Green and Spring at Lookfantastic

I wanted to let you know about one of the new brands available to one of my favourite beauty websites www.lookfantastic.com
 

Green and Spring 

I was really excited to see this brand is being sold at Lookfantastic as I love their products.  They are inspired by the British countryside and are created using herbs and flowers that are native to Britain.

Some of the rest of their company information sounds vaguely weird

"The products breathe in the goodness of land and, mixed with other ingredients to assist their efficacy and aroma, they exhale the amazing."

Erm...okaaaay. But just ignore that waffle and you have some amazingly beautiful products that smell insanely gorgeous and perform exactly as you would expect.

Green and Spring use 100% natural plant materials. All herbal extracts are sourced from the UK and we ensure all our ingredients are sourced ethically.

All of their products are made by hand and all essential oils are of the highest quality.  

All Green and Spring products are free from parabens, SLS, SLES, PEGS, glycols, petrochemicals, synthetic colours and fragrances.

Finally someone has answered my prayers and made natural product packaging beautiful and NOT BEIGE!  It also means that these products, especially the gift sets,  are amazing presents and I would definitely pick up one of these if you have a woman boss or colleague who likes bath products, especially one of the oils.

Matt as BBB (beautybloggerboyfriend) has tasted the high life and has said goodbye to Radox and hello to £24 Revitalising light bath oil which is inspired by grassy meadows!

This lovely bath oil contains grapefruit, peppermint, rosehip and sweet orange oil amongst many others and the blend really is uplifting and revitalising, perfect for one of his hard days at work, poor petal.

The scent throw is huge so don't overdo how much you swill into the bathtub, a little goes a long was as I found out after putting too much in, you could smell it through the house which while lovely, was a bit of a waste!

Luckily for me I do also have a shower gel which I will be reviewing soon so don't feel too sorry for me, i'm sure Matt deserves a nice bath considering I ignore him half the time whilst blogging.

If you want to find out more about this gorgeous brand and their lovely products then you can here https://greenandspring.com/ 

pr sample, gratefully tested by the manny moo

My Bronzer Collection

I kind of like bronzer!  All pictures will enlarge if you click them.  I hope this helps if you were thinking about buying any of them.

Mac Refined Golden

Mac Sculpt

Mac MSF - By Candlelight

Illamasqua -Writhe

Edward Bess Daydream

Sleek Contour and Highlight Powder

Too Faced Snow Bunny

Korres Bronzer #1

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess - Soft Shimmer

The Body Shop Baked Bronzer Warm Glow

The Body Shop Baked Bronzer - Golden Bronze

Nars Multiple In Copacabana

No7

I hope this was helpful x

Wrap Yourself Thinner

The Sanctuary Trim and Tone Body Wrap

24 hours before a big event is not exactly enough time to lose weight but if you want to create the illusion that you have lost a few inches then this product from The Sanctuary is amazing.  I was sent it ages ago but wanted to try it and see how many treatments I could get out of it before posting and I actually got 5 out of it rather than the 4 they suggest.

Kit contains:

 1 x Pot of Body Clay
 4 x Bandages
 1 x Loofah Mitt
 1 x Tape Measure
 Measurement Chart

You soak the bandages in warm water in the sink whilst rubbing whichever section of your body you are treating with the loofah (dry).  This stimulates your skin and once the skin is red and the circulation is going you slap on the body clay, ring out the bandages and wrap yourself up like a mummy.  Its so easy to do and the ends are Velcro so they stay in place. 

You then just lay down and chill out and wait for an hour or so for the clay to do it's work.  You can use the measurement chart to plot how much you have lost but I just used the tape measure quickly.  Needless to say the more excess flab you have the more you are likely to lose. 

The Sanctuary Say "In clinical tests women lost an average of 5cm in just one full body application*.
*An average loss of 5cm was achieved in a controlled trial with 57 women."


How does this work?

Basically a clay wrap is a quick fix treatment.  The clay helps to absorb fluid and fluid based toxins in the skin much like a clay face mask.  Once the fluid is sucked out the pressure from the bandages squishes your skin and helps compact it into the space where the fluid was.  So this is a great treatment if you have fluid retention.

Basically this treatment isn't going to last forever but it will make you feel good about yourself as your skin looks much firmer and you may lose inches (I lost 1inch which I was bloody happy about) but some people say they lose much more than that.  The whole treatment took about 2 hours and the effects lasted around 4 days.

