Elegant Touch Glue on Nails from £4.99 Sample Review

 

1984 is a year that will always stick in my mind literally!  I can't remember the day, the week or even the month, just that it was the year we had a school disco and I had my first slow dance. Unfortunately the dance didn't really go to plan. My childhood crush was dancing with my friend and, whilst I was grateful to even had been asked, I wasn't prepared when my red false nails, started pinging off on the dance floor. I can explicitly remember one of the bright red talons, clinging to the back of Craig's grey school jumper, and all my friends giggling away pointing at his back, whilst the poor boy was oblivious. I was 13 years old and out of all the memories I have at school - that is one of them.

Thankfully false nails have come a long way from then. Fast forward 38 years and it's probably the biggest growing industry in beauty there is. Every high street, small town has at least one salon propping up and that's not even including the home salons. For many of us, this is a monthly treat however, if like me, you can't afford to get them done, we can just pop to our local supermarket or chemist. Not only is the choice vast but they last - gone are the one hit wonders, these nails will last a good week, and are so easy to apply with just a few simple steps!

• To begin prep the nails, make sure all previous nail colour is removed alongside any moisturiser or oils that may have gotten into the nails. 
• Start by filing and buffing your nails to get them smooth and into a nice shape.
• Place hands in a bowl of warm water (you can use cuticle cream however, there is no need as the water will soften the cuticles naturally).
• With a hoof stick or cuticle cleaner, gently push the cuticles back.
• Now personally I prefer not to use a cuticle trimmer or if you do use very carefully.  Or simply use the blade to scrape the build up of dead skin. If you do want to actually trim the cuticle be extra careful as, like I have too often, you can end up cutting healthy skin and this can cause infection. So skip this step if you want to.
• Your nails will be ready now for the application of false nails. 
• Size them up on your finger nails before hand. 
• Apply the glue to your natural nail, angle the false nail on to your nail and simply press and hold for a few seconds.

Elegant Touch have a huge range of nail products to give you long lasting false nails. Not only do they have possibly the biggest range of false nails, in every colour, design and shape but they have all the tools too. They're my go to whenever I pop into Superdrug as I know that the quality of the tools are good - simply as they specialise in nails. I can also vouch that the nail glue is the one of the best on the markets - my eldest teen is a false nail addict and when I opened by package she tried to dive straight to the glue. It holds nails tight, and don't worry if you need to get the nails off - you can simply use the 'Get 'Em Off' Nail Polish Remover as not only does it remove all types of gel colour, it also removes false nails kindly without damaging the natural nail bed.

The Spring colours are gorgeous in store now, think peaches, creamy neutrals and latte shades. Prices start from just £2.99 for the glue, whilst the falsies start from just £4.99 and include glue too.  Check out the huge range here at www.superdrug.com

IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips Solid Serums RRP £25 Sample Review

 

I have a little confession to make - when the PR emailed me about the IT Cosmetics Pillow Lips Solid Serums, I said I was working on lip features (I am) however, the real reason why I was desperate to test the lip range was because a few years ago, I was sent their eyeshadow quad and so impressed by the pigment, it got a stand alone review in the press with more word count than the other top brands I was working with. The quality was amazing and so I knew I was going to love the Pillow Lips Solid Serums - and I do!

Pillow Lips are a '5 in 1' tinted gloss. Not just a veil of colour, these are top of the range lip treatments - in fact IT Cosmetics work alongside plastic surgeons and dermatologists to get the ingredients that deliver results. 

Lips give the first signs of aging away. As we get older we start to lose collagen and hyaluronic acid from our lips, which means that we naturally lose volume and plumpness. Fine lines from smoking, sun damage, dehydration start to develop and so it's imperative that we treat our lips with the kindness we give to our skin. With lips, prevention is key and that is why serums such as these are so good. Our lives are so busy now, and many of us don't have the time to apply layers of products to keep our lips in top condition. IT Cosmetics have solved that problem by developing beautiful shades with active ingredients that work. 

From bottom to top you have:-

• 11:11 - a gorgeous, deep, rose pink that is ideal for day or night, and suits all skin shades.
• Marvellous - my favourite shade, see below - this delicate, candy pink has a stunning iridescence that is ideal for summer, and looks amazing on light or tanned skin tones. 
• Gaze - a sheer plum shade that takes you from day to evening, it's glamourous and gives a beautiful deep shine without being full on colour.
• Humble - like the name suggests this is a shy, nude that again suits every skin tone. It enhances your natural lip colour and hides any imperfections by given a veil of light taupe.

