Pixi Glow-y Lip Oil Sample Review RRP £14

 

I have a love/hate relationship with lip oils. I love them as when we get older, a dewy lip is by far more flattering than a matte shade and I dislike them, because they can cause lip colour to bleed into our fine lines, and on a blustery day my hair often finds itself stuck to my lips. So I am forever on the search for that perfect, non sticky, non tacky lip oil.

Today I think I have found the perfect solution!  Pixi Glow-y Lip Oil is not just a lip oil to get super, shiny lips. It's actually a lip treatment that conditions your lips and prepares them for lipstick application, as well as being an anti-aging treatment. 

They come in two flavours Mint-y and Dream-y. Mint-y as you may expect has a refreshing mint flavour for daytime use, whilst Dream-y has a subtle lavender scent for the evening. Both are clear in colour and have the same non-sticky texture. The roller ball design means that bacteria doesn't enter into the product, unlike many 'pot' design treatments, which are my bug-bear (pardon the pun). 

As mentioned above these are not just to give your lips a dewy sheen, they both contain active ingredients such as:

Mint-y

• Mentha Arvensis Leaf Oil - anti-inflammatory, cooling and anti-bacterial.
• Avocado Oil - hydrating and can give the illusion of fuller lips. 
• Jojoba Seed Oil - contains an abundance of vitamins and minerals, to help nourish and repair dry, cracked lips.
• Meadowfoam Oil - full of nutrients that help create a barrier on the lips to lock in moisture.

Dream-y

• Lavandula Hybrida Oil - anti-inflammatory, soothing and healing for dry, sore lips.
• Grape Seed Oil - nourishing, full of antioxidants, helps protect the lips from environmental pollutions and UV rays. 
• Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil - helps stimulate collagen for a plumper looking pout!

They get a huge thumbs up from me, as give a nice dewy sheen, not an oil slick and hence kept my lips feeling soft and supple all day. I loved them applied over my lip pencil as gave a very long lasting colour, but also just applied on their own in the photo! You can check out the rest of the range here at www.pixibeauty.co.uk

MONAT Damage Repair Hair Range Sample Review

A good hair day can set us up for the day, make us feel more confident and boost our self esteem. It can make us have a swing in our step, and if someone pays a compliment on our new colour, style or texture it can really have a positive effect on our well-being.

My hair rarely gets these compliments, maybe for the colour however, post menopause it is fine (albeit lots of it), highlighted blonde to within an inch of it's life and is usually in need of a good trim - and not just using a pair of nail scissors when I fancy chopping a fringe in. I am naturally dark haired however, for the past few years as the grey comes through at an alarming rate, it's been easier to keep it balayage blonde. Not my choice, but far less hassle than the constant box dying. Of course with that comes the price of damaged hair.

A couple of months ago, when I broke my ankle I was sent the new MONAT Damage Repair range to review. Now I do like to give products a good month of testing, especially when they cost quite a bit of money (this is a luxury range), as I want to see the difference before and after. However, I am also going to tell you that there is no point taking before and after photos, as quite simply it's always going to look better on an after photo as usually has been blow-dried and brushed through. I don't use filters, I refuse to deceive people, especially when I know what it's like to waste money on products which don't work, Instagram and influencers drive me mad for doing this. 

The Damage Repair consists of 4 products. Bond Support Shampoo; Bond-Building Hair Treatment; Bond Support Masque and Bond-Fortifying Hair Leave-In-Créme. Each product can be used alone or used as a treatment system to strengthen damaged, broken hair. The products are all vegan and contain quality active ingredients, hence reflecting in the price.

Damage Repair Bond Support Shampoo £40 237ml

I first used this in February, I knew that come March I wanted to have some bleach, white pieces put in my hair and I had a feeling my hairdresser was going to talk me out of it. My previous visit she had told me to 'up the conditioning, as my hair was brittle in places'. This visit she remarked on how healthy my hair felt and gave me a whole head of white highlights, and asked what I had been using! First of all, the shampoo smells utterly divine, aromatic, fresh owing to the fragrance of neroli, orange flower and woody notes. It's a fragrance all in itself and carries it's way across the whole range. The texture of the shampoo is, as would expect with the price, the ultimate in luxury - thick, creamy and a small amount gives a rich lather.

