September Beauty Awards

Hi there! And welcome to Mrs Strawberry Blonde’s September Beauty Awards – a.k.a. my monthly favourites which I selected from all the products I’ve written about this month. As always, I’ve also thrown in a few honourable mentions. 🙂 Now, let’s get to the actual favourites!

3rd place – Superdrug Naturally Radiant Renewing Night Cream

This night cream is amazing and I will definitely repurchase it. It makes my skin look fresher, it’s very moisturising and it smells great too. If you’re in the UK, you need to swing by Superdrug and buy this cream.

Runner-Up – Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel

If you want to brighten your skin with the help of glycolic acid and fruit acids, this is the product to try. This glycolic peel feels great on my skin and it makes my skin look considerably more refreshed. I didn’t notice and tingling, burning or redness – just amazing skin. If you buy the night cream, buy the glycolic peel too!

WINNER – Astor Lipliner Pencil 014 Bronze

This is my favourite lipliner. Ever. I usually wear it on its own – yes, instead of a lipstick – because I love the colour and the finish. This lipliner is fantastic and I’m glad I have more than one. 🙂

Now on to the honourable mentions! I really liked Garnier’s Ultimate Blends The Shine Revitaliser Shampoo & Conditioner with lemon and green tea. Garnier’s hair products usually don’t impress me, so these two were a nice surprise. Another hair duo I liked was Harmony Hair Indulgence Herbal Shampoo & Conditioner with ginseng extract.

I also love Yves Rocher’s Apple Star Anise Refreshing Fragrance Mist – which I’ve been using a lot this summer. And I just found my new favourite peel-off face mask – the delicious Montagne Jeunesse Pineapple Peel Off Mask.

What are your favourite products this month? Have you used any of the products that I used? Feel free to get in touch. And thanks for reading!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Awesome – Astor Lipliner Pencil 014 Bronze A.K.A. The Perfect Matte Nude Lippie For 50p

Hi there! Today’s post is about my favourite lipliner, Astor Lipliner Pencil 014 Bronze. I found this fantastic lipliner at Poundworld – where it was part of a duo pack (yes, that’s 2 products for £1). And in fact, I own at least 10 of these lipliners. Why? Well, each duo pack contained 1 lipliner and 1 nail polish. I know I don’t have to say any more, but I’ll do it anyway… of course they had lots of different nail colours, and (unsurprisingly) I had to have all these nail colours. So I ended up with lots of lipliners!

Now why is this lipliner so amazing? Ha, that’s easy! Look at it! The colour is the most amazing nude bronze with the most amazing velvet matt finish I’ve ever seen. I love it! And because of this I usually use this lipliner on its own. Yes, I use it instead of a lipstick. And all I need is a bit of lip balm as a base, and then I can start filling in my lips with this lipliner.

Sure, filling in my lips with lipliner takes a little longer than applying lipstick. But once my lips are filled in, I don’t need to blot, I don’t need to layer, I don’t need to do anything else at all! So I think applying lipliner doesn’t take much longer than applying lipstick. In addition, this lipliner usually lasts all day on me. On the rare occasion that it doesn’t, I can give my lips a quick and easy touch-up. 🙂

I would definitely recommend you buy at least one Astor lipliner and nail polish duo pack the next time you’re at your local discount store. But before you switch to your new lipliner-only-routine, make sure you use lip balm to keep your lips soft at all times. If your lips are dry, the lipliner will settle in the lines which, obviously, isn’t a good look. But if you’re a lip balm addict (I am!), you’ll be fine. 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Superdrug Clearly Youthful Blemish Treatment Gel

Hi there! This summer I’ve tried lots of new products that promise clearer skin. I bought every product in Superdrug’s Clearly Youthful range, and I’ve already reviewed 3 of those 7 products. So let’s look at product number 4, Superdrug’s Clearly Youthful Blemish Treatment Gel.

How does it work? You’re supposed to apply a thin layer of this gel to your spot(s) twice a day. And what does this blemish gel do? It promises to soothe skin instantly, to reduce redness within 4 hours, to clear up skin within one week and to prevent further outbreaks with continued use. Does it work? If you read on, I’ll let you know.

The first thing I noticed about this blemish gel is its strong smell. It’s chemical and unpleasant. It stinks. When I applied the gel to a spot for the first time, it started to sting and burn. I admit that the spot may have been too angry already, but let’s be honest, aren’t the angry spots the ones we want to take care of the most?

I’ve applied this blemish gel to several spots over several weeks and I don’t think that it helped with the redness or that it soothed my skin. It also didn’t speed up the spot-clearing process. If anything, I think that the spots I ‘treated’ with this gel took longer to clear up and that the pinkish post-spot marks took longer to fade. I think that’s because this blemish gel aggravated my spots as soon as it came in contact with them.

