My favourite products of 2013 - Part Two!

So, you have already seen my favourite Lip Products which I posted yesterday and you can find for yourself HERE and today I am going to bring to you my favourite Hair and Body products and there are quite a few to go through within the category as it includes shampoo, conditioners, shower gels and so on.

Hair and Body

Inhibitif - I couldn't really do a favourites product and not feature this one could I?  I have absolutely loved discovering this product and even now 8 months on, I am still using it and the results are just as brilliant i.e less leg shaving.  Inhibitif and the people behind the product at Deciem have also been wonderful and they gave me the opportunity to appear on the product packaging, which in itself is simply amazing and I also appeared in The Sun Newspaper too and you can see both below:

When you are next in Boots buying a new Razor or some hair removing cream, look for Inhibitif and there you will find me and my blog on the packaging.

Bubb & Dimples have managed to combine two of my loves into one - Candles and skincare.  I was first introduced to them back in July and reviewed some of their products HERE.  What I love about these candles is not only do they smell absolutely amazing they are all handmade here in the UK and they literally are a spa in a jar.  As you melt the candles they produce a nourishing body oil which is so moisturising they are wonderful.

label.m - Another company that I love.  I have used a lot of products from label.m and am yet to be disappointed in anything I use.  Shown in the photo above there is Protein Spray, Dry Shampoo and the Honey and Oat Shampoo and Conditioner all of which I have reviewed.  What I love about label.m products is that I have thin, fine hair but a lot of it and my job is quite stressful and I suffer with a dry, flaky scalp not to mention greasy roots and generally my hair can be an utter nightmare.  All of the products I have used to date from this brand have left my hair and scalp feeling wonderful and has given my hair a lovely healthy shine.

Amie - Another brand that I have only come across thanks to being a blogger and another brand I love.  Spring Clean Cooling Mask which I reviewed HERE and Morning Dew Moisturiser which you can find a review about HERE are two products I have found myself going back to time and time again.

Snow Fairy - Well no review of 2013 would be complete without a mention of my all time favourite shower gel and a review of which you can find HERE.  I absolutely love the scent and the fact it is pink gets the big thumbs up from me and as soon as Lush announce it is on sale I am in one of the stores to stock up.

Mint Thé Refreshing Bath & Shower Therapy - I was lucky enough to win this bath and shower gel from Bodhi in a giveaway and I absolutely love it.  A review of it you can find HERE. I love the fact it smells simply wonderful, so fresh and relaxing and as soon as I have got into my bath, I instantly feel more at ease and have no trouble sleeping afterwards.

Macademia Hair Masque - It was a toss up between this and label.m intensive mask, but as I have run out of label.m and threw the pot away into my recycling, I have been unable to feature it in the photo but it is fabulous.  This mask from Macademia smells wonderful and it leaves me hair feeling really nourished and shiney.

Moroccanoil Frizz Control - I got this back in September in a Limebox which you can read about HERE and it is a fabulous product.  Perfect for when I have straightened my hair with my GHDs and am in need of a little serum to tame those few unruly hairs which refuse to stay put, one little spritz and my hair looks perfect, or as near to perfect as I can get it to look.

Soap & Glory Sugarcrush Body Scrub - Not a product I have yet reviewed on my blog which I am surprised by because I absolutely love this scrub,  It smells really zesty and is perfect for waking you up in a morning and as it scrub it leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth.

Elemis Fresh Skin - I got this from the July London Meet up in my goody bag and it was my first real introduction to Elemis and one that I have really enjoyed.  I reviewed this product HERE and what I like about it is how kind it is to the skin but effective at removing dead and dry skin cells to leave my skin looking and feeling soft, smooth and moisturised.

Tangle Teezer - I reviewed this product HERE and was lucky enough to be sent it from WIMH back in August and I probably use it everyday without fail.  It is curved to make it easy to hold when you are brushing your hair and it also goes through my hair without pulling any hair out or causing any damage.

So there you have my hair and body favourites of 2013 and you might be wondering about body moisturisers and why one isn't included, well I am yet to find one that I could call a favourite, there are however a few that I like. 

Would any of these products feature in your favourites of 2013?

