Take me to the tropics

I recently came across a company called Tropics. They specialise in skincare, makeup and body care. Which hello we all know is my go to. But they have just released a hair care range, so when my clients daughter asked if I would trial the products for her, I was well up for it. She was looking for hairdressers to give her an honest opinion on the products, so there was no way I was saying no to this opportunity. I mean come on guys, you know hair is my thing. If anyone could give a honest opinion of these products I'm your girl, everyday of the week. So less chit chat about me and lets get down to business...

So its a four product range in classic tropics packaging. They've done nothing new to it just tied it in beautifully with their previous ranges. The packaging is classic and crisp looking just like all the other ranges. I personally love this, packaging is always a massive thing for me. Its what makes me buy a product, so to see something so simple made a refreshing change. I have to say they look absolutely awesome in your shower. All the products come with an outer sleeve, which hello thats where the colours hiding. I absolutely love these, to see the bright sleeve really excites me. Then to open them and see the plain simple design of the bottles, makes the perfect combination. 

Now we get it I'm a bit of a packaging snob, but theres more than just packaging to these products. The products themselves are a mass of luxury. They smell absolutely Devine and a perfect go to. If your looking for a product that gives you a spa like experience, you really shouldn't look any further. The scents are crisp and refreshing just what you need when taking that long well deserved shower.

Earlier I mentioned that this is a four product range, so lets get down to business and talk a bit more about them.

Lets start with Nourishing Hair Cleanser. I really like this product. It is aimed towards people with dry/sensitive scalps. Which is great for so many clients out there because it is so hard to find a shampoo that delivers what they need. This is a ph balance detergent free cleanser which delivers nourishment to the hair and scalp. This cleanser is non foaming so it feels like a condition but the difference you apply it to your roots. I know that sounds totally backwards but this is kinda a genius system. You can get a scalp massager to use a alongside this. Which is a cool idea. You apply the cleanser and then use the massager to stimulate your scalp and spread the product through your hair. I love it its really good for when you have greasy hair. I only wash my hair once a week and this works magic on my locks. 

Next up is Clarifying Hair Wash. Now this is a good shampoo. Its a lot runnier than most shampoos as its concentrated. This is a super duper cleansing shampoo which is fab for oily hair. I loved this the way it works is great. The foaming is awesome. This left my hair feeling super clean and I loved it. Again this is ph balancing and aimed to gently remove build up. As its so concentrated a little will go a long way so this shampoo is set up to last you a long time. 

After shampooing the next thing to do is condition. Now I love a good thick conditioner so Hair Feast is an absolute dream product. It is a deep conditioning treatment, which lets just say just the word treatment gets me excited about the product. This penetrates deep into the cuticle leaving the hair silky soft to touch. This like all the products smells incredible and I love the way my hair feels after using it. It can either be used as a daily conditioner or left on for 10 minutes as a deep conditioning mask. 

Now your hairs clean and silky soft theres still one more step to consider, hair oil. I would never wash my hair without applying oil to it after which is why I love the Hair Smooth Radiance Oil. Its light and versatile. You can either apply on wet hair, which is my favourite way to pack in the moisture. Or on dry hair to give it that star quality shine. This is the perfect way to end your hair routine, I know I wouldn't be without it. 

So if your looking for new haircare products to try I totally recommend tropics. I love them and I think you may love them too.

A Norfolk Blondie

xoxo

Bike racing, rain and dirty timberlands..

In between loving all things beauty related, I'm normally at the races. I've spoke about my love of the two wheeled motorsport before and thats going nowhere. The British SuperBike season has now started. So bank holiday weekend found me sitting on the bank of Donington Park track with muddy timberlands. Yes thats right, my first time visiting the track and it was most certainly not a dry one. But right now I'm huddled up on the sofa with a mug of hot chocolate all ready to tell you about my amazing weekend I had.

Donington Park is a really nice track, I have to say my favourite so far. Its lovely and open and plenty of track to view from. Everywhere you are guaranteed a great viewing place. With the track being just over 2 miles long it gives the bikes plenty of good riding opportunities. When we first got there on the Sunday it was extremely overcast but dry, which is what we was begging for. We had actually left the hotel without breakfast as we wasn't sure how bad the traffic getting in would be. With the promise of breakfast at the track I said yes, we all know what a foodie I am. So driving over to the track we soon realised, there was no traffic. No queues, no traffic. It was probably the quietest entrance to a track we had ever been too. This was due to the weather. There was threats of rain, a bad threat of rain. It was even threat of snow, I know, thats the last thing you want when bikes are taking to the track. 

Once we were inside the track we headed over to the place we wanted to put our little tent up for the day. Once that was up we went over to the cafe and got ourselves a cooked breakfast. This was well needed and the portion size was huge. Honestly the perfect way to start the day. They had a few trades stalls so we had a little wonder around looking at them and all the merchandise they was selling. After that we went over to our tent and waited for the free practice to begin. 

