Hello Jo Power Hair Masks

I absolutely adore the scent of coffee... in a drink, in food and in beauty products, there is something about the aroma that just captures my attention.  When I saw that Hello Jo had launched onto Feelunique, I instantly wanted to try everything - the eye masks, the lip masks and of course the hair care.

Hello Jo Beauty has quite the story to tell. Described as being the new Korean developed Caffeine-Active Hello Jo Beauty’s goal is to be more than just a beauty brand and create a community for women and girls to speak out – a forum for discussion. The name Hello Jo derives from hello being the most important and most used word in the world to immediately build connections and Jo is the female version of “Joe” which is another word for coffee in so much as you might say "fancy a 'cup of Joe’" to someone, not something I have personally ever said but still there it is. Hello Jo Beauty agreed on three beauty beliefs, three things are so important to them as a brand, no matter what we do, they will always strive to live by them - Expression, Energy and Empowerment, and you can find out more about the story behind the brand here.

Hello Jo Beauty chooses to use caffeine within their product range like many beauty brands because there are so many skincare and hair care benefits to caffeine and they include:

• Caffeine is a powerhouse antioxidant which helps to fight free radical damage from pollution, toxins, and the sun.
• It has amazing anti-inflammatory properties which help to calm, and soothe stressed skin, reducing redness and evening skin tone.
• Reduces puffiness and under eye shadows created by eye bags.
• Stimulates the scalp to support hair growth and strengthen the hair shaft.
• Adds natural shine to the hair making it glossy and more manageable reducing the dreaded frizz!

So with all of this in mind and of course the linking to K-Beauty, the first products I have got my hands on are the Hello Jo Power Hair Masks. I make no secret of how important a hair mask is and this is regardless of your hair type, be it long or short, thick or thin, straight or curly. I used to think they were a complete waste of time and effort until I was introduced to one brand who literally changed my how hair looks and feels.

Hello Jo Pack of Power Hair Masks (£15) are described as being infused with a powerful, nourishing combination of active caffeine and natural argan, olive and moringa oils, our first ever sheet mask for hair helps tame frizz, reduce breakage and smooths and prevents split ends.  This might come as news to you, but did you know you might have been using your hair masks incorrectly?  Most of us, sometimes myself included, often apply a hair mask t the roots of our hair as well as to the length, in some cases this can cause further build up on the scalp which in turn blocks hair follicles, inhibits hair growth, and can cause itchiness and flaking.  Now I do have a few masks that are designed for the scalp but on the whole, unless it states I can use my mask there, I don't, I use it on my length and ends.

The Hello Jo Power Hair masks are the most unusual I have ever used, as you can see from the photo below (kindly used with permission from FeelUnique).  To use, I have always ensured my hair is damp and then, tying your hair up into a ponytail and drop it into the mask bag and then secure the bag using the band provided. The inside of the bag is coated with what feels like an oily substance and this is, of course, the amazing ingredients which, alongside Caffeine, an ingredient which is proven to support healthy hair growth you will also find the oils of Argan, Olive and Moringa which work to rehydrate your hair.

Once you have done this, massage your hair, which is sat inside the bag gently to allow all the ingredients to work their magic and leave it on for around 30 minutes.  Whenever I applied my mask, I used those 30 minutes to sit back with either a face mask or eye mask and just allowed the scent of caffeine to do its thing.

Once those 30 minutes are up, remove your hair from the mask bag and wash as you normally would do.  If you find your hair is in need of more love and attention, you can sleep in it and wash your hair the following morning.  This mask is ideal for use weekly.

I have just below the shoulder length hair (it needs a trim) and I found the pouch fitted really snug against my hair once it was in a ponytail.  I put the ponytail as high up on my head as I could comfortably get it to sit and then applied the pouch that way, assuming the more hair I crammed in, the better it would be.  Once removed and hair freshly washed, my hair was so soft and smooth, no flyaways, no static when brushing and even when I dry my hair using the hairdryer, there was no struggle, no tangles and best of all, my straighteners also glide straight through and straightening my hair has become a much quicker process.

At £15 for a pack of three masks (here), they work out at £5 per treatment which I think is well worthy of the price tag. At my local salon, they charge £7 for a hair mask when I have my hair cut and the results of this one are so much better in my opinion and of course have you ever used a hair mask where you put your hair in a bag? Nope, I bet you haven't!

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

L'Occitane Aqua Réotier Mineral Moisture Mask

L'Occitane is one of those brands who continue to come up with something new that excites me, their last two products which I shared on my blog - Delightful Tea Shower Foam (here) and Immortelle Reset (here) are two products I have since purchased myself because I adored them. Today sees the turn of the brand new Aqua Réotier Mineral Moisture Mask  (£32 for 75ml) which is an addition to the Aqua Réotier collection(review here) and is a product I have had for quite some time now.

