Vichy Capital Soleil Suncare Oil SPF 20

I still clearly remember... when I was a kid, I hate any kind of suncare precautions. I would try my best to avoid my mom slathering them on to my skin before playing in the poor or beach. I will refuse to wear cover-ups after swimming. And every, single, time... I paid for it dearly... my skin turned red and painful... bye bye swimming pool, hello sunburn.

Oh... but getting sunburnt skin is not my only problem... my hair got 'sunburnt' too!

It will get so frizzy and tangled and ... almost crispy. Plus... my hair will get lightened... not in a good beach blonde way. Washing my hair apres swimming is a real pain... tangle tangle tangle...

Recently though, I have found myself a solution! Vichy Capital Soleil Suncare Oil SPF 20. (They do SPF 40 too... but when I got it, the shop only have SPF 20 left). 

Vichy is a French brand that you can get easily in European pharmacist (seen them in France and Italy at least). Like most french brands sold in pharmacies, they are focused more on skincare then make up. 

Yes, Vichy's website mentioned that this is meant for skin, but I like to experiment with my beauty oils. On skin, it makes my skin looks well hydrated, but not too oily. It has light floral fragrance which doesnt compete with my cologne. 

But, I found its wonder on my hair... before swimming in the sea, I would apply this oil liberally on my hair. really liberally... the result... after whole day of swimming, my hair is easier to manage ... less tangles in the shower, easier during brushing. I am loving it. Yes, oil slicked hair might not be everyone's cup of tea. But you will love the result when you shower... and your hair will be wet from swimming anyway... 

Usually I love heavy glass bottles, but this time, I am super glad with this light plastic bottle. And the spray format is just so handy... application on skin and hair is super easy. Plus, I can simply throw it in my beach bag and not worry about it spilling or broken in my bag.

Bottomline:

This bottle has been my hair savior this summer. highly recommend it!

(picture from vichy.co.uk)

Caudalie Divine Oil

This is by no means a new product... let's just say i've re-discovered it. 

I always love oils, especially dry oils. why? I can use it in many many ways.

Lately my hair ends has been suffering more than usual... oh well.. beside straightening my hair, these days I often dye it too. my LUSH R&B has been working over time... and I guess it is time to give my hair rest from it. I believe in switching products as hair needs changes ... doenst mean that I fell out of love with it... just 'taking time off' ... if it makes sense.

With that... enters Caudalie Divine Oil. I first discovered it during a trip to France. French pharmacies are like Disneyland ... arrays of skincare stuff... so many creams... so many oils... so many... many many things... One that stood up was this pretty bottle of Divine Oil from Caudalie. I usually use Nuxe's dry oil... but being me... I just have to try new product!

The oil is lovely, light and wonderfully fragranced with white floral fragrance. Soft, not overpowering... almost calming to my nose.The website mentioned that it is made of blends of wonderful oils... grape, hibiscus, sesame and argan. plus... they thrown in polyphenol anti-oxidants too. Plus... Caudalie will plant a tree for every bottle sold!

Enough marketing... let's go to the juice inside the bottle... The oil is easily absorbed by damp skin and towel dried hair... and my hair has been looking better with little mix of divine oil in my regime. Sometime I apply it alone after towel drying my hair or mix it with pea sized Lush R&B. I think it helps 'seals' in the moisture from Lush R&B and of course, adds gloss on my lackluster hair...

On dry hair, it makes my hair look oily. i usually mix with water or hair treatment water like this Lucido-L spray. 

For those with softer hair , I guess massaging in a single spray on towel dried hair is enough in order not to weigh down the hair too much.

My skin is loving this oil too! again, in my opinion, it is best applied on towel dried skin. This oil has saved my skin during winter! after bath, i would apply it liberally before towel drying, massaging in slowly while enjoying the lovely fragrance. then I would apply my body butter/creams as usual. 

