Where's Mollie?

Where's Mollie?...Paris!

2015-07-26T10:56:00.003-07:00

I had a lovely weekend in Paris with my Mummy to celebrate the end of my A levels. I was most excited about going to the pharmacies and discovering the French skincare brands. It is no exaggeration to say that there is a pharmacy everywhere you look but I had heard that a very popular one was CityPharma on Rue Du Four. We went in our fair share of different pharmacies around Paris and can definitely say that this one was the cheapest and had the largest variety of brands. I was warned by other bloggers that it was going to be busy but I can safely say that I have never had a shopping experience like it! If you do not suffer with claustrophobia and can cope with squishing into the into the tiny aisles with about a hundred other people bashing you with their shopping baskets, then I would say it is definitely worth it! I ended up making almost all of my skincare purchases here and have been trying them out for around 5 weeks so I thought that it was about time that I review them.

28 Rue du Four, 75006 Paris, France

Right at the top of my shopping list was Serozinc by La Roche-Posay (it is now available in the UK but is cheaper in France). I picked up two because I had heard the likes of Caroline Hirons (Click here to view!) and Amelia Liana (Click here to view!) raving about it so thought it had to be good. They actually didn't have it in CityPharma but nearly every other pharmacy stocked La Roche-Posay. It is a zinc sulphate facial spritzer that claims to be a cleansing and soothing toner for oily problem skin. I have incorporated it into my evening skincare routine as a step after acid toning. I like using spritzers for layering moisture and refreshing the skin. I especially enjoyed using it when I recently went on holiday to Spain as a clarifying and hydrating to make my skin feel extra clean and refreshed before bed. Although I haven't necessarily noticed a reduction in the amount of blemishes I get, I have seen that they don't look as raw and heal a lot quicker.

Another French pharmacy essential that I just had to try is the Bioderma Crealine H20. I would never use this as an all-over cleanser because I feel that an oil or a cream cleanser is better for my skin and a lot more effective at removing make-up. One thing that I did notice about the French pharmacy brands was that they are very hot on foaming cleansers which dry your skin out and are especially not good for spot-prone skin. I did find the odd cleansing milk but none that really convinced me. Anyway, this micellare water is lovely and gentle and great for removing eye-makeup. The small bottle is also really cute and perfect for travel!

I had run out of my eye-cream and fancied trying a French one. I had never heard of A-DERMA but figured that French skincare is renowned for being some of the best in the world so I couldn't go too wrong. I was drawn in by the words 'soothing', 'decongesting' and 'delicate'. I have quite sensitive eyes so I wanted something that would be gentle and soothing but would still be effective at making my under eyes look healthier. This is super soothing yet really nourishing. The texture under my eyes is more even and hydrated. I will definitely be stocking up next time I go to Paris!

I was so excited to go to Sephora on the Champs-Elysees! It's heavenly for a beauty lover but has quite premium brands that were out of my budget. My mum and I ended up buying eye masks to do in our hotel room. I got the Honey eye mask and my mum got the Green Tea one (Click here to buy!).

They are made by Sephora and we weren't expecting much but they were actually really nice. They were completely saturated in product and after leaving them on for 15 minutes, you massage the remaining product into your skin. They made our under eyes feel amazing!!! They were a perfect treat after a tiring day shopping in Paris.

Another Bioderma pick was this Hydrabio Riche Moisturising Cream. This is one high-tech moisturiser that claims to do wonders so I thought I had to give it a go. It is fast becoming one of the best moisturisers I have ever tried. It is right up there with the Clinique Moisture Surge. I definitely much prefer the packaging of this one because it is a really neat and compact tube with a pump. Besides the packaging, my skin drinks it up and just makes my skin feel and look a million dollars. It is really hydrating without being too rich and I am totally in love!

I couldn't resist this cute little hand sanitizer. I am unashamedly a hand sanitizer addict and just thought this would be perfect for my handbag and I could decant some of my bigger tubes of gel into it once I have used it up. It smells yummy too and not too strong like some others. A bit of an impulse purchase but I love it!

26 Rue de la Constitution, 50300 Avranches, France

We spent every waking moment shopping in Paris and if a shopping holiday is your idea of bliss then I would definitely recommend visiting Galleries Lafayette. There's every luxury, designer brand under one rather spectacular glass roof. We just were in awe of the beautiful interior and the huge price tags! There's also champagne and macaroon bars but we ended up having a drink in MacDonalds on the top floor!!!

Amelia Liana filmed a brilliant video on her French Pharmacy Favourites (Click here to watch!). She had high praise for the Dermophil lip balms so I picked up a double pack for my mum and I to try. My mum is a frequent lip balm user whereas I am hopeless at remembering to apply it throughout the day. She really loves it and it has become a staple in her handbag. It is a lovely smooth balmy texture that feels really lovely on your lips. I am not a big fan of the smell but I certainly understand why Amelia loves it so much; it is very medicinal and very effective at curing extremely dry lips.

We had a wonderful long weekend in Paris and I hope this was useful for any of you who are looking to visit this beautiful city. Thanks so much for reading!

The Body Shop Skincare Reviews

2015-04-30T12:19:00.003-07:00

There are several 'The Body Shop' products in my skincare routine at the moment so I thought that I would review them. I think 'The Body Shop' is a great skincare brand as it seems slightly more luxurious than the chemist/pharmacy brands but is still affordable. I also love their 'green' ethos and the good ingredients that they use.

This is my second bottle of the Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (Click here to buy!) and it has fast become my staple cleanser. It removes make-up really effectively; I have recently been trying the Benefit They're Real mascara (Click here to buy!) and was told that it was really difficult to remove, but this does it effortlessly. It is really gentle around the eyes and on sensitive skin but still feels as though your skin is being nourished. It is £10 but you only need two pumps if you are wearing eye make-up and one pump if you are not and it lasted me about 8 months. The camomile smell is really luxurious and relaxing and would be perfect for a pamper night with a cheeky little facial massage! I also think that it is a great alternative for the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (Click here to buy!)

Another reason that I love 'The Body Shop' is because they have regular promotional offers. I got this Vitamin E Moisture Serum (Click here to buy!) on a 3 for 2 offer. It is a really nice prep product for pre-moisturising (wow, that's a lot of p's!). One pump is plenty and spreads across the whole face, smoothing out imperfections ready for a moisture boost. I find that it helps my moisturiser go further and makes it work better. I would recommend it but it is £12 and I think that when I have finished it, I will search for something a slightly cheaper.

instantly wanted to try this out when I read Caroline Hirons' review of it on her blog (Click here to view!). I have recently started cleansing my skin in the morning as well as the evening. I used to skip a morning skincare routine out of laziness but I have seen a massive difference in my skin and how my make-up applies. All I do is massage this Softening Cleansing Gel Oil (I can't seem to find it on their website!) onto dry skin and remove with warm water and a muslin cloth. I then use a daily moisturiser and this gives me a 'good skin start'! I really like using the product; the formula is a gel and then as you massage it in, it turns into an oil. Although I love balm/oil cleansers for the evening, I thought that I would prefer something lighter and more refreshing for the morning! Hypothetically I would have turned to a foaming cleanser which wouldn't have done my skin any favours. It's not a heavy greasy balm/oil and has a nice fresh scent. It is so so effective at softening the skin which makes make-up application a lot quicker and easier. It also gets a big thumbs up from me because it is part of 'The Body Shop' Nutriganics range which means it has no parabens or silicones. I have really enjoyed using this and I have seen a big difference in the condition of my skin since I have started cleansing in the morning.

have one really watery eye and last summer I had it operated on. Years of rubbing my right eye has caused the under-eye area to be really sensitive. It has a lot of discoloration and I was on the hunt for an eye cream that wasn't 'anti-age' or claim to 'reduce the appearance of fine lines'...quite a mean feat! I finally came across this Aloe Eye Defence (Click here to buy!) which claimed to reduce the signs of sensitive skin...BINGO! I see a difference as soon as I apply it; my under eyes look healthier and less damaged. It is great at calming the irritated skin and I have been really enjoying using it. It also claims that it acts as a shield, preventing any further damage. I do have really sensitive eyes and worry about the effect of dabbing them with a tissue all the time, so this is great...if it works! I noticed that the website had some negative reviews, saying that the consistency had changed and that it is now too thin and slimy. It is a very thin consistency but I found that the best way to use it was to apply it and then leave it to sink in before trying to blend it in.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you found it helpful!

Milo and the Chubby Stick!

2015-02-09T11:44:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time there was a beautiful pussy cat called Milo and a shiny pink lip product...!

And they all lived happily ever after... i.e. the Chubby Stick stopped rolling and Milo became disinterested and jumped off the table!

What I Got for Christmas!

2015-02-08T10:56:00.001-08:00

So it's been over a month since Christmas! The new year has aged! However, it seems that I am clinging onto the festive season by sharing with you what I got for Christmas in FEBRUARY! I was lucky enough to get quite lot of beauty presents so I thought I would give you my first impressions of a few of them.

One of my favourite presents was in fact a non-beauty one that I think deserves an honorary mention! These retro light bulb lights are possibly the coolest things I have ever seen; I love anything retro so I think that they are so quirky and look great in my bedroom. (Click here to buy!).

I had been eyeing up this little skincare gem for a while and I was so happy to get this in my stocking. This Weleda Skin Food (Click here to buy!) is a very rich thick texture because it is uber hydrating. Although it is great to use as a moisturiser for combating serious winter skin, I prefer to use it as a hand cream. It smells like essential oils which I absolutely love and I think that it is a great pamper-night product for facial massages, manicures and pedicures and would also be great for an in-flight beauty routine.

