Tuesday 31 January 2012

Pantene Pro V Heat Defence Gloss Spray for Fine Hair


I have a love hate relationship with my hair. I have a lot of it but its sooooooo fine. I always struggle to style it. When I have tried to curl it, within an hour the curls have gone and it has gone back to its usual style. Because of this I have given up trying to style it and always have my hair straight. It is pretty straight anyway buy I use my trusty GHD’s just to make it that bit straight. As I’m using my hair-dryer and straighteners nearly everyday I needed something that will project my hair from the heat and to keep it in good condition. After using loads of different products I think I may have the prefect one.

This is designed for fine hair which is prefect for me. You spray it on damp hair then blow dry and style as desired. I have been using this for the past 2 weeks and my hair has never been as soft and shiny as it is now. When I run my hands through my hair it feels lovely to touch. Even after I have blow dried my hair it looks really good and this has never happened. I have always had to use my GHD’s to achieve the finish look but because of using this I have managed to cut down the use them which are probably a good thing.

The only negative thing I can say is that when you spray it seems to come out in one go. It doesn’t seem to spritz that well. You have to be careful not to cover your head with the liquid. I may have picked up a dodgy bottle so I am hoping my next one will be different.

Have you tried this or any other Pantene Pro V products and what did you think? Has anyone got any trips on how I could try and style my hair? Always welcome any ideas xx

Sunday 29 January 2012

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review part 2

Last week I reviewed the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation in 20 Beige and I was left disappointed. It looked chalky, highlighted my dry skin and by lunchtime my skin was shiny and the foundation had disappeared from my face.

This weekend I tried my other sample the kind SA gave me. Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation in 22 Beige Rose. This time the colour is abit more of a pinky tone. When I put the foundation on the back of my hand i was impressed with the colour. I found the 20 Beige abit too yellow but this seem to be suit my colouring more. Again the fragrance was lovely and it blended well when  applied to my face. Unlike the previous sample this did not appear chalky. It provided a lovely smooth finish.

At lunch time I went and checked in the mirror. I sighed just before I look as I was expecting my skin to appear shiny and my Make-Up gone. BUT when I looked in the mirror I was amazed. My Make-Up looked like I had just applied it. No shiny face!! It was completely different to the previous sample. I was soooo happy!!

The only negative thing I can say about the foundation is that is didn't provide full coverage which I would prefer. I did have to apply more concealer than usual to my blemishes. 

So have I changed my mind about buying this foundation. Yes I have!! I feel if I wanted to change my current foundation I would gladly swap to this one. 

Has anyone tried this foundation and what did you think? Let me know :) xx




Friday 27 January 2012

MAC Strobe Cream


For my birthday my lovely boyfriend got me the MAC Strobe Cream. I’ve always read and heard good reviews about it so I knew I had to have it. But I have to admit, I don’t know how’s best to use it!! Do I use it as a moisturiser, primer or just a highlighter on top on my Make-Up?

So I need some help. Have any of you used the Strobe Cream? How do you use it and what works best? Please let me know xx

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Collection 2000


Lasting Perfection Concealer and Powder
I have noticed on a few blogs that people have mentioned a couple of times about the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer and have said how good it was at covering blemishes and dark circles. While I was in Superdrug the other day I noticed that this was currently on offer £3.69 (this has now gone back up to full price £4.19 ) so I thought I would give it a try and see if I was missing out on something. While I was there I also picked up the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection powder was also on offer £2.49 (this has now gone back up to full price £2.99)

As this is a wand applicator concealer, I find using the wand applicator straight onto the skin could spread bacteria and maybe cause your spots to get worse. Instead I put a pea size amount on the back of my hand and used a concealer brush to apply it. I think this did a good job in covering my blemishes and reducing the redness. I found you could add more concealer if needed and it didn’t make your skin look cakey like some concealers do when you apply them afew times over and over. It would definitely be something I would buy if I ever run out of concealer and need one ASAP. But I don’t think it will convert me from using my beloved MAC Select Cover Up concealer. I just find the MAC concealer covered my imperfections just that little bit better.

I have been searching for a while for a powder that is good at setting my Make-up and providing a good finish. Most of them that I have tried just left my Make-up looking really cakey and looked like I have applied it using a trowel. But I have to say I was really impressed with this powder. I applied this to my face at 8.00am and when I checked at lunch time my Make-up was still in place. There was no shine and I didn’t have to reapply!! I was amazed.

Overall, while I would only buy the concealer in an emergency, I would definitely be buying the powder again.

Has anyone tried either of these products and what did you think? Let me know xx


Sunday 22 January 2012

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review part 1


After reading www.agirlandabeautyblog.com trying out the new Chanel foundation and not being too impressed I thought I would give it ago myself. I've always wanted to try their Pro Lumiere and Mat Lumiere foundations but just never got round to doing so. I went along to my Chanel counter and the very nice SA gave me two samples. One in 20 Beige and the second in 22 Beige Rose. I decided I would give 20 Beige a go first.

The SA describe it as a yellow based foundation. When I first put abit on the 
back on my hand I thought that maybe it seemed abit too yellow for me. But I thought I would give it a go. The first thing I thought when I put it on my face was how nice it smelt. The fragrance is lovely. It blended well but the only thing I would say is that it just seemed abit chalky once applied to my face. I don't think this would be good for people with dry skin. I have abit of dry skin at the mo round my nose and it seem to highlight this more. Apart from that I pretty happy with the final finish.



At lunch time I went and checked in the mirror to see how my foundation was looking and it was wasn't good. My foundation seems to have disappeared!! My nose was shiny and the rest of face looked like I wasn't wearing any Make-up. I wasn't happy. Although I liked the initial look of the foundation when I first applied it I don't think I will rushing out to my local Chanel counter and spending £35 on a bottle on this foundation. I am gonna try the 22 Beige Rose to see how this holds up. You never know I might be changing my mind about buying this foundation at the end of the week if all goes well Look out for my other review soon.

Have you guys tried this foundation and what were your thoughts on it? Let me know :) x

Friday 20 January 2012

Concealers


When people talk about concealer’s they usually on about ones that can cover dark circle’s. When I talk about concealer’s I am usually looking for ones that can cover blemishes. The current ones I am using at the moment are the Mac Select Cover up in NW20. I find this to blend easily and cover’s my blemishes. And it also seems to last all day which is a blessing. I also find the Bobbi Brown Face Touch up Stick in Ivory works really well too. But as it’s a stick concealer I use a small concealer brush to apply to my skin as I find it would be abit unhygienic.

I’ve always been tempted to try the Laura Mericer Secret Camouflage concealer as I’ve heard
wonderful things about it. Has anyone tried this? How has it worked for you? Are there any other concealers you have tired that have worked well ? Let me know :) x

Skin Care routine


I am always on the hunt for the prefect skincare routine. I have changed mine soooo many times in the past year. I have oily/combination skin. I never used to suffer with spots/blemishes as a teenager but I have as I got into my twenties I started to break out. A week doesn't go by in which I don't get blemishes, especially on my chin area. Unfortunately there are the real painful/red boil type ones. It has knocked my confidence big time. At the moment this is my current skincare routine;

Night-time Routine
Simple wipes – take of my make up
Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 wash/mask
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control – 3-in-1 daily cleansing lotion
Nivea Daily Essentials Oil free Moisturising Day Cream – Oily & Combination Skin
Simple Rapid Action Spot treatment
Mario Badescu Drying Lotion – applied with a cotton bud - (only use when I have boil type spots - review to follow soon!!)

Morning Routine
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial wash
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control – 3-in-1 daily cleansing lotion
Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream - (review to follow soon!!!)

This seems to be working for me for the time being. I still get blemishes every week but not as bad as I have been. I’m always open to suggestions to products that people have found work for them. Let me know what you've found works for you :) x