A Hair Raising Plan

I look at this picture of Elizabeth Olsen and think, 'she's pale like me! Maybe I could pull off that blonde.. but the picture below tells a different story. I look paper white! I'm sure I'm not quite so ghostly in real life but you may have noticed my new hair colour. You can see the shade I was here. I used ColourB4 to take out as much of the dark colour as possible. It left me with warm brown tones. I have an appointment at the salon tomorrow and my intention is to have about an inch chopped off the bottom, all of my layers trimmed and... as many highlights as they can cram on my head!

I've been brunette for more than a year now which someone pointed out to me is probably the first time in a decade and I'm bored! I've been contemplating a change for a while and I thought, why not in time for our honeymoon in Vegas? I love experimenting with new makeup when I change my hair colour but it takes a while to find the right combos so I wanted a little while to get used to it before we go away. They also say that there's only 2 weeks between a bad haircut and a good one.. well we fly 2 weeks on Sunday so fingers crossed I'm loving my new honey coloured mane by then!

I wanted to share my plan ahead of the appointment to prepare you for the 'reveal' post and inevitable YouTube video that will follow. Annoyingly I did just buy a new set of chocolate brown hair extensions which I mentioned in another post. I never showed you them because they weren't a perfect match and now they obviously won't be. I'm sure I will be brunette again at some point so I will keep them until then. If you want to see them I uploaded a video wearing them (link)

Until tomorrow...

Miss BB

Nicki Minaj for Viva Glam

I've avoided MAC pretty well for a few months and although I did hit up the CCO in York last week (oops) I couldn't resist getting my hands on the NEW Viva Glam Nicki Minaj lippie when they sent me a code to get it ahead of its official launch! For those wondering all I did was register on the site some time ago and since I'm now on their mailing list I got the code. Nothing special, anyone can do it! 

I was toying with waiting until it's release to post this but they've added a 'notify me' widget here so if you are desperate to know when it goes on sale you can sign up for that there!

Anyway.. you wanted to know about the lipstick, right?

It's described as a bright yellow pink. It's basically a candy pink that on me looks almost neon. I've seen it swatched and worn on so many different people online and in my opinion.. mine is not the target skin tone. It's not the most flattering pink I've ever worn but it's so pretty I'm sure I'll find a way to wear it! 

The finish is satin which I find can be a touch drying but in return you get more staying power. On me a satin finish will last an hour or so before reapplying. Overall its a lovely colour, nice formula and as always I will be happy to add it to my rows of identical bullet shaped MAC lipsticks.

The lipstick retails for £13.50

I have no info on the clear lip conditioner that Ricky Martin is endorsing for this years campaign but how interested are you in a colourless limited edition product anyway?

Miss BB

Bloggers Week on BuyaPowa

Most of you will have heard of BuyaPowa. They are quite possibly the best company out there at utilising social media to make their business work and this week is extra special for us beauty bloggers as we've had the chance to choose our very own co-buy. 

"Bloggers Week" has begun. It's pretty exciting and having seen the line up of my favourite bloggers and their recommended products I'm looking forward to grabbing some serious bargains. I do unfortunately feel the need to mention that I am not being compensated in any way for lending my name to one of todays deal. I am as always just pleased to have been asked, I love working with BuyaPowa and it fits in with my blogging ethos perfectly. It's not that I don't like high end products it's just that I don't like their high end prices.. enter co-buying. 

So the product I chose was Benefits latest 'blush in a box' release "Hervana". I can't say it's my favourite product as I don't even own it but having swatched it every time I pass the Benefit counter it has been top of my wish list for weeks but lets face it.. £23.50 for a blush is..well... a bit much! I've been waiting for BuyaPowa to have it on offer so jumped at the chance to get it there myself. £17.50 is still not exactly budget friendly but if your a Benefit blush collector like myself you won't be able to resist!

As I said it will be a week of blogger picks and I will be coming to you with my favourites as and when they go live. I have added the Buyapowa ribbon to my sidebar so that you can check back for the latest co-buys in the meantime. If you're totally new to co-buying you can read my explanatory post here

For now my co-buy is live and kicking and selling fast

Get yours here

Miss BB

Kiss Me, Caresse Me...

Why these haven't been all around the blogosphere and back again by now I have no idea 'cause they're AWESOME! I don't buy a tremendous amount of drugstore lipsticks. I have a substantial collection so I generally invest in MAC now (they're just so pretty) and I'm rarely tempted by launches outside of the beauty hall. I am just setting a scene for you here so you understand the power of these beautiful new sheer lipsticks from Loreal. I love everything from the funky, clear packaging to the moisturising feel and glossy finish. This will be my first of many from this range I can tell.

I'm yet to try the Revlon Lip Butters but I absolutely cannot wait. We have a few more weeks til they launch here in the UK though and for those of you on the edge of your seats like me these are definitely worth a look. They are everything I expect the Lip Butters to be but the packaging looks.. well... less cheap. They're just a bit of a luxe version I think. It's not like the Lip Butters are likely to be an inexpensive alternative either so I think they're going to have to really bowl me over now I've found these babies. There were no testers when I was in Boots today so it was tricky to choose and I went with a relatively safe option in 'Tempting Lilac'. It's a very pretty shade with the tiniest hint of shimmer when applied. The formula is beyond anything else I've tried, I don't expect staying power but this isn't a product you're going to need a mirror to reapply. I love sheer lips for that very reason and these will be great to throw in your handbag day or night. 

After the extreme disappointment of their Nude Magique they totally redeemed themselves with this beauty. I'd recommend you run out and buy them now as Boots is running a 3 for 2 on Loreal. I'm seriously going back tomorrow for 3 more so you can expect more swatches very soon. 

I think I got these ahead of the official 'launch' because they haven't really been hyped anywhere and they aren't available to buy online yet so I'd imagine we'll be hearing more about these in the coming weeks.

Miss BB

Not So NUDE Magique...

I heard about this launch a while ago and being the BB cream lover that I am I was excited to try it. Before I even get started I will let you in on a secret.. I don't like it! I am beyond disappointed. It's completely different to my Garnier, it's closer to Origins Vita-zing in that it 'adapts to your skin tone'. It starts off white and as you rub it it warms up and blends in, unfortunately the more you rub it the darker it becomes. As you can see I bought the FAIR skin tone option but as is clear in the photo below.. it's a touch deeper than fair! This is just my first impression of course and I haven't had chance to do a full face with this stuff yet. I'm hoping that I will find a way to apply this without rubbing it into an Oompa Loompa orange. I'm not sure if it's the rubbing action itself or the heat from my hands so I'll try a brush and get back to you but given that it's a new product I wanted to give you a first look asap.

It kind of reminds me of Glow Job by Soap and Glory. Perhaps it has teeny tiny subtle bronzing particles as opposed to big chunky obvious ones, who knows? I will.. when I come back to you with a comprehensive review. For now I'm distinctly underwhelmed and a little annoyed I wasted my money.

If this still appeals it's available at Boots now for £9.99 here

Miss BB

Bikini Bootcamp - Weigh In #3

 The lack of photo and the fact that I am sitting here eating popcorn at 8.30 in the morning should give you an idea of how well this week  has gone. After last weeks post it all went a bit pear shaped.

I haven't shredded every day & I've been eating naughty treats. The catalyst was when I tried on an old pair of jeans and they FIT! I thought.. why am I bothering when my shape is changing on its own? I have still stayed within my 1200 cals and the last few days less than 1000. I walk every day and Zumba twice a week. Despite that I haven't lost a pound. I've maintained which to some might be okay but I've changed my life and I expected something! I'm at a bit of a crossroads now. I'm nervous that if i continue what is effectively 'crash dieting' I will gain even more weight when I stop and although the scales aren't my friends right now my clothes fit better and my body looks leaner. I'm almost prepared to bare all in a bikini. I will continue my daily walks and my zumba, I will try and keep up the shred again but the diet? I'm just a bit fed up with it. When I'm hungry I'm miserable and that's on a good day.. throw a baby that wont stop crying in to the mix and I'm practically suicidal. On those days I want to eat what I want, is that so terrible? 

I have learnt a lot about calorie content, portion control and just generally making better choices when it comes to food. I don't intend to entirely fall off the wagon and binge on McDonalds now but I am having a week off the hardcore dieting. When you're hungry you lose motivation to do anything let alone exercise so lets see what happens when the focus shifts. My body responds to working out far better than cutting calories and when I slow the exercise down a little I don't think my metabolism will suffer in quite the same way.

