Sunday Samples - Cor, Moroccan Oil and Lavera

In an effort to trim some of my samples stash, I thought I'd try a few new products this week.

First up is Moroccan Oil Treatment.  I've shied away from Moroccan oil previously as I tend to have rather oily, fine hair and I just thought that Moroccan oil would weigh it down further.  I have been very impressed with this oil though, using it several times a week, usually on days when I don't condition my hair as otherwise I find i gets a little overloaded.  It leaves my hair noticeably softer and shinier.  I have been using a minuscule amount rubbed over my hands before applying to damp hair, so I think this sample will last me some time.  I'm interested to try the light version of the oil which I think may be even better for my hair type.

I've been using Cor soap recently (a review is coming up next week) and along with the soap, I also received some small samples of the Cor Moisturiser, Serum and Eye Cream.  The samples themselves were tiny, to the point where I actually had to hunt for the product within them!  First impressions were that all products sank in quickly and had a pleasant, almost clinical scent.  Cor market themselves on their unique silver healing properties of their product, however they are on the fairly pricey side which would prevent me from purchasing full size versions at their current price-point.

  

Lavera Hand Cream came as part of a beauty box some time ago.  I hadn't tried this before and found it to be a decent basic handcream without any airs or graces.  It has a pleasant, not overwhelming scent, and sinks in quickly.  I liked how it contains organic almond and shea butter, and did find it fairly moisturising, although it will not be replacing my L'Occitane or Palmers hand creams.

Have you tried any of these products?

May Empties - Loves and Loathes

I'm a bit late with this month's empties as I've been busier than I anticipated this weekend, even though it was twice as long due to the Jubilee.  There were so many things I was planning on doing but it seems to have just flown by and I've not had any time for blogging until today!  So lets crack on with my empties.

KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray (reviewed here) - a great little spray I received in my last Carmine box  I will certainly be purchasing the full-sized bottle soon.

Naked Volume Body Building Shampoo (reviewed here) - really REALLY disliked this and ended up making hubby use it and using it to clean my make up brushes.  Would not repurchase.

Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Conditioner  - I've been working my way through this humongous bottle for what seems like months but it was finally finished this month which is a good thing as it was taking up far too much space in my bathroom!  This conditioner is fab at keeping my coloured locks in good condition and is one I return too time and time again.  I've already bought another (smaller!) bottle which is more portable and better for travelling.

Davines Nou Nou Illuminating Shampoo (reviewed here) - I was a bit disappointed with this as it seemed to get used up very quickly and was quite a basic shampoo for the price.  I won't be repurchasing.

 

Bed Head Very Berry Whipped Mousse Body Lotion - as part of my efforts to reduce my body lotion stash, this had been languishing in my draw for quite some time.  I don't even think they sell it any more and even if they did I wouldn't repurchase as it wasn't overly moisturising and seemed to sit on the surface of the skin, rather than be absorbed by it.

The Body Shop Chocomania Shower Cream (reviewed here) - a creamy moisturising shower cream that was perhaps more suited to evening bathing and showering that first thing in a  morning.  I liked it but not sure I would repurchase.

The Body Shop Peppermint Intense Foot Rescue - one of my staples of my Summer Footcare prep, I have repurchased this several times previously and will continue to purchase it as it is the only foot lotion that can go some way to smoothing my scaly feet!

Dr Hauschka Rose Body Lotion (reviewed here) - a small sample which didn't last long but was very nicely scented and absorbed quickly into the skin.  I'm on a body lotion ban, otherwise I would consider purchasing. 

Lush The Carrot Bubble Bar - so disappointed with this as on the second use, the bubble bar broke away from the stalk and I had to fish it out of my scalding hot bath.  The bubbles weren't that great with this either and I wasn't overly enamoured with the scent.  I wouldn't repurchase this if they bring it out next Easter.

