Review / Redken Nature's Rescue Refining Sea Polish

Today's review is about the Redken Nature's Rescue Refining Sea Polish*.

I was surprised - maybe like you - when I first saw this product: it's basically a scrub for your locks and I have never heard of anything like this before. Surprised and apprehensive, I must admit - but I  HAD to give it a try!

It contains pumice that removes impurities and smooths hair surface; it's suitable for coloured hair and also big plus because it's silicone and paraben free.

It can be used both on the scalp and the length of the hair; you massage it in from roots to ends after shampooing and you're not supposed to use a conditioner afterwards (which makes sense, since you're deep cleansing and you don't just want to add a thick layer of product).

If you don't feel comfortable about leaving the conditioner out, I suggest to use a 2-in-1 shampoo or a leave-in detlanger.

I got to say that I didn't miss the conditions step, tho: my hair were left super-soft and bouncy, once blow-dried. 

I was a bit worried on the rinsing part, but the product was surprisingly easy to remove and I didn't spend any extra time in the shower than when I do my regular shampoo/conditioner routine.

It is a gentle exfoliant, non-damaging and it has a discreet, fresh scent; it does't foam up but it's easy to spread and work into the hair.

All round a fantastic discovery! I just wish I'd come in a bigger size too because it will now firmly be part of my hair regime as a weekly detox treatment. You can pick up a tube on Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

Review / TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo

Recently I’ve been relying on dry shampoos a lot.

I normally tend to wash my hair 2/3 times per week but they seem to get dirty quicker lately; I know some people need (well, want) to wash their hair every morning, but I personally don’t like it – it just does more damage than good.

Anyway, I blame the change in my hair behaviour to the fact that I’ve been wearing hats basically everyday, to shelter from the freezing weather and - consequently - I’ve been abusing products to keep the frizz at bay and to inject a bit of boost to flat and dull roots.

I’ve currently been using the TIGI Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo* to freshen up my locks between washes.

This dry shampoo is part of the Bed Head Rockaholic line and comes in a matte black bottle with a green cap; I think it looks pretty cool and you get a generous 300ml of product.

It has a pleasant fresh scent so your hair don’t only look clean but also smell nice! 

It leaves the hair feeling soft and bouncy and it goes on virtually clear (although doesn't claim to be); it doesn’t leave an ashy powdery cast and it's easy to brush off. It's also ideal to add a bit of texture to your hair - when they look flat and lacklustre - or grit when doing hairdos but don't want to weight them down.

I guess the only downside is that it’s not really travel-friendly but definitely a worthy ally for your beauty cabinet.

Do you use dry shampoos? Have you tried this product before?
You can get TIGI Bed Head Rochaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo from HairTrade.com, the UK's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. 

Review / milk_shake Active Milk Mask

Since I ombred my hair, I started to pay extra attention to my haircare routine. Luckly, i don't think the dye has damaged them but prevention is better than cure, right?
Milk_shake Active Milk Mask* is a restructuring mask for dry or damaged hair but I reckon is suitable for most hair types in need of a bit of TLC. Their products are inspired by the simple use of the power of nature, where ingredients (like dairy proteins) are used as food for the hair.
It contains milk proteins, rice & avocado oils and vitamin E that hydrate and nourish and at the same time reinforce the follicles. The consistency is like a thick gel but not heavy, spread easily and quick to wash off.

I love that it's fast acting! For how much I love to treat myself with a full-on pampering session, I simply don't have the time to do so weekly; you simply apply the mask on damp hair, after shampooing, leave it on for 3/5 mins and finally rinse.

 It also has a lovely, sweet scent that reminds me of white chocolate buttons that leaves the hair softly scented and soft to the touch. :)

I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that Milk_Shake is an italian brand and I'm looking forward to try other products too. You can find their range on Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

Review / Goldwell Style Sign Curl Twist Around

Since going ombre' last week, I started curling my hair regularly - I think a loose curl or beach wave really enhance the look.

My problem is that my hair is beyond straight and don't hold any styling for more than a couple of hours.

Also, most of the styling products that I've seen on the market needs to be applied on wet hair which is a totally no-no for my hair type.

Then, I recently came across the Goldwell Style Sign Curl Twist Around* which can be used on dry hair too.

It is one of these two-phase products that you need to shake and mix before use; it delivers a super fine mist to moist the hair just to the perfect degree and I like to brush my hair afterwards to help distribute it uniformly.
It has a hold no.3 and it has been working wonders for my fine straight hair: the curls last for 2 days and I usually 'refresh' them on the 3rd morning. This is the perfect routine for me, since I typically wash my hair every three days, and I don't find that it makes my hair any greasier.
It also provides colour protection and heat protection up to 200 degrees, which is definitely a must for me!

You can buy this spray for a bargain £6.25 on Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer for hair care, hair extensions and beauty products. Have you tried any Goldwell product before?

Introducing / Tangle Teezer Hair Brush

Everyone in the blogosphere have been buzzing about the Tangle Teezer* in recent years. I'm usually pretty sceptic about hyped products, but when a close friend raved about it, I had to give it a twirl for myself.

