Skin Chemists Pure Collagen 5% Biphase Serum

November 14, 2019November 9, 2019 | blueskygirlie

Pure Collagen 5% Biphase Serum – not the catchiest name but Skin Chemists create products that aren’t created to just be pretty on the surface, they are products that work…and they work really well.

I use a lot of Skin Chemists products and picked this one as it is aimed at more mature skin…plus its pink – and who doesn’t want more pink in their lives? Collagen is a big deal in skincare and I wanted to see if it could make a difference to my 40 plus skin which is now starting to show its age.

The product itself is contained in a 30ml size glass bottle with pipette top for easy dispensing. It is pink in colour, almost glittery when you mix it and has no smell. A water based product I found it was easier to dispense it on a pad to apply it to my skin. You shake the serum for a few seconds to activate it and then apply 2-3 drops to cleansed skin before using any other creams or moisturisers. Its absorbs really quickly, doesn’t feel greasy and a little goes a long way.

This version of Skin Chemists Biphase serum comprises of two layers (the Bi, in the Biphase) which work in unison – the anti-ageing powerhouse that is Collagen with the freshness and versatility of water.

According to Skin Chemists, with its ability to promote skin cell renewal, Collagen is able to give a smooth effect on the skin’s surface to reveal a glowing complexion. Retaining a healthy skin barrier is essential in achieving a supple complexion, and Collagen has a high capacity for water retention, so helps to protect and maintain this for more youthful looking skin.

What the product claims to do:

Promotes glowing, vibrant skin to keep youthful appearance
Smooths fine lines and wrinkles to restore skin’s elasticity
Minimises and eliminates scarring

What Skin Chemists say are its key benefits:

Collagen in the skin is the key to building block to regain the structural integrity of a young face
Protecting and maintaining the skin’s natural oil barrier to achieve a supple, moisturised complexion

If you are concerned about fine lines or dryness, or want to improve the appearance of your skin’s texture, elasticity and firmness then this might be a product you want to add in to your skin care routine. I think this is definitely a product that works best for slightly more mature skins – on a more mature skin (I am 46) you can feel the difference within days.

The lightweight formulation means that is easily absorbed into clean skin and makes it feel smooth to the touch straight away. I could feel the wider effects quite quickly and after a week or so of using it, started to look forward to applying it each night!

So, is Collagen the miracle ingredient we have been led to believe it is?

I’d say its not far off – and this serum is an affordable way to start discovering its benefits. After using it for a week or so, the difference in my skins texture was clearly visible and made my face feel more supple and dare I say, slightly more youthful! I love the simple and effective vibe of this product – it doesn’t need gimmicks, flash packaging or advertising, it just works!!!

This clever little product costs £29.90 and is available here.

Find the full Biphase range here – I’m interested to see if the other two products in the range, Caviar and Hyaluronic Acid work as well as this one does.

I’m going to bet they do…

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

Love your Face & the Planet: I&G Eco Natural Make Up Remover Kit

November 5, 2019November 5, 2019 | blueskygirlie

Do you worry about the amount of waste you are creating? I definitely do, particularly within my beauty regime, from the amount of single use plastics in my products packaging, to using baby wipes that I know go in to landfill, to the minuscule plastic beads found in body scrubs. Like most women, I cleanse my face each night using cotton wool pads and throw them straight in the bin sometimes using two or three at a time.

Cotton wool is not recyclable and the disposable nature of it makes it not only wasteful but also harmful to the environment. Harmful pesticides are used in the farming of cotton and the cotton farming industry is a major source of environmental pollution using almost one quarter of all the world’s insecticides and 10% of all pesticides. During the production of cotton cleansing pads, chemicals are used that will eventually leach into the sea, rivers and soil when the pad is disposed of. The argument to not use cotton wool is a powerful one but for most of us with busy lives (oh hello full time job, blended family, part time business) it’s often hard to not take the easiest option.

Enter I&G Eco… A fantastic small brand aiming to do big things. They say – “We believe, looking after our planet is the responsibility of all of us and small acts multiplied by millions of people can transform the world. Join in and make a difference!”

