Spornette - Porcupines G6 and G-36 Review

I brought a Spornette Porcupine G-36 2 years ago on ebay as the brand at the time wasn’t available in the UK. It was voted in Allure magazine as best round brush of the year. Using the right products for a perfect blow dry can leave the hair looking great for a few days. The Porcupine range has a combination of boar and nylon bristles. Boar is fantastic to stimulate natural shine to the hair shaft and the brush helps distribution of natural oils.

G-36 is 2” in size
G6 is 1-3/4” in size

The G6 was given to me as I won the Little wonder brush on their facebook fanpage. I urged you to “like” as they always give away brushes, I won 2 in total so far. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spornette-International/126555314241

My hair dryer is the Parlux 3200 ceramic ionic version you can buy this hair dryer from lookfantastic.com. It cost £70 but well worth the investment it is what professionals use in the salons. 

My method of drying my hair is to split the hair in 3 sections, I rough dry my hair to about 80% as it’s easier to work with. Using the nozzle attachment point the hair dryer downwards and with the hair brush roll in 360o rotation. Use the medium heat and medium power settings. Blow drying hair takes me 20-30 mins. I use both the G6 and G-36 to blow dry my hair, as you can see from my photos my hair looks shiny and is poker straight without using any hair straighteners. 

NOTD - Maybelline Bubble gum

NOTD - Maybelline Bubble gum

Lovea bio Burkina Shea Nourishing Body Balm - review

Lovea bio Burkina Shea Nourishing Body Balm
Product Name: Shea Nourishing body blam (le karite)
Weight/Price:  150ml for £6.49 each
Made in: n/a
Where to buy: mypure 
Product Description: Most of the formula

Rich texture and creamy

Using multi-purpose: body, hands and face

Organic Shea Butter from Burkina: nourishes the skin

Naturally sweet perfume

Ingredients

AQUA (WATER), WATER * MENTHA PIPERITA (Mentha piperita (Peppermint) LEAF WATER), Butyrospermum Parkii * BUTTER (Butyrospermum Parkii (SHEA) BUTTER EXTRACT), glycerin, caprylic / capric triglyceride, Olus OIL, PALM KERNEL Hydrogenated GLYCERIDES, Hydrogenated Palm GLYCERIDES, * OIL Sesamum (Sesamum indicum (SESAME) SEED OIL), CETEARYL Olivate, SORBITAN Olivate, CERATONIA SILICA GUM, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, glyceryl hydroxystearate, SUCROSE LAURATE, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, CANDELILLA Cera (Euphorbia cerifera (CANDELILLA) WAX) , TOCOPHEROL, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum, PARFUM (FRAGRANCE), glyceryl caprylate, polyepsilon-LYSINE, Dehydroacetic ACID, BENZYL ALCOHOL, TETRASODIUM DIACETATE GLUTAMATE, SODIUM GLYCOLATE, trisodium NITRILOACETIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM FORMATE, SODIUM BENZOATE, potassium sorbate, CITRIC ACID, Limonene, Linalool.
* Ingredients from Organic Farming 

Key ingredients are: 

Shea Burkina

Production: The Shea tree gives birth to large oval nuts. Within these nuts, almond is a very fat. Under the traditional method, the kernels are crushed, reduced to a paste which is then dipped into a pot of boiling water. Once cooled, an oily paste is collected and kneaded to give the shea butter.

Properties: Nourishing and protective.

Personal Experience: I apply this after my shower; the texture of the butter is creamy and melts onto skin really easy. It absorbed nicely leaving my skin softer, the softness lasted a few days. It smells fabulous a slight fruity exotic and defiantly not artificial. It’s a great price for body butter and works very well on my skin. The product goes a long way with the tiniest amount.

Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Packaging: 5/5

Overall: 5/5

Pros: leaves skin really soft for days
only need small amount

Cons: none

Would I re-purchase again? Yes, I give this product 5/5 I will most certainly repurchase again

http://www.mypure.co.uk/reviews/lovea-bio-burkina-shea-nourishing-body-balm-pr1292

Tara Smith feed the root hair care range review

Tara Smith feed the root hair care range
Product Name: Feed the root
Weight/Price:  250ml 8.4oz for £5.50 each
Made in: UK
Where to buy: Amazon, body care 2000, cult beauty
Shampoo Product Description: to stimulate and nourish dry hair and scalp with Bamboo extract.

The combination of the Bamboo and five Yeast extracts contained in this shampoo are designed to supplement the hair and scalp with essential minerals

Key ingredients are:

Bambusa Vulgaris leaf/stem extract which has been used for centuries in Asia and Hawaii to cure skin disorders. Bamboo’s smooth shiny properties are due to silica deposits within its stem.

