Gray Does Not Equal Old

It's happened.

I just discovered my first pigmentally-challenged (yes, I just made that up) hair.

It's gray, people. There I was, sitting in my car, looking into the mirror attached to the sun visor, when it popped out at me from behind my ear.

I thought it may have been a reflection of the light. Even though my hair is naturally pretty dark, I get some strands of lighter brown and even a few blondes mixed in, which can be seen more easily in direct light.

But, nope... this one was definitely gray. Maybe even silver... white, almost.

Most people would begin the freak-out process and have a mild panic attack. Some people pluck them out, some begin to dye their hair when more grays appear. But not me.

Okay, I just lied to you. I did pluck it out. But it was to get a closer look to confirm if it was actually gray or not because of the lighting situation I just described. I promise.

Anyway... there was no mental breakdown or ballistic-like behaviors being exhibited. There was no shortness of breath, or eye-widening, or sobbing. My composure was nowhere near being lost. I felt more surprised than anything, though I'm not sure why. I suppose I simply wasn't expecting to see it. Do we ever anticipate it? Probably not.

Here's the thing. Gray hair is hair that has lost its pigmentation because the follicle from which it has grown has stopped producing melanin. That's it. If you don't believe me, look it up. Go ahead... I'll wait.

Everyone sees the results of this lack of pigmentation at different ages, and it's just because of genetics. If I ask my mother, I'm sure she would tell me it was around the same age I am now that she noticed her first gray hairs as well. In fact, I distinctly recall her favorite story to tell: that she had only three gray hairs for the longest time. One for my brother, one for me, and one for my dad. My parents separated when I was two, which would make her 28 at the time. Right on the money. Everyone also sees the results of this lack of pigmentation in different stages. After seeing the first few, that same person could take decades for their hair to turn fully gray, silver, or white. My mom dyes her hair now, as quite a few more than the first three have emerged. However, if she didn't (read: when her roots grow out), it could be seen that she is far from total grayscale, 25 years later.

Science aside, I understand the emotions behind the freak outs. Gray hair is a symbol of aging. I'm old! Only old people have gray hair! And aging, unfortunately, is looked down upon in our society. Youth is idolized, glorified, something to maintain as long as our pockets are big enough to support it with cosmetic procedures galore: Botox, face lifts, nose jobs, eyelid lifts, teeth whitening, etc., etc., etc. People buy their way to youth, even long past its expiration date.

Aging is natural. We all do it. We're all doing it right now, this very second. And it's okay. The number of years that have accumulated since you've been born is irrelevant. The old cliche comes into play here: Age is just a number. It's all about how you feel. And I feel that this gray hair symbolizes nothing more than the very real science behind why it's gray in the first place.

I'm sure someone reading this is thinking, Well, if you don't care about it at all why are you writing an entire blog post about it? Because there's more to it than just, "It's how you feel on the inside that counts!"

We, as a society, revere youth and reject senescence. But why? Why do we care so much about how we look rather than about what we do? Perhaps it's because we fear death, and aging means we're closer to it. Perhaps we're really all just vain, superficial beings. Whatever the reason, I choose not to live that way.

I like who I am. Loving myself as I am allows me to be happier with who I am, with the people around me, and in general. It also allows me to change for the better more easily. I believe in personal development and improvement of self, and, for me, that improvement doesn't include drinking from the Fountain of Youth. This isn't Tuck Everlasting.

The first gray... it's okay. I don't suddenly feel ancient. The world didn't end. I don't feel any older than I was five seconds before I saw it. I plan to embrace the next one, as it just means I'm even more badass than I was before.

Besides, it could be worse. At least I'm not balding, right? 

Glossybox Review: December

Well, hello there!

I finally got a chance to sample all the products I received in the December Glossybox. If you missed the initial unveiling post about the products, what they are, what they do, descriptions, costs, etc., make sure to check that out here first.

