Review: L'Oreal Damage Erasing Balm

This is the last in the Deep Conditioner Series and I've been more than happy to go through these with you guys to help you figure out which one serves your interest best. The thing about buying new products is that you have no clue if you'll want to keep using it after the first time or not. So, onto this one - the claims are that this is all you need to repair super damaged hair. Summer heat and humidity along with heat styling can fry your hair so after a month of being particularly rough on my hair, I decided that I would give this a try. Here are my thoughts:

Packaging

There isn't anything particularly fancy about this packaging. It's a light yellow  thick creme that comes in a transparent tub with a black screw-off top. Again, it may slip from you in the shower,( or maybe I'm just clumsy and drop everything?) and could use some grips to be more ergonomic. It travels really well without spilling all over the place so if you carry this on vacation you won't regret it. It has a ton of product in it so you definitely get a bang for your buck and unless you're literally Rapunzel this will last you quite a while.

Pricing

This was priced at $1100 JMD which is the higher end of reasonable in my book. I have noticed that products containing protein elements are usually more costly than those that are moisturizing. I'm not sure why, but this could probably explain why it's a little more costly than the other L'Oreal conditioners. Again, this is a pretty thick and creamy product so a little goes a long way. 

Application

Alright, the first thing you will notice right off the bat is that this is very very very scented. Think of if your grandmother's strongest perfume broke and you walked into her room - this is how strong this is. Maybe I'm exaggerating but the scent is very strong. The good thing is that it doesn't last past the rinse. You will need a small blob of this about half the size of a golf ball if you have shoulder length hair; more if your hair is longer. It's a tad rubbery so you will need to massage it in into your shaft. I also recommend smoothing this along the ends of your hair, pinning it up and letting it sit under a cap for about 25 minutes so it can do its job. If you use too much it can make your hair limp and a tad rubbery but just enough adds some slip to the hair to help with detangling.

Results

This isn't a moisturizing conditioner -  however it really helps with preventing breakage quite a bit. It strengthens your hair and reduces the amount of hair you lose from combing and brushing and helps your hair stand up to heat styling. I wouldn't use this every week, in fact I alternate this with a moisturizing conditioner. I would say in order to get the proper moisture you need from your conditioner I would say use your normal conditioner before using this deep conditioner or you may end up with brittle hair. Don't be alarmed, this is a normal side effect of using a protein treatment. I would give this a 6/7 out of 10.

What do you think? Have you tried this? Did you like it? Leave me a comment below and let me know.

'til later,

*Jane

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Review: L'Oreal Evercreme Deep Nourishing Masque

By now, we should all be aware that in order to get and maintain healthy hair we need to use a deep conditioner. No? Are you still just shampooing and conditioning? Sort it out ladies, sort it out!

Now, there is more than a fair share of deep conditioners on the shelves currently and you may be confused about which one will work for you. I thought it would be useful to review a couple deep conditioners I have tried individually and then do a side-by-side comparison for you. 

The one I am currently loving is the L'Oreal Evercreme Deep Nourishing Masque that I picked up from Megamart for about $800 JMD about two months ago. Here are my thoughts:

Packaging

This comes in a standard tub/pot with a twist off lid. It's a pretty reflective gold container with about 5 fluid ounces of product inside. It's not so big that it can't fit on the ledge of the bath but it's not a small tub either. There are no grips on the container so you will definitely need to grip this properly to prevent it from scatting all over the tub *because this so didn't happen to me*. So this is pretty standard packaging, nothing out of whack. 

Pricing

This is on the lower end of the spectrum when it comes on to deep conditioners. I've seen similar products with similar ingredients for double the cost so I really like the price tag, It is also affordable enough for you to buy and use at home rather than having to wait for a salon appointment for your hairdresser to use it on you. As I said earlier, I got it for around $800 JMD which is my sweet spot for products. I have seen it elsewhere for up to $1100 JMD though and if you find it online it may run even pricier than that. Don't buy the first tub that you see however because L'Oreal is having a pretty intense campaign in the Caribbean currently so you will find their products in several places. 

