Best Volumizing Hair Product – Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

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Hairstylists always say the same thing to me, “your hair is thin, but you have a lot of it!” Ok, thanks for that… But what’s the benefit of having a lot of hair if it’s still thin and flat? It takes a lot to get any volume into my skinny blonde strands so when I find a great volumizing product, I must share it.

Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray

Holy hair gods, this stuff pumps up my style instantly! Here’s how I use it: I part my hair to either side, take sections of hair and gently backcomb, then mist Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray on each section. Next, I use a soft bristle brush to smooth out any crazy looking knots and finish with another mist of spray all over. Voila, volume! The texturizing spray smells good, but the scent is strong at first (I always sneeze while spraying lol). Unfortunately gorgeous hair comes at a hefty price tag. A full size can of Oribe’s Dry Texturizing Spray is $39 and if you use it as often as I do (everyday), it goes fast. I guess that’s the price we must pay for voluminous locks!

Enjoy, pretties!

Xox,

Jenna

Pur~Lisse Skincare: Chinese Beauty Rituals & French Science

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Skincare is the most competitive market in the beauty industry. Between my beauty box subscriptions to Birchbox and TestTube and the gift bags I receive at beauty events, I can’t tell you how many different skincare samples I receive every month. I try to use each sample I get at least once and to be honest, there are few brands that stand out.

When I met Jennifer Yen at the NewBeauty store opening at Fred Segal last month, I was instantly drawn to her energetic personality and passion for her skincare line, Pur~Lisse. “Pur~Lisse is French for pure and smooth and allows time-tested Chinese beauty rituals to embrace today’s French skin know-how for an inspirational marriage of nature and science.” Proven Chinese beauty secrets mixed with French sciences? Ok, I’m interested. I picked up the Bright & Beautiful Jet Set Starter Kit to give the line a try and I am very glad that I did! The products are amazing. The Starter Kit includes a cleanser, brightening serum, moisturizer, moisturizer with SPF, and eye serum.

My favorite products from the Starter Kit are the moisturizer, eye serum, and brightening serum. These fab products have graduated from samples to staples for my nightly skincare routine. Here’s a breakdown of my three favorites:

Pur~Lisse Ultra Skin Brightening Serum

Brightening serums always seem to have that astringent effect making my skin feel tight and overly shiny. Thankfully, Pur~Lisse’s brightening serum is different! It feels like a moisturizer but somehow, someway, it actually brightens my skin. I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my complexion since I started using it a few weeks ago. According to Pur~Lisse, the magic ingredient is an exclusive peptide complex, Lotus Lupine 5. What does that mean, you ask? I don’t know, and I don’t care. Bottom line: It works. Best of all, the Pur~Lisse products are so lightweight that you can apply the moisturizer over the serum without your skin feeling heavy or greasy.

Pur~Lisse Hydra-Balance Moisturizer

Use this moisturizer if you want super-duper soft skin. That basically sums it up! Just like the rest of the Pur~Lisse line, the moisturizer is lightweight and non-greasy. I apply the moisturizer before bed and my skin is hydrated and glowing in the morning.

Pur~Lisse Quadra Benefit Eye Serum

The eye area is very delicate (and prone to wrinkles) so it’s important to keep it hydrated. Got dark circles? Puffiness? More signs that you need to hydrate your eye area! The Pur~Lisse eye serum is a miracle worker. I use it every night and have noticed that my eye area looks brighter and healthier. Love it!

You can check out the entire Pur~Lisse line HERE!

Xox,

Jenna

‘Spring Into Style’ LA Shopping Event Trunk Show

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You’re invited to an exclusive shopping event on March 24th in Studio City, CA! Save up to 70% on designer clothing AND get a first look at brand new jewelry collections while sipping some delicious champagne. You won’t want to miss it!

Excess Baggage and Stella & Dot have teamed up to throw the ultimate Trunk Show. Get a first look at Stella & Dot’s coveted spring 2012 jewelry collection (as seen in Vogue, Marie Claire, People StyleWatch, US Weekly, and more).  Find GREAT deals with half of the line under $50 AND take advantage of exclusive sales. Also shop Excess Baggage’s latest designer arrivals including tops, denim, and dresses for up to 70% off! Brands include BB Dakota, Denimocracy, One Grey Day, Brandi Melville, Blank NYC, and so many more! Sip on complimentary champagne while you peruse the latest trends and indulge in this VIP shopping experience.

RSVP to Jenna@BeautyFashionFabulous.com to be added to the guest list and to receive the number code for entrance to the showroom.

I hope to see you there!

Xox,

Jenna

Macadamias in a Bottle – Your New Favorite Styling Product

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Hair oils scare me. Just the name “hair oil” sounds heavy, greasy, and so not fabulous. After experimenting with many different brands, I had sworn them off. Then, I received my NewBeauty TestTube last month and guess what’s in it? HAIR OIL! Macadamia Natural Oil’s Healing Oil Treatment. It was a brand I had never heard of, but since have seen them advertised everywhere. It smelled really good and as a dedicated self-proclaimed beauty-expert, I figured I better try it. The packaging made all sorts of claims such as reducing drying time by 50%, and creating manageable, frizz free, shiny hair. Sounds great! But was it too good to be true? Nope! It’s amazing!

Macadamia Natural Oil’s Healing Oil Treatment is now my go-to styling product. It really does reduce my drying time, takes away frizz, and leaves my hair shiny, smooth, and smelling oh-so good. PLUS — here’s the best part — I actually think it gives my fine hair volume! A hair OIL that gives volume? How could that be? I have no idea… But it did!

Here’s how I use it: After shampooing and conditioning, I remove excess water from my hair with a towel so that it is still wet, but not dripping. I then work a dime-sized amount of Macadamia Natural Oil’s Healing Oil Treatment into my hair, starting at the ends and working my way up making sure only a tiny bit is applied to my roots. Next, I blow dry my hair with a round brush and smooth out any flyaways with a flat iron.

Also in my NewBeauty TestTube was Macadamia Natural Oil’s Deep Repair Masque and I highly recommend this product as well. I use it every few weeks when my hair starts to look dry or heat damaged. The masque imparts moisture and repairs without weighing hair down. And again, it smells SO good! To use, simply apply it to your hair while in the shower after shampooing and conditioning. The directions say to leave it on for 7 minutes, but I don’t always (aka never) have an extra 7 minutes to spend in the shower. I’ve found leaving it on for 4 minutes then rinsing is sufficient.

You can find Macadamia Natural Oil products at retail chains like Target or CVS and also online at www.MacadamiaHair.com.

Update: The marketing folks at Macadamia Natural Oil recommend using the Salon Locator on their website to find a salon near you!

Enjoy, pretties!

Xox,

Jenna

Must-Have Jewelry for Spring

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After being in love with this jewelry line for years, I recently decided to become a Stella & Dot Stylist! I am excited to share their gorgeous collections with my BFF readers, especially since Stella & Dot’s spring 2012 line is To. Die. For. Here are some of my favorite picks of the season.

Serenity Necklace – $198

I’m obsessed with the colors on this fabulous turquoise and mixed dyed jade necklace. And at only $198, it’s a great deal for large hand-hammered stones. The Serenity Necklace may be in the spring 2012 collection, but the wearable colors make it a seasonless statement piece. Finish the look with the Odyssey Ring in Turquoise!

Stackable Gem Ring – $54

I love that this one ring gives the appearance of several stacked rings – so trendy! The geometric black diamond and smoky glass stones against the gold band make it the ultimate cocktail ring. Finish the look with the Pippa Necklace.

Pippa Stone Earrings – $49

Finally! Statement earrings that don’t weigh down my ears! These earrings on right on trend for the season with the unique pairing of clear and opaque stones. Finish the look with the Serenity Small Stone Pendant in Aqua.

 

To purchase any of these pieces, simply click HERE and enter the product name in the site’s search bar. www.StellaDot.com/JennaWatson

Warning: You will fall in love with everything! Enjoy, pretties!

Xox,

Jenna

How to Wear Patterned Denim

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It’s official. Spring 2012 is the season of bright, fun, patterned denim and I couldn’t be more thrilled! Throw caution to the wind (along with your plain pants) and stock up on some of this season’s most fabulous designs. From 7 For All Mankind’s cropped skinny in Toffee iKat to Mother Denim’s cherry patterned jeans, there is sure to be a design for every taste this season.

Not sure if you can pull off patterned denim? Worried you’ll look like Peggy Bundy? Never fear, B.F.F. is here with some crucial tips to mastering this trend.

1) Pair your pretty patterned pants with a simple top. Notice the blouse on the model sporting the Mother Denim jeans above. It’s simple, elegant, and looks fab with the jeans.  The focus is on the jeans so keep the rest of your outfit relatively simple. Note: simple does not equal boring

2) Bolder isn’t always better. If you want to ease yourself into patterned denim, opt for a less flashy pattern like these Current/Elliott Stiletto black polka dot skinnies or AG Adriano Goldschmied snake print leggings.

3) Be cautious of animal print. Some people can pull off leopard print like they were born to rock it, such as runway models and my friend Ashley. Jersey Shore’s Snooki and Chelsea from Teen Mom 2, not so much. (Oops – Did I just admit that I watch those shows!?) The important thing to remember is if you are going to rock animal prints, keep it simple and classy. My advice is to pair your leopard legs with sky-high black heels and a black top, or with a plain tee and black flats.

All technical fashion stuff aside, remember that the most important tip for wearing patterned denim is to have confidence. Rock those eye-catching pants like they were made for you, baby!

Your B.F.F.,

Jenna

The Ultimate In-Between-Salon-Visits-Root-Fix for Blondies!

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A few weeks ago, I stopped by the CVS on Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood to pick up some cold medicine. 2 hours later, I had my cold medicine plus $50 worth of drugstore beauty products. Oops. Normally I don’t get so lost in a drugstore but there is something about this particular CVS that draws me in.. Perhaps because its the biggest, cleanest, fanciest (yes, fanciest!) drugstore I’ve ever been in. Naturally, an environment such as this makes you want to stay longer and therefore, purchase more. While I did pick up a few items that I wasn’t so crazy over, I found one product in particular that I am loving. Fellow blondes out there… Listen up!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray

Phew – that product name is a mouthful. I was very intrigued when I saw Go Blonder since I have been a big fan of John Frieda’s Sheer Blonde Highlight Activating Shampoo & Conditioner. I have blonde highlights in my naturally dirty-blonde hair and I hate  that awkward in-between-salon-visits stage where my roots start to show. I was hoping Go Blonder would be my problem-solver by lightening my roots just a tad so the contrast between my regrowth and highlights wouldn’t be so drastic.

According to Mr. Freida himself, Go Blonder is “formulated with citrus and chamomile, and works with styling heat to gradually lighten hair with each use. Patent-pending technology combines fixative and conditioning polymers that retain hydrogen peroxide, allowing control of lightening results.” Uh, what? Ok, I believe you, John. What really sold me was the before-and-after picture on the box. Yes, the PR girl was PR’ed by John Freida. Everyone knows the picture isn’tactuallywhat typical results look like. But darn you marketing folks at John Frieda, you got me. I had to try it. I bought the spray have been using it 2-3 times per week for almost 3 weeks. It’s very easy to use, simply mist Go Blonder on damp hair before heat styling.

I should have been a good beauty blogger and taken a picture of my hair before I started using it but, sorry my dears, I didn’t. To be honest, I didn’t think it would actually work! But alas, I sit here typing to you with not-so-noticeable roots. Not only has the product blended my roots, but Go Blonder also works very well with other styling products and doesn’t dry out my hair. I recommend using it sparingly, around 2-3 times per week since it contains hydrogen peroxide. Overusing a product with hydrogen peroxide can fry your hair. Go Blonder is for us blondies only, so don’t use it on brown or darker hair! Best of all, you can pick it up at any drugstore or online for less than $10.

Enjoy, Pretties!

Xox,

Jenna