Friday 31 August 2012

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Rose and Lavender Prince's Trust Special Edition


A few days ago I posted about this Special Edition Cleanse & Polish which will be available from the 6th of September. Liz Earle has been working with Rebecca Taylor, one of The Prince's Trusts young entrepreneurs to give the legendary Cleanse & Polish a new twist. Rose and Lavender essential oils have been added to create this special edition and it also comes in a 150ml pump tube instead of the usual 100ml. The design is completely different. The pale greeny/blue has been swapped for crisp white with a gorgeous purple, pink and silver design on the front.

All the hardcore Cleanse & Polish fans needn't worry, it hasnt changed. Its the same as its always been but with 2 new essential oils added. Its still the best cleanser out there for removing eye make up and will be brilliant for use at bed time thanks to the lavender.

By purchasing this product, £2 will go towards supporting The Prince's Trust's vital work with young people.

The Prince's Trust Special Edition Cleanse & Polish will be available on 6/9/12 directly from Liz Earle and Liz Earle stockists.
*PR sample

Review: Beever Daily Revive


Beever Daily Revive*

First things first - the name cracks me up! Yes I'm immature and easily amused. I'd never heard of Beever untill a few weeks ago but its a professional hair care brand with a whole host of hair care products for both men and women. Beever teamed up with a team of top British hairdressers to create a product that would leave hair looking lustrous yet be light enough for everyday use and never leave the hair feeling weighed down.

Daily Revive is a specialist hairspray (not even slightly similar to normal hairspray. Theres no hold etc). After washing your hair and before combing you mist it all over damp hair. It helps to detangle, lightly moisturise and improve elasticity, texture and shine. I'll be the first to admit I didnt believe the blurb about it not weighing hair down. Any detangling/conditioner spray I've tried before has left my hair feeling flat, dull and just lifeless with an icky feel to the touch. Daily Revive absorbs easily and leaves NOTHING behind, no matter how much you spray on the hair. My hair was easy to comb (Tangle Teezer), felt and looked healthy (which it isnt) but the biggest difference I noticed was when straightening my hair. Instead of havin to run my GHDs over and over the same section of hair I was able to get perfectly straight hair just by going over the section once! It can also be left to dry naturally to encourage loose beachy waves and throughout the day if the hair feels like it needs some added moisture.

Beever Daily Revive £10.40 directly form from Beever and Beever stockists

Have you heard of Beever or tried Daily Revive?
*PR sample

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Review: Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer


Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer in Medium 02*

I need all the help I can get with my dark circles. I like my dark circles to be gone! But I also like to highlight the eye area to make me look more awake. Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer comes in sturdy silver twist up pen packaging with a brush on the tip. Its easy to use, doesnt take up much space in your make up bag and is light enough to carry around in your handbag everyday for touch ups. Theres 4 shades in total - Fair 01, Medium 02, Medium-Dark03, Dark 04 so hopefully there will be a shade to suit everyone. My shade is Medium 02 which suits the majority of caucasian skins.

Light Reflecting Concealer is very easy to apply and blend. It blends in with my natural skintone perfectly and highlights without being obvious or sparkly. I apply it under my eyes, inner & outter corners, under & between my brows and above my top lip as I have some pigmentation there. It can also be used to subtly highlight cheekbones but I prefer to use my MAC MSF Soft & Gentle or New CID i-blush for my cheekbones. The product is a lot more fluid than other highlighters of the same type which makes it much easier to work with and another good point is that it doesnt crease.

I've been using YSL Touche Eclat for around 10 years now and wanted to see how Liz Earles offering compared. I love Touche Eclat but like everything else it has its faults and I can see why some people hate it. The main difference between the two is how fluid the Liz Earle version is compared to YSL which makes it easier to work with but it also means its less opaque. I like the packaging of both equally and find them both easy to use. Another big difference is the price - Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer is £15.50 whereas YSL Touche Eclat is £25 but they're also different sizes - Liz Earle 1.5ml, YSL 2.5ml. I always go for the lightest shade in Touche Eclat as it has a lot of pink in it and disguises my dark circles as well as brightening the eye area without being stark. Liz Earle Light Reflecting concealer in Medium 02 is much darker and I cant pick out any pink which is why it doesnt cover my circles just as good as Touche Eclat does. I would definitely go for Fair 01 next time and would suggest others do the same if you're quite fair.

