Review- Arrojo Daily Shampoo and Conditioner

OUR ANTI-OXIDIZING VITAMIN RICH CLEANSER IS LIGHTLY SCENTED WITH ORGANIC RHUBARB EXTRACTS. KEEPS HAIR CLEAN, BALANCED AND REFRESHED. GENTLE ENOUGH FOR DAILY USE WITHOUT THE BUILD-UP OF HARSH IRRITANTS OR RESIDUE.

Earlier, we tried and reviewed Arrojo's Moisturizing and Color Save Shampoo and Conditioners, now in this third installment of the Daily Shampoo and Conditioner set, all I can say is that I really, really love this brand! My hair has never looked so full and lavish and have felt this clean in a while! (And I have tried everything under the moon from regular drug-store brands to expensive salon lines.) The Daily Shampoo and Conditioner line delivers a very clean wash with zero build up, in a lightweight formula, leaving my hair looking its very best. Although, on the downside, the basic daily conditioner - while super gentle and light on the hair - does not moisturize or detangle as much as I normally prefer. As a test I went back to my normal moisturizing conditioner, but noticed my old brand weighed much heavier on my hair than Arrojo's daily conditioner, so I quickly switched back to the Arrojo line. However, the daily shampoo works wonders on my hair! (If you have thin or fine hair, you definitely understand how less is more and every bit of a lift helps!) I have a feeling I'm going to stick to this product for a while because it really works! Almost everyday is a good hair day! As for the daily conditioner, currently I have to make up for the lack of silkiness by using an additional hair serum on top. Otherwise, my hair turns super dry and frizzy on its own! So while lightweight, the daily conditioner could use a little more moisturizing and silkening. I may have to mix up the Arrojo daily shampoo with their moisturizing conditioner, because when this combination works, it truly works!

Review-Chi Silk Infusion

Chi Silk Infusion serum is ideal for protecting hair from damaging chemicals. This leave in, alcohol free reconstructing treatment is enriched with pure natural silk, wheat and soy proteins for soft manageable hair with incredible shine and no build up. Protects the hair against thermal styling and environment. Also for use on skin. 6oz for $20.99

This serum adds shine to your hair like nothing else, but sadly, it doesn't last too long. Just smooth a few drops onto your hair after styling and its instantly left with a natural radiance without weighing your hair down. It could be all the silk and soy proteins, but no other serum has given my hair such a natural looking shine. However, like most silicone based serums, the effects of the shine are short-lived. By the end of the day my hair was looking pretty dull; I tried reapplying, but a few hours later it lost its shine again and started to feel gunky. They say it doesn't build-up, but I think that means if you only apply it once a day. The company also says you can use it on your skin, but that wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Overall, I would say this stuff is okay but considering the price tag (and the fact that it smells a little bit like my boyfriend's cologne) I wouldn't spend my money on this.

Josephine says: It took me the longest time to figure out the usage for Chi Silk on my skin as the bottle suggests. You have to admit, it sounds intriguing that you could use your hair serum on your body. I tried applying it to my rough spots, i.e elbows and heels but it basically slid off. I rubbed it into my face in hopes that I might suddenly appear like I was 25, again. But I just succeeded in facilitating a necessary yet impromptu microdermabrasion to remove the sheen off of my face. Finally, it occured to me that my legs, still damp post-shaving, could glisten and gleam and not be ridiculed. As it turns out, the bottle does not falsely advertise. The Chi is as loving to my skin as it is to my dry-ish highlighted head of hair!

Amanda S. Says: I had a sample of this, but before reviewing I wanted to get a larger amount to try because I am a SUPER stickler for hair shining products and want to be sure a stamp of approval is not haphazardly handed out. I would say this Chi product is right up there at the top of the list, and is relatively well priced also. I do love all of the Chi products I have tried so far, which is A LOT by the way, and I recommend their line to anyone wanting to try something new and fun but not wanting to blow their money on a product that's going to be a total disappointment. Any Chi product seems to be rigorously tried out by the company before marketing, because they haven't had a 'miss' yet with me.

