Samples Review

Just thought I would share with you a few of the samples I have used over the past couple of months. Samples are such a great way to get a feel for the product before buying, you can often use testers in the shops but having a sample at home means you can really use products how you want a get a real feel for them and how they will work for you.

First up, Nivea Anti Age! This felt really silky on my skin and has added bonus of spf 15. It absorbed quite slowly which isn't ideal with a face moisturiser, you want it to sink in you you can get on with your day, my skin still felt sticky for 5 mins afterwards. In terms of anti-wrinkle benefits, you can't tell from one try! It smelt really nice and fresh...but I got some in my mouth and it tasted gross!

Available here for £14.99

Garner Ultra Lift moisturiser was thin, light and quickly absorbed in to my skin. There was no smell which was a bit disappointing. You only need a small amount if product so will last a long time.

Available here for £9.99

Nivea Soft felt fresh and clean and it asorbs quickly it to your skin. It's a versatile moisturiser, and at a bargain price think I may get one to keep in the car for emergencies and after being out in cold weather
Available here for £4.28!

Clinique Super Primer felt more like moisturiser than other primers I'm used to as it was thick and white. It sat nicely on the skin with a silky texture and had no fragrance. For a premium skin care band I don't think this is too pricey, sample provided 1ml and was more that enough for my face and neck.

Available here for £20 for 30ml

Has anyone else tried any of these products? What do you reckon?

#MJDaisyChain

This weekend Marc Jacobs have opened a pop up 'Tweet for a Treat' shop in Covent Garden.
I read about it first on Ashley's blog and with an open weekend ahead of me I decided to head on up.
The concept is that you put out a tweet or a vine with #Mjdaisychain show it to the staff who will give you freebies in return, some of the selected tweets could also win bigger prizes like full sized perfumes, bags and sunglasses.
These were our entries...

I know, we're hilarious...

Unfortunately we didn't win any of the bigger prizes, but we did each get a keyring, mini bottle of Daisy and Daisy Dream.

You could also exchange you tweets for a manicure or coffee and macaroons. Inside the shop was really cute with fake grass, log benches, swings and flowers to make it feel like a daisy garden. A DJ was playing and the tweet and images were projected on to a wall behind.

Look, there's mine!

Afterwards we went and had some lunch on the top of the Master Chef Street Food Bus!

And there was a big Radley Dog

And on the way I home I got this drink from M&S and it was totally delicious 

All in all, a good day out!

Anyone else planning to go along this weekend? It's worth a try, and good luck if you do!

New Hair Day!

Today is the day, I have been counting down the days since I last left- its New Hair Day!!

I went through a phase, a long phase, of hating going to the hairdressers, the awkward conversation, staring at yourself in the mirror for ages, the cost... Anyway for about 6 years I'd been going to a home hair dresser, bit a hair disaster caused an emergency trip to the salon and now I love it!

Anyway, before we see 'new' hair, I thought I'd treat you to a bit of my Hair History...

Let's start here in 2006 when I had natural coloured hair cut just past my shoulders, layered with a sidey fringe...and me and

and Nicola wore sunglasses inside.

Sticking with natural colour, slightly longer hair and a chunky fringe.

I clearly got bored with having so much hair, so chopped half of it off, grew out the fringe and pulled dodgy faces at the beach.

I dyed it brown, but clearly wasn't sure about it at this festival!

I then went a step further and dyed it black! Sticking with the same long length and side fringe. It stayed this way for quite a few years, dying it at home and getting a trim when it needed it.

By 2011 me and the bathroom towels had had enough of the black dye and I decided to go back to blonde. I actually really like this colour; kind on a blonde-ginger ombre. The bottom colour is where my hair was dark, but where a light colour went on my natural hair it was much lighter.

It eventually turned this very light barbie blonde and saw me through many a festival, Christmas party, Halloween and wedding.

