The Prodiga Military Jackets!

 

 

Image from the Prodiga website here

So it seems all I post at the moment is wish lists and products I'm swooning over but it's just I like to share with you what catches my eye. I've also been quite busy this week and so longer posts have had to go on the back burner for a few days but I'm hoping to get something else (not a wish list or swoon) up tomorrow today (just noticed the time!).

In the meantime, I thought I would say hello to you all *waves again* and show you yet another winter coat that I really like the look of, this military jacket from Prodiga. It comes in two colours, white and black and both are gorgeous.


Image from the Prodiga website here

Millie Mackintosh from Made In Chelsea is the brand ambassdor for Prodiga and indeed, this is a garment I can imagine her strutting around in. As a military jacket, it seems 'on trend' and probably always will be as military is the one trend that does not seem to be passing. To be honest, I have not always found the military trend that wearable. Sometimes, I fear it bulks my top half up and swamps my bottom half but the peplum detail on this jacket is supposed to balance the silhouette out a bit more making this jacket not only pretty and feminine but also flattering. Flattering, there is an adjective that is not often used to describe a garment that also appears so warm, cosy and functional. These jackets also have crystal embellishment on the wrists which adds that little sparkle I like to see in pieces and just hints at the slightly higher end price tag that this jacket comes with.

Sigh, if only I could afford it!!!

Do you like this jacket? Would you wear it? Do you know of any high street 'dupes' or anything similar? I hope you all have a happy Friday.

 

X

Tempt me: The River Island Beaded Vests.

 

 

So I want you to give me a pat on the back for trying on these two beautiful River Island vests yesterday and then walking away empty handed!!!

Ok, pat done?! Thank you!

Now, I want you to lead me astray and tell me that I NEED to go back and purchase them because they are exactly what my wardrobe was built for.

Please!

Pretty please!!!

I really like them and nope, I just can't get them out of my head. In all honesty and as far as fashion goes, these two little numbers are very simple. Beaded vests, hardly anything unusual about that. The shops are churning them out ten a dollar at the moment, I probably try four or five embellished little tops on a month and have maybe fifteen already strewn around my bedroom floor hanging in my wardrobe but the key to temptation with these two can be found in some simple but perfect details that they possess.

Both tops are of a single colour. I do love a nice crisp white vest (esp. under the black cropped cardis that I'm so often found in), you can never deny that white brings a purity and freshness to a look that no other colour can replicate. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the grey. Now grey is a colour that can go both ways on me. Too light and I might as well not bother, it draws any colour I have and makes me look so feeble. Eurgh, not a good look. However, there is some depth to this grey which is only enhanced by the substance of the fabric (nothing flimsy about this one) and this warms it all up a bit and it actually seems to bring a bit of life to my face. Also grey kind of fits in with the seasonal mode (drizzly and drab, boo!) over here in England at the moment.

Both of these tops also fall at a length which flatters me, one which is not too short nor one which swamps me. They just fall below the hip in a lovely flattering manner.

And finally we have the sparkle, I love the bead detail. The majority of it can be found lying along the bottom of the vests and it has the potential to catch the eye (Crucially for me, the placement means this is true even under a cropped cardi). The pattern, remniscent for me of flowers and butterfly wings, they lie in makes the vest that little more feminine too. The beads that sparsely lie higher on the top just maintain the twinkle factor without sparkle overload. The hems are also cut out and have that whole scalloping vibe about them which just makes the vests that little bit more interesting.

Honestly you look at one of these tops from a distance paired with jeans and think, cute top then you come closer and take the top in, suddenly you think what a beautiful little piece at a fab littleish price (£18) so please, why didn't I snap one (or two) of them up?!!

Tell me, about your latest high street buys or yearnings? Is there one type of garment that you will buy hundreds and hundreds of even if you already had a thousand? I know for some this would define their obsession with shoes. Well, me, I do believe I'm obsessed with little sparkly vest tops. Have you got any more to link me to? Have you any reasons why I have to frogmarch back to River Island and buy these (pretty pretty pretty please, help a girl out!)? Do you like River Island?

The grey vest can be found here.
The white  (I say white, River Island say cream) vest can be found here.
Images from The River Island website.

X

Wanted!!!

Now and then, I thought it would be fun to show you what I'm currently swooning over.

So here we go, let's start with the fashion items. . .

