Essie luxeffects As Gold as it Gets

The Essie luxeffects range have been knocking about for at least a year or so and its bad that I have not tried them.....until now!  In a nod to the festive season I decided to give As Gold as it Gets a try.  It is varnish with gold metallic flecks in and can be worn alone or on top of another shade.

I wore two coats of Essie Fishnet Stockings (on top of a base coat) and then applied one coat of As Gold as it Gets.  

The effect is quite nice, its like gold flecks have been sprinkled onto your nails.  It's not completely uniform but I wasn't expecting it to be especially after just one coat.  I finished with Seche Vite Top Coat which gave the nails a nice glossy finish.

There are five shades in the Luxeffects range so it would be nice to try some of the others as well as the different shades will create different effects.  I think this range is great to liven up any varnish or wear alone for a more subtle look.

Essie Toggle to the Top

Toggle to the Top is one of Essie's Winter 2013 offerings.  I was very excited about this particular shade coming out as I love a bit of glitter especially at this time of the year.  Essie describe the shade as "show-stopping sparkling crushed garnet lacquer" but on this occasion I am afraid I didn't completely agree with their description.  First of all have a look:

Now I admit my photo isn't the best but I really didn't feel this polish was as sparkly and glittery as it could have been.  I feel its a glittery shade for someone who doesn't want to draw too much attention to their nails. A kind of muted glitter if you will.  Maybe I feel like this because I have, in the past, gone for brighter red glittery shades that just feel more Christmassy and fun to me.

However whilst I was a bit disappointed by Toggle to the Top, I have to say it wasn't a bad colour, I just think I thought it would be more eye catching.  However if you want a dark burgundy shade with glitter in then this would be perfect for you.

My one tip would be to use a good top coat as it gives a smooth finish otherwise your nails may feel a bit rough (there is a lot of glitter in this varnish).

I have the Orly shade Spar Spangled at home and I think I have to try that next as it looks like the perfect glittery red and probably what will make me gaze happily at my nails!!

Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and Benefit That Gal Primer

Recently I was given a couple of sample sizes of two primers I had wanted to try for a long time.  The sizes of the samples were great as you only need to use a small amount so it meant both samples lasted me a good while so I could really give them both quite a few goes!

So here they are:

As you can see both tubes have been bent and twisted to get every last ounce out!  Well a gal has to get her value for money!

So the first primer is Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer.  This primer is a light pink cream, its has quite a light texture.  I enjoyed applying this as it has a light feeling and didn't leave my face feeling sticky or tacky.  Benefit say this contains light reflecting pigments and it did feel like it gave me that healthy glow.  I would use my Kevyn Aucoin foundation or my Ellis Faas foundation over this and the results were great although both are really nice foundations so I can't 100% say that the primer helped that much.  

I liked this primer but I don't think I would rush out and buy it again, I will probably try another primer.  For me to repurchase a primer I really need it to make a noticeable difference and whilst this was nice enough it didn't blow me away.  However if I ever got another sample I'd happily use it (I just wouldn't spend £22.50 on a full size That Gal Primer).

The second primer is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.  I had wanted to try this primer for years, I had seen adverts for this for such a long time so when I bought a lipstain from Smashbox and the assistant gave me this sample I was chuffed!

At first I was really impressed.  This gel texture primer which contains vitamins A and E applies like a dream and it seemed to blur any imperfections on my skin as soon as I had applied it.  The only downside was it had that silicone feel which I am not mad about but I was willing to overlook that.

Once I had applied my foundation (again using Kevyn Aucoin and Ellis Faas) I loved the flawless finish I got and this time I felt like the primer was making a difference to the finish.  My foundation stayed in place all day  and still looked really good when I came to remove it at 10pm!  

I used this primer over about three weeks and by the time the tube was finished I had problems with my skin.  I normally get one or two hormonal spots but this breakout was bad.  I had several angry spots on my face and its only about now (a month later) that things have settled down and my skin is back to normal.  Now I can't say for certain that the Smashbox primer caused this breakout but nor can I rule it out so to stay on the safe side I shan't be purchasing a full size tube.  Its a shame in some ways as I did like the results but on the other hand I won't miss the silicone feel.

