The Battle Of The Purples Part II – Asda Sleep & Relax Bath Soak VS Sainsbury’s The Collection Sleep Relax Bath Soak

Hi there! Today’s post is a product comparison, and it’s about Asda Sleep & Relax Bath Soak and Sainsburys The Collection Sleep Relax Bath Soak. They look and sound pretty much the same – but they’re not!

Let’s start with Asda Sleep & Relax Bath Soak! This one was quite a surprise. I bought it as a refill for the hand soap dispenser in the kitchen when hand soap was sold out at the local shops. But this bath soak is too good to be used as a hand soap because it smells way too good! It’s almost an exact copy of Palmolive’s amazing Aroma Moments So Relaxed bath foam, although the fragrance of the Asda bath soak isn’t as rich or as longlasting as the Palmolive one. However, this bath soak really makes me feel relaxed and sleepy. And priced at 75p for a 500ml bottle, this is a total steal! 🤑

Onto Sainsbury’s The Collection Sleep Relax Bath Soak! From the bottle, this bath soak smells rather sharp and cold (in comparison to Asda’s bath soak). So my immediate reaction was that it could hardly become a favourite. I thought this one might become the next kitchen hand wash refill, but I still wanted to give it a try. And I’m glad I did! Once dissolved in water, this bath soak is actually even nicer than Asda’s. The scent is richer and even more purple! Awesome stuff! This bath soak is available as 500ml for 90p which is super cheap!

Based on my experience, I would recommend both bath soaks! I have a slight preference for Sainsbury’s bath soak. But I will repurchase both of them!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

The Battle Of The Brightening Pearl Sheet Masks – Mad Beauty Disney Mulan Brightening Pearl Face Mask, Mad Beauty Disney Frozen Pearl Face Mask, Primark PS… Brightening Pearl Sheet Mask

Hi there! Today’s post is a product comparison, and it’s between 3 brightening pearl sheet masks – Mad Beauty Disney Mulan Brightening Pearl Face Mask, Mad Beauty Disney Frozen Pearl Face Mask and Primark PS… Brightening Pearl Sheet Mask. Let’s take a closer look!

Mad Beauty Disney Mulan Brightening Pearl Face Mask wasn’t great. I used the mask as instructed – I cleansed my face, put on the mask, left it on for about 20 minutes, then I took it off and rinsed the residue off of my face. The mask had no positive effect, but it irritated the skin on my cheeks – just a bit, and all was well again after an hour. But this isn’t what I want from a mask. I also found the strong sweet floral fragrance rather annoying. Also, this is a printed mask, and it looked grotesque on. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this mask.

Mad Beauty Disney Frozen Pearl Face Mask was carbon-copy of the Mulan mask. The same unpleasant fragrance, the same lack of any visible positive effect on the skin, and the same mild irritation. This mask looked just as grotesque. I regret having bought 8 different Mad Beauty Disney masks. I’ve used 5 now, and none of them impressed me. Fortunately, I bought these when they were half price. Still… there’s much better stuff to be found at Poundland and other bargain stores!

Onto this Primark PS… Brightening Pearl Sheet Mask! This mask was lovely! It felt amazing on, it made my skin feel super soft, it smelled like powder, and the essence didn’t leave a sticky film on my face! Also, this face mask is certified cruelty-free – it carries the Leaping Bunny logo. And priced at 80p, it’s a total steal! Repurchase? Yes!

Based on my experience with these 3 masks, Primark’s PS… Brightening Pearl Sheet Mask is the obvious winner of The Battle Of The Brightening Pearl Sheet Masks. Those 2 Mad Beauty masks were a waste of time and money…

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

The Battle Of The Pink Hand Creams – Scrub In A Tub Good Old Hand Cream VS Soap & Glory Hand Food

Hi there! Today’s post is about 2 hand creams which I’ve been using on and off since last autumn – Scrub In A Tub Good Old Hand Cream and Soap & Glory Hand Food. This is a product comparison, so let’s see which one’s better…

Scrub In A Tub Good Old Hand Cream is one of the countless vintage-themed beauty products which seem to crop up every now and then. This one looks a bit like Soap & Glory meets Desperate Housewives. But what counts is what’s inside! I think this is a decent hand cream. It’s very rich, but this also means that it takes a bit to sink into the skin. I don’t care for the fragrance – it’s a strong, old-fashioned and random floral scent. I’m using this hand cream as a foot cream, and it works brilliantly.

Soap & Glory Hand Food is a decent hand cream too. It has the generic “pink” Soap & Glory scent. The non-greasy formula is nice, but whenever I use a lot of hand cream or whenever I use the hand cream rather frequently, it causes some product build-up which feels weird and makes me want to wash my hands immediately. It works perfectly on my feet though, so this is another hand cream that I’m using as a foot cream.

