Merry Christmas!

 Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!  Blessings to you and your families.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner

Dove Shampoo Review

I really enjoyed using this shampoo. It has a nice fresh scent that lingers in your hair even after it has dried. The shampoo is the perfect consistency. Not too runny or too thick. It lathers well making me feel that I am getting my hair really clean.

The shampoo rinses easily from the hair leaving no residue. After washing my hair and using the corresponding conditioner, my hair felt soft, smooth and manageable. My hair also felt light and not weighed down like some products leave your hair feeling.

I would definitely recommended this shampoo to others and would purchase it in the future.

Dove Conditioner Review

This conditioner has a great scent. It is a fresh, clean scent that when used with the corresponding shampoo, leaves the hair smelling great all day long.

The conditioner applied easily to my wet hair and my hair felt soft while the conditioner was in my hair. The conditioner is the right consistency to stick to the hair. It rinses easily and completely from the hair.

After towel drying my hair, I noticed that my hair wasn't quite as tangly as it usually is. It made combing my hair much easier. When used with the Dove shampoo, my hair was left feeling soft and airy. It was not weighed down at all. I have frizzy hair and found that my hair was manageable and not crazy frizzy.

Overall, I would recommend this product to others and would reuse in the future.

I received these products free of charge from ChickAdvisor to facilitate this review.

Peanut Butter White Chocolate Fudge Bars

These bars make a nice treat.  They use a boxed cake mix which helps to cut down on prep time.  They are sweet and rich!    

Ingredients:

1 box chocolate cake mix (I used Duncan Hines Chocolate Fudge cake mix, 515g)

1 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

10 tbsp. margarine or butter, melted

2 eggs

1 can sweetened condensed milk (300 ml)

1 3/4 cups white chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  In a bowl combine cake mix, peanut butter, margarine and eggs.
2.  Set aside 1 1/2 cups of this batter.
3.  Spread remaining batter into an ungreased 9" x 13" pan.  Spread batter partially up sides of pan as well.
4.  For filling, combine condensed milk and white chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and melt mixture in microwave for about 1 minute.  Stir until smooth.
5.  Pour filling over crust.
6.  Drop remaining reserved batter mixture on top of filling.
7.  Bake at 350F for 30-35 minutes.

White Chocolate Cranberry Scones

My mom has been making these scones the last few years and they are so good!  Perfect with a cup of hot tea.

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions:
1.  Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
2.  Cut in butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3.  Stir in buttermilk.
4.  Turn onto a floured surface and add chips and cranberries.
5.  Knead until dough comes together.
6.  Pat dough out to about 1/2" in height and cut in triangles.
7.  Place on parchment lined baking sheet.
8.  Bake at 400F for about 12-15 mintues or until golden brown.

Dove Nutritive Solutions Coconut & Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner

Shampoo
I enjoyed using this shampoo. It has a lovely citrus fragrance that lingers in my hair throughout the day. The scent is suppose to be coconut water and sweet lime. I don't really smell any of the coconut scent as the lime overpowers it. 

The shampoo has the perfect consistency to it and lathers really well in the hair. I feel like I get a better clean when a shampoo lathers well like this one. It does rinse easily and cleanly from the hair.

I do have frizzy hair but found that this shampoo (when used with the conditioner as well) helped to control the frizz. Being a hydrating shampoo, this product did not weigh my hair down like some other shampoos can. Instead my hair was soft, smooth and manageable. Some hydrating shampoos can leave my roots feeling oily but this Dove shampoo did not do that at all. I was impressed!

Overall, this is a shampoo I would recommend to others to try and would continue to use myself. I've been a fan of Dove products for a long time and this shampoo lives up to my expectations of Dove.



Conditioner
This conditioner has a lovely scent. I can smell both citrus and coconut notes. I'm a big fan of coconut anything and having it as a scent in my hair product is a bonus! The scent lingered throughout the day in my hair long after it dried.

I found the consistency of the conditioner to be a little bit thinner than other conditioners I've used. However, this did not affect its effectiveness. It spread easily on my hair and rinsed off well. 

This conditioner (when used with the shampoo) left my hair soft, smooth and manageable. My hair did not feel weighed down at all which can happen with some hydrating conditioners. My frizzy hair was also less frizzy which was a nice surprise.

This is a conditioner I would recommend to others to try and would continue to use myself.


I received these product free of charge from Chickadvisor for review purposes.

Katy Kat Collection from Covergirl ~ Mascara

I received a Covergirl matte lipstick and mascara from the new Katy Kat Collection to test from BzzAgent.

You can find the review for the lipstick here.  The mascara I received was in the Very Black colour.

The Facts:

The 360° Sculpting Brush sweeps lashes up and out

They don’t flake, smear or smudge

Perry Blue delivers 10X Volume + Fullness (plus, it’s the first-ever electric blue mascara by COVERGIRL!)

Very Black, Black and Waterproof Black deliver 10X Volume + Darkness

Each retails for $10.99 at drugstores

                                         Before mascara                                          

After mascara

My Thoughts:
I found this mascara has a bit of a learning curve to it.  The brush is different than other brushes I have tried.  The bristles spiral around the wand and I find that it picks up too much mascara each and every time.  If I were to apply directly from the wand without wiping off the excess mascara, I would have very wet, clumpy looking lashes.  So I have learned to wipe the excess mascara off before applying.  After doing so, I am quite pleased with the results.

The mascara really does help to lengthen and add volume to my lashes.  It even holds a bit of a curl without using a lash curler.  I find it makes my eyes pop.  It does not smudge or flake during the day and washes off amazingly easy with soap and water.

I am a fan of Covergirl mascaras but have to admit this is not one of my favourites just because of the brush and how it collects excess product.

If you are interested in giving this mascara a try, here's a coupon for $1.00 off from SmartSource.


I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Katy Kat Collection from Covergirl ~ Matte Lipstick

I received a mascara and lipstick to try from BzzAgent.  These products are part of the new Katy Kat Collection from Covergirl. I'm a fan of Covergirl products so was excited to give these products a try.

First up is the lipstick.  You can see a review for the mascara here.
I received the colour Sphynx to test.

The Facts:

There are 11 highly pigmented colours to choose from: Sphynx, Pink Paws, Magenta Minx, Coral Cat, Crimson Cat, Cat Call, Kitty Purry, Cosmo Kitty, Maroon Meow, Catoure and Perry Panther

Each is infused with nourishing butters such as shea

A soft finish and creamy feel help the lipstick glide on smoothly

It’s not dry or dragging on your lips

Each retails for $10.99 at drugstores

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed using this lipstick.  When I first found out it was a matte finish, I was worried that it would leave my lips feeling dry.  However, I was quite wrong!  This lipstick applies smooth and creamy.  It feels like velvet on my lips and does not dry them out at all.

The shade Sphynx is the perfect "my lips only better" shade for me and works really well with my skin tone. It is fairly pigmented and the above swatch is just two swipes of colour.

As for staying power, it lasts well as long as you don't eat or drink with it on.  After eating and drinking, a reapplication of the lipstick is needed.

Overall, I am really impressed with this matte lipstick and would purchase in the future when this product runs out.  I do find the price a little high for lipstick and would hope to use a coupon or find it on sale.

You can print a $1.00 off coupon at SmartSource.


I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Lemon Cheesecake

This cheesecake makes a large 9" x 13" pan which is perfect for potlucks.  My family loves this dessert and it never lasts long!

Ingredients & Directions:
Layer 1:
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tbsp. white sugar
1/3 cup crushed walnuts or pecans

Mix ingredients together and press into a 9" x 13" pan.  Bake at 350F for about 8 minutes.  Cool.

Layer 2:
1 package of cream cheese (250g)
1/2 of a 1L container of whipped topping
1 cup icing sugar

Beat cream cheese and icing sugar.  Add whipped topping. Spread on cooled base.

Layer 3:
1 package of Lemon Pie filling

Prepare according to package directions.  Let cool then spread on top of layer 2.

Layer 4:
Spread remaining whipped topping on top of dessert.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Covergirl Smoochies

I purchased 3 of these Covergirl Smoochies lip glosses from Health Snap during a 70% off sale so I got them for under $2 each.  I've always wanted to try Smoochies and when the price was right, I went for it!

