Review - Dove deep nourishing body wash

What they say

     Dove difference - only dove body wash has  NutriumMoistureTM - our unique blend of moisturizers enriched with skin natural lipids that can absorb completely to nourish deep down while you shower. Deeply Nourishing, clean rinsing always beautiful.

  What I say

     As I mentioned before here my-winter-beauty-essentials I am a lover of body washes and shower gels. to me this is the body wash form of the age old dove skin soap. I picked this dove shower gel up a few months back with a few others. I had tried the dove Go fresh cucumber body wash + body mist last summer and I was sold. The consistency is quite thick so a little goes a long way, and even with the added moisturisers, the body wash lathers quite well (aka alot of bubbles). I liked the way my skin felt afterwards, I was clean yet there wasn't that dry tight feeling. I would not suggest using this with a wash cloth/wash rag/flannel, the cloth tends to get slimy after about 3 uses due to the moisturisers in the body wash.
        Preferred bathing accessories to use are a bath lily or exfoliating gloves, the ones sold at The Body Shop are the best and they are recession proof. using the bath lily/exfoliating gloves does aid with longevity of the product so if you were interested in getting your money's worth with this product, definitely invest in a bath lily.   

would i recommend? - yes
would i repurchase? - yes
would i buy full priced? - yes

Miss Mai

xx

Review - Darcy's Botanicals Sweet Cocoa Bean Curl smoothing Creme

What they say

    Smooth a small amount throughout damp or dry hair. great for all hair types. Excellent for styling twists, curls and braids. (Top three ingredients are Distilled water, Cocoa Butter, and Almond oil.)

What I say

      I have had success with products from Darcy, since I had tried the Pumpkin Seed curl moisturising conditioner before as a pre-poo and loved it. Okay I admit I did not use a small amount on damp hair, I used a bit more than I think I should have in retrospect. However I must say this was great on my relaxed hair.  I used it as a leave in and it detangled my pretty matt hair quite well (decided to wash my hair over the side of the tub ----> big mistako).  I used it directly on my hair after washing without my usual Infusium 23 leave in conditioner spray + Aphogee Green Tea and Keratin Reconstructor.The next day my hair still felt soft and moisturised. This is a thick cream, but its moveable not as stiff as the Elasta QP Mango butter. 
       Very appropriate for the Spring/Summer do whatever you like weather we are having here in the United Kingdom at the moment.  If you are the type of person who is heavy handed when using products or someone who does a full moisturise and seal every night. This is not a product to purchase unless you were prepared to make the investment or purchase them when they are offer.  This product is £12 for a 8oz bottle, not recession proof at all. However a little goes a long way, my hair is just past shoulder length so the bottle I have should last me a while. Added to that I have a pump on my bottle so that has increased the life of my product x2. Plus I only moisturise and seal my hair fully twice a week. (that works for me, and my hair) 

Would I purchase? - Yes
Would I purchase at full price? - Yes (I would suggest to those intending to use these products as staples,  to save up and order when they have their big blow out sale/ black friday sale.)
Would I recommend? - Yes

For a picture of the Darcy's Botanicals Sweet Cocoa Bean Curl Smoothing Creme check this link Sweet Cocoa Bean

Miss Mai

xx

Review - Qhemet biologics Amla and Olive heavy cream

    

What they say

     Amla and Olive heavy cream - Softens and moisturises extra dry, coarse, hair. distribute a small amount on damp or dry hair. this product also can be used as a regenerative scalp butter to soften growth and smooth edges or as a overnight deep treatment. (Top ingredients include Castor oil, Olive oil and distilled water ---> in that order.)

     What I say

     I love, love, love, love this it is a rich thick cream enriched with loads of nourishing oils. I applied it to my relaxed hair after washing and deep conditioning. I specifically applied the heavy cream to my edges  my edges as I moisturised my hair for the air drying process. My edges felt moisturised and soft, yet were not greasy or wet looking or limp which can be a by product of some haircare products. The heavy cream sunk into my hair quite quickly and there wash no remaining residue. 
       I would say that it reminded me of the Elasta QP Mango butter however it was much more creamy, and had a lighter texture. The full size of this product is $16 for an 8oz jar, so it is a bit expensive. There is a 2oz jar which retails for $5.50. The 2oz jar would last quite a while, if like me you only used this product on your edges when you washed your hair. However there are edge/temple balm recipes online that any recessionista could use to whip up some product for herself.

