Freeman Pomegranate Revealing Peel-Off Facial Mask Review

I'm just going to start this off by say I'm very iffy about this face mask probably because it's a peel off mask and this is the first peel off mask I've ever purchase and tried so this is what I'm using as my first impression. And because I got it stuck on my eyebrows and ended up pulling out a few once it dried, that's my first tip for you don't get this on your eyebrows it will be a painful process. I picked this up along with the other Freeman Beauty facial mask at ULTA on sale for $1.99.

 I was curious because this face mask is infused with a Mega 8 complex, a blend of Goji, Acai, Pomegranate, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni and Blueberry. All of which are high in antioxidants to help neutralize skin damage. With all these great ingredients jam packed into one face mask I figured it would do nothing, but great things for my face...eh, sorta, kinda, something like that.
This product is:

• Not tested on animals

• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, one of the most effective pore minimizers.
• Mango Fruit Extract, rich in antioxidants which restrict the oxidation of cells in the body. 
• Blueberry Fruit Extract, helps protect your skin from premature aging.
• Cranberry Fruit Extract, helps ward off wrinkles, reduce redness and prevent any signs of skin damage.

Another con for me is the consistency of this product it's sooo thick, gooey and a bit messy as soon as you turn this upside down it easily leaks out. You really don't need alot of this to coat you face because it's like a liquid it smears quite easily and because if you use to much you're guaranteed to have a dry face. 

Will I purchase this again? Probably not. Even if it's on sale? Eh maybe if it's the last mask on the shelf. I'm torn because it works and says what it's supposed to do, but something about this just rubs me the wrong way. I'll probably give it to my best friend to get her input on it just to see how she her skin react to it. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Freeman Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Facial Mask Review

If you can't already tell by the condition of the bottle this is by far my favorite face mask by Freeman Beauty, I love it so much that I occasionally use this as a facial wash. It cleans my face, clears my pores and smells wonderful. I picked this up on sale at ULTA for $1.99 and I'm going to continue to repurchase this over and over because it actually works for me. What attracted me to this mask in particular were the dead sea minerals in it. 

The Dead Sea is the biggest natural spa on earth, the water contains about 35 percent of minerals per liter. The heavy mineral concentration of over 21 different minerals is believed to help with skin problems, like eczema and psoriasis, plus aching joints and even fluid retention. The sea contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, bromide, potassium, lithium, strontium, zinc, boron, and sodium to name a few. 

• Lithium, increases the effectiveness of bath salt treatment for psoriasis.
• Boron, helps to relieve the symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Magnesium, increases skin micro-circulation and improves the condition of connective tissues.
• Zinc, anti-inflammatory properties and is a natural UV rays blocker.
• Sodium, helps improves the skin cells metabolism.

This product is:

• Not tested on animals

I really dislike the fact that all of they're packaging makes the ingredients so hard to read and that they're so small you have to squint to read them, that's very bothersome. 

• Lavender oil, is an adaptogen*, and can assist the body when adapting to stress or imbalances. An adaptogen is a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress and to exert a normalizing effect upon bodily processes.
• Bergamot Fruit oil,  helpful against depression, anxiety, and nervousness. 

Much like the Strawberry and Chocolate mask also by Freeman Beauty this dries extremely fast on your face so you have to apply a few layers for your skin to be covered, once it's on it's on! I also follow this up with my Dr. Bronner's 18 in 1 Hemp Almond Pure Castille Soap when I'm not using this as a cleanser on it's own. According to the bottle it's recommended that you use this twice a week and I honestly feel like that they completely got it right using it more than that an you'll end up with dry flaky skin which is not a good look. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Freeman Chocolate & Strawberry Clay Facial Mask Review

Now that winter is in full swing it's time to break out those face masks and body scrubs to get that skin ready for the warmer months. Here in NYC we have a predicted 3 or 4 snowstorms coming our way although I'm not looking forward to that I am looking forward to breaking out all my face mask to use alternatively. 

