Product of the week

I have always been a fan St Ives Apricot Scrub, so you can imagin my delight when I noticed in Superdrug that St Ives have launched a new range facial scrubs. This particular one is a warming scrub enriched with sunflower and chamomile extracts.

Verdict:

This product smells great, it has a very fruity, summery smell. I liked the warming effect and the product exfoliated every bit as good as the original Apricot Scrub. Overall, I would highly recommend this product.

Rating:
5/5

A Great Tan the Safe Way With He-Shi.

With the sunny weather already upon us, the time has come to invest some time and effort into gaining a tan. I’m not talking about everyone rushing off to use the sunbeds, no, I’m talking about faking it all way.

These days there are some pretty good fake tans out available; just follow these simple tips to achieve a golden glow that’s better than the real thing.

1) Use Pre-Tan.

I discovered this brilliant pre-tan from Boots Soltan. It is especially designed to prepare the skin for self tanning. The yellow liquid is filled with lots of tiny exfoliating particles to scrub off any dry skin which may ruin the application of the tan. Simply rub the formula all over the body before getting in the shower, then rinse off. It moisturises too, which is an extra benefit if you are using a self tan product which requires you not to moisturise.

2) Shave.

It’s pretty obvious really, but smooth shaved legs means the application of the tan goes on better and is less likely to streak.

3) Exfoliate.

Sure, you may have already used the pre-tan to exfoliate, but what harm can a little more do. Besides, it’s always good to exfoliate after shaving to ensure your skin is left as smooth as it can be. Use exfoliating gloves with your favourite shower gel to achieve best results.

4) TAN!

Now your all prepared for the tan, it is time to actually apply it. My current favourite is He-Shi’s Quick and Easy Dark Foaming Mousse. As it is a mousse it is easy to apply; just pump a ball onto a tanning mitt and rub into the skin. I love this product as it tans on contact so you can see anywhere you may have missed, meaning no streaks! The formula takes only two minutes to dry, and then you can dress, and guess what, remarkably it doesn’t stain clothing! I have used a lot of tanning products in my time, and I have to say this is the first one I have ever come across which doesn’t ruin my bed sheets. It doesn’t leave a nasty fake tan smell which most others do too.

With this product, the tan takes 6-8 hours to develop; the initial tanning is just to prevent streaks and can be washed off after, revealing golden glowing skin. The tan is deep and very real looking, and lasts for a week. I can’t get enough of it, especially now summer is almost here. There is now no reason to hide away pasty legs, so girls get out your summer dresses and show off those legs.

Product Rating:

5/5

Brighten Up Your Spring With Bourjois So Laque.

Spring is not spring without brightly manicured nails. My current fave is Tangerine Fatal in the So Laque! range by Bourjois. This vivid colour actually does stand the test of time and remains chip-free for days, unlike a lot of other nail varnish brands. The nail varnish is ultra shiny, and perfect for all those hazy, warm days.

Product of the Week

This week we’re going cheap and cheerful with the price, but certainly not with the product!

Baby oil is one of the most easy beauty products to obtain, and can be used for a whole host of diverse beautifying.

The first most obvious benefit of baby oil is the moisturising qualities it possesses. It has been a widely known fact that covering oneself in baby oil when freshly out of the shower leaves skin touchably smooth and soft. It is also much faster than applying lotion. Obviously it takes longer to absorb into the skin, but this adds to the moisturising benefactors of the product. Also, be careful not to get in hair as it can lead to greasy tresses.

Baby oil can be used as an alternative to bath oil or bubbles; moisturising the whole body while you effortlessly lay and relax after a long, hard day.

For an excellent alternative to shaving gel, slick baby oil onto legs before reaching for the razor, and you can guarantee a close, nick-free shave will be had.

Baby oil can be rubbed into nails to moisturise and strengthen them, ensuring good growth.

