Category Archives: Beauty Reviews

Hempz Milk & Honey Exfoliating Herbal Body Whip Review

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Hempz Milk & Honey Exfoliating Herbal Body Whip is part of the new Milk & Honey range.  Featuring fully vegan products packed full of natural ingredients including 100% pure Hemp oil, I was excited to check it out and see how if faired on my skin.

Upon opening the pot of Milk & Honey Body Whip the smell of this product is amazing – I can’t stop sniffing it!  The texture is whipped making it ultra lightweight and it feels really soft as you massage across damp skin.  With finely cut walnut shells to exfoliate it feels really gentle and natural but effective as you use it to revive and liven up your top layer of skin.

Key ingredients include:

  • 100% Pure Natural Hemp Seed Oil
  • Agave Extract, Rice Extract
  • Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil
  • Cocoa Butter
  • Shea Butter
  • Vitamins A, C and E

Perfect for use in the shower, I couldn’t wait to give it a try and include it in my daily bodycare routine several times a week.  To keep dry Winter skin at bay or get that Summer smooth body this is perfect for year round use.  Keep reading to see what I thought about it below.

This Hempz Milk & Honey Exfoliating Herbal Body Whip is really easy to massage across your body and feels really gentle but stimulating helping to bring the skin alive.  I loved the light but effective texture and it also has lots of moisturising properties that left my skin really soft and glowing.  The fragrance lingers and my skin feels ultra supple after use.  This is a really fabulous, luxurious exfoliating product that gets a big thumbs up from me for both it’s results and it’s natural, vegan ingredients!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Vegan Friendly Toiletries from A Pony Called Steve

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A Pony Called Steve is an ethical and vegan friendly company that produce the most utterly divine scented products to fill your bathroom with joy.  With a quirky edge and retro feel, the array of fragrances are ones that bring back memories and sound edible but have been brought up to date in a modern natural way and can now be part of my daily bathroom routine.

If you’re wondering where the name ‘A Pony Called Steve‘ comes from then I suggest you read this, but for me I’m won over by their unique but familiar fragrances.   It’s clear from the initial sniff that they source high quality, cruelty free ingredients to make the most highly fragranced, but natural smelling products.  Their range is toiletry based so think along the lines of soap bars, liquid hand soap, body wash, bath fizz, body lotion and even candles.

The quirky scents are what draw you in with names such as Pear Drops, Cherry Cola, Parma Violets, Mojito, Honeyed Raspberry to name just a few, they all sound great and if they smell as good as the Pink Lemonade then I can assure you that they will be worth worth trying out.  Everything is packaged in fun, colourful designs that will look great in your bathroom and make delightful gifts.

Onto the Pink Lemonade products that I’ve been trying out, the hand soap and bar of soap.  To be quite honest these smell totally luscious – I could sniff them all day and I do love smelling my hands after washing them.  The fragrance is just divine – not at all artificial, just natural and quite frankly amazing.  The product itself lathers well in both liquid and solid forms and leaves my hands/body beautifully clean.  I love these products and they are most definitely the sort of thing I’d add to my birthday/Christmas lists and think would make a great gift for others too.  Being as natural as they can, no testing on animals whatsoever and vegan friendly, they are well worth checking out as one of the fresh new brands around and one I’d be more than happy to receive myself!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Vegan Flower Peel Serum by Spa Technologies

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If you are looking for cruelty free and vegan skincare products with natural active ingredients then Spa Technologies is the place to go, with a vast array of products designed to improve your skin with a strong emphasis on anti ageing so helping to combat those fine lines, wrinkles and dehydrated skin issues we start to suffer from as we age.  Being in my 40’s I’m also keen to seek out nutrient rich products that really work for my skin and help me attain that youthful glow.

The Flower Peel Serum is a multi purpose vegan skincare product and with it’s natural ingredients promotes gentle exfoliation along with nourishing the skin using antioxidants and anti inflammatory ingredients.  Stimulating new cell growth leaves skin smoother and more youthful looking which is what most of us aim for.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: 

Hibiscus Flower Acids : A complex of pure hibiscus flower extract comprising of a wide variety of acids (Phytic, Pyruvic, Mandelic and Azaleic acid), as well as powerful antioxidants and anthocyanins which are bio-flavonoids providing cell protection. Concentrate of pyruvic acid for gradual exfoliation; converts into lactic acid in the dermis without irritation. Clinical studies show: 9% more hydrating and 15% more keratolytic than Lactic Acid and non-irritating, 20% greater cell renewal compared to other AHA’s, 30% greater anti-wrinkle activity compared with AHA’s
Salicylic Acid: Beta-hydroxy acid decongests pores in treatment of problem skin. Gently exfoliates surface skin which decongesting pores.
Green Tea Extract: Antioxidant concentrate.
Laminaria Algae: Pure paste of this nutrient rich marine seaweed harvested off the coast of Iceland, it has an abundance of vital elements including zinc, copper, manganese, potassium, iodine and magnesium. Soothing emollient, it promotes circulation for a healthy glow.
Hyaluronic Acid: Intense moisturisation.

