Montepulciano d'Abruzz Red Wine from Lidl - Quick review

I'm not a wine connoisseur, but I do know vinegar when I taste it. This one comes in at an affordable £3.69 and it's completely drinkable, some may even say it tastes great compared to it's nearest rival  Tesco Vinedos de Espana Red (750ml) £3.19. 


Notes: 

• Dry red wine
• Origin: Italy
• Grape Variety: Montepulcian
• 13% vol.
• 75cl

More info and wine-yness available here: http://www.lidl.com.mt/cps/rde/xchg/SID-F00A0314-B2BBDA1D/lidl_mt/hs.xsl/6215.htm

Lidl have high quality stuff that's not to be sniffed at. 

Garnier Pure Active Fruit Energy Daily Energising Gel Wash : Quick Review

Summary: I quite like using face washes in the shower, so pump-action one makes life easy. This Garnier one with grapefruit and sylacilic acid is what I've been using for the past few month. It also has glycol in it so it has a chemical exfoliant.

Smell: Lovely and fruity

Results: Squeeky clean feeling on my combination skin.

Rating: 5/5

Oversize Doughnut Jumper

Doughnut Jumper from Repuplic Closing Down Sale 

£15

Amazon Forest Mango & Babassu Body Butter: Quick Review

 Look and feel: Yellow and very thick, even for a butter

Smell: Light mango, quite pleasant

Results: Moisturized feeling for a few hours, no lasting results (eg, you'd have to use it every day for weeks for any significant results) Hard to absorb.

5/10 Not terrible but not amazing, will finish the lot. 

Grace Coconut Water Smooth 310 ml

I'm not into crazy health fads this just tastes really nice. Grab yoself some coconut water. 

79P or £1 from corner shops or buy a crate from amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grace-Coconut-Water-Smooth-Pack/dp/B005KK4FME

Revlon ColorStay 110 Ivory Foundation: First Impression

 Yes! Yes! Yes! Finaly got my own Revlon ColorStay in the lightest colour and it matches my pale face. So good.

If you're on the fence about this... do it!

I got this with £5 off from ebay. (It's new) RRP: £12.49

Above: Rimmel Stay Matte in Ivory vs Revlon Colorstay in Ivory (Both the lightest in each product)

Aussie Colour Mate Conditioner: Quick Review

Having just died my hair a violent purple colour, I decided to go back to my old favourite of Aussie Colour Mate Conditioner. I've used this in the past when I had crazy red hair (but that was a permanent dye and the purple is actually semi-permanent).

Smell: Oh god yes aussie you smell so good imma gonna eat you.

Price: Always good for a deal of 3 for £10 in boots/superdrug, but still at the high end of my budget.

Effectiveness: Used without shampoo rinsed in cold water this kept my hair bright for ages.

Rating: 9/10

Soap and Glory Hand Food : Quick review

Ok, so I have really gnarly hands for a 21 year old. Sorry about that, it's some kind of art student thing. Probably the days I spend being covered in ink. So I've gone on a bit of a search for some nice hand creams.

Up first:

Soap and Glory Hand Food 

Smell: Standard Soap and Glory smell. Which I think is nice, fruity and nut oily.

Effectiveness: Does hydrate my hands, sinking in fast with little to no grease. However, the effects are not long lasting and after a few hours they're dry feeling. I'm lazy. I don't carry stuff like this around with me and I have no desire to!

Overall: I'm going to use it till it runs out and then find something more long lasting! 5/10


Soap and Glory Hand Food 50ml (HAND FOOD™ MINI), RRP: £2.50 

 

Sanctuary Spa Covent Garden Body Lotion with Ginger extract - Quick Review

Overall: Ok. Not amazing at being a moisturiser, but then again I am quite demanding of my moisturisers. 4/10
Scent: Wonderful gingery smell.  
Special Uses: Zing up your neck area. 
I actually got this for free, so I'll be using it all! RRP: £5.50

Naked Divine Curls Serum - Quick review

Name: Naked Style Divine Curls Serum (50ml)

Price: £2.49 (SemiChem) or £5.99 (Boots)

Product Claims: Helps define curls, Silicone free, 97% Natural 

Smell: Slightly fruity with ginger wine tones.

How I used it: After washing and towel drying slightly I used it as a detangler/first step to curls regime, then brushed it through whist still wet. I then added a holding product (in this instance it was
L'Oreal Elvive Styliste Mousse Colour Protect), scrunched and clipped and left to dry naturally.

Verdict: As a curl definer it did an ok job. It's not as good as other serums (like got2b Oil-Licious or Aussie Curl Definition) but for how much you get at the SemiChem price it does it cheaply. It doesn't make my hair greasy or anything horrible like a heavy oil would so that's something.

A good priced product but wouldn't purchase again. 5/10

My Curly Hair Routine

My curly hair routine.

To keep my natural curls at their best, I usually do a variation of these steps.
Stay tuned to my blog posts about different products for curly hair.

I generally wash my hair at night and let it air dry by itself. 

I only use shampoo once every 3 days or less. but use conditioner everyday. 

Right now my conditioner is Creightons Blonde Conditioner 250ml from Poundland.

Product no. 33637

Creightons Blonde Conditioner 250ml

- See more at: http://www.poundland.co.uk/creightons-blonde-conditioner-250ml#sthash.lyQU9eCQ.dpuffrom Poundland

Very good, moisturizing conditioner for a pound!

 

 I brush my hair when it's wet, to preserve the curl pattern and because it's impossible to brush it dry. To help the process along I use a hair oil or serum right before brushing.

Right now that's got2b Oil-Licious Styling Oil. Which is pretty good but not as good as the Vo5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir I had once in the past.

Next is styling product, I'll use a gel or mousse, and right now that's

l'oreal elvive mousse that's also from Poundland. Scrunching time!

I then use four hairclips to set it in the style I want and then I sleep on it.
:)

Dye Your Hair Purple with Schwarzkopf LIVE Color XXL Ultra Brights Purple Punk

Below: A before. Dark roots showing through my blonde and ginge.

I began with some cheap hair dye/bleach from B&M Bargains. (Mellor & Russel Colour Inspirations Plus in Extra Light Blonde).

So, left that on for about 40 mins. Was just get
ting my roots fixed.

I squeezed out the tube of Schwarzkopf Purple Punk into a plastic bowl and added some conditioner to thin it out a bit. It is very thick otherwise.

Here are some views of it on my head.

Next step was to cover it up to stop it drying out. I went for a swimming cap because I'm going to be sleeping in this. The Ultra Brights are semi-permanent dyes with no ammonia so no chemical reactions are taking place, just staining. You can also try this with Manic-panic dyes and La Riche Directions.

Added a bobble had to keep it in place all night.

So here's how it turned out after I showered it off in the morning after leaving it for 10 hours as I slept. Below: Camera Flash

Below: No Camera Flash

There's a blue-er bit at the from where I tried the dye with no conditioner. I think it looks neat anyway. Will update this with fade-results.