Friday 5 November 2010

And the winners are......

Thankyou so much for the entries to my comp....they've certainly given me a few giggles along the way! Now it's time to announce the winners......

In 3rd place and winner of the Fantastic Mr Fox Odd Socks is GRAPEVINE who sent me her entry privately via twitter since it was a little risque....but here it is:
There was a criminal up in court. The judge said, "Do you admit to attacking this woman?" Criminal "Cough, cough, splutter,.. yes m'lud."
Judge "And than you raped her and stole her handbag?" Criminal "Cough, cough, splutter.......yes m'lud"
Judge "Look here young man, I can't understand a word you're saying with all that couging. Why don't you go and suck a Fisherman's Friend?" Criminal "I'm in enough bloody trouble as it is, m'lud." 

In 2nd place and winner of the Fantastic Mr Fox T-shirt is ALI991 with this joke:
How can you shorten a bed?
Don't sleep long in it!

And in 1st place, winner of the Fantastic Mr Fox Pyjamas is.......... MISSIELIZZIE  with this joke:
What's the difference between a dog and a fox?
8 pints of Stella.

The winners were chosen by myself, my other half and a couple of friends to keep everything fair. Many thanks for entering and Congratulations to the winners. I believe you are all on twitter so if you could DM me your addresses, i'll get your goodies posted out to you.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Fantastic Mr Fox Comp

Okey dokey, thought it was about time I had another comp for all my lovely followers and readers. The prizes, yes, you read right, I said prizes, are Fantastic Mr Fox goodies!
The winner will receive a Fantastic Mr Fox pair of pyjamas in their own case...ideal with christmas just around the corner!

I then have a runner's up prize of a Fantastic Mr Fox tshirt.....

And finally, 1 more small prize for 3rd place, some Fantastic Mr Fox Odd Socks....

Okay, so theres the prizes on offer, now for what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment on my blog telling me your best joke
2. That's it...simple or what!! I'll have an independent judge to choose the winner. Best joke gets the pyjamas, 2nd best gets the tshirt and 3rd best gets the socks! Go on....make me laugh!!

Rules as always:
1. Sorry but UK only
2. 1 entry per person
3. Comp closes Fri 5th November at 12pm BST and winners will be notified soon after

Hope that's everything....if not, just ask!

Saturday 9 October 2010

Proud as Owt!

Just a quick blog update here.....mainly because I can't help myself and just wanna shout from the rooftops lol
My oldest daughter was made a school prefect when she returned after the summer holidays and I was extremely proud of her....as i'm sure any parent would be! She has been on the school council since she started back in year 7 and has steadily progressed, despite the taunts from other kids!
Last night, she came home from school and declared that she was applying to be on the Gateshead Parliamentary Youth Council which holds quite a bit of responsibility as there are several meetings each month she will need to attend. I asked her if this is what she really wanted as it would eat into her free time and she seems more than happy to go ahead.......I have no idea where she gets her drive from!
I have watched her develop from a young, shy, timid child, into a fine young lady who is headstrong and confident. The other kids call her a swat etc which i've always told her to ignore...she takes these comments as compliments now which I love!!
This morning, she was asked to attend a local meeting with other school prefects and the chance to meet the Mayor and Mayoress of Gateshead. I had to drop her off then collect her again later.
An hour later, I saw her walking towards me and noticed a badge on her school jumper - it wasn't there when she left. I couldn't believe my eyes when I read it, it said "Head Girl". 
I have to say that this is one of the proudest moments of my life, even though she sees it as no big deal, I for one am over the moon!
I know this post won't interest many, but it's quite a big thing for me and I really wanted to share it.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara

So sorry for the delay in this post but i've had so much going on lately, time spent on the computer has been few and far between.
As most of you who read my blog will already know, I have been trying the new Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara, and yes, it's been just over 30 days now so time for my final review.

The picture below was taken on day 31 which was 26th September 2010 and is again, my natural lashes without any mascara:

Sorry for the picture quality, but my camera's on the blink so had to use my phone. I hope that despite this, you can actually see the difference compared to how my lashes looked before my first application (see earlier post).

I stand by my initial opinion on this mascara....it's flippin amazing!! Never before have I managed to find a mascara which has everything...good colour, no clumps, works to extend lashes naturally and last but by no means least, I didn't suffer any kind of reaction to it. My eyes are usually pretty sensitive and I have to compromise....sparse lashes but eyes fine or nice, healthy looking lashes with watery eyes. I ususally opt for the latter!!
I was slightly nervous about trying this due to my sensitivity so for the first time of wearing, I stayed indoors. No need for that though! Not only did my lashes look fuller and more alluring, but the normal slight burning sensation and the tears were no more....hooray!!
After the full 30 days, my lashes are slightly thicker and have definately improved in  both length and colour.

This is a very welcome addition to my make-up bag and I will continue to use it. I hope my review has helped a few of you take the plunge and give it a whirl too.

This review is based upon my own opinions, however, your own opinion may differ.

Sunday 19 September 2010

Living Nature Nourishing Manuka Bodywash and Hand Cream

My final review for My Pure this month is actually 2 products. I have Living Nature Nourishing Manuka Bodywash and Living Nature Nourishing Manuka Hand and Body Cream.


The thing I loved about these bottles is that they are shaped in a semi circle so you can place them back to back and it looks almost like one bottle....