Out of the 2 I prefer YSL Touche Eclat but thats probably due to the fact I've been using it for 10 years so thats what I'm used to but I would 100% repurchase Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer.

Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer would be perfect for anyone who isnt troubled by seriously dark circles, is looking for a product to illuminate their eye area, finds YSL Touche Eclat creases on them or looks too cakey, and anyone who loves expensive looking packaging ;)

Liz Earle Light Reflecting Concealer £15.50 available from LizEarle and Liz Earle stockists.
*PR sample

Instead of doing a separate post I'll just add it on here as I'm sure most of you have read about it already. Theres currently free p&p on all UK orders from the Liz Earle website untill 31st August. And on the 6th of August Liz Earle will be releasing a limited edition Princes Trust Cleanse & Polish! Liz has been working with a young entrepreneur supported by The Princes Trust called Rebecca Taylor. The award winning Cleanse & Polish has been given a limited edition make over by Liz and Rebecca. The formula now includes rose and lavender essential oils. £2 from every Limited Edition Cleanse & Polish sold goes straight to The Princes Trust and helps young people into jobs and training.

I know I'll be ordering atleast one. Will you?

Monday 27 August 2012

Current Hair Care Routine

For Reference: my hair is mid back length | thick | wavy/curly | slightly frizzy | oily roots | dry midlengths/ends | coloured all over (L'oreal Diacolor) | a few blonde flashes (bleach) through the under sections.

I first started having my hair highlighted with a highlighting cap when I was around 11 and stayed blonde untill I was 20/21. Those highlighting caps are the devil! They could be used in the SAW films. Since then my hair has been mostly dark but working in a salon meant I was adding different colours every other week. I cant think of one colour I havent had in my hair but for the last 3 years my hair has been dark brown untill recently when I added some flashes. I think its safe to say my hair has taken one helluva hammering.

If I've reviewed the products I'll leave links to the reviews.

Shampoo

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo: With using hair oil I need a shampoo to remove every trace of build up. This does just that! My hair is left feeling so clean and it doesnt irritate my sensitive scalp as its SLS free. (link)

Jason Smoothing Sea Kelp Shampoo*: Another SLS free shampoo. Adds more moisture than Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo but still leaves my hair feeling clean. (link)

Louise Galvin Nourishing Shampoo For Dry/Damaged Hair*: This is also SLS free so its perfect for anyone with a sensitive scalp. If you have a dry/itchy scalp try an SLS free shampoo instead of anti dandruff. They work so much better! (link)

Conditioner

Jason Smoothing Sea Kelp Conditioner*: Conditions the hair really well but without leaving it flat. I would say any hair type could get away with using this conditioner. (link)

Louise Galvin Nourishing Conditioner For Dry/Damaged Hair*: Same as above. (link)

Evolve Organic Beauty Protein Build Conditioner*: This smells good enough to eat. Its like cupcakes! My hair feels a lot stronger when I use this but it doesnt detangle my hair as well as my other conditioners do so depending on how my hairs feeling I maybe follow with a tiny amount of one of the above conditioners. (link)

Ojon Ultra Hydrating Conditioner: It conditions the hair well but really weighs it down. I've had this bottle for almost 2 years now so I'm just trying to use it up before it goes out of date but I wont repurchase. For me Ojon just doesnt live upto the hype or pricetag.

Weekly or monthly Treatments/Masks

Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil: Once a month I apply this all over my hair, leave on over night then shampoo out in the morning. The oil is solid but melts with the heat of your hands and smells like bounty. :) I got my pot from Holland & Barrett last year and its still going strong.

