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

 

 

July Favourites

Happy August! It's the start of a new month which means that it is time for my monthly round-up of everything that I have been loving over the past few weeks. I haven't really discovered anything new beauty-wise this month, but there are products that are recent rediscoveries and have been staples for me throughout July, as well as the book that had me gripped for most of the month and my new fitness fave that has made me be able to run up the stairs without losing my breath...

Mac Eyeshadows - Woodwinked and Satin Taupe
Whilst I normally switch up my eye makeup look quite regularly I have found that over the past month I have been reaching for one of these two Mac shadows pretty much every day, as I think they are perfect for a simple sweep of colour on the lids, especially in summer. I've been loving wearing Woodwinked in the day as it's such a beautiful, warm bronzy-gold shade and looks great worn with just loads of mascara, whereas Satin Taupe, which is a medium taupe brown with silver shimmer, has been my go to for the evening as, when worn with black eyeliner, it gives a pretty, slightly smokier look without being too heavy - perfect for summer!

Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm
This has long been my favourite lip balm yet I had actually gone without it for months as it was always out of stock in my local Boots. However I finally managed to get my hands on one a couple of weeks ago and since then it has once again become a staple part of both my skincare and makeup routines. As it contains Beeswax and Vitamin E it really conditions and soothes dry lips, whilst the final hint of peppermint gives a refreshing tingle to the skin. It is definitely one of my holy grail 'can't live without' products.

Lee Stafford 'For hair that never grows past a certain length' Treatment
After having a huge portion of my hair chopped off last Christmas time I soon decided to try and grow it out healthier and stronger. 7 months later and it has now reached a sort of awkward growing out length so, after reading a number of rave reviews, I decided to purchase this mask to try and speed up the growing process. Now, I haven't been using it long enough to notice a huge difference in the length of my hair yet but the reason I have included it in my monthly favourites is that I have definitely noticed an improvement in the health of my hair. The mask is extremely conditioning and moisturising which leaves my hair feeling super soft and silky after every wash, as well as feeling a lot stronger and I will definitely continue using it consistently to hopefully grow my hair longer. 

The Body Shop Mango Body Mist
During the summer months I tend to favour a slightly lighter scent than my perfumes offer, which are all fairly strong and "heavier", and so I have been reaching for this Mango body mist on a daily basis. It is the perfect summer scent- sweet, fresh and fruity, to give a light mist of mango that lasts pretty much all day. 

Blogilates
Every summer I always set a goal to start working out a bit more and become slightly fitter, yet this is probably the first year that I have actually managed to stick to this thanks, in part, to Blogilates. I stumbled across this Youtube Channel whilst searching for a quick cardio routine and it has now become my favourite way to workout as there is such a mixture of exercises- long and short, easy to more difficult, and cardio and toning. I also love the fact that Cassey is such an upbeat and motivating trainer, which makes it very difficult not to have fun and enjoy the workout. My favourite is definitely the 8 minute fat burn cardio and since incorporating it into my day I have noticed that I am fitter and healthier, which makes me extremely happy!

Life of Pi
This has been on my to-read list for ages and so when I spotted it in a second hand bookshop at the beginning of the month I knew I would have to pick it up. It tells the story of Pi, a 16 year old boy, who survives a tragic shipwreck and months in a lifeboat at sea with a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. It is such a harrowing novel, yet the storytelling and vivid images created allow you to truly get sucked in as a reader, so much so that there were times that I actually felt like I was there on the lifeboat myself. Yann Martel's descriptions really gave an insight into Pi's physical, emotional and mental state at all times and, whilst it is a traumatic and slightly horrific book at times, it really was a wonderful novel which I would recommend to anyone.  

What have been your favourite products recently?

Megan

The Harry Potter Tag

Anyone that knows me will know that I am a massive Harry Potter fan and have been since I was about 8 years old so I thought it was about time that I shared my love for the wizarding world on the blog and do The Harry Potter Tag, which I have seen floating around on the internet quite a lot recently. I had so much fun answering these questions and reliving my childhood so, without further ado, I'll dust off my robes and grab a cup of butterbeer, with Hedwig's Theme playing quietly in the background, and get started...

