Review | TRESemme Runway Collection Make Waves Spray Gel & Shape Cream

As you probably know by now, I was thrilled to collaborate with TRESemme during this year's edition of the Malta Fashion Week and Awards. TRESemme is one of the main sponsors of the event and when they reached out to me asking if I wanted to collaborate, I was over the moon to say the least and I gladly accepted the collaboration.

Of course I was given some products to style my hair with during the week and they have been such a hit that they are practically all I am reaching for at the moment. I have a few ranges to talk about in a series of posts and I shall be starting with the two products I strongly feel are my hair's best friends during these hot, humid summer months. Ladies, it's time to Make Waves!

Make Waves Memorize & Style Cream

This is my favourite product out of the two. The cream comes in a 125ml tube and I am a big fan of the black packaging with the contrasting orange labelling - I think it looks really cool, don't you agree? The cream, is white in colour and has a nice smell. Texture-wise, it is somewhere between a gel and a cream - very workable but a little sticky.

The cream forms part of the Make Waves range which is aimed of course at styling hair in a wavy fashion. It is recommended to distribute the product evenly on towel-dried hair and then styling with a diffuser to achieve the perfect waves. My hair is already a little wavy by nature so all I do is apply the cream as directed, leave my hair to air-dry and voila'! My hair is wavy in no time! What amazes me the most when using this cream is my hair the day after - it still maintains a nice wave and does not become frizzy.

Make Waves Spray Gel

The second product I shall be talking about today is the Make Waves Spray Gel. I have never used anything like this before so I was curious to see how it performs. The product comes in a 200ml spray bottle which features the same artwork as the cream from the same range. It is a transparent gel with the same smell as it's counterpart. The spray gel can be used both on towel dried hair or on dry hair but I prefer using it on dry hair to revive a style. I like that it produces a nice, even spray and it maintains the curl nicely. Of course it is not as soft when using the cream on its own but the spray gel is even perfect for keeping your hair in check at the beach ;)

Waves made easy with TRESemme!

TRESemme Make Waves range is definitely a hit with me! Look out for two more posts on the rest of the products I was given in the coming weeks!

PR Samples

Guest Post | Heat Styling Basics for Maximum Results

In this modern day and age, us, women, have become reliant on heat styling tools for our everyday styling needs. This means that you do not have to go to a salon every time you wanted to a blowout, curl or straighten your hair. With some heat styling tools (and some helpful tutorials you can find online), it becomes easier to be your own hairstylist at home. But you need to observe proper heat styling techniques to ensure that you not only achieve your desired style, but also prevent damaging your hair in the process.

Read on to find out styling tips for common heat styling tools such as blow dryer, flat iron, and curling iron.

Blow Dryer

The blow dryer is probably the most frequently used heat styling tool for women. And yet, there are still plenty of complaints with regards to its use such as causing too much frizz (mostly on curly hair), inability to completely dry hair, tangles and making hair harder to style.

All complaints point to probably one reason – over-drying the hair with the use of blow dryer. The main point of blow drying is to direct heat to remove excess moisture out of your hair. But in some cases, the heat might be set on a high level of temperature that it heats up the hair too quickly. Most women keep blow drying even when the hair is already dry. When hair loses too much moisture, it becomes vulnerable to tangles and frizz.

When using the blow dryer, you need to take advantage of the various heat settings. Use only high heat when doing a blowout or adding curves with the aid of a round brush. But if you simply want to dry your hair, it is best to stick with medium or lower heat setting.

In addition to the temperature level, look into the air flow speed of your blow dryer as well. With a higher air flow, you have less control over the styling of your hair. Use a medium setting to ensure that you can direct the hair according to your desired style and maintain control when styling.

The final consideration when blow drying is to assess your hair type and adjust your styling accordingly. For curly haired women, using a diffuser is recommended to produce a soft flow of air. This means that you can dry your hair while keeping curls intact (versus causing a lot of frizz). Women with fine and thin hair can also benefit from the use of a diffuser because it disperses the heat and is therefore not too harsh. For long haired women, a methodical approach to blow drying offers many benefits. Start drying the bottom section of your hair, then move up to the middle section and finally the top section. This approach ensures even and more thorough drying of hair.

