Review | Herbal Essences Bee Strong

I'm the first to admit that I suffer from slight commitment issues when it comes to forming long lasting relationships with beauty products, especially hair care collections. I enjoy experimenting with a wide range of high street hair care brands and find it almost impossible to stick with one range for more than one bottle, if that. However, this has recently changed! Having discovered and fallen in love with the new Herbal Essences Bee Strong range I can confirm that my commitment issues are, for the time being (!) no longer a problem. I'm even going so far as to bestow Herbal Essences Bee Strong *holy grail status* as I am seriously impressed with the quality of the four products available and I've actually repurchased two of them already, which is a big deal for a commitment-phobe like me! 

A bit of background on my hair and its needs. Texture wise, my hair is quite fine and although there's a lot of it (judging by the amount left behind on my Tangle Teaser every morning) it's quite thin and poker straight, meaning products that leave my hair feeling weighed down are a complete no-no. I've been dying my hair since I was fourteen, from mahogany to bright red to light brown to dark brown to pink to strawberry blonde to ash blonde to honey blonde... At the moment I'm gradually growing out my highlights as I felt unhappy with how yellow-blonde my hair had become, so my hair is currently a mixture of light blonde highlights and darker blonde natural colour, which sounds a bit of a mess but it actually looks OK! Because of all this dying, the ends of my hair are very dry and so benefit from using intensive masks and deep conditioning treatments regularly. I tend to wash my hair daily as I really don't like the feeling of day old hair and I don't particularly like the powdery sensation that dry shampoo leaves behind. When selecting hair care products I look for ones that aim to strengthen, soften and nourish. 

Bee Strong Shampoo £3.89 400ml, Conditioner £3.89 400ml at Boots

Herbal Essences Bee Strong has been designed 'for damaged hair' and is a 'strengthening' collection. The inclusion of softening 'honey and apricot extracts' instantly appealed to me as I'm obsessed with anything honey related and the scent of the Bee Strong collection is absolutely gorgeous! Here's what Herbal Essences claim on the blurb of the Bee Strong Strengthening Shampoo bottle:

'Bulk up strength with this nourishing shampoo. This formula works to help repair the protective outer layer of each strand of hair to leave it strong against combing damage'

And here's what the Bee Strong Strengthening Conditioner has to say for itself:

'This rich and creamy conditioner leaves your hair strong against combing damage for silky-strong locks you will love'

To be honest I wouldn't say I'm suffering from combing damage, and it seems like a bit of a narrow focus, but these beauties work brilliantly on my hair type and instantly make my hair visibly softer, smoother and shinier. The shampoo lathers up well and rinses easily, while the conditioner has a nice thick consistency and leaves my hair feeling truly nourished and stronge with far less flyaways and less noticeable split ends. I've used lots of Herbal Essences products in the past, some of which I've found have left a slighly tacky coating on my hair once dry; thankfully this isn't a problem I've experienced with Bee Strong. Once dry my hair doesn't feel weighed down at all and it looks and it looks and feels super healthy. 

Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask £4.19 200ml at Boots

Two or three times a week I use a generous dollop of the Bee Strong Strengthening Intensive Mask as a deep conditioning treat. and this has quickly become my favourite hair mask. I'm already past the half way point and will be repurchasing as soon as I run out, as it's making such a difference to the quality and appearance of my hair. Here's what the golden tub claims:

'Tackle dryness and combing damage and say hello to silky-strong locks. This rich moisturising mask helps repair signs of combing damage from root to tip'

A thick creamy texture and delicious apricot scent make this a real treat to use. I help myself to a big scoop and focus on the ends of my hair, and as soon as I've rinsed I notice a difference in smoothness. Unlike other masks I've tried, this one actually seems to have a lasting effect, making my hair look and feel softer and so much shinier than usual. It soothes dry ends effectively and makes them far less noticeable and much softer to touch. It rinses out easily with no residue and doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down. To say I'm impressed is a bit of an understatement! I can't emphasis enough how delicious this smells, it's so more-ish! I've also been using it as a soothing shaving cream on my legs to maximise opportunities to indulge in the fragrance. Mmm. 

Bee Strong Strengthening Cream £4.79 150ml at Boots

I've been using the leave in Bee Strong Strengthening Cream in conjunction with the other Bee Strong products and it's a nice finishing touch. It comes with a spray nozzle which is a little strange as it's a cream texture, so I usually spritz it three of four times in my hands and then distribute evenly through damp hair with my palms. 