Louise Galvin Deep Conditioning Treatment*: Once a week I use this beauty and am always amazed at how well it works. You leave it on the hair for 10 minutes then rinse. It detangles every strand of hair and rinses out so easily. (link)

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme*: Once a month I use this in the shower as a colour boost. It only needs to be left on the hair for 3 minutes and adds the most amazing shine. I doubt you'll ever find anything that makes your hair feel/look as healthy. (link)

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment: I dont use this as often as I should because the smell is just too much for me and I'm never amazed by the results. To be honest I'm just trying to use this up now. I've had it for years but wouldnt repurchase.

Hair Oil

Moroccon Oil: I cant not mention Moroccon Oil, its been my main man for the last few years but I'm now at the end of my bottle.

Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection*: This is a dry oil spray and feels so light. It can be used on damp or dry hair. Helps to smooth frizz and protects the hair from extreme heat. (link)

That looks like a lot doesnt it! eesh. I switch up my shampoo/conditioner from week to week, same with the hair treatments and I never use more than one type of oil on my hair at one time. My Tangle Teezer is also a HUGE part of my hair care routine. I would honestly be lost without it and more than likely bald by now.

Do you use any of these products?
*PR sample

Sunday 26 August 2012

Lately I've Been Lovin' #5

Rococo Organic Rose Otto Chocolate: After reading about this bar of mmm-ness on Sandras blog I was sold! While on the Rococo site I ordered a few smaller bars in different flavours - Orange & Geranium, Milk Chocolate and another Rose bar. They're all gorgeous and probably the nicest chocolate I've ever tried. As far as I'm aware its only available from a few stores in London so most of us will have to order online and pay P&P but its worth it.

Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream Bluch in Blossom*: You can read my full review here. If you havent tried these cream blushers from Liz Earle you need to! They're so easy to use, look gorgeous on the skin and 'Blossom' goes with every single make up look.

Gold & White ASOS Boyfriend Watch: I've been reaching for this over my Michael Kors as its so much lighter, I dont feel like my knuckles are going to trail along the ground. Had a look on ASOS but its sold out. I think it looks much more expensive than it was (around £20)

Maganda Mango Flower Lipbalm: Now I dont know much about this brand. I got to try the lipbalm through a RT and follow type thing on Twitter. As far as I'm aware Maganda is a new brand and should have a website up shortly. I cant wait to have a look at all their products if this lipbalm is anything to go by. It smells like a tropical drink and keeps your lips feeling soft.

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 01: I bought my first Lip Perfector back in 09 way before I'd read any reviews (I didnt know it existed) and have been using it ever since. The only reason I bought it in the first place was because Clarins had some promotion on - if you purchased 2 products you got a goodie bag type thing. I think 01 is my favourite shade.

Orofluido Sahara*: You can read my full review here. Brilliant stuff! Everytime I wash my hair I use this and love how soft it leaves my hair.

What have you been lovin' this month?
*PR sample

Black & White Hair Dressing Pomade


Black & White Hair Dressing Pomade*

Wax isnt something that frequents my hair often. Infact I'd never used wax before as its something I associated with balding taxi drivers. You know the ones I mean, they have 5 strands of hair but instead of admitting defeat and shaving them off they insist on combing their beloved 5 strands horizontally across their heads. Anyway, Black & White is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year so I decided to give it a try.

Black & White is a wet look wax so its pefect for not only men but girls with short hair and those who like the slicked back look (think Linda Evangelista). I love that look but my face is way too round for that carry on and to be honest the thought of that amount of wax being in my hair is enough to make me gag so instead I've been using it to define and add texture to my layers. Using a small amount is perfect for me but you can use as much as you like. It was a favourite amongst James Dean, Elvis and more recently Johnny Depp and Linda Evangelista.

Are you a fan of hair wax?

Black & White Wax is available from Boots, Superdrug, Tesco & Sainsburys
*PR sample

Saturday 25 August 2012

Review: Benefit The POREfessional


Benefit The POREfessional is probably one of the most raved about primers out there. The price tag of £23.50 for just 22ml always put me off purchasing as I never really bothered with primers and instead just used my day creams as a base and was always happy with the results but the reason I wanted The POREfessional so badly was because of its promise to minimise the appearance of pores. Does it minimise the appearance of pores? Yes it does, even without applying foundation on top.

