July Empties

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo // Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner // Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical // Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator // Anti-blemish Skinetica // La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo // Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser // Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray // Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Sensuously Smooth Shampoo & Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner - As I have mentioned in previous posts, I'm on a mission to improve my hair. I think my wedding, a year today, has kicked me into gear but also because I'm sick of my own hair and how unhealthy it is. I only want to use shampoo and conditioners which have no nasties in them from now on but I didn't want to waste all the other shampoo and conditioners I had left. The shampoo has a delicious scent and made my hair feel smooth, soft and silky (but that is what the harsh chemicals are supposed to do!) When I first used this conditioner a year ago  I loved it but I wasn't as clued up about ingredients then. I'm not an expert now but I just don't want to wash my hair in parabens and sulfates. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical - I love Batiste dry shampoo and out of all of the scents I have tried, this is definitely my favorite. It's just so fresh and clean. I have already repurchased this one but I have a few different scents in my collection now. I quite like the blonde one as it does a great job of disguising my roots! I don't use this on a daily basis - it is for emergencies only! My hair is pretty damaged and dry so I only wash it twice a week, anymore and it will become more damaged. However, some days it can be greasier than others (probably down to sulfates and chemicals in my shampoo and conditioner) and if I don't get the chance to wash it, I'll just give it a quick refresh and I'm good to go. (Please note, this is only on occasions and I'm not disgusting! A can of this lasts me forever!)

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator - I have already repurchased this as it really is gentle on my face and doesn't do any damage to my skin. I try and use it twice a week, usually before a face mask, to remove any dead skin cells. A lot of people are hating on the manual exfoliators these days but this one is full of natural ingredients and it contains fine jojoba beads which gently buff away the dead skin cells. The Liz Earle website states it is not suitable for sensitive skin so please bare that in mind. Sometimes I mix it with my Cleanse & Polish for an even gentler exfoliation.  

Anti-blemish Skinetica* - I received this in a goodie bag from a blogger event that I attended. It contains no harsh chemicals and the active ingredient is a highly sophisticated quaternary Ammonium Chloride compound combined with a Sylyl base. (How scientific does that sound?!) It does contain ethyl alcohol but I haven't found it to be drying on the skin. I applied this twice a day, morning and night before my moisturiser and I saw a difference when using it alongside La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo - I caved into the hype surrounding this despite some people saying it did nothing for them or breaking them out, never the less, I purchased it. I have already repurchased it as I was amazed at the difference in my skin. The week or so between, before I managed to repurchase, my skin had returned to it's usual horrible self. This was confirmation enough that I needed to repurchase this baby. I originally purchased this in Boots while it was on 3 for 2 offer, however, I repurchased it from escentual.com when they had 20% off. So it's worth keeping your eyes peeled for offers.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Moisturiser - I have been using this moisturiser for about a year now and I have repurchased over and over again. In the Winter, I use this moisturiser in the morning under my make up but opt for Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination skin at night. Throughout July, we have experienced some extremely hot days and I have been applying the light moisturiser morning and night. It is a lovely light moisturiser, as the name suggests, which is easily absorbed and doesn't clog pores. You can read my review here. 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - Another repurchase of mine. Body spray is something I wear on a daily basis when the occasion doesn't warrant perfume such as work (I work in a school) and popping to the supermarket. This scent is my favourite impulse fragrance and I always pop a few in my basket when they are on special offer for 99p!

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer - This concealer isn't as well loved in the 'blogosphere' than the Lasting Perfection concealer but I have been using it for just as long. I use this concealer under my eyes as I find the Lasting Perfection a little to thick for my delicate eye area. This one is illuminating so it doubles as a highlight and it is super easy to blend under the eyes. I find it doesn't crease either but I do set it with powder. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I love this powder and so do many other beauty bloggers. I get the shade transparent as I just want it to set my foundation/concealer and make my face matte. I use bronzer and blusher to add colour where I want it. It doesn't appear too chalky on the face and it mattifies my foundation. My only negative is the packaging - it isn't very sturdy which makes transporting it impossible. You can read what I think more in depth by reading my review. 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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June Empties

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser / Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic / Simple Eye Make Up Remover / Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner /Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask / Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer / Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara / Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray / Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another Cleanse & Polish! I actually ran out of this and didn't have a back up, nightmare! I had to use another cleanser and I broke out like crazy. Liz Earle for life! You can read what I think in more detail here. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - This has been amazing recently. When I wake up at 6am for work, my eyes and whole face is so puffy. (Thanks hayfever!) I just soak a cotton wool pad and sweep over all of my face and it does a fantastic job of waking me up and refreshing my puffy face! Read my full review here. 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - Another regular part of my skin care routine. This is the only make up remover that doesn't sting my eyes straight away. It only does if I don't cleanse straight away. I have been using Micellar Water to remove my make up before cleansing but I haven't had the confidence to try it on my eyes yet. I'm just worried it will sting. One day, I will give it a try!

Percy & Reed Splendidly Silky Moisturising Conditioner - This was a magazine freebie from Glamour. I think it was actually from last year but I only got round to using it recently. I'm not sure of the smell, I recognise it but I can't put my finger on what else smells similar. It's a very thick conditioner but it doesn't make my hair greasy or weigh it down. However, I have dry, thick hair so it may be a different story if your hair is the opposite to mine. 

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - At first, I was impressed with Avon Moroccan Argan Oil hair care but since using a variety of other shampoo and conditioner brands, mainly ones that are SLS free and learning more about sulphates, I have noticed a difference with the texture of my hair. So I will not be repurchasing again and I am not going to purchase anymore hair care with sulphates in. I still have some products left which contain sulphates, so I am going to use up those first. I don't want to waste them.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - If you haven't tried this concealer, where have you been and why not? It's £4.19 worth of amazingness! I always make sure I have at least one back up for when I run out. Usually I have two or three back ups because it can be difficult to find my shade so when I do find it, I go crazy! It works really well at covering up my blemishes but as I've said before, I find it too thick for under my eyes. However some beauty bloggers do use it under their eyes. You can read what I think in depth here.

Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara - When I made my usual Liz Earle order back in December, I received this as a free gift. It is honestly the best mascara I have ever used. Mascara doesn't have a great shelf life and I know people only use them for 2/3 months but it did have 6 months on and it hasn't ran out or dried up so I continued to use it for six months because it is that good! It's fairly pricey compared to my usual Rimmel mascara but when my current back ups have ran out, I may have to repurchase it because I am missing it already! 

Impulse Tease Body Fragrance Spray - I don't need to tell you again that this is my favourite body spray fragrance. I use it for work as I work in a school and I don't want to use perfume. Body spray is a nice alternative to perfume when the occasion just doesn't warrant wasting my perfume! I always keep one in my handbag so I can smell nice at all times. Does anyone else use body spray on a day to day basis but perfume for special occasions/evening? 

Gucci Rush 2 Eau De Toilette 75ml - I bought this in September with some birthday money from Debenhams. I got the 75ml bottle as it was half price so it actually worked out cheaper than the 30ml bottle! (Don't you love it when that happens?!) I absolutely love the smell of this perfume and it's perfect for summer days as it's light and refreshing. At the moment I have four other perfumes so I don't currently need a new one. But I do have lots and lots of Boots points so I'm thinking about using them for a perfume. But there are so many different perfumes, I don't know where to start! I currently own Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, Dior Miss Dior Cherie, Armarni Diamonds and Hugo Boss Orange. I absolutely love all of those so based on them do you have any recommendations? 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

February/March 2013 Favourites

Hi lovelies!

I know, I know it's nearly April and I'm just getting round to posting my February Favourites! I have no idea what happened. I took these photos early in March and they've just been waiting on my camera. As it's nearly April and I'm still using these products on a regular basis, this is going to be my February/March Favourites. I've been trying not to spend as much money on make up and beauty products lately so I haven't got any new favourites for March. 

MUA Heaven & Earth Eye Shadow Palette - This has quickly become my favourite MUA palette. However, that may all change soon, as I want the Undress Me Too palette! I'm a neutral girl through and through so this palette is perfect for me. As I said in my review, I am wearing shimmer eye shadows more often now where as I used to only reach for matte shades. You can see some closer photos and swatches in my review. You can purchase this palette from Superdrug in store or MUA online or Superdrug online. This palette is a bargain at £4 as the shadows are great quality and they are highly pigmented.

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub - If you're anything like me, the cold weather has left your lips feeling dry and chapped. My solution - gently exfoliate your lips with LUSH bubblegum lip scrub before slapping tons of lip balm on every evening before bed. It works a treat and smells (and tastes) delicious! My lips are left feeling soft and moisturised (from the lip balm) the next day, ready for some lipstick. You can buy it in stores or online, priced at £5.25.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch - This is a product that was on my wishlist for months and months. I wasn't sure I could justify £26 for such a small pot but I got my hands on a 1 ml sample and I was hooked!  It leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft, which is the perfect base for my foundation. It does a fairly good job at hiding my pores but some days they are massive and I need some cement!!! Luckily, after Christmas the Clarins website was holding a sale which included the Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch. They were offering the standard 50 ml pot and a 30 ml tube of Beauty Flash Balm for £17.50. Before I knew it, I was checking out and selecting my three free samples to try (which, by the way Clarins, is an amazing idea as I now have more Clarins items on my wishlist)!

Collection Colour Lash All Day Colour Mascara in Clear - I have been wanting a gel to set my eyebrows for a long time. There is a wax in the MUA Brow Kit, which I use, but I hate how I have to use my fingers to apply it and there isn't a lot of it in the kit. I have seen that a few people use clear mascara to set their brows. So when I spotted this in Superdrug for £1.99, I had to try it. I'm actually liking it so far and I will definitely repurchase it. It's not actually clear any more as the powder that I use to fill my eyebrows has come off on the brush so it looks a bit disgusting! It also includes protein and I have noticed my eyebrows grow more since I started to use it. So if you're looking to grow your brows, or lashes, I definitely recommend it.

Sleek Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette in Light - I actually wanted to pick up the Sleek Face Contour Kit, which is £6.49 as I had seen so many people rant and rave about it. Every time I popped in Superdrug, it was sold out. Then I spotted Face Form, which includes a contour shade, a highlight and a blush for £10. The blush looked really pretty so I couldn't resist and bought this instead. I'm so glad I did. I use all three of the products and it's the perfect palette for travelling with. 

Avon Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Pout - This is the first Avon lipstick I have purchased and so far I love it! The shade is perfect and the formulation is creamy and moisturising. Application is so easy and effortless. I will definitely be purchasing more shades from Avon, I just haven't decided which ones yet! Any recommendations? The RRP of these are £7 but Avon often have offers on so keep your eyes open. I think I got this for £2.49 or £3.49. 

What have been your favourite products this month? Have any of your favourites made my list?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Everyday Make Up #3

Primer - Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch

Foundation -  No7 Stay Perfect Foundation in Calico (review here)

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Light (review here)

Powder - Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent (review here)

Bronzer - Rimmel Sunshimmer Bronzing Compact Powder in Light Matte

Blusher - Benefit Dandelion

Highlighter - MUA Shimmer Kisses Bronzer

Eyeliner - Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Black

Mascara - Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara in Black

Eye Shadow - MUA Heaven & Earth Eye Shadow Palette

Lipstick - AVON Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Pout

My last Everyday Make Up post was way back in November before I moved house! I think since the move I forgot about these posts until I saw them in my blogging notebook. A few items have changed since but some have stayed the same since November. My foundation, concealer, powder and bronzer are all the same and I have been using these products for quite a few months now.

I'm almost out of foundation and I think I want to try something different next. I was thinking about the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation as so many bloggers say it's a great drugstore foundation but the fact that I would have to select the shade myself scares me. I'll get home and it will totally be the wrong shade! Probably like I've been tango'd! So does anyone know if Rimmel have a similar shade to No7 Calico? That would be a massive help! Or I was thinking I would stick with No7 but get another foundation match done in early summer as my skin tone may have changed since I last had it done! Aahhh decisions, decisions! I have wrote a review of the No7 Stay Perfect Foundation, which you can read here.

Obviously, I am still using Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as it's amazing. However, I have been using light for so long but I much prefer natural. It suits my skin tone much better. You can read what I think in more detail here.

My powder choice is still Rimmel Stay Matte as it's perfect and doesn't cake. I'm not going to change something that isn't broken! You can read what I think in depth here.

As you can see, I'm still using the same bronzer as I was back in November (and September)! I just cannot find one that I like more. I almost fell for NARS Laguna because of all the hype surrounding it. I even went to Selfridges to purchase it but I just decided it wasn't for me. When I lightly swatched it on my hand, I could see glitter/shimmer. Even though many people said you couldn't see it when it was on your face, I didn't want to take the chance. So I'm still using the same bronzer, that I have been wearing for about three years! 

A new addition into my make up routine is the Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch Primer. It has a steep price tag but I think it's worth every penny. It also helps that I got it for £17.50 as it was in a set on sale on the Clarins website after Christmas. Bonus! I don't technically wear this everyday as I don't wear it for work but I do wear it for all other occasions. It feels so velvety and smooth as I apply it and it leaves my face feeling and looking flawless. It provides the perfect base for my foundation and since using it I have noticed how much better my foundation looks. The only negative I have is that some days it doesn't cover all my pores but I do have relatively large pores! 

A blusher I'm reaching for more and more is Benefit Dandelion. As spring is fast approaching, I think it's the perfect shade on my skin tone to give me a healthy, spring time glow. I pair this with MUA Shimmer Kisses Bronzer, which I actually use as a highlighter. I use my Real Techniques Setting brush to apply it to the top of my cheekbones and my brow bone. If I want extra highlight to add more definition to my face, then I also apply it to the middle of my nose, my cupid's bow and my forehead.

In December, I received the Liz Earle Lash Definition Smudgeproof Mascara as a freebie in the monthly essentials. I have been using it ever since and I absolutely love it. No matter how much I apply it doesn't clump my lashes and it adds length and volume. Previously, I was using the Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara, which I love as well, but I find I find it can clump, especially in the evening when I apply more for greater volume and length.

My eyeliner of choice has been the Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner. I bought this shortly after it was released and I have been using it ever since. I only apply eyeliner to my waterline as I don't have a steady hand to apply eyeliner above my upper lash line. I wish I could! As I apply it to my waterline, most eyeliners have a tendency to wear off quickly. I find Rimmel Scandal Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner lasts a lot longer and best of all it doesn't run!

Last month, I purchased the popular MUA Heaven & Earth Palette. I absolutely love my Undressed palette and I have hit pan on a few shades but I also wanted to give Heaven & Earth a try. At the moment in time, I couldn't choose a favourite but I am loving using both of them. They both have shimmer and matte shades and include shades suitable for day and evening wear.

Another product I purchased last month was AVON Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Pout. I bought it because it was half price in the AVON catalogue and I thought the shade looked perfect. I haven't tried an AVON lipstick before and I didn't have chance to swatch it so I took a chance. I was so lucky as I absolutely love the shade. It's my lips but better and is my 'go to' lipstick for daytime. It has definitely made me want to try more AVON lipsticks. The formula is so moisturising and it's just perfect!

Which products are you loving this month? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

My Haircare Routine - Shampoo

This is going to be a three part post - shampoo, conditioner and then after care/treatments. I love reading haircare/skincare posts so I thought I would share my routines and the products I use. First up is shampoo. I'm not loyal to a particular brand as I haven't found a miracle shampoo just yet. There are currently seven shampoos in my 'collection'. Is seven a bit excessive? They all have different jobs, well mostly, so I feel like they are justified! They are in no particular order. I photographed them in height order (roughly!). My hair is pretty dry and damaged from years of heat and colour. It's naturally curly and very frizzy but I often wear it straight. 

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Shampoo - This is almost empty. I'll probably get one or two more uses out of it. My mum got me the shampoo and conditioner last Christmas. They've lasted because I have so many other shampoos and I've tried to make it last as long as possible. This shampoo is sodium chloride and sulphate free, so no nasties are being put on your hair! I think it has quite a weird scent to it that I'm not so keen on. But it does leave my hair feeling super smooth and nourished.
Edit: Since writing this I have finished all of the shampoo!

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Shampoo - I think I picked this up in Boots because it was on offer, I can't remember though. I have used this shampoo before and I think it's quite good for the price. It's for dry, damaged and frizzy hair, which are the three words I would use to describe my hair! I don't have the money to use high end haircare products every time I wash my hair, so I use drugstore brands in between. This has a lovely fruity smell and leaves my hair feeling clean and fairly conditioned. Some shampoos make my hair feel really dry and knotty but this is quite moisturising for a shampoo.

Paul Mitchell Strength Super Strong Daily Shampoo - My parents seem to like buying me hair products for Christmas as this was in a set I received this year! I absolutely love this range. It makes my hair feel nourished and I have actually noticed a difference in the strength. I wouldn't describe it as 'Super Strong' just yet, but I have noticed less breakage. I have been finding I need quite a bit of both the shampoo and conditioner though, which is not good! I don't think they will last a lot longer. They leave my hair feeling soft, silky and shiny! It's like looking at someone else's hair! 

Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo - I use this shampoo once a week, usually on a Sunday, as my detox shampoo. I can't afford Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo but I would love to try it out. Until then, this is a cheap alternative. My hair can sometimes feel heavy from build up as I do use quite a few products and this is great at thoroughly cleansing my hair. I like having freshly washed and 'squeaky' clean hair on a Monday. I do find it leaves my hair a little 'squeaky' but once I have applied conditioner I don't have a problem. 

Trevor Sorbie Beautifully Straightened Protection Shampoo - I picked this up just after Christmas in a set for £7 but I actually used Boots points so I got it for free! However, it wasn't till I got home that I noticed the shampoo was for fine/normal hair, which is the complete opposite of mine! It doesn't moisturise my hair and it actually makes my hair feel dry but it cleanses it so I use a hair mask when using this shampoo. I don't really have anything else to say about this. I would like to try the version for thick hair though. 

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo - This a fantastic product from AVON. I prefer it over other shampoo products from AVON. However, I much prefer the oil and mask from this range (more to come on these when I discuss the treatments that I use.) After just one use of this range my hair felt amazing. However, each time I've used it since, it just doesn't feel the same. Maybe in the long run I will notice a difference. This is my second bottle but I'm not sure I will purchase it again. 

Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo - Even though it's called twice a week brightening shampoo, I only use it once a week as I don't wash my hair enough times in the week to use it twice. That might sound disgusting to some people but my hair is very dry and I only wash it when it's greasy, which is usually 3 times a week. If I wash it any more, my hair would just be in worse condition. I use this shampoo along with the conditioner to keep my colour fresh so it doesn't appear brassy. I have noticed a slight improvement but there has been weeks where I've forgot and I desperately need to do my roots. I say roots but it'll look like I've had Ombre done soon!

How many shampoos do you own in your 'collection'? Do you recommend any shampoo based on my hair type?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Mini Haul #3

I haven't done a haul post since October, yet I feel I've spent so much money on make up and beauty products! These are the products I have bought over the past month or so. I think I'm going to keep track of the beauty products that I buy and jot them down in a notebook. I'm trying to not spend as much on things I don't need as lately (thanks to blogging) I have spent a fortune on things I want! I still have a massive list of things I want! Reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos on new products, monthly favourites and tutorials are really not helping. But I can't help it! It's what I love and really is my hobby! Blogging is an expensive hobby!

Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Repair Mask

B. Nourished Night Serum

B. Pure Micellar Water

TRESemme Vitamin C Deep Cleansing Shampoo

MUA Heaven & Earth Palette

Vo5 Miracle Concentrate Elixir with Argan Oil

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub

AVON Ultra Colour Rich Lipstick in Pout

January Empties

Sorry guys I had to take this picture in the snow! It was too hard to resist! I think it looks pretty cool and it's making the most of the natural light that we have at Winter time (which is not a lot). This is my very first empties post and I'm excited to be doing it. I love reading blog posts and watching videos on YouTube of empty products. It shows which products people are actually using and get their real opinions once they've used all the product up and not just for one day! Some of these items I have reviewed and I will leave the links for them below. But I plan to leave a mini review on this post anyway. 

Schwarzkopf Kids Supersoft Detangling Spray - This has lasted a long time! I use it every time I wash my hair. I have long, thick hair and after shampooing and applying conditioner my hair can become quite knotty. I simply spray this all over my hair, focusing on the ends, and comb through. My hair is very damaged and I'm always worried that I will damage it further by combing whilst knotty. It doesn't make my hair greasy or weigh it down. I absolutely love the scent of milk and strawberries. It's sweet yet refreshing. I will definitely be repurchasing (if they still make this). If not, I will be on the look out for another detangling spray. Do you have any recommendations? I think I want a Tangle Teezer too!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This needs no introduction! This is probably Liz Earle's most sold product and it has won a variety of awards. I have been using this for a year and I have repurchased it several times and I will continue to repurchase it for a long time. I love how luxurious it feels on my face and I like how it dissolves my make up. I use a muslin cloth with the cleanser and it gives my face a daily gentle exfoliate, which leaves my skin feeling smooth and soft.

Impulse Body Spray Tease - You can't beat an Impulse body spray! I reckon everyone has bought at least one Impulse body spray in their life! Out of all the fragrances that I have tried, Tease is my favourite and it's the one that I bulk buy when I see it on offer for 99p! Bargain. I have noticed actually that they have repackaged them. I have been using them that long, I remember them having a different packaging before the above design! I use a body spray on a daily basis. I want to smell nice but I work in a school so I don't particularly want to waste my perfumes. Especially as I have an expensive taste in perfume!

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - I have sensitive eyes and I've found this the only bearable eye make up remover that I have tried. But I still have to rinse if off straight away. If I don't, my eyes sting so much. Not good. I use this to remove my eye make up then follow with Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish to remove the rest of my make up. The remover isn't oily, which is a good thing as I can't stand putting oily removers on my eyes. This is another product that I have purchased over and over again and I will continue to unless I find something that doesn't sting my eyes!

Liz Earle Skin Repair Normal/Combination Moisturiser - I bought this in October and I have been using it every night since. It's lasted me three months before I ran out, which I think is pretty good going. Luckily, I had already repurchased it so I will continue to apply it each night until mid Spring to keep my skin moisturised. I think it will be too much for my skin in Summer and possibly late Spring/early Autumn so I will use it for a half a year each year before switching back to using just the light version morning and night.

Avon Advance Tecniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - Another product that I've already repurchased. I'm not stuck in a beauty rut! Why fix something if it's not broken? I use this hair mask 3 to 4 times a month. Usually once a week if I remember! As I mentioned in my review, I only apply this to the ends of my hair. It leaves my hair feeling smooth, soft, silky and manageable. Result! This is supposed to be £5.50 but it's almost always on offer for around £3. 

Which products have you used up this month? Have you been loving any of these products?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

Avon Advance Tecniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Mask - Review

Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil Mask £5.50 (currently £3.75)

This is a weekly hair treatment which aims to strengthen, nourish and protect your hair. I apply it when I feel my hair needs a boost of moisture. It might be once a week or sometimes twice a week. I have fairly dry hair, but it is improving slowly thanks to all the treatments I have been using. As I have dry hair, over washing it can cause it to dry out even more and break. I can get away with only washing my hair two/three times a week. I usually wash my hair and then leave it two days before washing it again. 

Avon suggests applying the mask all over your hair, from root to tip. Even though I have dry hair, my roots can get quite greasy quickly especially if I apply too many products. Therefore, I only apply the mask to the ends of my hair. I can tell when I have used the mask. My hair feels smoother and healthier afterwards. It's a lot more manageable and it gives my hair a subtle shine. I use the mask once or twice a week and leave it on for about 5 minutes.

I have the full range of Moroccan Argan Oil products from Avon. You can read my review of the shampoo, conditioner and oil here. After using the shampoo and conditioner more, I am on my second bottle, I have to admit I don't think it is actually that great and I won't be purchasing it again. However, I love the oil and this mask and I will continue to repurchase these. I have actually repurchased the mask and I'm waiting for it to arrive.

Do you use any Moroccan Argan Oil products? Have you used Avon's version? 

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Avon Advance Tecniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Treatment - Review

Avon Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo £2.80

Avon Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner £2.80

Avon Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-In Treatment £5.50

Even Avon have jumped on the argan oil bandwagon!

I have dry, frizzy, naturally curly, long and coloured hair as mentioned in this post. Personally, I haven't used any of the other argan oil products, however, I have had the MoroccanOil applied to my hair by a hairdresser. Along with the other hair products used, my hair felt gorgeous. But whose hair doesn't after a visit to the hairdressers?

Argan oil is a plant oil produced from the kernels of the argan tree, which is found in Morocco. The actual name for the oil in the ingredients list is Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and in all three products it appears quite far down the list. This can only mean that not much argan oil is actually used in the products. How much needs to be used to call it Moroccan Argan Oil? Surely, the ingredient should be further up the list?

The Shampoo

The shampoo claims to be gentle which helps to transform dry hair and leave it feeling moisturised. It contains Argan Oil, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E, which claims to instantly detangle hair, leaving it soft, smooth and silky. The shampoo is priced at £2.80 but it is on special offer at the moment for £1.10! I bought it for £1.99.

I have used a few different Avon shampoos and to be honest, I would say that this smells the same as the others. But it does make my hair feel soft and silky after shampooing alone, even though I have dry hair.

The Conditioner

The conditioner claims to be hydrating which helps to transform dry hair, locking in moisture from root to tip. It contains Argan Oil, Provitamin B5 and Vitamin E, which claims to deeply condition and leave hair noticeably more beautiful and manageable. The conditioner is priced at £2.80 but it is on special offer at the moment for £1.10!

Similarly, I have used several Avon conditioners and I would say that this smells the same as regular conditioner from Avon. I always take a wide toothed comb into the shower to comb through my hair after I have applied conditioner. I have long, thick hair that gets tangled very easily. However, when it was time to comb my hair, I found it was already detangled and it's down to the shampoo and conditioner. I have only used the shampoo and conditioner together, so I couldn't tell you if the claims are correct about the shampoo instantly detangling hair.

The Leave-In Treatment

The leave-in treatment is an exotic blend containing rare Moroccan argan oil, which absorbs instantly to infuse hair with moisture and shine. It claims to help nourish and smooth dry, damaged, fragile hair to leave it looking softer, stronger, healthier and irresistibly touchable. The oil comes in a 30ml glass pump bottle, which is perfect as you can control how much you use and there is no waste. It is meant to be applied on towel-dried or damp hair, which for me is every third day as that is how often I need to wash my hair. This may seem a long time to wait to other people, but my hair would honestly break off if I washed it every day plus I would spend half my life drying it, I have that much hair!

This is the first time I have used oil on my hair as I mentioned earlier. Even though my hair is dry, I find that some products can make my hair greasy and product can build up. I was especially worried about oil, so I only used one pump! I soon realised this was not enough, I think I used 4 or 5 pumps altogether. I haven't found this product heavy or too greasy, quite the opposite in fact. I didn't apply it directly to my roots to avoid greasiness but my hair felt so soft and it was actually irresistibly touchable! The leave-in treatment is priced at £5.50 but it is on special offer at the moment for £3.30. I actually got this for £3, so it's gone up slightly. But it is totally worth it!

The Verdict

I would have to say that I agree with these claims, I was so impressed with the whole range. I am going to continue using the whole range and I have actually ordered the mask, which is an intensive weekly treatment. The mask is priced at £5.50 but it is on special offer at the moment for £2.20. Bargain! I will do a review of that once I have used it for about a month. The whole range is affordable and it has transformed my hair. My hair is soft, smooth and silky and my frizz is reduced. I would like to try other argan oil products so I can compare, but I am really happy with Avon's version.

Have you tried any argan oil products? Have you tried Avon Moroccan Argan Oil?

Rachel x
Lost In Lipstick

Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Shampoo and Conditioner - Review

I ordered this through the Avon catalogue as my friend is an Avon representative. My hair is very dry, frizzy, naturally curly, long and coloured. I have been searching for the 'ultimate frizz control' products for many years now, but have yet to find a solution. The Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Shampoo and Conditioner are a cheap product that are worth giving a go, you never know!

It wasn't until I actually received the products that I realised they stated they were suitable for all hair types. Personally, I don't understand how a shampoo and conditioner can cater for all needs. When I'm buying shampoo and conditioner, I always buy the one that caters for dry/damaged hair as my hair needs all the help it can get!

I found the shampoo and conditioner to have a fairly pleasant smell, it wasn't offensive and it wasn't over powering. Usually, due to the condition of my hair, I need to use quite a lot of conditioner. However, I found this conditioner to be very heavy and I felt like my hair was greasy, even though it was freshly washed! Perhaps I need to learn how to use less! The packaging is very simple and very 'Avon-like'.

Currently, the Avon website has both these items on special offer. The shampoo is only £1.40 and the conditioner is £1.65. At just over £3, these are definitely worth a try if you have frizzy hair. Let me know what you think if you do try them.

What are you favourite hair products? Have you ever tried Avon shampoos or conditioners before?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick