What your spots mean...

OH YES! This sounds like a lovely blog spot doesn't it, don't worry I am not about to tell you that you can save that visit to the fortuneteller because the latest growth on your face will tell you when you are going to get married. Buuut, they may tell you some other interesting bits and bobs.

Spots on the forehead: if you are getting spots here, then you are probably a bit stressed, maybe you have exams, maybe you have a date at the weekend who knows, unless you are going to get a fringe cut in, learn how to calm down!

Spots on your cheeks: this usually means you are eating bad bad foods, I bet you are regretting that Dominoes at 1 in the morning on Saturday night now aren't you?

Spots in between your brows: supposedly due to alcohol/smoking.

Spots on your chin: these critters pop up during your hormonal time of the month. Not too much you can really do about that, changing contraception has helped some though, so if it is really getting you down, see the Doc.

At the end of the day, spots are likely to come and go as they please, apart from that which I have already mentioned, a good nights sleep, skincare routine, balanced diet and exercise is all you can do, nature will have to take its course.

Using some tea tree may also help because of its antibacterial qualities.

The worst thing you can do, and I hold my hands up to this, is pick them. It just introduces more bacteria to a new open pore/wound. At least if you are female, you have that little friend that is concealer. My advice is turn the lights off and cover all mirrors...seriously.

x

Nail of the Month: Barry M's Indigo

Happy December everyone! I have changed the name of this post because I don't seem to have the time to do nail posts weekly, but I hope you still like them.

So, as its now December I am feeling very Christmassy and whilst I thought it was still too early to put the red glittery polishes on, I did try this concoction which has satisfied my desire for all things sparkly in this festive season.

The shade is Barry M's Indigo, or number 312. Barry M is available everywhere in the UK, but I know it is pretty difficult to get hold of in the US, which is a shame because they are pretty inexpensive and have great staying power. Over the top I have out on Urban Outfitters Dust which I love because of the different sized shimmers. This also acts as a great top coat, keeping everything in place for a good few days. Only downside is that means it is harder to get off then your usual polish.

What's your favourite festive polish/combination?

X

VO5 Shampoo and Conditioner

Hi everyone, my last post for November concerns something I have been meaning to tell you all about for a while now, and that is the VO5 Shampoo and Conditioner range. 

I don't think these products have had enough recognition yet and I can honestly say I think they are the best conditioners I have ever used. This rather bold statement is due to a number of things; the price, the quality and the actual variety in the range. Firstly, they are £1.79 for 500 ml, the size shown, compared to say a Keraste which are usually at least £12.00 for 200 ml. They leave my hair feeling silky, soft and manageable, and that's something for bleached and heat damaged hair. Lastly, is the variety, there are so many combinations, my personal favourite is above, the conditioner is rich and the shampoo does the job without leaving my hair a bit greasy (something I found with the "Give Me Moisture" shampoo).

They aren't going to be for everyone, probably not those with fine hair which hasn't been coloured because the range os so rich. However, I would particularly recommend these if you like the Aussie range as this is better and cheaper!

Let me know what you guys think of this range.

x

L'Oreal Perfect Clean Foaming Scrub

The past two weeks, Winter has really been taking its toll on my skin despite my normal skin care routine. Its become very dry, but the spots keep coming and at the end of the day my face has that horrible greasy feeling, so whilst browsing Asda (classy, I know) I came across the L'Oreal Scrub. It was on offer, £3 instead of the normal £4.50 so I took the plunge. I must admit I think I was taken in by the "Scrublet" (their words).

So what do I think? Well, it smells sort of like that fake grapefruit smell, I don't really mind it and I find that with most scrubs anyway, St Ives and Neutrogena.

I really like the texture, because it is actually gentle, especially in comparison to say, for example, the St Ives Apricot Scrub which is another favourite of mine. It leaves my face feeling fresh and my pores look much better.

I actually really like the "Scrublet", I have used a much harsher exfoliant from The Body Shop in the past and this feels much softer whilst still achieving a good result.

So, overall I really like this product, I thought it was a bit of a gimmick but it really does work!

Film Review: Skyfall

So, this is pretty much the film of the year, there is a lot of hype, and I do not think it disappoints and I am not a really a Bond fan. The film follows 007's usual antics of charming the socks off any woman and shooting some nasties but I found the storyline gripping and was actually attracted to Daniel Craig.

