April Empties 2016 || Products I've Used Up

I've finished up the La Roche Posay Serozinc which I use both morning and night after using an exfoliating toner. I bought quite a few cans of these when they first launched in the UK and I'm slowly making my way through my stash. I've used up the Botanics All Bright Cleansing Toner which I usually used in the mornings as its one of the most gentle exfoliating toners I've come across. I've finished up the La Roche Posay Effacer Duo+ which is a staple in my morning routine for helping keep any blemishes at bay whilst helping prevent any future ones. I've used up the No7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum which I use both morning and night to help prevent any first signs of ageing. I've finished up the Retinol Reface which I tend to use only a few times in the week to help keep my complexion even as well as to make it feel softer too. I've used up Hydraluron which long term readers will know is one of my holy grail products when it comes to keeping skin hydrated for longer.

I've finished up a The Body Shop Deep Sleep Dreamily Pillow & Body Mist which I tend to use most nights to help me get a decent nights sleep. It may seem a little unnecessary to most people but to me I cannot live without it although I have since settled with a much cheaper alternative! I've used up a travel sized Pixi Glow Tonic which is a exfoliating toner that helps to reveal brighter, more even skin. I definitely think that my previous one of this was a dud due to how old it was and this bottle has literally made me fall head over heels in love for the results it gives! I've finished up a travel sized Pai Camelia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser which is very similar to the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish but just feels that little more creamier on the skin so I will definitely be purchasing this at some point. I've used up the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminator in Bare Light which I tend to mix in with my foundation to help create a more radiant base. I've finished up the No7 Skin Illuminator which has become my new love in life as I use it both before foundation and mixed in with it to help create a more radiant base and I much prefer this over the Revlon offering. I've used up the L'Oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer which I use as a primer before my foundation to not only make my foundation last longer but to make my skin appear more radiant. I've most definiely used up the L'Oreal Double Extensions Beauty Beauty Tubes Mascara as it's dried up completely! I use this as a primer for my mascara as it lengthens my lashes and gives a lot of volume. I've finished up the Seventeen Stay Time 18 Hour Wear Concealer in Extra Fair which I use both under my eyes to brighten up my dark circles as well as to conceal any pesky blemishes.

I've finished up a can of Batiste Tropical Dry Shampoo which I used on two day or even three day hair which helped make my hair appear cleaner than what it actually was. I've used up the Carino Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment which I used nearly everytime I washed my hair as a deep conditoning treatment to help hydrate my heavily bleached/heat damaged hair and it's always worked a treat. I've finished up the Pro:voke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo which I used nearly everytime I washed my hair as well. This has helped transform my blonde completely and has made my ombre more brighter in colour. I've used up the Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel which as you can see is well and truly battered! This is one of the most sickly smelling shower gels I've come across however it's one of those scents that you cannot resist but using time and time again. I've finally finished up my Hugo Boss Nuit EDP that is a very floral, fruity scent that I used loved wearing most days. Once I finish up a few more fragrances, I'll definitely be repurchasing this one! I've used up the No7 Instant Illusions Airbrush Away Primer which is one of the very few primers that not only smoothes out any fine lines but it also helps make your skin appear more radiant whilst making your makeup last that little bit longer.

I've used up a pack of Wilko Maxi Oval Cotton Pads which are the only cotton wool pads I use without fail. I've finished up the Sanctuary Body Butter which was very hydrating and sunk in quickly but I felt that I used it up far too quickly. I've used up the No7 Intensive Radiance Body Scrub which I've started to dislike using as I believe that has been making my chicken skin worse on the tops of my arms. I've used up a pack of the No7 Quick Thinking Wipes which I use for everything but removing my makeup. I've used up the Macadamia Foot Pack which is a pair of infused plastic boots that you wear for about half hour or so. They were slightly hydrating but were more comical to look at and wear if I'm honest. Lastly, I've finished up the TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Reconstructor which is not pictured as I've literally had to cut the bottle in half to finish it. This has literally transformed my hair and has made it feel so much softer and look so much healthier too.

