AboutFace

I am seriously amazed by the L'Oreal Pro XXL Volume Mascara. It out-performs my favourite high end mascara in all ways, and it is undoubtably my new favourite mascara.

I've never used a two-step mascara before and was concerned I would have spider lashes, especially after coating it in the white primer which had them looking very spiky. However, after I applied the black mascara I was left with long, thick, lush looking lashes. They looked fake but in a good way.

Even better, there was no clumping, no smearing, no flaking. The volume and lift lasted throughout the day.

I'm converted.

This is a really effective hairspray. It keeps my hair in place, and control fly-aways/frizzy bits. It also doesn't make my hair stiff or crunchy. It's a great convenient size too!

For me having sunscreen in make-up is a no-brainer. I forget to put it on otherwise! Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Perfector Anti-Age SPF 25 even smells like sunscreen to me. And sadly it did the same thing as sun screen does, somehow melting into my eyes and stinging like crazy until i flushed it out. I planned to use Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Perfector Anti-Age SPF 25 as a weekend light coverage sunscreen and skin perfector all in one. The product was light in feeling on the skin.....almost too watery?  Light colour was good for my fair skin but there was a slight orange tinge to it, whereas I probably need a more rosy tone. I Initially cautiously applied a light coverage with my fingertips. But out in the hot 26 degrees, it melted very quickly. So I tried again, applying more thickly with a sponge followed, by setting powder, as I would a foundation.  But it was still a melted to a hot mess. Garnier BB Cream All-In-One Perfector Anti-Age SPF 25 just did not sit well on my face in summer....it would be interesting to see the winter experience in comparison. I applaud Garnier on use of the cardboard based tube used in packaging. Reducing the use of plastic is to be encouraged. Their work in this area was well documented/advertised on their packaging......in-fact their eco stance dominates the box. Overall a product I would not buy again and would only cautiously recommend to friends.

This mascara is really pretty but I guess I have water eyes or something because it just melts onto my skin. Use the 24ever mascara instead - best mascara I have used in my life! It makes my eyelashes so big without any smudges ALL DAY.

Oh boy was I excited when I got invited to this trial. Thanks so much BR for the opportunity! I eagerly checked the doorstep each day and when I saw a box sitting there I ripped into it like a kid at Christmas. It comes in a sturdy box which has heaps of information on it. Inside is the straightener, instruction manual, a little turkey baster looking gadget and a heat resistant glove.

A little bit about my hair, it is very long and I would say semi thick. I have been dying it for over 20 years so it is a bit dry and is definitely frizzy. I also have a natural wave, I usually use Ghd's which do a pretty good job but they are about 5 years old now so I feel are getting less effective.

I actually never read the instructions for anything but I had to for this as I didn't know what I was doing. First off there is a separate water reservoir which you fill up, it suctions onto the surface so it doesn't move. Then you align the straightener onto it and it fills the bottom with water and it is ready to use the steam function, when the water runs out you simply place the straightener back on and it refills it.

You can also fill up the straightener directly using the little turkey baster, there is a small reservoir on the bottom. I have used it this way which is good but you have to fill it a few times if you have long hair as it runs out fast so it is probably easier filling up the freestanding reservoir and less fiddly.

The buttons are on the inside so you need to turn it on then press the steam button and select the temperature, I use it on 180° then it is ready to go when the light stops flashing. It heats up super fast....I'd say 10 seconds which is awesome. There is one glove to protect against heat. I kinda feel like Michael Jackson wearing this and I actually broke out into a song the first time I put it on lol good times.

It is much bigger than my Ghd's so it took me a little bit to get used to plus the glove was making it slippery so I ended up putting it on the other hand. I probably won't bother with the glove much. The first time I used it I wanted to really give it a hard test....my hair had been in a braid the day before so when I brushed it I turned it into a frizzy, curly mess. I thought no way it would make it straight.

I sectioned my hair and started at the front and omg it made it poker straight! I could not believe my eyes! Not only was it straight but super shiny. Pretty impressive indeed! Continued below.....

I confess, I haven’t believed the hype of shampoo bars so I’m glad BBBE presented the opportunity to be proven wrong.

This shampoo bar is really lovely. Using it - it suds easily giving the familiar ‘shampoo’ suds experience without the drying feel. Rinsing my hair it felt like I’d already conditioned and that was just rinsing out the shampoo. I followed with a regular conditioner. I really loved how my hair felt after use. It was so so soft and ‘bouncy’. Very similar to a salon shampoo/conditioner experience. I could go my usual 3-4 days without washing. With continued use my hair feels fantastic. Only thing that I couldn’t get a handle on was how to store the bar to stop it staying soggy and mushy! Because it was a little soggy I felt it didn’t last as long as regular shampoo in a container.

