This week in The Beauty Kit Dana looks at a range of hair and make up products and tries them out on guinea pigs to see if they really are as good as what it says on the label.
Kerastase Paris Nectar Thermique
Kerastase says: The latest technological breakthrough for bringing opulence and beauty to dry or very dry hair with the application of heat. Royal Jelly coats the hair fibre to intensely nourish, releasing the ultimate softness and shine.
RRP $42.00
Guinea Pig says:
I have hair that is drier than the Sahara so I appreciate a very good leave-in treatment. The crème-gel melting texture is easy to spread through the hair, smells lovely and my hair felt smooth after blow-drying. My hair felt quite weighty afterwards so I would use a root- lifting product with it next time.
Redken Rootful 06
Redken says:
Boost roots with long lasting, touchable fullness that’s not stiff or sticky. And with clean feel technology the lightweight, brushable formula provides body that lasts with a targeted nozzle providing for precision spray at roots without heaviness.
RRP $32.00
Guinea Pig Says:
Usually my prone-to-flat, shoulder length layers need a healthy dose of volumising mousse, a little backcombing and an enthusiastic spray just to get a little “bouf” going on. Most volumising products have been a little disappointing, as they usually required additional support. When I tried this Id already made up my mind that it wouldn’t be any different- but I was very wrong. Twelve to fifteen spritzers through my roots, a little volume encouraging upside down blow-drying and I had “bouf” galore. This gutsy spray gives good results. I used a little serum to smooth the ends afterwards.
Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
Clarins says:
Just magic, an invisible ‘second skin’ base smoothes surface skin and minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and dilated pores. A perfect marriage of skincare and make up for a spectacular beauty effect.
RRP $48.00
Guinea Pig says:
I love the name for starters! “ Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch” – says it all. This primer comes in a lovely heavy red pot, it smells fresh and French and I loved it. I loved it because it worked over my foundation as well as under and didn’t cause my under-eye concealer to ‘crease’. I am wary of primers because of their beauty double-edged sword (filling in your pores with silicones can cause blackheads for some folk) so I would save this for special occasions. Not too pricey.
L’Oreal Mineral Shadow
L’Oreal says:Offers either a gentle fine dispersion of colour, or a more intense pigment. 95% minerals, Fragrance and preservative free, safe for sensitive skin.
RRP $26.99Guinea Pig says:I try to use mineral everything now. Irritation to skin can cause inflammation, which causes skin tissues to swell slightly which worries me. If your eyelid skin is irritated by your eye shadow and swells as a reaction – can that not lead to wrinkles? Eek! I have enough ‘crapeiness’ there as it is thank you very much, pass the mineral eye shadow.
Good on L’oreal for solving the ‘mineral dust all over your bathroom sink every morning’ problem. The packaging is genius. A good size soft brush inside the lid. The colours are obviously designed to please the masses, as they are classic popular shades. The colour I tried was 04, a pleasing bronze that stayed all day. I highly recommend.