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Beauty Hits of 2014

I’ve done a whole host of reviews this year for the beauty section of my blog, so it only seemed right to go back and take a look at some of the best. I’d like to say “it wasn’t easy” but the four products I chose are so good that I am still using today.
Essential’s Nuance Airy hair mask was a saviour for my bleached ends, and even though they’ve now been chopped off, I’m still using this beautifully scented product. My hair is smooth and soft, and I can’t wait to try out more of the brands products in 2015. Click the link above for the full review.
2014 saw a flashback to my high school beauty routine. Collection re-branded their best (in my opinion) item, and I was reminded of a product that I should never have forgotten about. I was sent several to trial, and after running out I saw myself running to the shops for more. I’m sold on this concealer, and I swear by it as an affordable, high-quality product. Click the link above for the full review.
Witch is another brand I thought I had left behind with my teenage hormones. Well it seems that my hormones have not had enough of me yet, as the occasional chin blemish likes to remind me. Instead of succumbing to my emotions and falling into a crying heap, I now just apply the blemish stick to my spots, and zap! they’re gone…within a few days anyway. Click the link above for the full review.
My final beauty hit of 2014 is one I would never have seen coming. I’ve never been a fan of Playboy as a brand, so when they invited me to the launch of their new cosmetics line I was curious to see what they had to offer. I’m a liquid liner addict and it’s a staple in my make-up routine, and Playboy’s is one of the best I’ve tried. It applies perfectly and stays put all day. It’s a keeper! Click the link above for the full review.
bloomzy /

Review: Dr Organic Snail Gel

 
If you’ve been keeping up with my beauty reviews lately, you’ll know all about my snail gel obsession. I’ve been slowly working my way through Dr Organic’s snail gel range, and the next item on my list to try out was the Snail Gel. Dr Organic calls this “a moisturising, soothing, anti-aging gel which harnesses the remarkable cosmetic benefits of Helix Aspersia Muller, a unique substance the snail produces to quickly regenerate its own shell and skin when damaged.”


Pros:
+ Thick consistency
+ Smells amazing
+ Intially soothing


Cons:
– Stings when I put it on certain areas
– Makes my skin feel dry, when used by itself


Notes:
Unfortunately me and this product just don’t get along. I love how thick the product is, which makes for easier application. It also smells amazing, and feels nice and soothing (chilled) when initially applied. However that’s where the plus points end. It seems that my skin really doesn’t like the product as it actually tends to sting when I apply it to certain areas (usually around the nose). I tried it on several different occasions, just to make sure it wasn’t because of broken skin etc. but to no avail. If it wasn’t obvious enough that my skin dislikes it, my skin feels dried out after application – when not used alongside a facial serum. Overall the cons outweigh the pros, so I won’t be purchasing this product again. As always I like to point out that this is based on my own personal skin type and it may not be the same for everyone. Usually priced at £19.99, it is now on sale at Holland and Barrett for £14.99.
bloomzy /

A Peek Inside… My Little Cosy Box

This month’s theme is ‘My Little Cosy Box’. I was so excited when I heard of the theme, as like every other person in existence, I love Autumn. Autumn to me is a month to cosy up at home and relax, and I was so hoping that this month’s box would reflect that feeling…


What was inside My Little Cosy Box?
– Illustration by Kanako
– Espresso Cup designed by Kanako
– Tsumori Chisato ‘Hot Water Bottle’
– My Little Beauty Mascara
– Essie Nail Polish
– Star Liner Kohl Pencil
– My Little World Magazine


