Styling Products -TRESemme - Heat Defence Styling Spray
Monsoon_morning 7/23/2011 12:40:00 PM
After reading the comments on here, I decided to try this, and voila! It works! I use it when I blow dry or curl my hair with tongs. I did something very silly the other week, after having not curled my hair for years, I got a new pair of tongs and proceeded to curl my (already dyed) hair without any protection. Needless to say the very next day my hair turned into straw, you know, when you get that horrible gritty feeling as you're trying to shampoo your hair when really your hand should slide right through it! Thanks to this though my hair is not only back to the way it was before, but actually in even better condition. I used another big name heat protectant and it was horrible, made my hair sticky, granted straight when I blow dried it, but didn't actually protect. With this product, it isn't sticky - unless you put too much on. I did so once with dry hair and it didn't feel great, or look great. A couple of sprays should do it, and then brush it or spread it around your hair. It works best when my hair is wet, I spray it on and blow dry it - I get poker straight, silky soft hair that smells delicious. Although I naturally have quite straight hair (I'm one of the people who have never owned or used straighteners) people at work were were like 'woah, have you ironed your hair to get it even straighter than before?' And what's even better than all that, is that I think it has actually made my hair healthier in general. How can I tell? Basically, the more I dye my hair, the more brittle and dry it gets, which means I have to wash my hair less often as hardly any grease builds up (kinda good cause I'm lazy, but it does mean I have dead hair that's so dry there's no moisture whatsoever!) However since using this and having round the clock shiny, soft, silky hair, I have to wash it more often (only by 1 wash a week btw), which means that my hair is back alive again! Natural oils are building up again lol. So taking everything into account, and the price and availability of this product, I'd say it's a winner, definitely over the other more expensive product I used (shhhh KMS flat out hot pressed spray!)
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Mavala - Scientifique
Monsoon_morning 10/13/2010 10:17:00 AM
This is a really good product that hardens nails, and though it comes in a small vial, it's more than enough and will last you a long while. A reviewer mentioned that it hardens nails, but doesn't strengthen it, which I found to be somewhat true. Of course, the harder the nail the stronger it becomes (as opposed to brittle and thin) but I did find that although my nails became rock hard, it still split at the base - potentially even worse than when it split normally! It says on the instructions to use it sparingly and only on the nail tip, but I am using it a few times a week on the whole nail so that it doesn't break in the way that I explained above (hard tip, weak base, it breaks and is painful!) Then again, I do work with my hands a lot for my job so that may be why my nails suffer more than most. Overall, a good product and good value for money.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Styling Products -TRESemme - Waterless Foam Shampoo for Dry/Curly to Normal Hair
Monsoon_morning 9/30/2010 6:50:00 PM
Simply put, this product doesn't do what it says on the can. It is supposed to be a quick fix in between washes, but it is neither quick nor does it fix. With most dry powder shampoo, you spray, give it a brush, and you're good to go. With this one, it comes out foamy and wet, and therefore you have to either towel dry or blowdry - neither of which is very quick to do. I found that it was so wet I couldn't really towel dry it quickly either; my hair came out even limper and greasier. So I had to blowdry, which produces slightly better results. But again, time consuming in the morning when you just need to get to work on time. That's the application downside, but perhaps the worst part is after all that it doesn't really leave hair any better than before. My hair still looks greasy and limp and, though I couldn't have thought it possible, when towel 'dried', looks even more flat and wet! As another reviewer said, the only upside of this product is the smell, which is tresemme nice. The whole point of this kind of shampoo is to save time and effort, and I don't think this product does, in addition to not actually doing what it's meant to do. AND it costs more than most dry shampoos! I expected more from a well known brand like Tresemme, but I'm going to stick with Batiste dry shampoos. I usually only comment on products which I think are brilliant or products which I'm really disappointed in buying - and this is one of the latter.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Barry M - Nail Paint
Monsoon_morning 6/14/2010 2:17:00 PM
First off, the colours Barry M have on range are amazing if you want a splash of colour, or nails to stand out. They don't have many neutrals, but Barry M's really a brand about colour I think. Of course you can get bright red, sunshine yellow, and green nail varnish by other brands but with barry m they are not only stand out colours but also stand out quality. Of high street nail varnish's they're not the lowest priced, but at £3 a pop they're hardly breaking the bank either, whilst offering the quality of varnishes in the £7-£10 bracket, so it's a winner for me! I have been wearing the bright, retro red for ages and it has only started to chip, 3 weeks in! I can't actually say that for other varnishes, even the expensive ones.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Scrubs -Boots - No 7 Micro-Dermabrasion
Monsoon_morning 6/14/2010 2:05:00 PM
