Archives January 2023

buried treasure!
Oh, gosh. So, I’ve always believed of myself as home-decorating challenged, mainly since I get overwhelmed by all the choices. as well lots of options, as well as I totally shut down, however this weekend I lastly figured out something major (I think), as well as it’s associated to makeup, which type of blew my mind…

I discovered that if I take certain… I don’t want to phone call them rules; I’ll phone call them themes instead. If I take specific themes that I understand work for me when I’m putting together a makeup look, as well as apply those themes to decorating, it makes things so much easier!

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Contrasting elements

Like when I’m putting on makeup, if I integrate contrasting aspects into whatever I’m doing, that looks ideal to me. Whether it’s contrasting colors or completes or something else. Like, for example, satiny skin with glossy lids as well as a matte lip. There’s something visually attractive about integrating different completes together, since when the completes are as well similar, it reads as flat or monotone.

Varying heights
When I went to Marshalls to look for great offers on pots as well as things to embellish “the woman sanctuary,” I had that concept of contrast in mind as I chosen out plant stands, of all things. I believed that if all of the potted plants ended up being low to the ground, it would look as well monotone, as well as as well much like just one note, so I got some plant stands of diverse height.

Then I took it a step additionally with some other contrasting elements, like, a few of the stands have directly legs, as well as some have curvy legs. Some are newer-looking with a black wrought iron finish, as well as some have a lot more of an aged bronzed finish.

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Curved lines…
And directly lines

When you think about the stands individually, they look like a random mishmash, however when you see them all together with the different heights, the curves, the lines as well as the colors, it works!

Repetition

Another thing that assisted me a lot: the concept repetition. When I’m doing makeup, I like to repeat specific elements. Say, when I do a sharp feline liner, I’ll add a hot pink matte lip with razor sharp edges, as well as then I’ll repeat the pink style with a pink blush to opt for the lip. I like exactly how those bit echoes tie things together, so I had that in mind as I chosen this mosaic side table…

Q*bert memories #datingmyself
It has awesome blue tiles on top, as well as the color is similar to the color of one of my pots.

Cool as well as blue
Oh, as well as side note, I planted phlox in that pot! I dunno, however I assumption that’s a huge offer since the woman who rang me up at the gardening store made a huge to-do about it, as well as exactly how she hadn’t seen phlox in 15 years, however somebody special bought it for a huge style project, as well as the store ended up with some extras.

It’s pretty! as well as feline safe.

Phlox!
So repetition can be a great thing in makeup as well as house decorating. however things don’t have to match completely (and most likely shouldn’t).

Go with your gut

Don’t overthink it. If you like something, there has to be a reason. like with makeup, if I’m not sure what lip color to wear with a specific look, I’ll get hold of a few shades as well as try each one, since often the technical policies of what’s meant to opt for what just don’t feel right. You gotta depend on your gut.

I did that with whatever for the woman sanctuary — the flowers, the plant stands, even the yellow watering can. If I reacted positively to something (and if it was in my budget, of course), I went with it.

You gotta depend on your gut.

Just opt for it
The fun extras

And since I was at Marshalls, I had to entrust to a few fun extras. such as this adorable feline cup by Portobello By Design. It’s made from strong bone china, so ideally El Hub won’t inadvertently break it!

Cat woman cup FTW
You understand exactly how there are the shelves with knickknacks as well as whatnot by the checkout stand in a lot of stores? I discovered this gem hidden behind some fugly mugs while I was waiting permanently as well as a day in the line at Marshalls.

Parade o’ kitties
Tabby in the house, y’all!
I likewise snagged a couple of these $4.99 foaming hand soaps by Michel (I’ve seen them at two other stores in my town for $10.99 a bottle!). I like these since they get out all the gunk however don’t dry out my hands.

Birds nest soap to match my birds nest hair
I likewise got these fun clocks by Cynthia Rowly…

It’s pineapple time
I’m absolutely a print person. The kookier as well as a lot more whimsical the better!

So I’ve made a decision to just accept that.

Flamingos!

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Not gonna overthink things, remember?

Your ffriendly community appeal addict,
Karen

When Michales completely gets you.

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Good question! It isn’t, as opposed to its name, an actual poll. It’s just a listing of five much more or less random concerns I’ve been publishing on this blog every Monday morning for the past gazillion years (more than 10!). I like reading your answers, as well as it assists me get my week off to a fantastic start. ?

1. What mascara do you discover yourself purchasing over as well as over again?

Tarte Light video camera Lashes! It isn’t flashy, as well as it sure isn’t new, however it’s my Old Faithful. I’ve been utilizing it off as well as on for a decade.

