Removing Unwanted Hair With Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream

As I said in my latest trimming my stash post May is the month when I start to look forward to summer, and hopefully some warmer weather. The prospect of warmer weather though does mean though that we need to start getting our bodies and bits summer ready. Over the next few months I'm going to be doing a few posts on getting ready for summer featuring everything from self tanning, to body care, nail care, hair care and of course that old chestnut hair removal.

I've done quite a few posts on different hair removal on my blog from waxing, to epilation, to shaving but one  method that I haven't covered until now is hair removal or depilatory creams.

Apart from stealing my dads razor, I made me first venture into hair removal with a tube of cream that had the pleasant aroma of rotten eggs!! Thankfully though depilatory creams have came on leaps and bounds, and although I tend to wax or epiliate I still have a tube of cream in my bathroom cabinet for quick fixes and more often than not my bikini line! You should now by now that I'm not frightened about the less pretty side of beauty so when I was given the opportunity to try out a new hair removal cream of course I agreed after who doesn't have unwanted hair.

The product that I was sent was the Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream. Containing mineral rich clays, mango butter and acai palm, this cream is designed to leave the skin smooth, nourished and hair free. It is dermatologically and clinically tested.

The cream comes boxed and in a really easy to use squeezy tube, in the the box you also get two plastic applicator / removal spatulas.

The product itself is pale pink in colour and a very creamy texture, making it easy to apply either with the spatula or with your fingers.

One of the key selling point of this cream is that it contains a patented odour control technology, so in theory no rotten egg type smell. It smells fresh and almost melon like which seems to be a common fragrance in products like this, and yes I can safely say there was barely a hint of the common eggy smell.

This product is simple to use as you would expect, but there are full instructions on the box. Like with any product like this it's always best to do a patch test about 24 hours or so before hand just to make sure that your not allergic to the product. Then all you do is apply the cream in an even layer to clean, dry skin - you can use this cream on the legs, bikini line and underarms, but for the sake of your eyes I tried it out on my legs.

This is in an in shower cream so after a couple of minutes if you like you can actually have a shower so long as you don't direct the nozzle directly at the cream. Then after about another 3 minutes test a small area to see if the hair comes away easily, if not leave it for a bit longer, you can leave it on for up to 10 minutes in total so it will still work on coarser thicker hair. Then remove it with the spatula, and rinse well using plain water. Did it work? well here are some before and after pictures x

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Pretty impressive for less than 10 minutes don't you think? Yes my legs do look a tiny bit blotchy but that's pretty normal for me after any form of hair removal. This didn't sting or feel uncomfortable on my legs at all, and they felt really smooth and pretty soft. The drawbacks ? well it is a bit messy, but the spatula really makes a difference and puts it exactly where you want it, the spatula is also much more effective than the sponges that often come with similar products on the market,  it does the job and its easier to clean than a hair laden sponge - yuck! I guess the biggest drawback with this type of hair removal is the time that the hair takes to come back. Depilatory creams such as this one just remove the surface hair so obviously the hair does come back quite quickly, depending on your own hair growth cycle, my legs were okay for about 6 days before I needed to do it again. If your not into some of the more painful hair removal methods than maybe creams such as this are the thing for you. Even if your like me though and use other methods it's always handy to have tube in your bathroom cabinet and this is one that I will definitely consider purchasing. Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream  retails at around £6.69 for a 200ml tube and is available from most major retailers. If you have any questions please leave me a comment xx

(Nair Brazilian Spa Clay Shower Power Cream 200ml Was Provided  By PR For Review Purposes)

Palette Of The Last Two Months - FrontCover Desk To Date

I had a few different options to choose from for my March palette of the month, but in the end I went for one from a brand that I love and that I've always been impressed with - FrontCover. I have a couple of their large eyeshadow palettes, but for Christmas I was lucky enough to receive one of their more compact offerings - Desk To Date. Alas this is from their Autumn / Winter 2012 range so it might be a bit hard to get hold of now but I think this palette is worth showing because it demonstrates perfectly the amazing quality of the FrontCover range.

