A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care - Beauty Blog of Skin Care, Spa, Cosmetics and Beauty Reviews | A Girl's Gotta Spa! (sm) Top beauty blog, spa, hair care, makeup, beauty trends, skin care

Suave Moroccan Argan Styling Oil Review

Moroccan Oil is all the rage for the benefits of argan oil on both skin and hair. Suave's Moroccan Infusion line of hair care products aim to deliver incredible shine, softness and conditioning to your hair. I had the opportunity to try the new Moroccan Argan Styling Oil from Read more

EnvyDerm Lip Volumizing and Conditioning Plumper

As I get older I notice the collagen making a prompt exit from my lips leaving them looking lifeless and thin. The best way to combat thinning lips (or if you have thin lips to begin with) is to keep them hydrated and to use a lip plumper. When Read more

No3 Berry Face Oil Review

Can I use face oil if I have combination skin? Of course you can, simply avoid pore-clogging oils and use only the ones intended to moisturize your face. L.A. Christine's No3 Berry Face Oil is comprised of Lingonberry, raspberry and acai berry, yet smells of an herbally sweet concoction. High Read more

Need for Speed: New Quick Drying Nail Polishes

Today's modern polishes promise to dry faster than a speeding bullet, but which ones actually save the day? Top manicurists have known about pro top coats for years - those specially formulated clear coats that left lacquer intact for an extended wear manicure. Compatible with nearly every brand, topcoats like Read more

Verb Detangle+Defrizz Conditioning Leave-In Mist Review

To be completely up front about things, I hate washing my hair because it's a nightmare to comb afterwards.  It’s much like that of a 6 year old little girl. It tangles like nobody’s business and is a nightmare to comb after washing. It’s so bad that my hairdresser Read more

Jordan Essentials Spa Polish and Facial Brush

The Body & Face Spa Polish is one of my favorite products from Jordan Essentials. The pulverized cosmetic grade walnut shells will remove surface skin cells which makes your face products absorb easier, makeup will go on smoother and fine lines will appear softer. The Micro JoJoba Beads bring instant moisture to your freshly exfoliated skin. The Body and Face Spa Polish comes in our Orchard Fresh scent, which is a marine water fragrance. I primarily use it as part of my face routine, however, it is all great as an all over body exfoliator.

Used on your face in conjunction with our Facial Brush, you’ll love the feeling the soft brissels make as it gently polishes your skin. The Facial Brush comes as part of any of the Face Care Collection Kits.

Available only through Jordan Essentials. My personal rep. site: www.BigLakeSpa.com

Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 3 Comments

Aussie to the rescue!

A few days ago I had a hair emergency of sorts. The night before, my youngest son had a bad dream and wanted to sleep in our bed. He also asked for some milk in his “spill proof” sippy cup. If you are a mom, you know that spill proof cups are not necessarily spill proof.

So we’ll just say that milk and ovaltine are not good for your hair.

I wake up the next morning to extremely dried out hair that was sticky and I will not admit–chocolate tasting. When I go to wash it out with my favorite hair staples, I find that my older boys had left the shampoo opened and laying on the shower floor and it was now empty. So I rummage through old Shampoo bottles so that I can at least wash this grossness out of my hair. Bad idea. I’m not sure if my hair was worse with milk and ovaltine or with the dollar store shampoo. My hair felt like straw and frizzed out and up like that of Pippy Longstockings ponytails.

Needless to say I needed help quick! Remembering a review by Elke on Aussie hair products, I decided I would give them a try.

I picked up Aussie’s Shampoo Mega for Normal Hair, Moist for Dry Damaged Hair, Dual Personality Mousse (leave in conditioner and styling product) and Dual Personality Hair Spray (Hi Shine + Hi Hold).


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The shampoo and conditioner had a lovely fruity scent. It’s a combination of guava, apricot, apple and sage. Yummy. Upon using them, I immediately felt my straw-hair soften and I was now able to move my fingers through it. Frizzy Pippy hair was now at bay.

Once out of the shower, I questioned if using the Dual Personality leave in conditioner and mousse would be too much on my hair. I wasn’t sure if so much conditioner would weigh my hair down or make it greasy.

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I took a chance and applied it anyway. As I blew out my hair using my Conair Round Brush, I immediately noticed how soft and silky smooth my hair was looking. The leave in conditioner didn’t leave my hair too heavy or greasy at all. In fact, I think it was just what this milk & ovaltine damaged hair needed!

I couldn’t even get over how much bounce my hair had, how silky it felt, how easily my fingers could comb through my hair and the shine I was seeing. I then sprayed it with the Dual Personality Hair Spray to hold my lovely locks in place and Voila!–I had an Aussie makeover.

I’m totally thrilled. Now my child and his spill proof cup can see another day. ;)

Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 8 Comments

Lip Shine exceeds expectations!

I received e.l.f.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine box set on Friday. I was so excited to give it a try, that I ripped open the package right there at the mailbox as if I was holding the candy bar with the Golden Ticket…much to the dismay of those also picking up their mail.

Sometimes the colors you see online are not exactly what they look like once you receive your product, however, e.l.f.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine colors looked exactly how they were presented online; I was thrilled. The set of 5 comes with one clear gloss that contains some shimmer, it’s apty named “Angel.” Then there are 4 variations of pink and mauve; Candlelight, Malt Shake, Pink Kiss and Watermelon. I honestly can’t decide which color is my favorite, as they all look outstanding on me.

And talk about shine? You can probably catch the glare of my shiny lips all the way over in California. I love it! What I really like about the shine, is that your attention is immediately draw to my beautifully colored glossy lips and away from the other flaws on my face. How can you not love that?

The color is superb, as well. Not only do the colors looks fantastic, but they wear easy and don’t appear to fade too easy. I am used to wearing thinner glosses, and e.l.f.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine is a little thicker than expected, however, I quickly got over that when I saw how long the Lip Shine lasted on my lips. I applied it the other night before going out to dinner and it stayed on through my drink, salad, appetizer, dinner and a few kisses on my boys. While, it was lighter in color and shine, it was still noticable on my lips and I was impressed with it’s durability.

E.l.f.’s Super Glossy Lip Shine also has an SPF of 15, so I am loving that I am protecting my lips from the sun while looking beautiful at the same time. The Lip Shine also comes in a grape vanilla flavor and scent. YUM!

For $5, I would have to say that this Lip Shine far exceeded my expectations! Love it! LOVE it!

Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 4 Comments

Be a Bombshell from Head to Toe! (by Elizabeth Yap-Chung)

Start by smoothing your movie-star locks with Kiehl’s Silk Groom Serum – we swear by this fabulous stuff to tame the frizz and keep your ‘do in check without weighing it down. Great for straight hair and curly hair, especially now that the weather is starting to heat up.

Next, dust your shoulders with some shimmery, lickable Urban Decay flavoured powders in Cocao or Red Hot for some old-fashioned Hollywood glamour. No one will be able to resist these yummy powders – they give just a subtle shimmer but smell and taste divine! And they come with the cutest leopard puff.

Onto the face… pop your peepers with Bobbi Brown’s Shadow Basics. This eye shadow palette is a must-have staple – the colours suit everyone, glide on so smoothly and really last.

Then pucker-up with Fusion Beauty’s Lip Fusion Colour. This colored gloss will plump up your pout and add a little colour too! We love this plumper because it works without the sting of some other plumpers and the colours are really pretty by themselves or over your favourite lipstick. It also has the most irresistible orange scent.

Don’t forget to finish your head to toe look with, well, your toes! Try an Armani polish for a great pedicure. And when you’re on your way out to paint the town red, grab your Too Faced Quickie Chronicle! These adorable beauty ‘books’ each have three eye shadows, four lip glosses, blush and a make-up brush – everything you need to be gorgeous until your get back home and start all over again!

You can find all of these great products at www.BombshellBargains.com

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Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 3 Comments

Benefit; get some free!

Benefit has some great ways to save until June 30th! I love free, especially when I plan to make a purchase anyway!

Brushes: Buy two brushes and get free shipping (code: NEWBRUSHES)


Free Dandelion and Georgia Pallettes when you make a purchase of $100 or more (code: AFFCU100):


Free shipping on US orders over $45 (code: HFS45) and international orders over $80 (code: HFS80):


Posted on by Shannon Nelson in beauty 3 Comments