Joico - Style and Finish new products

Joico Website 

So when i was asked to review some of the New editions to the Style and finish range at Joico, i was more then happy to oblige. My hair struggles with products and with the technology involved within Joico's product to protect hair as well as get the best out of it. I knew i was dying to try the Power Whip and Power Hold hair spray. 

The style and finish range is described as ;

Our Style & Finish formulas
feature the latest and greatest breakthroughs in hair care and styling technology to meet every styling challenge head on, while actually improving and maintaining the condition of your hair.

Ethos of the company ;

Our company Mission and Core Values are expressed as such", says Jones, adding "our mantra says it all... 'All for the love of beauty'. From the stylist behind-the-chair who's passionate about revealing the potential of every person's individual beauty to the client who walks out of the salon and into the world with a bold new look and confidence, Joico gives you the power to transform hair and transform people.  Joico is a company whose purpose is to support the salon professional. Everything we do—from continually pushing the boundaries of technology to improve the performance of our products in the salon and at home, to exploring innovative ways to inform and inspire - is done with the stylist in mind. 

So firstly the Power Whip, described as :

A concentrated, whipped styling foam that creates maximum density and incredible volume that lasts even in high humidity. Plum Kernel Oil nourishes hair with incredible moisture without adding weight.

This creamy, luxurious feeling foam will lock your style in place for up to 72 hours. It will deliver an ultra-firm, flexible and touchable hold with incredible fullness, thickness and volume.

Sleek professional packaging with a helix in the corner to symbolise the nutrients. Very stylish addition to anyone's hair routine. Now the hair whip is ideal for my curly and uncontrollable hair. I find if I use a mousse then it will end up, overloaded and just crispy feeling. Or it will just run out over the course of the day so my ends and underneath will be so frizzy. I don't like to put so much in that it's obviously loaded heavy with product. I just would like to put enough in when it's drying so it then binds it for the day. This is why I like the holding rating on the products, this will give you the perfect product for whatever event. So if I was just wanting to hold my hair lightly for a daily effect then I can choose a lesser strength. This doesn't make my hair feel crunchy or loaded. I always put serum on before then the mousse, it still looks natural with this product. So I'm really happy with the power whip. 

Then we come to the Power Hold Hair spray :

A fast-drying, ultra-fine mist aerosol hairspray with firm to ultra-firm hold. Opal Powder creates tremendous shine, and special silicones contribute to a smaller particle size for a non-sticky fixative. hair is 5.5 times more thermally protected to 450°F. Colour-safe.

This firm to ultra-firm, layerable hairspray will give your hair a long- lasting, firm yet flexible finish that isn’t hard feeling. Plus, it will increase your shine by 170% and protect your hairstyle from humidity by 89%, (even after three days).

Now the finishing spray is probably the product I would use regularly as it just illuminates them last stragglers. Its a light spray and again if your like me and have really uncontrollable hair, I use serum first. Then this hair spray will definately give you a light feeling and hold. It smells amazing and also leaves your hair seperated even with the heavy hold rating.

So I'm so impressed with the Joico products as they definately remind me of salon quality. Giving you that hold with your hair still feeling light and bouncy. 

W7 - Makeup and Nail polish

W7 cosmetics widely known as a brand that is affordable and quality product range. I was kindly sent some products to do a review on. As I heard the boxed powders were affordable dupes to some more expensive counterparts. I've decided to buy some to review aswell. So there will be a part 2 for face and box powders from W7.

So I was sent to review mostly eye products from the range, plus a nail polish. 

   

I was kindly sent Rock and roll , Glitter eyeliner in black , Stardust in silver , Magic eyes mascara in black, Eyelid primer and finally a beautiful red glitter polish. 

The Rock and roll eyeshadow is a rollerball mechanism. It is a beautiful brown colour with micro shimmers. So I will do a natural eye, then run the rollerball over my lid to add the shimmer. Perfect for the party season and these come in a range of colours. So if you want to add some zing to a favourite matte shade then use this product. 

