Frederick Fekkai Silky Straight Ironless Shampoo and Conditioner

Oh, Frédéric, how many dull hair days did I have to contend with as a sulky teen without your Full Volume shampoo? Fekkai introduced me to the world of specialty shampoos -- those that target certain results. Volume's yellow goo lifted my roots and infused bounce to every strand; not to mention the divine scent it imparted. 

Now that the bottles are redesigned and reformulated, and curious about sleek straight hair, I pointed my claws to the Silky Straight Ironless series (thank you 二姐, for these). 

Top view.

Product description.

Ingredients. 

The shampoo gives moisture to hair, thus reducing some stray bits. But it does not give a straightening effect that one would expect from a flat iron. The conditioner can weigh fine hair down, as it is moisturizing. Otherwise, it is an excellent conditioner for normal to dry hair types. The scent of both formulas are of a soft chemical aroma commonly smelt in salons. Overall, fairly excellent hair products, but I'd tweak the label from 'Ironless' to 'Moisturizing.'

Burt's Bees Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo

Burt's Bees is an American all-natural (averaging 99%), additive-free brand that provides solutions for the entire human body. The first time I tried a product from Burt's Bees -- its famed Beeswax Lip Balm -- I was underwhelmed. A few years and an empty bottle of shampoo later, I ventured into their hair care line and gave the Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo a try.

It comes in a 350ml plastic bottle that is a bit easy to squeeze -- feels biodegradable. 

Bottle opening.

The best attributes of this shampoo are its volumizing promise and its absence of sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). This concoction includes pomegranate oil, moringa seed extract, and soy. The soy amino acids are supposed to help with volumizing the hair. The pale yellow liquid has almost no scent. The lather produced is a squeaky, rubbery kind that is common in most "organic" shampoos. It cleans the hair gently and thoroughly, which I like very much. It also gives the hair some volume, mainly because it cleans so well that the residue-free strands become light and airy.

My main problem is it results to amazingly frizzy hair without the help of a hair conditioner or treatment such as Lux Hair Mask. Admittedly, there is a Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner to complement this shampoo, however I would probably not repurchase because I personally prefer a more hydrating shampoo that I can use without a conditioner every day. For a deep clean, though, this works a charm. Above is the ingredients list. 

Organix Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo

It has been over two months since I started using Organix's Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo (thank you 大 姐), and would have to differ from Makeupalley's low rating on this.

This was purchased in Australia by my sister, however the brand is locally available in SM Watsons and Landmark. Organix's hair and body care range is quite extensive -- offering different variants of shampoos, conditioners, serums, etc. Its products don't contain SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) and they also emphasize their eco-friendly packaging. The plastic of their container feels softer compared to other brands; it is more of a squeezable type of plastic.

The opening. The shampoo has a light buttery yellow shade and smells slightly sweet.

Many reviews state this shampoo made their hair dry, but not in my case. My towel-dried hair feels soft and looks shiny after this shampoo. I also like the fact that this lathers really well, as opposed to many SLS-free shampoos I've encountered. Most importantly, it left my hair feeling really clean without drying it out. The simple ingredient list is another plus, aside from the affordable price tag for an organic brand. I wouldn't mind exploring more of the other ranges from this brand in the future.

An Introduction to Peter Thomas Roth

My sister kindly brought home this Peter Thomas Roth set from her trip to New York (thank you 三姐). PTR is an American brand that carries a wide range of products with a heavy leaning on skin care. Mr. Roth, of Hungarian origin, is no stranger to the beauty business. Witnessing firsthand his parents' spa resort business in Hungary, he launched PTR in 1993 focusing on the soothing and healing school of Hungarian thermal springs. See his brand's story here. 

From left to right: Mega-Rich Shampoo, Mega-Rich Conditioner, Mega-Rich Body Lotion, Non-Irritating Mouth Wash.

These hair products smell fresh and sweet, at the same time never cloying. Great fragrance for my picky nostrils.

The Mega-Rich Shampoo is formulated as a clear gel (with tinge of green). It smoothed some of my frizzy strands and added noticeable shine. This counts as one the best shampoos I have used. I couldn't say the same for the Mega-Rich Conditioner though, as I felt it didn't make my hair feel significantly softer. Its creamy consistency washed off nicely, but there were no significant smoothness noted as a result.

I'm not a fan of applying lotions on the body. The last thing I look to doing after a relaxing shower is having to take an extra few minutes spreading myself with a sticky substance. If I were forced to do this tedious ritual, I'd say give me Peter Thomas Roth's Mega-Rich Body Lotion. For one, it smells divine -- sweet and sharp citrus notes combined. Two, it's more liquid compared to its counterparts, as you can see it oozing out in the above picture. Last, it is not sticky! If only for the high absorption ability, I would always remember this product. May I add that it effectively moisturizes throughout the day. I would slather this on every day if I could overcome the after-shower-lotion-sloth in me.

The Non-Irritating Mouthwash is a different matter. Indeed it doesn't sting and smells very refreshing, but it does nothing in the odor department as say, my current staple, Oracare. Skip this. Overall, I am really glad to discover two gems from PTR. I do look forward delving into this brand more.

L'Occitane Bath and Shower Series

One of the highlights (at least for me) of staying in hotels is partaking of their complimentary bath amenities . . . especially if they are from L'Occitane!

Pictured above is the evidence of hoarding. I brought home their Shampoo and Conditioner with 3 Essential Oils, Verbena Shower Gel, Verbena Body Lotion, and Verbena Extra-Gentle Soap.

All of them except the soap come in perfectly travel-sized 50ml bottles. I've been using the shampoo for over two months now and have had very good results with it. I can't say anything about the conditioner since I haven't used it (rarely use conditioner).

This tandem is made of three essential oils namely from angelica, lavender, and geranium. The shampoo's scent delivers its blurb on "soothing, repairing, and stimulating properties." Whiffs of calming lavender swirl through the bath when I lather the shampoo on, accompanied by the energizing crisp scents of angelica and geranium. The concentrated plant-based aroma smells very natural, as if the extracts were picked fresh from the plants and infused straight to the bottles. After use, my hair is really softer, shinier, and "repaired." The strands look fuller and moisturized and generally healthier.

The ingredients list. I didn't experience any irritation from the shampoo.

The aluminum cap is very nice to look at and easy to open and close. A round rubber helps keep the products securely covered.

Both body gel and lotion are from the Verbena series which smell like sweet oranges and green tea to me. (Verbena is actually a flowering plant.) The scents are perfectly blended without being annoyingly sweet or cloyingly strong as some bath products go.

The lotion is enriched with grape seed oil, aside from the obvious Verbena extracts. I would classify the consistency as medium rich, as I find it too sticky to use every day in Manila's weather. It works twice or thrice a week perfectly. I put this on my arms and legs when they are feeling dry and looking dull and see good results right away. The shower gel is very friendly to use -- it cleans well and does not irritate my skin. When toweling off, I notice my skin is not as dry as when I use conventional soaps. There seems to be a supple quality to my after-bath skin every time I use this. Also, a few squirts of this gel go a long way to foam up a bath puff. I must mention the scent is absolutely divine.

Ingredients for Verbena Body Lotion and Body Gel above.

I couldn't not try this Verbena Extra-Gentle Soap. Not when it is packaged so nicely in beautiful brown parchment with stamped-on design prints.

It is a hefty 100g bar, square-shaped and around two inches thick. The soap is even wrapped with a white cardboard type paper to protect and keep it in place. I noticed the soap's concentration when it started emulsifying slightly upon contact with my hands.

It has the same citrus-y sweet scent as the other Verbena products. I think the main thing that differentiates this L'Occitane soap from common bar soaps is its smooth "slip" and presence of many nourishing extracts and emollients. It is made of many great ingredients such as shea butter, glycerin, May Chang/mountain pepper extracts, vitamin E, rosemary leaf extracts, and sunflower seed oil. It's hard to ask my drugstore soap to beat that. It cleans the skin very well but does not strip it of moisture. It lathers properly and lasts me about 10 days.

