Tried & True Review: Finesse Haircare

Does anyone remember Finesse haircare? If you were like me, you were obsessed with it as a child. Though sold at drugstores even then, it had a certain je ne sais quoi. Somehow it had more glamour and seemed more luxe than any of the other bottles on the shelf.

Any why shouldn't it!? I'll be the first to say that I stand by drugstore brands any day of the week. Sure, I've tried fabulous salon brands but I've also come to put together quite an arsenal of drugstore brands that I remain true to throughout the years. And my pocketbook thanks me for that!

Pink tile or bust!

I recently had the chance to try out Finesse's Restore + Strengthen Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner. This could not have come at a better time. The Michigan winter we are currently living through this year has been brutal. While it hasn't snowed as much as it has in years past, the chill in the air has been consistent and cold. I feel like this is our coldest year yet. With that, my hair has been drier than it ever has been before. The products are described as being for hair that's dry, stubborn or sometimes frizzy. Yeah, ok, I'll admit to having some frizzy days and certainly to having some stubborn and dry days lately. Now, if you're like me with super fine, thin hair, you are probably very weary of touching your strands with anything that is labeled "moisturizing"... I get you, girl! Me too. Anything that is moisturizing tends to weigh my hair down, make it look super limp and give it the appearance that I haven't washed it in days. To say I was hesitant to try this shampoo and conditioner would be true. Well, let me tell you, I was very pleased with the results!

Give my messy strands a break... did I mention it's also been ridiculously windy here!?
Uh, I mean, I was going for the windswept look... yeah, yeah.

My tried and true review: My hair felt smoother, easier to manage and easier to style after using the moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Both products have that perfect fresh shampoo soap smell without being too overpowering. I love the clean, fresh scent. The shampoo has a thicker consistency than that of an everyday shampoo but lathers nicely without being too sudsy. The conditioner was super easy to rinse out, which, is always a test for me because I hate products that take too long to rinse out or, even worse, feel like they never rinse out.

Bonus: Is your naturally blonde hair currently black? Is red not your "natural" hair color? OK, it's not mine either... though it feels so naturally me! I have good news! Finesse's Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner are gentle enough for color-treated hair too!

Let's talk price: Fashion Frugality approved! Walmart is currently selling the same size bottles I used, a 13oz. bottle, for just $1.98 each. Walgreens is currently selling each 13oz. bottle for just $1.99. At under $4 for the duo, this is a fantastic deal.

Alright, alright, still don't believe me? Let me let these videos do the talking. Because, yes, if I was going to tell you about a shampoo and conditioner, I was certainly going to play the part of shampoo model girl and pretend I was in my own glamorous Finesse commercial! Onward:

Hit play!

Don't forget to head over to my Instagram (@fashionfrugality) to see more glamorous hair videos *wink wink* and my everyday Fashion Frugality items like these!

Disclosure: I was provided the Finesse Restore + Strength Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner free of charge from Brandbacker. This is a sponsored post via Brandbacker. This review, however, was written by me personally and reflects my personal opinions after trying the products. I was not expected to provide a favorable review.

Linking up with: Thursday Favorite Things

Wearing & Reviewing: Victoria Emerson Wrap Bracelet Review

Disclosure: Victoria Emerson provided me with a bracelet of my choice for free to wear and review. All thoughts written below are 100% mine.

If one does not post outfit pictures does one really get dressed?

HA! I kid, guys. Of course one gets dressed. I like to think I wear cute outfits almost daily (ok, let's be honest, every day cannot be a cute outfit day... sometimes it's just a "this will do" kind of day, ya know) but between life, the snow and cold air in Michigan, limited sunlit hours, dog time, planning a wedding and gym time... I never seem to get around to taking pictures of any of them! Life happens. Luckily, life slowed down a bit a couple weeks ago and I got a chance to convince my fiancé to snap a few photos of my outfit on our way to a relaxed family dinner.

• Jean Jacket: thrifted Old Navy [almost exact match]
• Stud Sweater: thrifted [cute tshirt option]
• Maxi Skirt: thrifted and REVERSIBLE to a different animal print!
• Boots: Blondo via Amazon [exact]
• Wrap Bracelet: c/o Victoria Emerson [exact]
• Glasses: Zenni Optical [exact]
• Earrings: Gold hoops - an old gift from a previous AWESOME employer

I'm in the middle of a love affair with gold and skulls, guys. Random? Maybe. But there it is. Gold and skulls.

