Steal Alert: Kat Von D Eyeshadow Palettes @ Sephora

If you can't get your hands on a Naked by Urban Decay Palette (where can I find one!?!), try these palettes by Kat Von D. I've heard great things about them and to my surprise, they are on sale this month at Sephora. At $24 for 8 high quality shadows in one easy to use compact, they are quite a deal. Choose among 4 different palettes:

Check these out, along with more great finds, in Sephora's sale section here.

Here's to another week of great shopping!

Review: Everyday Minerals Brushes

I am a big fan of mineral makeup. For everyday wear, I'm a pretty minimalist kind of girl. Who really has 20 minutes to spare in the morning for makeup when you can be getting some extra ZzZ's? I find mineral makeup to be the easiest to apply. No need to blend- buff away and you're ready to go out the door. While I've never really been a big fan of Everyday Minerals foundation (sorry but Bare Escentuals for the win here), I have to say that I really do love their brushes. It's hard to find a good quality brush without paying a whole not- I'm really the kind of person ready to shell out $50 on a makeup brush. Yes yes I know they will last you for years and years- but really, $50? (Yea, it's the cheapo in me talking) So when I fell upon these Everyday Minerals face brushes, I knew I was onto something. I own two of their face brushes- the flat top and the long handled Kabuki. I use the flat top to apply mineral foundation and it worksbuffs like a dream. The bristles are very soft and dense (check out the picture above- sorry for the dirty brush). It also provides great coverage (for a lighter coverage I would suggest using the Kabuki). It also works great for a powder. It costs $11 dollars- $8 more than the ELF Studio Powder Brush (which I also love) but you get the better quality. Now, I haven't really used the long handled Kabuki (and I'm also confused as to why its called a LONG handled Kabuki) so I'm kinda hesitant to give any review on it but its just as soft as the flat top so I think I will be very happy with it once I put it to good use. It will also cost you a dollar more. These brushes are also really great for traveling- they fit right in the palm of my hand and probably in any makeup. For more information about how to purchase, check out www.everydayminerals.com.

FYI...all purchased by me!

Clarisea Giveaway Winner!

Sorry for the delay...but congratulations to Julie, the winner of my Clarisea giveaway! I have sent you a email with further instructions. Thank you to everyone else for entering...more giveaways to come!

Last weekend of the summer, enjoy it! Have a happy Labor day weekend!

-Little Miss Savvy

Affordable Bags for Back To School

It's that time of the year again- some of us dread it while others look forward to it- going back to school. While my back-to-school days are over, one of my favorite parts to the start of a new school year was shopping for it. And by shopping, I don't mean for school supplies but for clothes and accessories. Look good, feel good, do good, right? I think one of the essential things every fashionable back-to-schooler needs is a good bag- not just one that can hold your books but also match your outfits. Something roomy enough to carry all your textbooks and versatile enough for a day at the mall or hanging out with your friends. Here are some of my picks for affordable bags for school:

(from left to right)
ASOS, Pieces Diana Shop Bag, $53.92
Forever 21, Twist of Fate Bag, $28.80
Harajuku Lovers, Pastel Girls Candy Bar Tote, $88.00

PacSun, Kirra Vidette Bag, $32.50
ModCloth, Get a Handle Shoulder Bag, $44.99
Urban Outfitters, Kimchi Blue Canvas Backpack, $68.00

Good luck to everyone this school year!

P.S. Clarisea winner to be announced this week...thanks for participating!