Finally, baby oil makes an excellently effective eye make-up remover. The formula is gentle enough to use around the sensitive eye area and wipes even waterproof mascara clean off eyelashes. It is recommended that this is done before cleansing as it will clearly leave eyes greasy.

So there you have it girls. For everyone on a budget, baby oil is the best multitasking product you can buy.

Have you got any other baby oil tips and techniques? I’m sure there are plenty more out there!

Product of the week

Lee Stafford Hot Shots 4 Blondes

As spring is fast approaching, one of the most important areas to look after is your hair; there is nothing more appealing than glossy hair glistening in the sunshine. Lee Stafford has produced a series of Hot Shots, an extra step in between shampooing and conditioning. The self heating treatments are simply rubbed into hair and left on for two minutes. What’s more, the heat from the ginger may help improve growth of the hair as well as health.

Hot shots are available for all types of hair; whether you are blonde, brunette, straight, or curly, there is something for everyone. They come in packs of three and are available from Boots and other large beauty stores nationwide.

My Verdict; well worth the extra two minutes in the shower. My looked glossy, felt soft and smelt amazing too.

Give your hair a treat this spring, and achieve the best looking hair for miles around!

Batiste Dry Shampoo With a Hint of Colour

I have always loved the concept of dry shampoo, and there is none better than Batiste, the original perpetrators of the wonderful product. Dry shampoo refreshes hair in between washes. It smells great and also gives an amazing uplift to the roots; I have to admit I sometimes use it just for the uplift.

Anyway, we have all seen Batiste in the shops, and there are always regular new fragrances that keep popping up in the range. The latest to grace the shelves isn’t a new fragrance though. Their next innovation is dry shampoo with a hint of colour; OMG, could this brand get any better? So for everyone else out there who suffers with serious rootage, the answer has arrived.

Verdict:

I cannot fault the dry shampoo itself. As with the others in its range, Batiste dry shampoo with a hint of colour smells lovely and leaves hair looking fresh and clean. The scent isn't as strong as the others in the range, but this isn't a bad thing. I really like the light scent. As for the colour, well it’s obviously not hair dye so doesn’t eliminate roots completely. My roots are quite dark, and it did make them significantly lighter, but they could still be seen. I should mention as well that the colour in the spray easily gets onto clothes, so be careful. It does easily wash out, but it’s not the best look starting the day with yellow smudges on your work clothes.

Rating:

3/5

I am still a major dry shampoo fan, but I personally prefer the scented ones. They cost less and don’t mark clothing.

Roots before dry shampoo.

Length before dry shampooRoots after dry shampooLength after dry shampooLet me know your thoughts on Batiste Dry Shampoo with a hint of colour.

Doubletake Studios

What?

Doubletake Studios is basically a photograph studio where normal girls, and potentially boys too, can go and spend the day getting pampered by professionals, who do their hair and make up for them, before taking professional photos of the outcome. The best thing about these studios is that everything is free; the experience, the hair styling, the makeover, even refreshments are included in the day. The only thing which costs money are the photos at the end, which there is no obligation to buy.

Where?

There are studios located all around England, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Southampton.

My Visit

My friend received a phone call informing her that she had been recommended by another friend for a free photo shoot. They said she was allowed to bring along friend: me. When she tod me about the shoot I was sceptical; whilst I like make up and photography, I don’t reckon myself much of a model, plus things don’t generally come for free in this world, there’s usually a hidden price somewhere along the line. However, she was insistent that the shoot was legitimate, and she really wanted to go so I agreed (after hefty googling of the company which only told me the photos were priced extortionately). So off we went to the London Farringdon studio, me still cautious and determined not to purchase the photos. When we got there everything seemed above board; the staff were friendly and welcoming, taking our coats and offering refreshments immediately. Not soon after we were taken for our hair and make up. I have short hair and sometimes get bored of having it in a straight bob, so I enquired about what other styles could be done. The make up artist told me she could do it tousled as my hair was too short to be curly. She asked me what colour eyes I would like, blacks or more natural browns, to which I chose brown. During my makeover the girl made me feel slightly uncomfortable as she was chatting and laughing constantly to some of the other make-up artists, I felt almost as if I was intruding in their private conversation. The only thing she said to me was that she did make up for some celebrities, but never specified who. After my 30 minutes of being primed, quite excitedly I looked in the mirror, only to find, yes, my hair is after all too short to be “tousled”, something that a make-up artist to the stars should have known. Also, she had done me black eyes too, not brown as I had requested.

