Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i Hair Dryer Review

If you have thick or long frizzy hair like I do, buying the right hair dryer is essential. When searching for the right one, I came across the Folica Hair Experts Website. The Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i Hair Dryer had over 800 reviews and a rating of 4.5 stars. It all seemed great until I saw the price: $174.99. My initial thoughts - for a blow dryer?! I found a coupon on Retail Me Not for 30% off Folica.com and also realized that there is a gift set on the website that includes argan oil for the same price of $174.99: Sedu Revolution Pro Tourmaline Ionic 4000i Gift Set. So I ended up paying about $122.50 (excluding tax) which is still a lot for a blow dryer. I can tell you - MONEY WELL SPENT. This is a wonderful blow dryer and it saves so much time. I used to have an old Revlon blow dryer that I bought for about $20 from target. It took me about 30 minutes to blow dry my hair and my hair looked dry and frizzy every time. As you will see in my below review on this product, you will save time and your hair will look so shiny and healthy after you blow dry it.
Here are some photos of the gift set:

The box includes:
1. Sedu Blow Dryer:

2. 2 attachments:

3. Argan Oil:

The blow dryer has a low and high heat & power settings as well as an ion switch (turn on if you have frizzy hair):

To demonstrate how well this dryer works I took a photo of my hair wet after getting out of the shower and then applied argan oil and dried it. I also timed the blow drying process to show how fast it dries my hair:

Yes, you read that right - 3 minutes and 33 seconds. I cut my time down 27 minutes. Time is money and if you're a busy woman like I am, you should consider purchasing this product - you will not be disappointed.
Purchase it from Folica.com!

What Fits Inside a Louis Vuitton Eva Clutch (Damier Azur)

The Louis Vuitton Eva Clutch is such a beautiful lady-like evening bag. I thought long and hard before I purchased it. The bag retails for $730.00 (does not include sales tax) and comes in the monogram, damier ebene and damier azur prints. It has a gorgeous gold chain but also comes with a removable longer leather strap that allows it to be worn cross-body. I purchased the damier azur because I felt the white was classic and I have not seen many people carrying the Eva in that color. Although it looks small, it can carry all the evening essentials and more. The Louis Vuitton mini pochette DOES fit inside the Eva Clutch for those of you who have it. In case you or anyone you know may have been debating about this bag, I thought you might want to know what can fit inside. Purchase the Eva Clutch from the Louis Vuitton Website!

Some photos of the bag, box, dust bag and removable long leather strap:

What I carry in the Eva Clutch:

What fits inside my Eva Clutch for an evening out:
1. iPhone 5s ****I NOW HAVE AN IPHONE 6 PLUS AND IT DOES FIT IN THE EVA CLUTCH! IT DOES NOT FIT IN THE MINI POCHETTE!****
2. Small compact mirror
3. Too Faced Kabuki (Purchase Similar Brush from Sephora!)
4. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick (135 Make Me Pink Lipstick Purchase it from Amazon!)
5. MAC Lipstick (Angel Purchase it from Nordstrom!)
6. Duo Lash Glue (Dark Tone Purchase it from Amazon!)
7. MAC Bronzer (Refined Golden Purchase it from Nordstrom!)
8. Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette (I had about 20 cards in there along with a couple dollar bills Go to my post that details what fits inside the mini pochette!)

I hope this post will help anyone interested in buying an Eva Clutch. This clutch fits so much inside and is gorgeous for a wedding, clubbing night out or dinner. I would highly recommend it if you do not have many clutches and want one that you will get a ton of use out of.

What Fits Inside a Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette (Monogram)

The Louis Vuitton Mini Pochette is my most used accessory. I use it every day as a wallet / make-up pouch that I keep inside my work bag. My favorite thing about the mini pochette is that it can be used as a clutch for a night out. It's really the perfect size to carry essential items and the monogram print goes with almost any outfit. The chain also removes from one end and can be clipped to the other side so that it can be worn as a wristlet. The mini pochette retails for $295 (not including sales tax). I thought it might be useful to show what fits inside for anyone who is interested in purchasing this useful accessory.