The company claim various excellent success rate statistics however, as always I am interested in the active ingredients.  From reading the back of the bottle, I was incredibly impressed, packed full of active ingredients (far too many to mention), but which include:-

• Sunflower Seed Oil - rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid, proven to prevent hair breakage. Makes hair more elastic and resilient to harsh elements. Can also help itchy scalps and dandruff.
• Adansonia Digitata Oil - Baobab Oil - this amazing ingredient is packed full of fatty acids, vitamins and is proven to help stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. 
• Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract - also known as Monoi oil and used in many luxury products to help moisturise and nourish dry hair. It's also anti-inflammatory and so helps scalp psoriasis. 
• Mauritia Flexuaosa Fruit Oil - Buriti Oil - this exotic oil is brilliant at restoring elasticity to the hair. It helps control excess oil production and strengthens the hair.
• Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil - an oil that again helps restructure the hair and promote cell growth. Regular use helps thicken the hair.
• Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil - rich in Beta-carotene, and vitamin A, carrot oil helps improve scalp health and strengthen hair follicles.

Damage Repair Bond-Building Hair Treatment £40 134ml

This serum does to the hair what serum does to our skin, it feeds it with healthy nutrients to help promote hair growth and encourage follicle stimulation. It contains Monasome™ (in all of the products), as well as Desert Date Oil and Rejuvabeads®. Simply apply for a few minutes after shampooing and rinse, for hair that feels instantly stronger. So what are these magic ingredients:-

• Rejuvabeads® - this amazing technology uses micro-encapsulation to help mend split ends and prevent breakages.
• Monasome™ - is a trademark technology for delivering ingredients for instant results. Hair breakage is reduced by 97% and hair bonds are strengthened.
• Desert Date Oil - makes hair feel supple and renewed. Is high in amino acid and vitamin B2 and helps produce the protein keratin that builds up our hair. 
• Red Algae Extract - full of essential fatty acids, that promote hair growth and thickness.

Damage Repair Bond Support Masque £54 134ml

I have been using this once a week and the results speak for themselves. You only need a tiny amount applied to mid-length and the ends to really nourish and strengthen the hair. It's thick in texture and has the same divine fragrance as the rest of the products. The buttery, cream texture is a dream to apply and you only need to leave it on for 3-5 minutes to really penetrate each strand. 

Whilst this has the same technology as the above, active ingredients also include:-

• Black Spruce Bark Extract - rich in anti-oxidants that protect the hair from free radicals and environmental pollutions such as UV rays, harsh chemicals, smoke etc. It contains many B vitamins including B5, known to help colour fade.
• Coconut Oil - helps seal split ends, instantly giving it a lustrous appearance. Can aid dry, flaky and itchy scalps. 
• Vegetable Derived Keratin - this ingredient is a must if you have your hair coloured, permed, straightened. It helps protect the hair from harsh chemicals and heat treatments. It gives hair that shine and glossy feel.

Damage Repair Bond-Fortifying Hair Leave-in-Créme £38 134ml

This rich leave in treatment, is ideal for use before any heat treatment and especially if you have been by the pool or are out in the sun. It's the perfect companion to take with you on holiday to ensure that your hair stays in tip top condition. I applied just a smidgeon as a little goes a long way. You can see from the texture that the cream spreads to a light oil that is just needed on the ends of the hair.

Just a small amount applied gave my hair brilliance and really made the highlights stand out. You can see the shine yourself, note as mentioned earlier I haven't blow-dried my hair and not even brushed it! My hair is naturally wavy and so there is some frizz however, you can't deny that shine!

Ingredients are very similar to the above but also contain Argan Oil. This wonderful oil has many benefits for the hair including:-

• Preventing breakages
• Sealing split ends
• Promoting a healthy scalp
• Reducing itchiness, dandruff, eczema and psoriasis
• Preventing hair loss
• Moisturising and nourishing.

The whole range is a luxury range but as mentioned in this case you definitely get what you pay for.  If you like to spend out on your hair then I would absolutely recommend this brand. I would also recommend it for those that are menopausal, going through hormone change, experiencing brittle hair through stress, on medication, lead an active lifestyle that exposes hair to harsh elements (swimming, skiing etc) and those who simply over-do it on the bleach like myself! You can see more details here www.monatglobal.com

L'Occitane En Provence Verbena Range Sample Review

 

I think we all underestimate the power of fragrance. Fragrance doesn't just make us 'smell nice', it has the power to change our moods, to nurture, to awaken. It can bring back hidden memories so powerful that it can stop us in it's tracks. All I have to do is smell the rain hitting the earth, when I'm in the woods for my eyes to smart with tears (reminds me of my father who recently passed away). So powerful is fragrance that it can heal our minds mentally and promote a feeling of well-being.

