Review: Kramers Health Foods

Today, I wandered across the street from one of my downtown classes and I came across a great hidden gem in Chicago. Kramers Health Foods on South Wabash in the Loop. I saw it as I was exiting my class building so I thought I'd go in for a bottle of shampoo... I was shocked by the size of the store and the amount of products they had.

You walk in and there are coolers of healthy pre-made foods from kale salads, to sandwiches, to vegan and gluten free nachos. Not to mention the amount of cold drinks they had with the most healthy ingredients. I got a Bragg Organic ACV Apple Cinnamon drink and it was delicious. Only 32 calories!

Keep walking down the store and there are aisles and aisles of nutritious protein bars, vitamins, supplements,
homeopathic remedies, healthy snacks, teas, and a mini grocery section FILLED with non-GMO, vegan, vegetarian and gluten free foods that were priced fairly well. It will make you want things you never knew you needed. Never thought you needed bee pollen capsules? You do now. I don't know what Fenugreek Seed is but I want it.

The right side of the store has everything beauty related ranging from makeup, to hair products, to mouth care, to soaps and everything in between. Of course I picked up a few things... An aloe vera shampoo for oily hair, a bee pollen soap, and Now Solutions sweet almond oil. So excited to try out my new products and expand my cabinet of natural products.

Upstairs they have a Cafe that I unfortunately didn't have time to go in, but from the looks of it, it seemed great! Pressed juices, salads, soups and sandwiches. I'll have to go back one day after class.

I'm so happy I finally went into Kramer's because I know it will become a staple store for me.

--Ms. Makeup

Must Have: Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

To me, this is the greatest hair product on the planet. I have gone through three or four full size tubs and I've never looked back! If your hair is feeling dull, if your highlights are drying out your hair, or you just want a really good deep conditioner, this is for you! Macadamia Oil is really great for your hair because it heals, nourishes and rejuvenates. This brand uses Argan Oil and Tea Tree Oil as well. Read on to see a full review ---->






1. Scent. AMAZING. It's really earthy, yet very sweet, kind of fruity. It has a very rich scent and it definitely lingers on your hair, which is something I look for. I cant exactly pin point the notes, but take my word for it, it smells like heaven. If it came in a perfume or candle, I would buy it.

2. Feel. I have tried many, many hair products over the years, but this mask is unlike any other. It makes my hair softer than anything. It has a thick consistency, which I love, yet you don't need a ton of this. A little bit goes a long way because it really spreads throughout your hair. I have pretty frizzy hair, and when I use this, the frizz is mostly gone and it makes each strand incredibly smooth. If you consistently use this, it will transform the texture of your hair to be smooth and silky!

3. Usage. I like to use this once a week and leave it in for about 10 minutes from my ears down. I have also left this in for hours with saran wrap over it after a bad hair dying job and it made my hair feel so much better. I have also used this as a daily conditioner because I have very course and thick hair (you only need a tiiiiiny bit!) I would not recommend doing that if you have thin or fine hair because it might be too powerful. I always brush out my hair right before I wash out the product to make sure it was evenly distributed.

4. Packaging. Adorable! It reminds me of a little coconut. It has a brown hawaiian/floral pattern with green accents. It also has a matte finish which is a nice touch.

5. Price. This product is more on the pricey side. The full size tub (8.5oz) is $36. But if you try it, you'll know it's worth it! They do sell single 1oz packages for those who want to get a few uses out and see if you like it ($4.) I have found it on amazon for $5-10 cheaper. The 8.5oz usually lasts me about 5-6 months.

From this line I have also used the shampoo, conditioner, healing oil treatment, healing oil spray, and nourishing leave in cream. All equally as amazing as the next! I am really interested in trying the new dry shampoo, but it is a little pricey for the size of the can. I am also dying to try this --- CLICK ME!

Have you tried this miracle product? Here is the website to learn more Macadamia.

--Ms. Makeup

If you're curious, here is what a macadamia nut looks like!

macadamiahair.com

First Impressions: Covergirl Flamed Out Mascara

Yesterday I picked up the Covergirl Flamed Out mascara and I thought I would give my first impressions on it. It was $7.49 from a local grocery store in the shade Black Blaze.

I wouldn't say there is really anything special about this mascara. The wand has an hourglass shape with a wire brush  and has a very dry formula. I don't really see what the hourglass shape does, I mean my lashes looked nice but nothing special. It applied pretty well (2 coats,) not clumpy or anything. Didn't add much curl but a pretty good amount of length. I lasted all day without smudging but that should be standard for any mascara. It was supposed to give a "bold winged-out lash look" (similar to Falsies?) but my lashes just looked normal.

My thoughts: for the price this is a decent mascara. Nothing amazing, nothing really special but it does make your lashes look "nice." But not like WOAH look at her eyes!!! I give it a B. My favorite drugstore mascara is falsies if that gives you an indication of what I like in comparison to this.

Here are some photos to see how it held up throughout the day

No mascara

2 coats Flamed Out

After a full day

Have you tried this mascara?

-- Ms. Makeup

Beware! Pacifica Purify Coconut Water Cleansing Wipes

I purchased these makeup remover wipes from Target about a month ago for $5.99. I usually stick to the Neutrogena or Simple wipes, but I thought I would try something different. (I honestly bought these because of the packaging.) Yes, the packaging is adorable and yes they smell pretty good, but don't be fooled. These wipes burned my eyes so badly that I thought I was having a horrible allergic reaction. I immediately rinsed my face off with water and the stinging went away a little, but noooooo these things BURN. They are formulated without sulfates, petroleum, parabens, SLS or phthalates... whatever that means. I would rather have those chemicals on my face than continue using these fire wipes. I couldn't even finish the pack and I don't want to give them to a friend in fear that they will also burn their faces. If you have even the slightest sensitivity in your skin, I would NOT recommend you try these. I don't want to diss Pacifica because I know they are a great company and a portion of their proceeds support clean water, but they should probably reformulate these.

Did these burn your skin?

-- Ms. Makeup

Currently Using: It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin

My hair has been on the dead side lately, so I picked up the It's a 10 Miracle Leave in Plus Keratin at Target to revitalize it. I bought it because it was on sale for $15.99, instead of $19.99 for the smaller size (4 oz.) I had used the regular It's a 10 spray and liked it, so I thought this would be pretty good, too. I love this stuff! I get out of the shower, brush my hair, and spray about 2-3 pumps of this to each side of my hair (don't get it in your roots) then brush again. I love the way this product not only smells, but leaves my hair really shiny and smooth. That is saying a lot because blonde hair is generally hard to get a shine out of. My hair tends to be pretty frizzy and unruly, but with this my hair is much more tame. It somehow also makes the waves in my hair stand out more. I'm not sure if it's supposed to do that, but its a nice added bonus! My hair is looking much healthier since using this product as well. I HIGHLY
recommend this product because it has truly done wonders!

As always, you can find it on amazon.com for much cheaper. Try this:
http://www.amazon.com/Its-10-Leave-In-Conditioner-Keratin/dp/B004K3D0FK/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1382419804&sr=1-1&keywords=It%27s+a+10+miracle+leave+-in+Plus+Keratin

What hair products are you currently using?

-- Ms. Makeup

Here is the list of 10 things this product does for your hair ------>