Cleansing water vs Toner

I thought it was wise to do a post on the difference between toner and cleansing water as a few weeks ago I didn't actually know myself. I've always accepted toner as part of my 3 step skincare routine and never actually known what it is for. Being a massive fan of Clinique £45 for all my skincare was strating to make a hefty dent in my poor student bank account, so in a bid to reduce cost I wondered what toner was for and whether it was entirely necessary. I'd always assumed it was to clear away any missed make-up or left over facial wash, preparing the skin for moisturiser like many other people i had spoken to or had written reviews online but oh how so WRONG we all were!

Toner is supposed to restore the natural PH balance of our skin after  the cleanser has stripped it. Although with some toners I have previously used I find are heavy with alcohol leading to my skin feeling tight and later dry. So what does cleansing water do? When washing off a facial wash or cleanser we don't actaully know what is in the tap water and whether our skin is reacting to the minerals in it so the whole cleansing process becomes useless. Cleansing water is supposed to be a clean substance to wash away your cleanser without any worry of inpurity's or about the source. Some cleansing waters contain flower and fruit extracts to make your skin soft and bright. But is this essentually flavoured water in a fancy bottle with a fake promise? After being impressed by NUDE skincare company i found a bottle of their Clarifying Water for half price at just £6 and it is on it's way to me as i type for testing! Only time will tell whether the hype surrounding cleansing water is something to get excited about or whether it is all a myth?
Gemma

Rahua voluminous shampoo and conditioner

I've seen this product advertised and talked about everywhere so was expecting great things from this product. With the product being £27 a bottle too i was really looking foward to testing it out and having glossy hair.

When applying the product there was no smell which usually helps sell a product so i found it a bit strange that there was nothing to fragrance the hair. On occassion i can feel the conditioner softening my hair and untangling whereas with this product while applying my hair seemed to become more tangled if anything. I shrugged it off thinking it was just because it was different but after drying my hair i was very disappointed. The shampoo and conditioner hadn't made much difference at all and for £27 a bottle i would rather stick to super market shampoos which give a similar effect for a cheaper price. My Hair was it's usual form but unfortunately no voluminous affects which is what the product claimed to do!

 Perhaps their hair masks and intensive treatments would have more of an affect and be more worth while but for a daily Shampoo and Conditioner i honestly felt Rahua is not worth the price.


By Gemma

Sjal pearl enzyme exfoliating mask

I recently recieved a sample for this face exfoliater and having never heard of the brand before had no idea what to expect. I'm a big fan of face masks, especially exfoliating ones so was very excited to try it. When i first opened up the product and emptied the contents onto my hand the texture was gorgeous, light and had a sweet subtle smell unlike any other face mask i had tried before. The pearl extratcs were clear to see and when applying to my face I could feel them gently exfoliating which was promising since some exfoliaters or masks i've tried have a very weak scrub effect.

After 15 minuets this product proves that it really is a miracle worker. My skin was instantly softer, brighter and had a slightly more even skin tone after just one use! The next morning my skin was even softer and glowing. Excited by this product i looked online to check out of the cost and to my disappointment it was a bit out of my price range but the hefty price tag is understandable. For £128 it's not really the best for somebody on a student budget but i'm determined to find a product with similar effects.

When looking at the ingredients the possibilty of finding a product with similar effects is looking very slim. With ground pearls for gentle polishing, pearl extract for brightening, sapphire, tourmaline, ruby, diamond, amethyst and citrine for vibrational healing, balance and clarity it's no wonder this product comes attached with the £128 bill. Sjal seem to have created a unique exfoliator that i am dying to get my hands on...perhaps if i ever win the lottery? A girl can dream.

By Gemma

WELCOME!

Finally! The blog is up and running. Welcome to our blog about all things fashion and beauty. We are three students passing on our knowledge and putting our bargain hunting radar's to good use to help other fellow students get the best quality on a budget. Thank you for taking the time to take a look. The blog is still in progress please excuse the mess! :)