Garnier Ultimate Blends: The Silky Smoother Collection

My current hair needs a lot of TLC at the moment, it's in drastic need of a trim as well as being more drier and frizzy. I have naturally very curly hair that if not looked after can be a mass of frizz. I also have a limited budget at the moment, I cannot afford to take myself to a hairdresser every 6 weeks to keep it trim, as well as time limited as Bethany is now eating every 3 hours and becomes a diva if it is not on time. With this going on something that can extend the life and look of my hair is a huge plus.

I am on the mailing list for Garnier and have previously taken part in their sampling programmes, I got an email asking if I was interested in trying this new range. I took the online survey and waiting for my assumed sachet samples to arrive. I was hugely surprised to find that I got sent the whole set of full sized products, lesson learnt, never assume!

This forms their Ultimate Collection range based on British hair requirements, each of the 6 ranges contain a Shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, hair oil and hair masks. I have the Silky Smooth range for mid-long length hair that frizzes, this contains the matching shampoo and conditioner as well as a exfoliating hair mask (yes you read that correctly).

The scent is a soft Brazilian Vanilla with a Papaya undertone, this makes it fruity but the vanilla tones it done to a softer scent. The ingredients also help soften the hair and calming down that frizz. The exfoliant I wasn't too sure of at first, however the result I got changed my mind, my curls were more defined this lasted to the next wash (I usually wash between 2-3 days). The exfoliant is suppose to work by using microbeads to exfoliate split ends, can a hair mask exfoliate the hair shaft? I am a little doubtful about this but the mask does it job of leaving my hair softer, smoother and looking like it has come fresh from a salon.

I really liked the while range to the point that I am looking for where it is on offer so I can get some back ups for the shampoo and conditioner. The exfoliate I feel it very much a gimmick and I still prefer my Herbal Essence Be Strong hair mask. If they had done this as a hair mask without the beads, then yes I would be looking to purchase this too.

You can purchase the range now from any High Street chemist/supermarket, prices from £2.79 for 250ml or £3.79 for 400ml

REN Invisible Pores Detox Mask

 

We all have them, a basket/box that filled with little samples that have been gathered from varnious offers and magazines over the year.  This also brings me to saying I don't know how this came into my hands, but I am exceedingly glad it did.

Invisible Pores Detox Mask uses French clay to draw out imputerities (a polite way of saying etc.), excess sebum production and removes dead skin cells. Tropical Spirulina proteins are used to encourage skin renewel (and are also used in Tropical fish food after a little research, it is not recommended to start putting fish flakes on your face!). Final key ingrediant is Red Tea whcih helps the skin smooth out from the fatty acids it contains.

nsructions are simple - onto clean skin for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash off with warm water (I use mine with a cloth/sponge to make sure I have all of it off). My skin was much more smoother and a lot more clearer around the nose (this is my most congested area). Out of my little sample I got 3 uses out of 15ml, a full size bottle is £18.00 for 50ml (Beauty maths works out at £1.80 a use).

Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

Image via Elemis Website

I have a rather guilty admission -I had a 15ml sample of this, used it up and then started missed it greatly. Why did I miss it? I noticed how beneficial it was to my skin and how people used to compliment on how my skin glowed.

This is my first trail into peels, I have always been a scrub person. The ones that if they didn't feel like they were physically removing layer of skin then I would think that they wasn't working. When my skin changed to being more sensitive, of course this action made it red and inflamed.

I had previously been reading about peels on other blogs (namely Pampered Prince) and they sounded what I needed to replace my harsh scrub. An enzyme peel provides a deep clean and resurface of the skin but because it uses plant extracts it a lot more gentle on sensitive skin while providing the benefits of dead skin cell removal.

I adore this, it seems like a refreshing mocktail but isn't overly sweet. I leave it on for the recommended time of 10 minutes after a shower. It does instantly make my skin look brighter and more even toned (I have combination/sensitive skin).

It was when I went into my work place the next day during my maternity leave that they all remarking that I looked "glowing" and bright, I had only been on leave at this point for a week. My makeup was going on more easier and I had converted back to my Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream as my skin had gone so clear again.

The price is also very reasonable, 50ml for £29.50 from Elemis website. I do seriously need to replenish this and soon (I did hint at Santa but I don't think he got the message in time).

Best of 2013

I honestly cannot believe we are now at the end of 2013, this year really has flown by. It has been another mixed year, the joy of qualifying for my BTEC in Make Up Artistry and finding out I was pregnant with our first child; alongside the downsizing of our home, my husband losing his job and family illness.

2014 is starting to line up to be a year of a lot of changes and I really do not have a clue how everything is going to be until Minilemming makes an appearance. I have not really planned anything as I have learnt that when I do plan and it falls through it only makes me more stressed!

Before we embrace a new year let's have a reflection on the year that is going:

Products that I'm having a love affair with

B.Skincare Replishing Facial Oil - This was my discovery in September from British Beauty Blog and managed to get my hands on a preview bottle before launch. It's light but powerful, smoothed my skin out with feeling I had an oil slick on it. It was love from first use.

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Honey Mask - Not only does it smell like toffee but it does smooth down frizzy hair and brings a shine to it. I can see the difference every time I've used it compared to when I've use my normal conditioner. I do have to resist over using because I love it that much.

Ginvera Green Tea Nude Cover BB Cream - Best base product I have ever tried, hides redness, smooth's out skin tone, perfect colour (for me at least) and doesn't look like I've dipped my face in a cement mixer. The only product this year that I was given a sample of in a goody bag and went back to buy the full sized product even before finishing that sample.

Brand that I discovered this year and loved everything I've tried (so far)

The whole NSpa has without a doubt been a small revolution to me, I got gifted their mum-to-be collection when another blogger got me in touch with them. They are an exclusive to Asda but I like them enough that I could happily get the two buses it would take to get across town to restock. They are Spa inspired but at really affordable prices (around £6), smell great without being sickly, which was a blessing when everything was making me feel sick early pregnancy. Well worth an investigation if you haven't already.

Blog Bits

Most popular entry (other than giveaways) - Superdrug AW 2013 Press Preview My first official PR day and loved every moment, got to met some great Superdrug people as well as other Bloggers. Still kicking myself over not going to say hello to Bettina of Beauty Swot and Jane from British Beauty Blog.

Most Comments - How Commenting has Rattled Me Not surprised this seemed to hit the nail on head with a lot of fellow bloggers. Thank you again to everyone who got in touch and shared their thoughts, it one of the main reasons I started blogging.

Highest of number of readers came from America, then UK and Russia (привет means hello).

Twitter is still my biggest referral site where people find the blog from (other social media available).

Goodbye 2013 and Hello new beginnings in 2014.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Herbal Essence's Bee Strong Hair Mask

I recently put out an SOS on my Twitter (@unevenlemmnig) as much pregnancy hair has gone incredible dry and frizzy. I also had just dyed it recently and was drinking conditioner like water. Shona from Freshbeautyxox said Herbal Essence's hair masks (she did also say Tresemme but I'm allergic to them), while Hannah from Midnight Violets put in a request for a review.

I had already tried the sachet samples of the shampoo and conditioner of the Bee Strong range, so I was already smitten with the scent. Also being the money saving person I have become I was also hutting to see what was on offer, thanks to Tesco's this was on half price offer and nestled beside my top up shopping basket.

It says all the things I want for my hair - repairs combing damage, brings glossy shine and deep moisture. I have should length hair so used about a 10p pence sized blob on my hair, as it is very thick you do not need a huge amount. I am very guilty of going over the top with conditioner but using this I got the required effect from not overloading.  Leave for 10 minutes and fully rinse out.

Did I get the Nicole Scherzinger effect? I didn't turn into her but yes my frizzy, untamed hair did turn into glossy, defined curls to the point I'm having to restrain from using it too much. The toffee honey toned scent is also a winner, seriously go, sniff it, and tell me it does not smell the least but tasty.

Available at other high street shops other than Tesco, full price is around £4.

Macadamia Natural Oil's Deep Repair Masque

One of the things you do get told about being pregnant is that your body will change, and then they will go on about the 'glow' you will get after your 3 months are over. This can be lie for some people, I didn't really get a glow until about 18 weeks, before then my skin looked dull and my hair looked life had left it.

I had tried this previously from another event I went to (got this one in my goodie bag from London Meet Up), so I knew it would already re-kick the recovery of my poor hair. The hair mask uses a combination of macadamia and argan oil infused with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts. You put onto clean, damp hair for 5-10 minutes and then wash off with warm water, dry and style as normal.

It is a thick pale coloured cream and found that because I know has shorter hair (down to my jaw line), I could split the sachet into two uses in one week to give it a full recovery programme. After the first use it felt significantly softer, that kind of soft where you cannot stop touching your hair. It looked glossy and moisturised. After the second weekly use, it had looked like I had been at a salon and had treatment done, it looked more improved than the beginning.

For 100ml tube it starts from £12.50, which if I have worked this out correctly, for my length hair will give you about 7 uses at £1.79 each (my hairdresser tries to sell me their treatment at £4.79 each time). There is 250ml (£26.95) and 500ml (£36.75) available.

Read more about Macadamia hair range here

Apivita Anti Wrinkle Grape Face Mask

Apivita is a Marks & Spencer exclusive beauty brand, and what brilliant brand for them to have. Apivita started as a pharmacy in Athens in 1979 by husband and wife, Nikos and Niki Koutsianas, following the philosophy of of Hippocrates (a Greek who started the modern medicine movement and believed in treating the body and the mind).

For me the representive that I met at London Meet Up sold the brand for me, sun drenched fields and vineyards, I was already mentally booking my tickets there. However, I will have to settle with my grape in the face mask for now.

The mask has grape and the combination of A and E vitamins which is reported to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines while offering skin unique softness and revitalisation. Olive and sunflower natural plant oils have moisturising properties and enhance skin's elasticity and firmness.
You apply to clean skin for 10 minutes and rinse off (as I do with my a majority of my face masks I use a face cloth to wash off).

 

I will warn you know, it is a fluid mask so it can come out quicker than expected. It also has little particles of red in them so I would assume this is parts of the grape as I cannot find any information anywhere on what they are. I did like the softer touch to my skin afterwards, it felt much plumper and look liked I have had a night's rest.

 

Doing my research on the Marks & Spencer's website, they also have 20% off Beauty and Fragrance until 26th August (That's Bank Holiday Monday). The set of two sachets of masks would cost £2.40 instead of £3.00, not the biggest reduction, however if this is a sample of the rest of the range it's well worth a treat (or two).

Sorry Balance Me, You Are Just Not For Me

And believe me, I've tried...

Over the past few months I have collection numerous samples of Balance Me products after seeing other beauty bloggers talk about how they like this range of natural skin care. I got balancing face moisturiser in my Latest In Beauty Editor's box. Being stuck one night after losing my regular moisturiser I dug into my sample bag and grab this.

After the normal cleanse I put this one, the smell was Rosy (and this is for someone who likes rose as a scent). It just seemed to sit on my skin and leave a film on it, now considering I have combination skin I found it strange that my dryer parts didn't drink this up as normal. I tried this a few times to see if  it was a one off and every time it was the same - In the bin that went.

The next I tried was radiance face mask which I cannot remember where this came from except it was in my sample bag. I really like a good mask one that general gives the skin a good clear out. This was good, it has exfoliation crushed walnut shells and sebum wiping kaolin. To me it didn't have that wow factor to it, I feel that the mask wasn't thick enough to cover and so I didn't feel 'clean' as normal. I did however, finish the whole sample tube.

And lastly, I got the Rose Otto lip balm in the Glamour magazine offer last year. I really like a lip balm, I have a small bag of them (but never have one on me when I need one) so i was excited to add another one to it. I hated this, I tried and failed to try this 6 times. I dislike the smell, to me it's not of delicate roses but of the main ingredient - Lanolin. For also this ingredient also makes it taste disgusting, and as soon as I put it on I am wiping it off. This is now in the bin.

 

So Balance Me I'm leaving you to your fan base, but for me it wasn't meant to be.

Glam Glow - Is it worth the £50 price tag?

First of all, yes you read that right, it's RRP is around £50 for a 50ml jar (there is a 15ml for £22.50 and a 'try-me' 7ml tube for £4.99 on the GlamGlow website). I had it as a sample sachet in my goodie bag from #BbloggersXmas event that I had gone to at the beginning of the month.

Glam Glow has come from Hollywood and says that after 10 minutes of use once a week not only will give a fresh glow but also smooth and revitalise skin. It uses the antioxidant benefits of green tea, soothing from chamomile and lavender, as well as the deep cleaning from Kaolin clay and exfoliation from micro volcanic rock. (Full list of ingredients from their website).

I put this onto freshly cleansed skin, and for an extra deep cleanse I put it on after a shower so I could the benefit of the steam opening pores up. I had read the back of the packaging that said that there may be a tingling sensation, I do put a warning here - If you have any sensitive skin please avoid using as will not be suitable because of this.

You can see the mask dry (it'll start going a paler colour), after 10 minutes you wash off with warm water. I use a cloth to wash mine off so I could also double it up as an exolifant treatment.

My skin did look more even toned, the redness that I do get on my cheeks and around my nose were reduced. The deeper cleansing and exfoliation process also meant that the look and texture of my skin felt smoother and brighter. The oiliness I get on my forehead and nose was not only gone but all of the above effects did last the promised 3 days afterwards.

So is it worth the £50 price tag? I think it is, but to start with I will have to downgrade to the 15ml. For me it supplied what it promised. I had smoother, more even skin for 3 days and I think with longer term of use it would significantly improve my skin. It is a rare thing in this industry that does delivery something that is promised.

Montagne Jeunesse Dragon Fruit Sauna

I have spoken in the past how much I do like Montagne Jeunesse face masks (Written about here and here). Not only are they reasonably priced at £1.09 - £1.49 but are vegetarian,uses natural ingredients and are easily available (ASDA, Boots and www.montagnejeunesse.com).

I now have a new favourite to add to my collection: Dragon Fruit Sauna. I not normally a lover of 'fruitier' masks, I normally head to my other favourite Hot Chocolate masks. I've changed my mind for many reasons first of all this is still a sauna mask that gentles heats thus opening pores, but it also has the seeds of the dragon fruit that gentles exfoliates. The scent is not sickly sweet, it is not overpowering but still has a fruit scent.

I do realise it does make my face look sun burnt with the sun

My skin afterwards felt fresher with a smoothness that a deep cleanse should provide. It also seemed to re balance my combination skin to some plump even tones beauty. I have already repurchased this twice already, as it ticks all the boxes of what I want from a mask.

Goodbye Summer *Sniff*

With the increase of wind, grey clouds and the nights drawing in, it now signals the end of the summer (of what we had of summer). It also means it was the end of my Montange Jeunesse 4 week mask routine.

My collection - Oh the choices!

Week One involved Blemish Mud for a real deep clean to kick start everything off. Contains Aloe Vera to soothe inflamed skin, and willow blemish mud to draw out any skin problems. I liked this because afterwards it felt cleaned through and refreshed.

Week Two was a refreshing cucumber peel off mask. I did have trouble with this one, I think I never get the application just right because I can never peel it off in one go, just in bits. It is fun because it looks like you're in a horror movie peeling skin away (but it is not skin!). With previous one you wash away impurities with this one it peels it off.

Week Three was time to scrub it up with the Ice Crystal Exfoliating Mask, now this felt like someone has smacked me round the face to wake me up! It's has spearmint menthol that gives that refreshing effect, with dead sea salts that gentle scrub and soften. This is the one you need if you need an alarm clock in the morning!

Week Four had my favourite Very Berry, an antioxidant combination of cranberry, blueberry, aloe vera, peach and grape - It is honestly a smoothie for the face. It is great for all skin types, as it can help soothe dry skins and clear up blemished skin.

Love Montagne Jeunesse not only for fantastic products, but are friendly to bunnies, natural ingredients, paraben free and vegetarian friendly. They are easy to get hold of as they are available nationwide in retailers such as ASDA, Superdrug, Tesco, New Look and Morrisons. The full range also being on their webste www.montagnejeunesse.co.uk (including a whole range of hair, feet and, get this, lip balms - more on that soon!)

My thanks to Montagne Jeunesse for feeding my mask obsession!

You Can Do More With Clay Than Build Pots

I, as probably the entire female population at some point, has worn a face mask, and I would beat some money that most of them are from Montagne Jennesse. I am a big fan of them, they're mud face masks are not only a skin savour but I find for the amount of product you get in a sachet they're also very good value for money.

Founded in 1987 after founder Greg Butcher was mixing products in his kitchen, Montange Jenesse has grown into one of the front runners in the beauty markets.They are sold in over 80 countries around the world and now have 50 products in their range including hair masks, feet treatment and even cellulite treatments. All are one use products and can be mixed and matched to what you require at the time. All within an easy price that any pocket can suit and can be nicked by your male boyfriend/husband.

Their latest range of products combines two of their most popular ranges, the clay masks and tonic cloth masks. I adore the clay masks, leaves my skin feeler amazingly fresher and that cleaned feel that I want when using a mask.

There are two with the range, The Dead Sea Mud Spa and the Glacier Clay Spa. Both are infused into a bamboo fibre mask that you sit onto the skin rather than the traditional method of massage it onto the skin. The mask already has all the holes cut in, and you will get a little over your hands putting it on but no where near as much as if you were applying it directly with your hands. A word of warning this mask is made for you to lie down and relax in, not move around and it will fall off.

It's hard to smile in face mask :)

After 15 minutes you then remove the mask, I actually put it into a ball and massage the slight textured material as a light exfoliate. Rinse off the left over mask with warm water and use your normal skin care. My skin looked a lot more refreshed and even toned, the next morning (I use mine before bed) it was still very smooth to touch. I was given these to try, but I still would of brought them as they still appealed to me and my skins needs.

