Tina Cassaday Banana-Banana Hair Care

When it comes to hair care, there is one lady who knows her stuff and that is the wonderful Tina Cassaday, someone I have not only had the pleasure of meeting but someone I've had my hair checked by, secrets I've shared and afternoon tea we have chatted over. One of Beverly Hill's most notable hair stylists who tends to the tresses of some of Hollywood's hottest stars, there is very little Tina does not know about hair care and the structure of it but she has also created her very own hair care line.

In approaching hair, Tina has successfully paired the study of molecular structure - trichology - with hair colour and cutting. It was this scientific method that led to her success. I have been using the Banana-Banana range for a few months now and it is every bit as incredible as you might expect, the condition is also Vegan!

I met Tina last year in Harvey Nichols as she showcased her brand and the first thing we did was talk about how my hair makes me feel, the issues I have and the products I use on my hair.  We then did, what is known as the submerge test to look for areas of concern.  The test includes talking a bowl of water and one strand of your hair which you place on top of the water, after three minutes, if any part of the hair sinks, this is the main area of concern.  Your hair should hold 1/3 of its dry weight and sinking means low moisture levels if little dots appear around the floating hair strand, this indicates a residue.  Thankfully, my hair did float but for me, my issue is when I am stressed or unwell, my scalp becomes dry and itchy at the back of my scalp, so I was thankful I was able to talk to Tina about this.

The Banana-Banana range consists of three products - a shampoo, a conditioner and an Elixir and I am lucky enough to have been using all three.  The Banana Bliss Shampoo smells absolutely incredible, if you love the scent of bananas then this will leave you wanting more.

Designed to be both nutritious, Banana Bliss is made with 100% organic ingredients which include Banana Flower Extract, Banana Fruit Extract, Coconut Fruit Juice, Plantain Leaf Extract, Banana Pulp Extract, Hydrolyzed Quinoa and Aloe Leaf Juice to name a few.  

What I really love about this shampoo is that you only need a small amount, my hair is just past shoulder length and whilst this shampoo doesn't lather as much as others, it leaves my hair feeling just incredibly clean, my scalp refreshed and there is less frizz and static once it has dried.

The second product is the Banana-Banana Conditioner Hair Masque and it is designed to give the hair extreme deep conditioning.  Made with Banana Pulp, it is rich and luxurious and its job is to lock in moisture and leave your hair feeling soft, shiny and manageable.  If your hair needs some rescuing because it is chemically processed or stressed.

To use, you apply it from the roots to the ends in a downward motion and it is the liquid fruit formulation which delivers that deep, natural conditioning for the hair leaving so soft, so hydrated and feeling just amazing. The idea with this conditioner is that to get the best from it, you should use it as a masque and it should be left on the hair for between 5 to 45 minutes to work its magic. Once you have washed the remnants from your hair and then, Tina then advises that you finish with an ice-cold rinse.

You can also use this masque overnight by simply applying it to the hair and washing it out in the morning, but I would advise that you wear a shower cap of some sort, because it does mush on your pillow.  I tend to use this conditioner once a month as an intensive treatment and my hair just absolutely loves it.

The final product is one I cannot get enough of and it is one I want to bathe in and that is the Banana Blossom Elixir and honestly, it just smells amazing.

The Banana Blossom Elixir features lightweight Banana Flower, Sunflower, Quinoa, Passionfruit, Acai Fruit and Argan oils and its job within your hair care routine is to help you to achieve shiny, healthy and smooth hair which, as you might have guessed by now, smells just incredible.

To use, you simply pump a small amount onto the palms of your hands and then rub them together to emulsify, at this point, you then distribute through damp or dry hair in a downward motion and then style as you usually would.  For my hair, this elixir helps to keep those shorter, newer hairs in place without leaving my hair feeling greasy and unwashed. The scent of banana is even more intensified when used alongside the other two products within this range and it is a scent which lasts for a good day or two.

The entire Banana-Banana hair care range is available in Harvey Nichols and online and if you are looking for an incredible hair care range to soothe and smooth those tresses, then this is more than worth giving a try.

As well as being the hair care guru to the sides, Tina's other passion is giving back. She works with Centrepoint in London teaching the homeless youth how to do hair, as well as, hairstyling for royal events. Centrepoint is HRH Prince William's patron charity.

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

L'Occitane Almond Oil Shower Shake

Whenever I am asked what my favourite L'Occitane collection is, without hesitation it is the Almond collection and there isn't a single product I dislike.  I go through quite a few Almond Shower Oil refills each year and it is one of the best products I have ever used, so when the newly released Almond Oil Shower Shake arrived, I couldn't wait to give it a try. 

The Almond Oil Shower Shake is described as being an innovative bi-phase formula that promises a fun-filled, sense-sational shower experience. Enriched with almond oil and almond milk from Provence, this bi-phase shower oil consists of two different textures which create this wonderfully scented and delightful milky formula when you shake the bottle to mix them together.  Inside the bottle are tiny steels balls which help to mix the phases together and as you shake the bottle, it creates a shaker sound effect.

