review – Page 3 – A Cosmetic Affair

REVIEW | Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends

If your hair is anything like mine, the ultimate struggle is to find products that don’t make your hair greasy but at the same don’t dry it out. I have oily roots and dry ends, so a combination of products for both is essential. Here is where the Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends comes in!

This product is a great, easy to apply, on-the-go product that is not heavy on the hair but truly makes a striking difference to get those dry ends looking smooth and polished.

The Yves Rocher Repair Balm for Dry Ends is from the Yves Rocher Nutrition Hair Range. You get 50ml of product in a squeezy tube which makes it easy to get the exact amount you want. The Balm is made with oat extracts but I did not find it to smell of anything really.

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REVIEW | OPI in Just a Little Rosti at This

This week on my nails I have been wearing my first ever OPI nail polish which is in the shade Just a Little Rosti at This. Now since this has been my first time trying out this brand I thought I would let you know what I think about it.

The shade I got as you can see is very Autumn appropriate and I love a good dark red on my nails during this time of year. You get 15ml of product which is great when you consider the price tag. I paid €9.95 for this nail polish which is well over my usual budget for nail polish. Luckily the store I got it from was also having a 10% discount at the time.

The application of the polish is great. The product is not streaky, the shade pigmented and the brush is wide, just perfect for an easy and fast application. The bottle and the aesthetics of it are gorgeous as well. If you are anything like me, the packaging does make a difference. In this case, there is indeed something satisfying about having an OPI nail polish added to my collection.

As regards to the brand, OPI, I was truly blown away by the huge selection of shades they have. Even though I am quite sure the store did not carry all the line, there were over three shelving units filled with different shades I was a bit overwhelmed. You get shimmer, glitter, metallic, nude, bold, dark and any other nail polish formula you can imagine.

My advice, be prepared. Do your research online and know what you are looking for when you go to shop for OPI. The product is good and you won’t be disappointed.

What is your favourite OPI nail polish shade?

REVIEW | TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range

For the past month I have been trying out the new TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range, which consists of the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo, the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner and the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment.

As the name suggest this trio of products is supposed to make your hair less frizzy and more manageable for you to style. The claim that TRESemmé are making is that you can get salon-smooth hair that lasts for up to 4 washes.

I decided to test out these products thoroughly before writing anything about them and I have been using only them for about a month now. For you to know, I have an oily scalp, dry ends and somewhat wavy hair that tends to get frizzy more than anything.

You start off by using the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo, which is also lower in sulfates and then follow up with the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner, which is designed to use with straighteners. After rinsing off the product and towel drying your hair, you are supposed to use up to 8 pumps of the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment. Since I have medium length hair which is fine and easily weighed down, I only used about 4 pumps making sure to distribute the product mostly to the ends of my hair and what was left all over the rest of the hair.

Both the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner and the Heat Treatment have a similar scent, which is sweet and very pleasant. The 7-Day Smooth System Heat Activated Treatment is also designed to be used with straighteners and the smoothing properties are heat activated. After working in the product and combing it through my hair, I blow dried my hair and straightened it.

After the first time using the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range, you are supposed to wash your hair with the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner and reapply the Heat Activated Treatment only after around 4 washes. I usually wash my hair day in, day out, so I did not re-use the Treatment until about a week had gone by.

Excuse the duck-face 😛

Although I would say that my hair still needed the straightener to be totally smooth I feel that the combination of these products helped in the smoothness of the hair. I had less frizz in my hair and it was easier to pass the straightener over it. Moreover I feel that the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range did not weigh down my hair and did not cause any extra oiliness, which is important to me.

I have now used the 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment about 3 times and I find that whenever I apply it my hair looks smoother (no fly away hairs), shinier and healthier. Even though, I might switch out the shampoo from time to time, since I like to use a purifying one from time to time, I will still be enjoying the 7-Day Keratin Smooth Conditioner when I do. I found it to be light, does not weigh down my hair and smells great.

