TRESemmé Flawless Curls Lotion Créme

Like I already said, I do have a curly/wavy hair that sometimes makes me lose calm when it gets to the long side. So I tend to look for products that fight back the frizz, and make my hair look decent. As I don’t really like the gel look on a regular basis and day time, because it can be perceived as trying too hard, I try to manage the hair in other ways.On the supermarket I was looking for a product that would fit what I needed, and I saw the TRESemmé Flawless Curls Lotion crème. It’s a brand that has a good reputation, the same reason I bought the shampoo, so I gave it a try.

The smell of it, it’s very similar to the Smooth Shampoo, kind of a sweet and fresh smell very pleasant. The texture, opposite from what I was thinking, that would leave my hair greasy to keep the frizz away, it did reveal a very light formula. It does lock the moisture on the hair, and that turns the fibers a bit more curly, but definitely tames the frizzy hair. As that happens, it also makes my hair less volumous and last a full day of wearing.

You just have to put it on, after towel drying the hair, and then style it like you u

se to. The more product you put, the more moist you are going to lock and the less volume the hair will get.

It’s definitely a help for someone like me, with curly hair that sometime doesn’t know what else to do.

Fake Tan for Men

The summer is coming and the white ghost skin hopefully starts to fade away. But although it’s important to catch a little sun, for a little bit, because it helps the production of vitamin D, the consequences of baking in the sun for a long time, are massive.

I’m not going to talk you about the risks of sun bathing, because we all know it by now. It’s such a talked about topic, and with a major importance that must not be forgotten. So an alternative to have a healthy looking skin during summer time, and all year around, it’s the Self Tanner. It’s not something to be afraid of, as some people may still be a little bit skeptical to the use of these formulations, but a long way has come since the very orange streaky look. I was one of those people who definitely were safe about this subject, so I started with a gradual tanning lotion. Actually, that’s an advance about the tanning industry, there’s out there a product suitable for everyone!

So, having a very pale skin, that most people do make sure to remember me quite often, I started trying to “fix” it, first by stop wearing sunscreen (big mistake) to get a subtle tan, and then applying a gradual tanner. Only latter I started using actual tanners.

In my point of view there’s nothing wrong with guys wearing fake tan, as I don’t even think it’s considered make-up (which I don’t think it’s wrong either). You just have to be careful, so it doesn’t go uneven or streaky. To avoid that, you have to follow a few steps.

Before Tan:

• Before you start your tanning session, you have to prepare your skin to receive the product.
• Shave and wax 24h before, or as a men, try to shave a little bit earlier, like, in the morning and then apply the product at night before bed.
• The day before, or in the morning, prepare your skin by exfoliating in the shower, with a scrub that doesn’t leave an oily film. Personally I use L’Oreal Paris Exfotonic, which contains AHA that makes a chemical peel too.
• If you scrub a day before, apply a moisturizer on the areas you intend to tan, so you have even hydrated skin.
• Don’t forget to exfoliate your face as well, and by shaving you are exfoliating your neck and part of your face too.
• This exfoliation and shaving, will remove dead skin cells that would come off and give you an uneven and dirty look. As the tanning agent will color the top skin cells that peel very quickly (aprox. 7 days), it’s important to remove most of them before the tanning session so the remaining top cells that actually get colored last as long as possible.
• Right before applying the fake tan, put some moisturizer on the dry areas of your body. Your wrists and hands, elbows, knees, ankles and feet. Don’t forget to moisturizer the skin around your nails, so it won’t turn orange (Major mistake by me!)