My 2 samples came as magazine freebies and they're still going strong. I only use The POREfessional on my cheeks as thats where my pores are more visible so a tube would last me ages but if you plan to use it all over you're face everyday it could get a bit pricey. The texture feels really silky on the skin because of the silicone and helps to make your skin look a lot smoother. I love it so much for the simple fact it helps disguise my pores but in all honesty my make up doesnt last any longer than it would without primer.

Whats your thoughts on primers, do you think they realy help our make up last longer? I'm not convinced.

Benefit The POREfessional available from all Benefit counters and online (link)

Thursday 23 August 2012

Review: Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection


 Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection*

We all love our hair oils now dont we? A few years back I'm sure most of us never imagined we'd be using an oil on almost a daily basis but you cant deny how much healthier they make our hair look and feel, even ones that dont contain any hair benefiting ingredients.

Orofluido Sahara is a dry oil spray for all hair types to protect hair in extreme conditions. It was tested in the extreme heat of the Sahara Desert and helps to protect both the external and internal structure of the hair against loss of colour and dehydration. The dry oil contains Argan oil, Cyperus oil, Linseed oil and solar filters which protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun but it also protects hair against exposure to cold and wind.

Orofluido smells gorgeous, not too dissimilar to Moroccon oil but better. It can be applied to damp or dry hair. I always use it while my hair is wet then once its dry I'll spray more onto my hand and use it on the midlengths and ends of my hair as a serum. It adds an amazing shine to the hair, tames frizz, makes the hair look healthy and feel like silk. I've been using Moroccon Oil for the last 2 years but prefer Orofluido for two simple reasons - its not heavy and I dont end up with any build up. Theres a whole range of Orofuido products including the regular hair oil which I think might have to be mine next.

Have you tried anything from Orofluido? What hair oil are you using?

Orofluido Sahara Hair Protection is available from various online stockist 160ml £13.99 (I found it reduced to £8.79 on BeautyBay)
*PR sample

Finally Using Up Perfume Samples.


I've lost count of the amount of perfume samples I've ended up with this year thanks to beauty boxes, samples with purchases, online orders or just good old freebies from some lovely girls on fragrance counters. The majority of vial samples end up getting passed on to friends/family because I'm so unbelievably fussy when it comes to scents. My fragrance taste changes quicker than the wind and I've even been known to refuse getting into a taxi as the person in it before me had worn such overpowering perfume it knocked me sick. Of course the majority of samples will smell like your grannys granny, especially ones received through beauty boxes (Glossybox) but I've found a few gems I really like and even rediscovered some old favourites.

Heres the four samples I've been working my way through...

Thierry Mugler Angel: Angel was one of my favourites throughout school. I went through it at an alarming rate (if you've tried this you'll know its very strong and should last ages as you need so little) and cant even imagine how many nostrils I must have assulted. I loved it, couldnt get enough but as I got older it became too much and is now a frangrance I put in the 'headache inducing' category. I still like Angel, from a distance. I know theres now a lighter version of Angel but I havent tried it yet.

Narciso Rodriguez For Her: This is one I'd wanted to try for a long, long time and finally got the chance when it arrived in Glossybox. I love it on other people but on me it just doesnt work. I keep using it though in the hope that my body chemicals/whatever change and it somehow smells beaut but so far it doesnt. Its also quite strong and in the heat makes me feel a bit ill.

Flower By Kenzo: An old favourite. I'm so glad I got this sample, I bloody love it! I'm sure I've still got a half empty bottle lurking around in one of my old bags. Flower is fresh and floral without being too floral. Its a lovely summer scent but to be honest I'd probably wear it all year round.

Paco Rabanne Lady Million: I had a squirt of this maybe 2 years ago in Debenhams and really didnt like it at all but now I kinda do. Its strong but doesnt make me want to rip my skin off to get rid of the smell. I've been wearing it quite a lot over the last week but I'm still not sure I'd purchase a bottle.