Now for the info! Both of these products are available to buy from the My Pure website. The Nourishing Manuka Bodywash comes in a 200ml bottle for £13.21* and the Nourishing Manuka Hand and Body Cream also comes in a 200ml bottle for £17.61*
The bottles shown above are 50ml.
The key ingredients are Avocado Oil, Macadamia Oil and Manuka Honey, all of which are known for their softening and soothing properties.

I have to say that i'm a little torn over these products as I base alot of my opinion on the smell - and the smell of these just isn't for me! The problem wasn't so much the lavender, but the strength of it. I personally found it way too strong.
I have extremely dry skin down the fronts of my lower legs and find it difficult to get any sort of body wash that actually makes a difference, however, I was really pleased with the results I got from this. After just the first use, my legs felt alot less tight than normal and weren't flaky whilst drying....a first for me! I then applied the hand and body cream and although it has no greasy afterfeel, I could actually feel it working and my legs looked and felt much better than with my regular moisturiser. My hands also felt pretty darn good and no flaky skin between my fingers, although the smell was slightly offputting!
Overall, I found both these products worked well together and helped alleviate my dry itchy skin. My skin is also quite sensitive, but i had no adverse reaction to either of these and would quite happily recommend them to anyone who suffers with dry, itchy skin.

These are my own opinions, however due to different skin types etc your own opinion may differ.
* All prices are correct at time of update

Friday 17 September 2010

Lovea Bio Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Hair Mask

The next product I have for review from the wonderful people at My Pure is Lovea Bio Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Hair Mask.

As you can see, it is a very generous size - 300ml to be exact, and it costs £7.99. The first thing I did, as always, was have a smell and I am delighted to say that it was exactly as I expected. The smell reminds me of holidays in the sun and it lingers on your hair well into the next day.
The hair mask itself has a nice consistency, not too thick nor too runny and I found that I didn't really use too much even though my hair is quite long, however, it is also very fine so maybe thats why.


The only problem I had with this, is that all the writing (including instructions on how to use) are foreign. The only way I could find out what to do was by visiting the My Pure website....fortunately, all the info I needed was there!
You apply the Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Hair Mask to towel dried hair, after shampoo and conditioner (I left out the latter), then simply wrap a towel around your head and leave for around 30 minutes. After this, simply rinse out and dry/style as normal.
It's the first time i've ever used a hair mask of any description so I wasn't really sure what to expect, but my fine, dull, lifeless hair was left softer than it has ever been, smelled gorgeous and looked well conditioned and shiny....what more could I wish for!
Although I didn't try, the hair mask can also be used as a 'leave-in' conditioner - to do this, simply wash hair as normal, towel dry, then rub the hair mask between your palms then finger through the hair...simple!
Overall, I was really pleased with the end results and think that the price is very fair. I'm not sure if it was as a result of using this hair mask or not, but my hair lasted an extra day before needing rewashed so i'll definately continue using.

Please consider that my opinion may differ from your own depending on the length, texture and thickness of your hair.

Tuesday 31 August 2010

Lash Accelerator from Rimmel London

WOW, I have been absolutely bursting to tell you all about this super duper lash treatment, which helps promote natural lash growth. Unfortunately though, I had been sworn to secrecy....until now that is!!

The first thing I noticed about this was the design of the brush. It's a perfect length and holds just the right amount of mascara so theres no need to scrape off excess (something I find I have to do often with others), and due to it's size, you can just about get all your top lashes in one swipe!
Below is a pic of my eye (sorry about the quality) before the first application:


It's pretty hard to tell from this, but my lashes are quite fine and widely spread with not much definition, so i'm really interested in seeing what results I get.
The pic below is after the first application:


Just don't do what I did and poke yourself in the eye with the mascara wand...OUCH!!! As you can (hopefully) see, the length of my lashes dramatically improved with just one use. No clumps, nice overall coverage, no sticky afterfeel and my lashes still felt soft rather than weighted down....so far, so good!
I'm only four days into this 30 day challenge set by Rimmel London and I have already noticed a real difference. Here's a pic of how they looked this morning before I applied for the 5th time:


These are my lashes 'au naturel' this morning before using anything....pretty impressive I reckon, and get this, my other half said to me last night that the mascara made my eyes look sexy.....first time in 17 years he's ever said that so Rimmel have gotta be doing something right!!!
Anyway, i'll be back with more updates in a few days time and give you a little more info on this fantastic product. In the meantime, any questions, just ask either on here or over on twitter.

Thursday 26 August 2010

Aveeno Hand Cream

I have been accepted on to the AVEENO® Discoverer Programme, helping to spread the word about AVEENO® products. I get sent free AVEENO® samples and have the possibility of being rewarded with additional benefits.

The next product for review is the Aveeno Hand Cream as shown below:




I won't bore you with how fantastic I believe this product is as i've already reviewed it previously, but just a quick recap.......I can't recommend this enough, it gives a lovely soft feeling to hands which are dry and in need of some tlc, it also continues working even after washing so theres no need to continuously reapply. A great all rounder in a handy sized tube!
I asked my friend to review this cream for me too as she works as a hairdresser and suffers with dry, irritated hands. Heres what she thought:
"When I first got this cream, I wasn't sure if it would actually help at all as my hands are dry and quite rough due to using various hair chemicals and the constant washing and drying I do at work. I've tried many creams before and although some of them do work for a while, I have to reapply quite often. This cream was different though. It feels quite luxurious when applied and you don't need a great deal as it spreads quite well. I could immediately feel the protective coating it put over my hands. I went about my normal daily work and found that I didn't need to reapply until before bed that evening....amazing! Whilst at work, my boss spotted me with it and asked where I got it as she is a regular user of Aveeno products, but hadn't tried the hand cream. I rang Elaine who gave me the web address to pass on so she could find out more. Overall, I found this to be the best i've used so far and will continue with it."
 
