January 10, 2013
I often find that hair serums can be quite tricky. It seems like they run extremes in terms of effectiveness: either they don’t do anything for improving your hair’s luster or they turn your head into an oil slick. Dirty-looking, dingy hair? Not so office appropriate. Tragically, I never found an acceptable hair serum when I used conventional beauty products, so when I transitioned to greener beauty options, I had given up hope that I would ever find a product that would actually get the job done.
But to my surprise, I recently discovered that one of my favorite organic beauty lines, Intelligent Nutrients, has an amazing hair serum – aptly named Hair Shine. It literally does not disappoint in any category – even the sleek gold packaging promises incredible shine inducing results. When I use a few spritzes after blow-drying, my hair isn’t quite re-virginized but the cuticles of my hair do look smoothed and softened, almost like it hasn’t suffered years of chemical abuse. Over the past few months, I’ve come to realize that I absolutely cannot live without it. In fact, I’m so committed to Hair Shine that I even purchased samples on Spirit Beauty Lounge so I’m never without it when I travel. But warning to those who can get a little too spray happy: you really only need 1-2 full sprays max for the full effect (and I have long, thick hair). Anything more than that and you do run the risk of making your hair look greasy.
Anyone who has read my previous Tester Thursday posts knows that I’m a big believer in effective products that have the bonus of smelling incredible too. I love nothing more than brushing past someone and leaving a lovely, yet extremely subtle scent in my wake. That being said, I’m madly in love with the light citrusy scent that this serum imparts. So go ahead, feel free to tousle your hair after a few sprays, not only will you look amazing but you’ll also leave people wondering how you smell so darn good.
Available at Spirit Beauty Lounge.
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Hair Serum, Hair Shine, Intelligent Nutrients, Spirit Beauty Lounge, Tester Thursdays
November 15, 2012
I’ve always been obsessed with changing things up, particularly with my hair. Since the age of 10, I’ve dyed my hair brown and then back to jet black – multiple times. When I wasn’t dying my hair, I had highlights (in shades across the entire spectrum of the brown family). I’ve also permed my hair more than a few times. Oh and each time I got a wavy perm, I would get a straight perm months later because I couldn’t stand the awkward perm grow out phase. Suffice to say, my hair suffers from chronic chemical abuse. So I am always on the hunt for the next great thing, the magical product that will re-virginize my damaged, thick and course hair.
Enter: Intelligent Nutrients Harmonic Pure Luxe Shampoo and Conditioner - this super luxe duo makes my hair fantasies a little more real. But before I discuss the actual products, I have to profess for my love for the Intelligent Nutrients brand. Founded by Horst Rechelbacher (he is also the founder of Aveda, but has not been involved with the brand since he sold it to Estee Lauder in 1997), his utmost goal is to provide his customers with 100% pure, food-based beauty that is safe and completely free of toxic ingredients. He is so adamant about the purity of his products that he grows many of his ingredients on his organic farm in Osceola, Wisconsin. How’s that for dedication to clean beauty?
True to its clean form, the Pure Luxe Shampoo has absolutely no foaming action, so it may take some of you a bit of time to get used to it. Its light and lotion-y, not super heavy, so you don’t feel like you are pouring a bunch of gunk onto your scalp. And for those of you with colored hair, no need to worry about fading: their shampoo is filled with plant actives like cistus oil help provide color retention. Unlike with most moisturizing shampoos, you really feel that your hair is being cleansed thoroughly.
The Pure Luxe Conditioner is similarly light, but extremely effective. After leaving it in for a few minutes, my hair is super soft and my ends are completely untangled. Combing my hair is no longer a strenuous arm workout! And for those with sensitive noses, I should point out that like most clean products, the scent is very green and herbal but it does disappear very quickly.
I particularly love this shampoo and conditioner on the days I blow dry my hair. My hair shaft appears smoother and as a result, my hair looks much sleeker and shinier. And as with any moisturizing hair care product, it is crucial to rinse very well or you’ll be stuck with limp, greasy-looking hair for the rest of your day. This is probably my worst (beauty-related) habit – I forget to do this more than I’d like to admit. I would also caveat that this is probably not your every day shampoo if you have fine and / or thin hair. If your hair falls into either of those categories, I would use this more as a weekly moisturizing treatment, 1-2 times a week max.
Available on the Intelligent Nutrients website.
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Aveda, Conditioner, Damaged Goods, Harmonic Pure Luxe, Horst Rechelbacher, Intelligent Nutrients, Shampoo, Tester Thursdays
November 1, 2012
If you’re interested in cleaning up your routine, it’s especially important to be vigilant about the products you use in your tub and / or shower. Think about it – your pores are wide open and much more receptive to whatever you’re putting on your skin. So in the interest of preventing scary lab chemicals from seeping into your body, these are my favorite tools to stay clean – inside and out:
1. Dr. Hauschka Cleansing Milk: Ok – real talk here: I didn’t regularly wash my face until I was 15. I just rinsed with water in the shower. My skin must have been really oily and gross, right? Actually, not at all: my skin was flawless. Until the day I read in some silly magazine that you absolutely need to wash your face twice a day with the most astringent oil-free cleanser possible. Big mistake. My skin immediately felt tight and I was punished with breakouts for the rest of my teen years. These days, I can’t get away with not washing my face every day because homegirl loves her Nars Orgasm and lives in NYC. But I do notice that when I wash my face more than once a day, my cheeks start to get dry and my T-zone acts up. I figure my skin is pretty good at regulating its moisture needs and so I usually just wash my face to scrub the city slash makeup out of my pores. I want something that does absolutely no interference on my skin’s natural processes and Dr. Hauschka’s Cleasning Milk does just that.
2. Dr. Bronner’s Soap – Almond Scent: Despite the odd packaging, Dr. Bronner’s Soap has been a longtime favorite of mine. Not only does it come in every size possible (my particular bottle is huge at 32 fluid ounces!), but it’s also fairly inexpensive. The best part is that you only need the tiniest amount to feel squeaky clean. In terms of scent, I feel that the Almond option is much more subtle (but still noticeable) and less hippie than his other scent options.
3. Weleda Shaving Cream: Most conventional shaving creams foam like crazy. This natural offering from Weleda doesn’t provide any sort of foaming action, but its lovely, unisex scent and moisturizing properties have me reaching for it time and time again. Definitely the best natural shaving cream I’ve tried – I just wish it came in a larger tube!
4. Intelligent Nutrients Pure Luxe Shampoo and Conditioner: A lifesaving duo for very dry, damaged hair. In fact, I love it so much that I plan on devoting a future post entirely to this luxurious shampoo and conditioner. More to come!
What are your favorite ways to stay squeaky clean?
Categorized Beauty
Tagged Cleanliness, Dr. Bronners, Dr. Hauschka, Intelligent Nutrients, Shower, Weleda
