Osmo Blow Dry Potion

Another of the OSMO products to get the beauty truths seal of approval is the OSMO blow dry potion. A few sprays before I start drying my hair is all I need to transform my hair from flat to fabulous.  I like to spray a little at the roots and then blow dry my hair with my head upside down. It lifts the hair and gives it body without leaving it sticky or clumpy. A real wonder product as you can use it to help create so many styles. I even use a little on dry hair if I have an ‘up do’ and want to calm stray ends.  

OSMO deep moisturising hair repair

Although it’s not new years I have given myself the resolution to treat my hair with a bit more care. Changing up our hair is a ladies right and obviously we aren’t going to get it right all the time. After a few months of playing about with my hair and finally deciding I liked it just how it was, I am nearly back to my starting position. The only problem is that dying, colour striping and heated appliances have all taken their toll on the condition of my hair. It just feels that little bit drier and sad. I have now got into the habit of giving it a generous spray with OSMO deep moisturising hair repair and it is starting to look a lot healthier. It really is impressive that one simple addition to my hair care routine can have such a dramatic effect. 

Beauty Dilemma: Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs happen when the hair can’t break through the skin and it grows back on itself. They can get quite nasty and if infected swell up and get puss filled. They tend to happen after waxing or epilating as the hair ends aren’t very sharp, as the hair takes a while to grow back the skin grows over it. It can also happen with shaving so unfortunately there isn’t a hair removal method that isn’t risk free. Epilating tends to be a bit higher than waxing as waxing removes a fine layer of skin. To avoid ingrown hairs exfoliate every day, using a natural bristle body brush on dry skin is a great way to skin your skin smooth and ingrown hairs at bay. Once a week a give your body a good scrub down with the body scrub of your liking (making a body scrub from olive oil and sugar is also lovely on the skin).

Skin Doctors Ingrow Go Ingrown Hair Lotion is the only product that I have found that works well on ingrown hairs. It is anti sceptic so great to stop ingrown hairs getting infected. It is also astringent so it exfoliates without grain. If you have a really stubborn ingrown hair, apply it to the area as much as you can. If you are prone to ingrown hairs it is enough to use the product once a day to areas where they tend to appear. 

Berkeley Square White Bergamot eau de Toilette £35

Another product from Berkeley Square that oozes elegance. I don’t know about anyone else but some evening I want to feel like a lady. I have my perfume for feeling sexy and this is my perfume for feeling sophisticated. The smell is light with floral tones and doesn’t feel overpowering, there is something lovely and delicate about it. Even the bottle and box are classic and understated. It’s the perfect scent for a lunch date or for lazy summer evenings. 

Crazy Angel Liquid Tan £10.49

Carrying on with my quest to find the best tan out of a bottle, next up crazy angel liquid tan. It’s my kind of packaging which shouldn’t sway me but it does everybody no matter how much you try and resist. As for the liquid itself it goes on really well, even though it’s a thinner consistency than I am used to as I normally opt for a mousse. I used a mitt to spread it on and mixed it with a little moisturiser for my face so that it was a shade or two lighter. The fail proof test is always when I get into work and see what the girls think. They instantly picked up on the tan and said I good I looked. The colour was very natural without a streak in sight. What’s more I didn’t end up staining the bed sheets or smelling of biscuit. They also do an exfoliater to prepare your skin before tanning that has just the right amount of grittiness to gently buff your skin. The after tan moisturiser is also lovely and it smells softly of vanilla and left my skin silky smooth. 

Peau D'or 24 Carat Beautycase £113

I never normally go on sunbeds but as I was sent this lotion to try I felt I had to give it a go. Besides I am going on holiday in a few weeks and thought I should prepare my skin a little. It was actually a nice experience, after I got over the fact of being naked in a strange place I quite liked it. As I smeared on the Peau D'or cream I could instantly see the gold glow in my skin, it gave me a lovely sparkle. After a few days of a couple of minutes on the beds I could see a nice tint to my skin, much more than if I hadn’t used any cream. I mean I am not going to pass for Brazilian anytime soon but at least I won’t get mistaken for Casper any time soon. As a bonus my skin felt lovely and moisturised and I had a lovely sparkling glow. 

Elemis Deep Clean Face Mask Duo £15

Oh I do love a good face mask; there is something indulgent about them that just signifies relaxation. I was reading an article about the huge mark up in beauty salons and the motivation in going to them.  Life is hard at times and I believe we all deserve to treat ourselves as much as we can. Going to a salon is great to feel pampered but realistically it’s not always possible.  For me a great alternative is to run myself a hot bath, light some candles, get a book out, smear on a face mask and let myself unwind. I really loved Elemis deep clean face mask as not only did it make my skin feel great afterwards but the thick clay formula makes it feel like you are at a salon. The next time you need some tlc to remind yourself how special you are, that you deserve to be spoilt and that you are truly beautiful treat yourself to an Elemis face mask.

