My hair is gross.  If I don’t brush it several times today it mattes at the nape of my neck.  Sometimes I find hairs that are split four ways.  Once… well, nevermind.  But trust me when I say my mane is in bad shape.  I’ve tried a lot of products, few of them really cure my splitting ends, and few of them make a noticeable difference.

But the other day I tried my mom’s Aveda Dry Remedy Conditioner and holy man, it was amazing.  My hair was smooth and soft until my next wash.  The spilt ends didn’t really leave, but man did my hair feel good.  It didn’t matte or even tangle.  Plus it smells pretty good.

You can check out the products individually from the Aveda website, or you can buy the whole Dry Remedy line that includes a shampoo, a conditioner, a masque and a treatment comb whatever that means.

The Dry Remedy products are available for about $30 CAD each and you can pick them up at most salons.

For the 20-something Fashionista

Like every good girl in the 90s, I was obsessed with Full House, except in the Georgia household it was known only as “Michelle.”  Screw uncle Joey or Bob Saget, I was in it for the twins.  Safe to say my Olsen obsession has continued to this day and I know I’m not alone.

The Olsens are no longer icons of cute chidhood catchphrases or teen eating disorders, but instead icons of style and these twins coined the disheveled I-just-woke-up-on-the-floor-of-a-bus-with-a-condom-in-my-ear-but-I’m-going-to-work-it-and-go-to-Starbucks-anyways-P.S.-I’m-really-skinny look which has become the ideal for 21 year old girls across our great land (which is actually kind of disturbing when you think about it). In the Olsen’s new book Influence the girls discuss their well, influence in both fashion and life.

From the publisher:

Influence has 4 major sections: Fashion, Environment, Art and Giving Back, as well as an introduction and conclusion. This category-breaking book will show that with an open mind and a little bit of curiosity, everyone can have INFLUENCE. 

Oooh and introduction and a conclusion?  They went all out!  Honestly it sounds like a total crock, but the book includes a ton of new pictures of the tiny twins as well as an interview with the man who can make your unbelievably frightened just by looking at a picture of him from two thousand miles away, Chanel’s Karl Lagerfeld. The whole thing is a great conversation starter, plus Influence would give any girl some definate coffee table cred.

The Olsen Twin’s Influence is available at Chapters (if you’re in Canada) for the low low iRewards price of $23.83.  And bonus, This Sunday is Chapter’s customer appreciation day where all regularly priced merchandice incudling CD’s and DVDs are between 15 and 25 percent off, so you can pick up this great gift for well… less than $24!

Goes great with: Two of a Kind Diaries #38: Holiday Magic

For the Beginner
Just like a set of freshly sharpened no. 2 pencils on the first day of school makes you want to do your times tables, a set of fluffy, unused makeup brushes on Christmas day will inspire even the toughest girl to buff, brush, apply and reapply.

If you have a girl in your crew who’s a beginner when it comes to makeup, pick her up a cute and handy brush set to help get her started.

While Sephora has tons of options I like the Two Tone Portfolio Brush Set.  It contains a blush brush, one for powder, a eyeshadow blender, an eyeshadow detailer, as well as concealer and retractable lip brushes.  It also comes in a convenient (and festive red) carry case and is available for $44 which isn’t too rough on the wallet.

To personalize the gift, make a cute little key that explains what each tool is used for.  If you’re really crafty, you can even laminate it, and oooh, there could be stickers… I’m just saying.  If you’re giving the set to a younger girl, you could include a little homemade coupon for one free makeup lesson.

Also consider:  Sephora Brand Vanity Brush Set

Beauty Anonymous is interested in checking out the MAC Hello Kitty Collection.

Beauty Junkies Unite hopes you win the Benefit 24K Sexy Gold GIVEAWAY!

Trisha over at Makeup Files shows you how to ask for makeup this holiday season.

Fabulous Over Forty is reviewing several 2008 Holiday Collections.  See which ones are her favorites this season.

Fashion designer Vera Wang talks about Look her new perfume-a video clip by Talking Makeup.

Frappelattes gives us a preview of new Essie nail polish colors for Winter 2008!

Beauty Tyrant is hosting her first beauty giveaway this week. She is giving away a Karmin Titanium Hair Straightener Iron for FREE! to one lucky winner all this week.

Makeup Bag visits the Clarins Spa in Neuilly, France

Julie at More than a Pretty Face loves the new formula and colors for Obsessive Compulsive Colour Lip Balms

The Makeup Divas reviews MAC Adoring Carmine 5 Basic Brush Bag.

The Home Spa Goddess shares her obsession with Revlon’s Limited Edition Crushed Velvet Lip Creme.

Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care reviews Avon Skin So Soft Age-Defying+ Corrective Neck & Chest Treatment .

The Beauty Blog reviews Wen Hair Care.

Mineral Makeup Reviews discusses Serious Skin Care ProMinerals ProNano Brightening Powder.

Enter to win to a Karmin Titanium Hair Straightener Iron on A Mom in Red High Heels! Contest ends 11-17-08.

Boutique Flair talks about building your beauty with self esteem!

Monique at Beauty Girl Musings has used an amazing kit that has given her clearer, fresher looking skin! Find out what it is!

Overall I found my trip to Bellis Fair mall to be an overwhelming success, espcially since my Subaru Forester has a hidden wheel well in the trunk just big enough to hide two Victoria’s Secret bags from Canadian Customs agents.

Final thoughts upon leaving Bellis Fair:

- Dine in a Country Time Buffet in a small town on a Saturday for a real slice of life (or three).

-  Cinnabon mini cinnamon buns make a terrible road trip snack.

-  I had never been to a Khol’s before yesterday and frankly I found it slightly disturbing.  It’s like a parallel universe department store where everthing is knock of something you would find at Macy’s and they try to trick you into buying things by using shockingly simmilar packaging.

- Let’s be honest, the Go International stuff at Target isn’t that nice.

- Does anyone make baby blue nail polish?