No7 Stay Perfect Matte Top Coat

--What does the promo say?--

"This year, we're unveiling the amazing matte coat that leaves nails looking like they just stepped off a catwalk. The sans-shine look popped up at a show after show and with this clear miracle, you can add edge to any base shade.

Simply apply over dry polish, just one coat is enough to achieve knock out nails."

 --Packaging--

Fairly standard stuff from No7 here. Whether that's dull and boring or classic and sophisticated really depends on you. The gold writing on the bottle is not only pretty and festive but is also readable and provides the essential information in few words.

--Application--

Apply the nail colour of your choice first and then leave it to dry. Once dry, apply this top coat. One go-round should suffice.

--Appearance--

Inside the bottle, the varnish looks weird - part white and part clear - with the parts clearly separated, as if the varnish is old and doesn't mix properly. However, this is no worry when actually applying the top coat as application is clear and cohesive. Not only this, but the visual effect delivers as promised: the result is a near-instant mattifying of your chosen colour for a modern, funky look that is seriously impressive.

--Scent--

You want that traditional nail-varnish pear drop anaesthetic type smell? You got it.

--Texture and consistency--

In spite of the initially worrying appearance of the product inside the bottle, as described above, this does not translate into stickiness or difficulties in application. The polish glides on smoothly and is quick to dry.

--Longevity--

While the promised effects are there, what we need to remember is that the primary purpose of a top coat is to protect your colour and make it last longer. Sadly, this product does not really do this - I noticed chips within a day or two.

--Value for money--

At £6.75, this is not horrifically expensive, but lamentably it's not the perfect product yet. I'd say it needs to go back to the drawing board so that it will make your colour last longer before it can really help you 'stay perfect' and thus merit its price tag.

perfect partners

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Polish, £6.75

No7 Stay Perfect Eye Shadow, £7.50

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation Compact, £13.50

No7 Stay Perfect Lipstick, £9.50

No7 Stay Perfect Nail Tip Whitener, £6.75

No7 Stay Perfect Smoothening and Brightening Eye Base, £7.50

No7 Stay Perfect Eye Mousse, £8.75

JML Pampered Toes

RRP: £9.99/pair

--What does the promo say?--

"When you look in the mirror what do you see? Your face? Your body? What about your feet? Being constantly on the go, no-one considers the daily pressures and tensions your feet are subject to. They particularly suffer when crammed into high heels, shoved into pumps or wedged into sandals. Don't ignore them - use Pampered Toes to stretch and strengthen them! Pampered Toes are a plastic toe stretching device that helps to revive and condition cramped feet....[I]nspired by yoga exercises for your feet[,] the device helps to increase circulation and stretch your tendons. It makes exercising your tootsies as easy as watching TV. When life runs you off your feet, take a few minutes to relax with Pampered Toes."

--Packaging--

See-through plastic packaging and clear no-nonsense titling helps the product to make immediate impact. However, it is not easy to open and there is one big CON: once opened, even as carefully as possible, the Pampered Toes are left with no form of more permanent packaging, such as a carry case or storage device. The reason why this is so annoying will come later...

--Usage instructions--

We are advised by JML to "simply slip them over the tops of [the] feet". This seems fairly easy at the outset, with there being one hole in the "ladder" for each toe. However, this is slightly reliant on your feet being a certain shape or size: my little toes are ridiculously small and piggy and so only just barely fit into the hole meant for them, even with the plastic "ladder" being fully wedged down between my toes. Perhaps these need to come in different sizes?

--Appearance--

These are a pleasant pale pink, and also come in blue. Of course you look stupid with your toes poking out of them, but I think by now we girls are used to looking stupid in the name of beauty (designer shoes, face masks, pore strips...). A more obvious up side is that it really doesn't take very long: just 10 or 15 minutes for your feet to feel more relaxed.

--Texture/consistency--

This is why the fact of these not having their own box or storage facility is extremely annoying: the gel from which these are made is not exactly sticky (and in fact, to the contrary, their softness, coolness and pliability makes them feel extremely pleasant on the feet), they do seem to attract dust and hair, meaning you will basically need to wash them every time you want to use them, or keep them in a Ziploc bag. This is definitely something that could do with improving - the prospect of washing mine is extremely offputting (although admittedly it doesn't help that I defied the health and safety warnings on the packaging and also walked around while wearing them).

