July Beauty Awards

Hi there! The month of July is pretty much over, so it’s time for my monthly favourites post. As always, I’ve chosen my top 3 from all the products I reviewed this month, and I’ve thrown in a few honourable mentions. But let’s start with the top 3! 🙂

3rd place – Ekél Natural Clean Peeling Gel With Apple

So far I’ve tried 2 of Ekél’s peeling gels. I like the grape peeling gel a little more, but that doesn’t change the fact that the apple peeling gel is an excellent product that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

Runner-Up – Thierry Mugler Alien Flora Futura

Alien Flora Futura is a magical fragrance. I’m sad it’s a limited edition, but I hope they’re going to bring it back at some point because the fragrance is just too beautiful to be a limited edition.

WINNER – Nature Love Hydrating & Soothing Hyaluronic Face Mask

Nature Love’s Hyaluronic Face Mask is the best sheet mask I’ve ever used. No other mask has made my skin feel anywhere near as hydrated as this one. 11 stars!

Onto the honourable mentions! I love Montagne Jeunesse‘s 7th Heaven Red Hot Earth Sauna Masque. I also love NSPA‘s Lemon Shower & Bath Gel and Yves Rocher‘s Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel.

Have you tried any of these products? Or would you like to any of these products? Which products did you love this month? Feel free to comment. And thanks for reading!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Boots Ingredients Sheet Masks – Which One Is Best?

Hi there! Today’s post is about ALL the sheet masks Boots offers under its “Ingredients” brand. Since I’ve tried all the masks, here’s what I think. 🙂

Boots Ingredients Super Hyaluronic Sheet Face Mask

Let’s start with my least favourite Ingredients mask! I was expecting Boots’ Super Hyaluronic to provide proper hydration. However, the mask left me disappointed because it didn’t hydrate my skin at all. I wouldn’t say it was dehydrating, but it wasn’t really that far off. I gave this mask a second chance, but I had the same experience. I wouldn’t recommend this mask, and I wouldn’t buy it again.

Boots Ingredients Lotus Flower & Tiger Lily Sheet Face Mask

This is another Ingredients mask that I wouldn’t recommend or buy it again. Whilst this mask didn’t dehydrate my skin, it just didn’t do anything. It didn’t brighten my skin, it didn’t make my skin look more radiant, it didn’t make my skin look or feel different at all. If I hadn’t used this mask, I wouldn’t have missed it.

Boots Ingredients Rooibos Sheet Face Mask

Now we’re moving on to the better Ingredients face masks! I really enjoyed the Rooibos mask because it made my skin look and feel energised and refreshed. This is a great face mask! Well done, Boots!

Boots Ingredients Safflower & Peony Sheet Face Mask

This is another great Ingredients mask. I’d rate it slighter higher than the Rooibos mask because this one delivered on its younger looking skin promise! Thank you, Boots!

Boots Ingredients Charcoal & Willow Bark Sheet Face Mask

And here’s my favourite! This mask has impressive skin cleansing and purifying powers. My skin looked and felt clearer and cleaner, my pores appeared smaller, my skin tone appeared to be more even, and my skin felt calmer overall. This mask is one of the best masks I’ve ever tried, and I would recommend it to everyone with (or without) problem skin.

Have you tried any of the Ingredients masks? Or would you like to try them? Feel free to comment. And thanks for stopping by!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Weekly Recap 23 – 29 July 2018

Hi there! It’s Sunday, so it’s time for my weekly blog recap. Read on to find out what I’ve been up to on my blog this week. 🙂

Monday 23 Jul – Daily Defense Argan Oil Body Wash & Pomegranate Body Wash

On Monday I reviewed 2 Daily Defense body washes. Click here to read the post.

Tuesday 24 Jul – Thierry Mugler Alien Flora Futura

Tuesday’s post was about Thierry Mugler’s Alien Flora Futura fragrance. Click here to read the post.

Wednesday 25 Jul – Nail Of The Day
Thursday 26 Jul – Kina Cosmetics Pure Volcanic Facial Sheet Mask

On Wednesday I showed you a mani. Click here to read the post.
And on Thursday I reviewed a face mask. Click here to read the post.

Friday 27 Jul – Derma V10 Mango Body Butter

Friday’s post was about a mango-scented body butter. Click here to read the post.

This is it for this week. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Derma V10 Mango Body Butter

Hi there! Today’s post is about Derma V10‘s Mango Body Butter. Derma V10 is a brand that you can find at stores like Poundland, Home Bargains, etc. They do skin care products for the face and body, as well as hair colourants. I hadn’t tried any of their products until I picked up their mango body butter, so here’s what I think…

I’ve been using this body butter for a few days now, and I think it’s alright. It hydrates my skin reasonably well, and it doesn’t feel too sticky. It’s not the most suitable moisturiser for the hottest summer days, but most body butters are like this. I do like the mango fragrance because it’s very natural. The Body Shop should take note!

All in all, Derma V10‘s Mango Body Butter is a decent body butter. It’s not best one out there, but if you consider that the 220ml tub is £1 only, there’s no reason to complain at all. If you’re on a budget, you should definitely give this one a try!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Kina Cosmetics Pure Volcanic Facial Sheet Mask

Hi there! Today’s post is about Kina Cosmetics‘ Pure Volcanic Facial Sheet Mask. This face mask promises to detoxify skin, to make pores appear smaller, to control sebum and to hydrate skin. On the back of the sachet it states that volcanic ash helps draw out impurities, and that the product contains nourishing botanical extracts.

