In the month of September I used more haircare and body products than anything else. In fact, I only finished one skincare product, and it was a deluxe sample. I finished 9 products, and 8 of them were full sized and one was a deluxe sample. I loved everything that I used up in September, and would happily use all of these products again. I should note that all of the haircare products had been open and in use for quite some time, and there wasn't a lot left in them at the beginning of September, and therefore it didn't take much time to finish them up.
Spongellé Rose Botanica Body Wash Infused Buffer($18.00 for 3.5 oz. from Spongellé): It appears that this particular scent has sold out, but there is still something left from this collection.These sponges not only effectively remove dead skin cells, but they also leave the skin deliciously baby soft, smooth, supple and moisturized. Body wash infused body buffers are such a treat to use, and the Spongellé Body Wash Infused Buffers really excel in their ability to clean and exfoliate the skin while delighting the senses with their delightful aromas. Purchase Again? Oh I definitely would, but this was a limited edition collection.
Spongellé Private Reserve Spongette in Peony Flower ($12.00 for 1.75 oz. from Spongellé): This delightful spongette, which has a minimum oil 7-10 washes, effectively exfoliates dead skin cells, leaves skin soft, smooth and supple. The scent, of fresh peonies, is an utter delight to the senses. The size makes it perfect for travel, or for an overnight guest staying for a little while. Purchase Again? Definitely! This is a perfect gift!
Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena Hand Soap ($4.99 for 12.5 oz. and a 3-pack for $13.94 from Amazon, Walmart and Target): Mrs. Meyer's Lemon Verbena Hand Soap is a glorious lemon verbena scented hand soap that is cruelty-free and Leaping Bunny Certified. It moisturizes the skin, and leaves the hands very soft and clean without any sort of residue. It has a satisfying lather, a delectable fresh citrus aroma, and it makes washing hands a joy rather than a drab experience. Purchase Again? I purchased multiples and just opened another one!
milk_shake Leave-In conditioner ($24.00 for 11.8 oz. from milk_shake and their Amazon Store): Thisis a revelation in hair care! I am a huge fan of their curly hair range of products, that I have been using for a while, but this leave-in conditioner is my all-time favorite product from them! Made for all types of hair, this conditioner offers hair tremendous manageability and moisture without weighing it down or leaving an unpleasant oily residue. It fights frizz and fly-aways, detangles, nourishes and protects the hair shaft and hair. Additionally, it offers UV protection, is color-safe and it smells utterly delectable. In fact, the sweet and creamy vanilla aroma smells so good that I would actually wear the scent as a fragrance during the summer! This is a truly covet-worthy leave-in conditioner! Purchase Again? I already have another bottle!
milk_shake Curl Passion Curly Hair Conditioner ($27.00 for 10 oz. and $66.00 for 33.8 oz. from milk_shake and their Amazon Store): Getting a conditioner just right for curly hair can feel like an exercise in futility, but some brands just get it right, and that is certainly the case with milk_shake. They really understand the needs of curly hair, and that is such a relief. This delectably scented fruity conditioner fights frizz, leaves hair manageable and never weighs it down. Hair is left soft, smooth, moisturized and curls are beautifully enhanced. Purchase Again? I have an unopened bottle ready to go!
Playa Every Day Shampoo ($35.88 for 7.6 oz. from Amazon Store): This gentle, non-stripping shampoo, effectively cleans hair and leaves it hydrated and manageable without leaving behind any sort of oily residue. The light lather coupled with warm creamy aroma makes using this delectable shampoo a treat to the senses. I need to get the companion conditioner to experience the two together, but my guess is that it is just as incredible as the shampoo. Purchase Again? I definitely would consider it, but I am currently swimming in shampoos!
Abhati Suisse Yamuna Nourishing Shampoo ($37.00 for 250ml. from Boxwalla): This luxurious shampoo, which has a delectable aroma, is formulated to work well on all types of hair. It effectively cleans the hair without ever stripping it, and without sacrificing a very satisfying creamy and rich lather. This hydrating, nourishing and fortifying shampoo contains the Vitamin C-rich Indian Gooseberry that encourages hair growth and curbs dandruff. It also contains Neem Leaf Extract, Himalayan Wild Cherry Oil, Moringa Leaf Extract, Swiss Edelweiss Extract and more nourishing ingredients that make this an exceptional shampoo. Purchase Again? I would absolutely love to use this shampoo again, but I won't be buying any shampoo for quite a while!