The I&G Eco natural make-up remover kit is a great little set comprising of 16 x bamboo makeup remover pads, 2 x sisal soap bags and a cotton mesh wash bag all packaged in recyclable packaging.

So, what do you get in the box?

You get 16 super soft bamboo makeup pads. These are made of 100% bamboo fabric, great quality, biodegradable and according to the packaging, BPA and polyester free so it doesn’t impact the environment like ordinary single-use cotton wool pads. They are machine washable and can be washed up to 1000 times each.

Also included are 2 sisal soap pouches meaning you can use your favourite soap and stop using single plastic use shower gel bottles. You simply put a bar of soap inside the pouch and gently massage your body to exfoliate dead skin. You can also use smaller bits of soap together as the bag holds them all together, making your soaps go much further.

The final piece of the set is a cotton mesh wash bag which you can place your used pads in as you use them ready for washing. I washed my pads weekly in the mesh bag and they washed very well. The bag also doubles as a storage or travel bag keeping everything neat and tidy.

There is a lot to like about this set – it is obviously a great idea and eco friendly but it also is a really nice beauty product too. The pads themselves are so soft, very easy to use and wash really well. I was concerned after using and washing them a few times they would start to feel a bit ‘scraggy’ and not fresh like a new cotton wool pad but I can honestly say they feel lovely every time I have used them. They are a larger size than I expected too and have 2 layers meaning you can use both sides during make-up removal and the pad still feels clean, soft and fresh.

After going cotton wool free for a few weeks now, I am really feeling the love with this set, the brand and its ideals. We have developed into a throw-away society, filling up our environment with rubbish that we cannot dispose of and something has to change. Doing my bit for the planet without comprising on everyday time-savers is what I strive for and by simply swapping to clever eco friendly and sustainable products like this can really help the environment, as well as saving a bit of money in the long run too.

This set is ideal for all types of skin, plus can be used on adults, children and even babies. The bamboo pads can be used for applying beauty products, such as toners and serums as well as the removal of all types of make-up, even really heavy applications.

I really liked the feeling of the pads on my skin and found they removed all my make-up while absorbing the Micellar water I use each night. They all washed really well and the additional soap bags made me consider my other toiletry usage and look at where I could be more eco friendly.

So, will I go back to good old cotton wool?

Its a 100% no from me!!! Using bamboo pads is definitely the way forward – they work great and fit in to my busy life really well. And best of all – no waste and no guilt!

Want to try this fab kit for yourself? The I&G Eco natural make up remover kit costs £12.99 and can be bought from Amazon here or directly via the I&G Eco website.

It’s time to start making a difference…

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

Nanoblading Review – going under the mini knife!

July 7, 2018July 9, 2018 | blueskygirlie

I have been unhappy about my eyebrows for some time. After over-plucking them in the 90’s (thanks Madonna in your Erotica period) they had been left sparse and gappy and did not really ‘fit’ my face anymore. I had tried different topical beauty treatments and make-up products and had got to the point where I would want to pencil them in even if I wasn’t wearing make-up that day.

I knew a bit about Microblading but also was fearful of how ‘permanent’ it was. I didn’t like my brows but also didn’t want two thick caterpillars tattooed on me!!!

After hearing great things and seeing examples of her work, I went and visited Sophia Coomber from Beauty and Bloom, a beautician service local to where I live where she told me to forget about Microblading – the future is Nanoblading!

Nanoblading is a new brow treatment that uses ultra-sharp nano needles that can actually mimic the diameter and dimension of a real hair in the skin, It is a form of cosmetic tattooing but it’s not as deep as a conventional tattoo, as you are only going through the top layer of the skin into the upper dermis. Put simply, it’s Microblading but with super fine, flexible needles. The technique means you can create a more natural looking brow shape because the beautician can apply more accurate pressure and the pigment that is used is finer too.

First session – consultation and patch test

After a patch test to ensure you aren’t allergic to the pigment or the numbing cream, you have a consultation to discuss the perfect eyebrow shape and colour for you. Sophia is absolutely lovely and immediately put me at my ease. She explained the procedure and well as how she was trained and the attention to detail she has. She warned me it would hurt a bit and as she had to do a tiny test cut to check I wasn’t allergic to the pigment I discovered she is truthful too! It does indeed hurt!