Shake up your day and get your daily dose of happiness with this luxurious oil-in-milk shower wash. Shower time has never been so much fun!

Once the two phases have been mixed together, you need just a small amount onto the palms of your hands, your shower puff or cloth to cleanse your skin. What I love is the scent, if you are a fan of the almond shower oil or any of the almond collection, because this product is essentially two different products in one, that scent is much more intense and I cannot describe just how much I love it. It rinses off to leave the skin feeling silky soft and supple not to mention moisturised and delicately fragranced with almonds.

If you are a fan of the Almond collection from L'Occitane, then without question you need to be adding the Shower Shake to your bathroom! Priced at £19.50 for 250ml here*

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

Pixi Multi Masking Skin Treats

If there is one thing you are likely to find me doing at a weekend, it is a masking session, not just on my hair but also my undereye, face and even body if I have anything left to use.  Having combination skin which leans to the oily side often means that a single face mask doesn't work as well it should do when my skin misbehaves, so I tend to either use a sheet mask for calming and soothing and then if I have a liquid mask, I multimask.  Multimasking is so simple and it is a great way of really make good use out of the products you have and knowing what to put where.  

When the Pixi Multi Masking collection arrived, I couldn't wait to give everything a try. Over the last 18 months, there have been some incredible launches from Pixi such as the Rose collection (here) and the Mattelast Lipsticks (here) which I absolutely love.  Known for their cult products Glow Tonic, which I happen to adore, I am delighted to see further Tonic options within the range.

I love under eye patches and new from Pixi is the DetoxifEye Depuffing Hydrogel Under Eye Patches (£22 x 30).  Designed to revive, refresh and rehydrate the delicate eye area for visibly smoother, soothed and fortified skin.  I love hydrogel masks, I find them incredibly soothing on my undereye and even more so if they have been left to chill in the fridge!

Formulated with hyaluronic acid to give an instant surge of moisture that in turn plumps and smooths skin and fine lines, caffeine helps to depuff and diminish the appearance of dark circles while a host of hard-working extracts such as Cucumber, Raspberry, Blueberry and Blackcurrant all help to energise and refresh skin. Packaged inside a jar, they come with a plastic spatula which allows you to scoop up your eye gels without having to physically touch everything and from there, you apply them to the skin of your undereye.  For me, because they are a hydrogel formula, they stick much better to the skin than other branded eye patches I have used, they don't fall off easily which means you can still do the hoovering up whilst waiting to look fabulous.  All you need to do is leave them on for 10 minutes to work their magic and then if there is any serum left on the skin after use, pat it into the skin.

An absolute bargain at £22 for 30 pairs!

If you love sheets masks then Pixi has two new sets of sheets masks to be added to your collection which are the Plump Collagen Boost and the Pixi Glow Glycolic Boost Brightening Infusion Sheet Mask.  Within this set, it is the Glow Glycolic Boost Brightening Infusion Sheet Mask (£10 x 3) which is featured.  

This Sheet Mask promises to instantly brighten and hydrate skin with the inclusion of a serum concentrate of glycolic acid alongside which we have both witch hazel and cucumber which soothe the skin, relieve inflammation and irritation for a calm and even skin tone.  Like most people, I love a good face mask and these ones are a really good fit for my face and to use, you simply apply them to freshly cleansed skin and leave it on for between 10-15minutes.  Once your allotted time is up, if there is any serum left sitting on the skin, you simply pat it in.

If you love Glow Tonic, then you will love this extension of that rang in the form of a sheet mask too.

Next up we have the Pixi Glow Mud Mask (£18) and it is one of the very first products I ever tried from Pixi before Glow Tonic. Described as being a purifying, glow-revealing clay mask to purify and balance the skin, it is also said to be the Pixi signature 15-minute facial and it is simply divine.

Using a blend of kaolin clay and sea salt which work to draw out all of those nasty embedded impurities and quickly recapture skin’s clarity, it is one mask with clay as an ingredient that doesn't irritate my skin. Alongside the clay and sea salt is a whole cocktail of botanical extracts which includes Aloe Vera for its soothing properties, rosemary, ginseng and jojoba all of which come together to rejuvenate, brighten and instantly ‘perk up’ lacklustre complexions and also to help prevent breakouts.

This mask can be used 2-3 times a week and you really only need a thin layer of the mask on your skin as it is quite thick.  I find it easier to apply with an old makeup brush to ensure I get an even coverage and it is the perfect mask for applying to those areas where you get breakouts such as the jawline, chin and even the nose and you only need to leave it on for 15 minutes before removing with a warm cloth.

I love a good peel off mask, I mean who doesn't enjoy that sensation of peeling it off their face and skin, much like as a child I loved to apply Copydex glue to my hand, let it dry and then peel it off (yes showing my age) and it still hasn't outgrown me.  When it comes to Pixi, this time we have the T-Zone Peel Off Mask (£18) and a mask from Pixi I hadn't tried before. 

