Self Tanners -Superdrug - Solait Moisturising Gradual Tan Body Lotion
zoomusicgrrrl 5/5/2013 1:56:00 PM
I use gradual tan body lotion most mornings, and have stuck with the St Tropez version for years (both the light/medium and medium/dark versions). My only real issue with St Tropez gradual tan is that the lotion is quite thick, so I end up using a large amount each time to get neck to toe coverage. Then, one day, there was a three-for-two offer on Boots No7 so I tried their gradual tan. I found it spread much more quickly and easily and moisturised my skin, but I wasn’t overly keen on its high mineral oil content. Liking the texture, however, I decided to check out some of Superdrug’s versions. I purchased Solait gradual tan in both light/medium and medium/dark versions. Each has a lightweight, easily spreadable texture, but this comes from grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil (as well as dimethicone), as opposed to the paraffinum liquidum of the No7 version. I like the summery coconut smell, too. The ingredients are identical other than the fact that the tanning ingredient (dihydroxyacetone) in the light/medium is listed eighth, but is sixth in the darker version. (Incidentally, dihydroxyacetone is the eleventh ingredient in the light versions of the St Tropez and No7 gradual tans.) For that reason, I would recommend buying the darker one only, as it’s just a little deeper than the light one (which barely shows up at all on my fair skin.) So, a pleasant-smelling product, that smoothes over the skin with ease, and sinks in quickly, delivering a (very) subtle warmth to light skin types. And for about £5 for 200ml in the UK. Not the best gradual tans I’ve used (the colour each one delivers is lighter than expected and wanted), but decent enough to warrant a repurchase, especially to take the edge off winter-pale skin. INGREDIENTS: Light/Medium Aqua, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate citrate, dihydroxyacetone, phenoxyethanol, betaine, parfum, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, ethoxydiglycol, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice powder, stearic acid, isohexadecane, dimethiconol, caprylyl glycol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, squalane, polysorbate 60, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, phytic acid, potassium hydroxide, citric acid Medium/Dark Aqua, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, glyceryl stearate, dihydroxyacetone, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate citrate, phenoxyethanol, betaine, parfum, camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract, ethoxydiglycol, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice powder, stearic acid, isohexadecane, dimethiconol, caprylyl glycol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, squalane, polysorbate 60, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, phytic acid, potassium hydroxide, citric acid
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Monoi de Tahiti oil
zoomusicgrrrl 4/21/2013 2:19:00 PM
I'm using the 'Tipanie' (frangipani) version at the moment, which I bought in order to compare it with Elemis' Frangipani Monoi Melt. I'm not a huge fan of having to warm up my oils to liquefy, but such is the nature of coconut oil. And actually, the feeling of warm oil smoothed into the skin is delicious - so, worth the extra hassle. Also, being in solid form makes it such an easy product for travel. This version has the same main component as the Elemis version (ie coconut oil), and becomes just as silky when melted. The biggest difference I find is that the fragrance of this version is a lot lighter. Now, I love Elemis body oils, but their fragrances can be a bit 'screechy' if you're not a fan of OTT florals. (Personally, I can't get enough of amped-up exotic florals; I'm the sort of woman who'd bathe in Fracas if she could! But I understand they are headache-inducing in some people.) So, this Monoi de Tahiti version is a lot more subtle, making it a good daytime choice that won't clash with perfume (unlike the Elemis version which I'd reserve for before bed.) In fact, it has a soft vanilla note on my skin. Nothing too noticeable, though (I'm NOT a fan of sickly sweet smells!) My skin is normal, rather than dry, but the oil soaks in fast and leaves it feeling soft and nourished. I give my skin just a light coating and love that it is lightweight, not greasy. But I think dry skin would find it very soothing, too, if it were applied more liberally. I like this version of Monoi, which I think is reasonably priced (at about £10 per 120ml in the UK, compared with over £30 for the 100ml