TANGLE TEEZER® REVIEW - HAIR PICK RRP £10 WIDE TOOTH COMB RRP £12 sample review

 

I can clearly remember the screams from my now 18 year old daughter. She was 3 years old and everyone in the swimming pool changing rooms was staring at me. 'You're torturing me mummy, stop it you're hurting me'. Rather than being reported to Social Services, instead I was met with many sympathetic glances. I was simply trying to gently detangle my daughter's long wet hair. It's a struggle most mums who have to comb their child's hair will empathise with. I'm going back around 15 years ago, and it was then that my darling hairdresser, suggested I get a Tangle Teezer® - I never looked back. My hairdresser, a close friend was actually a top colourist and Wella finalist at Errol Douglas in Mayfair. She introduced me to this newly launched (2007) miracle hair tool and I think I probably kissed her, as it quickly became my product I couldn't do without.

Wind forward those 15 years and Tangle Teezer® is sold all over the world. Poorly copied by so many other brands, it remains one of the best selling hair tools since it launched.  Branching out there are now many variants that cater for different hair types. Most recently launched are the combs specifically for detangling curly and coily hair. Coils are graded on their tightness and texture, and both these combs are suitable for 3C - 4C hair.

The Power's In The Teeth™ Wide Tooth Comb RRP £12

This duo sided comb is ideal for all hair types and especially those with wavy, curly, thick, afro, coily hair. It's the perfect tool to use in the shower, to comb through your conditioner or to use when your hair is dry. It makes detangling the thickest of hair types a doddle, owing to the shorter, denser two-tiered teeth, which helps remove the most stubborn of knots. 

The wider tooth comb, is perfect for all hair types and is great at providing defined curls without resorting to any frizz! The easy de-tangler is also kind to bleached, dry hair (like mine), as doesn't cause breakage. 

The Power's In the Teeth™ Hair Pick RRP £10

The Hair Pick is designed to use on dry hair to add lift and volume to curly hair. It's ideal for separating curls, lifting them from the root to create definition with volume. It gives tight, curly hair perfectly separated coils without causing any damage, and you can really get to the root of the hair. Whilst to be used if you've got naturally curly hair, it can also be used if you curl your hair with appliances and want to separate the curls without losing the style. I used this on a recent night out, having tonged my hair. My curls had much more volume and, as above not a hair of frizz in sight!

These tools are not designed to be used with heat however, there are other Tangle Teezers® that you can find on their website that can be used for styling. I use the original Tangle Teezer® to comb through my Cockapoo dog after he's had a bath! It keeps his fur knot free without any snagging! Check out the website here at www.tangleteezer.com

THE BODY SHOP VITAMIN C GLOW RANGE REVIEW

 

It's my daughters birthday next week and she will be 19.  As a single mumma money has always been tight but I do like to splash out a little on birthdays. When I asked her what she would like for her birthday she said 'mum I really don't need anything but I absolutely loved that Body Shop Vitamin C cream you gave me months ago'. Now my daughter often benefits well from the fact I write reviews, she gets her pick of the most expensive creams, but the one she utterly loves is The Body Shops Vitamin C range.  She seems to have good taste, as it was in 2011 that I clearly remember it was one of Kylie Minogue's favourite products too. I am a huge fan of Kylie so these little snippets of information stick in my brain, and after a quick Google search there was the article on her skincare regime at that time and The Body Shop Vitamin C was mentioned!

Luckily for me, (and for my daughter as she's about to get gifted for her birthday), The Body Shop have brought out their latest Vitamin C products in the 'Glow' range. Having a box of products that were waiting in line to be reviewed, I've had to crack on so I can give these to my eldest for her birthday in a few days! So they've jumped the queue!

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Glow Cleansing Polish 100ml £12

This facial polish is the perfect antidote to dull, dehydrated and skin that is in need of a good cleanse. The microfine scrub really delivers into buffing and cleansing the skin so that it's left feeling really clean and radiant. Ingredients include:-

• Coco-Glucoside - the base that is derived from coconuts ensures gently cleansing without stripping the skin.
• Cocamidopropyl Betaine - again derived from coconuts, this hydrating ingredient is ideal for sensitive skin, it helps remove impurities and is ideal for those who suffer with eczema.
• Perlite - an ingredient that is mattifying and has tiny spheres that help unblock clogged pores and eliminates bacteria.
• Jojoba Esters - aids in reducing dryness and flaky skin, is anti-aging and helps plump up the skin.
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate - derived from vitamin C, this helps give skin radiance and treats dull skin. It's skin brightening properties are ideal for tired and dehydrated skin conditions.
• Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder - calming, anti-inflammatory, this ingredient is ideal if you have been in too much sun. 
• Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract - aka Camu Camu Fruit Extract, rich in vitamin C and full of anti-oxidants that protect the skin from environmental pollutions.

