Redken Diamond Oil Review

The Redken brand is already well-known for its extreme hair-repair credentials. That's why I was so excited to trial their latest product launch, a smoothing oil for strength and shine...

Redken Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine, £31.99

Firstly, big praise goes for the fact Redken have thought to deliver TWO variations of the same product, one for fine hair (in an amber bottle) and one for thick/coarse hair (black bottle). I’m sure fellow fine-haired beauty buffs will breath a big sigh of relief at hearing this.

Dare I say it? Yes, I do. I think the Redken Diamond Oil is one hundred times better than the market leader, Moroccanoil. Here’s why...

1. The little pipette applicator is a stroke of genius. I hate how much goes to waste you use a pump.
2. The formula is so light and versatile. I’ve used this product as a serum before blow-dying and on dry hair, and both have had gorgeous results.
3. It enhances shine AND strengthens. Most oils only focus on the latter. Redken has used it’s supreme knowledge of hair repair, including its trademark IPN (Interlock Protein Network) technology in the mix – which penetrates to the core of the hair and strengthens from within.
4. It’s nice and natural. The silicone-free blend is formulated with 99% natural oils, including coriander oils to create a protective barrier and apricot and camelina oils to enhance flexibility.
5. It’s good value. Although £31.99 may seem a touch pricey (roughly the same as Moroccanoil) you only need a few magical pipette drops per usage – so each bottle is going to last quite some time.
6. And finally… it looks really, really nice on your dressing table thanks to the gorgeous packaging.

Summer Smooth Service by L'Oreal Professional

This week I was invited to try out the brand new L'Oreal Professional Summer Smooth Service, which guarantees smooth, frizz-free hair for four days, even at 80% humidity. Hurrahs! 

As you can see from this quick snap, my hair is rather frizzy. I often look like a wild mountain bear in the morning. 

So I went along to Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty in Liverpool, a salon which offers L'Oreal Professional services, to see if they could achieve super smooth tresses in 45 minutes.

The treatment involves three steps of L'Oreal Professional Liss Unlimited products: cleansing shampoo, smoothing mask and SOS Smoothing Double Serum. The products are followed by a gorgeous blow dry (a party girls best friend!) then Steampod straightening.

The Liss Unlimited product range contains pro-keratin to repair hair's internal structure, evening primrose oil to sooth and nourish, and kukul nut oil to defend hair from humidity. 

The Steampod (only available in salons) offers a gentler, hydrating alternative to the harsh heat of straighteners, perfect to create the summer smooth look. 

My hair isn't the worst in the world when it comes to a frizzy mane, but I was really impressed with the transformation. I imagine that you would be totally amazed if you had really thick, unruly locks - which is what the service is really made for - as it could glossify the wildest of beasts.

As you can see, my hair is really smooth and soft. It gave a great shine too, which I've struggled to achieve since I over did it with the blonde highlights last summer. This is a great luxury treatment if you want gorgeously smooth hair for a glam weekend away, or if you're going to a festival and want to brave the elements with style. 

I generally have to wash my hair every day, occasionally every other day if I'm handy with the dry shampoo, so I was slightly sceptical about the four day promise attached to this service. However, I'm writing this blog on day number four, and although I'll be washing it tonight, it doesn't look like the bedraggled mess I'd expect. I was really impressed by how squeaky clean my hair felt after using the Liss Unlimited Shampoo, a great cleanser. 

Also, whilst I was at the Barbara Daley Hair & Beauty salon I had a perfect polish by Jade. I loved it so much I thought I should let everyone see the results. I trapped my hand in a taxi door (mega ouch) about six months ago, and I've been a bit ashamed of one rather damaged nail ever since. After 30 minutes with Jade though, my hands were transformed. Amazing colour, right?

Find which salons near you offer the Summer Smooth Service here. Recommended service price £15 - £20. 

Clarins Complete Age Control Double Serum: Review

Clarins Extra-Firming New Double Serum, £55 

Okay, so I'm not exactly propping up my wrinkles with a broom stick just yet, but yes, I've decided to start using age control products. The early bird catches the hot, hunky worm, as they (may or may not) say.

Clarins Double Serum Complete Age Control Concentrate has a fairly hefty price tag at £55 for 30ml, but I've been using it for one full week so far (massaging a pea sized amount onto my face and neck area morning and night) and I feel as though my skin is looking better all round. It looks healthier, no blemishes as yet, and the dreaded blackheads which pepper my nose seem to be smaller than before... I'd pay £55 a month to get rid of them alone!

