SaarfLondonGirl

Guilty Pleasure:Spell Magazine

2011-09-03T10:45:00.000+01:00

Spell magazine is a mini magazine that is available in Pride magazine and black beauty and hair magazine. It's only a few pages long. Its published by Feme Ltd- the makers of hair extensions/wigs like sensationnel. So it is in essence a giant advertisement? Yes, yes it is. But Oh they do so, so well.
Yes it is covered in their hair brands but they give good makeup advice, glossy high res quality photographs and have some good articles and industry insight.
It may just be one bright and colourful advert, but so are all the major black beauty publications in the UK and at least it doesn't look dated and is actually relevant.
It's some bubblegum pop fluffy read, and I love it.

You can read issues here and for free
http://www.spellmagazine.com/

What can I say I'm a sucker for pictures and I like seeing images of women of colour.

Sleek Blush in Suede. Nude collection, on Dark skin

2011-09-02T17:15:00.001+01:00

I really wanted to like this blush. I really wanted to. I adore Sleek Avoir La Peche Collection Pan Tao Blush and I had seen some pictures of Suede on the interweb and I was excited. I love browns, neutrals whatever you want to call them. This collection would be for me!
But Alas 'twas not to be.
Umm yeah, it's not nude really for darker skinned folk. Its more a light pink mauve. Oh and kind of...ashy.
I really actually packed a lot on my brush several times on the swatch on my arm. It just does not show up well on my skin.

This is the second time I've been duped by sleek blushers!!!! ( Side eyes sunset)Well it was my fault, I swatched it in superdrug and valiantly thought it would magically change colours at home ( because y'know the store lights distort colours)
Basically if you're my complexion or darker than me it'll leave you a chalky mess IMO. It just won't show up. I might try it over/under bronzer , and its ok as an eyeshadow. Oh well you win some you lose some.

( do you see how i thought i was going to get something BROWN. Sleek Y U lie to me?)
I took a look and a swatch of the Nude palette. The first six shades ( the lighter side)would take an act of god to show up on my skin or look in any way shape or form attractive. However the latter 6 shades had two or 3 nice shadows, there was a nice dark gold number that caught my eye. However i just think its wasteful to buy a palette and then not use half. So i bought a dress instead.

SO yeah all in all Sleek's nude collection looks really nice. But NOT IF YOU'RE BLACKkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Its ok Girl, maybe they'll be something for us in the next collection)

Smooth 'N Shine Therapy Silk fusion sixty second critical repair review

2011-07-26T12:22:00.000+01:00

Oh wow that name is long.

Anyway its been ages! Where have I been??? Worst blogger ever.

Anyway friends, romans, countrymen lend me your ears. I come bearing the gift of conditioner.

Now if you head over to the natural haven ( cry's tears of joy for how good the blog is), look at the post on coconut oil.

http://thenaturalhaven.blogspot.com/2009/04/coconut-oil-knowledge-from-our.html

1. Coconut oil penetrates into the cortex (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001).Why should you care? This oil can help condition, moisturise and strengthen your hair!

2. Coconut oil reduces damage to hair cuticle during combing especially wet combing that many naturals (not me) are fond of (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 327-339,1999).

3. Coconut oil reduces swelling of the hair shaft when the hair is immersed into water, protecting the hair from hygral fatigue. (Journal of Cosmetic Science pg 169-184,2001)

Say what now?????

So since then I've been trying to use coconut oil in my hair prior to washing. The trouble with me is that i am a messy person. The oil gets everywhere running down my neck, just everywhere. Again my hair is very dry so when i add oil onto already dry hair it just feels horrid.

So I've been incorporating conditioners with coconut oil in them. I have found one i love. Coconut oil is the second ingredient. Yay! Also no silicone's. This can be used as a regular conditioner or a deep conditioner since its so thick. The instructions say to leave on for 1 minutes but i do usually leave it on for longer.

It makes my hair feel so soft. I am a sulfate shampoo lover ( boo!hiss!) so obviously my hair feels drier after washing and this just restores softness totally. It's thick it smells nice and makes my hair more manageable.

There is one slight very slight downside. Glitter. No not the Opus of Mariah Carey's career, but glitter particles. I don't know if those who formulated the product were 10 year olds high on sherbet dip after a frenzy at claire's accessories or Kesha, but this deep conditioner for some bizarre reason contains little pieces of Glitter.

The good news is they do wash out totally. ( well i found one staring back out at me when i looked in the mirror)

Ingredients:

Aqua (Water), Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polyquaternium-32, Paraffinum Liquidum (Mineral Oil), Glycerin, Pearl Powder, Silk Amino Acids, Panthenol, Biotin, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Polybutylene Terephthalate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethylene/VA Copolymer, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Parfum (Fragrance), CI 15985 (Yellow 6).

So it contains no silicone's, but it does have mineral oil.

What they say:

Indulge your hair with silk proteins and pearl extracts that will condition, reconstruct and transform damaged hair into manageable, healthy and lustrous tresses. The luxury of silk and pearl extracts will leave hair glistening with luminosity, just like perfect pearls.

This conditioning treatment will moisturize, repair, and protect damaged hair. This formula is light enough to use daily and moisturizing enough to use as a weekly treatment.

Purchased for £3.99 for 12m.

Also comes in sachets.

Boots 17 Photo flawless Lashes mascara

2011-04-27T14:26:00.000+01:00

Since my beloved Wet and Wild mega wink dried up and is now discontinued, i've been looking for a mascara alternative.

Like looking for life's one true love finding a good mascara is difficult. The amount out there is overwhelming and it is a vital makeup tool, even those that proudly proclaim they don't wear makeup have a mascara somewhere.

Anyway i had seen good reviews for this mascara ( ok a grand total of 2) and i thought hey this will work for me and its affordable!

Well there was a catch, it does and it also doesn't.

I was so upset when i first used it. I found the brush practically submerged in gunk, it was hard to use, clumpy, the brush was too big and mascara got all over my eyelids.

As time went on i had to modifiy the way i used it. Its not something i can just brush on quickly, i have to look in the mirror downwards, make sure to go slow and steady and try not to come out with black stuff all over my eyes.

It comes in several different "pearlescent colours" as the brochure claims, i bought black/green- it does nothing to brighten my eyes as it claims too. The black/gold is for brown eyes but it wasn't in stock at the time.

It does lengthen my lashes and makes them look good, however it is far too cumbersome for me and when this finishes i will not be repurchasing.

Queen Helene Smoothing Conditioner with cocoa Butter

2011-04-15T19:19:00.000+01:00

Generally I don't really like Queen Helene products of any kind. I find them to be far too watery and thin for my liking and generally ineffective. But for some reason my eye was drawn to this.

