Ivory 2N1 Review and Giveaway

This Ivory 2N1 product is a body wash and shampoo. 

Claim:

• Dual action formula cleans head to toe, while leaving hair conditioned
• Free of dyes and heavy perfumes
• Simplifies the showering experience for families everywhere
• Cleanses hair down to its roots
• Saves shower space with one bottle
• Made in the USA

Ingredients:

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Sodium Citrate, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone

My family DID NOT use it as a shampoo only because we don't use sulfate shampoo. But I will say that I loved this for my children because they both have Eczema and this did not irritate their skin.
Their skin was soft and moisturized.  

The bottle was HUGE so it lasted a long time considering they use TONS of body wash. They are 5 & 7 after all.  I will definitely buy this again. 

I love that it is reasonably priced as well.  I also loved receiving the coupons, since as you know I am a coupon fiend.  I will be putting these q's to use ASAP.

Check out Ivory on FACEBOOK at  https://www.facebook.com/Ivory

Giveaway time

I am going to giveaway 2 bottles of the body wash. Two winners will win a body wash by completing the following.
1. Follow Crystals Curls on Facebook
2. Leave a blog post below

It's just that simple.  Please share this giveaway with your friends as well.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 "I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

Note: The giveaway items were NOT provided by Influenster.  I purchased them myself.

Be Blessed.

Pantene Truly Natural Review

The new Pantene Pro-V Truly Relaxed and Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural collections feature ingredients specially chosen for your unique hair needs. Whether you rock a relaxed 'do or a natural look, you can plan on a great hair day. Thanks to Pantene for sponsoring this post!

Look at the wonderful goodies that I received from Pantene.  

I received the following products from the Pantene Truly Natural Hair line:

Clarifying Shampoo
Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner
Deep Conditioner
Defining Curls Styling Custard
Shine Serum with Argan Oil

I was so excited to try this line after hearing so many good things, especially about the Co-Wash.

Let's start by introducing the products and their ingredients. 

Clarifying Shampoo
Claim: Gently cleanses to remove build-up on natural hair.  Paraben and dye free.
Ingredients: Water, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Xylenesulfonate, Fragrance, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Tetrasodium EDTA, Polyquaternium-6, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinon
Pros: Price $4.99
Cons:Contains sulfates.  I don't use sulfates in my hair. But this will be good to have around when I need a good clarifying to remove lots of buildup.

Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner
Claim:Instantly moisturizes without stripping natural hair
Ingredients: Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glutamic Acid, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, EDTA, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.
Pros: Price, The alcohols in this product are 'good' alcohols. Price $4.99
Cons: Contains Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone which is not water soluble.

Deep Conditioner
Claim: Helps restore moisture while detangling natural hair
Ingredients: Water, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone
Pros: The alcohols in this product are 'good' alcohols
Cons: Again, silicones

Defining Curls Styling Custard
Claim: Defines natural curls and adds shine
Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Sorbitol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Va/Crotonates Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil.
Pros: Contains castor oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil. Very fragrant.
Cons: The good ingredients (jojoba and coconut oil) are the last ingredients and silicones

Let's get down to business.

I normally don't use silicones or sulfates in my hair since I started the curly girl method in July of 2012.  However, prior to starting the method, I didn't have any problems with my hair as a result of using silicones and sulfates which were in pretty much every product I had ever used.  I never paid attention to product labels.  Like I mentioned above, I was so excited to try the products due to the positive reviews I saw on Facebook and Instagram.  

I washed my hair with the Co-wash, applied the deep conditioner, then used the styling custard. 

(I did not use the shampoo and the serum)

I did not apply a leave in because I wanted to see how the custard worked on its own.  I didn't want the possibility that it wouldn't mix well with other products and have that taint my view of the product. 

Here are some pics of my hair

Cleansed with co wash and deep conditioner has been applied to each section

 Look at my curls once the custard was applied

Applying the custard in sections

Gave myself a pony since it is hot here in South Texas 

 Curls, Curls, Curls, Curls. Curls I do adore!!!

Smooth and shiny 

My thoughts

The co-wash was AMAZING. It had tons of slip.  Detangling took less than half the time it normally does.  Plus there was hardly any hair in the comb.  It smelled great, too!!!

The deep conditioner also smelled great and had ls of slip. I let it sit overnight.  I rinsed and then applied the custard to soaking wet hair.  The custard gave shine and hold and it smelled great as well.  