Considering this is very expensive as a salon treatment, usually around £40-80 for one wrap and this set costs £24.99 for 4-5 treatments I would definitely recommend purchasing this and I will be buying some more of the mud as my bandages are still fine after being washed in the washing machine 5 times.

You can find a video, more info and purchase here  trim and tone body wrap

Winners

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

WINNER OF TWO MAC LIPSTICKS

nicoletta

SPECIAL PRIZE WINNER

 innerbelle

Please email me at sarah.l.smith22@ntlworld.com with your full name and postage address

Nicoletta - please let me know which Mac colours you would like

Innerbelle- please let me know if you have any allergies so I don't kill you with your mystery prize! 

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thanks everyone for entering

Begging Emails

When Good Emails Go Bad

I apologise in advance for this rather random, and possibly moany post but I feel I should say something, in the hope that it might stop or reduce my problem.

For months now I have received sob story or just plain rude emails but I woke up today to recieve 32 such emails and to be honest it's just too much, sometimes it just feels like a personal attack.

The emails range from ones calling me names, saying I am ugly, sob stories about people who have illnesses wanting my makeup, people wanting the items I have got free to be sent to them, people who can't afford makeup who want me to send it to them and people who apparently haven't got paypal therefore expect free makeup.

The worst for me are the ones saying things like  

 "I have been sick for such a long time now I don't have long left, and would love it if you could share your makeup with me, as we don't have it where I live"

 

"please send me your makeup that you don't want - anything basically.  I can't afford it and don't think it's fair that you have so much".

 

Most of the emails seem to be about being having cancer or dying.  Surely these can't be real?  If you have cancer and it's bad enough that you are dying  a) you are likely to be in hospital or a hospice and b) makeup is the last thing on your mind???  My mum has had cancer and I think she was more worried about the fact that she was bald and laying in an intensive care ward than the fact that she couldn't buy any lipsticks.

 

I hadn't planned on posting about this as I felt bad in case they were real but I really can't believe that they are any more especially when I googled the email addresses of a couple of the people that contacted me - and both were beauty bloggers themselves!  When you are ill you need help, sympathy and love, not makeup.  And when you are poor there are more important things in life to makeup it's not a necessity. I am lucky enough that I have a job so I can buy makeup that I like, but I do work hard at my job and long hours.  

 

Yes I do get sent some makeup free but to be honest it's mostly skincare and haircare and I do share it out with friends and relatives so the emails calling me a "greedy bitch" are rather uncalled for! I do also do giveaways which unless stated are all paid for our of my own pocket so if you want something free just enter those.

Is this just me? I don't even have half as many followers as lots of bloggers so I don't know why they are targeting me in particular. I know that spam on comments has gone insane recently with 'follow my blog' or 'I followed you so follow me'.  I even got spammed on twitter yesterday by someone with 1 blog post saying they needed more followers before they even bothered to post more regularly?  What is your opinion?

Out with the old and in with the new

I get so many requests to do a collection post but the problem is my 'collection' was just full of stuff that I wasn't using.  So I have had a bit of a clearout in my house and my makeup had had a bit of a trimming.

It's out with the old and in with the new!  I still haven't finished everything and it's a work in progress.  I have got rid of some dodgy old clothes and my work suits as I just don't find them flattering any more and I bought the jackets when I was flat chested so they don't really work these days!

Here is the makeup that I said goodbye to.

Byeee slap!

Some items were old and past their use by times, some of the mascaras were used up and some products were just rubbish (yes Dallas I am looking at you)!  No blog sale, as I gave the usable items away to friends and  I did receive some items pictured for free.

The New Hair Plan

The next change up is going to be my hair.  I absolutely hate getting my hair done at the hairdresser but it really is becoming necessary.  On the advice of the hairdresser who did my hair at an event I am going to have a proper fringe cut in and some layers through the back plus a trim.  For the colour I am having another consultation one day next week but basically I just need a salon that listens to me and gives me a mid brown colour that isn't so red toned, I don't care how much they tell me it warms up my face, because as the colour fades it just gets redder and redder and redder and it irritates the hell out of me.  I mean I do not want luminous red hair!  I am also going to ask for some highlights but I want those really thin highlights that aren't stripy and obvious.  Is this called baleyage or baliage I have no idea if it is?

