Soap And Glory Thick And Fast Mascara Review

The full name of this beauty product is Thick & Fast Super Volume False Lash Effect Mascara, which is quite a statement as far as mascaras go. A mascara is the one product that most women can’t leave the house without and spend their lives trying to find the one that works for them.

As far as Soap & Glory’s Thick & Fast Mascara, and the bold title, goes, well, it’s mixed reviews. On the one hand, the price is right for almost everyone and the oversized brush combined with the quirky packaging puts the fun back into dressing your lashes.

However on the other hand, the formula is a let down. In the first instance, the results are good – lashes are given a good coating thanks to the wide brush and the deep, rich black shade is flattering.

While the mascara doesn’t dramatically change the appearance of lashes volume or lengthening wise, it does improve natural lashes and could definitely work as an everyday, work mascara.

Unfortunately, it isn’t waterproof and is prone to smudging. By the end of a normal day you’ll have to really squint and look close up to tell whether you have any mascara on at all.

If you’re still set on Soap & Glory’s mascara, use the zigzag motion with the wand and apply plenty of layers.

Soap & Glory’s Thick & Fast Mascara is £10 from Soapandglory.com.

Rating: 5/10 – This is a hard one to call as while it’s not an incredible beauty product, it’s price makes it slightly more alluring. For £10, this is a pretty good budget beauty buy, so I’ve given it a half way, middle of the road sort of score.

StriVectin Instant Retexturizing Scrub Review

StriVectin’s Instant Retexturizing Scrub feels like a rich, abrasive exfoliator as your massage it into your skin. However, while it removes dead skin quickly with little effort, skin doesn’t feel like it has been striped of all its moisture.

This is thanks to the inclusion of spherical jojoba beads. Softer on skin with no sharp edges, these beads cleanse skin without damaging it like some exfoliating grains.

The fresh minty scent of StriVectin’s face scrub makes it ideal for your morning beauty regime, although only use this scrub twice a week and make sure you have a rich moisturiser to use afterwards.

StriVectin’s Instant Retexturizing Scrub is £37 from SpaceNK.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – It’s expensive, but your skin feels so soft and smooth after just one use.

Aveda Petal Essence Eye Colour Review

A crease-proof finish is a tricky promise for any powder eyeshadow to make, but Aveda’s Petal Essence Eye Colour lives up to its claim. Using the waxes from jasmine flower, the eyeshadow has a silky finish that lasts.

While it does take several layers to achieve a darker, bolder shade, it is doable. Plus the eyeshadow is easy to blend if you want to create a smoky eye effect using just one shade.

Top tip: The eyeshadow doesn’t come with a brush, but using one makes applying much easier and achieves a neater finish compared to your finger.

Aveda’s Petal Essence Eye Colour is £11.50 from Aveda.co.uk.

Rating: 7/10 – My favourite is ‘Amethyst’, the colour is bang on trend for AW11/12 and it does last the day.

Nars Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner Review

As part of the 2011 Christmas collection, Nars has introduced two new shades of its Larger Than Life Longwear Eyeliner – both the purple and gold are perfect for the festive parties. While the whole range of shades are eye-catching (excuse the pun!) and can be matched with your party outfit, it’s the formula that makes the biggest statement with this eyeliner. 

The soft pencil literally glides onto your eyelids, allowing you to create thick statement colours or fine, feline flicks. In keeping with the name ‘longwear’, this eyeliner does actually last without the colour fading or smudging. 

As for shades, my favourite is ‘Campo De Fiori’ – great for channelling the metallic gold beauty trend for AW11. Be bold and brassy, and wear it thicker than normal to show off the colour and make an impact with your eyes. For a really dramatic look add a set of false eyelashes. 

Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner is £17 and available from Narscosmetics.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – Easy to use and the colour lasts for hours, it’s a great eyeliner for a night out.

Smashbox Halo Highlighting Wand Review

Smashbox's Halo Highlighting Wand is a truly genius beauty product. Whether you want to highlight and define your natural bone structure or channel the dewy skin beauty trend, this is a beauty bag must-have. The click-through pen means you can accurately measure the amount of product you want to use so the product lasts for longer, while the brush applicator makes it easy to sweep across your face. Together with the compact shape, this is a quick and easy highlighter to use while on-the-go.

The formula is equally as impressive as the packaging. The consistency is loose enough to use and blend into your skintone, and the flecks of glitter reflects light and brighten up your complexion. Use it over your foundation to lighten dark circles and define your brow and cheekbones. After a minute or so the formula dries and feels like a second skin. There's no sticky or powdery film and you can visibly tell the difference straight away.

Smashbox's Halo Highlighting Wand is £29 and available from Debenhams.com.

Rating: 10/10 - You can notice the difference straight away and it's so simple to use, this isn't a highlighter you need to practice using before heading out.

Dolce And Gabbana The Lipstick Review

The most appealing bit of Dolce & Gabbana’s The Lipstick is unfortunately its biggest downfall. From the delicate rose scent to the classic streamline appearance, this beauty product is reminiscent of the old lipsticks that my mum used to use.

Unfortunately the formula doesn’t seem to have developed much further. Not only does the colour fade and come off relatively quickly, the lack of moisturising ingredients means this lipstick leaves your pout feeling and looking dry.

Saying that, the range of sophisticated shades and the luxury Dolce & Gabbana packaging is incredibly persuading and means you can’t dislike this product too much. It’s also worth noting that when you first apply the lipstick is does feel creamy, just make sure you’ve got a lip balm at hand.  

Dolce & Gabbana The Lipstick is £23 and available exclusively at Harrods.com.

Rating: 4/10 – There are definitely better lipsticks with significantly lower price points.

Chantecaille Compact Soleil Bronzer Review

Using the latest micronising technology, Chantecaille's Compact Soleil Bronzer is incredibly soft and lightweight. The extra fine powder blends in well to your skin tone leaving a natural glow. 

This powder offers more than just colour though. Ginkgo biloba - a powerful antioxidant known for its anti-ageing properties - helps improve circulation and encourage naturally rosy cheeks, while wild rose extract builds on this by brightening complexion and is proven to help reduce the signs of ageing. With these two key extracts you can rest assured that this powder is actually improving your skin, while also adding a touch of colour.

Apply the bronzer to the apple of your cheeks rather than along your cheekbones to avoid the streaky look. Give your forehead, nose and chin a light dusting of the powder.

Chantecaille Compact Soleil Bronzer is £36 and available SpaceNK.co.uk.

Rating: 9/10 – This is expensive, but while most powders just add colour, this powder actually works to improve your skin underneath.

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil Review

Clarins has relaunched its Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil with a new pipet style application lid, which makes it much easier to use. However, there have been absolutely no changes to formula. Why? Because the formula can’t be improved anymore seeing as it is already made using 100% natural ingredients.

Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is one of three of Clarins rebalancing oils and targets tired, dehydrated skin. It’s easy to use, smells divine and genuinely does help to fix problematic, dry skin. 

While rosewood extract provides a spicy floral scent and helps to rejuvenate tired skin, fragrance favourite, patchouli not only lends its scent, but also promotes the growth of new skill cells, which makes skin look and feel healthier. Blue Orchid is another key ingredient, which works together with these extracts to replenish skins moisture.

Hazelnut oil helps retain all this goodness to keep skin feeling nourished for longer, and I can testify that skin definitely does look much healthier. Although the instructions recommend using it as a night treatment, you can use it first thing in the morning if your skin is feeling particularly dehydrated. 

Clarins face oil is perfect for calming down breakouts and gives skin a light glow and clear complexion. 

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is £33 and available from Clarins.co.uk - You only need to use three or four drops a night, so you really do get value for your money. 

Rating: 10/10 – Although I was reluctant and slightly nervous about using an oil at first, after a few days I saw the results and I’ve been using it religiously ever since.

Lancome Artliner Precision Point Liner Review

The search continues for the perfect black liquid eyeliner, next up Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner.

The first tick in the box comes with the sturdy foam tip, which provides enough flexibility to achieve a precise corner flick. The consistency of the liner is similar to that of a gel-point pen making it easy to draw on a straight line, second tick.

The third tick comes with the jet-black colour, which frames eyes perfectly making them look much wider. With a fast drying formula, not only can you easily line your lower lashes, but you also don’t get blink lines on your top lid, even when the eyeliner is first applied.

And finally, the last tick is awarded for the long-lasting wear. Whether you’re heading to the office or going dancing for the evening, this liner doesn’t budge, in fact it doesn’t even fade. Perfecto.

Lancome’s Artliner Precision Point Liner is £20 and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 9/10 – It’s a fantastic product, but nowhere on the packaging does it mention the essential word ‘waterproof’ – major downfall.

Read more eyeliner reviews and let me know which ones you rate.  