 I have also used this to do a twist out on freshly washed hair and it really tamed the strands and made the twists nice and juicy (yes juicy)

To check out a picture of this product check the link here Amla and Olive Heavy Cream

Miss Mai
xx

Review - Avene Thermal Water Spray

     What Avene says:

According to legend the curative powers of Avene Thermal Spring water were discovered more than 250 years ago by chance. (as these things always happen) Due to a terrible skin complaint a horse belonging to the Marquis de Rocozels was turned loose to wander the slopes of the black mountains in the Southwest of France. The horse found a thermal spring near the small village of Avene. After drinking from the Spring and rolling around in its waters the horses coat became shiny again and soon it was completely cured. 

As the tale of  this marvellous cure spread, local doctors advised patients to treat their skin problems with water from the spring, now named - the spring of Sainte Odile. The Marquis de Rocozels recognizing his springs potential built Avene's first baths in 1743. (yep the French have been hip to the skincare game a long time)  In 1826 scientific leaders in dermatology such as Professor Jean-Louis Alibert endorsed taking baths in the spring waters of Avene. 

Later. the Marquis' baths were acquired by Victor Descays, who established a hydro therapy centre That combined not only treatment but accommodation for the patients. By 1860 the descendants of Victor Descays  were welcoming more than 500 patients a year to visit the springs. 

The waters fame spread far beyond Avene to physicians across France and as far as  America, where the water was exported to treat burn victims after the great Chicago fire of 1871. The spring was declared to be of public interest in 1874 by the President of the Republic of France and officially approved as a dermatological Hydrotherapy centre.

The soothing effects of the Avene Thermal water has been tested on over 500 people with sensitive skin. Its unique and constant composition gives it a soothing effect and anti irritating properties have been proven by numerous scientific studies. 

(source Avene)

MAC Fix + An aqua spritz of vitamins and minerals, infused with a calm the skin blend of green tea, chamomile, cucumber and topped off with a fresh natural energizing scent of Sugi. adds radiance, finishes make-up. Spray it on, skin drinks it up. 

(source MAC)

     What I say:

Cult favourite MAC Fix + has a dupe. The Avene Eau Thermal Thermal spring water. The Avene Spring water comes in 3 sizes the small (handbag) sized 50ml £3.15, compared to the MAC fix + travel size 30ml which costs £7. MAC only recently introduced the travel size fix +.  The second size up of the Avene Thermal water comes in a 150ml sized can, which is the same amount as the regular Sized MAC Fix +, the Avene Water is £6.50 and the MAC Fix + costs £12.50 for the same amount of product. The largest Size of the Avene Thermal Water comes in a 300ml can and costs £10.50, now many personal might say 300ml --------> that is huge. However if you are a budding makeup artist, makeup enthusiast, makeup lover, skincare junkie  the large bottle of Avene Thermal water is cost effective and useful in the long run. 

The Avene Thermal Water is a very versatile and useful product, especially for those who have sensitive, hypersensitive, allergic, and irritated skin. It can be used for diaper rash, various irritations, razor burns(we love products that are guy friendly), after hair removal, to set makeup, sooth sunburns, facial redness, after exercise, during the hot summer months and during travel (to refresh the skin and keep it moisturised). Thermal water is a lifestyle product unlike the Fix + which has a select and limited use, the Thermal water has you covered on all fronts, and also your baby and/or husband. It is a heavy hitter not only is it an all round product, it comes in various sizes and it is also recession proof. 

Check out the Avene Thermal water here Eau Thermal Avene Thermal Water Spray

Miss Mai

xx

Spring Summer Fragrances 2012 - Review

Spring/Summer Fragrance #1 Diesel fuel for life Denim collection - light fragrance, appropriate for everyday use in spring months and early summer available in varied sizes 30ml, 50ml and 75ml. 