'This thick 'n creamy formula goes on smooth and helps protect hair from combing damage, giving you the silky strong hair you always wanted'

To be honest I'm not sure if this cream makes a huge individual difference, as I've also used the shampoo and conditioner without it and the results are very similar. It does smell fantastic and makes my hair super easy to comb, so that's a plus and it feels like a nice easy treat to add to my hair care routine so I'm going to keep on using it. 

I recently ran out of the shampoo and conditioner and immediately repurchased as my hair feels so much softer when using them and my dry ends are far more nourished than when using any other hair care line. If you're thinking about giving the Herbal Essences Bee Strong range a go I'd highly recommend doing so! Holy grail status confirmed. 

Explore Herbal Essences Bee Strong collection here

Review | Garnier Fructis Spray-On Serum 5 in 1 with Moroccan Argan Oil

What with having highlighted hair I like to use a serum or oil to add shine and nourishment to my parched strands. I tend to prefer a thicker serum/oil as it somehow feels more satisfying to really work it into your hair, but when I saw Garnier's new Spray-On Serum 5 in 1 I was intrigued. Could a spray really deliver the same kind of nourishment as a bottle of oil or serum? Infused with nourishing Moroccan Argan Oil, it seemed like an interesting idea and so I decided to give it a go. 

Garnier Fructis Spray-On Serum 5 in 1, £3.89 (150ml)

Garnier's Spray-On Serum claims to do 5 things: smooth, add shine, tackle frizz and flyaways, act against humidity and deliver a weightless feel. According to the blurb on the back of the can it 'combines the lightness of a spray with the power of a serum'. I'll admit I was skeptical, as clearly I wouldn't be experiencing the satisfaction that comes with smoothing a liquid serum on to the slightly sad ends of my hair! But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this spray really does do a good job of achieving all five of its aims. 

My immediate impression upon spraying my freshly washed and dried hair was that my hair looked instantly smoother, with an added shine boost (tick, tick). My hair is quite fine and can be prone to flyaways, which is really irritating; this sorted them out in no time (tick). It just so happened that after using this yesterday I had to make a trip into town, in the middle of an extremely hot and humid afternoon. I felt so unbelievably uncomfortable in my long sleeved top and jeans, but when I returned home and looked in the mirror my hair still looked super sleek and tamed. Phew! Anti-humidity? Tick! I couldn't 'feel' the spray once I'd spritzed it; it doesn't leave a tacky residue, so in terms of weightless feel it also delivers on its promise. Another tick! 

While I love the finish it provides and how shiny it makes my hair look, I find it doesn't quite nourish or soften dry ends as much as liquid Argan oil infused products do, although this is perhaps understandable considering the way in which a liquid can be targeted directly at dry ends in a way that a spray can't (although I did try!) With this in mind I'd use a liquid serum first, to really coat and penetrate parched hair, and then spray my hair with Garnier's Spray-On Serum afterwards to give a really glossy finish. Bearing in mind I'm in desperate need of a haircut, the spray alone could be enough when not battling extremely dry ends that should really have been chopped off by now! *Guilty face*

As an additional bonus, Garnier's Spray-On Serum happens to smell absolutely incredible! It has a really fresh fruity scent that I can't get enough off, and for that reason alone I'd be willing to use it every day, regardless of whether or not it fulfills its promises! It smells so, so yummy. Luckily, though, it not only smells delicious, it also delivers on all five aims as labelled on the front and back of the can. A surprise success for me, I'm sure this is going to become an everyday essential. It's unique, it works and it smells amazing. A definite hair success. 

Find Garnier Fructis Spray-On Serum 5 in 1 here

Hair mask heaven: Hask Macadamia Oil Hair Treatment

I haven't had my hair cut or coloured in what feels like forever *sad face* so I'm always on the lookout for a good, nourishing mask to tend to my stressed out tresses. Yes, I know, I know, nothing gets rid of dry, split ends like having a little trim but I can't even afford that at the moment and I'm not very good with scissors... So a mask it must be. 

Hask is an American hair care brand sold in drugstores such as Walmart, Walgreens and Duane Reade, and they currently sell a selection of their products in the UK through Primark. I first came across Hask after hearing a bit about them in the beauty blogging world, and as they're such bargain products I thought I'd give them a go. I was able to find two mask varieties: the Macadamia Oil Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment and the Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment. They retail at £2 each and come in handy, generously filled sachets, with enough in each to last three or four applications on my long hair.  

