L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer

I've been on the hunt for a new primer ever since my tiny wee sample of Benefit's Porefessional ran out. I really didn't want to splash out 20-odd quid right now, especially with Christmas coming up, so off I trudged to Boots with high hopes of finding something amazing! Lucky for me, they had buy 1 get 1 free across all cosmetics, etc so I picked up this L'Oreal Lumi Magique Primer, along with a nail polish and Real Techniques brushes (finally!).

I actually regretted buying this as soon as I got home. I swatched it on my hand, and nearly dismissed it straight away. I have oily skin, and this leaves quite a dewy, luminous finish - something which I have strayed away from in the past in favour of a matte, oil-absorbing finish. But I tried it, and I've completely changed my mind. The consistency is super light and it feels hydrating on the skin, but not overly so. I use this along my nose, my cheekbones and forehead and it leaves such a gorgeous, luminous glow. Once I apply my foundation, the glow is minimized and it turns into a very subtle, natural sheen. I'm still on the hunt for something oil absorbing to use on my t-zone, but for days when I'm after something to emphasize my highlighter, this is definitely something that I would reach for.

This primer retails at £9.99, and can be found at Boots and Superdrug. There is usually some sort of offer on in both stores, so keep an eye out!

TRESemme Liquid Gold vs L'Oreal Mythic Oil

Firstly, I have to say that my hair is a wreck. Six years of dyeing and bleaching have really taken their toll and I'm now left with dry and damaged hair. Over the last year, I've stopped colouring it and I've been straightening/blow drying a lot less, so it's in better condition, but still not great. I have bleached ends which are my main problem area, and the rest of my hair is quite fine and limp.

I was really wary about using oil on my hair worrying that it would weigh it down and just make it look greasy. I decided to try TRESemme Liquid Gold Restorative Complex and I also received a sample of L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil via What's in my Handbag.

Liquid Gold on hand

TRESemme Liquid Gold retails at £6.99 for 75ml, which is quite reasonable compared to the likes of hair oils such as Moroccan Oil. The packaging is fairly simple with a plastic bottle and pump applicator. This claims to instantly nourish your hair, reducing frizz and improving your hair's manageability and overall condition. As you can see, the consistency is quite runny and the oil is an amber gold in colour, hence the name. It's infused with argan oil which I've heard great things about! I usually use 1-2 pumps and apply it to the length and ends of my hair whilst it's still damp.

It does feel lightweight, but it doesn't seem to help with shine or manageability, and the ends of my hair still feel quite dry after I've used it. I even tried to use this as an intense treatment one night by using around 5-6 pumps, soaking the ends of my hair in it overnight and by morning, my hair was still frizzy and not very manageable. It just feels too lightweight to do my hair any good, but if your hair isn't as damaged as mine then it might work for you as an everyday treatment.

Mythic Oil on hand

I was sent a sample of L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil via the What's in my Handbag which offers free weekly samples of various beauty products. Not sure of the exact RRP, but it's £13.55 on Feel Unique and £11.95 on Lookfantastic. Obviously I can't comment on the packaging since I did receive this as a sample. Again, this is marketed as a lightweight hair oil which instantly nourishes the hair to leave it feeling supple and shiny. It has avocado oil and grape seed oil which contain essential fatty acids.

I use a couple of drops of this on the ends of my hair whilst damp, and I have to say that this stuff makes a huge difference! It basically eliminates any frizz from the ends of my hair, makes them feel so soft and manageable and I almost forget that they've been bleached. Usually the day after I've washed my hair, my ends will feel horrible - brittle, dry, prone to breakage - but even the day after using this, they are still soft and almost frizz-free. I think it's safe to say that Mythic Oil has definitely won this battle!

Have you tried any hair oils? Which is your favourite?