Biosilk Silk Therapy review

Truth hour. I've used this serum twice with the same results each time, so i'm more than certain things aren't going to change. Now let's see.

Price: Very high. I have the small bottle (50 ml, 2.26 fl.oz.) and paid around €20 for it (26 USD). It's a very high price if you ask me, for such a small quantity. However, a little DOES go a long way. That's the thing about this product.

Consistency: formulated like the greasiest oiliest oil on the face of the earth. It's thicker than a usual oil, almost like a whipped grease, transparent, VERY oily. I get my hands soaked in this every time i handle it. I don't mind, since that's what the therapy is supposed to work like, but you should be warned.

Packaging: quite ok, i like the nozzle, the bottle is whatever, what i don't like is that you have to gently squeeze the bottle to get it out, which can be a nuisance since you're always ending up with more product. Gotta be extra careful with this. Transparent plastic bottle so you know how much you have left. A pump would have probably worked better, but since the consistency is SO oily and you need the smallest amount, i guess squeezing it out and 'personalizing' the quantity is the best. Though you can squeeze more than you actually need. You get my point.

What it says it does: the most effective silk therapy, covers and nourishes the hair shaft, adds shine, protects, regenerates, etc, the usual things you hear about serums. Although this is the most successful and sought after serum therapy ever (studied this aspect so yep, this is supposed to be 'it') so it's supposed to be wonderful. I find that it is...with some noteworthy aspects.

Scent: most people dislike it. It has a pungent smell, roses and powder, granny-like. It's neither overbearing nor light. Tends to soak in the hair so after a good blowdry you might still feel it (i do). I don't dislike it at all, it feels very good to me and my hair. Anything other than 'dust', 'smoke' or 'fries' is more than welcome to leave its olfactory trace on my locks.

What it does:

Now. There are many reasons to dislike this product. First, you can never do good with the quantity. I am amazed at how little i need, and i have long, thick hair that goes below my back. I only need the tiniest amount ever and i'm afraid i'm going to say that i can never do it- dispense the right quantity. Both times a single drop appeared to be too much for my entire hair length, which is quite eyebrow-raising if you ask me.

Another thing is the fact that it gives shine for the first day after use, then the hair gets dull-clearly, it's because the product is too thick and needs to be washed off right away; perhaps it's meant for apres daily wash cure. But they didn't say this. Anyways.

Then, it weighs my hair down like crazy. I used all sorts of serums, mousses, sprays and gels and NEVER experienced flat, dormant hair. It's just stuck to my head, still thick, but lifelessly 'hanging on'. Add this to extra long hair and you've got yourself a mass of thick hair that basically points down and looks pathetic.

One related aspect would be that it makes the hair too soft. Not greasy, but lifelessly soft. It just....hangs, i don't even know how to describe the effect. It doesn't look bad, it's just a change in texture that i notice, and since i like big, thick hair, i'm not pleased with this at all.

Finally, i think we all got it wrong (me and the MUA reviewers that is). This serum is dubbed as a THERAPY product, which means:

a) you have thick, curly, extremely dry hair (not my case)

b) your hair is seriously damaged and craves for nourishment it will absorb (not my case)

c) after a perm, relaxing, permanent dye (not my case)

d) use it as a 'treatment', wash it off the next morning, do the same for about two-three weeks, then give it a rest to see the effects (again, not my case).

Therefore...: This isn't your usual 'after wash', protective serum. It's a treatment and must be used as such. You can't slap it on and go out the door; gotta treat it like a leave-in hair mask or conditioner otherwise you get heavy hair.

It doesn't leave the hair oily (i forgot to mention this), at least it didn't leave mine. But it contributes to earlier oily roots (2 days tops) thus washing my hair was a must. I didn't really like this.

Most of the MUA reviewes were disappointed in this product and i think it's because they didn't need the hardcore, industrial-strength care this serum provides; the positive reviewers were all persons with either thick, curly or permanently treated hair (relaxed, permed, bleached, etc) that needs special care.

