KÉRASTASE RÉSISTANCE THÉRAPISTE BAIN AND MASQUE: REVIEW

Sorry it’s taken so long to get this review up but it’s been a hectic few weeks and at least that means I’ve given them a thorough testing. These gorgeous Kérastase Bain Therapiste (a balm-in-shampoo) and Masque Therapiste were sent to me to try and I have to say I was only delighted when I opened the package to see Kérastase products peeking out at me. I’ve been a big fan of the brand for years because it’s what they use at my hair salon. I am a bit of an easy sell when it comes to beauty products and I can be convinced to buy almost anything, especially when my hairdresser or beauty therapist are waxing lyrical about how brilliant a product is. However, I can usually resist expensive hair care because; well I use so much shampoo and conditioner that it would cost a fortune to use an expensive brand every day. Not to mention, I know the reason my hair looks great leaving a salon is as much down to having a professional hairdresser brow dry my hair as it is down to the products used. Kérastase Elixir Ultime is my weakness though, I love it.

Kérastase Résistance Therapiste range is for very damaged and over processed hair. Now, mine isn’t too bad considering I have my hair coloured regularly and I am also a fan of my curling wand and have been known to do the odd bit of back combing. I have fairly fine and silky hair. You will see in the picture below on the left that you can clearly see damaged hair with breakage sticking straight up. So, while my hair isn’t too damaged it’s easy to see any damage that is there because my hair is so fine. The shampoo and masque are both thick and creamy. The shampoo lathers up to a lovely lush lather. Because the masque is so thick I start applying it to the ends and work my way up towards the roots. They smell so good! I can only describe the scent as glamorous. I imagine it smells like the hair of women in TV programs like Dynasty and Revenge.

After using these two for a few weeks now, I can say that my hair is definitely smoother. In the picture below on the right the breakage is a lot less noticeable. My hair is now so much smoother so there is not as much sticking straight up. My hair feels so soft and silky. It’s not weighed down at all considering how rich and creamy both products are. In fact it’s quite bouncy and swishy. I usually shower in the evenings after the gym and since I started using these I find that the next morning my hair is still shiny and feels light and bouncy rather than the usual flat and lacklustre bed head. It also still smells good.

Yes they are pricey, the shampoo is €19.50 and the masque is €36 but I still have more than half of the masque left so it will last through two bottles of the shampoo, which I have already repurchased. So while they cost way more than the likes of L’Oreal Elvive, I think they are worth it. I don’t think twice about snubbing cheaper but really great foundations in pharmacies for higher end foundations so I don’t know why I’ve resisted using luxury products on my hair. However, I will use them in rotation with more affordable shampoos and conditioners to make them and my money last longer. Do you use luxury or budget products on your hair? Have your tried any Kérastase products?

MATRIX OIL WONDERS IN AMAZONIAN MURUMURU CONTROLLING OIL: REVIEW

Sorry, I’m a day late with this review but I was celebrating the Mammy’s birthday last night. I’ll admit that I am a big fan of hair serums but I hadn’t actually tried a hair oil until I was sent this Matrix Oil Wonder to review. Argan Oil products have been big news for a few years now but since I don’t have naturally curly or frizzy hair I didn’t feel the need to try any. The Oil Wonder I was sent is Amazonian Murumuru Controlling Oil, which is aimed at controlling frizzy hair and even though I have straight fine hair, I’ve still found ways to use it; I would hate to see a good product go to waste.

It draws on the Amazonian Murumuru nut (hence the name) which helps to leave hair smooth and manageable for up to 72 hours by blocking humidity. Some of you curly lasses may want to file, save as, because summer is, believe it or not, coming and Irish summer equals humid, clammy, messiness. For me now though I have been applying one pump to my wet hair before blow drying. You would think an oil would weigh my fine hair down and leave it looking greasy but not at all. It leaves my hair soft, shiny and swishy. I was surprised that it doesn’t weigh my hair down but instead leaves it light and bouncy. I like the feel of my hair when I use this oil; I keep touching and flicking my hair. You can also use it before shampooing or after drying and I like rubbing the excess into my cuticles. The scent is lovely but it’s very delicate.

