Gosh Boombastic XXL Volume Mascara Review

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

If you know me you will know I have quite a collection of mascara, I love trying new ones. Mascara is one of those things that you can put on quickly and it will make an instant difference to your appearance, making you look more awake. I was pleased when I was sent this Gosh Boombastic XXL Volume Mascara to try out.

The packaging is smart, black with green writing and I like the way the “OO”‘s resemble two eyes. Gosh Boombastic Mascara is said to give XXL volume and create naturally thick and dramatic lashes which sounded good to me.

Opening the mascara I found the brush which is straight and quite long. You can see the little plastic bristles sticking out on either side of the brush. The brush holds a reasonable amount of mascara.

The bristles apply the mascara evenly to each lash making them look longer and slightly curled. The mascara did not end up in clumps, it looked very natural. The little bristles make it easy to apply to the bottom lashes which can sometimes be a little awkward.

This is my eye after one coat of mascara. My lashes looked much longer and well defined.

This is great for a daytime look. For an evening look a second coat gives lots more volume and length for a touch of drama. I really liked this mascara and would definitely use it again.

Gosh Boombastic Mascara is RRP £8.49. It is currently available in Superdrug stores nationwide or online at Superdrug.co.uk. For more information about Gosh and their latest products and competitions you can follow them on Facebook

Disclosure: I was sent some Gosh Boombastic Mascara to try in order to do an honest review. I was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.

Bionsen Deodorant Review

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

Some time ago I tried Bionsen Deodorant Stick and I really liked it. I was pleased to be asked to try some more of the Bionsen Deodorant range, their roll-on and pump spray versions.

Bionsen is a range of aluminium and paraben free deodorants. They are all hypo-allergenic which is great if you have sensitive skin. Sweating is a natural cooling and detoxifying process used by the body so the Bionsen deodorant range allows natural perspiration. It neutralises the bacteria that create body odour so you feel fresh all day.

Bionsen deodorants contain minerals that are found in the volcanic spas of Japan, called Onsen. Onsen spas are traditionally located outdoors and their water is believed to have great healing properties due to the unique combination of minerals it contains.

Bionsen Roll-on

I tried the Bionsen Roll-On first. This is a what you would expect from a roll-on deodorant, it rolls on easily with a subtle but pleasant smell. When rolled on it dries quickly leaving no hint of stickiness. The bottle is a nice handy size, perfect for travelling or adding to your gym bag. I found this left me feeling fresh all day and with sign of any body odour.

RRP £2.35 (50ml)

Bionsen Pump Spray

The Bionsen Pump Spray Deodorant comes in a flat bottle with a pump top when you open the lid. When you spray it on you get a burst of freshness, almost like the smell of rain on a very hot day. It is a lovely fresh smell which is light and not over powering. The deodorant was very light in feel when applied but it also did a great job of keeping me fresh, even when I went running.

RRP £2.75 (100ml)

The Bionsen range is available in Morrisons, Boots and other leading supermarkets. You can find more information on the Bionsen website: http://www.bionsen.co.uk

Disclosure: I was sent some Bionsen to try in order to do an honest review. I was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.

Visionary Soap Company Review

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

I love discovering new products and recently I noticed that the Visionary Soap Company were looking for bloggers. The Visionary Soap Company was not a company I was familiar with so I decided to find out more about them.
The first thing I found out is that they are a Fairtrade company and all the ingredients that are used in their products are sourced ethically. The Visionary Soap Company uses Olive Oil from Palestinian Fair Trade Producers Company, Shea Butter from the Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society, Cocoa butter from Conacado in the Dominican Republic, herbs and spices from SOFA, the Small Organic Farmer Association in Sri Lanka, sesame seed from Del Campo in Nicaragua and Rooibos from Citrusdal Bergendal in South Africa. Sourcing the ingredients from Fairtrade sources is beneficial to the local communities and gives local people a better quality of life as well as valuable skills. All of the Visionary Soap Companies products have been certified in accordance with international Fairtrade standards.

The Visionary Soap Company goes a step further though as all the products are hand-made in the UK. They are based in Hastings and work with the Hastings Trust in a community project that provides employment to the local community. All of the products are free from palm oil, synthetic dyes or fragrances, parabens, petroleum-based ingredients, alcohol, sodium laureth sulphate and animal products. They are also GMO and gluten free. I was looking forward to trying them out.

When the envelope containing the products arrived, when I opened it I was hit with a gorgeous scent which wafted out. It was lovely, you could really smell the different scents in the products. I had been sent a selection of soaps and also some Orange Geranium Hand and Body Balm.

I decided to try the soaps first as after all that is what the Visionary Soap Company is named after. I discovered that all their soaps are made using the traditional cold process method and contain 60% Fairtrade certified ingredients instead of the 2% required for Fairtrade certification.

I was sent four small soap bars, which are the perfect size for taking on holiday or using for guest. I received Lavender, Lemongrass, Geranium Rose and Cinnamon Orange Clove.

The fragrances are gorgeous and they produce a lovely lather. You can even smell the scent on your skin for a while after use. My favourite was the lemongrass as this is quite an unusual scent for a soap, but they are all fabulous. You can even see the little bits of petals in the soap. You can get a box of eight mini soaps for RRP £11.20 which would be a great way to try the soap or make a lovely gift.

I was also sent this Organic Shea Butter and Oatmeal Soap in a larger bar which comes in a box.

I found this soap fabulous for my dry skin, it left it feeling moisturised after use. I think the mix of shea butter with olive oil, coconut oil and oatmeal may well have done the trick. It is a lovely soap and is RRP £3.69 for 100g bar.

As well as soap the Visionary Soap Company also produce a range of bath and body oils, lips balms, bath melts and organic body butters. I tried this Orange Geranium Body Butter. RRP £6.85

This product is suitable for dry skin and can also be used if you have eczema which I do. It has a lovely orange smell which is not overpowering and the balm is very soft and fluffy when you apply it. I thought that it might be greasy but it isn’t, the skin just drinks it in and is left feeling soft and moisturised after use. Since using this my skin has improved greatly and I am very pleased with it.

I was very impressed with the Visionary Soap Companies products and it is good to know that by buying these products you are also helping local communities. You can buy Visionary Soap Products online on their website. You can also find them on https://www.facebook.com/visionarysoap and twitter @visionarysoap

Disclosure: I was sent some Visionary Soap products in order to do an honest review. I was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.

Olbas Bath Review

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

When I was a child and I had a blocked up nose my mum always used to put Olbas Oil on a handkerchief for me. It always helped me breath more easily and putting the handkerchief under my pillow helped me get a good nights sleep. It is hard to describe the vapour, it is a menthol eucalyptus type of smell which is very pleasant. What I was not aware of was that Olbas Oil can also be used as a rub on aching muscles to provide relief. I also didn’t know that Olbas create a bubble bath called Olbas Bath.

Olbas bath combines the soothing vapours of Olbas Oil with a bubble bath. I always find a nice warm bath makes me feel loads better when I am feeling ill and bubble bath is always relaxing. I gave this a try, I poured some under the tap as it was running and a big pile of bubbles appeared. You could smell the Olbas Oil aroma and it definitely made me breath more easily. It was definitely as soothing pampering bath. I had a sore calf muscle before I got in the bath, caused by running and I found after the bath that the muscle was not aching as much.

The good thing about Olbas Oil is it can be used with children and if you have a poorly child an Olbas Oil bath might be just the thing to help them get a good nights sleep. Olbas Bath is RRP £3.99 for 250 ml.

You can find more information about Olbas Oil products on their website: http://www.olbas.co.uk/

Disclosure: I was sent some Olbas Bath to try in order to do an honest review. I was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.

White Glo Toothpaste Review

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Dragons and Fairy Dust

I believe in taking care of my teeth and have encouraged my son to do the same thing from an early age. Over the years my teeth have got gradually more yellow looking and I have tried all types of whitening toothpaste to see if they make a difference. Recently I have been trying White Glo Extra Strength Whitening Toothpaste. RRP £3.99. White Glo toothpaste was originally developed for use by actors and models who have to have white teeth. I was interested to see how it would work.

The pack comes with the White Glo Anti-stain toothbrush and White Glo Dental Flossers Toothpicks. I like the combination as I often forget to replace my toothbrush as often as I should. The toothbrush has a little plastic sucker cup on it which allows you to stick it to the wall, a nice touch. The bristles are extra condensed and are designed to clean the teeth without rubbing. TheWhite Glo Dental Flossers Toothpicks are a bit strange, little plastic picks to allow you to clean between your teeth. One end is pointy and the other is a bit like a little tree. They do work quite well but I prefer floss.

The toothpaste is in a tube that you can stand upright on the lid for storage. This makes it much easier to keep on a shelf. The toothpaste is white in colour and has a very mild taste. It has a slight taste of mint but this is very mild and there is a hint of a baking soda taste as well. It is not unpleasant, just different from what I was expecting.

When the toothpaste is used it seems to foam up in the mouth a little which actually makes it easier to cover your teeth with the toothpaste. This means you only need to use a little bit of the toothpaste to get your teeth clean. My teeth did feel clean after using the toothpaste and as a bonus all the family liked the taste. I often have to buy a different toothpaste for my husband and son as they do not like the same one, in this case they were both happy.

I have noticed a slight improvement in the whiteness of my teeth, they are definitely looking a lot less yellow. I have not been using it that long so I will keep using it and see what happens. It is a lovely toothpaste to use and I would definitely get it again as my teeth felt really clean. There are a number of other products in the White Glo range so you can choose the one to suit you. For more information: http://www.whiteglo.com/

Disclosure: I was sent some White Glo Toothpaste in order to do an honest review. I was not told what to write and my opinions are my own.