Review Archives - Page 15 of 16

Katie Beauty

The perfect winter treat by [comfort zone]

I’ve only ever had a mini sampler facial before and it brought me out in a rash. Because of this I can say I have never once since had the urge to re-visit that and try another facial. It’s just not worth it for me and my sensitive skin. I’d gladly let someone rub my face in a soothing manner, as long as they don’t load me up with product.

I say I’ve never been tempted to try another one that is until I have just learnt about the new treatment from [comfort zone].

On these bleak, wintery days, what would be perfect than a rich, opulent lovely massage and facial! Just think of a beautifully dim room, plush bed to lie on, toasty warm, candles flickering behind you and not a care in the world as you are worked on.

I am doing a little bit of treatment drool right now. I work absolutely every hour god sends in both my full time day job as well as running my own company full time and on top of that blogging and being a wife all in one go!

I will be tracking this down AND putting it at the top of my Christmas list. Mmm Myrrh, incense, scalp massage.. oh my, there I go drooling again!

The Arabian Back Scalp and Face Ritual by [comfort zone] is the ultimate winter warmer!

Starting with a warm oil massage, this Arabian inspired ritual ignites your spirit whilst creating energy and calm for a tired body and mind. It uses [ comfort zone ] oil – a blend of intense and sensual ingredients native to Arabia comprising myrrh, amber, sandalwood, incense and coriander… evoking the experience of being in exotic lands.

The foot massage includes symbolic moves from the Tuareg (nomads from the Sahara) which helps with pain removal, whilst the scalp massage is mildly hypnotic to remove you from everyday stresses.

It is a complete top to toe experience which has real benefits to body and mind but unlike many rituals, this one also includes a full facial to leave you glowing and radiant. www.comfortzoneskincare.com

Google tells me, and my local readers, that [comfort zone] is a featured brand at the following hotels :

Matfen Hall, Corbridge

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington

Swinton Park, North Yorkshire

Katie Beauty

The hunt for red hot… hair.

Don’t even ask me why the I had The Hunt for Red October in my head. The mind boggles.

I’ve been on the hunt for a set of wide straighteners for a while and I am quite anti GHD so i’m doing research and trawling reviews for some suggestions of alternatives.

One that keeps cropping up is the Wide Intelligent Digital Argan Styler. After reviewing the Diva Big Hot Rollers HERE, I was so impressed, i’m going to track down the Argan infused irons at my local Sallys to try them before I buy.

That’s the perk of Sallys and Salon Services… they have a stock of irons and curlers you can try before you buy. This is super important to me as I refuse to buy hair tools that i’ll theoretically be using every single day without trying them first. I’ve fallen foul of difficult tools before so I’ve definitely learnt my lesson!

Has anyone tried the Diva Pro Styling range? Can you recommend some wide straighteners that are NOT GHDs?

Katie Beauty

Purity Organic Skincare – Regenerating Overnight Moisturiser

Suffering with hyper sensitive skin, like most my skin care reviews have mentioned, I have to be super careful of what I put on my skin.

I was glad to try the Purity range as I am becoming increasingly aware I need to be wearing moisturiser but have yet managed to find one that suits my skin and needs.

Purity Organic Skincare is a British brand, conceived and created to bring intelligent, sustainable and organic beauty to each and every one of us. Purity Organic Skincare is EcoCert certified, with 98% of the ingredients of natural origin and an average of 82% of the ingredients processed from organic farming.

Purity Organic Skincare is transparent regarding its ingredient policy and its brand philosophy encourages you to make informed choices about your skincare.

Purity Organic Skincare has launched exclusively in 400 Superdrug stores nationwide – the company’s first ever certified organic skincare range. All products are fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin. Purity Organic Skincare is an affordable range that can be used everyday, redressing the “elitist” barrier often associated with organic skincare brands. The products are priced from £4.99 to £8.99.

I have been trying both the night time and day time moisturisers. I am not so keen on the day one and have experienced a little discomfort whilst wearing but the night time one? Oh I love this!

Firstly, the consistency of this product is quite unusual as it feels more like a body butter than a traditional moisturiser which I quite like as it feels like I’m giving my face a good massage whilst applying it. It doesn’t contain any scent or aroma which I absolutely love and is a big bonus for me. Because it’s not a lotion it doesn’t take an age to sink in and it gives a pretty matte finish which is great if you don’t want to look like a grease monster for your fella at bed time!!

I apply this just after removing all my make up and cleansing on a night time, generously smothering my thirsty skin in it before bed. I usually still feel the effects of the moisturiser by the time I wake up in the morning with plumped up, hydrated skin.

