REVIEW: Patanjali Amla Hair Oil

Hair is rightfully called the crowning glory. Healthy hair indeed looks glorious. Some of us are blessed with beautiful hair, some of us are not. But all of us desire glorious hair. With hair fall, split ends, dandruff, and grays being our common woes, we need a one all solution to fix it all. But is there really any such Dr. Fix It? 

Divya Pharmacy's Patanjali by Baba Ramdev (which is such a rage nowadays, BTW) have launched Amla Hair Oil. It claims to strengthen the roots, prevent hair fall, graying hair and split ends. It is an Ayurvedic proprietary medicie and so it is suitable for one and all without the fear of chemicals causing further damage. So, is it effective? Does it work? What are its benefits? Read on to know more about this oil.

Each ml contains the following ingredients and I have also briefly written about the goodness of each ingredient used.

Sunflower oil... 760 mg - You may be surprised that your favorite cooking oil is the main ingredient of this hair oil. Infact not just this hair oil, but several others use it as a base due to its great properties as a carrier oil. It is very light weight and absorbs into the hair shaft in a jiffy. It's non.greasy formula is perfect for the new age woman who doesn't even like it nor has the time to rigorously wash it off. Being light in weight it can easily carry with it all the nutrients of the other added ingredients in the hair oil. Apart from that, it is itself rich in nutrients, mainly the Omega 6 fatty acids which are proved to be directly beneficial for thinning of hair. Other than Omega 6, it is also rich in vitamins A, B and E, and minerals like iron. It is useful for deep conditioning the hair and is ideal is you don't regularly oil your hair and only have time to oil your hair once in a while. Regular deep conditioning can help maintain soft, silky, shiny, frizz free hair which will ultimately be less likely to tangle and break.

Sunflower oil
Image source: http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2013/07/sunflower-extract.png

Olive oil... 60 mg - Olives are native to the Mediterranean and tales of the beautiful maidens of this region are also well known. That olive complexion, dark eyes, and those thick, luscious locks of hair that define their beauty were best kept healthy and beautiful with olive oil. Olive oil is the best option for silken smooth hair. As it is a heavy oil it is best suited for those with thick, unmanageable hair. Fine or limp hair might just get bogged down by the sheer heaviness of the oil.

Olive oil
Image source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/content/images/articles/266/266258/olive-oil-and-olives.jpg

Sesame oil... 60 mg - Lesser known fact about this healthy cooking oil is that it is equally good for healthy hair growth. It is rich in calcium and iron. Calcium fortifies the hair roots to make the foundation itself very strong and resilient to breakage. Iron feeds the follicles and also brings a healthy circulation of blood to the head to encourage good growth. It is therefore one of the best remedies for hair fall. Iron also prevents graying of hair and keeps its natural color looking vibrant.

Sesame oil
Image source: http://www.secretsofsushi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SesameOil.jpg?7eacfa

Amla... 60 mg - The Indian gooseberry is a storehouse of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to fight against free radical damage like dandruff and hair fall. Vitamin C is also important to help absorb calcium and iron. So the nutrients in sesame oil, as well as the other oils are given a boost with this good fellow. Amla is puréed and that paste is applied to the hair to reap these benefits. It can also be dried and made into a powder. This can be added to hair oils or made into a paste with water and applied to the hair. Vitamin C is also a natural conditioner. If your hair lacks shine, then regularly using Amla can make your hair dazzle with a mirror shine. This can be observed from the very first use. Alma is also believed to make dark hair darker and prevent grays.

Amla or the Indian Gooseberry
Image source: http://cdn.shopclues.net/images/detailed/24167/218_1440397160.jpg

Base material: CI 12740, CI 61565 & CI 12150 - colors solvent yellow, quinizarine green, and oil pink, respectively.
Base Q.S.

Other information:
Net Volume - 100 ml
MRP - INR 40
Shelf life - 2 years
Directions for storage - Store in a cool, dark, and dry place.
Directions for use: Take required quantity of oil and massage gently over hair and scalp.

REVIEW:

Patanjali Amla Hair Oil comes in a small and handy bottle. It's quite a queer shaped bottle, like I have never seen a hexagonal bottle before. It is a transparent hexagonal bottle but it fits perfectly in the hand. Small and compact. It comes with a flip top cap, so leakage is possible during travels. But it's not really a problem anymore if you wrap it with cling wrap and there won't be that big a risk of leaking.

