Hair Care Challenge: Ojon vs. Giovanni

I don’t spend as much time or money on makeup as I used to, and I have settled into a skin care routine that I like, but the one thing I continue to experiment with is my hair. It’s been long, short, layered, bobbed, colored and straightened, but the one thing that never changes is the frizz. Boy, do I hate that frizz! For probably 3-4 months I have been consistently using Giovanni Smooth as Silk Shampoo ($7.99 for 8.5oz) and Smooth as Silk Conditioner ($7.99 for 8.5oz), and for the most part I have been happy. The pair deal pretty well with my frizz, the ingredients are more on the natural side (which I really like), and they are readily available at the New Seasons Market where I buy my groceries. I have to admit I was pining for something a little more luxurious and pampering, and somehow I found myself at Sephora one day looking at hair care.

I explained to the saleswoman what I was looking for, and she enthusiastically escorted me to Ojon Shine & Protect Shampoo ($22 for 8.4oz) and Shine & Protect Conditioner ($24 for 8.4 oz). She swore that Ojon is amazing, that she uses the products herself, and so on and so on. I think they must be paid to say that stuff. I was compelled by the promise of super shiny and frizz-free hair, so I bought them both.

After about two months using Ojon, I have to say that the difference between my hair on Ojon and my hair on Giovanni was not all that noticeable. I also blew through the Ojon conditioner, as it is lighter and more fluid than the Giovanni. At $24 a bottle, I hoped it would last longer. I still have a ton of shampoo (you only need a little), so I continue to use it but I pair it with the Giovanni conditioner, which I now buy in bulk at the store for $8.99 per pound! I guess this is the best of both worlds, but once the Ojon shampoo is gone, I will be refilling my empty bottle with bulk Giovanni shampoo. Ojon was fun to try, but for the price and what it does for my hair, I am sticking with Giovanni.

- Heather
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Greet summer with something fresh and new

Sweet Grass Farm, a New Hampshire based manufacturer of all-natural soaps and herbal body products, has something new that you need to try: Farmhouse Triple Milled Soap ($5.95). Following in the 19th century French tradition of hard milled soaps, these are made from olive oil and infused with shea butter, vitamins and moisturizers. You get a thick, frothy lather, perfect for the shower, and it’s a nice big bar that lasts, rather than melting away after a week or so like so many other natural soaps. My personal favorite is Fresh White Lilac – LOVE lilac! – and it is also available in Lavender and Lemon Verbena.

Marissa’s Pick of the Week

I’m starting my tanning early, thanks to Guerlain’s new Guerlain Terracotta Sunless Smoothing Self-Tanning Emulsion. This self-tanner is tinted and absorbs into your skin fast, and I do mean fast. I tried it for the first time at Saks, in the middle of the day. I put some of it on the back of my hand to smooth onto my face. Not even thirty seconds later, I had a dark mark on my hand and I had to use an exfoliating scrub to get it off. Anything that works that fast is right on for me! But even more than a great self-tanner, this product also serves as a moisturizer. There is no SPF in this self-tanner (so make sure you use one every day!), but this is a great triple duty product: instant color, moisturizer and self-tanner!

- Marissa
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Marissa’s Pick of the Week

29: the age I wish I was, and the name of a new cosmetic line exclusive to Neiman Marcus. 29 Cosmetics is the creation of Lydia Mondavi, of the famous Mondavi wine dynasty. 29 uses grape seed extract as their core ingredient and the name 29 comes from the highway that stretches through Napa Valley. I discovered this line on a quick trip through Neiman Marcus – walked past it twice until the lip glosses caught my eye. From that point on, I was hooked. The lip liners are so creamy; I use just the liner (bought Malbec) and a lip balm for a natural day look. The lipsticks are vivid colors, luscious and long wearing but not drying. I bought Wine Critic (medium red/wine) which goes beautifully with Malbec and am going back for Wine Nectar (light rose/peach shimmer), which is a good pick for a spring color. The lip glosses go on smooth, not goopy, and feel soft on your lips. I love Pouty Pinot for spring and Sparkling Champagne as a nice neutral, but I bought Lay It Down Cab because of its vivid red/wine color and sparkle. I can’t wait to try their other products!

