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You know how some soaps and shampoos lather up super easily, and leave your skin or hair feeling squeaky clean? Yeah, that’s actually a result of foaming surfactants (like sulphates) that causes more damage than you think. When it comes to hair products, the friction caused is detrimental to the integrity of the hair cuticle, and strips hair of its natural moisture.
But we still need to clean our scalps and hair, especially in this grimy city environment and humid tropical weather. The solution? A cleansing cream. The L’Oreal Paris Extraordinary Oil La Creme Lavante 3-in-1 No Foam Cleansing Cream ($21.90), to be exact. Why? It cleanses, conditions and treats hair in just one application without the use of any harsh surfactants, silicones, parabens or artificial colourants. Instead, the formula contains a blend of three flower oils each to help get rid of all the gunk in your hair while intensely nourishing your locks so that hair feels refreshed yet soft and healthy.
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There are currently four variations:
Brown, for very dry to damaged hair, with a floral woody fragrance. Sunflower oil deep cleanses scalp and hair, flax flower oil conditions hair without weighing it down or leaving it greasy, while tiare flower oil treats your mane and provides a healthy shine.
Gold, for normal to dry hair, with a floral fruity fragrance. Sunflower oil deep cleanses scalp and hair, flax flower oil conditions hair without weighing it down or leaving it greasy, while coconut oil nourishes and repairs dry locks.
Pink, for frizzy, dull hair, with a rose fragrance. Sunflower oil deep cleanses scalp and hair, flax flower oil conditions hair without weighing it down or leaving it greasy, while French rose oil smoothens out stubborn flyaways or frizziness.
Green, for weak, fragile hair, with a lavender and orange fragrance. This is because the product contains essential oils from French lavender and sweet orange rind, which thoroughly remove impurities and protects and nourishes hair.
This is to be used in replacement of your shampoo, conditioner and treatment routine. Apply 3-4 pumps on wet hair, spread evenly from roots to tips and leave on for 2-3 minutes before rinsing off. For oily scalps, use it as a 2-in-1 conditioner and treatment instead, as the formula might be too rich for the roots of your hair. However, it is still recommended to use a scalp scrub once a week to exfoliate.
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We brought it home to try and this is what we have to say.
VERDICT: This feels like a conditioner. Comb it through your hair evenly and remember to massage your scalp while you’re at it so that you get the product into every nook and cranny. I have shoulder length, partially bleached hair, but this product easily gets rid of all the tangles that I’ve accumulated throughout the day. After just one round of application and rinsing, my hair feels as soft as if I’ve just gone for a salon treatment. Except this only took five minutes. And my hair stayed smelling amazing throughout the day, until my next wash. I kid you not. – Dione Chen, beauty writer
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