As I said previously this is one of FrontCover's more compact palettes, I have two larger palettes and one smaller one which are housed in all be it sturdy cardboard but this one is a bit different. Desk To Date is a two layer palette packaged in black, shiny plastic with an amazing holographic photographic image. The top layer opens like a normal palette and has a full sized mirror and one layer of eyeshadows, and underneath there is a drawer which contains another layer of shadows.

The top layer contains 10 Super Pearl Baked Powder shadows. These are the shadows that front cover are perhaps most famous for. Given the name and the baked consistency s you would probably expect these shadows all have at least a hint of sparkle or glitter, so you are going to get some fallout. These shadows are ridiculously pigmented even when their dry, but being a baked shadow you can use them with water or a mixing medium to provide a really, intense foiled finish.

I've swatched these colours for you both wet and dry to give you a proper idea of the intensity and effects that you can create with them.

Top row from left to right - swatched dry - Figgy,  Malva, Indigo Warrior, Gold Mine and Copper Oro

and swatched wet.

Again swatched dry the bottom row from left to right - Fools Gold, Vapour Mist, Mint Mist, Sorrell and Black In Blue

and swatched wet

As you can hopefully see here the pigmentation of these shadows is amazing. In fact some of the shades including Mint Mist and Indigo Warrior really take some getting of - the wear time is amazing. In fact I would recommend that you use an eye base to make removal a bit easier.

The second layer of the palette contains 8 large Satin Pressed Powder shadows. These were almost too pretty to use and feature an embossed seashell design a bit like those super drool worthy Chantecaille ones that were released a few years ago. These shadows are very soft and again the pigmentation is superb. There are a few matte finish shades in this section but again the payoff is fantastic. They are quite soft so again there is a little bit of fallout. Where as a lot of the shadows in the top layer are quite bright and vibrant, the second layer makes an excellent neutral palette in its own right.

Top row - from left to right - Cadet Row, Amaretto Truffle, Chimney Sweep, and Nude Tights.

Bottom row - from left to right - Mocha Magic, Tempura, Burnt Cork and Brown Cork.

I've reached for this palette again, again over the last couple of months and it's earned a rightful place in my most recent products I'm loving right now video (click here to see it :). If your familiar with FrontCover you'll  know that all of their packaging features at least one tutorial showing you a look that you can create with the palette, well this one contains two. Unlike a lot of their palettes their aren't any pictures to show you how to create the look just a written description - not as good as the larger palettes but it still gives you some idea of where to start if your new to make up. I followed the instructions and did the two look, first up the Day look.

This look features two shades of the Satin Pressed shadows. I used Cadet Grey, which is more of a light khaki shade rather than an actual grey, all over the lid, and as a liner and then Amaretto Truffle, an old gold shade on the inner corner and in the crease, and blended out.

The Night look is actually really simple it's just a wash of one of the baked shadows Vapour Mist, a gorgeous metallic silver. Your meant to wing it out but since I was actually wearing it during the day I chickened out a bit and instead just used it wet for a more intense look :)

I also had a little play with some of the other shadows in the palette - first up one of the more vibrant baked shadows - Mint Mist. This is a really, really bright turquoise, green- it's really pigmented and you definitely need to use an eye base with it to prevent staining. I'm sure you'll agree the effect is amazing and so summery.

Another one of the vibrant shades in the palette is Copper Oro, as the name implies it's a metallic copper colour, exactly the shade of a new penny x

For this look I've used two colours the shimmery lilac Malva all over the lid, and Indigo Warrior on the inner corner. Unfortunately the pictures haven't came out that well, purples never seem to show up too well on any camera that I've ever used :(

Another baked shadow that I've used a few times is Fools Gold - The name of this shadow is a bit misleading whilst you can see some gold in it, it's probably more of a golden green / olive. I love shades like this and this one is no exception.

The rest of the looks that I've photographed for you use the Satin Pressed Powder shadows. First up the look that I wore for the Newcastle FABB Event (read my FOTD post here x).

My photos don't do this look justice really, but it's a really easy, natural, neutral look. I used Brown Cork all over the lid, blending a mixture of Mocha Magic, and Nude Tights into the inner corner and as a brow highlight, before blending Burnt Cork into the crease, and using it as a liner - simples.