I really love the No 7. Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara (Click here to read my review!) so was excited to be given the volume version to try out (Click here to buy!). The natural bristle spiral shaped brush gives a very natural feathery effect to the lashes. The best thing about it is that it does not clump at all and puts an even coating onto the lashes. My preference for a mascara is something with a slightly more gloopy formula to give my lashes some oomph and I don't mind a bit of clumpiness! However, it is a super everyday mascara to add some volume and separation.

I did really well for mascaras this year! I have wanted to try out some Tarte products for ages as I had heard such good things about the brand. I had an inkling that I would get some Tarte make-up as my Mum is addicted to shopping channels and Tarte has recently become available on QVC (Click here to buy!). Firstly, I love the packaging of this Lights, Camera, Lashes ; its so unique and tactile. The formula is more gloopy than the No. 7 one and therefore creates a more dramatic effect. It also has less defined bristles which I find makes my lashes look more voluminous. It is also really good for the bottom lashes because you can control how much product you want to apply. This is great for me as I prefer a more dramatic effect on the top lashes and a more subtle effect on the bottom outer lashes. I like it a lot!

This was sort of a present to myself! I bought it in exchange for some pyjamas that didn't fit and I am so so so happy with it. I really like bare mineral's ethos of combining good natural make-up with good natural skincare ingredients but am not a fan of mineral make-up. So I was really glad when they bought out a this Bare Skin Serum Foundation (Click here to buy!) One of its base ingredients is coconut alkanes which gives it a lovely lightweight, nourishing texture. When I tried this new released foundation on my hand at the counter I was blown away by the excellent colour-correcting coverage with the light formula. In terms of the accompanying brush, although they are sold separately, I would strongly recommend buying the brush with the foundation as they work so well together. Also, the brush is very unique and I don't think the foundation would work as well with a different brush. It is a really soft brush with a circular dip in the middle. This allows you to apply the foundation really evenly and not use too much product by putting it on the back of your hand. It gives the most beautiful, lit-from-within finish on the skin and makes you look as though you have naturally flawless skin. It has become my No. 1 foundation and although it is more expensive than any of my other foundations, I will be repurchasing it when I run out!

I have been a fan of purple lips ever since I tried the Kiko lipstick in 923 (Click here to read my review!). I think that the Clinique Chubby Sticks are such a handbag staple as they are fool proof to apply and just make your lips look nicer! However I do think they are expensive for what they are so I was so happy to receive this Chubby Stick Baby Tint in 04 Flowering Freesia as a gift (Click here to buy!). It is a really sheer tint of purple which is perfect for everyday wear. It is also really smooth to apply and feels lovely and conditioning on the lips. I have been using it during the colder weather because it doesn't draw attention to dry lips but makes it them look a little more like you have made a little bit more of an effort - the chubby sticks are a great low maintenance lip product which suits me!

Last but not least is this really cute mini brush set from Eco Tools! (Click here to buy!). My favourite is the buffing concealer brush (second from the right). It is the perfect shape and size for blending concealer around the nose. I also really like the powder brush (first on the left) for patting powder under the eyes to set my concealer. I absolutely love the packaging and the short handles and I think these would be great for travelling as you have everything you need for make-up application: The powder brush could double up for blusher, highlight or bronzer. The complexion blending brush (second from the left) and the precision foundation brush (middle) are both good for blending foundation and concealer and the flat concealer brush (first on the right) could be used to apply eye shadow also.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I got for Christmas and I would love to hear what goodies you received in the comments! Thank you so much for reading!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundations Comparison + Nail Favourite

2014-12-15T08:55:00.001-08:00

I have been trying out these two foundations for several months now so I thought that I would share my thoughts with you. I think that Rimmel foundations are excellent value; good 'all-rounder' foundations at a reasonable price. I love the Wake Me Up foundation for the summer however it has oxidised in the bottle and is now way too dark for me. I have also loved the Match Perfection one for wearing to school for a natural medium coverage, but it is quickly running out! As these two were buy one get one half price, I thought I would put them up against each other and do a comparison.

So, what are the similarities between the two?
They both claim to be 'sweat, heat, humidity and transfer proof for up to 25 hours' which attracted me to them because I don't know what it is but make-up doesn't seem to last very well on my skin and I do not have a particularly oily skin type for a teen! However, I have seen a big improvement when I have been wearing both of these foundations; it seems as though it is water resistant (which is great for me as I have watery eyes) and lasts really well on the skin. In the evening I use an oil cleanser and a swipe of some micellar water on a cotton pad is effective too.
They also claim to be 'skin perfecting' and I would say that they definitely both give a really lovely even, flawless finish. I think that partly the reason for this is that they both have a slightly yellow undertone which cancels out my red/pink toned skin.
I use one and a half pumps for both foundations and this is plenty to be blended across the whole face and down the neck.
They both have SPF 20 which I think is great because I like to wear SPF on my face every day all year round!

And what are the differences?

The one with the red lid is labelled as a full coverage foundation and has a 'comfort serum' and the one with the white lid is a medium coverage 'nude' foundation. The one with the red lid is much thicker in consistency and I can feel the serum texture as I apply it to my skin. I don't think that this one would be appropriate for oilier skin as the serum gives it a slightly greasy feel. I think that this is what makes it have more coverage as it doesn't absorb into the skin but sits comfortably on the skin to achieve a more flawless coverage.

That is why I think that that you need to either use your fingers or a flat foundation brush for the best result. The one that I use is the Estee Lauder Foundation Brush 1 (Click here to buy!). I have tried applying it with a buffing brush and a stippling brush but it takes ages to blend into the skin and can look a bit streaky. It is also ever so slightly darker in colour than the other even though I got them both in 010 Light Porcelain (Click here to buy!). Light porcelain is the lightest shade that they do and it is perfect for me although the red lid one is a smidgen darker than I would like. I wear this when I am going out in the evening as I really like the high coverage but need to spend some time blending to get it perfect.

I thought that I would prefer the red lid one because I normally gravitate towards higher coverage foundations and prefer the effect it gives on the skin. However, I prefer the 'nude' formula of the white lidded one (Click here to buy!) because it blends so effortlessly into the skin to give a more undetectable coverage that is still flawless. I think that the coverage is slightly lighter and blends better into the skin to look more natural, but that is what I like for an every day foundation.

I like to apply it with a Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (Click here to buy!). This gives a perfect base really quickly. The lightweight formula also makes the foundation feel a lot more hydrating on the skin and in my opinion feels more comfortable to wear. I will definitely be repurchasing the white lidded one when I run out!

Just as a side note, on my nails I have Big Apple Red by OPI. It is a mini size that I got in the 'Best of the Best' set and I am absolutely in love with it. I sometimes get an urge to whack on some bright red nail varnish but always regret it because I am so pale, it makes my skin look even more alien-like than it actually is. One coat of this makes a lovely deep raspberry red colour that is still red enough to be Christmassy but pink enough to make my hands look normal...sort of! (Click here to buy!)

And as for this little wonder product, where do I start?! I always hear bloggers raving about the Seche Vite top coat but could never justify spending the money on it. When I saw this Bourjois equivalent appear on the shelves of my local Superdrug, I snapped it up because it was a little cheaper and I thought that it would encourage me to paint my nails more during this festive season (Click here to buy!). Once you have painted the second hand, the next one is dry and there is virtually no drying time! One drop is all you need on each nail straight after you have painted it and...voila! The only negative is that it does give a texture to your nails but this does not detract from the appearance of them!

Where's Mollie been?
I am sorry that I haven't blogged recently but mock exams and UCAS applications have got in the way! Thank you so much for putting up with me and taking the time to read my posts!

The Luxury Cupboard!

2014-10-11T12:53:00.001-07:00

So, I have a cupboard in my bathroom where I keep my most treasured skincare products. They are products that are over £10 and currently, there are only three because I don't usually splurge on skincare and prefer to find the more affordable products that are just as good. I have been using them for a while now (sparingly!) so I thought I would review them for you.

First up is the famous Pixi Glow Tonic (Click here to buy!). I first heard about this acid exfoliator from the amazing Caroline Hirons (Click here to view her blog!). I really liked the sound of acid toning as an alternative to exfoliating with beaded cleansers. I also thought that the acids would help my spot prone skin. Then, for Christmas I got given the Clinique Clarifying Lotion which I mistook for an acid toner. In fact it doesn't have any skin beneficial acids in the ingredients (as far as I can see) and has a high alcohol content. I have heard that alcohol is not good for teenage skin so as soon as I found this out, I stopped using it and purchased the Pixi Glow! I have seen a big difference in my skin; I don't get so many blemishes anymore and when I do, they don't look so raw and heal much quicker. I have even noticed a fading of my blemish scars since using this. My skin looks A LOT healthier and my complexion is in better condition as it is radiant and more even. I don't feel the tingle like I used to with my Clinique one but I am definitely seeing a difference so I know that it is working!

This next one is the Neal's Yard White Tea Facial Mist (Click here to buy!) and it is a re-purchase. I first discovered this at a Neal's Yard party and absolutely fell in love with the scent. It is so refreshing and calming. I use this in the evening to help me sleep and sometimes during the day to stop my skin from drying out. I use it after I have toned with my Pixi Glow Tonic give my skin a boost of hydration. It also has antioxidants which my skin loves. At £11 I don't think that it is too expensive but feels really luxurious to use.

When I went for my Clinique skincare skin consultation, the lady recommended the Moisture Surge (Click here to buy!) to me to help with my dehydration. I was originally put off by the price, but my lovely Ouma surprised me at the airport before our holiday and bought it for me. It is a very thin consistency so you only need a pinkie-finger- scoop for the whole face. It feels so thirst-quenching on the skin and makes my complexion look perkier in the morning. It is also a really versatile product because you can use it under or over make-up.

In my opinion, all three of these higher end products are totally worth the money. All of them are part of my evening skincare routine if I am going 'all out' and I can definitely see and feel a difference in the morning.

Thank you so much for reading! What higher-end skincare products do you think are worth the price?

TK Maxx Brush Haul

2014-09-14T12:33:00.001-07:00

There is nothing that I love more than rummaging through the beauty part of TK Maxx. There is not a store close to where I live so when I get to one, I spend ALOT of time looking at all the beauty bits. I love that every time I go, there are new brands, often fairly premium, that have been reduced by a considerable amount. I lust over the make-up brushes at the high-end counters but can never summon the courage to pay the luxury price. I have been wanting to try a stippling brush for ages because I have heard that it is a make-up artist's secret to flawless foundation application. I know that Real Techniques do one (Click here to buy!) but I delayed buying it before I knew that I really liked the effect it gave.

I saw this one from the brand ProFinish which was just £3.99. I had never heard of the brand but it is a duo fibre one so I thought that it was well worth the money. Stupidly, I didn't open the packet it came in before I bought it. The synthetic bristles at the top of the brush are reasonably soft. However, the natural fibres at the bottom are very coarse and rough. Also, when I buffed in my liquid foundation with it for the first time, lots of the natural fibres were falling out and sticking to my face! I have used it a couple of times since then, and it has never been as bad as the first time. I do not regret buying it though because it has showed me that I really like the flawless effect it creates and it has made me decide to buy the Real Techniques one. However, I don't think I will ever use it again because it is such bad quality and is scratchy on the skin. At full price, it was £7.99 and I definitely don't think it is worth that sort of money especially as it starts falling apart after one use!

One brand that I often see in TK Maxx is Ecotools. I have been looking for a powder brush for ages. I was tempted by the Real Techniques one but thought that it was too stiff and wanted a fluffier one for patting powder on the t-zone and under the eyes. I am now in love with this brush! It is a slightly flat shape which makes it perfect for setting under-eye concealer without ruining any blending you have done. It is also great for accurately patting product around the nose. In terms of aesthetics, I love the tapered handle and the wood effect. It does exactly the job I wanted it to do and I would definitely recommend it. It was £6.99 and the original price is £9.99 so quite a good discount but I would still be willing to pay full price for this brilliant brush.

The final brush that I bought was also ProFinish. I had been looking for a slanted brush to practise my contouring with but this is definitely not the one! It is so very rough and scratchy. It feels like straw on your face!!! I couldn't tell whether the bronzer had actually gone onto my skin. I think that this one was also originally £7.99 which is absolutely crazy because it feels so cheap!

Thank you so much for reading and feel free to leave a comment with your favourite budget-friendly make-up brushes! I would love to hear your recommendations!

Where's Mollie?...Portugal!

2014-08-25T12:19:00.001-07:00

Hi there! I am back from my holiday and ready to share with you the beauty bits that I picked up while I was away in Portugal! I went to a couple of pharmacies out there and saw some lovely things but I ended up just buying from the Intermarche!

I spotted this brand called 'Golden Silk Natural Cosmetics' which has no parabens and was reasonably priced. I bought the Green Clay and Cucumber Cleansing Milk (€3.99) and the Green Clay and Cucumber Mask (€5.98).

I also noticed the new Baby Lips Electro and I didn't think they are available yet in the UK (Now I know they are!!!) so I picked up one in the colour Berry Bomb (€2.99) as well! (Click here to buy!)

So first up is the cleansing milk! It claims to be a purificante and a hydratante which appealed to me because it seemed to be the best of both worlds for spot prone skin and dehydrated skin! It also says that it is suitable for both sensitive and damaged skin so I thought that it would be gentle as well as healing. I also thought that it would be good if I got sun burned on my face (although thankfully I didn't!) The cucumber makes it smell very fresh and clean which I like. It is a creamy milky consistency which I applied in circular motions all over the face. I also didn't have any problems rubbing it over my eyes. I really enjoy using it as it makes my skin feel really clean and it helped to prevent my skin from drying out in the hot weather! My skin looked really clear on holiday and I used this alternately with my Body Shop Camomile Cleansing Oil (Click here to buy!) It was good at getting rid of the residue from my sun cream and the Max Factor CC cream that I took with me on holiday, however since being back I have tried using it to remove foundation and it is not very effective. I also found it cooling and calming on my face so great for a summer holiday!

Next up is the mask! I absolutely love trying new masks so I couldn't resist this one! It claims to leave the skin soft and hydrated and to even help treat acne and rosacea! It is a very thin consistency so not the easiest to apply evenly. The directions say to leave it on until it dries out. On my first attempt, I think I applied it too thickly because I left it on for ages and it showed no signs of drying out!

First Attempt!!!

The second time, I applied a much thinner layer and it dried slightly but not completely. I didn't feel any tingling like I do with a lot of my other masks but it did feel really refreshing on the skin and extremely gentle. I really like that it has no parabens and lovely natural ingredients that are beneficial to the skin like green clay.

Second Attempt!!!

The jury's out on whether it does amazing things to my skin but I think that I will definitely reach for this when my skin needs calming down after angry spots breakout!

I have tried the original Baby Lips and really liked them. I think that the formula for this Electro version is slightly different; it is a little more watery which makes it feel really smooth on the lips. I think that it is also a little bit more sheer than the original, which it needs to be with the selection of bright neon shades! It smells really fruity and the colour is a lovely light purple tint.

Thank you so much for reading!

Summer Cheeks!

2014-07-26T13:20:00.001-07:00

As the weather is getting warmer, I have been experimenting with my make-up to achieve that 'summer glow'! I absolutely love make-up but I am really not very good at applying it and blusher was my limit when it came to cheeks. But recently I have tried really hard to master contouring and highlighting and although there is still a long way to go, I feel that I am happy with the result that I create!

As you can probably tell, this blusher by GOSH in the colour 'Flower Power' is well loved! (Click here to buy!) I think it was a mixture of travelling with it and months of vigorously tapping my brush on the side that made it like this! I am reluctant to waste it though because it is just the perfect natural blush colour for me. It is really pigmented and long-wearing and I have not used any other blush for about a year!!!

My little technique for applying blush is to smile and push the product onto the apples of my cheeks first. I then blend it out in circular motions. I find that this avoids a stripe of pink on my face and creates a really natural flushed effect. I use the Estee Lauder Blush Brush which is the perfect cheek shape and size. It is super soft and just really great at applying blusher. It should be because it is £30! (Click here to buy!)

For highlighter and bronzer, I use the Sleek Face Contour Kit (Click here to buy!). I don't use the blusher in the kit as often because I prefer a blusher without very much shimmer.

I use the powder brush from the Models Own 5 Piece Brush Set (Click here to buy!). It is small enough to accurately apply the highlighter onto the cheekbones. I especially make sure to tap off the excess product because the Sleek highlighter is extremely pigmented and shimmery. It reflects the light beautifully and brightens the under-eye area. My technique is to sweep the highlighter under my eyes and along my cheekbones.

I also use the Models Own brush for the bronzer which is not ideal. I think that it would be better if it was angled and more tapered. I find contouring the hardest and I am still practising but my technique is to suck in my cheeks and turn my head to the side to find the shadow in the hollows of my cheeks. Then, I take a tiny amount of product on the brush and starting at the top of the ear, I brush backwards and forwards in the hollows of my cheeks. The angle of my brush is from the top of my ear to my mouth. I do not let my brush come as low as the corner of my mouth and try to concentrate more product on the side of my face rather than the front. I then apply bronzer in circular motions to my forehead and temples and on my neck and under my chin to bronze up the parts where the sun would naturally bronze.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed watching my attempts at creating summer cheeks!
Please feel free to leave comments with ideas for improvements!

June Beauty Favourites!

2014-07-07T09:27:00.003-07:00

I have been loving my new purchases from my trip to London and some other bits-and-bobs as well, so I thought that I would show you what I have really enjoyed using in the month of June!

As you may have guessed from my Volumising Haircare post (Click here to view it!), I am on a mission to make my hair thicker. I thought that I would give this Heads & Shoulders Thick & Strong Shampoo and Conditioner Click here to buy!) a go and I am so glad that I did. It makes your hair and scalp feel completely clean. I have also noticed that my hair is more resilient to brushing and that it helps with oil control as the weather is getting warmer. There is also a visible difference in the thickness of my hair and therefore I feel that it absolutely lives up to its claims and improves the condition of my hair. It is slightly more expensive than I am used to paying for shampoo and conditioner but it's definitely not high-end and I think that it is worth it!

(You can tell that I am new at the blogging game by the state of this powder!) As you will know from my previous post (Click here to view it!), I fell in love with the Kiko store on Regent's Street when I went to London. I picked up this Colour Correction Powder (sorry, can't link to it as the website is currently under maintenance!). It's a baked powder that evens out your skin tone, brightens your complexion and fixes your make-up into place. I think that it is a lovely powder as it is not heavy or cakey which I find that some are. In terms of reducing redness, I am not sure but I think it is really hard for any brand whether it be high-end or low-end, to do colour correction really well. Never the less, I think that it gives my make-up a lovely finish and makes rushed make-up look good!

I have a few bits from the Superdrug's own brand, Simply Pure but have been reluctant to share my love for them because I bought them at a very reduced 'clearing' price. So I think they may be discontinuing some of the products that I absolutely love which is really annoying. One of the things I love about this brand is that they have different skincare for different types of skin; they have ranges for sensitive skin, combination skin, spot-prone skin and dehydrated skin. I don't know which ranges they are discontinuing and which they are keeping. I think they are keeping everything for the sensitive skin range as those products seem to dominate the Superdrug website and my local store. The most amazing things about these products is that they don't have any nasty ingredients which is rare for an affordable drugstore brand. Anyway, if you see anything from the Simply Pure range going dirt cheap at Superdrug, BUY IT! I got this day cream for 47p and thankfully it is still on the website (for £4.59 though - still a good buy!). It is called the Aqua Hydrating SPF 15 Day Cream (Click here to buy!). I hope that they are not going to discontinue this product or anything from the hydrating range because I find that if you want uber hydrating, you have to do uber expensive! I use this day cream before my foundation. It is excellent for the summer because it has an SPF and I find that my foundation goes on really nicely and doesn't cling to dry patches. I don't know if it has improved my skin's hydration on a long term basis but I think it is an excellent quick-fix for dry skin and an excellent base/primer for foundation.

If you are able to get to the Kiko store in Regent's street or anywhere else that sells Kiko products, go and have a feel of this brush. It is the Boulevard Rock Face Brush (Sorry I can't link it!) and it is the softest brush I have ever felt. It is designed for baked, compact and loose powders. To be honest, I mainly bought it for its softness and its beauty however, I use it with my Colour Correction Powder and it works amazingly. Even though it is very dense, it doesn't leave streaks and seems to airbrush my face! I think that it would also be amazing with loose powders because you can easily use circular motions to blend it into the skin to create a flawless finish. So now I am on the hunt for affordable mineral make-up! I got this brush in the sale so I hope that they are not discontinuing it!

I had an eye operation a couple of week ago so my eye has been very sensitive and watery. I have avoided wearing mascara because I didn't have any waterproof ones. My lovely Grandma got the No.7 Set for Summer Gift free with a purchase and kindly gave it to me. Inside was this mini Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara (Click here to buy!). I had wanted to try a No.7 mascara for ages because I had heard good things about them. It really does lengthen your lashes to the extreme! You can also build up the layers to get an even more dramatic effect, without it getting clumpy. However much I touched my eye or wiped it with a tissue, it didn't smudge. I think one of the reasons that I haven't purchased a mascara from No.7 yet is because of the price. I wish make-up brands did mini's alongside their full sized make-up for a reduced price so that people can properly try before they buy.

My 'find' of the month goes to the 2True 3in1 Concealer in 'Light 1' (Click here to buy!). I have finally found a concealer that is great for concealing spots and I am in love with it! It is not too creamy that it doesn't bind to the skin and conceal the spot, and it is not too drying that it clings to it and draws attention to it. It blends nicely into the skin with a small fluffy brush as well as with your fingers. It has light reflecting qualities which means that it is also good for using around the nose, down the nose and across the forehead to highlight and brighten. Best of all, it is £1.99 which is cheaper than the Collection Lasting Perfection one, and in my opinion a lot better!

And yet another Kiko purchase! I cannot get over how much of a bargain this was...are you ready?...wait for it...it was £3.90!!! That is cheaper than most of the lipsticks that you find from Boots and Superdrug and I bought it from the Kiko store in the prime location of Regent's Street! Besides the price, I fell in love with the colour; its a bright candy purple colour. You can either make it a really intense pop of colour by layering the colour or you can blot it out to make it more daytime appropriate.

It is a really lovely creamy texture and goes on smoothly. I don't think it is terribly long-lasting but it wears off evenly to create a lovely purple stain. It also smells like vanilla - mmmmmmmmmmmm!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed hearing about my favourite products of June!

London Beauty Shopping

2014-06-27T14:38:00.002-07:00

A couple of weekends ago my Mum and I went to London as an end-of-exams/birthday thing! We had such an amazing time and I took a few photos so I thought I would share them with you.

The train station was sooooooo empty; it looked like something out of an old Western film!

We found this lovely little café right next to South Ealing Station; beautifully simplistic interior, delightfully friendly people and delicious food. Would really really recommend it, we went there every day for breakfast and loved it!

My beautiful Mummy!

We wasted no time in getting to our favourite shop; Harvey Nicks! When we went to London last year my Mum fell in love with the Georgio Armani Maestro foundation and so in this pic she is testing out their liquid blushers (Maestro Mediterranea Fusion Blush).

We spent ages and ages at this station of goodies! It has a mishmash of high-end and drugstore products that were really fun to look at.

Busy Oxford Street from a red double-decker bus!

The food bit in Selfridges is amazing! This was the super-sized corner; these Rice Krispies Sqaures were huge and so were the Love Hearts sweets to the left! Of course the beauty bit is amazing too; when we went, there was a thing called 'The Beauty Project' going on which included a big hall with all the beauty products that 'Selfridges Loves'.

I nearly hyperventilated when I saw the Jelly Belly Beans! Our favourites are the cinnamon ones. We bought a big bag on day one and then came back to Selfridges on day two to get some more! Soooooo yummy!

The Chanel display at Selfridges was beautiful and ethereal!

Everything at Selfridges is so cool and funky!

My favourite place of the whole trip was the Kiko shop on Regent's Street! It's amazing!

It's an amazing make-up experience; you are encouraged to try everything and although the shop assistants are incredibly busy, they are very willing to answer any questions you may have. I asked a lovely lady about their Colour Correction Powder and got a very clear and detailed answer. Even though it seemed like there were hundreds of other people in the shop, when I was standing in the queue to pay, the lady asked me whether I had found everything that I was looking for. I was very impressed!

This is a picture of the 1st level of the shop and it was so busy. There is a basement level which has everything that there is on this level, but nowhere near as many people! The make-up is excellent value for money but feels really luxurious expensive! My next post will be on the products that I bought on this trip, so keep an eye out for that!

We went to Camden Market in the hope that there would be some vintage stalls. Sadly, there weren't any but we did find a place that sold crepes so it was all good! From now on, the words 'Camden Town' for me, will always be synonymous with shoes; every other shop was a shoe shop and I lost count of how many summer sandals I tried on!

The shop exteriors were extravagantly decorated and are really fun to look at!

We also went to Covent Garden and the famous Neal's Yard. We had the tastiest pizza from a place called Homeslice and I wish we could have stayed longer because it was so quirky and quite hidden so it felt like it was a secret!

I hope this was of interest and keep an eye out for a post about all of my beauty purchases from the trip!

Cleansers For De-hydrated Skin!

2014-06-11T10:41:00.001-07:00

Sorry that I haven't been very consistent with my blog posts recently but I have just finished all of my AS level exams now so hopefully I can get back on track!
As you may know if you have read my other skincare posts, I got a free Clinique skincare consultation with some Clinique skincare which I got for Christmas. I was told by the lovely Clinique lady that my skin was dehydrated so I decided to re-access my cleansers which had been focused on banishing blemishes. I have tested out three cleansers that I hoped wouldn't dry out my skin and would be more hydrating. They can all be bought at Boots and/or Superdrug and are very budget friendly.

No.7 - Beautiful Skin - Melting Gel Cleanser

First of all, I can't get over how much of a good deal this cleanser was from Boots; I had a '£5 off skincare' voucher so this 150ml tube came to £4.50! I think that this is an amazing price for a more premium drugstore skincare brand. The consistency of this cleanser was very intriguing to me as it is not a foaming gel cleanser but like a gel balm. The directions recommend that you apply this to damp skin but I didn't get on with that. So instead, I apply this to dry skin and massage it in like my Emma Hardie cleansing balm. It is quite thick and feels a little greasy on the skin. I sometimes leave it on for a few minutes as a moisture mask. I then add warm water and continue to massage it in in circular motions. As I do this, it turns into a cleansing milk. I then use a muslin cloth to exfoliate away the cleansing milk. It is gentle to use over the eyes and leaves my skin super supple and soft. I feel that the combination of the gel balm and the cleaning milk help to lock moisture into my skin. Click here to buy!
Hydration Rating 3.5/5

Good Things - Manuka Honey - Creamy Cleanser

As you probably know, I am a big fan of this brand; good ingredients, good price and good products. I had gotten into the habit of choosing the purifying option whenever I choose a cleanser from this brand, or any other brand for that matter. This cleanser is really creamy (as the name suggests!) so you don't need much to spread across your entire face. It is really conditioning and thirst quenches my skin. Manuka honey has natural anti-bacterial properties which is great because not only does it prevent spots but it is hydrating as well! My skin feels really smooth and I feel that it really gives my skin a moisture hit. Click here to buy!
Hydration Rating 4.5/5

Pond's - Cold Cream - Cleansing Softening Cream

I bought this cleanser on recommendation from the Sunday Times Style Beauty Awards. I am a sucker for a recommendation and when I saw that it was on offer in Superdrug, I snatched it up! It is a very rich, thick consistency and you apply it to dry skin (the texture reminds me of Sudocrem!). As I massage it in, you can feel it cooling on your skin. I have bad circulation and am used to having a high temperature on my face. This is very soothing to use and is gentle over the eyes. After you wash it off, it does leave a slightly waxy layer on the skin but I don't mind it, and I just think that it is locking in the moisture. It leaves my skin very smooth and moisturised. At first I wasn't blown away by this product but then I used it like a moisture treatment and left it on for a few minutes before washing is off. I really like it now as I think that it does really does help with my de-hydration. Click here to buy!

