allbeauty's #GatineauChallenge

I was only introduced to Gatineau towards the end of 2016 and I was so impressed, I stocked up on a few products. When I was asked to take part in the allbeauty Gatineau Challenge, I jumped at the chance. Presented in a beautiful Gatineau Box are five skincare products and a cleansing cloth which gives me a Monday to Friday go-to beauty regime. 

My challenge is to use the five products within the box, which have been put together by the allbeauty resident facial experts to see how my skin feels after five days. 

Inside the box the products are:

A Double-Sided Cleansing Cloth in a bag - This is one of the softest cloths I have ever used and I am really looking forward to using it.

Gentle Eye Make-up Remover 50ml - This product uses extracts of cucumber, green tea & aloe vera and is not only lightweight on the skin but it is described as being wonderfully cooling and refreshing as it gently removes the remnants of the day as well as all traces of waterproof eye makeup. 

Melatogenine Refreshing Cleansing Cream 50ml - This is a triple-action formula refreshing cleansing cream which is an anti-ageing cleanser, toner and micro-exfoliator in one. This soap-free solution removes all traces of make-up. The youth activating molecule, Mélatogénine, encourages cellular renewal. With a rich and velvety texture, this cleanser nourishes the skin with added anti-oxidants and sweet almond oil to leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed and with fine lines and wrinkles are visibly reduced.

Radiance Enhancing Gommage 15ml - Said to be perfect for sensitive skin, this mild enzymatic exfoliant is packed with fruit enzymes which remove dead cells for a radiant and energised complexion. Free from grains and beads, this gel formula is so gentle it can even be used around the eyes. It is enriched with vitamin C and helps to boost skin's natural defence. Radiance and luminosity are immediately increased and the complexion is brightened and toned

Melatogenine Future Plus Mask 15ml - Described as being a powerful anti-ageing mask designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, reduce the signs of fatigue and leave skin youthfully radiant. It is luxuriously rich and creamy packed with Marine Collagen and Hyaluronic Acid to instantly transform the skin.

Melatogenine AOX Advanced Rejuvenating Cream 15ml - Gatineau describe this product as being their most powerful anti-wrinkle formula within a luxuriously rich cream and it is designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles brighten the complexion and eliminate signs of fatigue.

I have used some of these products before but not as a 5-day challenge, so I am really looking forward to seeing how my skin changes and whether or not it improves for the better.  If you like the sound of these products and want to set yourself a challenge, you can find the box of products right HERE on allbeauty and it costs just £19.95.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Hair Loss and Saviours with Orian Barzilay

In terms of fears, losing my locks is up there with having to be near any false teeth or losing my own and having to have false ones *shudders*. I want to keep my hair in good condition and am lucky that my parents both still have a full head of hair, but one of my work colleagues who is just slightly older than I am, has hair which has really thinned out over the last year. Hair loss is not just a problem I’m facing (with gritted teeth) it’s a condition that affects men, women and children.

Image Credit

There are different causes for why people lose their hair and there are also different treatments out there. It can be a natural occurrence or it can be due to a whole host of medical conditions. Newspapers are full of stories featuring celebrities who have lost their hair or are losing their hair and have had treatment to correct the issue. Over the years, a lot of people who have suffered hair loss now have a head full of hair, all thanks to Hairline Ink’s Orian Barzilay. Hairline Ink is an industry leader in Scalp Micropigmentation or SMP. This is a form of hair loss treatment that doesn’t involve any surgery (a win for me as I hate hospitals and as my brother is a doctor, they scare me to death). Although likened to getting a hair tattoo, the process involved in this procedure is highly specialised. Practitioners simply use a needle that deposits pigments into the skin that result to natural looking shaven hair. You also don’t have to do it as often since it lasts for three to five years.

This procedure has helped change the lives of a lot of people by making them feel more confident and it’s something that I have increasingly looked at to bring the hairline back down. Orian Barzilay is the leading practitioner of SMP at Hairline Ink. He knows how difficult it is to lose your hair, especially at a young age. What drives him to help others is his passion, experience, and artistic ability.

• Passion. Orian’s passion stems from his personal hair loss experience at the age of 17. This led him to be depressed and to turn to a hair transplant. He had the procedure done at age 21 but it was unsuccessful. Later on, he tried SMP and, as they say, the rest is history. His passion for caring for each procedure that he performs is because he himself knows how it feels like to experience premature baldness. He understands what a person is going through when he or she loses hair and knows how their lives will really change when they go through SMP.
• Experience. He finished at the top of his training class and immediately started working in the hair clinic industry. He is also not only limited to consultations and performing treatments but has also travelled across the US to raise awareness about hair loss and SMP. His extensive experience in transforming people’s lives one follicle at a time explains why he is the lead practitioner at Hairline Ink.
• Artistic ability. Orian creates an impact on others by sharing the positive results he has gained from undergoing SMP. He is able to apply his ability to create works of art, paintings, designing and creating clothing, to Scalp Micropigmentation. This eye for detail is what helps him create change in the lives of others. And the end result is a very happy client with a head full of hair.

You don’t have to deal with the embarrassment of losing your hair. There are treatments available and Scalp Micropigmentation is one you should consider, especially when Orian Barzilay could perform your procedure. The passion in their work is all because of their experience and because they know that there are brighter things in the future because of SMP. Get back your self-esteem and join others who now have a new perspective on life.

*guestpost

RoccaBox May Edit

The May edition of Roccabox has arrived and this month it is a collaboration with Lauren Maher, the blogger behind Sassy In The City, someone I have never come across till now. I really like that Roccabox is collaborating with bloggers to create a box of products, it makes it a little bit different to any other beauty box I have subscribed too and it is an intriguing concept that has introduced me to some amazing products, brands and some new bloggers!

 Again, this box features five products and every single one of them I am pleased to see and will use.

So the biggest item in the box this month is the Wilkinson Sword Intuition and the warmer weather will (eventually) arrive and that means no more tights, leggings or trousers, so yeah the legs will need sorting.

Whilst I am still using Inhibitif on my legs, which means I don't shave as often as I used too, I always need to have a razor handy and this one happens to be a four blade razor, so no need to keep going over the same part of your leg to remove all the hair and the inclusion of the gentle creamy soap that lathers and moisturises during shaving makes it an even easier task. 

Mandara Spa Amber Heaven Body Lotion - I am a big fan of this brand, more so because it can be found in Sainsbury's and is so reasonably priced I always end up with a few bits in my basket. 

The body lotion itself has a really lovely rich formula which includes Cocoa Butter, Vitamin E and gold of pleasure oil and it leaves my skin feeling just incredibly moisturised and hydrated.

MONU Skin Hydrating Mask is the most expensive item in the box, it retails for around £30 and as a brand, I am always impressed by what I use.  The mask itself works to condition skin to leave it looking and feeling super fresh. 

It contains Royal Jelly, Evening Primrose Oil and Apricot Kernel Oil to promote skin suppleness whilst Geranium Essential Oil and Kaolin Clay work to keep your complexion cleansed and refreshed. Designed for dry or sensitive skin, you only need to use this mask twice a week and it is just such a lovely treat.

Nail Polish by IZ - I was introduced to IZ recently and it is such a lovely brand. In this box, I have the shade "Forget me Not" which is a really pretty pastel powder blue. 

What I love about this polish is not only how dinky the bottle is, but the short fat brush makes painting nails an absolute breeze, one stroke and you are done. The formula is referred to as being a plumping gel effect and it was developed for easy application and rich glossy colour. 

The final item in the box comes from Glo & Ray and it is the Longwear Precision Eyeliner. Described as being an intense smudge proof colour, the easy-to-control tip enables you to draw lines with relative ease. 

Available in black or brown it retails for just £6.90 and is a bit of a bargain.  I hardly ever wear eyeliner, but I have tried this and did find it to be one of the easiest eyeliners that I have tried to use.

I am really impressed with this box and I am glad to have been introduced to some new products and brands that I haven't yet tried or come across. You can subscribe to Roccabox for just £10 per month (plus £3.95 p&p) and can cancel it at any time. For more information and to sign up, everything you need to know is here.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Denman Cocktail Fragranced Hairbrushes

In my opinion, you never can have too many hairbrushes and the new Cocktail collection from Denman adds a little something fun and exciting with their new range. Made in the UK, Denman products are used, enjoyed and endorsed by hairdressers in more than 60 countries worldwide. The first Denman hairbrush was invented back in 1938 and today they manufacture in excess of 400,000 brushes and combs each month from its Northern Ireland-based factory. At some stage in our lives, I am sure we have all used a Denman hairbrush, I have quite a few within my collection and I am always happy to add to it.

Each of the hairbrushes in the Denman Cocktail range has its very own scent and features some great Cocktail Classics such as Pina Colada, Strawberry Daiquiri and Berry Martini! But before the panic sets in, you don't have to worry smelling as though you have been down the pub all day because the scent won’t transfer to your hair!

I have the Pina Colada hairbrush and absolutely love that smells just like the cocktail, which also happens to be one of my favourites. Small enough to fit into my handbag for daily use, being on the go and time away on holiday, the brush has been in constant use now for a month and it works well with my hair, brushes out any tangles and doesn't scrape my scalp. The Denman brush features 5 rows of nylon pins, as well as the famous Denman anti-static rubber pad, which provides maximum grip and control during blow-drying for shaping the hair.

The Pina Colada scent is just as strong now as it was when I opened the brush and priced at just £8, I think they would also make a great gift, even for yourself! You can find this hairbrush and the rest of the right from the Denman store online right here www.denmanbrush.com

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise