Hair

The contest entry link can be found on my Facebook page, or
enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

Though open to Canadians only, if you have a Canadian address you can ship the prize to, you can enter 🙂

(Contest open to Canadian addresses only. Contest runs until June 21, 2014 at 11:59 pm ET. All entries will be verified.)

Prize package is valued at $130 (Cdn)!

~Good luck!

(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)

Zac Posen Toronto Hair Review!

April 30, 2014

Beauty, Hair, Moroccanoil

1 Comment

ZAC POSEN FALL / WINTER 2014 COLLECTION

HAIR DESIGN BY ANTONIO CORRAL CALERO FOR MOROCCANOIL®

Inspiration from the Designer:

This look was inspired by the alluring elegance of 1940’s American film star, Veronica Lake.

Credit George Pimentel at WIREIMAGE/Getty Images

The Hair Look:

For the highly anticipated Suzanne Rogers presents Zac Posen Fashion Show, the first event Zac Posen runway show in Canada, Antonio Corral Calero for Moroccanoil® mimicked the “peek a boo curl”, Veronica Lake’s signature hairstyle – soft but structured flowing curls. “We wanted to create a hairstyle reminiscent of Old Hollywood with a contemporary twist” said Calero. “This look was the true depiction of timeless feminine elegance.”

How the Look Was Created:

“I started by prepping dry hair with Moroccanoil Light throughout the mid-lengths of hair followed by Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to keep hair hydrated and improve elasticity.”
“I saturated the hair with Moroccanoil Root Boost, from roots to ends.”
Next, I blow-dried the hair using my fingertips to lift pieces and create volume.”
“I then created a deep left side part using the arch of the eyebrow as a guideline to determine the depth of the part.”
“Using a 1 ¼ inch curling iron, I set all strands of the hair (on the base of the iron), taking horizontal sections.”
“Then, spraying each section with Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong I curled pieces toward the face, and pinned in place to cool, “brick-laying the sections at the back of the head.”
“I brushed out the curls to create a softer look using the Moroccanoil Boar Bristle Classic Brush moving behind the ears and forming a more defined wave on the heavier side of the hair part.”
“I finished with a spray of Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong to keep strands in place.

Zac Posen’s Canadian Muse, Coco Rocha in some of his standout designs

The Products:

Moroccanoil Treatment Light is a remarkable, instantly absorbed argan oil infused formula found in the kits of virtually every major celebrity, runway, and editorial stylist. Exclusively designed to give fine and fair-colored hair a natural-looking silky, lustrous shine and a frizz-free finish, it strengthens, conditions and revitalizes hair while speeding drying time. (MSRP: $43.00 / 100ml)

Moroccanoil Root Boost a styling innovation that provides natural-looking height and lift — without the need for teasing, back-combing or adding any unnecessary stress to the hair. This high-performance, volumizing spray works beautifully for every hair type and texture, including straight, fine, or curly. (MSRP $29.00 / 250ml)

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream This argan oil-infused formula gives beautifully hydrating and natural looking hold, while eliminating frizz and adding definition and shine. (MSRP $36.80 / 300ml)

Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong is formulated with a combination of highly sophisticated ingredients infused with argan oil. A lightweight, workable hairspray, it provides lasting, healthy and strong hold with reflective shine that fights frizz and humidity. (MSRP: $23.80 / 330ml)

Moroccanoil Boar Bristle Classic Brush lightweight and durable, and handcrafted with 100% natural boar bristles of the finest quality. Suitable for all hair types, this brush helps to improve the overall condition of the hair, making it softer, more manageable and healthier with a boost of added shine. (MSRP: $72.00)

The divine muse to Zac Posen, Coco Rocha

For more on Moroccanoil, head to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram! For more on this glamorous event, Best of Toronto has a photo recap.

I breathlessly devoured all press and photos of Zac Posen’s first-ever Canadian fashion show, and absolutely loved the looks, from the gorgeous, glamorous hair designs shown here, to the retro beauty look and of course, the sumptuous gowns that are eponymous with Zac’s brand. What did you think of the look?

~xo

All photos Credit George Pimentel at WIREIMAGE/Getty Images.

Dial & göt2b 2014 Spring Launches

February 22, 2014

Beauty, Body, Dial, Dial® Greek Yogurt Body Wash, Frozen Yogurt Cooling Body Wash, göt2b, Glued Spiking Wax, Hair, Skincare

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Recently a number of bloggers and editors were invited to Dial & göt2b’s 2014 Spring Launch in Toronto, where we not only had a chance to learn about the amazing new products hitting shelves, but enjoyed hand massages, hair styling… and oh yes, and a fabulous lunch!

Some highlights from the launch include Dial’s new Fro-Yo body wash with cooling properties which is just amazing and so refreshing (!!), new Vitamin Boost Body Wash with incredible scents, and a Lavender and Twilight Jasmine Body Wash, perfect for a calming, soothing effect… and from göt2b: four new revolutionary products in the göt2b Rise ‘n Shine line, a new Frizz Taming Hairspray from their Guardian Angel line, and the new Glued Spiking Wax! Some information on both brands’ new launches is below!

Dial’s new Yogurt Body Care line is enriched with protein-packed yogurt. There’s even a Greek Yogurt 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion! Dial® Greek Yogurt Body Wash contains a clean-rinsing formula that provides ultimate moisturization. Developed with an advanced moisture-attracting formula, your skin will be its healthiest and softest yet, with the same Vanilla Honey scent you already know and love from Dial!
Another option to keep your skin just as hydrated, and still containing the natural skin conditioning benefits of yogurt protein, Dial also introduces their brand new Frozen Yogurt Cooling Body Wash. Featuring a refreshing tingle that gently cools skin on contact, this innovative body wash is great for the warmer months, or just as a fresh kick-start to wake you up in the morning!

Dial also introduces the NEW Dial® Vitamin Boost Body Wash, in two varieties: Amazing B is a lotion-infused creamy formula that draws in moisture to keep skin hydrated and nourished, with the divine fragrance of fresh tropical kiwi and mango. Super C is oil-infused and contains antioxidants that protect the skin, creating a radiant and healthy glow through the power of Vitamin C, and leaving behind the invigorating scent of orange and grapefruit.

Finally, Dial’s Lavender & Twilight Jasmine Body Wash provides skin with all day freshness, and the light fragrance of lavender and jasmine to calm your mind and leave skin more healthy, smooth and beautiful than before.

Dial’s new Body Washes retail for a suggested price of Cdn $4.99 (473 mL) each, and will be available at mass retail locations nationwide beginning March 2014.

Dial also introduces new Deep Cleansing Moisturizing Hand Soaps in three great smelling scents: Yellow Raspberry – This fresh smelling aroma is perfect for in the kitchen where clean hands are a must!
Water Blossoms – This clean and relaxing scent is the perfect addition to your bathroom when guests are visiting.
Coconut Lime Verbena – Especially on a nice summer day, this cool scent is just what you need after you shake up those margaritas!

NEW Dial® Deep Cleansing Moisturizing Hand Soaps retail for a suggested price of Cdn $2.99-3.99 (236mL) each, and are available at mass retail locations nationwide beginning March 2014.

For more information about Dial’s wide range of products for everyone in the family, visit them on Facebook!

göt2b’s new Rise ‘n Shine product line features four brand new revolutionary products, and delivers volume and shine together:

göt2b Rise ‘n Shine Radiance Bounce Whipped Mousse provides root-to-tip shaping, and A-list finishing shine.
Prep for heat styling with the göt2b Rise ‘n Shine Glistening Full Blow Dry Cream; an easy to disperse balm that leaves you with lasting lift and high heat protection for any hair type.
For slick styles, hold and remold with the göt2b Rise ‘n Shine Gleaming Height Pomade. Water and oils provide excellent hold without a greasy or heavy look, and panthenol enhances the reflection of light for even more gloss! Equally suitable for adding texture, height or shine to short or long styles.
Finish your show-stopping style with göt2b Rise ‘n Shine Luminous Lift Hairspray. Just a spritz will keep your strands starlet worthy all night long with enviable shine. Plus, available in göt2b’s studio-size can and guaranteed not to flake, you don’t have to worry about using more for a little extra oomph.

göt2b’s new Glued Spiking Wax is the latest innovation to the brand’s iconic spiking glue. It provides men the liberty to craft, mold and remold their do into what they want, when they want – with very little effort required! göt2b Glued Spiking Wax is ideal for those who like the texture and consistency of glue or gel, but want a fashion-forward product to create controlled and touchable styles that coincide with what’s hot!

Last but not least, göt2b proudly extends their Guardian Angel line with NEW Frizz Taming Hairspray! Proven to deliver 90% humidity defense and combat frizz, your style stays calm under pressure.
Featuring special neutralizing agents that fend off the most humid of weather, göt2b Guardian Angel Frizz Protect Hairspray provides exceptionally high style retention over time in rain or shine.
The search for heavenly hair ends here!

göt2b new Rise ‘n Shine product line will retail for Cdn $7.99-$9.99 per product; Glued Spiking Wax, Cdn $7.99 and new göt2b Guardian Angel Frizz Protect Hairspray, available in studio-size, will retail for Cdn $9.99 each, all available beginning March 2014 at mass retail locations including Shoppers
Drug Mart, Walmart, Loblaws PharmaPlus and Jean Coutu across Canada.

For more information about göt2b, contests and tips, visit them on Facebook!

2013 Favourites! Part 2

January 1, 2014

BC Bonacure, Beauty, Butter LONDON, Dior, Elizabeth Arden, göt2b, Kevin.Murphy, Kiehl's, Nail care, Nailpolish, Obsessed, OSiS+, Qtica, Schwarzkopf

Kevin Murphy Young.Again Review

November 13, 2013

Hair, Kevin.Murphy

8 Comments

To help combat the aging process of hair, KEVIN.MURPHY recently introduced a new line of YOUNG.AGAIN products, composed of a WASH, RINSE & MASQUE. The line of anti-aging hair care is designed to help renew lustre and shine to dry, damaged or brittle hair.

I had an opportunity to test drive all three Young.Again products on my colour-treated hair – hair that has been colour-treated for as long as I can remember, most recently back to blonde highlights from brunette, using *gasp* bleach. (My hair stylist becomes very resentful when he has to reach for the bleach lol. He prefers high-lift colours and truth be told, I don’t blame him. My hair remains much healthier without bleach!) Needless to say, my poor hair is fragile after decolourizing, especially in the blonder parts.

Let’s first talk about my favourite of the three, the Young.Again.Masque. This is a deep conditioning treatment that will leave your hair feeling incredibly soft and luscious – even after the first use. The Masque is light, leaving no residue upon rinsing unlike some other deep conditioners. Immortelle and Baobab-infused like the other products, and high in antioxidants, the Masque has the same restorative and softening qualities as the Wash and the Rinse.

The Young.Again.Wash is a gentle cleanser, gentle enough for me to use every day – I put it to the test even though I try and refrain from washing my hair daily, preferring instead to skip a day. Even with daily washing, my hair didn’t feel dry or stripped using the Wash.

The Young.Again.Rinse is the line’s main conditioner, meant to be used following the Wash, while the Masque is more of a treatment, used a minimum of once a week. However, though creamy and incredibly softening, the Rinse was a little light for me – truly a Rinse, whereas I prefer slightly richer conditioners. As a result, I found myself using the Young.Again.Masque more regularly and let me tell you, my hair loved me for it!

