PUT YOUR IDEAL FACE FORWARD: L’OREAL IDEAL CLEAN REVIEW
Very often, beauty pursuits are a bit like the search for the unicorn, which you know should exist but doesn’t. And scrubs, exfoliants, cleansers, and the entire arsenal of beauty products all packaged oh-so nicely promise the moon but leave you very much on planet Earth.
L’Oreal’s new Ideal Clean cleansers and moisturizers don’t really promise the moon but they do promise ideal, clean, and hydrated skin. The simplicity of the entire collection won me over because it was not about the next new miraculous ingredient or a unique fragrance…it was just about giving you ideal skin.
Photo Credit: Matt Minucci for BeautyintheBag
The Ideal Clean Collection offers two gentle formulas, which aim to remove dirt, oil, and tough eye makeup—it performs wonders on waterproof eye liner and mascara. The Ideal Clean Foaming Gel Cleanser ($4.99) lathers beautifully, cleans the skin without stripping, and leaves no filmy residue. A bonus? It also targets pore size to help minimize their appearance. The Ideal Clean Towelettes ($4.99) remove makeup, banish dirt and oil, and are perfect for sensitive skin.
The cleanser is a great option for daily use: it’s ideal for acne-prone skin because it leaves your skin feeling thoroughly (but not squeaky) clean—and no residue. Plus, true to its promise, it gives you a nice boost of hydration. We also would recommend this cleanser for sensitive skins because the fragrance is not strong or harsh. Two thumbs up!
The Ideal Moisture Collection also offers lightweight products, lotions that thoroughly hydrate. They’re the everlasting gobstopper of moisturizers, really, with the promise of 48 Hour Protection (clinically proven). Since they are lightweight, they won’t clog pores. The three basic oil-free moisturizers ($6.99 each, for Dry, Sensitive, and Normal Skin), are good for use during the day, and have SPF 25. There’s also an Even Tone formula that’s available in both a day and night version. Tourmaline is added to give you a radiant glow.
We tried the 48 Hour Normal Skin Day Lotion and was impressed at how light it was: think souffle light! The best part is that it hydrated the skin but also withstood the wear and tear of the day very well. Obviously, we couldn’t test it for a full 48 hours (we do like to wash our faces from time to time) but we’re glad to say that it lasted throughout the day without leaving our skin parched and wanting more.
The Ideal Day Lotion Even Tone ($6.99) was a bit trickier to evaluate. It is hard to see the evening out of skin tone in a matter of days, but the skin-softening component was definitely present (as the product advertises). Infused with antioxidant vitamin E, this lotion feels light and lasts a while as well. The product does say that you will see results in four weeks, and we’ve been using ours for a few weeks with much success. Plus, the price point is highly attractive too.
L’Oreal’s new Ideal Skin and Moisture Collections are impressive, by any standards, and the agreeable prices are an added reason to stock up on these beauties.
Photo Credit: Vaseline.com
VASELINE SPRAY & GO MOISTURIZER REVIEW
It’s a spritz-and-go world that we live in and now Vaseline has jumped into the game with a spray body moisturizer. No fuss, no muss, no waiting: just spritz, rub, and you’re out the door. Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer ($8) dispenses lotion quickly and evenly and comes in three varieties: Aloe Fresh, Cocoa Radiant, and Total Moisture.
I tried the Total Moisture, which is formulated with pure oat extract and Vaseline’s Stratys-3, a multi-layer moisturizer that quickly absorbs into skin with just a quick rub. At first, I was a little wary about a spray-on lotion—I was so used to slathering on heavy creams. Would such a quick alternative really make my skin feel silky smooth even in dry and cold weather? The answer, fortunately, is yes.
Application is fool-proof: just hold the can four inches from your skin and spray it over arms, legs, and body in a continuous motion. Then, quickly rub it into your skin and you’re ready to go. Now there’s no more waiting for your lotion to dry before having to throw on clothes. Even better, there’s no more of that greasy or sticky feeling either. Plus, I noticed that my skin felt soft and moisturized hours after use.
Fair warning: if you decide to use it in the office for a little moisture pick-me-up, you may get a few strange looks when your colleagues hear someone spraying. If you’re in the market for a moisturizing facial spritz, we have a great round-up here. And those suffering from dry skin or eczema can look into CapriClear Spray-on Moisturizer, which is applied the same way but the gentle hypo-allergenic formula makes it safe for all skin types while alleviating very dry and itchy skin.
CADILLAC OF BESPOKE HAIRCARE: L’OREAL ADVANCED LINE REVIEW
Everything’s custom these days: suits, shoes, accessories—so why not hair care?
