tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48563847060579092042024-02-07T11:19:39.450+00:00afternoon tea.beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog
[formerly girl from mars.]Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-87548747632407052872012-10-05T19:48:00.001+01:002012-10-05T19:48:15.091+01:00Face Mask FridayYes it's Friday again! Time to get ready for the weekend, and time for me to review another face mask! This week I've been trying out Garnier Skin Naturals' Self Heating Sauna Mask.<br><br>
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<b>Price</b>: Usually costs around £1.30 in Superdrug, and comes as two sachets so very good value for money.<br><br>
<b>Scent</b>: It smells nice and fresh and clean, like a combination of cucumber and aloe vera. <br><br>
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<b>Application</b>: It has a thick lotion-like consistency but is quite sticky. Despite this, it is fairly easy to apply without making too much of a sticky mess. What you do is apply this to wet skin and massage it in which kind of "activates" the heat. It's actually the best heating mask I think I've ever tried, it heats up really well when you're massaging it in. Plus, this is the kind of mask that doesn't dry up like most clay-based masks and so there's plenty of time to apply and massage it all over your face.<br><br>
<b>Results</b>: Despite it's sticky consistency it was easy to remove and left my skin feeling really properly cleansed but not tight. The next morning my skin still looked lovely and fresh and I definitely think it helped my blemishes.<Br><br>
<b>Repurchase</b>: Overall I really enjoyed this mask. It's so hard to find a decent budget self-heating mask and this one really fits the bill and really made my skin feel great. Will definitely buy again!
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-70290842262917095442012-10-04T16:34:00.000+01:002012-10-04T16:34:00.395+01:00Empties #1Yes, it's my very first empties post! As far as using up products go, I have to say I'm not great at it. I just have a tendency to hoard things, and never quite use them up, so they're always on hand. You know, "just in case". However, I'm going to start to make a real effort to actually use up my products, and so it seemed an opportune time to start an empties series! I don't think they will be every month, but I'll post whenever I've amassed enough empties to warrant a post - like now!<br><br>
Here's what I've used up in the past couple months<br><br>
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<i>Burts Bees Exfoliating Body Wash</i><br>
I love this stuff, smells deliciously of honey goodness and is lightly exfoliating.<br>
Repurchase? Probably yes in the future, but I'd like to try some other Burts Bees shower products first.<br><br>
<i>Dove Nourishing Oil Care Intensive Conditioner</i><br>
This conditioner was ok, but I didn't really feel like it did anything different to my hair that an ordinary run of the mill conditioner would. I certainly wouldn't call in an intensive conditioner.<br>
Repurchase? No<br><br>
<i>Imperial Leather Passion Flower and Rice Milk Shower Cream</i><br>
Man this stuff smelled nice, and actually made a good impromptu bubble bath too.<br>
Repurchase? I rarely repurchase shower gels as I always like to try new ones so probably not, but it was nice.<br><br>
<i>Clean & Clear Spot Control Moisturiser</i><br>
This came as part of a Clean & Clear box set which was on offer. It was fine, but I didn't particularly like the scent of it.<br>
Repurchase? No<br><br>
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<i>Simple Cleansing Face Wipes</i><br>
These are my favourite face wipes of all time, but only buy them when they are on offer as they can be a little pricey.<br>
Repurchase? Yes, when I next see them on offer<br><br>
<i>Boots Essentials Cucumber Face Wipes</i><br>
I'd always avoided these face wipes as I assumed they'd be a bit rubbish as they were so cheap. Actually they're not so bad! Wasn't sure of the cucumber scent at first, but I've come around to it.<br>
Repurchase? Yup!<br><br>
<i>Face Masks</i>
I've reviewed all these face masks in my <a href="http://ill-take-afternoon-tea.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/face%20mask%20friday">Face Mask Friday series</a><br><br><br><br>
Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-65531813943427351472012-10-03T16:54:00.000+01:002012-10-03T16:54:00.298+01:00September FavouritesWowza it's October! When did that happen? Anyway, here are my obligatory monthly favourites!<br><br>
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<small>Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk<br>
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo and Conditioner</small></center><br><br>
This month I've been really loving my Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk and have used it practically every day this month! Leaves me skin feeling gorgeous and really clean, plus you can leave it on a little longer as a bit of a face mask which is always nice.<br><br>
Aussie's Miracle Moist range has been an absolute saviour this month. My hair has been so dull and dry but this really has revitalized it and it's feeling softer that ever. Thoroughly recommend!<br><br><br><br>
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<small>Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment<br>
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil</small></center><Br><br>
The Macadamia Healing Oil has also helped significantly in improving my hair this month. I've been using this on the ends of my damp hair to keep it nice and smooth and reduce frizziness which means I don't have to blow dry and straighten my hair so much.<br><br>
I recieved the DHC Cleansing Oil in last months She Said Beauty box, and was a little unsure of it at first. However I've really come round and found it's great for taking off a full face of makeup, perfect for after a night out. Full review to come soon!<br><Br>
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<small>Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in Tiki<br>
Soap & Glory Super-Colour Fabulipstick in Naked Beige<br>
Calvin Klein Tempting Glimmer in Sheer Nectar</small></center><br><br>
I really found myself reaching for this Hard Candy Bronzer time and time again this month. It's such a lovely highlight colour, I think I've used it almost everyday! The same can be said for the Soap & Glory lipstick. It's the perfect nude shade for me and has practically lived in my handbag. I've hardly been anywhere without it!<br>
<br>I've really been loving this Calvin Klein cream eyeshadow, and just fell in love with the colour. It's perfect for the Autumn months too so I suspect this will become a staple for me. Full review to come soon too!<br><br><br>
Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-17715559000918943072012-10-02T20:33:00.000+01:002012-10-02T20:33:05.113+01:00October She Said Beauty Box - First ThoughtsThis afternoon my She Said Beauty box turned up at my door. This month I think there was a bit more variation with what everybody got in their boxes, so here's what came in mine.<br><bR>
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<b>myvitamins essential vitamin D3</b><br>
I thought it was a little odd to get vitamins in a beauty box, although they're the extra item in the box or "SSB Treat" I just don't think they really fit in within a beauty box. I wouldn't like to see items like this regularly in beauty boxes. That being said I probably will give them ago as a little extra vitamin d might be a good idea in the coming winter months. <br><br>
