JML Simply Straight Straightening Brush Review

I had seen a few adverts for straightening brushes and was curious to know whether they really worked... so when JML got in touch and asked me to review their brush, I had to say yes!

JML say 

• Combines the power of a straightener with the gentle styling of a brush
• Ceramic coated bristles
• Set the temperature to suit your hair type
• LCD display
• Auto shut-off safety feature
• Straighten and style anywhere
• No heat damage, no chemicals
• Compact and great for travel
• Temperature control from 150°C to 185°C

My thoughts 

To give you a bit of background... my hair is long, thick and naturally wavy.

I have to be honest I wasn't expecting much from the straightening brush. I thought it would work best on naturally straight hair and I wasn't convinced it would work using a sub 200 degrees heat, but I was actually really impressed with how my hair turned out. I was hooked from the first use and haven't used my straighteners since.

Being a busy mum of two boys, one of which was just 5 months old when I started trialling this brush, my time is really precious. I don't have much time to get myself ready and when you have porous hair that takes ages to dry,  the styling section takes a bit of a back seat. Using straighteners takes time, time I just don't have.... However, using the Simply Straight Straightening Brush my hair is smoothed and styled beautifully. Frizz is eradicated and my hair looks good.

To use - Make sure you hair is dry and brushed through and then section and glide the brush along while holding hair taut. Simple! I find it much easier to use than my usual straightener, particularly working on the back of my hair.

I find it really easy to use and in just 10 minutes my hair, although not poker straight, is good to go. I really like it, no actually I love it.

See the results for yourself with my pics below.

My only niggle is that I wish the cord length was longer but other than that, it is a big thumbs up from me.

JML Simply Straight Straightening Brush costs £39.99 from the JML Direct website and other high street outlets. 

*PR Sample

Clinique Superbalanced Silk Makeup Foundation Review

It has been a while since I last write a foundation review but it doesn't mean I haven't been spending my time trialling them...

I love it when cosmetic companies include a little sachet sample in a magazine as it is a great way of trying before buying. Obviously,  it is inevitable,  that the one shade suits all colour they have selected to include isn't going to suit everyone but luckily for me, this one is perfect!

The shade is 08 Silk Canvas (MF-N)

The foundation - Clinique superbalanced silk makeup SPF15

Suitable for - dry combination to oily 

Clinique say 

Slip on a silk-enriched foundation. Feel naked, yet covered to perfection. Control oil, yet hydrate where needed. Protect with SPF. Oil-free. Sheer to moderate coverage. Natural-matte finish. Ideal for Dry Combination to Oily Skin Types.

My thoughts 

It takes a lot to get me excited about a foundation and for me to rave about it. I have a checklist and it has to tick all the boxes. I have to say I really love this new foundation. Superbalanced silk is fantastic for my skin. Texture wise it is a runny foundation, it glides on like silk. Applies smoothly and seamlessly. It looks natural, blends well and despite it claiming to only be sheer/moderate coverage, I find it conceals everything I need it to, better than some foundations that claim to be full coverage. Like a silk veil, it fills in the dreaded pores on my nose, covers imperfections (specifically I have a brown dot on my nose and you cannot see it in the picture above. I think it makes my skin look flawless and bright. I feel really confident and happy wearing this foundation.

It lasts a good few hours too and keeps my blusher in place.

Love, love, love!

Clinique Superbalanced Silk Makeup costs £23 and is available in 20 shades. 

By Invitation Michael Bublé Perfume Review

By Invitation is the brand new EDP by smooth, romantic crooner and rather easy on the eye, ladies favourite Michael Bublé..


Now I'd like to imagine that this perfume is how he would love his woman to smell... and it turns out I was right, this is exactly what he had in mind when he created this scent.

Michael Bublé says

"It's no secret that I'm a hopeless romantic. It’s in every note I sing and every song I write. The idea was to create a special ‘invitation’ to fans into my new world of fragrance. I’m inviting women to enjoy a beautiful scent that represents my personal taste and imagination. By Invitation is what I’d call ‘love in a bottle,’

Described as 'a glamorous floral oriental, encompassing the iconic flowers of love,’ By Invitation is an elegant fine fragrance that’s enlightened with a fresh fruity accent. Starting with tempting top notes of red fruits and bergamot with added heart notes of lily of the valley, wild jasmine and spicy inflections of peony, By Invitation wraps with a warm base of sandalwood-musk and addictive vanillas.

Top notes: Red fruits, Bergamot, Lemon

Heart notes: Lily of the Valley, Wild Jasmine, Peony, Rose

Base notes: Patchouli Indonesia, Cedar Wood, Vanilla and Praline, White Amber and Musk

My thoughts

With this fragrance I feel like I have been invited into Michael's inner world. A spritz of By Invitation is a statement. This is not, I feel, a fragrance for those who want an everyday easy to wear scent. This beautiful fragrance stands out and is noticeable. My husband noticed me wearing it when he came in from work three hours after I had first applied it. It oozes elegance and sophistication and dare I say, is quite sexy! It is sweet, warm and sparkling with the addition of its fruity notes. Actually going into Autumn/Winter this is quite a delicious scent.

