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Thanks again to BH and Ardell Professional for sending me the Light As Air False Lashes to trial as part of the Biggest Ever Beauty Giveway. I can honestly say, though I love beauty products in all their many forms, I have never worn false lashes before and have been a little scared to if I'm totally honest. But wear them I did, and here are my thoughts: PACKAGING: The packaging of Light As Air is simple with sky blue writing and detailing and a clear plastic front which shows off the eyelashes within. Inside the lashes are housed in a moulded plastic casing which is reusable and so you can keep your lashes in there to keep them safe as they seem like something that could easily get lost or dropped. They are certainly reusable so it's a good idea to keep them in their packaging for future use. At the bottom, there is a small tube of eyelash glue too. You do need to use the prong built into the tube lid to pierce the foil on the top of the tube before use. PRODUCT: The main selling point of the Light As Air lashes is that they have "All the volume, half the weight" of regular lashes. Having never worn them before, I really have nothing to compare them to but they do feel quite light on your lashes. They are really very long lashes. You simply put the glue along the false-lash base, wait a moment for it to become slightly tacky and then apply along your own lash-line. I did manage to get one lash on (no small feat when you need reading glasses) and it did fit more or less along my natural lash line without needing to be trimmed. I enlisted the help of my teenager to do the other eye, but even she had a little difficulty putting it on me though she thought the style of the lashes was "super cute". Looking at myself in the mirror I couldn't help but feel that these long fluttering things weren't really me. My other daughter came to see what all the commotion was about and had a giggle and said that perhaps I shouldn't wear such long lashes for my first time. She did help me with the removal of the lashes soon after and told me to remove the glue with make-up remover so that was something. PERFORMANCE: I'm sure that for anyone who regularly wears false lashes, these are a fabulous lightweight alternative. For anyone who is new to falsies, perhaps go for a more natural look first. I'm not sure whether there is a false-lash out there that would ever look good on me so thanks BH for expanding my beauty horizons but I doubt this will ever be repeated! All in all, this was a product I can see many people would like but I just don't think they're for me.

Once again I would like to thank BH and Manicare for sending me the Contour Roller Set as part of the BH Biggest Ever Beauty Trial. I was very excited to try this gadget and put it through its paces so here is what I discovered: PACKAGING: The roller is packaged in a clear plastic box with the navy and white signature Manicare colours that are clean and slick to the eye. Inside the roller is housed in a moulded plastic base with the under-eye attachment beside it. They fit really securely into their compartments so you could take the roller on vacation with you and know that it shouldn't come to any harm. PRODUCT: The roller itself is so pretty. It has a frosted pinkish-lavender handle and a silvery-black top with two faceted rollers and a black base (on switch). You need to twist this base anti-clockwise to remove the casing and insert the AA batteries before twisting it back on. Now when you twist anti-clockwise, the roller begins to vibrate as it should. You simply apply a serum and then use the roller in a downward sweep over your cheek and forehead area (where you sweep up and outwards). The top clicks off and you can insert the eye attachment for use in reducing puffing beneath the eye area. As gadgets go, this one is fairly straight forward to use. PERFORMANCE: Unfortunately, after giving both the roller and under-eye attachment a run for their money I had to discontinue use. The vibrations, even though subtle, were enough to create a vertigo-like effect in me where I started to feel a bit dizzy. I'm sure this is not how most people would feel after use but I have inner-ear issues which seem to have been triggered by the buzzing of the device on my face which is a great shame because I dearly would love to continue using it. All in all, I think for most people this would be a useful tool in toning their facial area but unfortunately, it's not going to be something I can use long term.

A big thanks to BH and Manicare for sending me the Exfoliating Back Scrubber to trial as part of the Biggest Ever Beauty Giveaway. I have kept this in my shower for a few weeks now and have been using it on my back when required and here are my thoughts on this product: PACKAGING: The outside packaging of the back loofah is just a clear plastic casing with a simple design that gets the message across - this is a special loofah for that difficult to reach back area. This would normally be a neglected body part if not for a product like this so I give it full kudos for being innovative. Inside the scrubber unfolds into a long, slightly stretchy cloth with a handle at two ends. It's pretty self explanatory how it works. PRODUCT: The scrubber is made from recycled polyester and has organic cotton handles so I give Manicare extra points for thinking about the environment and making a more eco-friendly product. The cloth itself feels slightly rough but not overly coarse and as you use it you can tell it is exfoliating well without being scratchy or irritating. Having said that it is self-explanatory how it works, I found out that I'm a bit unco-ordinated as I did find it a bit hard to manage both ends at times - maybe that's just a sign of my age! I dried the scrubber off between uses by hanging it from the shower tap using one of the ends and doubling it back. I can't say it ever totally dries out but it hasn't gone mouldy or smelly so it dries out enough between uses. PERFORMANCE: I think this is a really clever product and I'm sure my back is cleaner for using it (though it's hard for me to see the results). It is a nice gentle product that gives a subtle exfoliation without any irritation and is a good product to have as part of any regular body exfoliation regimen. All in all, I would recommend this scrubber for anyone wanting to deep cleanse their back and think it would be great for anyone with dry skin build-up or even bacne perhaps.

