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Saturday, October 2, 2010

It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum Review

Hey everyone! In my huge hair product menagerie, the products I seem to have the most of are serums. Most of them are either good, okay, or not that great. But there are few that are truly GREAT! It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum falls into that category. Seriously, I probably have over 20 "serum" type products, and I really only love a few of them.

As a brand, It's a 10 kind of annoys me with their overuse of the word "miracle." All their products are miracles... I mean, it's a great brand, but their products certainly aren't miracles... they're just effective. But somehow, I don't think "It's Effective" would have the same brand power. Also, the claim that every product "does 10 things instantly" is a bit bloated. So if anyone with any pull at the It's a 10 company is reading this, your products are great! You don't need all these fluffy claims! Seriously, It's a 10 could come in packaging a la Living Proof or evo, and still fly off the shelves. Word of mouth is the best kind of advertising: the kind money can't buy.

Am I getting preachy? Sorry. Moving on, let's look at the ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Argan Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit (Buriti) Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance/Parfum.

De-fluffed:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Argan Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit (Buriti) Oil, Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer.

See? Not a miracle, just a quality product. Cyclopentasiloxane conditions and protects hair, and as a base helps to break up other heavy silicones like dimethicone. C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate is an emollient (moisturizer). Argan oil is in everything lately! I've reviewed I think three products that contain it! It's chock full of vitamins and it's great for your skin and hair. Buriti (bu-REE-chee) oil is insanely rich in emollients and essential fatty acids, not to mention it has more beta carotene than carrot oil! I've decided that Buriti oil is definitely not fluff. Hydrogenated Castor Oil/Sebacic Acid Copolymer moisturizes, and regulates consistency and viscosity of products.

Now just like I did with It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product, I'll go through the 10 claims individually:
  • 1) Adds shine: Definitely!
  • 2) Controls frizz: Definitely!
  • 3) Seals the cuticle: I'm sure it helps to smooth the cuticle, making hair feel softer and reflecting more light (#1).
  • 4) Nourishes the hair: With both Argan and Buriti oil, I'm sure your hair will get some nourishment!
  • 5) No build up: I'm not touching this one. Some say cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone are water-soluble, depending on the formula, but others say they're not. You decide.
  • 6) Resists humidity: Kinda sounds like #2 + #3 combined to me, but I have to agree.
  • 7) Smoothes the hair: See #3.
  • 8) Protects color: Yes. The combination of natural oils and conditioning silicones will for sure protect your color.
  • 9) Alcohol free: Definitely! Though that's more of a selling point, not a claim.
  • 10) Creates slip: See #1, #2, #3, and #7.

See what I mean about some of the claims being... err... a bit "stretched." Doesn't mean it's a bad product, nor does it mean it's a bad company. I just think they try a bit too hard. Just a bit. Oh! And the scent! It's...divine...like some exotic Brazilian perfume. I wish I was better at detecting fragrance notes, so I could describe it better, but you have to smell this stuff! I think you'll agree with me. Let me put it this way: it's like a deeper, more sensuous version of the way the leave-in fragrance smells. That's like, the only way I can describe it while making any sense at all.

It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum comes in a 4 fl oz / 120 ml bottle, and the MSRP is $25.

Another review... done! Take care of your hair, and try and stay warm! It's getting chilly out!

3 comments:

Kamani said...

Thanks for this review. I've really been wanting to try some of the Miracle 10 products.

Anonymous said...

Hey, I love the way you wrote how to pronounce buriti. :)
I am a Brazilian and this is a very common plant in the North of the country (it is a palm tree). I might be wrong, but I think the oil is extracted from the fuit.
Ow, and the pronounciation in Portuguese is more like Boo-ree-tee (with a hard "R", just like in Italian language).
Great blog! Loved and bookmarked... will be here often.
Best,
Lu

annonomus said...

I have a question.. does this product work like the product by Redken called "Snap".. it's great unless you use too much of it then it SNAPS your hair.. I've been using this product every day for 8 months or so.. love it but I've noticed my hair starting to have horrible breakage a few months back..I don't use any irons on my hair just a blow dryer and a big round brush.. I have broken hair all over adn I don't use this product sparingly.. I use alot of it. I buy a new bottle (large size) once every month.. Has this been the cause of my breakage.. too much Miracle 10?