My favourite products of 2013 - Part one!

It has taken me quite a long time to do this post, sorting products out into groups and categories hasn't been easy, but I have done it and these are my products of 2013, though they have been split into categories to make the posts a little shorter.

Lip care

Lips are an important part of my beauty regime and I am always trying to ensure they are in good condition and don't look dry, flaking and chapped because for me there is nothing worse.  Your lips are such an important feature and you do so much with them whether it is eating food, having a drink, kissing someone or even talking, your lips are one of your main features and should be as cared for as every other part of your body.

I have a bit of an obsession with lip products as you can see HERE and I am never without a lip balm, lip cream or lip something and these are my all time favourite lip products.  Starting with:

Dr Lipp - I got this product in a Glossybox and wrote a post about it which you can read HERE.  Quite a few people have compared it to the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream and I disagree, I cannot stand the 8 hour cream at all.  Dr Lipp is brilliant and I use when my lips are really dry and put it on before I go to bed and I wear it during the daytime especially if the weather is really cold.

Lush Bubblegum Lip Scrub - One of the first items I wrote about on my blog which you can see HERE, this product is an absolute lifesaver and the best lip scrub I have ever used.  For those of you who are fans of Snow Fairy (like me) this scrub smells exactly like the shower gel.  So what is the point of it?  Well like any piece of skin on your body, it gets old and tired, dries out a bit and falls off, so Bubblegum is an exfoliator for your lips which, with a gentle massaging action, helps to remove that dead skin leaving your lips feeling soft and smooth.

Bach Rescue Balm - This is another one of my go to lip products when they are particularly when my lips look like they are dry and chapped and this is another product I usually slather my lips in over night and it works wonders.  It smells of lemons and is both Paraben and lanolin free and can also be used on your temples for relaxation purposes - something I am yet to try.

Korres Lip Butter - I am a huge fan of the Korres range, whether it is a shower gel, a lip balm or a lip butter, I love them and this particular lip butter, Guava is my favourite from the range and I posted about it HERE.  As a lip butter it is really lovely to apply and it smells divine, really moisturising and long lasting once on your lips.

So there you have it.  My first favourites of 2013 post and there are 4 more to come in my little series of posts - Hair and Body, Make-up and Perfume are to follow.

Do you have a favourite lip product? 

Would or do any of my favourites feature in your favourites?

What I got in the Lush Sale!

Christmas isn't Christmas without a trip to Lush is it? As soon as I am notified Snow Fairy is available I am in the shop as soon as possible to stock up for the following year as I love the product.

This year I got a lovely Lush voucher for Christmas and decided to go and see what was on offer in the sales as I had my eye on one or two bits and this is what I bought with my voucher:

The first thing I picked up was the gift set - Lush Stardust which contains 6 items, all of which I had intended to purchase separately but when reduced from £25 down to £12, I liked the box rather a lot, being pink and glittery, I bought it.

Inside Stardust was a 100g bottle of Snow Fairy, Candy Mountain Bubble Bar, Rock Star Soap, Snow Fairy Sparkle, Star Light Star Bright Bath Melt and Space Girl Bath Ballistic.

Then I bought a few other little bits because they were also on offer with 50% off - Snow Fairy Sparkle which I gave as a present to a friend, Godmother Soap which smells the same as Snow Fairy, Snowman Bath Ballistic, So White Bath Ballistic and finally Wiccy Magic Muscle Massage Bar which wasn't on offer but I am a huge fan of this and the fact it is a massage bar.

To date, this is my one and only sales haul, so I am feeling quite impressed with myself.

Have you had a big post-Christmas sales shop?  

Inhibitif Hair Free Deodorant

One thing I hate is hairy armpits, I make no apology for that, I absolutely hate them, on girls and ladies I mean, and I will shave mine every day, even if there is the slightest bit of hair on show.

Then once again I am introduced to Inhibitif, a product that is as part of my life as moisturising cream.  If you haven't read my blog before then you won't have seen any of my reviews on Inhibitif before so you can find a series of blog posts here, here, and the final results you can find HERE.  I have also been using the Face Serum which you can find HERE.

Today, I have the deodorant product to introduce to you.  I am really excited about using this and cannot wait to see the results.  As with the Leg and Face Serum you are advised to use it daily under your arms 8 weeks whereupon which hair growth, density and thickness are visibly reduced, that doesn't mean the hair won't grow back, it simply means it will but at a much slower rate.  Before I used Inhibitif on my legs, I would shave them almost every day, especially in the summer months if I yanked to wear a skirt, now I shave them once every 8-9 days unless I am really paranoid, so for me there has been a dramatic difference, all of which you can read about in the above links.

You are advised not to use this product on peeling or irritated skin and to avoid eye and lip contact.

The deodorant comes in with either a mint fragrance which is the one I have and it smells just like the leg serum or there is a fragrance free option.  I have been using this for a week now and the mint fragrance is actually lovely and as a deodorant I find it keeps me dry and fresh all day long.  You can buy this in Boots or via the official website for £8.99

As for a reduction in hair growth, that I will report back on once the 8 weeks are up.

Have you tried this product or anything like it?  Do you use any products from the Inhibitif range?

Lush Rudolph Face Mask

I am a huge fan of Lush products, yes I am a Lushaholic and I love the Christmas Range. As soon as I know Snow Fairy has been released for those precious few weeks, I stock up.  I did a mini Lush Haul which I wrote about HERE and one of the products from that haul is the Rudolph Face mask.

Soothe and nourish your skin, with fresh cucumber, oatmeal and tofu. Scented with organic lavender oil, this calming mask will reduce redness and restore nutrients to your skin

Is the description for this face-mask.  Called Rudolph it has been designed to give your face and neck a little TLC which I am sure most people need, especially with this constant change in weather, my skin is not a fan of the cold weather and in order to make sure I don't end up looking like Freddie Kruger, I ensure my skin gets a little extra TLC as and when I can.  This face-mask sounded ideal when I came across it in the Lush store, especially as it promises to soothe, nourish, and calm skin, as well as reducing redness and restore balance. 

The main ingredients, which as you will know from Lush are endless and natural, are cucumber, oatmeal, tofu, and lavender.  Then we have tea tree, Calamine Powder and witch hazel which help to keep those blemishes at bay. I was quite surprised to see tofu included, mainly because I can't stand the horrible taste or texture whenever I have tried to eat it, but if it does give my skin a little TLC, I might be much nicer to it.   Now all of those ingredients aside and many more that haven't been mentioned but can be found online. I am sure you are wondering what the red blob is right?  Well it is of course Rudolph’s red nose, which is made from a bright red rounded piece of jelly to stick upon your own nose once you have applied the mask.

Being handmade and full of completely natural ingredients, Lush face masks can be quite thick and lumpy and this one is no exception.  Resembling porridge in texture and looks this facemask actually smells much better than it looks and they do say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

The mask is because described as porridge and the overly done stuff that literally clings to the pan and no amount of milk is going to make it any easier to eat.  Yes simply put, this mask is a fairly thick texture and when you apply it to your face it can be quite tricky, I found it easier to apply my mixing it with a tiny bit of water.  As I always apply as mask before getting in the bath or if I am just laying on the sofa, I tend to have some water in the sink anyway to wash my hands after I have finished applying any mask.  Once applied to your face, simply lay back and relax.

I left the mask on for around half an hour before I rinsed it off. Removing the mask was much easier than applying it and I used some damp muslin cloth to remove most of it before using a mirror to make sure I hadn't left anything lurking in and around my hairline or my eyebrows (it happens) and then once everything had been removed, I patted my skin dry and was surprised to find how lovely my skin felt.  When the mask is on your face, or any mask for that matter, I am never too sure whether anything is actually happening because if it doesn't harden for peeling off or wiping off, but stays as it was when you applied it, then what has it done?  Well this one did a lot.  my skin was soft and smooth to the touch, I had a lovely rosy glow and best of all, my skin felt so hydrated and moisturised that I didn't feel the need to instantly grab a moisturising cream and cover my face in it, because unlike some other masks I have used, I didn't feel that this one had stripped my skin of everything and left my skin feeling really dry.

