Rahua Voluminous Shampoo & Conditioner | SECONDBLONDE

July 9, 20171 Comment

I’ve been trying out these Vegan 100% natural and organic hair products by Rahua. Rahua AMAZON BEAUTY was founded by Fabian Lliguin a New York hairdresser and advocate for the conservation of the Amazon. Amazon Beauty® Inc. have devised its own standard called, Symbiotic®. Meaning a Symbiotic® ingredient must be harvested from virgin forests in the Amazon, cultivated and obtained using the same, traditional methods used by Amazonian tribes for centuries.

The bottles are really attractive with attention to detail such as embossed logo’s on both sides of the bottle and fancy gold flip top lids. I like that the bottles are completely clear allowing you to see the product inside and it’s consistency.

I’ve got the Voluminous range as my hair is very fine and gets greasy really quickly. It is also safe for colour treated hair. The smell is a love hate situation, although completely natural it is quite strong – you really smell the lavender and eucalyptus. I really love the smell it really turns shampooing your hair into a relaxing pleasant experience.

The shampoo lathers really well much more than I imaged for a Vegan/Organic free from everything shampoo (if I’m honest I do love a bit of man made silicon in my hair!) It rinsed out really well and left my hair very clean, almost raw feeling which I’m not sure if I love – perhaps just different. I applied the conditioner mid lengths to ends which again smelt beautiful and left on for a few minutes before rinsing off. When combing my hair it was slightly more tangled than usual so I needed to use a light prep spray to help comb through before styling. It did style well without going static which is always a good sign with my hair type. The feel of my hair when dry was smooth and I’m not sure what best word to use other than raw – perhaps I needed the regular conditioner as the Voluminous is very lightweight.

Overall I do really like Rahua as a brand and their ethos – how they support the rainforest, however personally I don’t think it will be my go-to daily shampoo/conditioner. It’s more likely to be my 100% natural alternative option.

There’s a whole range of beautiful hair shampoo/conditioner/treatments/styling and body products. I’ve heard amazing things about the results of the Omega 9 hair mask.

Take a look here 275ml Voluminous Shampoo £28, Voluminous Conditioner £29

secondblonde x

FrezyDerm Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF 50+ | SECONDBLONDE

July 1, 2017July 2, 2017Leave a comment

If you aren’t already familiar with FrezyDerm it’s an established Greek brand founded in 1986. I’ve received their breakthrough Sun Screen Velvet Face SPF 50+ which I’m really happy to try out and review.

The packaging is very smart and clinical looking which I think is attractive to both men/women and all ages. The shape of the bottle is easy to use and lightweight. It’s got a pump dispencer that you can twist to lock and it’s 50ml so it ticks all the boxes for travelling or just having in your handbag.

The product texture is a transparent gel that does not smell. It’s like NOTHING I’ve ever tried before. OMG it is incredible!

A couple of pumps spreads evenly like a second velvet skin (that’ll be the revolutionary second skin technology innovation) It is an instant matte finish with no white marks or greasy residue. It doubles up as the perfect make-up base. I noticed my tinted moisturiser went on better and stayed put for much longer. And if that wasn’t enough my skin looked fresher and it blurred my fine lines and imperfections – win win win.

I also tried it on it’s own while sunning myself in my garden for a naughty couple of hours during the recent heat wave. In 30 degrees heat this sun screen did not melt nor did it make my skin feel uncomfortable or sweaty like other sun creams. It continued to stay matte, protect my skin and allow it to breathe.

I absolutely love this sun screen, I’m so impressed with it’s performance it delivers on all of it’s promises. I recommend it to anyone looking for a new SPF and think it will suit all ages/skin types.

