BEST OF BEAUTY

When you want to know the best, you go to the experts. We consulted four beauty professionals, who shared their favorite products. Now you know their secrets to getting the look.

The beauty industry never stops trying to lure you into buying new primping products. With each season comes a slew of new lip glosses, eye shadow palettes and hair products that promise to do the kind of things miracles are made of. Consumers find themselves swimming in a sea of claims and cures. The never-ending dilemma seems to be which to pass up and which to convert to.

We’d like to ease the stress of such life-altering decisions. Here, we provide you with opinions from industry professionals. These are the people who know the products inside out and have cut out most of them to provide clients with superior service. Take a look at the products that make their best of beauty lists.

• Shampoo: Kerastase Bain Chroma Riche, $32, Kim Vo Salon at Mirage. If you’re going to invest in your color you should invest to help protect it.

• Conditioner: Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure BC Hairtherapy Repair Rescue, $15, Color at Caesars. You will feel like you’ve left the spa every time you use it.

• Hairspray: Paul Mitchell Worked Up, $14.95, A Robert Cromeans Salon at Mandalay Bay. A great nonsticky spray that is totally workable with a brush.

• Volumizer: Nexxus Root Exxtend, $11.99, Ulta. Really creates fullness without the residue.

• Masque: Natures Miracle $6.99, sleekhair.com

• Pomade: Tancho $12, joybeauty.com. A Japanese product that is pure vegetable oil with lavender that is great for shine.

• Straightening Product: Phyto Phytodéfrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm, $26, Sephora. Great for control without leaving any residue or greasiness.

• De-frizzer: Bed Head After Party $17.99, Walgreens. Controls the flyaways for silky, smooth, shiny hair.

• Curling Iron: Hot Tools curling irons, $42 to $49.99, Ulta. They heat up fast and they do the job.

• Flat Iron: Chi flat irons, $149.95 to $194.95, Beauty Center. The ceramic plates protect the hair from damage and they evenly distribute the heat for sleek, shiny hair.

• Blow Dryer: Ergo, $249.95, beautychoice.com. So great for a professional looking blow dryer that works just as well.

• Beauty Secret: Celebrities only wash their hair every three days or so. This helps encourage the natural oils to penetrate and rehydrate the hair. This is the trick used to keep color lasting longer.

• Can’t Live Without: Kim Vo Dry Serum Perfect Polish, $55, Kim Vo Salon at Mirage. The leave-in serum is weightless and reshapes dry, frizzy mops into silky, shiny locks.

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Hair Care Challenge: Ojon vs. Giovanni

I don’t spend as much time or money on makeup as I used to, and I have settled into a skin care routine that I like, but the one thing I continue to experiment with is my hair. It’s been long, short, layered, bobbed, colored and straightened, but the one thing that never changes is the frizz. Boy, do I hate that frizz! For probably 3-4 months I have been consistently using Giovanni Smooth as Silk Shampoo ($7.99 for 8.5oz) and Smooth as Silk Conditioner ($7.99 for 8.5oz), and for the most part I have been happy. The pair deal pretty well with my frizz, the ingredients are more on the natural side (which I really like) I have to admit I was pining for something a little more luxurious and pampering, and somehow I found myself  one day looking at hair care.

I explained to the saleswoman what I was looking for, and she enthusiastically escorted me to Ojon Shine & Protect Shampoo ($22 for 8.4oz) and Shine & Protect Conditioner ($24 for 8.4 oz). She swore that Ojon is amazing, that she uses the products herself, and so on and so on. I think they must be paid to say that stuff. I was compelled by the promise of super shiny and frizz-free hair, so I bought them both.

After about two months using Ojon, I have to say that the difference between my hair on Ojon and my hair on Giovanni was not all that noticeable. I also blew through the Ojon conditioner, as it is lighter and more fluid than the Giovanni. At $24 a bottle, I hoped it would last longer. I still have a ton of shampoo (you only need a little), so I continue to use it but I pair it with the Giovanni conditioner, which I now buy in bulk at the store for $8.99 per pound! I guess this is the best of both worlds, but once the Ojon shampoo is gone, I will be refilling my empty bottle with bulk Giovanni shampoo. Ojon was fun to try, but for the price and what it does for my hair, I am sticking with Giovanni.

Shu Uemura Art of Hair Shape Paste

We love everything about Shu Uemura’s new hair line, from the sophisticated, minimal packaging to the refreshing floral scents. This paste gives hair shape and definition without that dreaded crunchy feel.

ban de terre’s NEW Prime Time™ Camomile Styling Foundation

First let me say that this styling product lives up to its expectations. As with all ban de terre botaniceuticals products, this one is no exception to the rule. Three participants from our office took samples home and all came back reporting great results. While not overbearing, the botanical fragrance alone of this styling product makes it even more of a pleasure to use. As what woman doesn’t love fragrance! The product also added incredible shine and silkiness to ones hair without weighing it down like some products. It was also great to use prior to blow drying and it appears to also minimize the appearance of split ends.

This products a 10 out 10!

Potent- Natural- Nourishing-Revitalizing

Summer is usually associated with sunburns, humidity and unruly hair…until now. New Prime Time™ Chamomile Styling Foundation by ban de terre is designed to address common hair problems we all deal with during the warmest months.

Prime Time™ Chamomile Styling Foundation includes breakthrough full spectrum sunscreens which protect har from UV damage and increases the longevity of colored hair. This multi-functional lotion detangles and primes the hair’s surface, making the application of styling products easier to get maximim results.

ban de terre’s four signature botaniceuticals, magnolia bark, black currant, wild jujube, and goji berry, are ethically harvested and combined with the purest water to deliver the highest quality benefits intended by nature. Magnolia bark soothes and protects from environmental aggressors with rich essential oils. Black currant revitalizes dry and lifeless hair with nourishing vitamins A, C & E. Wild jujube delivers intense moisture and protection. Goji berry has a unique combination of amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that provide powerful anti-oxidant benefits.

Protect hair from environmental elements, prevent damage, and make styling easier with Prime Time™ Chamomile Styling Foundation.