Say Hello To Summer Hair.....

You should all know by now that I am a Haircare Addict.

& now that Summer is upon us, I think it's only time that I let you into my new Haircare Routine which, might I add has a lot of unintentional summer vibes! So whether you want to grab an amazing Coconut smelling Shampoo, need a new Detoxifier or have run out of Salt Spray, hopefully this post will provide a little haircare inspiration-

The Ultimate Summer Duo: Organix's Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner is holy grail stuff you hear me!!! The perfect scent for summer (Coconut) that is enriched with Whipped Egg White Protein & Coconut Oils- which according to the bottle, leaves your hair feeling hydrated & nourished. What I love most about this duo is how full & glossy my hair feels/looks after use, even on application the shampoo is a thicker consistency then most shampoo's I've used which really shows once lathering into your hair as I kid you not, you can feel your hair gaining volume! Even when blow drying with a round brush, it grips brilliantly allowing you to style your hair with easy without the tangles, frizz & pain! 

The Detoxifier: Bumble & Bumble's Sunday Shampoo is perfect for a hair detox once a week to wash away all the sand, sweat & product build up our tresses collect during the warmer months. Extremely clean smelling & feels like a breath of fresh air has swept through your hair, I love how squeaky clean & fresh my hair feels after use. 

The Restorers: With all the sun, sea & chlorine Summer brings, you need to make sure that your adding moisture back into those locks which is why I swear by using a hair mask once a week. L'oreal's Everpure Reinforcing Intense Mask is my pick- Rosemary scented & very rich, a little goes a long way here! I apply about a 50p piece size in my palms & smooth into mid shaft to the ends of my hair & then wash out thoroughly with tepid water. To add an extra boost, before blow drying or leaving my hair to air dry, I add a drop of Josie Maran's Argan Oil to the ends of my wet hair just to add a little extra hydration!      

The Style Saviours: Want your beauty waves to last? Toni & Guy's Rough Texturiser Spray & Schwarzkopf's got2b Beach Matt Texturizing Salt Spray all you need! Adding more texture & definition to your hair, the Texturising Spray is perfect for first day hair where you don't have any grit to it. Smells gorgeous & doesn't way your hair down, I love using this to beef up your waves. Along with the Salt Spray that doesn't leave your hair feeling crispy or sticky, you've got yourself a perfect summer style combination. 

*********

What's your haircare routine?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

Summer Lips Sorted....

The suns out, the smell of barbecues wafts through the air, your shaving routine has tripled since April & you've dusted off your Birkenstock's- it can only mean that we are final into the peak of Summer! *hallelujah* 

& with the temperatures soaring, I find myself reaching naturally for brighter, pinker, corally lipstick shades that shout 'Hello Summer!' So here are my pick of what I call, my ultimate lip hero's that are perfect for whatever holiday you are going on this summer-

For the Week Away with the Girls: Revlon's Ultra HD Lipstick in the colour Geranium is an amped up corally red dream- extremely creamy in texture providing fool proof application & leaves your lips feeling smooth as a baby's bottom! This is a great lipstick paired with bare, naturally glowing skin after a day at the beach & is the perfect addition to a crochet crop top, distressed cut off denim shorts & laid-back be achy waves.

For the French Riviera: L'Oreal's Color Riche Matte in VIP is a classic old Hollywood pinkish red, with a buttery texture that makes the lip colour sit comfortably on the lips all day. Looks beautiful with a bronze skin & a gold eye, this is perfect for those warm evenings spent walking along the Boulevard de la Croisette or dining  in La Palme d'Or. 

For the Weekend in Cornwall: Newlook's Pure Colour Matte Lipstick in Apricot teamed with their Lip Pencil is the perfect nude lip for a fuss free, relaxing weekend by the sea. A close dupe to Mac's Velvet Teddy but for half the price, has a good amount of staying power if your going to be spending the day surfing or munching through plenty of pasties- its hardly going to break the bank! Amp it up for the evening with a smokey eye & strong contour, you'll be good to go to the end of summer beach bonfire.

For the City Break: Revlon's Colorstay Ultimate Suede in Socialite is an ultimate summer city break staple- sweat proof, long-lasting, the prettiest of pinks & compliments any outfit you won't need to pack any other lipstick! I have spoken about these babies before (link HERE to see my thoughts) so I won't go into too much detail, however apply once & throw in your bag before you spend a day sightseeing & you won't need to apply again until dinner.