It's an hairbrush, ok? BUT is it a glorified hairbrush - I think this is the question. 

Well, no! It deserves all the praises indeed!!!

Let me start with a personal confession: I hardly brush my hair. First of all, I like the messy look and my hair are so fine that look flat, freshly brushed. Also, I'm kinda of terrorized of loosing my hair so I mess with them as little as possible and I find it extremely upsetting to see them left there, into the brush head. 

I might sound a bit melodramatic for someone but it's kinda of a big deal for me.

The Tangle Teezer has totally revolutionased my hair routine!

It's the proverbial hot knife through butter, it glides through the hair without pulling or yanking and barely any hair strand is left in the bristles.

It can be used on wet or dry hair and - because it minimizes breakage too - it's ideal if you have extensions and on wigs.

I love my purple glitter Original one but it comes in many different colours and versions like the Magic Flowerpot, Compact and Aqua Splash. You can get yours on Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

For me, it's a totally different experience and I now brush my hair every night before bed!

It leaves my hair silky and smooth and apparently, brushing your hair is good for scalp circulation, too... so Keep brushing girls! ;)

Have you tried the Tangle Teezer yet?

Review / Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask

Oils have become increasingly popular in recent years; especially used as an hair treatment, they are finally getting the (deserved) recognition of nourishing the cuticles and restoring damaged hair.

Moroccan Oil is one of the brands that stands out when talking about 'good quality' products!

Yes, because many products claim big but the percentage and quality of the ingredients are very poor.

For hundreds of years, women in Morocco have used Argan oil on their hair and nails to help protect from the hot weather; the argan tree is found only in the south west of Morocco and this oil is sourced from the nuts inside its fruits.

Hairtrade.com - one of UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products - sent me the Moroccan Oil Restorative Hair Mask* to try out.

I'm a big fan of hair masks - I think they are a pampering indulgence and I treat myself to one, every week.

The consistency of this mask is very light, like a whipped cream and spread easily on the hair. It smells amazing too and the scent lasts until the next shampoo.

You know what I like? The CLEAR instructions!!! I've often been left confused by other items (do you use it before shampooing? after? wet or dry hair? instead of conditioner?)... something that really annoys me.

 In this case, you apply the mask after shampooing and leave it on for 5-10 minutes; then rinse and finish with a conditioner.

This formula penetrates deep into the hair and helps restore shine and reverse damage done by chemicals and heat. It also helps the recovery from stress caused by environmental elements like sun and wind.

Moroccan Oil has a whole range of hair care products including shampoos, conditioners, oil treatments, sprays and brushes.

Have you use Moroccan Oil before?

This week I'm in love with...

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush in Cherub*

In case you never came across this product before, the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blush is a multi award winning liquid cheek stain with an amazing staying power and blendability. 

I have tried similar products in the past but I found that they'd dry too fast, leaving a patchy finish; the Watercolour Blushes instead, contain Vitamin E and Jojoba to nourish the skin and improve application.

You really just need the tiniest drop (probably a quarter of the swatch below) and being waterproof, it will last all day.

If you never tried this type of product before, it may look intimidating but it's very easy to apply and goes on sheer at first so you can build it up without mistakes. I like to use my fingers but a stippling brush will work well, too.

Also, it's water based so it won't leave your cheeks looking greasy like some creamy blushers.

Cherub is a perfect cool tone, powdery pink that works in every season! I'm wearing it now - in Spring/Summer - when I don't want to wear layers of make up but still want to look put together; It gives the perfect flush to the apple of my cheeks and also add some glow to the cheekbones.

Can't wait to try it in winter as a finishing touch to pale skin and bold purple lips.

The squeezy bottle is really practical for dosing the right amount and not waste any product and will last you a lifetime! I've actually also got the limited edition - Pop for a while and not even made a dent. 

Really! If you need to invest in a blush - this is the one! You can get yours from Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products for £14.49 - Maaaany shades to choose from :)

Review / Daniel Sandler Retexturizing Face Primer

I'm a firm believer in the 'devil is in the details' phrase and relating to beauty how those steps that sometimes you feel you can skip, actually make the look come together.

Take primers - for instance: they get hidden under layers of other products, they are often pretty ordinary looking in the make up world, no exciting swatches to display... but, oh boy, they have a purpose!

With age and wisdom (or dullness, you can be the judge of that), I now find myself excited to try new face primers because I've come to see and feel the difference.

Recently, I've been trying out Daniel Sandler Retexturizing Face Primer* which was sent to me by Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

The product comes in a compact, black tube with a small nozzle to easily dispense the right amount of product.
I love the scent - it's very delicate with a touch of saltiness that reminds me of days spent in the sun, on the beach when I was a kid; must be one of the sunscreen ingredients. In fact, it has a broad spectrum spf20, UVA/UVB protection against sun damage: personally, I think it's brilliant - definitely , one of the selling points of this base and that set it apart from the others on the market.
It feels silky and velvety on the skin like a silicone base product but I've been using it exclusively for a couple of weeks and I haven't experienced any clogged pore or blemish. I wouldn't say it's matte - but actually let the glow comes through - and doesn't make you greasy after few hours.

