Tag Archives: Oil Bath

3 Organic Oils For Face, Body & Hair

fall-routine-organic-oils-for-face-body-hair-1-photo-mademoiselle-le-k

3 Oils, 1 Hydrating

Hello Fall! New season, new routine for the face, body and hair based on a star ingredient: organic olive oil!

1. The Organic Olive Oil

Yes, the one bought in the supermarket and comestible! If it is good for the inside, it will be good for the outside. The organic olive oil has a thousand virtues. The main ones are: anti-aging, antioxidant, nourishing… This oils also participates in the natural moisture of the skin.

The organic olive oil is the basis of all my care, before the organic coconut oil (which I also love). I use both as pure as mixed with other oils, such as the almond oil and / or jojoba oil. 

That’s awesome for my super dry feet! Before massaging the heels and tops of the feet with this oil: washed your feet and thoroughly dry between the toes (to prevent fungal infections).

2. Phytosun Sweet Almond Oil

For a month and a half, I’ve added to my beauty regiment two organic vegetable oils: the sweet almond and jojoba of Phytosun (not edible!). Coming out of the shower, I apply a mixture of the organic olive oil with the sweet almond oil on wet body.

Why wet skin? I copied and pasted my dry hair routine to the skin: 1. moisten the hair and 2. to block hydration, apply an oil, shea butter or balm.

The oil bath: I mix the organic olive, sweet almond and jojoba oils in a bowl placed in a larger container which is filled with hot water to warm the oils. I apply the mix on the lengths and ends and leave it overnight (under a plastic cap and a scarf).

Not glam at all, but very effective! The next day, according to the state of my hair, I wash, rinse or leave it more. I have a thick mass of very dry hair which needs to be permanently sheathed, nourished and protected.

3. Phytosun Jojoba Oil

This jojoba oil is a real pleasure and comfort to my sensitive combination face skin. It regulates sebum, protects, nourishes, regenerates, firms and keeps the skin hydration. For few weeks, I’ve applied it in the morning or evening (like a fece cream) and my skin is bright, with fewer imperfections!

The next step would be to learn to massage my face, to optimize the firming effect. And to add a sunscreen too. You can also use the jojoba oil as a mild cleanser. And for hair as a serum on very dry ends.

With vegetable oils, you need to be regular. And I alternate with targeted products: for example some months, with oils only and followed by months with anti-aging serums and creams. 

4. L’Occitane Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Toner

After cleaning and before applying the oil: I hydrate my skin. I soak a cotton with the (alcohol free) Pivoine Sublime Perfecting Tone. And I apply it all over my face and neck as a hydrating refreshing compress. 

The peony scent is light and irresistible, as often with L’Occitane products.

What are your favorite oils? And which ones do you recommend me to test next?

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Related posts : BEAUTY & DESTINATIONS 

My Routine For Dry Hair: Scrub, Shampoo and Care

My-Routine-For-Dry-Hair-Scrub-Shampoo-&-Care-Aveda-Activilong

The Scrub and Shampoo

Recently, I tested the Matrix Biolage ScalpSync exfoliating treatment (1). As I often use hair care and oils, I want to clean my scalp without stripping once every 2-3 weeks, to let it breathe.

The product is like a traditional body scrub. You have to apply it before the shampoo, with light massage on the moistened scalp. In fact, I take time to perfectly rinse my hair and scalp before applying the exfoliant, because the day before I often make an oil bath.

Then I use the Repairing Shampoo 2 in 1 ACTIREPAIR of Activilong with avocado and organic olive oils (paraben free and silicone free (2), it makes more foam than usual. Proof that the exfoliant took away all product residue in the hair? I think so. This shampoo is very soft and creamy, so pleasant to apply!

The Excellent Care

I don’t use conditioner, I prefer masks for deep care. I leave the mask to damp hair as a leave-in conditioner for one or more days. My SUPER powerfull mask that dramatically softens my curls, Smooth Infusion – Smoothing Masque of Aveda (3). This product is fantastic!

This mask has a very strong smell like aromatherapy. Great! I add a few drops of: the Dry Remedy Oil of Aveda, or Repairing Oil “Fantastic Oil” ACTIREPAIR of Activilong. And I make Bantu Knocks. The result has an incredible flexibility and lasts up to 5 days, without adding product.

My other favorite is Dry Remedy Masque Hydratant of Aveda (4), when my hair is really thirsty. I don’t use as a leave-in conditioner. I keep it a few hours, sometimes overnight and I rinse and apply a styling product with a few drops of oil.

The Super Styling

Super effective on very dry, damaged and curly hair, the Repair & Styling Cream ACTIREPAIR of Activilong feeds and gives gloss to the hair (5). As it is very rich, very little product is enough. I prefer applying it to damp hair. Because I almost never use blow dryer to dry my hair.

Another option when I want to smooth out naturally, I apply to damp hair the Smooth Infusion style-prep smoother of Aveda (6). I comb the hair in a bun and let it air dry.

Do you know these products? I’m curious to know what do you think about them and how you use them for a better result? And what are your favorite products for dry, very dry, frizzy or damaged hair?

Related posts : BEAUTY

My dry hair routine: four oils tested

Time to test some handpicked products over several months,

here is my dry hair routine: four oils tested. As most of you has already known, I love testing new oils to soften and nourish my really dry hair. Mostly 100% natural oils. Leaving mineral oils, additive… even if I sometimes use some, if I can avoid them, I avoid them. So I found two fantastic oils, which I became totally addicted : Regenerating Plant With Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil of Christophe Robin (picture 1) and Huile Solaire Merveilleuse Bio Evoa.

The first oil is a creation of the famous Parisian colorist, Christophe Robin. He selected “several 100% plant oils that complement one another, resulting in a deep and lasting rejuvenation.” An impressive list of Eco Cert certified ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil (antioxidant and moisturizing), rice bran oil (antioxidant and protective), sweet almond oil (nourishing and softening) and Inula flower (from the coast of Brittany) “which protects and revives the pigments in natural or colored hair.” Paraben, silicone, SLS, colorant free. With its super light texture (quite liquid) and delicious subtle fragrance, this oil is a must we take pleasure to apply and smell. I apply it every two days, strand by strand, no need to put a lot. The hair becomes really silky. As soon as I washed and rinsed my hair, I put a little oil throughout hair before untangle and tie in a bun to let it dry. The next day the result is stunning.

Indeed just as visible and palpable with Huile Solaire Merveilleuse Bio Evoa I discovered last summer during the Roxy Pro in Biarritz. Although this dry oil (quite thick) is “more rustic” than Christophe Robin’s oil. Its rich texture is not unpleasant and I like its vanilla scent.  This 100% organic oil is composed of organic safflower oil (moisturizes, nourishes), essential oil Pachouli (regenerative), Vanilla (fragrance), organic Apricot kernel oil (nourishing, moisturizing). Paraben-free and without PEG and nanoparticles, it respects the coral and the ocean. I use this oil for oil bath to repair or as a relaxing after shampoo once or twice a week. After the shampoo, I only rinse the hair that remains shiny and incredibly soft and supple for several days. I recommend you to test it this summer. My advice: I always apply any oils on slightly damp hair.

I also tested Rosazucena, Rosa Mosqueta Pure Oil from Panatagonia:

“Argentina, the 42nd parallel, the Pre-Cordillera of the Andes” … The traveler in me could not ask for more! Go around the world with my various tests of products (LOL). This rare oil obtained by cold-pressing, repairs the skin (acne marks, stretch marks, scars …). I always start from the principle that what is good for the skin, is good for the hair. And I tested this oil very focused on my mane. First point, as I have a lot of hair, I had to use it quite a lot each time. The pot containing only 20 ml, I could not do more than 2-3 oil baths. To stretch the texture, I had to wet my hair more than usual. The combination of oil and wet hair is not very successful at the moment: the stickiness of hair is  not very sexy. Against by the aftermath of the oil bath, the locks are superb, smooth and relaxed. Do not use this oil to style hair, but only as a treatment to nourish and sheathe the structure of the hair (which seems inflated, as boosted after the oil bath).What a pity that I could not make it last another month test!

On the other hand, I had a huge disappointment with Essence Absolue, Nourishing Protective Oil of Shu Emura, based on camellia oil. I can not read the oil’s ingredients on the package. Course I understood there was camellia oil, but what else? Never mind, I was quite excited to test the famous Shu Emura oil. We are all conditioned by the “supposed to be” great selection products of women’s magazines! No comment! Well I found this oil NOTHING especially: the smell (neither good nor bad, nor simply present) and the texture (yes it is an oil and that’s it!). After 2-3 uses (where I used a lot of product), my hair was even drier and more brittle than usual. In short, this is a VERY DISAPPOINTING oil and NOT AT ALL  FOR my very dry hair!

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2013, tous droits réservés.

Related posts : 

 

BEAUTY & DESTINATIONS