Botanics Foaming Cleansing Wash

I had been going through an awful phase with my skin a few weeks back and I was desperate to find a product to help. I did a little research on the Boots website (I find Boots has quite a good amount of honest reviews on it) and I came across the Botanics range.

The Botanics range offer a natural beauty product alternative, using powerful plant extracts. They have an extensive range of different products available from skin care to body and hair care. They cater to a wide range of skin types too.

I picked a couple of products from the All Bright range, which is designed for normal to dry skin. The Botanics Foaming Cleansing Wash really caught my interest from the positive reviews. This product contains Hibiscus, which is an ingredient that helps to renew the skin's surface, revealing a more radiant complexion.

The foaming cleansing wash, is very light and should gently lift away impurities and makeup, helping to detoxify skin and leaving it feeling cleansed.

I have been using this product for a couple of weeks now and feel it has really helped to clear my skin. I had been getting quite a few spots on my forehead and this has helped to get rid of them and keep them gone! It does leave your skin feeling a little dry after use but I think this is why it has improved my skin. I just use a little moisturiser to help combat this dryness.

It foams up really nicely and has a lovely light scent. It feels like a good quality product and I think that's because it is so natural. It effectively removes makeup and leaves your skin feeling clean. I have also bought the Botanics All Bright wipes and I rate these highly too. Some wipes can cause my skin to break out, but these ones I find don't.

I am definitely going to buy this facial wash again, as for me, it has really helped to improve my skin and I am feeling a lot happier with it.

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Series

My hair was going through a bit of a funny phase, where the roots were getting oily and I was starting to notice dandruff. Dandruff is something which can be quite embarrassing and so I wanted to get this sorted asap! I noticed that L'Oreal had launched out a new range and this included the L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.

The shampoo contains three Refined Clays and Piroctone-O to create a re-balancing product, that will  help to balance your hair and control the dandruff days! This shampoo should help fight the appearance of dandruff, keep hair feeling purified for up to 72 hours, with light and lifted roots, and make your hair feel hydrated.

I decided to by the L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Conditioner to compliment this product too. Again this product is designed for oily roots and dry ends. It has a similar outcome to the shampoo but also adds shine and softness to your hair. The extra benefit of these products is that they are silicone free (this is meant to be better for hair, as silicone shampoos and conditioners can actually cause more damage - so the internet tells me!).

I am super happy I bought these products. They have actually changed my hair washing regime. I would usually have to wash my hair every other day. I can now go up to three days without washing my hair and it still looks good! That is amazing! On the third day, it's not as bouncy as on the first day, but it still looks clean and there is still lift to my hair. I think washing my hair less regularly has really helped in improving the condition of my hair and reducing the dandruff. I would say I have barely any dandruff now. The conditioner does help give your hair shine and softness too.

I love these products. They smell nice and the shampoo lathers up really well. My hair feels light and the roots aren't oily. The ends of my hair are also in great condition. For me, they do as they promise.

Overall these are definitely in the repurchase list. I would recommend trying these out if you do suffer from dandruff and oily roots (I think they are on offer at the moment at Boots).

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Sanctuary Spa Foaming Micellar Water

A few years ago I would always use wipes to remove makeup from my skin and then I tried the Nivea 3 in 1 micellar cleansing water and I was converted to using micellar cleansing products! (Check out my thoughts on this product here).

This item is meant to be an effective facial cleansing product, that using natural ingredients and a fresh blend of essential oils, which all combined help to remove makeup and grime. It should help revitalise skin, leaving it clean and glowing. It should be suitable for all skin types too.

I love the elegant design of this product. The pump inside the bottle, means the formula comes out quickly and is dispensed as foam instantly. I love the foam part of this micellar water. I like how it fizzles out on the skin and encourages the removal of makeup and grime.

I apply the product onto a cotton pad. I probably use between two to three cotton pads per evening. You then just wipe the cotton pad all over your face. As the product hits your face, the foam fizzles out quite quickly, producing a lot of liquid, which is why I tend to go over my eyes last, just to avoid getting any of the product into my eyes.

The product has lasted me ages, which is great as it's not the cheapest micellar cleansing water on the market! It is very effective at removing makeup and grime. It leaves your face feeling refreshed, clean and smooth. I have combination skin and find that this product is great at not drying your skin out or causing any irritation.

I'm very happy with this. Its a lovely product, that is very effective and leaves your skin feeling super clean. I will definitely buy this again (on the 3 for 2 offer).

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

TIGI Bed Head Masterpiece Massive Shine Hairspray

Last weekend one of my school friends got married, so with that I decided that I wanted to curl my hair for the occasion. My mum handed me this hairspray in the morning. I was a little worried to use it, without testing it out first, but I shouldn't have worried!

This hairspray provides a medium level of hold, that should help promote shine, control fly-aways and condition hair all in one. It is suitable for all hair types and is environmentally friendly.

The first thing I noticed about using this hairspray was the smell! It has an amazing tropical fragrance. I've never used a hairspray that has this smell before. It's so good and lasts the whole day.

I thought I had found my favourite hairspray with the TRESemme Extra Hold hairspray. But this one from Bed Head has now taken its place! I curled my hair using my ghd hair straighteners and then used the hairspray all over and then brushed through the product, to make my hair feel more natural. This product kept my curls for the whole day and I found that even the next day, I still had my curls!! That is amazing!

I am so impressed with this hairspray! It's a definite purchase and repurchase item for me! It keeps your style in place and smells good in the process!

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Rimmel London Wonder'Full Extreme Black Mascara

This product intrigued me because it contains Argan Oil and I liked the idea of a mascara conditioning and enhancing my lashes all in one.

This mascara aims to give full volume, without clumps. The Argan Oil, should make the formula feel lightweight and soft and yet give the lashes volume. It has an ultra flex brush, which should hug the lashes, defining them from root to tip. The formula also contains extreme black pigments, for a more intense black.

I've been using the product for over a month now. I like the brush, it's a good size and I feel it helps spread the product evenly on the lashes and helps to give volume. However, I did find that I did get clumps with it. Not as much as other mascaras I have tried though.

I love the lightweight formula. It makes your lashes feel more natural. I find that it dries quickly too and I really like the colour. Not too heavy for me. (Before and After photos below).

I find the product doesn't last the entire day on (it does begin to flake off towards the end of the day), but it does make it easy to remove the remains at night!

I really like this mascara. The colour is good, it helps to add volume and it feels so lightweight on (the best part). It's not completely clump free and perhaps not as dark as thought it would be. I think I was expecting to be a little more wowed by it (just because of the name), but it isn't bad for the price and I probably would by this again just for an every day mascara.

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a must have product to keep in your beauty cupboard. I will usually purchase the Batiste dry shampoo but this was on offer in Superdrug so I gave it a whirl!

I decided to choose the uplifting volume one. The product claims to refresh hair and give it extra volume. It contains natural tapioca that helps to transform hair by absorbing excess oil and the citrus fragrance helps to refresh your hair.

I love the citrus smell! Also, this product doesn't give you the usual white residue that the Batiste product does. Perhaps it's because I have dark hair, but it usually takes ages to get rid of the white residue and I'm always conscious that I haven't blended it all in. But with this product there is no reason to worry, as there isn't any white residue!

I found it did help to give my hair a little more volume and refresh my hair. The hair in the photos is day 3 hair (so pretty greasy and needing a wash!) I wanted to give the product a proper testing. I think it does help make it look washed. (Before and After).

The only thing I didn't like about the product, is how it makes your hair feel afterwards. It's like a matted texture - not very nice to feel! It's the same kinda feeling after you have after using hairspray!

So although it may look like it has more volume, it doesn't make it feel very clean! Whereas you don't get this with Batiste dry shampoo. Personally, I think I would buy this product again (only when on offer) as I like that I don't have the white residue and I love the fresh smell. Hopefully the texture part is something that they can improve on.

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Redken Diamond Oil High Shine Conditioner

I've become a little obsessed recently with wanting to improve the condition of my hair. I use my hair straightening a little too much and I think this has resulted in my hair being quite dry and weak. So I've been on the look out for a good conditioner and my hair dresser recommended I try the Redken Diamond Oil Shine Conditioner as it contains protein to help strengthen hair and keep it looking healthy.

