Sunday 14 September 2014

Love Lush: Helping Hands hand cream

During one of my shopping frenzies in Lush last year, I bought a Think pink set- here, where I got a 10g  tin box with a Helping Hand hand cream inside.


When I first laid my eyes on it I was enchanted by its rosy colour... Yes, sometimes us women really get carried away with a look of something or someone. That is how we end up with handsome but stupid men. Totally off topic. On the other side, it was a bit weird in texture. Something between gel consistency and rich body butter?! I must admit that this teeny-tiny size lasted me for quite some time because this cream is very rich and I would say oily, which means that you need the smallest amount for your hands.


Pfff! I heard and read amazing things about this cream, how light and non-greasy it is, but still so nourishing for the skin in which it sinks and disappears without any residue...


My opinion is quite the opposite. Yes, at first glance it seems nourishing, but it is most definitely greasy and it definitely leaves an oily reside after application. With all mentioned above, I applied it only before going to bed. For me, it is not the most handy cream for busy days.


Since it is quite heavy and greasy, one would think that it nourishes the skin. I don't know what to say to that? It is not the worst cream, it nourished my hands until morning but during the day it was like I never applied it. So, not a miracle cream also. For me, this is a mediocre hand cream with a tough, yet less expensive competition at the drustores.


Ingredients:
Chamomile Water (Anthemis nobilis), Linseed Mucilage (Linum usitatissimum), Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis), Glycerine, Stearic Acid, Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Triethanolamine, Honey (Mel), Lavender Oil (Lavandula hybrida), African Marigold Oil (Tagetes erecta), Fragrance, Alkanett Extract (Alkanna tinctoria), *Limonene, *Linalool, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.


Chamomile, almond, shea butter and marigold.... I must admit that I am surprised with its lack of magic?!


How Lush describes it:
The name says it all. Our miracle-working, calming chamomile and cocoa butter cream has been saving hands worldwide for years. It’s perfect for people who work with their hands and suffer from dry, chapped skin as a result. Soothing honey, moisturizing oils and nourishing butters help to protect and care for hardworking hands and make them soft and flexible once again. You might be a person who thinks that hand cream is merely one more non-essential thing to spend your money on. Give your hands a little help; smooth some on and feel the difference it makes.
  • Handy helper: Soothes sore hands with a powerful mixture of marigold and lavender oils.
  • Softens you up: Shea butter and almond oil are effective emollients, proven to moisturize and keep skin soft.
  • What's Linseed Mucilage?: Linseeds swell when exposed to water. Rich in protein, vitamins and minerals, the gel helps to protect the skin.

And my thoughts about its scent... Well. it is unusual, not bad but a bit unusual. A mixture of citrus and Lush shop scent, with a hint of clay. I know I probably won you over with these words.... But, if you have tried or smelled this cream, please write how you experienced its smell. I must say one more time that to me its smell wasn't bad or offensive, but I do think that it is a bit strong and if you don't like it, you will hate this cream.


If you decide to buy this cream you can find it in Lush shops. In Croatia a 100 g plastic pot will cost you 84 kunas, around 11 Eura, 8.79 GBP, 14 $. Mine is in a small tin, but it usually comes in plastic pots which are recyclable. It is possible to get it in a bottle with a pump, also.

To sum up: this wasn't the best or the worst cream I have ever tried, and if I get it again in some kind of set I'll use it up, but I will not be buying this cream for what it is for sure.

What about you? Have you tried it? Interested?

Tell me...

Love, beautyandbrains007







Saturday 13 September 2014

AVEDA Rosemary Mint shampoo and conditioner

I've been hearing and reading a lot about AVEDA for quite some time now, but I never really tried any of their products. Then, they opened a hair salon in Zagreb which reminded me that one day I should really get something from their line. I knew that they were striving to be a "natural" based company, respecting the earth. AVEDA is the first beauty company manufacturing products with 100% certified wind power. RESPECT!


