Hello! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I had a busy work schedule over the holidays but got away to Florida to see my mom this past weekend and it was glorious. Everyone was apologizing for how cold it was (50s and 60s) and I was like “this is glorious!”. Hahaha!! Tulsa has been literally freezing. I have a ton of health and beauty tips from mom to share – I am making the potassium broth she introduced to me right now. Sounds weird but it is delicious – just google it.
One little treasure mom shared her thoughts on with me was the PHYTO PHYTOJOBA Intense Hydrating Brilliance Mask. I can’t find this anywhere but Amazon so it might be discontinued, so if it sounds appealing, snap it up while you can. Mom’s hair is dry so she is always looking for something to infuse moisture and this does it big time. The mask is aromatic and contains jojoba oil. The formula melts into hair for nourishing hydration while angelica root and orange essential oil add shine. Right before a walk one morning, mom slathered some on and let it “marinate” while we sweat a little bit. Perfect way to use it in my book.
Summer is the time for those dream trips, often abroad. Even if we don’t have one planned, we might be daydreaming about being on a beach in Greece or strolling the Parisian avenues. Without leaving our vanities, we can bring the exotic into our lives via beauty. So many of the international beauty staples have withstood the test of time, making them a must-have. This morning on Tulsa Live (formally Great Day Green Country), I shared some of my favorites to transport me to travel hotspots:
I can’t help but start off with my favorite destination, France. And what is more French than Caudalie, a skin care line built upon the benefits of Grape-seed Polyphenols, the most powerful anti-oxidants in the plant world. Caudalie Polyphenol c15 Overnight Detox Oilis one of the newest from the brand and is also made in France. The team has coupled the anti-oxidants with stabilized Vitamin C to block free-radicals. The dry oil soaks in and regenerates skin while you sleep. Plus, the smell will lull you to snoozeville with Carrot, Lavender, and White Sandalwood ($52).
Another dream location I hope to visit one day is the Dead Sea, a natural phenomenon I have always been fascinated with. No wonder I love AHAVA, a collection that utilizes minerals found in the Dead Sea in every single product.AHAVA Natural Dead Sea Mudtransports that special mineral-rich mud right to your shower. The mud is harvested from the banks where clay is packed with an ultra-high concentration of minerals that can foster healthy looking skin. Excess oil, dead skin and toxins are whisked away while the mud stimulates circulation and improves skin tone. And calling all athletes and workaholics: this mud treatment can also help with stress and muscle aches. Just dirty up and spread all over your body, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse ($15).
Asia is still on my bucket list (if you don’t count my couple days in the part of Turkey that lies on the continent). My cousin has a passion for Japan and I think it has rubbed off on me. After all, Japan lays claim one of the great skin care cultures. One reason could be the availability of Wakame, a seaweed that grows along the coast of Japan and is often said to be the reason why Japanese women have youthful skin even into old age. H2O Plus Face Oasis CC Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA +++ contains a wakame compound that offers tons of anti-aging properties including a natural sunscreen and protection against the loss of Hyaluronic Acid. While CC creams generally have heavier coverage in my experience, this version is sheer to medium coverage and can brighten skin without being heavy. Bonus points for the inclusion of chemical free sunscreen ($35). Note: this line flies under the radar but is fabulous for relatively affordable skin care.
And we couldn’t round up this virtual world tour without a couple of stops in Africa. It seems that African ingredients are having somewhat of a moment in the beauty industry. First up is the super-popular Argan Oil from the Argan Tree of Morocco. I know we all have seen it on shelves, but what exactly is Argan Oil? The Berber people of Morocco discovered the culinary, cosmetics and medicinal benefits of Argan Oil. Unroasted Argan Oil is traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases. In cosmetics, Argan Oil is advocated as moisturizing oil, working against flaky skin as well as nourishing and fortifying the hair. L’Oreal harnessed Argan’s nourishing benefits to heal dull, dry and damaged hair with Oleo Therapy. The Oleo Therapy collection is sulfate-free and contain six flower oils to provide nutrition and hydration to strands ($6.99 – 12.99).