The first product, the Ecru New York Acacia Protein Oil for hair, was great. I did an initial reaction review in the other post after using it once. Again, the only negative was that the sample was so small I could only get two uses out of it. My hair has decent length, and if yours is any longer than mine, you'd only be able to get one use of the sample. However, that being said, the product itself worked very well. I actually just purchased the full size to try because I want to see how it will last over prolonged use. Both times that I used the sample, my hair dried faster, was smooth and shiny, and no knots whatsoever the whole day, and woke up with tangle-free hair even after sleeping on it.

Next, the Forest Essentials Luxurious Ayurveda Maduari Jasmine & Magra Bath and Shower Oil. Phew, that's a mouthful. Basically, this oil is supposed to moisturize skin and keep it smooth and silky all day. It can be used in the shower after cleansing, or two capfuls can be poured into a bath to soak. Overall, this product is okay. The sample size is great, because you can get multiple uses out if it and see what it does for you. This oil did seem to leave my skin slightly smooth, but it didn't seem to be anything amazing. Maybe it's because I don't usually have a problem with dry skin, except for my face and scalp in the winter. Though I could feel the oil kept my skin smooth, I didn't feel any extra moisturization or silkiness to my skin after using it.

Heartland Fragrance Co. Epsom Bath Salts in White Tea: It smells pretty good. That's about it. On the front of the package, it states to use the whole sample in a bath, or to massage a handful into skin to exfoliate. I'm really not a bath person, so I chose the latter. I poured a little into my hand and massaged it into my hands and forearms (with water) to test it. I didn't feel much, but wanted to see if I would notice it after it was rinsed off. I rinsed, but my skin still didn't feel any different. I tried again, using much more of the sample, thinking maybe I needed more for it to work. Repeated the process, but I didn't notice a change. It didn't seem to do much. Perhaps it would work better for what it is actually suited for -- a bath. However, I don't particularly like to take baths, so I guess I'll never find out.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Heat Protectant Spray: To be fair, I only used this product once, before blow drying my hair. However, from the one use, I don't particularly like it. I'm not really sure it did anything, and it left my hair stiff and weighed down. It wasn't smooth at all, and I couldn't run my fingers through it easily. It felt like I sprayed hair spray all over it instead of a heat protectant. Maybe I will try it again styling a different way and see if it's any better.

Pleats Please fragrance by Issey Miyake: My first reaction it that I don't believe this product is worth the price. The full size is only 3oz. and the price is $92. That's slightly ridiculous in my opinion. My second reaction is that I have no idea how to describe scents. The fragrance itself isn't bad, but it's not something I absolutely love. It's definitely a more mature scent. It's not unpleasant, just not my preferred personal taste.

Zoya Nail Lacquer in "Storm": I loved this polish. The color is awesome and actually pigmented, unlike some other sparkly glitters that don't have any real color to them and are just sheer with glitter. The sparkle isn't too much or too crazy, which I like, especially because I'm an ASL teacher and that probably coincide well. I paired it with Sally Hansen's clear top coat, and it lasted for a long time. Some polishes chip easily right away, but I put this one on New Year's Eve, and I just took it off this past weekend because it had finally chipped enough to the point of having no reason to keep it on.

Jewelmint ring: I still really like this. I like to wear rings on a daily basis, but it's such a statement piece that I can't wear any others with it on the same hand. The shape is a little odd, as the part that actually goes onto your finger is square instead of round. It works, but sometimes it gets a little stuck, though I don't know if that's because of the weird shape or because my fingers are too fat for it, hahaha. But, I still like it and will definitely continue to wear it.

That's all for this one! I'd say my first Glossybox experience was a success. I like trying out these different products that I would probably never know about otherwise. The January box should be shipping soon -- and is a special -- so I will do a review after I use those as well.

Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading! Have you tried Glossybox? If not, do you think you'd want to try it? Did you get these products in your December box? What do you think?

My First Glossybox: December

Glossybox!

I'm actually pretty excited about this.