I'd like to start by thanking BH and Bio-Oil for sending me the Bio-Oil Skincare Oil (Natural) to me to trial. I have been using this oil as a body skin moisturiser after every shower for quite a few weeks now and here are my impressions on this product: PACKAGING: The Bio-Oil comes packaged in a tall, plastic 125ml bottle with a white screw top lid. The packaging is clear with orange writing so it is simple design but also kind of earthy. I always like clear packaging because you always know how much product you have left and when you will need to buy another to replace it. The lid seals quite well so you could travel with the bottle technically though it does get a bit of an oily reside on the outside with constant use so care would need to be taken that it doesn't make other items greasy. The product basically gets squeezed out of the hole in the top of the bottle - a simple design and easy to use. PRODUCT: I have been using this product constantly and still have nearly half a bottle left after several weeks of use (so a little does go a long way with this product). I love that it contains 100% natural ingredients like calendula and lavender and has a nice herbal scent. It is an oil so some care needs to be taken when squeezing it out of the bottle as its runny texture can lead to too much oil coming out into your hand at a time (and the floor if you're not careful). I mainly use this on my arms and legs and stomach which has stretch marks. I use it on my arms and legs more for hydration as I suffer from extremely dry, aging skin that could really do with a pick-me-up like Bio-Oil. The oil does absorb really well and it never leaves me feeling like I have greasy or wet skin. PERFORMANCE: I must say that I have been very impressed with the results I achieved from using the Bio-Oil. The skin on my legs in particular is much less dry and flaky and the skin on my arms looks a lot less scaly and dehydrated. I also feel like it has make the stretch marks on my stomach less noticeable and more faded looking. They say on the packaging that you shouldn't expect results before 3 months of use but I think in my case it has been much faster than that. I'm happy also to say that I haven't had any reaction from using this oil as sometimes other body lotions and oils have brought me out in a rash. Overall, I think Bio-Oil has been an excellent product for me and I would recommend it to anyone with dry or aging skin and anyone wanting to reduce the look of stretch marks or scars.

Thanks again to BH and Toni&Guy for sending me the Leave in Conditioner to trial as part of BH's "Biggest Ever Beauty Giveaway". I'm always excited to try a new hair product as my hair is prone to dryness and frizziness as well as fly-aways that are hard to manage. So without further adieu, here are my thoughts: PACKAGING: The Leave-In Conditioner comes packaged in a 100ml tube. It looks fairly schmick with its design - I like the gold paint streak and ampersand - it gives the product a more high-end look. The top has a flip lid that secures quite tightly making this a good product for travelling with. It is easy to squeeze product out of the tube too and I like that the conditioner drains to the bottom of the tube so it is always easy to get out those last skerricks. The tube itself has a sightly matte finish which makes it easier to grip and less likely to drop - especially while using the slightly slick product inside. PRODUCT: The conditioner is a white cream, much like a rinse-out conditioner in texture. It has a divine scent - a floral kind of perfume that I like and that lingers on the hair in a pleasant way. It has a lightweight feel about it and doesn't weigh my hair down at all and never feels greasy. It does seem to work straight away at taming frizz and fly-aways. It really settles down my split-ends and makes my hair feel nicely hydrated pretty much immediately. I like that this doesn't have an oily or sticky texture - so many leave-in treatments do and you feel like you need to wash it all out! This product works with your own natural waves to really add bounce that looks styled and not wild. PERFORMANCE: I think that this really does make a difference to my hair when I put it through my ends in particular - helping to settle the frizz and subtly hydrate without causing my hair to be greasy and loose all natural bounce. It's an excellent finishing product that would work in well with other deep conditioning treatments (probably other products in the Toni&Guy range would be ideal). But if you don't have time to condition in the shower, you could definitely get away with smoothing this product through damp hair and have nice looking hair on the run! All in all, I think this is a very good product that works well at controlling frizz and flyaways without weighing hair down or making it into a greasy mess. I would definitely recommend it for anyone wanting a good leave-in product that is a good price and easy to use.

I just want to start out by thanking BH and John Plunkett's for sending me SuperLift Face Lift Treatment Serum to try. I've been using this serum for a while now and these are my findings: PACKAGING: The Face Lift Treatment Serum is packaged in a round plastic bottle containing 15ml's of product. It has a clinical look - white bottle with blue writing that is crisp and clean in appearance. There is a clear plastic lid on top but it doesn't click on very tightly so that, although it is a good size for travelling with, I wouldn't be sure that it wouldn't leak into my bag. The bottle is topped with a pump lid that imparts a good squirt of product in each pump - enough to use on your facial area. Overall, the packaging looks good and the bottle is easy to use. PRODUCT: Since this product contains 1 percent retinol, certain precautions need to be taken in its use. The instructions recommend using only three times a week, at night and building up to daily to get skin accustomed to the product. You do need to avoid the sun and wear sunscreen while using this product as it makes skin more sensitive to sun exposure. You also need to avoid the mouth and eye area. I have been using this product for three days a week but because I have sensitive skin and have had some issues with retinol-based products in the past, I decided not to up the usage to daily. The serum is a lightweight, slightly yellowy-white coloured cream. It absorbs super fast and has a mild moisturising action. It is non-greasy and has a light, sweet smell. PERFORMANCE: Unlike the other retinol-based serum sent to me in the Biggest Ever Beauty Giveaway, I have largely avoided skin sensitivities with the John Plunkett's Face Lift Treatment serum. I had some time off between using the two products as required and used a non-retinol based serum instead in the interim period. Generally, my skin has been able to tolerate this serum without coming out in a rash (whic sometimes its prone to). I think I have had a little redness that passes but not any prickly sensation or irritation. My skin has a bit more of a shine than it did - proof that the serum is renewing my skin though I feel it's still a bit early to know whether it will lead to a more youthful appearance the longer I use it. I'm happy that I don't have the sensitive-skin issues using this product I experienced before so I should be able to continue using this product and continue to assess its results. All in all, this serum shows promise in terms of improving the look and texture of my skin and I look forward to using it more in the future.

Thanks again to BH and Kiehl's for sending me the Retinol Skin Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum to trial. Here are my thoughts on this product: PACKAGING: Of all the products in the BH Biggest Ever Beauty Giveaway that were sent to me, this was the one that excited me the most. I have loved Kiehl's for years and often stopped to try their products and occasionally even splashed out and purchased them too. They look great - they have that olde worlde apothecary appearance (probably because the company was founded in 1851). The serum bottle packaging is simple - a blue glass (or hard plastic) bottle with white label and black writing. It feels good and solid, even a bit heavy in the hand. The top has a plastic lid and underneath, there is a pump nozzle that puts out enough product in one push to cover the face area. It's easy to use though may be a bit heavy for travel. PRODUCT: The serum is off-white and more creamy in texture than a slick, transparent gel like some serums. A little goes a long way as the product spreads well and also absorbs readily into the skin. It does have a slight scent that is unobtrusive. It is an easy product to use but being retinol based, it required a few extra precautions than other skin-care. I only ever used this up to three times a week though it was suggested that you could start on three times a week and increase to daily if your skin was up to it. You also need to either keep out of the sun and/or wear sunscreen as retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun. Having somewhat sensitive skin, I didn't think that it would be a good idea to use it more than three times a week. You also need to avoid the eye and lip area with this product. PERFORMANCE: I wish I could say it was all smooth sailing with this product but unfortunately after about a couple of weeks, I developed a sensitivity to the serum and found my skin feeling prickly and irritated. I decided to discontinue use as I did not want this to lead to facial dermatitis - a condition I have suffered from in the past. Prior to discontinuing this product, I was noticing that my skin was developing a nice glow and I may have seen some good results had my skin not reacted in the way it did. I feel disappointed because I would really have loved to have given this a good run for its money but it wasn't to be. All in all I feel this would be an effective product for those that can tolerate retinol at the strength that this product contains. Kiehl's is an up-market and respectable brand and I'm sure a lot of other people trialling this product will achieve good results.