I picked this up at ULTA a while ago while it was on sale for $1.99 so I picked this up along with 4 others, I couldn't help myself. I love trying new face masks to help reduce my pore size, the oiliness and the dryness that I occasionally feel in the colder months. This smell like a chocolate souffle, if chocolate isn't your thing you might want to bypass this one because even when this firms up on your face it smell like chocolate. When you wash it off your face, it's going to smell like chocolate so approach with caution with if you purchase this. 

This product is:

• Not tested on animals

The ingredients are difficult to read due to the color of the packaging, but they are as follows:

• Bentonite Clay, has a strong negative electromagnetic charge, and when activated in water, it acts like a magnet in and on our bodies, pulling impurities and toxins out of the skin.
• Kaolin Clay, efficient in improving circulation of blood to your skin.
• Cacao Extract, helps relieves the stress hormones in turn soothes the collagen in the skin preventing wrinkles and premature aging of the skin.
• Shea Butter, full of nutrients, including vitamin A, which has many healing properties and has been known to aid in treating blemishes, wrinkles, eczema and dermatitis, as well as burns and even stretch marks.

This is one of my favorite masks by Freeman Beauty because it does what it says it says it's going to do, it cleans my pores and leaves my skin feeling amazingly soft without leaving it feeling stripped. The only con with this for me is that it dries so fast that you have to apply a few layers before your face is completely covered with product, a few of they're face masks react the same way with my skin. I follow up with washing my face with Dr. Bronner's 18 in 1 Hemp Almond Pure Castille Soap. 

You can find this face masks at:

• ULTA stores
• ULTA.com
• freemanbeauty.com
• drugstore.com
• amazon.com
• walgreens.com
• walmart.com

Check out they're website, Facebook, and follow them on Twitter

http://www.freemanbeauty.com/
FB: Freeman Beauty

Tweet: @Freemanbeauty

Wash Day: Deep Condition and Black Tea Rinse

We left off with freshly pre-pooed hair, we can now move on to the deep condition and hair rinse faze. I've been playing mixtress for a while trying to get the perfect balance of bentonite clay to water ratio. The first day I mixed  it, it was super lumpy and it just wouldn't spread on my hair, but I added some of my oil blend and I let it sit for a few days sealed in an air tight tupperware bowl.

After sitting and marinating for a few days the mix was smooth, creamy and free of lumps. After successfully mixing my bentonite clay I got the courage to whip up and try my own deep conditioner and I must say it's my favorite not because it's my own mix , but because of the results I received using it.

(Crazy looking I know, but it works)
I mixed together:

• 3 spoonfuls of bentonite clay
• A hefty squirt of Aussie Moist
• A hefty squirt of Herbal Essences "The Sleeker The Butter" 
• 2 hefty spoonfuls of my shea butter mix

When I first mixed it I wasn't sure if it would cling to my hair or if I'd have the slip that I want. I was just mixing and matching until I found a consistency that I liked. 

What I noticed was that it didn't fully hard on my hair like bentonite clay would do on it's own. Adding extra conditioner to the mix gave me extra slip and moisture. When I got in the shower and followed with my black tea rinse my shed hair slipped right out. The deep conditioner smoothed on with ease and I may have been able to detangle with it, but I wasn't taking any chances especially since it was my first time using the mixture. I followed this up with a black tea rinse. 

I let my tea bags steep in room temperature water for about 6 hours and I had enough to refill my  bottle twice. I used an empty Alikay Naturals Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil bottle which is an 8 oz. Most tea rinses are done with green or black tea to reduce your shedding, to stimulate your hair growth, promote shine and enhance your natural highlights. The number of tea bags you use should vary depending on the length of hair you have. I used two tea bags, one I had lying in my cabinet and the other I received in the mail as a sample. 

• Chamomile, has been found to be highly effective in preventing and eliminating dandruff. In addition to soothing an irritated scalp
• Hibiscus,  is rich in alpha hydroxy acids and amino acids and it contains several vitamins including Vitamin C and several minerals.
• Peppermint leaves, are great for soothing the scalp and promoting hair growth as well.
• Spearmint leaves, can be used in a hair rinse to help get rid of dandruff.