All in all, special attention must be paid to this product. I think it's going to last me forever given the microscopic quantities i'm using, and i think it's really the best product ever for dry, brittle ends. Of course it doesn't 'repair' split ends (our old scissors talk...), but softens them and helps in the anti-frizz department as well.

Therefore, be CHEAP with this product if you decide to invest in it or give it a second chance. Be careful, distribute it evenly (the best thing would be to have someone help you if you have long hair like i do), use the tiniest amount and concentrate it on the ends/driest parts of the hair.

 For my hair, the uppercase quantity (a quarter of a drop) is enough for 10 cm of hair ends. I am more than serious, use the smallest quantity you can take out of the tube and gradually massage it into your hair. If you're not sure about how much you need, try squeezing out as little as possible (barely noticeable trace of product would be recommended), blend it in your palms, feel the consistency and the way it slathers itself on the skin and then decide how much your hair needs. Believe me, that's the only certain way to go with this product.

Indeed, if you are in strong need of something therapeutic, then this is the thing to go for. Five stars in this respect.

Favorite Hair Products So Far

Hello again.
This time- HAIR. I've got only one rule i always apply- 'go big or go home'. Seriously :)


I HATE flat hair since i'm a firm believer in the 'your hair is your crown' thing. My natural hair is very thick (thanks to mom&dad), with think, shiny hairs, very full and naturally wavy, so i could never complain in this department. However these products work with ALL kinds of hair, from fine and oily to dry and bushy. Most of them have either been personal recommendations from friends or Makeupalley finds.


Let us proceed.
1. Shampoo and Conditioner:




I have two HG products (so far)- Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and LUSH Big. I know Aussie has two volume-giving shampoos, Real Volume and Aussome Volume. I got the latter because of the daring marketing shoveling down my throat, and i didn't regret. I guess the scent, consistency, price etc are already known by everyone. I love this shampoo because it does what it says- gives great volume, NO tangles (i also have very long hair...yeah), smells deliciously (bubblegum, citrus) and leaves the hair very coif-ready. it can sometimes feel a little crunchy but no biggie- once it dries, you'll notice how ruly it is.

LUSH Big is an excellent product as well. With a couple of problems. The packaging- if you keep this stuff in your bathroom and open it while you're bathing (i.e. duh duh duh) it's humanly impossible not to get the jar full of water. I don't mind it that much because i noticed the water doesn't affect the shampoo in any way, on the contrary, gives a shy start for the salty crystals to soften a bit faster when applied. For those who prefer to keep their things in their natural form, this is going to be a troublemaker. Two- the fact that it made my scalp quite greasy immediately after the first two-three uses, then i got used with it. Buuuuut it was a bit scary in the beginning. My hair was incredibly soft after it dried, i couldn't believe it. The next morning- an oil slick. I don't know whether this tends to happen to everyone because the MUA reviews didn't mention this issue, but it did happen to me...and i wasn't that happy.

My newest shampoo+conditioner find is the L'Oreal Total Repair 5 system. I really like it, and i used to loathe L'Oreal hair products because they never worked for me. This one does, but it's been only a couple of times so i won't swear by it..yet.

Volumizing mousse/products:
Tresemme Volume and Lift Mousse





I bought it by chance and ended up addicted to it. The difference isn't so huge since i already have quite big hair but it's indeed visible, giving an impressive look. The mousse comes in a big bottle with a cleverly designed nozzle (simple and smart to prevent product clogging- two-sided nozzle) and it lasts forever; a little goes a long way. Even if you use more than necessary you will not feel your hair greasy or crunchy. It won't look messy no matter what. I put a dime-sized amount on my fingertips and gently rub it in my scalp with circular motions; i concentrate in the front, the crown and the upper sides of the head, leaving the back untouched, for a more beehive-wannabe effect. I then scrunch my hair with my hands and blowdry it as usual, sometimes turning my head upside down for a more pronounced final effect.
I like this stuff a lot, and it's cheaper than most so-called 'volumizing' products.



In the past there was one product that disappointed me- Schwartzkopf's Osis Dust It Volume Powder. The lovely Lollipop26 blogged about her Punch It Volumizing Powder but i haven't seen the brand in any Swedish store or salon yet. And i'm still disappointed over my Osis Dust experience so i figured why not stick to what i have.

Basically Dust It claims to be a volumizing powder that can help even in oily hair cases. Howeverrr....i just couldn't get over the stiffness of the hair once you've powdered your roots with it; not stiff, as with hairspray, but just harsh, you can't move it around, if you try to brush it it's going to hurt. Then the bottle is so un-ergonomic that you end up pouring the VERY delicate (thus quite runny) powder specifically on a single spot and then good luck distributing it...you have to be either super light handed or have someone help you. Thanks but no thanks. Plus that it costs an arm and a leg, yeah it lasts, but really, NO.

I get my big, healthy and naturally-looking and -feeling hair with the Tresemme mousse, and i couldn't be happier. perhaps it only works because of my naturally thick hair and none of my friends use it, so i can't comment on its universal properties, but it does look and work lovely on me, therefore i'm sticking to it. Plus that i've had the bottle for about 7 months, been using the stuff partly every wash, partly 80% of the time, and i still have way more than half the bottle.

Heat Protective product:
Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist



I was sucked into buying this by one of my friends with gorgeous locks who has never had any problems from any hot tools and her hair always smells amazing. It's not expensive, it's available almost everywhere (except for the US maybe, i think DulceCandy87 mentioned in one of her videos that she purchased Lee Stafford products in London and that she hasn't seen them in her area, California that is), it comes in a lovely pink spray bottle and the scent is delicious and divine- Thierry Mugler, a combo of Angel and something else but i can't tell what. However, the scent is NOT overbearing at all, tones down once the hair is dry and it just delicately lingers around your tresses...which i love. I've also noticed that scented hair products help preventing my hair from stinking up in between washes, so hurray for this one.

This is a water-based spray and i honestly think this formulation is the best choice since you don't risk frying your hair or weighing it down as it might happen with oil-based stuff. I also used to apply Tresemme's Heat Protective spray, and i also like it, but Lee's smells better.

Anti-frizz and leave-in:
Aussie Dual Personality Anti-Frizz+Conditioning Milk



Another lovely product from Aussie. It's not on the pricier side (i think it costs as much as the Lee Stafford spray) and it does work. I found some negative reviews on Makeupalley but honestly none of that happened to me (greasy hair, tangles, etc). It does what it says, basically. A pump or even less suffices my long and thick hair, i evenly distribute it along the entire length of my locks (except several inches closer to the scalp) and i am very happy with it. First, i think it's a great anti frizz since i definitely hate the so-called 'anti-frizz' oily stuff. It never worked for me. This is a cream, a leave-in conditioner that also helps styling your hair because it gives it a bit of body, not necessarily thickness but it certainly helps you style it easier and faster. The anti-frizz properties worked for me (tested in super high humidity) which was enough; i actually purchased this on a rainy day while under depressive feelings due to my ruined coif. The scent is also very pleasant and it goes well with Lee Stafford's spray. Hurray.

Shine spray:
Tigi Bed Head Headrush Shine Adrenaline Mist






A great product. From the cool packaging (a big pink spray bottle with neon green cap) to the lightweight formulation and great shine. It lasts forever as well, i was given this by a friend who owned three of these and this bottle was the one she used the most. I've been using it after every wash and i still have more than 50% (approx.) left. It smells deliciously, the classic Bed Head scent, and it is indeed misty and easy to wear (so to speak). It doesn't make my hair greasy but you have to be careful, read the instructions and spray it from the recommended distance otherwise you'll get oily.

No-no product- Toni&Guy's Shine Spray- basically nicely scented oil.

The spray nozzle is large and you get splashed with a wave of oil that weighs down the hair big time. It smells nicely (think Gucci Rush perfumes) but if you are really going to use this, spray it on your palms and gently run them through your hair. I never spray it directly.

Hair Spray:

Scwartzkopf Got 2 Be 2 Sexy Collagen Life Effect and L'Oreal Elnett spray





Elnett- the cult, as we all know it. A tad granny scented (roses and powder) that fades off. Great anti-frizz properties. The only hairspray that gives TONS of volume and doesn't look like hairspray. Hands down the best available on the market. I can easily brush it off of just brush my hair as i normally do and the volume and body is still there. Good job L'Oreal.

