Holiday Gifts

I have been awful with getting gifts this season. I am actually not in the mood for it at all. However, relatives still come over so I finally had to hunker down and start shopping,

Naturally I buy everyone products.

Here is my list thus far:
Aunt- Clarin's Renew-Plus Night Lotion
It smells nice, very baby powdery. The girl told me that whatever gives it the scent is natural, no added fragrance. It's a nice light exfoliating lotion. Perfect for my 60 something year old aunt. I also got a ton of samples which is great because I couldn't afford to buy the Beauty Flash Balm for her.

Cousin-Smashbox Gloss-N-Go Mini Lip Gloss Kit
I got her a mini set of their glosses last Xmas too and she loved it. She carries a very teeny Coach purse making these miniature glosses the only things that fit besides a credit card.

Mom-MAC and Bobbi Brown Brushes
My mom kept saying that she needed good brushes. So, I got her good brushes. She had had a MAC mini set, they were shit. FYI MAC does not give you the same quality of brush in their small brush sets. The bristles come off on your face and they are just crap anyway you want to put it. Individually sold their brushes are great. I got her one for eyeshadow and one that would be good for blending her under eye concealer (larger compared to her actual concealer brush). I made my dad get her the Bobbi Brown Foundation brush. It's a quality brush that can also be used to apply her Pale Pink Pot Rouge (which, BTW's everyone should own).

I Don't Know Karate, but I know Karazee

So Monday night my friend handed me a new shampoo. I read the label which announced the stylist's name, "JAMES BROWN". WHAT?! I don't want James Brown's hairdo. Is this a joke?

Apparently, I have had my head up my ass for a while. This James Brown is the man that gave Kate Moss her lovely post-breakup bangs. For this, I thought, I will try his shampoo. So I did. It is excellent.

I used the shampoo for Chemically Treated Hair. It left my hair clean, smooth, and ready conditioner. I also had no static for once. Something mos def needed during the winter hair months.

In case you have not guessed, I am a product nerd. Once I hear about a new line or product I have to read everything about it. So like a good junkie I immediately went to his website. He won me over with his choice of music (The Clash's "London Calling") and with a shampoo that from what I can tell is one of the most innovative since those powder shampoos.

This shampoo is for Combination Hair.

Excuse me? What? For years people have talked about using 2 different shampoos, etc. to handle the oily scalp/dry ends debacle. James' shampoo uses 'liquid talc' to absorb excess sebum (ewww) whilst wheatgerm oil hydrates the ends. The liquid talc is supposed to continue working through the day and absorb away.

I do not have this hair issue. I will not try a product that doesn't work for my needs so I am encouraging someone else out there to try it and let me know how it goes.

In the meantime I will wash with James Brown and listen to James Brown.