Inecto’s Pure Coconut Hair Serum

Hair serums tend to come in quite small bottles and are expensive in comparison to shampoos and conditioners.  However, they are a godsend to those of us with slightly frizzy, wavy hair.  This product is in a larger than average pack size and is around 1/10 of the price of some of the designer hair serums.

Ingredients

Blend of silicones and coconut oil.

What’s the Difference between Serums?

Very little, they all contain a blend of silicones, which have the function of laying the hair cuticle flat so it appears less frizzy and gives a gloss, creates a shield for the hair shaft which would prevent too much moisture absorption (remember Monica from Friends when she was on holiday in a humid climate).  Some serums may also contain additional nice ingredients for the hair i.e. keratin, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins. 

Hair Affinity

All serums, due to their silicone blend, will have a high affinity to hair, this particular product contains pure coconut oil, which traditionally has been used for decades by women in the Pacific Islands to protect and nourish their hair from the sun and elements.

Rating

Value for money – unbeaten price at £2.19 for a 50 ml product from Savers, TJ Hughes and independent pharmacies, designer hair serums in supermarkets typically cost £11.00 per 100ml

Effectiveness – smoothes frizz and adds shine, makes hair softer, more supple and luxuriant

Pampering factor – nice fragrance, a little goes a long way, acts as a hair treatment in addition

Highly Recommended

Ren’s Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-moisturising body oil

I love this product as the Rose fragrance is so feminine and stays on the skin for hours afterwards.  The older we get the more moisturisation our skin needs to stop looking dehydrated and aged, due to loss of elasticity.  I find that most body lotions do not deliver sufficient moisturisation, and hence would recommend anyone with dry skin or into their 40’s + wanting to have glowing, soft, youthful looking skin to try this product.

Ingredients

Rose oil only appears 5^th on the list, after rice germ, jojoba and macadamia nut oils, but there are lots of other natural vegetable oils that are good sources of Ceramides (Carthane oil) Phospholipids (glycine soya), Anti-oxidant (cranberry seed oil) Omega 6 & 7 (Argan oil & Sea Buckthorn oil)  - so some very high quality natural ingredients.

Body Lotion, Butter, Soufflé, Oil or Spray?

Oils would definitely be better for the skin, particularly vegetable oils which are similar to skins own sebum.  However, because they tend to be greasy and leave a residue on the skin, sheets and clothes, they tend not to be so popular, so a product that delivers the benefit of the natural oils but none of the negatives is indeed a truly special product. 

Sprays tend to be a combination of vegetable oils and silicones to give a non-greasy feel.  Body lotions and Soufflé’s often contain high levels of silicone, that’s why a small amount in the hand covers a lot of body.  Butters tend to have a high vegetable fat content such as shea, coconut or cocoa butter.  A “proper butter” will stay in place when placed on its side, rather than follow gravity, and resemble butter in its texture, and be hard to touch but melt softly upon skin contact. 

Skin Affinity

This sinks in beautifully and does not leave a greasy residue on the skin. 

Rating

Value for money – upper mass market price bracket at £34.00, available in John Lewis, Selfridges, Liberty & Space NK

Effectiveness – delivers intense hydration and essential nourishment into the skin, with a feminine rose fragrance that stays on the skin for hours, and leaves the skin glowing and healthier looking

Pampering factor – very high, fragrant and norishing

Highly Recommended

L'Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream

L’Occitane Ultra Rich Face Cream

There are many good night creams on the market and I usually consider the pack claims and then check the ingredients to see if they can actually deliver.  I also assess how well it sinks into my skin.

Ingredients of Interest

Shea butter - 2nd ingredient in terms of volume, very rich vegetable fat which is moisturising,  anti-inflammatory, protects against UV rays and is quickly absorbed into the skin

Glycerin - cheap ingredient but effective in keeping in moisture

Sodium PCA - occurs naturally and helps skin keep in moisture

Light Cream, Rich Cream or Serum?

This is recommended for night time use, so its fine to have something heavier on the skin whilst sleeping.  This feels heavy on application, but soon feels lighter as your skin drinks it in.  The pack claims 25% Shea butter, which is quite decent amount of a vegetable oil priced around £5 / kg, also claims 24 hour protection and hydration and the glycerin and Sodium PCA would back up the 24 hour hydration claim.  I find my skin looks plumper (in a nice way) and moisturised the following morning.

   

Skin Affinity

Be wary of products that take a long time to sink into the skin, these tend to contain a lot of silicones which do not really offer any benefit to the skin, they just feel amazing.  Vegetable oils will be highly compabitible with the skin, and therefore get absorbed very quickly, almost like your skin is thirsty and is drinking it in.

  

Rating

Value for money – upper mass market price bracket at £29.50, available in most department stores and L’Occitane stores

Effectiveness – 24 hrs hydration with ingredients to back it up, my skin looks discernably plumped after using

Pampering factor – very high, feels super rich

Highly Reoommended

Expose Summer Bronze Self Tanning Mousse with Aloe Vera

There are many fake/self tans on the market and some of which are quite expensive.  I guess the perception is that the better the quality of the brand, the less likely one is to get streaks and a dodgy looking colour.   Well, I don’t believe that’s necessarily so,

Ingredients

All self tans will have to contain dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as this is the product that changes the skin colour, and whilst the skin is changing colour it gives off the characteristic unpleasant odour, reminiscent (to me anyway) of rotting mushrooms.  The percentage of DHA used will determine the level of colour so slow build up one will contain very little and smell a little less, whereas a higher level one will promise a deeper, longer lasting tan and be more smell usually.  Ethrylose is also sometimes used as an ingredient to compliment the action of the DHA, but doesn’t really work alone.   Bronze coloured pearls are sometimes used to give a shimmery effect and these would the same as you would find in a blusher or bronzing powder, these would be the CI numbers on the ingredients list.  Sometimes vanilla or caramel is added to try and mask the odour.

Lotion, Mousse or Spray?

The other ingredients used will be depending on whether it’s a lotion, mousse or spray, therefore it’s a case of trial and error to see which you find gives the best result.  Lotions are fluid and they tend to run down the legs this can potentially cause streaking, mousse’s dispense a smaller amount onto the skin and it stays where applied, and they penetrate the skin quite efficiently too.  Sprays give good coverage and sometimes bronzing pearls are added so you can see you have applied, sprays are probably the best for solo back applications, only problem is a bit on inhalation! 

Skin Preparation

The better the condition of the skin the better the appearance of the tan as it works on the surface skin cells and if these are dry, flaky etc it will be exaggerated!  So moisturise, exfoliate, scrub etc a few hours prior to application or a quick and easy way (assuming you moisturise regularly) would be to use a body brush to remove dead skin cells.

Oops!

To avoid very dark brown hands, use latex gloves, which can be purchased from any chemist, I also apply the product to my gloved back of hand to apply to hard to reach areas.  Corrector wipes are very good as you never know how well you have done until the colour has fully developed.

Rating

Value for money – excellent, costs £1 from Savers

Effectiveness – does the job, non-streaky, nice even colour that will lasts about 5 days
Pampering factor – not that much, but same as other self tans

Highly Reoommended