June Empties ...

Bonjour!

So ... June has come and gone ... it was a really busy month with my girl's birthday and my boy's confirmation at church as well as bashing my nose in at the gym ...  as you do! A few empties here then ...

Gatineau Melatogenine Refreshing Cream Cleanser - love this cleanser, it's a bit of a multi-tasker which you can read about in my full review here.  The super-size tube lasts for ages and I've already repurchased!  

Dove Youthful Vitality Thickening Essence and Charles Worthington Strength and Repair Pro-Heat Milk - these two were included in my 2014 favourites. I do dip in and out of other 'thickening products' but seem to come back to the Dove Thickening Essence - this is my third bottle! Also just cracked open my third of the Charles Worthington Pro-Heat Milk - I tried to manage without it for a couple of weeks but my hair had other ideas so I caved in and got myself another - full review here.

John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate and Rescue Shampoo and Deep Conditioner - another couple of my hair stash used - only another 100 or so to go now (joking!).  I quite like this range - it does leave hair smoother, maybe causes a little build up though so I have to switch my products around. Annoyingly ... I'm still left with a bit of the standard Hydrate and Rescue Conditioner (does everyone have this problem?) so will have to use with another shampoo - no shortage there! I'm not even thinking about repurchasing  as I have so many other products to use up and am completely ignoring the fact that there is also a Strengthen and Restore category from this same range over on the Boots website!

E45 Repair and Protect Overnight Hand Cream - my stash of hand creams is similar  to my haircare products - ok maybe not quite as bad but it's a healthy stash!  This is a really good one for sore hands - applied before bed it's not too thick, thin or sticky. It moisturises well, is non- stingy (so important!) and leaves hands soothed and soft!

M&S Formula Sensitive Eye Make-Up Remover - I picked this up in desperation when I had run out of my usual Gatineau Floracil and didn't expect much but it's a really good little product - does a great job of eye-make-up removal and is a decent price at £3.50/100ml, I've since got hold of some more Floracil but I'll definitely use this one again.  Apologies for being a 'doubting Thomas' M&S!

Sainsburys Coconut Body Wash - cheap and cheerful - sometimes on offer at £0.75, smells fine and gets the job done- what more is there to say!

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - I'm gutted that this has come to an end after many months - I do love my facial oils! Will definitely repurchase - you can read my full review here.  

Seventeen Lip Crayon - this was part of a Christmas kit and I love it - or rather loved it! It's balmy and moisturising with a hint of nude colour but not stickiness - one you can apply without a mirror and it's been a staple in my handbag for months. As a result I've lost the lid and now the shade name has worn off and I can't seem to get a similar one from Boots so I've blown it really!

Benefit Rollerlash and Maybelline Lash Sensational - I've been impressed with the both of these ... reviewed here and here. I could kick myself for not picking up an extra sample size of Rollerlash when it was a magazine freebie,  it's so easy and effective - I may have to break my 'expensive mascara code' and treat myself to the full size! Maybelline Lash Sensational is also a good one that has been compared to Roller Lash - it takes a bit more work as it can clump and as the tube has been coming to an end it's got even clumpier so it's time to move on!

So ... those are June's empties ... I don't even want to think about July's because then we'll be coming to the end of Summer ... nooooo!  Have you used any of these products? What have you used up last month? 

Jen x

Vichy Idealia Eyes - Review

Bonjour!

I've been using the Vichy Idealia Eyes for a few months now ... it's meant to help with the look of fatigue around the eye area, smooth the look of fine lines and aid with hydration ... it is formulated with a brightening complex, caffeine , Vitamin B3 and Vichy Thermal Spa Water is paraben free, non comedogenic and hypoallergenic ...sounds good yes?