The oil itself is a green colored one, thanks to the added colors. The fragrance is irritating to say the least. I wonder why all Amla hair oils have this funny smell. Way back in time when I was in Class 7, one of my classmate, a boy, regularly put Amla oil in his hair. It was compulsory for all the school children to have their hair oiled everyday, but that annoying fragrance of Amla really got to me. I never spoke to him, and that hair oil was half the reason why. How snobbish of me! But now I don't even remember his name. That is my oldest memory of the fragrance of Amla hair oil but this particular oil is so much more! Quite honestly I must admit what it really reminds me of. Hit Cockroach Killing Spray. I put this oil on and it just feels like I'm sitting in a cockroach colony. It's disgusting and I'm sorry but that is exactly how it smells like. I could easily toss this oil bottle away if not for its promises and my expectations of it. I had to learn to ignore the smell and carry on. I actually top it off with another oil just to mask the smell. However, with each use (i use it only ones a week), the intensity of the smell diminished. Perhaps I got used to it or the fragrance was a volatile one and it just vanished slowly. Whatever! But good that it did. Phew.

Well, one benefit of this amla oil is that it is already diluted. The actual base is sunflower oil which makes up for 80% of the oil's composition and the concentration of amla is actually less than 10%. So, it is ready to use. But that percentage itself is so low that I don't see much point to call it "amla" oil. So, expectations also came crashing down.

As it is readily usable, I just take about 3 - 4 tsp of oil for my hair (it is quite long) and directly apply it on the roots of the hair and take some more oil and distribute it along the lengths of the hair. It is quite a light oil and it spreads easily on the hair. That is definitely a good thing because some oils just tend to sit on the spot where you have put the oil, and then you empty half the bottle in one go just to cover your entire head. This oil goes on quite easily and once your entire head and hair is oiled it won't feel greasy. Some oils tend to be volatile and completely vanish by the second day of oiling, but this oil stays on for quite a bit. So, it's good if you put it on on some Friday and plan to wash it on a Sunday. It will deep condition the hair in the days in between. This is usually my oiling routine, I let the oil sink in over the weekend before washing it off.

Even as the oil sinks into the hair, it softened my hair so much that I could feel the difference. So it just happened that I let it stay on longer than I initially intended to (because of, you know, the awful smell). It almost disappeared only on the third day I reckon. But after I washed my hair, Oh-my-Gosh! While my hair was still air drying, I could tell that it felt like I had used a conditioner. Normally, I don't use a conditioner unless I have not oiled my hair prior to washing it. It felt so soft. And smooth. And glossy. It looked shiny and felt light too. So much so that whenever I tied my hair up in a bun, it would come undone in some time. Loved it to bits for this reason! But for girls with fine textured hair, this might just make it finer.

As for the reason that I had purchased it for - preventing hair fall, I did not see any direct benefit to be honest. My hair kept falling and I was not really happy with this oil. Initially, that is how hair tends to react to any new product that goes on it, so I waited a bit to see of it eventually works. It does but not significantly. I wonder if there is really an anti-hair fall oil out there.

However, splits ends went to Bermuda Triangle. I think that it is because the oil is so moisturizing, so deep conditioning, that the split ends just had to go. I never expected that it could actually help in this department but boy was I wrong. In this department, it scores a perfect 10 on 10.

As for the prevent hair graying claim, I really can't tell. My hair is naturally brown in color and it hasn't darkened for sure. But perhaps, regularly using this will prevent some grey hair from popping up. Sometimes I do notice one strand of silver hair peeking out and I ignore it because you are never supposed to pull it out or more will peek out. Or so they say. So, I will keep an eye out for it now that I am using this oil. Let's see if it really helps.

I like to keep my bottle inside its carton itself as it will keep the bottle in a dark place as it is required to be as per the storage instructions. It also keeps my shelf from getting all oily and greasy from those little oil drops sticking to the bottle. It probably would have saved none if the bottle itself was tinted and prevented direct light from getting to the oil, but this works so it saves the day.

The price is also just too good to be true. Even if you mix these ingredients individually, you cannot beat its retail price.

