Philip Kingsley ELASTICIZER - best hair treatment ever!

I have a thick, straight hair that doesn't require much maintenance, so I never really cared much about hair care products I used. Not until I had some highlights done for my wedding last year, that was... I loved being blond, but my hair was like straw - dry, damaged with split ends. I was considering going back to my usual dark brown...and then I discovered the Elasticizer!

 

What they say

"Originally created specifically for Audrey Hepburn, this multi award winning pre-shampoo treatment delivers elasticity, bounce and shine to hair. Also provides UV protection even after washing, helping prolong the life of colour treatments. Visible results from one application that improves with continued use. Fragrance free."

My experience 

Well, if it's good enough for Audrey, it's good enough for me! I got a small 40ml tube of Elasticizer in October Glossy Box. I was a bit sceptical before trying it -  how good can a conditioner be? The product has a lot thicker, almost rubbery consistency, very different to your normal hair masques. I followed the packaging instructions - massaged it in sections into damp hair, left under a warm towel, rinsed off - et voilà! Healthy, shiny, smooth hair! I couldn't believe it.

Since then, I've put it to the ultimate test. I used it before going on my honeymoon in Thailand. Because of luggage restrictions I didn't take any of my usual hair products and decided I'll just use whatever there will be available in the hotels. The effects of Elasticizer lasted throughout my holidays! Sunbathing, chlorine, sea water - my hair stayed shiny and soft. 

Bottom line

I could not recommend it enough! Absolutely amazing hair treatment.

You can get it on Philip Kingsley website. They do a very nice 20ml trial size for only £3.70. If you do decide, that you love it as much as I do, Elasticizer comes in various sizes. It is quite pricey, so look out for it on QVC where you can find it cheaper.

CLARISONIC - my skincare gadget hero

    I purchased my Clarisonic Pro at a Professional Beauty Exhibition 2 years ago and never looked back. Among all the beauty gadgets circulating the market at the moment, Clarisonic is definitely (in my humble opinion) worth investing into.

    
How does it work?

The Clarisonics' cleansing action is based on two mechanisms.
1) The first, no-brainer cleansing mechanism, is a scrubbing action of the brushes' bristles against the skins surface.
2) The second cleansing action can reach beyond where the bristles of the brush actually touch. The brush head oscillates at more than 300 times per second, resulting in something called "dynamic fluid activity". The high speed brushing action disturbs the fluids around the brush (hence the need to keep your brush and skin wet) creating waves of pressure and tiny air bubbles that are propelled onto the skins surface giving you a better, more thorough cleanse.  
   The sonic technology of the brush is the same as in the Sonicare toothbrush. In fact, the management team of company that invented Clarisonic, is the same one that invented the Sonicare.
  
 My Experience
 
    This clever brush changed my skin dramatically. Since using it, it's a lot clearer, with nowhere as many breakouts as before. If I do get an odd spot, it heals a lot quicker and doesn't leave a nasty, red or pigmented mark. My pores are also a lot less visible and overall the skin looks more radiant. I should add, that I have not changed any of my skincare products, so it's definitely Clarisonic, that is making the difference. It's really easy to use, with different speed and time settings. I use mine on medium speed for 1 minute in the evenings.  It came with a few products, that I didn't like, so I just use it with my regular cleanser. I also found, that you get a much better results if you make sure that the brush, as well as your skin, are very wet (making the most of the sonic action). Ideally I'd recommend to use it in the shower.

The Confusion

    I have read some confusing research regarding the Sonic cleansing action. There are some confirming that it works (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12834500) and some proving the opposite (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1875-595X.2004.tb00300.x/abstract;jsessionid=486E74695C5A5EA00DC03D67C19C3014.d02t01). Like I said, I feel that Clarisonic improved my skin, regardless whether the sonic part of its cleansing action works or not. I'm a huge fan and I highly recommend it. 






     The Clarisonic Pro (Plus) that I own costs £179 at SpaceNK. You can also get the Classic -  £155, or the new cool and colourful Mia for £120.I know that it may sound pricey, but it's definitely worth investing into. You can look out for sales and promotions on QVC or www.buyapowa.com