NEW Matrix Biolage Fiberstrong Collection - More Natural Care for Weak & Fragile Hair

I've been becoming more aware of my hair feeling thinner on top for the past 12 months or so, confounded by the fact that my loving brother, whom I met while out walking and sweating told me I 'look like a chrome dome' (he's a peach) so when The Professional Products Division of L’Oréal got in touch with me to introduce the New Matrix Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong collection I was all ears... and eyes. 

Made with botanical ingredients that have been naturally derived, namely the bamboo extract to repair and strengthen the hair follicle and protect from future breakage and combined with the sciencey bit - Intra-Cylane, it's a unique molecule that fills in gaps in the hairs cuticle - nature and science combined in Fiberstrong makes for some pretty great grúaig. 

Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Shampoo (€11.05)

This paraben free shampoo lathers easily with just a small amount. Pleasantly scented, even without the accompanying conditioner this is a solid, thickening shampoo that leaves now build up on the hair. 

Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Conditioner (€12.20)

Again paraben free, the Fiberstrong conditioner smells identical to the shampoo and coats the hair easily with a just walnut sized amount. Its thick formultion detangles as it's being applied and reduces the need for dragging a comb through wet hair and means less chance of breakage. 

Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Masque (€12.75)

The real treat of this collection is the hair mask. I'm using this pot of moisture at the weekends as a treat. Slathering it on, covering it with a shower cap and wrapping my head in a warmed towel for 10 minutes. The towel slides right off and my hair is completely detangled and feels fuller with even the quickest blow dry before styling.

Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong Intra-Cylane™ Fortifying Cream (€16.30)

Suitable for daily use, the Fortifying Cream is applied to damp hair sparingly before drying. This has replaced my beloved Rich Argan Oil Elixir as my hair treatment of choice. I'm attributing the lasting shine to this step of the four.

Overall would I recommend this range to a friend? Abso-lutely, the price is deceptively bargainous for such high end results and the results are pretty high end - so much so that when I washed and dried my grúaig last Friday before work my boss couldn't stop touching it as she was asking me what I'd used and every one the lovely ladies in the office commented on how healthy my hair looked (Hi, girls *waves* this is the stuff!). 

You'll find the new Matrix Biolage Fiberstrong collection in all high end salons and L'Oreal haircare stockists as of this month. We like?

5 Makeup and Skincare Tips to Reduce Red Skin

I've a bit of a treat for you today, beauty lovers, the ever wise Susannah is back with 5 make up and skincare tips to help keep reddened skin under control. Take it away Miss Susannah!

Who wouldn't love glowing skin and rosy cheeks? The problem is when that glow is more radioactive than radiant, and that rosy is edging towards ruddy. From a hint of rouge to full-blown, sunburn-chic red, if you've got red skin you’ll know how frustrating it can be. Here are my top skincare and makeup tips to fix it!

Image Source

1.       Use a Gentle Cleansing Lotion

It all starts with the cleanser you use when you wake up in the morning. Red skin is often accompanied by acne and unfortunately, many of the ‘anti-acne’ cleansers out there are really harsh on your skin. Irritated skin is red skin, so if your skin feels hot, tingly or sore after cleansing it’s time to swap your cleanser!

Look for a mild, gentle cleansing milk, preferably pH balanced to be kind to your skin. Avoid anything that contains alcohol or has ‘astringent’ written on the bottle!

2.       Invest in Natural Products

Even if your cleanser and moisturiser are ‘gentle’, that doesn’t mean they’re chemical free. Red skin is often a mild allergic reaction to the irritating chemicals found in so many beauty products today so if you’ve tried everything and your skin’s still red, it’s time to swap to all-natural products. Look for an all natural skin care for rosacea range, which is designed to calm and soothe angry red skin.

Naturals extends to more than just your skincare – there are plenty of all-natural cosmetics brands out there now too, and if you’re using a natural cleanser only to apply non-natural foundation on top you’re undoing all that good work!

3.       Use an SPF all Year Round

I don’t need to explain the link between sunburn and red skin. However, even if your skin doesn’t look or feel burnt, that doesn’t mean the sun hasn’t had something to do with your reddish glow. Sensitive skin can be aggravated by UV rays, so it needs a protective barrier.

Wear a minimum of SPF15 all year round – yes, even in winter! – or, if you’re like me and you just won’t remember, look for one of the many foundations that contain built-in sun protection.

4.       Use Green Concealer

When green concealer first became known to the high-street, I was a little sceptical. Surely caking green stuff on my face was going to make me look like a zombie, not a normal person? However, green concealers are actually one of those super secret products that top makeup artists keep stashed in their cosmetics cases, and for good reason too!

Green is opposite red on the colour wheel, which means the two kind of cancel each other out. The key is to buy expensive, and use in moderation. A cheap, green concealer will only make you look, well, green, so be sure to find a high-quality one. Apply it only to very red patches, not all over your face, and use just one or possibly two thin layers. Above all, be sure to wear under your foundation, not on top of it – green concealer needs concealing itself!

5.       Take the time to find your perfect foundation

There are literally thousands of foundations to choose from: cheap ones, luxury ones, liquid ones, powder ones, mineral ones... and, of course, every shade of ‘skin tone’ under the sun! When it comes to combating red skin, it’s imperative you’re using the right foundation. This is arguably the cosmetic item most worth splashing out on, since it’s going to be used on so much of your face.

Remember that foundation is not designed to cover up (that’s the job of concealer – unless it’s this foundation) your real skin tone, so it shouldn’t be too light (you’ll look pasty) or too dark (you’ll look like you’re wearing way too much makeup). Instead, spend the time – and money! – to find a foundation shade the non-red skin on your neck and décolletage as perfectly as possible.

Do you have any more tips to cover up red skin, or specific product recommendations that have worked for you? Please leave me a comment below...

Susannah Perez is a beauty blogger and fashion addict with a penchant for red lipstick – something that’s hard to carry off with matching red skin!

All hugely helpful tips, Thanks a mill, Susannah! 

You can read Susannah's previous guest post on how to fight acne naturally here (you know you wanna) and follow the lady herself on the twitter machine here. If you'd like to have a guest post featured on CherrySue, why not just drop me a line and we'll chat!

It's BEE-Ginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas: Burt's Bees Christmas Gift Ideas

You might remember that Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm very easily made it into my top 3 of all balms a little while back. The story of the company's set up and continual growth makes for very interesting reading as does their commitment to keeping natural products natural. It's no wonder then that their products are on many a HG list, not just mine for balms. 

This Christmas season Burt's Bees have taken the sting (geddit?) out of gift buying with their beautiful pre made gift sets. If you're a natural product lover or buying for one then there's without doubt something here that'll float your boat at a price you'll like. 

I've picked out a couple of my favourites to give you a look but there's many, many more available in pharmacies, health stores, Avoca and Easons (Yes, Easons) nationwide.  

Burt's Bees Basics

Burt's Bees Tips & Toes

Burt's Bees Basics comes in two sets:

• Balm & Hand salve
• Balm & Lemon Cuticle Creme

Burt's Bees Tips & Toes contains everything you'll need for hand and foot care with:

• Almond Milk Hand Cream
• Hand Salve
• Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream
• Coconut Foot Cream
• Lemon Cuticle Cream
• Replenishing Lip Balm

The brand have very kindly sent me the Burt's Bees Travel Basics set so you can have a looksee at exactly what's contained below. Lovely, right?

Burt's Bees Travel Basics Gift Set

Burt's Bees Favourites: Pomegranate 

And my final pick of the crop that just so happens to be the most expensive of the lot is the Favourites gift set in pomegranate that contains: 

• Cranberry & Pomegrante Sugar Scrub
• Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Lotion
• Pomegranate Lip Balm
• Body Wash Puff
• Body Bar

What do we think? Could they BEE any cuter? (OK, I'll stop now)

Psst: Just a quick heads up,

I stumbled across BeautyFeatures.ie

with several of these sets at reduced 

cost! If you like 'em, buzz over there quicksmart

(Swear that's the last one)

Coming Soon from Korres: Iris Lily of the Valley Cotton Collection

Naturally gorgeous Greek brand Korres are about to add another EDT and accompanying body care products to their fine fragrance collection and have sent some of the beautifully packaged goodies my way for sampling. This time around it's Iris Lily of the Valley Cotton. Korres say that it's part of is part of the their 'ongoing effort to eliminate potential exposure to synthetics such as polycyclic-musk (PCM), nitro-musk and phthalates' I say, if something smells this good and is actually good for me too then sign me up.

