beauty – Page 8 – The Review Studio

CCS Footcare Products

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

You may recall that I set myself a challenge for National Walking Month and planned to do a walk every day. We’re almost 2 weeks in now and I’ve managed to fit in a walk every day, they haven’t all been long walks, but it has been great to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful countryside on our doorstep. Walking is fantastic for both physical and mental health but it can take a toll on our feet so it is very important to care for them so that you can enjoy many miles of pain free walking.

I’m certainly guilty of not looking after my feet as well as I should and since my feet have been wrapped up in socks and boots all winter, they have become quite dry with hard skin on the heels and soles of my feet. A parcel of footcare products from CCS and National Walking Month was just the motivation I needed to give my feet some much needed TLC.

The Foot Care Cream is a rich cream that simply melts into my feet and doesn’t leave them feeling greasy or sticky. It feels lovely and hydrating and leaves my feet feeling soft and refreshed. It is great as an overnight treatment too – apply before bed, put a pair of cotton socks and you will wake to beautifully soft feet. I have been using this twice a day for the last 2 weeks and I am so impressed with the results, the dry skin has gone and my feet are lovely and soft again.

RRP £7.99

The Warming Foot Cream is an interesting product, it’s not as rich as the Foot Care Cream and easily melts into my skin. It has a lovely citrus fragrance and once you have rubbed it in you feel your feet begin to warm up. It doesn’t feel unpleasant or tingly, just a gradual warmth spreading over your feet. It’s lovely to use after a long walk and I think it will be brilliant in winter when I always suffer from cold feet. It’s a lovely product and is a real treat for my feet.

RRP £11.99

The Cracked Heel Repair foot balm is specially formulated for very dry feet with cracked heels and hard skin. It contains Cabamide (25%) and Lactic Acid which exfoliates, softens, moisturises and strengthens the skin barrier. I have been using it twice a day and I started to see an improvement in the hard skin on my heels in about 3 days

RRP £8

Now that my feet have been well and truly pampered they will be good for many more miles this month – Happy hiking!!

The products are available from Boots, Amazon and Superdrug

Bumbles and Boo

Baby, beauty, Children, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

I love discovering companies that have incredible gifts so was really pleased when we received a gift from Bumbles and Boo. They have a magnificent range of baby themed gifts all beautifully packaged in baskets and mini suitcases (which are perfect for storing keepsakes and photographs afterwards) and are the perfect gift to welcome a new baby.

Bumbles and Boo was founded by two mums, both called Emma back in 2018. They became friends through their sons love of football and found themselves sharing the ups and downs of parenthood whilst holding down corporate jobs. Wanting a change from their careers they decided there was a gap in the market for baby and new parent gifts that not only looked beautiful but were practical too, containing all the essentials that they loved from their parenting journeys. The business is named after the nicknames of their young daughters – Bumbles and Boo

I always think a hamper is such a lovely gift to give (and receive) for any occasion and was thrilled with the “You’re One in a Melon” Treat trunk which is packed full of lovely pampering treats. The two mini suitcases were tied together with beautiful white ribbon and the addition of a gift card and an artificial rose took the gift up to a whole new level, it not only looked impressive it made me feel incredibly special to be receiving such a delightful gift.

When I opened the suitcases, I discovered that the beautiful packaging continues inside the gift, the contents are covered in tissue paper and nestled in shredded paper and it was really exciting lifting the top items to see what treats were underneath. The little artificial roses were a lovely touch and I especially liked how the exfoliating glove had been folded, making an everyday item look really special.

I was really impressed by the variety of items in the hamper, it contained the following which are all perfect gifts for any mum-to-be or new mum.

Candle.
Make a wish bracelet.
Box of You’re One in a Melon Sour watermelon
Hard backed Journal & Pen.
JoJoBa, Vanilla & Almond Oil hand cream.
Exfoliating glove

Hampers are a great gift for new mums, as you get lots of little presents and Bumble and Boo have some lovely pampering products in their hampers. Being pregnant or a new mum can be exhausting and receiving some special treats to help relax and have some me/pamper time is very much appreciated.

I also think this would make a lovely gift for a baby shower, I really don’t like giving gifts for babies before they arrive so this is the perfect solution. With a lovely selection of gifts for the mum to be it is bound to put a smile on the recipients face and be treasured for many years to come.

The hampers start at £15.95 and there is one to suit every budget, you can even design your own too!

Annabelle Minerals Serums

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Vegan

Disclaimer: we received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

I have reached the age when looking after my skin has become a lot more important. Since hitting the perimenopause my skin is drier and the fine lines and wrinkles are becoming more and more noticeable so I was really pleased to be given the opportunity to try a selection of serums from the new skincare range from Annabelle Minerals

Facial serums are an essential step in any skin care routine, they are lightweight and easily absorbed and offer concentrated key ingredients. Annabelle Minerals have three serums – Glow Juice (20% Vitamin C) Repair Juice (0.3% Retinol) and Clarity Juice (5% Niacinamide) and the serums are designed to work alongside moisturiser. Used twice a day they will make a noticeable difference to how the skin looks and feels.

It takes around 4-6 weeks to start seeing benefits from new skincare products so with three serums to try I decided the best way to test them was to use each serum on a different part of my face. It’s been 6 weeks since I started using them and I am amazed at the difference they have made to my skin.

The Glow Juice Serum is my favourite of the three, after a couple of weeks the fine lines around my eyes were noticeably softened and as the weeks went on they continued to fade. This was a very pleasing result and it was also good to see that my skin is looking brighter too.

The Clarity Juice provides nourishment to my skin and it has really helped with the visible pores on my forehead, it has minimised their appearance and I am hoping with continued use I will continue to see an improvement.

The Repair Juice contains retinol which is a real wonder product. It stimulates skin renewal processes, improves elasticity, reduces the visibility of pores, evens out skin tone and texture, and reduces inflammation. Anyone new to using retinol should start by applying the serum twice a week to build tolerance, gradually increasing application to daily. I have been using this at night and my skin is clearer and the fine lines at the corner of my mouth are becoming less noticeable. I also noticed that my skin looks and feels smoother.

Annabelle Minerals products are 100% organic and it’s good to know that as well as doing a great job fighting the visible signs of aging these serums are good for your skin too. The silky serums are a very effective addition to my daily beauty regime and I was surprised to discover that they are only £27.90/bottle – a lot cheaper than other serums I have tried and much more effective.

If you want to read more about Annabelle Minerals products you can read our review of the lip and eye pencils here

Justice Smooth & Grow Hair Products

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

I have curly hair and looking after it can be quite troublesome. At the moment it is dry and frizzy and I am certainly having more bad hair days than good so I was really pleased to receive a couple of Smooth & Groom products from Justice Haircare to see if they could transform my wild, frizzy locks.

