Soap and Glory Skin Care - Cleanser and Mask

Soap and Glory Skin Care - Cleanser and Mask

Soap and Glory have developed a massive fan base for their luxurious and pampering bath and shower range. The sheer smell of the many of the bath creams, the effectiveness of the body scrubs and the softness of the shower gel is impressive. Keeping this in mind I was really looking forward to trying a few of the new products from the skincare range. I decided to try tWO products

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THE ULTIMELT -DEEP PURIFYING HOT CLOTH CLEANSER

RRP £10.00/ €11.70

I had read a number of really good reviews of this product so I was eager to try it. This is a hot cloth cleaner for the face and neck. It comes with its own muslin cloth which I must add is really good quality. Like so many Soap and Glory products this cleanser smells amazing with hints of lavender, rose and citrus. It is rich in texture which adds to the luxury feel once applied to your skin. It is packed with essential oils which are packed with all things good for your skin. It also contains pro vitamin B5 which is excellent for softening the skin and is paraben free.

The instructions tell you to apply to the skin and gently rub into the skin for a few minutes. Using the cloth provided remove – simple but effective. My skin felt soft, felt really cleansed and was softer. I really like this cleanser and at the moment am using it almost daily. I have recommended it to a few friends and they have all reported back to me the fact they are really enjoying using it. Soap and Glory have a winner here.

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NO CLOGS ALLOWED - SUPER SELF-HEATING DEEP PORE DETOX MASK

RRP £11.50/ €13.46

I love this mask! Recently I have tried a number of different masks and unfortunately have been a little disappointed in most of them but not his one. This mask is really effective and feels really good on the skin. This mask works to deeply cleanse the skin and it attempts to melt away pore-plugging sebum that can result in blemishes and breakouts. It acts to soften the skin cells. It smells amazing and is rich in texture. It also has heating properties, once applied to the skin it heatwaaaaaaaaaaaas-0ois up which adds to the effectiveness and the luxury feel of the mask.

The instructions are simple - just massage on, and stop when the paste changes from yellow to blue. It is a fast-acting, smoothing and polishing blend of micropumice, salicylic acid and hot clay, which activates with water contact. One little element of this mask that I really like is the fact that the packaging is a tube which means there is little or no waste. Just a great mask!

Over all I am impressed with these two products and I have repurchased both of these products. I would like to try other products for from the range so I just might have to treat myself next shopping spree!

XOXO 

Luxury Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Philip KIngsley Body Building Shampoo and Conditioner 

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Always on the hunt for a volume adding body building shampoo and conditioner combo I was excited to try these. I have long been a fan of Philip Kingsley Elastizer - it is by far one of my most favorite hair products - I had high hopes for this duo. Priced above average for shampoo and conditioner I would label these products as luxury products but if they work and keep your hair in good condition it can be worth it. 

Both products are designed for fine to fly away hair. This is not my hair type but I hoped to gain body and I am happy to report I did! The shampoo is colorless and pretty much odourless which automatically gives the impression that it is light and cleansing and once again this is true. The clear liquid lathers up to form a nice foam and my hair felt really clean both during washing and after. I loved how light my hair felt yet it did have body and was super soft. As shampoo's go I am now a fan! Like many good shampoo products it is potent ( even if it feels so light) so a little goes a long way. 

The conditioner is also light weight and creamy in texture. Using a little I applied it   Just down from my scalp and focused most of it on the ends of my hair which I have ombré meaning it can be a little more brittle and harder then the rest of my hair. I found the condition of my hair to defiantly improve after use. Once agin super soft, full of body and dare I say a little stronger! 

Over all I really enjoy  using these products. I will repurchase given the opportunity ( I have to buy online as I can't them stocked in a salon or shop) enjoy

I am trying a few new hair cleansing duos  as I found a great trail size supplier so over the coming posts I hope to share my experience with you! Please send me recommendations to try by leaving a comment. 

Happy Wednesday an I hope you doubt this post helpful ! 

XOXO 

September Favorites

September Favorites

September has literally flown by, the evenings have got shorter and the nights longer but thankfully the weather has remained friendly. This month I have not been using a lot of new products but of course I have found a few favorite products to pamper myself with. Without further ado I shall begin sharing what I believe are “Great Little Finds”!

