Max Factor put's the X factor in their mascara!

I am such a mascara fan, it is something I can't live without and is one thing I am always wearing. So you can imagine I have tried and used quite a few in my time. However, I have never really found one that I really liked and sticked too and when a new one gets launched, I am nearly always out straight away to try it out.

When Max Factor did a competition on their Facebook page a few months before Christmas last year to try out there new Max Factor Xperience Volumising Mascara, I quickly jumped at the chance to do so.

I was very pleased when I received an email to say I was getting my sample and than review it on the Boots website ( which I have ).  Since I have launched my first beauty blog, I thought I was share my review on here.

Max Factor Xperience Volumising Mascara in Black 


I have never come across a mascara that even when it states it doesn't clump do what it says, they still clump. This one however, I have used everyday for about 2 months now and the brush still looks like brand new. I haven't once had to swipe the brush to remove any clumps before use.

I love how the mascara sits on your lashes too, as the product is marketed for it's weightless feel, this one certainly delivers! It also gives a fantastic even coverage and as yet haven't felt the need to use a eyelash brush to separate the lashes.

I have naturally long lashes, and even so compared to some other mascara's I used, this one hasn't weighed them down, and so have given me a fantastic lifted looked, almost as if I was wearing false lashes.

As the brush is nice size ( small ), it also enables you to touch the smaller lashes on the sides at the top and bottom.

The mascara is very versatile as well. As a stay at home, work from home mum, I don't really wear makeup during the day except the mascara which than gives me a lovely natural look. but that doesn't mean it isn't good for going out! The mascara delivers a fantastic touch to a made up face as good as any other thinker mascara's.

The mascara comes in three colours as well -  Black, Brown and Deep Blue.

The price won't break the bank either like some other high street brands can, in Boots £10.99


http://www.maxfactor.co.uk/uk/products/Eyes/Mascara/XperienceMascara/detail.aspx

My Boots review - 
http://www.boots.com/en/Max-Factor-Xperience-Volume-Mascara_1129231/

The Power of the Electric Toothbrush

I am not ashamed to admit that I hadn't been to see a dentist since I was 16 years of age ( that's about 12 years ago! ). Having moved from where I grew up to go to uni in a different county, I couldn't be bothered than to re-register with another one, not because I hated or had a fear of dentist but purely cause my visits we a quick in and out as my teeth were clean and fine and as a typical student I didn't want to waste money on anything but alcohol and having a good time.

It wasn't till I had my little girl that when registering her for the dentist I thought I best do myself as it wouldn't be good of me to show her bad habits, or make her feel the dentist is something to be afraid off.

After sometime on the waiting list, Isabel and myself finally got registered and was asked to come for our first visit. As you can imagine I was for the first time quite worried and scared of what condition my teeth would be in, not forgetting that my tongue bar often gets cracked on the side of my teeth at times of eating. I thought I'd be in need of all sorts of work.

I went first to show my 2 1/2 year old what to do and to show ( even though I in my head I was cringing ) everything is fine.  Just open you month and see what happens.
As it was our first visit the dentist had to take some additional notes, like taking the x-ray, checking our gums and what teeth we had in our month. Apart from that my visit ended up just like it always did back when I was a child. In and out! WHAT????? Yep I was rather and presently surprised my teeth and gums were not just very clean but healthy too, needing no work or even a clean or scrap.

How can this be possible? I don't floss, I clean once a day sometimes? Apart from maybe having a good set of teeth from having a good gene past down, I have to say there is only one thing for it!
MY ORAL B ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH!

Brought 6 years ago, this is one thing I can't live without. I totally recommend everyone getting an electric toothbrush. I have always said you can feel the difference when brushing with one - and I once tried you wouldn't go back to a manual as it doesn't feel like your cleaning you teeth with it.

My model isn't even that expensive either - I have the Oral B Vitality one which you can use any of the replace heads in that range - and only costs around £30 ( although I got mine when it was half price ).

Go on - I challenge you to swap your manual for the electric and see and feel the difference.

http://www.oralb.co.uk/selector/#/brushes/precision-clean

Be a GLOW GETTER with Eyeko Cheeky Colour Duo Blush Compact!

WOW! I just love this product!
To those who know me well, I am not one to wear blusher. The thought of having it on my face made me feel like I would either look like a cheap tart that applied too much, or not correctly or that I was badly sunburned.

For years I would was just wearing foundation and powder on my face, eyeshadow and mascara ( yes lipstick is another one I can't face! ). And it is not because I dont' know how to apply it, it is just simply an image that comes into my head - a fear that I just looked wrong and too over made up.

Since having my first child nearly 3 years ago and swopping the 9 till 5 office job for a 24/7 stay at home mum, I very rarely had time, or even thought about putting make up on - except the mascara which I just can't live without!

Than about 2 months ago I came across a make up company called Eyeko. They had an offer on their suprise good bag, so as a make up lover I ordered it to find amongst the items the Glow Getter Blusher. As a non blusher fan - I actually like the look of the soft pink/shimmer colours. As I was ill over the christmas period and looking a little pale in the face, I thought I'd give it a go for the New Year party I was going to. I was very pleasently surprised how it sat on my cheeks, giving a lovely soft/shimmery pink glow, and high lighting them.

Product Details
 Baked pressed powders highly pigmented with finely milled pearlescent shimmer for a long-lasting flush of colour.  Each double-sided compact features duo colour blush on one side and mirror and mini-blush brush on the other, perfect for touch ups on the go.

Glow Getter

Pale iridescent pink, perfect for a pinch of colour for pale skinned beauties or as flattering highlighter for dark skinned honeys.

The Cheeky Colour Duo range also comes in 2 other colours;

Make Out Blush
Make your cheeks pop with 3D pink colour loaded with pearl to give a 2 in 1 colour and highlight effect.

My Coral Crush
Peachy keen!  Get your glow on with shimmery coral colour for a flattering blush look.

A fantastic buy at just £8

 Use the below code for a free gift when you spend £15 at www.eyeko.com

Blogs more efficient than magazines to drive beauty purchases

With new beauty products, treatments and trends being launched all the time, anyone who wishes to keep up to date with these needs the resources to do so. Whether it is though magazines, exhibitions, TV, retailers and other types of media like social networking and the Internet.

It therefore didn't surprise me that when doing some research myself on the Internet that I found an article stating that most women are turning to blogs, whether it is a beauty blog or other type of blog featuring beauty news, product launches and test and reviews.

This is the sole reason why I decided to start a blog myself. Being an independent beauty consultant, selling products though party plan and via my websites, I too felt that blogging about my business's and other products I use, test and review well not only help my business but give my customers/followers helpful tips and hints, industry news, products buys and launches.

It also didn't surprise me that research results also found that most women once they seen a good review on a product, still go and buy it from the shops. As much as I am consistently online networking and researching, I still like to go out down to the shops and purchase physically at times for many reasons like prices are cheaper, better deals, no delivery or just physically going out and enjoying some customer service and fresh air.
The research was done in the US, and so would like to know what  the UK shopping trends are like.

Do research online but still prefer to buy from a shop instead of online?
Leave your opinions and comments below :-)

Premium Beauty News - Blogs more efficient than magazines to drive beauty purchases

Will your Tesco shopping list including a wax or manicure now?

How do you fancy popping into Tesco for a manicure or haircut?

Well by the end of this year, your local Tesco could be supplying your with beauty treatments as well as your normal shopping list. With already Wembley, Cambridge Bar Hill, Milton Keynes, Kingston and Manchester stores being trailed with nail and threading treatments, by the end of 2011 70 stores will opened to provide you with your beauty treatments if these are a success.

So would you add tesco value treatments to your list?

How do you think this will effect local salons?

As a beauty consultant, I would rather people support local business, than a giant who seems to be trying to take over the whole buyers market.

Would love to know you thoughts on this.
http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/Articles.aspx?page=articles&ID=215304

Itchy, Flaky Scalp - Dandruff??

I have never had dandruff or suffered from eczema on the head. Nor have I ever had a problem with my scalp before. So what is happening to my scalp now?

For about a week or so now my head after washing my hair becomes very itchy and dry and I mean VERY itchy!! So itchy it has made my scalp rather sore and find it quite embarrassing.

However, after my sister visiting me the other day and somehow getting on the subject about our heads, we both found that after using the same product we have both suffered from the same symptoms. You could say it is a conscience but I find that unlikely and decided to have a look at what was in the product that could be the cause of this.

Product - Pantene Aqua Light
The new Aqua Light shampoo cleanses from root to tip rinsing off in seconds. Free of silicone and other heavy ingredients, it nourishes hair leaving a fresh, clean and light feeling.

Yes it does and did for a about a week my hair and scalp felt really clean. Maybe too clean, as now my head feels like it has been stripped from its natural moisture.
After looking at the ingredients, and looking them up on the net, there could be a number of them giving me this reaction. As a result I have stopped using this and would recommend anyone using this, to use another product in between washing with this that doesn't strip moisture from your scalp.


The Conditioner - as far as I am aware is fine as the product doesn't touch the scalp. 

The Ingredients
Aqua,Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ,Sodium Laureth Sulfate ,Cocamidopropyl Betaine ,Sodium Chloride ,Sodium Citrate ,Citric Acid ,Sodium Xylenesulfonate ,Parfum ,Cocamide MEA ,Sodium Benzoate ,Tetrasodium EDTA ,PEG-60 Almond Glycerides ,Butylphenyl Methylpropional ,Panthenyl Ethyl Ether ,Panthenol ,Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride ,Benzyl Alcohol ,Linalool ,Hexyl Cinnamal ,Limonene ,Benzyl Salicylate ,Magnesium Nitrate ,Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde ,Methylchloroisothiazolinone ,Magnesium Chloride ,Methylisothiazolinone ,Fumaric Acid

Welcome to my new blog!

This is my first attempt to write a blog. After considering it for sometime, I decided after having a rather awful experience with one my hair products I brought recently, it made sense to blog about what I know best - Health and Beauty.

I hope to bring you informative information about health and beauty via reviewing products on the high street and also those I sell. Keep you up to date with news in the Health and Beauty Industry. Give you some fantastic tips and advice. As a mother myself, I will also be putting up reviews of Mother and Baby products I have tried and tested.

Hope you enjoy my blogs and welcome and comments.

Rachel :-)