Shampoo first, then condition—that’s the order we’ve all been taught to wash our hair. Guess what, it may not be best, particularly for fine or flat hair! Tresemme’s newest collection, Beauty-Full volume, is a reverse wash system. By conditioning first, hair will still be soft but not weighed down.

Long before there was an “official” product line, I was doing this (by “long before” I’m talking over a decade!). Washing in reverse keeps my long, stick-straight hair looking/feeling better than a traditional wash. Thanks to a BOGO coupon, I was able to try Tresemme’s version. Did I like it? Yes. Do I think it’s mandatory? No!

Over the years, I’ve done my own reverse wash with dozens of different products. Provided you’re using ones made specifically for volume, most any shampoo or conditioner will do.

For ladies with curly hair and/or dry hair, a traditional wash may work better for you. Finding the right hair care is an experiment, after all. But if you’re like me and don’t have any natural volume, the reverse wash can’t be beat.

Have you tried a reverse wash? If so, did you like it?

Ok, I feel like majorly celebrating: an Ulta beauty store just opened up 10 minutes away from my house! (If you’re a cosmetics junkie like me, you totally relate to the excitement.) Unlike Sephora or a department store, Ulta carries a mix of high and low end products. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I spent 2 extremely enjoyable hours browsing through beauty heaven, trying on tons of products, and chatting with some super sweet sales ladies.

Truthfully, I was tempted to buy 20 different things. I ended up leaving with only two. Since I wanted to update my look for fall and already had tons of lipstick/gloss, I focused on eye stuff. Here’s what I bought:

Mascara – Essence Lash Princess False Lash 

Because I wear contacts, have dry eyes, and allergies, many products bother me. This mascara looked and felt awesome—no smearing, no itching, and it lasted all day. While the effect wasn’t the same as fake lashes—truly, nothing is—the formula is very nice, especially if you’re using a lash curler beforehand. The brush is big, but not enormous, and not plastic (this is a personal pet peeve, I just hate those!). Since mascara should be tossed every 3 months, this is a good area to economize. The cost is only $4.99.

Shadow palette – L’Oréal Color Riche Nude 1

With 10 gorgeous shadows packed into a single kit, this palette is fabulous! Highly pigmented with good staying power, there’s no creasing or fading. Most days, I brush a light shade from lash to eye brow, and then use a second slightly darker one on the lid. The darkest shades are perfect for a smoky eye or can double as eyeliner. The cost is $19.99, making it only $1.99 per shade.

Of course, I used my Ulta rewards card so I could earn points, good towards future purchases. I don’t shop here a lot and haven’t earned anything big in the past, but I may shop more now that there’s a nearby location. Also, they give a free gift on your birthday; that alone is worth signing up.

Have any makeup brands/products you absolutely love? Please share!

This post contains affiliate links. I was compensated for this post.

I love when companies collaborate to create something special. Two of my favorites, Gymboree and Stitch Fix, have designed some stylish Back to School Bundles for boys and girls. Each of the pieces can be worn separately or combined for a complete outfit.

How cute is the Wonder Woman motif?  The Real Red Ponte pants can be paired with a cute tee shirt and denim jacket. Add some silver sparkly sneakers and silver bow headband to complete the look.

Another adorable look is the cat collection. Take a Cat Sweater Dress and pair it with Black Cat tights and flats. Earn extra style points for the Cat Bangles and Cat Ear Headband.

Many more options are available, perfect for your little one.

Check Out The Girls Back to School Bundles Created by Stitch Fix at Gymboree
Check Out The Boys Back to School Bundles Created by Stitch Fix at Gymboree

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Procter & Gamble.

On a recent trip to finish shopping for my college-bound nephew, we had a fabulous time at Bed Bath & Beyond. This mega store, famous for its high quality home goods, also caters to students’ needs. Their checklist is a handy and comprehensive resource to make a hectic and stressful experience a lot easier.

Not only did we find the requisite pillows, sheets, and blankets, but I was amazed to discover how many health and beauty items are available in the Harmon section, including tons of Procter & Gamble products like Tide, Secret, Crest, Gillette, Olay, Old Spice, Herbal Essences, Always, and Head & Shoulders.

Instead of having to shop multiple stores, we were able to find everything he needed like a shower caddy, Old Spice body wash, Crest toothpaste, and Tide pods. This saved a ton of time and eliminated a lot of running around. While the focus of this shop was to prepare him, I didn’t want to be left out of the fun, so I treated myself to some Cover Girl makeup and a Venus razor that lets me have a great LEGDAY (yes, that’s #CollegeSpeak).

It’s also very affordable when you take advantage of this in-store deal. From 8/1/16 to 8/31/16, purchase $40.00 of the participating P&G items and receive a $10.00 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card!

Join us on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 12:00 – 12:45 P.M. EST for the P&G Bed Bath & Beyond #CollegeSpeak Twitter Party. There will be tons of great prizes offered!

Can’t wait ’til the 17th? Share your own #CollegeSpeak term for the chance to win a $50 Bed Bath & Beyond gift card and the following P&G products:

•CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick & Intensify Me! Liquid Liner
•Gillette Venus Flex Swirl Razor
•Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner
•Old Spice Lasting Legend Dirt Destroyer Body Wash
•Secret Outlast Women’s Invisible Solid Deodorant
•Tide Pods (6 pack)
•Crest 3D White Arctic Fresh Toothpaste
•Oral B Toothbrush
 

Enter the Giveaway Here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Procter & Gamble.