I have also added this to my curling regime to try and test the taming of frizz claims. I curl my hair using a wand; I just never got around to buying any other curling tools. The wand gives small spiral curls but I like big soft wavy curls. So I wrap larger sections around the wand and use hairspray liberally, then I comb it all out. This turns my hair into a massive fuzz ball but after a few minutes of running my fingers through my hair I can finally tame it into the bouncy curls I want. I applied the Matrix Oil Wonder to my wet hair before blow drying it and then went about curling it as usual. When I combed it out it was less frizzy than usual and it took a lot less time to tame and shape it with my fingers. Day two curls were also more manageable. Normally I wake up with what can only be described as a birds nest on my head, but it wasn’t as scary the morning after using the oil.
Even though I don’t have frizzy hair I am still enjoying using this Oil Wonder. There is a Colour Caring Oil and a Strengthening Oil in the range along with a Micro Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. I have to say I wouldn’t mind trying the shampoo and conditioner, I imagine they would be really luxurious. The Oil Wonders are €12.50 and available in Matrix Salons.
Do you use hair oil? Have you tried the Matrix Oil Wonders? Do you want a proper post on how I curl my hair or are there more than enough posts and videos on this already out there?

REDKEN COLOR REBEL HAIR MAKEUP

Just when I thought I had every type of makeup known to man, these were sent to me. It’s hard not to notice the growing trend for bold coloured hair and it’s not just celebrities; I’ve noticed lots of funky coloured hair popping up on twitter with followers commenting on how much they love it but wouldn’t be brave enough to do it themselves. I’m afraid I fall into this camp also. When I was a teenager I was mad to dye my hair but I was always afraid to do it. My brother used dye his hair regularly but it involved using a harsh bleach type product to strip the hair of colour so it was white and then he added the fun colour. Hot pink was one of my favourite shades on him; in fact he had hot pink hair on his licence picture for years. It’s all well and good for boys because they can shave off all the damaged hair when it starts to fade or they don’t want the colour anymore but I would be left with long damaged hair that I would have to try and dye over. Too bad I didn’t have Redken Color Rebel Hair Makeup back then because it would have given me the chance to have fun coloured hair without the commitment or the damage.

L-R: Gilty as Charged, Red-y to Rock, Rebel Without a Coral, Punked Up Pink, Purple Riot

There are five Color Rebel Shades: Red-y to Rock, Rebel Without a Coral, Punked Up Pink, Purple Riot, and Gilty as Charged. You apply them to clean or day-after hair. You start by applying light layers to sections but you can add more to build the colour intensity if desired. You then either let your hair dry naturally or you can blow dry it. Color Rebel coats the hair so the colour is resistant to water, brushing, blow-drying or straightening. The best bit is, it washes out after two shampoos but if you need to remove it instantly you can wash your hair with Redken Hair Cleansing Cream or rub the hair between your fingers with either Redken Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine or All Soft Argan-6 Multicare Oil until the colour pigment dissolves. So you can be a punk at the weekend and a model employee during the week. Just because you have to pay the bills doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun.

These may be the perfect compromise for those of you who have teenagers that are driving you demented asking if they can dye their hair a bold colour; you want to give in so they will stop banging on about it but you don’t want a lecture from the headmaster/headmistress first thing Monday morning. Not to mention that festival season will soon be upon us and who wouldn’t want to match their hair to their willies. You can have loads of fun with these from all over colour to just adding some individual strips.

What do you think of the trend for bold coloured hair? Will you be trying these or going for permanent colour?

HERBAL ESSENCES NEW CLEARLY NAKED SHINE COLLECTION: REVIEW

I think we all know by now that I am an absolute sucker for anything that smells pretty, so when I was sent the Shampoo, Conditioner and Shine Mist from Herbal Essences New Clearly Naked Shine Collection I was eager to get them on my head.

Herbal Essences have never been afraid of a bit of innuendo but the Clearly Naked refers to fact that the products in the range are free from parabens, silicones, or dyes. It promises to be “Full of all the essentials and nothing else, the lightweight formulas are designed to thoroughly cleanse while captivating the senses with heady aromas of fresh mint, grapefruit and white tea.”

There are three products in the Shine range, a shampoo, conditioner and shine mist, all containing white tea and mint extracts to combat dull and lifeless hair. After using all three my hair feels thoroughly clean with no oily residue. It’s also soft and well moisturised by the conditioner, it’s easy to comb through when it is still wet. I used the shine mist after drying to see if I could notice any difference and it does indeed make my hair shinier. My hair is left lightweight, bouncy, swishy and shiny. Best of all it smells gorgeous. What more could a girl ask for?

