FIVE THINGS FRIDAY PART 27

Five Things Friday Part 27 is HERE!! TGIF.

Crazy week for you, too?

We are in reverse it feels like this week but hey it’s Friday and we are HERE FOR IT!

Five Things Friday Part 27!

Let’s get to it. Catch our previous FTF here!

*click the underlined text or pictures to be taken to the product. Our links cost NO money to you but help us a little bit!


FIT ME Foundation

Eva here. I truly cannot say enough about this $8 foundation and I feel so late on this trend.

Some of you have seen me already discuss this on our Instagram, but it 1000% worth mentioning again, especially since I like a product that works that is a good deal & cost effective.

THERE ARE SO MANY COLORS & OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM!

Benefits – dermatology tested, oil free, & does not clog ports

The best budget foundation! $8 Maybelline FIT ME. Five Things Friday
The best budget foundation! $8 Maybelline FIT ME
very happy with the “flawless” like finish. I’ll let the picture speak for itself!

Ok so in full transparency, the shade I bought it too light, BUT honestly it still works, which is freakin’ awesome. It’s budget friendly enough that I will probably buy 1-2 more in different shades and mix them. Dawn & I are the queens of doing that…why not!

Quoting ULTA below because I couldn’t have said it better myself.

“Fit Me! Matte + Poreless from Maybelline goes beyond skin tone matching to fit the unique texture issues of normal to oily skin for the ultimate natural skin fit. While some foundations can exaggerate pores and oily skin, only Maybelline’s pore-minimizing foundation contains their genius blurring micro-powders that erase pores and absorb oil for a naturally matte and poreless-looking finish.”

To conclude, TikTok made me do it. 🤣


Magic Probiotics

Isn’t everyone on the hunt for a good pre & probiotic? Good news… we’ve tried and tested these for months now, and they really work, live up to their promise, and are the best we’ve found to date.

Monat probiotics LIVE up to their promise. Price is worth it.
Dual Layer Pre+Probiotic Complex

They are also really pretty. I know, that shouldn’t be the focus but they are well designed (and easy to swallow).

Exhibit A..lol

dual layer probiotics...how gorgeous. they work!
I MEAN…look. how pretty!!!

Simply put – they do what they say and what you’d home from your pre + probiotic. But of course we have to explain further!! 🙃

Dawn here…In the past I would “ONLY” take probiotics if I was taking an antibiotic. I’m such a fan of the Monat Balance Probiotic Complex that I “NOW” take one daily.

This is why: These are different from any other probiotics that I have ever tried before. It has a unique dual capsule-in-capsule technology. It is SO GENTLE on my stomach, which has been an issue with other probiotics. Here are some health benefits from daily probiotic intake:

  • helps to balance the “friendly” (good) bacteria in your digestive system (gut)
  • (hopefully) helps to prevent and treat diarrhea
  • helps to keep your heart healthy
  • can help with depression, stress and anxiety
  • helps with memory
  • helps support healthy skin and immune system

Seriously though, now more than ever I want a healthy immune system.

All of Monat Wellness Products: are gluten-free, vegan, no animal testing, natural flavors & sweeteners, and NO toxic ingredients.

I will say these probiotics are on the pricey side. I don’t mind spending the extra money on them because THEY DELIVER! Worth ever penny.

non toxic and vegan probiotics. these deliver. Five Things Friday
Such suckers for good packaging, too.

Clear Start Blackhead Fizz Mask

Dawn here…Clear Start blackhead fizz mask is hands down the coolest product I’ve ever used. It targets blackheads and clogged pores.

WHAT IS SO COOL ABOUT THIS?!?!

It literally fizzes on your skin until it’s fully absorbed. After rinsing your skin feels soft and super clean.

clear start fizz mask for black heads. a great product for the face!
love the colors & packaging 😍

For me my problem area is my nose. Blackhead central…GROSS!!!

I lightly layer (don’t rub in) the mask on my skin, allow 3-5 minutes to fully activate, then rinse thoroughly. Using the fizz mask as directed (2-3 times per week) followed by my pore extractor (will talk more about this soon) I find this to be a winning combination. My pores are totally unclogged! First time in YEARS that my nose is basically blackhead free.   

This product is: cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, synthetic fragrance free, and has recyclable packing.

In conclusion, with anything, the key to getting the best results from this product is to stay “consistent!”

clear start fizz mask for black heads. a great product for the face!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax has been sold out everywhere! #HOTITEM

I (Dawn) happen to be at Ulta at the right time, they just had a shipment delivered, so I scooped one up.

To be honest I didn’t have high expectations for this. I was concerned it would dry white and flaky on my dark eyebrows. I’ve had that experience in the past with other brow products.

As soon as I returned back home from Ulta I tried the ABH brow freeze/styling wax. Let’s say it DIDN’T go well. As a result, EPIC FAIL 😡

Anastasia Brow Freeze, be patient, it works! Five Things Friday Part 27

Couple days later I had an eyebrow consultation with Melba @eyecoco. She happened to mention that she found a “MUST HAVE/Game Changing Product!” Which was…ABH Brow Freeze Styling Wax! I shared my epic fail story with her. Lol! She was more than happy to show me how to properly apply it. The reason it didn’t go well for me is because I used WAY TOO MUCH product! SHOCKER!

I will say even with Melba giving me a lesson on how to properly apply it, there is still a learning curve. Once I got the hang of it I can understand the hype surrounding this product.

Few tips:

  • a little goes a long way
  • to apply use a spoolie brush (see picture)
  • clean brush in between applications – if you let the wax dry on the brush it will cause clumping and flaking the next time you use it
  • brush eyebrow hair upwards -it will give you a feathered look
  • if you fill in your eyebrows let wax set then fill in.

Whether you like the natural or filled in look (see photos below) the brow freeze will tame, lift, and sculpt while providing a long lasting hold that locks them in place all day long!

brow freeze will tame, lift, and sculpt while providing a long lasting hold that locks them in place all day long!
Dawn here..actual picture of me using it
instructions on how to use the broze freeze
Details from ULTA website

LAST review for Five Things Friday Part 27!

Vancool Ring Size Adjuster

Dawn here…

MUST HAVE ITEM FOR ANYONE WHO WEARS RINGS!

The Vancool ring adjuster is great for solving loose ring problems. It also protects rings from getting scratched.

Here are 5 reasons to love this ring sizer:

  • safe for rings
  • keeps rings in place
  • high quality TPU silicone
  • invisible
  • hypoallergenic
cute right?

I have BIG knuckles so I have to buy my rings large enough to fit over them. Problem with this is the rings keep spinning around and around. Which is SO ANNOYING!!!

The ring adjuster is the PERFECT solution for this problem. The unique design is made with high quality transparent materials, soft and comfortable, causes no pain or irritation to your fingers.

One complaint I have is it came without any instructions. Once I figured out how to apply the coil it was a piece of cake. It was actually quick simple. Package comes with: 3 different sizes (small, medium, and large), 6 pieces of each and a polishing cloth.

Easy to use: place adjuster on the back of the ring, wrap coil around, trim off excess.

I couldn’t be happier with this product.


That concludes this week’s Five Things Friday Part 27. What’s your favorite item on this list? Do you have big knuckles like Dawn? 🤣 Her reviews are just THE BEST!

our signature - the cousin connections

PRODUCT PICK OF THE WEEK

Product pick of the week.. or should I say… pick of the last 5 years, LOL!

Eva here.

I was not a hairspray fan until I got my hands on this one. IT IS THE BEST I have found, and I have used to for 5+ years now, so I really do feel like I can speak from experience and expertise 💁🏼‍♀️ It is super cost-effective…and you all know I LOVE A GOOD DEAL.

THE BEAUTY 😍

Do you struggle with LIMP HAIR? Me too.

Why do I love this so much? It’s a budget product… meaning… I really use this more as a volumizer, texturizer, and hair spray. This means I ONLY NEED ONE PRODUCT and NOT 3 total.


How I use it:

After I wash & dry my hair: spray on to style. And I mean… spray a very generous amount 🤣

If I am NOT washing – still spray it liberally all over hair to “set”.

I spray focusing on mid to lower ends of hair.. I like the OOMPH in the bottom of my hair.

Directions say to spray 8-12 inches away from hair – layer it to achieve desired firmness.

