La Roche-Posay Effaclar K review

Yes my packages are dirty, cos i use em!

Tag line- it works kind of.

Well well well. Effaclar K, you served me well but it's going to be a no.  La Roche Posay has a great reputation and in the UK its products now easily availaible in Boots are fast becoming "cult" classics. I used the sunscreen a couple of years ago and then hopped on the Effaclar range bandwagon.

What i liked:

It got rid of three clumps I had on my cheek that weren't spots, i don't know what they were but they were tiny and only effeclar moved them.  I also felt that my cheeks were kept relatively clear

However my head would not respond and the breakouts there just continued unimpeded. I also want sure how to use it. It has a tiny amount of retinal in it, so I choose to use it at night only. It says it's a good base for makeup but it's not clear what it is exactly. I also wasn't impressed with the ingredients. For the price it's a whole lot of filler, and though i don't greatly mind filler, i'm not paying £20 for it.

I think if you have very mild spots and pimples and by mild i mean mild it'll work for you. But its not a strong treatment lotion.

Alba Botanica Leave-in conditioner

Now the only hair moisturiser I use. Creamy, moisturising and thick. Yet affordable. Over here in the UK most natural leave-ins imported from the states will cost in the double figures. If you have a lot of hair or are a frequent washer it just won't make any financial sense.

Thats why i love this product.

For years I have been searching for a moisturiser I can get easily at a good price and that performs well and thats what i've found. Anyone with natural afro hair/very curly hair, who likes a thick emollient cream with fantastic ingredients, this is it. The only downside according to my sister is that it "smells like bum". I have no problem with the odour and my hair definitely doesn't smell like bum, the natural smell disapates in seconds lol, so don't worry about it. If you prefer heavily fragranced products this probablky isn't for you, but i love it. I've repurchased it three times and will continue to do so. I LOVE THIS STUFF!

It costs £6.29 at bath and unwind 

 Bath and unwind

Serums, Serums and more serums

It is now winter, so dry skin is a given for many people. For the past couple of months I have been experimenting with serums.  Although serums have been around for a while, us skincare muggles have probably only heard about them recently.  To be honest I was sceptical about them, aren't they just ANOTHER product being touted as a "necessity" for women.  I still don't know if they are a necessity and some sort of brilliant product but I have seen some small yet noticeable differences. 

Serums are a skincare product that has a higher amount of certain ingredients whether that be anti-age, acne and so on. The molecules are smaller so can penetrate the skin better. Apparently.

I have dry skin, so I usually buy skincare products that are targeted to the mature age group. I don't care who its targeted to as long as it works. I actually picked up my first serum because as an acne sufferer it contained Niacinamide, a great ingredient for spot prone skin as well as, just a great overall skin care ingredient!   

Tesco  Skin Wisdom age delay treatment serum  is £7 for 30ml, I however purchased it during a half price sale.

It comes in a pump format and looks quite pink and shimmery when you first disperse it onto your skin. However this shimmer does not appear on your skin when you rub it in and it goes on smoothly and has a pleasant fragrance. My routine was wash>rosewater glycerine>serum>moisturiser.  I used this   for around three months and would have repurchased it, but my local Tesco doesn't really stock the same thing twice. 

In terms of results, I definitely feel that  my skin held moisture in, and also my hypo pigmentation has been reduced ( light spots).

The only reason I didn't reuse it, is because it was no longer available on store ( I was not about to order it online.online. I don't need Tesco knowing even more about me) and because I am now following a more "intensive" I guess skin care regimen ( which I will be writing about with pics soon!)

After not being able to find the Skin wisdom serum, I instead bought L'oreal age perfect extraordinary serum. I bought it because it was £5 on offer down from I think the usual is about £11-13.

I liked the fact it came in a dropper format and came in a  darkened glass bottle. I didn't like the smell which was sour and if you accidently put too much it becomes greasy. It also irritated my  skin if i accidently put too much on and I didn't see any visible difference to my skin.  It's not bad, but it's not great.  I will not be repurchasing and will give this to my sister.

Tesco skin wisdom ingredients: 

Ingredients: Aqua,Cyclopentasiloxane ,Niacinamide ,Glycerin ,Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate ,Polyacrylamide ,Dimethicone ,Phenoxyethanol ,C13-14 Isoparaffin ,Calcium PCA ,Polysorbate 20 ,Oleyl Alcohol ,Mica ,Pentylene Glycol ,Imidazolidinyl Urea ,Dimethicone Crosspolymer ,Disodium EDTA , Lactobacillus/Cucurbita Pepo Fruit Ferment Extract ,Parfum ,Laureth-7 , Dimethiconol ,Sodium Hyaluronate ,Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract ,Glycine Soja Sterols ,Tocopheryl Acetate ,Sodium Hydroxide ,Rhodiola Rosea Extract ,EDTA , Butylphenyl Methylpropional ,Limonene ,Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde ,CI 77891 ,CI 77491

L'oreal extraordinary serum ingredients:

Shea Butter Cottage Mungala and Pasuca Soap Review

I bought the soaps below  for my neices who have eczema and very dry skin and for my sister. (Well not for her but she uses them anyway)


Mungala Black Soap

Pasuca Black Soap


I haven't used them but i will paraphrase her answers to me.

They're big bars of soap (Bang for your buck!)
All natural ( Yeah babay!)
Unlike commercial soap you don't get that weird film you get in the bathtub ( yeah, what is that? Soap Mucus)
Unlike commercial soaps they do not dry out your skin (Fantastic!)

She loves em! If you're looking for natural soaps, that don't irritate and dry out your skin check them out, amongst the treasure troves of goodies at


http://akuawood.x-shops.com/

( A dummy like me didn't take any pics before giving them to my sister, and i don't want to be sued!)

The curious case of L'oreal and Liya Kebede's missing Lipstick.

Are "we" worth it?

I'm sure you've seen the ad here in the uk, but let me just give you a refresher.

The L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée

The L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Collection Privée

L'oreal TV AD- Click me baby

This is the ad currently airing in the UK. There are different versions on youtube as i understand different lipsticks are being released in different territories. There has been fanfare that L'oreal have designed a nude  lipstick for all skintones.  Their L'Oreal Color Riche Collection Privée range. I was excited to read about this colour range online and i thought the next time I'm at the L'oreal counter I'll swatch Liya's shade and buy! ( Barely Moka nb7 by the way) But something strange happened. In shop after shop i could not find Liya's shade, i at first blamed it at these concession stands being small ( every other shade Cheryl Cole, Eva Longoria, Doutzen Kroes, Freida Pinto and Julianne Moore was there) but i finally saw Liya's shade in a Superdrug. Alas the tester compartment and section was empty. Totally empty. Hmm maybe it's all sold out i thought. I asked the sales assistant. She actually went into the back and began looking for the shade. It wasn't there, ( she had wheeled the box the lipsticks in to me) and she confessed she HAD NEVER seen the lipstick there at all. Ever.

I called Boots customer service. The lady there couldn't even see the lipstick on the system. Then she asked one of the online staff. It was online only. OH. So no if i wanted to get the lipstick i would have to buy blind. No boots store will be stocking it, in stores.  I emailed L'oreal asking if it were available anywhere in store. As of today still no reply. ( I wrote to them on the 12/9/13)

So Why would L'oreal go to the trouble of creating a lipstick, advertising it and then making it unavailable in stores? What would be the point?

More troubling is that they decided that every other skintone could be stocked in store but not Liya's.  I visited 7 stores and did not find Liya's shade. If it is available in stores ( most probably Superdrug or independent Chemists, as boots aren't) then it must be one or two in London. Even in a heavily "ethnic minority" area, it wasn't stocked. Lets not even get on to the fact that Fan Bing Bing's lipstick isn't stocked over here when there is a sizable East Asian community in the UK

It just baffles my mind. Why advertise the fact that the shade is available but make it online only? Making the inevitable sales figures  low. Most people are not willing to A- Buy blind or B- traipse all over London in pursuit of one lipstick they may or not buy. Then when the next time L'Oreal think about stocking darker shades or ranges, their data says it doesn't sell. Its a vicious circle.

