REVIEW: Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil

FOR ALL HAIR TYPES

Right, just a quick review this week, it's been a hectic one and I haven't really had chance to have a proper sit down and a cup of tea!

One of the benefits of being the sister of an Avon representative is that for your birthday you can get a sneak preview of some lovely products!

Yep, it was recently my birthday and (amongst other gorgeous things) my darling sister gave me the not-in-the-catalogue-for-mere-mortals-yet Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil hair set!

A year or so again a lovely friend of mine treated me to Moroccan Oil for my unruly hair. It was the BEST THING EVER!!! It minimised my split ends, made my hair a bit sleeker and softer AND cut down on my drying time. It was like a mini miracle. The only problem was, I was using it every time I washed my hair and it wasn't the cheapest thing to buy. So, when I ran out I started searching for a cheaper alternative.

I've already posted about Avon Advance Techniques Dry Ends Serum which has been great at keeping the ends of my hair in check but what about the rest of it? When Kate told me that Avon were bringing out their own moroccan oil I was super excited. When Kate gave me the Avon Moroccan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner AND Leave-In Treatment I was beyond giddy!

So, my first time washing my hair as a 28 year old was a bit of a treat. I lathered up the shampoo and rinsed (just the once, I've never understood the whole lather, rinse, repeat unless you've been in a mud bath!) then slapped on the conditioner and left it for a few minutes whilst I defuzzed (we were off to the fake beach in Liverpool so it was definitely a bare-legged day) then rinsed that.

The shampoo lathered up nicely and rinsed out easily. The conditioner was thick but not too thick and I didn't have to use too much. Both had a subtle but nice smell (I'm rubbish at describing smells but it smelled good). Then, after towel drying my hair put a couple of squirts of the leave-in treatment in my hand, rubbed it together and ran my hands through my hair. In comparison to the moroccan oil I have used before Avon's treatment was slightly thicker but it went in my hair the same and didn't feel sticky or heavy.

As per the instructions I styled my hair as usual, a good old dry with my hairdryer and then straighten the hell out of it! After terrorising my locks they were definitely looking a little more tamed, especially given the humid weather (which likes to turn my hair into Monica in Barbados!).

I can definitely recommend all of the Avon Advance Techniques Moroccan Argan Oil collection. It's a great, cheaper alternative to the pricey moroccan oils on the market and as far as I can tell, does the same job!

The collection is available in Brochure 13, the usual price will be £2.80 each for the shampoo and conditioner and £5.50 for the oil, but there is an introductory price of just £1.50 each for the shampoo and conditioner and £2.99 for the oil. If you would like to make an order, just contact us!  

REVIEW: Avon Nail Experts 24k Gold Strength

I have to thank my mum for forcing me to stop biting my nails (and sucking my thumb) as a child. Although I hated the horrendous taste of 'Bite No More' I am grateful that I now have pretty decent looking nails (on my fingers at least, my feet are a whole different post!).

My nails are in quite good condition but when they get longer they have a tendency to split and break. I have odd shaped nails, each grows it's own way, my darling sister has tried to give me a french manicure but they are all such different shapes that it just doesn't work! Due to this, I tend to just wear clear nail varnish for a bit of everyday shine. However, rather than just adding a bit of sheen to my nails I prefer to use something that will care for them at the same time.

Step up Avon Nail Experts 24k Gold Strength.

The product:

The varnish comes in a 12ml bottle with a brush built into the lid. It looks kind of like a magic potion you'd expect to see in Harry Potter, a thick fluid with tiny golden flecks suspended in it.

The description says that Gold Strength helps make nails feel stronger and look smoother and it is enriched with real gold for a natural looking glow - yep, REAL GOLD!!!

As a varnish it is quite thin, it is very easy to apply, the brush is good and a couple of strokes easily covered my nail. It dries in next to no time which is great if you're in a rush and just want a slight shine on natural nails or a protective top coat on a colour.

I've been using Gold Strength for a week or two now and have generally applied two coats each time. You could just do one coat but due to the gold flecks it can feel a little rough. For smoother results I would suggest two or three coats, this also gives a more golden look. The finish is good, the gold flecks give a subtle shimmer and high shine which lasts quite well. After a few days, looking closely at my nails I start to see the varnish wearing off the tips (bearing in mind I have quite busy hands, typing all day and sometimes night too!) it doesn't peel and look scruffy. Removing the varnish is nice and easy too, a couple of light wipes with nail varnish removed and it's gone.

The verdict:

So, does it live up to it's claims? Since using Gold Strength my nails have felt stronger, they haven't chipped, split or broken. I did wonder if I was just thinking they were stronger but in the past when I pressed the tips of my nails they would bend but now they don't and I think they look much healthier.

At £5.00 for stronger, shiny nails with REAL GOLD you can't really go wrong, I would definitely recommend it.

If you want to try Gold Strength out for yourself, hop over to our Facebook page and the current eBrochure will be pinned to the top of your wall.  Have a flick through and see if anything else takes your fancy then email or message us to place your order.

REVIEW: Avon Advance Techniques Daily Shine Dry Ends Serum

For all hair types

I have problem hair. There, I said it.

It's not straight, it's not curly. It's a mess of unstructured, undefined, frizzy waves. In fact, it's so bad that my brother-in-law recently saw my untamed mane for the first time and his face was a look of shock and horror accompanied with a 'What the hell have you done?'. Don't believe it's that bad....

80's rock hair

Thank goodness for hair straighteners, I love them, unfortunately my hair doesn't feel the same way. Years of unrelentless over-straightening has taken its toll on my not-so-silky locks. The ends had gotten so dry, brittle and split that I could practically hear my poor hair screaming with every stroke of my straighteners!

Cue Avon Advance Techniques Daily Shine Dry Ends Serum

I knew I needed to take action but didn't want to fork out for an expensive treatment that might not even work so when a colleague heard that Kate was an Avon lady she recommended the serum. At £5.50 it wasn't going to break the bank so I thought I should give it a go.

The product

Inside the grey box is a 30ml glass bottle with a pump action dispenser and hard plastic lid (which I recommend you keep hold off to prevent any unwanted pumps in your bag if you're travelling with it). The product claims it "Instantly smoothes dry ends and nourishes hair. Helps control frizz, leaving hair soft, silky and shiny." Sounds too good to be true right?

So, what do you have to do with this magical potion? Leave it on your hair for hours? Wrap clingfilm around your head? Nope, just massage a few drops onto wet or dry hair and style as usual.

Having tried numerous anti-frizz treatments before I was worried it would be thick, sticky and weigh my hair down. However, after dispensing 3 pumps into my hand it was fluid, non-sticky and light and it smelt fresh but wasn't overpowering. I rubbed my hands together and massaged the serum into the ends, then ran my hands through the rest of my hair, then dried and straightened as I normally do.

The verdict

I wasn't expecting instant results but after just one application my hair felt softer and sleeker and my dry, split ends had improved too. I can't say that the serum miraculously fixed my tatty hair straightaway but it had definitely made a good start on it. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now, every time I wash my hair and although I still have to use my straighteners (I don't think there will ever be a product that will tame my hair) the dry ends serum certainly has made my hair softer, more managable and easier to style (meaning I use my straighteners less and cause less damage) and it is slowly working its magic on my sorry split ends.

Me and my new man!

All in all this is a great product, my hair feels and looks healthier but isn't weighed down by heavy product. It's well priced and doesn't need any extra time to get ready in the morning - what more could you want?!

If you want to try the serum out for yourself, hop over to our Facebook page and the current eBrochure will be pinned to the top of your wall.  Have a flick through and see if anything else takes your fancy then email or message us to place your order.

REVIEW: Avon Rome Watch

Avon doesn't just do cosmetics and toiletries, you can get gifts, clothes, jewellery, watches and much more!

Oh how I love watches! You might think I'm exaggerating but believe me, I have a little watch obsession...

My collection is now at 19 but when I saw the Rome watches while I was browsing the catalogues with a cup of tea, I just had to have them.