The price point is really good on these as well; the shampoo and conditioner are €3.09 for 200mls or €5.39 for 400mls. There are two other ranges in the collection; Volume to pump up flat hair and Moisture to repair damaged hair. Have you tried any of the Herbal Essences Clearly Naked Collection?

GLOSSYBOX FOR HARVEY NICHOLS: THE CHRISTMAS EDIT

 

This is my first time purchasing from any of the beauty box subscriptions services. I love the idea behind them but I’ve heard such mixed reviews that I never felt they were worth the money. They all seem to start off great but then as the months go on the products seem to get less and less interesting. However, when a few people tweeted the link to preregister to buy the Harvey Nichols Glossybox, I had to check it out; I mean its Harvey Nichols. I didn’t realise that I could just purchase the one box, I had always thought you had to sign up to a subscription of a few months. So I will definitely be keeping an eye out for special edition boxes in the future. I didn’t want to do too much research on this box because I wanted to be surprised and since its Harvey Nichols I figured all the products would be quality. One quick glimpse at the picture on their web site and I saw the bands Laura Mercier and NARS and I was sold.

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Here is a rundown of what’s in the box:

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – I was really excited about this because I have recently purchased the Smooth-Finish Flawless Fluid foundation. I have used this primer with the foundation twice now and they are great together so this may get a full review. It’s a decent 30ml size; the full size is 50ml.
Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream – I have always wanted to try Elemis products but they are so expensive. Hopefully I don’t fall in love with this because the 50ml size is about €100 but I am certainly going to enjoy the luxury of using my 15ml sample.
Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum – ok so the bottle inside the box is actually tiny but you only use a few drops at night time so a little should go a long way. I’ve liked every Dermalogica product that I’ve tried so I have high hopes for this.
Rodial Bee Venom Moisturiser – another expensive brand that I haven’t really tried anything from before so this should be interesting.
Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real Mascara – I’ve been meaning to try this for ages because I really like Bad Gal Mascara.
Macadamia Natural Oil Healing Oil Treatment – I do love a good hair treatment so I can’t wait to try this.
OPI Avoplex Moisture Replenishing Lotion – this is a massive 120ml bottle so I am really excited about this.
NARS Satin Lip Pencil – of course I had to put this on as soon as I opened it and I love it. I have a funny feeling I will be getting some more of these, but this colour is lovely. This is definitely getting its own post.
La Coupe Coconut and Macadamia Oil – another hair treatment so my hair should be looking fabulous for Christmas nights out.
Show Beauty Lux Volume Mist – I can’t wait to try this, I hope it gives me massive hair and the bottle is a full size 150ml.
And Finally the Harvey Nichols Mini Scented Candle – the scent of this is gorgeous.

I have to say I am really impressed with the contents of this box and it was definitely worth the price which converts to €49.73 including shipping. Two of my friends who also purchased this box didn’t receive the Laura Mercier Primer in their box. They both emailed Glossybox but haven’t heard back yet so hopefully it is sent on to them. I don’t think I would sign up for a subscription but I will be checking out the special edition boxes for one off purchases.

L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL CHRISTMAS CRACKER WITH ABSOLUT REPAIR LIPIDUM: REVIEW

It feels like ages since I did a post on haircare so this little cracker (literally) arrived at just the right time. In my attempt to create Cheryl Fernandez-Versini esque bouffants (say that three times fast), I been doing a bit of dry shampoo, loads of hairspray, and backcombing lately. My hair was in a bit of a state so a little TLC didn’t go amiss.

The L’Oreal Professional Christmas Cracker is €8.49 and would make the perfect stocking filler. It’s also a good option if your group of girlfriends are exchanging Secret Santa gifts since the price limit is often set at a tenner for these things. At that price you could afford to buy one for a friend and one for yourself. Inside the cracker there are two products from the Absolut Repair lipidium range, which is for very damaged hair (There is also a cracker available with Vitamino Colour products). The products are a 100ml Instant Resurfacing Shampoo and a 75ml Instant Resurfacing Masque. Not only are these sizes good for travelling but they are also a great way to try the products for less than €10 and make sure they are right for you before shelling out for the full sizes.

