The Phyto-Khol Star Eyeliners are long-wear eyeliners and now come in matte shades. I really loved the sparkling shimmers but love that they have a non-shimmer version now. These are in a retractable twist-up style. Formula is creamy and smooth. There’s no tugging in the application and they are long-wearing. Pigment is ultra-rich and intense. I’ve played around with the black shade and brown colors and they’re long-wearing without smudging.
Colors include
1 Matte Onyx – intense black
2 Matte Tonka – deep brown
3 Matte Jungle – deep jungle green
4 Matte Graphite – grey
5 Matte Peacock – matte blue
6 Matte Chestnut – matte brown
Ombre Eclat Liquide Eyeshadows
The newest makeup launch includes six new shimmery metallic eyeshadows called the Ombre Eclat Liquide. They’re quite expensive but the colors are stunning, formula is super long-wearing once it dries and sets and I love the finish. Every single shade is a stunner!
Formula is a nice pigmented liquid. They blend easily before they dry/set but once they set they don’t budge. Layering wise you will need to work quickly to blend if you use more than one shade. They come with a sponge tip applicator and if I’m applying one single color all over the lid it’s easy to brush onto the eye lids and blend with a finger. If I want more intense color then I find it easier to take a cream eyeshadow brush (I like MAC 242) and swipe it on the sponge applicator to pick up product, then brush it onto the lids.
Colors include
1 Champagne – shimmery champagne pale gold
2 Copper – shimmery soft fawn
3 Pink Gold – pretty pink with subtle gold shimmer
4 Coral – warm copper pink shimmer
5 Bronze – shimmering brown with gold shimmer
6 Wild – sparkling olive green with gold flecks
My favorite so far is Pink Gold Shade 3. I love mixing it with Shade 4 Coral or any of the brown tones. I think they’re the perfect effortless wash of color for summer, especially for a nice vacation look!
Sisley launched their new Phyto-Rouge Shine Lipsticks ($60, refills are $48) and I have six to share swatches of today. I’m always excited for Sisley newness and I was thrilled to see new spring colors for lips in a shine formula (I’m all about a glossy lip!). The Phyto-Rouge Shine Lipsticks are extremely steep in price at $60 each. They are refillable with the refills being $48 each (still very spendy). I think these are the best shine lipsticks I’ve ever tried.
The Phyto-Rouge Shine Lipsticks have medium buildable coverage. I think the color payoff is exceptionally good for a shine lipstick. These feel very comfortable on the lips. They’re like a balm + lipstick + gloss hybrid in one. They glide perfectly on the lips and the texture is perfect: smooth, creamy, not too soft, not too thick, perfectly hydrating. There is a subtle sweet vanilla like scent.
Lips feel smooth and hydrated with these. There is a slight plumping effect with the shine and hydration but it doesn’t feel like a plumping lip product.
The Sisley team kindly sent four to review. I purchased two more. The colors are flawless straight out of the tube. I couldn’t ask for more in a shine lipstick formula. Lasting power is pretty good for a shine lipstick. It won’t be super long wearing as it is a glossy finish but it’s a lipstick I don’t mind reapplying throughout the day.
10 Sheer Nude is a sheer light nude pink with a subtle sparkle, coverage is impressive for a nude this light in color (a lot of colors like this are either too pale or too sheer on me, but this one is perfect!)
11 Sheer Blossom is a warm cream pink with a hint of peach
20 Sheer Petal is a perfect pink cream
21 Sheer Rosewood is a pretty rose pink with a slight shimmer
22 Sheer Raspberry is a perfect raspberry pink with a subtle silver shimmer
40 Sheer Cherry is the perfect true cherry red with shimmer
Every single color I tried is perfect. It’s hard to pick a favorite although I love Sheer Blossom and Petal – I love the pink tones! I think I have a good color selection right now although I have been eyeing the Sheer Cocoa and Coral colors. I decided to wait and splurge on some of the new Chanel Rouge Allure L’Extrait Lipsticks (review coming soon).
Always excited for Sisley-Paris newness and today I have swatches of the new Phyto Twists for fall along with a look at the new Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation.
Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation
The Sisley Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation ($95 for 1 oz) is the newest base launch from Sisley. So many of you have raved about their Phyto-Hydra Teint Tinted Moisturizer which I really wanted to love but found the shades too pink (so I never purchased it). I am thrilled the Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation is available in multiple undertones C for cool and W for warm. Some of the colors are available in N for neutral.
The Phyto-Teint Nude Foundation is a fluid skincare + foundation in one. It’s oil free, sheer to medium coverage, hydrating and plumping. On my skin it is sheer but still has noticeable coverage. A lot of you have already messaged me that you’re loving it for your dry skin. I have normal combination skin but it still works for my skin type. It has a lovely natural glow that isn’t too dewy but I do need to set with a powder. I set it with their Blur Expert which I always try to keep a backup of on hand. It’s one of my favorite blurring pressed powders.
Shade wise I am in between shades 3W1 and 4W1. However, because the formula is on the sheer side it is forgiving, and it does adjust slightly after it sets on the skin. It blends in beautifully and I had no irritation or issues even though alcohol seems to be high on the ingredient list. I picked 3W1 Warm Almond and I think it’s a really good match.
Phyto-Lip, Phyto-Eye and Phyto-Blush
There are new shades of the Phyto Twist color items for eyes, lips and cheeks. These are on the expensive side and I still remember the first ones I bought feeling a bit of an ouch to the wallet. I do think they’re worth the splurge though. They’re the effortless kind of makeup you can swipe and go for a classic kind of beauty look.
Phyto-Lip Twist Tinted Lip Balms ($53) are some of my favorite twist up lip crayons. They have buildable pigment, have a glossy finish, add a nice glow and have a hydrating feel. My most-worn colors are 2 Baby and 11 Litchi. The new colors for fall are gorgeous! 24 Rosy Nude is a sheer nude rose, 25 Soft Berry is a pretty plum, 26 True Red is a bold bright red.
There are two new Phyto-Eye Twist ($53) in 16 Taupe (mouse grey) and 17 Rose Bronze (soft mauve pearl). These are cream shadows in a pencil form you can swipe and smudge. Colors blend out to a sheer finish with the first layer you apply. They are buildable. I really like Taupe for an effortless wash. Lasting power is pretty good on my eyes – once they set they have a budge-proof finish on me although I use them more as shadows vs liners.
Phyto-Blush Twist ($72) in 7 Berry is the best shade they’ve launched to date. The price is outrageous but I’ve never found anything quite like it. These are soft silky cream blushes in a twist up form. Colors are easy to blend out and layer for a natural look. Since they are creams they won’t last as long as a powder but I still find they have decent lasting power. Berry is a warm berry color. They’re great especially if you have dry skin since they have Shea Oil and Camellia Oil to add hydration.
Swatches of all the Twist Blushes:
I really like everything. I particularly love the new Phyto-Teint Nude foundation!
I have some new Sisley launches to review today! They recently added a few things to their makeup line including the new Sisley Le Phyto-Blush ($80 each) and So Stretch Mascara ($72). With anything Sisley you can expect that the price points will be extremely high but the quality is always exceptional. I personally really love their skincare and hair care line. I have a few favorites in their makeup but haven’t tried a lot.
So Stretch Mascara
The So Stretch Mascara is a lengthening mascara that performs well for me. It lengthens and defines and does not smudge. It does a pretty good job at holding the curl even though it’s not waterproof. The applicator is perfect for my lashes – it did a good job at coating them all evenly while defining them. No clumping at all! I have low expectations for most mascaras and I like this one enough that I will repurchase in a few months.
Le Phyto Blush
The Le Phyto Blush is a powder blush with a soft texture that blends beautifully into the skin. I purchased two from Nordstrom and the Sisley team also sent a couple for me to try. There are some matte finish colors that have a soft satin matte and then there are a couple of shimmers that act more like highlighters on my skin. I like that they add a nice chic flush of color to the face. For my skin tone I think the colors I ended up with are best when layered together but I swatched them and applied them on my face below just by themselves. These come in a beautiful mirrored compact that is super sturdy.
