John Frieda Luxurious Volume Fine to Full Blow Out Spray Review

I got this blow dry spray a few weeks ago now and wanted to give it some proper testing before writing a review.

The spray is part of John Frieda's luxurious volume range and generally John Frieda is a brand that I trust. It's a high street brand that I think had performed really well over the years and although I would never say that all of their products have worked for me, there are a couple that stand out and this spray is one of them.

The blow dry spray is designed to be used in semi-wet hair before you blow dry. You're meant to towel dry your hair first, then spray this in and off you go.

I tend not to towel dry my hair too much as I find it roughs it up too much and it's bad for split ends, so instead when I have time I just wrap a towel around my hair and leave it like that for an hour or so whilst I go and do something else.

If you spray this in when your hair is too wet, it'll just dilute really quickly. If you're in a rush, blast your hair for a few minutes then spray this in before you finish off.

If you want a massive dose of volume, blow dry your hair upside down. Otherwise, this spray works great with any style of blow dry.

I find that this does make my hair bouncier and it also holds my style for longer without ever feeling sticky or greasy. I can tell I'm wearing the product as my hair feels different, but in a good way - it feels like it's got natural hold and like its got some real volume at the roots.

The spray is pretty cheap and you can get it on the high street at Boots. For the price, I think it's really good value and you don't have to use very much each time you style to get good results.

I'd recommend this product to anyone looking for bouncier hair or anyone who finds it difficult to get volume in their hair when they blow dry it.

Have any of you tried this? What do you think?

xo

Nip + Fab 'Lip + Nip Fix' Review

I originally got this as part of a Nip + Fab box set and was so impressed that I bought an additional one of these - I didn't realise at the time that just on tube lasts months and months so between the two tubes I've probably got a years supply now!

Anyway... This balm is SO similar to Elizabeth Arden's Eight Hour Cream but for a fraction of the price. One tube of this Nip + Fab balm costs around £8.25 but if you keep a look out for the box sets, you can often catch them online for a reduced price. The box set I got in a sale costs £8.50 for 4 full-sized items including this!

Anyone who hasn't used Eight Hour Cream before may not understand the texture of this - both are thick, kind of sticky and don't just smooth on like a lip balm. The Nip + Fab one is so thick that it's sometimes hard to squeeze it out of the tube - the only downside to this product I've found so far!

A lot of people are put off by the texture but for both of these products, the texture is what makes them work really well. This balm stays on for absolutely ages and is really amazing at healing dry, burnt, chapped or damaged skin. I smother it on to my lips before bed and wake up with baby-soft lips in the morning, and it's also great for soothing burns or a rage of other skin ailments.

The balm even has the same sort of smell as Eight Hour Cream. A lot of people really don't like this smell so make sure you don't mind it before you buy! I personally don't have a problem with the smell and it's not something that anyone else can smell on you anyway.

The beauty of this balm is that it is ideal to keep in your handbag in emergencies. During winter, it's been a real saviour for dry lips and it's so handy to keep it nearby in case you notice some dry skin or need to add a little sheen to something. A little goes a long way and you can use it anywhere on your body that you think could benefit from some deep moisturisation. Just be careful that you don't get in on your clothes because it's really sticky!!

You can get this now from a range of stockists including Debenhams and ASOS.


xo

Givenchy Mister Radiant Made To Measure Glow

Givenchy originally released Mister Radiant in Summer 2011 to rave reviews but they have recently relaunched it with a slight packaging change (the bottle used to be translucent and is now transparent). Other than the bottle, I don't think the product formula has changed very much at all.

Mister Radiant is a lightweight, clear gel which you apply to your face for a really delicate, healthy glow. 

The concept of this product is that the gel is full of tiny little bronzing beads in a variety of colours, which burst as you rub the gel into your skin and leave you with a very light tan  - the idea is that you look radiant and healthy after using this.

This is quite a versatile product and will be really useful in the run up to Summer when you need a little extra colour on your cheeks but a full-on tan looks too unnatural. The lightweight texture means it can easily be worn under foundation if you're not ready to go bare-skinned. 

If you are lucky enough to not need to wear a foundation or base, you can just rub a dose of this into your skin for a little glowy, warm look and off you go. 

If you have pale skin, you can go a little heavier and layer it up for more of a tan - the shades it produces are so natural and really sit well on the skin, with no tan line or orange tint!

You can get this now for £25.50 at a variety of outlets and at Harrods online. I think this is quite good value for the quality of the product and considering how useful it will be between now and he end of Summer! I'm definitely going to use this to warm up my skin before the sun arrives, and throughout Summer as a light, glowy base.



xo

Tresemme Platinum Strength Monodose

I've been trying a couple of other products from this range by tresemme in the hope that, as well as using Kerastase Initialiste, I can expect a big improvement in the quality and texture of my hair.

This is the 'Monodose' from the range, which contains 15ml of intensive conditioner in a cute little squeezy tube with a twist off cap.

Tresemme Platinum Strength Monodose

The idea behind this product is that you put it on the mid-length to ends of your hair for just 60 seconds at the end of your shower/bath and it delivers a concentrated dose of healing and beautifying ingredients so that when you wash it off, your hair is as good as new.

I've used this twice and have to admit that I have noticed a difference in my hair after using it. It has felt shinier, softer and almost thicker, without being fly-away or static which many intense conditioners can cause your hair to do.

After using this, my hair felt really silky and as if I had just had a salon treatment applied to it - which is really good for just £1.49 a go.

I think the ideas is to use this once or twice a week so it's a great pick-me-up for damaged hair that needs a treat at the weekend. I've been using this alongside the 'Stay soft' leave in conditioner from the same range, as well as Kerastase Initialiste - both of which I would also recommend.

Has anyone else been trying the products from this range? What were your thoughts?


Liz

xo

Estee Lauder Zodiac Powder Compacts

How fabulous are these...

Estee Lauder's Zodiac Powder Compacts all come with a translucent powder inside plus an extra refill for when you run out.

These come in presentation boxes which makes them perfect for gifts and they also feature a velvet pouch to keep them in so they don't get scratched.

 Each compact also has a coloured birthstone in the clasp to match the zodiac sign. 

I really like these - they are the perfect indulgent gift for a friend or relatives birthday and cost £65 each from the Estee Lauder website.

Liz

xo

Anna Sui Autumn/Winter 2013 New York Fashion Week

Anna Sui Autumn/Winter 2013 show was ALL about the sixties. The clothes themselves were the epitome of sixties fashion with textured, patterned fabrics, bright, clashing colours and graphic accessories.

The whole show was colourful, playful and very retro.

The hair and make-up for this show was very fitting for the sixties look, with voluminous, bouncy hairstyles and the classic cats eye done with a modern twist...

Photo courtesy of @patmcgrathreal

Make-up artist Pat McGrath created a monochrome look for the face which offset the bright colours of the clothes perfectly. The cats eye was achieved by applying a black pencil along the eyelid, exaggerating the shape by increasing the width and arching the tip up towards the brow (leaving about half an inch between the liner and the eyebrow).

On the bottom lash line, a black liner was used to create a dotted line. This reminds me of the Clarins 3 Dot Liner, but in this case it was done using a pencil. Nonetheless, it adds something really different to the look, bringing a dose of modernity to an otherwise very retro look. The rest of the face was kept clean with a sheer, matte base and nude, shiny lips.

The hair for this show was very Catherine Deneuve (an inspiration for the show I believe) - bouncy, shiny hair with great height. The hair was very fresh and young. Longer styles were pulled into high ponytails, teased at the roots for volume then rolled under into a big bouffant.

I actually really loved the way they styled the shorter hairstyles for this show. Models with shorter hair were styled with a chic and classic bob. Volume was applied at the crown by backcombing the roots underneath the top layer of hair and a full fringe was clipped in which framed the face (and dramatic eyes) perfectly.

Photo courtesy of @patmcgrathreal

Gorgeous!

Liz 

xo

Kerastase Initialiste

I've been wanting to try this product for a while now and finally purchased it a few days ago.

With a £40 price tag, it's not the cheapest of hair products, but the benefits that it promises to deliver are far too inviting to ignore...

I'm always on the look out for hair products that can keep my hair in good condition. I have medium-long, thick, dark hair and use heated appliances every day. Inevitably, this does give me split ends and dryness - so my hair is a good test for this product.

Kerastase promise thicker, shinier and stronger hair with up to 93% less breakage. The serum contains plant stem cells, which are meant to build and repair your hair. The clinical studies carried out on this product showed that applying it 3 times a week for a month delivered better overall hair quality, thickness and softness.

With all of the research and statistics behind this product, I was sold!

I have only used this twice so far but am already impressed with the results. There is no dramatic change in my hair, but then I wouldn't expect that this early on. However, my hair does feel a bit shinier and thicker, making it easier to style and giving it a glossy, bouncy sort of look.


The bottle comes with a dropper and you apply 2 pipettes (fine hair) or 4 pipettes (thick hair) directly to the scalp after washing and towel drying your hair, massaging it in to ensure full coverage.

The serum itself is a non-oily texture so once this is on your hair, it leaves no residue and once your hair is dry you wouldn't even know it was on - except for the lovely apple smell!

I'm going to try and regularly update you all on how this product is working, maybe every few weeks so I have time to notice a difference! At the moment, I would recommend it for the way it makes your hair feel alone, but I will let you know if I start to notice a real difference in the structure and quality of my hair.

Let me know if you are trying this product and what you think!

Liz
xo