Top Shelf Beauty | Haircare Products

1. Macadamia Deep Repair Hair Mask - This mask will change your life. I genuinely don't think my hair would be able to survive without it. It leaves my hair super moisturized without it being greasy or feeling like there's product build-up. I've gone months using this instead of regular conditioner and it's worth every penny.
2. It's A 10 Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin - This is another product that has changed my hair game. The keratin adds much needed moisture that isn't just rinsed out. This is a pricey item but I've noticed that it lasts me a really long time. It's also amazing because it doesn't make my hair feel sticky like other leave in products.
3. Batiste Dark & Deep Brown Dry Shampoo - If there is anything on this list you try, this should be it. Washing your hair every day is the worst thing you could do. It completely strips your hair of its natural oils and will totally dry it out. I try to wash my hair every 3 days, and this is the only reason I can do that. The dark tint makes it perfect for my brown hair and no matter how much I spray, it doesn't get gross.
4. Pureology Shampoo and Conditioner - I've been using Pureology Shampoo & Conditioner for years now. It's by far the best quality I've come across and I don't see myself using anything else. Again, they're pretty pricey, but because my hair is color treated I think it's worth it. My favorite line is their 'Precious Oil' collection.
5. Nume Argan Oil - Argan Oil is a pretty basic staple in most girls' haircare routine, but this one in particular is phenomenal. It seems like it's expensive, but it takes me  about a year to go through a bottle. I usually pick this up during the Cyber Monday sales because they're buy one get one free.
6. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil - If you don't have the budget to spend a lot on haircare, this is a great way to save money and still keep your hair healthy and looking fabulous. All I do is take about two spoonfuls of coconut oil and microwave it for about 5 to 10 seconds - just until it melts, and slather my hair with it. This works best when your hair is dry and you can leave it in for a few hours.
7. Cold Pressed Castor Oil - I've been getting tons of compliments recently on my hair being super long and this is my secret. Castor oil is a natural humectant, which is fancy speak for it brings circulation to the areas it touches. I mix this with the coconut oil and massage it into my scalp about once a week and leave it in for about 5 hours. The reason I mix it with coconut oil is because it's really thick and sticky and pulls at my hair if I thin it out with another oil. My hair has never grown so fast in my life.
8. BC Hair Therapy Repair Rescue Sealed Ends - Anyone who knows me knows I hate getting my hair cut. Every time I do I feel like they completely ignore what I want and cut way too much off. This has made it much easier to avoid the salon. I've noticed a huge difference in my split ends after using this for a few weeks. It also smells AMAZING which is a huge plus.
9. Pureology Colour Fanatic Heat Protectant - Anytime you heat style your hair you should be using a heat protectant. It's really important to put a barrier between your hair and the heat from whatever styling tool you're using. While I don't heat style my hair too often, every time I do, I use this. Without it, I don't think my hair would have been able to grow to the length it is.
10. Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask - This is another amazing hair mask. It's definitely a splurge, but it's a cult favorite for a reason. It gets the job done, and the Moroccan Oil scent makes me so nostalgic. This isn't a must, but if you're in the mood to pamper yourself, I highly recommend this. 
11. Loreal Elnett Stain Extra Hold Hair Spray - I'm not a big hairspray person, but when I do use hairspray, this is what I use. It's no joke, and definitely isn't for people who want to restyle their hair after they use this. It's like superglue for your hair, and I'm really into it.
12. Redken Curvaceous Ringlet Perfecting Lotion - My hair is naturally curly, and the longer it gets the looser my curls get. I love putting this in my hair and scrunching it while it air dries. It doesn't leave my hair crunchy at all the way a mousse would. It gives my hair really nice soft curls and makes getting ready in the morning so much easier.
13. Alterna Bamboo Plumping Strand Extreme - Even though I have a lot of hair, it's pretty fine and doesn't have a ton of volume. Whenever I'm going to curl or blow dry my hair I like to massage a small amount of this into my roots. It makes a HUGE difference and if you have flat hair this will be your new best friend. Again, like the other products I've mentioned it doesn't make my hair greasy or give me any sort of gross product build-up.
14. John Freda Frizz-Ease Extra Strength - Sometimes my hair gets frizzy, but I don't want to put a heavy oil in it, like the Nume Argan oil. This is the perfect alternative and it's super affordable. You can find this at your local drugstore and it eliminates frizz without weighing down your hair.

Top Shelf Beauty | Skincare Products

There are a lot of skincare products on the market, and it can be difficult deciding which ones to try and which ones to pass on. I've rounded up the products I believe are the best of the best to give you an opportunity to find some new gems. I've decided to make this a regular series on my blog, and I was thinking of doing haircare and makeup too - If there is something you'd like to see specifically let me know in the comments below! ❤

1. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ - Clinique was the first skincare line I ever used, and I haven't stopped. This moisturizer is my all time favorite for everyday use. I have really dry skin and it keeps my skin moisturized without feeling greasy or sticky. It doesn't have SPF, but I always follow my moisturizers with sunscreen. It's unscented which I appreciate and makeup sits really nicely on top of it. One of the big bottles lasts me about 3 months, which is pretty good considering I use it every day.
2. Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 - This is another Clinique product I've been using for years. Toner is a very important part of any skincare routine because it restores your skin to its proper pH. I've tried a few different toners, but I always come back to this one. Not only does it take off any residual makeup that may still be on my face after cleansing, it prevents me from breaking out without drying out my skin. 
3. Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream - This eye cream is absolutely amazing. It's extremely affordable for what it is and lasts forever. I've had one jar for almost 5 months before, it's insane. The salmon color counteracts the blue and green that is found in dark circles to help brighten the under-eye area. I use this in the morning, because I think it makes a big difference when paired with my concealer. I always notice a huge difference in my fine lines and wrinkles (not that I have a ton) when I use this regularly. You can definitely use this both day and night but I like a thicker eye cream for nights. 
4. Josie Maran 100 Percent Pure Argan Oil - Without this I don't think my skin would survive New England winters. My skin gets so dry that it literally starts to peel, its absolutely awful. After I cleanse and tone my skin at night, I use my moisturizer and then add 3-4 drops of this all over my face. I don't use this during the day because it does take a while to soak into the skin. After I use this I wake up with my skin feeling silky smooth - and it doesn't break me out which is really important.
5. The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask- I try to take really good care of my skin and do a face mask at least 2 times a week. That obviously doesn't always happen, but this mask is always in the mix. I love tea tree oil, and its great for treating and preventing breakouts. I apply the mask with a foundation brush that's sole purpose is skin care treatments, and it makes the entire process feel more luxurious. The tea tree oil has a gentle tingling affect, but it's nothing too intense. It doesn't dry out my skin, which is crucial. I would recommend this mask to people with all different skin types, even if you have sensitive skin I think you would like it. 
6. Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Eye Concentrate - I mentioned this product a while ago in a monthly favorites and it's seriously good stuff. It's absurdly expensive but if you're in a "treat yo self" mood, do it. I noticed a DRAMATIC difference in my under eye area and I think this would be perfect for women with more mature skin too. I've enjoyed every Fresh product I've tried and I thought this cream had an amazing scent to it too.
7. Philosophy Purity Made Simple Facial Cleanser - This is a cult favorite among the beauty community, and for good reason. It's the best cleanser I've ever used, and I've used a ton. I love Philosophy and this product is my favorite of theirs. It cuts through makeup, keeps my skin moisturized and doesn't leave a greasy film on my skin - everything I look for in a cleanser. Even though I have dry skin, I know people with oily skin who love it just the same. If there is only one thing you try from this list, this should be it.
8. GlamGlow Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment - Again, incase you missed it the ten other times I've mentioned it, I have dry skin :) While I love a good cleansing mask, sometimes I need something to strictly moisturize my skin. This bad boy is pricey, but totally worth the money. First, it smells like coconut heaven, it's absolutely amazing, and it does an amazing job at hydrating my skin. You can either leave it on for 10-15 minutes or over night (which is what I usually do). You will notice an insane difference in your skin - I will say thank you in advance.
9. Shea Moisture Shea Butter Baby Oil - I'm the type of person who doesn't discriminate when it comes to skin care - it doesn't matter who a product is marketed towards, babies or grandmas, if it works, I want to use it. That's the case with this product. I have unusually sensitive skin on my legs, and when I shave I often times get a really bad rash and ingrown hairs. Ever since I've started using this on my legs right after I shave, my skin has felt so much better. It soothes and moisturizes while I'm in the shower, so that by the time I get out, half of the work is done.
10. Hempz Herbal Body Butter  - I love body butter, and I rarely use anything else, regardless of season. While I'm a big fan of The Body Shop body butters, the Hempz one is a lot better. It's significantly more moisturizing, and keeps my skin feeling softer longer. I've tried both the original and pomegranate scents, and prefer the original. This is also great for specific dry areas like elbows and knees.
11. Mario Badescu Drying Lotion - This small bottle packs a huge punch. I use this spot treatment at night whenever I have any blemishes or if I feel one coming on. You take a Q-tip and dip it into the bottle, into the pink paste and apply it to the areas that need it. Anytime I've had a breakout and used this I've noticed a dramatic difference the next morning. It does exactly what it says; drys out breakouts. It's the best acne treatment I've found and is super affordable.
12. European Wax Center Ingrown Hair Serum - No matter what I do I always seem to struggle with ingrown hairs, especially on my legs. This serum is amazing at combating the irritation and redness that comes with ingrown hairs. It gently exfoliates and removes dead skin to help ingrown hairs grow outwards. I use this twice a day when I feel like my they're really bad and it's totally worth the money.
13. European Wax center Slow IT Body Lotion - This is another product that I love for ingrowns. I only use this on my legs and again, it helps soothe the irritation from shaving. It contains aloe and apple extract which keep my legs feeling smooth and soft all day long. This isn't a product I'd use all over my body, because I do prefer a very thick body butter for all over, but you definitely could if that was something you wanted to do.
14. Frank Coffee Body Scrub - This is another product that seems to be a cult favorite in the beauty community. I love the fact that it's made with coffee because I am obsessed with coffee (I drink way more than I should). On their website and social media sites, the company shows incredible results customers have had while using the scrub - on things such as eczema and stretch marks. Unfortunately, I don't use it regularly enough for there to be any differences in anything other than my skin feeling softer. While it is pretty messy, it's worth the extra clean up. It makes my skin feel super hydrated and smooth and I highly recommend it.
15. Clarisonic Mia 2 - I've mentioned this product in a previous favorites post and my love for it hasn't changed. It's by far the best beauty tool for exfoliating the skin, and while it is pricey, skin is something to invest in. The brush heads are customizable and they have a wide range to suit your individual skincare needs. I personally use the deep poor cleansing brush, and I've never had any issues with it. Whenever I use this regularly (I only use it at night) I notice my skin is brighter and softer.
16. The Body Shop Chamomile Cleansing Oil - Cleansing oils have been huge recently and this is by far one of the best. The chamomile is soothing and because it's an oil it really breaks apart your makeup, including mascara. Whenever I've been wearing heavy eye makeup I have used an eye makeup remover as well, and followed with this. This manages to get rid of the product on my face without drying it out. Two thumbs up from me.