Tag: heat protectant

it’s a 10 miracle leave-in product

Over here at Belle Belle we’ve got lots of things going on. The beauty closet is overflowing with goodies in the pipeline to be reviewed. So, occasionally a product goes rogue. I heard a fellow blogger raving about it’s a 10 miracle leave-in product and I knew I spotted it in last month’s Birchbox but I couldn’t find it anywhere!

Well, this Friday night, cleaning out my hair products drawer (I know… I am so exciting), Eureka! I found it. Then, much to my delight, this quarter’s New Beauty Test Tube that arrived on Saturday contained it’s a 10 miracle leave-in product! Birchbox had sent the “lite” version. I’m delighted with both! But I think my drier, colored hair prefers the original formula.

This spray is designed to be used on damp hair before styling. And it is tough to name one thing it doesn’t do. Off the bat, here are 10 things that it does:

Repairs dry, damaged hair
Adds shine
Detangles
Controls frizz
Seals & protects hair color
Prevents split ends
Stops hair breakage
Creates silkiness
Enhances natural body
Flat iron spray & thermal protector

I use it on both damp hair and also as a conditioning treatment on dry hair. I love the smell. The “lite” version might be slightly more floral. And this multi-tasker is idea for travel or the gym. Made in the USA.

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.

Pantene Pro-V Ultimate 10 BB Creme

Frankly, I thought naming a hair product a BB Cream was embarrassing, cheesy and gimmicky. But then it worked on me. I snuck around to the hair aisle on Tuesday and tucked that puppy right into my basket. I do admit to giving it the stink eye on my bathroom counter. But I have to admit now, this stuff is gooooood.

The cream/gel hybrid went on my damp hair with a focus on the bottom half of my strands. As a note, my hair is just ever so slightly due for a cut (it has been months) so ends are a touch dry and my hair is a little dull from product (read a lot dull). My hair immediately felt soothed and nourished. After a rough dry, I started in with a round brush. As the strands left the brush, I immediately noticed a shine and bounce. I was deeply concerned this would weight down my fine hair. But it actually volumized.

The formula has that classic Pantene smell that I melt for – cue high school flashback. It also works to improve strength, shine, smoothness, moisture, frizz, and fly-aways. It also provides that crucial heat protection.

Bottom line: don’t judge a book by its cover (or silly name).

If found my bottle at Walgreens, but it is also available here online.

Brand Spotlight: Amika: love your hair and GIVEAWAY

Amika’s tag line is “heathy, easy and stylish”. Um, sounds about perfect to me. I’ve been imersed in the world of Amika for the past two weeks and my hair is softer, happier and healthier than ever before. I was able to try out quite a few products so, today I am featuring a little brand spotlight.

I’ve been trying out the Color pHerfection Shampoo, Hydrate Conditioner and Nourishing Hair Mask in the shower. My hair is super fine and been a little dry this winter, so I was angling to improve that situation. While my hair isn’t colored, the Color pHerfection Shampoo is chock full of antioxidants, vitamins, healthy fatty acids, Omega 3, 6 & 9, and the rare Omega 7 (usually only found in fish oil) to heal my drier hair. All these goodies come from Amika’s signature ingredient, the Obliphica Berry (Sea Buckthorn Berry), known for centuries renowned for its healing powers.

Hydrate Conditioner and Nourishing Hair Mask notched up the moisure element in my routine significantly. Both of these rich formulas infuse hair with fatty acids, proteins, anti-oxidants, and other nutrients. Somehow they are both ultra-creamy but leave hair balanced and voluminous. The Nourishing Hair Mask takes it a bit further than the conditioner with extra penetration, nourishment and repair. Both have a vaguely tropical scent. And I am not sure you’ll ever find me without one or the other again.

Amika Obliphica Oil Treatment might be the center piece of the brand. I was slightly concerned about the Obliphica seed oil for my fine hair, but it managed to deliver hydration without weighing my hair down or making it oily (this goes for all Amika products I tried). I was especially impressed I could use the Oil Treatment fairly liberally and I still had volume with loads of shine. It also helped on next day hair for a little boost at the ends. It also provides UV protection from environmental and sun damage. The treatment has that delicious and amazing argan oil while being free of parabens and artificial colors. Like the Oil Treatment, the Leave in Cream also surprised me by not weighing my hair down. I applied the cream and then slept on braided, wet hair. My waves were shiny, bouncy and healthy. I have a sneaking suspicion curly-haired girls would go nuts over this stuff.

Lastly, I’m embarassed to say I never use a heat protectant. Now that I a have mastered the blowout, I use heat tools much more often and I knew I needed to step up my game. Amika’s Obliphica Heat Defense Serum uses their signature ingredient’s omega 7 and vitamin C to protect strands. It revitalizes and forms a protective barrier. This layer also helps fight frizz. All three styling products have that tropical oil smell that I go bananas for, but it is very subtle.

And now for the juicy part… a GIVEAWAY. I am thrilled to be sharing one of Amika’s hottest tools with one of you lucky readers. I’ve been using a similar clip-less rod with four interchangeable barrels for the ultimate in styling flexibility. We are giving away Zebra Triple Barrel Pro Curler Set – it also includes a curling rod with interchangeable barrels and one of their famed ceramic irons. Guys, this set is valued at $300!

Enter using the widget below. Open to US Only and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE WAS PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.