Sunday 29 June 2014

Male Grooming - The Shave Doctor - Review

The Shave Dcotor range includes 5 products as pictured above.

Shave Oil £5.99*

Shave Creme £6.49*

Moisturazor £6.99*

Facial Wash - Pre Shave Facial Scrub £5.99*

After Shave Cooling Gel £7.49*

My boyfriend has been using the whole range as a 5 step process. First he applies the shave oil and leaves it for a few minutes to sink into the skin. Next he applies the shave creme and uses this to achieve a close shave. When he has shaved he applies the cooling gel to soothe the area. In between shaves he uses the daily moisturiser and the facial scrub to keep his face hydrated and to stop ingrown hairs.

As I have mentioned before, Lewis is not particularly interested in skincare, doesn't spend money on it or time. One thing he likes about this range is that it makes him take time over shaving, sort of like a pamper session! He says it slows the process down and makes him concentrate on shaving as he completes all 5 steps of the process. After his first shave with the range he commented that it makes a cheap razor feel like an expensive razor.

Lewis doesn't buy himself beauty products but he will mention things that he would use again if I were to buy them for his birthday or Christmas. Lewis doesn't shave particularly often so this set will last him a very long time however he would like it replaced as a gift. I asked him if there are any products he would drop from the range, for example just using another moisturiser or scrub, but he likes using the whole range as they compliment each other and would want them all again.

The full set can be purchased from the webiste for £27, saving £5.95 on the individual prices. I think this is a great price for a whole set and definitely affordable as part of a gift, esspcially since Lewis enjoys the products so much. A real winning product in our house and fully recommended for all your boyfriends.

shavedoctor.co.uk

*PR Samples

 

Monday 23 June 2014

Beauty Haul - Boots, Superdrug, Cohorted

I thought I hadn't been buying much recently but things just seem to slip in without me even noticing! This is a collective haul over 2 weeks.

3 of the above items are from Cohorted. If you haven't heard of this great new shopping site then you need to go and explore it right now! I have bought so many amazing products from it already, all at a fantastic price! I cannot recommend it enough.

Malibu Scalp Protector SPF15 £2.32

I had been looking for a way to protect my scalp from the sun and was told about this during a #bbloggers chat on Twitter. I picked this up in Superdrug at the above price but I believe it was on offer. I have actually already began using this and it's doing a fantastic job. My scalp doesn't burn and my hair doesn't look greasy - a real winner and such a bargain.

Estée Lauder Double Wear £28.50

I have used this in the past but it's just so painful parting with the cash that I have been trying to find cheaper alternatives. Eventually I had to admit that there is no foundation as good as this and I just had to bite the bullet and buy another bottle!

Dove Summer Glow £3

My nail technician raves about this product so when I saw it in Asda at this low price, I grabbed a bottle! She uses this once and her tan is really deep and lovely. I'm a little scared of it as it has no guide colour but I look forward to trying it out!

Urban Decay Naked Palette £26.60

Yes, you are seeing that price correctly! I have wanted this palette for so long but just can't justify £37 for eyeshadow! When I saw this on Cohorted I instantly snapped it up. I also had £6 of loyalty points so got it for a bargain £20 with free postage!

Collection Mardi Gras Lip Balm in Strawberry - Free in offer

I got this for free because Boots has a promotion on but these are usually £1.99 each. There are 3 available and they are inspired by the World Cup and the colours of Brazil. I'm a bit disappointed that they aren't tinted but it was free and you can never have too many lip balms.

Collection Volume Sensation Lipstick in Satin Bow £2.99

I picked this up in a bit of a hurry, thinking the shade looked lovely. When I got it home I discovered that I already have it! Annoying!

Collection Cream Puff in Fairy Cake £2.99

I have this in another 2 shades and I just love them! They smell amazing, the colours are lovely and they last for ages on the lips.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush £7ish

This was another Cohorted buy and I can't remember exactly what I ended up paying. I have lots of Real Technique brushes but this one never really interested me. I was recently speaking to a makeup artist who raves about this brush and was inspired to pick it up.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray £7ish

Another Cohorted bargain that I can't remember the exact price of. I have never really believed in setting sprays but I have read such amazing reviews of this one that I figured it would be worth a go!

Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream £10.99

I was never keen on BB creams but when CC creams appeared on the market I was interested as they appear of provide more coverage. This particular one has got fantastic reviews and it might be nice to have something a bit lighter to wear on warm days.

Bourjois Happy Light Primer £9.99

I don't always wear primers and I haven't tried many so thought it would be nice to add to my collection.

Bourjois Bronzing BB Cream £10.99

Ok so I realise I just said I don't like BB creams! I use the Bourjois Bronzing Primer everyday and intend to use this in the same way, under my foundation, just for a change.