Curling Iron

One of the biggest complaints among women using curling iron is that their hair is unable to hold the curl. The secret to that is the prep for the styling. Make sure that your hair is completely dry before using the curling iron. There is also danger presented in using curling iron on damp hair as this could “cook” your hair, which is extremely damaging. The use of the right styling product also ensures that your hair strands respond well to the heat to form a new curl shape. For instance, use styling gel on hair before drying it so that hair has more structure to it.



Flat Iron

To get more success straightening your hair with a flat iron, you need to blow dry hair straight before you start styling. You will get much better result when you use the flat iron once you have blow dried the hair.

Do not overload the flat iron, too. Putting in too much hair at one time against the flat iron won’t give you the result you want. Instead, it results to uneven heating and tension rather than having a smooth finish to your hair. It also poses more damage as you have the natural tendency to leave the iron clamped on the hair longer to compensate for covering thicker section of hair. The ideal thickness of hair to pass through the flat iron is about 1/8 of an inch. Slide the section of hair slowly on the plates starting from near the scalp. Then, press the plates together and run it all the way down towards the ends.

Are you guilty of common mistakes with heat styling? Follow the recommendations above and make the most out of your heat styling tools!

Abby is a writer and social media manager for My Hair Care. If you would like to get an additional resource for hair care and hairstyling, visit their blog at http://www.myhaircare.com.au/blog.

Monthly Favourites | April

Here we go again...monthly favourites! This month I only have four products that deserve to be in this post. I have obviously been using other products but I personally don't see the point why I should bore you with the same products month after month.

 

First up is Percy & Reed London Hair Finishing Polish which I use to smooth my hair after straightening. A pea-sized amount is enough for my whole head and I tend to apply this polish just to the ends to avoid my hair turning greasy within a few hours. It smells nice and can also be used to add texture and definition to hair.
 

 

Planter's Natural & Young Aloe Vera Repairing Cream in its cute tin deserves a mention in this post. This baby smells amazing and keeps my hands super soft and supple, banishing dry skin for good...a definite must-have!
 

 

Lastly, I have two makeup products that have fed my current obsession with anything pastel pink. Enter Essence Kiss Care Love Lip Balm 03 Fruityliscious and Catrice Absolute Eye Colour 100 F'rosen Yoghurt eyeshadow quad. The balm offers protection with a pearly hint of colour and the quad has awesome pigmentation and is versatile enough for day and night looks.
 

What were your favourite products this month?

The Exit Interview Series | Volume #31

Earlier this month, I had a look through the samples I have accumulated and started using some of them. Consequently, I will be sharing quite a few new discoveries in mini sample format :) I will start with skin care first.

The Montagne Jeunesse face mask is a common appearance so I will not spend a lot of time on it. This particular one is one of my favourites which I repurchase from time to time.

 

So, new products...I have recently been introduced to Planter's, an Italian natural cosmetics brand and I have used up the two Mattifying 24 Hours Moisturiser samples sent to me with their Natural & Young Repairing Cream. My skin didn't flare up when I used this moisturiser but I have to admit it does feel richer compared to the moisturiser I am used to so I would totally recommend this for the winter months. Even though it has a thick texture however, it is rapidly absorbed into the skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple all day. My skin kept looking matte throughout so that is definitely another plus!

 

Next is a Bottega Verde Apricot Scrub Mask. I only had enough to use this once but I can say I loved texture of the scrub and since it doubles up as a mask, it offers better value for money. My skin was left radiant and smooth after just one use and since it is mostly made up of organic ingredients, your skin will thank you for it. The only downside is that due to their organic nature, Bottega Verde products can come in quite expensive.

 

The last skin care product for this month is the Eubos Liquid Washing Emulsion which I use at work mostly. The size of the product makes it convenient to carry out and since my skin seems to tolerate it, I tend to take samples of it with me on weekend getaways and the likes rather than the bulkier Michael Todd cleansers.

 

Speaking of Michael Todd, I have tried a sample sized version of their Wild Rose Petal Creamy Body Wash which was thrown in with my last order. I loved the scent of it and it lathers up nicely I might add it to my next order actually.

 

I have also used up Essence Like A First Day In Spring small perfume. Back when I first bought this perfume, it used to give me bad hay fever attacks. I guess it was all down to weather changes because it didn't seem to do anymore when I gave it a second shot. It smells nice so I might buy it again.

 

 

Moving on to hair products, I have L'Oreal Elnett Satin hair spray which is now a common occurrence in these posts cos I go though them like crazy. Another L'Oreal product is this sample Elvive shampoo that claims to have keratin extracts to smooth down fly-aways. My hair felt and looked smooth after I washed it with this shampoo but a long term use would give better judgement.

 

Lastly, I have two nail products which I buy over and over again just because they do what they claim to. Orly Nailtrition is seriously the best nail hardener I have ever used and the nail polish remover has this handy pump dispenser which makes it very easy to use even for clean ups. 



Monthly Favourites | September

My my time is flying by! Here are my September favourites ladies.

 

Starting with make up, I have been wearing these two lip glosses almost everyday this month. Both are neutral shades with shimmer and they are perfect for both day and night wear. They last really good and I find them both to be very moisturising. I like to wear Catrice Colour Show 080 Nude-Tritious first and layer some Essence XXXL Shine 08 Glamour To Go in the middle to give the illusion of fuller lips.

This month, I have been delving into the world of filling brows to make them look fuller more often and I found myself reaching mostly for Essence Eyebrow Designer 04 Blonde and Essence Guerilla Gardening Trend Edition Eyebrow Mascara 01 Garden Girls. They are exactly the same shade of light 'ashy' brown and I discovered I much prefer to use eyebrow products that are slightly lighter than the actual colour of my brows. Thumbs up for both products for performance and ease of use, I just hope Essence introduce the mascara as part of their permanent line.

 

 

Catrice Glamour Doll Mascara is once again my favourite because I really like the way it separates my lashes, giving me a voluminous look that seems as though I am wearing lashes. The last eye product I have been favouring this month, is the NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. An ever popular cult favourite, I like to use this product as a base for my eyeshadows to make the colours pop and it never disappoints!

 

The Ultimate Contour Palette from Napoleon Perdis is one of my all time favourite products for various reasons, the main ones being, the packaging, the texture of all three products and the matte bronzer that is not too dark for my skin tone. Need I say more?

 

I have a new favourite skin care product as well and it is none other than Michael Todd Jojoba Charcoal Facial Scrub. I will be reviewing this in full so all I am going to say for now is that I love how this feels on my skin and they way my skin looks after using it.

 

 

The hair brush is my favourite hair gadget this month. It was part of the goodie bag from the Dean Gera Hair Care opening earlier this month and I always favour wide bristled brushes for when I need to brush my hair while wet. This one also comes with a nifty small mirror at the back that you can take out to use while on the go.

 

Foundation sponges or rather Beauty Blenders and their dupes have been all over the blogsphere as of late and a few months back I bought two dupes off Ebay at a fraction of the price and I never went back to applying foundation with a brush ever since. I love how the foundation looks whena pplied with a wet sponge because it gives you the right amount of coverage without looking cakey.

 

Last but not least, the Aztec nails were a favourite with me and people who complimented me on them. They are really easy to re-create (check out the tutorial here) and the neon studs give the manicure a fashion forward feel.

 

Event | Dean Gera Hair Care Official Opening in collaboration with Make Up Store

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the prestigious hair salon Dean Gera Hair Care at The Point Shopping Complex in Sliema.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with Martini Royale cocktails and some nibbles and afterwards we were allowed to have a look at the salon but naughty us spent more time in the Make Up Store premises than in the actual salon :p

 

The salon and the store are actually connected and are located on level -2 of the shopping complex. The design theme is the same for both with black and white being the dominant colours.

 

I really enjoyed myself catching up with fellow bloggers and swatching various products over at the Make Up Store. With regards, prices, this brand is actually a little on the expensive side but the quality of the products is really worth the money. As a general idea, prices are comparable to those for Inglot.

 

I'll leave you to feast your eyes on the pictures :)

 

Dean Gera Hair Care Salon

 

 

Some of the products hair stylists at Dean Gera use

Brands are Schwrazkopf, True Keratin and ghd

Make Up Store

 

 

Some of the products the Make Up Store has to offer

including fragrance and the new Jelly collection

A gorgeous pearl-laden bag that caught my eye

I wish I could have stayed longer but since I had to wake for work, I had to leave early. However, I didn't leave empty-handed as I was presented with a generous goodie bag to take home. I refrained from buying any new make-up though even though we were being offered a 20% discount for the night as I simply have way too much. Having said that, I would love to get some items from the brand as from what I've seen, the quality is of a very high standard.