The lip serums have amazing ingredients in them that have been chosen to give intense hydration. Some of these ingredients include:-

• Castor Seed Oil - contains an abundance of vitamins and essential fatty acids. These fatty acids help nourish the lips but also act as a humectant so stops moisture from escaping the lips.
• Jojoba Oil - easily absorbed into the lips, this oil contains vitamins and minerals that give intense hydration without leaving lips feeling greasy.
• Shea Butter - helps nourish but also is anti-inflammatory so helps soothe chapped, dry lips. Also has antioxidant benefits to help protect the lips from environmental pollutants.
• Soluble Collagen - gives a layer of water film over the lips so helps with hydration. 
• Punica Granatum Fruit Extract - aka Pomegranate Fruit Extract, contains lots of antioxidants and so protects the skin from environmental stressors such as smoke and pollution.

The great thing about these lip serums is that whilst you can go onto the website and use the interactive camera to try your shade, as the colours are a luminous light texture, they really do suit all skin tones and so foul proof when purchasing. Check out the rest of the range here at www.itcosmetics.co.uk

Urban Decay Vice High Impact Vegan Lipstick Sample Review RRP £19

 

I've always played it safe with lip colours, tending to favour the neutrals or just a gloss. However, my mother has never left the house without her bright lipstick on, and I have to admit the colour lifts her complexion. Sadly we lost my father a few months ago, and my mother has naturally like all of us been grieving. I have been incredibly worried about her and check in on her at least once a day. Today she rang me and said 'Molly I feel a little better, I have even put my lipstick on'. So there goes the power of a good lip colour. It can transform a mood with just one swipe and for many women is the building block of the day. Colour gives confidence, it changes personality and so it is never to be underestimated.

Today I'm reviewing Urban Decay's Vice lipstick in Figueroa Cream and Weho Cream. The lipsticks are vegan, cruelty free and not only delivers colour, but aids a preventative treatment for chapped and dry lips. Each lipstick is filled with nourishing Avocado Oil that can help prevent dry chapped lips, and also contains Aloe Vera to help with inflammation by soothing sore lips. 

The lipsticks themselves are cased in a sturdy, metallic case that makes applying lipstick a doddle. I didn't even need to look in the mirror (I was shooting the photo outside). The coverage on the lipsticks is full, creamy coverage and so just one swipe gave an instant colour with a slight satin sheen. This is by far the most flattering texture especially as we get older (matte colours tend to be very aging). The sheen helps plump lips and give the illusion of a fuller pout. Whilst the creamy texture hides fine lines that surround the mouth, without 'bleeding' into the lines.

The top colour is Figueroa Cream a beautiful, warm, coral that suits every skin tone especially medium to dark olive. It's the perfect colour for spring and is the perfect stepping stone if you want to break out of the neutral rut.

The bottom colour is Weho Cream this delicate neutral pink, is ideal for light to medium skin tones. It's a classy pink and one that doesn't make the teeth look yellow thanks to the neutral undertones.

Both lipsticks are long-lasting and perfect to ease you into the warmer weather. You can check out the rest of the shades and even try them on with the impressive interactive camera, here at www.urbandecay.co.uk

Floral Street London Poppy / Electric Rhubarb Travel Size Eau De Parfum Sample Review

 

It was only a few weeks ago that I had first heard of Floral Street, when I was kindly sent a candle to review. So impressed was I by the candle, that I delved into the website and took a look at their other products. Invitingly the reviews for the Eau De Parfum were so good, that I cheekily asked the brand if they could send me a couple to sample and review. Earlier this week I gratefully received 2 of their scents in Electric Rhubarb and London Poppy.

Now I am not a perfume snob, I have my favourites and I have my utter dislikes. Of course perfume is different on everyone, pending on their skin type (oilier skin types tend to hold scent more), and so what may suit one person, may not suit another. 