 

If you would like any full reviews, just comment below :)

 

Saturday 21 June 2014

Salcura Shampoo and Conditioner - Review

I have always suffered with my scalp being dry and sometimes sore. Over the years I have tried several treatments, including steroids and tar shampoos from the doctors, but nothing has really worked. Most recently I have decided that more gentle shampoos are my best bet and the problem has settled down but never fully gone away. With the warm weather at the moment I need to be especially careful which is why I was excited to try this product.
I'm always sceptical when reviewing shampoos. Whenever I try a new one my hair seems to love it for 2 weeks, causing me to review positively, but then adjust and go slightly downhill! With this product I have actually used the whole bottle up, over a few months, so as to give a fair and thorough review.
Firstly the duo contain no harmful chemicals such as parabens and SLS. They also boast some impressive ingredients such as sea buckthorn oil. Sea buckthorn oil claims to reduce inflammation, calm and soothe skin and nourish skin cells. It also contains omega 3, 6, 7 and 9 which help rejuvenate skin cells.
Now on to my experience. Firstly I like the packaging. It's plain but sturdy and the lid pops up to allow easy application. I was surprised at first to see that the product is a really bright orange colour. This is even more unusual in a conditioner. The two don't have a strong fragrance but do have a light citrusy scent which is lovely and fresh smelling.
I have used several products geared at damaged scalps in the past and one thing I always find is that they tend to neglect your hair. Where my scalp has cleared up, my hair can become greasy or dry and lank looking. Salcura is not one of those products! I take a small amount of the shampoo, lather it up and concentrate on massaging it into my scalp. I then follow up with the conditioner, focusing on the lengths of my hair, and leave for 5 minutes before rinsing.
Within 3 days of using I started to notice the improvement of my scalp. The flakes became less and I couldn't feel the build-up of dry skin. With the improvement of my scalp I expected my hair to suffer but it really didn't. My hair still looked clean and in good condition. I continued this way for a few weeks and my scalp continued to improve while my hair stayed clean. I did find that it was slightly lacking in shine so I got into a routine of using my regular conditioner every 5 days or so to give it a little boost.
I have now finished the shampoo and have a few uses of the conditioner left. I am really impressed with this product, especially in a time when my scalp has been getting a little burnt by the sun.
Salcura Shampoo and Conditioner* are a very reasonable £7.99 each and can be purchased from salcuraskincare.com
*PR sample

 

Sunday 15 June 2014

You Beauty Discovery Box - June 2014

I love beauty boxes and have tried several over the last year but I soon tire of them or realise that I should be spending my money else where. They are a lovely treat but the are an expensive treat and always the first thing to go when I need to tighten my budget. Of all the beauty boxes I have subscribed to over the past few months, I have never been more impressed than by You Beauty Discovery. At the moment it is the only box I subscribe to and I can't see myself cancelling any time soon.

 

Firstly this box is less of a gamble because you get to choose 2 of the products that you are sent. The list always has a variety of products to choose from in full size and luxury sample sizes. With your 2 chosen products you are sent 2 extras. These are usually small samples or sometimes food. These add the surprise factor for those that like that element of beauty boxes. The whole thing is packaged nicely in a cute wee box which I use again. However the best part for me is the price. At £6.95 including postage this is by far the cheapest beauty box on the market.

 

Now for this months box:

As with most beauty boxes, this comes with a little booklet. The book is the same for everyone and so has information on all the products that were available.
I was really impressed with the added extras this month as they are both things that I will definitely use and not little sample sachets which will end up in a drawer! The first was this Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa mask. I have been using this companies masks for years and love them so this was a welcome addition.
Next up was this Compact Heart-shaped Face Cloth. I use 2 face cloths a day and so I need a lot of them to rotate while I wash them. I used to get these all the time when I was a kid and look forward to using this one!
Now for the products I selected:

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Lip Colour in Timeless Rose £9.99

It's always nice to see a makeup product on the selection so I instantly added this to my box! Two shades of this were available, the Rose which I chose and a brighter pink. I thought about choosing both but decided to be a bit more adventurous! This is an interesting product and unlike any other lipsticks that I have. The colour is applied using an applicator and stains the lips. When it is dry, the other end is a conditioning balm and helps keeps lips hydrated.

Rituals Zensation Organic Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Foaming Shower Gel 50ml sample

I tend to stick to makeup and facial skincare products from these boxes so decided to go for something a bit different this time. This is a decent sized sample which will provide plenty of uses and will be handy for swimming, the gym or wee trips away.

 

Overall I am really pleased with this months box and can't wait to see what You Beauty have to offer next month.

 

Sunday 8 June 2014

ERiiS for Sun - Sun Protection Milk - Review

Living in the Highlands of Scotland, sun cream has never been something I had to worry much about. With paper white skin I always used it on a nice day but nice days aren't very often. This last few weeks have brought us warmer days and more sun that I remember in a long time! Always keen to protect my skin, I have been using ERiiS daily now that the weather is nice.

The idea behind ERiiS is that it offers triple protection against UVA, UVB and infra-red damage unlike traditional sun protection products. ERiiS is available between SPF 6 and SPF 50. I opted for 15, medium protection, because I am rarely exposed to the sun!

ERiiS is paraben free, allergen free and water resistant. It is also suitable for all skin types.

So firstly, the packaging. The bottle is simple yet sturdy and the pump means easy and mess free application. I have had this bottle in my handbag for 2 weeks now with no spillage or damage to the bottle.

I have been using this product on myself, my partner and his 7 year old daughter. It is a lovely creamy consistency and leaves skin feeling hydrated and smooth. This product doesn't have that 'sun cream' smell and instead is almost scent free, with a mild and fresh smell to it.

The cream is gentle and has left no irritation, meaning it's fantastic for all the family. It absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn't leave any residue. This is great for me as I have long hair and hate when it sticks to the cream on my back and shoulders.

I have been applying this to the whole family every 4 hours or so and this is keeping our pale, scottish skin burn free! It's a lovely product to use and has impressive ingredients. I'm fully satisfied and would purchase again.

ERiiS for Sun is £19.99 and will soon be available from Superdrug.com

http://www.iridiempharma.com/en/

*PR sample