Justice Haircare is an Australian brand which was founded on the sun-kissed beaches of Sydney Australia back in 1990. Inspired by nature their philosophy is to harness the very best elements of Australia – nature, authenticity and fun – and create haircare products that can be enjoyed by everyone no matter what type of hair you have. They have a fantastic range of products including, shampoos, conditioners, anti-dandruff and dry scalp products, leave-in treatments as well as styling products and hair colours.

I love their simple, yet stylish packaging, the vibrant pink looks stunning against the white bottle and definitely brightens up the bathroom.

The shampoo smells lovely, very sweet and floral and is a nice consistency, it lathers well leaving my hair feeling fresh and clean.

My curly hair tends to be dry, frizzy and dull so a hydrating conditioner is an important step in my haircare routine. The Smooth & Groom Deep Conditioner is rich and creamy and contains Pro-Keratin formula, plant stem cells and marine collagen which has really helped give my curls a healthy dose of hydration, nourishment, and protection and has left them noticeable shinier and softer. It was easy to apply to my hair and after combing through I left it on for the recommended 5 minutes before scrunching it into my hair to help add moisture to my curls. It rinsed out easily and left my hair tangle free.

These products leave my hair feeling super soft and nourished and my curls are shinier and more defined. I usually leave my hair to dry naturally, and I have noticed that my curls are a lot less frizzy now. I occasionally use a hairdryer with a diffuser and when I dry it this way my hair is easier to style and has a lot more bounce and volume.

My curls really adore this duo, the dry frizzy mop has been transformed into glossy, defined curls.

If you are looking for a product that smells lovely and gives quality results at a very reasonable price then I recommend that you give Justice Professional a try, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

The 300ml shampoo and conditioner bundle costs a very reasonable £20

Nanogen Haircare

beauty, Fashion, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I have recently had a dietry deficiency which caused my hair to thin, plus it won’t grow very long now so it seems to be getting shorter and shorter with each cut I have! Nanogen Haircare has a solution to thinning hair which includes shampoo and conditioner, Hair Fibre Locking Spray and hair fibres. Intrigued, they sent me some samples to try along with instructions.

Nanogen’s products are designed to thicken your hair in as little as 30 seconds. With 20 years of experience and a variety of products and also boast a wealth of information on their website as to how to care for you hair and how to make it look instantly thicker.

Starting with the Nanogen Hair Fibres, choose your hair colour online: https://www.nanogen.com/pages/what-shade-are-you The Nanogen Hair Fibres are designed to bounce light from the transparent fibres to make your hair appear thicker and more like natural hair. Choosing your shade of hair colours allows the Nanogen Hair Fibres to blend in with your natural colour, and a mix of shades often makes the blending much easier. I have medium brunette hair so I was sent the shades No 05 Medium Brown and No 06 Light Brown.

Once I had styled my hair for the day, I took the darker colour to my roots, sprinkling the fibres onto where my hair needs thickening. Lightly patting the fibres into my hair to make them more even, I then applied the lighter shade of Nanogen Hair Fibres and patted the area again to even out the distribution. Essentially, that’s all you need to do, but if you want to change the thickness, or the tone of the colour, you can repeat the process to get the desired look. As with all products, practice is the key. I was also advised that ‘less is more’ with building up the thickness and colour, so keep trying at small intervals until you get the look you like.

To keep your new thicker looking hair water resistant and to fix in place more, Nanogen also have the Hair Fibre Locking Spray, which I used on my hair before I went out.

If you’re a bit nervous about using thickening products on your hair straight away, Nanogen has other haircare products that might also benefit you. I was sent the Shampoo Luxe Thickening Hair Experience for Women and Conditioner for Everyone. I love trying out new haircare products, so this was another way for me to get thicker hair and also love pampering myself a bit more. As with most shampoos and conditioners which are designed to do a bit more than just clean and condition, it takes a few washes for the condition of your hair to change. Having said that, after one wash I could feel that my hair was coated more rather than stripped back which is what most High Street shampoos do. The hard water in my area doesn’t help the condition of my hair either, so the protection of the conditioner helps.

After a week of washing my hair with the Nanogen Shampoo Luxe Thickening Hair Experience and Nanogen Conditioner for Everyone, my hair began to feel stronger and dried less frizzy when I left it to dry naturally. The fragrance of the Conditioner for Everyone is to die for too – I loved conditioning my hair with it and the scent it left!

I was also sent the Nanogen Shampoo and Half-Conditioner for Men, which lathers up to exfoliate the scalp as well as lightly conditioning. The conditioning aspect of the product is from panthenol and glycerine, which is to prevent hair feeling weighed down. I don’t normally use 2-in-1 shampoos and conditioners so I had a good opportunity to test it when I went away for a night and didn’t know what the haircare products would be like. It has a similar fragrance to it as the Nanogen Shampoo and felt like it was just as nutritious as the separate shampoo and conditioners.

From fretting about my thinning hair to suddenly having a 30-second fix and being given a long-term solution with different shampoos and conditioners, Nanogens has given me both confidence and hope, and more healthy looking hair. Thanks Nanogen!

All products available from £9.95 at: https://www.nanogen.com/collections/all

Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp

beauty, Family Life, health, Home, Home & Garden, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Dandruff and dry scalp shampoos used to be medicated and foul fragranced concoctions, only available over the pharmacy counter. Nowadays, there are alternatives including the Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp.

Ayluna, although effective at beating dandruff and moisturising a dry scalp actually contains organic rosemary and juniper wood oil which banishes the dandruff and dry skin. The combination of herbs adds a more delicate, but strong scent to the shampoo which lathers up beautifully in the shower. Surprisingly, the Ayluna Shampoo doesn’t contain silicone or paraffin, no synthetic colourants, nor artificial scents or preservatives. The smokey, aniseed fragrance is completely natural from the herbal ingredients.

When used in the shower to wash my hair, it was very potent and filled the room with the scent of the oils, but struck me as not being overly feminine, so it could be used by anyone in the family. You don’t need much shampoo to lather up either, and I felt that afterwards, the dark colouring of the mixture enhanced my dark coloured hair as well as leaving it with the herbal fragrance.

I don’t have particularly bad dandruff but occasionally, when I’m stressed, it flares up. At the moment though, my hair is very clear from using the Ayluna Shampoo and making sure it rinses out thoroughly and leaving my hair squeaky clean.

Ayluna Shampoo for Dandruff & Dry Scalp is a perfect alternative to the over-the-counter medicated shampoos that really put me off with their fragrance and harsh chemicals. Ayluna does the job just as well but has a much more friendly after-scent.

Available online at:https://www.ayluna.com/products/hair-care/shampoos/index.htm

See the Ayluna website for more details at: www.ayluna.co.uk

FFØR Haircare

beauty, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own

We love trying new hair products so were very excited when FFØR sent us some new products to try. The Re:Nourish shampoo and conditioner and Re:Plenish hair mask has worked wonders on my dry frizzy hair (read our review here) so I had high hopes for these new products!

I have a bit of a love hate relationship with my curls, some days they look fantastic and others they go a bit wild and unkempt and the only way to look presentable is to tie them back so at least I look a little more presentable! Luckily there are so many amazing curl products available now and I always try to use products like FFØR which are free from nasties like sulphates, parabens and alcohol which tend to strip my curls of moisture.

FFØR stands for Free From, Original, Real and are an ethical company who believe in Clean Beauty, both for you and the planet. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and free from nasties and they only work with likeminded, ethical suppliers who can provide verified information about their sourcing, and who share their important values. They are also winners of the Marie Claire 2022 Hair Awards and the Global Green Beauty Awards.

I use a leave in conditioner to help moisturise my curls but have found that some can be quite heavy and leave my hair looking and feeling quite greasy. I was therefore pleased to discover that the FFØR Show off Leave In Conditioner is incredibly light and can be sprayed onto damp hair. After a couple of washes, I worked out the right amount for my curls and can honestly say my curls have never looked better. It has made a real difference to the look and feel of my hair, it is now a lot softer and has certainly helped to tame the dreaded frizz!

RRP £20

Designed to leave hair looking fuller & thicker, the Re:Vamp spray is the newest edition to the FFØR range,enriched with a blend of organic bergamont & vetivert it not only smell amazing but gives plenty of bounce and volume to my curls. The light mist isn’t sticky and gives light, natural volume to my hair, and more definition to my curls. I also noticed that the volume I got from my freshly washed hair, didn’t drop and go flat by evening and even the following day I still had some volume which I was really pleased with.

RRP £21

The FFØR Super Shine Gloss Mist gives my hair the most lovely shine. You really don’t need a lot – a quick mist over dry hair is all you need for a fantastic shine. Infused with a ethically sourced ingredients including Bergamot, Vetivert and Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil (Brazil Nut Oil), the mist also left my hair feeling super soft.

RRP £19

I am really impressed with these products and can’t wait to try more products from them!

The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

If you are looking for a last minute Mother’s Day gift then the Rituals The Ritual of Ayurveda Gift set needs to be top of your list, it is beautifully wrapped (always a bonus when you have left your gift buying to the last minute!) and contains a lovely selection of products for your mum to pamper herself with.

From the moment I unwrapped the origami designed packaging and discovered the sturdy floral designed cardboard box I could tell that this was going to be a special gift set. On lifting the lid of the gift box, I discovered four travel sized products – foaming shower gel 50ml, rich body oil 30ml, body cream 70ml and hair & body mist 20ml – everything you need to bring a little luxury into your bathroom.

The Ritual of Ayurveda products are designed to help you achieve inner harmony and are based on the aromas of Indian rose and sweet almond oil. These products all smell amazing and are a real sensual treat.

The foaming shower gel lathers nicely and when used alongside the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. The body oil is wonderful to apply, it glides on like silk and supercharges my skin with moisture. The oil is light and absorbs quickly, leaving behind the most gorgeous scent and leaving my skin smooth, soft and with a healthy sheen. The hair and body mist has the same beautiful fragrance and the handy sized bottle is perfect to keep in your handbag.

The Ritual Of Ayurveda giftset makes a lovely Mother’s Day gift – pure luxury & the ultimate indulgence for that special person in your life.

RRP £27

Jasmine Silk Ultimate Silk Pillowcase

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Sleeping on silk has many benefits and lots of my curly haired friends have switched to silk pillowcases since discovering they help to reduce frizz. Sleeping on silk is also good for your skin as silk absorbs less moisture and dirt than cotton meaning your night cream will stay on your face and keep your skin hydrated, rather than ending up all over your pillowcase.

Although silk bedding sounds incredibly luxurious I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the Jasmine Silk website and discovered that silk bedding doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. With pillowcases starting at £16 it is definitely worth considering, as not only is it lovely to sleep on, the added health benefits add to the attraction.

They kindly sent me one of their Ultimate Silk Pillowcases to try and as soon as I took it out of the packaging I could feel how luxurious this product was. Made from 100% Mulberry silk I love the feel and softness of the pillowcase and when I went to bed it was a delight to sleep on. It was also lovely and cool which is a huge benefit as now I am perimenopausal I am suffering from the dreaded hot flushes which are invariably worse at night, and I don’t sleep very well anymore. After a few good nights sleep I am considering getting the matching sheets too as I am so impressed with the pillowcase. When I woke up my curls were still nice and bouncy and noticeably less frizzy so not only do I sleep better my hair looked better too.

The pillowcase was a good fit on my pillow, well-fitting but loose enough to easily take on and off. With an envelope closure it looks neat on my bed. The pillowcase was easy to wash, it can be washed in a machine at 30 degrees and tumbled dried at a low temperature. I dried mine outdoors which helped reduce the creases and a cool iron quickly removed the rest.

Jasmine Silk have silk pillowcases in a variety of styles and a choice of 11 different colours and they also have silk bedding so you can sleep in luxury every night. With Mother’s Day fast approaching why not treat your Mum and give the gift of sleep this year?

Rituals

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own

I love walking into a Rituals shop, from the moment you step inside a calming aura encircles you and the hustle and bustle of the high street instantly become a distant memory. Once inside this tranquil haven, soothing music and beautiful fragrances add to the experience and with incredibly knowledgeable staff on hand to share the delightful products with you it soon becomes apparent that this is more than just a store selling beauty products. I always leave the shop with not only a bag of goodies but an over-whelming feeling of relaxation and being pampered. Taking time for yourself is very important and Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself or a loved one to some lovely pampering products and Rituals have some lovely gifts for just that purpose.

They kindly sent me one of their fantastic gifts – the Ritual of Sakura Renewing Routine gift set. Now I love receiving a gift set, it’s so exciting opening it to discover a special collection of items and when they are as beautifully packaged as this it becomes even more of a treat. Initially I thought this box was just too pretty to open however, the alluring scents of the products proved too much and after carefully opening the origami designed packaging I discovered a sturdy cardboard box with a beautiful floral design that just shouts out to be reused.

Inside the box are;

Zensational foaming shower gel 200ml

Renewing body scrub 125g

Magic Touch body cream 100ml

Relaxing Scented Candle

I was looking forward to the rice milk and cherry blossom scented products bringing on a feeling of relaxation and enabling me to switch off from daily life, even just for a short period of time.

After using them I wasn’t disappointed – the shower gel lathers nicely with a creamy foam and used in conjunction with the body cream helps carry the delicious scent around with you all day. Using the body scrub is truly a sensual experience and real treat, it provides just enough exfoliation and I love how it leaves my skin feeling invigorated yet pampered, adding a moment of luxury to my daily shower.

If you are looking for a gift set that boasts something a little more special that your standard bath and body Sets, you must try Rituals, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!! The Rituals of Sakura gift set is a wonderful starting place to begin your Rituals journey.