You're meant to squeeze a little onto the duck-billed silicone applicator thingy (middle pic) and dot around/spread around the orbital bone - I then find it easiest to smooth in with fingers.  It's the palest salmony pink in colour with a pearlescent look to it, creamy in texture and blends in really easily.   I've been wearing my contact lenses every day recently since bashing my nose in at the gym (still hurts my nose to wear specs!) and have found the Vichy Idealia Eyes a godsend when my peepers are bared in all their ageing glory to the world!  It adds a brightness and luminosity around the eyes, does a good job with hydration (although if you are extra dry you may need to top up with a specific hydration product) and takes the edge off and blurs the look of dark circles and wrinkles.  It's not enough (for myself) to use on it's own and banish my dark circles, I still have to use a colour corrector/concealer but it definitely helps make the most out of a bad situation. Have to say though it can be quite addictive and you have to remember not to overdo it and pile too much on or it'll end up looking shimmery and just emphasise puffiness and fine lines - I speak from experience!

It comes in at £23/15ml which I find pretty reasonable - it's a great all rounder but I only use in the morning as I don't see the point in wasting all that pearlescent goodness just before going to bed! I bought mine when Escentual had one of their 'third off French Skincare' brands and have since repurchased another to put away! 

Have you tried out the Vichy Idealia Eyes? What's your favourite eye-cream of the moment?

Jen x

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 Rouge Edition Velvet - Don't Pink Of It!

Bonjour!

I recently treated myself to a couple of Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipsticks and this is the first ... Don't Pink Of  It ...!

A liquid lipstick with loads of pigment, it's creamy when wet with a slight 'cooling' sensation and glides on before drying to it's matte finish - the doe foot applicator makes it super-easy to paint on 'la bouche'.  It's  meant to last for 24 hours on but nope - not on me anyway - maybe a couple of hours (less if I've eaten anything) but it fades fairly evenly  leaving a decent stain on the lips which sticks around for a while, although it does have a tendency to sit in any dryer bits if I've not kept up with a lip scrub/exfoliator. I also need to top up with lip balm at this stage as there's no hydration once it's worn away and it can feel rather drying being a matte and all!  When I swatched in store at Boots it did appear a warmer and deeper shade (as in the above  pic) but once on it takes on more of a powder pink hue and for this reason I only apply lightly as it does intensify with each additional coat and too much pale pink seems a bit odd on my type of kite!  

Now I've sussed how to make it work for me I'm actually really liking my  Don't Pink Of It! as a lip stain - it's  different to anything I've used before and a good one for those 'not so much make-up days' - paired with a bit of balm it's a  fresh and pretty Summertime shade for the old lips ...  it is still Summertime isn't it? 

Have you any of the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lippies? How do you wear it and which is your favourite?

Jen x

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil - Review

Rosehip Oil is said to be beneficial for a number of skin conditions including dermatitis and eczema as well as helping with scarring, stretch marks and fighting off fine lines and wrinkles (yes please!).   I bought the Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil last year from Boots - it normally comes in at £16.50/20ml but was on offer so ended up costing around £13?  I finally cracked it open about 3 months ago and have been using mostly every night since then.

I apply the Trilogy Rosehip Oil (when I'm not 'Liquid Golding'!) after my evening cleanse under moisturiser - I only need a drop or two for my face, it doesn't really smell of anything in particular to me but feels soothing and hydrating and I've been using far less moisturiser over the top. I've also started to apply a few drops over the neck/decolletage every night before bed (why I didn't do this ages ago is beyond me!). It leaves skin looking  plumped, rested and balanced the following morning, any red pimply bits seem to have diminished and there have been no breakouts or extra oiliness over my t -zone area. I have quite deep expression lines on my forehead and am also blessed with necklace lines and have really noticed a smoothing and 'de-creasing' (literally less actual 'creases'!) effect on these two areas - so big thumbs up on the wrinkle front!

What can I say?  It would appear that I'm ever so slightly obsessed with the whole 'oil thing' and I find it impressive that a relatively simple product could be so effective. I don't know why really because these natural remedies have been around for years and years haven't they?  So ... yes the Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is a hit - I'm starting to get to the end of the bottle now and I do have other oils to use but this will remain a firm favourite and one I'll definitely repurchase!

Have you tried the Trilogy Rosehip Oil?  Which facial oil are you loving?

Jen x