The Verbena range at L'Occitane, alongside the Shea Butter is a fragrance that for me, does just this. In 2014 I had a full on breakdown, following the end of my marriage and facing life as a single parent. The Priory called it 'Adjustment Disorder'. All I can remember is that for the weeks following (I was inpatient for 10 days), I would drop the children to school, then go back to bed and just cry. As I slowly started to heal, I looked for ways to lift my mood, to give me energy, hope even, and that is when I re-discovered the Verbena range.

It's sharp, citrus scent revitalises the most tired and physically drawn out minds. The fresh lemon scent awakens the spirit and without sounding too 'poetic' it really does put you on the first rung of the ladder, when all you want to do is stay inside and not face the world. 

I craftily asked my lovely PR's if they would send me some samples to review, but the truth of it is - as a single parent, I can't afford to treat myself as every spare penny I get goes on the children. However, next month it is my 50th,  I wanted to feel a bit special and I knew that rather than gift my samples to family and friends for birthdays etc, I desperately wanted to pamper myself with this range on my birthday. 

Verbena Shower Gel £17 250ml

The Verbena Shower Gel will transport you to the Mediterranean orange and lemon groves. You only need a tiny amount on a body puff to produce a heavenly lather that provides mass bubbles that cover the whole body. First thing in the morning it will set you up for the day, and last thing at night it's the perfect wind down. Ingredients include:-

• Citriodora Leaf Extract - helps condition the skin and is a mild astringent, so can help minimise the look of large pores.
• Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil - an essential oil that helps control the production of sebum and therefore is good for oily, acne prone skin types.

You can also purchase in the re-fill size packaging, alongside an aluminium bottle and so makes the product environmentally friendly.

Verbena Foaming Bath £28 500ml

The perfect unwind after a stressful day. Again you only need a small amount to produce an oasis of bubbles that will slow down an over-worked mind. As with the Shower Gel, the scent of delicious orange and sharp lemon is revitalising and perfect for warm summer days. I broke my ankle a few months ago, and still suffer a lot of pain, especially in my leg muscles - this bubble bath is the perfect antidote for tired, aching and stressed out muscles.  Active ingredients are similar to the shower gel however, with the added bonus that simply a small amount scents the whole house - more than my candles! It comes in an aluminium bottle that can be re-cycled and so environmentally friendly. 

Verbena Body Lotion £25 250ml

To make the fragrance last all day, finish off with the lightweight body lotion. The lotion sinks easily into the skin and so is easy to apply without using arduous arm muscle. Often I don't have time to sit and massage in for lotion to disappear, this lotion simply disappears and leaves skin feeling soft, supple and smelling completely edible. Ingredients include:-

• Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil - Grape Seed oil contains high levels of linoleic, an omega 6 fatty acid, which help control acne prone skin types. It's anti-inflammatory and is a good source of vitamin E, helping protect the skin from environmental pollution. 
• Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - again full of essential fatty acids that help oily skin types and also helps retain the skins elasticity. Sunflower Seed Oil also has a high amount of magnesium, that flushes out bacteria and germs making this a good anti-bacterial oil.
• Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract - often used for it's anti-inflammatory properties, and is ideal for those who have redness or suffer from skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

The range is simply divine, it makes a wonderful treat for yourself or a present for anyone who needs a little uplift in their life. In the past I have gifted a shower gel or lotion, wrapped in tissue paper and it has been very gratefully received. You can check out the 5 star reviews and the rest of the range here at www.uk.loccitane.com

The Body Shop White Musk Eau De Toilette RRP £16 30ml

 

I turn 50 this year, to be precise on the 2nd June born on the Queens Coronation Day. This year whilst everyone else will be celebrating the extra bank holiday, I will be celebrating the fact I've made it this far. My journey has been very tested however, through trials we learn wisdom and with wisdom we grow...so I tell myself.....

