LEONOR GREYL’S HAIR FIX: MASQUE QUINTESSENCE

Posted by Charu 02.25.14

Leonor Greyl is a brand that is all about paraben-free and natural ingredients (the Ecocert symbol means business), and its latest Masque Quintessence ($145) is the ultimate weapon for desperate hair, which means it’s fit for hair that has been colored, dyed, processed, bleached…you name it.

A weekly spa date for your locks, it is made with rare nourishing ingredients (cupuaçu oil from the Amazon and manketti oil from northern Namibia). The first thing you’ll notice is its fragrance. As with all Leonor Greyl hair products, this is not that sickly sweet scdent you get from say, opening a bottle of bubble bath, but the feeling of sniffing fresh honeysuckle from right outside your window.

The fragrance hits you on the nose (mock orange and linden are strong notes)—but in a good way. The idea is to apply this masque to dry hair before you shower, and wait for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing off (the packaging advises to comb the hair during rinsing to prevent tangles). Manketti oil is derived from a specifically protected tree in Namibia, and the reason that Leonor Greyl uses it is because it is very rich in linoleic fatty acid, which promotes hair regeneration and restores texture. The cupuaçu oil hails from the Amazon, where it has been used traditionally for ages to create thick, luxurious hair (Ojon’s harvests come from Central America, and theirs is a similar story).

A 10 minute treatment yields soft, manageable, and marvelously fragrant hair: it’s a hair trip to the fragrance vaults of the best Parisian perfumer. The packaging is also updated and luxurious, with a gold lid and the masque inside a Plexiglass jar with black text.

At $145 for this masque, you may wonder if it’s worth the cost. When you consider you’re reversing your hair damage in minutes, hydrating every strand with powerful antioxidants and oils, and helping to preserve your hard-won hair color, $145 seems a small price to pay rather than a visit to your hairdresser. A little bit of the masque goes a long way, and a jar could give you weekly treatments for well over four months (conservatively).

Desperate hair has met its (very fragrant) match.

 

 

COLOR FAST: NEXXUS COLOR ASSURE

Posted by Dorene 02.22.14

Most beauty products work to get the red out, but not so with the new Nexxus® Color Assure line. The four-product range works to maintain hair color through multiple washings. Case in point, the newly reddened tresses of the line’s spokesperson model/actress Molly Sims, who went from blond to red for the launch, and I swear it has the 40 year old mom looking 20 again.

The line’s star product is so genius, I can’t believe it hasn’t been thought of before. Nexxus® Color Assure Pre-Wash Primer (SRP $17.99) is a pre-shampoo treatment that is formulated to protect your hair while shampooing. You apply five to seven pumps from the tips of your hair to the scalp right before stepping into the shower. It works to seal and protect hair strands and repel water, keeping it from entering the core of the hair.

“The primer is great,” said Molly Sims at a Color Assure launch event in New York City, conceding, “it’s a little weird to put the primer on dry hair.”

In addition to the primer, Color Assure comprises shampoo, conditioner, and tonic spray. All products are sulfate-free and each features a blend of white orchid extract, almond oil, coconut oil, and argan oil. The goal is to preserve color, nourish hair, and create a lustrous finish.

“You need a product that keeps water out and locks color in,” said Kevin Mancuso, creative director of Nexxus.

Nexxus® Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Shampoo (SRP $9.99 SR) is intended to be used after the primer, followed by Nexxus® Color Assure Vibrancy Retention Conditioner (SRP $13.99). Nexxus® Color Assure Glossing Tonic (SRP $17.99) works to enliven hair color between washings by misting it on dry hair. It works a bit like a professional gloss treatment.

The Color Assure line just launched in January and can be purchased at mass retailers, select drugstores, and supermarkets nationwide.

10 TIPS TO WINTER-PROOF YOUR SKIN

Posted by Wendy 11.26.13

Brrrr…baby it’s cold outside. And your skin, hair and nails feel it too. BITB asked a panel of leading beauty experts and dermatologists for their best tips to winterize your skin and hair when the temperature dips below freezing.

1 – Terese Linke, Global Education and Spa Training Director of Amala Natural Skincare:

“Start body brushing for three minutes prior to bathing. Brushing stimulates the lymphatic system, which reduces the appearance of cellulite. Simply wet the brush and use in the bath or shower with Amala’s Body Polish. After you shower, you have less than five minutes to add moisture back into the skin. Try Amala’s Detoxifying Body Oil to reverse moisture loss.”

