Revlon Ultra Volume Mascara Review

Hello everyone! It has been a wee while since I’ve written and decided to get that sorted! It´s been a mad few months, between being busy at work and a family passing, I haven’t had much chance to write. I have been waiting for something to jump out at me and oh have I found it!

It happened by chance, I was in Superdrug looking for my usual Revlon Mascara only to not find it anywhere, but instead a new range of mascaras. Distraught that my usual had been discontinued, I grumpily chose one and set off to pay.

The next morning, (after calming down!) I decided to give it a bash. There are five mascaras in the new range by Revlon, I choose the Ultra Volume Mascara, in 001 Blackest Black, as I have fairly long natural lashes but not very thick. Here is what I found…

 

What they say: Conditioning, clump-free formula plumps lashes. Revlon Lash Plumping Brush™ features triple grooves designed to hold formula for maximum volume and short and long bristles designed to comb every lash and eliminate clumps.

What I say: I’ll admit that I was fully expecting to hate this product… but I can confess that I actually LOVE IT. The wand is a decent size, quite thick which reaches all the lashes, coating them evenly. There are never any clumps and doesn’t give my eyelashes that ‘spidery’ look. It makes my lashes appear thicker and the brush does a good job of separating them. Also for not being waterproof mascara it doesn’t smudge and stays put throughout the day.

The Verdict

I love this new mascara and at £9.99 it’s a bargain buy. I look forward to trying a few of the others in the range and I am embracing the new changes and officially forgive Revlon…

Have you tried this mascara or any others from the range? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Kaitlin xx

 

 

 

 

NYX Illuminator Face & Body Bronzer: The Review

Glowing skin is something most of us wish for, hope for and try everything to get it. So, when you finally find a product that fulfils this wish, there is no better feeling. A bronzer and illuminator all in one sleek, handy compact, it seemed like my prayers had been answered.

So how did I feel when I tried the NYX Illuminator Face & Body Bronzer*? Read on to find out…

The product

What NYX say: “Brighten up your skin with any of the Illumination Face & Body Bronzers. The radiant shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow. Gleam through the day wearing any of the three Illumination Body Bronzers for a natural touch of radiance.”

What I say: A cross between a bronzer and a highlighting powder, this illuminating bronzer is ideal for giving dull winter skin a boost. The handy compact with mirror makes it easy to apply, even when you’re on the go. I used an angled blusher brush for a more precise application.

I tested out shade 01 Narcissistic, which has more of a peachy pink tone, almost like rose gold. I applied it over my cheeks, up towards my temples after finishing my make-up. I also apply it across my décolletage if I’m going out, giving it a silky sheen!

The Verdict

I am very impressed with this product and I now wear it regularly. It leaves skin with a subtle glow without being glittery and it reflects the light. Overall, it’s a great illuminating powder that I use almost daily, and at only £9 it’s a bargain. It feels much more expensive that it actually is. This gets a big thumbs-up from me, I would definitely recommend it!

NYX Illuminating Face & Body Powder, £9 is available online, click here

Damaged Hair: The Top 3 Must-Haves

Whether it’s long, short, straight or curly the majority of us would like the opposite type of hair than what we have. However, one thing we don’t want is damaged hair. We understand that factors like chlorine, sunshine and air conditioning can dry hair out after summer, so I’ve have tried and tested the latest hair care products and have whittled them down to my top three…

1) Moroccanoil Treatment*, £31.85, available at salons nationwide.

I had heard a lot of people talking about Moroccanoil for a while now and decided to see for myself what all the fuss was about. The oil can be used on damp or dry hair. I used it on towel dried hair before blow drying and it left my hair soft and bouncy. I then applied a drop on my tips to smooth down split ends. I use this product after every time I was my hair and I love it! It may seem quite pricey, but you literally only need a few drops for big results. Overall, this is a fab hair treatment and would totally recommend anyone to buy it!

2) Tangle Teezer*, £11.60, stores nationwide

As a girl with thick hair, there is nothing worse than getting knots and tangles. Many times after washing my hair I would tug and tug at my hair with a brush, which ended up leaving me frizzy and half my head of hair stuck to the brush. Then I used the Tangle Teezer. This brush is like magic as it glides through hair, detangling as it goes. It fits snugly in your hand which makes it easy to hold. They are bright and funky which also makes it attractive for kids, who hate getting their hair brushed! I love it and I believe every girl should have one on their dressing table!

3) BC Fibre Force Hair Range*, Cleanser Shampoo £11.55, Fortifier Conditioner £12.75, Fortifier Spray Conditioner £12.75, and Fortifying Treatment £14.45.

