Hello Ms Liz and all the readers :) I hope you could answer my question. I recently tried another variant of shampoo kasi I was getting tired of the scent of the old one. I just started two days ago and just today I noticed a few bumps on my forehead near the hairline. I don't know if it's the shampoo or the hormones as my period's approaching. I just wanna know how I can avoid getting serious breakouts caused by hair care products in the future and how to distinguish them from a normal breakout. Thanks! - Nerys

Hi Nerys! This is an excellent question because I feel that a lot of us may be unaware that hair products are as guilty of causing breakouts as skincare. Thing is, whatever's applied there and on our scalp can easily migrate to our face! When I was younger i would ALWAYS get pimples and I can never tell what causes them. Until I switched to my current (and unglamorous) shampoo - Head and Shoulders - the pimples did not stop.

I invest in good skincare but so far there is only one shampo that doesn't break me out after regular use. So yeah, this is pretty important! I've gone through a LOT of breakouts caused by hair products, so my advice is to observe a new hair care product closely the first couple of weeks.

So how will you know if you shampoo is breaking you out? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you usually break out on those sections of your face/body? Usually, breakouts caused by hair products happen on the chin and near the hair line. If you don't normally get pimples there, then it's likely your new hair care is causing it.

Even if you're breaking out somewhere else, it might be because your hair tends to touch that area (like the cheeks and back). 

2. Is it the only new thing you're using? I strongly recommend using new products only one at a time so you can isolate any effects you get from them. I know how exciting it is to use new things all at once, but a bit of restraint and patience will save you a lot of trouble and backtracking in the long run!

We already know that we need to exfoliate and/or have a facial regularly. All that dirt, oil, dead skin, and makeup builds up on the surface, even if we already use facial wash everyday. It's the same with our hair. We use shampoo whenever we take a bath, right, but we also need to "deep clean" our tresses like we do our face. Not a lot of people know that!

Which begs the question: what should we use to "deep clean" our hair? Answer: clarifying shampoo! This type of shampoo is usually meant to be used only once or twice every week, to remove whatever residue is left by our shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. The formula has more intense surfactants to help wash off the gunk, and has no conditioning ingredients that may deposit even more gunk. 

Love this Celeteque Clarifying Shampoo (P200), it works and it smells nice n' clean. 

A clarifying shampoo can thus feel drying, which is why we should limit its use to once or at most twice a week. It's the same reason we're cautioned against using exoliators regularly.

So! When do you need to use clarifying shampoo? What are the dead giveaways? Here's five!

I hate to think of myself as a hair expert because my hair (scalp, too) and I ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE. You hear that, hair? You’re a crazy piece of dead skin. Sometimes I feel like I want to shave you off and just wear a wig 4evr. Yes, that’s a threat. You better not forget it.

Anyhoo, I’ve been sticking to only one shampoo for most of this year - Head & Shoulders, so boring I know, but it’s the only one that doesn’t break me out. Every time I try a new shampoo and it seems to not give me pimples I get all excited. Finally, something that doesn’t dry my hair like crazy! Could it be the one? But it never is. 

This time I’m really liking something from a brand that I have tried and enjoyed before - Sebamed. I've reviewed the facial wash and shampoo if you remember! I like Sebamed's products because they're formulated for sensitive skin; they're are gentle while still being effective for babies and adults. Sebamed used to be hard to find before, but now you can spot one in major Watsons branches. There's a prominent display in SM Aura Watsons.

Okay, let's talk about the Sebamed Repair Shampoo. It's meant for dry, stressed, and damaged hair. I don't think of my hair as damaged because I barely style it, but it is very dry and very stressed. The Repair Shampoo helps a ton! It moisturizes, cleans, and softens my hair.

Most shampoos, hair conditioners, and toothpastes have sulfates (or listed as sodium laureth sulfate), which is a cleansing agent that gives such products a rich lather. It has gotten a bad rap in the past few years due to rumors of it causing cancer and other skin maladies, but according to my research, the worst it can do is irritate sensitive skin or give you diarrhea if you ingest it. There's not much difference between using products with and without sulfates - except for the slightly higher price tag since the alternative ingredients cost more. Oh and less suds!

"Sulfate-free" does not necessarily beget a better hair product, however, if you have sensitive skin like I do then it may be a safer choice. :) My current hair buddies are the L'Oreal EverStrong Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner (P449 each), and true enough they haven't given me any breakouts or dandruff. I finally decided to use them after I had my hair colored!

The EverStrong line is 100% sulfate-free, 100% vegan, has no harsh salts, and contains natural botanicals (whatever that means). Okay even if I sound cranky I swear I love them. :P They smell like rosemary, quite herby and aromatic! The shampoo has a rosemary and juniper fragrance, while the conditioner has mint. It even feels cool on the scalp.

If it's a hair product that says "fine hair" and "shine" then you can count on me to try it. My main hair concern is how flat and thin it is, and on top of that it looks dull. So when I received the Kérastase Cristalliste Bain Crystal Shampoo and Lumiere Liquide Serum I knew they would be well worth the risk of breaking out (I get pimples from hair products).

