L'OREAL PROFESSIONEL PARIS NEXT DAY HAIR & FIX DESIGN

Hi lovelies. Did you get up to much this weekend? I have had a pretty lazy one getting bits and bobs done including renewing my driving licence. I am not driving at the moment, but I am hoping to change that very soon :)

I have two L'oreal Professionel Paris hair products to review that were very kindly gifted to me at the BLOGGERS LOVE LFW GIFTING LOUNGE By RUSH HAIR & BEAUTY.

L'OREAL PROFESSIONEL PARIS WILD STYLERS TECNI.ART NEXT DAY HAIR

A micro-propelled texturizing powder for an instant tousled-dishevelled matte effect without a rough touch. Limitless layering. Shake well between applications spraying onto mid-lengths and ends. Brush out with fingers if desired. 

For a volume boost this is great. It is definitely a matte effect product as the powder adds texture to your hair by literally changing the texture of your hair fibres. The strands cling to each other, but not in a tacky way. The hair still feels lightweight, but with real oomph perfect for adding volume to styles and also next day hair. If too much product is used there is a slight white powder residue so perhaps this product is slightly better for blonde's if layering up applications is required.

L'OREAL PROFESSIONEL PARIS TECNI.ART FIX DESIGN

A strong hold directional fixing spray.

I could not get this to work at first, but following the instructions I ran the pump under hot water and pressed down. It soon came to life and has worked fine since. This is another lightweight product that is a spray rather than a mist as traditional hairsprays are. It does work well enough, but I would say it's better for up do's as the hold doesn't appear as strong as expected. Although you do have to press down on the pump to spray I think this could be a problem if you were to travel with it as there is no cap.

What are your texturising, volumising and dry shampoo recommendations as well as hairsprays? Let me know with reasons why in the comments below.

Love to you all

Vicky xx

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March 2013 City Chic GlossyBox

Hello my loves. I have worked some overtime today and feel a bit knackered, but it was a nice surprise to come home and find my GlossyBox waiting for me. It always makes me smile. This month's box contains hard-working, multi-tasking, heavy-duty products that give a high-maintenance look with minimum time, money and effort.

The GlossyBox Little Black Book Of Style

GlossyBox shares it's pick of some of the capital's best fashion and beauty destinations. There are some cool stickers inside too.

Bottom Left: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Fragrance Free, £18.00 for 30ml or £25.00 for 50ml

This skincare classic works efficiently to sooth roughness, redness and minor skin irritations. This award winning cream has also been praised by make-up artists and beauty editors for many years now and no self respecting model would be without this cult product in their make-up bag. First created in 1930 by Elizabeth Arden to soothe skin, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant became an instant and overwhelming success. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant also aids in the temporary relief of chapped lips, smoothes rough spots on your knees, feet and elbows and softens tough, hard cuticles and hangnails. Dermatologist, clinically and allergy tested. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant is suitable for all skin types. A little goes a long way with this intensive moisturiser, so enjoy it sparingly.

I will keep this product for particularly dry areas and minor skin irritations, but I did buy this for myself once before in a full size tube when it was very hyped up. I never replaced my tube because I don't really like the scent of this product which considering it's meant to be fragrance free is a little bizarre? It has a balmy texture.

Bottom Centre: Nails Inc. Bruton Street Nail Polish, £11.00 for 10ml

Bruton Street nail polish is a dusky pink nude shade. Bruton Street is ideal for a sophisticated, everyday look. Apply 2 coats after Kensington Caviar Base Coat, followed by one coat of Kensington Caviar Top Coat.

I really like the look of this polish and will apply it to mine and Mum's nails tomorrow as it's Mother's Day/Mum's birthday and I said I would do Mum's nails for her.

Bottom Right: L'Occitane En Provence Immortelle Precious Cream, £43.00 for 50ml

Ideal for normal to dry skin, the Immortelle Precious is a rich, smooth moisturiser which visibly corrects deep wrinkles and improves firmness.

The combination of organic immortelle and organic immortelle cell extracts offers:

Smoother skin: Immortelle stimulates collagen production, which helps fill in deep wrinkles and restructure the epidermis for smoother skin.

Firmer skin: The support network of the skin is reinforced. 

  

Younger skin: Micro-circulation is boosted to stimulate cell renewal. Skin is protected from free radicals.

The epidermis is re-invigorated, soft and comfortable. Skin is smoother and firmer, its youthfulness is prolonged. Non comedogenic. Tolerance dermatologically tested. 

It has a seal on it that I don't want to break until I start using it as I am trying and testing out other skincare at the moment, but I will let you know how I get on with this when I try it.

Top: Tresemme Salon Finish Extra Hold Hairspray, £4.69 for 500ml 

This spray won’t give you a helmet head but will hold your style through wind and rain. This fantastic hairspray refuses to let frizz take root, thanks to its humidity-resistant formula that keeps flyaways smooth for 24 hours. As an added bonus it's water-free formula goes on dry, giving hair grip and control without stickiness for frizz-free hold. 

I have already tried some Tresemme hairspray's which I have liked so I am pretty sure that if it's of the same standard this one will be good too. It has that typical hairspray old school scent.

Centre: Jelly Pong Pong Cosmetics Lip Blush (Cranberry), £12.00 for 2.5g

A moisturising lip stain that tints your lips with just the right amount of juicy colour and hydrates like a balm. Apply liberally, purse and let the silky lightweight texture melt onto your lips.

Bonus : Made with beeswax and ceresin wax for a sheer, smooth application.

The information I have says this is a multi-tasker, but there is nothing to say that it is also made for the cheeks as well as the lips. I presume it's meant for both as it's a Lip Blush? Also there is no shade name on the product, but I presume this is the shade Cranberry because there are only two shades in the link above and this looks like it. This is a twist up crayon that feels like it could twist up easily if it was in my bag/make-up bag because the bottom is a little loose and I prefer a click shut lid to prevent mess too.

This feels like a very smooth and moisturising product, although I have only swatched it on my hand. I would say this is more of a strawberry shade than cranberry. It does have a sheer finish, but is also buildable. I look forward to giving this a go. I think it's a great shade for spring/summer.

Overall the lip stain and nail polish are the stand out products of this box for me. I love trying out new skincare too so I hope the L'Occitane product will work well. 

For more information on GlossyBox UK click here and for GlossyBox US click here. 

Which products did you receive in this month's GlossyBox and what are your initial impressions? Let me know in the comments below.

Love to you all

 

Feelunique.com September Beauty Box

Hey Sweethearts. I hope you have all been doing okay? I have been feeling ill for the last couple of weeks, but my day got turned around today as when I got home from work my package from feelunique.com had come. It is my first Beauty Box. The idea is very much the same as glossybox.co.uk and boudoirprive.co.uk. You receive 5 deluxe sample products for £9.95 each month or a one off annual subscription of £109.45. I went for the monthly as it's brand new and I want to make sure I like it.

I really like the sleek packaging of this Beauty Box

The box slides open with this pull tab

The filling inside. I took the products out. Don't worry they are coming

The hot, hot, hot pink inside. I love it. I think this will make a great storage box

This box came with an information card about the products. This months box is called 'Smooth & Sassy', focusing on your skin and hair. There is a code on the card for 10% off at feelunique.com on all products featured in this box.

.

Okay so the first product is this Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. It is a fairly small sample, but as this is a treatment for you hair which you only use once a week BEFORE shampooing it's not too bad. The info says that you leave it on for 2-3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. It is meant to smooth, stretch and strengthen locks, leaving them shiny, manageable, less brittle, more supple and full of bounce. 

Everything sounds good to me except the stretching. Not sure I want my hair to stretch? There are many different sizes/prices for this product so I will add the link here.

 

Secondly we have this Ella Baché Crème Tomate Vitamin Radiance Cream. This cream contains extracts of fresh tomato to work naturally to purify, brighten and reveal a more vibrant complexion. The instructions are to use a pea sized amount on your face and massage in morning and evening.

 

I used a bit more than this tonight as I like to put my face creams on my neck and decolletage also. This cream felt quite luxurious. It is like silk and leaves a lovely luminous sheen to your skin. There is no obvious tomato smell with this cream. I like the elegant, sleekness of the packaging. This retails at £45.95 for 50ml. That is quite expensive I think.

 

Thirdly is the Redken Quick Dry 18 Mini. This spray is said to control and complete styles with a fast, firm, no fuss finish and a healthy shine. You basically hold the can 8-12 inches away from your hair and spray lightly. Reapply if you prefer a firmer finish. This handbag size is 100ml for £3.15.

I don't have much to say about this product other than I guess this is a handy handbag essential.

Fourth up is this Di Palomo Wild Fig & Grape Enriching Hand & Nail Cream.  This is said to be a luxurious hand and nail cream containing grape seed oil, olive oil and fig fruit extracts. Olive oil is rich in vitamins A and D which will aid the production of healthy skin tissue. Good for busy, hardworking hands. Deeply moisturising and nourishing. You are meant to use this on a daily basis, massaging it into your cuticles. It should leave hands smooth and soft and smell delicious.

