MUST-TRY BUDGET WEATHER-PROOF LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER

Hello everyone! If you are anything like me and suffer with curly/frizzy hair but always want your hair to stay straight and frizz-free, then you will have probably of tried your fair share of products to help avoid this from happening. Over the past couple of months i have been putting to the test this budget friendly leave-in conditioner that has proven to be a hair saviour for me...

So the product that i am talking about is the Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-in spray by the brand Creme of Nature. If i am being completely honest i had never even heard of the brand before and decided to pick up this leave-in conditioner up as part of an online order from Superdrug, when searching for a new Argan Oil leave-in treatment (which fyi argan oil is a frizzy hair saviour in general). The range is apparently specifically for afro, curly or frizzy hair and contains a bunch of different products from shampoo's, conditioners, styling products and even hair dyes (all available at Superdrug online and in selected stores).

Creme of Nature Argan Oil Strength and Shine Leave-in conditioner claims to be a unique two-phase formula that combines Argan Oil liquid shine and strengthening protein complex that improves hair strength, protects against damage, adds moisture and exotic shine. Usually when a product claims to do all those things they never usually tick all of those boxes but i have found that this one actually does, as well as keeping my hair straight and frizz free. Keeping frizz prone hair frizz free is a huge struggle, especially if it rains or the air is damp and i have found that this just locks your hair in place. The way i use the leave-in conditioner is simply only when i have washed my hair (which is two-three times a week) and all you have to do is shake the product before spraying to the lengths/ends of your hair whilst wet, before blow-drying/styling. What i love about this product is it is fuss free, easy to use, does as it claims and is a bargain at under £5. All of the women in my family have the same frizzy hair struggle as i do, so of course i had to share this product with them and they are all using/swear by it now also. 

shop creme of nature on superdrug: here

shop the argan oil leave-in conditioner: here

xo.

AMAZON'S CHOICE MUST-TRY BEAUTY PRODUCTS

Hello everyone! So Amazon is that place you can go to and pretty much find anything/everything, from books/dvd's, homeware, DIY, electronic products and of course beauty products. Amazon have a bunch of different makeup/beauty items which are sold directly from them and not other seller's, so you know you aren't going to be getting someone's already opened or over-priced unwanted purchases. Amazon also have a wide range of "Amazon's Choice" products, which are all products that come highly recommended. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of my personal favourite must-try beauty products, that are available under Amazon's Choice with free delivery on orders over £20 and selected subscribe and save items... 

l'Oréal paris infallible pro-glow foundation

So first up we have one of my favourite foundations of the year, which is in-fact an Amazon exclusive in the UK and it is the only official site that stocks the product. I did a first impression/review post which you can find all about the foundation in detail here.

maybelline fit me matte + poreless foundation

Sticking with the foundation theme and another favourite of mine, this time my all time favourite foundation. I always used to pick mine up from either Boots or Superdrug, but that was until i realised it was well over £1 cheaper on Amazon...so now i bulk buy and i always have some in stock!

sleek makeup highlighting palette

If you are an avid YouTube watcher, then you will probably already know how these Sleek highlighter palettes are always highly spoken about. Not only do they have super luxurious metal packaging, they are also super pigmented and come with a mixture or super lightweight powder and cream highlighters.  

rimmel london 60 seconds super shine nail polish

So Amazon's choice for nail polish is also a huge favourite of mine and i always opt for these colours when i am not in the mood to wait for over an hour for my polish to dry, as they are the only "quick dry" polishes that i actually think work as they say they should. Not only are they quick to apply, they are super affordable, come in a wide shade range and are long-lasting without chipping. My personal favourite is the shade Let's Get Nude.

l'Oréal sublime bronze self-tan summer glow lotion

I am one of those people that much prefers to opt for gradual tan lotions when it comes to my tanning routine, as it is super easy and quick to do. I definitely have tried my fair share of gradual tan from different brands and this one is definitely in my top three, along side the st moriz gradual tan which you can also pick up on Amazon.

palmer's coconut oil formula leave-in conditioner

I am obsessed with anything with a coconut fragrance and i have used this particular leave-in conditioner summer after summer, as it not only helps keep frizz at bay but it also leaves your hair smelling like summer holiday's. Leave-in conditioners are perfect if you are in a rush, or if you simply struggle with tangled hair once you have washed it. You can also pick up other item's from the range, as well as other drugstore brands.

real techniques miracle complexion sponge x2

This particular Amazon's choice selection is not only an accurate choice but also a complete bargain, as they stock a two pack of the sponge for just £6.66 rather than £10.99 or more. I use this sponge pretty much every time i do my makeup and i couldn't be without it, as you get a flawless and even finish. 

prodigueux by Nuxe Shower Oil with Golden Shimmer

So for the final item that is definitely more of a splurge but definitely a must-try product, is this shower gel from Nuxe. My go-to facial oil is the multi dry oil from the brand, which i use every single day both morning and night. That being said i had only tried that one thing from the brand and wanted to give something else a try. This shower oil has the same scent as the oil, that leaves you with a slight golden shimmer but nothing too major and is perfect for summer. The fact that you can also pick up higher end brands from Amazon, makes ordering so much easier.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

xo.

FIFTEEN FOODS/OILS FOR HEALTHY SKIN + HAIR

Hello everyone! There are so many great different skin/hair products available that you can spend a lot of money on to help your skin and hair look/stay healthy looking, when it doesn't always have to be that way. Of course i am not saying ditch all of your products, but there are actually so many foods/oils you can be eating/using that are naturally good for your skin, hair and even nails. With that in mind for today's post, i thought i would share with you twenty of my favourite foods/oils which are great for achieving glowing skin and hair naturally...

1. oats

Oats are a filled with a great source of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants and great for repairing any breakage to your hair. Oats also have a lot of health benefits to, such as aiding weight loss, lowering blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. 

2. walnuts

Walnuts are filled with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which helps keep in moisture, giving your hair that healthy looking shine. The protein helps boost the follicles of the hair allowing your hair to look fuller and stronger. Walnuts are also a great source of brain food and also just like oats are said to help with weight loss.

3. spinach

Spinach is not only a great source of iron to give your strength, it is also a great natural anti-ageing as it is packed full of vitamin A. Spinach is also another great food for helping with the skins moisture.

4. red peppers

A fun fact (something i didn't know until recently) that red peppers actually contain more vitamin C than oranges do, who would of thought that? Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, aiding your skin to look more radiant and glowing.

5. kale

Just like spinach, kale is also the perfect anti-ageing/wrinkle reducing food but fun fact, kale is actually filled with more antioxidants than most greens. Kale is most definitely a win-win vegetable, as it has so many health benefits for both the inside and outside of your body. I also think it tastes delicious.

6. pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds not only taste delicious, they are also packed full of zinc for helping with your skins natural oils which help to protect and repair your skin. It is also said that pumpkin seeds can aid the natural growth process in your hair, as well as fighting against acne and boost your immune system.

7. lentils

Lentils are a great source of getting protein and iron into your system, especially if you aren't a meat eater. By eating lentils you can also boost the thickness and fullness in your hair, as well as being packed full of vitamins perfect for aiding with producing collagen in the skin.

8. coconut oil

Coconut is not only the perfect ingredient for adding/keeping moisture in your hair and skin, it is also a natural antibacterial. Coconut oil can be used for so many different things from dry ends of your hair, dry hands, a natural cleanser to break down makeup and you can even use it to shave your legs with.

9. macadamia oil

Macadamia oil just like coconut oil is a great way to keep your skin/hair looking and feeling moisturised, but it is also said that macadamia oil is also a great natural ingredient proved to help sooth and reduce inflammation.

10. jasmine oil

Jasmine oil can be used in so many different ways, either as a calming remedy or to give an instant shot of moisture to dehydrated skin. Jasmine oil is also proven to help fade any scars/imperfections to the skin such as stretch marks and acne scars.

11. garlic

Garlic is apparently one of natures best medicines, to help keep cholesterol and blood pressure low as well has helping with preventing brain diseases. That being said for the beauty side of things, garlic has been proven to help prevent breakouts and maintain clearer looking skin. 

12. eggs

Which ever way you prefer to eat your eggs, you are going to be helping your hair, skin and nails out tremendously. The nutrients that is jam packed into one small egg, is going to help not only reduce the size of pores, it is going to tighten the skin, add shine to your hair and strength to your nails.    

