L'oreal Hair Expertise Pure Colour

I go through a staggering amount of shampoo and conditioner in a month. I can't stand a day that goes by when I don't have shiny clean hair, even using dry shampoo for a full day makes me feel extra manky and I can't wait to throw myself under water in the evening. I tend to stick to the same brands like Aussie and Garnier, but I occasionally branch out when I'm feeling wild. The last trip to Boots was a little like that.

There was an offer on, as there always seems to be and I got happily sucked in by it. I've always wanted to try L'oreal shampoo but when other things are on offer for less, I tend to stay clear. Not this time though and I picked up the (purple of course) shiny Hair Expertise Pure Colour radiance enhancing system dazzling colour and volume shampoo and conditioner for flat, coloured hair. Why in the name of god products have to have names the length of today and tomorrow, I will never know. But thats the only time I'll be tying that out for this review! There are several other shampoos conditioners and treatments in this range, depending on your hair type or how soft, shiny, ect you'd like your hair. I'm always impressed by the overwhelming choice there is, just for your hair. But considering my hair is three different shades and very dyed, I went with the coloured option.

I wasn't expecting amazing results with these, as they were a little fancier and more expensive. A lot of the time, cheaper can be better. I have also noticed Fleur DeForce go on about them, so I wasn't sure if I subconsciously bought them because of that. I'll admit that I wasn't a massive fan of the scent, I'm a lover of floral and sweet smells, but these have rosemary and mint oil in them. It took some getting used to, but I've come to like it as the product is too good to not use just because of the smell. Both of them have no sulphates in them, which means they wont strip the colour from hair. I kept note of how my hair colour stayed after every wash and I never noticed any colour wash out during showers. Already a massive plus, as I had only recently used a lovely shampoo that managed to strip almost all of the purple out of my hair with just one use. I wasn't a happy bunny. 

Apart from them not touching my colour, one was by far better then the other. The shampoo was nice and did the job, but it didn't wow me. I'd get it again purely as I know it wont take my colour out. But the conditioner was the one that really stood out for me. It made my hair incredible soft and gave it a noticeable shine after use. I really loved using it and I'll be buying them both again, especailly for the conditioner. And the shiny purple packaging doesn't hurt either! I'd love to try out the other products from L'oreals Hair Expertise range, just to see what its like! These are currently €7.88 each, but there is a 3 for two offer on them at the moment in Boots.

Have you tried any of the L'oreal Hair Expertise Range?

Empties #4 Photo/Review Heavy!

I have really long hair, I dye it all the time and wash it every single day. Man I use a lot of hair related things, I know that. But its not until I looked in my box of empties under my bed that I realised  I go through a feckin' lot of stuff! (And were not going to talk about the wardrobe full of hair stuff either, no sir.) So this is just mainly going to be a quick look at what I've used up in the past few months with links to some of the products and mini reviews of the rest! Sorry for the length of this post, but I think its a nice way to see what I really love and what I'll never buy again, all cut down into one post!

Lets start with the hair considering I have been banging on about it so much. 5 conditioners, 1 shampoo and a thickness booster. Cos' thats just how I roll. I've had loads of other shampoos but I normally throw them out and forget to save them. I think its clear by now how much I love Aussie, have a look at my review of one of my beloved Aussie conditioners here.

The blogger world went mad for L'oreal Elvive's new Fibrology range that came out a month (or two?) ago. Everyone was running to the shops to nab the shiny blue bottles. One of the things that caught my eye was their thickness booster. I read rave reviews and couldn't wait to try it out as I'm always looking for new things to give my hair that va-va-vooom! I was going to write a separate review for this but after using it I was so let down that I didn't bother to. It was hard to use in the shower as the tube was a screw off cap and when your holding a blob of conditioner, your wishing for that third hand to magically grow. The product itself makes your hair more course on the first wash, but after that I couldn't see any difference from using it. This was a big let down and a pricie one at €7.69 a pop. 

I used the LeoBancroft and HeadMasters together as they were on sale in Tesco and I can never say no to sales. I really loved both of them and if I see them on sale again I'll definitely pick them up. They smelt lovely, made my hair super soft and didn't weight it down at all. Big thumbs up here. Plus would you look at the fancy packaging? These are the types of bottles I invite people over to my house to look at. Oh yeah. I also picked up Timotei golden highlights conditioner in Tesco too. Keep an eye out for it if you can get your mitts on one! Have a look at my review of it over here. It leaves your hair silky soft. 

Next is all the necessity bits that you really can't do without. A little travel size Soleil lady shaving gel, I think I picked this up on offer a while ago. Its a really handy size and like this gel but Tesco own brand is way cheaper and you get much more product for your money. Its also easy to use, smells nice and is in a purple bottle. (but mainly cos' of the purpleness.) Two bottles of Batiste that I can't live without, but I have been using way more of the Timotei dry shampoo recently, I think Batiste has major competition there. I also have a billion deodorants as well, no one likes the thoughts of smelling anything but delightful! I love Nievas anti-white marks sprays. I did a review of the battle of  Vaseline .v. Nivea roll ons over here if you fancy a goo.