Check it out here. £17.50 50ml

Secondblonde x

L’Oreal Extraordinary Oil – Facial Cleansing Oil | secondblonde

June 25, 2017June 25, 20174 Comments

If you are a regular reader you will know that I really like using cleansing oil’s and balms for my daily cleansing routine. I have a mix of luxury brands and high street brands. I base my reviews on the performance of the product in relevance to it’s ingredients/price point and my expectations. For instance I wouldn’t expect a cleansing oil costing under £8 to provide an aromatherapy like experience for the senses of that of a pure high grade plant oil cleanser costing £45.

I popped into Boot’s on the Kings Road in my lunch break to grab a bottle of water – there was a queue so I started to browse the skincare shelves and saw this Facial Cleansing Oil from the L’oreal Extraordinary Oil range and it was on offer. Seeing as my lastest cleansing oil was on it’s last dregs I thought I’d try it…

The bottle is a comfortable shape to hold in your hand and easy to squirt out 3 pumps into your palm. I them rub together with my other palm and massage into my face using the flats of my palms. I find this to be the easiest way, using fingertips always gets too messy for me.

The texture is oily but light and not greasy at all, the smell is quite synthetic (what you should expect for the price point) however it is a pleasant fresh fruity smell quite like subtle oranges.

Sometime’s I just rinse it off as it’s light enough to do so but mostly I flannel off to give my skin a light exfoliation. As it’s promise on the back of the bottle “beyond makeup removal” it does live up to it’s claim.

It leaves my skin clean, eye makeup free, feeling fresh and nourished and not screaming out for moisturiser immediately. Also to my surprise it doesn’t sting my eyes.

Overall I am really impressed with this facial cleansing oil – a little goes a long way and it’s such good value even at full price it’s only £7.99 I got mine on offer at £5.29! I will buy this cleansing oil again, I have it to hand in the shower and my husband has also used it a few times and liked it too.

A letter to my younger self | Secondblonde

May 29, 2017May 29, 2017Leave a comment

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I’ve just had my 42nd Birthday, the last time I posted about my age was just after my 40th Birthday and what I’d learn’t about myself upon turning 40. So here’s a letter I would write to my younger self..

Dear twenty something self,

It’s OK to make mistakes or make bad choices in life as that’s how you will learn and teach yourself to become a strong woman. Always listen to Mum and Dad’s advice as they’ve pretty much been right about everything…well not everything but most things during your twenties.

Don’t listen to your friends and work colleagues telling you that you are far too young to buy a flat at 21 years old and be tied down to a mortgage! It’s the best thing you ever did! And the biggest mistake they made not getting on the property ladder sooner. They have regretted it now still renting paying high fee’s or have had to move miles out of London to be able to afford a flat.

Don’t stay in a relationship if you are unhappy or just because you’ve been together so long and don’t want to admit it’s failed. Learn to have some self worth. Trust me on this one…In your late twenties early thirties you are going to have some new fun fun fun with a few surprise twists and turns that turn into an amazing new life and a relationship you wouldn’t of dreamed of!

Don’t worry about Dad just stay strong and keep positive, it’s going to be long and difficult seeing him at his lowest and weakest but he’s gonna be OK I promise. In fact he’s just got the 10 year all clear!

Go for every single opportunity that comes your way and try not to care too much about work as it will only be you that suffers. Continue to do what you love and get paid for it, it’s OK to change your career path and you will do a couple times but you will always come back to what you love – so just go with the flow.

Have career goals and work at them every day, make a plan and stick to it, save some money and don’t touch it! ( I mean it, you really will wish you had savings in the bank in addition to the equity in your property)

But most of all remember regardless of your financial situation or your career situation at the end of the day it’s only your family and nearest and dearest that really matter.

Have no regrets I don’t think you have any really – just lot’s of learns which is good. But most of all you really need to learn to worry less about what anyone thinks about you (you will eventually conquer this in your 40’s) other than your family and cherish every moment you have with them.

Your Forty Something Self

Kelly x

NIOD Low Viscosity Cleaning Ester | secondblonde

May 21, 2017May 21, 2017Leave a comment

I’ve recently got round to trying this groundbreaking innovation from Deciem. A simple but new way of doing skincare. The lovely and generous Arly of Detail Oriented Beauty sent it to me (well actually she hand delivered it to me while I was working at Liberty Beauty Hall) and sadly we missed each other.

I was waiting for my latest oil cleanser to finish before I opened this. As you can see it’s quite different looking from most cleansers and almost looks like a bottle of white spirit. The smell is quite strange and takes some getting used to. Here’s the description on NIOD’s website:

LVCE is a skin cleaning system that respects dermal barriers and sebum production, cleaning the skin and removing makeup in a single step. LVCE contains no cleansing plant oils, no detergents and no water. It uses isolated sugar and avocado esters to remove dirt and makeup with or without water.

WOW I’m so impressed with the performance of this product…it’s so different to anything I’ve used before. It’s not an oil, it’s not a balm (but acts like them) it’s not a water either but looks like it is. This product removes EVERYTHING leaving my skin fresh and clean yet nourished and not tight, you don’t even feel like you have to apply moisture after. And you only need a few drops! You can apply – massage in and rinse off or you can simply apply to a cotton pad and that’s it! It’s so easy and so effective.

I do really like my cleansing oils/balms and nice smelling products that become rituals – of course I will continue to use such products but this has really blown me away. I really disliked the smell the first few times I used it however, I have got used to it. It now has a well earned prime position on my dressing table.

A huge thank you to Arly for the gift, go check out her blog and social media she knows everything about skincare and is amazing at taking photo’s. Link to her blog above.

Secondblonde x

Bath & Unwind Mayday 10% off first order | secondblonde

April 30, 2017May 1, 2017Leave a comment

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What better way to start your May Bank Holiday with some online retail therapy. Bath & Unwind have so many fabulous luxury beauty brands from body, hair, skincare to makeup. They carry so many of my favourites.

Use a new discount code click here to receive 10% off your first order, just type in discount code MAYDAY at checkout. Plus free delivery over £40.

The only problem you have now is deciding what you are going to treat yourself to.

Secondblonde x

5 Drugstore Must Haves all for a tenner | secondblonde

April 24, 20172 Comments

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I recently popped into Superdrug to pick up some cotton wool and picked up a few beauty budget must have’s. The best part is that all these 5 items came in at just shy of a tenner, what a bargin!

Garnier Skin Naturals Micellar Cleansing Water 125ml £1.00 – I use this after my cleansing routine if needed to remove any last traces of make-up. It’s also a great product for a naughty lazy evening cleanse once in a while. Think it’s normally £2 but it was on deal when I got it.

Barry M Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint – Pit Stop £2.99 – This is a really nice soft grey almost like a nude, a great alternative to beige nudes for summer. There’s nearly always an offer on these like buy any 3 for 2. Barry M is my preferred drugstore nail brand as they have a great colour selection and I find them to last without chipping easily.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick – Asia 77 £4.99 – was on offer so I paid less. I’m a bit of a lipstick snob, daily I wear a bold red matte lip, when buying reds I always opt for brands such as Mac and NARS and recently been introduced to Surratt and Hourglass lip colours.

I fancied a cheap and cheerful soft wearable pink and opted for this one from Rimmel. I’m not a total convert but happy with the results of this lipstick for it’s price point. The colour stays on hours and is very comfortable to wear although smells like haribo sweets! I prefer it when the creamy look wears off and it looks more matte – but that’s just my personal preference.

Cushioned Nail File & Cotton Wool – I can’t remember the price of these, just thought I’d mention them as they make up my five items. The nail file isn’t great so I won’t be buying that again – unfortunately in some cases you do only get what you pay for!

Secondblonde x

3 Beauty Hacks You Need To Know

April 3, 2017April 4, 2017Leave a comment

Highlighting and Strobing I’m not big into make-up. I’m more interested in great skin so this is so helpful to remind me what goes where. I don’t wear a lot of make so I often get confused. I’ve only recently got into the whole highlighter/strobing thing. This diagram is so simple to use, the visual makes it much easier for me to remember what goes where.

