Category Archives: REVIEW INDEX

Estee Lauder Advanced Cleansing Balm Review

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hey hey everyone, if double cleansing is on your list this summer then this post is for you! I finally finished the Estee lauder cleansing balm and Ive been wanting to share my thoughts on it.

I love Estee Lauder so i was very excited to try something new (to me) from the brand. The cleansing balm came free as a gift with purchase sometime last year (or the year before) but I started using it in Jan this year and just finished it last month.

Experience

This is a balm cleanser that transforms into a oil once warmed up then into a milk when emulsified. The balm is buttery soft and is very easy to massage onto the skin. The oil it transforms to is slippery and it works well to breakdown makeup, SPF and dirt. it also becomes milky very easily with water and finally rinses off easily, leaving very little residue on the skin.

I was using this as a first cleanse in my routine for removing makeup and layers of sunscreen. it works well for that. i think it struggles a bit against waterproof mascara and lash glue, I find i have to use a little bit extra around the eye area or massage for slightly longer compared to other cleansing balms but it isn’t a big enough difference that i think the Estee lauder balm isn’t good. A little goes a long way with this product and i find when I’m heavy handed with it it leaves a bit of a residue when rinsing away

Verdict

This is a nice balm cleanser. Its the first balm cleanser I’ve used for a while after switching to oil cleansers. Is it the BEST balm cleanser I’ve used? No and Ive also used better cleansers from Estee Lauder.

As much as i love Estee Lauder for the ANR serum, I would not spend £46 on this cleanser especially when you can get much more affordable k beauty ones that are slightly better in my opinion.

I enjoyed using it, very happy i got it for free but I wont purchase this.

Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Cleansing Balm with Lipid-Rich Oil Infusion is £46 at Boots

Loreal Revitalift Face Toner

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hey hey everyone, I hope all is well with you. Today I have a review on the Loreal Revitalift face toner that I have been using for a while.

The toner is part of the revitalift range that promises younger looking skin. One of the main ingredients in the range and the toner is hyaluronic acid known for its hydrating and plumping benefits. This toner promises to leave the skin hydrated, younger looking and feeling refreshed.

Experience

I purchased this on a whim because i was looking for a hydrating toner under £5 from Boots that was very easy to fit into my routine. This one was on offer for £3.99 so I decided to try it. I’m very happy I did! It feels great on the skin leaving it nice and hydrated after cleansing. It has a pleasant scent, it has got fragrance so if that’s something that irritates your skin, the toner may not be for you.

Verdict

This is a very nice easy going toner that fits well into any routine, especially one with a lot of actives. I’ve had no issues with it. I’ve repurchased it a few times, this review comes after my 3 or 4th bottle probably and i will continue to get it. Its always on offer too, I’ve never paid the full £7.99 price for it. Has it left my skin looking younger or plumped? I don’t know lol, my skin looks the same but I didn’t really buy it for that.

if you’re looking for a cheap easily accessible toner, that is hydrating and nice on the skin, you can try this one out.

It’s currently £3.99 at Boots

KeraCare Curlessence Moisturizing Co-Wash Review

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hi hi everyone, I hope all is well with you.

Do you still co-wash your hair? I remember when co-washing was the latest trend in the natural hair community and all the brands were coming out with their co-washes. I was hesitant to try it, until I tried the As I am Coconut co-wash then I was on board with the co-wash crew lol. I don’t really co wash my hair anymore but I still, from time to time will co wash my curly hair wigs which is why I bought the Keracare Curlessence moisturising co wash. I’ve used the co wash on both wigs and my natural hair for some time and now I’m ready to share my full thoughts on it

I absolutely love KeraCare, they have some amazing products and the moisturising co wash is one of them. This is part of their curlessence range targeting type 3-4 natural hair. This product is ph balanced, sulfate free and promises gentle cleansing and hydration

Expereince

I’ve used this as a co-wash for both wigs and my hair but more recently(I’ve had this product for a while, I’m talking at least 1 year) I’ve been using it as a pre shampoo detangler. It has amazing slip and it really works well to soften my hair allowing me to detangle that much easier. My tangle teazer glides through my hair with minimal breakage. In terms of cleansing power, I haven’t used it as a co wash for a while however I only ever use cowashes when my hair is dry with minimal buildup, only a shampoo can give a thorough clean

It smells great has a thick spreadable texture that is very easy to smooth onto the hair and finger comb through, exactly what you would expect from a co-wash. it does lather up but not as much as a shampoo.

Verdict

This is a really nice product. I’ve come to see co washes as a multi-use product so if you still love to co wash your hair this works well as that for dry to minimal build up.. It also works very well as a detangler because of the amazing slip it has. You could also use it as a pre shampoo softening treatment if you have extra dry hair as its very softening. I definitely recommend this.

oh yeah I dyed my hair lmao and I’ve been testing out using gloves when washing my hair and omg it is a GAME changer!