As you can see, i'm not the only one who thinks this is fab, why not try it for yourselves, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
For more information about Aveeno and their products, click here and for details of where to buy, click here.

Monday 23 August 2010

Inika Mineral Foundation & Kabuki Brush

I was absolutely thrilled when I received my latest My Pure pack for review as this one was tailored to match my skin/hair type.
The first products I am going to review are the Inika Mineral Foundation in Patience 05 and the Inika limited edition travel Kabuki Brush both of which came in a delightful little gold purse.

The Mineral Foundation I received is a 3g pot, i'm not sure of the price for this but an 8g pot is available on the My Pure website for £24.99 and is available in 6 shades (click here to view) which have the most fabulous names like Pateince, Trust, Strength etc.
The limited edition mini retractable travel Kabuki Brush doesn't seem to be available to buy by itself, however you can purchase the regular sized Kabuki Brush for £22.99, which in my opinion would be money well spent as they really are perfect. These brushes are one of a kind as they are 100% certified vegan and 100% certified cruelty free and due to the unique design, the bristles remain in tact. As you can see from the pic, it's ideal just to pop in your handbag and it won't take up too much room either!

I've personally never used a mineral foundatin so wasn't quite sure what to expect....or even how to use!! I began by applying just a small amount of powder to the brush, then I gently swept it over my face until I had a light coverage all over. Instantly I could see results, my uneven skin tone looked more even and a few of the blemishes had faded...fantastic news for me! The powder gave a much lighter feel to my skin than my usual foundation and I was able to comfortably apply eyeshadow etc over the top. This is probably the most natural I have ever managed to look with make up on so I was extremely impressed.....no tide lines and no areas where the foundation had 'clumped'.
I didn't need to reapply this at all throughout the day but it was very easily removed with my regular face wipes.
I would defiantely recommend this to anyone who is looking for a natural look which isn't too heavy and leaves your skin looking radiant and shine free.
If you're thinking the mineral foundation and the brush come in a little pricey, you can also buy the Inika Essential Collection Gift Pack which contains a 3g pot of mineral foundation (5 shades available for this one), the limited edition mini retractable travel Kabuki Brush and a full size (11.4g) luscious certified organic Berry Lip Whip all come in the fabulous little gold purse as shown in my pic - I love the purse and the fact that its useable makes it a blummin good buy! The Essentials pack costs only £29.50 which I reckon makes it a very good buy!!

Saturday 7 August 2010

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion

I have been accepted on to the AVEENO® Discoverer Programme, helping to spread the word about AVEENO® products. I get sent free AVEENO® samples and have the possibility of being rewarded with additional benefits.

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion: Contains Triple Oat Complex and immediately relieves and nourishs extra dry and irritable skin. Moisturises for 24 hours and soothes on contact leaving skin looking and feeling smooth, healthy and soft. Fragrance free.

Again, these are the claims on the tube, now find out my opinion......


MY OPINION: When I received this and read the tube I immediately thought wow, they've read my mind and made a cream just for me!
So, with high expectaitions and a desperation to see if this worked, I promptly jumped in the bath so I could have a 10 minute soak before applying. I have to say, I don't like applying moisturiser to stubbly legs, so ended up shaving them first - the lotion was about to undertake its first test!
Normally, I make the mistake of applying moisturiser after shaving and and end up jumping round like a headless chicken...those of you who've tried this will know that it really flippin hurts, but I was quite hopeful that this would be different, and it was.....HOORAY!! No pain at all, in fact, it stopped the slight burning sensation which occurred from over drying my legs on a rough towel!

Unlike the Daily Moisturising Lotion, although this did absorb quickly, it still left a slight afterfeel so I knew it was there....full points so far. Immediately my legs felt smooth as a baby's butt - which really is saying something, and they weren't sore, itchy or painful in any way.
Throughout the day, I felt no need to reapply as this really was working like magic and the next morning even my other half commented on how smooth I was....and that was only after 1 application!!
I won't lie here, although unperfumed, it does have a very slight smell which I really don't like and i'm at a loss for words on how I could describe it to you......but don't let that put you off as it only lasts whilst you're applying it and wares off soon after.
After continued use, my skin has a new lease of life so 10 out of 10 from me!
I also have a male freind trying this for me so will post his comments when i've spoken to him.

Feel free to check out the Aveeno website for more information and click here for details of where to buy all Aveeno products reviewed on my blog.

Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion

I have been accepted on to the AVEENO® Discoverer Programme, helping to spread the word about AVEENO® products. I get sent free AVEENO® products and have the possibility of being rewarded with additional benefits.


Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion - This lotion contains a fine mix of naturally active Colloidal Oatmeal with rich emolients, and is clinically proven to moisturise for over 24 hours replenishing the skin's natural barrier. Within 2 weeks the condition of dry skin is left looking and feeling soft, smooth and replenished.
 
These are the claims on the tube, now for the opinions of myself and a friend who I had try some of this for 2 weeks......
 