Left to Right: #luv bug, #luv u, #sweet tweet

 Left to Right: #luv bug, #luv u, #sweet tweet

They vary in their pigmentation with #luv bug and #luv u being moderately pigmented.  You will definitely see these two colours on your lips.

#sweet tweet is nothing more than a clear gloss with a hint of pink.  I find this colour makes for a glossy base for other colours such as lipsticks.

 Top to Bottom:  #luv bug, #luv u, #sweet tweet

#luv bug is a brownish, mauve colour with shimmer
#luv u is a medium berry pink shade
#sweet tweet is a very sheer pink

Left to Right: #luv bug, #luv u, #sweet tweet

Since I don't like bold colours, these shades are perfect for me. They do add colour to my lips and feel nice on.  They glide easily on and last a few hours on my lips if I'm not eating or drinking.  I would describe them as a glorified lip balm.  

Overall, I'm pleased with my purchase and really enjoy wearing Covergirl Smoochies.  I would recommend them to others to try and would repurchase in the future.  In fact, I have a back up #luv bug because I love the colour so much!

Wordless Wednesday: Floral Beauty

The peonies have finally bloomed outside our home.  Love their bright, vibrant colour!

Wordless Wednesday: Look what "grew" in the garden!

My mom made this garden dessert to depict carrots growing in a garden.  It was as tasty as it looked!

You can find the recipe here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/carrot-garden-ice-cream-dessert

Rhubarb Muffins

I adapted this recipe to use rhubarb which has been growing in our garden.  These muffins have a cake like texture and taste great!  As a side note, they come off the paper liners really easily.  I hate when muffins leave half the muffin behind on the liner!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2/3 cup chopped rhubarb

Topping:
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions:
1.  Cream shortening, sugar and egg.
2.  Combine dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternatively with milk.  Stir until just combined.
3.  Mix in rhubarb.
4.  Fill paper liners.
5.  Mix topping ingredients of sugar and cinnamon.  Spoon desired amount on top of muffin.
6.  Bake at 325F for 20-25 minutes.

Yield: 9 muffins

Vichy Idealia Life Serum Review

I have been using the Vichy Idealia Life Serum for a week now. Initially when I saw this product labelled as a "serum" I wasn't impressed as I was expecting a clear, oily like product that I thought would exacerbate my acne prone skin.

This product however was nothing like I expected. It was white with a lotion like consistency. It absorbed quickly into the skin and did not leave a sticky or oily residue. My skin tolerated this lotion very well as it didn't aggravate my acne prone skin or make my skin any oilier than usual. 

The lotion is fragranced and reminds me of a green tea scent. It is pleasant and not overpowering. 

I was using this serum daily after cleansing my face. I found that the product moisturized so well that I didn't need to apply a separate moisturizer. In fact I had been dealing with some dry patches on my skin due to the harsh acne products I use and found that the dry patches were well taken care of with this product.

I have noticed that my skin is softer and smoother with daily use but haven't yet noticed any further improvements to my skin at this point. Perhaps with continued use that will change.

Overall, I really liked this product but cannot justify the price tag for the softer, smoother and moisturized skin that I saw. This product retails for $59 for a 30 ml pump bottle.  I feel there are other products on the market with a lower price tag that would be just as effective. However, I would recommend this product to anyone to try as it really is a lovely product.

I received this product free of charge from ChickAdvisor for review purposes.

Orange Blueberry Muffins

I love blueberry muffins and decided to change up my favourite recipe by adding some orange zest.  The muffins have a lovely orange flavour to them.

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ tsp. vanilla
• zest of one orange
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1½ cups blueberries

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. 
2. In large bowl whisk eggs and gradually add sugar, continue whisking until pale yellow in colour.
3. Pour in oil, add vanilla and orange zest.
4. In a separate bowl stir together flour, salt and baking soda.
5. Stir dry ingredients into egg mixture, alternating with the sour cream.
6. Gently fold in blueberries.
7. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
8. Bake in preheated oven for approx.  20 minutes

Wordless Wednesday

It's a winter wonderland on the farm today!  And it's April!!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Hi-Impact Hair Products #MyJohnFrieda

I recently received a Vox Box from Influenster containing three John Frieda hair products: Sheer Blonde Hi-Impact shampoo and conditioner as well as an oil elixir.