You can get your hands on it's website www.MontagneJeunesse.com (It might be worth checking out their Facebook Page first for a discount offers...shh). It will then be in Boots mid-August and ASDA's in September at the cost £1.49. They are all vegetarian, PETA and BUVA (leaping bunny) approved, made from natural ingredients and paraben-free, as well as environmental friendly where-ever they can be.  

LatestInBeauty's Editor Box July

Introducing this months LatestInBeauty's editors box and what a beauty it is! We have two full sized products, a handbag sized, and miniatures for £14.95 including P&P that is valued at £43. I loved my last YOU box (read about my gushing here), and was pumping they're twitter feed for when they was revealing the next one. LIB's customer service has been brilliant, at moment I'm at least tweeting them once a week about something and unlike some companies answer back to the point of having long conversations!

The two full sized products are the Love Your Skin Cleanse and Smooth Exfoliating face wash and Mavala Liberty Nail varnish. Love Your Skin has just launched their website of products and have been finalists in the Elle Beauty Awards 2012. The Wash is a light exfoliate that can be used everyday and the scent is a soft floral wood. It contains two scrubbing actions small beads and the Willow Bark that has salicylic acid that gently exfoliates. I adore this after two uses!

Second Full sized is the Mavata nail varnish in Liberty - a creme peachy nude. It's a 5ml size that the company specialises in, a glossy professional finish that evens out easily.

Baltise Dry Shampoo in Cherry is a prefect handbag sized dry shampoo. It is a new addiction to the range of emergency hair refreshers that has a girly sweet scent of cherries that suits the sun (when it's out!). I'm throwing this one into my handbag for on the go.

The miniatures: Melvita Micellar Water - a rose scent cleansing water with a soft scent of rose that isn't over powering like other rose scented products. Have tried their moisture lotion from the previous YOU box and have liked it so far. Weleda Firming Serum and Night Cream is from their hero range of products that has won the CEW Eco Beauty award, I haven't used this brand before so this will be a perfect opportunity to. And finally, Balance Me Radiance Face Mask, I'm hoping that this will change my mixed views on the range as well as give my skin some TLC that it needs.

There are some still available here

A good mixture this time, however I'm already drooling over the next box due out on Sunday: Another YOU inspired box that I've already been told that there is going to be OPI (full size), Alfresco, Garnier, L'Oreal, StriVectin, Jurlique and many more. In total there's going to 12 items for £9.95 + £2.95 P&P, but it is limited to 2,000 boxes! People who are already on the mailing list will get a preview of the box on Friday, if you are not on the mailing list rush over to here and get yourself on there ASAP.

Belated Masterclass - Face Masks

Face masks are a preparation of different ingredients to give a short term treatment for the skin. They provide a deep cleansing, toning, nourishing or refreshen effect through the following actions:

• If it has ingredients to absorbed, dead skins cells, sebum and debris will be adhere to the mask when removed.
• If it has ingredients that are an astringent on the skin, the pores and skin will tighten.
• If it contains emollient ingredients, the skin will then fell softened and nourished.
• If it contains soothing ingredients, then the skin can be desensitised to reduce skin irritation.

There are two types of mask, a face mask which will dry and set and a face pack which remains soft and doesn't set.
Setting Masks are applied in a thin layer over the skin and then allowed to dry, a dried out mask can be become uncomfortable and difficult to remove. They come in different commerical varieties:

• Clay masks - Absorbs serum and debris from the skin surface, leaving it cleansed. It can also stimulate the skin depending on the ingredients used. There are different variety of clays that have different uses, they start off a powder form and is mixed with a liquid to create a mask.
• Gel masks - is a mixture of biological ingredients like gums, starches or gelatin. As soon as it is applied to skin it then starts to dry and then can be peeled off.
• Thermal masks - More mineral based as they warm when put onto the skin to enlarge the pores, making it easier to clean the skin.

Non-setting masks stay soft when applied, others do become firm but they do not contain the tightening functions of the setting masks. Non-setting masks include:

• Oil masks - is warmed then applied to the skin, after a period of time the excess is then removed.
• Gauze mask - is a cloth that has eye, nose and lip holes cut in. The cloth will has some liquid/oil infused into it then placed over the eyes for between 10-15 minutes.
• Natural masks - are made of fruit and vegetables which in themselves have astringent and stimulating properties. Usually crushed up and applied onto the skin.
• Cream masks - are prepared treatments similar to moisturise cream, can be left to absorb in or have the excess wiped off.