Charles Worthington Grow strong Protein Treatment

There are some pricey hair protein treatments on the market, which are very good, but at a premium. I’ve used many of them with excellent results but recently I have been testing out an affordable high street treatment from Charles Worthington.

 Grow Strong protein treatment is a leave-in reconstructing protein cream which strengthens the hair from the inside. Just as we need protein in our diet to build new cells and body tissue, we need it in both our skin and hair to restore and revive it.

If your hair feels limp, dry, and lackluster and snaps easily then it may be related to protein deficiency. By using a specialist treatment you can instantly add a boost of protein back into the hair with immediate visible results.

Grow strong is only needed in a pea sized amount which you apply to towel dry hair after washing (they also have shampoo and conditioner in the range). Run the cream through to the ends, comb and then dry/style as normal.

 It also provides heat and colour protection whilst preventing hair breakage.

After two uses I noticed a huge difference. My hair felt like it had been freshly cut. Swooshy, soft, shiny and manageable and the individual strands almost felt thicker.

Once a week would be enough to keep your hair in great condition. This treatment is £8.99 for 100ml and is a worthy investment.

 You can purchase here.

Medik8 Refining Moisturiser

Medik8 is a brand that may not be an obvious choice when you’re thinking of switching up your skincare. It’s a professional brand and one that has active ingredients so therefore comes at a slightly higher price (although not unreasonable).

 I’ve recently been testing out their refining moisturiser, which is specifically targeted to a combination to oily skin type.

 If you have a problematic skin or are always reaching for the blotting powder an hour after makeup application then this moisturiser will be your new secret weapon. If your skin requires a lot of maintenance to keep matte then it’s always best to use a targeted moisturiser that will work with your skin type to improve the texture and health whilst still providing a pleasing feel.

What’s in it?

 Firstly, it’s water based so immediately it doesn’t feel occlusive or greasy.

It has an ingredient (Isododecane), which prevents the evaporation of water. Even though your skin is oily, it still needs hydration to keep its natural protective barrier working, as it should.

 It also contains Mandelic acid, which is a mild AHA exfoliant. Not as stimulating as Glycolic but good for a slightly more sensitive skin and will keep an oily skin from looking dull and will also help to eliminate the build up of dead skin cells that may lead to breakouts.

 Clover extract soothes, Bergamot, which not only smells phenomenal it also helps to naturally cleanse, remove impurities and regulate sebum production, Red Clover to help with any inflammation and Vitamin F, which is essentially Linoleic acid and a fatty acid for the skin which helps normal healthy cell growth in the skin.

 Although this moisturiser has no fragrance added, alcohol it does contain essential oils which some may be sensitive to.

 This is also vegan friendly and cruelty free.

How does it feel?

 It’s super lightweight and absorbs immediately, zero residue but also leaves skin comfortable and hydrated.

 Excellent base for makeup.

This moisturiser comes in a pump action tube to ensure the active ingredients are not contaminated. It’s priced at £45.00 for 50ml and a small amount goes a long way.

 You can purchase here.

Nic's Daily Hair tutorial

Black Up Cosmetic - Blush Me Up Palette

I’ve just come across the new blush palette, Blush Me Up by Black Up. A bright pinky coral is beautiful during the winter months to liven the complexion up a little and this one has been created with medium to darker skin tones in mind. 

 Black Up’s products are all geared towards a deeper skin tone, so a good brand to check out if you feel let down by colour choice or pigment quality from other brands.

This quad has three matte shades and one with a fine, warm toned shimmer running through it. They are designed to take you from day to evening and can create a contour or pop of colour depending on your preference.

Beautifully pigmented, warm tones, which layer to create a multi-dimensional look and great longevity.

 Suitable for all skin tones including oily.

 This palette is available here for £32.50 now.

Bobbi Brown Ready, Set, Glow

This kit from Bobbi Brown is a great Christmas gift for someone who enjoys treating their skin but doesn’t like a lot of fuss. The Ready, Set, Glow set contains three of the brands cult skin products to provide you with a nourished, radiant and hydrated skin that will be primed and ready for makeup application or for those who don’t wear makeup but still want flawless glowing skin.

The kit contains the Illuminating moisture Balm. This is a thick textured cream that is dispensed in minimal amounts via a pump action tube (30ml).

 It’s normally available in three shades but for the kit, it comes in bare glow. This is the most universal shade I would say and would work on absolutely every skin tone. It’s pretty much translucent except for the veil of glossy radiance.

 It’s loaded with ingredients such as Glycerin, Shea Butter, evening Primrose oil, caffeine, Rosemary and Chamomile.

