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 

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

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

June Favourites

It's hard to believe that it is already the end of June and we are in the middle of summer when, at the moment I am writing this, it is a grey, gloomy day with rain hammering against the window. However, after checking that we hadn't skipped summer altogether and jumped straight into autumn, I realised it was time for my monthly favourites again, which I swear seem to be coming around quicker each month. I have discovered some real gems this past month, with products that I know I will continue to use and will remain a favourite for probably the rest of the year, so without further ado, here they are...

Topshop Lip Contour "Outline" & Topshop Lipstick "Mink"
Another month means another nude lip product for me to love, however this time it is actually a lip combo that I have constantly been wearing on my lips throughout June. I am obsessed with the 90's trend at the moment and so the liner is a perfect 'my lips but better' shade for slightly overdrawing my lips to give a plumper pout, whilst "mink" is a pretty dusty pink with brown undertones, which for me is a perfect dark nude. I have been loving pairing this with winged eyeliner and loads of mascara lately for a simple 90's inspired makeup look.  
 

St Ives Blemish Fighting Apricot Scrub
I have been on the hunt for a product to give me smoother and healthier looking skin for quite a while now but I never seem to have much luck as I have quite fussy, sensitive skin. However, I decided to give this scrub a go as I've heard so many rave reviews about the St Ives brand and now having tried it for myself I can easily see why. The product itself has quite a thick formula and is also extremely grainy, yet it doesn't feel harsh on my skin. Instead it gently exfoliates to reduce blackheads and blemishes and since using it I have noticed quite a difference in my skin, which now looks clearer and healthier. I also love the refreshing apricot scent as it reminds me of summer holidays and it has definitely become a skincare staple!


Sleek All Night Long Palette
I have been a fan of the Sleek eyeshadow palettes for a few years now and the couple that I already own are pretty battered as I love and use them so much, so when I was deciding on my makeup for an event I had recently I immediately went to purchase a new one as they are so affordable and I think could give some MAC shadows a run for their money. I went for the 'All Night Long' palette as every single shade looked wearable to me, which I find to be quite rare, and as there is a mixture of mattes and shimmers it is the perfect palette for creating more subtle looks in the day and darker, more dramatic makeup for the evening. I have done so many different looks with it already and I will definitely be experimenting more, especially over summer. 

Aveeno Skin Relief Shea Butter Moisturising Lotion
I have been suffering with quite dry and sensitive skin lately and so needed a pretty hydrating body lotion to give my skin some much needed moisture. I have used and loved an Aveeno moisturiser before as it thoroughly hydrated, yet didn't irritate, my skin and this one was no different. It is an extremely rich lotion that sinks into the skin almost instantly without feeling greasy or sticky, and it left my skin feeling ridiculously super soft and smooth whenever I used it.   

L'Oreal Infallible Fixing Mist
I had wanted to try a setting spray for so long as I was finding that using powder to set my makeup wasn't really doing it for me anymore, and so rather than splash out on a higher end one I decided to try the much more budget friendly offering from L'Oreal which I am now obsessed with. As someone who has combination/oily skin I never thought my makeup could stay looking so fresh for longer than 2-3 hours, yet a few quick sprays of this all over my face at the end of my makeup routine seems to lock in every bit of makeup I am wearing, keeping it fixed in place pretty much all day, without the need to powder or touch-up. I even recently managed to spend an entire day in London with my makeup on for about 14 hours with no need to touch up, so for fellow combination/oily skin sufferers this is honestly a (budget) miracle in a bottle!

Snapchat 
Out of all the social media platforms Snapchat has always been the one to allude me as, although I have downloaded it a couple of times previously, I was never that keen and didn't really get the hang of it. However, after a bit of a crash course from my sister I finally started using it properly and became obsessed with it the past month. I feel like it is a much more casual way to document your day compared to Twitter and Instagram, and I love having more of an insight into celebrities day to day lives as I am very nosy! The fact that Jim Parsons recently started using it as well makes it a 100x better!

What have you been loving this past month?

Megan  

Review | Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette

I am not normally one to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to hyped up beauty products or celebrity collaborations, however when Becca and Jaclyn Hill's latest collection was announced and I saw this beauty of a palette was part of the line-up I knew I would have to try and get my hands on it. So, when I happened to be on the Space NK website about three weeks ago to repurchase my favourite concealer at the same time that this palette went on pre-order, I couldn't resist, and when it arrived yesterday I immediately wanted to share my first impressions and swatches of my highlighting palette of dreams...