* The La Lumiere Wrap Bracelet from HRH Collection here
Before the lovely Amelia got these, I was aware of Alex's blog and jewellery line but it was only when I read Amelia's blogpost, video and stunning photos after she hauled some of the HRH bracelets that I realised just how beautiful and very unique they were. The La Lumiere, an original from the HRH jewellery collection, just seems to embody exactly what the HRH collection is about and it holds the biggest, sparkiest Swarovski crystal of the lot.

 * The ASOS Suede Studded Bag here
I absolutely love this bag and think it is the perfect shopper for Christmas shopping season. I love the contrast of the suede and leather panels and obviously, I love the studs. Anything that sparkles or catches the light, I gravitate to.

* The Missguided Coat here
I saw this on Charlottes' blog yesterday and instantly fell for it. The shearling really softens the look of the khaki coat. As well as satisfying the Khaki trend, it also follows one of my favourite trends in a while, the contrast sleeve. I love this little number, it is cute, cosy and flattering. There is a good chance that this one will be skipping from my wish list to my doormat soon! : )

* The Sass and Bide Right Behind You Sequined Back Dress here
I've been keeping a beady eye on the Sass and Bide line for a while. This beauty I found on ASOS and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I will get invited to something special soon which will justify me buying this one.

Again, it has the two contrasting panels. Plain jersey for the front and sequins for the back. Subtle but teasing. I also like the classic shape, the sparkle and its' elegance. It's beautiful.

And now to the beauty . . .

 * Escentrics Molecule 01 here
This scent only contains one molecule and apparently, it is the important one, the one that attracts others. I'm very curious as to what this would smell like on me (apparently it can smell different on different people but is generally deep and woody) and if it would gauge any compliments. I also like the fact that others may not recognise the scent and I'd be wearing something different as I think, this is scent is not particularly well-known outside the online beauty community.

* Phylia de M, Connect here
I've been lusting after this leave-in treatment for about a month now, back around then I read an article in Vogue about big hair. Well, there is no doubt that my natural hair has finally reached 'Destination Long'. However, I'm still obsessed with my extensions as my hair just looks so thin and lacklustre without them. Apparently it takes some time to grow your hair long and then more time to grow it out in to voluminous locks to flaunt. Phylia Connect is expensive but is marketed as barnet fertiliser, a potent and concentrated treatment for your scalp, follicles and hair. One journalist claims hair was sprinting out of her head after using this concoction for a month. Given that, I think, I want this more then anything else on this list!!!

* The Burberry Eyeshadow in Midnight Brown No 21 here
Tanya Burr did a tutorial using this eyeshadow for pale skins a while back and since then, this one has sat patiently on my wish list. It is so pretty and reminds me a little of my beloved Naked from the Urban Decay palette. I think it is a little more shimmery, a bit darker maybe and dare I say a little more interesting but like Naked, I would be able to colour block it on my lid and that would be shadow done. Check out Tanyas' video here, it looks stunning!

* Prestige, My Blackest Lashes I wish it was here!!!
This is the only mascara I've ever used that gives L'Oreal, Volume Million a run for it's money and it was so friggin' cheap in Boots too, about £7 until they discontinued the Prestige line. Sad face. I miss the big, fat, glossy lashes it delivered with NO diva acts.

So that is what I'm swooning over and wishing for at the moment but to be honest, beauty is where I am at in what I actually purchase, particularly skin and haircare. Something that I read on Caroline's blog here keeps resonating in my head, 'If you would spend more on shoes, handbags, lipstick, jeans or fashion in general than you would on high quality skincare - you will be a sixty year old woman (and man) with a vintage wardrobe and a face like an alligator.'

So is anybody lucky enough to have or use any of these?

What are you currently swooonnning over?

I hope you've all had a fabulous weekend!

 

X

  

Jasmin Noir!

Hmmm, now I like to talk perfume.

A lot!

However, I have been wearing Jasmin Noir almost every day for about six weeks now but have yet to mention it here.

It is true that I've been desperate to take a photo of the very unique bottle it comes in. Black and gold, it comes across as quite classy and sophisticated, a bottle I'm quite happy to pull out of my bag and wave around for all to see admire. It doesn't look like any old perfume bottle and I'm sure many of you will agree that when presented with a bottle like this, you're just dying to know what the scent inside smells like.