The product:

The watch comes in three colours, red, white and blue (perfect for the Jubilee year and to go with all the nautical fashion in the shops this summer). They have a ribbed silicon strap which measures between 15 and 21cm and the watch face matches the colour of the strap. The watch mechanism is removable which means you can change the battery or, if you buy more than one colour you can mix and match!

The verdict:

I love these watches, they have become my go to, every day watches. The face is easy to read in all three colours and I particularly like the shape of the second hand. I hate the noise of a ticking watch, especially when I'm leaning on my hand at work trying to figure out what to write but these watches are nice and quiet. With other watches I've found that a silicon strap can make my wrist a bit sticky and sweaty but with these watches it hasn't been an issue for me. 

I did have a slight problem with my white watch. After a couple of days wearing it I realised it had become undone. Upon closer inspection I saw that the fastening had come off the strap and I couldn't find it so I couldn't fix it! I was gutted, not only was this my new favourite watch, I thought it must only be a matter of time before the other two broke as well. However, I am pleased to announce that both my red and blue watches are still in one piece and my broken white watch gave me the chance to test out Avon's return policy.

Avon offer a very generous 90 day returns policy, offering an exchange or full refund if you're not completely satisfied with any product. So, I contacted my lovely Avon Representative (Kate) and she took my broken watch.  Then, in my next order, there was my brand spanking new replacement watch! It was so easy and fuss free.

Overall, three cracking watches, they're so lightweight that it doesn't feel like I'm wearing a watch sometimes! The price is a real bargain and it isn't just me that seems to like them, both my nephews have a tendency to fiddle with them whenever they sit next to me. They definitely have our family seal of approval.

If you want to try the watches out for yourself, hop over to our Facebook page and the current eBrochure will be pinned to the top of your wall.  Have a flick through and see if anything else takes your fancy then email or message us to place your order.

£10 eBrochure Giveaway

SO about a month ago, I promised that at 50 Facebook followers, I would do a £10 eBrochure spend giveaway.  The problem was, you can't run competitions on facebook.  Lots of pages do but run the risk of being deleted.  You aren't permitted to us a Facebook Action like sharing a photo, liking a page or even announcing a winner on your Facebook page (Facebook Rules on Promotions)

Now we have the blog just about up and running and we now have 79 likers, here is the promised competition...

All you have to do is follow the Rafflecopter instructions (you can actually sign in using your Facebook login) and comment on this blog post.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



The giveaway is only open to UK residents unfortunately and MUST be spent on the Campaign 12 (2012) Brochure and ends on 10th July 2012 when a winner will be chosen at random by the Rafflecopter after Midnight on 11th July 2012.
The Prize is as stated and CANNOT be transferred, sold or exchanged and third party or automated entries will not be counted.

Hopefully, we will get a few review posts up on the blog before the end of the competition and you can have a look at what you might spend your prize on.

Good Luck!

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED!

We had a brilliant response and thank you to everyone who entered.  We can confirm that Ashleigh from Fife was the winner of the voucher and she has been successfully contacted and has placed her order :)

What's in a Name?

"A name, you want a name.  The pressure of a name....I got it!   Cinder-f*ckin-rella!

Right, we needed a name for this blog.  

We spent all afternoon, no really, ALL afternoon trying to come up with something witty, catchy, and inspiring but it wasn't until Mr B spirited the boys off to the local farm, that we really got down to business.

Already on cuppa number three, flicking through the latest Avon brochure for ideas hoping that reading through the product names and shades, that a name would magically jump out at us.  

It didn't.

Sticking the kettle on for a fourth time, a flash of inspiration came like a bolt of lightening and this is what we came up with...

Cuppas and Catalogues

Not exactly cutting edge but we think it encompasses the unique experience that we as Avon Reps can offer.  A personal service in your own home alone or with friends over a cuppa (chocolate digestives optional).

We've moved with the times and you don't have to live round the corner to place an order. We can send our eBrochure to you by email and post your products out to you when we receive our main order from Avon.  

Hop over to our What We're About Page to find out how it all works and the About section on our Facebook page.