Straight Talk: Ion One Stroke Perpetual Heat Ceramic Digital Styling Iron
After my last hair straightener ended it’s life, I had no choice but to replace it. This is the second one I’ve had to buy in the last two years. The one previous to that was stolen when my car was broken into last year if you recall, but that one I had had for 2 to 3 years and was by far my favorite one, until now.
When shopping for a new straightener, the selection can be a little overwhelming. There are infomercials trying to sell you perfect straight hair with a spinning brush (I’ve tried this product, it worked ok but didn’t keep my hair straight), hairstylists trying to sell you their tools of the trade, and it can also be hard to tell which are the better products at specialty stores/beauty supplies since most boast the same qualities and are priced competitively.
I’ve had some really good straighteners like the one that was stolen (that I’d originally purchased at a Beauty Supply) and some ok ones like the most recent one (that I’d purchased directly from the headquarters of a well known hair product brand that their stylists use in all of their salons) that just stopped working (although according to my ex-roommate, it did provide us with “a summer of good hair”).
I thought back to the one that was my all-time favorite to date and decided to head to Sally’s Beauty Supply and check out what they had to offer. I sat in front of their selection for a little bit comparing heat levels, prices, etc. I ended up going with the one that seemed a little cocky claiming to “straighten your hair in one stroke.” Getting my hair straight in one stroke isn’t usually the issue, many straighteners can easily do this. The test is will it keep my hair straight most of the day? So, I decided to purchase it and call it’s bluff.
Turns out it completely lives up to it’s claims. This straightener probably straightened my hair in the quickest time (I have very thick and long hair) and also kept my hair straight even when the weather was on the verge of rainy. The true test will come when humidity of summer nights come into play, but we’ll see I am expecting it to still be able to handle that. So far I am happy with this and already recommended this to a few girlfriends.
The other people who I can imagine benefiting from this tool would be guys who also straighten their hair as it really does work super-quick and keeps hair straight for a long time. This might work superbly for guys and girls in bands who tour a lot as getting ready time can be so limited and inconsistent. My hair straightening time was probably cut in half and I didn’t touch my hair again with it until a day or two later.
The price is competitive at $79.99 (although it’s currently on sale on their site and possibly in stores for $69.99).
Click here for more info.
FROM OUR MAKE-UP BAGS TO YOURS: Whats in BB’s Makeup Bag this Summer?
Whats in BB’s Makeup Bag this Summer
This should acutally be titled “whats not in bb’s makeup bag” since my little carry on is big in weight! But if I must slim down and only carry with me the things I MUST have, it would be 3 things. bonzer, gloss and “Splash” by Marc Jacobs.
The bronzer I haven’t been able to live without is the Brick by Bobbi Brown. The bronzy shimmery rainbow warms up skin tones and gives you a sunkissed glow that is gorgeous! I’ve tried other bronzers and been pretty happy with them but this one really is one that has become a staple of my beauty regime. The striped frost, sand, beige and bronze colors work together perfectly. I use mine when I’m rushing out the door and don’t have time for much – no face makeup just brush the brick over cheeks, bridge of nose and forehead add gloss and go. Easy, fresh and bronze! 
Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Brick (retail $38.00)
Two glosses I’m stuck on. Kiss Me by Benefit is the perfect baby pink. Its natural and still girly and flirty. It stays on pretty good unlike some of those super sticky glosses that feel like your lips are being glued together. Also any Juicy Tube by Lancome is amazing. Color in my bag now is Miracle – its pink and perfect when you don’t want an overdone color.
Lancome Juicy Tubes (retail: $16.50 – $18.50)
And finally, I would replace any one of my other cosmetics with this light Splash by Marc Jacobs. The big bottle comes with an empty small purse size bottle that you can travel with – that one stays in my purse at all times! I love to drench myself in this scent especially in the summer.
BB’s Beauty Tips : #1 The Trick To a Stunning Glittery Eye.
by BB
Ever wonder how all that glitter stays on without flaking all over your cheekbones and under your eyes?
The trick is simple and easy.
When using a loose glittershadow use concealer as a base so it has something to stick to.
You can grab a small concealer brush and dip it in your concealer of choice. I prefer to use Lorac or Bobbi Brown concealer, which come in a small, easy to always have with ya pod.
Smooth concealer over the entire lid, or in the places you want to the shadow to go. With a shadow brush, dip in the lose glitter shadow and place on top of the concealer. The concealer acts as a glue so the glitter will stick to it.
Brush: Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer Brush: $19 (Sephora exclusive)
Concealer: Lorac $18
Loose glitter shadow: Mac Glitter $19.00
Tried and True – From Our Make-Up Bags to Yours… Siria’s Pick – A Line to Fall For…
I laugh a lot. I mean A LOT.
That by itself will be enough to prematurely give me wrinkles around my eye area. Now combine that with the fact that I also squint a lot (even when I am wearing contacts/glasses…habit I can’t control…) and that’s basically a guarantee that those wrinkles may start to set in sooner than later.
I hate thick creams but I also don’t want those wrinkles before I even hit 30 so as a preventative measure I use Vérité by Estée Lauder. It’s made for sensitive skin which I love as other products I’ve tried end up leaving my eye area feeling sun or wind burned. I also don’t like strong fragrances and this doesn’t really have one.
Even though the $37.50 isn’t completely unaffordable it’s still a splurge for many especially in times like these. However, to me it’s well worth the price as the .5 oz sized tube lasts for a really long time.
Tried and True – From Our Make-Up Bags to Yours… BB’s Pick: Bright Eyed Future…
It’s the middle of the week and you’re fading! Never fear! We have the perfect pick me up and we girls of TRAffIK often use this ourselves with our GO!GO!GO! schedules.
So just because you may feel a little worn out doesn’t mean you should ever look it!
If you’re a work hard play hard kind of girl, then you’re probably tired and need to stay looking fresh for those early morning meetings at work or spur of the moment afterwork cocktail parties/happy hours. One trick to hide those tired eyes is with the Bright Eye Pencil by Benefit. This perfect shade of pink brightens the shadows of the eyes and lifts the corners of the eyes, making you look wide awake.
Apply from the bridge of your nose to the inner corner of your eye and blend slightly, don’t over blend so some of the pink lingers behind.
Problem Solved! Perfect for daytime or night!
Retails at: $20
Tried and True – From Our Make-Up Bag to Yours… BB’s Mascara Pick – Bad Gals Get BIG Lashes…
Benefit’s BADgal Lash for a Bad LA gal!
If you’re sick of using a mascara that doesn’t bulk up the lashes on your eye, get ready for really laying it on THICK!
I’m definitely a girl who loves to lay it on thick, and this is a great volumizing mascara…it thickens, darkens, and lengthens to make those eyes as gorgeous as they advertise.
BADgal Lash is packaged in a thick tube for easy handling –big enough to hold the thick brush that almost looks like you could use for your head of hair.
Easy to use and worth the price of $19.