My experience with Schwarzkopf Live Luminance in Ultra Violet...

I followed the instructions that came with Schwarzkopf Live Luminance in Ultra Violet exactly and I used two bottles as my hair is long and thick. The colour that I picked is called Ultra Violet, so I took that to mean kickass purple, but, as you'll see, it turned out more halfass meh-urple...

My hair ended up as a pinkish red in natural light, not the vivid violet shade the box shows and promises. In certain light there was a faint tinge of purple, but this was only in close-up views of my head. In most lighting my hair looked darker then what I was expecting and in most photos taken for reviews, my hair just looked brown/black.


My natural hair colour isn't very dark [ash blonde/brown], so the colour should have worked, and in any case the whole selling point of the Luminance range is that it's meant to lighten hair as well as colour it.

That was another issue for me; the product lightened clumps of hair lighter then others, and it DIDN'T look like natural highlights. It just looked uneven and messily done, even though I took care with the application...

A birds eye view of my 'Ultra Violet' hair...

The colour I ended up with wasn't particularly bad, but it did not turn out as the colour it is advertised as being, and it is not what I was looking for. My hair is still soft, shiny and healthy looking, so it's not anywhere near as bad as it could have been, but yeah, it is still something that I consider to be a let down - the colour swatches on Schwarzkopf home hair dyes are usually very reliable,  so they are one of my favourite brands.


The box warns you not to use Schwarzkopf Live Luminance on lightened hair.

How my hair should have looked...

I lasted a fortnight with this colour, before using Colour B4 on my hair to remove the 'violet'. I now have ginger stained hair, as the Colour B4 can't remove all of the residue from 'fashion shades' [red, purple, blue, vivid black] of hair dye.

I'm going to try bleaching my hair, to lighten the ginger [I'll probably end up with it lightened to a yellowish tone], so that I can then look for a shade that is close to my natural hair colour. Well, what my natural colour was before it started greying...

Go to Paradise with Yankee; Paradise spice candles.

 

 

 

 

PARADISE SPICE is one of Yankee's five new spring 2013 fragrances, and is described as "an exotic island treasure...perfectly ripe banana and creamy vanilla, unexpectedly spiced with prized cinnamon and cloves". There's not much more that I can add to that, just that the spices are very mild and the banana is stronger then the vanilla, so the fragrance isn't too sweet and cloying.

As with all Yankee candles, the entirety of the wax is perfumed; I've used some candles where the fragrance burns up before the candle does, but that is not the case here. The fragrance lasts as long as the candle does and is strong enough to travel over the house. I even catch occasional wafts of the perfume whilst the candle is unlit. I've found that the tarts and tea lights throw off a stronger scent than the candles, so I think that they are the better buys.

       

Best beauty buys of the year: MAC Viva Glam Nicki lipstick and lipglass...

VIVA GLAM NICKI is a yellow based shade of hot pink - and by hot pink I mean it looks almost fluorescent with my very fair skin. I think that this shade is a cross between MAC's much sought after LE shades Candy Yum Yum [Quite Cute] and Strayin' [Hello Kitty]. Despite the brightness of the shade, I think that this is far more easier to pull off, and flattering, then Nicki's debut MAC lipstick Pink 4 Friday.

The finish to the lipstick is satin, that is easy to apply and hasn't had a drying effect on my lips. The lasting power is average for a lipstick; no less and no worse then other brands [four hours, depending on food/drink].

If you like MAC's yellow based, hot pink VIVA GLAM NICKI lipstick, then you need the lipglass edition too. This is almost exactly the same shade as the lipstick; The pink colour is just a teensy bit less fluorescent on my fair skin, as the base isn't quite as yellow s the lipstick shade is.

The finish to the gloss is a cream and seems to have a thicker formula then my other MAC lipglasses, but it still gives a lovely polished shine to my lips and hasn't had a drying effect on my lips. The lasting power is good for a gloss; three/four hours, depending on food/drink.

An apple a day... Sugared Apple candles by Yankee.

SUGARED APPLE is one of Yankee Candles four [for the UK] new Christmas 2012 fragrances and is officially described as "A deliciously sweet apple treat . . . a perfect recipe of juicy apples sprinkled with sugar and vanilla". There's not much else to say, except that there is more sugar and vanilla then apple. I do enjoy the fragrance as it manages to be a perfect balance between sweet and fresh, but it's not something I think of as being overly Christmassy; it is more of a everyday fragrance for autumn/winter.