L'sigh. People wonder why i like to purchase from brands that actually cater to me ........

Paradise Cosmetics UK- All day liner for 99p!

Glides on smoothly. Is really black. Lasts all day and all night. Cost me 99p from PAKs.
It is  para, para paradise ooohhh ooohhh.
I'm joking.
Their site

http://www.paradisecosmetics.co.uk/about_products.php#eyepencil

Olay ultra moisture in shower body Lotion Review

OMG it works!

As anyone in the UK now recently Nivea launched their in shower body lotion. I was quite excited by this but also concerned. Would these products  it work on those of us who suffer from ashiness?

Could it really moisturise our skin?
The answer for me at least is a resounding yes!

Now the Nivea in shower lotion is at nearly £6 a ridiculous price IMO
Then i saw OLAY!

I saw it at PAKS initially for £2.50. I debated. I then saw it at savers for £1.79 and yes out came my purse. I've used it for over a week and my skin is pleasantly moisturised.

Those areas more prone to dryness on my skin- my lower legs, arms and nooks and crannies are ash free! Of course not the feet( this isn't a miracle worker) but it knocks 10 minutes off of my daily routine. ( I can eat breakfast before i have to run to the bus stop.Yay!)

I have already repurchased twice and in this heat its great! I also went and bought the accompanying body wash.

I guess its just adapting a technique  that eczema and those with very dry skin have done for decades, cream baths.

Love it!

I don't have the ingredients to hand, but it does have a cone and petrolatum.

A study in Pink- Color Mania hair shadow

I have wanted to dye my hair for ages. The last time i dyed my hair, all of my hair fell out. Thanks Creme of nature!!! So i haven't taken the plunge because of this. Whilst mulling over going blonde for the past 4 years i spied some colourful hair shadow in an Afro hair shop and got to colouring!

Now i have heard of this chalking trend and what not and using eyeshadow but i hadn't really looked in to it. I guess this is the same procedure.

the instructions are rub into hair and seal with straighteners or hairspray. I'm not going to use straighteners on my fro but i had hairspray.

The hair shadow gets Everywhere and rubs on clothing and anything else leaving it pink. I advise anyone to use gloves with these because your hands end up looking like Dr Zoidburg from futurama.

With all those cons it came out pretty well ( i rubbed it on the ends of my plaits and then all over my fro) and the colour actually fades to a soft purple after an hour or too. I will use again( if i find them) if i straighten my hair

http://www.colour-mania.com/

Fyrinnae Swatches on Black/Dark Skin

L-R: Gilded Wings, Mermaid Masquerade, Hypercool, Pumpkinfire, Sake and sashimi

L-R: Hypercool, Pumpkinfire, Sake and sashimi

L-R :Gilded wings, Mermaid masquerade and Hypercool

My favourite colours are gilded wings and sake and shashimi. I'm not a giant blue fan but Hypercool is lovely. All were swatched dry

 You can find info on buying Fyrinnae ( especially for uk based people) at the end of a previous posting on Fyrinnae
http://bananaplusbamboo.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/wonderful-affordable-primer-and-powder.html

The website
/http://www.fyrinnae.com/

They are priced at around £4 ( check currency conversion rates) and last for absolute ages. They are pigments but they do offer pressed options for some shadows. I will do a whole eye look very soon.