RRP: £43

Stockist: Rituals stores, rituals.com & Look Fantastic

Alfa Romeo Red Eau de Toilette

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Whilst an Alfa Romeo car may be way out of your price range you can buy your loved one a taste of Alfa Romeo style with a bottle of Alfa Romeo fragrance from Agence de Parfumerie

This fragrance is packaged in a bright red box emblazoned with the Alfa Romeo logo. The deep red bottle is chunky and modern and with the chrome lid is a stylish addition to any bathroom or bedroom.

When my husband tried the fragrance the first thing I noticed was the freshness, with top notes of pink pepper, pineapple and citrus they sharpen the senses without being overpowering. With fruity middle notes and base notes of amber and tonka bean the fragrance settles down to be a more earthy scent which is very pleasant and appeals to all ages – my 21 year old son liked it just as much as my husband does.

It doesn’t have a heavy scent so is perfect both as a day or evening fragrance and it lasts well – a couple of spays will last all day.

With a RRP of £19.95 for the 100ml bottle it’s also very reasonably priced and the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day.

Available at Superdrug Sephora Debenhams Beauty Base and Aromorfia

Cabotine Rose Eau de Toilette

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own

There’s still time to pick up a Valentine’s gift for a loved one and we have some lovely fragrances to share with you. Lasting longer than roses (and cheaper too!) Agence de Parfumerie’s Cabotine Rose EDT is a delightfully fresh perfume that looks and smells like a luxury perfume but without the hefty price tag. With top notes of cherry blossom, mandarin and pear, heart nots of mimosa, peony and pikake flower and base notes of vetiver, sandalwood and plumeria petals this floral perfume is light and feminine and perfect for every day wear. I found that I only needed to apply this perfume once during the day as the perfume is quite long lasting. I received many comments from my friends and colleagues who said how nice it is and wanted to know what the fragrance was.

The box is very pretty with a raised floral design which is also picked up on the lid of the perfume bottle which is a lovely pink floral design and looks stunning on my dressing table.

This is a lovely perfume and is suitable for all ages, at £14.95 for 100ml it is very reasonably priced for such a lovely, long lasting fragrance. It is perfect as a gift or why not treat yourself!

Available online at Superdrug and Aromorfia

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

beauty, Birthday Gifts, cruelty-free, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own

I’m the first to admit that that I’m not the best at taking care of my hair and it’s currently not only long overdue a cut but dry and frizzy too. I was therefore really pleased to receive a pot of Philip Kingsley Elasticizer and to see if this cult product could transform my unruly mop of hair.

Originally designed for Audrey Hepburn back in 1974, this classic hair product was created to deep condition her hair after being damaged by weeks of styling on set. Fast forward almost 50 years and it is still a best seller and loved by many, including Kate Winslet, Georgia May Jagger and Cate Blanchett.

Developed by leading trichologists it can be used in a couple of different ways – as an overnight conditioner to treat very dry, brittle or damaged hair and as an intensive anti-frizz treatment.

As it is a pre shampoo product it is really easy to use, simply wet your hair and then apply in sections to ensure all your hair is covered. You then cover your hair with a shower cap (don’t worry there’s one in the box) or a warm towel and leave it to work it’s magic for 10-20 minutes. The heat created helps open your hair’s cuticles enabling them to absorb the nutrients in the mask.

I tend to wash my hair in a morning and have found if I apply the Elasticizer just before bed I get the best results as it has all night to soak into my hair. Once applied I use a turban style towel that fastens with a button, rather than a shower cap, which also helps to protect my pillowcase overnight. In the morning all I need to do is rinse it off and then shampoo and condition my hair as normal.

I have noticed that once my hair is dry it feels much softer, smoother and the dreaded frizz has gone. My curls are now much bouncier and healthy looking and it has been so easy to fit it into my haircare routine so no more bad hair days for me!

Available in 4 sizes – 75ml, 150ml, 500ml and 1000ml starting from £19.50 from the Philip Kingsley website here

Menthoderm®

beauty, health, Winter, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own

I have suffered from eczema most of my life and it is especially bad on my hands and feet. It has flared up again due to the cold weather, so I was very pleased when SK1N sent me some Menthoderm® to try.

If like me you haven’t come across Menthoderm® before, it is a Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) free menthol in aqueous cream which can be used to soothe and cool heated, dry, irritated and itchy skin conditions. The unique formula has two preservatives, which provides double the protection and helps to reduce the risk of cross contamination, especially if hygiene is an issue. The preservative Undecylenic Acid also helps to protect dry and irritated skin.

I received a 100g tube of the 2% formula and a 30g tube of the 1% formula and since I started using them I have seen a huge improvement in the skin on my hands and feet, they are no longer red and itchy and the chapped skin between my fingers has finally started to clear up. I have been using the 2% cream at night, leaving it to soak in overnight to help calm the redness and itchiness and keeping the smaller tube of 1% cream in my handbag, using it as a hand cream during the day to top up the good work the stronger cream is doing at night.

The cream is really easy to smooth in, you don’t need to rub too hard, and it is absorbed quickly. The consistency is perfect, it’s not runny or sticky so is very easy to apply and it doesn’t leave your hands feeling greasy after application. When the cream is applied, it feels instantly cooling and soothing and I really like the menthol fragrance, which has had the added benefit of helping clear my airways as I seem to have picked up a cold this week!

This is a very soothing and moisturising cream and I would definitely recommend it to anyone with eczema or other dry skin conditions.

Menthoderm® is available in 4 strengths – 1% and 2% are available in a 100g tube, 500g pot and 500g pump and the 0.5% and 5% versions are available in a 500g pot. Prices start at £5.76 for a 100g tube and £21 for the larger 500g size.

Available to buy here

FFØR Hair Products

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It can feel quite daunting choosing a new shampoo, there are so many different ones available for every hair type, so whether your hair is short, long, curly, coloured, oily, dry or anything in between there is a product for you. Whilst we are spoilt for choice when it comes to the haircare market it can start to get expensive trying new products, and it’s quite frustrating spending hard earned money on new products only to find they don’t suit your hair. We’re all feeling the pinch at the minute, so The Review Studio have been trying out a selection of hair products and sharing our favourites with you.

FFØR stands for Free From, Original, Real and as you’ve probably guessed from the name are an ethical company who believe in Clean Beauty, both for you and the planet. Their products are vegan, cruelty free and free from nasties and they only work with likeminded, ethical suppliers who can provide verified information about their sourcing, and who share their important values. They are also winners of the Marie Claire 2022 Hair Awards and the Global Green Beauty Awards so with such impressive credentials I was keen to see how the products performed on my dry frizzy hair.

The Re:Nourish shampoo lathers up nicely into a rich foam and rinses out very easily. My hair felt very clean and well hydrated after use. The shampoo is perfect for dry and damaged hair and is infused with organic orange and cinnamon giving it a lovely fragrance which is subtle but very pleasant.

The Re:Nourish conditioner is rich and creamy and easy to apply to my hair, before rinsing I scrunched it into my hair which helps add moisture to my curls. It rinsed out easily leaving my hair tangle free.

I use a hair mask weekly so was pleased to find a Re:Plenish hair mask in the gift set. It is thicker than the conditioner and once applied I combed it through from root to tip to ensure that it was applied evenly. The instructions say to leave it on your hair for 3-5 minutes before rinsing so as my hair needs lots of moisture, I left it on for the full 5 minutes so that it could penetrate my hair properly. Afterwards my hair was soft, smooth, nourished, frizz free and smelt lovely too.

After using these products for 2 weeks I can see a huge improvement in my hair, it feels nourished and moisturised, and the frizz has gone, it also looks a lot shinier than it was before. My curls look great, even without extra styling products and they are defined and bouncy.

The Re:Nourish gift set costs £39 so why not give the gift of great hair this Galentine’s Day with FFØR.

Philip Kingsley Haircare Products

beauty, Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Philip Kingsley is synonymous with quality hair products as well as great gifts. We were sent the Nourish & Volume Jet Set pack – a set of Elasticizer, Body Building Shampoo and Moisture Balance Conditioner in travel sizes, all set for going on holiday this summer!

I have bought Philip Kingsley before and was impressed by with the high quality of their shampoos and conditioners so to have a travel set that I can take away with me, and not have to rely on whatever shampoo the hotel provides makes it a travel must have for me. Whilst we’re on the subject, why do hotels only provide shampoo and not conditioners when you stay? Do we not want luscious, glossy locks whilst we’re on holiday, or do they assume we will bring our own? Well with this shower-proof pack (the set comes in a zip bag) there isn’t a question.

The Philip Kingsley Elasticizer (75ml) is step 1 in your haircare routine. To apply, wet your hair before shampooing and work the Elasticizer into all sections. Cover with a shower cap for 10-20 minutes, the longer the better, then rinse off and use the other Philip Kingsley products. The pre-conditioner works on your hair before you take off the residue with the shampoo, leaving it softer, conditioned and as the name suggests, elasticised.

The Body Building Shampoo (75ml) works with the Elasticizer to cleanse the hair but also leave it voluminous and bouncy. It actually cleans really deeply too to leave your hair properly clean, and as I like my hair, squeaky clean! It has a lovely light fragrance too.

The Moisture Balance Conditioner is the last of the Philip Kingsley haircare steps and is great for when you’re on holiday because it nourishes and moisturises hair which might have been exposed to sea water, chlorine and the weather. Used in combination with the Elasticizer, it’s slightly more gentle, but leaves hair soft and bouncy and manageable too. It also has a lovely fragrance like the shampoo.

All Philip Kingsley products are available on their website and are 100% recyclable and cruelty free. All orders on their website are postage free and also come with a free sample – I had a 20ml shampoo sample with mine so I can take that on holiday too!

Philip Kingsley have a huge range of haircare products on their website and works with trichologists to develop the very best in haircare products.

Philip Kingsley Nourish & Volume Travel Kit is available online for £30 at: https://www.philipkingsley.co.uk/philip-kingsley-nourish-and-volume-jet-set.html

Hada Labo Anti-Aging Facial Sheet Mask

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Winter, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Hada Labo Tokyo is Japan’s favourite skincare brand, and it’s now available over here in the UK, selling at Superdrug. The team at Hada Labo sent me some lovely Anti Aging Sheet Masks to try out, and seeing as the weather has got so cold and the heating has been turned up, I am going to need some hydrating, and anti-aging!

Each mask costs £2.99 and although they can only be used once, you can use a mask three times a week. The mask itself is infused with hydrating serum, in fact it’s dripping in serum so you can adhere it to your face but also top up the mask whilst it’s on your face, or on the neck and décolletage. The Hada Labo Anti-Aging Facial Sheets are pre-cut with the holes for eyes, nose and shaped around the hairline. The sheet is left on for 15 minutes.

I left the mask on for the given time, but I did find that it was a bit big for me, and I had to wrap the edges a bit like hospital corners. The mask does stay on though, probably due to the amount of serum used. I could feel the cooling effect of the products seeping into my skin, and thankfully, the mask didn’t dry out, even with the heating on.

Taking off the mask, my skin was still covered in hydrating serum so I let it sink in a little and rubbed in the remaining amount in the packet. As it started to dry, I could feel that my skin was more hydrated and smoother, taking away the dryness from the central heating after I’d been indoors all day.

From £2.99 at Superdrug: https://www.superdrug.com/skin/face-skin-care/face-masks/face-masks-sheets/hada-labo-tokyo-anti-aging-sheet-mask/p/805545

Image Skincare Products

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Summer, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

New Year, New Routine!

With New Year comes change, and many of us are looking to improve our self care. Image Skincare offers a whole range of options for all skin types, from moisturisers and serums to SPF sunscreens and facial cleansers.

We were sent a selection of their best sellers to try, all of which are available on their website: https://imageskincare.co.uk/collections/best-sellers

Starting with the MAX Facial Cleaner, this luxurious cleanser is mild enough to be used morning and evening to take away impurities on the skin as well as any make-up. Work a generous amount into the skin and rinse off with warm water followed by a cool splash to brighten up your skin tone.

The MAX Facial Cleaner combines plant stem cell technology and botanicals to create a sumptuous, rich cream which provokes your sense of smell with citrus and floral tones. The peptides promote youthful looking skin and target the visible signs of aging but cleverly, don’t include traditional sulfates.

Trying this before my beauty routine and the rest of the Image Skincare products, it’s the heavenly fragrance that hits you first. The cleanser is effective but doesn’t dry the skin out with use. I particularly liked the richness of the formula which didn’t feel abrasive on me at all, and didn’t foam up and get in my eyes. It felt like when you have a facial and the steam and products are lathered on by your beautician and then gently exfoliated away to leave clean, crisp skin ready for papering.

Before moisturiser, Image Skincare have the Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum. A handy 50ml pump of morning and evening pre-moisturising serum to go under make-up and skincare. The Vital C promotes elasticity and signs of aging, softens wrinkles and combats environmental damage before it even hits the lower dermal levels.

Vital C Hydrating Serum contains many different forms of Vitamin C (hence the name) to impart brightness and glow to the skin, whilst hyaluronic acid helps with moisture control and antioxidants defend against skin stresses. It can be applied day or night onto cleansed skin, and works best when an moisturiser is applied on top, but is equally good on its own.

I loved this serum. With a similar scent to the cleanser, it really moisturisers deeply in the skin and exudes a richness that gives away the quality of Image Skincare. It does sit on the skin momentarily before it is absorbed in but once it does, it’s dewy and soft and leaves your skin feeling fresh. The citrus fragrance also helps, and reminds you of the lovely Vitamin C it contains!

