Review: Maple Holistics

(Sponsored)
Hello Princesses!

Today I'm going to be talking about some Haircare from Maple Holistics! Maple Holistics reached out to me and offered to send me some products to try out on my super dry, coloured, dandruff ridden hair!

Maple Holistics has one goal in mind: to provide a natural, holistic range of premium products which can enhance hygiene, health and daily living.

The formulaic composition of each product stands out in uniqueness, quality, and effectiveness. Only the purest and highest quality ingredients are used in each product, maximizing the therapeutic potential for each specific area of health. Some of the products offered include therapeutic shampoos, facial masks, bath soaks and more. Our expert Research and Development team is constantly engaged in creating new products. Most importantly, customer satisfaction is our number one concern. When you’re happy, we’re happy.

Maple Holistics chose a colour safe dandruff shampoo and a silk conditioner for me to try. These are fantastic options and are definitely what I would have chosen on my own because they suit every aspect of my hair.

Color Safe Dandruff Shampoo for Color Treated Hair

"One of Maple Holistics most original and best-selling formulas, Sage Shampoo can help eliminate dandruff in an easy and natural way. No longer do those with moderate-to-heavy dandruff plaguing the scalp area have to suffer the embarrassment and inconvenience that comes along with ‘dandruff dust shoulders’ – guaranteed.

Sage: Safely formulated and the spearhead of the formula, Sage is a natural astringent and plays a vital role in reducing dermatitis. It helps reduce dandruff and prevents clogged hair follicles. Sage also helps combat hair loss and baldness, as well as adds shine and luster to the hair.

Rosemary ct. Verbenone: Rosemary has an excellent reputation for scalp and hair care. Rosemary ct. Verbenone contains less camphor and is safer to use in topical applications. Rich in verbenone, this ingredient can stimulate renewal of the hair follicles, while promoting improved circulation. It releases a herbaceous aroma preferred by many.

Spikenard: Spikenard is an aromatic herb native to the mountainous regions of India, China, and Japan. This exotic addition works to restore pigmentation and contains exclusive natural properties to combat dandruff.

Tea Tree: Tea tree has been used as the go-to dandruff cure for ages. It contains over 98 all-natural compounds to combat dandruff. It has terpenoids, such as terpinen-4-ol, viridiflorol, eucalpyptol, nerolidol, and cineole, which are responsible for its antimicrobial properties. It works together with Rosemary ct. Verbenone to help clear out dead cells for healthier cell renewal.

Jojoba and Peach Kernel: Great for moisturizing sensitive scalps. These also help maintain hair volume, an essential component to preserving hair color. The antibacterial properties of jojoba help soothe the scalp and treat dandruff.

Botanical Keratin: Hair nutrient deficiencies can sometimes stem from lack of keratin, which this natural ingredient generously replenishes.

Stop dandruff now. Try our Sage Shampoo to improve your scalp’s health."(1)

I have bleached hair (though it has almost a whole year of growth to it now) and dandruff. I don't usually have dandruff, but since being on acne medication which makes everything on my body dry (dry eyeballs and lips are the worst!) my scalp has gotten super dry too. My Dermatologist recommended washing my hair less regularly to combat the dry scalp, and I find that I only need to wash it once a week.

This shampoo is colourless and has a regular shampoo texture. It smells heavily of Tea Tree which I quite like, it's really refreshing in the shower! It lathers quickly and I don't need to use too much to thoroughly clean my scalp (I don't use this on the ends of my hair at all).

I have previously been using the standard Head and Shoulders shampoo to combat this new dandruff problem and I find both shampoo's quite similar in all honesty. I find that this shampoo doesn't keep my hair as oil free as the Head and Shoulders does, which means that it's probably not quite as stripping, though it does leave my hair feeling squeaky clean and a little knotty after using. It's good, but not substantially better than my current Head and Shoulders.

Silk18 Natural Hair Conditioner with Shea Butter & Jojoba Oil

"Silk Amino Acids: Eighteen naturally-derived (literally extracted during the silkworms process of creating silk) silk amino acids prompts an assortment of hair and scalp benefits. Some of these benefits include strengthened hair fibers and natural restoration for flawless hair health. In addition, the high molecular weight of the silk amino acids results in the formation of a substantive film to increase scalp permeability. Includes L-Alanine, Glycine, L-Serine, L-Valine, L-Threonine, and more.

Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, and Green Tea: These helpful ingredients are fast-absorbing and commit moisturizing qualities to dry and delicate hair strands. Shea butter, in particular, contains vitamins A and E, making it an excellent natural moisturizer for the hair. It locks in moisture without leaving the hair greasy or heavy. The gel-like substance of aloe vera, on the other hand, makes it a great conditioning agent as well. It has a similar composition to keratin (the natural protein in the hair), which allows it to easily penetrate the entire length of the hair shaft. Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which strengthens hair roots, activates hair follicles and promotes hair growth.

Pomegranate, Hibiscus and Sea Buckthorn: Certified blend assists in repairing damaged hair follicles to revitalize healthy, flowing hair. Pomegranate contains ellagic acid, which prevents the moisture in the hair from drying out. Hibiscus (“the flower of hair care”) helps prevent dryness, dullness, and hair damage. It also prevents problems like dandruff, split ends, and premature graying. Sea buckthorn, on the other hand, contains high levels of Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9, as well as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K that promote healthy skin and hair.

Argan and Jojoba: These two essential components help provide relief by moisturizing sensitive scalps. These also help maintain hair volume, an essential component to preserving hair color. Argan, in particular, is proven to make hair softer, shinier, silkier, and softer. It also tames frizzy hair and treats split ends. Jojoba keeps the scalp moist and stimulates hair growth.

Botanical Keratin: By definition, keratin is a family of fibrous structural proteins, which contribute to the composition of hair. Essential at every level, weak quantities of keratin can be the cause of frizzy and unmanageable hair. This naturally derived ingredient helps replenishes ideal keratin content for strong, durable hair.

Vanilla: Light and sweet, 100% natural vanilla undertones mildly sweeten the formula for an overall delightful and refreshing conditioning experience."(2)

This conditioner has an amazing scent, it's a very warm vanilla smell, it's totally delicious!

This conditioner has a thin almost gel like texture and is easy to distribute throughout my hair. I chose to condition half of my hair with the Silk18 Conditioner, and the other half with my regular Argan Oil Conditioner to see what the difference was over a month. After the first wash out there was no difference to be felt, but the Silk18 side looked curlier (my hair is naturally wavy in parts, this is how it looks air dried), however after the second wash I started to notice that the Silk18 was definitely making my hair appear curlier, but also that it was making it a TON knottier. I was waking up with massive matted knots in my hair if I didn't sleep with it in a braid and a lot of hair was falling out from trying to brush the knots out.

What I Love

- Inexpensive hair care
- Conditioner smells amazing
- Shampoo works well
- Conditioner makes my hair curlier

What I Don't Love

- Shampoo isn't better than my current Head and Shoulders
- Conditioner makes my hair substantially knottier

Final Thoughts

Although I think both the Shampoo and Conditioner are quite good products, they are not quite perfect for my hair. The Shampoo is quite nice, though I don't find it substantially better than my current Head and Shoulders shampoo and I don't feel the need to replace that shampoo. The Conditioner smells absolutely amazing and makes my hair look gorgeous and curly, but it also makes my hair really knotty which means I'm yanking out more hair than I want to unless I wear it in a braid all the time which is dumb because my hair is heavy.

I would absolutely recommend the Conditioner to any Princesses who are looking for a conditioner to make their wavy or curly hair curlier, and the Shampoo for and Princesses wanting a super refreshing Shampoo that helps with dandruff and doesn't fade their coloured hair!

Thank you so much to Maple Holistics for sending these products for review, and edumuch.com for sponsoring the blogger connection! ^.^

Review: Shideido Ma Chérie Hair Care

Hello Princesses!

Today I'm going to be talking about some super cute cherry blossom scented hair care, the Ma Chérie by Shiseido line! My ever suffering boyfriend bought these all the way back from Taipei for me because I wanted to try them so much after reading Qiuqiui's review (I always get sucked into her incredibly positive reviews -.-) I've only found these products in one store in New Zealand and they were over twice the price that they are in Taipei!

I've read a few reviews on these products, some unbelievably positive making it sound like the best hair care in the world, and some incredibly negative, but there is one thing we can all agree on, the smell is amazing! The entire range is beautifully scented with a very sweet and floral scents, much like the smell of (fake) cherry blossom, so they all leave the hair smelling absolutely wonderful! ^.^

 Lets start with the Shampoo and Conditioner!

I bought the Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner rather than the Air Feel Shampoo and Conditioner, because ... I'm not really sure why since I have oily hair. The bottles are so cute and pink with handy little pumps at the top which is good since they're quite heavy at 500ml but they have literally lasted forever (6months) which is pretty good for my long thick hair! 

 Moisture Shampoo

This is really moisturizing! If you have oily hair like me you may find this a little too moisturizing for everyday/every second day use. I like the alternate with this Shampoo and the LUSH BIG Shampoo (which is ultra oil ridding). I do find that this leaves my hair feeling silky soft and hydrated which I love!

It also has a pretty pinky pearly colour! It's literally lasting me forever, I still have 1/4 of the bottle left to use!

Moisture Conditioner 

This conditioner is super thick which is lovely, but since it is in a pump bottle I can't actually reach the last 5th of the conditioner without trying to bash it out of the container which hurts my hands! Such first world problems.