The final pictures here show one of my favourite shades Mocha Magic, it's looking almost silvery here, but it's actually a shimmery taupe / nude.

This palette delivers exactly what it promises - the premise is from desk to date and that's exactly what you get. With it you can achieve everything from the most conservative neutral day look, to a bright extravagant look at me evening look. The shadow quality is amazing from the colour payoff, to the blendability, to the wear time - these shadows really are well worth having. As I said at the start of this post, this palette is probably really hard to find now, but I really wouldn't hesitate to recommend FrontCover as a brand.  I've had a little look at their website and one of their new releases is a fabulous looking palette called New Metallic Pastels Eye Colllection. This palette contains the same formulations as Desk To Date and the some similar shades so it could be a good alternative. FrontCover bring out new palettes every season to keep up with and create the latest trends, and as well as eyeshadows, you can also buy palettes containing nail products, lip colours, bronzers and more. I'm definitely going to dig out my older palettes and rediscover some past season FrontCover gems. In the UK we can buy FrontCover from QVC and from their own website, and they also ship worldwide. Have you ever tried FrontCover? Do you love them as much as me? leave me a comment and let me know x

Missing...But Not Completely Gone

Hi Guys -Just a little heads up to let you know that I might be a bit AWOL over the next week or so. My beloved Acer laptop is rapidly giving up the ghost, the fans failing, the battery doesn't last two minutes, I can't open my DVD drive, my keys are sticking and only one of my USB slots works but not all the time, so it's going to laptop hospital aka PC World for repair. I've been told it should take 7 -10 days but since my last experience with them I'm not entirely convinced that I believe that. To be honest you shouldn't notice that I've gone I've got a few posts to go up over the next week or so,  so I'll still be here really. I'm still going to have a bit of internet access via various devices connected to my wifi and my iPhone but I don't know how much blogger access I'll be able to get to reply to comments etc. but if it's urgent try contacting me via twitter x So thanks for sticking with me and I'll see you soon xx

Trimming My Stash - April Empties And Mini Reviews

Hey Guys - Welcome to May :) May is one of my favourite months of the year by far, as well as being my birthday month, it's also the month where hopefully the weather starts to get better, and there are signs that summer is at last on it's way - well at least that's what I hope happens it's been freezing so far this week sorry this year - I need some sunshine!

Anyways like every other month of the year so far, I've been attempting to trim my stash and use up items from my very own personal product mountain, how did I do in April, well see for yourself....

Deep Heat Muscle Rescue Bath Soak - 200ml
The Body Shop Vanilla Spice Bath Melt - 200ml
B. Pure Micellar Water -150ml
OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go - 7.5ml
Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream - 30ml
Alpha - H Liquid Gold - 200ml
Dove Hair Minimising Anti-Perspirant Deodorant - Wild Rose - 150ml
Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover - 150ml
Steam Cream - 75g
Vichy Eau Thermal - 50ml
Leighton Denny Hydra Flex Polish Remover - 50ml
Total - 11 Items

Consistency is the most obvious word I can think of to describe this months performance, and the years so far. Like in January and February I finished 11 items. A few things on the list are firm favourites, some were new to me items, and some were products that I thought would never end!

1. Deep Heat Muscle Rescue Bath Soak - 200ml

This was a PR sample which I reviewed here x  A really nice product ideal for achy muscles and the cold weather.

2. The Body Shop Vanilla Spice Bath Melt - 200ml

This is one of my favourite ever festive fragrances from The Body Shop so why do they keep changing it ever so slightly year after year. Like the cranberry some years it's nice, some years it's not. This product from a couple of years ago had the lovely warming scent of vanilla, cloves, and a bit of nutmeg which I love, what I didn't really love was the texture of this, it had a sticky, syrupy type texture that ages to dissolve in the bath , and ages to get out of the tub, even using the honey dipper that you got with it -shame :(

3. B. Pure Micellar Water - 150ml

I have to admit that the cleansing water / micellar water thing seems to be passing me by. I've used similar products from Decelor, Taaj, Lancome, and now this and none of them have wowed me or inspired me to repurchase. It's always a worry on a product which can be used to remove eye make up remover when it says don't get product in eyes. Yes I know they mean your not supposed to use it actually as an eye bath or on the eye ball as a wash by that but still, this stung like hell and was useless at removing heavily pigmented or waterproof eye make up. Facially it did the job but it left my skin with a weird almost sticky feeling that made me want to wash my face - hardly the point really, oh and god forbid you licked your lips after using it the taste was like pure bitrex so so bitter and nasty. So no this product didn't wow me and I won't repurchase. I haven't given up on my cleansing water journey and I really do fancy trying Bioderma and the new L'Oreal one, maybe the one is out there somewhere.

