AP24 review

This gives me a reason to show my teeth with confidence

For the past 12+ months I have been using the AP24 whitening toothpaste and it has been life changing for me because I generally don't like the way my teeth look but since using it, it's really changed the way I smile giving me so much more confidence overall day to day.

Why? ................. Because of this combination AP24 from Nu Skin which includes the whitening & anti plaque toothpaste with the unique toothbrush. 

I did try the the anti-plaque fluoride toothpaste in the past but didn't like it for a few reasons but since loving the whitening toothpaste I decided to combine the 2 and give it a go. Well, what can I say? I LOVE the combination because I didn't realise how fantastic my teeth and mouth would feel overall when I use it together and now I can't live without it.

During the time of testing them I used my previous toothpastes in between but realised they gave me ulcers & bleeding gums - whether this is because the ingredients don't agree with my mouth or if it's the fact that am not use to the harsh ingredients I don't know but what I do know is that my teeth, breath, gums and mouth overall feels soooooo clean all day everyday!
I absolutely LOVE how my teeth are looking so fresh and polished, the toothpastes have definitely brought my teeth back to its natural colour which I haven't seen in years. We all have different shades of yellow teeth, I am so glad mine has changed for the better, definately can see a difference. 

Visiting my dentist was fun, she even told me how perfect my teeth have been keeping since my previous visit over 6 months ago. To me that was a powerful moment for a dental professional to notice the changes in the MY teeth especially where I can't see.

If ALL whitening toothpastes give you pearly white teeth then why don't we all have the results? I have tried so many products out there and shame to say, they damaged my enamel & causing my gums to bleeds. Giving the AP24 a try was cheaper than having laser white treatment which would ultimately would weaken the enamel. We only have 1 set of teeth so of course I would want to look after them - wouldn't you?

I would highly recommend to use an electric toothbrush or the AP24 manual toothbrush as it would help encourage the results.


I have been using the combination now for a while & the toothbrush is a must-have because it gently massages the gums as well as helping the toothpaste spread into your mouth. It's designed to help remove 15% of plaque that's collected in your mouth! They were a few great reasons for me to give it a try and now I recommend it to all my friends and family.
There are 3 different colour grips to the toothbrushes that come in a pack of 3 so it's great for sharing in each household.

my results in less than a week

Pro's:

• My teeth feel super polished & clean
• Non abrasive
• Great for sensitive teeth
• No harmful peroxides - therefore non damaging to your existing enamel 
• Can use more than twice a day 
• Each tube lasts for about 2 months - a little goes a long way
• AP24 is patented
• has a shelf life of 6 months
• no side effects after each use- some harsh ingredients made my gums bleed or tongue feel like they're burning hot
• less frothy formula
• mild mint flavour with a hint of vanilla
• pain free

The AP24 whitening toothpaste contains 1100 ppm fluoride, the anti plaque is 1500 ppm.
The hydrated silica is used in the toothpaste as a mild abrasive, its mild to the teeth and gums and does not erode the enamel which is what usually happens.
The Alumina ingredient is a polishing agent hence why we get that polished feel and look to the teeth.


Ingredients:-

whitening toothpaste - Aqua, Hydrated Silica, Sorbitol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Glycerin,  Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, PEG-12, Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Dimethicone, Poloxamer 338, Poloxamer 407, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Saccharin, Sodium Oxide, Flavor, BHT, CI 77891, Limonene.

anti-plaque - Dicalcium Phosphate Dehydrate, Aqua, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Monofluorophosphate, Dimethicone, Poloxamer 338, Poloxamer 407, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Sulfate, BHT, Aroma, Sodium Saccharin, CI 77891, Limonene.

If you are interested in trying this combination feel free to email me or comment below with your email address - this is available world wide.

Love Strawbeefull 

XOX 

Magic moisture mist

During the times of desperation to cool down what do you do? It's not always easy to jump into a cool shower or a cold pool - ever heard of a moisture mist ? Well, let me tell you why I love this moisture mist & the benefits of it compared to water - yes compared to water. 

I have sensitive skin, leaning more towards dry-combination type majority of the year it's combination. 

During the warmer weathers my skin becomes sticky and sometimes oily, if I am out in the heat my make up would budge especially when am out on a photoshoot - constantly building up make up does not look good most of the time, not to mention the clogging up pores has a massive afterwards effect. When the skin is hot you need to cool it down before it burns or becomes irritated.

I have tried various brands of a moisture-type mist sprays but this one is my number one. I love the unique filter it is, the dewy finish it gives my skin, the price, it's super long lasting, safe for my family to use, the shape of the bottle and most of all, the way it feels on my skin.

For 250ml it lasts me for a few months and I use it every single day from head to toe. I love using it after a shower and after my hair is washed, it makes my hair feel nourished when it's air dried. Very effective when I use the hair dryer - results are fabulous !

Nu skin has a moisture mist called NaPCA spray - it is my holy grail product all year round! I have been using it for over 2 years now, I take a bottle with me everywhere I go and it's wonderful when I go travelling especially when am on the plane - it can help eyes de-puff! 

Pros:

• holds make up all day

• stops itching skin perfect for people with dry skin

• alcohol free

• scent free

• Suitable for men and women

• Leaves skin feeling refreshes

• Dries within seconds - no need to wipe off 

• Contains hyaluronic acid

• unique filter that releases fine streaks of the product allowing it to distribute evenly 

Con:

• only comes as one size over 100ml therefore cannot take it on the plane - I transfer it to a smaller travel bottle to use on the plane

This beauty contains HA or also known as hyaluronic acid which is a key ingredient in the anti-ageing world. It is an effective humectant that helps maintain ideal moisture levels, better than water hence why sometimes our skin dries after a shower and needing to apply a moisturiser. The moisture mist also contains  humectant sodium PCA which helps to stabilise the moisture levels on the skin.

Simple to use, just a simple spray across the face or arms or body, within seconds the product will dry and help restore that moisture loss on to the skin.

A lot of skin care products contain a mineral oil which is suppose to bind and support the skin, I did an experiment to see what the mineral oil actually does to the skin vs NaPCA moisture mist. By doing this I used 2 dried apricots from my local supermarket and soaked one bottle of bio oil and the other one with NaPCA. Results were amazing, within a few hours I understood why mineral oil was doing nothing for my skin vs NaPCA moisture mist helped restore the moisture loss in my skin. 

These have been in the bottles for over 2 years now - why don't you try it yourself with nothing to lose?

If you're interested in purchasing this product contact me for more details, Nu skin products can only be sold by a Nu Skin distributor and I am one of them. 

I have not been paid to review this, it has all been purchased with my own money and my honest opinion. 

Lip plumping using the galvanic spa

I have always thought my lips were very small, I remember I use to stretch them at night when am lying in bed - how ridiculous was I! I was always envious of the other girls able to wear bright red lipstick and looking do feminine, whereas I on the other hand, had the worlds tiniest lips. When I grew up I realised it was ok to have small lips, I would never want fillers as I don't like needles.

I found a new obsession from the Nu Skin range, a lip plumping-collagen filled clear lip gloss proven to give you fuller lips without the use of needles! 

It contains oligopeptide proven to define and contour the Cupid's bow giving fuller definition as it tends to fade as we age. I love how it completes my youthful look on a daily basis, am not getting any younger! 

 My latest must-do is to maximise the lip gloss results by using my galvanic machine simply by using my small round flat head conductor, sprays of the Napca moisture mist over the gloss on the lips and activating the machine over it.

 The first pic is my naked lips, then the middle photo is my lips after using the galvanic over it for 2 minutes, then after about 5 minutes I applied the lip gloss again! 

Results lasted all day and I am so happy sbout the results. Using the galvanic can make the lip gloss up to 70% even more effective! 

If you have a galvanic why don't you give this a try?

If you want to try this product feel free to contact me - have fun!

XOX

My acne and Eczema breakout!!

When I was born I suffered with eczema really badly up, the use of steroid creams really did thin my skin so bad which resulted into super sensitive to a lot of creams which meant my skin was always needing TLC. Up to late teen age, I only suffered with eczema whenever I was severely stressed which would mainly be my exam periods also winter times would be the worst as my skin is super dry and nothing seemed to work unless I applied something every 2 hours to my skin. I was so grateful when I learnt so much about skin products and knowing how to deal with flare ups.
During my teenage years I suffered with spots as well as acne - dark purple pimples, red raw skin, painful to touch and of course, itchy skin. I had really oily skin which was annoying as my acne and eczema got worse.

Anyone else have this problem?

sore face and irritated neck building up in the first month

Now I am in my late 20's I thought it all had stopped but recently in September I started to have the odd pimple, then it turned into dark purple pimples, started spreading and before I knew it, I realised it was acne again!! It's been so long since I last suffered with it and I was suprised I had it again. I then had a massive break out of eczema on my neck, from a diameter of 1cm spread across my neck. I didn't even notice it until people were pointing it out to me at work, I didn't feel any itching or pain, which means there was absolutely no irritation. My face ended up red raw with rosacea skin - it was so painful.

5-6 weeks after

A week later it all got worse, my acne had spread from my cheek to my jaw line, painful to touch and I stopped using my Galvanic Spa as it was so painful to even have the gel over my face. The eczema started to get itchy and I was travelling to Hong Kong and Japan which was a real climate change from England, sadly my skin suffered - BIG TIME. I mentally suffered too!!

To totally clear up this I used various products as well as supplementing myself to detox the toxins that was lingering in my body. I didn't feel 'unwell' as such and did not catch anything such as the common winter flu or cold ( like I use to but for the last 2 years I have been feeling GREAT) so this is a way of my body suffering from the inside.


For the outside of my body I used:

acne life saver set  - cheaper to purchase as a set to save a huge amount of money!

Previously I tried various acne friendly products but with the amount of alcohol and acids in them, it burnt my skin and wasted my time as well as my money. I decided to try the Clear Action set from Nu Skin as I heard so many good reviews as well as good results from photos of people who used it to clear their acne.


The set included a foaming cleanser, toner, day cream and a night cream. Each set lasted me just over 3 months and within 2 days of uses I saw and felt results. The little bumpy spots dissapeared! I was so excited to continued to use the set as I LOVED how my skin felt as well as seeing that my dark purple spots were dissapearing. This was an important factor to me because it proves to me something is happening rather than waiting because when you are suffering, time is an issue. 
 
The clear action is a very gentle treatment system designed to help clear the blemishes you have now, fade the signs of past breakouts, and, most importantly, keep skin clear and vibrant for the future. Very easy to do and very effective results. I love how gentle the cleanser is when it's applied to the skin, it turns into a clear liquid when it's dried within 2 minutes.

Toner has a unique lid to prevent further bacteria feeding in your skin

The next step is followed by a toner, which has a unique lid pumping system so that no bacteria can access into the bottle.

The 3rd step is either a day cream or a
night cream, melts into the skin and looks after it whilst you sleep or work in the day.


For my eczema I used a blend of these 3 products together equal parts and stored it in a pot.

* this hand is not mine but someone else who had great results

•  Perennial - IBR-Dormin, Kukui nut oil and meadowfoam seed oil, Garcinia indica (kokum) seed butter- gives you super moisturised skin without the greasy feel on the skin, 
• Firewalker - Cordyline Terminalis & Orbignya Phalerata - works deep into the skin to repair the damaged layer of skin to stop the spreading
• Enhancer - containing aloe vera, Panthenol & Hyaluronic acid -super moisturiser to repair the broken skin and calm redness

As for the inside of my body I have always been on my Lifepak multivitamins, (I stopped taking them for a few weeks then this flare up happened along with other factors like stress) , I never again want to stop taking my multi vitamins as they are what's protecting my immune system. I was also taking R2 to deeply cleanse but I found it wasn't doing anything other than give me more energy. I decided to try Reishimax as the active ingredients help to fight the natural killer cells from the body. I felt like this was the last option for me and I was right!! It helped!! after about 2 weeks of taking this my eczema cleared up and m acne was very less visible, I was so relieved!

free from eczema!!

So to conclude this post, I went through a lot not to mention my confidence level was much lower as I have always looked after my skin but when I did stop taking my supplements - my body lacked nutrition and whilst I Was dealing with a lot of stress factors it lead to poor sleeping patterns  sleeping 4 hours max per night/day) which lead to poor diet and I needed a deep cleanse as well as new supplements to the largest organ - my skin. If you know anyone who is going through anything similar and have tried lots of alternatives but nothing has worked - please let them read this post and feel free to message me.  I would LOVE to help people realise there is another way out of this!

Thank You

XOX

Nu Skin AP-24 Whitening toothpaste review

Over many years I have tried various whitening toothpastes who promise results after a period of time and of course the photos are always extremely appealing. We all want white teeth, but it depends on your own teeth state, results will vary. Unfortunately I have sensitive teeth after eating too much acidic foods or use certain toothpastes for too long, which is quite annoying as it also causes my gums to bleed at times - not attractive!

There are more and more brands who have their own versions of whitening toothpaste as whiter teeth is becoming popular across the world, Nu Skin is one of them.  AP-24® Whitening Fluoride  is formulated with a unique combination of ingredients that removes stains and whitens teeth without harsh abrasive action. After extensive laboratory testing, this formula was shown to provide better whitening results than leading brands of whitening toothpaste.

For less than £10, there is 110g of product which is about 100ml tube lasts up to 2 months per tube. I use mine 3 times a day and it lasts me a month and half as little goes a long way with results to see.

Many whitening toothpastes contain peroxide, a chemical that bleaches teeth, but can weaken tooth enamel and irritate soft mouth tissues. Peroxides should only be used in a professional setting. AP-24® Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste does not contain peroxide. Neither does it contain harsh abrasives − they remove stains, but erode and scratch teeth.

AP-24® Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste resulted in a 63%

increase in tooth brightness in clinical trials. 

The AP-24 whitening Fluoride toothpaste:

• Brightens and whitens teeth
• Helps remove stains
• Helps remove and prevent plaque buildup
• Helps the prevention of dental cavities
• Provides a long-lasting smooth, clean, and fresh feel 
• Features AP-24, an exclusive ingredient
• Refreshing, trademark vanilla mint flavor
• Thick, creamy, rich formula
• No harmful peroxides

Ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Hydrated Silica, Sorbitol, Alumina, Glycerin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, PEG-12, Sodium Monofluorophosphate (0.15 w/v fluoride ions), Dimethicone*, Poloxamer 338*, Poloxamer 407*, Cellulose Gum, , Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Flavour (Aroma), Sodium Saccharin, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).

*A component of the patented AP-24® formula.

my results in just under a week

Pro's:

• slight vanilla & mint taste
• taste is not too hot for the tongue
• Gentle to teeth and mild to gums
• product can last 2 months as you only need a pea sized amount each time
• brightens and whitens teeth while fighting plaque formation after meals
• alcohol free
• Leaves a clean, just-brushed feeling that lasts
• safe to use more than twice a day woohoo!

Personally for me, I brush my teeth morning and night, plus during the day after eating certain foods like too much sugar or food that get stuck in between my teeth. Most toothpastes recommend to use only day and night but even after chewing gum after meals doesn't help my teeth feel or look as clean as brushing it. Featuring a special formula that contains no harmful peroxides, AP-24 Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste also helps remove stains and aids in the prevention of cavities.
The flip top lid ensures the product does not dry if the lid was opened, no loose screw lid and no twisting off lid which half the time, I end of losing, when you're rushing out in the morning, the last thing I want to do is waste time looking for the lid! Does anyone else have this problem?

One thing I noticed was when I spit out the formula, it is an off-white (sometimes yellow-ish colour) foam which is the plaque from the teeth. sounds disgusting but its true!
 The toothpaste demonstrates the results after you have brushed your teeth - I have never seen this before as the formula is usually too watery or too strong for me to keep in my mouth but this is gentle for my sensitive teeth.


If you're interested to try this product, please send me a message - available world wide.

XOX

Real life testimonial about Pharmanex Lifepak

I just want to share some crucial information to you guys about my experience with Pharmanex Lifepak supplements in the last year or so and more-so, recently.

Lifepak is a money-back-guarantee product from Pharmanex, together with Nu Skin, the company looks after you from inside out. How it works is, you can check your carotenoid levels via the S2 or S3 scanner and within 90 seconds you will know for yourself how 'healthy' you are. This clever piece of technology uses raman spectroscopy to detect the amount of anti-oxidant cells that are actively working in your entire body for the last 5 weeks of your life, I see it as a lie detector and that is really important to me because I try eat healthy foods and drinks and also trying to do some sort of exercise to stay 'healthy' but little did I know, my body wasn't absorbing all the vitamins and minerals, essentially it is a waste of money.
To me, it makes sense to know what is going on inside of my body because although I cannot physically see what is going on inside, I can see the results on my skin and how I feel.

From how disgusted I was on my initial score, I decided to take the 90 day challenge, after taking Lifepak I could feel and see the results and people around me was complimenting me asking me what I had been doing differently. I knew it would be the Lifepak because I realised my skin was different.

I recently did a test, where I deliberately did not take my Lifepak supplements and I was back to eating crisps again. We all have a guilty pleasure, mine is definitely crisps!! I managed to stop eating them for 11 and half months, but then recently I went back to eating a packet a day, sometimes up to 4 packets.

Here are some results of my scan:

 on 17 07 14 - score was 48,000

on 16 09 14 - score was 43,000

on 28 09 14 - score was 53,000

2 weeks of inflammed healing eczema which I haven't had for over a year!

Between 17 July to 16 September I deliberately not take my Lifepak supplements for atleast 2 weeks, plus I went back to eating out and eating 'unhealthy' foods most of the time crisps and I saw the effects on my mood, sleeping patterns and break outs on my skin. Hence why the drop in my score, I felt like I was suffering because also my eczema had started and that was always a severe problem I had when I was a kid, for someone else to notice it when it didn't actually bother me had made me become aware of my own skin. I was very ready to go back to boosting my immune system because winter is coming up and I usually am poorly through the entire winter suffering from common flu.





Between 19 Sept to today, I have been taking my Lifepak and my JVi juice to help change my immune system, and the score today is 53,000. I can truly say I have never seen my score this high before and I can see my skin clearing up even though I have been eating bad foods until yesterday! This truly is a real life changing proof and although I still have my break out of spots on my chin and cheeks, they aren't red raw or painful.



If you are interested to see how 'healthy' you are with a small charge -  email me for details and I can advise on where your nearest scanner is!


XOX

Microdermabrasion without pain is possible! How??!!

Microdermabrasion is becoming popular in salons because it shows results, depending on your skin type of course. I have had the opportunity to try it and it was an experience but not so much my favourite as it was painful - I wished I didn't have such sensitive skin! However, there is an alternative! 

Nu skin has a range which can help the skin to looking younger by tackling problematic areas as well as helping the skin to becoming even and reducing dark spots which is damaged by the sun harmful rays! Even when I apply SPF on a daily basis, I do enjoy being in the sun for long periods and then I develop the dark spots which may turn into cancer cells. 

The equivalent to microdermabrasion is the polishing peel to use in the comfort of your own home,  The aim is for you to feel at ease and pay only a fraction of the price compared to being in salons or buying expensive tools! 

 

The polishing peel is super easy to use and as you can see, my skin glows afterwards - this is within the hour! When I wake up, my skin is glowing with confidence ans when I apply my make up, it's so much smoother! 

INGREDIENTS
Water (Aqua), Bentonite, Zea mays (Corn) Starch, Glycerin, Sorbitol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cucurbita pepo (Pumpkin) Extract,* Polygonum cuspidatum Root Extract, Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Hexylene Glycol, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, C20-40 Pareth-10,1,2-Hexanediol, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance (Parfum), Chlorphenesin, Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminum Silicate, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891).
*Pumpkin enzymes

For less than £30, the tube contains 50ml of product which you can easily get 10+ Uses out of which is a fraction of what you would pay for a treatment at a salon. Clinically proven to be equivalent to a professional microdermabrasion session, Polishing Peel features Pumpkin Enzymes to resurface, soften and polish the skin and Bentonite Clay to remove dull skin cells and toxins.

Pro's:

• easy to use

• time lasts for long time

• results shown straight away

• suitable for sensitive skin

• glowing skin afterwards

• skin is smoother afterwards

• wake up to renewed skin making make up more easier to apply

• easy to travel with (even on a flight)

• clinically proven results

• use in the comfort of your own home

• takes no more than 3 minutes to use

Don't forget to apply your favourite night cream afterwards for maximum results! 

If you want to know how to purchase - feel free to send me an email for discount prices 

XOX 

Galvanic facial Spa results

I have been raving on about the Galvanic for the past year or so purely because of its immense results in as  little as 5 minutes..... this is why....

left  : before
right : after

Thanks to ageloc, it gives this result and no, these photos have not been photoshopped - they are simply true!

• ageLOC® targets the ultimate sources of ageing to preserve the look of youth and reduce the appearance of ageing.
• ageLOC® Transformation delivers unsurpassed anti-ageing benefits and is clinically proven to improve skin in eight significant ways:
• Promote youthful skin structure - patent-pending ingredient technology stimulates collagen production and reduces MMP3 (Matrix Metallopeptidase) production (MMP3s destroy skin structure).
• Smooth texture - contains ingredients proven to stimulate youthful cell renewal for smoother, softer skin you can feel.
• Even skin tone - by reducing the appearance of blotchy, dull and uneven skin for a smooth, youthful look.
• Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Increase skin radiance - with skin brightening technology.
• Reduce the appearance of pores - through youthful cell turnover.
• Reduce discolouration - brightening technology interrupts unwanted melanin production in the skin for a reduction in spots of discolouration.
• Increase hydration - by stimulating hyaluronic acid, a moisturising compound found naturally in the skin.

left : naked skin
right : result - client's left side of the face has been uplifted

As you can see, there is a difference on the face. The clients left side shows a natural cheekbone hence why the light reflecting from it on the top of the cheek, the line around the mouth has diminished slightly, and the fine lines under the eyes have been 'ironed' out. Our skin should be this way if it was damaged by the factors around us. This treatment was less than 10 minutes in total and used once only, however, if it is used 3 times a week for 90 days, results will change dramatically. 

Client noticed skin was soft to touch, and revealed her glowing skin, ageLOC restores the skins natural elasticity revealing glowing skin. 

If you're interested for more info , feel free to leave me a message below or email me strawbeefull@gmail.com

XOX





** I am a distributor for Nu Skin, this product was purchased with my own money and I have given my most honest opinion, I have not been contacted by the company to give this review in any way. ** 
Send me an email if you're interested to buy! 

Tip for hayfever sufferers!!

For those of you who own a facial galvanic spa machine, have you ever wondered how you can clear your sinuses? It's really simple!! Simply add some Epoch Ice Dancer onto the side of the nose area, apply the clear treatment gel and then use the straight-ish lined galvanic head and straight away you feel the soothing feeling from the 'ice dancer' .

 

It's very effective and you would use a small amount of the 'ice dancer' gel plus the clear treatment gel on top of the skin and magic happens!!!

XOX

Nu Skin vs Aveda - my top shampoo of the year

 

Hair care is as equally important as washing my face or moisturising my skin from head to toe. I intend to grow my hair down to my knees and now that it's being looked after from root to tip, I believe I will reach that goal sooner than I think!

Why? Well, after trying various brands of shampoo's, conditioners, hair masks, hair sprays , hair oils, treatments, I have same problems after a short period of time and even though I take my multi-vitamins, I still do get the off fall outs. I wash my hair every single day, even though they say its bad for you, its always been a priority for me ever since I was a kid. Working in a hospital environment and having my hair done for photo shoots kills my hair strands so of course I need to look after it well.

Take a look at my previous blog post for more pictures including the amount of fall outs I have in just 2 days! Do you have that problem too?

 Did you know that as you age, your hair follicles reduces its diameter hence why we have thinner hair as we grow older - this can be due to many factors including diet, lack of vitamin absorption, pollution, stress AND the products we use on our hair, so looking after it now will prevent you from having thin hair or going bald whether you're a male or female. 

 Throughout last winter I used this shampoo by Aveda, known for using natural plant extracts and natural oils to help maintain the hair and ' professionally developed, clinically tested, and go to exceptional lengths to be respectful of the earth. '

Aveda can be found in most department stores such as Selfridges, Debenams, House of Fraser, as well as salons and some hair boutique stores. It can also be purchased online.

 
After receiving samples from Aveda counter, I decided to buy the full price bottle for £20.50. I bought 2 bottles in total as I wanted to use it for at least 2 months.

There is 200ml of the product and having use this every day, I finished 1 bottle in about a month and half as a little goes a long way.

The scent smelt like herbs but didn't last on my hair, which I wasn't too bothered about because I found the scent of the shampoo abit too over whelming as it smelt like I had worked in a chinese herbal shop all day!

The consistency was thick and it did slide off my fingers very quickly in the shower which meant it would end up on the floor, not in my hair. I was quite disappointed by the lotion as it was £20.50 I felt like I had wasted some of this product if I wasn't careful enough. I learnt from this mistake anyhow and continued to use this but to pour out the product slowly into my dry hairs then onto my wet hair.

I didn't notice much of my fall-outs reducing even after using it for over a month, but I did notice the hair felt thicker and more wax-like in terms of texture. After air drying it, the scent of the herbs remained in my hair but if I was to blow dry my hair, it felt slightly sticky and thick at times and I can assure you, I did wash it thoroughly.

The lid is a push-down top lid which means the lotion can be squeezed out the bottle.

It promises to:

• Cleanses, exfoliates and renews the scalp with wintergreen-derived salicylic acid.
• Clinically proven to remove the build-up of sebum and product residue that can clog pores and affect healthy hair.
• Nourishes dry, tight scalps with extracts from millet seed and milk thistle, equalizing the lipid balance.
• Contains densiplex^TM-an invigorating blend of Ayurvedic herbs, including turmeric and ginseng.
• One of 7 groundbreaking products honoured with Gold-level Cradle to Cradle certification.

VS

The exfoliating shampoo deep cleanses the scalp to remove debris and buildup in the follicle

I was recommended this Clarifying shampoo to try and I saw the active ingredients - totally intrigued. If you are a hair freak or work in the hair profession - you must check this one out!

For £16 there is 250ml of product in the long tall bottle with a flip lid on top.

I used this everyday for the first 7 days (due to curling, hair spraying and backcombing) then 2-3 times a week after that if need be and its lasting me just over a month, in fact I am still using my first bottle. I tend to use this more when my hair goes through a lot of damage such as heat appliances, hot sun, backcombing and hair prep from photo shoots I recently did.
The beauty of this shampoo is you can feel that your hair is loved from the first use and now my hair feels so much fuller, thicker in each hair strand and shines. My split ends are taken care of and I can continue to grow it.

It promises to:

On day one, Nu Skin® Clarifying Shampoo provides a deep clean without stripping the hair of natural moisturisers for renewed manageability. By day seven, hair actually feels stronger. Formulated with shea butter seedcake extract, this powerful cleanser attaches to build-up - including nicotine, chlorine and environmental pollutants - and washes away the signs of ageing. Your hair will feel clean, shiny and manageable after just one wash.


The consistency is thick but once it is applied to the hair, it sinks in. I love it when it is massaged on my scalp, it feels very minty and revitalised. It turns into a foam on the scalp but not as thick as soap, which means it doesn't leave the hair feeling sticky but only to gently cleanser overworked hair.

The main active ingredients:-

•    Cotton Bloom Extract - smoothes the cuticle, protects the keratin structure and moisturises naturally with seven actively synergistic oligosaccharides.
•    Shea Butter Seedcake Extract (butyrospermum parkii) – acts as a detoxifying agent to remove chlorine, heavy metals, nicotine, exhaust, gas and other environmental pollutants.
•    Nettle - cleanses hair and helps control sebum production.



To conclude this, my ultimate favourite is definatly the Nu Skin Clarifying shampoo because after seeing the results within 7 days using a small amount, I didn't have the results from the Aveda shampoo until after a week and the texture of my hair was very sticky whereas the Nu Skin shampoo smoothed my hair making it more manageable - this is without the use of a conditioner so imagine what my hair would be like with the use of a conditioner or a hair mask?!

Long term wise - buying 2 bottles of each, definatly saving more money on the Nu Skin Clarifying shampoo and longer lasting. My scalp feels moisturised and the hair is loved from root to tip, it rediscovers my hairs strength which I lost ever since I was in my late teens as my hair went through a lot of hair dye, straight perms, curlers, straighteners. Now I am keeping it all natural & growing it mega long for my big day!


Suitable for all ages and highly recommended to those who put their hair through a lot of stress or people with thick and hoarse hair.

If you're interested to try, send me an email to be registered to buy -

 Much Love

XOX

strawbeefull@gmail.com

Love my strenghthened hair - Necklace is from http://www.tigeressboutique.com (quote Jess when purchasing)

Clarifying shampoo from Nu Skin

 

Hair care is equally important to me as washing my face or brushing my teeth or drinking water, it's one of my daily activities! Yes I know I know, washing the hair every day isn't good for you because of x, y and z BUT I have to because of the environment I work in and also the damage it goes through every single day. Working in a hospital envirnment or an industry where there is alot of pollution including hair spray isn't doing your hair any favours either so I have to wash it every single day - unless I am ill at home (which is rare nowadays).

My hair is now super long, touches my bum and it's not as thick as it use to be. The colour remains how it always has been - dark but lighter in the heat.
It is maintained well, I shampoo it every single day, condition it 2 times a week and a hair mask once every month or more if needed, depending on what my hair goes through during my photoshoots.

 

in just 2 days this is how much hair falls out!

 As you can see above, there is a handful of hair in my hands collected from 2 days of washing it. It always gets left in my bath tub plug hole and yes I collected it to show you guys what I have to deal with! It blocks my sink/tub and hair is all over the floors and the worse thing is - I don't even brush my hair because of the fall outs and it makes me feel old lol. When it comes to back combing my hair for photoshoots or a different hair style for an occasion , my hair CRIES out in pain. 

After growing it for years and not dyeing the hair, it's a lot better in terms of maintainance and styling, I prefer long hair than short for me because hair styling becomes so versatile and I enjoy playing with versatility.

this is my hair damp as I usually air dry it

This is my hair after using the Nu Skin Clarifying shampoo, hair feels much thicker, manageable, smooth, feels like it's been fed with nutrients and the scalp is so refreshing. My hair feels clean. 

For £16 a bottle, it's a generous price for a bottle of product that makes a difference to the hair from the first use.

I have replaced this with my other shampoo's which I will blog about in the next blog post to compare.

What I love about this is these active ingredients :-

•    Cotton Bloom Extract - smoothes the cuticle, protects the keratin structure and moisturises naturally with seven actively synergistic oligosaccharides.
•    Shea Butter Seedcake Extract (butyrospermum parkii) – acts as a detoxifying agent to remove chlorine, heavy metals, nicotine, exhaust, gas and other environmental pollutants.
•    Nettle - cleanses hair and helps control sebum production.

(my natural hair colour is brown)

	1x a Week	2x a Week	3x a Week	More than 3x a Week
Clarifying Shampoo	Healthy, dry to normal hair	Oily hair or hair exposed to environmental pollution	Very oily hair and hair exposed to environmental pollution	Very short and oily hair exposed to environmental pollution

I use mine once a week and if my hair has been through a lot of hair spray and back combing then I reach for this and my hair feels loved from root to tip without stripping the hair. Because this is sulphate-free, the hair is stronger when it's washed and that's the problem I initially had therefore I changed my hair products to sulphate-free.

If you are a hair specialist or read ingredients for hair products then you must check this one out:

Ingredients: 

Water (Aqua), Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl
Betaine, Cocamide MEA, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Lauroyl
Sarcosinate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Seedcake
Extract, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Extract, Panthenol,
Menthol, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Leaf Extract, Urtica
Dioica (Nettle) Extract, PEG-150 Distearate, Butylene Glycol,
Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone,
Methylisothiazolinone.

If you're interested to try this then send me an email so I can register you and there is a chance of a discount too =]

XOX

Suffer from neck or shoulder pain?

 

So I woke up this morning with pain on my left neck and shoulder and I have been every now and again for the past year or so. I've tried accupuncture, physio, deep tissue massages but it still keeps coming back! There's nothing more aggravating than waking up with neck pain and working in a busy environment with more than 12 hour shifts at a time - so you can imagine how patient I have to be.

Pain affects us in different ways, I don't tend to get (too) moody but I do like to keep quiet and control the pain that way. I've had enough of suffering in silence and after numberous attempts of curing my pain, I enjoy reaching out to my body galvanic machine and my ice-dancer gel. It's not a machine to cure all miracles but I sure do make full use of it and I have to say, it's been my best friend for almost a year now and i love using it with my other products! 

The ice-dancer gel gives the effect of a 'cooling' sensation and together with the body gel and the body galvanic machine, it allows the gel to work deep into the muscles giving you that release tension in the area you use it on. Pretty clever huh? Just the use of 5 minutes , I can feel the effects almost straight away and it allows my day to be pain free. Depending on my physical work load during the day, I use it again before bed time which helps me sleep. 

I've never tried anything as intense as this at home and it takes literally 5 minutes of my time! 

Highly recommend it for those who are living in silence! 

If you want to ask me questions then feel free to drop me a message or email to strawbeefull@gmail.com

XOX

** I am a distributor for Nu Skin, this product was purchased with my own money and I have given my most honest opinion, I have not been contacted by the company to give this review in any way. **

Latest beauty haul!

WOW I haven't added a blog entry for SO long! I guess I have been busy lazy and abandoned my blog, fear not, I am back!!! I have actually missed writing and adding photo's so I shall endeavour to make more of an effort! Due to busy schedule with my jobs, I guess this has been my last place to leave my thoughts!

So... ANYWAYS.... my latest beauty haul includes all these items from Nu Skin. I have been wanting to try the whitening toothpaste for a while now, just finished my stock of Colgate Total and I said to myself I would try this whitening one as it's one of the worlds bestest whitening toothpaste you can get! Very intrigued as I wanted to have my teeth whitened but scared due to the harsh chemicals and my teeth can be quite sensitive at times so this is a safe option for me! 

I bought a face essentials guide as it would benefit me in what I can recommend to my clients as I haven't tried absolutely everything in the Nu Skin range, probably only 1/4 of the entire store but I love what I am using at the moment in the ageLOC range. I also got some more of my ageLOC gels for my face & body galvanic machines preparing my body for the summer!! Planning on holidays from May onwards so am working on it now! Otherwise I just wont do it!  It's always easier said than done right?
Of course I got a bottle of the moisture mist, which is my absolute holy grail! Each bottle is 250ml and it lasts me about 2 months which is a real bargain price at about £15 per bottle! Just love love the stuff!! Will be blogging about it soon!!

See you guys real soon!

XOX