I have just put this on my hands. It sinks in literally straight away which is a real plus for me as it does get on my nerves when hand creams make you feel greasy. It has given my hands an instant softening effect which feels amazing. The smell is very non-offensive. It's quite mild and pleasant. Perhaps a little herbally? I like the packaging of this product. I think it stands out from other hand creams. This retails at £6.30 for 75ml. I am already considering purchasing this product when this runs out and that's saying something. I am so in love with the smell and feel of it. I can't stop smelling my hands. I am taking this to work with me tomorrow. I can't wait to use it again.

The fifth product is the Gatineau Floracil Gentle Cleansing Lotion for Eyes. This is a non-oily cleansing and soothing lotion which contains the same PH as your natural tears :( It is said to gently whisk off eyeshadow, liner and waterproof mascara without irritating eyes. It says to use a small amount on a cotton wool pad and sweep across the eyes and lashes. 

I used it this evening and I used two cotton wool pads with a generous amount. It did impress me with removing my eye make-up with the first cotton wool pad, but I used a second to try and remove the remains of my mascara which is NOT waterproof. This still did not fully take it off, but I do think that this product was great for taking off my eyeshadow, kohl liner and brow pencil easily. It did not have that nasty sting either that you get with some make-up removers. This retails at £22.00 for 250ml. I don't think I would pay this price, but for people with very sensitive skin you may want to consider this? I don't own a waterproof mascara, but I would be interested to know if anyone has tried removing waterproof mascara with this product? Did it work?

I received a lovely little note in my box from the Beauty Box Team apologising that my box arrived a little late. It said that to make up for that they had included a couple of extra treats. The note and the extras win them points with me as I was a little concerned where my box was, but they have redeemed themselves on this occasion :)

The first extra product is this Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid SPF 15. The information on the website is that this product is the ultimate solution for all signs of dull, lifeless and pigmented skin. Filled with Viniferine and correcting active ingredients, this perfecting day fluid treats in depth and brings radiance in a blink. Day after day, the skin is transformed: imperfections and pigmentation fade away, the skin texture is refined, the complexion is even. Its melt-away texture sinks into your skin for a perfecting and radiant result, your skin looks flawless, beautified and luminous. You are meant to use this in the morning, after cleansing your face and neck.

 
Main ingredients:

- Viniferine

 

- Papaya enzyme: activates cells renewal, refines the skin texture and illuminates the complexion

 

- Mica microspheres: Even out, mattify and balance the skin

 

- Soft focus powders: blur imperfections, diffuse light and smooth the skin

 

- Enantia Chlorantha: mattifies and tightens. 30ml 

This product feels fine. Not quite as luxurious as the Ella Baché Crème Tomate Vitamin Radiance Cream, but it is good that it has an SPF of 15. This retails at £32.30 for 30ml. I have only tried this on my hand so far, but the feel of it does not make me think it's worth this price.

My other extra product is this Elie Saab Le Parfum Eau de Parfum. It is described on the website as being radiant, voluptuous and addictive. 

The top note opens on a sun-kissed, radiant orange blossom, as an ode to light. 

The middle note develops into a jasmine absolute, a legendary flower in perfumery, imparting voluptuousness and elegance to the fragrance. It combines with a pure, modern patchouli heart. 

The base note unfolds into a cedar woody accord adding character and a lingering trail, while the honey rose envelops the composition in a beautifully addictive note. 

A floral, solar, woody Eau de Parfum.

I do not dislike this perfume, but it does not overwhelm me either. I will take this to work tomorrow also so that I can see how I like it. There are a few sizes/prices for this product so I will add the link here.

All prices for products in this post came from the feelunique.com website.

My favourites from this box are the Ella Baché Crème Tomate Vitamin Radiance Cream, the Di Palomo Wild Fig & Grape Enriching Hand & Nail Cream and the Gatineau Floracil Gentle Cleansing Lotion for Eyes. So without the extras for the late delivery I actually really like 3 out of 5 products so far. Not bad for my first Beauty Box. I look forward to seeing what products will be in my October Beauty Box. Perhaps some make-up? I am a little lost on the feelunique website though. Is there a link for the Beauty Box products all together?

Have you subscribed to this Beauty Box? What did you think of yours? Did you receive the same products as me? Are you thinking of subscribing?

Love to you all