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Amanda Huggins - A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care

Bio-Oil Skincare Review

Let’s face it, winter skin is not the prettiest skin – the harsh temperatures and whipping winds call for some serious damage-control moisturizers.

My naturally dry skin craves intense moisture during the colder months, and I often bounce between beauty products until I find something that temporarily satiates me.  After hearing from my mom and a few friends how happy they were with Bio-Oil products, I decided to give it a try.

Application and usage is pretty cut-and-dry: massage the oil directly to your skin about twice a day for a minimum of three months. I haven’t hit the 3-month mark yet myself, but I have definitely started seeing a change in my skin: my legs are smoother, and the winter itch has all but disappeared. I’m also loving the light cinnamon-y scent…it makes application a totally enjoyable experience.  Read more

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, skin care 1 Comment

The Perfect Holiday Scent: Demeter Fragrances

With the holidays wrapping up in just a few days, I’ve found myself scrambling to cram in as much Christmas cheer as possible, whether it’s blasting Santa, Baby or wrapping up gifts for those I didn’t get to see over the holidays. And now to my complete and utter delight, I can work a little Christmas into my beauty regimen, too.

Demeter  has always been one of my go-to sites to scout scents because of their amazing selection of one-note fragrances…and I was psyched to discover they have 2 scents that capture the absolute essence of Christmas – Egg Nog and Christmas Tree.

Egg Nog is a deliciously sweet scent that I now habitually spray at my desk for an instant pick-me-up and a smile. Its creamy, vanilla-nutmeg aroma  will make you immediately want to curl up in your softest sweater with a hot cup of cocoa.

Christmas Tree leaves nothing to the imagination. One spritz of this transported me to Christmas Tree hunting with my dad as a child – the fresh scent of fir is inarguably delicious. Because the scent is quite strong, it’s not something I prefer to wear as a personal fragrance, but I’ve been spritzing it all over my apartment  throughout December. It’s almost as good as a real tree!  Read more

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, holiday, perfume Leave a comment

Yes To Blueberries Healthy Hair Repair Review

I’ve been seeing Yes To Carrots products in my local drugstore for years. It was always one of those products I vowed to try, but truthfully, I just never got around to doing so.

To my surprise, the collection had expanded to include Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Blueberries, so I figured it was high time I hopped on the “Yes” train and found out what all these fruits and veggies were really about.

I tested out Yes To Blueberries Healthy Hair Repair Regimen, a gentle solution for those who regularly abuse their hair with heat styling (umm…guilty). Blueberries have been touted as an incredible antioxidant, and both the Shampoo and Conditioner products lived up to the expectations.  Read more

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, Hair Care 2 Comments

TIGI Decadent Lipstick in Splendor: The Perfect Fall Shade

When the seasons start to change, I always find myself in a bit of a makeup rut – specifically when it comes to lip color. While it’s no secret that I’m a die-hard red lipstick fanatic, I like to go with something a bit lighter for early fall.

I’m not usually one for shimmery lipsticks, but Tigi’s Decadent Lipstick in Splendor totally threw me for a loop.  An earthy, reddish-gold hue, it’s slightly darker than my normal color choice… but I am totally loving it.  Decadent, indeed!

For a shade with significant shimmer, the color applied smoothly and lasted through a grande cup of coffee. As always, I still recommend a thorough lip exfoliation prior to application – all shimmery shades tend to get a bit clumpy towards the end of the day, and this one is no exception.   Read more

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, lipstick, Makeup Leave a comment

Essence Quattro Eyeshadow Palette Review

Few things in this world are as dear to me as a good eyeshadow palette. Seriously.  With the right four colors, you can create almost any look in under five minutes, dialing up or down the drama as needed with only a few swipes of shadow.

Needless to say, I’m super excited to add Essence Quattro Eyeshadow in Over the Taupe to my  makeup collection. Note only is the color palette exactly what I needed for fall, the textures ranged from matte to a light shimmer  - an ideal mix for totally customized look.

