The invisibobble - is it really worth it?

               It seems as if there is a never ending flow of new hair products coming onto the market weekly - from "innovative" shampoos which promise to reverse years of damage, to the lotions and potions which provide volumnious, shiny locks in an instant. I managed to finally get my hands on a three pack of "invisibobbles" recently and was keen to see if they lived up to their claims.
I had seen many people sporting these plastic spiral-shaped rings and wondered what all the fuss was about. Above all else, the invisibobble is designed to hold your favourite hairstyle in place, without leaving that horrible dent in your hair after use. The bobbles are also designed to rid you of the hairstyle headache (which all you long haired girls will be used to!) and also have the ability to reduce split ends and breakage.

So, what's the verdict?
Firstly, I was quite disappointed when I saw the price for just three of these bobbles - £3.75! That's £1.25 per bobble....
I don't know about you, but I'm always losing bobbles and can easily get through a large pack in a month. Despite the price, I still went ahead and purchased a pack of three.

As soon as I opened the box, I was happy to see that the bobbles seemed robust - I remained hopeful that they would be able to hold up my thick hair!
I used the invisibobble to tie my hair up into a high ponytail and initially I was pleased with the grip of the bobble and the hold. As promised, the invisibobble seemed to be a good option for my hair type.








However, after about 30 mins, my hairstyle had drooped and was now a much lower ponytail. When I pulled the bobble out of my hair, I also was  not impressed to find that just as much of my hair was tugged out as would be with a regular bobble (despite invisibobble's claims). I also found that the bobbles stretched irreversibly after each use.

The one thing that that really grabbed attention however was the products ability to keep my hair (sort of) up without leaving any dent in my whatsoever! This is super important to me, as I style my hair on a regular basis and so it's great when I can tie my hair up without having to worry about ruining all of the hard work that went into straightening.

The bobbles also look pretty and unique in the hair and there are a variety of colours to choose from.

Overall, the invisibobble didn't really grab my attention, but I was impressed by the no-dent ability of it and so would give it a

6/10

If these bobbles were cheaper then I would definitely repurchase as they are a good tool to have in your arsenal.

(I recently discovered that invisibobble has brought out a new range of stronger, thicker bobbles which I am eager to try and will do a review of in the near future!)

My top three Real Techniques brushes...

Thanks to the limited edition real techniques brush set that I treated myself to a few weeks back, I have now tried many of the brushes from the collection. Here are my top three brushes out of the ones that I have tested out so far....

1. Duo Fibre face brush

This beautifully soft brush applies powder perfectly and is the perfect addition to my makeup bag. The bristles are perfectly arranged so that the powder doesn't clump or look cakey on the face. I've tried many powder brushes but this one is my all time favourite.

2. Lash-brow groomer

My next pick isn't actually a brush but this makeup styling tool has become an essential and now comes with me wherever I go. This brush side allows me to perfect my brows and the other side is perfect for separating my lashes and helps me to avoid the dreaded mascara clumps!

3. setting brush

The small and delicate nature of this brush means that it is a true multi-tasker. I've mainly been using it for setting my concealer in the under eye area, but it's also brilliant for powder highlighter. The bristles are super soft the beautiful pink colour of the handle is just a bonus!


Thanks for reading, I'll speak to you in my next post!
Elle xox

Liz Earle Botanical Essence No.20

Hello again everyone! It feels like I haven't blogged for ages, but I've got two posts ready and waiting to go up in the next few days so I'll be back on track with my schedule in no time. Today's post is one which I have been meaning to write some time - a full review of Liz Earle's latest Eau De Parfum.

Since Liz Earle support a variety of bloggers out there (by sending them their top sellers and latest releases), I had seen this beautiful pink bottle plastered all over social media before it was even released into the shops! I'm a huge fan of Liz Earle's skincare and so I immediately put this on my Christmas wishlist and was lucky enough to receive it.

The bottle is what initially enticed me into wanting this product on my dressing table : the gorgeous pink colour and the simplicity of the packaging was just my cup of tea. It came in a lovely little box which had plenty of information about the type of scent to expect and the ingredients.

This particular scent is a combination of damask rose, bergamot, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood, pink pepper, patchouli and mandarin. These ingredients combine to create a classic floral feminine fragrance with a slight twist thanks to the sandalwood and pink pepper.

 In my opinion, immediately after spritzing, the pink pepper, sandalwood and rose fragrances are the most noticable, but as time goes on the spicier side of this perfume fades away to reveal the sweeter scents of mandarin and bergamot.
The scent lasts all day and I can often smell it on my clothes the day after aswell which works to make this perfume "your" scent - the one that everyone recognises you by.

It's not expenisve as perfumes go, but for people on a budget, the £49.00 price tag may be step too far - especially for 50ml of perfume. However, you become the owner of a luxurious product which smells incredible and looks gorgeous!

For me, the feminine florals combined with musky essential oils creates my idea of the perfect perume and I will definitely be treating myself to another bottle of this in the future!
I'll speak to you in my next post, which will be up over the coming week.
Elle xox

Four different hair oils and why I love them...

Hair oils and serums are a definite essential in my hair care routine - a good one can transform dry,frizzy hair into soft, shiny locks. I've tried out a variety over the last few years but only a few have really caught my attention. Here's four of my absolute faves....

Moroccan oil treatment

This product has been highly praised by beauty bloggers and models alike and so I was keen to get my hands on a bottle and test it out for myself - you can imagine my joy when I received a gift set at Christmas including the full sized product, a miniature travel size and a signature scented candle! It lived up to my expectations - my hair was super soft, shiny and, most importantly, very easy to straighten. It may be expensive, but a full sized bottle will last for ages and the results are worth it....

 

 OGX Kukui oil anti-frizz serum

This lightweight oil is perfect for girls with finer hair who would like to add some extra moisture and shine without weighing hair down. Whilst Moroccan oil is a thick oil, this oil is almost like water and even comes in a handy spray bottle. For me, the anti-humidity properties of this product make it a must have - and the price isn't bad either!

Garnier Ultimate blends - the sleek perfector oil

Garnier's ultimate blends range has never failed me - there's a product for every hair type and all of the shampoos, conditioners and oils smell good enough to eat. The sleek perfector oil is no exception! The combination of the coconut and the cocoa butter leave your hair smelling a little like chocolate and the oil instantly fights frizz. It's has quite a thick consistency and so may not be great for fine hair, but for most people, the price and quality of this product make it a haircare essential...

Frizz Ease original 6 effects serum

For me, this is more of a styling product than a nourishing oil. I spotted a John Freida Christmas gift set on sale in sainsbury's which contained the Miracle Recovery shampoo, conditioner and this serum. It is designed for use on wet hair and is great for those who enjoy heat styling. The serum is pretty thick and can cause some serious product build up if too much is used. However, after straightening, my hair was left feeling super soft, looking glossy and as an added bonus, stayed perfectly straight for ages!

As always I hope that you enjoyed this post and I'll speak to you in my next post!
P.s I have realised that on some computers the text on this post is a bit all over the place. Apologies - I am attempting to get it fixed!

Elle xox

 

Mac fix+ review

Hello everyone, I hope that you all had a lovely Christmas! In todays post, I am going to be reviewing a beauty product that I received this year as a Christmas present from my mum and dad - Mac's Fix+ setting spray/face mist. I had heard such good things about this all in one facemist, primer and setting spray so I just had to put it on my Christmas wishlist.

 Mac describes the multitasker as "A lightweight, mineral rich finishing mist that refreshes the skin and finishes makeup" that "Helps create an even surface for a smooth makeup application". Since most primers, both drugstore and highend, wreak havoc on my skin, a finishing mist enriched with skin-loving ingredients seemed like the better option.

The mist has a subtle cucumber scent, but it's not at all overwhelming and fades away after a few minutes. I like to use it to wet my beauty blender before foundation application, and I can definitely see a difference in the way that my makeup looks. It makes for smoother application and an airbrushed finish. My foundation also lasted longer and looked flawless all day long.

