2010 Favourites

Hello my lovelies, here is a little post about the products I have post enjoyed this year.... some new, some old!! Enjoy :)

Hair

Shampoo

Aussie Take the Heat

Conditioner

Aussie Take the Heat

Styling Products

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster

L'Oréal Elnett Hairspray

Body

Shower Gel

Lush Snow Fairy/Glögg

Body Moisturiser

Body Shop Wild Cherry Body Butter

Face

Cleanser

Lush Angels on Bare Skin

Moisturiser

The Body Shop Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream

Lush Skin Drink

Makeup

Foundation

Benefit Playstick in Spin the Bottle

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid

Concealer

Benefit Erase Paste

Powder

Mac Studio Fix Powder

Blush

Benefit Coralista

Bronzer

Benefit Hoola

Highlighter

Benefit High Beam

Mac Petticoat Mineralise Skinfinish

Eyeshadow

This changes on a regular basis, but at the moment I'm loving Urban Decay's Naked Palette 

Eyeliner

Urban Decay Whiskey

Mascara

Topshop Mascara (black)

Lipstick/Lipgloss

Mac Vegas Volt, Snob and Creme Cup

Nail Colour

Gosh Chocoholic

OPI You Don't Know Jacques

Hope you enjoyed this post - can't believe 2010 is nearly over... this year just flew by!! I hope you all have a wonderful NYE and an even better 2011

Review: A'kin Instant Radiance Facial Masque

Having tried out a multitude of A'kin products in the past few months, I felt confident ordering their Multi-Fruit and Willow Bark Instant Radiance Facial Masque.

Directions for Use:

After cleansing and drying the skin, smooth a generous layer of this masque onto your face and décolletage, avoiding the eye area. Leave for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.

I love, love, love face masks - I find them so relaxing and rejuvenating. I love nothing more than the soft, silky feeling of freshly-masked skin!!

This product is suitable for all skin types and promises "smooth youthful-looking skin". According to the MyPure website, it is packed with multi-fruit Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA's) and willow bark Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA's) which help to enhance skin renewal and remove dead skin cells, thereby improving your skin tone and reducing the appearance of imperfections and pores. The product also contains a blend of rosehip, pomegranate and vitamin B3 to deliver a radiant, even-looking complexion. This masque is "perfect as a pick-me-up before a special occasion or as part of your weekly beauty regime".

I slathered on this bad boy, as I would with any face mask, but the first thing I noticed was the more than iffy smell, a side effect I wasn't expecting. My brother literally recoiled at the scent! My mother was more forgiving, labelling it a "mature fragrance" but admitted it wouldn't be her cup of tea.

However, for the sake of being thorough, I soldiered on...

And boy am I glad I did!! The masque applies easily, and though it dries somewhat over the 10 minutes, it is not uncomfortable in the slightest. It is a dream to wash off, coming away instantly without leaving any nasty residue.

I was thoroughly pleased with the results too - my skin feels perfectly clean, blemish free and oh so soft!! Though the smell isn't wonderful, I will definitely cope, especially with these results :)

If you would like to try this out, have a look over on the MyPure website.

RRP: £16.99

Rating: ★★★★

Please note: I was sent this product free of charge, but was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed are my own - they are completely honest and unbiased. I am not affiliated with any of the above mentioned companies.

(ps: sorry for the semi-dodgy photo - I left my camera equipment in my apartment and have to cope with my iphone for now!!)

Review: Alva Coleur Baked Foundation Powder

The second product I tested out this month was the Alva Coleur Baked Powder, which you can check out on the MyPure website. The foundation is described as having a "silky light-as-a-breeze texture... with a matt finish and subtle colour at the same time"

The foundation only has two colour choices, light and medium, so it wouldn't be great for anyone with darker skin. However, I'm as pale a person as you'll ever meet, so I selected the light option, hoping it would work for me.

I tried this product two ways... firstly, I tried to wear this as a powder foundation, applying it directly after my concealor (I tried to apply it this way twice - once with the sponge provided and once with a kabuki brush) but it didn't really work out. It provided very little coverage and I was quite disappointed with the results overall.

However, I then decided to try it after applying my liquid foundation, as a setting powder, and I was much happier with the outcome - it blended my makeup really well (my mum commented that it looked like I was wearing no makeup at all) and gave a pretty finish, with a subtle shimmer.

I don't know if I will repurchase this powder - it retails at £16.60 and for that price I would expect a bit more from the product.

Rating: 5/10

Please note: I was sent this product free of charge, but was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed are my own - they are completely honest and unbiased. I am not affiliated with any of the above mentioned companies.

Review: A'kin Pure Emergency Gel

My first MyPure review this month is of the Pure Emergency Gel by A'Kin.

This product has three main uses:

1. A cooling gel to soothe and calm irritated skin

As someone who suffers from irrational skin that is often flushed and blotchy, this product is a Godsend. Applying this gel to irritated skin calms the inflamed red colour and the uncomfortably hot feeling - it provides immediate and lasting relief.

2. A moisturiser (for sensitive or oily skin)

I have oily skin and I find this product great in the morning. I apply it, wait for about 5 minutes and my skin is much less oily than normal!

3. An after shave/waxing balm

I used this after dry shaving (awful, I know, but our water was turned off) and it reduced the red, irritated appearance of my legs - the red bumps literally disappeared!

This product claims to be "unscented" - though this is not strictly true, the light fragrance of chamomile mixed with aloe is relaxing, and adds to the charm of this product.

For more information, and to pick up a bottle, please check out the MyPure website. I really like this gel, and fully intend to repurchase it when I run out. I cannot rate it highly enough!!

Rating: 10/10

Please note: I was sent this product free of charge, but was not compensated for this review. All opinions expressed are my own - they are completely honest and unbiased. I am not affiliated with any of the above mentioned companies.

Haul: Lush Christmas - Cinders

"Fizz, crackle and pop, a spicy crackling bath ballistic. Run a warm bath and drop it in... and listen carefully"

This delicious bath ballistic contains "cinnamon, sweet orange and almond essential oils." It is nourishing and refreshing, and it just smells like Christmas. I am overly excited to try out this little beauty. For more information, have a look at Lush's website.

RRP: €2.50

Haul: Naked Shine Hydrating Shampoo

My quest for perfect tresses has pressed me to purchase many a whimsical product in the past, but when I saw this in Boots, I just couldn't say no...

"Naked is a range of beauty products crammed with gorgeous high quality botanical extracts and made from at least 97% plant and mineral derived ingredients".

For more information, have a nosey at the Naked website by clicking here.

I picked up the formula for normal to dry hair.... but I want to try the limp hair version too. It is made with honey and mallow and smells divine.

The blurb below says: "the hair cuticle needs to be moisturised so we use honey and mallow extracts to target areas of dryness, quenching hair and helping to keep it hydrated. Because your hair deserves the kindest treatment of all, we don't use harsh detergents - only gentle, plant-based cleansing ingredients, to give that extra special Swish Factor, so you shine like a diamond in the rough"

 The instructions are the same as almost every shampoo, but in case you're interested: "apply to thoroughly wet hair for a feather soft lather. Rinse really well and repeat if necessary - you will achieve a better foam second time around". I never repeat when washing my hair.... it often leads to a lot of product build-up in my thin hair, and I feel that it is a bit of a ploy by manufacturers to get you to use more and (hopefully) buy more! However, I will happily try this out twice for the sake of being thorough :)

Oh, and they don't test on animals either!

I will update this within the next week or so with my opinion and a review... hopefully a positive one :)

RRP: €5.80 or £3.99