Second session – Nanoblading procedure

A week later I was back and ready to go for it! I was a little nervous but Sophia made sure I felt very comfortable and assured me we could take breaks if it got too uncomfortable. After applying some numbing cream, your chosen eyebrow shape is drawn on top of your brows so you can check it, before the treatment starts.

I’ve got to be honest the numbing cream doesn’t really make that much difference – Nanoblading hurts! Obviously this is the case wherever you go as tiny, light cuts are being made that feel like deep scratches but hey, no pain no gain! Sophia has a lovely calm and comfortable treatment room and you can have music playing which is a nice distraction. Oh and chatting, that helps too! The procedure itself takes between 1.5 and 2 hours depending on the amount of brow you need creating and at points I found it quite hard and my eyes did water quite a bit but overall it was manageable. You know you are going to get something you really want and I would say just be brave and focus on the end result.

Before and after –

After the procedure you can see the effect is quite significant but also very natural. The colour looks a little dark at first but Sophia assured me it would fade over the next two weeks, which it did.

The aftercare is much like a tattoo – you clean the area morning and night with cooled boiled water and add a skin healing cream straight after. Sophia provided everything I needed right down to the cotton wool pads for the aftercare which I thought was a lovely touch.

I didn’t feel any real pain or discomfort afterwards and by about day 10 they only felt a little itchy as they were still healing but that didn’t last long. You are also advised to keep out of the sun, to not use certain beauty products and not get your face too wet for the first week or so. The better you look after them the longer they will last before needing retouching.

You’ll need two sessions, the second about four to six weeks after the first, to achieve the finished look, but you’ll still be able to leave the first appointment with beautifully shaped brows that don’t look half-done.

Third session – perfecting treatment –

So five weeks later I was back! Having lived with my new brows for well over a month I felt they could be a little bit thicker and longer. Sophia added some tiny drawn hairs to the arch and ends and this procedure was much easier. I think its definitely best to err on the side of caution during your first session though as you can always add a little more but you cant remove any!

Straight afterwards –

This is just after my perfecting treatment. Again my brows are quite dark but slightly stronger looking which is what I wanted. And no thick caterpillars in sight!!!

2 weeks later…

A few weeks later I have stopped cleaning them and they have faded slightly as expected. I am so pleased – I am not wearing any eyebrow make-up in this photo of any kind and now I don’t need too. Even close up you cannot tell they are not real hairs – it really is amazing!

Overall progress – before, after first procedure and after perfecting treatment –

I think this series of close-ups speaks for itself. The initial treatment takes about two hours, followed up with a perfecting session that lasts about an hour. Everyone’s skin is different, but generally the pigment lasts in the skin for 12-18 months without retouches.

Sophia’s treatment costs £250 for the three sessions. She covers the East Kent and Redhill, Surrey area and can be booked here. I thoroughly recommend her.

For those in other areas, to find a qualified Nanoblading beautician look for one certified by a recognised training provider and one that is fully insured. Plus request to see pictures of other work that they have done or look on their social media before booking in for the treatment. Make sure they are only using their own original photos and look for reviews and testimonials.

I am so glad I finally plucked up the courage to get this procedure done. I feel so much more confident and attractive. Yes, it hurt a bit being done but that feeling of confidence is just priceless!

#AD SkinChemists Venom Mask

September 25, 2017June 28, 2019 | blueskygirlie

As you may know by now I do love trying new beauty products. At 44 the battle to stay looking fresh is becoming harder and harder but I’m not going down without a fight!

The skinChemists Venom Mask is be a deep moisturising skincare product which contains their hero active ingredient, Syn-Ake. Syn-Ake is a peptide that mimics the activity of venom of the Viper snake…so thankfully no snakes were milked to create this product! This ingredient is supposed to be capable of reducing wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions and has received a lot of good press.

SkinChemists’ Venom Mask is specifically designed as a leave-on, overnight treatment to work on the skin whilst it is most receptive to repair and regeneration. The anti-ageing skin treatment works to firm and plump the skin, whilst deeply hydrating and rejuvenating the skin to leave it fresher, brighter and protected by morning.