Another way which I like to use this is as a skin refresher before makeup application. It adds a shot of moisture to my skin and calms down any redness. What's more, I've never had any problems with break outs after using this which is an obvious bonus!

I had also heard that it could be used with eyeshadow, so I tried spritzing a little onto my brush before applying some of the shades from my Naked palette. It intensified the colours and made the eyshadow last much longer than usual.

Overall, I would give this product a 9/10 as it is quite expensive. Other than that, I would definitely recommend, especially to anyone who is having trouble with conventional gel/cream primers,

Elle xox

Christmas gift guide

If, like me you're attempting the whole last-minute Christmas shopping thing (by the way, how is it only a week until Christmas?!), then this gift guide may come in handy. Here are some of the gifts that I like to give at this time of year - one for every budget and recipient.


UNDER £5

If you're on a budget and can't afford to go on a splurge with the gift-giving this year, then there are still plenty of options.

• For younger friends and relatives, a sweet treat is often warmly received. A well put together pic and mix box, full of packets of their favourite sweets and bars of their favourite chocolate can be both thoughtful and budget friendly. Many card shops sell beautiful boxes that you can use for this.
• Giving an experience can be even better than giving a physical gift. Promising a friend a spa day, a movie night or planning a fun day at the park with your younger siblings shows that you care but can cost next to nothing, 

UNDER £10

• For under £10, you can construct your own spa package which would be appropriate for both friends and female relatives. Magazines, Nail polishes, beautifully scented body washes, scrubs and bath bombs can all be bought for low prices - especially in shops like boots and Superdrug where there are often amazing discounts on such items. 

UNDER £15

• I recently put together a calendar for my friend, with photos of us and places we had been from my phone, This service is available at Boots and costs £14.99. 
• A magazine subscription is the perfect gift for someone who seems to have everything. Many well-known magazines are available for 6-12 months subscriptions for under £15. If you look around, you can find some really great deals.

I hope that these gift ideas inspired you for your last minute shopping trip - I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I'll speak to you in my next blog post...

Elle xox

Beauty on trial : H&M Beauty Department

Another apology is due this week for my absence in the blogging world over these past few days. If you're a regular reader you may have noticed a lack of continuity in my posting and I'm very sorry! Is anyone else finding the dark evenings a killer when it comes to blog photography?!
Anyway, in today's post, I'll be testing out H&M's "Beauty Department" products which I recently discovered (I think it's only available in larger H&M stores?). I was intrigued by the beautiful and innovative packaging and the high-end feel of the products. Here are some of the items which I picked up:

High Impact Eye Colour  (£4.99)

I was immediately drawn to these gorgeous eye shadows and the vivid colours which H&M offered. The white an
d gold casing screams high-end and yet this product only set me back £4.99 (and came in a lovely little box!). I went for this greyish shimmery shade called "gala gown". It's quite a sheer shimmer which I think would be perfect for a christmas party when you just want to add a touch of glamour! It's definitely build-able but I would recommend priming your eyes before application to ensure longevity. But for the teeny-weeny price of under £5, you can't go far wrong and I feel like these would make an excellent stocking-filler!



Raspberry Leaf Peel-off mask (£1.99)

I had seen another blogger do a review on these unusual looking face masks and it's safe to say that I was intrigued. On my next trip to H&M, I picked up this one for combination skin. The product is contained within a cute little pod which I assume will make for easier application than if it was in one of those annoyingly messy sachets! I haven't actually tried it out yet (I had to wait to take the photos) but the beautiful raspberry scent is enough to make me want to buy another one!


Cashmere Haze Hand Wash  (£3.99)

I must admit, I did only buy this because of the pretty packaging, and wasn't too fussed on the scent. I'm used to simple Radox soaps, so I felt very sophisticated when popping this by my sink! The smell of this is ok, but classically soapy with a slight floral scent to it. I won't be repurchasing simply because the scent isn't for me, but there are plenty of others to try, and for £3.99, I'm not at all dissapointed.


Overall, I'm very impressed with the presentation and affordability of the H&M beauty range and I will definitely be venturing into the beauty isles again to try out the variety of other great products available.

Elle xox