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.
REGENICA: GROWTH FACTOR POWERED SKINCARE
When it comes to cosmeceuticals and advanced skincare offered by physicians you want to make sure that the products’ efficacy is fully supported by clinical studies. Enter ReGenica by Suneva Medical, Inc., a three product line powered by growth factor proteins, which has three studies to support its benefits.
“Just because something sounds scientific doesn’t mean it is scientific,†said New York dermatologist Heidi Waldorf, M.D., at the recent launch event in New York City that introduced ReGenica to the media and medical community. Sales of cosmeceuticals—a word that is a hybrid of cosmetics and pharmaceutical—grew nearly 30% from 2008 to 2011, reported Dr. Waldorf. And since they are considered beauty products and not drugs, cosmeceuticals are not subject to FDA rigor.
ReGenica, on the other hand, has three clinical studies to support its efficacy—one that proves its anti-aging benefits and two to show its effects when applied after laser rejuvenation treatments.
“Decades of research about growth factors have gone into the development of ReGenica,†said Dr. Gail Naughton, a regenerative medicine scientist, who created the proprietary tissue engineering technology in the line. Dr. Naughton’s experience is unparalleled—she is the inventor of the key ingredient in TNS®, the growth factor blend in SkinMedica products.
The ReGenica line comprises Advanced Rejuvenation Day Repair SPF 15 ($175), Advanced Rejuvenation Overnight Repair ($175), and Facial Rejuvenation Complex Post Procedure ($150). Day Repair and Night Repair fight signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, irregular pigmentation, and roughness. Post Procedure is formulated to speed up and enhance recovery after a facial laser treatment.
The products all feature the next generation of growth factor called Multipotent CCM Complex. The complex contains a variety of embryonic-like proteins and growth factors that are characteristic of young, rapidly developing tissue and associated with skin rejuvenation.
The incredible healing capacity of fetuses inspired Dr. Naughton to focus on turning cells back to an embryonic state. “What really intrigued me about wound healing, and still does is that you can do any surgery on a fetus or embryo and it will be born without a scar,†said Dr. Naughton.
The embryonic-like growth factors in the complex are the result of a laboratory process that causes cells to mimic human embryonic conditions.
The three ReGenica studies support the effectiveness of the Multipotent CCM Complex. A controlled anti-aging study, conducted over 10 weeks, asked participants to use ReGenica Day in the morning and Overnight Repair at night. Users saw a 50% increase in moisture and 64% reported more radiant skin after 10 weeks. In addition, 82% had improved skin texture, 90% had a decrease in pore size, and skin elasticity was improved by 23%.
Two post-laser clinical studies proved the impact of ReGenica Facial Rejuvenation Complex Post Procedure in reducing redness and promoting healing. In a split-face study of subjects who had an ablative (deep skin) laser treatment, patients saw improved healing and more rapid re-epithelialization as early as three days after the laser procedure using the Facial Rejuvenation Complex Post Procedure.
Featuring a light-citrus fragrance, the ReGenica products are absorbed quickly and go on smoothly, so you can apply makeup easily after application. The product line is exclusively available through physician offices. For more information, visit www.regenica.com.
GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY – LOOLOO’S ESCAPE MINI SUGAR SCRUB SET
Calling all lovers of tropical fragrances. For this week’s GORGEOUS GIVEAWAY we have 3 Island Collection Mini Organic Sugar Scrub sets (a $34 value) from Looloo’s Escape to give to our lucky winners. A tropical escape for the senses, the scrubs come in exotic island inspired fragrances including Caribbean Lime, Hawaiian Lemongrass and Tahitian Tangerine.
These amazing sugar scrubs use only the finest organic ingredients to enhance your skin’s natural beauty. Organic fine grain sugar gently polishes the skin, while a luscious blend of rich oils rehydrate and nourish.
All of Looloo’s Escape products are USDA Certified Organic and 100% vegan – produced w
