O.P.I Infinite Shine® Spring Nail Polish Review RRP £17.50

O.P.I is a well known trusted brand of nail varnish that gives the quality of a salon finish, it’s long been my favourite nail brand, indeed I bought Nail Envy when it first launched on QVC probably in the 90s! However, I am even more of a fan now they’ve launched their latest formula that includes ‘gel-like wear’ that lasts for up to 11 days. This gives the salon finish of a gel manicure without all the hassle of applying and removing. 

I have recently had major spinal surgery, and as soon as I could sit for 20 minutes (still struggling), I treated myself to a gel manicure at my house. I really wish I hadn’t! As the gel wore off and I, ignoring all the advice I give to others, picked the rest of it off I’ve been left with such damaged nails, that one of them is now glued as keeps splitting. All the drugs in hospital and the shock of the operation has had a huge knock on effect of my skin, nails and hair! So I was delighted to receive some of the latest colours in the new gel-like formula from O.P.I

A Sherbert Thing

A flattering soft, peachy tan shade that suits all skin tones, especially those with golden or warm undertones. It’s a universal colour and suitable for all occasions. 

Faux-Ever Yours

A beautiful opaque, dusty, pastel pink that looks gorgeous for brides, weddings and again a colour that suits all skin tones. It makes nails ‘pop’ if you have a tan but is also soft enough to wear for fair toned skin.

Ready, Sunset Glow

A soft, tangerine orange that is striking for your holiday. The colour immediately gives off vibes of summer, and makes a welcome change from all the dark, brooding colours of winter. It looks fantastic on dark skin tones and with a tan.

Strongevity

A true sky blue, that again will put you into that beach vibe mode. The stunning shade of blue is a show stopper for all skin tones, and a huge on trend for Spring Summer 24. It’s the perfect colour for your toes and looks amazing with white open toed sandals. 

Purple Reign

If you still love to have your darker, mysterious colours then this is a perfect upgrade for Spring. The pearlised amethyst shade is shot through with shimmering highlights of green and silver, and really catches in the sunlight. 

The colour is easily removable with nail varnish remover (no need for filing down and using strong acetone). There’s a huge range of 70 colours to choose from, all the products are vegan and cruelty free. You can check out the range by clicking the link HERE or by visiting major branches of Boots online or in store.

L’Occitane En Provence Barbotine Eau de Parfum 50ml RRP £70

 

I love sourcing unusual fragrances and it’s the biggest compliment when someone asks you what scent you are wearing. However, I always feel a bit possessive when sharing my scent secrets, as I like it to be signature and personal to myself. Unfortunately when reviewing perfumes, I obviously can’t keep the scent to myself, and so I’m reluctantly letting you on to one of my favourite scents. Barbotine by L’Occitane En Provence.

This delicately scented fragrance, is green, crisp with light florals and ideal as we come into the spring and summer. Its aromatic notes give an uplifting and mood enhancing scent. Notes are:-

Top Notes

Bergamot, Mint Leaves, Lily of the Valley

Heart Notes

Golden Button, Chamomile, Ambergris Notes

Base Note

Cedar, Musk, Sandalwood

The refreshing notes come from the Mint Leaves, this definitely comes through even into the middle notes. I can almost detect spearmint that makes it reviving and ideal to wear when you need a pick-me-up. The aromatic note of Golden Button is also known as Cotula Coronopifolia, and has bright yellow flowers that when crushed give off notes similar to lemon verbena. With the Chamomile, this gives a clean, crisp scent that slowly melts into the Ambergris, Cedar, Musk leaving a grounding, earthy scent. Whilst this has a light floral from the Lily of the Valley, it goes marginally undetected, and so I would say it is certainly a scent for both men and women. It is herby, invigorating and try as I have, the only fragrances that I’ve found similar is Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Herba Fresca and Massimo Dutti Chamomile and Sandalwood. 