I will continue to keep a food diary but if I really want something I'm going to have it. I have to spin this so I'm interested again. We fly to Las Vegas in just over 3 weeks time so I don't want to give up now.

Those of you also bootcamping, hows your week been?

Better than mine, I hope!

Miss BB

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

We've all had relationships end. Most of us had our hearts broken one way or another in our teens and yes you feel like the world is ending and you'll never be happy again.. but you are. Things get better and your life continues. These break ups are hard but are the they hardest? No.

The most difficult relationships to lose in life are friendships. I have had a friend for a very long time, a friend I would consider to be my 'best'. We've had our ups and downs of course and time has passed where we've seen less of each other but it feels like now we're drifting further apart. Since we started trying for a baby she felt distant to me, I'm not sure why but things seemed harder. She was never free to make plans, if we did see her it was always on the way to some other engagement and I just didn't feel like priority in her life anymore. I thought once Milo was born things would change but if anything they seem to have worsened. She is now planning her own wedding, something that at one time I would have been a part of but she has found others to lean on and selfish as it may seem I'm feeling left out. 

I can't be sure of course that she doesn't feel the same way about me, perhaps I alienated her when I ended my marriage, perhaps when I got engaged/planned more children she was hoping to have been doing the same but wasn't. At one time I would have been able to talk to her about all of these things but right now I feel a million miles away. Everything I say seems to come out wrong and she is always defending herself and her relationship. Is it me? Am I pushing her away? I don't know. I do know that she doesn't read this blog. Perhaps my blogging is to blame.. she has no interest in it and we are losing the interests we once shared. She is sharing hers with others as am I. We have found people that are more suited to us as we've grown older, is that the way of things? Is this how this is going to be now?

She doesn't read this blog but if she did I would want her to know that I'm sad. I feel like I've lost something. I hope it will return but I'm not sure why it left so I don't know how to help. We are on two different paths and the people we have chosen to take along with us don't seem to include each other anymore. 

So if you're a teenager, a 20 something... a fully fledged woman, whatever. Whoever you are don't neglect the most important relationships in your life. They are the ones with your friends, they often outlast relationships with the opposite sex and you need them. We all do. You need your friends to lean on when you're not strong enough to hold yourself up. I believe my friend and I will find our way back to one another but right now I wanted to share my inner most hurt that we lost our way.

Miss BB

All Used Up...

I was inspired when Fee at MakeupSavvy did an all used up post some months ago and vowed to start collecting my empties and do the same. It's taken a little while and unsurprisingly there are more skincare items than cosmetics (I don't like to use anything up) but here's e everything I've recently used up..

The question is.. would I buy it again?

Soap & Glory 'Some Like It Hot' Thermal body scrub

I love thermal products! It seems a little bit magical, doesn't it? Well it does to me and the instant warm sensation of this scrub had me hooked.. at first. Unfortunately the heat barely lasts 10 seconds and after that it's just your average body scrub and I wouldn't pay £8 for an average body scrub. I did discover toward the end of the tube a lot of grey liquid which got extremely hot on contact with my skin so I believe that it was all stuck in the top on the tube, unfortunate because if it had all been like that I would have really liked this product!

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

This s a firm blogger favourite but it took me a long time to pick it up and even longer to actually use it. I tried it a couple of times and it was ok but nothing revolutionary so back in the cupboard it went and n to the next cleanser I was. I revisited Liz Earle in November and began using it on a daily basis, the key to this stuff is regular use! My skin had never been smoother/clearer and I have since repurchased this! I do begrudge paying £23 for 200ml but I will continue to until i find a replacement.

Mama Mio Boob Tube

I loved this, I really did! I used it when i was pregnant and I'm not sure if it made a different to the firmness of my bust as I lost my baby weight but the condition of my skin improved after only a couple of days. Unfortunately this is one pricey lotion at £29.50 for 100ml and that is just out of my budget for essentially a body lotion! If ever I have the spare cash or it is gifted to me I will be very happy to be reunited but for now.. It's just not worth it.

Clean & Clear Dual Action Moisturiser

Regular readers will know my feelings on this wonder-stuff and needn't continue reading this section but would I repurchase? Yes, Yes A thousand times YES! I use it as a moisturiser, I use it as a treatment for blemishes and for £2.99 you can't afford not to try it! You won't be disappointed.