<b>Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque</b><br>
<i>formulated with a complex of fresh fruit enzymes and acids, it effectively works in exfoliating dead skin cells optimizing the cellular renewal performance and deeply cleanses the pores</i><br>
I was actually really excited to receive this as it sounds right up my street. The only problem I have is that the sample is so teeny tiny!<br><br>
<b>Amy Chids Fragrance</b><br>
I've had a quick sniff of this and it smells quite nice but I don't like it when fragrance samples are counted as a full item in a beauty box, it just feels a little bit like a cop out. <br><br>
<b>Biao Beauty Rejuvenating Night Creme</b><br>
<i>soothes, moisturises, and protects against premature aging</i><br>
Yet another product that is right up my street, I've actually been looking for a new night cream so I'm really excited to try this out. Though I recieved two sachets of this, still, it's a fairly small sample size.<br><br>
<b>B.liv Off With Those Heads</b><br>
<i>keeps excessive oil secretion under control while preventing future irritation and blackouts</i><br>
As someone who suffers from regular breakouts I'm always eager to try anything that promises to relieve me of the little buggers, so I'll definitely be trying this out soon. Again, a teeny sample though!<br><br>
<b>Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula</b><br>
Now don't get me wrong, I love this stuff and always have a tube on the go. My issue is that I didn't expect to find it in a beauty box. For me, beauty boxes are for discovering new and different products from different brands that I'm maybe not familiar with. But this is a well established brand and on top of that it's a product that been around for a long time and I'm pretty sure is one of their most popular products. It just feels like it's a cheaper product to bulk out the box a bit!<br><br><br><br>
Overall I've been a bit "meh" about this box. It just seems that the products I really want to try are such tiny sample sizes, and the products I already have tried or aren't overly interested in are the full size products! <br><br>
Did you get this months She Said Beauty box? What did you think? Have you tried any of these products? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-22845763117959865412012-10-02T16:25:00.000+01:002012-10-02T16:25:00.712+01:00Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer ReviewA few weeks ago I picked up this Hard Candy So Baked Bronzer in a blog sale. Having never tried a Hard Candy product and with Hard Candy quite difficult to find in the UK, I just couldn't resist!<br><br>
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This particular bronzer is in the shade Tiki.<br><br>
<i>Goes on silky smooth for a sun-kissed glow. Use dry for a natural bronzed look or wet for a more intense sun-goddess glow</i><br><br>
To be honest, I feel like this shade is just too light to be used as a bronzer. Well, for me anyway. However, as a highlight it's a little bit amazing. <br><br>
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It's a really nice feeling powder and leaves a lovely golden sheen. As I love trying to find different uses for products I've actually been really enjoying using this over some of my eyeshadows to add a bit more shimmer.<br><br>
Have you tried any Hard Candy cosmetics? What did you think?Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-74884137338958660002012-10-01T18:49:00.001+01:002012-10-01T18:51:40.623+01:00Soap & Glory Fabulipstick ReviewThis is the first Soap & Glory lipstick that I've tried, and I decided to try out a nude shade as I tend to gravitate towards nude lipsticks with slight brown and/or pinky tones. <br><br>
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This is the Naked Beige shade, which I've just fallen in love with really. For me, and excuse the cheesy line but it's a "my lips but better shade". <br><br>
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The lipstick itself has a lovely creamy consistency and gorgeous vanilla scent. The colour payoff is good and I found it lasts fairly well throughout the day. I was actually surprised that the packaging is excellent too, which is unusual for drugstore lipsticks. In fact, all in all it's excellent quality for a drugstore lipstick and I think it's <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory-8482-Super-Colour-Fabulipstick-8482-Collagen-Boosting-Lipstick_1243282/?cm_mmc_o=-uubkbzfwlCjCKww5kbELCjCvi%20i9%20niioCjCC">reasonably priced at £9 from Boots</a>.
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I have to say, at first I was little dubious of and avoided Soap & Glory cosmetic products. I just didn't expect them to be any good and always thought of them as more of a skin care brand but I've been really impressed by this lipstick. I think I'll be trying out some more of their cosmetics in future, and perhaps I'll invest in a few more shades of this!<br><br>
Have you tried any S&G cosmetics? What did you think?
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-20032055066178644912012-09-30T16:40:00.000+01:002012-09-30T16:40:00.564+01:00W7 Africa Bronzer ReviewW7 is a brand that I'm really happy to have discovered. All their products that I've tried so far have been really excellent value for money whilst still being a decent product, and this boxed bronzer is no different.<br><br>
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Obviously it shares certain similarities with the Benefit boxed bronzers and blushers etc, but at just under £2.00 this is a lot more purse friendly.<br><br>
I was a little apprehensive about the pink shade. As someone with rosy cheeks I avoid blushes and pink toned cheek products, however after swatching each shade I found that the pink is barely pigmented. Makes me wonder why it's in there at all, but over all it gives a nice colour.<br><br>
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It gives a lovely golden sheen, not too glittery and not too dark. The brush it comes with is lovely and soft and so it's easy to apply. I wouldn't say it lasts amazingly long but I've never come across a powdered bronzer that does have a good lasting power.<br><br>
Overall, I like this product and have yet to be disappointed by a W7 product. Of course they are not on a par with other high end products, but for their price I've been really pleased and have already got some other W7 products to try out so expect reviews soon!<br><br>
Personally I've never seen W7 products in a store but they are easily found online with a quick google search. I buy mine from <a href="http://www.eastendcosmetics.co.uk/">Eastend Cosmetics</a> as they generally have the lowest prices and deliver really quickly which is always good. I would recommend shopping around when it comes to W7 products because sometimes there can be a big price difference between websites.<br><br>
<center>Have you tried any W7 products? What did you think? </center>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-67900131907963816742012-09-29T16:11:00.000+01:002012-09-29T16:11:00.387+01:00Models Own HaulYou'd have to have been living under a rock these past few days to not know that <a href="http://www.modelsownit.com/">Models Own</a> currently have a 50% sale off at the moment. Needless to say, I treated myself to a few nail polishes, well, 11. <br><br>
Here's what I decided to get...<br><br>