For the Adventure Holiday: Hello Bourjois Rouge Edition Aqua Laque in Appechissant! A cross between a lipgloss with the colour pay off you would get from a lipstick, this is perfect if your a low maintenance gloss lover. A pretty rose pink that smells like Raspberries  it feels like a splash of cold water (no exaggeration!) on first application, but dries to a glossy light texture making it feel lovely & moisturising on your lips. This is the lightest coverage out of all of them as it is more like gloss & does not last as long in comparison, but for the warmer months it is dreamy. 

For the Staycation: Finally Rimmel Apocalips Matte Lip Lacquer in Atomic Rose is the ultimate barely there coral. Again more like a lipgloss in texture, this particular formulae dries matte making it last just as long as a lipstick. Perfect for garden parties & chilling on a sun lounger, this effortless shade is perfect for those savvy staycationers!

**********

What are your favourite Summer lips?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥ 

Beauty Review: Make Up Academy Cover & Conceal Concealer......

Makeup Academy Cover & Conceal Concealer- £1.50 Each

What has been established a lot here on VE is the fact that I bloody love MUA Cosmetics! 

So much so, that I tend to buy their products in bulk (two or three of each) just in case I can never get my hands on some of my favs for quiet awhile. Well ladies & gents I tell you this, one of my beloved products has been completely sold out for nearly a month & I am beyond distraught! 

The item in question is of course The Conceal & Brighten Kit in Porcelain Beige which I cannot rave about & love enough. To begin with I thought that because my two local stores that stock it usual are quiet tiny, that perhaps they hadn't got their order through yet so carried on waiting & checking every day. Two weeks past & I was literally scrapping the pan & corners, I started to check the Superdrug in Brighton- no luck. Then Crawley- the same, then Horsham- nope! I started to worry & have been checking online & every single day I'm on my lunch break in Brighton to see if they have had new stock of it in- BUT NOTHING!!!! This scrapping of corners lasted for close to a month & still there was no sign of them restocking it anytime soon, so I was forced to go & find an alternative for my beloved palette. Of course I didn't want to part with an uber amount of cash because if I didn't like the formula or the colour match was way off I would just beat myself up about how it was a waste of money & because I am such a MUA fan, I stuck with them & gave another product a whirl!

I brought all three colour shades on offer- Fair, Natural & Almond, all of which are shades you would expect in a concealer palette. The formula of them is quiet light & thin, which did concern me to begin with as I thought the coverage would be terrible but if you work in layers (two looks great) it's easily buildable and does not look cakey. I use the sponge applicator that it comes with to apply the product underneath my eyes & on any spots or redness & then using my ring finger, I lightly blend the product into the skin finishing off with my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush to take off any excess & buff it in. The colour I was the most excited to try was Almond- its the more peachier toned out of the three which is perfect for concealing dark circles under the eyes. Again I am blown away- they are cheap & cheerful, great coverage, easily buildable, no cakey-ness, look natural & feel lovely on the skin. Although I am still in love with my beloved palette, I think I may have a Summer romance with these babies- you never know it may turn into a marriage (fingers crossed these don't disappear too!). 

Have you tried these concealers? Does anyone know the mystery surrounding the Conceal & Brighten Kits?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo 

♥

My Five Ultimate Go-To Lip Products.....

I have never really been a lipstick kinda of girl. 

My teenage self would always be the Natural Collection lipgloss wearing, Lip Smackers hoarding addict which has carried on into my early twenties (minus the Lip Smackers part!). 

However over the last couple of years I have tried to embrace a splash of colour on the ol' lips- granted it can't be too bold & needs to have a worn it all day/model off duty kind of look  for me to even consider wearing it. So here are my ultimate go to lip products & shades that I reach for on a regular basis, ticking all the right boxes for a lipstick scaredy cat like moi! 

Revlon ColourBurst Matte Lip Balm in 'Elusive': If there is one lipbalm that pushes me out of my comfort zone this is it. 'Elusive' is a cool toned pink that looks just as beautiful in the bullet as it does on the lips. Now I must say I did surprise myself when I brought this down to how bold this one looks in comparison to my other favs, however I feel it brings out shades in my skin tone I didn't even know existed! I love how you can wear it both day & night with a strong cat eye or tea dress. A pattern you will see occurring in this post is how I like lip products to feel on. They have to be moisturising & not drying on the lips- the one thing I hated as a teen was the feeling of heavy, drying lip products. These balms being matte, I was a little sceptical of how they would feel as I had flash forwards of them being ultra drying & heavy. However they feel lovely & smooth on, lasting a few hours before needing to be reapplied & I love how cute they look!  

Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in 'Chintz': I've said it before & I'll say it again, this is one make up product I cannot live with out & is so incredibly beautiful in formulation & colour that leaves me weak at the knees. If you ask me to describe 'Chintz' I would say it is the colour of an English rose- pink with an earthy undertone to it which looks beautiful with porcelain skin. The formulation is very creamy in texture so glides on with easy & keeps your lips feeling hydrated throughout the day. If I am feeling down & need a pick me up this lipstick does not fail in making me feel happy, also I get a lot of compliments when I wear it so that also helps boost the old confidence! 

Revlon ColourBurst Lip Butter in 'Juicy Papaya': Revlon's Lip Butters are my comfort zone for a lipstick noob like me. A cross between a lip balm & a lipstick which is so so moisturising & creamy when you apply it, which leaves my lips look soft & juicy (ooerr!). The colour like any kind of lipbalm is very sheer so is very buildable, which for someone like me who just likes a hint of colour on the lips is perfect. 'Juicy Papaya' is one of those coral-red shades that just makes me think of summer whenever I wear it & looks great with minimal makeup.

Revlon ColourStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in 'Socialite': You've probably all started to sense a pattern forming here- I love Revlon lip products! The Ultimate Suede's collection does what it says on the tin, provides great application with it not feeling heavy on the lips & has great staying power. The one thing I would say you have to do before applying it is you need to add a balm underneath (my fav is Nuxe Reve De Miel), as this lipstick does have a tendency to stick to the lines & grooves of your lips if used on it's own. However the colour is more or less identical to 'Chintz' perhaps a shade darker, which looks lovely & natural for an everyday look but for half the price. 

Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in 'Luna': The Apocalips range is known for being highly pigmented, bursting with bright colours with strong colour pay off- so your all probably surprised that one of them is a go-to product of mine! 'Luna' is the most gorgeous, warm peachy shades that I have ever used. As I am typically pale for nine out of the twelve months we have in the year, I feel this shade still looks just as beautiful on me tan or no tan! As we all know I love a neutral eye, & this paired with a simple smokey eye makes me feel uber summery as well as complimenting my dark eyes & hair. The Apocalips formula is one of my favourites out there- it's not sticky or drying, a little of the product goes a long way & it lasts for most of the day. I am still working my confidence up to investing in more of the shades from this range however when I feel I need a little summer pick me up, I reach for this one the most.  

*********

What are your go-to lip products that never fail to put a smile on your face?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

How To Sooth An Itchy Scalp......

Ladies I hold my hand up & admit that I, like sixty percent of the global population suffer from itchy scalp & Dandruff! Not only is it not glamorous, it also makes you feel self conscious, restless & frustrated.

After spending a good deal of my teens washing my hair every other day & 'suffering in silence' with my irritable scalp, I wanted to share with you all two of my tried & tested, 'no frills' products that have helped my scalp feel & look healthy again, as well as restoring my love for my hair! 

Head & Shoulders Citrus Fresh Shampoo: I am not afraid to admit it, for years I have used Head & Shoulders to try to combat my dry & (gulp) dandruff prone scalp. Not only do I personally suffer from a sensitive & dry scalp, but also my roots become fairly greasy after the second day meaning that I have two big nasties to tackle. The Citrus Fresh version of this shampoo I find works the best for me, as its formulation is made specifically for greasy hair. It doesn't smell too lemony almost a little bit herbal which when applied to the scalp, gives off a cool, soothing sensation. What I love most about this shampoo is how calm my scalp feels after using it, which makes a huge difference to the way my hair feels everyday. 

Boots Build Up Removal Expert Shampoo: A few months back, I started to notice straight after washing & blow drying my hair that for some reason my hair would look greasy & limp, as though I had not washed it at all. After numerous frantic google searches & badgering my mum to examine my hair, (lol!) I came to the conclusion that my hair was wighted down with product *cough dry shampoo* & needed a good old detox. I didn't want to splash out & buy the Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo (which I did eventually buy!) so again headed to google search to find a cheaper alternative, where I found many rave reviews on a boots own brand! This shampoo is liquid gold- removes product build up like a dream leaving my hair feeling super clean & voluminous as well as looking super glossy & healthy days after. The only negative that I do find when I use this is, like all clarifying shampoos is that it is too harsh to use every time you wash your hair & although I only wash my hair twice a week, I tend to use this every other week as it can become too harsh on my scalp making it become greasy on day two. That aside I love this shampoo as a cheap, fortnightly hair detox & actually when alternated between hair washes with my Head & Shoulders Shampoo, keeps my scalp feeling a lot calmer & health looking. Side Note- expect a comparison post between The Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo & this one next week!