The stardust glitter is a mix of different sized glitters, at first I was not too sure about this as a pigment. It seemed very chunky and could be irritating, if not stuck down properly or if you have sensitive eyes. I personally would use this in a special effect look around the cheeks etc. I just don't feel very comfortable to put such a chunky glitter on my lid. I will of course to see and give it the chance to prove me wrong. So il use a mixing medium as a adhesive then pat it on top. 

The black glitter Eyeliner I had expected a splotchy and uneven application. However il admit I was wrong and this eyeliner was very easy to apply. Very pigmented but with the glitter can come across charcoal looking. So I would place a black below this, then apply the glitter on top so it's colour is striking. It is excellent for party and going out looks or too jazz up a natural look. I found this to be the product that shocked me the most. I would purchase more colours.

The red nail polish also shocked me too. Expecting to have to layer this at least twice to gain a sufficient coverage. I found one coat gave me quite a pigmented layer with only a second needed for touch ups. It didn't chip easily which again surprised me and came off easily. I must say the quality of these products has improved since I last used W7.

So into the Magic eyes mascara which reminds me of another brands tube. 

It is a good mascara that offers a brush to seperate lashes. It does not clump but I would leave time between applications. As with every mascara I've used, I would defiantly recommend this step. It allows proper setting and drying time. This is a good affordable mascara for daily use. 

Primer magic eye primer is a creamy white primer. I must admit I did catch a wiff of a almost chemical smell. It applies so easily and absorbs into the eyelid. 

Eyeshadows blend well but it's not particularly tacky so it's more of a primer to lay a base. I would choose a tackier primer for heavy pigments and glitters. For a just eyeshadow primer it's perfect and a nice texture too. 

W7 can be found on fragrance direct or any number of reputable sites online. I would recommend investing in the box powders as you will see from my next review and also the Eyeliners, Nail polishes and shadows. 

YouBeauty Discovery box - Nov 2013

YouBeauty box has been the beauty subscription I've most enjoyed recently, plus feel gives the most amazing value for money. At £6.95 including postage with a choice of your samples rather then a pre-picked box. This maintains that you choose what you love, no one assumes what you may like. The pick of samples is vast, from tanning products including the mitt to haircare products plus tools.

This month was centred all around party glamour it seemed. It was very apparent that the products were aimed, at getting ready for the Christmas and new year party season. 

As well as the 2 samples that come within each box, this month they were 

Flash by Jimmy choo

Green and blacks (Raisin and Hazelnut chocolate)

My contents ; 

Awpawai hair duo 

Becca illuminating shimmer 

I think out of all the beauty boxes I've subscribed to, YouBeauty consistently offers me new and exciting samples. 

No repeats and defiantly no sparcety in sample size. I wish that all beauty boxes had this quality. 

HealGel - Face

HealGel Website

So the lovely people from HealGel sent me a bottle of there Face Serum for review. HealGel was compleatly new to me until I saw a review on Pixiwoo. Highly recommended to dry skins when the weather goes cold and most damage is done. It will benefit everyone whom uses it, even after a facial it's the ideal way to get moisture in to the skin. 

They say

-- HealGel Face is an exceptional anti-ageing formula designed to smooth, firm and replenish to give instantly plumper, revitalised looking skin.

 -- This step-changing complex acts like HealGel Intensive to rescue unhappy skin, but then takes its transformative effect to the next level.  Arnica and Madecassoside are suspended in liposomes with powerful peptides and biodynes to initiate a uniquely soothing and collagen boosting process.  HealGel Face also contains a unique blend of Omega Oils to replenish dehydrated skin and restore elasticity.  To this another vital dimension is added; a powerful three part hyaluronic acid complex provides a plumping and tightening effect. 

All the HealGel products ive found are light weight, very quickly absorbed into the skin plus lightly scented with natural oils. There is a slight difference with this formula as it's a mix of gel with a cream. It looks like a cream but spreads like a serum. I had worried, as I do love the other products so much because of there gel forumla. However this does not disappoint and I used this regularly. I admit I was glad it was in my bag when I was in hospital. My skin and winter do not mix and dryness is my main enemy. 