- Marissa
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Marissa’s Pick of the Week

My pick of the week this time is… Botox! Now, normally, we write about color cosmetics or skin care brands, but I’m going into a new realm, and it’s all because I’m turning 45.

A doctor who I know through our school and church opened a med spa in town. Since this was all new to me, I thought it would be easier to put my face into someone’s hands that I know. Plus, his nurses work in our local hospital in the emergency room, so my first thought was that if anything happened to me, they would know what to do! Irrational, maybe, but comforting. So, I made my appointment and poof, off I go.

The first time out, they take “before” pictures of you so you can actually see up close and personal what your crease lines look like (ick, it isn’t pretty magnified 1000x). I just wanted Botox between my eyebrows and they suggested over each brow, too. Scared as can be (I didn’t tell anyone but my neighbor in case anything happened to me!), I sit in the chair with an ice pack over my eyebrows and wait for the nurse to come in.

For all my anticipation, the actual process only took a few minutes. It didn’t really hurt, and I didn’t really bleed at the injection sites. The big thing about Botox is that it is NOT instantaneous, and in a society that wants to see results right away, patience is a foreign word. I kept checking the mirror every two hours to see if the process had started. No, it hadn’t. Twenty-four hours later: nothing, I could still move my eyebrows. Forty-eight hours later: still moving them. Finally, I stopped looking in the mirror and bam – just like that, I was frozen in time. It’s a very weird feeling – no matter how hard you try, you just can’t move your eyebrows.

Did it really make me look any different? In my opinion, just enough to make me look not as tired as I normally do with three boys, a husband and a cat! Do I think other people noticed? Not unless I told them. I did have some folks ask if I was using a new skin care product. I have to say that I didn’t have many lines to begin with, so maybe that is why it wasn’t too noticeable. However, the psychological uplift it’s had on me is definitely worth the price. Will I do anything more radical at this point? No, but I’m not 50 yet! In this day and age, never say never.

- Marissa
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Marissa’s Pick of the Week

If you’re like me, you’re sick and tired of winter! Blah! From crappy hair days to dry skin to pale body parts, there’s nothing redeeming about winter – except that spring is right around the corner. With that in mind, here’s my pick of the week!

By Terry is one of those cosmetic lines that you can’t find in all stores. In the northeast, it’s at Barney’s, or you can order from eluxury.com. I’ve become a dedicated fan of the line – great colors and innovative products. My favorite product used to be Light Expert Perfecting Foundation Brush with Hydra-Smoothing Filling Spheres. You could travel with this and your skin always glowed. Well, by Terry came out with the Bronze-Expert and now I have a new favorite in the line. I use #1 Sun Beach, and let me tell you, my skin just looks healthy. Even in the winter with pasty skin, this gives me just enough color to look healthy and not overly done or fake bronze. And let’s admit it, we all know someone who overuses the bronzing powder in the winter (and we think, who is she kidding!). I don’t even use foundation or powder when I use this bronzer. It’s a liquid/gel that you can swipe on your face in the dark and not make a mistake. It’s in their famous pen form, so you just click and sweep. Easy! Numbers 2 and 3 are much darker and not for most winter faces but they would be a beautiful addition to a summer tan. The by Terry website is www.byterry.com.

- Marissa
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Annual Cold Weather Report, Part 2

Certainly, new hair and body products are lots of fun, but the most hardcore of we beauty junkies get really excited about new makeup and facial skin care products. Gorgeous colors in shiny compacts, and lush creams in pretty jars are the highlight of a gray, dreary winter day! Here are some great ideas to have you glowing through 2008!

First things first: Truly, I have to say that the biggest skincare revelation I had this round of testing was the Renee Rouleau skincare line. All of the panelists who have tried the line sing its praises, but surprisingly, I had never tried it before. I had no idea what I was missing!

Now, I’m pretty difficult to impress when it comes to skin care. I have tried Avon to La Mer, to Z Bigatti, and everything in between! Yet somehow, this simple, straightforward line manages make my skin look dramatically better than just about everything I’ve ever tried. For years, only the Ole Henriksen line got that level of unwavering, long-term loyalty from me, but now Renee Rouleau has joined Henriksen at the top of my own personal favorites list.

