Faith In Nature Coconut Shampoo & Conditioner - Review

Faith In Nature Coconut Shampoo* & Faith In Nature Conditioner* £5.50 each

Recently, I was contacted by the lovely ladies at Faith In Nature and they asked me if I would like to try one of their shampoo and conditioner ranges. Faith In Nature do exactly that; they put their faith into nature. They use natural ingredients to make a range of products including body care and skin care. I much prefer using 'green' haircare and I definitely notice a massive difference after repeated use. 

Born in Edinburgh 40 years ago, Faith In Nature believe in doing good for their customers, doing good in the way they run their business and doing good for the planet. Also, they are passionate about keeping their prices affordable so everyone can benefit from what the Earth provides. Not only do Faith In Nature use natural ingredients, their products are organic, cruetly free and vegan which is fantastic news! Currently based in Lancashire, Faith In Nature try to keep everything British; they manufacture in Britain and where possible, try to source products from the UK. If this is not possible, they aim to use ethically sourced, fairly traded produce. 

As my hair is dry and damaged, I decided to give the coconut range a try which is designed for normal to dry hair. Faith In Nature doesn't just use plants in their products because they smell nice; they believe that each plant has powers and healing qualities. For example, coconut oil inhibits the loss of skin moisture making skin smoother (this would work in exactly the same way with your hair). As the products are natural with no added nasties, they don't have a long shelf life; six months in fact. In my opinion, that's plenty of time for a shampoo and conditioner. I'm not sure mine would last that long anyway! 

From the very first wash, I was impressed! The shampoo lathers up perfectly (I've tried other natural shampoos which don't) and after washing my hair twice (it was greasy) my hair was very clean. My hair didn't feel squeaky clean, it never should, but my hands did a little bit. The coconut scent is delicious! I can close my eyes and pretend I'm on a Caribbean beach washing my hair under a waterfall! The conditioner seems quite runny but I don't know if that's because I'm used to ones which are full of chemicals. You just have to be careful that you don't loose any! The directions suggest leaving it on for 5 minutes, which I do. Afterwards, my hair feels super soft and is a lot easier to comb than usual. 

The result is that I recommend Faith In Nature Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner. Who doesn't want a shampoo which cleans and conditioner which conditions while being environmentally friendly and hair friendly? 

Do you prefer using 'greener' haircare? Have you tried Faith In Nature? 

Rachel x

April Empties

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution // Simple Eye Make Up Remover // REN Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser // The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner // Dove Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant // Impulse Body Spray in Tease // Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo // Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner // The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream // Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara // Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution - This is the second bottle that I've gone through. I love the stuff! I pick mine up from www.escentual.com and although the 250ml bottle is £9.99, they often have discounts available. I think I picked this one up for £7.50. This may seem expensive to some but it's the best Micellar Water I've tried and I've tried a few. I still have one more brand to try and I'll keep you updated if it measures up to the favourite. Something that I don't like about Micellar Waters is that they always state there is no need to rinse on the bottle. I think that is just lazy and is as bad as using make up wipes alone. *shudders*

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - Although, Bioderma is gentle enough to remove my eye make up, at almost £10 I'd rather use this which is less than £3. That way, my Bioderma stretches a little further. I actually picked one up in Tesco last week for £1.50. Bargain! Simple Eye Make Up Remover is gentle and effective enough for my sensitive eyes. I'm looking to get a waterproof mascara for my wedding day (I'm not planning on crying, but it's going to be a long, hot day and I want my make up to stay put). So I will report back on how effective it is at removing waterproof mascara as it claims to do so on the packaging. 

REN Rosa Centifolia Foaming Cleanser - I bought this from Space NK which I think may have ignited my new skincare obsession! I decided enough was enough and I wanted to improve my skin. This was the first REN product I've ever tried but I'm going to be honest here. I was not impressed. It didn't help my skin at all. It didn't make it worse but I expected it to help it in some way. Caroline Hirons stresses not to use foaming products, although this didn't dry my skin out, I will always listen to the Queen of Skincare in the future!