I have been using these for a for over a week now and my hair certainly appears to be in a lot better condition. The shampoo gently and thoroughly cleanses my hair. The mask is a thick cream that is really hydrating. My hair is left soft and shiny; there is a lot less breakage and fly-aways sticking up at the top of my head. They don’t weigh my hair down, it’s left light and bouncy. The scent is fairly mild with both of these so it won’t put anyone up or down. All in all I think it’s a really good gift set, either for a friend or maybe a little self gift.
What gift sets are you planning on buying as gifts or for yourself?

AT HOME SPA DAY

I am writing this post on Sunday so let me set the scene; its cold, wet, wild and miserable outside. It was much the same yesterday. I am training for Westport’s Sea 2 Summit, which takes place in two weeks so yesterday was the last Saturday to do a full training session, from now on we taper to avoid injury. Yesterday my training group and I did the whole course. So I spent three hours out running, cycling, hiking, cycling and running in strong winds right on the west coast of Ireland. To say the wind smacked the face off of me is putting it very politely but hey, I did enough swearing yesterday. So as you might guess I am in no rush to leave the house today. With the clock going back an hour last night, it feels like I have loads of time to do some pampering and use all the products that I buy to treat myself and then never have the time to use.

First up is my favourite face mask combo, you can read about them here. I start with Dermalogica Multi Vitamin Power Recovery Mask because my face definitely needs it today. Then fill the bath with hot water and throw in a cup of Epson Salts. If you don’t have Epson Salts you really should get some, they are a wonder cure all; I can’t even begin to tell you all their uses. I use them in a hot bath when I am all achy. I also bath in them when I have a chesty cough. Supposedly they draw out toxins and impurities through your pores. Apparently models bath in Epson Salts before photo shoots to reduce water retention. While I have never got out of the bath feeling a dress size smaller, if I soak puffy feet in a basin with Epson Salts the swelling goes down. While in the bath I pop one of the Pantene Strength and Shine 1 Minute Wonder Ampoules in to bring back some shine to my locks. After a long soak, I use Caudalie Divine Oil to moisturise my skin and the gorgeous scent is the ultimate indulgence.

After the bath comes the second mask, Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energising Mask. I find using this after the Dermalogica one really brightens my complexion and softens my skin. After the two masks I treat my skin to doubling up on the usual amounts of Serum and Moisturiser, at the moment I am using L’Oreal Revitalift Laser Renew and Magic Blur.

On to hands to finish, I do my DIY heated manicure that I told you about in this post. I love doing this; it’s so nice to have warm hands for a change.
After all this I feel brand new. I am toying with the idea of heading out tonight because I am feeling like a million bucks and hopefully looking like it too.
What are your favourite home treatments?

HOLIDAY PACKING: THE BEAUTY EDIT

I am heading away to the sun for 10 days and as much as I would like to pretend that I can pack lightly the truth is I want everything with me. I have tried to whittle it down as much as possible and pick up smaller sizes of the products I want to bring with me where possible. I don’t like to decant things into travel size bottles because (1) I don’t want to contaminate products I put on my face with any more germs and bacteria than I have probably already got in there and (2) we all know I would just make a mess. Let’s face it, even if there were all travel size I would probably still have too much to put in a zip lock bag, so it will need to go into my checked in bag anyway. I usually put all liquids and lotions in a plastic bag and tie a knot in the bag before I put them into toiletry bags. The plastic bags contain any leaks while the toiletry bags keep things together in a shape that is easier to squeeze in besides clothes and offers a little more cushioning and protection to prevent leaks. So here are the products:

Skin Care:
Cleanser: La Roche Posay Physiological Gel
Eye Cream: Olay Regenerist Luminous Dark Circle Correcting Swirl – this is the same bottle I told you about in this post, lasting ages so really good value
Serum: L’Oreal Revita Lift Laser Renew
Moisturiser: L’Oreal Revita Lift Magic Blur – this and the serum are new and I will tell you how I got on with them in a few weeks. I choose these because (1) they were on offer and (2) they are aimed at a slightly older age bracket but I figured this could help minimise the damage of spending so much time in the sun during the days and drinking most nights.

Hair and Body:
Shampoo and Conditioner: Pantene Youth Protect 7
Body wash and lotion: Body Shop Moringa Collection – I’ve had this little set for a while and forgot about it until I spotted it recently and figured it would be perfect for travelling.
Sun Cream: Piz Buin Tan & Protect Tan Intensifying Sun Lotion SPF 15 and SPF 6 I do actually tan but I always use my husband’s SPF 30 on my face and feet, you definitely don’t want sunburn on your feet.