Theres no debate, this is a high end, investment purchase with the product selling on the skinChemists website for £94.90. So the big question…is it worth it?

Lets start with what its made from – the main active ingredients in the formulation are:

1) Syn-Ake – imitating the effects of the venom of a Temple Viper Snake, works to reduce mimic wrinkles by inhibiting muscle contractions to reduce the visibility of signs of skin ageing.

2) Hyaluronic Acid – this helps to maintain a moisturised and firm skin for plumper, younger-looking complexion,

3) Glycofilm – which works to protect the skin against environmental pollution and aggressors, which helps to reduce skin damage and premature ageing.

These are all premium products which do very specialised things, plus they are all at a high concentration so thats brilliant. Its always worth comparing the concentrations when looking at products as that, ultimately, is what you are paying for. SkinChemists products are always pure quality and I am consistently impressed with their innovation and quality.

What I was a little disappointed by was the packaging. This is suprising as I usually really like skinChemists packaging – the mask comes in a plastic tube which is more than fit for purpose but it doesn’t feel luxurious in the slightest and it certainly does not feel correct for a product retailing at almost £100. I understand that the ingredients used in the product are top quality and are probably the reason why it has a high price tag but I really think the packaging could have been so much better to fit in with the quality of this product.

That aside, I did really like this mask and its effects but for me it didn’t reach the heights of other skinChemists products I have tried. If used at night, it does leave your skin looking brighter and with less visible lines in the morning when you wash it off. It also doesnt tighten the skin in that uncomfortable way like some masks do. I would say if you can find it at a better price (Look Fantastic for example is selling it for £44.00 and Amazon for £49.00) then its maybe worth investing if you are looking for a long term treatment for aging because this is definitely a great product.

Buy skinChemists Venom Mask here.

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

#AD Skin Chemists Advanced Snail Duo Moisturiser

May 22, 2017June 28, 2019 | blueskygirlie

As you may know I am a Skin Chemists ambassador and I love to try their new (and always innovative) products. The first product I ever tried from their brand was their Advanced Snail Eye Serum (find the original blog here) and although initially I was a little squeamish about using a beauty product with snail secretions in it, I was really impressed with its effects.

This month I am trying another product from the snail range – Advanced Snail Duo Moisturiser.

Skin Chemists says Snail Duo Moisturiser is formulated using a range of regenerating and nourishing actives to help repair the skin from daily damage, whilst protecting against future environmental stress and leaving a mattified finish. The main active ingredients include:

Snail Secretion – derived from the natural defensive liquid secreted by snails aims to delay premature ageing of the skin, whilst reducing visible age spots and providing protection from free radical damage.

Tiare Flower Extract is combined with light and silky coconut oil, working to hydrate, repair, soothe and purify the skin.

Vitamin E Acetate aims to leave the skin moisturised, whilst providing further protection against skin damage from environmental aggressors.

Creatine works to imitate an amino acid found naturally within the skin, it aims to revitalise cell energy metabolism, whilst hydrating and protecting the skin.

It’s worth doing a patch test if youre concerned you might be allergic to any of these ingredients. I did notice a very slight tingling feeling when I first started using it and although I didn’t have any type of reaction, I feel if someone had more sensitive skin it might be worth it.

Also if youre a bit worried about the whole ‘how do you get this from a snail’ part (which is quite understandable) be assured Skin Chemists are a cruelty free company and only use sustainable methods to extract snail secretion at no harm to the snail. Afterwards the snail is returned healthy to its breeding place – yay!

This product is easy to use in its pump action dispenser and smooths over the skin effortlessly, leaving a slight tackiness that sets quickly – you can even put make-up on over the top too if you use it in the morning which is great. On first use, what I noticed most was how a small amount plumped my skin almost immediately with a slight tingling feeling and after a few weeks of use my skin feels firmer, fine lines seem less and my skins imperfections have been reduced without making my skin greasy.

Marble effect trays / H&M Home
Sunglasses / Depop
Sunglasses case /Primark
Earrings /Dorothy Perkins
Brooch / New Look
Eye Shadow / L’oreal

All in all this is another great product from Skin Chemists – I will be using the Duo Moisturiser with the Advanced Snail Eye Serum for a maximised effect and hope the reducing of my fine lines will continue! Oh and for anyone worrying it smells lovely too…

Buy Advanced Snail Duo Moisturiser here.

Truly innovative products are rarely cheap, with this product retailing at £99.90, but Skin Chemists have been incredibly generous in giving readers of my blog the code SARAH1 for a whopping 80% off (making it just £19.99) throughout May. Give it a go…what have you got to lose?

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

#AD Skin Chemists Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream

April 17, 2017June 28, 2019 | blueskygirlie

As its a new month I am reviewing a new Skin Chemists product, this month its their Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night cream. As you know I am always excited to receive a Skin Chemists product and have found their products consistently good. But what about this one – is it worth adding to your (probably) already cluttered beauty product shelf or drawer?

OK, lets start where I always start…the asthetics. The look of this product is fabulous – its a large size (50ml) and is in a tall yellow dispenser that just looks so bright and cheerful. In a world of drab packaging and boring products, it is a joy to see it sitting on your bathroom shelf! It uses a pump action to deliver exactly how much cream you need per daily application and dispenses from the bottom up meaning there is no wastage.

But we all know it doesn’t matter how good something looks, it needs to work. So what does Skin Chemists say about this product?

Wake up to a revived, more youthful complexion with the Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream. Did you know that the skin repair can almost double as we sleep?

By picking the right products with the most effective active ingredients, we can take advantage of this valuable repair time to ensure that we really do get our “beauty sleep”. To make the most of this precious repair time and keep our skin plump and luscious, we developed our Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream.

Our Advanced Pro-5 Collagen Range is a unique and true revolutionary formula for perfect skin showing the early sings of ageing. Our Advanced Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night Cream aims to boost skin elasticity and even the skin tone, restoring it to optimal level when your skin is in its most restorative state as you sleep.

For me at 44 years old (don’t tell anyone!) and a working mum who could probably do with a bit more rest than she is getting, this is all sounding very appealing. The main active ingredients in the formulation are:

Marine Collagen which aims to leave the skin smooth, supple and rich.
Gatuline Bio which works to promote skin health and regeneration, reducing the visibility of wrinkles by renewing dull or ageing skin and providing hydration.
Matrixyl 3000 which aims to smooth away visible wrinkles and blemishes for an even mattified complexion.

I used this product after removing my make-up each night and noticed a few things straight away. It is absorbed into the skin really easily and it has a lovely, sweet delicate smell – slightly reminiscent of childrens sweeties. It made my skin feel quickly refreshed as if it had had a drink of water and its bright look is just not on the outside – using it definitely made me feel quite cheerful – no idea why it just did!

Now, I’ve got to be honest usually with Skin Chemists products I notice an effect pretty much straight away but in the first week of using this cream I didnt see/feel much difference. Yes, my skin felt nourished each night but visually I couldnt see much difference in the morning. However I kept using the product and by mid week 2 – POW!!! I suddenly saw quite a significant change. My skin felt plumped and looked smoother and best of all had developed rather a nice glow to it. This is one of the reasons I always test beauty products for a minimum of 2-3 weeks and advise my followers to do the same (unless they experience any irritation etc.) – some products take longer to take effect than others. Even under light make-up I felt my skin was more radiant…

But with so many different skincare choices, why should we be using collagen-rich products? According to Skin Chemists, from the age of 20 collagen production starts to decrease so we need to give our skin a helping hand by using products with active ingredients that help to boost and support collagen production. I find this really interesting because as I have got older I have definitely noticed my skin losing some of its elasticity and not looking as fresh as it once did. I might be aging but I am definitely wanting to keep my face looking younger for longer.

So in summary, for me this is a product you need to choose to use daily as part of your night-time beauty routine and for an extended amount of time. It is not a ‘quick fix’ but with continued use definitely seems to improve skin that is not as fresh and glowing as it once was. It is easy to use and 50ml lasts a good amount of time…and the glow, well thats the best part of it for me.

My followers can get the Pro-5 Collagen Oxygenating Night cream for £19.99 until the end of the month (instead of the RRP of £109) using the code BLUESKYBLOG. The code is valid throughout April. Find it here – if you use it let me know, I’d love to know your results!

