battle of the hair texturing sprays/powders // love it & leave it

Who has fine hair? *raises hand*
Who's hair is flat as can be? *raises hand*
Who wishes their hair had more texture and less blah-ness? *raises hand!!!!* 

If you (hypothetically) raised your hand to any of the above questions, then perhaps this post would be very beneficial for you. I have tried numerous texturizing and volume products in hopes of finding that one gem that will give my hair the omph that it NEEDS (and deserves). You want to find out which products is the best of the best? That's the spirit! Read on, my friends!

Here we go: 

1. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray (8.5 fl) $42 - Might as well start with the absolute favourite. This stuff is magic in a bottle. Yes, that price point is HEFTY, but you get so much in a bottle. With everyday use, this bottle will last you for MONTHS. I plan on doing a completely separate post dedicated to this product (with before and after pics), so as much as I would love to rave right now, i'll save that for later. 

2. Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion (0.7 oz) $32 - This product is interesting because you don't tap the powder onto your scalp. Instead, you have to squeeze the bottle, and magical powder comes flying out to dust your hair with texture. I would love this more if one bottle lasted longer. I most likely will not repurchase. Also, there is no smell, which is no bueno. 

3. Bumble and Bumble Dryspun Finish (4 fl) $30 - Love it. Had I not have found the Oribe spray, I would have continued to repurchase this. This smells amazing and gives hair a messy and tousled look. This lasted me for a month and a half with everyday use - I would have liked more product for the price I paid. 

4. Bumble and Bumble Pret a Powder (2 oz) $27 - This is my dry shampoo that I will never live without. It takes away second-day oils and adds some volume into the hair. Not a texturizing powder, though - I still prefer to use my Oribe spray in combination with this!

5. Got2b Powderful (0.35 oz) $8 - Before I ventured off into the world of highend texturizing products, this is where it all began. This stuff is the tackiest product of them all. I would never put this in my hair if I were planning on leaving it down. However, if I wanted to make a braid/bun and needed the texture and hold, this is a great product for that. 

And that's all! For now, at least. 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

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Essence Cosmetics // Brand Overview

Whenever I am at the drugstore I walk past the Essence display, and never think give it a second look. I'm not going to lie, when I think of this brand one word comes to mind - cheap. Maybe it's because of the (almost too) affordable price point. Or maybe it is because I have never heard anyone rave about this brand. Well, the most recent time I was at the drugstore, I thought, "Don't knock it until you try it". So I did. And I am so glad I did. 

I bought 5 things, and here are my thoughts (all prices are rounded up): 

Sunclub Matt Bronzing Powder (light) $ 5 - This is the largest bronzer I have ever owned. I had a fear that it would be orangey (since many drugstore bronzers are). I am so happy to report that it is not orange at all. Since i'm pretty tan right now, this blend perfectly into my skin and gives it the summer glow that it needs. Out of the 5 products I'm reviewing today, there are 3 that you MUST try - this is one of them. 

Mattifying Powder $4 - I grabbed this because I needed a pressed translucent powder for travel. I love translucent powders for setting my face but the only ones that I own are in loose form (definitely not travel friendly!). I realized after I bought this that it is actually not translucent. However, this powder has such light coverage that it may as well be translucent. I carry this with me everywhere. And if it falls and shatters, who cares? It was only 4 bucks!

All About Matt! Oil Control Paper $2 -  I'm kinda meh about this product. I don't hate it, but I don't love it either. That's why it's meh. If you're not super oily then this product can totally work for you. But if you are super oily (like yours truly), then you may prefer a higher quality oil blotting sheet like Clean and Clear. 

Longlasting Lipstick (06 Barely There) $4 - Are you freaking kidding me?! I have nothing but good things to say about this lipstick. It's creamy, opaque, longlasting, and the colour is GORGEOUS. This is the perfect 'my lips but better' lipstick. I have a feeling I will be wearing the heck out of this colour in the fall and winter time. Ahem, MUST BUY PRODUCT. 

Lipliner (06 Satin Mauve) $2 - This is the matching lipliner to 06 Barely There. Again, very creamy and opaque. Not drying at all. Pair this with the longlasting lipstick, and you'll be set for the whole day. I'm serious. Do yourself a favour and GET THIS NOW. 

After having success trying some amazing products, I am really excited to further explore this brand. What are some of your favourite products from Essence? Let me know! 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

Where else can I find you?

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summer, I love you

What time is it? (Summer time!) 

It is my fave time of the year, y'all. Summer time! Well actually, it's still spring but as soon as school is out I consider it summer! I know you do, too! The weather here in Canada is warm(ish). It has major mood changes. One minute it's blazing hot, and the next it is winter again. Well that's Canada for ya! 

I'm not even mad about the annoying weather changes. I'm just happy to be out of school for a few months, so I can relax and have some fun. 

Currently, I'm working a full-time job (my first one!). I'm working at an art gallery on campus as a Gallery Educator. Aaaaaand I freaking love it. I'm getting paid to do something I love, and in a field that I am very interested in (i'm an art history major, remember?). I feel super lucky that I actually love my job - it doesn't feel like work to me! I know a lot of people my age are stuck working jobs that they hate. To those people I say: Keep on keeping on! You can do it, my friend. All that hard work is going to pay off! 

In other news, I will be going into my 4th year when school comes back into session. How crazy is that??? It's crazy for me. These years have passed by quickly. Too quickly. I need things to slow down - partly because I love my school and don't want to leave, and partly because I have no freaking clue what the heck i'm going to do after graduation (hopefully i'm not alone). Buuut i'm not stressing about it too much. I'll just live in the moment and see where that takes me. 

Keep on keepin' on, my friends! 

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

Where else can I find you?

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i'll admit it, I like tv...

Who doesn't? I am ALWAYS looking for new shows to watch, but I never seem to find really good ones unless it happens to be during midterm/exam season. Convenient how that works out, eh? So are you interested in hearing about my latest faves? No? Well great, i'll tell ya anyways!

Modern Family - a cult favourite. I started watching this early in high school (around the time when it first came out), and it's held strong as being one of my favourites. It's lighthearted and always manages to squeeze a couple laughs outa me (and sometimes even tears!). In case you're living under a rock and have never seen it, I highly recommend.

How to Get Away with Murder - oh. my. gosh. Are you kidding me with this show?! I am obsessed. Anytime Shonda Rhimes comes out with a new show, I just have to watch it (i'm a long-time Grey's Anatomy fan), and boy am I glad I did! This show is delicious. Sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of show. Part of me wishes I discovered the show years later so that I could happily binge-watch countless seasons of it. But I guess for the sake of my social life, academics, and HEALTH, it's good that it only just came out. 

The Bachelor - don't judge me. I've been watching The Bachelor ever since I was a little kid (don't judge my mom). I've watched countless seasons of various bachelors and bachelorettes - some I loved (ahem. Ali Fedotwosky), some I hated (ahem. Jake Pavelka), and some were just blah (uhmm..Lorenzo who?). This season with Prince Farming...i'm really digging it. I'm loving the drama, and i'm definitely loving the crazy. I am team Becca. Buuuuuuut, I totally want Kaitlyn to be the next Bachelorette (gotta support a fellow Canadian). Who's your fave?

The Mindy Project - found this on Netflix recently...and you can imagine how that turned out. I think Mindy Kaling is an absolute comedy star, and she does it in the most effortless way. You can tell comedy just comes natural to her. It goes without saying that Mindy is definitely my favourite character on the show. However, a close second can be rewarded to Nurse Morgan. 

Stop talking, Sandra.

Got any recommendations? GIMME!

Best,

Δ Sandra Δ

Where else can I find you?

Youtube // Instagram // Twitter // Tumblr // Bloglovin