Review: L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist Shampoo & Conditioner

Hello Girls! If you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know I have a naughty habit of buying unecessary haircare products on a regular basis. Last week I shared a mini haul (read it here) which featured L'Oreals new range of shampoo and conditioner, Triple Resist. Being a girl who has put her hair through hell and back over the years, having a brand that repairs damage is so important. I pretty much tend to stick to a shampoo if I find one I particularly like, and having used this for just over a week, I have found my new absolute favourite shampoo and conditioner. 

In all fairness I find that if I spend a little more on haircare then I get a better result - who can resist a bit of product advertised by Cheryl Cole and Jennifer Lopez?! I bought the 400ml of both the shampoo and conditioner just to last me a bit longer than the standard 200ml, and it set me back £3.99 each from Boots. L'Oreal claims that it reinforces hair fibre, nourishes the hair from root to tip and that hair feels stronger and so far I have noticed a difference in the general condition of my hair. It's ideal if you fnd that your hair falls out or breaks. It lathers up like a dream and a little really does go a long way with the shampoo, so a small amount does the job. They both smell absolutely amazing,  really fresh and clean. The conditioner leaves the ends of my hair feeling really soft and silky and if you're hair hasn't gone through as much wear and tear as mine, then you probably don't need a hair oil before blow drying. 

I'm dying to try the Triple Resist Reinforcing Treatment as I've heard nothing but great things about it. The shampoo and conditioner has replaced my beloved John Freida Brilliant Brunette range, so I'm hoping for great things from the treatment. Of course I will report back.

Have you tried L'Oreals Triple Resist Shampoo and Conditioner? What did you think?
♥

Glossybox November 2012

I love nothing better than a good old beauty box. I've been suscribed to Glossybox for a few months now, and all in all I've been quite impressed. This months box has been my absolute favourite so far. I recieved five great products and for once didn't push one away thinking I'd use it another time which of course I never would. I hadn't heard of the brand Ayuuri before but I recieved a full size bottle of the Indian Rose Face Cream which smells amazing and really hydrates my skin. I'd also never heard of Alison Claire until now either, but the body butter looks lovely to use. Of course my favourite product from this box is the Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, who doesn't love a good Dermalogica product? I've tried this in the past, however it's expensive at over £30.00 a pop to keep replacing. I'm a little disappointed at the tiny 4ml size of the Nails Inc polish, but of course you can't have everything. The perfume sample is amazing too, the bottle is actually gorgeous and it smells lovely and fresh, probably more of a Summer fragrance than anything.

What did you think of this months Glossybox?

♥

DIY Leopard Print Nails

I have a little confession to make. I am an absolute sucker for nail art, and I love nothing better than getting to grips with learning how to do new designs and putting my own little twist on things. I always get asked how I do certain designs on my nails, and this leopard print design is one of the easiest to do. It looks fiddly and complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it is unbelievably easy. I apologise in advance for the awful camera quality. I've misplaced my usual camera and have no idea where it is! 

It's that simple! I love experimenting with this as you can really mix up the colour. Glitter looks great as the polka dot too, and I can't rate the Models Own nail art pen highly enough. Do you know any great nail art tricks?

♥

A Mini Haul - Haircare, Skincare & Make Up

Hi Girls! I must admit I'm not a fan of this weather. The fact that it is pitch black outside by 5o'clock means taking photos is an absolute nightmare! Apologies for not blogging this week, but it is merely impossible to get a decent looking photo without natural light. On a slightly brighter note, I used my day off to have some quality time to myself so of course I ended up at good old Superdrug. I rarely write 'haul' type posts, and although this is hardly what one would call big I still thought I'd share what I picked up. 

♥ Simple Facial Wash Gel - I love discovering a good new cleanser! If like me you're a fan of TOWIE, then you'll know just how amazing Lucy Mecklenburgh's skin looks (if you don't watch it think Millie Mackintosh-esque skin). I was reading an interview and she swears by Simple skincare. I have used the moisturising face wash before and loved it so hope this will be just as nice to use, and for a mere £2 it would be rude not to!

♥ L'Oreal Elvive Triple Resist X Shampoo and Conditioner - If you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know one of my weaknesses is trying new haircare products. I always use John Freida's Beautiful Brunette range but as I like to mix it up I went for this instead. It claims to strengthen hair from root to tip and nourish split ends and dead hair. Sounds perfect to me! Not to mention it smells gorgeous and the bottle size will last me a long while, even by my standards. 

♥ Superdrug Vitamin E Radiance Moisture Cream - Back in Summer I blogged about the Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser (read it here) and the Vitamin E SPF 15 Day Dream (read here). Both were so lovely to use, and since my usual day cream ran out I decided to invest in the Radiance Moisture Cream, which promises to deliver a glow to the skin whilst providing 24 hour hydration and sun protection too. For a measly £2.99 price tag it was a real bargain!

