Review: BPAL: Ghoulish 2010 (Halloweenie)

I don't own a bottle of this one, only an imp.

Therefore, the picture above isn't mine.

Ghoulish is the bottle on the left.

GHOULISH
This season's Ridiculous Scent! Creepy like Creepy and as spooky as Spooky, this is the scent of a black cherry and coconut amaretto confection gently laced with saffron.

Price: You can't buy them anymore since they were a Limited Edition, but the price for a bottle was probably around $17,50 for a 5 ml bottle.

Packaging: The bottle looks just like the other Bpal bottles, and the label you can see on the picture above.

How to use: If you have an imp, dab it to your wrists and then some onto your finger and dab it with your finger behind your ears, on your neck and between your breasts (if you are a woman ;) ).

If you have the bottle, use a wandcap (they are sold separately) or do what I do: use on of those

plastic things you use to stir your coffee or tea with when you are out.

Throw it away after use, this way your perfume oil stays clean :D.

In the imp: I smell something spicy and peculiar that is also sweet.

Immediately after putting it on: It smells like amaretto and almond spice too me. The scent is very strong and sweet and you can smell the liquor.

A few minutes later: The almond spice smell has become way less strong. I still smell something sweet, something spicy, some liquor like scent and something fruity.

About 15 to 30 minutes later: I smell something sweet that I think is coconut. I also smell something that is fruity, though I don't know what. I smell liquor and spice but can't identify those notes either. To me it smells exactly like liquorice allsorts (also know als English Liquorice) and especially the pink and yellow ones with coconut on the outside and liquorice on the inside.

A few pics of what liquorice allsorts looks like:

And the pink and yellow ones I was talking about:

After about an hour and a half: The scent is getting deeper. It's a little less sweet and and the notes are blending better into one whole scent.

I still think its liquorice allsorts in a bottle an I love it.

When I look at the notes that are in there and I smell my wrists, I can identify the individual notes.

The amaretto was the most prominent smell when I first put it on, but now isn't that strong anymore. It has combined with the sweetness of the coconut, though I smell the coconut much stronger. The fruit that I smelled appears to be the black cherry. The black cherry note is sweet and fruity, but not sugary sweet, more like fruity sweet.

I don't know what saffron smells like but I do smells something lightly spicy that must be the saffron.

After that, Ghoulish gets less coconutty over time. It becomes less sweet and more mellow I think.

To me it seems that the coconut and amaretto notes are becoming less noticeable with the saffron getting stronger and the black cherry is also more noticeable.

Still all the notes are there.

The liquorice allsorts scent is changing into something lighter, but it is still there, just different.

Pro's:

*great smelling perfume oil

*cute label

*a bottle will last you ages

*not tested on animals

*not very expensive ($17,50 is approx. €13,21)

Cons:

*this perfume was a Limited Edition, so not available on the BPAL website anymore :(, only on ebay and it will probably cost a lot this way (or you can buy/trade it on the BPAL Forum!)

Verdict: Great perfume oil that smells exactly like liquorice all sorts!!!

After a few hours the scent starts to fade and changes into a milder scent.

I think this is probably one of those perfume oils that you have to reapply during the day if you want to keep smelling like liquorice allsorts.

If you don't mind the changing scents during the day, there is no need to re-apply, because even after a few hours this perfume will still smell great, just different!

Like most BPAL perfumes, this one keeps changing throughout the day.

All the notes are still there but one moment one note is stronger and 30 minutes later another note is stronger. So basically, you are wearing a different version of the same scent all day long, and the version keeps changing and changing during the day :D!

This is what makes BPAL perfume so interesting and exciting.

Rating: I give this an 8 because the resemblance of liquorice allsorts is genius!

If the scent remained the same for longer I would have given it a 9.

Would I buy this again: yes.

Is it bottle worthy: if you like foody scents (perfume that smells like foods you know) or if you like weird/strange/peculiar/odd/unique/etc. scents, this definitely is bottle worthy!!!

Have you tried any of the weenies?

And do you like the taste of liquorice allsorts?

Until next time,

Freya

Review: Catrice: Absolute Eye Colour in 010 Mars Attacks

I bought some products of the new and improved make-up line by Catrice a few weeks back, and I thought it was about time I show you the pics and swatches :D!

First up: Catrice Absolute Eye Colour in 010 Mars Attacks

This eye shadow duo contains a very shimmery dark green and a matte very light green that is almost a mint green without any hint of blue.

The packaging is really nice, much better than the packaging they had before.

It ain't fragile or difficult to open (like the MNY eye shadows are).

You get 3g of these fabulous eye shadow for around €3 (forgot the exact prize and can't find the receipt, sorry!).

When you look at the swatches, you see that the dark green is almost black-green:

It's much darker than I had expected, but nevertheless gorgeous!

On the left you see the dark colour lightly applied, in the middle the dark green applied normal, and on the right the light green applied normal.

The dark green is very dark and very pigmented.

The light green was not so pigmented, but it might be different used on an eye shadow base and used on my actual eye ;).

The eye shadows are soft and not too crumbly.

The colours are pretty, very pigmented and easy to blend.

I would rate the dark green a 9 and the light green a 6 (because it isn't that great!).

I would recommend this eye shadow duo for the dark green, since it's awesome.

Also, I love the name :D.

It's the name of a Tim Burton movie about aliens and it's pretty funny!

Stay tuned for some more reviews and swatches!

Until next time,

Freya

Review: Lush: Karma Shower Gel

I'm a big fan of shower gels with amazing scents and great hydrating and caring properties.

That's why I have quite a large shower gel collection, a different scent/effect for every mood.

