Kiehl's Supberbly Restorative Dry Oil Is Actually An Oil

I have a real problem with hair/skin treatments that call themselves "oils" when they are really 90%+ silicone. Bulletin: these are 90% of treatment oils on the market, for hair especially. If you like silicones, and find they work for you, well, this is good news for you. Silicones coat the hair with a smooth glassy finish and give the appearance of smooth silky hair. However, I have found, over time, silicones only mask the problem. Unless you regularly use the clarifying shampoos, silicones will also prevent hair conditioners and masks from helping your hair. In the end, silicone abuse ended up making my hair look like flat, dry straw. So- it has it's place, if used properly, and if you use the silicones that are water soluble.

I love Kiehl's, and I love their Midnight Recovery Concentrate, which is a superbly effective cocktail of actual oils that soothe and comfort skin, while adding radiance and moisture. I'd had a sample of Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil at one point, and recall using it on my legs and quite liking it. (Note: Kiehl's is one of the most generous companies when it comes to offering samples. If you try it, you are more likely to buy it. They get it.). I was wondering about the ingredient list the other day as I pondered their dry oil, and mused about it on Twitter. Their social media manager is clearly on the ball, as they replied right away that there were no silicones in the Superbly Restorative Dry Oil. Ding-ding-ding! I ran out and bought it later that day.

I take my shiny hair seriously as you can see. Jeesh.

I shampooed with my new fave ICON India Oil shampoo and conditioner, and after I combed out my hair, I applied a bit of Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil to the ends of my hair, before applying my styling products. It has a slightly herbal scent, perhaps a mixture of lavender with woodsy notes (patchouli?) but it really is soft, and does not linger in the hair (or on skin) at all. My hair has seen a lot of sun this summer and is a bit parched so I was hoping it would help. After styling my hair I can honestly say it feels softer and silkier than it has all summer. Less pouffy and dry, yet still bouncy and shiny. So shiny! I would advise using a tiny bit at at time as it would be easy to apply to much which would likely make ones hair look, well, oily. The photo above is the second day after shampooing and I was trying to get the daylight coming in my skylight to hit my hair so you could see how shiny it is. If you could touch my hair, I guarantee it is as soft as it is shiny. Colour me thrilled, despite my serious expression...

Want shine built in to your  hairspray? Go Gay! Vintage ads rock.

Bonus: I also used some Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil on my skin after the shower, and I loved the way it felt and how it made my skin feel. Again, another product that is perfect to use on bare legs when wearing shorts or skirts, to add a lovely healthy shine and banish dry, scaly or ashy skin. Win!

Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil with Argan is available online or at their stores for around $42 for a 125ml bottle. 

Feel Silky Smooth & Beautiful in The Body Shop Beautifying Oils

We love The Body Shop. All of us have our fave prodz from this awesome shop - maybe it's a perfume (White Musk!), one of their luscious Body Butters (Shea Butter!), or perhaps a delicious shower gel (Satsuma!). Or if you are as old as I am, maybe you remember when they had their super cool perfume bar. It was like a little tower in the middle of the shop, full of wonderful perfumed oils that you could wear on their own, layer together, or, add to your fave body product from their unscented line. I mourned the end of those oils, and have even trolled Evil Bay to find some of them- Indian Gardenia, a old fave, is now "vintage" and hard to find for under $60. 

Marual Nut

Marual Nut Oil

So, imagine how happy was I to read about The Body Shop's new Beautifying Oils collection! From their site: "Beautifying Oil is pure beauty in a bottle. Made with a lightweight blend of nut oils including Community Fair Trade marula oil, it gives instant hydration and a shimmering finish". They are gorgeous and luxurious, can be used on hair or skin, and have a lovely scent that does not overwhelm or irritate. And "shimmering" is just the oil effect- there is no glitter or anything like that in the oil. I am huge fan of oils for skin and hair treatment. In the winter, they soothe, nourish and protect the skin, and in the summer, they do the same thing while making your skin glow. No dry ashy legs allowed in shorts/sundress season! That is right up there with the Open Toe Shoe Pledge. Friends don't let friends get flaky. 

Ok- so, my faves? Right now, Strawberry is in my top rotation. Yes! It's The Body Shop Strawberry we loved forevah! Also, Satsuma, which is probably one of the loveliest orange prodz out there, and Shea, which is sweet and comforting. Moringa, sort of a tropical-white floral-tiare scent, is quickly becoming another fave. The scents are very subtle and nowhere near what their small perfume bottles are, but that's ok as the texture and feel of the oil makes you want to slather yourself head to toe.

At under $15 for 100ml, these are easy on the wallet while making your skin glow and smell yummy. Verdict? Love. Obsessively. Go get- now.

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Oil Is a Drink For Dry Thirsty Skin

Weleda Sea Buckthorn Body Oil is my new skin obsession. After hearing beauty editors and my fellow beauty bloggers raving about how they banished the flaky dry skin  on their legs (one of the charming side effects of central heating) with this miracle product I had to try it for myself. I’m a huge Weleda fan- their lovely soothing and natural products have a luxe feel that can only come from quality ingredients. They smell and feel great, but more importantly, they deliver. With the crazy weather we have had, winter, blizzards, hot enough for sundresses & flip flops, then back to sub zero temps, my skin needs all the help it can get.

Sea Buckthorn is a berry that is chock full of essential fatty acids that replenish vital moisture. Add some organic sesame oil & this power moisturizing duo adds intensive replenishment to moisture starved skin. Sea Buckthorn Oil has a fresh orange-y citrus scent that is like a little ray of sunshine. Citrus scents have mood & energy boosting aromatherapeutic properties so add soft skin to a good mood and we are talking win-win. Sea buckthorn oil has all kinds of skincare benefits, likely because it has very high levels of vitamins A and E, both of which are necessary for healthy, young looking skin. These vitamins help destroy free radicals, keeping your skin looking great.

I like to use my Weleda Sea Buckthorn Oil after my shower, when I’ve shaved and exfoliated my body into submission, & my skin just drinks it up.  Sometimes I mix a few drops of Sea Buckthorn Oil with my beloved Nivea Q10 body lotion - an amazing way to enrich a simple body lotion and fill it with skin - quenching goodness. And I would have believed it until seeing it with my own eyes- there is not one flaky dry part of my skin to be seen. 

Available at drugstores, health food stores and online.

Palmer's Skin Therapy Oil Makes Skin Beautiful

If you have been reading this blog, you know I am a huge Palmers fan. I have the CocoButter stick in my car at all times for lips, cuticles, knees and elbows, and of course, the unscented Palmers Coco Butter Lotion is a staple in my moisturizer arsenal. During the deep cold dry months of winter, the Coco Butter Formula solid in the jar is often the only the only thing that helps. 

So I was quite happy to hear that Palmers released their Skin Therapy Oil. My readers also know I am a lover of skin oils, especially when bare legs are on display. This Skin Therapy oil is preservative-free, and fairly lightweight, although it's not quite what I'd call a "dry oil". It contains an exclusive blend of key ingredients formulated to help improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, aging skin and fine lines and wrinkles. Sort of along the same lines as the lotion. I definitely notice a difference in skin tone the appearance of stretch marks from diligent use of the Palmers lotions so colour me a lover of palm oil for the skin. 

Palmers Skin Therapy Oil has sesame oil in it, which I love. It is light and delicate and feels like it sinks right into the skin. There is a touch of silicone in this product but its just enough to give the product a nice slip when applying. If you have oily or acne prone skin, as I do, I would not recommend using the Skin Therapy Oil on your face. But, it is amazing on the body. I have been using it at bedtime and definitely notice a difference in how my skin looks in the morning. Smooth soft knees, elbows and feet (yes feet!) and it is especially nice after bathing when you've spent a long day in the sun. Amazing.

Betty Grable legs- a "DO"

It does have that yummy chocolate-y Palmers scent, which is lovely, but these days I prefer scent free body products. Granted, it does not last long, but it does interfere with my perfume so my solution is to be sure I apply it well in advance of leaving the house, or the night before. If you like using a skin oil, I highly recommend giving this a try! For around $10 for big 150ml bottle at Walmart, this is an easy buy!

Gwyneth's legs- yeah, these are a "DON'T"