 I honestly don't know how I manage to use up a lot of products in one month as although it is a lot, it just feels like I'm hardly making a dent in my stash. Problems of being a beauty blogger eh? ;)

Beauty Box || April Birchbox + Rifle Paper Co

Following on from last months mishmash products, Birchbox this month have teamed up on their April Edition with Rifle Paper Co who are known for their prints. Subscribers had the option of choosing which print they would prefer so naturally I chose the pink floral print for this months box. Before I delve into the contents, I just wanted to point out that there was a big delay with my box so I only really received last week whereas I normally receive the first week that they post them out. Also, the contents are not the same contents that were on my profile back at the start of the month so I'm rather annoying that I didn't receive the Benefit Liquid Hoola Bronzer which I was going to get but regardless, let's delve into what I got this month.

As every box this month had a definite Benefit product into it, I was surprised to see a travel size BADgal Lash Mascara (£17.50) inside the box especially after all the drama. This has an oversized wand that helps to create sultry, voluminous lashes that literally coats every lash. I haven't used this before so I'm hoping it's as good as everyone says as I don't yet have a personal favourite Benefit mascara.

Next up is the So Susan Lip Dome in Melon (£10) that is the only full size in this months box. It is packed with hyaluronic acid and goji berry extracts to help nourish and protect your lips all whilst giving intense colour. This shade is definitely not for me so it will be getting passed onto a friend who will get more use from it.

I've never tried anything from Nuxe before so I was excited to see a teeny Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (£17+) that is a multi-purpose oil that you can use all over your hair, body or skin to hydrate and nourish. It contains a unique blend of six essential oils including sweet almond, hazelnut and macadamia along with reparative plant oils and Vitamin E that makes it one of the most nourishing oils I've come across so far. 

I've really been getting into my hair products recently especially since I've got ombre hair that needs a lot of maintenance so the Parlor by Jeff Chastain Detangling Leave-In Conditioner (£17) is a welcome addition to my stash. I believe I gave my last one of these away to a family friend so I'm glad to have another sample of it that I can use. This contains a sweet blend of almond extract and vitamin B5 that helps deliver softer, shinier, sleeker hair all whilst doubling up as a heat protection spray.

Lastly in this months box is the Kueshi Foot Care Cream (£12) which I'm not all that fussed about. It is enriched with sweet almond oil and royal jelly to help soothe and soften dry feet whilst the added extra of tea tree oil helps to calm and relieve aching feet that sinks in almost instantly. I'm not particularly wowed by foot creams as they all seem to be the same but I'll give it a go regardless at some point.

What did you think of April's Birchbox 2016?

Samples I've Used Up 032

I've used up the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask that I used primarily overnight or whenever my skin was feeling a little dehydrated in general. This worked wonders and smelt delicious too so I'm glad that I've got a few more decent sample sized ones to use up before I need to repurchase. I've finished a Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips which has one of those annoying child safety caps that of course I struggled to take off when it came to using. I found that this didn't remove the majority of my eye makeup as it required some elbow grease to remove even the lightest traces. I used up a No7 Radiance Exfoliator which I found was far too gentle for my liking and contained micro beads that I'm trying to stop using altogether. I finished up the No7 Youthful Eye Serum which is one of my holy grail skincare products as I use it before any eye cream to help hydrate my under eye area. I used up the Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm Eye Gel which felt very cooling under the eyes and would consider repurchasing again. I finished up a teeny Benefit Puff Off Eye Gel which is identical to the Origins GinZing Eye Cream which I much prefer.

I've used up three samples of the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich which I used at night mixed in with a facial oil. This helped keep my skin hydrated for longer so will definitely be buying this in full size! I finished up a Avene Skin Rich Recovery Cream which again I mixed in with a facial oil at night to help keep my skin hydrated for longer which I will also be buying in full size at some point. I used up a Avene Cleanance K which sadly is discontinued but is the more potent version of Cleanance Expert. I'm still gutted that they stopped making this but atleast I still have a few more samples of get through. I've finished up a teeny tiny sample of Aromatherapy Associates Hydrating Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser which felt very light on the skin but was hydrating enough to use in the mornings. I wasn't completely blown away by this if I'm honest. I've used up a No7 Skin Illuminator sample that I got roughly five uses from as I mixed it in with my foundation to help create a more radiant base. This has actually been discontinued and replaced with a different No7 Skin Illuminator altogether. Technically I haven't used up all of the Cynthia Rowley Black Eyeliner as there's still a fair bit left however it's gotten far too small for my liking due to the amount I've sharpened. This was a pretty average black eyeliner that isn't worth the price tag. Lastly, the sample of the No7 Dramatic Lift Mascara dried up on me and I didn't really reach for it much due to the curved wand which I don't really get on with.

