Rusk Pro Elements Keratin Smoothing Treatment Review+

Hey all! It's time for another review with my favorite beauty blogger Recessionista! If you're new to my blog, we've actually done this before. See our reviews on Sebastian Potion 9, and Joico K-PAK Reconstruct. I love doing stuff like this, it's so much fun! The product I'm doing this time is Rusk Pro Elements Keratin Smoothing Treatment and she's reviewing One 'n Only Brazilian Tech Keratin Smoothing Treatment, which is basically the knock off of this product. And I think it's brazenly obvious that this is a knock off considering the packaging is almost exactly the same...but whatevs! Anyway, check out her review, and YOU decide which one is for you!

This smoothing treatment is "a deep-penetrating treatment formulated with natural keratin, vitamins and proteins to help improve the strength of hair. Formulated for chemically or color-treated hair. Helps protect hair against heat during thermal styling. Keeps hair smooth and shiny." Interesting fact: both bottles say exactly the same thing. Even in the same font. Well anyway, that's mostly a bunch of nice words, but it is actually a great product. It smooths hair without leaving it feeling heavy or dirty. Let's take a look at the ingredients:

Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Wheat Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Shea Butter, Grape Seed Oil, Macadamia Seed Oil, Honey, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol.

And the list de-fluffed:

Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium-91, Cetrimonium Methosulfate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Hydrolyzed Oat Protein, Honey.

Before I say anything, let me just say I'm in looooove with how this smells. It's a coconut lovers heaven! Plus the scent lasts throughout the day without being obnoxious, I love that! :D

Okay so, basically what we have is some excellent conditioning silicones, emollients, and humectants. I've talked about a lot of these already, so I'll discuss some of the more uncommon ingredients. Behentrimonium Methosulfate is an emulsifier used to combine (emulsify) water and oil. Quaternium-91 is another excellent conditioning agent that softens hair and protects color. Keratin and Hydrolyzed Keratin are hair proteins that act like the same kind of protein found in human hair. There is some debate on whether or not they actually work, but they certainly don't hurt a product. And then there's honey. Not only is honey the only food in the world that doesn't spoil, it also has a myriad of uses - it's used in cooking, skin care, haircare, and more. In haircare, it's a humectant used as a moisturizing and conditioning agent, and as a thickener.

Who would I recommend this to? I think all hair types can benefit from this product, especially if you have a problem with smoothing and frizz control. Also, Recessionista pointed out that if you're having problems finding a leave-in smoothing product, try this! It rinses out of your hair and works just as well as a leave-in product! She also pointed out that the directions are extremely vague: "Apply to clean, damp hair. Massage in thoroughly. Leave in 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse and style." Yeah, THAT'S helpful. Well, if you want my opinion, I'd use this as a deep conditioner maybe every other time you shampoo your hair. You don't want to use it too much because it might over-condition your hair. I'd say when you use it, apply it in place of or after your normal conditioner and leave it in for the full 3 minutes (or more if you'd like). Personally I leave my conditioner in for the remainder of my shower, but that's just me.

Rusk Pro Elements Keratin Smoothing Treatment comes in a 150 g / 5.3 oz bottle and retails for around $16. Again, check out Recessionista's review and compare them for yourself. I'd say we both had similar experiences! How about you? Have you tried either the Rusk or the One 'n Only? Comment and let me know your experience!

Also, don't forget to enter my contest to win a Pink Hana Flat Iron! It's open for three more weeks, so tell all your friends! And take care of your hair everyone!

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Rusk Thick Review

Hello all! It's review time! Today I'm reviewing Rusk Thick - Body and Texture Amplifier from their Designer Collection. I have to admit this is one of those products that, had it not been included in a gift set (see here), I probably wouldn't have tried it. But it was, and I'm glad I did. You can definitely feel a difference in your hair when you use it, and I'd definitely suggest it to anyone with fine, limp hair looking for a little more oomph!

Taking out all the fluff, we're left with: Water, SD Alcohol 40-B, Polyquaternium-11, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Panthenol, Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate, PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether, Quaternium-26, Olealkonium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Benzophenone-4, Propylene Glycol.

