Hask Charcoal Hair Care Review

I am a believer that Spring cleaning shouldn't be restricted to your closet. Spring is a great time to start fresh and really clean out your life. This applies to our beauty routines as well! Between hairspray, smoothing serums, and dry shampoo- I know my scalp could use some extra help this Spring! And after my last experience, I jumped at the opportunity to test out another Hask hair care collection!

I've been using a charcoal face wash for months now, but never even thought about the benefits this superstar ingredient could bring to my hair. Charcoal works like a magnet to remove impurities and leave you squeaky clean! It worked for my face, so I couldn't wait to see what it did with my hair. Before getting started with the line, I had a few concerns. First- was it going to smell good? I've always been concerned with how my hair products smell, and this really intrigued me. Second- would it impact the color of my hair? While I'm not blonde, my hair does get lighter over the summer and I didn't want to start seeing (more) gray hair thanks to my shampoo.

After my first use, my concerns were addressed. In addition to the charcoal, there are lemon and grapefruit oils in the shampoo. They leave my hair smelling WONDERFUL. I seriously want to get a whiff of my hair all day after my shower! For my second concern, Hask was one step ahead of me. The bottle is labeled safe for use with all hair colors and types, and gentle enough to be used every day. I did not even see the slightest discoloration after use and haven't noticed it since! All I notice is the clean and beautiful hair this line has helped me to have.

The entire line consists of shampoo, conditioner, and a purifying deep-conditioner. As I mentioned, you can use it every day without experiencing the unnecessary dryness associated with other purifying remedies. My hair feels light, clean, and moisturized. Want to know something that makes this even better? It's available for less than $6 per bottle!! It's a winner in my book! Interested in getting some for yourself? Check out their website!

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Hask Hair Care to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!

Valentia Skin Detoxifying Face Mask Review

Is it just me or has the term "self-care" become a buzz word lately? Every social media platform I use is flooded with ways to do this seemingly difficult task lately. Is there a secret key or series of steps to follow to figure it out? I'm not sure. I certainly don't have that! But I agree wholeheartedly that self-care is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and love that there are so many ways to accomplish it!

One of my favorite ways to take care of myself is an at home spa day or quick pamper session. My schedule changes on a daily basis, so sometimes I only have time for a quick face mask while other times allow for a long soak in a bubble bath. No matter the length, I always walk away from my pampering feeling refreshed and lighter. Due to this habit of mine, I love to try out new treatments and products. After my last experience with Valentia (read more here), I couldn't wait to try this detox mask!

For those of you who haven't heard about this great brand- prepare to be impressed. They use natural ingredients paired with effective science to address skin problems all over the spectrum. In addition to being natural, Valentia's products are also fee of parabens, toxins, and harsh chemicals found in other products. On top of that- this mask is vegan and cruelty-free. It seriously fits all of the criteria I look for in my skin care products. Hello, beautiful!

This detoxifying mask has to be the best scented clay mask that I've ever used. It had a light botanical smell as opposed to the earthy, well, muddy smells most masks have. But don't let the pleasant smell fool you. It packs a serious detoxifying punch! After applying a thin layer to your face, allow it to work its magic for 15-20 minutes. The mask stiffens up and lets you know when it's dry! The ingredients have natural fibers that will provide extra cleansing and exfoliation as you remove the mask. Simply massage in circles as you was it off! 

After use, my skin is soft and clean. As with most masks designed to extract impurities, this did cause a few pimples after use. Don't fret- this means that the mask did its job to remove the junk lodged deep in my pores. Just don't use it too close to an important event if your skin is similar to mine!  This product was a home run for me and I can't wait to continue to use it during future pampering sessions! If you want more of this great brand- check out their shop, Instagram, and Facebook!

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Valentia to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder! 

WHEN Face Mask Review

Hey y'all! Sorry I've been a bad blogger lately- work has been ridiculous and I'm barely keeping my head afloat. I had to break my silence to share a review of an AMAZING new product I was introduced to: WHEN face masks! This wasn't my first experience with sheet face masks, but was definitely my favorite one that I've used so far.

WHEN uses all natural, gentle ingredients to create a comfortable bio-cellulose sheet mask. The mask is derived from coconuts- how cool is that?! (I'm definitely glad I got over my hatred of coconuts recently or I would've missed out!) These masks are soaked in rich serums and can be found in bright, convenient single mask packs. WHEN has a few different types of masks to chose from that produce different results depending on your individual needs. I selected the 10:00PM and the Travelmate masks. These two masks in particular are designed to deliver serious hydration to your skin and keep you looking rejuvenated. They worked WONDERS for me!

My favorite part of my experience with these masks was the actual mask. The holes are arranged in a comfortable way and allow the mask to lay flat on your skin. With other sheet masks I've used in the past, the holes weren't in the right places and didn't allow for comfortable wear. I really appreciated how cozy the masks felt. The mask made contact with my skin in all the necessary spots- even around my nose!- and allowed me to soak up every bit of moisture during my 30 minute treatment. Upon removing the mask itself, I gave myself a mini-facial to make sure that I soaked in all of the serum that was still on my face. After each mask my skin felt renewed, nourished, smooth, and fully hydrated. It's such an incredible feeling after my dry, scaly winter skin!

It's no secret that I love a good pamper session, and these will definitely be present in my future at-home spa days! Interested in getting some for yourself? Check out their website or one of the convenient retailers that stock these beauties- such as Sephora or Ulta.

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from WHEN to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!

Royal Rose Hydrating Serum Review

I'm absolutely a creature of habit- there's no denying that. I love a good routine and feel at peace when things run according to plan. My skincare routine is probably the least predictable of all of my routines, because I LOVE trying new products. My routine also gets modified often because I have so many different products at my fingertips that I've used that produce awesome results. I'm all for mixing and matching different types of products to achieve my best fresh face! Things have been quiet out here on my blog as it relates to my beauty/skin care favorites, but I have to break the silence to share a new great product that I've been using- Valentia's royal rose hydrating serum! (showcased here earlier this month)

Valentia is a skin care brand that focuses on creating products that are natural, free of toxins, paraben-free, and effective. I was unfamiliar with their products before using this one, and am so glad to have been introduced! I'm very careful about what I put on my face and these products pass the scrutiny test. This particular serum packs a serious punch of moisture, antioxidants, and soothing botanicals. It's designed to smooth out you skin's texture and tone while nourishing. Hello, gorgeous skin! 

Valentia's royal rose hydrating serum is not only beautifully packaged, but it is potent. I could feel the hydration immediately after my first use. No burning, no itching, and no sticky feeling follows application either. Over my first week, I noticed more radiance in my skin and I felt as though my skin was glowing even before I put any makeup on! The serum is more of a thin lotion that a traditional serum. It's so easy to use and doesn't run all over the place or promote wastage of product. You only need 1-2 pumps to coat your entire face and neck, so this bottle is extremely cost effective at $35. It has a dreamy and light rose scent, not surprising given the ingredients. Overall, it's a hit!

A quick testimony to the results I've seen: unless I'm sick, I rarely leave my house without applying some form of makeup to my skin. I just prefer the little bit of confidence I get from having nice-looking skin when I go out. Even just a tinted moisturizer or BB cream will make me feel better before I leave. On Saturday morning, I actually went out to pick up some breakfast bare faced. THIS IS HUGE FOR ME! I definitely owe my newfound comfort with my skin to this fantastic serum.

If you want more information about Valentia or the royal hydrating serum, check out their website. To purchase, you can head here. And as always, please reach out to me if you have any questions that are left unanswered!

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Valentia to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!

How to grow (and keep) long, healthy hair

I have a love/hate relationship with the length of my hair. It's actually pretty funny when I think about it- because I function on a pretty predictable cycle. I grow my hair out long, then get bored and want to do something drastic. I wimp out of anything drastic and just go for a shoulder-length cut. Then I try to grow my hair out again. Actually committing that to words makes me realize how crazy it all is- but it's true! Each time I get to the long length stage, I'm flooded with questions of how I maintain my hair, so I thought I'd share some of my best tips on how to grow long and healthy hair with y'all!

