REVIEW: YSL LE TEINT ENCRE DE PEAU FUSION INK FOUNDATION REVIEW - SHADE BR20

I am a massive sucker for a clever marketing campaign, and when I heard that YSL were releasing a lightweight, yet high coverage foundation, that had the lasting power of Estee Lauder Doublewear, yet the lightness of Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation, and that there was some mythical crazy waiting list for this stuff, I was obsessed. Like I always am. First up, let me say, whatever waiting list the marketing guys talked about, there was zero wait for this in my part of london. I actually got it early, and no one else had bought it, or was on any sort of list. As Public Enemy say, don't believe the hype. Not calling YSL liars of course, but there's some damn creative marketing talk at work here!

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation - BR20

So what else do they say about this foundation that makes it such a jizz-worthy marketing talk dreamboat....

What it is:

A revolutionary, fine-as-ink foundation with broad spectrum SPF 18 that perfects the skin while it wears weightlessly for 24 hours. 

What it does:

Get all-day comfort, broad spectrum sun protection, and a soft-matte finish with this featherweight foundation that suits every skin type. Its innovative hybrid stain technology provides a lightweight yet high-coverage formula, and its exclusive extendable polymers offer buildable coverage that lasts for a flawless finish. 

Special sweat and sebum-controlling agents allow for 24-hour of coverage—even through humidity or heat, and its sensorial and volatile dry oil complex allows it to set in seconds. Formulated with pure-micro-coated pigments, it delivers lasting, radiant color, and the face-zoning applicator allows you to perfectly apply it to the face for precise, easy-to-use application that’s never cakey or heavy.

So what do I say....

Well....here's the thing. When I was testing this, I had one other foundation in mind, in regards to the claims made by this foundation, and that was Estee Lauder Doublewear. The reason is, Doublewear is used by thousands of women as their holy grail. Personally I dislike it hugely, as the finish is somewhere close to corpse paint, totally flat, lacking in dimension, and just....unreal. Saying that, it's a fantastic formula, as this foundation has taken me through dj gigs and sweaty concerts and festivals from morning till night, and it sticks like glue and you can rely on it like no other foundation that claims to be lasting. Swings and roundabouts.....so to speak.

So does YSL Fusion Ink match up longevity wise. No, it doesn't, it will rub off, there will be elements of wear that become apparent as your day goes on, because ultimately, the two foundations are hugely different beasts.

Fusion Ink is a lovely foundation, but it's not a substitute for the major coverage and longevity of Doublewear, so don't expect the same. It is a very thin formula, and it dries in seconds, but provides a very decent level of coverage in one layer. If you need more coverage in places, just dab the wand over those areas and work the foundation in using a buffing brush in circular motions. I have tried with and without primer and I would say, if you are oily like me, you do need to use primer, because it keeps off the shine that does eventually break through, and will, if you rub your nose or blow it, transfer and wear off. However, if you get caught in a shower or sweat, and don't rub your face, this stuff stays put quite wonderfully, and unlike doublewear, you have a velvety matte finish that has an ethereal glow, blurs imperfections quite successfully and does last, even if you might need a little touch up with powder towards the end of the day.

So, it's good, it's great, but it's not perfect and it's not infallible, but what it does bring is a very decent coverage, a light as air feel, and a beautiful matte finish that lasts longer than your average matte foundation. I recommend you take advantage of their seven day free trial to see whether you like it or not, given that it's an expensive item at £30, you want to know you're not just doing what I do, which is get blinded by the flashing lights of 'NEW ITEM!!! BEST THING EVER!!! YOU WILL LOOK LIKE CARA IN MINUTES!!!' then go home and cry yourself to sleep because you can't pay your rent.

This does happen. Every month. I rule.

YSL Fusion Ink Foundation - BR 20 - Swatch and blended

So there it is on my arm. Yes the photos is blurry and crappy, but you don't come here for my obsessive efforts at being the worlds best blogger i'd wager. I like to think of myself as the John Bender of the blogging world, as in, I pretend I don't care, but I obviously do, but that still doesn't mean I give a toss enough to buy a camera. 

The Breakfast Club - Bender = AMAZE

You will notice in the swatch, btw, that BR20, which is the palest of all the Beige Rose shades, is a bit dark. I tried B10, and looked alarmingly yellow, whereas Beige Rose, is less yellow, but leans A LOT more yellow than my YSL Teint Touch Eclat foundation, which is a perfect match, but crap on my skin. Honestly, total crap, I look like i've been rubbing sunflower oil on my face. Nil points! This though, it does a pretty great job, and although it won't fix a broken heart, it goes some way to making you look less you've been crying all night....

*sadface*

If you'd like to be part of the YSL Fusion Ink party, you can pick it up direct from YSL here , or House of Fraser, Boots or Debenhams for £30.50.

REVIEW: DOVE Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Oil Shea Butter & Warm Vanilla

Dove Purely Pampering Nourishing Body Oil

Like a moth to a really hot scalding lightbulb, the second I see something I don't recognise on the shelves of boots or superdrug, I bound over and decide I cannot live without it for a second longer. Yesterday I came across this and as i've run out of my usual body oil from asda, I decided to give myself a little bit of summer shimmer. I've been slapping on some cheap fake tans of recent, so I have a tiny bit of colour to my skin (trust me, it's truly pathetic compared to everyone else on the streets) so I thought I might look a little better with some sheen, as for some reason, despite all the moisturising I do, my skin is always dry. So. Yes. Lets talk oil etc.

They say....

The light shimmer formula and deliciously long lasting scent gives you an irresistible glow which you’ll be desperate to show off.

Shea butter is rich in essential fatty acids (Linoleic acid) which are known to soothe and nourish the skin, helping it to repair itself.

In addition to this, it contains Sunflower seed oil to improve skin hydration by improving the quality of your skin. The nurturing ingredients mean that your skin receives long lasting care, leaving it looking and feeling beautifully soft.

I say....