I won’t be using this blemish gel again. In fact, I’ve already binned it. Based on my experience I wouldn’t recommend this product. I’ve read a few positive reviews about it, so it clearly works for some people. However, I’ll stick to my nappy rash cream to treat the occasional spot.

Superdrug’s Clearly Youthful Blemish Treatment Gel is available as 15ml for £3.49. I bought it for half price when it was on special. This blemish gel is suitable for vegans and it’s 100% cruelty-free – it’s BUAV-approved and it carries the Leaping Bunny logo.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

31 Days Nail Art Challenge – But Not In 31 Days!

Hi there! I don’t know how many nail bloggers read my blog. But I’m sure there are a few. And I’m sure everyone who has more than a passing interest in nail polish has heard of nail (art) challenges. I’ve wanted to take part in those nail challenges for years, but redoing my nails and thinking up manis (from day 11 it becomes more difficult) on a daily basis is something that has always put me off.

But you know what? I can still do a 31 days nail challenge. I just won’t do it in 31 days – I’ll allow myself a few months to do it. You could say it’s my lifetime nail challenge! 🙂 I also won’t stick to the given order, but I’ll decide what I want to do with my nails when I want to do a new mani. I hope I won’t have to skip any of the day challenges, but I might have to. In any event, I intend to do them all.

Now what’s the challenge? I know there are variations to the ‘original’ challenge, but since it was the original challenge that got me interested, that’s the one I’m going to do! 🙂 Unfortunately I don’t know who came up with the original nail (art) challenge, so I can’t credit anyone, but if you google the matter, you’ll find hundreds (maybe thousands) of bloggers who’ve done it.

OK, here it is:

1 Red Nails
2 Orange Nails
3 Yellow Nails
4 Green Nails
5 Blue Nails
6 Violet Nails
7 Black & White Nails
8 Metallic Nails
9 Rainbow Nails
10 Gradient Nails

11 Polka Dots
12 Stripes
13 Animal Print
14 Flowers
15 Delicate Print
16 Tribal Print
17 Glitter
18 Half Moons My Husband’s Polish Picks (base colour + top coat)
19 Galaxies
20 Water Marble

21 Inspired By A Color
22 Inspired By A Song
23 Inspired By A Movie
24 Inspired By A Book
25 Inspired By Fashion
26 Inspired By A Pattern
27 Inspired By Artwork
28 Inspired By A Flag
29 Inspired By The Supernatural
30 Inspired By A Tutorial

Encore:
31 Recreate A Favourite I – 5 Blue Nails
31 Recreate A Favourite II – 17 Glitter
31 Recreate A Favourite III – 19 Galaxies

I’m not entirely sure when I’m going to start with this challenge. I already have my next nail post sorted, but I think I’ll probably start within two weeks from now. And I’ll also try my best to work a few Halloween-themed manis into the challenge.

If you’re wondering about the photos in this post, they’re not part of the challenge, they’re just photos of manis I did previously. They’re here because I wanted to give you something to look at in between all those words. 🙂 Oh, and I won’t recycle these photos for the challenge. I guess this would be cheating, so I won’t do it. So instead you’ll get to see new manis!

Anyone else who’d like to do the 31 Days Nail Art Challenge as a one-off lifetime nail challenge? If so, please let me know. And as always, thanks for stopping by!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Garnier Ultimate Blends The Shine Revitaliser Shampoo & Conditioner

Hi there! It’s been a while since I’ve touched Garnier hair products. That’s because Garnier’s The Marvellous Transformer (which I wouldn’t touch again if you paid me) and The Silky Smoother (which smells great – but that’s all it does) disappointed me big time.

But when I saw Garnier Ultimate Blends The Shine Revitaliser Shampoo & Conditioner for £1 each at a bargain store, I thought I’d give Garnier another chance. If you read on, I’ll tell you what the shampoo and the conditioner are like.

The shampoo is very nice. It feels clarifying, but it’s not harsh. It actually feels great on my head! The conditioner is surprisingly good too. I didn’t expect much, but it actually detangles my curls nicely. And this 200ml conditioner is already lasting me for longer than the 400ml Garnier conditioners I’ve previouly had. Well done, Garnier. Seriously, well done!

In regards to the fragrance, I think Garnier got it slightly wrong (again). I would have expected (and preferred) a fresher and cleaner fragrance (more lemon, please). Saying this, the faint green tea and lemon fragrance isn’t unpleasant at all. I just think that a fresh, cool and maybe even tangy lemon fragrance would have suited the theme and the colour of the products much better.

All in all, I would recommend these two products! Like I said, I was pleasantly surprised! Garnier Ultimate Blends The Shine Revitaliser Shampoo & Conditioner are available as 400 ml for about £4 each or 250ml (shampoo) and 200ml (conditioner) for about £2 each. But obviously the smaller bottles have hit the bargain stores, so you might as well do what I did and pick up your shampoo and conditioner for £1 each!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

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Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Cruelty-Free – Montagne Jeunesse Pineapple Peel Off Mask

Hi there! Let me tell you about my new favourite peel-off face mask, Montagne Jeunesse Pineapple Peel-Off.

This face mask works like all the other peel-off face masks out there – you apply it, you let it dry, and then you peel it off.

I think this mask leaves my skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed – which is what I expected.

However, I didn’t expect to fall in love with the fragrance. This mask smells absolutely delicious!

So if you love the aroma of pineapples, you need to try this mask. If you’re looking for a new peel-off mask, you need to try this one. If you’ve never had a peel-off mask, you should try it!

Another thing that’s great is that this mask is suitable for vegetarians, and that it’s BUAV-approved – it carries the Leaping Bunny logo which means this product is cruelty-free! So there’s no reason not to try this amazing face mask. 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Nail Of The Day – NYC In A Minute 001 Evil & Foils

Hi there! I haven’t done a foil mani in ages – and I don’t even know why. So, finally, I did another one!

At first I painted my nails with NYC In A Minute 001 Evil. Not too long ago, when I couldn’t find my black Revlon Colorstay polish, I used this polish for stamping. However, 001 Evil is better for actual nail painting than for stamping.

Since I have many leftover foils in different colours, choosing the right colours wasn’t easy. I started with a gold foil which made the mani look christmassey right away. So to avoid an unseasonably christmassey finish, I used blue and fuchsia foils too.

I’m happy with how the mani turned out. And I got several compliments which made me realise I need to do foil manis more often. I might do another one in a few days. Feel free to let me know what you think. And thank for reading! 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Palmolive Thermal Spa Shower Mineral Massage, Ocean Vitality

Hi there! Today’s post is about two Palmolive shower gels I picked up at my local Family Bargains store (R.I.P. Family Bargains) before it closed (and reopened as a Poundland store). Now meet Palmolive Thermal Spa Mineral Massage with Dead Sea Salt and Aloe Vera, and Palmolive Thermal Spa Ocean Vitality with Blue Algae and Marine Minerals.

Palmolive Thermal Spa Mineral Massage with Dead Sea Salt and Aloe Vera is a gentle, yet effective, exfoliating shower gel that’s perfect for every day. I love the salty marine fragrance which goes well with the colour and the spa & sea salt theme. Very nice, refreshing, and definitely suitable for men as well! I think this shower gel has been repackaged and it’s now called “Feel The Massage“.

Palmolive Thermal Spa Ocean Vitality with Blue Algae and Marine Minerals is another lovely shower gel. Its fragrance falls into the ‘marine’ category as well. However, this one isn’t salty at all. It’s mild and it has a relaxing feel to it – the ocean theme really fits! Another good thing about this shower gel is that it’s not drying at all.

I really like these two shower gels. Mineral Massage wakes me up in the morning, while Ocean Vitality calms me down at night. Yes, I would definitely recommend these two shower gels. So if you come across them, buy them! These shower gels are 250ml, and I paid 99p each.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

100% Vegan & Cruelty-Free – Superdrug Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel

Hi there! Over the past few months I’ve been using several product from Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant product line. The face mask is the best thing since sliced bread, and I love the night cream and the micro polish scrub.

Now, today’s post is about Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel. Like all other products in the Naturally Radiant range this peel contains kiwi fruit and mulberry extratcs, and glycolic acid and fruit acids which are said to retexture and refine skin, and to even out and brighten skin tone. Now let me tell you how this product works.

What you’re supposed to do is… apply a pea-sized amount of product to your cleansed face before you go to bed. And just wash it off in the morning. That’s it.

What’s good about the peel? First of all, the gel formula is very nice and easy to work with. The gel feels great on my skin. It’s not drying at all (it’s a tad sticky though) and it makes my skin feel refreshed. This glycolic peel doesn’t really peel (you won’t see any old skin flaking off), but I can see and feel the difference. I never thought I’d say this but – thanks to this product – my face looks almost refreshed in the morning.

I really love this peel – and I’ve already bought a back-up. I would recommend it to everyone – even to those with sensitive skin – because this glycolic peel does the job without being harsh. The only thing I need to mention as a bit of a negative is that there’s no indication of how often this peel is supposed to be used. It’s not stated anywhere on the product or Superdrug’s web site. So you might want to use it daily, weekly or anything in between. I use the peel 2 to 3 times per week, most of the time under the Naturally Radiant night cream, and this works well for me.

Superdrug’s Naturally Radiant Glycolic Overnight Peel is available as 30ml for £5.99. I bought mine for £2.95 (half price deal). The last time I checked (last week) there was a BOGOF offer, so don’t forget to check for promotional deals before you buy.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde