Wonderskin lip stain review
I’ve been wearing lipstick on special occasions for most of my adult life, but I’ve been avoiding it recently because it doesn’t last long enough. And then I tried the viral Wonderskin lip stain peel—the lip colour that goes on blue and somehow turns pink. Here’s what happened.
I’ve been wearing lipstick on special occasions for most of my adult life, but I’ve been avoiding it recently because it doesn’t last long enough. I tried Wonderskin lip stain peel, and I’m never going back.
Lipstick has come a long way in the last decade or so. We’ve gone from metal sticks of paint your grandmother probably had, to ‘kiss-proof’ gloss-style applicators that promise to last all night.
The ones that aren’t promoted as long-lasting smudge easily and require constant reapplication. Eating or drinking becomes a gamble—you’re left wondering what your mouth looks like afterward. I honestly don’t know why these formulas still exist. The ones that do last end up drying your lips out so badly that the colour is seriously patchy by the end of the night anyway.
The struggle is real.
I stopped using lipsticks altogether about a year ago, opting to reapply coloured gloss every so often instead because—while inconsistent and inconvenient—I knew it wouldn’t smudge, and it wouldn’t look terrible as the night went on.
Then I found Wonderskin—a lip stain that is blue on application, and somehow washes off to reveal a really beautiful shade of pink. It’s also cruelty-free. Here’s what happened.
Wonderskin Wonder Blading Lip Stain: A Review
As with almost every other viral product reviewed on this site, I came across Wonderskin on social media. The lip stain was viral. There were videos of women applying a metallic blue gel on their lips, and then peeling or washing it off to reveal blush hues underneath.
I looked further into it and a number of people said the colour lasts about two days, and it comes in about 25 colours— reds, browns, pinks, and neutral shades.
I had to give it a shot.
What happened
I was very tempted to go with a deep red to see if it really could replace my special occasion lipsticks, but I decided to go with a pink option so I wouldn’t have to wait for an event to try it out. Since I didn’t want to show up to work with bold red lips, I opted for a pink shade.
I bought the shade ‘whimsical’. It arrived the following afternoon and I tried it out immediately.
The packaging looks like a mascara tube, but with a gloss-style applicator. As advertised, the product itself is a deep shade of metallic blue.
I carefully coated my lips, trying to outline the shape properly with the lip gloss applicator. The product isn’t very thick and I found it difficult to get even coverage.
It was a bit like trying to paint with a dry brush—the colour went on unevenly, thin in some spots and heavy around the edges.
Nevertheless, I did what I could and left it to dry for 30-60 seconds. It dried very quickly. My lips felt a bit tight as it dried, almost prickly. Not in a really uncomfortable way, but I definitely noticed it and was keen to get it off.
Once it was dry to the touch, I used a damp tissue to gently rub off the blue layer. It came off pretty easily, but I did have to look in the mirror and scrub some areas a bit harder to ensure there was no blue left at all. The process took less than a minute.
The Result
The blue came off to reveal a deep shade of pink, just like the picture.
My lips still felt a bit dry and prickly, so I applied a thick layer of clear gloss and it looked great. Even on close inspection, I couldn’t see the uneven coverage I’d noticed during application—the colour looked smooth and consistent.
The first application was in the evening, so I had food and water and had another look at the coverage before going to bed. All looked good to me.
The next morning, I went to the gym, applied makeup and clear gloss. The colour had faded by this stage, but I didn’t mind too much.
It wasn’t until I was at work, under harsh fluorescent lights in the bathroom, that I really noticed where the product had reduced. This would have been around 10am, about 18 hours after application.
By that stage, the product was pretty thin around the inside edges of my lip, but it was still quite pigmented around the outside. There were also a few patchy spots near the edges where the colour had flaked off—like small gaps in the colour. I put this down to the original coverage issues.
The colour was basically all gone by the following morning.
I tried Wonderskin again a few days later and had the same result—great results on day one, visibly fading by day two.
Pros
The application process is fast, the product dries in about 30 seconds, and the blue washes off easily to reveal a deep and long-lasting colour underneath.
It works well under gloss, and you don’t have to worry about the stain smudging or having to reapply throughout the day. It could feasibly replace your regular lipstick.
The blue-to-pink application process is fun, different, and kind of theatrical.
Cons
It’s difficult to get even coverage because the product is relatively thin. This doesn’t really matter on initial application, but it does become noticeable if you want the colour to last longer than a day. You could add a second coat, but be prepared for a very dark result.
The thinner consistency also makes Wonderskin feel cheap, and it’s not a cheap product. Prices vary depending on the colour, and can range from $22 to $45 in the US. In Australia, prices for the same products range from $52 to $61. That’s a lot for the average person, for a tube of lip colour.
Verdict
A lip stain that lasts more than a day is impressive. The fact that some people say it can last up to two days is an added bonus.
I have continued to use Wonderskin in place of lipstick, applying it on the day of the event rather than the day before, and it works really well. I don’t have to worry about it smudging or the need to reapply. When I leave the house, I only have to bring a tube of gloss.
If it’s an event where there’s alcohol involved and I’m consuming more liquid than normal, the lip stain does fade faster—but that’s expected. It still lasts significantly longer than anything else I’ve used.
I’m still really impressed with the colour and looking forward to trying the red version.
Is Wonderskin’s lip peel off stain safe for sensitive skin?
While I mentioned that the product felt slightly dry and prickly on my lips, I looked into the ingredients—overall, it does appear to be safe for sensitive skin.
Alcohol-Free: The product is alcohol-free, which helps prevent the drying effects commonly associated with alcohol-based lip products.
Hydrating Ingredients: It contains hydrating components like glycerin and squalane, which are known to maintain moisture and support skin barrier health.
Free from Common Irritants: The formula is free from fragrances, essential oils, parabens, sulfates, and silicones, reducing the risk of irritation for sensitive skin.
Allergen Considerations: The product is 91 per cent top allergen-free and does not contain gluten, coconut, nickel, lanolin, or talc, making it suitable for individuals with specific sensitivities.
Is there another lip stain you like? Let me know in the comments below!
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How to use Ayurvedic hair tea: DIY hair growth serum recipe
Ayurvedic hair tea is a herbal rinse made with spices and herbs used in traditional Indian medicine. It reduces breakage, shedding, and scalp irritation—like a natural DIY hair growth serum for stronger, healthier hair. The best part? You’re going to make it yourself, and I’m gong to show you how.
Ayurvedic hair tea is a herbal rinse made with spices and herbs used in traditional Indian medicine. It reduces breakage, shedding, and scalp irritation—like a natural DIY hair growth serum for stronger, healthier hair.
If you’ve been around a while, you’ll know I’ve experimented with Lush henna, Rainbow henna, and natural hair dyes—they’re mainstream Ayurvedic remedies that allow you to dye your hair with no damage. I started incorporating range of Ayurvedic herbs for hair growth into my regular routines.
The result? It makes a huge difference to the overall quality and density of my hair.
Unlike synthetic hair treatments made in a lab, Ayurvedic treatments are a gentler, long-term approach to scalp health and stronger, denser hair.
The best part? You know exactly what goes into every batch because you’re making it yourself. And I’m going to show you how.
Before we crack on with the recipe, it’s important to understand this isn’t a quick fix—your hair troubles won’t vanish overnight. You’ll need time, patience, and consistency. But it’s worth it.
If you stick with it, you will see results.
Real talk: I’ve really struggled to stick with long-term routines. The way I see it, time is going to pass anyway—you may as well spend it doing something your future self will thank you for. It’s better than getting to the end of the year wondering what your hair could’ve looked like if you’d started earlier.
There are loads of ways to use Ayurvedic hair tea—it’ll eventually form the base for masks, shampoos, conditioners, oils, tonics, and more. Sign up to my newsletter for more info.
🌿 Ayurvedic Herbs For Hair Growth
The recipe is a fusion of Ayurvedic and western ingredients that work together to promote scalp health and hair growth.
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A cornerstone of Ayurvedic hair care, amla is incredibly rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. It has traditionally been used to strengthen hair roots, support scalp health, and prevent premature greying. Amla enhances circulation to the scalp, stimulates growth, and adds a natural shine and softness to the hair.
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Fenugreek seeds are loaded with protein, iron, and nicotinic acid, all essential nutrients for healthy hair. The seeds swell in water, releasing mucilage, which makes them an excellent conditioner. In Ayurveda, fenugreek is used to reduce hair fall, improve texture, and treat dandruff. It is especially helpful for dry, frizzy hair.
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Though not a traditional Ayurvedic herb, lecithin can be found in modern Ayurvedic-inspired hair treatments. It's a natural emollient rich in fatty acids that nourishes and coats the hair, helping to retain moisture and improve softness. It's also used as an emulsifier in homemade oil and water blends.
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Licorice root is a cooling and anti-inflammatory herb used in Ayurveda to calm the scalp and reduce itchiness or inflammation. It creates a healthy scalp environment, which supports better hair growth. It can also help soothe conditions like eczema or psoriasis of the scalp.
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Known for both its flowers and leaves, hibiscus is used in Ayurvedic formulations to thicken hair, reduce shedding, and balance the scalp. Its naturally slippery texture adds hydration and makes detangling easier. It also helps maintain the hair's natural pigment, potentially delaying the onset of greys.
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Cloves are antimicrobial and warming. In Ayurveda, they are sometimes used in hair oils to boost blood circulation to the scalp, potentially stimulating dormant follicles. They can also help purify the scalp and reduce dandruff.
🌼 Western Herbs
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A powerful detoxifier, burdock root is traditionally used in Western herbalism to support liver and skin health. On the scalp, it's believed to reduce scalp buildup, treat itchiness, and support circulation. It also contains phytosterols and essential fatty acids that may nourish the hair follicle.
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Horsetail contains silica, a mineral essential for strong, healthy hair. It's believed to improve hair strength, reduce breakage, and support faster growth. Used in both internal supplements and external rinses, horsetail also contains antioxidants that protect the hair follicle from damage.
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Nettle is rich in iron, silica, and sulfur. It is thought to block DHT, a hormone associated with hair thinning. Nettle can be used in tea rinses or hair masks to stimulate growth, strengthen strands, and reduce excess oil production on the scalp.
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Gentle and soothing, chamomile is used to reduce inflammation of the scalp, calm irritation, and condition the hair. It is particularly good for those with lighter hair tones for its brightening properties. It also provides mild conditioning and enhances shine.
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These parts of the dandelion plant are nutrient-dense, containing vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron and magnesium. Dandelion root helps detox the body and may support hormone balance, indirectly benefiting hair health. The leaves are often used in infusions to soothe and nourish the scalp.
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Rosemary has strong circulation-boosting properties. It's one of the most studied herbs for hair growth and is sometimes compared to minoxidil for its ability to stimulate follicles over time. It's also antifungal and antibacterial, making it great for a flaky or inflamed scalp.
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Incredibly mucilaginous, marshmallow root provides intense slip, making it ideal for detangling curly or textured hair. It softens the hair, soothes dry or itchy scalps, and hydrates parched strands. It's often used in herbal hair teas or infusions.
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A non-herbal supplement, MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a sulfur compound found in some plants. It supports collagen and keratin production, potentially lengthening the hair's anagen (growth) phase. Often taken internally, it can also be added to topical treatments for strengthening purposes.
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Cooling and invigorating, peppermint improves blood flow to the scalp and creates a tingling sensation that many associate with follicle stimulation. It's used to relieve scalp itchiness, improve hair density, and refresh the scalp.
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Honey is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air into the hair. Honey adds shine and softness while also having mild antimicrobial benefits. It forms the base of many DIY conditioners and hair masks.
Ayurvedic Hair Tea: Recipe
To make the hair tea, you’ll need:
Glass jar with a lid, 700ml to 1L capacity. If your jar is too large, your tea will be weaker;
Boiling water;
Dessert spoon or silicone spatula;
Large jug or bowl. I prefer a jug so I can tip the tea into another container without spillage;
Optional: Spray bottle (not fine mist).
All my Ayurveda herbs. Not a great picture, but you get the idea. I keep them in their original packets and store them in a cool, dark place to preserve potency.
Method
Boil some water using the kettle.
2. In a glass jar, add one tablespoon of all ingredients.
3. Fill the jar to the top with boiling water, stir to ensure all ingredients are saturated, and put the lid on tight. By this point it will look brown and unappetising, and it will smell quite strong. Trust the process.
4. Leave to infuse for at least eight hours, or overnight. Optionally, gently tip the jar every few hours to ensure the herbs are infusing.
5a. If using a sieve: Put a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or jug and tip the tea into the sieve, capturing the liquid in the bowl or jug. Using the back of a spoon or a silicone spatula, press the herbs down into the sieve to squeeze any excess tea into the bowl.
5b. If using cheesecloth: Cut a large square of cheesecloth and fold it in half to double the thickness. The square needs to be big enough so that it covers the inside of a bowl or jug. The aim is to strain as much of the herbs out of the tea as possible, so it’s important the tea can’t spill over the edges of the cloth and into the bowl.
Pour the tea into the cheesecloth slowly to avoid overflow. If it starts to spill, stop and wait for it to drain. If it’s too full to drain, grab each corner of the cloth using both hands and lift it slightly out of the bowl to allow the tea to drain. Get another bowl and repeat the process with the remaining tea. Once strained, grab all four corners of the cloth and squeeze the herbs into a ball to release excess tea into the bowl.
6. Pour the strained tea back into your glass jar, close the lid and refrigerate.
7. After an hour or two, you’ll see layer of powder settled at the bottom of the jar. Very carefully take the jar out of the fridge and pour the top layer of tea into a jug or bowl, making sure you stop before the powder layer. We don’t want the excess powder in our final product.
Hair tea, before the powders settle at the bottom of the jar.
Hair tea, just before straining. The clear liquid in the middle is what you want to keep.
8. Optional: If you want to make sure you get every scrap of tea, you can get a coffee plunger and press the remaining powder down into the jar to release the remaining liquid.
9. Rinse the leftover powder from the jar and pour your strained tea into a spray bottle or return it to the jar and seal it.
10. Optional: Scoop the leftover herbs into a ziplock bag and freeze for later use. I recommend pushing the air out and flattening the herbs in the bag so you can pull smaller pieces out easily, once frozen.
Recipe Notes
You don’t have to strain the tea as vigorously as described above, but I find it makes for a much cleaner application experience. For example, you can’t put chunky or heavily powdered tea into a spray bottle because it’ll clog the nozzle and you’ll never be able to use the bottle again. Trust me, I’ve tried.
Well-strained tea also means you don’t have to deal with excess powder on your scalp and in your hair. If you have very thick, curly, or dense hair, you might struggle to get the powder out.
If using a spray bottle, make sure it’s not fine mist—even if you strain all the powder out of the tea, you still might destroy the bottle.
One batch will last about two weeks if refrigerated when not in use. Alternately, you can pour the excess into soap molds, freeze them and defrost before use.
The smell of the hot tea is quite strong, but it decreases in intensity once properly strained. If you want, you can try adding a few drops of essential oil. I’d go with something earthy like rosemary, peppermint, or sandalwood. Anything too floral might not mix well.
To learn how to preserve your tea for up to a year, sign up to my newsletter and keep an eye out for updates.
How To Use Ayurvedic Hair Tea
There are so many ways you can incorporate hair tea into your routine. I use the raw tea on its own, without masks or oils, about once a week.
Overnight pre-poo treatment
I like to use hair tea as an overnight pre-poo treatment before wash day.
Before bed, use a root comb applicator bottle, a spray bottle, pipette (I use glass pipettes from empty skin serum bottles), or your hands, apply a thin layer of tea to your scalp. Make sure tea covers your entire scalp, without saturating it—you don’t want to go to sleep with a really wet head.
Dampen the rest of your hair, raking the tea through to ensure all strands are covered. Again, we don’t want your hair to be wet—just damp. From there, you can tie it up with a loose scrunchie, use a claw clip, silk bonnet, or microfibre towel.
I like to pin it in a top knot and plop with a microfibre towel. I then put another towel over my pillow to ensure the tea doesn’t soak through the towel on my head and into the bed—this is only for precaution, it has never soaked through the towel because I don’t saturate my hair.
In the morning, I rinse the tea out thoroughly, wash and condition as normal.
With other products
Another way to use the hair tea is by mixing it with your existing products to give them a nutrient boost. I would opt for leave-in treatments or hair masks to optimise the time the tea has to work its magic. You can absolutely mix it in with shampoo, but keep in mind shampoo is washed out almost immediately and reduces the amount of time the tea has to work.