The gentle gel formula feels rich and luxurious upon first application, and thus stops the fine exfoliation beads from being too intense on the skin. After massaging on to dry skin (for the sake of the photo I tested on the back of my hand), I applied a little water and it emulsified into a light lather, that left the skin feeling fresh and deeply cleansed. Without any other moisturiser my skin at this point was glowing. 

The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Revealing Serum 30ml £26

My daughter's going to love this part of her birthday present. Whenever I get asked the question 'where should I spend my pennies on skincare'? I always recommend on serums. Serums are packed full of active ingredients. One of the reasons why they often come in dark bottles, is to protect the ingredients from the sunlight to keep ingredients at their optimum. This serum is an absolute must for anyone who suffers with dull, tired skin that needs a good injection of radiance.

The light, delicate serum comes in dropper format, which is essential as you only need a couple of drops pressed into your face. Key ingredients include:-

• 3-0-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid - vitamin C, the key ingredient in a high quality and quantity that gives an immediate beneficial dose to the skin. Ideal for UV damaged skin, dull, dehydrated skin, dark spots, hyperpigmentation. Over time skin just doesn't look more even toned and radiant, but it gives the skin the defence it needs to ward off fine lines and wrinkles. 
• Propylene Carbonate - nourishing, excellent if you have dry, flaky skin, this ingredient delivers hydration and ensures skin looks and feels smooth. 
• Palmaria Palmata Extract - an algae that helps tone the skin and creates a micro-fine barrier to protect the skin and keep it hydrated.
• Bakuchiol - this potent anti-oxidant is derived from the Psoralea Corylifolia plant. It helps protect the skin from external aggressors such as the sun, pollution and exposure. It can also help prevent the signs of aging such as fine lines. 

You only need a small amount daily to get maximum benefits. It immediately sinks into the skin and leaves it feeling soft, glowing without any sticky residue. The active vitamin C is such a high quality/quantity you will notice results immediately, and from the evident rave reviews on the internet, will notice longer term results after a couple of weeks. 

The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Boosting Moisturiser 50ml £20

The product my daughter 'can not live without'. This has been amazing for her acne prone, teenage hormonal skin. She swears by it, and I've seen such a huge difference that she has gotten the confidence to finally be makeup free for work, and not cover her face with foundation! I wish I had before and after photos from when I gifted her this a few months back, but it really has made that much of a difference. She works hard on a pittance of an apprenticeship wage (under £4.50)! and this is the one product she spends her literally, very hard earned money on!

So what makes this moisturiser so amazing? Well key benefits are similar to the serum, it treats dull, dehydrated skin and gives skin that much needed glowing boost. It's ideal if you work long hours, work in polluted areas and yet is very gentle on all skin types including acne prone like my daughters. It's excellent if you suffer with hormonal breakouts and have oily skin as it comes in a light, gel format. It's moisturising without being heavy, so is ideal if you feel like your makeup can sometimes slide of your face. It is also a good formula to use in warm, humid weather conditions. 

Again you only need a small amount as it spreads thinly onto the face, but doesn't leave it feeling tight, just fresh and nourished. Ingredients are similar to the serum but also include:-

• Sodium Hyaluronate - this has a smaller molecule than the often talked about 'hyaluronic acid' so penetrates the skin even more. Skin is left hydrated for up to 24 hours and thus reduces flakiness and dry patches, leaving the skin feeling comfortable all day. 
• Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate - vitamin C, as above skin brightening and also helps stimulate collagen production. In this form skin is left looking brighter and more clarified. 
• Malic Acid - ideal for sensitive skin, this ingredient helps unclog pores, keeps bacteria at bay and acts as a gentle exfoliant.

As with all the products above they come in fully recyclable packaging, yes even the glass! Vegan and of course never tested on animals. I would urge you to look at their website - something I always think people should do to make their own mind up. I'm sent samples and have always written in an honest approach, but one persons opinion may differ from another. You will see that this range has a huge fan base! I'm off to wrap these up for my daughters birthday and will leave you to have a browse here www.thebodyshop.com

THE BODY SHOP AVOCADO CREAM BODY SCRUB 250ML RRP £18 SAMPLE REVIEW

 

I couldn't think of a better prop to photo this product, that is akin to how my skin is feeling from many weeks walking my dog (also in the background), in the heat. My skin is thirsty, parched, crocodile doesn't even cover it, just like the dried up piece of timber, it is simply very dehydrated.

