Saturday 30 July 2011

Product du jour - MooGoo Shampoo and Conditioner

Lately I have been obsessed with natural cosmetics, skin and hair care.  I have gradually been switching my products as they run out, moving from chemically laden things to alternatives with less numbers, more natural whole ingredients and lots of healthy benefits.

The items which came under the firing line most recently were my shampoo and conditioner.  I've got very fine hair, which I like to wear long.  If I don't wash it every second day or so, it tends to get lank and oily, and of course, being long, takes forever to dry, making washing a chore.  For the last couple of years, I've also had itchy, flaky scalp issues (an attractive feature, natch).  When Head and Shoulders was released, I jumped on the bandwagon with a vengeance, but I never really got any long lasting benefits from it.

Further investigation (oh Google, how did I survive before you?) gave me a couple of insights and aha! moments:
  • While I'd love to follow the 'no 'Poo' movement, I just can't cope with having to wait potentially months for my hair to find it's routine.  Nor am I keen to switch to a pure bicarb and vinegar routine.
  • Harsh detergents are irritants which stimulate oil production while drying skin. So why do so many manufacturers load their product full of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or by Sodium Laureth Sulfate?
  • The first three ingredients of my current shampoo rotations in the shower are: water, sodium, laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate.
Something had to be done.  


I bit the bullet and breaking my usual rule, didn't even wait to finish the bottles I have, ordering some MooGoo 'Scalp Friendly' Milk Shampoo and Cream Conditioner after being convinced by the multitude of rave reviews out there.  
It's early days yet, but I've used them a couple of times now, in conjunction with the MooGoo MSM Soothing cream after I've washed and I can't believe the difference.  My scalp is less itchy, and I'm not flaking constantly.  My hair feels lush and natural and smells divine (this could also be because the company believes in products so natural you could eat them so I'm literally bathing in milky goodness).


The shampoo foams nicely, and is a good rich texture.  I'm used to my conditioner allowing me to just comb right through in the shower, but the MooGoo one didn't do that and I had to work the comb through a bit more than usual.  Having said that the next day, my hair hung beautifully without blow drying, went easily from pony tail to out without kinks and didn't knot up at all.  I think I'm onto a winner here.  At $17.50 each for the shampoo and conditioner, and $17.95 for the MSM cream, it's not the cheapest product out there, but if the results continue, I'm going to stick with it.  

Sunday 24 July 2011

What can I do with... molasses?

Yesterday I did my usual Saturday morning yoga class, which I completely voided afterward with the usual follow up breakfast with the girls.  Although I did choose the relatively 'healthy' option of bircher muesli, so that should count for something right?  I mean, it does come with fruit.

After chatting over much needed coffee (caw-fee) and food, we went for a wander around the fantastic James St Markets.  Yes the market is overpriced and yes you could probably get better value elsewhere, but as soon as I walk in there, I'm like a kid in a (vegan) candy store - I want everything!

I debated the merits of hibiscus flowers (redundant at the moment, because Mr Fork won't drink champagne with me), hot chocolate (delicious, but I don't want to spend $14 on that), vegan laksa paste (yes I want it, but I should finish the one at home first), and the plethora of deli goods such as flavoured oils and vinegars that I need to have.  I swear, I don't know why Mr Fork finds it so hard to think of presents for me.  Fill a basket full of yummy gourmet foodstuffs or MooGoo cosmetics and I'm a happy camper.  That aside, I did walk out of the market with a jar of molasses.


I've heard so much about molasses in my cookbook collection and blogs that I follow, but I've never personally used it.  I know that it'll be great for my iron, calcium and potassium levels and I can use it like a honey substitute (honey, ugh), but is there some fantastic molasses recipe that I absolutely must try?  Suggestions welcome, and I'll update on my molasses cooking adventures!

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Winner!

I've always been a bit shy in the internet world.  I read a lot of blogs quite avidly, but I rarely stop to comment on them.  I scour various specialist forums for other people's advice, but again, rarely add little to the conversations.  I decided recently that I should really change that, and so I've been moved to comment on a few things I felt strongly about, add some expert knowledge and advice when I could and oh yes, enter the odd competition or two.


Maybe this is the way the universe is telling me that I'm doing the right thing, because I won something!  A blog that I follow recently celebrated it's 18 month birthday and was giving away a few gorgeous things.  I was the lucky winner of a Kit Cosmetics Duo Cheek & Lip Creme in Turn it On!

It arrived today and I couldn't resist opening it right away.  First impression was that it smelt divine.  Fruity and full of watermelon scented goodness.  I then had to try it out.  I'm working from home today so I don't have a nice base to add blush to, but I couldn't resist adding some to my lips.  The lighter shade on its own was a bit too pink so I added some of the darker one... perfection!  They just blend beautifully together and give my lips a nice sheen and a feeling of ultra hydration.  I can't wait to see how this will look on my cheeks.  

Thanks, and what a great "hump day" pick me up!

Saturday 9 July 2011

Soap Scum Begone

Soap scum has been the menace of my existence ever since I moved in with Mr Fork.  Internet research has shown that his preference for soap bars over my preference for liquid soap means that he is more likely to produce that waxy white buildup on the shower glass (and since I have no chance of converting his soap choices, we need a solution).


My subtle hints may have been too subtle, as leaving a squeegee and various cleaning products in the shower didn't seem to have the desired result that he wipe the glass when he was done, and as a result, we had a shower so thick with soapy scum that I'm ashamed to describe how bad it really is.





I decided that something needed to be done and searched around for a clean, green cleaning solution.  The overwhelming suggestion seemed to be vinegar so I mixed a solution of 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water in a spray bottle and went to town on the glass.  Just a segue way here but the way that most cleaning solutions are designed to work is that you apply them, then leave them to sit there for a small while before wiping away.  This gives time to sort of soak in, and get the job done.  Anyway, I left my vinegar/water solution to sit for several minutes, then got in there with one of those slightly rough cleaning pads, scrubbing through the solution and really putting some elbow grease into it.  Next step was to rinse with clean water and then wipe down with a dry towel.


Our glass was pretty terrible, so it took a few more sessions with the vinegar but I can report back that our screens are now transparent again and our shower feels sparkly clean (and smells vinegary fresh!).  I also feel good that I used a natural solution so didn't contribute anything extra down the drains that shouldn't have been there.  Win, win all round.


What's your best natural cleaning solution? 

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