zoos-pisajes-plantas-etc: natural product review

Showing posts with label natural product review. Show all posts

guest reviewer: Yana on CURLS

I hope you all value my opinion and like two here about the different products that I use.
How ever I know there are alot of curlies out there with totally different hair types to me and alot of you follow natural belle. So I thought I'd ask my friend and hair stylist Yana to review CURLS curlicious curls cleansing cream and CURLS coconut sublime moisteriseing conditioner.

Here's what she has to say:

"I usually use kerastase products which are good but I tend to lose alot of moisture in my hair and have to use added moisturiser and hold products to keep my curl pattern.
I shampooed my hair with CURLS cleansing cream firstly the cleanser does not foam up like many shampoo's this is due to the fact it does not contain false foaming agents, That dry out the hair and can cause breakage. It felt alot like washing my hair with a light conditioner my hair felt clean after use but not dry.
The curls sublime conditioner was fantastic and was my favourite. Firstly it smells Devine and the aroma lingers throughout the day. Whenever I move my head I get a whiff of coconut and caramel.

I have very thick very curly hair I thought the little sample pot would not go very far, however I really didn't need that much (about a coins worth) the conditioner spread very well and I worked it from root to tip. The best thing about CURLS sublime conditioner was the ease of styling after my hair wash. I really only need a tiny bit of serum and that was mostly due to habit. My hair is so much softer and the curl is very defined. My curls are alot more relaxed and elongated. I really want to try the rest of the styling products. I do alot of blowdrys and although I want to stay busy at work I will be suggesting this to my clients with mixed race and Afro hair as I find alot of my clients do not wear there hair natural because they find there hair unmanageable(so untrue!) or the curls are not defined enough buy this product is the key and will be finding its way into my hairdressing kit."

to get you hands on these products please visit http://www.curls.biz/

Well that what the professional has to say! for an appointment with yana for one of the best blow-outs in london contact myself and i can give you further details also if you have any questions for Yana she will be doing q&a's.

Ive been using the CURLS whipped cream and CURLS gel-les's stayed tuned for my review in the next few day.

Hope you enjoyed the chance to here from someone different!

look forward to more guest reviewers and interviews with all different types of curly hair.

Liz Earle-cleanse tone and moisturise

LIZ EARLE

I've been trying out Liz earle's skin care

They sent a clenser, toner, and moisturizer

I have been using it for a week and I'm. Really impressed with the whole range

The cleanse and polish hot cloth cleanser(£13) is very nice, my skin felt moisturized with only the cleanser and my skin was very smooth and bright. The cleanser removed my make up easily even my mascara!

It works in two stages cleansing and polishing when used with a Muslin cloth it gently removes dead skin cells

The active ingredients are cocoa butter and eucalyptus.

The instant boost skin tonic(£11.50) was also great. A toner is designed to further cleanse the skin and shrink the pores. The liz Earle skin tonic alcohol free and has really brightened my skin.

The active Ingredients are aloe Vera and vitamin E. If you are new to toners it's great as it applies a thin layer of moisture.

To finish i used the skin repair moisturiser(£17.50)for normal/combination skin which soften smooths and conditions. this such a lovely moisturiser my make up goes on so smoothly after i use it and the feeling of perfect skin last all day

Tip from liz Earle: pure muslin clothes provide a gentle way to exfoliate skin and enhance daily cleansing.

Darcy's Botanicals

so i have finally found the holy grail of wash n go hair gel!

Darcy's Botanicals Natural Coils Curling Jelly is the best curl forming gel i have tried

Lysandra sent me an 8 oz jar to try,

what does it do?: enhances curls and defines them giving hold, shine and conditioning

does it? hell yes!!! my curls are more defined even before i use any styling techniques. i have achieved the the almost unheard of day 3 hair! with this product.

whats in it then? Distilled Water, Organic Aloe Juice, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Coconut Cream, Organic Brown Rice Extract, Castor Oil, Xanthan Gum (Thickeners), Hydrolyzed Oats, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Fragrance & Sea Moss Extract.

who should buy it? everyone! but especially those sporting a TWA short to mid length

i've used it on wet and dry hair and it reduces frizz and smooth all the textures of my hair(comment if your hair is more than one texture!!) the product spreads well and you don't need to much a little goes along way!

the price is also good at $12 which is very good for a natural hair product and the best thing about it is it's made by people who understand our hair and love it as much as we do. Lysandra has been mixing natural products for 8 years and is passionate about natural ingredients. I'm in love with this product and will be trying more from this line (i'll also be asking for an industrial sized pot of Curling Jelly!) the fact that at the moment it's out of stock speaks for itself! (it will be back in stock soon!)

$12

my fingerling results with Natural Coils Curling Jelly

lush

Every time I go into lush I am over come with the urge to grab asulutely everything I can find! Bath bars, lip dips, bath bombs.... This list is endless and I want it all!! It also makes me want to eat candy!

My house mate and I are both addicted! When we are down we think there's nothing better than a lush buzz!

So when the lovely people at lush head quarters sent me some goodies I almost pee'd my pants!

I though I'd tried everything lush had to offer but alas I was wrong. lush has brought out a snow fairy lip tint!

(£3:95)

snow fairy is my favourite lush aroma you can old get it a Christmas and wait patiently every year and stock up on snow fairy goodness!

the ingredients are murumuru butter, cupuacu butter, dried raspberries,sherbet and icing sugar (yes really!). snow fairy lip tint does not stain the lips to mush it a very delicate shade and it can also be used as a cheek tint for fairer skin tones! try not to just eat it!

i was also sent maple taffy lip balm (£2:50) which again smells divine (just like maple syrup!)

the ingredient are actual maple syrup! it also contain Shea butter, illipe butter , carnauba wax and glycerine (not to lush make this for natural hair) it softens and locks in moisture.

another lip product i was sent was the lip dip lip scrub (£4.25) a winter must have. it contains fair trade sugar and sherbet which exfoliates away dry skin it is mixed with almond oil to nourish the lips.

I'm prone to dry lips so this is a god send! and it tastes good.

lastly and my surprise favourite was the once a year massage bar (£3.95)

this contains oranges, tangerines, hazelnut oil, almond oil, cognac oil and brandy!, Shea cutter and cocoa butter. you can use it in the shower, or warm it in as an all over body moisterizer. my skin has never been so soft and it has glitter in it so you sparkle and shine!

lush

lush is a lovely company, all the staff are very helpful and they are great with samples you can sample everything and they don't give you the stank eye for asking! they do demo's and are very knowledgeable, the prices are really good and they have great girft ideas.

thanks to gina at lush

my haircare routine

october

my hair care regimen

monthly:

shampoo with phillip kingsley moisture extreme

detangle with a wide tooth comb

deep condition with macadmia oil treatment mixed with philip kingsley elasticizer, mixed with a concoction of oils such as peppermint and jojoba

i leave the treatment on for as long as possible (at least 3 hours!) i use a hot towel to open the pores and let the moisture in.

weekly:

deep condition with macadamia oil treatment and the macadamia oil leave for 15 minutes in the shower

daily:

wash and go with mane and tail leave in conditioner

when wet i use ic fantasia gel and use the bambiix2 fingerling method

i spray my hair with natures shine by organic root stimulator

nightly:

i give myself a scalp massage for 10 minutes while rubbing shea-emu butter by long hair lovers every night to stimulate my scalp to help healthy hair growth.

august

L'oreal Paris colour riche serum lipstick

beamy plum and bright cocoa

Lipstick in bright cocoa

i was sent the new Colour Riche boosting serum lipstick from L'oreal paris

the lipstick contains Hyaluronis acid which enhances natural moisture of the lips re plumping and smoothing the surface of the lips.

the collection comes in a variety of desert shades, that give a new take on the "NUDE" lip the shade i'm wearing is bright cocoa and is very flattering on darker skin tones

around £7.99 from any good chemist (superdrug or boots)

its a very good price and for a drugstore lipstick it is not drying and is very pigmented

i'm a fan of luxuary brands when it comes to cosmetics however this lipstick holds up just as well as my YSL lipstick (it has the same satin feel)

8/10

on my eyes i'm wearing volume million lashes mascara (review coming soon)

Shea-mu butter by long hair lovers

"Shea-mu Hair Butter contains a high concentration of our patent-pending emu oil and essential oil formula to grow long hair faster and healthier. The natural fatty acids in Shea Butter & Hemp Seed Oil add luster to dry, brittle, slow-growing hair, while Natural Vitamin E fends off free radicals and protects the hair and scalp from harmful environmental factors. Added Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5) actually penetrates the hair shaft to strengthen hair from the inside out."

