Yaoh Hemp Products - Moisturisers and Lip Balms - Review

When I was offered to try these Yaoh Hemp Products I was really interested as I have never heard of hemp being used in this way before. I aware of hemp but only as a material and not as an oil. Yaoh products all contain organic hemp seed oil and are made fresh in small batches. Yaoh products are free from palm oil, parabens, SLS and chemical stabilisers and preservatives. The products are vegan and rich in essential oils and herbal extracts.

Moisturising Cream - Original, Papaya, Coco Bean £5.99 each*

The packaging of these creams is nothing special, with each being housed in a sturdy plastic tub with a label. Although not much to look at, the tub is very solid feeling and the lid screws on tightly meaning it would be great for travelling and isn't going to spilt or spill.

The cream is available in original, papaya and coca bean. Coco bean is a lovely scented cream and reminds me of a chocolate milkshake or ice cream. Papaya is a very sweet cream and smells like refresher sweeties!

The first thing that struck me when I opened the tub was how full it was! You get 50g of product here and the little tub really is full to the top! The creams themselves are really lovely. When you rub your finger over the product it is a very firm cream, almost like a body butter, meaning that only a little is needed. The thick consistency of the product makes if feels very luxurious. When I apply this to my skin it absorbs easily and leaves a nice soft feeling, with no residue of the product. My skin is instantly hydrated also. If I apply this at night time, I can still feel this result in the morning. For £5.99 this is an absolute bargain and a must have moisturiser for any skin type.

Lipbalms - Coconut, Mango, Spearmint, Blueberry, Strawberries n Cream £2.75 each*

I can't resist a lipbalm. I need to have one in my bag, in my pocket, on my desk and anywhere else that I may be! These are packaged very plainly and very similarly to many other lipbalms. I prefer this tube packaging to a tub as I wear nail extensions and don't like lipbalm to get under them. There are 5 different scents to choose from here. Each is lovely and not too overpowering. My favourite is mango which smells and tastes very sweet. The coconut balm has the added benefit of being SPF 15 so is ideal for the summer.

When applied these balms leave a residue on the lips which feels similar to a light layer of Vaseline. However unlike Vaseline they sink into the lips leaving them moiste and hydrated. I find I need to apply this less frequently than I do with other products. Each balm contains 4g of product and is £2.75.

Yaoh products are available to buy at www.yaoh.co.uk

They offer very reasonable shipping costs and a discount on bulk orders.

*PR Samples

 

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Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash - Review

I received this face wash in the November/Decemeber Miss Glossybox. Miss Glossybox has since been axed and I was disappointed because it was a lovely little beauty box with some great items. The Miss Glossybox was £7 plus £2.95 postage per box and this face wash itself is £13!

Firstly the product comes in an outer box which is not really needed for a face wash but gives an expensive feel to the product. The box is rather plain looking and has quite a medical feel to it, which I actually like.

The bottle is unusual and I'm not actually very keen on it. It is very solid which doesn't allow for much squeezing. This usually means that the last wee bit of the product will be impossible to get out without cutting up the product.

The bottle opens in an unusual way also! You press the white button and the top pops open. This is quite a nice idea but maybe just allows for it to be broken easily. So far I'm having success with it though.

The face wash itself is a very thick gel. I can't quite place the smell, it's slightly citrusy, but I really like it and it's a lovely clean smell. I dampen my face, dispense a small amount onto my fingers then rub it into my damp skin. The product slightly foams up into a milky residue which smothers my face and really feels like it's cleaning my skin. Rinsing this off is quite a challenge and I find that it's much easier with a facecloth. If I try to use my hands and water the water just slides right off the gel product! With a facecloth you can get a good scrub.
The first time I used this face wash, I knew I loved it. I have now been using this for 2 weeks and I can honestly say I have never tried a product that I like more. When I first starting using this I had a serious break out on my chin. I had 4 or 5 sore spots and nothing seemed to be helping them. After two days of using this twice daily, the redness had gone and they were drying up nicely. It's been 2 weeks now and my skin is perfect!
This is £13 which is pricey for a face wash but I would definitely consider splashing out. I wish the packaging was more used friendly but even that doesn't put me off this lovely, effective skincare.

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MUA Blush in Marshmallow - Review

I picked this up in a recent Glasgow haul due to MUA not being stocked in my town. I had actually meant to buy one of the cream blushes and was disappointed to find that I had grabbed one of the normal blushes by mistake! Saying that, the colour is lovely and I do usually use powder blush so I was keen to give it a go.

As you would expect from such a budget product, the packaging is fairly plain and quite flimsy feeling. I won't be carrying this blush around and so the packaging should be fine and the product shouldn't shatter. I do like the little touch of the logo being printed on the powder itself.

