April's "Totally Alright or Pure Shite"

Hey guys! Today's blog post is gonna be the start of a new series for me. It's my Totally alright or pure shite of the month. I've picked out a few things I've been using over the past month and I'll tell ye if I love it (totally alright) or if I hate it (pure shite). I was getting bored of just talking about products I liked and I wanted to keep it real with ye all too. I'm not here to bash brands but if I don't like something I'm gonna say it. I find some bloggers hype up products to get the brands attention and the product turns out to be pure shite and we waste our money, so hopefully this series of blogs will help you save your money for the stuff that works.

The Totally Alrights

The Ordinary's Advanced Retinoid 2%

Of course this is in the favourites list of the month, I wouldn't be putting it into a giveaway if I hated it. Even though it purged my skin a bit at first I love love love this product! As I'm not a spring chicken any more I'm starting to look into anti-aging products. I heard great things about the advanced retinoid and had to give it a try. It's a derivative of retinol (vitamin a) and is known to be anti-aging. This is a wonder product as it gets rid of fine lines but also because it clears up blemishes and breakouts. I use it every second night before my moisturiser and when I wake up I don't even know myself my skins that good. Definitely a repurchase for me.

Lee Stafford's Hair Growth Scalp Serum

I've had this a few months and I've only used it constantly this month and my holy mother of god obsessed is not the word. I recently went from silver to brown (yet again!) so my hair wasn't as thick and lustrous as it used to be but after 2 weeks of using this I had baby hairs sprouting up that I never had hair. It claims to grow, strengthen and volumize hair, and it does exactly what is claims to do.  I totally recommend it to all the hair dyers out there.

Superfacialist by Una Brennan Salicylic Acid Wash

Do you know when you try something great from a brand and immediately want to try the rest of their range? Well that's me with Superfacialist by Una Brennan. I've heard about the brand but never tried it until I came across this face wash in Tk Maxx. Now this is a cleanser that will leave you feeling squeaky clean (which I love), so dry skin types be warned. I used this at night time and I love it because it get rid of all the dirt and oils from the day. It has salicylic acid in it which reduces blemishes. My skin after a few uses looked more clear. I love the smell off it, I think it's the elderflower in it but I could be wrong. If you're in the market for a new cleanser I'd recommend this one to my fellow oily skin people of the world

The Pure Shites

Garnier's Anti-Blemish Clarifying Tonic

I had such high hopes for this product. I bought this because I kept seeing youtubers give it amazing reviews. It is supposed to be this gel toner that soothes the skin whilst tightening pores and ridding the skin of blemishes. First of all this product was so difficult to use. I put some onto a cotton pad and them applied to my face, but it was hard to spread around as it completely sank into my skin on contact.  I didn't see any tightening of pores as well seeing no change with my blemishes. I've been using this since February but no results have been seen after using this. To me this has to be a pure shite item.

Charles Worthington Colour Enhancer Purple Shampoo.

I bought this when I was silver after I ran out of my trusty Touch of Silver shampoo and thought this would do the job. This was not my cup of tea at all. When your hair is dyed silver and gets brassy easily you need your shampoo to be the deepest darkest colour of purple. This was so light and no comparison to the touch of silver, I used it going on three weeks and had to stop, it did nothing for my hair. It was getting brassy even with using it. Thank god I only got a travel size because I'd be pissed to have spent almost €10 on something that didn't work. Now in saying that I recently saw they have a new purple shampoo in their range called the ultra violet and it looks to be a deep dark purple but after using this one I'm hesitant.

Earth Therapeutics Rejuvinating Collagen Sheet Masks

We all know I love a good face mask and especially I've been enjoying sheet masks but this one didn't make the cut. I bought these in Tk Maxx and any other sheet masks I have bought in there have been superb. These ones claim to leave your skin plump and rejuvenated but I absolutely saw no difference at all. There is five in a pack and I've used three and I can't see myself finishing the pack. The sheet mask is so hard to unfold it's like completely stuck together. Without fail everytime I put one on my face and tried to adjust its position it ripped on me. There is nothing worse when you're trying to get ready for a selfie in your sheet mask and it rips... not cute. I will not repurchase from this particular k beauty brand again. 

So that's it for the first months installment of Totally Alright or Pure Shite, I hope ye enjoyed and remember, if something doesn't work for me doesn't mean it's not going to work for you.

Byeeeeeeeeeee :)

Review: Human + Kind Family Remedy Cream

Hey guys! Sorry about the lack of posts in the last 2 weeks, I've been really busy with work and other stuff. Also this is my second time writing this as the first one never saved and it got deleted! Anyways I'm back again with another review from the brand Human + Kind. This time I'm reviewing their Family Remedy Cream. Again this product was given to me to review.

The product.

Family Remedy Cream is a multi purpose cream that can be used anywhere on the body. The brand says it is 8 in 1 and can soothe many concerns such as eczema, razor burn, scars, stretch marks and spots. It is 99.2% natural with ingredients which is great for someone who wants to go down the natural road to help their eczema. It contains lovely ingredients such  as; organic coconut oil, avocado oil, tea tree leaf oil and aloe vera. It comes in a 100ml tube and it retails for €19.95 .

My verdict.

I'm honestly torn with this product. It is very effective on my eczema, soothing it and clearing it up. I put it on my body and any red blotchy patches I have go away almost immediately. It tingles a bit but you get used it. What I'm not a fan of is the smell. It's very strong smelly of tea tree. It smells exactly like the Boots tea tree skincare range. When I use cream I like them to smell of a soft fragrance or have no scent at all. Now just because I'm not a fan doesn't mean you will be. If you love tea tree and have sensitive skin then you are going to love this. I will use the rest of this product up but honestly I can't see myself repurchasing it as  €19.95 it's too expensive for my budget.

Thank you all for reading. If you have any questions on this or anything just leave me a comment below.

Byeeeee!!!!

Empties.

Hey guys! Today's post is all about my empties for the year so far. If you don't know what an empties post is about, it's where I go through all my used up or "empty" products and give mini reviews on them. So these are my empties from January to March. Enjoy!

Hair

First we have Lush R&B. Ye are probably sick of seeing this on my blog but its amazing stuff and it still doesn't get enough credit. I takes me a year to finish a 100g pot of this so when I finish it I feel like it's a great accomplishment. I'm not going to bore you with the details, if you want to see a review of this just go to a previous hair care post it's definitely there.

Repurchase = YES

Next is another Lush product called Retread. This is Lush's heaviest conditioner. I bought a small pot when making an order online but I only think it comes in 250g pots in store (correct me if i'm wrong). I use to love it when I worked for the company as it suited my thick hair but the packaging makes it hard to use. You have to pour the pot onto your hand in the shower and it's hard to control how much product comes out. Also if you get water in it you're screwed. It's expensive too, which makes me mad if I accidentally spill some out of the pot, it's like money going down the drain, literally.

Repurchase = NO (unless it will start coming in a bottle).

Last hair care item we have is the Aussie Miracle Dry Shmapoo. It took me ages to finish this up but I persevered. It did the job but it wasn't anything spectacular. I loved the smell at the start but after a few weeks it made me feel nauseous. It's a bubblegum candy smell like they have in a few of there products. 

Repurchase = NO.

Skin Care

First skin care item I have is the NIP+FAB Glycolic Cleansing Fix. I love it! I'm already halfway through a second bottle. It has 2% glycolic acid which helps to brighten the face. It left my skin tone looking so even and brightened. I wouldn't use this everyday because it would be a bit stripping but every second day is fine. It smells so lemony fresh too. An all round good cleanser.

Repurchase = YES.

Sticking with the NIP+FAB theme we have the Glycolic Fix Serum. This has 4% glycolic acid in it. I'm not going to lie I saw no difference after using this product. I was very disappointed because I used it religiously until I finished it and saw no change in my skin. I really wanted to love this because I love the brands other products.Who knows maybe it might work for others.

