Haircare

Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Dryer

- Vicki 7 Comments
Vidal Sassoon Diffuser Dryer

Vidal Sassoon Styling Tools

I’m very familiar with Vidal Sassoon haircare and have used their styling products for years but I never knew they had a range of electrical hair tools. I have been trying out the Infra Radiance Diffuser Dryer* and this is a serious piece of kit, its changed the way I feel about drying my hair.

Vidal Sassoon

I recently had my hair cut quite a bit shorter than I wanted, it was even too short to tie up & I was a little stressed about it because my hair is naturally wavy and the shorter it is the more voluminous & wavy it is. So with it being this short, I had to style it every time I washed otherwise it looked like a mushroom on my head (I used to just sport a topknot 80% of the time). This meant with my thick wavy locks I was spending almost an hour drying & styling it & in that heat wave we had in July I was overheating in a sea of hot hair tools. Not how I wanted to be spending my mornings.

Hair Tools from Vidal Sassoon

This Vidal Sassoon Dryer had bold claims –

‘Gentle infrared technology enhances your blow dry by delivering heat more evenly to the hair, helping maintain the natural moisture balance to help prevent over-drying for faster styling*, reduced frizz and soft, conditioned, radiant hair.’

This dryer was a little heavier than my old one but it didn’t take long to get used to that. It has 2-speed settings & 2 heat settings. I liked the control that gave me. It comes with two attachments a concentrator nozzle for sleek smooth precision drying or the diffuser to create curls/volume or texture. I have been using the concentrator nozzle as I want to tame my frizzy wavy hair. The idea of this infrared technology is to deliver heat to your hair more evenly so it is faster drying, kinder on your hair and reduces frizz.

I tend to wear my hair quite natural and leave the waves in but I do like to reduce the frizz and make it look somewhat tidy but still natural and relaxed. I like that this dryer didn’t take away too much volume but tamed the frizz at my roots and made my waves sleeker and I think this has helped me to go up to 3 days without washing my hair (that’s almost unheard of for me).

I like the fact that it delivers heat to your hair depending on how wet each section is, this means you won’t over dry your hair and cause damage and frizz which gives you dull hair. I normally have to dry my hair for so long & I know how damaging that was but since using this dryer I have found it a lot quicker. I section off my hair & use the concentrator nozzle to get right into the roots & blow dry down my hair away from the roots to the tips and my hair feels softer looks smoother and I give my hair a blast of cool air at the end to prolong my style & increase shine. Who knew that worked!?

Hair Styling Tools

So I’m over the moon with this dryer and although its quite heavy for my feeble arms I’m getting used to that and it is so much faster to dry my hair now and I’m even growing to love my new shorter hair although I’m still excited for it to grow just that little bit longer so I can tie it up some days.

Vidal Sassoon Infra Radiance Diffuser £49.99 and is available from Boots, Argos, Debenhams, Tesco & Very.co.uk

Let me know if you have used any of the Vidal Sassoon Hair Tools or how you typically style your hair.

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July 2014 Empties

- Vicki 10 Comments

What I used up in July 2014

REN Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser* – I really like to use this in the evening as my first cleanse because Its great at removing every trace of makeup, decongesting your skin and it was gentle enough to take around my eyes. Its creamy and hydrating and left my skin very soft. Full review of this here

dr Organic Vitamin E Deodorant – This has been my go to deodorant for about a year now. It does a good job, its gentle and leaves my underarms soft. Its also free of any harsh chemicals which I like. I have many backups – a girl can’t be without deodorant.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser – This is my favourite budget friendly hot cloth cleanser. I always stock up on this when Boots do their No7 vouchers. Its a bargain but it is also gentle and you get a lot of product for your money 200ml last me a good couple of months. If you haven’t tried this yet give it a go, I highly recommend it.

Organix Teatree Mint Shampoo* – I finished the conditioner in this range last month. My husband really liked this shampoo & conditioner duo. I thought it was hydrating and left my hair manageable but not flyaway & it smells so minty & invigorating. Perfect for the mornings. When I can get to a Waitrose I will be replacing them & they last for ages as you get 385ml of product.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir – I have a love hate relationship with this face mist. I really dislike the scent but I like how refreshing it feels on my skin. I like using this when I fly (which isn’t that often) as it a really nice way of keeping hydrated on a flight. Im always torn about buying it & tend to purchase it when its on sale.

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner – This was my morning toner & it felt like it took forever to use up – this 200ml bottle lasted for about a year. It is a gentle toner that helps hydrate and sooth the skin. I did really like it & would repurchase it again.

REN Vita Mineral Active 7 Eye Gel  – I loved using this eye gel and really liked it for my overnight eye treatment. It helped tighten (but not dry out) the skin around my eye and left the area looking bright and well rested. It was so gentle and felt cooling too. It lasted me about 3 months so thats a big plus.

Bioderma – This was my first bottle of Bioderma & I always wondered what the fuss was all about. Now I know. This Micellar Water is SO good at removing makeup and leaving my skin very soft. It was gentle and you didn’t need to tug or rub to remove eye makeup, it didn’t sting my eyes at all. This bottle lasted me for 2 months & that was using it almost daily. I will 100% repurchase this.

Bee Good 2in1 Cream Cleanser* – This was so lovely and really good for my skin. Its creamy texture was soothing and left my skin feeling clean and fresh. Its kind on the skin, good to bees & a British skincare brand so it ticks all the boxes. This has been a lovely brand discovery & I have a few more products from them in my skincare routine. I’m really enjoying them all.