Well . . , I'll tell you or rather I would if I could but I've found it so difficult to pick apart the overall scent of the perfume and pinpoint individual notes. None of the individual notes (which supposedly include Jasmin, Sambaa, Satin Almond, Gardenia and Liquorice) seem to shout out to me. All I can tell you from a whole lot of sniffing and brain churning is that it smells very woody with the occasional hint of floral (though it is deemed a floral) and that the overall result is really quite nice!

The official line from Bvlgari is that this scent 'is dedicated to a fascinating woman: it's velvety notes reflect its power of seduction, it's intense accords evoke her uncompromising position.'

Ok then I guess, we're talking one sophisticated lady and yes, this scent is sophisticated. It is as I said, a floral with an unmistakable woodiness about it. It is a very deep fragrance and one I would hesitate to wear on holiday. For me, Jasmin Noir isn't really a perfume to wear on the beach but one to spritz just before a very important meeting or under your most beautiful winter coat or and (how much do I want to do this tonight?!) to dine in front of a traditional log fire. It is a warm scent, definitely musky and although I like it, there is not a lot of fluttering (I like my perfumes to flutter or sing with different notes hitting you and catching your attention all the time. That way no note can be too much), this scent seems to know itself better then that and smells pretty much the same from the moment you spray it to the moment you wash it off. Granted, it mutes quite a lot in the first ten to twenty minutes but it pretty much smells the same just to a lesser degree. After about twenty minutes, the scent seems to take its place and nestle in to the skin and stubbornly stays there until it's washed away. It will always be there but when I've walked away from smoke or a busy road or sat along side somebody who, like me, may have squirted a little to much of her own scent, I've noticed how easily the Jasmin Noir gives in and can quickly be masked or overpowered by the opposition. Walk away though and the Jasmin Noir will still be there patiently waiting.

I don't think Jasmin Noir is a scent that could offend people but nor for me, it seems is it a scent that others particularly compliment. For a start, you have to be quite close to smell it and then I don't know, the scent is almost so sophisticated that I think, others would prefer to be quietly captivated by it rather then to try and pluck up the courage and compliment the wearer on it. I can imagine this scent drawing boundaries and it is quite a good scent for work in that way as it lets me go about my day to day business without distraction. Like Ghost, it is a perfume that instantly seems to make me feel a little more level-headed and grown up.

Bvlgari suggests that the Jasmin (one of the heart notes and the namesake) is the 'flower of the imagination' yet there is nothing flighty about this perfume. I suppose in a way, it may engage the imagination of others because it tells them nothing about me. It's not particularly fruity, sweet or oriental. It's just a really, really nice scent there in the background as I go about my business. I guess, the dark bottle reflects its mysterious nature well.

I do really like Jasmin Noir but I was surprised to hear that it is quite a new release as there is nothing obviously gimmicky or contemporary about it (although like quite a few recent releases, there is a bit of liquorice). Its class, dignity and subtle tone seems almost reminiscent of a time now passed but I've happily worn this for the last six weeks and would not hesitate to spritz it again if a new bottle just happens to find its way in to my stocking this Christmas. If you're simply looking for a lovely scent that lasts then Jasmin Noir could be it!

The Bvlgari website is here! Just how soothing is that music?! I must be getting old!!!

*****

And quickly moving away from scent for a second, I've just got to thank you all for your support. I reached 100 GFC followers earlier this week and the smile from my face can not be scrubbed off. Thank you for the follows, comments and tweets. You all seem so lovely and I wish, many of you were in my 'real' life. I hope to post a little giveaway very soon to celebrate in style(!) and to say thank you again!

Now back to the scent, what scents do you recommend? Which one are you wearing right now? What one would you like for Christmas? Have you tried Jasmin Noir? Have an amazing start to the weekend.

 

X

It's got to be 'Yes!'



Found on Pinterest!

So, a little post today. I'm sure many of you already have but just in case, you haven't then I want to urge you all to read a couple of posts by two other lovely bloggers.

I read this post by Zoe about a month ago, 'Just Say Yes' and this one from Lisette 'My 2012 half year to-do list' around the same time and I'm sure both of these posts have just given me that little push to make a bit more of life and do the things that I'm always thinking about but not actually doing.

Partly inspired by L and M from the C.S.I Beauty Blog and their 101 lists, I already had a list of what I wanted from 2012. Unfortunately come September and 3/4 of the way in to the year, virtually nothing was crossed off and then I read Zoe and Lisettes' posts and realised there was no reason to write off 2012 yet.



