Sample Sunday

Happy lazy Sunday ladies.  I'm enjoying a very lazy Sunday after staying up late to watch the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, and then watching the race on iPlayer this morning (no I wasn't mad enough to get up at 5.30, depsite being a massive F1 fan)!

So, my sample Sunday today is Adidas Hair & Body After Sport Shower Gel.  No, it doesn't seem very exciting does it?  I used it purely to try and extend the life of my dwindling collection of shower gels, as I'm trying to not buy any more until the end of November.  It wasn't, as if I'd done any sport this morning (ahem).  I'd watched some sport, so maybe that counts?

I used the shower gel on my body only, not my hair.  I think it's probably designed for a sporty man, or at least one who thinks they're sporty, and likes to only take one bottle into the shower.  Despite this, the fragrance was quite fresh and unisex - I hate using unisex products that smell 'manly'.  It had a bit of citrus zing, and I even detected a hint of lavender in the formula that was quite pleasant.

The shower gel lathered up well on my shower puff and seemed to do a good job of washing my body, as you'd expect really.  My skin doesn't feel to tight afterwards, although it certainly wan't moisturising. 

This shower gel is definitely in the 'clean and fresh' shower gel camp, which I quite like.  I categorise shower gels as either 'clean and fresh' or 'moisturising and gentle'. Both have their merits, but I always feel cleaner after a 'clean and fresh' one.  I've been using the Sanctuary cream body wash recently, and whilst it's a lovely formula, it firmly a 'moisturing and gentle' type product.  Does this make any sense?  Does anyone else categorise their shower gels like this?

Anyway, the sample was pretty generous, so I'll have another shower with it tomorrow.

All in all, a nice little product, and one I'd nick off my boyfriend if he bought it.  I wouldn't buy it myself though, it's definitely a shower gel catering for men, and there are better examples of 'clean and fresh' shower gels out there.

By the way, it hasn't escaped my notice that I have nearly reached 100 followers. That's pretty soon after I hit 50.  It's fantastic that so many people take the time to read my blog - thanks to every single one of you - you're all fabulous!  I will do a small little giveaway when I reach the magic 100.  I can't promise much, as I am skint as you like at the moment.  But I do appreciate it so much, so I'm sure I can rustle up a few goodies for you all!

Enjoy your Sunday afternoon everyone, and thanks for reading!   xx

Beauty for blokes (that is good for girls as well)

There's not many of my boyfriend's beauty products that I would use.  Mainly because he doesn't have any!  I've used his conditioner in an emergency, the cheapest one from Tesco, and I wouldn't recommend it.  But he does have a couple of products that I've tried on occasion and now I probably use them as much as he does.

The first is Mens Body Hair & Body Wash from the Boots Botanics range.  Whilst I wouldn't use this for my hair, I think it's a brilliant shower gel.  It foams up really well on a shower puff, and cleans really well.  The best thing about this is the smell.  It has a very fresh, almost citrusy smell, with just the merest hint of masculinity.  You feel really clean after washing with it.  I think this is a great unisex product - I certainly stock up when it's on offer, give them to my boyfriend and then  nick it when I'm in the shower.

The second product I would recommend is Mens Oil Control Face Scrub, also from Boots Botanics.  I think this is a fantastic exfoliator and I probably use it more than he does.  Again, it has a unisex fragrance - I really love the smell - it's fresh, but not astringent smelling.  It's a very 'scratchy' exfoliator which I love.  My skin can get irritated by some fascial scrubs, especially the more scratchy ones, and I do like to exfoliate every day.  But this one doesn't irritate my skin at all, and leaves it feeling really smooth.  I'd buy this for myself over any other exfoliator in this price range, if I didn't have a boyfriend to steal it from.

There are some male products I hate to use.  If I run out of shaving gel, I'll use conditioner rather than a mens one - I had the smell lingering on my legs (althought I like it on him).  I also will go without deodorent rather than use a manly smelling one - I hate getting a whiff of it during the day.  But I'm glad I've discovered a couple of male beauty products that I love so much.

Have you uncovered any hidden beauty gems in your partner's bathroom cabinet?

Thanks for reading! xx