I found lasting power to be pretty good! For the shimmers I noticed it emphasized some texture when I applied them alone like a blush. For me the shimmery colors are best as a soft highlighter. Formula-wise these are excellent. Color-wise I think they can be easily duped with other brands. While the quality, pigment, texture and packaging are beautiful I have a hard time saying these are worth the $80 price tag.
Colors I have below, 1 Pink Peony is a soft matte baby pink
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3 Coral is a matte coral
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4 Golden Rose is a peachy rose pink in the pan, on my skin it looks more like a soft gold shimmer
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6 Shimmer is a light champagne colored shimmer
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Swatches below, along side comparison swatches to some of their Phyto Blush Twist:
Overall solid launches and quality-wise everything is excellent, true to Sisley’s usual standards. Performance is good for everything and I think you will love them if you try. I don’t know that I can say I think they are worth the steep price tag when you can find colors that have a similar vibe for the blushes.
Have you tried these? Or any other makeup items from Sisley? What did you think? You can find these available at Nordstrom and Sisley as well as at all other Sisley counters.
Pink Peony and Coral and Mascara provided for review. Other shades purchased by me.
Sisley launched a new gloss called Le Phyto Gloss ($55 each) and I’ve fallen completely in love with the formula and colors! These are hydrating lip glosses with a mix of oils including macadamia, shea and Vitamin E to help soften and nourish the lips. There are 10 shades total – 5 have a reflective micro sparkle shimmer and 5 are more of a non-shimmer shine. The Sisley team sent four colors and I was so enamored with them I ordered four more.
The Sisley Le Phyto Gloss comes with a sponge tip applicator. They are smooth and cushiony with a slightly sticky feel but not overly tacky. I cannot detect any scent or taste. They adhere well to the lips without feeling like they’ll slide around and last a decent amount of time for a gloss. I’ve been wearing these alone but you can also layer over a liner or lipstick. The glitter/shimmers have a tiny bit of texture to them but it’s not too chunky or noticeable after it sets on the lips.
These glosses are thicker in texture with more coverage compared to the Phyto Lip Delight Lip Oils. The new Sisley Le Phyto Glosses also have a little bit more pigment – coverage wise I’d say they’re medium. Not quite super sheer, but definitely not full-coverage opaque.
I think every single color is easy to wear and beautiful. After testing these I found myself drawn more to the deeper and brighter shades although I’m still a neutral lip lover.
2 Aurora is a shimmery soft light pink with silver sparkles
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3 Sunrise is a shimmery lighter pink, similar to but lighter than Aurora
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4 Twilight is a shimmering rose
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6 Paradise is a sparkling coral
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7 Venus is a shimmery nude pearl
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8 Milky Way is a light milky baby pink (the best baby pink I’ve ever tried!)
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9 Sunset is a sheer blue based red, almost looks more pink on my lips
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Overall I think these are a solid A+. At $55 each these are quite the splurge but I think they perform really well. There’s no settling into my fine lip lines, they don’t slide around off my lips, they feel nice and cushiony, colors are right up my alley.
My favorites are Milky Way (because it’s so hard for me to find a good wearable milky pink) and Paradise (because I love a good coral). If you’re super sensitive or picky with texture I do want to note that you can feel the glitter/sparkle slightly if you smack your lips together. But other than that it’s pretty subtle texture-wise.
You can find the Sisley Le Phyto Gloss out now. Available at Sisley-Paris, Beautylish, Saks and all other Sisley retailers. Have you tried these yet? If not what’s your current go-to favorite for gloss?
Press samples indicated with a * in the post. 4 shades of Le Phyto Gloss provided for review and 4 purchased by me.
I have another mascara + primer roundup today! As much as I love and swear by waterproof formulas like Chanel Le Volume Waterproof, L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof and Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme (sold out everywhere!), so many of you prefer regular formulas because they’re easier to take off. I have straight lashes and live in a city that has high humidity so I really prefer waterproof most of the time so it’s beach-proof and sweat-proof. For me it’s worth the extra time and effort to remove every evening. Still I understand it’s a total pain to remove which makes it not worth it for everyone (I swear by these Almay pads to remove the most stubborn of waterproof makeup, make sure you pick the waterproof remover version). The good news is there are a lot of new formulas that launched I think you might want to check out. A couple of these aren’t entirely brand new but new to me.