During a special offer on lookfantastic, I went a bit AVEDA crazy and bought a couple of their products, including shampoo and conditioner from their Rosemary Mint collection that I am reviewing today.


They come in plastic, recycled bottles and they urge you to recycle them again. Many ingredients are organically grown and if so, they are specially marked. My bottles are 8.5 fl.oz/250 ml sized, and this whole rosemary mint line should invigorate your hair and senses.


Both shampoo and conditioner are available in three different sizes, and each size comes at the same price for both products: travel size- 50 ml/1.7 fl.oz. (4.50$ each at their official website- www.aveda.com), 250 ml/8.5 fl.oz. (13.50 $ each at their official website) and a big 1l/33.8 fl.oz. bottle (40 $ each at their official website). Having said that, as usual, prices of their products in Europe come with a higher price tag.


Both od these products are ment for fine to normal hair.


This unique daily shampoo adds body to fine hair—without stripping, build-up or static electricity. Formulated with peppermint to awaken your senses and rosemary to help protect from environmental damage. Its pure plant aroma naturally energizes and motivates your mind and body. (Aveda's words)


This daily conditioner adds weightless body and shine while preventing tangles and static. The tonic properties of rosemary and peppermint cool and revitalize your scalp. After shampooing with Rosemary Mint Shampoo, add a small amount of Rosemary Mint Conditioner to hair. Massage onto hair and scalp. Rinse.(Aveda's words) Ma hair tends to get greasy but I' also applied it all over my hair, even close to my roots and that didn't make my hair greasier than usual or weighed it down so I must agree with their claims.


This duo was my choice for summer vacations. I was at the seaside so leaving salt in my hair was not an option, which resulted in washing my hair every day with these and I can say that they worked great and my hair survived the summer without any damages.


This shampoo really offers deep cleaning of the hair without stripping it, it leaves it clean, light and fresh. It doesn't foam up as most of the shampoos, especially not during first aollication. Since I washed my hair almost every day, when frequently used, I shampooed it only once. So, the moral of this story is that I agree with Aveda's claims.
As for the scent of it, it is mostly minth which is perfect after lots of sun for a touch of freshness, it lightly stays in the hair but I think that it wouldn't be tto much for most people. You feel fresh, it gives a cooling sensation and the hair looks healthy, shiny and a bit bouncy, meaning...it also adds a bit of volume.


The conditioner is very light in texture, o much that I first rolled my eyes thinking that it would be like I didn't apply anything, ut it will surprise you. After shamppoing, I applied this conditioner and leyve it on while I wash my body, then I comb out my hair with Macadamia No Tangle brush and rinse it off. It is soo good. Washes out nicely, leaves hair clean and nourished but not heavy. Its scent is also mostly minted but you can also sense rosemary somwhere in the background. For me both of these products get really good grades! The only thing is that it doesn't do anything foe my greasy hair, it is not like they weigh it down more, but it gets greasy as fast as with any other products.


Shampoo ingredients:
Aqueous (water/aqua/eau) Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Babassuamidopropyl Betaine, Vinegar/Acetum/Vinaigre, Camphor, Menthol, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Polyquaternium-4, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Limonene, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Gluconate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid <ILN36155>.


Conditioner ingredients.
Aqueous (water/aqua/eau) Extract, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearalkonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-11, Vinegar/Acetum/Vinaigre, Wheat Amino Acids, Tocopherol, Oryzanol, Panthenol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mentha Pipierita (Peppermint) Oil, Glycine Soya (Soybean) Oil, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Olealkonium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate <ILN36156<


I bought these two at lookfantastic during an Aveda special offer for about 17 Euros, shipping is free, which is more expensive than in the USA, but honestly I am used to higher European prices.


I really like these products an would buy them again, but don't go surfing the web for any Aveda products, because I tried some more products from their range which didn't wow me as much.

What about you? Have you tried any Aveda products? Like them? Any recommendations?


Tell me....


Love, beautyandbrains007