Hair Care reviews

Finding the right products for your hair is essential to its look and feel , its very personal and I think you have to pick the right products that suit you. I used to have very long hair, but recently had a lot cut off into a long shoulder length bob and I absolutely love it- however my hair is quite thin and dry through colouring. For me the perfect hair care combination leaves me hair feeling soft, smooth and shiny, I don't like it to look to styled or as if I have put in a lot of products. Recently I have been trying the combination shown above (L'Oreal Sulfate free shampoo and conditioner and Herbal Essences Bee strong leave in conditioner) and have used it for about 2 weeks. I was a bit sceptical of the Sulfate free shampoo initially as its something I never considered in my hair routine, but having read so many rave reviews about it on other beauty blogs I thought I would try it (better late than never)

L'Oreal nourishing shampoo and conditioner- I'm glad I persisted with these products because initially I wasn't sure if I was going to like them! The main difference is that they are supposed to be better/more organic for your hair because  some say sulfate can take some of the natural oil out of your hair. The first thing I noticed straight away is the the shampoo doesn't lather as much which is what a sulfate agent is meant for, therefore it needs slightly more working into the scalp. I love the smell and I love the fact it leaves your hair feeling so clean, more so than normal shampoo's. The conditioner is very creamy and I noticed  difference straight away is the feel and silkiness of my hair when it was dry rather than when it was wet. Onec my hair was dry I thought it looked really nice and was really easy to style, it gave me hair volume and shine. I would defently recommend these products, althogh they take some time gettign used to they really are worth it when you get the hang of them!

Bee Strong leave in conditioner- I have always loved this range from Herbal Essence, I can't think of a better all round shampoo and conditioner and have wanted to try the leave in conditioner for ages . It's literally amazing, all you need is a quick spritiz on the ends of your hair after you get out of the shower before you blow dry and the ends feel, look and smell amazing. Get this products straight away!

I am going to do a fake tan review next week with a new product and I can't wait to try it!

See you next week

Steph xxx

Real Obession

Ever since the Real Techniques brushes were launched by Samantha Chapman (sister to one of my favourite you tubers Jim Chapman) I have been in LOVE with them! They are easily the best makeup brushes I have ever used. I would say I was slightly obsessed with them as I nearly have all the brushers in her collection. I'm going to review 3 of my favourite brushes below and the ones I think you would find most helpful to transform how you makeup looks.  The main reason I like these brushes is because they are so soft and feel amazing on the skin, it even makes applying foundation less of a chore! Starting from the left:

1. Expert Face Brush- This brush is AMAZING for applying foundation, its really soft but the bristles are very short so its very solid, meaning that when you apply foundation the bristles stay together and create a perfect buffing brush. I also really like the fact that its quite small so it ensures you don't use to much product and you can get into the small areas of the face.

2.Blush Brush- The best thing about this brush is that its bigger than most blusher brushes so you can really apply the product to the apple of the cheeks and build up quite a lot of colour. I use there smaller brush to apply highlighter to my cheeks after.

3.  The powder Brush- This is the newest brush to my collection and has to be my favourite, for no other reason then its so soft and the biggest in the collection and I love powdering my face with it!

The brushes are also very reasonable in price, the are slightly more expensive than high street brands but cheaper (and just as good if not better) than luxury brushes. Another great thing about these brushes is that Samantha has also posted online tutorials to go with each and every brush you always know how to use them! 

I really would recommend any of these brushes, they really do make a difference to the application and look of the brushes.

I'm going to do some hair care reviews next week so watch out for them!

Until next time xxx

2013 Top 4 Products

I have been debating what post I was going to do today- I was torn between my top products of 2013 and the products  I'm looking forward to using in 2014. But I thought it would make sense for you guys to see the products I loved in 2013 which will be staples in my makeup bag for 2014. I hope you enjoy it  . . . . . 

1. Rimmel Wake me Up Foundation: This foundation is AMAZING, I've spent so long using really expensive foundation, which are very good but they come at a price. I would easily say this foundation matches up to these- it has medium coverage, lasts all day and blends really nicely. I use the colour soft beige which has great pigmentation and works all year round. I'm feeling quite pale at the moment so I have been mixing it with my Chanel Vita Lumiere foundation or my Mac foundation which are both slightly lighter colours and this works really well. I have recommend this foundation to so many people and would really recommend it to you.

2. Clinique Iced Lotus Blusher- I love this blusher, I would even say its the best blusher I have ever used. The pigmentation is amazing and it really has a iced shimmery effect meaning that not only does it colour the cheeks it also illuminates. It looks great with bronzer and I sometimes wear it on top of other blushers just a highlighter. I love the packaging as it easy and compact and I carry it around with me all the time, it also lasts for ever and well worth the money (£22)

3. Maybeline Gel Eyeliner- I have never really got on well with pencil eyeliner- I only ever use it to line the bottom of my lashes when I go out just underneath my water line, so for me a gel liner is the perfect product. I love the matte finished it gives as I don't like shiny eyeliner. I also love the way it glides on and really frames the eye, I have always worn brown eyeliner as I find black is a little to dark for me and brown compliments my blue eyes and blonde hair. It is quite hard to apply and you need to have a good eyeliner brush (I use the real techniques eyeliner brush as I don't think the one it comes with is small enough) and you really have to work hard on perfecting the line. Practice is key with eyeliner. In the day time I wear a nude eye shadower and a liner on my eyes and in the evening I usually do a smokey eye and again line with eye liner.