Lastly, let’s head South to South Africa for another oil that has been part of beauty rituals for centuries. Marula fruit fates back as far as 10,000 BC. No wonder since its miracle oil can protect skin in severe climates. Marula Oil is packed with antioxidants and omega-9 fatty acids which can fight free radicals, prevent water loss and improve elasticity. Erno Laszlo Phormula 3-9 Cream is a nutritional supplement that packs a hydration punch and works as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Expect renewed skin and a more youthful appearance. I love this cream after a ski day or a pool afternoon. It even calms my red flush after a run and can be used on the face and body ($265).
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.
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 aboutit’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.
I’m throwing everything I can at this dry hair situation. The current regimen that is finally giving me soft and silky hair is Cristophe Professional Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. The formula has all the nourishing goodies to add moisture back into my strands, healing dry ends. It also contains UV protectors, creatine to provide strength and improve elasticity, and Vitamin C for shine and vibrancy. The scent is that classic old school juicy floral, perfectly nostalgic.
At $8.99, these salon-quality products are worth snatching up. Shop online or find your closest salon here.
Color safe. Paraben free. Cruelty free. Not tested on animals.
Whipped Curls might sound good enough to eat, but it is really quite something special for those ladies with curly hair. This luxe formula has a triad of functions: styling primer, daily conditioner and leave-in hair mask. The rich, thick cream melts into your hair, hydrating a variety of curly hair types.
First, I gave it a whirl on my naturally wavy locks. I made the mistake of using too much product, but the result was a great hydration treatment. After trying to coax my natural waves out, I gave up and put my hair in a bun. My hair was a little crunchy and greasy. But…. when I rinsed the product out, it was supple, soft and shiner than it has been in … well, a long time. The triple Olive Oil blend with Shea Butter and Glycerine moisturize, strengthen and nourish. Green Tea provides anti-oxidant and environmental protection.
Next, I enlisted Lisa from Elembee. She’s got those enviable, bouncy, ringlet style curls and had mentioned she wanted to try Ouidad a few months ago. She didn’t make my same mistake – she just used a nickle-sized amount of product (see below for what Lisa calls the “Ouidad Flower”). She loves the product as both a styling cream and conditioner. Wait, let me correct that… she “LOVES” it as a styling cream! Once the proper dose was established, Lisa reports “ringlets that were soft to the touch, not frizzy, and hair that doesn’t look or feel greasy.” Her curls looked relaxed, natural and bouncy.
Bottom line: Curly haired curls, take note! Lisa gives this her seal of approval. To those with dry and breaking hair, I would also recommend this as a hydrating hair mask. Other Ouidad favorites include:
Clear & Gentle Essential Daily Shampoo makes for a great clarifying shampoo, but with a low-pH, low-foam formula that doesn’t strip hair and works on color-treated hair
Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner is an intensive conditioner that is a savior for dry, winter hair. The formula is lightweight but deeply hydrating (also can be a leave-in).
Ouidad Curl Recovery Whipped Curls is available at Ouidad.com, salons and ULTA.
Make sure you check out Lisa’s blog here. She has great blogging tips and a fabulous series coming up in 2013 for those who adore travel as much as I do.
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.
For some reason, I was expecting this to be like the facial cleansing oil by Shu Uemura – an oil based, non-foaming cleanser. But that isn’t what Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo is at all. The formula actually quickly forms a foam that delicately (and intelligently) removes build-up without striping the natural oils. The result is a very scalp-healthy, balanced head of hair without a hint of grease.
This unique formula became part of my routine just in the nick of time. It was truly transformative. My very long locks are free of split ends, but slightly dry. I deal with scalp issues like itching and psoriasis. So my hair looked dull and tired from the scalp-healthy routine I had in my shower.
The Cleansing Oil Shampoo returned my head full of soft, shiny and hydrated and hydrated hair. Shu Uemura uses deep-sea extracts to remove build-up without stripping the necessary natural oils. It is gentle on my scalp and free of silicons so my strands aren’t weighed down. I love the calming yuzu citrus scent.
Available online at birchbox or locate your salon here.