I decided to test out a simply smoky eye. The colors blend easily, and the four complimentary shades make the process absolutely flawless!  I’ll walk you through my process:  Read more

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, eye shadow, Makeup Leave a comment

Sock Bun Tutorial

Ah, the sock bun. For working women everywhere, this is the hairstyle we’ve all been waiting for: a sleek updo that’s perfect for the office and can be done in under five minutes.

Though you can create this hairstyle easily with one of your own socks (simply cut off the toe portion and roll), I now create my buns with a hair donut instead. I found that the hair donut creates a much more sleek, perfected look – and  I didn’t have to sacrifice any more socks in the process.  You can get a hair donut at most beauty supply stores, and your local H&M usually has them for under $4.00.

You’ll need: One hair elastic, a round brush, 1 sock or hair donut, bobby pins, hairspray (optional).

Read more

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, Hair Care Leave a comment

Review: Yves Rocher Anti-Aging Skin Care and Plant-sonality Quiz

If you’re in the market to try a botanical beauty brand, Yves Rocher should be your starting point. I recently tested out a few products from them – my two absolute favorite products were the 24 Hour Rich Hydrating Cream and the 24 Hour Antioxidant Skin Serum.

The hydrating cream was a rich, replenishing facial lotion perfect for dry skin. I applied the smallest amount nightly – a little goes a long way – and followed up with the antioxidant skin serum.  Read more

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in anti-aging, beauty, skin care Leave a comment

Lisa Hoffman Tuscan Fig Eau de Parfum Review

I’m not necessarily one for a “signature” scent. There are certain notes I look for in fragrances, but I’m not married to any bottle or brand…mostly because I wouldn’t want to miss out on  super-decadent fragrances like Lisa Hoffman’s Tuscan Fig, that might otherwise go under the radar.

The eau de parfum is a decadent combination of vanilla, coconut wood, gardenia, and honeysuckle.  Though rather sweet, I found Tuscan Fig is a delicious, long-lasting fragrance that immediately put me in a happy place. For me, warm vanillas and woody notes have something very fall about them: one sniff has me dreaming of curling up next to a fire with warm apple cider and a book. I have a very strong feeling this scent will transition into autumn nicely.   Read more

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, perfume Leave a comment

Review: Naturopathica Sicilian Bergamot Products

People throw around words like “natural” and “organic” a lot – how sure are you that your products are truly what they claim to be?

Recently, I started using Naturopathica skin care products. A brand based on holistic health, Naturopathica is a certified natural and organic skin care line, created with only the best natural ingredients.  Just as importantly, the ingredients aren’t just natural – they provide results. At the end of the day, isn’t that what everyone wants? An all-natural lotion is worthless if it doesn’t moisturize.

I tested out two products: the Sicilian Bergamot Body Lotion and Shower Gel. Both the lotion and shower gel are rather lightweight – deceivingly so. The gel worked into a light, refreshing lather and the airy lotion that followed sealed in my skin’s moisture.  The combination certainly did the trick after a few days of usage. I could probably reduce my lotioning  (yes, I just made that a verb) to only once a day now, but the scent keeps me coming back for more.  Read more

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in bath and body, beauty, skin care Leave a comment

Review: Nails, Inc. Neon and Nude Collection

I’m always on the hunt for new nail polish options, and though I’ve become a self-proclaimed slave to Essie as of late, I’ll still venture outside once in a while to try something new.

U.K.-based Nails, Inc. is a polish legacy, so I was immediately game to test out their products. Their Neon and Nude collection did not disappoint – the color selection was so on-trend and perfect for mixing and matching.

Part of the fun is what the varnish is actually called, too… with names like Notting Hill Gate and Portobello (my absolute favorite London marketplace), my inner travel bug was just dying with excitement.  Read more

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Amanda Huggins in beauty, Nail Polish 1 Comment
A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care > Articles by: Amanda Huggins