The scent reminds me of hopping into a freshly made bed after a long bath, it's clean and comforting, definitely softer than the musky, sensual scents I usually go for but I'm loving it. 
Each of the three products compliment each other perfectly, without becoming overpowering. Fancy a closer look? 

The moisturising and perfumed shower gel from the range (€9.88) has a thin consistency but lathers softly and smells divine in the heat of the bathroom. My skin was squeaky clean after use without a hint of dryness, as can happen with perfumed shower gels.

The body milk from the collection (€12.36) is more a cream than a milk but beautifully soft and scented on the skin. It soaks in easily leaving no nasty residue and works brilliantly with the EDT on the neck and décolletage to prolong the fresh, clean scent for the entire day.

While the EDT itself (€35.83) is not the prettiest bottle in my collection, it's probably the prettiest scent. Powdery and soft yet not grannyishly so, I've actually been accosting people to let them smell it. It's one of the most understated and subtle perfumes I own but it makes such a refreshing change that it'll be in regular rotation from now on.

Iris Lily of the Valley Cotton will launch at the end of the month on Bath & Unwind.com and Asos.com, if fresh cotton is your thing or if you're looking for something a little different then I'd say check these beauties out.

Have you tried anything from the Korres brand yet? Have you recommendations for me?

Naturally Kissable Lips with Pixy Lip Balms

Ooh lookey here, I was just this week complaining about having the heating turned back on wreaking havoc with my kisser and look what should drop on the mat of Casa Cherry. Beautifully natural and deliciously scented lip balms from Pixy Natural Skincare. 

Unscrewing these cute little tins I had to call the Gorgebags downstairs to give them a sniff and I was swiftly relieved of two of them. Sharing is caring, I know but I can't help lament the loss of the chocolate tin to the eldest. He's a chocolate fiend and just wouldn't unhand the balm once he'd had a good sniff. 'Delicious' says he, you really do have to smell it to believe it. 

Pixy Lip Balms €3.99

True to Pixy form, these balms are made using only the best quality natural ingredients. Each tin of loveliness is based on an ice cream flavour (Chocolate, Strawberry, Coconut, Honey & Mint) and are made using: 

• Cocoa Butter
• Shea Butter
• Almond Oil
• Beeswax

Though they may take a little warming with your finger to get a good helping of balm (it's because I'm greedy, I know), once applied these moisturising lip lovers leave just the slightest sheen but have an incredible taste. Lips are moisturised, nourished and ready for whatever this season has to throw at them (smooches included). 

For €3.99 from Pixy.ie given the choice between these and a tin of petroleum jelly on my lips, I'd opt for Pixy every time. 

Are you a lip balm lover? 

Introducing Pixy Softening Body Oil - A Natural Saviour for Dry Skin

I'm a recent convert to body and beauty oils but you'd have to be living under a rather large rock not to have noticed the surge in popularity that they've been having in the beauty world of late. It's not always easy to find a natural oil that can be trusted on all skin types though, from dry & flakey- Reptaresque to oily skin in need of some comfort, Pixy Body Softening Oil has you covered. 

Promising to not only nurture but also to nourish the skin, Pixy Softening Body Oil is chock full of natural oils and goodness such as softening Jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, apricot oil, and borage seed oil (just to note that Borage seed oil is actually used to ready the body for labour and delivery so this oil wouldn't be recommended for pregnant ladies). 

The scent is beautifully floral with both jasmine and magnolia, coupled with the soft, non greasy feeling on the skin, Body Softening Oil is a must try for those suffering with eczema or dry skin conditions.

While recommended for bodily use only, I have this little beauty propped on my desk for use on my hands & arms and for massaging into my cuticles. Everyone that's passed by has commented on the dinkyness of the bottle and the beautiful scent once I pop it open and give them a sniff. In hindsight, I should probably mark the level in the bottle, any office staff that steals 5 consecutive staplers are not to be trusted and I'm enjoying this new addition far too much to have it pilfered...

Pixy Softening Body Oil is €7.99 for 40ml from Pixy.ie.

*PR sample

How to Fight Acne Naturally!

