#BeautyTipTuesday: Minimize Hair in the Shower Drain

I wanted to say this is a hair tip, but "hygiene tip" would probably be more accurate.

I have long hair, so finding at least one strand of my hair in every room is highly possible. Multiply that by a hundred (or couple of hundred) and you basically have an idea of what my shower looks like after I wash my hair. Well, what my shower looked like years ago, especially during stressful times. Past tense. And although I love cleaning, I'm so not a drain-cleaning kinda gal. Sure, I'd pull my hair out of the drain, and then cut all my nails and scrub it with a nail brush because, depending how long it's been there, you get other bits of gross stuff, too: dust, soap, crap. Eeuw.

Everyone's hair will reach the end of it's life cycle and it will come out a couple of times in our lives, but I think I've got this shower-drain business waxed.

How to minimize the amount of hair in the shower drain:
(This also applies to head hair left on your body, between your butt cheeks and between your toes when you're done washing...)

1) Brush/comb your hair BEFORE you wash it. By doing this, you're brushing out the "loose" hairs that have already detached from your papilla which supplies its nourishment. These hairs may have come out while washing/rinsing your hair. And please, clean your brushes/combs regularly.

2) When you wash your hair, do so from root to tip and when you get to the ends, grab all the unattached hairs that usually hang from the ends. Bundle 'em up and put them aside in the shower, or throw them out of the shower. Whatever works for you. I usually twirl it around my index finger and put it in the corner of the shower where the door opens. Mainly so that I don't forget to take it out, which sometimes happens anyway. Sorry, Man Person.

3) Same applies for rinsing and conditioner application, even if you apply your conditioner from mid-length. As well as for that additional rinse you do at the end before getting out of the shower. I see you.

4) When you squeeze out the water from your hair before getting out or towel-drying, DO NOT wring your hair. This can cause breakage, and who wants that? Don't pull it too hard, either. Just do that "sexy hair washing" motion that people do on ads and in the movies. Go from your forehead/hairline, as if you're gathering your hair to tie a ponytail. And squeeze your hair out in sections as you move down your "ponytail". And when you get to the ends, grab the unattached hair before it falls into the shower, and ends up in the drain.

5) Check the shower floor. It's so much better picking up hairs on the floor than digging in the drain. It's possible that one or a few hairs may have escaped you, so look down for a second and pick it up.

6) So a few hairs ended up in the drain cover/screen/strainer thingy (what is that thing called?)... It's not as much as it could've been. Take it out if you have no issues. If you're squeamish, use a tissue or toilet paper. I'll admit to have using a toothpick to lift the hairs out of the drain and then either put it in the bin or flush it down the toilet.

7) Remember to remove it from the shower, or the shower mat, or wherever you decided to put it; especially if you share a home/bathroom with others.

It sounds like a lot of effort, but if takes less than a minute in total, versus being on your hands and knees scratching in the drain. Ain't nobody got the time, surn. If you weren't clearing your hair from the shower/drain before, you'll need to clean it first. Starting to twirl and bundle up your hair now is not going to clear the crap in the drain from the last year. You may even need some drain cleaner, but you should probably get advice about that from someone else. I will not be held responsible for inappropriate drain cleaning fluids ruining your pipes and water disposal system, sorry. I don't know much about this, I have a pair of gloves, a bucket and a reasonable retching reflex on most days. I kick it old school. And I love the word 'retching'. Retching. Retch retch retch. Retch for the stars. Haha. Gross. Sorry.

Do you have any tips and tricks on how to minimize the amount of hair going into the shower drain? Please feel free to share in the comments section.



Miss B

#BeautyTipTuesday: Makeup Removal

I have to apologize about Beauty Tip Tuesday being on Wednesday. Whatthefructose. I had never scheduled a post before, and I scheduled this one and then....nothing. Urgh. Whaddupwiddat.

Today's (Yesterday's) Beauty Tip is about makeup removal.

A good, water-soluble cleanser should remove basic makeup, so why not try cleansing your face first, and if you need to, use a makeup remover on cotton pads afterwards. Obviously, if you wear lots of makeup, and waterproof products at that, you'll need a little help from a fragrance- and colourant-free makeup remover.

I haven't used makeup remover in a long time. I usually just cleanse, and if needs be I do a double cleanse, and then gently "dry" my face with a damp face cloth. I use a white, or very light cloth, for this so that I can see if there are any traces of makeup left, and then make sure it's garwn before slamming into my bed like a dead weight.