My regimen was simple: AHA/BHA Cleansing Gel in the morning (Best Cleanser in Allure’s Best of Beauty awards in 2007), Blue Azulene Toner twice daily, White Tea Soothing Complex (used at night), and Multi Vitamin Cream (also used at night). These products combined left my skin glowing, even-toned, and absolutely acne-free. All of the products are fabulous, but I was most intrigued by the White Tea Soothing Complex. It contains a sea-derived compound called Sea Whip. I don’t know exactly what it is, but the results are so fabulous (smooth, even skin with reduced redness and irritation), I’ll let Renee have her little secrets…

During my testing period, I still used some of my other “tried and true” favorite products to “fill in the gaps.” I had no problems with interactions or sensitivity. For day moisturizing, I almost always use a tinted moisturizer with SPF (right now, it is Neutrogena Healthy Skin Glow Sheers SPF 30), but if I need more moisture, I did fine with adding a layer of Multi Vitamin Cream underneath.

For my evening cleansing and makeup removal, I still use and love Philosophy Purity Made Simple because it removes makeup so quickly and easily. For those nights when I’m just too tired to deal with anything that could not be classified as an utterly simple activity, I reach for the “no water needed” instant facial cleansing cloths. I recently tried the Sephora Brand FACE 25 Makeup Removing Wipes, and I like them a lot – efficient cleansing with no irritation or redness! They’re a lifesaver when I’m traveling.

For when my skin really acts up, I reach for Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads. Although the formulation is very potent – alpha hydroxy acid (glycolic acid 10%), beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid 2%), and alcohol (46%) – these pads treat my skin kindly while obliterating those occasional, stubborn breakouts. The addition of Aloe, Green Tea, and Chamomile soothes and moisturizes to prevent and burning or redness. These pads are also perfect for body breakouts on chest, back, or upper arms. Now that I’ve tried these pads, I always have a jar on hand!

Now, with all that smooth, glowing skin, who isn’t itching to add some new makeup to their train case? This time of year, I absolutely love to splurge on makeup palettes and fragrance gift sets. This year, the choices were particularly creative and fun.

Justine Case, Benefit Cosmetics “mini-portable beautifier kit,” is wonderful for when you want (or need) a little touch-up. As a working mom, I can attest to the difference a little product makes! This tiny little kit contains Some Kind-A Gorgeous Foundation Faker (A product I LOVE!), Benetint Liquid, California Kissin’ minty lipshine, and Eyecon, a lightweight de-puffing, de-darkening eye cream, perfect to add a little finishing during a hectic day.

I’ve had the full-sized version of Some Kind-A Gorgeous for a while now, and I use it quite often. It is a unique product, a wonderful tinted balm that adds sheer coverage, and lightweight moisturizing. The texture is absolutely wonderful, and it refines pores, reduces shine, and helps camouflage redness. My one complaint is that I wish there was an extra sponge with the compact. I replace mine often, but the sponge that comes with the product is very thin; a regular sponge will not allow the compact to close.

Too Faced Cosmetics also had some particularly beautiful palettes with The New Romantic Make-Up Collection in Unicorn and Peacock. Bring a little of love’s blush to your complexion with these soft color combinations of pink, plum, brown, and peach. The luxurious, silky-smooth Too Faced formulas make these limited addition palettes a joy to give and receive! Make sure to snag a few before they disappear!

Into the smoky eye look? Shiseido has a gorgeous eye shadow quad set that will give you a subtle, shimmery, smoky eye. Pick up the Lunar Phases quad, a perfect collection of black, pink, silver and golden shades for instant glamour.

Now, with an eye this strong, keep just a whisper of color on lips to balance the look. I love Shiseido The Makeup Automatic Lip Crayon in both LC1 and LC2. The slightly glossy, sheer color makes for a great nude lip that never looks chalky or heavy.

If you love lipstick as much as I do, this is your season! Whether you like a great shimmery-peach (NARS Sexual Healing) or a darker, richer shade (NARS Kiss or Shiseido Perfecting Lipstick in Red Luxe), save the gloss for spring…

Hope you enjoyed part two of this year’s Cold Weather Product Report! Here’s to a happy, healthy, and beautiful 2008 from all of us at Cosmetic Connection!

- Lisa
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