Home decor / style note details at the bottom of the post, but for all those asking my nail polish is OPI Another Ramen-tic Evening.
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Pat McGrath cannot do wrong in my eyes and she launched the new FetishEyes Mascara earlier this month. I received an early sneak peek and have been testing it for a couple months now. It’s a great non-clumping, defining mascara. It adds length and doesn’t smudge. For me it doesn’t quite add as much volume or drama as other formulas do but it’s a solid one and I truly appreciate that there is zero clumping. Curl holding is not the best, but also not the worst. If you don’t have issues with straight lashes I think you will have no problem with this formula. If you haven’t tried anything from her FetishEyes Collection I highly recommend her Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner (the two available in the Xtreme Duo bundle on her website).
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Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara has been raved about my SO many of you. You’ve told me it’s your HOLY GRAIL. I bought the pink packaging one at Sephora and really love it. The regular formula does not smudge but we have had a cold winter here (it has been down to 40s/50s) and even though it’s warming up the humidity isn’t what it normally is. I am worried it will smudge with the humidity so I’m going to investigate in the waterproof version soon. This one adds the most volume that I’ve tried for a non-waterproof formula. It will hold the curl too.
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Marc Jacobs launched a Velvet Primer to go with their Velvet Noir Mascara. I feel like most primers have done little for my lashes except the L’Oreal Lash Paradise Primer which is great, but not necessary. Even most high-end ones just didn’t do enough to wow me so I had low expectations for this Marc Jacobs Velvet Primer. It exceeded every expectation I had. Paired with the Velvet Noir Mascara it helps the mascara adhere SO much better and makes the mascara look much better. I haven’t tried it with other formulas but am going to. For now I’m thoroughly impressed. I think it’s worth checking out.
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The YSL Faux Cils Volume Effect in The Curler just came on my radar. I don’t know how new it is (or if it’s really is new). It’s described as a “curling mascara featuring a unique hybrid brush that dramatically curls and defines lashes for an unparalleled full fan effect.” The description alone plus all near 5-star reviews sold me. It didn’t work for me or knock my socks off. It doesn’t hold the curl or curl my lashes. I really do love the brush and how it’s curved and has rubber bristles. It just didn’t live up to the description for me. I like that there’s no clumping, it defines nicely and doesn’t smudge. I just don’t see enough volume and for me there is no curling effect or hold.
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Last but not least is the Sisley So Volume Mascara. For some reason I did not think this was new but the press email I received says it is. I’ve tried a few other formulas from Sisley and they’re all ridiculously expensive. This one has a thick chubby wand with bristles and does indeed add serious volume. It has ingredients to soften the lashes which is nice. Once applied it doesn’t have that crunchy feel most mascaras have but it stays put. I haven’t used it long enough to see if it is indeed strengthening but I don’t know that I would be able to tell with any formula. I like this because it adds volume with one stroke. It doesn’t hold the curl as well as waterproof formulas but doesn’t make mine go straight immediately. It’s also included in the Rachel Goodwin x Les Stars Collection bundle.
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I hope you found this roundup helpful! I think mascara is always tricky for me to write about because even with reviews it’s hard to tell how one may or may not work for you. We all have different lash lengths, density and eye shapes. I’ve tried so many that worked for others that didn’t for me so I know it can be the case for you as well. I still really prefer waterproof formulas so they’ll hold the curl for me. I end up with raccoon eyes most of the time so I’m surprised I found some non-waterproof formulas that didn’t smudge this round.
A few notes on other items featured in the post. On the nails is OPI Another Ramen-tic Evening, Mirrored Trays here, Coffee table here, my favorite eyelash curler is from MAC. Flat zip pouches in the Marc Jacobs photo are from The Daily Edited.
What’s your favorite non-waterproof mascara formula? Always love reading about your recommendations!
