Review | Tresemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo

 Dry hair shampoo has been one of my lifesaving products since I discovered it a few years ago. My hair tended to be very oily and would often become greasy, flat and horrible after one or two days. Since I discovered dry hair shampoos this has definitely been reduced. I can now wash my hair every second or third day, without losing the bounce and volume I adore.

I started out with the Batiste range of dry hair shampoos, but always found it was hard to manage the fine line between slightly limp hair and a grey mess! I struggled to remove the grey tint the product left from my roots without making them feel even oilier from touching them so much. It was a lose - lose situation.

This is one of the reasons I adore Tresemmé's dry hair shampoo! This product does as it says on the tin, removing oil and boosting body without leaving that horrible chalky mess behind.

Here I sprayed a liberal amount of the product on my hand, and as you can see it is barely detectable. Fantastic or what? Also, this product gives my hair real body instantly. I actually prefer my hair when it hasn't been washed for a day or so and I use this product instead as opposed to my freshly washed hair as it has so much more volume and bounce to it, with a light, fresh, clean scent which I adore.

I simply spray this product directly onto my hairline, parting and to any areas which get oiler faster such as my fringe, the sides of my hair and on the crown of my head. I would rate this product 5/5 as it is simply perfect - I'd rate it higher if I could!

In addition, there are also two other products in this range for different hair types. One is a Waterless Foam Shampoo which helps to add moisture and shine to frizzy hair whilst still removing oil and the other is a Volumising Dry Shampoo which I cannot wait to try out!

Tresemmé Instant Refresh Dry Shampoo is available from Boots for £4.79, Superdrug for £4.99, Tesco for £4.69 and Asda for £5.00 as well as from many major chemists and drugstores worldwide.

Review | Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is something which has been on my 'to buy list' for an extremely long time. Beauty Vloggers Holly Arabella and Fleur de Force are big fans, so I thought it was time I tried it out for myself. Lasting Perfection is Collection's best selling concealer. It was this concealer that has since led me to try out other Collection cosmetics, as I had previously dismissed the brand as being 'tacky, cheap and nasty'.

Collection claims that this product is "an ultimate wear concealer which conceals flaws, imperfections and blemishes for up to 16 hours. It is transfer proof and water resistant for full and long lasting coverage. It provides beautiful, shine-free, blemish-free skin for every waking hour."

Do I agree? Yes and no. This concealer definitely packs a punch. It masks blemishes, redness and even scars very well. This is an extremely full coverage concealer which I am happy to wear daily to cover my imperfections and to prep troublesome areas for further foundation. As for the 16 hour wear time? I disagree. This concealer needs topped up every eight to nine hours on my skin. While this doesn't bother me, it might disappoint some. Concealer doesn't stay very well on my skin at the best of times, however. It is quite matte and definitely controls shine and oiliness. I haven't tested its water resistance however!

The main downside to this concealer is the smell. Oh my, this boy is strong. The only way I can describe it is that it smells like the very strong, full coverage foundation older women wear, times two. For this reason, I don't use this concealer on the sensitive skin around my nose and my eyes. The scent does fade with wear, but I'm not a fan.

 

 This concealer comes in four shades which should flatter most skin types. However, there isn't much choice for those with very dark or very pale skin tones unfortunately. Also, this concealer does oxidate and dry a slightly darker colour than when applied wet (see swatches below) so do allow time for this concealer to dry before leaving the house! I am the palest shade (Fair 1) and this shade suits my skin tone very well, but if you're much paler than I am (ghostbuster white!) then it might be too yellow/orange based for your skin tone.

L: Once dried R: Fresh application

Application is very simple due to the doe foot applicator which dispenses just the right amount of product to cover a few blemishes or a large area of discoloured skin. I usually apply with the applicator straight onto my skin, then blend with my fingers or a foundation brush.

L: Blended R: Fresh application

I would definitely rate this as one of my all-time favourite concealers due to its amazing coverage and easy application. However, the smell does let this product down. Despite the fact its wear time is not 16 hours as it claims, it will easily last during a day at work or a night out. I would rate this concealer 4/5 and will definitely be repurchasing it in the future.

