conditioner

REVIEW: Herbal Essences bio:renew Shampoo & Conditioner 400ml, £4.50 each

Letting Life in in North Carolina with Herbal Essences Bio:Renew
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Image result for herbal essences bio renew“Letting life in – combining the beauty of nature with the power of science, for hair that smells incredible and feels full of life”

Thanks to SuperSavvyMe’s Savvy Circle, we were sent a whole parcel of their new Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Shampoo and Conditioners to test and share. They sent through a pack which had loads of info and 3 sets of shampoos and conditioners:

  • White Grapefruit & Mosa Mint (for volume)
  • Rosemary & Herbs (for moisture)
  • Coconut Milk (for hydration)

We tested these with the help of some of our friends. We were sad to miss out on the other 4 variants (for repair, cleansing, smoothing and shine) as these would probably have suited us more, but we were still eager to see what the new Herbal Essences bio:renew range was all about.

Why were we so excited?
We already highly rated the Nourish Me Butter shampoo and conditioner (followed by the Bee Good line) from the existing Herbal Essences range. It excels for a drugstore product available at a more than reasonable price, especially with frequent promotions.

How is bio:renew different?
The range is silicone, colourant, parabens and gluten free. We were surprised they were not SLS (sodium laurel sulphate) free but welcomed the progressive attitude that the new range embraces. It is pH balances and safe for colour treated hair.

Herbal Essences sent us info on how bio:renews brings us closer to nature. The only way it did that was when we took some of our samples to the US and into the North Carolina woods…at the end of the day, shampoo and conditioner is not a natural thing.

What did we think of it?
Overall – we felt that the new scents were pleasant, the product was pleasant to use but did need to dispense a little more than usual to achieve the same results. With the slightly higher price and increased amount required – this brings it in at a higher price point than the existing range. The results are good, but not any better than the original range. So unless you are looking for a shampoo/conditioner duo that is silicone, colourant or gluten free then we would suggest sticking with the original range purely from a price/performance perspective.

However, this product is better for the environment – so with that in mind or if you suffer with buildup or have coloured hair then it’s worth giving this range a whirl.

Our favourite so far? The rosemary and herb <3
Our least favourite? The white grapefruit and mosa mint smelt somewhat artificial.

UNBOXING: Birchbox Jan 2017 – Sprinkle of Happiness

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Image result for birchbox january 2017 sprinkle happiness

“There’s no better time to shake up your beauty routine than a new year, which is why we’ve filled this month’s box with shiny new products.”

Say what? New products…shower gel, concealer, hand cream, day cream and a conditioner pack. Really? More like everyday totally ordinary items! Looking at the box variants that other people have received, there have been LOADS of variations. Was this just an exercise to throw whatever leftover samples they had at us?

LORD & BERRY:  Conceal-It Crayon in Beige, 1.6g
Value: £12 (full size)

Image result for LORD & BERRY: Conceal-It Crayon in Beige

“This creamy pencil not only disguises imperfections but it’s also great at highlighting areas that you want to show off.”

BT INITIAL OPINION:  Hmm. We tend towards cream concealers and are skeptical that this can provide coverage. At first swatch, it seems chalky and don’t see it being useful as a highlighter, but we look forward to trying this as we do have a Lord & Berry eyeliner crayon that is great.

ELEMIS:  Hydra-boost Day Cream, 15ml
Value: £14.63

Image result for ELEMIS: Hydra-boost Day Cream, 15ml

“This hyaluronic acid-packed formula works to strengthen your natural moisture barrier throughout the day, improving your skin texture over time.”

BT INITIAL OPINION – We like Elemis for high quality, good performing formulas. It is however too expensive, this cream being no exception. Hope it will at least deliver on its promises.

MERCI HANDY:  Hand Cream in New Wave, 30ml
Value: £4.90 (full size)

Image result for MERCI HANDY: Hand Cream in New Wave, 30ml

“Make sure you show your hands some love with this sweet-smelling lotion. It’s packed with tiny pearls and nourishing extracts to papmper and soothe.”

BT INITIAL OPINION – We thought this was toothpaste when we opened the box! But no, it was a hand cream from the people who make the hand sanitisers and fruity tooth gels that have flooded lots of boxes lately. We don’t really get this brand. It’s very cheerful, but it’s just hand sanitiser and hand cream in fruity flavours after all…

PRISMOLOGIE:  Yellow Day Shower Gel, 10ml
Value: £1.50

Image result for PRISMOLOGIE: Yellow Day Shower Gel sample

“Add a splash of sunshine with this foaming formula packed with uplifting bergamot and zesty citrus. Tiny micro-crystals smooth skin and restore radiance.”

BT INITIAL OPINION – Blimey! This is a premium product (£30 for full size), but how good can a shower gel really be? The sample is tiny – we’ll be sure to appreciate this splash of sunshine for the one shower it will last for 😀

JOHN FRIEDA:  Frizz Ease  Miraculous Recovery Deep Conditioner, 25ml
Value: £1.16

Image result for JOHN FRIEDA: Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Deep Conditioner, sachet

“Formulated with an amino repair complex, this treatment delivers an intense shot of moisture to leave hair silky, smooth and shiny.”

BT INITIAL OPINION –  A sachet? As an actual box item? Really? And this is a product you can see in supermarkets and chemists everywhere. Not saying it’s not good, but what’s it doing in this box?!

OVERALL VERDICT:

This theme was laughable as were all most of the contents. Who would this box appeal to? The items are all handy but very much not special except the Elemis. We’re thinking about unsubbing at this stage.

Total value: £34.19

Box price: £10.00 plus £2.95 shipping (rolling month by month subscription) – although we got this on a discount offer

Note: We paid for this Birchbox with our own hard-earnt pennies

Like the look of Birchbox? Subscribe at www.birchbox.co.uk and you’ll get £5 off your first box! You’re welcome 😉