Press samples from Sisley, Marc Jacobs and Pat McGrath.
My hair care routine has changed a little over the past few weeks as I colored my hair for the first time ever with highlights! Some of the hair care items I had been testing and wanted to review had to be re-tested with colored hair as I’ve found it a bit drier in texture and in need of more moisture. The good news is most of my styling staples fortunately have still worked for me! What has changed though is the need for different shampoo, conditioner and more hair masks.
I’ve really loved trying hair oils and my staples still continue to be the ones below:
Ouai Hair Oil is great for a nice lightweight shine, the floral scent might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it did grow on me the more I used it
All of these worked for my normal thick hair, now that it’s colored I feel the Sisley and Moroccanoil work best to add shine. A couple that don’t work quite the same for me include the Shu Uemura Essence Absolue and the Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Oil. They still add softness but now my hair just soaks it up and no shine is added. Brush I currently use is the T3 Dry Vent Brush. I like it enough to keep using it, but I’m still in search for my holy grail.
The Gisou Honey-Infused Hair Oil is one of the best smelling oils I’ve tried. It smells of honey, almond and a hint of coconut. It’s infused with honey from Negin Mirsalehi’s family bee garden. I was sent the Travel Size Oil (50 ml, exclusive to her website) and love it for it’s lightweight finish and soft shine. No greasy look or residue and it makes hair very soft. She just launched the Hair Perfume (100 ml) which has a more floral perfume like scent to it. It has a more powdery scent compared to the oil, I think it’s beautiful but prefer the oil if I had to pick one. I have ordered from her website before (they ship to the US), but you can also find her products at Urban Outfitters and Revolve.
The Rahua Legendary Amazon Oil is something I was really interested in trying out. It’s a plant-based silicone-free hair oil. It’s described as lightweight but I found it to be on the rich side and would recommend it for dry or damaged hair, and particularly if you have thicker strands. A little goes a very long way to coat the hair, I prefer using it on damp hair with just one pump. On my virgin hair pre-coloring it added incredible softness with a soft sheen. On my color-treated hair it adds softness but I find it challenging to find the right amount to use. Too little doesn’t add enough shine and one coat too much results in something that looks too heavy for my hair type. The oil has a very natural smell to it which fades after a few minutes. Based on the texture I tried I do think it would be too thick and heavy for fine hair, but if you’re looking for a silicone-free option this is a nice one to consider for very dry or coarse hair.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design is something I discovered and reviewed years ago. It’s a blow dry lotion used to heat protect hair, remove frizz and add softness. I used up a bottle and repurchased but it sat in storage most of last year when we moved around a lot. I rediscovered it recently and my color treated hair LOVES this. It has the right texture, emollient and finish to make my hair soft and remove any signs of dryness. After using and blow drying my hair it is incredibly soft, tangle-free and without any greasy residue. Ends still need a little bit of finishing with a shine product or oil, but overall this is a solid win. It gives hair a soft satiny glow.
I love IGK for the packaging. Their products are also great too. I hauled two products from Sephora earlier this year. The Thirsty Girl Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner got me because of the name coconut. It’s a milk-infused leave-in conditioner that has a spray. The packaging and spray dispenser are excellent – these days I am always amazed when brands don’t package their products with well designed spritzers. I really appreciate that IGK packaging is all on point, not just in the fun design but function as well. As the product name implies it’s a leave-in conditioner. I found that it was very easy to overdo the first few uses. The spritzer is so even and dispenses a fine mist I wasn’t sure I applied enough. It does work like a traditional leave-in conditioner, I think I like it mainly for the scent and novelty of packaging. Performance is good and I have no regrets buying. I’m not sure I would repurchase. If you found it too rich or oily, I think simply sprayed too much on, although I can see how it could be too rich for fine hair.
