Morning everyone! I was recently sent some exciting hair products to
try out from celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin’s new haircare brand OUAI! Looking
after the likes of the Kardashians and Chrissy Teigan’s hair I had high hopes
for these products and *spoiler alert* they didn’t disappoint! Called OUAI
after the casual slang for yes in French, this brand is all about getting good
hair (inside and out) the easy way.
First off let’s talk about the packaging. Chic, simplistic, understated
and I love the hexagonal lids of the shampoo and conditioner! All the products
have very generous sized packaging so even though they are more expensive than
your average drugstore hair product you really are getting value for your
money. OUAI products are also not tested on animals.
The OUAI Repair Shampoo* (RRP £22)is anourishing shampoo, free
from parabens and sulphates, designed to fortify breakage prone hair and leave
it feeling stronger and shinier. Although I have oily hair (with dry ends) I haven’t
found this too much for my roots at all and have been washing my hair as normal
every second day! It leaves my hair stronger and looking shinier and works
perfectly with theOUAI Repair Conditioner* (RRP £22).This is a moisturising shampoo that nourishes
damaged hair without adding weight which is perfect for my fine hair! I got it
cut about three weeks ago so it is in pretty good condition at the minute
anyway but it grows quickly and I use heat on it every day so the ends do tend
to get damaged!
OUAI’s range of shampoos share a signature scent which includes a blend
of Italian lemon, Turkish rose, jasmine, iris, lily and white musk while the range
of conditioners also share a signature scent – a blend of Italian lemon,
bergamot, rose de mai, magnolia, lily, blackberry, cedar wood, amber,
patchouli, sandalwood and white musk. I can definitely detect the slight
difference in scent but they both work together so well to create a long-lasting,
distinctive scent that lasts to my next wash!
TheOUAI Finishing Crème* (RRP £20)is a lightweight cream I've been using on the ends of my hair, it smooth’s
dry ends and gives hair extra shine! It also protects against UV rays,
pollutants and heat but I felt like I was missing out on this quality the first
few times I used it as I applied thecrème
after I was finished styling with my GHD’s. I now pop a little in damp hair before
blow drying and then a little more after I've finished styling and it works so
well to tame flyways while not weighing my hair down!
When I first saw the OUAI Wave
Spray* (RRP £22) I almost mistook it for the hair oil because of its
colour! The wave spray is a lightweight texturizing mist perfect for enhancing your
natural waves to give it perfectly undone look. I unfortunately don’t have a natural
wave to enhance so I rely on a wave wand to make my hair look undone! I spray
this liberally through the lengths of my hair when it’s damp and a little bit
into the roots then rough dry before taking different sized sections and wrapping
round my wave wand. I’m so impressed with the finished result! As my hair is
quite straight naturally, anytime I curl it I have to spray so much hairspray
or the curl will fall out almost straight away. To properly test the “memory”
claims this wave spray has I've been forgoing the hair spray and I can’t get
over the results! My waves last all day, they have a gorgeous texture that doesn’t
feel sticky or crunchy, it doesn’t make my hair greasy and it smells amazing too!
I’ll spray some more in my hair the next day, turn upside down and scrunch
upwards to get a bit more volume and texture. It’s also been forcing me out of
my comfort zone as a serial hair straightener! Like the shampoo and conditioner,
the wave spray contains similar notes contributing to its beautiful musky
scent. A perfume with the OUAI scent will also be released next year!
A cringey timer shot of me ruffling my hair after washing with the Repair shampoo and conditioner and using the Wave Spray and a waving wand - hope you can see the shine!
All OUAI Haircare products also contain what they call Smart Technology
– a cocktail of nourishing ingredients including amino acids, tamarind seed,
keratin, ama oil, hibiscus and jasmine to fortify strands, enhance moisture
levels, repair and protect from humidity. All these elements work together to make
my hair supper soft, shiny and yep I’m going to say it – swishy! Definitely a brand to try!
After getting home from holidays a few weeks ago the only
thing I wanted to do was soak in the bath for half an hour and pamper myself.
Unfortunately, due to a broken boiler my plans were scuppered and I was treated
to a cold shower instead! With everything back in working order now I thought I
take you through my usual pamper routine!
Starting with the bath, the ultimate treat is a great big Lush bath bomb to fill the bathroom
with a gorgeous scent and the bath full of bubbles! I savour every Lush bath I
take because I don’t take them that often as their products are so expensive.
They are the most gorgeous smelling, bubbly, relaxing baths though! I think
this is the So White bath bomb that I have had since Christmas, whoopsie! I used it last week and as well as smelling amazing. it made my skin feel so soft and supple! Cheaper alternatives include the magic wand I mentioned in last week’s empties post or the Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All Bubble bath.