As with all Yankee candles, the entirety of the wax is perfumed; I've used some candles where the fragrance burns up before the candle does, but that is not the case here. I don't regret buying my box of tealights, but I don't think I'd buy this particular fragrance again; the scent is quiet and the throw is pretty poor by Yankee's usual standards. It's not a bad candle overall, but it doesn't wow me either.

I personally prefer to use the Yankee tealights; as well as having a stronger fragrance, there's the fact that for the price of a box of 12 scented tealights you get a total of 48 to 72 hours burn-time, so they offer the most value for money. The tealight costs less then 12 tarts or samplers would, so as well as being cheaper - and offering a similar burn time - then either the small jars and tumblers, and over half of the price less then the medium jars or tumblers.

The tealights come in individual clear plastic cups, so you don't have to bother with a tealight holder if you don't have one; just sit the cup on a saucer. Yankee do many special ranges of tealight holders all through the year - many of the decorate models are under £10, and their basic tealight holder can be found online for only £1, so it won't cost as much as buying a tart burner.

And for a final stab at a selling point, I'll add that the tealights float, so you can, umm, float them in your swimming pool - or more likely in a garden pond - during a party.


***

Tart
[A tart is a wickless wax patty, so you'll need to buy a tart burner to be able to use it]
6 - 8 hour burn time - £1.20
Sampler votive
15 - 20 hour burn time - £1.65
Small jar
25 -40 hour burn time - £7.75
Medium jar
65 - 90 hour burn time - £15.99
Tea lights [12 per pack]
4 - 6 hour burn time per candle - £6.99

Mighty, morphing purple ranger; A review of Schwarzkopf Live XXL hair colourant in Cyber Purple

CYBER PURPLE is a tricky colour to describe, and it is tricky to photograph as the colour seems different in various lighting conditions. At it's core it is a dark pinky/purple, but as I said, the shade you will see depends on the light source reflecting on your hair.

The varying shades the colour morphs between remind me of all of the other schwarzkopf purple based shades I've used in the past - Ultra Violet, Dark Violet, Mystic Violet and Glam Rock Black.

I've taken all of the photos on this page - they are of my own hair, solely in CYBER PURPLE, so you can see what I'm trying to say. No colour enhancing software has been used.

My hair still feels and looks glossy and there is no clinging chemical scent to my hair. I've been colouring my hair for over half my life and in the past I've used every other purple/violet shade that Schwarkopf makes, so feel qualified enough to say that this has great staying power for a dye containing purple

Violet shades can fade as quickly as red shades do, but I've personally found the fade to be  minimal  - which surprised me, as the water runs pink after washing my hair for a few weeks after colouring it. That is my only negative for CYBER PURPLE; don't use white towels after showering :)

[CYBER PURPLE is only recommended for use on dark blonde and light/medium brown hair]

Sinfully good for perking up dull complexions...

NARS powder blush in Sin is a shade that I never have looked twice at when visiting makeup counters, as it looks like a very dark mauve in the pan, and doesn't look like it would do anything for my pale skin. However, I bought the LE Danmari All About Cheeks palette by NARS last year and this was one of the featured shades in the palette, so I finally gave it a go....

 

 

SIN is a gorgeous, dusky-berry shade on skin. It also is lightly shimmering with a golden gleam. The soft pinky mauve colour and golden shimmery undertone gives me a natural glow. Most importantly, it wears well - I'll apply it in the morning and it will last until I take it off at the end of the day. NARS is a pricey brand, but the quality is unbeatable. SIN is now becoming my favourite blush ever and I'm sure that it will be the first one in the palette that I'll hit pan on.

One thing to bare in mind; Almost every other blush can be worn year round, but SIN is something that is best suited to colder weather wear, as the berry tone is so cheerful, yet soft and dusky , so it really perks up my tired, winter-chilled skin.

I'm Snow In Love with this fragrance...

SNOW IN LOVE is one of Yankee Candles four new Christmas 2012 fragrances and is officially described as being "creamy, comforting woods and wintry powder freshness." I'd describe it as clean minty air, tart cherries and as having some fresher wood, probably pine, mixed in with a touch of creamier sandalwood. It is a mix of Yankee's Cherries In The Snow and Sparkling Snow fragrances, so if you like those you'll be pleased with this too.

I love the fragrance as it manages to be a perfect balance between sweet and fresh, plus it's a bit festive, but yet it's not something I think of as being overly Christmassy; it is more of a everyday fragrance for autumn/winter, so you can use it now and on into the new year. As with all Yankee candles, the entirety of the wax is perfumed; I've used some candles where the fragrance burns up before the candle does, but that is not the case here. The fragrance lasts as long as the candle does and is strong enough to travel over the house. I even catch occasional wafts of the perfume whilst the candle is unlit.

I've found that the tarts and tea lights throw off a stronger scent than the candles, so I think that they are the better buys.


I personally prefer to use the tealights; as well as having a stronger fragrance, there's the fact that for the price of a box of 12 scented tealights you get a total of 48 to 72 hours burn-time, so they offer the most value for money. The tealight costs less then 12 tarts or samplers would, so as well as being cheaper - and offering a similar burn time - then either the small jars and tumblers, and over half of the price less then the medium jars or tumblers.

The tealights come in individual clear plastic cups, so you don't have to bother with a tealight holder if you don't have one; just sit the cup on a saucer. Yankee do many special ranges of tealight holders all through the year - many of the decorate models are under £10, and their basic tealight holder can be found online for only £1, so it won't cost as much as buying a tart burner.

And for a final stab at a selling point, I'll add that the tealights float, so you can, umm, float them in your swimming pool - or more likely in a garden pond - during a party.


***

Tart
[A tart is a wickless wax patty, so you'll need to buy a tart burner to be able to use it]
6 - 8 hour burn time - £1.20
Sampler votive
15 - 20 hour burn time - £1.65
Small jar
25 -40 hour burn time - £7.75
Medium jar
65 - 90 hour burn time - £15.99
Tea lights [12 per pack]
4 - 6 hour burn time per candle - £6.99

Review: Wonderstruck EDP by Taylor Swift/Elizabeth Arden

Rating: 3/5 stars

Advantages: Reasonable price, easy to wear, striking bottle...
Disadvantages: unoriginal, poor-to-average staying power.

"It's a line from my song 'Enchanted,' and the line says, 'I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I've always loved that line and that phrase, 'wonderstruck.' You don't hear it very often. So I just felt like if I ever got the chance to make a fragrance, which I've dreamed of doing since I was about 14 years old ... Ever since I wrote that song, I thought that would be the title. And I'd want to create a fragrance that smelled the way that word feels."


***

I think that most berry notes tend to smell similar when used in perfumes, so I give bonus points to WONDERSTRUCK right away, as it uses slightly more distinctive notes of raspberry. Though after having said that, I wonder if dewberry the same as blackberry? Because that is what I think is actually alongside the raspberry. After the berries the peach is the next strongest fruit - which surprised me as it's meant to be a base note, yet it develops soon after being applied to skin. The soft vanilla is present through all of the fragrance, with adds a creamy sweetness and warmth to the mix.

The heart of WONDERSTUCK is meant to contain thirteen different floral notes as thirteen is meant to be Swift's lucky number, but the tea note develops in under ten minutes and is stronger then most of the floral notes, so hides nearly all of them. I can separate the listed honeysuckle, and sometimes I also pick up on a light hint of the hibiscus, but can't begin to guess at anything else - it all becomes one long powdered note underneath the tea. The tea is the only note that is really able to stand out from the fruits and vanilla. This is definitely a fruity perfume.

There is no strong indication between the heart notes and the base, thanks to the constant trickle of raspberry, peach and vanilla. The sandalwood and musk are mingled closely together so it is a warm and creamy mix - nice, but it is a blend that is used in many fragrances today. The lingering tea note does give WONDERSTRUCK a bit more umph, but I was still disappointed by how linear the blend seemed on me.


Scent notes: Raspberry, dewberry, green tea, freesia, apple blossom, vanilla, honeysuckle, white hibiscus, amber, musk and sandalwood.


***

WONDERSTRUCK is richer with the fruits then it is with the florals, so the lasting power is good but not great: I can still detect berries, creamy vanilla and sandalwood four to five hours after first applying the perfume, but it is close to the skin.

I think that this is nice for daywear - I mainly used it as casual wear, but would occasionally wear it for work. Some people may think that it's too sweet for work [even I didn't feel very comfortable], but as it's non-invasive it won't bother your colleagues. As it's mild and not very long lasting I did think of it as too gentle for evening wear, but if you don't wear perfume whilst out for a statement and to be noticed then I think WONDERSTRUCK is perfectly adaptable.