This is my hair now

The side part fringe that was cut in doesn't really seem to work as my hair refuses to part anywhere but the middle!  As you can see it's just one colour brown and has faded to a reddish brown. It's too dark for me at the moment.

Hair-spiration.  

Forgetting  their faces, figures and probably their bank balances I also really love the hair of these girls

They are both Victoria's secret models which is where I saw their hair 'in action' and the highlights really make their hair have a bit more interest.  I have never had highlights before - is it scary?

Have you been having a clear out?  Buying new clothes or makeup for the new season?

Just a reminder

Just to remind you that the giveaway to win two Mac lipsticks of your choice ends tomorrow, 29th August at midnight.

Click here to enter

Some Lovely Links

Rae reviews a gorgeously packaged mascara that smells like blueberries (no, we're not kidding!) over at theNotice.

Tammerly from Pink Diva's Beauty Spot was GHD's guest at Little Joe Woman fashion luncheon which was also sponsored by Lancome.

IHeartCosmetics reviews the famous Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish .

The Pink Sith tries to put as many non sequitur references that she can into her review of Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush. See if she has finally gone too far.

Madame B Fatale swatches some Australian Mineral Shadows by Kylies Professional.

Jellyminx creates an affordable autumn inspired eye look perfect for the dreary weather the UK has had recently!!

Urban Decay announce The Black Palette and Lipglossiping has the photos! This one's for the rock chick inside each of us!

Cindy from Prime Beauty is finally leading the semi-"charmed" life she thinks she deserves by wearing the newest Three Custom Color Specialist lipstick. Find out how you can get yours as a GWP!

What's in the vanity drawers at The Gloss Menagerie? Come have a look at Alyson's makeup organization. Beautywoome takes you through the no-chip manicure paces.

It wasn't easy, but Glitter Geek actually listed her top 10 products for Summer 2010. See any of your own favourites? Jeweled Thumb reviews a face paint by Models Own as a blush and discovers it works! Want to learn how to self-apply individual false eyelashes at home? Mz. More of The Glamorous Gleam has a video tutorial!

Hot Beauty Health shares how to get short, curly hairstyles like celebs! The Lip Print makes a change and crosses over to the light side . Retrodiva explores eight autumn beauty trends sure to be popular this year.

Want Chanel Paradoxal but don't like it's price? Musicalhouses shows you Paradoxal's (much) cheaper little sister!

My always and forever nail varnish

I will always love this polish, always repurchase it and it is forever my favourite.

OPI You Don't Know Jacques

Let me know your favourite x

Anti ageing ramble!

Anti-ageing products

At 25 I know I am not old, however I do worry about ageing and am always trying to find products to prevent it. My skin idol has to be Danni Minogue, her skin looks fresh, luminous, plumped up and smooth. It's so radiant and clear I would love to emulate it.

So in the quest for skin perfection two new products have sneaked into my skincare routine (along with my Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, Yin Yang orange flower water toner and Liz Earle Superskin Moisturiser). These two products are both amazing and I am so glad that they both seem to be working.

Strivectin SD Eye Cream

This is the gold standard of eye creams, it's so strong that I can only use it once a day (my skin goes a bit red for an hour or so if I use it twice) but I get the impression that when it's going red it's doing it job. You can use this for discoloration, crow's feet, dark circles and general ageing around the eyes.

All you need to do is gently rub a teeny weeny amount of the eye cream onto the area you want to de-wrinkle and massage in a circular motion until it's absorbed. Your skin is left smooth and concealer applies really well over the top.

I waited a month to review this as at first I thought nothing was happening, then slowly but surely it turned out to be worth the wait. I am always exhausted with big dark circles and a few under eye fine lines. After 3 weeks of daily use I could tell that the lines had softened visibly and the dark circles under my eyes look lighter and are less obvious. I also tried the allover face cream but it was a bit irritating to my skin, the under eye version is almost the same but doesn't contain the peppermint oil that the regular version does and contains other soothing ingredients.

I am more than happy with this and since you use such a tiny dot on each eye the massive 40ml size will last ages and ages, plenty long enough to justify the £47 price tag. If you want to look more info take a look at lookfantastic website.

Caudalie - white cream

StriVectin - yellow cream

Caudalie Vitamine Pulpe Vitaminée 1st Wrinkle Cream

This cream can be used both morning and night and is specifically to deal with the first signs of ageing so is for your 25-30 year with normal - dry skin who has started to worry about their face sagging, fine lines and lack of radiance.

I was surprised that this product addresses every single issue that I am having and really does work for me.

It is easy to apply and rub into the face. It absorbs quickly and leaves no greasy residue. You need roughly a pea sized amount, maybe more if your skin is extra dry that day. I mostly use this at night but have used this instead of primer a couple of days this week as it leaves your skin feeling so silky soft and smooth that I felt I didn't need a regular primer.

If you apply in the morning the radiance is evident almost immediately. In the evening when applied you wake up looking really rested and your skin looks more plump, and less grey than usual.

The product is also paraben free which I like and contains some delicious ingredients such as echinacea, ginger, royal jelly and ginseng which are all known to be energising to the body.

This retails for around £31-32 and I would say it would last around 6 weeks to two months as I still have a good amount left.

You can also purchase this from Lookfantastic

Are you worried about ageing?

The Sanctuary Spa Launches Nationwide Expansion

 
The UK’s no 1 Day Spa, The Sanctuary, Covent Garden recently announced their plans, as part of a long term nationwide roll out, for two new spas -  the first will open in August at Cambridge’s Grand Arcade followed by Hill Rise in Richmond and Bristol’s Quaker’s Friars in Cabot Circus during late Summer, early Autumn.

 New Cambridge Spa

 

This is a hugely significant launch for the Sanctuary brand renowned for its heritage as the first women-only Day Spa in the heart of Covent Garden.
I have only ever had a hand massage by one of lovely Sanctuary therapists but it was definitely amazing, and made me want to have a lovely sleep...zzz
The new, beautifully designed spas will feature a minimum of five luxurious treatment rooms, offering treatments as well as a tranquil relaxation area, where guests can rest and unwind. There will also be a stylish manicure bar which can be experienced with a girlfriend while enjoying a glass of bubbly (very nice for a Birthday gift for a friend).

Each new spa will also have an extensive retail offering showcasing the Sanctuary’s own exclusive spa range including the recently launched Skin Care Facials, professional range and bath and body ranges plus hand-picked efficacious third party brands together with professional brand associations such as Aromatherapy Associates, Environ and Carita.
As you may be aware I love the Sanctuary products, to the point where I try and force people to buy the warming microbrasion scrub whenever I am with them in Boots!  
 
New Sanctuary Spa Opening Dates

Cambridge: August 2010
Richmond: September 2010
Bristol: October 2010 

Find more info out here thesanctuary.co.uk/spas.
 

Now I have been debating going and having a massage at the spa in Covent Garden, as I actually work quite near on Victoria Embankment - so what I want to know is if you have ever been to the spa and if so which treatment you would recommend.  Roll on payday I need a massage and a haircut!

Bonjour Alex!

Sometimes PR's can be a complete nightmare, sending you the same press release about something you have no interest in (like Kylie Minogue's bum) over and over again, chasing you for a post before you have even opened the item you are reviewing and, the best email i was ever sent,  "so you mean you won't review [x] unless you have used it?  Are you sure?". D'oh!

Luckily not all of them are completely insane and some of them, as is the case with the lovely Alexandra (pictured left), are actually sweet, helpful AND nice.  Since she is such a rarity and a totally gorgeous girlie with fab dress sense I thought I would do a mini interview with her just to show that as crazy as some PR's can be,  most of them are just normal girls like you and me obsessed with hair, clothes and makeup!

Anyway onwards with the grilling:

Which celebrity's wardrobe would you like to own?

I think Diane Kruger and Rachel Bilson always look great – really chic but simple at the same time.

Do you have a beauty secret?

Always take your make-up off before you go to bed, even after a night out…I swear it does the trick even though often it seems like a lot of effort!

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Around 45 minutes to an hour, including a hair wash and blow dry.

What hair products do you use?

I have quite fine hair so I use a volumising shampoo and conditioner, usually Sebastian Professional Volupt or Aussie Aussome Volume. I also like to use a conditioning treatment such as Herbal Essences Seductively Straight Intensive Mask to keep the ends really soft and in good condition. Before blow drying I use Sebastian Professional Mousse Forte to give extra volume and make my hair feel thicker. 

Finally I use the Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Protection Cream as a serum to keep my hair soft; this is great to protect the ends and keep them looking healthy which is especially important when you have long hair like mine.   

