Monday 29 October 2012

Area H2O Shampoo and Conditioner - Review

Hello everyone, hope you are all well!

Today I am going to be sharing my review on the Area H2O shampoo and conditioner*.


You can purchase these products from lookfantastic.com or through the Area H2O website.
Each bottle of shampoo (250ml) and conditioner (200ml) retails at £9.95. The products are also available in duo packs which are priced at £17.50. 

(Pictures taken with Nikon D3100)

These products are available in two categories, normal to fine hair and coloured hair. 

I have been using the shampoo and conditioner for medium water types and colour treated hair and I have to say I think it is brilliant!

I now use these products at least once away as a 'hair detox' I like my hair to feel very clean and because I use a lot of products like dry shampoo and hair oils etc I need a shampoo that will restore my hair back to it's 'natural' state.
Since using these products I have noticed that my hair has become a lot more manageable!

Before trying out these products I didn't know anything like this existed!

The benefits:
  • Area H2O is scientifically tailored to work with your water type.
  • Area H2O gives a more thorough and effective cleansing of the hair.
  • Area H2O gives an improved lather using less water.
  • Metal ions, present in the water which can react with shampoo to form mineral deposits are washed away.
  • Hair is less flyaway and has a noticeable smooth texture.
  • Both the Shampoo and Conditioner contain a PH of 5.5 - (the body's natural PH)

Summary

'The scientifically formulated by biochemists to combat the effects of mineral deposits and work with your water type. Area H2O attracts the metal ions that are present in every water type allowing you to wash them away more easily before they react with your shampoo to form deposits. This means your hair will feel noticeably cleaner, smoother and shinier.
'

Pros:
  • Smells gorgeous
  • Good amount of product
  • Lathers well
  • Leaves hair feeling squeaky clean
  • Smooth, soft hair

Cons:
  • As far as I am aware there are only 2 hair type categories.


Have you tried this hair care range yet?

*Disclaimer PR sample - My opinions are still 100% honest

Natasha Carly
Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton 
 

Sunday 28 October 2012

Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara

Hello everyone,


This is my all time favourite mascara.

 Lancôme Hypnôse Volumising Mascara (more info)


I got this mascara as a gift from my boyfriend for my birthday and I love it, it has been one of my favourites for quite a while now! I like how long and full it makes my eyelashes look. It is buildable and doesn't clump together like other mascaras that I have tried in the past.

With just a few coats of this mascara you can dramatically transform your lashes, you can use this for both subtle and dramatic eye make-up looks, which I think is fab!

"The supple texture of this exclusive formula turns into an ultra-light fluid with endless playtime, enabling you to build your lashes, over and over, without smearing, smudging or clumping."

"With its 1,000 sensor bristles, the Power Full™ Brush delivers made-to-measure lash volume that you control. With each sweep, it glides through your lashes for perfect separation, while evenly applying the mascara from base to tip."- Lancôme Website
(Taken with Canon A3300is)

Summary

Pros 
  • Thick bristles.
  • No clumping.
  • No smudging or flaking.
  • Gorgeous, sleek packaging.
  • Contains vitamin B5.

Cons
  • Quite expensive compared to high street brands, retails at £21.
This is such a gorgeous mascara! I'm so happy to have it back in my life, I would be lost without it!

Have you tried any mascaras by Lancôme? What are your thoughts?

Natasha Carly x
Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Thursday 25 October 2012

Caudalie Beauty Elixir - Review

Hello everyone,

Today I am sharing my review of the Caudalie Beauty Elixir 100ml* (more info)
(Taken with Nikon D3100) 

This product is available on the Caudalie website and FeelUnique.com and is available in 2 sizes 30ml (retails around £10) or 100ml (retails around £30).

This product is amazing, my skin has never looked so good and I swear this product has something to do with that!

I use this product in the morning after cleansing my face and before applying my moisturiser. It has a cooling sensation which is why I like using it in the morning as it makes my skin feel refreshed and energised.

You can use this product throughout the day to keep your skin feeling and looking fresh, it can also be used to set your make-up.

Ingredients
  • Grape
  • Orange blossom
  • Rose
  • Organic balm mint
  • Rosemary
The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is 100% natural fragrance and paraben free! Another thing I like about this product is that it's not tested on animals!

Directions
 
Shake before use. Close your eyes and mist onto face before applying your moisturiser and at any time of the day to refresh the skin or set your make-up.

Summary

"Inspired by the "elixir of youth" used by Queen Isabelle of Hungary, Caudalie Beauty Elixir smoothes features, tightens pores, and gives the complexion a burst of radiance. An excellent base for make-up, this water awakens the skin in the morning and livens it up before a night out."