I've been hearing about Glossybox for a few months now, thanks to a few beauty gurus I'm subscribed to on YouTube. My favorite is Sarah, AKA FierceFelineChic. Go check out her channel; she's awesome!

Glossybox is a monthly subscription, kind of like a magazine, except with Glossybox, you receive samples of higher end beauty products. There are several subscription boxes out there, with a variety of product ranges. The Glossybox products are different each month, and usually there is an extra product you get for free. It's $21 a month, which for the products you get, is a fantastic price.

I haven't tried the products in the December box, except for two. I don't know how I feel about one of them yet due to the small sample size, but I'll get to that.

Before I do that, I must give a little disclaimer. I am certainly not a beauty guru. I've just recently began to use beauty products beyond shampoo and conditioner. I was never very girly, and wasn't much into makeup, fashion, hair, or anything related. I am quite new to this industry, even as a consumer. Maybe that's good, as you will be getting a review (when I use the products) from a regular person. Maybe it's not; you decide!

First, I'll show you what you get when you receive the box.

Packaging

Right away, I noticed I loved the packaging and the box. It's simple, but still pretty. The box is sturdy and can be re-used for other things like storing other makeup or products, a piggy bank, or other organization.

Holiday wrapping

I also love the holiday wrapping that came with the inside. Really cute and pretty, like it was personally made just for me.

Glossybox Mag and Product List

Next, you receive the Glossybox Magazine, which this month includes new trends for 2013, a Q&A with a celebrity hair stylist, editor's picks, and more. The card to the right is the product list for everything included in the box this month. On the reverse side is a note from the team which is included  in each box.

The samples!

Upon unwrapping, I find this month's samples. Sorry this picture is a little dark! It includes a hair protein oil, a bath and shower oil, epsom bath salts, a dry heat protectant spray, a new fragrance sample, a Zoya nail lacquer, and the extra item is a piece of jewelry from Jewelmint.

Ecru New York Cosmetic Hair Care Acacia Protein Oil

From the card: "This multi-tasking elixir provides superb conditioning and moisturization while reducing drying time, eliminating frizz and mending split ends. Protect your hair against heat damage with this restoring and smoothing hair serum."

Full size 1.07 oz., $30

Protein Oil sample

The only thing I don't like about this one is the actual sample size. It's only .03 oz., and I feel like that's not enough to get an actual sample out of it, especially if you have any length to your hair at all. I tried to use a small amount of it so I could get more than one try out of it, but being so small, there's not much you can do. I used about half for the first try of it, and I think it worked. Normally after I shower, I put in Sexy Healthy Hair's Soy Tri-Wheat Leave-in Conditioner, which I loved because it left my hair soft and smooth. Instead, I used this protein oil. For only using half of this small sample, it did leave my hair smooth and soft as well. I also noticed my hair dried faster than usual, even though it dries pretty quickly already. After I went to bed and woke up in the morning, my hair had absolutely no knots! It was still as smooth as it was the night before, and shiny. For the small amount that I used, It worked really well. I just wish I was able to see how well it fairs with more than one use.

Forest Essentials Luxurious Ayurveda Maduari Jasmine & Magra Bath & Shower Oil

From the card: "This after-bath and shower moisturizer is a seductive blend of essential and all-natural oils formulated to leave your skin smooth, with a subtle, seductive scent. Apply this oil on wet skin to seal in moisture."

Full size 6.8 oz., $22

This sample size is 3.38 oz., nearly half of the full size. I haven't used this yet, but I'm excited to. I wanted to try it the same time I tried the protein oil, but I had already dried off and I forgot it was meant for wet skin.

Heartland Fragrance Co. Epsom Bath Salts

"Indulge in healing aromatherapy with these 100% pure Epsom bath salts. Treat yourself to a full body boost with these herb-infused accents in your bathing routine. Use weekly to dramatically reduce tension and refresh your skin."