--Effects on the feet--

There seem to be a lot of medical (or at least holistic or therapeutic) terminology and meaning attached to this product, which seems to on immediate sight lack any verification by a recognised health professional (by "recognised" I mean someone that the general public would recognise, such as Embarrassing Bodies' Dr Christian Jessen). It would therefore need a doctor to tell me whether these really did prevent hammer toes, poor circulation or bunions, stretch my tendons or strengthen my toes, as claimed by the product's PR. However, this much is obvious: it is, for whatever reasons, a very relaxing experience: feet really do feel less stressed and tense after use.

--Value for money--

I'd really want an endorsement from some kind of health professional before I made any judgement on the perceived physical benefits of this product. However, for a relaxing spa-style experience I would definitely recommend it to make you feel like you're walking on air - they just need to give the poor things a home of their own to make the experience completely hassle-free. Now, where's my Enya CD, incense sticks and face mask...?

perfect partners

Ped Egg, £9.99

Snuggie, £24.99 for 2

Circulation Enhancer, £149.99

Deluxe Bath Spa, £59.99

Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Exfoliating Body Wash with Shea Butter

RRP: £3

--What does the promo say?--

"JOHNSON’S^® Gentle Exfoliating Wash gently exfoliates with unique beads that melt and condition your skin to leave it feeling soft and smooth. This soft, lathering, creamy formula hydrates and pampers your skin, leaving it moisturized for 24 hours. While other exfoliating washes may feel harsh, JOHNSON'S^® Gentle Exfoliating Wash has been developed to be gentle enough for everyday use, even on sensitive skin. So every day you can enjoy light exfoliation to reveal beautifully fresh, radiant skin."

--Packaging--

Its soft, near-chocolatey colour gives the impression of luxury, with the feather illustration adding softness and the sturdy plastic flip-top lid and the bottle's ergonomic shape making the whole thing practical to use. All in all, a perfect package.

--Application--

Lather up with a little water and rub over the body, paying special attention to areas where you want to avoid ingrown hairs, such as under the arms, and then rinse off. This can be done just using your hands, but for extra exfoliating power you can always use a sponge exfoliating puff, or loofah.

--Appearance--

A translucent brownish-gold gel with faint dark exfoliating beads embedded in it. No visible residue left after use.

--Scent--

Buttery and chocolatey. Simply delicious; a sublime start to winter mornings.

--Texture and consistency--

Exfoliates well without being too harsh, and the gel, while not making a supremely creamy lather, uses what little lather it does make to its fullest advantage, providing a silky cleansing experience.

--Effects on the skin--

As well as leaving skin smooth, clean and soft, it also has an immense practical use, particularly for those who wax or epilate, as it makes significant headway in eliminating and preventing ingrown hairs. I definitely noticed the difference when I stopped using it. This definitely ticks all the right boxes.

--Value for money--

Your £3 buys you an undoubtedly perfect beauty product that pampers you to princess-like perfection while taking care of your body at the same time, so that it's in a state you're proud of. Full marks - I don't think I'd be without this in my shower now. Useful AND beautiful!

perfect partners

Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Moisture Hand Cream, £1.99

Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Body Lotion with Vitamin E, £2.99

Johnson & Johnson 24 Hour Moisture Radiance Body Lotion with Shea & Cocoa Butters, £2.99

Liz Earle Foot Scrub

RRP: £10.25/100ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Our new Foot Scrub gently yet intensively exfoliates hard, rough skin on your feet to leave them ultra-smooth and buffed to perfection. This hard-working scrub contains natural pumice to remove dead skin cells, softening avocado oil and wheatgerm oil rich in vitamin E plus the invigorating aromas of peppermint and rosemary essential oils."

--The packaging--

More practical than the frankly bizarre pump-action foot cream in the range, this squeezy plastic bottle sits comfortably on its lid and is easy to grip in the shower.

--Application--

Liz Earle recommend daily use on damp skin, concentrating on the balls of the feet, the heels, and between the toes.

--Appearance--

A light blue-grey colour that seems entirely natural to the product, scrubs white onto skin, and leaves nothing visible in its wake after rinsing.

--Scent--

Fits in well with the rest of the range to eliminate odour without being too clinical; the peppermint and rosemary smells are most prominent.