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

#AD Skin Chemists Bee Venom Facial Serum

March 17, 2017June 28, 2019 | blueskygirlie

It’s March, so that means a new Skin Chemists review! Regular followers to this blog will know I have become quite a fan of this brand and am excited to be trying another innovative anti-aging product – this month it is Bee Venom Facial Serum.So…Bee Venom. Its a hot product that has had lots of press attention – celebrity bee venom fans include Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and model Jourdan Dunn, but what is it and what does it do?

The science: By fooling the skin into thinking it has been stung Bee Venom causes the body to increase the level of blood circulation to the application area, encouraging heightened production of collagen and elastin. This increased production restores a plumper and firmer skin structure, slowing down skin sagging and dramatically reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It all sounds pretty amazing, but it is obviously not suitable for anyone allergic to bee stings! Oh, and no insects are hurt or killed obtaining this in case you were worried.

The main ingredients in Bee Venom Serum are:

Bee Venom which aims to plump and firm the skin while stimulating collagen production
A blend of Amino Acids to balance the skin, whilst improving skin clarity and encouraging an even skin tone for a brighter complexion.
Hyaluronic Acid to maintain moisture within the skin.

So, the big question – does it work?

I used the product morning and night and found it to be refreshing and easily absorbed into the skin. The serum itself has a great texture and a little goes a long way. As usual with Skin Chemists, it is in lovely premium packaging (a frosted glass dispenser) and uses clever tech so as you use the product, the bottom of the container pushes up meaning no serum is wasted – with beauty products (which lets be honest, are luxury buys) this kind of detail is important to me. I dont like waste!

Before:

On the first few uses I felt my skin react ever-so slightly to the serum (not in an irritated way, more of a plumping feeling) after use and my skins fine lines did look less visible after a few days. It also smelt lovely and fresh and could be used as skincare by either sex in my opinion. I definitely noticed a tightening effect around my jaw area and time will tell if it tightens up those slowly appearing 40+years old jowls!

After:

I would definitely recommend this product if you are looking to tighten up areas of skin or plump fine lines and wrinkles and I am definitely impressed with the results on my skin in just 2 weeks. For those 40 years plus I think it would be a great (and unique) addition to your skincare regime.

With this being a premium product it does carry a premium price tag, but excitingly my readers can get the Bee Venom Facial Serum I am reviewing for £19.99 until the end of the month (instead of the RRP of £129) using the code BLUESKYBLOG. The code is valid throughout March. Its really worth giving it a try at such a bargain price! Find it here. If you use it let me know, I’d like to know your results!

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

What does your Valentines Day look like?

February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 | blueskygirlie

It’s Valentines Day! Whether or not you celebrate it, love it or loathe it, are taken or single, it’s a great day to spoil yourself and make yourself feel good. It’s a day all about love – whether its the love for a partner, for your friends, your family but most importantly yourself – because you can’t love anyone properly unless youve learnt to love yourself! In todays blog I’ll show you my picks to help you do just that…

Mind blowing blow dry spray – Schwarzkopf Got2b
Red lingerie set – Peacocks
Vanity case – Primark
Heart earrings/Movie Night purse/Diamanté brooch – New Look
Rose Quartz Facial Oil – Skin Chemists*
Red Gazelle Trainers – Adidas
Je t’aime brooch – vintage
The Righteous Butter – Soap and Glory
Heart dish – Clintons
Harley Quinn mini-figure – Lego
Love Heart sweets – Swizzles Matlow

I love wearing nice underwear whatever the day and Valentines Day demands some red accents so why not your undies! This lace bra and knicker set (£15 from Peacocks) is sexy but still wearable – as a 43year old, DD cup size with a mummy tummy, Ann Summers style is just not going to work for me! Feeling confident is sexy, right? The Schwarzkopf Mind Blowing Spray is a new discovery for me and its amazing! It makes your hair dry so fast and makes straightening really easy. The ‘Be Mine’ heart dish (£10 from Clintons) is perfect to put my rings on at night and the Harley Quinn Lego minifigure (£4 from all good Lego retailers) is a little gift from my boyfriend who just loves Lego (and I love Harley). The heart earrings were from the New Look sale and look really cute on as do my red Adidas Gazelle trainers – I’ve wanted a pair for ages so treated myself in the January sales and by buying the kids version (they go up to UK 5.5) I saved a fortune! The Skin Chemists Rose Quartz facial oil (£24.99 from Skin Chemists) is still keeping my skin soft and radiant (for more info see my review of it here) and smells lovely…just the thing to make you feel great about yourself!

I do love a pretty accessory and the heart brooch is a vintage one and the diamanté wreath brooch is from New Look. Love Heart sweets are always cute to give your loved one and dont seem to of changed that much since I was a kid (apart from maybe a ‘text me’ one!). And this vanity case (£5 from Primark) is just adorable – perfect for if youre going away or just to store stuff in your bedroom or bathroom.

I love Soap & Glory products so The Righteous Butter is a constant buy for me – if you’ve never tried their products then I did definitely recommend you do. And finally I couldnt resist the Movie Night coin purse (£4.99 New Look) its small, but perfectly formed and the perfect size for your cinema tickets, some coins and a bank card.

But ultimately my Valentine Day looks like just being with the people I love. As its half term and I have the day off I will be lunching then having a Starbucks date with my 3 sons/stepsons in the day and then later on will share a romantic dinner with my boyfriend. We dont ‘do’ gifts, just give a Valentines Day card because for us its every day that matters, not just February 14th. But whatever you do, however big or small, enjoy the day.

PS I also wrote about how I hate the commercialism of the day here – have a look and let me know your thoughts!

During February Skin Chemists are having a Rose Quartz month with lots of promotional offers on the entire range. This product usually has a RRP of £99 but during February is reduced to £24.99 – to shop it click here. My followers can receive an additional 20% off by using the discount code BLUESKYBLOG making the product only £19.99! The code is valid until the end of February.

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

The thing I fell in love with this week

February 11, 2017February 11, 2017 | blueskygirlie

L’Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Low Shampoo / £6.99

As someone with thick, quite curly hair, I am not a fan of overwashing my hair especially since it has been vibrantly coloured. When I saw an advert about ‘Low Shampooing’ which appeared to be a more gentle way to wash your hair, I was instantly interested in what that meant.

According to the advertising, ‘low shampoos’ are a gentle way to wash your hair in one simple step. These cleansing creams have a no foam or sulphate formula and both conditions hair while gently removing impurities therefore helping keep your colour strong. You use them in place of your existing haircare regime 1-2 times a week so would probably only work for you if youre willing to not wash your hair too frequently.

You then leave on for 3 mins (I just clipped my hair up) and then rinse off. It seems a bit odd with no foamy lather but I recently discovered via a top hairdresser that much of the foaming in normal shampoos doesn’t clean your hair at all, it just makes you think its cleaner! In fact the most common foamer found in shampoo is Soium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), a man-made chemical is often used to remove grease and oil from engines or floors! Whatever the specific chemical, all sulfates remove natural oils from your hair and scalp, which can lead to dryness, thinning or even loss of hair or allergic reactions.

With this product you don’t use a conditioner but can use the day cream as a leave in conditioner (also new and priced at £6.99) if you want – I used it as a protection cream as I blow dried my thick wavy hair which it can also be used for. I do like a multi-tasking beauty product!

I’m already a fan of the Colour Protect range and pretty much only use them now I’ve had my hair deeply coloured red. The new Low Shampoo is available in three different L’oreal range varieties:

• Colour Protect Low Shampoo – helps keep coloured hair feeling protected and looking beautiful (my pick)
• Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo – for dry hair leaves hair soft, shiny and resilient
• Extraordinary Oil Curl Nourishment Low Shampoo – for curly/afro hair helps to leave hair feeling nourished.

I usually hate the look of my freshly washed hair. I will never wash my hair the same day/night as going out for example, but after washing my hair looked really good. It didn’t look as ‘fluffy’ as it usually looks with normal shampoos and conditioners. Time will tell on how vibrant my colour stays but unless my hair was very dirty I’m definitely now moving over to low shampooing regime a couple of times a week rather than the traditional wash/condition I was doing.