A way to ensure the tea spends the maximum time on your head is to incorporate it in with your regular hair or scalp oil. You can also mix a bit in with a deep conditioner— leave it in for 10-20 mins before rinsing it out.
Refresh
Some people use hair tea when refreshing their hair, in place of water. The tea does not behave or feel like conditioner—there is no slip, and your hair won’t feel silky or smooth on application. It can actually make your hair feel a little crunchy.
My hair hates being refreshed in general—I have a lot of hair but it’s quite fine with medium porosity, so it doesn’t absorb products super well. But if you have thicker or higher porosity hair that likes to be refreshed, this might be a good option for you.
Ayurverdic Hair Tea Benefits
After the first few applications, I noticed:
My scalp felt noticeably calmer. My skin is prone to dryness and I have a few patches of mild psoriasis on my scalp. After use, my skin felt noticeably less irritated.
Less tanlges: My hair is sometimes notoriously difficult to detangle. Using Ayurvedic remedies has reduced the knots by about 90 per cent.
Less shedding. Not zero, but I noticed significantly less hair in my brush after the first two hair tea applications.
My roots felt a little fuller. I didn’t have loads of new hair overnight, but something about the overall texture felt denser.
No stickiness or buildup. It washed out well and didn’t interfere with styling.
Have you tried Ayurvedic hair tea? Let me know in the comments below!
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I tried three types of magnesium to stop sleep anxiety. Here’s what worked, and what didn’t
Magnesium has become a popular over-the-counter sleep aid, with research suggesting it calms the nervous system and helps with sleep regulation. But does it actually send you to sleep and help sleep and sleep anxiety? I tried three and found the best one.
Magnesium has become a popular over-the-counter sleep aid, with research suggesting it calms the nervous system and helps with sleep regulation. But does it actually send you to sleep and stop sleep anxiety?
I have struggled with sleep anxiety for years, which means I get very worried that I won’t be able to either fall asleep or stay asleep. Once I wake at night, it’s very difficult for me to get back to sleep—it can take about four hours for me to feel tired again, which ends up being half the night. My anxious brain fears this happening, to the point where I can’t sleep. It’s a horrible cycle.
Lack of sleep has a range of long-term health implications if not dealt with, but it also has a huge impact on your hair, skin, eyes — you name it. Your skin can’t glow and your hair can’t grow long and strong. For me, the skin under my eyes went dark, fine lines were more pronounced, and my overall energy was lacking and I couldn’t concentrate. Not only did I feel tired, I looked and sounded tired. And I was sick of it.
After years of taking melatonin supplements (more about that at the end of this post), my partner got a tub of magnesium and suggested I drink it before bed. Here’s what happened.
How magnesium impacts sleep
Higher levels of magnesium in the body can deliver longer sleep times and less tiredness during the day. Studies have also found that magnesium supplementation helped with falling asleep faster and protected against waking up earlier than intended. You can read more about that here.
But not all magnesium supplements are made equal.
Magnesium citrate is a magnesium salt of citric acid. It is largely used as a dietary supplement to provide magnesium, an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in many bodily functions. It can also support muscle function, nerve function, and overall energy production.
Glycinate is an amino acid. It has high bioavailability when combined with magnesium, meaning that the body can absorb and utilise it effectively. It also enhances the absorption of magnesium.
The supplements I tried were in powder form, they were flavoured without sugar, and came with scoop measurements. One scoop was dissolved into a glass of water and consumed before bed.
The brands and varieties listed below are Australian, but I have included links to brands iin tother countries hat effectively do the same thing.
Magnesium Citrate
The first supplement I took was Swisse High Strength Magnesium Powder, which is a magnesium citrate for muscle function, relieving muscle cramps and supporting energy production.
It helps with sleep indirectly because it raises your general magnesium levels—it’s not specially formulated to help you sleep better. In other words, it won’t send you to sleep, but it will promote muscle relaxation to help you have a deeper sleep when you go to bed.
This one did contain glycinate, but not a lot—it was mostly citrate. The total magnesium content per scoop is 300mg. I took it just before bed, but I didn’t expect much of a difference.
At the time, I was having trouble staying asleep.
I was waking up a lot at about 2.30 am and struggling to go back to sleep. It was awful. My sleep quality was better from the first night I took the supplement. I didn’t notice a massive difference, but I did feel more relaxed and less irritable.
On the nights I took it, it wasn’t as hard for me to get to sleep and stay asleep.
Magnesium Glycinate
We ran out of the citrate version and bought the glycinate version instead.
First, we had the Ethical Nutrients Mega Magnesium Night Powder. This was mango passionfruit flavoured and it worked much like the citrate version, though maybe slightly better. If there was a difference, it was small.
We then tried the Bioglan Active Magnesium PM Deep Sleep Powder. Not because we had read about it or anything, but because it was on the shelf in the store. It came in powder form and was citrus-flavoured.
I dissolved one scoop into a glass of water, drank it and went to bed. I had assumed I would have the same reaction to that one as I did with the citrate version—going to sleep would be slightly easier, but I didn’t think too much about it.
I think it changed my life.
The first night, I was tired within about 20 minutes and fell asleep with ease. I woke up to my alarm and felt as though I had been very deeply asleep. I wondered if it was a once-off, but it wasn’t. Every night I took it, I woke up in the morning feeling as though I had been deeply asleep.
It also made me tired, which meant getting to sleep was significantly easier. My sleep anxiety was almost non-existent on the nights when I took it. It felt as though I’d taken melatonin, but without the side effects.
Not all supplements are made equal…
It made sense that the citrate didn’t have a huge impact on sleep because it’s not specifically designed to help you sleep. What I couldn’t work out was why my reaction to the two products with glycinate was so different, until I looked at the dosage for each product.
The magnesium citrate dosage per scoop was 300mg. The Ethical Nutrients magnesium glycinate dosage per scoop was also 300mg. The Bioglan magnesium glycinate dosage per scoop was 350mg. An extra 50mg of glycinate seems to make a massive difference.
| Swisse High Strength | Bioglan Active PM | Ethical Nutrients Mega | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Benefit | Muscle function, energy, tiredness relief | Deep sleep, reduces time to fall asleep | Calm mind, relax muscles, support healthy sleep |
| Specific Sleep Support | Indirect (due to magnesium) | Yes (with California Poppy & Hops) | Yes (with Passionflower & Glycine) |
| Magnesium Form(s) | Magnesium Citrate, Magnesium Glycinate (300mg total Mg) | Magnesium Glycinate (350mg total Mg) | Magnesium Glycinate (300mg total Mg) |
| Additional Ingredients | Vitamin C, Zinc, Calcium | California Poppy, Hops | Passionflower, Glycine |
| Flavor | Orange | Citrus | Mango Passion |
| Sweeteners | Monk fruit, Stevia | Sucralose | Stevia |
| Recommended Timing | Any time of day | Evening, 1 hour before bed | Once daily before bed time |
Melatonin supplements
I discovered melatonin in 2017, and it was a game-changer. I couldn’t believe it took me until 2017 to find it, and that more people didn’t use it. Even if I was wide awake at 10 pm, when I wanted to be asleep, melatonin would fix that problem right up, and I’d be asleep within about 30 minutes of taking it. I thought it was magic, until I learned it wasn’t.
Melatonin is a hormone that your body naturally produces to regulate your sleep-wake cycle, or your circadian rhythm. This means melatonin in pill form is basically a hormone. There is limited research into long-term use of melatonin, but there are suggestions that it can impact your hormones overall, it can also have a negative effect on your circadian rhythms. You can also develop a tolerance to it, which means it eventually might not work for you at all.
That is what happened to me. I used to take 2.5mg, but eventually that didn’t do anything. I started taking 5gm and that was better but eventually faded. I took 7.5gm twice and decided I’d had enough. Taking that much hormone isn’t good for you.
Verdict
There’s no competition, magnesium glycinate is the best supplement for sleep. I slept deeply, I wasn’t groggy in the morning, it’s not a hormonal supplement, and there are no side effects.
Is there another method that works for you? Let me know in the comments below!
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What happened when I tried Wrinkles Schminkles: A review
Wrinkles Schminkles is a line of anti-wrinkle silicone patches that claim to hydrate skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by creating a microclimate between your skin and the silicone. I decided to give them a go. Here’s what happened.
Wrinkles Schminkles is a line of anti-wrinkle silicone patches that claim to hydrate skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But do they work?
Wrinkles Schminkles silicone patches claim to create a microclimate between your skin and the silicone, which apparently helps hydrate the skin from within and smooths out wrinkles while you sleep. The products are promoted as a chemical-free approach to fighting wrinkles, and they’re cruelty-free.
I was largely interested in these because I’m not loving my under-eye area at the moment. The skin is relatively smooth when I have a straight face, but wrinkles a fair bit when I smile. I don’t think that problem can be solved with any single product, it probably requires a laser at a specialist clinic, but a little reduction in the area was all I was looking for.
I kept reading that silicone patches for wrinkles work, so I decided to give it a shot.
For my under-eye situation, I decided to go with the self-dissolving microneedle patches, which are shaped to go under the eyes. They’re supposed to reduce wrinkles by delivering collagen, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and caffeine directly into the skin through 1800 microneedles per patch (for anyone afraid of needles, these are really tiny spikes, rather than actual needles, and they don’t hurt). I have had microneedling and it was great, what could go wrong with a DIY job?
Wrinkles Schminkles Review
I started with a box of four, which had a combined total of eight self-dissolving microneedle patches. They’re about the size of your thumb and can go under the eyes, around the mouth for smile lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, etc. They can really go anywhere with smaller lines. I wouldn’t use them for larger forehead lines, they’re not big enough. For that, you might want to look at the OG Wrinkles Schminkles silicone patches. They’re much bigger with no microneedles, and are supposed to smooth the skin out as you sleep.
What Happened
According to the instructions, you’re supposed to cleanse your face to the point where there’s no product on your face at all. Get every scrap of makeup, sunscreen and serum off. You want as much contact between the microneedles and your skin as possible, and this means no hyaluronic acid or moisturiser of any kind.
So that’s what I did. My face felt uncomfortably dry, but I knew it was temporary so I ignored it. I peeled one of the patches from its plastic sheet and tried not to touch the sticky outer edges too much. The microneedles are in the middle of the patch, so it’s important to align the frown line with the centre of the patch properly.
I tried to get the patch as close to my lower lash line as possible, because that’s really where the problematic lines are. To make sure I was sticking it on an even surface, I pulled skin down a bit so it was taut, and pressed the patch down while trying to avoid my eyelashes.
It was at that point that I learned you can go too close to the lash line. It felt tight and uncomfortable under my eye, and I’m pretty sure I did get a lash or two. I could feel the plastic tightening when I blinked. Begrudgingly, I lifted the patch off and stuck it down again slightly lower. This felt much better and I did the other eye without a problem.
As per the instructions, I pressed the microneedles on both patches into my skin for about ten seconds. There was no pain at all, it just felt a bit scratchy—kind of like sandpaper. Once that was done, I moisturised the rest of my face as normal and went to bed.
Result
I was excited to remove the patches the following morning. I pressed down on the patches to see if I could feel any residual prickliness, but I couldn’t which meant the microneedles really did dissolve. The adhesive was quite strong, and they were a bit uncomfortable to remove, but not painful. I could see marks under my eyes from where the patches had been. I couldn’t see pricks from microneedles or anything, just oval outlines where the adhesive was. I hoped they would go down relatively quickly. I ran my finger along where the microneedles had been and it was smooth, which means they definitely dissolved throughout the night.
I didn’t notice an immediate difference in the plumpness of my under-eye area.
I went to the gym, returned, rinsed my face, did my usual serum and moisturising, and did my makeup as usual—a light layer of foundation with a sponge and a thin coat of translucent powder to set it in place.
I smiled in the mirror, the lines were definitely still there and I couldn’t see any improvement. I wondered if it needed some time to improve, so I went about my day.
I got home in the evening, washed everything off my face and tried again. No reduction in lines. The same thing happened the following day.
Verdict
I have used up the box of four sets, if only because I already had them and figured I might as well use them. I had the same result every time, which was no result. At no point did I notice even a small difference.
It’s possible that the lines under my eyes were a bit much for the small patches, but there was nothing in the instructions to suggest that would be the case. The lines are also not really visible when I’m not smiling, so they’re not really deep. It could be a structural problem for me, meaning the area under my eyes could be too hollow and the skin therefore is pushed up when I smile, creating wrinkles. I honestly don’t know, but I guess that’s a possibility.
I’ve read a number of mixed reviews—some people swear by them, others say they made no difference. For those who had good experiences, they also mostly said the wrinkles come back after a few days.
For optimal results, the brand recommends using them twice a week. I paid AU$75 for four sets, which is about two weeks’ worth. US customers get four sets for $41, which is still a lot for a product that may not work for you. Using these twice a week is not sustainable for the average person. I wouldn’t get these again, I might try the reusable silicone patches next time.
Did Wrinkles Schminkles work for you? Let me know in the comments below!
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K18 vs Olaplex Review: Which bond builder is better?
K18 and Olaplex are powerful hair bond builders widely touted as the most effective on the market. Both promise to repair damaged hair, but they work with different active and in very different ways. So which one is better value? Here’s a detailed comparrison.
K18 and Olaplex are powerful hair bond builders widely touted as the most effective on the market. Both promise to repair damaged hair, but they work with different active and in very different ways. So which one is better value?
I’ve put both to the test, you can read the Olaplex review here and the K18 review here, but this is more of a side-by-side analysis so you can work out which one might be better for you.
What do bond builders actually do?
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector is part of the larger Olaplex hair treatment range and works to temporarily repair disulphide bonds in the hair. These are the bonds that break when you bleach, dye, or heat-style your hair to death. Olaplex’s ingredient, Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate, works on a molecular level to restore strength and structure.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask claims to go deeper than surface-level fixes. It uses a bioactive peptide, the K18Peptide, designed to reconnect broken keratin chains—essentially repairing hair from the inside out. It's marketed as a lasting, progressive treatment that apparently reverses damage in just four minutes.
Does K18 fix split ends?
The only thing that repairs split ends is scissors. Repairing a split end is a bit like tearing a blade of grass through the middle and trying to put it back together. It won’t work. However, you can nourish your hair properly to prevent split ends. This is where bond builders come in.
K18 helps strengthen and smooth hair, which can reduce the appearance of split ends—but it won’t glue them back together. For true split-end removal, a trim is still your best bet. That said, K18 can help prevent future splitting by making the hair stronger and less prone to breakage.
Does Olaplex fix split ends?
Similar story. Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector doesn’t fix split ends, but it helps improve the overall integrity of the hair. The bond-building action may reduce how often split ends occur, especially with regular use.
Does K18 help hair grow?
K18 doesn’t stimulate hair growth directly. What it does do is strengthen hair so it breaks less, meaning you keep more of the length you already have. If your ends tend to snap off, K18 might help you hold on to inches longer.
Does Olaplex help hair grow?
Same deal. Olaplex hair treatment isn’t a growth serum, but it can support length retention by reducing damage and breakage. Healthier hair equals less trimming and more visible growth over time.
Is K18 a protein treatment?
Not in the traditional sense. While K18 works similarly to protein treatments by reinforcing the hair structure, it doesn’t contain actual protein. Instead, it uses a patented peptide to mimic and repair keratin chains from within. It’s designed to avoid the stiffness that can come from traditional protein overload.
Is Olaplex a protein treatment?
Nope. Olaplex 3 Hair Perfector is not a protein treatment either. It works on broken disulphide bonds—different from keratin or protein bonds—so you can use it even if your hair is sensitive to protein-heavy formulas.
How to use K18 and Olaplex
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector: Apply to damp, towel-dried hair before shampooing and conditioning. Leave it on for 10 minutes or longer, rinse, then follow with your regular wash routine. It’s CG-friendly and safe for all hair types.
K18: Shampoo, do not condition, towel-dry until damp, then apply 1–3 pumps of the mask from roots to ends. Wait four minutes, then style as usual. Do not not rinse. In all honesty, this was problematic for me.
Which one lasts longer?
Olaplex isn’t permanent, but the effects stick around longer than one wash. With consistent use, it builds on itself and really helps improve the health of your hair over time.
K18 markets itself as a long-term fix that fixes your hair from the inside out, particularly with regular use.
Price breakdown
Olaplex No. 3 (100ml): Around $30–$40.
K18 Leave-In Mask (50ml): Roughly $75, with a 5ml trial size around $16.
