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?