My Current Products and Treatments for Bleached/Over Processed Hair

This is a subject I happen to know a lot about, as I've had bleached hair since I was 14! At 22, this is the longest my hair has been in a long time, so I believe the products that I've been using are working. I use products that are targeted at moisturizing, preventing/fusing split ends, putting protein/keratin back into your hair and preventing and reversing heat damage. Here are my current go-to products!

Pantene Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser: I did a review on the Pantene Expert Advanced + Keratin Repair line back in December, so if you're interested in reading that, you can find it here. I did repurchase the Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser in the full size, and I absolutely love it. I apply it only to the ends of my hair by scrunching it in if I'm leaving my hair wavy, or combing it in if I'm heat styling it. It's a super thick conditioning treatment, so two small pumps will definitely do you. The Pantene website claims that this product is mean to fuse and prevent split ends, as well as fight frizziness, dullness and dryness, which is definitely does. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers with split ends, especially due to bleaching or heat damage.

Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner & Anti-Breakage Serum: This is a product line that I  recommend over and over again, as it really is one of the best lines I've ever tried for my type of hair. These are the Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner and the Anti-Breakage Serum. Organix has recently come out with a Coconut Water line, which I'm really excited to try. These products provide everything that damaged hair needs, including egg white proteins to strengthen your hair, and coconut oils to balance and moisturize. The Anti-Breakage Serum is specifically meant to promote longer hair, as it reduces the everyday damage that causes your hair to break off. I prefer to use this on dry hair, especially when I leave my hair wavy. It provides noticeable body and shine, and you can tell my hair is instantly moisturized. I've been using these products for years, and I'll definitely continue to. You can find these at the drug store, so they're super affordable as well.

Pantene Silky Moisture Whip: I actually did not expect to like this as much as I do, as it's so rare that I find a product that works really well for me. This product is not like a mousse, as it does not expand in your hand, but literally comes out like whipped cream. It's meant to condition your hair for up to 48 hours, which is a huge plus for me. It also protects against heat damage, so I use this both when I heat style and when I leave it naturally wavy. I most likely would not have thought to purchase this if my Mom hadn't given me a sample, so I'm really loving sample sized products  for this reason. I have recently run out this, so I will be purchasing more soon!

Lush Curly Wurly Shampoo: This is another amazing coconut related product. Curly Wurly is like a shampoo and conditioner in one, as it leaves your hair so nice and moisturized. You can use this if you have damaged straight hair as well, but I find you get the best results with wavy or straight hair. The reason why coconut related products are so amazing for your hair, is that coconut is one of the only oils that can get right inside your hair shaft, while others tend to just sit on top and coat it. Not only does this shampoo contain coconut oil, but it contains creamed coconut, fresh eggs and avocado butter. This product is a little pricy at $25.95, but it's definitely worth it if you can afford to spend a little extra money. Plus this pot lasts you a long time, as you need really little per wash.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner: If you are into hair care, it's unlikely that you haven't heard of the Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner. I tend to use the one from the Moist line, but there are a few different kinds. This treatment is super cheap. If you're lucky enough to find it in Canada anymore, it's usually under $5.00. I picked up a new bottle when I was in Ireland, as they seem to be everywhere over there. In my opinion, this is one of the best deep conditioners out there, high end or drug store. It really does transform dry, damaged hair within a few minutes. The only thing about this product, is it should not be used more than once a week. If it's used more than that, it builds up on your hair. This can be fixed by using a purifying shampoo, but it's best to avoid.

Coconut Oil: Last but not least, this has been my go-to treatment/hair mask for the past few weeks. Any kind of coconut oil will do, but try to look for both "organic" and either "virgin" or "extra virgin". Extra virgin is best if you don't mind spending a little more! The one I'm using right now is just the Omega Nutrition Organic Coconut Oil. I've been using this sporadically on my hair for a long time now, and have recently picked it up again. Like I said before, coconut oil really is incredible for your hair. I take a few tablespoons and heat it up for about 30 seconds before applying it to my hair. I either leave it on overnight, or just for an hour or two if I'm staying in for the day. I especially like to apply this on heat styled hair. It does not leave your hair super greasy, so just wash it out with shampoo (no need to repeat) and conditioner, and you're done! I have seen growth in both my hair and nails when this is continuously applied. 

Hope this helped! xx

October Favourites!

             I can't believe it's November in 2 days! So crazy. This means less than 2 months left until Christmas, and also less than 2 months left until I go to Ireland! Ahhhh! I have been loving anything moisturizing this month, as my skin has officially made the changeover from summer to winter. I also have a few random favourites that I will include as well. I have mentioned some of these products before, so there will be a few familiar ones. Let's get into it!

LIP PRODUCTS

Burt's Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Balm With Kokum Butter: I've started using this lip balm as a base before I put any sort of colour on my lips. It's meant to condition your lips for 4 hours with one application, which I find to be true. I purchased this forever ago, and have busted it out again for the cold weather. A must have for the winter!

Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm: The shade I'm using is called Honeysuckle, and it is the perfect colour for me. It's a brownish nude, and goes extremely well with my well loved Gosh Velvet Touch Lipstick in Cappuccino. This tinted lip balm is super moisturizing, and conditions with Shea Butter and Botanical Waxes. I'd highly recommend this for the fall/winter! 

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter: I have to say, I really wish I had tried this stuff sooner! The shade I have here is 065 Creamsicle. This may seem like more of a summer colour, but for some reason I only started getting into the light pink shades this fall! You don't need to apply any sort of a base underneath, as it's exceptionally hydrating and glides on effortlessly. Will be repurchasing more shades ASAP!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain: I just did a review on this, which you can find by clicking here, but I love this gorgeous colour! This one is 035 Charm. It lightly stains your lips while giving them a moisturized feel. Unfortunately, the moisturized feeling doesn't last for too long, so I'm really only a fan because of this specific colour!

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub: I actually received this as a gift for my birthday in May, but only needed to start using it recently. This has become part of my daily routine when I'm getting ready to go out, to make sure that there's no dry skin building up on my lips. My lips get chapped SO easily because of the cold weather, so this helps significantly in getting them ready for the day.

Top to Bottom: Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Honeysuckle, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 035 Charm, Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in 065 Creamsicle

EYES + FACE

Nip + Fab CC Eye Fix -Light: This is a really nice concealer and surprisingly moisturizing! I don't have dark circles under my eyes, but this concealer does make you look noticeably more awake and just brightens up the whole eye area. It contains light diffusing particles, as well as beeswax and vitamin E to nourish and protect. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to start carrying for their under eye area and brighten it up at the same time.

Essence Stays No Matter What 24 Hour Jumbo Eye Pencil & Shadow: This eye pencil was extremely cheap and does it's job exceptionally well! I use the shade 07 Whipped White Frosting for the inner corners of my eyes, and it's really made a difference in the presentation of my eye makeup. My eyes look brighter and stand out more. It really does not budge all day. I'll definitely be using throughout the fall and winter.

Revlon Matte Powder Blush: Apparently I'm a big fan of Revlon this month! They actually come out with some really great products, I don't think they get enough credit. I have the shade Perfectly Peach, which I've been wearing forever. I always tend to gravitate towards peach blushes as opposed to pink, just because they seem to look more natural on me. This blush has quite a long staying power, as when I take my makeup off at the end of the day it's still there. There is quite a lot of product there, so it does last you a long time. Big thumbs up!

NAILS

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer: All Hail the Queen....there's really no need to say anything else. Check out my review here!

CLEANSERS + MOISTURIZERS

Biotherm Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Toning Mousse: I've talked about this cleanser so many times that it seems to be getting a little repetitive. However, I've been using this all month long and it is the perfect cleanser as it really does tone your skin at the same time. I wish it were a LITTLE more moisturizing for this month, so perhaps I will purchase the one that is meant for dry skin as well. Excellent product.