WONDERSTRUCK was released in America this time last year, which is when I bought a bottle [it was the bottle design that sold me], so I've had the chance to wear it during every season - this is a winner in the wearability stakes. In the spring/summer I found that the fruits and tea were refreshing and didn't seem so sweet, whilst in autumn/winter the vanilla and wood seemed stronger and added warmth and boasted the sweetness of the fruits.


Although I think WONDERSTRUCK is pleasant, very wearable and wears quite well for the price, I won't be replacing my bottle. I don't really regret buying it, but after a year I have to admit that I've become bored with it, as there is nothing unique about it and the fragrance is a bit too linear for my tastes. I don't like putting perfumes into different age groups, but I have to admit that this does seem rather youthful. There's nothing wrong with that, but I personally didn't feel very confident wearing it. I think that I'm going to pass my bottle on to someone else.

Lots of people compare this to either Britney Spears Fantasy or Midnight Fantasy [also Elizabeth Arden releases], but I don't get the comparisons at all. I'd say this is more along the lines of a Harajuku Lovers release; Music.


The first flanker for WONDERSTRUCK has already been released in America, but no word on it getting released over here yet. Wonderstruck Enchanted is a oriental - gourmand. It opens with notes of wild berries, pink poppy and passion fruit. Heart notes include peony blossoms, sugar-glazed champaca petals and white freesia. White musk, hypnotic vanilla and blonde woods are the main base notes.

***

30ml - £20
50ml - £29
100ml - £38

It's that time of year again - Christmas gift set time! This year WONDERSTRUCK has a gift set containing both a 30ml bottle and a 5ml bottle of EDP, plus a 50ml tube of perfumed body lotion.

 

Summary: Would make a nice gift choice for a Taylor swift fan.

Para bailar la bamba...

I'm still on a blush kick, so have once again dug through my makeup bag to find a little somethin-somethin' to show off. Today I'll focus on my Benefit Bella blush. It is a little bit too bright on my [very] fair skin, so I don't wear it a lot, but when I do I fall in love with it all over again...

BELLA BAMBA is a bright pink shade of blusher, with a golden, gleaming undertone, ala NARS Orgasm. The Benefit website calls the shade watermelon pink, which I think is accurate.

I'm impressed with the pigmentation; a little goes a long way. You don't get a lot of product, but it'll still last a while since you just need a light dusting of powder. BELLA BAMBA lasts all day on me, with no touch-ups, and the powder doesn't enhance my dry skin.

As it a bright shade with great pigmentation, I do need to be careful with application as I have porcelain skin, so it is easy to look overdone. But that is the only downside that I can think of.

Overall this is another winning blush from Benefit.

I desire to be brighter...

I'm trying to drag everything out of the final days of summer. One of my favourite skin brighteners over the past few months has been NARS Desire powder blush, which I got in my NARS Danmari palette last year. So lets take a longer look...

 

 

I'd been secretly lusting after DESIRE for years, but always shied away after seeing how shockingly bright it is in the pan. However I recently bought the Danmari All About Cheeks palette by NARS and this is one of the featured shades, so I finally gave it a go.


DESIRE can no longer be bought on it's own [at least in the UK], so that alone is enough to prevent me from regretting splurging on this palette. DESIRE looks fluorescent in the pan, but it applies sheer and matt, and is lovely and cheerful on my skin. I surprised by how surprisingly easy DESIRE is for me to pull off; It is a naturally 'flushed' tone on my n10 skin.

Most importantly, it wears well - I'll apply it in the morning and it will last until I take it off at the end of the day. NARS is a pricey brand, but the quality is unbeatable.



The only thing to watch out for is that almost every other blush by NARS goes with any makeup look, so you don't really need to think twice picking one up out of your makeup bag in the mornings. However, you do have to be careful with which eye and lip shades you wear this brighter blush with. I prefer to play it safe, by pairing it with shimmery nude eye shadows and glossy pink lips.

Fragrance (sort of) review: Fame EDP by Lady Gaga...

I've not had my bottle of FAME long enough for a detailed review yet, but I do have a few initial observations and notes. I want to share these now as there are already tons of reviews online, which are just knee jerk reactions of people, who are basing them on whether they love or hate Lady Gaga herself, rather then actually describing the perfume in any detail...


First; I don't get why this is being described as a fruity/floral - on me there is only the tiniest hint of apricot, but it so very short lived that it doesn't really make an lasting impression on me. I think some people may be confusing the honey accord as apricot/peach, or similar. The belladonna, incense and honey are the main notes on me, so FAME is definitely something that I would describe as a floriental fragrance.

Second; I don't really get the whole push-pull malarkey, but the fragrance is not linear. It even seems a bit different every time I wear it, so a detailed review is going to take a little while to write.

Third; No FAME doesn't stain skin or clothes. I've even sprayed it directly onto my pyjamas, and the liquid does indeed spray clear, despite being black in the bottle.

Forth; FAME does go close to the skin after a couple of hours, but I catch lingering wisps throughout the day. When I wore it to bed, it was still detectable the next day.


I can't believe that FAME is a Coty release!!

Have a Super, duper Orgasm...

I've not really been into doing anything special with my makeup for a while now,  I tend to stick to the same old things. One exception to the monotony is that I am really getting into blush, as my skin is so pale and dull on it's own.

I've notice that I use NARS Super Orgasm a lot, so I thought I'd tell you a little bit about it...

 

Lets get the main issue out of the way: the pink/peach base of the powder blush is actually the same for both Orgasm and Super Orgasm, even though Super Orgasm does look a bit  duskier in the pan in comparison to the original.

The only real difference between the two Orgasm blushes is that the original Orgasm contains the famous golden shimmery gleam, whilst SUPER ORGASM uses very fine gold glitter particles instead and has no golden glow. The lack of shimmer means that SUPER ORGASM does apply sheerer and pinker on the skin then the original Orgasm does, so it does look different enough to justify buying it.

Most importantly, it wears well - I'll apply it in the morning and it will last until I take it off at the end of the day. NARS is a pricey brand, but the quality is unbeatable.

I personally haven't had any of the fall-out issues with SUPER ORGASM that I did with NARS other glittery cheek product - the Hungry Heart duo, so that's another point in SUPER ORGASMs favour.

Would I recommend it? It depends; SUPER ORGASM and Orgasm are both lovely shades, that are wearable on all skin tones, but for most people I'd say that if you own one shade then you really don't need the other one too. But for my fellow mega NARS fans, then yes, I do recommend SUPER ORGASM; the finishes between the two blushes make the base colour appear noticeably different enough to warrant a purchase.

[Made with transparent pigments for a soft and sheer look]

(translation; it is a pain to swatch - the top and bottom pictures involved hours of photographing myself in direct sunlight)

If you want a sheerer finish, with a touch of sparkle = you are a Super Orgasm girl :)
If you want a glowy finish = the original is best Orgasm for you...

Review: Forever EDP by Mariah Carey

- - - - - - - - - - -
The fragrance
- - - - - - - - - - -

As I've mentioned in other reviews I'm not a fan of tuberose; I find it overpowering and I nearly always suffer from a headache when I wear it. So it's recently become a challenge to myself to find a wearable tuberose-based fragrance. FOREVER has a fruity opening, so I tried that first as I thought that the fruit notes would freshen and lighten up the florals.


I was right about that; the opening of fresh, life-like lotus and juicy, slightly sweet, yet tart apple notes is gorgeous. It's both energizing and fresh whilst being understated and feminine.

And when the tuberose note does develop, it still seems fresh and juicy. I can also detect the gardenia, but I'm sure there's another fruity note hidden there too; it's hinted at, but is too subtle for me to separate. Maybe they added more apple notes?

I was loving FOREVER until it burnt through to the flat base, I found it very disappointing. Whist the musk does continue the freshness to the fragrance going, it also overtakes the mix of woods. I get a slight note of sandalwood, but that's it. I thought it was a let-down.


- - - - - - - - - -
Scent notes
- - - - - - - - - -

Neroli, lotus, green apple, tuberose, gardenia, white musk and exotic wood.


- - - - - - - - -
The bottle
- - - - - - - - -

Described as art deco; I think the clear bottle meant to resemble an uncut diamond. It's unique and eye-catching. However I don't like the cap, which is taller than the bottle itself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Other buying considerations
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It's a light fragrance considering it's a white floral, so the lasting power reflects that. It burns down within four hours. Not great, but it seems average for modern fragrances.

Florals are generally wearable all year round, but the fruity start means I'd personally think of it as a spring/summer fragrance.

FOREVER is great for daytime, both casual [thanks to the fruit] and work [the florals are light, so colleges won't be adverse to it]. I find it too fresh for evening wear, but I suppose it all depends on what you like to do it your spare time. If you go to clubs this could work as you won't suffer any ill effects you get from combining heat and a stronger fragrance.


- - - - - - -
Verdict
- - - - - - -

I felt totally let down by this one. The sweet'sour fruits and the fresh florals are surprisingly complex yet subtle, at least they were until the musk came along and white washed over everything. If you happen to be a fan of musk I'd highly recommend this to you, but for myself this is a no-go.

If your planning to buy someone a fragrance for Christmas I think this a good bet. It's fresh but slightly sweet, isn't too strong and is quite inexpensive for a EDP.


Are you a fan or Michael Kors Very Hollywood EDP? Here's a more purse friendly version.


- - - - -
RRP
- - - - -

50ml £27

Review: Rimmel 60 Second nail polish

­­-­ - - - - - - - -
The claim
- - - - - - - - -

Rimmel say that the new fast-drying formula and updated brush design takes just one stroke to apply, one minute to dry and only needs one coat.


- - - - - - - - - -
The formula
- - - - - - - - - -

As the polish is meant to need only one coat for a bottle true colour, the formula is thick and not very funny, so can take a little time getting used to. The formula still applies smoothly once you've become used to it and it has never bubbled on me though, which is good.
One of my shades [Twinkle] contains micro particles of glitter, yet still applies smoothly and without clumps.

The polish becomes does indeed become touch-dry within one minute - although I find that often need to apply a second coat as the first can dry unevenly and leave visible brush stoke impressions.
A second coat can take a little longer to dry; around three minutes, so I recommend waiting ten minutes after applying top coat before using your hands if you apply a second coat as the polish layers can remain a little soft.

Last week I was looking for one of these polishes at the bottom of my make-up bag and when I found the bottle in question I instantly saw that the polish had glopped up and now had the texture of treacle, whilst I have bottles of polish that are roughly five years old, but still look new.
The bottle was less then a year old [about nine months old] and was fastened tightly. You could use a thinner to get more use out of the polish in theory, but I just threw it out as it's under £4, so not worth spending more money on buying thinner over.


- - - - - - - - - -
The brush
- - - - - - - - - -

Rimmel changed the width of their nail polish brushes a year or so ago; It's now has nice and wide bristles so the nail is evenly coated within two strokes.
Rimmel claim that it only takes one stroke, but I find that I need two the majority of the time. It is still fast and smooth, so I don't mind.

None of my brushes have ever had any bristles fall out, which has been a problem when I've used other drugstore brands.


- - - - - - - - - - - -
Lasting power
- - - - - - - - - - - -

Using my usual base and top coats this polish will last me around two days before chipping. Not one of the longest lasting polishes, however, considering the low price I can't complain.


- - - - - - -
Verdict
- - - - - - -

Rimmel's 60 SECOND NAIL POLISH range of polishes come in a range of creme, metallic and shimmer finishes - not to mention a wide range of colours - so there really is something for everyone.

Most seasons some limited edition colours are also added for those dedicated to fashion, all for under £4. For that price I'll be trying more Rimmel polishes in the future; despite the results being varied and the product having a short shelf life.

- - - - -
RRP
- - - - -

£3.49 [8 ml]

Review: L'Oreal Full Restore 5 shampoo and conditioner

- - - - - - - - -
The claim
- - - - - - - - -

According to the adverts L'Oreal developed this formula to target and treat the top 5 hair care problems we struggle with in the UK.

1) Weak hair
2) Limp hair
3) Lifeless looking hair
4) Dull hair
5) Dry hair



- - - - - - - - -
The bottle
- - - - - - - - -

All of L'Oreal Elvive shampoos and conditioners use the same shape bottle. The FULL RESTORE 5 range has the bottle coloured white with a red cap.

The cap on the conditioner is on the base of the bottle so you can tell it apart from the shampoo bottle instantly, which is good for when the bottle is nearly empty.

The texture of the recyclable plastic bottle is easy to grip in a slippy shower.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
First impressions
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The creamy consistency and pearlessence appearance of the shampoo is very similar to Elvive's Nutri-gloss and Re-nutrition ranges - both of which I love - so I felt confident that this product would give similar results. However once applied to wet hair the comparison ends - This product feels so runny and slippy that I was reminded of the slime thingy in Noel Edmunds House Party. Not nice.

The floral fragrance is very fresh and clean smelling, but is quite strong. This doesn't bother me, but it could be strong enough to irritate some people. Once the hair has been dried the smell dissipates, though I still got the occasional whiff when my hair blew in my face.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After 2 months of use
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'll start by stating that I gave this range a fair chance by completely using up to full bottles of the 400ml shampoo and conditioner (during a buy-one-get-one-free I picked up two shampoos instead of one of each, so ended up going back for two conditioners as well. I'm a clever girl).


Did I see the promised results of hair that looked stronger, fuller, revitalised, shiny and silky?

The only thing I noticed was the shine - and that shine was due to my hair becoming greasy on the SAME day I washed it. I would wash it in the morning and by the evening it would be heavy and shiny with grease. My scalp also seemed to itch. As mentioned above I didn't have the conditioner at first, so the heaviness, grease and itchiness wasn't caused by a conditioner build-up. honestly it felt so grubby by the next day that I'd need to shampoo at least twice and I'd stay under the shower rinsing the product out for up to 10 minutes.


** Shampoo **

Using the shampoo on it's own also left my hair knotty, full of frizz and I noticed that there was a increase in strands of broken hair in my combs [no matter how wide toothed] and brushes. Hmmm - I suppose frizz might count as "fuller" hair.


** Conditioner **

The conditioner did solve the above problems - the FULL RESTORE 5 conditioner is good for detangling and it reduced the frizz caused by using the shampoo alone.

I finished the shampoo bottles before the conditioner, so I keep using the conditioner with the Elvive Re-Nutrition shampoo and it seemed like I didn't use a conditioner at all. The limited results I experienced with the conditioner are the same as using the Re-Nutrition shampoo alone.


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My opinion
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I've loved every other Elvive product I've ever used, so it pains me to say that their FULL RESTORE 5 range is pretty much useless. Liking the fragrance means nothing when the results vary from limited to non-existent.

I also felt cheated by L'Oreal when I learnt that the range's spokes-model [Cheryl Cole] wore acrylic hair extensions in the ads (I'm well aware that she has used extensions for years, but L'Oreal lead everyone to believe she was using ones made from human hair by adding a disclaimer stating she was using 'natural' extensions).

If you do decide to try this range then the matching conditioner is something I'd really advise using; That did seem to work somewhat.


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RRP
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250ml: £2.55
400ml: £3.59

There is also a 300ml hair mask and a 200ml conditioning replenishing spray available.

Review: Radiance EDP by Britney Spears

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The fragrance

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RADIANCE was released in September 2010 and is described as a fruity/floral. I've not come across any matching body products, which is unusual for a Britney Spears release.





I'd personally say that RADIANCE is way more fruity than floral, which is odd [but a relief] as I'm sensitive to both tuberose and musk - too much of either is usually a migraine trigger-puller. It's sweet on first application, but it's sweet in a fresh and zingy way. I can separate raspberry from the berry jumble, but am guessing when I suggest that the other note is red currant.



The initial fruity blast burns down with ten minutes, but some of the zesty sweetness lingers throughout the fragrance, so maybe they added berry notes in the heart and base of the fragrance too? The floral notes are light and the zingy berries make everything seem sparkly and fresh. The jasmine is the strongest floral on my skin, followed by the orange blossom. I could detect a hint of tuberose, but thankfully it's only brief and soon becomes lost under the jasmine.



The slight powdery note of the orange blossom lingers throughout the base too, but a sweeter scent (vanilla?) over takes it. The musk note is light and clean, so the sweetness has a hint of airiness to it. I usually find musky fragrances too heavy, but this seems 'watered' down.





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Scent notes

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Berries, tuberose, jasmine, orange blossom, iris and musk.





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The bottle

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The blue and pink faux crystal bottle is extremely tacky - but in a fun way.



However; I think it's a miss-match to the juice inside; The fragrance is largely ageless, but the bottle is aimed firmly towards the under 20 consumer. A shame - they'll drastically reduced their prospective market.

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Other buying considerations

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The staying power is not very good, which isn't a big surprise considering this is a Britney brand, mass market release. It burns down in 3/4 hours - whilst that's not great for a EDP, it's not the worst out there.



The fruitiness makes this a good choice for daytime and the light florals mean you can safely wear it to work. I personally think it's too quiet for evening wear, but if you plan on hitting a packed club then the fragrance's lightness could be good for avoiding scent-induced headaches.



Being fruity and light I'd actually class this as being better suited to spring/summer. I think it's too zesty and fresh for autumn/winter and was surprised that Elizabeth Arden chose to release it in September.





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Verdict

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I'd describe RADIANCE as a blend of the fruity freshness of Believe and the surprisingly sophisticated white florals found in Curious - It's more adult then the Fantasy range, but the fruits provide a light sweetness, so the younger customers will still enjoy it.



I found it pleasant, but it doesn't appeal to me in this colder weather and it's not unique enough to buy. If I come across it on special offer I might be tempted to get a bottle for casual wear.



I think it would make a good gift choice as it's not a disagreeable fragrance and women of just about any age could wear it.







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RRP

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50ml: £23

100ml: £28



As it's just been released it is currently exclusive to Boots stores. It will receive a wider release in a month or so.
 
 

Review: Avon Advance Techniques Lotus Sheid Frizz control serum

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The claim

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Avon say that their new Advance Techniques anti-frizz serum LOTUS SHIELD forms a protective lightweight barrier on hair that is capable of holding up in up to 97% humidity.

The real difference between this and other serums is how Avon claims that the results last through two washes, so this only needs applying every third wash.


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The bottle

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The screw cap bottle is bright orange. Not pretty, but it certainly stands out.

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First impression

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The serum is clear and has a lotus fragrance - lovely and fresh - that is hard to distinguish once the product has been applied, apart from the occasional whiff when my hair blows into my face.

My hands aren't left with a greasy film after applying the product, which is a good sign.
To apply; Shake bottle, rub small amount over hands and smooth over the ends and mid lengths of clean, still damp hair.



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The results

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Before...

This is what my hair looked like after air-drying.
This photo was taken a week or so before I begain using Lotus Sheild. Stunning isn't it?!


I took the below photos after using Lotus Sheild continusly for one month and being left to air dry in order to maintain the same conditions the Before picture was taken in.
I used no other products in my hair, apart from my usual shampoo and conditioner [L'Oreal Re-nutrition].



No washes: I was stunned. This is the first Avon product I've owned that has delivered the same results as promised. My hair is almost 100% frizz free, feels very silky, doesn't look lank or greasy, didn't tangle overnight [I was ill and spent 12 hours in bed tossing and turning] and feels even more lightweight than usual.

Even if the results don't last after my hair has been washed I'll still re-buy LOTUS SHEILD as I've never used a serum that has worked so well on my hair before.

After: No Washes...

One wash: I couldn't believe it. My hair still remained almost entirely frizz free and silky after being thoroughly washed. My shampoo and conditioner are good, but my hair was still noticeably easier to manage then normal. It still seemed easier to detangle as well.

I usually wash my hair every other day, but have been leaving it for two to three days as I thought the serum would make my hair mega greasy and heavy, so I wanted to see the results. My hair still looked as clean as it did on the day I washed it, every day between it's last wash.

After: One wash...

Two washes: The ends of my hair were frizzy after styling - not as much as normal though. By the end of the day there was more frizz.

After: Two washes...

Three washes: At first I gave it another day serum-free at first to see if there was any any improvement. My hair looked and felt the same as it did before I started to use LOTUS SHIELD. Verdict? Avon has delivered on their promise.





Avon have always been a hit or miss brand with me and I don't like any of their Advance Techniques range, so I've now been using this product for a month before finishing my review to check for consistency in the results and I'm still very impressed.



I've mentioned this in other haircare reviews; I'm in the process of growing out a disastrous perm, so I'm suffering from more then my regular frizziness - I've got fried hair and look like I've been sticking my finger into electrical sockets. If something is capable of taming the artificial, chemically imposed mess on my head, imagine the results it will give to natural frizz?



When I first read that it will last for up to two washes I thought it'd be heavy and leave a residue that would build up, but so far so good. The only thing I'd caution you with is that the second wash results can vary slightly. It's always given me less frizz then usual, but there is some the majority of the time, whilst other times it can remain frizz free.





Lotus Sield csts £7 for a 60ml bottle.

It's not the cheapest but you only need to use it half as much as other anti-frizz serums, so it's good value. T