2013 Favourites ...

Bonjour!

Can it really be a whole year since I did a round up of annual favourites - time flies when you're having 'blogging' fun! I've used quite a few worthwhile products last year but these are the ones that stand out for me ...

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - a magazine freebie which has become a firm (not literally!) favourite for volume. I tend to save for special occasions and as soon as I finish my existing plethora of hair products I will repurchase. Review here.
Gatineau Radiance Gommage - this has become my favourite exfoliating product, brightening, smoothing yet gentle - review here.
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - I first used a travel size on holiday and liked it so much I decided to get the full size. Great cleanser, very effective - review here.
Vichy Aqualia Serum (review here), Vichy Idealia BB Cream (review here) and Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light (review here) - I know this must seem like a 'Vichy' tribute but these products really suit my skin, combination/sensitive/dehydrated with eczema prone areas, I'm on my 3rd serum and 2nd pot of cream and will repurchase the BB when it finishes.
Soap & Glory Super-Colour FabuLipstick in Naked Beige - my perfect nude,  it's so easy to wear. Review here.
Mally Evercolour Waterproof Eyeliners in Midnight and Black Violet - although I only reviewed this duo at the start of December I've been using them for months and love them to bits, remember the line 'Only the 'crumbliest, flakiest chocolate - tastes like chocolate never tasted before ...' - well substitute the words silkiest, creamiest, eyeliner and application in the appropriate places and you should get the picture! Review here. 
Liz Earle Superskin Concentrate - a product I've been using for the past few months - a proper plumper! My skin loves it a few times a week under moisturiser. Review will follow.

And lastly, a firm favourite I've gotten back into last year ...

Nice lemons! Yes, the humble yet mighty lemon - I drink a cup of hot boiled water with a few squeezes of lemon juice, first thing, most mornings and I think it really helps to keep skin clear as well as a multitude of other benefits. You get used to the early morning 'zing' (I'm not being rude here!) and I actually miss it when I don't have time to have my lemon water!

So those are my favourites from 2013 that I'm taking into 2014 - have you used any of them?

Jen x

Holiday Barnet...!

Bonjour!

It's that time again ... having to decide what bits and bobs to take on holiday so first up is haircare. We're driving through to France this year so I don't have to stick to stringent baggage allowances etc ... the world's my hair product oyster! (Er don't tell the hubby - he wants me to pack as if we were flying - yeah right!!). I am trying to control myself but my hair is so wayward on holiday that I feel I have to take a little bit of everything. So...this is what I've narrowed it down to...

Percy & Reed Colour & Shine Shampoo - remember the old Glamour offer back in March - well I managed to save these two for holiday - a great size to take away - you can see my full review here.

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment - this little pot of the original (rather than clear) hair treatment had fallen to the back of a cupboard and been forgotten about (bad isn't it!). I love pre-shampoo treatments - especially on holiday - ideal to slap on late afternoon and let sink in until you shower in the evening.

Ojon wide tooth comb - came in a kit years ago.   Philip Kingsley vented hairbrush - I may throw caution to the wind and let my hair dry naturally (perspiring at the thought!) but if I do decide on a makeshift holiday blow-dry then this will come in useful - it's a good brush for getting hair a bit smoother.

Redken Smooth Lock Shampoo and Conditioner - from a beauty box - may as well use it up.   Bumble and Bumble Gentle Shampoo and Super Rich Conditioner - given to me to try by the kindly assistant at the Bumble and Bumble counter!

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo - found this at the bottom of my haircare stash so it's coming away - can't do without a blast of the stuff now and again and I do find Batiste works well for me - especially if we get up early to travel and no time to faff about washing my hair!

Percy & Reed Volumising No Oil Oil (for fine hair) - another March Glamour freebie - a real dinky size for travel to help smooth ends.

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray - my tiny sample of joyfulness! Er... yes this is my current go to product - full review here. I'll use to help with styling as also as a finishing spray.

Philip Kingsley Daily Damage Defence - yes I caved in and bought this when it was on offer during QVC's latest beauty day - consisted of a full and a travel size. Will be really interested to see if this helps with my usual sun-frazzled lock situation!

And which one of these to take ...

They're both old favourites - the Ojon Damage Reverse Serum is obviously smaller and is super-concentrated but the L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil has a UV Filter and my daughter will use it too.

How many hair products do you take away? Are you a complete junkie like me or able to throw caution to the wind and let it all hang loose with just a couple of products?

Jen x

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray - Review

Bonjour!

You'll have probably heard about the current freebie with the September issue of Elle - the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray.  I was actually given a 30ml sample size of the same spray a couple of months ago by the kindly assistant on the Bumble and Bumble counter at Boots (must have been an 'extra-flat' day!). She told me to take it away and see what I thought. I put it away and meant to use it but kept putting it off for some reason - having a plethora of other products to use up (seriously - the amount of hair products I have is verging on the ridiculous!).  Dug it out last week to finally have a go - resulting in me dashing out to get the latest copy of Elle with the 50ml freebie!

According to Bumble and Bumble the spray..."Helps fine hair achieve styling lift-off, but also works wonders on any hair type - thick, thin, or otherwise." (source)

It can be used as a styling aid and/or as a finishing product and is apparently suitable for any hair type. Obviously I'm only coming at this from an extremely 'fine haired' point of view!  What I'm constantly after - as well as a bit of root lift - is the look of thicker hair through the mid-lengths and ends.  So ... I've been spraying it on the root area and also onto my hands to spread through the rest of my hair before blow drying. I've also spritzed a little of the spray on afterwards as a finishing product.  It's left my thinning hair bouncy and with more guts than I've seen in a while.  (I added some hair oil to the ends for a bit more condition)  I can tell that I have product in my hair but not excessively so - it's more of a textured feel - you can still run your fingers through it if you so wish as it's not sticky, greasy or crispy with volume that has lasted all day and even into the next (wonders will never cease!).  The scent was bugging me at first as I couldn't quite place it - smells of cinnamon or cloves - sweet and spicy.

You're probably wondering what all the fuss is about but believe me this is the fullest my hair has looked in a while.  Apologies for the split ends but I'm due a trim!  I must say that getting a suitable angle to photograph my barnet was not easy without a tripod ...however, trying to get my husband to take the pic correctly was even more of a chore so I gave up and did it myself ...

Basically I am impressed with this product - both as a styling and finishing product. A true multi-tasker and something that I'll definitely be taking on holiday this year.  The full size is expensive at £21.50/250ml but to honest, I'm prepared to pay the price if it does what it says on the can - which it does. Just to put a spanner in the works - several other products on the Bumble and Bumble website have also now got my attention - help me someone please!

Have you picked up your sample of the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray yet?  Please tell me I'm not the only one with a plethora of hair products - just so I don't feel weird!

Jen x