bloomzy /

Review: John Frieda Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight

John Frieda Frizz Ease – 3 Day Straight Styling Spray for curly hair*
Trying to keep hair straight (after a blow dry/using straighteners) can be quite difficult.
Myself and my mother included both straighten our hair and whereas mine usually keeps for a day or two, my mum (who works most of the day) finds that her hair can kink up easily – especially when it’s warm weather.
So the idea of John Frieda’s Frizz Ease 3 Day Straight spray is a saviour to people like us with curly, out of control hair.
After reading reviews online I knew it might be hit or miss.
Some people thought it was a miracle products and others said they showed no results.
I decided to test it out on my mum who has short, thick hair that kinks easily – especially at the ends.
Why my mum and not me? Out of the two of us, she has a lot more trouble keeping her hair straight. 
It was also kind of fun having a willing victim testee who I could really see the results on.
This was my mum’s hair after applying the spray to towel dried hair, a blow dry and straightening. 
It’s definitely worth mentioning that my mum’s hair has never been so straight! The spray performed absolutely wonderfully on her hair and not only did it keep it straight, it looked super glossy too. So the big question – did it stay straight for 3 days? Well…yes it did! In fact I didn’t even bother taking an ‘after’ photo as it looked exactly the same. It didn’t kink up after 2 days work, and she was so in love with it she was raving the whole time about how wonderful it is.
My mum’s verdict? 10/10 – would definitely buy!
My verdict? For only £6.99 this is a must have for anyone who has trouble with keeping their hair straight.

You can buy John Frieda’s 3 Day Straight Styling Spray from Boots.
They also currently have a 3 for 2 offer in Boots, so make the most of it!
bloomzy /

Review: Mudd Face Masks

Mudd Face Masks: Sea Clay, Peel-off and Original*

Recently I was sent a lovely pink package, and what did it contain? It contained a set of the new Mudd face masks – sea clay, peel-off and original. I love putting on a face mask once or twice a week. It helps me relax and is great for my skin. So of course I was very happy to see that I had been given a selection of the masks to try out.

Mudd are quite smart in the way they’ve decided to package these. They come in single packs (1 application) and packs of 5 or 10 applications. The 5/10 application packs have a handy flip lid so you can squeeze out the perfect amount and then replace it. No need to worry about the mask getting everywhere or drying out!

I tried out the Hydrating sea clay face mask, as you can see. This really was hydrating and left my skin feeling super soft and light (does that make sense?). After application the mask dries and tightens…oh does it tighten. It felt a bit odd to start with but I got used to it. After 15mins 99% of the mask had dried and it felt like I’d had botox – I removed it with warm water and a cloth. This was a lovely mask and I can’t wait to try out the others, especially the peeling mask!

You can buy Mudd Face Masks in Boots and online here.
Prices are £1 for a single, £3.05 for a 5 pack and £4.99 for a 10 pack.

bloomzy /

Review: Tanda Zap – Acne spot treatment device

HoMedics Tanda Zap – acne spot treatment device*
HoMedics Tanda Zap is a new handheld blue light device to help fade or clear acne.
The great thing about Tanda Zap is that it is an on-the-spot treatment, which means you can do it at home, in work etc.
It easily fits into your bag, or on your dresser so you can grab it for a treatment whenever you fancy.
What does it do?
It uses blue light technology, along with sonic vibration and a gentle warming to open the pores, help destroy bacteria and reduce swelling/inflammation. It even claims to help clear or fade blemishes within 24 hours.
It can also help to prevent future breakouts.
For use on all skin types and tones.
How do you use it?
By pressing the big orange switch on the front, the blue light is activated.
Hold the Tanda Zap gently against the affected area and let it run its course – 2mins.
You can end the treatment before the time is up, or it will turn off after the 2mins has passed.
You can use it up to 3x a day on the one blemish, and on other blemishes.
It is battery powered and lasts for 1000 treatments.