Application

If you follow the instructions you should apply this to towel-dried hair after shampooing. You can use a regular conditioner before you use this but I have found that I have better results when I apply it right after shampooing. It is quite a strong scent, and you will most definitely notice it - they were pretty heavy handed with the sniffs. The scent doesn't offend me and it doesn't linger in the same strength as it is when you apply it to your hair so when you uncap it don't freak out, the scent will wash away.

Now this is where this product shines. I have relaxed, coloured hair so this means that I need all the moisture in the world. I usually take two scoops of a deep conditioner and apply to my hair in two parts. This product? Half a scoop served for my whole head - and I have a pretty big head. I started out as I normally did, a little first because I was using it for the first time, applied to the ends of my hair first then worked it into my roots massaging it so my hair would begin to detangle itself. Then I kinda realized that I was massaging my whole head and the product had melted into my hair nicely like some kind of butter. I literally stood in the shower going "Whoa....". I kid you not my friends. It absorbed beautifully without leaving that clammy feeling most conditioners leave on my fingers and I barely had to work it into my hair. Amazing. Full stop.

Results

I left the conditioner in for about twenty minutes in the shower, no heat or cap and when I rinsed it out my hair didn't feel greasy or limp but I could tell immediately that it was considerably softer. Fast forward several hours later, it was still really really really soft, shiny and bouncy. Not only could I not stop touching it, my husband kept playing in my hair too. I think the softness is due to the lack of sulfates in it and to the ceramides. As a brown-haired girl you get pretty excited when your hair looks shiny without much work especially when your hue is more mousey than anything.

I really enjoyed this conditioner and I am praying that they don't change the formula anytime soon. So, would I recommend this? If you follow me on Instagram or you've liked my Facebook page you will know that I already have! Run out and get it, it won't disappoint you. (PS I am convincing my naturalista friend to give it a run and let me know her thoughts, as soon as she does I will let you guys know.) 

((You can see my full haircare routine here and how I grew out my hair from a pixie cut here))

Thanks for reading lovelies!

Till next time,

*Jane

PS - Check out my new boutique for customized jewellery - we ship worldwide! Click here

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My Hair Care Routine (Growing Long Relaxed Hair)

L-R: Vitamin E Oil, Organix Biotin & Collagen OIl Mist, L'Oreal Ever Creme Deep Nourishing Masque, L'Oreal Total Repair 5 Damage- Erasing Balm, Herbal Essence Strengthening Shampoo, Lusters Original Pink Lotion, Organic Root Stimulator Carrot Oil

Experiment complete! I can now say that I have my hair care routine down to a tee and I'm seeing my hair grow not just faster, but healthier than it's been in a long time. So, in the spirit of  'sharing is caring' I thought I would let you guys in on what I've been using and how I've been using it. #fabhairmob anyone?

On Wet Hair

1.    Pre-Wash Treatment: I have long learned the benefits of using hot oil on your hair before you wash it. It helps with sealing the hair cuticle as well as strengthening the hair for the rigor of washing and scrubbing. You can purchase the little VO5 hot oil hair packets or you can just nuke a little oil in the microwave instead. I rotate between Vitamin E oil (pictured above), Olive Oil, Coconut Oil & Argan Oil for this step. I apply the warm oil to the ends of my hair first then work up towards the roots, tie it up and then leave it in for 5-10 mins.

2.    Wash: I stretch the time between my relaxer for at least eight weeks. The first six weeks after I relax I just apply shampoo regularly - lather, rinse and repeat. Closer to the time when I am going to relax my hair, I go half & half with a shampoo & conditioner, to reduce dryness and frizz at the roots. This just means using half the amount I normally would for the shampoo and then compensating that by mixing it with a regular conditioner.

3.    Treatment: I always treat my hair. This may sound excessive, but the fact of the matter is that I want it to grow longer, and because it's chemically treated, it soaks in the treatment like a needy puppy. I alternate between strengthening and moisturizing treatments. Again, this is applied to the ends of my hair then I work it up to the roots. If my hair is feeling particularly dry I will moisturize the treatment into my scalp because healthy roots = healthy hair. I let it soak in for at least twenty minutes and only then do I comb it out with a wide tooth comb. Closer to my relaxer I even rub a little cheap conditioner on the comb to make sure I don't tug or pull on my strands.

On Dry Hair

 4.    Pre-Set: I use an old t-shirt to dry out as much water from my hair as possible, then I   spray in a light oil to help smooth the hair shaft even further. Why is this important?               Frizzy roughed up hair gets tangled, and tangles lead to breakage and weakening of the           shaft. I like this oil because it sprays such a fine mist, smells amazing and is absorbed by my hair quickly, leaving it shiny and smooth. Note: I don't use mousse, setting lotion or spritz because they all contain an uncomfortable amount of alcohol and I don't like the crunchy effect they have after my hair is dry.

5.   The Set: I am an advocate for setting your hair. Why? Apart from the volume, body and   shine setting gives your hair, the smooth plastic rollers help your hair to lie flat over itself letting any product you apply before setting thoroughly soak into the hair follicle. Plus, the curls from a wet set last far longer than ones formed with a hot tool and are faaaarrrrrr less damaging to your hair. I usually only blow dry for about twenty minutes to get rid of any excess water and I keep my blow dryer on cool rotating the area I point it at frequently (also a good arm workout btw).

6.    Styling & Regular Maintenance: If you want to keep your hair healthy between washes you need to use a daily moisturizer. Examine your hair, where is it driest? Where is it healthiest? Get a product that will take care of the least healthy part of your hair specifically and use it regularly. I like the carrot oil because my scalp tends to get dry in between washes but not so dry that I need a thick oil. The carrot oil still lets my scalp breathe while moisturizing it and is light enough for me to use without  weighing down my hair. Pink lotion is a long time favourite - breakage, reduction of split ends and shine are taken care of by this product and I use it to help me get a smooth dry set at night.

This is the gamut of my hair routine. Apart from a heat protectant which I use maybe once a month when I use a hot tool, this is everything. The idea is to test and see what works for you and what you want your hair to be. I would like mine to continue to grow. Right now it's happily past my shoulders (a far cry from the pixie cut I had some months back) and it will soon be 'mermaid' length hopefully. 

What have you been using in your hair recently? Do you have a routine that works for you? Leave me a comment, or hit me up on Facebook and let me know.

'til later,

*Jane

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Review - L'Oreal True Match Blush

I first bought this product four years ago when I was shopping for new makeup to wear to work. I was just starting my job and I wanted to have the easy go-to of blush, mascara and neutral eye shadow. I knew I wanted something sheer that I could just swipe on and go without worrying about spending several minutes trying to blend it away or it looking too loud or too shimmery.

I spotted this at the beauty counter inside Michie Supermarket on the boulevard in Kingston, Jamaica. I don't remember if I got a chance to swatch it but typically I'm drawn to rosier colours so I picked up the true match blush in Cool C5-6 'rosy outlook' and I have repurchased it three times since. Every time I hit pan I scout out where still has it in stock and put a reminder in my phone to go out and purchase it. It is always in my makeup bag and though I rarely need to reapply it, I will layer it on if I am taking my look from day to night without going home. It has the uncanny ability to blend seamlessly over the product I had applied in the morning and sculpt my cheeks while making me look rosier at the same time. In case you haven't noticed, I'm saying you should go out and buy this now now now! 

Peer pressure aside, (teehee) here is the break down of my review of this product:

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Packaging
The packaging for this product is not anything to write home about really. It's a grey compact with a transparent circle at the top so you can see the colour of the product. The labelling is easy to read and the blushes come in two different tones - cool and warm. Supposedly if you have blue undertones you should go for the cool blushes and if you have olive undertones then you should go for the warm blushes. I have an olive undertone and this cool blush looks pretty great on me if I may so myself so don't limit yourself. 
Where this becomes special is when you realize that this is actually two compacts in one. The top lid is the blush and the bottom compartment is a mirror with an angled brush that is super soft. I was also really impressed with the two little protrusions inside the bottom compartment that help keep the brush in place because really no one can stand that rattling around inside their makeup bag. 
This is pretty darn convenient especially if you're on the go. Just slip this in your bag and at the stoplight you can swipe on some blush and mascara and boom you're instantly more polished. The angled brush also makes application a breeze. It isn't one of those cheap-o brushes that prick you and shed like crazy when you're trying to apply the product. It's small but not too small and is just big enough to do the trick.
Over time you will notice that the writing on the top will fade and that the product may seep outside the perimeter of the rim especially if your handbag gets a few knocks. Thankfully though, it has not shattered and hopefully it won't.

 

Pricing
When I first bought this it was about $700. I haven't purchased it in a while but I will shortly as I have hit pan on the one I'm currently using. The last time I saw it, it was maybe $1,100 JMD. This makes it range in the mid-level of pricing. However, it will last you eons as the colour pay off is excellent, and the brush doesn't absorb alot of the product but deposits it nicely on your cheek. The colours and formula are also pretty unique as it is extremely blendable. This is probably the only blush I have that I can apply with my fingers in the dark because I know it will blend out nicely. You can get it on amazon here.


Application
The true match blush is super blendable, sheer and it layers nicely. I've used it with my fingers, various brushes including the brush it came with and I get pretty much the same effect. The first application is sheer but you can see the colour nicely along your cheek. I have never tried to apply it wet but I have layered it over cream blushes and it has not caked up. I just think the formula is pretty finely milled. 
If you look at it closely you may see some sparkles but this does not transfer to your cheek when you apply it. The blush is a matte finish but the texture is super silky so you genuinely don't have to worry about it being too bold even if you have a heavy hand.

Durability
I can wear this for about 6-8 hours without worrying about it fading. It fades pretty evenly along the cheek but if you apply it like a contour and sweep it under your cheek, it tends to fade a little less quickly - or at least on me. I have no clue why. When it fades it leaves a light colour with no oily residue  or sheen which is a problem I have seen with other blushes with a similar texture.

Results
I'm very impressed with this and will always have it in my makeup collection. The selection of colours that are available in Jamaica is quite shoddy to say the least. I wouldn't mind if they changed the package colour to something more alluring. I don't really find grey makeup products alluring but maybe that's just me. That aside, I genuinely have no complaints. L'Oreal really knew what they were doing when they created this formula and I am a super fan.
PS: Scoped out the new packaging - but haven't seen this yet in Jamaica - L'Oreal read my mind! lol

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What about y'all? Have you tried this product yet? What are your thoughts?
Till later,
*Jane


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Top Three Beauty Favourites - October

Every month or so I try to switch up my beauty routine and try something new or challenging. This not only helps to keep me on my toes, but it also helps me to use all the products I have in my beauty stash. In October I wanted to delve into the Fall beauty trends and try darker wine and berry colours on my cheeks and lips. These are the products that I kept reaching for over and over again:

L-R : JORDANA EASY LINER IN CABERNET, TERRA KISS & PLUSH PLUM; L'OREAL INFALLIBLE LIPSTICK IN PERSISTENT PLUM NO 737; MAYBELLINE COLOSSAL VOLUME EXPRESS WATERPROOF MASCARA IN GLAM BLACK; MAC SHEERTONE SHIMMER BLUSH IN AMBERING ROSE

Lips

Fall is all about the dark lips and I am a big lover of red and plum lips. I have been pairing the L'Oreal Infallible lipstick which is a deep plummy red with different shades of lip liner to change its undertone. This is a good way to change up your lipcolour slightly without having to shell out for a new lipstick. The redder lip liner makes the lipstick look more red, the plum one more purple and the brown one deeper like a raisin colour. These pairings give an all day stain that stayed on my lips through a meal, drinks and a three hour long meeting. Though not moisturizing, you can easily swipe on chapstick over the combo to keep your lips supple. You can purchase these at Discount Pharmacy in Manor Park or the Beauty Counter at Chesterville Pharmacy.

Cheeks

I wanted to try darker colours with shimmer to add some sparkle to the matte colours I was wearing and to also skip the highlighter. I went back to the MAC sheer tone because it gave the option of a sheer layer or building it up to a bolder cheek. It also layered really well over an orange blush for a different tone.

Eyes

With the focus on the lips and cheeks, I wanted to go minimal with the eyes which meant no eyeshadow. I reverted to my all time favourite mascara - Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express paired with a thin line on the top of my eyelid. The mascara creates long thick fluttery lashes that are super black and perfect for day or night.

Extra

I had to add in Biotin as a favourite I finished earlier on because it has done wonders for my hair. Along with my routine it has strengthened and thickened it. If you want to read more about that, you can see it here.

What have you been loving for the month of October and what are you eager to try this month?

Till later,

*Jane

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