There is a whole wardrobe of products from this range, so you can layer the scent including Shower Gel £17.50, Body Lotion £26 and Soap £6. You can purchase it by clicking on the link HERE

SBC Skincare Hydra-Collagen Replenishing Cream Cleanser 300ml RRP £21

 

If anyone was to ask my favourite part of my skincare regime, it’s always cleansing. I think it’s due to the massaging technique and that, even when I am pushed for time (every day), there’s something about cleansing that makes me focus on the ritual and being in the moment. 

This is why I love a cream cleanser and why I especially love a cleanser that is multi-purpose such as the Hydra-Collagen Replenishing Cream Cleanser. Not only does this remove all traces of makeup, dirt and grime but it leaves dry skin, feeling incredibly nourished.  This is due to the amount of active ingredients such as:-

• Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter - nourishing and hydrating, Cocoa is rich in photochemical (plants) that help protect against environmental aggressors such as UV rays. 
• Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter - has a high concentration of fatty acids that protect the skin against pollution, as well as being anti-inflammatory so ideal for skin conditions such as eczema. 
• Soluble Collagen - helps improve elasticity in the skin, making it appear firmer. 
• Passiflora Incarnata (Passionflower) Seed Oil - has an abundance of lycopene that helps protect against UV rays, so is naturally anti-aging. 
• Tocopherol (Vitamin E) - hydrating and acts as an emollient so binds water to the skin, making it appear firmer and plumper. 
• Carica Papaya Seed Oil - has a high concentration of vitamin C and Citric acid, making it a great ingredient to help give radiance, and also stimulates collagen production. 
• Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Seed Oil - ideal for those who suffer with dry, itchy, irritated and inflamed skin conditions. It’s highly moisturising containing poly and monounsaturated fats as well as other vitamins. 

The cream itself is rich and feels luxurious to apply with its creamy whipped texture. Once massaged into dry skin simply remove with a cotton pad, or as I prefer a warm wash cloth. You can also rinse off with warm water.

It leaves skin feeling incredibly soft and supple. The huge 300ml (it’s available in other sizes), will last for months too.

Made in the UK, the packaging is recyclable and cruelty free. To purchase and read the 51, 5 star reviews on this product click HERE

Salt Of The Earth Deodorant Review 75ml / 100ml Spray RRP £7.49

 

I have reviewed ‘natural’ deodorants in the past, and I do think that the market for these is becoming so much more popular, as we seek to become more in tune with what we put on our bodies. I, for one, am much more aware of how synthetics can affect our health. Only recently I applied a roll on deodorant from a main brand that I had actually used before, yet this time round it caused an awful reaction to my armpits.

However, what stands this brand out from many others is the formulation and that it’s geared towards menopause and hormonal sweating.  Again it’s no surprise that during menopause, many women suffer for years with excessive sweating and a more acidic odour, which leads to stinkier armpits. Unfortunately menopause also brings on sensitivity, and changes in our skin’s balance can create havoc with topical sprays/creams. Hence, my reaction to my usual deodorant that caused an awful rash to develop.

So how is the formulation different? In standard antiperspirants they’re designed to block the pores to reduce sweating. However, in these products they actually leave a very fine film of natural mineral salts on top of your pores, so do not block them. The ingredients have been carefully selected to work in harmony together to give optimum protection against body odour. 

These ingredients are 100% natural, vegan and also include Microbiome properties, which I’ve spoken about in the past, as they actively reduce bacterial that causes odour. Other ingredients include:-

• Potassium Alum - a natural alternative to harsher chemicals, this ingredient helps kill bacteria and forms a barrier that protects bacteria from multiplying. 
• Triethyl Citrate - 100% natural ingredient that inhibits sweat, it is suitable for all skin types including those who suffer with acne. 
• Sodium Lactate - is used as a moisturiser but also has antimicrobial properties, so helps prevent bacteria growth. 
• Magnesium Chloride - Magnesium is essential to help our nerve function and also helps regulate or PH levels in our body. We often lack magnesium especially when we sweat, and it plays a vital role in helping get rid of cramps, restless legs etc. It’s best applied topically as it’s transdermal so gets into the skin, and this is why it’s often found in bath salts etc.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder - calming, soothing and helps those who might suffer from chapped skin, especially under the arms. 
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - is anti-inflammatory and helps strengthen the skin’s barrier. It’s suitable for all skin types. 
• Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract - helps fight acne and ward off bacteria.

