A True Sanctuary

We have a special guest post today BrainyBeautys—

My wonderfully beautiful and game sister, Christine, gave Sanctuary Spa Facial Youth Boosting Facial in a Box Kit a whirl. Sanctuary Spa is the UK's number one day spa, and specially designed this "revolutionary" facial to include all the steps carried out in a professional spa treatment in order to deliver visibly firmer and plumper skin at home. The treatment includes a single sample of products found within Sanctuary Spa's Youth Boosting skincare range that when used together, enhance the other's skin boosting qualities.

Christine's insightful review is as follows!

The before

Step 1- Warming Exfoliator/Scrub: This had a clean fresh scent and provided a warming, relaxing sensation when rubbing in. Although it was sticky upon application, I definitely noticed smooth, softer skin after washing off.

Warming scrub doing it's warming thing.

Step 2 - Time Renewal Mask: Cooling, with a pleasant fresh lemony scent. I experienced a tingling sensation after a few minutes on my face and found it to be very hydrating. The instructions also call for you to put the entire contents of the mask on your face, but that felt like it was too much and maybe a waste.

Mask-tastic!

Step 3 - Serum: A little goes a long way here! It was very hydrating and smoothing, but also unfortunately a bit gross smelling... kinda like a sweaty locker room. Yuck! Although perhaps small price to pay for beauty?

Looking good there!

Step 4 - Lift and Brighten Eye Cream: The eye cream had a Vaseline like consistency, and went on smooth. I focused only on the crows feet and under eye area and found it to be especially cooling on the eye area. Again, a bit of an odd smell... not bad, not good, just odd.

The eyes have it—do they seem brighter to you too?

Step 5 - Night Concentrate: Ahhh! The concentrate features a fresh, clean lemony scent and was very hydrating. Not at all greasy which was awesome.

Ta-dah!!! The final outcome: Hydrated and loving it.

Final verdict? Overall, the mask was my favorite. I could definitely notice a difference in the hydration of my skin throughout the day. I usually have very dry skin, so it was nice to notice the hydration. Not sure of the price, but I'm sure it's much cheaper than getting an actual facial at the spa with probably similar results. I've only had one spa facial before, but my skin felt similar after doing this at home kit. I would recommend the kit to anyone looking for a little complexion boost- it was easy and fun to use and left my skin feeling great.

Thanks Christine! You rocked it!

 Sanctuary Spa Youth Boosting Facial in a Box is priced at $39, and can be purchased through QVC and www.QVC.com

Cancel Your Salon Appointment!

Like a true product junkie, I am always on the hunt for the holy grail of hair goo, that one potion that will change my locks for life, that spritz, spray, or slop that will bring the salon-feel home with me.

Call off the search! I've found her!

Allow me to introduce you to L'Occitane's Hair Repair Mask. This conditioning treatment is a little tub of miracle goop that magically transforms your dry, over treated, or dull 'do into a luscious look. Your hair will feel, fall, and smell like you just dropped a Benjamin at the beauty shop!

I've used this stuff once a week for a month now, and every time I do, I'm asked by someone if I've had my hair done. It has not failed once.

Looking for a boost in moisture and ego? Check this stuff out!

New from LUSH

From the great minds at LUSH:

LUSH is known for the frothy fun it brings to bathtubs and showers, but we get serious when it comes to giving good hair. All of our hair care products have a trained trichologist behind them, our founder Mark Constantine. Trichology is the scientific study of the hair and scalp, which includes the identification, diagnosis and treatment of hair and scalp conditions. LUSH is interested in TREATING problems, not just masking them - although we do like to mask the hair with nutritious ingredients from time to time. In an effort to help you manage your mane, we’ve created three limited edition haircare gifts launching in LUSH stores and www.LUSH.com on July 18th for the most common hair conditions.

VOLUME AND SHINE: Take hair up a couple of notches with our Volume and Shine set. Our Big shampoo uses sea salt to conjure up more volume than you thought was possible while our lightweight Veganese conditions without flattening hair. Switch it up with our Ultimate Shine shampoo bar and Marilyn hair treatment for shiny hair you can see from miles away.

• Contents: Marilyn, Big Shampoo, Ultimate Shine Shampoo Bar, Veganese Conditioner

PROTECT AND NOURISH: If your hair is a frizzy, dry or simply out-of-control, this is the set for you. Curly Wurly shampoo shows hair who’s boss with coconut and vanilla while Jasmine and & Henna Fluff Eaze smoothes with jojoba and Brazil nut oil. R&B revives and balances misbehaving hair and Jungle conditioner keeps everything tame.

• Contents: Jasmine & Henna Fluff Eaze, Curly Wurly Shampoo, R&B, Jungle Conditioner

BALANCE AND REPAIR: Wipe the slate clean and start over with the Balance and Repair set. Rehab deeply cleanses while Retread conditioner nourishes hair with yogurt, soy milk and olive oil. The H’Suan Wen Hua hair treatment is an extra step that pampers hair with avocado and eggs.

• Contents: H’Suan Wen Hua, Rehab Shampoo, Jumping Juniper Shampoo Bar, Retread Conditioner

LUSH hair-- for real!

Did you know that LUSH makes haircare?

Yes, I'm getting to this party a bit late, but I get so involved with the soaps that I don't notice anything else-- like the very pleasant hour I spent with a strange boy in Toronto, just smelling the soaps.

When I got the Godiva shampoo bar, I was thinking chocolate. It's not.

That was the only even mildly disappointing thing about this.

The jasmine scent is delicious, your bathroom & your hair will smell tropical and wonderful. The recommended usage for the bar is to rub it on your head, but I prefer to lather it in my hands and wash my hair that way. I guess it's just the control freak in me. Lathers well and rinses easily. Leaves hair wonderfully clean & soft. I'm hooked!

Add to that-- no plastic bottles, so no waste. Just phenomenal hair.

After getting my hair all nice & clean, a good conditioner is vital.

I like a leave-in-- less shower time, easier to comb, fights frizz.

However, many leave-ins leave my hair either dry or oily. Dry hair is no good, I am not a fan of the straw-head look. Oily is even worse-- can make my neck break out (ewwww).

LUSH's R&B is the perfect middle ground, just like baby bear's porridge! My hair is so happy, and combing is so much easier. I would have named it Magic Smoothing Cream, cause that's what it is. And it smells lovely. Economical, too, as a little bit goes a long way. I just dip the tip of a finger into the pot and use that.

Just as well I didn't catch on to the Haircare at the LUSH store in Toronto, as I'm sure hauling a trailer full of product across the border wouldn't have been practical. Now, the power of Internet shopping can enable everyone to have great LUSH hair!

Pureology-Serious Colour Care, AntiFade Complex

Essential Repair Shampoo & Conditioner:

This organic, fresh scented hair care system does not only keep color treated hair soft, manageable, and fresh looking, but my hair stylish swears that it made my hair grow faster in between treatments. She also commented that my highlights stayed brighter longer since I've started to use Pureology.

Essential Repair Instant Repair Leave-in Conditioner:

A little goes a long way with this product-one bottle seems everlasting. This leave-in gives me less fly aways and softer hair. I'd marry this stuff if I could.

Essential Repair Colour Max UV Hair Colour Defense:

I am a soccer player, a gardener, and an avid puppy walker, so my stylist was excited to hear that I was using this product to protect my locks from sun damage. She's the pro, but I can definitely notice a difference in my highlights this year-they are less brassy and have really lasted longer than usual since using UV Colour Defense.

Essential Repair Split End Correcting Treatment:

With all of the coloring and heat I use in my hair, I usually receive a trim (accompanied with a lecture) monthly. Since using this blessing in a bottle, I was able to skip my last cut!

I will continue to use this system because of it's never ending benefits, amazing scent, and organic ingredients. I'm hooked!

Nick Chavez: Cello-Gloss

Nick Chavez
Cello-Gloss

You probably don't know Nick unless you're an avid QVC watcher/shopper. A few years ago, my mom was hooked on Nick.
I finally tried his Cello-Gloss product, which is supposed to add shine and renew hair color, for those damaged (aka fried) or just looking a little worse for chemical indulgences.
Having recently gotten highlights - the first sign of spring - I thought I'd give them a little help in retaining their luminescent loveliness. Here's how it went:
Take shower, shampoo hair. Pour out shockingly dark product, consistency similar to runny conditioner. Notice a slight yet unpleasant smell. Massage into hair, as directed, creating taupe foam. Place shower cap on. Rinse off, get out of shower, wrap up in towel. Re-read directions and wonder who the hell is going to run their hair dryer for 15 minutes straight. I make it 10 before getting totally fed up and wondering if the motor on my dryer is going to burn out. Meanwhile, little trails of brown water are drippling down my neck and cleavage. Get back in shower, rinse out product and re-shampoo in cold water. Shivering ensues. Get out, don the ever luxe towel turban, get dressed, etc. After the usual 15 minutes in the turban, I blow dry.
Result: The dullest looking hair I've ever had! Cursing ensues. Thank God I hadn't planned on leaving the house!
Conclusion: I hate Nick and his stinkin' product! Later, I dumped the rest of the bottle down the drain and happily placed it in the recycling bin! Ba-bye!