Why is this film so different to the other Bonds? I would say this is almost Bond 'stripped back', there isn't lots of gadgets, there isn't Hallie Berry walking out in a bikini but there is drama and a true story. i don't want to give too much away, but there is also a brilliant twist at the end. I have read that Daniel Craig didn't really want to continue with the franchise, I don't think you can blame him after the first two he made, but this has pulled it back and I hope he sees that too. Not that he has much of a choice, he is locked into his contract for another two films anyway.

There is one small thing that has already been widely criticised and that is the product placement, the famed Heineken scene is quite funny, I bet they are loving all of the media attention too, bad publicity is good publicity and all that. But, that would be my only criticism. The best film I have seen all year!

Nail of the week: Essie Plumberry

Hi all, here is my nail of the week Essie's Plumberry. Now, I am sure if you are reading this, you already know how wonderful Essie polishes are, so I won't rattle on too much about that. But, they have only been available in the UK for a few months, so if not, go and try!

This week, I have opted for an a plum shade, as the name suggests. Now, this colour is beautiful, BUT, I don't think it is as great on as it looks in the bottle, which I was really disappointed with. It has come out more of a dark fuchsia in my opinion, so I would say the emphasis is on the 'berry' rather than the 'plum' which is more what I was looking for.

However, the colour is very complimentary to a pale skin tone like mine, and the wear time is great with a bit of Sally's Insta'Dri, so not all bad.

Schwarzkopf got2b Powderful

I have recently road tested the new hair volumizing styling powder from Schwarzkopf and I thought I would add my opinion to the already mixed reviews. Before I let you know what I think, I should warn you that my hair although long doesn't take too much to get volume, I bleach it so it is fairly dry and it's thick, so with a bit of backcombing I can get some volume. However, I was recently looking for that extra boost because my hair is looking a bit limp whilst I'm waiting for a cut.

So, first things first there are two ways to apply the product, either directly onto the roots, or onto your hands and then massaged in. I have tried both methods and personally prefer to put it onto my hands first, its allows you to control the amount of powder you are using. If applied directly onto the roots, it will make your hair rough and knotty, as many previous reviews have described.

The formulation isn't like anything I have tried before, it's a powder but upon contact with the skin, it seems to react with moisture and turn almost tacky (I have tried to show you this in the photos below). This doesn't feel particularly nice, but I don't think you are going to get the same results without it.

Put onto my hand

After about 3 seconds, no rubbing in.

Once in the hair, it does give instant volume, and for me, it certainly lasted until my next wash. This i believe is both good and bad, its good because you aren't constantly re-doing your backcombing, its bad because the tacky formulation means I want to wash my hair before I re-style. I don't wash my hair everyday, so this is a major downside. You cannot just brush this stuff out, for example, like dry shampoo.

Overall, I really like this product if I am going for a night out, it does give great volume and it is different to anything I have tried before, but it isn't something I will be using everyday. I can bear the tacky feeling in exchange for the volume pay off, but only for one night out not all day, and I expect if you slept with it in, you are going to need a Tangleteezer to sort your hair in the morning.

Has anyone else tried this product?

x

Trend: Jacquard

I bought this little number from Topshop and I expect it will be one of their best selling items this season. It's a beautiful texture and great quality for Topshop which in my opinion can be a little hit and miss sometimes. At £35.00 I also think its good value. Here is how I would wear this look day and night.

Night
Dress: Topshop Shoes: Zara

Day
Dress: Topshop Shoes: New Look Jacket: Topshop

Meet: Le Pig

So, I would like to introduce my furry friend, Oliver a.k.a Le Pig. He is a black, seven year old Miniature Schnauzer.

His nick name is Le Pig because he tends to snort, but he also walks sideways like a crab, stretches out like a cat and cries like a baby. A true attention seeker, he can manipulate anyone with a paw and his 'sad Sam eyes', but I love him to bits.

Film Review: Taken 2

Taken 2 is the sequel to the box office hit, Taken. This film follows the Albanians attempt at revenge for Brian's (Liam Neeson) killings in the first film, but this time Brian has a bit of help from his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). I won't be giving too much away when I say that the plot isn't too different from the Taken, hence the title, I can't make up my mind as to whether this is a good thing or not.

Pro's: another great performance from Neeson, some good action scenes, great setting in Instanbul.

Con's: some unexplained bits, Neeson never seems to re-load his gun, it gets a bit corny with Neeson playing the overprotective Dad and Famke Janssen who plays Lenore (Kim's mum and Neeson's love interest) puts in some pretty shoddy acting, although her hair does look fantastic even after she's been roughed up a bit.

Overall, this is a 6/10 for me, well worth watching if you enjoyed the first one.

Want to be Rapunzel?

