The Body Shop : Down to Earth Quad {Smokey Grey Version)

The Body Shop UK

I love The Body shop products and some of my favourite's have been from the makeup range. I had my first makeup consultation there when I was younger (many moon's ago). So i am very excited and grateful too The Body Shop for allowing me to trial a new eyeshadow palette.

About : 

Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, The Body Shop® is a global beauty brand built on making people feel good – face, body and soul. Seeking to make a positive difference by offering high-quality, naturally-inspired skincare, hair care and make-up produced ethically and sustainably. Having more than 3,000 stores in more than 60 countries. 

Smokey Grey Quad {Also available Gold, Plum, Brown, Black)

Discover a wide range of neutral shades to highlight the natural beauty of all skin tones & eye colours.

~ The new quads each have a built in mirror, and the individual shades all click in and out of the palette casing, so you can switch shades between palettes and quads. (Please note that the palette is prefilled, so shades can’t be swapped prior to purchase.)

~ The nature powered formula comes in 8 shades with x3 different finishes: true mattes, iridescent shimmers and eye-catching sparkles.

~ All the shades can be used dry for easy blending, or wet for more intense, vibrant colour. This can help to create defined lines and strokes.

Palette & Shadow's

The palette is a sleek and well set out with 4 cohesive shadows that blend well together. Soft and buttery in texture these eyeshadows need a good primer, so they last longer.

Overall view

I attempted the first two looks on the box card and found that the pink shade on the first look to be a very pale, much lighter colour then appearing within the pan. This first look is a very clean look for daily wear, using the darkest shadow used for an eyeliner. The second look I achieved by using the colours mentioned and some glitter pigment on the lid. I used a glitter to emphasise the grey shades more. These suggested look's are a really handy tool, as they show what can be achieved with that set of colours and plus where to place and blend each shade. 

I absolutely love the texture of the shadows with there creamy, buttery feeling. They are easy to apply and are pigmented when swatched. I found it very versitile with the new push out palette, I can swap and change out colour's as I wish. It made me realise that I only require four shades to complete my daily look. I would love to try the other quads available and see how the colour's compare and look's that can be achieved. Im very impressed with the "Grey" quad and how the shadow's have performed. They blend well and have great pigmentation also. 

Can be found at any "Body shop" branch or online. 

My little friend Box - August Edition

Its summer and the sun has definatly been out and shining for all too see and enjoy. Along with sunshine come's the oppertunity to make amazing memories with family and friend's. This month's box  is inspired by friend's 

About : My Little Box is a hand-picked and beautifully designed box of fashion, beauty and lifestyle surprises. With accessories, products and other goodies created exclusively for you and based around a different theme every month, each box promises to delight the lucky recipient.

Content's : 

- My little Magazine 

- Nail care kit

- Beauty bag included within is Batiste hairspray, My little beauty lip balm and Kadalys creme

- Clipon fisheye lense from Printic

- Bag of Propercorn popcorn 

- A5 inspirational card 

- Clipon fisheye lense from Printic

Ive not had any experience of these attachments for phone's, so im eager to try this and see the difference (if any) it has on the picture's im able to capture. 

I will post some of the photo's I capture with this lense via my social media, as id love to know what you think. 

- Nail care kit

Now whilst im happy with this kit as i dont own one and its a handy item to carry. I must say the presentation is spot on a 10/10 with top mark's to whomever designed this. 

- Beauty bag included within is Batiste hairspray, My little beauty lip balm and Kadalys creme

A great size hairspray from Batiste which is great for summer, as will keep my hair off my neck and face. There is a lovely size Kadalys creme to help keep your skin moisturised during the hot summer months. Then finally the My little beauty lip balm with SPF, always handy to have a lipbalm in your handbag so your lips stay looking plump and hydrated. 

- Bag of Propercorn popcorn 

Hand-popped corn with the perfect balance of sea salt and sweet brown sugar. Packed in an environment that packs nuts. May contain the occasional un-popped kernel. Suitable for vegans

- My little friend's Magazine 

As always the feature magazine from My little box. This has a front cover which has a "friends" illustration in keeping with this month's box. 

