Peonies and lilies

What's new from Sleek make up

2012-02-24T16:18:00.007Z

Here's a sneak preview of what Sleek make up will be bringing out next month:

First up is their new Face form compact. Essentially, these are the Face contour kits, but with the addition of a complimentary shade of blusher. There'll be 4 compacts to choose from and they retail at £8.99 each.

In March, Sleek will also be bringing out a new Base duo kit. Packaged in a matte black case, the kit contains a cream foundation, setting powder and 2 mirrors. There'll be a choice of 18 shades and they retail for £12.49.

The next 2 products should already be on the stands, but as they're both new launches, I thought I'd share them with you anyway:

Like the above 2 products, the Blush by 3 palette aims to streamline our make up collection, combining several products into one compact. Pink sprint has 3 matte shades, but the other 4 all contain at least one shimmery blush.

Finally there's a new Lash out mascara. The narrow wand is designed to reach those short inner corner lashes and combined with the dark black formula, gives a volumised look to the eyelashes.

Are you a fan of Sleek make up? What are you most looking forward to trying?

February's Glossybox

2012-02-22T11:14:00.002Z

After 2 months of themed boxes, Glossyboxes are now back to their usual pale colour. I've come to prefer the bolder colours, but product wise, I'm really pleased with what they've included in this month's box.

Impress press on manciure
Como Shambhala invigorate shower gel
DuWop venom gloss in Buttercup
BM beauty pure mineral eyeshadow in Dusty Road
Awapuhi by Paul Mitchell wild ginger treatment oil

I'm not usually a fan of false nails, but the colour is gorgeous and I like the fact that they're stick on not glued ones. The shower gel and hair oil are both beautifully scented, and as they're such everyday essentials, I know I'll get a lot of use out of them. Ironically, the only product I don't like is the lipgloss. I'd prefer a darker colour, but 4 out of 5 products is still very good and I'm sure a friend would appreciate the lipgloss.

Have you received your February box yet? What do you think about this month's products?

PR sample

Gielly Green blowdry

2012-02-21T09:04:00.001Z

A few weeks ago, I was treated to a complimentary blow dry at Gielly Green, a boutique salon located in the heart of London's Maryleborne.

After a quick introduction and consultation with junior stylist Simone, I was ready to have my hair washed in preparation for the blowdry. The salon was busy, but I was impressed that the staff took the time to ask about my conditioning preferences and gave me a mini head massage.

As I have long straight hair, I asked for loose bouncy waves. My hair was divided into at least 15 sections and Simone spent a good few minutes blowdrying each section to ensure they all had a good curl. It would have been nice to be offered a heat protection spray, but I liked the fact that he didn't go overboard with styling products.

About 45 minutes later, I was left with lots of lovely curls. The above photo was taken after 3 hours of walking in the wind. As my hair insists on being straight, most of the curls disappeared after a day, but the volume and bounce remained until my next wash.

My visit was on a busy Saturday afternoon, but there were plenty of staff around, all of whom were polite and helpful. Simone really took his time to ensure I had a good blow dry and I was well looked after with drinks and magazines. Overall, I thought it was a lovely salon and I loved how voluminous my hair was for that weekend.

Have you ever been to Gielly Green? Do you prefer to wear your hair curly or straight?

Australia highlights part 3- Sydney

2012-02-19T21:43:00.009Z

Just before my return to the UK, I was able to spent 10 days in Sydney, taking in all the world famous sites and exploring the neighouring areas. Here are some of my highlights:

Catching my first glimpse of Sydney opera house and harbour bridge

(it felt so surreal seeing it in person)

Visiting the Chinese garden of friendship, right in the heart of the city

Enjoying dim sum, the authentic way, with push around trolleys of food

Staying right next to the platforms of Central station
and sleeping in converted train carriages

Getting a 47th floor, 360 view at rotating restaruant The Summit

Visiting Palm Beach, aka the set of Home and away!

Spending the day climbing and exploring the Blue Mountains

Relaxing on Bondi beach and catching the last of the cliffside exhibition

As you can see, some of the best days of my trip were spent in Sydney. Sadly that's the last of my Australian photos, but I really do hope to return one day, even if it is just for Whitehaven beach!