Garnier Cleansing Wipes

Just rubbish. There's not a lot to say about cleansing wipes, they either work or they don't and these my friends.. do not! They are too dry to wipe ANYTHING and I would absolutely not recommend them! They are only £2.99 but it was £2.99 I wish I hadn't spent.

Herbal Essences Smooth & Soft Mask

I tried this and the tousle me softly at the same time and both really impressed me! As drugstore haircare goes Herbal Essences really know their stuff! I would buy this again if I wasn't so in love with my Aussie and Macadamia stuff but never say never and I would recommend them to any of you considering a drugstore mask. My only advice would be to shop around.. you can usually find these on offer somewhere, currently that place is Superdrug where they're half price at £1.95

Garnier BB Miracle Skin Perfector

This was £9.99 when it launched but I haven't seen it anywhere for more than £7.50 for months. I would repurchase it full price though again and again. It's supposed to be a 'BB' cream but not knowing exactly what to expect from a BB cream i would describe it as the best tinted moisturiser I ever tried! It diffuses imperfections and evens out skin tone while giving the illusion of a makeup free face.

Benefit Boi-ing Concealer 

This stuff is really good. It's dubbed as an industrial Strength Concealer and I've always had one in my makeup bag since I discovered Benefit about 8 years ago. It hasn't always been my go-to but it's been nice to know it's there if I need it. I would have said I would repurchase had it not been for a very recent acquisition. Soap & Glory's Kick-Ass concealer knocks this out of the park at it's just £10 as opposed to £16.50. Sorry Benefit, you've been beat!

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

This was my pressed powder for 2 years! I have lost count of how many I've bought over that time but given that it's only £3.99 I didn't mind repurchasing. It didn't do anything life changing but it was a good value pressed powder that held my makeup and kept me relatively matte for a good portion of the day. As I said I have repurchased in the past and wouldn't rule it out for the future but I just replaced it with 17s Shine Control version for the same price and am preferring that right now.

Maybelline One By One Mascara

This was my favourite mascara for most of last year. It was the first mascara that seemed to really work with my stubby lashes and do something a bit special with them. It really opened my eyes (literally) and I would definitely repurchase. My last mascara buy was the Volume Million lashes from Loreal which I also really like but I will purchase the one by one next to see which is really my favourite.

What are the products you repurchase time and time again?

Miss BB

Vegas Wishlist

 

It feels like forever that we've been planning this trip (probably because it has been) and it's finally just around the corner so forgive me if I get a little vacation happy in my posts over the coming weeks. It's very exciting, not least of all because of the shopping. Above are just a few of the items on my current wish list. Now don't get me wrong.. I can't afford to blow 2 months rent on a spree but I am being careful and when the time comes I should hopefully have enough $$$ for a little splurge.

My absolute must haves will be the Maybelline Color Tattoos and Dream Bouncy Blushes because I'm not sure when they're launching in the UK. The Revlon Lip Butters launch days before we fly out so I may have already picked up a couple in advance. I'd love a new scent from Victoria's Secret and my big splurge with either be a pair of long-lusted-after Tory Birch flats, Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac Handbag or a second MK watch (decadant?) in rose gold. Each of those items are substantially cheaper in the states so I'm hoping to grab a bargainous treat for myself.

Are there any must haves you think I should pick up while I'm across the pond?

Miss BB

Sigma vs Clarisonic

When I saw that Sigma had brought our their own facial brush I was pretty excited and once I had my Clarisonic I knew it was only a matter of time before I would pit them against each other.

It's almost impossible to truly compare these two products like for like because well.. they're not the same thing, however I can give you an overview of each so that when (if) the time comes for you to make a purchase you can make a more informed decision.

First of all lets compare the two on a basic "what does it do?" level before getting in to results etc.