The shower gels I love the most, are the shower gels by Lush.

Because of that I will review a shower gel by Lush today: Karma !!!

Karma Shower Gel is a shower gel that was a special edition for Queensday in the Netherlands this year.

It was only sold on that day in the Dutch webshop, and they only had around 30 bottles or so!

I had to be really quick to order to get myself some Karma.

Luckily, I ordered in time and was able to get a hold of 2 250g bottles :D.

Karma SG comes in a see-through bottle with a big black label and white letters and the Lush logo.

The packaging is simple but it has a luxury feel to it.

The cap is easy to open (which comes in handy if you've polished your nails ;) ) and the cap is also easy to close (so it won't leak in your bag!).

Karma shower gel has a deep orange colour.

It looks brown in the bottle, but out of the bottle it is orange.

This shower gel lathers up easily and you can wash your hair with it as well (though conditioner will be necessary then).

This shower gel smells deliciously like the signature Karma scent of incense, lemon grass and orange oil (amongst others).

To me this shower gel smells a bit sweeter than the Karma soap and it doesn't smell as lemongrassy as the Karma Body Lotion either.

After showering I can still smell the fragrance really well on my skin and hair.

The scent definitely lingers much longer than is the case with a lot of other shower gels :D.

My skin also feels really soft and hydrated, though I still use body lotion afterwards (I like it when my skin is hydrated at its best :D ).

Karma shower gel isn't as hydrating as Snowcake shower gel or Butterball shower gel (both Lush) but more hydrating than The Comforter shower gel (also Lush).

Pro's:

*smells nice

*ergonomic packaging

*you can also use it as a shampoo

*hydrates well (as far as a shower gel can)

*the scent lingers well on skin and hair after showering

*vegetarian

*made with natural ingredients

*the ingredients and the products are not tested on animals

*the suppliers of the ingredients don't test on animals either

*doesn't contain a lot of chemicals (and the chemicals used are safe)

Cons:

*it's a limited editon shower gel, so it isn't easy to come by and probably also expensive!

*it was also expensive when I bought it (approx. €15,00 for a 250g bottle!!!)

*when used as a shampoo you really need to use a conditioner

Conclusion:

Great hydrating shower gel with the scent of Karma.

If you don't like the Karma scent, this isn't for you.

If you do like the Karma scent, you will love this :D.

Sadly, it's expensive and hard to come by :(.

Would I buy this product again: Yes!

Rating: 7,5

Because: it's a great shower gel that smells wonderful and hydrates well, but it's expensive and hard to come by and you really need conditioner afterwards.

Do you own a bottle of Karma or would you buy this?

Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Freya

Review: Yves Rocher: Hydra Specific Facial Care

Today I will review the Hydra Specific Facial Care products by Yves Rocher.

I ordered them a few months ago, because I was searching for good facial care with a smaller price tag than Lush.

What I bought:

*Hydra Specific Soft Foam Cleanser

*Hydra Specific Tonic Water Mist

*Hydra Specific Moisture Boost Cream Gel Day

*Hydra Specific Deep Replenishing Care Night

As you can see, I bought the whole line ;) (except for the 7 day trial kit).

*Hydra Specific Soft Foam Cleanser

The new, 100% pleasure way to remove make-up
Get a well moisturized skin, just like that!
Soft Foam Cleanser lathers into a creamy foam to clean my skin with mildness. When rinsed, my skin is supple, sparkling and ready for facial care.
To finish my make-up removal: I spray Tonic Water Mist on my skin. This fresh mist wakes up my skin and leaves it moisturized.
Tested under dermatological supervision

Key botanical: Maple Sugar, Hamamelis water

Plus point:
A foam texture that’s ultra-sensual, creamy and light

Price: I bought it from the Dutch webshop, where it retails for €10,90 for 150ml, but I probably got it with a 40% or 50% discount.

Packaging: It's in a translucent blue plastic pump bottle, with a white pump and translucent cap.

There is a print on it in white and blue, and the packaging looks, fresh and sophisticated and gives a spa-like and expensive feeling.

Ingredients: Can't find them on the website, and typing them all is too much work, sorry!

Smell: This cleanser smells a bit watery, but doesn't have much of a smell.

Consistency: It's a foam when it gets pumped out of the bottle.

How to use: You wet you face, take off the cap and pump a few times, until you have enough product on the palm of your hand. Then massage it onto your face using circular movements (focusing more on the dirtier patches of you face) until you think you've cleansed you face enough. Then you rinse it off and when you are done showering (or washing at the sink), pat your face dry. It's best if you use the Hydra Specific Tonic Water Mist and the day or night cream as well!

Before putting the cap back on the pump, rinse the pump!

The result: Usually, after using a face wash, my face feels squeaky clean, but also dry and itchy :S. However, with this one my face felt clean but also hydrated and it wasn't dry or itchy at all!

My face was soft and hydrated and clean and ready for my facial care.

It's ok at removing make-up, but it isn't s great for removing make-up as an actual make-up remover!

Pro's:

*cleans well without drying your skin

*at actually hydrates your skin

*easy to use because of the pump bottle

*cheap (the price is low but Yves Rocher usually has sales and discounts as well!)

*easy to come by (by mail, webshop or phoning), most country's have their own webshop

*not tested on animals

*not as natural as Lush, but loads more natural than a lot of other brands

*combines great with the other Hydra Specific products, and will give you great skin if you use the whole line!

Cons:

*not as natural as products by Lush

Verdict: Hydra Specific Soft Foam Cleanser does exactly what it should! It cleans your skin, but it doesn't dry your skin, but instead hydrates it. So you get clean, soft, hydrated skin, which I love. It's one of the few face washes that doesn't dehydrate my skin which is a plus!