• Gotu Kola Nut, improves the flow of blood while strengthening the veins and capillaries.
• Cinnamon Bark, helps with removing impurities from the hair and scalp and also promotes hair growth further.
• Cardamom Seed, helps in strengthening the roots.
• Ginger Root, is an effective remedy for hair loss.

I used the tea rinse after I co-washed my hair  twice with Eden Body Works Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash. I aimed to get this mainly on my scalp and let it sit on my scalp for a few mintues, I followed up with my V05 conditioner to detangle and remove shed hair. I noticed that the tea rinse helped the shed hair slip out much easier. I'm not sure if that's what the tea rinse intended to do, but I will definitely be incorporating this into my routine regularly. Once I finished all that I oil rinsed and was all done. 

(I completely shaved my head 1 year and 2 mos. ago)

That deep condtion/rinse it the BITNESS! My hair was soft, defined and moisturized. I won't be using it every week because I don't want the bentonite clay to dry out my hair, but I will be using it at least every other week as a "pick me up" for my coils. Try it out and let me know how it works for you. 

Wash Day: Tahitian Noni and Monoi Pre-poo

I never wash my hair the same way twice, but  I do always try to start off the whole process with a pre-poo to help give my hair a base to start with. Babe and I stopped at Target a few weeks ago and I picked up the Shea Moisture Tahitian Noni and Monoi Smooth and Repair Weekly Scalp Therapy, which I mentioned in another post and said I'd review it. I tried it once before writing this review and again yesterday prior to washing my hair. I'm a bit iffy about the product I like it, but I don't like it. 

One major turn off is the size of the bottle, 4 oz. I understand that it's a strong protein treatment and it shouldn't be used as often as you would a normal conditioner, but the size just isn't cutting it.

After using it one time I was already down to the middle of the bottle and for $9.99 per bottle that's a a bit too steep for my blood. The cream is so thick that it makes it hard to get out the bottle so you end up shaking it over and over and OVER again until the creamy goodness finally comes out or you can leave your bottle sitting upside down to make the process easier. I really, really, REALLY wish this would come in a bigger bottle with a pump it would completely eliminate that problem. SheaMoisture please give us a pump bottle. 

What the product lacks in packaging it makes up for in quality ingredients.

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Hydrolyzed Keratin, Keratin protein is the strongest of proteins found in hair products. Your hair is made up of 80% keratin. This protein in particular will strengthen the 3 layers of the hair, Cuticle, Cortex and Medulla. 
• Glycerin, a great humectant aiding in moisture.
• Monoi oil, Reparative benefits revive dry, damaged hair.
• Tahitian Noni, Antioxidant Vitamin C helps maintain hair health.
• Peptides, Antioxidant protection help promote healthy hair growth.

I applied this on top of hair that was already doused in my oil blend the night before which helped to add slip. My oil blend is a mixture of:

• Coconut oil (Used as a base)
• Glycerin
• Jojoba oil
• Castor oil
• Macadamia oil
• 6 drops of Peppermint essential oil
• Avocado oil

(My hair with both my oil blend and protein pre-poo applied)

 I'm not sure if it was the oil blend or just the product itself, but the amount of slip I received was amazing in some places it just sat onto of my hair, other places it melted right in and that was only at the initial application. The bottle says to leave it in for 40 mins, but of course I'm hardheaded and left it on for...5 hours. The first time I tried this I followed instructions and actually left it on for 40 mins and I just didn't feel that it gave me enough kick.

(5 hours later and my eczema patch on my neck)

(My hair free of the pre-poo)

Once it was fully washed out my coils popped and my hair was super soft. Will I buy this again? Only when it's on sale, like it currently is at Target (go get you some of that BOGO!). If it's not on sale I can't say I'd readily drop it in my basket. My hair is now pre-pooed and ready to be co-washed, deep conditioned and rinsed with a black tea rinse. 

You can pick this up at/on:

• Target
• Target.com

Check out they're website and follow them on Twitter:
http://www.sheamoisture.com/
Tweet: @SheaMoisture4U

Hair Product Haulage!

I was a pretty busy bee this past weekend, I took out my Senegalese twist out after having them in for 5 weeks and I stopped by a few of my favorite beauty supply and discount stores to pick up some new goodies. 

