Review: Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural Intense Moisturizing Conditioner

Last week, I mentioned reviewing several deep conditioners that were readily available on the shelves now and comparing them. This week, we're looking at a pretty popular deep conditioner among persons with natural or relaxed hair. The Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural Intense Moisturizing Conditioner has quite a following and I was eager to see whether this would work for me or not. These are my thoughts:

Packaging

The packaging for this product seems to keep changing every few months but when I got it, it was in a squeeze tube with a grey cap. It had the trademark purple and gold branding and the same brown colour so it wasn't that hard to find but I do know more than one persons who have totally different packaging. This is a slippery sucker in the shower and there isn't anything ergonomic about it - it will slip and slide in your hands if you're using this in the shower. I wouldn't mind if the beauty industry stopped putting products for 'brown-skinned women' in brown packaging -it has understandably tiffed a number of persons.

Pricing

This was a little over $1000 JMD which was sort of expected because Pantene is considered to be a super brand and this line is supposedly specially formulated for black hair - i.e. lots of gimmicks means it can be priced higher. It's not super expensive and you do get quite a few uses out of it but in the back of my head I feel like I can get other products for better prices.

Application

When you squeeze this out the product is white and the texture reminds me of maybe a lighter lotion. It's very slippery and one friend attributed that to silicone properties - I'm not sure how true this is. When you apply it to your hair, you definitely have to give it a few minutes to soak into the hair shaft. It has a subtle scent that smells to me like a combination of musk and gardenia, and it lingers in your hair for about a day or two before it completely goes away. It is a tad difficult to work into the roots and I have had trouble trying to get it to soak into the hair at that point. 

Results

This feels like a conditioner you use when you've forgotten yours at home - the kind that your hotel provides for you. It's not thick or rich or creamy. It does reduce dryness at the ends of your hair and gives a nice slip to the hair so your hair is smoother than if you hadn't deep conditioned. The best thing about this conditioner is the fact that it makes even muddy brown hair a little shiny for about two days after application. It's a fairly decent conditioner and if you have fine hair maybe this could be an option for you. I'm not in love with it so I wouldn't repurchase but I don't hate it either. All in all I would say this is a fair choice.

Have you tried this? Did you like it or hate it? Leave me a comment or hit me up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with your thoughts.

'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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Review : Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

I'm back again with another review for you guys & this time, it's a skin care product - the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System. This is what it looks like:

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You would have seen this in my January Faves and I've been getting so much use out of this I decided that it would be remiss of me not to give it a full review all to itself. Now let me give you a little history behind why I searched out and picked up this product. When I just started watching and subscribing to Youtube, one of the most raved about skin care products was the Clarisonic. This was basically a spinning brush head that did an excellent job of cleaning, deep cleaning and exfoliating for radiant, supple skin. The price point on it was over $100 USD and while there were claims that it was worth it I just couldn't see myself forking over that much cash for something that I used in the bathroom. No thanks!

Fast forward several years later when my skin decided to become a banshee overnight and basically clog every single pore on my face and neck. These tiny bumps popped up and refused to go anywhere no matter how often I used a clay mask or peeling mask. I did some research using the Makeup Alley app on my phone and it landed me at the Clarisonic again. I still refuse to pay that amount of money for it so I googled the cheaper alternative. Turns out there were almost as many rave reviews for the Olay system as there were Clarisonic with the added bonus that this was less than $40 USD in most places. So, I picked this up over the Christmas holidays and have been making good use of it and this is what I think of it so far:

Packaging

As you can see from the images above, the packaging is nothing too fancy. The system includes a brush unit with a brush head, AA batteries, and a 20mL tube of micro-exfoliating scrub. The brush head attaches to the unit pretty easily and you just need to follow the instructions to slide open the battery panel and pop in the batteries. This can be a tad tricky as the panel is pretty secure to help prevent water from getting inside so be prepared to try a little harder than usual. One of the things I enjoy about this is the fact that it is actually water resistant so on those days where you spend longer in the shower shaving or washing your hair, you can just bring the brush in with you and you don't have to worry about it shorting out.

Use/Application

That said, I have difficulties storing this. The brush head does not come with a cap so I'm always worried about air-borne bacteria and other things trickling onto it, and it also doesn't come with those handy holders that you stick on the wall so you may be scratching your head on where and how to store this. I may go looking for one of those bathroom travel kits that you use to store long bars of soap so I can try using it as a case rather than just storing it supine in my bathroom cabinet.

