Shea Moisture Review

Well I gave the Shea Moisture products a go and I have to say they just didn't do it for me.  Let me back up a bit and break it down product by product. I want to be fair and not generalize the results.
Brilliant Curl Shampoo: has a great coconut scent that is not too strong. the texture is smooth and spreads really well.  There isn't a lot of lather to the product but that's ok because my hair was gently cleaned and felt soft. I know with some people lots of lather means clean.  As my hubby says " I need to see some suds"  I assure you that the product does it's job of cleaning despite the minimal lather.

Curl Enhancing Smoothie: So this is the product I really had high hopes for. This is a thick cream that per the directions should be applied to damp hair. I tried it on both wet and damp hair.  The product just didn't work for me. It left a film on my hair and suprisingly wasn't as water soluble as I had hoped.  Usually if a product doesnt work for me I just rinse it out, the water breaks it down and it runs right off the hair. That was not the case with the smoothie; I had to shampoo my hair to completely remove the product.  On the positive side, it does smell good and it spreads well.

Deep Treatment Masque: A nice lightly scented cream full a good combination of ingredients that will help get sickly hair back on the road to recovery. I wasn't blown over by the results but I would use it again. I am even more interested to see the results on relaxed hair. 

The end result was that my hair wasn't AS dry as is was before I used the product. There wasn't a great hold so a bit of frizz did kick in after a few hours and again I had a film on my hair. 

Now, I couldn't just let this be the end so I passed the product over to my sister-in-love and here is what she said:  "I like the product a alot. My hair is soft, my curl is more defined and my hair feels more moisturized"   hmm! look at that.  It didn't work for me but it sure did work for her. 

                                                                  my gorgeous sister

shea moisture hair Target

Oh Woe Is Me, My Hair Is Dry!

My hair has been so dry due to the summer heat and a few visits to the pool.  A good deep treatment is in order.  Last week I had a conversation with my cousin about Shea Moisture, an all natural and organic haircare line. She raved about a deep treatment that is her favorite to date. Oh, I just had to find it, MY HAIR IS SO DRY! *its coughs*  My poor tresses, the daily moisture I apply is like giving a man in the desert one drop of water at a time. *he drinks quickly and hoarsely yells more! more!!*  

I took a trip to Target to grab the Deep Treatment Masque but also decided to try the products for thick, curly hair.  I will be trying them out this week and I will be back to tell you all about them and the amazing list of ingredients.  Until then, i will say this each product smells divine and check this out: NO Parabens, NO paraffin, NO gluten, NO Mineral oil, No sulfates and the list goes on and on. A full list when I do the review.

            I had to show you my dry hair *insert sad face*

shea moisture hair Target

Dermalogica Daylight Defense

                                        (solar booster defense, multivitamin bodyblock, solar shield & after sun repair)

We can all attest that this has been one HOT summer thus far. Those UVA and UVB rays are taking no prisoners so we have to take skin protection very seriously.  Dermalogica Daylight Defense($35) is a cool travel size kit that delivers both protection and skincare. 

Solar Defense Booster spf 30- can be worn alone or mixed with any of your favorite face products to deliver a nice boost.  This product boasts a nice a-list of vitamins & extracts that will calm, protect, and sooth your skin. Free radical damage doesn't stand a chance!

Multivitamin bodyblock spf 20- is a fragrance free and non greasy body moisturizer. It's light creamy texture allows for easy & even application. Your skin will surely be guarded against aging while being thoroughly nourished and hydrated.

Solar Shield spf 15- a water resistant conditioning stick that provides protection to the easy to burn areas (the lips,ears and nose).  it really does leave the leaves nice and soft without out any of that yucky film build up one might experience from other brands. Kudos to them for using the Castor seed oil as a base.

After Sun Repair- first let me say, I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! why? It immediately cools and calms on contact and the aromatherapeutic blend of extracts will quickly relax your senses.  The soft gel texture  is not sticky, doesn't leave a film, and most importantly your skin will not feel tight after this product has dried.  So if you are looking to cool your sunburn and reduce any discomfort caused by sun exposure, this is the produce you need.

Dermalogica is an education based skincare line. It is designed and created to treat targeted skin issues such as aging, acne, etc. So make sure you check out their site for your skincare needs. I heard the Daily microfoliant ( a gentle rice based powder that smoothes & brightens)is amazing!!

dermalogica

Phyto à Porter Frequent Use Collection Review

Several months ago while out and about I decided to browse the hair products at Sephora.  I came across the cutest little travel sets by Phyto.   The mini haircare collection kits are exclusive to Sephora and you have your choice of three categories: Dry hair, Color, or Frequent Use.  I chose the Frequent Use Collection to try on my sister who is transitioning from relaxed hair.  Oh, I can't go on without letting you know that I have heard amazing things about the PhytoSpecific Phytorelaxer,  a non chemical,egg and soya based relaxer that is good for all hair types (a review by Felicia on ThisThatBeauty)   Now, let me get back to the mini collection that delivered maximum results.  I"m going to list what was in the kit and how i felt about each one individually

Phytoprogenium Shampoo- is lightly scented clear with a serum texture. It spreads evenly and gives a good lather. The hair was thoroughly clean after 2 shampoos and there was no "squeaking".  I was impressed with the definition of my sisters's curl. The was minimal frizz and the shine was just grand. The first ingredient in this shampoo is marshmallow root (althaea officinalis) which is very well known for it's soothing and healing properties. This along with sweet almond oil (emollient) and olive leaf extract( astringent) ensured that my sister's hair was  both clean and softened. These factors were essential to my sister who tends to have a very dry scalp and oily hair.