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner - I've quickly become obsessed with this and I've already purchased another bottle. I use it morning and night after cleansing and I have seen a difference with my pores and the overall appearance of my skin tone. After attending a blogger event at The Body Shop, I was told that the Tea Tree Toner has become a very popular product recently and I can see why. It contains mattifying powders which leave your skin shine free. On days where I don't wear make up, I would say shine is kept at bay until around evening time. 

Evo The Therapist Calming Shampoo and Evo The Therapist Calming Conditioner - I'm loving using hair care products that contain no harsh chemicals and these offerings from Evo are perfect. They are sulphate, paraben, dea, tea and propylene glycol free. However, I didn't find the packaging great as when there wasn't much product left in the bottles, I found it really difficult to get it out. I loved reading the packaging though. So humorous. For example on the front of the conditioner is says "no more hiding your frizzy hair and no more inner shame... you're now a racehorse that's bolted from the stables gleaming with pride... run with it, feel the freedom, run with it... neighhhhhhh." I quite liked the scent but I can't put my finger on what it is. 

Dove Invisible Dry Anti-White Marks Anti-Perspirant Deodorant - A boring product alert but a necessity! I always opt for deodorants that are 'invisible' or leave no white marks. This is a great deodorant as I have used it before and I've never experienced white (or yellow) marks on my clothes. I never want to be caught in that situation. The scent is inoffensive and it keeps my underarms fresh! I was a little sceptical when the smaller cans were released but I have to say they last a long time. I don't know if it's just as long as I haven't conducted any scientific experiment but I'm pretty impressed. 

Impulse Body Spray in Tease - I picked up two more of these the other day as they were on offer for £1. As I said I always stock up when they are available for 99p or £1 and it's a fairly regular occurrence. This is my go to refresher during the day as I don't like carrying perfume bottles in my handbag. (I do want to pick up a travel atomiser so if you have any recommendations let me know.) Also I work in a school so it means I don't have to 'waste' my perfume on snotty children! 

The Body Shop Ginger Sparkle Hand Cream - Obviously, I got this at Christmas. I didn't think I would like the scent but I really loved it and hopefully it's available next Christmas so I can purchase a bigger tube. (Too early to think about Christmas, sorry!) The scent is really festive and is currently bringing back Christmas memories as I type this. The cream is a lovely texture, it isn't greasy and it soaks into your hands pretty quickly.  

Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Super Volume Mascara - I've really enjoyed using this mascara. Initially, I thought the brush was too big but it's perfect. Maybe a little big for my lower lashes but I got around this by just using the tip. It claims to create 'super volume' which I would have to agree. I do have naturally long, curled eyelashes anyway but some mascaras have been too heavy and my eyelashes lost their natural curl. Not with this one. I was also worried about the name containing the word 'thick'. I didn't want clumpy eyelashes but this wasn't the case, it actually did a great job of separating my eyelashes. It's become one of my favourite mascaras I've used and I've already got a replacement in my stash! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - I don't know if it's because this is shade 2 and I'm still very pale or I'm just falling out of love with this lately. I can't put my finger on what it is. I have shade 1 in my draw so I will use that and see what I think then. Some days, I have chosen to just wear foundation over my blemishes. Although that means you can see them it means they have more chance of breathing and hopefully going away sooner. We shall see...

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

Rachel x 

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January Empties

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo // Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair // La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution // Simple Eye Make Up Remover // Skinetica Anti-Blemish* // Impluse Body Spray in Tease // Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin // Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer // Collection Colour Lash All Day Mascara in Clear // Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder // 

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo - This is my second bottle and I would definitely repurchase. I am currently trying out the L'Oreal Ever Sleek range but if that doesn't live up to the high expectations set by Liz Earle hair care, I will be repurchasing. I love everything about this shampoo from the smell to the way it makes my hair feel. It doesn't contain any nasty chemicals so I know it is only good for my hair. I don't have any problems with it lathering up but if I feel like it isn't creating a lather, I just add more water rather than shampoo.

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry/Damaged Hair - I also love the conditioner from Liz Earle. It comes in three different formulas so you can tailor it to your hair's needs. I use the dry and damaged version as my hair is so dry and damaged from years of heat and colour. I have reviewed the shampoo and conditioner in full on my blog, you can read it here.

La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution - I have tried several different Micellar Waters now. I like quite a few products from La Roche-Posay so I thought I would give it a try. I didn't dislike the product but I didn't love it either. I didn't feel it was worth the money as I had used drugstore versions that were just as good. La Roche-Posay's offering to the Micellar Water craze costs £11.50, which is quite expensive considering I wasn't wowed by the product. I don't think I would repurchased this again as I am in love with the Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution! 

Simple Eye Make Up Remover - As Micellar Water is fairly expensive, I continue to buy Simple Eye Make Up Remover to remove my eye make up (obviously!) as it only costs around 3 pounds where as my Bioderma Micellar Water costs about £10 so I don't want to waste it on my eyes. Plus my eyes are super sensitive and I know that this make up remover doesn't sting them that much. 

Skinetica Anti-Blemish* - I think this is my second bottle of Skinetica and I quite like the stuff. It doesn't sting and it doesn't break me out. I would say quite the opposite and it helps to clear up my spots. It does contain alcohol but I never found it to be drying. Maybe if you have dry skin to start with just be cautious. 

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for Normal/Combination Skin - I love Liz Earle moisturisers. I have used this one along with the light version for oily/combination skin. I saved this one for my evening skincare routine so my skin had an extra boost of moisture overnight. The scent is lovely but not too strong if you're sensitive to scents. 

Impluse Body Spray in Tease - Still my chosen body spray for work. I do feel like I'm too old to still use body spray but it's always on offer for 99p and why waste my perfume at work when I work with children?! Does anyone else still use body spray over the age of 25? I love the scent of this and it actually lasts a fair amount of time for a body spray. 

Collection Colour Lash All Day Mascara in Clear - My £1.99 brow gel! It does the trick and it doesn't make my eyebrows crispy! I apply a little to each brow and go over with a brow comb which removes any excess. It keeps my stray eyebrows in place all day long. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer - As I find Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer too thick for under my eyes, this is my concealer of choice. I use the lightest shade and it gives an instant boost to my eye area. It helps to cover dark circles and adds dimension to my face by illuminating the eyes. 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder - I suffer from oily skin so I like to apply a powder to set my make up and keep the shine away. This does the job perfectly at a bargain price! My skin isn't overly oily so I don't need to reapply throughout the day but it does keep my skin looking matte for several hours. 

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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November Empties

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo // Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner (for dry or damaged hair) // Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Repair Mask // Origins Super Spot Remover // Simple Eye Make-Up Remover // Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser // Impulse Tease Body Spray // Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer // Collection Colour Lash Clear Mascara // Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner (for dry or damaged hair) - This is possibly my favourite shampoo and conditioner that I have tried to date. There are no nasties, they smell nice, my hair feels clean (but not squeaky clean) afterwards, my hair is conditioned and free from tangles. It's the second time I have purchased the duo and I will purchase them again once I have used up others that I have. I have a full review, which goes into more detail, here. 

Dove Hair Nourishing Oil Care Repair Mask - This mask helped to condition my hair as it is very dry but I wasn't amazed. It contains sulphates and some other nasty ingredients so I was tempted to just throw it away or give it away but I finished it anyway. It smelt lovely but I'd prefer clean ingredients over a scent. Therefore, I won't be purchasing it again.

Simple Eye Make-Up Remover - I've lost count of how many bottles of this I've gone through in the years but it's a lot! I actually have a spare in my drawer for when my current one runs out. I used to use it to remove all my make up but these days, I just use it to remove eye make up as I use a Micellar water to remove the rest of my make up before cleansing. 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - This is a smaller sized pump that I received from Liz Earle when I ordered a lot of products. I think it was to say thank you or something. I saved it for a while as it's the perfect size for travelling and I actually took it to Ireland with me in August. Once I was home and I had finished my normal sized C&P, I finished this one off so it didn't go off before the next time I travelled. I won't go into any details about the product as I have mentioned it many many times on my blog and you can read my full review here. 