Spring/Summer Fragrance #2 Soap and Glory Mist you madly - a flirty, floral, fragrance body mist with hints of citrus (my nose detects grapefruit) appropriate for everyday use in the spring, suited to the summer as well, available in 100ml. 


Spring/Summer Fragrance #3 Zara Rose edt - light and lady like fragrance,  non intrusive, appropriate for everyday, daytime as well as evening use, suites for Spring more than summer with its slightly, floral scent, can be used in the summer as well.


Spring/summer Fragrance #4 Ted baker Origami body mist -  A vivacious body mist with tones of Sandalwood, Raspberry, and Vanilla. This body mist has a gorgeous fragrance, for their first foray into mists TB has definitely made a winner with this fragrance. Though it is a "mist" one of the more diluted forms of fragrance, the scent lingers on the skin. It is not an intrusive fragrance, everydya wearable. Available in 50ml and 150ml sizes

Summer Fragrance #5 Zara White edt -  smells clean and fresh - (think body shop white cotton fragrance), it lasts on the skin, very wearable, suitable for everyday use   available in 30ml

Evening Edition - Summer Fragrance #6 Diesel Fuel for life edp pour femme -  this is a lovely fragrance, very suited to special occasions and evening. It is an eau de parfum, therefore the fragrance will last longer on the skin due to the higher concentration of perfumed oils. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml    

Summer Fragrance #7 Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y. - a must have fragrance gorgeous, very light and floral/citrus scent, but not overpowering, lasts forever on the skin, suitable for everyday wear - but I reserve mine for special occasions or days when I need an extra oomph,this fragrance can be worn in the evening as well. Available in 50ml

Evening Edition - Summer Fragrance #8 Burberry Body - if you don't have this you need to own it. It smells that great, a luxurious scent, slightly floral with a hint of musk, easy on the nose, suited to special occasions and evenings. available is various sizes 30ml, 50ml 100ml

Spring Summer Fragrance list - 2012

Spring/Summer Fragrance #1 Diesel fuel for life Denim collection - light fragrance, appropriate for everyday use in spring months and early summer available in varied sizes 30ml, 50ml and 75ml

Spring/Summer Fragrance #2 Soap and Glory Mist you madly - a flirty, floral, fragrance body mist with hints of citrus (my nose detects grapefruit) appropriate for everyday use in the spring, suited to the summer as well, available in 100ml.


Spring/Summer Fragrance #3 Zara Rose edt - light and lady like fragrance,  non intrusive, appropriate for everyday, daytime as well as evening use, suites for Spring more than summer with its slightly, floral scent, can be used in the summer as well.


Spring/summer Fragrance #4 Ted baker Origami body mist -  A vivacious body mist with tones of Sandalwood, Raspberry, and Vanilla. This body mist has a gorgeous fragrance, for their first foray into mists TB has definitely made a winner with this fragrance. Though it is a "mist" one of the more diluted forms of fragrance, the scent lingers on the skin. It is not an intrusive fragrance, everydya wearable. Available in 50ml and 150ml sizes

Summer Fragrance #5 Zara White edt -  smells clean and fresh - (think body shop white cotton fragrance), it lasts on the skin, very wearable, suitable for everyday use   available in 30ml

Evening Edition - Summer Fragrance #6 Diesel Fuel for life edp pour femme -  this is a lovely fragrance, very suited to special occasions and evening. It is an eau de parfum, therefore the fragrance will last longer on the skin due to the higher concentration of perfumed oils. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml     

Summer Fragrance #7 Stella McCartney L.I.L.Y. - a must have fragrance gorgeous, very light and floral/citrus scent, but not overpowering, lasts forever on the skin, suitable for everyday wear - but I reserve mine for special occasions or days when I need an extra oomph,this fragrance can be worn in the evening as well. Available in 50ml

Evening Edition - Summer Fragrance #8 Burberry Body - if you don't have this you need to own it. It smells that great, a luxurious scent, slightly floral with a hint of musk, easy on the nose, suited to special occasions and evenings. available is various sizes 30ml, 50ml 100ml

Hand Bag Edition -  Spring/Summer Fragrance Ted Baker Origami body mist 50ml - The Ted Baker Origami spray is available in a 50ml size. Since the bottle is made from plastic, this makes it a very portable weight, great for carrying around to refresh yourself on the go.  All in all it is affordable, lightweight, and smells great the perfect fragrance to take around with you. 