One thing that makes this bottle of oil stands up is the design! i just love the substantial feeling of the glass bottle with grape bunch silhouette stamped on the bottle, pretty on the eye, but makes holding and spraying the bottle with wet/damp hand easier. and the cap... i just adore the wooden-inspired cap. not wooden, but totally looks like wooden cap. pretty pretty!

Bottomline:

dry skin/dry hair savior for me with wonderful soft fragrance and pretty bottle. a must try!

(picture from uk.caudalie.com) 

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil

I’ve got this bottle for a while already, can’t believe I haven’t done anything with it yet! I think most of us are familiar with Palmer’s. The brand pretty much offers everything hydrating for the skin.

 Palmer’s claims that this oil is good for scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, aging skin, fine lines and wrinkles. They also say this is good not only for your arms and legs... but also your face. That’s a lot of claim thrown in there!

You know me... first, I am going to try it on my hair! The oil is thin and easy to get absorbed. It makes my hair feels softer. The oil has faint fruity rose fragrance. It doesn’t bother me at all, as it dissipates very quickly after hair or skin application.

On my dry skin, it gets absorbed nicely as well. Dispense carefully, as just a little too much oil will give the oily skin stickiness.

One thing I really really hate from this oil is the bottle! The small plastic bottle size is perfect. But the nozzle is pain in the ass. It is too small and somehow I cant dispense it cleanly, without spilling some on the sides. Hate it.

Bottomline,

Practical product for those who wants skin and hair oil in one. But, I just detest that plastic bottle. Please, change the nozzle!

The Body Shop Beautifying Oil in Moringa

Recently, I am drawn to everything oil… cleansing oil, dry oil, massage oil… you name it! Of course I have to grab The Body Shop’s new beautifying oil. 

 (picture from thebodyshop website)

TBS claimed that this dry oil is suitable for body, face and hair. Well, I am going to use it only for my body and hair… for simple reason, I am already happy with my L’occitane cream & Clarins Lotus oil for my face. Plus… I don’t like overly fragranced products on my face. And these oils are surely heavily scented. The Body Shop USA website lists 11 variations, but I think in Asia, there’s less. I picked up Moringa, which has creamy white floral scent which I adore. 

The oil is supposed to moisturize, smoothen and illuminate skin. My skin has been ultra dry lately, and extra moisture from any product, is greatly appreciated! So, I tried this on my bare skin after shower on my left arm and compared it to Nuxe Huile Prodigiuse on my right arm. Well, I can say both are as easily absorbed and pretty much equally moisturizing on the skin. But Nuxe oil wins in the illuminating department.

For the hair, I do think TBS oil is more easily absorbed than Nuxe, leaving my dried hair lightly moisturized with little extra healthy sheen.  

I am so happy to find out that this product doesn’t contain silicone products. Yes, it means it is not going to be as light on the skin/hair… but lately I’m just bored with the silicone feeling most hair serums and oils give. 

Here’s the ingredients list:

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Dicaprylyl Carbonate (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil (Skin Conditioning Agent), Parfum/Fragrance (Fragrance), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Moringa Pterygosperma Oil/Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Oil (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil (Emollient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Tocopherol (Antioxidant), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate (Antioxidant), Geraniol (Fragrance Ingredient), Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil/Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil (Emollient), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Antioxidant).

Bottomline,

I am loving this on my hair. Definitely going to repurchase when I run out. For me, TBS beautifying oil is going to be on heavy rotation with my favorite Vrai oil.

Vrai Argan Oil

I tend to shy away from argan oil products since I consider it too expensive and my experience with argan oil products hasnt been satisfactory recently.

So, when my parents brought me Vrai Argan Oil from Fragonard Paris last month, I just tried a shy single pump on my skin and leave the bottle on my desk. Pretty much untouched, since I have other body oils on rotation.

But yesterday, I was running out of my regular Etude House hair essence, which I always apply prior to straight ironing. at times combined with Ma Cherie milk. In desperate effort to find replacement, I stumbled upon white minimalistic Vrai Argan Oil bottle. I applied it on my towel dried hair then go on straight ironing (no Ma Cherie milk here). To my delight... it worked very well. My hair feels less dry and more smooth to touch.

