Review: Aveda Be Curly Conditioner

6.7 oz/200 ml

Aveda US: $21

Aveda UK: ₤18.50

Aveda DE: €24

http://www.aveda.com/product/5293/16724/Hair-Care/Conditioner/Be-Curly-Conditioner/index.tmpl

http://www.aveda.co.uk/product/7415/16724/Hair-Care/Hair-Concern/enhance-curls-or-waves/Be-Curly-Conditioner/index.tmpl

http://www.aveda.de/product/5218/16724/Kollektionen/be-curlyTM/Be-Curly-Conditioner/index.tmpl

Found on Aveda.co.uk

This conditioner uses wheat protein and organic aloe to “enhance curls, combats frizz, and boosts shine”. Apparently the wheat protein/aloe mix “expands hair is wet and retracts when dry to enhance curl or wave”. The fragrance is described as a “citrus aroma”, and the conditioner contains certified organic lime, lemon, bergamot and orange among other scents.

Ingredients:

Aqueous Extract: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Glycerin, Steryl Alcohol, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Cetearyl Alchohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Palmamidopropyl Trimonium Methosulfate, Behenamidopropyltrimonium Methosulfate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Babassuamidopropyltrimonium Methosulfate, Tapioca Starch, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopherol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimomium Chloride, Fragrance (Parfum)*, Limonene, Geraniol, Linalool, Citral, Eugenol, Cintronellol, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol

*Aveda’s Own Pure-Fume Aroma with Certafied Organic Lime, Bergamot and Mandarin

I was really disappointed with this conditioner. It didn’t really emphasize my curls any more than other conditioners. It did hardly anything to combat frizz. It made my hair reasonably soft, but really not more than any other conditioner. I guess it didn’t make my hair really brittle or anything so that is something, but I think my hair was not as soft as it was before simply because it wasn’t getting the moisture it needed. It was sad because I really wanted to love this conditioner, because it smelled so darn good. It really reminds me of Rivella, a Swiss soft drink which I LOVE. I think it’s the bergamot in it. Anyway, it left my hair smelling really good, but it wasn’t enough to make me like it. Coupled with the fact that it is so expensive for a conditioner, I was not happy with this product and will not purchase it again.

Rating: C-

Review: The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Butter

50/200 ml

The Body Shop US, $6 (only in mini)

The Body Shop UK, £5/12.50

The Body Shop EU, €5/15

 

 

The Pink Grapefruit Body Butter is described as a creamy lotion for the body that sinks in quickly, making the skin feel hydrated and soft for up to 24 hours. According to the Body Shop, it is intended for normal skin

 

Ingredients:

Water, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lanolin Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance, Limonene, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Sodium Hydroxide, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Yellow 6, Red 33.

 

The texture of the cream is reasonably thick, but honestly this does not seem to help. The body butter was not, unfortunately, as hydrating as it claimed. It did provide some moisture, but did not condition my normal-to-dry body as much as it should have. The effects certainly did not last for 24 hours, as the next day around the same time; my legs were back to how they were the day before. The cream also did not sink in as quickly as I would have liked, and left an ever-so-slight residue.

 

However, I must say that the Body Shop hit the nail right on the head in terms of scent. This lotion smells divine. It is a nice refreshing, zingy scent, exactly like pink grapefruit. It’s funny, because sometimes, like with the Mango Body Butter, the body butters do not really smell like the fruit that they are supposed to (although they do usually smell nice nonetheless).

 

There’s not very much to say about the packaging, it’s pretty standard: a round tub with a screw top. It does its job just fine. One thing I do like, though, is its color. It is a lovely shade of pink.

 

This body butter is a bit of a trade off: the lotion is fairly mediocre, but the smell is lovely. If my skin weren’t on the drier side, I would definitely consider getting it just for the smell. Consider it a body spray in lotion form, with a little bit of moisturizing properties. Actually, you could just apply it over an unscented moisturizer that actually hydrates the skin, and get a satisfactory outcome. Not ideal though, and perhaps not worth the effort.

 

Rating: B-