I've had it for more than six weeks and nothing has broken, popped off, gotten loose or stopped working so I would say that this is pretty sturdy. It's also a breeze to clean and I wipe it down with a wipe and some dettol from time to time just to make sure bacteria stays at bay. For the brush bristles themselves, I simply turn it on and submerse them into a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial soap to keep it clean. You don't have to do this but I'm a little bit of a germaphobe.

Lastly, it is pretty light and easily controllable with one hand as you use it. The whirring is not loud enough for anybody to wonder what the heck you're doing in the bathroom but not so soft that you wonder whether it is on or not. 

There are two speeds, with a noticeable difference on how they perform on your skin. The standard speed is fine for me for everyday cleansing and taking off makeup and the second speed I use to get more of an exfoliating effect from the brush.

Even though it came with a scrub you can feel free to use this with your normal foaming or non foaming face wash and even with a bar of soap if that's what you use. I don't use this to rinse but again this choice is up to you. As always, be careful with the areas around your eye as that skin tends to be far more delicate than anywhere else. I haven't broken any capillaries there while using this but I would imagine it would be possible with pressure. So just avoid the area or use a very light hand. I don't think I need to say this but please do not use this on your eyeballs whether closed or open, you WILL regret it. Just remove your eye makeup the normal way with a remover or olive oil.

If you use this with a scrub with larger granules this will probably be too rough on your skin so stick to face washes and micro-exfoliating scrubs like the one it comes with.

Pricing

This is more costly than your average face cleanser but it is far less expensive than the Clarisonic or other lesser performing alternatives. I have tried the L'Oreal scrublet and while it does show results it does not compare to the Olay, and the same with the Neutrogena Wave. I got mine for $32 USD at Walmart but you can get this in Jamaica for around $3600JMD or online for between $30 and $40 USD. The brush lasts for a good couple months before you have to replace it and the brush head is only $9USD for two. I think this is reasonable in relation to its performance and comparison.

Results

The difference is definitely noticeable. My pores are unclogged and I can see skin instead of those tiny little inflamed bumps, even my hormonal acne is kept at bay with regular use and it does a wonder at controlling shine all day. It also takes off any residual makeup at the end of the day and shrinks my pores especially around my nose. I haven't noticed any reduction of wrinkles but my skin is bouncier and more supple to the touch and looks more even and healthier generally. I am definitely pleased and I am looking forward to the three month mark to see how much my skin has changed. I don't have any broken capillaries or sagging from using the brush daily and my skin has not gotten more sensitive or irritated.

Final Say

I would repurchase this in a heartbeat (though all I would need are new brush heads) and I heartily recommend this. I am not sure whether this is appropriate for mature skin as I don't know if it is too harsh and may cause sagging but it is Olay the ageing experts so perhaps it is fine. The price, the performance and the results have proven that this is a great product and it will remain a skincare staple for me for a long time. 

Have you tried this? Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Till later,

*Jane

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Review: Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub

I purchased this product a couple months back because my skin was acting out like a crazy banshee. I was drawn to it because of its claim to be uncomplicated, fragrance-free and it contained rice granules as the exfoliating element.

SIMPLE SMOOTHING FACIAL SCRUB

 After more than six weeks of use, these are my thoughts:

Price point

This was on the more economical end of the spectrum. I believe I paid around $800 JMD for this at the New Kingston Pharmacy in the New Kingston Shopping Centre. You get approximately 2.5 ounces of product. If you use this daily it can last you between 8-10 weeks. I think this is pretty reasonable so no complaints there.

Packaging

It comes in a tube where you squeeze the product out at the end. The cap comes off so you can definitely get all the product out so that there is no waste. You can also control how much comes out and the packaging is pretty reliable. I have travelled with it and it has not exploded or leaked out. The tube is a muted green colour that seems favourable with packagers of more natural products with a matte texture that helps with a grip if you are using it in the shower.

Use/Application

This is not a lathering or cream-y product. It's quite watery like those lotions you get in the perfume gift set at Christmas and the smell reminds me of purelene original formula lotion and the bottom of a rice bag. The graules are pretty small and uneven. This is very good for every day exfoliating as the granules clean the skin of dirt and grime and unclog pores excellently. The rice granules also act as an oil controller. 

Performance

As I said, this does not lather at all nor does it moisturize and this is quite odd to get used to but you do need very little as the granules go a long way. As long as you avoid your under eye area, you won't see any broken capillaries in your skin as it is pretty gentle on the skin despite being exfoliating. As far as improving the texture of my skin, this was a failure. I did not notice a difference and this did not help with getting rid of zits or clearing blackheads.

Conclusion

I think this product is fine as an accompanying product to a regular cleansing face wash but not as the main product. If you have pretty clear skin and you want to control oil from time to time then  this will work well, otherwise it does not have enough of an effect to spend your money on. I give it 6 out of 10 because of its excellent price, how gentle it is on skin, the fact that it controls oil so well and the amount of product you get for the price. I dislike the texture, its lack of antibacterial properties and its lack of effect on the texture of my skin.

I may repurchase it in the future but I won't be in a rush to do it. Have you tried this out? What did you think?

Till 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


I am an Amazon Affiliate and all indicated links are Amazon Affiliate links.

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Review - Maybelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick

When I got into wearing lip colour I started out with berry tones, plums and reds - all pretty safe options for my skin tone but then I saw and fell in love with Kerry Washington's lip color on the cover of Elle Magazine and then even more so the new trends with orange and coral lip colours so I went and picked up the Mabelline Color Sensational Vivids Lipstick in 'Electric Orange' No. 880. It wasn't quite the shade I wanted so I also picked up ''Vibrant Mandarin' No. 885.

                             

I've had the lipsticks now for a couple of months and have worn them out on different occasions to get a proper feel for them. Here are my thoughts thus far:

Packaging

Left - Electric Orange ; Right - Vibrant Mandarin

The packaging is relatively simple and fuss free with a square, faux metal base and a transparent neon cap. The name and number of the lipstick is printed on a sticker on the bottom and the actual colour is pretty close to the colour of the sticker. The cover is the standard snap/pull off cover and you get to the bullet by twisting the bottom. There is nothing fancy but because the cover is neon, it is easy to distinguish from your other lipsticks.

Pricing
The lowest price point I've seen this at is $750 JMD and the highest at $990 JMD so you will be spending more than say a Jordana lipstick but definitely less than a MAC lipstick. I personally don't think that this is bad for the price as Maybelline lipsticks are pretty much reliable.

Application
When you open the tube the first thing that will hit you is the smell. Both smelled slightly different but they had the same base scent. The smell reminds me of if you were to mix the smell at the end of a vanilla candle with play-do. It's not a pleasant smell and it lingers so that you can smell it on your lips for about an hour or so. So boo to that. 

Above - Electric Orange; Below - Vibrant Mandarin

Separately from that however, the colour is true to form and what you see on the bullet is the color pay off you get. The application is therefore almost opaque which is excellent for women of colour because this means that you don't have to apply concealer to get the true colour of the lipstick. Application is smooth because the lipstick is quite moisturizing and has a creamy glossy finish. However, if you layer it on you will see it start to drag and the colour streak a bit. For this reason, I would say to get the best result, apply lip liner to your lips first and dot on the colour rather than swiping it on. If you are going to go lipliner-free then application with a lip brush should help you avoid that streakiness if you intend to layer.

Durability
The product is not one of the long-wearing lip colours offered by Maybelline and therefore will transfer and rub off, but unless you are eating or making out, the colour doesn't fade for about four hours. It also doesn't dry out the lips leaving you with that shriveled lip effect some long wearing lip products cause.

Results
The Vivids lipsticks are true to their name - they provide a bright, basically opaque, creamy colour for the times when you want a bolder look. If you want to tone it down, rim your lips with a deeper coloured lipliner and blend it into the lipstick to bring down the contrast or, mix it with sheer gloss for a lighter feel. I even mixed mine with another lip colour to create a colour I felt more comfortable wearing during the daytime. You can see that diy here .

All in all, this is an excellent solution for those that want great colour pay off but don't want to shell out for higher end lipsticks. I would give this a 7.5/10 with my only complaints being the inability to layer the colour easily and the off-putting smell.

Have you tried these out yet? Which colour are you loving?

Do you have a product you'd like me to try out and review before you buy it? Shoot me an email or leave me a comment and I'll give it a try.

Till later,
**Jane

(I am an Amazon Affiliate and image links are Amazon Affiliate links)

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