--Texture/consistency--

Simultaneously creamy and scrubby; provides the perfect combination in order to tackle tough skin while still pampering your feet luxuriously. Non-irritating.

--Effects on the skin--

Following the directions of daily use on damp skin showed great improvement, especially in conjunction with the companion moisturiser.

--Value for money--

£10.25 seems expensive at face value, but this stuff is packed full of natural and effective ingredients, basically fulfilling my requirement of what makes the perfect beauty product: something that is a luxurious treatment while being effective. In addition, other products in this category seem to offer much less for prices that are far more jaw-dropping: Benefit, Bliss and Jo Wood's body scrubs will all send your wallet running for the hills. Liz Earle's prices therefore seem to sit nicely between cheaper high street products that are of lesser quality, more expensive high street products that also fail to emulate it, and higher-end brands such as Biotherm, Clarins and Clinique that offer an experience similar in quality but much higher in price. And best of all? It comes in travel size as well from just £4.50. Don't hesitate to invest in this for your feet: your toes will soon thank you for it.

perfect partners

Foot Moisturiser, from £4.50

Foot Spritzer, from £4.50

Cotton Rich Socks, £4.50

Cosmetics & Beauty News September 2010

Protect your skin - all year round

A study conducted recently by the University College Hospital, Besancon, in conjunction with Boots' No7, finds that not only can skin damage occur when skin is exposed unprotected to sun through glass (such as through conservatory windows and car windows) and that 83% of women are unaware that they should be protecting their skin with an SPF product all year round - not just when on their usual annual summer holiday. Boots helps to combat this with their release of the first 5-star rated UVA daily moisturiser in the UK - No7 Protect and Perfect Intense Day Cream - which helps to protect skin from the sun as well as repair already existing signs of ageing.

And for sensitive skin too...

...there's Allergy UK-approved extreme tolerance skincare range, NATorigin. Approved also by the Vegetarian Society, packaging is fully recyclable, and the products themselves contain a minimum of 97% naturally-sourced ingredients - and the range, available from www.natorigin.co.uk, has also been nominated in three categories in the 2010 Pure Beauty Awards to prove it. With prices starting at £6.75, the range contains red seaweed and raspberry seed oil to nourish, hydrate and purify. Sounds good to me.

Think pink with Estée Lauder  

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness, Estée Lauder is launching its Pink Ribbon Collection this October, comprising two snazzy new makeup sets complete with pink mock crocodile clutch bags. The Elizabeth Hurley Lip Collection gives you two double-ended lipgloss wands for a total of four gloss shades (Nude Rose, Rock Candy, Brazen Berry and Extravagant Pink) for £25, while the Evelyn Lauder Lip Collection offers three shades of Pure Colour Lipstick - Tiramisu, Candy, and Rubellite - for £25. To complete your look, there's the Estée Lauder Jewelled Pink Ribbon Pin, whose £10 retail price goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in its entirety. As for the makeup sets, £7.50 from each purchase also goes directly to the charity. Who could ask for more? Look good and support a charity at the same time.

Get Bobbi Brown in your stocking this Christmas

Bobbi Brown's new teen beauty book and palette are sure to feature on many a girl's wish list this December. In Beauty Rules, out now, Bobbi gives tips on everything to build beauty inside and out, including exercise, being a great friend, and of course plenty about makeup. The accompanying new website, www.BeautyRules.com, gives just a taster of what you can expect - and could even benefit us 20-somethings who are still teens inside.

And the winner is...

Thanks to our good friends at Purity Organic Skincare, I have been able to give away five full sets of the range this month. The five winners are:

Rachel Barnes, Maidenhead

Jessica Collier, Brighton

Sarah Long, Woking

Mary Richardson, Hull

Sabrina Stadler, Glasgow

Enjoy your products - they should be with you soon :)  Happy October, everyone!

No7 Stay Perfect Trio Eyeshadow

RRP: £9.75

 # of shades available: 12

--What does the promo say?--

"No7 Stay Perfect Trio Eyeshadow conains a selection of high impact colours that blend effortlessly and last for hours."

--Packaging--

Fairly standard ovular black plastic with a little window to look through. No mirror, but a brush is included (even if the curve of it sometimes makes it more difficult, not easier, to manipulate the shadow). All in all, nothing to write home about.

--Application--

The Boots website recommends applying the lightest colour all over the eyelid, up to the brow bone, followed by the medium shade just up to the crease of the eyelid. The darkest colour can be used to follow the line of the eyelashes before blending in. Basically, it's not rocket science.

--Appearance--

The shade I was kindly sent by No7 is only identified as 'matte', but looking at the website's current selections, it is closest to Good Earth, with a creamy base colour, a pale brown middling colour, and a slate grey liner shade. It's quite a nice combination on the eye, but not as versatile as other trios I've tried (Revlon, I'm looking at you), and as you will see below, it's quite an effort to get anything to show up at all.

--Texture/consistency--

Strangely, this trio of shadows is nowhere near as easy to manipulate as the new mono shadows that No7 also sent me from their autumn collection. As quite a few reviewers on the Boots website point out (you have to scroll through quite a few pages to get to the lower-rated reviews: cunning tactic there!), you have to scrub at the eyeshadow for ages with the brush in order to pick up any and when you do apply it the paler colours in particular are very faint. Applying eyeshadow just shouldn't take this much effort and persistence. However, the darkest colour in the trio is better.

--Longevity--

Can't complain - but when the shadow barely shows up on the eye to begin with...

--Value for money--

No7 seem to be trying in their makeup to compete with other similar brands, such as Revlon, and while in the past I was often pleased with their products (the Sheer Temptation lipstick/gloss hybrid is a godsend!), in more recent times I have been less pleased with the overinflated prices which do not deliver on the quality so often. My advice? If you must buy a No7 eyeshadow, perhaps go for one of their mono shadows (of which my more positive review will soon follow), but if it's multiple colours you want, the up-and-coming Prestige and Front Cover both offer far better value, as does the more mainstream L'Oréal.

perfect partner

No7 Intense Volume Mascara, £11

Schwarzkopf Gliss Shea Cashmere Shampoo and Conditioner

RRP: £1.59/bottle
Retails at: Sainsbury's, Superdrug, Savers, Bodycare

--What does the promo say?--
"Hair Repair - Repairs Inside the Hair Cell

Dry or Lifeless Hair

Easy Combing & Cashmere Smooth Hair

Suitable for Daily Use

The nourishing formula with Shea Butter and Cashmere Protein provides the hair with intensive care and tangibly more suppleness."

--Packaging--

Like many other brands of its type, it reaches its target audience of women aged 20-30 with soft pastel colours, although the purple is a bit more zingy and adds a nice touch. The unusual combination of shea and cashmere immediately conjures images of softness and luxury, and high technology is also evoked in the illustrations on the bottle. With the shampoo bottle standing on its flip-top lid and the conditioner bottle having its lid at the top of the bottle, the slightly opposing yet harmonious design works well too.

--Application--

Massage the shampoo into wet hair as normal before rinsing out, and then add the conditioner, smoothing it down the full length of the hair, or just on the ends if this is where you have most difficulty with dryness, and then rinse out completely after a few minutes.

--Appearance--

The shampoo is a lovely pearlescent slightly beige/off-white coloured product, which continues to create the image of something truly luxurious in the shower. The conditioner is slightly yellower and more matte than pearlescent.

--Scent--

The shea butter is expectedly prominent; you are definitely given what you are promised. Always nice to have a slightly chocolatey start to the morning!

--Texture/consistency--

No problems here: it wasn't too sticky, too thick, too runny, or too anything. The  conditioner is creamier and less runny than the shampoo; both products are very manageable and easy to control and rinse out.

--Effects on the hair--

Truthfully, Schwarzkopf's claims on this shampoo and conditioner are very modest, so you cannot claim that they do not deliver. The main claims are "increased suppleness" and "cell repair", with the former being very subjective and the latter being presumably only something that could be tested by a scientist. However, I did thankfully experience increased softness in my hair, which I assume to be down to the various proven conditioning ingredients within, such as glyceryl cocoate (derived from coconut) and wheat protein, as well as the cashmere protein and shea butter mentioned in the brand's promotional materials. I was therefore fairly pleased with the products, in spite of the fact that they didn't quite deliver the high-shine result I was after (but hey - you can't have everything).

--Value for money--

Being a hair colour company primarily, I had always (perhaps stupidly) presumed that Schwarzkopf's products were expensive (since hair dye usually is) and was very pleasantly surprised to find this retailing at such an affordable price. It easily competes with others in its price bracket, such as Aussie and Trésemmé, as well as with others of a higher price range, such as John Frieda. Would buy again - they just need to bring out a hair mask now!