The five yeast extracts are from zinc/copper/magnesium/iron/silicon which provide nutrients and have moisturising and cell renewing capabilities for both skin and hair

Menthol gives the shampoo its tingle factor

Organic fragrance

Cool Head 100% organic essential oil blend dominated by Cooling Peppermint and enriched with Patchouli, Cedar and a twist of sweet Aniseed.

Conditioner Product Description: 

to stimulate and nourish dry hair and scalp with Avocado oil

A combination of Avocado and Olive oil derived squalane to retain moisture, Marine Algae which can repair damaged hair and five Yeast extracts to provide dry hair and scalps with essential minerals and bind moisture to the hair shaft.

Key ingredients are:

Avocado Oil…This is included to provide moisture and to leave residual gloss and a soft feel to the hair

Olive oil derived Squalane is a high end ingredient usually used in premium skincare products, this is a non greasy oil with a very conditioning and moisturising action

Marine Algae is extracted from two algae plants Enteromorpha compressa and Himantalia elongata. It contains large quantities of amino acids which can repair damaged hair and has a moisturising effect from its moisture binding and film forming qualities

The five yeast extracts are from zinc/copper/magnesium/iron/silicon which provide nutrients and have moisturising and cell renewing capabilities for both skin and hair

Organic fragrance Cool Head 100% organic essential oil blend dominated by Cooling Peppermint and enriched with Patchouli, Cedar and a twist of sweet Aniseed.

 

 Personal Experience:  Tara Smith is a celebrity hair stylist to the stars; I wanted to find a new sulfate free shampoo and was over the moon when Cult beauty was having a pop up store in Selfridges. Tested for 2 months, the shampoo lathers really easy leaving the scalp with a tingling feeling, it smells of Colgate toothpaste for some reason. I still have half the bottle remaining it claims to nourish the hair and scalp. It didn’t nourish my hair but it sure stimulated my hair growth. The conditioner I hardly used any of the product, it still has 70% of the bottle. I did find that my hair tangled after shampooing and I’ve lost a lot of hair in the sink because it’s so thick. The conditioner untangles really well with just a walnut size amount. It also smelt like Colgate toothpaste. After blow drying my hair looked moderately shiny and it did not make my hair itchy or greasy quickly. Both products have a creamy consistency and the 250ml last for ages. 

Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
Packaging: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Pros: lathers really well
promoted hair growth
does not make scalp itchy

Cons: did not nourish hair

Would I re-purchase again? Maybe, only because it does not make my scalp itch, it does not nourish hair as it claims.

Make Up forever - HD foundation #125 review

Make up forever Foundation
 Product No. & Shade: #125
Weight/Price: 1 oz. for £27.00
Made in: U.S.A.
Where to buy: PAM, MU boutique
Product Description: The MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Complexion products use innovative formulas to create a new generation of make up which is both invisible on HD cameras and to the naked eye. The HD Foundation is an oil-free medium-to-full coverage liquid foundation which covers skin imperfections, while remaining invisible on-screen and in real life. Its extremely fine texture is supple and easy to apply. Enriched with moisturizing agents, it leaves the skin soft and radiant. It is available in a wide range of shades to suit all skin tones. 

Personal Experience: Make up forever HD foundation is hyped up in the beauty world. I personally went to buy this for a bridal trial on someone and saw a lot of positive reviews on this product. I found it difficult to work with at first, in store I just used my fingers and was amazed about the smooth skin it gave me. However when I went home, I tried using the MAC 190 brush to apply the foundation and it made my application look cakey. The MAC 187 worked better, but most of the foundation absorbed onto the brush. The best brush to use this foundation is E.L.F studio blush brush; it gave me such a natural flawless finish. Coverage is medium to buildable, and the foundation comes with a pump, I only use 2-3 pumps for my face. The consistency of the foundation is slightly runny; it also makes my face looks hydrated throughout the day. I say the finish looks matt and I use MAC prep and prime powder on top. The major downside of using this product was it clogs pores badly the next day my shin will pop up with pimples. It does look fantastic on camera both in Flash photography and film. Looking good comes at a price, it is quite expensive for foundation.

 

Price: 3/5
Quality: 4/5
Packaging: 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Product love rating: ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ 

Pros:✓flawless face
✓no need for concealer, great coverage 

Cons :✗ clogs pores
✗ hard to work with 

Would I re-purchase again? Maybe, the only thing that puts me off is the pimples I get the next day.

NOTD - China Glaze Eyes like sapphire

Alva COLEUR concealer #medium review

Besides mineral foundation foundation I never really explored natural make up. I decided to choose a natural make up product to try out for this month.