Vrai Argan oil is fragranced with fresh citrusy fragrance. It is not as thick as other argan oil products I tried. Clear, light (but not as light as dry oils) and fresh oil. It got absorbed easily. Those who dont like fragrance, dont worry, the pleaseant smell pretty much disappear in few minutes upon application

According to the bottle, this oil can be used on body also. But I find exceptional result when used on my hair, not skin. On skin, I still prefer dry oils like Nuxe.

Unfortunately, I cant point to you where to get this in other countries outside France, since I dont think Fragonard has shop outside France. Prior to Vrai, I know Fragonard for their fragrances.

Bottomline,
I would highly reccomend this for those with dried, fried, baked hair. This one is my staple now.

However, I dont think I would reccomend this for those with oily hair...might be too sticky/oily.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse OR – Multi Usage Dry Oil

Nuxe is drugstore brand from France, Huile Prodigieuse happen to be one of their flagship product. I’ve heard nice recommendations about this dry oil, but never tried it myself. As it is exxxxppeeennssiiivveeeee in Singapore. But I can’t contain myself seeing the shimmering golden glitter suspended in amber oil...so, I grabbed it.

The website says...
‘EFFECTIVE BY NATURE
Huile Prodigieuse Or is a dry oil with a unique superactivated formula combining 30% Precious Plant Oils and Vitamin E to nourish, repair and soften face, body and hair in a single gesture.
PRECIOUS BENEFITS FOR MY SKIN
Face and body are soft and velvety. Hair is supple, glossy and full of volume. Thanks to its small golden particles, your skin glitters and reveals its beauty whenever you move.
STAR ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
A unique cocktail of 6 Precious Plant Oils (Borage, St Johnswort, Sweet Almond, Camellia, Hazelnut, Macadamia) with a subtle fragrance for a velvety skin, silky hair and an improved overall aspect of stretch marks. Its iridescent golden particles illuminate all skin and hair types with shiny reflections.
IS THIS PRODUCT FOR ME?
This oil is suitable for all skin and hair types regardless of age.’
Sounds fantastic isn’t it? And with that pretty golden shimmer, how can I say no? So... most probably you have noticed the two layers of colors in the picture. The golden shimmer is deposited at the bottom, and you have to shake it (just a little bit will do) before spraying it. My 100ml bottle comes with spray nozzle, just like perfumes. I believe the smaller bottle (50mL or so) does not come with the nozzle, but simple opening on the top of the bottle. But, I had some bad experience with nozzle spraying products a little too generously and ended up messing my application. Not with this one. It dispenses just nice amount of oil every time. I never feel like I wasted my precious oil drops ;) Texture wise both regular and OR (gold) version is the same.
The website says this multipurpose dry oil can be used for body, face and hair. So far I’ve tried on skin and hair and I am loving it... so, the multipurpose claim checked out, how about the ‘dry oil’. I tried finding out what it is...but i still have no idea. Do drop a message if you know what is the difference between dry and non dry/wet oil means...
The oil has this soft lovely white flower smell, still noticeable after application. Don’t be scared with the glitter, as it doesn’t really show. Just give my skin that nice golden glow without being too obvious. The shimmer doesn’t transfer to clothing too! Best of all, this product get absorbed nicely, no sticky oily mess. Ah.. bliss
This one made it to my essential list, along side with The Body Shop Body butter and Badger Lip & Body Balm
In summary...
Packaging: bottle with nozzle spray (100mL bottle)
Color variations: just the oil or OR (with golden shimmer)
Collateral Damage: SGD 85 for 100mL of OR (golden) version, regular version will be cheaper
Texture: light, easily absorbed. Gives skin lovely golden glow. Slightly frangranced
Moisturizing: 4/5, non sticky yet moisturizing!
Is it worth it?
Yes if... you like lightly fragranced oil, you want slight shimmer to brighten up your day, you have ultra dry skin
No if... you have oily skin, you don’t like mess oil might leads you, you don’t like the price, Ha!