Firstly, I'd like to thank BH and Du'it for sending me Tough Shield Sanitising Hand Cream for me to try. I think this is a fascinating product that combats the need for hand-sanitising with a cream that doesn't dry skin out. Here are my other thoughts on this cream: PACKAGING: The 75g tube has a no-nonsense look about it. If I'm totally honest, it has a sort of masculine energy about it with the primary yellow and blue colours and man hands (one clenched in a fist) on the packaging suggesting that men would be the main purchasers/users. However, it is totally a unisex product and great for anyone. As for ease of use, it has a flip lid which snaps shut tightly so would be good for travel and is handbag size if your bag is a decent sized tote. The product drains towards the lid which is always a good feature. PRODUCT: I think the concept of this product is great! Due to ongoing Covid, we all need to sanitise regularly and most of them contain alcohol which is drying and can be irritating. So this product seems to fill a void in the market for a sanitiser that also hydrates, or a hand-cream that also sanitises. I love that this gives you anti-microbial protection for 6 hours and kills 99.9 percent of nasties too. As a hand-cream it is nice on the skin. It's quite a rich cream, that has good staying power without feeling greasy. It gives skin a nice lustre and is also gentle which is important. I love the scent - like roses to me. PERFORMANCE: The cream is a great multi-purpose product that I'm sure is killing germs and it certainly has made my skin feel soft on my hands without any irritation. I carry a very small handbag which I can't fit the cream into unfortunately, the only downside of this product for me. But a good one for home use when I come in from shopping and want to sanitise - it gives me peace of mind without the sting of some of the sanitisers that settle into my dermatitis and cause me pain. All in all, I think this is a fantastic product and I highly recommend it for anyone who struggles with using ordinary hand-sanitiser and wants a gentler, moisturising option.

Thank you to BH and QV for sending the Face Hydrate + Renew Serum to me to trial recently. I've been putting this serum through its paces for a while now and here are my thoughts on this product: PACKAGING: Like all QV products, the Hydrate + Renew Serum is packaged in a white plastic cylindrical bottle with blue writing and silver accents. The overall look is slightly clinical yet soothing on the eye somehow. The serum is a pump pack which squirts enough product in one pump to cover the face and neck area. It is not a pump that locks but does come with a clear lid to assist in preventing leakage. It doesn't snap on that tightly however and while the bottle is a good size for travelling (25g), I don't think I'd trust the clear lid to stop spillage and would probably put it in a plastic bag to be safe. PRODUCT: The serum is gentle enough to be used daily morning and night under a moisturiser or nightcream. It is a lightweight, opaque, slightly runny cream which is mostly unscented but I smell just a hint of menthol (though I don't know if it contains this or not). It does contain vitamins B3 and B5 which are good for the skin. It absorbs pretty quickly with no trace of a sticky residue or any oiliness. PERFORMANCE: The serum definitely softens the skin immediately but doesn't feel heavy or like it would block pores so I feel it's suitable for all skin types, even oily skin. It is of course great for anyone with skin sensitivities and it did feel that it was gentle on my skin and caused no redness, tightness or irritation. I feel my skin does feel softer since starting to use this product. I'm not sure I look younger but I think I look better anyway. All in all, I think this is a good product for anyone with sensitive, dry and/or aging skin wanting a skin boost without fear of irritation.

First I'd like to thank BH and Loreal for sending me the 'Midnight Serum' to try. I've been using the serum for many weeks now, have enjoyed the product and trial and without further adieu, here are my thoughts: PACKAGING: The glass bottle comes packaged in a cardboard box which looks fairly typical of most L'Oréal skincare products - a photo of the product that's inside and L'Oréal logo and product name. If I'm being picky, I'd say the outside packaging is a bit 'busy' which detracts slightly from its sophistication but it's only a minor observation. Out of the box, the serum is packaged in a faceted glass bottle, blackish-brown at the top graduating to a sepia-tan base. The ombre effect is stylish as is the bevelled squares design giving it a luxe look. The gold rim of the stopper lid and gold minimalist label also add to the elegance of the packaging and I was happy to see it's also made of 25 percent recycled glass. The bottle feels solid and easy to hold in the hand and the edging on the glass adds some traction to help avoid slippage. The eye-dropper lid is easy to use - just squeeze the rubber on the lid to draw the product into the catchment tube. However, as you use more of the product, it does become a little harder to draw the product into the stopper and does require a few attempts. Generally, doing this twice gave me enough product to cover my face and neck area. Some product can accumulate around the top of the glass so a little wipe every now and then may be required. PRODUCT: I was very interested to read about the science behind this product on the packaging and how the serum stimulates 'Mother Cells' - the source of new skin cells (that become less active as we age). This renewal peaks at midnight and so the serum aims to support this process of regeneration with its 'Antioxidant Recovery Complex'. I thought that I would use this as a night treatment but the packaging suggests using it in the morning too so I did both though only needed two drops and not 3-4 as suggested as a little goes a long way. The pale pink serum has a slickness to it but is not oily at all and readily absorbs. It has a light fruity-floral fragrance that is pleasant and unobtrusive. PERFORMANCE: On application, the serum immediately hydrates leaving skin satiny smooth. Before I started using this product, my skin had become very dry and it has completely restored moisture while being gentle on my sensitive skin. I see a radiance and a brightening and perhaps some firming too but generally my skin looks healthier and I think more youthful. Overall, I think this is a quality product with interesting science that at the end of the day seems to work. Would definitely recommend it!