René Furterer Complexe 5 Stimulating Plant Concentrate ($56.00 for 1.6oz. from René Furterer, Revolve and Amazon): René Furterer Complexe 5 Stimulating Plant Concentrateis a pre-shampoo treatment that detoxes the scalp, by cleansing and purifying it, and the warming effect helps to improve microcirculation. It is soothing, invigorating and makes the scalp feel amazing, and my hair also looks and feels wonderful after using it. You simply apply it to the scalp and then massage for a few minutes, and then leave it in for about 5-10 minutes. Be sure to shampoo twice, to remove the residual oil, and then condition hair as you would normally. It has a wonderful orange aroma that is punctuated by the lavender oil, and it is such an amazing treat to the senses.
I like to follow by usingRené Furterer 5 Sens Enhancing Dry Oil (Reviewed HERE), which is a beautifully fast absorbing dry oil, that can be used on the hair and body. It has a lovely soft aroma that is a treat to the senses, but it isn't long lasting or in the least bit cloying. When I use it on my body, it melts into the skin and leaves it soft, supple, hydrated and nourished. For the hair, it offers extraordinary hydration and leaves locks soft, smooth and manageable. It tames frizz and fly-aways, and it gives hair a glossy shine. Purchase Again? Without question!
Furtuna Skin Biphase Moisturizing Oil ($125.00 for 1/2 oz. and $225.00 for 1 oz. from Nordstrom, Furtuna Skin's Amazon Store, blue mercury and Neiman Marcus): I have wanted to try this face oil for a very long time, and in a recent Nordstrom purchase I received a deluxe sample of this beautiful oil, and I fell for it the moment that I tried it. This biphase oil, which is made from the ingredients grown on La Furtuna Farm, is filled with sustainably farmed ingredients from the hills of Sicily where their farm is located. One must shake this luxurious oil very well to incorporate the oil and non-oil based ingredients. The texture is lightweight and silky smooth. The potent ingredients sink into the skin and do not leave behind an oily residue. Instead, this deeply moisturizing oil melts into the skin and leaves it soft, smooth and luminous. After sustained use, I noticed a light plumping of fine lines and a stunning ethereal glow. The fruity floral aroma is heavenly, but for those with a sensitivity to aromatic skincare products, it is important to note that the aroma fades quickly. I loved everything about this oil when I tried it for the first time, and a full-size bottle isdefinitely in my future. Purchase Again? Without a doubt! It's really that good!
Overall Assessment: I really loved everything that I finished up in September, and would definitely use all of these items again, and again! What did you use up, toss out, give away or return in September? Any great discoveries, or over-hyped duds to report? Do tell!
Press Sample and Purchased (Affiliate Links). All views expressed are categorically my own.
Every once in a while a luxury haircare brand comes across my desk that utterly takes my breath away. This perfectly describes my reaction to the beautiful haircare products from Playa. Their performance driven products not only boast serious efficacy, but they are also filled with safe and healthy ingredients, delectable textures and aromas, and they are a serious pleasure to use. Not only do I love supporting eco-friendly brands, but it is also a serious pleasure to support local Los Angeles-based companies.
About Playa,
We created the Playa collection of essential hair products so you could have the best of both worlds: safety and performance. We’ve formulated each product to be different from anything else on the market so you get radical results with fewer products. Our team of experts spent years researching alternatives to the harmful ingredients so often found in salon products. We’ve thoughtfully combined natural oils and botanicals with hand-selected clinically active ingredients for products that are truly transformative. We love calling Venice Beach home, and our eclectic community continually inspires our products. While we spend most of our time working on Playa, living a balanced life is important to us. We don’t have an office, ride our bikes instead of drive, and get out to the water and surf every day we have waves.
