My Visit To Rush York*

Hello guys!

Now as many of you may have seen on my Twitter or Instagram, yesterday I paid a little visit to the beautiful Rush salon in York. When it comes to my beauty regime, it does tend to be my hair that takes a bit of a back seat, so I was really excited to get an email asking me to pop down to the salon for a cut and blow dry.

I'd heard nothing but good things about the Rush salons, and even so I was still pleasantly surprised. The lovely Jessica did an amazing job, and made sure my visit went smoothly from start to finish. She sat me down, asked me exactly what it was that I wanted, and went the extra mile to suggest products that she thought would benefit me personally. When I told her about my eczema and sensitive skin, she made sure that only soothing and hydrating products were used, and gave me some tips on what might help the condition of my hair going forward.

The entire team were brilliant, and even the building itself is beautiful. They are celebrating their 3 month anniversary soon, so we need to spread the love as much as possible for this newly opened salon and the team.

I didn't want a huge amount taken off the length of my hair as I've been trying to grow it, so Jessica just tidied up the ends and trimmed my layers, then cut my fringe to give it all a softer look round my face. It turned out even better than I'd hoped, and felt in such amazing condition afterwards that I couldn't stop playing with it! I will definitely be going back to visit next time I need my hair doing. 

I just want to say a big thank you to the whole team at Rush York, and I wish you all the success for the future. Make sure you go check them out on Instagram.. @rush_york  

Love to you all x

Dove Hair Therapy Dry Shampoo

Hello everyone :)

Hope you're all having an amazing start to 2016! Today I have a little post about a Dove hair product I've recently tried - Dove Hair Therapy Dry Shampoo.

I absolutely love dry shampoo as a product, not as a way to delay washing my hair (although that can be helpful!) but as a way of adding volume to my roots which tend to get very flat after styling. This one from Dove is possibly the most beautifully fragranced dry shampoo I've ever used. It leaves my hair smelling even better than it does when it's freshly washed, and who doesn't want their hair smelling clean and fruity.

The biggest selling point for me however is that it works without leaving any white residue in my hair. I have dark hair and most dry shampoos leave a white/grey residue behind even after brushing which isn't ideal. This one however manages to freshen up my hair and add volume to my roots without leavening any residue at all! Perfect!

Also, I managed to pick mine up from Savers for only £1.99 so it's a bargain too.

Overall, this is one of the best dry shampoos I've ever used. I am, and probably always will be, a massive Batiste fan, and that will probably always be my favourite, but believe it or not the Dove version smells even better! The only difference is that the Batiste dry shampoo has a longer lasting effect, and by the end of the day the plumping effect of the Dove is starting to wear off.

I still absolutely love this product, and all you dry shampoo lovers should adore it as much as I did.

Thank you for reading, and as always all comments are loved and appreciated.

Macadamia Oil Extract Shampoo & Conditioner

Hello :)

Well, its been way too long since I last logged in and wrote a post on here. Last August to be exact! To be honest, I don't know what made me stay away so long, but I'm happy to be back.

Today, I'm just going to write a little review on possibly my new favorite shampoo and conditioner, which, at only £1 each at the moment in Savers is an absolute steal. There is also a conditioning hair mask which I tried as well as oil conditioning treatments in the range.

To start with, I just want to start by saying how pretty the bottles are! I have them proudly stood on the side of my bath, and they look so elegant and decorative. I've always appreciated good packaging. The actual product itself is good too! It doesn't have the strongest fragrance, but it does smell fresh and clean, which is the kind of scent I prefer.

Cold winter winds, and an over use of central heating has left my hair insanely dry as of late, so for the last couple of weeks I've been using the shampoo and conditioner daily, swapping the conditioner for the conditioning mask twice a week. In two weeks its given me my healthy looking hair back, and has done wonders for the condition of it, all for only £3 for the 3. I am definitely going to pick up the oil treatment next time my local store has it in stock.

I wouldn't recommend this range for those with naturally oil/greasy hair, as its moisturizing qualities may make matters worse, but for those with normal to dry hair such as myself, its brilliant.

I love finding a good bargain that really works, and that's exactly what this is.

