Kerastase Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo Discipline Sulfate Free Shampoo

Kerastase, the iconic brand owned by L'Oreal, offers some of the most luxurious hair care products available. The products are made in Spain and offer attractive packaging, elegant fragrances, and high performance ingredients.

Kerastase Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo Discipline Sulfate Free Shampoo is an extremely thick, concentrated, high foaming product. It cleans well and deposits silicone on the hair to help reduce frizz. The fragrance is a rather potent musky floral scent that lingers all day. While the fragrance is nice it is a bit dated and too strong for me.

This shampoo did a really good job of reducing frizz and conditioning my hair, but because of the high silicone content, even after rinsing, it felt like there was product residue. Kerastase maintains that properly formulated products do not cause silicone build up on the hair. I don't think it left a lot of build up on my hair but I could feel that there was some residue. I prefer silicone free products but this shampoo did an amazing job at smoothing my hair, adding shine, and making it easier to style. It was easy to wet comb after using the shampoo, so much so that no conditioner or detangler was required on my fine, dry, color treated hair.

Kerastase is one of the best known, most imitated, luxury hair care brands in the world.

Available from the Kerastase website and Kerastase salons. The 8.5 ounce bottle retails for $33.

Ingredients:

Aqua/Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycereth-26,  Decyl Glucoside, Hydrogenated Coconut Acid, Coco-Betaine, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Polyquaternium-7, Amodimethicone,  Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Isethionate, Salicylic Acid, Peg-55 Propylene Glycol Oleate, Propylene Glycol, Carbomer, C11-15 Pareth-7, Benzoic Acid, Arginine, Glutamic Acid, Benzyl Salicylate, Laureth-9, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Serine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Trideceth-12, C12-13 Pareth-23, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, C12-13 Pareth-3, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum/Fragrance

Going Sulfate Free

Sulfate free shampoos have been around for a while but it seems that within the last few years more and more companies are offering sulfate free products as the consumer wants what many consider to be better, more gentle, cleansing.

Many people think that sulfates are more drying and damaging to the hair because it strips it of protective oils and roughens the hair cuticle which can result in breakage and frizz. Using sulfate free shampoo (and a daily, silicone free conditioner and weekly, silicone free masque) has made a big difference in the condition of my hair. It is softer, smoother and hair color lasts longer.

Going sulfate free is easy to do but in order to get the best results there are a few things that need to be considered:

• Sulfate free shampoos will not remove silicone build up from the hair. It's best to clarify the hair before going sulfate free in order to remove any build up. It's also best to avoid products that contain any silicone as it can build up on the hair which will make sulfate free shampoos less effective. Mastey de Paris Use Me First Purifying Sulfate Free Shampoo is my favorite hair clarifier because it is gentle but it works well to remove build up. 

• Sulfate free shampoos do not produce the same lather as traditional shampoo. Some have no lather at all but that doesn't mean they are not thoroughly cleaning the hair and scalp.

• Some people feel their hair is rough or dry when first going sulfate free. Using a silicone free conditioner is helpful with detangling and smoothing the hair.

Introduced in 1978, Mastey de Paris Traite Shampoo was the first sulfate free shampoo. Sold in salons, it is still a go to product for those wanting a gentle cleanser. Mastey de Paris also offers formulas for Volume and Repair. DermOrganic Daily Conditioning Shampoo with Argan Oil, owned by Mastey de Paris, builds on the classic Mastey formula but adds to it with the addition of Argan Oil. DermOrganic comes in three formulas, Hydration, Color Care and Curly. All Mastey de Paris and DermOrganic products are sulfate free and with the exception of their styling products, are also silicone free. Mastey de Paris and DermOrganic are some of, if not, the best products available. However, their customer service leaves you wanting and finding their products is difficult. Still, they are the products I use because they work the best for me, are reasonably priced and lightly scented.

L'Oréal EverPure Shampoo is a line of sulfate free shampoos with a variety of formulas for different hair types, however most L'Oréal products also contain silicones and the products are strongly scented. Kerastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire Shampoo, the luxury brand owned by L'Oréal, is sulfate free and silicone free, but they are quite expensive. Pureology is another L'Oréal brand that is sulfate free but the products contain silicones and they are strongly scented.

Many people prefer sulfate free products because they find them more gentle to their hair and scalp. Most sulfate free products, especially salon brands, are more expensive, but they are worth it to those who find the benefits helpful.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream

Say Clinique and the first thing that comes to mind for many is the square bottle of yellow liquid that all the beauty magazines rave about. While never really a groundbreaking product as far as formulations go, it has been a must have for a lot of people for a long time. Sometimes a basic moisturizer is better for reactive skin types that only require soothing hydration.

Joining the Dramatically Different Moisturizer Lotion and the Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel line up is the new Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream

Fragrance free and allergy tested, this new crème is meant for the driest skin types that require a more dense moisturizer. This thick, yellow crème, is very hydrating but might feel too heavy for oily or more normal skin types. While the product has no added perfume, like all Clinique products, there is a slight scent. For having such a rich texture, this crème seems to absorb pretty well and leaves the skin dewy.

Packed in a clear jar with silver screw on top, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizer Crème is available at the Clinique Counter and Clinique online.

Ingredients:

Water\Aqua\Eau, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Petrolatum, Tridecyl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate/Hexacaprate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’Orge, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 5 (CI 19140), Yellow 6 (CI 15985), Red 33 (CI 17200)