Natralia Nourish Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner

I like to use "natural" products, the kind that says "FREE FROM sulfates, parabens, artificial colours and fragrances..." But I only like them IF they work. Which can be a quite rare occassion in the hair department, as in general those "natural" products  aren't just as good as the ones with "bad chemicals"....

Meet my newest best friends: Natralia Nourish Naturals Shampoo and the matching Conditioner, both for "Normal Hair". I was lucky enough to win them from Inspired Wellbeing. I've been using them regularly (every 2-3 days) since I run out of my Charles Worthington supplies about 5 weeks ago. 

It was love at the first smell - the scent is soooo refreshingly yummy, I caught myself smelling my hair every now and then. Must be the Mandarin Orange extracts. I also love how they make my long hair smooth, shiny, bouncy and feels light as feathers. No frustrating tangles at "in between" moments (when I've shampooed my hair, before I apply conditioner), no weighing down rich conditioner that weigh the hair down.

I really like them, I've been asking hubby to try it. You know, so we can have a "family shampoo" - theoritically having only one bottle in the bathroom, no need to buy 2 different brands. No joy so far, blokey hubby said he's happy using his cheapo shampoo. I'm not kidding, his shampoo costs less than $4 for a huge bottle... though it's probably for the better, as he likes to use a liberal amount of shampoo. Very liberally, it's a shocking waste of products. Though not as shocking as the amount of skincare products and other "beautifying things" I've collected over the years.... hahaha...

Anyway. One drawback with using these: I have to wash my hair more often. Which isn't a problem, it's as expected. I mean, I've used A'kin and other "natural" shampoos and conditioners before, they seem to require more hair washing to keep the "benefits" and to keep my hair feeling clean.

Verdict: "naturally" in love (pun intended). LOVE, I said, in case you haven't heard me the first time I said that. Super duper highly recommended. Especially for those of YOU who loves natural products! I'll be buying more in the future.

Now, over to you, my dear readers. What's your "natural love" of the moment??

Shampoo Ingredients: Aqua (purified australian water), cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (coconut), disodium cocoamphodiacetate (coconut), coco-glucoside (and) glyceryl oleate (coconut & glucose), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (palm), lauryl glucoside, (coconut & palm), citric acid (citrus fruit), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (guar), sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (plant protein), hydrolyzed what protein (protein), keratin (and) hydrolyzed keratin (plant protein), silk amino acids (plant protein), saccharomyces/zinc ferment (minerals from natural origin), panthenol (provitamin B5), methoxy cinnamidopropyl hydroxy sultaine (cinnamon), vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) fruit extract, saccharomyces/copper ferment (minerals from natural origin), biotin (vitamin H), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), linoleic acid (vitamin F), oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, tocopherol (vitamin E), limonene, geraniol, citral, linalool.

Conditioner Ingredients:  Aqua (purified australian water), behentrimonium methosulfate (rapeseed), cetearyl alcohol (botanical source),  citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) fruit extract, glycerin (botanical source), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (guar), cetearyl olivate (and) sorbitan olivate (olive), ethyl macadamiate (macadamia), hydrolyzed wheat protein (protein), methoxy cinnamidopropylhydroxy sultaine (cinnamon), saccharomyces/zinc ferment (minerals from natural origin), saccharomyces/copper ferment (minerals from natural origin), keratin (and) hydrolyzed keratin (plant protein), silk amino acids (plant protein), oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), linoleic acid (vitamin F), biotin (vitamin H), vinis vinifera (grape) seed extract, panthenol (provitamin B5), citric acid (citrus fruit), phenoxyethanol (and) ethylhexylglycerin (derived from plant), limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral.

Charles Worthington Moisture-Seal Shampoo and Conditioner

Last week I finished my Charles Worthington Moisture-Seal Shampoo and the matching Moisture-Seal Conditioner. Sometimes I get bored easily, so using up two full-size bottles (250ml) brings a certain amount of satisfaction. I would have been able to do it sooner if I didn't use other brands in between. (As of today I own 4 big bottles of shampoos, 2 big + 2 small bottles of conditioners in my collection.) Yeah, can't help it, I like variety and having the options to treat my hair according to seasons and conditions. Especially after the last hair panic when I found some split-ends and the disaster caused by using dodgy product on hand... Eeeks, never again I'm left without any spare good quality conditioner!!!

Back to topic. For almost a decade I've been a fan of Charles Worthington products. It's the brand that I always come back to again and again in between dabbling with "organic" haircare. I've bought and used various shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, heat sprays, etc. from this UK brand. Mostly with great results.

It's hardly surprising to say that I love the Moisture-Seal Shampoo and Conditioner. They smell good and did what it said on the bottles, keeping my long hair nice and fluffy, conditioning without weighing it down. I especially love the practical flip-top bottles, though I think they're changing the packaging soon.

For those of you who are interested to try the range, their "Takeaways" or travel size products make fantastic introduction.

Verdict: what can I say, I'm a long-term fan! :)

Shampoo Ingredients: Aqua (water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MIPA, Parfum (Fragrance), Polysorbate 20, Silicone Qaternium-16, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Citric Acid, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Hydrolyzed rice Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Silicone Quaternium-8, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hexylene Glycol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool.

Conditioner Ingredients: Aqua (water), Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Laureth-23, C12-15 Pareth-3, camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Buteth-3, Tributyl Citrate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol.

I've Found My HG Hair Conditioner!

I know I'm on to a very good thing when I managed to finish up a 500ml bottle of product AND used it consistently for 9 months straight without switching to other brand. It's an impressive feat for a product because I normally like to try different products to make sure I'm not missing out on anything out there. :)

It's even more impressive because it's a "natural" product that's "vegan, using certified organic ingredients where possible, 100% natural botanical aromatherapy and formulated without animal ingredients or animal testing."