 

My Personal Experience
I usually suffer from one or two breakouts during my period, but am generally spot free the rest of the time.
Luckily I had a nasty spot for this same reason, when the Tanda Zap arrived at my front door. These tend to last around a week and fade with my usual skin care routine but I decided to try out Tanda Zap instead. I used it as part of my normal skin care routine day & night, as well as once in the afternoon. After 24hrs I definitely noticed a difference – actually the spot was more inflammed, but I think this was due the treatment bringing out all the bacteria etc. After 48hrs I was really happy as the spot was noticeably smaller and less inflammed.
I’m impressed and will definitely continue to use it when a spot pops up!
Before use I would suggest you read the instructions as some medication such as antihistamines apparently don’t work well with it (can cause skin irritation and redness), however I take them occasionally and haven’t had a problem.
You can buy Tanda Zap in Boots stores, and online here.
For those who suffer with long-term acne problems, Tanda Clear+ is also available, here.
bloomzy /

Review: Murine Bright & Moist Eye Drops

Murine Bright & Moist Eye Drops*

Since the release of eye drops that claim to ‘brighten’ or ‘whiten’ your eyes, I’ve been quite intrigued.
As I suffer from allergies most of the year my eyes can sometimes be dry, itchy and slightly red.
So you can see why I might be interested in these.
Murine’s eye drops are made from a special liquid gel, which include moisturisers and a brightener.
They aim to refresh and soothe the eyes, whilst adding a bit of a sparkle.
I’ve used several eye drops from different brands, so my review will be based on comparing Murine’s drops to my previous experience and also by looking at what the drops claim to do.
Top: Before drops
Bottom: After drops

Pros:
+ Soothing
+ Refreshing
+ Kept my eyes hydrated
+ Slight brightening of my eyes
Cons:
– No drastic brightening of my eyes
– The gel felt a bit odd to start with
– Can’t be used with contact lenses
Notes:
I wasn’t really expecting anything amazing with these, so the results didn’t really upset me.
I loved the refreshing effect of the drops, they definitely soothed my eyes when they were dry/itchy. I only applied the drops (2 in each eye) once for a whole day (you can apply them up to 4 times a day), which is a first out of all the brands I have previously used. However I didn’t find the whitening effect to be that…well…effective. Even so, I did notice that the usual red-ness I sometimes suffer from (due to allergies) was slightly less noticeable.
For the price, and the refreshing/soothing effect alone, I would buy these.
If it was purely for the whitening/brightening effect, I’d probably try something else.
You can buy Murine Bright & Moist 15ml Eye Drops at Boots, for £4.49
You can also purchase it online, here.
bloomzy /

Review: Trilogy Exfoliant & Apricot Face Mask

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant & My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask

I decided to review these two items together, as they are both new additions to my skin care routine and 
are also two products that compliment each other well.
Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant 
Purchase it here

I use this twice a week, in the evening after my skin care routine.
I love the texture of the product; it feels a little grainy to touch, but when applied it’s quite satisfying to feel the Jojoba wax spheres work their magic on your skin, as you massage the treatment in. 
It leaves a pleasant smell on your skin, which reminds me a bit of oats.
After several weeks of use, I would definitely say my skin is feeling smoother and more radiant. A little goes a long way with this product, so I think it will last me for quite a while. My only criticism would be that it dried my skin out a little, but I wouldn’t suggest using an exfoliant without a moisturiser of some kind anyway. 
My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask 
Purchase it here 

I’ve only been using these for a week, but so far so good.
These are sheet masks that cover your whole face. You leave the mask on for about 20-30mins, and just sit back and relax. The masks are incredibly cool and really are relaxing to wear, and smell amazing! Afterwards it’s best to massage in any remaining serum. I use this after I have exfoliated and I must say the moisturising effect is amazing. My skin felt so supple and soft after only the first use, which surprised me as I don’t usually expect to see a difference straight away with most skin care products. This mask is suitable for normal to dry / combination skin.
No criticisms really, except that the mask is pretty big so you will need to make sure it is securely on.
Finally, here’s a scary picture of me in my mask after exfoliating:


bloomzy /

Your Choice: Winter Skin Saviours

I was recently sent a variety of skin care products to try out, all of which are aimed at helping fight against the harsh effects of Winter. I will need to use them for a little while before I hopefully start to see any effects, so whilst I am testing the above three items, I’d like to know which item you would like to see reviewed first?


