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Wish List: Santa’s Little Helper

Every year friend’s and family ask me to publish a wish list on my blog. So this year I decided to try out something a little different – The Greedy Book. What is it? “Described as the home of the wish list, they’re an amazing discovery platform that provides you with your very own corner of the internet to collate your ultimate wish list, an eclectic mixture of your favourite things.”

I liked the look of the platform as it allowed me to add items easily, whilst simultaneously adding the price and notes. I personally used the notes section to add any sizing or colour preferences I had, which will hopefully offer some help and also open up a new spectrum of gifts. I had a lot of fun putting my items together and into their own little books, and if I wasn’t so blasé about Christmas gifts (for myself) I imagine I’d be able to spend hours adding items to them. I actually prefer giving presents at Christmas, which TGB is also useful for. The site gives you the option of making your books private, meaning you can hide your gift ideas away somewhere safer (and a lot easier) than your bookmark bar. I’ve only created a few books so far; using the option to separate my wish lists into different categories – fashion & beauty, accessories and home. Even so, this makes it easier for friends and family who may want to buy me something specific. All in all, it’s been super helpful, and although I think the site would be better with a bit more customisation, it works perfectly well. I can see myself using this long after Christmas for friends/family birthdays…maybe even for my birthday in January too?

You can view my Christmas wish lists at The Greedy Book.

bloomzy /

Review: O’right Golden Rose Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

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O’right Golden Rose Oil Shampoo and Conditioner*
 
Ever since I had a mishap with a DIY bleach kit several years ago I have been using shampoos and conditioners that predominately feature natural/organic ingredients. I’ve found they help hydrate my dry/coarse hair (something I’ve always had, even before the bleach) whilst also keeping my coloured hair bright. So when O’right – a brand that prides themselves on being the ‘world’s greenest haircare brand’ – offered to send me some of their products I was eager to learn more about them.

“The O’right factory, based in Taiwan, is also the world’s first carbon neutral cosmetics plant – which also doubles as a nature park for locals and uses 100% clean energy. It is so green, it doesn’t even hire smokers! O’right packaging is 100% biodegradable and some of its products actually grow into Acacia trees when planted. It’s the only hair care product that yields a negative carbon footprint. The product itself is as natural as it can be (min of 95% natural ingredients).”


Now that’s pretty impressive.

Pros:
+ Smells lovely
+ Helps lock in colour
+ Minimalist packaging
+ Let my hair soft and smooth
+ Lathers amazingly well for a natural shampoo
 
Cons:
– Left my hair feeling greasy
 
Notes:
It’s difficult to get the perfect shampoo/conditoner, and this was so close. I really like the simple packaging of the products, and how easy they are to use (way too many conditioners make it difficult to get the product out). The shampoo lathers amazingly, something which can often be a problem with natural shampoos. The conditioner doesn’t feel heavy on the hair, and like the shampoo, smells nice and refreshing. My hair was left feeling soft and smooth on the ends but unfortunately the roots were greasy. For someone who has naturally dry hair this was a big problem, as I don’t really know how to deal with greasy hair. I also found it odd as I only apply conditioner to the ends of my hair, not the roots. My only reasoning is that the ingredients used just don’t sit well on my hair. Hair is a very personal thing so I don’t want to go and say that this will happen to everyone. Instead I’m just going to conclude that this particular product doesn’t work on my type of hair. Prices start around £15, which may seem like a lot, but not when you consider the process and ingredients that have gone into this product.
Everything aside, I’d like to say how much I’d love to shake the hand of O’right’s CEO, Steven Ko. Creating a green product is not easy but it’s so important, and Steven has done an amazing job with these products.
You can purchase O’right’s Golden Rose Oil Shampoo and Golden Rose Oil Conditioner at O’right, and at Harvey Nichols.
bloomzy /

OGX Hair Lunch at The Gilbert Scott Restaurant

Both food and beauty in one sitting…what more could I ask for? OGX must be able to read minds, as they recently invited me for a sneak peek of some of their up-coming launches, over lunch at The Gilbert Scott Restaurant. The venue for the press event was the perfect choice. TGS is a part of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, and much like it’s counterpart it is incredibly stunning.

