Review: Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo & Moisturizing Rinse

Macadamia Rejuvenating Shampoo | Macadamia Moisturizing Rinse

Macadamia Natural Oil Rejuvenating Shampoo, 300ml, £11.47*: is a shampoo designed to add moisture back into your hair, so anyone with hair that can look/feel a bit crispy at the ends is going to benefit most from this. It claims to gently cleanse the hair which I totally agree with, there's no squeak at all when rinsing the shampoo out and that worried me a bit. When hair squeaks it isn't always a good thing as it can cause the hair to feel dry but for me, squeaking is a good indication that all the build up from products and daily grime has been removed and more often than not a good squeak leads to incredibly shiny hair. It 100% improved the look and feel of my hair but unfortunately it didn't remove product build up and by the next day my hair fell flat at the roots and lacked the shine I'm used to. I would say this is best suited to those with dry/damaged hair as claimed but only if your roots as well as the midlengths/ends are extremely dry and you don't use many styling products. Macadamia Natural Oil Moisturizing Rinse, 60ml, £4.20*: Is a nourishing conditioner light enough for daily use and should suit all hair types. It's infused with oils designed to detangle and nourish hair but it isn't a patch on the Deep Repair Masque. Lets be honest though, what is? It still does a great job and leaves my hair soft, smooth and easy to comb. It rinses out easily and doesn't weigh down my hair at all.

It's also worth mentioning that both products are SLS/Paraben free and even though they're scented (signature Macadamia Scent) neither of them irritated my scalp in the slightest

There has definitely been a Macadamia theme running on my blog lately. I think it's safe to say I'm more than just a wee bit taken by the brand. Unfortunately the Rejuvenating Shampoo hasn't made it onto my adore list but by no means is it a bad product, it just doesn't seem to suit my hair.

Have you tried either of these products?

What's your favourite Macadamia product?

Both products are available from www.hairtrade.com

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Lately I've Been Lovin' #11

I didn't get to blog about my favourites last month due to my internet & Blogger plotting against me so this post is for June & July. A couple of products (The Breakfast Scrub & Zoeva Powder Brush) I didn't get untill near the end of the month but they're already firm faves! If I've reviewed any of the products I'll add links.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution: Not only is this good at removing mascara but it's always on offer which make's it really affordable. It's often BOGOF or half price so stock up when you can. (link)

YUKO Anti-Frizz Shampoo*: There's nothing better than trying out and falling in love with brands I've never heard of before. From the first use I knew this bottle of frizz smoothing amazingness would make it into my monthly faves. It smells lovely and even before adding conditioner I could tell this shampoo ment business. (link)

Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub: I've never been a big fan of Soap & Glory but last year I tried Pulp Friction for the first time and loved everything about it apart from the scent. Fast forward a few months and I'm a die hard The Breakfast Scrub lover. It smells like maple syrup, the scent is really addictive, and the scrubby bits are so densely packed that you get one helluva exfoliation. I always thought this was an oily scrub that would leave an oily residue on my skin but it isn't. It rinses away clean but doesn't leave the skin feeling stripped.

Revlon Grow Luscious Mascara: I've read a lot of mixed reviews on this mascara. My lashes without mascara look as if I've straightened them and not many mascara's actually curl and manage to hold a curl so I stayed well away untill finding it in a local outlet store for £2.99. It's the best £2.99 I've ever spent, my lashes love it! It's nice and black, lengthens, holds a curl and doesn't flake or irritate my eye's at all. I'll be going back for more.

Macadamia Deep Repair Masque*: This beauty has made it into my Holy Grail list. It's fantastic! Expensive but worth it, I'll make sure I'm never without this product. You can read more about it's magic powers here.

MAC Paint Pot 'Painterly': Another product I'd thought about getting for the longest time but never did untill a few weeks back. If you're like me and get bored from all the constant MAC fangirling and have no desire to jump onboard that bandwagon or try anything from the brand, please make this the exception. It's a fantastic product and something I reach for on an almost daily basis. It blanks out discolouration/veins on the lid and can be worn alone for a clean eye look or used as primer.

