Tanning Tuesday: Garnier Summerbody update

 I am sure you will remember my fiasco last Thursday with my bad reaction to Garnier Summer Body lotion, a product I intended to review for this series.

**If you haven't read my original post, click here!!**

I emailed Garnier that day with a link to my blog post and they tried ringing me the next day, however I was at work. Anyway the head of the customer advisory department sent me an email and I rang them yesterday. She was very sympathetic and actually offered me a consultation with a dermatologist to help me determine what might have caused the problems, so I could avoid such ingredients in the future. Also I have been offered a refund on the price of the lotion and my medication.

All in all I cannot fault their customer service, however the fact that so many of you have told me you have had similar reactions leads me to believe that there has been a bad batch made or something. Even if you just google "garnier summer body rash", loads of results come up of people on forums etc all talking about similar symptoms.

Quite a few of you told me that you had no problem with the product but you were using the old shaped bottle, I asked the Garnier rep and she couldn't tell me if the formulation has been changed. 

f you have had any reaction to Summerbody, I really encourage you to contact Garnier - the more of us that let them know about this, the bigger difference it will make.

Click here to contact Garnier!

Note your batch number also as I do feel it could be a batch issue, so note your number:

Also, Hayley has posted about her experience with the product too - Check it out here!

Thank you all for your lovely words regarding my last post on this, my skin is feeling much better now, however I still have little white bumps all around the affected areas, and my skin is much drier than usual so I am applying E45 lotion twice a day still. If you were wondering, the pharmacist (who looked horrified when I showed her my rashes, btw!) gave me these:

Topical cream & Allergy tabs for skin allergies

Thanks everyone!!

H xxx

BEWARE OF THIS PRODUCT: Garnier Summer Body

I love Garnier products - in fact they are the only ones that I will put on my face. Although I do suffer from Eczema and have been only using E45 lotion for the past 6 months, I thought I would pick up a bottle of Garnier Summer body lotion- a tan moisturiser. 

I have used this twice in total, the first time I used it I noticed little red bumps all over my skin, especially on my tummy, however I put this down to a bad reaction to the metal of a new belly bar I had put in recently and thought nothing of it.

I know it's not all that clear but this is my stomach and the little red bumps all over it, the same bumps are on my legs and back.

This morning, I woke up to insane itching all over the areas I had applied the tan, like this...

Worse again, the inside of my arms and back of my knees look like this...

Sorry for having to post this disgusting picture, but you all really need to know about this. Especially as I tweeted about this about an hour ago and I got so many replies saying this had happened to other people too!

I am thinking that this may be a bad batch, so if any of you have had a similar reaction, check your bottle as it may all be from the same batch (batch no printed above the barcode?)

So yeah, I would not recommend buying this product and I will be contacting Garnier about this, especially since this is not an isolated case!.

I have taken an antihistemine and I am off to the pharmacy now to get something for this, if you can't tell from the pics, my skin is in absolute agony. The big white heat lump things are becoming more prominent now as I am typing this, and my skin is burning hot!

H xxxx

The Most Important thing about Make-Up? Taking it off!!

I never really intended to write about skincare on my blog as I am not a beautician and I have no idea about what different skin products will do for different skin types. However I wish to share the cleansing system I have been using for over 6 months. My skin type is dry and sensitive, if you are similar this could work for you!

The line up: Simply essentials cleansing wipes, Simply essentials 2-in-1 make up remover, Fresh essentials eye makeup remover, Soft essentials cleansing milk & Fresh essentials toner.

Fresh essentials is geared toward Normal/Combination skin

Soft essentials is for Dry Skin

Simply essentials is for Sensitive Skin

I did not intend to mix these up, I have just purchased these over time and they work for me!

Simply Essentials Wipes: These textured wipes are very thick and full of moisture. These are great for throwing in your handbag if you are staying over somewhere.

Simply Essentials 2-in-1 Make Up Remover: This product is relatively new to me so I cannot comment on the long term effects. It is made up of a blue oil and cleansing water. The idea is that you shake it up and pour it out onto a cotton wool pad. I do like this however it is a bit of a pain that if you do not act fast the oil floats to the top and you are left with that, ugh!

Fresh Essentials Eye Make Up remover: This is not my HG eye make up remover as it does still leave traces sometimes. However if you lay a cotton wool pad soaked in this on your eye for a few seconds, it does do quite a thorough job!

Soft Essentials Cleansing Milk: This was the first product I ever bought from this line and I have repurchased countless times. It is a very gentle, moisturising prouduct that literally ploughs through any remaining make up. I usually cleanse once to remove traces of make up and once more to cleanse my skin.

Fresh Essentials Toner: This is the final step of my makeup removal routine, I have tried harsh toners in the past however this one has never made my skin sting, so I like it!

What do you think about the Garnier line of skincare?

Do you own or have you tried any of these?

H xoxo

Products I'm Using Right Now...

I spotted this post on LilyLipstick and thought I would give it a go! :o) Another of my guilty blog reading pleasures...

Face
Cleanser: Garnier Skin Naturals Clean Soft Cleansing Milk (For Dry and Sensitive skin- rose extract)
Toner: Garnier Skin Naturals Toner
Cream moisturizer: Garnier's Skin Naturals Essentials Day Moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin (previouly raved about here)
Exfoliator: Garnier Fresh Essentials Scrub
Eye Make up remover: Garnier Skin Naturals Eye Make Up remover.