I think it is timeless and classic fragrance and will definitely appeal to Michael Bublé fans.
By Invitation by Michael Bublé costs £55.00 for 100ml Eau de Parfum spray.

*Other available products in the collection include 50ml Eau de Parfum spray (£39.00), 30ml Eau de Parfum spray (£29.00), If you are a fan of layering there is also a Luxury Body Lotion (150ml £14.00) and Shower Gel (150ml £12.00).

Available from www.michaelbubleperfume.com

*PR Sample

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask Review

The Body Shop says 

Refine and revive your skin with our Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask. Inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, this 100% vegan tingling clay mask is infused with bamboo charcoal, green tea leaves and organic tea tree oil. And it’s been formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil. This invigorating charcoal face mask draws out impurities and refines the appearance of pores for healthy-looking skin with a glow that shows.

• 100% vegan
• Tingling charcoal clay mask
• Absorbs excess oil
• For skin that needs extra purification to reveal a healthy, youthful glow
• Formulated without parabens, paraffin, silicone or mineral oil
• Ideal to create a facial at home
• Packed with bamboo charcoal from the Himalayan Foothills, green tea leaves from Japan and organic Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya

My thoughts 

The mask sample was in a copy of Stylist Magazine. I don't remember whether the information accompanying the mask mentioned that it was tingling and to be honest I might have been a reluctant to try it. It's a good job I did though, as happily I didn't experience any tingling from my mask.

This mask is exquisite. It really works a treat and does what it claims. Its scent is gorgeously zesty and fresh. If you have smelt any green tea fragrances that is what it resembles. The mask is smooth with some bitty strips. It dries quickly, drawing out impurities and softening the skin. As you wash it off the bitty strips become an exfoliator, really cleansing and smoothing the skin. The result is glowing, bright skin and super cleaned out pores. Skin feels wonderful and beautifully soft to touch. A winning mask that I would head out and purchase.

Love it.

The Body Shop Himalayan Charcoal Purifying Glow Mask costs £15 for 75ml 

Monsoon Rose Gold Eau de Parfum Review

One of the unexpected benefits of writing fragrance reviews has been learning what kind of notes appeal to me and thus being able to spot which scents I will like based just on a description.

When the email about Monsoon Rose Gold hit my inbox I just knew it would be a perfume I would like and I wasn't wrong.

The bottle for Monsoon Rose Gold is extremely cute and pretty. The theme of Rose Gold is encompassed throughout. The shape of the bottle has that all important bathroom shelf appeal and is easy to hold.

The Perfume 

Top notes:

Sparkling lemon, soft fruit and ozonic scents are layered with 

Heart notes:

Velvety rose, tuberose, neroli and cyclamen

Base notes:

Eastern woods, vanilla, mosses, musk and balsamic amber. 

My thoughts 

As already mentioned, I knew I would like it if it contained rose and it didn't disappoint. In fact I love it! The perfume is a sparkling, deliciously sweet but not cloying scent that manages to be fresh and yet unashamedly feminine at the same time. In my opinion this is no mean feat. As it dries down it assumes a beautiful and comforting warmth.

It is extremely easy to wear, I have been wearing it every day since it arrived. It also wins points for being appealing to the other half!

The rose aspect is just gorgeous and there is not a hint of old granny rose in sight.

Monsoon Rose Gold Eau de Parfum 30ml costs £29 

*PR Sample

SEVENTEEN Mega Matte Lipsticks Review

Good news! Matte Lipsticks are on trend this Autumn/Winter and SEVENTEEN have got loads of fabulous and super affordable shades to try....well twelve to be precise.

I was sent three shades that work best with my skintone and I must admit, they really do!

The three shades of Mega Matte above are from L-R

Orange You Gorgeous
Nude News
The Coral Of The Story

And now for the Swatches 

From the swatches you can see that they look not too matte but actually when they are on the lips they do look more matte but pleasingly not flat. These shades are just gorgeous and extremely flattering, brightening my complexion and putting a sparkle in my eyes. 

Lasting power is excellent, I drank and ate and they wouldn't budge. The only thing I would say is that you do need to ensure that your lips are in tip top condition so make sure you exfoliate and moisturise those lips if necessary.. 

A big thumbs up from me.

I adore the orange shade - Orange You Gorgeous which is perfect for the Autumnal transition - here I am wearing it below 

SEVENTEEN Mega Matte Lipsticks cost just £4.49 each. 

*PR Samples