Current Favorites!

August is almost half over and I am in in between soaking up the last long days of the summer and thinking ahead to the fall months.  I am enjoying my last weeks of using self tanner and doing yoga outside while starting to collect the candles that I will want to burn this fall.  I have been using my favorite shades of summer makeup and beginning to transition some of the early fall shades that I have purchased into the mix.  I haven't switched any of my fragrances or body product over yet and don't think that I will for about a month yet.  I have been loving the tubes of Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick and one shade is topping my Favorites list.

My Current Favorites of the late summer...

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Naked - "A luxury lipstick that delivers intense color payoff plus creamy shine.  Revolution Lipstick is rich, buttery lipstick at its best—with the signature Urban Decay pigment-rich color you crave. Addictive to apply (and even more addictive to wear), Revolution Lipstick glides on without dragging or skipping and hugs every curve. Just one swipe gives you a big, gorgeous lay down of color. And with shades that range from gorgeous nudes to bold brights, there’s something for everyone.  Urban Decay’s Pigment Dispersion System™ gives Revolution Lipstick its super creamy texture, intense pigmentation, superior color dispersion, and extended wear. Maxi-Lip™ defines and hydrates lips while making them look plumper and fuller. And a nourishing blend of jojoba oil, avocado oil, cocoa butter and shea butter keeps lips super moisturized and cushiony soft. The luxe, custom-designed gunmetal tube (lined in Urban Decay’s signature dark purple) looks so gorgeous, you’ll want to keep pulling it out of your bag.  Naked is a 'nude pink' with a cream finish."  This creamy lipstick lasts all day and keeps my lips hydrated and healthy-looking.  I love this nude-pink shade and I use it for all kinds of makeup looks and I find myself reaching for this product more and more.  I barely need to retouch this product and just add a bit more when my lips are feeling a bit dry.

Alterna Bamboo Smooth Kendi Oil Dry Oil Mist - "A weightless, nutrient-rich oil mist that protects hair from heat styling tools, enhances shine, and boosts hair's health.  This double-duty formula can be used as both a deeply nourishing treatment that helps to repair split ends and environmental damage, and as a color protecting style primer. Made with strengthening organic bamboo and smoothing organic kendi oil, it banishes frizz and imparts intense shine while providing vital nutrients.  Bamboo extract and kendi oil contained in this product are eco-certified, fair-trade compliant, and certified organic. Their production and sale aid in supporting the development of local communities while remaining environmentally friendly. Free of gluten, TEA, and phthalates."  I use this on wet dry before blow drying and styling and it helps to soften and reduce the amount of frizz that comes up this time of the year.  It helps to protect my hair from the sun and keeps it looking shiny all day long.  I love that it hydrates while I style and helps to protect my color from the high amount of heat styling that I do all the time.  I have been burning through my bottle of this and will need to re-order very soon.

Butter London Nail Lacquer in Slapper - "A heavily pigmented, high-fashion nail lacquer.  Created backstage at fashion week for the world’s top fashion designers, Butter LONDON’s lacquers are rich in color, giving your nails a look that is more vibrant. The vitamin-enriched formula promotes nail strength and provides beautifully consistent coverage.  Butter LONDON is a new-era design house, creating extraordinary moments in color by living on the inside edge of fashion. Butter LONDON does not add formaldehyde, toluene, or DBP to any of its nail formulas. It's color without compromise. For brilliant results, use butter LONDON lacquers with the corresponding butter LONDON base and topcoats. When used together, the products last significantly longer than a typical manicure.  Slapper is "truly teal'."  This bright teal cream has been a favorite of mine since I ordered it last spring.  I have been using it at least once a week for almost four months and intend to keep it up until I bring my fall colors out.  This teal is highly pigmented and the formula lasts for about four days with only minor tip wear.  I get more compliments on this than any other shade and this might be one of my favorite shades that I have ever bought!

Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla - "An ultra high-shine lip gloss in a nifty click pen.  Stila's ever-popular lip glaze is back in action with larger pens (twice the size of the original) guaranteed to keep your lips glossier, longer. The gloss gives lips a punch of color and adds a delicious scent. Whatever sweet flavor you are in the mood for, it is sure to be found in this collection of classic shades.  Vanilla is a 'pearly nude gloss'."  I use this shade at least three times a week and it works with any makeup look that I have come up with so far.  This gives my lips shine and a bit of a pearl finish, it will work well with my tan now and then with my pale skin in the coming seasons.  I will be ordering another tube of this shade before I run out and then a few other shades of Lip Glaze.

