Tag: brand review

Brand Review- Shea Moisture

Hi guys, I am back with another brand review. If you are new to this series, welcome! The series is about giving you an overview of all the products I have tried from a brand and how to easily fit them into a routine. I have quite a few on my blog, my popular ones are The Ordinary and Bodyshop.

Today we are focusing on Shea Moisture, the popular US brand that launched over 2 years ago in the UK. They have many product collections that target different hair types and concerns, be sure to check out the help chart I created a few years back to help you decide which collection is best for you.  PS I need to update it with the new products they have launched!

Haircare

Shampoos– I have tried Multi-Benefit 10 in 1 shampoo which was really great at softening my hair and adding moisture, this is best for finger detangling as it provides slip. I also like the Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention shampoo. I felt like the benefits were quite similar to the 10 in 1 shampoo as it also left my hair soft and moisturised but didn’t have enough slip for detangling. I also have the Jamaican Black Castor Oil shampoo but I haven’t used that yet.

Routine step- shampoo once or twice a week depending on product build-up and following pre-poo.

Conditioners– I have tried the matching 10 in 1 rinse out conditioner which I think was nice. It was slippery enough to detangle and the scent was great. I also used the Raw Shea Butter Restorative rinse out conditioner and the Deep Treatment Masque. (If you don’t know the difference between a rinse out conditioner and a masque read my previous post here). Both conditioners are okay. They don’t have enough slip to properly detangle although I feel the rinse out conditioner has more slip than the masque. In terms of how they leave the hair, again I feel like it softens and repairs it but I would like more softness. They are still very good conditioners but I have used better. I also prefer the rinse out conditioner over the masque.

Routine step- after shampooing. Apply and cover with a plastic bag or sit under a hooded dryer.

Leave in conditioners/treatment– I have used the 100% virgin coconut oil leave in treatment. My full review is here. Simply put I love this leave in and it works well both on natural hair and extensions. Another great leave from SM is the Jamaican black castor oil leave in conditioner. That conditioner leaves my hair so silky and soft without the need of an oil. I have a full review here. The Jamaican Black Castor Oil edge treatment is one confusing product. They claim it can be used to smooth edges but it doesn’t have any hold. It’s an edge treatment used to grow/repair edges but in the times I have used it consistently I can’t say I noticed any improvements.

Routine step- leave in conditioner as and when needed. Edge Treatment- weekly on edges

Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor oil Leave In Conditioner
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor oil Leave In Conditioner

Skincare

Did you know shea moisture have skincare products? They have a good amount of products, some of which are available in the UK but I think they are quite difficult to come by. My only SM skincare product is the African black soap clarifying mud face mask. I have had this for a while now. It’s a nice mud mask, not drying or thick as you may expect from a mud mask and it spreads very easily. I like using it mostly in the summer but let’s be honest it’s not real authentic black soap used. They also have a makeup line but to my knowledge that is not available in the UK.

Routine step- 2 to 3 times a week after cleansing. Most suitable for oily skin

So that’s it folks, everything I have tried from Shea Moisture. It is not indicative of the many products SM have but what I have tried suits my hair type and concern. If you have 4c hair that is prone to dryness and breakage like mine then I think these products will work best for you. I did notice the texture/consistency (more fluid and less studs but still good) of the two shampoos I have used changed over time from when I first used them. I know it was probably a year in between uses but I haven’t experienced that with my other shampoos

Shea Moisture hair products are available from Boots & Superdrug. Some of their skincare products are available from MyLuxeBeauty.

 

Give me a shout if you have tried these products and love or hate them!

Love

Sarah

 

Brand Review: Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula

Is Palmer’s the best-scented brand in the drugstore? There isn’t a product I have used from Palmer’s that I didn’t enjoy the scent (ok so maybe 1 or 2). Palmer’s have a ton of products across Haircare, Body care and Skincare but most of the products I have used from them are from their Haircare and Bodycare collections!

As with all my brand reviews, I will also mention how to use them in a routine!

Haircare

Hair Cleansers – I absolutely love the Palmer’s Olive Oil Smoothing shampoo. The shampoo has a lot of slip and gently cleanses my hair leaving it soft. Read my full review here. They have two co-washes, one from the Coconut Oil range and the other from the Olive Oil range. I love both of them but I love the Olive Oil Formula cowash better.  I have also used the Manuka Flower Honey Strengthening Shampoo which I liked too.

Routine step- once or twice a week depending on product build up. Shampoo after pre-pooing

Rinse out Conditioners– the Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner is the perfect partner to the Olive Oil Smoothing shampoo! I also have a full review here. I also used their Manuka Flower Honey Nourishing Conditioner which I liked. I also have the Repairing Coconut Oil conditioner (new addition) but I haven’t used that yet.

Routine step- after shampooing. Leave for 5-10 mins with heat then rinse out

Leave In Conditioners/Moisturisers/Oils– From the Manuka Flower Honey range, I have used the spray Leave-In conditioner which I adore! It hydrates and it’s so quick and easy to use under protective styling. I have also used the Leave-in Conditioning Cream from this range and it’s ok. I wish it added more moisture to the hair. I have the Coconut Oil Hair Milk which is nice. It moisturises the hair and smells great but too much will leave white flakes in the hair. The Olive Oil spray Leave in conditioner is probably my fav leave in from Palmers! I used the Palmer’s Olive Oil Conditioning spray in my box braids hair care routine. Check out that post here. I also have the Olive Oil Dry Oil but I haven’t used that yet.

Routine step- leave-in conditioners on damp hair after wash day. Do not rinse out. Use before other styling products. Hair milk as a leave in or hair moisturiser. Oil- use as part or LOC or LCO method for moisturising hair. Use as a hair oil as needed.

I have the Olive Oil Edge control but I have not used it yet

Bodycare

Let’s start with something everybody has probably used before or at least every Ghanaian person lol. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion or the Palmers Cocoa Butter solid jar. I absolutely adore the Palmers Cocoa Butter Body Oil! It smells amazing, leaves the skin moisturised, soft and silky and isn’t too oily! It sinks into the skin quickly! It was my saviour in the summer! I also love the Palmers Cocoa Butter body scrub! The same great scent and leaves skin soft and smooth. It’s not very gritty but it gets the job done. I also had used the Palmers Coconut oil body oil. I used this in my body butter mixes. I didn’t use the Anti-Aging Smoothing lotion consistently enough to notice any results. It is a non-greasy lotion that adds some hydration but not a lot.

Routine step- after showering or as needed

Skincare

Whilst they have a good range of products in their skincare range, I have only used two products from them. Firstly their famous original ultra-moisturising lip balm! This was bae back in high school and I bought it back to back! It heals chapped lips and leaves the lips so soft. I recently fell in love with their Multi Perfecting Facial oil. Its light , moisturises and doesn’t clog pores. It also doubles up as a great body oil

Routine step- Lip balm as needed. Facial Oil- after serums and before creams

That’s all folks! Everything I have used from Palmers! I love their hair care products as much as I love their body care products! They have a good skincare collection which I would like to try more of in the future.

Are you a Palmer’s fan? Let me know your favourite product!

Other brand reviews

Bodyshop

NipFab

Palmers is sold almost everywhere! Boots, Superdrug, Sainsburys etc