**You may have noticed a pattern in my skin care routine, I am a huge fan of Garnier Skin Naturals Line. A full review of each product will be posted this week.**

Body
Shower gel: Original source Tea Tree and Lemon shower gel (I love anything "fresh" feeling!)
Body lotion/cream: Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula (the scent is unbeatable, if you put this on before you go to sleep, you will wake up with chocolate-scented pyjamas!)
Hand cream: Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour cream (Thanks to my mum, I am a convert)
Lip Balm: Top Shop balm (mentioned here). Honorable mention to my long term love, Carmex.
Perfume: Difficult question, toss up between Marc Jacobs Daisy and Miss Dior Cherie.

Hair
Shampoo/conditioner: Osmo Silverising Purple Shampoo (Toner) once per week to maintain brightness, Aussie "Take the Heat" shampoo and conditioner.
Protection: Tresseme Heat protection spray
Hair mask: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Colour Deep Treatment, smells like peaches! Yum.

Hair Spray/Mousse: Both Tresseme Salon Finish (pink label)

Electronics: GHD straightener and Babyliss Thermo Ceramic hot rollers.

Make-Up
Primer: Yet to believe in this product as a whole, I need some recommendations. Maybe you could help? Comment away!
Foundation: No7 Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation
Concealer: No need for it at the moment. I usually double up my foundation if required.
Powder: Just bronzer at the moment, MAC Bronzing powder in Matte Bronze.
Blush/Bronzer: MAC powder blush in Fleur Power or Benefit Posie Tint.
Lipstick: All time favourite has to be Angel by MAC.
Lipgloss: Lancome Juicy Tubes in Fraise.
Eyeshadow: Barry M trio in Golden Goddess- a great every day product.
Eyeliner: Collection 2000 Kohl liner in Black (cheap and cheerful!)
Eyeshadow Primer: See "primer" :o)
Eye lash curler: No idea of the brand! Just a drugstore one, work just fine!
Mascara: L'Oreal Telescopic

Image courtesy of WeHeartIt.com

**Many products here are mentioned in this post, with pictures!**

Just a Note: I have made the decision to change the name of this blog to "Hello Beautiful". I believe it applies more to the type of blog this is. The URL was unavailable so I have added 61 to the end. This coincides with the YouTube user name I have reserved in the event that I decide to start making videos! I hope you like the change as much as I do, however I would love to hear your opinion!

Contact me:

Twitter: @hannahbanana661

Blog: http://hellobeautiful61.blogspot.com

E-Mail: hellobeautiful.gmail.com

Formspring: HelloBeautiful6

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:o)

The Goodies and Baddies of Winter 2010

As the harsh winter of 2010 is finally lifting and the Spring/Summer collections are gradually appearing, it's finally time to contemplate the products- skincare, clothing, footwear, haircare and make up, that have been my highlights and lowlights of the season :o)

The "Goodies"

The first product is Garnier's Skin Naturals Essentials Day Moisturizer for dry and sensitive skin. Due to the sub-zero temperatures (it hit minus 17 here!), my faithful Olay Beauty Fluid just wasn't enough. As a long time lover of Garnier skincare I am happy to report that this product didn't disappoint! It is rich in texture but light on application with a pleasant, fresh scent. Not bad for a mere £5/€7.50, product available here.

Next, is my footwear staple for the season. As pumps were out of the question due to the weather, and my dislike of ugg boots, these became my go-to footwear for every occasion. They aren't leather, but do not look cheap in the slightest, and after excessive wear (and i mean excessive), the fur detail is still intact, as is the heel tip. A bargain from New Look, £26.99/€35. Similar available here.

I could not make this guide without some recognition to the coat in which I have lived in this winter (hence the rushed picture!). It is a dark tan colour with cute toggle detail in all perfect match to my favorite boots! It came with a fur trim on the hood which I removed. Quite inexpensive at a mere £44.99/€55, again from New Look, available here.

Next is my hair styling must-have, Umberto Giannini's Backcomb in a Bottle. This product is quickly establishing cult status and its not difficult to see why. It is a spray that when applied directly to the roots and "jujjed" (Umberto G's words, not mine!), gives a backcombed effect without the damage resulting from usual the comb and hairspray attack! It is not heavy or greasy and is really a star for those days when a little volume is required. Avaliable from Boots for £5.61, here.

The "Baddies"

I have been mostly sensible with my purchases this season so big mistakes have been few and far between. However this product turned out to be a major dissapointment. It is a Calvin Klein cosmetics Fully Delicious plumping Lip Gloss in Enchanted. It ticked all the boxes, light, glittery, sheer, PINK! Until this major fail...

The gloss came without any funnel type insert to wipe away the excess, and it is unusable (trust me- I've tried!).

Finally, my biggest disaster of the season...

Yup, like many others before me I fell for the "see, grab, buy" philosophy of Primark clothing and footwear, and I was stung, badly. See, I have been looking for simple suede boots with a small heel since last winter, but to no avail until a trip to Primark where I snapped up these boots in tan (pictured here), black and grey. I know that £15/€17 isn't expensive for boots this cute, however it turns into a pretty expensive mistake when this happens...

This happened to my grey pair after just one ten minute walk to college. Like any sane person I took them off and brought them straight to a cobbler who told me that the material is too poor to attach a new tip to. I had been wearing the tan and black pairs that week already with no problems so I just returned the grey. By the end of that fortnight though, the others had a similar fate (as above) but as the return deadline had expired, I wasn't offered a refund or even credit note- although they are quite obviously faulty! Also, it's not just my pair or a faulty batch, many of my friends have had similar problems. Previously complained about here.

Also, just to let you know, I've joined Blog Lovin' !

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Happy New Year everyone!

Loves, H xoxox