♥ Girls With Attitude Rock On Lashes - I wear false eyelashes almost everyday and Eylure can be pricey if you need to re-purchase on a weekly basis. I noticed these just above and they are so similar to the double lashes from Eylure and cost only £3.99 - not much difference cost wise, but I'll get just as much wear out of them. The band looks sturdy and strong which is essential. There is nothing worse than the end of an eyelash flapping around.

♥ Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I've read countless rave reviews about this powder, many of which claim this to be a 'holy grail' product. I was reading the lovely Kayleigh over at CoutureGirl's most recent post and it managed to convince me to purchase it. I'll give it a bash and once I've had enough time to give it a proper review I will report back!

Have you picked up any great products recently?

♥

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart

Hi Girls! Autumn is well and truly here, and it's time to dig out the scarves and gloves again. Boooo. I love nothing better than a good deal at Boots or Superdrug, and when I was in Westfield over the weekend I took full advantage of the 'Buy 1 get 1 half price' offer on cosmetics. Yes, I'm ridiculously late to jump on the lip butter bandwagon, but I decided (after oomphing and aahing for several minutes over my choice of which shade to buy) to pick one up and generally see what all the fuss was about after reading countless blog reviews on them all.

At first I was a little put off the thought of a lip butter as I thought it would feel too melty and gooey, and after seeing all the awful testers I very nearly decided aginst purchasing it altogether but decided to try it anyway. Revlon claims that the lip butters are 'a mango, shea and coconut butter formula that boosts lip moisture by 156%' so it was finally time for me to ditch the Vaseline. I absolutely love the packaging. I may sound slightly odd saying that packaging is important, but I love the way products look in my make up bag and it gives me a sense of enjoyment. Weird. The lid is an opaque hot pink colour with a quilted effect and covers the entire tube of lipstick when on.

I opted for 'Sweet Tart', a warm peachy pink colour when applied that literally melts onto the lips. I have a real problem for light pinks and nudes, and they are my definite go-to choice of colour for everyday, so the choice of colour was perfect. The creamy formula makes it a dream to apply, and it leaves a subtle glossy finish which always looks great. Not only is the colour pay off fantastic, but it left my lips feeling moisturised too and as though I had slathered layers upon layers of Carmex rather than a lipstick. For only £7.99 I reckon I've found a new lip product to get me through Winter, soothing dry chapped lips while looking great at the same time.

Have you tried Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters? Which is your favourite shade?

Top 5 Pink Polishes

Hi Ladies, hope you're all well. If you know me well then you will know that I am pretty obsessed with nails. I bounce between acrylic nails and gel nails and have tried all different shapes and styles, from square to pointed and 3D bows to airbush designs. I know a thing or two when it comes to colours. Having tried hundreds of different colours and brands, I have a collection of colours which I always come back too. This time of year means that darker colours are favourable, but if like me you can't quite shake off the Summer feeling, then pinks are my go-to colour of choice for nails. I have a small draw full of pinks and corals and have a few firm favourites... 

From L to R: Rimmel Lycra Pro 313 Cocktail Passion, OPI D1 Funny Bunny, Barry M 309 Strawberry, Missguided Misstify, Models Own Soda Pop Pink

What are your go to nail polishes?

♥

Review: Foxy Locks Hair Extensions

Hello girls, something which has definitely cheered me up from this awful repulsive weather was my delivery of Foxy Locks hair extensions on Wednesday morning. I am a great lover of hair extensions, they not only make your hair longer, but also add so much volume and texture too. Having tried all types of hair extensions from bonded to weaved and back, I have come to the conclusion that clip in hair extensions are by far the best. Yes, they can sometimes be a pain to have to clip in and out but they don't damage your natural hair and can look just as great. I have tried Foxy Locks in the past and I absolutely loved them, they are by far the best I have tried, and having tried countless brands I'm sure I have the ability to be a good judge of quality! These are my second set of Foxy Locks as you need to replace hair extensions every so often once they look a bit worse for wear, however my previous set lasted me a good eight or nine months which in extension world is fantastic.

I ordered mine from the website (http://foxylocksextensions.com/) on Thursday night and they arrived first thing on Monday morning. A four day wait is pretty standard and I love the pink packaging it came in. Like a kid on Christmas Eve I opened my package and was so excited to have a new set of hair extensions. I ordered the 160g 20" in Darkest Brown and it was a perfect colour match to my hair. 

Hair - The hair used is 100% human Remy hair, which means that the hair cuticle runs downwards and prevents matting and damage to the hair. You can treat the hair as if it were our own. You can dye them, straighten them, curl them, everything. Remy hair is known to best the best quality hair on the market and Foxy Locks hair looks so natural compared to other hair extension brands.

Colour - It can be daunting for some people to choose the colour of extensions which is best for them. Imogen who overlooks Foxy Locks offers a colour match service if you are worried about choosing a colour over the internet. There are also some videos on her YouTube channel which offers advice about the colour which is best for you. 

Thickness - I ordered the Deluxe set which weighs 160g. This basically means that there is more hair on the hair weft than a standard set of extensions, and there is alot of thickness to them. There is an option to choose between a Regular set (120g), a Deluxe set (160g) or a Superior set (215g). Because I have layers in my hair the deluxe set was perfect for my hair type.

Clips - When I've used other hair extensions in the past, the clips have been weak and have even snapped. Foxy Locks have the most durable clips I've used, and the silicone strip on the base of the clip means that your natural hair doesn't snap against the metal and the plastic.

Price - Unlike other methods of using hair extensions, the Deluxe set of hair extensions set me back only £74.00 which is a reasonable price. Of course, depending on the thickness of the hair extensions you will pay more or less. The regular set cost £56.00 and the deluxe cost £118.00 (This doesn't include postage and packaging).

Length - The key to hair extensions is making them look natural. Foxy Locks currently only offers 20" hair extensions, but I personally think that is an ideal length. I used to wear 22" or sometimes even 24" extensions and I admit I did love them, but 20" is just fine and a perfect length for most people. 

Durability - Like I mentioned, my previous set of Foxy Locks extensions lasted me a good eight or nine months. With other brands I've had to replace mine every three months which isn't ideal if you are a struggling student like me. Providing you take care of them, extensions can last up to a year. I may write a blog post on how to look after hair extensions in the future so look out for that!

Have you tried Foxy Locks hair extensions? What did you think?

♥

Review: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Hello Ladies! How are we all? Just a quick post to tell you about a fabulous new product I bought. I know I'm a little extremely late to jump on the Real Techniques bandwagon, but the perks of being a beauty blogger mean you hear about great make up products and you're bathroom cabinet gets full to the brim within a few weeks. I came across rave reviews of the stippling brush on several blogs, and being an eager beaver, I picked one up from Boots on my lunch break. The website says that 'This dual-fiber brush is the trade secret for creating airbrushed, high-definition results with all types of makeup.' and I completely agree. 

What's Great About It?

♥ I absolutely love the look of it. The pink aluminium handle and the matte black end of the brush is so simple but to me it looks great.

♥ The bristles are 100% cruelty free which of course is a massive bonus, and are taklon and all hand cut.

♥ The white fibres at the top of the brush remain white and foundation doesn't stain easily which cuts back on having to wash the brush as often as other face brushes. 

♥ The brush is great for it's price of just £11.99

♥ It's so versatile as it can be used with foundations, bronzers, highlighters and primers.

♥ It promises high definition results and I completely agree with the fact it also promises an airbrush finish.

♥ The soft bristles glide easily against the skin which makes application of foundation a dream.

♥ The brush stands up on its own which is great if like me you struggle for storage space.

If you haven't already invested in a stippling brush, make this one be it. It's great quality and above all really does make a difference to the look of your make-up. For only £11.99 you can't go wrong.

Have you tried the Real Techniques stippling brush? What are your thoughts?

♥

Review: Superdrug Deep Action Daily Exfoliator Wash

Hi Ladies, how are we? Just a quick post to tell you about Superdrug's Deep Action face wash. I came across this next to the blackhead clearing range by Garnier in my local Superdrug, and eager to save myself a few pennies in the lead up to Christmas, picked this up instead. And boy, do I regret that. I have never posted a review on a product which is negative, but I need to warn you ladies of its evil ways! 

When I first used the daily exfoliation wash I will admit I really loved it. It lathered up so well and I could feel it really working the exfoliation beads into my pores, not to mention it smelt great too. The fact that it says it is 'ideal for use on a daily basis' I wasn't worried that I was over doing the whole exfoliation thing. I have a combination to normal skin type, so I'm not as prone to spots and breakouts as I was in my teens. After two days of thinking I'd found a great new product, everything changed. Despite using my normal rich moisturisers, my skin begun to feel tight and I was really red and inflamed around my T-Zone, definitely not a good look. 

The morning after, I woke up and was horrified with the state of my skin. It was dry, bumpy around my jaw line and I had spots rearing their ugly head around my chin. I sound quite placid and ridiculous but I actually felt really upset only because I was off out for some lunch with a friend and no amount of make-up could cover it, infact it made things look even worse. My skin had a horrible stinging sensation when I applied my foundation but I soldiered on because au natural isn't for a girl like me! I know it may just be me who has experienced this kind of reaction to Superdrug's cleanser but if you don't want to risk what happened to me (believe me you don't, it's painful and dry beyond relief) then I'd steer clear of it. Luckily I got to the pharmacy yesterday and bought some anti histamine tablets with a strong cream and it is already starting to clear.  

Have you experienced a nasty reaction to cleansers? What have you used to clear it?