L'Occitane state that they are always finding new ways to harness the benefits of its natural treasures, the one in question being the Réotier spring, which emerges from the mountains and contains water like no other.  This water has travelled for centuries through underground rock and on its journey, it has gathered minerals and heat from deep within the earth.  The end result is spring water that is incredibly rich in calcium, an ingredient that is key for healthy skin.

This Aqua Aqua Réotier Mineral Moisture Mask is silicone free and you can't help but notice just how blue everything is. Described as follows:

An ultra-hydrating mask made with mineral-rich Réotier water, hyaluronic acid and water-binding molecules, to intensely quench skin's thirst whenever your skin needs it most.
Its frosted non-oily texture wakes up your skin and helps to minimise pores appearance. Skin feels recharged with moisture for a healthy-looking glow. 

At the heart of this mask are what is referred too as a powerful cocktail of high-performance hydrators such as Hyaluronic Acid to keep the skin feeling moisturised.  

This is in part why this mask can be used in two different ways:

• The first is a night mask: To use, you simply apply a thin layer of the gel-like cream to the skin, avoiding the eye area and then allow it to sink in and then work overnight. The following morning, you simply wash it off and continue with your skincare routine. 
• The second way to use this mask is as a moisture shot. When you feel that your skin is thirsty and is in need of a shot of moisture, grab the mask and apply a generous layer to the face, again avoiding the eye area. Then after around 10minutes, wipe-off any excess mask using a wet cotton pad.

For me, I don't have a favourite way of using, both work equally well. If I have time in a morning, then I like to use the mask as a quick shot of moisture before applying any makeup and it makes a great base to work with, if I feel my skin is particularly dry and needs a bit more love and care, then I opt for the overnight use.

What I do love about this Mineral Mask is the texture.  It is light and airy and doesn't leave the skin feeling weight down, greasy or tacky to the touch. It absorbs pretty quickly when you use it as a night mask because you are only applying a thin layer to the skin but as a moisture shot, it takes 30-40 seconds longer to work its magic. 

Priced at £32 (here) you can see this Aqua Réotier Mineral Moisture Mask and the rest of the Aqua Réotier Collection.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Klairs Gentle Black Cleanser and Exfoliator Duo

The posts I am being asked to write more about currently are all K-Beauty themed, with so many questions about cleansing and masking, today's post is all about cleansing with Klairs. Klairs, if you have never heard of the brand was founded back in 2010 and state that Klairs is respectful of the beauty of the environment and carries healthy values regarding the earth. The brand has three simple philosophies which include no harsh ingredients, no animal testing and high-quality products at reasonable prices.

The two products I chose for cleansing by Klairs are the Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil and the Gentle Black Sugar Facial polish which work really well together.  If you love to double cleanse and want to try something new, these will definitely tick your boxes.

The advice I was given when it comes to cleansing is to use something that is either oil or balm based as your first cleanse followed by something water based such as a gel or foam to give that deep cleanse.  So the Klairs Gentle Black Deep Cleansing Oil is the one I have been using as a first cleanse and I admittedly did expect the oil to be black in colour, but it is clear and smells absolutely amazing.  

It is actually formulated with natural oils and they include:

• Black Bean which helps to control sebum production, increase the skin’s elasticity, and provides a soothing effect.
• Black Sesame Oil which helps to prevent dehydration and skin ageing while at the same time providing powerful effects from antioxidant through various useful components such as Beta-carotene, Rinolenic acid, Sesamin, Sesaminol and Tocopherol.
• Black Currant Seed Oil works to strengthen the skin's protective layer to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the skin. It promotes skin cell regeneration and provides antioxidant effects by containing various minerals.

I love the simpleness of this oil and how effective it is as a first cleanse.  Some cleansing oils are a little too greasy and can leave the skin feeling pretty horrendous, so I want to use an oil that doesn't cling to the skin and leave me feeling as though I have rubbed my face my a chunk of lard.

The second product I have been using is the Gentle Black Facial Polish and I use this once or twice a week depending on my skin is feeling.  It is formulated using black sugar which aids in the removal of dead skin cells and blackheads. The fine particles of sugar and unsaturated fatty acids melt onto and into the skin to aid the removal of deeply rooted blackheads and sebum within the pores. It also exfoliates the skin removing anything that dead or dry is its place and as the texture is quite thick, you only need a small amount to work your entire face and to use, you mix it with a few drops of water to make a paste and then massage it onto the skin in circular motions. What I love is that although this scrub contains black sugar, it isn't overly abrasive, but you can feel it working its magic. 

I have combination skin, so with an oily t-zone I also have dry patches of skin, usually on both of my cheeks, so in order to keep my skin as smooth as possible, products like this are a godsend to use. Alongside the black sugar, you will also find Shea Butter and Cranberry which work to smooth and moisturise the skin and then there is the inclusion of both Vitamin A and E which hydrate and comfort the skin.

Klairs have so many incredible sounding products that it is hard not to just purchase them all and give them a try, but if you are in the market for some new cleansing products, then these two are currently on offer with Tonic15 for just £38 (here)

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.