Frederic Fekkai Smooth Hair Hydrating Cream

A staple for years, regardless of the color or texture of my hair

Welcome to my first foray into the world of salon hair products. This is quite possibly the most expensive hair styling product I've ever used - but one of the best! It's easy on the nose with just a vague fresh scent.

I've been called Madonna for my history of hair changes - in two years, my hair has been all possible combinations of short and long; wavy and straight; and virgin, bleached platinum and coppery red. Regardless of my style, this cream never fails to make my fine hair shiny and frizz-free without sacrificing body or drooping waves. There's no mineral oil or petrolatum here, only grapeseed oil and a bit of silicone which is refreshing in our current sea of silicone-laden hair products. (Have you looked at a label lately?)

For a lower-cost product with similar results, try John Frieda Secret Weapon sold in drugstores. But be warned - it contains silicones.

Update: Apparently this has been reformulated and now contains silicones. Que lastima!

Peter Thomas Roth Oxygen Mist

Why pay $1 for a drugstore staple when you can pay $40 for this gussied-up version?

Back in 2002, I loved this toner-type spray. It's the one product I bought again and again - a very rare thing for me. The spray calmed down my easily irritated skin, and I found that it healed cuts and bruises faster than if just left alone. It's light and barely leaves a hint of moisturization. After an unfortunately reaction to Kiehl's Algae Mask (never again!), Oxygen Mist came to the rescue. My itching, burning blotches healed in a handful of days.

Fast forward to 2008: The active ingredient, previously listed under another name, now been truthfully labeled hydrogen peroxide. If you live under a rock, it might be news to you that H2O2 causes free radical damage. BAD. Topical and oral antioxidants such as vitamin C are recommended to counter free radical damage in our bodies. A formulation with both hydrogen peroxide and vitamin C makes me scratch my head. Other products can help soothe and heal the skin without causing more problems.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Methylparaben.

Originally reviewed 4/27/2002

Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin

Surprisingly, it's a scrubber

This is one for the record books - my first foray into luxury boutique fragrances. But what a disappointment. After reading about the delicious basil and citrus notes, I was salivating. Sharp green notes (hello, basil!) shouted to me at first spritz. But where was the citrus hiding? Without exception, citrus top notes appear first then eventually fade, but here they were strangely silent. Later while shopping I noticed an old lady powdery smell which at first I assumed must the scent wafting from an older female shopper in the store. Imagine my shock when I happened to sniff my wrists and realized I smelled like an old lady. The scent became uncomfortably cloying and I ended up scrubbing it off because it just. wouldn't. fade. away.

If you're interested in Jo Malone fragrance and enjoy subtle chocolate notes, try Blue Agava & Cacao. It's warm, slightly gourmand and rounded out with top notes of lime and grapefruit. Dreamy.

4/27/2002