So one pump is sufficient to apply to all areas of the face. As it's being massaged into the skin, the warmth makes it disperse with ease. To say that HealGel has compleatly given me confidence, in my winter skin is an understatement. If you suffer dry patches in areas that can be stubborn, then this may assist you. It's quite an investment but I will be saving to repurchase when I can, as I have total faith in the products. 

It lasts a long time (obviously dependent on your use) when used in the morning and evening. The smell for a natural product is not overpowering and disperses quickly. The only scent left was reminant on my hands after I massaged it into my face. I would advise a good massage into the skin, really reach those areas that the may get missed. Especially area's round the nose, cheeks,

corners of the lips and by the ears. 

With the plumping aspect of the product this defiantly does become noticeable. Now I can't say if its because I massage in the evening with it and just apply in the morning. However I've noticed that my skin has been complimented vastly. My main area I noticed was my mouth, now I was very aware of fine lines forming. I had so much trouble with lipsticks beginning to bleed, now they dont do this as before. So if that's down to my hydration being optimised, or my skin improving then another bonus. 

HealGel without a doubt is my holy grail product now and yes price wise it's higher end. However if you could afford one then in a quick run down, they all offer hydration but additional benfits of ; 

  -Intensive intense hydrator & restore

  -Face offers anti-aging & plumping 

   -Eye will rejuvenate & awaken 

 So in my opinion which ever suits your need then its a worthwhile product to have. I know I will have to save for my next purchase, as I really want to have intensive in my daily regime.

So thank you HealGel for introducing me to your products this year. I've felt like this winter has been my most confident within my skin. So it's priceless when you feel that way, against the cost of the actual product. 

Wishing all the staff at HealGel an amazing Christmas and New year. 

HealGel website

Have you tried HealGel ? 

You discovery box - Nov 2013

YouBeauty Discovery Box website

YouBeauty is a new beauty box on the block. Priced at just £6.95 per month with P&P included, i must admit this box was not calling but more screaming to me. I have had 2 boxes now and i cant say I've been disappointed in the least, in-fact i would say its a steal for this price. 

So the box comes every month with a selection of beauty products to which you pick 2 from the list, these then come boxed with 2 more items that everyone receives. 

So the contents of my box this month were :

Percy and Reed - Firm session holding hairspray (30ml)

Neo-Stem - Anti accelerated Ageing serum (30ml)

Extras in every box 

Montagnue Jeunesse - Body smoothie

Lizi's Granola - Toasted granola 

Now i love the fact you can pick and choose your items from 8 picks (this months amount) as naturally no beauty box can cater for all tastes. This beauty box however i feel may have cracked it as they offer you 2 choices of product plus the price is just to be fair unreal. I would happily pay this to get samples maybe some months i don't need but would use in future. As i can honestly say the size of the samples are very generous indeed, so much so you could get at least a months use out of a skincare item. Especially a serum which is targeted to certain points of the face and not all over body use. 

I have yet to use the Serum as I'm currently using one for review, so this is in my to use box when i come up empty. I am looking forward to using it as the bottle is very high end within a glass container and stylish in its presentation.

Percy and reed hair products i love and adore so having a chance to trial there hair spray was fabulous for me. I again have a hair system to trial so this will be used when i have completed that and i may use this for travel. As the sample is perfect size for a handbag. Very impressed.

Now the two extras were lovely as i usually use a Montague Jeunesse face mask at times when its treat night to relax. Ive always been impressed and loved there convenient masks which are also affordable. This was a nice change to receive a body smoothie, i look forward to using this.

The lizi's granola i wont lie, it didn't last long and i used this with my yogurt and fruit on three servings. I received the chocolate flavour and it was very chocolatey and added a nice texture and flavour to my morning breakfast. I will be looking this product up as i really would love to purchase more of them to have as a staple to my diet. 

So if you are on the hunt for a new beauty box subscription then maybe give the YouBeauty discovery box a try ? I haven't been disappointed and from the feedback off other friends whom have subscribed they haven't either. 

Do you subscribe ? What are your thoughts on this beauty box addition ?