I found that it moisturized my hair quite well without being too heavy, but for heavily damaged hair this may not be enough.

 Rinse Out Hair Treatment

This is the only product I purchased in New Zealand (which was super pricey!) and one of my favorites out of the range. It makes my hair feels superbly silky soft and tangle-free! I use it once a week and it keeps my hair feeling, smelling and looking healthy!

 

Hair Serums

I chose to try the Aqua Dew Energy Ex and the End Cure Milk which I found to be literally at each side of the spectrum of good and bad. There is also a hair oil which is supposed to be quite good, but I didn't get it this time.

Aqua Dew Energy Ex

I absolutely love this product! I'm not actually sure what to call it, like a serum or treatment, but it's supposed to be very hydrating for dry hair!

This serum makes my hair feel super soft and silky and does wonders for my super dry ends! You can see the difference between the side of my hair that has had the Aqua Dew applied in comparison to the side which is left bare. I've almost finished the entire bottle, that's how much I like it!

  End Cure Milk

I found the End Cure Milk incredibly disappointing. Upon reading other blogs I have found that around 90% of the reviews I read did not like this product either which is nice to know! 

It actually makes my hair feel and look worse, no matter if I use it on dry or wet hair. I still have the majority of the bottle left because I disliked it so much.

Perfect Shower Range

 

I absolutely love all three of the sprays in this range, I think they do a wonderful job at smoothing and moisturizing my hair while keeping my frizzy flyaways at bay. However, I don't think they do what they specifically say they do (Perfect Shower Moist for dry hair, Perfect Shower Wave for curls) but rather all three work exactly the same for me but with different names and different coloured bottles.

 

Perfect Shower Wave

 Perfect Shower Smooth

Perfect Shower Moist

 What I Love

- Super affordable (in Taiwan that is, not New Zealand)

- Beautiful packaging

- Beautiful sweet floral scent throughout the range

- Perfect Shower, Aqua Dew and the Treatment are amazing!

What I Don't Love

- Some products (End Cure Milk) do not work for me

- Almost impossible to find in New Zealand

Final Thoughts

I really love some of these products, while strongly disliking the rest. I will continue to repurchase my very favorites (Perfect Shower, Air Feel Treatment and Aqua Dew Energy Ex) and I quite want to try the Air Feel Shampoo and Conditioner too! ^.^ All of the products smell absolutely amazing, so if you would like to make your hair smell like fruity floral goodness, keep an eye out for the Ma Chérie range!

First Impression: Lush American Cream Conditioner

Hello Princesses!

Today I'm back with yet another Lush Conditioner, First Impression! I was out shopping, (again), and went into Lush to have a poke around their products, (again), and ended up talking to one of the girls for a good hour about their hair care. She convinced me to purchase the BIG Solid Conditioner and gave me a pot of American Cream Conditioner to try!

What Does It Do?

"American Cream is our dreamy, medium-strength conditioner for soft, shiny, fragrant locks. Softening honey, scalp clarifying lavender and fresh oranges make a conditioner suitable for all hair types to soften rough ends and keep hair calm. Not to mention the absolutely delectable strawberry vanilla cream scent. Mark was inspired by a vision of 1950s US milk bars, where teenagers would meet and drink frothy, creamy milkshakes. He concocted our best-selling conditioner to soften and control, and evoke memories of poodle skirts and jukeboxes. No wonder it remains such a customer favorite year after year!

Features;

Smells like teen spirit: Suitable for all hair types, just about anyone can enjoy soft hair scented with gorgeous strawberries and vanilla.
Double your pleasure: Our medium-strength conditioner leaves your hair calmed, softer and transformed.
Fresh is best: Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and have cleansing properties." (1)

I absolutely love the smell of this conditioner! The vanilla, honey and strawberry combination appeals to me so much, I can't even explain how lovely it smells, and I wish I could send smells over the internet! >< However, if you aren't a fan of super sweet scented products, you may want to stay away from this conditioner.

I found that this conditioner worked well for my hair, it detangled and softened my hair, and made my hair, towel, pillow and clothes smell like the delicious vanilla, honey and strawberry I smelt when I opened the pot!  The main thing I like about this product is definitely the smell, (plus the anti-animal testing bit of course), but in all honesty, I don't think it was a revolutionary product for me.

Would I Purchase This Product?

I really really really want to grab the full size of this conditioner for, uh, "further testing" but it is pretty pricey at $38NZD for 500g. I didn't feel like I used more or less than my ordinary supermarket conditioner, ($10NZD for 500g), so unlike Lush's BIG Shampoo which was better value for money than my usual shampoo because I used less product. I would need to repurchase American Cream every 1.5-2months like my usual conditioner, which would end up being really really pricey. I definitely want to try the full size at least once though!

What products from Lush do you princesses think I should try out next?