BELLA STRANDS CLIP IN HAIR EXTENSIONS REVIEW

The wonderful folks at Bella Strands sent me these beautiful clip-in hair extensions to review. The clip-in hair extensions are made of natural human Remy hair. Remy Human Hair is the highest grade of real, human hair that is a preferred choice for hair extensions, because it achieves the most natural look. The hair is attached to combs which you can easily snap to your hair and remove.

Since Bella Strands extensions are made from human hair, I can dye, add heat, wash, and cut the hair as I like. Hair extensions made from synthetic hair are much more sensitive and can sometimes burn when applying heat to them. In the future, I hope to ombre my Bella Strands hair. Stay tuned for that!

When you purchase hair extensions online, the hardest part is selecting the right color that will match your hair. Unlike other companies, Bella Strands will send you a color ring before you purchase your hair to guarantee that you select the right color. After viewing the choices online I thought my hair color would be Katy Black, but when I recieved my color ring I knew right away the correct color for me was actually Nicole Black. Thankfully because I had the color ring I was able to make the best decision. When you purchase the ring for $20, you will instantly receive a $20 OFF COUPON towards your next purchase of Bella Strands.

 My color is #1B in 20" 140G. Check out the video below for more details:

Interested in purchasing hair from Bella Strands? CLICK HERE

Disclosure: The product was provided to me by Bella Strands but the opinions of the product are my own.  

ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW POMADE REVIEW

I first discovered the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade through Instagram. Some of my favorite makeup artists use this product, and I was curious how it would look on me. Before purchasing, I decided to travel to the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow studio in Sephora on 5th Avenue in New York City. I met a lovely woman who tested the product on me to make sure that I liked it. After the test I was happy with the results and decided to purchase it. Below you will find my pros and cons of the product, which retails for $18.00.

I'm currently in the process of growing my brows out after they were over threaded. So, this isn't the best photo but as you can see I've been able to create a shape and define them using the product without having a perfectly done brow. I'm excited to see how they will look after I get my brows done next month. 

 ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS DIPBROW POMADE: 

Pros:
- Smudge Free
- Waterproof
- Creamy
- Provides color, sculpture, and shading
- Generous amount of product that will last you a long time
- Great for oily skin

Cons:
- If you do want a strong, bold brow, this product is not for you
- Must use makeup remover to take it off
-  Brush sold separately, also retails for $18.00
- Product can dry up if you don't close the cap properly after using it

Final thoughts: This product makes my brows stand out! wow. It defines them, shapes them, and gives me the appearance of a higher prominent arch. This isn't a product I'd wear every day. I don't know if I need super bold brows when I'm just going to work or the grocery store. I typically use this product in photos for the blog, videos on my YouTube channel, or maybe a fancy night out. When I don't use this product I won't shape my brows at all or I will simply use a brow pencil.

Do you have a favorite brow product? Comment below.

MY BIRTHDAY WISH LIST

My Birthday is at the end of next month! I can't believe how fast time is flying. Just last year I was planning a group trip to Vegas to celebrate, and I can't believe we're approaching another year. Did you see the post on it? CLICK HERE. Last year, I had a very nice Birthday surrounded by friends and family. My friends even put together a mini video message for me which I loved! So, my Birthday wish list this year is more for fun! Basically, if someone gave me a million bucks tomorrow this is probably what I would buy myself for my Birthday...

I love taking photos and I already have two amazing cameras but I do not have a Waterproof Camera. I think having a waterproof camera (that doesn't have a shutter) is a great item to take on vacation.

Speaking of vacations, I'm in desperate need of one. Besides my work trip to Los Angeles, I haven't had any real vacation time. I haven't seen a beach in forever, and my last real vacation was my trip to New Orleans last August. At this point, I'd go pretty much anywhere. Somewhere amazing like Mexico would be nice (Tulum is on my bucket list), or even Disney World, but I'd even settle for some place local - just a chance to get away and try something new would be nice, and of course if you could throw in lobster I'd be happy.

Starbucks! Oh, I love Starbucks. Every year my family gives me Starbucks gift cards for my Birthday and Christmas because they know they can't go wrong with that gift. I also love gift cards from Whole Foods, where I can purchase healthy and organic food.

I haven't been to a concert in a while! It would be nice to attend one, I can't think of anything coming up specifically but I think it would be lots of fun.