What are your hair 'unsung heros'?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

Nails Of The Week: Feeling Fruity......

 

The sun is shining, you've probably dusted off your barbecue & may have contemplated wearing, gasps flip flops! But if the thought of the last two is a little premature, I have a little subtle sprinkle of summer that will put a smile on your face- orange nails, more specifically a light peach shade.

Queue Barry M's Gelly (that's right, with a g & not j!) Polishes which myself & a fair few other beauty girlies out there were completely lusting over last summer (mainly down to how ridiculously glossy they are!) & with the weather being super super sunny recently, I decided to crack out an old fav & embrace the bright coloured nails! 

'Papaya' is a gorgeous peachy, coral shade that with or without a tan looks really pretty. As I said before, the ultimate thing I love the most about these nail polishes is the super glossy & hi shine effect these polishes have as soon as it touches your nails- looks like your wearing Nails inc's 'Kensington Caviar Topcoat' when secretly it's just two coats! The formula is a thick consistency meaning that with one swoop of the brush you get a great even coverage, but with two coats you get high shine & long wearing all in one. 

Who doesn't want to pretend your sitting on a white, sandy beach drinking a fancy, tropical cocktail whilst supporting perfectly  fruity talons?!

*********

Whats your favourite transitional colour ready for Summer?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

My Weekly Must Haves 001......

L-R: Avene Eau Thermale Spray, Bourjois Blusher in 'Rose Frisson', Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in 'Get Figgy', Revlon Colourbrust Matte Lip Balm in 'Elusive', Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Volumising Masacara & Bath & Bodyworks Hand Sanitizer in 'Fresh Picked Apples'.

There are some weeks when you feel like certain products make your day that little bit better. Whether a certain foundation makes your skin that little bit more flawless or a specific smell makes you feel happy, these small things really can impact on your week.

Enter my Weekly Must Haves that bring a smile to my face!

Now let's start with this amazing clutch that I snatched up from Zara, it pretty much sums me up in a sentence- "Stressed, But Well Dressed..." so much love for it! The newest addition to my skincare routine is this little travel size Avene Eau Thermale which I am obsessed with, as when teamed with my Hydralyron Gel adds some much needed moisture & glow back into my tired skin. To add a little flush to my cheeks, Bourjois 'Rose Frisson' gives a really subtle blush flush without looking too obvious that I'm wearing blusher! & I'm really into one shade on the eyes at the moment & nothing looks better then 'Get Figgy' by Benefit, especially when paired with my newest favourite mascara by Soap & Glory (did someone say volume!?) that gives that 'model off duty' kind of vibe. Now I'm not the only one who's raving about the Revlon Matte Lip Balms & my favourite shade at the moment is 'Elusive', which is a cross between blush pink & candy floss perfect for a dash of colour to your everyday face. Lastly theres something about the smell of apples that makes me long for Spring & Summer- Thank you Bath & Bodyworks for inventing such an amazing smelling hand sanitiser!

********

What are your current 'go to' items that get you through the week?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

Nails Of The Week: In The Nude.....

I am very partial to a nude nail.

As February comes around with Spring just around the corner, I always find myself gravitating towards classic, simple & neutral nail polishes. It goes with just about anything, looks clean on the nails & adds a 'trying but not really trying' feel to an outfit. 

My 'Go To' nude of the moment is a forgotten treasure by Urban Outfitters called 'Doll' which I find is the perfect nude- pink but not too pink, biscuity but not really with the ability to make my nails looks like they seamlessly blend into my skin (such a good description right there ladies & gents!). I love the staying power of this polish as two days into wear it does not show any signs of chipping nor have I got any signs of wear & is still lovely & glossy in appearance. 

Paired with my favourite ripped boyfriend jeans & woven cardigan, the polish just adds that last effortless detail to a perfect weekend uniform. Whether your going out for brunch, meeting girl friends for a drink or cleaning the bathroom (we all do it!)- a nude nail is your perfect weekend nail. 

Because everything looks better 'In The Nude'.....

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥

How To Keep Hydrated During Winter......

December marks the start of winter & for me that means a shake up to the products I use on my skin- as the weather becomes colder & the central heating gets warmer, your skin starts to feel the change! So here are my go to products that make such a difference to the way my skin looks & feels during winter, locking in all that moisture & making me happy! 

