First Impressions: Shea Moisture Haircare

Last time I popped into Boots I noticed this beautiful looking brand on offer and was already on the hunt for some new haircare. I recently bleached my hair and ever since I've been trying to maintain the condition of my hair whilst also improving any damage left behind or from everyday activities.

Ingredients: The ingredients in these are pretty simple which is great when you're looking for natural products with high-quality ingredients inside. The main ingredients are; Shea butter, kelp, argan oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, castor oil, peppermint and a range of flower extracts. The other great thing about this brand is it's colour safe and is free of sulfates.

I was honestly shocked when I looked on the back and realised I could pronounce and recognise pretty much every single ingredient, which doesn't happen a lot! Especially, because most of these oils are already extremely well known in the haircare industry for providing healthier, softer hair.

When I first picked these up, it was on a whim and I wasn't 100% sure whether they would do much - purely because I'd never even heard of the brand before.  Even more so they weren't super expensive and sat around the £10-12 margin which is great considering the range of stunning ingredients that cost quite a bit on their own.

Overall, I didn't notice a massive difference straight away from other 'less natural' haircare products, besides the consistency of the shampoo which had a thicker substance and then a lighter oil that sat on top which requires shaking to mix together before use. I did find I need a smaller amount than other drugstore products and seemed to still work just as well. I find overall in time it will definitely do the job of restoring any damage and maintaining the softness of my hair as after one use I did definitely notice my hair felt softer. My general first impression was that the consistency of the products were quite thick and heavy so I personally wouldn't recommend for people with fine, thin and/or short hair. I also, someone with super thick, long hair, found I used the normal amount I use for other brands for the first use and it ended up being way too much! So, definitely less is more with these products.

Thanks for reading, 

Empties #1

Today, I thought I'd finally do my first empties post! I love the idea of these as it means I can review a large amount of stuff in one quick and easy post! Also, apologies for the appearance of the Lush toner - the packaging always wears with me!

Lush Eau Roma Water - I am a massive fan of spray toners, they're refreshing, soothing and great to use before makeup or on top of makeup when you're face is getting a bit sweaty! And this one is no different. The smell is lovely and soothing and I mainly use in my morning and nighttime routine. I've found it has really calmed down my skin - especially after using some harsh exfoliators that I chucked a while ago after realising they were doing more damage than good. Surprisingly, this bottle lasted a really long time and even when I got towards the end the spray pump still applied the product evenly! Especially as this product is really inexpensive and would definitely say it's worth your money and is suitable for all skin types.

Verdict - repurchased and already using!

Lancôme Gel Eclat - I got this free when I bought my Clarisonic Mia 2 {See review} and honestly I've never looked back! This gel cleanser works perfectly with my Clarisonic and leaves my skin literally smooth and squeaky clean. I prefer using this as a night time cleanse as my second cleanse to make sure my skin is fully clean and all make up has been removed. I would recommend this more so for oilier skin types than dry, purely because it's not super nourishing. I have super sensitive skin and it didn't even leave it irritated!

Verdict - repurchased and already using!

L'Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care System Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner - I bought these two waaay in America last year, and honestly wish I'd tried these sooner. These two are wonderful to use and are nourishing for even the driest of hair. The products are also sulfate-free and after all the controversy of circulating sulfates I was dying to try a product free of them, and I'm honestly surprised - I couldn't tell a single difference. The only main issue I found with these products are they're designed for coloured hair, it didn't help with my man-made blonde locks so I still had to buy other products to main the blonde. Sadly I cannot seem to find it in the UK, so I will have to wait till I go back to the USA to get my hands on these.

Verdict - will repurchase

Soap and Glory The Ultimelt - After hearing Caroline Hirons, the ultimate skincare guru, raving about this as a great, inexpensive morning cleanser I was desperate to get my hands on it. Especially, as due to having oily skin I used to restrict my morning routine to face washes that stripped my skin - which sometimes was not for the best. Overall, I liked how soft and silky the cleaner felt to use, and the fact for £10 it also came with a muslin cloth was great! Sadly, though it didn't cleanse my skin enough and actually irritated my eyes. Furthermore, after trying other hot cloth cleansers such as the Emma Hardie Moringa Balm {review} and the cheaper Body Shop Balm {review} they didn't love up to expectations.

Verdict - will not repurchase

Nude Purify Cleansing Wash - This cleanser sounded great on paper, listing all these qualities, balancing the skin without drying it, smoothing and soothing the skin, but sadly didn't live up to them. This is my first ever product by Nude that I've ever tried and I honestly expected more. It generally was quite a soft, simple, nice cleanser that didn't irritate my skin and had quite a weird creamy/gel-like consistency but for the price it wasn't worth it. I found the best use for it was as a morning cleanse, but even then the product leaves a residue behind that is not what oily skin gals want.

Verdict - will not repurchase

Thanks for reading,

The Worst Hair Oil - Ever.

Hey lovelies,

Now I try not to make a habit of posting negative reviews or talking badly about products, but every so often I buy something that I'm really disappointed in and I think to myself "If only someone had told me, I wouldn't have wasted my money". So, I'm hoping I can save you today and you can end up buying a better product! If you want to view any other reviews of Lee Stafford products click here, as I am a massive fan of some of their other products.

The Basics

Brand: Lee Stafford

Name of Product: Ubunto Oils - Repair Oil

Purpose of product: To repair damaged hair, pamper, restore and hydrate coarse hair.

Price: £9.99 | Link

How much product do you get: 50ml

Who it's aimed for: Hair thats damaged/coarse.

Where to buy: Boots 

Product Description

These oils will leave hair pampered, repaired, restored and full of juicy goodness once again. This repairing saviour, rich in Mafura Oil has the ability to penetrate and restore coarse/damaged hair. Due to its rich concentration, unlike most commercial oils, it can penetrate the cuticle to get deep down to the cortex to repair hair where it really matters. 

How To Use

Apply to wet or dry hair, by pumping a couple of drops (I use three) into your hands, rub together and then evenly distribute between the lengths of your hair, 3/4's of the way down. I recommend using the amount best suited for your hair - as if you have thicker, longer hair like myself you'll obviously need more product than someone with short hair.

Pro's

Sadly, as the title of this post suggest there are not many pro's to the product. The only few I can think of are that it's not super expensive especially as at Boots there are regular deals of which you can normally get it discounted. The product also smells nice and the packaging is simple to use. Finally, the oil is quite thin and light meaning you can get away with applying it to dry hair without it weighing it down or making it look greasy.

Con's

Now my main issue with this product was that it just didn't work! Which obviously defeats any pro to the product. I have quite thick, long and slightly damaged hair from bleaching so when I first read the description of this I was so excited to give it a try - especially as all the other Lee Stafford products I've tried have been amazing (link here to view). It did not repair or nourish my hair in any way what so ever. Especially, with other hair oil products I've dramatically noticed the difference the next day this just didn't do that sadly. My only other main negative comment is that even though the packaging is easy to use it's super difficult to tell how much product is left - which I find a necessity when you like the product and want to buy more.

Should I Buy It?/Do I Recommend?

Obviously, I don't recommend it nor would I repurchase. Although I do recommend using a hair oil and recommend trying the original moroccan oil | Link .

Rating

2/10

Thank you for reading!

Please don't hesitate to recommend me your favourite hair oils as I'm trying to find a cheaper alternative for the moroccan oil,

Not Your Mother's 'Way To Grow' Shampoo and Conditioner Review

Hey lovelies,

Today on Victoria Louise Beauty is a review of the 'Not Your Mother's: Way To Grow' shampoo and conditioner which I've has currently been my haircare routine. A bit of background knowledge for my hair is, it's long, ombre-d at the end, extremely thick, dry and verging on damaged *yikes*.  If you want to view any of my other haircare related posts {click here}, they range from reviews of treatments, other shampoo and conditioners and monthly favourites. 

The Basics

Brand: Not Your Mother's

Name of Product: Way To Grow Long & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner

Purpose of product: To help grow stronger, healthier hair whilst limiting breakage. 

Price: Shampoo: £7.59 | Link , Conditioner: £9.20 | Link

Where to buy: Urban Outfitters 

How much product do you get: 237ml for both 

Who it's aimed for: All types or thickness, but especially dry, unhealthy, chemically treated hair.

