Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara

When Urban Decay announced their new mascara Troublemaker was ‘sex-proof, my entire timeline on social media got very excited and whilst I am not quite willing to admit anything to state whether those claims are true or not, I do love a good mascara and it is always the one item of makeup that I never leave the house without.

I am quite set in my ways when it comes to a mascara, there are things I like and there are things I don't.  I have fairly long lashes and as such, if the formula is too wet, they do absolute nothing, there is no lift, no wide eye look and instead, they feel weighted down and generally just horrid.  I like a Mascara to give me volume as well as the length and I like every lash to be coated.

The packaging for this mascara is incredible, described as being prismatic it is the first thing you notice and that same effect is also present on the tube and it does look incredible. Noted on the box you see that it tells you that you will get 13.7x more lash volume and sexy, fluttery, intensely black lashes.  The formula uses two different types of black pigment which give that black intensity and it is infused with a combination of hollow silica and ultralight fibres which add volume without weighing the lashes down.

The custom-made brush which grabs onto the lashes, separates and curls as it coats them and the good things about this mascara is that you can layer it up as much as you feel you need too, the more layers means more trouble and best all - no spiders legs, no clumping and no spatter across the face when you blink, I am sure I am not the only person who always has to blink more than normal whenever I apply mascara.  For me to get the volume I wanted, I had to add three layers and I am really impressed with the difference it makes by adding further coats.  Once applied there is no smudging, budging or flaking and I applied Troublemaker to my lashes in the morning and it lasted all day at work and then onto an event after work I didn't need to re-apply, but I was asked on several occasions whether or not I had lash extensions, which I do not.

Given Troublemaker worked so well with my lashes, I wasn't expecting its removal to be as straightforward as it was.  I simply used my DHC Cleansing Oil and it came away without the need to rub or scrub, literally a wipe across both eyes with a cotton wool pad and it was gone.

Simply put I absolutely love this mascara and it does absolutely everything I want it to and much more.

Troublemaker costs £19.50 and is available to buy here.

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

11 Beauty Brands Supprting Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month is Breast Cancer awareness month, something I alluded to in this post featuring Merci Handy and Coppafeel.  Breast Cancer is a disease which affects many of us in one way or another.  You might have had it, currently are receiving treatment from it, know someone with it or know of someone who didn't survive.  I have had 4 friends with it, one of them is still having treatment which looks hopeful and one has recently been told the disease has spread.

So to raise the profile of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this month a lot of beauty brands are lending their support and have given their products a makeover, many featuring the pink ribbon to support, raise funds for and raise awareness to a range of different charities. Here are just 11 of those brands and their products.

Jo Malone - Red Roses Cologne displays the Pink Ribbon and for every bottle sold, £20 will be donated to Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. Priced at £88 here..

La Mer Crème de la Mer -La Mer has swapped the signature peach logo to pink for this limited edition mini pot in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness'. £19.50 from every pot sold will be donated In support of The Estée Lauder Companies' Breast Cancer Campaign and it is available here for £65.

GHD - the ghd Air™ Hair Dryer in Pink Blush; a limited edition dryer that supports ‘Pink is Good’, the Umberto Veronesi foundation project that supports the scientific research on breast cancer.  Priced at £99 here

Bobbi Brown - This beautiful Pink Peony Blusher and a Mini Face Blender Brush with a pink handle, Bobbi Brown will donate £5 from every sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Priced at £35 here.

Elemis - The Hero Collection for Breast Cancer Care. It features Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules Pink Edition, Pro-Collagen Marine Cream Pink Edition, New Pro-Collagen Neck and Décolleté Balm Pink Edition, Frangipani Monoi Body Oil Pink Edition. Priced at £50 here.

Estee Lauder - Advanced Night Repair, which is an incredible product, has turned Pink in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness month and it also has a pink ribbon key chain too. With 20% of its proceeds going towards the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Priced at £72 here.

Origins - Drink Up Overnight Intensive Mask is one of the best hydrating overnight masks I have tried. In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness the tube has had a pink ribbon make over and £4 from every sale being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Priced at £25 here.

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser - A jumbo Sized Edition which comes with a Breast Cancer Awareness print and keychain. £2 from this purchase will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. Priced at £38 here.

The Mama Mio Pregnancy Boob Tube Breast Cancer Awareness Edition is the same tried-and-tested, best-selling formulation, updated with limited edition packaging in support of the international Breast Cancer Awareness charity, Look Good Feel Better. Priced at £29.50 here. 

Bumble and Bumble - BB Thickening Spray for Breast Cancer Care. Bumble and Bumble will donate 20% to Breast Cancer Research Foundation from each limited edition Pink Ribbon Spray. Priced here at £23.

Aveda hand Relief - Aveda's hand relief is adorned with a pink ribbon and will donate £2 of each purchase to cruelty-free research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Priced at £22 here.

New just in from Tropic Skincare

The multi-award winning Firming Body Cream which is priced at £20 (here) for 250ml and will, throughout the whole of October be donating 10% from the proceeds to Breast Cancer Care.

Every year, 62,000 people in the UK are told they have breast cancer. The diagnosis not only changes their lives forever but also the lives of their family and friends. Breast Cancer Care understands the emotions, challenges and decisions people face every day. They know that everyone’s experience is different. That’s why they are there to offer support and information and campaign for better care.

Breast Cancer Care is the only specialist UK wide charity providing support to people with breast cancer. Their free services include support over the phone with a nurse or someone who’s been there, welcoming online forums, reliable information and local group support. They’ll help people to live life with breast cancer and beyond. From the moment someone notices something isn’t right, through their treatment and beyond, Breast Cancer Care will be there 691,000 people in the UK are currently living with a breast cancer diagnosis. Right now, Breast Cancer Care can’t reach everyone when they need them. With support, they can be here for more people, with care, support and information.

You can have course donate at any time to Breast Cancer Care via JustGiving too and that is my link. 

https://www.justgiving.com/4w350m3/donate/direct/campaign/5567491?&reference=influencer

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Woods of Windsor Blackberry & Thyme Gardeners Range

Woods of Windsors is a premium English lifestyle and gift brand and they recently launched their Blackberry & Thyme Gardeners Range which smells just incredible.

A gardener’s work is never done, with year-round maintenance and constant exposure to the elements, all too often our hands are neglected in the pursuit of creating the perfect garden. Woods of Windsor’s new Gardeners Range is formulated with extra conditioning and moisturising ingredients, to nourish those green fingers and restore smooth skin to hardworking hands. 

Whilst I don't have a garden, I do have pots outside on my terrace and spent a lot of time, planting, potting, pruning and picking fruits, vegetables and flowers and my hands do get really dry and scaly if I don't take of them. 

The Gardeners range has everything you need to ensure this does not happen.  Taking the theme of an English Country Garden to heart, these products combine green tea and ripe blackberry with the heart of rosemary, thyme mimosa and white jasmine which are enhanced with musk and amber. Within the collection there are four products - Moisturising Hand Wash (£6.99/350ml), Exfoliating Hand Scrub (£4.99/100ml), Nourishing Hand Cream (£5.99/100ml) and Intensive Hand Balm (£7.99/100ml) and they are all paraben free. I have been using three of the products and I even have a favourite.

The Moisturising handwash which is packaged inside a pump action bottle is really lovely. The first thing you notice is the Blackberry scent which is incredibly fresh and then that the handwash has a purple tint to it which foams and lathers when it comes into contact with water, this works to intensify that Blackberry scent but at the same time it awakens the Thyme scent too.  

This hand wash uses antibacterial and healing thyme oil and blackberry extract which is rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids that help protect and moisturise.

Then we have the exfoliating hand scrub. It wasn't until we had an allotment that I realised such products existed and when you have spent all day digging and weeding, it is at that point you need to exfoliate your hands to rid them of horrid calluses that have formed. 

This scrub uses pumice to cleanse and remove ingrained dirt and when you massage into the skin you can feel the pumice working on the skin. There is also the inclusion of antibacterial and healing thyme oil and blackberry extract which is rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids that help protect and moisturise.

Finally, we have the hand cream and like the other two products I have mentioned so far, it also uses antibacterial and healing thyme oil and blackberry extract, rich in anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids that help protect and moisturise but this time there is also the inclusion of Shea Butter. 

On the skin, this hand cream, which doesn't have a thick texture, just melts into the skin and it leaves behind a beautiful Blackberry earthy scent which is just divine.

These three products are just divine and for me, the stand out product is the exfoliating hand scrub, it is so gentle but so effective at what it does, that it is hard not to love it.  The entire range is simply delightful and it has a scent that everyone could and should adore.  

This was my first time using products from Woods of Windsor and having had the chance to look at the site, there is an incredible range of products to discover.

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

4 Trendy Hair Care Tips for this Fall

With the end of the summer comes the beginning of fall where the wind is cooler, the weather is dryer and the trees are as vibrant as ever. Fall is the season to let your hair down and get rid of ponytails. It is the time of the year where it makes perfect sense to style your hair without worrying about humidity and rain. However, just like your summer wardrobe, you must also set aside your summer hair care routine to make way for your fall hair care routine. Fall is the prelude to winter so it is an absolute must that you are prepared for colder months. From hair care routine to hair styling, only the best quality products and tools can guarantee healthy hair during the fall season.

Here are four trendy hair care tips that you can add to your hair care routine this fall.

1. Use Hair Products Made from Natural Ingredients

Shampoo and conditioner are two of the most commonly used and equally essential products you use to take care of your hair. Natural products help effectively remove impurities, dirt, and chemicals that are left on your hair and scalp from using serums and moisturizers. Using natural products infuse natural oils and minerals into the hair follicles to prevent dry and brittle hair strands. Because of ever-changing weather, you have to think about the best hair care routine that will result in better condition over the long-term. As much as possible, avoid using products that are largely made of chemicals.

2. Moisturise your Hair

Summer usually helps your hair retain more moisture. During fall, it becomes harder to maintain a moisturized hair. While it is crucial to keep your hair clean by washing it regularly, shampooing can also strip your hair of its natural oils. To keep your hair looking healthy, put together and combat dryness, it is highly recommended to apply hair moisturizer regularly and massage it gently starting from the ends of your hair. Try to avoid applying moisturizer directly to your scalp.

3. Use Quality Hair Styling Tools

The colder months of fall make it more practical to use heat-activated hair styling tools. But don’t just use any tools. It is very important to invest in styling tools that will not damage your hair and cause more problems. A good quality hair curler, for instance, gives your hair that extra volume and bounce that is perfect for a nice afternoon stroll or an evening out. Don’t forget to apply a protectant on your hair strands before using a curler, straightener or a blow dryer to prevent any breakage.

4. Trim your Hair

Fall symbolizes a change in perspective, a new leaf if you will. The summer with all the great things it does for you can actually cause some serious problems with your hair. You experience split ends, tangled strands, and breakage all the time. Fall is the best time to rejuvenate and trim your hair off unhealthy and dry hair tips. And while you’re at your favorite salon, ask for a minimal hombre style or nice highlights that will truly stand out this season.

Do you have any hair tips?

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