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I tend to gravitate towards more neutral and darker shades of nail varnish so I decided I should invest in a few brighter colours. Believe it or not, until now I didn't own a pink nail varnish!<br><br>
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From left to right, the shades are:<br><br>
<center>
Black Magic<br>
Thunder and Lightning<br>
Betty Blue<br>
Emerald Black<br>
Greet Tea<br>
Grace Green<br>
</center>
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Again from left to right, the shades are:<br><br>
<center>
Raspberry Crush<br>
Fuzzy Peach<br>
Soda Pop Pink<br>
Pink Fizz<br>
Nude Beige<br><br><br>
</center></center>
I'm so excited to try all my new nail varnishes out and have already given myself a pedicure with Raspberry Crush and love it! Can't wait to use Pink Fizz and Nude Beige together, I think it will look awesome!<br><br><br>
<center>Have you made the most of the Models Own sale? What did you get?</center>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-70142919923791854022012-09-28T16:48:00.000+01:002012-09-28T16:48:00.509+01:00Face Mask FridayIt's Friday and that means it's almost the weekend, and of course it's time for me to review this weeks face mask! <br><br>
This week I tried out another really interesting Montagne Jeunesse face mask which is the cold press virgin olive oil mud masque. It also contains shea and cocoa butter "to leave your skin super smooth and deeply cleansed. Since I've been suffering with a bit of dry skin recently, I though it was the perfect time to try this out.<br><br>
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<b>Price</b>: Montagne Jeunesse face masks can usually be found in Boots or Superdrug for around £1.00-£1.50 each and are often on offer<br><br>
<b>Scent</b>: I wasn't sure about the smell at all. It's got a kind of olive and herbaly scent to it which I think some people might like, but I wasn't overly keen on it. That being said, whilst it smelt strongly while wet after it had dried the scent disappears.<br><br>
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<b>Application</b>: The mixture is nice and smooth with the consistency of a thick lotion. It wasn't too sticky to apply, and felt nice and cooling on the face (lovely after a hot day!). After it had dried it did need a bit of scrubbing to get it off though. In fact, part way through removing it I realised I looked a bit like a reptile/zombie/leprosy victim!<br><br>
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<b>Results</b>: After I'd removed it my skin felt really lovely actually. It really felt like it had deeply cleansed my skin as well as giving it some much needed moisture. I've been let down by some Montagne Jeunesse face maks in the past so I don't ever really expect too much from them, but I was pleasantly surprised.<br><br>
<b>Repurchase</b>: The only things I don't like about this mask is the scent and the scrubbing required to remove it, which really are only minor things. I think I might buy this again in the future, but I think I'd like to try some other face masks with oil in them first. Maybe I'll find one that I like the smell of!<br><br><br>
Have you tried this face mask? What did you think?
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-68388410911309304022012-09-27T17:02:00.000+01:002012-09-27T17:02:24.686+01:00Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo and Conditioner ReviewI remember having tried Aussie's Shampoo and Condition range for coloured hair back in the day when I was constantly dyeing my hair, but I remember not being overly impressed with it and so kind of discounted the whole brand.<br><br>
Recently I've heard so many good things about their Miracle Moist range and so with my hair feeling a bit dry and needing a bit of a pick me up I figured it was the perfect time to give Aussie another chance.<br><br><br>
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Let me tell you, I'm so glad I did. I've been solidly using the Shampoo and Conditioner for about a month now and I've really noticed a difference in my hair. It's definitely softer and less frizzy and the ends look a lot nicer, I have to say I'm really impressed.<br><br>
I wasn't so sure about the scent at the start. It got a sweet, kind of nutty, unusual scent which I later identified as macadamia. However, the smell has really grown on me and I kind of love it now. <br><br><br>
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The range contains Australian Macadamia Nut Oil (hence the macadamia smell) which "infuses moisture into dry, damaged hair helping to condition and smooth" and I have to say it really works. My hair hasn't felt this soft and lovely in such a long time!<br><br>
I've certainly learned a lesson about judging an entire brand on just one product and can say with almost certainly that I'll be purchasing this range again... and again! I might even have a look at some of their other products!<br><br>
Have you tried this? What are your favourite Aussie products? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-66664416718828855732012-09-26T17:26:00.000+01:002012-09-26T17:26:00.282+01:00Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean ReviewIf you've read this blog for any length of time you know I love me some Soap & Glory, and this product is no exception.<br><br>
Peaches and Clean is a 4-in-1 wash off deep cleansing milk which has a special clogged t-zone formula.<br><br>
I'd been umming and ahhing about trying this out for a good long while. Whilst I haven't ever tried the holy grail Liz Earl Cleanse & Polish before, I haven't been too impressed so far with cleansing milks, balms etc. They've been fine, but I've always felt the need to exfoliate daily whilst using them. Like, my face never felt really, properly, clean, until I'd exfoliated. But I decided that I'd give this a go anyway, after all it's Soap & Glory, and I had heard really good things about it.<br><br><br>
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Basically, if you're not familiar with the concept, you massage this into your face and put on a bit extra on any trouble areas, and then rinse off with water. Simple! I like to leave it on for a couple of minutes before rinsing it off to let the fruit acid, detoxyboost technology, and something called poreshrink r2 really get to work. In fact, you can slather a bit extra on and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes for a simple face mask (I'm a sucker for multi-use products).<br><br>
Excuse me a minute now whilst I rave about the scent. It's a-maz-ing. It's so unusual, I don't think I've ever smelt anything quite like it. The only way I can describe it is both minty and fruity, which sounds horrible, but it's quite the opposite. In fact, it reminds me a little bit of that Juicy Fruit chewing gum (do they still make that stuff?). Because it's such an unusual scent some people might not like it, but I adore it. Such a gorgeous, fresh, and for lack of a better word vibrant, smell and is great first thing in the morning.<Br><br>
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I've been using this pretty solidly for the last month, and I have to say I've been really enjoying it. Some people have reported that this has really improved their blemishes but I can't say that's happened for me. I have noticed that using while using this my skin has felt a lot less oily, and to make sure, I stopped using it for a week and my skin definitely felt oilier.<br><br>
I've found that my skin feels really clean, less oily, but not dehydrated or tight after using this. And it felt properly clean, and in fact while using this I only feel the need to exfoliate my face once or twice a week, as opposed to the daily exfoliation I felt I had to do with other cleansing milks.<br><br>
All in all, I'm pretty pleased with it, and it's pretty much become a staple in my bathroom!<br><br>
Have you tried this product? What did you think? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-48144780914824248572012-09-25T22:35:00.000+01:002012-09-25T22:35:45.351+01:00W7 Mega Matte LipsW7 is fast becoming my favourite budget cosmetic brand and when I saw these Mega Matte Lips for only 99p each I just <i>had</i> to try them out. I'm so glad that they did because I've really fallen in love with them.<br><br>
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As far as I'm aware, they come in four colours: brown, light pink, dark pink and red. I didn't much fancy the look of the brown so I decided just to get the other three instead. <br><br>
First of all, the scent hits you, and it took me hours to work out what it was. But they smell a bit like cream soda, which is a bit of an odd smell for a cosmetic product and I think that it could be a bit of a hit or a miss. I quite like it, it's not amazing but it's not unpleasant. Plus the smell doesn't linger after application so it's not really an issue.<br><br>
They've got a wonderful creamy texture and are fantastically pigmented. I found them really easy to apply to my lips, and after application they set (dry) on your lips, but it doesn't feel drying, which is great. <br><br>
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The colours are gorgeous, and like I said they are super pigmented, which just blew me away considering their minuscule price tag. Because they are so pigmented and have a lovely consistency which can be blended out easily, you can wear them quite thinly to add just a hint of colour to the lips or you can apply a bit more for a fantastic colour pop. <br><br>
They lasted really nicely throughout the day even when applied really thinly. A little goes a long way too, so I think they're going to last for a good long time.<br><br>
Although these are the first lip cream products that I've tried, I really can't say enough nice things about them. Can you tell I'm a bit in love with them at the moment? I'm also quite interested in trying out some other brands to see how they compare, like miners or collection.<br><br>
Have you tried a lip cream before? What do you think of W7? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-44668285616003862642012-09-14T16:16:00.000+01:002012-09-14T16:16:09.665+01:00Face Mask FridayWhew this week has gone fast! Can't quite believe it's Friday already, but the weekend is almost upon us and so here is my Face Mask Friday post! This week I will be reviewing Soap & Glory's Fab Pore Facial Peel Mask.<br><br>
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<b>Price</b>: This mask retails for £8.00 and is <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Soap-Glory%E2%84%A2-The-Fab-Pore%E2%84%A2-Facial-Peel-15-Minute-Facial-Peel-50ml_641365/">available from Boots</a>, often as part of a 3 for 2 deal but is actually in a buy one get one half price promotion at the moment.
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<b>Scent</b>: It doesn't smell as nice as other Soap & Glory products but not unpleasant. It's got quite a soapy scent, and smells really clean. I think the scent has grown on me the more I've used it but I wouldn't say it was amazing.
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<b>Application</b>: Unlike as the name suggests, this is not a peel off mask, but is a wash off mask. It has a clay like consistency which isn't too sticky and so is relatively easy to apply. The mask also has little green/blue beads which burst as you rub the mask onto your skin which I haven't seen before in a mask.
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<b>Results</b>: As I have fairly enlarged pores on my nose, I was interested to see whether this mask would live up to all it's pore-refining claims. I'm happy to say that it did. After I washed this off my pores were almost invisible, and my skin felt nicely refreshed and cleaned.
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<b>Repurchase</b>: Overall I think this is a really nice mask, and has had the most dramatic effect on my pores out of all the other masks I've tried. I'll definitely be repurchasing this in the future!<br><br><br>
Have you tried this mask or any other pore-refining masks? What did you think? xHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-3846947024414263112012-09-12T18:34:00.000+01:002012-09-12T18:34:06.242+01:00She Said Beauty September BoxFinally, my first She Said Beauty Box dropped through my door this morning and I was so excited to open it and get my hands on those goodies!<br><br>
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This month is a Skincare themed box which is just up my street, and I'm actually really excited to try all these products out. Usually with beauty boxes there's always one or two items that just don't tickle my fancy, but not with this box!<br><br>
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<b>Popchips</b> <br><i>original potato chips</i><br>
This was the only thing in the box I was a bit "meh" about, purely because I've subscribed to a beauty box and so expect beauty items. That being said this was an extra item or "SSB treat", and it was pretty tasty too!<br><br>
<b>Collection 2000 Primed and Ready Primer and Fix Me Up Makeup Fixer</b><br>
I was pretty pleased to get two full sized Collection 2000 products both of which I'm really interested in trying out. On a side note, not a fan of the packaging in any way. It just looks really cheap and nasty, the font more than anything puts me off. Although I know that it's the actual product that counts, I know that I personally wouldn't buy these in a store based on what they look lke.<br><br>
<b>Amie Spring Clean Cooling Clay Mask</b> <br><i>for clearer, deeply cleansed skin with over 94% natural ingredients</i><br>
Amie is a brand that I've heard of before but haven't as yet tried any of their products so I was really pleased to find it in the box. And on top of that it's a face mask, and if you've read this blog for any length of time you'll know that I love me some face masks! The ingredients sound lovely too: peppermint, white clay and lime butter. Very excited to try this one out!<br><br>
<b>DHC Deep Cleansing Oil</b> <br><i>dissolves make-up instantly with an antioxidant-rich olive oil formula which nourishes and hydrates skin</i><br>
Cleansing oils are a bit of thing in the beauty world at the moment, and as yet I haven't tried one, so I'm really glad I've got the opportunity to try this one from a brand I hadn't heard of before. Hopefully it will be as good as it looks as this 30ml bottle costs a very purse-friendly £3.50!<br><br>
<b>Ginerva Green Tea Marvel Gel</b> <br><i>exfoliates, invigorates, and illuminated</i><br>
Again, another brand that I have not heard of and a really interesting product. This is an exfoliating "marvel" gel which surprisingly doesn't have any exfoliating beads, grains etc in it. I had a quick test of this on the back of my hand, and what you do is, before cleansing, rub it all over a dry face and what happens is you get these bits as if you've put too much moisturiser on. I'm really interested in finding out if it lives up to all it's claims.<br><br><br>
<bR>
And that's it for the box this month! Overall I'm really pleased and can't wait to get stuck into these new products.<br><br>
Have you tried any of these products or brands before? What did you think?