Stila Convertible Color in Peony - "A lipstick that doubles as a blush.  Stila's ingenious lipstick and blush-in-one proves irresistible. Non-greasy, this creamy, sheer tint adds an natural glow to the cheeks while lips bloom with fresh, radiant color. A mini mirrored-compact makes touch ups on the go a snap.  Peony is a 'neutral medium pink'."  I have been using this color for a long time now and it continues to be a favorite Stila product of mine.  This shade is easy to wear and the formula lasts all day in the summer months, it lasts through running outside and also hitting the gym after work.  I have no idea when I got this product the first time but I have been using it for a long time and I have not hit the bottom of the pan yet and I should have at least another yet of my pot.

This is my last post about any kind of summer beauty and my big focus in the upcoming weeks is working many of these great shades into my fall beauty looks and then buying new products to work with them.

photo courtesy of Sephora

Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S. Eye Rescue

Eye cream is one of the few products that I only order when I am completely out of and one of the very few products that I do not stockpile.  I have several face creams that I haven't opened yet but only use one eye cream at a time.  I tend to use very small amounts of this type of product and will use the same product night and day for about six months, products would end up spoiling before I ever got to them if I tried to stockpile eye creams.  My newest eye cream is one from one of my favorite skincare companies and a company that I have used eye creams from before.

I have a good amount of concerns about my eye area.  I have under eye circles, puffiness, and am having early concerns about aging.  I am quite picky abut the formula that I will choose to use for the next six months and want to get the best results in all three of the above aspects.  Caudalie is well known for being a brand that focuses on anti-oxidants and would help to prevent some of the early signs of aging and this is one of the reasons that I went right to this brand when I needed to order a new eye cream from the Sephora website.  I chose a newer formula from this brand and one that I was very excited to try.  After a week of use, I firmly recommend this product and will be ordering it again.

The first eye cream that I used from this company was the Eye Contour Cream, I am not sure that this product is still available from the company.  I would have ordered that one again but I saw the newest formula and wanted to this one out.  The Vinosource S.O.S. Eye Rescue is another product in the Vinosource line, the hydrating and protecting line of products from this company.

The Sephora website states the following information for the product description.  "An eye cream to de-puff, soothe, and brighten tired eyes.  This treatment quenches and soothes the eye area upon application, leaving eye contours looking rested, fresh, and naturally glowing. It hydrates, soothes, and de-puffs with antioxidant polyphenols, moisturizing grape water, and calming white tea extract.  This product is ophthalmologist tested on sensitive eyes and fragrance-free. It does not contain animal ingredients and is not tested on animals."

The Sephora website also provides some of the results of the studies performed on the product...

"In a Corneometry® on 12 volunteers:
- 127% increase in hydration

In a clinical trial on 20 volunteers:
- 61% decrease in skin sensitivity"

They are provide more information on the active ingredients contain in the Vinosource S.O.S. Eye Rescue Cream.  "Organic Grape Water: Reduces skin sensitivity and increases hydration.  Patented Grape Polyphenols: Protect skin from premature aging caused by UV rays, pollution, and environmental aggressors by forming a shield against free radicals; reinforce capillaries, boost cutaneous microcirculation, and help maintain an optimal level of hyaluronic acid in the dermis to preserve suppleness and elasticity.  Vinolevure®: Captures and retains water to prevent dehydration and reinforces skin’s immune defenses."

I have a lot to say about this eye cream and it is all very good.  The texture is easy for any skin type to use, it is a cream-gel formula that sinks easily into the skin and doesn't leave any type of residue on the under eye area.  I love this aspect because I need a smooth surface for foundation and concealer.  This primes the skin very well for these two products and allows smooth and easy application.  I have to use less product on my eyes because this eye cream makes the application much easier.

This product hydrates my entire under eye area and I use it at night for this aspect, the area is plumped up and looked much brighter and smoother than before application.  In the morning, I love many of the same aspects plus how nicely it helps to deflate the puffiness in my under eye area.  I have been seeing some nice results over the past week and I expect to see even more as I continue to use the product for the next few months.  The anti-oxidant properties of this eye cream will help to continue to protect my skin for the time that I use this product.