Taken from Mypure website

Alva COLEUR entices with its modern natural tones, young fresh feel and innovative natural ingredients. The entire range is certified organic by EcoCert®, its also vegan, talc-free and carmine-free. 

What makes COLEUR truly unique amongst all other natural and organic make-up brands is that all products contain Wellmune®, a patented beta glucan that primes the immune system – this makes COLEUR make-up suitable for those who may be prone to eczema, dermatitis and other sensitive skin conditions. Wellmune® also has anti-ageing benefits.
https://www.alvanaturalskincare.co.uk/makeup/71-concealer-medium-4013640085210.html

Alva Coleur concealorCertified organic and vegan concealer. Colour matched with Coleur medium Fluid Foundation and medium Baked Powder. Anti-ageing makeup. Suitable for sensitive skin.

Covers tired eyes, impurities and redness invisibly and evenly, so that skin is perfectly prepared for make-up. Also ideal as a base for eye shadow and lipstick. The medium Concealer is colour-matched with the medium Fluid Foundation and medium Baked Powder. With patented active beta glucan, nourishing apricot kernel oil, calendula extract, flax oil and evening primrose oil.

Alva Coleur concealer only comes in 2 shades; unfortunately the colour didn’t match me I picked shade #2 medium. It was a tad bit dark, with peachy tones.

Full Ingredients

carnauba wax, rice powder, apricot seed extract, squalene, vitamin E, natural perfume, macadamia oil, wellmune, evening primrose oil, camelina oil, marigold extract, licorice root extract, geraniol, citronellol, limonene 

 

Packagingit comes in a stylish slick black lipstick style, 4g in size and cost £11.35

http://www.mypure.co.uk/alva-coleur-makeup-b143/organic-concealer-stick-p1181

Pros
 ✓ nice creamy texture
✓ buildable
Cons
✗ only comes in 2 shades
✗ wasn’t long wearing

 

Verdict: The concealer was nice and creamy texture, I apply this on top of acne and it did not irritate my skin at all. I used a MAC 224 brush or ELF studio concealer to apply this onto my skin. It did take a few layers to notice the difference. It didn’t completely cover my spots/scars and I found the concealer didn’t last very long, 8 hours gone and it slipped from my face.  For me, I wouldn’t repurchase this product as it did not match my skin colour, I would love to see more shades from Alva in the near future.

❤❤❤ Product love rating 3/5

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate (24-hour miracle cream) offer

A star and most popular products among international top models, Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentrate (24-hour miracle cream) are offering at USD38.00 only for 2 pieces (original USD58.00, save USD20.00). Enter promotion code WOMENDAY at checkout. The Picture below will take you directly to the product page.

What To Wear, Where: The How-to Handbook for Any Style Situation

Being a fan of the website and I’ve already brought the first book, I was excited to hear the duo making a vol 2 book. This is on my next to purchase. Can’t wait to receive the book. As you can see from my amazon list I’m a junkie for styling books.

I have Nicole Richie to thank for introducing me this duo.

Free GIFT with L’occitane - spring blossom collection

FREE blossom collection when you spend £35 or more between 7th March to 3rd April

Enter promo code: PLUM

15% American Apparel

Through March 16 2011 receive 15% off

enter promo code: MAKEOVERUK

30% off Bliss Spa Skincare and free goodybag

30% off on mix-and-match items in our Christmas gifts section. Use code GIFTS30

Paprika 15% off

all online customers gets 15% off their full price orders! Click the image below to go to their site



Use code  PAPSYUT15UH in checkout

Pay £9 and get £20 credit voucher with ASOS

Grab a bargain
http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/national-deal/ASOS/270308/.vf9WD5

Purity Organics Haul

Looking after acne prone sensitive skin is a nightmare, I’m constantly trying new skincare. I did really like the “good things skincare range”, but it burned my eyes and I had to get allergy drops and eye cream to cure it.

I have used Purity Conditioning cleansing lotion last year and I loved it. I will testing these for a while currently on offer in Superdrugs 3 for 2 snag up a bargain everyone!

Their range is Eco Cert and 98% natural, free from parabeans, GM and petroleum derived ingredients.

facial wash £5.19

facial moisturiser £6.19

conditioning cleansing lotion £5.19

regenerating overnight moisturiser £8.19

http://www.purityorganicskincare.com/

Acorelle oriental wax review

Acorelle is a French beauty brand committed to innovation and harmony, a brand that respects the body as well as the environment. Most of their products are ECO – Cert, there was two products I wanted to try from the brand. I already loved their perfumes which are made with 100% natural ingredients. http://www.acorellebeauty.com/

Today I will talk about the Acorelle oriental wax.

Acorelle Oriental Wax

The oriental wax is made up of 100% natural ingredients 91.5% of the total are organic. The wax heats up in low heat temperature for easy application to the eyebrow and upper lip and small areas of the face.