My search for the perfect primer goes on - have any of you got any recommendations?

Review - Illamasqua Blush up Brush

I recently found myself at the Illamasqua counter in Selfridges, I had gone there with the intention of buying the Reflection Palette (which I did buy and absolutely love!) but whilst I was chatting to the assistant she offered to put the Skin Base Foundation on me.  I've always wanted to try it especially as I have read mixed reviews of it.

To apply the foundation she said she would use the Blush up Brush.  I told her I thought that was for contouring and she said it can be but she thinks its also really good for applying foundation.

I was blown away when she had finished applying the foundation, it looked so flawless.  She had gently dabbed the foundation on and then checked my face and dabbed a touch more foundation on any red areas which then also become flawless!  I was so impressed and it made me realise how good it is to play around with brushes to find different uses for them.

The brush itself is really nice to handle, its black as with all Illamasqua brushes.  The bristles are dense, stiff and short but still feel lovely and soft so its really nice to use.  I have washed it once so far and it washed well and looks as good as new!

I can't comment on what this brush is like to contour as so far I have only used it to apply foundation but I will watch a tutorial video on contouring soon and then give it a go.

I should also add that I wasn't overly impressed with Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation.  Whilst at first it looked incredible, I found that within two hours my skin looked really oily so I am glad I have at last tried it but I can't recommend it.  The brush on the other hand is a winner!

Illamasqua Blush Up Brush was £28.50 from Selfridges

Body and Hair Empties

As promised in yesterday's post here are my body and haircare empties from the past month:

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash

I got this 100ml Balance Me Body Wash free with Glamour Magazine, not a bad free gift eh?  It sat in my bathroom cupboard for ages but I recently grabbed it as I am on a mission to use things up before I purchase more!  This was a very pleasant body wash, it had a light herbal aroma, it contains a blend of juniper, bergamot, geranium and lavender but its not overpowering and doesn't last long on the skin.  It lathered up well and was enjoyable to use however I am not sure about its "super toning" claims, it made no difference to the appearance of my skin.....not that I was expecting it to!  I probably wouldn't repurchase this, it was nice but I do like to try different body washes!

This product was free with Glamour magazine

Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo

At first I wasn't keen on this shampoo!  I thought I had made a mistake buying it but withing a few uses I had  completely changed my mind and now I plan on repurchasing it!  So why the turnaround......well Pureology don't put any sulfates in their products so when I first shampooed my hair with this, I found that my hair had a weird matt feel to it, I would go ahead and use a conditioner as normal and then it was fine.  After a few uses I got used to the matt feel and found that my hair was in better condition and felt lighter and as though it had more volume.  I now wonder if my hair had a matt feel as the sulfates weren't coating my hair?  I could be wrong with my theory but something definitely made my hair feel different to how it usually feels.

This shampoo is also concentrated meaning you only need to use a small amount and it lathers up amazingly well considering it doesn't contain sulfates.  I have had this bottle for ages so I definitely got my money's worth.  I will definitely repurchase and I am looking forward to trying other Pureology products too.

Pure Volume Shampoo cost £13.85 at Lookfantastic.com

Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Conditioner

I have already repurchased this conditioner - its that good!  First of all, I love the smell.....it reminds me of Johnsons Baby Lotion but if you are not keen on that smell it does seem to disperse fairly quickly.  You can use this conditioner on a daily basis and its perfect for any blondes who have colour in their hair.  I highlight my hair and the ends can be pretty damaged but I found this really improved things.  Its a nice thick lilac formula and I like to put it on and leave it for a minute or two to really work its magic.  Once rinsed off I find that my hair looks much smoother and is a breeze to comb through.  This is one of my new favourite conditioners!

Fovever Blonde Condition cost £14.95 at Lookfantastic.com

Percy & Reed Reassuringly Firm Session Hold Hairspray

This handbag size hairspray was another freebie from Glamour magazine (I am impressed with their free gifts this year!) and its a really nice hairspray.  I don't always use hairspray but recently I have been curling my hair with my Babyliss Curl Secret and I like to finish with a quick spritz of this.  It holds my fine hair well and has a pleasant fragrance.  Would I repurchase this, yes I think I would - a 250ml can is £12 which isn't bad as it would last really well  for me as I don't use it every day.  