The Body Shop Body Butter in Strawberry: Of course you need to keep your body feeling soft & healthy & a good body butter is essential- enter my favourite body butters by The Body Shop. I have confessed my love for their body butters for quiet a while now- super buttery & nourishing for your skin as well as the scents being so yummy smelling & linger for hours, these are the reasons why I keep repurchasing them. Currently I am indulging in the Strawberry scent, which makes me feel like a Strawberry Ice Cream & very reminiscent of summer.

Figs & Rouge Pepper Mint & Green Tea Lip Balm: One of the worst things about Winter is dry, chapped lips. Enter a good lip balm & luckily I have two! This one by Figs & Rouge is my 'during the day top up', always in my bag or coat pocket for those on the go applications & what I love about this particular lip balm is the fact that its texture is thinner then Vaselin, almost like oil that just glides on nicely & seals in all the moisture.

L'Occitane Hand Cream in Coco Butter: Hands must not be neglected during the festive season as you don't want them looking like a desert. In Hand Creams I always look for ones that are not sticky or too oily, sink into the skin really quickly & make my hands feel softer- L'Occitane definitely delivers. I love the scent of this particular hand cream & when messaged into the cuticles makes my nails look a great deal healthier then before. 

Freeman's Avocado & Oatmeal Clay Face Mask: To lock in all the moisture that central heating & the chilly air takes away from your skin during December, a weekly face mask is a necessity. I picked this one up in New York this year & find that it calms my acne prone skin, whilst adding a lot of the moisture my skin has lost back into it. 

Nuxe Bio Tinted Lip Balm in Peach: If you need a lip product that not only keeps them moisturised whilst adding a dash of colour to them, then look no further then this little lady from Nuxe. Smells lovely & peachy whilst adding a peachy tint to your lips, this is my favourite tinted lip balm as it keeps your lips feeling soft for a really long time & with the bonus of the peach taste! 

Origin's Highly Potent Night Cream: Oh my god. This is holy grail material! If your skin is dehydrated or you have bad acne scaring then this stuff will work wonders on your skin. I apply this every night to my neck & face (you don't need a lot as a little goes a long way) & in the morning my skin looks so much healthier it's ridiculous!

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm: Enter my morning & evening lip balm that prepares my lips for the day, as I have said before this is my favourite lip balm by a mile as it keeps them moisturised as well as giving them a little exfoliate with the built in exfoliating bits in it. 

Origins Drink Me Up Hydrating Face Mask: Now a good hydrating, leave on face mask is essential during these cool months because your skin does most of the repairs & rebuilding as you sleep, so therefore if you can lock in all the moisture in your skin whilst you sleep you will have plumper looking, healthier skin in the morning. I really find this Origin's mask leaves my skin feeling softer & plumper after using it overnight, as well as reducing the size of my pesky pores. 

Caudalie Eau de Rasins Facial Spray: There is nothing I like more then spraying this over my clean face right before I apply my Hydraluron & moisturiser- it feels like my skin is drinking it up!! The use of a facial spray like this one helps again add moisture back into the skin, as well as giving it a little refresh before bed. 

V05 Miricle Concentrate: Now let's not forget your hair! With hair driers & styling tools being used more in the winter months, your hair tends to take a battering & you may not realise it but your hair may appear drier with split ends becoming more frequent. This is where I look to my little V05 friend to give me glossy tresses- I always apply it to towel dried hair working it into the ends & then leave my hair to dry a little for a couple of hours before blow drying. Makes my hair feel super soft & healthy.

Origin's GinZing Eye Cream: After a lot of partying & late nights your under eyes may need a little tlc, so a good eye cream is essential. This baby makes my eyes look & feel more awake whilst adding moisture back into the eye area.

Hydraluron: I didn't think my skin was the dehydrated kind- it didn't look it & certainly didn't feel it, but ever since introducing this into my skincare routine last month I can see a difference in the way my skin looks. I think any product that makes your moisturiser absorb into the skin quicker & locks in more moisture is a winner during the cold months. Your skin will love you for it!

What are your good to items for the cooler months?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxo

♥

Christmas Gift Idea: Origins Morning To Midnight Gift Set.....

So many bloggers rave about Origins products.

For me two in particular have always stood out every time I would walk through my local Boots (Drink Me Up Face Mask & GinZig Eye Cream) & every time I would look & try them out but would not purchase. However during a little late night trip after work a month ago, I was drawn into buying one of their Christmas Gift Sets. The reason why I brought the gift set & not the two products I had been eyeing up, was because it was much more cheaper for me to buy the set then the two products alone especially when nearly all of them are full sized & because I am a products junkie, gave me an excuse to test out a couple more products I would not have brought otherwise! 