While I’m waiting for the bath to fill I’ll usually dampen
my hair and pop a leave in treatment on to work its magic. At the minute I’ve
been using the Garnier Ultimate Blends Strength Restorer Balm* whichsmells of honey and leaves my hair feeling super soft
and manageable after I wash it out!
As a serial fake tan wearer, a good scrub is a necessity in
my pamper routine and Soap and Glory Pulp Friction along with a pair of exfoliating gloves is the best I’ve ever
tried! It has the Fruitigo fragrance and the little exfoliating beads are great
at removing tan (without hurting) and it gives a good lather so I don’t feel
like I am wasting product! Once I get out of the bath I will follow with a good
moisturiser like Soap and Glory Righteous Butter which is a thick cream that is easily absorbed and smells
amazing while keeping my skin feeling soft and supple!
To make sure I’ve got the days makeup off I’ll use a balm
cleanser like the MOA Green Balmwhich
is 100% natural and feels amazing to massage into my skin! As it’s multipurpose it
can also be used to soothe bites, eczema, bruises, grazes and is suitable for
sensitive skin and it’s so effective as a makeup remover.
I will then put on a facemask depending on what way my skin
is looking/feeling like. The Origins Clear Improvement maskis still one of my favourites and one I use
regularly when my skin just needs a refresh ready for the week ahead. I also
talked about it in this post about my Skincare Saviours! I’ll also apply Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask about once a week to give my skin a real
boost of hydration and I always wake up with plumper, softer skin after using
this! It smells amazing!
My feet were so dry after coming back from holiday, I
couldn’t wait to get my Burt’s Bees Coconut foot creamslathered all over them and I also put bed socks on for a few
hours to make it more of a treatment for them! This cream smells amazing and is
so thick it almost feels waxy and it makes my feet super soft within hours!
I’m also loving the Grown Alchemist Vanilla and Orange Peel hand cream at the minute, it absorbs so
quickly (a must have for hand cream), makes my hands feel so smooth and soft
and if you get a chance you need to smell this – it’s so uplifting and fresh!
Oh and it has one of those metal tubes for packaging meaning I get to use my
wringer when it starts running out J
Having a fresh mani/pedi also makes me feel pampered so
although maybe not straight after I’ve covered my hands and feet in cream I
will file my nails and, pop the toe separators in and pick a nail colour. I’m
loving Essie Virgin Snow at the
minute and it’s perfect for summer so that’s what’s been gracing my nails
recently along with OPI Nail Envy
(best nail polish ever) and Seche Vite
over the top to make it last longer!
*denotes
a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.
What are your pamper essentials? Have you tried anything
I’ve mentioned?
Hi everyone, I was tagged by the lovely Leanne to do the Summer Lovin’
Tag so here it is J
Favourite Perfume
I have the tiniest perfume collection because I am so picky with scents
but a firm favourite of mine is DKNY Be Delicious. I wear this all year round but it’s perfect in summer because
it’s so fresh and light! It lasts all day on me and I love pairing it with the
matching body lotion which I’ve just ran out of! This isn’t in the photo
because it’s impossible to photograph!
Favourite Lip Colour
This is a tough one for me because I love lip products! Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Lovers Coralis an old favourite and fail safe for me because it’s sheer enough to
apply without a mirror but just makes me look done and I love the coral colour
and shine for summer! A close second is Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk which I have become obsessed with since I
got it, I love the shade and it’s so long lasting!
Favourite Drink
If I’m out it’s a gin and tonic but I drink water constantly throughout
the day at work and I’m also partial to a Coke!
Favourite Blush
This is too hard, blush is probably my favourite makeup item and I own
so many! I do love Hourglass Luminous Flush though, it’s so brightening and makes me look really healthy! Well I
think so anyway!
I’m a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl but on holidays I lived in my
Topshop denim skirt and my ASOS denim pinafore in the evenings!
Favourite Movie
I do have films I like to watch at certain times of the year (Prince of
Egypt at Easter and Hocus Pocus at Halloween to name a few) but none that I can
think of in summer! I did use to set aside a day during the summer holidays to
watch all three Mighty Ducks movies though and D2 will forever be my favourite!
Can’t wait to see Suicide Squad this summer!
Favourite TV Show
All my TV shows seem to have come to an end now it’s the summer but I love
Blindspot, Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones and The Vampire Diaries!
Favourite Food
Pizza for life but also anything with chicken involved! I feel like I
eat bigger portions in winter but the heat in summer seems to make me fuller
quicker ha! Oh and ice lolly’s are a must in summer!
Thanks to Leanne for tagging me! I find it hard to keep on top of who
has done these tags but if you haven’t already done it I tag Velvet Blush,
Aisha and Ela!
Tell me some of your favourites in the comments below!
Hi everyone, I have another bumper empties post to share with you today!
Will try to get through the products as quickly as possible!