 
MY OPINION: Firstly, I have to say that I suffer from really dry skin, especially on my legs.....probably due to years of shaving, waxing etc so I find I need a good moisturiser to keep me from looking like a dried up old prune! I also like to 'feel' a moisturiser so that I know it's working properly.
This Daily Moisture Lotion has no smell and contains natural ingredients making it ideal for sensitive skin. The lotion soaks quickly into the skin acting from the inside, however, as I said before, I like to 'feel' it on my skin and with this, I didn't. Skin on other parts of my body ie arms, back etc, I did notice an improvement in the texture of my skin - it felt a little softer after 2 weeks use and also looked healthier.
I would definately recommend this if your skin isn't extremely dry, but for me, i'd definately need something different for my legs.
D's OPINION: I normally use E45 after bathing and showering but was more than happy to give this a try! I like the fact that it's made from natural ingredients and I also like the fact that it's unperfumed, but I too found that it soaked in a little too quickly. Maybe this is because of the E45 being a bit slimy after application and that's what i'm used to, but using the Aveeno, I didn't really feel like i'd applied anything.

Personally, this isn't the cream for me but i've enjoyed being given the chance to try it.

If you'd like to try Aveeno Daily Moisture Lotion for yoursself, just click here to find where to buy - it's currently only £4.99 from Superdrug for a 200ml tube.
You can also check ot the Aveeno website more more information.

Thursday 5 August 2010

Rimmel London Vinyl Gloss

Rimmel London Vinyl Gloss in 800 Crystal Clear


Sorry about the picture quality....with it being a clear gloss it kept reflecting the light!

Anyway, this is my next mission from Rimmel London and I have to say, I was over the moon when this landed as i'm a huge fan of glosses!
I love the tapered design of the bottle and the fact that you can see the colour of the gloss inside...makes choosing so much easier as there are 14 fantastic colours available

This fabulous new gloss contains a shine magnifying formula which uses a boosted technology giving lips up to 80% more shine and making them up to 40% curvier.

That's the nitty gritty bit out of the way, now for my opinion!!
The design of the wand makes this extremely easy to apply as it snugly glides along the lips leaving a perfect coat of gloss. The shine was, I must admit, quite remarkable and I immediately felt quite sexy! My lips also appeared to look fuller which I personally rather liked, however, although this claims to be non sticky, I found the opposite to be true. Admittedly, it's not quite as sticky as some i've tried, but I did have to remove my hair from my lips quite a few times, not to mention the sticky marks I left on the side of cups. I also found that they remained sticky even after rubbing the gloss off!
For me though, this is a pretty small price to pay for voluptuous glossy lips - far better than running the risk of surgery and ending up with a famous Trout Pout!!
Despite drinking and eating, I found that my gloss didn't need replacing too often and it also gave my usual lippy a great boost when applied over the top.
Overall, this is a winner for me and i'm now raring to try some of the other shades available....if you have already, please let me kjnow what you think!
Rimmel London Vinyl Gloss is available to buy from various retailers including Boots where it is costs just £4.49 - a bargain in my book!
There is also the chance of winning one of these for yourself from Rimmel London - why not give it a go, you never know!!

Friday 30 July 2010

The Green Cross Code

From my 2 kids being really young, I have stopped them at the kerbside and taught them the Green Cross Code. Each time they leave the house I tell them to "be carefull for the roads."
On Tuesday 27th July 2010, my biggest fear became reality so forgive me for this blog post but I needed to get it off my chest.

On Tuesday, my oldest daughter who is 15, was out with her mates but due home by 6pm. As usual, she rang and asked for an extra hour so we said that was fine. Just after 7pm, my partner got a phonecall from her saying she'd be a little late and asked if he could get on his mountain bike and peddle down to meet her - it's only about 10 mins away so off he went. I thought nothing more until 20 minutes later my phone rang and it was my other half telling me that his parents were coming to take me up to the hospital as our daughter had been knocked over!!
He was half way towards where she was when she rang him again, but he could hear lots of shouting etc and thought maybe she was having trouble as they kept asking who she was on the phone to. The shock hit him when he got there and saw her lying in the road with a few people standing round...the local shopkeeper had called an ambulance so my partner held her until it got there to check her over. Once the ambulance left with her, my partner, still on his mountain bike, peddled up behind it to the hospital where myself, my youngest and my mother in law were already waiting.
I did get to see her in the ambulance before they admitted her and thats when the tears came thick and fast! My baby was lying there with a full head brace etc on, blood trickling down her head and neck and her trousers ripped where the ambulance staff had to cut them loose.
I plodded off to A & E to give them her details, then sat waiting for about half an hour before I found out anything, never mind getting in to see her!!!
Eventually, I was taken to her. I walked in and she took one look at me then I noticed a few tears begin to roll....I wanted to wrap her in my arms and say that everything would be alright but was too scared in case I hurt her, so a gentle kiss and light hug were all I could give. She told me that she stepped off the kerb but had to step forward to see past another car and as she did this, she was hit! Turns out that the driver is a friend of ours and he waited with her till her dad arrived, whcih I am so grateful for as he was obviously in shock too.
The cut above her eye was quite bad and required a few stitches, she had stitches in one knee and bad cuts and grazes on the other knee. Her arms and sides are bruised quite badly too from the landing but alas, no broken bones! Considering the impact etc, she has been extremely lucky to escape with the injuries she has, it could have been alot worse!
Unbelievably, for those of you who believe in fate, my daughter wanted to wear her fave tshirt and jeans to go out, but they were dirty so she wore not so favourite things, i'd bought her new underwear last week so she was wearing this too and the lad who hit her usually drives a large jeep, but luckily it failed its MOT last week so he was driving a Saxo instead and to top it all off, our other mate is a taxi driver who is always working, but on Tuesday he'd decided to take the day off so helped us out with lifts etc.
Even more amazingly, my best friend's daughter was knocked over almost exactly 6 months ago to the day, she was hit by someone we all knew and was very lucky also to escape with just stitches to her head!!

The whole experience is the worst i've ever been through as a mother and it hurt even more when I saw how upset my partner was too - he doesn't often show emotion, but my oldest has always been a Daddy's Girl and it hit him really hard although he tried to stay strong for us.
I'm not sure quite how i'm going to be when she's fully recovered and asking to go out again...reckon i'll be a nervous wreck but unfortunately, I can't wrap her up in cotton wool for the rest of her life - although i'd love to!!
Massive THANKYOU for all the lovely messages and well wishes on twitter, you are all fantastic and really helped.
Please feel free to leave a comment - I do read them all and don't mind answering any questions too :-)

Friday 23 July 2010

And the Winner is.....

Sorry i'm a little late with this but I had a bit of running round to do this morning since my kids broke up from school at dinner time.
Alas, the wait is finally over! I had a whopping 7 entries (plenty of interest then eh!) to this comp so the odds of winning were pretty darn good. 
To keep it all fair, I gave each of you a number from 1 to 7 based on where you entered, ie
jenniwren12 = 1
pied_wagtail = 2
blissbubbley = 3
paulineppp = 4
madamejoy41 = 5
singlemummynet = 6
anniemcs = 7
I then used a Random Number Generator to choose the winner.......

As you can see from the above screenshot, number 3 was chosen so Congratulations to BLISSBUBBLEY
I won't tell you how long i've been sitting here like a numpty trying to work out how to upload my screenshot to blogger, phew, all done now though!
Anyway, Congrats again to blissbubbley....if you could DM me your address via twitter i'll get that posted out to you! :-)

Thursday 15 July 2010

Compy, giveaway thingy!

Okay, this is going to be one of my shortest posts ever lol I have 1 bottle of 150ml Rodial Brazillian Tan in DARK, as shown below, to give away to one of you lucky lot!

Now, I have to warn you again.....this is DARK, so probably not much use if you're fair skinned....now that would be heading for disaster!!
I can't tell you whether this product is good or bad as I haven't tried it myself, however reviews i've read suggest that it's pretty darn fab!
This is available to buy from the Rodail website for £39.99.

Now then, I bet you're wondering what you need to do to get your hands on this....at least I hope you are!!
Simple, leave a comment below...any comment does whether it be a 'pick me' comment or a tale of woe, they'll all be placed in the draw! Feel free to share on twitter etc too, although not essential!
The all important rules:
1. UK entry only
2. 1 entry per person
3. Closes midnight 22nd July 2010
Please leave your twitter name if you have one.
Winner will be announced on here and over on twitter....so don't forget to check back!
GOOD LUCK!!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED....SEE ABOVE POST FOR WINNER!!

Friday 9 July 2010

Lovea Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Body Lotion


Time for another My Pure reveiw and this time it's Lovea Tahitian Monoi Moisturising Body Lotion which is available for the fair price of £6.99 for a 200ml bottle. 
The active ingredient Monoi is said to help soften skin after washing and is especially good for use after swinnimg as it fights against the damaging effects of salt, sun and wind. As always, I was very keen to try it...heres what I thought:
Firstly, I am really impressed by the pump action on this bottle as it eliminates the risk of you ending up with too much cream. You just twist the top in an anti-clockwise direction to unlock the pump, dispense as much or as little as you need, then twist clockwise to re-lock, so simple and mess free.
The smell of this is quite similar to the Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo which I reviewed a few weeks ago...check out my review here. It is definately a smell I love.
The lotion itself has quite a nice consistency, not too runny yet not too thick, and is easily spread over the skin. It didn't take very long to absorb either which is always a bonus, especially if you're getting ready for a night out!!
Upon initial use my skin felt soft and moisturised although the effect didn't seem to last too long for me as I have very dry skin and this is suitable for 'normal' skin types.
I would certainly recommend it to those of you who have 'normal' skin as it's a lovely cream which isn't too heavy and smells divine!

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Aveeno Discoverer's Programme

I have been accepted on to the AVEENO® Discoverer Programme, helping to spread the word about AVEENO® products. I get sent free AVEENO® products and have the possibility of being rewarded with additional benefits.

As you can probably guess by the above statement, I am one of those lucky enough to have been chosen as an Aveeno Discoverer...and I feel very privelaged to be one of the chosen few!
I was recently sent 2 fantastic boxes containing a selection of Aveeno products, 1 of which I am to use and review, the other to pass on to friends and family to get their opinions.  For this reason, I will be doing a double review of each product....my own opinion and that of whoever has been lucky enough to trial for me.
Here is a pic of what i've been sent:


Just in case you can't read them, the products are:
Daily Moisturising Lotion (fragrance free) - this contains finely-milled Colloidal Oatmeal and rich emolients and is said to replenish the skin's natural barrier function. An improvement is to be seen after just 2 weeks of use and skin willbe left soft, smooth and healthy.
Daily Moisturising Lotion (lightly scented) - this has the same description as the above product, but is lightly scented with Lavender.
Skin Relief Moisturising Lotion - this is made using Shea Butter and a unique Triple Oat Complex, also containing finely-milled Colloidal Oatmeal, Oat Oil and Oat Essence to soothe on contact hence providing immediate relief and comfort to dry and irritable skin. It is also said to leave skin soft, smooth and healthy and is fragrance free too.
Hand Cream - containing Colloidal Oatmeal, it is said to form a 'protective glove' which also lasts through washing.

This is just a little information about what i'm going to be reviewing.  I have already began using some of the products and have handed some to friends too. Watch this space for those reviews and any questions, just ask...I don't bite!
I will add another update with a bit more information about Aveeno and their fantastic range of products too, if theres anything specific you'd like to know then again, just ask and I will try and answer as best I can....no trick questions though!!

Monday 5 July 2010

A'kin Jojoba & Lavender Conditioner

As many of you already know, I am a My Pure blogger and because of this, I receive free products each month for review.

The first product this month is A'kin Jojoba & Lavender Conditioner.

  
The description on the label reads: "Certified organic lavender flower extract combined with cold pressed Australian jojoba provides light conditioning & natural lustre whilst improving the vigour of your hair and scalp.  Your hair will have body and be silky soft, shiny & manageable."
 
I have to admit, my expectations were pretty high after reading this and I couldn't wait to try it out!  Personally, I found the design of the bottle a little awkward....you have to squeeze it to get the conditioner to come out and I found this took quite a bit of effort.
As you can see from this pic theres only a very small hole for the conditioner to come out of, I found it much easier to remove the lid altoghether.....this is something which definately needs improving.
The conditioner itself is quite creamy but I did found that I needed to use quite a bit for all over coverage - my hair is below shoulder length and quite fine but I did seem to use more of this than my regular conditioner.
Sorry, but I also found the smell to be quite overpowering.  I do like alot of smell in the products I use, but this almost took my breath away....the lavender being the most overpowering.  However having said that, the smell did subside once dried and my hair smelled clean and fresh.
After use, my hair was reasonably free from tangles so it did it's job there, but it did seem to lack life and shine compared to normal. This could have been due to the fact that the conditioner is suitable for "Normal, Fine and Oily Hair" and although my hair is normal and fine, it is also very dry!!
Overall, it was nice to try this product, especially as it is 100% natural and it's vegan too, but it just wasn't for me and at a cost of £7.49 for a 225ml bottle, it's also a little out of my price range.
A'kin Jojoba & Lavender Conditioner is available from the My Pure website and the also have an offer on where you can get A'Kin Pure Rose Hydrating Mist FREE with any 2 purchases of A'Kin - check out my review of this product here.

Friday 25 June 2010

Volume Flash the Max Waterproof Mascara



Mission 3 for Rimmel London is to have a go at this new Volume Flash the Max Waterproof Mascara in 001 Black...of course I was more than willing!!
The claim is that it gives up to '14% more volume' and is 'easy to remove' with 'no clumping'
I tried this as soon as I got it, as I do with all new makeup since i'm like a big kid, and I have to say, it is pretty impressive.
I felt that the mascara itself took a little too long to dry and as a result, I ended up with black lines across my eyelids as soon as I opened them fully....trust me, this isn't a good look!! I did feel that my lashes had a little more volume, although i'm not sure i'd go so far as to say it was 14%.
It did, once dried, give a nice even coverage without leaving clumps and I did test the 'waterproof' claim by getting splashed in the face to see if it ran....alas, i'm pleased to say that it didn't!!
I used my normal eye makeup remover and it came off no problem and without giving me 'panda eyes' so I was pretty impressed with that!!
Overall, I was quite impressed with this and it's ability to make my spangly lashes look a little fuller and the colour was just right for me...not too harsh, which is a problem I have with alot of mascaras. I certainly would consider buying this in future and can definately recommend it!!
As always, the mascara is available to buy from all good retailers including Boots and Superdrug - it's currently available in Superdrug for an unbelievable price of £4.99, so hurry!!
Check out what Rimmel London have to say about it too ;-)

Thursday 17 June 2010

Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar



This is a review that I wasn't asked to do, but just had to since I am so impressed with this cheese!!
I discovered collierscheese on twitter a few weeks ago and they had the most fantastic offer whereby the first 100 people to sign up on their website would receive some free Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar Cheese - of course, I was straight there and in hindsight, i'm so glad I was!!
My free cheese arrived about 2 weeks after signing up and I was extremely surprised to find that it was a whopping 400g block complete with a little ice pack to keep it cool and in tip top condition.
It didn't take me too long to get the packet open either.....the smell that hit me was that of a good, strong cheddar.  It's a fairly crumbly cheese, but that didn't worry me in the slightest and the taste was even better than expected!! I am a huge fan of Cathedral City cheese and for a long time this has been my favourite, however, after trying Collier's cheese, I am rapidly changing my opinion.
So far, i've eaten this in a sandwich, on its own, grated over a jacket potato and melted onto toast and have ended up going back for seconds - the rest of my family barely had a look in!!
Collier's say and I quote ‘One Taste and You’ll Become a Collier Too’ and as far as i'm concerned, they're right!

Overall, I would highly recommend this cheese if you like good, strong cheddars which are extremely versatile....you won't be disappointed!!
The Collier's Powerful Welsh Cheddar is available from most major supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury's - so you're sure to be able to get your hands on some.
Check out the Collier's website for more informatin or follow @collierscheese on twitter.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo


My final item for review this month on behalf of My Pure is Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo.
The first thing I did when I received this was to smell it....mmmmmm, gorgeous! I could picture sandy beaches with the waves splashing against the rocks and the sun shining brightly....took me to another place for a while. Anyway, enough about the smell.
The shampoo itself is like a gel and has a really nice consistency which forms a creamy lather once applied to wet hair.  My hair rinsed easily and although I normally use conditioner, I refrained for a while to see if there was any difference. I found that my hair was quite tatty compared to normal - probably due to lack of conditioner, but once the brush went through, it was fine. I blow dried my hair and after the first use, didn't really see any difference, however, after around 1 week, my hair began to have more shine and was slightly more resilient to damage. 
After 2 weeks, my hair has yet more shine and I have definately noticed less breakage.
Yet another product that I would recommend as there are no harmful chemicals used and it's gentle on your scalp while giving you clean, strong, shiny hair.
Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo  200ml tube for a very reasonable £4.99

[A'kin] Pure Rose Hydrating Mist


My second review for My Pure is this 125ml bottle of [A'kin] Pure Rose Hydrating Mist.
I was very sceptical of this to say the least, mainly because I can't usually stand the smell of rose! However, this refreshing spray is very lightly fragranced, and admittedly, quite pleasant.
It contains many natural ingredients including Aloe Vera, which is well known for it's calming properties as well as B5, known for it's soothing properties.  All these combine to give a light, refreshing spray which is suitable for all skin types.....including sensitive!!
With some of the fine weather we've been having lately, I actually got the chance to put this to the test and can honestly say that my skin was left feeling cool, moisturised and silky soft.  It gave me a nice, fresh, radiant glow too and didn't dispense too quickly - what more could a girl ask for?
I would definately recommend this, especially if the weather holds up!
[A'kin] Rure Rose Hydrating Mist 125ml bottle for £12.99

Friday 28 May 2010

60 Second Nail Polish


As a Rimmel London VIP, I have been sent some of their fabulous new 60 Seconds Nail Polish to try out!
Here's what I received:

From left to right, 615 Fast and Fuchsia, 805 Grey Matter, 825 Sky High and 285 Style Hunter.

Over the last few days I have tried all 4 of these fantastic new shades....it's been fun!






                                                                      Firstly, I tried the Sky High as this was my fave! Please ignore the fact that my nails aren't perfectly manicured like some and blimey, I didn't realise how wrinkly my hands were till I took this.  Never mind though, the nail varnish itself has to be applied pretty quickly and there is very little room for error as it's so fast drying - if you're an expert at applying, then this is ideal for that last minute, "I forgot to apply my nail varnish" scenario as it literally does dry in 60 seconds...amazing! Gorgeous colour, although I did give my nails 2 coats as i could still see them slightly after 1st application.
The next colour I tried was the Grey Matter which I also loved .....good solid colour!                                    

Followed by Fast and Fuchsia...so summery and bright, I loved it!                                                                

And last, but by no means least, Style Hunter                                                                                               


Like I said before, please ignore the poor state of my nails etc, I don't usually take pics of the product in use, but hoped it may give some of you a better idea of how this looks once applied!       
Due to the unique design of the brush, you can coat most of the nail in one swoop, but be warned, if you don't get it all first time, it will have already began to dry - I made a right mess trying to get the bits of nail i'd missed with the first stroke!! My only other bit of advice would be to remember to apply a Base Coat first - I forgot about this when using the Sky High and when i came to remove it, my nails were pretty badly stained - needless to say, I remembered before applying any of the other colours!!                                                  

These fabulous 60 Second Nail Polishes, which are available in 24 gorgeous shades, can be purchased from Superdrug for a cost of £3.49, but they're on special offer of Buy 3 for the price of 2 at the minute - not bad eh! If you aren't up for buying one just yet, why not enter Rimmel London's Promotion  to try and win yourself one, you never know your luck!                                                                                                                   
                                 

                                    
  
                                       




Wednesday 26 May 2010

Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Facial Serum


This is my first reveiw for My Pure  and it's for Kosmea, Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Facial Serum.
This is said to 'instantly lift dull and tired skin' and it contains the following key ingredients: Geranium oil, Myoxinol (Hibiscus esculentus extract), Rosehip oil and Vitamin E, amongst others.  All of these ingredients are perfectly natural so you won't be harming the environment or yourself with any nasty chemicals  - this can also be said for all products sold on the My Pure website.

You are advised to apply this after cleansing in the morning, and for extra moisturisation, to follow with Kosmea’s Replenishing Moisture Cream which is also available from the my Pure site at a cost of £29.99 for a 50ml tube.

As I didn't have any of the Moisture Cream, I tried this without any moisturiser at all to see what difference it made, if any!  The first thing I noticed about the Revitalising Facial Serum was the smell, which I found to be quite fresh, but not really to my liking and a little overpowering.  Despite this, it applied really well and soaked into the skin quite quickly leaving no greasy residue, which I often find a problem with other products of this kind.  My skin felt "alive" and well nourished both immediately after use, and throughout the day.
I have been using the serum for around 2 weeks now, and i'm pleased to say that I have noticed a slight improvement in the fine lines around my eyes and the texture of my skin has also improved.  My skin is quite sensitive and I usually struggle to find products which don't aggrevate it, but i have had no adverse reactions to this at all.
Kosmea's Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Serum is available to buy from My Pure at a cost of £25.00 for a 20ml bottle or £49.99 for a 50ml bottle - slightly pricey in my opinion, but if you're looking to splurge a little, then this is the way to go!