The Sigma Cleansing & Polishing Tool

It retails for $39 (£25) here

It require 2xAA batteries (I'd suggest rechargeable)

It has no timer

It is supplied with 3 heads

Replacement brush heads can be purchased for $9 (£6) here

It can be used on face & body

It's water resistant

It has 2 speeds

The brush head spins in use

There is no colour choice available

The Clarisonic Mia
It retails for £120 here

It is rechargeable (UK charger supplied)

It must be charges for 24hrs for every 20mins use

It has a 1 minute timer

It is supplied with one (sensitive) brush head

Replacement brush heads can be purchased for £21 here

This model is designed only for use on the face

It's waterproof

This model has only 1 speed

The brush head vibrates in use

There's a wide variety of colour options

Now I've been using the Clarisonic for 2 months and so it's difficult for me to say 100% that the Sigma brush has done something special that the Clarisonic hadn't already begun but I believe that the brush you choose is very much dependent on what you require it to do.

When I first used my Clarisonic I was pretty disappointed not to feel any smoother than when using my Liz Earle hot cloth cleanser. I've never felt that it made my skin any softer than regular exfoliation but there are other benefits to it's daily use. It claims to 'prepare your skin for increased absorption' which allows your skincare to penetrate more deeply and I do believe the products I've been using have been more effective since I began facial brushing. It also claims to even out skintone as well as reduce pores, fine lines and wrinkles. I think it did do something to my pores early on but I haven't seen much improvement since a week or two in. My skin tone has improved but is that the brush or is it the daily gentle exfoliation? Where wrinkles are concerned I'm not quite there yet but it's definitely something I buy into as I get closer to 30.

The Sigma brush is very different. It spins against my skin rather than vibrating and after the first time I used it my skin was remarkably smooth. I should mention I used the firm brush head which I wouldn't recommend doing more than once or twice a week (not at all if you have sensitive skin) but I'm an impatient kinda gal and I loved the instant results. I used it on my chest, arms and back and felt the same immediate smoothing effect. This would be a great tool for all you fake tan addicts out there or those like me who are just suffering from rough, dry winter skin.

Since then I've been using the soft brush head every day and I am really impressed. I am someone who can't exfoliate enough and never feels clean without a good scrub so this is definitely more what I was looking for when I got my Clarisonic. The Sigma unit does feel cheaper and I am concerned about what happens if I drop it in the bath but at almost £100 less I can live with it!

As I mentioned at the start of this post you cannot truly compare these two brushes like for like. The Clarisonic I'm sure is doing something special deep down in my skin but for those of you that were expecting serious exfoliation.. it might not be for you. I will continue to use it because I have it and who knows.. maybe this time next year my pores will be invisible but if I lost my Mia tomorrow I doubt I would repurchase it. I will definitely be adding in my Sigma a couple of times a week for a good scrub and I will use it as my regular body polisher for sure.

In summary if you want gentle exfoliation I would recommend a muslin cloth, these are inexpensive and don't necessarily need to be Liz Earle. I'm currently trialling Superdrugs own hot cloth cleanser (£5.99 here) and it seems to do the trick. If you want super duper smooth skin I can't recommend the Sigma brush highly enough for the price! It does come from the US so postage is around £11 but it still only works out at £36 all in which is really not bad (and still cheaper than UK sellers). Lastly if you're looking for something a little swankier and willing to invest in your skin then I'm quite sure the Clarisonic will work some magic in the long run.

Each of these methods leave my skin clean and makeup free so it really is just down to your skin and what you think it will respond best to.

I'm very interested to hear your own experience with facial exfoliation whether they be from a scrub or one of these hi-tech gizmos. If you've used any of the products mentioned please let me know! What works for me won't work for everyone so more reviews are always helpful for readers!

Miss BB

PS

Don't forget that Sigma currently have 10% off purchases until 28/02 using code LOVE2012 here

They also just launched 3 new brush heads called 'spa solutions' which is definitely next of my Sigma wish list!

Miners Lip Colour

L-R Dreamer, Glamour Girl, Seduction, Icon

With the regular lip colour range I have to start with Dreamer! It's a frosty, shimmering formula and well.. it's not for me. It's dated and all just a bit old fashioned. I'm pleased to say that of the 12 lipsticks they sent to me it's the only miss. The shade is actually quite nice but the finish.. not so much. Seduction is very much a true red, Glamour Girl a fun candy pink and Icon is the first plum I've ever swatched and considered to be potentially wearable.

I can't believe I haven't even mentioned the scent of these lipsticks. I find it impossible to describe a fragrance but I can tell you they smell deliciously fruity and you definitely wont mind having them under your nose all day.