I like it! It smells delicious, like a lovely biscuit, and it lives up to it's non greasy claims. Okay, it takes a little while to soak in, it's not a 'dry oil' so don't expect to slap it on and it evaporate in seconds, but its a very small amount of time, and it does give the skin a beautiful golden sheen, without looking like you're doused in baby oil a la Jodie Marsh. Your skin will feel nourished, smell gorgeous, and moisturised and comfortable. There's nothing negative I can say about this particularly. It's reasonably priced, works well and gives you a healthy glow. Lovely!

My glowy oiled arm. Smelling like summer and biscuits.

You can pick this up at Boots for £8.99

MEGA SUPER VOLUMISER, DRY SHAMPOO AND BACKCOMB SPRAY REVIEW pt 2 (high end and budget)

Hi there you.

So as promised, I am following up my MEGA SUPER DRY SHAMPOO SPRAY REVIEW, which was an overview of all the budget dry shampoo sprays for flat, fine and oily hair, primarily with a view to giving volume above any other benefit, with a run down of high end sprays, and backcomb fakers, which give the ultimate volume and hold too (budget and high end).

REDKEN PILLOW PROOF TWO MORE DAYS STYLE EXTENDER

They say....

Transforms hair from day-old to amazing. Hair powder absorbs oil, extends the life of blow-dries, and instantly refresh hair. Corrects product over-use too. Go from a worn-out blow-dry to refreshed, full-bodied matte texture.

I say....

I was seduced into buying this after my experiences with Pillow Proof Blow Dry Express Primer which I will review in due course. I have to say, for the price, there isn't really enough results from this product to justify the price that I have spent on it. I figured because it seems to be permanently out of stock that this would cure all ills in my hair world, but actually, it's pretty much just a dry shampoo like many others. It doesn't give a ton of volume, but it does happily neutralise any smells in your hair, and there is the nifty feature that if you've put top much oil, or serum, or any other product in your hair, this will help normalise the textures and stop you having to wash your hair again. 

Conclusion

If you're flush for cash, I would recommend picking this up as it does outperform your average pharmacy dry shampoo, just for the balancing of your hair from too much product use (we've all done it!), however, if like me, you're not, you'll be just as happy with something like Aussie or Vo5 for less than half the price.

You can purchase this from Look Fantastic for £11.95

SEBASTIAN PROFESSIONAL DRYNAMIC DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

Sebastian Professional Drynamic Dry Shampoo (212ml) will refresh your hair and revive your style in one simple step. Formulated with Recharge Technology, it will improve manageability and ease of styling, whilst enhancing body, volume and texture. It's the perfect product for keeping your hair in pristine condition from morning until night.

I say....

I love Sebastian Professional products. I'd say apart from Keratase, they are my ultimate product crush and trust in them completely, so when I say they'd released a dry, volume building shampoo, I had to snap it up. According to Sebastian themselves, the key element that makes this dry shampoo a winner amongst others is that its particles are spherical as opposed to square, so they sit together more comfortably and make hair easier to restyle at will. I'm not an expert on particles, but I will say that when I go out, this is the dry shampoo I stick in my make up bag in its travel size, as when I go out and sweat, and my hair gets flat and crappy, this leaves no white marks, and whips up dirt and enables me to reboost my style without creating a scaggy feeling scalp. 

Conclusion

Although pricey at full size, this is also available in a travel size which makes it far more accessible to the less affluent of us (i.e. ME) and it does perform, for a dry shampoo, exceptionally well at making hair look full of life after a night on the tiles. 

You can purchase this in travel size for £8.40 from Lookfantastic.

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE THICKENING DRYSPUN FINISH

They say....

Translucent dry spray creates instant fullness and texture to spin hair into an airy silhouette.

I say....

I read rave reviews about this, so I desperately wanted to try it, but it's not cheap, so after some weeks of ebay raking, I found a partially used bottle for £12.00 so decided to take the plunge. My hair is a complicated thing, naturally, it's very dark brown, poker straight, but easily kinked and is super thin, and super flat, and oily at the roots. Add onto this that I bleach it white, then dye is blue, it's in ravaged condition, and on top of this, I have extensions which are coming to the end of their blissful existence so my hair can look a hot mess if I don't tend to it. Now, I have also read bad reviews of this, but they tend to be from people who just haven't got a clue what they're using. This is a spray to FINISH your hair, not to pick it up when it's a greasy sludge. I spend most of my time wishing I was Alison Mosshart, with the big, messy in a good way, mop of hair.

Alison Mosshart - at some point in the past

And this is basically what the spray does, is gives you separation, mess, but not frizz, oomph, and a general 'dryspun' look, so matte, a thick texture but not HUGE, and dare I say it, and I hate to say it because it sounds crap, a 'rock chick' kind of undone goodness. However, as with these kind of sprays, your hair will feel pretty gritty the next day, and spraying more won't make it better unless you're going for a full on Jesus and Mary Chain type crown of gunk....

JAMC - A long time ago

As a side note btw, i've had my hair done by their (JAMC's) hairdresser. He works in Toni and Guy Academy in New Oxford Street and he's AWESOME. 

Conclusion

Use this for what it's intended for, and you won't be disappointed. It gives you unkempt, bohemian hair, but the price is the only downside, as it is quite expensive. 

You can purchase this from Look Fantastic or direct from Bumble and Bumble for £21.50

ORIBE THICK DRY FINISHING SPRAY

They say....

Plump up the volume with this high-density finishing spray that inflates hair for extra thickness and lushness. Oribe's secret for hair that is big, beautiful, beyond luxurious.

Key Benefits:

Creates voluptuous, bombshell hair
Adds density and dry hold without stickiness
Thickens by swelling the hair shaft from roots to ends
Lightweight moisturizers prevent hair from looking dry and dull
Formulated without parabens or sodium chloride.
Colour and keratin treatment safe.
UV protection for hair.

I say....

Ladies and gents, welcome to getting your bank account ABUSED. This stuff is PRICEY, I mean, super duper pricey. I treated myself to this on my birthday, and as I walked away from Space NK, I nearly burst into tears realising i'd spent EVERYTHING and therefore wasn't going to have quite as fancy a week as i'd planned. FOR HAIRSPRAY.

However, may I also welcome you to a new experience in hair. Oribe, as a brand, is luxe, and everything about them, kind of, makes the price tag feel worthwhile. The packaging looks good, the promises are delivered and the ingredients sumptuous. This spray is available in two formats. Dry finishing, and THICK dry. I obviously went for the thick and I am so so glad I did. People tend to say that this and the Bumble and Bumble are the same. I would have to disagree. Whereas B&B gives me a fluffy, purposefully flyaway look, this gives me hair that I never DREAMED could be on my head. Again, this isn't a hair pick me up, this is a finishing spray, and it finishes you like a mofo. 

I wash and blowdry my hair, with my far too many potions, straighten it, and then I grab this and lift sections at the root and spray. I then tip my head upsidedown and spray again. I then blast it with the hairdryer, as instructed, and what you are left with is hair like a QUEEN. I mean, your hair will be HUGE, but not frizzy, not messy, just HUGE. It also doesn't feel disgusting the next day, instead it feels easy to style as it has grip. I honestly cannot recommend this enough. It does everything i'd want a product too. Sadly it's so expensive that I only use it when i'm going somewhere, as looking that great comes at too high a price for my purse. Sadface.

Conclusion

A worthy investment item, that up until this point, I haven't found anything that comes even close to competing results wise. 

You can purchase Oribe from Space NK for £36.00, or less, if you can find the mythical yet NEVER STOCKED travel size, detailed here

BIG SEXY HAIR WHAT A TEASE BACKCOMB IN A BOTTLE

They say....

What it does: An instant teasing spray, this specialised formula gives hair massive height that's easy to shape and style.

- Provides ultra-hip height

- Delivers a medium-firm hold

- Contains expanding ingredients

Tip: Can be used on all hair types for a modern, teased look. Mist into hair, focusing on ends. Lightly work throughout hair, using your hands to separate and expand the shape.

I say....

It sounds good doesn't it, and this, as far as I know, was one of the first backcomb without the damage products on the market, and I snapped it up about six years ago. However, as much as I was enamoured with it then, the fact that it's the same formula that hasn't been updated, has left me, well, not very enamoured now. It says to focus on the ends, and lightly mist through hair. I would NEVER recommend that. It does give you a backcombed hold, yes, but it's like glue, actual glue, and this type of product is available cheaper, less aggressive, and more easily obtainable from your local drugstore. Therefore, I do not recommend.

Conclusion

Yes, it will make your hair stand up all night, and yes, it's like wallpaper paste in longevity, but there are better, and cheaper options. 

You can purchase this, if you're so inclined, from feelunique for £15.25

VO5 DRY BACKCOMBING SPRAY

They say....

dry backcombing spray with collagen, for hair that is big in all the right places

Want big hair but worried about the damage caused by backcombing? This dry spray instantly gives fullnes for amazing volume, minus the damage! It adds grip so your big hair stays plumped for longer, and can also be used as a "pick me up" style re-activator.

I say....

I LOVE THIS STUFF. Serious y'all. I love it. The only reason I tried it was I mistakenly picked it up thinking it was the body boosting dry shampoo version, and when I got home I was a little taken aback at the strength of the root boost, before realising it was a backcomb spray. I use this when I want to create a crazy Janic from The Real Ghostbusters type fringe with a ponytail......

Janice off of The Real Ghostbusters.

Yeah, I know, she's a cartoon. However if you've been reading this blog for any length of time you'll know my entire aim is to look like one. 

So, yes, if you use this you will have to wash your hair in the next two days, as it's a super duper strong spray that creates mega hold volume. However, unlike big sexy hair, it's cheap, and you can touch your hair without your fingers sticking to it. All I do is lift sections of my hair I want volume in, spritz a little, hold it until it dries off, and it just STAYS.

Conclusion

A great budget product that does exactly as it says, lasts all night and doesn't break the bank

You can purchase Vo5 dry backcombing spray from Boots for £3.79

UMBERTO GIANNINI GLAM HAIR BACKCOMB IN A BOTTLE

They say....

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Backcomb In A Bottle is the MUST-HAVE product to achieve full on glamour and up-do’s without wrecking your hair with backcombing.

I say....

Again, I LOVE THIS STUFF. I first bought this in a little travel size on the way out for the night when my hair felt like a pile of rubbish and needed some oomph. I popped into the toilets of waterloo train station, spritzed this at the roots and ba da bing! VOLUME A GO GO! Again, like the Vo5, all you need to do is spray, push into shape and once it dries, this stuff stays put. You can achieve huge volume at the roots with this, although I wouldn't recommend putting it anywhere else, as it'll not really give you many benefits if you do that. The point of this is to lift and stay, and thats what it does. 

Conclusion

This product is available in two sizes, and if you're umming and ahhing about it, i'd suggest treating yourself to the travel sized version. I have carried a bottle of this in travel size around for four years now and I don't plan on stopping. It does exactly what you want it to do, and it's cheap, readily available (if you have access to boots that is) and makes you BIG.

You can purchase this at Boots for £6.00 full size and £1.99 travel size.

Thanks for reading! Hope this has been useful to you lank haired ladies. 

THE MEGA SUPER DRY SHAMPOO SPRAY REVIEW for limp, greasy, flat haired humans (budget brands)

Hi there humans!

One of the bane's of my life has always been my hair. It's thin, it's flat, it's straighter than straight, and cannot hold a style for any length of time. Throughout my life I have spent HOURS and much moneys on trying to get it pouffy and luxurious, and the struggle has felt for many years like a thankless battle. In the 90's there was a great shampoo that was sold in Superdrug that I cannot remember the name of, but it basically turned your hair into wool, but really thick, easily styled hair that needed no product. AT ALL. My dreams came real, until they stopped making it. Next, it was Batiste as my nan had tons of cans of it in her pharmacy-like bathroom cupboards (I cannot possibly describe how weird my nans hoarding was when it came to new products, but I myself have carried on this tradition to the horror of my purse strings and the people around me). Anyway, in the mid to late 2000's, dry shampoos started morphing and multiplying into uber mega dry shampoos, and me, well, my job seems to have been to buy THEM ALL FOREVER FROM EVERYWHERE.

So i'm here to help. With dry shampoo choices that is. Warning, this post will be freaking HUGE.

First up.....

CHARLES WORTHINGTON STYLE SETTER DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

The ultimate styling products keep every strand in its place without losing any of the hair’s natural beauty and movement. Impossible? Not with this professionally formulated collection that has been designed to deliver optimum hold and texture on all hair types, ensuring maximum, red-carpet glamour all day, every day. And, to match the high-end style, the products all boast a high-end fragrance, composed of a subtle blend of green apple blossom, daisy and violet, with white cedar and musk.

Infused with Sweet Blue Lupin Peptide, this dry shampoo absorbs oil to freshen up your hair and revitalise your look.

I say....

I bought this as it promises hair healing qualities as WELL as sucking up your oily ways, and imbibing a lovely scent into your hair. It also promises hold which is useful when you want to go out of a night and not be pouffing up your style in the bathroom every five minutes.

To make this a less painful read, i'm going to give each feature a mark of out ten across the breadth of sprays I regularly use.

Volume created: 5

Hold: 4

Fragrance: 8

Lack of powdery appearance: 8

Lack of gritty feel: 7

Price: 9

Overall: 6

Conclusion

I appreciate very much the conditioning benefits this product boasts, but in all honesty, the actual purpose of this product is to make my hair big. It doesn't really do that, and it doesn't hold particularly well on my head. It does do a good job of making hair feel fresh and clean, which is the main goal of a dry shampoo, obviously, but for the purpose that i'm using it for, this isn't a winner. However if you want your hair smelling fresh and grease free, this is a good, cheap option. 

You can buy this direct from Charles worthington for £5.99

UMBERTO GIANNINI GLAM HAIR MORNING AFTER DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Morning After Dry Shampoo revives and refreshes lank, lifeless hair and gives that second day feeling that keeps hair perky and poised all day.

I say....

They're short and sweet, and this range is aimed at a youthful 'undone' kind of market, and I do enjoy the packaging, as it does feel like it's made for a party girl, and despite my age, that's what I am mofo. It's cheap, and it's cheerful, and not only does it come in 200ml size, it comes in a handbag happy mini size which you can chuck in your make up bag and use to give yourself a literal, morning after perk up in whoever's bathroom you've woken up near. You know what the biggest HOOPLA about this product, it's the fact that no matter how badly you apply this stuff, there are ZERO white marks. NONE. This is a big plus mark for girls who don't have 360 degree mirror vision in their house, because I have gone out before with a ridiculous white splodge on the back of my head. 

Volume created: 6

Hold: 5

Fragrance: 5

Lack of powdery appearance: 10

Lack of gritty feel: 8

Price: 9

Overall: 6

Conclusion

This is a great budget product, the no white marks at all give it bonus points as it's a rarity in these type of products. It absolutely works for the grease busting thing, and the smell is pleasant, if a tiny bit musty, in a 'i'm wearing vintage clothes and the smell is in my hair a bit so i'm trying to cover it up' way, if you can imagine that. I think that is kind of what they're going for here so....thats okay. There isn't a massive whomp of volume, but a good amount, and it's an all round good performer for the price.

You can purchase this from Boots for £6.00

ALBERTO VO5 PLUMP IT UP DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

This dry shampoo has been developed with collagen to give instant body to tired, lifeless hair & banish greasy roots.

Boost body & grip whilst refreshing your style

For fine, flat or oily hair

I say....

DRUM ROLLLL! This is one of my FAVOURITE budget dry shampoos. I love it. I LOVE IT. It doesn't matter how many others I buy, I keep coming back to this one and discarding the rest in favour of this (however the new aussie one is competing, stay TUNED with your EYES). This beast though, this lovely beast, it gives mega volume, it literally does plump everything up to a good healthy volume with minimal white marks. It keeps the volume for a reasonable amount of time as long as you're not sweating and dancing, it smells inoffensive, and it is a BARGAIN. Bear in mind there are two types you need to purchase the one for flat, fine and oily hair. 

Volume created: 8

Hold: 7

Fragrance: 6

Lack of powdery appearance: 7

Lack of gritty feel: 7

Price: 9

Overall: 8.5

Conclusion

This is a great budget dry shampoo that does exactly what it promises and for a bargain price. I recommend picking this up if you suffer from lank locks. It gives you volume, pliability and grip aplenty! 

Available in Boots and Superdrug for £3.59

FUDGE URBAN CRISP PEAR AND SWEET VANILLA DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

Revitalises locks when you’re short on time. Hit the roots & brush through to remove powder. Special micro powders get rid of dirt and oils. Boost & refresh your style on the move.

Spray on roots then blast excess away with a dryer for a fresh feel when you’re short on time. Spray all over glossy hair & brush through to give a matte finish.

I say....

So fresh and new there's barely anything about this on the internet yet, even on Fudge Urban's own website. However I spotted this in my local Boots and i'm a sucker for the Fudge Urban range, due to it smelling super sweet, having awesome packaging (I am a simple soul, I am attracted to shiny things), and being aimed a market who like to express themselves and achieve more outlandish styles whilst being friendly on your purse....so basically, teenagers, but sod it, i'm 35 but i'm 18 in my head....and, er, a little bit outside given the amount I get ID'd buying alcohol. Now, this doesn't give you much in the way of volume, but it doesn't claim to. However, it DOES whip the oily muck out of your hair, and does not leave white powdery marks, and it smells FANTASTIC, so if you suffer from second day oily scalp mustiness, this is a lovely thing to pop in your bag to make you feel fresh again. I really do recommend it, and it's CHEAP.

Volume created: 4

Hold: 4

Fragrance: 9

Lack of powdery appearance: 7

Lack of gritty feel: 7

Price: 8

Overall: 7

Conclusion

I would recommend this for the purposes of actual mucky hair as opposed to making it big. You can spray this on your pulled back into a ponytail hair and it transforms the grease into matte clean looking hair, and gives your hair grip and a little bulk to style with. It smells nice, and it does what it claims. 

You can purchase this from Superdrug or at Boots where it's currently on offer for £3.99 as opposed to the usual £5.00

AUSSIE AUSSOME VOLUME MIRACLE DRY SHAMPOO

They say....

Low on volume? Short of time? Meet the next big thing. No shower necessary. A quick blast from Aussie Aussome Volume Miracle Dry Shampoo cleanses from the root for an instant boost of volume and texture (and incredible fragrance!). It is the quick fix for a between-wash burst of volume!

It contains Jojoba Seed Extract that was used for centuries by the indigenous Australians as it was believed to naturally condition hair.

I say....

DING DING DING DING JACKPOT!!!! We have another winner in our midst. Again, extremely new on the shelves, I picked this up when I was replacing yet ANOTHER Aussie Aussome Volume Deep Treatment Mousse Light (here's a little tip for you, if you want to spend four quid on a product that you use once, which then explodes in your shower, you replace, and it repeats the same behaviour, then go buy that, if not, don't bother), and I saw this cheeky new stranger, sat on the shelves promising VOLUME and CONTROL, whilst also doing all the other stuff that dry shampoos do, AND smelling nice. I was sold! 

Now, I dye my hair blue, and it's bleached, but recently I had a major allergic reaction to hair dye and until I know what i'm allergic to, I can't dye it, so it's currently a very washed out greeny bluey yellow mess. Therefore I don't want to wash it much, so I got in and used this on my five day old greasy flat mop. IT WORKED LIKE A DREAM. Seriously, it gave a very impressive boost of volume, no white marks, and my hair smelt as new as five day old hair could hope to. I WAS IMPRESSED. So much so I even went clubbing and didn't feel self conscious at all (I never go partying without washing my hair ever usually). My hair didn't look dirty or gritty, just fashionably texturised. 

Volume created: 8

Hold: 8

Fragrance: 8

Lack of powdery appearance: 8

Lack of gritty feel: 8

Price: 8

Overall: 9

Conclusion

 I highly highly recommend this to you, I actually would say go buy both this AND the Vo5 offering, and see which you like best, because it's hard to pick between them. However, this is pretty darn amazing and does exactly as it promises and more. 

You can buy this from Boots or Superdrug for £4.49

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO XXL VOLUME - BIG AND BOUNCY

They say....

Batiste Dry Shampoo Big and Bouncy XXL Volume revitalises hair, banishes oily roots and gives you so much body and texture, your Up-Do takes no time.

A quick burst with our unique formula gives dull, lifeless hair the volumising makeover it needs. No water and no backcombing - just big-style glamour and a great clean, fresh feeling. No need to worry about skipping a shampoo.

I say....

Some people love this. I am not one of them. If I wore updo's, then I imagine I might really like it, but alas, I used this three times before tossing it into the bin yelling 'BE GONE THY DEMON'.  It made my hair feel DISGUSTING. Honestly, I couldn't get my fingers in my hair, and once I started getting a bit sweaty (as is my wont), oh my goodness, it was REPULSIVE. My roots turned into a vicious sludge, I was itching, and my hair did NOT look nice. If you're into the whole rockabilly thing, I reckon you'll adore this, but me, I was offended by it. Yes, batiste hurt my feelings. Big time. 

Volume created: 8

Hold: 8

Fragrance: 8

Lack of powdery appearance: 3

Lack of gritty feel: 1

Price: 7

Overall: 4

If you want this muck, you'll find it at Boots for a reasonable, if you like that sort of thing, £3.99


So thats my round up of the budget brands. Stayed tuned, or whatever people do in the internets, for my high end round up of dry shampoo's PLUS low and high end backcomb sprays.

I am flat haired. Make me big. MAKE ME HUGE.

REVIEW: Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3 in 1 cleanser for face and eyes

So whilst i'm on my 'review all the cleansers in my home' run, I may as well chuck another one in. I've been using this for about four years in total, having originally gotten hold of it via the joys of being on the Philosophy testing panel, which was a short lived, but lovely experience.

So whats it selling us then, what does it promise!



"our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.


features & benefits
deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup build-up
natural oil extracts help condition skin
fragrance-free formula"

It suggests, which I follow, that you "massage a "size of a 20 pence coin" amount onto a lightly damp face, and massage for 30-60 seconds. rinse and pat dry", the only thing I add to this regime is wiping off with a warm wet wash cloth, which assists with the exfoliation and keeps you silky smooth and ready for your skincare products.

My skin is left soft, smooth and squeaky clean. It makes easy work of waterproof make up and lifting oil and dirt. What more could you possibly wish for.....

NOTHING.

Well, one thing. That it was cheaper. It's ridiculously expensive for a cleanser that you use daily, so therefore are going to plough through pretty quickly. There is a travel size available for the price of £8.00, but if you're going to spend that on a budget, you might as well spend it on a full size Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean cleanser.

If you do want to invest, Philosophy is stocked far and wide, and you can buy a standard size of 240ml for £17.50 direct from the brands own website, John Lewis, Boots or Debenhams where it is CURRENTLY on sale for £15.50. Be quick!

REVIEW: Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix

Nip and Fab Deep Cleansing Fix

I wear a lot of make up, so I tend to go through cleansers like nobodies business. I reviewed one of my favourite cleansers yesterday, but in this household I have at least two cleansers on the go at any one time. In the interests of full disclosure, I actually have five on the go at the moment. Insanity. Anyway, I picked this up at Boots on an introductory offer, so it set me back a bargainous £5.00 as opposed to £7.95. I hadn't heard of it prior to its launch, but I had been using the Nip and Fab Glycolic Fix exfoliating pads, and had had good results, so I knew it was a brand I trusted. 

So what do they have to say about this gloopy pot of goodness....

Get super clear skin + banish blemishes with our new Deep Cleansing Fix.

This multi-purpose cleansing cream gently melts away make-up + purifies skin for a clear + fresh complexion.

A 6-in-1 beauty must-have, this luxurious cream cleanser works to deep cleanse pores while nourishing + awakening the skin with an energising, uplifiting eucalyptus scent.

For best results, simply massage onto dry skin + rinse for deep cleansed, hydrated + beautifully clear skin.

The 6 different uses of Deep Cleansing Fix are:

1) Removes make-up
2) Deeply Cleanses
3) Can be used as mini 10 minute mask
4) Leave on overnight as an intensive hydrating mask
5) Can be applied directly to blemishes
6) Exfoliating action when used with muslin cloth

Currently Not Available in the US

Deep Cleansing Fix contains:


sweet almond oil nourishes + smoothes
tea tree oil cleanses pores So basically, it does everything!

And I really really like it very much. I have used it overnight, and woken up with skin that is fresh, smooth and hydrated, as well as brighter and clearer. I have used it as a ten minute mask which results in energised fresh skin, and I use it a lot as a cleanser. I smooth it over my make up strewn face, much of which is water resistant or proof, and I massage it, fill up the sink with hot water and place the washclosh in it, then place it on my face, let it melt the cleanser, and then wipe of gently, and ta da! Everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING is gone. I use the type of eyeliner that is impossible to remove, but this gets it off in a flash. My skin benefits from it, feels fresh and clean, and I actually enjoy the process!

I highly recommend this to all, and it's stocked in boots for £7.95, or online HERE

REVIEW: Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean 3 in 1 wash off deep purifying cleanser

Peaches and Clean Purifying Cleanser

One thing I could be accused of, frequently, is laziness. I'm messy, I mean, really messy, I don't know how to organise myself, the only thing I'm vaguely okay with is arranging my vast collection of make up, but even then, i'm pretty bad. Therefore for years, I have gone back again and again to taking my make up off with wipes. It always ends up with me getting horrid spots, blocks pores and rough patches that no primer will smooth over.

So when this happens, i'm reminded of why I should get off my lazy bum and properly cleanse at the end of the night. I've tried TONS of cleansers, but not many agree with me. I've tried cheap to expensive, from Simple to Eve Lom, and this one is the one I always ALWAYS return to, and with good reason. Lets find out why etc....

They (Soap and Glory) say this ---->

Want to remove make-up and impurities in one clean sweep? Reach for Soap & Glory’s indispensable daily face cleanser, Peaches And Clean™. It’s gentle, effective, melts away make-up (even waterproof mascara), and re-energises your complexion in two minutes.

• OXYGINSENG™ TECHNOLOGY - an amazingly effective, organic complex that helps increase circulation and cell respiration (which then turns up blood supply and toxin removal), and also speeds oxygen and nutrient delivery to fight aging and re-energise skin
• PEACH & GOJUICE™ (peach and goji berry extracts) - rich in antioxidants and vitamins A & C
• QUILLAJA BARK - a Chilean soap bark tree-derived natural cleansing agent

Now, one thing I love about Soap and Glory (and it took me a long time to love them due to viewing them for years as a Benefit rip off) is their frank, honest and straightforward descriptions of their products, and the fact that they're mostly, incredibly affordable. I have been using this every single night for months, my method being I massage onto my mucky make up laiden face, including eyes, soak a flannel in hot water, wring it out, and gently (or not so gently if i've been on the booze) wipe the make up and cleanser away in one easy go. It gets EVERYTHING off easily, and my face is left soft, glowing, and smooth, ready to apply my night treatments, which soak in beautifully post cleansing. 

So this is a total bona fide RAVE. I love this stuff. It's cheap, super cheerful, smells lovely and is very effective. 

It's available from Boots the country over or from their website HERE for the paltry sum of £8.00. I suggest you give it a go! 

REVIEW: Rimmel Stay Blushed - Pop of Pink and Sunkissed Cherry

I've been really bad at updating haven't I? I have good reasons, other than sheer unadulterated laziness and desire to eat as much cake as possible to soothe my broken heart. Here's a tip, cake doesn't actually fix your heart, but it does mean that those PVC trousers you purchased mid breakdown one day make you look like a zeppelin strapped into a bin bag two sizes smaller than your thighs. Good lord.

Anyway, i'm here, Its saturday night, and i'm licking my friday night hedonism wounds in front of the tv with Bridesmaids on the tv to cheer me up. And why not?

Rimmel Stay Blushed in Pop of Pink and Sunkissed Cherry

What does Rimmel say then?

"Perfect for any occasion: the blush blends instantly and seamlessly to create a long lasting, natural-looking flush of colour that lasts up to 24 hours.
Ultra lightweight, won’t feel heavy.
Lasts all day."

I have many liquid, creme and gel type blushers in my collection. Maybe all of them, except the By Terry one that I CANNOT EVER IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO AFFORD. One thing that I tend to get annoyed by is that I put a lovely flush of colour on my cheeks, and within three hours it's all gone and its hateful to me, for I am nothing without blush. The idea that this lasts 24 hours is something i'm a big fan of, but I feared the Benefit Benetint effect, you know, the streaks you get with a liquidy formula that only give you seconds to blend. So what did I think?

First. Le pictures.

Pop of Pink and Sunkissed Cherry

Pop of Pink and Sunkissed Cherry blended out. 

So as you can see, the streaking issue is absolutely not a problem. I used my fingers to blend the arm swatch, but I use a stippling brush to blend the colour onto my cheekbones and it creates a lovely flush of colour, with a glow. On top of this, it lasts absolutely all day, applies really easily and I seriously cannot fault it. I highly recommend you pick these up, I just hope that they expand the colour range to more than two shades! 

