Review: Miaflora Moroccan Argan Oil

I had to do a review on this, because it is currently my favourite product for hair, although it can be used on skin too.
It’s a bit of a miracle cure for those with dry or frizzy hair – like me!
So what is Argan Oil?
It’s a cosmetic (in this case) oil made from the Argan tree, that is traditionally produced in Morocco.
It’s made from natural products and can be used to nourish and protect hair, skin and nails. 
It can be used on all skin-types and can be used to smooth hair out and give it extra nutrients and shine.

What the oil looks like in your hands.

How do you use it?
– You can apply it to nail cuticles
– You can add a few drops to your bath
– Or use it for rough/dry patches of skin, or as a body moisturiser.
– You can use it as a daily facial moisturiser, and it can be applied before make-up.
– Finally, my favourite use – you can apply it to dry/split ends (or all over to add shine) to add some life to dull hair.
What do I think of it?
I love it! I started using it on my hair, because no matter what I do or what products I use, it’s always dry.
It’s nothing to do with dying etc. (though that doesn’t help), my hair has just always been this way since I was little. It’s also very frizzy and it can be difficult to handle when it’s not straightened/styled (thanks to my dad who passed on his tight, coarse, curly hair), so I found Argan Oil to be a lifesaver. It calms my hair down, gives it some moisture and even de-frizzes it. This is my miracle hair product!

As for using it on skin, well I haven’t tried it yet.
Some people have said it works wonders, whilst others have said it has made their skin worse.
I easily come out in blemishes so I probably won’t use it on my face, but I have started using it on dry patches of skin. 

You can purchase Miaflora Argan Oil here.
Disclaimer: This item was sent to me by the lovely people at Pegasus PR, in my big pink box (see here). However I am not required to review these products and have chosen to do so myself. All views represented in this post are my own.

Review: Astalift for Debenhams VIP Beauty Panel

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the Debenhams VIP Beauty Panel.
As you can imagine I was very excited to take part, as Debenhams (a British department store) have to be one of the leading beauty suppliers on the high street. This also meant that I would be sent some new luxury products to test and review for their Website and Facebook page.

The brand I applied to review, and was eventually chosen for, was Astalift.
Astalift is a Japanese luxury beauty product brand that has been around in Japan for a while, but is new to the UK – and exclusive to Debenhams! Their products are mostly anti-ageing, so you might be wondering why I applied. Well, they always say you should start young and as I had heard great things about the brand I decided to give it a go.

Below is my review for the Debenhams Beauty Club VIP Panel.
I have added a few photos for you and an update though, so you can find out a bit more about the products.

Astalift Jelly Aquarysta

5 out of 5 stars ★★★★★
I loved the Astalift Jelly Aquarysta, even from the first application I could feel my skin becoming firmer. As I am in my early twenties I didn’t notice much difference in relation to my skin looking younger, but it was certainly more radiant and luminous. The feel of the product on my skin was nice and I noticed that I didn’t need to use lots for it to take effect.
It soaked in pretty quickly too.
After using the Jelly for 8 days, I noticed a significant difference in my skin. It looked a lot brighter and healthier. I have also noticed that the red blemishes I had on my face have lightened slightly, something which I have been battling with for a while. I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family.
Astalift Replenishing Day Cream

4 out of 5 stars ★★★★☆
I liked the Replenishing Day Cream but I didn’t find it as amazing as the jelly. It is a very rich cream and I found that it was a bit too much for my skin. However I believe that it would work better if I used a little less and avoided ‘trouble areas’ on my face. I did find that it moisturised my skin well though. It didn’t soak in as quickly as the jelly, but more so than other facial moisturisers I have used. I also noticed more elasticity in my skin from using the product – my skin feels much more supple after using the jelly and cream together. I would certainly recommend this to be used alongside the jelly, as they both work well together.
Overall
The packaging and colour of the products is lovely, and pertains to the luxury feeling of the brand and product. The fragrance is subtle but very pleasing, definitely something I didn’t mind having on my skin. After using both products together, I am a lot more confident in my own skin, it looks more radiant and smooth, even after only using the products for just over a week, and thanks to this I have taken to not wearing concealer or foundation.

I have been using the products for 2 weeks now, and I don’t want them to run out!
My skin has really shown an amazing difference, and my skin tone has evened itself out a bit too.
I would still suggest that you don’t apply the cream to any troublesome spots if you have a problem with rich creams,
but apart from that I don’t have any complaints.

You can find Astalift products here.
Or purchase the ones I used, here and here.

Glossybox Natural Box April 2012

Glossybox Natural April 2012 Box

This month’s Glossybox was slightly different to previous ones. It came in a brown (they’re usually pink) biodegradable box, filled with ethical products. I was very excited when I opened it up as it looked & felt natural, and you know I love natural beauty products!

