Saturday 11 February 2012

Elle March Double Freebie Alert

Sometimes magazine freebies are not obvious, and unless something is written on the cover, or is actually stuck to the front of the magazine, you don't know what good stuff's hiding inside until you buy the issue. I really only ever buy glossy literature when there IS something attached to it. So this mont's ELLE issue with Alexa Chung on the cover sucked me in with a full size (!) mascara from Soap and Glory's new makeup line. Good things have been said about the line altogether, and the mascara in particular. 


As it turned out, inside you also find a £2 discount on Soap and Glory products in Boots. 

And as though that isn't fun enough for one issue, Dior is promoting their new mascara, and have included a card, that invites you to their counters for a makeover and a sample of the new mascara. I don't know who generally manages to takes these trials (chances are, if you're interested in such a fancy mascara, you'll already be wearing a face of makeup before you set off to the counter), but the sample's a perk. I received mine at John Lewis. 



Tuesday 7 February 2012

Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment

Ojon Damage Reverse is a haircare line that is aimed at particularly dry and damaged hair. The line includes shampoo, conditioner, restorative treatment, serum and finishing spray, all of which supposedly treat hair that has already taken a hit and is looking worse for wear.


My hair is not damaged through chemical exposure, but it is subject to almost daily straightening, and when I say straightening, I mean, ruler-straight, "geometric" hair. When air-dried with no added product, it is frizzy, fairly corse, and has an annoying irregular wave to it that is of no use for creating any look whatsoever. My hopes for the Damage Reverse line were high, based on my previous good experience with Ojon products.




The Restorative Hair Treatment is somewhat like a hair mask, but you are to apply it before washing your hair, and leave it in for anything from 20 minutes to overnight. The smell of this was once described to me as what a "sophisticated hippie" smells like, but more people say it smells of cigars, and not in a posh way. I don't mind the musky/smoky aroma, but it is definitely odd for a beauty product, and rather strong too. 

It is of a very thick, almost solid, consistency in the pot. Scoop a dollop of the product into your palms and warm it up. The opaque paste turns oily, and you can spread it down the length of your hair. I cover as much of my hair as patience allows, put it up in a bun and watch House M.D. 





It usually takes two rounds of shampoo to rid the hair of the oily residue, but is it worth it! Freshly treated hair is easy to comb, easy to dry, easy to style afterwards. The hair looks glossy, the ends - crisp and the frizz - calm. Lovely, manageable hair. The effects remain until the next wash (I wash my hair once every 2-3 days), but as any treatment, it needs some consistency to achieve a more permanent result.


So if sad and beaten-up hair is something you have, and sleek, easy hair on the road to healthy is what you desire, this stuff is worth checking out! Retails for £16 for 50 ml or £32 for 100 ml (which is the same £ per ml, mind you), or comes free as gift with purchase on their homepage.




On a more sentimental note, the main ingredient of this product is palm oil. Palm oil for beauty (and various other) products is produced on a massive scale in artificial plantations in places like Indonesia and Malaysia, that also happen to be the natural habitat of such wonderful and threatened species like the Orangutan. These guys are suffering a spiralling decline in numbers because their homes are being destroyed to make way to farmland.


Do I see a hole in the philosophy of such a wholesome company, that bases its roots in native wisdom, earthiness, being at one with nature and what have you?..
Anyway, just a thought. Makes you hair look lovely (:

Friday 3 February 2012

Revlon - Facets of Fuchsia

Revlon's Facets of Fuchsia nail polish has been widely quoted as a dupe for Deborah Lippmann's infamous Bad Romance - a mixture of bright purple glitter and hexagon flecks suspended in black jelly.



This is on of those glitter polishes that is, dare I say, subtle. It is undeniably very dark, but when worn on short nails, it doesn't scream glitter, just adds a purple mood to the manicure.

Two coats

It is easy in application - opaque in two coats. As do most glitter polishes, it has an issue of being bumpy, and a "heavy duty" top coat is needed if you are determined to achieve an even finish. The polish wore well, with minimal tip wear. Almost equally important is the fact that this removed with no struggle, which is not often said about glitters.

So whether you are looking for Bad Romance on a budget, or would simply like an everyday-appropriate 'little bit of something', Facets are worth checking out! (See Superdrug for a £2 off Revlon nail polishes deal)