L'Oreal Million Lashes Mascara - I enjoyed the effect this gave but for some reason recently, my eyes have become really sensitive and I wasn't able to use this without my eyes becoming red and watery.  I wouldn't repurchase solely for this reason, although I loved how my lashes looked when it was applied.

Jo Loves Pomelo Fragrance - This was a sample but it is so clean and fresh smelling I'm certainly going to see if I can get hold of a full sized bottle.  It seems to last on the skin for ages too.

Biotherm Aquasource Levres SPF8 (mini review here) - a small sample but this lasted for ages so I can imagine the full size would last  a while.  I have plenty of lip balms at the moment to get through though so I wouldn't repurchase this yet, but I may do in the future.

Have you tried any of these products?  What did you think of them?

KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray

I'm a nightmare in the mornings - grumpy, cross and generally always in a rush to get ready, to the point where I often wait until I get to work to do my make-up!  One thing I always have to make time to do though is wash and blow dry my hair, as unless I wash it daily, it ends up feeling dull and lank.  On a side note, I can never understand those people who leave the house and get on public transport with soaking wet hair.  I can't be good for you and really, can't they just get up 15 minutes earlier?!  I digress, rant over!

When I received the KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray as part of my Carmine box , I was initially very sceptical about its claims to reduce blow dry time by up to 50% and still maintain healthy, manageable hair.  However, I am pleased to have been proved wrong!

I have been using this after having applied my other haircare products, such as heat protectant or mousse, and a few sprays is all that is required.  I then tip my head upside down as normal and blow dry.  My hair usually takes just over ten minutes to blow dry, but I've found that with this spray, I can easily shave a couple of minutes off the time, leaving me more time to snooze in my bed!  I've also found it lightly conditions my hair, leaving it easy to manage, and it is noticeably silkier and smoother.  

Verdict

I get bored so easily with routine tasks such as drying my hair, and any product that makes my life easier and lets me move onto the more fun stuff is always a winner with me!  The KMS Quick Blow Dry Spray reduces drying time, leaves your hair feeling softer and smoother and is a real multi-tasker.  This is a great buy for those of you with busy lifestyles and I will certainly be purchasing a full sized bottle soon.

5/5

Price - £10.95

Where to Buy -  Beauty Bay, Salon Skincare, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic

Review: Tigi Bed Head Sugar Dust

There seems to have been a rapid influx of volumising hair powders onto the market of late and after being so impressed with the volumising and mattifying properties of the Label.m Resurrection Dust (review here) I was excited to try another brand to see if it would produce the same effects (the life of a beauty blogger means we are always itching to try other products!)

Tigi Bed Head Sugar Dust is used in much the same way as the Label.m product.  You sprinkle a tiny bit of product into the roots of your hair and rub it in to produce the required volume.  It also does a good job of mattifying the hair and soaks up any oil at the roots, making it perfect if you don't have time to wash your hair.

The first thing I noticed with this product is that the grains of product were much smaller than the grains of the Label.m product.  This meant that it was easier to work into the roots but I did feel like I needed a lot of the product to produce the desired effect.  The name is very apt as it does look a lot like sugar, although I would imagine that it doesn't taste very good in a cup of tea!

In comparing this product with the Label.m product, I also found that it was more difficult to control and didn't produce as much of a targeted volume look, probably because I needed to use more product and the smaller grains seemed to migrate all over the head.  This even happened when I roped in a willing helper over the weekend to help apply it!

Verdict

Tigi Bed Head Sugar Dust does produce some decent volume, although it wasn't nearly as volumising as the Label.m product.  I did find that it didn't leave much of a sticky residue in my hair and was quite light to use, however it did require quite a lot of product to achieve the desired volumising effect on my fine hair, and I found it difficult to target specific areas of my hair without it going everywhere!  In short, this will not replace my Label.m powder but if you only require a small amount of volume, it may work well for you.  

2.5/5

Price - From £8.26

Where to Buy -  Cheap Smells, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, Essentual

Have you tried any volumising powders?

