April Favourites

Hey lovelies, I am tucked up in bed with a cup of hot chocolate, it is raining cats and dogs outside. 

So I have decided to share with you what were my favorite products for the month of April. 

Some of these products you might have seen before, some of them are new. 

Everyday Favourites: 

Armani shades - between low glare in the mornings and the dazzling sunlight in the afternoons, having these bad boys in my hand bag have been a necessity. 

Jack Wills umbrella - did you know umbrellas are pricey? Like seriously this umbrella was "12 and it was half price!!!!. I came to the rude awakening, that I have never actually purchased  an umbrella, (when I bought this umbrella).  I mean for an every day product, they are pricey, especially if you want a sturdy one to hold up against these hurricane rains /tornado winds we seem to be getting these past few months. 

Body Favorites:

Garnier 7 day Intense moisturizing lotion - good moisturizer not to light and now to heavy  perfect for the fluctuating temperatures of Spring. 

 Dove Hibiscus and Almond shower cream - has been keeping my skin clean as well as soft. Sanctuary body spray - great for spritzing on the go, as well as topping up during the day, the scent is very light. I know you are wondering why I have two body scrubs/exfoliators as well as exfoliating gloves. Exfoliating gloves are the business, I use them every day, with my Dove Almond and Hibiscus shower cream.  

There is a method to the madness with the 2 body scrubs. Gigi No Bump Scrub - is for use in delicate areas such as the bikini line and decolletage.  The Body Shop Raspberry Body Scrub this is for use every where, but I moistly focus on the back of my thighs and arms with this. 

Face Favourites:

 Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer - medium coverage plus spf, this has been my regular base not that the morning have been lighter. 

 Garnier Micellar water -this has been a great makeup remover, plus at 400ml for £4.99, this has been great value for money. 

MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural - great face powder on its own as well as topping up my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. 

 Murad perfecting day cream with spf 30 - it goes on and gives my skin a grey  tinge, which does not last. My skin totally absorbs it  and it leave no residue, plus it doesn't interfere with the application of my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer which contains spf 20.

 (I am all for the spf, I am going to be as well preserved as possible, no leather face here. Moisturizer, water and spf are my friends) 

Hair Favourites:

ORS Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion - I've been using this for years. It works great as a hair moisturizer I just continue using it. 

Almond Oil (decanted into the Tresemme liquid gold bottle) - this is what I use to seal in the moisture of the Olive oil hair lotion. 

There you have it my April favourites,

xxx

Rollin' in the Creams: L' Occitane, The Body Shop, Carex, Neals Yard

Soooo somehow between magazine freebies, gifts and half price offers I have accumulated a tiny hand cream collection. I know, I know it looks bad but in my defense I like hand creams and these will be used up. I have a little strategy in relation to using them as well, no fear there is a method in the madness. 

Christmas gift 2013

Magazine freebies, yup £58 worth of free handcream

The 30ml L'Occitane Shea Butter  hand creams I keep for carrying around daily/ on nights out. They are the perfect handbag/clutch bag size. I keep one in my Longchamp pouchette 24/7.

 These are good because they are super moisturizing and even the scented ones are not terrible overpowering.

 My sister knows of my "L'Occitane Love" and she bought me the L'Occitane gift box (pictured above) as a part of my Christmas gift. 

The Neal's Yard Hand Cream (Save The Bees guys) I plan to start using this as a hand bag cream when the weather really heats up. I tend to like citrus scents during the warmer months. 

Half priced purchases

The Body Shop Hand creams I picked these up for 2 reasons 1. I had been watching them for a while. From time to time The Body Shop emails would come to my inbox and I would have a gander  to see what products were on offer, these hand creams kept coming up peaking my interest. One day I gave in and purchased them when they were on offer with 50% off discount (these 100ml sizes are usually £10 each, I bought them for £5 each)

2. I toyed with the idea of giving each of my siblings a hand cream and a hand sanitizer as a part of their Christmas presents  (don;t judge one of my sisters gave me socks). Sadly The hand creams did not make it to the Christmas gift boxes but the hand sanitizers did. 

 

I use these during the day if I am at home and in the evenings before bed. I think these are great desk hand creams. 

Cussons Carex Antibacterial Hand Creams first let me say this was a great way for Cussons to diversify their product range. They make so many hand washes, it was just the sensible move for them to start making hand creams. Cussons -----------> WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? I bought these last August when they first launched in Superdrug and were half priced (£1.20). I originally had two of them the Vitamin E (pictured above, now resides on my desk) and the Aloe Vera ( which has been used and now rests with the hand cream gods). These I use at the office. 