Haircare
VO5 Plump it Up Dry Shampoo
This is my favourite dry shampoo in the world! It smells amazing and
there is no white cast! I do already have a backup that I’m using but it’s my
last one as it seems to have disappeared from the shops again – sort it out
VO5!
Makeup
No7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder in
Translucent
I won’t bang on too much about this as it crops up a lot on here but
it’s my absolute favourite powder as it’s so lightweight and mattifying without
looking cakey! Already have two backups of this!
Max Factor Lipfinity Top Coat (Clear Balm)
I got this as part of a Lipfinity set but got rid of the first step
colour ages ago because I didn’t like it! I love the clear balm though! It has
a slanted tip in slim black packaging and it feels nice and hydrating and lasts
a long time on my lips. It’s not too glossy and is perfect to put over matte
lipsticks to keep the colour but make them feel a bit more comfortable! Won’t
be repurchasing as my house is coming down with lip balms and I probably won’t
in the future because the other half of the set is wasted on me!
Beauty Blender
This should maybe be in the miscellaneous section but it’s a big part
of my makeup so I thought I’d include it here! Before I got this I was using
the Real Techniques Miracle Sponge or my fingers to apply my foundation but
this is so much better! It applies my foundation flawlessly and blends it so
easily. This one is looking worse for wear now but lasted me ages and was well
worth the money! I think the RT version is good if you don’t want to spend so
much on a Beauty Blender but I prefer it and already have my backup out and in
use!
Skincare
Nivea Lotion
I won’t spend too much time on this because you are all probably sick
of hearing about it by now but it’s my favourite first cleanse as it’s so
creamy and hydrating and does a fantastic job of removing the bulk of my
makeup! Constant repurchase and I already have a backup open!
Eucerin Aquporin Active Revitalising Eye
Cream*
I’m so sad to be finished this! It’s a gorgeous lightweight gel/creme
texture with a metal tip applicator that instantly depuffs my eye bags and
makes me feel more awake! Will be repurchasing as soon as I finish the eye
creams I’m currently using! Full review here!
Oskia Renaissance 360 Anti-Aging and
Brightening Supreme Cream
This was a deluxe sample I got in a GWP at Cult Beauty and I really
liked it (although I wasn’t fussed on the scent), it was lightweight, hydrating
and sank in quickly ready for me to apply my makeup. It ran out a bit
unexpectedly so I can see now why people get annoyed at the cleanser as you can’t
see how much product is left and the bottle is weighty! I don’t think I used it
long enough to see any noticeable difference in my skin and it’s a little
expensive for me to commit to repurchasing!
Maple Holistics Vitamin C Anti-Aging
Serum*
I really enjoyed using up this serum and found it helped add more
hydration to my face especially round my nose and chin area. I loved the
texture of it too, it felt quite slippy yet sank in quickly. I probably won’t
repurchase as it’s more difficult to get your hands on in the UK and I’m
already using other products with hyaluronic acid but if it’s easier to get a
hold of for you I really recommend it! Full review here!
Caudalie Polyphenol Anti-Wrinkle Defence Serum
This little dropper bottle actually lasted me quite a
long time and I really liked it! It was very lightweight and sank in quickly
leaving my face feeling hydrated and refreshed! Would repurchase!
Soap and Glory Off Your Face wipes
I much prefer Soap and Glory makeup and bodycare to some of their
skincare, these wipes being a prime example! I used these exclusively for
wiping makeup swatches off my arms after taking photos for my blog as I hate
the smell of them – it reminds me a little of toilet cleaner? I’ve had them for
so long they started to dry up a little but that’s more my fault than the
wipes! Will not be repurchasing and I probably got them in a set rather than
purchasing them on their own in the first place! This is also probably the only
negative review of a Soap and Glory product you will see on my blog and I
generally love everything else!
Nivea Daily Essentials 3 in 1 Facial
Cleansing wipes
I bought these at the airport for a trip to Amsterdam ages ago and they
came in so handy for a quick cleanse while I was away. I’m not a massive user
of wipes so they generally take me ages to finish but these stayed moist the
whole time I had them and had a lovely scent! Would definitely repurchase for
another trip away!
Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels
I think I got these in a beauty box quite a while back and finally got
round to using them after an awful day with hay fever where my eyes were
standing on me and I couldn’t stop rubbing them! These felt so cooling and
relaxing and were really easy to apply. I had no issues with them sliding down
my face or anything, in fact they were stuck nearly a little too tight to my
bags and I had to move them a little further down to make them more comfortable
makes sense? Overall, a nice treat but I find one use things like these such a
waste of money so wouldn’t repurchase!
Eve Lom Cleanser
Again, I don’t normally put sachet samples in my empties as I don’t get
too many uses out of them but as this is such a hyped product I thought I would
include it! I got about three evening cleanses out of this as to be honest I
don’t see what the fuss is about, it did a good job of cleansing my skin but it
doesn’t smell great (I read someone ages ago describing it like old curry and I
have to agree!) and it would be too harsh for me to use every night as it has
little exfoliating particles in it! Wouldn’t repurchase it and will be sticking
to my other balm cleansers like Emma Hardie Moringa!
Bodycare
Nivea Powerfruit Fresh Shower Gel
I am obsessed with the acai berry scent of this! It’s obviously not
your average Nivea creme scent that I love but it’s amazing, it’s so fresh and
not overly fruity! You need to pick this up and give it a sniff! Will
definitely repurchase!
Nivea Sun Moisturising After Sun Lotion
I bought this a few weeks ago to take on holiday and literally finished
it yesterday so it has snuck into this already overloaded post! It’s not my
favourite Nivea product by a long shot as it doesn’t have the usual scent that
I love but it felt lovely and cooling on the few patches of sunburn I managed
to get on holiday (and felt even better as I had kept it in the fridge!) It
didn’t manage to help with the prickly heat I got on holiday though so I would
probably try something else next time!
Soap and Glory Hand Food Hand Wash
I got this in the Christmas sale along with the big hand cream pump
which it still full because I keep forgetting about it in the kitchen! I love
the scent of this but probably won’t get it again to Christmas time!
Yes to Carrots Moisturising Hand Cream
for Normal to Dry Skin
I absolutely hated this! I was determined to finish it though and I’m
so glad I did! It’s a really runny cream that makes my hands somehow feel more
dry and while it doesn’t have a strong scent, it doesn’t have a good scent!
Worst hand cream I’ve ever tried, will definitely not be repurchasing!
Ladival Sun Protection SPF 30
I got this quite recently in the Latest in Beauty Glamour Summer Edit beauty box (what a mouthful!) and it was the perfect size for a week away! It’s
not my favourite sun lotion as I found it never really sank or dried in even
though it was meant to be non-greasy. I also found the spray quite messy so
sprayed in into my hand to apply instead of directly on the skin. For those
reasons I wouldn’t repurchase, however, it did offer great protection from the
sun and kept me from getting burnt so if you can get past the tacky/sticky
feeling it might be one for you! Full review here!
Nivea Creme Tin*
I love this little tin of Nivea creme! The texture is so different to
anything I’ve tried before, at first it reminds me of Sudocrem but once you
start rubbing it in it goes a little more watery. It’s hard to explain but I
love this for the back of my arms and find it really helps with any Keratosis
Pilaris I have although I usually only apply it at night as it doesn’t sink in
quickly! I got sent two of these so have already opened the second! Full review here!
Nivea Sun SPF 30 Caring Roll On*
Another product that featured in my Poolside Essentials post a few weeks ago,
this was a life saver down by the pool! I used it to reapply on areas where I
felt the lotion I had applied before coming down was starting to sweat or rub
off so my feet and round my bikini were replied regularly with this! It smells
amazing, sank in quickly and kept my skin protected! Would repurchase!
DNKY Be Delicious Body Lotion
I love layering up this body lotion with the perfume and it lasts all
day on me! It’s quite a creamy, runny consistency that’s lovely and
moisturising! Be Delicious is such a fresh scent, I wear it all year round but
it’s perfect for summer! I don’t have a backup of this but I will definitely
buy it again in the future (usually get it in gift sets!)
Sure Maximum Protection Anti-Perspirant
I don’t think I’ve actually ever included an anti-perspirant/deodorant
in my empties before but I finished this just before I was taking photos so
threw it in! This is a constant repurchase for me and I actually use it at night
more than during the day. The instructions say it’s more of a treatment and
works best if you apply at night then I’ll just use a standard deodorant during
the day. It helps protect against armpit sweat and I’d say it does a pretty
good job so may be one for you if you are a Sweaty Betty like me!
Prismologie Pink O’ Clock Hand Cream and
Indigo Interlude Foot Cream
I got these minis with a Space NK order a while back and really enjoyed
using them! They are very strongly perfumed and I particularly liked the scent
of the foot cream which has quite an aftershave scent to it! Both were lovely
and hydrating and sank in quickly but I probably won’t purchase the full sizes
because I have other hand and foot creams that do the same job and are much more
affordable!
Misc
Lush Magic Wand Reusable Bubble Bar
I got this in a Christmas gift set and couldn’t believe how many baths
it lasted me – it was originally in the shape of a pink star! I generally find
Lush overpriced and refuse to buy anything unless it’s in the sale or in a gift
set but this I would repurchase tomorrow! You just wave it under a running
tap and it creates so many bubbles and is scented of Snow Fairy! My skin always
felt so soft after having a bath with this too! It’s limited edition at
Christmas but they do a flamingo one all year round!
Congratulations if you made it to the end of that! See my last empties
post here!Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?
*denotes
a PR sample that was sent to me. All opinions are my own.
