Pinch Me

PINCHme...this has to be a dream! 

A few weeks ago, one of my friends introduced me to the site called PINCHme. She was always talking about how she reviews and rates products that she gets for free. The first thing I thought of was how this is what a lot of bloggers (especially my favorites) do, so obviously it was something I was interested in. Besides...who doesn't enjoy free things?! 

After she invited me to join her PINCHme network, I was so excited to get started! Basically, you choose a few products to add to your box and within 14 days (mine came in less than a week!) you receive the cutest little package in the mail with all of your products. (Please ignore the condition of my box. It endured a rough journey apparently.) 

My first box included two items (which I had chosen from a selection):

1. Rimmel Scandaleyes Flex Mascara in Black

Mascara is kind of a big deal with me. My lashes aren't the worst, but they aren't the greatest..so the type of mascara I use really needs to do the trick. (I usually go for volumizing mascaras). 

Thoughts: This mascara wasn't all that bad. It gave a pretty natural look and I feel like it also extended my lashes. Would I purchase it with me own money? Probably not. But I enjoyed trying it out!

2. Gevalia Caramel Mocchiato k-cup

This one was a little tricky. It was the only other product from the selection that seemed appealing. Only thing is...I don't drink coffee (I kinda start to shake if I do). So in order to review this one, I gave it to my boyfriend -- the coffee fiend. He's actually had it before and really liked it so he was thrilled when I showed up to his door with this assignment. 

Thoughts:

"Good for people who don't like coffee. Tastes great! Drink it for the taste, not the effect." - Pat

Maybe I should have tried it after all haha.

After testing out each product, you return to your PINCHme account to review the products with a few scale-based questions. The fun doesn't stop there..you then get to choose what to include in your NEXT box! This time I was allotted 3 items. I chose 2 creams, one facial and one body, and (get ready..) the Lady Gaga perfume. Can you believe it?! I get to test out a perfume FOR FREE!!! Perfumes are one of things I hate to run out of because 1) I never know what to get/try out and
2) they're just so darn expensive! I feel like I would try out way more scents if they weren't so $$$. I could even be missing out on my signature smell!!

That was some tangent huh...anyway, so far I'm really enjoying this program and definitely recommend all of you to at least check it out! Below is a link to this site as well as an invite from me to join!!

PINCHme                Join me at PINCHme!

Kinda makes you feel exclusive, doesn't it? ;)

If you try it out, be sure to let me know what you think!

Nioxin System 3 Review

After seeing a couple reviews on YouTube on the Nioxin brand shampoos and conditioners, specifically the level 3 treatment for normal to thin-looking, fine, chemically treated hair. What is it supposed to do? "System 3 is specially designed for normal to thin-looking, fine, chemically treated hair. It amplifies hair texture while refreshing the scalp and providing moisture balance to colored hair." -Nioxin The YouTuber that I had heard about this product from claimed that it helped grow her hair healthier and thicker. Who wouldn't want to have that?!

Source: Nioxin

 A little back ground on my hair: I have been dying, bleaching, and using heat on my hair since freshman year of high school (over 9 years). Naturally, I have wavy/curly/frizzy hair with a lot of thin strands. I've always complained that my hair is too thin, doesn't grow, and just "blah."

Fast forward almost a decade and I am trying everything I can to treat my hair better in order to achieve healthy, shiny, long hair. I've started taking Biotin pills, those "Hair, Skin, & Nails" pills, and try to use minimal heat with the most protection. So to say my hair was a complete disaster and in dire need of this treatment would be a lie. I just thought, hey it works for others with similar hair types, why not try it out?

Well, after I finally caved in to spend the ridiculous amount of money for a single shampoo and conditioner, I used it for the first time tonight. At first I wasn't thinking too much about what was going on. I was just going about my usual shower routine. One thing I did notice was the minty smell the shampoo had to it. It's not my favorite smell, especially for beauty products, but I didn't hate it. It wasn't until I applied the conditioning treatment that I began to get a little curious. My scalp started to feel really, really tingly. And not like a "ooh that tingles," more like a "umm that doesn't feel right." After I got out of the shower and got dressed, I immediately went online to research whether or not it was normal to have that tingling sensation. Lo and behold, other users experienced the same feeling and noted that it could be due to the treatment working at your scalp (PHEW!). But I was still unsettled...probably because I am a self-diagnosed hypochondriac haha. I continued to do some more research and read more reviews. The comments were pretty much 50-50 between people that felt it truly helped them and swear by the products, and those who felt that it only added to their hair loss and dry, damaged hair.

My personal opinion and experience? I honestly just think I freaked myself out with the "negative" comments. If there is anything I freak out over and tend to be more of a perfectionist than usual with, it's my hair. So when I felt that unfamiliar tingly sensation and, on top of that, read (rare) horror stories of people's hair falling out, I kind of bugged. I ran upstairs and washed my hair again with my mom's shampoo...just to be safe.

BUT THESE KIND OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN WITH ANY PRODUCTS! I am in no way saying that these products don't work. There is still the possibility that this line could actually do wonders for my hair. But they just aren't for me. Between the smell, the tingling feeling, and the idea that it could not mix well with my sensitive hair, I'll just stick to the basics. I'm actually bummed that my body didn't agree with the products considering the potential of what could have improved. Nonetheless, I think research should be done before using products of this quality, especially for those of you with sensitive tendencies. I read numerous reviews and testimonies from users that felt it turned their hair around 180 degrees. They felt that no other products they have tried could repair the damage that had already been done to their hair. So please remember that this is just my experience, not facts!!!

So what about you guys?! 

Have you tried these products and had a different experience? I would love to know if maybe I just jumped too soon to judge. Are there any products you swear by for your hair?

Let me know!

always,

Disclosure: This post is solely my opinion and my personal experience with the products.