Arbonne Hair & Scalp Revitalizer

I’ve posted before about my battle with dandruff and itchy scalp. I’ve found that Organix Australian Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner almost completely eradicate my scalp issues (check out my post on that subject), but I’m always on the look out for products that will boost my scalp and hair health.

Which is why I tried Arbonne’s Intelligence Thermal Fusion Hair & Scalp Revitalizer (that’s a mouthful). It’s a gel/lotion that you apply to your scalp after your regular shampooing and conditioning and massage in. You leave it on for 5 minutes and then rinse. Every time I use it, I notice a warm tingling feeling. The package warns of skin sensitivity, but I didn’t have any problems (and I have very sensitive skin). After I use it, my scalp feels great.

Because my dandruff and itchiness are under control with regular shampooing and conditioning, I don’t use this very often. I usually use it when I’ve been using a different shampoo and conditioner or when I haven’t washed my hair in a couple days and instead relied on dry shampoo (in other words, when I will likely have signs of dryness and dandruff).

DISCLAIMER: All that being said, I always use it with the shampoo and conditioner that I know correct the dandruff problem, so it’s not 100% clear that the revitalizer is making any difference at all. And for $30 for 2.4 fl.oz. bottle, I’m not likely to buy it again because I can’t pinpoint exactly why I need it.

 

Thora Birch Calls for an End to Animal Cosmetics Testing

I love when Cruelty Free International (and any anti-animal testing group) gets mainstream news media coverage. That usually happens when celebrities come out in support of the group. Recently, The Huffington Post Impact blog featured a story about actress Thora Birch (of American Beauty fame) supporting the work of Cruelty Free International and calling for the end of cosmetics testing on animals. Here’s an excerpt of what she says:

It is a shame that in the United States animals can still be subjected to agonizing tests for cosmetics despite the availability of modern non-animal tests. Testing cosmetics on animals is an outdated and unnecessary practice. It’s also cruel. Our nation’s largest trading partner, the European Union, has banned the sale of animal tested cosmetics and proven it is possible to produce safe cosmetics without harming animals.

For over a decade California has required that modern non-animal tests be used to ensure product safety before resorting to cruel outdated animal tests. Now the California legislature has passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution calling for an end to cruel cosmetics tests nationwide. I’m proud to join Cruelty Free International and the state of California in calling for a US ban on animal testing for cosmetics.

 

Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss

 

This Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss was a no-brainer for me to try because (1) I really like all of their other products that I’ve tried, (2) I respect Burt’s Bees’ company policy, and (3) the glosses are sold at grocery stores and pharmacies, so they’re super accessible and relatively cheap (about $7).

The gloss is super shiny but not sticky. There’s no weird taste or smell. The color is not saturated (as one would expect from a gloss); it’s just the right amount of color in my opinion. And the color you get on your lips is what you’d expect from looking at the color of the tube. My favorite colors are Nearly Dusk, Ocean Sunrise, Rosy Dawn, and Sunny Day. All of them have shimmer, and all the glosses are 100% natural.

Burt’s Bees also make Lip Crayons (deep, matte color), Lip Shimmers (not much gloss; lots of shimmer), and Lip Shine (less color; more glossy).