Provoke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo

When I was younger, I loved having my hair done so I would often be seen rocking blonde highlights or blonde hair as I preferred how I looked with blonde hair. Nobody ever told me that I had to look after it and use particular products in order to maintain the colour. There were a few occasions where my blonde turned a brassy shade or even a faint shade of green from swimming too often. Fast forward a few years later and I like to think that I now know how to look after blonde hair in particular by making it brighter even weeks or months after getting it done.

I've been reaching for the Pro:voke Touch Of Silver Brightening Shampoo (£3.19) which is bright purple in colour that helps neutralise brassy, yellow tones with its toning violet pigment and helps brighten the colour in as little as one wash. It's recommended to use as part of a three-step regime as well as to only be used twice a week for no longer than three minutes. It's suitable for natural blondes and bleach blondes, platinum or white hair so regardless of what colour blonde you are, you can most definitely use it.

I personally don't use it twice a week as I tend to use it nearly every single time I wash my hair which is three times a week and I often leave it in my hair for ten minutes. As my ends are often bleached blonde, I find that they can look brassy quickly hence why I leave it in for a lot longer than the recommended time just to brighten them up quicker. You can end up with a slight purple tinge if you leave it in for too long or use it more often although I haven't had that happen just yet, touch wood! I absolutely love using this and I use it almost immediately after getting my hair done and by the time that it needs doing again, my hair dresser always comments as to how blonde it looks. If you're not using a purple shampoo and you have blonde hair then you need to start using one!

L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara

I'm probably a little late to the party on the whole two sided mascara - one to prime your lashes and the other to blacken them and add some intense volume. However after falling head over heels in love with the Lancome Cils Booster XL which is essentially just a white mascara that preps your lashes beautifully ready for a black mascara; I decided to try out an alternative to it considering it is rather expensive and all, so I looked no further than at the mothership that is L'Oreal which ironically own Lancome so I was hoping it would be a near dupe.

I picked up the L'Oreal Double Extension Beauty Tubes Mascara (£11.29) which is a two step mascara - a white base coat that acts as extensions for your lashes with it containing Ceramide R which contains naturally derived fibres whereas the black coat literally coats each lash with a intense colour wrap to darken them and to create the appearance of lash extensions. 

Now as much as I would love to say that this is a direct dupe for it's Lancome counterparts, it sadly really isn't as there is just one factor that lets it down which is the scent. I'm not sure about you but I like my mascaras to smell like mascaras however the white base coat of this instead smells very similar to nail glue and rather strongly too. Regardless of the off-putting scent, I cannot fault as to how well it performs especially when you spent the time to carefully apply the layers and build it up. I personally love to coat my lashes with the white base coat until they're literally white and have so much more volume than before and then using the black side to carefully cover up the whiteness, ensuring I coat every lash. Whilst it does give incredible volume and length, it doesn't quite resemble lash extensions as they are more often than not clumped together. In order to create lash extension looking lashes, I tend to go in with the No7 Extreme Length Extend Mascara afterwards to define my lashes and separate them. By using a separate mascara afterwards, it helps to create the appearance of lash extensions that look full, defined with plenty of length and volume. Whilst it can be a little time consuming, the effects are definitely worth it so whilst I may not be repurchasing the Lancome version anytime soon, I can definitely see myself repurchasing it's L'Oreal counterparts time and time again.

The Best Coconut Oil EVER

Everywhere you look now, coconut oil is being added to almost anything and everything. It's literally become the ingredient to use when it comes to beauty products and you could find it in a multitude of products including teeth whitening, skincare and even nail varnishes! Back when I first started blogging, I used to be hooked to the Superdrug Coconut Oil which may not have been the purest coconut oil around but seeing as it was cheap as chips, I made do. Fast forward a few years later and I like to think that I'm now getting better as to what works for me which is why I bit the bullet and invested in the Vita Coco Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (£9.99) I say invested as there is no way you can get through a whole pot of it at once!

Vita Coco is a brand that most of us are familiar with as they are the brand leaders within Coconut Oil due to their thirst quenching drinks. However, they launched their very own coconut oil last year which is 100% pure, raw, extra virgin, cold pressed; essentially the purest form of coconut oil you can get in a super market. You can use it for literally everything such as cleansing your skin with, removing your makeup, cooking with, oil pulling, moisturising your skin, as a intensive hair mask, as a hair oil and it can even be used to shave with too!