Review- Bare Escentuals Buxom Lash

Bare Escentuals Buxom® Lash Mascara - Blackest Black holds the style of your lashes for a continuous 12 hours with no flakiness. The silky, vitamin-rich formula darkens, lengthens, and thickens from root to tip without ever clumping. Its patented, hourglass-shaped brush is designed to lift and separate every lash while delivering the perfect amount of antioxidant-rich mascara needed for bigger, fuller lashes. 1 tube for $18

For reasons not interesting enough to detail, I have not been a supporter of the mineral movement. I cannot lie, Bare Escentuals has been a dirty word to me. For this reason, I wasn't that geeked about trying their mascara but I am pleased and humbled to say that this product is pretty much flawless. It's all in the brush, people. I am an old school cake mascara girl, all the way, when I do other peoples' makeup but when it comes to my personal preference, I need something durable, non-flaky, great-in-any-weather, non-clumping and lightening quick to apply. (Hey, I never said I wasn't high maintenance.) Buxom provides a great eye look that doesn't move until my lashes see a cotton ball and eye makeup remover at the end of the day. The brush, as I was saying, holds so much quality product yet the bristles are short enough to control the application of it with complete ease. The only thing I am only sorry about is that this was a sample size tube!

Review- Arrojo Color Save Conditioner

Formulated with Vitamin B5 and an advanced Moisture-Plex formula, Repair Masque de-stresses dehydrated locks with Coconut Oil, while hydrating and smoothing the cuticle with Silk Amino Acids and Hydrolyzed Oat Proteins. Perfect to restore vitality and make styling easy.

I felt that I needed to review the Arrojo Color Save Shampoo and Conditioner separately since I found one very helpful and the other quite the opposite. If you noticed my post yesterday, you will be able to tell the product that looses out of these two! I literally had to stop using this conditioner because not only did I need to use almost half the container for one use, but it left my hair straw-like and not conditioned at all. If I hadn't been sent the Arrojo Detangling Foam I would have cried after the first use! If you use the three (Shampoo, Conditioner, & Foam) products together you will be MUCH happier with the end result All in all though, I found cutting the Conditioner out of my routine was best for me. I do have chemically processed bleach blond hair, which needs like a ton (seriously) of moisture for it to even think about brushing, so for those of you who have shorter/darker hair you might be happier with this product.

Review- Arrojo Shower Gel

"Featuring mineral-rich formulas, our three body washes all smooth, mousturize and rejuvenate the skin." 10.1 fl. oz. for $14

"This smells like Europe," I said to my friend after I opened the bottle of Arrojo Floral Citrus Body Wash to take a whiff.

"What? That doesn't make any sense."

"No, it smells like Europe. Smell it."

"Fine, but I still say - OH MY GOD. It does smell like Europe."

Nick Arrojo, best known as the strange, hairstyling elf on TLC's What Not To Wear, has produced, for some reason, a line of products - not just for hair, but also body washes and other skincare items. I suppose expanding your brand is important - I mean, even Lindsay Lohan has a self-tanner, and she's barely even a celebrity anymore - but why Arrojo decided that body washes, in particular, would be a good idea is beyond me.

This is not to say the Floral Citrus body isn't fine. It is. It smells great (like Europe; specifically, like a hotel I stayed in in Spain), it lathers fine, and gets me clean. But there's nothing particularly amazing about it to explain or excuse the price point ($14/10 oz) - that's like five bucks more than Bath and Body Works, and I already think they're overpriced. So if you happen to be an Arrojo client or you really like him on WNTW, go for it! You won't be disappointed. But if you're just a regular gal looking to get clean and smell nice, there's bound to be a drugstore brand that will work just as well.

Amanda S. Says: Major points for caring enough about rhubarb to make a rhubarb scent of shower gel... because this is definitely my favorite scent that is 'fruity' in nature. And sure, it is a great shower gel, it lathers, it cleans squeaky and nice, rinses off, clean clean clean... But that's about it. I do love using it because I love the smell (although not like Europe, it does remind me of pie I think I once ate in the Berkshires).