Let me start by saying that I'm blessed with thick strands of hair, and plenty of it! So my specific approach to hair has proven to be successful for me but may be different in some ways for those with thinner hair or fine strands. Aside from those details, these tips should be universal to help you along the path to becoming a long haired goddess!

The type of shampoo and conditioner you use matters. This is a natural place to start, as your shower products set the tone for the rest of your hairstyle. I have used many different brands and kinds of shampoo which has lead me to the realization that the type matters. I recommend starting your hair off with an oil-based shampoo. I'm currently using an argan oil based shampoo (read a full review here) but I've also obsessed over my macadamia oil shampoo. This helps keep my hair saturated with moisture from the very start and works to smooth out its coarse texture.

Use a gentle blow dryer when you use one. I've heard that the #1 source of heat damage for your strands comes from the blow dryer you use. Not what I expected, but I understand it! I love my Chi blow dryer and can seriously notice a difference after use as compared to my previous model. It not only dries my hair faster, but it's softer and smoother afterwards. I try to use the low heat setting when possible, and use a large round brush to avoid blasting one section of hair for too long. However, I try to air dry my hair to avoid this damage all together!

Pick your products carefully. Currently, I'm using a couple different products throughout my styling routine that contribute to the health of my hair. I typically use a smoothing serum, a heat protectant, and a hair oil to finish off my look! If you use heat to style your hair, make sure at least one component of your style routine has some protection in it. Also- I try to find products that provide moisture without weighing my hair down. So I tend to stick with the oils and serums. But remember- a little goes a long way with these products. Mixing and matching here tends to give me the best results when I'm finished!

Schedule regular trims. While this is an important part of keeping your ends healthy, I have to disclose that I don't usually keep up with this. My hair grows slowly and I find that my hair routine prevents split ends for a long while. Depending on your own hair, trims every 8-12 weeks will keep your ends fresh and hair healthy. I should probably make an appointment soon!

Deep condition sparingly. There are some awesome deep conditioning products out there and some fabulous DIY options that can help keep your hair looking healthy. I am a firm believer in these, but my advice is to do them no more than once a week. I will do this in replacement of my typical conditioner and make sure that my hair is rinsed thoroughly after use.

Shop some of my favorite superhero hair care items below:

Did I miss any crucial tips? What are your favorite hair products?

Great Hair Days with Hask Hair Care

Hey lovelies! I'm super excited to be sharing today's post with y'all. Do you have hair envy like I do for the girls who appear to have perfectly coiffed manes 24/7? As I've shared before, I have thick hair that can be unruly at times. This has lead me on an interesting but tiring journey of finding the perfect hair routine to tame my locks and give me perfect hair days every day. I was given the opportunity to try out the Argan Oil Hair Care line from Hask and think I may have found what I've been searching for! Helllooooo gorgeous hair!

This line features a repairing shampoo and conditioner, repairing deep conditioner, and a shine oil (all packaged up in the cutest little bag!). All of the products are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, drying alcohol and artificial colors! The potent ingredient in all of the products is Moroccan Argan oil- which works to repair, strengthen, and moisturize your hair while adding amazing shine. Hask Beauty's products combine high quality ingredients and amazing fragrances with bright packaging to deliver real results. They truly speak for themselves!

I have coarse naturally curly hair and struggle with frizz on a regular basis. Combating these problems usually requires goopy serums and thick creams that leave my hair weighed down and don't always fix my problems. Thankfully, I have found real solutions with Hask. For me, the most miraculous part of this product line is how light and soft my hair feels after use. No heavy products or extra weight to worry about. Which is awesome.

Thus far, I've used the shampoo and conditioner every other day (my hair gets cranky if I wash it every day), the shine oil on my ends every day, and the deep conditioner once a week. They all share a fresh citrus scent that stays with me all day! I just love it and find it extra luxurious while in the shower. Used together, the products provide softness I've rarely experienced and certainly have not found at this price point.

All-in-all, the Hask Argan Oil Hair Care line has been the start of my great hair days lately and I couldn't be happier with my results. If you're interested in prepping your hair for great hair days, check out their website here.

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Hask Beauty to review honestly. As always, all opinions and words are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder!

My Current Beauty Wishlist

Happy Friday my lovelies! I hope you had a fantastic short week. Mine was so crazy and just flew by. Short weeks always have a way of going quickly and slowly at the same time for me! You still have 5 days-worth of work, but only 4 days to accomplish it. So naturally, I'm happy to get through today. I haven't done a beauty post in a little bit, so I wanted to share some items on my wishlist with y'all!

Volumizing Spray. I've yet to jump on the blow out bar trend, but I've heard fabulous things about Drybar's products. I have super thick hair, but I struggle with keeping volume up in the roots. A spray that adds volume and texture without being sticky is ideal, and this particular spray is designed to be long-lasting. As the dryer months of winter approach, I'll be straightening my hair more and want to pump up the volume!

Detangling Brush. I have breakage problems- thanks to heat styling, brutal brushes, and clips- and want to minimize that however I can. This brush sounds amazing! I really like the idea of a brush that can be used on wet hair that won't result in an alarming hairball afterwards.

Essie Frock and Roll. As I've mentioned before, I'm a big fan of at-home manicures and pedicures. I'm so excited to dive into fall nail colors and this has already caught my eye. It's like nothing that I already have!

Conditioning Hair Mask. I repeat- major breakage problems- so I need to do everything I can to preserve the texture of my hair. I'm just plain cruel to it. I've done at-home versions of deep conditioning hair masks, but I'd like something that smells nice. I don't currently use any Origins products but I've read wonderful things about it!

Dry Shampoo Paste. I received the aerosol version of this in my last Birchbox and am OBSESSED. The smell is fabulous and this stuff seriously works. I have never used the paste, but it's highly rated and is supposed to target the oil on your roots. I know some ladies use dry shampoo as a texturizer spray- but not me. If I'm pulling dry shampoo out, I need oil control! And why not try the latest and greatest?!

Angled Blush Brush. I have updated most of my make-up brushes in the past 2 years but have been using a particular blush brush for longer than I'd like to admit. It's had a good run, but I think it's over. The bristles are brittle and it irritates my face if I rub too forcefully. I'd love to try an angled one and I'm already a huge fan of Sephora brand brushes!

Have you used any of these products? What's on your beauty wishlist?

Supergoop CC Cream

Hey out there! I hope y'all are having a great week so far. I recently posted this photo on Instagram, and had some requests to share my thoughts on the product. I was introduced to the brand Supergoop through a sample in my Birchbox. Even with my first use, I knew this was going to be my next beauty secret! And I'm so happy to talk about it with y'all!

When I received my sample, I was using Clinque's age defense BB cream. I really like that product, but it wasn't providing the coverage I wanted on a day-to-day basis. I feel like it would be best for light "barely there" make-up. The way it was described to me, a BB cream is a beauty balm that offers light coverage and is jam packed with nutrients to treat your skin. A CC cream is for complexion correction and helps with color-related skin problems through more significant coverage. Based on those descriptions, I knew I wanted to try a CC cream to give me more coverage but struggled to pick a brand. There are so many make-up brands out there!!! Thankfully Birchbox took care of the legwork and sent me a knight in shining armor.

Supergoop's CC cream offers beautiful matte coverage without looking cakey on your skin. While I was looking for more coverage, I wanted it to stay lightweight on my face. This absolutely does the trick for me! Most importantly, it contains SPF 35 to keep your skin protected. My dad is a skin cancer survivor, so I am extremely careful with sun protection.

I have been applying this product with my fingers and find it to be about the same consistency as my previous product. It's been providing me with gorgeous coverage and I'm really pleased with how matte my skin stays all day. I didn't think it could be (or needed to be) improved upon, but on a whim last week I bought a new make-up brush that has made me love this product even more! I got an airbrush foundation brush from Sephora and am able to achieve an even lighter look. I'm absolutely in love.

Overall, I am head-over-heels for this foundation. If you have any questions that I didn't address here, please comment below or shoot me an email! I'd be happy to share more information- especially if it will help you find your new favorite beauty product!

Beauty Shortcut: Cleaning Your Brushes

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a wonderful week so far. I am absolutely thrilled because I am going to be hitting the spa tomorrow and getting a massage! I haven't gotten a massage in over 6 years, so saying that I'm excited is an understatement! They're going to have to roll me outta there, I'll be so relaxed! YAY.

Today I wanted to talk about beauty brush hygiene. To be perfectly (and embarrassingly) honest, I didn't really know this was as necessary as it actually is. Ladies, we should be washing our brushes once a week. ONCE. A. WEEK. I started using facial brushes when I began using BareMinerals foundation- I got a starter kit, which comes with a few different brushes, and wasn't educated on how to take care of them. Thankfully, when buying my second canister at Sephora, I thought to ask the sales girl how to and how frequently I should clean my brushes. To my delight and mortification she informed me that it should be a weekly occurrence. I am sure that I blushed a deep red because I hadn't cleaned them at all before asking this question. She showed me a few specialty (read: expensive) cleaning solutions and must have read my face before asking me if I would be interested in a shortcut.

She took me to the samples near the checkout counter and picked up the Philosophy purity face wash sample. This bottle was only $10 and she said it works to clean your brushes just as well as the expensive solutions! Although small, it should last a while with my intended use. She suggested pouring a dime sized amount into a glass, adding warm water, and stirring/soaking my brushes in there. After a short soak time, the brushes should be rinsed until the running water is clear again. I lay them out on a hand towel to dry, typically rotating them once after several hours to make sure they dry all the way through. Because the face wash is gentle and is designed to remove makeup from our faces, it works wonderfully to clean the brushes. Thank the Lord for this timely tip, because I had to wash them about 5 times to get the rinsing water to run clean. I cringe just thinking about that first time I cleaned them. But, it's totally worth it- I love the texture of my brushes after they're cleaned!

If you aren't already cleaning yours, I highly recommend the Philosophy wash. I am still working to get through my first small bottle and feel like it will continue to last me a long time. Happy cleaning!

How do you clean your make-up brushes? How often do you do so?

Adovia Dead Sea Salt Scrub Review

Happy Tuesday, readers! I hope your week is going wonderfully and that you are still feeling rested from your weekend. I had an unexpected whirlwind of a weekend, but managed to find some time to relax. A friend from college was in town, so I ended up spending Friday and Saturday up in the city instead of plopped by my pool. Very fun but very busy! I found some time to relax on Sunday and treated myself to a pamper session. I had the opportunity to test out one of Adovia's Dead Sea Salt Scrub and was eager to add that in with my session! I painted my nails, did a face mask, used a cooling mask on my eyes, and drew a relaxing bath. It was quite the home run!

When I first received the opportunity to try this scrub, it was a no-brainer for me! There are so many benefits to exfoliating your skin and there are many ways to do it! A scrub is my favorite technique by far. Even when you have it narrowed down to a scrub, there are so many options! Adovia products are cruelty free and natural, which to me are important facts to consider when choosing new beauty products. Needless to say, it was a happy mail day when this arrived!


The container is a generous amount and I know it will last me a long time. I have the Ocean Breeze scent, and found it to be very soothing! The scrub itself is made of dead sea salt. The size of the granules is perfect for a scrub! It's recommended to scrub in a circular motion and I didn't find the salt to be too harsh on my sensitive skin. I found the consistency of the scrub to be my least favorite aspect of the product. It is oil based- which offers great benefits for your skin but makes for a messy experience. I had a hard time making sure I didn't spill a lot of the oil out while picking up the salts with my hand. Maybe a scoop or similar tool would help keep things less messy! When I opened the jar initially I felt the need to stir the product, but I found that it separated again quickly.  In addition, this product left my tub extremely slippery after use. It was easy to rinse out before my next shower- I just had to remember to do so.


After exfoliating, my skin felt and smelled great! I loved how silky my skin was once I got dried off- I felt as though I didn't even need to put lotion on! That's huge perk for me, as it's one of the first things I do when I get out of a bath. This is great to keep my skin ready for the shorts and dresses I plan to wear this summer. I also would like to note that I don't recommend using this after shaving. The scrub irritated my legs when used immediately afterwards.

Overall, I like this scrub and will continue to enjoy the benefits it brings to my skin this summer. Interested in trying this out for yourself? Pick up your own container here or here! Do you have any questions about this product? Feel free to leave a comment below or shoot me an email!

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary product sample from Adovia to review honestly. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. I benefit in no way if you purchase this product. Thank you for supporting brands that support A Peachy Sonder.

May Birchbox

Hello out there! I hope all is well for y'all so far this week. I had a busy but fun weekend, and am looking forward to a long, restful weekend coming up! I can't wait for my pool to open, and plan to park next to it and read alllll weekend. A few weeks ago, I posted about my first experience with Birchbox, a monthly beauty subscription service. I got my second box and wanted to share my contents with y'all!

This month's box was curated by Emily Schuman who blogs over at Cupcakes & Cashmere. She had a ton of great product picks, and I'm really excited about the products that I've received!! I'm still really pleased with my decision to subscribe to Birchbox. I love the excitement of receiving my box every month! I also love the exposure that I'm getting to products that I would never grab on my own. It's been nice to expand my beauty horizons.

For my May box I got another Harvey Prince perfume sample, Macadamia Professional oil treatment, Marcelle hydrating gel, Beauty Protector body cleanser, and Cynthia Rowley creamy lip stain. So far I've just used the lip stain and really like the color. I would equate it more to a lip gloss, as it rubbed off fairly easily and did not give me long lasting results that I would expect from a stain. I love the scent of the perfume and can't wait to try it on my skin. Things always smell different outside of the bottle! The body wash also smells wonderful- it's very sweet and reminds me of dessert! I am excited for the oil treatment- I see this brand on the shelves all the time and have been itching to try it. If it's a winner, I'll be sure to let y'all know!

Do you have any questions about Birchbox? Interested in a subscription? Please leave me a comment or send me an email!

My First Birchbox

Happy May lovely readers! I hope that we are finally done with the showers and can just enjoy the flowers as the old adage goes. I know I am a little late on this, but I wanted to share with y'all my first month of my Birchbox subscription! I signed up at the beginning of April and was able to get the collaboration box with Rifle Paper Co. It is beautiful! I am definitely going to be reusing it as storage in my place.

I've heard so much about Birchbox lately- between their commercials and blog posts on my radar. It sounds great, but I'm more of a "tried and true" girl when it comes to my beauty routine. My stepsister recently signed up for the service, and has had nothing but good things to say about it! Wait- I'll take that back- the only negative point she could bring up is that she wants to buy at least one product in every single box. Now in my eyes, that's a good and a bad thing. Good when you find the right fit or a product that fits a previously unknown need and bad when you find an awesome duplicate of a product you have plenty of at home.

Upon signing up, you fill out a decent sized survey to understand personal style and current beauty habits. The personalization seemed great and I was very eager to get my first box. I was a little weary to receive tons of sample sized products- as I have quite a few unused samples around my house already. But in the end, I figured for $10 I will take my chances to try it out until I decide it's no longer necessary for me! Birchbox sends you an email with the tracking information, so you can check-in to see where your box is once it's shipped. On the day my box was supposed to arrive, I felt like a little girl running down on Christmas morning as I went to check my mailbox! I ran directly into my house, and tore in to check out my goodies. It was so exciting!! I got a CC cream, a perfume sample, a facial peel, a hand lotion, and a lip + cheek stain. They are all samples sizes with 1-20ish uses contained in each. They really did a nice job matching colors to my complexion and classic taste in make-up.

I honestly have used all except the peel at this point and totally understand what my stepsis meant. I WANT IT ALL! The problem is in fact real. I can probably live without the lotion and the perfume, but as soon as I need more foundation I want to order the CC cream and lipstick. I've been wearing a BB cream but really enjoy the increased coverage and matte look of the CC cream. Such a great find!

I'm really excited to get my May box! It's been hand-picked and designed by popular blogger Emily Schuman of Cupcakes & Cashmere. I'll be sure to share what I get in that one too!

Do you have a favorite subscription service? Have you tried Birchbox before? If you're interested in signing up or finding out more information, please send me an email so we can chat 1-on-1!