13. berries

Berries are a strong antioxidant and are jam packed with vitamin C, by eating berries they are not only going to help hydrate your skin/hair, they are also going to give you a healthy glow, boost collagen and they are also a natural anti-inflammatory.

14. tea

Tea is not only one of those things that taste good, it is also giving your skin a helping hand at the same time. Green, black and red teas are not only like berries rich in antioxidants and anti-ageing, they are also a great way of helping you to get a clear your complexion. By drinking tea it is also said to help reduce puffy eyes, dark circles and help prevent blackheads.

15. dark chocolate

Last but not least probably one of the most surprising foods, as usually anything containing dairy is said to be bad for your skin. Although it is said by just having a small amount of dark chocolate can help your skin fight against sun damage, anti-ageing and skin discoloration. Chocolate also releases brain endorphins making you feel happy, so naturally when you feel happy you'll look good.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

BEAUTY FAVOURITES: JANUARY

Hello everyone! First of all can you honestly believe that today is the last day of January already? Even though this month is always seems to be the most depressing, i have still had a pretty great January for a change. Getting to the point seeing as tomorrow is the first day of a new month, i thought there would be no better way to end the current month by talking about my beauty favourites from the month of January.

mua luxe light lustre liquid highlight

Over the past year or so i have grew to become the biggest fan of liquid highlighters, as they can be used in so many different ways. You can apply them to the face as a base, add a drop or two into your foundation or simply apply a small amount to the highest points of the face and blend out with your finger or a beauty blender. Earlier in the month i did a full first impressions/review post on the newest MUA launch in their luxe range, this product might sound like a mouthful once said out loud but it is one that is a must-try and did i mention for such a stunning product it will only set you back £5? (currently on offer at Superdrug for £4). My go-to/favourite shade is the shade marvel, which is a really beautiful bronze-ish almost rose-golden shade. 

mario badescu drying lotion

This is a product that i have been using religiously when needed since just before Christmas, yet it is something i am yet to mention in a post until now. Back in December i had found my skin breaking out a little more than the odd one and i think it was down to all the festive food during that month. When i get a breakout it tends to stick around for longer than it is welcome, which is beyond annoying and it was time i did something about it. After hearing so many great reviews about this specific drying lotion by Mario Badescu, i finally decided to give it a whirl and i can now see what all the fuss is about as it is so effective and works quickly. All you do is first of don't be tempted to shake the bottle, dip a cotton bud into the solution then apply the to breakout and leave it over night to work its magic. The only down-side to this product is it absolutely stinks of a quite strong chemically smell, but you can't smell it for long and it does dry fairly fast.

l'Oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream

Unlike the drying lotion, this is actually a product that i have already mentioned a couple of times in two separate posts. This is something i have really been enjoying using on my hair whenever i wash it and i also noticed an instant result from after the first use, as my hair looked more healthy, shiny and reduced the appearance of any breakages i had. I also love how this is such a quick and easy product to use, as you don't have to wash it out unlike a lot of hair treatments. I highly recommend this to anyone who has long hair, as i do!  

rimmel 60 seconds nail polish in the shade lets get nude

Finally a nail polish that i have been wearing on my nails repeatedly this month and one that i talked about in a nail polishes i couldn't be without post. These nail polishes from Rimmel are perfect if you are feeling lazy or don't have time to wait for them to dry, as they dry in 60 seconds and come in this super shine finish which leaves you with that salon gel nail finish. The shade lets get nude is the post beautiful light pale-creamy beige nude colour, which is perfect for me as 95% of the time i always opt for a nude nail colour and i never get bored of this one. A similar alternative to this nail polish is essie's spin the bottle, which is my most worn nail polish.

Have a lovely weekend...

xo.

BEAUTY HACKS I SWEAR BY | PART TWO: HAIR + NAILS

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment of beauty hacks i swear by! The previous instalment was all about the makeup and skin beauty hacks i swear by, which if you didn't read it already you can catch it here. Beauty hacks go so much further than just makeup and skincare, there are also a ton of different hacks that work and don't work for your hair and nails. With that in mind i thought i would share with you my favourite hacks for your hair and nails, that i use on a regular basis...