I've had this gold studded sweater in my closet for a few years now but seem to always forget about it. It's one of those 1980's kind of oversized, light poly sweaters that looks terrible on a hanger but once you have it on, you're like... hmm, this looks kind of cool and slouchy. Like, maybe I should be wearing this more often instead of just letting it hang for months on end without any wear. (This might also be an indication I have too many clothes. That's just a story for another day though.)

This maxi skirt embodies the perfect animal print. A little bit of tan, a little but of black - wearable with both color families. I found this particular skirt on a thrifting trip I did while on vacation a few years back in Traverse City, Michigan. I like my souvenirs to be thrifted too. So much more useable than a silly tourist trap souvenir you'll discard later on, am I right?

When Victoria Emerson reached out about sending a bracelet over to me, I eagerly agreed to try out one of their pieces and share my thoughts here on my little corner of the internet. I really liked what I saw on their site: pretty, affordable pieces of jewelry - exactly what the doctor ordered for Fashion Frugality! I chose the jet hematite and gold skulls on black wrap bracelet and could not be any happier with it. I absolutely love that it has a slight edge to it (hello, skulls) without being over the top. From far away, it simply looks like simple gold beads. Up close, fun skull arm party. (Does anyone use the word arm party anymore? I must be late to the party. Har har, get it?)

A few more good points - it is super easy to put the bracelet on yourself and, bonus, this type of bracelet works great for any wrist size! I have abnormally small wrists and sometimes find that a lot of bracelets are way too loose on me. Wearing a wrap bracelet like this means you can essentially customize it for your wrist size. In addition, while I love me some bangle bracelets, can we all agree that they are not desk work friendly? I mean, unless you like to listen to the sound of your bangles hit the desk every three seconds. I don't and I am quite sure my co-workers don't as well. That being said, this wrap bracelet is the perfect wear to work look! It has a close fit to your wrist, doesn't dangle and doesn't clang against your desk as you work. At $24, I consider this a great, affordable look.

Love my bracelet? Head on over to Victoria Emerson to get one for yourself or another piece of their beautiful jewelry. Right now you can save 20% with coupon code "fashionfrugal20"!

LOVE THE LOOK? SHOP SIMILAR ITEMS BELOW!

Linking up with: The Pleated Poppy!

Makeup by One Direction: The Looks Collection Review

Disclosure: A makeup kit was provided to me for free by Markwins in connection with Brand Backer. This review, however, was written by me personally and reflects my personal opinions after trying the product. I was not expected to provide a favorable review.

Recently I had a chance to try out one of the new makeup kits in the Makeup by One Direction Looks Collection. OK, I know what you're thinking: One Direction and makeup? How do these things go together? I get it. But I kind of like these sort of collaborations... they are different and who says one thing goes with another? Am I right?! That being said, I was excited to try one of the kits because, despite generally being a makeup minimalist, I have such a thing for makeup kits! I love it when I can get a whole perfectly packaged look within one item. It takes a bit of the guess work out for those that are looking for an easy look or maybe aren't very cosmetically inclined.

The Looks Collection includes three different kits inspired by One Direction's three albums: Up All Night, Take Me Home and Midnight Memories. The Take Me Home and Midnight Memories kit appear to include some pretty neutrals with a pop of an accent color in each. I received the Up All Night collection which included two neutral eye colors, three pops of blue eye colors, a hot pink gloss (that GLOWS under a black light!), a vibrant blue chubby eye pencil, a vibrant pink creme lipstick, a good basic black mascara, a funky blue/green metallic nail color and stencils to create cosmetic tattoo-type creations. To say I was challenged was a bit of an understatement. Blue eyeshadow? This girl? Let's just say, the alternative title for this post should be: How to wear blue eyeshadow without looking like a 1980's prom queen. Because I think I achieved that and I think I became a blue eyeshadow fan while doing it!

I put together three different makeup looks using this kit that I hope you'll find useful. I am most certainly not a beauty blogger but I like to dabble in it every so often. That being said, I feel I should fully disclose that I like to spend probably 10 minutes or less putting on makeup. I also don't believe in using 2847475736 products. It's just not in my nature nor do I, personally, feel it is good for my skin. As you'll see, I'm prone to breakouts and covering my entire face in heavy makeup only makes it worse. If you can handle that, then I hope you'll like the looks I put together!