Hand Bag Edition - Jack Wills Poppy roller ball - light scent, not intrusive, very playful, appropriate for Summer. Light weight and easy to carry around


Hand Bag Edition - Jack Wills Rose roller ball - slightly heavier scent, though light much more suited to Spring. Light weight and easy to carry around. 




**Please note that fragrances react differently with everyone's natural body chemistry. Therefore two people can wear the same fragrance yet it smells distinctly different on both of them.**

Review - Elemis Melting Cleansing Gel

What Elemis says -This is an ultra purifying gel cleanser, for challenged, dull or stressed skin. After use skin is left smooth and purified. This product contains Argan oil, Rice silk, Rosemary leaf and Moringa peptides. This product is 

- Deep cleansing

-Suitable for ALL skin types (yes even guys can use it)

- Possesses dual - phase technology (yup they have geeked the face wash now, lol)

-is a luxurious gel to milk formula

What I say - This facial cleanser is indeed very luxurious, after use it left my skin feeling very soft and plump. It rinsed off very well, left no film or dirt. Sometimes you just have to treat yourself, or in this case your face. One of the first things people recognize about you is your face and everyone should invest in a good skincare routine. I have used the Elemis Melting Cleansing gel as a makeup remover and though it might be an expensive makeup remover at  £19.40 per 125ml tube. It did the job, does the job and it was a job WELL done. Overall this product is fantastic both as a cleanser and a makeup remover.

Now at £19.40 the Elemis it is not recession proof and though a little bit of this goes a long way. I do believe the Avene cold cream cleanser  £8.00 per 250ml tube, does just a good a job as the Elemis Melting Cleansing gel. 

MissMai

Review - Ojon Damage Reverse Hair Care Range

The complete Ojon Damage Reverse range from Ojon 

Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner 

Damage Reverse Restorative shampoo and Restorative conditioner 

Damage Reverse with Ojon oil Restorative Hair treatment - (the item in the box.) Damage Reverse hair serum - item in the bottle with the dropper. 

The ritual 

     I part my hair in 4 sections, I rub a little bit of the deep treatment on each section of my hair, I measure the deep treatment  by using a teaspoon.  After this I cover my hair with a plastic bag and sleep on it overnight. 

    When I wake up in the morning I wash my hair twice and only twice. Now the Ojon Damage Reverse shampoo is VERYYYYYYYYYYYYY thick and it can be hard to manipulate. What I do is I have 2 60ml bottles and use them to mix my shampoo 50/50 with water. This works for me because it allows the shampoo to spread better in my scalp. Also it helps to stretch the product. 

    After washing I get two tablespoons of the Ojon Damage Reverse conditioner and 2 squirts of the Ojon Damage Reverse hair serum mix that together. I cover my hair with 2 plastic bags and then leave that on my hair for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes I rinse out the conditioner and tadaaaaaaaaaaaa I am finished.

I did enjoy the ritual, my hair  felt very soft and nourished after using the products. I like the fact that the deep treatment goes on first, that way it cuts down on manipulation and prevents me hopping in and out of the shower. My ends especially felt soft in the morning when I had slept with the treatments in overnight, however my hair like oils. My only problem with these products is that fact that the hair serum is mainly made up of Almond oil. 

The top product to buy in my opinion is the Damage Reverse deep treatment, that is the product that I would repurchase first out of all 4 products. I would also purchase the shampoo and the conditioner even though they are £20 each.

This product range is NOT recession proof, so you need to be prepared to make the investment with these products and use them consistently in order to get your moneys worth. 


Would I purchase/repurchase? -Yes most definitely 
Would I buy full price? - Yes (I would be on the lookout for a deal on qvc or the website though)
Would I recommend? - Yes 

xx

Outfit of the day: Classic Springtime chic

Navy Blazer - H&M
Multi Stripe Shirt - T.M. Lewin
White Shorts - Republic (circa 2003)
Wine Loafers - River Island
Tote Bag - Longchamp

Hair Update: Length Check

A little update in regards to my hair length and how my hair has been progressing. This post is pic heavy so be warned, thanks to everyone who has been with me so far on my hair journey. The pictures are not the best because I took them myself, but here goes. enjoy!!

My picture taking skills at this awkward angle is not the best I will admit. Some things that I have been doing differently. 1. I have been using the Ojon Damage reverse hair care line.  I deep condition overnight with the Ojon Damage Reverse deep Treatment, the next morning I wash twice using the Ojon Damage Reverse shampoo, after that I condition using a mixture of the  Ojon Damage Reverse conditioner + Ojon Damage Reverse serum. 2. Another thing that I have been doing is air drying, I have been air drying my hair since January. 3. When I relax my hair I have been putting olive oil on the ends of my hair to protect them from relaxer run off. 4. I have been going totally heatless, no blow dryer or flat iron. 5. I have been using a T-shirt to dry my hair instead a towel (works wonders ladies/gents try it). 6. I have also been weakening my relaxers before applying to my hair by adding Olive oil to the mixture. Doing this makes sure  that the relaxer is not full strength on my hair, however this has led to MAJOR underprocessing, so I wont be doing that anymore. 

I have really thick hair and doing all of these things have really helped to thicken my hair even more. My hair has even more body than it did before, which I love. 

Next Relaxer date - June 30th

Review - Olay daily facials express soothing wet cleansing wipes: sensitive skin

    In my February beauty buys I had mentioned that I would be writing some reviews on the  packets of face wipes I had purchased. In the grand scheme of beauty, hair and makeup, face wipes/makeup remover wipes don't come ranked highly on the scale of exciting things to review. However I do believe that face wipes are great, and do serve a purpose. They are useful for removing makeup, refreshing the skin and even for travelling, since they remove the need for packing bottles of face products. At the end of a long day of work whether you have worn makeup or not, I recommend a quick once over with w face wipe, just to cleanse the skin and get rid of the grime of the day. Plus they are guy friendly, excellent for throwing in the gym bag to freshen up. 

What Olay says: 

Olay daily facials express soothing wet cleansing wipes Go beyond effective cleansing to help soothe and nourish sensitive skin.

Olay's velvety smooth wipes have a lift and lock technology to gently sweep away dirt , makeup, and waterproof mascara.

At the same time Olay's conditioners help to enhance your skin's natural moisture.

What I say: Skin Type -Oily, Cleansing Routine - Twice daily. 

    These face wipes worked well enough. They removed my makeup, but not to the point where I would feel comfortable going to sleep without washing my face. The wipes have little bubbled bits which remind me of quilted tissues, I did like the texture. In my opinion the texture, gave a little friction against the skin and aided the makeup removal process.  They left a film on my face which I gather is from the glycerin (the second ingredient). Glycerin is widely used as a moisturizing agent, since I have oily skin, it did my no harm but did me no favours. They do say that all you need is one wiped to cleanse your face/neck/eye area. however most of the times I used these face wipes I was wearing full makeup, I used 2 wipes usually and then washed my face, or but there were times when I used 3 wipes. I do like the fact that they were gentle on my skin and left my skin feeling semi clean but no stripped like some face wipes do. They were not abrasive nor did I have to scrub at my face to get my makeup off. 

These wipes retail for £2.96, 20 wipes come in each packet. All in all they are relatively cheap compared to others on the market, however you do get less product. 

-Would I repurchase?  Yes if it was on sale and all the other face wipes were full priced. 

-Would I ever purchase at full price?  No. 