What the blurb says:

This one-of-a-kind conditioner drenches your hair with the rich, replenishing moisture of cocoa butter and the natural, nurturing benefits of shea butter.

( aww bless, feels almost like you're in the womb again)

Tames frizz and makes it easy to blow dry curly, dry or coarse hair to a smooth, sleek style. Helps soften hair texture and protect against dryness and the effects of sun, wind and humidity. Leaves hair easy to comb and beautifully manageable with a dazzling, healthy shine. Paraben free. Safe for color-treated hair:

Ingredients:Water, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-40 Caster oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao( Cocoa) Seeed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii( Shea butter), Stearalkonium Chloride, Polyquatermine-39, Tocopheryl Acetate(Vit. E), Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, sodium Benzoate, Parfum.

It's an ok conditioner, it's not life changing but its a cone free, paraben free cheap conditioner that does its job. After washing i felt my hair did feel slightly softer but it was nothing dramatic.

It does smell like shampoo (?) but it's not a horrible smell but it is quite powerful. It's a little thin and I'm natural with type 4 hair and i do prefer thicker however it's not too runny or anything. I've been using it for a few weeks and I think I will continue to do so.

One for the "It's ok files".

Learn your lines

2011-03-23T17:57:00.000Z

This is a review of Laval Dip Eyeliner in Black.

My favourite liquid liner. It is also not very easy to get. I have to use Ebay to find it.

Now Laval are a company based in Warrington, that are export only. However you can find laval products on discount websites, eBay and market stalls. I bought my first liner from a market stall and it lasted a good while and when i went back there were no more! Laval also have another liquid liner, but although the formulation and staying power is the same, the brush is different.

The laval dip eyeliner has more of a nib tip like a pen that gives me more control, whereas the other liquid eyeliner ( that comes in a cylinder form) is more of a teeny brush.

I love this liner because it is very black. It's often hard to get a black liner that is really black. It does not dry shiny ( like some other brands *cough Doris michaels*) and it doesn't flake or get that weird crackling effect that can often happen with cheap liners. Oh and its also very cheap. Its most valued aspect however is that it lasts. It has lasted me until the next day( yes i didn't wash my face before going to bed and yes I'm aware I will be doomed because of this) with out a smudge. I don't know whats in it but it won't budge. surprisingly it's not difficult to remove.

Its con is, that it's not available on the high street but if you poke around Ebay long enough you can find it. It's usually under £3 and for that price its fantastic.

Tangerine dreams

2011-03-17T17:51:00.000Z

UK Afro hair guides on the Web. A mini review

2011-03-15T23:38:00.000Z

Elle UK's expert guide to Afro hair

http://www.elleuk.com/beauty/hair/hair-features/%28section%29/the-expert-guide-to-afro-hair

We have a picture of the fab Jordan Dunn to guide us through our magical journey. It starts off like this. Badly

If you’re blessed with afro hair, you’ll know that it varies as much as Caucasian locks. “Afro-Caribbean hair is lightest in texture; Brazilian hair is drier and denser; next Arabic hair is extremely thick, course and curly, and ultimately, African hair is the biggest – the most thick and curly” explains Errol Douglas, celebrity hairstylist and three times winner of the Best Afro Hairdresser of the Year award

I don't even know where to start with Mr Douglas's frankly bizarre assertions, and so as not to turn this into a gigantic race/ethnicity/anthropological rant, i'll just say" No sweetie. Just no" *Pats Mr Douglas on the head, leans back in rocking chair and hums swing low, sweet chariot to self*

Thank goodness it gets better. Trust me.

Subrina Kidd, Artistic Director and Afro Specialist at Toni & Guy says “most types of afro hair have a tendency to be more vulnerable, dry and porous than Caucasian types”.
The key to the perfect afro is to add moisture and lock it in to your hair

Go Ms Kidd! Dazzle them with science!!!!!!!

We are then told to buy some expensive shampoo's and conditioners( hey, i'm sure the editor of Elle has to eat), no suprise there. But at least they throw in some Organic Root Stimulator for us po' folks.

Uncle Errol then again gives us some bizarre advice on how to shampoo our locks( I want whatever Uncle Errol's having) but then does make sure to advice us to concentrate our conditioner on the ends of our hair.

Oh what a suprise conditioner washing is mentioned, of course its not called that, but nonetheless conditioner washing it is. Then on to leave ins.

We move on to Relaxed hair focus and here good advice to stretch your relaxers are given( 8-10 weeks). We are of course told that :

Relaxing is great; it creates styling versatility” says Ursula Stephen, Rihanna’s hairstylist.

Wait. Halt. Who said that? Ursula Stephen, Rihanna’s hairstylist Come again who? Ursula Stephen, Rihanna’s hairstylist

Man i really want my hair to look as luxurious and healthy as rihanna's. Yes sirree, I'll be taking that right on board.

Moving on to weekly deep conditioning. Yayyy! Expensive products. Boo!

We move on to the benefits of oil. Good stuff. Uncle Errol tells about Mango oil. I've never heard of Mango oil, but i'll be looking it up( I'm not actually being sarcastic)

We are advised to air dry our hair, but due to time constraints/preference a list of blowdriers/blow dry technology is given. Oh and always use heat protectant. A very good tip. Very.

Serums and shine sprays, sun protection then hair tools( this page is quite good.)

What uncle Errol says about dry hair shampoo on afro hair.

it sits on afro hair, “if you spray it in, it hits afro hair which is oilier and goes flaky”, according to Errol Douglas. “I use talcum powder on the hair to suck up excess product between washes. Give your hair a good rub with the talc and it goes translucent, then brush it out” says Errol.
His other trick is greaseproof paper, which you can use like blotting paper on the hair to take out any oily deposits. Genius!

I never knew that. Thanks Uncle Errol!

All in all, for a mainstream publication not aimed particularly at those who posess Afro hair i think they have done quite a good beginners guide. The only faults i could point out is that the products are expensive. In most cities there are afro hair shops/BSS's, that is where the majority of women buy their products and so a few more of these type of products would have been more sensible, or even the various UK afro hair internet entrepreneurs like Anita Grant, Akuawood and crown natural products et al. But i do understand that magazines are run on advertising money so it cannot be.

Also it didn't go into the science aspect of hair, some of the comments by "experts" were totally wrong and myths weren't addressed however i'm not going to nitpick all day. I give it a solid 7/10 as a beginners guide, also i'm very glad that something that addresses the needs of afro hair is in a popular mainstream magazine( we usually don't get anything)

[caption id="attachment_152" align="alignleft" width="285" caption="Uncle Errol"][/caption]

Skin Deep

2011-02-23T20:37:00.000Z

Oh.My.Days.

Finally, after nearly waiting a year. Finally one of my favourite facial washes is back in stock.

Tesco Clear Skin Deep cleansing wash.