Anyway I've been a beauty writer now for over 25 years - starting this journey whilst working in the City, writing online side for a large direct beauty sales company as their Beauty Editor and 'Agony Aunt'.  Following this, I then have been writing 7 years for the press and on the radio. Now as life takes me into a new chapter, time is short and so I concentrate mainly online and across social media platforms. I've been reminiscing of late, and so it only seems apt to weave this into my reviews, and as such I will be focussing the next few weeks on products that have 'stood the test of time', products that I love so much I have always reverted back to. Kicking off this is The Body Shop White Musk fragrance.

I must have been around 17 when I first started wearing Dewberry (now discontinued) and White Musk. To this day, White Musk is still one of my favourite scents, and one that I am often asked 'ooh I love your fragrance, what is it'?  Often we are so inundated with campaigns of new fragrances, each one adding in a new trend (this decade wood notes have really had their shine). So it's nice when the archived scents make a return (I so wish they would bring back Dewberry).  

White Musk is a sweet, nurturing, soft scent. It's slightly playful and floral with notes of aldehydes and jasmine. Think summer strolls in the Mediterranean, where the heady jasmine vines wind there way around white washed walls. The base notes of sensual musk, leave a delicate soft scent that's clean and light. It's very floral but not sickly so, as the musk gives it a slight edge. You only have to look at the reviews online, to see that it has a very loyal fanbase!

As with all The Body Shop scents it's cruelty free and vegan and comes in a recyclable bottle. You can purchase this here at www.thebodyshop.com

it Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Blush Sample Review RRP £25

 

I've written before on this brand and it's definitely becoming one of my firm favourites. As I had mentioned in my previous posts, the makeup is not just 'superficial colour' but is actually a skin treatment. Today I have tested the Bye Bye Pores Blush. 

Often when we use makeup on our skin, it can clog our pores and cause pimple outbreaks, as well as irritation to the skin. These blushers are the answer to anyone who has enlarged pores, oilier skin types but who also suffer with sensitive skin.

The range has been produced with the help of plastic surgeons, using the best of ingredients to help minimise the look of pores and imperfections. The powder has a 'blurring' technology that means powder won't settle into fine lines or pores, and so the result is a fresh glow without makeup congealing into the oils on the face. 

So what makes up the magic formula - well ingredients include:-

• Hydrolyzed Collagen - helps improve skin elasticity and hydration.
• Hydrolyzed Silk - promotes a smooth complexion and helps the skin retain moisture. 
• Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract - anti-aging, anti-bacterial and is excellent at calming down redness in oilier prone skin. Also has a toning effect, so helps minimise the look of pores. 
• Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil - aka sunflower oil, contains fatty acids and so incredibly nourishing for dry skin types. 
• Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract - Grape seed helps cell turnover, an ingredient that promotes skin regeneration, and is also used to help combat and prevent breakouts. 
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract - cooling, anti-inflammatory and toning. 

I tested both Sweet Cheeks and Je Ne Sais Quoi.

The colours look slightly darker on this photo (so I've taken more below) however, lets talk first impressions. The packaging is what I would expect from a product that costs £25. It's sturdy, has a decent 'snap' lid and a good sized mirror so you can see your face clearly. The texture is incredibly soft, you can't really describe it as anything other than fine silk - I used my finger to test rather than a brush and it simply just glides on with the lightest touch. 

I have taken the photo with swipes on my arm and on my fingers. It's difficult to see however, Sweet Cheeks is a beautiful warm, pink that is shot through with multi-dimensional gold tones, it's subtle but picks up in the light so gives that inner radiance.  Je Ne Said Quoi is a delicate natural pink, soft and unassuming, more suited to lighter skin tones. I would say that the Sweet Cheeks is better for darker skin tones however, both blushes are so fine in pigment that the colour is buildable and so would suit everyone.

You can see in the photo taken in more natural light that there's almost a satin sheen to both blushers. I think both are beautiful and would hard choose to decide which colour I would go for. I think the darker pink is gorgeous with a tan, especially as we come into summer so the sun can pick up the shimmering, gilded tones. The natural pink is delicate and gives that light pop of cheek health. Whilst a blush, you can also apply to plain gloss or Vaseline for a personalised lip and cheek tint - the colours look stunning! 

You can purchase here at www.itcosmetics.co.uk