In the plus column, it isn’t awfully costly ($23), as well as I’ve always liked exactly how it adds mad, crazy volume evenly from the base to the suggestions of my lashes. likewise a fan of exactly how it separates like a fine-toothed comb; holds a curl well; doesn’t flake, smudge or smear; as well as it’s simple to remove!

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It’s the overall bundle IMO.

2. If you might go on an all-expenses-paid buying spree to any type of store, what store would it be?

Pottery Barn, dawg. I “need” durable bedroom furniture that isn’t held together with great intentions as well as 300 small screws, as well as doesn’t violently wiggle when you open a drawer. ?

3. Do you like your coffee strong or weak?

Weak…ish. however not as well weak though. I mean, I don’t want it to taste like coffee water, as well as it needs to have a wee bit o’ kick.

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4. A nail polish line you love?

I’m very consumed with Sally Hansen color therapy at the moment!

5. Are you a stickler for authentic details in Halloween costumes?

Naw, not really. I’m certainly NOT the person who hunts down an precise replica of an 1860’s steampunk birch wood button to get every detail right, although props to you if you’re that person. I applaud your commitment! Personally, though, I objective for one or two major thematic aspects to communicate the general idea, as well as then I fudge the rest. like one year I dressed up as Veruca Salt from Charlie as well as the chocolate Factory. I made a big paper mache “egg” utilizing a balloon as well as sprayed it gold. then I donned a velvet holiday gown that I discovered in the children’s section at goodwill as well as brought the egg around with me all the time as well as night. I can’t begin to assumption exactly how numerous strangers on Bart that year said, “Hey, Veruca!” or sang snippets of I want It now as I walked by, ha ha ha!

If you requirement me…

You’ll discover me at Michaels, which is where I discovered the indication up there at the top (they have amazing sales). That location is a black hole! each time I go, I danger disappearing forever. I discover a great deal of the exact same kinds of things I’d otherwise expect at Pier 1. When I was there last Saturday, one of the managers walking around asked if she might assist me discover anything, as well as I said, “No, however there’s a great possibility that by the end of the day I won’t just be buying here. I’ll be working here,” as well as she said, “Well, I AM hiring.”

Raise your paw if you feel me on this!

Your friendly community charm addict,

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Karen

P.S. concern time! right here are they are to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. speak with you soon.

1. What mascara do you discover yourself purchasing over as well as over again?
2. If you might go on an all-expenses-paid buying spree to any type of store, what store would it be?
3. Do you like your coffee strong or weak?
4. A nail polish line that you love?
5. Are you a stickler for authentic details in Halloween costumes?

A few of Tom Ford’s new winter season Soleil Lip Foils from the left: Venus Rising, Spanish Flame, personal Life as well as Creme Conque, $53 each
I’m not typically a attractive robot lips/metallic lipstick kinda gal, however Tom Ford’s winter season Soleil Lip Foils are making me like the look. The pearl bits are very fine, so my lips look like they’re glowing. It’s much more of a radiant impact than a frost.

Tom’s Lip Foils are $53 each, which, yeah…is completely bananas. ??? however that’s Tom Ford.

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Tom Ford Venus Rising
Tom Ford Creme Conque

Tom Ford Spanish Flame
Tom Ford personal Life
I believe they’re perhaps much more sunny than wintry, however that’s OK. They likewise have that whole shimmery tinsel thing going, so I’m down.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

P.S. In my workout class this morning, somebody asked exactly how numerous days it was before Christmas. ?

Oh, my goodness! Seventeen! There are only SEVENTEEN DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!

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Are you ready…? Is anybody ready?? I understand I’m not.

I am embellishing my tree tonight, though, with Connor’s assist (and managerial oversight from Tabs). The style is green, red as well as gold this year, so we’re choosing the classics.

How about you? Are you embellishing a tree this year? If so what does it look like?

For you, my dear.
A bouquet of fresh chosen wildflowers for you, my friend, courtesy of the “floral artisans” at the regional playground.

Translation: Connor as well as the other bit woman she was playing with ran up as well as down every hill plucking every yellow flower in sight when we were at the playground the other day, as well as when I was handed the final bouquet, my very first believed was, “Oh, this is so pretty. I question exactly how numerous dogs have pee’d on these flowers.” ?

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Got a few things on my mind today that I wished to chat with you about, including broadening my makeup understanding with a couple of new books, as well as a classy styling tool that will permanently modification the method you see flat irons.