Pytobaume- is a light cream that detangles wonderfully and does not leave a heavy film. It has an ingredient in it that will ensure "no static"  I used about a size of a quarter on her entire head. I do hope that they will reformulate and get the parabens out of this great product. Oh, I can't forget the mallow extract, which is an emollient that also protects.

Phyto7-  my favorite product of the collection.  I used just a tad bit bigger than pea size of the product before I blow dried the hair.  I have to say, as you can see from the pictures below, the shine on the hair was consistent from the start.  The hydrating cream just sealed the deal.  The product gave a good slip without leaving a film.  The hair was soft  and again the sheen was amazing. The power pack formulation of plant extracts ensure that the hair is softened, hydrated, and protected.

                                                                       (Phyto in action)

 These products will definitely be a staple in my sister's hair regimen.  I myself, have started using the Phyto7 and I picked up a bottle of the PhytoCurl Shampoo. I will be giving it a try very soon. As for the mini collection, it's definitely gorgeous approved.  I really adore the packaging also, the resealable case fits right in your hand which makes it easy for packing and travel.  A great product in a small package for an amazing value, $12!!                                   

          

Phyto à Porter, $12 @ Sephora

phyto

If you must play , then Play Pretty with Whipped Body Butter Creme

(t-b lemon orange fig, celedon, gingered jasmine, nohea ani, and island sorbet)

Play Pretty Whipped Body Butter Creme is a nature based, light, non greasy cream that glides on smooth and doesn't require multiple daily applications, which is a plus for me. I don't know about you but one thing that I find quite displeasing is a product that I have to keep applying throughout the day to" maybe" get the benefits it claims it can deliver.    This cream boasts a powerful blend of butters, essential oils, and plant extracts that is surely to help the skin attain all the nutrients it needs to maintain normal moisture levels and guard  against dryness and/or irritation often associated with various dermatitis' (mild to severe dry skin such as eczema, rosacea, etc). This is an answer to those tired, dry, cracked feet, stubborn ash, and unsightly knees and elbows. You will feel good and smell good while conquering the problems that may have overtaken your skin.  The luxurious scents grab hold of your olfactory and make you feel like you been air lifted to the tropics. Oh, I just can't get enough of the fresh lime scent in the Celedon! So if you need a stress fighter the aromatheraputic qualities these products offer will help to relax and/or uplift your mind and spirit.  

                          

(light and creamy)

Play Pretty not only meets the needs we have of  keeping our skin smooth, vibrant, and healthy but get this:  There are no mineral oil or petroleum oil, harsh ingredients, parabens, drying sd alcohol or lanolin, which can be highly allergic.  So, for all of you looking for a more "green" alternative, this is a line for you.  The line has other wonderful products like Sugar Dew, a moisturizing body wash and Sugar Shea Scrub, all of which come in the delightful flavors pictured above.  Price point ranges from $15 to $25 which may seem like a splurge purchase for some but when my 10yr old son says "oh, now this lime one smells good , I will wear this lotion everyday" I call it a family investment (lol)  Play Pretty has also been husband approved "I don't know about the pretty but I am down for play, the lime, ginger, and fig smell real good".  So there you go, Play Pretty and share this great product with your whole family.

ABOUT PLAY PRETTY (excerpt from the site):

Play Pretty Beauty was launched by two sisters in October 2006.

Although truth is, neither sister thought their skin care woes would turn into a company! Since they were children, both sisters suffered from troubled skin - eczema, dry itchy patches and blotchiness. Nothing on the market seemed to help. As adults, the sisters spent a lot of time and money trying to find a solution.
Then fate intervened. As a birthday gift, one sister received a natural remedy book that contained recipes for making homemade hair and body care products. She started making some of the recipes and shared the results with her sibling. Since both sisters loved to cook, they thought, why not try to 'cook up' a solution to their skin woes?
So they literally took to their kitchens and started blending up their own natural remedies. After countless batches, and 'test audiences' (friends, family, reluctant spouses) the sisters realized it was working - the itchiness and blotchy patches were gone and their skin had never felt so good! But what made their products different? It's simple: what they created in their kitchens didn't have the same harsh, irritating, synthetic ingredients and artificial colors other commercially made products did. It was a light bulb moment that sparked the sisters' desire to create a product line using only the best, nature-inspired ingredients.
The name Play Pretty came from something our grandmother used to say to us when we were children. Growing up, we were rough and tumble tomboys, always getting dirty, always climbing trees, always looking for our next big ‘adventure’ in Nanny’s backyard.




*disclaimer -this product was sent to me from a company representative  for review consideration. I am not affiliated nor have i been compensated for this review