There you are my lovelies.

 I told you there was a method to the madness. 

xx

March Haul

This was just a quick run through my local health food shop Holland and Barrett, they were starting their Easter deals. 50% off  whooo hoo yes I love a good deal, it is not a sale unless it is 50% or more off.

Flaxseed oil tablets, Sweet Almond Oil

Yes  love a bargain both of these were 50% off and I scooped them up.  

 These tablets will come in hand when my Cod Liver oil finishes.

The Almond oil will do my hair and scalp well during the Spring and summer months.  I bought two of these because Almond oil is something that I use very regularly on my hair and skin. Purchasing two of them while on offer is basically giving me twice the amount for my money. My marginal perpetuity to consume covers these because they will be used up in 3 months.( a lil bit of econ for ya)

This I found while i was purchasing a pastry at my local supermarket. It was on clearance for 50p (regular price £3.50) I thought it would be quite nifty to have to give my shoes a quick touch up. It is quite small, easily portable, I could put it in my bag and take it around with me. Or keep it in my drawer at work, you never know when a quick shoe shining might be needed.


xx

Wash Day

I detangled my hair using my Conair shower comb, then parted it into 4 sections. 

Then I applied my Elasta QP Intensive Breakage Treatment to each of the four sections, saturating as much of the hair as possible. I applied the serum working  up the hair shaft from the ends. Covered with 2 plastic bags, a large towel waited 40 minutes (aka watched 1 episode of Rizzoli and Isles).

 Rinsed out the Elasta QP Intensive Breakage Treatment Serum, shampooed twice using the Avon 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo. 

Followed up with a deep conditioner blend ( 2 large spoonfuls of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 1 large spoonful of Sweet Almond Oil, 4 large spoonfuls of Avon 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner (NOT the treatment masque) and 1 large spoonful of Mazuri Hair Mayonnaise Steam treatment.) 

 

Applied to my hair paying close attention to my edges/nape/ends. Then covered with  1 plastic bag and the towel again for 40 minutes (aka another episode of Rizzoli and Isles.

Rinsed out the deep conditioner, then applied my leave ins. Infusium 23 Maximum Body Formula Leave in Conditioner, Doo Gro Leave in Growth Treatment,  Matrix  Sleek Results Iron Smoother, combed through, then applied a bit of ORS Deep Moisturizing Hair Lotion on my ends. (In that order)

 


Dried hair using T shirt method, then finished off using blow dryer with heat settings turned off. (yes your hair dries, if you do this)

Applied Hairveda Almond Glaze to my scalp, combed my hair into a pony tail and covered with my satin scarf.

Hair Stats
Current length: Line #2 on my length check t shirt
Last Relaxer: February 2nd 2013
Next Relaxer: April 27th 2013
Short Term Goal: line #3 on my Length check T-shirt by June 2013
Long Term Goal: Bra Strap Length by December 2013
Wish List: Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, Grapseed Oil
Recent buys: None 

http://miakhymai.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/a-review-avon-advanced-techniques-360.html

http://miakhymai.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/review-hairveda-almond-glaze.html

http://miakhymai.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/hair-fave-organic-root-stimulator-olive.html

http://miakhymai.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/wash-day-25022013.html

Love and Light

xx

February Favourites 2013

Avon Advances Techniques 360 Nourishment Hair Care Range Shampoo/Conditioner/Deep Treatment

Emporio Armani Sunglasses

Converse Clite Ox Colbalt

Kleenex Tissues (got to love the 4 ply)

Kurt Geiger Ballet Flats

Dune - for their after sale shoe service

Zara Rose EDT 

Soap and Glory Mist you Madly Body Spray

ORS Deep Moisturizing Hair Lotion

The Richest man in Babylon - by George Clayson  I cannot even tell you how good this book is.

Cod Liver oil Tablets

Mac Studio Fix + Powder

Almond Oil

My woolly hat (it has been freezing cold)

xx

Wash Day - 25/02/2013

     This Snowing, frosty weather has had my scalp going crazyyyyyyyy. I was trying to hold out until Saturday which would have made 2 weeks since my last wash/deep treatment/roller set but I could not take it any more. The scalp at the front of my head has descended into a pile of large crackly flakes. If you know me I am not about that dry, flaky head looking life. 

     To wash my hair I used my Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan oil Shampoo. I had separated my hair into two parts front/back after de tangling  I applied the shampoo to the front of my hair and then massaged it into my scalp. After what I deemed a sufficient enough time I rinsed the shampoo from the front f my hair. I then applied shampoo all over my hair and proceeded to wash my hair in its entirety. 