Also I am excited that Henry Holland has teamed up with Sebastien Professional to produce limited edition packaging for 3 of their products with inspiration from the paisley bandannas in candy hues that Henry used in his AW2010.  The three products are Potion 9, Shine Define Spray and the Volupt Spray - all in salons now.

 

What is your current favourite outfit?

A navy and white stripy maxi dress I bought from Topshop – it is quite figure hugging but really comfortable, I like to wear it with simple gold sandals and a pale denim jacket.

What is the one item of clothing you can't live without?

Some high waisted cigar style trousers from Zara, they came with a tan belt which I have worn with lots of other outfits. They are great dressed up or down with a simple vest tucked in or I have been wearing them recently with more cropped style t-shirts or tops. They are so useful and great with heels or flats

What is your favourite high street shop?

At the moment it has to be Zara and Reiss.

Image from Kurt Geiger website

What are your favourite bag and shoe brands?

Such a tough question as bags and shoes are my ultimate treat purchases, but for shoes I think Kurt Geiger as they always have such an amazing selection and they are more affordable than designer labels – but still just as unique, heels from KG are my vice! For handbags I love Chanel and Mulberry…but as I am still saving for one of those (and will be for some time!) I think Topshop and Oasis are great and recently I found a gorgeous clutch bag in Reiss.  

Do you wear silver or gold jewellery?

I like to mix a little of both – I have a vintage charm bracelet which has both gold and silver charms and it mixes the modern and more traditional looks together. I am a big fan of costume jewellery, especially earring and chunky necklaces. Topshop always have some lovely bits and such a big selection.

What are your beauty must-haves for this season?

My beauty must haves would be: Mac lipstick in Pink Nouveau, Rimmel liquid eye-liner and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser which gives a lovely finish without being too heavy, its great for holidays.

What is your favourite item of makeup?

Chanel blusher in Tweeded Pink - has a hint of shimmer in it which i love!

Thank you so much Alex for letting me give you a magazine-style grilling, I quite enjoyed being the one asking the questions for a change!

Liz Earle Skincare - Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

Before I start there are 2 disclaimers 

1) despite using Liz Earle products many times before (prior to blogging): I was sent this lot for free 

2) I have included at the bottom of this review a paragraph on the natural aspects of Liz Earle so please don't get your knickers in a twist before reading that (feel free to knicker twist afterwards) .

Liz Earle skincare.  My mum loves it, people at my office love it, and before blogging the cleanse and polish was repurchased often by yours truly.  So what happened? I suppose you could call it  'grass is greener' syndrome, added to the chore of continually washing the flipping muslin cloths.  

Cute zippy bag with instructions

Liz Earle products are sold in her two shops (London and IOM) and are distributed in John Lewis, online and via QVC.  My favourite place to buy though is their Factory Seconds Store on Ebay!  It's cheaper due to the packaging having a few marks on but it works for me - I like a bargain.  A good thing about buying her products is they come packaged very nicely and make perfect gifts especially for mums! A 200ml pump at the regular price costs £21.50
The most hyped product in the range and one that is undoubtedly my favourite is:

Cleanse and Polish - Hot Cloth Cleanser

I love this for the fact that it is just so easy.  One pump massaged into my face seems to melt all the pollution, dirt, grime, makeup, mascara and liner off my face which then lets me wipe it off swiftly and easily with the muslin cloth.  It leaves my skin feeling smooth, soft,  supple and definitely not dry or stripped of oil.  This does not  aggravate my eczema and even seems to help me get rid of it when I have a flare up.  I love using this in Winter.
One pump is easy to massage into your face.  It's quick and easy to use and let's be honest anything that makes  removing makeup less of a chore has to be applauded and this does just that.  For those that haven't tried it I would suggest trying a mini from ebay, just to see if it's your type of cleansing routine as it does involve muslin cloth.  If you are really on a budget try buying mothercare's muslin cloths which  are massive and cutting them up into small squares.  
Please do wash your muslin cloths daily otherwise you will just be rubbing bacteria all over your face - nooo!

The ingredients

Overall I would definitely give this cleanser 9/10.  Its good for me (facial eczema, dry or extremely dry skin).  My one bubgear and the reason it's not 10/10 being the endless muslin cloth washing.

My personal thoughts are that this could be improved by providing muslin cloths that are 1/2 the size they currently provide you with;  for example instead of 2 large, I would rather have 4 small cloths.