I would be SO IN LOVE with this product if it were not for two things:  SILICONES AND SULFATES.  I didn't use the clarifying shampoo because I didn't need clarifying at the time and because I use sulfate free shampoos.  The co-wash was AMAZING and I wish it had no silicones because it would be my go to. It cleaned my hair great. I had tons of gel in my hair when I used the co-wash. It cleaned my hair without stripping.  The deep conditioner shares the same sentiments as the co-wash. The smell was great and I would also make it a go to if it weren't for the silicones.

The custard was similar to most custards I have used, but with less mess. It was a thicker consistency and it gave my hair lots of shine and it defined my curls. So basically it did what it said. I love a product that can back up its promises.   

I think that anyone who is NOT following the Curly Girl method will DEFINITELY love this line of hair care products. I would love to make the suggestion to Pantene that they also make a silicone and sulfate free version and I would surely be one of the first in line to buy!!!!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

New Video!!! Revlon Lip Butter Review

Check out my new video on the Revlon Lip Butters

Let me know what you think about the Lip Butters

This week CVS savings

Hey Bellas,
This week at CVS (yesterday and today) I purchased the following:
Transaction #1
(6) Wisk on sale for $4.99 each. (Spend $30 get $10 ECB back)
Total $29.94
Coupons I used:
$12 ECB
(1) $1 wisk
I paid $16.94 out of pocket and I got back $10 ECB

Transaction #2
(3) Irish Spring Body washes for Tino on sale 2/$7.   (Buy 2 get $3 ECB back)
Total $10.50
Coupons I used:
$2 off body wash purchase over $8 from CVS coupon machine
(3) $1 off Irish Spring Body Wash
$5 ECB
I paid $.50 out of pocket and got back $3ECB

Transaction #3
(2) Colgate Mouthwash on sale $2.99 each (Buy one get $1ECB back)
Total $5.98
Coupons I used:
(2) $1 off Colgate Mouthwash
$3ECB from transaction 2
I paid $.98 out of pocket and got back $2 ECB

Transaction #4
(6) Skippy PB on sale 2/$5 (spend $15 get $5 ECB back)
(1) Velveeta shells and cheese on sale $2
(1) Kraft Easy Mac 6 pack on sale $2
Total $18.50
Coupons I used:
$2 ECB from transaction 3
$5 ECB
I paid $11.50 out of pocket  and got back $5ECB

Transaction #5
(1) Velveeta shells and cheese on sale $2
(2) Velveeta skillet meals on sale $2
(4) boxes capri suns on sale $2.50 each
(all above items qualified for spend $15 get $5ECB back
Total $16
Coupons I used:
$10 ECB ($5 from transaction 4)
I paid $6 our of pocket and got $5 back

Total retail for all items above $140.63
Total sales prices $81.42
I paid $36.42
Total items 26
Equals  $1.40 per item.
I saved $45 off of the sales prices and $104.21 off of the retail prices.

My savings could have been greater if I had coupons for the Velveetas, the Kraft, the peanut butter and the Capri Suns, but I didn't have Q's for those items. I still faired pretty well. I wanted to get the Capri Suns since I don't normally see a coupon for those and its getting hot and the girls love those.

I hope you all saved some money this week.  Take care &

Be Blessed!!!

Deva Cut & Products

On Saturday I got a Devacut. I had to drive pretty far to get it. I was really pleased with my results.  The stylist that did my cut  GAVE me the DevaCurl products that she used in my hair

Well today, I needed to go in to the office and I decided to do a wash n go.  So I rinsed my hair and used the One Condition and worked it through 4 sections of my hair.  I loved the thick creamy consistency and the smell.  After detangling, I rinsed my hair leaving a small amount of conditioner in.  I used my EcoStyler Argan Oil gel as my styler.

Here are some pics of my curls today.

Needless to say I am really happy.  I recommend this conditioner highly. I can't wait to try the gel and the no poo.  

The Importance of Voting

*This post is NOT about hair*

I wrote the first part of this post right after the election, but never posted it.  I decided to post it after having a conversation with my brother in law a few days ago which I will get to later in the post. 

In November, I met a lady at the hair salon and she started talking to me about the presidential election.  She rambled on about how even the poorest of White people vote Republican because they are taught that Democrats "help niggers".  (I am quoting what she said). I told her that I am not concerned about why people vote how they vote and that I could only do the best I could do for my family and I am not concerned about people who have racist attitudes. 