- A4 decorative card 

A "Girl power" themed card in keeping with the friends box. It's a fantastic blessing to have friends around you, plus handy to be reminded about how strong your friendships can be. 

Overall view 

I love the theme and box's presentation with the beautiful blue water and illustration. Also the content's are all fabulous handbag must haves, that we all at some point go on the hunt for. Again  the presentation is beautiful on the Nail kit and also the beauty bag with its heart design. I really enjoyed the popcorn treat that was included also and will be ordering some more. It was a really good box this month and I think it was put together well and fitted the theme, plus it had a lovely summery vibe. I cant wait to see whats in store for next month. 

Dermalex - Psoriasis cream

Having had psoriasis for nearly 22 years, I can say Ive probably used every cream on the market. When I flare up and its at its worst I have to use more emolliants to moisturise and ensure my skin does not crack. Im trying Dermalex to see if it does work and how it feels. 

About : Dermalex reduces the typical symptoms by normalising skin cell production and maturation time. It accelerates the skin barrier recovery via activation of the skin's own repair mechanism and fortifies the skin barrier through the creation of a protective shield and prevention of water loss from inside to outside. Dermalex Repair Psoriasis is a dermatological product for the treatment of Psoriasis skin symptoms such as scaling, itching, red spots, hardened and thickened skin. Clinically proven to reduce itching and scaling from 2 weeks

.

Dermalex Repair Psoriasis does not contain corticosteroids, tar or tar products, vitamin D3 analogues, vitamin A-derivatives, suphur (S), keratolytic substances like salicylic acids and colourants.

- Dermalex Repair Psoriasis

The packaging is sharp and to the point, which is something i do prefer in creams. So on removal from the packaging the tube of cream is the same. With this cream you only need a small amount and it goes so far.

My skin is dry and flaky on a normal flare up, this is hard to get on top of unless your not stressed. Unfortunately I was very stressed this month with going into hospital for an operation. So upon application I did notice is burns and stings quite a bit, not uncomfortably but you will notice it.

 After having used the Dermalex its got my skin looking good and not as angry. Im going to try and continue to use this cream, then see if it can just improve this final stage.

So overall I like Dermalex as it does work and help my skin. Each persons skin is different and reacts in different ways. My experience was upon application when absorbing, it was stinging and felt uncomfortable.(Nothing a good book wont fix as a distraction) Then when absorbed it penetrates the skins layers and helps to get rid of all dead skin, so I would recommend a shower/bath with a good exfoliator. I would recommend for anyone whom is looking for a good cream which is absorbent and does not wipe off as the day goes. Dermalex is defiantly a cream which stays on the skin and removes the most stubborn of layers.   

Essie : 1000th Shade launch feat Rio Olympic 2016 Collection

I love Essie nail polish for the simple fact that it's quality is second to none. I really loved the sping collection and now with the Rio 2016 Olympic games fast approaching, it was no surprise to see the 1000th shade was influenced by this event. It also is accompanied by other vibrant, celebratory and carnival inspired colour's. 

About Essie's 1000th shade : 

Demand the party’s attention this summer with Essie's hotly anticipated 1000th shade;

Aim to misbehave.  A scandalous yellow perfect for the summertime, this vibrant shade is also the hero of the limited edition Rio Collection. Inspired by the bold colours of the Rio Carnivals and in time for the 2016 Rio Olympics, this is a party of colours you really can’t miss.

· Aim to Misbehave; a scandalous yellow that will have your nails misbehaving.

· Sunday Funday; turn everyday into a ridiculously good time with this beautiful, coral crush.

· Aruba Blue; escape to paradise with this frosty sapphire.

· Bahama Mama; anytime is the right time for this tropical beauty.

· Pure Pearlification; this over-the-top top coat instantly creates a lacquered shine to rival the real thing.

· Jazzy Jubilant; this hyperkinetic chromatic glitter top coat is part jazz-age shimmer, part space-age glamour.

· Naughty Nautical; sail the sexy seas and chart a course for adventure in this shimmering, brilliant blue-green, naughty never looked so nice.