Indeed they were!

Let's start with the shampoo. The Kérastase Cristalliste Bain Cristal Shampoo (P1,200) is for fine, long locks and promises free-flowing and lightweight hair (btw there is a variant for thick hair). True enough it doesn't weigh down hair - it feels quite like baby shampoo, as a matter of fact. A more fragrant and expensive version at that.

What the Cristalliste Shampoo does that baby shampoo doesn't is it removes product build up like a dream. Do you ever feel like sometimes your hair is so greasy and heavy even though you wash it every day (or every other day)?

This is where I start talking about some of the events that I've attended these past few weeks. This blog doesn't exist in a vacuum after all! :P One of the parties I've been to lately is the launch of the reformulated Kerastase Chroma Captive Line. It was held at The Goose Station in The Fort, where the dreamy Chef Rob Pengson prepared a special three-course meal for the guests.

Here are pictures and information about Chroma Captive (must-try if you have colored hair)!

Chef Rob 

Sophie, me, Rowena, Nikki, Kim, and Jen. Always nice to see everyone!

If you have inflamed or overly sensitive skin, it's best to stop using normal drugstore shampoos with creamy textures. That's not a professional opinion ha. It's just common sense. :) Most drugstore shampoos are formulated to be aggressive with too many active ingredients that may or may not be hypoallergenic to you. Better bet on a clear shampoo specifically tailored for sensitive skin such as the VMV Hypoallergenics Essence Clark Wash (P800)!

The VMV Clark Wash is a hair and body wash for those with medically-managed conditions (such as psoriasis, rosacea, and dermatitis) or those who have easily irritated skin (acne, random rashes, itchiness, etc.). I used this for a few weeks and it worked pretty well for me! I didn't break out (of course) and it made my hair soft and manageable - compared to similar shampoos that is.

Let me tell you about my hair care routine before! I shampoo and then...that's it. I normally don't wear conditioner unless my hair is feeling dry (maybe once a month?). As for styling products, I just use serum and then mousse when I'm going somewhere important.

I make a conscious effort to keep my hair low-maintenance because my scalp is very sensitive, and besides, all the hair care products I've used in the past simply don't do much for my unruly, curly hair. But! All that changed when I started using the Bed Head Tigi Styleshots Hi-Def Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. 

Bed Head had an event for bloggers at Basement Salon a few weeks ago, which is where I first experienced their products. Allow me to tell you why I LOVE my Styleshots Hi-Def Curls set. I have photos to prove it, too.

What I love about the product

• As promised, the shampoo and conditioner defined my curls and lessened frizz. My hair also feels smooth, soft, and bouncy instantly after I use them. Like I just came from the salon.
• Smells phenomenal! Hi-Def Curls has this sort of fruity candy scent that really stays until I wash it off.

Did you know that what you put in your hair can make you break out? The usual culprits are hair styling products, but shampoos and conditioners can also get to your face and cause pimples or irritation. That's why it's important to pick hair products that work for your skin, not against it.

You already know that I love the Sebamed Face & Body Wash because it's great to use when my skin is being extra sensitive, dry, or just plain breaking out. I recently got hold of its perfect partner, the Sebamed Everyday Shampoo! 

So what is it? The Sebamed Everyday Shampoo is an extra mild cleansing product for your hair. If your skin is sensitive, irritated, or inflamed, this is a good alternative since it calms the skin down.

Last July 14, Avon introduced its Advance Techniques hair care line to the press. The event happened at the plush Marriott Hotel, where the whole ballroom was transformed into a salon supervised by Lourd Ramos, makeup counter with pro MUAs, and a studio where Jay Tablante took everyone's photos. It was a beauty addict's paradise!

Everyone got a wash and blow dry - of course, all products used were from the Avon Advance Techniques line

Jay Tablante doing his magic

The svelte and style savvy Theresa Herrera hosted the program. Avon Director Ashley Ferguson flew in to introduce the star of the show, Lotus Shield, while Sen Yang, a Senior Manager at Avon's Global Research Center, went on a video conference call to talk about the technology behind Lotus Shield.

I had very high hopes about the Human Heart Nature Natural Moisturizing Shampoo (P44.75) and Conditioner (P49.75). Just a couple of washes using both products left my hair feeling soft, shiny, and less frizzy. Of course, the fact that these two are completely natural and safe to use (no pthalates, parabens, SLS/ SLES, formaldehyde, and other toxic stuff) added to the appeal.

I also loved the texture of both products - the shampoo was delightfully foamy while the conditioner was creamy and smooth on my hair. I only had to use a little to do the job.

As much as I want to really love these products though, I got quite a few pimples while using them.

It's quite silly to wear makeup during a vacation, unless it's the type where you're going to meet a lot of new people you expect to see more of in the future. Why wear makeup when you should be spending time exploring the place right? I brought a bunch of makeup but I only used the concealer, powder, and eyeliner during my trip to Bellarocca. The goal is to just chill.

I used a nifty pouch from Estee Lauder. It can house my stuff securely without having them bump around too much.