The whole routine doesn't work as well if you use another type of cleansing cloth such as a flannel (I have tried) and some of us have better things to do than spend their life washing things (well maybe not better but...more interesting - like shopping).

Natural Products - How Natural Are They?

Liz Earle prides itself on being a natural brand, and it is certainly much more 'natural' than the chemical filled products that usually grace the shelves of Boots et al  but some products in the range do contain parabens and synthetic fragrances, the Company was also recently sold to Avon. These issues have caused a bit of controversy both on and off the Liz Earle website so I wanted to quickly mention it, as I don't think glossing over it will help give you an informed opinion.

It does mention on their website that they use food grade parabens in some of their products.  Now I am not too sure on exactly which ones as they don't list all ingredients of each product only the natural ones.  I don't think they are being hypocritical using parabens as they do write it on their website, plainly to see.  I also don't think from the ingredients list above that the cleanse and polish contains parabens.

While I personally enjoy her products, if you are against/allergic to parabens even in small measures or if you want 100% organic product then some of the products in this brand are unlikely to be for you (they are not organic products).

I do also have the Superskin Moisturiser to review but I am getting close to deciding whether to purchase a fullsize one for the Autumn/Winter when my skin really goes to flaky hell so I think it is best, if I do indeed purchase my own or not, to wait until I have decided before reviewing.  Needless to say, since I am even considering purchasing, that I do really like this cream a lot.

 So what's your opinion on Cleanse and Polish? And Liz Earle in general? And should I buy the fullsize superskin?? Hmm?

My Jewellery Collection, FOTD and a Vlog

Topshop ranges Gogo Philip and Orelia were recommended highly by two of my fave bloggers so I bought a couple of pretties to add to my tiny jewellery collection.

I am impressed by the pricing of the Gogo Philip jewellery, the bracelet was £4.50! The necklace was around £7.00.  Both items are supposedly gold plated although I am not sure how they can be at such reasonable prices?  The bamboo bracelet is perfect and the necklace is just the right length (collarbone) to look dainty.

The Orelia stand was a joy to behold, so feminine and delicate without being over the top and pink I was most excited by the earrings, as they were more than I would normally pay for earrings I took Tali's recommendations as I didn't want to waste money.  Can you guess my favourite pair?  I love the look and quality of all of them and that they are so light so they don't hurt your ears.  I have very sensitive skin and ears so it was a bit of a gamble but they are all fine in my ears and I love them so much, I would have bought even more if I had a bit more dosh.

This is the rest of my small jewellery collection.  I keep all of my earrings, bracelets and an amethyst brooch I was given as a gift in a set of clear acrylic drawers from Muji and I hang my necklaces from the purple thing below - I have no idea what it's called but it was from Urban Outfitters.

My favourite necklace is by David Aubrey, his brand is sold at my favourite online jewellery shop accessories online

You may notice I don't mention any rings or watches, I don't have any!  I  have only ever received a ring as a gift once, Matt bought me a rather ahem....ugly...eternity ring and despite wearing it most days I managed to lose it, and since I didn't look after the first one he has never bought me another!  Watches I find very difficult, I rarely like them and often the face is far too big as although I am hardly a skinny twiglet I do have bony wrists, and sometimes the face of the watch is so big it rubs against the bone and really flipping hurts.  I have found this rose gold watch that I really like but it's pretty expensive.  I think I might ask for vouchers for Christmas to go towards it.

Melvita Shampoo and Conditioner - Silicone & SLS Free

The people from Melvita saw my previous post on silicone and sulfate free shampoos and offered to send me their version to test out which I gladly accepted.

 

Melvita say "harsh detergents from traditional shampoos and the very process of lathering can cause damage to the hair and scalp whilst silicone based conditioners only coat the hair shaft giving the illusion of health.  We believe that shampooing is the foundation for healthy hair.  

Your shampoo needs to be targeted for your hair type and cleanse with a gentle foaming base. Our range of 10 shampoos are specifically formulated to be sulphate-free and rich in active botanicals to benefit each hair type.  Conditioners work to boost results.  It should compliment the action of your shampoo.  Our 3 silicone free conditioners are Detangling and Softening, Repairing and Protecting or boost Vitality and Shine".


I picked the Tired Hair shampoo and conditioner which is for coloured hair with styling damage that breaks easily with a lack of vitality. Which pretty much describes my hair to a T.
 

The Tired Hair Shampoo costs £9.00 for 200ml

Ingredients

Aqua [Water], Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Betaine, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water [Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Water]*, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Coco-Betaine, Inulin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Cellulose Gum, Sodium PCA, Dicaprylyl Ether, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Levulinic Acid, Arginine, Glyceryl Oleate, Adiantum Capillus Veneris Leaf Extract, Caramel, Sodium Levulinate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil*, Citronellol**, Gellan Gum, Geraniol**, Citric Acid, Hordeum Vulgare Extract*, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil [Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil]*, Salvia Officinalis Oil [Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil]*, Linalool**, Benzoic Acid, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium PCA, Zinc Gluconate, Potassium Sorbate.
*Ingrédients issus de l’Agriculture Biologique / Ingredients from Organic Farming
**Natural components of essential oils
 

Colour - orangey brown colour
Scent - this contains rosemary leaf oil and sage oil, so smells a lot like rosemary and sage! Don't worry it doesn't smell like paxo stuffing mix, although it does smell more masculine than I would normally pick.

Consistency - a bit more watery than your usual shampoo but only slightly, this means a little goes a long way and it's not so water it pours out of the bottle or anything like that.
Overall - aside from the scent I think this shampoo is fantastic, and the scent is only down to the natural ingredients in the product so I can't really complain as it isn't an added fragrance (and I did choose this shampoo to try myself lol so it's my own fault).
This shampoo is gentle on my scalp which can get as dry and itchy as my skin and I felt I could wash my hair less each week as it felt cleaner for longer.  My hair doesn't feel stripped once I have used this but it does clean extremely well. My hair isn't left tangled or unmanageable at all.



The Tired Hair Conditioner costs £9.00 for 200ml

Ingredients

Aqua [Water], Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Water [Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Water]*, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Oenothera Biennis Oil [Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil]*, Lauroyl Lysine, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil [Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil]*, Phospholipids, Lactic Acid, Glycine Soja Oil [Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil], Levulinic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil*, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Adiantum Capillus Veneris Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Sodium Levulinate, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil*, Citronellol**, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Glycolipids, Geraniol**, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil [Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil]*, Glycine Soja Sterol [Glycine Soja (Soybean) Sterol], Salvia Officinalis Oil [Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil]*, Linalool**, Copper Gluconate, Magnesium PCA, Zinc Gluconate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate.
*Ingre?dients issus de l’Agriculture Biologique / Ingredients from Organic Farming.
**Constituants naturels des huiles essentielles / Natural components of essential oils.

Colour - white
Scent - same as the shampoo
Consistency - the same as your everyday type of conditioner, not thinner and nice and creamy
Overall - my hair feels nourished and repaired without feeling overly sleek and slippery.  It is easy to style afterwards and my hair doesn't get as tangled as it does with the Body Shop shampoo and conditioner (I use the blueberry detangling spray when I use their shampoo and conditioner), my hair looks seriously shiny and my scalp doesn't feel dry or itchy at all.  My hair naturally has more body and is less limp.

I am very impressed with these, the benefits are visible and the additional price is balanced by the fact that my hair doesn't become as tangled as when I use lower priced silicone free shampoos and conditioners and I don't need to use a detangler.  I think these represent good value for money, especially the shampoo as you really only need a tiny bit at a time.  My only bugbear as usual is the boring packaging you tend to get with organic products, I am still confused as girls like pretty packaging!  

 Would I purchase these myself? Yes definitely.

Melvita is available here: Melvita website
Sulfate and Silicone free update - I have found that it does take a good 1-2 weeks after switching to these type of shampoos for your hair to get used to them and settle down, the first few times my hair was very tangly and hard to brush but after about 5 washes it has settled down and is so soft and shiny, has a lot more body and is just generally less limp and flat.

Oh and by the way, don't forget to enter my Blog Birthday giveaway of two Mac lipsticks of your choice, just click here

EOTD - Urban Decay Naked Palette

I am so glad I bought the Urban Decay Naked Palette.  I have been going through my makeup this week and really been thinking that I need to throw things away and streamline my collection.  This is definitely a palette that can be used for day and night and the colours are all so pigmented and gorgeous.

This look was so quick to do and with the primer potion it lasted all day, I was quite surprised how much I liked the primer potion to be honest, it's definitely better than Mac's prep and prime for eyes.