During Tan:

• If you are using a spray formula put a towel on the floor, because it can get very messy. If you have the chance, do it in the shower base or in the tub, so you can wash it easily.
• Don’t forget to use a mitt if you have one, or use latex or vinyl gloves to prevent the famous orange hands. If you are using a gradual tanner you can skip this step if you want.
• Start to apply the product on your legs and feet. This step is first because than you don’t have to bend yourself and risk ruining the tan of the upper body.
• Apply only on the top of your feet and be careful with your ankles so it doesn’t build up any product.
• Then apply on your chest, tummy, shoulders, neck and the sides. If you have body hair, there’s no problem at all. If you are wearing gloves, pass your finger through it and try to spread the product as well as possible. When using a spray, I do think it’s a good idea to spread it with your hands on those areas.
• Then apply to your arms and your face. When putting on your face, do it from the center of your forehead and spreading out, without building it up on the hair line. Do the same on your cheeks, nose and chin.
• At last, take off your gloves and rub in some product on the back of your hands. If you use powdery gloves, pass them through water and then apply the fake tan.
• Don’t forget to wash your hands very well if you are not wearing gloves or any protection, with a lot of soap.
• Then wait the product to dry and you’re ready to go. I do think it’s better to do all of this at night before bed, and then wake up with a nice color on, rather than walk around with the always existent fake tan smell (yes…no matter how covered it is, it’s always there).

Before Tan:

• Use loose clothes and avoid sweating activities for 3 hours, as it can wash off the self tanner and leave a streaky look.
• Use a moisturizer the day after to maintain your skin smooth and moisturized. Your tan will last longer and stay better looking if you do so. Try to avoid oily lotions (with Paraffinum) and peeling agents, as Lactic acid or Glycolic acid. They will shorten your tan’s life.
• Make sure you exfoliate 2-3 times per week, so your tan will fade evenly. You can do it with the scrub, or if you use a loofah that will do the job. You only have to use de scrub if you want a more effective strategy to peel of any patches or an uneven tan.
• If you shave daily, you can use a gradual tan do apply to the area to even out the tone. Or try to mix the fake tanner with some lotion that will do the same.
• The color of your face and hands will come off first, than the rest of your body, so you might try the same strategy, of applying the gradual self tanner every two days, or whatever suit you.

A lot of celebrities use self tanner, and to list some of them, we have Hilary Duff, Miss Cheryl Cole, Olly Murs and Joe McElderry.

Cheryl Cole is known for using Rodial Brazilian Tan and Fake Bake

Hilary Duff uses Fake Bake to give her a nice color for events.

Olly Murs and Joe McElderry, both contestants on the UK X Factor, used the Vita Liberata fake tan on the show. I don't know if they still use the same brand, but they do present themselves with a nice looking tan.
Try out some fake tan and have fun!

LÓreal Elvive Full Restore 5 - Shampoo

Well, here's something I've been wanting to try for quite a long time, and now I got the chance.

Who never saw this shampoo's advertisement on tv?

Well, I bet it's hard to escape it, when you live in the UK, as the ambassador of the product is the fantastic Cheryl Cole. In Portugal, who was chosen to represent it in the advertisement was Evangeline Lily, but it didn't have the same impact, as her base of fans in the country is not very significant, She is only known.

Despite being a boy, and have short hair, who wouldn't like to have a healthy shiny hair like hers? In addition, she could sell anything, she's hot!

So, the shampoo, LÓreal Elvive Full Restore 5, claims to target weak, limp, lifeless hair and make it look replenished and fully restored. It is enriched with Pro-Keratin, a major component in our hair fibers, and the conditioning formula reinforces each hair fibre leaving it feeling strengthened and better able to resist daily styling.

As the first time, I've used it, I felt like the smell of it, was delicious, remembering me the original smell os L'Oreal products. And the packaging is also very appealing, the combination os colors and also the shimmery red that appears on the bottle when the light catches it.

Looking for a healthy, shiny hair, I applied the product. Is is very easy to apply, and it washes your hair very well, taking away any residue os styling products. As a damaged and dry hair shampoo, I thought it could leave your hair greasy, or at least weighted, but it didn't! It really makes what it says on the bottle. My hair feels smooth, shiny and weightless, keeping the freshness through the day. The only thing I dindn't like, was the fact, that I have curly hair, and it got a little frizzy, as it doesn't have a straightenig component, but I'll put styling products to turn it more manageable.

Overall, I tought the shampoo is really good, despite some reviews I saw on the internet. I strongly advise you to try!

Get your mojo back!

Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

Here we go, reviewing a new product which I really liked, and had used some years ago but by trying new products, I haven't bought it for some time.

