Living proof.® Air-Dry Styler 148ml Sample Review RRP £27

It seems that every day there’s a new hair product being launched, often many of them doing the same job (de-frizzing, giving volume) etc. The products are ‘glorified’ and given creative names, I imagine in a similar way to my days in the advertising world of ‘naming brainstorm’.  However, I was intrigued to try out the new ‘Air-dry Styler’ by Living proof.® as a) I love their products and b) it’s not a serum, mousse or cream, but an all in one product that actually does something rather remarkable.

Before I go into the before, afters etc a little bit about the product. Their claim is it ‘creates effortless, lasting styles’ without the need for blow-drying or using heated appliances. It gives definition, de-frizzes and gives shine however, it also acts as a styler and gives straight hair, waves and light curls definition without that dry, crispiness other products give.

I’ve given a step-by-step of my hair before and after. As you can see before, my hair is frizzy, neither straight nor curly, looks dry and lacks any kind of style. I do have layers but there is no definition. 

I washed my hair and conditioned as usual, I then applied about a 10p piece which I then spread onto my fingertips and worked through my hair. It coats generously and on my fine (lots of) hair, this was enough.

I then simply left to dry naturally. I didn’t scrunch my hair or brush it, I just left it to see the full benefits of the product. Even as it was damp, it felt conditioned without any tackiness that mousse leaves, or greasiness that serums can give and without feeling heavy that often leave in conditioners do.

The final result (it’s still a little damp here), is shiny, separated and soft waves. For someone, like me who is often so busy this product is a definite ‘staying in my bathroom cabinet’. 

It has the added benefit of Sunflower Seed Oil, so is conditioning and helps protect against environmental aggressors. The product is free from sulphates, parabens, is colour safe and cruelty free.

You can see all the five star reviews and purchase by visiting their website HERE. At the moment you can also get 15% off and get a FREE travel size PhD Dry Shampoo (no code needed). 

Tata Harper® Nourishing Oil Cleanser Sample Review 125ml RRP £79

 

I have not heard of this brand before, it falls under the ‘niche luxury brand, and at the price you would be wanting to know why you should choose this over more ‘affordable cleansers’. 

First of all this brand is the brain child of, as you would guess Tata Harper, a pioneer in luxury skincare who prizes herself of using the very finest organic ingredients, sourced from over 68 countries. The ingredients are not mass produced, they are picked from the areas where they grow to their optimum. Where environmental elements give their best helping hand in producing the finest of organic plants.  

Every single ingredient is given in vast levels of concentration, you will not find any ingredient ‘watered down’, only the purest and top quality, picked for its active benefits for the skin. 

As for the cost, when you break down the number of use per day, the strength of each ingredient then it really works out cost effective, especially as the results speak for themselves (as do the thousands of five star reviews from retailers such as Space NK).

I was lucky enough to be sent the Nourishing Oil Cleanser, a ‘MultiVitamin Cleansing Treatment’. 

Most of the ingredients are organic, and all of them have a role in helping improve skin health. Such ingredients include:-

• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - an emollient that helps protect the skin from environmental stressors such as pollution. 
• Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil - antibacterial and has many vitamins including A, D, E which help with refining the skin condition as well as evening out skin tone. 
• Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Seed Oil - helps improve elasticity, making the skin look plumper and more radiant. 
• Shea Butter Ethyl /Esters - anti-inflammatory, excellent if you suffer with psoriasis, eczema and inflammation. 
• Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil - contains a high vitamin E content that helps improve skin tone, and its high content of fatty acids are excellent if you suffer with acne. 
• Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil - rich in Oleic acid and vitamins A, C and E it helps soothe itchy, flaky skin types and is excellent if you have dry, dehyrated and tight skin. 
• Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil - rich in ricinoleic acid, it keeps the skin feeling smooth and hydrated. It prevents a barrier to protect the skin from aggressors such as pollution, smoke and UV rays. 
• Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil - contains high concentration of vitamin C, that gives radiance to dull, dehydrated skin. It also aids in supporting the production of collagen. 
• Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract - otherwise known as ‘Black Elderberry’, this has strong anti-inflammatory properties that reduces fine lines and wrinkles, as well as protecting the skin from pollutants. 
• Squalane - this natural moisturiser aids in eliminating fine lines, wrinkles and improves the skin texture. It mimics the skin’s natural oils and so makes it a natural emollient. 
• Arnica Montana (Arnica) Extract - wound healing, often used for ‘bringing out bruising’ however, it also helps reduce dark circles and hyperpigmentation, and promotes collagen formation. 
• Borage Officinalis (Borage) Leaf Extract - ideal if you suffer with dry, tight skin and conditions such as eczema. Helps maintain a skin suppleness leaving the skin feeling soft and hydrated. 
• Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract - wound healing, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, this ingredient is excellent for healing conditions such as acne, dermatitis and eczema. It strengthens the skin and reduces the feeling of skin tightness. 
• Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Extract - rich in proteins, amino acids and every vitamin including the very rare vitamin U (a derivative of methionine). It helps protect the skin from the harmful UV rays. 
• Spiraea Ulmaria (Meadowsweet) Extract - full of antioxidants it also helps tighten the skin, by gentle exfoliation. 

and the list goes on…with all the extra oils and flower extracts this is not your ‘regular’ cleansing oil. It benefits dry, dehydrated and mature skin, leaving it feeling so supple that, if you wanted to you could do without moisturiser. It can also be massaged in to the skin to give a deep cleansing and sinus drainage massage, and of course dissolves all makeup including waterproof. 

You only need a couple of drops as the oil is potent, which when warmed up into the palm of your hands spreads enough to remove all the dirt, grime and makeup your face may have accumulated throughout the day. 

Once warmed into the palms of your hands, I used to massage and press in around my sinuses, using the oil to give a natural drainage from my blocked sinuses (I suffer with chronic sinusitis). Not only does it spread on evenly, the oil itself smells amazing. 

The ritual itself is enough to give an instant shoulder drop tension release, lightly pressing into my sinus and pressure points, it helped to open up the blockages, so that when I removed with a hot cloth (run under hot water, but not scalding), it opened up my airways so I could breathe more deeply.

It goes without saying that my skin felt incredibly nourished, hydrated and supple. As mentioned above I didn’t feel the need for moisturiser (as I tested in the evening before bed). However, I would advise applying an SPF if using in the morning. 

The products are all certified vegan, cruelty free and ‘made in Vermont’. You can purchase at Space NK or by clicking the link HERE