Humidity can wreak havoc on any hairstyle. That's why smoothing and anti-frizz hair care products are always on my vanity. Unruly hair has no place in my beauty regimen!
Bain de Terre are a professional line of hair care that previously could only be found in salons. Since the launch of Loxabeauty.com, an authorized retailer for salon brands, there's easier access to them without the hassle of driving to the salon to restock. And yes, product diversion is a real thing, so if you've ever seen them anywhere other than the salon (like at a drugstore), they're not an authorized re-seller.
The Bain de Terre products I've been using are their Sleek & Smooth shampoo and conditioner, Rise n' Shine Volumizing Foam, Recovery Complex Anti-Frizz Shine Serum and Jasmine Blow Dry Smoothing Creme. As you can see, I take frizzy hair seriously.
Bain de Terre's Sleek & Smooth shampoo and conditioner smell divine. We all love when our hair smells lucious, but oftentimes that fragrance dissipates within hours. Aside from my hair being silky smooth as this set enhanced and restored my hair health, the botanical scent lasted literally all day. Better yet, I was constantly getting the
"Ooh, your hair smells good!" compliments each time I used it. Compliments never get old.
The shampoo and conditioner are paraben free and color-safe, which is great for those of us who color our hair and don't want to see it fade quickly.
Back when I visited Zotos Professional's headquarters where I talked to Mike Petrizzi about
how to prevent hair color fading, one of the hairstylists explained to me that although I have A LOT of hair, it is naturally fine hair and this is why I constantly battle losing volume. Sure, I could tease it out like the 80's to give it some lift, but typically within the hour my hair falls flat, not to mention the unflattering frizzy hair is quite an eyesore. I could put an endless supply of hair spray in my hair, but it never makes a difference.
Baine de Terre's Rise n' Shine Volumizing Foam is lightweight so that it gives you real volume, and utilizes white willow bark, a natural source of resin, that builds body and enhances hair’s volume for added fullness. It's great for all hair types and doesn't make it greasy. This product also has argan and monoi oils, so it conditions hair and I get the volume without the frizz.
You most likely put your hair through the ringer daily from blow drying to flat ironing to curling. The hair breakage that thermal stylers cause creates much of the frizz that you see. It is so important to use a hair treatment that will protect your strands from heat damage while reducing frizz and moisturing your hair. The Bain de Terre Jasmine Blow Dry Smoothing Creme does all of these things PLUS it has a UVA/UVB protectant, as well. Skin isn't the only thing that needs protection from the sun, as UV rays cause hair color fading.
Lastly, I use the Recovery Complex Anti-Frizz Shine Serum. This serum is alcohol-free and color-safe and contains argan and monoi oils. It is weightless, and despite the oils and silicone, it's not greasy. It leaves your hair silky smooth and frizz-free. I've used it both on damp hair before styling and on days when the humidity is wicked, on my dry hair as well. You only need a pea-sized amount to get the job done for shoulder length hair.
All of the anti-frizz hair care mentioned from Bain de Terre are paraben free, color-safe, contain argan and monoi oils, have a botanical fragrance that lasts and ends your battle with frizz. Believe me, I live by the water, where humidity is no joke. If you haven't tried these for yourself yet, I highly recommend them! If you'd used any of these products, I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments.
When shopping for Bain de Terre on Loxabeauty, use code
FiveOff at checkout to get $5 off a minimum purchase of $20 on Bain de Terre hair care products. (Discount code expires on July 31, 2014.
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From your head to your toes, winter conditions are no fun for your skin. Not only does dry skin look unhealthy, it can be really uncomfortable, too. Did you know that everything you need to save your skin from winter is as close as your pantry or refrigerator?
Below are some excellent DIY skin care recipes from Dr. Susan Stuart a board certified dermatologist from La Jolla, California.
Avocado Mask
An avocado mask is perfect for dry skin that may become very irritated in the winter.
It is easy to make: mash the flesh of avocado with a fork, add a touch of extra-virgin olive oil, and apply this smooth, fragrant mixture onto your face. “This nourishing mask will supply your skin with a whole range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and softening agents to fight winter dryness,” says Dr. Stuart.
We've also included avocado in our DIY Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment and DIY Avocado Hair & Face Mask. Avocado Oil can be found in A Girl's Gotta Spa! Energizing Citrus Salt Scrub, too.
Sweet Almond Body Scrub
Almonds are packed full of nutrients like vitamin E, magnesium, and healthy monounsaturated fats. These compounds make them nourishing to your body inside and out. Try this recipe to exfoliate and moisturize your skin.
-1 cup brown sugar
-1/2 cup almond oil
-2 tsp honey
-1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients together in a shatter-proof bowl. In the shower or tub, massage the scrub into your skin in circular motions (after washing your skin with soap), concentrating on rough or dry areas of the skin. Rinse with warm water, allowing the residual layer of almond oil to remain on the skin. Pat dry.
Chocolate Face Mask
Once regarded as a bane to our health, new research has shown that dark chocolate is healthy—and not just to eat. Compounds found in chocolate can actually benefit the skin when applied topically.
-1/3 cup cocoa powder
-1/4 cup honey
-2 Tbsp cream or plain yogurt or sour cream
-3 tsp oats (old-fashioned or quick-cooking)
Place all ingredients into a blender, and blend until smooth. Apply to clean, dry skin and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry.
(I still eat a lot of dark chocolate, though.)
Apple Vinegar Foot Soak
-1 part apple vinegar
-2 parts water
Mix ingredients and soak for 30 minutes for hydrating new-like feet. Don't worry about the smell, as it will do wonders for cracked, rough, smelly feet!
Static hair
- Coconut oil
Rub a small amount of coconut oil between the palms of your hand and lightly pat down the top of your head. "Just the tiny bit of moisture will tame fly-aways and hydrate tresses without leaving hair greasy looking," says Dr. Stuart.
Rough elbows and heels
-Fresh figs
-Hardened coconut oil (optional if you choose to make a more aggressive scrub).
-Sugar
Take ripe figs and mash or blend then in a bowl. Add coconut oil. This mixture will gently exfoliate, as the fig seeds will lightly clean and remove dead skin. According to Dr. Stuart, "Coconut oil is highly nutritious and moisturizing. Make sure the coconut oil is not melted. Place in fridge if you have to solidify, because if you are like me and prefer more exfoliation, add some sugar to this and create a dry scrub. Once this touches your skin, the coconut oil and sugar will melt." Apply while you're in the bath tub or shower and be careful as it may cause a slippery surface.
Vanilla Lip Scrub
-2 parts sugar
-1 part olive oil
-vanilla extract to taste
This scrub will get rid of rough, dead skin on and around the lips. No one wants chapped lips where you can see the lines under your lip color, so this scrub is perfect!
Also see our DIY Lip Scrub recipe.
Loved these DIY skin care recipes? Please share them on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!
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