In case any of you are interested in the TRESemmé 7-Day Keratin Smooth Range you can look up the TRESemmé Facebook Page. The recommended price for the products is as follows; TRESemmé 7-Day Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner €6.75, each, and the TRESemmé 7-Day Heat Activated Treatment €12.28.

Keep an eye out for them in stores as I have seen them on the shelves and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored. The products were provided as PR Samples. All opinions are my own.

First Impression | Yves Rocher Purifying Shampoo

Last week I tried out the Yves Rocher Purifying Shampoo for the first time and this is my first impression review.

First things first, the Yves Rocher Purifying Shampoo has a very distinct scent. The shampoo itself is made with botanical extracts of nettle and it does have a scent that reminds me of plants. Having said that, it is not an unpleasant scent at all and it is not over-powering in a way that you can smell it all the time. The scent is very clean and fresh and I did not mind it at all.

The Yves Rocher Purifying Shampoo is aimed for oily hair and you get 300ml of product. My hair tends to get oily at the roots and dry at the ends, so I would not use this shampoo every time I wash my hair, but do enjoy using a purifying shampoo once a week or more if my hair is particularly oily. A trick I learnt recently is to apply the purifying shampoo on the hair whist it is dry. So before actually wetting the hair apply a dollop of shampoo to the roots of the hair to get rid of the oil. Massage in, then rinse and shampoo again if needed. Once the hair is wet you cannot get rid of the oil, thus doing so on dry hair actually targets the oiliness.

The shampoo’s consistency is more like a liquid gel rather than your standard creamy shampoo, which is typical with purifying shampoos. The bottle is quite handy and easy to get as much product as you like without having to hold the cap in one hand and pour with the other. Moreover, this shampoo is Silicone, Paraben and Colorant Free, so no nasties! The product is marked to be good for 6 months, which just goes to show how natural the Yves Rocher products are and how little preservatives are used.

All in all, I really enjoyed using the Yves Rocher Purifying Shampoo and it currently has its place in my shower rack where I will be using it weekly.

Yves Rocher Stores can be found at:

11, Bisazza street, SLIEMA (Next to Sorbino and Ice watch)

219, Merchants street, VALLETTA (Next to Pumpkins Patch and in front of Caruana or the Electro store)

76, Antoine de Paule square, PAOLA (Next to Gauda)

Find Yves Rocher on Google Maps, Facebook or Twitter.

Do you use a Purifying Shampoo? What do you think of this one?

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. Products mentioned are PR samples. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW | Self Tanning vs Gradual Tanning

Whenever you are faced with a difficult decision, I always find it best to list the good and bad things of each respective choice, then you have a clear view of what you are getting yourself into. When it comes to tanning, I think it best to avoid the first choice, which is sun-bathing, but otherwise I love having some self-tanning or using a gradual tanner to get some colour into my otherwise pale skin.

Both methods for tanning have their good and bad, in my opinion, and what better way to choose which one is better suited for you, than for me to give you an overview of what are my likes and dislikes for each method. I know that Summer is now officially over but here in Malta, the weather is still very much not done with being warm. Moreover, whenever I am in the mood for putting on a dress I feel that giving your legs that even tone and warm glow can make a whole lot of difference.

Starting off with gradual tanning, I am currently loving two products. The Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion and the Palmer’s Natural Bronze Body Lotion. Gradual tanning is great because you can apply the lotion directly with your hands and the product will not stain your hands.

Moreover, the product is more forgiving since the colour build-up does not occur as rapidly as with self-tanning products. Unfortunately if you hate the ‘biscuit’ smell that goes with tanning, gradual tanning is not free from it. However, I will say that the Palmer’s one has a lesser scent due to having a mixture of Cocoa Butter to it.