Purity Organic Skincare Giveaway

Our kind friends at Purity Organic Skincare are giving you the chance to win one of five full sets of the range.

For your chance to win, email soprano[UNDERSCORE]seraph[AT]hotmail[DOT]com with your name and postal address before the end of September (closing date = Sept 30 2010, 23:59:59 UK time). Winners will be selected at random and announced on Bianca's Beauty Blog on October 1st.

Good luck :D

Johnson & Johnson Daily Essentials Rehydrating Night Cream

RRP: £3.99

--What does the promo say?--

"Johnson's Rehydrating Night Cream, enriched with Skin Essentials,replenishes essential moisture lost during the day whilst caring for normal skin with:

• Skin loving minerals known to restore skin vitality

• Glycerine known to help support your skin’s hydration overnight

Results: Awaken to beautifully soft,refreshed skin.

Dermatologically tested, suitable for sensitive skin."

--Packaging--
I know it's not tremendously practical to have a glass jar, but it is so nice and luxurious (and better for the environment too). Again, the pink and white may be a bit off-putting to some. The jar is a nice size, too: not too big. 


--Application--
Smooth a small amount over face and neck every night after cleansing and toning. 


--Appearance--
A thick, white, luxurious cream.


--Scent--
Again, that rose-tinted scent that plagues this range and is its main disadvantage.


--Texture/consistency--
Despite its thickness, blends in really easily and doesn't make your skin feel bogged down or oily.


--Effects on the skin--
In conjunction with the cleanser, this did seem to improve my skin a little and added some luxury to my routine. However, it is not suitable to double up as a day cream, as skin seems to become more oily more quickly this way, so if you are going to purchase this range, make sure you get the day cream too.


--Value for money--
Offers better results than a lot of more expensive brands, and provides a recession-proof, quality alternative to skincare at a lower price.

perfect partners
Daily Essentials 24h Day Cream for Normal Skin (SPF15), £3.99
Daily Essentials Refreshing Gel Wash for Normal Skin, £2.99
Daily Essentials Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes for Normal Skin, £2.99/25 

Johnson & Johnson Daily Essentials Refreshing Gel Wash

RRP: £2.99

--What does the promo say?--
"Johnson's Refreshing Gel Wash, enriched with Skin Essentials, gently lifts away impurities whilst caring for normal skin with:

• Skin loving minerals known to restore freshness
• Vitamin C derivative known for its antioxidant properties
Results: Skin is cleansed, feels soft and refreshed.
Dermatologically tested, suitable for sensitive skin."

--Packaging--
The image of the feather is nice, although all that pink may put some off. The plastic bottle is a good chunky size without being overbearing and the flip-top lid is practical and sturdy.

--Application--
Wet hands, lather up a small amount of gel wash, rub onto face, and then wipe off with a damp flannel. Simples.

--Appearance--
A clear gel with tiny pink exfoliating beads suspended in it. Leaves no visible residue after use.

--Scent--
The thick rosy scent of the product pervades the entire range and I really feel that Johnson & Johnson have really left behind their modern female market with this. Women today tend to expect something more botanical, clinical without being chemical, or even something with no scent at all, rather than something so cloying, powdery and frankly old-fashioned.

--Texture/consistency--
The exfoliating beads are pleasantly scrubby but not especially heavy-duty and the gel is refreshing as promised. No problems here.

--Effects on the skin--
After using this (in conjunction with one of the range's moisturisers) I felt like I'd had a good luxurious facial done, which was an impressive start. Equally, despite using a product for normal skin even though I have very oily skin indeed, I didn't note too many negatives: while it didn't give me the perfect skin I dream of, and didn't seem to speed up the elimination of any existing blemishes, it did seem to significantly reduce the number of new blemishes that appeared. Skin was calmed and less red, too, although not as much as when I was using the Origins product that I was sent to test recently. This is probably down to the minerals that the product contains, such as zinc, which is known to help healing.

--Value for money--
Since you can hardly argue with £2.99, or with the positive effects that I did experience, I'd definitely be interested in trying the brand's range for oily skin. However, since the product does contain various alleged nasties such as SLS, you would possibly want to aim a bit higher with your budget in order to avoid these.