Whats your thoughts on this lot? Do you own, love, hate any of them?

Wednesday 22 August 2012

Review: Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask.


Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask 100ml £20

Y'know the face we all pull while applying mascara? Yes that one. Well do you ever notice thin vertical lines at the tops of your cheeks/under your eyes whilst pulling said face? I do, its dehydration. I moisturise on a daily basis but sometimes even the thickest most creaminess creams dont help and instead just leave your face feeling and looking like its been dragged along the floor of a chippy. After reading review after review on Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask I decided to go to Debenhams and get me summa that while I had some beauty card points. I think I got it for around £12 instead of the usual price of £20.

Origins Intensive Drink Up Mask is best suited to those with dehydrated skin. I used to get dry and dehydrated mixed up and even thought they ment the same thing but they dont. Its designed to hydrate the skin and make it feel smoother. You can use it twice a week or as needed. I use it twice a week as an overnight mask plus I apply it to just my cheeks every other day while I'm just sitting around the house. The results are pretty impressive and instant, probably due to the silicone but it works and thats the main thing. It smells lovely and fruity but nowhere near as nice as Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel, mmm. The only bad thing I can say is it turns my face into Hive City. A lot of products make me come out in hives, I cant remember a single day I havent had a hive but Drink Up Intensive Mask makes it slightly worse for some reason.

For night time use I dont apply a thick layer as it doesnt really sink in so doing that would be a waste of product and money but even when I only use a thin layer my face still feels tacky and the thought of it rubbing off all over my pillow is a bit gross. £20 for an 100ml mask that actually works is a bargain. If you're seeing signs of dehydration then you NEED this.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask £20 from all Origins stockist

Tuesday 21 August 2012

You're No Good For Me: Collection (2000) Lasting Perfection Concealer.


Todays product is one that I just dont get on with. Its a popular one amongst bloggers and thats the main reason I purchased it. I'm always looking out for good concealers and this one sounded promising as well as being affordable.

I find Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer to be one of the most cakey concealers I've ever tried. I can always tell when one of my friends are wearing it just by the look it leaves on the skin. On me it looks obvious, gathers in any place it can, the shade range is terrible so trying to find a suitable shade is a nightmare and putting it under my eyes is just a disaster. Even just looking at it on the end of the applicator makes me feel a bit ill and cringe at the thought of putting it near my face. Its safe to say I'm not a fan.

What products are often raved about but just dont work for you? Let me know if you're a Lasting Perfection Concealer lover or hater.

See what other product I'm not a lover of here

Monday 20 August 2012

A Bit Of A Hair Hero: Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme


Revlon Professional Nutri Color Cream in shade 513 Deep Chestnut*

New from Revlon is Nutri Color Creme - a treatment colour range available in 11 shades to revive coloured hair that has faded or lost its vibrancy. Nutri Color Cream wont work on virgin hair, it needs to be used on coloured hair but dont worry its not a 'dye' and isnt going to completely change your hair colour. The creme uses an exclusive 3 in 1 formula that combines colour, softness and shine.The colour immediately takes effect by using ionic concentrated pigments. The best part? It only takes 3 minutes.

The creme is packed full of AHA fruit acids to enrich your hairs natural moisture without a heavy conditioning effect. It smells fantastic (reminds me of Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel) and the sent stays on the hair once dry. The shine it adds to the hair is like nothing else. It smooths each and every strand of hair making it look in brilliant condition, even when it isnt ;) Nutri Creme claims to brighten, revive, accentuate, neutralize and correct tones. I can confirm it actually lives upto its claims.

How to apply:
Shampoo hair as normal (skip conditioner) then apply Nutri Color Creme and rinse after 3 minutes

Its so simple to use and because its not a dye you dont have to worry about missing any random bits of hair. After rinsing my hair was so, so soft and tangle free then once dry my colour just looked 10x better but without looking dyed. I used it over my highlights too (I only have a few scattered through my hair) and it helped tone down the brassy look.

