As you may know from some of my previous reviews I loved the original Herbal Essences range and was not impressed when they were changed. I tried a few but, like a lot of other people, couldn't find one that I liked so I stopped using them and started trying other brands.

For my birthday last year my sister gave me the matching shampoo and conditioner in the Dazzling Shine fragrance. I have to say that I was really surprised when I tried them as they are really good - mind you it does say 'new formula' on the front of all the bottles so I think that the powers that be have actually listened to all the dissenting voices and done something about it.

Anyway, when it came to Christmas and hubby was buying lots of stocking fillers for me, he decided to stick with the Dazzling Shine so that he could be sure that it would be one that I liked. What he didn't notice was that instead of buying shampoo and conditioner he actually bought the conditioner and a bottle of the 2 in 1 combined shampoo and conditioner.

I don't usually use the combined ones, as I like to shampoo my hair and then put on conditioner for a few minutes to really give my hair a boost, but I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth (I can't afford to at the moment!) and try it.

The product is called Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine 2 in 1 Moisture Balance Shampoo and Conditioner. The current full price for a 400ml bottle in Boots is £3.49 although there is an offer on at the moment and it is half price at £1.74 which is very good value.

This shampoo and conditioner, like the others in this range, is in a green, wavy, see through plastic (recycleable) bottle with a pale green lid with a bright green top and it stands the right way up with the opening at the top. The writing on the front of the bottle tells us that it contains 'shimmery pearl and rose extracts for normal hair'. It also contains berry, tea and orange flower extracts so it does smell really nice. The liquid inside the bottle is pale green and looks creamy like a conditioner rather than clear like a shampoo.

On the back of the bottle in very tiny writing are the instructions for use and the usual warnings telling you to be careful not to get any in your eyes and to wash it out with clear water straight away if you do. It is pretty standard stuff really.

As with the others in this range the flat top of the bottle has a small dip in one side. The idea is that you press the dip so that it rocks slightly to reveal a small hole in the opposite side. When you invert the bottle and squeeze the liquid comes out through the hole. Initially I found a problem with this because, when I am in the shower and obviously not wearing my glasses, I keep thinking that the liquid comes out of the side of the lid where the little dip is as it looks as though it should. I did waste a bit in the beginning but I have got the hang of it now! LOL!

As I said earlier the shampoo and conditioner is pale green and creamy in consistency. It smells fresh and flowery but not too sweet and I find that I don't need much to create a lot of thick creamy lather. I massage the lather into my hair and scalp when I first get into the shower, I then wash myself as normal finally rinsing the lather off my hair at the end of my shower. It rinses off easily and leaves my hair feeling really clean and ready for drying and styling.

Of course there is the added advantage of only carrying one bottle around which would be really convenient if you were going swimming or to the gym.

In the past, when I have tried the combined shampoo and conditioner, I have found that my hair looks flat with little shine as though I have just used shampoo alone and not a very good one at that!

This product was actually a revelation to me! I found that after I had used it and then blow dried my hair it looked and felt great. My hair had a lovely shine and it felt soft and, importantly, that feeling lasted! I was amazed!

So there I am - I didn't like the new Herbal Essences and I didn't like 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioners - now I am recommending Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine 2 in 1 Moisture Balance Shampoo and Conditioner I can hardly believe it myself!