Yes, You Should Buy That Knockoff Brand, Here’s Why:

 

 

The allure of the iconic brands like Ugg, Victoria’s Secret, and The North Face can be tempting for even the most fervent bargain shopper, but for those of you are interested in quality products at a third of the price, keep reading.

When one usually wants to buy a sexy piece of lingerie, Hanes isn’t the first brand they think of. Sure, its cheap and most of their products don’t look half bad; but what about a nice pair of pantyhose from Victoria’s Secret, right? They’re the made by the same factory. Specifically the pantyhose, which can cost almost half the price if purchased under the Hanes brand.

I used to be hooked on high end salon brand hair products, eventually I got tired of shelling out upwards of thirty dollars on serums and shampoos when I’d  eventually just end up drowning in empty bottles of Redken and Paul Mitchell anyways. To get that mirror shine on a dime I started doing something so brilliantly simple I seriously regret not starting sooner-I started reading the ingredients on the back of the bottle. Every. Single. One. After reading the various hydroxypropyltrimonium’s and hexylene glycol’s I started to notice how identical most shampoos actually are. I found out that one of my go to brands, Paul Mitchell, uses the identical formula as the Harmon discount “Awapuhi Botanical shampoo”, the only difference being that the latter costs roughly half of the former…

There are some product brands that are virtually identical, like Emu and Ugg. Both are made in Australia and have virtually the same designs made out of the same materials. I did a blind try (basically mixed up the shoes and put them on without looking at the brand) at Nordstrom’s and ended up finding the Emus more comfortable, so I got those and saved my forty dollars. Basically the same situation with North Face and Columbia, when it’s below freezing outside I love the Columbia Women’s Varaluck™ III Long Down Jacket, right now on their website its about $130. A North Face coat of this ilk costs roughly between $270 and $340, and to be honest feels exactly the same.

In reality you wear clothes for you, if it makes you feel fabulous having a logo that comes with a price tag, go for it. However, if you just want to find quality products that are almost identical and won’t break your bank there are plenty of great options out there that should definitely be explored.

Happy Shopping!

 

 

 

Four Insanely Underrated Hair Products

We’ve all been to the salon and had serious hair envy over the silky waves that only last until the next wash, but those professional shampoos may not be so easy on your wallet so here are some hair products to help you look like a million bucks even if you have none.

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  1. Mane n’ Tail-

I’ll admit I was a little apprehensive about using horse shampoo for  the first time, but this is a great alternative to expensive salon brands and leaves hair feeling clean and smelling great, its also said to promote hair growth which is perfect if you want to grow out short hair or bangs.

Get it here for $3.49: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=345199&catid=183498&aid=338666&aparam=345199&kpid=345199&CAWELAID=120142990000046453&CAGPSPN=pla

2.Garnier Fructis Style Sleek & Shine Flat Iron Perfector Straightening Mist-

This product is a godsend for those of us who have an unhealthy relationship with our straighteners. I usually spritz a little on a wide tooth comb and gently stroke though my hair to cover all of my locks evenly. This is one of a few products that doesn’t leave my hair feeling fried and helps retain its shine even after heat. The best part? You can find it here for less than $4.00!

https://jet.com/product/detail/330290af47f1420c80e6d73e1a0973cd?jcmp=pla:ggl:cwin_jd_health_beauty_a3:personal_care_hair_care_hair_styling_products_a3_top:na:na:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&k_clickid=b3591974-72cc-4371-8c7e-b69b2ddfd1af&abkId=405-1160080&gclid=Cj0KEQjw5Z63BRCLqqLtpc6dk7gBEiQA0OuhsKhWxcJFrD9qMCwPU-IAczVxZNG4aOFanzmFSj9-WdEaAtpX8P8HAQ

3.DevaCurl No-Poo and DevaCurl Condition-

Curly hair needs curly care, this duo uses gentle cleansers and doesn’t strip hair of its natural oils so your curls stay bouncy and don’t get weighed down. I’d recommend for those with oily hair, but it really does wonders for all hair types.

Get it here for under $10: http://www.devacurl.com/no-poo-curl.html

4. Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner-

This is the most expensive product on this list, but its worth it. I’ve used a lot of shampoos in my life but this is a literal panacea for split ends and dry hair. If you use heat tools regularly, get this shampoo. The other quality that makes this pair amazing? These are the best smelling products I have ever purchased and leave hair with a fragrance that smells gorgeous and lasts until the next wash.

Get them both here for under $30 :http://www.amazon.com/Redken-Soft-Shampoo-Conditioner-10-1/dp/B002X31FUG

Happy Hair!