Overall, I would not rate it as an oil that works well to prevent hair fall.
The only reason I would go back to re-purchase this oil is for its deep conditioning, extra softening effect on my hair and completely getting rid of split ends. Rarely does one find an oil that is so economical as well as so good to make hair this healthy and shiny. Recommended for girls who are unhappy with their hair's condition or texture.
Would I re-purchase it? Hell, yes! I have re-purchased it so many times already.

REVIEW: Mysore Sandal Gold soap

Let's name some common summer time skin problems. Excess sweating, oily skin, tanning and sun burn, acne, prickly heat and rashes to name a few. Now let's voice some wishes during summer time for our skin problems. We all wish to be cool as a cucumber and fragrant as sandalwood during the summer. We wish for something that can keep us feeling fresh for hours after a good shower. We wish to prevent and treat the very common pesky problem during the summer, prickly heat. We wish to avoid getting burnt and tanned in the scorching summer sun. We also wish to soothe and calm the very painful sun burns. And who wouldn't wish to get rid of the sun tan? Are you feeling that these are wishful thoughts? Think again! Ayurveda says that the one boon for all such wishes is none other than the good old fragrant, soothing, cooling sandalwood.

Sandalwood mainly grows in parts of South India and is pretty expensive by its virtue. The bark of the sandalwood tree is either powdered and made into a paste or ground on a stone to get a very fine texture paste. Oil is extracted from the bark and its fragrance is nothing short of heavenly. While the paste is directly used on the skin , the oil finds a number of uses either directly in the form of aroma therapy or indirectly in the form of perfumery.

Sandalwood trees
Image source: https://raxacollective.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/img_1329.jpg

Sandalwood has the power to keep the body cool and also reverse the damage caused by sun exposure. It is smeared on the forehead to cure fever and sun stroke. Its beautiful fragrance can lift the spirits and treat depression as well.

One simply has to experience the magic of sandalwood. The simplest way to incorporate sandalwood in everyday routine is to use a sandalwood based soap! Let's see if the Mysore Sandal Gold soap really brings out the golden qualities of sandalwood. Read on.

Mysore Sandal by Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited produces sandalwood based goods. As such its quality and reputation are untainted. Its sandalwood soap is very popular and a relatively new launch is the Gold soap.

Image source: http://202.138.105.9/mysoresandal/images/logo_100x100.jpg

In literary terms, sandalwood oil is often referred to as liquid gold for its value and virtue. So it is quite apt to name a soap based on the oil, Gold, too. The soap is 80% TFM or total fatty matter which determines the quality of the soap. TFM above 70% is considered as good quality. The soap is priced at INR 75 for a bar of 125 g which is pretty steep in a way, but perhaps it is justified as it contains perfume based on this very liquid gold. Please see below for the list of ingredients in this soap and their respective uses.

Enriched natural sandalwood oil based fragrance - So, the only sandalwood that is there in this product is a derivative based on a derivative of sandalwood. Such a bummer!

Sodium palmate and Sodium palm kernelate - It is the salt derived from palm oil and palm kernel oil by saponification. Both are very drying on the skin and are very alkaline in nature. However they are the base ingredients in soap making.

Aqua - Distilled water or aqua, of course is used in soap making to dissolve the lye crystals.

Glycerine - It is a by product during soap making but it can also be utilized in the soap. Glycerine soaps are much softer and more gentle than ordinary soaps. They are also very moisturizing.

Almond oil and Tocopherol acetate - Almond oil is a rich source of vitaminE. Tocopherol acetate is an acetate of tocopherol which is nothing but vitamin E. As such it is a cheap alternative to vitamin E while maintaining the properties and benefits of using vitamin E. Vitamin E softens the skin, keeps it smooth and glowing, it deep moisturizes skin and keeps wrinkles and dry skin at bay, it is a powerful antioxidant which fights free radicals in the environment and protects skin from damage.

Sodium chloride - It is our common salt. It is used in soap to make it antiseptic. It is also cleansing, astringent and stimulant on the skin making it perfect for a summer soap. When it is used in moderate quantity, it hydrates and softens skin. Too much of it can dry up the skin. It is a common ingredient in all antiseptic soaps.

Titanium dioxide - It is mainly used in soap to in very small quantities to make it pretty in appearance and smooth in texture. But it acts like a sunscreen, so there are double benefits of using it in soap.