And the heavenly scent of the line! Possessing a light, slightly sweet scent that reminds me of linen and a fresh summer’s day, I found myself wishing the scent would linger and linger… Can Kevin Murphy launch a body line?? 🙂

And just for fun, here is a photo of me getting highlights and the end result! Lightened about 4 to 5 levels! (Could I have any more foils in my hair?)

I also tried Kevin.Murphy’s new SUPER.GOO, a firm hold rubbery gel that gives hair a separated look with a flexible but strong hold. It provides a slight rubber finish, but is no-flake and a water-soluble setting and molding gel containing extracts of Green Tea, Bamboo and Nettle. I used it to separate my ends for that slightly messy bedhead, and found that a little goes a very long way. It’s a great way to revive hair if you can’t shampoo but want to change your style a little – especially on waved or curled ends.

My other, ahem, tester, the hubby, has since “borrowed” the product and neglected to return it. His review: he loves the firm hold it provides his curly, short hair, and loves the rubbery texture. And it washes out easily!

For more information, check out the Kevin.Murphy website, or to find a salon in your area, click here!

~xo

(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)

BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatments

September 24, 2013

BC Bonacure, Hair, Schwarzkopf

1 Comment

One of the first shampoo lines I became obsessed with was Schwarzkopf’s Bonacure line… The products were great for my long colour-treated hair, and I became wise enough to start buying Bonacure’s Repair line in bulk. When I learned about their new BC Oil Miracle line, I knew I had to try it!

Some info on the line:

BC Oil Miracle offers a full care range for indulgent services in-salon and premium Oil Care regimes for:

• Opulent shine
• Caressable softness
• Non-overburdening

BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatments are based on the breakthrough Evaporating Technology, bestowing precious softness & opulent shine without leaving residues on the hair or overburdening it.

BC Oil Miracle Shampoo with Micro Emulsion Oil Technology‚ ensures that just the right amount of nourishing oil remains at the porous spots of the hair surface whilst smoothening it at the same time – resulting in fascinating suppleness and opulent shine.

Ingredients include:

Argan Oil

The fruits of the Argan tree have a very hard kernel which contain up to three seeds. From these seeds it is possible to extract luxurious, precious oil which is a common and well known cosmetic ingredient. It delivers high anti-oxidative properties, is known to work against free-radicals and contains an exceptionally high amount of unsaturated fatty acids which help to refresh the natural lipid barrier of hair. Therefore it fortifies the hair, giving it brilliance, suppleness, smoothness and a shiny finish. It leaves the hair soft with a silky touch and a natural look.

Marula Oil

Marula Oil is extracted from the nut of the Marula tree fruit kernels, a tree native to the Sub-Saharan-Africa. It is rich in anti-oxidants and oleic acid. A marvellous feature of the Marula Oil is its high amount of Vitamin C which is said to be four times higher than in oranges. The mixture of high nutritional value and outstanding stability due to its high content of Vitamin C makes it a supreme selection for cosmetic formulas. It nourishes, protects, moisturises and imparts elasticity to damaged hair. It is also commonly used in aromatherapy.

I had an opportunity to review the Finishing Treatments of this line: the BC Oil Miracle Light Finishing Treatment and the BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatment. The difference between the two is that the Light formula is made for finer hair, so as not to weigh down your hair, while the regular formula is a hint richer for normal/thicker hair types. Both smell amazing, with a slight floral yet musky scent. The scent lingers ever so slightly if you don’t blow-dry and I just love shaking my hair out and smelling it!

The directions call for applying a pea-sized amount into towel-dried hair, then blow-drying or styling as usual. I also like to use a couple of drops on dry hair, to help smooth some of the frizziness and give my hair a little bit of moisture, especially at the ends.

Like my previous experience with Bonacure, these two products do not disappoint. I personally prefer the regular BC Oil Miracle due to my thicker, wavy hair, but I would absolutely use the Light formula, especially on dry hair. I’ve used the products both on towel-dried hair that I then styled/blow-dried, but I’ve also let my hair dry naturally and found it to help reduce frizziness. (That is my ultimate test: natural drying!) If I then flat-iron my dry hair, it lends an incredible shine and helps protect from the heat styling. I just loved Oil Miracle!

