Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo - A Review

Hello Lovelies

You may have seen in my recent huge beauty haul post that I picked up some of the Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes shampoo, my sister who is also my hair dresser, recommended I use a shampoo for blonde hair and my friend Khila always speaks highly of the Lee Stafford so I thought I'd give it a go and I have been using it ever since buying it around 6 weeks ago and today thought I'd let you know my thoughts on it. 

What Lee Stafford Says About The Shampoo

A regime to lightly tone, refresh and restore your blonde hair to salon beautiful colour.

This purple, toning Shampoo knocks out those nasty, brassy tones leaving blonde hair looking and feeling super charged. With PRO-BLONDE™ complex of panthenol, chamomile and moringa seed extract, otherwise known as Miracle Tree to encourage natural shine to truly glow.

Contains 21st century colour protection to help stop annoying colour fade.

• Toning 
• Restoring 
• Cleansing 
• Moisturising 
• UV Protection 
• Enhances Shine 

My Thoughts 

I have my hair tinted, it is naturally blonde but not quite as blonde as it is and I have the added bonus of a few pesky grey hairs to cover now too, so I have my hair cut and coloured every 5 weeks. My sister is a hairdresser and has been doing my hair for over 20 years now since she became a hairdresser so she knows my hair and what I like perfectly. 

I have been having the same colours in my hair for years, I had an all over tint and then some thin strands of hair coloured with 2 or 3 different shades of blonde to blend it all together, it always looked lovely but I noticed it started to look really warm and brassy on the ends and my daughter had said it was particularly bad at the back too. I mentioned it to my sister and she said that the change is probably down to my medication since we haven't changed the colours, she decided to change the tint I have and use a more ashy toned tint which she combs through my hair for a few minutes once I've been under the dryer, she said it would take a few times of having it dyed to completely knock the warm tones out and in the meantime to try a shampoo for bleach blonde hair as it would also help. I started off using the Touch Of Silver shampoo and re purchased it a couple of times but then I saw the Lee Stafford was on offer in Boots so I thought I'd give that a try since Khila spoke so highly of it. 

The shampoo comes in a clear plastic tube and is a deep purple colour, the tube looks purple but it isn't it is clear and the purple is the colour of the shampoo. 

The first time I used the shampoo I was blown away, it is excellent and completely toned down the warmness in my hair, I used it when my hair was due to be coloured which is when the warmness starts to come through a little more and I couldn't believe it when it just wiped it out, it is brilliant. My eldest daughter had her hair bleached a couple of years ago and she hasn't done anything to her hair for 2 years, she has just let it grow out but recently had quite a lot cut off the length and it now looks like a deliberate ombre it is lovely but it was really brassy. I told her I'd bought the Lee Stafford shampoo and said she should try it, she said she didn't think it would do much since her hair hasn't been bleached for over 2 years but she would give it a go, the transformation was incredible, her hair was transformed from a brassy blonde to a lovely ashy blonde, it looked so different that everyone was asking her if she'd had her hair dyed the day after. 

Not only is the shampoo great for knocking out those brassy tones in my hair, it also leaves my hair feeling lovely and soft and it gives it a nice shine too which is unusual for blonde hair. My hair is very oily and if I wash my hair it will usually need washing the day after but I can go every other day using the Lee Stafford which is another bonus. The instructions on the back of the bottle say to use the shampoo once or twice a week so if I am washing my hair more than twice a week I will use a different shampoo in between but if I am only having my hair washed twice a week I use the Lee Stafford both times

I agree completely with what Lee Stafford has to say about the shampoo, it is brilliant for toning my hair but also leaves it feeling great and shiny too, I am so impressed with it, I wish I had used it from the start as it is so much better than the Touch Of Silver shampoo in my opinion. 

Another great thing about the shampoo is that for a bit of a different look you can leave it on for a couple of minutes and it leaves your hair a gorgeous pastel lilac shade that washes out the next time you wash it, my daughter has done this and it looks so good, I'm not so brave but it does look lovely and is great for a bit of a change. 