I used a fluffy brush to do a sheer wash of the lightest colour Virgin under my eyebrow and in the inner corner and tear duct, then I used Sin on the lid blended into Naked in the crease which is a matte colour.  I topped it off with the brown liner which I am sure is called Whisky et voila. 2 coats of L'oreal mascara and I was off to work.

Browns are so much more flattering on me for daytime than blacks and the browns are so gorgeous in this palette, hands down the best palette I own.

In case you didn't see my other post the palette costs £27.00 from House of Fraser in London Victoria. I don't think it is available yet online but it will be soon and in Debenhams, Boots etc. in the next few weeks.

Five Fabulous Natural Goodies

1 - Ikove Açai Chocolate Body Polish £13.25

Free from parabens, mineral oil, SLSs and animal ingredients, IKOVE is based on traditional  remedies. Free from artificial preservatives, the 100% organic rice grain alcohol acts as a solvent for their plant extracts. No petroleum is added during the manufacturing process (the main cause of alcohol drying out the skin) how good is that?! Well it's not as good as the fact that this a body scrub that smells like chocolate!!!!!! Omigod its the best smelling scrub ever ever ever, and I have tried sooo many (and I still have so many in the bathroom to try).

This is not a harsh scrub but not too gentle as it is definitely effective at getting off fake tan remnants and those weird bobbly bits that reside right on my bum, where they come from - nobody knows but butt bobbling only seems to be removed by harsh scrubs and this ones uses sugar grains, cocoa butter and babacu oil to slough off dead skin while still being so moisturising and not so oily you will slide out of the bath and break a leg - bonus! You only need the tiniest bit each time so the price is justified in my opinion.  Buy here - ikove

2 - Yin Yang Orange Flower Tonic £12.50

Yin Yang was recently introduced to me and it's awesome! It's a chemical-free British beauty range with  pure, effective and affordable natural skincare.  Yin Yang’s paraben and colourant free formulations make it an amazing alternative to regular toners.

I was previously using the Liz Earle toner for review purposes but I much prefer this one and its also nicer in my opinion than the Neil's Yard Orange Flower Water which I have tried before.  This gorgeous smelling tonic refreshes, moisturises and tones the skin. It combines pure spring water and witch hazel energised with Vitamins A, B and C, it's suitable for use all over the face even the eyes and it is soothing and hydrating to delicate facial skin.
As with all Yin Yang products the tonic is balanced with a pH of around 5,0 to maintains and restore the skin's defensive ‘acid mantle’ while the light fragrance of sweet orange and warm geranium uplifts the senses.

Either use this like fix plus, mix with your fix plus or Lush's tea tree water or use as a toner in the general sense to get rid of the rest of the cleanser on your face.  Buy here yinyang

3 - Dr Bronner Magic Soap (around £3-5)

Dr Bronner's Liquid soap in unscented is a MUST HAVE in my house and one in my gym bag.  I use it as handwash, facewash, in a pinch I have used it as shampoo and I use it as shower gel every time at the gym.  You can even use it to clean your hamster cage as a non toxic cleanser - it does everything! So cheap too and lots of lovely natural ingredients.

IngredientsWater, Saponified Organic Coconut & Olive oils (w/ retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E but it here Love Lula

4 - The Body Shop Rainforest Moisture Shampoo - £4

I have raved about this before but for the price it is a fantastic shampoo, easy to use, does what it says on the bottle and is good for marine life, good for your hair and free from SLS and silicone - and it costs £4 !!

5 - Organic Surge Shower Gel - £3.99

I was sent the bottle pictured and unwittingly didn't realise that the fragrance 'meadow' was actually scented with Lavender...d'oh!  I gave it to a friend so as not to waste it (I didn't want Matt to use it and then stink of the evil Lavender) and bless her she gave the empty tube back to me 'to photograph' hehe with a note saying how she had bought herself another one and how much she loved the scent, the price and how it made her clean and feel like she was doing her skin good at the same time.  I have never had such feedback before! I am going to pick up a different one for myself to try out because it also comes in the scent sugared almond...how delicious does that sound?  You can see all the scents here 

So that's this weeks roundup of natural products that I have been loving and using.  If you are a natural beauty lover stay tuned as I have my review of the Liz Earle skincare - how natural is natural, some gorgeous paraben free shower gels and even a paraben free lipgloss to post about which does makes my lips look rather kissable, if I do say so myself!

How do you feel about natural products?