Indeed Labs Hydraluron Face Masks – If you’re skin needs a boost of moisture then these are the masks for you. They’re sheet masks and look funny & a little scary when on but they work like little miracles. These leave my skin feeling plump, radiant and my makeup sits so much better after using them. After using the mask make sure you pat the excess product in to your skin. Shame to waste all that Hyluronic Acid goodness as they’re are quite expensive but if your have dehydrated skin they will be worth every penny.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets – These have sadly been discontinued but Home Bargains were selling them for 29p a pack (50 sheets in a pack) so you better believe I bought a butt load of them. I will never run out. These have been a staple in my handbag, on my desk & in my car during this crazy heat wave. They keep me looking shine free & don’t interfere with my makeup.

MUA Undress Your Skin Radiant Under Eye Concealer – This was a little meh & didn’t really do a lot of concealing. This would be better used as a highlighter in my opinion. Oh and this has a shimmer to it, not what I want in a concealer.

Products that are marked with an * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

OGX Tea Tree & Mint Shampoo and Conditioner

- Vicki 2 Comments
Organix Shampoo

I don’t switch up my shampoo & conditioner that often as I have quite dry, frizzy generally unmanageable hair and when I find a duo that works I stick to it, but when these bright green bottles landed on my doorstep I was intrigued. Organix now known as OGX is a brand I have seen before &  I’ve read quite a few good reviews of their Moroccan Argan Oil range. I have been trying these two for a month now and thought it was high time I shared my thoughts.

Organix Shampoo & Conditioner

The OGX Tea Tree & Mint shampoo & conditioner* new for Spring & Summer make a great duo, at first the Shampoo was a little drying but after a week of using it my hair felt hydrated and healthy, but I do like to use them both together and think they work better that way. I see the best results after I follow up with the Tea Tree Mint Conditioner.

These are both light green in colour which was a nice surprise and if like me, you normally shower whilst you’re still half asleep the scent of these will wake you up, they have a real energising zingy minty scent perfect for early morning showers. They are a blend of Australian tea tree oils, moisturising milk protein and peppermint oils & together this duo left my hair glossy, smooth and smelling amazing. I also noticed my curls had a healthy bounce to them, but only if I used the conditioner too. This is a lovely final step, especially if you like your hair to look silky smooth.

Organix Shampoo & Conditioner

If you have dry/thick hair, these will be perfect for you as they add a boost of moisture and also strengthen your hair to minimise breakage. They’re also very gentle on the scalp. Think of them as a 3 in 1 treat for your hair as they hydrate, strengthen and give balance. These are sulphate free (best for locking moisture in), paraben free and cruelty-free. The shampoo doesn’t lather up a great amount, but I find that it is easier to wash out, I leave the conditioner on for as long as I can, almost like a hair mask. Afterwards, I find my hair is very glossy (that’s my tip, try to leave it on for as long as you can).

These are big 385ml bottles and will last you ages, I try to only wash my hair every 3 days, so even after 5 weeks I don’t think I have made a dent in these. I have also noticed my husband’s been sneakily using them (I can smell the mint wafting out of the bathroom), so if he likes it, then they must be good.

OGX hair care (formally Organix) is available from Amazon. They have a wide range of products to cater to your personal hair care needs whether your hair is – frizzy, straight, dry, oily, too fine, too thick or just in need of some TLC.

Products that are marked with a * have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However, if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.

Apivita Propoline Shampoo Review

- Vicki 4 Comments
Apivita1

Apivita Shampoo

Apivita is a Greek brand known for their skincare, but I never knew their range incorporated hair care. I have been testing out an Almond and Honey Shampoo from their Propoline range since Christmas.

Propoline Shampoo For Dry-Dehydrated Hair 

This shampoo is 90% natural and this formula is aimed at nourishing and hydrating dry – dehydrated hair. It contains honey, aloe vera, almond & olive oil and wheat protein it also contains Rosemary infusion to offer antioxidant, toning, antiseptic and anti-irritant action. These ingredients also give hydration, prevent split ends and shield against environmental damage. Since using this I have noticed my hair has a lovely glossy sheen to it, and it feels soft to the touch. It is easy to wash out but does contain SLS so foams up to a lather, It has a sweet smell  (which is very nice) and the formula is quite thin in consistency.

Apivita Shampoo

The only gripe I have is the packaging it looks pretty but when you get down to the last few uses it is so hard to get out when you’re in the shower, hands are wet, and you have to turn it upside down and hit it like a ketchup bottle. It’s a bit of a pain. If they added a pump, the packaging would be perfect. The shampoo itself is good quality and I think it actually works, I haven’t noticed if it helps with split ends, but it certainly hydrates and quite often I don’t use a conditioner when I use this as I feel like it gives my hair enough moisture that I can miss that step out (and that makes me quicker in the shower = more time in bed).

This 250ml has only just run out & it lasted me over 3 months, using it at least twice a week. So that is pretty good in my book.

Free of: silicones, mineral oil, propylene glycol, ethanolamines, colorants, phthalates, polycyclic musks and nitromusks

Let me know if you have tried any Apivita shampoos, I have liked using this one & would recommend it to anyone that has dry, dehydrated or even dull hair.

Products that are marked with a* have either been sent to me for my consideration or I’ve received at events. I’m under no obligation to review them on my blog. However if I do, the reviews are 100% my own.