Laura Mercier Face Illuminator Review

The look of this powder alone makes it worthwhile buying, that is once you get over the fear of ruining the delicate rose mould.

Appearances aside, Laura Mercier’s Face Illuminator has a creamy texture, which blends naturally into skin tone and doesn’t leave a patchy powdery finish.

The pearly glow highlights cheekbones, but is much more subtle than bronzer and doesn’t give you a streaky look. Instead skin looks illuminated and because of the creamy formula, it lasts so you don’t have to keep applying.

Laura Mercier’s Face Illuminator is £31 and available from Johnlewis.com.

Rating: 9/10 - Skin looks brighter and healthier with this Face Illuminator and the packaging is beautiful, making it a great gift or a very special treat – either way, very worthwhile investing in.  

Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow Review

Burgundy is a key shade for AW11 both in terms of fashion and beauty, which makes Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in ‘Trace’ the perfect choice. Flecks of glitter give the rich colour a lift and makes eyes sparkle.

The powdery consistency makes the colour easy to blend, but to achieve a darker shade you need to apply the eyeshadow several times. When you do this watch for the over spill under your eyes.

Despite the powder formula this eyeshadow does last for at least eight hours and you don’t get a crease line, nor will it smudge around your eyes.

Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow is £21 and available from Boot.com.

Rating: 7.5/10 – It’s a good eyeshadow, but the price is a little off-putting. Although you’re buying into a luxury brand, you are only getting one shade, so you have to choose carefully.

Read other eyeshadow reviews.

Leonor Greyl Crème Moelle De Bambou Review

Parisian haircare brand, Leonor Greyl is reknowned for its luxurious (and expensive) range, which targets both distressed tresses and problematic scalps.

The formula for Crème Moelle De Bambou aka shampoo for long and dry hair is based on active ingredients like silk proteins and bamboo marrow, which restore hairs natural gloss and overall health to increase manageability. 

Unlike most shampoos, Leonor Greyl’s has a much thicker, creamier consistency and has a smell reminiscent of an old apothecary. It’s medicinal, but in a good way.

The shampoo comes with strict instructions to brush hair thoroughly before washing and to concentrate on massaging it into the scalp, which are worth following even if massaging your scalp five times does take ten more minutes.

While the shampoo doesn't lather up quickly or as much as other shampoos, hair does definitely feel cleansed and doesn't seem to get dirty or greasy as quickly. Plus dryness is reduced thanks to the natural ingredients and hair is left looking glossier. 

Like all Leonor Greyl products, this shampoo does come with a higher than average pricetag, but you will see results. It's perfect for dry, problematic hair and scalps, as quite often if you have longer hair your scalp doesn't always get enough attention. 

Leonor Greyl's Crème Moelle De Bambou is £20.95 from Michaeljohn.co.uk. 

Rating: 9/10 - it's not necessarily an everyday all-year-round shampoo because it is quite expensive, but if you're having trouble with your scalp or hair this shampoo is a good place to start.

Soap And Glory For Daily Youth Review

The catchy tag line and promise of giving skin a healthy glow with in seconds of applying it made me sceptical of Soap & Glory’s For Daily Youth 6-in-1 Superboost Moisture Lotion.

In keeping with the packaging the lotion has a hint of pink, but unlike Soap & Glory’s bodycare range, For Daily Youth lotion has a lighter smell, which reminds me of refresher sweets, in a good way. The consistency is looser and lighter than most moisturisers and blends into skin quickly without leaving a sticky residue.

With a mix of vitamin E & A as well as Soap & Glory’s highdration 365 complex, skin is given a full on moisture overhaul. This moisturiser is lightweight and doesn’t feel like it’s clogging up pores, making it perfect for every day use.

Surprisingly the lotion does actually give skin a subtle illumination and is great if you want a dewy finish, although you may need a little extra cosmetics help on that front.

Soap & Glory’s For Daily Youth 6-in-1 Superboost Moisture Lotion is £12 and available from Soapandglory.com.

Rating: 9/10 – You get a lot for your £12 with this product. Skin feels moisturised and looks healthy - it’s the perfect lotion to give your complexion a lift.

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow Review

The smoky eye is huge beauty trend for AW11 and a Christmas party classic. Benefit’s Velvet Eyeshadow in the new ‘Raining Men’ shade adds an instant glam factor to your look, and taps nicely into this season's metallic eye trend.

The teal shade is not as harsh and full on as your standard charcoal and the flecks of glitter brighten eyes and give them some added sparkle. With a powdery texture, this product is easy to blend and rework until you’re satisfied with your look.