Perfume – Addict 2 by Dior

This is one of my all time favorite perfume. No matter what perfume I am drawn towards I always return to this perfume. I simply love it. The scent is really floral with strong hint musk and a hint of fruits. The scent really does linger but is in no way strong or of-putting. It is feminine, fresh and I find it uplifting maybe because I tend to wear it so much I holds memories. Overall it I simply love this perfume and recommend any one who likes a fresh light scent that has a hint of summer to it to try this perfume.

Have a look here !

Lipstick – Shy Girl by MAC

I have been going through a real lipstick phase and I always find it difficult to find a lipstick that can be worn every day, has staying power and looks delicate yet polished (if that makes sense!!). While tiding my make up collection recently I stumbled across this little gem. This Lipstick is part of the Crème Sheen collection. This lipstick is a nude shade with tones of peachy pink. It is really warm neural colour that I find can be worn with a lot of different make up looks. It brightens up your make up look no matter how subtle your look or it can act as a warm nude teamed with a dramatic smoky eye. I have two of these lipsticks, one almost gone and a new one ready to use so that is testimony in itself as to how much I use it. My lips always feel moisturized when I am wearing it and the colour and light gloss does have staying power as it lasts hours. A very popular shade by MAC means that it can sometimes be difficult to find but defiantly worth the effort to find.

Have a look here!

Makeup Brushes - MAC – NO 217

Slowly over the last few years I have been building up my makeup brush collection. I like different brushes from different brands like Real Techniques and Benefit but one of my most used brushes and most favourite brushes is this one the 217 by MAC. This is a blending brush for the application of eye shadow. It is a large fluffy brush with white soft bristles. It is a little dense which only adds to its effectiveness. It allows you to have perfect control over the blending of eye shadows meaning you can achieve the perfect look that you want to achieve. I really like using this brush and recommend it as part of your make up brush collection.

Have a look here

Eye shadows – Rimmel’s Scandal eyes Shadow Sticks

I am really new to using these eye shadow sticks by Rimmel but I have to say I am so glad to have tried them. I recently purchased two shades Bad Girl Bronze and Bulletproof Beige and have used them so much.

Bad Girl Bronze is a rich brown shade that is so easily worn. Bulletproof Beige is a delicate nude shade that adds a nice sheen and is perfect to act as a high lighter for the brow bone. These eye shadows are really pigmented and rich. The application is really smooth as the product is soft but also easy to apply with precision. Both shades have shine and look very rich. One element of this product that I really like its blend-ability, I like to mix shades and this product allows for this. I look forward to trying more shades.

Have a look here

Bath Time – Bath and Shower Gels by Treacle Moon

I found these little delights while doing my weekly shop in Tesco a few months ago and I have grown to love them. These bath and shower gels smell amazing and leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. My favorites are the mango, the lavender and the melon. These products smell exactly like mango (fruity and fresh), lavender (relaxing and rich) and melon (fresh and light). Each bottle is 500 mls so they last ages, priced really reasonably and lots of variety to choose from. One little element of each product that I like is the little poem written on each bottle. Each variety has a different poem and there is just something really nice about each poem. I have included a photo of each poem I hope you can read them and enjoy them as much as I do. These products have taught me that luxury does not have to come with a hefty price tag.

Have a look here 


September Dis-Likes

I have one major dislike this month, Clinques Clarifying Lotion from the 3 step programme. I was looking forward to trying this range but I was very disappointed. I found the clarifying lotion to be really harsh and very potent. I had a reaction to it (in the form of breakouts) and felt as if it striped my skin. I stopped using it after two weeks and am still trying to reverse the harshness my skin experienced. I am sure this three step system is by cliques is excellent for some users it just did not suit my skin.

Other likes this month:

• ¬  September means the return of good T.V shows like Homelands and Revenge……roll on the lazy chilly nights of the couch watching t.v
• ¬  Scarves – I love scarves and this time of the year is perfect for a large chiffon scarf to keep you cosy
• ¬  Herbal tea – I love Twingings Sleep Tea. This tea is a combination of camomile, lavender and vanilla with a hint of honey for sweetness. It is naturally caffeine free so it is perfect for a little down time before bedtime.