I'd love a dog but I can't have one because of the building I live in, but luckily for me my family just got a family dog, a early birthday gift!

I have a YouTube channel where I film all sorts of videos! I can't wait to film a lot more. I've been using a soft box light which has been working out great but one of my favorite YouTubers uses a Ardinbir Studio Camera 500W Macro Ring Light for Canon. I have a Canon camera so I definitely would like to purchase this light for future videos to achieve professional lighting, because her videos look amazing.

I love elephants because they bring good luck, and I'm a Taurus so naturally I love the bull. I'd love to get a cute necklace or earrings, or wall art that feature either of those. My co-worker has this amazing piece of wall art that she got for her wall click here.

My Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year and I told her a pair of Christian Louboutins. Of course, I didn't get them (ha! lol) but hey a girl can dream. I believe every woman should have at least one pair in their lifetime.

Lastly, I'd love a beauty box subscription. It's like getting a gift every month! The two most popular are Glossy Box and Birchbox.

This is all just for fun. Clearly, I do not need any of these things. As I approach my Birthday 
I appreciate the blessings life has given me. I look forward to another healthy, happy, positive year! 

“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” 

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

BEAUTY AND FASHION TALK WITH ROSE

In today's edition of Beauty & Fashion Talk, California fashionista, Rose, opens up about her favorite designers, beauty secrets, favorite products and more!

What is your typical weekday morning beauty routine?
I wash my face with Neutrogena foaming face scrub and use Lush Cosmetics Skin's Shangri facial moisturizer. 

What is your favorite beauty product and why?
The Nivea Touch of Harmony body wash with Shea butter and vanilla blossom scent has made my showering experience more enjoyable. I love the way this body smells and feels on my skin.

What product have you used for years and continue to use?
Coco butter has been a staple for me for years. It is extremely moisturizing and helps to heel scars quicker. I even use it at night sometimes on my face.

Tell me a beauty secret
I like doing mini facials at home using Greek yogurt, lemon juice and honey. It leaves so your skin feeling soft with a nice glow. It is definitely a must try!

What is your favorite nail brand and why? 
I love Essie! They have a great selection of nail polish colors, but I am partial to Essie because they have my favorite color "Haute as Hello."

What is your favorite shampoo and conditioner?
I recently discovered SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Conditioner. It leaves your hair so soft and shiny and it smells great!

Have you tried a recent hair product you think is great? Why do you love it? 
I absolutely love the Creme of Nature 7-1 with Argan Oil. You can use it as a deep conditioner, to detangle, as a heat protectant and more. This product leaves your hair with an extra bounce and shine. This product has become a staple in my hair routine.

What is your fashion style?
I'm such a girly girl. I love wearing clothes that are flattering to my curves. I just love mixing and matching between cute, trendy and classic styles. 

Who is your favorite fashion designer? and why?
There are two designers who I adore and loving wearing are BCBGMAXAZRIA and Marc Jacobs. I adore the classic pieces of BCBGMAXAZRIA that you can dress up or dress down. I love the quality of Marc Jacobs' designs and his handbags. 

Want more Beauty & Fashion talk with friends? Check out my previous post: 
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/11/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-alexis.html  
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/11/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-kelly.html 
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/10/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-augusta.html   
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/08/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-rana.html 
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2014/03/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-kim.html

WATERLESS BEAUTY TRENDS

During the chaos of  my daily action-packed schedule, finding time to do anything beauty related is nearly impossible, so I always have to allot for extra time. Thankfully, the waterless beauty trend is here to stay and I've added to my beauty list, three must-have, toteable products with the ability to achieve voluminous hair, shine-free skin and long-lasting moisture!

Pssssst! Instant Dry Shampoo refreshes and rejuvenates hair by eliminating excess oil and product build up revealing a fresh, clean finish.  Containing a perfected formula, Pssssst! easily adds volume to any hairstyle while preserving gorgeous color.  The best part?  Zero powder residue left behind. What I love most about this product is that it's very affordable. It's currently available at Walgreens for only $4.99.  It refreshes and revives my hair when it looks a bit flat or starts to have some oil build up. When I don't feel like washing it or heading to the hair salon, this is a great alternative.