What I love most:

It feels a little stiff at first, but literally after 5-10 minutes your hair is very, very smooth and manageable. It adds great volume and texture, thus, reliving the need for 2 more products to use on your hair. The Rejuvenique oil in it really sets this “product of the week” apart from all others. Rejuvenique is only of our holy grail products!

THE SMELL OF IT IS ALSO AMAAAAZING!

The scent.. OH THE SCENT! 😍


The benefits of this amazing monat hairspray
10000% agree with this ⬆️

It adds a lot of OOOMPH to my hair!

product pick of the week!! monat 3 in one hairspray!!  The features of it!
THE SMELL IS FREAKIN’ FANTASTIC, TOO!

Repeating myself again..but….the VOLUME it adds is GREAT! I’ll be honest, the volume doesn’t last all day, but it does last for many hours.

Look at the volume in the hair!!!product pick of the week!! monat 3 in one hairspray!!

I also love that this hairspray washes out easily, and what I mean by that is that it does NOT build up in my hair.

Lastly, I buy 2-3 at a time when Monat has a sale. Shamefully (or not!), I really do use that much hairspray, and you wouldn’t know it!


Dawn’s review is this: She only uses this product when her hair is in a ponytail or when she curls her hair. She wears her hair in a ponytail often so she does use a fair amount of it and can assess the product fairly & with some expertise.

I know you are just dying for some pictures so here you go.⬇️ In full transparency, I wanted to have a video for this post but I didn’t have it all together this week! 🙃

Step 1 – Blow dry with your FAVORITE BRUSHES and then spray liberally all over your hair, focusing on mid to lower ends.

Monat hairspray is like a 3 in one! spray all over your hair! product pick of the week!! monat 3 in one hairspray!!
SPRAY SPRAY SPRAY! You can’t over do it.

Step 2 – FLUFF the hair as I like to say. Run your hands through it.

Monat hairspray is like a 3 in one!  Fluff that hair to get amazing volume and texture
Fluff that hair to get desired look

Step 3 – Enjoy how great your hair feels & the fabulous scent 😍

product pick of the week!! monat 3 in one hairspray!!
NO need for anything else since this is a dupe for 3 products in one!

THAT’S IT!

So..product pick of the week is this hairspray that I use as a 3-in-one product. Saves me time AND money!

Do you like 3-in-one type products?!


THE BEST OIL FOR SKIN & HAIR

We have a holy grail product to share that is the best oil for your SKIN & HAIR!

And trust us when we tell you, a little goes a long way.

THE BEST OIL FOR SKIN & HAIR product..rejuvenique!
I mean, seriously! Look. how gorgeous 😍

THIS IS A REAL AND UNEDITED VIDEO by Dawn! We wanted to give it to you completely straight.

More details below.

As you can see from my video above, I literally use this for so many different reasons.

  • New Rejuvenique Light – fairly new – I just ordered two days ago & can’t wait to try.
  • It is a “multi-use” oil product.
  • A little goes a long way!
  • I use it on my face, neck, hair.
  • ALSO use it on my elbows, knees, feet AND cuticles!
  • Please note, it is heavy so I only use it on my face before bedtime.
directions for applying Rejuvenique..the best hair and body oil!
DIRECTIONS ABOVE! ♥︎
Rejuvenique on my cuticles! THE BEST OIL FOR SKIN & HAIR

EVA HERE!

I really need to point out first and foremost that this little holy grail of a bottle will last you a long time. I can only speak for myself, but I have had mine for about a year now. That is how little of product you need.

I don’t use it the same way as Dawn. I have had a history of dark circles under my eyes. Since I was a kid (like 8 years old) people would always ask me if I had two black eyes, and it’s definitely carried into adulthood. Also, the skin under my eyes is extremely dry. So, this magic-ness in a bottle I use really for my eye area. A SMALL dab under both! There is 100% a difference when I use this consistently; less black and blue look and more moisture (as in, my makeup doesn’t flake all over).

Rejuvenique under my eyes to help with dark circles. THE BEST OIL FOR SKIN & HAIR

As I am getting older and in my almost late 30’s, I LOATHE the wrinkles under my eyes.

I do feel like the claim stands true above that it does help smooth out fine lines (ie, leave skin looking healthy).

Sometimes I put it in my hair at night since I use so much heat and bleach (blonde hair is hard work, I tell ya!).

Dawn’s video, though, really explains it is all 92 seconds.

iphone11 max portrait mode in STUDIO light.. it is life changing!!

We are here to get this in your hands on the best oil we’ve found for your skin & hair … just let us know you are interested and we will be in touch! (click link to contact or DM us on IG)

Lastly, we want to hear from YOU! What is your ONE beauty product you cannot live without?


Another video! Hair Products review

Happy SEPTEMBER! As we transition into almost the last quarter of the year(!), we have another video for you all. Continuing our theme from two weeks ago and diving into our favorite hair products & giving you a video review of them.

As always, we had a blast shooting this video and we LOVE to talk about hair. We constantly text & call each other about various hair product finds, especially the ones we talk about in this video. In other words, we really have a great connection – just see our ridiculousness at the end of the video. That is us all the time (lol).

Eva here. Using the clean beauty hair products for 4+ years
naturally based clean hair products
Dawn here. Using her 2 favorites for almost 2 years.

Furthermore and in all seriousness, we will never ever promote something we don’t believe in. As discussed in this video, there are many hair products we like, but we had to share ones we LOVE & have become our staples, and share a company we believe in (and of course one with a good business model). Eva has used them for 4+ years and Dawn almost 2, and we both feel with that amount of time and experience under our belt, we can finally discuss with a fair, realistic, & unbiased opinion.

We highlighted these a little bit in our previous hair video.

Moving on…..let’s have at it!

Link to video – here

To see what would be a good fit for you, Take the Hair Quiz!

We hope you enjoyed our hair products review. Please contact us with any help needed and/or questions. We are here!

XO

Dawn & Eva

Revlon Dryer Brush!

Welcome to our first product review & video review at that! The Revlon Dryer Brush.

We are ecstatic to review the Revlon One Step Hair Dryer & Brush. We realize there are a million and one reviews out there of this wonderful hair tool, but we have found we have our own very individualized way of using it, and it is so worth sharing with all of you. Neither of us understand why we waited so long to use it!

We have created a video, below, and here are a few bullet points in case you cannot watch the video in depth – but we do promise it is worth watching in full!


Why Dawn loves it:

  • It gets super hot, which she feels her hair needs
  • She loves the cool setting
  • The tip is cool so you don’t burn your fingers
  • Easy to use once she got the hang of it (she says: “Don’t give up after the first try!”)
  • It is definitely better than a traditional dryer and brush in her opinion
Revlon brush dryer
Dawn’s gorgeous hair
fit over 50 and incredible hair!
Dawn still looking gorgeous after filming & editing all day

Why Eva loves it:

  • Even though she has straight hair, she finds it really helps style her hair just like the salon does
  • Easy to use and grip the hair with one tool (it’s definitely hard to grip hair with a brush and hold a dryer at the same time)
  • Takes less time than styling with a around brush and dryer (ie, traditional way)
  • Dawn got her hooked on the cool setting now – this really helps tame the fly aways
  • She doesn’t dry her hair in sections and finds this still works extremely well not doing that
sleek hair from revlon dryer brush
Real Life – Eva’s daughter in the background ♥️

From both Dawn & Eva: the biggest take away from this is to USE HEAT PROTECTANT of any kind! I know we said 1000 times in the video but we mean it; it’s important when using this much heat on your hair. We really love the blow out cream made by Monat – and you can browse it here. This was posted on our Instagram last night – and it sparked a lot of interest 🥰 We are glad to help you get your hands on it.

Monat blow out cream rocks!

Eva also really likes this 18-in-1 spray by Oligo. Thank you Bloom Bar in Norwalk CT for introducing me!

18 in 1 Oligo spray!

We really are product junky’s and we really try to take care of our hair. The way we see it is, if you spend so much money on coloring/processing it – it is the best investment to buy good products to maintain the integrity of your hair. All in all, we LOVE this hair tool! The price is very reasonable, too.

A lot of fun was had putting this together. A big shout to a hairdresser we love, Stacey! You can find her in Darien or at her own salon in her house. She has over 30+ years experience and rocks. Please contact us for her info if you are in the market for trying someone new!

NOW TO THE VIDEO!