Sure Maximum Protection Stress Control

I was sent Sure Maximum Protection Stress Control free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

New Sure Maximum Protection is an innovation when it comes to antiperspirants and claims to be 2 times stronger than the leading brand. I was sent the Stress Control variant which contains calming lavender and white flower scents to help soothe and relieve stress. It has been specially created to help the wearer prepare for anxious moments, meaning you'll be protected against the sweat and odour which is often caused by stressful and high pressure situations.

As well as the Stress Control variant, you can also get Sport Strength which has a vibrant citrusy fragrance, and is specially formulated as the ultimate preparation tool to protect against sweat and odour during exercise.

New Sure comes boxed, and has a helpful leaflet with it which gives you a little info on the antiperspirant itself, as well as directions for use.

I love the style and shape of the bottle as it makes it very easy to hold and comfortable to apply. Once the lid has been removed, you need to peel off the layer of silver foil .....

As you can see from my pic, there are plenty of holes for the antiperspirant to be dispersed through and they are also varying sizes. The antiperspirant itself is white in colour which rang a few alarm bells for me but I really needn't have worried. I'm a great lover of black and many of my t-shirts etc are black so I assumed the white may turn powdery and leave residue on my clothing. I don't mind admitting that I was dead wrong! You are advised to twist the base until you hear it click twice which releases enough Sure to give good coverage on one underarm. Simply repeat the process for the other underarm. Although this glided on really easily, it didn't feel damp or sticky in any way and turned invisible after just a few seconds. I applied directly to freshly shaved underarms and felt no niggles/pain which was a godsend. The smell is really gorgeous. It's fresh, pretty strong and very long lasting meaning you'll smell beautiful from morning till night no matter what your day entails. I put it through its paces and no matter how much I dashed around or how hot I got, my underarms remained dry and BO free - perfect!

Sure Maximum Protection is formulated with TRIsolid™ technology that boasts:
- Extra strength dryness protection. Applied at night, it works as you sleep to form a level of protection, giving you unbeatable wetness protection for the day ahead. Equally you can apply it as part of your morning routine.
- Patented fragrance technology containing odour-fighting microcapsules. the microcapsules dissolve when you sweat, keeping you fresh throughout the day.
- Skin moisturising ingredients to help protect the skin from irritation - the whole range has been endorsed by expert dermatologists.

The full range includes Stress Control, Sport Strength, Clean Scent, Confidence, Sensitive Dry and Everyday Fresh which are ......
Stronger than the leading antiperspirant*
Strong enough to protect you but mild enough to use every day
Give you confidence to enjoy those moments that matter

I would definitely recommend this antiperspirant as it does exactly what it claims and keeps you fresh, dry and full of confidence as well as smelling great!

Sure Maximum Protection is available in 45ml (RRP from £4.90**) at leading retailers nationwide.

* Against sweat. Nielson MAT unit sales w/e 01/01/15
** Price is at the sole discretion of the retailer

KOSMEA Hydrating Rosewater Mist from My Pure

I received Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Although few and far between, we have been lucky enough to enjoy some pretty hot weather here in the UK which has had a terrible effect on my skin. It is far dryer than normal and always feels tight which means it's also pretty uncomfortable. I do apply moisturiser in the mornings but when you get a bit sweaty, it seems to just wipe away leaving my skin vulnerable.

The back of the box states that "This hydrating facial mist is made with a thousand delicately distilled rose petals. With each spray, skin is hydrated and refreshed".

Sounds almost too good to be true right? Well that's what I thought until I tried it!

I opted for the travel size so that it would fit snugly in my handbag and therefore able to come with me wherever I went. It operates with a simple pump action spray and releases a nice amount of product giving good coverage with each spray. You can definitely smell the rosewater although it's not what I'd class as overpowering, just a nice, subtle hint of smell. The spray is uber refreshing when sprayed and on the extra hot days, I found that placing the bottle in the fridge for an hour or so before use, makes it nice and cool, which was perfect on really hot days. The moisturisation element is effective immediately, leaving skin feeling refreshed, calmed and perfectly hydrated. Once sprayed, you only have to wait a few seconds before skin is dry to touch and unbelievably, my make-up remained in tact despite me spraying after applying! The fact that it sprays very finely means that you don't get dirty great wet patches here and there, it's all pretty even and doesn't feel like a blast in the face when spraying.
The key ingredients are:
Rosa Damascena, Citric acid, Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate, Geraniol, Citronellol and Eugenol.

Overall I really loved this product and would definitely buy it again as it's lightweight, refreshing and left my skin feeling rejuvenated and pampered.

You can purchase Kosmea Hydrating Rosewater Mist from My Pure at a cost of £8.00 for a 25ml handbag sized bottle.

INIKA Truly Organic Ultimate Lip Balm

I was sent Inika Truly Organic Ultimate Lip Balm free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I love my lip balms and find myself relying on them more and more no matter what season it is. My lips always seem to suffer dryness making them uncomfortable on occasions, so lip balm is something I always carry with me ....my one essential item! When I noticed this on the My Pure website and read the ingredients, it sounded perfect.

