Bouffe Dry Spray for Bigger, Thicker-Looking Hair - Review

Bonjour!

Anyone who a) knows me b) reads my blog c) follows me on Twitter/Instagram will know that my hair is super-fine, flat and getting thinner and greyer by the minute!  Needless to say I was over the moon when Bouffe very kindly offered to send me a can of their Dry Spray 'for bigger, thicker-looking hair' to try out!

I was sent the  Bouffe Dry Spray in Dark Brown ... it is available in several other options - light blonde, dark blonde, light brown, black, silver and 'all colours'.  It contains a bespoke formula which is meant to thicken and bulk up the hair as well as giving root lift and disguising grey bits. Sprayed onto my hand above - it's grabbed and fattened up the hairs which are usually barely visible  to the naked eye ... it follows then that it should work the same way on my barnet?

I've learnt by trial and error to follow the exact instructions ... spray onto the appropriate sections (I concentrate around the root area) from about 15 cm (roughly a hand-span) and leave for a couple of minutes to dry (it's important to let it go from wet to dry) then smoosh in with your fingers. I don't use it instead of washing my hair as you would certain dry shampoos, this is more of a texturising, plumping spray.   It's really really  concentrated and pigmented and so you only need a few shorts bursts, you will feel like there is product in your hair and let's face it you will end up with it on your fingers (just don't forget to give your hands a little rinse!) - I'm used to both of these scenarios and neither bother me!  Basically it does what it claims on the can ... it gives the impression of a plumper head of hair ... adds body and gives volume and lift to the root area which lasts all day.  It covers the never ending greys and disguises the thinning bits and ever widening partings around my crown.  It's brilliant for creating texture and grip for updoes and bulking up my barnet if I want to wear it down.  Honestly I'm impressed ... it just makes my hair bigger - bigger is better and I'll definitely be repurchasing!

You can check out the full range of colour options over on the Bouffe website here and buy for £5.99/200ml (which I think is really reasonable) from Boots here.  

Have you tried out the Bouffe Dry Spray yet? Which is your favourite product for bigger, thicker hair?

Jen x

Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara Waterproof - Review

Bonjour!

I bought the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara in the Waterproof option back in July - in   preparation for my daughter's end of term school concert/assembly ...

Bourjois say their Volume 1 Seconde gives your lashes 'clump free 360 deg volume', due to this unique brush which is made of both spherical and straight bristles -  it's basically a load balls and spikes! Apparently, the balls are meant to do the coating and the spikes take care of the separation bit.  The formula is quite thick and creamy with a good black pigment and it has an 'internal scraper thingy' at the top of the tube which means you don't get too much product on the brush. You're meant to apply in a zig-zag motion to top and bottom lashes to create an 'instant eye-opening look'. The brush is quite large and fat - which means I have to be careful not to coat my lids when applying at the base of lashes. That said it's not too bad to work with after a bit of practise, although I have to keep up with the zig-zagging to avoid clumps - if any do arise a quick comb through is all that's needed.  I tend to apply two coats straight off as it dries pretty quickly - it is possible to add extra coats later on but can clump if used in this way (whether or not this is due to the waterproof formula I'm not sure, not having tried the standard).  Although I haven't immersed my head in water, I literally bawled my eyes out at the leaver assembly in July, the Volume 1 Seconde did good and literally did not move despite almost constant saturation for about an hour or so!   You do have to use a decent eye make-up remover and although it takes a bit longer than a standard mascara it's not too bad to remove after you've broken down the formula, by holding your eye-makeup pad over your eyes for a minute or so rather than rubbing!


A before and after with a couple of coats on ... apologies - I have no other make-up on  apart from under-eye concealer - how  did I not do my brows!

Although it obviously take me longer than 1 second (or thereabouts!) to achieve decent results, all in all I think this is a pretty good mascara, it volumises (as promised) but also curls, lengthens and defines well and basically doesn't shift all day.   Bit more pricey than some high-street brands at £9.99 but I'd be interested to try the standard version to see how it holds up on the non- waterproof front!

Have you tried the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara? Which waterproof mascara have you been using this Summer?


Jen x

L'Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara - Review

Bonjour!

I picked up the L'Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara a few weeks ago whilst it was offer. The 'Manga' look is based on the Japanese comic strip characters with huge doll eyes fringed with big lashes - since I'm a fan of large lashes and a total mascara addict, curiosity got the better of me - as always ...!

Over on the L'Oreal website the benefits are described as follows...