Diesel Loverdose: Diesel fragrances don't usually get my attention but last year I fell in love this this after receiving a sample with a Debenhams order. I have a 30ml bottle that lives in my bag but treated myself to this 50ml bottle last week when it was reduced to £20. It's one of those scents that last all day and always get you some compliments

100% Pure Lip Glaze 'Peach Bellini*: Gorgeous products, gorgeous packaging, gorgeous brand. Most natural make up brands I've tried haven't been very good. The colours are usually boring, lack pigmentation and the textures are questionable but not with 100% pure. I wouldn't have known this was a 100% natural brand if I'd tried the products blind. This lip glaze sits somewhere between a tinted lip balm and a lipstick. It's buildable, you can get an almost opaque finish and the colour is just lovely.

Zoeva 106/Powder Brush: I haven't tried many powder brushes and even thought I've only had this for around a week I can already tell you it's the best I've ever tried. I'll try to get a more detailed post up soon on this and the pencil brush.

Have you tried any of these products?

What have you been lovin' this month?

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Review: Macadamia Control Hairspray

Macadamia Control Hairspray*

I'm back with yet another product from my current favourite hair care brand. I really can't get enough of Macadamia at the minute, most of the products I've tried so far have really, really impressed me. The products can be on the pricey side but fear not, ebay and discount websites like CheapSmells have got your back.

All I ask for when it comes to hairspray is the right amount of hold, a natural non crispy finish, a scent that doesn't make me run to the nearest window to escape what smells like a cross between nail polish remover and fly spray, and the ability to be able to brush my hair without ending up with what looks like clumps of druff! Does it deliver? In one word, yes. The scent is pleasant, the end result is never 'helmet head', it brushes out easily without leaving any white residue behind and the huge 300ml bottle will last a long time if you're like me and don't use hairspray on a daily basis.

Macadamia Control Hairspray is humidity resistant and provides light to medium hold. It's enough for day to day use on most styles but if you prefer your hair to be completely budge poof you'll have to look elsewhere.

Have you tried this hairspray?

Macadamia Control Hairspray RRP: around £15 , currently £10.54 with free delivery from Beauty Bay

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June/July 2013: Used, Abused & Reviewed.

I have 2 months worth of empties to get through so I'm going to try to keep this post as short and to the point as I can or we'll be here all day but if you have any questions, ask away.

Girlz Only Dry Shampoo 'Party Nights': I really like this dry shampoo, it come's in 3 or 4 different scents and works just as well as Batiste. The scent lingers on the hair all day but if you have a sensitive scalp then it can cause you to itch like a Nitty Norah. I'm fine as long as I wash my hair the day after using this. If you have dark brown/black hair you need to make sure you brush it through really well as it's very powdery. It's cheap and cheerful but the name kills me, am I alone on this?

Repurchase? I already have another one in the cupboard.

Liz Earle Eye Bright*: I love most Liz Earle products but this isn't one of them. I know for some people it works wonders at refreshing tired, sore eye's and getting rid of puffiness but I really don't think it does anything for me.

Repurchase? No

Green & Spring Restoring Face Serum*: I haven't fully used this up, there's a tiny bit left but it's out of date now. If you love oils, you'll love this. It's called Restoring Face Serum but it's actually an oil that works really well at softening any rough patches of skin. I get a random patch under my eye and chin and noticed a difference from the first use. You can read my full review here.

Repurchase? I'm sure I will at some point.

OSMO Deep Moisturising Shampoo: I've had this for such a long time. I didn't use it often as it contains ingredients I try to avoid but if my hair was feeling really dry and looking a bit ratty it made a big difference. It smells nice, lathers up well and made my hair look/feel smooth.

Repurchase? No, I prefer other shampoo's.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir: Probably one of the most hyped up products ever. I reviewed it last year (link) and I've gone through 2 or 3 bottles since then but I don't think it's the wonder product it's made out to be. I don't see any improvement in my skin when I use it, if anything it dries my skin out if used too often but I do enjoy using when the sun's shining or when I've got a migraine and feel a bit sick.

Repurchase? I'm using up my last bottle now but doubt I'll buy it again.

JASON Apricot Scrubble*: I started out really lovin' this face scrub but over time it became too harsh for my skin so I used the rest as a body scrub. I love JASON products but Apricot Scrubble isn't a product I would recommend to anyone with overly sensitive skin. If you like a good manual exfoliator though and know it won't upset your skin then this is a good one to go for. It's reasonably priced and free from harmful ingredients.

Repurchase? No

Liz Earle Orange Flower Botanical Body Wash: I bought this in a set of 3 last year and did enjoy using it, it's very gentle on sensitive skin and can even be used on babies but it's too expensive for what it is. If you're someone who likes to splash out when it comes to bath and shower products it might be one worth trying.

Repurchase? No.

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Mascara: This was my mascara of choice for yeeeaaaaarssss. It's one of the blackest mascara's I've ever tried and made my lashes look full, long and curled but for some reason it doesn't work as well for me as it used to. I'm not sure if the formula has been changed or maybe my lashes have.

Repurchase? Not sure.

REN Neroli & Grapefruit Body Wash: REN body washes - I love them, my purse hates them. They're gorgeous. I love the packaging, the scents, the ingredients, the texture, I love everything about them except the price. The Neroli & Grapefruit version was my morning shower buddy, it helped wake me up with its fresh, citrusy scent.

Repurchase? Not at full price.

Toni & Guy Platinum Blonde Conditioner: This has been lurking in my bathroom for what seems like a million years. I bought it as a shampoo/conditioner duo but found the conditioner pointless. It has a purple tint but not enough to counteract any brassy tones. The shampoo was a lot better.

Repurchase? No

Garnier Ambre Solaire Medium Bronze Natural Dry Body Mist: Another forgotten product. I do like this but prefer other brands like Hi-Shi. I ended up with a few random streaks everytime I used this even though it claims to be a no streaks tan.

Repurchase? No

Leonor Greyl: I have no idea what this is called, it just says 'Palme' but its a solid oil which melts when in contact with heat and can be used as a pre shampoo treatment. I usually leave treatments on overnight and I did feel a bit of a difference after using this but not enough to make me want to buy it.

Repurchase? No

Lightening Whitening Teeth Whitening Pen: I'm all over anything that claims to whiten teeth and after seeing a few people rave about this I was daft enough to place an order using their discount code. It. Doesn't. Work.

Repurchase? Never

Figs & Rouge Sweet Geranium 100% Organic Balm: I REALLY liked this. It can be used on the face, body and lips to help sort out any dry patches. The tin is really small and cute too.

Repurchase? Yes but in a different scent.

Apivita Moisturising & Nourishing Mask With Honey: I really had high hopes for this brand but so far I've only liked one product (I think) I didn't really notice much difference in how my skin looked or felt after using this mask and it did sting when first applied so it isn't something I would recommend to anyone with sensitive skin.

Repurchase? No

Weleda Wild Rose Smoothing Capsules*: I can't really comment too much on this as there was only 2 capsules in the pack but it's a facial oil designed to soften the look of fine lines. It felt nice on the skin and is really good to apply before doing a facial massage but 2 uses isn't enough to notice much difference.

Repurchase? No

Pure Thoughts Apricot & Orange and Mango & Peach Face Masks: Love this brand. The masks come in powder form which you then mix with water to create a paste. They're free from nasty ingredients and have never irritated my skin. You can buy samples to try before committing to full sizes and the soaps are gorgeous too!

Repurchase? Yes

ESPA Super Active Lift & Firm Intensive Eye Serum: This is only a small sample but it lasted a long time. I've wanted to try something from ESPA for ages so was really excited to see this in my Latest In Beauty advent calendar but the excitement was short lived - I didn't like the texture, it's like a sticky gel that felt tacky even once it had dried and it didn't make any difference to my eye area.

Repurchase? No

Talika Skin Retouch: I can't remember much about this sample apart but it did improve the look of whatever area of skin I applied it to. It can be applied to the face, hands and neck, and from what I can remember, it was silicone based so it's not really something I would want to use daily.

Repurchase? No

100% Chemical Free 100% Natural No-Germs Deo: This is one of the deodorants I bought when trying to find a more natural deodorant to use but sadly it didn't do much. It's still more than half full but more than likely out of date by now. It's fragrance free and didn't sting even after shaving but it was just like spraying water under my arms.

Repurchase? No

The Boring Bits:

Sure Cotton Dry Deodorant

Cotton Pads x2

I've mentioned the Montagne Jeunesse Nose Pore Strips loads of times, you can read my review here but in short, I do recommend them.

Phew! Thought I was never gonna get to the end of this post.

Have you tried any of these products?

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Review: YUKO Anti-Frizz Shampoo & Conditioner

This review is long overdue! I had never heard of this brand before receiving the products but I fell in love with this duo from the first use. I've been using them for a few months now and couldn't be happier with how they make my hair look and feel.

YUKO Anti-Frizz Shampoo* & Conditioner*

YUKO is a hair straightening brand created in Japan by Yuko Yamashita in 1996. Yuko was a hair stylist and salon owner who wanted to solve the problem of unruly, frizzy hair that needs to be restyled every morning. 16 years later and Yuko Hair Straightening is still going strong but there's also a whole host of products to keep your hair happy at home. If you're a Frizzy Lizzy like me, you'll love them!

Out of the 2, the Anti-Frizz Shampoo* is my favourite. If your hair is in dire need of a moisture boost like mine, you're going to feel such a difference from the first use. The shampoo uses a unique blend of natural plant extracts to gently cleanse the hair and scalp but at the same time it adds moisture, restores shine and I can instantly feel how much smoother my hair is. My hair feels clean without being stripped and even before using the conditioner I'm able to to work my fingers through my hair from root to tip. Both the shampoo and conditioner have a really pleasant scent, it's almost fruity and lingers on the hair untill the next wash. The shampoo is really concentrated, you only need the smallest amount to create masses of bubbles so I can see this bottle lasting me long time as I only use it once/twice a week.

If you have thick, unruly, frizzy hair you will love this duo but those with fine hair might find it makes the hair look a bit limp if used more than twice a week. I don't have this problem but because it adds so much moisture to the hair I'm assuming it could cause fine hair to fall flat. The Anti-Frizz Conditioner* is really good too but I'm not as smitten with it as I am with the shampoo. I've found other conditioners that work better for me but it still manages to tame my mane a lot better than most brands out there.

Both products used together, or even the shampoo used alone leave my hair looking incredibly healthy thanks to shine they add. They seems to temporarily seal split ends, keep frizz at bay and help any style remain smooth untill the next wash. The shampoo paired with my beloved Macadamia Deep Repair Masque are a match made in heaven, they're a frizzy girl's dream!

Have you heard of YUKO before?

How do you keep Frizz at bay?

Both products cost £12.50 each and can be ordered directly from yuko-london.com

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Tangle Free: Denman D6 Shower Brush 'Be-Bop'

 Denman Shower Brush*

For a few weeks now I've been trying out a product which really appealed to me. I'm a huge fan of the Tangle Teezer for brushing my hair after a shower but as most of you will know, it isn't so great on dry hair as the bristles don't reach through the hair to the scalp. This isn't a problem for me as I only use it on wet hair and take my hair into sections but I think it may be the reason some people don't get on with it. If that's the case for you then you might get on well with Denman's offering.

I've always used Denman brushes, the Classic Styling Brush was always my mums weapon of choice when it came to tackling my bushy barnet so I'm no stranger to the brand and had high hopes. The Denman Shower Brush is available in various bright colours inspired by the neon shades of Spring/Summer. It's easy to hold (the handle slips over the back of your hand with the flat back of the brush being held tightly against your fingers/palm) and is designed to be used in the shower on wet hair. The pins are all the same length and stiff which makes it great for getting right down to the scalp. The pins do soften slightly from the heat of the water so they don't feel harsh at all, it actually feels like you're giving yourself a mini head massage. For me it works best if I take my hair into sections while my conditioner is on but it can also be used on wet hair after showering and I use it when my hair is completely dry too.

As I've said before, my hair is an absolute nightmare, I would be lost without products like this. the brush does exactly what it claims to do and doesn't cost a fortune.

Have you tried this brush before?

Are you plagued by tangly tresses?

Deman Detangling Brush £3.50 available from www.denmanbrush.com

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The Fab Three.

