The Little Rebel straightener and hairdryer

Still no internet at home arggh BT are so rubbish!!!! So apologies again for the lack of posts! I have also got my new Samsung Pink 12 Megapixel camera now, so can take some photos of my own again – yay! I thought I would write a quick post about two really cool items from Little Rebel that I was sent before I went away, that sadly didn’t arrive before my holiday…. But I have been putting them to good use at the gym!

Basically the Little Rebel range is a professional haircare range and actually works like one – but is more than half their original size! You can see in my photo how small the hair dryer is and weighs less than a bottle of moisturiser, so fits perfect in my gym bag and will be fantastic for my next holiday! Normally I always take my hair dryer with me on holidays as I don’t trust hotel dryers, so will be brilliant to save space with this little beauty!! The straighteners also heat up to 200 degrees which is fab for miniature ones – so perfect for the gym and to take out on an evening out. Because of their size, it would take me forever to straighten all my hair as it’s so thick but they are perfect for touching up and on holiday when you don’t worry so much. They are available for the bargain price of £24.99 each from www.divapro.co.uk. What do you think - I recommend these to everyone as a must-have for the summer!!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal range review

The past few weeks I have been trying out some gorgeous products from Vichy that I was kindly sent to review. I have never used Vichy before, so it has been really exciting for me to have a chance to try a new brand. I was asked by Vichy what my skin is like before hand, so the products would be matched for my skin!

I have normal/dry skin so was sent products from the Aqualia Thermal range and have been using them for the past month or so. I have been impressed with the results so far and the quality of the products – you can tell that they are fairly expensive! Here is a little introduction to the Aqualia Thermal Range from the Boots website:

The Aqualia Thermal range helps fortify and soothe the skin giving it 24 hour hydrating care for use on dehydrated and sensitive skin. Intensely hydrated, the skin feels soother, refreshed and free from sensations of tightness. Vichy’s unique formulations combine mineral rich thermal spa water and renowned dermatological ingredients selected for each individual skin need. Vichy believes in providing personalised skin diagnosis tools for every skin type, developed with health professionals.

The packaging and blurb is all very technical, so I would definitely recommend visiting a Vichy counter at Boots or reading about the products on the website first to really understand what products are right for you! My favourite product from the range is the Thermal Serum (£16.00), which consists of Vichy Thermal Spa Water that totally hydrates your skin for 24 hours, leaving it hydrated, smooth and smelling yummy! TIP: It’s also really good to use under make-up as a foundation primer, as it ensures your skin is radiant and smooth and makes your foundation sink in even better!

So if you’re looking for a personalised skin care regime and are interested in the technology behind skincare products, then I really recommend Vichy products to you as they can be tailored for your needs and use the best advances in skincare. I wish I could say I could afford to purchase these products all the time but hopefully one day I will!!!

Palmolive limited edition shower gels

If you're dreaming of somewhere more exotic than the sunny UK but can't afford to go there, than I recommend trying out the new Palmolive limited edition shower gels called 'Marrakech Sunrise' and 'Madagascar Sunset'.I love the refreshing smell of the shower gels and how smooth they make your skin - it's really like having a holiday in the shower! Both shower gels are enriched with frangipani and ylang-ylang flower extract and are available for the bargain price of £1.49! Has anyone else tried these and what do you think? Normally I use Dove shower gels but am really loving these for summer.

Olay Total Effects Touch of Foundation Review

Apologies again for the lack of posts agghhh still no internet it is driving me mad!!! Anyway, I thought I would tell you guys about my favourite new foundation that I have been using during the summer months! I don’t normally use Olay products all the time, as I still have fairly young 23 year old skin but have fallen in love with their new ‘Total Effects 7-in-1 anti ageing moisturiser’, which has the added bonus of foundation from Max Factor to even out skin tone. So if you’re not fussed about heavy coverage, which I’m not in the summer then I really recommend try it out. It also has SPF 15 in it as well, which is an added bonus for the summer months in case you forget to use sun cream!

I have copied the seven benefits from the Boots website, so you can have a read about what it claims to do!

1. Line Minimization: Visibly reduces the appearance of fine line and wrinkles.

2. Nourishing Moisturisation: For a radiant, healthy glow.

3. Subtle Firming: Hydrates for firmer skin appearance.

4. Gentle Exfoliation: Smoothes and evens skin texture.

5. Pore Refinement: Minimizes the appearance of pores.

6. With Anti Oxidants: Helps prevent the appearance of premature signs of ageing to the skin’s surface layers.

7. Brightening: Improves skin surface dullness.

Ok I don’t really have wrinkles or pre-mature ageing yet but I definitely agree that it really gives you radiant skin, provides a good level of coverage and moisturises thoroughly! The downside is it is fairly pricey at £18.99, but then I guess if it’s a moisturiser and a foundation in one then you save money in the long run! What does anyone else think, have you tried this out yet?

