Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara Extreme Black

Rosie has reviewed Rimmel Scandaleyes:

I am lucky in that I have quite thick, long lashes so just need a mascara that defines my lashes. I tried the Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara Extreme Black £6.99 as the bright orange packaging caught my eye.

The brush is massive and can be a bit difficult to use at first especially for the smaller lashes in the corners, however I am used to it now.  The mascara gives lots of volume but can go clumpy which I don't mind but if you don't like clumpy lashes then this mascara is definitely not for you. I used Extreme Black which is a deep black colour, very dense and I like this.  It takes a while to dry as it's quite wet but it does last the whole day without flaking off.  I like this mascara but would not say it's my favourite.

Plus points:  Lots of volume, lasts all day, good colour
Minus points:  Brush is very big, can get clumpy

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

I want to buy a good foundation but am on a budget so don't want to spend more than £10. I have combination, pale skin - please help.  Amy

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation is an excellent high street brand which retails at £10.99 but definitely worth the extra 99p!

It has a gel texture which means it's easy to blend and the light-medium coverage gives a slightly matt effect whilst giving the skin a radiance (Bourjois state that after 4 weeks of use you should see 69% more radiance to the skin).  The colours have a slight yellow undertone which is always flattering and will neutralise any redness on the cheeks.  There is a fruity smell but it's very pleasant and not overpowering.  If you get an oily t-zone some powder on that area will make sure everything stays in place for the day.

For me the closest high-end brand to compare it with is the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua and I know a lot of people say Healthy Mix is just as good.

The downside is this foundation does not come in tones for darker skins - come on Bourjois, we need more colours for this great foundation.

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Nude Lilac

Hope you can see the shimmer from my picture

I bought this Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Nude Lilac £18.50 as the colour looked so pretty - lilac with a subtle gold shimmer.

The clear, square tube means you can see the product clearly and the doe foot applicator is just the right size for application.  This gloss is not overly sticky and feels moisturising on the lips, it gives a wonderful shine and a slight plumping effect, however the lack of stickiness does mean that it doesn't last as long as some glosses.  There is a vanilla scent which I don't mind but this may be off-putting for some and I think it would probably be better off without it.

This is a lovely lip gloss that suits most skin tones and goes really well over lipstick the only thing that might put me off a repurchase is the price.

Weleda Pomegranate Firming Face Serum

Samantha has done a review on the Weleda Pomegranate Face Firming Serum*:

"I'm in my 40's and my skin does need attention so the Weleda Pomegranate Range £34.95 is perfect for me.  The packaging is very appealing - I love the red 'juicy' look.

You have to be careful on application as the product has a tendency to shoot out when you press down so what I do is carefully apply one pump (that's all you need) to the back of my hand, then apply to my face in specific areas.  Funnily enough, the skin on the back of my left hand where I put the serum now looks younger than my right hand.

I use this serum in the morning and at night after cleansing with my Weleda cleanser; it feels light and absorbs quickly and I apply my moisturiser over it with no problem and when that has sunk in I apply my foundation, which goes on smoothly.   I have dry patches on my face and an oily t-zone which are corrected by this serum.  I concentrate on the area near my eyes on my fine lines, around my mouth and under my jaw where the skin is a bit crepey.  I have noticed an enormous improvement very quickly - I look less puffy and tired.

I am very pleased with this product and when it runs out I will definitely be repurchasing. On the website is states 'Dermatological tests show that after 28 days of use depth of wrinkles reduced by 29% and skin moisture levels increased by 39%' and I can see that happening to me.  A 10/10 for me!"

*PR sample sent for review

Age prevention

I'm 24 and have good skin, however recently I've noticed some fine lines appearing.  What can I do about this?  Should I be using anti-ageing products?  Aislinn

In one of my favourite books 'Allure Confessions of a Beauty Editor' it says that "in your 20's prevention is the key for skin care."  Sun exposure ages your skin more than anything else so this means that your best friend for anti-ageing is spf.  Make sure you buy a daytime moisturiser and eye cream that contain a minimum of spf15.  If you can't resist sunbathing in the summer make sure you keep your face out of the sun and use a high protection sun cream with both UVA and UVB protection.

At 24 you are too young to start using products for anti-ageing but you will still need a good skin care regime.  This means cleansing twice a day (once in the morning shower, once in the evening), moisturising twice a day (morning and night, your night cream should not contain an spf) and using a gentle exfoliant once a week.

It's really as simple as that.

Neil George Volumising Spray

Do you have limp hair and find some volumisers rather sticky or heavy?  If so, Neil George Volumising Spray £18 might be the answer.  I came across this brand recently and was firstly drawn to the attractive packaging and then found that the brand was created by two British hairdressers who simultaneously moved to LA having never met.  Years later they met and set up the Neil George Brand.

The spray is used on wet hair before blow drying, there is no sticky residue and you get a lot of volume. It's infused with botanicals of Lime Flower and Orange Blossom and this gives it a pleasant smell.  I like this a lot and use it nearly every time I wash my hair.

Biscuit Friday

I just had to blog about these new biscuits that I've discovered by Roots & Wings, an organic company who use the finest organic ingredients made with the very best British craftsmanship. They were standing proudly on the shelves of my local cafe and the tempting packaging caught my eye.

The first pack I bought were the Crisp Orange Biscuits, a zesty orange biscuit covered in organic milk chocolate.  They definitely do not scrimp on the chocolate, it's a thick layer, creamy and delicious and goes perfectly with the zesty orange taste - totally scrummy and didn't last long.  The second were the Totally Tempting Toffee Caramel Biscuits.  These are an organic wheat biscuit, light and crisp, studded with toffee caramel - creamy and extremely yummy. They both remind me of biscuit versions of Ben & Jerry's.

After looking on their website I see that, as well as producing a small organic range of produce, they also make a range of natural body care products.

You can buy Roots & Wings in major grocery outlets and good independent stores.  They donate 10% of their profits to children's charities.

L'Occitane Lavender Cleansing Hand Wash

The L'Occitane brand is something that I got into about a year ago and I've now tried quite a few of their products, which I have been very happy with.  I bought their Lavender Cleansing Hand Wash £13.50 recently and it's another quality product from L'Occitane. It cleans my hands thoroughly, does not dry them out and smells gorgeous.  The smell is not like the traditional perfumery lavender smell, it is quite woody and rather lovely.

This is priced at the slightly more expensive end of hand washes but you get 300ml for that price and I think it's thoroughly worth it.

Sunday Commandments

When applying false eyelashes, trim them beforehand to fit and make sure you don't go all the way to the outer edge as this can drag the eye down, as well as not too far into the inner corner as this will look quite false.