The conditioner is designed to revitalize hair and make your hair feel softer and more luxurious after a couple of uses. It contains a sparkling oil complex, which is a blend of camellia oil to smooth, apricot oil to condition and coriander to seal the treatment. It is also enriched with protein to add strength.

When you look at the conditioner it does look very shiny! It has a jelly like consistency, which was a little odd to begin with! I'm so used to using a creamy conditioner. I found that because of the jelly consistency, you do actually end up using more.

I love the way the product smells. It has a very light, refreshing smell.

When I use conditioners, I tend to leave them on for a couple of minutes and use a comb to brush it through, to ensure the product gets distributed well.

If I'm really honest, I didn't really find this did much for my hair. It makes your hair smooth but comparing it to my regular hair conditioner, my hair is just the same. It didn't make it any more shiny.

I did enjoy using it, the sparkles make the product feel special! And it does leave your hair smooth and so it looks healthy (I'm not sure about it strengthening my hair). I wouldn't buy this product again though, as I didn't find the product amazing and it's quite expensive (£15.50 Feel Unique).

Would you recommend any good conditioners?

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Nuxe Ultra Nurishing Lip Balm

I got this lip balm from my Feel Unique Christmas calendar and it is definitely my favourite item from it. This is a repairing, nourishing lip balm, with a rich texture aimed at restoring suppleness and comfort to dry chapped lips.

The product comes in a small frosted pot, which has a surprising weight to it. The lip balm itself is yellow in colour and has a lovely scent to it (quite citrus like). The lip balm has a slight grainy texture to it, but when applied to the lips, this disappears. The formula of this product is fantastic, it helps to remove chapped skin and nourish the lips at the same time.  

The lip balm lasts a really long time before feeling the need to reapply it. It is the best lip balm I have ever used. It makes my lips feel so smooth and nourished. And really helps to restore your lips and get rid of dry chapped lips.

It costs £9.50 from Feel Unique and I would definitely purchase this again. I think it will last quite a long time. I've not actually tried any other products from this range before, but now I am really intrigued to!

Have you tried this before? What did you think?

Thanks for reading!



Grace Louise Beauty x 

Guest Post: No More Mess Nails

My friend Jenny* came across this product a few weeks ago. I'd never heard of it before but I was intrigued by it, so I asked her to try it out and report back! It's not got an actual name but if you search for 'no more mess nails' in Amazon, you will come across it. It costs just a bit more than £2.

This product is suppose to help you create a perfect manicure, helping to protect your cuticles and fingers from nail polish stains. You apply the product around the edge of your nails and then let it dry and peel off, once you have finished painting your nails. 

The product is meant to smell nice but it smells very similar to glue. And in actual fact is it very similar to pva glue, but has a thicker consistency. It took a while for the product to dry, probably longer than actual nail polish (which isn't cool, if you're wanting to do a quick job). Also, Jenny found it to be quite messy in terms of peeling it off. Because it took so long to dry, it peeled off in bits rather than in one piece. 

I can see the idea of this product but for Jenny it isn't something she would buy again. It does work in helping to protect your nails, but it makes the process so much longer with having to apply the product, paint your nails and then remove the product. So overall not a repurchasing item, and it was decided that cotton buds and nail polish remover is a lot easier! 

Thanks for reading!

Grace Louise Beauty x 

*Special thanks to Jenny for this review! 

Nair Shower Power Cream

Hair removal is one of those tasks that I hate, but for me it is a must do on a fairly regular basis. I have used quite a few hair removal creams in the past and I have never really liked them. I find them hard to apply and very time consuming. And also very stinky! I decided to give Nair's Shower Power Cream a try because of its ingredients (Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil and Cocoa Butter) and I liked the idea that it works during showering, helping to cut out the time consuming aspect.

The product contains a spatula inside to apply and remove the cream. The thick formula means that when you apply it to your legs it stays on quite well, rather than slipping off (I have found some formulas can be quite runny) and because of the 'odour control technology' used, it doesn't have that distinct hair removal cream smell. I think it's always going to be hard to apply at the back of your legs and this is the bit for me that takes so long.

The product needs to applied before entering the shower and left on for a couple of minutes. You can then get in the shower (trying to avoid getting your legs wet) and leave it on for a further three minutes. Then using the spatula remove the product. Removing the product took a little effort, but my legs felt very smooth afterwards, so worth the effort!

I will tend to buy hair removal cream for my bikini area because I find shaving makes it too sore (I have quite sensitive skin). After shaving, my hair grows back pretty much the next day, but after using this my hair grew back after a couple of days. On the box it says 'stays smooth up to 7 days' so this wasn't true for me, but I'm not surprised. A good thing is that I found my legs weren't itchy (which sometimes happens after hair removal), I think this is down to the ingredients included helping to moisturise the skin.

From all the hair removal products I have tried this one is definitely my favourite. It doesn't smell, it leaves your skin feeling very smooth and it's great for sensitive skin. I found it wasn't much quicker than others and my hair grew back after a couple of days, but the advantages of this product have made this a re-purchase item for me. I think it's a great hair removal product, that is very gentle and effective.

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x 

Protect and Enhance Your Tan

A couple of weeks ago, my mum and I decided to book a last minute holiday to Lanzarote. We only went for four nights because I couldn't get a full week off from work. I wanted to maximize my tan whilst I was out there and came across two products that I think really helped.

The first product I bought was Boots Soltan Protect and Tan Ultra-Light Texture Suncare Spray (£6.00 Boots). I usually go for a lotion when buying sun protection products, but I was really intrigued by the the description of this. It contains an innovative ingredient that helps to stimulate the body's natural tanning production.

The formula is really light and it isn't sticky. It has a nice light scent to it and after the initially use, is easy to apply (it takes a bit of pressure to get the spray to work in the beginning!). It absorbs into the skin really quickly and I felt happy with the product protecting my skin. The only place I burned was my eyebrows. I just didn't think to apply sun protection there! I found this product was light enough to use on my face and it didn't clog my pores.

I don't tend to tan that well on holiday. I have to be somewhere for about two weeks, to get a really good tan. But after coming back, I've had quite a few compliments saying that I've got a really nice tan. I think that is partly down to this product.

The other product I used to compliment this was Garnier's Ambre Solaire After Tan Maintainer (£5.00 Boots). I bought this to hydrate my skin after it being in the sun all day and it has an extra benefit of having a bit of self-tan product contained in the mixture. I found this product helped to deepen my tan. But found that you have to be really careful applying it because it will give you streaks and give the game away! And it also smells pretty cheesy! But it's not a sticky formula and you don't have to wait long to get dressed. I think next time I will use this with a self-tan mitt just to make it more even.

I found these two products really good in helping to make the most of my four nights in Lanzarote. I have a nice light tan, which I don't think I would have if I didn't have these. I will definitely use these again on my next holiday!

Thanks for reading!

Grace Louise Beauty x 

Big Sea Salt Shampoo

This product was actually first tested by my sister. She raved so much about it and said it made her hair feel soft and clean afterwards, that I had to give it a try!

Lush's big sea salt shampoo is made with seaweed and sea salt. The product should help to add volume to your hair and make it feel smooth and shiny. There is something really nice about using handmade products.

The 100g product comes in a little pot. It's quite expensive at £6.75 (but it is worth it, I think!). You only need to use a small amount, so you can make it last quite a few months, if you use in once in a while.

It's a strange experience rubbing this shampoo into your hair, as the texture of the shampoo is quite grainy with the sea salt. But it's not a horrible experience, it's just very different to using your normal shampoo.

It lathers up really well and washes out easily. I love the smell of the shampoo too and find it really helps to cleanse your hair. I'm not sure that it adds much volume, but it certainly makes your hair feel so soft and shiny afterwards.

I really like this product and it is well worth giving it a try if you fancy treating yourself! I will definitely keep this on the re-purchase list. It's a great hair cleanser and make your hair feel super soft.

Thanks for reading!


Grace Louise Beauty x