The Claims
The shampoo claims to give overprocessed hair new life.  It revives blonde hair's healthy, vivid hue.  It also rejuvenates and restores vibrancy to distressed strands.

The conditioner repairs and restores a healthy look and feel to distressed blonde hair.  It moisturizes while repairing damaged hair to revive vibrancy.  

The oil elixir helps to repair damage, replenishes hair and strengthens strands.  It reveals shiny, shimmering blonde hair that's full of light.  This product can be used on both wet and dry hair.  

All three products are safe for use on natural or colour treated hair as well as on highlights and lowlights.


My Thoughts 
I have natural dark golden blonde hair.  I have never dyed my hair but I do use a flat iron on my hair every week or so.  My hair is frizzy and I don't like wearing my hair down unless I've flat ironed it.  

The shampoo is a great consistency and lathers well.  It rinses easily from the hair.

The conditioner is a little thicker and creamier than other conditioners I've used but it does spread easily and rinses completely from the hair.  I noticed that while rinsing my hair, I was able to run my fingers through my below shoulder length hair. So it seems to have a detangling effect.

I applied the oil elixir to my hair after it was towel dried.  It absorbs quickly into the hair and does not leave an oily residue like I thought it might.  It also doesn't weigh down my hair.

When using all three of these products together, my hair felt light weight and was easy to manage.  I noticed that my hair was not as frizzy as usual so that was an unexpected bonus!  My hair felt healthy and revived but I didn't notice any greater vibrancy to my hair.  It wasn't any glossier or shinier than usual.

Overall, this is a great collection and I would continue to use it for the benefits that I experienced.



I received these products free of charge to facilitate this review.

Lise Watier HydraForce Hydra-Protective Comforting Creme Review #Getinthebubble

I was selected by GlamSense to test the Lise Watier Hydraforce moisturizer.  I received the normal to dry skin formula.  It retails for approximately $45 Canadian.

Skin Care Claims
According to the Lise Watier website the product claims to leave skin fortified and protected, soft, smooth and radiant. The formula's effectiveness is due to the power of the Gaspé Algae Extract.  This extract guarantees that the skin is left hydrated.

It also claims that instrumental measurements prove the skin is 3x more hydrated.  Furthermore, 100% of women confirm that skin is more hydrated, soft and protected against outdoor aggressions. (Source: https://hydraforce.lisewatier.com/en/)

The moisturizer is packaged in a 45ml jar.  I would prefer if this product was in a tube as it would make application easier and cleaner.  

The product is a creamy consistency.  To me it has a pleasant floral scent but it is not overpowering at all.  The cream absorbs fairly quickly and I find a little bit goes a long way.  If you use too much it will take too long to absorb and leave a bit of a sticky residue.

Along with the moisturizer was a device called a hydration tool that connects to your smart device.  You can then download for free the Hydra-Detect app.  The hydration tool measures how hydrated your skin is.  Pretty neat!

You place the hydration tool on whatever area of skin you want to test.  You can choose to test you hand, t-zone or cheek.  I chose to test my cheek as that is where I would be using the moisturizer most.

Initial Results

    

                   

           Before                                                                              After

I washed my face first thing in the morning and then tested the moisture level.  It was 30.4% which is a little dry.  I then applied the HydraForce moisturizer to my face and retested.  This time I got a result of 44.4%.  So the moisturizer really did hydrate my skin to an appropriate level.

Results after 14 days

              Before                                                                         After

After 14 days of using the moisturizer I wanted to see if my skin was more hydrated even before applying the moisturizer.  I tested my cheek again before putting on the moisturizer and got a result of 39.8% which is higher than the initial reading of 30.4%.  So my hydration levels went up even without having the moisturizer on.

After applying the moisturizer, I got a result of 47.9% which is higher than the initial result of 44.4%.  So the results prove that this moisturizer really hydrates and more so with continued use.

Final Thoughts
I really liked this moisturizer more than I thought I would.  I consider myself to have oily skin but the initial results showed my skin was a little dry.  So I guess even oily skin needs moisturizer.

I also have really acne prone skin and I'm pleased to say that during the two weeks of testing this product that I didn't get one breakout!  My skin was incredibly soft and smooth to the touch and looked more radiant.  Overall, this is a great moisturizer and I'm so pleased with the results I got.


Is Your Skin Hydrated?
If you want to see if your skin is well hyrated you can attend one of the events being held across Canada.  For more information and to find a location near you, visit the Hydraforce Lise Watier website.


I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Wordless Wednesday

We had an ice storm last week that knocked out our power for a couple of days.  Despite the damage from the ice, the trees looked beautiful especially when the sun shone on them!

Wordless Wednesday

I visited Niagara Falls this past weekend for my brother's wedding.  It was the first time I was there and it was quite spectacular!  This is the view from the terrace of the hotel where my brother was married.

Key Lime Cheesecake

I love cheesecake!  This recipe calls for a baked flour mixture bottom with a layer of cheesecake filling, key lime and whipped topping.  It is the perfect dessert to bring to a potluck as it makes a large pan!

Ingredients & Directions:
Layer 1:
3/4 cup butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tbsp. white sugar

Mix ingredients together and press into a 9" x 13" pan.  Bake at 350F for about 8 minutes.  Cool.

Layer 2:
1 package of cream cheese (250g)
1/2 of a 1L container of whipped topping
1 cup icing sugar

Beat cream cheese and icing sugar.  Add whipped topping. Spread on cooled base.

Layer 3:
1 package of Key Lime Pie filling (I used Shirriff Key Lime Pie Filling, 212g)

Prepare according to package directions.  Let cool then spread on top of layer 2.

Layer 4:
Spread remaining whipped topping on top of dessert.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Skintimate Skin Therapy Shave Gel

This shave gel was a pleasure to use! It comes out of the can as an opaque pink gel and then turns into a white foam when it is rubbed in. Compared to other shave gels, I found this product much creamier, thicker and richer. 

This shave gel has many built in moisturizers including Moroccan Oil, Vitamin E, Olive Butter and Sunflower Seed Oil.  

I usually use soap for shaving and sometimes it can cause razor irritation. With this skin therapy shave gel, my razor glided right over my skin with no drag or irritation. My legs were left soft, smooth and perfectly moisturized. I didn't even feel a need to apply moisturizer to my legs. 

Overall, I really liked this shave gel and will continue to use it for my shaving needs.


I received this product free of charge for review purposes.

Maybelline Dream Velvet Foundation & Dream Blender

Maybelline has a couple of new products on the market: the dream velvet foundation and a dream blender.  Thanks to ChickAdvisor, I was able to test both of these products.

I tested the Maybelline New York Dream Velvet Foundation in the shade Ivory.  I am usually an Ivory in other foundation brands so selected this shade.  When I swatched it on my hand, it was very orange looking.  It did blend out to look less orange on my face but it was still a tad darker than I would like.  The shade is still wearable but if I were to purchase it in the future, I would get a shade lighter.

Swatch in the shade Ivory (#15)

This foundation is thick and mousse like in texture.  It does spread evenly on the skin but you may have to work quicker as it tends to dry quicker than liquid foundations.  After applying this foundation, my skin felt so soft and actually velvety.  I was really impressed by this quality.  The foundation also feels lightweight so much so that it doesn't feel like you're wearing foundation.  I found the coverage to be about medium.  I have acne scars which it blurred but didn't completely hide.

I have combination skin right now with dry, normal and oily patches.  I found that this foundation got a bit patchy in the oily areas on my face.  This foundation is suppose to have a soft-matte effect but I didn't really find it mattifying.  In fact, the first day I wore this foundation my sister commented on how nice my skin looked and how it had a dewy effect.  It may not have been matte for me but it certainly kept my skin hydrated.  

Overall, I would probably buy this foundation in the future if there was a great sale on it and I could find it in a shade lighter.

I have used cosmetic sponges in the past but nothing like the Maybelline New York Dream Blender.  It is basically a tear drop shaped sponge on a stick.  I found the sponge to be soft and dense.  I used this blender dry as I wanted a fuller coverage with my foundation.  This blender was a bit awkward to use but it did actually do a good job of blending and spreading my foundation.                                                    

I would have preferred if there wasn't a handle on this sponge as for me this would make it easier to use.  I also would have liked the sponge to be a bit bigger so I could cover more surface area. I did like the tear drop shape as it contoured to the curves of my face and I could get in to hard to reach areas like around my nose.

I did wash this sponge and found that I couldn't get it as clean as I would have liked to.  I found myself worrying that if I scrubbed too hard that it would pop right off the handle.  

Overall, this is a unique tool to keep your hands clean while applying foundation and it does a decent job of evenly spreading foundation without any streaks. Would I purchase it?  Probably not as I think there are others tools that are easier to use.

I received these products free of charge from ChickAdvisor for review purposes.

Orange Cranberry Muffins

I decided to try my hand at making a new kind of muffins.  I like lemon cranberry muffins so thought I would enjoy these orange cranberry muffins as well.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
zest from one orange
juice from one orange
1 cup cranberries

Directions:
1.  Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar together.
2.  In a separate mix wet ingredients: butter, egg, buttermilk, zest of orange and juice of orange.
3.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir till combined.  Do not over mix.
4.  Add cranberries.
5.  Fill paper lined muffin tins.
6.  Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes.

Yield: 12 large muffins

Tresemmé Volume & Softness Hair Maximizer

I tried this product in conjunction with the pre-wash conditioner and volume shampoo. It was the final step in the volume system. I used this product on my towel dried but still damp hair before combing through it.

The product has a nice consistency. It is not so runny that you can't apply it nor is it too thick to spread. The product absorbs easily into the hair and leaves the hair with a wonderful fresh, clean scent.

I found that this product really helped my pick comb glide through my wet hair. I usually struggle with getting my comb through my hair due to tangles but this product minimized that issue. My hair also felt light and airy with use of this product as well as the pre-wash conditioner and shampoo.

This product left my hair feeling soft both while my hair was wet and when it dried. I did have extra volume in my hair but it wasn't so noticeable that my normally frizzy hair got huge volume. It was a nice controllable and manageable volume.  I would continue to use this product for the softness it brought to my hair.

I received free full size products from Glam Sense to facilitate this review.

Tresemmé Beauty-Full Volume Shampoo

I really enjoyed using this shampoo. I used it in conjunction with the pre-wash conditioner (step 1) which left my hair soft and smooth and ready for the shampoo.

I loved the smell of this shampoo. It has a fresh, clean scent that lingers in my hair. 

The shampoo has a nice consistency. It is not too thin or too thick. The shampoo lathers so well and makes me feel like I am getting a really good clean. The product rinses easily and completely from the hair after lathering. 

I tend to avoid volumizing products as I have frizzy hair, however, to my surprise this shampoo did not make my hair any frizzier. It did have more volume but it was easily manageable. I found that my hair felt so much lighter even when it was wet. Overall, I liked this shampoo and would continue to use it.

I received free full size products from Glam Sense to facilitate this review.

Tresemmé Beauty-Full Volume Pre-Wash Conditioner

Tresemmé has a new line of products called Beauty-Full Volume.  The system I tried had three components: Pre-Wash Conditioner, Shampoo and Volume & Softness Hair Maximizer.

The pre-wash conditioner is the first step followed by the shampoo and then the maximizer.

I had never tried a pre-wash conditioner before so this was a new experience for me. First of all, I loved the smell of this product! It was such a fresh and clean scent. I have below shoulder length hair and found that I needed about 4 pumps of the product to cover my hair.

The fact that this product comes in a pump bottle is a huge bonus as it makes it so much easier to dispense. After I had wet my hair with water I applied this product. I then waited one minute and rinsed the product out. I found that when this pre-wash conditioner was in my hair, my hair felt so soft and smooth. I was really impressed!

This product was the perfect consistency; it wasn't too thin and wasn't too thick. It was easy to apply to the hair and it rinsed out well. Overall, I would continue to use this product as part of the volume system.

I received free full size products from Glam Sense to facilitate this review.