Tetra sodium salt of Etidronic acid - It acts as a preservative.

Cocoamidopropyl betain - It is a derivative of coconut oil and its main use is as a surfactant.

Lanolin - It is the natural moisturizer produced by our skin. It is also found in the wool of sheep and is the only moisturizer that is readily absorbed by the skin as it treats it as its own. Lanolin can help repair dry, damaged, cracked, chapped skin in no time.

Liquid paraffin - It is distilled mineral oil and has moisturizing properties.

Methylisothiazolinone & Methylchloroisothiazolinone - Preservatives.

Cosmetic colors CI No. 47000 & CI No. 26100 - yellow and red colors, respectively. The resultant would be orange but it is whitened with the presence of titanium dioxide.

Review:

The packaging is a very simple beige color cardboard box with little tendrils design and the word Gold is printed in golden ink. Their creative team could come up with a better alternative to this for the name itself is Gold but the packaging is not befitting .

The soap itself is wrapped in a synthetic sheet so as to preserve the fragrance.

The soap itself is a chunky oval shaped bar in a sandalwood paste color. The fragrance is exotic and is super luxe. If you do know the aroma of sandalwood oil, you will notice that this soap is different. If you know the typical fragrance of sandalwood based perfumes, then too you will notice that this soap is different. But if you know the fragrance of Mysore Sandal soap, then you will straightway notice that it is the classic Mysore Sandal's signature fragrance. I feel that this fragrance is far better compared to sandalwood oil or perfume. But as I have mentioned in the ingredients description, it is only a perfume which is based on sandalwood oil. Sandalwood oil is very volatile and so is the fragrance of this soap. On the very first day, it is all wonderful and exotic and makes your bath time a dreamy experience. It keeps you feeling fresh and aromatic all through the day. I wish I could say the same for the experience the next day. The fragrance magically disappeared! Well, not completely but all that was really left was a faint aroma. Another bummer. At least the perfume that was used which itself was based on sandalwood oil could be of a better quality. However, this was the only noticeable shortcoming of the soap.

The lather is rich and creamy. It does lather well but don't expect a bubble bath. It cleanses Oh so very well. All that summer ickiness and stickiness completely dissolve in a single use. Often times I reapply soap as the greasiness is not completely gone but with this soap one time wash is all it takes.

I did mention in the beginning of this post all the benefits of sandalwood for skin that is being troubled by the harsh summer sun. Now, even though actual sandalwood is absent in this soap, let's see if all the ingredients together can mimic the effects of sandalwood.

First and foremost, the exotic fragrance of sandalwood pleasantly lingers on through the day keeping you feeling fresh. However, it reduces with each passing day but not completely.

Secondly, its cooling effect on the skin and soothing effect on prickly heat and other summer rashes is wonderful. You will notice some relief from the very first use. In fact on hot summer nights when you are unable to sleep due to the heat and sweat, just a face wash with this soap will cool you down and put you to sleep! This is one experience that is only possible with sandalwood soaps. They easily beat any other summer soaps hands down in this department.

Next, its action on sun burn and tan is also good enough for I have never before seen any soap that reverts sun damage on the skin. My skin is dusky complexioned, so I tan more than burn. But I do notice the tan lightening up faster with this soap. In just a few days, tan is visibly lightened and in a week or two you can notice the difference. I cannot comment on its efficacy to calm sun burn since that is a problem faced by lighter complexioned people, but I can definitely say that skin feels cool and it works on prickly heat so it should work on sun burn too.

Finally, its effect on acne prone skin is great too! It reduces the oiliness on the face and prevents acne. Existing acne dries out thanks to the antiseptic action of salt.

All in all, this is a great soap for summer time although there is no real sandalwood in it. It is suitable for all skin types and for all age groups. It doesn't last very long to be honest, and I also use it quite a many times in a day. If you can ignore the price tag, go for it.

REVIEW: Patanjali Panchagavya Kanti Body Cleanser

Patanjali Panchagavya Soap

To enhance the natural beauty ad glow of skin.