Marshmallow is a lovely baby pink shade. It can be applied subtly and blended to create a very natural look or applied with a firmer hand for a girly look. I applied plenty product to the apples of my cheeks and then blended it out for a less vibrant look. I love the finished result. After about 4 hours I saw this begin to fade although the colour was still visible.
Although not a long lasting product, for £1 you really can't go wrong with this. The colours available are lovely and the product is really workable on the skin. I will definitely pick up more of these, and some of the cream ones, next time I am shopping in a big city.

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ZAO Make-up Matt Lipstick - Review

ZAO Matt Lipstick £14.95*

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know what a sucker I am for fancy packaging. When I recieved this ZAO lipstick I nearly melted! Just look at how beautiful this is! Firstly the lipstick comes in it's own sack pouch with a pink ribbon drawstring. Inside this pouch is the gorgeous lipstick itself. The lipstick casing is made from sustainable bamboo making it not only luxurious feeling but also totally unique.
The lipstick itself is free from animal testing. It is designed to be suitable for all skin types and is suitable for sensitive skin and dry, chapped lips.

The colour I received is a gorgeous deep red. The lipstick applies easily and feels moisturising on the lips. It doesn't cling to dry areas or fade unevenly.
At £14.95 this is a pricey lipstick but ZAO lipstick products come with the amazing benefit of being refillable! The metal section with the product simply pops out of the bamboo case and a refill can be slotted in for the amazing price of £4.95!
This lipstick is absolutely gorgeous and would make a lovely gift. Supplying refills is a great idea and makes this a very sensible purchase for any green beauty lover.
For more information or to purchase, see the website at http://www.zaomakeup.co.uk
*PR Sample

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Glossybox January 2014 - Back to Basics

Glossybox January arrived much later in the month than usual and I can imagine that many subscribers are hoping it would be worth the wait. I was surprised to see that the box has now changed. The pink is slightly brighter and the box is now glossy rather than the usual matte. I'm not actually sure if I like it as much and found it difficult to open! Inside the box is now pink rather than the usual black and the ribbon is now grey with the logo printed on it, which I prefer.

Anatomicals Puffy The Eye Bag Slayer Wake-Up a Under Eye Patches

I have been using a fair amount of anatomicals products recently and have been enjoying them so I am happy to see this in the box. I don't consider them a luxury brand and this isn't even a full sized version. Full size is £6.

Yu-Be Moisturising Skin Cream

This is a bit of a disappointed as the samples are so small, although you do get two. Over the two little tubes we get 6g and 33g is £13.50 so this is a high end product and I will definitely be giving it a fair try.

Balance Me Super Toning Body Wash

I had a sample of this before from a magazine and I have to say that it was a much better size than this tiny 50ml bottle! I really enjoyed it and loved the scent so I will definitely get some use out of this. Full size is £10.25 for 250ml.

The Vintage Cosmetics Company Floral Slanted Tweezers

These were released as a spoiler on the website and so I think everyone got them in their box. These retail at £8 and are really cute and girly.

Beauty UK CC Cream

I have tried a few things from a Beauty UK now and actually really like them however they are definitely a budget brand and not luxury at all! This is full size and worth £4.99 and is in a shade that I will use so I look forward to trying it.

Overall I would this was an average month. The tweezers are the star of the box for me but the small samples really let it down.

 

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Glasgow Haul - Boots and Superdrug

I live in a small city and, although shopping is fairly decent, our Boots and Superdrug stores are both small and limited. Recently I had a weekend in Glasgow with my boyfriend and took the opportunity to do a little shopping.

Boots

Real Techniques brushes are available in my town and I have quite a few of them. Whilst in the spending mood I decided to pick up a few more. I chose the stippling brush, £11.99 as I have recently purchased a few cream blushers and have been told this brush is perfect for applying these. I use my buffing brush for powder usually but thought I would give the powder brush, £12.99 a go instead and perhaps use my buffing brush for applying my foundation.

Superdrug

Superdrug have some brilliant brands but my local shop is tiny and has only a small selection of their brands. I have never tried anything from Look Beauty and so was keen to try them! I picked up this Matify Me Pressed Powder, £4 and thought it would be perfect to use with my new powder brush. I love this Mini Makeover Palette in Rock Chick, £4. It has 2 layers and contains eyeshadows, a blush and lip products, really handy for throwing in your bag.

A small range of MUA used to be available in my local store but has now been stopped. I bought one of these eyeshadow trios last time and have used it almost daily since so decided to get another. This time I chose Chocolate Box, £2.50. I have heard good things about the Undress Your Skin Highlighter and couldn't resist it at £3. Lastly I picked up a cream blush in the colour Marshmallow for £2. This will be great to try out with my new brush.

I got the Sleek contour kit for my birthday and love it and so decided to try another Sleek product. This blush in the shade Rose Gold, £4.49 is raved about by bloggers so I thought I would give it a go myself!

Over the next few weeks I will be using these products and reviewing some of them. If there is a particular review you would like to see, please comment below.