Click here to see part 1 and part 2 of my trip.

I'm hoping to go travelling again this summer, so hopefully there'll be plenty more photos to come. Do let me know what your favourite holiday destination are.

Have you ever been to Sydney? Are you a fan of Home and away?

Bourjois pop up boutique

2012-02-17T13:00:00.002Z

London fashion week starts today, and to coincide, Bourjois will be opening it's first ever pop up boutique.

Located at the Beach Blanket Babylon (Shoreditch) the boutique will offer up to 65% off make up, as well as make overs, manicures, hairstyling and tv footage of the latest fashion shows.

Refreshments will be available and the first 50 customers each day will also be treated to a free goody bag.

(a big thank you to Zoe for the above photo)

I was able to pop by last night, and thought the boutique was really well designed and spacious. There were plenty of testers on display so you can swatch to your heart's content and it was lovely to see blogger quotes dotted around the boutique.

The pop up boutique will be open until the 20th February. For more information and opening times, click here.

Will you be paying a visit to the pop up boutique? What's your favourite Bourjois product?

NOTD - MUA love u 24/7

2012-02-14T09:05:00.000Z

It's been a while since I've done a NOTD, but this pretty lilac purple shade from the MUA love hearts range has made me fall in love with in nail varnish again.

The above photo shows 2 coats. I found the brush easy to use, and the nail varnish was relatively quick drying. It tends to leave brush strokes on the second coat, but most of the time it dries to a smooth glossy finish.

Colour wise, it reminds me of the gorgeous Illamasqua Jo'mina, but at a much more purse friendly price of £2. Definitely one to check out next time you go shopping!

Are you a fan of MUA cosmetics? Will you be buying anything from their Love Hearts range?

Disclosure- PR sample

Valentine's day gift guide - Part 2

2012-02-12T11:00:00.005Z

Following on from yesterday's post, here are some of my top make up treats:

Possibly one of the most sought after products this year, and definitely one that will win you lots of brownie points! Urban Decay naked 2 palette includes 12 eyeshadows, a dual ended brush and a mini lipgloss. The eyeshadows come in a range of finishes, and like the original palette, are all neutral and wearable in colour. I also like the fact that they've changed to the packaging to a sleek metal case instead of the original cardboard box.

For make up that's beautifully packaged, take a look at the new No 7 spring collection. There's a small range of good quality products to choose from, and the floral white packaging looks very modern and high end. I'd highly recommend the Vital enlightening highlighter and the Vital brights cream blush in blossoming pink.

If she's a fan of lip products, then what about aptly named Bare Minerals pretty amazing lipcolour in Charisma. The coral pink shade is non-drying, has a lovely glossy finish and is as pigmented as a lipstick.

Finally, for something a bit more romantically themed, take a look at the new MUA love hearts lip balms. There are 5 shades to choose from, all of which are lightly tinted, glossy and have a subtle vanilla scent. Texture wise, they're similar to Mac lip conditioners and Sleek pout polishes, but at a bargainous price of £2 each.

Have you tried any of these products? What will you be buying this Valentine's day?

Valentine's day gift guide - Part 1

2012-02-11T11:45:00.008Z

Everyday should be a special day, but whether you're single or in a relationship, Valentine's day is the perfect excuse for some new treats, especially as it's been so cold and miserable recently!

Here are some of my top picks:

Molton Brown toiletries make for lovely presents, and their Paradisiac pink pepperpod range is perfect for Valentine's day. With notes of ginger, patchouli and pink pepper, it's spicy, uplifting and very sensual. I love the pretty packaging of the bathing milk and the products are available both individually or as part of a gift set.

For someone who travels a lot, or needs to relax, what about this Babor antistress relaxation to go kit. It comes with a mini shower milk, 2 cleansers, an anti-jet lag cream, as well as white travel bag.

For a spa like treatment at home, take a look at the luxurious Elemis frangipani monoi body oil. Like all Elemis products, it's free from parabens, SLS, mineral oils, artificial colours and silicones. The solid to liquid oil smells amazing, and can be used used as a bath oil, rubbed in as a moisturiser or as a nourishing treatment for cuticles and hair. It also doubles up nicely as a massage oil.

This year, me and my boyfriend have agreed no chocolates for each other, but for something chocolate themed, take a look at the new Chocomania range from The body shop. There's a wide range of products to choose from and the scent is surprisingly non sickly. It's a creamy almost nutty chocolate scent and I highly recommend getting the body butter.

Finally, you can't go wrong with perfume (as long as you choose the right one!). My top choices would be Benefit ring my Bella (fruity floral), Boss orange (lightly spiced creamy floral), Especially Escada (playful floral) and Liz Earle botanical essence No1 (fresh and uplifting) .

Look out for part 2 (make up) which will be up tomorrow morning.

What are your plans for Valentine's day? What are you hoping to receive/treat yourself to?

Especially Escada perfume review

2012-02-10T09:02:00.006Z

Escada are best known for their limited edition summer fragrances, but this year, there's a new permanent addition, and I think it is absolutely gorgeous!

Based around a rose, Especially Escada is light, playful, feminine and luxurious. The perfume opens with top notes of pear and ambrette seeds, before revealing the heart and base notes of rose, ylang ylang and musk.

At first, it's a lovely fresh floral scent which feels very glamorous yet at the same time playful and light-hearted. Over time, the musk becomes more apparent and it develops into a richer, more sophisicated fragrance.

For me, the bottle can be just as important as the fragrance, and I absolutely love the chunky glass cube with it's gold topped plastic lid. It's chic and eyecatching, but like the perfume, still has that element of girlyness and fun.

Definitely one to try out next time you go shopping!

Available from Escentual.com

Are you a fan of Escada fragrances? What do you think about their new one?

Disclosure- PR sample

Overnight stay at Lifehouse country spa resort

2012-02-08T09:10:00.013Z

Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference, and during my overnight stay at Lifehouse, the spa paid great attention to detail to ensure the experience was one of maximum comfort and relaxation.

Lifehouse is located about 80 minutes from London, and on arrival at Thorpe le soken station, there is a complimentary taxi service to the spa.

Having been delayed thanks to a last minute meeting, I was greeted on arrival, shown to my room then taken down to the cafe bar to join the rest of the group for a delicious afternoon tea.

We were booked in for a massage at 6:30, leaving us plenty of time to explore the spa and enjoy it's facilities. Facilities included a heated swimming pool, gymnasium, hot tub, salt steam room, 12 acres of garden, a mini library and a relaxation room with the most amazing massage chairs!

(click to enlarge)

Much of my time was spent in the steam room, hot tub and massage chairs. I thought the thermal spa area had a great ambiance at night, but would have benefited from window blinds during the day to help shield from the bright sunlight.

To help with relaxation, there are almost no clocks inside the building, and mobile phone reception is limited to the restaurant and guest bedrooms. You can however request a buzzer so you don't miss any of your treatments.

I was treated to a back massage, and I can honestly say it was the best one I've ever had. The Babor body oil smelt amazing, my therapist Fatima took on board the fact that I like my massages to be firm, spent most of the time working on my lower back and took the time to really smooth out any knots of tension.

Dinner was a delicious 3 course affair, with a a variety of dishes on offer. I opted for the partridge to start, followed by duck breast with mash and madeira jus before finishing with chocolate fondue and peanut butter ice cream for dessert.

After a blissful night's sleep and an early morning swim, I made my way down to breakfast which was just as indulgent as dinner. Breakfast included a cold buffet of fruit, cereal, pastries and juice, followed your choice of a hot dish. I would highly recommend the eggs Benedict royale.

Check out time is at 11 but you are welcome to use the spa facilities for the day. I took full advantage of this, by spending yet more time relaxing massage chairs and having an informal chat with naturopath Sue Davis. There are even lockers available, although these do get taken up quickly so get in there early!

The distance from London means that it's not ideal for a quick treatment but perfect for an overnight stay or a weekend break. The spa is modern and luxurious, staff were friendly and helpful and the food was absolutely delicious. My time there was very relaxing and I left feeling thoroughly pampered and refreshed. The spa had a lovely chilled out vibe, and I would highly recommend both for a girly break or for a romantic weekend away.

If you are thinking of treating yourself, then check out their offers page, where prices start from £59 for a day trip or £99 for an overnight stay.

Have you ever been to Lifehouse spa? What's your favourite spa treatment?

Jainnisa body polish and hand cream review

2012-02-06T17:30:00.007Z

Inspired by Thailand's rich heritage of exotic fowers and marine ingredients, Jainnisa's range of bath and body products all contain a pampering blend of plant extracts and oils. The range is split into 2 scents, and I was sent one of each to try out.

The gently exfoliating body polish contains extracts of bamboo, blue lotus, jasmine, tuberose and ylang ylang. Of the 2, this has a fresher scent, and is lovely to use in the morning. The bamboo granules are extremely fine, but at the same time effective enough to leave my skin feeling smoother. I find it works best when applied to dry skin and is gentle enough to be used everyday.

The all day revitalising hand cream contains extracts of white champaca, cocoa butter, shea butter, orange flower and lotus. This has more of an invigorating scent and is the perfect pick me up during the day. The hand cream is non greasy, absorbs quickly and leaves my hand feeling soft and moisturised.

At £19.50 and £14.95 respectively, the range is definitely aimed at the more luxury end of the market. I do feel it's somewhat let down by the packaging, which lacks that high end feel, but the products inside are spa worthy. Both products smell amazing, feel very luxurious, and the hand cream especially is a joy to use.

Have you tried anything from this range? Are you a fan of exotic scents and products?

Australia highlights part 2

2012-02-05T21:45:00.005Z

After our boat trip around the Whitsunday islands, we flew to Brisbane, where we caught up with old friends and took in the sights of one of Australia's sunniest cities. We then spend a day exploring Fraser island, before travelling down to the Gold Coast and Byron Bay. Here are some of my highlights from my time there:

Brisbane

Going for a lovely cruise along the river

Marvelling at how beautiful the city looks at night

The yummiest steak sandwich with green pesto and chargrilled vegetables

Watching a film at the open air cinema

Fraser Island

Admiring the famous Maheno shipwreck

Going for a swim in the beautifully clear freshwater of Lake McKenzie

Gold Coast

Relaxing on the beach at Gold coast

Byron Bay

Going for a cliff top walk and discovering we were at Australia's most easterly point

Click here to see part 1 of my Australia highlights

Have you been to any of these places? Where's your favourite holiday destination?

Giveaway closed

2012-02-03T14:20:00.006Z

I've been meaning to do a giveaway for quite some time now, but what with being out of London for uni placements, and the Christmas holidays, it's taken me a while to get myself organised. Still, better late than never and I hope you'll like the prizes I've chosen.

Nail rock designer nail wraps
BeautyUK eye shadow collection in No2
No7 liplicious ultra shiny lip gloss in Candyfloss
No7 skin illuminator in Peach
GOSH velvet touch foundation primer
GOSH irresisible intensity mascara
Sleek make up NAILED polish in Turquoise
Sleek make up NAILED polish in Lilac
Sleek make up NAILED polish in Pastel pink
Andrea Fulerton French bright white & creme polishes

For your chance to win:
- Be a follower of Peonies and lilies
- Leave me a comment below telling me what you are most looking forward to in 2012.
- For extra entries, simply tweet about the giveaway and/or like 'Peonies and lilies' on Facebook.

The giveaway will be open internationally,
and will end at 12am on 18th February 2012.

Good luck!

Two handbag essentials

2012-02-02T09:30:00.001Z

Corn silk translucent pressed face powder (semi matt)
As someone with an oily T-zone, powder is an absolute must have. This particular one helps to take away any shine, and sets my make up, all without looking too powdery or emphasising my pores.

My T-zone still gets oily during the day, but not as much as usual and it can be reapplied without looking cakey. Formula wise I can't fault this product but I'm not the greatest fan of the packaging. The compact is slim, lightweight and portable, but the black and gold does make it look rather old fashioned.

No7 Vital brights cream blush in Blossoming pink
Blusher really helps to brighten up my face and make me look more awake, but it usually fades by mid afternoon. Now I don't always reapply, but I do like to keep this in my handbag so I can top up if I'm going out straight after uni.

It's a gorgeous coral pink colour and texture wise, feels almost like a mousse. This means I can apply it with my fingers and it blends easily to give a nice pop of colour to the cheeks. The blusher can even be applied over some lipbalm and it doubles up nicely as lipgloss.

Have you tried either of these 2 products? What are your handbag must haves?

Champagne afternoon tea at Tophams Hotel

2012-02-01T18:20:00.008Z

I've been wanting to go for afternoon tea for quite some time now, but was always put off by the price. So when I saw a Groupon deal for a bargainous £26 I snapped it up straight away!

(How cute is the Cath Kidston cake stand!)

For those of you that don't know, Groupon is a group buying site, where they bulk buy everything from jewellery to beauty treatments to meals out. These deals are then sold on a daily basis and usually have a saving of around 60%.

Our deal was for champagne afternoon tea for 2, at the 4* Tophams hotel in Belgravia. Booking was easy enough via the website and despite leaving it till the last minute, we were able to get the time slot we wanted. However, a few days before I received a voicemail asking me to ring the hotel, only for them to put me straight on hold before hanging up!! I later rang up again to double check and of course no-one got back to me!

Upon arrival at the hotel, we were promptly seated and each presented with a glass of champagne. Soon after we were offered a choice of teas and the food platter brought out. There was a choice of 3 sandwich fillings, as well as a plate of sweet treats and the obligatory scones with jam and cream.

Everything was delicious and we quickly got through the smoked salmon, ham and cheese, and cucumber sandwiches. It would have been nice to be given a second plate of sandwiches, but we were told that it wasn't included as part of the deal. Dessert wise, the macaroons and custard tart were lovely, and I really enjoyed the scones.

The afternoon tea parlour felt very luxurious with it's white and mahogany decor, staff were attentive and it had a nice bustling atmosphere. Had I paid the full price of £64, I would have been disappointed by the communication issues and lack of sandwiches, but with a Groupon deal, it was definitely value for money. We both really enjoyed ourselves, and should the deal come up again, I would definitely repurchase.

Have you ever been for afternoon tea? What's been your favourite Groupon deal so far?

Disclosure- part paid for using a Groupon gift voucher

Project bathroom update January 2012

2012-01-31T21:30:00.003Z

It's now my 4th year of doing Project bathroom, and I'm pleased to say 2012 has started off really well. Since my last update, I've finished a grand total of 14 full sized items. My beauty collection still seems to be ever growing, but I do love that sense of satisfaction every time I finish a product. Fingers crossed next month will be just as successful!

Batiste tropical dry shampoo
The Body Shop hemp hand protector
Liz Earle energising body lotion
All for Eve hand cream
Liz Earle skin repair moisturiser
Aussie aussome volume conditioner
Liz Earle botanical shine shampoo
Lush the olive branch shower gel
Lush happy hippy hair and body gel
Madara sunflower tinting fluid
Urban Decay razor sharp high definition powder
Nivea rich nourishing body lotion
No 7 lash adapt mascara
Avon supershock max mascara

How are you getting on with Project bathroom? Do you also have an ever growing collection of beauty products?

Glossybox - The Valentine's edition

2012-01-31T14:40:00.006Z

Following on from the success of December's red box, January's Glossbox also has it's own limited edition packaging. The hot pink colour fits in perfectly with the theme of Valentine's day and I love that even the stuffing inside is pink!

Eyeko skinny eyeliner in Emerald green

Murad hybrids skin perfecting primer- dewy finish
Weleda one step cleanser & toner
Fab gentle body wash
Orly nail lacquer in Ruby

There's a good variety of products in this month's box. Of the 5, I'm most excited about trying the Fab gentle body wash. It would have been nice to get a Clarins sample, but I love the red Orly polish and the 2 in 1 cleanser and toner will come in handy for travelling.