This hairspray was a free gift with Glamour magazine

Skincare Empties

In one corner of my room I have built up a ridiculous amount of empties so I am going to do a series of empties posts as if I do them in one go it may be a bit too much!  Today is Skincare with one make up item thrown in for good measure!  Hope you enjoy!

Caudalie Gentle Cleansing Milk 

This was a lovely cleanser, it is very lightly fragranced although the fragrance disappears within a minute or so.  I felt like about three or four pumps would get the majority of my make up off and I normally following up with a toner or Bio Derma.  Since this bottle ran out I have moved onto a Clarins Cleanser but it just doesn't feel as nice as this one and I intend to repurchase Caudalie Cleansing Milk very soon!

It cost £15 at Space Nk.

Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make Up Remover

I shan't bang on about this Eye Make Up Remover too much as I know I've raved about it before!  In short though, I love this stuff.  Its lasts for ages - two tiny blobs clean each eye of shadow, liner and mascara!  I wet the cotton wool pad before I apply this as I find it works better that way.  I have already repurchased this!

£17.50 from the Kiehl's shop in Westfield London

Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser with Peach Essential Water

This bottle was the second bottle of Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser I had used up and I have to say its a lovely product.  It was especially lovely in summer, a really refreshing cleanser.  I particularly liked the peach fragrance.  I haven't repurchased this due to some advice I got at a Clarins counter.  This cleanser is for normal to dry skin and I am combination and the assistant said to me I should be using the One Step Cleanser for combination skin (which I don't think smells half as nice).  Anyhow, I took her advice but I am not enjoying using it and its made no difference to my skin, if anything my skin has played up a bit since using the Water Purify Cleanser with Mint - I have had a few spots which is very unusual for me.  Plus I miss the lovely peach fragrance!  

Would I repurchase this - maybe but I need to use up my Bioderma Micellar water first!

This cost £19.50 from Boots

Christian Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Radiant Foundation in 010

I bought this foundation on a whim ages ago in Selfridges but it was a brilliant buy.  It became my go to foundation that I was using every single day.  Its a light coverage foundation but I felt it gave me a medium coverage.  The shade 010 was perfect for my pale skin with red undertones, if I applied this with a brush it left my skin looking really flawless.  Did it give me a natural glow?  I would say yes but not so much that it left my combination skin feeling oily.  I would repurchase this again next spring (its a perfect spring/summer foundation), I am currently using the Diorskin Forever Foundation which is nice enough but I think I prefer Nude.

This cost £32 at Selfridges

Early September Empties!

I am continuing on my mission to finish products and rather satisfying it is too!  You will note I called this post "early" September empties and yep this is because I am hoping there will be another empties post this month.  As I said, I am a woman on a mission!!

So, lets get started......

First item is Kerastase Elixir Ultime Beautifying Oil-Enriched Masque.  I bought this from Look Fantastic for £28.50) as I really wanted a decent hair mask to get my hair back into decent condition (highlights and heat styling had taken their toll) and I have to say I felt this mask played a part in improving the condition of my hair.  The smell is lovely and it does linger for a while after you have rinsed it off.  I tend to wash my hair and squeeze as much water out as I can then I leave this on for 5-10 minutes and then rinse.  My hair feels stronger since I have been using this and certainly looks more healthy.  I have already purchased a new tub.

Second item is Rituals Happy Buddha Foaming Shower Gel Sensation.  I bought this from the Rituals store in Westfield for £7.00.  I should just stay the Rituals stores are fabulous, they have a sink in the shop that you can use to test as many of the shower gels as you want - brilliant!  When I tried this new Happy Buddha shower gel I was struck by the zingy aroma, its perfect for early morning showers.  The product comes out as a gel but then turns into a foam making it really easy to lather up.  The only downside is that this ran out very quickly so I don't feel that I got that many uses out of it, for this reason I wouldn't repurchase.