Here is what I thought about each product available in this set.

GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream:
If you read my Sunday Catch-Up post, then you would know that I had a really bad week in the old sleep department last week & because my under eye circles were out of control I really needed to use a good eye cream. Now one of the reasons why I picked up this gift set was because I wanted to try out this eye cream & the face mask below & I'm so glad because this eye cream is holy grail material! I swear my under eye circles looked a lot better after application & on one of the days when my eyes were looking particularly puffy, after applying this they looked & felt a lot better.      

Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Face Mask:
When it comes to autumn a good face mask is essential, especially to lock in all of the moisture & aid cell repair over night. Again I was really intrigued to use a mask that was designed for use over night, as well as seeing whether my skin looked & felt different afterwards. Like the eye cream, I really feel like this is such a great product, especially for autumn because my skin looks & feels so much more softer & healthier after use. The smell is really really amazing- a cross between peaches & mango which is a big plus for me because anything that smells that good draws me into using it again! I use it once a week to give my skin a little treat after a long week braving all the elements & I really think that this mask is worth the hype. Thank you for making my skin look & feel better!

High Potency Night-A-Mins Overnight Face Cream:
I cannot believe how much I love this facial cream- smelling like a Terry's Chocolate Orange with a little more herbiness to it, the scent makes me feel very calm & refreshed. It feels dreamy when applying it to the skin & a little goes a long way, because as it is very thick in texture it just glides onto the skin & makes my skin feel really soft & moisturised. Since using this for the last month, it is safe to stay that I have definitely noticed a change in the way my skin looks- a lot more fresher & healthier, as well as the acne scarring on my face looking a little more faded then before. 

GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer:

Out of all of the products, this is the only one that I have yet to try! The only little bit of info I can give you all is that again it smells like a Terry's Chocolate Orange, but the texture is a lot thinner then the Overnight Cream meaning that it wouldn't be so heavy as a daily moisturiser.

If you are looking for a good present for Christmas for your mum/sister/aunt/friend, or even for yourself, give this gift set ago because on value for money alone this is a ridiculous good deal!

Have you tried any Origin products before? If so, what is your favourite?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥

For Hair Like Kate Middleton: Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse.......

I am one of those people who gets jealous every time I see a picture of Kate Middleton's hair. 

Smooth, glossy & probably silky to touch (with a slight resemblance to a Galaxy chocolate bar), I have made it my mission to get hair that looks as health & silky as Kate's.

This mission started nearly a couple of years ago when everyone was raving about the VO5 Miracle Concentrate Conditioner, ever since it has been my go to oil to use when my hair is damp after washing. But through time I felt the urge to try something new & a little more high end to have a comparison to & so this year when on holiday in France whilst have a browse in one of the Pharmacies, I came across this all purpose dry oil by Nuxe & thought I must try this!

As I said before, Nuxe is a very well known brand in France & again whilst doing some research on what I should try when over there this little beauty came up. One of the first things I must say is that it is marketed as an all purpose oil- meaning you can use it on your body, face, hair, nails where ever you want! Me, I like to keep things simple & as I am not a lover of using body or face oils, my hair is the only place I have been putting the oil. This oil boasts in having thirty percent natural plant oils, as well as Vitamin E to help nourish & repair your body & hair.

Firstly lets talk about the scent, now I am not a lover of how this smells- for me its a little too 'old lady-esque' with it being very floral & what I would describe as a very french smelling perfume smell. With that being said I can look past the smell as it does disappear after about half hour after you have applied it to your hair (it probably would stick around for a lot longer if you used it on your body!) & after I have applied it to the ends & let it absorb for a good twenty minutes, I either leave it to air dry or rough blow dry it & the feeling of my hair after is just wowzers! So super soft & shiny looking this stuff makes my hair feels healthier, as well as the added bonus that my hair is looking a little bit like a Galaxy Chocolate Bar! It does not make my hair look greasy & nor does it feel greasy on my hands after application, the only downside for me is the price- at £22 it has a hefty price tag & honestly would put me off repurchase it. The reasons? Well if I used it as a multi purpose oil on my hair & body I could justify parting with that amount of money, but with using it on just my hair & with my VO5 baby doing more or less the same job with the same results, it feels a little too extravagant! Honestly I do love this product but not so much the price tag.

What's your favourite hair oil to use to get Kate Middleton-esque hair?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥ 

Say Goodbye To Dry Lips: Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm......

Hand's up if one of your pet hates about autumn is the fact that the curse of the dry lips returns?

