Stemm Haircare | A Deciem Brand

Stemm is part of the Deciem family and it was a brand I really did not like when I started to use it. You see my hair is used to SLS, Silicone and all things it shouldn't like, a bit like me with Chocolate or Banoffee Pie - especially Banoffee Pie!  But, I didn't give up, I perservered with a shampoo and conditioner from Stemm and some 6 weeks later, I am kind of glad I did.

Stemm is described as follows: 

STEMM is a range of daily care and treatments to support the health of follicles, scalp and, in turn, hair. Traditional haircare focuses on the only part of hair that is not living, the hair fibre itself. Stemm recognizes that the beauty of hair, its visible thickness, density and fullness, begins at the root and the range focuses on supporting hair health from the root up, while concurrently its formulations respect the integrity of the hair fibre itself and protect it from environmental, cleaning, over-conditioning, colouring and styling damage.

Also describing itself as skincare for the hair, Stemm uses a combination of traditional nutrients such as black fulvic acid, burdock root, clove and a comprehensive array of amino acids and minerals with highly-advanced forms of high-strength caffeine, creatine, high-stability sulphur and plant peptide isolates, Stemm creates an optimal environment for hair health, from follicle to fibre.

The High Amino Shampoo my hair hated for a good few weeks and I almost gave up using it. Instead of having tangfle free, clean feeling locks, I instead got hair that felt lank and greasy and whilst I didn't find myself washing it anymore frequently than I had before, it just felt awful and I don't usually have knotty hair. 

Described as being an effective shampoo concentrate to promote visible hair density for thicker-looking hair, with gentle cleaning technologies that respect hair fibre. I did find that there was no lather at all with this shampoo and naturally the lather is something I am used too.  As this is concentrated, I also didn't need to use as much as I usually would, instead I mixed it with warm water to make it cover my entire head of hair.  We all know that some shampoos use a lot of ingredients that can strip the hait of healthy natural oils and Stemm want to put a stop to that with this formula.  Using a combination of Amino Acids, Burdock Root and Coffee-Derived Caffeine, which thoroughly clean hair whilst delivering essential moisture and mild conditioning.

I stuck with using this shampoo for a good few weeks before deciding whether or not to continue with using it. Once my hair did get used to it, the change was incredible. My suddenly knotty hair was now soft and smooth, but without feeling like there was a film on it. My scalp, which doesn't usually deal with change too well, never once flared up whilst using this shampoo, which is a tell-tale sign it is a good one.  Now I have finished the shampoo and am glad I stuck with it, because since finishing it, ive not gone back to a shampoo which has SLS, I have instead repurchased this.

Gold Fluvic Conditioner (for blonde hair) is described as being a rinse-off treatment that promotes thicker-looking hair whilst specifically targeting damaged parts of hair to avoid the apparent loss of density associated with the build-up that occurs with traditional conditioning agents. Traditional conditioners almost always cause an immediate thinning of hair fibre and also result in buildup of conditioning agents over time. This formula combines a targeted conditioning system that does not coat the entire hair and focuses only on damaged areas that require support, while supplementing hair and scalp with nutrients to help hair look its healthiest, densest and fullest now and with continued use.

Oddly I had no problem with using this conditioner from start to finish.  As a rule, I don't tend to use a conditoner after every shampoo and instead limit it to once or twice a week depending on how my hair is at that time.  As with any conditoner, this one is best used with attention being paid to the scalp and the roots and it is formulated with a potent blend of reparative Amino Acids, Biotin & Gold Fulvic Acid alongside 2% Caffeine, bringing these ingredients together stimulates the hair follicles aiding in thicker, more dense hair.

I had fully expected to be writing a review saying I had found the first Deciem product I disliked, but infact I should have had more patience to begin with because I absolutely did love using it after those first few weeks.

You can find out more about Stemm and the rest of the brands under the Deciem Umbrella right HERE.

