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 

Dove Advanced Hair Series

I like to treat myself to some 'nice' hair products once in while. Ones which cost a little more than £5, especially if I'm going on a trip or on a holiday. I feel it just adds to the pampering experience! I hadn't read anything about the Dove Advanced Hair Series, so I choose this product on what I felt my hair needed at the time. 

I felt my hair was quite dull and dry and needed a bit of revamping. The pure care dry oil shampoo and conditioner promising to help nourish dull and dry hair. There are three other options to choose from in the range; oxygen moisture, youthful vitality and quench absolute. 

The shampoo should cleanse hair and make it feel really silky without weighing it down. (I always worry a bit with the word 'oil' in products - that it actually means 'will make your hair super greasy within hours'). The conditioner also helps to make your hair feel silky smooth! 

I love the thick consistency of both the shampoo and conditioner. They both smell really nice too. I usually leave the conditioner on for a couple of minutes and then brush through with a comb, to help really work the product in. 

I have used this product for over a month now (I actually repurchased it because I loved the results so much). I find it leaves my hair so smooth and soft and leaves it feeling nourished too. I have found that with some shampoos that my head can feel quite itchy, but since using this I haven't had that problem. The product doesn't weigh your hair down either and leaves it feeling clean and fresh (for my hair, a couple of days). 

So overall a really positive experience with these two products and I would recommend them to anyone with dull and dry hair. I think they are a good quality and worth the price. At the moment they are on offer in Boots for £2.99 (usually £5.99). 

Thanks for reading! 

Grace Louise Beauty x

B. Makeup Brush Cleanser

I have to admit that cleaning my make-up brushes is something that is low on my list of things to do. I know that cleaning them is important, not only for hygiene reasons but to keep them at their best too. Browsing Superdrug on one of my lunch breaks I was happy to come across this B. Makeup Brush Cleanser product (priced at £4.99).

This product cleans and conditions all types of make-up brushes. The products gentle formula helps to disinfect make-up brushes (both synthetic and natural) and it is gentle enough to use on a daily basis. 

It is so easy to use, that it makes the task of cleaning brushes less of a hassle. All the product requires you to do, is to spray your make-up brushes a couple of times and then wipe with a tissue to remove the make-up on the brushes. I found that it was really effective at removing the make-up from the brushes and it left them feeling really soft. I also like that it doesn't have a strong disinfectant smell. 

I would normally use baby shampoo to clean my brushes and this is a cheaper alternative (and to be honest just as effective), but for convenience this is a good product to have and its size means its easy to take away on holiday. I would probably buy this product again, as it is effective and helps to keep my make-up brushes looking nice! 

Thanks for reading!

Grace Louise Beauty x 

EcoTools Ultimate Air Dryer

The other day I decided that I needed to buy a new hairbrush. I'm a bit strange when I buy hairbrushes, as I like to get the balance of quality and cost just right, so I take a bit of time over it. The design of this hairbrush first caught my eye. It's so unusual, with the hole in the middle. Then I read more into it and it stated that dries hair 40% faster. Anything to speed up drying my hair is a win win.

The Eco-Vent design works as a diffuser, helping to create waves and curves. I love how lightweight it feels. The handle feels really nice to hold. It brushes hair easily and the design of the bristles means it helps to de-tangle hair. It feels really soft on your hair when you use it too and almost massages the scalp.

I really do think the design of the brush helps to dry hair quicker. Now I'm not sure if it is actually 40% quicker, but it really does help. The huge benefit of this, is that it helps protect your hair from heat damage. Having the hole in the hairbrush means that the heat from the hairdryer can dry the hair in a more effective and direct way, compared to a normal hairbrush.

Overall, this brush was a great investment. I love the design, it actually works really well (especially if you have long hair) and is a great unusual piece of beauty equipment to have. At the moment this is on offer in Superdrug for £6.99, which I think is totally worth it. I am very happy with it.

Thanks for reading!

Grace Louise Beauty x 

Nivea in Shower Body Moisturiser

I am useless at remembering to apply lotion/moisturiser after a shower. It always seems like too much effort, even though I know if I did, my skin would be a lot softer. The Nivea in shower body moisturiser has been around for a little while now. The concept behind it is brilliant and definitely suits my needs.

The product is applied to wet skin, after using your normal shower product and then you just rinse it off. It absorbs quickly into the skin and it means you don't have to bother to apply moisturiser after your shower, as it leaves your skin feeling really smooth.

The pampering honey Nivea in shower body moisturiser has such a nice scent to it. It's very uplifting. I've had this product for about a month or so now, and I've still got some left. I find it's actually a really good product to use after shaving your legs. It helps to reduce the itchiness when the hair starts to grow back.

I like the consistency of the product too. It's not too runny and feels nice when you apply it. I guess the only downside to the product is that it can make your shower floor feel a little slippery.

Overall, this is a definite must in my shower now. Great product to have and a good time saver. I will be purchasing this again.

Thanks for reading,

Grace Louise Beauty x 

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Nourishing Oil

I got this product as part of a gift set and actually hadn't bothered using it until a couple of months ago. I've just never really liked the idea of putting an oil based product in my hair. Just because I think it would make my hair look super greasy!

Having read of a couple of reviews on it, I decided to try it. My hair can be quite dry and frizzy from using hair straighteners on a regular basis. This product contains argon oil and it should nourish and transform frizzy hair. 

I only use a small amount of the oil and apply it to the ends of my hair. This product can be applied to either dry or wet hair, which is great.

This product doesn't weigh my hair down at all. It doesn't make it feel greasy and actually helps reduce frizz and makes it feel really soft. This product will last quite a while, as such a small amount is needed. 

I am super impressed with this product. It's very lightweight and it has a nice light scent to it. I feel that it does help to improve the condition of my hair and gives it a healthy shine appearance. This will definitely be a repurchase for me and its well worth the money!

Thanks for reading!

Grace Louise Beauty x