Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks

I was looking for some nude lipsticks and I've heard good things about the Rimmel Moisture Renew range. I dont like trying out the testers in the shop as I just think they're usually a bit grubby and unhygienic so I picked up two shades, Notting Hill Nude (720) and Let's Get Naked (705).

Notting Hill Nude is a nude with a brown undertone. It is great everyday nude with a nice satin finish, which I think would suit most skin tones.

Let's Get Naked is a peachy/coral undertoned nude, it is more feminine and works well for subtle bridal looks or people who like more of a cute girly look.

The moisture renew lipsticks are really nice and creamy, they glide on nicely and don't gather in the creases or leak. They are very moisturising and leave your lips feeling lovely and soft. They are nicely pigmented and wear off nicely after 3-4 hours, they don't come off in patches so there's no real urgency to re-apply. I think these lipsticks are lovely and work very well for the price.

Let me know how you've got on with these lipsticks or which ones are your favourite in the comments below.
Thanks,

How To: Encourage Hair Growth

It seems everyone wants longer hair, even after having it all chopped off I hear people saying 'I'm growing it out' or 'I'm fed up with having this short hair'. It is difficult to maintain good-looking hair in between styles so people want it to grow out as fast as possible. Realistically there is nothing out there which can make your pixie crop turn into waist-length tresses within a week. However, there is a few tips and techniques to encourage your hair to grow faster and reduce split ends and breakage.

1. Biotin: This is a supplement you can take which makes your hair and nails grow faster and promotes glossier, stronger hair. All you have to do is take one tablet a day. Biotin comes in a variety of different strengths, I take the maximum, which is 10,000mcg.
2. Coconut Oil & Head Massage: Coconut Oil is fabulous for hair and gives your hair and scalp a lot of nutrients to encourage growth. This works best when massaged into the scalp, as the massaging gets the blood flowing and the coconut oil is worked into the scalp. I'd advise to massage it in for 20 minutes before you wash it as a kind of pre-shampoo treatment.
3. Heat Defence: This is vital for healthy hair. Without heat defence hair can get dry and leave you with split or frazzled ends. I apply heat defence religiously after my hair is towel-dried, regardless of whether I'm using heat on it or not.
4. Deep-Conditioning Masque: It's nice to treat your hair occasionally and I'd advise to do a deep conditioning treatment once or twice a week. Put the masque on, wrap in cling film and leave on for a couple of hours. Or even better, sleep in it overnight to get ultra-moisturised hair.
5. Brushing: This is very important in maintaining healthy hair, but a lot of brushes can cause breakage and pull hair out. It is best to brush hair with a wide tooth comb, afro comb, tangle teezer or tangle tamer as they gently remove knots without causing damage.
6. Reduce Heat and Washing: Heat, as everyone knows causes hair damage, you should try to reduce this as much as you can and try to find hair styles which don't require it. Velcro rollers, Flexi-Rods and loose braids can produce lovely hairstyles without causing heat damage. Shampooing hair strips it of its natural oils and leaves it dry and brittle, so if you are washing your hair daily try to reduce it to 2 or 3 times a week. Dry shampoo is a good way to bridge the gap between washes.
7. Trim: I know this seems counter-productive but trimming is an essential part to achieving long, healthy hair. Make sure you get your hair trimmed every 2-3 months and get at least 1cm taken off to maintain split-free ends.

If you have any hair-growing tips leave them in the comments below.

Thanks,

Body Shop Haul II

Once again I went a bit crazy online shopping whilst looking on The Body Shop, my go-to place for anything skincare. I've tried out everything and here's some sort of 'mini-reviews' of my purchases...

Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (£10)
This was the only product I intended to buy, but I love and want to try out everything from TBS, which is why I bought everything else. I tried out the other cleanser from this range, which is a cleansing butter. I loved the cleansing butter & it worked really well for removing make-up and making my face feel fresh. So, I thought I'd try out the oil, as it's cheaper and you get more for your money size-wise. Also it has the Caroline Hirons stamp of approval so it made me want it even more. The cleanser works so well! I love it, it only takes a couple of minutes to massage into the skin and then remove with a hot cloth and it has a lovely subtle scent. It is great at removing make-up, even waterproof.

Vitamin E Face Mist (£8)
I have been using this as a toner pre-moisturiser in the evenings. It has a really subtle scent, kind of like baby lotion and it feels lovely on my skin, giving it moisture and making it feel fresh.

Vitamin C Energising Face Spritz (£9)
I have been using this in the mornings before moisturiser. It is aimed at dull skin and has quite a strong orange scent, which definitely wakes me up in the morning and makes me feel fresh and ready to go.

Vitamin E Eye Cream (£10)
This eye cream moisturises the eye area really well and feels really gentle on this skin. It glides on really nicely without dragging and doesn't sting the sensitive eye area. Since using it I've noticed a slight reduction in my dark circles and you only need a tiny amount so 15ml should last for ages.

Blackhead Remover (£4)
I've had one of these before (but it broke after 4 years) and it's fabulous at removing blackheads without spending 10 minutes squeezing your face. It's are best used after a hot bath/shower when your pores are more open and it does leave some temporary red marks/dents on your face, but if it get the job done, who's complaining?

Bath Gloves (£4)
As all fake tan lovers know exfoliation is a key part in getting a smooth, patch-free tan. I have a spray tan every 10-14 days to prevent me looking ghostly pale and these gloves are great, they are a little bit rougher and thicker than cheaper exfoliating gloves and they have a handy little loop on then so you can hang them to dry.

Let me know your favourite products from The Body Shop in the comments below.
Thanks,

P.S. TBS currently have free delivery, 35% off and a free gift when you spend over £5 with the promotion code 'mystery'!

Review: Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream

A few weeks ago my skin type changed dramatically (definitely blaming the weather...) and I went from Oily/Combination to Dry/Very Dry. Well I've never had dry skin in my life, that I can remember, so I was a bit stuck on what to do. My skin felt tight and looked ashy and flaky (gross!) so I felt I need to change up something ASAP. Knowing that both of the Pixiwoo sisters have dry skin I straight away thought of what they use, Embryolisse and Oilatum. Embryolisse is both out of my price range and hard to get hold of so I went for the Oilatum. I was extremely sceptical at first, as I usually use a mattifying moisturiser for shine control and I was worried about getting blackheads. The cream costs £7.65 from Boots, which is slightly over my ideal price of a drugstore face cream, but not too expensive.

The face cream comes in a 50ml tube, which is more hygienic than a tub and more travel-friendly. The cream is perfume, preservative and emulsifier free and is suitable for dry and sensitive skin. The cream has no scent at all which is great for people with sensitivity to fragrances.

Top: just out of the tube
Bottom: slightly rubbed in

The cream is relatively thick when dispensed, which I was worried about, but after waiting about 5 minutes after applying it it soaks in well and leaves the skin looking moisturised and glowing. It does leave a slight film over the skin, but this isn't really a problem, my make-up goes on really well over it. I've been using this for a week and I've noticed great improvement in my skin. On the packaging it claims that the cream 'penetrates deeply to intensively nourish irritating, dry & sensitive skin' and 'help repair your skin's natural barrier'. To be honest I usually take no notice of the claims on packaging as none of them are really noticeable. However, my skin surface has improved so much and any spots or blemishes I've had have cleared up much quicker than normal. Also, the tightness in my skin has gone and it looks much more moisturised and plump.
I think this is a fantastic cream, I can totally understand the hype around it.

If you have any questions about Oilatum Natural Repair Face Cream or you use it, let me know in the comments below.
Thanks,
  Cameron :)

My Favourite High Street Make-Up

I much prefer to save money when I can, going for the cheaper option if it works as well, So heres my top picks of high street make-up...

Foundation: Toss up between Bourjois and Revlon. Bourjois Healthy Mix (£9.99) is great for normal/dry skin who want a dewy finish, it goes on lovely and lasts well on the skin. Revlon Colorstay (£12.49) is fabulous for oily/combination skin, it prevents shine and lasts on the skin for ages, and it gives a medium-buildable coverage.

Concealer: I love the Maybelline Fit Me Concealer (£5.99). It is great for both under eye circles and blemishes, naturally concealing the areas without highlighting or looking cakey.

Contour: Sleek Contour Kit (£6.49), without a doubt. The kit comes in 3 different variations for different skin tones and includes a contour and an highlight to make sclupting your face easy.

Bronzer: Bourjois Delice De Poudre (£6.99) gives a lovely natural glow without being too orange or harsh.

Blush: Bourjois Cream Blushes (£7.99) are amazing, coming in a variety of shades to give a really nice subtle flush of colour.

Powder: Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (£3.99) is a great powder to keep you shine-free all day.

Mascara: Max Factor 2000 Calorie (£7.99) is my all time favourite, it gives great volume and length, without being clumpy or flaky.

Eyeliner: Maybelline Gel Liner (£7.99) is great for fine or thick lining and lasts all day. The Avon Supershock Gel Eyeliner Pencils (£6) are also great, for the waterline and creating smokey liner looks.

Eyeshadow: The Sleek I-Divine (£7.99) palettes are without a doubt my favourite eyeshadows. They are super-pigmented with great staying power and the wide range of palettes means you can find one to suit any tastes.

Lipstick: Rimmel do fantastic lipsticks, especially their Moisture Renew (£6.49) range, giving great colour, finish and moisture.

Lip Liner: Rimmel 1000 Kisses (£2.99) are my favourite lip liners. They have a easy-to-apply creamy consistency and come in a wide range of colours.

If you have any questions or want to let me know your favourite high street make-up, write in the comments below
Thanks,
  Cameron :)

Winter Hand Care

My hands are definitely one of the first things that suffer as soon as winter hits. They get dry, cold and cracked which makes them look a bit lifeless and aged. I try to moisturise them as much as I can, to prevent white, flaky hands.

Firstly, I apply a light hand moisturiser as often as I remember. I try to get into a habit of putting it on, like every hour or after every time I wash my hands. I use either The Body Shop Almond Hand & Nail Cream (From £5) as it smells so nice and also helps strengthen your nails, or Neutrogena Fast Absorbing Hand Cream (£4.09 From Superdrug).

Also, once or twice a week I exfoliate my hands with The Body Shop Peppermint Smoothing Pumice Foot Scrub (£7) and then slather on a heavy-duty moisturiser (I use The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector (From £5)). I then put on some cotton moisturising gloves and sleep with them overnight. This gives your hand a more intensive treatment, removing all of the dead cells and heavily re-moisturising.

If your hands are really bad you could try filing off the hard skin with an emery board and heavily applying a thick cream such as sudocrem overnight to soften the skin. It may also be worth switching hand-wash to one which states is skin friendly or moisturising.

If you have any more hand care tips let me know in the comments below!
Thanks,
  Cameron :)

Men's Beauty: Review: BaByliss For Men I-Stubble+ 7895U

I've wanted one of these for ages, so when I saw they were 1/3 off in Argos I decided to treat myself. The I-Stubble is a stubble trimmer, with an LCD display and cutting length choice ranging from 0.4mm to 5mm.

In the box you get the stubble trimmer, power cable, lubricating oil, cleaning brush and a 2-pin socket adapter. I know it's being picky but I'm glad they included the adapter, because there has been times before when I've not been able to charge stuff because I knew nothing about needing an adapter (I'm looking at you, Oral B Electric toothbrush.)

The shape and size of the trimmer is great. It fits nicely in the hand, is a good weight and it's designed in a way that you don't press the buttons when you're using it. The device has an on/off button and and up and down button, which changes the length it cuts at. the trimmer goes from 0.4mm to 2.0mm in 0.2mm increments and from 2.0mm to 5.0mm in 0.5mm increments.

Top: Cutting guard normal
Bottom: Cutting guard clipped back

As you change the cutting length the floating head of the device extends or withdraws. You can also clip the cutting guard back and just use the blade to cut hair precisely or give definitive lines.

So, after getting the I-Stubble out of the packaging and charging it for 16 hours (as told in instructions) I gave it a go. I think it's really great, it glides very smoothly over the skin and is very comfortable. The floating contouring head makes it really easy to trim the hairs evenly over the face, and all in all it took me about a minute to use, much quicker than wet-shaving. Overall I think this is a great product for anyone who wants that 'designer stubble', 5-o-clock shadow or rugged look. For only £40 in Argos I think it's well worth it!

If you have any questions about the I-Stubble or you have got one too, comment below!

Thanks,

Cameron :)