Full size 30 oz., $10

The sample is 5.5 oz. and states it can be used in a bath, or, "massage a handful of Epsom Bath Salt into your skin to exfoliate." I probably will not be using it in a bath, as I am not really a bath person and can't remember the last time I took one. I will, however, try it out as an exfoliant instead.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Heat Protectant Spray

"A dry spray protectant enriched with keratin proteins and paraben free, this product is your best defense against heat styling and hot tools. The unique formula strengthens and protects your precious tresses, enhances shine and ensures a firm hold - prepare for fabulous hairstyling!"

Full size 4 oz., $23

The sample is .75 oz. The only heat protectant spray I've ever used was Tresemme's, and I didn't feel like it did much of anything. I don't use heat very often at all to style my hair; I usually just wash and condition, use my leave-in conditioner I mentioned above, comb out any tangles, and I'm finished. I don't even blow dry it, unless it's too cold out to let it air dry and I need to leave for work. 

I've also recently found out hair terrible drugstore hair products are for your hair, so I will not be using Tresemme's heat protectant, or their shampoo and conditioner that I've been using, or any others. FierceFelineChic (Sarah) went to school at Paul Mitchell and just made a video about this topic. Click the link above to her channel to see; it's called "Horrifying Truth about Drugstore Hair Products." Basically, the FDA does not regulate what these brands put into their products, so you are getting horribly made products and putting them into your hair. Sarah explains more about it, and does a much better job of doing so. I know the drugstore products are cheaper and easier affordable, however, I'm going to work the professional products into my budget from now on as to not destroy my hair with awful ingredients in the drugstore brands.

Anyway, whenever I decide to not be lazy and actually style my hair using heat, I'll try out this heat protectant spray and see how it goes!

Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, Eau de Toilette

Don't you love those fancy phrases? "Eau de Toilette." Can't we just say perfume? Anyway, this is a new fragrance out by Issey Miyake -- I know, who? I have no idea either.

"Exclusive USA Online Launch Partner"

"A fashion forward fragrance inspired by worled renowned designer Issey Miyake's iconic Pleats Please ready-to-wear line. Enjoy the effervescent, sensual and addictive notes which embody the essence of joy, femininity, and elegance."

Full size 3.4 oz., $92

Holy #$@! Ninety two dollars? For 3 ounces? This better be the best damn perfume ever! The sample size is .03 oz., and taking it out of the packaging and smelling the nozzle area, it has a fairly nice scent. After spraying it once, it's really not bad at all. It's pleasant, and a slightly more mature and sophisticated scent than I expected. I will probably use the entire sample, but I don't think I love it enough to purchase the full size, mostly due to the price. If I loved the fragrance, I might save for it or ask for it for Christmas or my birthday, but I don't think it's quite worth it.

Zoya Nail Laquers in "Storm"

"These uniquely ornate nail laquers will transform your nails into jewels. The long-wearing and toxin-free formula will keep your nails sparkling all season, and looking their glossy best."

Full size .05 oz., $8

The sample size here is actually the full size amount, so that's pretty awesome. Right away I absolutely loved this color. I immediately thought it was perfect for a New Year's eve party, so I think that's when I'm going to try it out. Some people got the silver version of this, which is awesome too, but I'm glad I got this one. I opened it, and it has real color to it also, unlike some other sparkly polishes that are just all sparkle and glitter with nothing else to it. It looks very pretty, so I'm excited to try it.

And, last but not least...

Jewelmint ring

"Jewelry, as a special gift this Holiday Season...

Inspired by the runway, vintage jewelry and on-trend celebrity style, JewelMint.com offers a versatile jewelry collection each month and recommends pieces that match your personal style."

Various Styles $29.99

I thought it was pretty cool of them to add an extra piece, and have it be a jewelry item for the holidays. Normally I don't like the bigger, chunkier pieces, but I actually like this one. It's interesting and different, but not too crazy. My boyfriend doesn't like it, but that won't stop me from wearing it!

And there you have it. Those are all the items in the Decemeber Glossybox. When I try them all out, I'll do a second post reviewing the products. Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for reading!