Repurchase = NO.

Next up is the No7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Lotion. I bought the beautiful skin mini set in the christmas sale and instantly fell in love with this so much so i went and bought the full size. I have raved about this on another post, however since then I'm not such a fan. I think when I bought this my skin was a little drier but not i'm oily AF again. It does nothing for my skin at all. I don't feel cleansed, I just feel like my skin is weighed down after using it.

Repurchase = NO.

Another mini from that set I finished is the Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator. It was a good little exfoliator, it did the job and wasn't stripping on my sensitive skin. I've used better but I have also used worse.

Repurchase = YES (only if it was on sale).

Last from No7 is the No7 Men Anti-Shine Lotion SPF 15. I bought this last year for my holiday to Gran Canaria. I needed an SPF but I hate putting sunscreen on my face. A lovely lady in boots recommended it to me and it really worked. I didn't burn and I got a nice tan. Even for day to day use here it was brilliant, it mattified my oiliness and kept it at bay.

Repurchase = YES

The Simple Oil Balancing Moisturiser is another product I finished up lately. I have used this multiple times and I like it. It keeps me hydrated and mattified. If thats what you want from a moisturiser then this is the one for you, its simple but effective. I'm looking for something more now, I feel my skin needs a bit extra. All good moisturiser recommendations appreciated!

Repurchase = YES 

Last empty is the Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Optimizing Skin Serum. I love love love Elizabeth Arden skin care products they just suit my skin so well. I got this mini in a set last year and I have been saving this serum for special occasions. It makes my skin look plump, hydrated and looking fresh. It's a lightweight serum so it suits my oily face. It smells divine. I'm going to start saving for a full size.

Repurchase = YES

So there you have it! Those for were my empties so far this year. I don't hold back at all, if I think something isn't worth the money i'm not going to recommend it. Hope you enjoyed and I'll have another one ready in a few more months when I get through my every growing product stash.

Byeeeeeeee :)

March Favourites

Hey guys! Today I'm going to write about my March favourites. I haven't done a monthly favourites in so long. This is just a post about what I've been loving throughout the month of March, whether it be beauty or clothes etc

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First up is the Sensitive Scalp conditioner from the Brand Human + Kind. I reviewed this on a previous post (link here) so I'll keep it short and sweet. I've been using this all month and it has helped my scalp so much. As ye may know I went silver from root to tip this month and It hurt my poor sensitive scalp. This conditioner with its aloe vera calmed it down instantly and helped improve the condition of my scalp as well as my hair. Hidden gem there guys.

Another hair care favourite this month is the Provoke Touch of Silver shampoo. Anytime I go blonde or silver this is my go to shampoo. In my opinion it's the best purple shampoo around. It keeps my silver hair from going brassy between toner applications. A major plus is price, it's one of the cheaper priced purple shampoos in the drugstores. I'm just finished a big bottle and have a little sample bottle from Dealz. This is a perfect size for people to try out but and are afraid to commit to buying the full size.

My next favourite is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo +. I have this months now and I've only started using it religiously in the last 3 weeks. I was almost going to through it out because I saw no difference after using it in the past. This isn't an instant fix, you have to take your time with it. Now my skin is horrendous at the  moment as it's purging after the use of retinol products but this helps so much. It reduces the redness of any spots that appear. I pop a bit all over my face after my toner and before my moisturiser. One drawback is that it's expensive but a little goes a long way, well worth it.

Another skincare favourite this month has to be the P.S. Love To Glow face mask by Primark/Penneys. I have a review of this beauty on my blog (link here). This is one of the best dupes I have found in a while. Gorgeous glowy skin on a budget, what more could you ask for.

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Next is a body care product. I'm not one for spending time putting lotions on my body, I'm so lazy it's unbelievable but The Body Shop Black Musk body lotion is an exception. I'm obsessed! Any opportunity I have to put it on I will. I got the little travel sets in Tk maxx reduced to €1!!! Paul the bargain hunter strikes again guys!  So naturally enough I bought five sets. The smell is divine. It's earthy but still floral. They scent definitely lingers. I need to go to the Body Shop and get the full size ASAP!.