Josephine adds: I, too, experienced the ambience of a Parisian boutique hotel clawtub bath with my Arrojo Rhubarb Shower Gel. I kid you not, I literally thought to myself, "How European" when I first flipped the cap open. And, really as far as shower gels go, I mostly just look for a pleasant scent that does not either change my life or ruin it and this one satisfies. I have to add though that I also have the Arrojo Sweet Pachouli Shower Gel and if I am honest here, I was fearful that by using it I would be forced to relive my sort of violent distaste of this essential oil circa my college days in the early 90s. However, after just one use, I like it better than the Rhubarb. The shower gel's combination of scented notes comes together like some woodsy forest-y fantasy where I could suddenly imagine what it might be like to be a tiny woodland creature playing under the canopy of trees early in the morning. Seriously, the scent is really that divine.

Trish Says: I have to agree with Josephine completely! This scent is divine. I really liked this shower gel. A lot. I know it is on the pricey side for body cleansing products, but I try to make up for the price and think of how much I'm saving on not needing additional body lotion, oil and sprays after using one product from Arrojo. I tried the patchouli scented gel and with such a strong fragrance as patchouli it takes a delicate touch to pull it off. Arrojo Shower Gel seemed to have done it remarkably! Their patchouli scented gel is light, earthy and sensuous. It really doesn't come on too strong or offensive, but instead it provides a secondary whiff of aromatic bliss. The best part of the gel is feeling super clean after a shower, no soapy buildup, or extra residue - just a silky finish leaving your body feeling soft, light, and smelling sensual. Even on a humid overcast day in the city, I didn't feel sticky at all after using this cleanser and was especially glad that I had used it earlier.

Hillary says: This shower gel has all the components I feel make a great shower gel: it lathers nicely, it smells wonderful, it doesn't compete with my perfume and it leaves me feeling clean without drying me out. I have the gel in Refreshing Rhubarb which may not sound too appealing to anyone who knows what a stalk of rhubarb looks like, but the smell is super although it's hard to describe. The Arrojo website says it is a mix of rhubarb and honeydew melon and it is their signature scent. It is also good for your skin as it is enriched with lots of minerals. You only have to use a tiny amount for each part of your body, so this bottle is going to last me a while (it's a generous 10.1 fl. oz.). This quality for this price is usually hard to come by and as an added bonus, throughout June get 14 free sample sachets of Arrojo products with any order from arrojoproduct.com. Great shower gel with a great bonus!

BTW, I just read that everyone else finds this shower gel pricey. Ok, it's a little high, but when you take into consideration how little you are using each time, it's like the equivalent of a bottle and a half of another shower gel.

Melissa adds:

How could you not get excited about trying this product? Like all the other reviewers mentioned, it comes from Nick Arrojo’s salon from What Not to Wear so it already starts off on a good note. The packaging is simple but has a luxury feel (I’m really big on packaging).

I tried the patchouli scent and absolutely love it because it’s not too girly, but not too manly either. When I put it on, I could tell that this would be a great bodywash for summer because it was light and refreshing. There are some products that are so potent and filled with the bad stuff that you can feel the toxins, despite all the smell-good scents that are added in. This was exactly the opposite and I was pretty impressed with this shower gel.

Deedlejuse says: I seven, I guess, really enjoyed this body wash. It suds' wonderfully, smells great, leaves your skin moisturized and refreshed. Simply it is exactly everything one could want in a body wash. I had the Floral Citrus flavor and really loved it. I guess I will disagree with Movie Maven about that, it is expensive, but is also a real treat to use. I think it would be a perfect gift to go into a basket or something, or a little extravagance for yourself. So far I have been more than happy with many of the products by Arrojo, but this would be top of my list!

Malikah says: I actually adored this stuff! I've been a huge Arrojo fan since he started on WNTW, and was pleasantly surprised he had ventured info body products. The smell is absolutely divine - light, pleasant, but not overbearing. You certainly don't see rhubarb popping up in too many beauty products, but hopefully Arrojo will make it the next big thing. I was a bit turned off by the price, especially since other than the smell there were no remarkable features about it. But it would make a great gift, especially since it looks super fancy.

Review-Clarins Beauty Flash Balm

An exceptional beauty booster which immediately eliminates all signs of fatigue: facial features appear rested and smooth. It promotes a radiant complexion and long-lasting, incredibly luminous make-up. The ideal treatment before a busy day or an evening out. $45 for 1.7 oz tube.