I decided to try the Macadamia Oil mask first because I haven't used any Macadamia products before. I've had a few Argan oil serums and oils so figured it might be nice to try something new. The product aims to 'rejuvenate dry, damaged, chemically treated or over processed hair' which sounds perfect for my frazzled strands. It contains Keratin to restore strength and Macadamia oil which apparently seals cuticles while making hair super soft and shiny. 

The full list of ingredients is as follows:

To be honest I don't really know what everything actually is, but I can spot Macadamia Nut and Keratin Protein! I really should learn more about the science behind beauty products.. But anyhoo, let's get on with the review. 

I cannot emphasise the following point enough: this mask smells AMAZING. It smells INCREDIBLE. It smells very strongly of nuts, sort of a nutty, sweet, creamy, nourishing smell. If that makes sense?! I pretty much wanted to scoop it out and eat it as soon as I opened the sachet, but obviously that's not advised. I settled for smoothing a large dollop onto my wet hair, concentrating on the tips and working my way up. I didn't put too much near my roots as my hair has been known to do the dreaded oily roots/dry ends combo at times, so I focused mainly on the ends to mid-lengths. The mask has a lovely thick consistency which I tried to capture in the following photo:

I appreciate that the photo may not do the product justice! But I'm hoping it gives a good impression of how thick and creamy it is. It smooths on really easily and the smell is just divine. I was reluctant to rinse it off after the required ten minutes but there's no need to worry as the smell lingers long after rinsing and drying. Phew! 

My first impressions when combing through my damp, towel dried hair with my beloved Tangle Teaser was that my hair felt incredibly soft and easy to comb. Usually I have one or two knots that need a bit of work but my hair was knot free. I let my hair air dry as I'm trying to avoid using heated appliances too often, and once dry my strands felt softer and smoother than before and looked very shiny. They also felt stronger and looked less frizzy. While it isn't a miracle worker in that the ends of my hair are still quite dry and tired looking, it does give a good boost and works as a quick fix if you're in need of a short term glossing effect. In this respect, it certainly fulfills its promises as stated on the packaging. My hair felt in much better condition than it did beforehand, and seeing as each mask only costs £2 I'd say it's definitely worth the money. 

I'll be trying the Argan Oil mask next week and will report back with how it compares. If it smells half as good as this then it's already a guaranteed winner! 

Find out more about Hask here.

Primark beauty haul: Hair, tan and storage!

'Primark' and 'beauty' isn't really a combination that instantly fills me with excitement to be honest. Bargain bikinis and ballet shoes, yes. But beauty products? Hmm...

However, having noticed Hask's range of Argan Oil and Macadamia Oil products on my last few shopping trips, and having heard good things about them from fellow bloggers, I thought I'd put my Primark prejudice aside and give them a go. Of course, as soon as I started browsing the beauty shelves I found lots of other goodies I wanted to try, hence one hair mask turning into a Primark beauty haul. Oops! Here are the bits and bobs I picked up. 

Hask hair treatment masks, £2 each 

Macadamia hot oil treatment £2, Argan oil £2.50

I went in looking for Hask products and found the Argan Oil and Macadamia Nut masks, plus a Macadamia Nut hot oil treatment and Argan Oil shine oil to use on wet and dry hair. I used the Macadamia Nut mask this morning and I was extremely impressed; expect a review over the next few days. 

Hair Essentials with Argan oil shampoo and conditioner, £2.50 each 

This Argan oil shampoo and conditioner duo is actually made especially for Primark, unlike Hask which is a division of an American hair care company. I'm intrigued to see what these are like. The bottles are reminiscent of the infamous Moroccan Oil range, although I'm sort of doubting the quality will be quite as good. I'll be testing these this week and will report back with my verdict.

Anti-Imperfection face mask 90p

Who didn't love these Montagne Jeunesse face masks during their teen years?! I'm still a fan, especially as they come in a range of wonderful colours with hilarious images on the front of each sachet. Where can I get me some leaves like that?! This one contains aloe vera and willow which I thought sounded very soothing, and since I've been making an effort to use a mask once or twice a week to encourage clearer pores I figured this 90p (!) classic might help. 

