For the past 3 years, my hair care routine has included consistent use of the award winning purple shampoo I formulated. It has been my go to solution for combating unwanted brassiness on the blonde ends and maintaining the vibrancy of my silver top. I’m sharing my insights into the benefits from a formulator’s perspective and also what I’ve learned from years of use.

Understanding Purple Shampoo

Purple shampoo, with it’s distinct hue, is not just a colorful addition to your shower routine and it should not be used by all hair colors. Composed of purple pigments, it serves a crucial role in neutralizing unwanted tones in light colored hair. Specifically, if you are blonde seeking to banish brassiness or you are someone with silver or gray hair looking to enhance cool tones, purple shampoo might just be your secret weapon.

How Most Purple Shampoo Works

There is a science behind color theory, and conventional purple shampoo works to deposit chemically enhanced purple pigments which will neutralize warm tones. So the orange brassiness that sometimes happens with blondes will become a cooler, ashy tone. The yellowing you see on gray or white hair will become cooler and brighter.

A secondary point of most conventional purple shampoos is to remove the yellowing buildup that becomes visible on lighter colored hair. This tends to be approached as most conventional  clarifying options are-with more cleanser. Unfortunately, this leads to over drying and stripping your hair along with depositing the purple pigment. Many people give up on conventional purple shampoos due to the drying effects and also the potential sensitivities from the chemically enhanced color used or their hair can get oversaturated with too much purple color leading to dullness.

How Vibrant + Violet is Different

The purple shampoo I formulated is an incredibly gentle blend of cleansers knowing that blonde hair and aging silver or gray hair can be a bit more fragile than other types. The violet color comes completely from plants so it is more gentle than it’s chemically derived counterparts and will not “stain” your hair as can happen with some conventional purple shampoos. The Vibrant + Violet line has 3 products that work together as  a system. I really encourage you to experiment with each of these products to find the best clarifying, color deposit and conditioning regimen that works best for your hair. 

Different hair types absorb pigment differently-so while the shampoo alone might be enough to brighten some hair types, others will need the clarifying effect and the deeper pigment that is offered by adding the Violet Booster into the Vibrant + Violet Shampoo. This violet powder can also be added to the purple conditioner and left on as a mask to increase tone on the ends of hair.

I also encourage you to incorporate another set of protein rich shampoo + conditioner into your routine to maintain the health of your hair. Vibrant + Violet intentionally does not contain any protein to allow for better pigment absorption. But your hair needs protein for maintaining moisture, bounce and shine so loop another one of our shampoos into your routine for best results.

In conclusion, my three year journey with purple shampoo has been eye opening! I’m incredibly proud that we have been able to offer a healthy, effective alternative for everyone with a sensitive scalp who can really benefit from looping purple shampoo into their routine. My transition from blonde to silver is still happening and I have been able to embrace it completely by toning and brightening my hair with this system.

Here Are 5 Tips to Care For Your Sensitive Lips.

Here is why it happens, how to prevent it and what to do to fix them.

Why Do My Lips Get So Chapped in the Winter?

The truth is that  cold air doesn’t retain humidity very well. Moist air is usually warm air. So, cold air will pull moisture from the surrounding environment to balance. The result is that your lips tend to lose moisture faster than they can replenish it. (This is happening to the rest of your skin, too).

Add in the fact that:

• Lips have a thinner moisture barrier compared to the rest of the skin 
• Lips don’t contain any oil glands to secrete natural moisture 

You have the perfect scenario for sore, cracked lips. Ouch.

How Can I Fix and/or Prevent Chapped Lips This Winter?

1. Don’t Lick Your Lips

This one is easier said than done, but there are some really convincing reasons why you should avoid doing this. Remember how cold air tends to steal moisture from the surrounding environment? Well, every lick of your lips basically starts a wet-dry evaporation cycle that disrupts the skin’s natural barrier.

Also- saliva contains digestive enzymes so it  is subtly breaking down the lips’ barrier and causing cracking. Trust me, you’re not doing yourself any favors! Stopping the licking cycle  is one of the best things you can do to prevent chapped lips.