I’m currently obsessed with Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, a super lightweight balm that leaves your skin glowing. The formula tightens and brightens skin and enhances the effects of your regular makeup, lending you a healthy natural looking glow. Apply the cream after your regular moisturizer using light, sweeping strokes, but do not rub it in. Then follow with foundation or concealer and voila! You’re left with a dewy, glowy complexion that could not be simpler to achieve. You can also dab it over your makeup at the end of the day for a quick refresher before an evening out.

The balm also doubles as a facial mask – apply a thick layer and leave on for 10-15 minutes before wiping your face clean with a damp cloth. I find that the effects are much more pronounced when you use it with your regular makeup instead of as a mask, and you’ll get more use out of it that way. The price tag is a kind of hefty, but since a little goes a long way the tube should last you at least 3 months.

Josephine says: I just want to add that a tube of this has been in my kit and my personal makeup closet for years now. It's an amazing primer. I swear by it for more mature skin, too. I distinctly remember the Clarins rep telling me to tap it into skin and that application tip alone makes it totally elite since that stipple effect has a way of enhancing skin texture that's lovely and natural and polished. Well-worth every penny.

Review- Danielle and Company Hand & Body Lotion

This hydrating Hand & Body Lotion blends together Organic Oils, Organic Aloe Vera and Vitamin E to restore moisture to the skin, leaving it soft to the touch. This light, non-greasy lotion is perfect moisturizer anytime of the year! Organic Content: 95% organic ingredients.


When it comes to body lotion- I can be oddly demanding. It has to smell nice, moisturize without being too heavy, and make me feel silky, finally on top of everything else - it has to last! That is a tall order, even I know it, but with lotion I get strangely picky...With that said, Danielle And Company's Pure Oats Hand and Body Lotion makes the grade! In all top categories, this lotion passes all my tests with flying colors. Not to mention that it is also made with organic ingredients, which is an A+ in my eyes. Okay, at first, it does rub on a bit heavy for me on the hands as I don't like to feel sticky at all after applying lotion. But, and this is the best part, it does dry smoothly (eventually) and even after washing my hands, the lotion is still on, leaving my hands even softer than before! Major plus for me as I wash my hands a lot. Even better than the overtime moisturizing, the scent is amazingly glorious! I love this smell! I could sleep in it! The best way to describe the Pure Oats scent, which is meant to relax, calm and soothe, is that it reminds me a bit of soft baby powder mixed with the sweet fragrance of play-doh (in a good way!) Total innocent bliss and joy, while relaxing and calming the senses as well. This scent alone makes the lotion a winner, but I can't forget its long-lasting durability. Definitely worth a try for those two reasons alone, and at $4 for the travel size you can't go wrong!

Amanda S. Says: I can't believe this lotion is so inexpensive! I too am super picky about body lotions, I'd rather throw out an entire bottle and lose the money spent on it than suffer through any moisturizer that doesn't work near perfectly for my skin. It does take a bit to soak in, but it's worth it. For the cost, it's a great all natural lotion.

Deedlejuse Says: I am constantly surprised, and pleased with Danielle and Company's products. This morning I used a beautiful glycerin soap in cucumber and then moisturized with the Oats Organic Body Lotion. I smell delicious, feel moisturized, and when used right after the shower the lotion totally soaks in instantly and feels great! The smell of my lotion is quite strong, but not in a bad way. You just really have to be in the mood to smell like oats, not oatmeal mind you, just a sort of clean fresh oat smell. I really like it. This lotion I would say is better as an all over body lotion than a hand cream, but I do like it for both. Everything I have tried from Danielle and Co. has been stellar and I love the Women Power image and the naturalness of it all! Another job well done!

Malikah says: I really loved the texture and feel of the lotion. Its rich and creamy, but still manages not to be heavy or greasy. It gives your skin great moisture, and the lightweight formula is perfect for summer. I tried to Lavender and Spearmint scent, and wasn't too big a fan of the fragrance. I love the scent of lavender, but it was too heavy on the spearmint and reminded me a bit of Wrigley's Doublemint gum. Plus the scent stays put pretty much all day, which is great if its a scent you love. I am a bit torn on this one - the fragrance really isn't working for me at all, but I love the feel of this lotion so much! This is going to be a tough decision . . .