In the same range is the Vital C Hydrating Repair Créme. Another of the Image Skincare products to fight the signs of aging and fine lines, it also contains Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to add bounce and vitality to the skin. Any skin which is lacking nutrients will enjoy the benefits of the added nutrients of this Hydrating Repair Créme and the Vitamin A which refreshes skin texture and tone.

Once you open the pot, you’ll see there’s a tiny applicator to use instead of dipping in a finger! The créme itself is just as rich as the other Image products, and also has the Vitamin C kick that gives it the same citrus smell. Applied on top of the Vital Hydrating Serum this combination created the salon-like texture of new facial and the freshness of a spring spa break, just without the blossom! Once the hydrating crème sinks in, you can feel the texture of your skin smooth and elasticity is added where once was lost. Yes, it really does feel that poetic.

Lastly, we were also sent the Image Skincare PREVENTION+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturiser. My one gripe with modern moisturisers is that so many of them still don’t contain SPF despite us knowing about the cost of sunlight to our skin. The PREVENTION+ Protection Moisturiser is a very handy 50 SPF, so much higher than most moisturisers in this country but also useful for travelling abroad when you might need to wear a higher Sun Factor Protection.

The uniqueness of the PREVENTION+ is that it can be used as a sunscreen when needed, or as a daily moisturiser. If you’re using it as a sunscreen, then it needs to be applied 15 minutes before you go out in the sun. It needs to be applied every 2 hours as well. As a daily moisturiser with the added sunscreen factor, less can be applied. The more product you use though, the higher the sunscreen protection and longer it lasts. It also works best if applied to cleanses skin.

The PREVENTION+ Protection Moisturiser is another excellent skincare product from Image Skincare, with a richness which makes it easy to wear but not greasy enough for you to notice it. It also has a lovely fragrance to it, although not as citrus as the other products featured but works beautifully as either a moisturiser or a sunscreen.

All of the Image Skincare products are available online, and I can’t recommend them highly enough, especially for upcoming Valentines gifts.

Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum £89: https://imageskincare.co.uk/products/vital-c-hydrating-anti-aging-serum?variant=38111818449094

Vital C Hydrating Repair Cream £95: https://imageskincare.co.uk/products/hydrating-repair-cr-me?variant=38111821594822

The MAX Stem Cell Facial Cleanser £38: https://imageskincare.co.uk/products/the-max-facial-cleanser?variant=40168255520966

Prevention+ Daily Ultimate Protection Moisturizer £59: https://imageskincare.co.uk/products/daily-ultimate-protection-moisturizer-spf-51?variant=38111819956422

Hair Boss – The Heat Protecting Spray

beauty, health, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

There are so many hair products on the market nowadays, and getting to know what might be available for your hair routine is just as difficult. If you style your hair with a hairdryer (who doesn’t in winter!) or use straighteners, you may find that the condition of your hair suffers when so much heat is applied.

Hair Boss by Lisa Shepherd is a revolutionary spray which protects hair before heated tools are used, or as a hairspray after styling, to give extra hold.

Lisa Shepherd is a Kidderminster based colourist and hairdresser whose accolades include being the most awarded hair colourist in the UK today. As a mentee of Umberto Giannini, she has spent more than 30 years perfecting her craft. Lisa also has a drive for her business and a philosophy in life to be true to yourself and shower clients with love, whilst at the same time being honest. With this enthusiasm, Lisa has developed the 4-step programme for hair, personally evolving the products herself to give clients, and you, the best possible hair.

The Hair Boss Heat Protection Spray is number 4 in the list of 4-steps developed by Lisa. The spray can protect hair up to 230 degrees centigrade, which is about as hot as most hair straighteners can get. I tried the spray twice – once on wet hair and again as a flexible hold hairspray on finished hair. Using the usual 10-15cm rule of spraying from a distance, on wet hair it took a bit more spray for it to cover all of my hair, which is almost down to my elbows and very curly. I usually put on some kind of heat protector if I’m using straighteners but not always when using a hairdryer. I used both on my hair to give a straight look and try out how the protection works.

After The Hair Boss Heat Protecting Spray, I used the hair dryer and straighteners on my hair. My hair was better hydrated and protected from the heat, allowing a shine to come through once my hair was straight. I think I need to use more though, especially on the ends to give an even protection, so the first few times are very much trial and error to see what is right for your hair, and depends on what heated styling tools you use.

Lastly, I used the spray on my dry hair to see how it held. It does seem to have a really firm hold, even in this weather and brushes out easily without destroying my styling, which is always the problem.

I will happily be using Lisa Shepherd’s Heat Protecting Spray from The Hair Boss more, and hopefully getting the application 100% correct to give my hair the best possible style.

Available for £8.99 at: https://www.thehairboss.co.uk/products/the-heat-protection-hairspray

Hada Labo Day Cream-in-Milk Moisturiser

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Mother's Day, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Hada Labo is Japan’s Number 1 skin care line, which although being available from Superdrug in the UK, it isn’t very well known here. It is remarkably cheap though for such a good quality product as I discovered when I tested the Hada Labo Day Cream-In-Milk.

The product gets it’s name from the milky essence of the moisturiser, delivered in a pump to make it easier to carry and travel with. It contains 5 types of hyaluronic acid, which is not only the newest type of skincare ingredient but is very fashionable at the moment, found in a lot of the high-end skincare products available on the market. Hada Labo’s Day Cream-In-Milk works on different layers of the skin to provide moisture, filling and wrinkle-smoothing throughout the day.

Best used in the morning, it is best to pat the cream into the face and neck area rather than rubbing it in, which can damage the structure of the moisturiser and doesn’t particularly help repair the skin. You can then apply make-up on top of the Day Cream but Hada Labo suggests using their Premium Lotion Super Deep Hydrator and night cream. As it’s a rich moisturiser, it is particularly good for lifeless skin that might be dehydrated. Anyone living in the UK at the moment probably has dehydrated skin, thanks to the cold weather and the need for central heating this time of year!

Using the cream in the mornings after my shower, the fragrance-free Day Cream-In-Milk blends into your skin beautifully, although it is quite rich. I can see why it has the moniker ‘In-milk’ because it does have that slightly rich texture of milk but it does blend in easily. I could see that at first, it left my skin quite dewy then as it absorbed and dries, it leaves a base moisturiser which is great for applying make-up over the top. It certainly as a filling effect on the fine lines on my face too.

For the price, this is a remarkably good day cream, with all the ingredients you find in the top day creams available today and with a lovely texture to boot, too.

Available from Superdrug from £15.33:

https://www.superdrug.com/anti-ageing/expert-anti-ageing-skin-care/hada-labo-tokyo-premium-day-cream-50ml/p/817393

ARRAN After The Rain Bath Salts

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, health, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review however all thoughts and opinions are our own

Arran Sense of Scotland is based on the beautiful Isle of Arran, if you haven’t visited Arran, I recommend that you do – the island is beautiful and the breath-taking views from the summit of Goatfell are definitely worth the climb! Their skin care products and home fragrances are inspired by the unspoiled way of life on Arran and the intoxicating fragrances aim to help reconnect you with nature.