It's also cheap and easy to come by, and more natural than a lot of brands.

It also isn't tested on animals.

Rating: I would rate this a 8,5 (out of 10), because it a great product, cheap and easy to come by and also more natural than a lot of other brands!

Would I buy this product again: yes!

*Hydra Specific Tonic Water Mist

Quite simply, well moisturised skin. Ideal to finish cleansing the face, toning mister effectively eliminates all trace of make-up, tones the skin and provides first moisturisation. The ultra-refreshing texture procures a pleasant sensation of cleanliness and freshness. Result: the skin is moisturised and supple, gently reviving the radiance of your complexion.

Price: €7,90 for 150ml at the Dutch webshop, though I got it with a discount :).

Packaging: A nice, blue, see though plastic, spray bottle, with an interesting shape.

It has a white and blue print on it, and it gives me a luxury feeling and makes me think of spa's.

Ingredients: Can't find them on the website.

Smell: It smells a bit like an aqua scent. Quite nice actually!

Consistency: Since It's a toner, it's pretty watery.

How to use: There are 3 possible ways of using this product:

1) when the weather's hot, spray it on your face during the day/night whenever you and your skin need to be refreshed.

2) spray it on a cotton pad and wipe the cotton pad over your skin. It's probably wise to use more than one cotton pad and to spray a lot of tonic on them, so you really clean your skin well, take off all the left-over grime, and prepare your skin well for your moisturiser.

3) when you are in a hurry or need to be refreshed, just spray a few sprays on your skin and spread it with your hands.

Done!

The result: My skin felt refreshed and soft! I also found that my skin absorbed my moisturiser better :D.

Pro's:

*easy to use

*refreshes your skin and makes it soft and makes your skin absorb moisturiser beter

*greatly refreshes when the weather's hot\

*cheap

*easy to come by

*isn't tested on animals

*more natural than a lot of brands

Cons:

*not as natural as products by Lush

Verdict: Great tonic, that refreshes you, makes your skin soft and makes it easier for your skin to absorb your moisturiser. Also cheap, easy to use, easy to come by, pretty natural (compared to other brands), though not as natural as Lush and not tested on animals. In other words: a great product!

Rating: I would rate this a 9, for the above reasons!

Would I buy this product again: yes! (I've used up a few bottles of this over the years, actually.)

*Hydra Specific Moisture Boost Cream Gel Day

Quite simply, well moisturised skin. The perfect day care for dry to dehydrated skin. Procures 24 hours of well-being to the skin, reveals its radiance and original beauty.

Price: €13,50 for a 50ml pot (which I have) or €9,50 for a 40 ml tube. I got it, again, with a discount :D.

Packaging: Glass pot with a silver/grey lid. There's a print on the pot in white and blue. The loom gives me a luxury feel and makes me think of spa's.

The pot originally comes in a small box, which I had already thrown away before making the pictures.

Ingredients: Aren't listed on the website.

Smell: A nice aqua smell :D.

Consistency: Like a cream. Not heavy like a body butter at all. It's like a mix of a cream and a gel. Lighter than the night cream.

How to use: First use the face wash and the toner, then massage the Hydra Specific Moisture Boost Cream Gel Day into the skin of you skin, neck and cleavage.

The result: Most facial creams make my skin either greasy, dry and itchy, or a combination of those 2. My combination skin was very happy with this day cream though! It made my whole skin hydration, but it didn't make my skin greasy (especially my T-zone tends to get greasy) and it didn't give me any dry spots either. My whole skin was hydrated and felt soft.

It also got rid of a lot of redness in my face, which made my skin colour look a hell of a lot better! Another thing, which I though was miraculous, was that it made my wrinkles almost invisible *shock*. I guess I probably got wrinkles because my skin was dehydrated, and now my skin is hydrated so well they almost don't show anymore.

I also noticed my pores getting a little bit smaller, and that get less blackheads.

I still get pimples every now and then though, but they are gone faster than usual :D.

Pro's:

*smells nice

*is easily absorbed by the skin

*makes skin soft and hydrated without making your skin greasy or dry

*makes the appearance of wrinkles much less, because it hydrated so well

*makes your pores a bit smaller

*you get less blackheads when you use this

*pimples go away faster

*combines great with the Hydra Specific face wash and toner

*cheap

*easy to come by

*easy to use

*not tested on animals

*pretty natural

Cons:

*not as natural as products by Lush

Verdict: Great daily moisturiser, that makes your skin soft and hydrated, without making it dry or greasy. It makes wrinkles and pores less visible, makes you get less blackheads and makes pimples go away faster. Also cheap, easy to use, gets easily absorbed by the skin, easy to come by, pretty natural and not tested on animals. One of the best moisturisers I've tried in a long time!!!

Rating: I rate this a 9,5! I want to give it a 10, but I won't since It's not as natural as Lush.

Would I buy this product again: most definitely yes!!!

*Hydra Specific Deep Replenishing Care Night

Quite simply, well moisturised skin. Containing a high concentration of maple sap, it helps regenerate skin during the night, soothes and relieves stress. The comfortable texture reveals your skin’s original beauty. On waking, it feels at ease and replenished.

Price: €15,50 for 50ml, but I got it with a discount ;).

Packaging: This cream comes in a glass pot with a silver/grey lid on it. There's a white/blue print on the pot, and to me it looks expensive an makes me think of spa's

Ingredients: They are not listed on the site!

Smell: I though at first that it smelled like an aqua scent combined but butterscotch, but now I know that that butterscotch smell is actually maple sap :D.

Consistency: It's a thick but light cream. Not runny but also not like a butter at all. It's lie a mix between a cream and a gel. It's a bit heavier than the day cream.

How to use: After using the Hydra Specific face wash and toner massage this night cream into your skin (don't forget your neck and cleavage!).

The result: This is a real miracle product! For some reason, this night cream makes me look beautiful when I wake up and get out of bed *shock*! You are supposed to look rubbish when you get out of bed, but with this product it's the opposite. My skin is very well hydrated though not greasy at all. All the redness that I usually have in my face is completely gone, and so are my wrinkles. Also, this night cream gives me a nice, radiant glow. It's incredible!!!

Pro's:

*makes skin very well hydrated

*completely gets rid of the redness

*makes wrinkles disappear almost completely (because it hydrates so well)

*gives skin a radiant glow

*makes you beautiful when you get out of bed!!!

*isn't greasy

*gets absorbed easily by the skin, so you won't go to bed with a greasy face

*easy to use

*cheap

*easy to come by

*is not tested on animals

*pretty natural

Cons:

*is not as natural as products by Lush

Verdict: Amazing product that makes you roll out of bed looking like a movie star! Hydrates skin very well, doesn't make it greasy. Gets rid of redness, makes wrinkles less, gives skin a radiant glow. It gets easily absorbed by the skin, is easy to use, cheap, easy to come by, pretty natural and isn't tested in animals!

Rating: I can't do anything other than rate it a 10 (even though it isn't as natural as Lush)!!!

Would I buy this product again: yes yes yes yes yes!

As you can see, these products are pretty great!

I don't always use the face wash, but I really can't go without the toner and the day cream, and especially not without the night cream!!!

Have you tried any of these products, or other facial care by Yves Rocher, or will you?

Let me know what you think in the comments, if you like.

Until next time,

Freya

MNY:Eye Shadow Review and Swatches

I went a bit overboard with the eye shadows, since I bought eleven of them!

MNY has some colours that were not in my stash at all (like bright red and green but also some lighter peachy and pink colours), so I needed them to complete my stash

As you can see, the colours I bought range from peaches and pinks, through bright red and purple shades, through brown and some green and blue/green shades.

Please keep in mind that I took these pcitures at night with lamp light, which makes the colours appear different then they are.

The shimmer and glitter doesn't show well on these pics and sometimes the colour on the pics is completely diferent than in real life.

When that's the case I'll mention it though, so no worries!

A lot of colours are shimmery, but in the frosted kind.

That means that it is shimmery without any type of really fine glitter (which most shimmery eye shadows have).

From left to right: 317, 229, 213 and 329.

The first 3 are shimmery (the frosted kind) and the fourth one is matte.

*317 is a shimmery peach (probably the most shimmery of these 4 eye shadows).

*229 is a shimmery light pink (less shimmery than 317).

*213 is a dusty rose colour, it's pink, it's a bit of a light puce, this one is darker than 317 and 229.

*329 is a matte bright red, it's quite fierce!

From left to right: 529, 517, 537 and 417.

The first two are shimmer (frosted), the third has both shimmer (frosted) and some glitter, and the fourth one is shimmer (also frosted).

*529 is a pretty shimmery purple with blue undertones and is much lighter and brighter than on the pics.

*517 is a shimmery magenta like purple which is like a mix of magenta and purple, definitely not the pink you see on the pics and a lot lighter and brighter as well.

*537 looks dark grey on the pics but in reality it's a dark, dusty purple mixed with grey, it has shimmer and fine glitter in it(not those awfull big chunks!).

*417 is a shimmery brown colour, but nowhere near chocolate or something like that, more like a taupe colour (without the purple or grey) and more like messing/bronze/copper. A bit metal like. The green hue you see on the pics doesn't exist in reality.

From left to right: 729, 737 and 637.

These are all shimmery (the frosted kind) though 637 is more shimmery than the other two.

*729 is a bright shimmery lime green that is ligther and brighter than on the pic.

*737 is a light shimmery teal colour (love this one!) that's, again, lighter and brighter than on the pic.

*637 is a bright shimmery petrol colour that's brighter and more blue than on the pic.

As you can see I really need to make some good pics during day light, so the eye shadows show their true colour!

When I find the time to make new pics, I'll post them.

Now, onto the swatches (these were also made at night with lamp light):

*All the shadows:

From left to right: 637, 737, 729, 417, 537, 517, 529, 329, 213, 229, and 317.

*The peach, pinks and red:

From top to bottom: 317, 229, 213 and 329.

As you can see, 317 is a light golden peach.

229 is a light pink, and 213 is a darker dusty rose kind of pink.

329 is a red colour that isn't as bright as it is in the pan, but much more red than it shows on the pic.

*The purples and the brown colour:

From top to bottom: 529, 517, 537 and 417.

The colours are brighter and more shimmery in real life.

As you can see, 529 is a shimmery, blue-ish purple, 517 a shimmery, magenta-like purple and 537 a dark, grey-like shimmery purple with fine glitter.

417 is a brown-ish colour with shimmer, that's really pretty!

*The greens and blues:

From top to bottom: 729, 737 and 637.

The colours are brighter and more shimmery than the pics show.

729 is a light, bright, lime green with a little shimmer, 737 is a light, bright teal with a little shimmer and 637 is a nice bright petrol with more shimmer than the other two.

As for the quality, most of the eye shadows have enough pigment, though most colours were not as bright on skin as in the pan.

Most disappointing was 729 (the lime green one) since I was hoping for an extremely bright result.