When I tested them both out, I needed to use more Olaplex to properly detangle my hair and get a brush through it, but not a huge amount. With the comparatively lower cost, that’s justified.
You’re not supposed to use a huge amount of K18, but I found it incredibly difficult to use on hair that was not conditioned. To try and get a brush through it, I needed to use more product. For the price, I didn’t think the amount I had to use was justified.
K18 v Olaplex: A Comparison
| Feature | Olaplex No. 3 | K18 Leave-In Mask |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bleached, dyed, heat-damaged hair | Bleached, chemically treated, or heat damaged hair |
| Application | Rinse-out treatment | Leave-in treatment |
| Slippage | High slip, detangles easily | No slippage |
| Key Ingredient | Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate | K18Peptide (bioactive peptide) |
| How long does it take to work? | 3-10 minutes, rinse out | 4 minutes, leave in |
| Where is it made? | USA | USA |
| Split ends? | Helps prevent, doesn't fix | Helps prevent, doesn't fix |
| Hair growth? | Helps retain length | Helps retain length |
| Protein treatment? | No | Not technically, but similar effect |
| Price | $30–$40 | $75-$120 |
| Bottle Size | 100ml | 50ml-100ml |
My experience
Olaplex No. 3: This one made my hair feel smoother, shinier, and way easier to detangle after the first try. It didn’t magically heal my hair overnight, but after a few weeks of using it every other wash, I noticed less breakage and frizz. My hair held moisture longer and didn’t feel like straw by day four. There was also significantly less hair in the brush.
K18: This did not start off well. The first time I tried it, I followed the instructions exactly—no conditioner, damp hair, four-minute wait. My curls were flat, dry, and felt like hay. Detangling was awful. Three days later, I had to wash again because my hair was so matted.
I gave it another go a few months later—this time after conditioner, applied to soaking wet hair. And honestly, that worked better. My hair felt good that day. But the more I used K18, the more I noticed my hair getting dry and brittle again. You can read more about that in my K18 review.
Verdict
If I had to pick between K18 and Olaplex, Olaplex easily wins. It’s more affordable, the bottle is larger, it detangles your hair, and works with your regular hair care routine. It actually made my hair feel healthier. K18 might work wonders for some, especially those with extreme chemical damage, but for me it wasn’t worth the hassle or the price.
But everyone’s hair is different. Some people swear by K18. If you’re curious, I’d say start with the sample size.
Have you tried a different bond builder? Let me know in the comments below!
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K18 hair mask review: Does it actually work?
K18 leave-in molecular repair mask has been touted as the holy grail of bond builders, repairing your hair from the inside out. But does it work? Here’s my honest review.
K18 leave-in molecular repair mask has been touted as the holy grail of bond builders, repairing your hair from the inside out. But does it work?
Unlike many other bond builders on the market that apparently repair the outside of each strand, the K18 leave-in mask is supposed to be best for internal hair care. Basically, it’s meant to reach right through to the keratin bonds and heal them, giving you healthier and more resilient hair.
I was after a bond repair product because I have curly hair tangles very easily and I wanted to know if the issue stemmed from inside the hair strand. I read a lot of positive reviews, mostly from people with bleached hair and visible damage. I was spending about half an hour detangling my hair with conditioner every wash day and I was pretty desperate to fix that problem (here’s how I actually fixed the problem).
According to the K18 hair product website, your hair will be ‘like new’. It’s also meant to be for all hair types and works its magic in just four minutes.
I was sceptical, but I love a popular product and a bold claim so I decided to give it a crack. Here’s what happened.
K18 hair mask review
The first thing I noticed about K18 bond repair mask was how expensive it was, particularly when I didn’t know if it would work or not. I bought a 5ml sample size tube which still costs about AU$16, but I figured it was better than buying a full-price 50ml bottle for $120. Since I only had a small amount, I didn’t have much to experiment with so I followed the instructions carefully.
According to the instructions, you’re supposed to wash your hair with shampoo but don’t condition it. Towel dry hair until it’s damp and rake one pump of the K18 treatment through your hair, adding more as needed, working from the roots to the ends. Let it sit for four minutes, style hair as normal.
For someone with curly hair that tangles easily and relies on conditioner alone to detangle, the prospect of not conditioning my hair after shampooing was frightening. Nevertheless, I gritted my teeth and got on with it.
What happened
As expected, my hair was nice and tangled after using shampoo. I briefly tried to detangle with my fingers but gave up quickly, hoping K18 would solve those problems. My anxiety levels increased again as I towel-dried unconditioned and matted hair.
My hair was damp by the time I picked up the tube of K18. There was no drip at all. I squeezed a bit onto my hand and started trying to rake it through. The product is white, thick and feels a lot like a conditioning mask to touch.
Sadly, it did not behave like a conditioner.
I immediately started applying it to the ends of my hair, where the largest knots were, slowly trying to detangle with my fingers while trying to imagine the shiny, lush locks I’d have once this painful process was over. I ended up using a tangle teaser to get them out properly, before working the rest of the product up the strand.
I’m not going to lie, it was tough.
The product has very little slip, which essentially means it won’t properly detangle hair. This process took quite a long time. I did eventually manage to get a brush through it, making sure each strand was coated. My damp hair felt brittle with the product in it, but I hoped that would fade away as it dried.
By the time I was done, I’d used most of the 5ml tube. I didn’t use any other product and left it to air dry.
The result
I would actually call this a disaster.
My hair felt like hay. It was crisp, brittle and flat. There was no curl definition at all—there was barely a wave. My hair hated the lack of conditioner and it really hated being detangled with virtually no assistance from a product with high slippage.
Sometimes, when my hair becomes brittle after using a high-protein treatment, it softens throughout the day. I wondered if that would happen with K18. It did not. Nor did it soften the next day. By day three, it was matted and looked terrible and I had to wash it again. I used conditioner this time, without K18, and everything went back to normal.
Usually, my hair becomes brittle when I use a product with too much protein. I did some research and found K18 is not a protein treatment. It has no protein at all, so that can’t have been the problem.
I noticed no improvement in my hair after using K18.
The second attempt
After the disaster, I left the tube of K18 in the bathroom and didn’t look at it again for months. It wasn’t until I went to the hairdresser that I decided to give it another go.
The hairdresser used K18 on my hair, but he applied it after conditioner and on very wet hair. I asked why he did that because the packet explicitly says to use K18 on unconditioned hair. He confirmed you are technically only supposed to use it on unconditioned hair, but he also said it doesn’t really matter—the product works whether you condition it or not, but it might be a bit less effective if you’ve conditioned and rinsed your hair. When he was done cutting my hair, it did feel amazing. There was no dryness at all, like there was after my own attempt with K18.
I was floored and decided to give it another go.
I washed my hair, conditioned and detangled, as normal. This time, I didn’t towel dry my hair. I applied K18 pretty soon after getting out of the shower. It was easy to apply this time and I brushed it from root to end with ease. I let it drip dry. My hair felt great. I decided to give it a proper go with a full-size bottle.
Over the following months, I used K18 every five to six washes, as stated on the packet. At the start, it was hard to tell if my hair only felt good because of the conditioner, rather than because the K18 was repairing my hair. After a few months of use, I was convinced that was the case. The last few times I used it after rinsing out the conditioner, my hair started feeling brittle again.
It continued to feel brittle until I stopped using K18.
The verdict
I still use K18 about once every six months, largely to use up the rest of the bottle. If I use it more frequently than that, my hair feels brittle all over again.
According to the K18 website, brittle hair after use can mean there’s product buildup on the hair which stops the K18 from penetrating the strand. To fix that problem, they recommend using the K18 clarifying shampoo…because of course they do. I used a sulphate-heavy shampoo to remove buildup and it made no difference.
I know this product works for a lot of people, and I was pretty sad that it didn’t work for me. Of course, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. As I mentioned, people with bleached and dye-damaged hair have reported huge success with K18. The product clearly works, but like a lot of things, it’s highly dependent on the individual.
Want me to review something else? Let me know in the comments below!
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Is Audible worth it? How I got 25 free books
Learn how I signed up for Audible and got 25 free audiobooks, even after cancelling my membership. I listened to 17 free books last year alone, worth more than $800, without renewing my subscription. Here’s how you can do it too.
I consumed 17 books last year. That’s an increase of 15 books compared to the previous year, and I managed to do it with Audible, and they were free. It was transformative. If you’ve ever found yourself wishing you had more time to read, this post is for you.
In years gone by, I could never find the time to read books because I work at a computer all day and the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was read. My eyes needed a break. I probably consumed the equivalent of a book or two per week at work, but reading for work is very different from reading for enjoyment—purely from a place of personal interest. I held off using Audible for a while because I found the idea of someone reading to me weird, and I didn’t like the subscription model. I have so many books at home that I haven’t read…why would I pay for another?
Three years later, I know exactly why. Because I can pay about $7-14.95 per month to have someone narrate almost any book to me while I do things that I traditionally probably couldn’t do while reading.
Walking to the train station? Listen to a book. Cooking dinner? Listen to a book. Doing the dishes? Listen to a book. Running in the rain? Listen to a book. You get the idea. I managed to fit in 15 audiobooks while doing mundane tasks like walking, commuting and cooking, and I gained a world of knowledge at the same time.
(Note: this post is not sponsored, my love for Audible is genuine. There are some affiliate links, clicking on them is of no extra cost to you, it just helps keep my site running :)
How to get free books on Audible
Get an Audible Premium Plus membership that gives you free credits. This is explained below.
I downloaded Audible with a 30-day free trial, listened to the first book in The Wheel Of Time series while I recovered from wisdom tooth removal, and then I forgot about it altogether. I didn’t like the book at all (sincere apologies to those who love it, I really tried) so I didn’t feel the need to race back to Audible and listen to the next 13 novels in the series.
I’m not sure how long I had the subscription for before I cancelled it, or what the deal I signed up for was, but it must have been a good deal and I must have been on it for a while because I suddenly had about 25 free audiobooks to claim. Some Audible plans come with monthly credits that allow you to buy any book in the catalogue, regardless of the cost. At some stage, I’ve realised I was paying for Audible and cancelled the plan, but I kept getting emails telling me I had unused credits.
When I downloaded the Audible app again and checked my account, I realised I had 25 unused credits. I didn’t want to sign up for Audible again, but that didn’t seem to matter—I could buy 25 audiobooks, free of charge, without signing up to a plan.
Of course I did initially pay for the subscription but, if you’re not on a subscription plan, audiobooks do generally cost the same amount as paperback books because there’s a whole production process involved—there’s a professional voice actor or narrator, they’re often recorded in studios with sound mixers, and sometimes there’s background music.
I’ve managed to listen to more than $1000 worth of audiobooks with credits alone, and I definitely didn’t spend anywhere near that on my subscription.
Audible free trial and membership
Audible will give you 30 days free, or $0.99 per month for three months. During that period, you can listen to however many books you like. Plans start at $7.95 per month after the free trial.
From there, you have options.
Audible Plus: $7.95/month means you can listen all you want to thousands of titles.
Audible Premium Plus: $14.95/month includes thousands of titles plus one credit per month for any premium selection title.
Audible Premium Plus Annual: $149.50/year includes thousands of titles plus 12 credits a year for any premium selection titles.
Any book you actually buy, with a credit or cash, is yours to keep. You can’t keep books that are downloaded with your subscription benefits.
You can probably do some math here to work out what the best value is for your lifestyle and how often you’ll use it. I listen for a little over an hour per day, so the $7.95 plan works for me. I don’t need to keep them once I’ve listened to them, so I don’t mind that I might lose access to them if I cancel my membership. A friend of mine listens all day while she works, so the annual subscription is worthwhile for her.
I do think the 12 credits in the annual plan is a great deal because it gives you 12 free audiobooks per year. If you get this plan through Google Play or App Store, these credits will not expire, even if you cancel your Audible membership.
A common question is whether Audible is included with Amazon Prime. Sadly, it is not—it’s a separate subscription.
Do Audible credits expire?
It depends on your plan, and how you signed up for Audible. Some plans have credit limits that expire once the billing period rolls over. But if you get them through the app, they will not expire even if you cancel your subscription.
Pictured below: Some of the books I got free, using credits. I highly recommend them all. They’re mine to keep because they were purchased using credits.
How does Audible work?
Audible is really easy to use. Download the app, sign in with your Amazon account and get a free trial. Search for a title you want, download it, and you’re good to go.
I find audiobooks download quickly on my phone using wifi, and you can start listening even before it finishes downloading. You can also choose to buy an audiobook with credits.
What I loved, and what I didn’t
Through this Audible journey, I learned I don’t like listening to fiction. I much prefer reading it. After The Wheel Of Time, I tried Dune, and I even tried something completely different by Margaret Atwood. But no. I don’t know if fiction is too slow in audiobook form, but it’s not for me.
What I love listening to is non-fiction. I largely listen to biographies by people who have lived very different lives to me—Unfollow, Wavewalker, Sociopath, and What My Bones Know were all excellent. They were read by the authors, which I prefer because their tone is crystal clear—you know exactly how they speak, and the tone of all the characters in their lives. Louis Theroux and Jennette McCurdy were especially good at this. Sometimes you also get extras in an audiobook—Louis Theroux had a whole section at the end of Gotta Get Theroux This that isn’t in the readable version.
I feel as though I’ve gained valuable knowledge about the power of religion, trauma, mental health, and travel that I wouldn’t have otherwise had. If I had those physical books on my shelf, I know I wouldn’t have finished them.
Audiobooks are as beneficial as reading
The act of listening to an audiobook is not the same as the act of reading, but it’s still the absorption of information and it activates similar brain regions to reading. It can improve cognitive processing, and language comprehension.
Researchers analysed brain scans and found that stories stimulate the same cognitive and emotional areas, regardless of the way they’re delivered. Whether you’re reading print books or audiobooks, you’re still absorbing information effectively (as per The Journal of Neuroscience).
Personally, reading books is important to me because I aim learn, rather than to improve my comprehension skills. If you want to improve your reading skills or your attention span, picking up a physical book might be the way to go. I recommend Kindle for that—you can have 500 books in your pocket at all times, and they are significantly cheaper than physical books. It’s amazing.
No matter how you decide to consume books, being open to new information is never a bad idea.
Is there a product or service you want me to try out? Let me know in the comments below!
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How to get thicker hair and increase density with one lifestyle change
Is it possible to get thicker hair, naturally? Yes, and you don’t need any hair thickening products to make it work. This method is designed to give you thicker hair, permanently.
Is it possible to get thicker hair, naturally? Yes, and you don’t even need hair thickening products to make it work.
There are so many products promising to give you thick hair—shampoos, conditioners, ointments, laser treatments, red lights—you name it. Some of them probably work, some of them probably don’t, but these are like band-aids to the problem.
None of them will solve your hair problems forever because they don’t address the underlying issue. And that’s what we want, right? We want to thicken hair strands and increase hair density for glossier, hydrated, and fast-growing locks, and we want to maintain it forever.
I’m going to tell you what I did to solve this problem.
Please note, this can work for men and women but male pattern baldness is a separate issue with very different treatment options. I recommend seeing a specialist to address that particular concern.
Before
I used to spend 30 minutes in the shower detangling my hair with my fingers and a tangle teaser. For half an hour every wash day, and I’d pull clumps of hair out of my brush. I washed my hair every three or so days, and not because it was greasy, because it was so tangled that it looked awful. If I left it longer than that between washes, the detangling process could take 40 minutes.
It was exhausting and disheartening to see so much in my brush every time. I wanted long hair, but I couldn’t maintain it—the ends were like barbed wire, brittle and split, and I could only use really thick conditioners that were actually too heavy for my fine hair, but my hair wouldn’t detangle with anything lighter. The result was over-conditioned hair that was flat, but somehow very tangled after a few days.
How I fixed thin, brittle, tangled hair
I ate loads more protein.
When I say loads, I mean about 60g more protein in one day than I had been eating.
That’s literally it, that’s the big secret. Your hair is basically just protein, so it needs a source of protein to grow properly.
I upped my protein intake so much that my body initially had no idea what hit it. I went from about 30g of protein a day to more than 80g. It was a big change, my stomach felt weird, and I felt so full I didn’t know if I’d ever be hungry again.
That initial shock to the system lasted a week or two, but after that I felt great.
I started back at the gym after a break and, due to increased protein levels, I managed to avoid muscle pain. I slept better and I had more energy. It was about a month before I really noticed a difference in my hair.
For the first few weeks, I kept using thick protein-filled conditioners, because that’s what I assumed my hair would always need. But after a while, my hair started to reject them. I’d wash my hair and let it air dry, and it felt sticky and brittle. It was horrible, I didn’t understand what was going on.
Until one day. I was sick of trying all my different protein-infused masks, so I grabbed a small bottle of conditioner I once swiped from a hotel room and slathered it on.
My hair instantly detangled—the whole conditioning and detangling process took about five minutes. I let it air dry, like I normally would, and almost cried at the result. It was shiny, glossy, and it felt so thick and full. I realised I probably didn’t need the thick conditioning masks anymore. My hair suddenly had enough protein to grow properly and detangle itself, putting more on resulted in protein overload.
I went from losing piles of hair to hardly any at all, and my conditioning and detangling routine went from 30 minutes down to five. All it took was adding more protein to my diet.
After
I’m still figuring out the best ways to incorporate more protein into my diet—90g is a lot for someone who doesn’t eat meat. My hair isn’t as thick as it was when I was really going for the protein, but it hasn’t lost it either. I still spend less than ten minutes conditioning and detangling my hair. Sometimes I use protein masks, but rarely. Most of the time, I can get away with lighter and more generic products that don’t have strengthening or lengthening properties. If I’m really in a bind and I’m away from home, I can use hotel conditioner and my hair is easy to detangle and looks great.
I was also able to stop using leave in conditioners and curl creams altogether. My hair started curling great on its own.
How much protein should you eat?
I am not a doctor or a health care professional of any kind. Before you make health and lifestyle changes, you should always speak to a professional. This is what worked for me :)
The protein recommendation is 2g per 1kg of lean body mass.
To figure this out, weigh yourself first thing in the morning, before you eat anything. Determine your body weight percentage and reduce your weight by your body fat. There are a few ways to determine your body fat percentage—either use the charts below, or you can take your measurements and use a calculator like this one.
If you weigh 60kg and your body fat is 25 per cent, the equation would be: 60 x 0.25 = 15.
60 -15 = . Your lean body mass would be 45kg.
If you need 2g of protein per kg of lean body mass, the final equation would be: 45 x 2 = 90.
So, someone who weighs 60kg with 25 per cent body fat would need to eat about 90g of protein per day.
How to increase your protein intake
Protein intake is very individual and will depend on your specific circumstance. Vegans will probably find they have to eat a lot more food in general to meet the protein requirements, but it’s still very attainable no matter what your diet is.
Personally, I had no idea my protein levels were so low and I found it difficult to incorporate so much more into my diet. When I went to the supermarket, I found a lot of yogurts and cereals and fortified with protein. I also incorporated dehydrated vegetable proteins into meals and generally started paying more attention to the nutrition charts on food packaging.
It took about a month to see real results, but I was completely blown away once I realised it was working.
Have you tried this out, or do you swear by another method? Let me know in the comments below!
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Quasi Bio-Collagen Mask Review
It feels like every skincare product on the market at the moment is promising to refine my pores and give me dewy glass skin. But do they work? I tried the Official Quasi Bio-Collagen Mask to find out. Here’s what happened.
It feels like every skincare product on the market at the moment is promising to give you glass skin. But do they work? I tried the Official Quasi Bio-Collagen Mask to find out. Here’s what happened.
Bio-collagen face masks seem to be everywhere, specifically the kind that you leave on for hours at a time. You can even sleep in them. I’ve seen so many videos of women putting white sheets on their faces, apparently going to bed, and in the morning peeling the mask off to reveal shiny, bouncy and glowing skin underneath. As the mask dries overnight, it turns from hospital white to transparent. That’s how you know it works, so they say.
I was sceptical because collagen isn’t easily absorbed through the skin so the impact of any collagen face mask is always going to be temporary. But that’s the case with most products — they all require consistent reapplication, so that wasn’t a deal breaker for me. The ads feature women of all ages, not just people in their 20s with great skin already. They’re also cruelty-free. I was in.
Quasi Bio-Collagen Face Mask: A Review
There are a few different collagen face mask brands that claim to do the same thing. I went with Quasi because the ads were literally on my Instagram feed for months, and I don’t follow them. They had stacks of user videos and good reviews that seemed legit. I do plan on trying a few other brands, but I had to pick one to start with, and it was Quasi.
According to the website, these masks reduce pores, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and give you plump, firm and glowing skin. Key ingredients include galactomyces, which is a fermented essence that is absorbed by the skin while brightening and firming. Oligo hyaluronic acid is absorbed very easily by the skin due to its low molecular weight, providing intense moisturisation. Low-molecular-weight collagen helps minimise pores and increase elasticity, and niacinamide which helps build keratin to maintain skin health.
What happened
I bought four packs of four in the sales after Christmas. Apparently, the masks should be used weekly, so that’s what I planned to do.
I washed all the makeup off my face, using micellar water to make sure there was nothing left. I didn’t apply anything else to my face. The mask was thick, white and jelly-like. It comes in a few pieces so you can tailor it to fit. There are two oval cut-outs where the eye holes are, so I put them directly under my lower lash lines to ensure my under-eye area would get collagen as well. I then placed one half of the mask over my chin and lower cheeks, and the other half on my forehead, cheekbones, and eyes. A have a small face, there was a fair bit of overlap in the middle, it didn’t seem to matter.
It went on very smoothly. I used my new Gua Sha to smooth it all down and make sure there were no air bubbles. It didn’t fall off and didn’t feel as though it was going to. It did feel damp and I wondered how it would go in bed. I waited up for about 45 minutes before going to bed. It dried a bit, but it was still dampish to touch.
Sleeping with a face mask on
Sleeping in a face mask was weird. I didn’t love it and I wouldn’t recommend it. I kept feeling as though it was going to stain the sheets (it didn’t) or come off in my sleep (it didn’t), and I woke at one point and felt very aware that it was on my face. It must have been about 4am when I decided I’d had enough. It had been on for six hours at that point, more than enough time, so I peeled it off and went back to sleep.
I had some regrets because I didn’t have that big reveal moment in the ads, where you peel it off and your skin looks amazing. But I remembered one of Quasi’s many ads that shows a woman washing her face immediately after taking her mask off to prove the dewy glass-like texture was her skin, rather than product residue from the mask. For those reasons, I figured my skin should still look like that in three hours when my alarm went off.
The result
My face did not look dewy the next day and I think that was to do with going back to sleep with my face on sheets, but I was pretty happy with the results anyway. My skin looked firm and brighter and make-up went on very easily. It did feel as though my skin had a boost of something and there was a healthy glow about it. My skin felt smoother for a few days, though I’m not sure how noticeable that was to anyone but me.
I used it again a week later, but this time I kept it on all night and peeled it off slowly in the morning. As promised, the mask had turned from hospital white to transparent. It looked like a completely different product by the time it came off. It didn’t pull on my skin, and while it was stuck to my face, it peeled off easily.
There was more of a dewyness to my skin after the second one, but it didn’t look much different to the night I pulled it off at 4am. A bit shinier, maybe.
Pros
My skin did look noticeably firmer and my fine lines were less visible, and the results seemed to last right up until I did another mask. My skin wasn’t irritated at all and my pores looked clearer and smaller. I think it cleared sebum from my pores, and I think it would continue to do that over the course of weeks with continual use, which is a pretty good result because sebum is difficult to remove without professional help.
Cons
The masks are expensive. It’s hard to say how expensive because they always seem to have huge deals. As I write this, the site says two packs (eight masks) cost AU$160 but at the moment there’s 50% off so it costs $80. Certain packs come with free gifts, like Gua Sha sets, $20 gift cards, and mystery gifts. These deals change constantly. Either way, $80 for four face masks is still a lot. The results are only temporary, but the masks are cheaper than weekly facials at a salon.
I also really didn’t like wearing the mask to bed. I tried putting one on at about 7pm, hoping it would be done by 10pm when I went to bed. It wasn’t. I think they probably need about four hours to dry completely.
Verdict
I would get this again. The results were not exactly like the ads, my skin wasn’t instantly transformed, but I also had realistic expectations. I wanted a reduction in fine lines and for my skin to appear firmer and smoother, with a glow, and that’s what happened. I was really impressed with the way it seemed to remove sebum and minimised pores. I look forward to seeing how this changes my skin over a few months.
Have you tried Quasi, or another brand of bio collagen face mask? Let me know in the comments below!
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Bondi Boost HG Shampoo Review: Does It Really Work?
I bought Bondi Boost HG Shampoo on a whim one day, on my lunch break. It was kind of expensive and promised to clean my hair and help it grow faster at the same time. But does it really work and it worth the price tag?
I have been using Bondi Boost HG Shampoo for years. It’s a bit on the expensive side but I find myself going back to it time and time again. This is why.
I bought Bondi Boost HG (hair growth) shampoo on a whim one day, on my lunch break, because I saw a pharmacy and couldn’t find a reason not to get it. I had been wanting to try it for a while but kept putting it off because the bottles are kind of pricey for the size. That day at the pharmacy, I caved. It was a moment of weakness, but I’m actually really glad I did.
I have fine hair that errs on the side of dry, but my hair usually also needs a product that foams. Without that, my scalp just doesn’t feel clean and my hair doesn’t sit right on my head. Honestly, day two hair starts looking like day four hair. It’s a real pain. So I’m cautious about what products I use.
The issue with that is, a lot of shampoo that lathers has sulphate in it. And we don’t like that because it strips your hair of natural oils. We’re after hydrated curls and waves and a fresh scalp. Bondi Boost shampoo is good because, not only is it vegan and cruelty-free, it’s sulphate-free but somehow it actually foams and cleans your hair without drying out your hair completely.
That’s a win, in my books.
Part of the selling point for this product is that it promotes hair growth. That’s not why I bought it, but it’s a bonus if it works.
Before
Before I started with Bondi Boost, I was mostly using Shea Moisture Castor Oil shampoo, which was great but my hair gets sick of products quite quickly, so I need a few on rotation. If I keep using the same one, my hair ends up looking knotty and generally terrible. So I like to try new ones.
My hair was getting really tired of Shea Moisture (which is nothing on the brand, I love their products) so Bondi Boost seemed to be a good alternative to test out.
Review
The instructions say to use a small amount on wet hair, lather and rinse, so that’s what’s I did. The first thing I noticed was that the product is almost transparent and smells like overwhelmingly peppermint — a unique choice for shampoo, but I rolled with it.
As per the directions on the bottle, I rubbed a small amount between my fingers and worked it into my scalp only. It lathered immediately. A little went a long way.
I used a bit more for the back of my scalp, made sure it was properly dispersed — it was really easy to work into my scalp — then rinsed it out. It came out easily and I didn’t notice any residue leftover. My hair felt clean, but not squeaky clean, and smelled mildly of peppermint.
I followed up with conditioner, but that’s for another review. Watch this space!
Result
My hair felt clean, my scalp felt cleansed, and my hair sat pretty well on my head. That is to say, it didn’t feel oily or part in weird places like it does on day four, for example. It didn’t tangle more easily than usual, and it didn’t create extra frizz. My hair looked hydrated and voluminous.
My hair also didn’t get sick of Bondi Boost for a while. I would actually say it took a few weeks before my hair decided it had enough, which is a pretty good run.
It’s now a permanent feature in my rotation of shampoos, and I find myself going back to it time and time again. I feel like it really cleans my scalp in a way a lot of natural shampoos don’t — they often leave residue, or an oily sheen because they don’t have sulphate, so Bondi Boost is a good reset and removes build-up.
One thing I will say is that it can make my hair feel quite dry if I use it for too long. It doesn’t have sulphate, but whatever else they put in it to make it lather the way it does is a little drying. Having said that, I do rotate shampoos so it’s not a huge problem for me.
Verdict
On the whole, Bondi Boost is pretty expensive. At $34 for 250ml, it’s a lot for the average person to drop on a single product. However, a little does go a long way and I had my bottle for months before it ran out. I have repurchased this one, and I’ll probably do it again once my current one runs out.
I did not notice more hair growth. That’s honestly not why I bought it so I wasn’t paying too much attention to that, but I would have noticed if my hair grew faster than usual and it didn’t.
Have you tried Bondi Boost? Let me know in the comments below!
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Does K Republiq Glass Skin Really Work: A Review
As with a lot of products on this site, I came across K Republic Glass Skin on social media and decided I had to try it out. I’m always so curious to see if new products and fads work — at the moment, it feels like every second ad on Instagram is for a new product promising to give me Korean-style glass skin. Does it really work? This is what happened.
Does K Republiq Glass Skin actually reduce the size of your pores and create a smooth complexion? I tried it out so you don’t have to.
As with a lot of products on this site, I came across K Republic Glass Skin on social media and decided I had to try it out. I’m always so curious to see if new products and fads work — at the moment, it feels like every second ad on Instagram is for a new product promising to give me Korean-style glass skin.
I decided to splash out on K Republiq because the products were created with extreme hydration in mind, which is what ultimately gives you that glass-like look. It’s basically advertised as a glass skin routine. The ingredients list is packed with polyglutamic acid which holds ten times more moisture in your skin than hyaluronic acid.
Bakuchiol helps reduce fine lines without drying your skin like retinol, niacinamide helps smooth pores, and vitamin C and squalene help illuminate and plump the skin. I was basically using all these products anyway, but now they’d be concentrated in single product line.
The ads feature women age 20 to 60 with pretty convincing before and after photos. Usually, models for these products are in their 20s with flawless skin, which doesn’t really show how well the products work for everyone. I’m in my 30s, which isn’t old, but my skin isn’t like it was in my 20s. I’m pasty pale, I live in a hot climate, I am very photosensitive, I have sun damage, mild rosacea, and fine lines. The product is marketed for people of for all ages and apparently it’s ten times more moisturising than hyaluronic acid.
K Republiq Glass Skin: A Review
I bought a kit with three pieces: Glass Skin Glazing Essence, Glass Skin Serum and Glass Skin Finishing Glaze.
Shipping was super fast and I had my kit within about three days. It also came with a free Gua Sha. I was happy to find the bottles were large and full to the top with product. They’re pink, bulky and hard to lose. The essence is a spray, the serum is a pump bottle, and the glaze is in an airless pump vacuum bottle — you push the lid down and product comes out the top.
I was going out one the evening I got the package so immediately washed my makeup off so I could use my new products underneath. Deep down, I was kind of hoping my skin would immediately transform into youthful radiance like it seemed to in the ads. Obviously that didn’t happen, but I think it did look a bit shinier…sort of glass-like, you could say.
According to the website, you’re supposed to spritz your face with essence and let it sink in before using about two pumps of the finishing glaze. My skin did feel a bit smoother with the glaze — it felt kind of tight on my face, but not in an uncomfortable way. Make up went smoothly over the top.
I was ready for the night routine when I got home. I washed the make up off, used the essence and a pump of the serum. The serum was pearly-white and went on very easily with my fingers. It dried pretty quickly before I used the glaze. Again, the glaze had the tight-ish feeling on my skin.
What happened
I repeated this routine for weeks, replacing all my products — hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, lactic acid, retinol, and agrilene — with K Republiq. I used the essence and glaze morning and night, adding the serum only in the evening. My skin felt noticeably smoother on the first day and the feeling never went away. Months later, my skin still feels really smooth.
By the end of the month, I was running low and decided to make the most of Black Friday sales. This time, I bought two kits which included the Magic Balm.
The mask is a very thick, pearly pink wax-like product that is very thick and melts in your fingers. I put way too much on the first time. A little goes a long way, it even says that on the packaging, but I can’t stress that enough — a little goes a long way. I put it on at night instead of the glaze, because it’s way too thick to go under makeup, and my skin is super smooth by morning.
Pros
Three products replace about seven, the products are packed with moisturizing and hydrating ingredients, and they’re vegan. When I asked my partner if the difference was visible, he said it did. My pores were smaller, mild redness had lessened, and it had a dewy glow about it. My skin didn’t get sick of it, I didn’t develop an allergy or intolerance to it, and I have noticed fine lines aren’t as visible.
Cons
The products are expensive. They’re large bottles that last a while, and you can also get some pretty decent deals on the site, but it’s still significantly more than The Ordinary, which costs about $12 a bottle. I initially paid $99 for the Glass Skin Glazing Essence, the Glass Skin Serum and the Glass Skin Finishing Glaze. I didn’t have to get the pack of three, but the finishing glaze on its own costs about $79, so it was better value to get the pack. I also decided the only way to find out whether the products really worked was to buy the whole routine. I went back about a month later to check out the Black Friday specials and the price was jacked to $119…go figure.
One thing I really didn’t like was the airless pump vacuum bottle the glaze comes in — it pumps well the first few times and then it’s impossible to get anything out of it. The jar does unscrew really easily so you can get every last bit of product out, but you shouldn’t have to do that. The pump function is as much to do with ease as it to do with portion control. The jar instructs you to use two pumps morning and night, and that’s not possible when the pump function doesn’t work. It’s a small problem, but worth mentioning.
Verdict
Krebuliq products really do work and I bought them again. Do I have flawless and glass-like skin? No. Do I still feel the need to wear makeup when I leave the house? Yes. It did not completely even out my skin tone, nor did it fix rosacea. I do not look like the women in the ads, even the ones who are twice my age. But it did help with my skin problems and I do feel as though it’s good for my skin. It looks healthy and vibrant, and it feels great.
Want me to review something else? Let me know in the comments below!
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Hairstory New Wash Review: Is it worth the hype?
New Wash promises to replace all your normal products — it cleanses, conditions, and works as a styler. It’s also formulated without detergents or foams which can damage your hair. It’s eco-friendly and cruelty-free. But does it work? Read on for my in-depth review.
Wondering whether to splash out and try New Wash by Hairstory? I tried it out so you don’t have to. Here’s what happened.
I’ve become a bit of a sucker for Instagram ads. Some are ridiculous. With others…I feel seen. So when I saw a woman on Instagram with very long and curly hair talking about how New Wash was the best thing she’s ever tried, I watched it until the end.
She said her whole family had swapped out shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for this all-in-one miracle. Of course it’s an ad so I took it with a few grains of salt, but there were thousands of really good, genuine reviews. I had to check it out.
My concern with every new product is that my hair will hate it, or my hair will feel amazing after the first wash and then decide it hates it from the second wash onward. It’s a constant battle, but I’ll always try something new hoping it’ll be my new holy grail. Cue: New Wash.
I was hesitant to give it a crack because, at $70 for an 8oz package — which the smallest size available — it’s really expensive. I subscribed to get the cost down by 10%, and because it came with free shipping and a free silicone scalp massager which I had never used before.
It seemed like a good deal, all things considered. For that price, I wanted phenomenal results.
New Wash: A Review
According to the New Wash website, it’s not a co-wash because it has cleansing properties, but it has the consistency of a conditioner and you use it like you would co-wash. It’s supposed to replace all your normal products — it cleanses, conditions, and works as a styler. It’s also formulated without detergents or foams which can damage your hair. It’s eco-friendly and cruelty-free.
There are three versions — ‘original’ for all hair types, ‘rich’ for dry hair, and ‘deep’ for oily hair. I have a lot of hair but it’s very fine, wavy on top with coils at the bottom, and about forearm-length. It’s prone to dryness at the ends and tangles easily. I use a hair mask as my regular conditioner, but I can’t use products that are too conditioning because my hair gets over-conditioned and falls flat there’s no volume at all. That’s one of the reasons I don’t use co-washes, another is that I find they don’t cleanse my hair properly at the root and my hair feels oily and doesn’t fall right beyond day one.
For all those reasons, I was a bit skeptical about New Wash and really wanted to make sure I tried to right version. I had thought I might go with ‘original’ because any deeper conditioner at the roots could mean my hair was over-moisturised and flat. On the flip side, my hair could end up a dry mess if ‘original’ wasn’t conditioning enough. The struggle was real. Luckily, there was a very helpful quiz on the Hairstory website which helped me work out that I should probably get ‘rich’.
(Ingredients: Rich, deep, original)
Wash
New Wash comes in a bag, rather than a bottle, and smells like lavender. The product is thick and white and the instructions say to use as much of it as you would normally use of shampoo and conditioner combined. So that’s what I did.
As someone who doesn’t use co-wash, it felt pretty strange putting this thick product all over my scalp and raking it down my hair — it felt counterintuitive, really, but I stuck with it. I focused on my scalp to begin with and used the silicone scalp massager to make sure my head was cleansed. I then used a bit more product and applied it to the length, as I would with conditioner.
I was able to detangle my hair with relative ease with my fingers, before I finished it off with a brush. I then scrunched the product into my hair, like I normally would, but that step didn’t feel necessary. My hair was completely saturated with product — to the point where I probably used too much product. It felt quite heavy in my hair — a bit stiff, even, and I hoped that would go away once it was all washed out.
Some of the reviews I read suggested the product was quite difficult to wash out, and even the instructions on the packaging said to wash it out really, really well. So that’s what I did. I used the scalp massager to make sure it was all off my head, before I used my hards to really squeeze it out of my hair. Personally, I didn’t find it difficult to wash out.
Styling
I would normally apply a styling cream immediately after washing my hair, but I wanted to see if — like the woman in the ad — I could get away without additional products. She insisted that New Wash meant her hair was in perfect coils every morning. I was very skeptical, but gave it a shot.
I flipped my soaking-wet hair upside-down, as normal, and gently ran a comb through it to detangle. It was a bit harder without additional product in it for more slip, but I managed. I scrunched it and plopped with a microfibre towel. My hair still had the heavy and stiff texture that it had before I washed the product out.
I took the towel off about ten minutes later, shook my hair a bit and parted it like I normally would (I realise not everyone parts their hair after washing it, but mine doesn’t sit right if I don’t). The ease with which I can part my hair after washing is usually a pretty good indicator of how cleansed my hair is. If it’s not cleansed properly, it’s pretty difficult to part and clumps together. If it’s properly clean, this doesn’t happen and it separates at the part very easily. I didn’t find parting my hair difficult after New Wash. I scrunched my hair again, it still felt a bit heavy but I ignored it and got on with my day.
drying
My hair usually takes a few hours to air dry completely. I found plopping as usual after New Wash didn’t completely get the drip out of my hair, it really held on to the water, so my shoulders were a bit damp by the time I got to work. I find that can happen with thicker products. The smell of lavender was also quite strong when my hair was wet, but it disappeared once dry.
It probably took an extra hour to dry completely, which I didn’t really mind.
Result
The first time round, I was pretty happy with the result. That stiff and heavy feeling did disappear once my hair dried, which was a relief. My hair felt soft and mousturised, my scalp felt clean, and my hair still had volume. I wasn’t sure what to expect in the volume department so I was pretty impressed with that.
What I didn’t like was that my hair looked a bit frizzy at the ends, which I put down to not using a styling product. As a whole, I would say my hair did look a bit curlier than usual, and I think it held its curl for a bit longer than usual — into the next day. It looked okay on day two and three, but nothing amazing. It looked as I would normally expect day two and three hair to look, with a bit more curl on day two. For a product that replaced shampoo and conditioner, I was relatively pleased.
Second and third wash
This is where things went downhill. Sometimes, my hair likes a product one day and hates it the next. This is basically what happened with New Wash.
For the second go, I used less product than I did the first time and my hair detangled as easily as it had before. It still had that stiff feeling, but I knew it would go away so I wasn’t concerned. I did add a curl cream this time, and that really helped stop the frizz at the ends. My hair looked fine on day one, but it wouldn’t sit right on my scalp the following day, or the day after that. It felt a bit heavy, it lost some of its curls and waves and looked quite flat by the time I had to wash it again.
Nevertheless, I persisted and used New Wash again for a third time. Attempt three was a bit of a disaster. I repeated the process, using styling cream, and my hair did not like it. My hair wouldn’t sit on my scalp properly — it wouldn’t sit right along the crown in the way oily hair doesn’t sit right, but my hair wasn’t oily at all in this instance. The curls fell flat by day two and no amount of zhooshing would fix the way it sat on my scalp. The ends were tangled like steel wool and the knots started quite high up. Basically, I had to wash it again on day two because it looked and felt terrible. I washed it with shampoo and my usual Shea Moisture conditioner and the problem went away.
Verdict
I didn’t try it again after attempt three because I don’t want that to happen again. I probably will use it here and there, but only because I don’t want to waste it, and not on consecutive washes. Just because this did not work for me in the end, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you — it does have thousands of great reviews. My hair is very temperamental and I think that is partly to blame.
However, what I really struggle to understand is the cost.
Without the 10% subscription discount, the 8oz package costs AU$69, the 20oz package costs $155, and the 32oz package costs $236. I imagine it’s priced that way because it’s supposed to replace two other products — maybe that’s the amount you’d spend on shampoo, conditioner and stylers combined. But if the cost works out to be the same, what’s the point in replacing three products with one? Unless, of course, New Wash really worked for you and the results were significantly better than the products you would normally use.
I just feel, for that price, you’d want it to work miracles on your hair, walk the dog and do the dishes. If you had long and thick hair that required a lot of product, you’d spend a fortune.
I should say, there is is a $20 trial kit that I couldn’t access because I’m in Australia. I tested out a few countries on the website, including New Zealand, Canada, the UK, and various places in Europe and it appears this very affordable trial kit is only available for US customers…even though Hairstory ships to 34 other countries. If the trial was available to me, I definitely would have chosen it rather than a full-size package.
Have you tried New Wash? Let me know in the comments below!
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Are Bkr Water Bottles Worth It?
Looking for a durable and reusable glass water bottle that won’t leak? A Bkr water bottle is the answer. I have had my pink Bkr bottle for about five years now, which means I got it before it became a designer bottle. Yes, you read that correctly - ‘designer’ water receptacle. But having had one for so long, I can absolutely see why they became so popular.
Looking for a durable and reusable glass water bottle that won’t leak? A Bkr water bottle is the answer.
I have had my pink Bkr bottle for about five years now, which means I got it before it became a designer bottle. Yes, you read that correctly - ‘designer’ water receptacle. But having had one for so long, I can absolutely see why they became so popular. They don’t leak or break, the mouthpiece is the size a mouthpiece should be and not one of those ridiculously large ones that slosh water all over your face, and they look great. If anything happened to mine, I would literally spent the cash to get another. Here’s why.
The lid is a revelation
The lid screws on tight in one rotation. One rotation! And it doesn’t leak, ever. I have had so many water bottles leak in my bag it’s ridiculous, so the fact that this doesn’t leak and screws up really easily is a big plus for me. It’s also designed to be carried with a ring, so you could tie it to your bag if you wanted, or just loop it around your finger and off you go.
A weird design feature Bkr came up with within the last five years is a lid that fits a (vegan) lip balm in it. Of course, it specifically fits the Bkr Water Balm which, at $35, is more expensive than the lid itself, but I guess it would look nifty with the balm clipped in.
It (probably) won’t break
The bottle is smooth grass wrapped in a silicone cover that’s reinforced at the bottom, which adds a layer of protection if you’re a bit clumsy like me and drop things.
I have dropped mine a couple of times, but the worst was when it fell top-down and the lid cracked where the loop is. That’s not a design flaw - I don’t think anything could have survived that. The lid is made of quite a thick plastic and is not easy to break. It still functioned normally and I was able to close it without any trouble, but the glass has remained unbroken. You can buy replacement lids separately, so that is what I did.
Handy Sizes
Bkr comes in three sizes - one litre, 500ml and 250ml. I have the smaller one because I don’t carry around huge bags and I like to be able to slip it in a handbag while traipse to the supermarket or around the world, but there are definitely times where I’ve seen the benefits of a larger one, like when I’m working out.
Having said that, the litre bottle would probably be quite heavy. The bottle is made of glass, which adds to the weight, so keep that in mind when choosing.
Easy Cleaning
A few reviews say the Bkr bottle is hard to clean, but I’ve never really found that - you can put the whole thing in the dishwasher, or take the silicone slip off and wash that separately. The only thing to watch out for is don’t take the small silicone ring wedged inside the lid out - it’s what stops the bottle from leaking. I took it out once to clean it thinking I was being thorough, and it never really fit back in properly and it was a pain, and I’m kind of glad the lid broke so I could get a new one. That was not a design fault, that was just me taking things apart when I shouldn’t have.
Change the colour to match your outfit
The coloured silicone sleeves are also sold separately and are interchangeable, so you get a different colour for every day of the week. Not strictly essential, but a pretty cool feature nonetheless that makes this brand stand out. You can also get different kinds of sleeves, like spiky ones and smooth ones in different colours to suit your vibe.
Water tastes better from glass
I know that sounds subjective, but it’s true - the water tastes fresher and cleaner than out of a plastic bottle. Once you start drinking from glass, it’s really hard to go back to plastic. Chemicals from plastics also leak into your water bottle over time, which means you’re ingesting a hell of a lot more than water at the end of the day, which is kind of terrifying when you think about it. Whether you get a Bkr bottle or not, plastic bottles should be a thing of the past.
Water tastes better from glass
I know that sounds subjective, but it’s true - the water tastes fresher and cleaner than out of a plastic bottle. Once you start drinking from glass, it’s really hard to go back to plastic. Chemicals from plastics also leak into your water bottle over time, which means you’re ingesting a hell of a lot more than water at the end of the day, which is kind of terrifying when you think about it. Whether you get a Bkr bottle or not, plastic bottles should be a thing of the past.
vegan and cruelty-free
It seems odd for a water bottle to be vegan, but animal products make their way into the strangest things so it’s definitely worth noting. I make an effort to promote companies that are clean and ethical, and Bkr definitely fits that category - even the lip balm is vegan. Winner!
Cons
The one con I can think of is that you can’t fit ice into the bottle. That’s not a huge problem for me but, from what I understand, people from the US love having ice in their drinks and, unless you have an ice tray that makes tiny cubes, the Bkr bottle doesn’t cater for that. You would think ice would be more of a deal in hot Australia, buuuuut it’s not ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
What’s your favourite glass bottle? Let me know in the comments below!
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Why Function of Beauty Are Amazing Curly Girl Method Products: A Review
If you’ve googled hair care products within the last year, you’ve probably come across Function of Beauty - the customizable shampoo and conditioner range that claims to help your hair live its best life. But is it worth it?
If you’ve Googled hair care products within the last couple of years, you’ve probably come across Function of Beauty - the customizable shampoo and conditioner range that claims to help your hair live its best life. But is it worth it?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Function of Beauty offer shampoos and conditioners that are formulated to suit your unique locks. You jump online, take a two-minute quiz about your hair and your hair goals and out pops hair care products designed for your head alone. It’s even got your name on it.
It stood out to me because, along with being vegan and cruelty-free, the products are free of sulfates (which curly hair tends to hate) and parabens, and everyone under the sun seemed to be talking about how amazing the products are.
(Click here to read my Function of Beauty skin care review!)
Initially, it sounded gimmicky. How could a company mass produce that much product while formulating each bottle for every customer, based on a short multiple choice questionnaire? It sounded a bit like a scam.
I was also skeptical because, when I first looked into it, silicones were included in the conditioners and that’s just one giant ‘no’ for anyone with curly hair. I even reached out to Function of Beauty to ask whether they offered any options without silicones and the response I got back was all about how silicones are actually good for your hair, etc, etc. To their credit, it was a personalised response written by a human that addressed my specific questions, and not an automated bot response. But even so, it remained a giant ‘no’ for a while longer for that reason.
I remained skeptical until Function of Beauty offered a conditioner without silicones.
I decided to give it a shot and, in a dramatic and unforseen turn of events, they became my favourite curly girl method products. Here’s how it went down.
Note: I’ve included a photo of the ingredients list below, but keep in mind it’s specifically for the selections I made. The ingredients will be different for you, depending on what selections you make.
Before
Before using Function of Beauty, I had been using curly girl-friendly Bondi Boost shampoo, and alternating between Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil deep conditioner and Garnier Hair Food deep conditioner. I liked the Bondi Boost shampoo because it seemed to clean my hair in a way that a lot of other sulfate-free shampoos didn’t, but I did feel like it was drying my hair out a bit.
I alternated between the two deep conditioners in place of regular conditioner because the Bondi Boost conditioner was nowhere near hydrating enough and my hair would tangle up again really easily. While both deep conditioners did an okay job, I wasn’t overwhelmingly impressed with either. I had to use relatively large scoops of each to properly detangle my hair, and I alternated between them because each one would periodically make my hair dry, and I was at the point where neither product was doing a wonderful job.
Cue: Function of Beauty.
Function of Beauty: A Review
Upon heading to the Function of Beauty website and hitting ‘Take The Quiz’, I was met with three questions asking me all about my hair type and structure, complete with visual aids to help me understand what the questions were asking.
I have fine, curly hair that errs on the side of dry, so that’s what I selected.
On the next page I was asked what my ‘hair goals’ were. Because my hair is dry, it’s very prone to splitting, so I opted to fix split ends, hydrate and strengthen. I also like more volume in my hair with defined curls, so I chose those options. I clicked ‘no silicones’ and was hit with a warning asking me if that’s really what I wanted. I found that pretty strange - it read as though they were trying to convince me I needed silicones, but I’ve had really bad experiences with them in the past, along with basically everyone else with curly hair, so I ignored it and continued on with my hair journey.
The next step was all about how I wanted the shampoo and conditioner to look and smell. There are a bunch of fun smells and colours to choose from, but when it comes down to it, keeping things as natural as possible keeps your hair and scalp looking it’s very best. It didn’t say whether the dyes were derived from natural ingredients, and scents are a huge cause of scalp irritation for people in general, so I opted for no dyes and the eucalyptus scent because it says that one is 100% natural. Lavender is the other natural scent, or you can choose the fragrance-free option.
You can also choose the strength of your fragrance, so I guess the option to smell like a full-blown eucalyptus tree or lavender bush is available for willing participants, however, I chose the ‘light’ option.
Finally, I got to whack my name on the bottle. Another fun part is that you don’t necessarily have to put down your name. You could choose to have it say ‘function of - sexy beast’ if you so desired ;)
I then chose the size of the bottles I wanted and had the option to add hair masks and such. I opted for the smallest bottles and no hair masks since I’d never tried it before and, at $69 for both, omgosh it’s expensive.
I felt confident with my selections throughout the process because the site is so visual, and at no point was I confused.
Because I live in Australia it took about a month to arrive, but shipping was only $5 soooo I can’t really complain.
The Products
The shampoo and conditioner bottles came packed in a personalised box that had my name on it. It also came with a info pamphlet which also contained the product ingredients - something that isn’t available on the site. Each bottle was sealed to prevent leakage, and the pump lids were included separately in the box. It also came with some stickers that I think you can use to decorate the bottles with.
Because I chose no colour, the products were both a nice pearly shade of white and they did indeed smell like eucalyptus, but not like a whole tree. Winner.
I was a little surprised at how small the bottles were. I chose 8 oz, but we measure things in litres on my side of the planet so I didn’t know how much I was selecting. It’s really quite small for the price and, given that my hair often needs more conditioner than the average human, I wondered how far it would all actually go.
Wash
The directions are pretty basic and I did nothing different or fancy before piling it in my hair. It had been about four or five days since my last wash and it was tangled as all hell.
When my hair was completely saturated under the shower, I used one pump of the shampoo and used it on my roots. Since the product has no sulfates in it, I didn’t think it would lather properly and expected to have to use more of the product to work it through my hair, but that’s not what happened at all.
It foamed like crazy. One pump was almost enough to cover my entire scalp.
Quick note - I only ever wash my roots with shampoo and let it sink through the length when I rinse it out. I’ve always found it to be an effective washing method that still leaves my hair feeling fresh and clean, and that’s what I did with the Function of Beauty shampoo.
After washing it out, I moved on to the conditioner. Function of Beauty suggest starting with the conditioner on your roots and moving down through the length. I never put conditioner up past my ears because I find my hair goes really flat on top and doesn’t sit right when it’s dry, so I didn’t put it on my roots here either.
Again, I expected to have to use more product because my hair can be so dry and hard to detangle.
Wrong.
With one pump of the Function of Beauty conditioner, I began to detangle the length with my fingers and managed to do most of it using that small amount. I grabbed a little more to squish into the ends. I was super surprised at how little I needed to use. When I couldn’t detangle any more with my fingers, I used one of those detangling brushes to do that rest. Again, it was really, really easy to do.
The instructions say to leave the conditioner in for a few minutes before rinsing it out, so that’s what I did.
Drying
Once all the conditioner was out, I tipped my head upside down, brushed it again (gently), scrunched the excess water out with my hands to create curls and put it up with a microfibre towel for 20 mins.
Then I took it out, scrunched the excess water out again, parted it and let it air dry.
The result
The first thing I noticed was how soft my hair felt. It didn’t tangle up easily, it felt stronger and smoother, and the volume was 100% more impressive than any other curly girl-friendly products I’d used.
The second thing I noticed was that my curly were basically gone. It was voluminous and healthy and shiny, buuuuut the ‘curl definition’ selection I’d chosen in my hair goals didn’t seem to do anything.
I know I said Function of Beauty is an amazing curly girl method product - sit tight - I’m getting to it.
Having said that, I don’t really put products in my hair to keep it curly, and my hair felt so good after using Function of Beauty that I thought I’d try out a new product to see if I could get some curls back post-wash.
Wash, Take 2
I washed and conditioned my hair the exact same way about five days later, but instead of putting it up in a towel once I was done brushing it in the shower, I scrunched Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream through the ends. I put it up in a microfibre towel again, left it for 20 mins, took it out, scrunched with the towel a couple of times, then parted it and let it air dry.
Result, take 2
Curls for days!
I was so, so impressed at how curly using a small amount of Not Your Mother’s made my hair. I’m usually a bit wary of leave-in products because my hair is really sensitive to too much moisture. It doesn’t really absorb products unless it’s wet, and often it just goes stringy.
Not this time.
The combination of Function of Beauty shampoo and conditioners and Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Hair Cream made my curls defined, hydrated, and knot-free.
Pros
I used to really struggle detangling my hair in the shower - even though my hair is fine, it took me a really long time to get all the knots out without breaking the ends off. After using Function of Beauty, I literally wash my hair every five days, even though I workout every day, and it’s about 80% less tangled. The amount of hair that falls with each wash has also significantly reduced.
Cons
No matter how you look at it, the products are expensive. One of my main concerns was that the small bottles would empty really quickly, based on the amount of product I’m used to using, but I honestly only use about one pump of each with every wash. Given that I wash my hair about once every five days, it should last quite a long time.
From the bizarre caution I got when opting not to use silicones to the lack of ingredients on the website, it’s pretty clear that Function of Beauty isn’t really designed for people who follow the curly girl method, but they are still amazing curly girl method-friendly products by default.
The Verdict
Even though my hair wasn’t curly just using Function of Beauty products, it moisturised and strengthened my hair more than anything else ever has. Since it’s not specifically a curly hair company, I don’t mind that my hair wasn’t curly without using additional products - it’s so hydrated and healthy-feeling that I do feel it’s worth it.
My hair feels smoother and less tangled for about double the time it used to and I’m losing far less hair than I was before. I also have a moderately sensitive scalp, but I haven’t had any adverse reaction to this one.
Function of Beauty is very pricey, but I also think it’s a fair price considering the company are genuinely formulating each bottle to order. Not only that, but it works. That’s pretty impressive. If you have the cash to spare, I would say it’s definitely worth trying it out.
Have you tried Function of Beauty? Let me know in the comments below!
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Shea Moisture Shampoo Review: Does it work?
Is Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner worth the hype? I tested it out so you don’t have to.
Is Shea Moisture shampoo and conditioner worth the hype? I tested it out so you don’t have to.
As someone who travels a lot, my hair has been through some things I kind of wish it hadn’t. Chlorinated water, being washed in countries with undrinkable tap water, extreme heat and humidity, snow and frost, extreme amounts of sunshine, and all the things I did to it in between, like bleach, box dyes, and heat tools – you name it! So when I discovered DevaCurl, I thought I’d found the answer to all my curly hair problems. My hair was detangled, shiny, and curlier than ever before – why buy anything else?
That is, until it stopped working.
You know when you find a new moisturiser or cleanser and your skin feels the best it has ever felt and you think ‘hells yes I’ll use this forever’, and then it seems to stop working and your skin looks less than average again? That’s what happened to my hair with DevaCurl.
The search for something new resumed.
I’d heard about Shea Moisture, but I have fine hair that gets weighed down really easily, so I figured anything with shea butter in it would be too heavy. If you’ve ever held a block of raw shea butter, you’ll understand. It’s dense. It wasn’t until I tried Maui Moisture for a few weeks and my hair dried out like sand on a hot day that I realised I needed something else.
So my dry, tangled hair and I wandered into Priceline, found Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil shampoo and conditioner on special, and found myself at the checkout, debit card in-hand. Long-story-short, Shea Moisture was the bomb. I was actually shocked, and wondered how and why I avoided this product for so long.
On another note, it’s also cruelty-free, vegan, curly girl-friendly, and Jamaican black castor oil promotes hair growth. Win!
Shea Moisture: A Review
First of all, the shampoo looks, smells feels really unappealing. It’s a dark shade of brown – kind of like lice shampoo, without the really acrid smell – and feels thin. A far cry from the thick, white and creamy consistency of DevaCurl. Having said that, a core ingredient is Jamaican black castor oil so, you know, the colour and consistency is to be expected.
On my head it went. It does foam a bit, but it’s not like anything with sulfate in it – just enough so that you feel like your head will be clean. I also didn’t need to use too much – two pumps, each around the size of a bottle top.
I should mention the instructions basically say to douse all your hair in it – from roots to ends – but that seemed a little extreme for me so I only went scalp, and everything was fine.
It washed out easily, and I moved on to the conditioner. Unlike the shampoo, the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil conditioner is thick, creamy, and a light caramel colour. After using around two pumps to start with, I raked it through my hair to see how easily it detangled.
It didn’t make my hair feel silky as soon as I used it like some other products do, so I was surprised at how easily the knots came out. It wasn’t a miracle product by any means - my hair didn’t magically fall flat and knot-free on my shoulders, but it was easier than usual to rake it through.
I washed it out, wrapped it in a microfibre towel for 20 minutes, styled with a bit of DevaCurl Wave Maker and let it air dry.
The Result
After it dried, I noticed the difference.
As much as I loved DevaCurl, it did weigh my hair down and took quite a lot of fluffing to bring the volume back. With Shea Moisture, it barely took any effort at all.
I was pretty concerned the mixture of shea butter and black castor oil would make my hair feel oily, stringy, and heavy, but it was nothing like that. My hair felt lighter, the curls were bouncier, and only once it dried could I feel how soft the conditioner made my hair.
I’ve now been using it for a few months and I’m still really happy with it. It also never irritates my skin, doesn’t leave a weird smell in my hair, and when it is feeling dryer because of external factors like weather and humidity, I use the DevaCurl Deep Sea Repair and it fixes it right up.
The Verdict
Shea Moisture doesn’t give you that huge boost of moisture you get with DevaCurl so it might not be great for people with high-porosity hair, thick or course hair that requires a heap and heaps of moisture, but it is a really good alternative a lot of other products out there (like Maui Moisture, for example – do not recommend. At all.), and they do have a few deep conditioners that are apparently worth a try! I haven’t tried them because it’s serious overkill for my hair - way too heavy - but I’ve only heard good things.
They also have a huge range for you to choose from that’s suited to all kind of hair types, which is something DevaCurl doesn’t really have, so it would be easy to shop around and figure out what works best for your hair.
Shea Moisture is also a great option if you’re finding DevaCurl too expensive. It’s priced comparatively well, so it’s easier to justify buying spending the money on it before you know whether it’s going to work for you.
All in all, I’ve had great results with Shea Moisture so I absolutely recommend it to anyone.
Do you have a miracle hair product that’s done wonders for your hair? Let me know in the comments below!
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Review: The Ordinary skincare changed my routine forever. This is how.
If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know I absolutely swore by three skincare products for the longest time — my facial cleansing bar, coconut oil and sunscreen. That was literally all I used. It’s been three years since I said that and, my oh my, how things have changed. Cue, The Ordinary.
The Ordinary skincare range has quite seriously changed my life. If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know I absolutely swore by three skincare products for the longest time — my facial cleansing bar, coconut oil and sunscreen. That was literally all I used. It’s been three years since I said that and, my oh my, how things have changed.
Until about three years ago, I didn’t think anything in my skincare regimen needed to change. I had a cleanser, I used coconut oil as a moisturiser at night and sunscreen in the morning and my skin felt great. But, at 31, I my skin didn’t look great. It was starting to dull, I could see more fine lines than ever before, I suddenly had blemishes, and I’d look at my skin in the elevator (albeit under harsh lights) when leaving work at the end of the day and…gasp. And sure, collagen production does decrease after your mid-20s and your skin does to start to look a touch dull, but I just didn’t believe I had to resign myself to this new life with dull skin.
By sheer coincidence, I had been listening to a financial podcast called She’s On The Money while commuting to work each morning. The girls from Adore Beauty were guests on the podcast and they were talking about how much they love facial serums, a brand called The Ordinary, and something called ‘retinol’. It was my understanding that expensive eye creams, for example, were a bit of a hoax and did next to nothing for undereye shadows and bags. Prior to listening to the podcast that morning, I believed all facial serums with that same brush.
Well…I was wrong.
One of the girls on the podcast said she had her skin mapped/scanned before and after using serums with retinol. Her skin had marked improvements post-retinol. Turns out, serums can actually penetrate your skin and change the speed at which your skin ages. I had seen The Ordinary products in a few stores but I had no idea what they were or why anyone would get them. When I got home from work that day, I bought three brand-spanking-new bottles and never looked back.
Note: The links throughout this post are for readers in Australia and New Zealand. I collect a small commission from sales, it doesn’t increase the price for you and all views expressed are my own. Scroll to the end for an international option :)
What is The Ordinary and why is it so cheap?
The Ordinary is a hair and skincare brand which does not spend heaps of money on fancy packaging or marketing. Each product is highly-concentrated, which means there’s no filler — the ingredients you see on the front of the bottle is what you get. This means they can afford to sell each product for about $10 - $15. The same products from other brands can cost between $70 and about $250. The company has made quality skincare products that are very affordable.
My favourite products by the ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: A natural substance found in your skin, eyes, and joints. When used topically, it rehydrates the skin, increases its capacity to retain water and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
I LOVE hyaluronic acid. It’s the first product I grab after rinsing my face. My skin has never felt so smooth and hydrated.
Niacinimide 10% + Zinc 1%: Also known as Vitamin B3, niacinimide reduces the size of pores over time, improves epidermal barrier function, decreases skin hyperpigmentation, moisturises, and generally brightens skin. It feels very similar to hyaluronic acid on your skin — super hydrating. I use this every day.
Vitamin C: Helps slow early skin aging, prevents sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne. It has inflammatory agents, soothes skin and reduces puffiness — basically, it gives you a nice glow.
I was using The Ordinary Vitamin C cream with silicone, but I really didn’t like it. It kind of burned when I put it on my face, and apparently that’s normal, but I really hated it. The silicone also meant my makeup didn’t sit right on my face. I am currently using another Vitamin C serum, but I recently found out it’s not vegan so I’m not going to promote it. However, I do recommend you use a good Vitamin C serum — it makes a really big difference to your overall complexion.
Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2%: Increases cell turnover and helps eliminate accumulated dead skin cells on the top layer of skin — kind of like microdermabrasion, but to a lesser extent. This leaves your skin feeling super smooth, brightens your complexion, and it can thicken the skin — smoothing out wrinkles, and reducing blemishes over time.
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion: A really powerful ingredient derived from vitamin A, which increases collagen production and reduces wrinkles over time. It also stimulates the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin tone and fades age spots.
It’s touted as a miracle product, and it very well could be, but I only use a 2% concentration every second day. You can definitely go overboard with retinoid — too much and it can burn you. It also makes your skin more sensitive to the sun, which is why I use it at night.
If you’re wondering why I use retinoid, not retinol: Basically, retinoid is more powerful — it’s the pharmacy-grade solution, whereas retinol is a product of retinoid. It’s a watered-down version.
Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3%: A natural antioxidant which occurs naturally in the skin of some fruits, like grapes and olives, and dark chocolate. It boosts antioxidant levels so your skin can repair and defend itself, improves skin firmness, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. It also calms any irritation and is really good for sensitive skin.
I use this with retinoid because it helps the product penetrate deeper into my skin.
Moroccan Argan Oil: Rich in Vitamin E, super moisturizing, hydrating, can prevent sun damage, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. I may not use coconut oil anymore, but I still love using oils on my skin.
Morning skincare routine
When you start using serums, the thing to remember is what products you can and can’t mix. I use Vitamin C in the morning and retinoid at night because they can cause irritation when their powers are combined. Lactic acid and retinoid can be used in the same routine…but can also cause irritation. It depends on your skin. Given that you should really only be putting about three serums on your face per session, I like to alternate them.
Step 1:
After rinsing my face in the shower, I’ll dry my skin about 90% and immediately put a few drops of hyaluronic acid on my face. Enough to cover it completely. I do this because hyaluronic acid is attracted to water, so it grabs the moisture on your face and pulls it into your skin. It works just fine if your face is completely dry, but I feel as though it does more if my face is a little damp. After putting the acid on, it dries really quickly.