The photo shoot was a little better than the make over. The photographer was a nice enough guy; he was chatty and kept telling me my poses were good. The sets in the studio were a bit used though, and the studio was crowded.

Results

After waiting around an hour the photos were ready to be viewed. There were a few nice photos out of them all, but nothing really special. I did like the art they could do which transformed the photo, and I would have been interested to see what I would have looked like after airbrushing, but this could only be done if buying the photos.

Verdict

I resisted the sales woman and didn’t buy any of the photos. They started at £300 which was a little out of my budget, and besides, my hair looked horrific. I have to say they did do a nice make over for my friend; her hair looked pretty and the green eyeshadow the make-up artist chose for her really suited her. She did purchase some of her photographs; the sales woman kept dropping the price until she reached £100 for three which included no airbrushing. They set her up a scheme so she could pay £20 a month until it was paid off. And she had to give a lot, maybe 30, of her other friends numbers away so she could get thi

s deal. Overall, it was a good day out for me and my friend, I wouldn’t necessarily do it again unless I really wanted some photos of myself and there was no other means of getting them. The studios do make money out of the photographs, so anyone planning a visit here should bare that in mind.

*Photos taken from my Blackberry in the bathroom.

Coca Cola Flavoured Lip Balm

Today whilst in the queue at Primark I spotted a Coca Cola lip balm. I was very intrigued and seen as I have an unhealthy lip balm/gloss/stick addiction, I thought I would give one a go and purchase one. I tried the balm immediately and I have to confess I love it already! It tastes of cola flavoured push-pops, which I loved as a child, and provides the lips with adequate moisturising protection to face the cold, wet British weather. The balm also comes in a variety of other flavours including Fanta Orange, Sprite, Cherry Coke and Vanilla Coke. Will it replace my favourite Rose Vaseline for use on a daily basis? Hm, maybe not as the Vaseline is tinted as well as flavoured, but I do like it very much.

Let me know your thoughts on the Coca Cola lip balm.

March -The Month of Magazines.

Ok, so I have to admit that I am a bit of a magazine addict, and this month is like one in which I haven’t encountered for a while. The newsagents shelves seem to be stacked with monthly glossies all featuring brilliantly exciting gifts; it’s a magazine addict’s haven! First off I purchased Marie Claire; a personal fave. This month Marie Claire is giving away 100ml size bottles of Cowshed body lotion. In the past I have received shower gel of this brand from the same magazine. I quite liked the shower gel, but body lotion is so much more exciting! I picked the Wild Cow lotion, which is infused with essential oils of lemongrass, ginger and rosemary. It claims to awaken the senses and sharpen the mind. It did smell lovely, mainly of lemongrass which reminded me of my brief time spent in lush Thailand. Not bad for a free gift from a magazine which I would have been buying anyway.

Today I couldn’t resist the pull of Glamour. It is celebrating its 10^th birthday this month, and in celebration is giving away a free Clinique gift. Oh the joys! The only problem is there is a whooping 10 different products to choose from; where to begin? I literally stood at the magazine rack in WH Smiths for 20 minutes staring at the fabulous gifts, deciding whether I wanted the lip-gloss or the 7 Day Scrub. I eventually opted for the face scrub, but I am hugely tempted to go purchase another copy just so I can have the lip-gloss too! Oh the choices.

Look After Your Skin – It’s That Simple!

As we all know, spring is approaching fast, and thank the lord it is. I don’t know about you, but this cold winter has left my skin dry and in bad need of repair. Thank God Simple is here to lend us a helping hand to get our faces back into tip top condition, just in time for the better weather!

Simple Kind to Skin Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser.

This new facewash is brilliant for everyday use. Enriched with Pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E, glycerine, chamomile and geranium, all which work together to leave skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished. As it is a foaming cleanser, it lasts for a long time, making it really worthwhile your money, and I have to say it did make my skin feel soft and smooth, and cleaned it very well too!

Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser.

This lotion comes in a nice squeezable tub, different from the usual pots of moisturiser that line our dressing tables. Its light formula means it absorbs easily into the skin, leaving your face ready for make-up. This is a perfect day cream as it provides excellent, long lasting moisturisation without being too heavy. As with the foaming cleanser, it contains skin loving ingredients, meaning your skin will look fabulously ready for spring.

Simple Kind to Eyes Soothing Eye Balm.

This magical little cream is perfect for all those hard-working tired eyes out there. It reduces puffiness whilst soothing and nourishing the eye area. It is infused with jojoba oil, shea butter, and bisabolol, which brighten, sooth, refreshes and protects. Use night and day to achieve optimum results.

Verdict

I like how Simple and quick this regime is; wash then moisturise, then bam, your ready for make-up. And there wasn’t the need in waiting around ages for the moisturiser to absorb either. My skin felt healthy and hydrated, perfect for prepping my skin for the spring, and getting it back on top form after the harsh winter.

Rating

4.5/5

What do you think about this Simples facecare range?

Nature’s Inspirations- The Next Big Thing.

For anybody interested in keeping their beauty regime natural and not over-loading their skin with harsh chemicals, then Nature’s Inspirations is for you. Loving crafted out of only natural, healthy ingredients such as essential oils, beeswax and Dead Sea salts, these products are not only great for nourishing thirsty skin, but also the glass/ aluminium packaging is great for the environment and can easily be recycled. At the moment this is a small company (but definitely growing!), run by beauty therapist Shauna, who hand created all the recipes herself (impressive!). Anyway, on to the reviews.

Rose Cleanser:

Packed with vitamins, this rose cleanser not only smells delicious, but feels great on the skin too. It easily and effectively removes make-up. Simply rub into the face using gentle circular motions and warm water, then wipe away with cotton wool. What I love most about this cleanser is that it feels instantly moisturising and immediately my skin feels soothed. The Rose Cleanser is suitable for all skin types, but dry skin would get an instant boost out of it.

Lavender and Geranium Toner:

I love that this toner comes in a little spray bottle. Either spray directly onto the face (be careful of the eyes) or spray on to cotton wool first. Again the product smells lovely, and takes away any waxy residue from the cleanser. Geranium is great for balancing out the oil in the skin, so dry patches will gain more moisture, whilst oily patches will get less. The lavender in this product kills any bacteria which might have escaped the cleansing of the rose, and cleans deep down into pores. According to the website: “This product is also an antioxidant and astringent, it absorbs moisture from the air therefore keeps moisture in the skin. Leaving your skin feeling silky and soft.” I have to say I did like this product and it did leave my skin silky soft. Its light formula didn’t lie on my skin and was easily absorbed, ready for the final stage of the cleansing process; the moisturiser.

Lavender Moisturiser:

This product smells amazing; the lavender essential oil makes it a great moisturiser that I actually got pleasure out of putting on my face. The beeswax in it made it super moisturising and also rich in vitamins. For me, this product is great for a night time moisturiser, as it is a little too thick for the day and not a very good base for make-up.

Verdict:

I liked the smell and cute packaging of these three products. As they are all made from natural products I felt like they were actually doing my skin some good rather than stripping it of its natural oils. My skin did look and feel better after continual use, and I would definitely recommend them to all you cleansing fanatics out there. Visit www.naturesinspiration.co.uk for more great products from this ever expanding range. I certainly plan on getting my hands on more of their products; the Peppermint Lip Balm is next on my wish list!

Product Rating:

4/5

I do love the range; the moisturiser was just a little too greasy for the daytime, but other that definitely recommended.

Let me know your thoughts on these naturally inspired products.

Lush February.

I’ve seen these solid bars of shampoo in the windows of Lush stores nationwide, and have always been highly curious as to how they work. Do they crumble and dissolve like bath bomb? Do they make your hair look as good as regular shampoo does? And so with slight caution I rubbed the Godiva shampoo bar into my hair. I have to say it smelled delicious, sort of fruity and unique. It foamed up really well and gave my scalp a bit of a massage too. As this particular shampoo bar contains conditioning ingredients too, the use of a conditioner wasn’t needed. The end result? I really liked the Godiva Shampoo bar. It made my hair smell lush, reduced the time I needed in the shower conditioning, and made my hair soft and shiny. Well worth the purchase. And FYI, it doesn’t fizz away like a bath bomb, or fall apart like I thought it might. It would be a good idea to buy a small tin to keep it in though, so it is easy to transport around if needed.

Smell Like Your Fave Glee Star!!

It seems the whole world is going Glee crazy, with Boots being the next high street shop to get in on the frenzy. Three new scents are set to hit the shelves today priced at just £10 each. There’s no doubt that these fragrances will be huge.

Music Is My Life: Smell like Rachel Berry with soft powdery scent, with notes of jasmine, geranium, vanilla and warm amber.

Divas Free Your Glee: This magnolia floral scent is scent is just what Mercedes Jones ordered.

Don’t Stop Believing: Named after Glee’s signature song, this fruity fragrance has hints of musk and spices.

Eyeko Love.

Discover the cute make-up range from Eyeko.

<3 it!

Wow Factor Nails.

I have a friend who I recently discovered had a hidden talent; she is amazing at dressing up her nails with cool little designs. And she does all by herself with her own steady hand with no help from the professionals. It is that impressive I thought I would share her talent with the rest of the blogging world.

To experiment with patterns of your own, purchase Model’s Own Wah Nails Pen and create your own uniquely designed nails.

Designed for fashion blog Wardrobe.

January Eye’s Needn’t be Dull and Boring.

There is no need for your eyes to tell a sorry tale of the January blues this year. Add a little oomph to them with sparkling shadows and luscious lashes.

Take advantage of the 74-years of Miners experience and shine like a star with their new Dip and Define Eyeshadows. The powder eyeshadow comes in six blendable shades Damson Dust, Cosmic Copper, Cloud 9, Khaki Gold, Deep Cornflower and Rough Diamond which are all enhanced with metallic flecks meaning your eyes sparkle all day long.

For a less dramatic but equally stunning eye make-up look, try Maybelline Eyestudio Intense Chic. These set of four eyeshadows compliment each other perfectly. There is a small diagram on the back too which shows you how to apply it in the most effective way. Use the shadow labelled as "1" all over the eyelid, sweeping right up to the brow. The second one goes onto the eyelid only, the third into the crease of the eye, and the last is lined on the upper and lower lashes. Finish off with Maybelline Falsies Volum’ Express Mascara.

For anyone planning a night out on the town, or who just wants an extra bit of glamour to their style, finish off the look with some false eyelashes. Accessorize have just launched some fabulous ones for just £4. They come in Boho, Party and Natural and are guaranteed to give the finishing touch to all eye make-up looks. They are easy to apply; just apply the glue, wait a few seconds until the glue goes tacky, and place above your eyelashes. Practice makes perfect with eyelash applying, so keep trying, you will soon get the hang of it.

Don’t be tempted to go back to your old pre-Christmas ways, get experimenting with beautiful new eye make-up now!!