So I brought this small vial home and did nothing with it for months.  But lately my hair’s been really just… nasty.  I thought a cut would cure it but after a recent cut and color, I still wasn’t loving it.

I decided to try the Moroccan Oil and I am now completely obsessed with it.  It is doing WONDERS for my hair.  This vial pictured is the one I have.  I only put a small drop of it in my hair when it’s wet after I’m out of the shower – I brush it through and I swear it’s like some sort of magic potion, people.  My hair is smooth, silky and full of body.

And my biggest concern?  That it would be oily and nasty?  Totally unfounded.  RUN to your hairdresser and get yourself some Moroccan Oil – or order it online.  You can get the 3.4 oz bottle of Moroccan Oil (this is the one I have, it lasts as you only need a small drop!) from Beauty Collection for $16.

So on a recent trip to Rite Aid, a big display of various Sally Hansen Salon Effect prints caught my eye. I decided to pick up a kit and test it out. I selected Sally Hansen’s Salon Effects in Sweet Tart-an for $9.99 (Target apparently has them cheaper and for sale for $8.54)

Here’s what the box looks like:

Here’s what comes inside of the box.  16 strips, a cuticle stick and a mini nailfile:

Here are the nail strips:

The strips are obviously really long, I had to file this down:

Here was the end result.  I’m a little bit skeptical it’ll last 10 days as you can already see that it’s a little bit tired around the edges of my nails.  But to be truthful, that could have been me – I had noisy kids and I was trying to do it in a hurry.  (Which, by the way, the entire process took longer than I thought.  It was about 20 minutes for me to get all of these strips onto my nails.)

(

Overall, for $10 I’d do it again if I have a fun event and wanted to try one of the blingy-looking strips for a little pizzazz.  (See the entire line of Salon Effects Nail Polish Strips on the Sally Hansen website)

Find them at Target, Rite Aid, Amazon or any local store that carries nail polish.  And if you get them, let me know what you think!

Orange Imitation Leather Bag, H&M – $24.95

Urban Expressions Hobo at Baghaus.com, on sale for $53.55, use coupon code 15off to receive 15% off your order

Melie Blanco Remy on Piperlime for $48.99

Old Navy Women’s Faux-Leather Belt Purse, normally $26.74, on sale for $8.97

BCBGeneration Handbag, on sale for $56.99 then use coupon code SUPER for an additional 15% off

Tuck this all natural make-up stick into your purse when you’re on the go and you can touch up your cheeks or lips.  Get it at Sephora for $22.

Not sure what you need skincare wise, they have a Skincare Recommender on their website where you can answer questions to find out what products might be best for you!  I also love the Virtual Makeover which is a little addicting.  Pick a model’s face whose skin is similar to yours and you can play around with the different products online to see how they will look on you – check it out, it’s actually kind of fun!

My favorite product thus far has been the Artistry Creme LuXury. Here’s a bit of info about it: Creme LuXury gives women the power of CellEffect, re-energizing skin for optimum performance and a revitalized appearance. Look forward to firmer, softer, smoother and more radiant skin that acts up to 15 years younger.

Giveaway: One Lucky Mommies with Style Reader will win The Amway Artistry Skincare Package, worth more than $680. It includes the following products:

o Polishing Scrub

o Intensive Skincare Renewing Peel

o  Microdermabrasion System

o Skin Refinishing Lotion

o  MicroExfoliation Cloth

Time Defiance System:

o  Cleansing Treatment

o  Conditioning Toner

o  Night Recovery Cream

o  Day Protect Cream

o  Creme LuXury

To Enter:

Comment to enter.

For additional entries, tweet about this giveaway.  Please @WhitneyMWS and follow me so I know you have tweeted, and use #amwayartistry in your tweet.

The affordable pick:
love & beauty Imperial Blue from Forever21.com for $2.80

The Girls Night Out pick:
OPI’s Miss Universe, $7.65 at BeautyStoreDepot.com

The goes with anything pick:
Love this stunning color from essie for the fall, it’s called very structured by essie & you can get it on Amazon for $4.20 with $2 shipping.  From the essie Fall 2011 collection.

You can’t go wrong with red pick:
China Glaze, Salsa – $6.50 on Drugstore.com

The neutral pick:
Also from essie’s Fall 2011 collection, Glamour Purse.  $4.20 plus $2 shipping on Amazon.com.

Fashion Friday is the most fashionable day of the week! Thanks for stopping by: link up your fashion posts and join in the fun! Fashion Friday Sponsorships are available – contact us for more information!

So I was psyched to see this deal on Drugstore.com.  Spend $75 and you can receive a free pack of Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes!  Plus there’s free shipping on orders over $25.  Stock up on your drugstore needs and get this product for free – you’ll love it.

Love this Sheer Cover Make-Up Kit that’s currently on sale 50% off.  Get it for $29.95 with free shipping.  There’s pretty much one of everything in here including foundation, eyeshadow, lip gloss and more.

I’m a big fan of mineral makeup – I don’t like a lot of cream based makeups and I always think mineral makeup gives such an even look.  This is a great starter kit or gift!

The first thing you’ll notice is Beauitsol self-tanner smells great. Not just ok. Not just cloaked with a stronger fragrance to cover the self-tanner smell. Granted smell is a very person thing, but this stuff actually smells really good. Good enough for my husband to comment that I smelled nice when I got into bed wearing the stuff.  It’s not sweet, not flowery. More like a mild musky smell. (Musky in a good, perfume-language kind of way, not B.O.)

Beautisol is also really easy to apply. The lotion-like formula didn’t seem that different from others I’ve tried, but it definitely rubbed in easier and didn’t leave any streaks.

Finally, and of course most importantly, the color is fabulous. Natural. Realistic. Golden without an orange hue. Check out their before and after photos. I tried the Dark Tan which made me look golden. Not like I’d been whisked away to the Bahamas for the weekend because seriously, who are we kidding.  But Beautisol also comes in Medium Tan which fair-skinned folks might like better.

Beautisol also makes self-tanners specially geared for the face. They offer formulas for both oily/problematic skin as well as dry/normal skin.

Want more info? Visit www.beautisol.com. The site has a ton of information, handy how-to videos, tips and tricks and product ingredients.

Summer may be over, but your summer tan doesn’t have to be.

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Note: Beautisol sent a product sample to facilitate this review.

Kate Bayless is a writer, editor and mom of three boys under 5. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Fit Pregnancy, iVillage, Momtrends and other publications. Visit her at www.katebayless.com or @katebayless.

It’s never too late to start your holiday shopping and there’s some great stocking stuffers to be found here!