Scrub In A Tub Good Old Hand Cream is the winner of The Battle Of The Pink Hand Creams. It’s available as 100ml for £1 (Poundland). Soap & Glory Hand Food is available as 50ml for £3 and as 125ml for £4. The small 50ml tube that I’ve got was part of a half price gift set.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Battle Of The Peachy Shower Gels – Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature Yellow Peach Shower Gel vs. NSPA Deliciously Soft And Sweet Peach Shower & Bath Gel

Hi there! Today’s post is about two peachy shower gels – Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature Yellow Peach Shower Gel and NSPA Deliciously Soft And Sweet Peach Shower & Bath Gel.

Let’s start with this Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature Yellow Peach Shower Gel which was a free gift with purchase. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this shower gel at all. It smelled terribly cheap and chemical. This one ended up in the hand wash dispenser in the guest bathroom.

NSPA Deliciously Soft And Sweet Peach Shower & Bath Gel is alright but nothing special. This shower gel smells more of peach skin than the actual fruit. I’ll keep using it for a few more days, but I’m sure that this shower gel will end up as hand wash too.

Whilst NSPA’s shower gel is much better than Yves Rocher’s attempt at a peach shower gel, I don’t care for either product.

Yves Rocher Les Plaisirs Nature Yellow Peach Shower Gel is available as 400ml, and NSPA Deliciously Soft And Sweet Peach Shower & Bath Gel is available as 500ml.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

The Battle Of The Purples – Palmolive Aroma Moments So Relaxed Aromatic Bath Foam vs. Carex Sensitive Bath Soak

Hi there! Today’s post is about 2 bath products – Palmolive Aroma Moments So Relaxed Aromatic Bath Foam with essential oil & Carex Sensitive Bath Soak.

Palmolive Aroma Moments So Relaxed Aromatic Bath Foam with essential oil is one of my all-time favourites. The formula is gentle, and the fragrance is sensational – it smells wonderfully purple – thanks to lavender oil and ylang-ylang. I’m enjoying this bath gel very much!

Carex Sensitive Bath Soak is nice but not special. I found the formula a bit drying. And whilst the bath gel smells amazing when you sniff it from the bottle, it doesn’t smell as nice once dissolved in water. It doesn’t smell bad, but it has a strong waterlily note which I don’t care for. This isn’t a terrible product, but it’s also not a great product.

As expected, Palmolive Aroma Moments So Relaxed Aromatic Bath Foam is the clear winner of the Battle Of The Purples. If you’d like to try these bath gels, they’re available as 500ml, and they’re £1 each (if you pick them up at a bargain store).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Old vs New – Cuticura Skin Balance Protective Hand & Nail Cream, Cuticura Intensive Hand & Nail Cream

Hi there! I haven’t done a product comparison in a while. When I found these 2 Cuticura hand creams when I packed up my beauty stuff for the house move, I thought they’d be perfect! I gave these 2 products a try, and here’s what I think.

Cuticura Skin Balance Protective Hand & Nail Cream is aimed at people with dry hands. It claims to soften and hydrate skin and to strengthen nails. It claims to have anti-aging powers, and it also says that it evens out skin tone. A look at the back to tube shows that the product contains niacinamide (WOW!), sweet almond oil and vitamins B3 and E.

You’d think this is an amazing hand cream. However. it’s just about alright. I know I bought this hand cream at Poundland, so I also know it was £1. I’d say the hand cream is what you expect for the price. I also don’t like the very strong soapy fragrance. Because of this, my husband and I are now using this hand cream as a foot cream.

Cuticura Intensive Hand & Nail Cream promises to nourish skin and to provide instant relief for rough, chapped hands. The product contains vitamins B3 and E, but it no longer has sweet almond oil or niacinamide.

I’ve tried this hand cream, and I think it’s good but not great. It’s runnier than the old version, so it feels lighter. And I like that it’s fragrance-free. I’ve had more nourishing hand creams, but I use this hand cream right before I go to bed, and I’m happy with it.

In summary, the new version is the clear winner of this comparison. I will pick it up again for £1.

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

The Battle Of The Unicorns – Carex Fun Edition Unicorn Magic Shower And Bath vs. Imperial Leather Cosmic Unicorn Fantasy Icon Bath Soak

Hi there! I haven’t done a product comparison for quite some time. So when I saw these 2 unicorn-themed products, I thought they would be perfect for a comparison post! And here’s how these 2 products fared. 🙂

Carex Fun Edition Unicorn Magic Shower & Bath is good but not great. The fragrance is best described as a sugared violet sweets fragrance. It’s enjoyable but very fleeting. The formula is nice. I wouldn’t say the shower gel is hydrating, but it certainly doesn’t make my skin feel dry. Like I said, this shower gel is good but not great.

Imperial Leather Cosmic Unicorn Fantasy Icon Bath Soak was a nice surprise! From the bottle it smells terribly bland, and I thought this one might end up in the hand wash dispenser. However, I’m glad I gave this product a try because once it hits the skin, it smells pleasantly floral and soapy. Whilst the fragrance isn’t very special, I do like it. I’m also happy to report that this product doesn’t make my skin feel dry.

Whilst I ended up liking both products, I think Carex‘s Unicorn Magic is the better product. The cute fragrance fits the cute unicorn theme perfectly.

Carex Fun Edition Unicorn Magic is available as Hand Wash and Shower & Bath.I paid £1 for the 500ml Shower & Bath. Imperial Leather Cosmic Unicorn Fantasy Icon Bath Soak is available as Shower Gel and Bath Soak. I paid £1 for the 500ml Bath Soak.

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

The Battle Of The Charcoal Toothpastes – Superdrug Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste VS XOC Cleansing Charcoal Toothpaste

Hi there! Today’s post is a product comparison. I’ve tried both Superdrug‘s Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste and XOC‘s Cleansing Charcoal Toothpaste. And here’s what I think. 🙂

Superdrug‘s Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste promises to help remove stains. It also claims to provide maximum fluoride protection for healthy gums and teeth. How’s the toothpaste? I think it’s pretty awesome! In terms of stain removal, this one’s definitely a lot more effective than Colgate’s premium products. I also like the fresh minty taste, and brushing my teeth with a black toothpaste is awesome fun!

XOC‘s Cleansing Charcoal Toothpaste makes the same claims. However, this toothpaste isn’t great. Now that I’ve finished the tube I can say for sure that this one doesn’t prevent stains, and it’s not effective at removing stains. I’ve had better results from using kids’ toothpastes. I also don’t like the weird hospital soap flavour. It’s very unusual.

I’ve gone through an entire tube of each toothpaste, and based on that I’m satisfied that Superdrug managed to make an awesome product whilst XOC did not. If Superdrug continues to make this toothpaste, I have no reason to go back to Colgate. I’m happy I tried XOC’s toothpaste, but I won’t be buying it again.

If you’re interested, Superdrug‘s Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste (which also happens to be cruelty-free) is available as 75ml for £2.99. I stocked up a few weeks ago when Superdrug ran a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion. XOC‘s Cleansing Charcoal Toothpaste is available as 100ml for 99p (B&M Bargains).

Mrs Strawberry Blonde

Battle Of The Base Coats – Nails Inc. Caviar Base Coat vs. MakeUp Gallery Well Polished Nail Hardener

Hi there! Today’s post is about 2 base coats I bought a few months ago. I’ve never reviewed a base coat or a top coat before. However, since I bought and tested these base coats at the same time (well, almost), I thought I might as well just do a product comparison. 🙂

Let’s start with Nails Inc.’s Caviar Base Coat! This product claims to be nourishing, smoothing and anti-staining. But it does the exact opposite! First of all, this base coat made my nails feel brittle. As soon as the base coat had dried, my nails felt like they lost their natural flexibility. Scary!

I also didn’t find this base coat to be smoothing. I had to apply 2 layers of base coat but that didn’t help. Actually, applying 2 layers of this base coat was the worst thing I could do because the base coat has a strong red tint which didn’t go well with the colour polish I applied on top of it.

When I took off my mani a few days later, I noticed that the base coat did stain my nails. However, a pinkish stain isn’t the end of the world. But I also noticed that the top layer of my nails seemed to start to peel. I was quite shocked because this only happened to me once before – back then I tortured my nails with acetone-free nail polish remover…

To sum it up – I found Nails Inc.’s Caviar Base Coat to be awful. I took the 2 bottles (yes, I bought 2 bottles) back to Poundland where I exchanged them for 2 clear Rimmel polishes. 🙂

I picked up Poundland’s Makeup Gallery Well Polished Nail Hardener for 50p (closing down sale). I didn’t know if it was any good, and I had no expectations. So I was happy when it turned out that this nail hardener makes quite a difference to my nails. It doesn’t have any lasting effect, so when I take off my mani, my nails are super soft again. But I’m glad this product doesn’t make unrealistic promises. And I really like how strong my nails feel when I’m wearing this nail hardener instead of a base coat or a regular clear polish.

Now let me compare the prices. I paid £1 for the Nails Inc. Caviar Base Coat and 50p for the nail hardenener from Poundland. However, the Nail Hardener is usually £1 (which is excellent value), and the Caviar Base Coat – which has been repackaged but otherwise seems to be the same product – is £15 (I just checked Nails Inc.’s web site). Wow! The difference in prices is almost comical! I know I will buy Poundland’s nail hardener again, but I wouldn’t buy Nails Inc.’s Caviar Base Coat again even if it were 15p! 😀

Well, the winner of this comparison is – obviously – Poundland’s Makeup Gallery Well Polished Nail Hardener! Try it yourself, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

Mrs Strawberry Blonde