The IGK Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray also suckered me in with the name “smoothing.” I think their packaging and naming is genius. It gets me every time! This is a heat-protective blow out spray that is supposed to have similar effects of keratin treatments. I have not tried one so I cannot compare, but based on photos I’ve seen after the treatments I do think the IGK Good Behavior spray gives very similar looking results but in the shorter-term (as in it will last a day until you re-wash your hair). As a pre-heat treatment I see similar results with other types of products. I do like that the Good Behavior spray smooths hair, reduces frizz and does make my hair look smooth and fresh all day. As with the Thirsty Girl, I do think Good Behavior is easy to over apply. The IGK applicator spritzers are so good compared to other brands. They spray product very efficiently so you might be used to spraying more product. I’d recommend coating hair lightly and add one spritz at a time as you blow dry in sections if you feel you need more. It gets a thumbs up for me but I do think you can get similar frizz-free soft shine results with other products.
This Briogeo Hair-O-Scopes Brightest Stars Bestsellers Kit came at the perfect time for me. It has a full-size Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask which is now my holy grail hair mask. I had to wait 72 hours to wash my hair after color treatment. The first two days I found my hair just wasn’t the same, it needed a lot more moisture. This mask rescued it and I never want to be without it now. Prior to my highlights I had been experiencing a lot of breakage in the hair. I do think using this mask (along with the Aquis hair towels) has reduced breakage drastically. I’m still sampling the other items in the kit but the hair mask makes it 100% worth trying. I’ve already ordered another mask.
Last but not least are the Aquis Hair Towels. I’ve now tried multiple sizes and products in the line. I really liked the Prime Starter Kit before I had my hair colored to strengthen and reduce breakage. Post hair highlights, the leave-in conditioner just doesn’t really perform the same. It works to smooth and detangle, but I’m not seeing a lot of added moisture or shine. I’m going to put the entire kit to more testing before I give a comprehensive review.
For the hair towels I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. With new hair coloring towels are prone to staining, but the dye washed out and didn’t leave any marks on the white ones. I just made sure I threw them in the washer right away.
I thought I’d always be a towel kind of person but their Rapid Dry Turban has a really clever design with a loop on one end and closure on the other. It’s super easy to use and holds hair in place better than wrapping a towel.
For the towels, I prefer the longer lengths for my hair. The first one I tried was the Lisse Luxe Long Hair Towel. I then ordered the regular sizes to try and found the longer ones easier to wrap around the head. Andrew has liked and borrowed all of mine and prefers the Waffle Luxe version. I think both textures work the same for me.
I’ve bought mine from Sephora, but I just noticed this Ouai Ouai x Aquis Set available at Bloomingdale’s at a really good price. With the holiday sets out definitely look around online for different options.
For those who didn’t see on Instagram stories, my before and after hair color:
After using the same stylist for nearly 10 years in San Diego, making a change was scary when I moved, but one of the best things about South Florida is that the people here are so nice. I found a salon on Yelp and decided to try based on the reviews. They made me feel completely at ease as a new client, I loved them and went back. I decided to have my hair colored for the first time there and loved the results. I was so nervous that I nearly cancelled but my husband and mother in-law came with me and assured me it would all be ok. The day of appointment the salon asked if they could film the process for their social media feed and I said sure. They put together a fun clip if you want to check them out I linked it below. Quick FYI this is all still my natural hair except for the coloring, no extensions. Just highlights – they also curled my hair for fun afterwards.
A post shared by Monaco Salon (@monacosalontampa) on
I was truly blown away by everyone’s kind words about the new hair. You made me feel so loved with the sweet comments and suggestions about hair care, shampoos and everything else in between. I’ve been testing different shampoos and conditioners which I’ll be reviewing soon, for now I wanted round up the oils and other products I have been testing for hydration and smoothness.
Overall, my favorites are still my favorites. I do love the Gisou Hair Oil for the soft finish, shine and scent. The Aquis Hair towels and Briogeo hair mask are life savers for me. I’m thrilled that I rediscovered the Shu Uemura Art of Hair Satin Design and am amazed it didn’t go bad (it was in storage for months, granted it was an climate controlled one).
What are your favorite hair products for hydration, added shine and smoothing? Let me know what hair type you have in the comments too!
Press samples featured include the Sisley Hair Oil, Aquis Hair Turban, Moroccanoil Hair Treatment, Briogeo Hair-O-Scopes Set, Rahua Oil.
