Living Proof Restore Dry Scalp Treatment review

I have very quickly become a huge fan of Living Proof hair care and have over the past few months enjoyed making my way through a selection of products.  Living Proof has taken it upon themselves to solve the root causes of everyone’s top hair concerns: frizz, damage, and fullness to name just a few and their team of stylists and scientists analyzed 100s of competitive products that have been on the market the last 30 years and what they found was that the traditional beauty industry relies on heavy silicones that mask hair symptoms but don’t really solve them.

New to the range is Restore Dry Scalp Treatment (£25) and one that I was incredibly excited to try because whenever I am stressed or feeling run down, one of the first places this shows is with my scalp which becomes really dry and flaky.

It is claimed that new discoveries in wellness have uncovered that balancing the body's microbiome is key to wellbeing. It's not just about your gut - the same is true of your skin and this includes your scalp. We all spend a lot of time and money ensuring our hair looks and feels good, for many of us, our hair is our pride and joy, but just how much thought is given to your scalp and how it is feeling?

Living Proof claim that if you suffer from a dry flaking scalp which results in itching and irritation, which mine often does, then there are very few products on the market that can help you deal with the problem. For years I was told to just use an anti-dandruff shampoo and it would cure the problem, but that was never my issue. It was actually through a skin scan at a blog event that we found the issue to my scalp problems.

Restore Dry Scalp Treatment gives both instant hydration and lasting relief from all of the problems listed above.  This product is a leave-in treatment which uses a breakthrough Vitamin B3 based microbiome balancing complex with clinically proven actives that work to balance your scalp's natural ecosystem for long-term relief. A scalp microbiome is the microorganism environment profile on the surface of your scalp which contains both good and bad bacteria. It is the balance of good and bad bacteria that has an effect on your scalp condition.

Designed to be used three times a week, this fast-absorbing lightweight product uses a hyaluronic acid based Molecular Patch delivers instant soothing and sustained hydration to the scalp.  Thankfully it is also incredibly easy to use, more so thanks to the nozzle feature at the end of the tube.

To use, your hair needs to be clean, damp and towel-dried and then, sectioning your hair, which I find easier with a comb than a brush, the advice is to divide your hair into six sections across the front of your scalp and then four across the back for easy and precise application.  Once your hair has been sectioned, it is easy to apply the product directly to the scalp and then massage it in, as this is a leave-in treatment, you don't need to wash it out, you can style your hair as you usually would do and leave the treatment to work its magic.

This has been an absolute godsend for me.  Having had the worst chest infection I have had in years with an added cough and cold, not to mention being in the middle of 4 work projects which all came to fruition at the same time, the heat was on to get everything finished whilst feeling like death - I managed it but, the chest infection took longer to clear than it should have done, then I managed to get acute bacterial conjunctivitis and am now awaiting an MRI Scan on my ankle almost a year on from when I managed to snap ligaments and so on... as you can imagine, life has been quite testing and my scalp is the one to suffer.  So with a dry, itching scalp right at the back of my head and then down the middle of my parting, I followed the advice given from Living Proof and within just 5 weeks, my scalp was back to its normal self, no irritation, no flaking and no excess dryness on my scalp.

Priced at £25 here*, Restore Dry Scalp Treatment is cruelty-free, free from parabens, phthalates and silicone and is safe for use on colour and chemically treated hair.

Have you tried anything from Living Proof?

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

Glossybox Holiday Haul - July Edition

July has finally arrived and as a July baby, it is naturally my favourite month of the year, but it also means warmer weather, BBQs, a glass of cider over ice and of course Holidays.  Whether you have a sunny beach holiday booked or are enjoying this amazing weather we have here in the UK and will be partaking in a staycation, Glossybox has put together a 'Holiday Edit' for their July box.

This months box is filled with five holiday essentials which cover the categories of skin, hair and makeup.  Alongside these essentials, Glossybox has also hidden 20 tickets which will give the lucky winners wither a Figleaves voucher or a Skinnydip voucher worth £30!

The first item out of my box comes from one of my favourite brands Omorovicza. The Cleansing Foam, which is suitable for all skin types and its job is to help clear congestion, combat dryness and soothe sensitivity without stripping the skin.  

Using its unique Hydro Mineral Transference system that delivers targeted minerals deep into the skin, a feature of most Omorovicza products, you will also find Copper gluconate which is responsible for the turquoise tint, works to clear the pores and detoxify, white lupin revitalises and apple pectin provides long-lasting hydration and suppleness.

The second product is the Palmers Natural Bronze Body Lotion and it is described as being a product to help build and maintain a natural looking tan. Using a combination of pure Cocoa Butter which is a rich natural moisturiser that leaves skin soft and silky, transforming even the roughest, driest areas into buttery soft skin alongside Vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant that helps improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks and imperfections on the skin, giving a more even and toned appearance. 

Naturally coming from Palmers, this lotion smells just absolutely incredible too. Easy to use, you only need to apply it to the skin once a day.

A product which probably needs very little introduction is Moroccanoil and this treatment. Infused with antioxidant-rich Argan Oil and radiance-enhancing vitamins, this treatment nourishes and conditions hair, whilst restoring each strand from root to tip. It also has a whole host of benefits which include speeding up drying time, taming frizz and flyaways, repairing split ends, and restoring that mirror-like shine. 

I love that you can apply it to damp towel dried hair which then helps with detangling or on dry hair to help with styling and finishing. 

Next is the Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Charcoal Purifying Sheet Mask.  Described as being a gentle yet effective Purifying Sheet Mask, it contains Tea Tree Oil and skin calming Witch Hazel in conjunction with activated Charcoal, to help you maintain clear, smooth and healthy looking skin. 

I love a good sheet mask and especially one which doesn't leave the skin feeling dry and taut.  You only need to leave it on your skin for 15 minutes, so it isn't too much of your time if you are in a rush.

The final product within the box is Bloom Mascara by Manna Kadar.  I have got to know Manna Kadar via Glossybox and this mascara is described as having a cutting-edge wand with reservoirs of mascara between each individual groove. It has a hydrating formula which ensures clump-free lashes.

I am really picky when it comes to mascara and I have to admit, I was apprehensive about this wand because it looks incredibly clumpy, but, once you use it on your lashes, it is hydrating, it doesn't clump and it doesn't flake. The formula isn't too wet and I have grown to like the spiral-shaped wand.

For me, Glossybox has once again put together an incredible box, perfect for holidays with the products included.  As always you can subscribe to Glossybox right here and if you use the code BQUEEN20 you can get yourself 20% off that first box! 

Sneak Peak - August is the birthday month for Glossybox and that box will include Huda Beauty!

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

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Creme Hydration Intense Moisturising Cream and SOS Thirst Quenching Serum

One brand who knows how to grab your attention with their products is Caudalie and their latest release Vinosource SOS Creme Hydration Intense Moisturising Cream (£25 here*) arrived just as I had run out of my previous Caudalie product.  The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is one of my all time favourite products from the brand and is great for refreshing and moisturising the skin, so I had high hopes.

When it comes to moisturising creams for the face, in the warmer months, I really don't want to be using something that is really thick in texture, I prefer something to be more of a fluid so it doesn't make my skin feel greasy or sticky.  Caudalie describes the Vinosource SOS Intense Moisturising Cream as being a fresh and velvety cream continuously moisturises and soothes even the most sensitive skin. 

Suitable for those with normal to dry skin, can be used as your day or night moisturiser and 97% ingredients of natural origin, whilst being PEG and silicone free, so you don't get horrid greasy film feeling being left on the skin when you use this cream and because of the ingredients used, it has a fresh and subtle plant-based fragrance, which I really, really like.  Packaged inside a beautiful pink frosted glass jar, is what I can best describe as being a thick, rich cream, essentially everything I said I didn't want on my skin during the Summer months - BUT - this cream comes into contact with the skin, it absorbs much quicker than I had expected it too, super quick in fact and because it is Caudalie, it instantly hydrates, moisturises and plumps the skin and what I love is that my skin feel hydrated all day, not just for an hour or two after being applied.

There are five key ingredients within this cream which includes:

• Borage Oils - Rich in Omega 6 and helps to improves the suppleness and elasticity of the skin,
• Vinolevure - This is an extract from Wine yeast and it helps to deeply moisturise the skin,
• Olive Squalene - Extract from Olives and is incredibly moisturising but non-greasy,
• Organic Grape Water - A Caudalie staple when it comes to ingredients and one which is both moisturising and soothing for the skin
• Polyphenols - Known for their antioxidant and anti-wrinkle properties

Having been enjoying the sun a lot recently and spending as much time as I can outside, despite my skin being protected, I do want to stop my skin from becoming too dry and this cream does just that, plus if you apply a thicker layer before bed, it makes for a great sleep mask.

To complete the moisturising routine, the addition of the Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum (£29 here*) is a real treat. Described as being a rich in hydrating and soothing organic grape water, this serum is great for anyone who has slightly dry skin because it helps to restore the skin's natural moisture balance and leave it feeling soft and supple.

Packed with moisture and hydrating ingredients, the serum replicates everything included in the Intense cream above but has the addition of Hyaluronic Acid, which, if you are an avid beauty blogger, beauty lover or take a keen interest in what it is you are putting on your skin, then you will know that it is one of the best products for moisturising because it can hold up to one thousand times its own weight in water molecules. 

As it is Infused with citrus notes of mandarin blossom, lemon tree leaves, cucumber water and fresh mint, the scent is just absolutely divine and when applied to the skin, it brings about an instant feeling of refreshment and because it has an ultra-light aqueous texture, the serum absorbs quickly into the skin.

If you have dry and dehydrated skin, then together these products are an absolute treat, if you want to give your skin a little TLC, then again, that box is ticked with either or both of these products.

Do you have a favourite Caudalie product?

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

Amo Ferragamo Flowerful by Salvatore Ferragamo

If ever there was a pretty perfume bottle, it is Amo Ferragamo Flowerful by Salvatore Ferragamo. Described as being an exuberant flacon featuring a sculptural flower-shaped disk, inspired by the classic Ferragamo design of Flower heel, the bottle shines with fluorescent colours which really come to life when captured in sunlight and you can see the rainbow-like colours dancing across the bottle.

Choosing a fragrance is something I do, depending on my mood. I have a small collection of my absolute must-have fragrances that I wear all year round regardless of the weather, I have one or two which are more winter than summer and some that are more summer than any other season. I like a mixture of florals, fruits and fruity florals and just every now and again, something a little bit out of my comfort zone.

Salvatore Ferragamo Amo Flowerful perfume for women is purely feminine. The Amo Flowerful woman is a luminous blossom of splendid sensuality. Optimistic by nature, she believes in what she does. A contagious explosion of joy, dynamism and irresistible charm. Amo Flowerful women’s fragrance is a tribute to the spontaneity of the Ferragamo woman. Beautiful and unpredictable as only blossoming flowers can be. It is an exuberant, fresh fragrance expressing the pure joy of living infused by a contagious optimism and sparkling energy.

As well as having a beautiful looking bottle, this fragrance really surprised me with its scent, having seen Vanilla Orchid as a base note, I fully expected to hate it and find it overly icky and headache-inducing, it was not (thankfully.  The fragrance opens with notes of Italian Bitter Accord, Blackcurrant and Yuzu Flower, so it has quite the citrusy scent to start off with and as it dries down, the heart notes of Plum Blossom, Jasmine and Pink Peony take hold of the citrus and they intertwine to become a beautiful scent almost masks the base notes of Vanilla Orchid, Blonde Woods and Musk, which I like because, for me, those base notes are not something I look for in a fragrance, but within Flowerful it does bring about a delicate sweetness.

A fragrance has to have longevity on my skin to remain within my stash and this one ticks that box, I get good 5-6 hours to wear time before I need to re-apply, something that has become infinitely easier thanks to my Travelo that is always in my handbag (I have three in total, all with different fragrances in) so I can top up when I need too.

Amo Ferragamo Flowerful fragrance is available as a 30, 50 and 100 ml of Eau de Parfum and it ranges in price from £35 up to £79.50 which you can see from The Fragrance Shop and Escentual.

Do you have a favourite fragrance for the Summer?

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