I found this in my sister's house sometime last year, used it and loved it. I bought a replacement and then lo and behold when that finished, it was gone. I went back. Over and over again. It was never there. I step off my plane and went to restock on some toiletries essentials and it was there, shining like a beacon in the night. It was the only one, so obviously others had wanted it, waited and had snatched it off the shelves. Just like me.

When i used it i didn't think it would work, i thought it would be dry and harsh for my sensitive dry skin but it's not. It's a thick creamy and effective and cheap alternative to the other blemish fighting ranges you get on the high street. It claims to:

"Help prevent spots" and to be " suitable for sensitive skin" and "paraben free."

It has a pleasant fragrance that fades away quite quickly, and has the consistency of a face cream. I felt as if i saw a distinct change in my skin and if i could find it regularly i would be using all the time( or if i could find more than one i would stock up). Seriously its great, and for under £2. What a bargain.

Now for the science bit!

Aqua, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether, Certeareth-20, Glycerin, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Salicylic Acid, Alcohol Denat, Menthyl Lactate, Dimethicone, Triethanolamine, Parfum, Acrylates/C10-30, Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthen Gum, Disodium EDTA, Magnesium Nitrate, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolnone, BHT

Price £1.97( i think)

Available: At Tesco's when they can be bothered to restock "if its not on the shelf we ain't got it"

I'm back. Again

2011-02-23T17:40:00.000Z

Been gone for 3 months on an extended Vacation/holiday/Nightmare.

Finally i am back to the land of the living

One for the "Meh" Files.

2010-10-01T10:44:00.000+01:00

You know when you really want to like something, like really want to.

This was one of those times. Whilst browsing the hallowed halls of asda I came across the asda own brand of skin system products. ( To be honest I wanted to find their version of a Tesco clear skin facial wash which was fantastic but I think has now been discontinued well my local crappy store has decided not to stock it anymore)

Anyway i love cream textured facial washes and so my eye was drawn to this. I read the ingredients and was even more enamoured. It has gentle detergents. Only £1.73 too. A bargain!

Anyway here is what Asda have to say:

With active ingredients pro-vitamin B5, aloe vera and natural lipids. Suitable for sensitive skin. ABOUT THIS PRODUCT: This face wash has been specially formulated for all skin types including sensitive skin. It is free from harsh chemicals, artificial colour and fragrance, and contains aloe vera, sugar beet extract and Pro-Vitamin B5 to soothe and condition whilst cleansing to leave silky smooth radiant skin. Dermatologically tested.

IngredientsAqua , Coco-Glucoside , Aloe Barbadensis Gel , Glycerin , Polyquaternium-37 , Glyceryl Oleate , Cetearyl Alcohol , Cetearyl Glucoside , Phenoxyethanol , Citric Acid , Betaine , Sodium Hydroxide , Ethylhexylglycerin , Panthenol , Disodium EDTA , Tocopherol , Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate , Potassium Sorbate

Then came my actual experience. I don't know. I really don't. It's an OK cleanser, it does its job. I think it made my skin feel a little dry though, but I'm not sure if that is die to Autumn settling in anyway. My skin becomes very dry in the autumn/winter months and i have to use a different routine.

It's not really a creamy wash either. Its more like a gooey gel consistency. I can't really describe the smell it isn't heavily fragranced though. Maybe it would be better for someone with more oily skin? My skin is very dry and sensitive.

I mean my summary is its ok. For under 2 pounds i do think it is great value for money so there is no harm in trying. I am a little disappointed though, I wanted to find a staple. Oh well onwards and upwards.

Urghhhhhhhhh

2010-09-26T17:10:00.000+01:00

My hair is soo fustrating at the moment. It takes a lot of work to get it clean. I mean why is it so hard to have a clean scalp?????? Why? Why? Why?

Dear hair: No no no, you don't love me and i know now

Lashes of Fun

2010-09-13T13:30:00.000+01:00

The Snuffleupagus look.

If you live in South London you have spotted many of its adherents.

Have you seen it? Its not a subtle look, nor one for the faint of heart. It involves no form of foundation, concealer, blush or lipstick. It is a one ingredient look.

A pair of Big bold Lashes. Preferably strip. Usually held together by black glue.

Packed tightly and dense. The lashes are all the same uniform length. There is no graduation in length.

Have you tried this look?

The Good, The Bad and the Buildup.

2010-09-05T19:25:00.000+01:00

For along time now, i have seen Cantu Shea butter leave in conditioning repair cream( yes the full title is that long) being recommended on the Internet. I finally relented and dug into my pocket for the fiver to purchase it. I am on a quest to find a leave in conditioner/moisturiser that doesn't leave my hair both greasy and dry at the same time, as the majority do.

First things first. It comes in a 473mL tub. The smell is very artificial and smells like fragranced talcum powder. It looks quite thick, but the consistency is actually quite thin.

I began using this over a month ago and wore my hair in single plaits/box braids. After taking them down after around two weeks, i noticed buildup at the base of the braids, but i thought nothing of it. I then saw little gingery brown flakes in the front of my hair. Well i just thought my hair must be extra dirty then!

I washed my hair. Now i wash my hair in sections, twice and with a sulphate shampoo. I have a dry/sensitive scalp and although i avoided sulphates for many years, i now find myself using them again with absolutely no adverse effect on my hair.

Well what do you know. I go into my bedroom and start plaiting my hair and the flakes are STILL THERE. At that point it had taken my hair so long to wash, i just couldn't. Not today. I was not going to wash my hair again, i just figured i'd brush the flakes out when my hair was fully dried.

I managed to get all the flakes out, but me and cantu shea butter are on a break. I still have half a tub sitting on my table, but who knows what i'm going to do with it. I am sticking to my rosewater/Glycerine mix and bought Darbur Vatika Natural Hair fall control styling cream ( yes another long name, and this one don't even make no sense!) so i will be reviewing that later.

Two thumbs down Cantu! And i had heard so many good things about you! Boooooooo!

ETA: Would this work better on relaxed hair? I don't know. Maybe

Ingredients: Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Panthenol, PPG 1-PPG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Lanolin Oil, Cinnamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone 3, BHA, BHT, Zea Mays Oil (Corn), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

I purchased this at a PAKS cosmetics store so go to their website if you can't find it.

Its been Magical........but i'm leaving

2010-08-28T22:49:00.002+01:00

To the cherished few that read my blog, i am moving. Yes i am moving on.

