conditioner Archive | Berries in the Snow

asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review W2Beauty

Review: SanDaWha Camellia Shampoo and Conditioner

21. September 2017

/ PR SAMPLE / HAIR / AFFILIATE LINKS /

I love to try out hair care from other countries. Sometimes you find true gems, which you would never have found in the range of your regular drugstore haul. When I heard that the Korean brand SanDaWha also has a shampoo and conditioner containing Camellia Flower I was sure that I needed to try it. Thankfully, I was provided a set of the SanDaWha Camellia Shampoo and Conditioner from W2Beauty.

SanDaWha is a natural cosmetics brand from Korea. Its products are free from mineral oils, free from alcohol, free from animal based ingredients, synthetic perfume and fragrance free, and free from artificial pigments and artificial preservatives. From the high quality plant-based ingredients Camellia flower is their key ingredient. Camellia japonica is a member of the tea family and grows naturally in Korea and Japan, where it is also known by the name “Dongbaek” (Korean) or “Tsubaki” (Japanese). This flower is also the ingredient of the Shiseido Tsubaki hair care. The oil from the Camellia flower is widely used in asian cosmetics and has moisturizing properties.

My hair is frizzy and has natural waves and curls. I don’t have thick hair though, but rather fine one. My hair is also quite long (at the moment down to my waist) and therefore the ends are pretty damaged (time to visit the hair saloon…). When I look for hair care I usually look for straightening and hydrating properties and damage repair. My scalp is dry to normal depending on the season. These products from SanDaWha are directed towards sensitive & dry to normal scalp.

The SanDaWha Camellia Shampoo and Conditioner come in large pump bottles containing 400 g each. I love to have pump bottles for hair care since it makes it much easier to control how much product you need. The white colored bottles are decorated with a single red Camellia flower on the front. I love the design! Below the flower you will find a short text which describes the product.The pump of the bottles has to be unlocked upon the first use. This prevents the product to leak out during the shipping. Also, if you want to take the shampoo somewhere else, you could lock it again.

The ingredients of the SanDaWha Camellia Clear Moisturizing Shampoo are listed below. The shampoo contains almost 50% Camellia Japonica Flower Extract. Apart from that you will also find a bunch of other plant-based ingredients, like rosemary, lavender, rosewood, chamomile, licorice etc. The shampoo is supposed to cleanse your hair from impurities and yet act moisturizing on the hair. Also, the herbs should have a calming effect on the scalp. The conditioner also contains a bunch of plant-based ingredients. In contrast to the shampoo it contains 5 different oils to deeply moisturize and nourish the hair. The ingredients list states for example shea butter, olive oil, and of course tsubaki oil...but also essential oils like mint, lavender, rosewood, etc.

The shampoo has a clear, slightly yellowish formulation with an herbal scent, which was actually not what I expected, but I loved the shampoo. It made the hair feel so clean and the scalp especially. The hair was fluffy and lightweight after washing the hair with the SanDaWha Camellia Shampoo. In terms of moisture I still needed to use the conditioner, because the moisturizing effect of the shampoo was not enough. The conditioner does a perfect job in that point. It has a creamy consistency and really makes the hair feel soft and hydrated. I tested these two products very thoroughly and the shampoo is already empty and the conditioner needs only some more days. I can definitely say that this combination doesn’t make your hair ultra sleek like the Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner from Shiseido. It makes them fluffy and light and clean...nevertheless, the conditioner really is a glow-booster for my hair. I see the difference in how the hair shines whether I use the conditioner together with the shampoo or I use the shampoo alone.

My final verdict is that I enjoyed the SanDaWha Camellia Shampoo and Conditioner. I already knew that Camellia really does the trick for my hair, but now I’ve been confirmed again. I love how the brand contains natural and eco certificated ingredients and so many plants and herbs, too. It is, in my eyes, a good alternative to the Shiseido Tsubaki Shampoo and worth a try, although it is also similarly expensive. At W2Beauty the set of shampoo and conditioner retails for 55 US$ (currently there is a SanDaWha brand sale of 40% and the set retails for only 33US$!).