Aim to misbehave & Naughty nautical 

I kindly was sent both these shade's from Essie, I must convey my appreciation to them as the colour's are stunning. The vibrancy of "Aim to misbehave" is true to the shade, then "Naughty nautical" is again just as beautiful with its shimmers.

They are both opaque and with only 1 coat had a great colour set down. Aim to misbehave I'd recommend doing 2 coats, to get the intense vibrancy this shade truly offer's. 

These are such summery bright, colourful and uplifting shades. Your instantly drawn to "Aim to misbehave" as its micro shimmers give an extra dimension also. Im going to purchase more of shades from this collection as they are stunning. I will be doing Olympic inspired nail art via my Instagram using Essie polish. 

MAC - Chris Chang

This is MAC's summer limited edition collection yet one I was highly excited for, it didnt fail to deliver. My expectations were met and the packaging is beautiful. 

About : China’s most outlandish fashion designer puts an acid-soaked twist on her modern M·A·C collection, featuring a vivid kaleidoscope of cutting-edge colour, inspired by the ancient Chinese art form Kunqu. Surreal hues of Lipstick, Cream Colour Base and Eye Shadow, and uniquely designed packaging, are saturated with her signature dramatic flair. 

- Lipstick in Plum princess

This is a beautiful colour and applies flawlessly to give a rich purple colour to the lips. It's perfect for summer and all the times you just want to add a little pizzaz to a look. 

- Cream bases in Peony pavilion & Sockit Xiqu

These are beautiful and unlike other cream bases, super pigmented plus creamy. I really cannot wait to experiment further with them, in the form of a base for any colourful look i wish to achieve. I have so many look's planned for the next few week's, all colourfully taking on summer. 

My Summer Vibes box - June edition

So its that part of the month where "My little box" arrives. I get very excited and always wonder what french influenced goodies will be inside. Its called Summer vibe's this month, so a proper welcome for summer and the beautiful sunshine.

About : My Little Box is a hand-picked and beautifully designed box of fashion, beauty and lifestyle surprises. With accessories, products and other goodies created exclusively for you and based around a different theme every month, each box promises to delight the lucky recipient.

Content's : 

- A5 inspirational card 

- My Beauty bag {Waterproof Bikini bag}

- "Girls just wanna have Sun" T-Shirt

- My beauty box magazine 

- My little beauty beach hairspray, Too faced Glitter glue sample, Ciate mini Nail polish, Kusmi Tea

- My beauty box magazine 

As always the feature magazine from My little box. This has a summery front cover which also model's the T-shirt's included within the box. 

- A4 decorative card 

Again numerous item's illustrated in regards to summer and the beach. All these item's are classic thing's you would take to the beach, it has a handy tick box so you wont forget anything. 

- My Beauty bag {Waterproof Bikini bag}

This beauty bag is very Summery but the main difference, its waterproof instead of the monthly fabric bag. It says on it that its for Bikini's or swimwear after being used, so all your bag's content's remain protected from wet swimwear. 

- My little beauty beach hairspray, Too faced Glitter glue sample, Ciate mini Nail polish, Kusmi Tea

The My little beauty this month have given us a hair product, in the form of a beach hairspray. So i suspect its like a salt spray to give your hair that beach texture and appearance. 

The next sample is by Too faced and its one of the eye "primers", this is the glitter glue. Ive always wanted to try this as i have many pigment's that need a sticky base so this will be perfect. So happy to have this as a sample.

Ciate polish is really a great formula and these mini's are great for on the go. I have this colour already and would have loved a bright colour for summer, as this seem's like a very fall colour with muted tones. 

This tea is not what it seem's, its to make a litre of iced fruit tea. Hibiscus and berries is a fantastic flavour and a brilliant jug of refreshing beverage for this hot summer. I Suggest a big tumbler filled with this tea, cool and then add Ice with mint leaves and fresh fruit. (Allow tea to cool, or fruit will fall apart).

- "Girls just wanna have Sun" T-Shirt

This is not really a T-shirt on opening fully, its very much a tank top design and exactly as shown on the magazine. Really soft and well made T-shirt, slightly bigger size but its nice for summer then have it stick to me. Also slightly see through so I recommend either nude or a white bra for this top. 

Overall review

So this month I must say is beyond better then last month and improved upon the selection of beauty products. Im so happy with this month and I can use all the item's available within the box. Fantastic and back to its best, so im going to enjoy the hibiscus tea and give my skin some well needed sun rays. 

Diva professional styling - Feel the Heat Elite Straighteners

DivaPro Website UK

When it comes to hair straightener's,  Ive found that you can get some amazing brands that are brilliant styling tool's for your hair. Diva is one of those brand's that gives your hair what it need's plus is backed by professional's. This post is part 1 of 2 (as we all dont have the same hair, so I plan on testing out on differnt types of hair) seeing as i wear wig's currently and not for too much longer. This post is for anyone with extension's, wigs and any artificial hair what Diva does for your hair. 

About : Diva Professional Styling is a British, family-owned company in London. All our products are designed, engineered, tested in the UK and we use top, award-winning hairdressers to salon test and approve all our products. Our products used by Trevor Sorbie, Charles Worthington,Richard Ward, Headmasters to name a few. Popular with celebrities, high profile production's including Skyfall, Downtown Abbey and Dancing on Ice. Our reputation for quality and pride in our response to new styling trends. 

Diva Feel the Heat Elite Straighteners

Diva Professional Styling have had their plates infused with Argan Oil. So now you can condition your hair whilst straightening. The first to launch Argan straighteners in the UK, conditioning your hair to give a shinny smooth and frizz free polished finish every time.They feature a digital temperature control, temperature settings for any hair type including hair extensions. 

• Highest quality Korean ceramic floating plates infused with Argan oil

• Instant heat up ready in only 30 seconds

• Excellent heat recovery

• Infrared conditioning

• Digital heat control - from 110°C to 230°C (hair extension)

• Auto shut-off energy saver after 10 minutes

• Integrated stand

• 3 metre salon swivel cord- heatproof, tough and flexible

• BS/European converter plug

• Multi-voltage for worldwide use

• Heat mat/bag included

The packaging is so impressive, with a clear and consise list of all the benefits for your hair. Infused with argan oil the plate's which reach up to 230 degree's, (can be changed as needed) im keen to see how they can calm my curly hair. Also il be putting the straighteners to the test with using them on my wig's, to see how the heat technology work's plus protecting my wigs hair.

They are so beautiful and the pouch which doubles as a heat mat, really does keep your straighteners protected. I would advise keeping the velcro band that holds your power cable wrapped neatly within that bag, its ideal to keep the cable neat and especially if your travelling. (Personally I dont put my power cable in with my straighteners, as the plug pin's against your plates may scratch.)

- My hair (Before & After) 

I have to currently use extension's due to hormonal imbalance due to my recent hysterectomy. So I use wigs and also suppliment my own hair with clip ins also. So i was eager to know how this would perform on my wig's hair. I have long hair with a few patchy area's ive been told will grow back just as thick as before. Plus I feel more confident wearing a wig personally. 

I used the heat mat and wig holder to straighten the hair. I set as recommended too the temperature for this hair type (110). It I must say warmed up and I slightly questioned would it be hot enough. So I placed them down and proceeded to run my fingers to prep my wig. (Also small tip, dont do this on a very hot day like I did) I sectioned a small portion as well these straighteners do heat up and wow once they were to the heat needed, small combing of sections was like butter over the hair. 

This is only set too 110, so the hottest setting on actual hair will be seconds. (I will be testing on my sister asap). Also I recommend a heat glove if you want to push higher if your not used to the heat. 

I did do a good portion very quick and easily. I must admit the hair felt and looked better after straightening. It was less frizzy in areas where the curls were loosing and needed re-doing, it felt more conditioned and not as corse which I expected. I cannot wait to show more of Diva and what the straighteners can do. 

Il be doing the whole wig and a makeup look, (which will be tagged with Diva on all my Social media) plus test on sister in law to see what she think's . 

So what do you predict may happen ? Will she Vote for Diva or the Market leader ? See more in my next Diva post to see how it all went!