When I first heard of the BC Fibre Force range and how it claims to “introduce a new dimension of hair repair returning even most eroded hair to its optimal level of force and resilience.” I couldn’t wait to try it out, and this range has been the best I’ve used so far. I use GHD straighteners almost every day, so my hair is pretty dry and damaged. After a couple of times using the Shampoo and Conditioner my hair already felt silky soft and nourished. The shampoo improves the strength of hair fibres, while the conditioner seals the hair surface. I was also using the Conditioning Spray which added amazing shine to my hair and acted as a detangler. I used the Fortifier Treatment once a week and it added even more strength to my hair. The products work by using, for the first time, micronized hair-identical keratins which penetrate deeply into the hair to restore the cell membrane complex. Overall, thumbs up!

BEAUTY MATHS… Pink nails

In Mean Girls they were it on a Wednesday, it’s the official colour of Breast Cancer Awareness and, well, it my favourite colour.  Show your support this month and wear pink! By putting these two products together you will get these super-girly yet fierce pink claws!

With oval shape nails being bang on trend,  these Elegant Touch nails are perfect for those wanting to try the oval shape before committing to acrylics or for those who work shifts and can’t have long nails at work. The nails are great and they last up to 10 days, but for me it was around the five-day mark. I use Superdrug’s own brand nail glue as I find it is stronger than the nail glue that comes with it. The box comes with 24 nails so you can get at least two uses out of them, and at under a fiver they are a great price.

The colour of the nail varnish is a bright, Barbie pink. I only needed one coat to give a vibrant, high-shine colour. With a base coat and cover coat it is long-lasting and hardly chipped.

Want nails like mine? Here is the formula…

 

Elegant Touch Totally Bare Oval Nails in 002, £4.65

Revlon Colorstay in Passionate Pink, £7.99.

Both from Superdrug.

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BlanX White Shock Review

White, gleaming Hollywood teeth is something almost everyone desires, isn’t it? It is certainly on my wish list. However, having sensitive teeth has stopped me having them bleached professionally. Smoking, drinking red wine and coffee can have a huge effect on teeth and with coffee being my only vice out the three my teeth aren’t too bad, but not paper-white either.

I heard about BlanX from their TV ads with the lady walking around smiling all the time. BlanX say: “The light reactive formula removes bacteria, cleans and continues to whiten your teeth all day long. The more you smile, the whiter your teeth will get”.

After hearing this I was very intrigued and I was sent some of the BlanX White Shock collection to try. I have been using the products for around two months and feel I have been using it for long enough to give a justified review. Here’s what I thought…

BlanX White Shock with LED Accelerator with Actilux

When I first took this out the box, I was intrigued. Inside the box was a 50ml tube of BlanX White Shock toothpaste and another little box with a LED Accelerator lid that screws on top of the toothpaste.

This BlanX White Shock toothpaste comes with LED accelerator for a more intense whitening action.

The LED lid lights up each time you use BlanX White Shock, activating the paste as soon as it comes out of the tube onto the toothbrush.
Thanks to the specially designed LED light, Actilux’s whitening action is multiplied. I used this toothpaste twice every day.

BlanX White Shock Treatment with LED bite with Actilux

Now this was interesting. Similar to the White Shock toothpaste, this is an intensive treatment which you activate using an LED mouth guard type thing. With this, you brush it on like normal toothpaste, and then hold the mouth guard between your lips so it is shining on your teeth for at least a minute.

I used this every other day, usually at night when I had more time. I found the Bite quite fun and it was comfortable to hold. I dribbled a little the first time I used it but I soon got used to it.

BlanX White Shock Mouthwash with Actilux

The only light activated Whitening Mouthwash in the world with Actilux, I was pretty skeptical about a whitening mouthwash, and because I used it alongside the other two products I’m not sure how powerful it would be using on its own, but I have to admit it is a pretty good mouthwash. I find it stronger than other super strong mouthwashes I have used and left my mouth feeling squeaky clean and minty fresh.

My verdict…

Overall, the LED lights are a fun gimmick and my teeth are a little bit whiter but I don’t see a great difference. However, for a non-peroxide product and for the price I think it’s a good product. It’s a product you can use every day and won’t harm your teeth. With reports of toothpastes with baking soda as being harmful to your teeth, this is a good option and I will continue to purchase BlanX… while I pluck up the courage to have my teeth whitened professionally!

BlanX White Shock with LED Accelerator with Actilux, £7.50, BlanX White Shock Treatment with LED bite with Actilux, £15.99 and BlanX White Shock Mouthwash with Actilux £5.50 are all available from Boots.

Latest in Beauty Box Review

There is nothing I love more than online shopping. The thrill of clicking ‘add to my basket’, the excitement of receiving that email telling you your parcel is on its way and the joy of it finally arriving. Well, imagine all that happiness with the element of surprise thrown in!

Latest in Beauty give you the chance to try out beauty products before you buy, and the exciting thing is, you don’t know what you are going to be sent. After subscribing, you are sent a box each month filled with goodies. The good thing is you can unsubscribe whenever you want (if you’re crazy to!). For the most recent box, Latest in Beauty teamed up with Jo Fairley and Sarah Stacey, authors of The Beauty Bible. Here are my top picks of what was inside…

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena & Lavender Hand Therapy

The conditioning blend of shea butter, macadamia nut oil and antioxidant-rich vitamins C and E left my hands so soft. The fragrance is so vibrant I keep it at my desk for a pick-me-up at work!

Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mud Mask

This detoxifying and anti-ageing bio-plasma face treatment left my skin looking smooth and radiant. The mask works deep down to cleanse out pores and remove grime, and because it’s organic, there are no nasty chemicals.

John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler

A lightweight conditioner that can either be rinsed out or used as a leave-in conditioner. A great conditioner it eliminated tangles and left my hair shiny and manageable.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm

Fast becoming a cult product in the beauty world, the Melting Cleansing Balm is loved by celebrities. It was really easy to use and left my skin silky soft.

RITUALS Miracle Scrub Ginseng & Ginkgo Biloba Ultra Softening Hand Scrub

Restore your skin’s elasticity and moisture balance with this rejuvenating scrub. Enriching oils are easily absorbed, this gorgeous hand scrub left my hands feeling soft and nourished.

Also in the box: Bellápierre Volumizing Mascara, PitROK Crystal Deodorant Wipes, Essential Care Creamy Coconut Cleanser, John Masters Organics Lavender Rosemary Shampoo.

To sign up for a monthly Latest in Beauty box for £19.95 go to www.latestinbeauty.com

Nutribullet: The Big Review!

Nutribullet: Makes juices, but not as we know them

When I first saw the Nutribullet* advertised on one of the shopping channels, I didn’t see what all the hype was about. It’s a blender, big deal, I thought. Then, as I watched the demonstrations and how it actually works, I was blown away. I sat for over an hour, mesmerised. You see, it’s not a blender, or a juicer, or a food processor. It’s known as a Superfood Nutrition Extractor.

A juicer extracts the juice and leaves the fibre, fibre that we need for nutritional values. A blender liquidises, but leaves chunks and seeds behind. The Nutribullet completely breaks down ingredients in to their most nutritious state, making it easier to absorb. Seeds and nuts are pulverised, and skins of fruit and vegetables are broken down to unlock all the goodness within.

Sounds too good to be true, right? I thought so, and at the RRP price of £99.99, I was a bit apprehensive in case it wasn’t as good as it it cracked up to be. However, I soon found out I had nothing to worry about. Pulling all the bits and pieces out the box, I couldn’t wait to try it out and I wasn’t disappointed.

The guidelines say to add 50% leafy greens, I.e. Spinach, kale and 50% fruit. They also recommend you add a ‘boost’ which come in the form of nuts and seeds. You then add water to the line, and you are ready to blast! I started off with spinach, apple and grapes. I also added sunflower, sesame and flax seeds. It’s really simple to use, just load it up add water and then screw on the lid. The lid has the Extracting blades fitted into it, and because they are intended to blast the ingredients rather than chop, they are blunter than usual blades which means they are safer to use and don’t need sharpened.

After screwing on the lid, click it into place, twist and it starts. There are no buttons or switches. Once you are happy with the consistency, unscrew the lid and pour into a glass. Yum! To clean, just add some hot soapy water and blast it. Give it a rinse and you’re done! So much easier than juicers which have numerous parts and built in sieves that need scrubbed.

Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it. However, its talents don’t just stop at juices. There is also another blade for milling. The milling blade is used to turn dry ingredients into powders. This can be used to mill oats, nuts and seeds.

Other recipes I have made are brownie bites, pancake mix and frozen cocktails (which are amazing!). I am also going to try to make natural ‘ice cream’ using frozen banana – stay tuned to see how that turns out!

So now we know how it works, what does it do for our bodies? The Nutribullet is designed in such a way to blast the seeds and skin of fruit to release nutrients that we wouldn’t normally be able to absorb just from eating them. When our body fails to absorb these nutrients, we become weaker and more vulnerable to sickness and disease. Absorbing these nutrients will also have an effect on how we look and feel. You will notice you are more energetic, less bloated and depending on your diet and the level of exercise you are doing, drinks can aid weight loss.