This product is fromVichy, and it is a line for acne-prone skin and oily skin. When I used it for the first time, I had a favorable opinion of this product and thought it really left my skin more mattified and for a long period of time. I have kind of oily skin and I have some difficulty finding products that really let my skin less oily throughout the day. When I apply the product early in the morning, by lunch time the skin is already looking shinier. But with this product my skin remained cleaner for longer.

This promises an innovation, with triple effectiveness, anti-blemish, shine and clogged pores. It has a peeling-technology, which actively reduces imperfections mattiffies and moisturizes for 24 hours.

Ingredients: Innovation is (allegedly) at the junction of three chemical peeling agents, salicylic acid, glycolic acid and LHA. Really this product has a large joint power of peeling agents, but do not expect dramatic results with just a few uses, because the concentrations are very little to allow a comfortable everyday use.

Smell / texture: The fragrance of the product is extremely nice. I would say that it is one of my favorite products smell, because it's kind and is very fresh, slightly reminiscent of watermelon, but not quite that ... The texture remains consistent enough for successful application and is easy to spread.

Results: The skin is instantly mattified and lasting a few hours after application, getting hydrated and without a whitish color that some creams leave. The scent of the product is incredibly refreshing and invigorating in the morning, without being too strong. The action against the roughness is also very good, noticeably reducing the blemishes in a few applications.

Overall, I think that is a good product and a good brand, and I will certainly buy it again. Althought there were already some years since the last time I've used it, I still love it. I advise you to buy and try if you have a tendency to oily skin and blemishes.

TRESemmé Smooth Shampoo

What I'm going to talk you about this time is hair care. I have a very thick and wavy short hair, that makes it a little bit of a nightmare to style and look good. In one hand If I let my hair to dry naturally it can turn very frizzy and unruly, and in the other hand if I let it dry with a blowdryer it gets a lot of volume, not looking good at all. So I’ve been battling with this problem, trying to find the perfect products to make it look decent.

As some part of my hair is wavy and some parts can be curly, I tend to use shampoos that claim a smooth effect, in the hope that they will take out some volume and give a little extra help trying to tame it. I heard about this brand awhile ago on tv, so when I knew they were selling it in the supermarket with a very low price, I had to give it a try, besides the popularity of the brand is definitely a plus.

At first the size of the bottle, for someone with short hair, can be a little intimidating, because I don’t need a big amount of product every time I wash it, but if the shampoo is as good as people say I might give it a try…

The smell actually, I found quite refreshing and the texture is a little bit of a gel mixed with a crème feel. It smells like pineapple-ish, kind of sweet, but it fades away when the hair is dry, which can be a good feature if you want to use other products that are not from the same brand and have the same smell. This TRESemmé Smooth shampoo has good washing properties, because it leaves the hair very smooth and moisturized, but it does has almond oil vitamin H to fight the frizz, that I though, left my hair a little bit heavy. If you have oily hair, I don’t think this is the right product for you, because, as my hair is wavy, I tend to wash it every day, so I can manage it after I wake up. But still washing it every day and having normal hair, by the end of the day it’s already greasy. Something that doesn’t happen with other shampoos and I don’t appreciate. But if you wash your hair every day or if you have dry hair, I found this product kind of good, as it leaves that little bit of (oil) softness, that actually helps taming the unruly frizzy hair as it claims in the bottle.

The shampoo leaves the hair quite shiny too, which is something that I like, so for that part I give it a good rating. It also has something in the ingredients that drove me into trying the shampoo that is the Hidrolized Keratine. Keratine is a major component of hair structure, so if a shampoo has this component on it, it may helps restore the damage hair, wich I don’t really know if it works, as my hair is short and doesn’t has time to get damaged, but still, I was hoping it did something special. It did leave my hair shinier, so maybe that had something to do with the keratin

Overall, it’s a good product if you want your hair smoother and if you want to tame the frizziness and the unruly hair, so I recommend it. It’s cheap and lasts forever. The only thing that a really didn’t like, was the fact that my hair gets greasy by the end of the day or at least, doesn't last for two days, because of the oils on it, to smooth the hair, but hey, you can’t have everything…

Avène Dermo K

Avène is a brand that specializes in products for sensitive skin, yet not only people with this specific type of skin such as atopic skin, or very intolerant, the ones that can and should enjoy the products of this brand. While we can say that our skin is normal, oily or dry, there are days in which areas of our skin feel more sensitive and there are routines that traumatize our skin and in these cases we need a product that can calm down.

The product that I have been using is Avène Dermo K, that promisesskin care, while the avoids appearance of ingrown hair. This product is keratoreducing, emollient and prepares hair for the razor, facilitating its removal. At the same time, its constitution with copper and zinc reduces bacterial growth, reducing risk of infection and possible folliculitis. The thermal spring water helps soothe the skin reducing redness. Needless to say, is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic.

The indications for the product, says to apply it at night, checking up effect in the morning. So that makes it easy to shave and avoids the ingrowing hair.

Personally I use both at night, when I remember (sometimes I am a bit forgotten) but especially in the morning after shaving. I do this, because this way I reduce the redness caused by the trauma of shaving, and the antiseptic properties to prevent folliculitis that becomes quite unsightly.

At first the smell is not quite pleasant, as the other products tha i'm used to use from this brand, but still, is very soft. The texture is a little bit runny, which is a plus, making it easier to aplly on sore skin, and has a little hint of green. Supposedly that contrasts with the red, turning the color of your skin a shade of brownish, instead of red, but this is quite subtle, you can't almost see any difference.

Overall a good product that I recommend, if you have problems with ingrown and even redness after shaving. Although specific to this problem also exist other products. The price is quite handy, I do not know for sure how much it cost, but is around 14€.

Skin care routine

There are lots of websites, books and brochures on this subject, including sites of commercial products. Usually a line of cosmetics is already presented with all the products and steps necessary for a healthy and good care, but what I think is important is knowing how they work and if they really are relevant. Each one of us eventually adapt a routine that is effective in our particular case, then choosing to adopt certain procedures and products that fit better, not necessarily having to resort to a whole range of products from the same brand.

So in order for you to have the best skin you can have and looking healthy and polished you might have to follow a few steps twice a day, on the morning and right before going to bed.

Wash: You have to start by washing your face with a good product. Try to find a good one that doesn’t dry out your skin too much, and if you have sensitive skin you might look for a product that is soapless, which is going to reduce the chance of your skin getting irritated. You can choose from a washing gel, to a gentle soap, like a glycerin one or Dove.

Shaving: This step must be followed after washing, or ideally after scrubing. Use a gel or foam, as desired for sensitive skins, if it’s the case, and change the blade regularly. Always shave in the direction of the hair growth to avoid ingrow hair. If you prefer a close shave you can make it after the shower, since the pores are more open and the most exposed.

Tonic: The next step, after you wash your face, is the tonic. You can pass it on with a cotton ball. Some people like because it has a fresh feel to it, but personally I believe it’s just another product you put on, with not much of an effect. Unless you can find one that really has astringent properties and that works for you.

The purpose of this product is the removal of dead cells, the reduction of sebum and reduction the visible size of pores. I think it’s optional, sometimes I use it, sometimes I don’t.

Moisturizing: You may be the last step to replenish moisture lost during the washing process and during the day / night depending on when you wash the skin. The moisturizer should be chosen depending on the problems they want solved, such as acne, oily skin, dry skin, wrinkles, tired, etc.. In most cases, men tend to have oilier skin than women, which becomes a bit inconvenient at times but not all bad. This is one of the characteristics that avoid the appearance of wrinkles in men. If you usually have ingrown hair, you should also use a good lotion for that purpose.

Sunscreen: Along with moisturizer or even if you can find one that has it on it, you should use sunscreen every day. It will prevent skin damage and also to prevent the skin from producing even more sebum, since it is one of the effects of the sun. You may become paler, but it is worth.

Scrub: Once or twice a week you should exfoliate, to avoid the formation of imperfections. The scrub will allow removing dead cells and impurities that can clog pores. So it is possible to achieve a more uniform skin appearance and without pimples or ingrown hair after shaving. If you have an acne prone skin you may prefer a daily scrub that allows you to control more effectively the appearing of blackheads.