The latest addition to their iconic After the Rain collection is the After The Rain Bath Salts. A carefully crafted blend of natural sea salt and Epsom salts, they are fragranced with Lime, Rose and Sandalwood and are formulated to revitalise skin, relax the mind and aid restful sleep. As a perimenopausal woman I struggle a lot with sleep, often waking several times a night, so I was very interested to see if the salts could help.

I added a good handful of the salts to a hot running bath and the salts quickly dissolved, filling the whole bathroom with comforting scents of Lime, Rose and Sandalwood. The salts created a heavenly experience to unwind in, especially when teamed with candlelight and I was soon laying in a relaxed state feeling the warm water over my body. All my worries seemed to melt away and when I finally dragged myself out of the bath I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I even slept all night, waking up feeling energised and rested which was amazing.

If getting a good night’s sleep is top of your list of priorities, this product is definitely worth trying. Using the salts and following a simple sleep routine has worked wonders for me and has enabled me to enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep and soothed my aching body and tired mind.

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching why not treat your loved one to a bottle of these amazing bath salts?

RRP £16

RapidLash and RapidBrow Serums

beauty, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The world seems divided these days between those who have false eyelashes and micro-bladed brows, and the rest of us who persevere with mascara and eye brow pencil. I am in the latter group, and only recently released that as I get older, my eyebrows especially need more help.

I didn’t want to go down the false eye ashes and cosmetic enhancement route (the cost being one reason) so when I was offered a try of the RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum and RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum, it seemed like a good idea. The research into both products seemed promising too;

88% of testers* of the RapidLash Serum experienced improvement in the appearance of lashes and 86% experienced fuller looking lashes.
93% of RapidBrow Serum testers* experienced improvement in the appearance of brows and 93% also experienced their brows being fuller looking.

*Consumer Study of 102 subjects over 56 days.

With this is mind, it was worth me having a try to see if it made a difference. The marketing suggest 8 weeks is all it takes for you to see an improvement, so with that in mind, I set about reading up what needed to be done.

For the RapidLash Serum, the supply only needs to be applied once a day, at night, to the upper lashes with the applicator along the base of the eye lashes. Eyelids need to be clear of make up and the serum shouldn’t be on the eyelid itself, just the base of the eyelashes themselves. For the RapidLash Serum, the formula is used twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Using the applicator, RapidBrow needs to be applied to the full length of the brow, and again should be completely clear of make-up. In each case, the serum needs to allow to dry.

Neither serum was difficult to apply, as they are both much like applying make-up or mascara anyway. Once the serum dried, they were still soft enough to not notice that they had any kind of products in them, and it’s easy to sleep without them being rubbed off.

It’s difficult to show in photos but my eyelashes were stronger after about 3 weeks so I’m guessing that after 8 weeks they will be much stronger! This led to them being longer too. My brows were thicker and didn’t have the gaps between them as much as I used to have without the serum. Over time, I hope that they become thicker still and I won’t need any make-up for either eyelashes or eyebrows.

RapidLash and RapidBrow serums are a great addition to a make-up bag and beauty routine to improve the appearance of lashes and brows, without the cost of expensive cosmetic enhancements.

RapidLash available at Boots for £40: https://www.boots.com/rapidlash-eyelash-enhancing-serum—3ml-10103497

RapidBrow available at Boots for £37: https://www.boots.com/rapidbrow-eyebrow-enhancing-serum-10137216

ECO Professional Hair Styling Gel

beauty, Family Life, health, Women

Whether it’s a new hair style, a New Years’ Resolution for haircare or if you feel like a change, your hair styling is something very personal to you. For 2023, I am trying more hair styles, colours and drying methods to see what suits me, so the Eco Professional Hair Styling Gel, made with olive oil was on my radar to try!

Olive oil has long been used as a beauty product, and the Eco Hair Styling Gel is made with 100% olive oil. The oil acts as a way of keeping in the moisture and keeping hair soft, as well as working on the scalp to keep it hydrated. The effect of the olive oil overall is to keep hair slick and sheen and easily managed, especially as it’s so light weight.

The gel can be used on wet or dry hair, and hair of all lengths. Obviously if it’s used on wet hair it keeps in more of the moisture, and on dry hair you can style better. Both methods should give good hold.

I tried the Eco Hair Styling Gel on both wet and dry hair. With my hair roughly dried but not long out of the shower, it was difficult to assume how much gel to use without it looking ‘crunchy’ so I used it sparingly at first, with the texture of the gel coating locks of hair. My hair is naturally curly so it was easier to work it through long strands. When it came to drying, I let my hair dry naturally and found that I should probably have used a bit more gel than I did so that the curls had more definition, but with trial and error, I managed to get an even, defined curl throughout.

When I used Eco Hair Styling Gel on dry hair, there was more of a ‘wet look’ and it made it easy to pull my hair back into a tight bun or pony tail. My preference though, is to use the gel for defining curls, and anyone who has curly hair knows how difficult that is!

Available from Boots from £3.99: https://www.boots.com/eco-style-olive-oil-styling-gel-237ml-10261195?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc-_-PLAs_HeroCompare-_-Toiletries_Hair-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Toiletries_Hair&gclid=CjwKCAiAk–dBhABEiwAchIwkR_MKSkfzxIYdAB2snpW3y8Iq4qX4rHnu3ZfMKRT7H5z_emU_zXw-BoCPRsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

New Years’ Resolution, New Hair style, new hair, hair styling, Hair gel, curly hair

#NewYearsResolution #NewHairStyle #NewHair #HairStyling #HairGel #CurlyHair

The Contour Pro by Dr Levy

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Tech, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own. The Review Studio are not responsible for any of the information provided below and no information should be taken as advice. Consult your doctor before using any new devices especially on the face. Do not use The Contour Pro on the chest/breasts, neck (including the thyroid), within the orbital rim of the eye (including eyelids), on the lips, genitals or groin area. Do not exceed the 3 minute maximum per day.

Every so often a new technology comes on the market to wind back the hands of time and help eradicate the signs of aging. The Contour Pro by Dr Levy Switzerland is a multitasking technology that helps plump and firms skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

Who is Dr Levy?

Dr Philip Levy is a dermatologist who works out of Geneva, Switzerland with an aim of delaying the need for cosmetic surgery and instead uses techniques to reverse the signs of aging and restore glow.

He was the first person to introduce cosmetic botox to Geneva in 1995, and also practices other technologies such as CO2 laser resurfacing and hyaluronic acid injections. When skin stem cells were discovered in 2009, a whole new world of ‘healing’ the skin opened up for Dr Levy who harnessed the skin’s ability to heal itself. Along with his other treatments, Dr Levy is best known for the Nefertiti Lift^®which is used to tighten the jawline.

How does The Contour Pro work?

The Contour Pro is a non-evasive, hand held machine which is used to tone and plump the face. Using Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and Radio Frequency (RF) in micro-pulsating sequences, it boosts deeper muscle strength and plumps the surface of skin. The radiofrequency stimulates collagen production and stem cell action, all of which help the appearance of skin. The combination of the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask (more about that later!) and the heat generated from The Contour Pro, further boosts the skin to leave it illuminated.

Why do I need the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask too?

It is highly recommended to use the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask with The Contour Pro for two reasons. Firstly, you MUST have a gliding gel on your face before using The Contour Pro. This is to ensure even texture, and it’s never a good idea to put an electrical appliance right onto the face, especially if you have never used such an instrument before.

The Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask has been specially designed to be used with The Contour Pro because the benefits of this mask compliment the technology used in The Contour Pro.

What do I need to do to use The Contour Pro?

Before I explain in depth, be assured that there is a well-designed and thought out booklet that comes with The Contour Pro which explains even more and has diagrams to help!

Firstly, you need to clean your skin thoroughly to remove any make up and residue. Dr Levy recommends the 3DeepÔCell Renewal Micro-Resurfacing Cleanser. You can also apply the Eye Booster Concentrate over the eye contour area and the Booster Serum all over the face. Once the products have been on your face for one minute (in order to penetrate the skin), you can add the gliding gel.

Dr Levy Switzerlandâ’s Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask (a gel) is recommended as the gliding agent. Distribute the gel all over the face and especially on the target areas. The device may stop working if you don’t have enough gel. Now you are ready to use The Contour Pro.

About The Contour Pro

The Contour Pro device is hand held, charged by a USB cord (only ever use the cord which is provided!) and easy to operate. The head of The Contour Pro has 4 discs which administer the radio frequency and electrical pulses. There is one Universal Button on the front of the device which turns on and off, and changes the intensity. You can tell the intensity of The Contour Pro by the blades of the propeller on the front. 1 blade means the lowest intensity whilst 3 blades is the highest. Start with the lowest intensity first.

There are no other buttons to learn on The Contour Pro, making it easy to use!

Before you start…

Always undertake a patch test on the inside of your arm the day before using The Contour Pro. Check that the skin doesn’t have a negative reaction to either the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask or the device.

The full workouts are detailed in the enclosed booklet, which include the workout for eyes (“Fox Eyes”),”Cheekbones contouring” and “Lips contouring.” It is important to never use The Contour Pro on the eyes or eyelids, lips, breast and chest area or other sensitive areas especially not on the face.

The booklet also states;

To use The Contour Pro slowly, in an upward motion, and with light pressure.
Always STOP if the skin becomes hot or red.
Do not stay more than 3 seconds on any general application area and continuously move the device.

What happens when you use The Contour Pro?

Once you have tried the patch test, you can start using The Contour Pro the next day. With the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask gel applied all over your face especially the target areas, follow the workouts detailed in the booklet. Start on the lowest intensity level.

When you turn on the device, there is no sound and no movement, which threw me at first. The intensity dial lights up but you only know it’s working once you apply it to your skin and feel the sensation.

I found that the electrical pulses, which are intermittent, were a bit of a strange sensation at first. They felt like sharp vibrations, and although they didn’t hurt, they took a while to get used to. It’s similar to holding the vibrating head of an electric toothbrush against your lips when you’re not used to it. I’m glad I took the advice and started on the lowest intensity!

Working for only 10 minutes maximum at a session with one session a day, work around the eye area (not the eyelid or the eye though!), cheekbone and lip area. It’s best to do the workouts 2-3 times a week, not every day.

So, what was the outcome???

The Contour Pro is a sophisticated bit of kit which takes some getting used to. It starts to work immediately with the device heating up and pulsating the skin, helping the products to seep into the deeper layers. At first, you can see your skin reacting to the heat and stimulus with plumping of the skin surface. After a few sessions (the course of a week if you are taking the advice and repeating every other day) the pulsations and electricity are more familiar and you will have learned the workouts to use. I could feel that my skin was softer from the combination of the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask and The Contour Pro together, and it was as if the underlying muscle and tissue was ‘working’ which I took to be the muscles toning up and the skin repairing itself. The contour of my jaw and cheekbones was smoother too, and my face felt like it had had a workout all of its own!

Over time, I’m sure the benefits will continue even if you don’t use The Contour Pro as often. I think once you get the desired effect and are used to the sensation it will be easier to increase the intensity and use it to maintain the benefits rather than having to use it so often. It’s difficult to show the physical changes in such a short amount of time, which is why I haven’t posted photos but I know that my skin and face has already started to feel different.

I especially like that The Contour Pro is an alternative to cosmetic surgery and non-intrusive. You can adapt the intensity yourself and concentrate on one target area, or several, depending on your needs. It’s also very small and handy! I have used it for over a week now and the battery hasn’t run out yet. I will be taking this on holiday with me soon, so that I can use it at my leisure and tone up those muscles even more!

The Contour Pro is available for £249 and the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask for £69 at:

Dr Levy – https://www.drlevy.swiss/en/product/the-contour-pro

Cult Beauty –https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/dr.-levy-switzerland-the-contour-pro/13974127.html

Oclean X Pro Elite Smart Electric Toothbrush

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Disclaimer – We received this toothbrush for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Did you know that 90% of gum disease and cavities are caused by incorrect brushing? In fact only 1 in 10 people actually brush their teeth correctly (that’s pretty worrying isn’t it!).

Luckily the OCLEAN X Pro Elite is also one of the smartest brushes on the market with a fantastic battery life of up to 35 days and Qi Quick Charge technology enabling it to fully charge in just 3.5 hours!

The X Pro Elite certainly knows its stuff when it comes to oral hygiene and it can help you improve your brushing technique via the Oclean app! The app connects to the X Pro Elite via Bluetooth and gives you derailed analysis of your toothbrushing technique.

Using an ingenious AI algorithm, the X Pro Elite analyses the way you brush your teeth and recommends how you can improve your technique, using a dental model on its 0.96-inch touch screen display which enables you to develop good brushing habits with its 4 modes and 32 intensities for clean mode.

To ensure its users get the deepest clean possible, the X Pro Elite’s motor spins at the speed of sound, delivering a maximum of 42,000 rpm that helps you reach and defeat difficult plaque and stain build ups with ease.

OCLEAN’s new self-developed WhisperClean™ technology also means that the toothbrush emits just 45dB when operating at maximum power: a drastic decrease compared to it’s more pricey big name competitor’s (55-65 dB).

The Xpro Elite also benefits from a wall-mounted holder which was easy to attach to my bathroom wall and it helps to keep it dry to prevent the growth of bacteria.

The OCLEAN X Pro Elite is available to purchase online for RRP £74

More information can be found at: https://www.oclean.com/products/oclean-x-pro-elite