That wasn't the case, but I still think it's a nice eye shadow!

The colours would probably be a lot more pigmented if used over an eye shadow base though.

When I use my brush to get eye shadow out of the pan, there is some loose powder coming off it, but that doesn't bother me much.

The eye shadow has good staying powder and I really like it (especially if you realise they only cost €2,49 each).

The only downside is that the eye shadows are a bit difficult to open at first.

There is a transparent sticker keeping it closed that you need to take off first.

After that opening can still be a bit tricky, but you get the hang of it after opening a few boxes, so that isn't a problem either.

Sadly, I managed to scratch my red eyeshadow being clumsy trying to open it :(.

Pro's:

*lot of colours available

*cheap (€2,49 each)

*available at all Etos stores (except the ones at train statins)

*enough pigment (especially when used on an eye shadow base)

*the eye shadow feels soft

*doesn't break when you drop the pan on the ground (I did!)

Cons:

*crumbles a bit when you sweep your brush over it

*if you like extremely bright results, these shadows probably aren't pigmented enough

*the pans are a bit tricky to open at first

*MNY is a part of Maybelline which tests on animals!!!

I would rate these 7,5 stars, because they are good and cheap, but not amazing, and because Maybelline tests on animals.

Would I buy this again: Yes!!!

Have you tried any of these MNY shadows?

And do you like them?

Until next time,

Freya

Review: Yves Rocher: Detangling Styling Water

Since I had a smaller budget for cosmetics, I decided to try some Yves Rocher products (since they are a lot cheaper and because I can order them from the NL webshop and without a credit card).

I bought some deororant rollers, skin care products, some hair care products and some random other stuff.

A lot of those products were 2 for the price of 1 or 50% off the price, so I got a good deal on everything ;).

I bought 3 hair products to make my hair smooth, to detangle it and stop de ends from being frizzy.

I actually have really good hair.

It's smooth because it's so fine and it's very long (somewhere around my waist).

However, I've mostly been using hair products by Lush the last few years, and as you might now, those products are made without silicones.

And that matters how?

Well...silicones creater a layer around your hair, that makes it smooth and frizz-free and easy to comb through.

Since I was using Lush, I didn't have a silicon layer around my hair to keep it detangled.

So my hair was constantly in knotts and tangles and just generally messy (especiall after riding my bicycle).

That's why I bought some Yves Rocher to solve this problem (in winter my hair gets even more stubborn, and it's already fall).

The products I bought were:

*a 3 in 1 shampoo to make my hair smooth in less time (no need for conditioner)

*a detangling spray

*a hydrating 1 minute hair mask (though it says on the pot you're supposed to leave it in or 2 minutes!?)

Today I will review the detangling spray.

The spray comes in a see-through green bottle with a black spray-cap.

The label is white with black and green letters and a picture on it.

I feel like the packaging has a natural and expensive vibe.

However, the bottle is €8,90 for 200ml (though I payed less for it).

This is pretty cheap.

How to use:

After showering you spray it on towel-dry hair.

You can use a little, but if you haven't used any conditioner and/or your hair is a tangled mess you can also use a lot (I do that regularly).

You just spray a few sprays on top, a few on each side and a few on the back and then smooth your hands over your hair and you're done.

Easy huh :D !?

The Result:

When my hair dries, it looks more supple and has more volume.

It is shinier, it's smooth and easy to comb and best of all: the ends aren't frizzy at all!!!

Great about this spray is that it doesn't make my hair greasy :).

My hair gets greasy easily (that's why I need to wash it every day), but this lotion doesn't make it any more greasy than normal.

So, you only get benefits from this product!

Also it smells lovely like blossoms (that's probably since there are blossoms used to make this ingredient).

This product isn't as natural as Lush's products are.

It's comparable to The Body Shop (only better).

There are safe chemicals in this products but also natural ingredients and extracts (that's why it works so well!!!)

Pro's:

*does a great job on making your hair smooth, frizz and tangle free and makes it easy to comb

*doesn't make your hair greasy

*smells lovely like flowers

*isn't very expensive (and a little goes a long way)

*often you get this for less than the full prices

*you can order this in most countries (most countries have their on webshop and mailorder)

*Yves Rocher is more natural than a lot of other brands, and uses more natural ingredients and less chemicals, and also a lot of biological ingredients

*Yves Rocher is kind to man and nature

*Yves Rocher doesn't test on animals (anymore)

*this product doesn't contain parabens

*free delivery if you order for more than €25

*free gifts with your order

*much better, cheaper and more natural than other detangling sprays I've tried (like L'Oreal)

Cons:

*not for you if you hate the smell of flowers

*isn't completely natural, uses more chemicals than Lush, in that case Yves Rocher is similar to The Body Shop, though I think Yves Rocher has better products and is way cheaper!

*isn't handmade (unlike Lush)

*there aren't a lot of Yves Rocher stores left in the Netherlands, so it's hard to go to a store to sniff and try the products

Conclusion:

There barely is anything negative to say about this product!

It works a treat, smells great, is cheap, easily to come by, not tested on animals, etc.

The only downside is that it isn't as natural as products by Lush (but that's also why it works so well, those are the chemicals at work!).

Would I buy this product again: hell yeah (I'm think about stocking up on this one, bye bye frizzy-detangled mess called hair!).

Rating: 9

I give it a 9 because it's amazing. It would have gotten a 10 if it was more natural, but hey you can't have it all!

Have you got any products by Yves Rocher you just can't live without?

Let me know in the comments, if you like.

Until next time,

Freya

LOTD: Firetruck Red

I've been wanting to post a pic of red lips for a while now, and since I got the perfect red lip liner a few weeks back, I thought it was about time :) to post a red LOTD (Lips Of The Day).

Products I Used:

- Catrice Lip Designer in 010 Ruby Red

-H&M Rich Lip Gloss in Rumba Red (bought it a while back, so it probably isn't available anymore)

I'll post a pic of the products I used later on.

I can't make a pic now since the battery of my cam is dead *sigh*.

The Lip Designer is very soft and easy to use.

I was able to line my lips perfectly, but because it's so soft the tip broke off when I was filling in my lips, so I had to sharpen it again.

Note to self (and everyone reading this ;) ): don't apply to much pressure on the tip!

The lipgloss isn't very sheer.

Used on it's own it isn't opaque, but used over a lip liner (when you've filled in your lips with one), it isn't sheer at all.

The combination of this lip liner and this lip gloss is a brillant red that's lightly shimmery.

It's glossy but not at all sticky.

On my lips it feels like I'm wearing liquid lipbalm ,though I've got no idea if that exists :P .

The Result:

This LOTD is really easy to make (you don't need to be a pro), it's cheap (not high-end products needed for this one!) and very wearable.

What do you think about fierce red lips?

Is it something you wear or is it too bold?

Let me know what you think!

Until next time,

Freya

Review: Lush: 9 to 5 Facial Cleanser

A few weeks ago I participated in a Lush UK GO where I ordered a few Lush things, including 9 to 5, which I had heard great things about.

The packaging is simple.

It's sold in a black bottle in 2 sizes (95 and 240g) and I've got the big one.

There's a black label with white letters on the bottle.

Somehow, because of it's simplicity, I think this product looks like luxery.

The products itself is white.

9 to 5 is scented with a flowery scent that reminds me of (though it's definitely not the same) Ghost Shower Gel and Lily Savon Soap (both Lush).

How to use:

Sqeeze a dollop on your hand and rub it on your skin where you want it cleansed.

Then use a wet cottonpad or washcloth (use warm water) to take the product and the make-up dan dirt off your face.

If you're only cleaning your eyes, using a cotton pad is fine.

If your cleaning your whole face (and especially if you have full face make-up on), using a washcloth may be better.

9 to 5 can also be used for taking your make-up off before showering (I certainly do sometimes ;) ).

I think 9 to 5 is really easy to use (definitely easier than Ultrabland, though Ultrabland may cleanse better).

You just rub it on your skin and then take it off with warm water and a cotton pad/washcloth.

Afterwards (after patting my skin dry), my skin feels really soft and hydrated.

It wouldn't even be necessary to moisturise because it already feels hydrated.

Nevertheless, it's wise to use a night/day cream anyway (to help your skin repair itself during the night, to reduce pimples, etc.)

The day after (I've only been using this before bed) my skin still feels soft and hydrated and looks fresh.

However, one time I didn't wash 9 to 5 off my eyes well enough, so they were a bit puffy :(.

Pro's:

*smells great

*makes your skin soft and hydrated

*it's easy to use

*it isn't very expensive (if you order it from the UK it's £7,95 for the big bottle)

*the packaging looks good in your bathroom

*it wasn't tested on animals

*it's vegetarian

*it's easy to come by (shops and webshop in the Netherlands, the UK Germany, other European countries, the USA, Canada and Australia, among others)

Con's:

*it doesn't clean extremely thoroughly

*if you don't like flowery smells, its not for you

*if you order it from the Netherlands or in a Dutch Lush shop, it is expensive (€14,95 for the big bottle)

*it might make your eyes feel and look a bit puffy if you don't clean the product off your eyes very well

Conclusie: reasonable prices, easy to use cleanser that has a nice flowery smell.

It takes grime and make-up off your face, but it isn't a cleanser that cleans extremely thorough.

Also, take the product off your eyes well enough, or you might get puffy eyes.

I really like and recommend this!!!

Would I buy this product again: YES!

I rate this product 8,5 stars, because your eyes can get a bit puffy if you don't wash it off well enough.

Have you tried this product yet, or will you anytime soon?

Let me know what you think.

Until next time,

Freya

Something Smelly: Ming Shu by Yves Rocher

I bought my first bottle of Ming Shu when I was still a teenager (maybe 14 or something) and I have loved this perfume ever since. Since then I always need to have at least 1 bottle in my stash. I usually buy the Eau de Perfume, since that one has the strongest scent, but the Eau de Toilette smells nice as well.

Scent description from the Yves Rocher website:

Discover the bluish reflections of the fleur de l'Aube Eau de perfume, in this bottle with harmonious lines. It's marina fragrance opens the composition with a transparent breeze with aquatic overtones. The Ming Shu flower combines with the sun filled ylang ylang to create a floral harmony. Finally, gentle and mysterious vanilla, melts onto a bed of sandalwood for a caressing and delicate fragrance.

*I difinitely smell the aquatic notes mixed with a soft floral, and a bit of sweetness.

It's a bit of a transparant and ethereal kind of smell, but it's not too weak.

Ming Shu is strong enough so you can smell it very well, but it isn't so strong that it bothers you.

It's a scent that's kind to your nose; you can wear it on days that you don't want to smell too strong, but still want to smell nice.

I also love to wear this on hot, sticky days, because of the aquatic notes and the freshness of the scent.

Mins Shu makes me think of ghosts, brides, fairy's and fairy tales.

It's just a bit magical, and I've never smelled anything like it.

To me, it's a complicated scent, in which you can't identify all the different notes, but the whole scent combines and smells wonderful. I think the shape of the bottle is beautiful. It's a bit asian and classic and the blue colour is tranquill. There's also a kind of flower engraving on the bottom of the bottle. I think it's very special.*

Prices (Dutch webshop):

-Ming Shu Eau de Toilette 50 ml €28,50

-Ming Shu Eau de Perfume 50 ml €33,50

-Ming Shu Eau de Perfume 30 ml €19,00

-Ming Shu Eau de Perfume 7,5 ml €2,50

-Ming Shu Pefumed Bath And Shower Gel 200 ml €9,90

-Ming Shu Perfumed Bodymilk 200ml €15,70

-Ming SHu Perfumes Deodorant 100ml €13,80

Off course, these prices are without discounts, and I always get them with discounts.

There are always sales and discounts at Yves Rocher and I buy every Yves Rocher product at a discounted price, never the whole price.

*I give this perfume 5 stars because it's just perfect, there's just nothing wrong with it. It's my favourite aquatic floral scent, and I've never smelled anything like it.*

Have you ever smelled/tried Ming Shu?

If so, did you like it?

Until next time,

Freya

Summer Secrets: Great Summer Legs

The perfect accessory to your bikini's, skirts and dresses is undoubtedly a pair of great summer legs.

But how do you achieve that???

Especially after covering them up in winter, they need some serious maintenance, and here's how you do it:

Step 1: Exfoliating

First, you start by giving your legs a good scrub. This way you get rid of your dead skin cells, make your skin glow and feel soft and it also makes your tan look better and last longer!

Scrub your body in circular motions for a few minutes to get rid of your dead skin cells and to improve blood circulation.

These are the scrubs I like to use on my legs:

* Sugar Babe: Lush)

This is a very coarse sugar scrub.

It does a great job at making your skin soft and smooth but if you don't like coarse scrubs, this one isn't for you.

Sugar Babe leaves a hydrating layer on your skin, but not greasy at all, just soft.

It has a soft, sweet, mild flowery scent (Ylang Ylang and Mimosa) that reminds me of clean baby's, and there's a red core in the center of the scrub.

Instead of taking the whole scrub with you in the shower, it's better to smash it up and put it in a jar. If you don't, a lot of your precious Sugar Babe will end up in the drain :(.

*I give Sugar Babe 5 stars, because it's simply perfect.*

*A Sugar Scrub (Lush)

This one is also coarse.

You use it in the same way as Sugar Babe, but the smell and effect of A Sugar Scrub is different.

A Sugar Scrub smells green (there is Vetivert in it) and is supposed to battle cellulite.

This one is more invigorating than Sugar Babe, but Sugar Babe is definitely more hydrating.

*Sugar Scrub get's 4 stars, because it isn't very hydrating.*

*You Snap The Whip (Lush)

You Snap The Whip is a coarse scrub with pumice in it. Though it isn't as coarse as it used to be, you still need to be careful not to scratch your skin if there happens to be a bit of pumice in it that is a bit too large. If you're careful there's nothing to worry about, and it's actually a very good scrub.

The pumice exfoliates your skin and the nourishing Cocoa Butter and Organic Macadamia Nut Oil hydrate your skin and leaves it non-greasy but extremely soft.

You Snap The Whip also makes you smell like berries :D (it's scented with the same fragrance as "The Comforter".

I usually cut it up in small blocks (± 9 or 12 blocks) and take only a few of them with me when I shower. If you don't, YSTW will only last for 1 or 2 showers.

*You Snap The Whip deserves 4 stars, because it's not always scrubby enough and sometimes too scrubby.*

*Smooch! sugar scrubs (Villainess)

My favourite of the Smooch! sugar scrubs that's in the regular collection, is Ginger Snapped.

This is a spicy one that smells like Speculaas cookies (it's a Dutch cookies).

You can smell cinnamon, ginger and other spices in it.

Every Smooch! smells different and also has different scrubby things and different effects.

Ginger Snapped has brown sugar to exfoliate.

You can scrub gently with it, if you want, but it can also be a coarser one if you scrub harder.

Ginger Snapped also has a warming effect.

It releases a rush of warmth on impact to open pores and soothe skin.

*Ginger Snapped Smooch! is a perfect scrub and therefore get's 5 stars.*

*Pure Coconut Oil Leg And Body Scrub (Inecto)

This is a mild scrub that still scrubs enough to be useful.

It smells like coconut, which gives me a summery feeling, and the coconut oil makes your skin hydrated and very soft.

What's also great about this scrub, is that it comes in a tube, which makes it perfect to take with you on a holiday (or to the gym) and it's easy to use when you are in a hurry or when you have a small bathroom.

*Inecto Coconut get's 4 stars because it isn't very scrubby, but it does hydrate well and it comes in a handy tube.*

Step 2: Shaving

To have smooth, touchable legs, you need to shave away those hairs.

Essential is a good rasor with 4 blades (I always use a rasor by Gilette) and a good shaving cream.

It's better not to use a shaving foam (like from Gilette) because they usually dry out your skin.

The best option is a shaving cream, but a hydrating shower gel or even a conditioner will work if you don't have anything else.

My favourite shaving products:

*Dirty Shaving Cream (Bnever)

Sadly, Bnever doesn't exist anymore, but lucky for us, Lush will start making it soon :D.

This is a true shaving cream, but better than I had expected..

After trying Ambrosia by Lush, I was reluctant to try this one, but this is actually the best shaving product I have ever had!!!

Just put a royal amount of this on your legs and start shaving, it's that easy!

Dirty Shaving Cream doesn't clog your rasor, it makes shaving easy because the rasor glides over the skin and it's extremely hydrating (but not at all) greasy.

