Review: L’Occitane 5 Essential Oils Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner

REPURCHASE? Yes, but I am in no rush. Refilled this soooo many times and having these bottles in my bathroom shelf everyday for the past 4 years have gotten me quite bored with them. It consistently gave me beautiful hair, however, I need a break from it. Anyhow, will keep the empty bottles in storage first and give myself time to miss it before topping them up.

L’Occitane 5 Essential Oils Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner was a set that I always ignored inside the L’Occitane shop--- I was going through my Verbena phase then. However, when my husband brought home a couple of small bottles from a hotel stay, I wasted no moment trying them out and wow! Was I immediately chastised for snubbing them! Somehow, by some sort of miracle, this L’Occitane 5 Essential Oils Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner duo revealed beautiful hair! The scent got me hooked some more because it never failed to bring fond memories of childhood. It smells similarly to Johnson & Johnson’s baby shampoo, aka, the “scent of my childhood”. That same week, I made a trip to the L’Occitane shop for the sole purpose of getting the full sized set 

I often used the shampoo on its own, foregoing the conditioner. This was no hardship because the shampoo took care of my hair so well. Hair was bouncy. Every single strand had flounce to it. It was light. It was shiny. Have to say, too, that it was easy to brush--- wet or dry. Skipped conditioner half the time because good-hair-days lasted longer this way. My hair didn’t get oily too fast and I found that using the conditioner forced me to shampoo my hair more frequently than I liked. For 5 years now, I have religiously followed this rule: shampoo hair at the very most, every two days. I strive for 3. Ever since I started this habit (helped by dry shampoo and the fact that I’ve stopped going to the gym) my hair has become thicker and healthier.

There were times when I’d slather on the conditioner, though, and that was when my hair was particularly dry because of the weather or because of heat styling. However, I found myself reaching for the conditioner when I craved for the scent. I noticed that the fragrance stayed on my hair so much longer as opposed to just shampoo where the scent dissipated as my hair dried.

As I finish writing this blogpost, I’m beginning to wonder how long before I miss this. Bet it would be soon. Gosh, there must be something wrong with me!

First Impressions: Bio Beaute by NUXE Vitamin-Rich Detox Mask (with Orange Water)

 

YES! YES!

I used a sample sachet of this two nights ago and ever since then, I have been thinking of (obsessing more like it) how I can get a full sized product of this one in the most cost-efficient way. It isn’t available here in Philippines and I don’t want to spend on customs duties (which sometimes get ridiculously exorbitant!). Anyway, will work this out.***

ENJOYABLE TO USE

This mask comes in a form of orange gel.  I didn’t get the feeling of gel though because when spread over the face, it really felt more like thick honey (the thickness you get when honey has been placed in the fridge).  Although it was thick and a bit sticky, it was easy to evenly cover my face with it. The scent of oranges and citrus made it so energizing, refreshing and awakening. It was comfortable to wear—both the texture and the scent. You can carry a conversation with anyone—as opposed to masks that force you to communicate through tight lips or through holes. You can wear your eyeglasses with it.  At least, I did.

The product instructs you to have it on for 5 minutes after which you are to massage it in and rinse off. I wore mine for 30 minutes because after looking at the clock to check the initial time, I actually forgot to check back in. It was that comfortable!  The massaging phase needed a bit of elbow grease, though, because it got stickier at this point. I liked how it rinses off milky white. The gel turns to “milk” when it gets in contact with water so it’s easy to know when you’ve thoroughly washed it off.

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS

When I dried off, I saw the most amazing results ever! I didn’t even know that I could be so bold as to describe my skin as beautiful, smooth and soft when, less than an hour ago, it was a mess! (Had three big hormonal zits, countless blocked pores on my nose; roughness and more pores.) Also, I now know what it means to have radiant skin. I have always ignored the term “radiant skin,” chalking it under empty, meaningless, marketing speak. But man oh man! My skin was unbelievably radiant! Alive and healthy! I could not stop caressing it. I let my husband touch my face. Let my kids see it. Yes, the zits and some pores were still visible. But. But! I don’t know how it managed to do this but my skin looked dewy (but it was dry to the touch), almost all pores smoothened out, my fine lines blurred. I remember getting my hand held mirror just to take a closer look and yes, I had seen right the first time. This is such a miracle worker!

Like I mentioned, my skin wasn’t at its best before use. So I wasn’t expecting anything really, at least nothing over and beyond what I normally would have for a face mask. I mean, I have tried all sorts of masks: clay, cloth, mud, overnight gel masks, egg, tomato, placenta, snail…name the formulation, chances are, yup, I’ve done it.  Am I glad I was curious enough to check out this orange goop!

NOTE TO SELF:

I will try samples ASAP! I will use them before leaving the city I am visiting so the option to purchase is still available! I was given this sachet, together with all the other free samples, when I shopped at a Parapharmacie in Paris 2 years ago. It wasn’t until a couple of days ago that I got around to trying it. 

***

Can’t wait for my sister’s trip to Paris!!! I’m hoping by the end of March, I shall have had a tub of this orange goodness! After all, I still need to see how consistent the results are and how my skin will take to it in the long run.

REVIEW: Chanel Mattifying Fluid

                                                       PRICE: 

I roped myself into getting this Chanel Mattifying Fluid because I needed something that could control my royal oiliness. I figured that my hardworking oil glands were the root cause of all my acne and the reason why my makeup could not last longer than 4 hours (if lucky). Also, I needed a moisturizer catered to oily skin that would actually work! I loved the Chanel Eau Douceur so much that I felt this would deliver the same way. In short, I wanted a 2-in-1 product and the Chanel Mattifying Fluid fit the bill. The only bump in the road was the price tag. PhP3950 for a 50 ml bottle. That’s roughly USD88! I initially left the counter, thinking there was no way I’d fork over that much (that was then—I’m better at squeezing the trigger now. Ha!) My wavering was short-lived. Briskly walked back rationalizing: it’s a 2-in-1 product so, really, I was paying for 2 products.

A GREAT PRIMER, TOO:

Initially, I used it merely as part of my night routine but when I started using it as a makeup base, it made my makeup last so much longer. It makes a really great primer! The feeling it gives is similar to the Makeup Forever HD Primer. Spreads easily like thin lotion and dries down to a very slight tacky finish, leaving your skin feeling moisturized and looking supple. My skin, oily as it may be, absorbs this pretty quickly. This also layers well with any foundation formulation—be it cream, gel, silicone or powder. I apply it second to sunblock. Instead of looking oily at the 4-hour mark, this made my skin look dewy. It smells sooo good, too! The usual Chanel scent is very much present in this. Duh.

SHELF-LIFE:

Packaging indicates 6 months but this lasted a really loooong time. Not because I was saving it but because 1 single pump (comes with a very convenient pump) was more than enough for my face—often times there’d even be enough product left on my fingers to spread down to my neck. 

DRAWBACK:

This did not permanently regulate my oily skin. Also, I mentioned the price of this, right?

 

WILL I REPURCHASE? MAYBE:

The reason why I am thinking twice before repurchasing this boils right down to its price. There are so many other mattifying products out there that I would like to experiment on---cheaper, I might add. And besides, if other products fail, there is always the Combos Skin Tea Tree Balancing Mask ( http://kalfafarasia.blogspot.com/2014/11/combos-skin-tea-tree-balancing-mask.html ) that similarly does the job, when needed.`

REVIEW: Chanel Eau Douceur

I WILL REPURCHASE:

I got Chanel’s Eau Douceur from the Chanel counter in Rustan’s (much like your Neiman Marcus, Harrods or Galeries Lafayette). It set me back around P2,250 (roughly USD50) for 150 ml of product. It is cleansing water formulated for both face and eyes.

BACKSTORY:

My story with make-up removers started when I began putting more than just powder. A couple of years ago I woke up one morning to a pair of pimples. This pair multiplied (exponentially) that by the end of the week, one could arguably say I had acne vulgaris. Waking up every morning to zits, scars left by zits, emerging zits and healing ones was literally and figuratively speaking, a pain in the neck (and face!). Anyhow, this urged me to begin my love affair with makeup. Brightside. Thank you, zits! I was successful covering them up with liquid and cream foundation but taking it off at the end of day with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser was sooooo tiresome and time-consuming---had to repeat massaging-in and rubbing off with tissue that my face felt raw every night. I knew then that there was an efficient way of cleaning face and I was right.

EXPERIENCE: 

I discovered Chanel’s Eau Douceur when I was trying out Chanel foundation. The beauty assistant gave me a cotton pad soaked with it to remove my existing makeup and I was impressed! One gentle swipe and the cotton pad was loaded with gunk. Not just that, the quintessential Chanel scent it left behind made me feel really luxe and sophisticated. A woman of the world; as if I was part of old Hollywood glamour--may be eye-roll worthy to some but that’s my truth.  Long and short of it, the escapist side of me brought a bottle home that day.

TAKES MAKEUP OFF EFFICIENTLY: 

This cleaned my face efficiently and gently. No need for rubbing or elbow grease, as was required by Cetaphil when taking makeup off. This also removed eye makeup, including waterproof mascara, easily without stinging. Plus, you have an option of not having to wash your face after. This isn’t fragrance free but my skin does not take issue with this. On the contrary, like I said earlier, the scent just added a layer to the lovely experience. And! And! My pimples calmed down. Yes, it did!

PACKAGING FORM and FUNCTION: 

The sleek packaging graced my makeup table so beautifully. More importantly, this comes with a pump that makes dispensing very convenient. I found that 2 pumps per cotton round (I’d use 5 to 6 for a full face of makeup) were enough to soak the cotton.

LIFESPAN: 

The package indicates 6 months but I used this waaaay beyond that. I admit in a small voice: a little over 2 years. I know! I know! But I assure you, it was still as good as day 1. No change in scent, color or efficacy. No breakouts, too (acne had already been managed at this point). I saved it as long as I could by using it sparingly. I used it on those days when a pick-me-upper was needed. Stretching this out to last for this long was made possible because not very long after, I discovered and became totally dependent on Bioderma’s Cleansing Water.

DOWNSIDE:

The downside to this is the price tag. For a 150 ml bottle, I paid Php2250 (roughly USD50); compare that to Bioderma’s 500 ml for 125 MOP (roughly Php750 or USD 17).  Another one: although it was safe to travel with it (the pump has a cover), it just took too much space in my beauty case. Decanting it to a travel bottle just didn’t give me the same luxe experience so I stopped traveling with it.

KIDS’ CORNER:

My little girls (ages 10, 7 and 4) play with “real” makeup a lot requiring makeup remover. I shared this with them once in a while and their skin was totally fine with it. No sign of irritation and they unanimously loved the fragrance. However, my 4 year old did complain that it would sting her eyes—especially when the pad was too soaked.