I like that Thick doesn't have a lot of fluff in it, but I don't like that it contains alcohol. I'm praying cosmetic chemists will find a reasonable substitute for it soon, cos even though it's not the worst ingredient ever, it's not the best either. Oh well, if you're reallllly against alcohol in hair products, move on. If it's worth anything, I really have not found this product to be drying at all, but to each their own...

Moving on, Polyquaternium-11 is a fixative used in hair products to add shine with a slight hold. Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (wheat turned partially to water by means of hydrolysis) replicates the strength and elasticity found in healthy hair. Panthenol aka vitamin B5 moisturizes hair and plumps it up, making it feel thicker and look healthier.

Dimethicone + meadowfoam seed oil = Dimethicone PEG-8 Meadowfoamate. Meadowfoam seed oil comes from the seeds of the Alba plant; it is a very rich emollient, popular because it absorbs into skin very quickly. It conditions very well and adds a lot of moisture to hair. PPG-20 Methyl Glucose Ether + Quaternium-26 are other good, conditioning emollients. Olealkonium Chloride is used to up the viscosity of a product, and can also be used as a mild cationic surfactant. Polysorbate 20 is an emulsifier, which if you're new here means it basically makes all the ingredients work together and not separate. Propylene Glycol is a humectant. Humectants draw in and seal moisture in your hair + skin.

Even though Thick contains alcohol, it more than makes up for it by including all these conditioning ingredients. I personally like it, because it can be layered with other products without weighing down your hair, and you honestly just need a few spritzes all over to feel the effect. As for the scent, I can best describe it as smelling... fresh. It just has that nice, fresh hair product smell. I can't really describe it any better lol. I like it, and I think you will too, so go on - give it a shot!

Rusk Thick comes in a 6 fl oz. / 150 ml bottle, and retails for around $13. There are lots and lots of reviews coming soon! So sit tight, have a good weekend, and take care of your hair! ;] ...read more ⇒

Rusk Being Smooth Cream Review

Hello all! Today is my first time reviewing a Rusk product - Rusk Being Smooth Cream. Being is a collection of texture products from Rusk, and I actually got this in a duo with Being Wild Paste - as seen in my HUGE HAUL! post. Being Smooth is a very concentrated smoothing cream that silkens, softens, and polishes. When I say very concentrated, I mean very, verrryyy concentrated. A pea sized amount is seriously all anyone needs. Let's take a look at the ingredients, shall we?

Water, Mineral Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, Olive Fruit Oil, Petrolatum, Polyquaternium-37, fluff ingredients, preservatives, etc...

Honestly? Not the nicest ingredient list. Mineral Oil and Petrolatum are both petroleum derivatives and can be kind of heavy on your hair. Obviously this product is for people who need like, heavy duty smoothing in their hair (i.e. very coarse, thick, damaged hair). Emulsifying Wax NF, or polawax, is used in oil-in-water emulsions, lotions, and creams. It keeps the two from separating, along with Polyquaternium-37. Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters are water soluble emollients that provide excellent smoothing and conditioning with pretty much any product. Olive oil is actually really good for your hair; it's one of the few natural oils that can penetrate the hair shaft and condition from within.


Below are pics of the actual product. The consistency is pretty smooth, like conditioner, and it's a minty green color in contrast to the bright pink packaging.. However, the scent is... odd. It doesn't smell bad... and I don't hate it... but I can't put my finger on what it is. It's kind of, I don't know, earthy I guess? It almost kinda smells like pine, but not quite. Gosh I just don't know... if anyone's ever used this (or even smelled it) comment and tell me what you think it smells like. I'm stumped.

So anyway... it's not my favorite smoothing product in the world, because the hair types you can use it on is pretty limited - but when it works, it works! If you've got some super rough, coarse hair and you're shopping for a new product, give this a shot. Fine to normal hair... there are other products out there that aren't so heavy, but will still give you smooth hair. But like I said before, a teeny bit goes a very long way! Even the amount in the pic is a bit much, so remember that!

Rusk Being Smooth Cream comes in a 150 g / 5.3 oz tube, and retails for around $10. Well, that wraps up this review! I hope you all have a happy Friday, and a great weekend! Take care of your hair! =) ...read more ⇒