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Archive for December, 2007

Product Review: Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy

Sunday
Dec 30,2007

Around this time of year, I always contemplate dying my hair.  Or getting highlights.  Maybe it’s my skin getting paler without seeing the sun as much or my natural highlights fading, but I feel like my hair has gotten darker and my skin doesn’t look as bright.  I’ve gone to extremes in the past, in part due to feeling like my hair looks dull and in part because I’m bored or have cabin fever.  One time I accidentally dyed my hair the color of a neon pumpkin, not realizing that red dye won’t make blonde hair darker.  2 hours of bleach at the hairdresser and a much shorter haircut got rid of my miscalculation.  I have to remind myself of that every year about this time when I start trolling the hairdye aisles at the drugstore.

I decided to try a at home hair gloss instead this year, thinking that maybe my hair just needed a shiny pick me up and that I couldn’t really turn my hair a freakish color when no color was involved.  There are a few out there to try from, but I chose Clairol Natual Instincts Shine Happy because I had seen it featured in a few magazines and thought it might be less chemical smelling than the other brands.

This product was easy and quick to use - you only have to leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it out.  It did have a pretty strong floral odor, which seemed to be covering up a slight chemical smell.  It comes with a tube of conditioner to be used after you rinse the developed product out and then again once a week to help keep up the shine.

I have to say I was a little disappointed in this product.  Maybe my hair was shiny enough to begin with, but I didn’t really see a difference after I used the product.  I think the conditioner probably did the most, because my hair felt softer after each weeks usage.  So using a deep conditioner would probably have the same effect.

If this is supposed to work just as well as a salon glossing, I’m glad I didn’t spend the money at a salon for unremarkable results.  I think that using a shine serum in either drops or a spray gives a better shine and gloss to my hair.

What do you think?  Did this product work for you?  Have you tried one of the other glossers on the market?  Leave a comment to share your opinion!

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    • Beauty on a Budget: Head to Toe Moisture

    Sunday
    Dec 23,2007

    Even if you are good about using a rich conditioner and body lotion, by this time of year you can start to feel like you can’t keep you hair and body moisturized enough.  It can be helpful to do a head to toe moisturizing session once a week.

    Moisturizing sessions can use the products you already own or you can whip some up with ingredients from your kitchen.  This should only take 30 minutes, especially if you have all of your ingredients prepared before you get started:

    Step 1: Hair moisture
    Heat a 1/2 cup of olive oil or 1/4 of conditioner for 30 seconds in the microwave.  Apply it to dry hair, roots to tip.  Comb it through until all strands are well coated.  Cover your hair, turban style with a towel that has been wrung out with hot water.

    Step 2: Moisturizing face mask
    Remove your makeup and apply a moisturizing face mask or 2 tablespoons of honey heated for 10 seconds in the microwave to damp skin. 

    Step 3: Body scrub
    To help loosen the armor of dead, dry skin cells that cover your body and block moisturizers from penetrating to your skin, stand in the shower (no water on yet) and scrub your self neck to toes with a moisturizing body scrub.  Play special attention to dry areas, like your knees, elbows and feet.  You can make your own moisturizing body scrub by combining 1 cup of brown sugar with 1/4 of body lotion, body wash or olive oil.

    Step 4: Wash it all off
    The hair masque should be on for about 10-15 minutes and the face mask on for 5-10 minutes before you wash them off.  Turn on the shower to a comfortable warm temperature.  Shampoo with a moisturizing shampoo to remove the hair mask.  You may have to wash twice to remove olive oil if you used that.  Apply condtioner and leave it on.
    Rinse the face mask from your face.  If you want to wash it off, use a moisturing face wash.
    The body scrub should be rinsed away by now.  If you skin feels too oily, you can use a moisturizing body wash.
    Rinse the conditioner from your hair.
    The shower should only last 5 minutes - no dilly-dallying.

    Step 5: Moisturize
    Dry off quickly from the shower.  Immediately apply body lotion or oil.  Apply a leave in conditioner, if you have one, to the ends of your hair.  Apply a light facial moisturizer.  Get dressed.  Applying moisturizers quickly after a shower helps lock in the water to your skin.  Avoid blow drying your hair if you can.  If it’s too cold not to, use a low setting to dry your hair until it is almost dry and then let it finish drying on it’s own.

    In addition to a moisturizing session, here are some tips you keep your skin from getting too parched:

    - Keep showers warm, not hot, and keep them to a minimum.  Too hot and too long can stip the moisture from your skin
    - If you want to take a bath, be sure to add some bath oil, don’t stay too long and apply moisturizer as soon as you get out
    - Drink plenty of water throughout the day
    - Avoid caffeinated beverages as they can be dehydrating.  If you want a warm drink, try herbal teas
    - Try adding an Omega-3 supplement to your diet

    Got any tips for staying hydrated in the cold winter months?  Share yours by leaving a comment.

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    • Product Review: C.O. Bigelow Extra-Light Face Lotion

    Sunday
    Dec 16,2007

    Because I have combination skin, I am always on the lookout for a facial moisturizer that is moisturizing enough for the dry parts of my face without making the oily parts oilier. And above all I need something that won’t make me break out.

    C.O. Bigelow Extra-Light Face LotionI originally bought a travel size bottle of C.O. Bigelow Extra-Light Face Lotion to have for a trip I was taking, because of it’s small size. I’ve mentioned in past reviews that my skin has a tendency to freak out while traveling, usually resulting in extra oil and a breakout a few days later. Using this lotion on my trip really helped keep the oil down.

    Although my skin doesn’t seem to be sensitive, I’ve read in multiple places that people with acne prone skin usually also have sensitive skin. This face lotion is fragrance free and uses camomile extracts, which are soothing for irritated skin, and I could tell the difference. My skin definitely seems less blotchy with irritated spots when I use this lotion. It also contains parsley extract, which works as a moisturizer and white clay which absorbs excess oil. I really appreciate the added clay, as it really does help mattify my oily areas.

    The lotion is smooth and light (the clay is well blended and not noticeable). The scent is very fresh and light - only a hint of the camomile and parsley extracts. I love putting this lotion on after washing my face - it feels cool and refreshing and I can feel the dry parts of my face soaking it in. I do sometimes add a little more to my dry areas, as the lotion is so light, it sometimes isn’t moisturizing enough for those parts. I find this lotion great in the summer when the weather is hot, but it is a big lacking as my skin dries out in the winter. I will often use multiple coats or suppliment it with a heavier night cream during the cold months.

    There are two versions of this lotion: the plain one and one with SPF 15. We all know how important it is to use SPF on our faces, but when you have oily or acne prone skin, SPF lotions are often to heavy or clog pores, making you want to skip them. I use the plain lotion at night and the SPF 15 version during the day.

    Have a great light moisturizer? A different opinion on this moisturizer? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

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    • Review: Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo

    Monday
    Dec 10,2007

    Whether you have oily hair, use a lot of styling product or are simply pressed for time, a dry shampoo can save you a ton of time getting yourself ready in the morning.  Dry shampoos, however, are hard to come by.  The first I ever found was Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo at Sephora and at the time, it was the only dry shampoo they carried.  So despite the $23 price tag, I snatched it up.

    Rene Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo

    This dry shampoo is sprayed into the roots and left on for two minutes while kaolin clay, silica, rice, and cornstarch powders soak up oil and peppermint, caraway, and basil oils moisturize your hair.  The you brush it out and are good to go or to restyle your hair.  I loved how well this product worked on my oily roots and it smelled great.  It did however have some drawbacks:

    1. Every time I used this, someone would ask if I lightened my hair.  I’m a natural blonde, but the powder made my hair even lighter - I don’t know if it would work for darker hair.

    2. The bottle only lasted 5 uses - and I applied sparingly.  For $23, I’d expect to get more mileage out of it.

    Have you used a dry shampoo that you’ve like?  Tell us about it by leaving a comment!

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