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

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.