Bio-Oil (Boots)
“You can use Bio-Oil all over, including on the face, to provide daily protection and to perfect your skin. Or, use it as an intense treatment for delicate areas that are most at risk from damage caused by exposure to the elements, such as hands, nails and cuticles, face, neck and décolletage.” – Bio-Oil skincare expert Kirsty Mawhinney

Bio-Oil’s concentrated formula is enriched with Vitamin E to protect against dehydration and Vitamin A to keep skin supple and smooth. These essential skincare ingredients are important on their own, but in Bio-Oil they are combined with PurCellin Oil™ to take them deep into the second layer of the skin for gold-standard targeted treatment.

Manuka Doctor Apinourish Repairing Skin Cream (Holland and Barrett)
This lightweight non-greasy cream delivers a perfect balance of intense hydration and purified nutrients that accelerate skin regeneration. In turn, repairing the skin’s natural balance and assisting in the reduction of the appearance of fine lines and scarring.

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant (Boots)
“It’s even more important to exfoliate once or twice per week during colder winter months. Especially with a non-abrasive treatment such as Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant. When the winter comes the skin produces less natural oils due to the cooler temperatures and central heating so the skin can lose some of its natural moisture. Regular exfoliation will remove the build up of dead skin cells and allow the skin to absorb extra moisture, as well as ensuring that skin retains radiance and vitality.” – Catherine de Groot, co-founder of Trilogy

Which product would you like to see reviewed first?
Bio-Oil
Manuka Doctor
Trilogy
Results
bloomzy /

Review; Pop Beauty & Barry M

Pop Beauty; Twinkle: Electric Glimmer | Barry M; Red Glitter NP150

For Christmas I received some gorgeous nail polishes from the fiancé and family. They know just how obsessed I am with my collection, so thoughtfully they added a little something to it. I choose 2 of my favourites to review here. The reason I took videos as well as photos is because I found it hard to show the effect of the polish in just a simple photo – this being most true with the Pop Beauty polish.

The Pop Beauty polish featured in this first video has to be my favourite by far. I’ve not seen another polish like it. I can’t describe how much I love it! Pop Beauty offer some amazing shades and glitters in their nail collection. The bottles are attractive and come with 15ml/0.5floz, which is more than your usual bottle. It took a couple of coats for me to achieve my desired look, nothing more than a regular polish.Being a glitter polish it is prone to chipping more than a regular one. This did happen a couple of times on my thumbnails but was easily remedied by filling in the spaces, which surprisingly were not very noticeable afterwards. Even though Pop Beauty polishes cost a little more than your regular polish, you’re receiving some amazing, unique shades/glitters. I will definitely be buying more from their range – I’ve even made a wish list for my birthday.

Pop Beauty is available online and in selected stores.

Barry M offer a great selection of polishes and I own quite a few of them already. They’re cheaper than PB but then you receive a regular size 10ml bottle, and their shades are often copied by or from other brands. This means it won’t be as unique, but the quality and look is great so there’s no complaints here! This polish took about 3/4 coats to achieve an opaque, strong colour but I have found this with a lot of Barry M polishes.As mentioned before, glitter polishes are prone to chipping and the Barry M polish was no different. I did try to fill it in like the PB one, and it worked but was definitely more noticeable, which is probably due to the shade more than the quality of the product.

Barry M is available online and in most UK Boots & Superdrug stores.