September has been a busy month but a good month too. I hope you try one or two (or all ) of my favourite products from September and I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

As always I shall ask you to leave a comment below telling me what you have been enjoying using this month as I love to hear about them and of course I love to try new products.

Xoxo 

Nail Art Pens by Barry M

Nail Art Pens by Barry M 

Returning to Monday being Nail Day this week I am going to review Nail Art Pens - one type in particular.

Nail Art is so on trend at the minute, in addition to this nail art is really pretty. It is a great way to pick up any manicure and make it really special. If you are like me and not the most artistic of nail art lovers these little offerings from Barry M are truly a “Great Little Find”.

These nail art pens come in four different colors – black, white, pink and sliver – key colors for any little design your heart may desire.

Each nail art pen has an extra fine tip which makes it really easy to draw detail or small shapes and is really useful if you have a small nail bed like me. Each pen also has an easy grip bottle means you can design with ease and you can control the amount of colour that comes out. Simply shake the bottle well before use and pump the tip until the colour starts to flow.

The polish inside the pen’s dry really fast also. One really handy tip that I have found is that if you are using the pens on a nail that is polished already apply a fast drying top coat before you apply the nail art pen. This will ensure that there are no smudges or colours running into each other.

I have used a few nail art pens and I can honestly say this is by far the best I have used for staying power, precision and vibrancy of colour. Priced at approximately €6.25 they are good a good buy.

If you use nail art pens what type do you use and how do you find them? If you try any designs please share a pic with me. I love to try new designs.

Xoxo

August Favourites

August favourites 

That time again, another month has literally flown by and it is time for me to share the products I have been loving using this month. With out delay I shall begin....

Vaseline body Moisturiser spray 






What a great take on body moisturiser this is so handy to have when your in a hurry. The spray distributes an even amount of product on to the skin, it is continuous which means it gets to reach every where you need to moisturise. It dries really fast and does a really good job providing moisture for the skin. I have used a full size of the Aloe Vera and now I am currently using the Coco Butter. Both are lovely but I prefer the Aloe Vera as it smells so fresh and is really soothing on the skin. I am a big fan of this product, it is good value and does its job excellently. A really great find ! 


Salon at Home (shampoo and condition) for Volume and Bounce  






I have mentioned once or twice on my blog that I am constantly on the hunt for a good shampoo and conditioner to help achieve volume in my hair. I have tried and tested many but this has to be my favourite at the moment. The salon at home range claim to offer professional hairdresser results at home - now this will never be the case for me as I just can't blow dry my hair the same as the professional but this shampoo and conditioner combo really does a great job on your hair. Using a small amount the lather is rich and my hair feels really clean after use. The conditioner is also rich and leaves my hair super soft, smelling amazing and light weight. The best part - my hair has volume! I love this combo and highly recommend it. I am on my second purchases at the moment. One element of this range that I really liked was the fact that products come in handy little trial size or travel size which means you can try a small amount before you buy the large size. This is great if like me you are constantly trying new products and don't necessarily like a lot of them! I intend to try the shampoo and conditioner for colour treated hair from this range next! Another great little find. 

MAC Prolong Wear Concealer 






As a loyal MAC user I was really excited to try this product. Am generally not a big concealer user but I really liked the many reviews I had read about this product. I use the shade NW20 and I find it perfect for my skin tone. 
This concealer come in a little bottle with a pump which makes application really easy. It is a light liquid consistency but is also very rich meaning one pump really does go a long way. It is perfect for under the eye area and literally any where you want a little brightening. It does hide I've pigmentation, blotchy skin or dark under eye circles. It is water proof and sweat proof, caused no break outs or reaction and has great coverage. It doe not contain an SPF but this does not bother me as I would wear a separate SPF if required. I really love the brightening effect this product has and it is by far my new staple concealer. 


OPI Nail Envy 






I love to change my nail colour really often. This means that I also have to use a lot I nail polish remover. Even the most gentle of polish removers tend to strip your nails so his is where this product kicks in and gives my nails a little helping hand. Enriched with vitamins and minerals and all things good for your nails this product promotes growth, strengthens the nails and keeps your nails in good condition. I use this product as my base coat. It literally melts into the nail. The results are simple - strong nails and less breakage. A really effective product. 


