Lesley on October favourites

Hey guys,

I always seem to do my favourite posts in the middle of the month! Last month i tended to use my old favourites. Here are my three October favourites... Note * i lost all of this blog post after working on it for over an hour so i was pissssssed!*

Benefit Speed Brow Quick Set - 3g, £12.00

This is a product i reviewed and compared it to MAC a couple months ago HERE. I've been using it so much for day time looks without anything under it, or over Browzings, I've nearly finished now and will miss it dearly. I do really like it as it's not tinted and looks natural. However,  I'm going to buy a clear one next as if i apply too much to my eyebrows it looks only what can be described as when you put PVA glue on your finger and it dries and then you peel it off (anyone else used to do that as a child?) So yeah that's not a good look to have peeling eyebrows!

Debhenhams are having a 10% off and Speed Brow is available for £10.80 with free delivery if you have a beauty card  HERE.

V05 Miracle concentrate Elixir with Argon Oil - 50mls £4.99

I got this from Boots with the 3 for 2 offer along with other V05 beauties. I have seen many reviews raving about it and i wanted to know what the fuss was about...  i can tell you this is certainly is something to be fussed over! Argon Oil is from the Moroccan Argon tree and is known for being extremely rich in Vitamin E and anti oxidants, which fights free radicals. As it is a leave-in treatment i use it when my hair is wet after washing it and style it as usual, or as an overnight treatment when the ends of my hair is really dry. Also i use it on dry hair for a little pick-me-up when its feeling dull. The light formula leaves my hair so shiny and in good condition. I also love the pipette top with the bright pink handle: it is so good for controlling the amount you want. I only use a 50p size amount because it is so potent and if i use more than that my hair will be greasy the next day. I love this product and it is fast becoming my favourite hair product beside Boots Curl Creme. I think after this is finished i want to buy pure Argon Oil to see if its any different without the added ingredients.

Devon Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) 1 litre -  £11.35

This is a very non-makeup post and more like a health post. I wanted something that would build up my immune system: i get awful colds and sicknesses at least once a month. I was researching products online and saw this on Amazon. I read in reviews that only does it help your immune system it also aids with weight loss, cellulite, acne, allergies, fatigue with exercise, sore throats, arthritis and high cholesterol (sounds like a miracle drink right?!) 

In fact, I've had an awful dry throat that kept me awake all of Saturday night and after drinking a glass of this my symptoms dramatically improved. I drank this most of September and October and didn't get sick. Although i didn't lose any weight, i found myself craving for less sugary foods and was fuller for longer. I've now started to slack and only drink it once a week if that ( i MUST get back into the habit of drinking it!) It can also be given to animals to make their coat shiny and help with flea and bites.

The bottle states: 

" Our traditional Devon Natural Cider Vinegar is made from only freshly crushed whole apples, grown and hand picked on the edge of Eurozz then allowed to mature. Our traditional apple cider Vinegar is natural and contains no additives. There are no insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, preservatives or any other additives whatsoever.

This is a natural and un-filtered, un-processed product and is cloudy containing many particles, minerals and living enzymes known as "the mother." The presence of the mother shows that the best part of the apples have not been damaged or destroyed by processing.

Take three dessertspoons of ACV in warm water three times a day at meal times. Never use hot water. Shake well before each use. ACV does not require a use by date and will continue to mature over time and to increase the mother store in light, other wise in a cool dark place."

"The mother," is such an important part of the ACV because it is where most of the beneficial properties come from. It has a high potassium content and contains living bacteria which fights off toxins. In the bottle you will see the cobweb like features of the mother, which looks a bit gross in the cup but i ignore it and you can't feel it in your mouth or anything like that.

I use three dessert spoons often in a mug or glass

 

i boil the kettle only until it is warm (10 seconds maybe) never use hot or boiled water

 

The taste takes a couple days of getting used to. At first i didn't like to drink a warm drink tasting of just vinegar but after i got used to it i was actually craving my next one! However, I  hate the strong vinegary smell but its something I've also become used to over time.

I bought the 1 litre bottle and finished that within a few weeks so bought a 5 litre for around £35.00 and have been using that to restock the 1 litre bottle, which is handy as i don't have to carry a huge bottle around with me if I'm travelling! I bought the ACV online as opposed to a supermarket because many commercial ACVs are pasteurised and unfiltered and contain chemicals.

Bobby's health shop also donates all their profits and products to helping children with cancer which is fantastic as you know the money is going towards a great cause.

Lesley on September favourites

Although it was my birthday, this month has been such a hard one. A close member of the family suddenly passed away. Apart from running around like a headless chicken, i haven't really had time to post my favourites, alas, why I'm posting my September favourites now!

No7 Highlights Illuminating Lotion - 30mls 

Ive had this for years (probably should buy a new one now!) but it seems to be going in my box then coming out again. This month i have loved using it with my tinted moisturiser, it gives me a bright, dewy look without being sparkly, even when I'm really tired. It is pearly baby pink with hints of silver. I've used this quite a lot and it still looks brand new to me. The pump application makes it easy to use and i only have to use a pea size for my whole face. I also like to use it on the brow bone and on cheeks. I got it for a present a couple years ago and I'm not actually sure if its still in the shops.

PFB Vanish - 120mls, £14.99

Sophia recommended that i bought this as i had awful bumps, redness and ingrown hairs with shaving and epilating. Apart from the awful alcoholic smell that this produces when you roll it on your skin - this stuff is actually amazing! I wouldn't say that all the redness and ingrown hairs disappear, but it definitely makes a difference and also doesn't itch as much. I love that it is a roll on - i don't waste any of it. I put it on at night (because of the smell) and sometimes but not always, it will sting a little on the first 24 hours i put it on after I've shaved.

You can use it on your face, underarms, bikini line or legs and apply after any type of hair removal including electrolysis.

 I bought it from Ebay and it also came with a tiny mini version, which my brother burrowed once and i haven't seen since! I would put a picture up of before and after, but I'm sure you wouldn't want to see the grotesquety! I would highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from bad irritation from hair removal.

Bio Oil and Eucerin

  

Since getting my tattoo and having to keep it moisturised twice a day, I reached for Bio Oil and Eurcin for their rich moisture. I mixed it into a travel pot which is so handy for on the go (imagine having to take two bottles around with you!) Also, it hydrated my skin for at least six hours in between top ups. 

In case you didn't know - Bio Oil is to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, scars and uneven skin tone. I use this to enhance the appearance.

Eucerin is for the treatment of dry, itchy, flaky skin and conditions such as eczema, icythosis, hyperkeratosis and xeroderma. No prizes for guessing why i use this :)

The ink has kept really well and healed so fast with minimum itching and no dryness what-so-ever. I still use this once everyday to keep the ink from fading. It is recommended that you don't have a bath or swim for at least five weeks to keep the ink from fading.

Aquafresh Ultimate + Whitening toothpaste

Source: google - i had already cut open and binned mine!

A bit of a different product from the norm, but i have been loving this toothpaste this month so much and so has my family - we've been through 2 tubes already in a couple months! It sounds weird, but it makes my teeth feel really fresh and clean. I know all toothpastes are meant to do that, but sometimes i clean my teeth and a couple hours later i feel the need to clean them again. However, i don't really believe in whitening toothpastes, but it kept my teeth feeling nice. 

It claims "it strengthens the tooth above the gum line and protects what's vulnerable below by killing bacteria to help keep the gum seal tight and healthy."

Lesley's August favourites

I've decided that the start of every month i am going to do a review of my favourite products from the previous month. I use sooo many different products every month, some are found by accident and i use them for months and even years. While others ill be obsessed with for a month and then it goes into the back of my cupboard into Narnia. As i have so many, ill just review my top 5.

August

memory book, tweezers, vitamins, curl creme and Green Tea capsules

One line a day - A five year memory book 

The first of my favourite items for August is a mini diary. I bought this in Barnes and Nobles in the States while looking for a hard back notebook. I was browsing and was instantly captivated by the gorgeous turquoise colour with the gold writing. What is very peculiar about it is that it is not just any journal, you write a few lines a day, every day, for five years. When you reach the end of the book you start from the beginning again but on the next year and a new line (see picture below) It was $16.95, a bit pricey for a memory book, but i love the fact that i will have it for the next five years and it goes everywhere with me! I recommend anyone to get this if they love writing and looking back at what they've been up to.

Some of the places/events that have happened in August:

• swimming and keeping fit
• Nights out with my close friends
• Movie nights
• London Riots
• Cabury's World in Birmingham to surprise my sister for her birthday
• A weekend in Wales
• Getting my first tattoo
• My brother passing his exams
• Notting Hill Carnival

As you can see I've been a busy bee, and I'm sure i wouldn't have remembered half of these events if i hadn't written them down!

Tweezerman Tweezers

Tweezerman in Graffiti Lavender Slant  full

I got so fed up of using blunt tweezers to pluck my eyebrows, and i seem to lose every single good pair i owned. My friends have Tweezerman tweezers and i always wanted to purchase a pair. So when i saw that BrandAlley were doing some funky Tweezerman tweezers: i decided to jump on the band wagon. Tweezerman are so good because they are SO sharp and can get resharpened for free when they're dull. Also, they don't break or snap hairs that even my good tweezers sometimes did. What i love about them are the different designs you can get. I'm not sure how much these were but i think they were around £10 - £12, compared to £19 which they are selling these for on the internet. 

Sharp!

Lloyds Pharmacy - Skin, Hair & Nails one a day - 30 tablets

I used to have really thick and beautiful long hair, but after my grandmother died last year it became SO thin and limp, and it just didn't want to grow! I bought Perfectil from Boots in a desperate bid to do something, anything! to make my hair grow back. After i finished the packet i switched to the Lloyds Pharmacy's own brand, as it is exactly the same but for a fraction of the price. 

It is free from sugar, gluten and yeast, and has no artificial colours or preservatives. It contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals such as vitamins D, E, C and B6, folic acid, iron, Biotin and Grape extract. These can be found if you eat a good, healthy balanced diet, but sometimes we all need a bit of extra help when we've had a bit too much junk to eat!

You swallow one tablet a day, preferably after a meal and you are meant to use it for three months. I used it for about four months before having a break and i am now using it again. I have seen a major difference in my hair, but I'm not sure if it is just the tablets alone as i have been really looking after myself properly with efficient exercise, massages, regular hair cuts, good hair products and tonics, you name it, I've tried it! 

As for my nails and skin go, i haven't seen a major difference in my skin as I've always had a pretty much clear complexion, and i haven't really seen a difference in my nails either, as they have always grown well but tear easily.

If there are any good supplements for hair, skin and nails that you've tried, please comment below, as i am willing to try anything.

Boots essentials Curl Creme - 250mls

My hair is naturally curly and since it became thin, i have tried to stay clear of hairdryers, hairbrushes and straighteners in a bid to get it back to its natural strength and length. Curl Creme is my absolute favourite hair product and i have been using it for over a year, but i thought i would share this with you because, as its been summer, I've had naturally curly hair everyday for this month.

My friend recommended this to me after i moaned and moaned about my curly hair being completely out of hand and frizzy. She loved it so much she even gave me a sample in a cup and told me to use it! I have never looked back since! For £1.32 (thats right £1.32!!) it is the cheapest hair product I've ever used that is absolutely amazing and works wonderfully for me.

The directions are to use on damp or dry hair and work through evenly from root to tip. But what i do is after i wash my hair, i wait for twenty minutes or so (in the phase that its still wet but just about starting to dry) and i take a tinyyy, smaller than a pea size amount in my hand, mix it with water until it becomes white and "scrunch" it at the roots. I then repeat once, or twice the most and then maybe a touch up after it is dry. The pot lasts me around 8 months to a year, with the best before end being 24 months, even after using it every couple days, i think that's pretty darn good don't you?

 I will post a picture of how my hair looks with Curl Creme soon.

I only use this much at a time!!

Holland and Barratt Green Tea Extract - 100 capsules

I bought the Green Tea Extract pills a couple years ago after deciding i wanted something to aid me in weight loss. I was drinking green tea too but sometimes i didn't have the time/ couldn't be bothered to make green tea so i optioned for this easier option instead.

The directions state: take one capsule daily, preferably as a meal or may be taken as a tea by opening capsule into a cup, then adding hot water. I prefer to take my vitamins at night before bed so i take this at bedtime too so i won't forget. It contains caffeine but not as much as coffee or to keep you up if you take it at night.

Why is Green Tea good for you?

Green tea contains the powerful anti oxidant catechin polyphenols, which kills the growth of cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It can be used as a lotion to help with acne or if drank will help with uneven skin and spots. It also boosts immunity, lowers cholesterol, gives you energy, aids in weight loss and can even help fight tooth decay!

I highly recommend anyone who hasn't tried green tea to please try it, it is so delicious and after writing this blog i am going to go and make one now! 

The capsule is quite big and I'm a big baby when it comes to swallowing tablets, so if i can do it anyone can!