Shan Rahimkhan True Volume Intensive Repair Treatment

My sister picked up this mask when she was in Berlin last year, and I brought it along on vacation with me. I really loved the pump bottle of this mask because it made it easy to get lot of product out even when my hands were dirty.

What this bottle dispenses is a lovely cream that turns into a watery-oil formulation when you rub it in your hands. Because it’s a bit of a watery conditioner, it’s super easy to spread throughout your hair even when your hair is dry. It also smells really good.

This conditioned my hair nicely and it wasn’t greasy like the Amika conditioner or crunchy like the Ouai conditioner. I loved using it and would use it again. I’m not sure why it has True Volume in its name, but I didn’t notice any volumizing when I used this treatment.

Not sure where you can get it stateside but maybe the line will show up one day!

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Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara Review

The tagline for this Estee Lauder mascara says “Bold Volume Lifting Mascara” and the accompanying copy tells me that it builds volume without weighing down lashes or becoming overly sticky or tacky.


I have to say that all that is absolutely true. This is a mascara that’s a pleasure to wear and use on a daily basis. The more coats you put on the better it looks, and the best part is that it doesn’t smudge or flake as the day wears on!

I love getting dramatic lashes with this and at the end of the day, it washes off easily and cleanly.

$35 at Estee Lauder counters.

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The Body Shop Banana Truly Nourishing Shampoo

I really don’t like anything that smells or tastes like bananas. I think the reason is that I used to have banana-flavoured medicine when I was younger and so that made me dislike the taste forever.

But I really like products from The Body Shop and so I did want to try their Banana Shampoo because it used to be a best-seller.

This shampoo has given me the softest hair!

I think the way that it works is that it’s clarifying but it doesn’t strip your hair of all moisture so your hair is soft without really being overly dry.

Pick it up at the Body Shop for $11, but on sale right now for $7.70.

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Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask Review

Took a huge tub of this mask on vacation with me and just used it once.  That’s ok, it was worth the experiment.  That being said, this mask came out in 2011 and is still selling in stores so there must be people who like it.  I know a lot of people who swear by the original Moroccanoil, and I’ve used lots of their products and love them too.  Read on for the review of this treatment mask.

I love all things Moroccanoil, but I have to say that this mask left me wanting more.

The Intense Hydrating Mask is a light blend of dimethicone, glycerine, as well as Argan Oil, and does in fact leave hair feeling manageable and smooth.  It also gave some shine to my hair.

Despite all that, however, I think that as a mask it falls short, for it didn’t do anything that my normal hair conditioner can do.  The mask wasn’t overly thick or rich, and didn’t repair my super fried hair after a month of intense heat styling.  If you don’t have major dryness issues with your hair, then this might be for you, but on the whole, there’s not a lot of difference between this conditioner and other Moroccanoil conditioners.

I also got really sick of the Moroccanoil mask after smelling it for so long.

This conditioner retails for $46 at Sephora and Nordstrom and salons selling Moroccanoil.

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Beautycounter Countertime Cleansing Oil and How to Double Cleanse Video

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Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Mask

IMG_2408It’s gotta be said: all those hours in the sun and in the water do a number on your hair, and my hair is feeling parched because the summer greasiness requires me to wash it more too.

Whether you’re heading back to school, back to work, or just revamping your beauty arsenal, you need to pick up this: the 3 Minute Miracle deep conditioner from Pantene.  I love the luxe gold packaging, and the extremely thick and buttery mask inside is perfect for repairing and smoothing extremely dry hair.  I use it and skip the styling products after washing my hair, because I find that my hair just doesn’t need them!

$5.99 at the drugstore.

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Ouai Treatment Mask

The Ouai treatment mask also came on vacation with me. Unlike the Amika mask, this was not greasy or oily and so it didn’t feel as nourishing either. It also dried to a hard finish which I didn’t love. At the end of the day, I washed it out and my hair felt ok. I tried using it again on wet hair, and again the results were so-so.

Again, this is a travel-sized tube with lots of product in it – I could get 3 or 4 uses out of it at least. It had a fresh scent that was pleasant and that dissipated after a while.

The full size is available at Sephora for $47. I’d love to try more Ouai products so I’ll be keeping an eye out for more travel sizes that I can use.

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MoroccanOil Weightless Hydrating Mask Review

Weightless Volumizing Deep Conditioners are the latest new products out there and I’m so thankful because I have fine hair that’s super dry so I want a conditioner that’s substantial but light.

I must not be the only one that needs a product like this, because brand new at your salon this December is Moroccanoil’s Weightess Hydrating Mask, which gives you all the TLC of Moroccanoil, but in a formula that fine hair can handle.

The formula is rich and creamy, but also on the light side so it spreads through fine hair easily. This is like a lotion for the hair rather than a body butter.

I admit that I don’t like this conditioner as much as the Ojon one – that one was just so hydrating. But Moroccan Oil’s contains Argan Oil so it’s nice and it leaves my hair ultra soft which I’m really happy about.

Pick this up at salons, Sephora, or Nordstrom for $51.

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Kevin Murphy Hydrate.Me Mask

Really into Kevin Murphy products right now, and this is one of my favourite conditioners from the brand. I wouldn’t put this in my hair on the beach, but it’s great to use in the shower.

These days, I’m really into the Kevin Murphy brand of hair care products. I’ve found that they really work for my parched hair and over the last six months, there’s always been a Kevin Murphy product in my rotation.

My latest favourite product is the Hydrate-Me.Masque which contains Rose Hip and Primrose Oil in a super rich and thick conditioning base. If your hair is high-lighted, coarse, curly, frizzy, then you have to try this out, especially if you’ve been spending a lot of time in the ocean or sun this summer.

To get the most of out this mask, I actually find that it’s better to lightly towel-dry my hair, and then apply the mask so that it stays just as rich as it is coming out of the bottle. I then leave it in my hair for 5-10 minutes as recommended before rinsing it out. I especially like using it after I’ve coloured my hair because it totally takes my hair up to a new level of shine.

This is definitely a deep conditioner and meant to be used after your regular condition or in place of it, once in a while. I like using it once a week, and sticking with something less heavy for the rest of the week, but I definitely like using it regularly so that my hair gets a heavy dose of moisturizers once in a while. It will weigh down fine hair, but that might be something you’re willing to put up with.

This is now available at salons for $39.

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Hair Mask: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask

I have crazy curly hair so I know that when I’m in humid weather, there’s no point in me really doing my hair when it’s just going to turn into a puff ball. Instead I coat it with a hair mask and put it into a bun and go about my way. I tried Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask over the Christmas break and I loved it.

This is a slightly greasy, slightly oily mask which feels seriously nourishing on your hair. Once you wash it out, your hair feels more nourished and so much smoother than it was before, especially if it was dry and parched to begin with. This is a trial-size of the mask and a little bit goes a long way. This little tube has enough for 3 or 4 uses, and the large size is a huge tub.

$37 at Sephora.

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