Hit and Miss Shampoos... Argan Secret Shada and Toni & Guy Cleanse

When I completely ran out of shampoo a few weeks ago (which shocked me to my very core, since I am a hair product junkie and have obviously let things slip to a frightening extent :) I ran out to Sally's for an emergency purchase. I picked up Argan Secret's Shada Luxury Sulphate-Free Shampoo, enticed by its argan oil, willow bark and hempseed oil ingredients and its promise to protect my coloured hair whilst delivering a hefty dose of moisture.

Initially I was totally impressed. My hair felt soft, moisturised and clean. For the first few washes this feeling continued, but eventually, the build up took over. After about 3 weeks, no matter how much I rinsed and rinsed, my hair never felt clean and some days actually just felt oily and gross.

I decided to switch, and on another whim whilst shopping in Boots I got Toni & Guy's Cleanse Volumising Shampoo for Fine Hair. I used it once, and WOW! Back to super clean hair, and such amazing volume! My hair felt transformed, and the build up I felt I'd been carrying around with me was completely gone.

I've since tried to use the Argan Secret again, thinking I'd now got rid of the build up of product and could go back to the initial great results I had with this shampoo, but was disappointed to find my hair was just as oily and yucky immediately. I just don't think sulphate-free agrees with my hair type - lots and lots of very fine hair, dry on the ends but with a tendency to get oily fast at the roots. I have used Liz Earle's shampoo before which I loved but found the build up also occurred, although not to the same gross extent as with this one.

I'm determined not to be beaten and will give the Argan Secret one final try so I can be absolutely sure it doesn't work for me! After all, argan oil, hempseed oil and willow bark sound like the kind of things I want to be washing my hair with. Plus it smells amazing - slightly herbal but also kind of sultry, like some exotic perfume. But I may have to admit defeat :( But at least I found the Toni & Guy shampoo! I highly recommend it for fine hair. Plus it smells fresh and clean, and I really like the bottle.

Have you tried either of these, or what are your opinions on sulphate free shampoos?

Survival for winter lips: Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair & Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick

With winter well and truly on its way, warm snuggly things like cosy jumpers and hot chocolate spring to mind. But bracing walks in the crisp outdoors and evenings bundled up on the sofa also mean biting winds and drying central heating - a side effect of which can be dry, chapped lips.

I have two tried and tested products that always sort this problem out for me. These are the two things that have saved my lips when everything else has failed.

Skinceuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair has two antioxidants in it, Vitamin E and Silymarin, and an AHA-free exfoliating complex. The idea is that it smoothes fine lines, adds moisture and helps prevent signs of premature ageing. It comes in a classy little pump bottle, which is only 9ml but I have had mine for over a year now. I use a tiny bit morning and night before regular lip balm, and just massage it in. It soaks in quickly and makes lips feel really moisturised. Whether or not it smoothes fine lines, hmmm I don't know as I don't really have any - but then maybe that's thanks to this product?! I ordered it randomly once off hqhair.com and it was a real surprise find.

The other product I swear by for soft lips is the Dr Hauschka Lip Care Stick.

I am convinced this is the best lip balm of all time. It's immediately soothing! I keep 4 or 5 on the go at the same time, so I know I have one with me wherever I am :)

Used together, my lips no longer suffer in the cold weather! 

Massive fail: Tresemme Instant Refresh Waterless Foam Shampoo

Ok, so this product sounded like the answer to my prayers. A waterless, foam shampoo that promises to refresh hair by removing oil and impurities. I have very long fine hair that can have oily roots but very dry ends, with a tendency to frizz. Sometimes washing it every day can be a pain, so I wanted something to give it that just washed, soft look without actually washing it. 

So I picked up Tresemme's Instant Refresh Waterless Foam Shampoo, for dry frizz prone hair. 

All you do is pump some of the foam into your hands, run it through your hair and style as usual.

I used a couple of pumps on my long hair. I blow dried it whilst waiting for the witch hazel to start absorbing the oil from my roots. I was expecting refreshed, shiny and non oily hair.

What I got instead were even oilier looking roots that have looked worse as the day's progressed. Yuck!

I'm surprised at the great reviews of this product online, as it is a total disappointment for me. Maybe it's just my hair type that doesn't suit it. But it's back to dry shampoos for me.

Has anyone else had any luck with this product?