$34 Emu Oil: acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory that stimulates the hair's natural growing ability. ingrediants Unrefined Organic Shea Butter; Triple Refined Emu Oil; Certified Organic Hemp Seed Oil; Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5); Organic Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender, Cedarwood & Sweet Orange Essential Oils; Filtered Beeswax; Natural Vitamin E

I've been using this butter at night. I emolsifie a good sized dollop in my hands and massage into my scalp for 5 minutes to stimulate my scalp I leave over night and was out in the morning. I haven't noticed much hair growth but I'm not really looking for. I have however noticed thicker hair espicially on my thinning sides.

Check out the products on

http://www.longhairlovers.com/

AD skin synergy review

So I received AD Skin Synergy Nourishing Night Treatment Facial Oil packed with oils like jasmine, jojoba and rosehip seed oil and my first thought was that it was absolutely natural with NO fillers, parabens or sulphates.

The list of ingredients is impressive, and it smells gorgeous (must be the neroli, jasmine and lavender), I've started using it on cleansed, slighty damp skin for a couple of nights and loved it so much that I've been using it day and night. It's light but really moisturising and sunk in straight away, it's the perfect moisturiser for the winter months and base for makeup.

I was so impressed with the oil that I have been using it day and night without a moisturiser, and the best thing about it is that it's so pure and gentle it can be used as around the eyes, as a neck cream, over lips as a deep conditioner treatment, a hand and nail cream or any really dry areas like elbows, it's an natural everything oil.

It's really comforting on my skin and I get a healthy glow even after being in and out of the cold and rain (UK weather.)

On top of that, the website offers free delivery and the customer service team are really helpful.

What it says:

"The potent ingredients and extracts are natural and organic, sourced from the finest growers around the world. These include organic rosehip seed, organic evening primrose, organic jojoba, organic rose, organic lavender, organic roman chamomile, organic palma rosa, organic ylang ylang, frankincense, jasmine and vitamin E."

£38 for 50ml http://www.adskinsynergy.com/ with free delivery and 20% off box sets

Sexy mother pucker!

£8.00

are you a sexy mother pucker? well i sure feel like one

i've been rocking this gloss for the last few posts it's called Half naked it's a lip plumping lip gloss in a browny coral colour.

its hailed as a lip plumper but as my lips are already pretty full i didn't notice much enhancment, it did however go on extremely well it tingles a little (think that's the plumping!) and i feel the colour really pops!

non stickyness: 10/10

colour: 9/10

plumping: 5/10

overall 8/10

whistles friendship braclet £25
get the look
mac minerlize foundationsleek blush in corallipgloss soap and glory in half naked
no shadow or mascara this look is a fresh glowly look. simple.

win sexy mother pucker in yummy plumall you need to do is send a picture of your sexy pout!! so pile on the gloss ladies (and gents) and show us what your made of! give-away is international and runs for 3 weeks(entries may be posted on naturalbelle)send entries too
naturalbelle1983@gmail.com
www.soapandglory.com
don't forget the macadamia give-away is still running here

macadamia hair masque

contest now closed!!!

the lovely people at macadmia sent me a gift box full lovely goodies

the box was so vast i can't possible review it all in one go so i'll start with the product i loved the most!

the deep repair masque

"Macadamia Deep Repair Masque is a revitalizing hair reconstructor for dry, damaged hair. A combination of macadamia oil and argan oil along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the hair deeply nourished for improved elasticity and shine with long-lasting conditioning benefits."

i used this for the first time three days ago and i must say its one of the best masques i've tried my hair sooooooo soft it unbelievable! i have very parched hair due to the awful colour experimentation of a few months ago.

i used macadamia masque in the shower for about 7-10 minutes without heat and rinsed out.

the whole day i had complements on my hair the curl was more defined and the colour vibrant

if i could, i'd use it everyday i would! but it is not advised as the ingredients are very intense but it states that you can use a little mixed with the macadamia oil treatment as a leave in conditioner.

after using the treatment i achieved second day hair! (did not have to wet down my hair the next morning)

this product is a must for people with coloured hair

$28 or £18.64

usa

http://www.macadamiahair.com/products/

http://www.afrotherapy.com/hair.html

i'll be giving away a mini macadamia oil healing treatment and a the rejuvinating shampoo full size! and the beloved comb!!

all you need to do to enter the give-aways is comment on your favourite way to pamper your hair?

the give away is international just one prize this time but lots more give-aways to come

some facts about the range:

•Provides intense nourishment, smoothing and a long lasting, tangle-free, frizz-free finish. Hair is ultra-smooth, manageable and shiny.