1. HOW TO FAKE A SALON BLOW-DRY AT HOME

Who doesn't love have a bouncy blow-dry just like from the hairdressers? but you just don't feel like spending a ton of money going every week for a blow-dry. You can achieve one at home yourself super easily and two different ways, you also only need a couple of products to do so. Either way you are going to do this, the way to achieve the best results is to pre-treat your hair with a nourishing hair masque. Then once washed you can either blow-dry your hair using an attachment on your hairdryer and a round brush, or you can blow-dry and straighten as normal then flick small pieces at the end with the straightener, by doing this it creates that bouncy finish to your hair. You can also check out the GHD website or hairstyle inspiration here. 

2. HOW TO AVOID SPLIT-ENDS

There are quite a few hacks that i swear by when it comes to avoid getting split-ends, especially if you have long hairs just as i do. The first hack is to always use heat spray before using any hot tool on your hair, whether that be a straightener, curling wand or hairdryer. The next hack is to always be gentle when brushing your hair, never pull at it and always brush your hair straight after washing. The final hack is to apply a hair oil or leave-in conditioner when you have washed it, i am obsessed with the new l'oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream at the moment and i noticed an instant result after using this on my hair. 

3. HOW TO KEEP YOUR HAIR FRESHER WITHOUT WASHING IT

I am pretty sure it is scientifically proven that it is better for your hair in the long run, if you wash it less therefore i only wash mine 2-3 times a week and there are so many great hacks to keep your hair fresher for longer without washing, that are perfect for when you are feeling lazy. First of all dry shampoo can be a girls best friend, but it can be annoying (especially if you have dark hair) if your dry shampoo is overly powdery and leaves your hair looking white. A simple way to fix this is to dry shampoo your roots, rub in and then go in with your hairdryer to blow away the leftover powder leaving you with fresh looking hair. More tips for fresher looking hair are to never apply anything other than shampoo to your roots, go easy on the conditioner, change your pillowcases often and wash your hair brushes as dirt/product can build up there.

4. HOW TO REVIVE YOUR MANICURE

Over the years i have discovered so many different hacks on how to either revive or make your manicure last that little bit longer, especially if you want to leave it longer in-between salon visits. The first tip is to make your mani last longer and that is to never skip on the top coat or base coat before and after polish, also you can apply top coat every couple of days to prevent chipping. My favourite hack is to add the shine back into your gel manicure by simply rubbing some oil onto your nails and cuticles, i love using the NUXE huile prodigieuse multi-purpose dry oil as it is one of those oils for everything, nails, face and even your hair.

5. PROTECT SKIN AROUND NAILS FROM NAIL POLISH
If you are not the neatest nail painter there are a few different household items you can use to place a protective barrier around your nails, such as vaseline, washable glue (which you can peel off) or nail polish remover on a cotton bud. Apply vaseline or washable glue before you begin to paint your nails, then wash off once nails are dry and you will be left with a perfectly neat looking manicure! If you are using the nail polish remover soaked cotton bud, wait until the nails are dry before going in very gently around the areas needed.

6. USE HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS TO DIY NAIL ART PATTERNS
Who said you had to visit a nail salon or be good at creating nail art patterns free hand? There are so many items laying around your house, that you wouldn't think they would make great tools to create nail art patterns. If you want to create stripes or lines, you can use cut down to size pieces of easy peel tape into whatever pattern you want and once dry simply remove carefully. To create dots you can add a small amount of nail polish to the end of an unwanted bobby pin (hair grip) and dot onto nails, in whatever placing you want. This could also work with applying glitter to the nails, just remember to always allow time to dry and apply a top coat to make nails appear shiny and make your manicure last longer.

Coming up on the blog.... Beauty Favourites: January

xo.

MY GO-TO HAIR PRODUCTS FOR SLEEK STRAIGHT HAIR | 2018

Hello everyone! For the past couple of months i have noticed that my current hair-care routine/product combination seems to be working in my favour, when it comes to achieving and maintaining sleek straight hair (as i naturally have frizzy/wavy hair). With that in mind and seeing has it has been about a year since i last did a hair routine post, i thought it was about time for an updated post.

