Andrew Collinge Purity Shampoo & Conditioner

I'm getting quite bad at this whole not remembering the price of things or where I've got samples from, but I guess thats what you get when you leave things so long before blogging. I do know that I picked this up in my local Discount UK store a few weeks ago and it was an absolute bargain. I think for both the shampoo and conditioner it was well under £3. My Mum loves Andrew Collinge shampoo so really she bought it for herself, but I thought I may as well give it a try too. I tend to use a colour shampoo 90% of the time because obviously I dye my hair, and because I was previously bleach blonde I find that colour takes so long to take to my hair. The blonde always seems to cancel it out and make it fade incredibly quick, although I think I've just about got rid of it all. 

his colour therapy shampoo and conditioner is packed with Blue Lotus Root and vitamins which apparently help to lock in colour and keep it looking fresh. It's also really good that it offers UV protection too, which makes me think it would be a really good thing to take on holiday in the summer. Both the shampoo and conditioner made my hair feel amazingly clean and I could actually see that the colour looked a lot bolder. They both actually had a hint of apple to them too, which was really weird seeing as nothing about them both included anything to do with apples... but still my hair smelt so nice.

I've been using both of these for about a week now and overall I'm really impressed. The colour of my hair seems to have almost increased and it has definitely stayed a lot darker than usual. At the price I paid for them both I'll definitely be making this a regular thing.

Redken Smooth Lock Shampoo and Conditioner

Redken Smooth Lock Shampoo and Conditioner - (RRP £9.00-£12.00)

I received these little sample sachets in this month's edition of the She Said Beauty Box, which I did a post about here. Shampoo and conditioner samples always go down well in my books because I'm always looking for something new to try on my hair. I tend to usually go for a shampoo and conditioner that offer protection for coloured hair, as my hair colour still fades from previously being bleach-blonde. This Redken duo is formulated to provide thermal care for hair, so I was very interested in trying something new. 

The Smooth Lock shampoo is said to cleanse, replenish and smooth heat-damaged hair with almond oil and thermo-activated polymer, while helping hair to keep its shine for longer. I did expect a lot after doing a little research about the products, and a lot of bloggers had said they love Redken products. When I first applied the shampoo to my hair and rinsed, I felt so disappointed with the quality of my hair. It felt so gritty and I literally couldn't run my fingers through it, which really surprised me from a really high-quality brand. With any other duo this would have left me to completely scrap the conditioner and go at it with my normal Aussie saviour, but I decided to not judge and applied the conditioner.

The Smooth Lock conditioner is said to do the same as the shampoo, but help to detangle your hair. This filled me with a bit of confidence and I'm actually really glad I went ahead and tried the conditioner. I left it on for about two minutes instead of rinsing straight away and after my hair felt amazing. There wasn't one knot in my hair and it was so silky and smooth... I actually felt a bit bad for doubting the shampoo in the first place. After blow-drying the condition stayed and my hair has a shine that I've literally never had before.

All in all, even though I only had one wash from each sample, I was really impressed with the overall quality of both products. I know I was ready to scrap them altogether but it really does show that you shouldn't always judge something straight away. I'm not sure if I would actually buy the products, as I can't bare to part with my Aussie routine at the minute, but it was nice to try something new.

Have you tried Redken products before? What is your favourite?

My Three Favourite Hair Oils

Osmo Berber Oil Hair Treatment / Maghrabian Oil Treatment / Argania Hair Oil Treatment

I thought I'd do a little post showing a few of my favourite hair oils that I'd been using at the minute. I first discovered these about a year ago, but I would only use bargain ones that I found when they were on offer or anything, just because I didn't really believe they worked. A couple of months ago I saw that Argania Oil were wanting bloggers to review their oil treatment, so obviously I jumped at the chance and was sent three sachets to try. With in a week of using it I really began to see the benefits and the massive change it had on my hair was amazing. My hair became so shiny and smooth, even after I'd used the dreaded GHD's on it. I then received two bottles from other brands in various beauty box subscriptions and my hair oil love started from there.

To be honest, I've read the ingredients on all three of the treatments and they basically all contain the same things. The main thing these all have is Argan oil, which I didn't realise until recently that it can be used for a massive amount of things. It can be used as a moisturiser, hair treatment (obviously), then to also prevent stretch marks and the symptoms of Acne and other skin problems. When used as a hair treatment it helps restore moisture to dry hair, while also helping to repair it and help it to look healthy again. This is something that my hair always needs because it is so thin.