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-6675738796560680562012-09-11T21:37:00.000+01:002012-09-11T21:37:59.509+01:00NOTDRecently I've been really getting into glitter nails, and at the moment this is my go to glitter top coat at the moment.<br><br>
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<small><center>Technic Nail Varnish in Carnival</small></center>
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I love the different colours of the glitter pieces and I've found it to be really long wearing. And my favourite thing about it is the price! I picked this one up on ebay for about £2. Although I've never seen it in a shop, you can find it easily and for very reasonable prices with a quick google search.<br><br><br>
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What's your favourite glitter nail varnish? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-52670651976488573062012-09-10T18:58:00.001+01:002012-09-10T18:58:42.968+01:00Time For a Giveaway?Yes, I think it is about time for a giveaway. Last night I reached 100 followers! Compared to some blogs I know that might not seem like a lot, but it certainly feels like a lot to me.<br><br>
I'm very grateful that you all decided to follow me and just wanted to say a big thankyou to both old and new followers. And to say thanks, I've decided to hold a bit of a giveaway!
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Burt's Bees are one of my favourite brands out there at the moment, so it seemed perfect to make this a Burts Bees giveaway! And on top of that, there are not one but <i>three</i> prizes for my lovely followers.<br><br>
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First prize is a full size bottle of exfoliating body wash and body lotion from Burt's Bee's Radiance collection (a personal favourite) <b>and</b> Lifeguard's Choice lip balm and Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer in Rhubarb. Burt's Bees are my go to brand for lip care so I just had to include some lip products in this giveaway!<br><br>
In addition to the first prize, I will also be giving away <b>two runner up prizes</b> of the radiance exfoliating body wash in a travel size.<br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7972291000/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/7972291000_aef8a86923.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br>
<center>I'm afraid this giveaway is <b>UK only</b> this time.<br><br>
Entries close at midnight on <b>Monday the 24th of September</b> and winners will be announced the following day. <br><br>
<i>Good luck! x</i><br><br>
<a id="rc-f7aef31" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f7aef31/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></center><br><br>
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-44095147980691660522012-09-07T15:24:00.001+01:002012-09-07T15:24:03.324+01:00Face Mask FridayThis week my skin has really been playing up and has been really dry. I figured it was the perfect time to try out this Montagne Jeunesse Very Berry Ultra Moisturising and Cleansing face mask. <Br><br><br>
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<b>Price</b>: You can usually pick these up for about £1.00 at Boots or Superdrug, but are regularly on offer.<br><br>
<b>Scent</b>: This face mask is made with blueberries, cranberries, peaches and aloe and so has a nice light fruity scent. Doesn't smell too artificial or too strongly either.<br><br>
<b>Application</b>: It has a nice consistency, not too sticky, which made it easy to apply. It was a metallic lilac colour which I've never seen before in a face mask. The only thing I didn't like was the glitter it had running through it. It's a really fine glitter which you don't feel at all and which I think gives it it's metallic sheen, but I personally really dislike glitter in face products. That disappointed me because there was no mention of the glitter on the packet and in fact the model pictured on the sachet doesn't even look like she's wearing the same mask. <br><br>
<b>Results</b>: After I washed off the mask my skin felt clean, not tight, and nicely moisturised. I did, of course, still have some of the fine glitter all over my face which I didn't like. I just feel that the glitter made me skin look a little brighter, but that was only down to the glitter and not the actual face mask. It almost feels like the glitter is in there to make the face mask seem like it's doing something that it's not. <br><br>
<b>Repurchase</b>: I do have another sachet of that to go through, so I might use that one. But I probably wont repurchase this. It was fine as a face mask, and if you don't mind the shimmer then you might like to try this, but it wasn't for me.<br><br><br>
Have you tried this mask before? What did you think? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-77548944440374951802012-09-06T16:30:00.002+01:002012-09-06T16:30:51.522+01:00Soap & Glory Supereyes Supereyes Moisturizing Gel ReviewI'd always been intrigued by this eye gel but had heard pretty mixed reviews about it. I decided to just give it a go myself and see if it was any good.<br><br><br>
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Supereyes Supereyes is an "instant-action moisturizing gel with swiftlift technology". Perhaps I'm not the best person to review this as I can't really attest to it's wrinkle-reducing properties, but I'll tell you my thoughts on it nonetheless.<br><br><br>
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It comes as a clear, unscented, gel which you gently and sparingly <i>pat</i> around your eyes morning and night. The gel itself looks almost glittery, but I believe it has little globules suspended within it which burst on application.<br><br>It's nice and cooling when you apply it, but you have to be careful on application. I found applying it too close to the eye, applying too much, and rubbing it on (as opposed to patting it on) gave a slightly warm almost burning and tingling sensation which I don't think is supposed to happen.<br><br>
As far as results go, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. Like I said, I don't have any wrinkles so can't review it in that respect, but I've been using it religiously, morning and night, for a good few weeks now and have seen no difference. Other than the nice cooling effect on application, it really didn't do anything for me. It didn't moisturise, it didn't tighten my skin, and it didn't reduce the bags under my eyes. <br><br>
I feel like I should point out that this is just with my skin, and I have read plently of reviews from people who love this stuff (as well as many who have had much the same experience as I have had). <br><br>
Have you tried this before? What were your experiences of it? xo
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-10953101233523174172012-09-03T19:09:00.000+01:002012-09-03T19:09:00.227+01:00What? Another Haul?Well, yes.<br><br>
What can I say? Boots were having a Points Even. Damn I'm a sucker for those points. Anyway, here' s what I decided to pick up :) <br><br><br>
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<i>No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Totally Teal</i>: Many No7 products were half price so I managed to pick up this gorgeous colour for only £3.50<br><br>
<i>Super Facialist by Uma Brennan Tea Flower Mask</i>: This a new range in Boots and, although I'm quite excited about the whole range, I thought I'd try the mask first as I'm trying to try some new face masks at the moment<br><br>
<i>Garnier 7 Days Intensive Hand Cream in Shea Butter</i>: I have the body lotion version of this and <u>love</u> it beyond words. My hands have been so dry lately I thought if this was as good as the body lotion it would be perfect.<Br><br>
<i>S&G Clean on Me Shower Gel</i>: I needed to pick up some more shower gel and I've really been into S&G products lately so I thought I'd give this a go.<br><br>
<i>S&G Scrub Your Nose In It</i>: I've wanted to try this for ages now, but it's never in stock at my local Boots. Finally I just decided to order it online. I'm a sucker for multi-use products and this is both a scrub and a mask. Can't wait to give it a go :)<br><br>
<i>S&G Heel Genius</i>: Well of course I went for the 3 for 2 (I can never resist!). I've heard a lot of good things about this foot cream and it promises lovely, soft feet - who doesn't want that?<br><br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7894246182/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/7894246182_c142a12d98.jpg" width="500" height="394" alt="Untitled"></a></center><Br><Br><br>
<i>Montagne Jeunesse Masks</i>: I did say I was looking to try out some new masks! I'm particularly excited to try out the Very Berry one and the Virgin Olive Oil One. Will be sure to review :)<br><br>
<i>Mudd Mask</i>: Another mask? Really? Yup.<br><br>
<i>Dead Sea Natural Black Mud Mask Soap</i>: And ANOTHER mask. Seriously, I'm set on the mask front. This really intrigued me though, it's a mud mask but in a soap bar form. Can't wait to try it out!<br><br><br><br>
Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-82790484657755424042012-09-01T14:36:00.000+01:002012-09-01T14:36:00.240+01:00August FavouritesCan you believe that August is over already?
