Ouai Haircare Kits

Without question, Ouai haircare has really made its mark in 2018.  If you have never come across the brand before it is the brainchild of Jen Atkin the lady who is very much responsible for maintaining the manes of the Kardashian clan, Gigi Hadid and Gwen Stefani to name just a few, a range of products has been developed and if it is good enough for them, well it is good enough for me. With shampoos, conditioners which are sulphate-free, they use a smart keratin to repair and improve hair strength. Even the styling products are designed to nourish hair and bring out its natural beauty.  This year I have really got to know the brand and the three products I am obsessed with are the Ouai Scrub (featured here)  the Rose Oil (featured here) and Memory Mist (featured here).

Pronounced 'Way' which is French for 'Yes' there is a lot to treat yourself, your friends and absolutely anything with this Christmas.

The first Christmas Gift Set is called Three Ouai Kit (£25) and it is described as follows: 

No one product can satisfy your every need that's why there's the Three OUAI. Get texture, volume and waves with this perfect travel trio, containing all your favourites.  This is a great little travel kit and because the products are travel sized, if you have never tried anything from Ouai, then this is a great way to give them a try.

The first product within the kit is the Wave Spray - This is a weightless mist, which again, once spritzed feels as though there is nothing on your hair. Its designed for that effortlessly chic, undone hair look and it is packed full of amazing ingredients. Infused with rice protein to add hold and memory for that "just got out of the ocean and my hair dried perfectly" look. I love how easy it is to use this spray and if like me you have naturally wavy hair that never really seems to hold its curl, this spray makes a lot of difference in how long the curls hold, especially the following morning.

The second product within this trio is the Dry Texture Foam - Gone are the days of using a foam in your hair and it going crunchy, this one from Ouai has an amazing texture. Using wheat proteins, it is lightweight and invisible and is perfect for creating and holding that undone, lived in look.  I have used this foam when I have allowed my hairs natural curls to remain unstraightened and it holds the look incredibly well.

The third product is called Volume Spray - If like me you want volume to your hair but don't want to spend ages back-combing it to then curse when you have to de-tangle, this is the answer.  Again, it is weightless when sprayed but it really does lift the hair to create long-lasting volume and it is the perfect addition to your 'do for this coming party season.

For a little extra, Ouai have included some wave clips and they are perfect for creating lazy curls and they are incredibly easy to use.

The second of the two sets is called Swing Both Ouais (£40) and it is described as being 'Our limited edition XL Hair Oil and best selling Texturizing Hair Spray let you decide which direction you’re taking your hair today.' Inside there is

A Limited Edition XL Hair Oil - This is an award-winning, multitasking oil which not only smoothes frizz and seals split ends, it also gives the hair that high-gloss, super-smooth finish. What I love about this oil is that once it is on my hair, it doesn't feel like an oil. I have combination hair which means I have dry ends and greasy roots, so I am always careful as to which products I use on my hair as my scalp can turn into a nightmare within a matter of hours. This oil is packed full of amazing ingredients which include African Galanga, Ama and Asian Borage oils and they work to keep colour from fading as well as protecting hair from heat damage.

The second product is the Texturising Hair Spray - When I use a hairspray, which admittedly is not something I use a lot of. I don't want to be taken back to my school day of having crispy hair from too much spray. This spray is so lightweight it hardly feels as though there is anything on your hair, but it does manage to keep everything in place, especially those pesky flyaways plus it also helps to create volume.  As mentioned, I have an oily scalp and the bonus about using this product for me is that it contains Volcanic minerals which work to absorb oil and refresh hair.

So from Ouai we have two handy hair kits which contain some amazing products and they are perfect for anyone who is already a fan of the brand, for someone wanting to get to know the brand or for anyone who just loves styling their hair.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Feather & Down Sweet Dreams Collection

It is a stressful time of year right now and I think we could all do with a little help in relaxing, winding down and de-stressing about Christmas, gifting, social events, what to wear and plans for New Year's Eve.  For me, stress affects my sleep and I can spend hours either looking at the ceiling willing sleep to come or I end up tossing and turning and from there on in everything in life starts to become a struggle.

Feather & Down are a brand who I absolutely love and they are a brand which encourages relaxation and a state of wellbeing in an effort to help aid sleep. To do this they use a specially blended sleep fragrance containing lavender & chamomile essential oils which are known to promote a better night’s sleep. Anything that offers to relax me to the state of unconsciousness is always going to get the thumbs up from me.  With that in mind, there are some amazing products on offer right now, many of which are on a 3 for 2 at Boots and they make the most amazing gift.

The first gift set is The Sweet Dreams Travel Set and it includes the Sleep Balm, the Pillow Spray, Shower Cream and Sleep Butter.  

As well as being a travel set, this also works as a great introduction to the brand as it contains some of the core products.  

• The Sweet Dreams Sleep Balm contains Lavender and Chamomile essential oils blended with nourishing Vitamin E. All you need is to dab a little of the balm on to your pulse points (wrist, temples and neck) to help ease your mind and encourage a restful nights sleep.
• The Sweet Dreams Pillow Spray the infusion of Lavender and Chamomile essential oils and to use, I spray some across the pillows on my bed around half an hour before I am thinking of getting into it and the fragrance does help with relaxation.
• The Sweet Dreams Shower Cream melts into a calming oil when gently massaged into your skin and as the essential oils come into contact with the steam of the shower, it is an incredible scent and one which lingers on your skin.
• The Sweet Dreams Sleep Butter is enriched with a beautiful blend of Lavender and Chamomile essential oils. Perfect for applying to the skin after showering with the Sweet Dreams Shower Cream. Such a beautifully soft texture which melts onto the skin.

A lovely kit which is priced at just £12 and it makes a wonderful gift or stocking filler.

The second gift set is the Perfect Partners set and of all the products to partner from the range available, these two are pretty good pals.  

The combination of both the Pillow Spray and Relaxing Roll On are perfect for being on the go especially if you travel frequently and find it hard to relax in strange places.  The Pillow Spray is described above but the Relaxing Roll on is great not just for applying to your pulse points

If you want to create your own little gift set for yourself or for a loved one, then there is a whole host of products that can choose from and some of my favourites include:

One of the things I do every single week without fail is have at least an hour to myself to lock out the real world and relax in a bath. Just lately, I have found having a warm bath before bed an absolute must when I know I am not going to fall asleep too easily. From Feather & Down come some Sweet Dream Sleep Salts. 

For me, bath salts are incredibly underrated, I absolutely love them and these are just divine. Using Sea Salt which has incredible benefits for the skin and hair as it tones, exfoliates, cleanses they are also packed full of minerals such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, potassium but ultimately the one property that I love is how soothing they are. Alongside sea salt, we have both Chamomile and Lavender oils, both of which are known for their relaxation properties.  Once in the water, the aroma of the essential oils mixes with the steam and creates an immediate relaxing scent and it is such a nice way to wind down.

I am a huge fan of candles and have something burning all year round. In the warmer months, I opt for something fresh scented and in the winter months much warmer fragrances. From feather & Down we have the Sweet Dreams Calming Candle and it is just delightful. 

Taking the scent which comes from the bath salts and turning into a candle is genius. I always light mine as I get into bed, often an hour before I intend to switch off to drift off and allow the aroma from the candle to fill the bedroom. I have also had it alight in the bathroom whilst I enjoy my relaxing bath too.

Finally, we have the Sweet Dreams Pillow Spray. I am a big fan of Pillow Sprays and with this spray comes the infusion of Lavender and Chamomile essential oils which come together to help reduce an anxious mind and encourage calm to aid a restful night’s sleep.

Ideal to spray across your pillows half an hour before you want to go to bed, the aroma is not overly potent but you do notice it and it does help you to nod off.

I love that there is so much choice with Feather & Down and every single one of the products within the Sweet Dreams Collection will make such a nice gift, whether you buy a ready-made gift or decide to make your own.  Don't forget, they are on offer at Boots on a 3 for 2 offer, so well worth stocking up!

Have you tried Feather & Down before?

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.

Verso Star Serum Suite

There is often a brand that goes that extra mile with their products and it is fair to say Verso is one of those brands. Christmas has arrived with Verso in the shape of this Verso Star Serum Suite and if the midnight blue coloured sleeve doesn't make your eyes dance, then the products included most definitely will.

Verso is a skincare brand which was established in Stockholm in 2013. Verso's mission is to simplify your daily skincare routine by making it much more simple and straightforward and in doing so, every product has a number!

Hidden behind that midnight blue sleeve is the entire Verso Serum collection. For me, using a serum is an absolute must within my routine and I have got to know all of these serums incredibly well over the last year. Verso skincare takes the form of a routine and each routine has a number (there is a post coming on this), number 4 which is clearly visible on each of these bottles means it has a specific role to play, in this instance, it is 'Boost' and depending on what you feel you need from your serum, one of these three, each has its own place:

• Verso Super Facial Serum - As serums go, this is one of the thickest textures that I have used but it melts onto the skin in double quick time. The perfect partner to both the Day and Night creams, it is incredibly nourishing. It features a higher dose of Retinol 8 than other Verso products and alongside peptides that increase skin cell quality and renewal, the serum works to improve the skin’s texture and ability to reduce wrinkles and discolouration.  Ideal for use both morning and evening, it can be used on its own or as part of your own skincare routine.
• Verso Antioxidant - Tumeric is the hero ingredient within this Booster and it protects the skin against UV radiation and decreases inflammation. Then vitamin E works to block damaging free radicals from the skin’s surface, simultaneously improving the skin’s hydration capacity with help from tiny microalgae. Coming together, you have a serum which is incredibly hydrating, nourishing and protective.  This serum is ideal for being used in the morning and the evening and can be paired with both day and night creams.
• Verso Hydration Serum - If it is hydration that your skin needs, then this is the serum for you. Niacinamide is the main ingredient and its job is to strengthen the skin barrier, reduces fine lines and improves the appearance of enlarged pores. Alongside this there is the use of ceramides, Vitamin E and skin-identical fatty acids which all have an efficient antioxidant effect, defending skin from harmful environmental factors.  This serum is ideal if you have dry skin, my own skin literally drinks all of this up. It can be used in the morning and the evening too.

Each of these serums represents the Verso hero ingredients which are Retinol 8, Niacinamide and Turmeric and all work together to look after, nourish, moisturise and protect the skin.  

The entire Star Serum Suite from Verso is priced around £200 so it is most definitely in the luxury camp but you can also purchase each serum separately via MMCLPro here and Cult Beauty here.

*this post contains PR samples and/or Affiliate Links unless indicated otherwise - you can learn more on my Disclaimer page.