I've tried all three of these oils and I have to say they're all amazing... there's no other word for it. My hair has completely changed since using them, and I actually think the overall condition has improved. Amazingly, my hair also feels a lot healthier and thicker too, which is something I have always struggled with. I use the treatments by running a small bit of the oil through my hair when its damp, then blow dry it and style as normal. I have found that if you do use a bit too much it can make your hair feel really greasy, so that's definitely something to be careful with.

The prices do vary a bit as well as the sizes of the bottles, so it was quite hard for me to find prices that were easy to compare. I've posted links to all of the products below the picture, so you can all judge for yourselves, but I would definitely recommend this sort of hair treatment to everyone.

Have you tried this before? What is your favourite hair treatment?

Maghrabian Hair Oil

Maghrabian Hair Oil - Glossy Box Sample

This was one of the five samples I received in my September Glossy Box - you can see the full range in my previous post here. At the minute I'm a massive hair oil fan and I find myself reading so many reviews about all different brands and kinds of the stuff. I did a previous post on Argania Hair Oil and was so impressed with the results, so when I received this little bottle I was excited to try another brand.

Hair oils are massive at the minute and are a thing I've always used, but never really experimented with different makes. I loved VO5's hot oil treatments before but I could never get my hands on them, so I decided it was time to try something new. A huge proportion of the hair oils at the minute include something called Argan oil, which contains loads of Vitamin E which is essential for skin, hair and nail growth. It is a really good moisturiser and is supposed to make your hair super soft, as well as leaving it shiny and smooth.

I can honestly say that, yet again, this hair oil does all that it says on the tin (or bottle in our case.) You can either apply it to damp or dry hair after shampooing and then leave it a few minutes to absorb into the hair. You literally only need a few drops, so this product would definitely last agers if you used it correctly. A little goes a long way when using hair oils and I find that if you use too much, it can leave your hair really greasy. I applied it to my hair when it was damp, then blow-dried and styled in the usual way, and even after using my GHD's my hair was so soft.

The full sized 100ml bottle is around £25.00, which is a tad pricey in my opinion compared to some of the other hair oils at the minute. I've said this in previous posts but I'm seriously thinking about investing in a full-sized bottle of hair oil when my samples have run out, just because I love how my hair feels after using it. I do think it has changed the overall condition of my hair and my spilt ends seem to have nearly disappeared! There really are some amazing products around at the minute, so I'd advise anyone to invest in a bottle of this little beauty!

What is your favourite hair oil? Have you been converted by my posts?

Glossy Box - Maggie Li September Edition.

September Glossy Box - Maggie Li Edition - £10.00 (plus p+p)

You'll have all probably seen my annoying tweets about how long it took me to receive this month's Glossy Box, which has actually resulted in my cancelling my subscription. I won't bore you with why etc etc, but I was getting less impressed with the products I was getting sent and wanted to try something different. So this will actually be my last Glossy Box review for a while.

September's box was designed by London-based illustrator Maggie Li, and it looks super super cute. All the products in this month's box came from up and coming stars across the industry, and hopefully will become very popular from Glossy Box. I'd only ever heard of the Lady GaGa perfume to be honest, but was still looking forward to trying the different products.

While on the subject of Lady GaGa, her new perfume 'Fame Fragrance - Black Fluid' is absolutely amazing. When I first saw this advertised I couldn't help but think that it would just be another celebrity's perfume launched to us, that didn't really smell of anything new, but I have to say Black Fluid is nothing like this. It's really floral and sweet, and it isn't too musky or heavy too. It has hints of apricot and saffron, which actually work really well together. I'll be lucky if this little tester lasts me more than a week, as I've already popped it in my work bag.

The next set of samples that I received were the Rodial Glamoxy Snake Serum and 5 Minute Facial sachets. Another product that I'd never heard of, and initially thought was very strange. The Snake Serum is supposed to reduce the appearance of frown lines and wrinkles, which can apparently be seen instantly, and generally help the condition of your skin. I actually don't have any frown lines or wrinkles at the minute, funnily enough, but I'm sure I'll get round to trying this. The 5 Minute Facial is a clay mask that you apply to your face and leave for five minutes, as the name suggests. I'm quite into face masks at the minute, so this one will definitely get tried and tested soon.

Another eye cream... I seem to have a box full of these kinds of things at the minute. The Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream is designed to soothe tired eyes while smoothing dark circles and reducing the appearance of fine lines. Again, I'm always up for trying eye creams or anything that will reduce my dark circles, so this seems good to me. It is also made of 99% natural products, which again is something I'm always interested in trying.