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<Center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7881978110/" title="August favourites by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7881978110_e3c9a7aa89.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="August favourites"></a></center><br><br><br>
Seems like I was just loving <i>everything</i> this month! Which is no bad thing because I've now got a whole bunch of favourites to share with you lovelies.
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<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7881982050/" title="Af by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8306/7881982050_057ee480f8.jpg" width="461" height="500" alt="Af"></a></center>
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Let's start with Boots Ingredients Coconut Body Oil. This was just a random purchase while I was in Boots one day, and boy am I glad I picked it up. I <i>love</i> it. First of all the scent. I'm on a real coconut kick at the moment and this just smells perfect. It's a very light and faint coconut scent but the thing I love about it most is that it smells like <i>real</i> coconut milk, and not artificial like most things.<br>
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I've been using this for so many things. Of course it can be used as just a body oil. It takes a while to sink in, but when it does it's a real treat for your skin. I've also been loving rubbing into my hands and feet... it's done wonders for my cuticles. Like I said before, it takes a while to sink in but I think it's worth it. <br><br>
Coconut oil, as well as being super moisturising, actually has antibacterial properties. Recently I've been mixing a little of this with a clay face mask for super soft skin and to combat spots and blemishes.<br><br>
Repurchase? You betcha. In fact, I already have, <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Ingredients-Coconut-Oil-100ml_1225296/">and at only £2.54</a> I'll probably be repurchasing this again and again. <br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7881984888/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7881984888_0325a14532.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br>
About a year ago there was a big fuss in the beauty community about this stuff and how amazing it is, and it's taken me this long to get on the bandwagon. I won't blather on about this too much as I'm sure that you've read it all before. But a dab on my blemishes at night really has improved them.<br><br>
Repurchase? Again, I already have!<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7881986564/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8421/7881986564_9cbd3db4c6.jpg" width="191" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br>
This has been featured in my favourites many a time before, and I did consider not mentioning it again, but I've loved it and continued to love it for so long, I thought just a quick mention wouldn't do any harm.<br><br>
In short it's the only moisturiser that I've used that doesn't aggrivate my blemishes, and actually helps them. You can also pile it on as a sort of face mask/spot treatment as well.<br><br>
Repurchase? Of course.<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7881988874/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7881988874_db1853d3e0.jpg" width="500" height="466" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br><br>
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Okay, so I finally <i>get</i> using brushes to apply foundation. I used to be a slap it on my face with my fingers girl, and had tried foundation brushes and really didn't like them. I couldn't spread the foundation and blend it as well as I could with my fingers. That was until I got my <a href="http://www.eyeslipsface.co.uk/product~prodID~227.htm">stipple brush from ELF</a>.<br><br>
Man I love this thing. You know when you discover something and you think <i>"How on Earth did I survive without this thing?"</i>. It gives such a flawless finish to the foundation and allows you to apply it thicker in certain areas and less in other areas while making the whole face look evenly applied. Love it.<br><br>
I think my love for it is partly down to <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Bourjois-Healthy-Mix-Foundation-30ml_1039597/">this foundation</a> too. I've always gravitated towards matte foundations. Matte powder. Matte face. I think I remained in my teenage, oily-skinned, mind-set and any face product that wasn't matte just made me look greasy. Now I'm kind of realising that I'm not a teenager anymore, and my skin actually isn't all that oily, and I'm branching out into other face products. I think this foundation is wonderful. It gives great coverage, and gives you a lovely, healthy, fresh-faced glow, the kind that I'd spent the majority of my teenage years covering up with powder. It lasts really well, and wears off evenly (my pet hate is foundation that wear off unevenly and leaves you looking patchy!).<br><br>
Repurchase? Probably yes to both, but I think I might try out the Healthy Serum Foundation first.<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7882641856/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/7882641856_703208a542.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br>
I was considering treating myself to the Urban Decay Naked Palette, but now I just don't feel I need to with the <a href="http://www.muastore.co.uk/index.php/12-shade-undressed-palette">MUA Undressed Palette</a>. Now I know that you've probably read so much about this already, and quite rightly too, it's <i>fantastic</i>. The most gorgeous range of neutral colours ever (matte, pearl and glittery) with excellent pigmentation and staying power and all for just £4. It's just fantastic. Love it. Enough said.<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7882000156/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8434/7882000156_90bbd05358.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br>
Again, this is another (well-deserved) favourite in the beauty community. The <a href="http://www.sleekmakeup.com/face/contouring/face-contour-kit">Sleek Contour palette</a> is just lovely. It's a matte brown contouring colour, with a lovely light shimmery highlighting shade. The perfect kit of contouring and comes in a durable case with a great mirror, and only £6! I'll definitely be checking out more Sleek products in the near future.<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7882003524/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8437/7882003524_2364413935.jpg" width="497" height="500" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br><br>
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This is the <a href="http://www.mememecosmetics.co.uk/correct-and-perfect">MeMeMe Correct and Perfect Concealer Kit</a>, and it is such a lovely and compact little kit! This shade is Bare and it is the absolute <i>perfect</i> shade for me, seriously, I've never had a concealer this perfect a match before. It's a wonderful creamy concealer, easy to blend, and has good lasting power. It's not great for under eyes as it has a tendency to crease, but I've found it works well on blemishes. It also comes with a little mirror, and a loose translucent powder for extra staying power. Love it!<br><br><br>