Make up wise, I tend to go for quite neutral colours, so won't get much use out of the eyeliner, but I do like the sound of the primer, especially as promises to give a radiant glow and is oil free.

Are you subscriber to Glossybox? What do you think about this month's box?

Disclosure- PR sample

Baglioni Spa Algae detox wrap

2012-01-29T12:45:00.008Z

Located near Hyde Park, Baglioni hotel looks quiet and unassuming, but hidden towards the back is a luxury SPC spa, which feels like a serene and tranquil haven the minute you step inside.

As it was January, I was offered the Algae detox wrap. Given the name, I was expecting to be wrapped in cling film, then left to detox, but as it's an SPC treatment, it turned out to be so much more.

The 85minute treatment started off with some deep breathing, followed by a soothing foot massage and all over body brushing to get rid of any dead skin cells. After this the wrap was applied. It turns out the wrap was a clay and peppermint based mask without any cling film involved.

Prior to application, the mask was heated up, so it felt nice and relaxing. As it cooled down, the peppermint oil really started to take effect, leaving my skin feeling tingly and stimulated. The wrap was left on for quite some time, and during this I was given a lovely scalp massage. It was then time to jump into the shower to rinse off the mask.

The final stages of the treatment involved a full body moisturisation, a detoxing abdominal massage and another foot massage. My therapist gave me a mini massage as she rubbed in the citrus body moisturiser, finishing off with a circular abdominal massage which is designed to stimulate the digestive system to get rid off any toxins.

After the treatment, I felt deep cleansed, as well as thoroughly relaxed and pampered. I really appreciated the fact that I wasn't rushed out. Instead, I was taken to a quiet room where there was plenty of drinks to choose from, as well as a foot spa with body scrub and moisturiser on offer.

Overall, I was really impressed with the spa. Despite being on a busy road in Central London, it couldn't have felt more relaxing or luxurious and I would happily return for another treatment next time I'm in need of some pampering.

If you'd also like to try the Algae detox wrap, then
simply quote FDetox12 for 40% off the treatment price.

Have you ever been to an SPC spa? What's your favourite spa treatment?

Disclosure- Complimentary treatment

An introduction to New CID Cosmetics and SS12

2012-01-26T09:05:00.002Z

Last week I was invited down to the New CID cosmetics studio to meet brand owner Kelly Colman, find out more about the brand and have a play with their new SS12 products.

We were first introduced to the lip products. They already have a range of light up i-pout lipsticks and i-gloss lipglosses, but for SS12 they are expanding the range of lipsticks as well as bringing out a new i-shine lipgloss.

Now I love my lipglosses, so couldn't resist trying one out. I went for Coral candy, a beautiful pinky orange shade which really suited my skintone, felt very moisturising and was relatively longlasting.

Lip gloss aside, another product that caught my eye was their new light up nail varnish. There will be a choice of 24 shades, each named after a different desserts.

Finally we were shown their range of face products. As I didn't have any foundation on, I was chosen to demonstrate the new i-perfection colour adjust foundation. I'm not much of a foundation wearer, so wouldn't use this everyday, but it did feel weightless on my skin and gave a medium coverage. I was however impressed with their i-prime and i-powder, which kept my skin shine free all evening.

Have you tried anything from New CID cosmetics? Did any of the new products catch your eye?

Benefit they're real! mascara review

2012-01-24T09:05:00.003Z

First thing to say is that I love the packaging of this mascara. The metallic silver tube looks fun yet expensive, and stands out from all the other mascaras in my collection.

The rubber brush has some flexibility and consists of short uniform bristles along the length of the brush as well as the tip.

Pigment wise, this is one of the darkest mascaras I've come across. Usually I need 2 coats for depth of colour but with this one coat was enough. The downside is that it is prone to smudging mid afternoon and it takes a little longer to remove.

As you can see from the photo, it does lengthen my lashes a little, but it does a better job of separating and volumising my lashes. It is also very good at holding a curl and helps to lift my outer lashes.

At £18.50, it is one of the more expensive mascaras in my collection, but also one of the best. I just hope they'll bring out a waterproof version soon!