Impulse Tease Body Spray - There's not much I can say about this body spray that I haven't already said. It's great to throw in your handbag and I use it at work so my beautiful perfumes aren't wasted on those snotty children! I love the scent, it's definitely my favourite Impulse scent. What's your favourite Impulse scent?

Origins Super Spot Remover - I bought this about a year ago and even though the bottle is tiny, it lasts a long time. At first, I was using it every morning and evening and it was hardly going down. To be honest, I didn't notice much difference with my spots. It definitely didn't remove any of mine. I know people  love this product but it's just not for me. I just used it to finish it off in the past few months. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Concealer - This is my under eye concealer as it does a great job of disguising dark circles. It's quite liquidy but this makes it easy to blend and doesn't create dragging. I'm not sure it particularly lasts all day but at £4, I can't complain! Which concealer do you use under your eyes? 

Collection Colour Lash Clear Mascara - I use this as my brow mascara. It's super dirty! I've just stocked up on the 3 for 2 in Boots and I plan on just using one for two months before opening a new one. Because I can see how dirty it gets in the packaging, I don't want to use it on my brows for much longer! It's only £1.99 and even though there are probably better brow products out there, this does the job and I don't mind throwing it away after 2 months. 

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Peach Parfait - I think this may be the first 'lipstick' I've ever finished. I know it technically isn't a lipstick but it's the first lip product in a bullet form that I've finished. I've actually already repurchased this along with Cotton Candy. I love lip butters as they are easy to apply and the colours I have are perfect for everyday wear. 

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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Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner - Review

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo // Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry or Damaged Hair

I'm sure you're all aware of my love for Liz Earle skincare products. I have raved about them enough! I've even used their Sheer Skin Tint and mascara, and I love them too! For the past two months, I have been using Liz Earle haircare, shampoo and conditioner to be precise. I'm happy to report that so far, none of their products have disappointed me. (I promise they are not paying me and I have bought all these products myself!)

There is only one shampoo and it is suitable for all hair types including sensitive, colour treated hair and oily hair. Just like there is only one cleanser - Cleanse & Polish. Containing shea butter from West Africa, aloe vera, naturally sourced vitamin E, apple and orange extracts, and naturally derived cleansers, from coconuts I believe, there really is no room for sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate. Even though it contains no harsh chemicals, it still foams amazingly well - thats the job of the naturally derived cleansers. The back of the tube says that a little shampoo goes a long way and I definitely agree. Rather than adding more shampoo to create lather, you just add more water. It's amazing and it makes the tubes last quite a long time as a little is only needed for each hair wash. The scent is beautiful, you can really smell the essential oils. I can particularly smell the orange. 

When it comes to conditioner, there is three different ones to choose from and this is where you tailor your haircare to suit your hair type. There's one for normal hair, fine/oily hair, and dry/damaged hair. I opted for the latter as my hair is just that - dry, damaged and brittle - from years of heat styling and colouring. This conditioner also contains West African shea butter, apple and orange extracts, as well as blue seakale and Kenyan yangu oil. It is suitable for coloured hair, which is fantastic news for me, and it leaves my hair feeling hydrated, soft, smooth and under control. It is recommended to apply to mid lengths and ends but I suffer from dry roots too that can be extremely frizzy so I apply all over my hair. Again, a little goes a long way and it really does make my hair feel soft, smooth and alive!

I have already repurchased both the shampoo and conditioner as I have seen a big difference in the overall texture of my hair. Next on my wishlist are the Botanical Shine Treatment for frizzy, coarse or unruly hair and the Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil. They might have to wait until Father Christmas comes as I am extremely poor at the moment!

Have you ever tried Liz Earle haircare? Have you tried the treatment or hair oil?