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And that's it for this month! Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-23153295304346324372012-08-31T16:01:00.000+01:002012-08-31T16:01:00.515+01:00Face Mask FridayI've been really getting into face masks lately, and have been having so much fun testing new ones, so I decided to make reviewing face masks a regular feature. Hopefully I 'll be able to try a new one every week :)<br><br>
This week I managed to try out two.<br><br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7894235320/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7894235320_3e5d4ce299.jpg" width="500" height="469" alt="Untitled"></a></center><br><br><br>
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The first is Boot's Natural Collection Wild Strawberry Facemask<br><br><br>
<b>Price</b>: £1.00 from Boots<br><br>
<b>Scent</b>: I wasn't a big fan of this scent. It smelled a bit too artificial for me. With fruity masks, or any products in fact, artificial smells are a big pet hate for me. It smelt like a strawberry sweetie, which some people like, but it's just not my thing.<br><br>
<b>Application</b>: It was a nice thick cream, plenty of it too, and it was easy to apply. Not overly sticky either.<br><br>
<b>Results</b>: Afterwards my face felt really nice and refreshed. It didn't do anything amazing for my skin, but it felt like it cleaned my face pretty well.<br><br>
<b>Repurchase</b>: Probably not. It's really the scent that put me off. It's pretty much a bog standard face mask and doesn't do anything amazing, but still left my skin feeling nice. I just think I can get other equally priced face masks that do the same thing but smell nicer.<br><br><br><br>
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The other face mask I tried this week was Superdrug's Tea Tree Peel Off Face Mask<br><br><br>
<b>Price</b>: 99p from Superdrug<br><br>
<b>Scent</b>: When I was applying the mask, it smelt <i>strongly</i> of alcohol. It was not pleasant, and I seriously considered taking it off but after it started to dry the alcohol scent disappeared and it smelt of tea tree oil.<br><br>
<b>Application</b>: Applying at first was a pain in the neck. It was a super sticky formula and was just really frustrating. However, when it was time to remove the mask it was amazing. I actually managed to peel it off all in one go which was fantastic.<br><br>
<b>Results</b>: My skin felt really nice and clean afterwards, and I certainly think the tea tree oil helped my blemishes.<br><br>
<b>Repurchase</b>: Perhaps. The alcohol scent and sticky formula are quite off putting but I liked the results and how easy it was to peel off. I think I'm going to try some other peel off masks first to compare.<br><br><br><br>
Have you tried any of these masks? What masks have you been using this week? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-51175275883017835512012-08-30T16:02:00.000+01:002012-08-30T16:02:45.645+01:00Soap and Glory Wish Upon A Jar ReviewToday I'm going to be reviewing Soap and Glory's Wish Upon A Jar (Soap and Glory have the best product names don't you think?) which I've been using for the past few weeks now.<br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7882646546/" title="Wish by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7882646546_02d5c32045.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Wish"></a></center><br><br>
Wish upon a jar is a "21 day collagen overhaul cream" containing shea butter and anti-oxidants, amongst other things, which claims to boost moisture levels, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, brighten tired skin and hide flaws.<br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7882648594/" title="Wish by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8441/7882648594_f0f9153051.jpg" width="500" height="405" alt="Wish"></a></center><br><br>
First of all, I really like the unique packaging. It's nice a durable (which was a relief to find out after I dropped it on the floor!) and it doesn't get finger-printey too easily, which would have bugged me if it did. Oh, and it's pretty.<br><br>
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The cream itself is lovely. It's got this wonderful incredibly creamy texture and really feels luxurious when your putting it on your skin. It also smells beautifully creamy and faintly of Terry's Chocolate Orange. In other words, delicious. <br><br>
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This cream is meant to be a 21 day treatment, used in place of your normal moisturisers both during the day and at night. Although at only 21 years of age, I can't really attest to it's claims of reducing fine lines and wrinkles, it certainly has improved the appearance of my skin.<br><br>
First of all, my skin feels so much more moisturised now. It is a thick and nourishing cream, but I found that it sinks in fairly quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy.<br><br>
I'd also say that my skin looks brighter, although that's such a hard thing to gauge, I believe it has helped. My skin certainly feels nicer anyway.<br><br>
Verdict? I do really like this cream. I still feel a bit odd using such a rich cream as a day moisturiser so I think I'll be continuing using it as a night cream solely. It smells amazing, and feels luxurious, but at £15 it is quite a luxury for me. That being said, a little goes a long way with this and it is only intended to be used for 21 days every 3 or so months and so I feel I could maybe treat myself to this again in the future.<br><br>
Have you tried this? What did you think? x
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-18882838397048613332012-08-29T15:57:00.000+01:002012-08-29T16:02:04.596+01:00Help someone for freeGoing to take a quick break from beauty related posts to introduce you to <a href="http://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a>.<br><br>
<center><img src="http://l3-1.kiva.org/rgit91cdb893c7fd3fe676bf1a82544ba0d0820f4a33-1/img/logo/kiva.png" /></center><br><br>
First up I feel the need to point out that this is not a sponsored post but simply a project which I feel is doing a lot of good in the world. Kiva is a non-profit organization which lets individuals lend out as little as $25 to struggling business owners in disadvantaged areas. <br><br>
I won't babble on too much about it here, but if you'd like to find out more about the project then you can do so <a href="http://www.kiva.org/about">here</a> or watch this video.<br><br>
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The reason I'm posting this is that right now Kiva are offering all new members a free $25 loan after signing up (you don't even need to provide your bank details) and it's the easiest thing in the world. Within seconds you are signed up and can browse all the people who are asking for loans and can choose where this money goes and what it is used for.
