Beauty
Review: E45 Nourish and Restore Lotion (Bzz Review)
0I am a Bzz Agent and this is a Bzz Review…
Everyone has heard of E45 cream. I certainly had. I associate it with two kinds of people – those with skin complains that require a specific kind of product, and really old people. It is not something I had ever bought for myself – I want moisturisers to give me a bit of luxury, and I saw E45 as being a purely functional, pretty boring, product.
I get dry skin in all the usual places – hands, feet, elbows, legs. When I moisturise properly I generally use something thick like a body butter as in my head I think that has the best effect. Fairly runny lotions like this E45 Nourish and Protect are much lighter but can be really greasy too. And I have to say that I don’t think I’ll use a thick body butter again, this is so much nicer – easier to apply, not greasy or sticky at all, and works. You don’t need to use much at all as it goes a long way, and so the bottles offer good value for money which is definitely an added bonus. I will ignore the fact that it says “enriched for mature skin” on the bottle… I am still in denial on that front!
As for the fragrance, there is one, but it is very subtle when you apply the lotion and doesn’t linger – so it’s fine for perfume wearers and men too.
And everyone I gave my E45 sample packs agreed too. Non-greasy, easy to rub in, doesn’t completely disappear when you wash your hands, nice fragrance – this stuff is a resounding success amongst my friends.
Okay so E45 is still not a luxury body lotion, but I do really like it and my 250ml bottle is just about empty, and as a result I have a (rather battered) but smooth hand! I shall have to get some more.
Disclaimer: I am a BzzAgent and was asked to take part in the E45 campaign, which meant I was sent some lotion to try at home in return for telling other people what I think about it. I have not been told what to write and I have been no less honest as a result.
Review: Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Toothpaste
0This year I have promised I will be true to myself. Part of that is trying to look after myself better, to find things that help me feel happier about myself and the way I look. One thing that has always been an issue for me is my teeth… unfortunately a lack of enamel on my adult teeth and a love for tea has always meant I have quite yellowed teeth.
Beverly Hills Formula claim to be the best toothpaste brand at removing stains from your teeth, offering a brighter smile. I was sent a tube of their Perfect White and Perfect White Sensitive Formula to try out to see if I found my teeth ended up whiter. I took the Perfect White and LincsGeek took the Sensitive version to try for a couple of weeks.
The list of ingredients and their properties is complicated – toothpaste is technical these days – but Beverly Hills Formula claim to be able to whiten your teeth while protecting them while also tackling bad breath, tartar build-up and plaque formation. You can use the toothpaste normally, or for better results rub a little onto your teeth and leave it for a short while before brushing.
I found the Perfect White toothpaste to be minty and quite effective. I would say, although I am no scientist and this wasn’t a true experiment, that my teeth are whiter are a couple of weeks of using this twice a day. I found my teeth and mouth felt very clean, and I was happy with the results.
LincsGeek said he didn’t find the Perfect White Sensitive as minty as he would like, but that it does seem to work well. To start with he found the sensitive properties to be as good as his usual toothpaste, but said it doesn’t last as well as Sensodyne, so ended up using that a couple of times a week to help with his sensitivity.
One thing we both found was the incredible amount of foaming you get from this toothpaste. We use electric toothbrushes and there is just so much foam – this is probably partly what helps clean your mouth out, but it’s so very much! There is less with a manual toothbrush but still a lot more than we are used to.
Has it helped me feel better about my smile? Yes I guess it has. Will I buy another tube of the Perfect White when this has run out? Yes actually I think I will, although I’m not 100% convinced yet. I will have to do some more research into the cleaning properties of this versus my usual Oral B Pro Expert. I’ll let you know.
Disclaimer: I was sent a couple of tubes of this toothpaste so I could write a review on Splodz Blogz. I have not been told what to write and have been no less honest as a result.
Review: Montagne Jeunesse Passion Peel Off Face Masque
0LincsGeek and I don’t do Valentine’s Day. We like to think that our love is obvious and doesn’t require a throw-away card or bunch of very expensive flowers to confirm it. Cards and gifts are lovely, but personally I much prefer a surprise something rather than a “because my diary told me I had to” gift.
I have received a Valentine’s card though… from Montagne Jeunesse – awwww you shouldn’t have! It contained one of their Passion Peel Off face masques. Combining pomegranate and passion flower, along with raspberry, grape and cranberry, this particular mask is designed to tackle blemishes and leave skin feeling fresh and ready for close personal contact!!
Tackling all my blemishes is a bit of an ask but this is another lovely, strong fruity smelling, relaxing yet invigorating product from Montagne Jeunesse. Since receiving my first mask from them a little while ago now I am definitely converted – they are a lovely way to spend a few minutes of “me time”. At just over £1 they are a complete bargain, definitely worth a try.
Disclaimer: I was sent this product to review. I have not been told what to say and have been no less honest as a result of receiving the product for free.
Review: John Frieda Highlight Activating Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner
0The other day a friend commented on my hair – she asked if I’d had it dyed, saying it looked lighter and brighter. I thanked her and explained that no, I haven’t had my hair done for a very long time, but I had started using a new shampoo and conditioner that is designed to make my highlights stand out.
I’d been using John Frieda Highlight Activating Moisturising Shampoo and Highlight Activating Moisturising Conditioner (for Lighter Shades) for about a week when I had that lovely complement. The shampoo contains Jojoba oil, sunflower and white tea complex which help to bring out highlights for “maximum blonde impact”, and the moisturising formula adds shine without actually adding colour. The conditioner incorporates the sane blonde-enhancing ingredients while gently removing those residues that build up and dull the hair.