 

Here's what I got in my goodie bag:

 

 

There was even a lipstick in there! The shade I got is Black Currant and it is the most gorgeous dark purple ever with a ton of multi-coloured shimmer! Stay tuned for a full review with swatches soon ;) I'm looking forward to treating my locks to some luscious treatments and I am really curious about the Home Spa range from the Make Up Store!

 

Lastly, I think that both the salon and make-up shop are worth a visit, if anything just to feel pampered for that special occasion or simply to splurge a little money on yourself! I would like to thank the salon owners for inviting (and treating) us to a lovely evening! 

Guest Post | Game Of Thrones Hairstyles

Hello ladies :) I'm sure many if not all of you know about the Game Of Thrones series. I personally, have never watched the show but I am quite intrigued by what I hear about it...I just have to find the time! Marcela de Vivo, who has already contributed a couple of guest posts on this blog, has come up with an infographic to show you how you can re-create some hairstyles from the popular series. Enjoy!

 

 

Game of Thrones is that rare epic fantasy drama filled with a cast of strong female characters, who inspire love from their followers or strike fear into the hearts of men. Or sometimes both. Each has their individual style that is often a reflection of those characteristics, whether they are meek like Sansa Stark, who only wants to return to the time of innocence, or severe like Cersei Lannister, the devious Queen who wants nothing more than to rise to power. Their hair styles are no different, showing off their complex personalities through braids, buns, and ponytails.

With this infographic, you can imitate the impressive hair styles of your favourite Game of Thrones women with relative ease.

 

See a style you like? Try it out and share your results!

Monthly Favourites | July

Time for monthly favourites again...and this time I have quite a lot of products to show you so let's get started right away with hair care.

 

In summer, I tend to use more products on my hair to tame the frizz and protect it from the sun. My favourites are Tresemme 24 Hour Body Shampoo and Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe which I use as conditioner to restore moisture especially after spending time at the beach and air conditioning.  Then to style it, I use John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straightening Potion to keep frizz at bay and also provide protection against heat styling and lastly, I use a little Finishing Polish from Percy & Reed London to keep my style looking fresh all day.

 

 

As for skin care and body care, I have really been enjoying the results Pupa Milano Anti Cellulite Cream and Scrub are giving. I have already seen an improvement in the way my thighs look and I love how fresh they feel on the skin.

 

Lierac Paris is a new brand for me and I have been testing out their products ever since I attended their press launch in June. My favourite of the two products we were given, is the Gommage Douceur which as the name implies, is a very gentle scrub that I like to use twice a week (I must admit that I sometimes cheat and use this once and use another scrub the other time to make it last longer). The toner completes makeup removal as it can also be used around the eye area and I love the way my skin feels after using it.

 

Then in the lip department, I have been favouring lipgloss over lipstick this month and my favourite non-sticky formulas are L'Oreal Glam Shine Crystals 301 Coral Strass, E.L.F. Studio Glossy Gloss Berry Blush and Essence Marble Mania Trend Edition 02 Peach & Mix. And of course, to keep my lips supple and flake free, my favourite product is the E.L.F. Studio Lip Exfoliator.

 

Last but not least, I have my favourite eye products. Thanks to Meg's Makeup, I am now a proud owner of the Urban Decay Melt Palette that also came with Breathless eyeshadow that is a universally flattering shade that I have been using almost everyday since I got it! Two more Meg's Makeup gifts were the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Dime which I have opened for the first time this month and love the fact that it is long lasting and doesn't budge; and RevitaLash Volumising Primer which I love to pair with my Pupa Vamp! Mascara 300 Deep Night to enhance the blue pigments. My favourite waterproof mascara this month has been the Catrice Lashes to Kill mascara.

 

I have been experimenting quite a lot with coloured eye pencils this month and my favourites are a selection from Catrice and a Denim Blue shade from Rimmel. 

 

I didn't include any face products in this month's favourites because they are essentially the same as last month's so no use repeating them over again.

 

What are your favourites? Do you tend to favour certain type of products over others in summer?