To wordpress.
I've had a fantastic time on blogspot, but i just needed a change. New name, new focus

Come and see me on the other side!!!

https://swallowsandglamazons.wordpress.com/

The conditioner Chronicles- Herbal Essences Hello Hydration

2010-06-01T19:24:00.001+01:00

Staples, staples, staples. Everyone should have a core group of products to fall back on in haircare. One of the most important elements to that especially for Kinky/Curly/Afro hair whether relaxed or natural is conditioner.
Here is one of my and many other people's- Herbal Essences Hello hydration. ( Formerly Herbal essences fruit fusions- Deep nourishment and shine). The old formulation had slightly different ingredients and is still knocking about pounds shops.

What can i say, it never disappoints me. I have fine natural type 4 hair and it leaves my hair so soft and moisturised. Its a thick conditioner and its also blue- blue is always good. If you google it, its used by loads of people and i will continue to buy until reformulated or discontinued. It is a moisturising conditioner

What the instructions say:
Massage me in. Soak for as long as you like, then rinse and say hello to luscious hydrated locks.

There you have it, do as you like!
WARNING= .If you do follow a no silicone routine, it does have Dimethicone. Sowwwy

Ingredients:
Aqua, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl, Dimethylamine, Glutamic acid, Bis- Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Parfum, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid, EDTA, Hexyl Cinnamal, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Linaloo ( everytime i see this ingredient it cracks me up linalooooool), Magnesium Nitrate, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit, Cocos Nucifera Fruit Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, CI 42090, Magnesium Chloride, Methylisothiazolinone, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate

Old Bottle

New Bottle

Doris Michaels Eyeshadow Palette

2010-05-22T11:44:00.001+01:00

I reviewed the DM bronzer below and love it. Now to my next favourite product is the Doris Michaels 18 eyeshadow palette. There are 18 miniature shades that look like this

There are no individual names but the shadows or "eyepolish" as my two year old nephew calls them, are numbered from 1 to 18, in the first row the pale pink is No1, the yellow No2, the bronze No3 and so on.

My swatches didn't turn out the best. ( Camera Phone + No skills) I did however swatch my favourite colours and the ones that i think are worth purchasing the palette for. There are some chalky colours that don't go on well and are very faint. These are mainly the frosty white, orange, yellow and frosty pale pink. The best colours are the brown- which is a true dark brown and it is very hard to get a matte dark brown that looks good for a cheap price. The two bronze golds(they are above each other in the picture), the golden rose colour and the sea green are my favourites.

All of the colours in this swatch go on well, are pigmented enough to show up on dark skin and they do last.

Also two looks i did. I apologise again for camera quality.

L.A Confidential

2010-05-02T19:38:00.000+01:00

Pastel/ Candy and coral shades are supposed to be "in" this Spring/summer.
Well I've been searching for a really nice mint green since i was thoroughly disappointed by Collection 2000's Button moon shade. Its a lovely colour, but it goes on streaky, the brush is bizarre its gloopy and just awful. I love the colour though. I have been looking for an affordable version, still haven't found it, but decided on these two polishes.

Turntable is the dark mint green and the coral orange is Dance Craze
L.A Girl nail polishes are in a lot of Afro hair shops and they have a massive range of colours and every polish is priced at £1.99 or around it. I bought these two from the "Disco Brites" collection, which are colours that apparently glow in UV light and they have cute 70s music orientated names.

The polishes are not too watery but you do need as you do with every nail polish to use a base and a top coat. A base coat will protect your nails from discolouration and make sure your nails last longer. Also when doing house work etc try and wear rubber or latex gloves to cut down on chipping.

L.A Girl polishes are available online and I'm not sure whether they are related to the L.A Colors brand. L.A girl has a website and the colour swatches are quite close to the real thing
http://www.lagirlusa.com/

Its been 3 days and no chipping. I applied two or three coats(oh my i can't remember)
What do you think of the colours? I did each hand, i say coral my sister says green.

Doris Michaels Cosmetics Review- Bronzer

2010-03-29T14:38:00.000+01:00

For around two maybe three years a brand has popped up in my local Afro hair shops( or BSS's in the USA) Doris Micheals. Although the name to me springs to mind a romantic novelist( i can just imagine Doris Micheals like Barbara Cartland reclining on a chaise lounge chair ordering her minions to make makeup) she is actually a real lady not a random brand name.

This is a three part review i will be reviewing her bronzer, terracotta blush and her eyeshadow pallette. Firstly the Bronzer

Okayy thennnn first off. I love this bronzer. I use it on top of any blusher i use or alone as a blusher. It is shimmery without looking glittery or sparkly like most cheap bronzers do. It really warms up my face and I've had it sitting in my room for, maybe a year and never used it. It comes in two shades light and dark, and i bought light. Its a semi matte shade in my opinion, i just love it. My camera phone has broken and this is a photo i took in the umm Asda changing rooms( don't judge me!!!) I'm really sorry for the poor quality photos, i promise to take a swatch on my inner arm tonight and post it up.

The bad. The packaging is fine for me but i think for most people it would seem quite 70s. I find the looks on the website and some of the product colours to be quite dated. Very 90s ( check my 90s makeup post) a lot of purples, browny reds and just general darkness( said in rick James on Dave Chappelles show voice).

Her website has good makeup tips also, although i don't agree that you always have to wear foundation to me its not essential to me. I have seen a wide array of foundations although i have never used them myself. I mean i see a lot of women buying the products but i have seen nothing online. My bronzer cost £3.99 although i think i got it cheaper because it was like a new deal thing, but i will be repurchasing again for sure

(PS. I know you love my cossack hat)

Perfume Power!

2010-02-25T19:45:00.000Z

Hey all, this is kind of a random post, but perfume is a part of all things beautiful so I'll chuck it in.
Now, like everyone i do enjoy smelling nice, however I've never been a perfume fiend. I get perfume as a gift and pilfer perfume from other people. If it runs out, i usually don't bother getting another one, i just continue to steal from siblings and my mother and friends.

But i thought its time to shape up, and have always liked the perfume oils i would get as gifts from family abroad. It lasts longer and because they usually come in these dinky bottles, very handbag friendly ( especially for clutch and other wee bags on a night out).

So i had read up about perfume oils a while back but had seen only American sites. Being the fool i was i hadn't even thought to check for a UK one ( Duh!). Anyway i don't remember how, but i stumbled across this site, perfume Parlour

http://www.perfume-parlour.co.uk/12ml-perfume-oils/cat_4.php

They sell identikit versions of designer fragrances. At like more than half price. They also sell original fragrance oils and Arabian oils.

I ordered 3, 3ml roll on perfume bottles. Now the only perfume that i could recall off of the top of my head was YSL Cinema,which i adored so i bought the i also bought Tommy girl, as i recalled that was the "one" when i was 11. I also bought Miss Cherie by Dior. Well the smellalikes.