I found the serum a pleasure to use, it easily glides onto skin and then is absorbed quickly ready for a layer of moisturiser on top.  It leaves your skin feeling fresh and renewed and definitely boosts your skin compared to not using it.  Having used it for a couple of weeks now I would definitely miss it if I didn’t include it in my skin care routine as it really makes a difference leaving skin brighter and smoother.  If you are on the look out for some vegan skincare products that work, then definitely check this out!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Organic Shop Haircare from Tesco

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Organic Shop haircare is available exclusively in Tesco and also online at Organic Shop online.  With a demand for natural beauty higher than ever this range of fruity haircare has been exclusively developed for Tesco stores with each item retailing at just £2.50

There are five different ingredient combinations to try out depending on your preferences and hair needs:

Coconut and Shea – moisturising, softness and revival

Argan and Amia – nourishing strength and striking lustre

Honey and Avocado – repairing, softness and vitality

Raspberry and Acai – volumising, strength and thickness

Pomegranate and Patchouli – invigorating, smoothness and perfection

I tried out Pomegranate and Patchouli to see what I thought. With a shampoo, conditioner and hair mask in the range it covers all aspects of hair cleanliness and moisturising.  The products all smelt really fresh and natural due them being packed with essential oils giving hair extra strength and vitality which is what I need with long hair that I regularly blow dry and straighten.  The pomegranate adds shine whilst the patchouli oil gives an intense boost of hydration which leaves hair soft.

I’ve been really happy using this bargain priced organic range which leaves my hair perfect for everyday, be it on the school run, at work or out at the weekend.  The Organic Shop products are simple to use – I love the pump bottles for ease of use in the shower – smell great and leave hair clean and fresh.

Knowing that there’s no harmful microbeads, no parabens, no SLS, no mineral oils and no GMO’s is a great bonus and of course completely free of testing on animals.  The packaging is recyclable and the price is great value for money – what more could you want?

Overall the Organic Shop range of haircare fits perfectly in with supermarket shop at Tesco and is something I’ll happily grab whilst I’m there.

An added bonus is that Organic Shop are running a fantastic competition at the moment to win an amazing 7 night holiday to Aruba in the Caribbean – check HERE to find out how to enter!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

 

Manuka Doctor Facial Oils – Review

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Manuka Doctor has a new range of facial oils containing a complex blend to suit all skin types containing a vast array of essential oils in their ingredients list to combat anti ageing amongst other skin concerns.  Manuka oil is an ingredient native to New Zealand and is extracted from the leaves and branches of the Manuka tree.  Having recently been confirmed as being up to 20-30 times stronger than tea tree oil for protecting against bacteria (such as those associated with acne and eczema) I was keen to try some of this for myself and see what all the fuss is about.

With three different blends of facial oils in the Manuka Doctor’s range, I decided to try the Replenishing Facial Oil (£19.99, 30ml) due to it’s strong anti ageing formula – just what I need for my 40+ years skin!  Also in the range is a Normalising Facial Oil and a Brightening Facial Oil.

The Replenishing Oil is designed to revitalise and restore radiance, using omega rich oils to regain suppleness and elasticity.  Being an oil, it helps to protect the moisture levels of you skin so they don’t dry out thus helping to prevent the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Upon application I can honestly say the oil felt totally nourishing and rich on my face without being greasy.  I did have a sheen on my face but that soon soaked away leaving my skin feeling supple and really luminous.  You can then apply moisturiser on top before make up.  This can be used day and night, so I like to add a rich layer at bedtime and let it soak in whilst I sleep.

My thoughts on the Manuka Doctor facial oil are that I really enjoy using it and it feels like the total nourishment that my skin needs.  It feels like it’s packed full of benefits and with the rich hydration it adds to my skin will hopefully keep those fine line at bay for a little longer!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

bea Advanced Skin Care

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The bea Skin Care range uses medical grade and highly potent ingredients to provide effective results.  Founded by Bianca Estelle who has experience of working with leading cosmeceutical brands throughout her career, she she decided to develop her own skincare line in conjunction with an FDA-certified laboratory in the United States.

The Argan Oil Beauty Bar is a truly amazing bar of soap that benefits aged, dry, rough and damaged skin.  It has a creamy lather and smells lovely but it’s the results it give that really are it’s selling point.  Rich in vitamin E and vital nutrients it can help rectify sun damage and lightens areas of skin affected by pigmentation such as age spots and freckles.  I found that it easily lathers up and is a pleasure to use.  Although the fragrance is delicate I really liked it.  It left my skin feeling really soft, supple and hydrated and was noticeably different normal soaps.  A top tip bea recommends is to leave the lather on your skin for 30 seconds before washing off to really giving your skin an extra moisturising boost!

The Solar Defence SPF 30 is an organic skin brightening SPF 30 sunscreen protecting the skin from harmful UV rays and treats discolouration, sun damage and hyper-pigmentation and can even decrease the signs of ageing and prevent premature ageing.  I know over the used my skin has suffered from sunburn and I’ve seen from a skin thermal imaging camera that I have a fair bit of damage under the visible layer of skin.  This is a high quality but gentle product that can be used daily under make up to protect and repair your skin.  It’s rich but non greasy and easily glides over your face.  I’ve love using this as it leaves my skin smooth, protected and ready for the day ahead.

Overall I’ve been highly impressed with the products from bea – they are premium skincare with luxury textures and proven results.

With products from bea having such amazing results they are being appreciated and recommended more widespread, most recently having their AHA Wands shortlisted in the 2017 beauty awards in association with OK and the Beauty magazine.  I haven’ t tried these myself but they sound amazing and based on my experience with other bea products I’m sure they work wonders.  If you can spare a minute or two to vote for your favourite beauty brands then click here, where you’ll see AHA Wands in the Best New Facial Skincare Treatment Product category.

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review. 

Scienea Superfruit Anti Ageing Serum

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Scienea Superfruit Anti Ageing Serum is manufactured in the UK and prides itself on using only natural ingredients to create skincare products with proven results to aid skin issues such as ageing, repairing and restoring skin.

The Superfruit Anti Ageing Serum is packed full of over 20 natural ingredients including Pomegrante Oil, Apricot Oil, Rosehip Oil, Sunflower, Flax Seed Oil, Rasberry Oil, Pumpkin  Oil and Strawberry Oil to name just a few, that penetrate deeply into the skin to help to reduce fine lines as well as smooth and enhance the firmness of the skin.  With over two years of research to come up with the final product I had high hopes for the performance of this serum.

It’s so simple to apply and using your fingertips you can just massage the serum onto a clean skin and allow it to penetrate through the pores to get to work. It has a lightweight easy flowing texture and is best left for a couple of minutes to sink in before applying moisturiser but perfect to use as part of your daily skin care routine.

I found the product to be really easy to use and it just glided across the skin leaving it feeling ultra hydrated and enriched.  It really smooths the feel of your skin and leaves it looking fresh and youthful.  I’m really enjoying using the Scienea Superfruit Anti Ageing Serum and feel that my skin is plumper and soft to touch. I hope the results over time help to maintain a youthful glow across my skin as in just a few weeks it certainly feels good and is a pleasure to use.

Why not try out the Scienea serums for yourself – available in Superfruit for Anti Ageing or Superberry for Repairing & Restoring the skin.

 

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Herbal Essences bio:renew Shampoos and Conditioners

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Herbal Essences bio:renew haircare is a range of natural shampoos and conditioners packed full of some amazing natural ingredients with various properties to suit all your hair needs.

Containing % parabens, silicones, gluten and colourants they really are natural and are literally clear or white in colour which I actually prefer. They are bursting with fragrance and I couldn’t wait to get them on my hair to try out.

Available in the following fragrance combinations:

  • Argan Oil of Morocco
  • Coconut Milk
  • White Grapefruit & Mosa Mint
  • Golden Moringa Oil
  • Cucumber & Green Tea
  • Rosemary & Herbs
  • White Strawberry & Sweet Mint

First up I was drawn to the Rosemary & Herbs being in a lilac bottle and I wasn’t disappointed!

Packed full of multi-layered scents of infused herbs, clean mint and sandalwood along with a blend of essential antioxidant, aloe and sea kelp this left my hair feeling ultra fresh, clean and soft.  It certainly didn’t leave any build up or residue to my hair felt light and renewed  – this is currently my favourite and one I’ll go back to!

White Grapefruit & Mosa Mint is bursting with fruity fragrance and helps boost volume. Again this is fresh and renewing and really depends on your preference of fragrance as to which you prefer.

Coconut Milk is really hydrating and does actually smell really lovely even though I’m not a huge coconut fan.  It really nourishes the hair and I have to say was the favourite with all my friends and family who gave it a try.

Overall I’m really impressed with the Herbal Essences bio:renew range and being honest it’s not a brand I’d probably have bought before trying it out over the last few weeks.  The bottles are a fantastic size making them great value and the products are really natural being clear or white in colour but still bursting with fragrance.  The Rosemary & Herbs from Herbal Essences has won me over although lots of my friends love the Coconut Milk so there really is something for everyone – why not give them a try yourself today?