This is when the hair disaster happened- I fancied a bit of a change and wanted to try balayage style to give some extra tones to my hair, what I ended up with was orange roots and green tips! Needless to say it called for the experts and off to the salon I went.

Ending up like this! I like it and it's quite close to my natural colour... Christopher doesn't look so sure!

This was my hair this morning, as you can see it's pretty long and I love the colour but think for summer I may try to go a shade blonder....

 A few hours later...ta da! A shiny brighter, lighter blonde with no more roots! Lovely!

Anyone else had any hair disasters recently?! Or past hair horrors?! Share below!

Roaccutane Days

Since the documentary about the roaccutane drug 'Dying For Clear Skin' was shown on the BBC late last year it has come in to the public eye in a very negative way. During 2011 and 2012 I did two 3 month courses of the drug and wanted to share my experience for any one who is considering seeing a dermatologist for their acne.

I had terrible skin since I started secondary school, staring out with a few little red spots on my nose to eventually covering my whole face. My mum first dragged me to the doctors when I was about 13, I didn't really want to go, I wasn't that bothered about my spots- teenagers get spots right?! On this first visit I was prescribed some topical solution to be used in the evening. All went well and after a few weeks I noticed an improvement...then it stopped. Back to the doctors, another cream which worked then stopped on to antibiotics, creams, gels, contraceptive pills, hormone balancers...this went on for the best part of 10 years of my life. Outside of the prescribed medication I tried all the various anti-spot over the counter medicines, you know the ones- Freederm, Clearasil, Tee Tree Oils. Went to various places for facials and glycolic peels. Just like with everything, there was good times and bad times with my skin, but once I got in to my 20's it really started to bother me. I was too old for spots now.

I tried not to let it affect me, just hide it all under make up and no one would notice. But as I stood each morning caking my face I thought; I shouldn't have to be doing this. There were a few occasions where I thought I looked so bad I missed social occasions making up an excuse to stay in.

Enough was enough and back I went to the doctors. Having looked through everything I had been prescribed over the last 10 years she decided there was nothing else for it but to refer me to a dermatologist to be considered for roaccutane. She gave me a leaflet and warned me about possible side effects, but st that point I was desperate and ready for the next thing!

I had to go to our local hospital to meet with the dermatologist. I was weighed, measured and asked to do a pregnancy test before she handed over my new prescription. She told me to be aware of my mind and my body and to take the tablets accordingly, up to 3 a day.

I started the course that night and saw results really quickly. No new spots were coming through! Finally! All I had were the ones already on my face.

However, during this time side effects also kicked in. I was warned by a friend that I would 'dry up' and they weren't wrong! My lips became very chapped and I was piling on lip salve every 5 minutes, and putting chapped nipple cream (designed for breast feeding!) on the corners of my mouth as they were splitting and bleeding. You have to put factor 50 on everyday to stop your skin drying out, but despite this I could still pull it off in sheets with tweezers- disgusting! You get dry eyes and have to carry around eye drops and be careful driving. You get nosebleeds as the skin up your nose cracks. Even your lady parts are affected! One of the plus sides was that my hair didn't get greasy...ever! This was a blessing during festival season!

All of his makes it sound like a terrible experience, but it really wasn't. I watched happily as my skin quickly cleared and transformed to match everyone else's around me. If I found these effects were bothering me I simply dropped down to 1 tablet until symptoms had eased. I never progressed to 3 tablets. 

For the 'mental' side of things, I felt no different. I was happier as my skin was clearing! I do understand that there are negative mental side effects causing depression and anxiety which is why it has to be prescribed by professionals and for a short course. You have to go back to visit the dermatologist before you can collect your next prescription to be assessed, so if you have any worries or concerns this is the time to speak out or adjust your dose. For me it was a miracle and I'm so glad I took it. Two years on and my skin is still great! Of course I still get the odd little spot, who doesn't.

 Now I have rambled on enough...but I hope this is helpful to any one who is going through or considering roaccutane treatment. What's your experience, or do you have another wonder drug? Let me know in the comments below!