Kéraskin Serum 4C Yeux

Way back before Christmas, you may remember me posting about some beauty bargains that I managed to bag myself on the Urban Retreat Christmas Quest.  The first one I blogged about was the Laura Mercier gift set which I loved, and the treat I am going to talk about today is the Kéraskin Serum 4C Yeux.

Kéraskin is a brand I had heard of as it is a branch of the Kérastase line, but never really bothered researching into or bothering to look at their products as they are just too far out of my price range.  This eye serum costs £65, which as you get 10mls of product, works out at £6.50 per ml...one milliliter for £6.50 is just insane.  Luckily for me, I managed to get this for just 2p.  Hurray for bargains!

The packaging is a long cylindrical tube which I thought was really nice, and the clear base with the orange is actually a pump.  This keeps the ingredients separated until your first use, after which it is all mixed together and you have three weeks to use it as it has live ingredients.

I was really surprised to see that there was such a short time that I had to use it for maximum effectiveness; if this became a staple in my skincare routine, this would cost me £65 every three weeks, which would work out at over £1100 a year on buying this serum.  If I was rich, this obviously wouldn't be a problem for me but this wasn't a product that I was at all impressed with.

The product itself was a milky orange colour, and was quite runny so I found it a little hard to control the amount of product that came out of the pump and keep to the recommended amount of product (two drops per eye contour).  Despite this, I really liked the consistency as it absorbed really quickly into the skin and felt really light and refreshing.  My skin felt smooth, nourished and moisturised, but no more so than my more standard eye creams.

I was really nervous about trying this in case I loved it and would be gutted that I couldn't buy anymore, but in all honesty I just didn't notice any difference to my eye area.  And for the price, I would definitely expect to notice some changes.  I think this must be a product for people who have really dark under eye circles, so that you really can see the difference, but I think mine must have just been normal as I didn't notice any lightening or brightening.  Especially not for £65.  I keep repeating the price, but I just can't get over it, sorry!

Even though it felt nice on application, I'm really disappointed that this didn't work out for me, as I really did have high hopes for some serious eye miracles, but then again, I probably wasn't the target market for this kind of product!

Would you try this eye cream?  What's your favourite eye cream?

Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Back Spray

Todays post might not be relevant for everybody, but this is just too good to not share!  When I was in school, I definitely had spots on my face, but I wouldn't call my facial blemishes acne.  They were there, but I could cope and now it's just a small blemish every so often.  My back however is another story completely.  In fact, if I could have one wish to change something about myself, I'd choose to get a nice, new back.

I have regular spots which appear on my back, mostly at the top around my neck and shoulder blades, and have beyond awful scarring which makes it hard for me to feel comfortable showing skin on that area.  I have to watch what tops and dresses I am buying, as I'm just not confident getting my back out.

During a particularly bad break out, I started scouring the internet again for something that might be able to help me and came across the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Back Spray.  It is described as a "non-greasy back spray which contains antibacterial Tea Tree Oil, and skin calming Witch Hazel."  It also contains Salicylic Acid, which is great for treating acne as it encourages the shedding of skin, which in turn helps to clear pores and reduce breakouts.

I have tried so many different things to try and clear my back up, including prescribed lotions and tablets but nothing seems to work.  Who knew that a £4.99 spray would help!  I am so pleased, it's really cleared up my back and has reduced the number of spots as well as reduced the redness of those lingering, and I'll definitely be buying this again.

I've got into a routine of using this in the morning, before the gym and in the evening after a shower or bath when I have a bad outbreak.  When my spots have cleared, I use this just once or twice a day as I found that the Salicylic Acid dried out my skin and made the top of my shoulders quite itchy so you need to be careful.

The spray is really light and dries really quickly - it's not one of those sprays that completely drenches you and is a really nice, fine mist.  One downside is that I find it difficult to spray this all over my back by myself, so Liam often has to step in to assist on areas that I might not be able to reach, but it's a small price to pay for such a good product.

I'd love to see some sort of serum or body moisturiser be released from this range so that there is a little extra protection.  This spray is currently included in a three for two promotion, so if you want to try the Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Back Spray, now is your chance - I'd completely recommend it!

Have you tried this?  What are you top spot fighters?