1. ultimate blends coconut water dry hair shampoo + conditioner

So i first started using this shampoo/conditioner duo back in the summer time and i must admit i have switched up my shampoo from time to time, but i just keep going back to this combination as it works so well for my hair. As my hair type is frizzy/wavy it tends to get dry quite quickly so i often need all the help i can get for keeping both situations under control. Check out my first impression/review post on the Garnier Ultimate Blends shampoo and conditioner here. Whilst on the subject of shampoo i do only wash my hair between 2-3 times a week, as i find by not over washing it your hair benefits for it in the long run and looks healthier for longer.

2. l'Oréal professionel mythic oil masque
Every once in a while i like to go in with a hair masque or treatment, just to really nourish my hair and give it an extra shine. What i will do is apply to the ends of my hair, leave it in for about an hour before rinsing in the shower and then going in with my shampoo duo. By doing a hair masque every now and again can also simply cheer you up, by making you feel a little pampered. This particular one is a favourite of mine, as it really works well for my hair and out of every hair masque i have tried this one definitely has that "salon" quality finish to it.

3. ogx renewing moroccan argan oil

This product has been a hair saviour for me for so many years now, as it is truly that one product that will always protect and control the frizz. Just by adding a small amount of this and running it through the ends of my hair once towel dried, helps keep my hair soft yet manageable as well as protecting my hair against UV damage. Even though this product is an oil it doesn't leave your hair feeling full of product or "greasy" looking in the slightest, hence why it is always best to only apply leave-in products and conditioners to the lengths of your hair and not the root. The only thing i ever apply to my roots is shampoo or dry-shampoo on a non-hair washing day.

4. l'Oréal elvive dream lengths no haircut cream

This is actually a new product that i have been reaching for this month and one that i am really enjoying using, as i have noticed an instant change in my hair and it looks so much more healthy and has literally reduced the appearance of any hair breakage. Just like the argan oil i also apply a small amount of this to the ends of my hair before blow drying, which is where a lot of damage can come from not only from the heat but also from any breakage hair brushes can cause.

5. ultimate blends oat milk heat protection spray

Protecting your hair from heat is such an important step to keeping your hair looking and feeling healthy, as heat can be the worst thing when it comes to hair damage. This is a step i never skip before either straightening or curling my hair, at the moment this is my go-to heat protection spray as i picked it up whilst Ultimate Blends products were on offer for 3 for 2. I also figure that if oat milk tastes amazing in coffee then surely it is going to be good for your hair right? I also find ever since using this/the other combination of products together, my hair stays straighter for longer and i don't have to use as much heat on it as i would of had to before.

6. mark hill miracOILous nourishing hairspray
The final step to my sleek straight hair is always a small amount of hairspray, just to help tame any fly away hairs as well as adding more of a shine. I used to be super fussy with my hairspray but now i just tend to pick up which ever is on offer at the time, that being said this particular one from Mark Hill is a favourite of mine because it always tends to give a better finish to the hair and it doesn't leave any crunch/crisp to the hair like some brands of hairsprays can yet it still does the job.

the hair tools i use for blow-drying + straightening my hair:
| tangle teezer original pink fizz | ghd air hairdryer set | tangle teezer blow styling smoothing tool half paddle | ghd pink blush platinum styler |

xo.

BUDGET BEAUTY WEEK: THE LIGHT-WEIGHT IN SHOWER FOAM CONDITIONER

Hello everyone and welcome back to another post in my "budget beauty" week series! For today's instalment i just had to share with you the newest budget beauty friendly and super cool invention hair product, that i have been reaching for recently. You have probably heard of using a foam/moose-like product to style your hair or even the new ever so talked about dry shampoo foam by ouai, but you would of never of thought about a foam conditioner that can be used simply in the shower, as if you would any other conditioner.

If your hair needs some serious tlc and help to keep the frizz at bay, yet you hate the way most conditioners can weigh down your hair? Fear not i now believe that Pantene have now got our backs covered in the form of a foam in the shower conditioner, yes you heard right...a foam conditioner! The pro-v smooth and sleek formula gives your frizzy hair the conditioning and healthy sleekness that your hair needs, without the weighing down that regular cream-like formula conditioners do which is why i tend to only use conditioner on my hair once a week. The way i like to use mine is to apply an amount to my hands and run it through the length of my hair, like i would a regular conditioner but i also like to leave the product for around five minutes or so to absorb before rinsing away as normal. I love how i don't need to apply a de-tangling spray when i have used this conditioner like i normally would, as the conditioner does that for you. As this is a light-weight conditioner it leaves your hair with added texture and volume, which is what makes this so different because when a product weighs the hair down that is when it tends to look/feel like it is lacking volume and looks limp.

I think over-all so far i only have one negative thing to say about this product, but it is still nothing major and that is it isn't the easiest product to use in the shower as getting the top off with wet hands proved quite difficult, but if you think ahead and remove it before hand you should be good to go. You can pick the Pantene foam conditioner up in four different formulas, smooth and sleek, volume and body, repair and protect and colour and protect. The foam conditioners retail at a bargain price of £3.99 from Superdrug (currently on offer for £1.98 or 2 for £6 on selected Pantene hair products), Boots and selected supermarkets. 

Catch up on yesterdays budget beauty week post HERE...

xo.

SUMMER HAIR: GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS COCONUT WATER

Hello everyone! In my previous post beauty & random favourites: june, i mentioned how i had been loving a combination of products including a de-tangle spray from Lee Stafford, which was included in that post and a particular shampoo and conditioner. That particular duo is from the Ultimate Blends range by Garnier and is something i have been reaching for non-stop in the shower every single time i wash my hair.

Now that we are into the summer months i always need serious help when it comes to keeping the frizz at bay and my hair looking/feeling hydrated, as my hair type is dry. So with that in mind i always find that either Argan Oil or Coconut based products are the way to go, when it comes to doing just so. I had mentioned in a couple of posts tropical trends for summer and best of beauty: coconut that i had been reaching for the ogx weightless hydration coconut water shampoo & conditioner, but when i was all out and went to purchase some more this one from Garnier caught my eye. The Garnier Ultimate Blends Coconut Water and Aloe Vera shampoo/conditioner, claims to quench your hairs thirst when feeling dry/dehydrated in a freshly scented way to leave your hair feeling soft, smooth and full of shine. The claims/benefits of this particular blend of shampoo and conditioner, are super similar to the OGX coconut water duo but there are a few things that have made me like this Ultimate Blends formula more, such as the price and over-all effect of the product. The comparison of the two products is the OGX coconut water shampoo/conditioner retails for £6.99 each for 385ml and the Ultimate Blends coconut and aloe vera shampoo/conditioner retails for £2.50 offer price (usually £4.99) each for 400ml.

I have been using this shampoo for around two weeks now and usually i have to wash my hair every two day (three times a week), because my hair is dark it tends to look greasier quicker than a lighter hair colour would and the day after washing it i would need to reach for a hefty amount of dry shampoo. Since using this shampoo/conditioner duo my hair stays fresher looking longer and on that second day i don't even need to use dry shampoo, which hasn't happened in a long time. My hair is super shiny, full of moisture but not weighed down, soft, frizz free and i have also found it is a lot easier to style once dry also. How i like to use the products is firstly when in the shower i go in with the conditioner first, i only concentrate this on the ends/length of my hair and i leave that in my hair whilst i go about doing all of my other shower things. Once i have done that i rinse out the conditioner before going in with the shampoo, then rinsing again until all of the product is out. 

Shop the ultimate blends range here.

♥

2014 BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Hey guys, i hope you are all having an amazing day whatever you are up to! This year has gone by so fast even more so the last few months of the year. I know i said thank you for all your lovely support during "blogmas" but i would just like to thank you all again for taking the time out to read my posts and i wish you all the very best for 2015. So getting to the point seeing as today is officially the last day of 2014, i thought it would only be right to share with you some of the products that i have been loving all throughout the year. I don't want to go into too much detail explaining everything i like about the products as i have done so many post's on them previously over the whole year, so feel free to take a look back through this year's archive...

Galvin & Galvin Oh Organic Head Detox and Purify Shampoo

The Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

Elemis Fresh Skin SkinGlow Exfoliating Face Wash

Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation in the shade Bone

NARS Bronzing Powder in the shade Laguna

Essence Lip Liners

(I own every shade as i love the lip liner formula so much but my favourite shades are: 15 Honey Berry, 06 Satin Mauve and 11 In The Nude)

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer in the shade Light.