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter: I have both the 50 ml size and the 200 ml size, as I like to carry one in my purse. This is a must have for the winter. Incredibly moisturizing, made with Community Fair Trade virgin organic coconut oil, you cannot go wrong with this stuff. I love using this as soon as I get out of the shower and/or on freshly shaven legs. 

Be Better Sakura Sensation Foam Bath: I received this as a gift, but I believe it's from Rexall Pharma Plus, which is a Canadian drug store. I've been using this all month long, as I take baths constantly and it smells amazing! It's made with natural ingredients and is paraben free. Love this stuff!

OTHER

Coconut Oil: I have been a huuuuge fan coconut oil for the past year, but after discovering it's most recent purpose, I've become an even bigger fan. My cat Kenya has not been feeling well (send her good vibes!) and had a really sore throat. She wasn't eating properly and was having a hard time swallowing. I started giving her about a tablespoon of coconut oil twice a day to sooth her throat, and from the first time I gave it to her there has been a huge difference! There's a million different amazing uses for coconut oil, and I'll link an article here in case you don't know about them. The kind I have here is Omega Nutrition Certified Organic Coconut Oil. However, it's best if you can get virgin or extra virgin. 

Owl Change Purse: I am obsessed with this little purse! I purchased it from St Lawrence Market I believe last month and it comes with me all the time! It's hand crafted and made with real leather. I actually use it to separate my subway tokens from my wallet. So adorable!

Kimchi Blue Kissing Swans Zip-Around Wallet: I purchased this online from Urban Outfitters about a month ago, and unfortunately it is sold out now! I love swans, so when I saw this I had to get it. It's got all the space you need and is made of incredibly smooth vegan leather. I'll be using this until it completely wears out.

H&M Leopard Print Scarf: I've been wearing this scarf non stop this month, as it seems to go with everything! I've even been wearing it with my winter coat (which may have to change, as it's not the warmest scarf). It's inexpensive, I believe I got it for $14.99 and is quite durable. I will likely be getting all of my winter accessories from H&M as well!

Back when it was warm enough to sit outside!

AND MY LAST OCTOBER FAVOURITE...

Chloe!!! Seeing as we just got Chloe this month, she is for sure an October favourite! She has settled in quickly, has grown and is such a pleasant little kitten. Her and Kenya love each other so much! Perfect addition to our little family.

THAT'S ALL! xx

New Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain: Review

        I've heard so many people rave about the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain + Balm, that when I saw this new version I thought I'd give it a go! I actually was looking to try the lip stain, but the colours were all wrong for me, as they don't make any particularly natural ones. Also, my lips have started to get SO dry now that it's getting so cold out, so something with a little bit more moisture would be a better option for me right now!

Before applying a few coats of the Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 035 Charm, I exfoliated my lips with the Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub. This is a must have if you have dry lips, as nothing goes on properly when your lips are chapped. This is an edible exfoliator, which I try not to think about as I'm licking the dead skin off of my lips.

Seeing as I only picked this up at the end of the day today, I decided to apply the balm stain at 5:30 PM and see how it held up until around 9:30 PM, when I normally take off my makeup. According to revlon.ca, this product is supposed to give your lips an instant moisturized feel with a light stain of colour. The flush of colour that it does give you is meant to last for hours.

This is how is looks on my lips after applying a few coats. My lips did feel moisturized, although not exceptionally. They're naturally a dark nude colour, so this gave me a really nice light shade of pink. I am really a huge fan of this colour! Once again, it is 035 Charm. The balm stain smells minty, but doesn't make your lips tingle.

An attractive close up of my noticeably chapped lips!

The moisturizing balm came off pretty quickly in the next hour, and my dry lips started to reappear. However, the colour was still noticeable.The stain came off a little more in the center of my lips than anywhere else, but that's to be expected with any lip stick/stain. In the 4 hours between putting it on and taking it off, I reapplied once after I ate.