Way back at Christmas I was excited to try out Lush's new Rudolph face mask but after just one use I knew it really wasn't for me and was a major let down. It had a really odd consistency that was hard to spread across your skin with large chunks falling off. I felt the mixture was poorly thought out and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I hope Lush don't bring it back next Christmas and work on something else instead. On the other end of the scale then two things that I really loved.
The first is my Marks&Spencers New York perfume that I have a review of over here. The smallest size is about €7 and is perfect for throwing in my handbag. I get so many compliments when I'm wearing this and I have since bought two more. Can't get enough of this stuff!

Moving away from the cheap and cheerfuls for a second to talk about No7. I got this lovely little Cleanse and Clear eye make up remover in a set and used it like it was liquid gold. I can't wait to run to my nearest Boots and pick up another one. Its a tad pricy around €11.50 but I think its too good not to get. It doesn't irriate my skin or my eyes, gets all the make up off in seconds and theres no scrubbing the life out of your eye balls to achieve a clean face. Winning!

 Anatomicals have some really great products and some really crappy ones. I've blogged about both kinds and I'm still on the fence with this anti-stress face mask that I got in a beauty box. Did I think it did much? Not really. I might pick it up just to try out again but I wouldn't go out of my way to look for it. Theres better stuff in their range to try. Look at my review of their throb head here. Another little packet is this argan oil hair mask that I picked up in Penneys for about €2. I loved this, made me feel fancy and my hair silky with added bonus of a lovely smelling head! I'll definitely be picking this up again soon, so should you!

I made my way through all of my Body Shop shea butter body scrub that I have a full review of over here and my oh so gorgeous shea shower cream. I will be running full speed to the Body Shop for more of their shower cream, this was such a lovely treat in the shower! It was easy to apply, didn't leave my skin feeling like theres was a layer of goo on it, left me feeling soft and smelling quite divine, if I do say so myself! Make sure and have a sniff next time your passing by one of their shops, its good stuff!

I managed to polish off a Cocoa butter from Marks&Spencers and a non scented moisturiser from Boots own range over the past few weeks. I liked both of these but doubt I will pick them up again. I didn't feel a massive difference in my skin after using them and felt they were both a little heavy and I had to do the Flappy Cold Dance of Doom in the bathroom to help them dry. Lets just say I feared some of my bits would fall off and not make it. Apart from that, they were those 'meh' products that you have a more or less neutral  approach to.

 Last in this pile is my Lush the olive branch body wash. I am really sad that I came to the end of this bottle and don't know if my will power will hold up until my Lush ban is over in September. This smelt really great but from talking to others its a marmite kind of preference for some. Apart from smell, this left my skin really soft and a tad oily so there was no need to moisturise after. If my hair was really uber dry I sometimes washed my hair with it to give it a mini extra condition and tlc! All rounder this bottle.

I can't even say a bad word about the lot above. My Catrice concealer holy grail has been banged on about so much. One of the reviews is over here with much better photos! Same goes for the Benefit dupe of the year, Seventeens phwoarr paint concealer. I have a rave review of it here. Both of these concealers are so cheap and work so well you would be mad to fork out for high end products that might only work half as well!

Next my two favourite foundations, Rimmels perfect match in ivory with a spf of 18 and Seventeens on the spot foundation that has spot reducing ingredients. I have gone through countless bottles and tubes of these two and if I'm having a really awful skin day, I mix the two together for a fuller coverage that works a treat. Both of these are under €10 each and Boots is doing a lot of 3 for 2 offers at the moment, might be the time to stock up!

Lastly my favourite liquid eyeliner that I have used for easily 5 years now, Essence. Its €3.09, it stays put and the applicator is so easy to use. These should be like hens teeth but you can get them in Penneys and a lot of chemists. Wonderful! Lastly is my Urban Decay eyeshadow base. I don't use eyeshadow bases a lot, but when I do I use this and have no words for the lasting results. I can see why its a cult product!

Get Thee To The Cosmetic Outlet!

I heard about the Cosmetic Outlet all the way back last year when I went to Sam's bloggers Dublin Meet Up as they sponsored some prizes and gave everyone goodie bags, the dolls! Since then I regularly drool over my news feed on Facebook looking at all the great things they have in stock. I have said time and time again that I will visit the shop but something has always come up. Not yesterday though, no sir. I hopped off the bus and headed straight to Meath St. (with the help of Google maps) Holy god I didn't realise what I had been missing. I originally went with the intentions of getting a w7 In The Buff palette (€10) as they are meant to be close dupes of the Naked 2 palette. Look below at the colours, isn't it just lovely?  