Something many of us dream of is long, luscious locks blowing in the wind. However, due to all of the chemicals, heat and brushing we put our manes through, for many, that is all it is, a dream. But, fear not, all is not lost, you can get long hair. Now the most obvious thing to do is stop attacking your hair with colour and your GHD's and go au naturel, but for those of us who aren't satisfied with what God gave us, here are some of my top tips.

1. Do not wash your hair everyday - this does not make you dirty. You hair cleans itself, and washing your hair every other day or every two days if you can manage it will reduce the amount of heat and styling you are doing to your hair. A little bit of dry shampoo can help you on the in between days, I recommend Batiste. For those of you that do wash your hair everyday, it will take a while for your hair to get used to less washing but persevere.

2. Shampoo - when popping in your shampoo, massage your head, this stimulates the follicles and cleans the scalp which is where alot of the greasy oil is waiting to wreak havoc.

3. Conditioner -After rinsing out your shampoo, rinse out as much excess water as you can before applying your conditioner. This enables the conditioner to do its magic, if your hair is already loaded with water it can't get in to do this.

4. Hair type - know your hair type and the shampoo and conditioner which suits you, there is no point using a thick product if you have fine hair as its going to weigh it down, get greasy and cause you to wash it more.

5. Find alternative hairstyles to using heat - plait your hair whilst it's damp to give you waves, pop it into a bun, leave your hair to air dry if it's sunny, although that's not easy in the UK, and may only be reserved for the summer months.

6. Brush your hair with a wide toothed comb when it's wet, or really tangly - Our hair is made up of protein which will stretch and break off when the cells are filled with water, just like your nails do. Brushes put too much stress on the hair so should be avoided.

7. Use a leave-conditioner/hair mask weekly - not just for a few minutes like it says on the packaging, I'm talking hours or overnight if you can. Try to find a mask with Argan oil in it but if you don't have this just use olive oil, it has the same properties and is a much cheaper alternative if it's already in your kitchen. Aussie 3 Minute Miracle in is an alternative for those on the go.

8. Supplements - Sea Kelp has helped me in the past. The only problem with this stuff is it makes ALL the hair on your body grow faster, I would recommend it for those whose hair just won't grow past a certain length. This isn't a long term solution though as your hair becomes dependent on the supplement, so if you stop taking it your hair growth slows noticeably. You can pick up 500 tablets at Holland and Barrett for £5.39 here.

9. Turn down the heat - if you are using styling products that have a heat controller on them, turn it down. I turned down the heat on my hair dryer and not only did I notice a change in the condition if my hair but it was a much nicer finish. Yes, it does take a bit longer, but it's the price to pay for long hair.

10. Cuts - you still need to get your hair cut. It will grow faster during spring and summer time so every 10 weeks is ideal then, I personally leave it a bit longer in the winter. If you have fairly long hair it probably doesn't have a style that is going to grow out that quickly, so personally I don't think the 8-week rules applies. You may also get a hairdresser that goes a bit scissor-happy and chops off anything that has grown (I think this brings great fear in all of us).

Let me know if this has anything knew, or if I'm already preaching to the converted! xXx

Blog to go

So, this is my first blog to go, and will include pictures and my views in things I do out and about. So, this week was my first week back at Uni, it was great, learning lots of new stuff already (I'm such a geek), but it also meant my local Student Lock-in Event

These Lock-ins are basically events at your local shopping areas, high streets or centres where students are offered freebies and discounts. Here are a few things I got my hands on...

This Boots goodie bag was given free when you spent £5 or more, I bought the fabled Tangle Teezer in pink!

I also got these great boots for £22.00 with my 20% off at New Look, they were exactly what I've been looking for and such a bargain! They are available here.

My friend and I also enjoyed some free Nando's!

Have you guys been to any of these events? What did you think?

Nail of the Week: Barstool

This week I had to ditch my coral nails for a shade better suited to autumn, but I didn't want to go for your predictable burgundy or khaki, so I went for this beautiful teal shade called Barstool. Its from Urban Outfitters and just provided me with that something different I was craving.

I started with OPI's Ridge Filler, which is a life saver for me where my nails are concerned, it prevents me having to do a million coats. Next, I applied my first coat of Barstool, at first I was really disappointed with how sheer it was. However, after a second coat I achieved that lovely opaque teal. This was followed by my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, which is my favourite top coat.

The last thing I would like to rant about is this little bottle of magic. You see, the one thing I hate about doing my nails is I always seem to smudge them, usually just after I have finished my top coat because I'm starting to get a bit fidgety. This Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Spray has your nails dry in 60 seconds and it really does work. Its £3.05 from Boots.