Third item is Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Daily Shampoo.  I bought this for £9.95 from Lookfantastic.  I loved this!  Firstly you get 300ml for under a tenner which is good value I think, also a little goes a long way so this bottle lasted me for ages.  The shampoo is safe for people with colour in their hair and cleanses well without weighing your hair down.  It has a nice subtle smell too.  I will definitely be repurchasing - you cannot go wrong with this shampoo if you have fine hair.

The fourth item I worked my way through is Benefit They're Real Mascara.  I bought this for £16.25 at Heathrow Airport.  It is the third time I have purchased this mascara but I am afraid its the last time I will do so.  At first I loved this mascara, it gave me defined lashes that had a bit of volume and length and didn't smear throughout the day but it dries out quickly.  The first tube I had lasted me only about 7 weeks which I thought was really poor.  For some unknown reason I decided to repurchase and whilst the second tube didn't dry out as quickly (I took more care to use it as quickly as possible) I found it was crumbling once on my lashes.  Like a wally I bought another tube when passing through the airport (it was cheaper there) but I am not sure if the formula has changed or whether its me but I don't find the effect on my lashes is that special anymore.  Also Benefit have increased the price by a pound so it now costs £19.50 - pah!  I am currently trying YSL Babydoll Mascara so I will let you know how I get on with that one.

The fifth item is Clynol Colour & Care Enrich Shampoo.  I received this in a Glossybox and it is a travel size.  I have no complaints about this shampoo, it cleaned my hair well and didn't weigh it down (always my worry with shampoos for coloured hair), it smelt nice too so I would buy this again but I don't know of many places where you can buy this - I am sure I can find it if I look online.

The sixth item is Bumble & Bumble Thickening Shampoo.  I bought this travel size for £5.50 from Liberty for  a holiday.  I loved this and would buy again but a full is pricey so I imagine I will choose the Paul Mitchell shampoo over this.  The smell is nothing special (something I find with a lot of Bumble & Bumble products) but it feels lovely to use, lathers up well and left my hair feeling full of volume.  

The last item is Sebastian Professional Color Ignite Multi Shampoo.  I received this as part of a gift when I bought some other Sebastian products.  This shampoo is specifically for highlighted hair so I was really keen to try this and I did like it, it smells gorgeous, lathers well but it did weigh my hair down slightly - I would probably only use this shampoo once a week to keep my colour looking good.  I'd maybe consider buying this again if it was on special offer.

Thanks for reading! 

Ren Rosa Centifolia Express Make-Up Remover and Ren Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water and a free gift!

Marks and Spencer are currently running a great promotion where you get a free gift if you buy certain beauty products.  It would have been wrong for me not to go and investigate and as it was payday when I looked it was almost a certainty that I would make a purchase!

I was running low on cleanser so when I saw Ren was part of the promotion I was really pleased, especially when I saw the new Rosa Centifolia range was for sale.

The first item I got was Ren Rosa Centifolia Express Make-Up Remover.  This is basically a very gentle cleanser that you can use on the eye area which is great if you are in a rush.  It is formulated with Rice Bran oil to soothe and hydrate the skin while Tannins from Rosa Centifolia are said to reduce pore size. I have been using this for almost a week now and I haven't noticed any change in my pores (yet) but I would say this is a really pleasant cleanser, it removes all my make up in just a few swipes, I remove the cleanser with cotton wool pads.  There is a subtle rose scent from this make-up remover which would probably put me off buying it again as rose isn't my favourite fragrance especially not on my face but having said that I will happily use and finish this product and if you like the aroma of roses you will probably love this.

The second item I bought was the Ren Rosa Centifolia 3-in-1 Cleansing Water.  I think this is Ren's version of Bioderma micellar water.  I do like my Bioderma, its a great, quick and easy way to remove make-up and freshen up.  I have found Ren's Cleansing Water to be very similar.  I soak a cotton wool pad in the Cleansing Water and find that any remaining make-up/dirt comes up really easy and its a lovely last step to ensure my face is completely clean.  

Once again the only downside for me is the rose fragrance, at night time I don't find it very soothing and even though you can use this over the delicate eye area, I found that it irritated my eyes.  I will use this up but I doubt I would repurchase because of the eye issue.

