Dry shampoo - Love it or hate it?

I had heard of dry shampoo for a few years before it was finally made available to the public (by "available", I mean in Walmart for under 10$). I had searched for years in my normal drug stores to find it because the idea is brilliant: a foam you can rub in your hair on those days you don't have time to shower, to take the greasies away.

Since having children, I am admittedly lazy with my looks. Don't get me wrong, I go out daily with a full face of make-up and I don't wear track suits to work, but I have a LOT of hair. It is very long, thick and (thanks to having children) wavy. Until I had children I would spend an hour blow-drying my hair straight (takes so long because my hair is porous and takes ages to dry).

Now, however, my hair routine is literally to leave the house with mousse in my hair to guide the waves into a tamed head of hair. It looks ok, but not nearly as groomed as I used to be. I just don't have that kind of time. I wake at 5am as it is - I can't spend that time blow-drying!

In addition to the lack of time I take on my hair, I also can't be bothered to shampoo daily. I am lucky - I have hair that can go 2 or 3 days between washes, and often looks better the longer I go. There are days that I can't get to the hair washing and my hair is past that peak 3 day window. So dry shampoo seemed to be the answer!!!!

I have only tried one (I haven't gotten through this whole bottle, because I seem to forget I own it. However, I had to use it this week which made me realize I should review it)

Tresemme Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo:

It claims: Give curls moisture and shine in-between washes with this unique foam shampoo. Reduces oil and odor without water, leaving hair feeling soft and clean.

My take:
How to use: It is a foam for curly hair that you distribute throughout the hair and then use a towel to "soak up" the excess oil (how oily do they think my hair is?!?!).

First, I will say that the smell is very pleasant and makes me feel like my hair really is clean. It is a witch hazel smell, which I quite enjoy. However, I hate how it works. It doesn't really seem to do anything for my hair. Since I have curly hair, after using the product, it still has no body and the curls are flat and lifeless.

This may make a difference, but since my hair is curly, I wear mousse or gel in it daily. So the dry shampoo isn't doing anything about the remaining gel/mousse in my hair! If I used no product, it may work a bit better.

I will keep the bottle in my bathroom for those lazy days, but to be honest I probably won't buy it again. I feel a bit let down because the concept is brilliant. Perhaps I need to shell out more money for a decent dry shampoo.

I would be interested to see how people with straight hair do with the spray made for straight hair. I feel straight hair would be a better test because it would show greasy hair more than curly hair.

My top 5 cosmetics

I am the Queen of Cosmetics. No one has more eyeshadow than I (well a drug store does, but that isn't a fair comparison).

I decided to share my top 5 cosmetic choices. These are my tried and true choices that I use daily - they never fail me! These aren't in any specific order - just my faves!

1. L'Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara - approximately 10$

• I will be the first to admit I have been blessed with long eyelashes (nothing as great as my brother's lashes though). So I don't need a lengthening (or even volumizing) formula, but I do believe in dark and full lashes. This is why I choose blackest black over clear or brown.
• Their claim: to build lashes to 5x their natural thickness for a full and dramatic lash look. It also claims to make them soft, not flakey, smudgey or clumpy.
• My take: First, don't rub your eyes during the day and you won't ever have flakey or smudgey lashes! But yes, they are soft still and only clump when I go too long before buying a new mascara. They are quite long with this formula and quite full. I swear by this mascara and have been using it for years and years.

2. L'Oreal Lineur Intense Eyeliner - approximately 8$

• I like dramatic eyes, even during the day so I tend to use black liquid liner (although I have switched to pencil lately for a softer look but it isn't as nice as liquid!). I started liquid liner back when I became obsessed with Emma Peel of the Avengers (a 1960's British adventure TV program). I started out using cake eyeliner and an eyeliner brush but have since found this liner, which is the closest thing to cake eyeliner.
• Their claim: all day wear (8-hours) and allows the user to create delicately thin or dramatically bold lines.
• My take: This is the best. It has a lovely felt tip that is long enough and sturdy enough to not break or make flimsy lines. I do like a thicker eyeliner line (as per Mrs. Peel), but I have done thin lines as well. It goes on smooth, thick (i.e. only need to go over your lid once), and dark (if you choose black like I do). Gorgeous for dramatic eyes!

3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid, SPF 15 - approximately 30$

• I really believe most women in the world don't wear the right colour foundation. I love MAC because they colour match you and the selection is so vast that there will be something for everyone. I have them do it twice a year - winter and summer.Your skin colour will change with the season, so you shouldn't be using the same colour year round! It also has SPF which is a must in foundation.
• Their claim: Comfortable and long-wearing (8 hours), goes on smooth for complete coverage. Oil free.
• My take: I have uneven skin tone, and I am difficult to colour match (my skin pulls too much yellow if I'm not careful). I have never had an orange jaw line with this product. It does last all day but let's be honest - in the summer, if you sweat, it will come off! Also, it does get on my white shirts and coat if I'm not careful. However, it is smooth and lovely on my skin. I have touchy skin, blemish-wise, and this is the best product thus far for me. I pay the money mostly for the colour matching though.

4. MAC Bronzer - about 25$

• Normally I use a loose powder to set my makeup, but this winter I realized that my skin has a boring and dull colour to it. I went to MAC and told them I wanted just a slight bronzer. They gave me the lightest colour for my face - and wouldn't you know, it isn't fake looking and just gave me a touch of colour to make me look healthier.
• Their claim: Lightly tinted power that gives sheer and natural colour.
• My take: While I do love this bronzer and use it daily (even in the summer since I don't like to sit in the sun), my biggest beef with any bronzer is the need to reapply it all day (same with regular powder). Bronzer is applied with a very big soft brush - but I can't carry that around with me all day! It takes up too much room. So if I can find a travel sized bronzer brush, this product would get 10/10

5. Almay Intense I-Colour Eyeshadow - about 10$

This isn't the actual colour I wear

• Anyone who knows me, knows that eyeshadow is my favourite cosmetic. I have so many shades and love to match them up. However, I don't have time to play around with matching colours now that I have to get out the door, get two kids to school and catch a train! So, I love colour sets that are matched for your eye colour.
• Their claim: Colour that intensifies your eye colour, blending smoothly and evenly for all day wear
• My take: Again, if you can keep hands off your eyeshadow, it will last all day, regardless of the type! What I love about this is the easy no-choice colour scheme. I tend to buy for green eyes, even though I have that typical Eastern European eye colour (not quite blue, grey or green). The colours are stunning and flatter the eye colour, even for those of us with in-between eye colours)