4. Collection 2000 lasting Perfection Concealer- If you regularly read beauty blogs you will see that all bloggers rave about this product, its literally brilliant. It's the best concealer I have ever used a the smallest price (something like £2.99), the pigment is amazing and it covers blemishes and redness like no other! I use it everyday and the bottle lasts forever, once its on the face it also doesn't budge!

These 4 products will be in my makeup bag throughout all of 2014- they are so essential. If you need to change one thing in your make up bag make it one of these. I'll be uploading my 2014 must haves next week! Until then . . .  Xxxxx

New Year, New Plans

Towards the end of 2013 after finishing University I started a new job and found that my life took a complete change (as expected), although I am loving my new job and life- my blog took a bit of a back seat. Soooo . . .  I hope your all happy to hear that now I have settled into my new job I'm back to blogging and wanted to share my new years resolutions with you all and get back into it.

1. Blog once a week: I'm going to try and make this on a Thursday and I'm going to do more lifestyle bits as well, I really want to share with you the things I have been up to as well as the products I have been using.

2. Be less anxious and go with the flow- I can sometimes be quite anxious and get stuck in a rut, so this year I really want to try and be more spontaneous and say yes to things more often.

3. Embrace the weekends and fill them with fun things- I am now used of the structure of working Monday to Friday and am finally getting used to planning for the weekend and having less spare time in the week.

I really wanted to make my New Years Resolutions achievable and I really think these things are, I'm looking forward to the adventures 2014 will bring, I hope you all had a great new years and have set some new years resolutions!

xxxxx

Mac Quad Palette

I thought it was about time I shared my Mac Quad eyeshadow palette with you, as this is a pivotal part of my makeup bag and it never leaves my side, I use this palette most days and every time I go out.

Im going to go through the colours and what I use them for individually, but first I wanted to explain why I chose these colours in particular. If you're not familiar with Macs eye shadow palette's then its pretty simple, you pick the 4 colours you want and they get put into one amazing palette. I picked these colours as it allows my the flexibility to do both a brown and black smokey eye.

1. Shroom- this is one of favourite Mac colours, its a nude shimmery base colour, perfect for a natural look by itself in the day but also an essential for the inner corner and building with darker colours to create a smokey eye and contouring.

2. Bronze Down- This is a shimmery slate grey colour and I love it, it is perfect if you really want to work in blacks and create a really dark smokey eye, I either use this on the outer corners or all over the lid and use a black blended in on the outside.

3, Coppering- This is probably the colour I use least because its quite strong colour that you have to be in the mood to wear, however when I do wear it I get so many compliments. It's my go to colour if I want to do something quite different or am feeling adventurous with my makeup.

4. Bronze- I love contouring with this colour- its such a beautiful golden brown and its the colour I use most when I want to create a  brown smokey eye, I would say its my standard evening eye shadow. I feel a bit lost if I don't have this to hand when I'm getting ready to go out.

Another Mac colour I love that isn't in this palette is Woodwinked, It's a lovely gold colour that I wear during the day time, and once blended in the corners it gives the effect of a darker colours on the outside. Check out the Mac's website to make your own palette.

I'm sorry my style diaries didn't go up, my camera had a bit of a melt down and I lost all my pictures, along with starting a new job its been difficult to get things back up and running but I'm back in action now, so expect lots more!

xxx

Sorry!

Hey guys,

I'm so sorry I haven't been able to up load my style dairies, I have been having camera issues but my style diaries will be up soon! I'm trying to sort it asap! 

Speak soon! X

New & Old

Hey guys,

So I thought I would share with you the new products I have been loving, but also the old products I have fallen back in love with. I went through my makeup collection and bought out a few products that I haven't used for ages but still love!

Old Faves-

Nars LoveJoy Bronzer- This bronzer  is quite different from any other bronzers I have, firstly its very shimmery and I normally wear matte and secondly its very dark and mine are normally slightly lighter. But I love this bronzer, its amazing at contouring and looks great. Its a staple product in my makeup bag for the winer.

Rimmel Match Perfection loose powder- I have been using set powder for a while now but recently my skin has been feeling slightly more oily and I felt like I needed something slightly heavier. So I re discovered my love for this translucent loose powder from Rimmel that I used  for years. It sets my foundation so well and really leaves the skin feeling smooth and matte!

New Loves-

L'Oreal nude lipstick- L'Oreal has recently launched a new range of nude lipsticks inspired by celberites such as Eva Longoria (which is the colour I bought), I love it!! I'm a big fan of nude lipstick for the day time and this one lasts on the lips for ages! I would defently recommend any of these shades (I think there is 4) as your autumn go to lipstick.

L'Oreal Skin perfection serum- This product was on my wish list last week, and I was so excited to try it and . . .  I love it. I use it under my moisturiser in the evening and on its own in the morning before I apply my makeup. My skin has felt smoother and i have to say its appearance has improved. I'm really impressed with this product and will continue to use it.

My style diaries starts on Monday evening- so keep an eye out! 

xxxx