I've been experimenting with mixing my own products and seeing what works for me. Co-washing is great, but your scalp isn't guaranteed to be free of build up and gunk so I was looking for an inexpensive, healthy and  easy do-it-yourself shampoo. Through my tedious browsing of youtube and the good ol' internet I came across the topic of cleansing your hair and scalp with clay. The top (3) clays that I saw to be the favorites among DIY makers and naturals are Bentonite Clay, Rhassoul Clay, and Kaolin Clay. Since I couldn't find Rhassoul Clay or Kaolin Clay on the ground I went with what I could find Aztec Secret 100% Natural Bentonite Clay at my local health food store, Queens Health Emporium for $8.19. 

This product is/has:

• Sun-dried
• No Additives
• Not tested on animals
• No animal products

Bentonite clay is made of aged volcanic ash and is quite unique due to its ability to produce an electrical charge when hydrated. Upon contact with fluid, its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxins. Bentonite is known for its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities and chemicals. Bentonite also helps oxygenate the cells, as it pulls excess hydrogen and allows the cells to replace it with oxygen instead. (Curlynikki.com)  The largest and most active bentonite mines are found in Wyoming and Montana. 
You can find more info on this product/pick up this product:

• Queens Health Emporium
• Whole Foods
• http://www.aztec-secret.com
• queenshealthemporium.com
• amazon.com
• vitaminshoppe.com
• vitacost.com

You can never have too many conditioner, especially if you like to mix and match with your deep conditioners. So when I saw this at my local Walgreens for $4.99 I picked it up and brought it home to play mixtress. I should give you a heads up that this conditioner much like other Herbal Essences products DOES contain silicones, but there are also some added bonuses to balance those out.

(The color caught me off guard)

• Cupuacu butter, has ability to absorb water in turn restoring moisture to dry hair.
• Coffee fruit extract, caffeine is a great way to get hair to grow more thicker and stronger.

You can find out more about this product and pick up this product at:

• Walgreens
• Riteaid
• Target
• Walmart
• herbalessences.com
• Target.com
• Walmart.com

This was by far my favorite pick up, I love using cheapy conditioners as co-washes and deep conditioner additives. I picked up this 30 fl. ounce bottle at my local discount store, National Wholesale Liquidators for $1.79. YES, $1.79. If you didn't know V05 conditioners ARE silicone free which is a plus.

This product is:

• Not tested on animals

The ingredients are a bit difficult to read, but they are as follows:

• Hydrolyzed Callogen, has been known to improve hair quality and to strengthen hair. 
• Rosemary extract, helps stimulates hair follicles, causing hair to grow long and strong. 
• Panthenol, coveted for moisturizing, thickening, and boosting hair's body quotient.
• Lime Peel extract,  have a high content of vitamin C which helps to protect hair from UV rays. 
• Biotin, promotes thicker and stronger hair.

Check out they're website for more info and you can purchase this product at:

• www.vo5haircare.com
• National Wholesale Liquidators
• Riteaid
• Dollar Tree
• Deal$
• Walmart
• Target

I've heard nothing but good things about the 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Treatment so when I saw it for $2.99 at National Wholesale Liquidators I couldn't help myself and dropped it in my basket. Another reason I picked this up because it said it was infused with Australian aloe vera and I wanted to know what made Australian aloe so special so I did some research and reading I found out that large scale agricultural production is undertaken in Australia. Just a heads up, this conditioner DOES contain silicones. 

Due to the shape of the bottle I couldn't get a clear photo of the ingredients, but the two ingredients of focus are:

• Jojoba oil, can be used to balance oil production at the scalp.
• Aloe Vera, contains enzymes that directly promote healthy hair growth. The proteolitic enzymes are able to to get rid dead skin cells on the scalp that could be clogging the the hair follicle, not allowing for the proper penetration of nutrients in the hair.