There are a few simple rules when testing perfumes, and whilst I've written more in depth of these in other features, here are some of the basics:-

• It is best to test just one a day, see how it sits on your skin as perfume has 3 layers of notes, top, heart and base notes. 
• When testing it's best to do in the morning, sweat etc can react with the scent and you want to see how it truly sits.
• Apply to your warm points such as wrists however, don't rub your wrists together as this can 'break' the oils.
• Fragrance is often classed by strength with Parfum being the strongest, followed by Eau De Parfum and then Eau De Toilette. 
• If you've had a curry or drunk alcohol then leave testing for another day - these can actually interfere with the fragrance.
• Don't have any rules, if you like a scent on someone then ask them. Or look at the notes in your favourite perfume and ask for recommendations of similar.

Right back to Floral Street. So I had spoken to the PR and mentioned that I love citrusy scents, it is always hard choosing fragrance when going in blindly. The first one I tested was the Electric Rhubarb, note both are priced at £25 for 10ml.

The packaging is an explosion of vibrant colour mimicking the colours of rhubarb. A light, sparkling mix of  white florals, Island Gardenia, Sandalwood mixed in with English Rhubarb and the saltiness of the sea air. Now I'd like you to picture this scene, my dog had just come rushing in, my kids were attempting to distract me and chaos seemed to be clouding down on me. Then I opened this up to test. For the first few seconds I was taken back and all I could say was 'ooh this is gorgeous'. Top notes are sweet, fizzy however, there is definitely the undeniable scent of the sea - and there I sat, still repeating myself of 'ooh this is gorgeous'.  I left it on for a few hours to see how the scent 'sat' and it blended in to a soft, woody musk. Not to heavy, just lightly nurturing. 

London Poppy is by far a more seductive scent. The packaging is sophisticated in it's similar glass, sleek bottle with an abstract poppy print. The fragrance echoes the print with it's floral notes and, whilst it has essence of Sicilian lemon and Florida orange, it smells more floral on my skin, as the notes of Jasmin and Neroli dominate. It reminds me of a warms summer evening, just as the sun is going down and as I let my memory escape for a few seconds further, I realised it reminds me of times spent in Southern Spain.

The award winning scents are vegan and cruelty free, use sustainable resourced ingredients and recyclable packaging. I have written up before on this company, so see previous blogs for more info however, I would like to entice you to check out their 5 star reviews on these fragrances. It appears that I am not the only one who has been impressed. They also send out a sample perfume with every order! You can check out the brand here at www.floralstreet.com

Heritage Store Castor Oil RRP £7.49 Sample Review

 

I can remember many moons ago I wrote a feature all about Castor Oil. Back then I actually had a hard time purchasing it to review, as it had been 'taken off the shelves' from many dispensing pharmacists. The reason being was that pregnant women were digesting internally to bring on labour, and naturally this is not what Castor Oil should be used for. As memory serves, I ended up purchasing some off Ebay of all places and wrote my review!

Thankfully it's now being sold online and you can purchase it from reputable companies such as Heritage Store - I was sent their 'Nourishing Treatment Castor Oil to review, which is vegan and hexane-free. For those that are wondering hexane is a solvent chemical often used in the pressing process. 

So why all the fanfare about this amazing 'healing' oil, well it really is just that - healing. The oil contains an abundance of ingredients that are rich in vitamins, such as vitamin E, fatty acids and Ricinoleic acid. These ingredients are known to be:-

• Anti-bacterial - good for acne prone skin, inflammation, wound healing.
• Anti-inflammatory - helps reduce redness, acne, eczema, puffy skin.
• The Ricinoleic acid is incredibly nourishing and hydrating. It helps banish dry skin patches and is also an excellent conditioner for both eyelashes and hair.
• Massaged into the scalp or the ends of your hair, it really improves the condition but can also stimulate hair growth due to the proteins it contains.
• As it's anti-microbial it can help with arthritic joints, soothe aches and pains.
• It makes an excellent nail treatment as nourishes cuticles and can promote nail growth.
• If your lips are dehydrated and flaky, just a small amount massaged in will soften lips immediately and remedy chapped lips.
• Makes the perfect moisturiser for feet, as it's anti-bacterial so helps fight bacteria and fungus infections.

The consistency is quite thick however, I like to put a small amount into my hands every night, I massage it into my scalp, press the excess onto my face, eyelashes and into my nails. It's a wonder product that I will always have next to my bed in my drawer. Many people dilute the oil with another carrier oil, such as coconut or almond to 'thin' the consistency however, I like to use it directly as it comes. If you are looking for a miracle hair growth, Castor Oil does help however, you do need to use it religiously every night for a month or more before you see a difference. 

You can purchase it here at www.amazon.co.uk