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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Review: New Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher

There seem to be lots of argan oil options surfacing in the drugstore haircare aisle lately, but when I spotted this new product by Creme of Nature at Walgreens recently, I was instantly drawn to it because I've had good luck with Creme of Nature products in the past.

Back when I was on a serious sulfate-free shampoo kick in the early 2000s, Creme of Nature's shampoo (which has since been discontinued in favor of their newer organic line) was practically the ONLY sulfate-free shampoo available at the drugstore. Boy have things changed since 2000, huh? It seems like every other shampoo released these days is sulfate-free.

So anyway, based on my previous positive experience with Creme of Nature, I decided to purchase their new Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher at Walgreens:

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher
(retail: $8.49 at Walgreens, 4 oz)

Just a note: I had no idea until I visited the Creme of Nature website that Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher won a 2011 Essence Beauty Award.

The only other argan oil product I've ever used is the One 'n Only Argan Oil from Sally Beauty. That product retails for $9.49 for 3.4 oz, so the Creme of Nature Argan Oil is a better value cost-wise.

Ingredient-wise, it's always a good idea to check and see how far down on the ingredients list argan oil is actually listed, so you know exactly what you're paying for.  The ingredients list for the One 'n Only Argan Oil has argan oil pretty far down on the list:

Ingredients for ONE 'N ONLY ARGAN OIL:
Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Fragrance (Parfum), Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Yellow 11 (CI 47000), Red 17 (CI 26100)

But as you can see in the following pic, argan oil is the third ingredient in the Creme of Nature version:


I like that Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher also contains ingredients like olive oil, honey and aloe leaf extract. All things that my hair seems to love!

So how does this product work for me? I LOVE IT and here's why:

As many of you know, my hair is long, wavy and color-treated. It's fine in texture but I've got lots of it. My roots are oily and my ends are dry and damaged, and I'm also prone to frizz.  That said, I absolutely love that this product in no way contributes to my already-oily roots. In fact, I can skip a day of washing and not see any increased oiliness in my root area, which is a small miracle. Even though I take special care to only apply this product to the lower 75% of my hair (I never, ever apply oils or serums near my roots), that usually doesn't stop products like this from migrating toward my roots and making my hair a greasy mess. Not so with this product!

The texture of this oil is so light and easy to work with. The problem I had with the One 'n Only version was that it was so heavy, to the point of feeling tacky when I poured it into my palm. This oil is light, slick and  easy to distribute into my wet hair.

Another thing I love is the fragrance! To my nose, it smells like fresh (not toasted) marshmallows! I love that.

According to the directions, I've been applying this product to my hair right after my shower every day for the past two weeks. Because of the lighter texture, I find that I can even be a little heavy-handed and use more than a drop of two of this product and it doesn't weigh down my hair. I've been using about a nickle-size amount in my palm (remember, I have long hair) and that seems to be the magic amount to cover the lower 75% of my hair. 

According to the label, this oil "instantly shines, smoothes, strengthens and controls frizz." I would say that it definitely adds shine and smoothness, though I can't confirm that it's actually helped strengthen my hair at this point.  As for controlling frizz, I find that it helps with that more if I apply it to my hair when it's dry. My ideal method for using this product:
  • Apply a nickle-size amount to the palm of my hand, rub my palms together and distribute through the lower 75% of my hair immediately after washing and conditioning.
  • After my hair dries (I usually allow it to air-dry), if I noticed any frizzies, I put a drop or two in the palm of my hand, rub my palms together and work my hands through any frizzy areas of my hair.
This method seems to work beautifully for me, and it leaves my hair soft, silky, shiny and frizz-free throughout the day. It also makes my hair smell amazing and I have noticed that my hair doesn't tangle as much throughout the day, which is a nice added bonus.

FINAL VERDICT: If shine serums or other argan oils have weighed your hair down in the past, I think you might be pleasantly surprised by this product. Even with my fine hair, it doesn't weight it down like other oils do, yet its light texture does not seem to diminish its effectiveness. I love that I can use more than a few drops at a time and not risk having greasy, heavy hair, and I absolutely love how soft and silky my hair feels when I use this oil. The fragrance, the performance and the price make this one a new staple in my haircare routine. I will definitely repurchase.

Have you used Creme of Nature haircare products? Do you own anything from the new Argan Oil line? Do you think this oil sounds like something that might work for you and your haircare needs? I'd love to hear from you!

You can purchase Creme of Nature Argan Oil Gloss & Shine Polisher at Walgreens. To see the full Creme of Nature Argan Oil collection, click here.
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25 comments

  1. Hey G! This product sounds Fab!!! Thanks so much for your great review. My hair is very long and highlighted, so I am always looking for products to add shine and combat the dryness. I have tried the one you mentioned from Sallys and just thought "meh", but this one sounds much better! Thanks so much!!! :)

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  2. sounds a lot like Moroccan oil but so much cheaper. going to have to give it a try!

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  3. I guess you can put a minuscule drop of anything in a bottle of silicones and name it after the small drop (ala the One 'n Only Argan Oil). I'm intrigued by the Creme of Nature one. And Argan Oil is way at the top... not after the fragrance like the one from Sally's! I'll have to try this out. Thanks G!

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  4. Hopefully they will come out with a shampoo and conditoner with argan oil. Do they sell this stuff at Sally's too? It seems like ive seen it there before.

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  5. Just remember that if it has silicone, and this does, you need sulfates to remove it. If not it will build up on the hair and have a reverse effect blocking moisture retention and leave you with dryer hair than you started with.

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  6. I recd a small btl of this as a gift with purchase w/ a bottle of their conditioner. I loved it. my hair is fine, but the ends get dry as well. Awesome review G! Thank you for taking the time to share.

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  7. I've tried MoroccanOil (expensive!), the One 'n Only version, and Sexy Healthy Hair Soy Renewal (my favorite so far). I'm going to look for this stuff next time I go to Walgreens, the smell alone makes me want to try it.

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  8. Pammy: You are so welcome! I'd love to know what you think if you get it. :)

    The Budget Babe: Oh, I'd love to know what you think of this compared to Moroccan Oil!

    Jessi: You are so right! Please keep me posted if you try it? Thanks hun!

    ashwillis83: That would be great, wouldn't it? I don't think I've ever seen Creme of Nature at Sally, but maybe?

    Just Cynthia: Yep, I've mentioned here in the past that it's good to use a nice clarifying shampoo about once a week if you're using silicones, so thanks for the reminder! :)

    1xellus1: You are so welcome, and I'm SO glad to hear you're loving this too, honey!

    Ruby: OK, since you've tried all of those other products, I would LOVE to know what you think of this one if you get it! Could you keep me posted? I'm so curious as to how you think they compare! :)

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  9. I might try this one! Im biracial and I have super curly hair but the texture is no where near coarse so it's hard to find a happy medium with so many products out there.

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  10. I've been wanting to try this for the longest, heard nothing but goood things about it. Picking it up ASAP. Great review!

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  11. This sounds wonderful! I've used the One 'N Only for a while now and loved it in the beginning but lately it's kinda made my hair look dull and lifeless. I'd been curious about this one ever since I saw it a few months back and you sold me on it based on the scent description alone but that fact that the ingredient list has quite a few healthy things and not cone after cone like the ONO one, that's really nice.

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  12. I'll put it on my Walgreens shopping list for this Sunday, I hope I can find it there! I'll post what I think if I'm able to find it. :)

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  13. G, i looked and it is on Sallys webiste. $7.19 with Beauty Club card. Ive got the deep conditiong mask from Creme of Nature with Aragn oil and i got it at Sally's but i haven't tried it yet. But I definetly wanna try this.

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  14. Does anyone know of a good protein conditioner? i was thinking about trying Joico kpak or bed head dumb blonde. Has anyone tried these. I tried Joico a few years ago and it seemed to work when my hair was in bad shape. I just need something to strengthen my hair a little.

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  15. I cannot remember the brand, but I picked up a bottle of serum at Walmart that claimed to have argan oil in it, and it wasn't even listed on the ingredients. There is one that Ulta sells, and it smells awful. It's glass and in a box. I smell everything before buying it, so that was a no go.

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  16. Ashwilis: Sallys sells Joico kpak in their GVP brand. I think I actually saw it reviewed on this blog

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  17. This sounds amazing, I will def. be trying this. Only drawback for me is the marshmallow smell, but if it works I can get over that!!

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  18. perfect timing- my hair is pretty long now (for me anyways!) and it's been feeling dry at the ends and oily at the roots. it's wavy, colour-treated, and i've been alternating shower days.

    i'll look for this after work!

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  19. @ashwillis A good protein conditioner/treatment is Organic Root Stimulator Hair Mayonnaise (whole egg protein and olive oil), Aphogee two step protein treatment and there's One n Only protein masque. I've personally used the first two but not the last. The Aphogee one is to be used once every other month (LOTs of protein) and must be followed up with the moisturizer.

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  20. I was just at Walgreens too! :) I've seen this new Creme of Nature (CON) line and have yet to use it. I know my little sister uses the CON Argan Oil Replenishing sheen spray and hasn't had any bad things to say. Maybe I'll buy one of those single packs of intense conditioning treatment. Hmmm

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  21. Hi ladies! It's Heather, a PR rep for Creme of Nature.

    G, great post. We're thrilled that you love the Gloss & Shine Polisher!

    Ashwillis83 -- Creme of Nature extended the line of Argan Oil products to include a SULFATE-FREE shampoo, larger size of the conditioning treatment (it's awesome!), oil treatment (that's less expensive and as good as similar products), leave-in conditioner and oil moisturizer.

    Thanks, again, and happy Friday!

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  22. Oh, and let me mention that the new products are starting to hit shelves now. They can be found at mass retail and drug store outlets and beauty supply stores nationwide.

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  23. Argan oil may be the third ingredient, but that just means that the absolute highest amount of argan oil in the product is 30-something percent. And I'm sure it's actually a lot lower. I'd rather just buy argan oil and know I was putting the good stuff on my hair. Not to mention the FIRST ingredient is Cyclomethicone, a known toxin.

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  24. @Creme of nature: Im glad to see a sulfate free shampoo. Ill have to try it. Ive got the packet of the conditioning treatment but havent tried this. But im definetly gonna try the argan oil serum. Maybe walgreens or Sallys will put these products on sale. I know Sallys does alot. Do u know when these new products will come to Sallys or Walmart? Oh and does Walmart carry the argan oil hair polisher?

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  25. @sheridan_amazon: Thanks for the recommendation. Ive tried the aphogee several times when my hair was in really bad shape and it did help alot. i dont think im in need of that much protein yet but im gonna ask my stylist. I got some its a 10 with keratin to try. I heard its awesome.

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