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

Tropic Cream Highlighter - Limited Edition

Tropic Skincare is a brand I have mentioned on my blog before (here) and as well as skincare, there are other products which are not to be missed.  If you love highlighters then this is definitely a post you need to keep reading because I have two to share with you and they are both just stunning.

Packaged in their respective pots, we have Spotlight and Sunlight, two cream highlighters which really pack a punch. Both highlighters use 100% naturally dervived extracts of bayberry fruit wax and vitamin E which not only ensure your highlight is long-lasting but also smoothing and protecting for your skin and also the use of both Coconut oil and jojoba esters which provide a healthy, natural glow.

The two shades transfer incredibly well onto the skin with ‘Spotlight’ offering a soft iridescent pink for fair to medium skin tones, whilst ‘Sunlight’ creates a golden bronze for medium to dark complexions, or layer both shades together and flaunt a show-stopping shimmer.  I have really pale skin and am usually the lightest shade in every brand of foundation that I use, but I have used Sunlight as much as Spotlight and love both of them.

Tropic Skin Care are certified Cruelty Free, Vegan Society Approved and their mission has always been to create natural, cruelty free products that will genuinely benefit the skin. With no toxic chemicals and instead just using nutritious ingredients you re treated to luxurious, pampering products that always stay true to their ethos. Priced at £18 each here they really are beautiful products.

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

Caudalie French Kiss Balms

Caudalie is one of those brands that if you haven't tried it or come across it, then you need too.  I haven't disliked a single product that I have ever used and from an extensive catalogue of products, it is quite impressive.

The new realease from Caudalie is called French Kiss and it is a trio of lip balms which come packaged inside brightly coloured boxes to reflect the balm they represent.

So, as you can see, there are three different shades to choose from and the only thing I will point out is that they are not pigmented enough to add full colour to your lips but they should give you a light tint.

The three shades from left to right are Innocence, which is best described as being pretty clear in shade when applied but it smells divine as it is lightly infused with the scent of vanilla and orange peel, next comes Seduction which has a pale pink tint and also the scent of Vanilla with Addiction being on the right, it has a lovely berry tint to it and a red berry scent too. Again, with products like these, it will depend on the shade of your lips to begin with as to how little or how much they will show up. I can get a smattering of colour from both Addition and Seducation whereas Addiction shows up as a clear like balm.

On the lips, all three of these balms are incredibly moisturising anf hydrating thanks to the use of rich in anti-oxidant grape Polyphenols and they do have a creme brulee like texture as hinted at by Caudalie. You use, you simply press your finger slightly into the balm to activate the smooth and creamy texture. Priced at £10 each (here) they are a definite need for my handbag for these colder months.

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

Revlon Eye Line and Define Collection

A few weeks ago I received the Revlon Eye Line and Define Collection as a surprise parcel from Revlon UK and inside was some of their newest eye makeup products. It has been some time since I have used something from Revlon, but growing up, it was a brand that I used a lot and one that I really loved, especially the mascaras and lipsticks.

The Revlon Mega Multiplier Mascara was the first item to catch my attention within in the box and at £9.99 (here) it isn't too expensive for a highstreet brand and definitely rivals the price of its competitors. 

“Meet the Mega Multiplier with breakthrough lash technology! Unique fibers are sealed in 360° tubes that plump and extend lashes for mega volume and extreme length. Flake-free smudge-proof wear. Removes easily with warm water. Mega Lash Brush deposits formula from lash line to tip for a mega multiplied look.”

States the description and I quite like tubing mascaras, I find that they work really well with my lashes and do give that effect of fuller lashes and that is inpart due to those unique fibres. 

The wand, which features natural bristles are tapered towards the tip, so getting to those small lashes in the corner of your eye is a much easier task and one that makes it less likely you will poke yourself in the eye during the process of application - or at least it does for me.  I also really like the formula, it isn't overly wet, so when you blink, it doesn't smudge or transfer onto your freshly applied makeup and nor does it run in the rain, but oddly you only need to use water to remove it and it comes off without having to rub your eyes.  So it gets a big tick from me.

Next out of the box is for the brow lovers with the Revlon Colorstay Brow Pencil which retails for around £6.99 (here) and it is described as follows:

“Gel pencil that defines and accentuates your brows. Ideal for shapeless or sparse brows. Formula lasts up to 24 hours. Longwear, waterproof formula which lasts up to 24 hours. Unique precision tip mimics brow hairs to fill sparse brows. Blending brush softens colour and grooms hairs in place.”

I hold my hands up and state loudly that I am a Benebabe when it comes to my brows and have up until now solely used Benefit products for my brows as nothing else has worked as well and in all honesty, I don't really have Revlon tagged as a brand for brows, but maybe that will change. With four shades in the collection - Blonde, Soft Brown, Dark Brown and Soft Black there are the main shades for most people, though again missing and something most brands are guilty of doing, is assuming red heads don't have brows (hint). 

I was given shade Dark Brown which is too dark for my brows, I need soft brown, however, I like the concept Revlon have come up with. The pencil which is duel ended has one end which features a spoolie brush which I think is a brilliant idea and on the other end there is a retractable pencil with a rounded nib.  With the nib being rounded, I would find it strange to use for mimicking hairs to fill in sparse brows, but as an all rounder for filling in large areas, I can see it would work really well.

The third item out of my box is the Revlon Colorstay 2 in 1 Angled Kajal which retails for £7.99 (here). Described as being:

"Smooth dual ended liner that last all day for an easy graphic or smokey eye look. Use the Angled tip to define a straight line like a pro and the angled smudger brush to create a sultry, smokey look"

It is available in four shades - Graphite, Evergreen, Fig and the shade that I have which is Onyx. The Kajal is as it claims, a 2-in-1 product with an angled brush at one end and a retractable pencil on the other.

Eyeliner is not my favourite product in the world and it is very rare that I wear it, but if I find a product I like, then I tend to stick with it.  What I like about this Kajal is the creamy formula which glides onto the waterline really easy, it is so soft on application that you don't get that dragging feeling across the skin and the using of the brush to blend is also easy to use, though I didn't quite expect the brush to be as big as it was, not that it makes a difference to how you use it.  Once applied it doesn't budge or smudge too easily and again it didn't run during a heavy rain spell.  When it comes to removing, I used my eye makeup remover and it simply came away.

The final item in my box are two of Revlon's ColorStay Creme Eyeshadows which retail for £6.99 (here).  This was a first time of using them for me and I wasn't too sure what to expect as I love creme eyeshadows but have never tried Revlon's version. Revlon state that these eyeshadows are:

"Luxurious, longwear crème eye shadow with a pro-inspired built-in-brush designed for easy, mess free application. Wears up to 24 hours".

Within my box I had two shades - Licorice and Caramel and they come packaged inside these little glass pots which cleverly holds a brush in the bottom of the pot and all things considered it is actually quite a handy little brush to have on the move, though I do prefer my Nanshy eyeshadow brush. 

The first shade which I was intrigued by is called Licorice and at a first glance it looks as though it has hint of lilac to it but when swatching and using it, I would actually say that it is a deep steel-grey shade and one which is perfect for smoking out the eye.  The second shade, Caramel, immediately appealed to my love of a neutral eye. I would describe Caramel as being a bronze shade which can be worn on its own or used as a base shade for using alongside a gold shade, it is such a lovely shade and one that I have worn quite a lot since it came into my possession.

I really like the texture of these shadows, they are not only soft and creamy, but once applied they are really lightweight to the point of forgetting they are there.  They blend really well and I am impressed with the colour pay off, they allow for being built up as much as you feel comfortable with but they do set quite quickly.

So when swatched, as you can see, they are all pigmented and every bit as bold as you might expect from the descriptions and I really like every single product, especially the eye-shadows which I have worn a lot.

I have loved what has really been a re-introduction to Revlon and there are some amazing products within this box.  I would love to know if anything has caught your eye and whether or not you are a Revlon fan?

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