 

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Phil Smith Be Gorgeous SOS Rescue Damage-Protection Shampoo and Conditioner - Review

A few months ago I was sent some lovely hair products from Phil Smith Be Gorgeous. I reviewed these and was very positive about them as they were great products. My only problem with the brand is that it is exclusive to Sainsbury's and there isn't one in my area. Recently I decided to make the trip to the nearest store in the next town to repurchase some of the great hair products. Whilst there I also picked up these damage protection shampoo and conditioner.

As with the other shampoos and conditioners, these both come in tubes. I really like the packaging and find it's easier to use up all of the product than with a bottle where you usually end up with some you can't reach! Each tube contains 250ml which is a good amount for the £3.50 each that these cost.

This shampoo claims to over protection and repair for damaged hair. Although I don't straighten my hair, I do wash and blow dry it everyday. This constant washing can cause my ends to become brittle and split and I get some flyaways.

The shampoo and conditioner both have the same consistency as the last one I tried. They also have the same amazing smell. The scent of these products is the main thing that attracts me to them. After using this I get that 'just out of the salon' smell and it lasts all day! The conditioner is really thick and creamy, just what I like in a conditioner.

After using these I find my hair squeaky clean and nice and hydrated. They are so moisturising that they cause my hair to look greasy and instead leave my hair light and product free. I have noticed my hair look much shinier since I started to use these.

I am prone to a dry scalp in this cold weather and do find that constant use of these products seems to aggravate it and so I will be using them for short periods until the weather gets warmer.

Have you tried anything from Phil Smith Be Gorgeous?

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Eye of Horus Mascara Black a Goddess - Review

If there is one product I have never found a 'holy grail' of, it's mascara. I love mascara and I'm always careful to get rid of them after a few months and so I get through plenty! Rather than repurchase though, I usually end up buying a different mascara each time. This is partly because I have never found anything that totally impresses me and partly because I like trying new products. Recently I was offered the chance to try a very interesting mascara from a brand that is new to me, Eye of Horus.
Eye of Horus are an Australian, cruelty free brand created by woman who wanted a product suitable for sensitive eyes with no hidden chemicals.
Eye of Horus illuminating essential range of Goddess eye makeup is based on ancient Egyptian formulas and ingredients, including the revered Moringa Oil claimed by the gods for its beautifying and regenerating powers.
Eye of Horus hypnotic and high performance products Awakens the Goddess Within you, by delivering cosmetic that are:
Lengthening
Volumising
Smudgeproof
Non clumping
Non sensitising.
Representing regeneration, health and protection, the ancient Egyptian Symbol of the Eye of Horus ensures healing, wisdom and prosperity to its bearer. The ancients used the most precious waxes and oils in their iconic eye makeup, including:
Beeswax, Ricebran Wax, Canauba, Candellia, and Jojoba waxes and Almond , Moringa, and Sesame oils
Eye of Horus Mascara Black Goddess £17*

As you know by now, I am a sucker for fancy packaging. I'm such a magpie and can't resist anything in gorgeous wrapping. Who wouldn't love a mascara that comes in it's own bag?! The bag is thick, black paper with a yellow string handle and ribbon around the top. The beautiful logo is printed in gold on the front and inside the product is wrapped in gold tissue.

As if the bag wasn't enough, the mascara comes in a luxurious feeling box, also black with the gold design. On the end of the box is the iconic Eye of Horus logo.

When you finally reach the actual product, the mascara is in a classic black tube with more gold print. This is a very high quality feeling product and well presented enough to make a great gift.

The brush is a plastic bristle, thin one. Personally I like both plastic brushes and bristle brushes. I tend to use two mascaras everyday and choose one with each type of brush. I like a bristle brush for volume but find these plastic brushes great for length and for separating my lashes.
This mascara is a real joy to apply and I am really enjoying wearing it. The brush is fairly small and so doesn't cause smudging or accidental marks on my nose and eyelids. The brush is really great for getting between my lashes and I feel as though every lash is being coated in the product. With this mascara I have noticed some baby lashes that were not getting picked up with my last mascara. I would say this is more of a lengthening and natural look mascara than a volumising one. I apply two coats and that does give added volume but maybe not as much as I would go for on a night out. The mascara remains completely clump free and applies evenly to the lashes.
Throughout the day I don't notice the product smudging or transferring. It stays put all day in fact. I am most happy when it comes to removing this mascara. The colour comes off an absolute dream! With other mascaras I think I have got it all off then wake up with panda eyes or still find black marks during my morning cleanse. However with this product, every but colour is removed easily with my usual makeup remover. My lashes also feel really soft and natural and not at all stiff or weighed down by product.
This is a really lovely mascara and is lovely for everyday use as it is gentle on my lashes and provides a lovely natural look.
To see more eye makeup from Eye of Horus or to purchase visit the website 
*PR Sample

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