Big Hair is Only Minutes Away with GS Professional Dual Pro Iron.

January 9, 2012 | 24 Responses

How would you describe party hair? For someone who has straight, fine hair, my answer’s easy: big bouncy curly hair. For my birthday last month, naturally I curled my hair. I did it with my GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron ($189.95) and just loved the results.

GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron – plates

It took 42.1 seconds to heat up to the default 360F straight setting, which is the recommended setting for in-between easy-to-straighten and thick, wavy hair. You can toggle between three modes — Straight, Curl, and Straight+Curl — with a quick press of the power button, and you know exactly what mode you’re on because the words light up. Also, the exact temperature is shown in the LED screen.

GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron – LED screen

I know I should’ve taken pictures of these components lit up, but just imagine red light for straight, blue light for curl, and a pretty blue LED screen. #bloggerfail

GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron – lock

When you want to use the curling iron only, you can also lock the plates in place. Since I’m used to curling my hair with a flat iron, I do my hair by clamping it in place with the flat plates, then twist the iron away from my face to curl the hair. The iron does come with instructions on how to get spiral/corkscrew curls, loose curls and waves, and volume or flip, so if you’re a total hair appliance n00b (technical term), I think you can still use this iron easily.

GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron – size

I do have a complaint about this iron: I find that the titanium plates tug and pull on my hair more than my previous flat iron. I think this might be a deal breaker for someone who has a sensitive scalp, so beware! My personal motto when it comes to my hair is “no pain, no gain” and I have a pretty resistant scalp anyway, so this doesn’t bother me too much.

Behold my super straight hair, curled with GS Professional Dual Pro Iron.

My next-to-impossible-to-curl hair, treated with my trusty Aveda Phomollient, was still bouncy and tight on day 2 right before I took a shower, so I am absolutely ecstatic about this. Oh yeah, I used it to wave my hair in this FOTD as well. All-in-all, the GS Professional Dual Pro Iron is a awesome hair tool and a life changer for this Glitter Geek.

Super straight hair curled with GS Professional Dual Pro Iron

The GS Professional Dual Pro Iron 2-in-1 Flat Iron and Curling Iron is available at Trade Secrets stores. Click here to find a store near you.

Disclosure: Product was provided for editorial consideration only. For more information, see my Editorial and Advertising Policy.

Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara Gives Makes My Lashes Look Like Falsies. Need I Say More?

September 16, 2011 | 32 Responses

Pin it

When I got my Fembotika lash extensions taken out, I suffered from major lash withdrawal. I was back to bad ol’ lashes. They looked shorter and more sparse than I remembered. I knew it was all in my head though, and mascara became my best friend to — quite literally — fill the void.

Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara

In the past month, I’ve been wearing Annabelle Le Big Show mascara ($9.95), which promises a full volumized lash fringe in one coat.

For a volumizing mascara, I honestly think the Annabelle Le Big Show mascara can’t be beat. It does a great job separating the lashes and coating each hair with the right amount of product. The formula is between dry and medium-wet, so it gives you time to work the product through your lashes without getting a clumpy mess. The bristles on the wand really makes a difference, too. The wand is the same as that in Marcelle Power Volume mascara, except Le Big Show’s is tapered at the tip. This lets me get the smallest lashes at the corners of my eyes.

Annabelle Le Big Show Mascara

After one coat, it delivered nice volume and separation. I noticed a slight relaxation of the curl in my lashes, but it was barely noticeable. It made my lashes very black as it should.

No mascara / One coat / Two coats of Annabelle Le Big Show (click to enlarge)

In the past, my experience with “one-coat wonders” weren’t very good. While pretty after one coat, they were very difficult to build up, and this is where Annabelle Le Big Show separates itself from the pack. This mascara builds very well, creating a false lash look without crossing over to spider lash territory (which is on trend this Fall, but I’m not totally sold on it). It wears fantastically, too; no smudging or flaking for a full day.

No mascara / One coat / Two coats of Annabelle Le Big Show (click to enlarge)

So do I recommend Annabelle Le Big show? Yes, yes, and yes, I do! Step aside, L’Oreal Voluminous. As long as Le Big Show is available, I will no longer require your service. Holy freakin’ grail.

Disclosure: Product was sent by the manufacturer for consideration only. The excitement and butterflies in my stomach are all mine.

A Love Letter to MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast.

August 24, 2011 | 31 Responses

Pin it

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast

Dear Bright Forecast ($27.50; I’m calling you BF from now on),

You complete me. Really, you do.

I have to be totally honest, though. I was a little concerned at the start. You were a total charmer and everyone was falling in love with you (you are an artistrhi top 5 face fave after all). They said you are like YSL Touche Éclat not-so-snooty counterpart, and that you perform better, too. It was the perfect recipe for a heartbreak.

I’m glad I took a chance on you, BF. You know why? Because you didn’t offer any false promises.

MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast (applicator)

Underneath or atop MAC Pro Longwear Concealer (NW30) under my eyes, you take away darkness more than any other concealer had ever done before. Your peachy colour almost completely neutralizes my dark circles that I barely need any concealer at all. Just between you and me, if I had to choose, I’d ditch MAC Pro Longwear Concealer for you. Keep it a secret though; he’s a bit of a jealous type.