I really liked this shampoo bar. It’s the opposite of most reviews of other brands and definitely changed my opinion of a shampoo bar - and I’m surprisingly impressed.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to trial this serum. I have been using serums as a part of my skincare routine for the past few years as I age into mature skin.

The Hyalu B5 Serum comes in a white box with a picture of the serum bottle on it. As with other La Roche Posay products, the description and instructions for the product are written on the outside in several languages, including braille. Its key ingredients are listed as “hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and madecassoside.” It claims to target “wrinkles, loss of volume and elasticity, tired and dull skin.” The serum itself comes in a 30ml blue glass bottle. Inside the box the serum has a white lid, and a dropper is enclosed in the box separately to the bottle. Instructions for using the serum are enclosed under the label on the back of the bottle. The instructions say to apply the serum in the morning and evening to the face, neck and décolleté. I usually only apply a face serum at night, but for the purposes of the trial I have been applying it in both the morning and evening.

I have applied the Hyalu B5 Serum twice a day since I received it. In the mornings and evenings I have applied 3 drops of the serum to my face: 1 on my forehead where I have the most fine lines, and 1 each on my checks, which I then massage down into my chin, neck and chest. I have then applied either my day cream or my night cream. The serum itself is clear and has nearly no scent. It is easy to apply to the face with the glass dropper. I love using droppers because they allow me to have a lot of control over the amount of product that I use. The serum absorbs well into the skin, although it leaves a slight tacky feeling. However, the upshot is that it makes a great primer for makeup. Since I have been using it I have noticed that my skin looks smoother and less creased. I have also been suffering from some skin scaling due to a little eczema. The serum has not irritated my skin at all. In fact it has helped it to heal faster. One of the ingredients it contains, madecassoside, apparently soothes irritated skin and helps with scaling.

Altogether, I am really enjoying using this serum. It is one of the best that I have tried. I will definitely continue to use it after the trial is over.

Ever since Covid19 happened I’ve had to wash my hands a lot more. I noticed the constant use of hand sanitizer is making my hands become dry especially on my knuckles . I picked this one up after work . I admit I did a quick look on beauty review to see its ratings .

Packaging simple and represents the eco store brand with their labelling . Consistency is smooth and creamy . Has a silicone like feel. Scent reminds me of Gerbera flowers . A natural wholesome scent . After every meal break at work I sanitise my hands and put this on. This hand cream melts into my skin making my hands feel hydrated. I don’t have any irritation from it at all . After using it constantly for the past week I have noticed my dryness of my hands has gone.

Overall I can see this lasting roughly another three to four weeks with frequent use . Price wise it’s fair . I have enjoyed using this one . I would happily repurchase this one again.

I really dislike lime and lemon scents and fortunately I didn’t read the description on Mecca’s website when I purchased this, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought it and would’ve missed out on this deliciousness! I was surprised by the lime scent as I was expecting something sweet like vanilla due to the name “sugar crush”, this lime cheesecake scent is the yummiest body butter I’ve ever owned, I love how this smells on the skin, it’s very rich and hydrating and sinks in a bit slower than a lotion, but I only use it for nighttime anyway, so it’s not a problem for me. It can be a bit sticky at times, but for the super smooth skin I get in return I don’t mind much. I needed something more moisturising for my extremely dry winter skin as my usual lotions couldn’t handle it anymore, I think I’ll go back to lotions in the summer, but will use body butters in the colder months. Thankfully they make a body lotion in the same scent, so I might buy that too! I never would’ve thought I’ll ever like any sort of lime scents, but this is absolutely amazing, I love it so much that I’ve had to buy the shower gel and handcream in the same scent from mecca, best mistake purchase I have ever made!!

This comes in a 30ml glass bottle with a dropper, a plus that it's recyclable.

Does this do what it claims? Absolutely! The texture of my skin feels smoother and more hydrated, my crows feet are less noticable which is definitely a bonus. If only this was around when I was younger this may have helped to keep those lines away for longer.

The instructions say to use on clean dry skin, however I find that if I splash a little water on my face beforehand the serum glides over my skin and I don't need to use as much. I finish with an eye cream and moisturiser to lock it in. My foundation sits nicely on my skin and my dry patches have reduced too. I'm not sure on the price of this serum but if it's within the same range as the day and night moisturisers it will be a fair price.