This is another product that I highly recommend from the Caudalie skincare line and it only adds to the list of product that I love from this company.  I love new products from this company and I will continue to buy more from them in the coming years.

photo courtesy of Sephora

MAC Blot Film

I often talk on this blog about how dry my skin is but it is the middle of the summer and I am experiencing some issues with oiliness on my T-Zone area.  My skin is much too dry to use any type of skincare products designed for oily skin and certain mattifying products can make my skin look dull and dry.  I need to find products that are somewhat non-traditional and won't make my skin look more dry than usual.  I have used the Boscia Blotting Linens in the past and have gotten solid results with them and I finally finished up my last package of these (I use them very slowly so a package lasts me a very long time).  I have been interested in what other companies sell this type of product and I was excited to see that I could order them from the MAC website.

I haven't used much from the MAC skincare line and usually spend more time checking out the color lines.  My counter doesn't really represent the skincare lines very well and they receive about 10% of the counter space.  I wasn't even aware that they carried the skincare products at the counters until I was searching for another product and stumbled across them.  I decided to order these from the MAC website and start learning more about their skincare line.

The MAC website states the following for a product description, "This handy carry blot leaves skin oil-free, mega-matte. Won't remove or alter makeup. Ideal for artists, girls-on-the-go, and men who don't like to shine! Super-sized – and the only blot couture fashioned out of special patented material. Stylishly and compactly packaged."

Some blotting products have a powder finish but these do not, I tend to prefer products like this since they don't leave a powder finish on the skin (making mine look drier than usual) and the texture of the product almost feels like a very thin piece of rubber.  One of these films is more than enough to cover any oily area on my face and they quickly absorb any excess oil on my T-Zone and leave my skin with a matte (but not dry finish).  These are a great product to keep in my purse or gym bag in the summer months and provide a quick fix during steamy weather or after a yoga class.  My gym bag is starting to get weighed down with beauty products...

These are a larger sixe than some of the other blotting linens and I can quickly clean up all the areas any only use about half of the sheet.  I found a great tip for use when I was reviewing Makeup Alley to see what other people thought of this product.  One reviewer stated that she easily cut these in half and then doubled her usage from the product and I really want to try this.  I may have to repackage them if I go this route but I will see what I can do.  This is another brand of linens that I will leave very slowly and I can't see that I will need to be repurchasing them on a regular basis.

This is one of the best products that I have every tried to help mattify without drying or leaving a dry finish to my skin and I recommend this product to quickly help reduce the appearance of oil on the face.

photo courtesy of MAC

Aveda Fall 2013 Collection - Heart Lands

Aveda has released their fall beauty product collection and therefore today we are going to look at a more natural based makeup line today.  I am not someone that buys only natural or organic products (obviously) but I still get a bit freaked out about the fact that the average woman consumes about seven pounds of lipstick in her life.  I am most likely to try some type of more natural lip product because of that fact and would like to reduce the amount of chemicals that I am taking into my body as much as I can.  So its time for me to look more closely at Aveda and what lip items and shades they carry.  Plus I go to an Aveda salon so I have pretty easy access to many of these products which is a big bonus.

The fall collection for Aveda is named Heart Lands and is inspired by the beauty of the autumn months.  This collection focuses on natural beauty and shades that could be worn equally well in the city or for a weekend trip to the country.  This is a very different collection from many of those that I have reviewed so far and I am excited to see the other side of fall beauty.

The Aveda Heart Lands collection!

Petal-Essence Single Eye Color - Let eyes blossom, with our flower wax-infused, soft-to-the-touch shadow. A silky powder-both color-true and crease-resistant-that builds and blends effortlessly, surrounded by a soft floral aroma.
- Dusk Orchid - deep violet with shimmer
- Hyacinth - pale lilac satin
- Antique Gold - medium gold with shimmer
- Viridian - deep forest green matte
- Bronze Patina - deep bronze matte

Petal-Essence Eye Definer - Drawn from jasmine petals and geranium leaves, aromatic flower waxes make this formula creamy, blendable, smooth. Line, define, accent, or shade-our pencil stays color-true on eyes or brow, while still respecting the delicate skin around the eye.
- Night Lily - deep violet navy
- Juniper - deep forest green

Nourish-Mint Smoothing Lip Color - 75% of women noticed fuller lips after 2 weeks. Smooths appearance of fine lines by 26%**.  Increases moisture by 26%**.  With refreshing organic spearmint and vanilla flavor.
- Sweet Plum - medium violet plum cream
- Redwood - deep warm red cream

Nourish-Mint Rehydrating Lip Glaze - Give them some lip-with 12 lip gloss shades, from nude to bold: infused with plant emollients and clinically proven to moisturize, plump and smooth the look of fine lines. Refreshes with an organic vanilla and mint aroma and flavor.
- Honey Tree - medium nude shimmer
- Winterberry - deep cool berry shimmer

Nourish-Mint Lip Liner - Feed your lips-with luscious, creamy color that shapes and defines-made richer with plant waxes and fruit butters. Nourish-mint Lip Liners provides generous coverage while helping to reduce feathering of other lip color. Refreshing, with certified organic peppermint flavor.
- Plum Petals - deep berry
- Red Petals - deep red

My first purchase from the Aveda makeup collection will be one of the Nourish-Mint Rehydrating Lip Glaze and I am sure that I will want more than one shade of this product.  I want to buy the Honey Tree from this collection and I found several other shades that I will add to my order and I am considering Winterberry too.  I'm not sure that I love either of the lipstick shades and I want to test one at the salon to see how pigmented they are before I start ordering them.  To finish up my shopping of this collection, I would like the eye shadows in Antique Gold and Bronze Patina so that I can make more neutral eye looks with my Naked Palettes.

I will report back on the Aveda glosses and see if I can work a few more natural products into my makeup collection.

photo courtesy of Aveda

Bobbi Brown Fall 2013 Collection - Rich Chocolate Collection

One of the most exciting collections for fall comes from Bobbi Brown and I will be adding several items from it to my Most Wanted list, I first saw pictures of this collection early last month and I have wanted to see it in more detail ever since.  I found it this morning on the Bobbi Brown website and we are going to look at it now.  Rich Chocolate is going to be one of those collections that will contain products that sell out quickly and will be able to used this season and then for seasons to come.  I am so hoping to see a great eye makeup palette in this collection and I will be adding it to the line up of Naked Palettes that are in my current rotation.

This collection contains all types of rich hues for the fall and winter months and I will want to play around with it at the counter soon.  There is no formal collection description and the model for the collection is a lovely Katie Holmes, a deep brunette with pale cool toned skin.  She is one of my beauty ideals and I enjoy working to recreate some of her Red Carpet looks at home.  The key piece of this collection is the Rich Chocolate Eye Palette and then it contains new shades in the current Blush and Lip Gloss formulas.

We are going to start with the palette that I want and begin to look at the newest from Bobbi Brown...

Rich Chocolate Eye Palette - A delicious take on eyes for fall and beyond, this chic palette is packed with mix-and match shades including base, lid, and liner options.  Exclusively packaged in a mirrored compact with a glossy chocolate finish, plus a dual-ended brush for application.
- Stone - medium ash brown with matte finish
- Bone - off white with matte finish
- Frappe - medium ash beige with matte finish
- Caramel - silvery brown sparkle
- Champagne Truffle - warm pink beige with satin finish
- Cocoa - warm ashy brown with satin finish
- Rich Chocolate - dark brown with matte finish

Blush - Silky formula glides on smoothly and offers a matte finish with long-lasting wear. Comes in this sleek, flip-top compact that can be used individually or popped into an empty palette (sold separately).  Apply on the apples of cheeks using the Blush Brush , blending up into the hairline, then downwards to soften. Finish with a pop of brighter blush, applied just on the apples of cheeks. For a shimmery glow on cheeks, follow with a Shimmer Brick Compact.
- Berry - deep red
- Pink Coral - warm coral with touches of medium pink

Lip Gloss - What It Is: This high-shine formula gives lips a sultry sheen for a fuller look..  Who It's For: Any woman who likes the shiny look of lip gloss with medium coverage.  Why It's Different: Formulated with jojoba and avocado oils for immediate hydration, plus Vitamins C and E. Aloe extract soothes lips and helps keep them feeling comfortable.  How do I Use It: Apply gloss on clean, bare lips. Or, layer it over your favorite Lip Color.
- Tea Berry - medium rose cream
- Pale Pink - pale pink cream

Sheer Color Lip Gloss - What is it: This high-shine formula delivers a sultry sheen for lips that look healthy and full.  Who is it for: Any woman who likes the shine of a gloss with sheer, medium coverage.  Why is it different: Formulated with Jojoba and Avocado Oils for immediate hydration, plus Vitamins C and E. Aloe Extract soothes lips and helps keep them feeling comfortable. How do I use it: Apply gloss on clean, bare lips. Or, layer it over your favorite Lip Color.
- Chocolate Raspberry - deep plum brown cream

Lip Color - Bobbi's original formula treats lips to rich color with a soft-matte finish. Infused with Vitamins E and C as well as Beeswax, it also moisturizes and comforts lips. 
- Berry - medium berry cream
- Baby Pink - light pink cream
- Black Raspberry - black burgundy cream

This might be one of the best collections of the fall and I want multiple pieces from it.  I also predict that these products will sell out quickly so I will be heading right over to the Sephora website after wrapping this post up. 

My favorite piece is the Rich Chocolate Eye Palette and I am sure that this is the piece that will sell out the fastest.  The combinations of these rich browns and neutrals will work very well with my blue eyes and can create all kinds of eye makeup looks for this fall.  I am also thinking about how these shades will work with what I already own from both of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes so I will be getting a good amount of use from this palette.  My second favorite piece of this collection is the Lip Gloss in Tea Berry, a medium rose shade.  I would get a lot of use from this shade and could use it with all kinds of makeup looks.  I must have both of these products for this fall.

Once I get through my first round of shopping on this collection, I will have more products that I will want to pick up on the second round.  I want all three of the Lip Colors however I need to use Black Raspberry at the counter first because it will either be wonderful or terrible with my pale skin.  I would also like the pale pink shade in the Lip Gloss but I would put this one away for the spring months since that is the time of the year that I normally tend to wear such shades.

I can't wait to start collecting these new products and shades from the Bobbi Brown fall collection! 

photo courtesy of Bobbi Brown

Fitness Friday - Cherries

After two Fitness Fridays of yoga poses, I am returning to one of my favorite aspects of the summer months and one of the biggest benefits of the season - fresh fruit and eating it every single day.  The health benefits of cherries are numerous and it almost seems like cheating because they also happen to be one of my favorite fruits to eat.  I will start buying dried ones in the fall and winter but for now I will be buying as many fresh cherries as I can until the end of the season. 

I have been eating cherries in the summer for many years now but I was not aware of all the health benefits that they contain until I found the following articles from Fox News.  I had mainly bought cherries because I liked the taste and they provided more servings of fruit in my day (and contained less calories and helped contain my cravings for sugar throughout the day).  Now I have learned that this red berries contain more benefits than I thought possible.

Fox News is not on my viewing list and I would not have found this great article unless I was searching Google on this topic.  This article was authored by Tanya Zuckerbrot MS RD, a New York City registered dietitian and author of the "Miracle Carb Diet: Make Calories and Fat Disappear" and "F-Factor Diet".  I see that I need to look in the library for these books and report back.  Here is her article on the health benefits of one of my new favorite fruits...

"Cherries help ease arthritis pain
For those who suffer from arthritis and gout, you will be relieved to find out that adding cherries to your diet can greatly decrease the intense pain associated with those ailments. Excess uric acid in the blood is the culprit behind the excruciating pain that causes swelling, tenderness and inflammation.  A study done by the USDA found that uric acid can be reduced by as much as 15 percent by eating 2 cups of Bing cherries. Cherries can also help reduce painful inflammation by decreasing the amount of C-reactive protein produced. So add a little zing to your diet by choosing Bing (cherries).

 

Cherries help fight cancer
The distinctive deep red pigment cherries are known for comes from flavonoids; powerful antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the body. Cyanidin is a flavonoid from the anthocyanin group found in cherries that helps keep cancerous cells from growing out of control. And, for cherries with the most anthocyanins go for sweet cherries with the deepest pigment; crimson-purple rather than bright red.

Cherries help you sleep
If sipping a cup of chamomile isn’t enough to induce restful sleep try having tart cherry juice before bed. Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that helps make you feel sleepy. Two tablespoons of tart cherry juice has been shown in studies to be just as effective as a melatonin supplement. So, pour yourself a little cherry juice nightcap for a tasty bedtime sleep aid.

Cherries and blood pressure
Cherries are an excellent source of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure by getting rid of the excess sodium in our body. Eating cherries helps keep potassium and sodium in balance, and can prevent hypertension from occurring. One cup of cherries has the same amount of potassium as a banana making it a great substitute when you are not in the mood for another ho-hum banana.

Cherries help keep you trim
Eating cherries can help you lose weight and stay trim.  A cup of cherries is less than 100 calories and packs in 3 grams of fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer. Also, these little beauties contain many B-vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6; these vitamins are crucial for metabolism and convert nutrients into energy. What could be better than eating cherries to help you stay lean and skinny?

Tip: Cherries are not only healthy, but they are delicious and versatile. They can be added to everything from dairy, to pork; eaten raw or cooked down to make a sauce or strained for juice. Serve them by the bowlful for dessert at your next summer barbecue; just be sure to have plenty of napkins and bowls for the pits!"

I already knew that cherries were a good low calorie snack but I didn't know all about the fiber content and all the B-vitamins that are packed into one little serving of cherries.  I have never heard about the melatonin content of cherries and I want to try and find tart cherry juice next time that I visit Wegmans (I don't think that I will be able to juice them myself without a juicer).  I am also wondering if I would be able to find a cherry tea to use at night, I will see what I can find next time I go food shopping.

Summer is the best time of the year to easily eat healthy and I am going to make the most that I can of the next few weeks!

photo courtesy of FoxNews.com

Biolage ColorLast Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been faithfully using the Matrix Color Care line of shampoo and conditioner and then I was informed on my last salon visit that the products will not longer be available and that I am going to need to find a different core shampoo and conditioner.  I decided that I would trust whatever formula that my stylist recommended and would try it out.  Over the past few months of visits, she has used either the Matrix color line or the Biolage ColorLast line on my hair so it was an easy decision to purchase the shampoo and conditioner from that line.  I haven't had the best experiences from Biolage products in the past (think college) but I doubt that many of those products are even offered in the line anymore and formulas have been revamped over the years. 

This collection contains both shampoo and conditioner and then some targeted products to hydrate and style color treated hair.  I started with the shampoo and conditioner as I am in no need of any more styling products in my collection.  "Forget about de-saturated color. These state-of-the-art formulas and color-treated hair care products, inspired by nature, help protect hair, balance moisture and even out the hair’s surface for saturated, shiny, vibrant color that stays truer.", is the description of the overall line.  I have been using the shampoo and conditioner for several days now and I am happy with the results so I think that I will be buying more of the styling products once I begin to use some of my current ones up.

We will start with the shampoo and then move onto the conditioner.  "Color-treated hair can fade and lose it's luster over time. Inspired by nature's fade-defying orchid,  Biolage COLORLAST Shampoo helps maintain the color depth, tone and shine for vivid color-treated hair. Give her hair salon-vibrant color for up to 9 weeks.  (When using the system of COLORLAST Shampoo and Conditioner vs. a non-conditioning shampoo.).  The following are the features and benefits of use of the shampoo:
 - Low pH shampoo for color-treated hair helps prolong color vibrancy.
 - Gently cleanses to prevent unnecessary stripping of color.
 - Paraben-free formula is suitable for color-treated hair.

Now we will move onto the matching conditioner.  "Color-treated hair often loses it's color and luster over time.  Inspired by nature's fade-defying orchid,  Biolage COLORLAST Conditioner helps maintain the color depth, tone and shine for vivid color-treated hair. Give her hair salon-vibrant color for up to 9 weeks.  (When using the system of COLORLAST Shampoo and Conditioner vs. a non-conditioning shampoo.).  The features and benefits of this product are:
 - Low pH Conditioner moisturizes hair, extending the life of your color.
 - Hair is left soft and detangled with extra shine and depth of color.
 - Paraben-free formula is formulated specifically for color-treated hair.

I really like this combination and am very happy that I have been able to easily replace my Matrix formulas.  The shampoo requires only a nickel-sized drop to completely foam up and clean my shoulder length hair.  It rinses clean and doesn't leave any type of build up on my hair.  I haven't needed any type of clarifying formula ever since I began using this on a daily basis.  The conditioner performs just as well, if not better.  This is one of my favorite daily conditioners that I have every used and I have used a lot over the years.  It is thicker than most daily conditioners and more on par with a deep conditioner.  A quarter-sized drop covers my hair and I leave it on for about three minutes in the shower.  It hydrates well and detangles my hair, I can run my fingers through my wet hair right after rinsing with this formula.  The smell of these two products is herbal but no major notes stand out to my nose.  I don't mind the fragrance but I don't love it.  I have no issues with color fade out and this group performs very similar to the Matrix in that respect.  I will not make it to nine weeks since I get my redone every four to five weeks.

What could have been a beauty disaster for me was quickly adverted and I believe that it is for the better too.  This formula is more hydrating than the Matrix formula and makes my hair soft and shiny even after all the heat styling that I subject it to.  I will need to start using some of the styling products in this line over the next few months.

photo courtesy of Biolage