Notorious B.I.G

Lush was always a shop I ran past on a Saturday afternoon because my Friday night hangover could not handle the smell. However on closer inspection I have to admit the products I have tried are great. I am the queen of baths so I have always welcomed bath bombs from friends at Christmas and birthdays but the Lush range is more extensive than that and the fresh handmade angle is perfect in a highly manufactured and processed market.

If you do have a nosey around a Lush shop then do not come out empty handed – you MUST MUST MUST buy Big Shampoo. It is my new obsession and is genuinely like no other shampoo I have used.  

The product:

£10.95/330g

Sea salt shampoo for shine, softness and big endowments. This pot of oceanic goodness is 50% sea salt to give limp hair the volume it deserves, with seaweed infusion to soften hair and citrus juices for shine. After using Big, your hair will be bouncing back to life http://www.lush.co.uk/

The consistency is a thick and gritty liquid which really lathers up so you only need a small amount. I have very long hair and a 50p dollop will do the trick. Once rubbed into the hair the salt disintegrates so don’t worry you are going to be left with half the Pacific in your hair.

The black pot is ideal for shampoo because there is nothing worse than reaching the end of your shampoo bottle and banging it against all sides of the bath to squeeze out the last drops. Pots are the future of shampoo if you ask me.

The results:

I don’t think my hair has ever felt this clean, because of the salt it feels like you are really scrubbing the dirt out of your hair - the best way I can describe it is when you have thoroughly exfoliated your face and you apply moisturiser to skin which feels so much smoother than usual – Big Shampoo is the equivalent for your barnet.  

The smell is amazing – without sounding like an advert the citrusy freshness is heavenly.

My hair can sometimes be quite dull in between colours, but Big gives it a great shine, which is accredited to the lime juice. I have also found my hair is a lot more manageable for styling; I usually cannot do anything with just-washed hair as curls last no more than a few hours but I think the sea salt actually holds my hair.

 And finally...

The BIG question – does it work?

Yes Yes Yes! It gives hair that oomph that I love. I have said it before I like big hair and big eyes so this shampoo was always destined to sit proudly in my bathroom. I have used all sorts of volumising shampoos but to no avail – I would always end up in front of the mirror back combing the hell out of my roots. Big is the first shampoo I can genuinely say makes a significant difference to the volume – lifting the roots and giving my hair the wake-up call it needs.

Invest in a pot !

Wax on Wax off

I took an oath when I started my blog I wouldn’t be too negative about products, I would always try and remain objective weighing up the good with the bad, but let me tell you my fellow readers...

**VEET Facial Waxing Strips are brutal**

The only thing I have ever had waxed are my eyebrows, the pain is tolerable but it is not an enjoyable treatment, if I had the choice I would rather go for a massage and let a national forest grow above my eyes than continue to wax, but I’m too vein and I tolerate it.

In a moment of madness I decided to do a bit of DIY and wax my upper lip. On a recent shopping escapade I thought Veet strips would be my dependable friend to rid me of any unwanted hair. I turned to Veet because of its excellent reputation and array of waxing strips available.

The strips are simple enough, rub them in your hands for 5 seconds to warm the wax and apply a strip to one side of the lip. Pull the strip immediately in a swift upwards motion.

Ouchhhhhh!!!!  What the F*"%$#”K!

It hurts. Trust me!

The pack supplies a wipe to remove any remaining wax from the area – the wipes were awful it felt like applying extra virgin olive oil to your face, I assume it is oil based to dissolve the wax, but smelling like a Greek Salad is not pleasant.

Initially the strips had worked, any fine hair had been removed so as painful as it was I could not grumble at the results. It was not until the next day that my waxing debacle turned sour. It turns out the wax had also removed the top layer of skin and I was left with a burn above my lips. Over the next few days the area became very dry, red and sore (sorry not pleasant I know) it took a week to clear.

I could not understand what went so wrong so I asked around and found I am not the first (phew) this has happened to, a number of friends have had the exact same problem but because most girls do not want to talk about their ‘waxable’ bits no one cared to enlighten me.  To be honest I doubt Veet have even tested the wax on a guinea pigs back no matter an actual human being, because nobody would pay money for third degree burns.

Girls, all I can say is let the professionals take care of your waxing requirements. Waxing DIY is not the way to go!

Dont do it.

Bare Necessities

I was involved in a great debate with a good friend of mine the other night. I would love to say we were debating the rising unemployment rates amongst 16-24 year olds, or the incredibly long wait times in A&E despite government schemes...but nooooo...after a bottle or two of wine the only topic on our mind was which three products could we not live without (and they call us shallow pffft).

It started off as a breezy conversation which turned into a great debate, the language would have made Roy Chubby Brown blush...I seriously doubted our friendship because of her three choices. After careful consideration and hours of soul searching I asked the great philosophical question ‘what would be my top three’ so here goes....

Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation:      

£33 / 35ml

Foundation is a must for me; its absence would be like leaving the house without my top on – it’s not pleasant and mothers would shield their children’s eyes in the street at the mere sight.