Have you tried this mascara? What's your favourite Benefit product?

Disclosure- PR sample

Australia highlights - part 1

2012-01-22T19:28:00.002Z

Towards the end of last year, I spent 2 months in Australia, travelling down the East coast, exploring the country and taking in all the beautiful sights.

I had hoped to post a travel diary, but without a laptop it was impossible and I've only just got round to sorting through my 2725 photos!

Melbourne
I've already posted some of my favourite shots, but here are some more photos and highlights of my time there:

Making new friends and taking roadtrips.

Visiting a koala sanctuary

Seeing penguins at Philip island (photo of a poster as cameras were prohibited)

The food- there were so many great restaurants and cafes in Melbourne.

From Melbourne, we travelled up to Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie beach:

Snorkelling in the Great barrier reef

Sailing around the turquoise waters of the Whitsunday islands

Spending the day on Whitehaven beach- aka paradise!

Have you ever been to Australia? Where's your favourite holiday destination?

Ojon full detox dry cleansing spray review

2012-01-20T09:08:00.004Z

Dry shampoo is an absolute must have for me, and the latest one in my bathroom is this Full detox dry cleansing spray from luxury haircare brand Ojon.

Like other dry shampoos, you simply spray over the roots, then rub into your hair and brush as usual. This particular one came out as a fine mist, and I found it best to apply a little bit several times rather then apply lots all in one go.

It contains extracts of Soap bark tree and Ojon oil, which made it smell like herbal medicine. The scent almost disappears afterwards, but it is very strong during application.

The product helped to soak up any grease and freshen my hair in between washes. Compared to other brands, this has finer particles and didn't leave my hair feeling as chalky.

On the whole, not a bad dry shampoo, as long as you don't mind the strong herbal medicine smell during application.

Do you also rely on dry shampoo to freshen up between washes? Have you tried any Ojon haircare?

Disclosure- PR sample

Look beauty review and swatches

2012-01-18T09:30:00.003Z

Created by the girls from Look magazine, this 100+ collection is exclusive to Superdrug and includes everything from foundation to nail varnish, as well as a few make up kits:

'Standout eyes' single eyeshadow in Lame, Cashmere and Cami
Unfortunately Cashmere smashed in transit but the eyeshadows themselves are smooth, pigmented and apply with minimal fallout. I do wish they came in the same packaging as the blusher though. The plastic case is sturdy and functional, but difficult to open and not as sleek as the silver compact.

'Make me blush' blusher in Rosy
This is gorgeous. It's a shimmery pink shade which as the name suggests, gives a nice rosy glow to the cheeks. Of all the products, this has the best packaging. The silver compact is sleek, sturdy and comes with a mirror inside.

'Lip slick' lipgloss in Peaches
This looks scarily opaque, but the colour is actually very wearable. It's sheer but buildable so can be applied lightly for a 'my lips but better look' or layered for a stronger colour. It's very moisturising and gives a glossy sheen to the lips. One of my favourite products from the range.

'Nail pop' polish in Dusky and Prom
I was also sent 2 nail pops to try out. Prom is a bright pink shade and Dusky a shimmery lilac. Both polishes were easy to apply and dried to a glossy finish. The above photo shows one coat of prom and two coats of dusky.

On the whole, I was impressed with this range. The products are nicely pigmented, come in a wide range of colours and are reasonably priced for the high street. The stand out products for me are the lipgloss and blusher, but I would happily recommend all 4 products.

Have you tried anything from this range? What's your favourite make up item?

Stila make up amnesty- free lipgloss!

2012-01-17T09:05:00.002Z

On Thursday 19th January, Stila will be opening a new counter in Harvey Nichols London and to celebrate they are giving away a free lipgloss worth £15!

The lipgloss will be in the shade Kitten, and all you have to do is bring in an old lipgloss to trade in from 10am onwards.

Also Manchester girls, keep an eye on your Harvey Nichols. Stila will be opening a counter there at the start of February and there will also be a make up amnesty day.

Have you tried anything from Stila? Will you be taking advantage of this great offer?

*Peonies and lilies*