Surprisingly Awesome

If you're anything like me, you assume that the majority of infomercial products are useless junk in reality. I must admit that, years ago,  the first time I saw an advertisement for the Turbie Twist, I laughed. It seemed like a total waste of money. I thought, yes, I get it...it stays in place...but...it's just a TOWEL!

Fast forward to a couple of months ago. I was browsing the hair accessory section at my local drugstore and I noticed the Turbie Twist displayed unassumingly amongst various hair styling paraphernalia. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I grabbed one and tossed it into my cart. I totally expected to think it was a waste of money and to give up on it after just one use, but, to my delight, my Turbie twist turned out to be surprisingly awesome!

I opted for the less expensive (by one dollar) unprinted microfiber version. I examined the package before I tried it out. The product claimed to be made of a "new" microfiber material that is supposed to dry your hair faster. I didn't even know these turbans were supposed to do that.

The Turbie Twist is thin and, at first glance, seems a bit flimsy. I doubted its ability to cut down drying time for my long, plentiful hair. The tag says that the product is made of 80% polyester and 20% polyamide. It's machine washable (always a relief). The back of the towel has an elastic loop. To use it, you're supposed to flip your wet hair over, place the back of the towel over the back of your head, and then drape the rest of the towel over the length of your hair. Then you simply twist the towel up around your hair and tuck the end of the fabric into the elastic loop (it's all very obvious and straight forward once you have the product in front of you).

So I decided to give it a try. At first, I thought the Turbie Twist was too small for my hair. The length of my hair was slightly longer than the length of the towel. But I just folded over the ends of my hair and twisted the towel around my wet locks. Worked just fine. If you have one of these and you have long hair, you can still fit your hair in the towel if you fold the ends of your hair over.

I was amazed to see that the Turbie Twist knocked at least a third off my usual drying time (probably more). The Turbie Twist IS thin, but it is surprisingly absorbent. It seems to just suck the moisture out of my hair.

And...the Turbie Twist IS liberating! It's not like having a bulky towel around your head. It's small, lightweight, and comfortable. It's also perfect to keep by the sink so I can quickly get my hair out of the way while I wash my face or apply make up.

I was surprised by how much I love this thing and decided I needed at least one more (although I knew I would have loved to have a whole set). I swung by the drugstore and grabbed a plain pink one. When I got home, I noticed that this one was 100% cotton. I guess I mistakenly bought the original version instead of the microfiber version. I was disappointed to discover that this cotton Turbie Twist lacked the absorbent power of my microfiber Turbie Twist.

Moral of the story: If you are going to buy a Turbie Twist, make sure it's the MICROFIBER Turbie Twist!

These things are awesome and you're going to want a whole set to use after each shower. I found this AMAZING deal on this set of four MICROFIBER Turbie Twists. Such a better price than what I paid at the drugstore.

Don't you just love when a product exceeds your expectations?

<3 Bee

Lip Butter Love

Top to Bottom: Strawberry Shortcake, Sugar Plum, Lollipop

I decided to give Revlon's ColorBurst Lip Butters a whirl, and I must admit I am impressed. The formula is buttery, smooth, and silky and it keeps lips feeling soft and hydrated. These lip butters are a welcomed departure from the average drying lipstick.

As you can see in the photo, lip butters provide a good amount of pigment, but also look shiny and glossy. High gloss lip sticks tend to smear easily and wear off quickly, so I was pleasantly surprised that these little guys actually have a bit of staying power. They are by no means long-wearing, but I would say that they maintain their full pigment and shine for at least an hour. After that, the gloss begins to fade, but the pigment stays on for an hour or so longer. I was surprised to see that these lip butters can even somewhat hold up through an entire meal (they lose a bit of shine while you're eating, but the pigment stays). Reapplication is necessary after a while, but it's not the sort of thing you have to worry about all day long.

As for the color selection, there are quite a few shades to choose from. Since this is a drugstore brand, you generally don't get to try before you buy. There is a certain amount of guesswork when it comes to selecting a shade. I like all three of the ones that I tried, but Sugar Plum is definitely a winner. It's one of those classic shades that can easily go from day to night. It has just the perfect balance of drama and that natural look. Strawberry Shortcake is cute enough, but I find it to be a bit more baby spice than strawberry in color. I also noticed that, unlike the other two, this shade seems a tad uneven upon application. It doesn't look as uniform and smooth as the other two shades I bought. I have a feeling that this lipstick looks better and smoother in medium-darker shades than it does in pale shades like Strawberry Shortcake. Lollipop is a pretty, bright, berry pink, but it is a bit too much for daytime. I think I will get a bit less use out of this one, but I still like the color.

Overall, I definitely recommend giving these lipsticks a try. Great product.

<3 Bee

Beauty Homework!

I bought this book on a whim about a year ago and I am so glad that I did. It really is an essential "owner's manual" when it comes to all things beauty and health.

In You Being Beautiful, authors Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz (that's right--Dr. Oz) lay out a straightforward, informative, entertaining, and down-to-earth guide to understanding skin, hair, and other factors that determine both inner and outer-beauty.

The authors' colloquial and sometimes comical style of writing, along with their informative and funny illustrations and diagrams, make this encyclopaedia of crucial beauty knowledge a quick and easy read. You will probably want to read it cover to cover, but it is also a perfect reference to keep around whenever you have concerns or questions regarding your skin, hair, nails, or body.

I have recommended this book to friends, family, hair stylists, aestheticians, and even nurses. All of them have loved it just as much as I do!

So get your summer reading on! :)

<3

Bee