Collection Concealer is available from Boots, Gordons Chemists, Lloyds Pharmacy, ASDA, Morrisons, Wilkinson, Tesco and Superdrug for £4.19.

Review | Nail Care for Beginners

I've never really been into nail care. Yes, I love my nail polish (a bit too much in fact...) but I was never into treating my nails - it always just took too long in my opinion! Recently, however, my nails were looking quite grotty. They tend to flake at the ends, with ragged cuticles and chips taken out of them hidden under my layers of nail polish. I have recently started using some tools to look after my nails a bit more, and have found that they have made such a difference overall to the state of my nails. Polish looks shiner and less streaky, and I can even go out without painting my nails as they look so healthy!

The first kit I have been using nearly everyday has been this manicure kit. It was a present from a friend from a little boutique in New York, so unfortunately I cannot find it online! However Tweezerman do a similar kit (click to view) and I also found similar ones on Amazon from the brand Hoter (1) (2). 

I absolutely love this kit. It contains a cuticle pusher, tweezers, a nail cleaner, a nail file, cuticle scissors and a nail clipper. This is basically everything I need to groom (if that's the right word?!) my nails. I especially adore the tweezers and nail clippers. They both are really easy to use and very precise, so they allow me to make both of these jobs as pain free as possible! The tweezers are also great for eyebrows as they are so accurate and allow you to pluck individual hairs at a time.

Another kit I've been using a lot is this nail care kit from H&M. It cost a very bank account friendly £1.50 and I have been loving using it. It contains a very effective nail file, nail brush, cuticle pusher and a File/Smooth/Buff/Shine block. I will use the nail brush first, cleaning my nails with hot soapy water. Then I will allow my nails to dry while pushing back my cuticles with the rubber topped pusher. Then once my nails are dry I will file them with the individual nail file. This file is very effective and abrasive, filing my nails in seconds. Then it's time for the block. I use it to smooth off my filed nails, then buff and shine them until they are glossy and healthy. I will buff and shine the entire surface of my nails, allowing my polish to apply a lot more smoothly.

I would really recommend buying a manicure/nail care kit, especially the one from H&M - a steal at £1.50! Let me know about your experiences of nail care and leave your tips in the comments below! xx

1S2L Tutorial #1 | Duo Eyeliner

 This is the start of my 1S2L series which stands for "One Style Two Looks" in which I will show you how to take a trend and wear it in two different ways to suit different events, times of year or even just your mood!

As much as I love my neutral eye looks, I was getting a little bored with your traditional light all over the lid colour with a smudgy brown in the crease. While looking through my makeup drawers (which I made here) I found a turquoise eyeliner I hadn't used in a while and was wondering how I could use it without making my eyes look too crazy! So I came up with the idea of using a duo liner look to really make your eyes pop!
 

First of all, I primed my eyes with an illuminating concealer and a neutral wash of a sand coloured eyeshadow. I also highlighted my brow bones with a creamy white eyeshadow.

For my first look I created a thick line with the turquoise eyeliner, winging it out slightly. I did so by drawing the upper line and then colouring in down to the lash line.

Then, to create the duo eyeliner effect, sweep a fine line of black liquid liner across the lashline. Please excuse my rather shakey eyeliner skills - hand eye co-ordination was never my strong point!

You could finish the look there, or for extra sparkle sweep a purple glitter liquid eyeliner or some purple loose pigment glitter across the lashline, over the top of the black. Gaga eat your heart out! Finish with a few coats of mascara or a pair of falsies and you're done! However, despite how fun this look is, it might not go down too well at the office. For a more natural daytime look, read on!

For my second look I used a golden eyeliner to create a thick line with a slight wing. I then lined my upper lash line with a chocolate brown eyeliner to create this lovely neutral look.

If you want to spice it up a little, simply line your waterline with the chocolate brown eyeliner and smudge some of the gold eyeliner just beneath your lower lashes. Finish with one coat of brown or black mascara - it's up to you!

And you're done! Two fab, very different looks using the same technique! Which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to send me a few pictures if you've tried out this look yourself! x

Products used: Rimmel Match Perfecting Illuminating Concealer, MUA Heaven & Earth palette, 17 Perfect Definition Eyeliner in Emerald Green, Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in 100% Black, Nkdskn Glojob iGroove Eyeliner, Bourjois Kohl and Contour Shadow and Light duo eyeliner in Brun/Caramel, Maybelline the Colossal Volum' Express mascara.

Tag | 7 Deadly Sins of Beauty

I'm a massive fan of tag posts. I love finding out more about my favourite bloggers and vloggers as I think it makes me value their opinions more. Also, it's quite nice to hear that even the famous bloggers and vloggers like PixiWoo and FleurdeForce are normal girls too! 

Greed

What is your most inexpensive beauty item? What is your most expensive?

My most inexpensive beauty item is probably my MUA Heaven and Earth Palette. It cost £4 from Superdrug and it contains twelve neutral shadows so you can create the perfect neutral eye. My most expensive item is my bareMinerals Original Foundation in Fairly Light which cost £24. It's totally worth it however, as it provides a gorgeous effect and is good for your skin as well!

Wrath

What beauty products do you have a love/hate relationship with? What product has been the hardest to get?

I have such a love/hate relationship with a product that I shouldn't really care that much about - Vaseline's Lip Therapy Rosy Lips Pot with Rose and Almond Oil. Yes, it is lovely. Yes, it is easy to carry around to keep your lips looking great. Yes, it tints my lips a lovely shade. Some days it keeps my lips looking great and acts as a barrier to stop them drying out, but some days it seems to stop the moisture getting in!
The product I found hardest to get is my Bourjois Shadow and Light Duo Eyeliner Pencil in Brun/Caramel. I searched Superdrug high and low to find it but could only find the black/silver version. I then rummaged through Boots' terribly organised Bourjois eyeliner slots before I found the last one. It was so worth it though.

  

Gluttony 

What are your most delicious beauty products?

In terms of smelling delicious, I absolutely adore my Aussie Luscious Long 3 Minute Miracle. It smells to die for and the scent stays in your hair for ages after you dry and style it - it's amazing! As far as tasting yummy goes, I don't have a lot of tasty lip products but my favourite would probably be my Natural Collection Juicy Lips lip gloss in Raspberry Ripple which gives a very subtle pink tint to the lips with a raspberry scent and flavour.

Sloth

What beauty product do you neglect, due to laziness?

It has to be eyeliner. While I love the look it gives, I'm not good enough with it to be able to ensure I always do a good job. Therefore if I'm in a rush, I'll play safe and just smudge darker eyeshadow into my lashline.

Pride

What beauty product gives you the most self confidence?

Like most people would say, I find foundation and concealer big confidence boosters. They make me feel a lot better about myself and make my face look less dead and dull. However, I'm also really reliant on mascara and blush to brighten up my eyes and cheeks and make me look awake. I'd rather wear no foundation than wear no mascara.

Lust

What attributes do you find most attractive in the opposite sex?

Definitely personality first. I know a lot of people say that, but I genuinely won't think a guy is attractive unless he has a great personality. Manners are a big thumbs up too - if you hold open a door for me or help me with my coat on the first date, you're set. As far as physical attributes go, I like tall guys with dark hair and won't say no to a six pack but will to a bodybuilder. Me, hard to please? Never.

Envy

Which items would you most like to receive as a gift?

Now, I've thought this through many times! I'd love the Chanel Vitalumière Aqua foundation - buy me this and I'll kiss your feet forever. (Not literally, feet are gross.) I'd also adore a Clarasonic Plus for face and body. Oh, and a Sigma Extravaganza Brush Set too. Thanks!

So that's the tag complete! Hope you guys all have enjoyed reading and I tag you all to to this tag for yourself, make sure to leave your responses in the comments below xx

Haul | MUA Madness!

Yesterday I had some time to kill before meeting my friends so I decided to pop into Superdrug for a look. Despite planning to go 'purely to look' I couldn't stop myself when it came to the MUA stand! MUA is probably one of my favourite brands due to their great quality products at amazing prices. All of their traditional lines are £1 and their professional range costs between £2 and £4 - can't complain with that!

[L-R Shade 20, Shade 5 & Shade 4]

First up I bought three polishes from the MUA £1 collection. The shades I chose were 20, 5 and 4. 20 is a bright, true fuchsia pink. It doesn't have blue undertones which I love about this polish, as blue undertones tend to make me look even paler! 5 is a pale teal colour which looks absolutely amazing with a tan. 4 is a red-based coral which didn't look that special in the bottle, but looks amazing on the nails. This a bright shade which makes your hands look really healthy and glowing. It is such a lovely, warm colour.

[L-R I <3 U, I Want U]

The next shades that caught my eyes were from the Love Hearts collection. I chose I <3 U and I Want U. I Want U is a bright orange, verging on neon without being as 'tacky' as neon. It's a really good dupe for Models Own Beach Party from the Hed Kandi range. Beach Party is a little more yellow based, but I actually prefer I Want U as it is a warmer tone.

[L-R Shade 4, I Want U, I <3 U, Shade 5, Shade 20)

 Here are all the shades painted on my nails. (Excuse the cut on my finger, got it caught on a buckle!)

The next product I bought was a lipstick from their original range. I bought it in Shade 7 which is a pink coral with a beautiful shimmer. I'm not a fan of overly sparkly lipsticks or glosses but this is just the perfect amount of shimmer to brighten your face and make your lips look well moisturised and gorgeous!

As you can see from the swatches above it is a very pigmented lipstick. The right swatch is after one stroke and the left is after three strokes. To boot, I'm not sure whether this is the case for all of the shades in the range, but this particular one smells of vanilla! Absolutely lush!

Finally I picked up the Mosiac Bronzer in Shade 2 Sunkissed Glow.

This is a very pink-based bronzer which is ideal for giving you a really natural flush of colour without making you look 'orange' or like your face is dirty!

As you can see, the bronzer contains peach, nude, pink and brown shades. Each of these shades would be difficult to use individually as a bronzer but could be used individually as eyeshadow shades.

[L-R All colours together, individual shades]

Overall, when used together this mosaic bronzer gives a peachy bronze glow to the skin with a subtle shimmer. However, if I feel the shimmer is a bit too much I can use the bottom half of the bronzer which doesn't contain any heavily shimmered sections.

Yes, I went a little crazy at the MUA counter! Let me know your favourite MUA products in the comments below x

Review | Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish

Frequent readers of my blog might remember that a fortnight ago I went shopping with my friend Emma and posted the second instalment of my "Hitlist Haul" (click here to view). One of the products I was most excited about trying was the Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish in the shade 819 Green with Envy.

Green with Envy is a sea green shade with a metallic shimmer. I was a little disappointed that it wasn't quite the gorgeous duochrome shade in the bottle, but soon began to love it for what it is! The colour is very flattering on all skin tones and I love its slightly metallic finish. It looks green in some lights and blue in others, which I love! This is a really adaptable shade which goes with a lot of different outfits and always looks fab whether you have a tan or not!

Rimmel claim that this nail polish delivers "1 second application thanks to the XpressTM brush which dries in less than 60 seconds to achieve picture perfect nail colour in a flash!" and I couldn't agree more!

The colour goes easily onto the nails thanks to the extra wide brush, and while it takes me a little longer than 1 second, I'd agree that it's fast! The drying time is fantastic - I apply two coats to give a nice opaque colour and they will be dried in a maximum of 90 seconds. This is brilliant for me, as I often chip and smudge my nail polish while waiting for it to dry. The colour is definitely stunning. If I had to criticise this polish, I would say that the application is a little bit streaky when viewed closely, but from a foot away looks perfect so I really cannot complain!

 I'm definitely going to look into buying more nail polishes from this line as I'm so impressed with this one! Also they are a fantastic price - £3.69! In addition, selected Rimmel products are 3 for 2 at Superdrug currently, so you have no excuse to pick this one up!

Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish in 819 Green with Envy is available from Boots and Superdrug for £3.69.