Not just me? I thought not. When the days turn colder & the shops turn their heating higher, we can only wait until the unfortunate dry lip problem returns. During summer I find that I can get away with apply either good old Vaseline or one of Maybelline's Baby Lips, however autumn is a whole new ball game with my pout craving even more moisture & nourishment. Thank god I went to France this summer & picked up a fancy pantcy lip balm!

Nuxe is a very very well know brand in France,(mainly for their skincare items but their cosmetics are becoming just as popular!) & has quickly been getting some recognition over her in England with Space NK & Selfridges both stocking it. Now before I went over to France, I did a little research into what products french women could not live without & every page I saw mentioned this little lip balm- so I thought god it must be good!

What I love most about this product is the way it feels when you apply it- unlike Vaseline or Baby Lips this balm is waxy in texture as well as thick which means a little can go a long way! As well as the texture, it goes on completely matte with no shine or gloss to it making it perfect to go underneath a lipstick or lipgloss, as the colour will not just slide off as soon as you apply it! I have been applying this religiously every night for a week & have definitely noticed a change in the way my lipstick applies- the colour no longer clings to any dry spots or lines in my lips, leaving an even application where my lips look healthy & soft. You can feel how nourishing it is on application & there is also little delicate exfolients built in that scrubs away all the dead skin cells as you go. What more is there not to love..... oh the fact it smells like a fresh lemon?! 

What have you been grabbing to maintain a healthy pout now the weather has turned chilly?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥

Nails Of The Week: Navy Is The New Black......

(Please excuse how dry my hands look- Dam autumn!)

Navy is the new black. There I said it. Let's move on.

With Navy nails sweeping the beauty bloggersphere like crazy last month thanks to a little polish called 'After School Boy Blazer', I thought I would jump onto the navy cheer team & preach to you all about my favourite navy nail polish. 

Motcomb Street is a gorgeous darker then navy boarding on black shade, which reminds me of my much loved & worn Zara skinny jeans. The consistency is the reason why I buy Nails inc polishes- glossy, thick & super shinny I love how you can see your reflection on your nails, which I amp up using my Kensington Caviar topcoat as a base (so my nails don't get stained) & as a topcoat to make it chip resistant. 

If there is one thing I would urge you beauty lovers out there to buy this autumn season it would be a navy polish- better then black & more unpredictable then plum or berry red, I find it adds a touch of 'something something' to an everyday casual outfit & looks great when paired with oxblood or caramel.  

What has been your most reached for shade this week?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥

Bumble & Bumble 'Sunday' Shampoo......

When it comes to my hair I am always a little bit wary of trying out new things. 

It's not that I'm not intrigued or don't want to break out of my routine, my hair just does not react well to new products! For years my hair has always been the 'greasy at the roots' kind, as well as, & this may be tmi, having quiet a dry scalp (queue dandruff) which means that trusty Head & Shoulders has been my go to shampoo for a very long time. However since the discovery of a good dry shampoo (thank you treseeme!) I feel like I can branch out a little more & sample a few different shampoo's. 

Bumble & Bumble products have always intrigued me- I don't know why (maybe because they smell so god dam good!) but I always have a little browse of them whenever I'm in Boots, but firmly put them back as always in the back of my mind my head tell me I would be crazy for spending £17+ on a shampoo! But, as you can tell by this post I finally caved in & after a little uh-ming & ah-ing I am now the proud owner of the 'Sunday' shampoo *jumps for joy!*

'Sunday' is a clarifying shampoo, meaning that you should use it once a week or every other week your preference, (as the name suggests on a Sunday) to remove all the product build up, grease & gunk that your hair accumulates in between washes. It promises to leave your hair feeling & smelling fresh, as well as looking healthier & fuller as it will remove all of the yuck & nasties!

Well I can tell you I am totally sold by this shampoo & here's why- shall we start with the smell? Lord it smells like fresh linen or a spring breeze, fresh & clean which when I apply I swear I can feel my hair & scalp breath!! It lathers up so beautifully & after washing out it has that squeaky clean feeling to it, which means you must follow through with a good conditioner so that you hair can get some added moisture back to it. What has sold me the most is that my hair feels so soft, fluffy as well as fuller looking instead of it looking a little limp & sad (which shouldn't really happen after washing!). For all of these pluses, I feel that the £17 price tag is definitely worth it because my hair feels so good & healthier after use & when used once a week, the bottle should last you for a good few months.

What is your favourite Bumble & Bumble Product?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxox

♥

Beauty Review: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipsticks......