Thanks for popping by and having a look at my little blog - I really am glad to be back :)

Love to you all x

Colour B4 Review

Hello everyone :)

So, after what seems like forever, I'm back! I decided a while ago to take a little break from blogging. I was just so busy with everything else that finding time to fit this in almost felt like a chore, and I want this to be something I enjoy and love doing. I've missed it a lot, so after a break of what seems like forever, I'm back to resume work on my blog :)

I'm starting with a bit of a random review today. I have dyed my hair for as long as I can remember, and always had it pretty dark. I alternated between dark browns, reds and purples, but this summer I finally decided that I wanted something a bit lighter and more summery. I had quite bad colour build up, and no matter what colour dye I put on my hair, it was getting to the point where it almost looked black, and I couldn't change it.

I never really wanted to use a hair stripper, as I'd heard a lot of horror stories about how they ruin your hair (and make it fall out, or make the colour patchy.... you name it, I heard it) but after a friend at work said she used it and never had a problem, I decided to give it a try.

 

I bought Colour B4 from my local shop, as it seemed to have the best reviews online, and one night after a glass of wine for courage, I gave it a try.

 

It didn't smell amazing. Actually, it smelt awful! The consistency was pretty much the same as hair dye. I did a patch test before I used it all over my hair, and knew it was going to be ok with my very sensitive skin, but I wasn't holding up much hope for the end result.

 

But actually, I was really happy! Once I'd washed it all off and used the after treatment they give you, I couldn't smell it any more, and was left with a light coppery hair colour. Naturally my hair is light mousey brown, but I expected there to be some staining from all the red tones I had used on it, but I actually love the colour I was left with. It took all the dark colours off my hair perfectly, and the result wasn't patch at all, my hair wasn't even in bad condition afterwards! Any of my most recent twitter pics show the colour that I was left with, and I think I'm going to be keeping it for a while (I get bored of my hair insanely quickly).

 

Now I'm not going to say that if you use it you will get amazing results, I don't want to give anyone that guarantee just in case. There are a lot of factors you need to consider such as the colour your hair is, the colour it is naturally, the condition of your hair and many others things. I'd suggest doing a bit of research first if you are considering it, but all I can say is that it couldn't have gone better for me.

 

 

Well, it does feel good to be back on the blogging scene, and I promise I will be going back to regular posts :)

 

Thank you all for reading, and as always .....

 

Love to you all x

 

Pantene Pro-V 1 Min Wonder Ampoules

Hello everyone :)

Today I have a little hair care review post!

I picked these Pantene Pro-V 1 Min Wonder Ampules up in my local Tesco a week or so ago as they were on offer for around £2.35. I don't normally use too many products on my hair, just the normal shampoo, conditioner, and then either my Tresemme Platinum Strength Leave in Conditioner or my Argan Oil. But lately, probably because of the cold weather and the constant drying effects of central heating, my hair has been feeling a bit dry. I was browsing the shelves, and thought I'd give these a go. For the price, they were definitely worth a try. 

I was a bit worried that they would leave my hair feeling greasy, but they didn't. I noticed a difference as soon as my hair was dry. It felt softer and looked a bit shinier too. You only get a small amount of the product in each capsule, which isn't really enough for my long hair, so I ended up only putting on the very ends. There wasn't a dramatic difference, but enough for me to notice it.

The product smells clean and fresh, and for the price I was pleased with the results. I don't know if I will purchase them again, but I will be more than happy to use the rest of what I have left. 

Overall, I did like these little capsules, but I've tried ones from other brands before and noticed a much bigger difference than I did with these. If I had really damaged and dry hair then these would definitely not be enough to solve the problem, but for me, I suppose it was just what I needed. Plus you can't really argue for just over £2 can you!? 

Have any of you tried these, and if so what did you think? 

Thank you for taking the time to read, and all comments are, as always, loved and appreciated. 

Love to you all x

Argan Oil Shampoo Review

Hello :) Hope you're all good, and have exciting plans for the weekend! 

Today, I thought I'd do a quick review on this shampoo and conditioner. I've reviewed the hair oil before, and went on about how good it was, especially considering the price. I don't have particularly dry hair, but found it made my hair feel healthier and more conditioned. So when I saw these for only £1 each in Tesco, I had to give them a try. I've used them a few times now, and am ready to tell you what I thought....

Ok, firstly, can we just take a minute to talk about the price.... £1 each!!! For that you get a 150ml bottle, which isn't huge but is still amazing for that price! Plus, the product is quite thick, so you don't need as much as you would with some other brands. A small bit really lathers up in your hair and does the job. 

The product is thick and creamy in texture, and as I said, lathers up really well. It doesn't have a strong scent like a lot of shampoo products now a days, but it does smell clean and fresh which I like. I was worried that it would end up making my hair a bit too greasy, as I don't really have dry hair, and thought maybe the oil would be a bit too much. I was wrong. It leaves my hair feeling clean, shiny and in amazing condition. It does say on the bottle that it is suitable for any hair type, and I really believe that to be true. 

When you put the conditioner on, it does feel a bit thick, almost like rubbing butter through your hair. This concerned me slightly, but once I realised that it wasn't going to leave my hair greasy, I got used to it. It feels like doing a deep conditioning treatment every time.

I tend to wash my hair every other day, but one time after using it, I was feeling lazy and left it an extra day, and it didn't look greasy at all. It's like it makes your hair fresh for longer than normal. I am a big fan of this! I still wash it every other day, but now even on the second day my hair is thick and smooth and doesn't look limp like it tends to with other brands. 

As you can tell, I am VERY impressed with this product. I honestly can't think of any downsides to it! Plus, I actually can not get over how much of a bargain it was! Have pretty much converted my whole family to using now as well :) 

My review... 4.5 stars!! LOVED it :) 

Thank you all for reading, any comments are appreciated!! 

Do you have any bargain beauty loves?? 

Love to you all x

2013's Beauty Loves

Hello everyone!

As those who follow me on twitter might have seen, the other day I was reading Grazia, and they had a section all about their 2013 beauty awards, listing all of their favorite products from this year. It got me thinking about what mine are, and I decided to do a post about it. Sorry in advance for the lack of photos, a lot of the stuff I decided on has either run out and needs to be re-bought, or is in such a well used state that it would NOT look it's best in a picture!

So here we go :)

1. Clinique Take Off The Day Make Up Remover 

I know I go on and on about Clinique's makeup remover, but I honestly think its the best out there. I've tried a lot of different ones, and this is the only one that makes me feel like I'm doing something really nourishing to my skin by taking makeup off. It feels like moisturising. The one I buy (and I'm running out... please bring me some Santa!) is £17 for 125ml, and that lasts me ages! The last one I got was for my birthday in June, which makes it value for money as well as a really good product.

2. Balance Me Balancing Face Moisturiser

I've talked about Balance Me's moisturiser before when I got a small free sample in a magazine a while ago. I talked about its light floral scent, it's thick creamy texture, and the way that it manages to deeply hydrate your skin without feeling greasy. I loved it. So when it ran out, I went and bought myself the full sized version! It was £24 for 50ml. I bought it last month and have used less than a quarter, so I can see this product lasting me a long time. You don't need a lot to really feel the benefits!

3. Benefit Full Finish Lipstick in Slow Zone

This lipstick is a light pink, and makes my complexion look so much lighter and fresher. Its well pigmented and doesn't seem to dry my lips out like a lot of lipstick tend to do. I bought it for £14 a while ago, but when I looked on the benefit website earlier, I see its now £7. I may have cheekily ordered myself another when I saw that!

4. Barry M Foil Effect in Gold 

Now I know I talked about this in my post for #TheWinterProject, so I won't say too much about it, but it has been my go to nail polish ever since I bought it. Whenever I'm stuck on what to do with my nails, this is what I choose. You do have to buff them beforehand as the foil effect means it picks up any ridges, but one coat and it gives you a feeling of instant glamour. Was perfect in the sunshine, and its perfect for the party season. All for just £3.99. LOVE it :)

5. Redken Colour Extend Rich Recovery Protective Treatment

I love Redken. When I buy their products though, I do tend to buy the gift sets which include little bits of everything in them, and I always go for the colour protect range. I dye my hair a lot, and this is the best product I've found for helping to keep my colour looking bright and my hair feeling healthy. It's the only full size product I buy, and 250ml is £17.50 from feelunique.com. It smells lovely, and this treatment is my go to product to keep my hair looking bright and healthy. The perfect treat for your hair! Also, the pot lasts quite a long time (depending on hair length and how often you use it of course). I have quite long hair but only use the product when I feel my hair needs a boost, and it lasts me a couple of months. 

6. Chanel Chance 

Now I'm not one to usually do a fragrance post, as I'm not a huge lover of perfume. I use it, but tend to stick to what I like and don't try many new ones. This is my favorite of all time though. I buy it over and over, and never get tired of the light, fresh scent that it gives. I cant go into what the various tones are as I will admit I know nothing about all that, but I can say it smells lovely, and I never get bored of it. Prices vary from place to place, but the last bottle I bought was from thefragranceshop, and I got 35ml for £47.50. It is a bit pricey, but in my opinion, completely worth it, as its the only one I wear.

My Best Discovery of 2013 
What I thought I'd do, is also give a mention to the best brand that I've come across this year, and all things considered, it has to be the VERY reasonably prices MUA. With a lot of products for just £1, they are exceptional value for money, and everything I've tried from them, including eyeshadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, powder and eyeliner has been brilliant. Well pigmented, long lasting, and good for my skin. Why would you not love all that for such low prices!? I cant wait to try their highlighter, as I've read some rave reviews about it.

Well, they are my top beauty loves of this year. Sorry this post has been a tad wordy, will do a lighter post next time :) As always, all comments are appreciated, and thank you for reading!

Love to you all x

I'm Back!!

Hello again!

Firstly, I want to start by saying sorry for my recent absence. I've moved house, and have been stuck without the internet for a while now, but I am back up and online, ready to go! Although I still haven't managed to get my hands on a new camera, and feel totally lost without one, so sorry also for the lack of photos. Am trying to buy a new one asap but can't seem to swing the idea by the other half.

Right, so today, I am going to be attempting to do my first hair care related post....

For such a beauty addict, I have to admit something. Please don't judge me... I'm not a huge fan of using hair products. My hair care routine is normally limited to John Frieda colour care shampoo and conditioner, and heat protection spray. That is it. I rarely use hair spray or any kind of hair mask treatments because I never really have a lot of problems with my hair, so I've honestly never seen the point. But recently, I think it's because I've been a bit run down. my hair started to feel a bit dry, so I decided (after reading a lot of hair care blog posts) to try this......

At first, I was worried about it making my hair greasy. Call me naive, but something just didn't seem right to me about putting oil in my hair just after I'd washed it, but I gave it a shot. I bought mine from feelunique.com for £22.95, so it was a tad more than I'd normally pay for something like this, but I couldn't argue with the reviews I'd read.

Now for my verdict. I may be converted.

As much as the price was a bit of a stretch for me to be ok with (I mean prices like that are normally reserved for my old faithful beauty and make up staples) you only need the tiniest amounts for it to be effective, so it will last a long time.

After the first use, I couldn't tell much of a difference. I mean my hair was a bit shinier, and it smells lovely, but the ends still felt dry and unconditioned. I persevered, and now I'm really glad I did. After 3 - 4 used, my hair feels like I've been to a salon every time I use it. I'ts shiny and soft, in MUCH better condition, and it doesn't make hair feel heavy or greasy as long as you don't use too much. I have quite long hair (about 5 inches past my shoulders) and I only use 1 - 2 pumps of it, and never apply anywhere near the roots.

I have to say I do like Redken, and have used their products before which is why I went for this brand, but I know you can buy essentially the same kind of product elsewhere quite cheap. I was talking to a friend about it the other day and she uses a brand of argan oil that she picked up in superdrug for around £3 -£4 which might be worth a try. I may try that another time and do a comparison for you, or if any of you have used other cheaper brands and have loved or hated them, let me know!

It isn't something, however, that I think I would use all the time. Unless the weather is really hot or really cold, or unless I'm getting run down, my hair is usually in pretty good condition without using it, but from now on, I am going to make sure I have some in at all times for those days when your hair just looks like it needs a touch of TLC.

Time now for my rating!

Redken all soft argan-6 oil = 4 stars!!

Here is a link to where I bought mine from:   http://www.feelunique.com/p/Redken-All-Soft-Argan-6-Oil


I have to say, it feels good to be back and blogging, and this time without the internet was depressing, but now I'm back, will try to post a few times a week from now on. I promise :)

Love to you all x