This week we've got a look at AG hair care from Canada and Noode skincare. Keep reading for upcoming reviews in future Cosmetic Report issues of Stila Italian Ices, Smashbox Digital collection, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer and much more.

AG Haircare
I was first introduced to AG by my hair dresser, and it's been one of the very few salon lines that I like using on my hair and would pay more than drugstore brand prices for. If you can find a salon near you that carries it, it's worth a look.

Tech One normal shampoo ($9 for 8oz)
I like this shampoo because it has gentle cleansing agents and always leaves my frizz-prone hair smoother and less flyaway than with most other shampoos (save the really spendy ones like Komenuka Bijin). It also has a great peachy scent and some nice botanicals like sage, nettle, chamomile, rosemary, balm mint, cherry bark, calendula, and lemongrass.

Conditioner Light daily conditioner ($11 for 8oz)
This is one of the few conditioners I've tried that effectively treats and detangles my slightly dry, color treated hair, but doesn't weigh it down. This light daily conditioner is for all hair types, even color treated.

Ultramoist deep conditioner
For damaged hair, or as a weekly treatment, Ultramoist does an amazing job. It literally leaves the hair feeling like silk. It also distributes easily through the hair, so you don't have to use a ton to cover all your strands (a plus for people with longer hair). I think this is a must try.

Fast Food leave on condition
If you heat style or have a tendency toward frizzy hair, an leave-in like Fast Food is a great tool. It's much easier to apply than a spray (like most leave-ins are) - just work a pea sized dab into your hair and comb. That little extra conditioning protects the hair and makes it easier to work with.

Mousse Gel extra firm ($17 for 10oz)
Now that I wear my hair a bit shorter than shoulder length, I appreciate the extra hold that this mousse delivers to keep my layers looking perky, but for long hair is has too much hold. I'm also not much of a mousse fan, so I switched to the next product listed below, Bigwigg...

Bigwigg root volumizer ($17 for 10oz)
Short hair often needs lift, and the closer you can get a volumizing product to the roots, that happier you'll be. Bigwigg looks like hair spray but it's more like a spray mousse, only more fluid. You just section your hair so you can spray it right at the roots, then work it in a bit with your hands. Because it's light and slightly foamy, it distributes almost immediately. Bigwigg is excellent for volume, and it lasts all day.

Waxx gloss pomade ($14 for 3oz)
I love this finishing pomade for a shiny, piece-y look. It gives the hair polish, shine, some hold, and some protection from humidity - just be careful not to use too much. A small dab rubbed in the palms of your hands and then run through your hair will leave it shiny with a little more texture and thickness.

You can find out more about AG, including where to find the products near you, by visiting AGhaircare.com. For my neighbors here in Portland, OR, you can find AG at Dolce near NW 23rd and Westover (call 503-226-7802 and ask for Gabriella).

Noode Skincare
For every group of people, there is a product niche waiting to be filled, and Noode (pronounced "new day") Skincare is one such line. Targeted at the Me Generation of 18-29 year olds (I miss it by a smidge), Noode even keeps "me" in mind with every product name: clean ME, scrub ME, shield ME. I was both intrigued and skeptical when the line's creator, Seth Ratner, told me I would get completely hooked on his products. You can read for yourself what I think...

Clean Me Facial Wash ($15.50 for 8.5oz)
This is a basic foaming face wash that smells strongly of peaches or apricots - something along those lines. This might be fine for normal to oily or combination skin, but I'm dry and it was too drying for me. That said, I honestly don't know if Clean Me removes makeup very well because it's too drying for me to use to remove makeup. When will product creators realize that not all people under 30 have oily skin?

Scrub Me Gently Facial Scrub ($17.50 for 5.1oz)
This is a pretty basic face scrub that does a decent job of being both gentle to the skin and making you feel like you are really exfoliating. It's nice enough but it just didn't wow me. It strikes me as pretty basic considering the price point.

Shield Me Pure SPF 15 ($14.50 for 1.7oz)
Of the Noode products I tried, this is the most interesting. Maybe not the product itself so much as the philosophy behind it: we are not applying enough sunscreen often enough to really protect ourselves. Noode remedies this by giving us sunscreen all by itself, free of moisturizers or mattifiers or anything else that you might not want to apply over and over again throughout the day, like you really need to with sunscreen to have maximum protection all day. Seth told me on the phone that you can keep reapplying Shield Me all day, even over makeup (not brave enough to see how that might look...) so that you always have some sun protection on your face. That said, it's still only SPF 15, so if you are in the sun for longer than an SPF 15 would normally prevent your skin from burning, you can't just apply more and think it extends your exposure time. I think for the most part this is a nice product - oil free, fragrance free, no PABA, absorbs quickly, doesn't leave a greasy feel - but for me personally the SD Alcohol 40 that makes it so light and cooling is just too drying for my skin. If you are super-sensitive like me, just keep this in mind. For everyone else, this is the one Noode product that is worth a look.

You can see the entire Noode line at Sephora.com.

In Cosmetic News
FYI: Jeanine Lobell, creator of Stila Cosmetics and top celebrity makeup artist, is making her last New York Personal Appearance on Thursday, June 5, from 4-7 PM, at Bergdorf Goodman, New York, NY. If you are interested in more information, e-mail stilashgirl@hotmail.com, or call Bergdorf Goodman in New York at (212) 872-2774.

I hope you enjoyed this issue of The Cosmetic Report!