Found on Pinterest!

 

Since then I have . . .

* Had a small tattoo (or three teeny ones, to be precise)

* Had micropigmentation (semi-permanent make up!)

* Signed up for the London Marathon

* Thrown myself and my heart in to the blogging community and found some of you lovely lot, *waves* :))

* Completed a course of hypnosis sessions, aimed at giving me a little more zest, confidence and get up+go

* Oh and not forgetting, the Crayola "Masterpiece" (ahem, I might have another go) I've just created Milly style (see her post here).

I'm not sure how many of these things I actually would have bothered to see through if it hadn't been for the inspiration Lisette and Zoe served in their fantastic posts. They may only be little things but they've all made me smile and y'know when it comes down to it, you can't want much more from life then happy moments. :)

So if anyone wants a little shove in to living life again then I can not recommend a read of their posts enough. Just imagine what the future could hold!!!



By Claire Smillie of Creativity Rocks You can check her beautiful portfolio out and find stockists here (iphone covers, unique cushions, prints and more. )

What do you want to do, see, buy(!) right now? Hope your week has started well. Until next time . . .

 

X

Semi-permanent eyeliner!

Eyeliner has always been a bit of stumbling block for me. No matter how hard I try, I very rarely perfect it and if I do, it is usually three or four hours (and five or six tantrums) after initially plopping down in front of the mirror AND by then, my eyes are so irritated and watery that the so allusive 'perfect' line quickly becomes a black splodgy mess.

One big fat sigh!

Few things frustrate me more. I've tried so hard over the years to master some kind of lining technique but to little avail and I've got to say as far as make up can, this makes me sad.

You see, y'all know I'm a bit of a sucker for mascara. I like my eyes to look their best. To be honest, its the first thing I notice in others and I guess, I wonder if it the same in reverse. If it is, if my eyes are the first thing people notice about me then I want them looking darn good and sorry, but without eyeliner, sometimes I think my make up looks a little incomplete or as if I haven't bothered. I also think certain eyeliner looks give off a bit of a professional air and that all eyeliner makes a person instantly look more confident. As I grow older, I find this appeals to me more and more.

See, I friggin' love eyeliner, I should be showcasing flicks and lines everyday. . . if only I could apply it.

Well, I can't so I have opted for a little help . . , semi-permanent eyeliner.

Semi-permanent eye liner (micropigmentation) is similar to a tattoo in that pigment is injected in to the skin to leave a lasting mark. All semi-permanent make up procedures should be done by a qualified specialist (and not your everyday tattoo artist). My therapist is actually a qualified nurse, a fact I repeated to myself again and again as I saw the shadow of the needle heading towards my eyes! The most common features enhanced by semi-permanent make up are the eyebrows, lash lines and lips. I have opted to have eyeliner micropigmentation on both my top and bottom lash lines.

Semi-permanent make up does not tend to last as long as a tattoo. It is not permanent. In my case, I had an initial consultation (including patch tests. Note: I believe that you have to be 18+ to have semi-permanent make up in England) and it was explained to me that the pigment would be placed in to my skin during the first appointment and a guideline would be formed. Then on the second appointment, at least 4 weeks later, a little more pigment would be added and my lines would be perfected. My therapist could not pinpoint exactly how long the lines would remain perfectly in place but she strongly recommended a booster session after the first year then sometimes, the make up can last six years or so but again, it depends on the products you use, your environment and natural skin exfoliation and reactions. Annual boosters may be necessary for some.

So far, I have only had my first appointment but I'm quite impressed. I will do a full post after my second appointment but so far I can make the following points:

The look!



A photo I took on my phone a couple of hours after the treatment.

- The initial lines, particularly the top one, looked great. The pigmentation of the black I'd chosen was very strong and the colour was solid. My eyes were obviously lined but very neatly so it didn't look too much. I was advised not to wear eye make up for a while and that first night, I didn't need a scratch.

 

 

What my eyes look like now.

- Moving on four weeks and right now, if you looked at me straight on, you may see a difference in my eye make up but you probably wouldn't be able to pinpoint what it was or any obvious eyeliner.

After the first appointment, you are told that 70% of the pigmented new lines will appear to disappear in the first week (you do not lose as much after your second appointment as then there is a pigmented base to work from) and that is about right. My bottom lash line and the ends of the top lash line have muted greatly. The needle used was very thin and precise and now, my lash line just looks deeper. Although from above, you can see fine lines.