I have spent ten years searching for the perfect foundation I gave up a few years back and settled with Chanel’s Pro Lumiere. It was good (not great) the best of a bad bunch, it did the job – covering my face without looking caked or orange. I could not really ask for more than that, but my problem was it did not last the day, even with a primer. I liked the dewy look but after a few hours I looked less ‘healthy glow’ more ‘tropical storm’.

After touching up my foundation for the third time that day I had had enough so the search continued, I could live like this no more (I am being dramatic, but my foundation means a lot to me). I read a number of great reviews about Laura Mercier, I was not too familiar with the brand so I was hesitant to part with the pounds – all 33 of them – but I had nothing to lose. I never let the girls on the makeup counter go near my face, sorry if you work on a makeup counter but when it comes to foundation, applying it to my face in a badly lit shop whilst I have 10 minutes to spare out of my shopping trip is never going to be a winner. I can colour match my own skin, I am capable of applying it to my jaw line and seeing if the colour blends or not.

It is the fairytale ending I had always dreamed of. I have found the man foundation I have longed for all these years and I am not letting go. The texture is thick and the crème blends evenly over the face, giving a medium to full coverage without looking caked and powdered unlike Mac studio sculpt. I would certainly recommend this foundation for acne and oily skin sufferers.

My skin is typically dry with an oily T Zone at times so I mix a pea size of moisturiser into the foundation to create the dewy look of Pro Lumiere without the wet effect. The great thing is you only need a small amount to apply so the squeezable tube is worth the high end price tag. The foundation creates the flawless look I have imagined since I began my make-up journey and I could not live without this product.

Lancome Hypnose Mascara:

£20.50

When it comes to mascara I am a proper northern bird – as the Liverpool girls would say ‘it’s all about the big hair and the big eyes’. During the day I keep my mascara quite low key for work two coats on a morning and a quick blast of the eyelash curlers usually brighten my eyes. For a night on the town I apply three coats of mascara in between curling. Mascara’s that clump are promptly kicked to the curb, Hypnose allows you to build thickness and length without clumping and causing those dreadful spider leg type eyelashes.

Tip: apply translucent powder to lashes before your mascara for a volumised look

I always choose a dark black colour as I think browns are totally pointless no matter your colouring. I have to say Lancome’s entire mascara range never fails to please but I always seem to be drawn back to Hypnose in particular. Lancome claims lashes will appear to have up to 6 times more volume and I have to agree – it certainly does what it says on the tin.

Botanics Rose Water Toner

£4.07 / 150ml

Toner is my lifesaver because no matter how clean I think my face is when I use a toner there is always a small amount of dirt still to be found. I don’t get it I have not been toiling the fields all day – I have a shower, scrub my face, cleanse  - but guaranteed my face will still have traces of dirt (how is that possible).

Botanics Rose water is less stringent than other toners I have used in the past which usually dry my face and leave it feeling tight, I was a fan of Chanel’s Gentle Hydrating Toner but still found it too harsh on my skin especially as I use toner morning and night. Botanics is refreshing and leaves the skin soft and prepared for moisturiser. At £4.07 (Boots) it is an essential part of my beauty routine and I would recommend it for all skin types.

You Little Scrubber

 I was unfortunate enough to suffer a bout of adult acne during my early twenties, let me tell you nothing knocks your confidence like a good old spot (or twenty). I did not see it coming  - it popped up over night, quite literally. I spent a year trying every product on the market and became quite the expert, I could give any dermatologist a run for their money. When I finally found Roaccutane to be the miracle I had been waiting for my skin was clear within weeks.

I am very lucky and grateful to be spot free nowadays (I do not count the odd pre-menstrual breakout), but I am still very strict with my skin routine and am constantly on the look out for a product that will transform me into Nicole Scherzinger. Following endless research for a smoother and rejuvenated face I tried a course of microdermabrasion at a Manchester salon and it was fantastic. The process was painless and involved crystals propelled onto the skin whilst a vacuum system sucks at the top layer of the skin removing dead cells.

The treatment lasted 30 minutes and I completed 3 sessions over a four week period. My skin was ever so slightly red immediately after treatment but I made sure the appointments were booked after work so I would not have to wear make-up until the following day. I could feel and see the difference after just one session, my skin was smoother and I had an even complexion. However, it is not cheap and I spent £120 for the three sessions. Due to the expense I tried home kits with hope I could do the job on a budget, but nothing had the same impact - the creams did not have the same umph the vacuum machine in the salon had. I even contemplated buying the equipment to use at home but it is way too pricey.

It was only the other month when I was spending my usual Saturday afternoon wandering Boots for some bargains that I spotted Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion kit and thought for £25.99 I had nothing to lose.

The box includes;
Derma-Crystals Microdermabrasion Cream  - standard microdermabrasion cream found in most skin care ranges except it uses bicarbonate sodium crystals instead of corundum crystals.
Peel Activator Serum - An Amino-Peptide Complex which is designed to chemically stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin.