Advanced Haircare, L’Oreal’s latest breakthrough collection was five years in the making. The attention to detail, packaging, and results leads to five superb modules, targeting different hair concerns, that under promise and over deliver. I’ve never seen anything on the market quite so luxurious and results-driven: think of these new launches as the Cadillac of haircare.
The collection addresses the damaging effects of a variety of aggressors such as chemically-processed hair, heating tools, and the general harshness of the environment in which we live. While these are not palpable on an immediate or even daily basis, they take their toll on hair—so much so, that not just any old shampoo or conditioner will do (you wouldn’t just go to any esthetician now to get your facial, would you?).
Well, that’s just one of the ways hair care has evolved: it’s becoming more like skincare. While we certainly don’t think you should splash toner on your hair, we certainly agree that some extra specialized TLC is in order.
Total Repair Shampoo and Conditioner
About Advanced Haircare
The idea behind the collection is five sets of shampoo and conditioner and seven treatments designed to be a sort of bespoke tailor for your hair. The marketing claims are strong: the line promises instant results and lasting transformation. The last time I encountered any hair treatment that was truly lasting, it was certainly a professional job at a salon, and not something that I could get from my local mass market store.
Of course, the hair market has always prided itself for being innovative, and offering products for every hair type. But this is the most comprehensive hair care collection launch I’ve seen yet.
And because each particular hair type is so different (ethnic hair, frizz-prone hair, fine and limp hair, thick and full-bodied hair….the list goes on and on), bespoke makes total sense. The star ingredient in this line is Arginine-K Complex, the fourth largest component of keratin in the hair, and one of hair’s basic building blocks.
The five modules include:
Total Repair Damage Erasing Balm
Total Repair 5: Targeted towards those with visibly damaged hair, this collection of products is all about repair, and it includes Arginine-K Complex along with ceramide, which is a patented L’Oreal ingredient that aims to reinforce and strengthen the weaker sections of the hair shaft. The Damage Erasing Balm (use with the shampoo) Benjamin Buttons your hair for up to a year’s worth of damage—tall claims from a jar! But the proof is in the pudding: my strands were less brittle, more hydrated, and full of shine. The other Total Repair 5 products include a shampoo, a conditioner, and the marvelous Restorative Dry Oil—a leave-in treatment for flyaways.
Advanced Haircare Smooth Intense Xtreme Straight Creme
Smooth Intense: This module is all about frizz control for up to 72 hours, thanks to the Arginine-K Complex combined with Oleo Keratin. The line includes Xtreme Straight Creme, a leave-in smoothing creme, which truly works and delivers great cushion while blow drying. Then there’s the shampoo and conditioner, of course, and the Smooth Intense Frizz Taming Serum, which is one of my favorite products in the Advanced Haircare collection.
Advanced Haircare Moisture Rush Mask
Power Moisture: You guessed it—this line is all about hydration, and the formulation of these products combines hyaluronic acid with Arginine-K Complex. The idea is that these ingredients give an instant rush of moisture. Hence the Power Moisture Rush Mask, which is a rinse-out conditioning masque for some seriously superb hydration, a shampoo and a conditioner, which quenches hair from root to tip. This is one of my favorite modules because my hair gets drier than a fried coconut in a desert—especially during winter.
After using Advanced Haircare Total Repair Shampoo/Conditioner
Color Vibrancy: With Arginine-K Complex, anti oxidants, and UV filters, this module is for those who really can’t stand faded color. It is like a Halle Berry’s Storm-like shield for your hair: the products are all about protection. Since sunlight and aggressors can really cause UV oxidation and faded color, the ingredients lengthen your color vibrancy for up to eight weeks. The line includes the Color Vibrancy Dual Protect Spray, in addition to a shampoo, and a conditioner.
Triple Resist: The last module features concentrated Arginine, and is all about reinforcing hair so it doesn’t fall out or break. This is so vital to me because as a new mom, hair loss is all I’m experiencing. The concentrated Arginine reinforces strands and helps weak hair. The module includes a Triple Resist Ultimate Strength Solution, as well as a shampoo and a conditioner.
And, just like a bespoke tailor, you can mix and match the products you want and need to address your specific issues. That’s shear genius.
As if all of this technology wasn’t impressive enough, the prices are pretty fantastic as well, from $4.99 – $7.99. If you have any questions about your hair—or products to buy, tap into the power of Twitter: @LOrealParisUSA has debuted #AskHairGenius—a service designed to share personalized and expert hair advice. Whether it is an inquiry on style, products, regimen, or hair health, tweet away (don’t forget to tag #AskHairGenius) to receive expert advice.
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