Sparkled Beauty

Another Glam Sense campaign that I was part of, this time for hair - Dove Advanced Series Oxygen Moisture (for fine, flat hair).

I happen to have the exact hair type - fine and flat, also naturally straight and does not hold curls unless I have it chemically done, was glad to test out this line.

The brand explains the Oxyfusion technology offers lightweight oxygen-fused ingredients to add up to 95% more volume to your hair. I like the sound of that!

I received a shampoo, a conditioner and a root lift spray. It seems the line also has a souffle treatment and a leave-in foam, quite extensive.

Let's start with the basic first. The shampoo and conditioner both have a nice fresh scent. To be fair, I tested them in the regular order and did not do reverse shampooing nor skip the shampoo as I normally do.

The shampoo does its job, cleanses and rinses out softly, does not leave the squeaky clean feeling on the hair, which I prefer.

Ingredients: Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Fragrance, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Paraffinum Liquidum, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-45M, Gelatin, Acacia Senegal Gum, etc.

The conditioner is more interesting. It also rinses out softly and does not leave a slippery feeling that most conditioners do. I like how the hair feels moisturized and smooth after. Nothing bad to report.

Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Fragrance, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Amodimethicone, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-150 Distearate, etc.

The bottles are of good size - 355ml, retail $6.98 each at Walmart.

Now the root lift spray is a nice item in a drugstore hair care line. I was intrigued.

Easy enough to use: spray close to hair, targeting the roots - I normally use it on damp hair and let air dry.

If it is the only product I use though (no dry shampoo nor teasing/ back combing), it does give the hair a bit of volume but the lifting effect is subtle and short termed. As long as you expect a natural gentle oomph, this product can provide, but not more than that.

Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Dimethiconol, VP/VA Copolymer, PEG/PPG-25/25 Dimethicone, TEA-Dodecylbenzenesulfonate, Fragrance, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, DMDM Hydantoin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, etc.

The bottle, with a spray nozzle, is 97ml, $7.98.

Dry spray antiperspirants have sprung better than Spring itself this year, claiming to go on instantly dry with up to 48 hours of protection. I jumped on the chance to test out 2 bottles, as my curiosity was definitely high :)

This first one is Dove dry spray in Revive (pomegranate and lemon verbena), supposed to have Dove's unique ¼ moisturizers for softer, smoother underarms.

This dry spray does give off a soft and invisible feeling. It keeps the underarm areas dry with regular sweating through minimum to low impact workouts. I would layer up or resort to a deodorant for activities that involve lots of sweat though.

Revive smells fruity fresh, but a hint of citrus, and lasts for a few hours. I like to get a whiff of it here and there like that. There are also Original, Beauty Finish, Sensitive Skin, Nourished Beauty, Cool Essentials and Clear Tone Skin Renew, and men's versions (unscented, Extra Fresh, Clean Comfort).

Ingredients: Butane, Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isobutane, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Fragrance, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, C12-15 Alkyl Benxoate, Propane, BHT, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethiconol, Tocopheryl Acetate.

The can has 3.8oz/ 107g of product (said to last 8 weeks), retails around $5.97.

Then, there is Degree dry spray in Sheer Powder (freesia, jasmine and vanilla). The MOTIONSENSE technology claims to respond to your body movement to release extra odour protection when needed, but since it is an antiperspirant (to keep you dry) instead of a deodorant (to minimize odour), I am not sure if this claim actually works.

Either way, I would say it works similarly to the Dove version above with regular activities, can't testify in heavily sweaty situations, lol.

This Sheer Powder scent, however, is not as exciting as Revive. Maybe it is the freesia note that I don't like, or maybe I prefer fruity than floral scents. But again, scents are personal, you might like it :) Also available in Fresh Energy, Shower Clean and men's versions (Everest, Adventure and Sport Defense).

Ingredients: Butane, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydrofluorocarbon 152A, Isobutane, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Fragrance, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Propane, BHT, Propylene Carbonate, Caprylic/ Capric Triglycerite, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Maltodextrin, Hydrated Silica, Hydrolized Cornstarch, Gelatin Crosspolymer, Silica, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Benxoate.

The can is the same size as that of Dove above, retails around $4.97.

Product design wise, Dove (left) has a cap that covers the nozzle and you push on the pink pad to discharge the spray through the little opening on the white part underneath it.

Degree (right) has a locking mechanisms where you push the pink pad in the direction of the arrows, then spray, and slide it back to lock. No cap to worry about.

Note that, as expected with aerosols, the spray feels cool in contact, which would be refreshing in the summer but a tad chilly when the temp hangs slightly above 0 :) Don't forget to shake the can before spraying.

Overall, I am saving these dry sprays for the Summer and reapply when need to. Pick the design and scent you like with your next antiperspirant and have fun, unless you prefer non-aluminum products.