As soon as the bikes were back on the track that familiar buzz I get when I see them returned. I get so excited and this year especially as the lad we started to follow last year was racing again this year. All of the boys racing started out with a good start but it wasn't long till we had a few come off due to the damp cold conditions. Luckily everyone was ok and got back up straight away. It wasn't till our lad Jake Dixon came off just in front of us that everything in me jumped. My heart was stomach and all I could hope was he would jump back up, which of course he did. It was then a race against the clock for the team to get his bike ready to get him out to qualify. With not long remaining Jake got back out on the track and managed to qualify 11th. I was absolutely over the moon. 

As the day went on we watched Superstock 1000, trioptions cup for Ducatis and the British talent cup. All racers done incredibly well and was amazing to see them all doing so well and working so hard in the conditions we had been given. Its not only the superbikes that give me a thrill to watch they all do they work incredibly hard and I am always so impressed by how much they push. After a long day we had seen many bikes race and it had been a long cold day so we headed back to the hotel in muddy timberlands to get in the warm. 

On the Monday we was awoken by an early alarm and a rainy view. This is one thing I was hoping not to happen but this is England, we take what we get. So we bundled up in plenty  of layers and packed our bags to leave the hotel. After a breakfast at the hotel we were back on our way to the track. The rain makes such a difference with racing with hardy anyone milling around. We done a lot of walking around in the rain and a lot of hot drink drinking and a little bit of shopping. But eventually around 1.30 the racing began. We had some amazing races to watch and the British SuperBikes were absolutely amazing. No racers were worried about the rain and water on track they were all racing to their abilities. 

It was honestly an incredible afternoon of racing and I was so sad to be leaving. I always get like this when we go to the bike racing once i'm there I never want to go. I honestly can not wait till the next round I can go to. I have my fingers crossed for Jake he's doing so well and I know it will only continue.

A Norfolk Blondie

xoxo   

(All pictures were taken by @Bundellphotography-Instagram)

Having my eyes opened up to Clinique

You guys know better than anyone else how much I love finding out about brands. Well last week when I took the day off I popped over to Norwich to visit Clinique. Now they are found inside Boots in Chapelfield. With a beautiful setup I can guarantee its worth a visit. 

Now Clinique is a brand I have heard spoken about many times. However its never been a brand I have looked into. They were founded in 1968, which is a whopping 50 years ago. In 1967 a dermatologist called Dr Orentreich was advising his patients to use a 3 step skincare system which he had created himself. This involved cleanse, exfoliate and moisturise. Three simple steps everyone could do at home. When he was approached by Vogue and asked, Can great skin be created? He replied with the answer yes. So your probably thinking what have these three steps got to do with the brand? Well that one article is what created the beginning of the now worldwide brand Clinique we all know and love today. With many other products coming after this 3 step system the brand only continued to grow.

So what did I notice about Clinique on my first visit. Well its beautifully set up and the packaging is to die for. When I went in I was greeted by the very friendly Molly, who made me feel instantly comfortable within my settings. We went over to an incredibly professional work area where we both got seated and started our conversation. We started with the basics about my blog and a little bit about myself. Then we discussed my skin. The basics, my concerns and what I was really looking for in my skincare routine. This was an absolute dream experience for me as I adore skincare and to have a consultant from Clinique going through mine with me was incredible. After we had chatted for a while about my skin Molly went off to pick out the products she thought would be perfect for my skincare routine.

She came back with my routine which consisted of Anti-blemish solutions cleansing foam, Anti-blemish solutions clarifying lotion and Moisture surge 72-hour auto-replenishing hydrator. This would be my morning and evening routine. Then two treatments would be Blackhead solutions 7 day deep pore cleanse and scrub and the Blackhead solutions self-heating blackhead extractor. All of these products are incredible and the packaging is to die for. All of Cliniques products are fragrance free making them so much more softer on your skin. Most brands come with fragrance which is an ingredient which is not needed due to this being the main cause of irritation. These products all look incredible together. 

After we had finished my skincare routine we spoke about the 3 step system. Which I am in absolute awe of. This would be the system I would use if I didn't have the acne focused products. Having said that these products are definitely on my list to try. The idea of only needing 3 products twice a day to achieve perfect skin, is an unbelievable thought. But it really does work.  

Cliniques most selling product? 

This was one of my questions I was dying to know. So the conclusion is Dramatically different moisturising lotion+. Now we tried this product out and it is incredible I love it. This  is part of the 3 step system and it is definitely one to try. 

Mollys go to?

When I asked Molly this question, I would guarantee you have never seen anyone get so excited, she just loves so much. She decided to go for Clinique smart. This is a serum. She said that this product helped her to get her skin to the way she wanted it. It now, keeps it in the condition she wants it. 

I was lucky enough to walk away with four samples. These are..

- Moisture surge

-Dramatically different moisturising lotion+

-Blackhead solutions 7 day deep pore cleanse and scrub

-Clinique smart

All of these samples are absolutely Devine. I love them and I have noticed a noticeable difference since using them. I will definitely be purchasing some products from Clinique in the very close future.

Massive thank you to Clinique Norwich for having me and thank you to Molly for making me feel so welcome.

A Norfolk Blondie

xoxo