Overall, I personally believe the Nutribullet is a fantastic piece of equipment I use it almost every day, whether it’s a healthy green juice in the morning, an iced coffee after work or a frozen daiquiri before a night out. It’s also super easy to clean which is a big bonus. It’s a staple item in my kitchen and thoroughly recommend it to anyone contemplating buying one!

The Nutribullet*, £99.99 is available from stores nationwide or online.

Philips Sonicare AirFloss Review

I have a confession to make. I hate flossing my teeth. I hate the feel of it, the sound of it and my biggest fear is it getting stuck between my teeth. Ridiculous, I know. So when I first heard about the Philips Sonicare AirFloss*, I was intrigued.

 

 

 

 

The Airfloss is a tooth-cleaning device that claims to “cleans between your teeth where brushing cannot”. So does it do what it says on the tin? I put it to the test. It works by filling it with water or mouthwash and placing it between your teeth at the gum, then pressing the button where the liquid shoots out. It looks a bit like a standard electrical toothbrush, except for the thin spout at the top.

It comes with a charger, and it includes a quick start guide as well as a more intensive set of instructions. The battery life is great also, as one session of charging should last 14 uses (two weeks when used daily). One thing I should mention is that it is a European plug, so you’ll need an adapter. You can pick these up fairly cheap at Pound Shops.

After charging it for 24 hours I was good to go. The water shoots out much stronger than I was expecting, it’s not at all painful though. It may take a few tries to get used to it, they first time I was spraying water and dribbling everywhere – not a hot look. However, once you get the hang of it it’s really simple to use. They key is to close your lips to hold it in place, not like the models on the box who have a wide grin as they use it. The button can also be pressed down to release steady bursts which makes it easier.

So, does it actually work? It is hard to tell, as it is designed to remove plaque, which is invisible. However, after a few weeks using it, my teeth look slightly pointier at the gum line – which is caused by gum inflammation. I have still been using dental floss occasionally, but in conjunction with the AirFloss, I am using less. Overall, I am really pleased with this product and as a floss-hater I can now floss my teeth with a smile on my face – with my lips closed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Philips Sonicare AirFloss, £100 is available at http://www.philips.co.uk/e/oralhealthcare/consumer/cons-range-interdental.html

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse Review

When I heard about a tan that claims to last 2-3 weeks I was intrigued.

Claiming to last 4 times more than any other fake tan, it seemed too good to be true.

The tan says: “The new pHenomenal 2-3 week Tan Lotion incorporates revolutionary pHenO2 technology to deliver a natural bronze tan that lasts up to 4 times longer than any other tan in the world. The new luxurious lightweight lotion formula includes Moisture LockTM that draws water to the skin surface and locks it there for 72 hours leaving skin thoroughly plumped and hydrated. (2-3 weeks= lasts up to four times longer than regular tans.)”

Well, I found that it doesn’t last over a fortnight without more applications – like any other fake tan would. However, the instructions do state that it does depend on the Ph levels of your skin, so maybe it will last longer on others. It is easy to apply, and a little goes a long way. Also, it does fade evenly and produces an amazing colour, which makes up for it. It did make my skin nice and soft, and the colour was amazing.

It is pricey, therefore I would keep it for going out rather than everyday use. It goes on easily and goes far so you don’t use much per application which makes it last. It was also revealed last week that this is loved by Kim Kardashian, and if it’s good enough for Kim K, it’s good enough for me!

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse*, £37.50, vitaliberata.com

Fake Tan Free: Before application

After 24 hours

Liz Earle Review

I was told about Liz Earle products by a friend, who wouldn’t stop raving about the hot cloth treatment. Me, being me, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and couldn’t wait to try it – and I was not disappointed. I received a set with three products – to cleanse, tone and moisturise.

The Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser* works together with a pure muslin cloth to gently clean deep into your pores and clear away dead skin cells. As you pump it out it feels thick and luxurious, and as you massage it into the face it feels more like a mask. You then use the muslin cloth (you get 2 cloths) which cleanses your make up off, including waterproof mascara. Skin feel soft and plump, as you can actually feel the moisturiser sinking in.

The next step is the Instant Boost Skin Tonic toner*, which softens and smooths the skin. It left my skin glowing. As its alcohol-free it doesn’t dry out the skin. Finally, the Skin Repair Moisturiser* is applied, which is incredibly conditioning. It contains natural antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E to replace lost moisture and help protect against dryness. I’ve been using the three products twice a day and I can honestly say I have noticed a difference. My skin is less dry and flaky and it’s glowing. For under £50 for the entire three step routine it’s reasonable considering the small amount you use each time. It gets my approval, and will continue to use it in the future.

Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser*, 13.25, 100ml/ Instant Boost Skin Tonic*, 13.25, 100ml/ Skin Repair Moisturiser*,19.25, 50ml. Available from uk.lizearle.com