If my skin is still feeling a bit lack lustre and dry, I apply a tiny tiny amount of it post cleansing and pre make up which lasts me the day long.

I know I’m probably committing a cardinal sin by wearing night creams during the day but when you find something so right for your skin, does it really matter what the label says?

I have been using this for a few weeks now and I really can tell on the days I skip it, to act as a controlled comparison.

You can buy the Purity Regenerating Overnight Moisturiser HERE priced £7.99 for 50ml.

Have you used a product in a way it’s not meant to? Have you seen Purity in Superdrug?

Katie Beauty

Avéne Thermal Water

I work in an office for the vast majority of my day and my poor sensitive skin is subjected to a constant barrage of heating, air conditioning and the tight prickly sensation associated with both.

Once I have applied a full face of make up, it’s not really practical to keep applying a thin layer of moisturiser to keep my skin replenished. In the summer and on hols, I do like to keep a can of Magicool near me to cool myself down but I had never thought about using it year round.

On a recent trip to Boots, I was cruising the skin care aisles for new gems and thought I’d finally bite the bullet and try the Avene Thermal Water as they now stock a smaller handbag size can for £3.15.

Reassuringly, the can says ‘soothing, anti irritating, Sensitive skin’. I was keen to try the Thermal Water over a normal water spray becase your skin is a key part of the process of the body ridding itself of acids and other nasties, some facial skin flaws such as lumps, rashes, boils and spots can be attributed to the these such acidic baddies. Balancing the PH level can be a way to counter balance this onslaught.

The blurb on the can says the following :

This spring water’s unique and constant composition give it soothing and anti-irritating properties which have been acknowledged by numerous scientific studies. Avene Thermal Water is used to actively treat a range of skin disorders.. Tested by Dermatologists, it is particularly suitable as essential care for sensitive, hypersensitive and allergic skin.

Now this spray will never replace the use of a good moisturiser but for top ups and refreshing during the day then I absolutely love this. I haven’t used it as a final step in cleansing yet as the can suggests but I do carry the small can around with me for work and in my bag. It just gives a brilliant perk and pick me up to tired skin. During a recent mammoth shopping day, it was nice to take 5 minutes out for a coffee, have a quick spritz of the Avene and then hit the shops again with renewed lustre!

My often tight, hypersensitive skin has certainly thanked me for the soothing moisture bursts during the day. I think I am a little bit addicted to treating my skin with it now!

I have definitely found a desk / handbag gem and I can’t wait to try out the rest of the Avene range. I’d recommend this to anyone, sensitive skin or other wise.

Have you tried Avene before? What should I try next?

Katie Beauty

Diva Pro Styling Big Hot Rollers

I’m one of those ladies with awkward hair. Thick, long and curly but with one of those frustrating curls that isn’t well behaved enough to look good whilst curly. If I choose to wear my hair curly for an occasion, I always tong or use curlformers. Very rarely do I wear my natural curls.

With having long and super thick hair, I have been on a quest for the perfect heated rollers for years, I just can’t find any with a barrel big enough to give me the large bouncy waves most people can manage with their sets. I have tried using smaller ones (and have a cupboard of failed attempts!) but there are either not enough in the pack or they are too small in diameter to give me the look I want thanks to cramming all my hair on to them.

Along came Diva and their wonderfully huge barrelled rollers! Is this it? The perfect heated roller?

In the set, you have 2 ginormous rollers (50mm) and 7 of smaller diameter (38mm) ones that are still far wider than most I have found. The unit itself heats up insanely fast and I love the fact you can angle the heating unit to have it on an angle or flat.

The barrell of each roller is smooth and flocked which makes it easy to wind the hair on and keep it nice and smooth. To secure the roller you have the choice of either a claw clip or the traditional metal pin. I always opt for the claw clip.

As with all heated rollers, if you leave them in long enough to cool down, you’re rewarded by beautifully bouncy, voluminous loose curls. Because of the smooth flocked barrel it makes removal a doddle too.

My only mini gripe is I’d love to have seen more than 2 of the large red rollers to suit people with longer / thicker hair or even an additional roller set in the line made up of 6/8 of the larger rollers along side this offering and the smaller one in the line. This is just a personal gripe as I do absolutely LOVE this set, with the nice mix of red for volumising the crown and the green to form loose curls everywhere else.

For the price they are great quality and finally a great product on the market for peope in my same situation. I’m very glad to have found these rollers!

I’ve been doing some drooling on the rest of the Diva line and I think I’m going to be putting the wide straighteners infused with Argan Oil on to my christmas wish list! They look JUST like what I need to tame my barnet!!

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