     After rinsing the shampoo from my second wash. I applied my  Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan oil Hair mask (deep treatment conditioner) working from the ends up the hair shaft. I also applied some of the hair mask/ deep treatment conditioner to my crown and around the edges of my hair. After combing that through I covered my hair with a plastic bag (I think it was from tesco) and then wrapped the entire concoction with a large towel to trap the heat. After 40 minutes (aka 1 episode of Blue bloods, check it out great show) I rinsed the hair mask/ deep treatment conditioner from my hair.

     I then applied some of the  Avon Advanced Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan oil Conditioner throughout my hair and then rinsed it out. Next I towel blotted my hair sprayed it with my Infusium 23 Maximum body Formula leave in conditioner, followed by my Doo Gro Leave in Growth treatment  (aka my bootleg Aphogee Green Tea  and Keratin Restructurizer, check it out ingredients are nearly identical, plus it is half the price and has more in the bottle), then my Matrix Sleek Look Iron smoother (Heat Protectant). I de-tangled my hair and then blow dried it on low heat, then I applied some Hairveda Almond Glaze to my scalp and massaged it in for about 2 minutes. I asked my little sister to flat iron my hair for my using my vidal Sassoon 2 inch ceramic hair straightener. 

     After allllllllllll of that I applied some ORS Deep moisturising Hair lotion into my palm and mixed it with a bit of Almond glaze, a few drops of Almond oil and applied that all over my hair. This morning my hair was suuuuuuuuuuper soft and lovely. 

Notes

  - I am still going heatless/no heat for 2013/ airdry/ roller set, I flat ironed my hair to do a length check, since I had not done one in such a long time. Currently my hair is at the #2 line on my length check t shirt. 

 - The DOO GRO Leave In Growth treatment comes in a pop top bottle.  What I have done is to decant it into my EMPTY Aphogee Green Tea bottle, this decanting products into spray bottles give them a much much much longer life.  see picture below.

Almond Glaze my review -->  Almond Glaze

Organic Root Stimulator Deep Moisturising Hair Lotion my review--> ORS Olive Oil Hair Moisturiser

Almond Oil --> Almond Oil (I need to check this out, because the website says it is Almond and Wheat Germ Oils, But the label on the packaging lists Almond Oil as the only ingredient.) 


Hair Stats
Current length: Line #2 on my length check t shirt
Last Relaxer: February 2nd 2013
Next Relaxer: April 27th 2013
Short Term Goal: line #3 on my Length check T-shirt by June 2013
Long Term Goal: Bra Strap Length by December 2013
Wish List: Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer, Grapseed Oil
Recent buys: Almond oil 

Review - Hairveda Almond Glaze

     So it was week 9 in my 12 week stretch and my new growth was live and in living colour.  Normally I use coconut oil on my scalp, but I found that it was not working. I do not know if it is the weather  if my roots are just thirsty, or the stretching but my scalp was just dry. No matter how much coconut oil I put on it. My roomie suggested that I try "Hairveda' Almond Glaze Natural Hair Pomade", since I had had such good results from using the "Hairveda Whipped Creme Ends in the summer". I knew that almond oil was very rich and moisturizing, since I had been using it on my skin for years, but I had never tried it on my hair. I was game because as we know dry, flaky scalp is not cute. she gave me a tub which she was not using it had in about 1/4 of product left.  

The packaging reads Almond Glaze Natural Hair Pomade Grease. apply to hair as often as needed to help soften and smooth newgrowth, twists or braids. Helps with creating sleek styles with natural type 4 hair. Ingredients include Almond oil, Almond butter, Castor seed oil, and beeswax.

    So I do my do, I used it to oil my scalp, first thing I must say about this product is that it smells Gorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgeoussssssssss. It has a very light consistency, and it spreads well, think of  whipped butter. After using this my hair felt soft, was very pliable and shiny.  My scalp was moisturized and it was about 4 days before I saw the need to moisturize again. I loved the results from the first application, but I was a bit skeptical that maybe I was making it out to be more than it was. So I tried a few more times and got the same results. 

     I love this product, I consider it very useful especially if like myself you are stretching out your relaxers. I believe this product would be most beneficial to those with relaxed hair from around week 7 or 8 when the new growth really comes in. Going forward I plan to use my pure coconut oil on my scalp from weeks 1-7 and then from weeks 8-12 oil my scalp using the almond glaze. 

Product reviews on the hairveda whipped creme ends and the hairveda green tea butter will follow soon.