My Current Haircare Essentials

As I am someone who has naturally oily, slightly frizzy, not-really-straight-but-not-really-curly kind of hair, I have always struggled with finding the right products to keep it looking at its best for longer than a few hours. Because of this, I am constantly buying and  trying out new products in the hope of giving some life back to my locks, whilst also simultaneously keeping it under control and free from frizz, and lately I have found that this combination of products does a pretty good job, so much so, that I knew I would have to share...

Shampoo is probably the most important product for me as far too often I have tried ones that have weighed my hair down and turned my already fairly greasy hair even oilier, which isn't particularly desired or ideal. After my favourite shampoo was discontinued a couple of years ago it took a while to find another that suited my hair, but the Pantene Pro-V Perfect Hydration is a pretty good replacement. It properly cleanses my hair, yet it leaves no product build-up, instead leaving my hair feeling soft and lightweight due to the hydrating properties. When it comes to conditioner on the other hand, I have tried quite a large variety, across many different brands, with all of them offering slightly different benefits for my hair. Whilst I did find a few that I liked and often go back to, my favourite was definitely the Garnier Ultimate Blends Gloss Reviver, as it makes my hair feel incredibly smooth and soft, as well as looking healthier and shinier whilst smelling like cherry blossom, which is my all time favourite scent!

As I am currently trying to grow my hair I have recently been loving the Lee Stafford Hair Growth Treatment Mask as it not only encourages growth but also deeply conditions and moisturises my hair, leaving it a lot stronger. I don't tend to use this every time I wash my hair, instead using it every other wash, as I don't want to weigh my hair down with too much product, but I definitely notice a difference the times I do put it on my hair as it makes it feel a lot softer and keeps it looking in better condition. 

When it comes to styling my hair, there are two products that I always reach for and have become staple parts of my haircare routine. The Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray has been my go-to heat spray for years as it keeps my hair soft and healthy whilst also protecting it from any heat damage. On the other hand, the Charles Worthington Body Booster Mousse is a recent rediscovery of mine as I have noticed that my locks have been looking slightly flat and lifeless lately, so I have been using this after washing my hair as it is great for giving more bounce and volume, without any stickiness or heaviness. 

Lastly, as I have mentioned, my hair does become oily pretty quickly after washing, so the biggest essential, and one of my 'can't live without products' is definitely Dry Shampoo. I have tried a few different brands over the years but the Batiste Tropical version is definitely my favourite as it not only smells amazing but also revitalises my hair, leaving it feeling cleaner and looking a lot fresher, as well as adding a little extra volume and texture, which is always a bonus!

What are your favourite haircare products?

Megan

August Favourites

I feel like the past few months have flown by and I can't believe it is already September but I am not complaining as the last four months of the year are definitely my favourite, and this year in particular I have got quite a few exciting things to look forward to throughout Autumn. Today, however, it is time for my monthly favourites, which is quite a small selection this month as I didn't really discover all that much throughout August, especially beauty wise so, without further ado, here is what I have been loving recently...

Barry M Molten Metal Nail Polish- Copper Mine
In my opinion Barry M are probably one of the best drugstore brands for nail products thanks to the huge variety of colours, finishes and formula's, all of which are of a high quality. I had been dying to try one of the Molten Metals since their release earlier this Summer and so I finally picked up the shade Copper Mine before my holiday at the start of the month and, with Barry M staying true to form, I was not disappointed. The formula itself is slightly thin however I found only two coats were needed to give an opaque look, and I found it applied very smoothly, with the wide brush making application extremely quick and easy. The overall finish is very pretty as the multi-toned shimmers give a slightly foiled, glittery metallic look and I can't wait to try out some of the other shades from the collection.
                              

La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Comfort Lotion SPF 50
I had been meaning to start using a face SPF for a while yet it was just something that I never seemed to get around to buying, however, I decided to pick this one up for my holiday last month and it instantly became a skincare staple. It is an incredibly light and moisturising lotion without being too greasy, yet it does give a slight glow to the skin, as well as offering great protection from the sun due to the SPF factor of 50. Whilst most days I applied it after my moisturiser and left it at that I also found it worked well when mixed with a little bit of foundation to give a slight hint of coverage, without being too heavy during the hotter weather. It's definitely a new skincare favourite!

Hamilton Soundtrack
As I have mentioned before on the blog I am a huge fan of musical theatre and I am constantly listening to cast recordings from various Broadway and West End shows however, despite the hype surrounding it, I only recently started listening to the Hamilton soundtrack and I now can't believe it took me so long to discover. I actually originally thought the show would be slightly too historical for me, as it is based on the life of American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, yet after listening it is hard not to become instantly obsessed with the talent of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who uniquely combined hip-hop and pop-driven musical theatre to create what can only be described as a musical masterpiece. Whilst I love the whole album, my favourites are definitely 'My Shot', 'Guns and Ships', 'Dear Theodosia' and 'It's Quiet Uptown' and I am now desperate to get tickets for the West End show next year. 

Stranger Things
Over the last year or so I have become a lot more interested in science-fiction as a genre, and so when everyone was raving about Stranger Things a couple of months ago I knew I would have to watch it, despite the fact that I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to anything slightly scary. Centred around a group of young children trying to find their missing friend, it combines the kind of 80s vibes and nostalgia of classic films like The Goonies and ET, as well as the horror and eeriness typically found in a Stephen King or Dean Koontz novel, making it one of the best things I have watched in a long time. For me it was the kind of show that I couldn't stop thinking about, even after watching all 8 episodes, as there is such a build up of mystery and tension, as well as an amazingly talented cast, and I can't wait for season 2 next year.

Shutter Island
I love any book or film with a good twist at the end so this had been on my to-read list for a while and I finally got around to reading it whilst on holiday. It tells the story of Teddy and Chuck, two US Marshals who have been sent to investigate the disappearance of a criminally insane woman from a mental hospital on the island. It is definitely a psychological thriller, full of suspense and little twists and turns throughout which made me as a reader question every character and their motives, which further enhanced the mystery written by Lehane. The ending is exceptionally clever and something I didn't see coming at all, and I was completely gripped from start to finish!

What have you been loving lately?

Megan

Beauty Products Worth The Hype

Whilst I am not usually one to jump on a bandwagon when it comes to certain trends, there are some products that, having been mentioned constantly by beauty bloggers and vloggers, I become way to curious to try and I end up giving into the hype to see what all the fuss is about. In some cases this ends in disappointment as it turns out some products are just not for me, however the majority of the time results with me triumphantly wondering where this product has been all my life so, without further ado, here are the products that I believe are worth the hype...

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation & Creamy Radiant Concealer
I have raved about both of these products a good few times on the blog recently as for me it is the perfect complexion duo. The foundation is extremely light, yet buildable, providing a good deal of coverage without looking or feeling too heavy or cakey, whilst the concealer manages to cover up any blemishes or imperfections flawlessly as well as brightening the under eye area. Since purchasing them they have become firm staples in my makeup bag and I would even go so far as to give them holy grail status as I cannot imagine my makeup routine without them. 

Urban Decay Naked Palette
Despite having owned this palette for a long while now and purchasing many new palettes since, this is the one that I consistently come back to. In my opinion it is probably one of the biggest fail safe palettes on the market as there is such a range of shadows, all of which are extremely smooth, buttery and pigmented, to create a wide variety of looks.  

Jo Malone Cologne
In my opinion I don't think you can go wrong with Jo Malone fragrance as there are so many to choose from and definitely something for everyone, with a huge range of sweet and fruity mists to slightly warmer and heavier scents. I would have to say they are also probably one of the longest lasting fragrances on the market as there have been a number of times, after having applied it at the start of the day, that I still catch whiffs of it around 11 o'clock at night. Although they are on the pricier side, I definitely do think they are worth forking out a little extra for as they are such a unique and high quality collection of fragrances. 

MAC Lipsticks
Beauty bloggers and MAC lipsticks seem to go hand in hand, with most makeup collections featuring a huge stash of the famous black bullets, and having finally tried them this year it is not hard to understand why. Available in so many different shades and finishes, they are exceptionally pigmented yet feel comfortable on the lips, as well as lasting a pretty decent amount of time, which is one of the main things I am after in a lip product. Whilst they are slightly expensive and there may be cheaper alternatives from the drugstore, you really can't go wrong with a MAC lipstick and they are definitely worth the hype.  

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed- Champagne Pop
If I had to pick the biggest blogger enabled purchase I have made it would definitely be this highlighter as, ever since it's release, I have read and watched so many rave reviews hailing it one of the best highlighters ever! Described as an apricot-gold highlighter, it is honestly one of the smoothest and softest powders I have tried, as well as being one of the most pigmented yet, despite this, it isn't too over the top, instead giving a pretty, subtle shimmer to the tops of cheekbones. 

MAC Brushes
When it comes to makeup brushes I am usually all about the cheaper offerings from brands such as Real Techniques as they do just as good a job as more higher end products at a fraction of the price. However, like the lipsticks, there are certain MAC brushes that I feel are worth the slight splurge as they seem to make applying makeup that little bit easier and are probably the most affordable that are available on the higher end market. Whilst they are all great, there are two standouts for me- the 217 and 239. 217 is perfect for applying shadows into the crease as it blends like a dream, whereas the 239 is better suited for packing on any shadow all over the lid. The two go hand in hand for creating any eye makeup look and are, without a doubt, worth the hype. 

Have you tried any of these products? Do you think they are worth the hype? 

Megan 

Tenerife Photo Diary

A couple of weeks ago I jetted off to Tenerife with my family for a much needed break in the sun and so, after finally going through/editing them, I thought I would share some of my favourite photos from the trip. We stayed in Puerto de la Cruz, which is one of the major cities in the north of the island and is apparently a lot greener and generally more relaxing and peaceful than the southern parts of the island. 

The city itself is extremely pretty and very authentically canarian with winding cobbled streets lined with traditional restaurants, bars and boutiques, making it the perfect place for casually wandering and exploring. It was also a surprisingly instagrammable place, and I found I was constantly snapping away on my phone for the perfect insta-worthy shot! If you are after a pretty, authentic and relaxing vacation it is definitely worth a visit!

Have you visited Tenerife?

Megan