This is what was remaining on my lips when I took the rest of the stain off with a little makeup remover on a tissue (ran out of cotton pads, sorry if it looks a bit gross!) Overall, it does what it's supposed to do. It is only meant to keep a flush of colour on your lips, which it did. Next time I wear this, I may just apply once or twice and use a gloss or moisturizing lip balm over top when needed. Usually I don't go for pink/peach colours, but I loved this one as soon as I swatched it on my hand in the store. I'm not sure if I'll be repurchasing other colours, but this one is a huge thumbs up!

HOMEWORK TIME! xx

Lush Review: Empties!

   
           I have used up countless amounts of Lush products in my time, so this certainly isn't all of my empties, but it is all that I've managed to keep over the past couple months! I love all of these products in some way, and some have even made it into my top 10 favourite products. Here's a run down of each, and what I thought of them!

Marilyn Hair Treatment, Curly Wurly Shampoo, Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly, Bûche de Noël Facial Cleanser, New! Shampoo Bar

Some of these products look quite scuffed up and perhaps slightly gross, as the majority of them spent their lives in my shower, so I apologize for that! I will be listing these in order of what I enjoyed the least, to what I enjoyed the most. Again, these are all great products, but I would have to say some are more impressive than others.

5) SWEETIE PIE SHOWER JELLY

This 100 ml version is actually Lush's best selling shower jelly. It came with The Sweetest Thing gift box, which was a really nice gift to receive. 

PRICE: $6.95

WHAT IT DOES:  This product is literally a jelly that you use to cleanse your hair and body. It softens and cleanses your skin and leaves a slight iridescent shimmer.

WHAT IT'S MADE OF: The star ingredients in this shower jelly are coconut, black current, cherry and seaweed.

HOW TO USE IT: This product works best when you pinch off a piece and spread it into a loofah. It foams up nicely, so you don't need much.

WHAT I THOUGHT: Although a lot of people adore shower jellies, and Sweetie Pie smells great and leaves your skin exceptionally soft, I'm not a huge fan of the whole idea of a shower jelly. Unless you do use a loofah and make sure the jelly is completely crushed into it, it tends to be hard to work with and bits end up falling into your shower.

RATING:    2/5

4) NEW! SOLID SHAMPOO BAR

This shampoo bar does not get it's name from the fact that it's actually "new", but is created for people who want "new" hair! I purchased this from Lush by the recommendation of a sales girl, when I told her that I wanted a product that would help my hair grow longer.

PRICE: $11.95

WHAT IT DOES: This product is especially meant for people who have weak or thinning hair. It helps stimulate your scalp, influencing your hair to grow in thicker and healthier. It also leaves the hair that you already do have soft and shiny.

WHAT IT'S MADE OF: The star ingredients in this shampoo bar are peppermint, rosemary, cinnamon and nettle herbs.

HOW TO USE IT: Wet both your hair and the shampoo bar, and either work the bar into a lather in your hands or glide it down your hair a few times. Make sure you massage it into your scalp!

WHAT I THOUGHT: I loved what this shampoo bar did to my hair! It didn't feel exceptionally stimulating on my scalp, however it smells great and does make your hair stronger and shinier. I didn't notice if it made my hair thicker at the root or that it promoted faster hair growth. The downside to this product was kind of my own fault. Although I stored it in a Lush tin, I did not store it in a dry, cool place in between uses, so it started to get a little gross. However, used correctly this is a great product and is ideal for travelling!

RATING:    3/5

3) MARILYN HAIR TREATMENT

I was recommended this product in a Lush store when I was searching for a pre-wash treatment that would benefit blonde hair. There is 225 g in this product, and you get roughly 3 uses out of it depending on your hair length. It is of course named after the world's most famous blonde, Marilyn Monroe! All the more reason to purchase this product, as I'm a huge Marilyn fan.

PRICE: $22.95

WHAT IT DOES: Like I said, this is a pre-wash treatment that is meant to hydrate and add shine to blonde hair. It also uses natural ingredients to infuse colour into your hair so you go even blonder! It is formulated to strengthen your hair, calm your scalp and bring out the blonde tones that you already have.

WHAT IT'S MADE OF: The star ingredients in Marilyn are chamomile, saffron, linseed gel and lemon.

HOW TO USE IT: You can really leave this product on for however long you want, but the suggested time is 20-30 minutes. Shampoo it out afterwards and use a conditioner if you need to.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I adored this product! It for sure has a place in my top 10 favourite hair care products. Out of the five listed here, it's my favourite smell-wise. It does everything it's supposed to do and I did notice a difference in my hair colour after using this product. My hair was actually noticeably blonder, not just to me, but to other people as well. The only thing is, I did expect my hair to be softer after using this treatment. I'm not really one to spend almost $25 on a treatment you can only use a few times at the most, so I did expect a bit more of a transformation in terms of hydration. Having said that, it's still a great product, and I will eventually repurchase it.

RATING:    4/5 

2) BÛCHE DE NOËL FACIAL CLEANSER

This 100 g pot is actually a seasonal cleanser, so it's only offered for a limited time during the year. However, the arrival of this cleanser means that once again Christmas is near! I put this product on my wish list last Christmas after reading about it's benefits for combination skin such as mine. This product is meant to be similar to the Lush cleanser Angels on Bare Skin, and is named after the French dessert! 

PRICE: $12.95

WHAT IT DOES: This is an exfoliating cleanser, which buffs away dead skin while deeply cleansing at the same time. It's ingredients also help to moisturize and nourish your skin.

WHAT IT'S MADE OF: The star ingredients in this cleanser are ground almonds, kaolin clay, almond oil and seaweed.

HOW TO USE IT: After dampening your face with warm water, take a pinch and create a paste in your hand by adding just a little bit of water. Apply to your face in circular motions and pat dry.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I will without a doubt be repurchasing this product this Christmas (or as soon as possible). It is one of the best products I have ever used on my skin. My skin tends to feel tight after using pretty much any cleanser, especially in the wintertime when my skin gets quite dry and flaky. This is the perfect cleanser for me, and keeps my skin clear while moisturizing it at the same time. Love, love love. The only negatives are that it doesn't smell the greatest, and can be a little messy!

RATING:    4.5/5

1) CURLY WURLY SHAMPOO

Last but not least, my all time favourite Lush hair product. This 220 g pot lasts you at least a couple of months if not more, seeing as you need very little of it. I was given this as a gift from my boyfriend last Christmas, without even knowing about this shampoo myself. He thought he'd take a chance because he knows I love coconut, and it was an excellent choice!

PRICE: $25.95

WHAT IT DOES: This shampoo is meant to make your hair super soft and moisturized, as well as treating split ends and eliminating frizz. It adds a ton of protein and nutrients to your hair, which keeps it extra shiny and bouncy.

WHAT IT'S MADE OF: The star ingredients in this shampoo are creamed coconut, coconut oil, eggs and avocado.

HOW TO USE IT: Just pinch off a small bit of product into your hand, lather up and work through your hair.

WHAT I THOUGHT: I cannot say one bad thing about this product. When I first received it I was wearing my hair straight nearly all the time, so I used it even before blow drying and flat ironing my hair, and it worked fine. It was only when I started wearing my hair naturally wavy more often that I was blown away. I don't think any product makes my wavy hair look as amazing as this product makes it look. My hair absolutely loves it. It looks incredibly moisturized, it is not frizzy at ALL, and it smells amaaaazing. I even somehow like the fact that the little bits of coconut get on the walls of my shower. Although this is expensive for me for a shampoo, I will without a doubt be purchasing it again.

RATING:    5/5!!!

 HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT WEEKEND! xx