You can also use these coupon codes until end of 2017 for a discount:

berriesholiday: 30% off of Swanicoco, SanDaWha, Eclado, Cellnco, Romand, Moksha, La Bellona, 107 Oneoseven and Oseque

One coupon can be used per order, and each coupon can be used one time by each customer.

What are your hair care recommendations for frizzy/dry hair?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by https://w2beauty.com which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty Garnier PR Sample review

Review: Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat Haircare

9. November 2016

Years ago I turned my back towards western haircare, because I made the experience that eastern haircare products made my hair simply more manageable. As time went by I occasionally came by the situation that some of my haircare products have been emptied before I could order any back-up. In these moments I needed to go to a local drugstore and check for their haircare products. For a while now Garnier introduced their Ultimate Blend series, where each haircare routine is dedicated to a key ingredient. I’ve been excited to try out the different versions since then(especially when the Ultimate Blends Honey were introduced). A while ago I was lucky to receive their latest addition to the Ultimate Blends series, the Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat haircare line.

The Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat line is designed for people with sensitive scalp and fragile hair. It is enriched with protein-rich ingredients, like oat and rice. Oat milk is rich in antioxidants, and rice cream, which provides moisture. The formula soothes the feel of sensitive scalps and leaves hair feeling protected and irresistibly soft to the touch according to the description.

Oat is a protein rich and low-fat cereal. Oat milk helps to soothe and nourish the hair without making it feel heavy or greasy. Rice Cream is produced by grinding of small grain rice. It is said, that is has moisturizing and protective properties for the hair and it is protein rich, too.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat haircare consists of four products: the shampoo, the conditioner, a treatment and a heat protection spray. The products are free of paraben and contain natural extracts. The shampoo and the conditioner come in regular plastic squeeze bottles containing 250 and 200 ml, respectively. At first I had some problems with squeezing out the products because every time I tried I squeezed out too much of it. After a while I got a feeling for how to handle it.

The treatment comes in a jar containing 300 ml. I know that most hair treatments come in jars, but actually I would prefer a pump or a tube, which is easier to handle while showering.

The Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat has been tested by me for some weeks already. Actually, I already finished one bottle of shampoo and conditioner before receiving the products to test and I didn’t have any problems with them during the time.

The shampoo of the Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat has a liquid, light cream consistency. It is a milky formula and you have to be careful while dispensing it (a pump would avoid this). You need a bit more product for it to lather up and build a nice foam, especially if you have long hair like me. The smell though is divine! It is the scent of sweet flowery milk, at least for me :D the conditioner and the treatment have the same scent. Both have thicker, creamy formulations. Still the treatment is even creamier than the conditioner. I discovered that the conditioner alone doesn’t manage my frizzy and tangled hair. I need the treatment or a good hair oil to be able to detangle properly. But the shampoo and conditioner used on their own make my hair super lightweight and soft.

The Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat does a good job in providing nutrients and moisturizing the hair. I love the packaging design and the color combination of white and light pink and I adore the scent. For me, the conditioner doesn’t provide enough for detangling my frizzy hair. I need to use the treatment together with it. Still I love the fact that the formulation is free of parabens and contains natural extracts, yet it contains silicons. I personally do not have sensitive scalp, only dry hair, so I cannot say how it will work on someone else, but I personally didn’t have problems with this haircare line. The great thing is that you can get the Garnier Ultimate Blends for a few bucks from your local drugstore. Still, although I liked and like using it, it does not compete with my favorite haircare product from Shiseido.

Did you try the Garnier Ultimate Blends Delicate Oat products? What is your favourite haircare?

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.garnier.de/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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asian cosmetics beauty PR Sample review Wishtrend

Review: Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Cooling Shampoo and Warming Treatment

29. August 2016

I love trying out asian hair products and I have some favorites in my list already. Still, I’m always on the look for new discoveries, so when Wishtrend asked me whether I wanted to try their new line of products from the brand Jungle Botanics I agreed directly. I received the Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Cooling Shampoo and Warming Treatment, but also the Jungle Botanics Natural Body Glow Nutshell Scrub, which will be reviewed in a separate post.

Jungle Botanics is a brand created by Wishtrend. According to its description it brings to you the vitality of the green jungle by combining advanced technologies with natural ingredients. The Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Cooling Shampoo and Forest Leaves Warming Treatment is designed to cool down your heat irritated scalp and gives back moisture to dry and damaged hair.

The Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves hair care line consists of a shampoo and a treatment. Both come packed in a simple white cardboard box with a very soft imprint of jungle forest leaves. The tubes of this hair care line is beautifully designed with the same leaves, but this time in lovely green colors. It fits perfectly to the name of the brand.

The shampoo comes in a pump bottle containing 250 ml. It is designed to help with cooling the scalp and reduce itching of the scalp. Interestingly, the shampoo contains small menthyl beads which dissolve and have a cooling effect on your scalp. The scent of the shampoo was also a fresh mint scent which supports the cooling effect even more. I need two-three pumps for my long hair and it gives a nice foam, but it is not too rich or overly foaming. The hair feels clean after using it and give the hair more volume. It has an acidic formula, so it balances the pH of your hair (read Evelyns great post on why the pH of your hair care is important >>here<<).

After shampoo I always use the treatment, which makes the hair feel unbelievingly smooth and easy to comb! I love the treatment, especially if I leave it in my hair for a couple of minutes as suggested. The treatment has no mint scent, but a nice sweet-flowery scent instead. Although being so effectively softening and smoothing, the treatment doesn’t make the hair feel greasy or heavy, but still after using both shampoo and treatment my hair feels clean, and lightweight. The treatment contains pracaxi fruit and brazilian nuts, which are rich in anti-oxidants. But also Avocado oil, argan oil, camelia oil and many more, for keeping your hair nourished! The warming effect is described to open up the cuticle, so the nutrients can be absorbed by your hair, but I didn’t feel any significant warming effect. The treatment comes in a tube containing 200 ml.

The Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Cooling Shampoo and Forest Leaves Warming Treatment do not use silicon or phthalate, but a so-called Amazon Forest Complex. The ingredients of both the shampoo and the treatment are listed below:

Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Cooling Shampoo Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Mannitol, Sucrose, Butylene Glycol, Buteth-3, Salicylic Acid, Climbazole, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tributyl Citrate, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chromium Hydroxide Green, CI 19140, CI 42053, Fragrance

Jungle Botanics Forest Leaves Warming Treatment Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Steartrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Extract, Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Flower Extract, Achillea Millefolium Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance

According to COSDNA (>>shampoo<< and >>treatment<<) the majority of the ingredients is green-flagged. There are few potential irritants among the plant derived extracts and oils, so be sure to check for allergies before using the products.

The set of both shampoo and treatment retails for 35.82 US$. The shampoo on its own retails for 22.90 US$ and the treatment for 16.90 US$ and both are available at Wishtrend. I’m really considering repurchasing both, but I definitely will put another tube of the treatment in my virtual shopping cart! As you can see, I really like the new products and I’m really happy that they are silicon-free, too. Did you try them already?

Don’t forget to check out the Wishtrend monthly vouchers in order to save some money on your order and get freebies. I also have a list on all the products I reviewed from Wishtrend there. Also keep in mind their friend-referral program: You can receive a 5 Us$ referral coupon if you use my invitation code 17939205 upon registration and you’ll receive this voucher immediately.There will be a specific field in your registration form called “friends invitation program” where you can put the code mentioned above. This way new customers can safe 5 US$ which is a great possibility to safe some money.