"For all skins lacking radiance. Caudalie Beauty Elixir is an exceptional anti-dull complexion treatment and a wonderful after-shave for men."

Pros
  • Radiant complexion
  • Less spots and blemishes
  • Smoother and brighter skin
  • Gorgeous packaging
  • Pump/spray application
  • Smells amazing 

Cons
  • Slightly pricey

Overall I really like this product and will definitely purchase a new one when this runs out. Even though the product is slightly on the pricey side for a poor student like myself, I do think it is worth the money. I have seen a huge improvement in my skin and after trying a fair share of over the counter creams and spot sticks, I think I have finally found my holy grail product!

The ingredients in this product are of a high quality which I think justifies the price!


Have you tried the Beauty Elixir? What do you think?

*Disclaimer PR sample - My opinions are still 100% honest
 
Natasha Carly x
Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Natur Vital Colour Pack - Review

Hello everyone, I hope you are well!

Today I am reviewing the Natur Vital Colour Pack* in the colour Chesnut.

I used this to top up my hair colour after I dyed it darker a few weeks ago. My current hair colour is medium/dark brown and this pack worked perfectly on my colour.

The treatment packs are available from the Natur Vital website and retail at £9.99 which I think is a great price for the quality of the product.

This product does contain dye so I treated this the same as if I was using a regular hair dye and applied Vaseline around my hair line and on my neck before using the product to prevent any staining. I also used old towels and made sure the area I was working in was covered up etc.


(Pictures taken with Nikon D3100)

Active Ingredients
  • Wheat germ - Used in cosmetics for its vitamin properties and restructuring of hair keratin and antioxidants.
  • Sunflower seed extract - Protects colour of natural and coloured hair.
  • Henna- Natural hair dye that has strengthening properties.
  • Aloe Vera - Moisturises and sooths skin.

Directions

Step 1 Shampoo - Apply the cleansing shampoo to wet hair and massage in gently. Leave on hair for a few minutes and rinse out with plenty of warm water.

Step 2 Mask - After rinsing out the shampoo apply the mask on to wet hair. Comb through from the roots to ends and leave to work for 3-5 minutes. During this time, wash hands thoroughly to avoid any staining. Rinse hair thoroughly and style as usual.

Summary

Pros:
  • Lasts a long time.
  • Can be used on coloured and non-coloured hair.
  • Makes hair shiny.
  • Good amount of product.
  • Doesn't smell too strong

Cons:
  • Lessens contrast of colours on highlighted hair.


Overall my experience with this product was good and I would definitely use this again!
This product worked really well in my hair and the colour was noticeably different, I was very please at how shiny and glossy my hair was afterwards!


Have you tried this product before or any other products by Natur Vital?

*Disclaimer PR sample - My opinions are still 100% honest

Natasha Carly x
Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton

Monday 1 October 2012

Tutorial ' Warm Shimmer' - MUA Undressed Palette

Hello everyone, 

Unfortunately my laptop has decided to break just when I had planned lots of posts for this weekend! 
My boyfriend has kindly let me use his laptop so I can put up a post for you! Gotta love him! It's going to be a while until my next post so please bear with me!

Now for the fun part...
This is currently one of my favourite autumn eye make-up looks, I have been loving this as well as brown smokey eyes! 
I have decided to call this look 'Warm shimmer'.

I used the MUA Undressed palette and the Maybelline Color Tattoo 24HR in '35 - On and on bronze' to create this look.


Eye base

  • Urban Decay Primer Potion (over whole eye area and brown bone).
  • Maybelline Black Kohl eye pencil (over whole eyelid upto the crease. Lighly line the top and bottom lashlines too).
  • Maybelline Colour tattoo (over my eyeliner upto the crease I feel this helps to give a nice base colour to work on) Any brown/bronze cream eye shadow should work!

Eye shadows

After applying my primer and base colour, I used shades 6,5 and 1 from the MUA Undressed palette.
These colours are stunning and I think they are perfect to create make-up looks for autumn and winter!

  1. I used shade 6 over the top of the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadow, I think the golden shimmer gives more texture and depth to the look.
  2. Next I used shade 5 which is a light matte brown on my crease and slighly above the crease to blend out any harsh lines. I also applied it underneath my bottom lashes.
  3. Then I used shade 1 underneath my brow as a highlight colour.
(Pictures taken with Canon A3300is)

I kept my cheeks and lips simple by using a warm, peachy blush and nude lipstick. I applied a few coats of my favourite mascara and voila! The look is complete!

What are your favourite make-up looks for autumn? 

If you want try out this look I would love to see how it turned out for you so leave your links below!!


Thanks for reading!

Natasha Carly x
Pretty Little Lives on Facebook / Twitter / Hellocotton