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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July 2013 Favourites

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo // Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry or Damaged hair // Bioderma Sebium H20 Micelle Solution for Combination or Oily Skin // Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel // Nourish Protect Smoothing Hand Lotion* // Apivita SPF 50 Face Cream for Sensitive Skin* // Barry M Touch Of Magic Lipstick TMLP // Stylfile Nail File*

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo & Liz Earle Botanical Shine Conditioner for Dry or Damaged hair - I have been using the Liz Earle hair care range for a month or so in a bid to improve my hair. I have actually just purchased my second bottles as I have been loving them that much. Prior to using this range my hair became greasy due to product build up because of all the nasties in other shampoo and conditioners. Both products contain natural ingredients to gently cleanse and hydrate hair respectively. I like the smell of both products, they smell natural and clean as there is no added fragrance. Neither contain SLS. 

Bioderma Sebium H20 Micelle Solution for Combination or Oily Skin - I have been dying to try Bioderma as there is so much hype surrounding it. When browsing French skincare on escentual.com, I came across this version which is for combination or oily skin. I thought that would be better suited for my skin and the 20% off persuaded me! I am absolutely loving it. I love the smell of it too! It does a great job of removing my make up and I have even used it on my eyes! I can report it does not sting my eyes! Result! 

Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel - This was a purchase last year before going to Majorca. My friend had recommended it for sunburn and said that's all she uses instead of after sun. Recently I have been absolutely loving it for alternative reasons. Aloe Vera is known for its soothing properties, I have been applying it to my legs after shaving. It instantly soothes my skin and keeps any of those irritated red lumps at bay. I also get my eyebrows waxed on a monthly basis. Even though I have been getting them done for at least 10 years, my eyebrows stay red for hours and hours afterwards. I apply some Aloe Vera to a cotton pad and gently sweep across my eyebrows a couple of times after having them done. It soothes them and helps the red fade quicker. A random favourite but an essential for me. 

Nourish Protect Smoothing Hand Lotion* - I received this product in a goodie bag from a blogger meet up. As I have mentioned before on my blog, hand cream is an obsession of mine. This one, from Nourish, is lovely as it adds moisture to my hands, it sinks in quickly and is not greasy. I love the scent of orange and mandarin, it's so refreshing. It also comes with a pump meaning it doesn't create mess and a couple of pumps is the correct amount for my hands so nothing is wasted. A perfect hand cream in my opinion. 

Apivita SPF 50 Face Cream for Sensitive Skin* - I received this in my goodie bag from the FABB Manchester event. I like using a high factor on my face and this came just at the right time, as we had a heat wave in the UK! It provided the perfect opportunity to test it out. When I think of factor 50, I often think the cream is going to be thick, white and greasy. This cream is the complete opposite. It has a beautiful texture that is light on my face and within a few minutes I'm ready to apply my make up. The cream is a nude shade and once applied to your face it becomes invisible. It does leave your face a little shiny but if you wait a bit longer, it does disappear. 

Barry M Touch Of Magic Lipstick TMLP - This is the perfect lipstick for everyone as the shade appears different on everyone. It works by reacting with the alkali levels in your lips. This means it will be the perfect shade of pink for your skin tone. It is a great stain for the lips and lasts for hours! Sometimes I have woken up the next day and I've still had the colour on my lips. You can read what i think in more detail here. 

Stylfile Nail File* - This is another item I have received in a goodie bag. I have been introduced to so many great brands through blogger goodie bags and I am very greatful. This is one of those novelty items in my opinion but it's actually useful! It makes perfect sense to use a curved nail file when filing your nails, which are curved. Obviously if you file your nails straight, a straight nail file is perfect but I very rarely see straight nails these days, most people opt for curved nails and this file makes that job simple. 

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

Rachel x

Lost In Lipstick

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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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February Empties

It's that time again - my monthly empties and what I think of the products that I have used up. Apologies for this being a little late. I wanted to photograph the products in the first weekend of March but I was super busy with the DIY that I missed the daylight! Then I was ill with a bug, but here it is! Better late than never! I finished a total of 7 products in February. Some of them are products I will use again and again but others are products I won't. 

Keratin Complex Keratin Color Care Shampoo - I have to say I have noticed a slight improvement in my hair recently but I have been using hair oil and hair masks on a regular basis. I won't be repurchasing this as I do not think it's worth the price tag. There are so many cheaper shampoos that are just as good and if I'm honest, I don't like the scent or the texture. I actually really want to try the Liz Earle Shampoo and Conditioner! With this months monthly essentials you get a free Shampoo, which is suitable for all hair types, and a conditioner for normal hair. I might have to purchase the one for dry/damaged hair just to try it! 