It also delivers in ironing out imperfections and blurring pores and can be applied to eyelids and lips too - interested to try it out on my lips next since I have few lines there.

So far, as a face primer, it really smooths out the complexion, bringing the best out of your foundation and it's  the best ally for Spring/Summer make up!

Review / Essensity Styling Juice

Essensity is a professional line from Schwarzkopf - normally only available in hair salons, you can now buy it on Hairtrade.com, one of Uk's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

I have previously used the Essensity Volumising Pudding and I was so impressed that I had to try more from the range.

Another reason why I keep going back to this line is because I decided to go greener when it comes to haircare and all Essensity products are free from artificial fragrances, silicones, peg's, paraffin, mineral oils and parabens.

Essensity Styling Juice* contains freshly freeze-dired organic essence of red vine bud and organic blackcurrent bud.

Whilst I use the Volumising Pudding when I style my hair with a curling wand because provides a stronger hold, I can use the Styling Juice on a normal basis.

You just apply on wet hair, the pump distributes the product uniformly which is invisible and allows natural movement.

The Styling Juice gives a light hold, ideal for an everyday blow-dry to keep flyaway hair at bay.

It also provides heat protection and it doesn't feel sticky at the touch - leaves hair very soft and conditioned.

All in all an all-round hair styling tool, effortlessly to use and leaves hair looking healthy and great value for money: you can get the 200ml for £8.64 on Hairtrade.com now.

Review / Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation & Concealer

I was sent this product to review by Hairtrade.com, the Uk's leading online retailer of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

I've been wanting to try out the Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance Foundation & Concealer* since I heard Pixiwoo raving about it about a year ago, so I had high expectations for it.

First off the packaging - I really like this elegant wee bottle! 

Although it contains a foundation and a concealer, it's still compact enough for travelling.

At first, I thought the bottle was glass but it's made of plastic instead, a bonus for my-accident-prone-self.

On the top, you have a lid with the concealer & a decent mirror and then a screw top below, with the foundation. The foundation also comes with a spatula to scoop the product out: both practical and hygienic.

I wasn't sure about the colour to pick, at first - after a quick browse online, I decided to go with Porcelain, the lighter shade, because Beige looked a bit too yellow for me.

Luckly enough, Porcelain turned out to be a good match - I will need to darken it a bit in the summer but I can wear it without any correction now and avoided an unflattering undertone for my skin.

First of all I must say that every time I try a new foundation, I compare it to my all time favourite: Nars Sheer  Glow Foundation. It's fair to say that this is the foundation I chose for my wedding so the benchmark is pretty high! I have tried some good - actually really good - foundation in 2012 but nothing could quite compare to the Nars one.

Until now! Daniel Sandler Invisible Radiance is a foundation with a capital F!

The formulation melts into the skin; I like to apply it with my fingertips and the heat helps to blend it into a second - better - skin.

It delivers everything I want in a foundation - that radiant and dewy look - with an invisible beautifying finish. It's still nicely buidable, yet undetectable.

The concealer sets nicely and effortless to apply, thanks to the creamy texture; unfortunately my dark circles are just too severe so I have been using it as a corrector around my eye area.

Instantly pleased with the results... what do you think??!

Review / Essensity Volumising Pudding by Schwarzkopf

I first saw the Essensity line by Schwarzkopf whilst browsing on Hairtrade.com

Hairtrade.com is one of Uk's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products.

The packaging - straight away - looks sleek and clean and reading through, I found out the line revolves around raw ingredients like freshly  freeze-dried  organic essence of red vine bud, tapioca roots and organic ash tree bark and hops.

The whole line has a special natural formula - free from artificial fragrances, silicones, paraffin, mineral oils and parabens and it's mostly biodegradable; the packaging is also 100% recyclable.

So, I was very excited by these promises and surprised that I had never heard of this range before.

I was pleased to received Essensity Volumising Pudding* to try out.

As mentioned before, the main ingredient is red vine buds which are rich in nutritive substances like amino acids, enzymes, oligo-elements and sugars.

I've been applying this product on wet hair, when using my hairdryer to add some extra volume to my roots.

I must admit, I'm not the most skilled with hairdos and I don't spend much time styling my hair (and you can tell), so I wanted a product easy to use but that would add a little extra dimension to my plain, old blow-dry.

This product is fantastic - It adds that extra wa-wa-woom effortlessly and I can't stop swooshing my hair around and playing with them because they feel so soft.

The formulation is really nice too: it's not sticky and a little goes a long away. 

It provides a strong hold so it comes in handy when using tools like curling tongs, as well.

Definitely well impressed with this line and highly recommend it, if you want to try a more natural approach to haircare. Essensity includes shampoos and conditioners for different type of hair, hydrating paste, styling juice and I want to try more myself!

Have you used this product before?