Matrix Biolage Normalizing Shampoo Review (Best Shampoo for Oily Hair??)

Hello Chicas!!
The past few days has been so cold where i live that all i wana do is curl up in my bed, drink hot coffee and watch T.V. ! Anyway, i dragged myself from bed and to do this review that i had been longing to do. Today im reviewing Matrix Biolage Scaltherapie Normalizing Shampoo (jeez such a long name).
As i have mentioned in my earlier posts i have great difficulty dealing with my hair issues. I have fine hair with very oily scalp and extremely dry ends. So when i use shampoo's for oily scalp, the ends of my hair bear the brunt and become all the more dry and frizzy. To combat my dry and frizzy ends when i use a hydrating/moisturising shampoo, my scalp goes crazy and starts pumping out oil by the bucket. This is one battle i will never be able to win... sigh!!
So lets get on with the review, shall we?!

Claims of the shampoo

Matrix Biolage Scalptherapie Normalizing Shampoo balances normal to oily hair. Formulated with a Botanical Complex of Ginkgo Biloba, Lemongrass, Pollen and Sage fused with special purifiers which deeply cleanses the scalp without drying the hair.

Sounded like just what i needed.

Packaging (Price $14.40 for 250 ml or Rs.888/-)

I first thing i noticed about the shampoo was the pricing and i did not understand it. While 200ml of any Matrix Biolage Shampoo's never ever cost more than Rs.195/- in India i don't know why this particular shampoo was so highly priced in BeautyBay.com . I tried finding this shampoo in India everywhere, in and out, but for some reason it is not available here. I had no option but to order it from BeautyBay.com for 8 times the price...sigh!!

The shampoo comes in this regular plastic flip top bottle..... we all have seen the Matrix Shampoo's at some point of our lives right! Nothing special to write about.

Ingredients

Here is a snap shot of the list of ingredients in the shampoo.

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MEA, Sodium Chloride, Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Linoleamidopropyl PG Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Coco-Betaine, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coumarin, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methlyproprional, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxycitronellal, Amyl Cinnamal, Salvia Officinalis Extract / Sage Leaf xtract, Cucumis Sativus Juice / Cucumber Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Extract/ Matricaria Flower Extract.

SLS is definitely there but then there are a few ingredients that looked interesting like Salicylic Acid, as we all know that Salicylic Acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that helps with oiliness.

Product

The shampoo itself is a clear gel with a thicker consistency than the usual shampoos. I liked the fact that it was clear because it meant no build-up that would weigh my hair down. 

The shampoo has a nice, mild floral smell but sadly the wonderful scent doesn't last very long. Not a major problem though. It lathers pretty well and only a small amount of product is required.

To be honest, in the first few applications, i was rather disappointed with the shampoo. It didn't seem to help my oily scalp at all and just a day after washing my hair, i would wake up with greasy hair begging to be washed.

At this point, i normally chuck the shampoo in my dustbin but for some weird reason i decided to continue using it (divine intervention!!??) and boy did i make a good choice. After around 3 weekes of usuage, i suddenly noticed that my hair was softer shinier and healthier.... and I'm talking about my dry and unhealthy ends. As for my scalp, its virtually oil-free and as fresh as it could get on the second day of the wash. On the third day, there is a tiny amount of oil but nothing that a wee bit of baby powder cannot take care. By the fourth day however, washing the hair becomes necessary. 

About a month back, i could not have imagined that it was possible to not wash your hair for 3 days. 

Im glad that i don't have to wash my hair everyday and strip it off its natural oils. Before i started using this shampoo i washed my hair around 4-5 times a week. Now i just need 2 washes and my hair has never felt this good.

Final Verdict

I had tried Matrix Biolage Shampoo's earlier but they were all a disaster. I did not have high hopes from this one too, but im so glad it proved me wrong. By far this shampoo has been the most effective at keeping my oily scalp under control and nourishing my dry ends as well.

As for the price, yes its expensive as compared to the other Matrix Biolage Shampoo's (im still yet to slove the mystery why??) but its totally worth it. Considering the fact that i wont have to wash my hair everyday and a little goes a long way, this shampoo is definitely a winner for me. RECOMMENDED!!

Have you tried Matrix Biolage Scalptherapie Normalizing Shampoo? What are your thoughts? COMMENT!!

Have a blessed Sunday everyone :)

XOXO

My Birthday Weekend!

I celebrated my birthday this weekend and i harboured mixed feelings. Another year, another number added to my age. There is no escaping old age is there? This year for my birthday i took a trip to Manas National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Tiger Reserve in Assam, India and lies on the base of Bhutan-Himalayas foothills. Spending one's birthday in the middle of the jungle may sound crazy to some but it was one of the most memorable birthday's ever. Here are a few pictures of how it all happened on the first day of the trip! I hope you enjoy the photographs :)

This is where we stayed. Loved the cute little cottages!!

As soon as we reached the resort, we left for rafting.

Getting the raft ready...... 

and i quickly snuck a pose!! :p

I honestly saw some of the most amazing sights while i was on the raft.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge- REVIEW! (Want a flawless base?)

Hey guys!
Today I'm reviewing the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge that i purchased around a week ago from iHerb.com
Now we all know that the blogosphere has been going crazy raving about the Beauty Blender sponge for quite sometime now. I really tried hard but at the end of the day i really could not justify spending INR 1300/- ($20) on a piece of sponge. Its almost like the lovely Samantha Chapman heard my prayers and tadaaaaaaaa..... presenting the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge for less than 400/- bucks ($6).... yes you heard it right, i got it for $6 from iHerb.
But if pitted against the undisputed Beauty Blender, does the much cheaper economical Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge compromise on quality? or will the Real Technique Miracle Complexion Sponge give Beauty Blender a run for its money? Read on!!

Packaging

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge (hence referred to as RT Sponge) comes in the basic RT packaging in a plastic box. Nothing fancy but pretty decent.

Product

The RT Sponge comes in light orange colour and is oval or egg-shaped as opposed to the tear drop shaped Beauty Blender. When the sponge is dry, it is smooth but not very soft nor very bouncy as i had imagined it to be.

While the Beauty Blender Sponge is basically a tear drop shaped sponge, I loved the fact that the RT Sponge was differently shaped and was multi dimensional. It has a a flat surface, a pointed edge and a rounded side which aids in different types of application.

EYEKO Skinny Liquid Eyeliner- REVIEW!! (Easiest way to nail the Cat-Flick)

I have been sporting cat-flicks/winged eye liner almost everyday for the past one year. Crazy i know, but then i love the way it instantly lifts my otherwise droopy eyes. I also find it much more glamorous than just drawing a line across your eyes..lol!
Today im reviewing the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner that i purchased from beautybay.com. I had never used a felt pen eyeliner before so this was a new experience for me.

Packaging (Rs.1000/-for 2ml)

The eyeliner comes in this silvery-grey pen form. The packaging is pretty decent ... Nothing to write home about.

Product

The pigmentation of the liner is awesome. It is one of the most pigmented blacks that i have come across. I have been a Maybelline Gel Liner user all my life and was pretty happy with it until i came across Eyeko. The finishing of the Eyeko liner is glossy and dark that puts the Maybelline one to shame.

Also the tip of the liner is of perfect length...neither too long nor awkwardly short, its just right.
Because of the sharp tip of the Eyeko Skinny liner, it is so easy to draw precise lines which is difficult to do with a brush. Also you can easily layer with the liner for thick or thin lines and it doesn't flake like many others. Drawing cat-flicks has never been easier... the pointed tip of the eyeliner gives you so much control that it almost like drawing on paper... :)

iHerb Haul- Real Technique + more ( Indian Customs-Rant!!!)

I always squeal with joy when a package arrives at my doorstep. I get some sort of an adrenaline rush because despite the fact that numerous packages of mine have been lost by the postal services, i remain obnoxious and continue shopping online.
I received my recent order from iHerb.com and i was more than thrilled.... however, my thrill lasted only a few seconds when the delivery guy handed me a hefty custom duty receipt. When i saw the bill i was literally like "No f******* way!!"
The total value of my package was Rs.4600/- ($73.10) and the custom duty charged was Rs.3000/- ($47). Now isn't that preposterous?? That is almost like  61% of duty charged. I think its crazy and i was so angry i could have punched the delivery guy.... but then it was not his fault and i had no other way than to hand over the cash and collect my stuff. So what had actually been a haul of Rs.4600/- ($73) ended up costing me Rs.7600/- ($120)....arghhhh!!!

When i opened my box, my anger some what dissipated after looking at the products. I had waited several months for this haul because some of the products were out-of-stock and i had to wait and wait for iHerb to restock. Here is what i purchased.