Described as being a detoxifying peel-off mask which is great for congested, dull and tired skin, it works to draw out impurities and lift away oil to reveal immediate results. It contains a unique green superfood blend that includes avocado, cucumber, aloe, green tea and bamboo extract which work to help firm and refine.  You can apply it once or twice a week and once on the skin, you need to let it fully dry before the fun of peeling can begin, obviously it needs to be applied away from the hairline, eyebrows and the lips.  What I really like about this mask is how comfortable it is as it begins to dry and then how easy it is to remove, you don't feel as though you are ripping every tiny little hair out of your face.  Once removed, for me, as someone who does have skin on the oilier side, the difference is quite something, as gone is the shine and in its place is soft, smooth skin.

Finally, we have the Pixi Peel & Polish Resurfacing Treatment (£26).  I have reviewed this product here. This is one of my favourite products from Pixi when it comes to exfoliation and whenever I feel my skin needs a little pick me up, this is the tube I am often reaching for, the hubby too.  It is described as being a radiance revealing enzyme peel which resurfaces the skin for smoother, softer and a healthy looking glow, it contains natural fruit enzymes which work to loosen all of that dead and dry skins, whilst the inclusion of 6% lactic acid gently exfoliates, cellulose peels and sugar extracts polishes the skin and helps to lift away dullness revealing brighter skin.

I also happen to love the smell of this treatment, some liken it to being that of unripened bananas but for me, it is that fresh scent of Papaya that really stands out. To use the scrub you apply directly to your face and neck and the skin needs to be dry rather than wet or damp and it a treatment that is used just 2-3 times a week. Once on the skin, you leave the mask for up to five minutes to allow it to work its magic before removing with a warm cloth, you can for a more intense polish effect; using your fingertips, gently massage face and neck in a circular motion. 

This is a great introduction to the wonders of masking with Pixi Beauty and also the reminder that sometimes multi-masking does so much more for the skin.

Have you tried any of these products from the Pixi Multi Masking collection before?

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

REN Clean Skincare Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30

When it comes to Sun care I am really picky about which one I will put on my face. I cannot stand that overly thick cream which makes your skin feel as though you have rubbed it into a tub of lard, it just makes me feel as though I constantly need to wash my face.  When this Clean Screen Mineral SPF30 from REN Clean Skincare arrived I was elated because not only do I absolutely adore REN as a brand, but I am yet to find a product I dislike.

With its bright sunshine yellow packaging, it would be hard to miss this product on your shelf and if ever there was a timely reminder that you should be wearing sunscreen every single day, then this is it. The sun is arguably the biggest contributor to skin ageing. UVB rays are mostly responsible for sunburn and redness, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, causing lines and wrinkles. These rays get to your skin even on days when it is cloudy and I have lost count of the number of confused looks I get when I tell people I wear SPF every single day unless of course, I have no plans to leave the house.

So from REN we have a product which is a mattifying face sunscreen and this is what excited me the most because most of the suncare products I have tried leaves the skin with a greasy shiny film. It also has a Broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection as well as blue light protection, non-nano technology, it is also vegan and made of over 99% natural ingredients. After 6 years of research into SPF, this sunscreen is silicone free and if you are a fan of REN or know about REN, then one thing they want to do is not only to look after your skin but also our planet too and in previous reviews such as this one, I have detailed how changes have been made to their packaging. For this Sunscreen, REN has used 50% recycled plastic to create the tube - the maximum we can while protecting the formula, and 100% recycled plastic for the cap.

Ingredients are also an important factor for REN and a lot of thought goes into each product. For this one we have:

• Passion Fruit Extract which a powerful antioxidant and its job is to protect against pollution and potential irritation flare-ups.
• Rice Extract which not only soothes reddened skin but gives a mattifying finish to combat sun-induced shine and excess oil. It keeps you matte and fresh while creating the perfect base for makeup.
• Zinc Oxide which is said to be a physical shield that effectively blocks and reflects UVA, UVB, Blue Light rays to prevent ageing and pigmentation.Yellow Passion Fruit Seed Extract for its antioxidant action. Boosts skin's internal defence system to help protect from pollution and free radical damage.
• Rice Starch which absorbs oil, controls shine and minimises pore appearance. Soothes irritation.

Designed to be the last step of your skincare routine but before makeup, this sunscreen should be massaged onto and into the skin.  What I really like is the texture, it is no thicker than my moisturising cream and it has no horrible chemical smell.

I love that you only need a small amount to cover the entirety of your face and neck and it is so lightweight once it has absorbed, it is easy to forget it is there, whereas some highstreet versions never feel as though they will absorb into the skin and just create a white film on the skin, none of which you get with this.

It has been really easy to add this into my existing skincare routine and it is now a daily part of my life.  It is priced at £30 for 50ml here and if you need a new sunscreen, this is definitely one not to miss.

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