I love a decent body scrub, one that is really gritty, does the job and where you notice an immediate effect and get instant results. The Body Shop Avocado Cream Body Scrub does just that. Some cream body scrubs can bit a bit mediocre, the granules are too gentle, or they come in a jelly that simply doesn't do anything. Not this one - this actually has plentiful of grit to make the difference without being scratchy or harsh, plus it's incredibly moisturising.

There are several ingredients that make up this super, creamy, whippable texture a pleasure to use, that not only ensures an enriching shower experience,  but that actually leaves the skin feeling soft, supple and incredible smooth. Some of these ingredients are:-

• Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter - contains fatty acids to ensure optimum moisturising and hydration. Vitamins that are healing and anti-inflammatory.
• Perlite - helps reduce the look of oily skin without dehydrating the skin. It's a mattifier so ideal if you suffer with excess oil on your back. It also has tiny spheres that add to the exfoliation process.
• Helianthus Annuus Seed oiol/Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil - non pore clogging, contains vitamin E an anti-oxidant that helps protect the skin from the suns UV rays and pollution such as smoke.
• Cetearyl Olivate - derived from the fatty acids of olive oil, this oil is non-irritating and nourishing.
• Juglans Regia Shell Powder/Juglans Regia (Walnut) Shell Powder - finely ground walnut powder is the prime ingredient to help slough away dead skin cells, and give skin a smoother and silkier finish. Helps brighten the skin and remove dullness.
• Persea Gratissima oil/Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil - rich in many vitamins and minerals, avocado is healing, nourishing and protects the skin.

You only need a small amount to make a big difference. As you can see from the photo the walnut shell is very fine, so a table spoon is plentiful to do your whole body. It emulsifies gently into a light, creamy lather. I prefer to use when my skin is damp not wet, so I rinse under the shower, then step away and apply on my legs (concentrating on my knees and ankles), and also my elbows. It also makes for a wonderful foot treatment. Add a few drops of peppermint oil to a basin of water, then after soaking your feet, apply the scrub and massage in. Your feet will look like new! Oh and it smells like the grass from a summer meadow. 

As with all The Body Shop products, this scrub is cruelty free, 100% recyclable tub and 96% of the ingredients are from natural origins. You can read the amazing reviews from other customers - all 5 star here at www.thebodyshop.com

FUDGE CLEAN BLONDE DAMAGE REWIND SAMPLE REVIEW 250ML RRP SHAMPOO £14.95 / CONDITIONER £14

 

Last week my hairdresser Jen came over to do my roots. We've been battling with them for a while, as I am evidently and undeniably now grey. Up until a few years back I'd been able to get away with being balayage brown however, it's been harder to upkeep the darker roots as I simply don't have the time or money to spend on dying my hair.  Jen took one look at my roots and said 'Molly I think it's time to blend in the grey and make you ash blonde, you can't fight it any longer, you have to go with it'. Reluctantly I agreed and as she slathered on the bleach, I said goodbye to the last of my brunette youth.

I have been waiting for this day, and have in the past years gradually built up with more blonde pieces and, as anyone would know with naturally dark hair, getting that perfect ashy shade is incredibly difficult.  Friends are kind and tell me my hair looks caramel, but truth is it looks tinged with orange. It's not that classy blonde I yearn for. I have in my bathroom every purple shampoo on the market, from Fanola, L'Oreal to the new Olaplex, and when I mentioned this to Jen she said 'Molly noooo, you need to be using Fudge, it's by far the best'!  Thankfully I know the Fudge PR and she very kindly sent me some samples to test and review..... and here I am now!

I've taken 2 photos before the process, without any lighting or filters. You can see I have some large bleach pieces and still quite a bit of warmth running through. Before I go into the process, I had asked my hairdresser, what makes Fudge stand out'. She explained that unlike many toning shampoos, 'Fudge doesn't leave the hair feeling dry'. As I delved into the ingredients list, I found it actually treats and conditions the hair, improves hydration and  armours the hair with ingredients to help cope with chemical treatments such as bleaching. The shampoos don't contain any sulfate, an ingredient that in the long term is very drying to hair. The products are cruelty free. 

Fudge's 'unique Opti-PLEX­™ technology penetrates deep into the hair core to reconstruct bonds after chemical, style and environmental damage, as well as weightlessly smoothing the cuticle'.  Ingredients include:-

• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein - moisturising, helps prevent split ends and nourishes dry, brittle hair. It's absorbed into each hair strand and strengthens to help protect against chemical damage.
• Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein - again moisturising and conditioning, helps protect hair against heat damage and environmental pollutions such as UV rays and smoke.
• Palmitamidoproplytrimonium Chloride - a long word, but simply this is an ingredient often used to help prevent hair from becoming static, it's smoothing and conditioning. 
• Guarana - contains caffeine that stimulates hair growth, and helps it grow stronger and faster. 
• Silicone Quaternium-22 helps protects hair fibres from pollutants, heat and chemical damage. A conditioning agent. 

Having used violet toning shampoos before, I know generally how to get the best from them. First of all don't be scared by the deep colour violet - this is used as it's the opposite colour to orange on the colour spectrum wheel. I also know that if you have very light blonde hair, then you only need to leave on for a minute. For the sake of this review I massaged on the shampoo liberally, and left for 4 minutes before shampooing out. 

Before starting damp your hair. I prefer to use it in the shower, then pile it on top of my head, whilst I shave, exfoliate etc and then wash off. As my hair had a lot of 'caramel' colour, I dampened my hair first then slathered on for a few minutes, before washing off in the shower. Now you can use gloves however, I found that it didn't stain my hands or bath unlike other toners do. I followed with a generous dollop of conditioner (probably too much you only need a teaspoon), and massaged this in mid lengths to ends, then simply rinsed out. 

You can see immediately how the roots look almost lighter, even when wet. 

The results speak for themselves and I was absolutely gobsmacked by what a huge difference it made - by far the best toning shampoo and conditioner I have used. My son walked into my room and said 'Mum you've gone all white...' (he's 14 he will say it as it is), my daughter came back from work and said 'Mum your hair looks lovely you've gone blonder'. After convincing her it was my shampoo she has now pinched it to tone down her highlights!

I don't use any filters and I've taken in the same place with as close as possible to the same lighting as the before photos. You can see the huge difference the shampoo and conditioner have made.  Not just to the colour, all yellow tones banished and in place streaks of beautiful icy white, but wow the shine is amazing - it felt like I'd had a salon deep heat conditioning treatment. 

I would recommend using the Fudge Clean Blonde Damage Rewind Shampoo and Conditioner, once a week. It's excellent if you've come back from holiday, been in the sun and a must if you like swimming! To keep the colour you've achieved then the Everyday Clean Blonde Damage Rewind Shampoo and Conditioner RRP £14 each is ideal. This duo will help keep the colour fresh and gently eliminate yellow/orange tones and product build up. Again it has similar ingredients to help keep the hair in good condition and improve hair health that may be damaged from bleaching etc. 

You can purchase from many stockists including www.amazon.com / www.lookfantastic.com / www.hqqhair.com /www.beautyexpert.com /www.mankind.co.uk / www.allbeauty.com / www.beautybay.com

I would also strongly suggest you go on to Fudge Professional www.fudgeprofessional.com so you read the five star reviews. I'm so chuffed with the results as not only does my hair look better, but it's also saved me money as often I would need a toner after a visit from Jen, and now I don't need one! Oooh and one final note - I did do an Instagram reel @askmollybeauty, so head over to have a look - please note as my daughter who has an A level in social media says 'I'm terribly embarrassing at reels', it's an age thing - but at least I try'! 

Elbow Grease® Washing Up Spray 500ml Sample Review RRP £1

 

Whilst I'm a 'Beauty & Lifestyle' Journalist, I do often get sent the odd product to test, that doesn't fall under the B&L umbrella and I think oh go on then why not. Those who know me well, know that had I not written about beauty etc, then I would certainly be reviewing cleaning products. I am admittedly a little OCD on cleaning, for example if I see sock fluff on the carpet it cannot stay there under any circumstances. If my granite has one smear then I have to clean the whole surface. So I was quite happy to give the Elbow Grease® Washing Up Spray a quick review!

The great thing about this product is you only need a tiny amount, and the concentrated nozzle spray means you don't end up wasting any product. First I tested on my coffee cup - I had purposely left the cup overnight so that it would need a small effort to get it clean. One spritz, no wait time and a little wipe and rinse and my cup was left gleaming. 

I did use with with the Elbow Grease® Scrubbing Pad as once wet it was easy to get right to the base of the cup. Combined both products made removing the stains very quick. Fragranced with a very light, lemon, refreshing scent, my cup was left sparkling white.

I then decided to give it a go on my very built up greasy oven door. You can leave the product for a minutes to let it work, but with me time is of the essence. I literally just sprayed, left for a few seconds and then again with minimal effort, and using the Scrubbing Pad, gave it a little 'massage' and wiped off. You can see for yourself the results - no it wasn't completely clean however, it certainly got rid of most the grease! 

There's a whole range available and whilst, I've not had time to review all the products sent in, I shall certainly be putting them to the test over the next month. Whilst there is a product for every purpose, you can also use this around most washable surfaces of the house such as bathrooms. 

 I've also had a look at the Google reviews something I often do with products, as I like to get customers opinions - most are 4-5 star reviews! For just £1 you can't go wrong! You can purchase here www.bmstores.co.uk