Overall, a very satisfying set from a brand that incorporates more natural than chemically-produced ingredients.

Nivea Baby Extra Mild Shampoo

It was when I was running out of shampoo when I thought of replenishing with baby shampoo. I initially settled on Johnson's, my staple shampoo from younger days, when for some reason Nivea floated into my mind. So I ventured into unchartered territory, and settled on the Extra Mild Shampoo.

This shampoo contains a gentle formula for babies' sensitive scalps. It is also free of parabens, alcohol, soap, and colorants. I am not so sure about the last claim, as the shampoo itself is clearly transparent. The yellow you see is the container's color. The product has a powdery scent that I do not find appealing. One big plus about this shampoo is that sodium laureth sulfate is near the bottom of the list. 

The cap has soft corners all around. The baby blue color is very comforting.

It opens up to reveal the dispenser,

This shampoo lathers so poorly that the few bubbles it produces don't really count as lather at all. However, the rather small quantities of sodium laureth sulfate make this shampoo very mild and easy on the hair. Even if it doesn't lather well, it cleans the hair properly. Another thing I noticed is that it made my hair soft and shiny, something I rarely experience with shampoos. Aside from the unappealing scent (which is a subjective matter, actually), I think this is one of the best shampoos I've used. For those who don't mind fuss-free shampoos, this product will not disappoint.

Aussie Mega Shampoo

There was something about Aussie Mega Shampoo on the shelves of Boots which appealed to me. The bottle looked clean, homey, and truthful; none of that ubiquitous flashy packaging which promised the impossible.  

This shampoo is actually an English brand, contrary to the confusing "Aussie" label which had me thinking it was from Down Under.

After successfully finishing my latest shampoo discovery, Soap & Glory's Glad Hair Day (love!), I hopped on to Aussie Mega. The shampoo is silvery white with a creamy consistency. It fills the bathroom with a soapy sweet (but not cloying) fragrance; it also lathers well. My hair did feel very clean after washing. The volumizing effects it delivered was also a big plus. I thought I found another perfect shampoo because it answered all of what I was looking for, but my forehead started breaking out after two days of use. I immediately eliminated all new products I was testing and went back to the basics except for this shampoo. After a two-week experimentation, I found the culprit. My breakouts cleared after I stopped using this product.  

It contains SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) which causes irritation some people. I do not particularly break out from SLS, but I do find better results with shampoos which do not contain this dreaded ingredient. I notice the long list of ingredients also contains a ton of chemicals, which is always a bad sign for sensitive gals like me. I am guessing I am allergic/sensitive to one of these chemicals.

Rinses clean? Check. No build up? Check. Caused breakouts? Unfortunately, yes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo

Taking a bath at least once a day is a requisite when living in a scorching hot and sometimes humid country like the Philippines. That is why the idea of washing hair every other day as I read about in Western magazines is such a beffudlement. I can't, for the life of me, endure the grease and itchiness of dirty hair. There is one day each month though, that I have to contend with. On the second day of my period, when flux is at its strongest, I try to avoid washing hair, to keep the flow continuous and bountiful. (I found showering on this day staggers the process.) And so, I cope with this special day with some magic found in Batiste Dry Shampoo.

I got the original formula which comes in an aquamarine can. While the packaging is not very attractive, I do like the retro design. I'm not sure how long Batiste has been around, but I read that it's a pioneer in dry shampoos.

The spray dispenses into a fine mist which coats the hair white temporarily. The particles "dry" the hair and absorb oil through the process. After a few brush strokes, the white formula disappears. My first whiff caught a sharp aroma that was mixed with the smell of cornstarch. Don't expect a sweet or fruity scent; it has that distinct "aerosol smell" found in most spray-on hair products. It is very tolerable.

When I found this in Tesco, only a few of its companions remained. It seemed to be a highly saleable product.

 

Overall, this product does what it promises. I have oily hair to begin with, and this helps keep my hair "matte" and cleaner-looking. It can definitely replace shampoo for one day. I didn't expect any irritation using this product. The spray can is practical and easy to use. I can't really fault it for anything. I think this is one of those useful products that one should have around at all times, just in case.