L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Shampoo + Conditioner = *flick flick*…

About a month or so back, I decided to hand the scissors over to my hairdresser to crop my hair – and she ended up chopping off about 5-6 inches, which is quite a lot! It was also about the time that I was sent some L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 products to try, my hair was feeling rather rough due to the lack of TLC plus my existing shampoo had just run out, so I figured it would be a good time to switch haircare (especially since Paris gave me a good laugh on Twitter calling it the ‘Aishwarya Rai’ shampoo!)

Description:
The L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 range replenishes and restores fullness to weak, limp, lifeless hair. Repairing Shampoo – Especially for damaged, devitalized hair. Repairs the hair without weighing it down. Repairing Cream Conditioner – Completes the shampooing process by adding body to each hair shaft and untangling the hair. Products are enriched with Pro-Keratin and Ceramide, strengthening hair to better resist daily wear and tear.

The Verdict:
I’ve started with the shampoo and conditioner first, since those are the two I’ve been using regularly. I’ve never really been one to go for creamy shampoos, since I have this thought about it leaving residue in my hair, but I’ll make an exception for the Total Repair 5 shampoo. Both the shampoo and conditioner are creamy as you can tell from the picture above, although the shampoo resembles more of a very thick liquid. When I tipped my hand upside down, the conditioner would not budge – which to me is a good thing since I like my conditioners to feel like they’re working, y’know?

The smell of the shampoo is lovely, it actually smells...shiny, if you know what I mean (reminiscent of Pantene's 'Smell the Shine' campaign I guess). The results were nothing to sneeze at though - from the first use I was a happy camper…my hair felt soft and shiny, and very manageable. I thought I was having a particularly good hair day, but as the weeks went on I feel like I’ve been having a series of good hair days. :)

Something quirky though, I found that I use surprisingly little shampoo and conditioner when using this range. Normally, I squeeze out a fair bit of shampoo and conditioner in order to wash my hair, but the amount has dropped drastically after using this range. If you’re thinking it’s because I’d cut my hair, I did take that into consideration (I was using about 3 pumps of shampoo even with my shorter hair compared to about a 20-50sen coin size with the Total Repair 5 shampoo).

I actually liked this combo enough to haul all the way to Hanoi and back, which I normally never do with my haircare – I usually only decant my shampoo and use whatever conditioner samples I have lying around.

The shampoo and conditioner combo lasted me a good 6 weeks before running out, and that’s pretty good considering it was the smaller 180ml size bottles. My only gripe was that my conditioner ran out a bit faster than my shampoo, but that’s nothing new for me.

Would I buy this? Yes, and I just did in fact – they were having promotions on this at Guardian and Watsons, and I ended up picking up the 375ml bottle of shampoo for about RM20 at Guardian, and the 375ml conditioner at Watsons for about RM21 (I didn’t pick them up at the same place becaue Guardian didn’t have the conditioner, and the shampoo at Watsons was more expensive!). FYI, Watsons is also having a promo on the smaller bottles which are now below RM10 per bottle – good time to pick one up if you want to try it out. :)

The entire L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 range consists of shampoo, cream conditioner, mask and night essence – I’ve just gotten my hands on a couple of samples of the mask, and I’ve got a bottle of the night essence to try now, so let’s see how those go. For now though, it’s back to my hair flicking…*flick flick flick*

The L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 range is currently widely available at personal care stores. Retail prices are as follows:
Repairing Shampoo – 180ml (RM11.90), 375ml (RM22.90)
Repairing Cream Conditioner – 180ml (RM12.90), 375ml (RM24.90)
Deep Repairing Mask – 200ml (RM27.90)
Repairing Night Essence – 150ml (RM36.90)


Rating: 5 / 5
Value: $$$

Kérastase Biotic Concentré Bio-Recharge…

Over the past few weeks, I’ve realised that I’d been experiencing a fair amount of hair loss as well as a mildly itchy scalp despite no changes to my haircare range. It was then that I remembered that I’d gotten a box of the Kérastase Biotic Concentré Bio-Recharge to try a few months back but had never gotten around to it as I felt my hair was doing fine at the time.