Colour tattoo 









It is only recently that I have became interested Maybelline and it all started with these 24 hr colour tatoo cream gel eyeshadows. I am using bold gold and pomegranate punk (pink). They are so versatile and easy to wear I am finding myself mixing them with lots of other shades and using them as an eyeshadow base. They glide on skin, they do not crease and are really pigmented. I honestly can not say they last 24 hrs as I have not worn my makeup do 24 hrs but they have lasted the whole day. I usually opt for matt eyeshadow but the hint of glossiness these give your eye is really flattering. I will defiantly treat myself to one or two more shades for this range as they have really impressed me. 


August Dislikes 





Soap and glory sugar scrub. 
Generally I really like the majority of products from soap and glory but I have to say I just did not like this! First I all I hated the smell - too sweet ! It's a little difficult to use a product all over your body if you hate the smell! Secondly I found it a little harsh on my skin - the consistency was a little hard. I have seen so many people love this product so it's just a matter if choice! 

This month I have also love !!! 

 Lilt - totally tropical drink ! 
Been ages since I had lilt now I love it all over again. 
Cocktails with my friends - don't think this one needs explaining 
 Orange Is The New Black - excellent tv show from Netflix offering real life events from a ladies prison. Watch it ! have a look at the trailer here

So August is over and with that the Summer is over. I am not back to work and the Autumn evenings will become a little chilly. Despite this the new season always brings with it new trends and lots of new looks and products to try. 

Hope you all had a fabulous summer and are excited for the new season. 

XOXO 

Hair Day 

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Hair day! This week I have been trying a few products from the Macadamia Natural Oil Collection. I have tried the hair treatment from this range and was really impressed. For this reason I was excited to try a few more products from the same range. It is a little difficult to source these products so I had to buy online so once my order was placed I was excited for my delivery (I purchased my products from amazon.co.uk which is always reliable).

 

Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo

 This was the first product I tried. I was a little sceptical when trying this as I was afraid that oil would be a little heavy for my hair and maybe it would weigh it down a little. I was nicely surprised when in fact the opposite happened.

First impressions, this shampoo smells really nice. It has a rich consistency but is light to the tough (as in it is not glubly or heavy). When applied to the hair it lathers up really well and lots of bubbles are created – I like this in a shampoo as it gives me a feeling that a good cleansing is in operation. It also rises really easily.

This Shampoo is designed to add moisture and protection to all hair types and is said to be rejuvenating especially for dry, damaged hair. My hair is colour treated and has ombre on the ends so I was hoping for rejuvenation! It worked …..my hair was soft and shiny and felt in really good condition. Some of the characteristics of this shampoo include:

·         Sulphate and paraben free

·         Gently cleanses chemically treated, damaged hair

·         Replenishes moisture with no heavy build-up

·         Builds protection from harsh daily environmental elements

All of these properties are welcome when using shampoo. I really enjoyed using this product and will be repurchasing it.

Nourishing Leave in Cream

Again, a little dubious a leave in cream as I really don’t like any products that weigh down my hair I was nicely surprised by my findings. It is really nice. This Nourishing Leave-In Cream is a leave-in texturizing conditioner for taming unruly, difficult to manage hair. I left my hair soft and easy to style. I only needed a little blob. I can honestly say it is one of my favourite conditioners.

·         Detangles and tames the most unruly locks

·         Adds silky softness & shine

·         UV protection extends the life of color treatments

In short this is just a really good product that I will continue to use.

I was really impressed by the hair treatment from this range and I was equally impressed by the shampoo and leave in conditioner.

I intend to use the shampoo twice a week and alternate it with my current favourite volume shampoo and hope this will keep my locks in good condition.

Hope you found this post helpful.

Xoxo

Smashbox Bestsellers - The Try Me Kit

Smashbox Bestsellers

Keeping in line with my August posts Tuesdays means trial size multi pack reviews. Today I am going to share my thoughts on the best seller trial size products from Smashbox. I have not been a regular user of smashbox so I was excited when I saw this pack. It contains all the best selling products they have on offer. Each product is trial size but the size is enough to give you a change to develop an informed opinion. Titled the TRY IT KIT it really is a great way to have a go with smash box. 

The collection of Smashbox superstars in Irresistable Try-Me sizes contains: 

• Photo Finish Foundation Primer

This is the original foundation primer as Smashbox do other variations now such as a sensitive or correcting but this is the one I go back to. Easy to apply, so smooth and leaves skin foundation ready. Skin is silky and foundation is easily applied. Lovely!

• Photo Finish Lid Primer

Still in the Photo Finish family but for eye-shadow prep. This didn’t impress me, nothing startling here and I would prefer Urban Decay’s eye shadow primer.

• Limitless Eye Liner

Nice eye liner which didn’t drag on the eye lid and didn’t run. Nothing special.

• Full Exposure Mascara in jet Black

An amazing mascara with a great brush, is buildable and truly black!

• Lip Enhancing  Gloss in Illume

Nice lip gloss but a tad gloopy, can be a bit sticky but a lovely shade.

Over all I found this set a great opportunity to try out some of Smashbox favourites and best-sellers. An eye-shadow duo would have been a major bonus if it was included however I was generally happy with what I received. Priced at 25euro approximately I would recommend this to any one who is interested in trying these products. For more information HAVE A LOOK HERE. 

I really hope you found this post helpful. 

Until tomorrow be good (",) 

xoxo 

Ciaté Caviar Manicure - Mother of Pearl

Ciaté Caviar Manicure in Mother of Pearl 

Monday means Nails! Today I want to share a little something special as far as nails are concerned – Ciaté Caviar Manicure in Mother of Peal. This is a really delicate looking manicure that can be worn for a special occasion or simply on the ring ringer. Priced at approximately €22 it is on the high end of the price scale but it is as I mentioned rather special.

This is a three dimensional manicure, it has shine and gloss and can looks more like a salon manicure then a home job.

 Each pack contains

• ·         13.5ml - Snow Virgin Nail Polish
• ·         20g - Holographic Caviar Pearls
• ·         A little funnel
• ·         Instruction leaflet

The process of application is actually really simple compared to what I thought it would be. 

The steps included;

Step 1

Clean your nails – using an acetone free nail polish remover, remove all polish. I use acetone free just because it is gentler on the nails. Wash your hands.

Step 2

Paint one coat of the Snow Virgin Nail Polish on each nail. One of the things I like about the sets offered by Ciate is that the nail polishes which come with the sets are all beautiful individually. They are rich and strong wearing meaning you can easily wear them on their own. One each nail is polished leave to dry for a few minutes. This polish in particular is really nice. I find it so difficult to find a nice white nail polish and this one is by the best I have found.

Step 3

This step needs to be completed nail by nail. Place the plastic tray which comes as part of the packaging under your hand (the hand that you intend to paint the nails). Paint one nail. Take the Holographic Caviar Pearls pot and gently tip the pearls on to the nails ensuring the excess pearls fall into the plastic tray. Do this for each individual nail – paint and pearl, paint and pearl!

Step 4

All the excess pearls will now be in the plastic tray. Place the funnel in the pot containing and pearls and pour the excess from the tray back in to pot and hey presto no waste!!

Step 5

Paint each nail with a fast drying strong top coat. I think this helps the pearls to set better and ensure your manicure will last longer.

That’s it! Your Mother of Pearl Caviar Manicure is complete. I find that by using the top coat (I am a big fan of Seche Vite fast drying top coat) the manicure really does last and less pearls fall off. I really like this manicure, the pearls tend to pick the light or colours around them so they are glossy and shiny.

Please excuse my little chubby fingers - my sister likes to tell me they resemble a sausage.

There are a number of alternatives to this set offered by ciate, for example both Top Shop and River Island offer a similar product – CLICK HERE 

 – I have tried the river island version which was good but did not have great staying power.

So there you have it, Mondays Nails. I really hope you enjoyed this post and if you have tried or intend to try this manicure or a similar manicure please leave a comment below telling me your thought.

Hope you have a good week

P.S COMPETITION TIME STILL RUNNING CLICK HERE

Xoxo