If you are a fan of treatment oils such as argan oil, then one of these products should definitely be in your haircare arsenal!

The new BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatment and Treatment Light is now available at
Schwarzkopf Professional partner salons.

~xo

(Products were provided for consideration and review. All opinions are my own.)

OSiS+ Refresh Dust

August 13, 2013

Hair, OSiS+, Press release, Schwarzkopf

1 Comment

Bigger is Always Better – Schwarzkopf Professional Presents Award-Winning OSiS+ Refresh Dust in Triple-Size for a Limited Time!

No time to wash your hair before the party? Greasy roots and lack of volume getting you down? Updos simply not staying up? A high quality dry shampoo is a quick and simple solution to all these daunting hair woes, and beloved OSiS+ Refresh Dust by Schwarzkopf Professional is second to none! Just named ‘Best Dry Shampoo’ in Salon Magazine’s 2013 Reader’s Choice Awards, and available soon in triple-the-size for a limited time, OSiS+ Refresh Dust can be used either to refresh hair in between shampoos, or to instantly add more volume, grip and structure to hair before styling – making it a beauty essential for stylists and style-conscious women alike!

OSiS+ Refresh Dust bodyfying dry shampoo by Schwarzkopf Professional is ultra-fine, allowing the powder to be sprayed and distributed evenly for ease of use. Hair is given incredible volume, stays fresh for longer and styling becomes a breeze. The exceptionally fine powder and pleasantly fresh fragrance of OSiS+ Refresh Dust delivers optimised results, leaving no doubt as to why the
limited-time grown up size is a must!

The formulation with Oryza Sativa Starch, a great oil-banishing ingredient found in rice, has absorbing properties to energize hair from the root. Used as a styling aid, OSiS+ Refresh Dust gives fresh volume, structure and natural control. Used on freshly washed hair, it provides more hold and makes hair easier to style – so you can create the perfect trendy voluminous styles or the latest updos even on soft hair right out of the shower. Simply spray the product in short, even bursts onto the root area of already dry hair, leave to dry for two minutes and then brush out well to remove any residue.

Schwarzkopf Professional knows bigger is always better, and for a limited time you can get your hands on award-winning OSiS+ Refresh Dust in a triple-size 300 mL can! OSiS+ Refresh Dust in new 300mL size is available as of September 2013 exclusively at all Schwarzkopf Professional Partner salons for $23.50 CAD.

For further information please visit www.schwarzkopf-professional.com or www.press.henkel.com or visit the Facebook fan page!

—The Obsessed

The Obsessions and musings of a product junkie…

Archive

Hair

BLONDME by Schwarzkopf Professional Giveaway!

The contest entry link can be found on my Facebook page, or
enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

Zac Posen Toronto Hair Review!

ZAC POSEN FALL / WINTER 2014 COLLECTION

HAIR DESIGN BY ANTONIO CORRAL CALERO FOR MOROCCANOIL®

Dial & göt2b 2014 Spring Launches

2013 Favourites! Part 2

Kevin Murphy Young.Again Review

BC Oil Miracle Finishing Treatments

OSiS+ Refresh Dust

Bigger is Always Better – Schwarzkopf Professional Presents Award-Winning OSiS+ Refresh Dust in Triple-Size for a Limited Time!

The contest entry link can be found on my Facebook page, or enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!

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ZAC POSEN FALL / WINTER 2014 COLLECTION

HAIR DESIGN BY ANTONIO CORRAL CALERO FOR MOROCCANOIL®

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Bigger is Always Better – Schwarzkopf Professional Presents Award-Winning OSiS+ Refresh Dust in Triple-Size for a Limited Time!

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Like this:

The contest entry link can be found on my Facebook page, or
enter the Rafflecopter giveaway here!