However, the real beauty of a serum is the long-term effect. A serum penetrates where mere moisturisers cannot, hence why you apply the serum first. You are targeting the deeper layers of skin, which will one day rise to the surface, and hopefully look ruddy marvellous when they do. So with this little nugget of beauty knowledge in mind, I am going to keep using the Clarins Double Serum (which, FYI, smells lovely, absorbs fast and is great for slightly dry skin) and will update this post after a few months... If you see someone who looks suspiciously like me, but a few years younger, then please do say hello!

Read more on well-being and TLC

Hair Care: Find out how to repair your hair

Skin Care: How to nourish your skin properly

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Super Splurges versus High Street Steals: Get the Same Look for Less

This week, I had a delivery from the seriously pricey high-end skin care and cosmetics brand, skinChemists. The products are 'clinically proven to be effective', and after trialling them out for a few days, I was able to confirm that they are decent products. But then at 76 quid for a lip gloss, you'd kinda expect them to be, right? And you can achieve similar looks with cheaper, High Street alternatives (all tried and tested!) Here's my savvy girls' guide to get the designer look:

Splurge: Skin Chemists Studio Finish Primer: £89.50
Steal: MAC Prep + Prime Skin Primer, £19.50

Splurge: Skin Chemists Under Eye Definer £89.50
Steal: YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch No 2, £25

Splurge: Skin Chemists Lash Intensive £75.96
Steal: RapidShield by RapidLash Eyelash Daily Conditioner, £28

Splurge: Skin Chemists Lip Plump  £75.96
Steal: Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Plumping Gloss, £9.00

What are your favourite High Street steals? Do you have any money saving short cuts? Let me know by commenting below! 

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*The skinChemists products shown in this blog were a PR sample provided by skinChemists, but my reviews are always 100% honest and non-bias.

Shine On: How to Get Seriously Glossy Locks

Oohhh, ahhh, shiny.

Yes ladies and metrosexual gents, your eyes do not deceive you. There is a brand new Aussie range available! Aussie Miracle Shine Shampoo and Conditioner, £5.99 each, available from Boots is for 'dull, tired hair, begging to shine.' Seeing as though I've abused my hair over the years in every which way possible (I'm so much more caring now, your beauty-honour!) and I've got lashings of shine-minimising blonde tones, I knew this was definitely one for me to try.

As always, five out of five for the sumptuous smell. It lathered brilliantly and my hair felt thoroughly cleansed after washing.

Before blow drying, I used Catwalk by TIGI's Sleek Mystique Straight Collection Blow Out Balm, £10.60, available from FeelUnique.Com (delivery inclusive in price) which protects hair from heat and adds an extra glossy shine, without weighing down fine hair. You only need to apply a pea-shaped amount to damp hair, but remember to work it across the palms of your hands first to avoid a heavy build up in one area. Again, this product smells totally fabulous, dreamy wafts of honeysuckle and dragon fruit all day long.

After blow-drying, my hair really had visibly improved in terms of shine. It looked healthy and glossy. Very impressed! A cautionary note... designer sunglasses may be required if these products are over-used.

De-Frizz & Shine: Mark Hill's Glam Goddess

Mark Hill's Glam Goddess De-Frizz Shine Serum, £6.49 for 50ml, available from Boots (where there's also a 2-for £7.50 on Mark Hill's range... oh hello there happy beauty blogger!) 

Winter is well and truly underway, which means it's frightfully nippy. It also means it is time to take those extra hair care measures to make sure your mane stays healthy, full and glossy. 

I'm already a fan of Mark Hill's hair products, despite the fact that I'm relatively new to them. Ever the shallow beauty magpie, I was enticed by the trendy packaging and the reasonable price tag (I'm a regular user of the rather pricey MoroccanOil, at £12.95 for 25ml) so as a cheaper alternative, I thought it was definitely worth a try. 

Overall, I was really pleased with this product. I have a number of friends who find the intensive de-frizz oils (such as MorrocanOil) too heavy for their hair, especially on a regular basis. If you're in a similar beauty boat, then give this product a try. It is light, smells lush and does leave hair visibly smoother. Just squirt a pea-sized amount into your palm, spread it across both of your hands, then work through damp hair (avoiding the roots). 

Dry as normal, you glamourous little arctic foxes!