2. Skip the Lip Scrub. Instead, Exfoliate Your Lips With a Gentle Sugar Scrub or Soft Washcloth

Instead of a pre made lip scrub full of emulsifiers, preservatives and potentially irritating essential oils, try using a soft washcloth or adding sugar crystals to our gentle raw honey lip mask. These are safe ways to slough off the buildup of dead skin so your lip balm can moisturize more effectively. Both honey and sugar crystals are humectants that draw moisture to the area. That is what helps in healing-plus sealing the moisture in with a balm.

 

3. Check Your Lip Products for Potential Irritants Remember how I said you should avoid potential irritants in your lip scrubs? The same goes for all lip products (like glosses and lipsticks) as well as standard lip balms, too. Avoid using anything that leaves your lips feeling dry or plumping products that cause a tingling sensation. This sensation is actually a sign of irritation, so it’s definitely something you should try to avoid. Some potential irritants to look out for in these types of products include menthol, camphor, peppermint, fragrance, and essential oils.

***Expired lip balms are terrible irritants as well! This is not as common with petrolatum products which never go rancid-but petroleum is also not as beneficial as plant oils. Rancid lip balms will burn and irritate your lips as well as feeling dry and dragging on your lips. 

What turns them rancid? Leaving them places where they will freeze/thaw/freeze/thaw-like the cupholder of your car. Put them in your pocket instead.

4. Protect Your Lips With SPF

Your lips contain fewer melanin-producing cells than the rest of your skin, which makes them more susceptible to UV damage. A lot of people overlook using SPF on their lips, but it’s an important step because it protects them against skin cancer and prevents the breakdown of collagen (which is what keeps our lips looking nice and plump). I suggest applying your mineral facial sunscreen over your lips on top of our lip balm.  This is even more important if you’re into winter sports, like skiing, and you’re consistently exposed to UV rays.

5. Sleep With a Humidifier

Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom can help address one of the root causes of chapped lips in the winter—dry air. By keeping the air moist while you sleep, you won’t have to start at square one each morning, making up for lost hydration. The closer to your bed, the better. 

Also-in case you were wondering, you cannot drink enough water to keep your lips and skin hydrated when the air around you is working against that. Yes, drinking water and keeping your internal organs hydrated is good. No, it will not reach your skin.

 

Sensitive skin requires patience and a proactive approach to avoid irritation and discomfort. Everyone's skin is different, so it may take some experimentation to find the right products and routines that work for you. Go slowly and pay attention to what is working for you.

Facial oils have rapidly gained popularity in the world of skincare, and it's no surprise why. These elixirs offer a wealth of benefits for the skin. But with the ever-growing array of facial oils available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your specific skin needs.

I truly mean it when I say that I have been blown away by the overwhelming support I have received following my home flooding last week. So many people wrote encouraging notes on their orders, stopped by the store, and shared our story. Thank you, thank you

 In case you missed it, Vitamin C-especially in serum form- is all the rage. And while this antioxidant is beneficial for most people, those of us with sensitive skin have to proceed with caution. 

Incorporating facial oils into your summer skincare routine can be a great way to provide your skin with nourishment and help it retain the hydration it needs to look and feel its best. 

Reduce Waste, Earn Rewards – Return Your Refill Pouches and Earn Points Towards Your Next Purchase!

Typically, clarifying shampoos are formulated with a higher percentage of cleansers to remove excess buildup or residue on your hair or scalp. 

What started out as just a few defective shampoo pumps reported by just a handful of people quickly snowballed into a bigger problem. It isn’t that the pumps were locked or sticking. That happens sometimes. This was an issue that I couldn’t quite believe until I saw it happening myself. These defective pumps were just continuously pumping out shampoo when left alone in the shower.

When doing a 1:1 hair consult, it seems like everyone has the same questions. I know that not everyone reaches out when they're wondering about something, so here is a rundown on the Top 5 Questions I get on repeat. It might make you feel good to know that other people are wondering the same thing that you are.

There are so many reasons why we love fruit enzymes for sensitive skin.

Enzyme exfoliation works more gently than acids to exfoliate dead skin cells and speed up the skin’s renewal process. Because we’re all about caring for your skin gently, fruit enzymes are the perfect ingredient.