Speed Review: Mythic Oil

It's hard to recall a time when hair oils didn't feature in my routine as they're now such an integral part of it, but it's only in the last 10 years or so that the trend surfaced and I switched to using them in place of my previous go-to serums.

I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to trialling Mythic Oil as it's not one of the best known products. Forming part of the L'Oreal Professional haircare line, Mythic Oil is infused with a rich blend of precious oils including Argan oil. The formula is designed to soften, control frizz, add shine and radiance to the hair, without weighing it down. It's described as having a lightweight texture, ideal for detangling after cleansing and for adding radiance before or after blow drying.

On first impressions, I found the packaging to be fairly unassuming albeit not offensive. Whilst the plastic outer box probably wouldn't appeal to me if I saw it on a shop shelf (not to mention being somewhat unnecessary), I appreciated the functionality of the bottle itself which is plastic with a convenient pump dispenser. I liked that it was transparent so that I could see how much of the oil was remaining. The directions were clear & easy to follow.

I'd agree with the claims that Mythic Oil is a lightweight oil. It's probably one of the easiest to work through hair that I've come across. One pump dispensed sufficient product to work through my fine but long hair and as such, I feel that the 125ml bottle would last a long time.

I also really liked the scent of Mythic Oil. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the salon heritage, I found it to be reminiscent of products used in hair salons. It smelt quite fresh but also luxurious.

In terms of the results, I feel that Mythic Oil delivers on the claims. It noticeably helped to control frizziness and left my hair feeling soft, shiny and in good condition. My hair was left manageable but not weighed down.

I've found Mythic Oil on various websites but it seems to average £13 which I feel is a fair price given how long the bottle will last. I'd definitely consider repurchasing and would recommend, even if you have fine hair.

Speed Review: Tommyguns Colour Save Intensive Masque

It's no secret that I love to indulge in a Sunday pampering session and inevitably, this will involve using a clarifying shampoo (such as this one from Clynol) followed by a nourishing hair mask. This week, it was the turn of Tommyguns Colour Save Intensive Masque. 

Let me start by saying that I don't colour treat my hair so I can't comment on the "colour saving" properties but nonetheless, I wanted to try the mask and share my thoughts.

As a general rule, I like the Tommyguns hair range and have previously tried a few of their shampoos and conditioners. The packaging of the products is usually cool and chic, more so than you might expect given the affordable price points. My impression is that the brand places an emphasis on using good quality ingredients. 

The minimalist packaging of Tommyguns Colour Save Intensive Masque wasn't offensive but not as lustworthy as other products in the range. It could be argued that it gives the impression of a professional salon brand but I found it to be a little dull and it wouldn't appeal to me if I saw it on a shop shelf. Furthermore, I'd have preferred the functionality of a tube instead of the messy and unhygienic screw top plastic tub. That said, the directions were clear and easy to follow. In particular, I liked that the mask gets to work in under 10 minutes. The directions state to apply the mask to hair after shampooing and conditioning but because I have fine hair which isn't in bad condition, I simply substituted it for the conditioner (this is what I tend to do when using masks).

The mask has a very rich cream texture so a little goes a long way, meaning that the tub will last for ages. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to work through hair given the rich texture. In the tub, the mask has a pleasant and comforting scent but I found it quite perfumed during use. Once my hair had been dried and styled, I could detect it as a subtle, pleasant scent that wasn't overpowering. 

The mask had average rinsability. 

Following use, my hair felt soft and wasn't weighed down but I did feel that flyaways weren't particularly diminished and my hair was a little unmanageable. For this reason, I'd be unlikely to repurchase even at the competitive price of £7 for 200ml. 

Speed Review: Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil

When I think of Bobbi Brown, it's the brand's fantastic makeup which immediately springs to mind and I suspect that I'm not alone in this. If I did think of their skincare, it would be in a rather dismissive way as I'd consider it to be an add on/ line extension and wouldn't have very high expectations. It certainly wouldn't be my go-to for skincare so I doubt I'd ever have tried Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil had it not been sent to me for review.

On first impressions, I liked the packaging which is chic, minimalist and in keeping with the Bobbi Brown branding. A plastic bottle is presented in a white box which adds a sense of luxury. I liked that the transparent plastic bottle meant that I could easily see how much of the product was remaining. What's more, I appreciated the functionality of the pump dispenser, which also avoided any wastage. I needed approximately three pumps of the product to cover my entire face.

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil is described as containing a blend of jasmine flower extract and kukui nut oil, along with sunflower, olive and jojoba oils. I found the scent to be very subtle and not at all overpowering or overwhelming but there is a hint of a tropical floral, which I found pleasant.

Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil is a lightweight, silky oil with a lot of "slip". Oils are my preferred method of cleansing and I generally find that their texture lends itself well to facial massage. This was no exception. It emulsified quickly on contact with water, turning into a lightweight milk which rinsed away with ease, leaving no greasy residue. My skin was simply left feeling soft and clean but not stripped. As tends to be the case with cleansing oils, I found it to be an effective and efficient way of removing makeup.

I was initially quite surprised at the high price tag of £32 for 200ml but overall, I feel that it's a good quality product which I enjoyed using and found that the bottle lasted a long time so would recommend.

Speed Review: The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel

I recently picked up The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel because I had a voucher for the store. I'm not sure that I'd have purchased this had it not been for the voucher but I'm pleased to have had the opportunity to try the shower gel as it's a pleasant addition to my routine.

Firstly, I like the packaging. The shape of the plastic bottle stands out from other brands at a similar price point and I feel that it shows that The Body Shop has put thought into the presentation, giving it a higher end feel. I like that it is transparent so that it's easy to see how much of the product is remaining and the flip top lid allows for functional dispensing.

The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel is a pale golden colour. It's difficult to describe the scent but it's warm, comforting and slightly fruity. I found it pleasant to use but didn't notice the fragrance on my skin following my shower. The gel produces a generous lather. Despite the "oil" name, I didn't notice any skin nourishing benefits and needed to moisturise following use.

I feel that The Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Shower Gel is reasonably priced at £5 for 250ml and find it enjoyable to use.