I find that the gradual tanning is more forgiving as well if you are in a hurry and just want a hint of colour on your legs. You can apply as you would any other lotion and you’re good to go. I have not had any problem with staining on my clothes. Obviously, since the tanning is not so concentrate the effect will last less than self-tanning would, but the tan doesn’t get as patchy either.

On the other hand, I find that self-tanning can still get a bit messy, but gives a more long-lasting effect. I love using the St. Moriz products and I have both the mousse and the lotion. Both products need to be applied with a self-tanning mitt, that is unless you want to have oompa loompa hands. The scent is strong and yes it does smell like biscuits.

If you have problem with dry skin, make sure to apply a good body lotion to the affected areas, otherwise you will end up with darker patches. To make sure that the tan is even, scrub and exfoliate your skin properly before applying the tanning lotion. Since my skin is prone to being dry, I exfoliate and moisturise before tanning, otherwise it will be one patchy mess.

If your tan starts getting patchy, again scrubbing and exfoliating is your best friend! Whether you are going to tan again or your just want to get rid of the fake tan, exfoliation is key. For more tips and my favourite products for exfoliating, check back soon on A Cosmetic Affair, a post is in the making.

Which do you prefer? Self-tanning or Gradual Tanning?

REVIEW | Yves Rocher Nutri-Repair Mask

When you hair is in desperate need of some TLC, using a hair mask can get your hair looking its best in no time at all, with little effort. The Yves Rocher Nutri-Repair Hair Mask is one of my absolute favourites when it comes to repair and moisturise my hair. It is enriched with Jojoba Oil and Shea Butter and it is specifically targeted for very dry or frizzy hair, both of which my hair tends to get sometimes.

The consistency of this mask is creamy and easy to apply on the hair. A little goes a long way and it smells heavenly. Even after you have washed, rinsed your hair and styled it, I find that the scent still lingers on just a little, which is amazing. Although some masks tend to weigh down my hair a bit, this one is nothing like that, especially since you only need just a little bit.

If you find this to be a problem for you too, try applying your mask before going in the shower on slightly damp hair. Then shampoo and condition as normal, to make sure that your hair is not being weighed down by products that are too rich. Using a deep cleansing shampoo such as this can also help get rid of product build up!

The products from Yves Rocher are all botanical so you get ingredients which are extracted from plants. For the Nutri-Repair Mask you get 150ml in a brown and green tub which will last you for months. It is also Silicone free, Paraben free and Colorant free, so really good for you! I like to use mine about every two weeks and it helps condition my dry ends, repair any damaged hair and control the frizz.

What is your go-to hair mask when you hair is in need of some love?

REVIEW | Summer Sweatproof and Longlasting Rimmel Duo

If the summer heat turns your face into a melting puddle of makeup that ends up sliding all over, then you need to get your hands on some good long-lasting products that will keep the shine in control and your makeup in place. These two products from Rimmel are my winning combo when I want my makeup to last for a long time and actually stay on my face. The two products are the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 hour Foundation and the Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder.

I would not go as far as to say that the foundation lasts the 25-hour claim but it does last a good 12 hours on me and still look quite acceptable. The consistency of this foundation is not too thick so it can be applied for a more sheer coverage on the face. However, it is definitely one you can build up if you want a more full coverage foundation.

One thing to note is that if you have dry spots on your face, make sure to apply a good primer and moisturize properly otherwise it might cling to those drier areas a bit more.

I cannot say enough good things about the Stay Matte Powder! I always get the Transparent shade so that it is a perfect fit all year round and it is the perfect powder for all over the face and for touching up throughout the day. It helps keep my forehead from turning into a disco ball and is not too heavy on the skin. It can seriously take down the shine and it does not clog the pores.

One thing I note is that it does look best once it has set a bit on your face. So like around 30 minutes after you have applied it any of the powdery look will have sunk into the skin and will leave your skin looking naturally smooth.

What are your go-to sweatproof and long lasting products?

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. Both products were purchased with my own money, unfortunately 😛 but I really love Rimmel!