How I used it:

1) I cleaned my face and neck with a gentle toner

2) Apply a 50p piece size of microdermabrasion cream to your entire face (you only need a small amount as it goes along way)

3) Massage the crystals into the face and neck for one-two minutes

4) Apply the Peel Serum (again you only need a small amount) - and massage into the face for another minute, the crystals will dissolve and create a white paste

5) Rinse with luke warm water

It is a quick and mess free process, although I would recommend tying your hair back as the crystals can get into the hair line. The instructions recommend using the kit once a week - depending on how sensitive your skin is I would definitely use it at least twice a week.

Does it work?

I like the combination of the crystals and the peeling serum as a double whammy of exfoliation, it certainly leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth. However, the strength of the peeling agent is very very mild, making it impossible to achieve the same results of a professional chemical peel or microdermabrasion treatment. I personally think Olay has created a great facial scrub, but in comparison to other home kits is neither better nor worse. If you are hoping to eradicate fine lines or acne scars then stick with the salon treatments it may be expensive but trust me it is more effective than any over-the-counter cream.

Green with Envy

As we all wait with bated breath to hear the five words we have longed for - 'clear skies and high temperatures' - I have accepted that in the UK half of the fun is the uncertainty of a decent summer. The unpredictable weather means spontaneous bbq's, road trips on a whim and pub gardens packed with eligible bachelors. The sun may not always be shining, but that does not mean as Brits we let the summer pass us by.

On Saturday I went searching for a little bit of summer, despite the rainy start to June it has not dampened my spirits and my mission was to find a nail varnish that would brighten my outfit. It took me all of five minutes to try and buy Barry M's Mint Green polish.

The colour is a perfect pastel shade and really compliments a tan (which at the moment I am seriously lacking). It is certainly hard wearing, I applied two coats and after three days is still chip free. The consistency is perfect and does not have the watery texture of Rimmel's polishes, the brush provides a precise application - great if you are in a rush. OPI polishes have always been a favourite of mine as they offer a varied colour range, but with Barry M's strong collection of bold and classic colours at a third of the price it is hard to justify splashing that extra cash, I applaud Barry M for creating a range that produces great make-up at even greater prices.

All-in-all this is a summer must and I do not have enough perfectly painted fingers to count the compliments I received about this nail polish.

http://www.barrym.com/nail-paints 

Water Logged

I do not think a week of my life goes by without hearing the words ‘drink more water’. No matter the ailment everything appears to be cured by a glass of the free stuff. If I so much as cough in the street it is likely a passerby will jump at the chance to spout off the healing properties found in water.

‘I feel sick’ - have a glass of water  ‘I am so tired’ – you don’t drink enough water  ‘my car won’t start’ – Fill up the water

I cannot ignore the fact JLo swears by it and confesses to drinking at least three litres a day, if so then who am I to argue with the sexiest woman in the world (sexiest woman title is now official).

The Benefits

Skin: Water replenishes skins cells and helps elasticity, well hydrated skin looks youthful giving a bright clear complexion.

Weight: Drinking water can help weight loss because it flushes down the by-products of fat breakdown. Drinking a glass of water before meals can reduce hunger as it is an effective appetite suppressant and we often mistake hunger for dehydration.

Energy: Since the body is 75% water, dehydration can have an effect on memory and productivity. Water makes you more alert and helps you concentrate.

There are a number of other health benefits to convince us to replace the Vodka with the Volvic, but I don’t feel I need to go any further. If by drinking the recommended 2 litres I am going to have fabulously smooth skin, a lower fat count and bags of energy then what more can a girl ask for?

Yes I understand the scientific jargon - we need water to function and survive blah blah blah - but I am not convinced 2 litres is the golden number.

What obscurity has that number been plucked from?

Call me cynical but the folks over at the ‘water bottle manufacturing company’ could be sitting on a nice stack of notes while we run around the streets looking for the nearest Tesco Express to feed our water habit. Cynicism aside, in the name of beauty I am willing to eat drink my words and spend the next 7 days drinking at least two litres of water.

Follow me on twitter for updates and I will hopefully be writing in 7 days with a younger, fresher face - a face that pity’s my foundation because we no longer require it services.

Gucci Gifts

I recently baby sat for a week whilst a good friend of mine enjoyed a well deserved holiday. I thought her a little insane when she asked, as I wouldn’t trust myself to look after a potato, but she disagreed and dropped her little bundle of joy off the following week. Let me tell you I will not argue with any woman who says it is a full-time job. My time was spent cleaning up ‘accidents’, constant feeds and walks in the torrential rain at 6.30am. Ok so I may have exaggerated a little...it was a puppy not a baby... it’s all tomatoe – tomato to me.

Do not feel too sorry for me because poop scooping before sunrise does have it perks, my friend returned from the East bearing gifts... Gucci gifts.

I am now guilty of loving Gucci Guilty, the sexy gold bottle holds a perfume with an even sexier floral scent. It is subtly strong which makes for a great day or night perfume.

I am also a fan of;

Miss Dior Cherie,

Nina Ricci ‘Richie’

Givenchy ‘Ange Ou D Mon Le Secret’

but I must say Gucci Guilty has become a firm favourite and I would recommend to perfume lovers with a sweet tooth, it does not have the sickly punch of Flower Bomb and oozes feminine sophistication. All in all it is the Marilyn Monroe of perfumes...love love love it (did I mention I love it)!