essence music fest beauty suitesThough most people associate Essence Music Festival with music and the amazing food of New Orleans, there were quite a few beauty events going on. So many beauty soirees went down that I almost didn't have enough room in my suitcase. The pic below shows how jam packed my bag was of goodies I scored from some of my favorite brands. My luggage weighed in at 47.5 pounds and undoubtedly, half of that was hair and body products. And of course all of the products are super affordable.
natural hair products, body products

natural hair care, pantene conditionerWhen it comes to hair care, I lean towards brands that specialize in natural hair. Products that moisturize my parched locks, keep frizz at bay and give my kinks some definition is always at the top of my list.I previously used a few Pantene products when my hair was relaxed, but post-natural, I haven't touched any of the company's products. So I was curious to try the Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural collection. Specifically designed for the naptural girl, the five products range from shampoo to conditioner to styling aides.

natural hair careI rarely post beauty reviews and on the site {I typically leave brief recommendations for Instagram: @LookingFlyonaDime} but I had to change that up for a few reasons. I had a few of you comment on the mega bun I rocked during my last Today Show fashion segment. Some said it looked super moisturized and others just wanted to know how I managed to make it so big. I followed an easy tutorial on essence.com for the look. But as far as products, it was all about the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie.My hair is ultra dry but I've been using the smoothie for a while now on freshly washed hair or parched locs that need some extra TLC. It makes my hair manageable and sleek enough to put in a bun.While I'm a serious Shea Moisture convert when it comes to hair products {their Moisture Retention Shampoo and Deep Treatment Masque is also great}, it was only recently that I tried their body products.

If there's a woman in your life who needs {and deserves} a bit of pampering, why not gift her bath and beauty products? She'll feel like she stepped in to a spa or salon, but it's cheaper and she doesn't even have to leave the comfort of her home. From bath sets to makeup palettes that flatter women of all shades, she'll love these picks. Oh, and everything's less than $100!
Argan oil works wonders for hair and skin and you can't go wrong with this six piece kit. They're travel-size, so perfect for a vacation or stashed in your purse for a mid-day touch up.
Josie Maran and QVC

Caress body wash

When you think of Caress, you probably think of soap and body wash. Well, that's what I immediately think of. I remember using Caress soap as a little girl when I'd sleep over at my grandma's house. The girlie girl in me was drawn to the pink bar of soap. But that was years ago and Caress has certainly grown beyond the pink oval soap.
Fashion and beauty go hand in hand, that's something we know for sure. So I was excited when I heard about Caress teaming up with top fashion experts, aka the Fabulistas, to offer women fashion and beauty advice all in one.
The three experts {June Ambrose, Sonia Castaneda and Lilliana Vazquez} dish out easy to digest style and beauty advice all while letting you know about Caress' new body washes. I've tried the Passionate Spell Body Wash and it's amazing {great lather without drying out the skin and the smell is divine!}.
June Ambrose is a top stylist for the stars you love {Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, etc.}, and while she has access to top designer threads, she offers tips everyday women can utilize.
The Caress Facebook page has a ton of useful videos but the one I really love is June's advice on how to wear white after Labor Day.