Happy New Year!

♥

TRIED IT OUT TUESDAY: TOP 5 FAVOURITE HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Hey guys, i hope you are all having a great day so far! For today's post i thought i would share with you my top 5 favourite hair care products at the moment. I am one of those people who will not fully commit to a hair product, i always like to swap and change things as i always seem to think there is something that would work better for me out there. On a plus side change is always good they say... So here is my top 5 favourite hair care products that i am loving at the moment...

1. Tresemme 2804BU volume wand.

It's been a while now since i have used a curling wand, i used to have one a while back until it broke on me. I have just been using my straightener to curl my hair since then and i just don't think you get the same effect that you would if you used a wand. I got this one from Debenhams but you can pretty much get your hands on them anywhere even supermarkets sell them and they are so inexpensive at £20-£23 (prices vary from where sold). The wand itself is so good i can't actually believe for such a low price how good it is, it heats in seconds and the curls really last and even more so if you apply hairspray. My favourite kind is just to do nice waves, so i curl it away from my face using the larger end of the wand.  

http://www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10701_10001_324003004660MISC_-1

2. L'Oreal Studio Line Silk & Gloss Hot Straight Spray and Hot & Smooth Hot Curl Spray.

Obviously when it comes to using hair tools you have got to protect your hair from the heat. These two products are great because they not only protect your hair from heat but they also make your hair silky smooth and reduces frizz as well as making your hair stay either curly or straight, depending on which product you are using. 

http://www.boots.com/en/LOreal-Studio-Line-Silk-Gloss-Hot-Straight-Spray-200ml_1155334/

 3. Schwarzkopf got2b Oil-licious Weightless Dry Oil Mist.

While we are on the topic of frizz which is a huge problem i have with my hair type, so i'm all about taming that frizz. This is a dry oil mist so unlike a serum this doesn't leave my hair looking greasy and full of product but sorts out the frizz which a serum is suppose to also do. This stuff also smells so good which is always a bonus.

http://www.boots.com/en/Schwarzkopf-got2b-Oil-licious-Weightless-Dry-Oil-Mist-200ml_1422126/

4. John Frieda Frizz - Ease Miraculous Recovery Pot Strengthening Crème Masque.

Yet again another frizz product, but needs must. I have actually been using this product every time i wash my hair in place of conditioner and i have found that it is much more effective than using it on top of conditioner (i'm all for using less products). The Masque leaves my hair feeling super soft and topped with the other products above really helps my hair stay calm during the warm weather rather than ending up looking like Simba from the Lion King haha.

http://www.boots.com/en/John-Frieda-Frizz-Ease-Miraculous-Recovery-Pot-Strengthening-Creme-Masque_22683/

5. Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturizing Spray.

If you have been reading my posts for a while now you'll know how much i love this product and it is still a daily favourite/essential for me. As my hair is long and thick my hair can tend to be really weighed down and flat looking, so i apply this to my hair just to add the volume back into my hair. It is a great dupe for the oribe texturizing spray which is a lot more expensive than this one and it works just the same if not better in my opinion. 

http://www.boots.com/en/Charles-WorthingtonCharles-Worthington-Volume-Bounce-Texturising-Spray_1330139/

I hope you found this post helpful in some way when it comes to hair care and i'll be back with another post tomorrow. 

♥  

MAY EMPTIES

Hey guys, hope you are all having a great day whatever you are up to! So for the past few months now i have been sharing with you some of the products that i have actually all used up. Some of the items are recurring favourites and some are of things that i either liked but wouldn't try again and some i would never use again...

Tresemmé Keratin Smooth 60 second treatment.

I mentioned this product in my last empties blog post as well as a couple of other favourite's blog posts, i use this 60 second treatment once a week after my normal shampoo and conditioning routine. I keep stocking up on them as they are so inexpensive.

Tresemmé Keratin Smooth restore and control shampoo.

I purchased this travel size version of my current shampoo to take away with me whilst travelling. I just can't give enough credit to Tresemmé for their Keratin range, they have changed my hairs life! I have also recently started using the Keratin 7 day heat activated treatment which i am going to talk more about in a separate blog post coming soon.

Collection 16 Hour Lasting Perfection concealer in Light.