4. OPI Avoplex Cuticle Oil To Go - 7.5ml

This is one of my favourite cuticle oils - this is the slightly thicker gel formulations which comes in a squeezy tube with a brush applicator. I bought this initial for a holiday nearly two years ago now and whilst I have alternated and used other products, you need so little that this has lasted for ages. I have to say I do prefer the normal version but this is great for travel.

5. Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream - 30ml

This is one of my all time favourite moisturisers - It's anti-ageing which I love, you can use it day and night and as an eye cream which I love. What I really love about this cream though is the texture, unlike a lot of anti ageing creams it's very light, it has a really light cream gel texture which means it absorbs really easily into my oily combination skin. I love this and my Godmother who is in her 80's loves this too, neither of us like heavy textures on our skins so this perfect. Mummy Lou however loves a greasier feel and a heavier texture so she isn't a fan of this, you can't please everyone I guess. This is a real staple in my skin care regime, and whilst it's pricey I usually ask for Elemis QVC Today's Special Values for Christmas and birthdays which usually makes it more affordable.

6. Alpha-H Liquid Gold - 200ml

This cult product is yet another staple in my skincare drawer - my skin can often feel quite bumpy and look quite uneven but used last thing at night a few times a week this make a real difference in smoothing and improving the look and feel of my skin overnight. I already have one of these in back up and I will continue to repurchase.

7. Dove Hair Minimising Anti-Perspirant Deodorant - Wild Rose - 150ml

I don't know how but I always seem to have about 6 deodorants on the go at once. I seem to buy them on 3 for 2's I think and then just vary them to suit my fragrance or need. This one had a lovely light floral rose fragrance, and didn't irritate. I didn't notice a hair minimising effect but I didn't use it consistently so I can't really make a judgement on whether or not it works.

8. Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Make Up Remover - 150ml

Wahhhh finishing this bottle means I only have two bottle of this left - snifffff - My all time favourite eye make up remover now altered beyond recognition :( nuff said - I'd love to know which eye make up remover you use so please let me know in the comments x

9. Steam Cream - 75g.

Yet another cult product in this months empties list, and something I have to be honest I only bought for the amazingly cute, reusable tin. This is a multi purpose lavender fragranced cream that you can use on the face or body. To be honest I don't get the hype the tins are adorable but the products is just a gentle, pleasant smelling cream, nothing shattering for me. I used this mainly on my body after a bath or a shower to get me in the mood for sleep. I have another one which I got in  beauty box to use up but I won't repurchase unless I can find the elusive "LouLou" tin which I once saw in a magazine and could never find. If you want a nice relaxing lavender based body lotion I recommend Lush Dream Cream or The Body Shop Divine Calm line much better value than this x

10. Vichy Eau Thermal - 50ml

Yes a can of water, loads of people see these as a bit of a waste of money but to be honest I'm on the fence. I really like these when I'm on holiday and their great for helping me with night sweats thanks to medication, and their fab for foiling eyeshadow but it is just pressurised spring water after all. This came in a beauty box and whilst I won't be rushing out tomorrow to buy a new one I would never say never.

11. Leighton Denny Hydra Flex Polish Remover - 50ml

I found this month whilst sorting out my nail products and I have to say I love all the Leighton Denny removers (this one is for brittle nails) , they are gentle and don't leave the nails white or dry and flaky, and above they actually smell really nice when they've dried down. The only barrier to me repurchasing is the price, they are a bit on the pricey side but if they come in a QVC kit I'll happily cherish them and use them up x

So they were my April empties x If your doing something similar I'd love to know how your getting on so please leave me a comment or a link and let me know xx