If you cant get to a salon as often as you'd like then Nutri Color Creme would be perfect for you. It'd be great to use just before a night out aswell as its so quick to use and improves the overall look of your hair. I received a 100ml tube but its available in various sizes. My hair is very long (mid back length) but I'll get 4 uses from the 100ml tube.

A huge thank you to Catalyst PR for introducing me to this beauty!

Revlon Professional Nutri Color Creme 100ml £10 available from various online stockist (I found it on FragranceDirect 250ml £11.99)
*PR sample

Sunday 19 August 2012

Review: Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel


I'm always banging on about my eye bags. I'm so greedy, not only do I have bags but dark circles and puffiness too. I've lost count of how many eye creams I've tried so decided to go for something a bit different - Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel. I'm not a lover of the ingredient list (paraben city) but I was desperate and willing to try anything.

Prolagene Gel can be used on the face and body. Its a treatment designed to improve skin imperfections and supply our deep tissue with ingredients necessary for the reconstruction of our natural collagen. It claims to help revitalize the support structure of the skin, accelerate the skins renewal process, increase tone & firmness and diminish unsightly marks.

As I've already mentioned, the reason I got this was to see if it would help to firm my eye area but I'd also heard it can be used over the entire face so thats exactly what Ive been doing. Day and night I'll apply a thickish layer around my eye contour and allow it to sink in (which it does really quickly) then apply it to the rest of my face really concentrating on the jaw area in the hope that somehow my round chubby face will end up with a chiseled jawline. I know thats never going to happen but hopefully it'll prevent the dreaded jaw sag. The gel sinks in leaving no residue behind and theres zero roll off. If there is then you're using too much. Depending on how my skins behaving I'll either wear it on its own during the day or as a serum and layer my moisturiser over the top.

Has it helped my eye baggage? I dont think so but, and its a big BUT! I've noticed it helps fade spot marks. I'm a squeezer, I cant help it and as a result I'm left with red marks months after the spot has gone. Within 2 days of using Prolagene Gel the main red mark on my chin had faded dramatically. So even though Prolagene Gel didnt do what I'd hoped it would I'm still getting some benefits from using it.

Have you tried Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel?
If you know of any miracle eye cream to help my bags then please let me know.

Decleor Prolagene Energising Gel 150ml £36.52 from QVC

Saturday 18 August 2012

Review: Liz Earle Healthy Glow Cream Blush


Healthy Glow Cream Blush in Blossom £16.50*

This year Liz Earle launched Liz Earle Colour - a range of make up essentials to enhance your skin rather than mask it completely. You're not going to find crazy, over the top shades here as all shades are wearable and suitable for women of any age.

I've loved Liz Earle for many years now with my favourite products being Cleanse & Polish, Botanical Shine Shampoo and Instant Boost Skin Tonic. I couldnt wait to see what the make up range would be like but I have to admit I wondered if it could be as good as the skin care range. Its not often a brand can be good at everything and even though theres some products from Liz Earle that just dont suit my skin/hair its a brand that can do little wrong.

Healthy Glow Cream Blush is a dinky 2g size. The compact is sturdy and comes complete with a mirror. Its the smallest blush I've ever had but that suits me fine. I've never finished a blusher before and actually prefer this size plus it doesnt take up much space in your make up bag. The shade I received is Blossom 'Old rose. This subtle vintage rose is easy to wear and gives an understated blush to most skins from pale to light olive'. The pigmentation is really good but can be sheered out to give more of a glow than an actual blush look. Theres tiny flecks of shimmer that help add to the dewy/healthy look but the shimmer isnt obvious once on the skin.

Healthy Glow Cream Blush is exactly how all cream blushers should be. It adds radiance to the skin, makes you look a lot fresher and keeps its dewy-ness without being tacky, greasy, or slipping off your face. Within a few minutes it sets and lasts a full day on me. I cant think of a single bad point but I imagine the size might put some people off.

Have you tried this or anything from Liz Earle Colour?

Healthy Glow Cream Blush in Blossom available from LizEarle
*PR sample