From France with Love- Garnier Ultra Doux with Aloe and Shea butter

Garnier Ultra Doux Conditioner and Shampoo with Aloe Vera and Shea Butter

While I have not yet travelled internationally for the year, I feel like I have done so with scoping out international bloggers and what new product launches have hit their market. As a fan of Fatou's BlackBeautyBag blog, I of course am psyched with what she has to say about new haircare and makeup colors that debut and I also like how she charts her journeys with video.  Just this month Fatou reviewed and also starred in Garnier's new Ultra Doux Aloe Vera and Shea Butter line and all I could think was- I have to try it.
Only one small problem, Garnier Ultra Doux is not sold in the US! Luckily, my beauty angel from Paris was in town this past weekend and brought me the best smelling shampoo and conditioner on the planet!

Garnier Ultra Doux (Ultra Soft) Aloe Vera and Shea Butter is suitable for those with frizzy and relaxed hair. I have the former, dense, kinky, curly springs that are experiencing a near drought due to the 90 degree weather here in NYC. The Garnier Ultra Doux line is so much bang for your buck in terms of drugstore and mass quality. Though the shampoo has sulfates, it doesn't contain parabens or silicone ( if you are cautious of those ingredients). I was surprised that there wasn't a lot of "foaming action" despite the fact that there are sulfates. For both the shampoo and conditioner, a little goes a long way. While I am so used to cupping my palms with shampoo and conditioner, I only had to use 2 quarter sized amount of product for both. 

The conditioner also serves as a detangler, which cut my post wash, pre-style combing session down to no more than 10 minutes! But while the practicality of the products were fantastic, the scent of this stuff is AMAZING! I don't know how to describe it- warm, vanilla-y... like vacation in a bottle.

I love this stuff so much, I'm contemplating tossing everything else.. but first I need to get a bunch of back-ups. I'll have to let me BA from PA know and I'll buy her brunch the next time she's in town.

Odile Gilbert: Creative Style Icon

Odile Gilbert's work at Rodarte Fall 2012 on Jourdan Dunn

Rodarte/ Odile Gilbert's Game of Thrones inspired Spring 2013 RTW look on Karlie Kloss

Is it hard to believe that some of my favorite runway looks come from just one person? This question dawned on me just a few weeks ago when I found myself admiring the beauty looks of the Rodarte Spring 2013 Ready to Wear collection. The metal ear jewelry, the faux undercut hair, a sleek come over and a mood that invoked Game of Thrones. The looks were created by Odile Gilbert, the creative force behind some of the most creative and innovative hairstyles that grace the runway and that we struggle to re-create in the comfort of our own bathroom mirrors.

Gilbert at work at Christian Lacroix's Spring 2008 RTW show

One of my other favorite hair styles was Odile 's Funny Face /African influences in Christian Lacroix's Spring 2008 RTW show, the show I was ironically trying to crash when I was in Paris in the Fall of 2007. As of late, you can see Odile's amazing work for NYFW and Paris Fashion Week's finest.

Odile Gilbert Creation's Gold Hair Pin- 9cm

If you are looking to spice up your hair starting this year (much like myself) and have a few clams to spare for your hair and I mean clams. You should definitely consider Odile Gilbert Creation's Hair Pin. I bought one over the holidays at Colette and let me tell you, there is nothing like it. I got the 9 cm pin as its good for short to medium hair, plus my hair is on the fine side.
The pin so simple, so effective and amazing! I love Odile's signature side pony and it took 2 seconds to re-create the look.  So in the meantime, I can enjoy my new discovery until the upcoming NYFW and PFW to check out some of Odile's new hair innovations.


Backstage and Runway photos courtesy of Style.com

Winter 2013 Hair Survival: Winter Shea Hair mix

John Snow's puzzled as to why its not GOT cold in NYC yet.. So am I.

Winter is..here! Though it is mild (mid 40's to mid 50's Fahrenheit) for now, your hair can be in for a tail spin between the dry air and chill. Fret not! my hair has gone through a lot of changes since we have touched base. For one, I have been chemical free for the past 10 month. For the first time in my 20+ year hair journey I know what my curls and kinks look like and I love them. My hair is long enough to pull into a pony tail, something I rock 370 days out of the year anyway (welcome to the comfort zone!) but it really doesn't matter how I wear my hair, I have to make sure its moisturized to the max. So I started asking around, googling, youTubing and the like and found a super luxe mixture for my kinky-curly hair. Here is my winter 2013 shea mix.

Winter 2013: Shea hair mix

 Winter Shea hair mix

1/2 oz. 100% Shea Butter
1/2 oz.  Coconut oil
1 tblsp. Avocado oil
1 tblsp. Argan oil
1 tblsp. Jojoba oil

I mixed all these in a 2oz glass container and did a double boil to heat the glass container without getting water in the mixture. When heated, the mix looks clear with a slight hint of green from the avocado oil, once it solidifies - its ready for use as a leave- in conditioner.

I gathered these ingredients at Whole Foods and shops on Atlantic Avenue here in Brooklyn. I would say that these all cost me roughly $25 but will last for the rest of the year.

As for use, I apply a dime size of the winter shea mix before I airdry or blowdry my hair. It instantly moisturizes my hair for 3-4 days without re-application (a leave-in to believe in). I also extend the wear by wearing a satin scarf before putting on my beanie when facing the cold outdoors.

How are you protecting your Winter tresses?

50 Grades of Shea- Part 4

Slip into something Shea we say! Here's 10 more to make your day!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse

 Fun fact: 98.1% of this oil is natural.

Bliss Vanilla+Bergamot Body Buff

Renee Furterer Karite Conditioning Mask

Everyday Shea Vanilla Mint Shampoo

Badger Cuticle Care

Tarte Cosmetics Rest Assured

Clarins Eye Contour Balm

REN Grapeseed, Jojoba and Shea Body Cream

REN Grapeseed, Jojoba and Shea Body Cream 

Mama Mio boob tube bust & neck firmer

Mama Mio claims to increase the texture of your bust, chest and neck in one week.

Proasco Shave Foam

50 Grades of Shea - part 2

Hello there, In part 2 of the 50 Grades of Shea, we will learn that Karité is another word for Shea.

Here are another 10 favorites as we continue on in our series.. If you are looking for 50 Shades of Grey cosmetics.. sorry, its not here. But what we can offer are a slew of moisturizing body, hair, skin and beauty products to usher you into fall. Here we go!

Deborah Lippmann Rich Girl

Tokyo Milk Rose Shea Butter Soap

Cantu Shea Butter Leave in Conditioning Repair Cream

Kiss My Face Hot Spots SPF 30

Philip B African Shea Butter Shampoo

Sephora Collection Nano Eyeliner

Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream

If you have sensitive skin, fear not! Dr. Hauschka does a great job at soothing even the most irritable skin.

**Dr. Woods Pure Black Soap with Organic Shea Butter

Dare I say this is a Brooklyn favorite? Many of my friends seem to have this little-goes-a-long-way liquid soap. Plus, it seems like Black Soap is having a moment, cleansing without stripping natural oils. Dr. Woods just so happens to have the best of both gentle cleansing and the right amount of shea moisture

 Soap & Glory Hand Food Hand Cream

**Rene Furterer Karité

RF's Karité (Shea) is a wonderful line! I was saddened with Sephora decided to discontinue it in stores but the nourishment lives on.. on-line! Though you don't get to instantly touch the creamy-yet-light goodness in your hands. Take my word for it, its worth the UPS and USPS stalking to get your package.

50 Grades of Shea- part 1

While everyone and their bull dog terrier is coyly trying to finish their 50 Shades book series before summer ends, you can take comforting pleasure in knowing that you don't have to hide away these 50 products packed with shea butter ( non guilty) pleasure.

So what so salivating about Shea Butter? Its primarily used in cosmetics, body and hair care to help with moisture. The butter is extracted from the African Shea tree and has properties that are coveted by those who have dry, brittle, cracked and fragile external needs.

With that, here is my first list of 10 shea products that fit an A grade. p.s. * products are my A+'s.

Naturopathica Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex

*For the past few weeks I've been using Naturopathica's Vitamin C Revitalizing Complex as my "Sunday Night Spa Night" routine. When I wake up my skin feels really refreshed and upon doing my research for this project, I didn't know it had shea butter in it.. well, Shea and vitamins A,C & E help you to start out feeling right!

Bella Cosmetics Sheer Lip tint

Carols Daughter Coconut Shea Souffle

Fekkai Advanced Essential Shea

Burt's Bees Bug Bite Relief

Eyeko London Curvy Brush Mascara

Philosophy Gingerbread Girl Duo

Alaffia Coconut & Shea Daily Hydrating Shampoo

* I started using Alaffia's Coconut and Shea Shampoo this summer and my hair has feel sumptuous! Its a gentle cleanser that uses black soap and the other natural ingredients (shea), has hydrated my hair since June.

PhytoSpecific Beauty Styling Creme

* This has been a beauty staple of mine for at least 4 years, sadly Sephora no longer carries it. Have no fear, Amazon will get you taken care of if you are looking for a leave-in that locks in moisture and only requires 1/2 dime size of product to work a hair full of miracles.. miracles I tell you! I heart Phytospecific's Beauty Styling Creme, let me count the ways!

Fresh Seaberry Exfoliating Soap

 

Destination Beauty: Davines Momo Shampoo and Conditioner

Davines Momo Shampoo and Condition with Davines Dede body wash

In the past few weeks its seems like I'm spending a bit more than my usual time at the beach. This past weekend, I spent some time in a cute cottage in Belmar. From Delmar to Belmar.. in almost all literal sense.
Since I planned on doing some swimming and such, I packed the ultimate bag that held everything my hair could ever need.. except for a brush!
Last week I came across some Davines products while working on a shoot. These babies ( well, they are mini's) are the talk of the town when it comes to haircare.
Davines Momo Shampoo and Momo Conditoner are a dream duo, they are efficient ( a little goes along way and both products are ridiculously moisturizing! Both products are specific to dry and dehydrated hair needs but they both are packed with vitamins B and C and sweet almond protein.
I tried these both despite my hesitation because both products include ingredients that are on my "No" list- SLS and cones but, I can feel the difference in my dense frizzy hair and am very satisfied.

Summer Hair Switch-up: Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay and Tresemme Naturals

For the past few months I've been prepping my summer regimen for my hair. I have a few boundaries:
- zero fuss and zero frizz
- lots of moisure
- light in texture
- little-to-no heat , just to name a few.
But thanks to Amazon's genius purchasing algorithm, I was intrigued by a product recommendation- Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay and upon further investigation (YouTube and Google), I've come to experience this ah-mazing product. Last Sunday, I mixed 1 cup of the clay with an equal amount of vinegar to create a smooth paste that I applied to my scalp and hair that then dried. Please note, this was terrifying... I just kept thinking of the scene in BeetleJuice when the Lydia had to get married to the B-man and the Maitlands were rapidly aging... anyway here is the scene.

Not this dry

Ok ok, the drying was a bit weird but not too bad once I started to rinse the mask out. My hair and scalp felt like nothing I've ever experienced before when using a hair mask! My hair was so clean that I didn't need to shampoo, I went to my other summer hair saver- Tresemme Naturals Moisture Conditioner.

so. great.

I haven't used Tresemme since high school but once I heard about their Naturals line being free of Silicone, I jumped at the chance to try and I'm loving it!
What are you doing for your summer hair care?

Top Five Beauty Trends for 2012

As we move on from 2011, do you think that we can hold fast to the colors and trends that have dominated the past few months? Will there be a victor from the hodgepodge of trends that have cyclically surfaced every 3 to 5 years?

To date, The Lipstick Index tried and failed to predict sales and trends and judging by the past few years we now can safely say that the Nail Color Index can attribute to the influx of spending in the nail care sector, so much so that Nail Color sales were $328 million in 2010, dominating over other color cosmetics.

Will Nail Domination continue in 2012? Here are my top 5 most- unscientifically hypothesized ganders for what 2012 will bring for us color cosmetic enthusiasts.


1. Beauty for the Ages

We all can generalize and say that gloss is for the teens and tweens, lipsticks are from the young adult to professional crowd and that everyone else just doesn't exist.. just kidding. Well, it sure does seem that way- the oldest beauty ambassador on the roster is Ellen DeGeneris who is in her Mid- 50's, well done cosmetic companies! But what about 50 and over? MAC Cosmetics answered the call of " All Ages" ( coincidentally their tag line) and will release the MAC for Iris Aphel collection this month. Iris is almost a centurion and is still fashionable in every way. Another cosmetic venture, Fabulousat60.com a lifestyle website for Baby Boomers who can also get their beauty fix.


2. Natural is as Natural Does

Cosmeticeuticals are once again up for debate. Borba has tried it and new products are coming soon that will give you all the nutrients you need so that your inner health is reflected on the outside, and it will taste good! I guess it beats the one pill to cure everything but also poses a problem if you have to have a mixed cocktail to strengthen hair, reduce oiliness in skin and boost the immune system..


3. The Unpredictable Coveted Beauty Collaborations

One day next year, or if I'm lucky enough to go to Japan in the fall, I will be able to order a lipstick alongside my Cassis Macaron at Ladureé. I'm so excited that Ladureé is stepping into the world of color cosmetics! Judging by the quality of their Candles, Fragrances, Teas and Macarons, their cosmetic collection will be nothing short of amazing! Other completely left-field-but-totally-can't wait collections include: Pantone and Sephora. On another note, why doesn't MAC partner up with Sprinkles cupcakes for some lip colors or nail polishes or better yet one of my favorite NYC stores, Opening Ceremony!


4. Global Beauty Love!

Some color cosmetics companies are good at others with this one, its teaching the US consumers about what is effective and special about products that do well abroad. For example, The BB creams that were released here didn't go so well. Why? because the Makeup Artists were not really trained to tell you what they were and how do they work! 
I think that more companies need to explore the Global Embrace, educate don't imitate nor dominate. Another example, if you are inspired by Baja Mexico, do your research, make the campaign look amazing and show how to work the colors, textures and tones into the everyday or special occasion looks.


5. The end of the Glittery Nail Struggle


I've posted before on my struggle with glitter nail polish, soaking doesn't work, rubbing takes off the color, not the glitter, twisting causes scratching on my nail surface..its a useless battle that has me sitting the bench instead of participating in the glitter party. Can someone please re-develop a formula so that glitter nail polish can easily be taken off without the threat of harming yourself in the process?


That is all for 2012.


 

A Quick Getaway at The Chelsea

Face Stockholm in the building!

Whew! I can't believe my first term of school is officially over! So far, its been an exciting journey and I've met some really amazing people! Before I embarked on re-capping my studies from mid-terms to finals time, I went down to Atlantic City with some friends to check out The Chelsea hotel!
The Chelsea is AMAZING! The decor is 1940's, beautiful and completely reminds me of a hotel that would be in the middle of Palm Springs California.
Another surprise at The Chelsea is that they carry Face Stockholm toiletry products! I find this great because when I first started visiting NYC I used to visit Face Stockholm on the corner of Prince and Greene streets. Sadly, the store closed two years ago.
I was also pretty jubilant to see that Face Stockholm made Shampoo and Hair Rinse ( Conditioner). After surveying the products I then asked my friends how they plan on changing up their winter hair care regimen. While we went through some standards and trends: heavy conditioning, co-washing, dry shampoo, etc., I announced that I would try co-washing to see how it goes for my hair and I tried it with the Hair Rinse in White Tea.
The White Tea Hair Rinse smells floral and woodsy, the consistency is milky, light and the conditioner did a fantastic job of moisturizing.
Now I have to go to the newly opened Face Stockholm at Columbus Circle to see the variety of the hair care line.

Fall 2011 Looks: Fendi's Jennifer Behr Dinosaur Hair Accessory

 Photo: Elle.com

Honestly, I can't remember the last time I wore a headband. Maybe it was when I was 8 or 9 and more than likely it was made of plastic to coordinate with my barrettes. Yes, my mom was ALL about color coordination. Jennifer Behr worked with  Fendi to provide her dinosaur headbands for the Fall 2011 collection and this look makes me want to sport a band again! Plus, mom will be proud as the texture and color will match with my existing fall chunky sweaters.
Check out the Jennifer Behr's other collection of hair accessories at jenniferbehr.com

Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream

Hey There! Its officially summer and I'm ready to get busy with lots of reviews on some beloved products that can keep you looking scorching hot without feeling the wrath of the sun!
Up first for summer is my new favorite once a week leave-in conditioning cream and my favorite beauty mistake, Oribe's Supershine Moisturizing Cream!
While traveling in LA in March, I stopped by Fred Segal's  New Beauty Apothecary to browse and ended up enamored with all the ranges of products! The sales assistant there was helpful as I told her that I was traveling without any hair products to use while in town and was preparing for a night out with my friends in West Hollywood. She pointed me in the direction of Oribe and picked up the Supershine Moisture cream and said that a little goes along way. I rubbed a bit in my hands and then added to my hair and was in love with the lightly floral/fruity fragrance. She then told me that the 5 oz. bottle was $24. So, I decided to get it- as I thought that the price was pretty good. Well, this was the mistake because as the sales guy rang me up, the price was actually $49. I think my jaw dropped, had I been looking to purchase this before hand, I would have done some research on the price but as I was in the area and was looking for a great product- this was steep!
Luckily, the sales guy who was listening to our hair engagement all along told me about the misquote and rang me up for the mentioned $24. Looking back on this experience has made me think, if I run out of my cream now, I would probably buy another, price-tag or not. This cream is an excellent moisturizer and provides great shine!
Where to find: Fred Segal Beauty, C.O Bigelow.com, Bloomingdales

Review: Kimble Haircare Leave-in Conditioner

 

We are practically at the home stretch with spring and summer is next week. I've spent the last 2 months researching and testing some great hair gems that I'll be sharing here. 

A few months ago, I ran out of my trusty Pantene Relaxed and Natural Leave-in hair spray and I've looked all over for this commodity in NYC. While in Target, I took a chance on Kimberly Kimble's Leave-in Conditioner  as I've heard great things about her products. 

Kimble's Leave-in conditioner is light yet conditions well ( I use it 2-3x a week). The first three ingredients are : Water, Cetyl Alcohol and Cetrimonium Chloride and includes Brazilian Nut, Acai Berry and Shea Butter.

I like to use leave-in conditioners when I'm detangling my hair before blowdrying and have found that it moisturizes so well that I can apply to my wet hair, twist my hair into buns and sleep on it and awaken to frizz and tangle- free curls!

I'm now prepared for Summer Hair Heaven!