I have used this up to the point where it looks like there is still some product yet you can't get any out. This is one of those well loved concealers (as you can tell by the state of the packaging) that one will always be in my makeup collection as it is such good coverage.

Boots Botanics Cleansing face wipes.

For the longest time i have been sticking to the Nivea facial wipes and i really wanted to try something different, these were on offer at Boots for around £1.70ish i think and they are usually £3.49. I really didn't like anything about these which is a disappointment as the Botanics range is usually pretty good, i found the wipes to be really drying, didn't really remove any makeup off and they didn't smell that great. In the end i just used these for wiping any makeup i got on my hands, i wouldn't repurchase these again.

T-Zone Nose Pore strips.

I don't think i have ever really spoken about pore strips in a post before, the T-Zone ones are the only ones that i have ever tried that i can actually tell a difference afterwards with. So i never bother trying out any other brands but this one as i know i will be disappointed. Another bonus is they are so inexpensive at not even £2 for 6 nose strips.

Clarins HydraQuench moisturizing cream.  

I have mentioned previously that i wanted to change up my skincare products so i had been trying out the Clarins HydraQuench Introductory Collection which had smaller sized products in so i could just give them a try without spending too much money on something in case i didn't like it. I love this moisturizer so much and i am so sad that it has all gone, i just don't know whether it is worth spending the £35 for the full sized when i have also been enjoying a Clinique one also.

The Body Shop satsuma shower gel.

If i could marry a shower gel (which i have just realized sounds really creepy) then i would marry this shower gel, in fact all of The Body Shop shower gels, they all just smell so great!

Soap and Glory scrub of your life.

Previously i was a huge fan of Soap and Glory and then i got back into using The Body Shop products but just lately i have fell back in love with Soap and Glory. I have about 6 of these smaller sized body scrubs in my possession left from gift sets at Christmas, so i have yet to buy a full sized one. I love everything about it the smell, the way it leaves your skin feeling super soft and a great exfoliate before fake tanning.

Hope you all have an amazing weekend, whatever you have planned!

   

MY HAIR FAVOURITES

It's not just important to look after your skin but also to look after your hair, i mean who doesn't love keeping their hair looking and feeling nice? cause i know i do. So today i thought i would share with you a few products i couldn't live without in my hair care routine.

*Just a quick disclaimer, all the products shown suit and work for my particular hair type which is curly*.

Like i said above my hair type is curly and not the nice kind, i 100% hate my natural hair when it is left not styled. All the products i use really work to my advantage as i always wear my hair straight, even if i wear my hair curly or wavy i always straighten it before hand as it makes the end result look so much better.

1. GHD Straighteners.

GHD is by far the best hair straightener out there (in my opinion anyway). They are around £99 but are worth every penny as they last for years and i use them every day. Also with me using them every day i also use L'Oreal Elnett 3 Day Straight heat protector spray (not shown on image), i just find that this not only helps protect my hair from the heat but also helps keep it straighter for longer.

2. ORIBE Dry Texturizing Spray.

This spray is really hyped up by a lot of other bloggers and youtubers and so it should be, i can't get enough of the stuff! I also like the Charles Worthington Salon At Home Texturizing Spray, i think it is as equally as good as the Oribe brand and probably a third of the price. I like to give my hair some volume especially at the roots, this does the job and keeps the volume instead of becoming flat again within a couple of hours. 

3. REDKEN All Soft Heavy Cream.

4. TRESEMME Keratin Smooth 60 Seconds.

These two items i alternate between them when i want to deep condition my hair after my usual shampoo and conditioner routine. I like to use these treatments once a week.

5. TRESEMME Keratin Smooth 7 Days Shampoo and Conditioner.

I have fell in love with Keratin products as i have found they have dramatically changed the way my hair looks and is so much easier to control. The Keratin formula smooths and helps straighten hair, which actually works unlike some that claim to do this but don't dramatically work.

6. TANGLE TEEZER.

I have been using a tangle teezer for around 2 years now and i would never go back to using a regular hair brush. The brush always glides straight through my hair if it has knots which i tend to get with my hair being long and it doesn't damage your hair at all. Such an amazing invention!

What are your favourite must have products for your hair type?

Hope you had an amazing Easter Weekend...