Playa Pure Dry Shampoo ($24.00 for 4 oz. from Playa, Violet Grey, Shen Beauty, Revolve, The Dreslyn and Carbon Beauty Amazon Store): Dry shampoo enthusiasts really need this one! This decadent, and delectably aromatic, dry shampoo effectively absorbs oils, eliminates impurities and refreshes those tresses instantaneously! It is paraben and SLS-free, and is color-safe. Furthermore, it's filled with lots a great botanical ingredients, it isn't sticky, and it leaves hair touchably soft.
According to Playa,
This rare blend of botanicals and minerals refreshes and revitalizes hair instantly—no shower required. Rose powder invisibly absorbs excess oil at the roots while keeping hair soft; star anise extract treats scalp and eliminates impurities. Breathe body and life back into your hair naturally, whenever you’d like.
Directions: Hold product 6 inches from hair and mist, working in 2-inch sections and focusing on the roots. Use fingertips to tousle strands. Use anytime, no chalky buildup or residue.
Playa Every Day Shampoo ($35.88 for 7.6 oz. from Amazon Store): This gentle, non-stripping shampoo, effectively cleans hair and leaves it hydrated and manageable without leaving behind any sort of oily residue. The light lather coupled with warm creamy aroma makes using this delectable shampoo a treat to the senses. I need to get the companion conditioner to experience the two together, but my guess is that it is just as incredible as the shampoo.
According to Playa,
An SLS-free, every day shampoo that’s anything but ordinary. This coconut-derived, every day clarifying shampoo gently foams to remove impurities while preserving your hair’s natural oils. Coconut water weightlessly hydrates; sugar beet extract stimulates roots to promote volume and growth. Your hair is purified and restored after every wash.
Playa Endless Summer Spray ($26.00 for 3.65 oz. from Playa, Violet Grey, Shen Beauty, Revolve, The Dreslyn and Carbon Beauty Amazon Store): If you love soft, tousled beach waves, or textured curls, then this endless Summer Spray is a dream-come-true. It defines hair, and adds shine, manageability and volume. It is, in a word, incredible! It has an alluring warm, creamy fragrance that is hypnotic and indescribably luxe!
According to Playa,
Made with sea salt harvested in Southern California, this formula gives you the perfectly tousled hair texture you usually only get after a day at the beach or out on a board. Our proprietary Marine Collagen Complex nourishes strands to add fullness and shine; natural UV filters shield hair and scalp from harmful rays. Your hair is protected and looks effortlessly un-done.
Directions: Mist throughout damp or dry hair. Use fingertips to tousle at the roots. Apply directly to exposed areas of the scalp to protect against sunburn.
Playa Ritual Hair Oil ($38.00 for 1.35 oz. from Playa, Violet Grey, Shen Beauty, Revolve, The Dreslyn and Carbon Beauty Amazon Store): Be still my beating heart was the only way to describe my reaction when I first opened this fetching golden elixir. Given my penchant for luxury oils, this was most certainly my most eagerly anticipated product from Playa. The first thing that I noticed when I opened this bottle was its addictive otherworldly aroma: It is deep, warm, creamy and intoxicatingly beautiful. After luxuriating in the scent, I was swept away by its refined and silky-smooth texture. It is feather-weight and it quickly penetrates and nourishes the hair, and does so without the use of any silicones. Instead it is filled with natural oils, that are suspended in an ultra-hydrating base of coconut oil, and together they tame frizz and fly-ways, soften and hydrate the hair, and leave hair smooth and shiny. Hair is neither weighed down, nor is it left feeling oily. This hair oil is utter perfection.
According to Playa,
This weightless blend of natural oils penetrates deeply to radically transform your hair without the use of harmful silicones. Apricot, kukui, and our proprietary derived coconut oil blend restores moisture to soften strands; sunflower oil tames frizz and makes hair shine. Your daily ritual for smooth and radiant hair.
Directions: Press once on cap to extract the ideal amount of oil. Rub between palms. Smooth through damp or dry hair from mid-length to ends. Apply prior to swimming to protect hair from UV damage, chlorine and the drying effects of the ocean. Preserves color.
Gift with Purchase Exclusively from Playa: Receive a complimentary Ritual Hair Oil with any purchase over $50. Buy a gift to give & get a little something for yourself. Just in time for your last minute shopping, get free shipping on all domestic orders. Use Code: PLAYAHOLIDAZE at checkout. Offer ends Friday, December 22, 2017.