Product Description

Made with essential vitamins, herbs and bioactive extracts for stronger, healthier hair to grow longer. Made for existing hair; it doesn't grow new hair. Safe for use with chemically treated hair. 

How To Use

I apply the shampoo first to damp hair and massage into a lather, for about 2-3 minutes. Then rinse off thoroughly, Following through with the conditioner which I apply to the bottom half of my hair and leave on for about 5 minutes before combing through and then washing it out.

Pro's

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed using these products. As previous to purchasing these I'd heard a lot of hype surrounding this collection and was nervous when trying them to see whether they would live up to their reputation. Which they did. I loved the fruity smell they left on my hair and that the brand doesn't state it will help magically grow your hair, only help what does grow to be healthier. *cough cough Lee Stafford*. The shampoo lathers really well and doesn't leave my hair feeling stripped. The conditioner also has quite a weird, foamy consistency to it but was still enjoyable to use. I also loved how both products were sulfate free and suitable for coloured hair. Out of the two, the shampoo was definitely my favourite.

Con's

Overall, there wasn't much I hated about the products. They left my hair feeling healthier and all-round happier. I did find the conditioner wasn't as 'intensely moisturising' as described nor expected it to be. I also found I still had breakage with my hair and sadly it didn't live up to the previously mentioned Lee Stafford Hair Growth collection | Link, which is my all time favourite hair care for long hair. But, to say you get a lot more product for your money and it still delivers an admirable result, I can't say I hate it.

Should I buy it? Do I recommend?

I do recommend it, most definitely for all hair types. Especially, on how much product you get for your money I say why not give it a try? It worked well on my hair to say what awful condition it was in to begin with. 

Rating

7.5/10

Thank you for reading lovelies,

if you've tried this product don't hesitate to let me know what you think or if you've tried any other haircare products that you've really liked!

Toni and Guy Cool Defining Cream Review

Hey lovelies,

Apologies for lack of activity but sadly I've been logged down with exams and university assignments. But, finally I am free of all that and I'm super excited to review this 'Cool Defining Cream'*.

Basic Information

Brand: Toni and Guy

Name of Product: Cool Defining Cream

Purpose of product: To create smooth and sleek hair 

Price: £7.49

Where to buy: Boots | Link

How much product do you get: 100ml

Who it's aimed for: Any hair type or thickness, but especially frizzy, unruly hair. 

Product Description

With ingredients that soften and moisturise your hair, Cool Defining Cream keeps your style sleek and smooth with an icy shine finish. 

How To Use

I applied this on damp hair, after washing it by squeezing a 2p size amount (as I have a lot of hair, so use as much as your hair needs) and rubbed it between my hands before running through the bottom half of my hair, especially my ends. I did go in with a heat protectant after this, just to be on the safe side. Also, I let the product sit for a few minutes before drying my hair. 

Pro's

I have honestly really enjoyed using this product. I find it doesn't weigh down my already thick hair, nor does it make it greasy. It's such a lightweight cream that still makes my hair look straight and sleek. Furthermore, it also left it noticeably softer and shiner and smelt delicious! The smell also lasted throughout the day, which is a must for me. I also love how little product you need, making it something you can use for a long time - perfect for those budget tight students. (like myself). As you can see from the picture below, the texture is definately a white/clear, creamy texture that doesn't feel thick, greasy nor sticky.

Con's

Overall, there wasn't majorly any cons. I found my hair didn't last as sleek nor as straight as the day progressed - but that on some days was done to Englands un-predictable weather. 

Should I buy it?/Do I recommend?

Yes. I definitely think you should buy it. I wholesomely recommend this product, as I feel it left my hair straight, shiny and definitely more easy to style the next day. So, next time you're looking for a straightening hair product don't hesitate to pick this up.

Rating

8/10

Thank you for reading,

Please don't forget to comment, and follow me on my social media!

*I was sent this product for free, in return for an honest review.