What I put inside the Louis Vuitton mini pochette in monogram for a night out:
1. Band Aids (I tend to get blisters if I am wearing very high uncomfortable shoes)
2. Mac Lipstick (Politely Pink) & Lancome Juicy Tube (Miracle)
3. Cash (Just in case - please note that I would also bring my I.D. and credit card but could not include in the photo for obvious reasons)
4. iPhone 5s ****I NOW HAVE AN IPHONE 6 PLUS AND IT DOES NOT FIT IN THE MINI POCHETTE! IT DOES HOWEVER FIT IN THE EVA CLUTCH!!!****
5. MAC Studio Fix Powder (C4)

Now, for those of you that already have a go-to night out clutch, you may want to use the mini pochette as a cosmetic pouch inside of your larger everyday bag. Here are some photos of what could fit inside the mini pochette as a cosmetic pouch:

What I put inside the Louis Vuitton mini pochette in monogram when using it as a cosmetic pouch:
1. Nars Blush (Sin)
2. Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara
3. 3 Lipsticks (Mac Politely Pink, Revlon Apricot Fantasy, Revlon Black Cherry)
4. Tom Ford Quad (Cocoa Mirage)
I hope this was helpful to anyone interested in purchasing this item! It is such a versatile piece and I would highly recommend it!
Purchase the Mini Pochette from Louis Vuitton's Website!

Koolaburra Haley II Fringe Sheepskin Boot Review

There is nothing better than stepping outside in a cute pair of sheepskin boots in winter. I have a couple Ugg boots, but have seemed to outgrow the style a bit recently. I still think they are cute and more importantly comfortable, but I wanted a pair of warm boots with a little more style. I began searching for the Haley II fringe boots after watching an episode of Hart of Dixie. Zoe Hart wore these in an episode and they were so cute I had to find them. Koolaburra is a very well-known high-end brand that specializes in sheepskin / suede boots and sneaker wedges. Their website has many photos of different celebrities that wear their products (Ashley Tisdale, Megan Fox, Kourtney Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Britney Spears, Vanessa Hudgens,etc). They are much more expensive than a pair of Uggs but after purchasing these, I can say that they are well worth the price.

I purchased my Koolaburra Haley II boots in the color beige or "seta". They also come in tawny port (gorgeous wine color) and chestnut. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a stylish yet comfortable and warm winter boot.

In case you are in the market for a new pair of winter boots and find yourself comparing the Koolaburras to the more popular Ugg boots, I did a comparison between the two brands with the below four categories:

1. Comfort
Ugg: 5/5
Koolaburra: 5/5
No surprise here. Both pairs of boots are extremely comfortable. You won't have an issue walking for long periods of time in either.

2. Style
Ugg: 3/5
Koolaburra: 5/5
Uggs can be cute if worn with the right outfit, but the Koolaburras are so flirty with the fringe and fur trim. They are definitely more eye-catching and stylish.

3. Price
Ugg: $$
Koolaburra: $$$
The Classic Tall Ugg boots are about $195 at Nordstrom compared to the Haley II Fringe Boots that are $325 (now on sale!) at Koolaburra's website:
Purchase Haley II Boots at Koolaburra

4. Warmth
Ugg: 4/5
Koolaburra: 5/5
The Koolaburras are slightly more warm than the Uggs. The reason for this is that the Uggs are a little thinner than the Koolaburras. SIZING: I am usually a size 7 and I wear a SIZE 6 in Uggs and a SIZE 7 in the Koolaburras.

The Best MAC Foundation Routine for Oily Skin

I have been on the search for a foundation routine that reduces shine for us oily skin girls. I have tried drugstore and high end products. Because I really liked the few MAC products I had (paint pot, lipstick and sheer pressed powder) I decided to try a foundation routine using MAC products only. I have heard great things about MAC studio fix fluid foundation, but many beauty bloggers/gurus mentioned that it isn't great for oily skin. The makeup artist at MAC suggested the Pro Longwear foundation with the Prep + Prime primer. I had recently run out of my Sheer Pressed Powder (NC40) and was planning to re-purchase, but the makeup artist suggested I try Studio Fix powder for a little more coverage.