Elemis version). I like that I can get it in a portable plastic bottle (which is more compatible with slippery oily hands than Elemis' glass-bottled version!) The only drawback of the packaging is that it retains heat less effectively than the Elemis glass, so the oil doesn't get as warm. However, I understand the product is also available in glass bottles, so I can't knock it for that! Finally, while I love the strong fragrance of Elemis' Monoi, I can certainly live with the lighter scent of this version, and get my fragrance hit through perfume instead. INGREDIENTS of Monoi Tipanie: Coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil, Tiare (Gardenia tahitensis) flower, Parfum, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) INGREDIENTS of Elemis Monoi Melt (for comparison): Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Fragrance (Fragrance of Plumeria rubra Flowers), Amyl cinnamal, 7-hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl-o-hydroxybenzoate, Linalool, Dipentene (D-Limonene), Lilial
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Cleansers -Superdrug - Vitamin E Hot Cloth Cleanser
zoomusicgrrrl 4/13/2013 10:44:00 AM
Superdrug's Vitamin E range has never caught my eye. At a glance, it appears so bland and cheap and uninspiring. But lately I've been on a mission to find hot cloth cleansers to rival my Liz Earle and Elemis versions but at high-street prices. I still enjoy my Cleanse and Polish, and like my Pro-Radiance cleanser even more, but what I've noticed is a striking similarity in the main ingredients between these products and their lower priced counterparts. INGREDIENTS For comparison purposes, I tend to focus on the first five ingredients listed, as these are present in the highest quantities (so pretty much determine the efficacy of the product.) The first five ingredients in Superdrug's Vitamin E cleanser are: AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN. The first five ingredients in Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish are: AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETYL ESTERS. Not a huge difference!!! The drawback, when you move to the bottom of the ingredients list of the Superdrug cleanser, is that it contains a bunch of parabens. Likewise, some people might object to the inclusion of (potentially irritating) eucalyptus oil in the Liz Earle version. So, swings and roundabouts maybe. (NB The first five ingredients of the Elemis version are: AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, SHEA BUTTER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN. Again, strikingly similar to the Superdrug version!!) TEXTURE/CONSISTENCY AND SMELL Superdrug's Vitamin E cleanser has a thick creamy texture, more akin to the Elemis version. I certainly find it spreads more readily than the LE version, which I find quite stiff. I'm enjoying the cocoa butter smell, which makes a nice change from the LE eucalyptus, and is certainly preferable in my opinion to the clove smell of Eve Lom's cult version! I think I like the smell of Boots No 7 hot cloth cleanser most of all, but of course smell is so subjective. Superdrug's cleanser comes supplied with a muslin cloth. While it won't win the battle of the thread count, I find it a reasonable size, comfortably abrasive, and effective at swiping away the product. I have probably a lifetime's supply of LE muslins anyway (which are denser and softer), so it's of little note to me. PACKAGING My least favourite cleanser packaging is the jar type, which I find a bit of a faff. I like that the Elemis, Liz Earle and No 7 versions are in pumps. (No 7 probably has the best design, as you can see the product running out.) Tubes are fine, too. I've found Soap and Glory's Fab Pore cleanser easy to use and to transport, and likewise, Superdrug's Vitamin E version is in a tube. It's easy to administer the desired amount, with no mess or hygiene issues. It's also cost effective because a squeezy tube means you can get out every last bit. EFFECTIVENESS I have combination skin. My cheeks are normal, but my T zone is prone to oiliness. However, I trialled a hot cloth cleanser from Marks and Spencer's Pure range recently and it seemed to have made my skin drier than normal, with some flaking in the cheek area. The first couple of days of using the Superdrug version did nothing to improve my skin: it remained dry and taut. That was when I went makeup free, so the product was only being used as a cleanser applied directly to bare skin. I wondered whether the inclusion of denatured alcohol (fifteenth listed ingredient) was keeping my skin dry. However, I found that the cleanser seems to work better when I