Big Plus, free shipping within the UK.
So they come in these really nice pouches, which are really nice and great for gifts.
Only downside they took exactly a week to come, but there was no dispatch email or anything so i was a bit like hmmmm.( with free shipping i can't complain too much)

Down to the smell.
The cinema-like, smelt spot on a very close if not exact
Tommy Girl- very very close

Now i must confess, i had never smelt miss Cherie before. Why had I not? The smell is just not for me at all. ( I think it should be renamed Mr Cherie, nothing feminine about it) I mean if you like that sort of thing its an exact match, seriously email me if you want to take it off my hands. I don't want it!

Performance

They last, I've been wearing the cinemaesque for 8 hours now and i can still smell it on me. The Miss Cherie lasted until the next day no lie( urrrghhh).

Overall, i am going to buy loads and get myself a little collection, they are well worth the money, great quality pure oils with no alcohol. I am just really thrilled actually! Big thumbs up.

Its been a long time shouldn't have left you without a ..........

2010-02-16T20:12:00.000Z

Name that song! Answers on a postcard, winners get a button.

Anyhew it has been ages, a new year, a new day a new dawn!
Where have i been, just mooching around. Blog writing is haaaaaard.
Anyway i now make a solemn promise to post regularly.

Now i'll ease in with quite a short simple post.
An ode to soap.

Now i have *extra extra this just in! Dry skin* and i try and keep an eye on natural ingredients( sometimes) so i found a soap that doesn't cost an arm and a leg and works great and has few ingredients - Saponified olive oil, water and mineral salts. Thats it.

Oliva olive oil soap

It is not drying to my skin( i use it on my body only)
has a very faint smell. I can't really desribe it( i asked my brother- according to him it smells like oily chalk). It lathers up quite well, which is usually a concern for some people.
Having used this for over a year it has become a staple, its quite readily available( Holland and Barretts on the high street) and online. It seems it is something of a cult classic- I'm late.

Green box, rectangle slab, no frills but a great product.

For 89p (i've seen it at up to £1.15) usually, its not outrageously priced like the majority of natural products. So if you have dry or sensitive skin give it a try.

A Sleek Collection in the year 2000

2009-11-13T15:41:00.000Z

Collection 2000 eyedust in enchanted and Sleek eye dust in Hypnotic or Spellbound?( I think)

Dark and Lovely Moisture Seal Deep conditioner

2009-10-28T22:31:00.000Z

If you have dry damaged hair, you may be in the market for a thick moisture conditioning treatment.
Why don't you try Dark and Lovely moisture seal treatment.
I have natural hair and i love it. It makes my hair feel soft, conditioned and happy!
Now i usually walk right past Dark and Lovely and Motions product lines when at the hair shop. I just never felt like that they had good ingredients or anything that appealed to me as a natural haired individual.Maybe it was the slightly now kitsch seventies style name. But this is definitely a keeper and i will no longer be a product snob.
Now it is silicone free. But it does have mineral oil in it ( which i do not mind)
But seriously i can not rave about it more

Its claims:
"Great for relaxed, colour treated, or heat traumatised hair!"

"Our advanced combination of natural ingredients and body enhancing polymers infuses and seals moisture into each and every hair strand for a soft and full finish. Enriched with Panthenol and Vitamin E, this deep conditioning formula revitalizes and moisturizes dry, damaged hair."

"Intensive Conditioning for Dry/Damaged Hair"
"Protects against Split Ends"
"Replenishes and seals in moisture"

At selected Superdrugs, Asda's, online and all good Afro hair shops.
And only £2.49 for 250ml ( take that Elasta QP DPR-11!)

*The photo above illustrate the almost supernatural power of this deep conditioner, the fact that the top of it is glowing and the Cats eyes are glowing, make no mistake are no coincidence*

Denise. Denise oh with your eyes so blu...BLACK

2009-10-15T20:52:00.000+01:00

Eastenders. I hate Eastenders and its ridiculous plot lines which pretend to have some sort of rooting in reality. ( I stopped watching after Tiffany was mowed down.) However it is the most watched soap, so its pretty hard to escape.

This post is about Denise Fox (portrayed by Diane Parish).
It is about her makeup.
It is about her hideous makeup.
In particularly her eyeshadow. Pitch Black. Spread throughout the whole lid. From lashline to crease. Nothing, nothing but black.

I pray tell me, why on earth this is done? Denise/Diane has small lids, so filling that with black, does what exactly?

I don't know if the makeup artist is stuck in a 1996 time warp.( Denise sports purple lipstick as well) Or if this is a personal preference( the first picture is at an awards ceremony- more of the same!)

Well whoever it is, why not some experimentation? Try some other hues. Bronze, green, gold anything!

P.S
We will not nor ever be discussing Chelsea's headband/Half wig combos. OK?

Purple Rain

2009-10-15T20:44:00.000+01:00

Sorry I can't get with the throw back 90s look of Purple/Dark Brown/Black lipstick.
Think Eternal, SWV, Missy and Foxy, Total, En vogue.
The combo of Dark lips and dark eyeshadow i just don't flattering on anybody ( urgh Denise in Eastenders- who wears charcoal black all over their eyelid?)

I tried it ( Nicka K lip Crayon in Egg plant) and umm No thanks

That girl is poison........

2009-10-10T19:40:00.000+01:00

Sleek nailed polish in poision ivy( it is nailed polish not nail) i have worn this week. After 5 days it is chipped, but with a base coat, top coat and 2-3 coats in between you get three days chip free. Since i wear my polish till it chips away( i'm naasty like that)i don't really care.

Its a deep dark green which is flattering on all skin tones

Even though there is something about sleek the company that disturbs my spirit( like if something really bad comes out about them like they make orphans cry and then harness that to power their machinery) , i have to say i love the shades they have in their nail polishes and i have poison ivy, millionaire and Barbie. For only £1.99 they are great to play around with and 25 shades to choose from.

The "website" which will probably become a real site when i turn 70
http://sleekmakeup.com/wordpress/?page_id=80

My ugly blog

2009-10-05T19:54:00.000+01:00

I know my blog is ugly

*Waah*

Love is.... Pure and simple

2009-10-05T19:10:00.000+01:00

My rave review for Purity facial wash certainly isn't hearsay! ( buda boom ching! Geddit?)

Ah well.......

I've seen this skincare line promoted/on special offers in superdrug for a little while and two months ago, actually more, it was on offer so i snapped up the facial wash. ( the line includes moisturisers, scrubs etc)
Now i love me some natural ingredients and the less ingredients the better for me as i have dry and sensitive skin. I haven't been able to use store bought cleansers. Until now!

Ingredients: Aqua(Water), Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan gum, Aloe Vera leaf powder, Sweet almond oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic acid, Citric Acid.

I love this. It has actually replaced my beloved oil cleansing( a lot due to time saving).
It is gentle, does not leave my extra dry skin hard and crackly and does not irritate your eyes if it gets in 'em. It cleanses skin well and i can't rave about it enough.
It has a very faint smell(hurrah!)
I would say maybe the only con is that a lot can tend to come out of the lid due to its design.
At £4.99( although I've seen it on offer a few times on superdrug so keep eagle eyes out) its not cheap cheap like i usually like. I don't care. As long as its produced i will keep buying!

Ooh and it is made up of 98% of ingredients of natural origin ( urrmmm OK, that's very clear)
and 70% organic

No animal testing
Made in the UK
and recyclable

The site
http://www.purityorganicskincare.com/

Do you Bat for Lashes?

2009-09-17T17:03:00.000+01:00

Wet and Wild is a budget American cosmetics brand that i had heard was good on the web. I didn't know that it had launched in England but it had- via the web. So i had high hopes when a few months ago everything was on sale. I was sorely disappointed and my wetnwild products were destined never to see the light of day until about 6 weeks ago when scrambling round for a mascara my stubby fingers clasped this. Wet and Wild's Mega Wink Mascara.
This is a bloody good mascara. It is a curved wand mascara that is smaller than usual(its not pocket sized- but smaller than the average mascara tube) and it may be a placebo but i feel it defines and lengthen my lashes. ( i always use lash curlers so the curl factor is not something i'm looking for). I would put it on a par with Bourjois/Maybelline and other drugstore/chemist/non high-end mascara's i have used in the past. For £1.99 it is a bargain! Apart from this and the lip liners everything else i used was awful, and this is the only thing i will ever repurchase.

http://www.wnwbeauty.co.uk/eyes/megawinkmascara.html

What's in a name? that which we call a rose

2009-09-12T20:39:00.000+01:00

Everyone loves products that you can use on more than one part of the body.
One of these is Rosewater Glycerine.
It is a great moisturiser for Kinky/Curly hair- just pop it in a spray bottle and for someone like me with very dry skin it is excellent when incorporated into a skincare regimine.
It is less sticky and thick than its half-sister Glycerine.
After washing my face, and whilst it is still damp i use a cotton wool ball to apply to my face and then i apply my sunscreen(or coconut oil and then sunscreen).
Since i have done this i have had zero flakes(yayy!) and when it was hot, i could get away with the rosewater only( i think as winter approaches i will have to add the coconut oil). My skin feels moisturised and i feel it looks better.
You can buy rosewater and glycerine seperately if you cannot find them combined. I use a brand that is readily available in Afro hair shops- Eternal Beauty Rosewater Glycerine. It has only two ingredients, Pure Glycerine B.P and Rosewater(the Glycerine is vegetable and is approved by the UK Vegetarian society).
I know that Boots also sell RWG as part of their retro "Original beauty" range.
You can use it on the whole of your body and add it your bath if you wish as a moisturising treat.
Good stuff

Ohh as you can see i bought it for £1.79 and it is a staple.

Pink Elephants and Lemonade

2009-09-10T18:10:00.000+01:00

At Superdrug Collection 2000 dazzle me! Eye dust, is half price , i think each pot is just under £1.50 till the end of the month, so i thought i would do a post on them.
I've used them sporadically for the last year or two and for bright colours at cheap prices that last i think they are great for experimentation and cheaper than many of the other bedazzled /razzle/glam/fairy pot/ eye pollen dusts, which are produced by nearly all makeup brands at the drugstore( what is the english version, chemist?, just doesn't sound right)

Using my 8 year old glamorous assistant Nadia , i used Collection 2000 dazzle me! Eye dust in sugarplum. It is a cute colour which is quiteiridescent and multifaceted, it looks like you are actually wearing two eyeshadows as it starts off a golden lemony colour before developing into the pink.
The crappy Camera phone pictures do not do it justice and although it is twinkly it is not glittery as the pictures suggest.

They actually last a decent amount of time too( i have dry lids though so factor them in)
They have a lot of shades and if you don't like it at least you haven't paid too much.
The website
http://www.collection2000.co.uk/products/eyes/eye-shadow/dazzle-me-eye-dust/
Available at all Superdrugs to the best of my knowledge

Laval Cosmetics

2009-09-02T16:59:00.001+01:00

Laval Cosmetics are a cheap brand of make up that you usually find in the chemist, the market and little shops. Like nearly all product lines, things are hit and miss, but for the price i think you can experiment. Most of the products i have seen start at £1 and go up to £3 maybe more.

I have used, the lip pencil, the jumbo eyeshadow pencils( as a base), and little things here and there, but i must make this post about the one thing i cannot live without.
Laval Blusher in Chincilla. It is my holy grail blush and i love me some blush!
Where do i start, i bought this for 2 quid in a market and went back and bought another one. I just love the colour, it gives a warm rich colour and it lasts all day.
No camera(i'm working on it!) so no swatches(boo!) but it is a lovely colour.
It comes in 6 shades: Cinnamon, Chincilla, Peach Haze, Damson, Frosted Pink, Mulberry, Terracotta, Russet and Tawny.
http://www.lavalcosmetics.co.uk/

You can purchase from here, for £1.50
http://www.makeupcounter.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=30_68&products_id=55

So fresh and So clean and So Smooth

2009-07-31T10:49:00.000+01:00

Jergens Skin Smoothing Cellular Renewal Moisturiser

Jergens has just recently started advertising on British television( well in my living memory) and the ads have been for their naturals range. However they produce a whole host of body lotions so don't miss out. I have only just started seeing Jergens in the big shops/supermarkets, however it has always been in the BSS/Afro hair shops. I picked this up because it has AHA's ( Alpha hydroxy acids) and i had never seen that in a body lotion.

What i love about this lotion is that leaves your skin moisturised. I have very dry skin, so i often have to use thick butters, but this lotion does not leave me dry at all.
However there are a few things that i could see, that would be problematic for others. Firstly, the smell. I like it but if you do not like heavy scents this could be a problem. It doesn't leave a smell on the body nor does it linger but it does have a perfume like odour. Also there are tiny little microbeads that just melt into the skin. Not problematic just a bit odd. Maybe to hit home that it really DOES exfoliate.( see little beads! It works!)

I bought 295mL for £2.59 and the price does differ by about 50p more, depending on the shop. There is also a giant bottle for about six quid. Its getting harder and harder to find these smaller bottles, i think people are going out and mass grabbing them.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Behentrimonium Chloride, Isopropyl Isostearate, Lactamide MEA, Jojoba Esters, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tridecyl Salicylate, Citrus Medica Limonium (Lemon) Juice, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Juice, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Juice, Dimethicone, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Dilaurate, Lactose, Cellulose, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Red 30, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Ultramarine

Italians do it better

2009-07-30T18:22:00.000+01:00

I must talk about two items i have fallen in love within the past few months.
The first is something i discovered by accident as i picked the cheapest apricot scrub on the shelf and it also had the best ingredients.
It is 21 Days Natural Apricot Face and body scrubbing cream. It is a part of the 21 days range of products found in most Afro hair shops that is geared towards the lightening of dark spots. *cough* bleach *cough*. But don't let that or the mad mindset behind it deter you.
In the shower/bath, this scrub gets your skin silky smooth, i was actually shocked. The particles are so soft and not hard or gritty like some ( shakes fist furiously at a shall remain nameless Swiss company). I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff.

Price£1.99-3.99 ( Don't pay over that)
It comes in 200ml tub. There is really only one bad point. .The smell. I'm used to it now, but you may think its gone off or something. Nah. It hasn't that's just the smell it has. I went into like 10 different shops smelling it, and it was the same in all.

Directions for use:Apply twice a week after cleansing, over face and body. Gently exfoliate with circular motion, avoiding the eye contour area. Remove with lukewarm water.

By the way i use this on my body and rarely on my face. I don't usually exfoliate my face.

Ingredients:Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Cocoa butter, Apricot seed powder, Aluminium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Jojoba oil, Aloe Barbadensis Gel, Trethanolamine, Fragrance, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Citirc Acid, Benzophenone-4, Acrylates Copolymer, Acrylates/Acrylamide Copolymer, Mineral oil, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Polysorbate- 85, Imidazolidinyl, Urea, Disodium EDTA.

Aquimpex's site ( they produce loads of stuff!)
http://www.21days.net/
http://www.aquimpex.com/

The video is hilarious! A panther and Hydroquinone. Who knew they were synonymous!
Or why the model is at first wearing a lab coat and then a Bikini? Those Craazy Ital-ians!

Tesco Ultimate sun protection SPF 30 Review

2009-07-14T06:57:00.000+01:00

Following on from my post on SPF, here i will now review two facial sun creams by two supermarket giants. First up is Tesco Ultimate Sun protection( Its written like a stamp, Ultimate in bold, just to show you how really ultimate it is! READ IT AND WEEP)
SPF 30 High protection.

For some messed up reason Tesco decided to reformulate this product, from an easy squeezy container to a "Sports pack" umm ok. They also changed the ingredients( insert pissed off smilie here)

It is £3.00 for 75 ml which i think is a great price. So lets get to reviewing my lovelys

I love the price, its readily available and it doesn't have a white cast leaving you looking like you bathed in baby powder that so many sunscreens do.
It has a pleasant smell, not too clinical and its not greasy and absorbs well. You can use it in place of a moisturiser and no dryness.
What i dislike- the packaging, its now in a weird sports pack that looks like an astronauts space food container or a massive packet of a male contaceptive device.
They also changed the ingredients- wahh and put in more stuff that i can't pronounce.

Baring that all in mind i give it 2 Thumbs up and it is a staple of mine.

I heart it *strokes space food/condom pack*

Ingredients below
Old container
Aqua, C12-15, Allkyl Benzoate, Cocoglycerides, Cera Alba, Butyl Methoxydibehnzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Methylene BIS-Benzotrizoyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Santalum Acuminatum Fruit extract, Acacia Victoriae Fruit exract, Citrus Glauca Fruit extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether Benzoate, PEG-40 Sterate, Decyl Glucoside, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, BHT, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Xanthan Gum.

New sports pack

Aqua, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cocoglycerides, Cera Alba, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Octocrylene, Cetyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, PED-15 Cocamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, PED-40 Sterate, Decyl Glucose, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Triethanolamine, Propylparaben, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, BHT, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Xanthan Gum, Santalum, Acuminatum Fruit extract, Acacia Victoriae Fruit Extract, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract.

New Computer!!! Yay

2009-06-24T16:16:00.000+01:00

I'm so happy now i have a new computer which is super fast! ( well probably normal speed, but seeing as my previous one went as fast as a paraplegic tortoise) So more blogging and other shiny pretty things!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for sunscreen!

2009-05-27T20:33:00.000+01:00

Like Baz Luhrmann says everybodys free to wear sunscreen and everybody should!
You may think nah i'm a dusky beauty from a far off land, i have no need for such things.
You would of course be wrong.
Skin Cancer affects us.
Sun damage affects us.
So if you cancer doesn't scare you, i will appeal to your vanity. The sun's rays age right? Sooo the melanin in your skin+ sunscreen= Double weapon in againg! Yayyyy
Another effect of sun damage- Hyperpigmentation. Something loads of us have to deal with.
So go on do it!

Some links for your perusual
http://www.hotornotbeauty.com/even-black-skin-needs-sunscreen/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5219752.stm

Sleek Ink Pot- Eyeliner Gel.

2009-05-18T15:44:00.000+01:00

Pros
Easy to apply, ditch the little brush and use an angled eyeliner brush, its easier to use, but if you're skilled use the lil brush they provide
Dark deep colour
Cheap(ish) £3.91
Availability-Superdrug, any black hair shop

Cons
Does not last! Ohmigosh i went out in the day, 4 hours later it had disappeared into a murky blemish. I was p****!
I need to reiterate that this thing does not last!!!!! Urgh. Seriously, i did my makeup 20 mins later it was fading! This was after i had already used it on top of black eyeshadow as a liner!

If you do use this you have to use black eyeshadow/eyeliner then go over it with the Ink Pot.
It looked so good but i am so mad it didn't last!!! Urghhhh, i will update with photos( timed!)

Boo Sleek Boo!
http://sleekmakeup.com/wordpress/

Rant over and Out!!!!

New photo

2009-05-11T19:44:00.000+01:00

I am just seeing how boobalicious that picture of me is. I am so computer illiterate that i can't even change it round.
I will find a replacement asap

Superdrug Clarity Range

2009-05-05T14:23:00.000+01:00

My pores scream "Hello Dolly" to everyone. They even talk to strangers.
So i have only just started taking care of my skin and I'm still learning.
My huge bug bear is my nose!!! Ugh the blackheads and white heads are just a weekly enemy with me. I fight them through nose pore strips and facial steaming. There are a lot of blackhead fighting products out there on the market and they can be pretty expensive, especially when you don't know where to start.
But i have found two affordable and effective treatments!
From the Family fave superdrug comes the Blackhead clearing nose strips.
It is a set of 5 nose strips. Although these things never fully cover my nose they do an OK job.

The instructions
cleanse nose/face thoroughly and make sure nose area is wet- What i also do is put a little water on the underside part- the part that you will stick onto your nose, because it never seems to get wet enough.
apply sticky part to nose. Firmly
Leave to dry for 10-12 minutes or when stiff ( if left on for too long it won't work)
Peel off
Rinse residue

For £2.49 they do what they are supposed to say and are a lot cheaper than more well established name brands.

Ingredients:Sodium Polyacrylate, Polyacrylic acid, Aqua, Sillica Silylate, Titanium /Titanium dioxide, Alcohol denat., Lauric Acid, Peg-10, Dioleate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Paeonia Suffruticosa( Peony root extract), Menthol, Peppermint oil

Secondly is my sugar, my honey, my b-a-b-y baby

Superdrug clarity rapid results treatment pen

This is also £2.49 and it is( puts on surfer dude accent) AWESOME!!!! It has a mixture of salicylic acid and glycolic acid( something i have not seen in any drugstore product) I had a huge white head on my nose one morning. I dabbed some on, went into the shower and when i came back it had visibly shrunk. I was like OMG!
I am now using it in the battle to keep my nose clear and its doing OK.
Its not actually pen its more like a mini roll on deodorant type thing, but i think its pretty effective.

The ingredients are
Alocohol, Alcohol Denat., Glycerine, Hamamelis Virginia, Salicylic Acid, Hydroxythylcellulose, Glycolic acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Benzophenone-4, Hexyl Cinamaldehyde, 2-(4-tert, Butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hydroxy-methylpentyl-cyclohexenecarboxalde-hyde, Limonene, Hydroxy-citronellal, CI 42051, CI60730

Hair Breakage Blues

2009-05-01T22:53:00.000+01:00

Woe says me.
My hair which i had previously thought was in tip top condition has begun to break.
Oh dear.
I tried a molasses treatment, nothing happened, a protein conditioner, nothing happened. I was even going to reach for my stinky aphogee.
My hair is overmoisturised and i want answers!!!Dammit!
So whilst perusing the web for answers, i hit upon Keratin for breakage. The best of the bunch when it comes to protein for your hair.
So i was left with some choices, i didn't want to do the 2-step aphogee, because it is so strong, plus i just can't be bothered.
The 2 minute aphogee has changed its formulation, so i was a little leery. Then there was Organic Root stimulator Mayonnaise.

So i shuffled my way down to the shops and found the ORS mayonnaise but it £2.49 for a teeny amount and nearly a fiver for the large one.
This would not do! So i begun scanning the other mayonnaise products and found
sofn'free hair mayonnaise. It has hydrolised Keratin and collagen so i was delighted. Yay for me!!!!

Well i used it. I didn't follow the instructions though (oh no!). I actually slept with it overnight (!) I didn't mean to, but i got to yakking on the phone and in no time at all i was asleep.

Well. I washed it our and i didn't see any immediate difference, but a day or two later my breakage has slowed down.
I am giving it 2 thumbs up! I still need to work on my protein/moisture balance but y'know baby steps. So in a quick summary

Pros
Cheap- £1.89
Texture- lovely and Thick! I love thick conditioners
Some good ingredients- Keratin, Collagen, Lactic acid and egg oil???( does anyone know what that is. How exactly is oil extracted from an egg- i can hear the shrill cries of an egg ringing in my ear)

Cons
Smells slightly like a cheap men's cologne (Eau du Sleaze)
If you are ingredient aware has some baddies- sulfates, mineral oil, comes etc
(full ingredients list below)
Availability- i've never seen this before. Then again I've never used a mayonnaise before. Plus i can't see it on the company's website

Will i use it again. Yes!
Ingredients:Water, Dimethicone, Cetearyl alcohol, Stearic acid, Hydrolized Keratin, Dicetyldimonium chloride, polyquaternium-32, Mineral oil, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Glycerine, Safflower seed oil, Hydrolized collagen, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Oilive oil, PPG-12-PEG-50 Lanolin, Phenyl Trimethicone, Panthenol, Cholesterol, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene glycol, Nettle extract, Lactic acid, Parsley extract, Egg oil (???), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (boo!hiss!boo), Sodium hydroxide(faints), Fragrance, DMDM( i don't even want to know), Hydatonin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl,Methylpropional, Coumarin, Limonene, Linalool, Yellow 5(CI 19140), Acid Red14(ci 14720), Brilliant Black(cool name)(CI28440) PHEW!

BTW:I have natural hair

Comapny websites
http://www.sofnfree.co.uk/
http://www.mmcosmetics.com/sof_n_free.html

Bacne

2009-03-30T13:14:00.001+01:00

Yes this post is about Bacne.
Those dreaded spots on yer back. Lucky for me i don't have bacne. Thats right, i don't remember ever having spots there, but what i have are some delightful dark marks that leave me looking like a speckled hen or dot to dot page before the lines have been drawn in.
Well enough about my hideous back, lets get on to the good stuff!
Neutrogena formulate a back wash, but i haven't seen it anywhere. Maybe i should go to the big boots up west but quite frankly i can't be bothered.
SO i have finally decided to treat it and here is what i have found
Diana Acne soap
*picture will be inserted later*( no digicam cough cough)
Ingredients
Salicylic acid 2%, Sulfur 2%, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palmitate, Aqua, EDTA, Etidronic acid, Fragrance, Colorant.

so lets analyse these ingredients boffins

Salicylic acid is used commonly to treat acne, it exfoliates ( its a beta hydroxy acid) and helps clears blocked pores. 2% is the highest dosage found over the counter.

Sulphur ( i will use the English spelling dammit!!!!)- in the past it has been used to treat Acne, but isn't so common nowadays. I keep hearing conflicting things about sulphur. Often that no-one knows exactly how it works( oooh spooky) One thing is that it has been known to cause discolouration so be careful, well I'll be the guinea pig!

The rest of the ingredients are just soap bases and stuff which is in other soaps.

The directions for use, say use twice a day.

Other treatments for Bacne I've seen are
Head and shoulders shampoo- because it contains zinc

Also lotions or astringents that contain Salicylic acid, however don't use them altogether because you will irritate your skin.

Then there are the commonsense things
*Change bedsheets/pillow covers and clothing regularly- i hope you guys do this already!
*Change clothes regularly/wash them!- or switch detergents to a more gentle formulation
*Wash after any activity where you have worked up a sweat
*Exfoliate( post coming up on this soon)

Umm that's it i think. Umm any chemistry people that can help me( email meeee)
or anyone who has any info, or is like omigodsaarflondongirlsulphurwillblowyourbrainsupumadwoman!!!! email me too.

And urm that's that.
Oh wait
Diana Acne soap can be found at any black hair shops or BSS's as they are called in the USof A ( that stands for beauty supply store) for around £1.49

oh and here is a link to the site ( they have some good stuff I'll review in the future you know)
http://www.dianacosmetics.com/index.html

Hello

2009-03-28T17:56:00.000Z

Please bear with me, i am truly truly crap at blogs and anything above search engines and youtube. But i will persevere and i hope you will read my blog as i attempt to chronicle my new found beauty obsession at budget prices.