Also, there’s a healthy, yummy, simple poultry recipe at the end that I believe everybody — even the pickiest eaters — will love. It’s so great that if Tabs were around, I’m sure he’d try to take the food off my plate.

Y.U.M.

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As I understand you know, this last month I was reminded that life is blisteringly (and unfairly) short. To put it mildly, this has lit a terminate ? under my @ss, as well as now I want to discover as much as I can about anything as well as whatever — all of my interests. one of those interests, of course, is makeup.

I mean, I do understand a thing or two about it already, however there’s a whole broad world of methods as well as history as well as charm vocabulary that I’ve yet to discover.

Kevin James Bennett, MUA as well as outspoken dude

This month I’ve been reading a couple of books that were suggest by makeup artist Kevin James Bennett. He’s an Emmy award-winning MUA as well as a somewhat questionable existence on social network since he goes for the jugular when it concerns calling out what he sees is wrong about present charm influencer culture.

Reading is fundamental.
While I don’t have the mental bandwidth to offer keeping that element of his material (again, life is short), I like the technical info he offers on his Instagram as well as his blog.

He composed a listing of his most-used makeup recommendation books, as well as I chosen up two of them from Amazon: Color: A program in Mastering the Art of mixing color by Betty Edwards, as well as The makeup artist Handbook by Gretchen Davis as well as Mindy Hall.

I’ve only been able to skim a few chapters in color so far, however they were fascinating! The book dives deeply into the art as well as science of color mixing as well as explores the vocabulary as well as theory behind it.

I want to be able to comprehend the “why” behind which colors “go” finest with which colors in makeup, photography as well as life in general.

A bit consumed with this cover
Hue as well as value!
The other book, The makeup artist Handbook, is like a succinct handbook on whatever you’d ever requirement to understand as well as own to do makeup on a production set. It’s written for experts as well as working artists in the market as well as covers a broad range of things I’ll most likely never requirement to do (like producing a beard! FROM SCRATCH!), however they’re still fun to know.

Does that eye in the middle freak you out?
Lots of detail
You discover something new every day.
Stuff I can utilize in daily life
And just in situation you requirement to make a beard!
I believe from a laid-back makeup lover’s standpoint, the chapters on charm makeup as well as natural makeup for photography as well as film are the most helpful as well as helpful, so I can’t wait to dive into that.

Mini flat irons are a thing

Check out this cool bit piece of devices I chosen up just recently at Ulta. It’s a small flat iron!

LOOK exactly how thin THE PLATES ARE! They’re so skinny.

Skinnier than your skinniest pair of skinny denim (ya know, the ones that make you feel like a sausage in a casing)
I had no concept that small flat irons were even a thing up until I just recently looked for different methods to smooth the crazy rogue infant hairs around my hairline (because I understand that plucking them isn’t a long-lasting solution).

“Cuz I understand you like it hot.” LOL!
They’re generally utilized to tame extremely short hairstyles like pixie cuts since the ultra-thinness of the plates lets you get better to the scalp than a conventional flat iron.

I utilized it for the very first time yesterday, as well as yes — you can certainly get close to your roots.

Like, uncomfortably close.

On the one hand, awesome. On the other, I’m deathly scared I’m going to unintentionally shed myself.

The half-inch plate, with the ghd 1-inch plate for size
It assisted to smooth down my infant hairs, though, so that’s a plus. I’ll have to do it a few much more times to get into a flow… (If you see me rocking a Disney Princess Band-Aid across my forehead in the next few days, you’ll understand what happened.)Culinary denial

Here’s something that only occurred to me after I provided birth to Connor: I’m going to have to make dinner for her every night FOR THE next 18 YEARS.

Why didn’t anybody point this out to me at the infant shower?

I’m permanently searching for dinner recipes to add to the rotation, so I made this baked roll-up poultry the other night for the very first time from a recipe on the great skinnytaste.com.

The primary reason I wished to try it was since it stated that the overall time it would take from begin to finish, including prep time, was 35 minutes.

Here’s what they look like before you pop them into the oven…
…and after! They shrink down rather a bit.
Let’s eat!
Improv gluten-free breadcrumbs, since I refused to pay $9 for the pre-made ones I discovered at Safeway.
While it was absolutely delicious, as well as everybody gobbled them up…there’s no method in hell it was a 30-minute meal. It took about an hour from begin to finish.

Granted, I had to crush some gluten-free crackers to make the breadcrumbs. (Side note: Banging the sh*t out of crackers with a rolling pin is strangely therapeutic. You ought to try it sometime.) as well as I likewise had to thinly slice a few of the thicker cutlets, which took a while.

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Still, I’d make it again.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen

The new H2O+ Lip Gels, $12 each
LOOK! They’re clear.

I don’t understand why, however this amuses me to no end.

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Here to fight the great fight against dry lips, the new $12 H2O+ Lip Gels are…clear. For the most part. as well as hella hydrating.

H2O+ Lip Gels from the left in Coral Authority, blush Crush as well as remove as Day ($12 each)
They’re light on lips (in more methods than one)

You understand the story… I’m like a broker record sometimes. I have dry lips. There, I stated it! I have dry lips, as well as they’re a pain in the butt, however these H2O+ Lip Gels? WOW. They’re marvelously moisturizing, as well as yet much lighter than usual for a mega moisturizing product. They’re nowhere near as thick as well as heavy as, say, an hourglass Lip Oil.

H2O+ Lip Gels from the left: Currant Mood, clearly Mint as well as Cloud Wine
Despite being rich with righteous moisture, they’re incredibly light on the lips. sometimes I even fail to remember I’m using one, so if you loathe the durable feel of real-deal lip balms as well as lip oils, inspect ’em out.

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I mean…a great deal of people already have, since they’re basically offered out online! I’ve discovered a few of them at Ulta as well as on the H2O+ website, however I don’t see all of them.

Clearly Mint Ingredients
Isotridecyl Isononanoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Ethylenediamine/Hydrogenated Dimer Dilinoleate Copolymer Bis-Di-C14-18 Alkyl Amide, Octyldodecanol, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Flavor/Aroma, Rosa Centifolia flower Extract, Tectona Grandis wood Extract, Lilium Candidum Bulb Extract, Zostera Marina Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Portulaca Pilosa Extract, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sucrose Cocoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Cinnamal, Eugenol, Limonene.

They have a hint o’ tint

They are available in five sheer tinted shades as well as one remove one, as well as if you have pigmented lips like I do, you most likely won’t determine a huge difference among them (except for the totally remove one).

Wearing blush Crush

I can kindasorta see the tints clearly when I develop up the red as well as dark purple shades (which are the only ones that seem build-able at all, as well as even then it’s just a little), however if you’re expecting flamboyant fabulosity from the blue as well as orange shades, um…no. Sorry. They more or less look the same. They add just a hint of tint as well as shine, however what they do I believe is nice.

Think mint

Or like fresh catnip? That’s exactly how these taste as well as smell, by the way, as well as it isn’t in-your-face. It’s subtle, so nothing at all like minty toothpaste, which would be a deal-breaker for me.

Where to discover them

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You tell me! — since I haven’t been able to track them all down at one location online. I extremely suggest them, though. however you’ll most likely only requirement one, since they more or less look the exact same when you get them on your lips. pick your fave (I like the blue one!), as well as go with that.

Your friendly community beauty addict,

Karen

wearing Charlotte Tilbury Sunset lover Lipstick. Apparently, I’m also Ali Wong’s long lost twin?
YOU GUYS. Not a week goes by without someone saying that they think I look like comedienne Ali Wong. I guess it’s the glasses? I dunno, I don’t really see it…

Ali Wong or Karen?
It happened again yesterday at lunch, and by “lunch” I’m referring to the cookies I had at the bakery after story time. (We also had a chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, so there was some actual nutrition involved.)

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The good lady behind the counter who always helps us said, “You look exactly like Ali Wong.”

“Really?” I asked.

“It’s the smile,” she said, “it’s the glasses, it’s everything. I could’ve sworn you were her. I was wondering what she was doing in Novato.”

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The next time this happens, I’ve chose that I’m just gonna pretend I’m Ali Wong, maybe even sign an autograph, haha! but if I’m wearing Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in Sunset lover at the time, I’ll be screwed, though, because Ali-Karen will probably be inundated with questions about what she’s wearing on her lips, because that’s what goes down whenever I wear this matte peachy pink.

(It’s a new color, by the way, and just launched.)

Don’t even think about wearing this when you’re feeling anti-social, because every person you run into will ask about it.

$34, matte finish, a little drying, so prep with a balm.

Deep thoughts… Nah, not really. just thinking about how this lipstick is unscented and unflavored, that’s all.
OK, now, can we talk about cookies for a sec?

The real cookie monster
What are your thoughts on oatmeal cookies? love them? Loathe them? It seems like oatmeal cookies are the candy corn of the cookie world, and many people are in one or the other camp.

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I like them because despite there being other, healthier ways to eat oatmeal, I feel like I’m still getting some health benefits from eating them. yeah right, Karen… Don’t stop believing. Hold on to that feeling!

Your friendly neighborhood charm addict,

Karen

Co-washing my mop, one bottle at a time…
…because I’m on a objective to try all the conditioner washes!

DUUUUUDE. I’ve been co-washing because before it went mainstream, because I unraveled its tricks in a now-long-forgotten hair forum in a dirty corner on the Interwebz much more than 10 ago.

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Finding out about it was one of the very best things to ever occur to my hair. now I do it a few times a week between routine shampoo as well as conditioner sessions, as well as my hair’s the healthiest it’s ever been.

Needless to say, I’m a co-wash evangelist, as well as I like trying new ones as well as options.

Here are two I tried in June…

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Joico color Co+Wash Whipped Cleansing Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair ($23.99, 8.5 oz.)

Joico has three foaming Co+Washes in their line — one for dry hair, one for curly hair, as well as this for color-treated hair, which I like. My hair as well as scalp feel clean after rinsing it out, as well as just like with R+Co Analog as well as Drybar double Standard, my hair is full as well as rich as well as shiny the next day, not heavy.

If this were just a bit much more moisturizing, it would go from quite great to completely great. Unfortunately, my ends do feel a bit crun-chaaay later on if I don’t likewise utilize a leave-in conditioner. Also…it kinda smells like Downy material softener?

After co-washing my hair with Joico, letting it dry overnight, as well as spraying it with R+Co Sail the complying with morning.
So, depending upon your feelings about Downy, that might be a good, or a poor thing (I don’t mind it).

Overall, I such as this co-wash sufficient to surface the bottle, as well as when I’m done, I want to try the dry hair version.

3 1/2 out of 5 hearts. (Side note: why is there no half a heart emoji?)

Ingredients
Water/Aqua/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Decyl Glucoside, Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isobutane, Ceteareth-20, Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, Schinziophyton Rautanenii Kernal Oil, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Psidium Guava Fruit Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Pentapeptide-30 Cysteinamide, Pentapeptide-29 Cysteinamide, Tetrapeptide-29 Argininamide, Tetrapeptide-28 Argininamide, Aloe Barbadensis leaf Juice, Hydrolized Keratin, Keratin, Hydrolized Keratin PG-Propyl Methylsilanediol, Cocodimonium Hydroxyproply Hydrolized Keratin, Hydrolized Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Bis-Cetearyl Amodimethicone,Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate Dimethicone, Amodimethicone, Argenine, Citric Acid, Bis-Diisopropanolamino-PG-Propyl Dimethicone/Bis-Isobutyl Peg-14 Copolymer, Quaternium-91, Cassia Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycolipids, Allantoin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Thioctic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycerin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Myristyl Myristate, Ceteareth-7, Ceteareth-25, Trideceth-12, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Butyloctanol, Polyquaternium-55,Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Nitrate, DMDM Hydantoin, Isopropyl Alcohol,Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Fragrance/Perfume.

Kristin Ess Frizz administration Cleansing Conditioner ($14, 8.45 oz.)

Kristin Ess Frizz administration Cleansing Conditioner is a thick, rich cream developed for curly girls, frizzy hair, as well as peeps seeking assist with humidity manage and/or a damaged mane — basically, anybody lacking natural moisture.

The good: fantastic price, adorable packaging, as well as you can discover it at Target, so you don’t have to search to discover it at a salon. I believe it smells good, too, like luscious peaches as well as jasmine.

The not-so-good: dang, this stuff is weighty. My hair feels like it’s been coated in a thick layer of product, as well as I requirement to utilize a clarifying shampoo afterward to feel “clean” again. The mid-shaft as well as ends likewise look totally flat, as well as my scalp flaked after I utilized it a few times… Consequently, it’s been sitting on my shelf, untouched for a couple weeks.

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2 out of 5 hearts.

Ingredients
Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Chloride, Fragrance, Acacia Concinna Fruit Extract, Algin, Aminomethyl Propanol, Balanites Aegyptiaca Fruit Extract, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carrageenan, Cetearamidoethyldiethonium Succinoyl Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Cetrimonium Chloride, Chitosan, Coco-Glucoside, Disodium EDTA, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Gypsophila Paniculata root Extract, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed CornStarch, Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Keratin, Laureth-4, Litchi Chinensis Pericarp Extract, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-7, Propylene Glycol, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Sargassum Filipendula Extract, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Your friendly community charm addict,

Karen