I am extremely impressed with the Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes shampoo and highly recommend it if you have dyed blonde hair that looks brassy or like mine is looking warm and you want more of an ashy tone, it is fantastic and I am so happy with it, I have re purchased the shampoo since the haul where I first mentioned it, I have stocked up on it now my daughter is using it too, it really is brilliant and I will continue to re purchase it, I love the way my hair looks since using it. 

If you would like to try the Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes shampoo, you can find it on the Boots website HERE for £6.99, there is currently a 3 for £15.00 on Lee Stafford products which is a brilliant deal. 

Have you tried this shampoo? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know in the comments section below.

Thank you for reading, much love as always

Zoe x

Origins Vitazing - A Review

Hello Lovelies

You may have seen my recent post on the Origins Mix & Mask Box, the beauty box full of Origins face masks. In the box amongst the face masks was the Origins Vitazing, I have been using the Vitazing since I received the box and today I am going to let you know my thoughts on it. 

What Origins Say About Vitazing

This energising, multi tasking moisturiser gives skin instant vitality and vibrance with the zing of vitamin rich Mangosteen Energy Complex. Magically transforms, protects and perfects to create even, flawless skin, SPF 15, oil free. 

My Thoughts

I love this product and have used it non stop since I got it, it is definitely a tinted moisturiser and not just a regular moisturiser that you would use twice a day, Vitazing is a white coloured fluid with tiny flecks of grey/brown in it and when rubbed into the skin it changes to adapt to the colour of your skin, it has a lovely scent and blends out onto the skin really well.  

Vitazing When First Dispensed From The Tube

Blended Out 

I have been using Vitazing as my base product, it is the perfect light summer base for me, it doesn't provide any coverage at all and is definitely a tinted moisturiser and not a light coverage base product. I have used the Vitazing every time I have applied my makeup since getting it and I really like the look it gives me. I use either my hands or a buffing brush to work it into my skin and use some corrector and concealer under my eyes and concealer if I have any blemishes or other area's that need concealing, I use a light loose translucent powder and that's me done and I really like the effect I am left with. 

Vitazing would be great for days when you don't want to wear makeup and just want a bit of a pick me up or for the school run or like me if you're someone who doesn't like to feel foundation on their skin in the summertime, it would also be brilliant on holiday, it's a great product that just evens everything out and adds a nice tint and glow to the skin and I absolutely love it and will definitely be re purchasing it once it runs out, I would imagine that won't be for some time though since a little does go a long way which is also brilliant.  

I have extremely dry skin and the Vitazing on it's own as my moisturiser wouldn't be enough for me, I apply it after I have applied my regular skin care and added my primer but if your skin isn't as dry as mine you would be fine with this as your moisturiser and base product saving both time and money. The Vitazing also has an SPF of 15 and doesn't contain any parabens, mineral oil or synthetic fragrance. A full list of ingredients can be found here should you require it. 

I am wearing the Vitazing in the photograph below, I have applied it as always and added translucent powder, blush and highlight. 

Me wearing the Vitazing 

I cannot praise the Vitazing highly enough, I love it and I completely agree with the description given by Origins. Vitazing has been my perfect base for the last few weeks and will continue to be for the foreseeable future until I feel I need something with a bit more coverage but for now it is perfect and I shall continue to use it. 

If you would like to try the Origins Vitazing, you can find it on the Look Fantastic website HERE for £29.00 including free delivery. 

Have you tried the Origins Vitazing? What is your perfect summer base product? Let me know in the comments section below. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always 

Zoe x

New Benefit Brow Products - A Review

Hello Lovelies

I recently purchased some of the new brow products launched by Benefit which you may have seen in my recent Benefit brow products haul post, I picked up 3 of the new products and since writing my haul post I received a large sample size of another new Benefit brow product so I am going to include that in this review post too. The products are not listed in any particular order I will just list them at random, tell you about each product, how I have got on with it over the last few weeks and show you how it looks, so without further ado, here's my review. 

Benefit Gimme Brow

The Benefit Gimme Brow is a very hyped product in the blogging world but is a product that I hadn't ever looked into buying, Gimme Brow is a water resistant tinted brow gel that contains tiny micro fibres that adhere to skin and hairs, creating a natural looking fullness and definition. It comes with a tiny brush applicator meaning it is easy to coat all the brow hairs, Gimme Brow comes in 3 shades 01 Light, 03 Medium and 05 Deep, I have the shade 01 Light. 

When I visited the Benefit counter to purchase my products I spontaneously had my brows waxed and tinted too since they had a cancellation and the sales assistant said that all I would need to use on my brows after having them waxed and tinted was the Gimme Brow, I was a little sceptical that my brows could look ok with just brushing some brow gel through them but I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely loved the look of my brows when using the Gimme Brow. Before I had my brows waxed and tinted at the Benefit Brow Bar, I had pathetic brows, they don't grow and are sparse and they were also blonde so looked non existent and despite practising with numerous different brow products I just couldn't seem to make them look nice, hence the reason for my visit to the Benefit counter in the first place, but I can honestly say the Gimme Brow looked lovely and was enough to make my brows look good after the waxing and tinting. I am so impressed with the Gimme Brow and can see why it is such a hyped product and will definitely be re purchasing once I am running low, it is a simple and fool proof way of doing my brows and them looking nice with minimal effort, it's a fantastic product and I highly recommend it if you haven't tried it yet. You can find the Gimme Brow on the Feel Unique website HERE for £18.50 including free delivery.

 

After using the Gimme Brow 

Browvo Conditioning Brow Primer

The Browvo Conditioning Brow Primer is a nutrient rich eyebrow primer, it can be worn alone to condition and smooth the brows or worn under brow products it enhances and extends the wear of the products. The primer contains keratin and soy proteins known to help brows look thicker, healthier and fuller. The primer is a clear gel like product that is easy to apply to the brows via the applicator, to dispense the product, twist the bottom of the tube once to dispense the correct amount for one brow, the applicator has a rubberised applicator with bristles to brush the product through the brows.  

I bought the Browvo after the sales assistant, Olivia who served me told me that she and others who worked on the counter had noticed their brows had grown a lot since using the primer, the primer doesn't claim to make your brows grow but Olivia said her brows had grown and a lot of other staff members had noticed their brows had grown and thickened up too. Since my brows are pathetic and just don't grow I snapped the primer up but I am disappointed to say that after using it for the last 6 weeks it has made no difference at all to the thickness of my brows and they haven't grown any more than they would normally do so I won't be re purchasing it. I have used the primer every night before bed, leaving it on overnight but I haven't noticed any difference in the thickness of my brows at all, I have also worn the primer under my brow products and on days when I'm not wearing any makeup just to smooth my brows, it is a nice product but I won't be buying it again I'm afraid. If you do want to try the Browvo primer, you can find it on the Feel Unique website HERE for £21.50 including delivery. 

Precisely, My Brow Brow Pencil

This is the product I originally visited the Benefit counter to purchase, it is an ultra fine brow pencil that draws natural looking hair like strokes that last for up to 12 hours. I love the packaging of this pencil, at first I wasn't sure but it has definitely grown on me, the pencil looks like an arrow and has a twist up pencil on one end and a spoolie brush on the other. 

The Precisely My Brow pencil comes in 6 shades 01 to 06 and I have the shade 02 which is a good match for me, having blonde hair I find it hard to find brow products that aren't too warm toned but I am happy with shade 02. I really like the pencil, it is super fine meaning I can draw hair like strokes and fill in my sparse brows too, the pencil is easy to use even for someone like me who struggles when filling in my brows, the spoolie is really handy for brushing my brows through before and after using the pencil and once I have filled my brows in, the pencil doesn't move at all, the first time I wore it I had my makeup on for 10 hours and my brows looked exactly as they did when I applied the pencil when it came to taking my makeup off. 

After using the Precisely My Brow Pencil

I am really pleased with the pencil and will definitely re purchase once I have run out, if you would like to try it, you can find it on the Feel Unique website HERE for £18.50 including free delivery. 

Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil

I received the Benefit Goof Proof eyebrow pencil as a sample via Twitter, I chose the shade 02 the same as the Precisely My Brow pencil. The Goof Proof is described as a fool proof brow pencil which for me is brilliant because I really am not the best at filling in my brows and I do struggle, when I visited the Benefit counter I tried the Goof Proof but purchased the Precisely My Brow because my brows are very sparse and I liked that I could draw in individual hair type strokes, but I am happy to have the Goof Proof pencil in my collection now and I have used it quite a lot. 

Goof Proof comes in 6 shades 01 to 06 and I chose 02, the pencil is shaped in a triangle shaped pencil and is twist up on one end and has a spoolie on the other end (mine doesn't have the spoolie as it is a sample) 

I really like the pencil it is easy to use and is good for adding some colour and shape to my brows, my hair is naturally blonde, it is dyed lighter than my natural colour but it is naturally blonde so my brows are very pale and this is a great pencil for adding some colour, I can just take the pencil over my brows and then turn it over and use the pointed end to fill in or draw the tail part of the brow and I also do that to straighten up the front of my brows too, then I brush my brows through with a spoolie afterwards and they're good to go. 

After using the Goof Proof pencil

I would purchase a full size pencil in the future as it is really easy to use. If you would like to try the Goof Proof pencil, you can find it on the Feel Unique website HERE for £18.50. 

Swatches

Overall Thoughts & Favourite Products

I am really happy I purchased the products from Benefit and I'm thrilled to have the Goof Proof pencil I got as a sample, they are all great products but some are definitely stand out products more than others. The product I liked least out of them all is the Browvo primer, it's a nice product but I don't need it and it doesn't really do anything for my brows at all other than smooth them, I was hoping my brows would grow but they didn't but it was only the sales assistant that said her and other staff members had noticed their brows had grown a lot since using it, the product doesn't actually claim this, it's not a bad product but I personally don't feel I need it and wouldn't buy it again. 

I absolutely love the Gimme Brow and will continue to re purchase that, when my brows are freshly waxed and tinted this is all I use on my brows, it a fantastic product and super easy to use, and I can get away with using just the Gimme Brow for around 3 weeks after having my brows waxed and tinted, it is long lasting and doesn't move from me applying it to removing my makeup, I love it! 

I also really like the Precisely My Brow and the Goof Proof pencils, both are really good at achieving different things, the Precisely My Brow is good for filling in sparse brows and drawing in hairs and the Goof Proof is good for simply running through my brows to add some colour and shape to them. I would re purchase both pencils but I am not quite sure which is my favourite just yet, I have recently found a great dupe for the Precisely My Brow pencil too so that is swaying my decision somewhat (blog post coming on that dupe soon) but both are fantastic pencils it just depends how you like to fill in and shape your brows. 

The absolute stand out product for me has to be the Gimme Brow and I can see why there is so much hype surrounding it, it is a brilliant product and I am so glad I gave it a try. My brows need waxing and tinting again and I am looking forward to being able to just run some Gimme Brow through them and I'm done, it is fabulous! 

Phew! This has been a super long post but I hope it has also been a helpful post too, if you have any questions about any of the products or the Benefit Brow Bar waxing and tinting please ask me in the comments below and if you have tried any of the new Benefit brow products, let me know in the comments which product or products are your favourite. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always

Zoe x

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L.A.B.2 Makeup Brushes

Hello Lovelies

I own a lot of makeup brushes but I still get excited about new ones, there is something so good about using a new brush for the first time isn't there? So when I received some brushes from Lab2 I couldn't wait to try them. 

