HAIRCARE ESSENTIALS

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?

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MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquers: Review

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, Moxie, Reckless & 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?

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10 WAYS TO USE COCONUT OIL

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.

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Drugstore Make Up Starter Kit

When I started wearing/buying make up it was all about Maybelline Dream Matte Mouse, glittery eyeshadows and lip glosses - nowadays there are so many amazing products which I wish were part of my make up kit when I first started out! There are products in the drugstore that are just as good as high end and are less than half the price. These are all products that I would genuinely recommend for anyone starting up their make up kit or if you simply want to grow your collection!

 There are obviously many other amazing products but if I included all of my drugstore favourites I would be here for a very long time, so here are the essentials that I think every make up wearer needs!

Base:
When it comes to face products it all depends on your skin type and what your skin really needs/works best with, this is why I have chosen products which I think work well for all skin types and which I believe give the best results!

Primer - Soap & Glory One Heck Of A Blot, £10
This primer does so many things for the skin to prepare it for the makeup yet to come. It keeps the skin shine-free due to its Shine-Bloc technology, it also minimises the appearance of pores with its Pore-Shrink technology and I mean who doesn't want smaller looking pores? You can wear this primer alone or under make up as it contains Vitamin C so it brightens the skin and helps even out skin tone.

Foundation - Bourjois Healthy Mix, £9.99
If you have read my previous posts you will know I go on and on about how amazing this foundation is so of course I had to include it as an essential! It is the most gorgeous lightweight and radiant foundation which is perfect for every skin type. The coverage is perfect and build able, also with Apricot for radiance, Melon to keep the skin hydrated and Apple to keep the skin young - I honestly cannot stress to you enough how lovely this foundation is!

Concealer - Collection Lasting Perfection, £3.99
You can see from in the photo how much I use this concealer as the label has almost disappeared. I use the Fair shade in this concealer to brighten under my eyes and it actually works really well on blemishes too. It is a pretty high coverage concealer and it lasts a really long time - it's a must have!

Blush/Bronze/Highlight - Sleek MakeUp Face Form Contouring and Blush Palette in Light, £9.99
My previous blog post was a full review on this product and how it is an amazing dupe for 3 of my favourite high end products so if you haven't read that already I will link it here. If you are a newbie to make up then the whole contouring and highlight trend might scare you a little but with this palette it is made so easy! This is available in different shades to suit different skin tones however the 'Light' palette is my absolute favourite.

Eyes:
The amount of eyeshadows, mascaras, brow products and eyeliners on the market now is crazy! I sometimes find with eyeshadows that if they are too cheap the pigmentation isn't great however there are some really great ones available too.

Eyeshadows -
MakeUp Revolution Ultra 32 Shade Palette Flawless Matte, £8
Maybelline Colour Tattoo, £4.99 
First of all 32 shades for £8??? AMAZING. This palette contains all matte shades however you can create so many gorgeous looks with it from pinks, nudes, browns, greys or blacks. The pigmentation of these eyeshadows actually really surprised me when I first used it, they show up really well and also last a pretty long time!
Maybelline Colour Tattoo's have been a staple in my make up collection for a really long time, they are gorgeous as a base for eyeshadow or just on their own. My 3 favourites are Creamy Beige, On & On Bronze and Eternal Gold - they are all so pretty! Creamy Beige is the perfect base for eyeshadows as it's matte brown and keeps all eyeshadows in place, where as the other two I wear on their own or alongside other shadows.

Liquid Eyeliner - Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner, £2.99
Fast drying and matte black - the perfect liquid eyeliner! This product is SO easy to apply even if you're not that confident with doing a cat eye. The colour lasts really well and doesn't budge easily so I would 100% recommend this to anyone!

Mascara - Maybelline Lash Sensational, £7.99
I have gone through loads of mascaras in the past and they either clump or leave black on my brow bone throughout the day, this one however doesn't do either. I included this in my 2015 Favourite Product Discoveries and I am still totally head over heels in love with it!

Eyebrows - Sleek Brow Kit in Dark, £8.49
This Brow Kit has seen my through my worst brow days and my best! I have had this for an extremely long time now and I still haven't hit pan, it is such a good buy. You can see how I use this in my brow routine - linked here.

Lips:
I actually don't own any drugstore lipsticks that I have been overly impressed with so if you know of any good ones please leave them down in the comments!

Liner - Rimmel 1000 Kisses, £2.99
I actually love all of Rimmels Lip Liners however this one in the shade cappuccino is my all time favourite! They are super pigmented and last a very long time - even through eating and drinking.

Lipgloss - Max Factor Colour Elixir, £8.99
I have a love/hate relationship with lip glosses, I cannot stand them being too sticky or if they make my lip colour underneath budge however I was actually really impressed with this one! It's the perfect consistency and looks beautiful paired with any other lipsticks or simply on it's own. The colour of this has rubbed off the packet but i'm pretty sure it was Pristine Nude.

(Top -> Bottom: Rimmel Liner, Max Factor Lip Gloss, Maybelline Colour Tattoo's in On & On Bronze and Creamy Beige)

If there are any drugstore products I haven't mentioned that you absolutely love please leave them in the comments - I would LOVE to try them!

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