I received:
+ Caudalie Vionsource SOS Thirst-Quenching Serum
+ Inika Cosmetics Certified Organic Eyeliner – Black Caviar
+ Ayuuri Natural Body Wash – Sandalwood
+ Figs & Rouge Lip Balm – Rambling Rose
+ Kai Perfume Oil – Signature scent

If the natural theme wasn’t enough to win me over, Glossybox sent us some amazing items this month. A full sized Ayuuri body wash, Figs & Rouge rose lip balm (always a favourite of mine) and Kai perfume oil!
I plan to sell the Caudalie Vionsource & Inika eyeliner as I already use alternative products, and wouldn’t get any use out of them. So instead of wasting them, I shall be putting them up in the shop (the link is at the top of my blog). Even though I won’t be using a couple of the products, I think it’s safe to say that this month’s box was certainly worth the money!

You can subscribe to Glossybox here.
For those in the States, Glossybox is coming to you soon too – click here.

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:


The Big Pink Box!

A few days ago I received a rather cryptic email, telling me to look out for a big pink box in the post.
This had me very intrigued, and when the fiancé came back today with a big parcel in hand, I hastily unwrapped it!
 What was inside?
Now recently I’ve become a bit of a health-nut; I watch what I eat, I take vitamins everyday and I try to use only natural hair/skin products. I’m working toward a healthier me for 2012!! So you can imagine my joy when I found these items inside. Even better was the fact that I’ve been considering buying half of these products myself!
Coconut Oil, Argan Oil and Manuka Honey products are making big waves in the beauty-sphere right now.
I’ve been contemplating using Argan and Coconut Oil a lot recently, but never really went for it.
Obviously I have no excuse not to now! Look out for reviews soon!
The package also came with a Holland and Barrett rewards card, which is such a coincidence as I signed up for one last week – I’m addicted to rewards cards! As I couldn’t use this one, I signed the fiancé up in my place! Sharing the love.

Check out my images of the products below
They may not look like the most exciting products, but I’m really looking forward to testing these!
If you love health/beauty supplements and natural products you’ll understand my joy.
Disclaimer: These items were sent to me by the lovely people at Pegasus PRHowever, I have not been paid for this post nor is this an advert for Holland & Barrett. I was genuinely happy with all these products and I choose to feature them as they are items I would happily have purchased myself.

Presents from Taiwan

(Face Masks; Sasa, Green Tea Powder, Happie Nuts Magazine & Rienda Pouch)

Recently my mum went over to Hong Kong to visit my sister, who is currently living there with her boyfriend.
Whilst she was there they decided to take a trip to Taiwan, as they’d been before and really love the country.
In-between visiting friends, and eating some amazing food, my mum picked me up a few gifts.
She’s calling these ‘belated birthday presents’, but I already received some money and chocolate from my parents, so I wasn’t expecting anything else. 
What did I get?
+ Japanese Cherry Blossom Sheet Face Masks
+ Apricot Sheet Face Masks
+ Green Tea Powder Sachets
+ Happie Nuts Magazine
The face masks are from a store named Sasa. They have quite a few stores in Asia, but they also sell their products online, here. They ship internationally, and are one of the best places online to find Asian beauty products.
Happie Nuts for my readers who don’t know, is a Japanese fashion magazine. It’s mainly aimed at women in their 20s and predominantly features ‘gyaru’ or ‘gal’ fashion, which some of you may know I was a fan of. I still enjoy reading Happie Nuts though, as I find the fashion and beauty articles are more on trend with Western styles. 
For my new readers, I do speak and read Japanese (competently, not fluently).

Finally, the green tea power sachets (Matcha) are just because I love Matcha so much, which you’ve probably heard me mention a thousand times before. I’m like a broken record!

Review; Harrods Glossybox

Glossybox The Harrods Edition

You probably remember my post about the Harrods edition of Glossybox this month.
Well I received my box yesterday, and to be honest I was a little worried as lots of people had been complaining.
Why? Well they felt that they didn’t receive a box worthy enough to be ‘The Harrods Edition’ and in some cases I do understand and sympathise with those people as it did seem like they may have gotten the short end of the straw.
Me?! Well I am actually very happy with my box. I received the 3 items I had really been hoping for!

I received: 
+ Narciso Rodriguez – For Her Eau de Parfum
+ Molton Brown – Heavenly Ginger-Lily Moisture Bath & Shower
+ Yves Saint Laurent – Forever Youth Liberator Serum
+ Burberry Beauty – Miniature Lip Cover #4 Rosewood
+ Clarins – Extra-Firming Body Cream

I had really been hoping for the YSL, Burberry and Clarins items.
I wanted the YSL for my mum actually, as it’s aimed at older women so I don’t need it right now.
I will however be doing reviews of the Burberry lipstick and Clarins cream.
As for the rest, well I already have the exact Molton Brown shower gel at home, but this will be good for travelling and I do adore perfume samples as they get placed in my handbag for when I’m out and about, or travelling.

All in all I think I was very lucky with my box.
Next month will be my first ‘regular’ Glossybox so I’m looking forward to it!
For those in the States, Glossybox is coming to you soon too – click here.