She then went on to tell me that she and her husband did not vote in the election.  She asked me if I wanted to know why she didn't vote and I responded, "No." Apparently she didn't hear me because she proceeded to tell me anyway.  She told me that she didn't support President Obama's support of gay marriage and his stand on abortion.  I told the woman that I don't agree with all of the President's policies but that was no reason for me to not vote.  I chose to vote for the lesser of two evils.  

The conversation took a turn for the worse because I told her that I am a Christian but I cannot force people to believe as I believe. I told her that the President is  President of the ENTIRE USA and not just of those who share the same views as he.  I told her that everyone in the country is not a Christian and therefore the President would have some views and ideologies that not everyone will agree with. 

I continued to tell her that I didn't think a male should enact laws telling a woman what to do with her body.  She began screaming at me that I support abortion.  I was PISSED.  I told her that I believe abortion is wrong but that I believe it is a woman's decision regarding what she does with her body.  This woman called me everything but a child of God.  My question to her was, "Where in the Bible does it state that God forces his will on us?"  It doesn't.  I believe we ALL stand and account for our sins before GOD.  Every choice we make has consequences and we have to deal with those consequences.  

The part that bugs me about these people who use this abortion argument is that they scream, "It is murder."  They say this as if there is a degree to sin.  While I do believe and wholeheartedly acknowledge that abortion is murder, there were 9 other commandments and NO WHERE in there did God tell Moses, "Moses, this commandment carries more weight than the next one."  If God did tell Moses that, I didn't see it in the Bible. 

This woman began screaming that she read the Bible from cover to cover, to which I replied, "Congratulations." 

I have heard these arguments throughout the election and it perturbs me.  I don't know why it is such an issue.  My thought is if you are against abortion, then don't have one. If a woman has an abortion it is her business not anyone else's.  It is between her, her doctor, God and the father of the child.  Why people have an opinion about it is ridiculous.  I am glad I live in a country where people can choose to do what they want, even if what they choose is wrong.  We have a judicial system to deal with people who commit illegal acts and we have a GOD to deal with people who commit immoral acts.  But what I love the most is that same God is forgiving and no matter what CHOICE we choose we can ask him for his forgiveness.  

I have said this before and will say it again, the male politicians who speak so outspokenly about abortions are probably the same ones who are cheating and when the side chick gets pregnant he is the first in line to tell the mistress to abort.  

But I digress.  

My main point is that while we can argue about this subject until the cows come home, the real issue is that people treat these politicians like Gods. And when the God fails to live up to their expectations they use that as an excuse to not vote.  (Princess Danica AKA Eclectically_Me wrote about this and you can read it HERE)

President Obama (or any prior POTUS) is not God. We shouldn't look to them in an election cycle and put all of our personal beliefs and feelings onto one man.  He is just that. ONE MAN.  His job is to govern everyone whether gay, straight, white, black, man, woman, Christian, Muslim or Jew.  NO man (or woman) who runs for office is going to believe exactly what we believe and we should not expect them to.  It is ludicrous to do so.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This past week, my brother in law came to visit, while we were talking, I told him the story of the lady above. My brother in law admitted to me that he didn't vote in the election either.  This disturbed me.  He stated he didn't vote because the votes don't matter. It is all about money and power.

As a 34 year old man, I thought it was a pretty dumb statement for him to make, to say the least.  Of course we can all do what we want. However, if votes didn't matter, why have there been so many steps taken to stop or diminish the vote of the minority population. (specifically the Black vote.)

We all know the story of the 1 drop rule. This was created so that anyone with any black lineage could be denied the right to vote.  (It was not created so that blacks can have some unity or automatically label their child as black in Halle Berry's case)

Next, we have the murders of the Jim Crow South which were solely fashioned to scare Blacks from holding voter registrations. If you haven't read Coming of Age in Mississippi, please do.  (I've read it 3 times.)

Then fast forward to the 2012 election cycle when we had all the shenanigans going on about voter identification. If that wasn't a smokescreen, I don't know what was.

But I digress. The point of this obviously verbose post is that, as a Black woman, I CANNOT not vote.  Too many people died so that I may enjoy the freedom to do so.  I could care less who a person votes for (the way people hounded Stacy Dash for voting for Romney was terrible. She could vote for who she wanted)  The fact was that SHE VOTED.  The people who died so that I could vote did not die in vain.  I cannot believe any able bodied Black person who is ELIGIBLE to vote would not do so.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My husband did not vote and I was PISSED and I let him know it.

Anyway, what are your thought on voting?  Do you believe it is a right that must be exercised?  Did you vote? Do you know others who didn't?  How do you feel about it?


-Be Blessed

A Flaky Situation

Carri has been suffering from dandruff lately.  When she was a baby she would occasionally have a flaky scalp. I would oil her scalp with baby oil and it would fix it.  But this recent flakiness has been frequent and abundant.  It has been very noticeable as well.  I decided to do some research on how to treat it.  I know I could just use Head & Shoulders or some similar shampoo, but since we follow the CG method, I didn't want to use a sulfate shampoo.  I wanted to see what other ways I could treat her dandruff. I also wanted to know what could be causing it, even though I think eczema could be the culprit.  

Here is what I have learned:

Dandruff is not 'catching'

The rest of my house will not get dandruff because Carri has it. (I didn't think that anyway, but in case someone thought that dandruff was contagious, I wanted to let you know that it isn't)

Styling products could be the cause of her dandruff

Overuse of styling products can be a significant source of dandruff.  Reducing product use can help remedy the problem.

I should wash her hair more.

Frequent washing is effective.

Tea Tree Oil Works Well

Tea Tree  (melaleuca) oil is an inexpensive natural remedy.  It is an antiseptic There are some tea tree oil shampoos available. (my old favorite is Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo) 

Essential oils help too

Rub your scalp with essential oils to soothe an itchy scalp.  Don't forget to mix your essential oils with carrier oils.  Jojoba helps balance the ph levels of your hair and scalp.

I need to cut down on the amount of pizza we eat.

A healthy diet and exercise help to improve dandruff as well as everything else that could ail us.  

I think I will start with the oils since I have some tea tree oil here on hand. 

Here are some natural remedies I found:

·         Yogurt: Take about half a cup of fermented yogurt and apply it on to your scalp thoroughly. Let the yogurt stay for at least an hour, before rinsing it off with water and a mild shampoo.

·         Vinegar: Add about 2 tablespoons of cosmetic vinegar to 6 tablespoons of hot water and apply the mixture on to your scalp. Cover your head with a piece of cloth and leave the solution on overnight. Wash your hair with warm water and shampoo the next morning.

·         Aloe Vera Gel: Extract some fresh gel from an Aloe Vera leaf and apply it on to your scalp. Leave the gel on for as long as possible, preferably overnight, before rinsing it off.

·         Ginger: Mix some ginger root in warm olive oil and apply it on to your head. This is one of the most effective dry scalp home remedies, which not only gets rid of dandruff, but also nourishes your hair.

Courtesy Natural Remedies For You

Super Saver Sunday: Today's shopping trip

Today I went coupon shopping. I was a little overjoyed and dismayed because first thing this morning I went grocery shopping and bought a slew of weight watchers meals only to discover that there was a weight watchers coupon in the paper. Oh well, I guess I will order some from Coupon Dede.

The pic above shows what I picked up today. Let me break it down for you.

From CVS:
Transaction 1:
(2) Vaseline Cocoa Butter Spray, Reg $7.99 ea, on sale for $6.00 ea
(1)Simple Skincare Radiance face wipes, reg $6.49, on sale $4.49
Total $16.49
I used the following coupons:
(2)$1 off Vaseline product
$10 ECB from previous CVS trip
I paid $4.49
I received $5 ECB back
I saved $17.98

Transaction 2:
(2) Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters, Reg $8.29
Total $16.58
I used the following coupons:
(2) $1 off Revlon cosmetic item
(1) $3 off Revlon purchase (CVS coupon from red coupon machine)
(1) $5 ECB from transaction 1
(1) 25% off CVS coupon from email (equaled $4.15)
I paid $2.43
I received $5ECB back
I saved $14.15

Total at CVS $6.92, and I have a $5ECB for my next trip

From Walgreens:
(2) Purex Crystals, Reg $6.79, on sale BOGO FREE
(2) Fiber One Brownie, Reg $3.99, on sale 2/$4
(5) Scrubbing Bubbles, Reg $3.59, on sale 25% off, $2.69ea

Total $24.24
I used the following coupons:
(1)$5 off of 5 scrubbing bubbles products
(1)$.50 off 2 Fiber One
(1)$1.50 Purex coupon
I paid $17.24
I earned 2,000 points (=$2)
I saved $22.27

Total saved $54.40

Get your coupons and hit the stores up. There are lots of good deals to be had this week.  Share your pics, tips and tricks with us as well send to crystalscurls@gmail.com