January Empties

I haven’t made a bad attempt at finishing things off this month and there have even been a couple of full sized products finished for a change!

Label.m Resurrection Style Dust – review here

I love this and was upset to run out as I probably use it a couple of times a week when I am planning to be out all day or if I’m going out after work.  I have decided to try another similar product – the Tigi Sugar Dust so I will see how that works for me as it is a little cheaper.

No 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes

Not much to say about these, just standard wipes that I use if I am feeling too lazy after a late night (I know, tut tut!)

DP London Body Lotion - quick review here

I liked this but it wasn’t particularly remarkable and I certainly wouldn’t pay full price for it.

Clarins Multi-Active Day Early Action Wrinkle Correction Cream – quick review here

This was a decent day cream that went on quite thick but seemed to moisturise well without leaving me too oily.  I would perhaps consider purchasing a full-sized version or another product from the range.

YSL Belle d’Opium

Didn’t like this at all.  Heady and very powerful, it was not to my taste, and was used instead as a room spray!

Clinique Mild Liquid Facial Soap

This was a sample that I think I probably received as part of Clinique Bonus time which I always seem to get sucked into!  I wouldn’t say it was particularly mild and I certainly wouldn’t use this on a  daily basis, but it was good to use after I had been for a run and really left my skin feeling clean.  I would suggest following up with a good moisturiser though.

Body Shop Sweet Lemon Shower Gel

I love the scent of this and always buy a bottle of it if I am going on holiday.  I adore pretty much any citrus scents as they are so fresh and light and certainly very summery.  I have a body butter in this scent too that I have yet to try  - I really must make an effort to get through my body lotion stash!

Dr Organic Bioactive Skincare Organic Rose Otto Skin Lotion - quick review here

This was a decent body lotion and it would certainly be suited for those who love rose scents.  However, it was not really to my liking as it was a little strong for me, and I have rather a lot of other body lotions to work my way through first!

October Favourites!

This month’s favourites are a bit of a mixture of old favourites and some new loves, so without further ado, I will get started.

Label.m Resurrection dust – I reviewed this here earlier this month so I won’t go into too much detail, however I still love it and I have yet to find ANYTHING that makes my hair look as poofy and volumised as this!

Revlon Facets of Fuschia – another one I have reviewed recently and one that I really like, but it is a major pain to remove, so much so that I wear it until I cannot wait any longer to remove it when it has started chipping.  I then begin the long and painstaking process of removal….

Chanel Graphite – there has been so much written in the blogosphere about this one that I don’t think I can say any more.  It is an amazing multi-faceted colour which always looks polished and makes me feel very grown up.  It is limited edition so if you find a bottle anywhere, pounce on it!

  

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre, Emerveille – my  current favourite easy-to-wear eyeshadow.  I will have a post coming up about my illusion d’ombres but this one in particular is so easy to use.  I just swipe on with my finger, blend a little at the edges with the No 7 eyeshadow blending brush and I’m done.

Viva Glam Cindi, Mac – sadly not available any more but you can probably find it on ebay.  I love this glossy, wearable red lipstick.  It is a lustre formulation, which I don’t find as drying as the cremesheens, and it just provides a polished, easy look.  Its perfect for people who aren’t sure about wearing red lips and honestly, it is a shade that it suits everyone!

No 7 Tinted Moisturiser – I must be onto my 3^rd purchase of this!  A friend alerted me to it when I was staying with her and I had forgotten my usual tinted moisturiser and had to borrow hers. Since that very day, this has become part of my daily routine.  I find it evens out imperfections and redness, whilst giving a subtle glowing effect.  If you have one of the ubiquitous No 7 Boots vouchers you could do a lot worse than pick one of these up.  I will be posting a proper review of this later in the week.

And that’s it for this month – I am on hols for two weeks shortly, although I will schedule some posts for whilst I am away.  Next month’s favourites will very likely feature products more suited for sunnier climes, despite being close to Christmas!