Your makeup remover shouldn't have fragrance and colouring agents, as these may likely irritate your skin, and may require additional cleansing to remove. Sounds like too much work for me, y'all. So dampen your face and then gently, but thoroughly, cleanse your skin in quick massage-like movements. Remember to get into that hairline, go right up until your ears, and up your neck (not down your neck, you guys, you work UP your neck). Yes, over your eyes, too. Your cleanser should be gentle enough to use over your eyes. I just heard one of my lecturers tell us "Do you know how many microorganisms live in your brows and lashes?" in my head. Obvs. 

By using your cleanser first (if you even need to use anything after) you minimize that horrible pulling and tugging and dragging motion you do with cotton pads and makeup removal wipes. You need to be far more gentle with your skin, kids. And guess what pulling and dragging and tugging on your skin does? It weakens the elastin fibres, and we know what that means... an increased risk of premature sagging. So be gentle when you cleanse, and be gentle when you remove any remnants of makeup with cotton pads and/or wipes. Don't use your strong hand for this one. ;-)


Miss B

Bourjois Rose Exclusif Lipgloss

Bourjois Rose Exclusif Lipgloss, R99,95 on rubybox

This. Is. My. FAVOURITE! Lip product at the moment. Lip balm is the only other thing I've been wearing on my lips since receiving this from rubybox in November, along with the Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio in Rose Vintage and the Bourjois Khol & Contour Eyepencil in Brun Design. It's just right. Every time.

Self-adjusting products are popular, and it's totally understandable why; with different undertones, complexions, "correction" requirements and the need for minimal guesswork when purchasing makeup. While walking around in a department store one day, running out of testing space on my arms (I'm sure you're familiar with this) looking for the perfect shade of blush, I came across a self-adjusting gel formula and was blown away, as I didn't expect to find it in SA, at the time. We have access to many SUPER brands (not enough, though) but we don't often get the WHOLE collection of products. Within the next month or two, there were self-adjusting products errrwhere. I like the idea, but very few of them work to my satisfaction. I've tried a few on my hands and arms in stores that just didn't adjust to suit MY skin colour or a natural-looking shade of pink. I'm still like a kid about it, though, I get all excited when clear gels and white creams start turning into shades of a good cup of tea with milk, or into strawberry Fizzer shades. Omg, you guys, I have a serious Fizzer addiction. I'm totally going off sugar once I finish this bag of Fizzers, I swear. My body has spoken! But it tastes SO GOOD!

Jeez, can you, like, get back to the product at hand, here, Crazy.

2 3 4 7 Fizzers later.

Bourjois Rose Exclusif Lipgloss contains pigments that adjust to the pH of your lips, delivering a somewhat exclusive rose-pink shade. We could all use this and have different shades of rose-pink lips. I tried it on my cheeks, too, thinking it would be all matchy-matchy with my lips. It wasn't. Clearly differing pH levels, then.

Bourjois Rose Exclusif Lipgloss. Love the brush. It's like a nail polish brush. I want nail polish with a brush like that. 

It goes on as a clear, slightly sticky gloss, that is also self-leveling, I may add. The colour develops within seconds... and sometimes keeps developing. It doesn't say that the colour intensity is layer-dependent, but I've noticed that the more I apply, the darker/brighter it seems. I don't mind dark/bright pinks, but if you're looking for a natural, hint of pink, you either need to use very little and spread it with a clean lip brush or your finger tips, or you need to move on to something else.

I thought I could outsmart this product by "lining" my lips with it a few minutes before filling in it to create a two-tone effect. It looked like those really old-school sitcoms and music videos where they lined their lips and then added clear gloss. Just no.  Minutes later, I applied it again, going over the entire area of my lips. It was SO COOL. Two-toned lips with minimal thought or effort. Until minutes later, it all developed into a uniform colour. Short-lived genius. I guess you could also look at that as foolproof. Right?

It has vitamins C and E, which I love, but it certainly doesn't provide 8 hour moisture as it says it does. It's not a drying gloss at all, as I've come to expect of sticky glosses, but I didn't find it particularly moisturizing. Also, the glossiness will wear off, especially if you're going to eat, drink, talk a lot or kiss someone. The colour, however, outlives the gloss. So even hours after your pout is no longer bouncing the light into the eyes of a cute person, it will still look like you just ate a  pink bompie. still look nicely tinted/stained, and more natural. Two thumbs up for colour longevity.

I've only tried this over a lipstick once, and I didn't particularly love the result, so I'll keep using this clean, or over lip balm. You really don't need anything else with this lip product, and I'll be more than happy to purchase this with my own paper cash money once I finish this one. It's now a staple. Also, pretty convenient if you're going out and want to use a clutch or a small bag with minimal space. You know, the ones that can only carry your phone, money and a couple of tissues. Just halve the amount of tissues, and add your Bourjois Rose Exclusif. :-D


Miss B

#BeautyTipTuesday: Nail care

Helloooooooo!

Happy New Year! :-)

I'm so excited about this year. I'm not going to go all "this is my year" on you, don't worry, I'm just super excited. About the new year. Every year. I ate too many Fizzers in the last week. Including today.

"2014 is gonna be my year!!" - people who's year was supposed to be 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010...
— Travon Free (@Travon) January 1, 2014

Haha.

Anyway...

Welcome to Beauty Tip Tuesday, my new feature, where I get to share some more beauty tips. You're welcome to share your beauty issues and struggles via email or leave a comment below, and I'll try my best to give you some simple tips to make life that little bit easier. :-)

Today's tip is about nails. Well, more specifically, fingers.

We all know that removing our nail polish/finish product, especially if you have gel nails or artificial tips that require soaking off in acetone, can leave the skin around our nails (and our fingertips) dry and sensitive. So next time you remove your nail polish, coat your cuticles and the skin around your nail with vaseline, body butter, cuticle oil, olive oil, lip balm, conditioner or my latest household obsession, coconut oil. Sometimes I'm very impatient when it comes to removing nail polish so I just apply one of the aforementioned mediums to both my hands, as I would hand cream. So because your hands/fingers are wonderfully coated, you don't lose as much moisture from your skin and cuticles. Easy, right?

Try it and let me know how it goes.

Miss B

Bourjois Khol and Contour Pencil in Brun Design

Bourjois Khol & Contour Eyepencil in 78 Brun Design, R85,95* on rubybox.co.za 

I was cleaning out my makeup bags the other day, and didn't realize I had so many.  I hardly use black eye pencil, but I have four (????), of which I use one.  Maybe they've been procreating?

I digress.

I received the Bourjois Khol & Contour Eyepencil in Brun Design with the Smokey Eyes Trio last month, and I'm slightly infatuated with it. It's super soft and rich in pigment. It's a beautiful, dark, matte brown, like the colour of Lindt 70% Cocoa chocolate. Yum. I would've loved to take a picture of the eyepencil and chocolate side-by-side, but... chocolate. Yum.

You could use this sharpened to get the perfect barely-there line on your upper eyelids with little effort. It's also GREAT for tight-lining, and because it's so soft, minimal manipulation of the eyelid is required. No pulling, stretching, lifting. If you prefer a thicker, more obvious khol line, you could use it blunt or simply slant the pencil like you would for "shading" in a colouring book. Keep in mind that this pencil is super soft and you need minimal pressure during application. I learnt this by bending and breaking the nib a couple of times.

The Bourjois Khol & Contour Eyepencil in Brun Design is also SUPER for contouring and smudging. I could create a perfectly acceptable and presentable smoky eye using just this pencil. Srsly. Wanna contour your lids? Simply dot/dab the pencil in the crease of your upper eyelid and smudge'n'blend with your ring finger or a blending brush. Even those little sponge applicators you usually get with compacts can be used for this. For an intense smokey eye, you could line your entire lid with this and simply smudge'n'blend the obvious lines and voila. If you're going to smudge and blend with ease, you have to do it soon after application, though, or you'll need to use a little more effort for it to budge, and probably some beauty tools, too. This makes it great for flicks and winged-liner, especially if you're not comfortable and confident with liquid and gel liners. Which brings me to it's "hold"...

It is long-lasting, and won't run and smudge unless seriously provoked. This isn't an eyepencil that will move in the slightest if you splash your face with water. You can't just wipe this away without makeup-remover or cleanser. Is it hard to remove? No. But water is not going to cut it. I had created flicks with this pencil last week and forgot to remove my eye makeup before jumping into the shower (and I avoid "washing" my eyes, as my current cleanser is not ideal for the eye area) and my eye makeup was still fully intact. Not even the slightest smudge or fading, and I had rinsed my face a couple of times to remove my cleanser properly AND I had dried my (whole) face. Impressive staying power, right? Whether or not it lasts 16 hours, I wouldn't be able to tell you, as I've never worn makeup for that long. But, on their website they state that it was "scientifically tested on 22 consumers - result obtained on 32% of panelists", so if you need your eye pencil to last for that long, I hope you're in the 32%. I love that they disclosed that. And I love scientific tests. A lot.

To add to it's multi-purpose appeal, this is also a great eyebrow pencil. I have naturally dark brows, but sometimes I need to fill a few gaps, especially when I'm going through a "reinvention" phase where I decide to change the shape of my eyebrows, or change the position of the arch. If you've read about my hair issues, you'll know that this is the only way I'll attempt changing my look. For now.

I'm tempted to contour my whole face with this pencil, because it's so nice. The only thing holding me back is that it's way darker than a "couple of shades" and I may look dirty, but I'll be totally on it should I have no other contouring products handy, if and when needed. Also, watching my eye pencils get smaller as I sharpen them makes me sad. 

Have you tried any of the Bourjois Khol & Contour Eyepencils? Which colours are your favourite?

Miss B

*At time of publishing

Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio in Rose Vintage

I was fortunate to receive the Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio in Rose Vintage 05 from rubybox for my last task as a RUBYROYAL, where I demonstrated one of the ways in which you can take your look from day to night.

Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio in 05 Rose Vintage*

The Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio uses "baked technology", is enriched with mineral powders, and is fragrance free. It's cutely packaged in a "compact case" that includes a double-tipped applicator. I've dropped the compact onto tiled floors at least twice in the past month and it has only 1 scratch on it and the shadows haven't broken or cracked, which is pretty impressive. Had I dropped my professional palette (again), I would've mourned the death of at least one (more) shade.

My first impression was that it would make a great blush. At least, that was my intention for the medium shade as it looked like the perfect shimmery pink for my complexion (I've noticed that I tend to think this about many products colour-coded as "rose"), but after trying it I've decided that it is much better as a cheek highlighter, as shown in this video. I don't usually stray far from neutrals when it comes to eye shadow, so I was a bit hesitant when trying this out. 

It says "silky, easy-to-blend texture, 8-hour wear" and I find this to be accurate. Mostly. It's super silky and soft and easy to blend, but I found the lightest shade to be "harder" than the others: it didn't pick up onto my brush as easily as the other 2 shades, and I had to do that horrible swiping motion with my brush to get the pigment onto the brush. You know, like some impatient cashiers do with your Smart Shopper/Vitality/Clicks card? Or like you did when you were about 6 years old, playing shop-shop with your plastic till? I'm all for product economy, and all that friction created "dust" and I had to wipe away most of it. I find that a finger works slightly better.

Left: no flash. Right: flash. Yes, I'll get better at taking pics with one hand.

The lightest shade looks like a pale rose mist-/seashell-/lavender blush-/antique white-meets-pearl or, more simply, a shimmery champagne pink. Although, it didn't pick up easily with the brush, it was soft and easy to blend once on the skin. You can also use this shade not only as a highlighter on your brow bone and inner corners of your eye, but also on the bridge of your nose and cupid's bow. Use it sparingly, though, as it is very shimmery. Great glam for night, but I'd spend more time blending for day wear.

The medium shade is my favourite. It's a light piggy-pink shade. It's great over the entire lid as an everyday application. It's my lazy-girl shade at the moment, meaning if I have to leave the house, I swipe it on, apply mascara and that's my eyes done. Nothing else needed, as it's so pretty and brightening enough on it's own. As mentioned above, it works nicely as a cheek highlighter. It may be slightly too pink (and shimmery) to use as a highlighter anywhere else on your face. Depending on your complexion, you could use this as a shimmer blush, or as a shimmery veil over your matte blush. Remember to start off with a light-hand and blend well. It's easier to layer to get the desired effect, than to try to correct too much shimmer at a later stage. This shade is also great to dab over a lifeless matte, pink lipstick/tint/gloss, and you could do this over the entire lip or just at the centre for some dimension.

"Plummy" was the first thought I had when testing the darkest/sculpt shade. Actually, it's the colour of dried-red-roses before they turn brown and crumble. Duh, "Rose Vintage". It's intense. You won't need to dampen your brush to intensify this shade, simply pat it on and BOOM! It doesn't become much darker the more you layer it. It's pigment-rich and what you see is what you get. I did a single application (one layer) in the swatch above. What DOES happen when you layer it, though, is that the lighter accents of the shade become more apparent, giving it a more pinky, pearlized effect.

The Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio in 05 Rose Vintage can be versatile in terms of function and the colours are great for any eye and complexion colour. Although I was a little concerned at first about the "pinks", it complements my brown eyes, and I've worn even the darkest shade more than I thought I would. I don't often expect eyeshadows to last for 8 hours, even if it clearly states that it will, but this one did. In fact, it lasted just over 10 hours. I applied it in the morning, cleaned the house**, walked the dogs on the beach**, made dinner and then showered, and it was still intact before I showered. I had rubbed my eye once that day, forgetting I had applied a full face makeup, and it smudged a little, but didn't come off completely. I hadn't used a primer or applied powder that day, I simply applied it over my tinted moisturizer, which seemed to be enough. There was slight creasing, though, but not enough to make me want to remove it or reapply it. Nothing a primer or some powder pre-application couldn't fix, in my opinion. 

I've put the Bourjois Smoky Eyes Trio 05 Rose Vintage in my personal makeup collection, and there it will stay. Not only because of all the above reasons, but also because the man had noticed it and said I looked pretty and asked if I was going out when I applied it that morning before cleaning (even though I was wearing trackpants and an over-sized t-shirt). That coming from a guy who asks, "Did you wash your hair?" or says, "your hair looks nice" when he thinks something's different but can't figure out what...like when I tweeze my eyebrows or paint my nails. Really.

Miss B

*prices vary depending on where you purchase it. I've checked a few online stores, but the price varies by as much as R70.

**This is how I test the "longevity" of makeup: I apply it in the morning after cleaning my face, I clean the house (properly, not just pack dishes away) and then walk the dogs. Sometimes I'll throw a workout into the mix, but this rarely happens.

Day-to-Night Makeup

My latest video for rubybox is up, and it shows you a simple way you can take your makeup from day to night at your desk. Of course, there's not just ONE way to do this, so I'll be doing a post about other ways you can adjust your makeup from day to night.



I thought it appropriate for this time of the year, as there are many end-of-year functions, after work meet-ups and cocktails happening and not everyone has the time to rush home and change outfits/hairstyles/makeup completely.  

Of course, this is useful for any time of the year. Many people have places to be after work and want a little more from their makeup.

I used Bourjois Smokey Eyes Trio in Rose Vintage, Bourjois Khol and Contour in Brun Design and Bourjois Rose Exclusif lipgloss in the video, which were sent to me by rubybox. Thanks, Rubies. I'll be doing full reviews on all the products soon, so keep an eye out for it. I am thoroughly impressed with Bourjois products, and am especially obsessed with their Rose Exclusif lipgloss, and haven't worn another lip product, other than lip balm, since receiving it. I'm wearing it right now.



Miss B

My Hair Issues and an Updo Tutorial

I have long hair and hardly do anything more than wear it down, in a ponytail or in a bun (often a messy one). I'm also that kind of girl that goes to the hair salon and tells the stylist something like: "I'm so bored with my hair. I want something different, but don't change anything. You know what I mean?" I don't colour my hair, I've layered it a few times and I've had a fringe, but I have a love-hate relationship with these things. I like my hair one-length, it's easy for me to manage. What's easier than wash-and-go hair? My last two visits to the hairdresser were funny. One stylist sat on the floor while trimming my ends. The chair was at it's highest and she didn't want to have to bend over at an angle, only to not be able to see what she's doing properly. The other, who I've been going to on-and-off for years actually sighed and then asked what I would like to do with my "mermaid hair", if anything. As if I didn't already know I was kind of boring...boring hit me in the face and for a long time I've been wanting to step up my hair game. Mainly, just learn to style it differently.

So, I learned a few simple and quick things to do without pushing myself too far out of my comfort zone. I like the elaborate 'dos, but many of them require styling products, and the less I use, the better, to be frank. Note: I don't have a great track record with hairspray. I hate those strong hold sprays that make your hair so dull and crispy that when you take down your up-style, it feels like you've put your hand into a bag of Lays Lightly Salted and just crunched up/squashed the chips in your hand like you're mad at it. It also, somehow, always ends up in my throat via inhalation or phantom ingestion.

Last month, rubybox challenged me with this, by requesting me to do a quick and easy up'do as a RUBYROYAL. And so I huffed and puffed and blew my hair out...nicely, for a change.


                 

Products I used in the video, as well as my current hair routine:

Kerastase Cristalliste Shampoo will set you forward about *R255 (250 ml) and *R275 (200 ml) for the conditioner.

Kerastase Cristalliste Shampoo and Conditioner for long, thick hair. I don't have "thick hair" but it still worked nicely and wasn't heavy at all. I felt the difference in my hair the second I started rinsing out the shampoo. My wet hair felt smoother already. I was using the Kerastase Dermo-Calm before this one, which is also great for more sensitive scalps. My scalp gets funny every season change with my allergies and all, so this gentle scalp cleanser is a regular for me, and I alternate when needs be.

Kerastase Mousse Bouffante, 150 ml retails at about *R260

Kerastase Mousse Bouffante (strong hold): my new obsession. It's part of the Prado Blue / Customized Construction / Designer range, within their new Couture Styling range, which is designed to be used on towel-dried hair. I only applied it in a horseshoe shape around my crown for the video. It works best if you apply it to damp hair, just before you blow-dry that area. Don't apply it all over your head and then leave it while you dry your hair section by section, it will become a little sticky and harder to work with and blow out. If you like lots of volume (read: high hair) then blow-dry the relevant sections of hair up and forward (or in the opposite direction you want it to fall), and when you're done with that piece, just gooi it back. This product (and others in the range) also provides heat protection, thanks to a Xylose agent, so you don't have to worry about applying yet another product before heat styling. It also provides UVA/UVB protection which is still way too underrated, in my opinion. (And thank goodness, because I've been using a sun protection hair CREAM, which is not ideal for fresh-hair-longevity and volume.) We always see sunscreen and UV protection products for face and body, and not enough for scalp and hair, leaving it unprotected and vulnerable to sunburn and UV damage. Two thumbs up from me, Kerastase.

All the products in the new Couture Styling range are said to provide hold, but still allow for the natural movement and flexibility of the hair, thanks to micronized polymers and their shape memory. The products also contain Vitamin E, one of my favourite vitamins/antioxidants. And may I just say that I absolutely LOVE the colours and product packaging. It's gorgeous.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Retails at *R450

After drying, I always apply the Kerastase Elixir Ultime from mid-length to the ends, and whatever's left on my hands, I run through from the roots. You can read more about how I love and use this product HERE.

Slightly messy with bits and pieces coming out, but you can do it more "tightly" and neater. I was going for "effortless".

I then made the low-knot bun with a twist, and set with Kerastase Laque Couture Micro Mist Fixing Lacquer (medium hold):

Kerastase Laque Couture 300ml retails at about *R260

This hairspray is UH!-mazing. It falls under the Violet Vision / Perfect Finish / Perfector range - to be used on dried and styled hair - also as part of the Couture Styling range. Firstly, I didn't choke after spraying, and there was no phantom ingestion. It has a very light scent, and there was no hair hardness, whatsoever. YESSSSSS! You spray it onto your dry, styled hair from about 20-30cm away, and off you go, owning the day/night/life/universe. In the video above, I had probably done the low-knot bun thrice and sprayed it every single time before shooting the intro, and you can see that my hair still has lots of movement. A few kinks and bumps from knotting and twisting and bunning, but no Stepford-Wife-hair action. The really nice thing about these products is that unless you're really paranoid/obedient/self-conscious about washing your hair and product build-up, this won't weigh it down and need to be washed out immediately, when you've returned from owning the day/night/life/universe. If you wash your hair every 3 days, using this won't make you need to wash your hair after 1 or 2 days. So, it's great for everyday use, if you like rocking cool hairstyles errrday. It's perfect for loose curls/waves, too. Hello, summer, beachy hair. Although, there are other products specifically for that function. The Laque Couture provides the same protection as mentioned above for the Mousse Bouffante, and has the same benefits.

You can check out other products from the Kerastase Couture Styling Range in CONSTRUCT and FINISH. Sigh, I want everything. I've got my eye firmly fixed (ha!) on the Forme Fatale Bodifying All-Over Gel (Construct) and the Gloss Appeal Instant Shine and Top Coat Spray (Finish), though. The Kerastase Initialiste Advanced Scalp and Hair Concentrate, a skincare inspired super serum, has been on my wish list for a few months now, too.

With these side-kicks, I think I should get over my crispy Lays hair fears and will try a few more elaborate up'dos. What are your favourite up'dos and which do you think I should try?


Miss B
* Prices at time of purchase/publishing. Prices are subject to change and may differ depending on retailer.
Kerastase Cristalliste Shampoo and Conditioner, Mousse Bouffante and Laque Couture were sent to me by rubybox for the purpose of demonstrating an updo for their video channel. I did this review because I have been using Kerastase for more than a year now, at my own expense, and am thoroughly impressed with their products. All of the above are now staples in my routine. This is not a requested or sponsored post. See more about my reviews HERE.

rubybox Beauty Night Out Cape Town

Last Friday, I attended rubybox Beauty Night Out...and almost didn't leave. It was SO MUCH fun. I've been in a little bubble since the event, hence this delayed post.