used it to actually remove makeup. My skin feels softer and smoother, with dry patches reduced. (This of course could just be a case of my skin recovering of its own accord after stopping using the Pure cleanser.) I like to double cleanse, the first time to remove makeup, the second as a treatment. I enjoy doing this with my pricier cleansers, too, but the Superdrug version retails at £5.99 for 200ml (when at full price), so it doesn't feel too extravagant! I've experienced no breakouts when I've double cleansed like this, despite not using toner afterwards. My skin has felt particularly supple when I've double cleansed in the evening and followed it with some Omorovicza night cream. (The creamy cocoa butter of the cleanser just seems to work in harmony with the buttery texture and marzipan smell of the moisturiser. I find, incidentally, that a tiny amount of the night cream gives better results on my combo skin than a thicker layer.) VERDICT This cleanser is aimed at normal and dry skin types, but using a double cleanse method works well to keep my combination skin happy. I'm not keen on the inclusion of parabens or denatured alcohol, but I love that the main ingredients are comparable with those of pricier versions. I also love that it is so readily available in the UK, and that it is an affordable option. So far, it's probably my second favourite high-street hot cloth cleanser (Soap and Glory's version remains my favourite.) I'll continue to use my LE and Elemis (partly because I've stockpiled!), but will certainly enjoy mixing it up with these cheaper versions. FULL INGREDIENTS: AQUA, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, THEOBROMA CACAO SEED BUTTER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN STEARATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SWEET ALMOND OIL, PARFUM, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, VITAMIN E, PANTHENOL, ALCOHOL DENAT., PEG-35 CASTOR OIL, POLYSORBATE 20, HORSE CHESTNUT SEED EXTRACT, VITAMIN A, INOSITOL, VITAMIN B5, VITAMIN F, VITAMIN H, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ISOBUTYLPARABEN, CITRIC ACID.
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Skincare - Body -Elemis - Evening Blooms Dry Body Oil
zoomusicgrrrl 4/11/2013 1:28:00 PM
Elemis is hit and miss for me. I tend to prefer their facial care products over their body products - despite it being a spa brand! I've enjoyed using their Frangipani Monoi Melt, though having to warm up the product to liquidise it could be a pain. And though it smelt and felt heavenly on the skin, it was basically over-priced coconut oil with fragrance added! That said, it was delicious to use. Likewise, this body oil has a heady fragrance and feels gorgeous on my skin. And by 'heady' fragrance, I mean 'strong'. Personally, I love strong florals, but know that some people find them headache-inducing. The fragrance, according to the bottle, comprises jasmine, osmanthus, ylang ylang and vanilla. It's strong as I apply, but quickly mellows and just leaves the skin delicately perfumed. Unlike the Monoi Melt, Evening Blooms is in liquid form, so no having to heat it up to use. This is because the main ingredient is sunflower oil rather than coconut oil. Yes, I loved the feeling of warm oil on my skin, but EB is great for fast application on skin right out of the bath or shower. My skin is pretty normal, and drinks this in, but I think the oil would be soothing on drier skin types, too. It's marketed as a 'dry' oil, so isn't greasy and film-forming - just makes skin silky smooth and scented. I do feel that Elemis products can be over-priced. And their body care items are things that I enjoy receiving as gifts, but am less keen to purchase - because although they feel and smell great, there are other cheaper brands with more impressive ingredients lists and which give equal results. Therefore, I've checked 'yes to repurchase' more to signify 'yes to re-use and enjoy if received as a gift'!! Ingredients (apologies for any typos): SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, KUKUI SEED OIL, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, FRAGRANCE, CAMELLIA OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, BENZYL BENZOATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, CINNAMYL ALCOHOL, CITRONELLOL, EUGENOL, ALPHO-ISOMETHYL IONONE, HEXYL CINNAMALDEHYDE, LILIAL, LINALOOL, HYDROXYISOHEXYL 3-CYCLOHEXENE CARBOXALDEHYDE
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Moisturizers -Omorovicza - Rejuvenating Night Cream
zoomusicgrrrl 4/11/2013 12:29:00 PM