Super smooth skin!

Sorry for the lack of blog posts over the weekend, I don't have internet at home so have been writing reviews over the weekend and will publish them when I have access to a computer!

Since my holiday I have noticed my skin is really dry, so thought I would share with you guys my routine which has made my skin realllyyy smooth! If any of you have ever been to Turkeyyou may have heard of a Hammam, which is basically a place where you go to for a Turkish bath and a good old scrub, which leaves you will amazingly soft skin. Well I didn’t go this time as I didn’t want to lose my tan whilst on holiday! But I purchased one of the gloves whilst at a local market for 3YTL, which is about £1.20 and have been using it since I got back and it literally takes all of your dead skin off in the shower and leaves behind (minus the tan!) some beautifully soft skin! I have also been using the lovely Sanctuary 12 Hour Moisturising Shower Cream (£5.99) which has a rich, creamy lather to keep skin soft and moisturised all day long. Luxurious shea butter is combined with skin softening sunflower oil, protective vitamin E and the classic Sanctuary fragrance, leaving skin supple, satin soft and beautifully fragranced. It is heaven... in the shower! :)

After my shower, I have been using the Body Shop’s Cocoa body butter (£9.76) which is a one of my favourite body moisturisers. It is suitable for extra dry skin and has a scrummy chocolate-and-vanilla scent that lasts for 24 hours, so you don’t have to keep applying all day (which gets a bit tedious!). It really is amazing for keeping away horrible dry skin and especially after a holiday.

So has anyone else tried a hammam before – what do you think?

No7 Silky Leg Oil

I was lucky enough to have another day off work yesterday to attend a friend's wedding in Bournemouth which was lovely! I didn't have long to get ready so had to minimise my beauty routine. My essential item was Boots No7 Silky Leg Oil (£10.30), which helped ensure my legs stayed silky smooth all day! Since being on holiday, my skin has been much dryer and my tan is rapdily disapearing, so I have been using it to ensure my legs stay smooth and don't dry up. it is a heavenly formula which uses nourishing Moroccan Argan Oil and Vitamin E to give deep-down hydration, leaving even parched knees and shins feeling irresistibly smooth. It also adds a lovely sheen to your legs, which I love! Plus it smells yummy too! If you have problems with dry legs then I really recommend using this product, thumbs up from me!

Garnier Pure Active Review

My sister has been trying out the new Garnier Pure Active range over the past month and has written a review for me about how much she loves these new products! I don’t have oily skin, so have just been using the ‘Spot-on Roll on’ when I have any annoying spots and am really impressed by how quickly this works. It leaves you with a tingling sensation at first, but if you use it before you go to bed, it helps to clear your skin by the morning!

According to my sister, over the past four weeks the Pure Active range has significantly improved the quality of her skin. My sister has always spent a fortune on Clinique’s anti-blemish range saying it is the only range that works on her skin, so is really pleased with the results for the Pure Active range as they are much cheaper!! Her favourite products are the Blackhead Scrub and the Moisturiser – two products which normally are a nightmare for her to use of her face, especially moisturisers which can make oily skin a lot worse!

The Blackhead Scrub is reasonably priced at £4.99 and has a creamy texture that leaves skin feeling clean but also smooth – which other products have not done in the past. It contains exfoliating micro-beads and Salicylic Acid to helps clear blackheads and fight the appearance of spots and marks. My sister has already repurchased this product (PA products are currently on offer in Superdrug!) after using religiously for the past four weeks and can’t live without it now!

The Pure Active Moisturiser is priced at £5.99 and fights spots before they appear, hydrates your skin but doesn’t leave it shiny which is essential for people with oily skin! It helps to purify and mattify skin to protect against spots even before they appear - which my sister has confirmed! Overall she has noticed that her skin is much smoother and less shiny, so she can now wear less foundation.

I'm back!

Hi guys, hope you haven't missed me too much! I'm back after ten lovely days in the sun in Istanbul, wishing I could be back there! I thought I would write a brief summary post about my key products/items I used whilst away - I had to really cut down on my normal beauty bag and wardrobe thanks to Easy Jet's 20kg weight limit grrr! Does anyone else have that problem when they go away?! It's so hard deciding what to take!

Anyway, here are the key products that I used and loved whilst away in the heat!

1) Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Mascara £17

This new mascara from Bobbi Brown is great for taking away, as it is really small and doesn't take up lots of space! Plus it has a unique multi-comb brush which enhances your lashes and makes them really curly! What I also like is despite the heat, the mascara doesn't smudge all down your face - genius!

2) Clynol Intense After Sun Mask £7.25

This intensely after sun mask smoothes your hair after the abuse of chlorine, sun and salt! I used this frequently throughout my holiday and since I have been home and my hair looks really shiny and feels so soft. I really recommend using this product whilst away if you have thick, dry hair like mine and it ensures your hair is sleek and not a giant frizzball in the humidity! It also is so much easier to straighten your hair after using.

3) Purity Regenerating Overnight Moisturiser £5.35

This new organic range is available in Superdrug and is priced really low for organic products, which is a bit of a first. Purity Organic Skincare is Ecocert certified, with 92.2% of the ingredients of natural origin and an average of 82% of the ingredients processed from organic farming. I particularly love the Night Cream, which is a light mousse moisturiser with a blend of coconut based ingredients plus sweet almond oil, shea butter, and vitamin E. It has quite a thick texture which normally I don’t like, but whilst away in the intense sun I found it really helped keep my face moisturised and left my skin feeling soft in the morning.

4) Freya Malibu Lagoon Bikini

I was very lucky to be sent this amazing bikini to try out whilst I was away! I must admit I have never really spent much money on bikinis, purely because I don’t see the point and haven’t noticed the difference in quality. However, Freya Bikinis I have discovered are extremely high quality and look and feel amazing! I loved my Malibu Lagoon design, which features an Oriental inspired print with a modern twist. Exotic birds and shapes in cool aqua, cobalt, & cornflower blue are emphasised by a bright white base. Ornate beaded details embellish each piece and the fabulous shapes will make you feel sexy and cool. I also liked how well the top fitted me, as normally I find it hard to get a top that fits. But as Freya supply bikinis in bra sizes, a 34D fitted me perfectly and really enhanced my natural assets! Plus it also shows off an amazing tan! It also hasn’t faded all week, which I am very impressed with – thumbs up from me!

Ok enough ranting from me - let me know what you think! What are your key products for summer?

Off on holiday!

Hey guys just a quick note to say I am off on holiday for 10 days but will try and blog a couple times whilst away! I am tying to pack at the moment but have got so many clothes and beauty products - I can't decide what to take! One product I will definately be taking to protect my hair is Tigi Bed Head Dumb Blonde Reconstructor (£13). I have been using this intensive conditioner for the past week or so, and can't live without it now! It is packed with vitamin goodness that rejuvenates any hair crisis (like my hair!) making it smooth and really soft. It also protects your highlights as it provides UV and thermal protection, keeping them safe from the sun and sea water! Hopefully this conditioner will ensure I don't come home with dry, damaged hair like most years!!! Plus it also smells ammmazzingg - yummy!

What do you guys think - what products should I be taking with me on holiday?

PS A little tip for all your Tigi lovers out there who want an amazing bargain - Want the Look.com has 3 for 2 on all Tigi products at the moment! So there really is no excuse not to try some of te of these amazing products out!!

Barry M products for a bright look!

Like many of you bloggers I am a big fan of Barry M products and think they are such great value. I thought I would talk about what products I have been using over the past few weeks, and there is definitely a pink theme going on!!!

I LOVE the dazzle dusts and have been trying out a few of pink shades – Fushia and Peony, when I go out in the evenings. The colours are really strong and last all evening unlike a lot of eye shadows. I also love the matching lip paint Dolly Pink 146 (yes I know what a saddo!) which is a gorgeous pink shade that is perfect for this weather! What do you think – what are your favourite Barry M shades?

*Update - as my camera is broken and I am waiting for a new one, I 'googled' a picture of the lip paints and uploaded it to my blog - and it is infact from Zoe @ Zoella's blog, so apologies for not noticing this or asking you, I didn't know..x

Keeping cool in this heatwave!!

Oh my god how hot is it today?! It's really hard to cool down, especially when you're working! I'm moving house at the moment as well, so is very stressful! I have been using my Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Mist to cool down – it’s amazing! Also when you spend all day in and out of the sun whilst working, it's still really important to wear suncream, which I always find difficult to remember to put on! Recently before work I have been using Piz Buin’s One Day Long Lotion SPF15 each morning, which contains UVA-UVB protection from sunburn and skin ageing. It’s also oil-free (good for people with oily skin) and is quickly absorbed into your skin. It also acts as a moisturiser too, which helps prevent peeling and means you can use instead of your normal moisturiser and ensure you are protected too. I will definitely be taking this on holiday with me next week for when I am roaming the streets of Istanbul! I also have been testing the new Savlon Aftersun Foam Spray – has anyone else tried this yet? When I think of Savlon I think of antiseptic cream, so I was a bit wary at first! Basically it really helps sun exposed skin by cooling, soothing and moisturising AND making your skin feel some what normal after being out in the sun!! I also love the concept of the foam spray, makes it much easier to apply!!!

So what does everyone else think – what are you using to keep cool and be protected in this heatwave?

PS Sorry for the lack of posts - I am moving house this week so very busy and don't have internet!!