Weight 75 g

Price Rs 13

Each 10 g contains extracts of:

Amla or Indian gooseberry - 1.0 mg... Amla is very rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps to promote building collagen which is the cement that keeps skin firm against sagging and wrinkle free.Vitamin C also helps to lighten skin by inhibiting melanin which is the pigment that gives skin its colour. So, if you have a sun tan, or pigmentation or a scar, using amla will greatly help to lighten skin. The Vitamin C also helps brighten the skin and gives a vibrant glow. It also helps to clear oil on the skin and also control excess sebum production by shrinking pores and inhibiting excess sebum or skin's natural oil production. Therefore, it is great for oily skin people and keeps skin normal. It does not sting unlike lemon, but as Vitamin C is acidic in nature, it gently dissolves oil, dirt and dead skin cells and its lightening and anti-wrinkle properties work to make skin beautiful and healthy.

Image source: http://www.jaipurthepinkcity.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/amla-benefits-for-beauty.jpg?598b31

Puified borax - 2.5 mg... Borax is a naturally occurring white, crystalline powder. It is a natural cleanser but it can cause eye and skin irritation in some sensitive people.

Image source: http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/mineralmuseum/22099.jpg

Turmeric - 2.5 mg... Turmeric is the age old Indian beauty secret and it finds its place in every household kitchen. In Indian cooking, it is consumed almost every day. Also, it is one of the simplest yet most powerful facial mask ingredient. Just a paste using water and applied on the face can do so many wonders. It is anti-bacterial, so first and foremost it is very good for people suffering from acne. It is also good on minor skin infections. Secondly, it reduces scars. So, pimple marks also reduce. As it is anti-bacterial, it is a good deodorizer and keeps skin feeling and smelling fresh (or earthy). What else is needed to say? Healthy skin is beautiful skin. Period.

Image source: http://www.turmeric.co.in/images/turmeric_plant.gif

Tulasi - 2.5 mg... Tulasi or Holy Basil is worshiped in Hindu households. Tulasi leaves strengthen immune system and even banish common cold and cough. As it fights germs, it also cures acne and skin infections. 

Image source: http://umoveindia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Growing-Tulsi-at-home.jpg

Giloy - 2.5 mg... Giloy is a shrub that is widely found in India and is one important ingredient used in Ayurvedic medicines. It is used to clear acne, fade scars and dark spots, and erase fine lines.

Image source: http://www.theayurveda.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Giloy-herb.jpg

Aama haldi - 2.5 mg... Aam haldi is actually Mango Ginger. Its aroma resembles that of Mango and hence the name. It brightens the skin complexion, and also cures pimples. Its paste can also soothe swelling due to water retention.

Image source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aEBhPLtJzHVDJlE6xTX5o5cg6CmDMZb68o-x2Zl6ntDf3wuHCpSBDZBV7vBCWW1-YI8aBcgRIb0a_eJAgWohPtXVlCW30AVQRLmgVOXDCzEYyAes0C1SKtpC4m00N7_77ztjlBjRCylx/s1600/mango+ginger.JPG

Neem - 2.5 mg... There is not a single kind of germ that Neem cannot destroy. It is anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti viral, et al. For all round healthy skin free from infections and minor cuts, wounds, burns use neem.

Image source: http://www.pexports.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Neem-Leaf-cover.jpg

Aloe vera - 2.5 mg... Aloe vera is famous for its soothing and moisturizing properties. However, it is suitable for all skin types. Oily skin or dry skin - it makes it normal. Acne or pimples - it cures it. Sun tan or sun burn - it soothes skin. Pigmentation - it balances melanin production. Fine lines or wrinkles - it erases them. In short, it address each and every type of skin concern.

Image source: http://www.coml13.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/aloe-vera-plant.jpg

Cow milk fat - 10 mg... Cow milk fat or Malai or cream is extremely moisturizing and soothing especially on minor burns. It is also known for its skin lightening properties due to lactic acid found in milk. It makes skin super soft and glowy. Because of its fatty nature, it also removes fine lines or wrinkles.

Image source: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C63dz2JlA9g/maxresdefault.jpg

Cow urine - 10 mg... Cow urine is believed to be very beneficial for overall health and also treat cancer. It is said to cure skin diseases like psoriasis too.

Image source: http://i39.tinypic.com/6gihdx.jpg

Base material:
Vegetable oil, water, perfume, sodium benzoate, permitted colours.