Klorane Nettle Shampoo

At the end of January, I was kindly sent this Klorane Nettle Shampoo* to try and review.  As promised in my introduction post where you can see an overview of the shampoos claims, I am back to give my verdict!

As a quick reminder, I have really oily hair.  I have to wash my hair on a daily basis, or I risk looking like I've given my head a good dunk in a chip pan, also known as chip head.  If I don't wash it every day, I wash one day and then dry shampoo the next.    This Klorane Nettle Shampoo claims to reduce the sebum production on the scalp, meaning that there will be a longer period of time before washing is needed.

I have been using this shampoo for the past month, and I have to say that it did work a lot better than I expected.  Going to the gym regularly and being a bit of a sweaty betty, I perhaps didn't manage to use it to it's full potential as I physically felt dirty leaving my hair too long without a proper wash knowing it was covered and soaked in sweat.  That being said, I did notice a difference!

On day two, I would normally dry shampoo my hair to get rid of greasy roots and the dreaded greasy fringe, but since using this, I have managed to confidently make it out of the door on day two knowing that I hadn't woken up with a chip head.  Dry shampoo has taken a step back, and now takes place on the third day!

The shampoo itself is quite a bit runnier than your normal shampoo, and I found that I needed to use more than I normally would to get a good lather going on.  I felt like I was getting a nice, deep cleanse and my scalp felt much more refreshed than before use.  Even though it is a deep cleanse, it is a really gentle shampoo and is also hypoallergenic.  There is a light, fresh, herbal scent on the shampoo which I really like, but it didn't last long on the hair itself after the wash.  My hair felt light, clean and I do agree that there was some added volume to my otherwise flat hair.  I also found that I didn't need conditioner as much as I used to.  I have cut it down to using conditioner every other wash, or just use a light spray of leave in conditioner on the ends of my hair.

Half way through the month when I realised that the Klorane was working, I was able to wash my hair every other time with a different, light shampoo.  I had been using L'Oreal Kids in Mango Tango on the alternate wash which was really effective and light.  (A review of this may also be making an appearance soon!)

I'll definitely be picking this up again, and I might even try out their dry shampoo too for an extra blast of protection!  The Klorane Nettle Shampoo is available at Escentual for £5.10.

Do you battle with an oily scalp?  Will you be picking this up?

*PR Sample.  This product was sent to me for review.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover

The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover is something that we've all heard of, and I had been interested in this since its initial release.  When I was at University, I didn't tend to paint my nails so much and just got by using a standard cheap bottle of nail polish remover and cotton wool.  Now I'm starting to paint and look after my nails more, I thought I'd try this little pot of wonder.

Basically, it is a small pot lined with a black sponge which is soaked in nail polish remover.  The nail polish remover is acetone free and is enriched with a nourishing almond oil for healthy nails and cuticles.  I remember when I first saw this in store and read that it had a "Red Fruit and Vanilla" fragrance, I gave it a whiff straight from the pot - do not do this, I swear I got a mini head haze walking around Boots.  What a div.  It smells exactly like nail polish remover in the tub, and even a tiny bit on the hands too.  I perhaps get a slight hint of a fragrance from this.

The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover says it removes nail polish in one second.  Well Bourjois, I shall stop you right there as it is definitely not one second, but it is quick!  I love being able to stick my finger in the pot, give it a wiggle and have super clean nails on removal.  Glitter nail polish it doesn't work so well with, but I did read afterwards that you shouldn't use glitter nail polish with this as the glitter rips up the sponge inside.  Sometimes I like to just soak my glitter tips inside, but I don't wiggle so that I can protect my sponge.

My only downside with this product is the feeling it gives my nails afterwards.  Have you ever used your nails to just push off left over nail varnish that sits too close to your skin so your cotton wool might not reach it?  Well I do that, and if I do it after I have used this I swear it's like fingers down a chalk board.  My nails are so dry and almost squeaky, they kind of grate along my other nail!  I can't bare it!  I have to make sure I wash my hands straight after use, and use my Sally Hansen Cuticle Balm to stop my nails from feeling so awful!

I hear that there is an updated version of this which is the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish for Hands & Feet.  It's essentially the same, except in the cap I believe that there is a sponge which you use to rub on your painted toes so that you can protect your manicure whilst sorting out your pedicure!