Layer the eyeshadow with a brush along your eyelid following your lash line and concentrating on the outer corners, and then use your finger to smudge and blend across the rest of your lid and under your eyes. Use a brush to touch up and add more colour to the outer corner of your eyes to make them look wider. Finish with lashings of mascara and a flick of eyeliner along the roots of your eyelashes and voilà, a quick and easy smoky eye.

One thing to watch out for with this eyeshadow is it can smudge easily, so try using a good primer before to prevent it from smearing completely. A good eye make-up is also essential, otherwise you can wake-up looking like you’ve done a round with Mike Tyson.

Benefit’s Velvet Eyeshadow in ‘Raining Men’ is £13.50 and available from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 – The perfect shade for this time of year, although it will more than likely stay in your make-up bag well into the New Year. 

To get even more out of this eyeshadow, check out Aveda's Color Option Eye Shadow Transformer. 

Max Factor Elixir Colour Lipstick Review

Launched in September, the Elixir Colour Lipstick is definitely one of Pat McGrath’s best creations since taking the creative reins at Max Factor.

The wide range of shades is inspired by a woman’s wardrobe and there is a colour for every outfit. My favourite is ‘Firefly’ – it gives lips a hint of colour without being too loud.

The true triumph is in the formula though. A mix of shea and aloe butters as well as white tea and avocado leave lips soft and smooth with no need for lip balm.

Max Factor’s Elixir Colour Lipstick is £7.99 and available from Boots.com.

Rating: 10/10 – While you do still have to reapply after eating and drinking etc, this is a great value lipstick that doesn’t dry out your lips.

Dr Nick Lowe The Secret Is Out Lifting Super Serum Review

While this product has plenty of independent statistics to back up the tag line ‘proven to lift and firm skin’, to fully understand Dr Nick Lowe’s The Secret is Out Lifting Super Serum, you have to understand the doctor himself.

With a strong philosophy of a simple, regular skincare regime will result in more youthful looking healthy skin, its no surprise all of the products contain super foods such as acai and goji berries and are packed full of vitamins and natural oils.

The Secret is Out Lifting Super Serum isn’t an overnight wonder balm and you don’t feel the tightening feeling that you get with other anti-wrinkle products. Instead, this product is more of a slow burner and does offer reasonable wrinkle prevention, but it will take perseverance.

The consistency is good, although the serum does take a while to dry and moisturising on top is essential. Ingredients such as super berries and a peptide complex, which helps increase and restore elasticity, leaves skin feeling nourished and recharged, however visible line reduction can take at least two weeks of daily use.

Dr Nick Lowe The Secret Is Out Lifting Super Serum is £25.52 and available from Drnicklowe.com.

Rating: 7/10 – it’s good value for money, but it lacks the ‘wow’ factor.  

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Review

With a concealer and highlighter in one, it is not surprising that Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer is an award-winning product. While the concealer covers up dark circles, the highlighter enhances your complexion and makes your eyes look wider and brighter.

Both products work in harmony together with the concealer having a creamy texture, which is easily to blend in with your skin and the highlighter taking on a slightly more powdery consistency to increase the longevity.

For the best results use a moisturising eye cream beforehand as this creates a good base and makes it easier to blend the concealer. Although it’s not essential, I would invest in Bobbi Brown’s Corrector too, as this helps reduce the darker area of the inner corner of your under eye.

Once you’ve applied your concealer, add a touch of highlighter to the outer corner of your under eye along the very top of your cheekbones to give your face definition and brighten your eyes. 

Bobbi Brown's Creamy Concealer is £23.50 and is available from Bobbibrown.co.uk.

Rating: 8/10 - It's not the quickest product to use as blending the shades does take time, but Bobbi's concealer gives great coverage. 

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm Review

Ever since Clinique launched the Chubby Stick earlier this year, the product has shot to the top of many must-have of best of beauty lists. With a crayola style appearance it definitely doesn’t look like your standard lip balm, however the nourishing formula of shea butter and jojoba seed oil ensures lips are left feeling soft and smooth. 

The Chubby Stick also gives lips a hint of colour and, unlike traditional flat tipped balms, the pencil shape with a pointed tip allows you to draw it on with precision. 

While the £15 price tag might seem a little expensive, this lip balm does last and doubles up as a lipstick and balm in one, so it is perfect handbag beauty buy.

Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm is £15 and available from Clinique.co.uk.

Rating: 10/10 – A fun, yet practical product.

Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner Review

There is nothing skinny about this liquid liner. The felt tip is thick enough to create a striking line.

The tip is easily comparable to a marker pen, however it does have a fine point which allows you to draw on a precise flick Bridget Bardot style.

It’s not the best liner for under your eyes though as it doesn’t blend and it definitely wouldn’t work if you want to achieve a smoky effect. However, it is completely smudge-proof on your eye lid and lasts all day.

The turquoise shade is very bright and eye-catching, while the black version is dark (not quite jet black) and is perfect for every day wear.

Eyeko’s Skinny Liquid Eyeliner is £10 and available from Eyeko.com.

Rating: 8/10 – A great value product for everyday use.

Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara Review

Rimmel’s Glam Eyes Day 2 Night mascara sounds like a great idea - two caps allowing you to achieve two different looks within one wand. The results, however, leave you feeling somewhat indifferent.

                      

The first cap, the lengthening ‘day’ look, gives an even coating without clumping. While it does highlight the length of lashes, it doesn’t provide an outstanding difference, especially with naturally long lashes.

The second cap, aka the volumising brush gives eyelashes a sparse coating, so you need to apply a few coats to get a lot of volume.

The overall effect of using both caps together is a little underwhelming. However, while it doesn’t live up to expectations there’s no denying that this is a good budget mascara. It’s one of the cheapest available and doesn’t leave lashes feeling heavy or clumped together.

Rimmel’s Day 2 Night Mascara is £7.99 and available from Boots.com

Rating: 6/10 - An interesting concept that is good for the price, but not as revolutionary as it sounds. 

Dolce And Gabbana Glow Illuminating Powder Shimmer Review

This is by far one of the best products in Dolce & Gabbana’s cosmetics collection. Encased in the signature gold packaging, the illuminating powder screams luxury. However, it is what’s inside that really impresses. 

Feather light, this powder can be worn on its own or as a top coat for foundation without feeling too heavy or looking too much. 

The shimmer provides a natural, healthy looking glow, however it doesn’t last all day so you will have to keep reapplying. (Luckily it comes with a brush too).

Dolce And Gabbana’s Glow Illuminating Powder Shimmer is available exclusively at Harrods.com for £31.50.

Rating: 6/10 – This is a good product, however it’s more of an added extra rather than an essential beauty buy.

Benefit Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner Review

As liquid eyeliners go Benefit’s Magic Ink is pretty good. The narrow wand and fine brush make achieving a fine line easy, although precision does take practice if you’re used to sturdier wand tips. The formula does stay on all day give or take a bit of fading and doesn’t dry your eyes out.

However, there is a niggling issue with this beauty product and that is its promise of providing a ‘jet-black’ colour on the packaging. The formula is simply too watery to get a thick, rich black shade with just one coat. Instead you have to apply, wait to dry and reapply the eyeliner to reach a darker shade.

Overall it’s not a terrible product, in fact it’s nowhere near terrible, but there are better liquid eyeliners available that will provide an instant black line within the same price margins.

Benefit’s Magic Ink Liquid Eyeliner is £14.50 and available from Benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Rating: 5/10 – It’s not bad but it’s not great, it’s somewhere in the middle.

REN Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream Review

Moroccan Rose Otto is REN’s hero range consisting of a body oil, body cream, body wash, bath oil and body polish. The main ingredient, Moroccan Rose Otto is famed as being one of the most feminine scents around, so it’s no wonder it sells.

Naturally REN’s Moroccan Rose Otto body cream contains the signature ingredient, rose otto oil, which is a natural moisturiser and helps give dry skin a much needed boost of moisture. However, this not the only ingredient in the body cream offering nourishment, rosehip seed oil also helps to nourish and repair skin.

The cream itself is whiter than white in colour and has an incredibly luxurious texture. The pump makes it easy to apply, however you do need a fair amount of cream to cover your body, especially if your skin is dry.

Skin does feel softer and smoother and there is no greasy or oily film left once the product has soaked in.

Not forgetting the famous rose otto smell, which REN have balanced perfectly, so you enjoy the fragrance but at no point does it become overpowering.  

REN’s Moroccan Rose Otto Body Cream is £26 and is available at Renskincare.com.

Rating: 6/10 – This body cream does leave skin feeling noticeably softer and moisturised, however I’m not sure the effects justify the hefty price tag.

