Alva Sanddorn (Anti-Ageing) Cream from MyPure

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

I was very interested to try this Alva Sanddorn anti ageing cream from MyPure as recently my skin has been feeling very dry and breaking out into red rough patches. I think this is due to the winter weather we have had recently. Being in my forties I am also starting to see fine lines appearing and wanted to see if this cream would make any difference to my skin.

This is described as an intensive day cream which apparently when used in studies showed the moisture level of the skin increased by 76% after 4 weeks use, while the depth of fine lines and wrinkles was reduced by 29.3%. As with all MyPure products it is sulphate free, paraben free and phtalate free. Would it live up to these claims?

The cream comes in a nice box inside which is a nice sized tube. I opened my tube to find my first surprise. This cream is orange! I was expecting it to be white like all normal moisturisers. I then tried it on my skin. It has a lovely creamy feel and a little bit goes a long way. You do not need to use a lot to get a lovely moisturized feeling. It absorbs easily into the skin and you are not left with a sticky feeling as you can be with some creams. The product has a lovely scent as well, very light and not overpowering.

Does it work? Yes it does. After two days use the red patches on my skin had disappeared and my skin felt much softer. After a weeks use my skin felt loads more moisturized and more youthful. The fine lines on my forehead did look reduced and I am very pleased with this product. After using this my skin is ready for the summer.

A’kin Orange Blossom Body Wash from MyPure

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

I have just tried A’kin Orange Blossom body wash from MyPure I was keen to try this product as I have very sensitive skin. A’kin products are made from natural ingredients and do not contain sulfates, ethoxylates, parabens, propylene glycol, petrochemical cleansers, silicones, phthalates, mineral oils, DEA and artificial colours which is a big plus if you do suffer from sensitivity.

The product is described as an aromotherapy product which will energise and stimulate the mind and spirit for a great day. This sounded like exactly what I need on some days to get me going!

The product comes in a lovely green bottle with white labels describing the product. Its quite striking to look at and its a nice rectangular shape which makes it easy to store.

How did I find it to use? Its a clear liquid and it does have a lovely orange smell. The smell is not overpowering however and does definitely uplift the mood. It cleans the skin gently and leaves it feeling soft and smooth. It did not cause skin irritation at all. It does not produce loads of bubbles, so if you like a lot of lather this is not for you. However this was not a problem for me and I really like the way it made my skin feel. A lovely product.

Vimto

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

Recently I was lucky enough to be sent a basket of Vimto to review by the lovely people @RealVimto I was pleasantly surprised as I was not aware that Vimto did such a wide range of flavours. I was aware of the normal Vimto purple flavour, which is made from a highly prized secret recipe. All Vimto will give away is that it contains grape, blackcurrant and raspberry along with a top secret blend of 23 fruit essences herbs and spices. The normal fizzy Vimto is gorgeous as always and I was intrigued to try the other flavours.

Included in the basket was the new cherry flavour Vimto. I was a bit dubious about this to start with as when I think of cherry flavours cough medicine is one of the things that jumps into my mind. This is usually sickly sweet and not very nice so I tend to avoid cherry flavour when I can. I tried this with trepidation but it is lovely. Whatever Vimto have done they have got it just right, the cherry flavour is sweet but not overpoweringly so and its a lovely refreshing drink. In fact I am now a cherry convert and will definitely be trying this flavour again.

Next up is a still drink, still Vimto which comes in small cardboard cartons which are totally perfect for the lunchbox. I did not get much of a chance to try these as my son pounced on them and wanted them for his packed lunch. They definitely have kid appeal. I did manage to get a taste and have to say it is a lovely refreshing drink. It has the distinctive Vimto taste without the fizz and definitely makes a change. I will have no choice but to buy these again as my son will now want them.

The final item I tried was the Vimto cordial. This is still Vimto drink that you dilute with water. I have to say it is lovely and refreshing when cold with ice added, but I had been advised that this was absolutely gorgeous when hot. I have to say I was not at all sure about this idea as I am not a great lover of fruit teas. However I will try anything once so gave it a go.

I have to say hot Vimto is absolutely lovely. I was really surprised at how nice it was, the hot water really brings out the flavours. I also found another benefit, my family have been ill this week with nasty colds and this is a gorgeous soothing drink when you are not feeling well. The fact that is also has added vitamin C has got to be a bonus. Go try it, you will love it.

Glam Eyes Eyeshadows from Rimmel London

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

Recently I was sent the new Glam Eyes Eyeshadow from Rimmel London to try. This is a new eyeshadow that comes in a set of four different shades. There are actually 8 different sets to choose from, the shades I was sent was called State of Grace and is a selection of blues and purples.

They come in a smart black case and include a small foam applicator. This eyeshadow is meant to produce an intense saturated colour which will last for ages without creasing or fading.

I have to say I was pleased with the colour selection. Normally in sets of four there is one colour that I would never use, but this selection of colours seemed chosen to complement each other and are all shades that I would wear. I was particularly pleased with the blues which blended into an intense dramatic shade for an melodramatic evening look.

The powder was easy to apply and easy to blend. It was easy to create a subtle colour or apply a couple of layers for a very dramatic look.

So what does it look like on? This is a picture of my eye wearing it. Please bear in mind it is very difficult to take pictures of your own eyes and I have not put on any mascara to show the eyeshadow to its full effect. As you can see the blue is gorgeous. The colour also lasted well and did not smear into creases as some products tend to do. I definitely will be trying some of the other shades and this will become a make up must have.

Gluten Free Cookies from Byron Bay Cookies

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

I was not aware that Gluten can actually cause problems for some people until fairly recently. My brothers girlfriend was coming to visit for my sons birthday party and she was not able to take Gluten. Given that Gluten is a protien that is commonly found in wheat, rye and barley. Until you start actively looking for things that do not contain gluten you do not realise how hard it is. Usually the reason people can’t take Gluten is because they suffer from Coeliac Disease, which is a condition of the small intestine.

I was pleased to recently try a range of Gluten free cookies from Byron Bay cookies. I love Byron Bay cookies anyway, as they are fab and very luxurious so I was interested to see what a gluten free range would be like.

I received a lovely selection of biscuits, Dotty – triple chocolate with smarties on the top, sticky date and ginger with walnut, dark chocolate orange, triple chocolate fudge and white chocolate chunk and macademia nut.

To be honest I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from Gluten free cookies but I was really pleasantly surprised. These cookies were really gorgeous and definitely up to the high standards I have come to expect from Byron Bay. The chocolate ones were very slightly dry but this was not enough to put me off. The white chocolate and macadamia nut was very addictive. I could easily eat thousands of these so it was just as well I only recieved one. I wish I had found these previously and my brothers girlfriend will definitely be spoilt with these the next time she comes.

I will save a special mention for the Dotty cookie. This is a fabulous cookie which was dotted with smarties. This is a real treat and would be lovely for kids parties. I know I had a hard job convincing my son that I had to try this for review as he wanted to eat it all himself. I did give him half and he was very happy. These are a gorgeous selection of biscuits.

I was also sent a selection of crackers which I was surprised at as I had not realised that Byron Bay do crackers as well.

There were two flavours, Original and Sea Salt and Rosemary. These were also gorgeous, they are very small crispy and round. Its hard to describe the flavour but they are rather like rice cakes. The sea salt and rosemary had a very subtle flavour, rather than being overpowering. I must say that I had to keep going back and eating more.

I would imagine these would be very nice served with a dip or a selection of pates or cream cheese on top.

I would definitely recommend these biscuits and they will be a definite plus to anyone who is not able to eat gluten. Gorgeous biscuits and a lovely selection of flavours