What did I think?
Unfortunately I don’t have too much to say about this month’s box as I am rather underwhelmed by it all. At first I was giddy at the sight of Tsumori Chisato’s name, but that quickly turned to disappointment when I realised that the ‘hot water bottle’ was no more than a relaxation pillow. After a long day at work it was a novelty for all of 5 minutes…before I realised I’d never use it again. The print was also a bit of a let down – it didn’t scream Tsumori Chisato like a lot of her work does – it just seemed very generic. As for the beauty products; I don’t use kohl eyeliner, and the Essie polish shade is off-season and just outright hideous (for my personal taste). I thought I had found my saving grace in the mascara though. It adds amazing length and volume…but smudges like no one’s business, which is a big turn off. Kanakos illustration and the ridiculously cute espresso cup are the only items I can see myself making use of. I don’t actually drink espresso but I have used it to store a candle on my office desk, whilst the print will go up on my wall. Overall this month’s box was a real let down, which says a lot when I hold My Little Box in such high esteem. It’s a shame, but hopefully December’s box will remind me of why I love the brand.


If you fancy subscribing yourself, head to My Little Box.

bloomzy /

Review: O’right Golden Rose Oil Shampoo & Conditioner

O’right-shampoo-conditioner-golden-rose-oil-review-beauty-blog-blogger-bloomzy-1 O’right-shampoo-conditioner-golden-rose-oil-review-beauty-blog-blogger-bloomzy-3
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 /

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 /

Where to Eat in London: Ping Pong Dim Sum

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Ping Pong Dim Sum* | Dinner/Bar | Stratford Westfield | Website
– reservations available –

Don’t let the name fool you, dim sum at Ping Pong is no game. A few months ago I fell for their cocktails, and some particularly delicious chicken and cashew nut dumplings. I knew that a masterclass wasn’t enough, so when they invited me back to try out their new Autumn/Winter menu I squealed with excitement.

The idea of adding and removing dishes based on the season may not come as much of a surprise to most food lovers, however I still delight at the sight. This time round Ping Pong have added 4 new dim sum dishes, 1 dessert dish and 2 new cocktails to the menu. Naturally we wanted to try them all, but we decided to just go for the lobster dumplings, the vegetable fun guo and the forbidden martini. We also chose a few other nibbles, such as the extremely photogenic soft-shell crab and the black prawn dumplings…alongside some well-known favourites (yes I did order the chicken cashew dumplings again). We rounded off our visit with a couple more cocktails (who ever thought wasabi would work in a beverage?), some coconut mochi and mango pudding.

The Forbidden Martini certainly lived up to the high expectations I have for Ping Pong – this is a restaurant that I often tell people to go to purely for the cocktails – and it was a great start to our meal. The beautifully presented lobster dumplings arrived first, with the rest of our dishes following shortly after. The dumplings were topped with a chunk of lobster, with the rest of the mixture hiding inside the sticky cases. The pink parcels of seafood were both delicate and delicious. Unfortunately the vegetable fun guo failed to excite us, as we both decided they were bland and under seasoned. However the black prawn dumplings were seasoned perfectly (a must for garlic lovers) and the soft-shell crab tasted as good, if not better, than he looked. Although the accompanying sauce tasted as though it had come straight from a bottle – I will leave it for you to decide whether that’s a good or bad thing. The dessert dishes were underwhelming in size (only just big enough for 1 person), but the mango pudding was full of flavour, and the coconut mochi tasted authentic.I realise I haven’t mentioned everything that we ordered but if I had then I’d be here all day, and you’d no doubt be bored before you’d even read half of the post. Nevertheless that doesn’t mean that the quality and taste wasn’t as superb as the dishes I did mention.

I love the whole experience that comes with eating dim sum, and Ping Pong have captured that surprisingly well for a chain restaurant. The service is impeccable and the waiters/waitresses (at the Stratford location) are incredibly friendly. Some dishes are hit or miss, but overall the quality is above average and the cocktails are a must. The only downside is the price – the bill for 2 people came to £70+ which is considerably more than I would usually spend on a casual meal out with a friend at a chain restaurant. That said, I would definitely visit again. There’s not much more you could ask for then sharing delicious food with friends/family. So if my photos and words haven’t convinced you enough (oh the insanity), take a peek at the Ping Pong menu or find a restaurant near you.

You can read more of my restaurant reviews on Zomato.

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.