Makeup – The Basics:
Primer: MAC Prep & Prime
Foundation: Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24 hour
Powder: MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural
Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
Bronzer: MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural Medium Deep
Brows: MAC Omega
Blush: MAC Peaches

Makeup: Eyes
Mascara: L’Oreal 4D
Eyeliner: Kiko Sportproof in Metallic Taupe and Smashbox Limitless in Black Violet
Primers: Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows in Rose Brown, Light Taupe and Golden Beige, these can be uses as primers and eye shadows on their own
Powder Eye shadows: MAC – Satin Taupe, Beluga, Fireside, Summer Haze and Twilight Falls
Highlighter: Nars Orgasm
So there you have, I know its loads but mostly essentials, really.

PANTENE PRO-V DRY SHAMPOOS: REVIEW

Like most women, I would always have a can of dry shampoo hanging around. However, I don’t actually use it all that often because (1) even though I have oily skin on my face my scalp isn’t as oily so my hair wouldn’t be greasy after one day of not shampooing and (2) I do some form of exercise at least four but usually five days a week and because I sweat a lot around my hair line I have to wash my hair after. I mainly use dry shampoo to give my hair a little lift and texture in the mornings if I am leaving my hair down and have showered the night before. Until recently dry shampoo was a fairly basic product that was essentially spray-able powder in a can that dried up the appearance of natural hair oils, but lately there has been a trend of new and improved dry shampoo products.

I was sent two of the new Pantene Pro-V Dry Shampoos to try. I have Instant Refresh and Volume Booster but there is also a Colour Saviour in the range. Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo does what it says on the can; it revives and refreshes limp lifeless hair in-between washes. Volume Booster Dry Shampoo also revives and refreshes hair between washes but it also adds volume. As someone with straight, fine hair, obviously Volume Booster is my favourite because it gives my hair a nice bit of lift and adds a bit of texture to make styling easy. I have been using Volume Booster instead of hairspray to backcomb to add a bit of volume to quiffs and ponytails. I am guessing that someone who has thick hair would prefer Instant Refresh because they wouldn’t want any more volume and instead would prefer a sleeker finish. The main thing to point out is that there is no white powder with these so you don’t have to spend ages trying to brush out the evidence, which should please any of you that have made the same mistake as me and blasted your hair with white powder in a can after putting on a dark coloured top. The active oil absorber contains Tapioca Starch, which leaves no visible residue, meaning it’s quick and easy to use in the morning rush.

Another plus point is that they smelly really lovely; this is handy if you washed your hair after the gym and then cooked a curry for dinner, which you can still smell on your hair the next morning. They retail at €2.59 for 65ml and €5.19 for 180ml.
Will you be trying any of these?

GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS THE COLOUR ILLUMINATOR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER: REVIEW

Garnier Ultimate Blends range has been around for a while now but I hadn’t gotten around to trying any of the products out. When I spotted that the shampoo and conditioner were buy one get one free in Tesco a few weeks back I figured I would give them a go. There are six different blends in the range to suit different hair types and concerns and I decided to try the Colour Illuminator blend since I have colour treated hair.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Colour Illuminator is a blend of Argan Oil and Cranberry extracts to prevent fading and keep colour looking vibrant. I hate to look of my hair when my colour starts to fade, I can usually use plaits and twists or even curl my hair to hide and disguise my roots when I am trying to hold off on getting my colour re-done but when the colour is faded and looking dull and yellow there is nothing that can be done to make it look better. So with this in mind I usually always try to use shampoos and conditioners that will help to prevent my colour from fading.

The Colour Illuminator Shampoo and Conditioner are absolutely lovely to use. The scent is subtle and gorgeous, I find myself sniffing my hair like a weirdo all day. They leave my hair soft and easy to comb through. My hair is very fine and straight so it’s important for me to find products that don’t leave a heavy residue that weighs my hair down and makes it look flat. These two don’t weigh my hair down at all so it’s lovely and swishy. My hair looks shiny and healthy after using The Colour Illuminator Shampoo and Conditioner for the last three weeks. I would definitely repurchase these two and I will be picking up the 1 Minute Treatment next time I am shopping. I have been hearing good things about the Silky Smoother Dry Shampoo so I’ll also be keeping a look out for that.
Have you tried any of the Ultimate Blends?