beauty Archives - SAHARASPLASH

saharasplash26 October, 2016

Smoothskin Gold IPL 12 week trial

Quite a while ago (3 months ago actually) I went to a Bloggers Ball. Now at this Bloggers Ball I met a wonderful range of people. Friends, brands and the usual. But one in particular stood out for me, and I was lucky enough to have been working with these guys over the past 12 weeks on a 12 week trial. I’m talking about SmoothSkin and their very popular hair removal device. So continue reading if you want to find out all about my Smoothskin Gold IPL 12 week trial…

I want to tell you a little bit about SmoothSkin. You can check out their website here and follow them on Twitter here. So how does the device work? So the IPL device uses intense pulse light technology to disable your hair follicle and prevent regrowth. Of course this doesn’t happen overnight which is why I’ve been doing a 12 week trial and the results are just fantastic. The SmoothSkin Gold is so simple and easy to use- you can use the glide mode on large areas like your legs, or single pulse for areas like your underarms or your bikini line.

Before starting my Smoothskin Gold IPL 12 week trial I read all the instructions and the manual cover to cover to make sure that I understood how it worked. Unfortunately this doesn’t work on extremely dark skin and is not recommended for red, grey or extremely light hair follicles becuase they can’t absorb the light treatment safely. It is perfect for brunettes and for those with dark hair like me.

There is a little light up bar system on the side of the device telling you if the area of skin is suitable. It’s best to hold it flat down instead of at an angle to make sure the target area is as good as possible. Once ready you look away as to not get flashed in the eyes (as that’s dangerouss!) and you push the button, et voila! Piece of cake. My legs usually take me ten mins to do, and bikini/underarms a matter of minutes so it’s easy to work it into a routine once a week.

Now I know you have probably seen a lot of people on TV getting laser hair removal and they are in a lot of pain. SmoothSkin Gold really isn’t that painful at all. You can control how intense you’d like the device to work as there is a soft mode too, but other than being a little warm for a split second, that’s it. There were no tears and no putting me off using this brilliant machine- and the results are just great. Before my 12 week trial I would shave my legs every time I washed my hair, so every 3-4 days. Now I’m finding myself not being able to remember the last time I picked up a razor for my legs which is amazing. My thicker hair on my underarms and bikini line is also improved, though the best results are by far with my legs.

I’m so happy to say goodbye to my unwanted hair after my 12 week trial, now I’ll be taking a break and seeing if my hair manages to stay away for my wedding next month!

If you’d like to try the SmoothSkin Gold for yourself, take a look at the website and see what happens after 12 weeks! Price wise the device ranges from £249-£299.

Saharasplash x

Thanks for reading! Why not check out something fashion related next? My London Fashion Week diaries is just waiting for you!

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saharasplash28 September, 2016

My October Wishlist

Guess what October means? It’s my birthday!!! Yes I’m still in the mid-twenty range of being excited every time my birthday comes around. I do wonder though that as my twenties begin to fade around me whether I will have the same enthusiasm- but for now, I’m still cool with celebrating another year older and hopefully wiser in just 7 days time.

It won’t be a big celebration this year, mainly down to the fact that all the money we have will be going towards the wedding in November, but I’d like to think that my birthday this year will be spent surrounded by the ones I care about the most. This includes the French dip gluten free burger from TGIs- if you haven’t tried it, you are missing out! I thought that I would do an October wishlist to mark the occasion. Here are just a few things that I’m crushing over right now, I’d love to know if you are lusting over any of these too!

1. Dyson hairdryer

This is something that I’ve been wanting to try out for ages. The advert even came on as I was sat in the cinema waiting for the new Bridget Jones movie to start. Everywhere I turn I keep getting glimpses of this marvellous device and I am just itching to give this a whirl through my hair!

2. L’Occitane shampoo

L’Occitane is a brand I keep coming back to. This time I’m daydreaming about their fabulous shampoo L´Occitane. I’d love to lather up with their body and strength or the citrus verbena shampoo as they both look divine.

3. Magic Mike Live tickets

So I can’t get this out of my head ever since I found out that Magic Mike was being turned into a live show in Vegas. I signed up to the alerts newsletter (obviously) and recently Cosmo’s snapchat has been giving us some amazing backstage peeks of the pecks! So naturally tickets to this show (starting March time next year) is on my October wishlist.

4. Some new lingerie

Ever since getting Now TV, I have been re-watching some of my favourite shows in my spare time (not that there is much of that!) I’ve been watching Sex and the City, and this really has awakened a newfound desire to get some good lingerie. The 4 New York fashionistas really do get to wear the most stunning undergarments and as each episode passes I hear La Perla calling out to me, though I am trying to ignore it as best I can!

5. Celicioso cupcakes

This last one is something a little bit more personal. For those of you who aren’t gluten free and haven’t lived/ been to Madrid you probably won’t know about the most fantastic gluten free bakery called Celicioso. I discovered Celicioso while on my year abroad there and it’s a bakery 100% devoted to gluten free delicacies. I went there practically every week and now 3 years on I miss their cupcakes so much!

So there you have it- my October wishlist. Obviously some more attainable than others, but hey, it’s just a wishlist right? Why not dream big? I know that whatever happens my October will be the best yet regardless of what I get, as October officially marks the month of my hen party, and what’s more exciting than that?!

Saharasplash X

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saharasplash23 August, 2016

BeBeautiful Lunch with Beauty Expert

I’m going to take you back a few weeks now, as this is something I have been working on reviewing for a while. Not only are you going to read about a fantastic place called the Ivy London, but you’re also going to learn about some top quality brands which you can get all in one place at the click of a button. This is my BeBeautiful Lunch with Beauty Expert.

It was one of those impossibly hot July days in London as I made my way into the centre of the city to Covent Garden. There I was greeted by the team from Beauty Expert as well as some of the brands launching with Beauty Expert’s new collection- The Rose Edition.

I saw some familiar bloggers at the event and met with some new faces too which is always nice. The tables were set out for all the bloggers with personalised place names and we each had a lovely rose waiting for us too accompanied by some Ren Skincare goodies.

The Ivy London took such great care of us, and were happy to provide me with gluten free rolls and modify the dessert to make it coeliac friendly. We had the most amazing salmon starter, followed by chicken and corn purée, then strawberry sorbet and fruit to finish.

It was lovely to be sat amongst other bloggers and representatives from the brands. After lunch, we had presentations from each of the brands involved to tell us a bit more about their key products and why they were included in this first collection inspired by roses.

Here’s what you can expect when you purchase the Rose Edition from Beauty Expert, which I must add here that it’s collectively worth £134 but is priced at just £50 for the whole collection!

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil (30ml)

This BioRegenerate oil will help keep your skin looking so radiant. It is vegan and cruelty free which I just love to hear and it can help to cleanse and repair skin prone to irritation. I love using this twice a week in the evenings and I always wake up to brighter skin when I’ve used it.

Monu Gentle Cleanser (180ml)

Ths cleanser contains Geranium, Rose and Aloe Vera to make one perfect gentle product. Also cruelty free, Monu are an inspiring brand which I cannot wait to discover more of their range. The lotion glides on smoothly with a cotton pad and I like to remove with a hot cloth so that it really opens my pores up for a deep cleanse.

Ark Body Beautiful Conditioning Oil (250ml)

This conditioning oil is such a great all rounder. It comes in a very genrous size of 250ml so you will get a lot of use from this product which can be applied to your bath, body or hair. I love massaging this into my legs, hands and feet after a bath as it helps to destress and detox.

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Cream (200ml)

The first thing I picked up when using this body cream was the scent of heady violets. It took me right back to my childhood and when I used to share a packet of parma violets with my nan, so I just love this product! I’d recommend only using small amounts as it is quite rich so again, it will last you a good while. It’s also 99% natural and made in the UK.

Korres Japanese Rose Shower Gel (250ml)

Although this contains hydrolysed wheat gluten, don’t be deterred if you have a gluten allergy. A lot of coeliacs tend to stay away from cosmetics and beauty products which contain gluten but there’s no need. Unless ingested, you are completely safe to use this japanese rose shower gel, and believe me it’s so worth it.

REN Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift (15ml)

This is by far my favourite product from the range. I have recently featured this wonder shot in my latest YouTube video- my August favourites. It has worked wonders around my eye areas in the past 3 weeks and the product gets to work instantly for immediate results.

The first collection from Beauty Expert couldn’t have been better in my opinion, it has a lustful range that will be coveted by most beauty addicts I am sure. Get yours today right here and let me know what is your favourite from the Rose Edition. I cannot wait to see what’s coming next, thanks ever so much for reading all about my BeBeautiful Lunch with Beauty Expert!

Saharasplash x

If you liked my Bebeautiful lunch with Beauty Expert, you will love my gluten free afternoon tea!

saharasplash5 August, 2016

Keeping it Sassy with Spectrum Collections

I had the pleasure of attending a very exclusive event last month, and I had been wanting to check these guys out for a while after the social craze going on with their collections. Spectrum Brushes hosted a fantastic launch party for their brand new range- The Bomb Shell by Chloe Lloyd and it was amazing! I had met a new blogger friend (as I always do) earlier on that day, and so we went together to the venue in Soho. Her blog is HelloMissJordan and you must check out her blog after you’ve finished this post! Here’s how we were keeping it sassy with Spectrum Collections…

The vibe of the whole event was mermaid, so bloggers were arriving with the most fabulous hair colours and dressed to impress. Jordan and I went for purple and pink!

So now I’m going to show you some of the wonderful brushes on display from the new Bomb Shell collection, and in case you don’t know much about Spectrum Collections all their brushes are cruelty free and vegan friendly!

How beautiful are these brushes? The have pink handles with rose gold detail. This setup gave me some serious inspo as to how I’m going to be displaying my brushes from now on! Any recommendations for rose gold cups like this leave me a comment below! And now onto the piece de resistance, the one you’ve all been waiting for:

eee! This Bomb Shell drops in September 2016!

Now it wouldn’t be a complete blog post without sharing with you the amazing display of food from the Spectrum launch. I would describe it as a feast fit for a unicorn and a mermaid tea party- just look at all of it!

Everything sparkled and looked so gorgeous! Of course no donuts or cupcakes for the coeliac, but I certainly enjoyed the clam macarons and the pearly merringues! So there’s one more thing I’d like to show you, and this is the pure definition of keeping it sassy with spectrum collections. We met a very talented artist who goes by the name of DOM & INK. He was fabulous and turned both Jordan and I into mermaids!

We definitely channelled our inner Disney princesses for these!

I had such an amazing time and want to thank Spectrum and Avant PR for hosting such a magical launch party, I cannot wait to trial the brushes out!

Wearing In One Clothing and necklace from Tatty Devine

Saharasplash x

Thanks for following merbabes! Now go check out Jordan‘s blog!

saharasplash3 August, 2016

Testing out Aviela Hair Butter

On the blog today I’m testing out Aviela Hair Butter. What is hair butter you ask? Well let me tell you! It’s a bit messy but super fun and you only need to try it once and you will love it. The brand is Aviela, and they are a great company founded by Patricia in 2007. She has a wonderful story to tell about why shea butter is so important. It has amazing properties if unrefined and it helped Patricia’s baby daughter (who couldn’t walk at 2 years of age) to regain the strength in her ankles by helping the cartilage to become less stiff. Shea butter is used in all Aviela products and is the heart and soul of the brand. Another thing is that all Aviela products are BUAV approved, none of it is tested on animals. Here’s what I tested out for myself:

Aviela Healthy Hair Butter

This fine product smells like citrus and coconut, I couldn’t wait to put it on my hair! The consistency is quite hard, like a wax, but as you scoop it out with your hands it gently melts and is easily workable into your hair strands.

The instructions say to leave on your hair for 30 mins before showering and shampooing off, so guess what I did to pass the time?!

I had such fun with that last shot 🙂

So it feels very greasy, naturally, so I would avoid laying down on any pillows while this stuff is in, of course you can remove it sooner than 30 mins too if you just can’t wait. After 30 mins I then took a bath to wash it all out, I continued with my normal shampoo and conditioner routine, and once towel dry I used my favourite Envy Professional Serum before blowdrying. Here is the result:

Fabulously smooth and totally nourished!

The Aviela Healthy Hair Butter retails at just £16 and you can get plenty of uses from just one tub. The range doesn’t sop there, Aviela has products from bath, body and skincare as well so you are bound to find the perfect product or gift online here.

I’ll leave you with one more fact about Aviela- it’s a word from Northern Ghana meaning ‘it’s beautiful’ and I certainly agree when it comes to testing out Aviela Hair Butter!

Saharasplash X

I received this product for free for my honest opinion and review

saharasplash22 July, 2016

Envy Professional Style Hero

For those who know me well, you are well aware of what an addictive personality I have to things. When I was younger I had a DVD collection that rivalled all family and friends combined. This then moved onto clothes, fashion and beauty as I got older, and now I just love it when something comes along that I can obsess over. Envy Professional certainly has the products that I can obsess over and in this blog post I want to share with you (not my own one though!) the power of the Envy Professional Style Hero.

I love everything about this devilish product, its dark and sleek design to the amazing way it has transformed the way I dry my hair. It is used by thousands of hairdressers worldwide and there is one simple reason for this- it works for everyone! No matter if you have fine, thick, curly or straight hair, the Envy Professional Style Hero works with it all to control, protect and repair damaged hair.

It has a very similar scent to freshly cut rose stems, just divine. Its key ingredients include Keratin amino acids and silk proteins which penetrate into each hair strand to lock in that all-important moisture we all love.

The product is a clear serum, which you only need 4-5 pumps of and work it into damp hair. As soon as I apply this from roots to ends, there is no struggle to comb my long hair through and it makes blowdrying a dream. This sexy little product is definitely my little secret weapon, and I want you all to enjoy it as much as I do:

For my wickedly loyal followers and readers, I’m giving you a 50%off code to use so you can try this out on your hair, simply use the code ‘blog50‘ and shop oline at www.envypro.co.uk

There are more tantalizing products in the Envy Professional range for you to try, so take advantage of this sinful discount today-

Discount code valid until 30th August 2016

Saharasplash x

Stay a little longer and read all about my interstellar experience at the Star Trek Beyond premiere and see what I asked Chris Pine!

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You May Also Enjoy

1. Dyson hairdryer

2. L’Occitane shampoo

3. Magic Mike Live tickets

4. Some new lingerie

5. Celicioso cupcakes

You May Also Enjoy

Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil (30ml)

Monu Gentle Cleanser (180ml)

Ark Body Beautiful Conditioning Oil (250ml)

Balance Me Rose Otto Body Cream (200ml)

Korres Japanese Rose Shower Gel (250ml)

REN Keep Young and Beautiful Instant Brightening Beauty Shot Eye Lift (15ml)

You May Also Enjoy

You May Also Enjoy

Aviela Healthy Hair Butter

You May Also Enjoy

You May Also Enjoy