All-in-all, Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes pack multiple of skincare benefits into individually packed wipes suitable for the most sensitive skin.  Dickinson’s delivers the only Towelette utilizing 100% natural witch hazel coupled with aloe vera to eliminate dirt and impurities and, controls oil and shine and maintains skin’s essential moisture balance.  No skin stripping here! These are excellent at removing makeup or dirt off of your skin. What amazes me about this product is how moist the towelettes are. Each one is packed with enough product to clean your face. I've purchased a lot of makeup removing towelettes and I've never felt anything as moist as this product. It's refreshing on the skin and it also does not cause any stinging or irritation.

Clinically proven to improve the appearance of uneven, dehydrated and aging skin plus scars and stretch marks Bio-Oil offers users a unique formulation with proven efficacy.  Breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil, plus Vitamins A, E, and essential plant extracts are rapidly absorbed into the skin without greasy to ensure maximum efficacy of each ingredient. I love bio oil! I've accidentally burned myself a time or two and with the use of Bio-Oil I had zero scarring. A small drop in the palm of your hands can go along way.

See a pattern here?  Psssst!, Dickinson’s Original Witch Hazel and Bio-Oil are all affordable and accessible products suitable for all skin/hair types.  Just spritz, swipe, moisturize and you’re out the door, just in time to catch the next subway. The best part of all? These products are available at mass food and drug stores nationwide.

Disclosure: These products were provided to me by a PR company but the opinions of them are my own.  

I HATE MY HAIR

Yup, that's me. Mini Jonesy from back in the day. I had a lot of hair and my mom had no clue how to do it (I knew she couldn't). After I hit 5th grade she decided to make my life easier (and hers) and I got my first perm. From that point on, it became a tradition for me to join my mother and grandmother at the hair salon. I enjoyed it, three generations using the same hair stylist.

I continued perming my hair for years until one day I got highlights. The damage I caused my hair by highlighting it golden blonde like Beyonce, forced me to go back to my natural hair, and here I am five or ... six years later (I lost count) PERM FREE! After year one, my hair became a lot healthier and I had no interest in applying any more harsh chemicals to it. Sometimes I wonder what my hair would be like today, if my Mom never permed it.

At this very moment, I have a love/hate relationship with my hair. I can't stand it. These images below are from this Summer when I actually didn't mind my hair. It was long, growing, and healthy. But I became frustrated and bored and started to use my curling iron/flat iron/curling wand to style it. Eventually, I got heat damage (shocker) and had to cut off my ends this past Fall. The one good thing about my hair is that it grows fast so I'm almost back to this length but it was a set back.

My co-worker has beautiful curly hair and she really wants me to embrace my own. My friends do as well. They even gave me a gift card to Devachan Salon to encourage me to rock curly hair more often. I know if I dedicated a solid year to taking care of my hair, aka stop using heat, and wearing it completely natural (meaning in its natural curly state) my hair would drastically change but I struggle with wearing it that way. For one, it makes me look much younger! Check out the video below.

It's difficult for me to get use to seeing myself with that hair because I've worn my hair straight for so long. To get the appearance of straight hair without getting a perm, I have been going to Dominican Salons ever since I went natural. With a blow dryer and a really good brush they can get my hair super straight! So straight, that people sometimes believe I'm lying when I say i don't have a perm. The downside to this is that these salons apply a lot of heat to the hair. First, you sit under a dryer for an hour and 30mins, then they blow it bone straight with a blow dryer. I don't go often because of this but I still do go.

Right now, I'm stuck with what I should do. I have a decision to make ... continue like I've been doing or transition and seriously try to wear my hair curly for at least a year and see how it goes. I believe in doing that my hair could grow a lot faster, healthier and thicker.  The big chop, is out of the question. I admire any woman that can do it. I've seen women do it and they have beautiful hair but I struggle getting a trim so I can't imagine cutting all of my hair off, no matter what the outcome will be.

I'm heading into another Birthday soon and I want my hair to be healthy and long! I guess I'll make a decision sometime this month. Stay tuned ...

What are some of your personal hair concerns? Comment below.

BEAUTY AND FASHION TALK WITH KIM

Meet Kim! Kim is a make-up artist and blogger, she is the owner of two really great blogs (makeupbykim-porter.com and Beautyandthebumpnyc.com) where you can find everything from product reviews, and giveaways to mommy tips and family friendly recipes. Also click here to check out her Youtube channel and make sure that you subscribe.