I usually find that night creams are too rich/heavy/greasy/pore-clogging for my combination skin (normal cheeks, oil-prone T zone), so I tend to just put on a serum before bed, or an anti-ageing day cream without SPF. I was using a day cream from this line as my night cream, and liked it, so was curious about the Rejuvenating Night Cream. It has a soft, buttery texture and colour and a smell of marzipan, no doubt because of the plum almond oil! It went on smooth and felt so lightweight, sinking in immediately and just leaving my skin with a soft sheen. I love that it soaked in so readily, rather than sitting as an oily film on the surface, as many night creams tend to do. I love the inclusion of natural ingredients, such as the carrot oil and hazelnut peptides which are meant to boost elastin and collagen production, and the fact that it is free from synthetic colours and fragrance (despite its beautiful butter-yellow appearance and sweet almond smell!), petrochemicals and parabens. And, of course, there's something so romantic, too, about the first listed ingredient being Hungarian thermal water, rather than just regular water!! My skin isn't *transformed* with this cream as such, and I'm not sure it performs better on me than, say, Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream, but it's certainly a contender! INGREDIENTS: Hungarian Thermal Water, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Stearyl Heptanoate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrolyzed Hazelnut Protein, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Phenoxyethanol, Mannitol, Sodium Lactate, Malpighia Punicifolia (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance, Chlorella Vulgaris/ Lupinus Albus Protein Ferment, Yeast Extract, Linalool, Geraniol, Potassium Sorbate, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Cinnamyl Alcohol, Ascorbyl Palmitate.
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Pressed Powders -TheBalm - Sexy Mama
zoomusicgrrrl 4/11/2013 12:04:00 PM
A good powder - I liked it, though not to the point where I'm desperate to repurchase now that I've run out. I only use powder as a mattifier for my oily lids or as an eyeshadow base, and to set under-eye concealer. (Occasionally, I'll use it to anchor lipstick, too). My point is, though, that I use it predominantly only on/around eyes, as I don't like to powder over my base (I prefer to blot away T-zone oil instead). And for my purposes, it performs quite well. The coverage is good enough that I can dust it onto my eyelids and get away without putting a coloured eyeshadow on top - it just gives me a decent neutral base. However, I find it quite a 'powdery' powder, so can't be too heavy-handed when picking some up onto my brush. It's a little heavier than I'd like under my eyes, though lasts quite well throughout the day. It's definitely a good option for those seeking coverage, rather than a sheer, 'invisible' powder - though, I think this makes it best suited to lighter skin tones, rather than a universal shade. The packaging is pseudo-Benefit, which I can take or leave. Being cardboard book-style means it gets a little shabby when I tote it around with me, but the magnetic closure stays tight. So it was quite nice not carrying round a plastic-lidded product which I normally ended up cracking! So, overall, a powder with decent oil-control properties, that didn't oxidise ,and was gentle and non-irritating even around the eye area. Just a bit 'powdery' for my liking, and not giving my skin the lightweight 'invisible' finish it promised to deliver. Therefore, I'd possibly repurchase, but it certainly wouldn't be my first choice! Ingredients: BORON NITRIDE, CORN STARCH, POLYETHYLENE, SILICA, ISOEICOSANE, ZINC STEARATE, PTFE, STYRENE/DVB CROSSPOLYMER, POLYISOBUTENE, DIMETHYLIMIDAZOLIDINONE RICE STARCH, COTTON POWDER, SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE. MAY CONTAIN MICQ, CI 77491, CI77492, CI77499
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Martha Hill Orange Body Oil
zoomusicgrrrl 4/9/2013 11:12:00 AM
I tend to buy more of the Evening Primrose and Lavender version of this body oil, purely because I like to use oils most of all after a bath before bed. However, the orange is a great AM option, certainly in the summer. The ingredients are very similar to the EP and L body oil, so chances are, if you like one, you'll like the other. Retails for about £7 for 250ml, which I consider great value for such a lovely product. Ingredients: Vitis Vitifera (Grapeseed Oil), Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Prunus Persica ( Peach Oil), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot Oil), Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose Oil), Citrus Sinensis (Bitter Orange Oil), Tocopherol.