MY EVERYDAY STLE LOOK

Products used here include: More than This on entire eyelid, Gotta Be You on eye crease, Little Black Dress mascara and Taken lip gloss. Nothing too fancy about this look but this is true to my every day style. A simple eye with just a curled eyelash (no mascara), a bit of blush and a little pop of color with gloss. I'm an avid eyewear fan so I don't often feel the need to go to town on the eye makeup. For every day makeup, I follow the "KISS" method: Keep It Simple Stupid. ;-) The Taken lip gloss appears very bright pink in the tube but goes on pretty sheer. I imagine it could be layered for a brighter look, but I like the subdued pop of pink it gives me in this look.

FUN DATE NIGHT LOOK

Products used here include: More Than This on entire eyelid, mix of Gotta Be You and Save You Tonight on eye crease, and Stand Up creamy eye stick as top and bottom liner. This is a look I would wear on a fun date night to somewhere like a concert or eating out at a funky restaurant in downtown Detroit. It's much more makeup than I would normally wear during the day so it's perfect to up the anty a bit for a date night. I kept my lips nude with a bit of glossy chapstick considering the eyes were heavily lined with the creamy blue eye pencil. I smudged the pencil a bit with a Q-tip to purposely make the look a little more deliberately messy.

A FANCY VINTAGE LOOK

Products used here include: More Than This on entire eyelid, mix of Gotta Be You and Save You Tonight on eye crease, Another World eye color used as top liner, Little Black Dress mascara, and I Should Have Kissed You creme lipstick topped with the Taken lipgloss. Guys, I love this look. My favorite makeup look, when dressing up, is a good cat eye flick paired with a pink lip. Normally my cat eye is made using typical black liner but I love this updated look with the blue glitzy Another World as the liner! I think I am a blue convert.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Final thoughts: I'm surprised by how much I like these shades! I imagine they are geared towards a younger crowd but I think I made them also work for those of us that are, ahem, 30 and possibly older. ;-) My favorite pieces of the collection are all of the eyeshadows and the Taken lipgloss. The eyeshadows are easy to apply, stay put and don't have much fallout. The shades blend well and compliment each other or work well alone. The lipgloss has a great, flat applicator brush, has a great color to it that I think would work for a lot of different complexions and also has a very faint, sweet scent. My least favorite part of the collection is the Stand Up blue creamy eye color stick. I found it was a little hard to apply neatly so it is best used for a smudge-necessary look like my Fun Date Night look above. I also wish the kits came with a cheek color in order to complete the kit and make it an entire look. Other than that, I think these kits are a great value!

Are you loving this collection as much as I am? Are you interested in checking out the rest of the kits? You're in luck! Kits hit Macy's stores around the U.S. starting today, August 11, 2014! After that, you can start finding them in Stage Stores, Dillards, Beauty Brands and Lord and Taylor stores on August 25, 2014. International releases will be announced soon!

Don't forget to connect with Makeup by One Direction on their facebook page!

Tried & True Review: L'Oreal Paris Magic B.B. Cream

A few weeks ago, SheSpeaks offered me the chance to try L'Oreal's Magic B.B. Cream and I jumped at it! I have been reading SO many good things about b.b. creams but had yet to take the plunge because I was pretty happy with my current makeup - which consisted of a foundation and concealer combination. I'm always up to change things up - especially if it comes with the promise of not only covering the things I'd like to hide but also correct issues over time! After using it almost daily for a few weeks now, I can honestly say that I am a believer!

A few things you should know: My skin is sensitive. My skin is acne prone. My skin is combination. I have what some call "adult acne"... I like to call it stress acne. I never had problem skin in middle school, high school or college. Honestly, I never had much acne up until the last few years of my life. Why it suddenly started to appear now is beyond me - I just know I want it GONE or at least hidden. The L'Oreal Paris Magic B.B. Cream has helped me do a good job of that while still letting my skin breathe. That is something I really appreciate and can be rare to find. I have tried dozens of different concealers, foundations, tinted moisturizers and powders over the years. This one is my favorite.

That being said, I thought to best demonstrate the coverage, you would want to see some before and after photos. I'm hardly afraid to show myself without a stitch of makeup - my skin is what it is. I will admit that it looks better when I eat better, get good amounts of sleep, work out and have low stress levels... but this is the real world and I rarely maintain that kind of heavenly schedule. :) The stress part has especially been high lately so my skin is certainly wearing some flair buttons right now, as I like to say...

Here it is for you: Not a single stitch of makeup. Fresh from the shower. Acne, visible pores, dark circles. All things no one really likes to have, but it is what it is.

This is after using just the L'Oreal Magic B.B. Cream. I like that it provides a more even base for me. It takes away a lot of my redness and covers up my acne decently enough. Most importantly: It feels so light - like I am literally wearing nothing! (Note: I never add any makeup to my forehead because my bangs are not a fan of sticking to makeup!)

My typical completed look: Added a little extra coverage with some concealer, a little bit of eyeshadow/eyeliner, mascara, blush and gloss. (And in desperate need of a hair cut! Just disregard that!)

Perhaps you're wondering at this point what the heck B.B. Cream even is.... I understand! I had to google it when I first heard of them because I had no idea either! I kept seeing all kinds of these new creams pop up with no explanation of what they even were. Well, "B.B." stands for beauty balm. The L'Oreal B.B. Cream comes with the promise that it has four actions - prime, perfect, hydrate and correct. I found that it stood by that promise:

• Prime: I own a Stila primer but never feel the need to use it with this cream. It covers smoothly without any help.
• Perfect: It lightly covers my acne and red spots just like a foundation would - without the heavy feel. Admittedly, I do still use concealer as I feel I need the extra coverage in certain areas.
• Hydrate: I don't use a moisturizer with it at all. While I do have dry spots, I wouldn't consider my skin to be especially dry so this might be different for each person. Keep in mind, though, it is winter in Michigan. And I still don't have to use a moisturizer with it. Awesome.
• Correct: I can honestly say I have seen an improvement in my skin. I have seen a little bit less acne and have noticed that a lot of my older acne spots have started to fade. 

Overall, at around $10.95 a bottle, I can 100% feel comfortable recommending this product. It can be found in drugstores, is budget friendly, and lasts! A little goes a long way and will last you all day. I love this as an addition to my everyday look. It is so easy to apply and I never feel like I have to worry if my makeup looks or feels obvious. This is light but effective.

Disclosure: I was provided the L'Oreal Paris Magic B.B. Cream (in Fair) free of charge from SheSpeaks. This review, however, was written by me personally and reflects my personal opinions after trying the product. I was not expected to provide a favorable review.

Getting Fit & Fab in Active by Old Navy

So, I'd like to talk about fashion today but not the usual type of fashion you're used to seeing here. Let's have a little chat about active wear AKA gym wear.

First off, you should know that I am no gym rat. Sometimes I take my workouts really seriously and go on a regular basis. More often than not, lately, I have had a hard time motivating myself to get there - but we'll talk about that more later.

Now, I'm not typically the type that cares very much about what I am wearing to the gym. An ancient pair of stretchy pants and an old tshirt and I am pretty much good to go. Spending a lot of money or time thinking about what I am going to wear to the gym just isn't my thing. I just want to throw it on after work, wipe any makeup off, throw my hair up and head out. Work out, sweat out the day's aggressions and go home. The gym is not my runway. I think you will find that evident...


However, when I had the chance to check out some new active wear, I jumped at the chance. Like I said before, the gym has not exactly been my favorite place lately. And when I say that, I mean I've probably been there once or twice over the past three months. It just hasn't been in my list of things to do but, unfortunately, I am paying the price and need to add it back into that list. When I don't go to the gym on a somewhat regular basis, I become crabby, sluggish and all around blah. Plus, I've been feeling a little bit on the meatball side which is never desirable when you go to put on your jeans, am I right? :)

So, maybe you're wondering where I went for this new active wear, right? I think you might be surprised!


Yes, seriously, Old Navy! I love the place when it comes to everyday fashions but gym wear... I know, I know! I had the same thought! However, never one to say no to a trip to Old Navy, I headed over to one of my favorite local stores with my best friend, Alicia, to check out their selection of activewear courtesy of Crowdtap as I am part of their Old Navy Style Council.


The minute we got there, we were excited to check this stuff out. I had done a little window shopping online prior to coming to the store so that I would have an idea of what they had to offer and what I wanted to try on. I knew for sure that I wanted a pair of the compression pants, not capris, as capris would be too chilly to wear to the gym during the winter. I also knew that I wanted a sleeved top, not a tank as that isn't something I normally wear to the gym without something else over top of it.


We each grabbed a few different pieces and headed off to the dressing rooms. (Oops.... how did that non active wear get into my room!? Hee Hee...) That magenta top was one of the first pieces I grabbed from their Active line - I really liked the color and the detail near the shoulders.


After trying a couple different pieces on, I ended up deciding on the two you see above. Although I liked the color of the prior jacket, I felt I could get more use out of a black one. I also liked that this jacket zipped down all the way, making it easy to quickly take off while working out if need be. Additionally, the black jacket fit me nicely, which made me kind of excited to wear it! Who would have thought - like your outfit and you might want to wear it! Why have I never applied this to the gym before!?


The pants I selected were also extremely comfortable, breathable yet snug enough to keep my body in check while working out. One of my favorite things they included in the design was this little zipper pocket located in the back of the waistband that you can stash your car key or some cash in. So thoughtful!


Delighted with our picks, we headed to the register. We ended up buying the same jacket and the same pants. Great minds often think alike, do they not? :)


And off we went with our new active wear! I was pretty excited to try it out... it actually gave me the push I needed to get back to the gym that week. I guess a new outfit can work wonders in all types of situations...


Jacket: Old Navy Active Performance Jacket, c/o Crowdtap
Pants: Women's Active Compression Pants, c/o Crowdtap
Tshirt: Pacific (old)
Sneakers: Reebok Easy Tone


After using these pieces at the gym for the past two weeks, I can honestly say that they are so much better than my old gym wear. They kept me cooler and drier and I honestly feel much more pumped about going to the gym. It didn't take a lot, but I feel a lot more put together when I head out than I did before.


I'm ready to PUMP you up!
I was a bit apprehensive to think that good workout wear could come from Old Navy, but now I'm a believer! The frosting on this cake is that the prices fit my budget, which is something I require. For example, the jacket I am wearing above is currently on sale for $35, while the same jacket in a different color is just $19! That is great! Plus, as an avid Old Navy shopper, I know they often have coupons that can be combined with their outstanding sales.

So, now let's chat: Where do you buy your workout gear from? What is important to you in your gym wear? Do you wear old sweats to the gym or what? Why? I want to know!

My Old Navy Active jacket and pants were paid for with a coupon I received from Crowdtap. As a member of the Old Navy Style Council, I was able to redeem this coupon for one pair of pants and top of my own choosing. In addition, they provided one additional coupon for a friend. I was not required to give a positive review.

Fashion Frugality Reviews: eShakti Blouse

When eShakti.com contacted me about doing a review of one of their pieces, I was more than happy to oblige. I had actually had my eye on their ruffled cascade front poet blouse so I knew the exact piece I wanted already! I received the blouse two months ago but I don't think I need to explain that a long sleeve blouse was just not weather appropriate for August. I am so happy that I was finally able to wear it!

Now, that being said, please keep an open mind. Today was quite possibly the most windy day I have ever encountered. Bring on the windblown photos! :)


Blouse: Ruffle Cascade Front Poet Blouse, c/o eShakti.com ($39.95)
Pants: Axcess (Liz Claiborne Co), Thrifted, OLD
Shoes: Tahari, Thrifted, OLD
Ring: Inherited from my grandma
Gold Earrings: Gift from my former employer
Glasses: SEE Eyewear
Purse: Gift from my boyfriend years ago (from Target!)

I know what you might be thinking: Katie, you're pale. Nude tops are not your thing. Guess what? Don't care. Life is too short to worry about such things! And I like this top too much! Lets do a quick rundown over some things I love about this top and eShakti.com:

First and very important: Did you know that everything eShakti.com sells is completely customizable? Enter in your specific size details and requests and your wish is their command - all only for an extra $7.50! They fully embody the idea that one size does NOT fit all and why should it? We are all different and all have different tastes.


The extra long cuffs and gorgeous fabric covered buttons (which are also down the front of the blouse) - I love little details like that.


The sleeve detail. I love this unique look!


Quite possibly my favorite part: The ruffle front - how adorable is this? Wait, it gets better: It is detachable! I love having multi-use items. I can wear this blouse with both the ruffles and without the ruffles for two totally different looks. (Note: Nevermind how messy it looks here. It actually ties around your neck, under the collar, quite nicely. The wind was blowing mine out of order.)




Topped with my favorite fall coat and the addition of one of my favorites rings, I was ready to go to work!

DISCLOSURE: Though eShakti sent me this blouse (free of charge) to review, my opinions on this blog post and all other posts are my own. I did not agree to give a positive review. I agreed to give an honest review.
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Unfortunately, the top I reviewed is currently out of stock! With that in mind, I put together a quick Kaboodle styleboard to show you some other ruffle favorites from eShakti.com.

Click above to learn more about each piece!