We were sat in a private dining room lined with products from the OGX haircare range. I recognised some old faithfuls, and some new shiny products. I was impressed to see that some of the American team (OGX is an American brand) had flown over especially for the event. What better way to find out about a brand than through their own people? I’ve been using OGX’s shampoos and conditioners for several years. I even remember when they were called Organix. The ranges are fun and vibrant, and allow you to mix and match – something that most haircare brands don’t offer. We were given a small presentation on the brand and what we could expect from them in 2015. OGX always stay up to date with the latest haircare trends and ingredients, and their latest ‘Coconut Water‘ range mirrors this perfectly. They knew that people loved putting coconut water into their bodies, so why not on their bodies hair too? The shampoo and conditioner are currently available in-stores, however the Coconut Water Hydrating Oil will be released in January, and I know you’re all going to love it. The Lemon Highlights range is another sneak peek that you’ll find hitting UK stores in the new year. It uses coconut oil to give highlighted hair a healthy, shiny glow. It smells divine and I can only imagine how sun kissed hair will look after using it. Finally, we were told all about the Kukui Oil range, something that spoke to me personally – a shampoo/conditioner that reduces frizz and locks in moisture. There is a God! I’ve made a mental note to put the coconut oil and kukui products in my basket next time I visited Boots.

I’ll be reviewing some of the latest OGX products on the blog soon, so keep an eye out on here and in stores! You can purchase OGX products in Boots and Superdrug. 

bloomzy /

Giveaway: The Perfect Party Look

I kept promising a giveaway once the new version of the blog was ready, but I can’t wait that long so I’m hosting one right now! As it’s mid-November, I figured that it should be related to the season, and what’s the best part about this season? The parties, of course! So I’m giving away a selection of beauty products to help you get that perfect party look…and a mirror, for touch-ups. Good luck!

What can you win?
1 x Compact Mirror
1 x Ciate Mini Nail Polish in Ivory Queen
1 x Ciate Mini Nail Polish in Ferris Wheel
1x Collection Work The Colour Eyebrow Kit
1x Collection Work The Colour Blue Eye Palette*
1 x Vaseline Limited Edition Pink Bubbly Lipbalm
1 x Playboy Bronzer Bunny Matte Bronzing Powder*
1 x Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder #3 Dark*

How to enter:
+ Be a follower of ‘Bloomzy’ via Bloglovin
+ Earn extra entries on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook etc.
– Entrants who do not follow the rules will be disqualified.
– Twitter accounts created purely for giveaways will be disqualified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to international participants, and ends on 30th Nov. 
Due to postal regulations the nail polishes can not be sent outside of the UK.

bloomzy /

Review: Dr Organic Snail Gel Eye Serum

 
I figured since I started last week with an odd beauty review, I may as well continue the theme. I hope you’re not all bored of my snail gel reviews yet, as I’ve been using quite a few of the new Dr Organic range and I really want to share it with you all – the good and the bad.
Pros:
+ Good consistency
+ Smells nice
+ Hydrating
 
Cons:
– No noticeable effect
– Doesn’t absorb quickly
 
Notes:
A product can have all the right moves, it can look good and even feel good, but if it doesn’t do what it says on the bottle, is it really worth the price tag? Unfortunately with this particular product, I’m beginning to think not. After using some of the other products in the snail gel range I was really hoping for something special with the eye serum. I’m always after a decent eye cream that will hydrate and tighten the skin around my eyes. I have yet to find one that satisfies me enough to repurchase it. This one is no different. The consistency of the serum is a watery cream, which smells lovely – a little like lemongrass. It is hydrating but it takes a while for my skin to absorb the product. I’ve been using it for several weeks now and I’ve not noticed any change in the skin around my eyes. At £12.99 I’m afraid I wouldn’t purchase this.
You can buy Dr Organic’s Snail Gel Eye Serum at Holland and Barrett.
bloomzy /

Review: Actress Mode Placenta and Collagen Face Mask

No this isn’t click bait. I genuinely am reviewing a face mask that contains placenta (among other things), from the Japanese skincare line Actress Mode. After my foray into snail gel I’ve grown somewhat of an obsession with ‘weird’ ingredients in my beauty products. So when I spotted this sheet face mask on P2Bus’s stall at Hyper Japan I knew I had to try it out.