 

The contents contain 
1 precision applicator 0.5oz
1 wooden spatula
12 washable and reusable strips

Packaging:
It come in a pretty pale pink box with illustrations and photos of natural ingredients, the instructions was in French and English.
The product cost £8.99 from mypure http://www.mypure.co.uk/acorelle-epilation-b160/oriental-wax-with-strips-delicate-areas-ylang-flower-cane-sugar-p1392

Directions:
1. Prep skin by cleansing
2. Preparing the wax, place the tube in hot water applicator down for 2 mins (always perform a touch test to test the temperature.
3. Apply a drop of wax and spread a thin layer
4. Immediately add the strip of wax and pull off the strip in the opposite direction.

Pros
✓ Easy to use
✓ leaves skin smooth✓ re growth is slower and finer

Cons✗ took a while to remove all hair from upper lip✗ pricey for small quantity✗ did not pick up all hairs on upper lip

Verdict: It was very easy to use and simple, pop the wax in a cup and wait 2 mins until it becomes runny. I’m a honey fan and this smelt good enough to eat, the strip however did not pick all my hair and it took several strips to remove my hair. It did look fabulous after, my skin was smooth. I am quite lucky as my upper lip hair does not grow too quick my usual method for upper lip hair removal is DIY threading. The hair growth for this product was about 2-3 weeks so in total I only used this product twice. I did find this product pricey at £8.99 as I’m happy to use DIY threading or my Nads hair removal gel which cost £9.99 for a tub. I won’t be repurchasing because of the cost and find DIY threading cheaper and more efficient. 
❤❤❤ Product love rating 3/5

Acorelle Hair Growth Inhibitor review

Acorelle is a French beauty brand committed to innovation and harmony, a brand that respects the body as well as the environment. Most of their products are ECO – Cert, there was two products I wanted to try from the brand. I already loved their perfumes which are made with 100% natural ingredients. http://www.acorellebeauty.com/

Today I will talk about the Acorelle hair growth inhibitor.

Acorelle Hair Growth Inhibitor

The hair growth inhibitor skin glorifier contains black truffle extract this stuff is expensive 1kilo of black truffle on the market is € 1,000 euros. 99.74% of this product is natural and 75.93% is organic. This patented complex combines black truffle extract, recognised as a powerful hair growth inhibitor, with protein active enzymes that deliver the active ingredients into the core of the hair shaft. Regrowth is delayed and hairs are finer & fewer.In vivo tests show hair density reduced by 80% after 56 days.

Packaging:
It come in a pretty pale pink box with illustrations and photos of natural ingredients, the instructions was in French and English.
The product cost £14.99 for a 8ml tube from mypure http://www.mypure.co.uk/acorelle-epilation-b160/skin-glorifier-hair-growth-inhibitor-face-p1389

Directions:
1. After hair removal apply a small amount on face
Pros
✓ works wonders on ingrown hair problem areas✓ hair growth is finer

Cons✗ pricey for small quantity

Verdict: This product did the job, my hair growth was slower the hair density was finer, this worked wonders on troublesome ingrown hair areas. I saw my hair grew the next day in those particular and just plucked it out. This is a product I would consider to repurchase even with that price tag a small amount goes a long way.

❤❤❤❤ Product love rating 4/5

Lush Haul

A Lush haul accumulated during a few shopping sprees!

King of Skin
Buffy
Oatifix
Angels on bare Skin
Tea Tree Water Toner
Sympathy for the skin 

February Favourites

Lush King of Skin - I love this after you finishing cleansing rub this all over your body and rinse of made with fresh bananas to nourish your skin, this leaves the skin soft for days. The downside is that it doesn’t last very long it’s nearly used up within 4 applications. Lush make a bigger version please!

A’kin Orange blossom shampoo - This was my least favourite A’kin shampoo for me, but I love to use this for shampooing my make up brushes it cleanses my brush from deep within.

DHC Deep Cleansing oil - Still my HG product for removing full make up applications for my face, it really cleans the skin and leaves it soft.

MAC Face and body foundation C4 - My skin does not look too bad and I only like to wear very thin foundation, this stuff is great, sweat proof, water proof contains no SPF so it looks great on camera. People even say it’s good enough for HD

MAC Brush Cleanser - do you remember when you first purchase a new make up brush how soft and dense it was? This stuff magically conditions it back to life, at one point I thought I wasted my money, as I intended to use this for spot cleaning it works better if you followed the directions.

Tara Smith Feed the root shampoo and conditioner -  Been using this for a whole month, I like it but don’t love it, it has helped my hair grow quicker and I like the tingling sensation on the scalp it feels weird rinsing my hair with cold water though.