For more info on their products and where you can pick this up:

• http://www.aussie.com
• National Wholesale Liquidators
• Walgreens
• Riteaid
• Target
• Walmart

These gels were sold together for $1.79 at my local discount store, National Wholesale Liquidators. Both of these gels are Protein and Alcohol free.  The pink gel  has a hold of 7 and the clear gel has a hold of 10 which is the max hold. The ingredients for the pink one are as follows:

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein,  is able to repair the hair, and add the previously stated benefits through a process known as covalent bonding.
• Glycerin, a great humectant aiding in moisture.
• Tea Tree, is primarily antiseptic in nature and is a recommended bactericide and fungicide.
• Chamomile, has been found to be highly effective in preventing and eliminating dandruff. In addition to soothing an irritated scalp.

The ingredients for the clear gel are as follows: 

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein,  is able to repair the hair, and add the previously stated benefits through a process known as covalent bonding.
• Glycerin, a great humectant aiding in moisture.

You can find these gels at:

• Your local beauty supply store
• National Wholesale Liquidators
• Sally beauty
• Target 
• Walgreens
• Riteaid
• Walmart

I picked this up because I saw Nichque on Youtube raving about this product, she even added it to her staples. She suggested this product for those with shrinkage and are searching for products that help elongate your coils. I picked this up at my local beauty supply for $4.99. Heads up this product DOES contain a silicone, but it's packed with so many quality ingredients I don't even mind. 

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Shea Butter, deeply moisturizes while conditioning your hair and scalp.
• Mango Butter, helps to soften the hair and seal in moisture.
• Argan oil, restores while helping promote hair elasticity
• Coconut oil, hydrates and protects hair from heat and chemical damage.

Even with the flash on you can't see that it's actual peach in color, but it is. The product also has a faint peachy smell as soon as you open the container, it's quite gelatinous and very lightweight. I small amount of this goes a long way. 

For more info on their products and where you can pick this up:

• http://www.african-pride.com
• Your local beauty supply
• Select Target stores
• Walmart
• Select Riteaid stores

I picked this up before I picked up the eco styler gel set because I wanted to attempt another wash and go -_-. I completely played myself really thinking that this would have enough hold for my type 7D hair. I'm going to end up using this just for my edges because it doesn't give me the type of hold I'm looking for. I know that this will definitely slick down these edges though. I picked this up at my local beauty supply for $7.99.

  I believe the Sorbitol is what makes this too lightweight for me, it's a water soluble humectant commonly found in mouthwashes, aftershave lotions and baby shampoos. I've heard that it can be added with glycerin to reduce the tackiness you may feel, but I found that glycerin only added to the tacky feeling and left my hair overly moisturized.

This product has/isn't:

• No Sulfates
• No Parabens
• No Silicones
• No Mineral oil (Petroleum)
• No Petrolatum oils
• Tested on animals

The ingredients of this were put on the bottle like the Aussie Moist ingredients which makes it hard to read, but they are as follows:

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Shea Butter, deeply moisturizes while conditioning your hair and scalp.
• Aloe Vera, contains enzymes that directly promote healthy hair growth.

For more info on their products and where you can pick this up:

• http://www.curls.biz
• Your local beauty supply
• Target
• Sally Beauty

Lastly, I picked this up on a whim, Curls Defining Moments Curl Release Serum. I ran out of my Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle and I need a finisher so I picked this up and I can't say I'm not satisfied but I can say this isn't my Curls in a Bottle either. It does what I need it to do for the price, I picked this up at my local beauty supply for $7.99. It was too watery for my taste I prefer my finishers to be a thicker in consistency. 

This product has/isn't:

No Sulfates

No Parabens

No Silicones

No Mineral oil (Petroleum)

No Petrolatum oils

Tested on animals

• Water, your hair's #1 moisturizer.
• Castor oil, the antifungal and antibacterial properties are useful in combating scalp infections.
• Panthenol, coveted for moisturizing, thickening, and boosting hair's body quotient.
• Evening Primrose, contains a good amount of essential fatty acids that nourishes the scalp and treats many other hair problems.
• Jojoba oil, can be used to balance oil production at the scalp.

For more info on their products and where you can pick this up:

• http://www.curls.biz
• Your local beauty supply
• Target
• Sally Beauty