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - Another month, another empty Cleanse & Polish. I can't quite believe I'm using one of these a month! How long do they last everyone else? I use one pump every morning and evening. I will continue to repurchase over and over again. Although I am getting the bloggers itch, I keep reading reviews of other cleansers and I want to try them. But I am staying loyal to Liz Earle. Plus I don't want to change skin care and get more spots. Thankfully, this has reminded me that I need to make an order! You can read my review of the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish here.

Original Source Lime Shower Gel - I have really enjoyed using this, especially in the mornings as it's so refreshing. The Original Source shower gels are extremely cheap but I don't find them that moisturising. I definitely needed to moisturise after use. I'm not sure I would repurchase. If I did, it wouldn't be for a long time as I have so many other shower gels to use (especially after Christmas). I quite fancy trying some of the other scents as well - tea tree and lavender and tea tree and mint in particular. 

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic - Another Liz Earle product! God I'm obsessed. This is another product that I have purchased over and over again and I will continue to for a long time. I'm looking forward to summer when I can spritz this onto my face all day long! Any excuse... I use this product twice a day. In the morning, after cleansing to close the pores and in the evening, after cleansing to close the pores and also to remove any last traces of make up. It's so refreshing and in the morning it helps to wake me up. Furthermore, it doesn't sting my face as it contains no alcohol. You can read my review of the Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic here. 

Simple Kind To Eyes Eye Make Up Remover - These posts are going to get boring if I keep using the same products! Like I said last month, I constantly repurchase this product. Even though I have sensitive eyes, this eye make up remover is the only one I've found that doesn't sting my eyes. I wish Liz Earle would make an eye make up remover! I know the Cleanse and Polish is supposed to remove even waterproof mascara but if I use it to remove eye make up, I find that I need two pumps and I really have to rub my eyes. Firstly, I can't afford to use two pumps every evening and secondly, you should never rub your eyes! Therefore I will continue to use Simple as it costs about £2!

Sure Crystal Clear Pure Anti-Perspirant Roll On Deodorant - Deodorant is such a boring but necessary beauty product. I prefer spray deodorant but after a few months of use, I develop a cough. I have to say that roll on deodorant lasts a lot longer than a spray. I actually bought this a while ago when it was 3 for 2 in Boots and this is the second one I have used. I always buy deodorant to stop white marks as white marks on any colour clothes, especially black, is not a good look! This deodorant did not leave any white marks but as it's a roll on, I just had to wait for it to dry before dressing. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer - I absolutely love the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer but sometimes I find it a bit thick for using under my eyes. I bought the Illuminating Touch Brightening Concealer as it's targeted for under eye use. As it's illuminating, it helps to hide any dark circles. I don't think this concealer lasts as long as the Lasting Perfection Concealer, but it's easy to pop in your handbag and top when you need to. I will continue to buy this concealer. I actually have a spare one in my drawer! 

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

Rachel x

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FREE Percy & Reed Hair Products with Glamour Magazine

I have to share this with you all! Yesterday I received the latest issue of Glamour Magazine and I received the Really Rather Radiant Colour and Shine Shampoo FREE. Apparently, this one is worth £10 for 100ml of product. Although you can get 250ml online for £14?! Even though this doesn't seem to tally up in my head, you are getting a hair care product for the price of a magazine - £2. I have a magazine subscription but it should be in shops on 4th March. 

Glamour Magazine have four different products to choose from; Really Rather Radiant Colour and Shine Shampoo, Really Rather Radiant Colour and Shine Conditioner, Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing Polish and  Smooth, Sealed and Sensational Volumising No Oil, Oil (For Fine Hair). Even though I have thick hair, I am thinking of buying another 3 magazines so I have all four products. Therefore I will have spent £8 on £41 worth of products! BARGAIN!

Will you be getting your hands on a copy of Glamour Magazine or three?! Do you know of any other magazine freebies out now?

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

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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