Expiry Dates I am soo guilty of this one… I’ve got so many old mascara’s and other eye products – they always look like new and I forget just how long I’ve had them! tut tut. Since running a blog/instagram page it’s easier to track how long I’ve had things when I’ve photographed and posted them. I didn’t know about changing your nail file every three months! So today I purchased a new one and threw my old old one away (too embarrassed to tell you how old mine was) next up my mascara’s.

Emergency Cover Up I’m a believer in preventing than covering up, however this clever little colour wheel explains everything going back to basics with primary colours. Now you know where you’ve been going wrong when your skin needs a little help.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these back to basics beauty hacks, I know it’s nothing new (well apart from the expiry dates) however I found them all really helpful and I hope you do too.

Secondblonde x

Malin+Goetz Facial Cleansing Oil | Secondblonde

March 20, 2017March 31, 2017Leave a comment

MALIN+GOETZ was launched in 2004 a family owned and run apothecary in New York and London. I got to know the brand and meet the founders while I worked in beauty at Liberty. The brand is simple to use and focus on sensitive skin.

I’ve been using the Facial Cleansing Oil daily for about 3 weeks and absolutely love it! It’s an all in one cleansing oil including grapeseed, avocado and olive oil blended with lavender and eucalyptus, chamomile and anti-oxidants. This all ensures your skin is hydrated, calm, balanced and protected but above all clean and fresh.

My Experience I use at night time as it’s great to remove all the dirt and grime of the day plus it’s a great make-up remover including stubborn mascara. I do two pumps into my palms and massage into my skin (dry skin) it glides so effortlessly and feels so luxurious making something which seems like a chore become a little pamper session.

I start with my cheeks using the palms of my hands, then move onto my nose, forehead, chin and then my eyes/brows last (as it’s normally the messiest bit) It removes every last bit of my makeup and I use a wet flannel to remove. Once I pat my skin dry it feels and looks clean, soft and hydrated without any residue ready for an active serum and moisturser.

Mine was a gift however, I think it’s worth the price tag due to the quality of the ingredients and results, also not to mention that a very little goes a long way! Take a look here 118ml £30

Secondblonde x

Drugstore Finds Under a Fiver! 3 faves you will always find in my makeup bag.

February 27, 20174 Comments

My make-up stash is a complete mix of luxury brands and drugstore brands. I think of it as I do clothes, you don’t always have to spend a lot to look nice and sometimes there are some highstreet brands that have great results for a fraction of the cost! I do love a few litte luxuries, who doesn’t? although I’m not a brand snob and happy to use or wear any brand as long as I feel/look to my best and happy with it blah blah blah…

Barry M illuminating Strobe Cream – comes in two shades Iced Bronzed or Frosty Pink. I have both and discovered these when they were in my Christmas stocking! They are very subtle and easy to blend but are also buildable for a stronger effect. I prefer using them on my check bones and nose. It’s a bit too glittery for me to use on my cupids bow or chin. Take a look at them here for a very reasonable £4.49 each.

Rimmel Brow This Way – This clever little palette is a wax and a shadow in a small compact size (hate really big brow kits, too bulky in my makeup bag) The brush is the best quality slanted brush I’ve tried in a drugstore kit, it’s also double ended! Plus you get a little brow spoolie! I always get the shade dark brown 003 which is hard to find as it’s constantly out of stock, it also come in two other shades. The colour is a good match and stays on all day. More info here and ONLY £3.99

COLLECTION Lasting Perfection Concealer – Recenty purchased this after the bloggers hype of a great budget dupe for Nars. I’m not a big user of concealer but like to use this in the corners of my eyes near the bridge of my nose to illuminate that area when I’m looking a bit tired. Occasionally I add a little to my eye cream and dab it under my eyes. I’ve got the lightest shade called Fair Shade 1, it actually comes is four shades here and is a steal at £4.19

Secondblonde x