It may feel slightly too tacky for those with a combination-oily skin but the rich textured layer does subside pretty quickly.

 If you have a dryer skin you may want to team this with your regular skincare routine and use it as a last stage skin veil. If you have a combination/oily skin then it would suffice as your moisturiser.

 You can smell the bitter orange extract within and it’s a luxurious joy to massage into the skin.

To compliment this is the Extra Eye repair Cream. This is an emollient rich cream that requires minimal application amount. I have found that the richness encourages mascara and eyeliner to transfer so stick to using this at nighttime or well in advance of makeup application.

 It’s a total moisture magnet so you can expect the skin to feel plumped and hydrated. Good for those who experience dry skin around the delicate eye area, fine lines that need a little plumping or skin that has been exposed to the elements. It contains collagen boosting ingredients so has excellent reparative benefits.

Not forgetting the lips, the extra Lip tint in bare pink provides a soft pink flush to the lips that requires zero application precision. Just slick it on. The stain this provides will blend with your natural lips making them look hydrated and lifted in tone.

The Ready, Steady, Glow kit is available here now for £68 (normally a value of £118.50).

Sam's latest Haul

Chanel-Maximalisme de Chanel

Is it even Christmas if you haven’t swatched a Chanel Red on your blog? Well I know it’s November but with the Christmas lights up in almost every UK city we are feeling particularly festive.

 The Chanel Christmas collection, Maximalisme De Chanel launched this week and is a relatively small collection of products.

 Powders are embossed with Gabrielle Chanel’s lion icon and the featured shades are smouldering and sexy but still scream Christmas party.

 Firstly the nail colours. A classic pillar-box red infused with a fine red and gold shimmer along with a bronze with gold and violet metallic foil finish.

 The eye shadows are singles and again, embossed with the lion talisman. The finishes are a subtle satin finish with extreme pigment payoff. 

It’s a solid block of colour that blends easily and leaves the eyes with a radiant finish without too much shine of glitter.

Cuivre Lamé, Noir Lamé, Le Lion De Chanel Illuminating Powder

For the skin there is an exclusive powder compact, Le Lion De Chanel which translates softer than you imagine. It looks overtly copper in the palette but dusts on much sheerer and less ‘in your face’ than you may assume.

It does have a shimmer so possibly not a great product for the cheekbones if you are concerned with fine lines but really nice over the eyelid, down the nose and over the décolleté for a romantic golden highlight.

The lipsticks take the form of a palette incorporating 5 different shades of red. I found the colours took a bit of building up to get a decent coverage. Team up with a lip liner if you want a good definition.

 The collection is available now here.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick Kit

You can’t beat a lipstick set as a gift for Christmas. There’s always something really special about testing out shades that you would never normally chose and mixing tones together to create something unique.

Smashbox have launched their Be Legendary Lipstick kit. It contains 5 full size lipsticks in their most popular shades.

 The texture of the lipsticks can best be described as thick and punchy! Like a creamy opaque slick of pure pigment all wrapped up in cheery patterned packaging designed by L.A artist Jen Stark.

 The finish has a rich sheen but if you prefer to mix up the textures then you can simply pat on the included insta-mat lipstick transformer. 

It’s like a mattifying veil that instantly removes the shine but without losing the hydration.

Initial application

After applying Insta-Matte


If this looks like a gift someone you love would enjoy then you can shop here and purchase for £39.00

Nic's Concealer Masterclass

Fillers: My experience with injectables

Huda Beauty New Nude Palette

It’s nude but it’s a Huda beauty kind of Nude! The latest New Nude palette combines multiple textured shadows in an array of warming plums and taupe’s with 2 intense glitter shades thrown in for good festive measure.

There is a concealer shade in a soft peach so you may blank out the natural eyelid undertone first. It's almost colourless so would work for all light to medium skin tones. It may look a little ashy on deeper skin tones but as you'll be applying shadow on top, it's not a problem. It acts as a great base for the glitter to adhere to.

The other tones are a combination of matte, duo-chrome, glitter and pressed pearl. 16 shades in total but with the exception of the concealer shade and the colour in Bare, they are all highly coloured, there isn’t much in the way of natural tones to blend with.

Powders have excellent pigment and the glitter looks amazing when pressed on top. Best way to work with the glitter is either wear it alone on top of a cream or press firmly on top of the other shades once you have completed your eye look. It doesn't blend very easily so you need to pat it on and step away!

 The duo-chrome shades have a high metallic payoff and creates a beautiful luminous vibrant finish.

I found the matte shades crumbled and dropped so I would advise leaving your foundation until afterwards. 

You can get hold of the Huda Beauty New Nude Palette here for £56.00