After all my "outfit drama" last week, I bought an infinity dress at Phoenix Wardrobe in Canal Walk...on Friday...after 4pm. The store owner, Jehan, was super helpful and accommodating. I redid the damn thing thrice before settling on the "most covering option", as it was so damn cold in Cape Town.

On stepping into the Mount Nelson Ballroom, everything was so pretty (including the people) and so well organized, that it was confusing. I was presented with all these options: Cocktails, wine, build-a-box, makeup, hair, manicures, a lot of friendly faces. So many options, where to go first?

I also realized that I suck at taking photos, but in my defence, I borrowed someone else's camera for the night and the flash was blinding...to those I was taking pictures of and to those who looked at the pictures. *hangs head in shame.* I'm sorry. Luckily, many others took pictures, and as soon as I find 'em all I'll link to it. You can check out the rest on the rubybox Facebook page, in the meantime.

My first stop was at Stila, to get a nice face for the night. I have to admit, I'm not the most relaxed person when it comes to having makeup and hair done. I've had some disasters where the results were just not what I expected. In a bad way. I'm sure we could all relate. On the other hand, I also like to "try new things" and sometimes you just have to let the professionals do their thing, and you may be very pleasantly surprised. As was the case at Beauty Night Out. Sonya (hope I got the spelling right) knew exactly what she was going for - "big bold eyes", something I don't really do. It looked way more dramatic sitting in her chair (and in person) but it photographed really well. She also coated a few of my lashes with blue liquid liner, which I LOVED. And am now officially obsessed with blue mascara. I also discovered some new makeup gems from Stila, including their Stay All Day Foundation and Concealer. It's really nice. Light-medium coverage that feels like nothing on your skin. And it really stays put. I also have a new-found LOVE for their Baked Cheek Duo in Pink Glow. I'm not crazy about shimmery blushes, because often when you want to layer the colour, the shimmer is inescapable and you could look a little too disco. The Baked Cheek Duo, however, was perfectly balanced and I looked warm and radiant. Thanks, Sonya (and Stila).

I know, duck-facing like a chop, but it's the only pic where you can see the blue in my lashes. And you JUST HAD TO see the blue in my lashes.

The next stop was at Scar to get my hurrr did. I was greeted by Jodi, who was super friendly and helpful, and full of ideas on how to style my hair for the night. She has amazing hair. The kind of hair you just want to touch and flip and twirl. Sigh. The Scar lovelies eventually decided on straight and sleek hair, all down, with a middle parting. I don't do middle partings. I think it looks funny with my super sexy widow's peak and chubby cheeks, but Leandi (hair stylist) totally proved me wrong. She made magic. And it didn't look funny. I'm totally popping into Scar soon. Maybe their magical hair powers are transferable...? Thanks, Leandi and Jodi.

I completely lost it a little bit that night because I got to meet beauty LEGENDS that night: Margaux Knuppe, co-founder and director of rubybox (unfortunately lost my Margaux pics - stupid BlackBerry) and Leigh van den Berg from Lipgloss is my Life. If you're not familiar with lipglossismylife.com yet, get over there and subscribe, because it's one of the best beauty blogs you will find in your lifetime. Leigh knows her stuff and keeps it real. She's also super entertaining. You may have seen my tweet about how I squealed like a loser when I saw Leigh. Only slightly embarrassed. She was in a "bit of a rush" as she was off to do a "restaurant review" (read: run and hide from this crazy chick) so we didn't get to chat much. Shame, she didn't even get to Build-A-Box, even though I offered to help her as she didn't have much time (clearly can't take a hint.) Yeah, I offered to help her build her box. I'm crazy helpful, sometimes. Ha. Anyway, it was lovely meeting her and she is even prettier/hotter/cuter and more beautiful in person. With a killer sense of humour, too. And super soft hair. I got to put all of 5 strands back in their place before we took a "piccie" together, because that's what friends do. :-P

Can. You. Even. Deal. How cute, we matched. Kinda.

Later that evening, the RUBYROYAL finalists were called up on stage, and the announcement of the official RUBYROYALS was to be made.

And...

Jennifer, Lauren, moi, Kwena, Simônè, Adel, Chante and Farzaanah. Why didn't anyone fix my hair, here? Do I have no friends?

We're ALL RUBYROYALS. Yay! Congrats to all the other ladies and I look forward to working with them all. I'll do a follow-up post about our breakfast that took place the next day and about all these amazing individuals, and their blogs/vlogs. GO TEAM!

Just before the announcement and giveaways, we straight up attacked the photo booth:

Me, Lauren and Simônè

I don't know, clearly watched one too many girl-kicking-ass movies.

The way Lauren and Simônè rock these hats...

My favourite pic. How freakin' cool is that giant comb? And yes, I totally sanitized it before letting it touch my hair for all of 3 seconds. Wet wipes are the business. And so is blue mascara. Also, I want those Minnie ears.

I may have a thing for play-guns and pretend-shooting people...in the head.

Simônè thought she could get me with her hand-gun, but I saw it before the picture-taking-countdown was finished, and quickly changed gun-position. Ha! Gotcha!

And then I got her again. She was obvs not expecting it.

And then I just had enough. But not before she cast a spell on me. :-P

She promised to come back in December and school me on selfies. 

Thanks, Rubies, for a wonderful night. I look forward to the RUBYROYAL journey and experience.

Miss B

P.s. Johannesburg, Beauty Night Out is heading your way in November. Click HERE and "join" or mark that you're going for updates and info. It's totally worth it.

xxx

rubybox Beauty Night Out / RubyRoyals

rubybox has been on a quest to find rubybox brand ambassadors and I am super stoked to have been selected as one of the rubybox RUBYROYALs finalists. Yayyy! How many times can you say "rubybox" in one sentence?! Jeez. Whatevs.

Congrats to all the finalists: (top) Kwena, Lauren, meh, Adel
(bottom) Chante, Farzaanah, Jennifer and Simone 

All the finalists, along with you and your friends, will be at rubybox's Beauty Night Out this Friday, 30 August. I am sooo excited and can't wait to meet all the other lovelies as well as the awesome Rubies who make it all possible. I've emailed them too many times with silly questions, and it's time to put names to faces. I like meeting patient and accommodating people. Haha. Speaking of emailing, we have our own go-to-girl for all things RUBYROYALS. How cool?! I try not to email her every hour, just to check if this is real. Hi, Emma!

I've never been to an event like Beauty Night Out, and super excited to get my glam on. If I could just get my outfit sorted already. I had it all planned out: pretty knee-length dress and heels, but last week my dogs were playing in the house and my laptop was charging. I know what you're thinking. It must have been a superhero game, because then the little bitch thought she could run THROUGH the cords/lead/cables and then I saw my laptop flying off the table in slooooooow-mooooo. I shouted "noooooooooooooooooo" (in slooooooooow mooooooooooo) and ran to rescue my laptop from it's potential death. I hit the floor knees first. I know, right?! KNEES FIRST, like a trained loser. It hurt, a lot. The laptop is doing well, though. As alive as ever. My knees, however, are busted up. I tried to conceal it with makeup, but unfortunately, these knees cannot be concealed and powdered. Knee-puffs, anyone? *cries* So knee-length and above-knee-length dresses are no longer an option for me for Beauty Night Out and my brain is scrambled trying to come up with something better. T minus 100 hours until event. No pressure, Miss B.

It will be held at the Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town, where you'll be treated to Absolut Vodka-infused cocktails, Saxenburg wines and canapes. But wait, there's more. DUH! Who's going to get all dressed up and go all the way to the Mount Nelson for a drink or two? *looks around* *hides*

You can also get pro makeup tips and touch ups from Stila makeup artists and get your hair styled by Scar stylists. I've never been to Scar, but one of my besties ('Sup, Lindsay) has her hair done there and LOVES them. A lot. And she has gorgeous hair, so they are obviously a great addition and enhancement to what God and your parents gave you.

One of the things I'm most looking forward to is the Issahra Experience by WOW Spa. Hand scrub, massage and mani? YES, PLEASE! I'll take TWO.

Sounds super fantastic, right? Why not gather all your girlfriends and make a night of it? You can find out more about the event here and/or check out it on Facebook. You even get to capture it all in your all-glammed-up glory with the Pout or Pose Photo Booth.

Hope to see you there. Since we don't know each other, let's just introduce ourselves to everyone like crazies until we find each other, okay? If you're not into that idea, you could always just look for me. I'm the girl with the busted up knees. I'll be waiting for you.


Miss B