•Instant absorption and light-weight, non-greasy feel.

•Shown to extend the life of color treatments by reducing fading.

•Natural UV protection

•Reduces drying time by 40-50%

Macadamia Oil: Very rich in essential fatty acids, macadamia oil has the distinctive feature of resembling sebum. This replication of the natural oils our scalp produces for protection make it an ideal enriching & replenishing agent with rapid absorption.

Argan Oil: The oil is rich in Omega 9, Linoleic, Oleic, and unsaturated fatty acids - shown to be very beneficial in improving hair strength and health.

don't forget to comment below for your chance to win!!

Christmas came early! Macadamia oil

so i've been reading up on natural oils for natural hair and came across the macadamia oil company! i contacted them and asked for some samples to try as i have no idea were to purchase this in the uk! and they sent this HUGE!!! gift set! it even came with a comb!!!

i hope it not a mistake and some poor girl has my three little sachets of shampoo while i'm living it up with my MASSIVE selection of shampoo, leave in conditioner, oil treatments and did i mention the comb!!! the packaging is very cute.

gosh darm i'm a product junkie!! i notice as my hair grows so does my product lust......

stay tuned for reviews and give-aways

Thank you to the people at feelforhair

Skin care regimen: Pai avocado and jojoba hydrating day cream

OMG! no make up!!

Some of you have been asking about my skin. I've had some lovely comments about it so thank you! And thank you mac! Lol

I have relatively clear skin I have the odd breakout when it's that time of the month. I always wear foundation ALWAYS! But you do need a good base to start with.

My skin care regimen is pretty basic

I wash my face with simple liquid soap and use toning facial wipes am and pm

To moisterise my skin I have started using pai's avocado and jojoba hydrating day cream avacodo oil is great for black skin. I put it on under my foundation so it's light but also very moisterising and thankfully it doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy. I'm getting more and more into natural products but some natural companies either aren't as natural or organic as they claim or the product is completely natural but doesn't work! Pai is certified organic so no nasties! Like alcohol or parabens.

"Avocado oil is excellent at hydrating skin and Jojoba helps to improve suppleness. Thistle oil reduces open pores and promotes skin absorption."

foundation: mac mineralize foundation (NW45) lipstick: mac (tanarama) blush: sleek (coral)

£18.00paisign up for the pai newletter for a chance to win a gift set!
*i was sent these products free of charge. all opinions on these or any products are are my own i was not paid to review this product. many thanks to gemma @ pai

tried and tested : phillip kingsley Elasticizer extreme

hairband £3.00

Elasticizer Extreme

£25.00

since i've coloured my hair i have noticed that it has been looking quite dry and brittle, i've been using alot more oils in my hair to make up for the dryness.

so i was thrilled to be sent Elasticizer Extreme from Phillip Kingsley

Elasticizer Extreme is aimed at people with very porous hair that is chemically processed or coloured. it's a pre-shampoo treatment

"Elasticizer should be applied in small sections to damp hair from mid lengths to ends. Leave for several minutes, or for full benefit, cover with a shower cap and leave for 20-30 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly and shampoo and condition as normal."

verdict

so far i've used it twice and i'm pretty happy with the results, combined with using the moisture extreme shampoo and conditioner i have noticed my hair is about 40% softer and i'm noticing much less breakage.

i've never treid a pre-shampoo treatment before and it felt like i was doing everything backwards! but the results speak for them selves so i'll be trying it again!

i think this product would be good for transitioners and it will nourish your newly natural hair and stop your relaxed ends breaking off.

again as a higher end product the Phillip Kingsley line is not cheap £25.00 150mls but you can purchase a 500mls tub for £51.00 which is much better value for money (200mls free!!)

Phillip Kingsley

*i was sent these products free of charge. all opinions on these or any products are are my own i was not paid to review this product. many thanks to ashley @ purepr

essie a/w range

sew psyched

in stitches

Essies new A/W range is definitely a grower! i can't say i was too keen on the dull browns and outdated burgundy, i was soo in love with the mint green and oranges that we saw over the summer that these autumanal colours were a bit of a downer. and though i still haven't warmed to the darker colours in the range i've fallen head over heels for 'in stitches' and 'get psyched'. the mink like shades are a subtle nod to the catwalk (think prada 2010) and work well with this seasons trends.

@ around £10 per polish you may want to opt for these less expensive copies