But what I didn't bank on was the owner of the shop, Paul, being such a gas fella and having so much more in his shop (that I drooled over) then I had first thought. So naturally I got a few more things and even some Mothers Day bits as it would have been rude not to with those prices! Have a look below and then wipe the drool off your mouth. I know right, uber pretty? I got the blue one (€10) for my granny for Mothers Day - she is going to go wild when I give it to her, she loves her glam jewelry. I might have also picked up a pink chunky necklace (€15) for myself, I couldn't help it. I nearly purred - yes purred, over the collection of different necklaces Paul had to offer and I know for a fact that I'll be going back to get another statement piece. (It's got wings on it and a mask like face. Oh mammy its divine.)

As I was chatting away I mentioned I'd pick up some things for the mammy and granny. Paul very kindly made up two Mothers Day gift bags for me and put all the things I got for them into it. Aren't they really lovely? Bows, dotted cellophane and cute bags! You can get these already made up with loads of different things to choose from inside. Have a look at the photos below to see some of them. Or you can have your pick if you go onto The Cosmetic Outlet Facebook page. They start at €10 which really are a bargain - and we all know how much I love a bargain!

  

I also got YesTo products that are stupidly hard to find in shops in Ireland. But they were on offer 3 for €10. How could I say no to that? I picked up a L'oreal collagen re-plumping cream and MaxFactor mascara for the mammy and a mens Burt gift set for a birthday present. Its not just ladies products they had to offer as I roamed the shelves, there is a wide range of mens products too. 

 If that wasn't enough, Paul kindly gave me his new Madison brushes to try out (I felt them in the shop, they are so soft! I can't wait to give them a go and write up a review) and also some w7 products since I came in for the w7 eye shadow palette. I doubt you'll see me come out of the house this side of Christmas with all the things I have to play with now! 

I can safely say I will be going back to the Cosmetic Outlet again soon as I have my eye on a few more things (in the region of €70, so I'll bring the fella along too. Just to carry the bags, honest..) One of the jems I'm drooling over is the pink handbag below, it just screams take me home. I can't get over the range of products they stock like Vichy, GreenAngel, Cocoa Brown, Shiseido and more. Not to mention how friendly and helpful the staff are. Oh and the next to nothing prices, thats a definite winner in my books! 

So go on now, get thee to the Cosmetic Outlet and tell them I sent you!

L'oreal's New Skin Perfection 3in1 Purifying Micellar Solution

 Last to the party as always. Hello, sorry I'm late. Are there any mini sausages left? 

Blog land has been going mad the past while with L'oreal's newist product and after reading many reviews and looking at it in Boots I found it in Tesco one night on special offer - it would have been rude not to buy it.

Girls and boys I can't express how happy I am that I nabbed it, its just the best. The brand spanking new skin perfection 3 in 1 purifying micellar solution 200ml gets rid of make up like no other product I have ever tried - no exaggeration. It claims to dissolve make up, unclog pores and remove impurities, tone and soothe the skin. Honesty seems to be a big thing for this product as it does just what it says on the front. 

This solution is a multi purpose product, used for face eyes and lips, acting as a make up remover, toner and skin smoother. Handy thing to have if you don't fancy getting out all your potions and lotions or if your trying to pack lightly when travelling. It suggests leaving the skin perfection soaked cotton pad against your eye for a few seconds and then just wiping away, taking with it a lot of eye make up. Thats a big yay! for me as I always end up scrubbing at my eyes desperately trying to get mascara off my lashes.

I was surprised how water like this is, with no alcohol, no perfume and hypo-allergenic. This is suitable for all skin types, so that means us sensitive skin people! It doesn't sting my skin or eyes and theres no make up or grim left on my face after using this as I've tested it out a few times now, cleaning my face again with different cleansers just to see if anything more came off. I can't give this any more praise without writing sonnets. This is going to be something I've recommend to friends, got my family to try out and I think I might even get one or two bottles for Christmas (yes, I've said Christmas before its even Halloween. Don't hate me, just planning ahead!)

Have you entered my Halloween giveaway yet?

NOTD: L'oreal Sublime Platine

I had to do a NOTD to tell you all about a nail varnish I picked up on sale in Boots a few weeks ago for only €4, but I think its normally at the €6 mark. Its L'oreal Colour Riche in Sublime Platine 819 and as you can see, its a gorgeous silver that is so eye catching. 

The first time I used it I could not get over how much I kept looking at it and how beautiful it looks on. You will only need one coat of this as it is a more high end product (then what I normally use!) that deserves the name. The brush is wide and easy to use, none of this blobs and painting one nail for 5 minutes business.  This will stay on your nails for about 2 days before it starts chipping. The second time I used it I put on a finishing coat and it lasted me nearly 3 days but I accidentally bit my nail and it started chipping, oh dear. Taking it off is really easy too with one cotton pad soaked in nail varnish remover doing all my nails in one go. 

I have also been eyeing up Barry M's glitter nail paint in Amethyst Glitter that I think would go so well as a top layer with this. I may just pick it up! I would highly recommend having a look through L'oreal's massive nail colour collection and see if anything takes your fancy as these are amazing varnishes and I know I will be getting more of in the future. 

Whats on your nails today?