L.A.B.2 or Live And Breathe Beauty which L.A.B. stands for, are a drugstore/high street brush brand, they have a wide range of affordable brushes sold individually or in sets and prices start from £4.99. L.A.B.2 brushes are hypoallergenic and cruelty free, they are made from high quality synthetic fibres using a "FiberLuxe Technology"meaning cutting edge synthetic fibres specially designed with the softest and highest quality filaments providing you with superior pigment pickup and release, even colour distribution, precise makeup application and flawless professional results. They have a titanium plated ferrule which is non corrosive and double crimped for extra durability and to stop bristles shedding and the brushes come with a soft touch matte finish rubberised handle and each brush has the brush name written on it in a colour coded writing making it easier to find the brush you want to use. 

The brushes I received are the Don't Get Mad, Get Even Foundation Brush and the Let's Start All Over Shadow Brush. 

Don't Get Mad, Get Even Foundation Brush - £9.99

The foundation brush comes in a black box with yellow as the accent colour, Yellow is the colour used to distinguish the face brushes and all the face brushes have the same yellow packaging and the brush name is written on the brush in yellow too. 

The box has a nice big window so you can clearly see the brush through it, and the brush name is written down the side of the box. On the back of the box it tells you a bit about the brush and what it does and also how to use it and the how to use it section can be cut out for you to keep should you need it for future reference. 

The foundation brush has a nice sized brush head which is tapered making it easier to blend the foundation around the nose and eyes. 

The brush picks up just enough product and is lovely to use, I hadn't used a foundation brush of this style for years, I usually use a Beauty Blender or a buffing type foundation brush so it seemed strange to use at first but I really like the way my foundation applied with the brush and it was lovely to use. My foundation applied effortlessly and blended out beautifully and didn't look streaky at all, I have been using this brush to apply my foundation since I got it and I really like it and for such an affordable price it does a brilliant job. 

Let's Start All Over Shadow Brush - £4.99

The shadow brush comes in exactly the same box as the foundation brush but with a blue accent colour as blue is the colour used to distinguish the eye makeup brushes. The box has the same cut out instruction panel and section about the brush and what it does on the back of the box as the foundation brush too.

The shadow brush is a wide brush with tapered edges, it isn't too flat or too fluffy and is great for applying colour all over the lid, and I love to use it for one shadow makeup looks where I apply the shadow all over the lid and then use the edge of the brush to blend the shadow out, and then use the tip and edge of the brush to apply the shadow under the lash line and blend it out, it is so quick and easy to do but looks great for no fuss makeup days and this brush is perfect for the job. I love that the brush picks up just the right amount of product too and can be used for both powder and cream products. 

I also use the shadow brush to add a deeper shadow shade to the outer corner of my eye and blend it out and I also use it to add highlight to my brow bone, cupids bow and down my nose, it is a really versatile brush and I use it a lot more than I thought I would to be honest. It's a great brush and again is brilliant for such an affordable price. 

Overall Thoughts

I am really impressed with both the L.A.B.2 brushes, I have used them since receiving them and they are both great brushes that apply product really well. Both brushes wash and dry well, I have deep cleaned both brushes times and also spot cleaned both and haven't had any problems. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend L.A.B.2 brushes and I am really pleased to have them both in my brush collection, they are great brushes that work well and are an affordable price. 

If you would like to try the L.A.B2 brushes you can find them on the makeup brush.co.uk website HERE where you will find the full range of L.A.B2 brushes inc free 1st class delivery or the Superdrug website has a very small section HERE but they are also sold in store at Superdrug.

Have you tried L.A.B.2 makeup brushes? What brand and brush types are your favourites? Let me know in the comments section below. 

Thank you for reading, much love as always

Zoe x 

✿ Post contains PR Samples or Gifted Items