Sultana says: I've never had the pleasure of using Danielle & Company products before. I tried the Lavender and Spearmint lotion. I was in LOVE with this lotion!! I am big on scents that lasts. Whether its perfume, lotion or shower gel it has to have a scent that lasts long. I was with my kids when I tried this and when I put it on, they asked "Mommy, what is that?" I asked if they wanted to try and of course they jumped at the chance. They absolutely loved the minty smell. I found that I felt a little invigorated but relaxed at the same time after using this. The smell lasted a long time. As a matter of fact, I can't remember when it went away. With a $4 price tag, this is a win-win situation for me!

Josephine says: You guys. I am so sorry. Aside from Malikah's review, which mine looks more like, I wish I could add more positive words for this lotion but my experience of it was not as good, albeit comical to some degree. Let me start with what I did like, though: I think the consitency and actual moisture the lotion provides is great. I like this company from what I have seen and I would excitedly try other products of theirs if given the chance. Moving on. I, too, have the Lavender& Spearmint flavor and this is the source, cause and origin of my distaste of this lotion. I knew before I even pressed the pump that I probably wasn't going to be a fan, mostly because I liken this combo of oils to a mild mildew odor. I waited to try it until I hopped out of the shower one night, nary a trace of a scent of any other kind to comingle with this stuff lest my opinion be wrongly influenced. Within 5 seconds, I was inspecting the shower curtain liner for mold and asking the hub in the other room is he smells anything stale coming from the bathroom. Within 5 minutes, all I could think was that I was wearing a straight up dish rag. The hub provided his olfactory experience to offset my prejudice and exclaimed that I smelled "strangely minty, kind of like Bengay." Not a ringing endorsement, either, really.

Happy 4th of July!

All of us at Beautifile would like to say "Happy Birthday America" and hope all of our readers have a wonderful and festive July 4th!

Review- Arrojo Color Save Shampoo

Color save shampoo is the right choice for those in a dedicated color regimen. Formulated to retain and enhance the vibrancy in color-treated hair, add moisture, soothe, and detangle it will leave your locks soft and silky.

I must say I really enjoyed this shampoo. I found it to be very mild, and although I didn't see a huge difference ( I only used one bottle, and I didn't see fading, but I normally don't with my blond hair) I did think that it left my hair feeling silky, if I used it with a different conditioner than the one they recommend. I need a lot of moisture and unfortunately the Arrojo Color Save Conditioner didn't add up. The Shampoo, though, gets two very happy thumbs up! It smells great, suds' very well, and rinses clean. I would probably spend the extra on this shampoo, especially since I find the more caustic shampoos to be damaging to my color especially in the first few weeks after coloring. All in all I had a good experience with the shampoo and I would recommend trying it if you have issue with fading.

Review- Kett Cosmetics Intro to Airbrush Class

First of all, let me state that airbrushing is probably the coolest thing to ever happen to make-up. I mean, the right artist can make practically any skin look flawless with the right foundation and an airbrush. If that isn't close to miraculous, I don't know what is! Even in my unskilled hands, within hours I was creating perfect looking skin from so-so skin. This class at Kett gives you all the information you need to do basic airbrushing- foundation and facial contours. These two will be the majority of what you'll be doing with an airbrush anyway as most people like to do the eyes and cheeks the old fashioned way. Our instructor, Mykel did show us, however, how to do practically a whole face of make-up with just the airbrush stylus and different bottles for eyes and cheeks. It took him all of 5-10 minutes and all that was lacking was lipstick and mascara. It was amazing. I learned so much during this 8 hour course that I feel confident airbrushing people all the time (I don't pull them in off the street, but you get the idea). Once you've got the basic technique down it gets easier and easier. It helps if you go into it knowing basic color theory, but I didn't and I came out of the class with a better understanding of it. If you are a make-up artist and you don't know how to airbrush, this class is exactly what you are looking for. I'm looking forward to taking the advanced class in the future.