"Miss manga features a 360 degree flexible brush for effortless application. Its unique brush has a flat surface to intensify and amplify upper lashes while its conical shape capture the lower lashes. Formulated with collagen spheres and polymers for ultimate volume and hold."   (source)

I found this brush easy enough to work with - it does take some getting used to at first, the flexible bit lets the stem 'give' a little (be interesting to see if it would work without this feature) but those flat bristle type thingies almost 'hug' and coat each lash really well without depositing excess mascara all over the eyelid - which means you can work well to thicken the look of the lashline. A creamy formula with a good black pigment - it does add length but for me it's all about the volume (as is stated on the can) and curl which lasts all day -it's also really easy to grab the lower lashes with the thinner end of the brush without making a mess!  I've applied first thing before work, then gone onto the gym straight after (no, I don't remove my make-up before the gym, don't have time!) and it's still in place last thing when I remove without any smudging or flaking.     In my experience, though,  it works best by applying a couple of good coats one after the other (with a bit of wiggling of the wand) - all in one go and I mean that quite literally.  It's not a mascara where I can shove an extra coat on at a later stage as it clumps up and has to be combed through.  It's not as stubborn to take off as 'that stubborn mascara' but it's also not the easiest so you do need to use a decent eye make-up remover.  The top pic shows the usual pathetic bare lashes (obviously) and bottom after a couple of coats of Miss Manga ...

I have seen the Manga ad on TV where the lovely young girl's lashes are huge (lucky girl) but also quite clumpy in places - not everyone's cup of tea and not the look I'm after.  However, used correctly I think the pics speak for themselves and I'm more than happy with the results so Manga is a winner in my book and a mascara I'd be happy to re-purchase at £8.99.  Also available in violet and turquoise for the more adventurous out there but for me it's always black!

Have you tried the L'Oreal Mega Volume Miss Manga Mascara (what a mouthful!)? What's your favourite mascara of the moment?

Jen x

Holiday Haircare!

Bonjour!

Holiday haircare eh? My hair is difficult to manage at the best of times, on holiday it's a nightmare! Remember that episode of 'Friends' when Monica's hair went wild and frizzy on holiday (in Barbados?) - imagine that but with much much less hair!

So here are my holiday haircare products.  There ain't 'a bag' I'm afraid because they'll be split up and chucked into a couple of suitcases!

From left to right (again sort of) -

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner (dry or damaged hair) - I'm a big fan of this shampoo and all three of Liz's conditioners actually.  I suffer from an itchy, flaky scalp on and off and this gentle shampoo really seems to sort it out every time!  It's almost like a detox treatment and just calms everything down, leaves my hair cleansed and soft but still with volume.  I'm taking the dry/damaged conditioner option because I've had my hair coloured recently which always dries it out a tad. 


Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist - Boots had 3 for 2 on selected travel minis so I got this as one of the 3. I've used it before and really like it, you only seem to need a little and it leaves hair soft and silky (and smells good as well!) .

Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield - last years bottle but plenty left for hols, you only need a tiny bit before blow drying (although I don't blow dry my hair on holiday I just put this on and blast off with the hairdryer) and it helps to 'block' the humidity from frizzing everything up! I'll put a mini blob on after as well just to be on the safe side!

Charles Worthington Front Row Brunette Dry Shampoo - I'm a big fan of dry shampoos for extra texture and volume, so treated myself to this for hols. I try not to wash my hair every single day on holiday so this is great for maybe non beach/pool days( I'm not a 'head submerger' where water's concerned anyway as I wear contacts!). Not used this particular one before so will see how it fares.


John Frieda Full Repair 'Full Body' Shampoo and Conditioner - the rest of the 3 for 2 goodies.  These are meant to 'revive overstyled hair' and 'weightlessly repair' damage from heat and colour. This sounds exactly what my hair needs. I do have colour in my hair and use straighteners, (even on holiday) so my hair's going to need all the help it can get! Let see what happens!


Aussie 3 Minute Miracle 'Colour' Deep Treatment - this is 'for coloured hair in need of love', sounds like my hair. Sachets come in so handy for holiday and take up no space in the suitcase!  

Ojon wide tooth comb - this comes in the pot with the famous Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment which I've used on and off for a while. Useful little compact comb!

A couple of  products to decant -

Philip Kinglsey Elasticiser - I love pre-shampoo treatments and this is one of my faves. Just so easy to pop on dampened hair and just get on with stuff (or sit around in the sun if you're on holiday!) while it does it's work.  I take this every year and put it on in the afternoon so that when I wash my hair in the evening it feels the benefit of the deep conditioning.

Lee Stafford Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray - this stuff is great for beachy waves and texture and you only need a couple of squirts! Using this encourages me to not straighten my hair and just rough it up a bit!

So that's that then.  Just a few bobbles, clips and my trusty old hat to throw in!

Very Old Hat but I love it! 

What are your holiday haircare secrets?

Jen x