Ta-ra

Argania Spinosa Supreme Cream Conditioner Review

Have i found my go to conditioner? Considering i am a semi product junkie, maybe.
I was browsing in a savers recently and found this

Argania Spinosa Supreme Cream Conditioner

I read the ingredients and thought, why not? The use of the word "supreme cream" made me think, this looks thick and would be suitable for my natural hair. I like thick conditioners, the thicker, the better.
I washed as normally and used it as instructed. Wow, my hair felt so soft, smooth and moisturised. Ive used it each wash since then, and its replaced my curls conditioner i was using. I have natural Afro hair and i got my friend who has a short relaxed cut to buy the shampoo, conditioner and oil. ( I will get her judgement once she returns from her holiday). If you are on a no silicone routine this is great as it contains none. I would recommend this a thousand times for anyone that has kinky, curly natural hair. Its a wonderful conditioner and yes, i went back to savers ( which is where i found it) and bought 4.



I actually used it this morning. I'm just like this

I googled when i got home and it appears that a salon in Romsey, Hampshire have developed this product. My afro and i salute you

I bought mine at savers, but you can buy it online and through their website.
  http://www.arganiaspinosa.co.uk/

Wonderful, Affordable primer and powder for oily skin. REJOICE!

*Croons to Miguels adorn while holding a lighter, you gotta knowww, you gotta know that i adore you babyyyyy*

*insert high pitched yelp*

I don't know where to start with the greatness of these products. I just don't.
Fyrinnae Velvet Gel silica primer and finsihing powder oil control, are two of the GREATEST OF ALL TIME.

For some bizarre reason in the past few years after years of dry skin i know have oily skin. Skin so oily you could fry fish on  it. Skin that requires me to use blotting papers throught the day. Skin so slick i could get you out of jail. Thats how oily my skin is. Want to know how Jermiane Jackson gets his hair like that? Its my skin's oils.

Anyway after trying a few primers i was aghast. My skin would be oily an hour after applying makeup. So i decided to take a chance on Fyrinnae. Now i absolutely love their eyeshadows and their products are top notch. I generally love indie companies and their prices are fantastic, and quality on a par with( and many times better!) any department store brand. 'nuff said.

Now is my skin suddenly oil less. No way, its not a miracle cure. But it greatly decreases both my oily time and need to blot time.

The powder is great stuff. I was never a powder fan, but with this i realise what powder is made for. It gives a wonderful finish and just makes your skin look better. It likes some sort of vanity lighting. ( Once its on i peer into my mirror like Norma Desmond. Alright Mr DeMille, I'm ready for my close- up. Crazy eyes and all)

Its been at the bottom of my bag. Sorry about the dirt

I'm black and it doesn't leave a white cast( if it is you're using too much) and even if i overdo it with the powder it settles into my skin within minutes.

The Powder contains Zinc Oxide which is a great ingredient for sun protection. ( Click on individual pictures for full ingredients)

Seriously if you have oily skin, no matter your skintone, try this. Its affordable, its effective- why not?

PS: CUSTOM CHARGES:- Make sure to purchase under £15 or product or they'll slap you with a £11.40 customs charge. You have been warned.

Turkish Delight! Pielor Hammam el Hana Argan therapy Shampoo, Damask Rose

I was browsing in TK maxx and decided to pick up this shampoo. As a sulphate lover sulphate shampoos are fine with me as long as they are moisturising. This smells absolutely gorgeous with its rose scent and left my afro hair moisturised and clean without being drying at all. Unfortunately i haven't seen it anywhere but ebay, but if you see it knocking around try it! There are some really great Turkish cosmetics out there that are hard to find in the UK and i think they just need that extra distributor and marketing boost because some of them are true gems!  Apparently a new massive Turkish supermarket has opened in my area so i will probably go down and have a nosy and see if they have a toiletry section.

What it says:
Helps to prevent hair loss with its enriched Keratin ingredient. When used regularly, adds brightness by nourishing weakened follicles.

Ingredients: Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Lauryl Glucoside, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, PEG/PPG-120/10 Trimethylolpropane, Trioleate, Laureth-2, Tetrasodium EDTA, Argania Spinosa Kernal oil, Hydrolyzed corn protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat protein, Hydrolyzed soy  protein, Citric Acid.




Link

http://www.beautyff.com/separator.htm

The whole Hammam line looks so dreamy. *Somebody catch me*