My Pure Reviews

As some of you may already know, I'm lucky enough to have been chosen as a My Pure Blogger.  The requirements of this are that i will receive 3 full size products each month, then post honest reviews on my blog.....needless to say, I'm really looking forward to being a part of this. 
I first discovered that bloggers were being sought via the My Pure twitter page, so i promptly sent off my email (like many others) and waited in eager anticipation.  Fortunately, I was chosen as one of 50 bloggers to represent My Pure and help spread the word about their fabulous range of products.
I have now received my first month's supply of products and would like to show you what I'll be reviewing:



The first item I will be reviewing is the Kosmea, Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Facial Serum (review will follow this post).  Secondly, I'll be reviewing [A'kin] Pure Rose Hydrating Facial Mist and last but not least Lovea's Moroccan Argan Brilliance Shine Shampoo.  Please keep a lookout for my tweets xx        

Sunday 2 May 2010

Olive Oat Cakes & Spelt Crispbread Reviews



Olive Oil Oat Cakes - This is the first time i've ever tried anything like this before and for me personally, I wasn't too keen.  Although they are a 'healthy' option and made with natural ingredients, for me, they tasted a little like cardboard.....i even tried with a little cheese on top but was unable to manage a whole one.  This is also the first thing my kids tried with neither of them liking....both declaring they were a little like cardboard too.
 
Spelt Crispbread - I found these to be quite similar to Riveta, but with added sunflower and sesame seeds.  For me, I didn't like the taste of the sunflower seeds much, so picked them off, however the rest of the crispbread i found to be quite tasty - especially with a little cheese on top!  I was the only one in the household who would eat these....kids and other half weren't keen at all.  I would recommend these as they're a good healthy option and quite enjoyable too!

As always, both of these can be bought from Goodness Direct

Monday 26 April 2010

Rimmel New 1-2-3 Looks Mascara Review


At the weekend, I received this very attractively packaged mascara from Rimmel London. As you can imagine, I was primed and prepped in no time and ready to experiment!
Admittedly, I studied the tube for a while trying to work out how on earth this handy little thing was going to be capable of giving me 3 very different looks, and i'm still no further forward, but it does!!!!
Day 1, I used click 1 which gives up to 3 times more volume and is suitable for natural looking lashes - ideal for daytime.  The mascara itself wasn't claggy and didn't go on in blobs, thanks to the design of the brush, which is quite small, but I found it ideal for my lashes, and the end result was good, even coverage but also very natural looking.
Day 2, I used click 2 which gives up to 5 times more volume - this is very simply done by twisting the middle of the bottle round until you are at the desired click.  I was really surprised by how much of a difference this made compared to yesterday....still had even coverage and no smudging.....remarkable!!
Day 3, and yes, you guessed it, I went for the final click.....no 3 which gives up to 10 times more volume!!  This gives full, dramatic looking lashes with no mess and it dries really quickly too....which is a bonus if you're anything like me and end up with dots of mascara on your eyelids the second you open them!

Thats a whopping 3, yes 3 different looks all from one handy little tube.....definately room for one in my handbag!
This amazing must-have mascara is only £7.99 which i reckon is a bargain and if you're feeling lucky, why not enter their competition to try and win yourself one....you never know!!

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Nokia X6 Comes With Music Review


WOW, how fab is this?  Imagine receiving it as a gift....i'd be overjoyed!  The packaging itself is so appealing and then you reach this stunning phone inside...what more could you ask for?
Incredibly, i was given this by the lovely We_R_NokiaMusic on twitter for review!

Boasting an incredible 32GB memory built in, so no need for a memory card yet still tons of storage space for music, photos, videos etc. It also has a fantastic 3.2" touchscreen so those of you who struggle to read the screen on an average mobile, you should have no problems at all with this!  The X6 also has internet access via WLAN and thanks to the handy little keypad lock on the side of the phone, you won't accidently be connecting to the internet or calling people....which i have done many a time!
For full technical specifications click here as i'm not much of a tech head.




As you can (hopefully) see from the pic, there are many applications and much to explore - i'm still finding my way round a little, although making/receiveing calls, texting, taking pictures etc are very simple to do once you stop being scared to touch anything!
As the name suggests, the Nokia X6 comes with unlimited music downloads totally free for one year, once you install the cd (which comes with the phone) then follow the simple instructions.  Once you've installed everything you just need to register on the ovi site and activate your unique code  - then you're ready to get downloading!  You're not restricted here either, there a many singles and full albums available for download from the past to the present day....what other mobile phone offers you such great value?
The sound quality is absolutely superb with no tinniness or crackles, so you can really crank it up and still have crystal clear sound - maybe slightly to the annoyance of people around you but hey, you gotta enjoy it!

I have to say that i would highly recommend this phone as it continues to teach and amaze me and a definate must have for the music lovers out there because with this phone, you're street cred will go through the roof!

I'd like to thank We_R_NokiaMusic on twitter for providing me this phone for review - i love it!!

Friday 26 March 2010

And the Winners are.....

WINNER OF CONFESSIONS OF A CITY GIRL AND NEAL'S YARD REMEDY CREAMWell, todays the day i reveal who won my competitions....oooer!
All the names of those who entered to win Confessions of a City Girl and the Neal's Yard cream were written on pieces of paper, folded then placed into a hat.  My other half's mate was here so i got him to pick out the winner.
As you can see from the pics, the name paulinepppp was chosen.....Congratulations!!
                                                                                   
WINNER OF THE TWO CHILDRENS BOOKS
As you know, my other half was responsible for choosing the winner here.  There were some great entries, but the one which he found most amusing was the comment by iridessa.........Congratulations!!

Many thanks to all who entered - i had a right old giggle reading through your replies.
I know that both winners are on twitter and i would much appreciate it if you could DM me your names/addresses and i'll get those posted out asap.....thankyou once again and Congratulations to the winners!!