You’re supposed to apply the mask to a thoroughly cleansed face, and you should leave it on for 20 – 30 minutes. Then you’re supposed to tap in the excess product into the skin until it’s been absorbed. Is the product any good? Read on to find out…

I’ve been using 3 of these masks, and I think they don’t do anything other than hydrating the skin. As someone who has chronic dry and moody skin as well as eczema, I shouldn’t complain about hydrating face care products. However, I’m not happy that this product doesn’t live up to its skin purifying promise.

In addition, I need to mention is that this mask is insanely sticky. So it’s best to use it on a stay-at-home day. Oh, and there’s one more thing… volcanic ash is the next to last ingredient that’s listed on the back of the pack. The last ingredient is fragrance!

I think this mask is probably alright if you’re only getting into sheet masks. However, there are many better masks out there. Kina Cosmetics‘ Pure Volcanic Facial Sheet Mask is available as a pack of 10 masks for £7.99 (TK Maxx).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Nail Of The Day – Fearne Lola Lavender & Stamping With Pueen 106

Hi there! I’ve got a Nail Of The Day post for you today.

For this mani I painted my nails with Fearne Lola Lavender (2 easy coats). I love this nail polish. Great formula, dries quickly, wonderful colour.

I decided to stamp, and I used one of my newest stamping plates, Pueen‘s 106 plate (which is part of Pueen‘s Make Your Day stamping collection).

The two polishes I stamped with are Revlon Colorstay 270 Stiletto (black) and Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure 819 Coat Of Arms (gold).

I really loved this mani. The gold and black stamping colours look really nice with the lavender base.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Thierry Mugler Alien Flora Futura

Hi there! Today’s post is about Thierry Mugler‘s Alien Flora Futura fragrance. I picked up the 30ml eau de toilette for £25 (clearance, House Of Fraser).

It appears that no two websites have the same information about this fragrance. Mugler Europe and Mugler USA list different notes, and a number of other sources lack credibility. However, some notes are listed considerably more often than others, and these notes are night-blooming cactus flower, white amber and sandalwood.

Alright, what’s the fragrance like? It’s… wow! It smells fresh, sweet, floral, pink and yellow, transparent, youthful and full of energy. It smells like magic, sunlight and happiness!

Thierry Mugler‘s Alien Flora Futura Eau De Toilette is available as 30ml for £42 and 60ml for £52. There aren’t too many online stores that still have the fragrance in stock. It appears that many online retailers were able to sell the fragrance at full price. However, I’m glad I swung by House Of Fraser the other day because I bagged myself a bargain! If you’d like to try this fragrance and there’s a department store near you… you know what to do! 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Daily Defense Body Wash – Moisturizing Argan Oil & Moisturizing Pomegranate

Hi there! Today’s post is about 2 Daily Defense shower products – Daily Defense Argan Oil Body Wash and Daily Defense Pomegranate Body Wash. These 2 products were made in Canada, and they’re cruelty-free!

Alright, let’s start with Daily Defense Argan Oil Body Wash! I’ve been using this shower gel on and off since November. And I like it a lot! This shower gel feels gentle and hydrating (!), and it smells warm and creamy. Very nice! My husband tried this shower gel as well – and he agrees. 🙂

Daily Defense Pomegranate Body Wash is nice too. It feels just as gentle as the argan oil shower gel. I’d describe the fragrance as a pink fruity mixture. It’s not the most exciting fragrance for a shower gel, but it’s nice enough.

Daily Defense Argan Oil Body Wash and Daily Defense Pomegranate Body Wash are available as 473ml and 946ml. I paid 99p for the big Argan Oil Body Wash and £1.79 for the big Pomegranate Body Wash.

If you’d like to try Daily Defense products, you should swing by your local Home Bargains and Pounstretcher stores! 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Weekly Recap 16 – 22 July 2018

Hi there! Happy Sunday! Another week is pretty much over, so it’s time for my weekly blog recap. Read on if you’d like to know what I’ve been up to this week. 🙂

Monday 16 Jul – Ekél Natural Clean Peeling Gel With Apple

On Monday I reviewed one of Ekél’s peeling gels. Click here to read the post.

Tuesday 17 Jul – Card Making / Embellishing Cards For Beginners

On Tuesday I told you that I got into embellishing cards. Click here to read the post.

Wednesday 18 Jul – Haul!

Wednesday’s post was about all the stuff I bought since late May. Click here to read the post.

Thursday 19 Jul – Nail Of The Day
Friday 20 Jul – Yves Rocher Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel

Thursday’s post was about a mani I did not too long ago. Click here to read the post.
And on Friday I reviewed an exfoliating shower gel. Click here to read the post.

This is it for this week. Thanks for reading. Take care! 🙂

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Yves Rocher Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel

Hi there! Today’s post is about Yves Rocher’s Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel. This product contains fruit seeds and ground apricot stones. These exfoliants are 100% natural. And the raspberry extract is organic!

I’ve been using this product twice a week for a few weeks now, and I like it!

The raspberry fragrance is sweet and natural. And the exfoliants do a great job. Thanks to the shower gel formula, this product doesn’t just exfoliate, it also cleanses the skin properly. This product mops the floor with those hard to spread and sticky sugar scrubs!

Yves Rocher’s Organic Raspberry Exfoliating Shower Gel has been discontinued. Whilst Yves Rocher continues to make exfoliating shower gels, the raspberry fragrance has been replaced with a raspberry & peppermint fragrance.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde