Sunday 24 August 2014

Garnier Fructis Color Shield Complete Defense

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo, Conditioner, and Shine & Care

For Coloured - Treated Hair


Firstly, I like to start by saying thank you to Influenster for including me in the Garnier Fructis #ColorShield VoxBox.  The following three products, I have received complimentary and are solely for testing purposes only.

Okay, let's start off with the packaging.  It's pretty standard.  I'm most likely not going to walk into a store and stand in front of oodles of shampoo & conditioners and go Wow, whats that?  Rush over and grab that bottle.  It does have a nice red colour though.  Me trying to give it some credit here.. 

The down side to the packaging, is actually in the details or should I say lack of details given on the back.  On the back of both the shampoo and the conditioner bottles there are no directions.
HOLD ON.  Yes I know how to use shampoo and conditioner but since when doesn't a product
give instructions?  The only reason I really noticed this is when I'm trying a new conditioner I usually end up checking out the back directions to see if I'm suppose to leave it in for a certain amount of time before I actually rinse it out.  So when I noticed there was nothing for the conditioner, I naturally out of curiosity checked the shampoo and... Zip.  Nothing.  Not a big deal.  Just thought I point it out 

One other thing about the packing which is a plus is that the bottles are "ECO-Fructis".  "Bottles contain 30% recycled plastics and are made of PET, the most widely recycled plastic".
Yay! Go Green.  Moving on...

Garnier Fructis Fortifying Shampoo & Conditioner Color Shield:

  "Love that fresh colour feeling but can't make it last?  With camelia seed oil, acai berry extract and UV filters, our Complete Defense system helps restore hair's power to keep colour looking & feeling fresher for longer"

"Seals & protects color.  Boosts vibrancy, shine, & softness"

I didn't mind the shampoo & conditioner they both smelled good.   You kind of really have to work the shampoo through your hair to get a good lather going though.  The one downside I have to say is that for shampoo, I found it very very runny.  So if you are reading this and decide to try this for yourself be warned :)  You may get more than what you are expecting.  Also like I mentioned above with no directions with the conditioner, I left it in for a minute then rinsed it out and all was good.

* Side Note: The smell of the shampoo & conditioner out of the bottle is kind of a cross between berries & bubble gum.  Haha. Weird I know but that is what I got.  After blow drying my hair my husband did the sniff test (way weird but only way to get another opinion ).   He smelled coconut.  Where he got the coconut from, I haven't a clue but that's our take on the smell :)

Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shine & Care Leave - In Spray:

"Phase 1: Enriched with Xylose. Protects coloured hair"
"Phase 2:  Smoothens the hair cuticle giving it a brilliant shine."

With the leave-in spray it does give you directions.  It can be used two ways.  Both in which I tried.

The first is to apply to wet hair before brushing, to instantly protect hair.  Did this do anything, I couldn't tell you right away.  Give me a few weeks, and if I'm still using this instead of my normal shampoo then we'll have our answer.  

The second way to use the spray is as a "Final Touch.  To boost each finer with brilliance & transform its texture to silky smoothness"  I didn't really notice a difference with this.  I applied it after I had finished blow drying my hair and my hair was already smooth &  light so I don't think the spray was really needed to accomplish this.

With that all being said I am content with how this whole " Color Shield Complete Defense" turned out.  I will have to wait though and see how it goes down the road with how well these products actually help colour-treated hair in the long run.  But they did leave my hair nice and light.  Not so much shiny though.

Will I go and buy these products instead of my current #1 shampoo & conditioner?  No, sorry.  Once these products have been used up I will be going back to my #1. 

If I had to buy these products again I would buy the shampoo & conditioner but I would have to skip on the Shine & Care Leave-In Spray.  Didn't win me over.

Ratings: 1 Poor - 5 Great Packaging = 4 Fragrance = 4 Price Point = 4 (Priced locally at a box store & compared to other similar products) Effectiveness = 4

Overall out of 10, I would have to say that these Color Shield products rate an 8.
Probably a 9 if they hold up their end of the bargain and help protect my hair in the long run.


Again thank you to Influenster for including me in the #ColorShield VoxBox.  
My first ever VoxBox, and I hope in the near future I get to do this again.

If you like what you have read please like, share, comment, follow and all that good stuff.  Thanks :)

*******************

Follow up photo:  After 3 washes the purple has faded quite a bit.  I know purple is an extremely hard
color to keep in your hair, but really was hoping for a little longer than three washes.



*******************

For more information check out the following:

Garnier Canada FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/GarnierCanada

Garnier Canada Color Shield:  http://www.garnier.ca/en-ca/hair-care/beauty/fructis/fructis-color-shield

Influenster: https://www.influenster.com


Wednesday 6 August 2014

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush Review



Rating: A

Like so many other people I purchased this brush after reading all the good reviews it was given. I have tried other brushes, sponges, blenders but I have to say, I found this brush to work by far the best for applying foundation. The bristles are just the right length, they haven't fallen out, and they are nice and soft.
 Highly recommend :)

To learn more about this product and/or to see more reviews 
check out Influenster.com by clicking on the link below.
Thank you.