So that's what I have been loving in the month of March. I have picked up somethings in the last week or so that I'm trailing out and I know they will feature in my April favourites already so stay tuned for that. Thank you so much for reading.

Byeeeeeeeee :)

Review: Human + Kind Sensitive Scalp Conditioner.

Hey guys! Recently I met up with the lovely Roisin from Trends, Beauty and lifestyle Distribution. Trends are a company who work with beauty brands helping them to distribute their products in shops and salons around the country. Roisin has been working with  bloggers recently and when I saw she wanted to meet with more bloggers I jumped at the chance and emailed her straight away.  If any bloggers or Salon owners want to get in touch with Roisin and Trends you can contact them on 0858281813 or head over to their facebook page Trends, Beauty and Lifestyle Distribution. They work with amazing brands.

Roisin was so generous to give me a few products to try out from the Irish company Human + Kind. First of all can I say I love the ethos and the general branding of Human Kind. "Skincare with a conscience" is their tag line which I love. It means that their cosmetics are kind to humans, animals and the environment. As someone who has worked in a cosmetic store like this for years, it's refreshing to see Irish run cosmetic brand with a cruelty free ethos. This is a brand that is simple, natural and affordable, something that isn't that common in the cosmetic industry. If it's natural it usually is expensive or if it's affordable it's usually made with cheap ingredients. This brand has gone against that theory and produced some beautiful, affordable products.

One of the products given to me was the Sensitive Scalp Conditioner. I was excited to try this as my scalp is unbelievably sensitive due to having ezcema. It also doesn't help that I've been bleaching my hair a lot lately (It wrecks your scalp).  This product retails for a mere €7.95 for 200ml worth of product. I think that's great value as it's similar to drugstore brands but it's natural. Unlike most hair care Human +Kind don't use petrochemicals, colourants, SLS or parabens. Ingredients wise the lit isn't too long, some of the main ingredients include Aloe Vera to soothe the Scalp and a blend of oils (grape seed, cucumber seed and marigold) to hydrate the hair. It has a lovely light scent of apple which lingers in your hair.

So my thoughts on this product, I'm not going to lie I love it. I haven't reached for any other Conditioner since receiving this. Even though I have been always told not to use Conditioner on my scalp I think it's perfect to use on your scalp. It's so soothing on the skin, I always get itchy after the shower and since using my scalp is a lot less irritated. It doesn't make my hair greasy too and my god does my hair feel soft. I 100% would get this again.

Next week I'll be reviewing Human + Kinds body lotion so stay tuned for that. Thank you again to Roisin and Trends for giving me the opportunity to test out some fantastic products.

If anyone has any questions don't hesitate to get in touch.

Byeeeeeeeeee :)

Product Review: Primark's PS Love To Glow Face Mask and Serum.

Hey guys! Today I'm going to be reviewing the PS Love To Glow mask and serum from Penneys/Primark. If ye follow me on instagram or Snapchat ye know I've been reviewing these items the last few weeks. I heard that the mask was a dupe for the L'Oréal Pure Clay glow mask so I had to see if it's true. The Penneys mask retails €3.50 and the L'Oréal mask usually retails for around the €11 mark. Your know me and bargains, if there's one to be had I'm all over it. With the serum I was looking for a cheaply priced one  and this one was under a fiver so I couldn't leave it there.

The packaging of the mask looks a little like the glam glow mask (a very expensive alternative ) with its smooth sleek jar. The colour of the mask is cool too, It's a silvery grey colour. It claims to have argon oil and Vit E in it which helps to achieve the glowy look. When using it I apply it to a cleansed face for 15 mins then wash off.  I wash it off in circular motions as it has a mild exfoliant in it. This is very similar to the L'Oréal mask where it also has an exfoliant.