Herbal Essences 'Bee Strong' Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Hey lovelies,
Today I thought I'd do a review on a Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner I've been using religiously these past few months. Just as starter information, I have very long and tremendously thick hair that can be quite dry - especially during these chillier months. I bought the 'Bee Strong' Shampoo and Conditioner as it claims to help deal with combing damage by strengthening your hair with ingredients from the likes of apricot and honey. So, immediately I was intrigued - due to my hair easily getting damaged by everyday use, such as combing.

Bee Strong Strengthening Shampoo

Initially, I did like this product as I adored the smell and especially because it lasted ages in my hair. Even more so, the shampoo lathers super easily and isn't difficult to work through my thick hair. But, there are many articles out there that claim herbal essence shampoos are full of nasty chemicals that are actually awful for your hair. But I didn't notice any difference in my hair - either it improving or not. So, overall I wouldn't purchase this product again as even though it smelt delicious it wasn't anything special and believe there are much better products out there that actually make a difference to the strength and health of my hair.

Bee Strong Strengthening Conditioner

Out of the two products, this is the one I preferred the most and would recommend if it came down to it. The thick, creamy conditioner easily detangled my hair and smelt just as luscious as the shampoo. It yet again sinked into my hair at a decent rate and the smell lasted for days after washing.  sadly, even though this was a decent conditioner it still didn't improve my hair. So, I yet again would not repurchase this product and it honestly was quite a let down. 

But I am willing to try the strengthening cream and intensive mask in the 'Bee Strong' range, purely because I loved the smell and the idea behind this hair care range. 

Furthermore, I don't think I would recommend the conditioner to very thin, or greasy hair types as the conditioner is quite thick. Which for my thick hair was great, but for others may weigh it down or increase greasiness.






















Thank you for reading lovelies!
Please don't forget to follow me on BlogLovin!

Samples Review

Hello lovelies!

First of all I'd like to say a humongous apology for not updating my blog. I had a lot going on in the last few months, from university to exams! But now everything has calmed back down I feel I can finally devote my time back to this! A while back I received a tonne of free samples and have been meaning to do a review on them. I no longer have every single piece of packaging as once some had emptied I ended up throwing them away - so even though you can't see them they did exist!

A bulk of samples I received were from Kiehls - a brand that does pretty pricey skincare and I haven't really tried much from. But, previously I'd only heard raving reviews so was ultimately super excited to try anything and everything they threw at me. The first thing they sent me was the 'Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser', which is designed to eliminate toxins and reduce the appearance of pores. I absolutely adored this and have already purchased the actual size. This didn't irritate my sensitive skin and left it unbelievably smooth; I used this as a morning cleanser. Second item I received was the 'Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Eye Cream', which I used nightly. I obviously don't have any wrinkles yet but I still really enjoyed using it. This is supposed to strengthen the under eye area, which is perfect for me as I have extremely bad dark circles - so hopefully after a more prolonged use it could reduce it. The third and final product by Kiehls was the famous 'Skin Rescuer', a moisturiser I used/use every night. This is honestly amazing and would recommend to anyone with dry or dehydrated skin, or just patches of redness. I'd heard multiple YouTuber's raving about this so was nervous about testing it, but after applying it at night and waking up in the morning all the redness has either gone or been extremely subdued on my cheeks! I repurchased this straight away after using the sample and believe this has now become a staple in my skincare.

The next sample I received was Sunday Riley's 'Good Genes', which is supposed to be a brightening, anti-age treatment/mask. I used this as a mask and found it left my skin red, really dry and tight. Also, it tingles quite a lot so for people with sensitive skin like myself, beware. So for the jaw-dropping price it is, I would not recommend it.

Philosophy was the next in line to be tested and I'd luckily received the much talked about 'Purity Made Simple' cleanser. This is a pretty simple cleanser that can be used for both the face and eyes, and doesn't actually irritate my eyes. I'd recommend this to a beginner to cleansers/skincare and any type of skin type - it worked lovely on my sensitive skin. I found this worked best applying to a cotton wool pad, rather than applying it directly to the face. But, ever since trying this out with my Clarisonic I've realised it's true potential! Furthermore, it smells lovely and you hardly need a large amount so even though it's quite pricey for how simple it is, it will last you ages.