Review: Label.m Honey and Oat Shampoo

I’ve been colouring my hair in the salon for more than 12 years and its fair to say that although I tend to have quite fine, oily roots on occasion, the rest of it can get dry and frazzled very quickly.  And a straw-like mane is not what I am aiming for.

Enter Label.m ’s Honey and Oat Shampoo to the rescue! 

On my last visit to the hairdressers, all I could smell was something delicious whilst having my hair washed and afterwards I found out it was this! * It comes in a sleek black bottle which looks very chic and like it means business.  Their website says it

‘Repairs dry, dehydrated hair without heaviness.  Honey, and Oat extracts combined with Sea Kelp expertly cleanse the hair, while replacing vital moisture, strengthening and adding gloss.’

When using it, the Sea Kelp extracts escape me but the honey and oat make this smell amazing!  I’ve even taken to hiding it from my hubby as he keeps using it to wash his very short hair just because he likes the smell!  It produces a small lather, but nothing too dramatic and doesn’t leave a squeaky clean feeling once you have used it.  It is fabulous at removing excess styling product from your hair and leaving it clean and more manageable.  I use a lot of volume booting products, sea spray and mouse in an effort to give some life to my fine hair and this manages to get rid of them all, reducing product build-up.

I usually use this a couple of times a week, any more than that and I find my hair can’t take the extra moisture and, ironically, feels a bit weighed down.   This is perfect to bring into rotation with another shampoo though (I am currently using it alongside Liz Earle’s Shampoo).

Verdict

As a cleansing shampoo, this pretty much does exactly what it says it will, adding moisture to coloured or processed hair and getting rid of product build up.  It is a little pricier than your average shampoo but if you are just using a couple of times a week, it lasts ages (as long as someone else isn’t sneakily using it that is!).  And it is well worth buying for the scent alone!

5/5

Price – £10.49

Where to buy – Toni & Guy salons, I bought mine from Look Fantastic but it is out of stock at the moment

*as you may have guessed I am a Toni & Guy girl!

Label M Resurrection Style Dust

This little pot of what looks like (expensive!) salt is my hair lifesaver!  I have very fine hair which is a nightmare to volumise and this product has saved the day on more than one occasion.  It is essentially a dry shampoo but it far outclasses my Bastiste to the point where I have bought a pot to keep in my draw at work for when I need to refresh my hair for impromptu after work drinks!

You use it in the same way that you would use a dry shampoo, sprinkling a little of the powder along your hairline, being careful not to get any on your clothes as otherwise it gives the not so chic impression that you have dandruff!  You then massage it in gently with your fingertips at the roots and this seems to activate it and give you AMAZING volume!  You do have to be careful not to overdo it though as otherwise you will sport the ‘dragged through a hedge' look. 

I primarily use this if I am going on a night out or if I am heading out straight after work as I find it absorbs the oils in my hair to mattify it whilst at the same time providing volume and a gently mussed up look.  It is also useful in that if you want a bit more volume later in the evening you can just do a quick massage at the roots with your fingertips and  poof, you have more volume!  Your hair will feel a tiny bit sticky where you have applied the resurrection dust and you will need to use a good cleansing shampoo afterwards to replenish the moisture and wash out all the product – I like Label M’s Honey and Oatmeal Shampoo which I will be reviewing shortly. 

Verdict

Although essentially an updated dry shampoo, I feel this works much better than Bastiste for me.  The ability to reactivate the volume whenever I feel like it by gently massaging the roots, plus the fact that it is odourless and gives amazing results, makes this a winner.  It lasts forever as well, as I bought it at the beginning of the summer and use it several times a week fairly liberally and still have around half left.  Before I found this I was getting through tons of Bastiste and this is also a lot more portable than even the travel size cans of dry shampoo.  If you have fine hair that requires frequent washing, you must buy this!

5/5  

Price - £10

Where to buy - Look Fantastic, Toni & Guy Salons