Hair Care

Product Empties Oct / Nov 2016

- Vicki
November Empties 2016

November Product Empties 2016

Skin Chemist Advanced Snail Eye Serum*

I recently reviewed this Snail range from Skin Chemists and I really liked the eye serum. Its so hydrating and I loved how smoothing it was. Who would have thought we’d be putting snail serum on our faces?! Its a lightweight texture, very cooling on the skin and quite refreshing too. Its nice to use either morning or night but I quite often use it in the evening because it helps my eyes look refreshed by morning and keeps the puffyness to an absolute minimum.

If you use the code BLOGSNAILS to get each product for £24.99 each instead of £72 – that is almost halfprice. Code valid until the end of 2016 **

COLab Dry Shampoo Sheer & Invisible in Rio

My holy Grail dry shampoo – this was a mini bottle I took with me to Amsterdam. I am so pleased I took it with me and it meant that I only had to wash my hair twice during the week we were there. This really absorbs the oils and doesn’t irritate my scalp or make my hair look dull. I like all the scents but I think Rio is my favourite. I need to stock up on a few ful sized bottles.

Lacura Thermal Spa Eye Cream*

This is a very, very good eye cream and the fact it is only £ is even better. Aldi skincare is amongst some of my favourite budget options and I particulary enjoyed the Thermal Spa range. It was lightweight, hydrating and had a lovely fresh scent. I highly recommend checking it out next time you are in there doing your shopping. This tube lasted me ages and I mostly used it as part of my morning skincare routine because it worked well to hydrate around my eyes which meant my makeup applied easier and didn’t sink into my fine lines.

Eloquence Skincare Purifying Facial Cleanser

I have tried a few products from this brand and I really enjoyed them as a whole. This was a nice gentle cleanser and again I took it with me to Amsterdam to use as my morning cleanse. It has a creamy formula and it left my skin feeling soft and clean. It’s enriched with Sacha Inchi Oil, Cucumber and Coconut Extracts. Sacha Oil is a common ingredient within this range and is a superfood which comes from Peru and is found in seed form. Its known for its high levels of vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids and its oil has a unique blend of

  • Omega 3 which helps to restore the skins elasticity
  • Omega 6 helps to combat skin dehydration
  • Omega 9 helps against premature ageing by intensely nourishing and protecting the skin from environmental stress.

So my skin was in good hands and I thought it would be a reliable, gentle cleanser to take away with me, knowing that my skin wouldn’t react to it and cause any breakouts.

Aussie Dry Shampoo

Possibly the worst dry shampoo I have ever used. Its overly powdery, leaves a white cast in your hair & makes your hair feel worse than it did before you applied it. One to avoid for sure.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 

I love the classic Cleanse & Polish from Liz Earle but their limited edition scents are something very special. This Grapefruit and Patchouli scent has been one of my favourites to date, its zesty, fresh and quite Summery. As with the original C&P it’s suitable for all skin types and is great at gently removing makeup and leaving skin feels soft and clean. I try a lot of skincare but I know I can always rely on Liz Earle when my skin has reacted badly to a product and I always have a C&P in my stash. If you have tried any of the limited edition scents, let me know what your favourites are.

  • PR Sample

Haircare for a Special Occasion

- Vicki
Party Hair Prep

Party Hair Prep

I went to my brothers’ wedding last weekend and I don’t really do the whole dressing up all glam, I’m 100% more comfortable in a casual setting, so when it came to styling my hair I knew I was going to go for a look that was simple. My Mum, Bride & a few other girls went to the salon to have their hair put up or styled but I like to do my own, that way you get exactly what you want. I thought I would share a few of the products I used on the day.

Pureology Fullfyl Shampoo & Conditioner

This duo is so good at giving your hair a really good clean but leaving it with a little volume and a gorgeous healthy shine. It is more for colour treated hair but I always think haircare that is formulated for that is gentle and less striping and this range is perfect for that. It also leaves my hair with fewer flyaways and gives it a nice texture once styled. I have the full sized versions but how could I resist taking these minis away with me. Pureology is 100% vegan and sulphate free so your hair is in good hands.

Shea Moisture 10 in 1 Multi-Benefit Hair Masque*

If I am honest when it comes to hair masks I am a little lazy and more often than not it is a step I skip. I do have my favourites that I use when my hair is looking lacklustre or when I need my hair to look its best for a special occasions. This Shea Moisture SuperFruit Complex one is one that never lets me down, its rich formula gives your hair a boost of hydration and just leaves it feeling silky soft. I leave this on for as long as I can, generally about 45 minutes, it contains so many lovely ingredients and the positive results are not only visible immediately but also long-term.

  • Superfruit–a blend of red raspberry, ketones, goji, acai and guava extracts rich in anti-aging antioxidants
  • Marula oil–contains natural plant peptides that help support hair’s elasticity
  • Biotin–nourishes individual strands for thicker, stronger hair
  • Shea butter–deeply moisturises while conditioning hair and scalp

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection

My hair is naturally wavy so when it comes to styling it for special occasions I like to wear it as natural as possible. If I try and straighten it I know that a few hours later it will have kinks in it & if it gets wet its pretty much a frizzy mess & game over. If I add a little curl to it I find it holds really well and looks better throughout the night. I love OGX haircare and this Curling Perfection Cream is fantastic to help my waves/curls look natural and doesn’t weight them down. It’s not going to leave your hair crusty or heavy with product, so if you like more of a natural effortless wave to your hair this product is for you.

Nicky Clarke Supershine Conditioning Tong

Nicky Clarke Supershine Iconic Steam Conditioning Tong* £39.99

As I said my hair is naturally wavy but to ensure it looked a little more polished and like I’d made an effort I used this pretty swish black & rose gold curling tong from Nicky Clarke.  I like that this tong is super lightweight, the barrel is 25mm which is perfect for creating subtle, natural curls and you can vary the temperature to suit your hair type from 130c to 210c.

  • Ceramic finish barrel gives fast, even heat and smooth, snag-free styling for soft, silky styles
  • Ionic conditioning locks in moisture to keep hair healthy and frizz-free
  • Automatic safety shut-off after 60 minutes.
  • 30 seconds heat-up time.
  • 5 settings up to a maximum of 210ºC, with digital controls and LED display

There is a little reservoir at the tip of the tongs which you fill with water so you can release a little steam to lock in moisture and help your curls have a little more structure to them. I also run my fringe through these to give it that slight curl under. All in all, this is a great quality styling wand and it looks very luxurious too, my hair kept its curl all day and night. There is also a hairdryer and straighteners in this Supershine range & if like me you often forget to turn them off this range has an auto shut-off after 60 minutes for safety, such a great safety feature.

I didn’t take many photos from the Wedding of my hair but I do have this one of me & my husband towards the end of the night.

Wedding Guest Photos

*PR Sample

Pureology Fullfyl Haircare System

- Vicki 3 Comments
Pureology Fullfyl haircare

Pureology Fullfyl Haircare System

Pureology are a brand that I have been eager to try for a long time, the reviews I read of their haircare range are always super positive, so I jumped at the opportunity to test out 3 products from their Fullfyl System Range.

This Pureology Fullfyl System is 100% vegan, sulphate free and is a 3-step hair care system developed to give volume, thickness and added texture to fine colour treated hair. Their signature AntiFade Complex includes a blend of antioxidants and full spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreens which care for your colour and optimise colour retention along with protecting your locks from hard environmental aggressors and damaging free radicals. So I have loved having this range over the Summer, I live in Cornwall so spend a lot of time outside and often worried about my hair being exposed to the sun and saltwater, this trio of products has kept my hair feeling hydrated, soft and super glossy!

So this haircare system includes,

Pureology Fullfyl Shampoo* £19.95

This does have a nice lather despite it being sulphate free, which I like. I do find that this leaves my hair feeling very clean, and I wouldn’t be able to only use the shampoo as it felt just a little dry, but I guess that’s what makes this a system in that each product does a roll & the shampoo cleanses, the conditioner then goes in and adds back the moisture. The shampoo is sulphate free and contains a plant based starch Keravis which helps give texture and volume to your hair. I have naturally wavy hair & I loved the weightless texture this gave. I am also addicted to using dry shampoo and this Fullfyl shampoo made light work of removing product build-up, which is a must for me.

Pureology Fullfyl Conditioner* £20.00

This is the star of the show for me, I think that because Conditioner is the product which makes your hair feel and look healthy and glossy. You apply this after shampooing & massage it in from the roots and into the length, then you leave it for 2 minutes and rinse. This leaves your hair knot free and silky soft without hair feeling limp or product heavy.

Pureology Vegan Haircare

Pureology Fullfyl Densifying Spray* £26.00

I can be lazy when it comes to haircare and quite often skip any steps after shampoo and conditioner, but I soon discovered this spray wasn’t an unnecessary step. In fact, I think this is the product that adds that extra volume and texture to your locks. You spray this on to damp hair, section by section, beginning at the scalp and massaging into the roots – then work it through to the ends. Don’t use too much, or you will cross the line from thicken to crispy & no one wants that! I am in LOVE with this spray & have used it after every wash – even if I have used another shampoo & conditioner (naughty)

It smells so refreshing, not that I could make out individual notes, but it contains nectarine, pineapple, amber, melon, mango, a few floral touches of jasmine and tropical gardenia and lastly creamy vanilla, amber and soft woods – so it has quite the cocktail of scents but they all work so well together and all three products smell incredible.

Key Ingredients 

  • Pureology’s signature AntiFadeComplex helps keep colour wonderfully vibrant and shiny
  • PhytoBlend™, a plant-derived Amino Acid and Plant Protein, is known to wrap around hair fibre to create a further densifying effect
  • IntraCylane provides a thickening effect as it penetrates hair and crystallizes to thicken and reinforce each strand

So if you have dry, limp, flat colour treated hair then you 100% need this haircare trio in your life. For salon quality haircare Pureology are affordable, and their products are Vegan, Sulphate Free & as a brand are committed to sustainability.

Pureology is available at over 1000 hair salons in the UK and Ireland & Online

*PR Sample

Products Currently in Use #4

- Vicki 1 Comment
currently in use 4

Products Currently in Use

Another instalment of Products Currently in Use, I have used up quite a few products and rotated a few new ones into the mix. So I thought I would share with you a couple of products that are currently in use in my bathroom.

Lacura Thermal Spring Shower Gel £1.99

I have tried a few products from this Lacura Thermal Spa range which is sold in ALDI stores & I have been impressed with all of them so far. This is my current shower gel & its lovely and gentle.This range is infused with natural thermal water to soothe and moisturise the skin. It smells nice and fresh, not overpowering or synthetic scent. It lathers up well and leaves my skin feeling clean, soft and hydrated. If you don’t like to spend a lot on shower products then this is a bargain at under £2. I have almost finished this bottle & will be repurchasing it for sure. It’s very affordable and when it comes to skincare products Aldi seem to be delivering on quality.

Jurlique Clarity Hand Wash £27.00

This hand wash is such a treat & very luxurious. I have it in my kitchen, so not technically in my bathroom but I just adore using it. It has a blend of uplifting natural herbal extracts and essential oils, including primrose, macadamia and avocado, which provide pure nutrients to soften the skin. It has a beautiful creamy texture which leaves your hands feeling velvety soft and clean. I love the scent and you can pick out the lavender, patchouli and orange blossom, which smell beautifully uplifting. I know this is a very luxurious hand wash but its a HUGE bottle, this has been well used since November and I still have almost half a bottle left. So its pretty good value and the packaging is so sleek and minimal. This would make a nice housewarming gift or as an extra treat for yourself.

Liz Earle Grapefruit & Patchouli Cleanse & Polish

I’m a huge fan of the cult favourite original C&P but these limited edition ones are just a little bit special. This one has such a refreshing Summer scent and I have been really enjoying that. Its uplifting in the morning and as with the original its very gentle and you can rely on it to leave your skin clean without that tight feeling. Its suitable for all skin types and I highly recommend adding this to your skincare regime – even if its the original version, it won’t let you down. I will be sad when this runs out but I might just treat myself to their latest release.

Ogario Hydrate & Shine Shampoo* £16.50

I recently posted about this shampoo, its great at removing the build-up of product and dirt to leave your hair feeling refreshed and nourished. Without stripping it and leaving it looking dry and feeling squeaky clean. I have dark hair and It leaves my hair with a lovely glossy sheen and in tip-top condition. Ogario is a British based haircare brand that offers salon quality haircare and I am loving discovering their products. This also has a refreshing citrus scent which is a great way to wake me up in the morning. To read more about this – click HERE to read my review.

Jurlique Rose Moisture Plus Moisturising Cleanser* £18.00

I love the Rose Moisture Plus range from Jurlique and this didn’t disappoint either. This is a creamy cleanser which looks like mother of pearl when you first squeeze it out, you massage on to dry skin to break down any dirt, pollution and makeup then you use a damp warm cloth to remove all the residue. It is very gentle and has that beautiful light rose scent. It doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue or leave the skin feeling tight.

It has some great skin-loving ingredients including Jurlique’s exclusive blend of pumice and rosehip oil restores and rebalances your skin so it is polished to perfection, while willow bark cleanses impurities into oblivion so dull and sluggish skin is merely a distant memory. The pumice blend is so gentle that you can’t physically feel any texture but it gently exfoliates your skin leaving it looking radiant.

*PR Sample