As I purchased two items I got a free gift - wahey!  Here it is:

What a great gift!  I got the Ren bag and five decent sized samples....I will be trying them all this week and will let you know what I thought of them shortly!

Both items cost £13 at M&S and the beauty promotion runs until 11th September 2013.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

UPDATE

I thought I would report back now that I have been using the Express Make-Up Remover and Cleansing Water for a few weeks now.  Unfortunately I have not enjoyed either of these products, in fact I would go as far as to say I have found them to be a bit let down.

First off, the Express Make-Up Remover, I just find it very heavy and I hate when Cleansers feel like this.  When I say heavy I mean it feels like quite a thick cream and when I have removed it all from my skin I find my face still feels as though it has the product on and my skin doesn't feel clean.  I prefer a product that feels like it has removed the dirt and does not sit on the skin.

So I then move onto the Cleansing Water in the hope it'll remove the residue and leave my skin feeling clean and fresh,  Whilst I would say you are left feeling clean after using this, it just doesn't agree with me, the rose scent is overpowering and you are meant to be able to use this water in the eye area but it stings my eyes and  I have had to stop using this as it was making my eyes sore.  

Perhaps I am a big allergic to the ingredients?  Who knows, either way these two products didn't work for me and I'll probably end up getting rid of them which is a shame as they weren't that cheap and they are both three quarters full.  If anyone reading this would like to try them (despite my less than glowing review) please give me a shout!

I would be really interested to know if you have used these products and how you found them?

Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot

During London's recent heatwave, my face suffered from an attack of the shiny t-zone!  Not a good look!  So I decided that I needed to carry around with me a face powder that would allow me to get rid of the shine throughout the day.  I didn't want to carry a super high end item that would cost a fortune and make me cry if it smashed in my handbag so I set off to Boots to look for a reasonable but well performing powder!

I found myself at the Soap and Glory stand where there was a 3 for 2 promotion going on (this offer was on a lot of the make up brands - L'Oreal, Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel etc) but the Soap and Glory products really drew me in, the products seem innovative and the packaging is really cute!  Eventually after applying to the back of my had several times I decided to buy One Heck of a Blot!

As you can see the packaging is really cute and its different to everything else that is on the shelves.

This is a translucent mattifying powder.  It comes in one shade which suits all.  I have to say it does what it says on the tin!  It gets rid of shine but (and this is very important) it doesn't look powdery or cakey at all.  At home I apply with a large brush but when out and about I use the puff that it comes with, I prefer a brush but the puff does the job fine.  It also comes with a mirror - very handy!

I bought this a few weeks ago but have been using it almost daily, this is an item I would definitely repurchase and I think it performs just as well as some of the higher end products.

One Heck of a Blot is £12 at Boots but I got this as part of a 3 for 2 promotion (I also bought the Kick-ass concealer and Glow All Out which I will be reviewing soon - watch this space!)

Diptyque Lait Frais Fresh Lotion for the Body - My new favourite body lotion!

I love Diptyque candles, they are the most gorgeous smelling, luxurious items ever and if I was rich I'd have them burning constantly!  As I love the brand so much I had previously bought friends and family Christmas gifts of Diptyque's body products but I had never used any of the body lotions or washes myself.  I needed to rectify this!

Recently I was browsing in Space NK and applied the Lait Frais Fresh Lotion for the Body to the back of my hand and "Wow" it smelt gorgeous!  For the rest of the day the gorgeous aroma kept wafting and I knew then I would have to buy this lotion!

As with all Diptyque products it is packaged beautifully and looks really classy.  The ingredients are listed on the back:

I quite like that the bottle is plastic (meaning you can travel with it) and I love that their is a pump dispenser meaning its easy to use and you get just the right amount of product out.

I would say that this lotion is perfect for summer.  Its light in texture, absorbs quickly and the fragrance......it is so good, I absolutely love it!  Orange Blossom and the fresh green citrus of petitgrain is what makes this so special, and it really lasts too, I can still smell it hours after applying it but it is in no way overpowering.....in fact I find the smell comforting.

I will definitely repurchase this lotion - I would say its become one of my new favourites.  I think we can safely say that my foray into Diptyque body products has been a massive success! 

I bought this for £31 at Space NK (but I was able to put £10 that was on my Space NK NDulge card towards the cost - bonus!)

Review: Benefit World Famous Neutrals Palette in Easiest Nudes Ever...

For quite a long time I have been reading other beauty bloggers raving about Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadows and the general consensus was excellent and the shades looked gorgeous.  

A couple of weeks back I found myself at a Benefit counter swatching all of the cream shadows (yes my hand was a mess afterwards!)  Typical of me I was drawn to the taupe shades and was narrowing down which to choose when the assistant said to me that for £23.50 I could get one of the Eyeshadow Palettes which contain four powder shadows and two cream shadows.  That's quite a good deal as one cream shadow costs £15.50 each.  So I decided it was a much better idea to get one of the palettes!

I plumped for World Famous Neutrals in Easiest Nudes Ever...

As you can see, the packaging is very cute if a bit bulky.

I have to admit the packaging did seduce me!

I really liked the colour of the two cream shades and that is why I chose this palette over the Sexiest Nudes and Glamourous Nudes.  Here are the colours and their names:

r.s.v.p. and no pressure! look lovely don't they?

The case opens up to show a Tips and Tricks leaflet which opens out to show you two looks you can create, I find this a good idea especially if you are unsure how to use the colours.  There is also a mirror.

So........I got home and excitedly tried the shades and that is where my disappointment begins!  I found the pigment in both the cream and powder shades really poor.  I tried to use the shades on my eyelids both with and without primer but in both cases I didn't get the colour payoff that I wanted.  

The cream shades were really disappointing as I had read so much about them and how good they were however I just found that the colour was wishy washy and they felt really quite greasy.  My Laura Mercier Caviar Stick leaves these in the shade in terms of pigment and texture.

I also had a similar problem with the powder shades, simply they were not pigmented enough.  I had to layer and layer to get the colour to show up - it seemed like a lot of effort for not much of a result.  Whereas I have other eyeshadows that I merely sweep on my eyelid and get a great wash of colour.

I am afraid I also found fault with the packaging.  I would open it up so I could use the colours but the lid kept snapping shut - pah!  Not a big deal I know but it irritated me.

I feel like this was a waste of £23.50 and I feel slightly perplexed as other bloggers seem to love this palette. I guess it just shows that we are all different and what works for one person may not work for another.

I may have to do a blog sale soon and this will be the first item for sale!!

I bought this from Boots.

*************UPDATE!!!!!**************

Over a year later I revisted this palette and whilst I am still not that keen on the powder eyeshadows, I am starting to really like the cream shade in No Pressure!  I think I was being too light with it when I first used it but the key is to get quite a lot on your ring finger or brush and to keep building until you have a decent amount of colour going on.  

I was going to get rid of this palette last month as I hadn't gone near it in a year!  However, I am so glad I gave it all another chance as the cream shades are not too bad and it is a lesson to me to play around with make-up if at first I am not keen on something!  There you go, that's my lesson for today!

L'Occitane Cherry Blossom Roll-On Eau de Toilette Intense

Last week I was killing time during my lunch hour and found myself browsing in L'Occitane.  I absent mindedly picked up the Cherry Blossom Roll-On Eau de Toilette and applied it and thought nothing more of it......until later that afternoon when I kept noticing a gorgeous smell was wafting under my nose!  I realised it was the Cherry Blossom!

This isn't my regular kind of fragrance in that it is floral and feminine, it is subtle though so doesn't overpower.  I also find it develops into something more powdery and musky which really appeals to me.  The fragrance is really long lasting which for some reason impressed me (maybe I wasn't expecting that much from L'Occitane!)

I love the bottle and rollerball application - its so easy and portable.  The lady at the counter gave me a velvet pouch to store this in which is perfect for when it is being carted around in my handbag.  I wish more companies would sell these roll-on perfumes - they are just so convenient!

Have any of you tried this or any other L'Occitane perfumes?  I really want to try the Cherry Blossom shower gel and body lotion now!

This cost me £14.50 for 10ml.

August Empties

Here are the items that I have recently finished and a little about what I thought of them.

This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray (sample)

I got this sample in a Space NK goodie bag, it was a good little size, there was enough to use about 15 times   or so.  I really liked this, it contains essential oils of Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile and I would spray it either on my pillow or sheets but found you only need one or two sprays as it is fairly strong.  I found the aroma really relaxing and it just made me get in the mood for sleep (if that makes sense).  I have to confess that I hardly ever having problems sleeping so I probably don't have any need for this product but I would definitely repurchase as its a lovely way to end the day.

Kerastase Bain Chroma Riche Shampoo

I bought this shampoo from Lookfantastic.com when there was a sale on and I have already repurchased!  Yep I really like it.  Its a shampoo for damaged, coloured, highlighted or sensitised hair and due to highlights and blowdrying my hair everytime I wash it!  I can't use this shampoo everytime I wash my hair as I find it weighs it down slightly but I use this every third shampoo and find it keeps the condition in good nick and my highlights have not faded.  It smells really nice and lathers up well and comes in a nice pink bottle - what more could I want?!

Vidal Sassoon Illumunating Restore Mask (sample)

I got this sample in a Glossybox a while back.  Its a weekly treatment which is meant to condition your hair and bring your colour back to life.  It is also meant to prevent breakage.  I really enjoyed using this and I did think my hair looked better afterwards.  After shampooing I smothered my hair (from the middle to the ends) in the mask and left it for about 10 minutes.  It felt more silky when it was dry but still manageable.  I would buy this again if the price was right - I am not sure what a full tube of this retails at.  If its reasonable I'd definitely buy it.

Space NK Beautannia Bath and Shower Gel in Brighton and Balfour 

Both of these shower gels were part of a gift set, they are a decent size for travelling but also last quite well as they really lather up so I just used them at home in the shower.  Both smell lovely but my favourite has to be Balfour - I was so sad when I finished this as it was so lovely.  Balfour contains English fern, oakmoss and vetiver - I found it a woody smell and would love to use this in winter.  However it costs £30 for a full size bottle so I will have to pass on it (sob sob).  If it ever goes in the sale though I shall be purchasing!!

Essie Jam n Jelly

Recently I have been trying to branch out with the colours that I wear on my nails.  For a long time I only really wore reds but recently I have discovered that reddy pinks look really nice (ok I know I am not being that adventurous!) so on Friday I decided to try Essie's Jam n Jelly shade.  It's a rich fuchsia pink that has some shimmer in it.  It looks gorgeous in the bottle so I couldn't resist it!

As normal, I am wearing a base coat, two coats of the colour and Seche Vite topcoat.

I think this colour is cute but I have to admit I don't love it on me.  I think my skintone just doesn't go with this shade!  Also I was reminded that the shimmer/metallic effect isn't for me - I think this is just a personal thing, I used to wear metallic colours when I was a little girl and now when I look at any metallic colours (especially a pink one) it just makes me think of the 1980s!!

So whilst I wouldn't choose this shade again I think it would look nice on someone with a different skintone to mine (pale with cool undertones).  

I am glad I tried this colour however, if you don't try you'll never know what you could be missing out on!

Review: Essie Exotic Liras

Today I tried an Essie colour that I didn't know existed until today but I have to say I am glad I discovered it, as its gorgeous!

At the moment I am loving pinky reds (last week I was wearing Essie Watermelon which isn't a million miles from this shade) and both colours do that thing where in some lights they look red and in others they take on a very pink hue.

As you can see from the bottle it is a beautiful fuchsia shade - I think its so pretty!

Above is a shot in daylight (without flash).  I am wearing a base coat, two coats of Exotic Liras and a top coat.

You can see from this photo (indoors) that it looks like more of a red shade but it it still lovely and shiny looking.  Yet another win from Essie!

Caudalie - Figue de Vigne Eau Fraiche

I really like the Caudalie brand (apart from the Beauty Elixir which I think smells like toothpaste) so when I was recently browsing in John bell & Croyden I was intrigued when I discovered there was a new Caudalie fragrance out.  I had a quick spray and left the store......well for the rest of the day I kept sniffing my wrist and just fell in love with this fragrance that I feel is the perfect summer scent.

Its called Figue de Vignes and on the Caudalie website they describe the frangrance like this "The inspiration for Figue de Vigne is a wonderful summer afternoon on the island of Lande, in the shade of the fig tree leaves where notes of citrus fruit and white wood mingle".   Now I don't know where the island of Lande is but the rest of the description is spot on - the scent is citrusy yet woody.  I can also detect fig notes in there.  The overall result is very fresh and light.

I really like the bottle, its simple and works well, the cardboard container is really handy too (more so that a standard box) as you can pack this in your bag if you are travelling and the glass bottle will be protected. 

The only downside to Figue de Vigne is that it isn't the most long lasting scent, maybe this is to be expected as its meant to be a light summery fragrance but it would be nice if it lasted a bit longer.  That said I adore it so much I will be repurchasing.

If you are still looking for that perfect summer fragrance I would definitely suggest seeking this one out for a sniff. 

I purchased a 50ml bottle at John Bell & Croyden for £26 but it is also available online for £23.40 here

Review: Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist

I received this sample sized bottle of Alterna Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist in my July Glossybox.  I always like to try these texturising sprays/seasalt sprays so was really chuffed to receive this item.  Its a fairly decent sample size too.

I currently own Oribe Apres Beach Wave Spray and Philip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist and I like both of these.  They both smell lovely and leave my hair looking tousled.  However I have found that both can dry my hair out if I use them too regularly so I tend to only use them on occasion otherwise my hair will resemble straw.

I have been using this Tousled Texture Mist for well over two weeks and I have used it nearly every day.  My first impressions - it doesn't have much of a smell, I meant it's pleasant but after 30 seconds you can't smell a thing - I don't mind this as it means there is no clash with my perfume.  I have sprayed it into my damp hair and also onto my second day dry hair and both times the results are very similar.....it gives my fine hair a lovely wave which seems to hold for the entire day, it also gives my hair much needed body.  

So that is all great but the best thing is that it doesn't dry out my hair at all and it doesn't seem to be damaging my hair!  I will definitely buy this mist as its the first one I have used that hasn't left my hair feeling dry and if I am honest it's given the best results - a tousled healthy look rather than dragged through a hedge backwards look!!

I have found it online at www.lookfantastic.com for £23 for 125ml, whilst it is expensive you don't need to use much so I think a 125ml bottle would last a long time!

Have any of you tried this spray or do you use a similar spray?

Review: Essie Watermelon

I loved the pink shade I had on my nails last week, see review here. So this week I wanted to stay with the pink theme - we are having such nice weather in London at the moment and I think I want my nails to reflect the brightness and light!

I had seen an Essie shade called Watermelon in Boots and thought it looked lovely so that's what I went for today.  In the bottle it looks pink but after it was put on my nails I thought "ah it actually looks quite red" but it depends what light I am in.  

However I think the best way to describe this shade is to say it is a raspberry colour!  Its a beautiful deep shade and really does feel summery - I really don't think I'd wear this shade in winter although of course you could but I know that I always tend to stick to deep dark reds come winter!  Yes I am a creature of habit!

You can probably see more pink in the photo above which was taken next to the window - its gorgeous isn't it?  I can't believe I have never had this colour on my nails before......I will definitely be sporting watermelon nails in the future!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Review: Duri Tudor Rose Nail Polish

I am a fan of red nail varnishes, I admit myself its pretty boring but I think reds suit me and I like them.  However something strange happened today and I decided to go for a colour that wasn't red - SHOCK!!

I chose a deep fuschia / magenta shade called Tudor Rose.  Its by a brand called Duri.  I have to admit I don't know one single shop that sells Duri (I think I saw it in a chemist once in Hampstead in London) but it is stocked in quite a few salons and I think you can find it online.

I really like this colour, its such a deep colour (I am wearing two coats here) and in certain lights it looks quite purple which I really like!

 

I am also impressed by what a nice glossy finish I got with this polish.  I have to say it feels really similar to Essie.  I am looking forward to trying out Duri's other colours.

Have any of you tried Duri?