What's the verdict? I love it! It is 100% a dupe for the L'Oréal glow mask. It left my skin feeling the exact same way as the more expensive mask. My skin looked brighter, more even and glowy. The light exfoliant removes dead skin the reveal newer brighter skin. I actually am almost out of the mask already but I'm definitely repurchasing.  If your strapped for cash or don't want to pay €11 for a face mask give the PS Love To Glow mask a go and you can spend the difference on a Starbucks or something!

Next up is the serum.. I'm not going to beat around the bush here, I hate it. I used it 3/4 times and after each use I broke out. I put the serum onto the high points of my cheeks, the temples and my forehead. Each place I put it on I broke out. The funny thing was that it wasn't even a heavy serum, if anything it felt just like a normal cream. A serum under a fiver.. I wasn't expecting a miracle but I wasn't expecting a breakout either. It's been 4 weeks since my last use and I still have blemishes on my cheeks. Now what doesn't work for me might not, not work for you, this is just my experience and a little word of warning.

Overall it was a mixed review. On one hand the glow mask is now apart of my regular routine and I'm loving the fact I'm saving money and on the other I have a product that I'll never put near my face again. More times than not you really pay for what you get when it comes to skincare but it's nice when you find dupes such as the mask.

Feel free to leave a comment below if ye have any questions or if there's a product ye want me to review.

Have a good day! Byyyyeeeeeeeee :)

Product Review: Crocodoil 100% Pure Face & Body Oil

Hey guys! I'm back again with another product review to share with you. Today it comes from the British company "Crocodoil". I was sent this product to try out by the lovely Barbara and Lloyd. I have such sensitive skin so I was well up for trying this product out and the fact it has such minimal ingredients I had a feeling it was going to suit me well. I will leave all their links at the bottom of this post. Also just a little disclaimer, these are my own views of the product.

I was sent this product over a month ago and have been using on and off ever since I got it. I received a small sample size of 5ml. When I saw how small it was I initially thought how was I going to give a fair review if I only had a small amount. Well let me tell you, a little goes a long way! The full sizes come in a 15ml pump for £23.33 and a 50ml pump for £41.67. A great feature it has, packaging wise is the pump, you can control the amount of product that comes out so you don't waste a bit. However the most important thing to me about this product was the ingredients. It only has 3, yes 3 ingredients! It has crocodile oil, vitamin e and neroli oil.

Ingredients

Crocodile oil: it is an anti-inflammatory, non-comedogenic (non-clogging), and hypoallergenic.

Vitamin e: it is so healing for the skin, brightens up pigmentation and is a big antioxidant.

Neroli oil: helps with scarring and it is a mood brightener.

Before

This was my skin before. I suffer from eczema on my hands causing them to get sore, itchy and flaky. Half a pump did both my hands. I have a feeling that sample will last me a good long while. The oil absorbs almost instantly. It is a dry oil so it doesn't leave the skin sticky. Definitely a product for a person on to go and doesn't have "drying" time. The scent is amazing! To me it smells like grass, not freshly cut grass but it reminds me of running through long grass in the summer.

After

This was my skin after using the oil. No joke, this was after one use. This picture was taken almost a day after the first picture. I couldn't believe it guys! The itchiness and flakes were gone. I have used over the counter creams, steroid creams and herbal remedies and nothing has worked like this. I'm using every 2/3 days on and off and it is keeping my eczema from flaring up again.

In conclusion I would purchase this product in the full size and as well as that I am interested in seeing how their other product would work out for me. If you have ezcema, psoriasis or any other skin issues I would 100% recommend this product! The following are links to Crocodoil's website and other social media 

Website /https://crocodoilskincare.co.uk/

Twitter https://twitter.com/CrocodOil

facebook https://www.facebook.com/crocodoil/

If you have any questions for me you can leave me a comment or send me an email at pauliebray@gmail.com. I hope you find this helpful and give their website a look you might see something you like.

Byeeeeeeeeee :)