Miracle product: Organix moroccan argan oil

I’ve been traveling alot by plane recently and I found that not only did my skin suffer from the flights but my hair felt much drier and coarser than usual. Although I color treat my hair religiously every 6 weeks, I go easy on styling products and don’t blowdry more often than necessary so usually I have few complaints in this department; however, I decided to do a little research. As a result, I found that my hair care routine needed updating because the sulfates (Sodium Lauryl) in the shampoo and conditioner I’ve been using has a drying effect which is already exacerbated by the dyeing process.  Apparently, the sulfates are added purely to increase the foaminess or lather of the product and have no real benefit in terms of cleansing. Haircare companies are increasingly sensitive to the rise in consumer awareness regarding chemicals so sulfate free shampoos are available from the likes of L’Oreal and Pureology (the latter is specifically geared toward color treated hair).

With that issue settled (I highly recommend the Pureology range), I moved on to finding a mask that I could use a few times a week to restore my hair’s softness immediately. While perusing Target on a recent trip back to the U.S., I came across Organix moroccan argan oil, a natural product billed as an intensive moisturizing treatment. Argan oil has been used for centuries in both haircare and skincare to maintain softness as it contains vitamin E and other antioxidants so I decided to give this a go. Honestly, I’m nothing less than amazed. At $7.99, this treatment did what far more expensive alternatives (e.g. Frederic Fekkai, John Frieda) couldn’t which is to bring back the bounce! My hair feels much lighter and the tangles brought on by dryness disappeared after only one use. Plus, it’s safe to use on color treated hair so I don’t need to worry about fading. I’m not sure whether I’d use it after every shampoo since even natural products may cause build-up but I highly recommend the Organix range for doing what it says on the tin (as they say in the UK!)

Organix moroccan argan oil is widely available in the U.S. at pharmacies, foodstores and mass retailers (for a list, click here: http://www.organixhair.com/find-us#) In the U.K., try Boots or have it delivered from Amazon.

butter London nail polish: the future is here

I’ve never been a fan of manicures because a) they never seem to last long enough and b) I’m weary of the ingredients used in the varnish; however, upon the recent discovery of butter London, I’m now a convert even if 3 days is still the max time until chippage!! The label, founded in 2005 (read more here: About : butter LONDON), features 3 Free lacquers meaning they don’t contain potentially harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene, DBP or parabens. Not only is butter London’s polish non-toxic but the colors are very trendy as their products are often used during the various Fashion Weeks. Personally, I’ve fallen in love with Dosh, a particularly cheerful green color with just a slight hint of sparkle – perfect for Springtime! I’ve included a photo of my manicure but I’m sorely tempted by the colors below (who can resist a nail polish named Snog?)…

Available online at butter London (butter LONDON : Nail Polish, Always Non-toxic – Long Live Colour!) or at retailers that specialize in organic products such as Whole Foods.

Dosh by butter London

Artful Dodger

Cheeky Chops

HRH

Snog

And the winner for best mascara is…

As awards season is officially upon us, I thought I would hold my own Oscar ceremony for mascara but instead of wearing a fancy gown, I was in a t-shirt trying desperately to take a decent close-up photograph of my eyes (harder than it seems trust me!) I compared two of my previous favorites, both from L’Oréal, Volume Million Lashes and Lash Architect 4D, to a relative newcomer from Soap & Glory called Thick and Fast. As you can tell by the names, I’m not into wimpy lashes so if you’re looking for a more natural effect, these aren’t the mascaras for you! Also, all three are either black or extra black to create a uniform sample.

For those who don’t know, Marcia Kilgore, the genius behind Bliss Spa, created Soap & Glory back in 2006 as a side project. Almost immediately, several of the label’s products including their lip plumper (Sexy Mother Pucker), became best sellers. I like that Soap & Glory doesn’t take itself too seriously as evidenced by the silly names and super girly pink packaging; however, I still prefer substance to style (at least for make-up!) so I was a bit cynical about the Thick and Fast mascara, despite it being one of Boots’ Top 3 sellers in that category. Well readers, I was wrong as I instantly preferred this mascara to my two L’Oréal mainstays because not only does it deliver a false lash effect but there was absolutely zero clumping. Although an excellent plumper, Volume Million Lashes tends to go on a bit too thick and therefore migrates south during the day whereas the Thick and Fast mascara stays put. Lash Architect 4D is certainly less clumpy but it doesn’t give me super full lashes like Thick and Fast. Overall, I was very impressed by Soap & Glory and intend to use this mascara as my everyday choice.

Thick and Fast is available at Boots and retails for £10.

Soap & Glory's Thick and Fast mascara

 

    

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