Beauty

Two hair heroes

April 10, 2016


When it comes to hair, I wasn't blessed with naturally beautiful locks, but instead require a bit more attention to get things looking soft and sleek. Over the years i've tried hundreds of products in an attempt to banish the frizz and brittle ends, but none have worked quite so well as my current favourites.



To battle frizz, Living Proof's No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream is the most effective product i've tried so far. Though it is rich enough to tame frizz, it does so without weighing my fine hair down or leaving it feeling greasy. It also helps hair to resist frizzing up when things get a bit humid outside, which is a life saviour if like me you have a tendency to forget to pack an umbrella!

O&M's Know Knott Conditioning Detangler is a rather new addition to my routine but it has quickly become a staple. The peach scented spray nourishes, hydrates and detangles locks so well that it makes dry ends and stubborn knots a distant memory. Containing cold-pressed organic Argan and Macadamia oils, the spray also reconditions and protects hair against breakage.

Have you tried either of these? What are your hair heroes?

Beauty

Forgotten favourites

April 05, 2016


When you own more beauty products than the average/normal person, it's easy for things to be put aside and forgotten. As I spend most mornings battling against time, I often reach for the same few products everyday. Though in an attempt to switch things up a bit and get more use out of all of my collection, I've started to deliberately pick out a few products each month that I particularly want to get more use from.


The first product that I'm hoping to reach for more this month is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Luminous Flush. The hourglass blushes are one of my all time favourite blush formulas and i've been itching to buy a couple more shades, but want to make sure that i'm getting enough use out of the one I have before adding more.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, is one of those products that at first seemed too pretty to use and over time I completely forgot I had it. Considering the price, it makes no sense to leave it collecting dust, especially as it's such a fantastic product. It's the perfect powder for banishing shine without leaving skin looking dull and 'cakey'. I've decided to throw it in my handbag to make sure i'll use it everyday.

With the arrival of spring, i've been really enjoying wearing light and shimmery champange eyeshadows, and rather than buy a stack of new ones, I've dug out some old favourites. The Nars eyeshadow duo in Alhambra is one of my all time favourite shadows as both the champagne and golden shade look beautiful washed over the entire lid and finished with lashings of mascara for a fresh and natural look. The Nars eyeshadow formula also can't be faulted as it blends beautifully and lasts well throughout the day. I also just recently rediscovered Chanel's cream eyeshadow in Emerveille and really need to get more use out of it before it completely dries up! The cream formula makes this the perfect choice for when I'm short on time in the morning but still want a wash of subtle colour and shimmer over the lids to open up my eye area and make me look a little bit more put together!

Finally, Charlotte Tilbury's K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in 'Bitch Perfect' is a rather new purchase, so it's not this specific product that I've forgotten about over time, but rather lipstick itself that I'm often guilty of forgetting to apply at all! As this is such a beautiful shade that's easy to wear and apply, I really want to make a conscious effort to remember to wear it more. Hopefully by keeping it in my bag next to my lip balm i'll remember to quickly top up throughout the day.

Are there any products that you've rediscovered recently?

Beauty

February favourites

March 01, 2016


As expected, February flew by so quickly I almost feel like it didn't appear at all. As much as it's been a good month (pancake day was by far the highlight), I'm excited for the approaching arrival of Spring and the promise of warmer weather. I can't wait to be able to go outside without over ten layers of clothing on and still feeling like I might freeze to death in seconds!


As the weather has been so cold recently I've been loving Sanctuary Spa's Overnight Miracle Oil* to keep my skin hydrated and dry patches at bay. A couple of blobs massaged into my face and neck every night and I wake up with soft, glowing skin. I can't really comment on the claims that it reverses the sign of ageing, but it definitely injects enough moisture to leave skin looking healthy. Often oils can be too heavy for me and can cause breakouts, but i've been using this all month and haven't had a problem at all. Another saviour from the cold weather has been Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil in honey. The glossy oil really nourishes lips without being too sticky or greasy.

This is my second tube of Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara and the more I use it the more I seem to love it. A few layers and you have long, voluptuous lashes that could almost pass for falsies. For just £7.99, it's also one of the most affordable mascara's out there - Ik can't fault it!

I've just raved about my love for Christophe Robin's cleansing purifying scrub with sea salt (here) so it's probably no surprise that this has made an appearance in my monthly favourites. I use this once a week for a thorough detox that leaves both my hair and scalp happy and healthy.

I'm a huge fan of Oribe's Dry Texturising Spray but considering it comes with a purse weeping price tag, I'm always on the look out for something a little less destructive to my bank balance. I was lucky enough to be sent Fudge URBAN's Texture Spray* and it arrived just in time as my trusty Oribe had run out and I was postponing the pricy repurchase. I've been using the Fudge spray daily to give my fine hair a little more volume and boy does it deliver. Not only does it give height and lift to the roots, but it doesn't disappear two minutes after walking out the door either. If i'm honest, I think this beats Oribe on the volume front. If you like using a spray through the lengths of your hair for texture, this has a tendency to go a little more 'crispy' than the Oribe spray, though it's nothing that can't be fixed with a quick brush. For just a fraction of the price, I think this is one of my best hair finds yet.

What have you been loving this month?



Beauty

The salt scrub for your hair

February 21, 2016


I've been using cleansing shampoos since I was in primary school and needed something to remove the chlorine build up from daily swimming lessons. Though my hair rarely sees a swimming pool nowadays, I still reach for a purifying shampoo once a week to remove product and oil build up. In recent months however, I've felt that though the shampoo was stripping my hair, my scalp was left feeling dry and itchy.

On a hunt to find something more gentle that still removed buildup, I came across Christophe Robin's cleansing purifying scrub with sea salt. This is a really thick scrub that when massaged into the scalp and hair not only serves as a detox giving it a really thorough clean, but it also helps to rebalance oils and hydrate the scalp. From the very first use I noticed a difference as my scalp felt soothed and my fine hair had more bounce and volume. Though salt can be quite drying, by using a rich conditioner on the ends and only using the scrub once a week, I haven't experience any adverse effects and in fact, my hair feels softer and smoother than ever.

Though the scrub unfortunately comes with quite a high price tag, a little goes a really long way so it's not something that I envisage having to repurchase too often. Considering how long a tub lasts and how much it's helped my hair and scalp, I think it's worth every penny.

Have you tried the Christophe Robin scrub or anything similar?