Pick this up for £4.99 from Boots and £4.49 from Superdrug. It's great! 

REVIEW: Rimmel EXAGGERATE undercover shadow primer

Rimmel Exaggerate Undercover Shadow Primer

I'm not messing about with this one. BAM. BANG. INFO AND DID!

What do they say about it?

Rimmel introduces Exaggerate Under-cover, our first primer base that will reinvent your eye shadow!

The lightweight silicone formula preps and smoothes lids: say goodbye to lines & wrinkles! Then get ready to maximise your shadow intensity, all day long!

What does it do?

FUCK ALL.

Seriously. The only thing it does is slightly intensify my eyeshadow and prolongs wear a tiny amount. I have oily lids, and I can't afford to replace my NARS Pro Smudge Proof Primer which I use on my mega oily lids daily. I needed a good replacement and when I saw the words 'all day long' I was sold. It doesn't do anything all day except let your eyeshadow crease, and if anything, my lids were MORE greasy. What an achievement!

So thanks Rimmel, but no thanks. I'll just have to save my pennies for quality.

If you do want to bother, it's £4.99 from Boots and Superdrug 

QUICKIE REVIEW: Bumble and Bumble Spray Chalk

Bumble and Bumble Spray Chalk in Blush Pink

So, on my recent travels I tried out the Bumble and Bumble Spray Chalk in Blush Pink. My hair, if you haven't read before, is turquoise and darker blue, and pretty bright. I thought it might be nice to try some pink accents for a little change, so chose the Blush Pink colour, in the hope i'd look a bit like a living doll. 

It's difficult to review this positively from my point of view, but it's not a failure of a product, it's just not for me. You see, it's basically a hairspray, with holding power, that gives colour as well, so if you want to create a big quiff and hold it up with a flash of colour, this is your best friend. However, if you want to just colour the ends, which lots of girls want to these days, this is where your problems are going to start.

First issue I have, is it goes EVERYWHERE. It flakes off, getting on your clothes, which is annoying. Secondly, it makes your hair hard, and knotty, and dry. It's bound to because it's basically a hairspray, but it was really tough to brush out, and my hair felt disgusting afterwards. I wasn't a fan.

Personally, I would recommend this for a fashion forward up do, where you'd be using spray to style anyway, but if you just want your locks to fly free, this is definitely not an option.

If you do want to get involved though, you can get this for a rather pricey £15 from Bumble and Bumble online

REVIEW: Bleach London Washed Up Mermaid Hair Dye (Super Cool Colour) and rambling about Kurt Cobain

Bleach London Super Cool Colour in Washed Up Mermaid

So, I gave a heads up, and a rambling opinion about this brand Bleach London a few weeks back, and to be true to my blogging ways, I decided to buy one of the so called, super cool colours, to give them a go. Now, I would put up pictures of how using this dye turned out, but sadly, it washed out before I got round to it, but I will say that the above example is pretty much the exact colour you will get on a very pale bleached head of hair. 

The colours available from Bleach London are very limited, but they're on trend, with names referencing current trends, like Bruise Violet, which references one of my favourite bands from when I was a young teen, in 92, Babes in Toyland, imparticular their song Bruise Violet, seen below

Babes In Toyland - Bruise Violet (92)

First let me have a ramble, I met Babes in Toyland, namely Kat, a few times when I was 12/13, she was massively messed up but obviously really cool. It kind of irritates me that loads of kids love this band now, just because they weren't massive then by any stretch of the imagination, and suddenly they're being ripped off wholesale by so many bands now, and girls who have NO belief in what these Riot Grrrl bands stood for, it's just a fashion thing. Dickheads. Appropriating a culture to sell hair dye is  bit weird too....but then again, Marc Jacobs appropriated the grunge thing in 92, and somehow found a way to sell raggedy plaid shirts and ripped jeans and army surplus boots for hundreds of dollars. Appropriation gets right on my tits.

And on ANOTHER rant, I bought Company High Street Edit this week, and in the center pages covered kids that dress like their famous parents. Anyway, on this page they had photoshopped Frances Bean Cobain, linking arms with her father Kurt Cobain. You know? The man that SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FUCKING HEAD WHEN SHE WAS A BABY? Now, call me reactionary, but isn't that a little bit, no, VERY INAPPROPRIATE???

Frances Bean and her father, together, er, at last...

Also, i'd like to point out to the dickheads that write that magazine, that 'Papa's playlist' is massively WRONG. Soundgarden weren't liked by the cool kids, certainly not Kurt, Doll Parts was on the album that although he was alive when it was written, he was dead by the time it came out (I saw Hole play a couple of months after Kurt took his life, it was a horrid, attention seeking, disgustingly wrong mess) and er, he probably wasn't listening to In Bloom, off an album he came to despise. I won't sound like a total Nirvana geek, although I do know the bands he talked about loving in the press, often to Everett True, but remembering the day Kurt took his life, I was at a guitar lesson (I gave up quickly, I am bad at learning) and my best mate called me and said 'don't kill yourself, I don't know if I can remain strong' and I was like 'er, I loved the band, but I didn't know the guy!'. I had bought tickets to see them at Brixton academy (yes, they weren't massive enough to play bigger venues i'm afraid) and I went and got a refund and used the money to go and see PWEI instead. Nothing was precious! I'd actually got sick of the Nirvana fanboys and had given away all my albums that I had on cassette to kids in the year below, including the really rare stuff like the double A side with Jesus Lizard. 

Shit. I'm meant to be reviewing the dye aren't I?

