Goody QuikStyle Paddle brush

I consider this post more of a warning than a review.  When I saw this, I thought it was a great idea and went and purchased it at CVS the same day for $12.99.  I don't know that it cuts down drying time significantly (the microfiber "bristles" can only hold so much water) but, IT DAMAGED MY HAIR.  After two uses, I have a lot of breakage at the top of my head that wasn't there before and it made it frizzy during blow drying anyway.  I would stay as far away from this as you can (which shouldn't be tough...lol).  It's going to take months to repair the damage this did.

http://www.goody.com/Products/Styling%20Tools/QUIK%20STYLE%20Paddle%20Brush?gclid=CKTgioG09LMCFUWo4AodR1cAdw&utm_expid=65472210-0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Faclk%3Fsa%3Dl%26ai%3DC60uHlnO3UIKaHO_L6QH_04CwBsOG-cwC-6H8kznzlr2MlQEIABACKAJQo87R6fr_____AWDJhqOH1KOAEKABnaXu3APIAQGqBCJP0DMDUVbhNFL_F6x6nDykaHDDrRyzyqln3GgjnI8piyMx%26sig%3DAOD64_1zUtIR7gD2ya9ra5bS_kf-nKR5dA%26ved%3D0CDUQ0Qw%26adurl%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.goody.com%2FProducts%2FStyling%252520Tools%2FQUIK%252520STYLE%252520Paddle%252520Brush%26rct%3Dj%26frm%3D1%26q%3Dgoody%2Bquik%2Bstyle%2Bbrush

Phytospecific Phytorelaxer

I promised this review awhile ago but held off because I was unsure.  Unfortunately, time has not made things much clearer.  This comes in two "indexes," 1, for delicate, fine hair and 2, for normal, thick or resistant hair.  I used number 2.  The biggest downside of this product is the 60 dollar price tag.  I was able to justify it by the reviews I read which said you could get two treatments out of it and the fact that it would cost more to go to a salon.  This product is used in salons though.  It even has halfway marks on the bottles to help you out.

In the box are a pre-care balm, straightening cream, index inductor, neutralizing and cleansing emulsion, and milky restructurer.  I am a bad person who never does a strand test but I decided to do one in this case because you can straighten the rest of your hair right after you do it.  It's a good thing I did because the inductor and cleansing emulsion look very similar and I didn't read the bottles.  Also I was lucky because I only used half.  It turned the product a bright pink which I thought was pretty cool.  I put it on my strand and followed the instructions as best as I could.  The second downside is that the instructions are a little strange.  It says to apply the solution with the back of a comb and then to also use that during straightening.  It was only when I went to use the cleansing emulsion I realized my mistake.  I did not however re-do the strand test.  I mixed it all up and applied it to my hair the way I thought I should.  Unlike other straighteners, this has a very thick texture, almost clay-like and you don't comb through it while it's in your hair.  I left it on the required time and proceeded to the neutralizing, cleansing emulsion.  It is nice that you get to wash your hair after.  Then I used the restructurer, of which I still have a lot left after thoroughly coating my hair.

After blow-drying, my hair looked amazing.  Super straight and shiny.  And it lasted several days.  It still looked great after washing it again with my regular shampoo and conditioner.  So, why would I still be unsure.  Well, I still have to blow it dry or it frizzes.  I know that doesn't seem like much but, if you've read some of my other post you know that I want perfect hair with no effort.  The other reason is that it was great for a couple of weeks but then I started waking up with my old hair "bumps" again so it didn't last as long as it should have at that price.

My recommendation, if you want a chemical-free straightener, would be to find a salon that uses this or to work something out with your stylist where you can bring this in and have them use it (although unless they are familiar with the product, they may have a hard time with the directions as well).  I did send an email to Phyto to ask for clarification but never received a response.  I will update if I ever find out.  If I do get clarification, I may actually try this product again on my own.  Otherwise I will just keep looking!

http://www.sephora.com/phytospecific-phytorelaxer-index-2-normal-thick-resistant-hair-P6120?skuId=365700

http://phytospecific.com/phyto_usa.html

Philosophy full of promise moisturizer

As I began this review, I looked back so I could link to my favorite Philosophy product, Purity Made Simple.  Much to my shock and chagrin, I have not reviewed it!!!  I will rememdy that shortly but for now I'll stick to this one. 

I love Philosophy's packaging and cute product names.  In addition to the Purity, they have a fwe other products I've enjoyed.  However, their face creams never seem to make the cut and this one is no different.  It never delivers on its promise.  It's not a bad product, it just isn't any better than ones you can get in the drugstore much cheaper.  My philosophy is that I don't mind paying for something that works so I won't be buying this again.

http://www.philosophy.com/skin-care-moisturizers/full-of-promise-restoring-cream,en_US,pd.html

Dr. Brandt Flaws No More r3p Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...peptides?  Peptides, what the heck are those?  Well, from my layman's perspective, this is how I understand it.  The collagen in our skin is made up of long strings of amino acids.  When collagen breaks down, it forms shorter chains called peptides which signals the skin to "fix" the skin by producing more collagen.  By applying these manufactured peptides to the skin, the theory is that will ramp up the collagen production making your face look younger and less wrinkled.

I was lucky to try a large sample of this to really get a good feel for the product.  The first thing I noticed was the smell.  It smelled kind of metallic.  Once you put it on your face though, you could no longer detect the scent.  It is a very thick, rich cream and I like the way it went on.  I felt like it gave my face a soft, sort of matte texture while still moisturizing.  I only wash my face at night anymore so that's the only time I applied it.  In the morning I rinse my face with water, add more eye cream, and apply my Smashbox BB cream.  This was a great product for that routine.  It kept my face moisturized but not greasy.  I am beginning to think there really is no miracle cure out there.  Our skin is going to age.  We are going to have wrinkles.  But a product can help minimize the telltale signs of aging.  (Maybe they should call it Flaws But Less.)  The biggest downside is the price tag ($125).  It will keep me searching for a cheaper alternative.  However, if I do decide to splurge, this product is at the top of my list.

http://www.drbrandtskincare.com/product/flaws+no+more+r3p+cream.do?sortby=ourPicks

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Undereye Primer

I really wanted to like this after my great (and continued) experience with Smashbox's BB Cream.  So much so that I ordered an additional sample when I ran out of my first one.  Unfortunately I had to face the fact that it just didn't really do much.  Lately, instead of washing my face twice a day, I only do it at night.  In the morning I splash water on my face, reapply my eye cream and then put on my BB Cream.  I though this product would be perfect.  It would still hydrate but help with my under eye circles and fairy trails.  On my second sample, I tried using the primer on one side and my eye cream on the other.  I checked it several times throughout the day and I couldn't tell a difference between the two sides.  And this was with and without concealer.  I would skip this and buy a good concealer.

http://www.smashbox.com/product/6027/22899/Eyes/ConcealerBrightener/PHOTO-FINISH-HYDRATING-UNDER-EYE-PRIMER/New/index.tmpl

Phytodefrisant botanical hair relaxing balm

I was very surprised to find out that this company, started by French hairstylist Patrick Ales, has been around since the mid 50s.  I had occasionally seen the products and liked the clinical looking packaging but had never tried them.  In my quest to tame my frizz and get rid of a few stubborn "bumps" in my hair, I got this from Sephora based on the very high reviews.  Although it is not a permanent solution, and you have to use it with a blow dryer or straightener, it says it will gradually make your hair straighter with use (at least that's what I thought it said).  I usually blow dry my hair anyway and thought that maybe I could get away with letting it air dry once in awhile.  As I've mentioned, all I really want is wash and go hair that looks like I just stepped out of a shampoo commercial.  Never give up the dream, right?

This product mostly does what it says it will do.  It helps reduce frizz and helps keep hair straighter between washings (mine would often get messed up while I slept).  However, I think calling it a relaxing balm is going a bit far.  There is a big difference between straightening and smoothing.  I would call this a smoothing product.  In the instructions it said it will make your hair "smoother with use" which was my mistake.  My hair didn't get any straighter or easier to blow dry after using this for several weeks.  I felt like it made my hair feel a little stiff but it wasn't really bad and if you normally use products in your hair it probably wouldn't bother you.

In the end, I would recommend trying this product if you already spend time styling your hair and are just looking for a better product.  Like I said, it works the way it says it will, it just doesn't work the way I wanted it to.  I went a different route and used their permanent (but still botanical) hair relaxer and that review will be coming up soon!

http://www.phyto-usa.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?PID=27

Organix Moraccan Oil Weightless Healing Oil and Alterna Bamboo Kendi Oil Dry Mist

In August of 2011 I wrote about Argan oil (also called Moroccan oil) for the first time.  Then back in June, I wrote about Moroccan Oil's Frizz Control.  I really liked the product and although I sometimes used it as a treatment by spraying it in dry hair, it made it look greasy so it had to be shampooed out.  It helped my hair more than any other product I'd tried but it still wasn't enough to conquer the humidity of a DC summer.  I really liked the spray because I felt like it was more evenly distributed through my hair.  So I began looking into products I can use on dry hair.  On Sephora, I discovered Alterna Bamboo Kendi Oil Dry Mist.  My first post ever was about my Alterna conditioner so I ordered it immediately even though I hadn't heard of Kendi oil.  It turns out to be another nut oil, this one from Indonesia.  I started using the spray in two ways.  First, I would spray it on towel dried hair.  Just like the Moroccan Oil Frizz Control, if I got to a bad tangle, I'd just give it an extra pump and my comb would glide right through.  Second, I would use it right after drying my hair and whenever it got a little unruly.  It seemed like I couldn't use too much in between washings (every 2-3 days).  However, when I realized how quickly I was going through it, I realized this was going to be pretty pricey to sustain and so I went searching again.  This time for a cheaper alternative.

I found the Organix Moroccan Oil Dry Healing Oil online and purchased it at Rite Aid where they were (luckily) having a 2 for 1 sale.  I use it in the same was as the Alterna and it works just as good.  I love this stuff!  It is like liquid gold.  Normally I wouldn't advocate a product that you use a lot of but in this case, I think how much you use depends on your hair.  I keep a bottle at home and a bottle at work.  I often just spray a little bit on my ends when they are looking frazzled.  The smell is a little stronger than the Alterna which had a very nice, mellow smell, but it isn't bad and it is milder than the Moroccan Oil brand.  I just can't say enough good things about this product.  If your hair needs moisture or frizz control, I suggest you go out and get some right away!  You can thank me later.

Liquid Gold

http://www.organixhair.com/product/weightless-healing-oil
http://www.alternahaircare.com/bamboo/smooth/kendi-dry-oil-mist/