What's in My Shower Right Now

And no, it's not Jon Stewart, much to my chagrin! :-)

Here are the beauty products currently in my shower:

• Neil George Everyday Shampoo ($20)- smells delicious, like Orange Blossoms, and doesn't weight my fine hair down
  
• Neil George Everyday Conditioner ($22)- same scent as the shampoo and detangles very well
  
• Neil George Intense Repair Treatment Mask with Indian Gooseberry ($38)- good for restoring shine and moisture
  
• Neil George Detangle Nourish Spray ($24) detangles and protects my hair from heat styling.
  
• Oscar Blandi Marine Mud Treatment ($26)- I use this as a deep conditioner every now and then
  
• Philosophy Amazing Grace 3-in-1 Milk-Based Shampoo, Bath and Shower Gel ($22)- I love the way this scents my skin
  
• Red Flower Ocean Purifying Body Wash ($20)- smells just like the ocean somehow and I love the pure ingredients
  
• California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo and Body Wash ($11.49)- for sensitive, winter skin
  
• LaLicious Island Guava Sugar Souffle Moisturizing Body Scrub ($34)- see my previous review of this incredible line here
  
• LaLicious Coffee Bean Sugar Souffle Moisturizing Body Scrub ($34)
• Nude Skincare Facial Cleansing Wash ($34)- I've reviewed this before. I always wash my face in the shower
  
• Pangea Organics Facial Scrub ($32)- exfoliates with Adzuki Beans. This is too rich for my skin in the summer but is perfectly moisturizing come winter
  
• Carol's Daughter Body Aches Bath Salts ($18)- I don't take baths, but I sprinkle some of this on the floor of the shower for an aromatherapy treatment. It's great for days when you feel stuffy or have a headache
  
• Alba Mango Vanilla Moisturizing Shave Cream ($5.99)- I'm not a fan of the product but it smells incredible
  
• Detangling Comb
• Pumice Stone- for my feet!
  
• Mach 3 Razor- until I'm finished with my laser hair removal treatment
  

Early Shampoo and Conditioner Rave

A few weeks ago I used the evil, awful L'Oreal Creme Gloss hair color, a semi-permanent formula that is supposed to wash out in 28 shampoos and leave your hair in even healthier condition post-coloring. Not only has the color not washed out at all, but since I used it my hair has been extremely dry and unbelievably static-filled. Nothing I do (and I've tried everything) eliminates the static. I use a serum during the day to reduce the effect, but as soon as I run a brush through my hair (and I bought all new brushes), I look like I stuck my finger in a light socket. I emailed L'Oreal but never heard back. The damage to my hair is so severe that this, coupled with the utter lack of customer service, means that this will be my last foray into the land of L'Oreal.

I purchased Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner thinking that a shampoo and conditioner switch might cure me. I'd been using Neil George previously and liked it, but figured a change sure couldn't hurt. The Organix smells very nice but the shampoo left my hair feeling hay-like and while the conditioner did ameliorate this somewhat, my hair just felt dry, tangled, and eventually started breaking off! Next!

I then bought Phytojoba Shampoo and Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco Conditioner (I usually prefer matching sets but made an exception in this case) and I can't believe the difference in my hair after just one shampoo. I obviously can't say that the breakage issue is resolved but the look and feel of my hair is much better--it's softer, shinier and smoother than before (albeit still filled with static. I could not hate the L'Oreal color any more than do). I'm hoping that with time the duo will have an even greater effect on my poor hair! These are not inexpensive at $24 and $22 each, but if they can improve my hairs condition they will be worth the cost.

What's In My Shower Right Now

I am definitely a shower and not a bath girl. Here is what's I've currently got crammed in there:

• Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo
• Organix Coconut Milk Conditioner
• Neil George Intense Repair Mask
• Neil George Detangle Nourishment Spray
• Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo
• Red Flower Ocean Shampoo
• Red Flower Ocean Conditioner

• Nude Skincare Facial Cleansing Wash
• Philosophy Amazing Grace 3-in-1
• Origins Ginger Burst Body Wash
• California Baby Sensitive Baby Wash
• Dr. Bronner's Tea Tree Soap

• Carol's Daughter Body Aches Bath Salts (I sprinkle these on the floor of the shower for an aromatherapy treatment)
• LaLicious Sugar Souffle Scrubs in Coconut Cream, Coffee Bean and Island Guava
• Pangea Organics Facial Scrub- Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean & Cranberry
• Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Gentle
• Avalon Organics Shave Cream
• Clarisonic Mia

Today's Beauty Routine

It's snowing today in NYC and I'm using it as an excuse to stay inside wearing my pajamas, eat Ben & Jerry's Creme Brulee ice cream straight from the pint (my local scoop shop did NOT have the new Limited Edition Maple Blondie yesterday as promised), update this blog, and tell myself that I am too old to watch MTV's Shore House while surreptitiously flipping back to it from the History Channel.

On days when I nix leaving my apartment I don't feel human unless there is some beauty routine going on, however minimal. In the shower I used Neil George Everyday Shampoo and Conditioner, Red Flower Ocean Body Wash (ADORE. It smells exactly like the ocean), Neil George Detangle Nourishment Spray, and Nude Skincare Cleansing Facial Wash. I then used my ExfoliKate Gentle, applied my Stem Organics Hydrating Facial Fluid and Origins GinZing eye cream, slicked Carol's Daughter lip balm on my lips for some moisture and applied a fresh coat of Poshe topcoat to my nails. Bare bones but enough to feel like a person!