It's the small things in life that please me and I have to say that I did smile a little when I opened the box to see this written inside. Nice little touch I thought.

The balm itself is a certified organic, vegan lip balm said to leave lips soft, smooth and nourished.

It contains:
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) oil*, Euphorbia cerifera (Candelilla) wax, Ricinus communis (Castor) oil*, Cocos nucifera (Coconut) oil*, Copernicia cerifera (Carnauba) wax*, Theobroma cacoa (Shea) butter*, Mentha piperita Peppermint) oil*, Vanilla flavour*, Tocopherol.
*Certified Ingredient

This comes in a lovely lightweight slender black tube which I really liked, although I always keep it in the box when carrying with me as I'm a little worried that it would be easily broken. The balm itself is a lovely creamy colour, which is a good representation of the texture too. You simply twist the handle to expose the balm then glide over lips. Twist in the opposite direction to retract the balm and keep it safe for its next use.

The first time I applied this balm, I could feel immediately how soft my lips became and although I braced myself for that all familiar taste that usually comes with organic lip products, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. There was still a very slight hint of it, but there was also a hint of peppermint which pretty much overpowered it ....perfect! The balm gives lips a nice sheen but doesn't leave them sticky like many others and for me, my lips appeared to look 'younger' if that's possible. Maybe it's just because they were well nourished for a change but I definitely noticed a difference. Being a proper tea monster, I've worked out that I can have 3 or 4 cuppas before needing to reapply the balm, which is pretty good going as most wash it off after only 1!

Overall, I am really impressed with this product, and although a little pricey, it's worth it for the benefits. One quick glide over each lip is sufficient for good coverage so the tube should last a fair while.

You can purchase INIKA Truly Organic Ultimate Lip Balm from My Pure at a cost of £15.50 for a 3.2g tube.

NEW Feel Romantic Radox Shower Cream

I was sent a bottle of Radox Shower Cream free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Radox have introduced a new range of shower creams which are bursting with fresh fragrances designed to transform your mood.
The four new fragrances are:

Feel Romantic
Lather up with this creamy shower-time treat, boasting romantic scents of Orchid & Blueberry to tantalise the senses and leave your skin feeling loved.

Feel Rejuvenated
Step into the shower and rejuvenate your senses with a blend of Orange Oil & nutritious Vitamin E to leave you feeling energised and ready to take on the day.

Feel Pampered
After a long day, de-stress, feel pampered and make the most of me-time with a creamy and fragrant blend of Shea Butter & Ginger to keep skin soft, supple and nourished.

Feel Calm
Create a calming shower sanctuary with this creamy shower cream, expertly blended with Jojoba Oil & soothing Chamomile to leave you feeling relaxed and renewed.

I received Feel Romantic and have to say that I was really impressed. The shower cream feels really luxurious and has a gorgeous creamy texture, which lathers up well whether using hands or a scrunchie. Just a small amount is sufficient for a full body wash and it rinses off with ease leaving no residue. The smell is simply divine. The subtle mixture of Orchid & Blueberry provides a fruity smell which I personally found to be quite sensual too. On the back of the bottle, this is described as a 'love letter in scent' and I couldn't agree more nor could I have put it better myself.

The scent is one of those that seems to hang on your skin, even hours after drying so you're guaranteed to smell fresh and dreamy all day long. The creaminess of Radox did the world of good for my dry skin leaving it feeling refreshed, well nourished and ready to take on the world. I had no tightness, even on my legs, which meant that I did't need to waste time applying moisturiser.

This is one shower cream I would highly recommend both for the gorgeous fragrances available and for the way it left my skin feeling.

Each bottle contains 250ml and the rrp is £2.15 which I think is pretty darned good!

Critical Hit-On (The Games of Love Book 1) by Deanna Dee

I received a copy of Critical Hit-On (The Games of Love Book 1) free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It's not often I go for chick-lit or romance books but the blurb for this really piqued my interest and I'm so pleased I got the chance to read it!

It's based around two main characters, Molly and Craig, and their chance meeting in A's where Molly works as a waitress. Her last relationship with Ward ended badly, and she has serious trust issues when it comes to men ....especially gamers! Craig on the other hand has his own problems, the biggest of which being his unruly 15 year old sister, Amber.
Craig and Molly meet when he and some friends visit A's to have a gaming session and Molly is the waitress assigned to their table. There is an immediate mutual attraction, but it takes Mollys' good friend Nikki (who's character I really loved), to step in and set them up on their first date.

It doesn't take long before Molly begins to feel comfortable with Craig and she gets on pretty well with his group of friends too. She actually starts to believe that they really could be going somewhere, that is until Ward rears his ugly head. Doubts form in Mollys mind and it's not long before life becomes a bit of a rollercoaster full of mixed emotions. Will they get through it all or is it about to be ruined by outside forces? You'll have to read it to find out!

Although each chapter in this book continues the story from where the last chapter ended, they alternate between the characters so you get it from both Molly and Craigs perspective - something I really loved! You're drawn in from the very first chapter in what I'd class as a very light-hearted geeky romance story with a few twists along the way. Deanna has written this so well that you're carried along for the ride and feel the passion and pain of the characters. I really wanted to give them both a swift kick up the backside at various points of the story and let out more than a few loud giggles at some of the quips and one-liners. Nikki, who is Mollys best friend was by far my favourite character. Her feistiness, strong-will and common sense made her loveable and at times, hilariously funny ......my kinda gal! There are other characters in the book who you learn a little about and I'm hoping to find out more about them in book 2 - which I can't wait for!

Overall a great summer read and definitely recommended if you're looking for something well rounded, fun and light-hearted with a hint of geeky romance.

Purchase your copy now on Amazon.co.uk for only 99p (Kindle Edition)
For those in the US you can buy from Amazon.com for $1.54 (Kindle Edition)
All prices correct at time of post

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Jeans Effect Nail Polish from L'Oreal

The colour was what drew me towards this Jeans Effect nail polish from L'Oreal. It's called Jeans and Tonic (865) and is a gorgeous shade of pink. Once again, it was an absolute bargain at only £1 in Poundland!

This applied really well and dried in just a couple of minutes. I did apply 2 coats so that I had a good, strong colour with no nail showing through.

Hopefully you can see from the pic above that the polish has a textured effect which feels and looks slightly stipply. I'm guessing this is why it's called 'Jeans Effect' as it is kind of like that. I found this really easy to apply as I didn't have to be quite so neat due to the texture - you couldn't really tell when I went over the odd bit! This one lasted around 3 days before having to be removed which I still thought was quite impressive as I expected it to chip off within the first day. The colour itself is so pretty and actually made my stubby little nails look okay!

Overall this is yet another great find that I really love and hope to find some more next time I'm in Poundland. I'll keep you posted ;)

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Colour

Once again, I managed to grab a bargain of the century with this gorgeous Sally Hansen nail polish in Butter-fly Stroke. After a bit of rummaging in my local Poundland I found this for yes, you guessed it, £1.

I've always been a fan of Sally Hansen and couldn't wait to try this. One thing I love about these is the size of the brush - pretty much one stroke and it's nail done! It also dries really quickly so great if you're in a bit of a hurry and ideal for getting a second coat on almost immediately. I'd definitely recommend using 2 coats as the nail is still visible after only one.

As you can see, with 2 coats you get a gorgeous finish and the colour is perfect for summer. I really loved it and this managed to last a good 4 days before needing removed due to slight chipping on the ends of my nails - nothing too drastic though.

Overall I would highly recommend this if you're looking for something bright, hard-wearing and with a nice shine.

Sweetie Crush Nail Polish from Rimmel London

I'm a huge lover of nail polishes and have been loving the range of colours and textures available lately. I managed to pick up this Rimmel London Sweetie Crush nail polish in Blueberry Whizz for ony £1 at Poundland - a bargain and a half in my opinion!

I really love the design on the lid and the colour really appealed to me too. Now to try it!

I was really impressed with how well this went on and it was far less messy than some other polishes I've used. I applied 2 coats to get a decent coverage and immediately fell in love with the glittery effect.

You can just about see the sparkle here. The finish isn't a smooth one, but slightly stippled which was something new to me but I really liked it. Usually when I wear nail polish, I have to remove it after a day or two as housework and dishes don't mix well with painted nails and it often begins to chip off in no time. This however managed to go the distance and last a whole week before needing removed and I really did put it through its paces.

Overall I am highly impressed with the bottle, the polish itself, the finish and its hardiness, so will definitely be buying more! Why not pop down to your local Poundland and see what bargains you can pick up!

New Sure Compressed for Women

I'm always curious when new deodorants etc appear on the market so was thrilled when I was asked if I'd like to review the new Sure Compressed  ...of course I would! This was sent to me free of charge in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I'd seen the adverts and now it was time to try it for myself and put it to the test. Being compressed means that the bottle is much smaller than normal but it contains the same amount of antiperspirant as the regular sized bottle ...unbelievable right?? The antiperspirant is executed in a smaller can which releases less air, but you still get the same amount of product with each spray - genius! The spray has also been developed to be softer on your skin, whilst retaining the same amount of protection no matter what you do.

The unique microcapsules sit on the surface of yours skin and as you move, the underarm friction causes the capsules to burst which releases an immediate freshness.

I sprayed in the morning when getting dressed and to be honest, I didn't really expect this to actually work but was pleasantly surprised! After doing the dreaded housework, I usually have to re-apply my deodorant but with this, one application was all it took. Every time I moved my arms, whether pegging out the washing or mopping my floors, there was a gorgeous smell of Cotton Dry sure wafting under my nose - so much better than sweat! Even when my other half returned home from work he commented on how fresh I smelled, and that's a first! Unbelievably, I was still getting sweet smelling bursts of fragrance when getting ready for bed that night.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this antiperspirant as it does exactly what it claims and the new compressed tins fit easily into your handbag just in case - not that you'll need a respray but it's comforting to know it's there.