-Would I recommend?  Yes, for the purpose of makeup removal ONLY.

xoxo

Miss Mai

Review - The Body Shop White Musk Blush eau de toilette

     
   The White Musk line from The Body Shop is one of their most popular fragrances, one would even describe it as timeless or iconic. For the last few years The Body Shop has released a limited edition version of the White Musk fragrance during the summer months.This summer fragrance is usually a lighter, fresh version of the original fragrance.  First there was  "White Musk White hot Summer" (loved this fragrance thought it did remind me of the Escada Rockin' Rio) and then there was "White Musk Breeze" (the name still cracks me up. lol) 

      Summer 2011 they released White Musk Blush, this line came with 4 products. A shower gel, a body lotion, a body mist and the finale an eau de toilette.The smell is described by The Body Shop as a flowery fragrance. I found it especially light and fresh, not too heavy a hint of flowers as well as citrus, a true summer fragrance. Though the fragrance is light, with the accompanying products it is very easy to layer the fragrance. My procedure when layering fragrance is as follows; bathe with the shower gel, spray the body mist/perfume/eau de toilette, then apply the body lotion to lock the fragrance in. I received this as a gift, so I did not purchase it, however it usually retails for £9. 

The Body Shop White Musk Blush is available  online now on sale as well  in stores. I definitely recommend if you are a fan of light fresh fragrances. 


xoxo
Miss Mai 

Tea For One

Legend has it that in 2737 bc that scholar and herbalist Emperor Shen Nung discovered the magic of tea whilst sipping water under a wild tree. As he sat,  a drift of leaves floated into his cup from above.

He sipped , he thought and he discovered... much like the tea drinkers of today. 

     In a time where getting together with your girlfriends is more likely reflected in the writings of Candace Bushell than the writings of Jane Austen. The "girly" get together is still more important than ever, with ever evolving lives, we still seek solace in those we hold dear and near to our hearts. Though alcohol may loosen the tongue, should advice given not be from a sober mind? Today I thought back to a simpler time when tea was accompanied by fine china, cupcakes, tea cakes, finger foods and mini sandwiches. Ladies (and gentlemen if we must include the blighters) dressed in soft fabrics and pastels. We often talk about power lunches and fine wine, but what about the calming sensations of some Lady Grey or Chamomile, the invigorating aroma of some Lemon and ginger, the chuckle to yourself as you sip on some Chai* tea. 

     Ladies its Spring time and though we have swapped our kid slippers for high heels, our pastel dresses and parasols for blazers and and power suits tea time is still important. Round up the girls, put on your pastels, ballet flats or high heels if you wish and share a cuppa and a tea cake.

     Yes I do live in England  and yes I do drink copious amounts of tea. I have even been known to pack a box or two of Tetley tea into my bags to tide me over during my summer vacation home to Antigua.  It is in this spirit that one of my lovely aunts, gifted me with a China tea set for Christmas a few years ago. 

  

Tea pot - view from the top

 Tea is served

Enjoy!! 

Teapot - Laura Ashley fine bone china 

Teacup - Laura Ashley fine bone china 

Saucer - Laura Ashley fine bone china 

Cake - Lemon sponge with white icing and lemon drizzle

Tea - Tetley's Green tea with Lemon

T. M. Lewin White shirt sale

    Last week I tweeted  my favourite shirt makers @tmlewin1898, and insisted that they should have a white shirt sale, since it is spring/summer. They replied that "they will discuss and see if it is feasible."  This morning  bespoke shirt makers since 1898 T. M. Lewin announced that they are having a white shirt sale for 1 week only online. Not only is this white 
shirt sale going on the UK website, but also on their US, AUS and EU websites. 

     As everyone knows the white shirt is an investment piece, a KEY part of any professional wardrobe. Fashionistas  you are not left out, shirts such as the one below can be styled as part of a casual or formal look. A classic white shirt is always stylish. 

     T. M. Lewin shirts are made with the finest quality poplin, are always 100% or 120% cotton (no polyester blends here). The buttons are sewn with 2 threads, to make sure that they hold and do not easily pop off the garment. They iron well, they wear well and they wash very well.

My shirt of choice is the White Plain Poplin Cutaway Fitted shirt 38171. I am now the proud owner of 2 of them.  Head on over to the T.M. Lewin website and check out the white shirt sale along with their other offerings. T. M. Lewin Remember the White shirt sale is only available for 1 week only. 

"Fashion comes and goes, but style is forever." Yves St Laurent.