Amazing, this is hardcore exfoliation for those who want a proper scrub and renewal, not just useless beads in an over-creamy lotion that ineffectually glides across the skin! That's not to say however though that this stuff is harsh and leaves the skin vulnerable and raw (although, if you do like it rough like me, you can use a teeny amount, rubbing it on the face for longer periods of time, on ultra dry skin, afterwards I feel a little raw but fresh and clean as a daisy!...but that's just me!) The beads are so fine you wouldn't even be able to tell it's an exfoliator by looking at it until you rub it on your skin and feel the hundreds of teeny tiny micro crystals. and that's when the magic happens, it may not look a lot but this stuff is pretty powerful. The instructions advise you to use it for a limited time, and that's wise as it's very potent. Afterwards though, skin feels refreshed, renewed and like a dead layer has been scrubbed off (I mean for real, not just what they tell you on every exfoliator) as well as soft, supple and smooth to the touch. For £10.50 as well it's a mega bargain in my opinion. I have not encountered a similarly effective or 'serious' type of exfoliator in the same price bracket as this, they usually cost a lot more. Also, Boots regularly do £5 off vouchers for the No7 brand, so you can get it easily for just over a fiver. I'm always on the look out for new types (not necessarily brands) of beauty products, and I have yet to see another that beats this.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Shampoo -Wella - System Professional Repair Shampoo
Monsoon_morning 2/17/2010 4:03:00 PM
One of the best shampoos I've used. I have long, bleached, wavy permed hair so you can imagine how dry and tangled it can get. However, this stuff not only gets rid of the tangles, dryness and leaves my hair feeling super luxurious and soft, but after using it the colour of my dyed hair comes back to life again, as good as the day I came out of the salon when I first had it done! All shiny and the colour very clear and light, incidently I was recommended the Wella SP range by my hairdresser. It smells lovely, light and refreshing like the clean packaging. It does cost but you definately get what you pay for. If you can afford it why not splash on it for salon style hair every time you shampoo! If you have heavily treated hair though, I really do suggest you do (and I'm sure your hairdresser has too suggested some professional brand of specialist hair shampoo/conditioner) as normal shampoo brands just cannot deal with the care my hair needs.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Boots - Natural Collection - Suntint Bronzing Powder
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 6:07:00 AM
This compact bronzing powder is amazing, especially for it's price of under £2! As with all Boots' Natural Collection make up range the colour range is very natural and gives your face a tinted glow, there are only 2 shades, Golden Glow (with a more beige undertone) and Sun Shine (with a slightly more pinkish undertone). As I have fair skin I use Golden Glow as a blusher rather than bronzer, swiping it across my cheekbones to give my face definition and structure. As it is a bronzer, you can constantly layer it- a few swipes for a healthy daytime glow, or more for evening with a layer on top of a real blusher with a pinkish tone (so my cheeks look more 'rosy' than 'muddy') I had struggled for ages with blusher, as I always end up looking like a Russian doll for being too pink! Bronzer works much better for my Asian skin tone (yellow) instead, topped up with a hint of real pink blush. This little number is light enough to layer and layer, so I define my cheekbones as well as other parts of my face, swiping it on the sides of my forehead, a light dusting over the centre of my face...and voila! Defined bone structure without looking like I've been attacked by red powder bomb! It's cheap, handy and effective, I love it!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -Neutrogena - Deep Clean Foaming Cleanser
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:49:00 AM
This is one of the best cleansers I've ever used. I am one of those people who love the 'squeaky clean' feeling you get after cleansing, where you feel like there's not a scrap of oil, dirt or make up left on your face and this stuff does the job! You only need a teeny tiny amount for it to lather in a lovely cleansing foam, I mean a tiny bit. So ordering it from abroad on Ebay is well worth it for me as I live in the UK and can't get it here. I first tried it when I went to Asia, tried to track it down over here but couldn't. It is gently cleansing, and has a lovely mild fragrance. I've tried using Neutrogena's cream cleanser which just left my face feeling like I had a layer of it still left on after I washed it off, but with this stuff your face is squeaky clean, you can practically feel your skin renewed afterwards, a bit like what happens when you use soap, but of course nowhere near as harsh. It's mild yet effective, and I feel refreshed after every use, I rather look forward to using it everyday! Shame you can't get it in the UK, I'll continue getting it from abroad.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Superdrug - 2True True Colour Eyeshadow
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:35:00 AM