Today I've a fantastic guest post from Susannah Perez, giving us the heads up on how to fight acne naturally. Take it away Susannah!

Image by: Mohamed Adel

Acne has to be one of the most annoying things ever to have plagued humans.

You wake up one day, thinking that everything is great, that it’s going to be a brilliant day. But then you head to clean your teeth, and they’re there. Crept up on you in the night, the little buggers, to cover your forehead, nose, chin... Spots. Freakin’ everywhere.

You apply the works – foundation, three layers of concealer and half a pot of powder, but in your heart you know that that layer of makeup will eventually wear off and everyone will notice those giant red volcanoes.

What the hell? You yell, I thought I was past this! You scream. But no, no; it doesn’t matter if you’re going to be 36 next year - spots can plague anyone from puberty to retirement.  

 

So What Can We Do?

Although eruptions are also notoriously hard to predict – and there isn’t a simple cause-effect path you can follow to control the problem – there are about a million chemical remedies out there that promise the world (in terms of acne, at least). They all claim to vanish those spots and zap those blackheads off your face for good.

Unfortunately, in reality, chemical face washes and astringents do nothing but dry your delicate skin out – the beginning of a vicious cycle. Your skin attempts to compensate by producing more oil, which can assist in clogging up your pores and creating more acne, which, of course, you attempt to get rid of by using more chemicals.

So let’s be honest here, and admit that the best way to start treating breakouts is from the inside out.

Healthy Body, Healthy Skin

Image by: nickton

It’s a hard thing to face up to, but if you spend half your life in an office chair, the other half on the sofa, eat nothing but processed foods and drink nothing but fizzy pop, you can’t expect your skin to look good. Now, I’m not saying that you should never buy a bag of crisps or a can of coke again, but your skin does need certain things that you can only get through a healthy diet.

Making sure you get your five a day (and no, a strawberry daiquiri doesn’t count), and eating plenty of lean protein can help you ensure you’re getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

There are certain foods that can help battle breakouts, which include ones rich in vitamin C (citrus fruits, red peppers), omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, mackerel, walnuts), zinc (oysters, beef, sesame seeds) and selenium (brazil nuts). It’s thought that getting a good amount of zinc and magnesium can actually help balance the hormones that can cause acne, so may have a pretty significant effect on the frequency of breakouts.

Make sure you get a reasonable amount of exercise too (I know, I know) as the increased blood flow can help whisk away nasties and make you less stressed. Exercise also helps you improve your liver, kidney and bowel functions, meaning you have less toxins to sweat out.

Topical Treatments

Image by: James Bowe

When you do get flare ups, opting for gentle, natural products to treat your skin can do a hell of a lot more good than whacking on harsh washes, astringents and lotions. In particular, avoid anything overly drying and irritating like SLSs, soaps, alcohols (watch out with this one, they shove it in a load of natural products too) and peroxides.

Cleanse with a SLS and soap-free facewash, and then get to grips with the spots. Using a few drops of lemon or grapefruit juice with cooled, boiled water can make a great toner, as it’s lightly antibacterial – though make sure you make it fresh every week.

There are also certain oils that are awesome for spot-prone skin. Now, if you get regular breakouts, you’re probably used to making sure everything you put on your skin is “oil free” – but hear me out! Oils like tea tree, rosewood, geranium and sea buckthorn can actually help rebalance and purify the skin, in turn helping minimise breakouts. Make sure you blend essential oils in a light carrier oil such as hazelnut oil, as they can be too concentrated and strong on your skin otherwise.

If blending oils sounds like too much faff for you, there are a few good products out there that have done the hard work for you, like the Salcura Antiac acne treatment which has worked well for me in the past.

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, there ain’t no cure for acne. Keeping healthy and eating the right foods can help, and using natural, gentle remedies on your skin can avoid over drying and irritation, which just makes matters worse.

Do you have any great natural acne remedies that I need to know about?

Susannah Perez is a skincare nut who has spent at least half her life fighting spots. She blogs about beauty and fashion for anyone that will let her!

What a fantastic, informative post! Be sure to follow Susannah on the Twitter machine @susannahperez and do drop by her beautifully vintage Tumblr: Pretty Things. 

If you have a kick ass post like this and would like to write a guest post, do please get in touch and let's chat.