Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner 2 in 1

a staple in my travel shower-bag

While this isn't quite as moisturizing as using both shampoo & conditioner, it hydrates incredibly well for such a low price -- definitely the best 2-in-1 I've used yet. It does like it promises, leaving hair smooth, moisturized and healthy-feeling/looking. The smell is great too ... when I notice my hair being dried out from flat-ironing, I use this along with the hello hydration conditioner (and I leave that in for around 20 minutes) and then, when I rinse my hair out, it feels wonderful.

September 18, 2008

Gillette Venus Satin Care Shave Gel

Gilette Satin Care shave gel

My friend bought me a can of this when I first started shaving, and I loved it! It's a very light, smooth gel texture that instantly turns into a luxurious thick lather when you put it on your legs. The smells are wonderful (I love Wild Berry!) and the performance is ... wow. After shaving with this, and then putting lotion on, my legs feel sinfully smooth, not a hair anywhere. I can't even describe how good they feel, how smooth and soft. Great product :]

September 18, 2008

Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

Burt's Bees lip shimmer

This is truly an excellent product. Without the hair-catching stickiness of a lipgloss or the drying effects of a matte lipstick, it stays on for hours even through eating and drinking. I have the shade in guava, and I love it -- it's a pearly, silvery pink (despite the darker appearance in the tube). I would like a larger selection of shades (I think a shimmery gold would look really good on my bff's dark-coffee skin; most of the shades, I find, are more flattering on pale to medium skin tones). I love the slim, purse-friendly tube and the minty feeling it leaves on my lips -- actually, he only thing I can find to fault with it is the applicator tip. It's hard to get the corners of your mouth with the flat tip, and you've got to be careful when closing the cap, or else you might wreck the product.

September 14, 2008

L'Oreal Paris Vive Pro Nutri Gloss Conditioning treatment

L'Oréal Paris Vive Pro Nutri-gloss Conditioning Treatment

I bought this a while ago a long with the shampoo & conditioner ... the first time I used it, it worked quite well, restoring softness and replenishing my hair with a healthy dose of shine, especially at the crown of my head. But don't let the "imparts sparkling brilliance from root to tip" claim fool you -- most of the shine is concentrated at the top of the head, leaving the hair from mid-shaft down looking dull and tired in comparison. Also, the smell really bothers me -- couldn't they have used something a little less generic, my-grandma's-bathroom-y? Anyway. I find that the "treatment" doesn't work half as well after the first time you use it ... I wouldn't recommend this, but for the price, I'm not surprised.

September 14, 2008

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Conditioner for Long Hair

one of my favourites

I really like this conditioner. The texture is lovely: thick and creamy, with an amazing smell. You don't have to use a lot to get results and I like how it makes my hair feel lustrous and smooth. I would recommend leaving it in for a couple minutes though (shave or use soap/body wash in the meantime) to let your hair get the maximum benefits.

September 5, 2008

Herbal Essences Dangerously Straight Pin Straight Conditioner

I like it

This is an incredible conditioner for the price, but not my favourite. I mean I quite like it, but it doesn't really do much to help make my hair more straight. Like all HE products, it smells DELICIOUS, and it smoothes down about 70% of my flyaway problem areas and frizz when I blow dry. Overall, if you're on a budget, go for it! But if you can afford to invest for money in a straightening product, then I would suggest opting for a more expensive product with silicones and ceteayl alcohol to promote a smoother finish.

September 5, 2008

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Scrunching Gel

meh ... it's okay.

I must admit, my hair is more wavy than curly, but I had pretty high expectations for this product. But I don't really like the gel texture ... I mean, it worked pretty well, but the humidity made it frizz up and it kind of made my [thick] hair hard in places. Of course it smells wonderful, but if you're looking for touchable curls, go for the mousse.

September 5, 2008

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave-in Split-End Protector for Long Hair

one of my after-sower essentials

'll start with the bad stuff (there isn't much) : the bottle says you can put it on dry hair, but really it just makes it feel gross. I mean, if you're having a really bad hair day, you can put a small pump in your hands, rub them together, and smooth over your hair to tame flyaways, but you have to pull your hair back to achieve the sleek look (on hair that's loose it makes it look greasy when applied dry). And I just don't like the feeling of it when my hair goes around my face ... urk. On to the good. This smells absolutely delicious, and the tips of my hair practically gulp in the smooth, hydrating lotion. It makes my ends thick and healthy, not dry and limp -- also, it tends to make them curl upwards, which I like. All in all a good product for damp hair, like an invisible shield against damage to your tips. :)

September 5, 2008

Burt's Bees Lip Gloss

pretty good.

I think this is more of a balm than a gloss. As it is virtually clear-tinted, it doesn't impart very much colour to your lips, or very much shine. (More of a subtle, natural sheen -- perfect for someone who doesn't like high-shine but wants some sort of shimmer. But personally I like a little more, well, glossy.) Anyhow, this smoothes on very well, lasts long, and doesn't irritate lips, but the claim that it has raspberry flavor is a far cry from the truth -- it tastes waxy and unpleasant. Overall, I like it, but it would be improved with different packaging (the pot is messy and inconvenient) and perhaps some more of the basic criteria of a "gloss" -- shine, flavor, etc.

September 5, 2008

Olay Quench Daily Lotion

The best!

It's a little pricey, $11 at my local Shoppers Drug Mart, but it's most definitely worth it. This light but moisture-packed lotion smoothes easily into skin leaving a delicious fresh scent that lasts hours after you apply without ever being overpowering. I had visibly dry skin (white, itchy patches) and the next morning, it was almost completely cured. I love this lotion! It works better than the high-end brands I've tried to smooth and replenish parched skin overnight and I would recommend it to anyone, even if they didn't have dry skin -- this is also great for keeping skin in shape. Overall, a truly amazing product. True to its name, it quenches skin's desire for intense moisture as well as adding a light, shimmery sheen and soft touchability.

September 4, 2008