This is no time to play around when the crowning glory’s at stake – I promptly dug it out and dug straight in! I will be henceforth referring to it as Bio-Recharge Concentrate as it really is a mouthful!

Description:
Kérastase Biotic Concentré Bio-Recharge is a concentrated reactivating and rebalancing programme for the scalp and its natural defences. The concentrate hydrates and rebalances the scalp’s hydrolipidic film, purifies oily roots, nourishes the hair, instantly soothes itching and discomfort and provides an immediate refreshing sensation. Contains 5% Bioflorine to rebalance and reactivate the scalp’s micro flora, and glycerol to sooth the scalp. Rinse-out formula.

The Verdict:
When I first opened the Bio-Recharge Concentrate box, I thought it was just another 3-minute treatment conditioner and should be used as such. However, after doing a little bit of digging around, I found out that you’re actually meant to apply it to freshly washed, towel-dried hair (not to sopping wet hair as you’d normally have after washing!)

Each tube is just nice for one application (I have fine but almost waist-length hair) and the concentrate should be applied directly onto the scalp section by section until the tube is used up. Take note that this will take a fair bit of time, so don’t plan it for the days you’re in a rush! :D

After massaging, I usually leave it for the full five minutes and use the time to attack my soles with a pumice scrub (hey, I have to stay in the bathroom for that time so might as well get soft soles out of it too right?) before adding some water to my scalp. This emulsifies the concentrate and I work the emulsion down the hair shaft before rinsing off.

Immediately after rinsing, I found that my hair felt a little coarser than normal, but after drying my hair was actually softer than before. No more itchy scalp too, so I guess the concentrate did its job well. :) The hair loss is more or less now under control, although I’d be a lot happier if it were completely solved! But hey, there’s another 3 tubes to be used up (the recommended use is once a week) so there’s a way more to go, and I’m pretty happy with the results so far.

Price-wise, the Bio-Recharge Concentrate is not exactly budget pocket-friendly but it is cheaper than salon treatments. After all, it was meant to be an At-Home Programme so you’re basically getting the salon results at home.

Kérastase Biotic Concentré Bio-Recharge comes in a box of 5 x 15ml and is available at L’Oreal salons. Alternatively, you can also get it on StrawberryNET for USD66.50 (MYR228)


Rating: 4 / 5
Value: $

Outshine Christmas Lights with René Furterer's Christmas 2009 Sets…

In the next installment of Christmas shopping temptations, René Furterer has some gift sets with your crowning glory in mind (but of course!) to get you all nice and shiny before the Christmas parties hit. Rather than just being a hair treatment setup like Trichokare (I'm never setting foot in that place again!), Svenson or Yun Nam, they also offer their own range of hair-care products that smell pretty good!

Okara Coloured Hair Set (RM89)

The sets range from RM89 – RM109 which make them pretty affordable. Thankfully, I’ve not had a bad experience at René Furterer yet, and definitely none of the hard-sell or “see how bad your hair is, you have to join us now!” gimmicks. It’s a good thing too, cos otherwise I’d be torn between wanting their products but adamant about not giving them any business. In this case, no problem! :D

I’ve been using the Fioravanti Shine Enhancing spray for a couple of weeks now, and it’s been working pretty nicely! The scent’s light enough not to interfere with any of my other fragrances, but adds a nice boost to my hair as well – I’m gonna be glistening under the Christmas lights this year! :D (well, my hair anyway!)

You can get the René Furterer sets from the René Furterer Institute at Pavilion KL (Lot 6.29) or Isetan KLCC.


Coming up: Gift sets from Estee Lauder, Kiehl’s, Origins, Shu Uemura, The Body Shop, Bobbi Brown and La Mer.