What is your typical weekday morning beauty routine?
Weekdays, I usually keep it simple: I wash my face in the shower using Neutrogena’s Gentle Ultra Gentle Hydrating cleanser, which I LOVE, and have been using for nearly 6 months now.  After I’m done I use Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, and then I would apply Algenist’s Complete Eye Renewal Balm, and Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrate as a moisturizer.  Most days I go to work sans a full face of makeup, but I wouldn’t dare walk out of the house without my eyebrows. 

What is your favorite beauty product and why?
I’m sort of a beauty junky.  I don’t just have one favorite beauty product at the moment.  My go-to or HG foundation when I do wear it is Stila’s Natural Finish Makeup. Most times I sport a natural look with winged liner using Alcone Co Perfect Eyeliner Pen in ‘Midnight’, Tarte Lights Camera Flashes mascara, and a red or purple lip, which is usually Riri Woo, Heroine or Rebel - all of which can be found at MAC. 

What makeup brand is your favorite and why?
As a makeup artist and beauty blogger, having one favorite makeup brand doesn’t even exist!  There are so many great makeup brands around with amazing products for different uses, making it difficult to choose just one.

I love tarte cosmetics for their mascara and blush
I love Make Up For Ever for their concealer, eyeshadows and lipsticks
I love NARS for their blush and bronzer
MAC for their brow pencils and lipsticks
Stila for their eye pencils, prime pot, and foundation
LA Girl Cosmetics Concealer 
I can go on and on… but, I will stop here : )

What product have you used for years and continue to use?
I’ve been using Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrate for a few years now. It’s not only a good moisturizer; it is great for removing makeup, shaving, and thinning out makeup. I use it on myself and it is a staple in my kit. 

Tell me a beauty secret
This may sound weird, but I always receive compliments on my teeth, especially about how white they are.  My secret is rinsing with hydrogen peroxide after brushing my teeth.  Hyrdrogen peroxide removes stains and bacteria. 

What is your favorite nail brand and why? 
Zoya is my favorite nail brand not only because they’re 5-free (5-free polishes are made without formaldehyde resin and camphor) but also because they have beautiful nail polish colors and textures that last over a week after applied.  

What is your favorite shampoo and conditioner?
I very rarely shampoo my hair, so for the most part it’s all conditioner or co-wash.  My favorite conditioner is the Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose conditioner since it’s hydrating.  For protein, I make my own conditioner using honey, olive oil, one egg, and a banana. 

Have you tried a recent hair product you think is great? Why do you love it? 
Right now, I am using some products by Eden Body Works.  I love the Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner.  It’s a silicone and protein-free deep conditioner that’s great for keeping my hair hydrated during these cold winter days we’ve been having in NYC.  It leaves my hair really soft. 

What is your fashion style?
I wouldn’t say I have a fashion style.  If I really had to put an adjective to it I would say practical with a hint of glam and a touch of sexy.  I tend to purchase pieces that would work for now and for in the future.   I stay away from too much pattern and trendy items, so for the most part I’m in solids.  I do love form fitting clothing; I love my curves!  

Who is your favorite fashion designer? and why?
I do not have a favorite fashion designer. At least one I can think of right now. There’s so many of them that have great pieces, so it’s hard to choose. Right now, I’m wearing a Helmut Lang top.  There were some jackets from this collection that I loved, too.  I wouldn’t necessarily say Helmut Lang is my favorite ever, but maybe for this month .:lol:.

Want more Beauty & Fashion talk with friends? Check out my previous post: 

http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/11/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-alexis.html  
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/11/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-kelly.html 
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/10/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-augusta.html   
http://www.the-blisslist.com/2013/08/beauty-and-fashion-talk-with-rana.html

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR YOUTUBE PAGE

Are you in the need of Youtube Banner? Adding a customized banner on your page can really make your channel look a lot more professional. My banner was created by K.B Designs.

K.B designs has such great customer service. They worked with me to create the perfect banner for my channel. They responded quickly to any issues or concerns and most importantly they delivered my banner  quickly. I love it! In addition to creating YouTube banners, the company can also create twitter and Facebook cover images as well. Lucky for you, if you use the discount code Jonesy10 you can get your banner for a reduced cost.

Check out my banner on my YouTube Channel! For more info visit: www.KB-Design.net or email: admin@kb-design.net