I am slightly late in jumping onto the Revlon Ultimate Suede Lipsticks bandwagon.

 But I have actually had these since they were first launched over here in the UK (March time?) & am only now getting around to reviewing them & had to let you guys know my thoughts! So let's jump into it.....

T-B: Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipsticks in 020 'Front Row' & 025 'Socialite'- £6.99

Unlike most lipsticks that I own, the lids are see-through on these meaning that you can actual tell what the colour of each looks like without having to open them, which is really handy if your quickly looking for a particular colour in a packed makeup bag! As well as the lid being see-through, the rest of the tube is also with the shades colour as the rest of the tube. I like how they look- they are not all one colour & appear to look like a lip gloss tube instead of a lipstick, as it's in a plastic see through tube like most glosses are!

The colour 'Front Row' is a gorgeous light bubblegum pink, which even after drying has a slight iridescent sheer to it. Even though the colour is slightly too light then what I would normally pick, both lipsticks are extremely buildable in colour & have the best colour pay off I have so far found in a lipstick. On application, they feel lovely & creamy on the lips (slightly drying if you don't put a little bit of Vaseline or lip balm on before) which lasts throughout the day. The great thing about them is that they dry to almost a matte finish with a slight sheer & last for a good amount of time (5+ hours). I am one of those people that hates the feeling that they are wearing lipstick- you know that horrible dry feeling on your lips? But with these I forget & only realise when I need a touch up! 

'Socialite' is by far my favourite shade out of all of them. Gorgeous rosy-brown colour which reminds me a lot of my Chanel 'Chintz' lipstick, as the colours are extremely similar with 'Socialite' being just a tad more darker when applying it to your lips. Again I'm a huge lover of the way that this lipstick applies- starts of creamy & slightly glossy but dries matte with it barely defining my slightly dry lips! This is a great colour dupe for 'Chintz' but for a fraction of the price & I really enjoy wearing it.

L-R: 'Front Row' & 'Socialite'

Have you tried the Revlon Suede Lipsticks? What was your first impressions?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxoxo

♥

Drugstore Beauty Haul & Review.....

Is it just me, or has every single beauty brands known to earth decided to all of a sudden released loads of new products!

Now I know it is their job to & maybe it is because I was blind to the fact before, but it seems every brand I saw when wondering through Superdrug had either one or more new products added to their collections. So to celebrate this (or to celebrate my new found 'oh my god, new things!' awareness) I had a little look & picked out a few bits & bobs that I thought looked interesting & pretty!

                                     Rimmel Apocalips- £5.99 each

First impressions: Love the colour range, when swatched they are really glossy, thick & bright in colour, oh & the packaging is great (it looks like a black crystal!). Feels nice on the lips & although after having a drink or eating something the colour does wear away slightly, I feel as though you could easily get away with not touching it up as it is still an even colour all over & the colour is still stained on the lips.






                    Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate Moss Lipstick in 101- £5.49 each

First impressions: Although I love the colour in the tube, on the lips it has a slight bluer undertone then I was expecting & wanting. Having said that it does feel nice & soft on the lips & I would repurchase in a different colour!


                       Maybelline 'The Rocket' Mascara in Black- £7.99

First impressions: I'm in two minds about this mascara. On one hand I think its very similar to my loved Covergirl Lash Blast mascara- it does give roughly the same amount of volume as the Covergirl mascara, as the brush is identical meaning that it seperates the lashes when you run it through & it goes from the root to the tip. & of course it is easier for me to purchase as it is available in the UK- but I just don't know!! On the other, there's just something that I can't put my finger on which is stopping me from loving this mascara!! Yes, I sounded like a complete freek when I said that, but maybe I just need to use it more so that it grows on me!






                             Makeup Academy Eyeshadow Palette in 'Undress Me Too'- £3

First impressions: I really really have been loving this palette!! As you probably know I love my MUA 'Heaven & Earth' palette & when I saw the colour selection of this one, it sold it to me! Now, I know many people have been saying that this is a really good dupe for the cult 'Naked 2' palette & although I do not own that particular palette, I have swatched it in the store & it is extremely similar in the colour variety & quality! As always the quality of the eyeshadows is brilliant- velvety in texture & easy to apply & blend, the colour variety is beautiful & I just love everything about it!! Oh & it was only £3 from £4- an absolute steal!

*****

It is safe to say that I have really been enjoying using these products recently & most will probably sneak into my everyday makeup routine on a permanent basis!

What beauty products have you recently discovered & are really enjoying?

Much Love,

Elle

xoxoxo

♥