Decleor Hydra Radiance Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse Review

Decleor's Hydra-Radiance Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse was recommended to me a while back by a friend who promised I'd see results, so naturally expectations were high.

The product contains all the right ingredients you'd expect in a good cleanser - papaya extract for vitamin A and C, neroli oil to help heal skin and anti-ageing favourite, hyaluronic acid - so far so good.

First things first, this product goes a long way. Just one pump of Decleor’s cleanser will cover your face and neck easily. The formula lathers up into a foam as soon as it touches water, making this the perfect cleanser to use during the shower.

Although this is a foam cleanser, the formula has a distinctive creamy texture, which makes it feel luxurious to use. However, despite targeting all skin types this product does give skin a deep cleanse and strips away all of your natural moisture, so those with sensitive skin might find this cleanser too harsh.

Once rinsed skin feels squeaky clean and won’t leave it looking blotchy, however make sure you have a nourishing moisturiser to hand.

Decleor’s Hydra-Radiance Smoothing and Cleansing Mousse is £25 from Decleor.co.uk

Rating: 6/10 – While it does provide a deep cleanse, this is not a product for everyday use unless you have oily skin. 

If you're looking for a good gel cleanser, check out the Clarins Daily Energising Cleansing Gel. 

Orly Nail Polish Fowl Play Review

As nail polishes go Orly is one of my favourite brands for the simple fact that it doesn’t chip within hours.

Part of the Birds of a Feather collection, Fowl Play is a great shade for AW11. While it might look dark in the bottle, on your nails the colour is much lighter. The plum tone is flecked with glitter, which gives the shade a festive feel, making it perfect for the up and coming party season.

Orly Nail Polishes are available from Boots.com from £5 each.

Rating: 10/10 –  A gorgeous shade with a glossy finish. Two coats last for at least four days, what more could you ask for?

Percy And Reed No Oil Oil Review

Hair oil has really taken off in the last two years or so, however most are too strong or too heavy for fine hair. Enter Percy & Reed.

The brains behind one of London’s top hair salon’s, Percy & Reed have just launched their haircare range.

The No Oil Oil for Fine Hair has a watery consistency, which is much lighter and doesn’t weigh hair down, making this hair product perfect for styling.

With naturally conditioning and moisturising violet extract, this hair oil helps to nourish tresses, while pro-vitamin B5 strengthens hair. Unlike some hair oils, this one won’t leave a greasy film. Instead hair feels and looks instantly smoother and glossier.

There is only one downfall of this product and that is its heavy scent, which can be overpowering.

Percy & Reed’s No Oil Oil is £14 and is available from SpaceNK.co.uk. It’s also worth noting that this oil is available for thick hair too for the same price.

Rating: 8/10 – It’s a great product for fine hair, but the perfumed fragrance was too much for me.

Origins Grapefruit Body Buffing Cleanser Review

Exfoliating throughout winter is just as essential as it is during the warmer months, but often gets overlooked.

The beauty of Origins Grapefruit Body Buffing Cleanser is that it’s gentle enough to use as a daily body wash. The buffing grains are much finer, so it’s not as abrasive as some exfoliators and won’t strip your skin completely.

Zesty grapefruit is the key ingredient, which not only gives this product its fresh scent, but also works as a natural exfoliator and helps to loosen dead skin cells.

While this cleanser won’t fix dry, cracked heels, it will help remove dead skin from knees, elbows and under your arms gently and is definitely worth its high price point.

Origins Grapefruit Body Buffing Cleanser is £18 from Origins.co.uk 

Rating: 9/10 – At face value this is an expensive body wash, but it does double up as a cleanser and exfoliator for your body.

DHC Perfect Pro Double Protection Mascara Review

It’s the strap line that makes this mascara so intriguing, “Beauty From Japan”. At once, thoughts of a hi-tech beauty product that will transform lashes into super natural, volumised feelers spring to mind.

In actual fact if you keep reading the mascara promises merely to offer natural looking, defined lashes using cutting-edge technology.

Unfortunately there is nothing revolutionary about this product. Both the wand and the brush feel flimsy, the formula is too watery and although the packaging promises you only need to splash your lashes with warm water to remove the formula, you do need make-up remover.

While DHC’s mascara does coat the lashes with a black colour and separates them, it doesn’t do anything else.

DHC Perfect Pro Double Protection Mascara is £13 and is available from Dhcuk.co.uk

Rating: 2/10 – It does do what it says on the packaging, but the overall quality of this product is lacking somewhat.