Basically, the dye is easy to use, its thicker than your average Crazy Colour, or Manic Panic, so you can chuck it on your hair with your hands and it won't run all over your neck. The colour is basically the colour you see in the example above, spot on, but it washes out REALLY quickly. It's an on trend colour, it works well, it is conditioning, and it's not TOO pricey, but frankly, I would rather use a dye from a well worn company who have been doing these colours for years, mix it with a conditioner or pastelizer, I mean, Crazy Colour do one for less than a fiver, and you then save tons of money in the long term, because you just need a drop of strong colour, mixed with your chosen mixer, and it'll probably last the same amount of time! What Bleach do is take the work out of it for you, if you want a surefire colour result thats easy to use and washes out pretty quickly, then give it a go. 

I'll update with a picture of the result when I've faded my bubblegum blue by Crazy Colour. 

You can pick up Washed Up Mermaid by Bleach for a fiver at selected Boots. 

REVIEW: Batiste Smoothing and Conditioning Mist

"Goodbye brittle mop, hello Silky locks - A few spritz of this superlight dry feel, invisible conditioning spray infused with Argan Oil, is perfect for the days when you are fighting the frizz or dry ends are driving you dotty. A quick spritz into the mid lengths & ends nourishes, smoothes fly-aways and helps retain moisture in dry unmanageable hair giving you shiny, great looking hair every day."

I purchased this in a rush of desperation at a train station. Since having extensions, my already frazzled locks need extra conditioning, otherwise my real hair, which is a woeful mess, and the fake hair, look very obviously different. Also, extensions are dead hair, so they need lots of oily love, or they look frazzled, matted and disgusting very quickly.

This product, unlike most leave in conditioners, isn't 'wet', it's dry, a dry oil, that you spray on dry hair between washes. It's important not to make the mistake of thinking it's for the same thing as regular Batiste, it'll not make your roots less greasy. Saying tht though, it doesn't make you greasy, just shiny, and soft, and easy to brush, and OH MY, I AM IN LOVE.

TOTES.

It really is great, I love it, as it's not wet, it doesn't affect your 'do' in any way, just gets it smelling fresh, looking shiny, and smooth! It stops the in between wash frazzles. I haven't anything bad to say about this lad. Dive in I say, DIVE IN. 

This is currently on offer for the super bargainous price of £2.99 from Boots. GO GET!

REVIEW: Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

When I heard that Real Techniques (as in, Sam from Pixiwoo, a big ladycrush of mine) were releasing a sponge, I knew it was going to be a winner. What I didn't reckon on was how bargainous it was going to be, and HOW RUDDY GOOD.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge

I shall make no bones about this. I LOVE THIS GUY. Now, since i'm a bit of a heartbroken mess, I am prone to extreme mood swings, but extreme enthusiasm isn't one of those emotions, sadly. However, this sponge, it has got an ounce of positivity out of me, and frankly, thats big news.

What's the corporate blurb then?

"Apply your foundation flawlessly with the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge. With rounded sides to blend and smooth foundation over large areas of your face, it also features a flat edge to glide around the contours of your eyes and nose. Finished with a precision tip that's ideal for covering spots and blemishes, this easy-to-use sponge will give you the perfect airbrushed effect"

So, why is this fellaguy good? Lets go list crazy!

He's cheap

He's multifaceted. You can use the flat side for application, the rounded for cream blush and highlighter, the pointed end for concealer, and the rounded side for powder. One for ALL!

He's easy to clean, just pop him under the tap with some shampoo. Done!

He gives a super airbrushed finish

He's FOOLPROOF

So how do you, or I, use this?

Easy. I dampen it under a warm tap, squeeze out the excess water, dot foundation over my face, use the flat side to distribute foundation around my face in a wiping motion. For areas I need more coverage, I use a dabbing motion. Then I apply concealer to areas that need even more coverage, and use the flat edge to apply around the eyes and nose area. Then I apply dots to areas where I have blemishes, and use the pointed end to gently blend the edges for undetectable full coverage. I then use one of the rounded sides to dab into my creme blush, say, Mac Posey, a personal fave, and dab it onto my cheeks. I then apply NARS illuminator in copacabana with the same area of sponge to the high points of my face, and finally, dab the other side of the sponge in my loose powder, apply in a rolling motions all over my make up, and i'm DONE! 

It's THAT easy. 

I can't say ANYTHING negative about this product. It's quarter of the price of a beauty blender, and a better product, so....BUY IT!

You can purchase this at Boots or HQ Hair for the bargain price of £4.99

REVIEW: Head and Shoulders Extra Strengthening Tonic Thick & Strong.

Head and Shoulders?! The child in me has always been totally turned off ever having ANYTHING from Head and Shoulders, because all it screams is DANDRUFF. However, when I saw a little box nestling on the H&S display in Superdrug, I was intrigued. 

So what enticed me to buy this? Well, there's eff all about it on the internets, but basically there are two tonics, one is called Extra Strengthening Thick and Strong, and Extra Thickening Thick and Strong. So, basically, you look at the box blurb, and they say exactly the same thing on the back. They're are leave in treatments, that you can use on wet OR dry hair, and they thicken every strand of hair, whilst also improving strength and preventing breakage by conditioning and moisturising your scalp, whilst poofing up your barnet. 

I didn't really know whether I needed it or not, but since i've had extensions (don't label me Katie Price, it's a full head of blue messy hair because my hair is so weak and pathetic it doesn't get past chin length) I have no idea how to get volume in it at all, so the top, which has no extensions in it, sits flat and makes my chubby face look rounder. NO THANKS.

So in comes this tonic to save the day, and it REALLY DOES HELP. Now, I cannot vouch for the strength it imparts quite yet, but I do know that the moment it hits my hair, I get a very obvious boost of volume. Now, if I was using my usual volumising regime, I think you could get some real massive volume out of it. The fact that it's helping my very broken hair is frankly a cheeky bonus. My hair is so desperately damaged on my crown area that parts are barely two inches long, so I can do with the help!

So if you're interested in a results before your eyes volumiser that also treats your hair and scalp, I say give this a go! It's a lot cheaper than Kerastase Initialiste, so if it works, you've saved yourself a load of quids. Also, it smells like sunshine!

Available from Boots online and in superdrug stores for £9.99.