I actually don't need a body lotion after this one (and I always need to use body lotion after showering).

*Not suprisingly, Dirty Shaving Cream get's 5 starts for it's perfection!!!*

*A Jelly (Lush)

Just take any Jelly by Lush, and put it in the blender.

With this substance it's easy to shave.

One blendered jelly provides enough *Shaving cream* for weeks, though it also depends on how often you shave.

The special thing about the jelly's is the Carrageenan Extract, which is extracted from Irish Moss Seaweed.

This amazing extract makes skin really soft somehow (and your hair too, if you wash it with it).

A blendered jelly makes your hairs soft, which makes them easy to shave, and it also makes the rasor blade glide over your skin.

*A blendered jelly is a perfect shaving cream, so 5 stars is the reward.*

*Fluffy Stuff Foaming Cream Soap (Grumpy Girl)

I have this product in 2 scents: Hot Tranny Mess (Lush's Rock Star dupe) and Girly Girl (Pink Sugar dupe).

These scents are both very sweet and delicious.

Fluffy Stuff is a very fluffy cream soap, that is highly fragranced and makes your skin really soft.

It foams a bit, which makes it easy too wash with and it's great for shaving.

You just grab a bit of the Fluffy Stuff and spread it around your legs and shave.

It makes the razor glide over your skin and it's easy to shave with this.

This product also makes your skin soft after shaving/showering and the scent lingers for a long time.

*Another 5 star product, Fluffy Stuff Foaming Cream Soap!*

Step 3: Moisturising.

After exfoliating and shaving it's time to hydrate your skin.

You can use a light body lotion or body milk, but if you really want great results and super soft legs with a glow, you're gonna need something stronger than that.

It's best to use a very hydrating body lotion or body butter or even a massage bar or oil if you want it very shiny.

My favourite body butter was from a brand called "The Secret Garden" which doesn't exist anymore.

Among my favourites are also a lot of limited editon body lotions by Lush.

These are my favourites (that can still be bought):

*Dream Cream (Lush)

This is probably one of the best body lotions ever.

It very hydrating and calming, it's even said to help relieve skin problems like excema.

Chamomile an lavender calm irritations, reduce redness and banish blotches.

It has a lot of other great ingredients in it: Rose essential oil, oat milk and olive oil, amongst others.

When I use Dream Cream, my skin is completely hydrated and soothed and way less blotchy (which is a necessity when you are baring your skin in summer).

It also gives a sheen to my skin, which makes it look healthy.

Dream Cream smells a bit herbal, like lavender and other herbs, but the scent doesn't linger, so you can use it if you don't like herbal scents.

*I actually want to give this one more than 5 stars, but since I can't I'll stick to just 5.*

*Crème Anglaise (Lush)

Another great moisturiser by Lush.

Like Dream Cream, Crème Anglaise isn't a light body lotion.

It's more of a highly hydrating body lotion.

This one smells strong and sweet of honey and vanilla amongst other things.

It's made from some of the finest ingredients available, which makes it more expensive, but it's definitely worth the price.

This one hydrates and calms well, smells great, and gives a nice healthy glow to your skin.

*Another 5 star product, Crème Anglaise!*

*Goat's Milk, Shea Butter & Honey Lotion (Grumpy Girl)

This body lotion is bit like a balm.

It hyrates well, makes your skin very soft and is highly fragranced (you can choose the scent you want from the list, including Lush dupes).

The difference between these body lotions and the ones by Lush, is that these doesn't give a sheen/glow to you skin.

*Goat's Milk, Shea Butter & Honey Lotion get's 4 stars, because it doesn't give a glow to your skin.*

*Whipped! (Villainess)

A whipped body butter that matches with a Smooch!.

My favourite Whipped! would probably be Ginger Snapped Whipped!, because of the scent.

This whipped body butter is very hydrating but not oily (usually body butters tend to be a bit or a lot oily/greasy).

This product does give a sheen to your skin, even though it isn't oily.

*Whipped! get's 4 stars.*

*Body Butter (The Body Shop)

The Body Butters by The Body Shop are hydrating, but not greasy.

They are like a body lotion, but more solid (if that makes any sense).

These body butters are not very greasy but hydrate well and they come in a wide variety of scents, my favourites being: Almond, Raspberry, Passion Fruit and Blueberry.

The scents linger for a long time, especially the raspberry.

It gives a nice sheen to your skin as well, which is great for nice summer legs.

*These Body Butters get 3,5 stars, because they have less natural ingredients and more chemicals.*

*Rice-Ginger Body Lotion (Suhada Nature)

This brand is only available once a year.

In december you can buy it at Lidl supermarkets, so you have to buy enough for the whole year ;).

This one smells strongly of ginger (which I love), it's a real invigorating scent.

This body lotion is just as hydrating as Lush's body lotions, which is rare for such a cheap products (it costs under 5 euro's).

Like Lush's body lotions it also gives a great sheen/glow to your skin, which I love.

*Rice-Ginger body lotion definitely deserves 5 stars!*

After exfoliating, shaving and moisturising you are ready to expose yourself to the world.

If you want, you can also use a shimmery product on your legs, to make them glow even more.

Lush can be bought here (UK) and here (NL).

Villainess can be bought here (USA) and here (NL)

Grumpy Girl can be found here

The Body Shop products can't be ordered in The Netherlands, but they can be ordered here (USA)

I know I've rated the products high, but that's because I wrote about amazing products today, my favourites!

I hope this article is helpful to you all.

Have you got any favourite products that give you great summer legs?

Let me know if you do!

Until next time,

Freya