I tried this foundation routine and my face was matte all day. I was amazed! I would highly recommend these products to those of you with very oily skin. Not only do the products work to keep the shine away, but they also make my skin look flawless and airbrushed.

Prices were as follows:

1. MAC Prep + Prime: $30.00
Buy It From Nordstrom

2. MAC Pro Longwear Foundation: $31.00
Buy It From Nordstrom

3. MAC Studio Fix Powder: $27.00
Buy It From Nordstrom

For shade references:

L'Oreal True Match Foundation: W5
Neutrogena Skin Clearing Foundation: Warm Beige
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse: Sandy Beige
MAC Sheer Pressed Powder: NC40

The MAC Foundation Shades I Purchased:

I tried both the NC40 and NC37 at the MAC counter. The NC40 wasn't a bad match, but the NC37 matched perfectly with my medium skin tone (yellow undertones). See swatch below:

NC stands for "Neutral Cool" and C stands for "Cool". The NC shades are supposed to be for those with a slightly golden undertone to their skin and the C shades are for more olive skin tones.

My Favorite Drugstore Pink/Berry Lipsticks for Tan Skin Tones

I am always on the hunt for affordable lipsticks that suit my medium skin tone (for reference I am a MAC NC40 / NC37). These are my favorites in no particular order:

From left to right: 1. NYX Round Lipstick - Strawberry Milk, 2. Maybelline 410 - Blissful Berry, 3. Maybelline 430 - Magnificent Mauve, 4. Maybelline 715 - Luminous Lilac, 5. Maybelline 135 - Make Me Pink, 6. Covergirl Queen Collection Q440 - Penelope Pink

My thoughts:

NYX Round Lipstick - Strawberry Milk
This is a very light baby pink shade. NYX round lipsticks are extremely moisturizing and creamy, which makes them comfortable to wear but not very long lasting. If you have a similar skin tone to me, I would recommend pairing this with a gloss for a more wearable look. If you really like light baby pink (barbie) lipsticks, this will be a perfect one to add to your collection.
Buy It From Cherry Culture

Maybelline 410 - Blissful Berry
I have yet to find the perfect red lip that suits my skin tone, so I tend to lean more towards these berry shades. This is a really nice raspberry lipstick that compliments medium or tan skin tones. The formula is much more dry than the NYX round lipsticks and I actually prefer it. The lasting power for these Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks is great, and they are perfect for a night out or long work day.
Buy It From Amazon

Maybelline 430 - Magnificent Mauve
A gorgeous holiday mauve that has a bit of shimmer to it. Paired with a lavender lipgloss this one is a real showstopper.
Buy It From Amazon

Maybelline 715 - Luminous Lilac
This is my most worn lipstick and is great for everyday. It is a very shimmery neutral pink. I wouldn't recommend this if you prefer a matte lip because this is a frosty finish. I usually pair it with MAC's Nymphette lipgloss and the combination is a golden light pink. The formula is a little more moisturizing than the other Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks but still has great lasting power.
Buy It From Amazon

Maybelline 135 - Make Me Pink
This is a more purple toned pink shade that looks much brighter in the tube than it shows on the lips. This one has a dry formula and a matte finish.
Buy It From Amazon

Covergirl Queen Collection Q440 - Penelope Pink
If you have been looking for a fabulous baby pink lipstick to wear out and you have medium / tan skin - this is the WINNER! I always searched for a baby pink lipstick in the drugstore and the ones I found were WAY too light for my skin. I tried the most popular baby pink at MAC (Snob) and it looked horrible on me. This is a beautiful doll-like baby pink that I always wear on a night out. This Queen Latifah by Covergirl line has been discontinued, but you can still find it online. This is my most highly recommended product by far.
Buy It From Amazon