Superdrug's own brand 2True is probably one of the cheapest brands they stock, and I use their 'True Colour Eyeshadow' in Shade No. religiously! I am generally a premium brand gal, but when it's dirt cheap and does the job why not? For things 'wet' cosmetics like foundation and concealer you need the top brands no question, but for dry products like eye shadow or blusher as long as you find the right shade and it's not too bad, there's not much difference! And this little baby is great stuff. There's not many shades to choose from unsuprisingly being a cheap brand, but what I do like is that they have 2 shades of black. And any brand with 2 shades or more of black is good in my books! A lot of brands on have a standard black that is really dark, but for this eye shadow they offer shade No.1 and No.2. I use No.2 as I love the smoky eye effect and like to gradually build up my eye colour. No. 1 was too inky black and severe, so I opted for No. 2 which is a fabulous grey/black, with a little hint of fine glitter.It comes in a little compact with an appliator, so you don't need to get your fingers dirty when you're touching up. It does the job and for under £2, it's probably the cheapest eye shadow you'll find on the market. What more could you ask for?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Superdrug - 2True True Colour Eyeshadow
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:31:00 AM
Superdrug's own brand 2True is probably one of the cheapest brands they stock, and I use their 'True Colour Eyeshadow' in Shade No. religiously! I am generally a premium brand gal, but when it's dirt cheap and does the job why not? For things 'wet' cosmetics like foundation and concealer you need the top brands no question, but for dry products like eye shadow or blusher as long as you find the right shade and it's not too bad, there's not much difference! And this little baby is great stuff. There's not many shades to choose from unsuprisingly being a cheap brand, but what I do like is that they have 2 shades of black. And any brand with 2 shades or more of black is good in my books! A lot of brands on have a standard black that is really dark, but for this eye shadow they offer shade No.1 and No.2. I use No.2 as I love the smoky eye effect and like to gradually build up my eye colour. No. 1 was too inky black and severe, so I opted for No. 2 which is a fabulous grey/black, with a little hint of fine glitter.It comes in a little compact with an appliator, so you don't need to get your fingers dirty when you're touching up. It does the job and for under £2, it's probably the cheapest eye shadow you'll find on the market. What more could you ask for?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lipstick -Rimmel - Lasting Finish - Asia
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:19:00 AM
I usually never wear lipstick as I like to keep my lips au naturel and focus on the eyes, cheeks, eyebrows etc. Wearing lipstick, I thought, only made my quite full lips look pouty and I end up looking like a doll or about 5 years old and raided my mother's make up box. Usually I stick to clear lip balm, and then only to keep my lips from being dry! That is before I found the perfect lipstick shade. This shade is absolutely gorgeous, I can only describe it as natural but not ineffectual, a rosy-beige-mauve, creamy but not shiny, a very natural, healthy, classy colour! Just right for daily wear, or add on more coats for a more dramatic but natural evening look. Gives my lips colour without the tacky gloss of lipgloss, and without the heavy colour of most lipsticks. Looks like a very expensive shade, like something from MAC or Bobbi Brown, but costs under £5. What more could you ask for?
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Polishes -Boots - No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:09:00 AM
I am giving this a high mark because of the perfect shade, Highland Mist (55)! It's a lovely light pink, coral, beige classy colour. However, I hate the smell of nail polish and this stuff reeks! I would've expected it from a cheap brand but No 7 can be quite pricey and these babies aren't cheap. Another plus is it dries relatively fast,and remains chip proof longer than other varnishes I've used. The range could do with more colour choices.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Makeup Remover -Simple - Conditioning Eye Make-Up Remover
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:04:00 AM
Cheap, effective and, well, simple! Fragrance free so I don't get the stinging that I sometimes get with perfumed eye make up remover. I want only the gentlest, most effective things on my eyes, and being cheap too, this Simple eye make up remover does the job. What's not to like?
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Clarins - Beauty Flash Balm
Monsoon_morning 1/2/2010 5:01:00 AM
Though expensive, you get what you pay for. I use this as a primer before I put on make up, you will notice your face (or make up over it) is instantly smoother and clearer/brighter. You only need to put a thin layer on, and you get a brighter/tighter complexion. I give it a 4 rather than a 5 as when I use it before make up, I need to IMMEDIATELY add on the make up. If I leave it for a couple of minutes, when I rub on my foundation I start to get little flakey bits coming off. Other than that you can practically feel the quality (and price!) of this product on your skin, top stuff.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Blush -Boots - 17 Blush Powder
Monsoon_morning 12/29/2009 2:01:00 AM
For it's price, around £3, this blusher exceeds many that cost more. I have clear, pale skin, and so blush can sometimes look too fake making me look like a russian doll! I have struggled to find blush that has a natural shade, that only gives a healthy colour and contours my face well. The colour range of 17 blush is excellent, which is even more surprising considering the price range. I use the shade Nude, and only need a little amount of it for colour as the pigmentation is very concentrated. I usually use it over bronzer as I like to first have shadow over my face to contour the cheekbones, and then add 17 blush on the apples for a healthy, rosy glow. Sometimes, the blush can be so good I don't need foundation, just a swipe of colour to give me face life and I'm good to go!
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No