Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

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15 December 2010: 10:19

Men spend longer getting ready than women

David Beckham’s groomed charms may not have been enough to convince FIFA to grant us the World Cup but he has, alongside the likes of Gavin Henson and Peter Andre, managed to influence the average male into spending more time grooming himself. 

While for years men mocked women’s lengthy beauty regimes; scoffing as women painstakingly waxed, blow dried and painted parts of their body.  The tables have officially turned.  As the party season gets into full swing it has been revealed that men are spending longer getting ready than women. 

Research by Debenhams shows that the average British man will spend 98 minutes getting ready for the Christmas party, while ladies spend a comparatively measly 84 minutes.  While women have perfected their routine through years of practice, men are taking more time with shaving, showering, moisturising and even facials, tanning and manicures, in addition to choosing the perfect outfit. 

To help them catch up we’ve picked out a few key items in preparation for this year’s festivities.

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit de L’Homme, £54.00 Debenhams

Shiseido zen for men aftershave lotion, £40.00, House of Fraser

Acqua di Parma Ultimate travel shaving set, £66.00, House of Fraser

Chanel for him, £42.00 – £58.00, Debenhams

Lancome Renergy 3D cream for men, £45.00, Debenhams

Clinique skin supplies for men,£27.00, Boots

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Categories: Beauty, Celebrity Looks, News, Product Reviews

14 December 2010: 09:00

Fearne Cotton’s Party Tips

Party season is well and truly upon us and it’s safe to say Fearne Cotton seems like a girl who knows how to party in style.  So, as we upate our looks for the festivities, we’ve had a peek at Fearne’s new make-up range at Boots. 

The packaging suggests this collection is for brightly coloured rock chicks meet girl next door types just like her, the colours are bang on trend with just the right amount of variety and the quality is actually pretty good.

The ’It’s All About The Eyes’ shimmers (pictured above) are particular fun and longlasting enough to only need application as you make the transition from day to night.  We’ve got a video showing the lovely Fearne giving us a few tips on how to get her party look. Enjoy.

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Categories: Beauty, Celebrity Looks, Product Reviews

3 December 2010: 13:59

Giorgio Armani Micro-filô loose powder

Product review:  Product name: Giorgio Armani Micro-filô loose powder

Available from: House of Fraser

Price:  £28

What it claims to do:
Giorgio Armani’s Micro–fil™ loose powder provides a natural and lumious complexion. Extremely light and fine, this powder reduces shine and evens out your skin tone to give the apperance of flawless skin. It’s suitable for all skin types and is easily transportable, perfect for touching up on the go.

The review:
I have used this powder for over a year now and this one tub is still going strong! The powder is very light and easy to apply and the colour is very natural. It’s great for evening my skin tone and mattifying my skin after applying foundation. Plus it lasts most of the day.

Final verdict
This is a must-have product for me to include in my daily make-up routine. You don’t have to use much so the pot lasts for ages.

Reviewed by Sarah

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Categories: Beauty, Beauty Panel, Product Reviews

1 December 2010: 09:00

Shu Uemura essence absolue

Beauty review: Shu Uemura essence absolue


Available from:  Toni&Guy

Price: £38

What it claims to do:
Formulated with precious Camellia Oil, which was used with geishas’ renowned haircare. The Oil’s source is the Camellia Japonica, a centenarian tree whose extraordinary blossom defends against the harshest of snows.
shu uemura  Art of Hair Essence Absolue has been created with Camellia Oil that leaves hair with definitive richness and a petal-weight finish.
shu uemura  Art of Hair Essence Absolue recreates geisha hair beauty secrets. It invites hair to expose it’s true natural beauty, revealing shine, suppleness and smoothness. The Oil can be used as both a leave-in and pre-shampoo.

Review
I recently had a shu uemura hair treatment at Toni&Guy http://www.westfieldstylenotes.com/toniguy-shu-uemura-hair-treatment/ and loved it so much that I had to try their best-selling essence absolue oil for hair. This is apparently one of the reasons why Jennifer Aniston’s hair looks as amazing as it does (ok, a designer haircut helps). I use it on towel dried hair and use only a few drops through the ends before blow-drying. The oil smells amazing and soaks into my cuticles when rubbed on my hands. It does not feel greasy or oily at all and leaves hair glossy and feeling silky.

Verdict
This product is definitely on the pricey side, but like most shu uemura products, a little goes a long way. I have been using my oil every day for 3 months and am not even 1/3 through the bottle. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to improve the condition of their hair, especially those with split-ends or dry hair.

Reviewed by Dearne

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Categories: Beauty, Beauty Panel, Product Reviews

29 November 2010: 09:00

Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream

Beauty review:  Clarins Hand & Nail Treatment Cream

Available at:  House of Fraser, Debenhams

Price: £17

What it claims to do
Softens Hands – Minimises Age Spots – Strengthens Nails. This must-have hand cream provides much-needed moisturisation for the hands. It promotes soft, supple hands, long-lasting comfort and also strengthens nails.

The review
The cream absorbs instantly and doesn’t leave hands greasy. Even though it has a very light texture it Instantly moisturises and my hands feel noticeably softer. Protects against chapping. Soft hands and stronger nails

Final verdict
I love the light weight texture  and smell of this handcream and my hands feel so soft after an application. I am going to use this day and night.

Reviewed by Sarah

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Categories: Beauty, Beauty Panel, Product Reviews

23 November 2010: 10:38

Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

Beauty review: Clarins Hydraquench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase

Available from: House of Fraser, Debenhams

Price:  £37.50

What it claims to do:
Intensive SOS Treatment for Dehydrated Skin. A light yet deeply comforting bi-phase which intensively hydrates, repairs and rebalances dehydrated skin, smoothing away premature wrinkles and restoring radiance.

For all skin types and all climates. Skin Type: Dry/ Dehydrated. Shake well and apply morning and/or evening to face and neck after cleansing. Follow with a moisturiser.

The review:
I’ve been using this to help when my skin is dry from too much sun exposure or from this winter wind and central heating. It’s best used after cleansing and before moisturising to give an extra hydrating boost. I’ve found that it definitely makes a difference to my skin, my skin feels instantly softer and fine lines look less obvious.

Final verdict:
My skin looks noticeably more radiant and moisturised, I’ve even had two people ask me what I’ve been doing that’s different – so that’s always a good sign!

Reviewed by Sarah

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19 November 2010: 09:00

Burt’s Bees hand creme

Beauty Review: Burt’s Bees Beeswax and Banana Hand Creme

Available from: Boots, House of Fraser

Price: £9.99

What it claims to do:

Hands, often exposed to heat, cold, dirt and harsh detergents, are one of the first areas of the body to show aging. Keep yours soft and smooth with our super emollient hand creme.

Our reviewer says:

In the winter, my hands can get so very dry. I become a bit of a hand cream addict. So many creams are ultimately disappointing, no matter how many promises they make to keep my hands soft, smooth and moisturised. Not so with this Burts Bees cream. It is super thick and really does leave my hands feeling so much smoother and looking more alive again. Beeswax and banana sounds slightly offputting, but the smell isn’t overpowering or artificial.

Final verdict:

I love this hand cream. I first discovered it on a trip to the US years ago, and was so pleased when I was able to buy it here. If your hands are prone to dryness, try it. I highly recommend it and always have a tub on the go.

Reviewed by Pippa

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Categories: Beauty, Product Reviews

18 November 2010: 09:00

5 best nail polishes for under £10

We’re big fans of painted nails here at Westfield HQ. We’re always up for trying out the latest shades and brands. We have even been known to try out a new polish at our desks (sshhh, don’t tell!).

If you’re looking for a new nail polish and you don’t want to spend a fortune, we’ve discovered some great brands which won’t break the bank. We recommend them for colour, easy application and they’ll last you for at least a weekend. Best of all, they all cost under £10. We reckon that some of these are equal to, if not better than, some of the much more expensive nail polishes around.

So if you like to update your nail polish to match your latest outfit, we suggest you give these nail polishes a go. They have great new season colours too. Look out for autumnal hues and this season’s nudes and steely greys in particular.

Left to right: Topshop Nails in Cloud, £6; Essie nail polish in Chubby Cheeks, Debenhams £8.95; Rimmel 60 Seconds nail polish in Pompous, Superdrug £3.49; Rituals nail polish in Late Night Ruby, £7.90; Max Factor Max Colour Effects in Red Carpet Glam, Boots £3.95.

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Categories: Beauty, Don't Miss, Product Reviews

16 November 2010: 09:00

Topshop mascara

Beauty Review: Topshop Mascara in Bitter Chocolate


Price: £8

Available from: Topshop

What it claims to do:
Super volumising mascara for false lash effect dramatically thicker and fuller lashes.

Rest the mascara brush at the base of your lashes and slowly pull through, wiggling the brush from side to side as you go to fully coat lashes. For full on lashes, coat both sides of upper and lower lashes, using as many coats as you need for dramatically thicker and fuller finish.

Our reviewer says:
I really like this mascara. It sets itself apart from the other mascaras which scream about giving you gloriously full eyelashes. The packaging is simple and effective.
It’s easy to use, easy to apply and it doesn’t clump. You can keep applying lots of coats to build up as dark or light a colour as required.
I really love the colour of the ‘bitter chocolate’ – it’s a really nice shade of brown giving a more natural finish than the usual jet black.

Final verdict:
The price point is good and I love it for being so simple but effective.
Overall, it gets a good all-rounder thumbs up from me!

Reviewed by Julie

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9 November 2010: 09:00

Shu Uemura Balancing Cleansing Oil

Beauty Review: Shu Uemura Balancing Cleansing Oil


Price: £27
Available from:  House of Fraser
What it claims to do:
A two-in-one cleanser and makeup remover.  A light, refreshing cleanser and makeup remover that thoroughly cleanses the skin without disrupting its natural balance, leaving it purified and blemish-free. Leaves skin smooth and protected without stripping it of its natural oils. shu uemura’s #1 selling Cleansing Oil. Suitable for all skin types.

Our reviewer says:
I have read a lot about the benefits of cleansing with oil lately, especially for those with oily/blemish prone skin like myself. Most people believe that oil-based cleansers and beauty products  are bad for oily skin. The truth is that it has now been proven that oil dissolves oil, and cleansing with oil can actually balance your skin. I use Shu Uemura’s hair oil and it’s amazing. so I was keen to try their skin care oil.

Final verdict:
This is an excellent cleanser and removes make-up effectively while leaving skin soft and hydrated. I highly recommend this cleanser for anyone with dry or irritated skin as it’s so gentle, yet effective.  It is quite pricey, however you only need a few drops to massage into your face before it emulsifies and you wipe off with a face washer.

Reviewed by Dearne

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