Review: Clarisea + Giveaway

I've been blessed with good skin on my face...I've had my problems here and there but generally I've been blemish free, especially during my teenage years when everyone else was desperately looking for acne solutions. But apparently, since I don't have pimples on my face, I have to get them somewhere else. Back acne, otherwise known as 'bacne', has plagued me since high school. It's ridiculously hard to get rid of and prevents me from wearing cute tops and bathing suits without being self conscious. I've used tons and tons of products to treat it and have even visited dermatologists, but to no avail. I recently stumbled across a line of products by Clarisea and decided to give it a shot- nothing to lose but 50 bucks right? Included in the Clarisea line of products are salts, both for your face and body (this will mainly be a review for the body but I'm sure many of my thoughts will hold true for the face products as well). So I'm not exactly sure why soaking your body in salts will do it good but here's an interesting excerpt I found from the website-

" The sodium chloride fights bacteria on the surface of skin while deeply exfoliating pores so existing blemishes heal more quickly and emerging breakouts are brought to the surface and flushed out....Different types of sea salts contain different percentages of sea minerals. The mineral content in most salts, including dead sea salt, is too dense and potent for sensitive facial skin. Clarisea's blend is different. It is specially formulated with a clarifying balance of ocean and mineral sea salt that leaves skin looking as clear and healthy as it does after a dip in the ocean. An optimal amount of sodium chloride deeply exfoliates pores and eliminates bacteria without stripping skin of its natural moisture while potassium, magnesium and calcium work to tone, soften and smooth out skin without causing redness or irritation. "

How to Treat Your Sunburnt Skin

First off, yesss...I am still alive! Sorry, I have been MIA as of lately but I've been a busy bee.

As for the CSN Stores and Skin Care Rx Giveaways, I just want to quickly thank those who have participated....Congrats to the winners, Colleen and Victoria!

Now onto my thought of the day, after spending a considerable amount of time out in the sun these past couple of months, I've encountered a sunburn or two. Spending a few hours outdoors may be fun, but that can equate to days of misery if I forget the sunblock- especially since I have fair, sensitive skin. So I did my digging online and I found a few helpful tips to treat your burns (courtesy of Wikihow):

• Use the succulent aloe vera plant. Cut it down the length of the leaf and open it, revealing the inner portion of it. Rub the clear gelatinous part, over the burned area. Repeat as often as you like.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing that will not irritate the affected areas.
• Noxema facial cleanser, sold in blue tubs, is extremely effective at removing the heat and the sting from a bad sunburn. Rub as much as possible onto the burned skin. Do not wash off; allow to soak in. Reapply as often as possible.
• Use a cool, damp cloth with skim milk and rest it on the spots where you are burned. The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort.
• You can also try taking a bath with green tea. The tannin in the tea draws out some of the pain and can soothe the redness.
• Hyrdrate your body!....Drink water, juices, etc.
• Above all, the next time you are in the sun, Wear sunscreen!

So, enjoy the hot (and sometimes disgusting) temperatures....but remember to keep your skin safe and lather on the sunscreen!

Giveaway: $50 Gift Card to SkinCareRx!

UPDATE: Giveaway is closed. Thanks for entering!
Hey guys, I'm very excited to bring you all this next giveaway. The lovely people over at SkinCareRx.com

have offered to giveaway a $50 gift card to one of you! SkinCareRx is an online skincare shopping site "created with the intention of making dermatologist and spa-grade, clinically active skin care more accessible." The site features countless brands and products and a 'Guaranteed Lowest Price' policy...pretty neat!

Since June is skin cancer awareness month, we should all remember how important it is to wear SPF. While we all love to have fun in the sun, especially in the coming months, protecting our skin from harmful rays is crucial. Thats why I'd like to spotlight the La Roche-Posay Anthelios

brand, which is sold on SkinCareRx.com. Products in the LaRoche-Posay line range in SPFs from 15 and 60 and uses the lastest advancements in sunscreen technology. Here is a spotlight on some of their products:

• La Roche-Posay Anthelios 15 Sunscreen (water resistant) retains its SPF level after 40 minutes of water activity.
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX 15 Moisturizing Cream keeps dry skin types hydrated and soft as it protects against damage
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra-Light Sunscreen Fluid provides the highest level of SPF protection in a non-greasy formula perfect for those with oily skin.
  