Hydration Rating 3.5/5

The one that I would re-purchase would be the Good Things Manuka Honey Creamy Cleanser because I think that it is the best suited to my de-hydrated blemish-prone skin. The good ingredients is also a deciding factor and I am in favour of this excellent drugstore brand!

Thank you so much for reading and I hope this was useful!

Spots! Spots! Spots!

2014-05-26T11:19:00.001-07:00

Over the past couple of weeks I have been battling with a blasted blemish! It seems that when I eventually get rid of one, another one is on standby ready and raring to go! I feel that I am getting to be very experienced in treating them and covering them up so I thought I would share with you what I do to beat them!

Firstly, I have learnt that there are several excellent spot treatments out there. Most of them work by drying out until they are no more! I use the Clinique spot treatment gel (which is really powerful!) (Click here to buy!) and the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo (Click here to buy!).

I think that they are effective but I find that:
1. It makes them look more gross
2. It makes them harder to cover
3. It makes them more tempting to pick at!
So I use the spot treatments in conjunction with an oil-based cleanser to keep them hydrated and nourished to avoid the above happening.

I am really enjoying using the Body Shop Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil (Click here to buy!) and the Neal's Yard Organic Virgin Coconut Oil (Click here to buy!) as they are really nourishing and hydrating to my skin. I have also recently purchased the No.7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser which also helps to prevent dryness. I found that by using these cleansers with my spot treatments made them go gracefully and I found that they were easier to cover.

I also think that it is really important to use a moisturising primer before attempting to cover the spot to avoid any caking around the spot which will draw attention to it.

I have really been enjoying using the Garnier Moisture Match Light Softening Cream for Normal to Dry Skin (Click here to buy!). I bought it on offer and it is still at a discounted price of just £2.99! I would describe it as a hybrid between a moisturiser and a primer; it is really hydrating and makes the skin really soft which makes foundation and concealer sit really smoothly on top. Alternatively, the Rimmel Fix & Protect Pro Primer (Click here to buy!). This one also is great for giving the skin a hit of moisture to prep the skin before foundation and concealer.

I got very tempted just to use a really heavy coverage foundation all over my face because I thought that it would make me feel better about my spots. I found that it just drew attention to my spots and made the rest of my skin look horrible and cakey. So I use a lighter foundation and a heavy duty concealer. I find it really hard to find concealers on the highstreet; I feel like the brands need to pick up their game when it comes to concealers for covering blemishes! I find that the drugstore concealers are either too creamy and go streaky when you blend them and disappear. Or they are really drying, cling to the break-out and are really hard to blend evenly. I use the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (Click here to buy!), which I find to be really excellent coverage but too drying. I am also in between colours in this concealer but I do believe that they have bought out new shades. I mix that with the 17 Stay Time Concealer (Click here to buy!), which I find to be too creamy.

Left to right: Collection Lasting Perfection in 'Fair', Collection Lasting Perfection in 'Light', 17 Stay Time in 'Fair'

I start by using a green corrector stick from Natural Collection (Click here to buy!) to cancel out the redness of the spot

I dot it on with the applicator and then use any fluffy brush to tap it into the blemish. I use an Eco Tools brush which I think its meant to be used to highlight the brow bone. I used to use a brush which had stiffer bristles, but I find that a fluffy brush it much more effective for blending evenly.

I then lightly dust the area with a little powder with a small brush. I use the Maybelline Fit Me (Click here to buy!) which is not too heavy but adds just the right amount of extra coverage. It makes the concealer stay really well and also lets the skin breathe instead of suffocating it in product.

I am no expert at skincare or make-up by any means but these techniques work for me. I am still looking to improve this method and I am going on a trip to London with my mum after my exams and may treat myself to a high-end holy grail concealer from Harvey Nicks!

I hope this has helped!
Thanks you so much for reading!

Lips For Every Occasion!

2014-05-19T10:16:00.003-07:00

Since starting my blog, I have been desperate to do swatches! They photograph amazingly and also look really fun to do! So I thought that I would show you five lipsticks/lip glosses/lip combinations that I reach for for certain occasions.

Left to right in order of mention

Make an effort for school days

I couldn't wait to buy the Maybelline Baby Lips (Click here to buy!) as I had read so many good things about them. Even my Mum was telling me that she had read about these amazing tinted lip balms that were launching in the UK soon (although it took me a long time to understand what she was talking about because she said that they were Bourjois!). I have the colour 'Cherry Me' and it doesn't look much straight after you have applied it, but it does develop into a lovely light berry pink colour. They are sheer so perfect for school and It also feel like they form a protective layer of moisture for your lips throughout the day. However I find that it draws attention to the slightest bit of flakiness on my lips so a couple of minutes before I apply it, I use the Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm (Click here to buy!) to combat this. It tingles and soothes sore lips and quickly and effectively repairs them. It smells yummy but there is no real flavour.

Weekend out-and-about days

One day a few years ago I decided that I wanted to start to wear make-up and so my mum and I went to our local Boots and Superdrug to pick up the essentials. The Natural Collection stand attracted me because everything is £1.99 and it is always on 3 for £5. One of the items I bought on that trip was their Juicy Lips Lip Gloss in 'Caramel Shortcake' (I can't seem to find the colour on the Boots website, I hope they haven't discontinued it!). It is the most beautiful deep dusty rose colour that is very close to the actual colour of my lips. The formula is not sticky and it is really lovely to apply. It is beautiful on its own but to give it that little bit extra I put the Vaseline 'Rosy Lips' on underneath (Click here to buy!) It makes it a little more glossy and I think makes your lips look amazing! This lip combination is my go-to lip look as it is my perfect your-lips-but-better combo!

A little bit extra days

This lipstick by MUA is for those days where I might be doing something a little bit special like a birthday lunch or an outing with my friends. It is shade 6 and is a shimmery purple toned coral (Click here to buy!). I am not very daring with my lipstick colour choices so wanted to try colours that were a little outside my comfort zone from a cheap brand. These lipsticks are creamy to apply and last well. I love that there is the option to apply them with a brush by using the little pot of product on the end which you can unscrew although I tend to just use the stick. I'm not normally drawn to colours that have a pearlescent sheen to them but I really like this one.

Daring Days/Evenings

I found this lipstick by Maybelline discounted to £1 at my local Boots (I think that they have discontinued the colour but I have found it on Amazon). It is one of their Colour Sensational lipsticks in '280 Purple Glam'. it is a medium hot pink colour with a hint of purple in it. I really like the formula because it is very glossy and applies evenly. It has a tiny bit of glitter in it which isn't obvious on the lips but just makes it catch the light nicely. I wear this lipstick when I am feeling a bit bold and perhaps I am going out for dinner.

Want to be trendy days

Last Autumn I loved the vampy lips trend and became addicted to the Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in 'Raplumsel' (Click here to buy!). It is the perfect deep berry/plum shade. I know that it is nearly summer but I think that I will wear this colour all year round. It is a thick, soft texture that looks super glossy. It smells yummy and sweet but has no great flavour. Underneath I wear the Natural Collection lip pencil in 'Mulberry'. The colour really complements the gloss stick and makes it look richer and sharper. If I want to turn it into a real statement lip, I colour in the lip with the pencil, which makes the colour deeper and bolder. Also, if I am not feeling that brave, I blot it out with a tissue which makes it into a subtle lip stain.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post!

New Skincare Saviours + Make-up Storage Update!

2014-05-05T02:20:00.005-07:00

My last post (which was a little while ago, oops sorry about that!) was my evening skincare routine and one of the reasons that I decided to do that post was because my skin was getting me down (i.e. stubbornly spotty!)and I wanted to evaluate my routine to see what I could change to help it. I also had recently gone to a Clinique skin consultation and was told my skin type (dry combination) and that my skin was quite dehydrated. This came to quite a shock to me because I always thought that I was more on the oily side of combination because of my frequent breakouts. I had always looked for products that were oil balancing and spot preventing which is probably why my skin got to be so de-hydrated. So, I came across some AMAZING products that have done my skin wonders!!! Some I stumbled across by accident and some I researched on YouTube and other blogs!

Here they are...

Good Things Manuka Honey Radiance Face Mask

Oh my goodness, this is so good! I had been looking for a clay mask for absolutely ages. I knew that they were good at clarifying, purifying and drawing out impurities. When I saw that 'Good Things' new Manuka Honey range had one, I just had to have it. I love the 'Good Things' range (See my brand review post!) and I was super excited to try something new from them.

First of all it smells really good; it is not sickly but a subtly sweet and relaxing. It is really lovely and cooling and pleasantly tingles for a few seconds after you apply it. I am absolutely addicted to this stuff, I can't really describe it but I really think that it helped clear up my skin and make it look healthier. It is also an excellent price and doesn't have any horrid ingredients. (Click here to buy!)

Here, I have just applied the mask

Here, I have left the mask on for about 10 minutes and cannot move my face!

And here, my skin is all clean and re-vitalised and radiant! Yay!

It also claims to 'boost hydration' which just put the cherry on the cake! I also pretend that it is Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask because of the orange packaging and the vaguely similar name which satisfies me greatly (he he!). I knew however, that mud masks weren't known for their hydration helping properties so I started to use my beloved Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (Click here to buy!) more often. But knowing how expensive it is, I decided to keep a look out on the web for an alternative. I did not feel that the hot cloth cleansers that I tested in my previous posts would do the job in terms of hydration and therefore I researched cleansing oils. I found recommendations for the 'Camomile Silky Cleansing Oil' from The Body Shop (Click here to buy!)

I went straight out to get a sample. As a side note, the people at The Body Shop are really lovely and are happy to give you a sample of anything that you would like to try before buying the full version. So, I tried the sample and absolutely loved it and had to go and buy the full size. It removed every little scrap of make-up (including eye make-up) as well as deeply nourishing and hydrating my skin. I spend a couple of minutes massaging it into my skin and then use a hot muslin cloth to take it off. I am completely converted and I really feel that my skin has more moisture and is conditioned. It is £10, which put me off slightly because I thought that it would run out quite quickly. But you only need one pump for the whole face. I do feel that it is quite rich and luxurious and therefore I don't feel that I need to use it every night. That brings me on to my final skincare saviour product...!

A new Neal's Yard shop has recently opened in my local town and the interior is a thing of beauty. I was gutted to find out that I had missed the opening day and more importantly the free samples that they gave out. So, I went in one day after work to pine over the Rose Beauty Balm that everyone is going crazy for on the internet. But its £37 for a 50g tub and I wasn't brave enough to buy it. I had been wanting to try coconut oil for while as I had heard about all the amazing beauty benefits it gives. I remembered Caroline Hirons (Click here to view the post!) writing a post about coconut cleansing and mentioning this Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in particular (Click here to buy!). Its £9 for a 300g jar and a little goes a long way! I use it just like my Emma Hardie as a cleansing balm and you just scoop out a lump and rub it in between your fingers and it melts into an oil. It smells divine (if you like coconut that is!) and I use it on alternate nights when I'm not using the Body Shop oil. It is uber nourishing and makes your skin feel so smooth and thirst quenched! I have also had an eye infection for a few weeks and my eye has been really sore. Because this product is 100% natural, its ok to use over the eyes and I found that it was really healing and soothing on my sore eyes. There are many other uses that I am yet to discover but I am really enjoying using it as a cleanser and even leaving it on over night as a mask to give my skin a surge of moisture.
I am currently testing some hydrating moisturisers/serums to help dehydrated skin and will report back with my favourites!

I also just wanted to mention a small update to my make-up storage (Click here to view 'My Make-up Storage' post!). I found this cute little orange cinnamon ceramic pot at a charity shop. Orange is my favourite colour and cinnamon is my favourite spice and smell so I just had to buy it. I don't currently have a use for it but I am thinking that I am going to put hair clips and/or bands in it as I am always loosing them! I found this spring onions ceramic pot at a car boot sale to go with my celery one. It is a little bit smaller so I thought that it would be perfect for my smaller make-up brushes!

Thank you so much for reading! I will try to make my posts more regular but I start my AS level exams next week (ahh!)

My Evening Skincare Routine!

2014-04-19T11:42:00.001-07:00

I am so sorry that I have neglected my blog this week, I have been overloaded with school work and revision!

I thought that I would share with you the products that I use before I go to bed. I am not 'dead set' on these products and am open to changing up my routine(as you know, I love experimenting with new products!). But at the moment I am content with my routine as I feel that my skin is satisfied! These products are not necessarily 'budget friendly' or 'natural friendly' or very accessible for that matter, so there is definitely room for improvement!
I was very lucky this Christmas to get some Clinque products from my Ouma. She bought me the 3-step skincare for Dry Combination skin (2) (Click here to buy!). I am really enjoying using them all but my favourite product is the clarifying lotion. It is an exfoliating toner that you sweep over your face with a cotton pad. It feels a bit tingly but is really gentle and removes dead skin cells. It makes my skin feel smooth and completely clean and ready for my moisturiser. The moisturiser is a gel and is really light but very hydrating. I also recently had a Clinique skin consultation and the lady said that it is perfect for my skin because it is not too oily but still moisturising enough to combat my de-hydrated skin.

I like to use the facial soap with my TreSonic (Click here to buy!). It is a really nice mild cleanser so when I use it with the TreSonic, my skin doesn't feel too sensitive afterwards. My mum kindly bought me this sonic facial brush for my birthday! I have only used the normal skin (apposed to sensitive skin) cleansing attachment and the silicone moisturiser attachment. I am really enjoying using it in the bath a few times a week. It massages the facial soap into my skin and effectively smooths a rough complexion. I also find that it thoroughly removes make-up and any grime from throughout the day.

I remove my eye make-up with the 'Amie Bright Eyes Very Gentle Eye Make-up Remover' (Click here to buy!). It is really gentle (as the name suggests!) and has 96% natural ingredients which is excellent especially for a product that you use around your eyes. It is also very effective at removing my mascara, eye shadow and pencil eye liner (although I don't know how it would fair with gel/liquid eye liner or waterproof mascara). At the very end of my routine I use the 'Naturally Thinking Eye Bright Cucumber & Aloe Under Eye Cooling Gel' as my eye cream (Click here to buy!). It is lovely and soothing under my eyes and I find that it helps for those times when you are so tires that your eyes ache. I can't say that I see any difference in my under eyes but I do not need an eye cream for fine lines or puffiness (thankfully!). Yet again it is a natural and organic product which is perfect for the eye area.
I put a thin layer of the 'La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo' (Click here to buy!) on my T-zone under my moisturiser. This reduces the appearance of my blemishes and clogged pores. I find that it works best on below the skin spots or spots that haven't come to a head yet. I do feel it working on my skin but I am not as excited as I though I would after seeing all the hype online but I am determined that I will like it more the more I use it. Also, I have noticed that there is a new formula that I am tempted to try!
I then use the 'Clinique Anti-Blemish Solution Spot Clearing Gel' (Click here to buy! - I think this is the right one???) after my moisturiser. It is amazing. It completely dries out broken skin spots so they just flake off and disappear! It seems to quicken the development of spots so they disappear almost overnight! It is quite strong and should only be used directly on my spot because I would imagine that it would completely dry out your skin and strip it of its goodness! But I have only just incorporated it into my routine (I forgot that I had it from my birthday!) and I absolutely love it and have already seen a massive improvement in the appearance of my teenage T-zone break-outs!

In terms of treatments, I have quite a few that I enjoy using and switch them up all the time. I do not use these products every day (or night ha!) but just as a special skin treat! At the moment I am enjoying to use the 'Balm Balm Hibiscus Face Mask' (Click here to buy! - currently 15% off!). It comes in a powder as you can see and you add a couple of drops water to make a paste. After I have applied it to my face and let it dry a little, I massage it into my skin to give it an exfoliate. I really feel that it deeply cleanses and purifies my and makes it feel amazing! I also really like the 'Good Things Deep Clean Blackhead Exfoliator' (Click here to buy!) as a beaded exfoliator. It is really effective yet not too abrasive and has no horrid ingredients. Please see my previous post all about this great brand!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you found this useful!

Foundation Favourites Part 2

2014-04-06T13:31:00.001-07:00

3. Rimmel Wake Me Up Make Up Foundation

This foundation has excellent coverage and makes your skin look flawless. It claims to give you a 'radiant glow' which I definitely think it does. It is a much thicker consistency than the 'Match Perfection' one and I find that I get the best result with a flat foundation brush. I also feel like it is really hydrating and lasts well on my skin. I bought this foundation after there was a lot of hype about it on the internet. Some people were saying that it makes you look too glowing and that it is a foundation that it only suitable for the summer. I wear this foundation all year round and feel that the luminosity is very subtle. The only thing I would say is that I would say is that I own the lightest shade and it is slightly too dark for me, so the shade selection could be better! Click here to buy!
2. Max Factor All Day 3In1 Foundation

This is the foundation that I have re-purchased the most. It is not too dewy and not too matt but just a really lovely all-round great foundation. Like the 'Wake Me Up' one, it makes your skin look flawless and blends really nicely. It claims that you do not need to use a primer with it but I find that if you don't, it looks a bit cakey. However I don't feel that I need to use a concealer with it as it seems to blur imperfections and even out my skin tone to disguise any blemishes that I may have! Click here to buy!

And the winner is....................1.Max Factor CC Cream

It's funny that last place and first place both went to a CC Cream! This one is completely different from the L'Oreal one; it does not come out green or make me look orange! It feels like a whipped formula that blends into the skin effortlessly. I wasn't expecting it to have a good amount of coverage but it really does. It is also buildable but I find that one coat gives me a lovely porcelain, flawless finish. I feel that my skin looks its best when I am wearing it! It colour corrects amazingly and is 'infused with skincare ingredients' which makes my skin feel moisturised and look radiant. The only criticism I have is that it doesn't have a pump and yet again I always end up wasting some. But apart from that, it gives a beautiful finish that enhances your skin's natural complexion. Click here to buy!
I hope you found this useful! Thank you so much for reading! Please feel free to comment with your feedback and I would love to hear your foundation recommendations!

Foundation Favourites

2014-04-05T12:18:00.002-07:00

In my opinion, foundation is the most important part of your make-up. I do a lot of research on which foundations I should buy and are very rarely disappointed. I thought that I would rank the foundations that I own in order of preference! P.s I have pale, pink toned, combination skin!
6.L'Oréal Paris Nude Magique CC Cream Anti-Redness

I bought this foundation last year as I thought that it would prevent me from going red at school. I also have really rosy cheeks and I hoped that it might help to tone that down and even out my skin tone. The first time I used it was a morning before school and I remember nearly missing my bus because I was frantically trying to wipe it off with wet wipes and kitchen towel; It made me look like an Oompa Loompa! It comes out of the tube a green colour but once you rubbed it onto my skin it went orange! There isn't a shade selection and this foundation is meant to fit all skin tones, but it definitely didn't fit mine! If I'm feeling extra conscious about my redness, I sometimes dab a tiny amount onto my cheeks under foundation, but I am so worried that I am going to look really tanned or orange that I rarely use it at all!
5. Revlon Colorstay Make Up For Combination/Oily Skin

This is the foundation that I use the most because before school I want a high coverage foundation that I can apply nicely and quickly with my hands. My pet hate with beauty products is if they don't have a pump; I always end up putting way too much on the back of my hand every time! I have tried applying it with a flat foundation brush and a buffing brush and didn't feel like it blended nicely and I didn't like the result; I think this has something to do with the formula as it is very thick and has high coverage. I do not need concealer when I am wearing this foundation and it lasts all day! It is my most expensive foundation and I am not sure whether I would re-purchase it. Click here to buy!

4.Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation

This foundation is my most recent purchase and I was amazed at how cheap it was (£6.99)! It is quite a watery formula and it gives you a lovely light, natural, luminous complexion. I love it because it feels light to apply but actually gives a good amount of coverage, without looking like you are wearing any make-up! I normally use a buffing style brush to apply it and you need one pump max. to create a healthy, even base. For Christmas, I was sooo lucky that my present from my parents was a MAC make-up master class in London. I was able to try a MAC foundation - I think it was the MAC Studio Fix. I feel that this foundation looks similar to the MAC one on my skin. Click here to buy!

Check back tomorrow for part 2 where I reveal my top 3 foundation! Thanks for reading!

No7 - Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser

2014-03-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

When I first had the idea to review and compare high street hot cloth cleansers, I knew that I definitely wanted a Superdrug own brand and a Boots own brand. I always thought that No7 was only for mature skin but I recently discovered through Instagram that the 'Beautiful Skin' range is actually for younger skin. When, I was looking at the No7 stand, a very kind lady gave me a '£5 off No7 Skincare' voucher as she had two. Normally, this 200ml bottle is £9 (which I actually think if good value for money at that price). But with the voucher it made it £4, which is absolute BARGAIN! Boots seems to always be giving out vouchers for money off No7 products and since buying this about a month ago, I already have another voucher. You get such as lot of product and you only need one pump to spread across the whole face and neck.

My skin feels really hydrated and deeply cleansed. I think that it immediately evens out my skin tone and makes it look more radiant. The muslin cloth that it comes with is very effective at exfoliating which I think really helps to 'stimulate circulation' as it claims to. I really benefit from this because I suffer from bad circulation which causes me to have uneven skin tone. I definitely think that it is suitable for all skin types as it suggests and it is hypo-allergenic so I did not get any sensitivity when I used it on my eyes. The only thing that I don't like is the smell; I can't put my finger on what exactly it smells like but I personally find it unpleasant (although my mum didn't mind it!).

I definitely want to try more from the No7 brand as it is not expensive full price and there are almost always a voucher that can be used. I noticed that there is a gel cleanser that looks very intriguing! Overall, I think this is excellent value for money for a spa-like product that instantly improved the appearance of my skin. Considering, all three hot cloth cleansers, I think that this one is my favourite because it feels really gentle and creamy on the skin but it really great at making it feel clean and look healthy and translucent. In terms of the ingredients, I don't think it is as natural as the other two, but there aren't too many ingredients and I think that the way it makes my skin look and feel makes up for that!
From doing these reviews, I have discovered that the hot cloth cleanser formula is not my favourite to use. I am curious to experiment with different types of cleansers to see if I find that my skin actually prefers hot cloth cleansers.
Thank you so much for reading!

The Perfect Nail Combination!

2014-03-28T14:45:00.004-07:00

Around Christmas last year, I suddenly became obsessed with dark green/khaki colours for my make-up and nails. I thought that it was a really glamorous and sophisticated way to give your look a special, seasonal twist. I am normally extremely lazy with my nails and am only ever patient enough to do one coat which chips the next day. I had always admired people who had the patience to do several coats and a glittery top coat. I made myself do it and I loved the outcome!

This is MUA nail polish in 'Stormy Skies' and I think that it is the most beautiful pearlescent, glistening khaki colour. I was so happy when I found this in Superdrug and couldn't believe that it was only £1! I love the shiny finish it gives and the formula is quite watery but really fast drying. You do only get 6.2ml of product but I was looking at my other polishes in my collection and the Rimmel 60 Second nail polishes (which I also love) are only 8ml and look so much bigger in the bottle. I found that the best way to apply it was by doing a very thin first coat, then a slightly thicker second coat and a slightly thicker again final coat. Although it did not chip as much as I was expecting, I would recommend a top coat.

This colour can be totally transformed by the 'Bourjois 1 Seconde' silicone texture gel top coat in '30 Ghost lovers'. It is a metallic, powdered glitter in an olive green colour. Again, it is really fast drying and gives such a smooth, glossy finish. It is also really easy to apply as the wide brush gets the job done in one stroke. I love how it enhances the MUA polish and makes it that extra bit special. It also protects it from chipping and makes it last for much longer. It is more expensive than I would normally spend on nail varnish (£5.99 here) but you only need one coat and I think that it would complement many other different bases (I would like to experiment with a deep purple or a nude colour)
Thank you so much for reading!
P.s I will be posting my review of the 'No.7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser' tomorrow!

My Make-up Storage!

2014-03-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry that I haven't made a post in a while! It was my birthday this week and I have been sooooo busy. I got quite a few beauty related presents so I may do a post to show you what I got (let me know in the comments if you would like to see that)! Anyway, I am going to try to keep my posts more consistent so I am going to post on Saturday evenings and then one day during the week! I still have one more review to do for my 'Hot Cloth Cleansers Face-Off!' and that will be published very soon.

I thought that I would do a post showing you my make-up storage as I am really proud of I and I would love to know what you think!
My bedroom is very small so it is extremely hard to find furniture for it. When I saw this 1950/60s fold-out table, I was so excited. My mum spent almost an hour ripping the skirting board off my wardrobe to try and get it in, but I think it was worth it because I absolutely love it!!! I bought it for the ridiculous price of £12 and It has a 'Vanson' label on it which I have never heard of. I can fold it out if I need more room and it has a shelf underneath for extra storage.

From left to right:

I have a ceramic celery pot which I found at my local car boot sale. I keep my hair brush and my nail files inside.
I have a ceramic owl plant pot which I also found at my local car boot sale. This stores all of my foundations.
I have one large and one small confiture jars. The first stores my mascaras, concealers and an eye primer. The next stores the majority of my make-up brushes. I bought these from the same shop that I bought my table from.
I front of my jars I have a little glazed ceramic owl which I keep my smaller eye brushes in. My mum surprised me and bought me this from the same curiosity shop and I love it!
Next is my jewellery box which was my Mum's Grandma's and my Great Nan's. I love it for its sentiment but also I love the fact that old-fashioned style jewellery boxes have come back and it can experience a whole new life of appreciation. I have a lot of jewellery which I have been given over the years but I am rubbish at wearing it!
On the end I have my latest purchase and probably my favourite piece! It has a mark on the bottom which says 'Flora Keramiek Gouda Holland' and it is a white vase with bright orange flowers and green leaves. This is where I keep my lip and eye liners. I spotted it yet again at my local car boot sale and before I had time to speak, my lovely Nana had scooped it up and said 'I'm buying that for you!' She's the best!
I also have a small magnifying mirror which my Nana also bought me ages and ages ago. I never thought I would use it because I wasn't into beauty at the time but it is so useful now. I also have my perfume and some perfume bottles that I have collected from local antiques fairs. The one in the middle is a vintage Avon one which is shaped like a pineapple! Finally, I have two pink and white spotted ceramic dishes which my Auntie bought me for my birthday one year. I keep my everyday make-up items in them like my powder, blush , primer etc.

On the shelf underneath I have two storage baskets from Argos. They come in a set of 3 and I also have the bigger ones and they are so useful. I keep my make-up bags and anything that I want to review in the one on the left and my lip balms and hand creams in the other one. I have an owl lunchbox in the middle where I keep taller bottles of toiletries and my owl hot water bottle is next to it (are you noticing a theme?)! I then have my deodorant and daily moisturiser and store some of my shoes and owl slippers!

The mirror at the top is a convex mirror which I got from my local car boot sale and my Mum painted cream. The mirror underneath was a flea market find and I just instantly fell in love with the shape. Oh, and I also have three owl key rings hanging on top! I also have the Mcfly boys looking down on my as I do my make-up!

This is the alcove above my bed and I have a retro radio which I picked up at a car boot sale. I also have a few mugs stacked purely for aesthetic purposes as I don't drink hot drinks! I then have a purple spray painted wicker bowl - which I will find a use for one day - and a green glass plate and bowl set. I keep all of my lip and powder products in this wicker set of draws which I found at another car boot sale and my Mum spray painted cream. The photos are 1950s French fashion photos which I picked up in Portobello Road market on my visit to London last year. The frames are cheap ones from The Range!

I put some scrap floral material in the bottom of the draws and I store all of my lip products in one and all of my powders in the other!
I hope this was inspiring and thank you so much for reading!

Superdrug - Naturally Radiant Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser

2014-03-09T13:16:00.000-07:00

I have been trying out this Superdrug cleanser for several weeks because I really want to like it and I keep hoping that it will do something to my skin. You get a nice lot of product, its a fantastic price (normally £5.99 but on offer at the moment for £2.98 here! WOW!) and best of all, its paraben free! However, I just didn't think that it did anything to improve my skin. It claims to 'revive skin's radiance and even out skin tone' and leave your skin feeling 'renewed, soft and ultra clean'. I have not noticed any improvement in my skin's radiance or skin tone and it did not leave my skin soft compared to the Soap & Glory cleanser that I reviewed in my last post (click here to read it!). Don't get me wrong, if you want a basic, non-foaming cleanser that effectively removes make-up and is gentle for sensitive skin, this is great. You can use it over your eyes and it comes with a muslin cloth so you can gently exfoliate.

It also has lots of really lovely natural ingredients like kiwi fruit, mulberry extracts and cocoa butter which obviously are really good for your skin.
It reminds me a lot of Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish in texture and in smell; I was very disappointed with this hot cloth cleanser too after I had seen so many positive reviews. Like the Superdrug one, it has lots of great ingredients, however, I did not see the result of these ingredients in the appearance of my skin. For that reason, I think this is a great dupe for the Liz Earle cleanser!

From looking on the Superdrug website, I have noticed that the Naturally Radiant range also has a balm cleanser which I would love to try. It hasn't put me off trying other products from the range because it ticks all the right boxes for me for a skincare brand. I also went into my local Superdrug in my lunch break and noticed that there was a new Superdrug own brand skincare range which looked very intriguing; it was called Simply Pure. It said that it was also paraben free, fragrance free, hypoallergenic AND dematologically approved (phew!). So look out for a review on this range coming up soon! Anyway, a good basic hot cloth cleanser for sensitive skin with great ingredients. It is very affordable and great at removing make-up. However, I would not re-purchase it as it didn't fulfil its claims and do what I wanted it to do!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope that you found this helpful!
I would love you to leave a comment giving me things I could improve with my blog or just to say 'hi'!!!

Soap & Glory - The Ultimelt

2014-03-01T12:22:00.002-08:00

So, here it is; the first review in my hot cloth cleanser 'face-off!' And that is exactly what I want from a cleanser; I want it to effectively remove all of my make-up and enrich my skin with goodness so that it feels utterly clean and revitalised after a long day at school!

I tried to only review products that were under £10. This is priced right on my limit but I did buy it when it was on offer and I have noticed that Soap & Glory are often on offer in Boots (that was my justification!!!). You get 100ml of product which is not a great amount for the price. It comes in a tube like toothpaste which is not ideal. I would much prefer a pump as it would stop me from using too much! It recommends that you use a 'grape-sized splodge' and I would say that if you followed these directions, it would not last very long (assuming you use it morning and evening).However, I definitely don't think that you need to use that much.

I would say that a blueberry sized amount would be plenty as it glides on smoothly and spreads well all over the face. It comes with a muslin cloth which gently but effectively exfoliates. It is a really rich, thick consistency which feels amazing on the skin. It smells very natural and relaxing with hints of essential oils. This, accompanied with the silky smooth texture, makes it a pleasure to use.

It did not sting my eyes however I would say that my face did feel a bit hot and sensitive after I had used it. It does say on the box that the essential oils in the ingredients 'may cause irritation on extremely sensitive skin'. It may be that I was too rough with the muslin cloth but it did not irritate my skin and does not put me off using it. It is paraben free which gets a big thumbs up from me! It claims to give you a 'soft, smooth, radiantly fresh clean face' which I would say is definitely true. It also says that it's 'deep purifying'. I think that I do see a difference in my skin but I am unconvinced on how effective it is for drawing out impurities. I think that it does improve the appearance of my skin and I would recommend that you leave it on for 2 minutes, as directed, to make the most of it and give it the best chance!!!
I hope this helped and look out for post number two in the hot cloth cleanser 'face-off!'
Link to buy!

Cheaper alternative to Emma Hardie's Cleansing Balm???

2014-02-19T12:03:00.001-08:00

This Christmas I got given a rather luxurious present; the Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm! I was so excited after reading so many reviews about it, and was not at all disappointed. It smells incredible, it feels amazing and it really does make a difference to your skin. It is honestly as good as everyone says it is! (you can buy it here) However, I do not use it regularly and when I do use it, I use it sparingly because I know how expensive it is and I share it with my Mum. My favourite thing about it is the balm texture and it got me wondering if there was anything similar to balm cleansers on the high street that I could actually afford to buy! The closest thing that I could find were hot cloth cleansers. So I bought 3 that were all under £10 to try out; I bought one that is a Superdrug's own brand, I bought one that is a Boots brand (No. 7) and then one that is from 'Soap & Glory'. I am not necessarily going to be comparing them to the Emma Hardie cleanser because I don't think that they will be an exact dupe, but I want to see whether any of the effects they have on my skin are similar. I will do 3 separate reviews and then a comparison post where I will declare my favourite!!! I have already tried the 'Soap & Glory' one out for a couple of weeks, so look out for a review in the next couple of days. Thanks for reading!

Volumising Haircare

2014-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

When I was a baby, my Mum thought that I may never grow any hair; I had the finest, shortest hair and was often mistaken for a boy! Thankfully, my hair did grow but it is not as thick as I would like it to be so I am always on the lookout for haircare that claims to give me big, volumised hair. In this blog post I am going to give you my opinions on 5 shampoos and conditioners for fine hair. Enjoy!

Herbal Essences Uplifting Volume

This was the first volumising shampoo and conditioner that I ever tried. I love the way it enhances my curls and I definitely think that it adds some volume to my hair. The zesty orange scent makes my hair feel clean but I don't think that it is the most nourishing formula in the world. It lathers a lot and I take that as a sign that it has quite a lot of parabens and therefore does not care for my hair as much as I would like it to. However, it claims to give you 'locks body and bounce' and I think that it definitely does that. It is also extremely inexpensive (£3.79 full price) and I bought my second batch of the shampoo and conditioner on offer!
You can buy it on offer at Superdrug at the moment for £1.86! BARGAIN!

Samy Fat Hair

I love everything about this range; the witty name and slogan (Fat Hair '0' Calories!), the fact that it is sulphate and paraben free and what it does to my hair. It really does make your hair look and feel thicker, fuller and nourished. I remember feeling and seeing a massive difference after one use. I have bought several bottles and will continue to buy it. I would also really like to try some other products from the range. It is slightly more expensive than the Herbal Essences (£5.59 full price) but there is always a deal and I think that it is great at caring for your hair as well as giving it a bit of oomph!
You can buy it on offer at Superdrug at the moment for £2.74 each! ANOTHER BARGAIN!

TRESemme 24 Hour Body

I got a pack of this shampoo and conditioner for £4 at Superdrug! For two 500ml bottles, I think that is an amazing price! I don't know if they still sell this pack but definitely keep your eye out for it! Anyway, besides from the amazing deal, this range is really nice. It has the signature TRESemme scent that makes your hair feel super clean and nourished. It claims to add 'body and bounce' to your hair without 'weighing it down' and I think that this is definitely accurate; my hair feels light and smooth but with lots of volume. I did not notice that the volume stayed for any longer than the other brands that I have tried but I bet if you layered it with other products from the range like the 'Body Root Boosting Spray' (which I have my eye on!), it would have better longevity!
The shampoo and conditioner is normally £4.99 full price but you can get it on offer at Superdrug at the moment for £3.32 each!

Pantene Pro-V Expert Age Defy

I first heard about this new range from Pantene when my Mum read an article about them in a magazine. As she was telling me all the sciencey stuff about it, I became completely sold and was desperate to try it! I normally steer clear of anything that claims to be anti-ageing but apparently your hair is the first thing to age, so I thought I would give it a go! Although it is not specifically for volume, it claims to 'thicken existing hair strands temporarily by coating'. It made my hair feel healthier and fuller and the biggest difference that I saw was that my hair was a lot shinier. I think that I would like to try the 'Keratin Repair' shampoo and conditioner from this range to see if they suit me more but overall, I really enjoyed using it . It is the most expensive of the lot at £6.99 each full price but you can get it on offer at Superdrug at the moment for £4.65 each!

L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology

This shampoo and conditioner is my most recent purchase and I am already loving them. I know that it shouldn't be a factor, but I love the packaging; it looks so cool and quite luxurious! It claims to 'expand the hair fibres' to leave you with thicker hair 'wash after wash'. I would say that this is the most volumising out of the bunch but unfortunately it can leave your hair a little frizzy. For me, it still enhances my curls but leaves my ends frizzy if I use it two nights in a row. I still really like the incredible volume that it gives me but perhaps for someone with straighter hair or hair that has a tendency to frizz, it might not be the best! I was really shocked at how inexpensive it was (£2.99 for the 250ml full price) and I bought it full price!
You can buy it at Superdrug along with other products in the range.

Hope this was useful and thanks for reading!