Overall this is a fantastic face-mask and one I have really enjoyed using it.  It retails at £5.50 for 60g and it comes in one of those lovely black tubs which you can keep, take back and once you have 5, get another face-mask for free. 

Ted Baker Last Minute Stocking Fillers for Him and Her

Okay so how many of you still have one or two last minute gifts to get and really do not want to be running around like a headless chicken?  Well look no further, I have some fantastic products that would make amazing stocking fillers for both him and her.

I have featured a few Ted Baker products on my blog in the last month and I am so impressed with them, I had to share them.  You can find Putting on the Glitz HERE gift set here which features an illuminating Highlighter, a bronzing compact, a Kabuki Brush and a Bronzing glow and if that isn't enough, you can find some Ted Baker eyelash curlers and nail buffer HERE.  All of these products arrive in fantastic packaging and can be found in Boots!

Today I have the Ted's Big swig gift set £12* and it features a 200ml hair and body wash, a 150ml body spray and a large water bottle. I really like the packaging within which these products arrive and it has the following description:

"For maximum performance with minimum sweat, the fresh, invigorating top notes of this (be)spoke Body Spray and Hair & Body Wash contrast neatly with this aerodynamically designed water bottle from Ted. After all, whether a grand tourer or a sprint specialist, everyone needs to whet their whistle from time to time! The Ted Baker Ted’s Big Swig gift set includes Hair & Body Wash that work in tandem with your physique to ensure you’re always oiled for choice, along with Body Spray as fresh as a bright yellow jersey...Saddle up!"

Then we have a gift for the girls, well two actually and they come in the form of nail polish duos.  First up we have Cherry Bomb Duo* £8.50. Described as:

"Put a little fizz in your day with Ted's girly and delicious Cherry Bomb, perfect for girls with a seriously cheeky side"

As you can see from the photos, the first shade is deep cherry colour which is absolutely stunning on its own, never mind with the addition of the sparkle called Sugar Rush, which I also adore.  

The second set I have is called Blue Moon Duo* £8.50 and as before there is a nail polish in a beautiful deep blue shade, so deep it is almost black, I absolutely love it and you can see how blue it is once the light catches it.  Add some sparkle called Space Dust and you add a bit more beauty to your nail colour.  Described as:

" The stunning Blue Moon is for girls who like to maintain a little mystery"

Now hopefully this post has given you some ideas for those last final few presents that you need to get to complete your Christmas Shopping.

Do you have any of these Ted Baker products?  Do you want them?

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel

I am a bit of a Lush fanatic and I love the colour pink. How right that person was and I get very excited at Christmas Time when the Lush Limited Edition products come out.

One of my favourite Lush products ever is the Snow Fairy shower gel.

The shower gel inside the bottle is a bright candy pink colour and once you squeeze a little out onto the palm on your hand you can instantly recognise the sweet candy scent which has to be one of the sweetest things you will ever smell but in a nice way, it isn't overpowering like a vanilla scented product is, instead this shower gel is so sweet it reminds me of candy canes which you hang on your Christmas tree, Also within this shower gel are little pieces of glitter which sparkle in the light and is perfect for Christmas. When using this shower gel you will need to squeeze the bottle quite hard at first to produce a small blob like portion on the palm of your hand and the gel is quite thick in texture so you wont need as much as you would normally. 

After my shower my skin was very soft and moisturised and the sweet candy scent was to me really nice and I could still smell it on my skin in the evening, after being at work all day. Also, rather than using it as just a shower gel, I have to admit that I have used it as bubble bath, when I've come home from work and am so tired all I want is a long hot soak and I really cannot be bothered to have a shower, using this shower gel as a bubble bath substitute works really well, lots of bubbles are created and the smell lingers throughout the house much better than when I use it in the shower. 


Snow Fairy retails from Lush in three different sizes and naturally three different prices. The bottle I was given was the 100ml bottle which is the standard size within gift packages such as the one I received and that would retail at almost £3.50. There are much bigger bottles which I would buy usually to last me through the year and they come in a 250ml size which would cost £6.85 and a 500ml bottle which would cost £10.95.

As I have said this is one of my absolute favourite Lush products and if you haven't tried it, then get to Lush quick because it is only ever available at Christmas time.