Sunkissed Gradual Tan £2.90

My nickname when I was younger and holidaying in Italy with my Stepmum's Italian family was 'mozzarella'. Which just about sums up how pale I am and how stubborn my skin is when it comes to tanning. OK, so I actually hate sunbathing and would rather stick pins in my eyes than lie out on a beach towel for hours at a time (I don't cope very well in extreme heat!) But still, my legs don't even pick up a 'walking around being a tourist' tan. I rely on gradual tan to see me through the summer months, because as much as I try go by the pale and interesting tag my legs are more translucent than white. I usually use Palmer's Cocoa Butter gradual tan but thought I'd give this a go as it makes a cheaper alternative. The packaging looks sleek and the initial smell is quite cocoa buttery. It's not made specifically for Primark as far as I can tell, but is part of a wider range of tanning products made a company Sunkissed. I slapped some on my pins this morning after my bath, so I'll be judging the results this evening before bed. Fingers crossed!

Large 'Ditzy' wash bag £3 and small 'Ditzy' make-up bag £2

Last but not least, I couldn't resist picking up a few make-up bags. The larger one was only £3 and the smaller one was £2, and I love the floral design. I seem to have hundreds of make-up bags but really needed a bigger one to dump my everyday items into, rather than having three of four small bags spilling everywhere on the bathroom floor. The smaller bag is perfect for holding handbag essentials, so I'll be bringing it everywhere with me. If I'm being honest I seem to get a kick out of collecting make-up bags and these were just too cute to resist!

Have you tried any beauty products from Primark? I'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Weekend haul: Sinful Colors, got2b and Topshop make-up

As I had £16 worth of Boots points on my card I thought I'd treat myself to a few bits and bobs over the weekend. I'm currently ever-so-slightly obsessed with nail polish, so I picked up four pretty shades from the new Sinful Colors collection. An American company, Sinful Colors seem to specialise in fun, 'trendy' colours, with the collection featuring lots of neons, pastels and glitters. They retail for £1.99 each, which is pretty fab. Here are the four I picked up:

L-R: Island Coral, Cinderlla, Winterberry, Soul Mate

I really like the pale blue shimmer 'Cinderella' and the dark brown-aubergine Winterberry in particular. The other two look quite similar but Soul Mate is a more pinky coral as opposed to orange coral. 

I also picked up a few hair products. The new range of Schwarzkopf got2b styling products were on sale for £3 each, so I chose the beach matt mermaid look texturizing salt spray and the Oil-licious tame & shine styling oil. 

I love a good salt spray, especially for when my hair is feeling a little flat. I also love a good hair oil for everyday use, and this one is such a great bargain. I've used it a few times over the last couple of days on damp hair, and it really helps to smooth split ends and nourish my frazzled highlighted locks. It has quite a thick texture, which I prefer as it feels more satisfying somehow when applying to hair in need of nourishment. Plus it smells lovely, quite floral but with a nutty kick too. A little goes a long way on my fine hair, and it doesn't make my hair at all greasy or lank. A winner!

Now for the really fun part... My mini Topshop make-up haul! I've had a few things from Topshop's range in the past, including a couple of lipsticks and nail polishes. I found so many gorgeous items this time that I couldn't resist picking up a selection:

From left to right: Eye Duo in 'Harlow Sunset' (£8), Smokey Eye Palette in 'Golden Aura' (£12), Kohl liner in Sable (£4), Nails in 'Ruthless' and 'Nice n' Neutral' (£5 each), Lip Bullet in 'Joyride' (£8). 

I am completely head over heels in love with this Eye Palette. I'm a sucker for neutral colours and these feel so soft and buttery. I've been wanting to try a plum shade for a while, and the duo shadow looked too good to resist. I usually use my trusty Mac eyeliner for definition but thought I'd try this Topshop one, and I'm so glad I did as it goes on extremely smoothly and doesn't pull or drag at all, making it easy to draw thin or thick lines depending on preference. 

Now, I wasn't actually looking to buy a red lipstick. I'm not sure if the lighting in Topshop is  funny or if I was just having a bit of a moment, but I *thought* this was a pink colour! It looked like a dark pink and I couldn't find a tester so I just went with it and bought it... Only to open it at home and realise my mistake. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with red lipstick, as some make my pale complexion look even paler, and some make my teeth look quite yellow. The trick is finding a red with blue undertones, and Mac's Russian Red is all my absolute favourite: matte finish, doesn't budge, and compliments my skintone (and my teeth!). So it was with some trepidation that I applied a coat of this Lip Bullet. To my relief I instantly loved it! It's a tomato red but not at all orange, so my teeth looked fine, and it has a lovely matte texture, meaning it doesn't bleed or smudge outside of the lip line. It makes a change from my usual pinks, nudes and berries, and I'll definitely be wearing it throughout the summer. 

