Q: I have very oily hair and am looking for a shampoo and conditioner that was recommended to me, but I can’t seem to find it. The brand is Giovanni, and the fragrance is tea tree. Sure hope you can help. Thanks. L. Carroll, email
A: Geovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating shampoo and conditioner are formulated without parabens, lauryl or laureth sulfate. Certified organic, the shampoo and conditioner feature a delicate hint of menthol from rosemary, peppermint and eucalyptus. You’ll find both in 8.5 ounce bottles for $8.99 each at Sprouts Farmers Market, 1845 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta, 404-751-0605.
Q: Have you ever heard of monk fruit? I tried it as an alternative natural low-calorie sweetener called Nectresse. I think the taste is so much better than stevia. Nectresse is no longer made, and a few leftovers are available on the Internet at crazy prices. As an alternative, I’m looking for Monk Fruit in the Raw, but have not found a local source. Any ideas? Thanks so much for the help! Fran Russell, email
A: Monk Fruit in the Raw sweetener is available at several Target stores, including the location at 3535 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, 404-237-9494. A box of 40 packets sells for $2.99. Monk Fruit in the Raw is a zero-calorie sweetener with two ingredients: dextrose and monk fruit extract — in that order. Monk fruit, also known as lo han quo, is a small round fruit that’s been used for medicinal purposes in its native China for centuries. The sweetener made from monk fruit is between 150 and 200 times sweeter than sugar.
Q: I started using a BB cream when they got popular several years ago. The one I love is L’Oreal Youth Code light. A little goes a long way, so I haven’t had to shop for it for a year or so. Now I can’t find it, and the L’Oreal site says it’s discontinued. Please help me get a couple of tubes. That should last me until I find something else I like as well in a few years. Thanks so much. Ellie Jordan, email
A: Ellie, this is one of those situations that when you find your BB cream, you should probably try to buy as much as your pocket book will allow because two things are going to happen. First, as the stock dwindles, the price for the cream is going to soar. The second event will be even worse — there won’t be any L’Oreal Youth Code BB cream left to sell at outrageous prices. I found a pretty good deal for you on www.amazon.com. You can get two tubes, 2.5-ounces each, of L’Oreal Youth Code BB cream light for $17.50, not including shipping. I believe that price is a bit less than what it was selling for when it was available in stores.
You can stop looking:
Over the past few months, several readers have been searching for Gain or Bounce dryer bars, which were solid bars of fabric softener that attached to the inside of the dryer. The bars eliminated the need for dryer sheets or liquid softener. While the bars, clearly, had some rabid fans, there weren’t enough to keep them in production. According to a Procter and Gamble rep I spoke with, the bars were discontinued last April due to a lack of interest from consumers. Of course, there are a few bars to be found on sites like Amazon and eBay, but the prices are downright silly. Would you really pay $100 or more for a pair of dryer bars that lasts up to six months?
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