Redken Extreme Anti-Snap review

Price: £13.95
Size: 250ml
Ingredients: Water (aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, Dimethiconol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth 23, Laureth 4, Laureth 7, Methylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Ethylparaben, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Wheat Amino Acids, Arginine HCl, Taurine, Oleth 10, Disodium Cocoamphodipropionate, Lecithin, Hydroxypropyl Trimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Phosphoric Acid, 2 Oleamido 1, 3 Octadecanediol, Trehalose.


Last time I was going back to blonde hair having previously had my hair almost black for quite some time, I was recommended this by my hair dresser at the time and I'm so glad she did. Not long after I decided to go back blonde, I also decided to grow my hair long and I don't think my hair would be the length it is now having not used this product.

This is a leave-in 'treatment' and you use it just like any other leave-in conditioner - wash your hair as usual, towel dry and then put the Anti-Snap in your hair. As with most products, it's recommended that you use it with the Shampoo and Conditioner from the same range but I haven't yet tried those and I've still seen a great improvement in my hair without using them.

It contains 18-MEA, which 'helps restore the lipid layer of protection and resurfaces the cuticle to help restore shine while amino acids and protein enter the cuticle for targeted structural repair. Together, IPN and the Fortifying Complex deliver Redken Extreme's advanced strengthening benefits for healthier, shinier hair.'

I can definitely say I noticed a difference in my hair almost straight away. My hair was taking a lot of damage from bleaching it when I first started using this and this helped banish the sorry brittle state my hair had become whilst also preventing split ends , which in return, enabled me to continue growing my hair at a faster rate than having not used it as I definitely would have needed a few more trips to the hair dressers for trims.

The bottle has a pump, which is great as you can get just the right amount out at a time. You also don't need very much of this product at all so it lasts a very long time. The other bonus to this product is that it smells amazing - I love it! However, if you're not one for very sweet scents then this might put you off. I can only imagine how nice my hair would smell if I used the Shampoo and Conditioner from this range, too.

Overall, I think this should be a staple in everyone's hair routine, particularly if you are trying to grow your hair. I'm currently using up another leave-in conditioner and although I've now gone back to having dark hair, it still gets damaged from the dying so once that's finished, I shall be straight online to order another bottle of this.



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Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer review

Price: £17
Size: 1.7g
Ingredients: petrolatum, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, methyl methacrylate crosspolymer, tribenenin, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, ozokerite, lecithin, propylene glycol stearate, sorbitan laurate, polysorbate 20, propylene glycol laurate. May contain: titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499), mica, ultramarines (ci 77007)


I had been wanting to try this concealer for quite some time but had always been put off by its price - around £17. I eventually bought it and was excited to try it. However, after using this for many months (annoyingly for me it has lasted ages), I have to say, I will not be repurchasing.

The texture of this concealer, as the name suggests, is creamy but once applied it tends to look quite dry. It's not great at covering blemishes or red marks and often appears quite cakey - resulting in blemishes actually looking worse off. I have also found that it doesn't have great staying power and needs retouching throughout the day. There is a setting powder in the bottom compartment of this concealer but I choose to always use my go to powder instead so I don't feel I can comment on that. I find this concealer better for my under eye area but having said that, the skin around your eyes needs to be well moisturised otherwise it tends to look very dry.

I haven't hated this so much that I stopped using it (and because of the price) but I have almost used it up and as I said before, I will not be repurchasing this again, neither is it a concealer I would recommend to anyone else.

Does anybody have any concealers they would recommend or what are your staple concealers?

Review by Sherrie



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Clarins Instant Definition Mascara review

Price: £17.10
Size: 7ml

A couple of months ago, I was given a sample size of this mascara in black and I have to say, I've been really impressed.

The Clarins Instant definition mascara is said to have 'A two-in-one patent pending brush design which lengthens and separates every lash, even the shortest, and gives incredible wide-angled volume.Using the elastomer bristle tip, separate and define the shortest lower lashes at both the inner and outer corners of the eye. For lash perfect precision you can also use the tip to comb and place lashes one by one.'

It really does instantly define lashes, however I like to wear a couple of coats of mascara and it does not go clumpy at all. It's the patented double-brush that has sold it to me. I particularly find the smaller front part (the elastomer brush) of the wand great for applying mascara to the inner corners of the eye where it's sometimes trickier to apply mascara, without having the transfer from a bigger wand. It is also great for the outer lashes, which helps to widen the eye and for applying to the lower lashes without smudging. Using the smaller brush also allows for easy separation of lashes and individual application, as does the bigger part of the wand (the fibre brush) but instead, allowing for the coverage of more lashes at once.

You can see the brush below, as well as the effect it has on my lashes.



I've found this mascara to have a great lengthening effect and since I curl my lashes before applying, it holds the curl well, which usually drops with other mascaras.

Clarins Instant Definition mascara has never crumbled on me and lasts all day (and night) long. It is also easily removable - I use Simple eye makeup remover.

I could not recommend this mascara enough, it comes in three colours - Intense black, Intense brown and Intense blue. The only downfall for me is the price at around £17-£19, nevertheless I am still considering purchasing the full size and I think it would also make a great Christmas present!

Review by Sherrie



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Jemma Kidd Light As Air Liquid Foundation review

Price: £19.95
Size: 30ml
Ingredients: AQUA, CYCLOMETHICONE, ISODODECANE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, DIMETHICONE, ALUMINIUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE, ZINC OXIDE, POLYGLYCERYL-4 ISOSTEARATE, SILICA, SODIUM CHLORIDE, PHENOXYETHANOL, DISODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE, DIMETHICONE COPOLYOL, SYNTHETIC BEESWAX, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE, METHYLPARABEN, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PARFUM, SALICYLIC ACID, TETRASODIUM EDTA, FOMES OFFICINALIS, BUTYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, SODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE, MICA, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, HYDROXYISOHEXYL 3-CYCLOHEXENE CARBOXALDEHYDE. MAY CONTAIN: CI 77891, CI 77491, CI77492, CI77499, CI77007


I know I haven't posted a review in a while but I shall be posting them more regularly again from now on and my sister will also be reviewing some products, too :) but for now, here's my review for my new favourite foundation...

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I got this foundation. I'd seen it used on YouTube many times and read quite a few reviews but it's just not the same as seeing it in person. My first impressions were that it's very runny and water-like and didn't look like it would give me the coverage I tend to prefer at all. When I first applied it, I thought it was a little dark (I purchased the lightest shade - 01 Ultra Light) but once I had blended it into my neck and it had settled into my skin more, it was fine. It is quite yellow based, though so I would recommend going a shade lighter than usual anyway. To begin with, I wasn't all that keen on how little coverage it gave me but it's easy to build layers without it looking cakey at all so this is what I did for some time....

Now I've been using it for a couple of months, I've found that I'm a lot happier to just simply apply the one layer and use concealer if I need extra coverage anywhere else. Although your skin still looks natural when you build up more layers, it definitely looks very natural with just the one, in fact, it doesn't look like you're wearing foundation at all and I never thought I would be able to say that about a foundation whilst being happy with the appearance of my skin. I mainly apply it with my Mac 187 brush, although it's one of the first foundations that I've been happy with the results when applying with my fingers.

The description for the foundation is that it's 'Formulated with a highly blendable, lightweight texture it has silicone coated pigments for a velvet feel and soft focus finish. Skin balancing ingredients help keep the skin perfectly matte for an even, shine free complexion whilst unique long-wear technology gives all day staying powder. Added SPF18 protects skin against daily UV exposure.'

I have extremely oily skin around my nose and visible pores and other foundations haven't even lasted an hour (not to mention enhancing the appearance of my pores) however, because this blends in to the skin so well, you wouldn't even know it was there and my skin still looks even all over 12+ hours later without any touch ups. I would like to try this with some translucent powder just to see if it would make any difference at all but so far, I've not felt the need to use powder at all, which I'm pretty amazed by. I would say it gives you a nice dewy look but I'm not sure that's the correct word, it really does just look like your own skin but better!

I had always imagined that when I found THE foundation for me, that I would be a lot more excited about it and know straight away. Even though this took some getting used to at first, I think it's safe to say that I've finally found my 'holy grail' foundation and now I really am excited about it. I'm also really happy that it costs just under £20, unlike some foundations I have tried at almost double the price.

I really recommend this foundation for all skin types. I do get a few dry patches here and there from time to time and it doesn't give that horrible flakey appearance as it's very moisturising.

I remember the Jemma Kidd range used to be available in Boots but I haven't seen it in there for a while now so I'm not sure if it is at all anymore but I got mine from www.beautybay.com with free delivery and it arrived super fast. Of course, you can always purchase it from www.jemmakidd.com, too.

If you've tried it or do get the chance to try it, let me know what you think!




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Exciting news

I know I've neglected this blog a little but I do have a good reason; I've been working on an exciting new project... I've launched an online jewellery store called ovaye, you can check it out at www.ovaye.com if you like :) and can also keep updated via the blog, twitter and facebook.

I've got lots of products to review so I shall try and update again soon!



