Kérastase’s newest mission is making dull hair shine again with its technologically advanced haircare range called ‘Aura Botanica‘.

Aura Botanica line takes care of your hair and environment thanks to a high percentage of raw natural materials, all chosen and produced responsibly. Today’s review is double to welcome two new products recently launched by Kérastase. Welcome to Aura Botanica with its Bain Micellaire, the new oily shampoo, and Soin Fondamentale, the deeply moisturising treatment.

Kérastase synthesises Aura Botanica with this slogan: ‘WHEN NATURE BECOMES A REFINED EXPERIENCE‘.

This high-impact sentence hits the point: the Aura Botanica line consists of products rich in natural and ethically picked raw ingredients. Each Aura Botanica has a precious scent and a very elegant packaging.

Aura Botanica plays a strong role in the environmental protection with an average content of 98% of natural elements, ethically sourced oils (i.e. its hand-pressed argan oil) and, last but not least, its silicone, parabens and sulphates-free formula.

Kérastase Aura Botanica, luxury and fair-trade haircare for dull hair reviewed by Valentina Chirico

Hair by Kérastase – Make-up by Marc Jacobs Beauty (Highliner Matte Gel Eye Crayon in Mist Me? #55, Air Blush Soft Glow Duo in Line and Last Night #502), Avril Le Mascara bio, Viva La Diva Move Me Jungle eye kit (Tahiti), Touch in Sol One Second Vivid Lip Crayon in Tulip Pink #4

Kérastase Bain Micellaire and Soin Fondamentale are the first two steps in Aura Botanica hair care routine. The Bain Micellaire by Kérastase is a shampoo that promises to clean hair and scalp with a luxurious formula in a gentle way by leaving a weightless sensation (a ‘nude’ after-feel), detangling and giving dull hair a natural glow. The formula has been designed to control frizz for 72 hours and to moisturise the hair for 48 hours. Is all that glitters gold?

Kérastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire and Soin Fondamentale. The detail: packaging and label

THE PRODUCT: packaging

Kèrastase Bain Micellaire is a shampoo that doesn’t sound nor look like any regular shampoo; its name gives you some vague clues: it’s oil! It’s contained in a 250ml, amber bottle with a metallic cap. The cap has to be unscrewed, making the product practical to use in the shower.

Formula and texture:
Kérastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire has an oily yet light texture; it results very delicate and doesn’t strip away your hair natural moist. The Bain Micellaire acts thanks to the micellar technology but it isn’t a watery product. Kérastase’s newest shampoo is a golden oil with a formula rich in 96% of natural key ingredients: fair-trade Samoan coconut and argan oils, sweet orange oil.

Fragrance:
The scent of Kérastase Bain Micellaire is elegant as its packaging. Coconut and sweet orange notes combine together to create an aromatic and spicy composition with an extremely light floral touch, but here nothing prevails. It’s an Oriental fragrance.

How to use:
This oil-shampoo has to be applied onto wet hair and scalp, then massaged as a normal shampoo to create an airy foam. It cleanses without over-drying the hair but, in order to ‘purify’ a very oily scalp, it needs up to three applications. It doesn’t foam quickly; for a ‘squeaky clean’ sensation one has to repeat shampooing over and over again.

Kérastase Soin Fondamentale is the ‘intense hydration’ conditioner for very dry and dull hair in the newly released Aura Botanica line.

THE PRODUCT: packaging

Aura Botanica Soin Fondamentale is a moisturising treatment, it’s so rich that it could be a hair pack! It’s contained in a large 200ml, amber tube with a metallic cap. Exactly like the Bain Micellaire, its cap is unhandy.

Kérastase Aura Botanica luxury and fair-trade haircare for dull hair. The detail: packaging

Formula and texture:
Kérastase‘s Soin Fondamentale is a dense, yellowish cream that melts with your body warmth and turns into a rich oil which envelops your hair. Its formula is free of silicones and sulphates and is made up of 96% natural ingredients: fair-trade Samoan coconut and argan with sweet orange oil.

Fragrance:
The fragrance of Kérastase Soin Fondamentale is refined: aromatic and Oriental. Compared to the Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire – although they are similar in the olfactory category and uplifting sensation – the sweet note seems to prevail, perhaps it’s the coconut. The brand describes its Aura Botanica scent poetically as ‘an aromatic experience, the Sweet Orange Essential Oil offers uplifting notes of citrus and herbs, balanced with Damask Rose Floral Water for a hint of soothing florals‘. It’s difficult to describe ‘Aura Botanica’ fragrance(s) but, when combined together, they seem to evoke incense.

How to use:
This Kérastase moisturising conditioner should be applied and massaged onto damp hair, after the Bain Micellaire, and left for 5 minutes. It’s a rinse-off treatment and can be enhanced with some drops of Kérastase Concentré Essentiel.

Kérastase Aura Botanica Soin Fondamentale deep hydration treatment. The detail: formula and texture

In my opinion, Aura Botanica Soin Fondamentale has an agreeable scent which relaxes my nerves and slowly dissolves. It isn’t overwhelming. Kérastase Soin Fondamentale rinses off with ease and leaves my hair feathery light, easy to comb and smoother to the touch.

Kérastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire and Soin Fondamentale combination passed my test and kept its promises at my first try.
Indeed, my hair is light and soft, less frizzy; I could clearly notice a ‘natural‘ glow and my mahogany colour – from a previous experiment with henna – is intensified.

Yes or no? Here for you the pros and cons of the two pieces from the Aura Botanica line by Kérastase…

BAIN MICELLAIRE

PROS:

it doesn’t dry the hair,
it leaves the hair light and soft,
it has a delicate scent.

CONS:

it needs more applications,
its packaging isn’t functional or practical,
it has a high price.

SOIN FONDAMENTALE

PROS:

it hydrates intensely,
it untangles,
it restores softness,
it gives a natural glow.

CON:

its packaging is slightly unhandy.

These two Aura Botanica products by Kérastase seem to have been designed to blend perfectly together for formulation and scent – which is the hardest part in products – so that they really create a ‘luminous aura‘ around my mane!

Where to find Aura Botanica by Kérastase?
Aura Botanica is already on sale: in any Kérastase official hairdresser, at online at Kèrastase and on Amazon. Aura Botanica can be quite expensive but this is what you expect from a professional, high-end brand. Prices vary: Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire is 43$ in the US and £21.20 in the UK, smaller sizes are available in the American e-shop (24$ for 80ml). Kérastase Soin Fondamentale costs 45$ or £24.40, 24$ for the smaller tube (75ml). (Shop the Aura Botanica by Kérastase line? US shop – UK shop)
Prices vary in Euro as well: in Italy, the shampoo is 13€, while the hydrating conditioner costs 26,20€.

Details: thrifted silk shirt + Oltremare handmade necklace
Oltremare is a green workshop based in Castellabate (Salerno-Cilento-Italy) where shells, natural stones and driftwoods receive brand new life as recycled home and fashion accessories

In my humble opinion, Kérastase Aura Botanica Bain Micellaire has a very high price for the amount of product one should need every time. It runs the risk of being quite expensive. Despite the great results, it isn’t a favourite hair product of mines. Aura Botanica Soin Fondamentale isn’t ‘essential‘ (read fondamentale) but it’s worth the price: it’s a sort of cuddle for my stressed hair; it’s pleasant to use and last longer (both as effect and quantity).

Which one? If I had to choose one for my followers, I would recommend Kérastase Soin Fondamentale without doubts. Used alone, it gives that natural light and shine ‘Aura Botanica‘ takes its name from.

The luxury of a professional coiffeur arrived home with Kérastase and its new ‘Aura Botanica’.