Finally, I couldn't help but add a few more items to my nail polish collection! I love a dark, wine red and I also love nude colours, so these really stood out for me. The brushes are quite small, which I prefer as it means I don't end up with polish all around my nails, which is what often  seems to happen with bigger brushes. 

I'll be writing reviews throughout the week, and can't wait to share some swatches of the Eye Palette and Lip Bullet in particular. 

Browse Sinful Colors here

Browse Schwarzkopf got2b here

Browse Topshop make-up here

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil

I have good news! Drum roll please... I finally had a haircut! Aaaagh it feels so good to be free of split ends and dry hair, even if only for a few months. I also had my roots done which means I can wave goodbye to accidental dip-dye, embracing full on blonde for summer. Yippee! 

To celebrate I stocked up on some new hair goodies with the hope of maintaining the condition of my freshly cut hair. I spotted L'Oreal's new range of Elvive Extraordinary Oils in Boots and although I really wanted the one for normal hair due to the luxe gold packaging, I went for the red and amber bottle for coloured hair. 

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil 

First things first, the size of the bottle is a definite plus, 100ml for under £10 (I got it on sale for around £6.99 and it retails for around £.9.99). You only need a little bit each time so it will last the duration of the summer and hopefully beyond. It claims to contain a 'precious blend of 6 flower extracts + UV filter' and promises 'versatile use, luminous colour, sumptuous softeness and weightless touch'. Everything you might be looking for to protect your freshly coloured hair. 

So, it is any good?

Product info

I really really like this product, and it has now replaced the Lee Stafford Argon Oil I had been using, which at £11.99 for 50ml (at Boots) seems a little expensive in comparison. The texture of L'Oreal's Extraordinary Oil is quite runny but easy to rub between hands before distributing evenly through damp hair. It has a very pleasant smell and soaks in well without leaving a greasy residue. It has a handy pump dispenser and the bottle is, if I say so myself, very attractive and professional looking. The only potential downside is that it's made of glass and is quite heavy, so I'm trying to be extra careful when handling it to avoid smashing it/cracking the sink with it..! 

I use it mostly on damp hair before drying, but I've also tried rubbing a small amount on the ends of dry hair and it gives a nice sheen while helping control frizz attacks. I've found that when used on damp hair it makes my hair look far more shiny and less static-y/frizzy when dry, and for that reason I'm going to keep on using it :) 

In desperate need of hair help! John Frieda Full Repair range

As a regular hair highlighter (and sheepish haircut dodger) I dread having dry, frazzled hair. I've been on the lookout for some nourishing products to hopefully help revive my style... I'm hoping I can prolong a visit to the hairdressers for as long as possible, as it's so expensive! 


I came across the new Full Repair range by John Frieda when I was in Boots and decided to see what it could do for my lacklustre locks. First up, Full Repair Full Body Shampoo, Conditioner and Deep Conditioner Mask:

Shampoo & conditioner £5.69, Deep Conditioner £5.99 (Boots)

I'd like to point out how great these products smell! I can't quite describe it, other than to say it's a sweet but not fruity smell, a creamy kind of scent, kind of like fabric softener but in a good way! They smell like they'd be nourishing, which is a good sign :p The shampoo lathers up really well, producing lots of creamy bubbles and rinsing out easily. My hair felt smoother as soon as I'd rinsed the bubbles out, which I took to be a promising start. I used the Deep Conditioner next followed by the normal conditioner (top tip for intensive hydration: shampoo, deep condition, condition). The Deep Conditioner has a good thick consistency and easily spreads through hair. It rinsed out easily too, rather than sticking. The normal conditioner also felt very thick and creamy. After towel drying my hair I used some of the matching styling products:

Full Repair Perfect Ends serum, Styling Spray & Perfect Ends Sheer Mist 

The Perfect Ends serum (£6.99) is quite runny when squirted from the bottle so I'd suggest a very light push on the pump to start with! It was easy to comb through hair, as was the styling spray (£6.99) and the Perfect Ends Sheer Mist (£6.99), which I aimed at the ends of my hair rather than all over.


The result? Having blow-dried my hair I could see I had less fly-aways and the ends of my hair looked healthier. The dry fluffiness I usually experience was gone, and my hair felt smoother to the touch. I've been using the Full Repair range for a couple of weeks now and it definitely helps nourish dry hair while giving a good dose of shine. 




Full range of John Frieda Full Repair products at Boots