HAIRCARE ESSENTIALS

26 April
I have always wanted naturally straight hair, but typically I have the complete opposite and it can be extremely difficult to keep it under control - especially when the air is humid. My hair could be worse but of course we're never happy with what we're given. I have been lucky enough to have a dad as a hairdresser my entire life so I have grown up trying all sorts of hair products, you name it and I have most likely tried it! Finally after 20 years of not being happy with my hair I have finally found a selection of products which keep it under control and give me results I am extremely happy with.
I'm going to start off by saying if you don't own a Tangle Teezer, where have you been? You are seriously missing out! I will leave a link here as I believe everyone needs to own one. I personally own the compact one as I like to keep it on me whilst I travel however there are a lot of different sizes and colours available.

Whilst we're on the subject of hair tools, every girl needs an amazing pair of straighteners and my absolute favourites are Corioliss C3 which you can grab here. I have used GHD straighteners since I first started straightening my hair (a VERY long time ago) and I actually find my Corioliss are so much nicer to work with and the results last a lot longer! I actually own 2 pairs, a white pair and the black pair which I photographed but there are SO many more colours/designs available.

The big downside of using heat on my hair on a daily basis is of course the damage caused, however since i've been using the GHD Heat Protect Spray the amount of dead ends appearing has actually decreased by a lot! I was always guilty of waiting a long time to get my hair cut but now with regular hair cuts and this hair protecting spray the condition and length of my hair has improved massively.

The amount of shampoo and conditioner I have been through in my life time is absolutely ridiculous and I have never stuck to the same one! I would like to thank Glamour Beauty Festival for introducing me to OGX. I have always wanted to try Argan Oil Shampoo and Argan Oil Conditioner but never actually got round to it so when they gave me a sample I was over the moon! Since the event I have bought a full size product and I am deeply in love with it and how lush it makes my hair feel. Dry, dull and a little frizzy are my hair concerns and this treats every one of them and leaves my hair feeling and smelling incredible!

Of course we all love a pamper now and again and my favourite part is a hair mask. If I haven't already applied coconut oil to my hair then I will apply this Wella Colour Recharge for Cool Brunettes for around 10-15 minutes just to give my hair a little colour boost and it also leaves my hair feeling really soft and healthy.

The Body Shop Grapeseed Glossing Serum gives such a gorgeous shine to the hair and is the perfect finishing touch to ensure hair looks naturally shiny and frizz-free. I apply this to the ends of my hair and as close to my roots as possible, however trust me when I tell you a little goes a long way - too much may appear greasy.

BEFORE 

AFTER
If you would like to check out my full review of the Glamour Beauty Festival mentioned in this post then head on over here.

What are your holy grail hair care products?

MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers: Review

19 April
There is a huge obsession with liquid lipsticks at the minute and I for one am LOVING them. I have seen so many positive reviews of the MUA Lip Lacquers that I couldn't help but pick up 4 shades to try out, after all they are only £3!! These lip lacquers are super long lasting and have amazing pigmentation for such an amazing price and I will 100% be picking up every other colour available. The 4 colours I picked up are: Tranquility, MoxieReckless & Kooky - they're all gorgeous and within about an hour of wearing Moxie I was asked what I had on my lips.

 (Left to Right: Reckless, Tranquility, Kooky, Moxie)

I actually really like the packaging of these lip lacquers, they're really lightweight and definitely look like they're worth more than £3! The applicator makes it very easy to apply with just the right amount of product. The product itself has a strawberry sweet smell to it which I love as some liquid lipsticks can smell very 'plain/chemically'. I wore Moxie on a night out not long ago and it literally lasted all night! They aren't the most moisturising on the lips but the pigmentation is incredible for the price. These lip lacquers dry SO quickly - I wouldn't recommend rubbing your lips together straight after you have applied it as it is slightly sticky until it dries, however they are completely kiss proof and will not budge once they are dry!


The colours are definitely on the brighter side however Tranquility is a really lovely nude if that's more your thing! I can't say I'm a huge bright lip wearer however I absolutely love the colour range of these lip lacquers. I did notice that after eating/a few hours a couple of the colours did start to flake a little but I mean what's the harm in reapplying every so often for £3?


Tranquility - Peachy Nude
Reckless - True Red
Kooky - Deep Purple
Moxie - Deep Hot Pink

I would 100% recommend these lip lacquers to anyone. They are extremely long lasting and the colour pigmentation is definitely worth £3! I LOVE them!

What's your favourite Liquid Lipstick brand/colour?

10 WAYS TO USE COCONUT OIL

07 April
Coconut oil has hundreds of different uses and it's incredible for skin, hair and nails - it is a combination of fatty acids which have amazing benefits for your body. It starts as a solid however with the tiniest bit of heat it will turn into an oil which you can use in many different ways! I absolutely love it and use it for everything.


First things first it smells absolutely gorgeous, but lets get into the uses:

1. Cooking - this one is obvious but it is such a healthy alternative for vegetable and cooking oils, not to mention it is dairy free.

2. Eye Make Up Remover - it just melts it away like magic, as you massage it around your eye area the heat will turn the product into an oil and your make up will just glide right off.

3. Teeth Whitening - I have mentioned this in a previous favourites post linked here. Coconut is amazing for oil pulling to whiten teeth and also improve gum health too.

4. Lip Balm - The perfect natural chapstick.

5. Body Moisturiser - Skin that is very dry absolutely loves coconut oil as it really nourishes the skin leaving it soft and moisturised. Not only that but it actually helps prevent stretch marks too, BONUS.


6. Hair Mask - I have recently started using this as a hair mask on the very tips of my hair and it always leaves my hair feeling incredibly soft and conditioned. I cannot stress to you enough how nice this leaved your hair feeling!

7. Bath Oil - Again it works wonders on dry skin that is naturally lacking in oil, adding a small amount to the bath is the perfect way to really treat your skin.

8. After Sun - An intensive natural conditioner, it will help heal the skin so you can say goodbye to sunburn.

9. Natural Deodorant  - Coconut oil contains antibacterial properties which fight against bacteria so body odour doesn't occur. t have never tested this one personally however I am very intrigued to see how long it works.

10. Cuticles - Rubbing a small amount into the cuticles of your nails daily will help your nails to naturally grow, along with keeping them strong and healthy.

If you haven't got Coconut Oil in your household - YOU NEED IT. It comes in so many different shapes and sizes so it really doesn't matter which one you get however I will link a couple: Holland & Barrett, Boots and Lloyds Pharmacy.