- I've got to say that even though the eyeliner is not particularly identifiable as eyeliner, my face does seem to be taking less time to do in the mornings. I don't think I look made up when I wake up or anything but I just don't seem to need quite as many layers of mascara or blush to awaken or brighten my face up. There is no doubt the lines have added something already even if you can not always see "lines".

- My therapist has initially given me two lines which follow my natural lash lines. There are no flicks or anything like that. If I want those, I can (easily?!!) add them myself. Some therapists may add these more arty touches on the second appointment. I think, my therapist would prefer not to. She sees the treatment as one to enhance my natural lash line and something I can build on further. Once you have your therapist put flicks or cat eyes on, you define the way your face and style will be for months, possibly years to come. It's a bit of a commitment as far as make up goes.


About a week after the treatment. This is what I would like the finished look to look like although I've just noted one eye still looks a little swollen.

Yes, I've go to say that I'm pretty happy with the initial lines that I've been given. I may ask the therapist just to take them in ever so slightly further to the inner and outer corners but I don't want her to stray from my natural lash line or close my eyes up. With the lines, I currently have, versatility is maintained. I can go over them with different eyeliner products and colours. I can also add to them to change the shape of the line for a special night or to indulge my latest whim or the the latest fashion. Who knows maybe if I keep tracing over the pigment, I may get the art of eyeliner in to my head and be able to do it myself, without any guidelines, by the time the pigment disappears. Yes, flying pigs!!

And 'cos I'm sure you're all wondering . . .the pain!

- The initial application did not hurt too much at the time. Though I did find it more painful then a tattoo I recently had (but then I didn't find the tattoo painful at all). The needle bit was bearable and I did not need any breaks. The therapist went over each eye four times with pigment. Local numbing products was used. It took about an hour.

- My eyes felt more or less fine for the first 12 hours after the treatment and I drove 30 minutes home with no problems. The next morning, my eyes felt very heavy and began to look swollen. Within 24 hours, they were very, very swollen and extremely sore. It took about 48 hours for this to die down. Even though, my therapist had warned me over and over about this. The extremity of discomfort those couple of days did worry me at the time and I started panicking, thinking, 'Is this normal?'. I think, I was just so shocked because they had felt so ok on the day itself.



Ouch! 24 hours after the initial treatment.

- After the initial 2 or 3 days, my eyes felt (and looked) normal again. Very occasionally, maybe 2 or 3 times a week, I have a couple of minutes where it feels as if there is something in my eye. It may be they are a little bit dry, it reminds me of how they felt when I tried contact lenses at the beginning of the year (disaster!) but passes much quicker. For the first couple of weeks, I would also find little flakes of pigments of my cheeks or face cloth.

Anyway, at the moment, as uncomfortable as the aftermath was, I'm hoping that it will all be worth it. This was just a post today to introduce you to semi-permanent make up but I will follow up with my final thoughts after my second appointment next week.

Would you consider semi-permanent make up? How do you master eyeliner? Have you had any cosmetic treatments to try and enhance your look or just make life a little easier?

 

Have a fab weekend. Until next time . . .

 

X

　

Fallen for Sugar Crush from Soap and Glory and some etcs!

Oh, how I love a Soap and Glory Body Butter.  The Daily Smooth and The Righteous Butter, are the ones that you NEED in your life.

However, when it comes to the Soap and Glory body scrubs, I'm not quite as passionate. The scrubs I have tried (Scrub 'Em and Leave 'Em; The Scrub of Your Life and Some Like It Hot) have always done the job, leaving my skin a little smoother and smelling a little more fragrant but until now, I haven't really fallen for one or found one that just HAS to be repurchased.

Yes, I said, until now . . .

Let me introduce you to Sugar Crush,' a super scrub with smashed brown sugar and sweet lime, almond oil & macadamia grains'.

 

 

 

 

Absolute amazingness in a tub!

As usual(!), let's talk about the scent first.

Actually, this is where I have to be honest and say that when I first used this product, I was a little saddened. The scent was actually a little too much, the lime filled the bathroom immediately and it was just too much fruit (I'm not so keen on fruity scents) and with the heat of the bathroom, I actually felt a bit nauseous and like I'd just came hone from a night drinking too many stale cocktails. Yes, I was quite disappointed. After all, for me if the scent ain't doing it, the product ain't going to be used up!!!

However. . .

that first time seems to have been a one off as from then on in, the fruitiness seemed muted to just the right level leaving the most lovely but subtle, long-lasting scent on my skin. I think, the key is to to wake the product up and give it a little shake or mix before you first use it. You can smell it for hours and hours between washes. It lasted like The Daily Smooth does yet the scents are not the same.  Sugar Crush is not as floral or as feminine as the Daily Smooth but it is just so clean and pleasant. When the scent catches my attention, I feel a little burst of happiness and health. It makes me feel like a good girl living a good life.

I told you, it was powerful stuff!!!

Anyhow, that's enough of my rambles and delusions. I'm sure you're more interested in how this scrub actually scores in exfoliating and doing what a scrub should do.

Well, let me tell you, Sugar Crush scores highly!

It really works, my skin is noticeably smoother around the decolletage, elbows and knees since I started using Sugar Crush and as of yet, no breakouts or abrasions. Normally, when I find a body scrub I like, I use it religiously and end up breaking out or leaving myself with little scratch marks (this was my only problem with the Ocean Salt from Lush) but this one has just left me with skin that almost seems to have a sheen and is so, soo smooth.

It feels so luxurious to use too, the consistency of the product is thick. You sure get plenty of scrub for your money but there is nothing abrasive or harsh about it. You can smell the lovely sweet lime and sugar (as I might have mentioned . . .) but the almond oil really softens the mix and makes it a product easy and 'pleasurable' (is that the right word?!) to apply. You actually forget once it is on your skin, that you are 'scrubbing' and I'm not sure how, but there never seems to be any flaky residue from the scrub in the bath or shower afterwards. Once on the skin, the 'scrub' almost seems to become a balm that conjures up the results of a darn good exfoliation.

Yep, I have to admit, I always follow with a body moisturiser. Usually, that is The Daily Smooth and this may well, help to soften the skin and yield such good results but I still maintain there is something different about this particular scrub because normally when I scrub, I always moisturise (often with The Deep Smooth) and yet, I'm not sure I've ever been this impressed by a scrub before.
Note: I must admit the bargain that is the Pink Cow Coconut Creme feels good to use but it only seems to rejuvenate the skin over time. Also the N-Spa Hot Butter Body Fudge brightened the colder evenings last year. Yet, there just seems to be something more to Sugar Crush and I'd happily pay a few pounds more to have this one in my bathroom.

I've got to say that a little goes far with Sugar Crush. We all know that I overuse the products that I like and you'll find no exception here. Soap and Glory suggest using this scrub twice maybe three or four times a week (if you're blessed with lizard limbs) but yes, little old me uses it every time I shower or bath and then I use two or three applications each time - I like to let the second one sink in to my skin before rinsing off, I think the scent lasts longer that way -yet despite me hoovering it up over the last two weeks, I still have at least a third of a tub left of this gorgeous scrub. Since a tub is only £8 (and it works) and I'm probably using four times too much, that seems darn good value!

Other things I'm loving at the moment, the etcs:

- Solange Knowles new music video, 'Losing You'. The song is kind of sad and yet the video is quite upbeat and not what I was expecting. So much fun, I want to visit this little community.

- Running, I'm sure there will be posts galore to come but . . . I've signed up to do the London Marathon next year with a very special charity. I'm gonna do it, I'm just not sure how yet!!! Any running tips, motivation welcome!

- These coats that I saw advertised in Vogue last month, they are from Gerard Darel.

I think this is one of them (How I wish I was tall and rich!). Oh and look, somehow, I stumbled across the Sheepskin Biker here. :)

- Oh and a bit more music, love, love, LOVE this.

- And the blogging community, I actually joined in with the #bbloggers twitter chat last night and everybody was so nice. I have found some wonderful new blogs to follow and met (in that online way) some lovely peeps, I wish I'd joined in sooner. Pretty sure I'll be making the #bbloggers chat a date on Sunday evenings, when I'm not working, now.

 

Have you used Sugar Crush, what do you think? Are you a big fan of Soap and Glory? Have you found your perfect winter coat yet? If so, link me!
 

X

All about volume: John Frieda, Brilliant Brunette!!!

I'm always a big kid when it comes to trying out different hair products. FACT!

Where as my skincare routine is pretty stable, with the same products cropping up in the mix again and again (though I've just given in to the Hydraluron hype), it would be fair to say that my haircare routine is pretty random (though I prefer to see it as "evolving") with different products been thrown in and out of the mix constantly.

Lately, I have invested in quite a few higher end products that promise to repair all my hair wrongs and deliver the long, long, lustrous locks I dream of but, though a little longer, I don't have the barnet of Rapunzel yet and occasionally, I actually find myself quite disappointed with what the higher end products leave me with and feel almost robbed of my hard-earnt pennies. Consequently, I'm trying to bring my hair spending down a little (though I'm so interested to give this Phylia de M Connect product a go, apparently it kind of fertilises your scalp so that your barnet can grow and fully blossom!!) so when the lovely Rhian, a PR, offered to send me some John Frieda products to try, I thought, why not?!

Rhian sent me the Brilliant Brunette Multi-tone Revealing Moisturising shampoo and conditioners from John Frieda. As I awaited the products, I began to convince myself that maybe these were the ones for me. John Frieda claim that these products have a 'moisturising formula with crushed pearls and sweet almond oil {which} softens as it brings out rich, multi-dimensional brunette tones and adds shine.'

Oooh, sounds just what my hair needs. After all, brunette hair can look fab. See . . .

From Pinterest

Love the length, cut and colour.

 

 

From Pinterest

Love how this style shows off the different tones in her hair. I will master this updo for Christmas.

However, sometimes, my growing (albeit, veerrrry slowly but still growing) hair looks a little dull and in need of a cut and colour. Yet, I'm reluctant to do either until my hair has reached a length where I do not shiver at the thought of losing a centimetre or two. I was hoping that maybe these John Frieda products, would deliver a barnet so beautiful and radiant that all my other hair woes would go unnoticed.

Well . . .

I did, indeed, quite enjoy using the John Frieda products.

For a start, they smelt bloody delicious, like toffee or a naughty dessert (this probably shouldn't be my top pro in a hair product review but we all know how a good scent can swing me). The shampoo also lathered very easily and I really felt as if I could work it in to my hair and wash it well with minimal effort. My resulting barnet, once dried was incredibly soft, and polished. There was some shine but not enough to dazzle and I certainly wouldn't say each hair was shimmering like satin, as John Frieda suggested it would. However, my overall colour didn't seem as patchy and any red tones, even after one wash, seemed a little muted deepening my brunette.

So far, OK.

The Brilliant Brunette products did indeed make me feel a little happier with the colour of my hair, it looked quite definite and glossy. However, what impressed me the most in using these two products , was the added volume my blow dried barnet finished up with. My hair looked thicker and healthier when I washed with these. You see, usually my hair lies flat at the roots (boo) and if any volume can be conjured, it is usually in a bit of a puffy mess at the sides (double boo). Voluminous maybe but not particularly attractive. Huh!

However. . .

after using the Brilliant Brunette products, my hair looked thicker but without frizz (for me, volume and frizz usually come hand in hand) and my long ends looked much less scraggly. The overall look was so much better and my hair looked long (yay) and healthy. It also felt good to touch, I've already mentioned how soft these products seem to make my hair. The Brilliant Brunette conditioner is supposed to replenish dry hair for a satin (yes, satin, again) feel, it seems to have delivered on that level.

So yes, I'd definitely consider buying these products myself especially, if I was attempting big hair. Although, I should say that as luxurious as the shampoo feels to lather, my wet hair did tangle easily and unless I made a conscious effort to really rinse the conditioner out well, I was left with a little sticky residue in my hair. However, these little glitches can be overcome. A few seconds extra under the shower combing the conditioner through and rinsing it out well is certainly worth the final 'big, healthy hair' look in my opinion.

You can find out more about John Frieda here and in particular, the Brilliant Brunette products here. John Frieda do have product lines for blondes and redheads too. I wonder if these offer as much volume. Also, I've just taken a peek, at their You Tube channel and I never realised just how many videos John Frieda had up. There seems to be some fab tutorials which would keep hair looking glam over the upcoming party season. You might want to check it out.

Have you tried any John Freida products? What haircare products are you using right now?

 

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*These products were sent to me for review but this has not affected or influenced my thoughts. I have used these Brilliant Brunette products several times to wash my hair and they really did deliver me big hair!!