2 – Zein Obagi, MD, Dermatologist, Obagi Skin Health Institute, Beverly Hills:

“You can take years off your look by regularly exfoliating, protecting and hydrating the backs of your hands that are most susceptible to the signs of aging. For cracked winter hands, try this at-home treatment at bedtime. Apply ZO Skin Health Oraser Overnight Hand Recovery and wear cotton gloves overnight to wake to softer, younger hands. And to protect your delicate hands during the day, use ZO Skin Health Oraser® Daily Hand Repair SPF 20.”

3 – Kim Kelder, Miraval Resort & Spa’s Lead Aesthetician and Skin Care Specialist:

“Change your cleanser to a cream or milk cleanser. Cleansing gels and bars can sometimes be drying for your winter skin. Also make sure you are washing with cooler water; hot water can also be drying for your skin. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen. Just because the sun isn’t shining all the time doesn’t mean you aren’t getting sun damage. Did you know that 78% of solar damage is from incidental sun exposure, like walking to and from your car each day?”

4 – Dr. Christine Sindt, Optometrist and Lens Specialist, Clinical Associate Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics:

“Before blaming seasonal changes on itchy, red eyes it is important for consumers to consider the last time they replaced or properly cleaned their contact lenses. Only about 4% of allergy sufferers can say eye allergies are their primary allergy but a whopping 96% of Americans admit to frequently reusing or topping-off yesterday’s cleaning solution. Dirty lenses are a major cause of dryness. For bright, healthy, moist eyes it is important to start with fresh contact solution each and every day.”

5 – Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, Dermatologist in Miami:

“As winter weather brings in the cold air, the lack of humidity will start to dry out our skin and make it more difficult to keep skin hydrated. Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on keeping your skin moisturized and healthy. Wear sunscreen with an antioxidant daily. Even if it’s the middle of winter you can’t skimp on skin protection! In the winter your face is even more vulnerable to the sun’s rays due to the combination of sun and wind. Use a sunscreen to protect yourself and to help keep your skin tone even. Try Specific Beauty Dermatologist Strength Ultra Clear Daily Sun Shield. This  invisible, pure physical UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 50+ delivers a weightless, residue-free transparent finish with along wtih antioxidants Coenzyme-Q10, Green Tea.”

6 – Teresa Probst, Colorist, Varin Salon, New York City:

“Use hot oil to fight the effects of the cold on your hair. Hot oil treatments are effective conditioners that can help rehydrate your hair from heating systems and windy conditions. Try a natural hot oil solution like jojoba oil for cold weather hair help. L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil Huile Nutritive Nourishing Oil is perfect for all hair types during winter.”

7 – Dr. Debra Jaliman, Dermatologist/Author, Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist, New York City:

“Moisturize your body and face while your skin is still damp from the bath and shower. In over-the-counter moisturizers or lotions, look for these ingredients: humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin; lipids, such as ceramides; and emollients, such as lanolin and propylene glycol.”

8 – Patrick Melville, Celebrity Hair Stylist, New York City:

“In the cold months hair tends to get a little flatter. Shampoo and condition with AVEENO® Nourish+ Moisturize Shampoo and Conditioner, and after styling use the AVEENO® Pure Renewal® Dry Shampoo to create texture that will last. After the hot summer, it’s normal to want to cut off those frizzy ends. Shampoo and condition hair with AVEENO® Nourish+ Strengthen to restore vitality, elasticity, and replenish lost moisture.”

9 – Dr. Michael Taylor, Dermatologist, Portland, Maine:

“Just as our hair tends to gray as we mature, our skin begins to lose its ability to hold water.  This is true for all of us, though some of us are drier than others, depending upon our genetic make-up.  There are also certain conditions that contribute to dryness such as a dry climate, winter in Maine, and the desert in the Southwest, hot showers, heavily chlorinated pools, and occupations that cause the skin to become dry, raw, and cracked such as hair stylists and nurses.  People with skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis lack the ability to hold water effectively as part of their condition. If your skin is really dry, you might look for moisturizers that have lactic acid or urea.”

10 – Dr. Susan Resnick, Optometrist, New York City:

“During the winter months the most common complaint is dry, irritated eyes which is influenced by the decrease in humidity, forced air heating, and time spent in front of computer screens.  These all contribute to rapid evaporation of the tear film. To help preserve a healthy tear layer and reduce the sensation of dryness, I recommend oil based artificial tears, warm moist compresses, and frequent breaks from computer use. Investing in a room humidifier and avoiding direct exposure to heat vents and dust are also helpful. If contact lens wear is the problem, I recommend talking to your doctor about switching to a contact lens that provides moisture to the eye like ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses.”