Pros:
+ Tightened my skin
+ Soothing
+ Hydrating
+ Left my skin smooth and supple


Cons:
– Slightly slimy consistency


Notes:
I decided to use the mask when I woke up with my first (and hopefully last) cold of the season. My skin was feeling dehydrated and generally rubbish. Opening the packet I was greeted by a rather generic sheet face mask, although the consistency of the product was definitely different to others I had tried in the past. The best way to describe it is slimy. It’s not off-putting but it’s there, and you notice it. The mask was incredibly soothing on my sensitive skin. After about 20mins I took it off and massaged in the excess. There actually wasn’t much leftover product as my skin had soaked most of it up, which is always promising. That promise was kept as the mask had left my skin feeling hydrated, smooth and supple. The mask itself has been price up ridiculously high – it’s usually 300円 (around £1.72) but P2Bus are charging £5.98. Would I repurchase it?,Yes, even at the high price point. Trust me, this is a quality product. It’s something I’d keep aside for one of those days when my skin is really craving something special. Oh, and if you were wondering what it looks like on, well…let’s just say, it’s perfect for Halloween.

You can purchase the Actress Mode Placenta and Collagen Face Mask at P2Bus.

bloomzy /

My Trip to The Organic Pharmacy

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What do you do when a lone parent visits you in London and demands entertainment? You take them to be
pampered of course!

I had only told my mum about my secret plans the night before, but her excitement had reached fever pitch by
the time we arrived at The Organic Pharmacy’s Covent Garden store. We were greeted with green smoothies – my favourite! Our invitation? A morning of facials, health consultations and makeovers.
After we were introduced to the staff, my mum was whisked away for her first treatment. Although she was slightly embarrassed to admit it, it was her first facial. I could hear her giggles (a family trait) from the other side of the treatment room door, but they soon subsided as she fell into a pleasantly relaxed state (I was told after). It was around this time that I went in to have my health consultation. My consultant was named Ursula – a lovely lady who made me feel completely at ease. I was to have a treatment to gauge my vitamin and mineral levels. This meant having various wires and straps attached to me – I felt as though I’d been given the starring role in a sci-fi movie. Thankfully nothing untoward happened, and it turned out that my levels were pretty spot on, apart from a couple that needed to be worked on. However Urusula told me that I could combat these by eating certain foods, and taking particular supplements. After our consultation she handed me some notes about my results, with recommendations on products and
techniques for me to try out. I left with some tablets and a view to start meditating again.
As my mum went for her makeover it was my turn for a facial, and it was every bit as relaxing as my mum’s. After a good exfoliation, cleansing and moisturising treatment I was ready to fall asleep. I have a habit of falling asleep during massages, facials…even whilst getting lash extensions! Luckily I didn’t embarrass myself this time. Instead I left feeling relaxed and refreshed. The lovely make-up artist had left my mum with a glow. Naturally I was eager to see what he had in-store for me. I shuddered as he picked up the pink metallic eyeshadow…anything but pink, I screamed internally. Yet with a wave of his wand brush he created a natural look that left me eating my words. The make-up was nice, but I could feel it on my skin for the whole day. I found it a bit odd as the MUA had said that this wasn’t the case with their make-up, so I’m putting it down to having sensitive skin.
My trip to The Organic Pharmacy was enlightening, not only for my mind but for my skin also. I’m always up for finding new brands and products, especially if they are natural/organic. Thank you to Get The Gloss and The Organic Pharmacy for a lovely pampering session.