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I, for example, chose to provide money for <a href="http://www.kiva.org/lend/465741">housing in Sierra Leone</a>. There are so many people across the planet who could benefit from these loans, and this is such an easy way to help them.<br><br>
If you are interested in participating then if you do so through <a href="http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/helen7615">this link</a> not only will you get to choose where a free $25 loan goes to, but I will also receive $25 to loan out to someone else.<br><br>
As much as I love talking about beauty products etc, I think it's important to support projects such as these and I hope you're as excited to participate in this as I am. Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-1084857999212142852012-08-26T12:33:00.000+01:002012-08-26T12:40:12.930+01:00Macadamia Healing Oil TreatmentI know, I know, how late am I with this fad? In all honesty I did just think it was a fad, but as I was ordering some goodies from <a href="www.feelunique.co.uk">feelunique</a> I impulsively added it to my cart. After all, it was less than a fiver and I am currently trying to be extra nice to my hair.<br><br>
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Having read lots of review claiming it improves the condition of your hair whilst not weighing it down I was still dubious. My fine and thin (or thine as lush likes to call it) hair can't really handle much product at all, and it always seem counter intuitive for me to put oil ONTO my hair when I spend most of the time trying to keep oil out of it!<br><br>
Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised. Really surprised actually. I've been applying this to the ends of my damp, freshly-washed hair, and I've found it really makes a difference. Usually if I leave my hair to dry naturally my hair goes all frizzy and fuzzy and, without the use of straighteners, takes the best part of the day to settle down. Using the oil has made such an improvement without making my hair feel greasy, and I can even use it to tame flyaways when my hair is dry which is unheard of for me!<br><br>
All in all, I'm a little bit in love and reckon this has become a staple in my haircare so will definitely be repurchasing. That being said, I've used this every time I've washed my hair for over a month now and I've hardly made a dent on this teeny tiny bottle so I can't imagine I'd need to repurchase it soon!<br><br>
Might have to try out the rest of the Macadamia Healing Oil range, and have already been eyeing up the deep repair mask.<br><br>
Happy Sunday! xHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4856384706057909204.post-84686369071281861712012-08-24T20:03:00.000+01:002012-08-24T20:03:17.230+01:00Boots/Superdrug/Sally's HaulAfter giving myself a bit of a spending ban for a month or so I went on a little beauty bender last time I was in town and here's what I got to try out!<br><br>
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7787275734/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8285/7787275734_7f31968a55.jpg" width="500" height="412" alt="Untitled"></a></center>
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<center><b>Boots:</center></b>
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<small>Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical (the best scent!)<br>
Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo and Conditioner and 3 Minute Miracle (currently on offer for 3 for £10)</small>
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I remember using Aussie products many moons ago, the colour protect range I think, but can't really remember if I liked them that much or not. Recently I've been hearing so many good reviews on the miracle moist range I just had to pick it up. Boots currently have a 3 for £10 offer on Aussie haircare products so I thought a little 3 Minute Miracle couldn't hurt either!<br><br><br><br>
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<small>Boots Ingredients Coconut Body Oil (only £2.54!)<br>
White Glo Toothpaste Coffee and Tea Drinkers Formula</small><br><br><br>
I'm a big tea drinker and have been looking for a slightly stronger every day toothpaste at an affordable price. This was only £3.99 and came with a new toothbrush and everything so I thought I'd give it a go. I also couldn't resist the coconut body oil, I think I'm on a bit of a coconut kick at the moment, and I've instantly fallen in love with the stuff. It smells like <i>real</i> coconut milk and not nasty and artificial.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellenicity/7787280550/" title="Untitled by hellenicity, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8295/7787280550_645906bd08.jpg" width="500" height="320" alt="Untitled"></a><br>
<small>S&G Wish Upon A Jar 21 day collagen treatment (£15)<br>
S&G Fab Pore Facial Peel (£8)
S&G Supereyes Supereyes Eye Cream (£9)<br><br><br>
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3 for 2 on Soap and Glory gets me every time! I just can't resist! I've been wanting to try these three products out for a while now, so reviews to come :)<br><br><br><br>
<center><br><b>Superdrug:</b><br><br>
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<small>Garnier Pure Sauna Face Mask £1.29<br>
Tea Tree Peel Face Mask 89p<br>
John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner on offer for £5.99<br>
Sleek Face Contour Kit in Light</small><br><br></center>
The Sleek Contour kit has been on my wishlist for an age and a half and so I finally decided to treat myself to it! Plus I've always been intrigued by the John Frieda Full Repair range and am fast developing an obsession with hair masks, treatments and deep conditioners so I had to give this a go!<br><br><br><br>
<center><b>Sally's:</b><br><br>
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<small>Ion Intensive Drench treatment 84p<br>
Ion Reconstructor treatment £1.24<br>
Ion Hot Oil treatment £1.24<br>
Argan Secret Miracle Masque £2.49<br>
Osmo Intensive Deep Repair Mask £2.41<br><br><br></small></center>
I did tell you I was developing an obsession with hair treatments! I rarely ever go into Sally's but I'm so glad I did and vow to visit more often. Basically I went around the whole (tiny) store and picked up every sachet and sample to try out. I love when shops, especially those that can be a little bit expensive, sell sachets and sample sizes. I'm particularly excited to try out the Argan Secret masque, looks interesting!<br><br><br>
This shopping trip was from a couple weeks ago now (bad blogger!) but I've had a chance to use some of these products properly now so expect reviews soon! Also expect another beauty haul soon (yes, another, I'm ashamed!). Boots are currently offering 10 advantage points for every £1 this weekend so of course I made a massive online order. In my defense it was my way of treating myself after landing myself a job, so it's justified, right?<br><br>
<small><small>Embarrasing fact: So I'm probably the only one who does this, but I just can't help singing old Justin Timberlake songs to myself whenever I read/write the word "justified". Yes, that's weird. Let's move on.</small></small><br><br>
Hope you have a great weekend!
Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02253988703596699065noreply@blogger.com8