Keracare Curlessence cowash is available from Lookfantasic for £8.95 (currently on sale)

see you laterr

K18 Leave-in molecular repair hair mask Review

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hey hey! I hope all is well. today I’m sharing my thoughts on the very popular K18 leave in mask

Since its launch in 2021, the K18 leave in mask has been EVERYWHERE. Everybody and their mama and best friend in the hair community has tried K18 by now so when it finally appeared in one of the advent calendars I was so excited.

K18 is a peptide leave in mask that promises to work in just 4 mins on all hair types and textures reversing damage from heat, chemical services and bleaching/coloring. You are directed to use it 4-6 times consecutively for progressive results then switch to maintenance use

Experience

I used K18 as directed for the 1st time back in 2024 and I HATED it! I hated it so much that I didn’t use it again until March 2026- LMAO. It left my hair so dry and CRUSTY and it felt weird not rinsing it out or not using a conditioner. I think I have PTSD lol because how can still remember this almost 2 years later LOL

Anyways this year I was really determined to finish and give it another chance so I did a bit more research on 4c hair use and a lot of people use as directed but follow up with a mask for hydration so I thought to try that. So in March I used it 4 times consecutively, leave it in for 4 mins before following with a mask, I used the Amika hydrorush mask left on for additional 20 mins before washing it out. I took a break in April as it was then time for my usual Olapex treatments- I didn’t want to use them together in the same wash day. I also then had a wig on for holiday. I used the last bit last week.

Usage is pretty easy: after washing and towel drying my hair, I split my hair into 4 sections, use a pump and a bit per section and cover with a shower cap. The texture is lightweight and feels like a lotion so it spreads well. it is not slippery so I didnt even try to detangle with it

Results

In total K18 lasted about 5 wash days. 1st time in 2024, in March 26- 4 weekly washes then final use last week but there was only a little left and it did half my head

Honestly I don’t know if it did anything to my hair. I was sure to pair it with masks I was already familiar with so I could tell if there was any additional benefits. My hair didn’t feel any different in March after using it weekly. I had my routine trim in April and I was told I have a few travelling split ends and some damage and I immediately thought but I’ve been using k18? I don’t think they explicitly say it repairs split ends but I feel my damage might be from heat? back in feb I got the wavy talk thermal brush and I may have abused it on my fine hair lol so if k18 repairs heat damage then shouldn’t my hair app have gone differently?

Verdict

I don’t know. I don’t feel like my hair is any different after k18 use. I have now finished the bottle, I had the 50ml size. I might have been heavy handed as it lasted 5 washes. I wont buy this again, I think for now I will stick to Olapex as my standard bonding treatment.

K18 is available from SpaceNK from£30

The Doux SWEETEST THING Honey Moisture Mask Review

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The Doux seems to be the latest natural hair brand making the girlies talk! I had heard of the brand in a few videos I watched but when my hair stylist recommended some products I decided to take the plunge and try the Honey Moisture hair mask. I wanted to try more honey hair masks as the TGIN one worked so well for my hair.

The Doux describes this as the sweetest mask you’ll ever know.  Hydrates stressed hair beyond the cuticle layer to improve texture, reduce friction, and bring that ol’ elasticity and strength back. Restores moisture balance and hydration to the scalp.  

Main ingredients: Barbadensis: For strong, poppin’ curls Honey: Super-charged to fizzle frizz out Aloe: Protects + hydrates stressed out strands

Experience

I’ve used this mask in 3 consecutive wash days to get a feel of it and I do not like it! For a moisture hair mask, it doesn’t leave my hair soft and conditioned as other moisture masks have left my hair. Comparing this to the other honey mask I love, the TGIN honey miracle, this one falls very short!

I noticed the Doux mask has 2 forms of protein in it, Keratin Amino Acids, Silk Amino Acids and I wonder if that’s why I don’t like it. It doesn’t leave my hair stiff at all just not softened. I’ve also noticed some breakage in my crown area- the same breakage I noticed when I was using the Briogeo don’t despair, repair mask which is protein rich very frequently. I think the mask too much protein for my low porosity fine hair and I was using it on my wash days every 2 weeks for at least 3 wash days!

Verdict

I think this is more of a strengthening mask for me than a moisture mask – I’ve noticed this too late though! I’ve stopped using it now and will be using it for strengthening instead. Looking back at my wash days( I keep a wash day log!), I saw that I had used the ApHogee 2 min keratin treatment prior to using the Doux honey moisture and I used it for the next 3 wash days after the Aphogee!! I think the keratin & amino acids in the Doux with the ApHogee keratin was too much protein and I think this combo is responsible for the breakage I saw! sigh

I’ve now switched to the Amika hydro rush hair mask and its a winner! I’m also going back to my TGIN Honey miracle mask as that product left my hair feeling beautiful! I think I will curate a list of protein free moisture hair masks because its really frustrating getting a hair mask that says its moisturizing only have it for more protein in it- I have fine low to medium porosity hair and protein overload can happen very quickly for me. Honestly keeping my hair log is so helpful because I am able to look at the products I’m using to see what is causing issues. If you can do this, try it for a few months- I’m sure you will find it helpful.

The Doux is now available in Boots to check out