1. Favourite Book?
The Goblet of Fire, without a doubt, as I have always found the whole storyline to be the most interesting and captivating. For me everything about the novel fits together perfectly - the Quidditch World Cup, learning about the other schools, the Triwizard Tournament, the Yule Ball and Voldemorts rebirth - as well as all the little twists and turns throughout, which makes it even more mysterious and magical in my opinion.

2. Favourite Movie?
I find it so hard to pick my favourite out of all the films but I think I would have to go with The Prisoner Of Azkaban as I love the whole look/design of the film and the new characters that were introduced such as Sirius, Lupin and Trelawney. Also, Hermione punching Draco= one of the best moments EVER!

3. Least Favourite Book?
I love them all but probably Chamber of Secrets as I never find the plot as gripping or exciting as the others. In fact, the very first time I started reading the books I gave up halfway through CoS ( I think it was the Deathday Party chapter to be exact) as I found it too boring! However, I don't think it took me long to start reading them again and from then on I became obsessed.  

4. Least Favourite Movie?
Half Blood Prince as I feel like they changed quite a lot of it/added unnecessary parts and it just didn't really live up to my expectations. 

5. Parts of the books/movies that made you cry?
I don't really cry that easily at books or movies but one of the only things that has ever made me cry was the first time I read Dobby's death in the Deathly Hallows. 

6. If you could hook up with any HP character, who would it be?
Probably George Weasley.

7. Favourite male character?
Sirius Black has always been one of my favourite characters as I think he's so likeable and such a brave and caring father/brother figure to Harry and, whilst I didn't cry at his death, if any character could be bought back from the dead I would want it to be Sirius.

8. Favourite female character?
Professor Mcgonagall hands down! She is such a strong, badass women with the best sarcastic comments and one-liners, and Maggie Smith plays her to perfection in the movies. I love her!

9. Least favourite character?
Umbridge. 

10. Best book to film character adaptation?
There are so many to choose from as I think the casting for these films were pretty much spot on, but some of my favourites are: Snape, Hagrid, Mcgonagall, Voldemort, Luna and Umbridge. 

11. Worst book to film character adaptation?
Ginny. In the books she is a fiery, independent and popular witch and really makes a name for herself despite being the last of the Weasley's, however in the films she doesn't really do anything and seems to just be there as a love interest for Harry. 

12. What would your patronus be?
I have no idea but I think a zebra would be pretty cool.  
 

13. If you could have the Resurrection Stone, The Invisibility Cloak or The Elder Wand, which one would you choose?
Definitely the invisibility cloak as it's the most useful out of the three and would be great for sneaking around and scaring people!

14. What house would you be in?
Ravenclaw as I'm pretty creative/artistic and always daydreaming. 

15. If you could meet any member of the cast, who would it be?
I have already kinda met Rupert Grint and Oliver Phelps when they came to my school a few years ago as a competition prize for a student in a higher year, but if I could meet any of the others it would have to be Emma Watson. 

16. Which class would be your favourite?
Charms. 

17. If you could remake any of the films, what would you remake?
Even though HBP was my least favourite I would probably remake Deathly Hallows: Part 2 as I wish they had done the whole showdown between Harry and Voldemort, with Harry explaining everything to Voldemort, in front of everyone, like in the book, rather than them jumping from the top of Hogwarts and Voldemort being blasted to smithereens.  
 
18? Were you happy with the ending?
I was happy with Voldemorts defeat and the sort-of twist that Harry was the master of The Elder Wand, but instead of 19 years later I would have liked an update on what happened after the war. What happened to Hermione's parents? Umbridge? Did Harry visit the Dursleys? I know they may seem unimportant but it's the little things I want to know.

19? Books or Films?
Is that even a question? Books, everytime!

20? How much does Harry Potter mean to you?
Harry Potter honestly means a huge deal to me as it was such a massive part of my childhood and I think it will hold a special place in my heart for as long as I live. I almost get butterflies whenever I turn to the first page of Philosophers Stone and read the words "Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number 4, Privet Drive" as I know I am about to go on such an immense journey and I will be forever grateful to J.K.Rowling for making my childhood so magical.  

Do you like Harry Potter? Why not have a go at this tag?

Megan 

My Everyday Summer Makeup Routine

I tend to switch up my makeup routine quite drastically in the summer months as I favour a slightly lighter, fresher and glowier look than I do during the rest of the year so today I thought I would share the products I have been wearing on a daily basis as part of my current summer makeup routine...

