A BIG KNOT PROBLEM-> BEST LEAVE-IN CONDITIONERS

I don't know if it is because I have long hair now, or because it is fine, or perhaps it is a little dry, but every time I let my hair down, at the end of the day, I get a huge 'nest' at the nape of my hair, completely tangled and I have no choice but to wash my hair again and start everything over.

Perhaps it's the combination of fine, dry and long and knotty which amounts to this.. I have even been thinking about a short chop but after spending a last 5 years trying to grow my hair out, I was not ready to give up on it just yet.

I fave not found a way to fully stop it yet but I managed to find products which decrease it by 90-95% and I have to share them with you!

First one is the Salon at home, Moisture Seal Hair Healer leave-in Conditioner by Charles Worthington. It is a light gel which I rub into my dry ends and mid lengths and it leaves my hair feeling nourished, soft and light, no greasy or tacky residue, even if you let your hair dry naturally (without using the hairdryer). It helps keep my hair knot-free and shiny between washes. I used to be hooked on Moroccanoil for years and this is as nice, if not better, as it leaves my hair even lighter than the oil. 

The second product I found to be amazing is mainly a detangler- the seven seconds Conditioner leave-in, from Unite. OMG! It makes brushing my long hair SO much easier, I just bought it and I am already dreading the day this runs out and I am planning to buy 3-4 more bottles next time. It is a must have if you have fine, knotty hair, it leaves your hair smooth and smelling amazing for days! I can't live without it anymore. It's a fact!

So there you have it, my favourite combo to combat knots! It's a great duo which really saves me literally from ripping my own hair off!

UK readers will find it a little hard to get your hands on Unite products, but you can get them here.
and Charles Worthington can be found in our trusty Boots here.

US readers can find the Unite detangler here.

What are your favourite hair saviours? Oils, detanglers, conditioners? Have you tried these?

Love, London Girl  xxx

BEST FACIAL AT HOME- OMOROVICZA DEEP CLEANSING MASK

I am always on the hunt for great masks, I tried a lot of different ones over the years, and I heard a lot about the Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask so I decided to finally try it out! I feel like my routine can't function without one (or more) cleaning masks as my skin gets clogged up easily if I don't do anything. I alway need to keep it clean for it to stay clear.

I have to say that this mask needs to be applied 2 to 3 days before your 'event' as it can bring out some dirt to the surface of your skin and give you small breakouts at first. Thankfully, these breakouts clear up quickly and you are left with beautifully clear, bright skin.

Although it is a clay mask, it is not drying at all and doesn't even harden on your face like clay masks usually do, leaving you unable to talk, smile, even sneeze while you are wearing the mask. This doesn't  harden or stiffen on your face. It tingles when you apply it but then stops and feels light and comfortable on the skin. It is highly effective but not too harsh, doesn't leave your face stripped or dry, it would be perfect for more sensitive skins in need of a nice, deep, yet gentle, cleanse.

It left my face visibly clearer, brighter, less red, smoother and reduced under my the surface bumps (usually on my forehead) which just hang around and never fully develop into pimples (!!!)

If I have a bad pimple, I apply this mask on top of the pimple and leave it overnight, in the morning more often than not, the pimple has disappeared:)! So it's a great spot treatment too.

I have to say that it was the closest I have ever come to a facial treatment at home. It really does give you this 'fresh out of the spa skin'. I do however have to say it did not clear up the blocked up pores on my nose, so on the downside, it does not remove blackheads like other clay masks do (my favourite being the Glam Glow which sucks all blackheads out completely). So I would call it a facial equivalent but without the blackhead extractions procedure.

That said, it really is a great product and I love using it once to twice a week when I feel my skin need a little kick. It is very expensive, but a little goes a long way, on the picture I used the mask 8 times and you can see I barely made a dent in it.

I strongly believe in investing in good masks and using them often to keep your skin looking it's best. I would rather use drugstore makeup for the rest of my life than skimp on masks/skincare. If you don't have good skin, no foundation will fully cover it. In my book, skincare is where you can invest in products you know work great for you.

You can find the mask here for US readers and here for UK

Have you tried this mask?
What are your favourite clearing/hydrating masks masks?

Love, London Girl  xxx

ELIZABETH ARDEN 8 HOUR CREAM

This product I picked up about 6 months ago and was sure I was going to love it, I heard so much about it from beauty bloggers, makeup artists, everyone and their dad and their cat has tried this and apparently loved it. Like most people, I suffer from dry chapped lips sometimes and need a quick fix to make sure I can wear all my brightest lipsticks at any time without thinking about the fact that they will cling onto the dry patches. 

When I first used it on my lips about 6 months ago, I went all out, building a big layer of the product on my lips and going to bed, the next day I woke up in horror with very sensitive lips, very irritated, very hard and literally peeling like crazy. I got so worried, thought it could be the 8 Hour Creme, but for some reason really doubted it, blamed it on something I ate or other creams I used that night. (I guess I did that because the product cost 25 pounds and you are not ready to give up on that easily!)  

I was not ready to believe that I had such a strong allergic reaction to a 'holy grail' product that works for everyone, since I have NEVER been allergic to any skincare/makeup before. Simply not possible. I put the 8 Hour Creme away and waited about a week or so to get my lips back. 

I finally found the product 2 weeks ago in my stash and thought 'OK I will try out a little of it again to see if this happens again and then I will know for sure'... I did. This time I was much less generous on the amount I would apply, more cautiously... and surely enough, the whole lip disaster repeated itself!

I have now regained my lips back after using insane amount of Reve de Miel Lip Balm by Nuxe, and can truly say I am 100% allergic to this product. I searched around the web to see if any poor soul had the same reaction to this product as I did and I found a handful of exactly the same reactions as me.

Bottom line, I really wanted to love the product, I have given it a good go twice, and I am sure it works wonders on a lot of people and I'm a little jealous about that, and they should continue using it and loving it. However, if you have never tried it out and want to have a go, PLEASE get a sample, or try from a friend, or buy the smallest tube available to make sure you don't go through the pain I went through. The reaction I had really hurt my lips and took a long while to go away.

Have you tired the 8 Hour Creme? Did it work well for you?
What are your favourite lips products?

Love, London Girl  xxx