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

Joan Collins Timeless Beauty & Make Up

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Joan Collins Timeless Beauty is a new international luxury beauty brand consisting of skin care and beauty products and I’ve been lucky to try some of the glamorous base products recommended by Dame Joan Collins herself.  With her own personal industry experience she has been able to collaborate on products that give sought after looks normally provided by top make up artists.

With anti ageing properties the products are just what I’m looking for as being in my early 40’s I’m definitely seeing the signs of ageing and fine lines creeping in!  The Joan Collins range consists of both skin care and make up and all come styled in glamourous glass and gold packaging, the sort you’d expect to find on the dressing table of a Hollywood starlet. With the high-end bottles it was time to check out the contents and put the make up to the test.  Having fair skin I went for the ‘Warm Extra Fair’ foundation and ‘Fair’ concealer.  A sample of the Sleep Active Night Cream was also included for me to put to the test.

The Joan Collins Fade to Perfect concealer (£18) comes generously sized with an easy to use wand to apply to the eye area, around the nose and anywhere else you need a bit of cover.  It blends easily and helps reduce dark circles and puffiness.  As you can see I have a dark area under each eye and I found that this covered it perfectly leaving my under eye area flawless and perfectly blended.

The Joan Collins First Base foundation (£25) comes in an easy to pump bottle which I always like as you can dispense straight onto your brush, blender or fingers. This smoothed easily over my skin giving a good medium coverage, enough for me and gives my skin a good even tone.  Hyaluronic acid is a great plumping ingredient and is used in this to help fill in fine lines and wrinkles, definitely a plus for me as I hate the lines on my forehead and between my brows.  The foundation has a soft velvety texture which helps to blur imperfections but leaves you with a radiant look.

At the end of the day I always remove my make up and carefully wash my face to help protect my skin.  It’s then important to apply a moisturiser that can work at night to repair and revive the skin and Joan Collins has come up with a great solution for the over 30’s.  At 42 this is very welcome and I couldn’t wait to give it a try. Sleep Active Night Cream (£40) works to energise cellular activity and revive the skin, helping lift and reduce the signs of fatigue and advancing age so the face looks fresher, brighter, more alive and younger. With 28 active ingredients including 7 anti-oxidants, 10 anti-ageing, 11 moisturisers, albizia, julibrissen (persian silk tree bark) extract, ectoin, avocado butter, jojoba oil I have to say this felt like heaven on my skin at the end of the day.  Light, refreshing, reviving, moisturising it just felt bliss and certainly was a great help to soothe and renew my skin overnight.

Overall I’m thoroughly impressed with the Joan Collins Timeless Beauty brand and would definitely recommend giving it a try particularly if you are 30+.  It looks glamourous, feels glamourous but is mid priced so accessible to many especially as it can be picked up at your local M&S store as well as being sold at various places online!

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.

no!no! Thermicon Micro Home Hair Removal System

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no!no! Thermicon Micro Home Hair Removal System is a painless gadget that removes hair by transmitting heat to the hair and down to the follicle to gently and effectively remove unwanted hair.  This can be used on all areas of the body minus the sensitive parts so I was keen to give it a try and see how it worked.

The no!no! device comes with several accessories, two heads a small and a larger one dependent on the area you are removing hair from .  There is also a cleaning brush, buffer and pretty storage bag.  It is rechargeable so a charging cable is included.

Once charged it’s ready to go and you can literally just turn it on and start.  The first thing I noticed was how small the no!no! is, much lighter and smaller in size than I expected but that makes it easier to hold, easier to store away and easier to use as you don’t get a tired arm after a while.  All that is required is to press down on the skin and swipe in one direction only and the heat will burn away the hair.  You may need to go over hairs several times especially at first and I found with thicker darker hair I had to go quite a few times before the hair came off.  It also takes a little bit of practice to get the pressure and speed right but I soon got there after a little practice and you know when it’s correctly working as you get a solid blue light whilst swiping across your body.

After using you need to buff the area to remove any hard bits of burnt hair left on the skin and then you are left with soft hairless areas.  I must also mention the burning smell you get with the hair removal but once you get used to this it’s fine and it’s easy to just get on with the hair removal job in question.

I found this really simple to use once I got to grips with it but it was slow to remove the hair at first although this does speed up the more you use it as the hair gets thinner and finer.  What I’m keen to see is the results further down the line, as claims are that you will be almost hair free with just top ups required as and when.

I’m keen to persist with the no!no! to see how much decrease in hair I get but so far I’m finding it simple to use and totally painless – I haven’t felt a thing, just the burning hair smell!  So far I’m happy with it’s performance and love the little storage pouch to keep all the bits together.  Due to it’s size it makes it very portable so you can even take it away with you.  Why not check it out for yourself?

All reviews are my own and my family’s opinions and we received the product in order to write an honest review.