The next sample was quite a big one in my opinion and will definitely be one that I'll use. I've been researching day and night creams for a while now, so it's quite handy to have been sent Vichy's Idealia Day Care Cream. It is said to smooth your skin's texture and improve complexion, which I think is a must-have when it's coming up to winter. My complexion seems to be in awful condition at the minute, so this little pot has already taken its place in my skin care routine.

The last product that I received in my Glossy Box was Maghrabian Hair Oil. At the minute I'm all about hair oils because my hair is super dry, so this is the perfect thing for me. It gives hair extra nutrition and helps to condition and help bring shine back to your hair.

To say this will be my last Glossy Box for a bit, I do quite like a few of the products and will definitely get my money's worth from using them. Expect a few reviews of some of the products in the next few weeks.

What did you think of the September Glossy Box? What was your favourite sample?

Argania Hair Oil Treatment.

I got sent two of these little sachet samples to try from Argania. I saw a tweet they had put out about bloggers reviewing their products, so I thought why not!? I'm a big fan of hair oils and treatments so this was the perfect thing for me. I'd never actually heard of Argania or tried their oils, so again this proved the perfect product for me to try.

The oil treatment is made with organic Moroccan argan oil, which is becoming extremely popular in hair products. This oil is said to be able to reduce dry and frizzy hair while giving it instant boy and also restores damaged hair to perfect condition. What's also interesting is that it apparently helps to protect and assist in extending the life of hair colour, which I can ALWAYS do with. The product felt quite greasy when I first put it into my hands, which worried me a little, but it also smelt really nice and wasn't too powerful.

You only need a tiny amount of the oil treatment, as too much can cause your hair to be overly greasy, then all you do is just rub it in your palms and run through either damp or dry hair. I applied some to damp hair and blow-dried it straight after and the effects were amazing. My hair was instantly shiny and soft, even after using my GHD's over it. Argania say that their 100ml bottle can last you for up to a year with the small amount that needs to be used, so I'm definitely going to invest after I've made the most of my little sachets.

Have you tried Argania Oil before? 

Batiste Dry Shampoo - XXL Volume

Batiste Big and Bouncy XXL Volume Dry Shampoo

Like every other girl in the world, dry shampoo is a must-have for me. It's the perfect hair pick me up if you're rushing out and don't have time to do your hair, or if you're having a lazy day and need something just to give your hair a bit of volume. What I love about Batiste is that there's a dry shampoo for just about everything... now I know they basically all do the sample thing and the only thing different is the smell, but I thought I'd try this XXL volume can. My hair is super fine so volume is something I desperately NEED, so I sometimes find myself using dry shampoo just to add that extra volume. When I saw this in the shop I thought wow, finally something that's going to be the perfect product for me.

I lightly dusted the dry shampoo over my hair, massaged it in then brushed it out, and I found the results were completely the same as any other dry shampoo. After a few minutes my hair literally puffed out and had loads of volume, but there was one problem: my fair felt absolutely awful! I couldn't even run my fingers through it, it was that stiff and fluffy. Bearing in mind this was a few minutes before I had to set off for work, I didn't even have time to wash it out and re-style my hair! What a nightmare! All through my shift my hair felt so lifeless and horrible, exactly the opposite of what I expected.

Overall I feel quite let down by my favourite go-to hair product. I'm definitely going to have to try this again a few times and hopefully rekindle my love, but maybe XXL isn't the right dry shampoo for me after all? I absolutely loved the look when the shampoo was first applied, but minutes later it totally changed. I think I'll definitely be sticking to the plain old Batiste after this nightmare.

Has anyone tried XXL Volume? What results did you find?

Hair Repair On A Budget

From the amount of different colours I've had on my hair, yet alone the four or five years of bleach and silver toner, it is safe to say that it isn't in the best condition. I usually wouldn't touch any other hair treatment than the VO5 Hot Oil treatments, but after stumbling across this for less than half the price I thought I'd give it a try. I tend to use the Deep Nourishing treatments from VO5, which are about £5 usually. This substitute was from Home Bargains, which I think is amazing for little beauty and hair buys if you don't want to spend a lot of money. Usually I'm all about spending on my hair as it definitely needs taking care of, but I thought it won't hurt just to give these a try.

You shampoo your hair as normal and first put an unopened Treatment 2 sachet into hot water, where it will heat up for about one or two minutes. Treatment 1 is a wheatgerm conditioner, which you apply first to damp hair and leave in for one minute. After you have washed that out, you then apply the Treatment 2 and massage it into your hair. This is the hot oil treatment and only needs to be washed off after a minute.

My honest opinion? I found them brilliant! Admittedly they aren't as good as the VO5 treatments, but that goes without saying. For £1 I would definitely buy these again if I needed a quick and cheap hot oil treatment. You get three treatments in a pack and I only tend to use them every couple of weeks when I can feel my hair drying up. They leave your hair so soft and shiny, and they aren't the best smelling products but I can cope with that for amazingly soft hair.

My Holiday Hair Essentials

Batiste Dry Shampoo/Toni&Guy Heat Defense Spray/got2b Powderful Volumizing Powder/Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner/V05 Give Me Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.

Seeing as I've recently returned from Egypt, I thought I would do a little post on the products I used on my hair while I was away. As many of you know, the sun, the sea and the horrible chlorine in the pools can give your hair a horrible battering... and if your hair is as thin as mine, it definitely needs some TLC. These five products were what I found myself using while I was battling the 46 degree heat in Egypt (as well as a few others too.)

001. I don't think there is anyone who does not own a bottle of Batiste dry shampoo. It's an absolute life saver for those days where you don't have time to wash your hair. Recently I've found that spraying a bit onto my hair after I have finished styling helps to add volume, as my hair is very thin. I found myself using this a lot while I was away, from quickly spraying it on in the morning to using it to make my hair thicker before going out at night. I have to say that I do prefer the Original style in the green and yellow tube, but initially they all do the same!

002. As I can't go a day without straightening my hair, my GHD straighteners came along for the ride. Its not that I straighten all of my hair daily... I just find my fringe and the long side of my hair is much more manageable is I straighten it, which I know does nothing for my poor thin hair. I've always been a fan of Toni&Guy products, and this mini is perfect to slip in your case. You just spray it on wet hair before blow drying, or onto dry hair before using straighteners, and it helps to protect your hair and those split ends. I have really noticed a change in the quality of my hair after using this in Egypt, so I am definitely going to continue.

003. This little tub is hands down one of my favourite hair products at the minute - I LOVE it! You only need a tiny sprinkle of the white powder on your hands, which you rub together, and then run through your hair. It really works well for me and gives my hair loads of volume, which is always good when the heat makes your hair flat like it does mine. I'm trying to savor the tiny tub, so I only use it sparingly.

004. Aussie have always been in my bathroom cabinet in some form, and the products are definitely the best I have ever smelt. My Nan introduced me to the products about four years ago now, and ever since she's always bought me some bottled for special occasions. When I saw this mini in Superdrug I had to buy it, as well as it being so many mini's for so and so amount. It seriously smells so nice, and every time I squirted some onto my hand I found myself smelling first! It says to leave it on your hair for three minutes before washing off, but I found two minutes was more than enough. The treatment leaves your hair amazingly soft and smells lovely, and I even found that this carried on the next morning.

005. V05 Shampoos are always my first choice, as I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the ranges. I chose the Give Me Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner to purely tackle the dryness from the sun and the heat from my straighteners. They are really decent quality and they don't break your bank balance.

Today's Buys

Shirt (£14), Underwear (£2) and Anklet (£4) - All Matalan.
Hair Removal Mitts (97p) - Wilko
BB Cream, Aussie Miracle Conditioner, Toni&Guy Hairspray and Acetone - Superdrug

So I had another little trip into town today, which is all I ever seem to do now I've left university. (Apart from work, obviously..) I didn't really want anything in particular, but whenever I go with my Mum she's such a bad influence and makes me buy things! Honest!



Most of these mini things are for my up and coming holiday to Egypt in June. The BB Cream was an impulse buy, just to try out and see if it actually works. If you read my posts, you will know I have a love-hate relationship with BB Creams until the other month when I tried a lovely one. Hopefully this one is good too.



I've had my eye on this shirt for a few weeks now. I work at Matalan, so obviously when new stocks comes in I always have a little peek, and I could not make my mind up on this shirt. I tried it on today, and fell in love! The print is so lovely, and runs down each side, while the rest is black, so it isn't too over the top. Its also sleeveless, so I can wear it in the summer too. Very happy I finally bought it (was probably due to my mother.)

This is an anklet, again from Matalan, and I always wear them on holiday so I thought I've got to keep up the trend.

Morning,

My hair is now red, like it should be, so I'm super happy today! Going from blonde to red is such a change, all my clothes look different... all my lipsticks look different... 

an excuse to go shopping? definitely!