To start with I have been loving the Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation as I find it gives a slightly dewier finish than my usual Nars Sheer Glow, especially when applied with a damp beauty blender. I then pop some of the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer over any redness or blemishes as well as under my eyes to cover any dark circles and brighten the under eye area. 

Next I move on to my eyes, where I start by filling in my eyebrows with the Maybelline Brow Satin Pencil, which is extremely quick to use and gives a really natural finish. I then take the Bourjois Quad Eyeshadow Palette in Upside Brown and apply the slightly golden-brown shade all over the lid, with a little of the medium brown blended into the outer corners of my eyes. I line my upper lash line with the darkest shade in the palette, whilst I run my Mac Coffee Eye Pencil along my waterline for a more natural eye makeup look. To finish, I curl my lashes before coating them with my favourite Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara. 

To complete the face I lightly dust some of the Nars Laguna Bronzer on my cheekbones, temples and along my jawline to add some warmth to my skin and give a little bit of depth and definition to my face. I then apply Rose Spritz from the Becca x Jaclyn Hill palette to my cheeks, before layering Champagne Pop and Prosecco Pop on the tops of my cheekbones for a pretty summer glow. To set my makeup in place I spray the L'Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist all over my face and then finish my whole routine with the Revlon Moisture Lip Stain in Cannes Crush, which is my current go to summer lip product.  

What are your favourite makeup products for Summer?

Megan

My Favourite TV Shows

Like most of the population I watch a lot of TV which I don't think is a surprising fact considering that whatever my current obsession is, it is often featured in my monthly favourites posts and I have a list as long as my arm on my phone of all of the shows that I hope to get around to watching some day. Because of this, I thought I would share some of my all time favourite TV shows, both old favourites and more recent discoveries, all of which have had me, at one point or another, binge-watching Netflix (and going slightly square-eyed in the process!) to my heart's content... 

The Big Bang Theory
I don't think it comes as a surprise that this is number one in this list as I have mentioned it in numerous blog posts but it is, without a doubt, my favourite TV show ever and I know it might be considered a little strange, but I obsess over this show in the same way many people obsess over Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. I love how lighthearted and easy to watch it is, as well as how relatable the characters are, and it also played a part in making me realise how much I loved and wanted to study science. I know some people hate it, but for me it instantly brightens my day when I watch it, and I am extremely excited for season 10 (which I hope isn't the last!) in September.

Gossip Girl
Quite a contrast to TBBT but this show was the first that I properly became obsessed with a couple of years ago. I must admit that I have a kind of love/hate relationship with Gossip Girl as sometimes it can be slightly tedious (season 5 in particular), however for the most part I love the characters and storylines and it makes me even more desperate than usual to live in New York every time I watch it.

Pretty Little Liars
It's always difficult for me to decide whether I love Gossip Girl or PLL more yet, despite having quite similar storylines at times, I think Pretty Little Liars would just have the edge as it's so much darker and sinister than Gossip Girl. I love mysteries and thrillers and this show is full of secrets, so much so that there have been many times where I have physically gasped and been left open-mouthed in shock as things have been revealed. Although I didn't really enjoy season 6 I am getting quite into the new season and I can't wait to find out the identity of uber A and for the whole story to be revealed.

How To Get Away With Murder
It's slightly morbid but I have loved TV shows involving crime and murder for a long time (I blame my Mum), so when I was looking for something new to watch a few months ago and spotted this on Netflix, I immediately started watching it. It is one of the most addictive shows I have watched, with a few different storylines interweaving throughout the episodes to give an overall gripping plot. Viola Davis plays the lead character Annalise Keating so perfectly and with so much emotion that you sometimes forget you are watching a fictional TV show, whilst the rest of the cast are also extremely likeable, yet slightly suspicious at all times, which keeps you kind of doubtful and on the edge of your seat constantly. It is definitely one of the best shows I have watched this year!

Star Trek: The Original Series
As I have recently become a lot more interested in science fiction I have been very eager to start watching Star Trek, so when Netflix added every series of the show a couple of weeks ago it was instantly added to my list. For someone who is fairly new to the world of sci-fi, I have become pretty obsessed  with this show and I have really been enjoying watching it  as, despite it being a 1960's series, I personally haven't watched anything like it before. I like how every episode is a completely different story, yet the characters and the relationships between them continually develops, and I can't wait to see what happens next.  

What are your favourite TV shows?

Megan