Now, on the giveaway... here's how to enter:

1) You must be a follower of Little Miss Savvy (Link on the right sidebar)
2) You will receive one or more entries for each of the following:

• Becoming a fan of SkinCareRx on FaceBook (1 entry)
• Following @SkinCareRx1 and @LittleMissSavvy on Twitter (1 entry)
• Retweet our tweet about your giveawaycontest (must @reply your tweet to @littlemisssavvy and @skincarerx1) (2 entries)
• Opting-in for the SkinCareRx Newsletter (found at the bottom of the SkinCareRx.com's website) (3 entries)
• Writing blog post in your own blog (10 entries)- Since it's Skincare awareness month, write your post on La Roche-Posay Anthelios. Topics include but are not limited to: the brand itself (La Roche-Posay Anthelios) and the importance of sunscreen and link back to SkinCareRx website, if you have used the product you can write about your experience and link back to SkinCareRx website, if you or someone you know have been diagnosed with skin cancer you can write about your experience and the importance of sunscreen and link back to SkinCareRx website (100 words)

3) Leave ONE comment in this post and let me know every entry that you made (For instance, if you tweeted, became a fan, and wrote a post on your blog, let me know in one comment). Include links to everything, if applicable (such as tweeting and writing a blog post). Also include your first name and email address.

As you can tell, there are many different ways to enter and it all can get a little confusing so shoot me a email at littlemisssavvy@gmail.com if you have any questions (please don't leave a question in the comments below). The winner will be chosen at random and contacted by me. I will then forward your info to SkinCareRx, who will email you your gift code directly. The code can be used at SkinCareRx.com, Apothica.com, and SkinBotanica.com. Giveaway is open worldwide.

Thanks everyone for entering and good luck!

Trend: Turquoise Jewelry

Summer's here! One of the hottest trends this season seems to be color, particularly turquoise. Personally, I love the color. It's just so bright and fun- reminds me of the ocean and lying by the beach. It also looks great pretty much on every skin tone. But, even so,I'm not sure if I want to wear a full on turquoise minidress- might be too flashy for me. I like it more subtle- a little bit of color here and there. So, one of my favorite ways to wear the color is through jewelry- you can match it with browns to create an earthly look or have it pop against a simple black or white tank. Here are some turquoise pieces I found on Etsy.com (a great place to look for unique accessories):

Aqua Drop Earrings, $16.00
Natural Turquoise Nuggets Necklace, $36.00

Lacy Earrings, $15.00
Turquoise Delight Necklace, $27.00

SF Ocean Beach Bobby Pins Set, $14.00
Blue Bead Brass Bracelet, $7.99

Click on the links for more info. So what do you think, yay or nay to turquoise?

Review: ELF Nail Polishes

Recently, I stopped by the Jack's 99 cents in Herald Square, NYC. For those of you who have never been there, it is basically 3 floors of cheap finds. I like to stop in there from time to time since they carry ELF's entire regular line (or most of it).Anyhow, I was surprised to see that they started carrying some of the new summer nail polish colors. The ones that I spotted were Lilac and Mint Green. Since I already own a similar green, I decided to go with the Lilac. I also picked out a Pearl Pink (turns out I really hate this color, too pearl-y?). While I wasn't really expecting much from a $1 nail polish, I was still a little bit disappointed. ELF's products are mostly hit and miss and I just really wanted this one to a hit. But no, not meant to be I guess. The formula is very very very watery. After I applied the first coat, my nails looked practically the same, maybe just a little more glossy. It took me about two or three more coats to get the color you see in the picture and who really wants to do all that work? Also, I noticed that the polish began to separate already...and I had only owned it for a day. So if you're looking for something to play around with, buying this couldn't hurt. But otherwise, try something else.

(+) Pros

• Cheap
• Nice bottle?

(-) Cons

• Watery Consistency
• Takes too much effort

Also, Don't forget to enter the CSN Stores giveaway for a chance to win a $40 gift card. Click here to enter!

$295 for a Cotton Bag!?!

A couple days, I was browsing the web and came across this headline- "Prada Launches Bags on a Budget". I think my heart might have skipped a beat- could I finally afford a Prada bag? Well, I clicked on the link and found this:

Wow, what a disappointment. $295 for a cotton bag?!?! I was hoping for a lower end leather bag, but instead found something that looked like it was made out of a tablecloth. Yes, the bag features the classic Prada logo, but would I fork over $300 just for that? Of course not. I'd rather take my $300 and spend it on something I could take somewhere other than the beach. Guess me and Prada will just have to wait, maybe it wasn't meant to be...

What are your thoughts? Would you spend $295 for this new Prada bag?

New Little Miss Savvy!

There's a new Little Miss Savvy coming your way! The site is currently under construction so please excuse our appearance...new site will be up soon!

*UPDATE*: New layout is here! I will still be tweaking a few things here and there so some things might change but this is the gist of it. What do you guys think? Love it? Hate it? Liked the old one better? Let me know!

P.S. We're now on twitter! Follow me @littlemisssavvy!

Same Look, Pay Less: Jimmy Choo Hunter Rain Boots

These Jimmy Choo Hunter rainboots have been very popular among celebs lately. Fashionistas such as Mary Kate Olsen and Hilary Duff have been sporting these crocodile style shoes around town in wet weather. I also happen to be in love with them, so sleek and stylish. But sadly, there is no way i could afford the $425 price tag.
So when I was browsing through Urban Outfitter's sale section and spotted these, of course, I was very excited! On sale for only $14.99!
They look very similar don't they!?! And at a fraction of the cost of the Jimmy Choos, they will keep my feet dry and my wallet happy.

U.O. is currently offering free shipping with any $75 purchase with the code SUMMERFOREVER. Also, check out the sale section, more great things to be found!

Giveaway: CSNstores.com

Recently, I was contacted by the team over at CSN Stores to host a giveaway for my readers. Naturally, I couldn't turn down a chance for you all to win something so I accepted! Keep in mind, I haven't purchase anything from this website before so I can't give you any reviews or feedback as to their products or customer service. This is purely a giveaway post! From what I know, CSNstores.com features 200+ stores so it seems like they have a HUGE variety of inventory...everything from sofas to shoes. I went on the site myself and here is a compilation of some of the beauty/fashion things you might find:
Pretty neat stuff, right? The winner will receive a $40 gift code toward their next purchase at CSNstores.com. The giveaway will end on June 20, 2010 at 12AM EST. The winner will be choosen randomly and CSNstores will be sending you the coupon code directly. Please check their website for information on where they ship to (I believe it is US and possibly Canada). As always, here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog (link located in the right sidebar)
   
2. Leave a comment with your name and email address (please make sure you are logged in and use the same email as the one you used to follow this blog). And voila, you're entered!
   
3. For one additional entry, you can post this on your blog or twitter (Include the link to the post with your name and email in a separate comment)

If you've shopped at CSN Stores before or are the winner, please let me know what you think, I would love to know! Good luck everyone!

To learn more about CSN Stores, visit their website at www.csnstores.com.

Same Look, Pay Less: Deena & Ozzy Chain Tote

I've been seeing this Chain Tote by Deena & Ozzy everywhere lately and I can see why- it's a cute yet edgy bag that works well for summer. It's also very roomy. It retails for $58 at Urban Outfitters. While out shopping today, I stopped by Strawberry (not sure if you can only find these stores in NYC) and saw this very similar look alike. The color was a little different but otherwise , perfect match. This particular one was $24.99 and they also had it in a grey/black color. If you're interested in getting the 'Chain Tote' look, check this bag out, it's less than half the price of the original (the particular Strawberry I went to is the one located in the Manhattan Mall in Herald Square). I was very tempted to purchase this but then I stopped myself, still saving up for that Gucci lol.

Stila It Girl Trio Palette $10 @ Sephora!

Hey all, just saw this deal on Sephora.com. You can get this "It Girl" Eyeshadow Trio Palette for only $10. For those of you who are already Stila fans, you will probably recognize the shadow all the way to right- the famed 'Kitten'. Kitten is a shimmery, champagne pink and Stila's best selling eyeshadow- and possibly one of the most popular colors of any brand. The palette also comes with Lame- a shimmering gold (no, the color is not 'lame', there is an accent mark on the e, just not sure how to do that on Blogger) and Chloe- a shimmering bronze. These shadows retail for $18 individually so you're getting quite a deal for all three. Click here to purchase one, while supplies last! Remember, free shipping for orders over $50 and free samples!