Got 2 Be Collagen spray- okay this is supposed to be a 'lift-it' for the roots, which is why i bought it. I wanted to see whether i can achieve the beehive look or not. I've heard collagen isn't necessarily bad for the hair but it can weigh it down and make it look bleh. It hasn't happened to me yet, although i have to be careful with this one, basically spray from a considerable distance (min. 30 cm) otherwise the hair gets really stiff (but the say it on the bottle). However, this is one of the best hairsprays because it doesn't make the hair crunchy yet it gives it shine and body (+ a liiiiitle bit of stiffness, which i like when i want to fix some curls or a bun).

Boar Bristles Hair Brush



I can't believe i waited for so long before purchasing this! It really untangles the hair, makes it shiny, doesn't break it and removes dirt and dust without the annoying static effect of other brushes. What i most like about it is the natural side- the 100% natural bristles + the wooden handler. A bit difficult to clean because we wouldn't wanna ruin the wood or the bristles so it takes around 15 minutes to get it all washed up and rinsed properly, but it's worth it. I was initially planning on getting a Mason Pearson brush but this stuff is the same at a fraction of the price (i paid the equivalent of 6 euros with a coupon, full price around 12 euros compared with more than 100 euros for a pure boar bristle brush from Mason Pearson. wowsa!).

Tangle Teezer



(i have mine in light purple)
It WORKS. Untangles the hair like nothing else, it's resistant, easy to clean and maintain. The only thing is that i'd rather use it as an 'untangler' only since the bristles are made of plastic and i hate the static effect; plus, brushing your hair with a plastic-bristle brush will seriously deteriorate the hair shaft. I love using it on wet hair, super safe and easy with the tangles. once the hair is dry, insert boar bristle brush here and voila happy hair.

Most Wanted Products (of the day)

Today i gave in and spent rather a bit more than usual for some things that i've been meaning to purchase for a while now but never did, always postponed, etc.



A good highlighter:

It has been a matter of utmost interest to purchase THE highlighter/illuminator, a good product that would become a staple and replace my old sheen stick (unknown brand, i suspect an old Lancome, but i'm not sure). Funnily enough, i've been using this for several years (after i got it in a swap from one of my best friends) and so far absolutely no signs of decay, plasticine smell or changes in consistency or color. It still works great; although there's just a tiny bit of the stick left and all the info has rubbed off, the bar code appears intact :)




This stuff is great- basically a frosted bar of shimmer- though a bit old, quite a little left and gray-pearly toned.



The sheen it gives is fantastic only if applied on made up complexion/eyes; on my bare skin it kind of shows its original silvery tint, which tends to look a sort of cheap-ish sometimes, pretty much faux.



I don't mind it, not at all, i absolutely love it. Nevertheless, given the aforementioned considerations, i figured it was time i got a new one....and the quest began. I started looking for highlighters in all their forms- loose/pressed powder, illuminating stylo (concealer included), creme, stick, etc. I didn't find anything. After a couple of failures (the Clarins Cotton Flower being discontinued in Sweden and the utter failure of YSL Touche Eclat) i entered the Face Stockholm store...and there IT was!

The tiny wonder is a small black lacquer compact with the brand name embossed on the lid, very chic and simple. I love the mirror inside every compact they sell, whether it's a tiny highlighter, a bronzer or face powder. Apparently this is a rather new or Europe-only design of the case since on Makeupalley the product is pictured in a similar packaging with MAC concealers and solid foundations- the ugly, plastic case with transparent lid. Bleh. This is so much better!
I have mine in Dignity, which according to the sales assistant, is their most sold highlighter. The product comes in a variety of 7-9 shades as far as i can remember.

This tiny fellow is so cute and classy i instantly fell in love with the miniature. The creme inside is WONDERFUL. It's a very pale champagne/pearly white with yellow-ish undertones. I absolutely loved it the first moment i saw it. with flash-



-without flash (lamp light)



It's simply stunning. I've been looking for THIS for many many months. Initially i assumed the YSL was going to do the trick simply because everybody raved about it. It just didn't work on my skin (upcoming post).

Dignity is similar to my old shimmer stick with several differences. First off, it doesn't contain glitter. The particles are indeed true light reflecting particles and a lot of shimmer. It's not the rather bulky grained shimmer from the classic drugstore highlighter but a creamy one. It doesn't settle into the fine lines or pores and doesn't look like 'glitter' or 'frosting' at all. I love it.


Biosilk Silk Therapy serum:

This was also another product i wanted to try for a while and i just decided to pick it up, once and for all :) The glorious reviews on Makeupalley and an aficionado friend convinced me. I haven't used it yet but i've applied a little on my skin to feel the scent...and i absolutely love it. I'm surprised by the negative reviews which bashed the scent, on the contrary, i think it's a fantastic, Nivea creme and roses scent that i really really like. It smells like clean, plump rose petals and i can't wait to try it on and see what happens.....


Face Stockholm Liquid Foundation:

After i decided to take a break from my Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation (nice stuff but not so cool shade...upcoming post 2) a new foundation was a must; something non-drugstore, liquid, sheer coverage, very light, that would come as close as possible to my real complexion tone and help it glow...in a healthy way. The Face Stockholm SA claimed this would be the best choice since the Picture Perfect Foundation tends to be quite heavy and more difficult to work with.
The foundation comes in a beautiful, square shaped glass bottle with a black plastic cap and the simple design reminds me of Erno Laszlo's Regular Normalizer.



It retails for 275 swedish crowns (30 € or 24 GBP)and contains 1 fl. oz (29 ml). Rather pricy, but worth it. I haven't applied any of the foundation from this bottle but i've worn it before and i absolutely love it.



One little downside is the absence of a pump and the 'stick system' Revlon foundations used to be marketed with...which i don't really like, but i don't hate either. Compared to Estee Lauder's Double Wear, which comes with nothing, not even a stick to give the feeling you're picking up the product in some sort of way, this is more than ok.
However, as i am going to commit to this foundation for several weeks at least, i am expecting final results and a verdict to take a while...so far i love it, but we'll see how it goes from now on.

Ardell 105 and 116 Lashes:






I never got the '100% human hair' thing about the Ardell lashes and i honestly don't want to give it too much thought. I'm not one of those who would easily wear human hair extensions, for example, but (apparently) i see no problem wearing human hair false eyelashes. These two models are by far my absolute favorites from the entire false lash model plethora i've ever tried (and seen). The 116 are a tad more dramatic due to the more prominent clusters of hairs, which give them an anime sort of look, and are slightly longer at the ends- Sherilyn Fenn eyes guaranteed.



The 105 are natural yet sophisticated because the model keeps it simple (i absolutely hate wacky lashes with sequins, feathers and other stories) and natural with a hint of glamour (the romantic length of the lashes). I don't really like the glue they come with but i have a no-name eyelash glue that dries navy-black so no worries there either. 

The 105- a real disappointment :(

Body America Organics Body Butter in Southern Belle- Peach and Mango



Courtesy of my lovely friend who got this as a gift but is allergic to strong scents...and the perfume of this body butter is more on the stronger side.
I'm really excited to be trying this because the Body America products are 72% based on organic fruit oils. The Southern Belle body butter contains no parabens and is based on organic Aloe juice, mango kernel butter, organic extra virgin coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, shea butter, peach juice extract, cocoa seed butter and glycerin. It's supposed to be a luxurious, deliciously scenting butter that locks in moisture from head to toe, leaving the skin plump and freshly moisturized 24/7.

The packaging- this butter usually comes in a jar but i got the pump version, which is safer, germ and travel-wise. The pump dispenser pushes the bottom upwards so no matter the color of the bottle you always know how much you have left.

While i can't say apricot scent is my favorite, i do like this product because it gradually fades away and leaves the skin gently perfumed with something very similar to one of my childhood's shampoo. Whenever i sniff my wrist i remember my hair scent during my fourth grade summer holidays, and it's a great feeling <3 !!!