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Chanel Mat Lumière foundation review

Price: £33.00
Size: 30ml
Ingredients: Aqua, Isododecane, Titanium Dioxide, Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Talc, Methyl methacrylate, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Phenoxyethanol, Silica, Alumina, Ethylene/ma copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propylparaben, Alcohol, PEG-8, Tocopherol, Aluminum hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Cerotic acid, Ascorbic Acid, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Denatonium benzoate, Propylene copolymer

When I did my giveaway to help me decide on a new foundation for myself and a friend, I easily managed to pick one out for her but the one I had in mind for myself, didn't even appear on the list. I took my time contemplating some of them and even thought about going back to using some that were mentioned that I had previously used but after reading a few reviews whilst wearing another foundation in the meantime, I decided none of these would be right for me and so I gave in and bought the foundation I'd wanted to try for a while, despite it not appearing on the list. (Oh how I should've listened to you all) This foundation was indeed, Chanel Mat Lumière.

Firstly, I didn't get off to a good start with this foundation from the beginning. The girl on the counter gave me the wrong shade entirely. When purchasing a foundation, I know that I will usually need the lightest shade or the next one up from that at the most. The girl decided I needed one 5 shades too dark, usually I would've known this was wrong but it did seem to look ok in the shop lighting and she appeared to look a similar shade to me. However, I wasn't too happy that she decided to match me by swatching it on her own hand and holding it up towards my face. She didn't even apply it on my own skin at all but I didn't have all day and since she looked a similar shade to me, I went away with that one. She also gave me a powder to try out which she said she knew was too dark for me but at least I could see how well it worked - not really, since I would like to wear it out and about to see how well it lasted!

So, the next morning came and I started to apply my foundation and I also started to panic. It clearly wasn't the right shade (I looked like the latest member of The Simpsons). I thought perhaps I'd wait a bit and see if it got any better as it settled into my skin more. It did a tiny bit but still, it looked pretty bad and it was obviously the wrong shade entirely. I didn't care if I'd opened it and used it, I was getting a new shade or getting my money back since she was clearly in the wrong. I headed back to the shop half expecting them to refuse an exchange or refund since I had opened it and used it but thankfully the manager was there as well as the girl who had given me the wrong shade. Luckily the manager could clearly see I had been given the wrong shade entirely and I managed to get a lighter shade (05 Faience) so off I went to test it out properly.

Now, I was really excited to try this foundation. I get extremely oily around my nose area and Chanel say this foundation is "Perfect for combination skin with a tendency to shine, this oil-free formula delivers a soft, natural matte finish with maximum staying power. Medium coverage looks impeccable and shine-free for up to 12 hours." Sounds great, right?

This foundation has a rather runny and sheer formula that's easy to blend and creates a lovely even finish but this flawless finish doesn't even last an hour on my skin. No matter what powder I use (I've even tried powder foundation over the top) it just doesn't want to stay on my skin. I do get oily around my t-zone but the rest of my face can often get pretty dry, which is where this foundation seemed to work well. Although it's meant to be a mat foundation, it is very moisturising, which I feel would be great for dry skin and it's also very buildable.

In all honestly, the only great thing I can say about this foundation is the fact it has SPF in but to me, that's not a key factor as I always where SPF on my face anyway.

Once I buy a foundation, I stick to using it until it's finished, even if I'm not all that keen on it. I think I somehow expect to find a way for it to work for me but unfortunately, this didn't. I've now finished it and I can definitely say, I will not be purchasing this foundation again, ever. I can see that it's a good high quality foundation but for me, it doesn't do what it claims to. For those with drier skin, I can see how it may well be worth the money but I've now been put off Chanel foundations entirely and shall now continue on my search for the perfect foundation.



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Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara review

Price: £1.99

I've purchased this mascara quite a few times now and it's one that I know I can always rely on and go back to when I don't feel like testing out any other mascaras. It has everything I look for in a mascara; it’s waterproof, cheap and the size of the wand is perfect. I tend to go for larger wands and although this isn't as big as I usually like, it's still a reasonable size and it helps the mascara go on easily.

Boots claim that 'Natural Collection Water Guard Mascara defines the lashes at the same time as being waterproof and smudge resistant.' and I can't say I disagree. It has never smudged when I've been wearing it but at the same time, it can easily be removed with a makeup wipe.

Below are my lashes after a couple of coats.



As you can see, it both separates and lengthens my lashes and isn't clumpy whatsoever.

At £1.99 I think it's worth trying out as it's not often you come across mascara that's so affordable and performs really great, too.

Natural Collection products are available from Boots; they have quite a range of mascaras so if you're not after a waterproof one, then I'm sure all the others work just as well.


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