Looking at the photo what do you think I’m going to say about the packaging? If you’ve been reading Splodz Blogz for a long time you might remember I have featured John Frieda Go Blonder Shampoo and Conditioner, and I mentioned this then. It’s the labelling. The difference between the shampoo and conditioner packaging is so small that if you’ve got water in your face it’s very difficult to see which one is which. John Frieda have used different colours and I think I’ve just about remembered that blue is shampoo and green is conditioner (or is it the other way around), but ideally it should be much more obvious.
I do like this pair of products, they are nice to use and obviously work as I mentioned above. I have found, though, that the moisturising effect of these means by the evening my hair is looking flat and a little greasy. I have very fine hair and have to wash it daily, but if I’m out in the evening I am finding it necessary to refresh using dry shampoo (my favourite ever hair product!). I don’t mind that too much because I think my hair looks better in the daytime than it does with my normal choice or shampoo and conditioner, and I know my hair is very prone to looking lifeless, but it is a bit annoying that it doesn’t last 12 hours.
Disclaimer: I was sent some Shampoo and Conditioner to review. I have not been told what to say and have been no less honest as a result of receiving the product for free.
Visionary Soap (Again)
0It’s nice to revisit companies here on Splodz Blogz and see what new things they’re up to. Visionary Soap sent me another selection of their products to try out.
As last time the first thing that struck me about these was the incredibly strong scent coming from the soap, body butter and bath melt. Wow. I’ve had a snuffly nose the whole of December (not a full blown cold or anything, it’s just felt like the beginnings of one the whole time, I blame the weather!), and these products cut through that with no problem whatsoever. I like a nice strong smelling bath or shower product, and these definitely fit into that category.
Lavender itself is said to be very good for us. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties in its essential oil form, and the scent is relaxing and can help people sleep. I especially enjoyed using the bath melt – it easily dissolved in the hot bath water and left my bathroom smelling of soothing lavender. Lovely. Zzzzzzz! The soap and body butter are lovely too and the scents naturally match each other so you don’t end up smelling like a Body Shop. The body butter is really thick and, well, buttery. I tend to only use this sort of thick cream on my hands, elbows and knees (where my skin gets really dry – I have rubbish skin that clogs up far too easily everywhere else!), and I found a little went a long way.
I think I said before that I love the way this soap looks. The only problem I find with soaps like this is that they always leave loads of residue wherever they are stored – I don’t have a soap dish and so that is the side of the bath or next to the taps on the basin. A minor inconvenience caused by this natural soft soap. I should just get a soap dish!
The other product sat in the middle of the photo above is a lemon lip balm. As with the lavender products it is strong smelling – made with sunflower oil, olive oil, shea butter, candelilla wax and essential oils it is natural and does its job of keeping lips moist and smooth perfectly well.
(If you are thinking of getting some Visionary Soap products as a last minute Christmas present I am told you can find them in some Waitrose and Oxfam stores.)
Disclaimer: I was sent some Visionary Soap products so I could write about them here on Splodz Blogz. I have not been told what to write and am always honest.
Lush Christmas Gifts
2Lush have a massive range of products ideal to give as Christmas gifts. I was very lucky to receive a lovely box of products so I could let you know what I thought…
Christmas Party is one of Lush’s ready made gift boxes, wrapped in bright paper and with gold ribbon it is a ready-to-give present that makes life really easy. Inside there is a Northern Lights Soap and a Party Popper Bath Bomb – two brightly coloured and strongly scented Christmas limited edition products.
I’m off to the land of the Northern Lights in January where I will hopefully catch a glimpse of this phenomenon, but the luminous green and yellow of the soap in this gift box should keep me going until then… the fresh pine and lime scent is fairly strong but really works – it’s citrus and kind of outdoorsy – and really brightens up the room. The only problem with soaps like this (over harder soaps or liquid soaps) is you get that sticky residue on the bath or basin wherever you leave it, which can be a bit of pain to clean if it dries solid.
Bath bombs are brilliant – who doesn’t watch in awe when one is fizzing around the bath tub?! Just me then?! This one turns the water bright pink and fills it with popping candy (yes, popping candy; no, I didn’t try any) and little bits of soap confetti that you can either dissolve yourself (just swish the water around) or use to wash with. Lush bath bombs are really lovely – this one is flavoured with bergamot and tangerine which is perfectly apt for this time of year.
I also received a couple of little bottles of shower gel. Ponche and Snow Fairy are limited edition Christmas themed gels with suitable scents. Ponche is an orange and tequila flavoured liquid, there’s a hint of cinnamon in there too; inspired by Mexico it has a real punch and definitely helps wake you up in the morning!
Snow Fairy is more subtle – it’s light, sweet, fruity, and just lovely to use. It has the colour and scent of candy floss. Lush say this is their number one best seller at Christmas and they’re not sure why – it’s difficult to put a finger on it but yes, I really do like this and will happily go and buy some for myself when this little bottle is gone. It’s even got glitter running through it.
One of the things I spotted in the Lush store this week was tubes in which you could put up to three large (or more small) bath bombs. With loads of flavours of bath bomb to choose from I thought this would make a really nice gift – certainly makes the bath bombs easier to wrap and is sturdy enough to keep them in.
I can’t deny it, I really like Lush products – some of them are a bit strange for sure, and the stores themselves smell oh so strong with that mixture of perfumes, but they have a good ethical ethos and their products are really lovely.
Disclaimer: I was sent some Lush products for free so I could write about them on Splodz Blogz, but I have not been told what to write and am always honest.