The ingredients slightly differ from the roll on to the spray however, both have Menthol, Clary Sage and Lavender, which gives a cooling and relaxing fragrance. Having tested it kept me completely fresh from 7.45am until bedtime, and that was having done a gym session! Oh and didn’t leave any white marks on my black gym top! Most importantly, the bottles are re-fillable so helps eliminate plastic waste. 

The brand is vegan, free from all chemical nasties including alcohol and are cruelty free. You can find out more about the brand, see the huge variety on offer or purchase by clicking the link HERE

Lab by Natura Siberica Biome Glow Booster Peel-Off Mask 75ml £12

 

I love a peel off mask but I am hoping as I’m testing this that it comes off in larger pieces, rather than those peel off masks that just flake, that’s just my personal preference.

Regardless as soon as I applied this it felt absolutely amazing. It’s cooling in texture (maybe as it does have alcohol), so you get a tight, toning effect immediately.

Before I show you the results, let’s have a delve into what is ‘Biome’. The skin is the largest organ on our body, and it’s filled with microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi etc - these are essentially your microbiome. Each person is different to what makes up their biome and will find that their bacteria lives in different places on their body next to someone else. The purpose of skin biome is to predominately fight infection.

So what does this mask contain, here’s just some of the ingredients:-

• Glycolic Acid - an exfoliator that comes from sugar cane, it works to remove the top layer of dead skin cells, leaving skin smooth.
• Maltodextrin - a plant based sugar often used in skin care as a binding agent. 
• Lactobacillus Ferment - helps prevent bacteria growth, is wound healing and protects against environmental aggressors. 
• Papain - a natural exfoliant that also helps prepare the skin by making skin more receptive to further topical products such as serums. It also helps reduce acne and keep blackheads at bay. 
• Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract - aka Sage, which has a huge quantity of antioxidants. It strengthens the skins barrier and makes it less sensitive to environmental factors such as pollution. 
• Thymus Vulgaris Extract - another bacterial fighting ingredient that helps prevent infection, inflammation and so ideal for acne. 

The product itself is a gold, shimmering gel that glides onto the skin. You only need a thin layer to cover the face. 

It is now ready to come off and I’m very happy that it is indeed a decent and satisfying peel off mask (check out my live on TikTok @askmollybeauty). My skin was left feeling smooth and as you will see from the live video (if you have TikTok), my skin was left glowing!

Excuse the glamorous photo, but you can see without any other product my skin is literally glowing!

You can check out the full list of ingredients, reviews and purchase by clicking the link HERE

Living Proof® Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray RRP £37 355ml

I stupidly didn’t do a before and after for my blog whilst testing this however, if you go on to my TikTok @askmollybeauty you will see the before and after live. I don’t say much on there except wow! For the simple reason that this volume spray is amazing!

Yes it is expensive, but for 355ml bottle it will last ages. It’s a new product from Living Proof® and guarantees to give 48% more uses from their usual sized bottle. It works in several ways, by giving volume, adding texture, is long lasting and also protects the hair from heat appliances.

However, texturising sprays have a lot more uses than just adding volume. They’re also an essential part of hair transformations, especially for ‘up-dos’ and wedding hair. If you need volume and for your hair to stay in place all day, then this product works amazingly well. It also gives enough grip for Kirby grips to stay in place, and the more you back comb and build up, the better the ‘scaffolding’ so to speak.

My hair is porous, frizzy, flat and lifeless but just a few sprays (these are quite strong gusts so you only need a few), and my head thrown upside down and it really transformed it. 

Whilst my hair probably should have been washed (it hasn’t for 3 days), the difference was amazing! You can purchase by clicking the link HERE