Sodium benzoate is a preservative for all the natural ingredients in the soap.

Use:
Useful in rejuvenating, nourishing and glorifying the skin. Useful in removing dryness and roughness of skin.

Review:

In Sanskrit, Panch means five, and Gavya means coming from or belonging to a cow. So panchagavya literally means 5 products from a cow. Traditionally, they mean dung, urine, milk, curd and clarified butter or ghee. However, this soap has only 2 such "gavya" ingredients - namely cow's milk fat and urine. The traditional Panchagavya as such is famous as a cancer treatment medicine as well as a pesticide. It is very powerful and is very good for health.

Patanjali Panchagavya soap comes in a cute dark green paper cover with a rather beautiful painting of a cow on it. So, even if you were clueless about the soap, you could easily figure that this soap has something to do with Cow. Inside the paper cover is a soap liner which is of thicker paper. Both the cover paper and liner paper are of great quality and can be used in a soap box. They don't become mushy and moist or tear up in the shower. They are very durable and even when the soap is over, these papers will still go strong! I have never seen such durable paper, let alone soap liners or covers.

The soap itself is a dark green, oval shaped soap. It has 'Patanjali' inscribed on it. The fragrance is neither too strong ( thank goodness) nor herbal smelling. It kind of smells like neem soaps. As such, it is pleasantly gentle (I love it!).

Coming to what a soap is meant to do, it does its job very well. It is ideal for normal to oily skin but isn't harsh on dry or sensitive skin either. I have dry skin on my body and this soap has never left my skin dry or scaly. I believe it cleanses the oil acne dirt without disrupting the skin's own moisture balance. I have never stepped out of the shower with my skin feeling dry and taught.

Coming to its benefits, first and foremost its effect on acne or pimples. This tends to be one of the most common skin issue. Look no further as this soap is the one stop solution to such problems. Not only does this soap clear out existing acne but also prevents new breakouts ( provided the culprit is only excessive oil on the face ). Ofcourse there are many different reasons behind acne breakouts - hormones, bad eating habits or unhealthy lifestyle, oily skin, etc. The most common culprit is bacteria that feeds on the skin's oil and if it is not regularly cleansed, it can lead to ACNE!!! This soap contains so many powerful ingredients as listed above and mostly all of them help to keep skin clean by fighting against germs. It's no wonder that this soap is so effective against pimples. It is equally effective on back acne or body acne.

Apart from pimples, other common skin issues are usually rashes and infections. In summer, the most common skin issue is rashes from prickly heat. Such rashes tend to be red bumps which are itchy. This soap fights against germs causing prickly heat and almost immediately the redness will reduce. The itching also is greatly controlled in the first use itself and within a matter of few days, the bumps dried out and completely vanished.

I have small eczema breakouts and with this soap although I cannot say that it has cured it, but it has definitely helped control its flare ups. Eczema is a dry skin infection and therefore I can confidently say that it is suitable for dry skin as well. Dry skin tends to become parched and flaky and I have not experienced that with this soap. That does not go to say that it moisturizes the skin. Your skin will not become any drier or oilier after using it.

It keeps body odour at bay. If you are worried that you will step out of the shower smelling earthy, don't worry as its fragrance isn't strong and doesn't even last once you are out of the shower. If bad body odour is one of your enemy, then this soap will greatly help you to control that problem.

Speaking of its beauty benefits, I truly have not noticed any skin brightening effects. However, it is helping to fade scars! Very fast too. It promises to make rough skin smoother and it is true to the T indeed. You will definitely see an improvement in the skin texture, as it will help to soften and smoothen the skin.

Last but not the least, and it's most impressive part is that this soap will last you longer than your expectations. Take a guess. How long would you expect this bar of soap to last? One month? Two months ? Three months? This soap has been with me for a good four months! It could easily set a record that way. Our water is just normal, neither soft nor hard. So, fulllllll paisa vasool soap.

So, overall all impression - very good.
Suitable for all skin types - oh, yes! Absolutely.
Removes pimples and marks - erases.
Beautifies skin - keeps it clean and healthy.
Would I re-purchase it - yes, oh, yes!

REVIEW: L'oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray

L'oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray

New anti-frizz, anti-flyaways, anti-static formula with micro diffusion for extra strength and sleek perfection that disappears at the stroke of a brush.

L'Oreal's "finest hairspray used by the finest stylists".

The legendary hold of Elnett protects hair from humidity, frizz and flyaways with antistatic protection technology, for flawlessly sleek styles.

Smooth and control loose styles and ponytails. Perfect for longer hair.

New fragrance with a delicate twist of rose extract.

Ingredients:
Alcohol denat. - Denatured alcohol which is a mixture of ethyl alcohol and a denaturing agent. It is toxic if consumed bu potential risks of using denatured alcohol in personal products is much smaller. It is used in personal care products as an antibacterial agent and solvent.

Dimethyl ether - This ether is obtained by dehydrating methyl alcohol in the form of a colorless gas. It is used as a propellant in a hairspray. It boils away when the hairspray head is pressed down, propelling out the ingredients in the form of a fine mist. However as it is toxic, it has been banned in many countries including Japan.

VA/Crotonates/Vinyl neodecanoate copolymer - This polymer quickly dries on the hair to form a coating to inhibit absorbtion of moisture, thus reducing frizz, and also keeps the hair down in place, thus setting it.

PEG/PPG-4/12 dimethicone - It is an emulsifying agent keeping all the ingredients in a solvent together without separating from each other.

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate - It protects the hair from harmful UV radiation from the sun rays.

Aminomethyl propanol - It adjusts the pH of the product.

Limonene - Fragrance ingredient that resembles citrus notes.

Linalool - Fragrance ingredient that has a floral note similar to Bergamot and Lavendar flowers.

Benzyl alcohol - It is a preservative and although it is an alcohol, it does not belong to the drying types.

Apha-isomethyl ionone - It is used as a fragrance ingredient but it can cause allergic reaction in some.

Geraniol - It lends a nice floral scent to the product.

Rosa centifolia extract - Also known as the Provence Rose and Cabbage Rose, it is obvious to say that its extract lends a beautiful rose fragrance to the product.

Citronellol - Its fragrance is also close to that of rose.

Coumarin - Its fragrance is said to resemble newly mown hay.

Hexyl cinnamal - It is derived from chamomile flowers but it can cause allergic reactions.

Fragrance (F.I.L. C158630/1)

Review:

It is one of the best selling hairspray in the market today and rightly so. You will find every beauty guru out there raving about it. Popularity second to none, it is unlikely to dislike this product. With such positive impressions of the product, let's see what the product can do well and if it has any shortcomings at all.

The L'OREAL Elnette range of hairsprays are budget friendly and come in a sleek and slender golden can. It's easy to confuse them if not for the colors. All of them boast of extra strong hold . This one in particular claims anti frizz and anti static.

Given our hot and humid weather, frizzy hair is one of the biggest spoilers to an otherwise beautiful head of hair. Or it could be those annoying flyaway baby hairs that just refuse to budge while we patiently wait to grow them out. Or it could be static in the hair just after having combed or brushed through them. So, the common element in all these cases is fine textured hair. This product works really well for fine hair.

Coming to its efficacy, it does lend a very good "polished" look to the hairstyle, even if it is just a regular ponytail. It also smoothens the appearance of the hair while making it look sleek and glossy. On fine hair, it might just tame the flyaways and also the frizz, but on my thick hair I could hardly notice any such strong hold. It did help blend flyaways with the rest of the hair but couldn't stick them down. As regards to controlling frizz, it did a fairly good job as its super fine mist spreads well and coats the hair evenly and you don't even need to use your hands to distribute the product.

I am in love with this hairspray mainly for its fragrance. I would repurchase it just for its fragrance! It smells nothing like alcohol but it is like a nice perfume for the hair. I cannot describe it but it like a crisp floral scent. And it lasts till you wash it off.

Here comes the best part about this product. Most hairsprays tend to leave hair feeling and looking tacky and stiff. Not at all with this one. This is the reason it is a favorite with one and all. In fact, even you might just forget that you have it on. I kid you not!

All in all, this product is awesome for fine and straight hair to hold it strongly in place , but for thicker or wavy / curly hair this is just not 100% the right one. For fine hair it gives a pretty strong hold so sleek ponytails are possible , but for thicker hair it gives every day hairstyles like casual ponytails or buns a little lift.