Step 2:
When that’s all dry, I’ll do exactly the same thing with niacinamide — coat my face in it and wait a few seconds until it’s dry.
Step 3:
I follow niacinimide up with a few drops of Vitamin C — just enough for a thin coat on my face. It’s a powerful ingredient and too much can be damaging, and can make your skin quite sensitive to the sun. I use it in the morning and follow it up with sunscreen (my fav at the moment is Skinstitute) and primer with an SPF filter.
Evening skincare routine
Step 1:
I remove my makeup using ASAP Daily Facial Cleanser. I like this one because it removes makeup pretty easily, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight and dry, and I never have breakouts with it.
Step 2:
Like the morning, I’ll coat my face in hyaluronic acid when my skin in about 90% dry.
Step 3:
I alternate products in this step every second day.
On day one, I’ll follow hyaluronic acid with lactic acid. Just enough for a thin layer on my face is enough to leave it silky-smooth.
On day two, I’ll use just enough retinoid to coat my skin. It may be a miracle product, but you can definitely go overboard with it. Once that’s dry, I go in with resveratrol. It’s quite thick and oily so I don’t use too much. I’ll then wait at least 30 mins until it sinks into my skin before using moisturiser.
Step 4:
If I’ve used lactic acid, I’ll moisturize with argan oil. It’s quite thick so there’s no need to use too much — you don’t really want a pile of oil on your face and clog your pores. Your skin will feel silky-smooth the following morning.
If I’ve used retinoid, I’ll moisturise with ASAP Advanced Hydrating Moisturiser. It smells like orange peels, leaves my skin feeling hydrated and is supposed to heal sun-damaged skin and reduce fine lines.
That’s it!
I’ve come a long way from only using coconut oil and, while I still do believe it’s a great moisturiser, it wasn’t doing anything for my skin except moisturising it. Why stop at one benefit when you can boost collagen production and repair your skin from the inside out?
I’m not going to have the skin of a 20-year-old again, but since starting this new skin regime I have noticed my skin is brighter, I have fewer blemishes and fine lines, and my skin feels amazing.
Do you use The Ordinary? Tell me about your favourite products below!
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I Tried Lush Henna and Rainbow Henna. Here's What Happened.
Lush Henna and Rainbow Henna are probably the most popular natural dyes on the market. They both come in a few colours, they’re widely available and promise to have your hair looking amazing after use. I put both to the test. Here’s what happened.
I put Lush Henna and Rainbow Henna to the test. Here’s what happened.
Lush Henna and Rainbow Henna are probably the most popular natural dyes on the market. They both come in a few colours, they’re widely available and promise to have your hair looking amazing after use.
As I said in my Lush Henna review, I was blessed with grey hair from the ripe old age of 24, my hair is naturally very dark, and have been looking for a natural alternative to cover it up because my hair hates chemicals.
The problem is, henna isn’t really designed for hair that has different shades. It’s more of a natural stain that colours the hair in the same way that beetroot stains your skin when you touch it, but henna is more permanent.
Grey strands stain lighter than dark strands, so we’re looking for the one with the best coverage.
If you haven’t read my Lush Henna review, check it out!
(For a full list of pros and cons, scroll right to the end)
Rainbow Henna review
Pick a colour - there are loads! If you have really long or thick hair, you might want two pots just in case. My hair is long and I have a lot of it, but the strands are fine so I only needed 3/4 of a pot.
You’ll also need a plastic or glass bowl, a plastic or wooden spoon for mixing (metal does something weird to the dye so don’t use an ordinary spoon), a dying brush or comb with a pointy but on the end, gloves so you don’t stain your hands, something to cover the floor with, and some kind of oil or petroleum jelly to put on your face and neck so the henna easily comes off your skin. As with all henna, it’s a little messy.
Preparation
As with Lush Henna, you’ll need to mix Rainbow Henna with water to make it into a paste. Rainbow Henna comes in powder form is astronomically easier to dissolve than Lush Henna.
If you’re covering greys with a dark colour, you will need:
A pot of hot brewed coffee (not instant) and apple cider vinegar. The coffee takes the red shades out of the dye and the apple cider vinegar helps the greys latch on to the colour.
In the glass or plastic bowl, put in as much henna as you think you’ll need and gradually add the coffee. You’re looking for pancake batter consistency. Gloopy, but not too thick. Add about a tablespoon of vinegar and mix it in.
I put my glass bowl in a saucepan with a small amount of boiling water in the bottom to keep the dye warm. Like you’d do if melting chocolate.
Application
The directions say you can apply it to wet or dry hair, but I chose dry. I felt like the colour might not stain as much if the hair was wet, but it’s entirely up to you. It also says to apply on clean hair, but I think this is to ensure there are no styling products that would get in the way. I think it had been about two days since I washed it, but don’t really use gels or anything in my hair so I figured it was fine.
If you’ve got someone to apply it for you, use them. I have done it myself and had someone else do it, and it will save you loads of time and cleaning up if someone else does it.
Either way, start with the roots and move on to the length once all the roots are completely covered. The best way to do that is with a dye brush, but if you’re on your own that might be hard so use your fingers as best you can. It still works without a brush.
You want to do the roots first because henna is thick. It’s so thick that if you cover the length and the root at the same time, you’ll have a lot of trouble moving the length out of the way to get to the parts that haven’t been coloured. You’ll thank me later.
When you feel like it’s done, your hair should look all thick and ropey - like Tarzan’s hair.
Lift it up and twist it in to a high bun on top of your head. Smooth it down and it’ll stay there on its own. If it doesn’t, fashion a headband out of a piece of cloth and tie it up. A hair elastic probably won’t fit around it.
Washing it out
Getting this stuff out is an effort. Don’t bother trying to do it in the sink, you will need to have a full shower. But I did notice it wasn’t nearly as messy as getting Lush Henna out - the shower looked significantly cleaner after.
Rinse and rinse until the water runs clear.
You’re not supposed to use shampoo for about 48 hours after putting henna in your hair to give the dye the best chance of staining your hair. This will be hard because it will feel gritty, but put some non-silicone conditioner in, rope it through, and rinse again until there’s no grit left.
Dry it as you normally would.
You’ll need to wait about 48 hours before the henna has finished developing. If you feel like the greys are still there after you rinse it all out, wait a few days then make your mind up.
The result
I noticed an immediate improvement.
My hair was dark like I wanted and there was no red or copper tinge. On top of that, the greys were more or less the same colour as the rest of my hair. This is a huge change from Lush Henna, which left the greys all coppery. not a huge problem because I guess they weren’t grey anymore, but not ideal. Rainbow Henna literally covered them all. I was shocked.
While my hair did feel ridiculously gritty for a few days until I was able to use shampoo again, the colour is pretty much exactly what I wanted.
Lush Henna vs Rainbow Henna
Rainbow Henna was about 100% better for so many reasons.
Time. To get your hair a darker colour, Lush Henna requires two separate applications. One takes two hours and the other takes four. And that’s just the developing time, not the preparation. Rainbow Henna took about 2.5 hours from beginning to end.
Preparation. Lush Henna comes in big blocks that have to be cut up really finely. Rainbow Henna comes in powder form so most of the work has already been done. Again, this saves a heap of time and washing - you don’t need a knife or chopping board.
Ingredients. Lush Henna is full of shea butter and Rainbow Henna is not. This makes a huge difference when you rinse it all out. Shea butter makes my hair look really greasy and I literally can’t not shampoo it out, but on the other hand it does make your hair feel nice afterwards than Rainbow Henna, which feels gritty after.
Cost. Lush Henna is about $25 per block. Seeing as I use red and mix brown and black, it costs me about $75 in total. Rainbow Henna costs $10 for a pot that covers my whole head in one go.
Result. Rainbow Henna coloured my hair in a way that Lush Henna never did, even though Lush stayed in my hair for twice as long. Ultimately, it covered all my greys and basically made them the same colour as the rest of my head. That’s all I was after, so Rainbow Henna wins hands-down.
Do you prefer Lush Henna or Rainbow Henna? Let me know in the comments below!
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Does Sand and Sky Really Work? A Candid Review
If you’re a human who uses the internet, you’ve probably come across Sand And Sky – the Australian Pink Clay Mask and Exfoliating Treatment said to be making everyone’s face brighter than sunbeams, but does it really work?
If you’re a human who uses the internet, you’ve probably come across the Sand And Sky – the Australian Pink Clay Mask and Exfoliating Treatment said to be making everyone’s face brighter than sunbeams, but does it really work?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Sand and Sky is an independent Australian company that fashioned a face mask and exfoliating treatment from Australian pink clay, and its been wildly successful.
The mask supposedly absorbs dirt and impurities, detoxifies, tightens pores, restores the skin’s natural defence barriers, and brightens skin tone, while the exfoliating treatment does all of the above, and resurfaces and mattifies the skin.
As a traveller, I find my skin often doesn’t know how to handle extreme climates. It loves the weather in warm and sunny Sydney, and doesn’t deal with extreme humidity or extreme cold very well. My skin was so dry in summer in Banff that no amount of moisturiser kept it hydrated, and freezing cold temperatures in Montreal weren’t much better.
It was a nightmare, but I know I’m not the only one who has this experience when they travel. So, after the realising Sand and Sky Australian pink clay mask had thousands of fantastic (and honest) reviews, I decided to make the most of the Black Friday sales and get on the bandwagon in the hope of finding something that can fix whatever my skin does while travelling in new climates.
Here is my Sank and Sky mask review.
Sand and Sky Face Mask and Exfoliator: An honest Review
Having spent my entire life in sunny Australia with skin so pasty-white that finding foundation in the right hue is legitimately a struggle, I have mild discolouration from sun exposure, and my nose and the apples of my cheeks have always been slightly red. Make-up covers it pretty well, but I have a fairly uneven skin tone all-round.
(I don’t generally take photos when I have no make-up on so I don’t have a ‘before’ shot, but the one below was taken a few weeks after I started using Sand and Sky.)
Having fallen for a few cult ‘miracle’ products in the past, I wasn’t so sure about Sand and Sky. The products promised to help with almost all my skin issues, but the raving reviews are largely by girls who are young and already supremely beautiful with pre-mask skin that looks radiant with no makeup on. I’m not denying any skin issues they may have, but I, for one, do not look like that in front of a camera with no makeup on. It seemed too good to be true.
But I’m a sucker for natural vegan products, and there were so many reviews that my curiosity got the better of me and I had to know if it was really worth all the hype.
The Product
I bought the Perfect Skin Bundle as part of a Black Friday package, which included:
1 x Porefining Face Mask + brush applicator
1 x Flash Perfection Exfoliating Treatment
1 x Sand and Sky ‘Holiday Pouch’
1 x Sand and Sky hairband
On sale it cost $101 CAD, but if you buy it without a discount it’ll cost $122.
It sounds like a lot of cash to hand over, but the items don’t feel cheap. In fact, everything about the packaging of the mask and exfoliator is high-quality, beautiful to look at, and satisfying to hold. The clay needs to be stored in a cooler environment to stop it from drying out, so the pot itself is thicker and heavier than you expect it to be to insulate and protect the product. It’s weighty and feels almost like it’s made of ceramic. The exfoliator tube is smooth matt plastic with a click-lid, and the same beautiful pink branding.
The only things I didn’t really ‘get’ were the ‘Holiday Pouch’ and hairband. Sure, they were part of a package deal, but the pouch is made of the same translucent pink plastic used for inflatable chairs in the early 2000s. It doesn’t have the same high-quality feel as the rest of the packaging and seems gimmicky.
The hairband is white with pink stitching, and feels like a cheap towel. I used it once and decided it didn’t do much a scrunchy couldn’t do, but I can see how it might be useful for people with really curly hair, or people who have a lot of fly-aways that might get caught in the mask.
Application
For best results, Sand and Sky recommend applying the mask on one day, and the exfoliator the next. They also recommend using the exfoliator in the evening so your skin has time to rejuvenate overnight after being scrubbed. So that’s what I did.
Mask
The clay is a dark shade of brownish-pink, and it’s quite thick and very smooth. A little bit goes a long way, so after cleansing and drying my face, I put a bit on the brush and pasted away, avoiding my eyes and eyebrows, mouth, and hairline.
The brush makes application really easy. There’s no mess, and you have a lot of control over the amount of product you’re using. I can’t imagine how much mess and waste there would be if you were only using your hands, and it’s not a cheap product, so the brush is a nice touch.
I read that it’s totally normal to feel a ‘stinging’ or ‘tingling’ sensation after applying the mask. Apparently that means it’s doing its job, but I left it on for 10-15 minutes until it dried and never felt anything like that. I did notice the clay was more translucent around my nose, which means there were more ‘impurities’ there for the mask to draw out, but overall the mask made my face look like a cracked shade of pinkish-white.
Washing it off was ridiculously easy (seriously, it just slides off without scrubbing or anything) and, after following up with my usual moisturiser (coconut oil – it’s the bomb), my skin did feel really, really smooth.
Exfoliator
The product is brown, dense, and granular.
The directions say to use the exfoliator on clean, damp skin. You’re supposed to rub it in with your fingers in a circular motion for around 30 seconds, and let it sit there for five minutes, or until it dries.
Given how dense it is when it comes out of the tube, the exfoliator mixes with the water that’s already on your face and spreads surprisingly easily. I did feel like I had more on my fingers than my face, but I did what I could and left it there until it dried. As with the clay, washing it off was really easy. I followed up with coconut oil, and my skin felt super-smooth afterwards.
The Result
After the first use, my skin was definitely smoother.
Make up application was a smoother process, it looked more even, and my skin wasn’t dry. While there was a brightness to my skin, it wasn’t really noticeable to others – my boyfriend is usually pretty good at noticing subtle changes with all the different products I’ve tried, but even he could only vaguely tell the difference after I pointed it out. My pores also didn’t really shrink like they seemed to for all the influencers, but because my skin looked smoother, I don’t think they were as noticeable.
After a few uses I noticed the redness in my skin had decreased, my skin tone was a little more even, and I suddenly felt a little more comfortable walking outside without makeup on. I used it twice per week for a couple of weeks, before cutting it down to once per week for experimentation purposes and it made no difference.
The Verdict
Having now used Sand and Sky for a few months, I use it on a need-to basis and it does actually make a difference to my skin texture. While I don’t look like a glowing moonbeam and I’m not floored by a newfound brightness to my skin like the people on Instagram, I use it when my skin starts looking a bit red or feeling uneven and it fixes it right up – foundation goes on smoother, powder doesn’t look cakey, and blending is so much easier it’s ridiculous.
Some people say they have breakouts after using it the first few times, but that didn’t happen to me, and I still haven’t experienced the ‘stinging’ or ‘tingling’ sensation others talk about, but that could be to do with the amount if product I’m using. Some people really cake it on, whereas I apply a thinner layer and, as far as I can tell, it still works. I will eventually try a thicker coating so see if that makes a difference, so watch this space!
Overall, I find the benefits of the mask are only visible for me on day one and whatever ‘glow’ I had disappears by day two. I much prefer the exfoliator because I feel like it actually works to make my skin tone and texture more even, and the results are visible for a few days. Having said that, I have a Baiden Mitten that does a pretty similar thing, but cost $50 and lasts for at least two years.
Is it worth it?
Sand and Sky is pricey. If you forgo the bundles and buy each product individually, one 60g pot of mask will cost you more than $65, and the 100ml tube of exfoliator will cost $57.
Given that the product is all natural, vegan, cruelty-free, and is made and manufactured in Australia with free shipping, the price is totally justified, but if you use it the way Sand and Sky recommend, it won’t last long at all.
Sand and Sky recommend using the mask and exfoliator combo twice per week on average (more if you have oily skin, less if your skin is dry). Sand and Sky also suggest the clay pot contains enough for around 15 uses, which means you could be ready for another in under two months.
Having said that, I’ve almost had mine for four months and, after an average use of once per fortnight for the mask and once per week for the exfoliator, both products still have more than half left. The key is to keep track of how much you’re using – I read one review where someone only got seven masks out of her pot because she piled it on, so it really depends.
Another major selling point is that it’s supposed to decreases the appearance of acne scars quite significantly, and the before and after shots do look pretty amazing. I’ve never had acne so I can’t provide any insight on this one, but if you’re looking to get rid of acne scars, Sand And Sky might be a good thing to try.
The other thing I can’t really look past is that the price is set to USD, even though it’s an Australian company. This means people from the US will pay $78 for the bundle with shipping, while Australians will pay $111 for the same bundle that’s made, manufactured, and shipped within their own country. On one hand I understand that decision, but on the other hand it’s a bit unfair to local customers.
All in all, if you have the cash but you’re on the fence about it, give it a go! It’s a natural, vegan, and cruelty-free product, and if it helps you feel great in your skin, it’s priceless.
Have you tried Sand And Sky, or do you have another product recommendation? Let me know in the comments below!
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Review: Is Function of Beauty Skincare Worth It?
I absolutely love the Function of Beauty hair line, so when I found out about their new range of customized skin care, I was pretty keen to try it out. Here’s what happened.
I absolutely love the Function of Beauty hair product line, so when I found out about their new range of customized skin care I was pretty keen to try it out. Here’s what happened.
For anyone wondering what Function of Beauty is, it’s a brand of hair and body care that customize formulas based on each individual’s unique preferences. Everything is vegan and cruelty-free, and I loved the shampoo and conditioner and have just ordered the larger bottles (read my review here), and I really do think they’ve enhanced the health of my hair.
Cue skin range.
Before
I have been using the NueBar face wash bar as a cleanser and regular organic coconut oil as a moisturizer at night. I only wash my face once a day - because I think twice is too much for your skin - but I do rinse it with water in the morning and use either sunscreen (Ultra Violette is my fave at the moment), or a Vitamin C cream that I once got as a sample and haven’t used up yet. So my skin regimen is pretty low-key, but effective. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again - coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer.
I am quite pasty and I live in a hot country. Try as I might to protect my skin from the rays, you can’t shield yourself completely so I have quite a few freckles, some redness around my nose, and small amounts of sun damage here and there.
My skin often gets sick of products, which means I can use something great and it’ll work for a month, before it stops working and my face feels horrid - coconut oil is the only moisturizer I have used that my skin hasn’t suddenly rejected. My skin is quite smooth in texture, so when I cover it up with makeup, you can’t really see any uneven texture.
Function of Beauty Skin Care Review
Much like the hair products, I was asked to complete a skin quiz prior to my purchase to ensure the products would match my skin and that I would get the results I wanted. As with the hair quiz, there were visual aids so I understood how to answer each question, with little info boxes to spell it out for you if you don’t know what any of it means. It was all very quick, easy, and visually pleasing.
I was first asked whether I had dry, balanced, oily or combination skin, how much makeup I use daily and whether my skin is sensitive. I’ve never really had issues with dryness or sensitivity and I do wear makeup, so that is what I selected.
I was then asked what my #skingoals were from a reasonably extensive list. You can only pick three, but really they were all my #skingoals so it was a struggle. I opted to minimize redness, and brighten my aging facade with a touch of ‘anti-aging’ - whatever that means. I liked this section because, based on what you choose, up pops the active ingredient they will use to help you achieve your #skingoals. Mine said ‘Southern magnolia bark extract’. How fancy and exotic.
I then decided what name I wanted on all the bottles (I chose Charlotte…though the desire to have something ridiculous was real. And it really bothers me that I can’t capitalize my name. It’s a proper noun. I am a writer <screams on top of a mountain>). I also opted for no fragrance, sadly, because a main cause of irritation with skin products is scents (though I was curious to know what ‘dew’ smelled like. Apparently the aromas are reminiscent of cucumber. Who knew).
That question signified the end of my quiz experience and I was asked to choose what products I which products I would like, and in what form I would like them to arrive.
Of course, the company recommends you buy all three products.
But upon closer inspection, I saw they all claim to do very different things. I had the choice of a cleanser, which was a no-brainer - you need one of those - along with a serum and a moisturizer. If anything were to be eliminated for me, it would have been the serum because that’s one more step than I usually take when cleaning and hydrating my face, and there’s a moisturizer so serum seemed a bit redundant.
But they really sell it to you.
Not only is the serum the most expensive item on the list at $79.99 a bottle, it apparently has the highest concentration of #skingoal ingredients. So skipping out on the serum potentially means your skin won’t reap all the benefits of the customized range. Who wouldn’t get the serum after that? Nicely played, Function of Beauty.
With the cleanser I opted for a gel, I opted for the fragrance-free serum, and I chose a lotion moisturizer rather than a gel or a cream. I feel like the serum will probably be something of a gel and I feel like lotion hydrates your skin in a way cream doesn’t. Throughout this process, I had visuals on what my product bottles would look like when I selected the different options.
The whole bundle came to $189.99 (which is, frankly, outrageous), and I confirmed my purchase.
The Products
The products came in beautiful bottles. They were a nice weight, smooth, matte and pleasing to hold, and in colors that ombréd towards the top. I was pretty blown away by them, actually. The serum came with an eye dropper that fills itself every time you place it back in the bottle and screw the lid shut. Pretty nifty. The cleanser had a pump device, as did the moisturizer. The cleanser was the largest bottle, which indicates to me that you need to use more of it than the other two products.
Left to right: Moisturizer, cleanser (it did come with a lid, I just misplaced mine), and serum.
Cleansing
The instructions said to use the cleasner first. Because I said I wear makeup, my cleanser was supposed to strip the products off without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
I used one pump to start with and moved the cleanser in small circles over my skin with my fingers, as per the instructions. I quickly realized one pump would not be enough and had to use a second. To be honest, a third would probably have been the better option but it’s so expensive I couldn’t justify using three pumps on my face every day. Two did the job, and my face appeared makeup-free.
The thing I didn’t like about the cleanser was it looked like more of a cream, but it didn’t go the distance. There’s a watery texture to it which kind of makes it feel like it’s not doing very much. It doesn’t foam or anything and basically feels like washing your face with lotion. I wondered whether it was only getting rid of surface makeup and leaving remaining product in my pores. From experience, my skin needs something a bit grittier to be clean.
The Serum
The eye dropper thing is pretty nifty. The instructions say to use half a dropper per application, but first off it’s quite hard to control how much comes out, so I used a whole dropper to begin with. Second time around I learned to control it better and ended up with exactly half a dropper, and it was a good amount.
The serum is much more satisfying to use than the cleanser. It’s a touch milky in color, but feels thicker and like everything you imagine a serum might be. The instructions say to use it after the cleanser, and to literally press it in to your face instead of rubbing it in. So that’s what I did. Half an eye dropper does go the distance and it spread nicely over my skin. It felt hydrating and absorbed nicely over about a minute.
Moisturizing
I waited until the serum was all absorbed and dry before using one pump of the moisturizer on my face. I rubbed it in small circular motions, like the instructions said, without dragging it ‘down’ over my face. It’s supposed to lock in the serum and make sure it does the thing it’s supposed to do. Again, they’ve really made it so the serum feels like a vital step that you just can’t miss.
One pump was enough to coat my face, and it felt like it did what a moisturizer is meant to do. My skin definitely felt hydrated.
Results
My skin felt nice and smooth and moisturized the following day. It didn’t look any different, but the #skingoals changes happens over time so I didn’t read too much. But I will say that some products leave your face looking brighter, and this one did not.
I used the Function of Beauty skin care range consistently for a few weeks and I still didn’t see much of a difference. I continued to question whether the cleanser was cleansing properly and continued to resent that I really should have been using three pumps of the stuff instead of two. Having said that, because the cleanser feels strangely watery, I do not believe a third pump would have cleansed my face any better than two pumps did - it just would have spread a little easier.
I went back to my NueBar and coconut oil combination a couple of times for contrast, and I think coconut tones my skin quite a lot in ways I didn’t notice before. So my skin looked better after that than it did with Function of Beauty. The redness stayed the same (I think that’s genetic - a little like shadows under the eye or something, there’s not much that can realistically be done about that externally), anti-aging I guess it all about hydration, and it did feel hydrated, but no noticeable ‘brightness’.
Verdict
Would I buy it again? No.
For the astounding $189 price tag I expected the products to do quite a lot more than what I saw in the results. I did like the serum and perhaps I would get that again on its own, though I’m still not convinced it did what it’s supposed to do. The cleanser was the biggest let down, which is a real shame because what is a beauty range without a good cleanser? The moisturizer was fine, but for that price, it has to be more than fine. I do wonder how I would feel about these had I not tried coconut oil as a moisturizer, because compared with regular moisturizers, I guess Function of Beauty is better.
I still use the products from time to time because they do leave my face feeling smooth, and sometimes it’s nice to break up the routine, but I won’t be devastated when they run out. I think Function of Beauty managed their hair line so well that I did wonder how they could replicate something so successful. I know there are a lot of amazing reviews for these products, and everyone has a different experience, but I didn’t think they were all they were cracked up to be.
Have you tried the Function of Beauty skin care range? Let me know what you thought in the comments below!
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Lush Henna Review: Does Henna Cover Grey Hair?
Yes. Lush Henna makes your hair darker and covers grey hair, but there is a right way to do it. Here’s what you need to know. Here’s my review.
Short answer: Yes. Lush Henna makes your hair darker and covers grey hair, but there is a right way to do it. Here’s what you need to know.
As someone with naturally very dark hair who was blessed with varying amounts of grey hair from the age of 24, covering it up has been on my mind for a while, but I didn’t know how to do it without causing damage.
My hair hates chemicals. And I mean, hates chemicals.
Having used a vast array of chemical dyes over the years (red, black, bleach, blue – you name it) and it turning in to a matted and unhealthy disaster almost every time, I wasn’t sure if it was possible to colour my long mop of curly hair without destroying it.
Then I found out about henna.
In my mind, henna was red. It’s a plant and it is red in its natural form, but the world of henna hair dye has evolved to include other plants that can make your hair dark, such as indigo which supposedly does just that.
I was skeptical. I did not want red hair. But after reading a range of reviews and asking the people at Lush, I realised it was probably possible to use henna without looking like an apple, and decided to give it a shot. Here’s what happened.
How to cover grey hair with henna
The first thing you need to do is clear a whole day – this is a slow process and you will need time.
Lush henna comes in big blocks. The number of blocks and colours you need will depending on what colour you’re going for. But either way, if you’re trying to cover greys, you will need to start with a big block of red.
As with regular chemical hair dyes, it’s difficult to get black to take to blonde, grey, or white hair – it needs a bit of red in it for the dye to work. It’s the same with henna.
If your hair is predominately your natural colour with greys here and there and you try to use a darker henna without using red first, the greys will be very highlighted, especially if you go straight for black. It kind of defeats the purpose, so best to get it red first.
Depending on the colour you want, prepare to get a few different blocks.
For red hair: Caca Rouge
For brown or chestnut hair: Caca Rouge and Caca Brun
For very dark brown hair: Caca Rouge, Caca Brun, and Caca Noir
For black hair: Caca Rogue and Caca Noir
Since my hair is dark brown and I want to keep it that way, I went with option three and got three blocks.
Before
The amount you need really depends on the thickness of your hair. The longest pieces of my hair stretches to the small of my back, and I have a lot of hair, but it isn’t thick so I found about 80% of a block was enough. If you’re unsure, opt for more instead of less. If it’s too much, use less next time.
To make sure your skin is protected and you don’t end up looking like an orange, put on clothes you don’t care about and douse exposed skin in some kind of balm. I used pawpaw ointment because that’s what I had on-hand, but Vaseline or some kind of petroleum jelly will do fine.
Put it all over your face and neck, any parts of your chest, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet left exposed – henna goes everywhere. Line the floor and the sink and any surfaces you’re using with cardboard or plastic, and have rubber gloves ready. It’s messy stuff.
Preparation
Start with red.
Some websites will tell you to chop the block as finely as possible before whacking it in a bowl, but that’s unnecessary – it melts down.
I chopped it until each piece was roughly the size of a chocolate square and put it in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Add boiling water from a kettle gradually, stirring, until the henna reaches the consistency of pancake batter, not crepe batter. It should slowly run off a spoon on its own, but not too easily. If it’s really thick and gloopy, it’ll be hard to run through your hair.
It takes a bit to melt, so I used a whisk in the end to make sure all the chunks were gone.
Once you’re done melting it, keep it over the saucepan of hot water and take it to your workstation.
Application
Apply it on clean, dry, brushed hair.
A dye brush would probably be easier, I used my hands and it was fine, but I will say having something to divide your hair in to sections is definitely worthwhile. I used the pointy end of a make up brush, but you could use the pointy end of a comb.
Starting in the middle, take a section of hair and start applying henna to the roots. I found it easier to do the roots first because it means wet pieces aren’t hanging over your face as you try and divide and colour each section. And the henna is heavy, so it is an effort to flick between dry hair and henna-covered hair. Doing the roots first is much easier.
The back is a little tricky, so I covered my hands in the stuff and rubbed it on to the back of my scalp like I would with shampoo. When I felt sure that was all coated, I started on the length.
When you have long hair like I do, it can take a while to ensure every strand is covered because the henna is so thick and gritty. I spent time pulling chunks of my hair apart and rubbing more of the stuff in. When I thought it was all coated, I put more through the roots and the ends to make sure.
When you feel like it’s done, your hair should look all thick and ropey—like Tarzan’s hair.
Lift it up and twist it in to a high bun on top of your head. Smooth it down and it’ll stay there on its own.
For henna to develop red, it needs heat. I tied a bag over my hair and left it for two hours to keep the heat in.
Washing it out
Getting this stuff out is an effort. Don’t bother trying to do it in the sink, you will need to have a full shower. And your shower will end up looking like a kid ran through new turf with a sprinkler.
Rinse and rinse until the water runs clear. Put some non-silicone conditioner in, rope it through, and rinse again until there’s no grit left.
Dry it as you normally would.
If you’re going for red and the greys are lighter than the rest and you hate it, you can always go over those bits again. The great thing about henna is you can go over it as many times as you like without damaging your hair, so go for it!
Brun and Noir Application
When your hair is totally dry, prepare the henna exactly as you did with the red.
Douse yourself in petroleum jelly again, make sure surfaces are covered, and chop the blocks.
I wanted dark hair, so I used 50:50 Brun and Noir. It was pretty dark, so I’d probably go for 60:40 next time.
Mix them together over the saucepan and start the process again.
The only real difference here is the developing time. Dark henna needs time to develop. At least four hours, in fact.
It’ a little difficult because the henna is heavy on your head after all that time and you can’t rest your head on anything, so be warned.
Since you shouldn’t cover this one with a bag unless you want to bring out the red tones, you’ll need to make sure you’re sitting somewhere without carpet – pieces will crumble and fall during those four hours, and you don’t want it staining anything.
You also want it to dry hard on your head, and a bag would slow the process down.
Once you’ve made it through four hours, you’ll be pretty keen to get it out.
Some people say not to use shampoo for a few days after you rinse henna out, but Lush henna is infused with shea butter, which is super moisturising so it’s handy to know how your hair reacts to shea butter beforehand.
Since my hair is fine, it ends up looking and feeling like I dipped it in a bowl of grease when I use shea butter, so I shampooed my scalp.
If you’re only rinsing it, make sure you take the time to get all the product off your scalp – the grit will stick around otherwise and it will look and feel weird, and probably stain your bed sheets.
I then ran conditioner through it to smooth it out, and dried it as normal.
The result
I noticed a difference immediately. My hair was dark like I wanted, and greys were more or less covered. The down side is that they were lighter than the rest—coppery—but it didn’t really look like dyed grey hair, they just looked like vague natural highlights.
My hair felt thicker, fuller, and healthier. I have fewer knots, it’s conditioned, and the henna doesn’t seem to be fading.
In fact, it takes a few days for henna to fully develop, so if your greys are lighter than you want, wait a couple of days before going over it again.
I wasn’t 100% in love with the colour at first, but it beats chemically damaged hair by 1000%
Pictured below are a before and after—you can definitely tell my hair is darker on the right.
Verdict
While extremely time-consuming, I would use Lush henna again.
Henna is one of the most permanent dyes you can get, so you’d only theoretically need to dye the roots every month or so. That’s what I plan to do, which automatically takes a lot of the time out of the equation.
While each block does cost around $25, if you’re only dying the roots every month, one block will go a long way, so it’s not too pricey when you look at it that way.
Things to note
While hair dye is essentially not natural, henna is different to regular dye. Where chemical dyes break down the structure of the hair and inject it with colour, henna acts as a varnish and coats the hair while maintaining structural integrity. When you have fine hair like me, that makes a huge difference. But even if you have thicker hair, chemical dyes will break your hair down over years of use, so it’s worth considering no matter what your hair type is.
The other thing is that once you use henna, you won’t be able to use any regular hair dye with bleach in it. The chemicals do not react well and your hair could break off, so make sure this is what you want.
Have you tried Lush Henna? Let me know in the comments below!
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