Hello everyone! Thanks to my hub being completely banjaxed and other internetty problems after replacing my old hub, I've been missing for what seems like 10 years! Cold turkey set in after day 2 and now I'm having problems with Blogger so within a week or so I'm guessing I'll be booked in at Blogger rehab.

I've got 3 products which I've relied on heavily over the last 2 weeks or so to share with you. I'm prone to hives, temperature seems to be the main culprit but anything can cause them to appear. I usually get one or two daily but around 2 weeks ago my whole face was covered in them! Not even exaggerating here, I looked like Sloth from The Goonies! My eye lid was swollen really badly, my face was covered in lumps and bumps, my skin was bright red and cleansing my face how I normally would just made things worse. When one hive died down, another 3 would appear and my face was constantly itchy. It got so bad that I was scared to use any skin care so I went back to basics (and against my grain) and relied on micellar water.

If you know one thing about me it will probably be how I can't believe people use micellar water as a cleanser. I do use micellar water on an almost daily basis but I use it to remove my eye make up then follow up with a proper cleanse. Now, I'm not proud of it but for 2 solid weeks I used micellar water as a cleanser. Shocker! None of these products put an end to the battle between me and my Sloth face but what they did do is stop my skin from being irritated any further. The problems I've had with Micellar waters in the past is they sometimes sting any dehydrated areas of my face, they can also leave a really sticky residue on the skin which just feels horrible especially if you leave it on your face and don't cleanse straight after. The 3 I've been using don't leave much residue behind, nothing worth talking about anyway and they feel extremely gentle and cooling when applied to irritated skin. I didn't experience any stinging nor did my face feel tight after use.

Bioderma Sebium H2O, £3.60 - £7.99*: As soon as micellar water is whispered most people probably think of Bioderma. It seems to be the daddy of the micellar world and is now available in the UK from Escentual.com The Sebium H2O version is best suited to those with imperfection prone skin. I'm no stranger to the odd spot every month but my skin isn't as oily as it used to be which made me think this version would be too drying on my skin. Another thing that made me worry about how my skin would react was the scent. It isn't heavy or offensive, it's a fresh light cucumber scent and luckily didn't cause any problems for me. I actually perfer this formula to the original and it does remove make up well but your mascara won't be gone in one swipe like a lot of people claim. I'm yet to find a micellar that magically removes every trace of mascara in one go.

L'Oreal Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution, 200ml £4.99: If you prefer your products to be unscented, reasonably priced and actually work then you can't go far wrong with this Bioderma 'dupe' from L'Oreal. I don't really get the whole dupe thing when it comes to things other than makeup/nail polish shades. Just because 2 products work well that doesn't mean to say they're dupes, there's ingredients to take into considertion. My only complaint with this is the bottle design, I find it impossible to pour onto a cotton pad without spilling some but that wouldn't stop me from buying it again. It's gentle, non drying and works just as good at removing mascara as Bioderma. The price is brillaint and it's always on offer, I got 2 in a BOGOF offer at Tesco but it's also available from Boots and currently on offer for £3.99.

Good Things Deep Pore Anti-Blemish Lotion, 200ml £4.99*: This 'lotion' feels just like micellar water, you apply it with a cotton pad and don't need to rinse. It's described as a 2 in 1 cleanser & toner and as with all products from Good Things, it's free from parabens and other nasties. This new product smells like a fruity drink thanks to the wild fig and strawberry, and even though it's been created for skin that is prone to oiliness and breakouts, I can't see any reason why people with dry skin who suffer from breakouts couldn't use it too. Just like the other two, this doesn't dry out my skin in the slightest. My main area of concern when it comes to breakouts is my chin so after cleansing I go over my t-zone, paying more attention to my chin and it keeps any blemishes at bay. You can find Good Things products at Boots.

Not gonna lie, I did feel like a big stinker not being able to cleanse properly but these 3 saved my face from taking on more hives! They've been really nice to use during the day with this crazy hot weather we've been having and as I said, they don't leave much residue on the skin compared to others I've tried.

Have you tried any of these before?
If you have hives, how do you deal with them?

I've been trying to draft up this post for around a week now. I have no idea what's going on but I can't add links or any of that jazz. Things are going to be quiet on the Blogging front for me untill I get it sorted but I haven't gone anywhere, I'm still here. :)