Colour B4 £14

As I have mentioned I am having a rocky patch with my hair at the moment. First it was the terrible and expensive haircut, then accidentally dying it black. Having had enough of the ginger roots and black ends I decided it strip all the colour off and start again. I had never attempted it before and after the expensive and disappointing haircut I decided to try it at home. I put the mixture on and even though it does smell like warm fish I was surprised at the result. I was half expecting nothing to happen and to be left with rubbish hair but it took all the black out. After rinsing for a good 15 minutes my hair had turned an auburn colour but it does warn that your hair could turn quite brassy. My hair did feel quite dry afterwards but nothing that a good conditioning treatment wouldn’t fix. It can be quite scary doing anything drastic to your hair but if you follow the instructions for Colour B4 you should get a great result. I wouldn’t use it regularly as I wouldn’t want to put my hair through too much abuse but if you have had a hair disaster (and who hasn’t) then it might be worth keeping a pack in your bathroom. 

Helen E Eye Pencil with Smudger £7.99

Someone sent me a promotion for a free eyeliner or lip liner when you sign up to the Helen E twitter and facebook. They must have got a huge response as it was such a good offer and fair play to them for doing it. I decided to go for an eyeliner as they had the most dazzling array of colours and bright eyeliner is really in this season. I mean what better way to celebrate summer than to put some colour to your peepers. After much deliberating I went for a purple, I already have blue, black and green and thought purple would make a nice change, plus it brings out green in eyes. When it arrived I was really pleased, the kohl was a great consistency, not to soft or hard and the smudger on the end is an added bonus. A brilliant move by Helen E cosmetics and one that will definitely make me check out the rest of the range. 

Benefit Benetint £24.50

Continuing on with my quest to try all of the Benefit products available, I thought I would try benetint to see how it stacked up against my regular blusher. The liquid looks quite red in the bottle and for a second I thought I might end up a bit beetroot. Luckily when you blend it into your cheeks it turns into a lovely deep rosy glow.  It blends effortlessly, even when you have foundation and powder on. It looks really natural as you can see your skin through the tint and it has great staying power. As a bonus you can use it only your lips to give them a hit of colour so really its two products in one.

Beauty Dilemma: Spotty Back or Spotty Bum

I have had a few requests recently on here to solve some beauty problems. Some of them have been of a sensitive nature and for some people it has really affected their confidence. Most of the problems I have heard about before, they seem all too common but nobody wants to talk about them. I hope that I can help alleviate all of the problems so that people can feel better about themselves and see their beautiful truth in the mirror.

People of all ages are prone to a spotty back but it is normally most common during the teenage years. Long hair can be a factor as it can irritate the skin; if it is greasy it can then cause spots on your back. If your backside is looking a little spotty this can be caused by a number of factors. For most of us we sit on our behinds most of the day so the skin there takes a lot of weight. Conventional spot creams do work well on your back and bum but it can be difficult to get it in the right places. A great way to sort this out is by buying a body brush with a long handle. You want to make sure that the brush is made from natural fibres. Before getting in the bath or shower brush your body all over with it going in circular motions. Concentrate on the problem areas. At first if you are having a break out it might be painful if you do it too hard so just go gently, you can build up the pressure as the spots get better. Try doing this every day and you should see an improvement in a few weeks. The brush will remove dead skin when you use it on dry skin, you can also use it in the bath or shower and put a medicated face wash on it. You may think it’s best to avoid moisturiser but try using a light one that isn’t greasy. If the skin is dry and damaged it may scar as it heals. 

Veet Wax Strips £5

It’s that time of year when skirts and strappy tops become the order of the day. Unable to hide hairy bits under jumpers and jeans I start on a mass waxing. It’s only been in the last few months that I have got into waxing my armpits but I much prefer it to shaving. Firstly it lasts longer and secondly the skin is less likely to get irritated. It can be hard to get the skin taught so if you have a friend that can do it for you all the better. As with most hair removal if you can do it after a hot shower or bath you are going to get a much better result. Veet’s new waxing strips are perfect for first time users and those who have been waxing all their hairy lives. Not only do you get a professional finish but the new strips are shaped making it much easier to use. No one likes to see hairy arm pits (or legs or arms or bikini areas) so keep your body smoother for longer with Veet.

Avon Sleep Therapy £2

I have never been the best of sleepers but at the moment for some reason I am finding it really hard to reach a dreamy place. Lack of sleep is not only bad for your generally wellbeing and productivity; it also shows on your face. In an attempt to get some sleep I am trying as many products as I can. I saw this Sleep Therapy spray in Avon and at only £2 I thought it was worth a try.

It contains lashing of lavender which is commonly know to aid restless insomniacs like me. Just a few squirts on the pillow is all you need. I am not sure it really helped me fall asleep but it did help me to stop worrying about it which is better than nothing. It also gave the bedroom and lovely scent which is great when you live with a man……. They tend to smell a bit! 

Soap & Glory Peaches & Clean

What with the recent spell of nice weather my legs have had a break from being hidden behind jeans and leggings and have been set free to see the world. Before I let them come into contact with fresh air though I had to make sure they had been given a good scrub down and fake tan. I tried this lovely scrub by Soap and Glory for the first time and was very impressed by the results. I like a really scrubby scrub, a couple of grains isn’t going to cut it with me. Peaches and Clean and had a good amount of exfoliating molecules to take my neglected pins, especially the knees and that bit on my ankle that goes like snake skin. The smell is just fabulous as well, a fruity scent of peaches and pineapple that got me in the summer time mood. 

Egg & Olive Oil Hair Mask

Last night after some deliberating I decided it was time to get some egg on my hair. The protein from the egg is great to give your hair strength when mixed with olive oil it is meant to leave your hair soft and shiny. After using the whites for meringues I had the leftover whites which I mixed up with some olive oil so in effect what I had was a homemade mayonnaise. Smearing the concoction onto dry hair was a little tricky and I got a few dribbles on my face and shoulders before I wrapped my hair up in clim film.    


I got into a hot bath and immediately thought it was a bad idea, would I end up with omelette hair? I spent an hour fretting and looking into the bathroom mirror to check it hadn't cooked. As soon as I rinsed it though my fears washed away along with the eggy mixture down the plug hole. I instantly felt the smoothness of my hair and it felt nourished and strong. I washed it twice with shampoo just to be careful and only used a dash of conditioner as it didn't really need much. After drying it felt so wonderfully soft and looked lovely and shiny. A great treat for your hair that doesn't  cost much at all. 

Sun Shots SPF 25 £1.49

I know with the British weather that we rarely have to worry about sunscreen. I found the perils of our sxizerpheric weather the other day when I went out to meet friend and the suddenly there was glorious sunshine. Of course I hadn’t prepared for it so was caught sort in the sunscreen department. Wanting to make the most of the sun we sat outside while we ate lunch. As there was a gentle breeze it actually feel as hot as it must have been. After an hour or so we said goodbye and I went home.

It was only a couple of hours later that my skin started to burn, bright pink was radiating off me and I was hot to the touch. That night was horrible as I tossed and turned all night trying to cool down. After the initial heat has cooled down you are left with the itch of the peeling stage. Nothing about getting sunburnt is pleasant, trust me on this. I implore everybody to do what I have done and put a SunShot in my bag so that I can have it on hand for those moments when the sun decides to show its wonderful self. 

Nailease Instant Manicure £5.99

I have said before that I tend to forget the difference a coat of nail varnish is in helping you to look perfectly polished so I tend not to bother with it. I find it also chips so quickly on me that after a day I have to take it off which hardly seems worth it.

Nailease have come up with an ingenious method for getting your talons looking tantalising in minutes. Each pack contains 20 pre-shaped stickers that go onto your nails leaving them perfectly polished in an instant.

They were amazingly easy to apply but the real test was how long they would last. After a week I was really impressed that there wasn’t a single tear, rip or scuff on any of my nails. After two weeks I was simply amazed at the minimal amount of wear and tear. Nailease are perfect for applying just before you set off on holiday and then you won’t need to think about them all week so you can concentrate on enjoying yourself. 

Ahava Dead Sea Algae Powder Compact £18.75

A good pressed powder really is a wonderful thing when it comes to setting your makeup. Not only does it keep your foundation in place for longer but will also stop your skin looking shiny. I have struggled to find a powder compact that feels light on the skin whilst still having a silky smooth texture. Ahava mineral makeup ticks all the boxes, it feels so light you can’t tell you are wearing it, sets foundation perfectly and leaves skin glowing whilst minimising shine. Like all of Ahava products it contains dead sea minerals and algae which help to care for your skin. For a truly flawless finish use after Ahava’s mineral foundation. 

Black Rose Love

This week I am lusting over some beautiful products from the amazing Black Rose Love company. I am in all kinds of love with the products on offer, stunning jewellery, yummy sweets and dazzlingly dark accessories. Go and explore the fairytale for yourself at Black Rose Love. 


First up on my wish list are these handmade soy wax candles £45 which are so beautifully packaged its almost a shame to open them.

Next up are the fantastic fairy lights £495, I mean have you ever seen anything so magical? 

KMS Body Build Detangler

My hair has a tendency to be quite lifeless at times so I was very excited to try this product from KMS with all its promises of giving me bouncy beautiful hair. With Eucalyptus and Cinnamon it certainly smells great. Just a couple of sprays on wet hair was enough to give my hair the boost it needed and left it soft and shiny. 

Veet Gel Wax Kit £11.99

I bought the new Veet Gel Wax Kit because I feel that it is my duty to try as many new products for all my beauty truth beauties as I can. Also it was on offer at Boots and my arms were looking a little monkey like. I haven't had much success in the past with warm wax at home but I left my reservations at the bathroom door and got on with the task at hand. It was relatively easy to apply and I started of doing that annoying little patch of hair on my big toe that we all have. So far so good and it effortlessly gave me bald toes. It was when I started on my arms that I have a bit of a problem. I found it hard to get all the hair off first time and was left with patches of hairy arms and patches of bald arms, not really the look I was going for. I think the product would be much better suited to legs and armpits and next time I will try it on those. For arms though I don't think its the best method of hair removal I have come across. 

Esme Perfume Pendant £24.99

The other day a girl at work was emptying her never ending bag trying to find her keys that had slipped to the bottom, a problem all girls come across from time to time. When she pulled out her huge and heavy bottle of perfume I just had to tell her about the fabulous perfume necklace from Esme.


Not only is the pendant gorgeous, studded with Swarovski Crystals, in its own right but it has a clever little trick that makes it not only beautiful but really useful. You see inside the pedant is a little roll on perfume pod that you can fill with your favourite scent. It means no more carrying around a whole bottle of perfume that always has that added danger of falling out of your bag and breaking. It also means that when you go out at night and don't want to take a bag you always have some of your favourite perfume on you so that you can smell lovely all night long. 

Braun Silk-epil Dual Epilator £169.99

When I first heard about the new dual epilator from Braun I was a little suspicious that an epilator could be anything more than a slightly painful way to remove unwanted body hair. I had used an epilator in the past and was left a little deflated by the results. Yes it got the majority of the hair but it wasn't as smooth as shaving and I was left with ingrown hairs and the hair removal didn't last as long as I would have wanted. So it was with little hope that I went to use the new Braun Silk-epil dual epilator.


Boy was I wrong. It was such a revelation. I am not going to lie and say it was completely painless but it was by no means enough to put me off using it weekly. I was surprised by how quick and easy it was to get rid of the hair and even more surprised by smooth my legs were. The Gillette Venus blades that skim past your legs after the epilation leave them ridiculously smooth. I love the fact you can use it in the bath or shower, the heat helps open your pores taking a lot of the pain away. I have to agree with Cosmopolitan and say it is certainly a beauty must have. Hairy bits should never be a problem again with this wonderful machine. 

Lush Caca Brun Henna £7.25

Now I have to be honest, I was a little nervous before using this product as I had never tried it before and recently I have been having some seriously bad hair days. Rather than bother to do a strand test I just jumped right in, I mean does anyone do a strand test? It is a little messy to apply and it does look slightly like cow poo but I wasn't going to let that put me off. I decided to grate it into boiling water and smear it all over my head and try and dye my eyebrows at the same time. I was worried that it appeared green and did have visions of dying my hair a nasty mould colour It does feel really nice when it goes on and after wrapping cling film around my head it stayed lovely and warm. I certainly doesn't smell as bad as chemical dyes and after two and a half hours I washed it. Stupidly I decided to do it while I was in the bath so it did look like I wash washing in mud afterwards. I was pleased with the result though. My hair felt soft and nourished, not at all what it feels like after conventional dye. The colour wasn't as strong as chemical dyes and didn't do anything to my eyebrows but I was very pleased with the results as my roots now matched the ends and that was all I was really after. 

Lush Buffy £9.45

I was a huge fan of the original vampire fighting Buffy so its no wonder this product caught my eye. I can't stress enough the wonders a daily buff will do to your skin and this exfoliating scrub has the added bonus of lashings of shea butters that will leave your skin lovely and moisturised. It has a brilliant amount of buffing goodies including ground up rice, almonds of beans that will leave your backside brilliantly soft.  

Lush Dreamtime Bath Melt £2.95

I haven't done any Lush reviews for a while so thought I should do a couple for my lovely beauty truth readers. I have never been a great sleeper but at the moment it is especially bad and I have ben trying some different products to try and get a long sleepy slumber. Lush has come good once again with another fabulous product with dreamtime bath melt. It's highly scented with jasmine and lavender that help to wash away your worries and calm you into sweet dreams. It left my skin exceptionally soft and the little flowers that are realised are just magical. 

Marks and Spencer White Peach & Almond Hand and Body Cream £1

Another hand cream as you know I love those. This one was given to me by a friend at work who is very sweet and knew how much I used them. The almond smell is quite strong as you apply it but as it melts into your skin the smell diffuses, leaving a sweet reminder. The almond oil softens your skin and doesn’t leave it greasy in the slightest.