Next up was the Body Shop with their 'Rainforest Moisture Hair Butter', which is supposed to leave hair soft, glossy and tangle-free. Unfortunately, for me even though the smell was a lovely fruity/foresty smell the product just didn't do anything for my hair. All it did was leave my hair heavy and waxy.

And last but not least, I tried the GlamGlow 'BrightMud Eye Treatment', that is designed to basically make your eyes look super awake and reduce your dark circles. As soon as I saw the claim on reducing dark circles I was instantly excited about trying it out. But sadly it didn't follow through, I found it stunk and product was awfully awkward to apply. And then after all the hassle of sorting it out and dealing with the stench it then did absolutely nothing, so for the price I most certainly would not recommend.

Thank you for reading,
Victoria Louise x

Mane 'n Tail Shampoo + Conditioner Review

Hey lovelies,

I thought I'd do a review on a new shampoo and conditioner I've been using for the past three months. Now, this isn't any ordinary shampoo and conditioner as this can also be used on horses! Weird, right? Now, when I first purchased the shampoo and conditioner I didn't actually realise it could be used on horses, I just thought they were marketing it that way, silly me. So, once I got over the craziness of using hair products that could also be used on a horses mane I got round to using it properly and not freaking out everytime I lathered the product in my hair.

The Background Basics

Just to make it clear to anyone reading this review; I have very thick hair that's slightly dry at the ends and can get tangled pretty easily. My hair is also pretty long and has recently been dyed - but when using this product my hair was all natural. I washed my hair with these products about 2-3 times a week as normally the third time I would swap a few of them round for either a deep conditioning treatment or a cleansing shampoo.

The Original Mane 'n Tail Shampoo, buy here for £7.00

Mane 'n Tail states the shampoo is supposed to help to

maintain and achieve fuller, stronger, longer, healthier-looking hair.

Now, I already have long, full hair so I didn't notice a major difference with the fullness of my hair but surprisingly my hair has grown quite a bit using this (and the conditioner)! I've had multiple people comment on how long my hair has grown and quite a few people ask if my hair is my own, natural length or if I've got extensions in. I also have quite a sensitive scalp and surprisingly this product hasn't irritated my sensitive skin - which is great!
But, I must admit it hasn't made a major difference to the strength nor health of my hair. Unlike the 'Lee Stafford Hair Growth', see review here, products that I could notice a massive difference after the first use. Especially, as price difference wise the Lee Stafford product is cheaper, only by 1p, and therefore surely you'd expect the mane 'n tail to have similar effects. But you do get a truck load of more product. Furthermore, I don't really enjoy the smell of the shampoo which for me is a massive must with hair products. I find it smells a tad floral-y, but if anything it smells of pretty much nothing. So, if you enjoy unscented products then this is it for you. but for me I wanted something you could actually smell!

The Original Mane 'n Tail Conditioner, buy here for £7.00

 Mane 'n Tail claims the conditioner is supposed to

promote stronger, fuller, moisturised, healthier looking hair.

Now, out of the two products this is definitely my favourite. I feel it is lovely and moisturising and like both products is suitable for any, and all hair types due to it being so gentle. I'd say yet again it's a pretty simple conditioner and doesn't have any magical properties that would lead me to repurchase. My only major downside to this product is that it's not brilliant at detangling which is quite a big issue for me, especially as I comb through my conditioner whilst in the shower and do not enjoy ripping half my hair out.

Overall, I wouldn't massively recommend this product due to the fact it's pretty pricey to say it doesn't really do much. But, this is definitely safe for any hair type so if you've got a sensitive scalp or are struggling to find a basic shampoo and conditioner that does the necessities then this is it, as long as you can get past the horse part.

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to subscribe/follow me on BlogLovin and also don't forget to make the most of the link on my side toolbar where you can get £5 off your Feel Unique purchase!
Victoria Louise x

Worth The Splurge: Lee Stafford Hair Growth Review

Hey lovelies!
Today I thought I'd do a review on the Lee Stafford Hair Growth collection. I've been wanting to try this for a while, especially since my younger sister uses it and it has made her hair look so healthy and luscious! Now, undeniably my hair is pretty long as it is, reaching just below my boobs but in Year 9 I went through an indie phase where I had my hair hacked and chopped into resulting in short, choppy layers. Resulting in, due to my thick hair it looking frumpy and uneven. So I was hoping using these hair products it would help grow my layers out.

Now I got the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in hair treatment for Christmas so I didn't have to pay for it but ultimately I will definitely buy them again. Both the shampoo and conditioner are £6.99 for 200ml, which doesn't sound extremely expensive but how little product you get does leave it to be pretty pricey. The leave-in hair treatment is as expected more expensive at £11.99 for 100ml. Now, my only let down with these products are the fact you get so little product, the shampoo and conditioner have lasted me from the start of January till the start of March - using both twice a week. Luckily, the leave-in treatment is still going strong even though I do use that two times a week. Obviously, people with shorter hair will most likely get more uses out of the product than someone like me with longer, thicker hair.

The product claims to

"help hair grow faster and reach its maximum potential length!"

Now I feel this product walks on a very thin line as I don't fully agree with my hair growing any longer but I feel it would have a much greater impact with people with shorter hair, as obviously their hair will take to it much easier. But I do love these products, especially the conditioner and leave in treatment as they're amazing at detangling. I love the smell of them and how amazing they've improved the health of my hair leaving it looking so shiny and glossy! I also love how there is a visible difference between when I use these products and when I don't.

So overall, I definitely recommend these products to pretty much anyone that wants their hair to look healthy and shiny - which should hopefully enhance the growth rate of your hair.

Hair Care Favourites & Outfit of the Month

Hey wonderful readers,

It has sadly come to the last of my three set post on my favourites for the past previous months but fear not, my posts will still continue and I will still have beauty favourites of the month but they just won't be this packed! Click to see my first post(skincare and body favourites) or second post (makeup favourites).

First is my favourite hair care products, and I've honestly stepped it up on the hair care front as during the summer my hair always become really dry and unattractive! 

My first hair care favourite is 'Head & Shoulders' "2 in 1 Itchy Scalp Care', for £4.99. Now I do understand it doesn't sound entirely pleasant, but I'm pretty sensitive to strong shampoos and conditioners and with the heat my scalp became quite dry and this helped so much. It contains Aloe Vera which soothed my head and also actually smelt quite pleasant. Especially, as it's a 2 in 1 it's extremely quick and easy to use, and meant I didn't have to pack as much in my luggage. I normally use this alongside a hair treatment (one or both of my next two hair care favourites normally).

Next is two hair care treatments, the first being 'Aussie's' "Miracle Hair Insurance" leave in conditioner, for £4.49. I absolutely adore this treatment, it smells amazing, is brilliant at detangling my hair when I get out the shower to apply it and I can actually recognise the difference it makes when I do and don't use it. Furthermore, it's a spray so is really fast and simple to use and isn't too gloopey or heavy. As I find some hair treatments result in making my hair greasy. Finally, my last hair care treatment is 'Avon's' "Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave in Treatment", for £2.99. This works amazing alongside the "Miracle Hair Insurance" as I usually apply that, wait a while then add this to the ends of my hair to add that extra nourishment to my most dry area of my hair. It definitely makes my hair softer, glossier and shinier. 

 Favourite Outfit of the Month

Awful photo I know

I really adore this look and have wore it multiple times, due to it being so comfy but still looks like you have made an effort. Especially, as camis and boots are in at the moment which is even better! Tartan and heart prints are also in fashion at the moment, and I most likely will feature two clothing items related to them later on in my blog posts. Most of these products are from New Look purely because it's one of my all time favourite clothing shops, as it's on trend and fashionable but a decent price and good quality.
Cardi (not in this photo but is adorable) - £24.99
Cami - £9.99
Jeans - £22.99
Boots (i adore) - Mine aren't available anymore as I've had them for a year
but similar ones, £45.00 , £50.00 or £29.99
Watch - £259

Thank you for reading,
Please comment below with any of your favourite hair products of fashion related items,
It would also mean a lot if you subscribed to me or followed me on BlogLovin by clicking that lovely button to the side of the post (I follow back),
Victoria Louise x