SKIN MD NATURAL 4th of July Backyard BBQ Giveaway!

Hey guys,
So in the past, I've wrote about Skin MD Natural and their shielding lotion (which is really great btw, check out my post here!). I was contacted again by the folks over there and they let me know about a giveaway they are hosting called the "4th of July Backyard BBQ Giveaway". The prize is pictured to the left and valued at over $300! Great items for backyard BBQ-ing fun and keeping your skin nice as well. For more info or to enter, click here. Also, they are offering 20% off during the month of June to get us ready for summer (use the code SUMMER10 at skinmdnatural.com)
Enjoy!

PS. Congrats to Cindy Z., winner of the Missiko Flat Iron Giveaway. Enjoy it!

Happy Memorial Day!

A little late...but Happy Memorial Day! A big thank you goes out to all the servicemen and women, past and present, for everything they've done. With Memorial Day also comes a three day weekend and the unofficial kickoff to summer! Hope everyone had a great few days, the weather was amazing here!

I spent my day at the beach, which was packed. Seems like the rest of New York was there too. But the weather was perfect and I even got a nice, little tan.

Also...great (unrealted) news, I passed 100 followers this weekend! Thanks for everyone who has read and supported my blog these past couple years. I realllly appreciate it and there will be a lot more from me coming your way!

Lastly, thanks to everyone who entered my Missiko Flat Iron giveaway. It will take me a little while to organize all the entries but I will try to have a winner picked and notified ASAP.

Now, back to work and school for us all tomorrow..boo. Have a great week everyone!

Review: NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Natural

If I had to choose between powder, cream, or gel blush, I would probably pick cream. I think it gives the most natural glow and color to your cheeks. With that said, I still use powder blush most of the time since I think its the easiest- just put some of your brush and apply it to your cheeks and you're good to go. With cream, there's a little more blending involved...not ideal for days when I only have a couple minutes to spare to put on makeup. I still really love the effect of it so I decided to pick up this cream blush by NYX in the color 02 Natural (fyi, NYX products are really great if you haven't tried them..and affordable too!). I purchased this online so I wasn't really sure about the color...I wanted something rosy, natural, and simple and this looked like it fit the bill. Some reviewers liken it to MAC's Lady Blush- I haven't tried that one yet so can't confirm. When I received it, I was really happy with the color. It's a gorgeous soft baby pink that gives a nice, dewy, everday glow to your cheeks. The texture is really, really creamy which makes it easy to apply too much so you have to be careful when you first use it- the first time I used it, my cheek looked ridiculous. I used a stippling brush to apply it, which I thought worked really well. You could also just use your fingers and blend it out. Here is a swatch and the ingredients list on the back:

(+) Pros:

• Beautiful color!
• Cheap- about $6
• Natural looking finish
• Creamy so it can be used on lips too
  

(-) Cons:

• Might be a bit too creamy- easy to apply too much

Overall, I really like this product...might just go back to cream blushes for a bit. What do you guys think about cream blushes?

40 Beauty Questions!

Recently, one of my favorite Makeup Gurus on youtube, Meganheartsmakeup, did the "40 Beauty Questions" tag. I actually learned a few things and it seemed like a lot of fun. It's a tag that I can do on my blog...so here it is!

SKINCARE
-How many times do you wash your face daily? Twice, morning and night
-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo) Dry
-What is your current facial wash? St. Ives Green Tea Cleanser
-Do you exfoliate? Yes, about 2 times a week

-What brand do you use? St. Ives Apricot Scrub…a bit harsh for some but I love it
-What moisturizer do you use? LUSH Celestial
-Do you have freckles? Nope
-Do you use eye cream? No, but I should
-Do you or did you have acne prone skin? Nope
-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ? No

MAKE-UP
-What foundation do you use? Youngblood Mineral Foundation
-How about concealer? ELF
-Do you know your undertone color? Yellow
-What do you think of fake eyelashes? Great for dramatic effect
-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months? Yes I do but I always have a hard time throwing out my makeup
-What brand of mascara do you use? Maybelline
-Sephora or MAC? Sephora
-Do you have a MAC Pro-card? No
-What makeup tools do you use in make up application? Brushes, sponges, my fingers?
-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes? Yes
-For the face? Sometimes
-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)? MAC Satin Taupe (or anything similar)
-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner? Cream
-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil? Not often since I rarely use pencil
-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows? Great color but messy
-Do you use mineral makeup? Yes, love mineral makeup
-What is your favorite lipstick? Covergirl TruShine in 465 (not sure if this is still sold)
-How about lipgloss? Not big on lip gloss..prefer to use Rosebud Salve is I want a glossier look
-What is your favorite blush to use? MAC Blush in Gentle
-Do you buy your makeup on ebay? I have…wouldn’t really recommend it but do your research and you should be fine.
-Do you like drugstore makeup? Yes, they have some great, inexpensive makeup
-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets) I have but not frequently since I don’t live too close to one
-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes? Nope, but those sound like fun.
-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup? In the beginning, very. But now, I’ve gotten better…sorta…lol.
-Name a makeup crime that you hate? Too much, keep it simple!
-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones? Neutral ones, I’m a plain jane.
-Which celebrity always has great make up? Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson, etc.
-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use? Blush
-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Yes
-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on? Yes, but not as good?
-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line? Benefit
-What do you think of Makeup? Can work wonders…(in moderation)

I tag you all! Let me know if you do it...I would love to see what your answers are!

Love & Beauty Nail Polish + Ramble

A few posts back, I blogged about the new hot trend this season...mint nail polish. While I was waiting in line at Forever 21 and bored, I was browsing through the piles of cosmetics from their new "Love & Beauty" line near the registers and spotted this shade...appropriately named Mint. At $2.80, I had to give it test. Turns out I really like it! I loveeeee the color and the quality is pretty good too...might be heading back to F21 for more.

Just an update on my life...I'm back in the city and done with college! Yippeee! I'm really excited for the summer and the start of this next chapter in my life. I definitely have more free time now to blog so hopefully, you guys will be reading more of me in the near future. Let me know if you have any posts you want to see. Don't forget the Missiko giveaway...another 1+ week left. I also have a couple other giveaways lined up for the summer so look out for those. Hope everyone's having a great weekend and enjoying the amazzzzing weather!

Mmmmm....fresh spicy tuna kimbap....I love summer in the city!
Until next time...Little Miss Savvy

Review: Wet n Wild Coloricon Palettes

If you've been browsing through the makeup offerings at your local drugstore lately, you've probably come across these: Coloricon by Wet n Wild. These particular palettes come with 6 shadows (3 matte and 3 shimmer each). I believe I also saw singles and doubles eyeshadow palettes available in this collection as well. I found these palettes at Rite Aid for $4.99 each. But luckily, I got them for buy one, get one free. This week, Rite Aid is having a BOGO on all Wet n Wild products, as long as you have their new Wellness+ membership card, which is free and takes about 30 seconds to sign up for. These two palettes attracted me the most...I saw another palette (not sure of the name) that had mostly neutral browns..which normally I would jump at but after looking at my makeup collection lately, I felt that I needed to venture out of my normal color zone a bit. So the two palettes that I pick up were 248 Lust and 246 Greed. Here's are some more up-close pictures and swatches:

248 Lust

246 Greed

As you can tell, I really liked the color payoff of "Lust" way better. The lighter colors from "Greed" barely showed up on my skin at all, though the black and shimmery gray weren't too shabby. With a bit of primer, these shadows could be great. For $4.99 a piece, they're definitely worth it for those who are just starting to use makeup, want to build up their collection, or just want to play around with some colors. I have yet to really test them so more updates to come on their lasting power. I will be doing some looks with these in the future, so look out for them. Let me know if you've tried these palettes and whether you like them or not!

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Missiko Hana Flat Iron Giveaway!

Havaianas @ Gilt Groupe!

Hey guys! I was just browsing through Gilt Groupe and found that they have a Havaianas sale going on right now!! Just in time for summer. For those of you who don't know what those are, they are basically really comfortable flip flops. I hear its like walking on clouds. While I really love my Old Navy ones, I've been dying to try these out and grabbed myself a couple pairs. They are as cheap as 2 for $18, which is about 50% off retail. Check them out, if you need an invite to Gilt, link is on the side bar. Sale ends 5/17 at midnight. Happy shopping!

Review: Misikko Hana Flat Iron + Giveaway!

I recently received this Hana Professional 1" Flat Iron from Misikko.com. I usually try to flat iron my hair if I have time or want my hair to look presentable for some reason. If I'm off to class or grocery shopping, I would probably skip that step since my hair is fairly straight to begin with. I just like that extra smooth look. I had been in the market for a new flat iron so I was really excited to test this out. Their claim to fame is that they have the "Best Flat Iron" with their Hana 1". First off, props to Misikko for this adorable packaging- I am a big sucker for cute packaging and they definitely got to me with the bows and plastic roses. Their shipping was very speedy- received it in about a week. My package came with the following items: 1" Flat Iron, Heat Mat, Tin Case, Leather (ish) Storage case, Storage pouch, Shine Shield, and complimentary hand sanitizer and emery boards (standard when you order this flat iron). I got the pink iron which I really loved (yes, i'm kind of a girly girl). While my review may not have a whole lot of merit since I have generally straight Asian hair to begin with, I was pleasantly surprised with this iron. I had never really invested money in a good iron (never spent more than $40 on one), so I could really see the difference between a cheap one and a professional one. It didn't seem to "fry" my hair as much and gave my hair a smooth, shiny look afterwards. Here are some more descriptions from Misikko.com:

• Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
• Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color & retards fading
• Floating 1” Plates Auto-Adjust To Glide Over Any Hair Texture
• Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling - Curl, Flip or Straighten!
• Adjustable Temperature Dial - 5 Settings from 140-450° F for All Hair Types
• Flash Heats in Seconds with Instant Compensation for Heat Loss
• Ergonomic Handle Design with No-Slip Grip
• Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Strands Separate and Snag-Free
• Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord Swivels 360°; Convenient Hanging Loop
• Energy Efficient at 38 Watts
• Independent On/Off Switch
• Made in Korea
• Two Year Warranty

As, you can see, the iron is made in Korean, home of all awesome flat irons, I hear? The flat iron is currently sold for $118 online with free shipping, and includes everything you see in the box above (including the shine shield, which I haven't tested yet but will in another post). Yes, this is a hefty sum. It is a professional flat iron so you get you the quality you pay for. If you're looking for a quality flat iron that you will put in good use and willing to invest in a nice one, this is a great option. If you're just looking for one to play around with from time to time, you can probably just purchase one at Target. If you're interested, Misikko also sells CHI Flat Irons, FHI Flat Irons, and Professional Hair Dryers (sorry, no reviews on those). Also, here are some before and after pics of my hair after using the flat iron if you're interested:

Now, on to the fun part, Misikko has graciously offered to give away the Hana 1" Flat Iron to one of my readers plus all the extra goodies I got as well (basically, everything pictured above minus me). Here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog (link located in the right sidebar)
   
2. Leave a comment with your name and email address (please make sure you are logged in and use the same email as the one you used to follow this blog). And voila, you're entered!
   
3. For an additional entry, you can do the following: (Please post your name and email in a separate comment)

• Post this on your blog or twitter (Include link in comment)
  
• Follow Misikko on Twitter (www.twitter.com/misikko)
• Join Misikko Newsletter on their website (you will get 3 additional entries for this but you only need to post one additional comment)

Contest will end on May 31st at 12 AM/EST time. US and Canadian entries only please. One winner will be chosen randomly and notified through email. Prize will be shipped directly from Misikko. Please email me if you have any questions. Thanks and good luck everyone!

Note: The product mentioned above was given to me for review and the thoughts reflect my own personal opinions.