So here it is: my long hair is loving Al'chemy Macadamia & Wheat Protein Treatment Conditioner. It's supposed to be for "damaged hair & split ends or intensive care". My hair is fairly normal with only a tiny bit of split ends, I use the conditioner every time I wash my hair (2-3 times/week) - I suppose it counts as intensive care in that matter.

Personally I find that this conditioner does everything it says on this blurb: "The ultimate deeply repairing hair treatment combining cold pressed Australian macadamia oil to nourish the scalp and hair. The conditioner contains 2% wheat protein to help repair hair follicles and eliminate tangles. Your hair retains moisture, is revitalized and silky smooth."

I love the practical pump bottle as I don't like fiddling around with bottle tops in the shower. The yummy cardamom smell enhances my hair washing experience immensely.

Overall I'm very pleased with this beautiful find from my previous life in OZ. Thankfully it's also available in UK (as A'kin, not Al'chemy - not sure why) so I don't need to have withdrawal symptoms. :)

Verdict: I think I've found my Holy Grail hair conditioner! Enough said.

Ingredients: Aqua (purified Australian water), glycerin (botanical source), behentrimonium methosulfate (from GMO free rapeseed) (and) cetearyl alcohol (botanical source), hydrolyzed wheat protein (GMO free), macadamia ternifolia seed oil (cold pressed Australian grown), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil (cold pressed Australian grown), soy lecithin (GMO free), glyceryl laurate (botanical source), sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn), potassium sorbate, citric acid (botanical source), fusanus spicatus wood (West Australian sandalwood) oil, cedrus atlantica (cedarwood) bark oil, lecithin (and) tocopherol (and) ascorbyl palmitate (and) hydrogenated palm glycerides citrate, elettaria cardamomum seed oil, syzygium atomaticum (clove) flower oil.

GROWN Damask Rose, Black Pepper & Sage Shampoo

GROWN Damask Rose, Black Pepper & Sage Shampoo is another fabulous buy from my OZ stint. I've been using it for about 8 months now.

I almost gave this shampoo away as the first few times of using it I didn't like it, I couldn't get the shampoo to foam properly. I'm glad I decided to keep it. After trials and errors, I discovered that applying it on very wet hair produces plenty of foam.

Here's how I would normally use it: use 2 pumps to begin with, gently massaging it into the hair and scalp, rinse well, then repeat with another 2 pumps before rinsing everything away. My hair feel much softer and lighter when I do it this way.

I also use it to wash my makeup brushes to keep the natural hair soft. I have to remember not to use too much shampoo, otherwise my brushes feel too soft! :)

The gorgeous geranium scent reminds me of it's "sister" from the same brand: Geranium leaf, Bergamot and Rose-bud facial cleanser. The chic pump bottle is recyclable - LOVE!

Verdict: a good organic shampoo that keeps my hair soft, making my hair (and the bathroom) smelling gorgeous afterwards.

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified Water), Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract (and) Matricaria Recutita (Camomile) Flower Extract (and) Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (and) Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract (and) Solanum Centrale (Bush Tomato) Fruit Extract (and) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (Vegetable), Hydrolysed Wheat Protein, Rosa Damascena (Rose Absolute) Flower Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Oil, Polysorbate 20 (Vegetable), Pelargonium Graveolens (Rose Geranium) Oil, Salvi Sclrea (Clary Sage) Oil, Phenoxyethanol Citral (Vegetable), Geraniol (Vegetable), Citronellol (Vegetble), Linlool, Limonene (Vegetable), Sodium Hydroxymethyglycinate (Vegetable), Caramel (Vegetable).

Q&A Frizz Double-dose Frizz-fix Super Serum

I love sesame prawn toast even though I'm allergic to prawn. Solution: I only eat them on special occasions, and only AFTER taking my antihistamine. And followed by more antihistamine if necessary. :)

My point is, most of the time I try to be positive and do my best to handle every situation. There are many things in life that aren't within my control. Nevertheless, I choose to be positive and be thankful for things that are under my control.

At the moment I'm being thankful for always carrying Charles Worthington's Q&A Frizz Double-dose Frizz-fix Super Serum in my luggage, wherever I am in the world. It's my trusty weapon in combating frizzy hair and static flyaway.

I've used this brilliant serum on and off in the past few years. It's my most favourite hair serum amongst many I've used. I use it on my towel dried hair, before blow-drying it. I find that using one pump (2-3 drops) of the serum is enough to give good result on my long hair. I add an extra pump after my hair is dry on days when my hair is being super stubborn.

The bottle said that it "contains new-generation silicons that control stubborn frizz". As you can see on the ingredients list, there are MANY variety of silicons in this serum.

Verdict: Musically approved, though I'm not so keen on the parabens. I suppose the parabens won't harm my hair since hair is dead thing anyway, like nails.

Ingredients: Cyclotetrasiloxane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Phenylpropyldimethylsiloxysilicate, Cyclomethicone, Lecithin, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Ethylhexyl Mehoxycinnamate, Retinol, Phytantriol, Octyl Cocoate,Blycine Soja (Soyabean Oil), Phenoxyethanol, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Glycolipids, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben.

On a more personal note, I'm doing quite well considering what has been happening in the past month. Amongst those: being a VERY unhappy recipient of F sign given by everyone in a passing car while walking somewhere near parents-in-law's place (yup, first racism incident here), having to take antihistamine before eating a chicken kiev that contains pork gelatin (I'm allergic to pork) prepared by mother-in-law (MIL) - couldn't tell her in case she went into panic and have a heart attack (don't ask), hubby twisted his ankle, etc. Anyway, we're staying in hotel at the moment, looking around different areas while hubby is job hunting.

All for now, it feels so good to be able to blog and read other peoples's blogs again. :)