Overall I am so impressed by everything Miners has launched recently and can't wait to see what else they come up with!

These are available for £3.99 here

Miss BB

Ginvera BB Cream

I was sent this product to review and much as I'd love to I'm struggling as the shade is just too dark - darn me and my pale (MAC NC15) skin. I will offer my first impressions and am hoping that come the summer I will be tanned enough to give this a real go and then I'll revisit my review. 

You all know how much I love my Garnier BB cream so I was really looking forward to trying a more traditional formula. The Green Tea Nude Cover offers SPF 30 which is pretty impressive for any cosmetic before you even consider coverage, moisture and anti-ageing properties.

It's the consistency of a foundation but it goes on like a thick moisturiser. Despite this the finish is satin, It's advertised as matte but I wouldn't go that far. It is nicely dewy but I would need at least a little powder. It's a much higher coverage than I am used to from my Garnier equivalent so it does more than just 'even out skin tone'. We know green tea is good for your insides so we can only assume it does miraculous things when applied directly to the skin. I won't be able to share my results over an extended period of time until I'm tanned enough to really use it 

The folks at Ginvera say the shade settles after a few minutes and should suit all skin tones. I'm not sure about all but it was a better match after a minute or two. I'd say the palest it got to was around MAC NW25 so for all of you there or darker this would be a better fit. 

Ginvera BB Cream is currently on offer at £15.00 here

Miss BB

Miners Moisture Effect

L-R Hush Hush, English Rose, Kiss Me Quick, Moulin Rouge

When I first opened the package from Miners I was most excited about the matte formulas but upon closer inspection (and swatching) these are definitely my favourites! Hush Hush and English Rose are almost certainly MAC dupes, they go on beautifully and the finish really is moisturising. I mentioned in the Matte Effect swatch post (here) that I find nudes and pinks difficult to wear but the two in this formula are so flattering, it's like they were made for me! after the last post I had a few requests to show the colours on a full face to give an idea of how they really 'sit' on me, if you'd be interested in that let me know and I'll put together one monster collage of them all. The brights are equally as beautiful here but I just don't get as much opportunity to wear them so finding new, wearable every day lip colours is always great!

Again the packaging really has me hooked this time around, Miners are improving all the time and I'm pleased to be able to offer you a peek at their new line!

Available for £3.99 here

Miss BB

Soap & Glory - Kick Ass Concealer

I have been so slow (in beauty blogger terms) to pick up my first Soap and Glory cosmetic item. What inspired me to finally take the plunge was the voucher in my big splendour gift set at Christmas offering 200 bonus points when you spent £10 on the S&G makeup range (well done Boots, your marketing worked!). I bought the concealer because it reminded me of the Bobbi Brown corrective concealer duo's and the quality was very reminiscent of my old favourite Benefit Boi-ing.

Usually when I shop for a concealer I look for a skin tone match as I would with a foundation so this was a totally different direction for me as it has 2 shades, neither of which are my 'match'. The left side is a peach toned under eye corrector and the right is a yellow toned redness corrector for blemishes and such. As well as the concealer you also get a setting powder and a little pad with which to apply it. It's a really substantial, expensive feeling product from the drugstore!

The image above shows the under eye concealer on the left and the anti-redness concealer on the right. Below you can see the left half of my (rather miserable looking) face is concealed and the right is not, I have indicated where each shade has been applied...

This being the first thing I've tried from Soap & Glory (makeup wise) I will definitely be trying some more. It really impressed me and I've not used another concealer since I bought it a month ago.

You can buy your own here for £10 from Boots online

The shade I have is light (if that wasn't obvious)

Miss BB

Philip Kingsley - Round Two

I ummed and ahhed about this follow up post but in the interest of full disclosure, here it is..

Not so long ago I blogged about Philip Kingsley's Elasticizer. I received a free sample in my Glossy Box and couldn't wait to try it but was disappointed with my results. Not long after the lovely people at Philip Kingsley contacted me and asked if I'd consider reviewing a selection of products they thought would be more suited to my hair type. I received the Moisture Balancing Shampoo & Conditioner and the Elasticizer Extreme. They advised that the elasticizer must be used twice a week for 4 weeks to really see results and so that is what I did. I read numerous other reviews (all positive) to get hints and tips as to how they were making it work for them and sat for extended periods wearing the miracle pomade under a shower cap with my fingers tightly crossed. Unfortunately I had much the same experience as the first time and saw no visible difference to the condition of my hair. 