Image from produtosdebeleza.com

The Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover in lots of places, but the cheapest I can see it is here on Amazon for £3.59.  I don't know if I'd buy this again, I love the ease of use but the feeling on my nails is just so off putting.  I might keep the pot and just top up with my own nail polish remover.

Have you tried this?  How did it make your nails feel?

HealGel Intensive

For the last month or so, my skin has been graced with an amazing product - the HealGel Intensive*.  It's not often that I am particularly bowled over by a skin care product, and usually hop from brand to brand picking up whatever I fancy or whatever is on offer at the time, but HealGel is something else.

As we know, I have oily skin which is often ruined with blemishes.  My spots are much easier to control now I'm older and am embracing a proper skincare routine, but I still have some scarring from old, bigger blemishes.  I must admit that I don't help myself though in the scarring department as I am a picker - I hate the thought of a big black head or white spot standing on my face for all to see, and I know it's a terrible habit, and I know people can't see what I see, but...well I'm just working on it.

HealGel has been cropping up a lot on blogs lately, and I can just about say that all the positivity surrounding this product, and no doubt the two others that are part of the Heal Gel range (Face and Eye), are totally justified.  This is a product that I definitely need in my life forever now.  At £37.50, it's very pricey for the 30mls that you get, but it's not a product that I use daily, only as and when needed.  I find that two pumps of product covers my face and neck properly, but you can use this to target specific areas that need it most.  I won this particular bottle on a giveaway, but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it again myself.

HealGel Intensive has worked better on my acne and blemishes than any other spot treatment that I have tried, trust me - I've tried a LOT of treatments, as well as prescription medicines and tablets from the doctors and this little serum has really cleared up my skin.  It's made with a perfect blend of active ingredients which helps to soothe irritation, reduce redness and puffiness, helps repair the skin and helps to increase the skins natural collagen production!

On first use, my skin looked glowing and to me, noticeably plumper.  I felt fresh, clean and the light fragrance was really refreshing.  I love the light, gel texture which is absorbed easily into the skin, leaving little residue.  It's perfect for use in the morning as a make up base, and is very hydrating.  I also found that when used under my make up, it acted similar to that of a primer and definitely kept my shine at bay.  I'd love to try the other products in the range, and if anything, I really hope that they release some sort of body gel as I have the worst acne scarring on my back as that would be something I would definitely invest in - HealGel, if you're listening...pretty please!

Have you tried any of the HealGel products? What's your skin saviour?

*This HealGel was won through a Twitter giveaway.

Adventure Time: Valentines Week

Well I have been taking the mick a bit haven't I!  Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I have been a very busy bee!  The week before last, I had a very busy week at work and lots of deadlines to meet, so blogging was the last thing on my mind when I got home, I just wanted to sit and do nothing which, apart from going to some gym classes, I did!

Last week, Liam and I both booked the week off from work so we could spend some time together and just mess around doing whatever we fancied!  We usually don't do much for Valentines Day because we're just not bothered, maybe a meal out somewhere or something, but this week off fell on the week of Valentines Day, so we called it our Valentines Week!

One of the things we had planned to do was finish our snow boarding lessons, so we booked those at Xscape in Castleford.  Our predictable hotel choice was Premier Inn - we stay in one at every possible opportunity!  It was great for getting to Xscape because it was just across the car park.  We didn't have snow boarding booked until the Monday, so we managed to get some cocktails in on the Sunday evening!  We started at Burgers & Cocktails by Giraffe where it happened to be Happy Hour!  We had an amazing Peach Melba Ice Cream Smoothie thing when we were there last, so thought we'd try out their alcoholic treats!  My favourite was definitely the Bubble Gum Slurpee!

We then had our tea at TGI Fridays (and again on Monday...) and a few more cocktails in there.  We don't have a TGI Fridays nearby where we live, so going there is always a treat for us!  We had nachos to share, and my usual choice of garlic chicken with a cheesey mash, and Liam had a burger.  Once again, I broke a blogging rule and didn't photograph my food before eating it, but I have zero self control.  After our meal, we went to the arcades and played on a few penny pushers and a toy grabber where I WON.  Never in my life have I won on one of these, but here I am with my prize.  I literally screamed when I realised it wasn't going to be let go.  What a saddo!

Snowboarding was amazing, but so tiring!  You aren't allowed a camera in the SnoZone area, so unfortunately I have no pictures!  We did our first two levels in April last year for Liam's birthday, and because I started working seven days a week shortly after, it got hard to get back to Castleford to finish off our lessons!  It was three hours of falling over, skidding about and knee bending with maybe a little skill thrown in!  To top it all off, ITV News were filming there during our lesson because of the Winter Olympics so if you're in that region, you might have seen me in the background of an interview with my boarding boot stuck on my board!!

Liam managed to pass both his level three and four, but I have to go back and do my level four again because the steeper slope was just too scary!  When you snowboard, to slow yourself down you need to lean into the slope because if you lean away from the hill, you speed up - it was a bit hard to get my head around, but on the smaller gradients I was feeling pretty confident!

Over the week, we didn't really do much, just enjoyed spending time together and watching cartoons!  But we did start to enjoy ourselves cooking our evening meals.  I got Liam a burger recipe book for Christmas, and we used it for the first time this week.  We made cheese stuffed burgers, but also slipped some bacon in with the cheese.  I swear they were the best burgers I've ever had - so tasty, I don't even have an after photo, but that just gives me an excuse to make them again and share our adapted recipe with you all!

On the Wednesday, we decided that we would take a trip to Cleethorpes for a day by the sea.  We didn't go for long, but had some seaside fish and chips and spent our afternoon in the arcades on our favourite ever penny pusher - PacMan Pac Ball.

Saturday was another busy day for us!  Our friend Katie has just moved house, so we went over for a house warming party and a night out in Sheffield.  We went to Leadmill, had a few too many drinks, went on a bucking bronco (twelve whole seconds I managed...pretty impressed!) and then got taxis back to hers!  The next day we didn't leave until quite late, but spent the day eating, obsessing over milkshakes and then played some Nintendo 64!

I'm back at work now, which is horrendous having had an amazing week off, and I can see this week going really slowly, but I have lots of things to blog about so I'm sure I'll end my days on a high!  Apart from when I am at the gym, working off the possible half stone I gained whilst eating like a King for a week.

What did you do for Valentines Day?

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry For Nails

When I paint my nails, I could wait for literally ages without moving, and the moment I do my freshly painted manicure is miraculously wet again and it's ruined on the nearest surface.  If I can escape that, I wake up the next morning with a nice cotton imprint across my nails from my bedding so I never have a smooth surface.

Before my birthday, I was in a mad rush around Boots picking up parcels and some last minute bits for my birthday weekend away and I came across the Elegant Touch Rapid Dry For Nails.  I was a bit unsure on how well this would work, but for £3.05, I thought I'd give it a go.

It is an aerosol which you spray onto your freshly painted nails and it dries them in sixty seconds...yeah, right.  Well!  I kid you not, that is exactly what I thought, and I am amazed!  Maybe it's not done in sixty seconds, but I could definitely move, touch things and even wash and dry my hands within minutes without my nail polish being disturbed!  I use this all the time when I'm in a rush, and it's perfect.  I will definitely be keeping this as a manicure staple.

Have you tried Rapid Dry?

Introduction to Klorane Nettle Shampoo

I think it's fair to say that most girls are envious of somebody elses hair.  I am pretty envious of most people; I have fine, flat and straight hair which I have to wash every day or every other day with dry shampoo in between.  My ends get split quite easily, but a positive is that my hair does grow quite quickly.  I have zero skill for styling my hair as I've always been a make up girl at heart, my sister was the hair expert.

This month, I will be trialling the Klorane Nettle Shampoo* in a bid to help prolong the time between having to wash it, and I have to say I'm really looking forward to testing it!  The nettle used helps to enhance volume, and detangles hair as well as regulates your sebum production.

I'm a little worried about testing this, because I wash my hair in the evening and leave no time for hair washing in the morning.  I'll definitely need a bottle of dry shampoo on stand by, but I'll see how this goes!  Even worse...I sweat like no other when I am at the gym and my hair remains in the same position when I take it out the bobble. Can't wait!  Onto the testing...I'll report back soon!  If you can't wait for my review at the end of the month, you can buy Klorane Nettle Shampoo at Escentual here.

Have you tried Klorane?  How long do you leave until you have to wash your hair?

*PR Sample. This product was sent to me for review.