LUSH R&B - Revive & Balance Hair Moisturizer

In honor of this past Sunday’s monthly trip to LUSH, I’ve decided to do a little run of LUSH products, starting with R&B.  R&B is short for Revive & Balance Hair Moisturizer.  It is a creamy product, applied to towel-dried hair before blow drying.  Honestly I’m pretty lazy about blow drying these days and love to use this product even when I don’t blow dry.  It still provides a measure of control without stiffness or heaviness.   

The scent of R&B is absolutely lovely.  I guess I would describe it as a lightly flowery citrusy orange blossom.  (I could be wrong about this, but at any rate it’s seriously compelling.)  I don’t usually like to wear citrus or floral scents but for some reason this combination is just the right balance and just the right amount of subtleness and permeation to be addictive.  And it also seems to compliment whatever scents I already had in my hair from my shampoo, conditioner or any other products.  It just adds a little bit of an overtone of delicious citrus to the whole salad of scents already going on.    

No matter how delicious a hair product may smell, the most important thing is how well it works!  I’ve definitely found R&B to improve my how my hair behaves on a daily basis.  I can definitely tell if I’ve forgotten to use it.  It provides moisture and smoothes strands to help combat frizz and dryness.  And you only need a little tiny bit to make a difference.  I usually swipe a fingertip in and grab less than half of a dime-sized amount.  And I’ve had this tub for like 3 months now, and it’s still over a third full.  And if you’re not aware my hair is down to my bar line on my back.  I smooth the little dollop into my palms, flip my head over, and concentrate the application to my ends and then smooth my hands through the rest of my hair.

Overall, I love this product.  Like I do most things I pick up from LUSH.  It’s got a great scent, and works to help tame hair that would go a little wild if left to its own devices.  I think everyone could use a little R&B. 

Scent: 4.75 (The only thing I like better is a sweet but not too sweet vanilla.)
Health: 4.75 (I don’t believe it contains any parabens and some of the ingredients are organic.)
Ethics: 4.75 (Lush is a pretty great company, as I’ve mentioned before, but they still do use parabens in some products.)
Price/Value: 4.25 (It is a big chunk to drop on one product ($20.95 on http://www.lushusa.com/shop) but it’s totally worth it because it is fabulous and that little container will last you a long while.)
Does what it says: 4.5 (Pretty great moisturizer and smoother.)

Overall: 4.75 (Lovely product, totally worth the money!) 

JASON Pure, Natural & Organic Hand & Body Therapy Lotion

If you’re looking for a decently priced paraben, mineral oil and petroleum free vegan lotion, one of my favorites is JASON Pure, Natural and Organic Vanilla Hand and Body Therapy Lotion. 

 I like to change it up with lotion.  I have at least twenty different kinds on my dresser. I’m not exaggerating.   Yes I know that’s ridiculous.  But I just get bored using the same thing every day.  And I wear at least three different lotions on a daily basis.  So I have lots.  And I’ve tried lots.  And I think I can pretty confidently say I know my lotion.

Anyway, I tend to think of organic or natural lotions as too expensive and not good enough to be worth it.  By not good enough, I mean that I’ve found some of them to be runny instead of thick and/or creamy and they don’t often smell as yummy as I want them to.  But I keep going back to JASON whenever I run out, because the quality is so high it’s like any chock-full of chemicals lotion.  And you can feel way better about what you’re putting on your body.

The vanilla scent is delicious.  It’s a good blend of “I would love to eat that” with just a right amount of floral thrown in so that you won’t actually try to.  I haven’t tried any of the other scents, but I feel confident recommending them if vanilla is not your thing.   

 The lotion texture is not super thick, but relatively creamy and feels luxurious.   It leaves your skin soft and quenched.  Some lotions make you feel like you immediately need to reapply, but not this one.  I love it. 

-Scent: 4.5 (Very nice.  Sweet but not too sweet. Somehow it’s not my favorite vanilla but it’s in the top 10.)
-Health: 4.75 (Natural products, but not completely organic.)
-Ethics: 4 (No animal cruelty in making their products, but they didn’t say anything about if they hold their suppliers to that on their website.  Also, there was no mention about giving back on their website.)
-Price/Value: 4.25 (It’s not cheap, but it’s not too expensive either. It’s worth the price for the value!)
-Does what it says: 4.75 (Definitely.  Very lovely.)

Overall: 4.5 (Great quality you can feel pretty good about using!) 

LAVANILA Laboratories Vanilla Coconut The Healthy Body Wash 2-In-1 Shower & Shave

I feel like I'm always talking about LAVANILA but I'm just more and more impressed with their products.  I found myself with some time on my hands at the mall so I wandered into Sephora to see if my friend was working, and when I didn't find him I basically wandered around inviting products to lure me into buying them.  For once I almost walked out without anything.  But then I walked past the LAVANILA section, and of course I had to look, even though I was pretty sure I already had all the products that they made in my favorite scent, the Vanilla Coconut.  

But alas, I was wrong!  A new pretty white tube sat on the shelf, screaming that it was something new and different.  (Most of their other packing is dark colored, so I immediately knew this was something different.)  I picked it up to see what it was, and my relationship with LAVANILA's Vanilla Coconut The Healthy Body Wash 2-In-1 Shower & Shave was born. 

Now generally I don't use shave gel.  Mostly I am too lazy.  I also don't have time.  The reason I don't have time is because I take too long doing everything else in the shower.  (I have like a 7 product daily routine, without even adding in shave gel!)  Everyone is always saying I take these long-ass showers but it's not like I'm just puttering away in there; I work to make them as "short" as they are! 

Anyway, I decided to give the 2-In-1 Shower & Shave a chance because it was LAVANILA and it was in that lovely Vanilla Coconut scent, and it wasn't very expensive.

I was not disappointed.  It was absolutely lovely!  The smell is great just like all their other products, the lather created on a loofah is lavish and creamy, and it also make your shave smooth and easy. 

Now I don’t know about you, but when I actually do use shave cream or gel, I tend to pile it on and create a solid layer so that I can see that I’ve covered everywhere and my skin will all be protected.  This product simplifies the whole shave process.  Essentially you just squeeze some on a loofah, add some water, lather it up and scrub all over as you would with a normal shower gel.  After your wash, you grab your razor, and have a silky ideal shave!  It’s awesome!  And way less work then actual shave cream or gel! 

When I first started using it, my reaction was to lather up as much foam on my skin as possible, like I would with a normal shave cream or gel, and try to stay out of the spray so that it stayed on until I was actually shaving.  It worked nicely, but after a few showers I would end up in the spray with most of it washed off, and to my surprise, my shave was just as silky and smooth as it was when I was covered in foam!  So you don’t have to be particularly careful about that. 

The only downside is that you can’t use your foam to follow your shave line and make sure you cover everywhere.  But let’s be honest ladies, by my age you pretty much figure out how to not blatantly miss large patches, and don’t really need a guide anymore.  So I say this product is fabulous!  Love it!

Scent: 4.75 (So lovely! But may be a little too sweet for some.)
Health: 4.95 (LAVANILA is a naturals company, and knows their stuff, but it’s not completely organic.)
Ethics: 4 (Their product making ethics are great, but I didn’t easily find any philanthropy or charity work.)
Price/Value: 4.25 (It goes for the same price as a high-end shower gel.  But it does the work of two products!)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Gives a great wash & shave but people may feel weird without the whole dense foam aspect.)

Overall: 4.5 (Definitely a great daily use product!)       

Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer

Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer isn't going to make you high, but it is a lovely experience, non-the-less.  People see the hemp leaf on hemp products and think automatically, "There's pot in this lotion!"  That is not really the case.  While hemp is in the same family of plants as marijuana, it is not the same plant.  It says right on the back of the bottle in bold letters: THC-Drug Free.    

This lotion was definitely a surprise.  I've tried hemp moisturizers in the past and while they usually give great moisture, they tend to have a distinctly non-pleasant smell.  Well, unless you're into really earthy, herbal scents.  Which I definitely am not, as a general rule. 

However, the scent of Hempz Pure Herbal Extracts Original Herbal Moisturizer is amazing!  I can't really describe it that well.  It’s sweet, but not overly so, and a little fruity in a non-specific way.  I just looked up a little about the product and was shocked to find out that the original scent is actually floral and banana.  Who knew?  It definitely does not make me think of flowers or bananas from the start, but now that I know what it's supposed to be, I guess I can see what they mean.  Whatever it is, it's yummy! 

It is also a really great moisturizer.  It's perfect for any dry spots or just all over moisturization.  The scent lingers nicely.   They make several other scents, but I prefer the original.  It does its job, and it smells lovely.  You can find it online for a decent price.   

This lotion smells really great, it moisturizes well, and it does it all without parabens for a decent price.  Overall, a fabulous find.  I can't wait to explore more of their products. 

Scent: 4.5 (Pretty delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable; no parabens, but not organic.)
Ethics: 3 (I couldn't find essentially anything good or bad about the company.)
Price/Value: 4 (I found pricing online for between $15 and $20.  Totally worth it.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent moisturizer.)

Overall: 4 (Definitely a great daily use product!)

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a little intimidating overall.  I am a daily showerer, for the most part.  I can't really stand to not shower.  With my hair so long, I feel greasy almost immediately, even if others claim that I/my hair looks fine.  However, it is not always possible to shower when I would like.  That's why I love this little number I discovered a few years ago. 

If you've never used dry shampoo before, it may be time to try it.  Basically, it does what it sounds like it does.  While it doesn't really "clean" your hair as regular shampoo would, it absorbs oil and creates volume, and makes hair look almost as if it is freshly washed.  Your hair won't feel exactly as if you had washed it, but it will feel probably 75% better than it would have if you just didn't shower and didn't use anything.  And it looks probably 90% better than it would have.  Well it will as long as you use a good product.

Not all dry shampoos are created equal.  Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is the best I've tried, and I've probably tried at least four, maybe five brands.  Most other ones leave you smelling very strongly and unpleasantly of whatever they've decided to scent it with.  They can also leave a gummy or gritty residue, instead of absorbing properly.  If the product isn't great, or if it's applied incorrectly, it can be a disaster. 

Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo is definitely a life saver.  I highly recommend adding it to your "in a pinch" collection of products.  It doesn't have an overly strong smell like some of the other ones I've used, and it's got an excellent texture.  It can be great if you use it right.

I have two application techniques.  The first is for an all over fix.  I take the bottle and squeeze out a few generous puffs onto my hairbrush, then brush it through my hair.  I do this several times, concentrating on any greasy looking areas.  It was a lifesaver last weekend when I was going from a massage to a birthday party and didn't have time to shower.  If you apply it directly to your hair you might end up concentrating too much in one area, and getting white streaks or spots, so that's why I apply it via brush. 

The other technique I use is for spot treatments.  Sometimes I over-product my hair, or touch a strand too much with greasy fingers, or my skin is super oily that day.  If that happens, squirt a little powder on your fingers and spot-apply by grabbing the hunk of strands and smoothing down towards the tips.  Then brush to finish incorporating the product into your hair.  If it looks a bit powdery after either technique, simply smooth a little water over the area with your hands or brush.   Water has absorbed the powder after the powder has already absorbed any oil, so you still look great.  Brilliant! 

Scent: 3.75 (Lemony and not too strong, but I suppose could be better)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem reasonable.)
Ethics: 4 (I snooped Oscar Blandi's site a bit and found out nothing.  Product says no animal testing though.)
Price/Value: 3.75 (A bit less than $20 and it's a small bottle, but it's a great product and lasts a while.)
Does what it says: 4.75 (Excellent job for what it is, but it'll never be real shampoo.)

Overall: 4 (A great quick fix for day old hair!)

Secret Moments Island Escape Sheer Fragrance Mist by Victoria's Secret

Get it while you can!  I stopped by Victoria's Secret the other day when I heard that the semi-annual sale was on again and discovered one of my favorite scents in the clearance bin.  That usually means that they are discontinuing it!  I was so disappointed.   It looks like the entire Secret Moments collection is going out.  That's kind of sad, since I feel like it just came out pretty recently.  Like, within the last two years.  While I didn't like all the scents, the Island Escape scented items were fabulous.  Anyway, you'd better go pick some up while you can! 

The Secret Moments Island Escape scent is listed on the bottle as beachy coconut and sugarcane.  I can smell more sugar than anything but there is a light coconut note as well.  The Sheer Fragrance Mist is a burst of refreshing sweetness.  It's uplifting and so delicious that it gets instant attention whenever you refresh it.  I always get complimented when I wear it.  It is a mist, which means it won't last as long as a perfume would, but its so yummy it's worth the re-apply just to remind yourself how delicious you are.

The Secret Moments collection also carries a body lotion, a body cream, a scrub and a shower gel in each scent.  I didn't really like any of the other scents, but it's all personal, so check them out.  And, they're super cheap right now so it's the time to do it!  I don't mind paying for good quality products, but a deal is a deal.  And I enjoyed all the other items in the collection as well.  Sweet scent, sweet price.  Do it up.

Scent: 5 (Totally delicious!)
Health: 4 (The ingredients seem decent, I don't see anything that I know of as unhealthy on the label.)
Ethics: 3 (VS doesn't have any obvious redeeming nor any really horrible qualities, that I'm aware of. )
Stay-ability: 3.5 (Lasts decently on skin and better on clothes)
Price: 5 (Right now it's a steal! Get it while you can!)

Overall: 4.25 (Sweet product, sweet deal.)

Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray by The Body Shop

I don't know about any other long-haired girls out there, but I cannot survive without detangling spray.  It is essential for life.  Lol.  Or for convenience anyway.

When showering, I have a specific routine.  I usually shampoo, rinse thoroughly, apply conditioner, and then when I'm done doing everyone else, I slightly wet my conditioned hair and comb the conditioner through it with a wide-toothed comb.  After detangling this way, I rinse, and wrap up my hair to get out of the shower.  Even though I take that extra step to help detangle, by the time my hair has towel dried a little bit in my wrap and I'm ready to comb out and style my hair, there is no way I can just easily glide a comb through it. 

As a result, over the years I've tried many different detanglers.  Most of the ones that you come across for instance in your local grocery store or "superstore" (i.e. Walmart or Target) are really designed for kids and do an okay job without anything fancy involved.  They are pretty much interchangeable and I would usually end up just dumping one into the other as I went and hoping for the best.  But four or five years ago I discovered the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray at The Body Shop. 

It actually used to be "Bilberry Detangler" but was reformulated in the last year along with the products that now have become the Rainforest Hair Collection.  The Body Shop has created its own Eco-Responsible, Eco-Conscious product label for items that it specially formats with health and the environment in mind.  The Rainforest Hair Collection has no sulfates, no silicones, no colorants, and no parabens. 

They created their own eco and health-conscious label because there is no set of universal international standards for beauty products.  So they started their own label to put on new or reformulated items that they took special care with to reflect those values.   They don't have many products with the label yet, but I feel that means they are respecting what they've created and aren't just throwing it on anything they feel might look or sound better with it. 

So yeah, back to the Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray.  It was great when I had it and it was known as the Bilberry Detangler.  I thought that with the reformulation and the elimination of sulfates, silicones, colorants, and/or parabens from that collection that it would probably not work nearly as good and might go back to being just like any other detangler. 

I was honestly really impressed with the new formula.  It definitely works extremely well, and it only takes a few spritzes to make a difference.  Two sprays on top, two with my head flipped over to cover the underneath, and my wide-toothed comb slips right through.  It's amazing.  I highly recommend it for anyone who takes longer then thirty seconds to comb through their hair after towel drying it. 

Scent: 4 (Good, but very faint.  Can't really smell much.)
Health: 4.75 (The only thing it doesn't have going for it is organic ingredients.)
Ethics: 4.5 (The Body Shop is a pretty decent company as discussed in previous posts.)
Does what it says: 5 (An absolutely fabulous detangler & light conditioner.)

Overall: 4.75 (Does a terrific job!)