You can follow the 2009 Christmas collections lineup here. :)

Clairol Herbal Essences Break’s Over Shampoo…

Have any of you had a favourite shampoo that has stayed with you throughout the years? Maybe you’ve strayed for a while, but eventually made your way back to it because it did wonders for your hair? Yeah, you know what I mean! :D

I’ve had a few favourites in my lifetime which encompass Pantene, Sunsilk, VO5 and Clairol. The reason Clairol made the list was simply because it has been one of the best-smelling shampoos I’ve ever come across, and I doubt any of you would disagree. :D So despite their revamp in image a few years back, I’ve returned to the Clairol Herbal Essences range after trying some other shampoos (Ascience was a pretty good try, Tresemme was promptly relegated to the dustbin – it gave me breakouts all along my hairline and jawline!! Errghh) and settled for the ‘Break’s Over’ shampoo.

Description:
Clairol Herbal Essences™ Break’s Over shampoo is formulated with an anti-breakage potion to strengthen and help prevent any further breaks. This strengthening shampoo will help you find the strength against damage with its pearl and coco mango infused formula, leaving your hair luscious and loveable.

The Verdict:
Did I mention I love the smell yet? (oh, right, I did) LOL…this has got to be my major weakness – stuff that smells absolutely divine. None of that chemical, medicine-y smell, just really soft, shiny and…amazing-smelling hair. My friends can always tell when I’ve used this (in a good way!) and let’s just say I’ve gotten some interesting reactions from guys as well thanks to this!

I can’t really vouch for how well it’s helped my hair breakage, although I’ve noticed I’m not losing as much hair compared to when I switch over to other shampoos. Usually I stock up on this everytime there’s a good promotional price, and at less than RM15 per 300ml for something that gives me “wow” results, that’s pretty good!

Clairol Herbal Essences shampoos retail at approximately RM16.90 for a 300ml bottle (prices may vary depending on promotions – until 30 October, you can get it for RM13.88 at Guardian stores).


Rating: 5 / 5
Value: $$$

Pantene Pro-V 3 Minute Miracle Weekly Intensive Treatment…

In my younger days, I used to like Pantene for the smell of its shampoo until Herbal Essences came along and cornered the ‘amazing smelling shampoo’ market for me. However, one item that has still remained in my haircare lineup is this baby…their 3 Minute Miracle Weekly Intensive Treatment.

Description:
Imagine the damage we can do to our hair after three months of brushing, blow drying and straightening. With its technologically advanced pro-vitamin formula, Pantene's new 3 Minute Miracle is designed specifically to restore its beauty, by locking in moisture and nourishing your hair. Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Treatment’s Amino Pro-Vitamins instantly penetrate the hair strands and the formula hydrates the inside of severely damaged hair. In just 3 minutes, it mimics the smooth outer layer of healthy hair to help repair severe damage and protect your hair from further damage.

The Verdict:
I first came across the 3 Minute Miracle treatment during a trip to Singapore, and couldn’t have been more ecstatic to find it on the local shelves in KL. I’d just come out of a particularly hard-hitting month of performances and such, and the constant blowdrying and tugging of my hair left it looking rather, well, frazzled.

Admittedly, I was rather skeptical of the promised results in 3 minutes, but I figured that if it could help a bit then it would’ve been worth it rather than having to go to the salon for expensive treatment. I needn’t have worried at all – all it took was three minutes of this sitting on my hair (I used the waiting time to pumice my heels!) after shampooing and a quick rinse afterwards with cool water.

The result? My hair felt incredibly soft afterwards…what I sometimes like to call ‘fluffy hair syndrome’. The smell was intoxicating as well – a male friend commented that my hair smelt really good that day, and he’s not the kind to usually pay any attention to these sort of things!

Each tube is meant to be for one use, but unless you have REALLY long hair, this will easily last you two uses. From experience, hair just above waist length can get two uses per tube, and hair shoulder length can get about 3 uses per tube. Short hair? Heck, one tube will last you a month! :D

The thing that I like most about this is that the instructions are fool- and mess-proof. You can’t go wrong using it – no hot towel and plastic wrap needed (although you can if you want to) and best of all, delivers results in just three minutes. Sadly, it’s not a permanent fix, but at the price, it’s a pretty affordable repair since one set of three tubes can last me a month or so.

This has saved me from many a bad hair moment, which has earned it HG status in my haircare range. Even Tine has raved about it, so it must be pretty good right? :)


Pro-V 3 Minute Miracle Weekly Intensive Treatment retails at approximately RM12.88 per pack of three tubes and is available at most personal care stores and supermarkets.


Rating: 5 / 5
Value: $$$

Sephora Pop-Up Travel Brushes…

When a friend went over to the US recently, I couldn’t resist asking her to pick up a couple of items for me from Sephora. One of the items was a pop-up travel brush…in fuschia! :D

Description:
Sephora Brand Pop-Up Travel Brushes are perfect for home, travel, and quick touch-ups at work. Simply flip open the mirror and press your thumb against the bottom of the compact to pop out the brush. To retract the brush, gently press on the bristle tips with the center of your palm.

I love this little baby! Hehe..it combines both a mirror and comb into one – what’s not to like? The brush and mirror are also a pretty decent size each, so I don’t end up either squinting when applying makeup, or barely making any improvements to my hair!

The Sephora travel brushes come in a variety of colours, and they introduce special colours pretty frequently to coincide with seasons or special occasions (like the purple and black one on the bottom right) – they’re typically priced at USD4-8 (approx. RM15-RM28) which is quite pricey, but they are regularly put on sale and can go for as low as USD2 (about RM7) which sounds a lot more pocket-friendly right? :)


Sephora Pop-Up Travel Brushes are available from the Sephora website or outlets and range in price from USD2-USD8 (depending on colour and seasonal collection)

Sense Studio @ Uptown 37...

My hair has been getting on my nerves the past few months – I haven’t had a proper haircut in ages (oh the horror!) thanks to long working hours and busy weekends. The last time I saw my hairstylist...was the last time I had my hair coloured – and estimating from the length of the regrowth, I reckon its been about what, six to eight months?

It had just gotten to the point where even tying up my hair didn’t get it out of the way. When it’s so long, I have to loop it to get it out of the way...and don’t get me started on the problems with that – the weight at the back of the head, split ends, hair loss (when you've got hair this long, it’s not common to lose more hair especially while combing or washing...sigh...)

To cut a long story short (no pun intended!), I finally hauled myself back to my usual stylist Joanne last weekend and came out with a nice shiny new do...

Before on the left, after on the right

Surprisingly, I found that I didn’t have that many split ends – my conditioner must’ve been working overtime...LOL! I can tell you though, the immediate weight that was taken off was quite refreshing. Joanne’s never given me a bad haircut yet. :) Cost-wise, it's not exactly super-cheap - a cut and wash there is about RM75 - but then again, I've followed Joanne for nearly the past decade...talk about loyalty! If you asked me for a recommendation, she would be the first one I'd suggest.

I’m still wondering whether or not to re-perm my hair or not though – she gave me a great cut when I was growing out the last one (see below) so I'm not worried about the growing out phase, but I’m wondering if I really want (or have time!) for another high-maintenance hairdo...

Decisions decisions...but whatever it is, I’ll have to have it done before the second half of this year before she goes on sabbatical. Any suggestions? *grins*


Sense Studio
55c, 57c & 59c Uptown,
37, Jalan SS21/37,
Damansara Utama,
47400 Petaling Jaya

TrichoKare @ Lot 10 – BOYCOTT!…

At the recent International Beauty Expo 2008 (IBE08), I came across this TrichoKare booth offering free scalp analysis, and let’s just say the camera images of my scalp were less than stellar. Since they were having an introductory promotion (I think it was about RM68 or so) for two ‘deep cleansing’ sessions plus an additional free ‘treatment’ and a RM60 voucher redeemable on their products, I decided to give it a try.

They only have one outlet in Malaysia at the moment, which is on the 3rd floor of Lot 10. Prior to the first appointment, I was actually quite impressed by their service. This lady Joanna called me to set up an appointment, gave me a reminder the day before the appointment and even sent me a SMS reminder the morning itself, which I thought was quite unusual. BUT, that’s where my good perception of them ended. Hence, the serious BOYCOTT.

I arrived there on Saturday at 4.10pm and was immediately ushered into a room by one of their senior consultants, Eileen. She was cordial in her greeting, and promptly gave me a detailed questionnaire to fill out about my hair condition and lifestyle.

The consultant just left me there with the questionnaire for at least 15 minutes, and didn’t bother to explain any of the questions. (I’m quite anal about grammar and spelling in documents, and there were some bad mistakes in the questionnaire – but that turned out to be the least of my problems!)

The survey was two entire pages long!!

When Eileen finally came back into the room, it all went downhill from there. From the minute she started talking about TrichoKare, her tone of voice was patronizing and extremely hardsell. And the sequence of events that took place that entire session was extremely dissatisfying, not to mention pissed me off!

Part 1: She took 10 or so camera slides of my hair, not bothering to explain much but just kept saying I have an ‘extremely greasy’ scalp with weak follicles…total time – 5mins.

Part 2: A long-winded history of TrichoKare’s ‘illustrious’ history and their multiple affiliations in the UK and what they could do for me…total time – 20mins. (see the difference in time spent on actual consulting and self-promotion?)

The most telling thing was, she made a really big boo-boo and tried to brush it off. She was telling me “oh, you’ve got receding hairline…see, your forehead is getting wider and wider, you must treat it now” (to clarify, I was BORN with, and have always had a wide forehead – YES, the same kind that made my grandma say I was going to be a smart kid, and NO, it’s not due to hair loss…silly woman!)

Better yet, if I’m supposed to have a receding hairline, the hair along my hairline would have less follicles right? Why then do I have a healthy amount of follicles along my forehead? (if she had said SIDES, I MIGHT has been inclined to believe her) When I told her otherwise, she just went “Oh, but your hairline WILL recede if you don’t do anything about it.” What the…??

Almost everything that she told me went against commonly accepted haircare norms. Maybe I could accept the ones about using my fingertips instead of my fingernails to GENTLY massage my scalp, and the one about not using a hairdryer unless I absolutely have to, but she also told me to wash my hair every single day, and DOUBLE shampoo (shampoo, rinse, shampoo AGAIN and rinse). If you ask me, it’s a good way for them to drum up extra business when clients silly enough to follow that advice come running back because their hair has gone all dry, frizzy, brittle and starts falling off! Not to mention that their scalp will also be so irritated and dry by then, I’ll be surprised if they DON’T have dandruff.

The consultant kept trying to sell me an additional mask for the two treatments I had prepaid for. She was irritatingly persistent, saying I MUST add on a mask and infrared therapy to make it “more effective”. When I asked her how much the price was for this 20min mask?

“It’s ONLY RM280 EACH – but with discount, ONLY RM300 for 2 sessions, paid up front. For that, we will give you the two infrared sessions free…but you also have to buy a bottle of shampoo which is RM99. Once you deduct the RM60 voucher, it’s ONLY RM339, such a bargain.” (by the way, my friend signed up for the same promotional package but had the treatment done in Singapore – they gave the infrared treatment FREE even without purchase of the mask!)

Hello? Asking me to pay an ADDITIONAL RM339, BEFORE I’ve had any treatment? Gee, they must think I’m seriously naïve…I just curtly told her that I’d rather see the results from the treatment first before I decide on any additional treatment. “Oh, but you’ll see, the difference will be very obvious, you can see from the ‘after’ camera images.” Yeah whatever…she also loved to use the statement “so, how do YOU want us to HELP YOU?” (giving a false sense of control to the client)

Treatment only started at 5.00pm – almost an HOUR after I first walked into the centre. Another girl led me to the treatment area and started washing my hair – double shampooing for almost 20mins. Remember what I said about the consultant telling me to gently massage my scalp? Well, I couldn’t see how the treatment girl’s hard rubbing on my scalp with her rubber-gloved hands was any better than if I had used my fingernails to grate on my scalp. This girl was literally TUGGING on my hair!

The treatment area

Better still, she actually had the audacity to come to me afterwards while I was waiting for the treatment with a whole lot of my hair, ROLLING IT INTO A CLUMP in front of me and saying “Wah, you losing a lot of hair hor? Good thing you came to us to fix it” (when I’ve NEVER lost that much washing my hair before…then again I haven’t been rubbing violently on my scalp with rubber-gloved hands right?) If that was their tactic of trying to scare me into thinking I’m going bald and sign up for their hair treatment courses, too bad – I didn’t buy it.

The treatment girl never bothered to explain anything during the entire process until I prompted her. And talk about such hypocrisy, she started using a hairdryer on me despite the consultant telling me NOT to use one. What’s more, she actually whacked me on the head THREE TIMES because she was more interested in trying to read my magazine over my shoulder!

Application of the treatment was no more than spraying some funky smelling stuff on my scalp (the stuff smells similar to ‘minyak gamat’) and made my scalp tingle/sting – no warning, mind you. After that, I was left for 10mins to allow the treatment to ‘sink in’, she blowdried my hair some more and that was it. Entire ‘treatment’ time – less than 40mins (blardy hell, her hard sell of the company was longer!)

To recap, when I first came in, the consultant Eileen said I would be able to see a drastic difference. When I came out, she was outside at the counter area. When I asked her about whether there would be any comparison done, her reply was “No need, because you won’t be able to see an obvious difference if you don’t do the mask. Would you still like to purchase the masks, infrared sessions and shampoo?”

Puhleez…if you don’t show me ANY results at all, why would I want to buy ANYTHING from you? Slimming centres have a fantastic way of doing this – they give you intensive treatment the first time to maximize your loss (even if it's mostly water) and show that you’ve lost xx cm, which prompts you to go back there because you feel that it works. TrichoKare, you MIGHT want to take some lessons from them.

And you know the part that just sounded SO WRONG about the mask? Eileen said my hair would feel drier AFTER the mask session, so apply more leave in conditioner. So does that mean I’m drying out my hair and oiling it up with leave in conditioner to compensate just so that they have more reason to say “Oh, you have a very greasy scalp, you need treatment”

Their treatment courses are also insanely expensive. They recommend 4 stages of treatment – 1st one is deep cleansing over 5 months, once a week…original price is about RM10,000 but ONLY RM5,899 on promotion (just to break it down, that works out to be almost RM300 per 'deep cleansing' session, and at the promotional rate!). 2nd one was treatment also once a week…dunno for how long, but original price was RM20,000 (even more insane, right?) but ONLY RM9,588 on promo. I didn’t bother listening after that, especially since she said that results are not guaranteed.

In short, this was the WORST treatment I have ever gone through, and a total scam. I rarely blacklist products unless they are really bad, and this one holds a record of being the first to rate a total ZERO rating. Do NOT ever go to TrichoKare, especially the outlet in Lot 10. Hair loss is completely NATURAL, but if you have abnormal hair loss, then please, go and see an actual specialist at a hospital or clinic rather than these nuts.


Rating: 0 / 5
Value: NIL

Natio Moisturising Shampoo…

While I was at Sasa recently to pick up some items for a colleague, I saw this brand and decided to give it a try. Natio is an Australian brand that has been around for the past 75 years, and prides itself on creating plant based beauty care ranges specifically designed for contemporary lifestyles.

The product I tried was the Moisturising Shampoo, made for dry and damaged hair (I’d run out of shampoo, and my hair was looking a bit lackluster to say the least!).

Description:
A blend of botanical extracts to purify hair and scalp while providing deep nourishment and natural moisture balance. Softens and helps to repair damaged and frizzy hair. Recommended for hair overexposed to sun and wind or harsh chemical treatments. Mild enough for frequent washing.

Directions:
Simple enough – just use it as you would any liquid shampoo. Preferably followed with Natio Botanical Conditioner, but it's not really necessary.

Key Ingredients:

• Chamomile to soften and tone.
• Nettle to nourish, tone and eliminate dandruff.
• Yarrow as a mild astringent.
• Rosemary to promote lustre.
• Sage to purify and clean.
• Birch to strengthen.

First off, this shampoo is part of their aromatherapy range, so you get a really lovely scent in your hair during and after washing it – couple that with a warm shower, and you’ve turned your bathroom into a mini aromatherapy session. The shampoo also doesn’t lather up massively, which may give the impression that it’s not doing its job, but in reality your hair will be at optimal level afterwards, so resist the urge to re-wash your hair until it’s squeaky clean.

What I particularly like is the fact that you don’t have to use a lot of it to get the job done – for my waist-length hair, I only needed slightly more than a tablespoon’s worth. This is probably best since it costs RM26 per 250ml bottle (by comparison, I can get a 500ml bottle of Sunsilk for less than RM20!). The Botanical Conditioner would be good to use together, but isn’t really necessary as this product gets the job done on its own.

Additionally, Sasa’s having a promotion where if you spend over RM68.00 on Natio products, you get a Shine Limited Edition Clutch bag and some products free in a set.

The gift set’s quite presentable, can be given as a gift if you want…

They give three products with the clutch bag – a 20ml tube of Antioxidant Face Moisturiser, a 15ml tube of Cherry Ultra Shiny Fruit Gloss and a 4g (standard size) tube of Moisturising Lip Balm.

Out of the three free products, to me only the lip balm is pretty good – the fruit gloss scent is a bit overpowering (even if the gloss has a lovely texture), and I didn’t quite like the smell or consistency of the Antioxidant Face Moisturiser, so it’s not going anywhere near my face. The pink clutch is not bad though – quite passable for a gift premium. I believe this promotion is while stocks last, so if you want one you’d better hurry.

Natio Moisturising Shampoo retails at RM26.00 for a 250ml bottle and is available from all Sasa outlets.

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $

VO5 Silky Smooth Silk Serum…

VO5 has long been known for their range of hair care products, and this one is no different…

The VO5 Silky Smooth Silk Serum – a leave-in conditioner, best suited for dry or frizzy hair (like mine)

Description:
V05 Silky Smooth Silk Serum features a patented Vitasilk technology that works deep within the hair to reduce frizz and enhance shine, this grease-free, leave-in cream formula also works to protect hair during heat styling. May be used to add moisture and definition to curls or tame hair for a super-smooth, straight and silky finish.

How to use:
Apply to towel dry hair as required. Smooth through to the ends. Do not rinse out. Style as usual. If extra frizz control is needed, use on dry hair. For best results, use with VO5 Silky Smooth shampoo and conditioner.

The Verdict:
My hair is not exactly the world’s most manageable mane – it’s dry at the ends, and oily at the roots. However, this serum actually made it look healthier (for actual results, I’ll have to pay a visit to my hairdresser to chop off the split ends!). I’ve gotten some nice comments about my hair when using it, even from guys (and you know how often guys notice when we try something new).

The fragrance is similar to that of the other VO5 products, although if you’re a bit free-handed with the serum, you’ll end up smelling like you bathed in the stuff – a bit overkill. Also, locally, the price is a bit steep after conversion (probably cheaper to get it in Singapore or Australia – I got mine in Singapore).

VO5 Silky Smooth Silk Serum comes in bottles of 150ml, available at most leading pharmacies and participating salons.



Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $$

Magicboo One-Minute Treatment...

Ever felt like ripping out your hair when it just won’t detangle? I know I have quite a few times, until I found this product:

It’s a generic product, but it works pretty well. It’s called the ‘one-minute treatment’, which is applied after your normal shampoo routine. Obviously, you’re meant to leave it on for a minute (hence the name) but I found it works best if you let it soak in for at least five. Afterwards, you’ll have much softer hair, and the effects last up to a week. Smells pleasantly mild as well.

Magicboo typically supplies spa products and equipment, but it has a really good range of masque and hair products as well, all at a generic salon price – not too pricey, but those looking for fancy packaging will be rather disappointed as these all come in generic containers. The other problem is that it’s pretty hard to find, but there’s an outlet right behind my house, so I don’t have that problem…*LOL*

Price: RM18.90 per 225ml tube

Main Branch Address:
82, Jalan Kilang Midah,
Taman Midah, Cheras,
Kuala Lumpur

Rating: 4 / 5
Value: $$

Banish Flyaways...with Magic

Ever wondered why you love your hair after stepping out of the salon? It’s not the ‘comes in a gallon bottle’ shampoo…but rather, the product they put in just before you leave.

My hairdresser’s always recommended this particular styling product to me, and since she hasn’t tried to push the entire range (and I liked the effect it has on my mane), I decided to purchase a bottle for my own use at home. Guess what? It hasn’t let me down yet.

OSiS Magic by Schwarzkopf is my miracle anti-frizz serum. (Haha, did that just sound like some advertising line?) I hate the feel of goopiness or having to spend half an hour in the shower just trying to wash out a can’s worth of hairspray, and this saved me all the trouble.

Best part is, it’s so easy. Just squeeze out a small dollop, warm it between your palms and apply to dry hair. The silicon-based serum smoothes over all the flyaway bits without making your hair look too styled, especially if you’ve used a straightening iron. Perfect for wash-and-go people like me.

Oh, and did I mention it works great with damp hair too!

OSiS Magic retails for RM48 at selected hair salons.

Rating: 4/5
Value: $

What is on my dressing table?

Oh God...parisb tagged me on my dressing table - let's hope this doesn't expose how cluttered it is (or my room, for that matter!)

What five beauty products could you not live without?

Gee, I’m actually a product addict and normally try a LOT of products. However, there are a few that have managed to withstand the test of time.

Lancôme Hydra Zen Neurocalm™ Moisturising Fluid
Revlon New Complexion Pressed Powder
The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost
Clinique Quickliner for Eyes
Revlon Superlustrous Lip Gloss


What’s the worst beauty mistake you’ve made?

Attempting to shape my eyebrows myself – ended up with mismatched brows…something that’s probably best left to the experts. My current facialist shapes and trims my eyebrows for me on a regular basis, so that takes all the guesswork out for me.


What does your skincare regime consist of?

Like Paris, the brands of products I use vary from time to time, but these are the ones I use regularly.

AM
Vitamin C facial wash
Elianto Mineral Water toner
Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost
Moisturise

PM
Eye and lip makeup remover
St Ives facial scrub
Tone
Body Shop Vitamin C Intensive Night Treatment
Moisturise


Favourite beauty treat?

I love facials, but my biggest vice is manicures. There’s nothing like having pretty, tidy nails. Nothing too gaudy or tacky though, it’s neutral and easy maintenance colours for me but I’m not adverse to the occasional (tastefully done of course!) nail art.


What’s your favourite beauty store?

I don’t have one in particular. I like wandering around the various beauty shops in Midvalley and 1 Utama though…you never know what you’ll find!


Favourite budget brand?

Hmm…Revlon would have to be my choice. I know, I know, it’s not really budget cosmetics, but they’re one of the best value for money brands – you really get what you pay for, and then some. Most of my makeup comes from Revlon, and I haven’t been disappointed yet!


Favourite premium brands?

I’d have to go with Lancôme. I loved their Vinefit range, but it’s a pity they’ve discontinued it. The makeup’s also real pretty, especially the Juicy Tubes. Now, if only I could afford to use it on a regular basis!


What’s your ’every girl must own one’ item?

Lipbalm. There’s nothing worse than applying lipstick on chapped, scaly lips – especially if it’s those colour-stay ones that are drier than the normal lipsticks. And don’t even get me started on the amount of PAIN a cracked lip can be. I always have at least one tube on me at all times.


And what about skin care: Favourite premium and budget brands?

Lancôme for premium brand and Body Shop for budget…they’ve both got excellent product ranges.


And hair care?

I love Schwarzkopf, although due to budget limitations it’s used rather sparingly!!


And finally, best beauty tip?

I would go with not sleeping with your makeup on and get plenty of SLEEP! You’d be amazed how many pimples and blemishes can develop if you were to sleep without cleaning off your makeup (not to mention the gross factor on your sheets!!)

And for the sleep? Well, a girl can never get too much beauty sleep…hehe…I’m all for skin renewal and body regeneration…*snore*


My taggees are:

charmed cookie
simple things
heartsoul
jackish