The Packaging- I think I can easily say that this is definitely one of the most beautiful beauty products I own as it looks and feels so luxurious and expensive. The Champagne Collection Face Palette is made of a pretty sturdy gold mirrored plastic with a white face that has a simple, yet elegant, gold confetti design. Despite it being quite a reasonable size (it fits in the plam of my hand), it isn't too bulky or heavy, so I think it will be pretty easy to travel with in the Summer for my holidays and the huge mirror encased inside is also a bonus!

The Products- Inside the palette there are five shades, four of which are completely brand new, all created by Jaclyn. There are two Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop, the original white-gold, peachy shade, and Prosecco Pop, which is more of a 'true gold' highlighter, as well as two Mineral blushes in Amaretto (a matte, toasted almond) and Pamplemousse (a matte coral pink) and a Luminous Blush in the shade Rosé Spritz, which is a peachy pink with a pale gold shimmer. All of the shades can either be worn alone or mixed and matched together to create a layered, customised glow. 

The products are all extremely pigmented, with a soft and creamy texture that applies to the face beautifully and blends seamlessly. From first impressions my favourites are definitely Rosé Spritz and Champagne Pop as I think these are the most wearable on an everyday basis, whether worn by themselves or layered together. Whilst all of the shades are supposedly universally flattering and are able to illuminate any skin tone, I definitely think that Prosecco Pop and Amaretto are more "summer" shades and will suit my skin tone more with a bit of a tan. However, with that being said, I love all of the shades and am pretty excited to start experimenting with all of the colours as it is such a beautiful palette!

Have you tried the Champagne Collection? What do you think?

Megan

May Favourites

So I had a little bit of a blogging break in the last week as I was quite busy with life 'stuff', but I'm back now with my May favourites which, I know I say every month, has come around way too quickly. This month is actually mostly beauty related as I've discovered some pretty amazing products recently that I have been reaching for on a daily basis as they have become instant favourites. Throw in my current favourite read to this collection which rounds out everything I've been loving in the past month.

Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lip Colour- Seduction

This was probably the only lip product I wore throughout the whole of May as I'm pretty obsessed with matte lips at the moment, and as I haven't yet jumped on the Kylie lip kit bandwagon this is a nice alternative. I don't think it comes as a surprise that I have the shade Seduction as I'm all about nude lips and this is the perfect beigy-nude, my lips but better shade for me. I will say that despite being sold as a matte product it does apply quite glossy at first, however once dry it becomes completely matte, lasts a pretty long time and doesn't look or feel dry on my lips. I definitely want to try out some more of these soon!

Simple Kind to Eyes Revitalising Eye Roll On

I have never really managed to use an eye product religiously before but, after noticing my eye area was looking a little tired and lack luster, I reached for this to make a part of my permanent skin routine. As it is revitalising I only use it in the morning, however I have noticed such a difference as my under eye area is so much smoother, with no visible bags and an overall brighter appearance. I also love the cooling sensation that the roll on gives as it really refreshes and wakes up my eyes and it is great for prepping my eyes before makeup. 

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation and Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

I've already posted a full review of both of these products (here) so I won't go into too much detail now but this foundation and concealer duo have definitely been my stand out products of the month. I manage to achieve a pretty perfect base using these two together as the foundation blends flawlessly into the skin, whilst the concealer covers any redness, blemishes or dark circles, giving a natural 'my skin but better' look. 

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Clay Re-Balancing Shampoo

I have always been particularly fussy with shampoo as my hair goes oily quickly and so I am always on the hunt for hair products that won't speed up the process. After reading a number of rave reviews of this L'Oreal range I thought I'd give it a go as it is specially tailored for oily roots and I can say that it has definitely become one of my favourite shampoos. My hair feels extremely clean and light after using it and whilst I don't think it would last 72 hours for me personally, I can definitely get two good hair days after using it, which can be quite a challenge sometimes!

Fangirl

After reading a couple of heavier novels in the past few months I wanted to enjoy a bit more of an easy, light-hearted read, so when I spotted this on my sister's bookshelf I decided to give it a go. As I am someone who does identify as a bit of a fangirl and have read my fair share of fanfiction in the past, it is the perfect book for me, yet whilst I love being able to identify with the main character what I love most is that it brings up/deals with some pretty big topics, however doesn't sugarcoat or romanticize these. I still have about 100 pages to go but you can expect a full review once I have finished it.  

Have you tried any of these products?

Megan