Miss Thang: Miss Manga mascara by L'Oreal...

In the past I have thought that the L'Oreal mascaras I've tried all have really wet formulas which makes them prone to clumping, so their Miss Manga mascara has been a real surprise for me in the fact I can use the tube straight away, instead of having to leave it for a few weeks to dry for a little while... 

Are you getting enough fibre? L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner...

I've been washing my hair several times a week using L'Oreal's new Fibrology shampoo and conditioner, and haven't been using anything else on my hair product-wise to get an honest look at the results of the Fibrology shampoo and conditioner alone. As I've now used up my bottles [just over a month], I thought I'd go over the before and after photos and share my overall opinion....

I could begin to both see and feel the improvement to my hair the first week after starting to use the products; my coarse hair has become fuller, smother, less tangle prone, and there is less breakage. It has more life and bounce, and even seems a bit easier to style too. 

My hair feels clean and refreshed after washing and this feeling lasts for a good few days, which is the biggest plus point for me. I haven't noticed any product build-up, and my hair hasn't become greasier any faster than it normally does either.

I do recommend the Fibrology shampoo and conditioner, and if you have normal to coarse hair already I don't think there would be any need to buy any of the other products in the Fibrology range.

The only issue I had was that the conditioner is best used with the Fibrology shampoo, as when I tried using i along side a different shampoo I didn't feel as though my hair was sufficiently moisturized. Also: using the shampoo or conditioner alone lessens the results of your hair's body/thickness levels.

Before and after

I dried my air the same way in both photos [wait until my air is mostly dry naturally, then run through it using a BaByliss Big Hair Rotating Styler], I'd just had the ends of my air trimmed after my ombre dye experiment.

Moving in new directions: La Riche Directions hair semi-permanent hair colourant...

I've been looking through my laptop and came across this review I wrote after using La Riche Directions hair semi-permanent hair colourant in the shade Plum a few years ago, and then shortly after I found some photos of me sporting the shade in my Downloads folder.

Since I have the things needed for a detailed review in front of me I thought I'd go ahead and publish my experience and thoughts, as there doesn't seem to be many detailed blog posts available for people curious about the brand...

Rock On: Rockateur blush by Benefit

[via Benefit]

Rose golds are the new thing in beauty, so Benefit's latest Box O' Powder has joined the fray...

Benefit's Rockateur blush is a shimmering rose gold shade. The blush looks very shimmery in the box, but on the skin the shimmer is actually quite subtle - so it the perfect amount of glow for my tastes, as it does give skin an added gleam, but it isn't grainy or flaky and totally artificial looking on my skin.

The shade is light and warm, so I originally thought that this would be a spring/summer only shade, but this shade looks good on my very fair skin all year round. I've been wearing it a lot now that it's winter and have found that it brightens up my fair skin, but never looks harsh on me and doesn't turn orange. It is a pricey product, but it goes perfectly with my preferred style of 'undone' makeup looks, so is worth the price for me. 

Benefit says that this blush powder is made with a new 'prismatic technology' formula, which is meant to combine all the best features of baked, powder, cream and liquid blush, to create a brighter, purer pigment.The 'sciency' speech doesn't really move me, but I think that this blush both applies and wears well - I'll apply it in the morning and the powder almost seems to melt into my skin, resulting in a natural looking finish. Then it will last until I take it off at the end of the day.

 I don't usually use the brushes that come with Benefit's Box O' Powders, but Benefit have updated the style of brush that comes with Rockateur, so I do like using it for application; the flat shape of the brush is the same as the previous ones, making precise strokes during application easy. However the brush bristles now softly taper off, so that the brush never picks up too much product, and makes it easy to distribute the powder evenly onto skin.

Trial for February 2014: Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil serum and moisturizer by L'Oreal...

I'm a member of Boots review panel, and the latest products sent to me for testing are L'Oreal's Age Perfect skincare line's latest editions; the Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil, and the Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil-Cream.

I have taken some before pictures of my bare face before beginning my new face care regime to help me gauge the results, and I thought that I'd also put them up here so that people who are curious about the products can see any results for themselves.

My skintype is dry to very dry.

  

Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil

With age, skin can become thinner, dehydrated and lose its natural radiance. It can feel dry and look dull, lacklustre.

A new lease of life for your skin.

L'Oréal Paris Laboratories have specially formulated a refined blend of 8 Essential Oils. Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil is a replenishing treatment in a luxurious oil to indulge your skin and transform its touch. Skin looks smoother and more radiant, as if renewed.

Thanks to its delicate aromatic scent, a feeling of calm and comfort envelops your senses for a moment of true pleasure.

Impressive results

Replenishes, smoothes, brightens

Instantly gives your skin a renewed look of radiance and striking smoothness.

Drop after drop, the skin looks more toned and a healthy look is restored.

Experience an extraordinary sensation

Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil is weightless and non-greasy, suitable for all skin types. The dry oil luxuriously bathes skin in complete comfort and care.

A precious secret for smoother, radiant skin, that looks as if renewed

8 Refined essential oils

Lavander, marjoram, romarin, geranium, rose, chamomile, orange, lavandin

A new ritual

Age Perfect Extraordinary Facial Oil is ideal for everyday use, alone or to complement your day and night regime, on a cleansed face and neck.

Apply 2-3 precious drops of the Facial Oil on your cheeks, forehead, neck and decolletage. Massage onto the skin with your fingertips in circular motions.

Allow the oil to absorb thoroughly before applying your day or night cream if needed.

[Avoid contact with the eye area]

Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil-Cream

Over time your skin progressively loses nutrients that are essential to its vitality. Your skin becomes drier, thinner and can lose its natural radiance.

The Power of Extraordinary Essential Oils

L'Oréal Paris has selected the essential oils of Lavender and Thyme, renowned for their anti-ageing and anti-oxidant properties. These have been combined with the precious extract of White Jasmine, known for its soothing properties.

An Extraordinary oil-Cream the Texture

A silky-soft cream, enriched with oil micro-pearls, that delicately melts into the skin. Non-greasy and non-sticky, it fuses the comfort of a cream with the pleasure of an oil.

Thanks to its delicate aromatic scent, a feeling of calm and comfort envelops your senses for a moment of true pleasure.

Visible results

Nourishes, Brightens, Anti-Fatigue

Instantly, skin is nourished with a renewed look of radiance. Day after day, skin is replenished with moisture. The signs of fatigue are reduced making your features look and feel relaxed. Skin looks more toned and a healthy-looking glow is restored.

How to Use

Apply daily on a thoroughly cleansed face and neck.

In the morning, place a small amount of cream on the tip of your fingers and apply in small a movements to re-awaken a more luminous complexion.

In the evening, apply more generously by delicately massaging into the skin.

New fragrance: Taylor by Taylor Swift Made of Starlight by Taylor Swift EDP...

Taylor by Taylor Swift Made of Starlight by Taylor Swift is a new Floral Fruity fragrance for women, and has been released as a spring/summer 2014 flanker to her successful Taylor by Taylor Swift EDP.

Top notes are mandarin leaf, passionfruit and apricot; middle notes are osmanthus, honeysuckle and orange blossom; base notes are musk, peach and woodsy notes.

Let there be (love and) light: Love & Light edp by Jennifer Lopez...

"With Love & Light, I wanted to create a fragrance that was less about the world around you and more about your inner light and your spirit. It's about how you feel inside, it's not about your outside world" - Jennifer Lopez 

Love & Glamour had promise, but I think that the very strong note of sandalwood in it let it down, as it overwhelmed the other scent notes. So I was excited to try the new flanker - Love & Light - to see if  the issue has been smoothed over this time...