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Skincare - Body -Unlisted Brand - Martha Hill Evening Primrose and Lavender Body Oil
zoomusicgrrrl 4/9/2013 11:07:00 AM
A lovely gentle lightweight oil which my 'normal' skin absorbs fast. I find a little goes a long way, though even if I've applied it excessively, it's still gentle and comfortable on my skin. A short ingredients list, featuring no artificial colours, fragrance, primary petro-chemicals or parabens. In fact, it comprises only six carrier oils, one essential oil and vitamin E preservative - talk about all killer, no filler! Love it after a hot nighttime bath to leave my skin soft, supple and subtly scented with lavender. I've suffered no irritations, using this from neck to toe - in fact, I've found it to make a soothing after sun option when applied liberally to my skin. And, priced at about £7 for 200ml, I don't mind being generous with my application. INGREDIENTS: Vitis Vitifera (Grapeseed Oil), Prunus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Prunus Persica ( Peach Oil), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot Oil), Buxus Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose Oil), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender Oil), Tocopherol.
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Marks & Spencer Pure Instant Radiance Hot Cloth Cleanser
zoomusicgrrrl 4/9/2013 10:16:00 AM
I love hot cloth cleansers, and this one appealed to me because: 1) It has 95% natural ingredients; 2) It's without artificial colours or synthetic fragrance, parabens, silicones, or mineral oil; 3) It's manufactured in a British eco factory; 4) It's widely available in the UK and retails for under £10 for 200ml. I've been using it to cleanse BARE skin while on holiday from work, so cannot comment on its efficacy at removing makeup. However, after twice-daily usage for about a week, I find that it really does not work for my skin. There are things I love - the texture is a rich lotion that glides well over skin. It comes in a pump bottle, which is great for hygiene reasons and for convenience (though, the pump on my particular bottle takes a while to dispense enough product.) I really like the muslin cloth it comes with, as well; it is a generous size and comfortably abrasive. But, for me, the negatives make this a definite no for repurchase. With the first couple of uses, my skin felt glass-like - incredibly deeply cleansed and smooth. However, this glass-like feeling descended into tautness, so that my skin felt stripped of moisture and suppleness - becoming tight and uncomfortable, even when followed immediately with moisturiser. I have combination skin, with normal cheeks and an oil-prone T zone, but this product finally made my skin dry and visibly flaky. At which point, I obviously admitted defeat. A glance at the ingredients list reveals three different types of alcohol, though the top two are merely thickening agents rather than considered irritants. Also, there are a bunch of essential oils which I suppose might be drying - but I'm certainly no chemist, and my skin often enjoys products with essential oils! Either way, the formulation left my skin (which doesn't even suffer from dryness or sensitivity usually!) parched, so it's not a product I could recommend. INGREDIENTS: AQUA, COCOS NUCIFERA OIL, C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE, ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL, BEHENYL ALCOHOL, CAMELINA SATIVA SEED OIL, GLYCERIN, BENZYL ALCOHOL, SODIUM POLYACRYLATE, ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE, STARFLOWER SEED OIL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, QUILLAJA SAPONARIA WOOD EXTRACT, TOCOPHEROL, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, PARFUM, CHAMOMILE FLOWER OIL, LINALOOL, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, GERANIUM OIL, PETITGRAIN LEAF/TWIG OIL, CITRONELLOL, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE, ASPARTIC ACID, SODIUM CHLORIDE
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Lotions/ Creams -L'Occitane - Cherry Blossom Hand Cream
zoomusicgrrrl 4/9/2013 9:41:00 AM
This is one of the lightweight L'Occitane handcreams - ie it contains shea butter, but not at 20%. Therefore, the texture is more of a glossy lotion, than a thicker more nourishing cream. A pleasant enough scent - not one that I consider 'to die for', but pretty without being overpowering, sickly or cloying. Recommended for normal rather than dry skin types - a pretty, feminine, gentle lotion, but not a troubleshooter for dry or irritated skin conditions. INGREDIENTS: WATER, GLYCERIN, ISONOYL ISONONANOATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, SHEA BUTTER, CETYL ALCOHOL,MODIFIED CORN STARCH, CYCLOMETHICONE, BITTER CHERRY EXTRACT, COCONUT OIL, BEESWAX, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, TOCOPHEROL, XANTHAN GUM, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT, CHLORPHENESIN, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, CETEARETH-33, FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, BUTYLPHENYL, METHYLPROPIONAL, LIMONENE, LINALOOL
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Bronzers -Unlisted Brand - W7 The Bronzer (matte compact)
zoomusicgrrrl 4/6/2013 3:49:00 PM
I like to warm up my neck and decolletage with a little bronzer, and all I ask is that it be non-shimmery, a natural brown (not orange!), and reasonably priced. This W7 compact ticks all boxes for me. I liked their (Hoola-style) 'Honolulu' boxed version, and this compact also performs well on my skin, despite the ingredients being different. In fact, I prefer the plastic, clear lidded, flip-top compact - it feels more sturdy and substantial (than the cardboard box version), and is more portable. It also remains aesthetic enough, with its gold and black animal print trim. What I like best, though, is that it gives me a gentle tan effect for under £2 (per 14g compact). NB One lippie off for the fact that I find this bronzer to be less pigmented than the 'Honolulu' version. It comes out quite light and, whilst this makes streaking/blotching less likely (I barely need a mirror to kabuki it onto my neck and chest), it also makes the bronzer less applicable to a range of skin tones. INGREDIENTS: TALC, MICA, MAGNESIUM STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, ISOPROPYL ISOSTEARATE, DIISOPRYL DIMER DILINOLEATE, PETROLATUM, SILICA DIMETHYL SILYLATE, PROPYLPARABEN, METHYLPARABEN. May contain: CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491
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Styling Products -Schwarzkopf - SILHOUETTE Colour Brilliance Hairspray super hold
zoomusicgrrrl 4/5/2013 4:31:00 PM
Love this - think I even prefer it to Elnett, which I've always bought and considered the 'gold standard'. The hold is superb, but it doesn't make my fine hair feel overloaded. I've never experienced any flaking of the product, or irritation to my skin. I've purchased the various strengths of 'Silhouette', and the pink is probably my favourite, along with the gold. (The pink is for colour-treated hair, the gold is for 'strong hold for fragile hair - and they seem to perform similarly on me). Works out reasonable in the UK if you can get hold of the 750ml size (I pay about £5 for this size from an online retailer).
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Skincare - Body -L'Occitane - Pivoine Flora Hand Cream
zoomusicgrrrl 4/5/2013 2:18:00 PM
This is a nice, lightweight hand cream with a pleasant enough, though unremarkable, floral smell. Actually, it would be more accurate to describe the product as a lotion, as it has a much lighter texture compared with L'Occitane's hand creams that contain 20% shea butter. This lotion also contains shea butter, but less of it - it's the third listed ingredient, rather than the second as per the 20% versions. It has a higher quantity of glycerin instead, which is reflected in the glossy, light texture, in contrast with the more opaque, thick white texture of the 20% creams. Of course, the lotion texture makes it easier to spread and faster to absorb, but you compromise, of course, on nourishment and moisturisation. I love to have a variety of L'Occitane tubes around me, and tend to choose the lightweight feminine florals when my hands just need a little dose of moisture, reaching of course for the richer 20% shea butter versions when my skin needs a bit more TLC. Certainly not an essential product for me, but a pleasant and easy to use lotion for 'normal' skin types. INGREDIENTS WATER, GLYCERIN, SHEA BUTTER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GRAPESEED OIL, DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE, CETYL ALCOHOL, PAEONIA LACTIFLORA ROOT EXTRACT, COCONUT OIL, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT, GRAPEFRUIT PEEL OIL, ROSA DAMASCENA FLOWER OIL, FRAGRANCE, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, BEESWAX, TOCOPHEROL, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, CHLORPHENESIN, XANTHAN GUM, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, SODIUM BENZOATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, BENZYL SALICYLATE, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, CITRONELLOL, CI 17200/RED 33
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Lotions/ Creams -L'Occitane - CREME MAINS Hand Cream
zoomusicgrrrl 4/4/2013 2:22:00 PM
L'Occitane does some lovely body products, and their hand creams are great. I've just finished a large tube of the 'Honey' version, but I like to keep tiny tubes of various fragrances in different handbags, in my desk drawer in work, by the side of my bed etc. The 'Honey' version I'm reviewing is a thick white cream that contains 20% shea butter. Although it is dense, I find it sinks in easily and doesn't feel at all greasy - which is probably my biggest bugbear when it comes to handcreams. It smells really sweet, and the scent lingers on my skin. I think I prefer some of L'Occitane's floral varieties - not really being a gourmand girl - but that's of course, just a matter of taste. I tend not to wear the honey version as my day time handcream, but it's lovely for a comforting shot of moisture before bed, or if I'm lounging about the house. I get an instant dose of soothing hydration on my winter-ravaged skin, though I don't find it CURES dryness. So, while I don't find it a HEALING handcream when my skin gets really dry, it works very well as a maintenance product, to help in the upkeep of soft, supple skin. Ingredients (apologies if any typos!!): WATER, SHEA BUTTER, GLYCERIN, DIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, RAPESEED STEROLS, COCONUT OIL, ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL, HONEY EXTRACT, CETEARETH-33, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, PHENOXYETHANOL, BENZOIC ACID, DEHYDROACETIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, FRAGRANCE
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Cleansers -Unlisted Brand - Martha Hill Mimosa Hydrating Cream Cleanser
zoomusicgrrrl 4/4/2013 1:30:00 PM
This won a Natural Health and Beauty award in 2010, and I tried it because I liked the matching moisturiser (which I'd originally had free with a magazine.) It's described by the company as "A creamy, rich and gentle formula [which] effectively removes everyday grime and make-up, leaving skin smooth and comfortable, soft and supple." It is certainly creamy, but I don't find it at all heavy - in fact, the texture is quite light and mousse-like. So, despite being aimed at 'dry/mature' skin types, it is compatible with my combination (normal cheeks, oil-prone T zone) skin. I don't much like having to scoop cleanser out of a tub, but it is also available in a smaller size as a tube (though, works out more expensive that way - £3.60 per 30ml, compared with £9 per 100ml jar). It is a lightweight, airy cream that spreads easily over the skin, and makes light work of even full makeup, when wiped off with a muslin cloth dipped in comfortable hot water. I apply it directly to my made up skin (not wetting my face first), and massage it in to all areas, including lips and eyes. It does sting a bit if it gets into the eyes, but no moreso than most products. And it's nothing that a splash of water doesn't cure. I've just used up a 100ml tub, and found I got through it quite quickly. But I think I was using too much product - a little goes a long way, but I just loved the luxury of slathering it on! The smell is beautiful, courtesy of the 'actiscent hydrafleur'. According to the company, this fragrance is a "formulation designed to restore and maintain your skin’s moisture balance by inhibiting the effects of haluronidase, the enzyme that reduces the production of natural hyaluronic acid". Not sure about the science of it, but it smells divine! All in all, a lovely cleanser, that is lightweight and non-greasy, removes makeup, leaves my skin soft and hydrated without clogging my pores, and smells great. Not my favourite cleanser - I prefer the thicker cream texture and more deep-cleansing action of my Liz Earle and Elemis versions - but I'd happily repurchase. INGREDIENTS: AQUA, HYDROGENATED POLYDECENE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE , CETEARYL ALCOHOL, GLYCERIN (Vegetable), PERSEA GRATISSIMA (Avocado) OIL, PHENOXYETHANOL, STEARIC ACID, TRIETHANOLAMINE, PARFUM (hydrafleur), ACACIA DECURRENS (Mimosa Absolute) EXTRACT, JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS (Juniper Berry Absolute) EXTRACT, COPAIFERA OFFICINALIS (Copahu) OIL, CANANGA ODORATA (Ylang-Ylang) OIL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (Cucumber) EXTRACT, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SODIUM BENZOATE, SORBIC ACID, BENZYL SALICYLATE, BENZYL BENZOATE.
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