As I had been sent this product on the back of a less than favourable review I genuinely believed I was doing something wrong or that what they were sending would really would work for me so when it didn't I was at a bit of an impasse as to whether or not I should share my experience. I don't like to give something a negative write up if it has been sent to me, that's not to say I'd ever give a false review but if I don't like it I generally just keep schtum. In this case though I think it's less about the brand and more about me. 

Since I originally screwed up my hair and bleached it within an inch of it's life I've had it cut and I've treated it very well. I've avoided heat where possible and pampered it with masques and such until it's shiny again and almost (dare I say?) healthy. I've also been through a pregnancy which can be known to have restorative powers when it comes to hair, skin and nails. I think the reason that the Elasticizer didn't work for me is that I'm not longer it's target market. I still assume that my hair is dry and damaged but upon closer inspection it really is 100% better than it was this time last year.

I feel like I must take a minute in this sea of seriousness to take a look at the packaging. Very nice! It all feels very luxe and has a very mild 'salon' scent. The whole process of washing your hair is a little bit nicer when you're working with lovely looking things, is it not?

I will keep the treatment in my emergency hair box for such a time as I think I really need it because although it didn't work for me this time I do still believe it does work. I would like to mention that I did get on much better with the shampoo and conditioner! They are designed for "medium, textured, wavy hair types" which I will always be and my hair felt soft and manageable after using them. I'm disappointed that I couldn't give it all a glowing review but there are plenty of others who have.

The Elasticizer Extreme - £26.25 (link) and The Moisture Balance Shampoo - 250ml £14.75 (link) and Conditioner - 250ml £17.90 (link) are available at Philip Kingsley online

One last note I have to mention given my impending holiday. The shampoo/conditioner I received are travel sized (and so cute FYI) which led me to look them up online. If you're looking to try something from the brand but don't want to shell out for full sized products they have a whole range of "jet sets"

Which are totally adorable and so useful for trying something new or just to take on holiday! I'm considering purchasing one to take along to Las Vegas next month. They're just £19.99 each and can be found here

Miss BB

Peaches & Clean

This wonder stuff is my new cleanser. I was looking for something with a creamier consistency than my regular Liz Earle to use with my Clarisonic and this is absolutely it. It feels like a buttery soft lotion but I would never have used the word 'milk' to describe the consistency (as they do on the bottle). I consider a cleansing milk to be one designed to be used with a cotton wool pad whereas this is very much a soap and water kinda deal! Here's a look at what's inside the bottle...

I started using this and Loreal's Youth Code serum at the same time so I can't be sure which is doing something awesome but one of them is! My skin has never been so smooth. Contrary to what the name might suggest it has a fresh mint (not a chewing gum mint but a mojito mint) scent.. nothing remotely peachy. Very refreshing after a long day!

Peaches & Clean is available from Boots here for £7

Miss BB

EDIT - I've since been advised by Lee that is does indeed smell like peaches (as well as fresh mint) my mistake!

Whitney - A Not So Moving Tribute

Granted this is not my best work and I MAY have blogged this before (possibly) but given the recent passing of the legend that was Whitney Houston it seemed relevant! I will always be oddly proud of this video because despite the terrible quality and dodgy camera freezes it took a full day to film and edit and I don't think I could do it again if I tried so here I am doing my best miming to some Whitney Houston & Deborah Cox.. I'm sorry!

Miss BB

Emmas Little Lovelies

Last week a lovely reader called Emma contacted me and asked if she could send me a hand made necklace she thought was appropriate given my recent nuptials. It arrived beautifully packaged and with a lovely card. The necklace (below) is very cute and layers nicely with my birthday chain from Lee.

Having looked at her 'shop' online (link) she has some really sweet pieces and so affordable. My favourite has to be this Alice In Wonderland inspired necklace which is just 99p!!!

I love trinkety style charm jewellery and the hand made element of course.

She seems to be just starting out but I will be following her for sure to see what other designs she comes up with. Any other jewellery makers out there.. leave me your link in the comments

And thank you Emma for the lovely little gift 

Miss BB