I love this colour and I think it will compliment different skin tones, what do you think?

Parabens: What's all the hype?

Parabens are fast becoming a controversial topic in the beauty world, but what are they and why are they causing such a stir?

Ok, so here comes the scientific bit; parabens are used for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties, in English, they are preservatives. They are widely used in the cosmetic industry in products such as; shampoos, make-up and fake tan. If you want to check if they are in any products that you use, take a look at the ingredients list and look for anything that ends in 'paraben' e.g. Butylparaben. There has been a buzz about parabens because they have been found in breast cancer tumours and have the ability to mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. But, enough scaremongering I hear you say, it is important to remember that the jury is still to deliver a verdict on the safety of these ingredients. After all, some parabens are found naturally in blueberries.

Whichever side you are on, this debate has seen the emergence of 'paraben free' products, containing alternative natural preservatives such as; grapefruit seed extract. If you are interested in trying out some of these new products, here are some I would recommend...

Bliss Body Butter - as well as being paraben free, this product smells great. I like the Blood Orange and White Pepper version, it kind of reminds me of Christmas as summer at the same time, weird huh?! I would say this product is more of a moisturiser than a 'butter' though as it just doesn't have that thick consistency. £18.45 for 200ml.

King of Skin - this is perfect for girls (or guys) who are on the go, or just a bit lazy (I like to call it efficiency). Basically, you slather it on in the shower, get out and your skin is silky smooth. This stuff is so good they have patented it. Anyway, I find it a lot less hassle than a lotion and it's pretty reasonable at £5.25 for 75g from Lush.

BareMinerals Warmth and Mineral Veil - I love this brand, I think it's especially suited to those who have hyper-pigmentation, as it allows your freckles to show through rather than masking them. They are priced at £16.15 and £17.00 respectively.

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water - so I originally bought this product for the nifty gadget on the top of the bottle which prevents spillages, something I was always doing with my Clinque cleanser (and that stuffs not cheap). But it's actually really good, it removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Only problem is Sephora don't ship to the UK and I'm not sure when I will next be going to the US. Who else wishes Sephora would come back to the UK? Let me know if you guys can recommend any cleansers for when this finishes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - a life saver on those 'in between washes' days, they do a huge range with different scents to different colours which are great for covering pesky roots. It won't break the bank at £4.99 for 400ml and it's always on offer at Boots.

Vita Liberata PHenomenal Tanning Mousse - I don't think this tanner lasts the three weeks it claims but it does last longer than any other tanner I have tried, which makes it more economical than it sounds. It's 24.99 for 125ml, saving 1/3rd at Boots at the moment.

What is your view on parabens? Can you recommend any 'paraben free' products? Thank you all for reading :)

What's in my make-up bag?

Ok, so here is my first blog! Hey everyone! I thought I would do a "What's in my make-up bag?" blog, as if you are like me, (rather nosey) then it will be something you guys will want to know.

So, first things first, this is my make up bag...

  I know, its big right? I change my make-up bags all the time because I find they get really dirty as product always seems to find its way out of the packaging somehow. I won't show you everything inside it in this post, as I don't want to bore your socks off, so I will show you what I am  using at the moment.

So here it is:

Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid Moisturiser - £31.25 for 63g. This sounds like a lot for a moisturiser but I have to say it really does leave your skin feeling and looking amazing and will always be a re-purchase for me. It is available here online.
NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo - £30. Two of my favourite shades Orgasm and Laguna in one easy palette to put in your handbag. Available at your local NARS beauty counter or online here.
BareMinerals Mineral Veil - £17.00 and available here. I use this to mattify my face.
YSL Touche Eclat - £25 here. A cult product, I am shade number 1.
Origins Vitazing - £27 for 50 ml and available here. I have been using this product in the place of my foundation whilst on holiday and since I have been back in the UK because I have a tan, but it is a good primer too. It leaves my skin looking fresh and adds a healthy glow, enabling me to avoid that heavy foundation feeling.
Dior Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation - £31.60 for 100ml available at your Dior counter or online. If I need a little more coverage then this is the foundation I am reaching for. It is surprisingly easy to apply and you can build up coverage in those areas that need it. My only qualm is that I have a feeling it isn't going to last me too long.
YSL Shocking Mascara - £23.00 here. This is the best mascara I have used to date, both high end and drug store. My eyelashes are pretty straight and not particularly long so a good mascara is a must have. With the help of my trusty eye lash curlers, this mascara provided me with curl, volume and length.

Thank you all so much for reading, please follow me and leave comments if you would like me to do a full review of any of the above products!