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Just as a short reminder: All products mentioned and reviewed on this blog are of my personal opinions. This product here was sent to me for reviewing purpose by http://www.wishtrend.com/ which doesn’t influence me in providing my honest opinion on the products.

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beauty MapleHolistics PR Sample review

Review: MapleHolistics Natural Beauty Products

14. October 2015

I’m so sorry for the being absent in the last couple of days…or weeks, but today I’m back with a new review! :) Actually, here are 3 reviews I will be discussing in this post, all of them dedicated to a couple of really awesome MapleHolistics Natural Beauty Products. It could be especially interesting for those of you looking for products with a short ingredients list consisting only on the necessary…and of course for all of you who love natural beauty products! Upon request by MapleHolistics I was allowed to choose products of interest and they were so kind to send me all the products I was interested in, which were a argan shampoo and conditioner and a vitamin C serum. They were so kind, that they even included a lip balm on top! Since I really do like all of the products and I’ve been testing them very thoroughly I can really recommend you to keep on reading and maybe also take a look at the range of products by MapleHolistics.

MapleHolistics is a US based beauty company that has been around for the past few years. They develop and manufacture their own all natural cosmetics, which is also animal cruelty free, and focus mainly on shampoos and conditioners. Nevertheless, you will spot some skincare and bath and body products on their web page, too. I decided to do a review about the Argan Oil Shampoo and the Argan Oil Conditioner. Argan Oil is one of my favorite haircare ingredients, since it makes my hair less frizzy and manageable. I love the Argan oil products from Confume, for example and I’m using them almost daily. I also chose the Vitamin C Serum by MapleHolistics. I was drawn to this serum by the short and really good ingredients lists here. And last but not least I received a Acai Berry Lip Balm on top.

I’ll start of with the Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner: MapleHolistics Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner is designed for men and women. It comes in a red plastic bottle with a simple design. Some illustrations on the label make it still look appealing. Since the bottle of the shampoo and the conditioner is both red, the difference of the two products lies in the color of the label, which is red/brownish for the shampoo and white in case of the conditioner. Also the consistency of the products is different: The shampoo is more runny and has a milky color whereas the conditioner is a white balm product. The scent of the Argan Oil Shampoo and the Conditioner is very subtle and not heavily perfumed at all. In order to dispense the shampoo you can press the cap. This kind of bottle is convenient if you are traveling.

All the MapleHolistics Natural Beauty Products I received came with a information card. The card lists the effect of the key ingredients, but there is a full ingredients list on the label of the bottles, too. Here are the key ingredients of the shampoo as listed on the web page of MapleHolistics:

Argan: Also known as ‘Moroccan Oil’ and one of the rarest oils in the world, argan helps supply shine and a healthy look to hair with its abundance of vitamin E, carotene and essential fatty acids.

Peach Kernel: Contributes valuable regenerative and moisturizing properties, and is great for sensitive skin.

Jojoba: As it closely resembles sebum naturally produced by the scalp, jojoba is one of the skincare industry’s most favored ingredients and has a host of therapeutic properties.

Avocado: Enriches the formula with its high vitamin content, which includes vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E.

Camellia Seed: Nourishes the complexion and helps condition the scalp, while providing healthy antioxidants to rejuvenate hair and scalp alike.

Almond: An excellent moisturizer,which is rich in proteins, olein glyceride, linoleic acid and vitamin D to help soothe dry and irritated areas on the scalp.

Botanical Keratin: Keratin is a family of fibrous structural proteins, which contribute to the composition of hair. As it is essential to hair’s formation, insufficient quantities of keratin may be a contributing factor to having frizzy and unmanageable hair. This naturally derived ingredient helps to replenish the ideal keratin content for strong, durable hair.

Honey and Vanilla: With their light and sweet fragrances, these ingredients enrich the formula for a balanced and soothing experience.

The Argan Oil Conditioner has these key ingredients listed additionally, apart from Argan Oil and Jojoba Oil

Shea Butter and Green Tea: These helpful ingredients are fast-absorbing and commit moisturizing qualities to dry and delicate hair strands. Shea butter, in particular, contains vitamins A and E, making it an excellent natural moisturizer for the hair. It locks in moisture without leaving the hair greasy or heavy. Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which strengthens hair roots, activates hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

Pomegranate, Hibiscus and Sea Buckthorn: Certified blend assists in repairing damaged hair follicles to revitalize healthy, flowing hair. Pomegranate contains ellagic acid, which prevents the moisture in the hair from drying out. Hibiscus (“the flower of hair care”) helps prevent dryness, dullness, and hair damage. It also prevents problems like dandruff, split ends, and premature graying. Sea buckthorn, on the other hand, contains high levels of Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9, as well as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K that promote healthy skin and hair.

Both products work great on my hair and although the Argan Oil Shampoo is sulphate free it leathers up really nicely and generates a soft foam. Furthermore my hair does not feel dry after using these two, which is my main concern with other sulphate free shampoos. The hair is shiny and I can comb it easily even while it is still wet. I definitively like this shampoo and conditioner and it is worth to have a look at it, if you are on the look for a sulphate free shampoo at the moment. The bottles contain 8 oz and retail for 12.97 US$ for the shampoo and 7.89 US$ for the conditioner. It is probably more expansive than a lot of drug store hair products, but after all I think it is worth it.

The next product I tried and really enjoyed using it the MapleHolistics Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum. You know I love the O.S.T Vitamin C Serum and I repurchased it a couple of times already, but this one impressed me because of its mild formula and short ingredients list. If both versions of the O.S.T C20 Vitamin C serum are too strong for your skin I can recommend you to check out this Vitamin C Serum instead. Like all the Vitamin C serums I tried so far it comes in a brown glass bottle with a pipette attached to the cap. The liquid is almost clear with a slight yellowish tint. Unlike the Vitamin C serum from C20 this one doesn’t have the same watery texture, but a more serum-like, thicker texture which feels very soft upon applying it to the skin. Moreover, it has almost no scent. It absorbs fast without stickiness and works well with other products. Nevertheless, I always wait a couple of minutes after applying any vitamin C serum before I continue with the other skincare steps. The ingredients list is short and contains these ingredients:

Water, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Vegetable Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Vitamin E Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ferulic Acid, Algae Extract, Pullulan Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate

So this serum contains not only Vitamin C, but also Vitamin A and E, plus hyaluronic acid and quite important Ferulic Acid to stabilize the Vitamin C. Really a lovely ingredient list! My skin didn’t react to this serum and I’ve been testing it for a month now. Definitively a very good serum! The bottle contains 30 ml and and retails for 11.77 US$ which is affordable compared to other Vitamin C serums.

Lastly, here is my impression on the Acai Berry Natural Lip Balm by MapleHolistics. This is a solid, but simple lip balm consisting mainly of Shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter and sunflower seed oil. Vitamin E and Aloe leaf extract give some extra moisture and nutrition to your lips. It has a fruity-sweet scent reminding of berries and does a good job in hydrating the lips. Moreover, it comes in this bullet shape and is more hygienic than lip balms which come in containers where you have to use your finger. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it in the shop, but this lip balm contains 4.25 g in total. It was really a nice surprise to receive this and I’m using it daily and I’m totally happy about it, too!

Although I didn’t know MapleHolistics before I’m very pleased and positively surprised about the MApleHolistics Natural Beauty Products. I liked all three of them and I can recommend you to check out their products if you have the chance. There is also the possibility to check out http://www.mapleholistics.com/free-products/ in order to get your hand on a free product. Moreover, I wanted to point out that their blogger connection is being sponsored by edumuch.com. Last but not least, I hope you accept my apologies for my rare postings in the last days, but I promise there will be a bunch of new reviews within the next time. ♥

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