate. It is so important, especially if you shave. Exfoliation helps with ingrown hairs and helps get all the dirt, grime and stress off at the end of the day. Nothing makes my face feel better like a good scrub. Don't be to harsh, you don't want to damage your skin, but this scrub exfoliates with sea salt and soothes with avocado butter. A personal favorite! (Bonus: can be used for the body too!)

Shower Essentials 
1. Body Wash: Baxter of California Invigorating Body Wash- Uses the power of limes to wake your ass up in the morning! No more ugly drug store body washes or horrible AXE-like bro-fragrance. This nicely packaged, clean and simple wash is citrus infused to get you going and smell nice too. 

2. Hair Care: Bumble and Bumble Surf Foam Shampoo/Conditioner- This just came out and is a great everyday, gentle cleanser for your hair. The matching conditioner doesn't make hair greasy so you can go a few days between washings. Beach-inspired and made to give you some texture, this is great for the every-man. 

3. Styling: Woody's Grooming Clay- I think mens hair looks better a little more on the matte side (not so shiny). Unless you're going for a ultra-shiny, greased-back look, go for something that will give you more texture. Clay and cream pomades give you a softer finish and just look better.  No crunchiness, no nonsense! 

4. Soap: Saturdays Surf Pacific Beach Soap- Everyone needs a bar of soap. This one smells like a Drive down the Pacific Coastal Highway complete with herbal, citrus, and marine notes. A vacation in a bar. 

Shave 
1. Shave Cream: Jack Black Beard Lube- A good shave cream can make all the difference in the world to your shaving routine. I think the more emollient, the better. You're scraping razor blades against some of the most delicate skin on your body. It's going to get irritated. Try something that doesn't dry everything out afterwards. This stuff is always winning awards and is worlds away from your rusty-bottomed foam shave. 

2. Razors: Dollar Shave Club- A monthly subscription that gives you razor blades at a ridiculously low price? They're even delivered straight to your house? Surely you jest! Ranging from $1-$9/month, you initially get a handle and then receive blades once a month. SO CHEAP,  SO EASY, you can thank me later! (Boyfriend approved)

3. Shave Brush: The Art of Shaving Badger Brush- Make shaving fun again. Shaving brushes are all the rage and really help facial stand up so that you can shave them off better. It also looks like it just feels nice on my face. Almost makes me want a really embarrassing mustache problem (I don't).  

4. After Care: Kiehl's Ultimate After-Shave Balm- For those with dry/sensitive skin or those who just want to keep things smooth like Barry White, this balm goes on after you shave to calm everything the hell down. With ingredient like avocado oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E your face will be softer than those microfiber blankets they have at Target all the time! 

Fun Stuff! 
1. A Good Comb: Baxter of California Pocket Comb- Something about a fancy comb just makes you feel like you've really made it in life. Maybe not as much as an Audi r8, but pretty close. Tortoiseshell (faux please!)  combs always look nice and will last you a lifetime of classy grooming. 

2. A Hardcore Sunscreen: Sun Bum SPF 50 Pro sunscreen- made with non-irritating mineral and chemical sun protectants, this stuff stays on throughout a multitude of activities and is small enough to keep in your pocket. Won't run into your eyes while working on your motorcycle on a hot day,  rock climbing solo in the desert, or playing a hot round of beach volleyball with Val Kilmer.

3. Home Fragrance: Sydney Hale Co. Sea Salt + Bay Rum Candle- Dudes love candles. I know a lot of guys who love candles more than I do and I think that's a great thing. This candle smells like sitting at a beach bar and drinking some Caribbean rum and boozing it into the sunset. Get some candles in your life, because no one wants to smell your steak 3 days after you've cooked it. 

Well gentlemen, I hope this satiates your wild, manly appetite for decent skin, body and hair care products catered towards you, the manliest (or gentlest) of men! I do think mens skin and hair care stuff is way fun and I really like learning about all the new stuff you guys get to have! Maybe I'll do this every once and a while to keep you all fresh to death. Party on, Dudes!

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