Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm - Review

Bonjour!

I was recently contacted on behalf of Skin Nutrition - sister company of the Nutrition Centre.  Both companies are based in Cheltenham and are beauty and health retailers offering - between them - a range of natural/organic skin and body care together with vitamins, minerals, supplements and remedies. In fact the Nutrition Centre is actually celebrating "40 years in the nutritional supplement world" and have launched a new website which you can check out (and give feedback on) right here!

Here's one of the products I received - Balance Me Rose Otto Body Balm...

I think most of us are familiar with Balance Me products one way or another - their philosophy is "beauty that works naturally" and the company aim "to address and resolve every day skin conditions and concerns (without causing new issues in the process) and bring skin back into balance."    

(source)

Now I realise it resembles a pot of solid candle wax but don't be fooled my friends...!

Initially, I must say I wasn't sure this would be totally suitable for everyday use. In the main - pampering 'after-shower' time for me is a treat (Mums will know where I'm coming from).  I rarely have time to hang around rubbing stuff in - it  has to be a quick fix!  However - I was surprised at how easily the balm melts once warmed in the palms of your hands and then literally glides on in no time at all. The trick is to use just the right amount - you don't need loads - too much and it gets a little greasy (but too little and you end up dragging on your skin).  Used in the correct quantity it leaves skin soothed and silky with a veil of subtle scented rose and it makes me want to touch my arm all evening as it's so soft! (erm ... that would get me some weird looks I imagine!)

I've also used the balm as a concentrated overnight hand treatment. Having had a heavy cold recently -incurring all the necessary 'extra' hand-washing - my hands have been going through one of their extra-dry phases.  At times like this my hands can be quite sensitive to products which are overly-perfumed or cosmetic as such - natural products suit best and don't irritate them further. This has therefore been ideal to slather on last thing and let sink in overnight.  It seems to have done the job as my hands haven't started cracking and bleeding this time round!

The Rose-Otto Body Balm is priced at £20 per 170ml pot - which is more than I would usually pay for an 'everyday' body moisturiser. However - given that you only need a small amount at a time it should last for quite a while so will be something I'll probably put on a Christmas/Birthday list!

You can check out Balance Me products and other organic/natural ranges together with current offers on the Skin Nutrition website here and for vitamins, minerals, supplements etc visit the Nutrition Centre on their new website here.

Have you tried any Balance Me products - which is your favourite?

Jen x

April Favourites and Empties ...

Bonjour!

Better late than never... some empties, some favourites ...

Ojon Damage Reverse Shampoo and Conditioner - a duo I've been using on and off for a while (nicked it from my mum!). Tend to save it as a treat for my poor old hair - full review to follow.

Marks & Spencer Essential Extracts Coconut Hand and Body Lotion and Shower Gel - £1 each for pity's sake - you just can't go wrong - brilliant every-day shower gel. Body lotion sinks in really easily - both do their job and smell great - will re-purchase without a doubt. Did I mention that they're only £1 each?!

Impulse Loving Words Body Fragrance - I usually pick up a couple of cans of Impulse whenever they're on offer at £1 and always carry one in my handbag for a quick spritz! I'd like to say it's an ideal fragrance now that Spring has arrived as it fresh and fruity - but of course we've had our 2-3 days of sun and warmth ... (not that I'm bitter or anything!)

Revlon 'Just Bitten Kissable' Balm Stain in Honey - been a favourite for a while and is always in my handbag, so much so that the writing has worn off the tube. Really want to try out another lip stain - you can see my full review of this particular shade here.

17 Va Va Voom Mascara - great volumising mascara - full review here. Unfortunately it's been used for a while and dried up so will have to chuck. Would re-purchase as it's really well priced at £6.29 only I don't need any more un-opened mascaras just yet! Am I getting sensible in my old age?

Avon Glimmerstick Eyeliner in Cosmic Brown - this is a re-purchase and is coming to an end. It gets used most days if I'm honest for definition on the upper lid whether on it's own or mixed with another colour. It glides on dead easy, doesn't drag the skin and stays put all day. Had this in 'Blackest Black' as well (and seem to have lost it - very mysterious!).  Great price at around £6 (but usually on offer for less) so will re-purchase again.

Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream - kept this at work in my desk drawer to use as a hand-cream. Smells good, hydrates and softens. Will re-purchase but only when I've used up some of the other myriads of hand creams dotted around our house!

This is a favourite with me and the kids (and the girls at work too!) - hot bubbly chocolate - what more could you want?

So that's this month's lot - do you reckon by next month's Favourites/Empties we may have actually have had some decent weather for more than a few days?

Jen x

NOTD - Barry M Gelly Nail Paint - Watermelon

Bonjour!

When I first looked at the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints - this is the colour which grabbed me immediately - don't ask me why - it just did! Somewhere between a deep blue and green the name 'Watermelon' must relate to the skin and not the flesh of the fruit...

Unfortunately I didn't find application very easy! The polish is pretty thick and you have to load the brush with just the correct amount - too little and it streaks, too much and it goes all over the place (for me anyway). I'm no 'experienced nail-painter' so I really had to take my time with it (something I don't have a lot of) and still managed to make a mess - is it just me?  It didn't last too long once on - it's meant to be a chip resistant formula but the ends were showing signs of wear and tear after a day and a half (with a top-coat). Also - just seemed to take a bit longer to dry than a standard polish - ah well.

Just as an aside is that this is the 'one' I took down to London with me for the Daniel Sandler Make-Up Masterclass - which can read about here. I painted my nails in the middle of the night knelt on the bathroom floor and managed a much neater job than the few times I've used it at home in broad daylight - so what's that all about then - are one's powers of concentration and dexterity heightened at that time of night or what?!

I do love the colour of 'Watermelon' though and the glossy 'vinyl-look' finish so I will be persevering (have another colour to try anyway) to see if I can improve my technique with it and add a bulletproof top coat - which I've still to buy. If anyone has any tips on how to apply this polish correctly and keep it chip free then please share - cos I ain't giving up just yet!

Have you tried the Barry M Gelly Nail Paints? How did you manage?


Jen x

Percy & Reed 2 Piece Perfect Blowdry - Review

Bonjour!

This is the Percy & Reed 2 Piece Perfect Blowdry kit I purchased just before Christmas from QVC,  when it was on offer at around £22 (ish).  Includes 'Superstar Supersized Bodifying Cream' and 'Smooth, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil Oil (for fine hair)'.  I've been using them both on and off since December (but more on than off I must say) and as you can see there's still loads of the oil left.

I use the Bodifying Cream just as it says 'on the can', it works best for me with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner.  It's more of a lotion than a thick cream and between 1-2 pumps is all I need for my barnet (I happened to use far too much on one occasion and it did seem to weigh my hair down somewhat so quantity is key!) - spread through from roots to ends as per the instructions - it's good that you can place the product exactly where you want - instead of spraying half of it into the air! It works to create either a smoother blow-dry or a more undone rough-dry (Alexa Chung style - which is my favourite!). It leaves my hair with natural movement, volume and shine but no sticky or crispy residue as it doesn't 'freeze' the style in place if you know what I mean - so you can still run your fingers through your hair - always a bonus!

I don't think No Oil Oil needs much introduction - it's probably the best known product from Percy & Reed so far do you reckon? More of a serum than an actual 'oil' in texture, it can be used before blow-drying to help smooth and protect the hair - I didn't find that it added loads of volume for me this way - especially when used it with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner. However - it did make my hair super-shiny and 'swishy' and my friend actually told me my hair looked in fab condition - turn up for the books!  I've mixed it in with the Bodifying Cream (as Percy & Reed have suggested) and this works best for me. I then get the volume but also extra glossiness. Have also used a little extra as a finishing product as it's great at taming any frizzy, dry ends. It super-concentrated so you only need the tiniest amount.

Don't get me wrong - my hair is still very 'bad hair day' prone but this is a good combination of products for my fine, frizzy, thin hair - both perform different duties and married together they work really well for me so all in all a worthwhile kit.  And  - as with all the Percy & Reed products I've tried they smell amazing!

You can check out the Percy & Reed Bodifying Cream and No Oil Oil on their website here or in the 2 Piece Perfect Blowdry kit from QVC here.

What are your favourite hair products of the moment?

Jen x

Happy Anniversary Mr G!

Bonjour!

Slight hint in the title there but it's our wedding anniversary today - 16 years ago it was a scorcher of a day and we were all relaxing after the meal and getting ready to dance the night away to various corkers including the following ...

Faithless - Insomnia ...

Slight dilemma over tonight ... my hubby's football team (his one other true love!) have a home game - he has a season ticket for pity's sake - missing one match surely won't matter, today of all days (and especially as they are particularly useless at the moment!). I told him so in no uncertain terms. It then turns out that the girls at work are going out into town tonight - the weather has improved and I haven't had a good night out in ages, I really fancy joining them for a few drinks and a boogie! Hubby has told me to go (so that he can go to football!).

After much deliberation we've decided to get the family round (my brother - also 'G'! - is home from France) and have Chinese with beer and wine - didn't fancy being stuck in town later on with hoards of disgruntled/elated football fans (will probably be the former!).  Turns out I'm driving the lads to pick the Chinese up so they can have a pint or two while we wait - I obviously have my uses...

Few pics from today...

Mum has surpassed herself again with our Anniversary Cake/Hubby surprised me with flowers!

We treated ourselves in HMV today (Trevor's collection is for me!)/I treated myself yesterday!

Hubby and brother 'G' have stocked up for the night!

What would you have done on your wedding anniversary - sent hubby to the match/gone out with the girls or spent a 'romantic' evening with a takeaway and the footie on the TV? 

Have a great weekend!

Jen x