My personal favourite method is using it as an intensive hair mask. I tend to scoop out a big spoons worth and rub it between my hands, distributing the oil into my hair as and when it melts. This is the part that can take a while due to it being cold pressed, it takes a while for it to melt entirely into an oil. Once I've applied enough into my hair, I throw my hair up into a messy bun and get on with my day. I prefer to apply this on a day when I'm not at work or in the evenings as it gives the appearance of greasy hair. I like to leave it in for hours before washing it out entirely to reveal deeply nourished hair with an unbeatable shine that feels silky soft.

It might be worth mentioning that I have also tried oil pulling with it too however I wasn't too keen on the taste and managed about seven minutes before spitting it out completely. There's just something about swirling a solid that melts into a liquid in your mouth that is a little off putting and vile. If you have any suggestions on how I can last a little bit longer on the oil pulling front then they're most welcome!

New In || No7 Beautifully Defined Contour Kits

I love a strong contour just as much as the next person however it can be a little bit of a faff finding the perfect bronzer to contour with that isn't too muddy or too warm as well as a highlighter that compliments it beautifully. Luckily, I have quite the selection of both and I know which bronzer looks best with which highlighter although let's be honest in, the more highlighter the better! However there are sometimes when I just want to get my makeup done quickly without having to reach for two separate products so when No7 released their Beautifully Defined Contour Kits a few days ago, I instantly had to get both shades.

The No7 Beautifully Defined Contour Kit (£12.50) comes in two shades Light/Medium and Medium/Dark and both contain a highlighter and a bronzer. The Light/Medium is ideal for us pale beauties as the contour shade is a cool toned ashy brown that recreates the hollows in our cheeks without looking too muddy or warm whilst the highlighter is a yellow toned beige that contains no chunky shimmer or glitter that just looks natural on the tops of the cheeks. The highlighter can also double up as a setting powder for under the eyes as it brightens up the area whilst not highlighting the dark circles. The Medium/Dark is made for those who are slightly more tanned but that's not to say that you can't make it work for you! The bronzer is slightly warm toned and thus can look slightly muddy if you apply too much so a light hand is very much needed when applying. The highlighter itself is more of a champagne beige peach shade which could also be used as a setting powder for under the eyes if used very sparingly. Both kits features a brickwork almost cobblestone pattern that very much resembles a limited edition Bobbi Brown product from back in the day which had a very similar spray on. The kits are both finely milled with very little fallout that feels silky soft to the touch but apply ever so beautifully.

Whilst I have only had literally a few days to play with the kits since their launch, I've managed to make both shades work beautifully for me and I could definitely see them both being a staple in my makeup collection. I prefer using the bronzer in the Medium/Dark with an extremely light hand and just gently place it where I want to contour before blending it out with a very fluffy brush to avoid it looking too muddy. I then go in separately with the bronzer in the lighter kit to bronze up my forehead before applying it over where I contoured just to make the colour more intense but still blending it out as we go along. To set my under eye concealer, I do use the highlighter from the Light/Medium very sparingly whilst the highlighter in the darker kit is used to highlight the tops of my cheekbones. 

Boots Haul 021

As mentioned in my March Favourites, I've been trying to save money instead of spending as I simply do not need another shimmery taupe eyeshadow when I have five very similar shades already in my stash. However there are times when I'm weak and cannot resist with today being an exception. I think I was relatively calm on the spending front if I'm honest although I technically didn't need it all, I wanted it instead ;)

Considering that today was the day that No7 brought out their contouring palettes, it seemed only fair that I bought both shades; Light/Medium and Medium/Dark. I've only really played about with these both in store and at home so I haven't had the chance to put them to the test properly so I will have a review of both coming up in the next few days. Speaking of contouring, I couldn't resist picking up the Sleek Cream Contour Kit in Light after seeing quite a few YouTubers using it in their videos. I'm hoping that this will take my contouring to the next level and completely change the way that I contour altogether. Fingers crossed!

As all of No7 was on a three-for-two deal, it seemed only fair that I picked up my trusty No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter to have in back up. This is a beautiful candlelit champagne colour that gives that radiant lit from within glow that looks very natural on the skin but can be built up to get more of a strobed effect. I use this every time I apply makeup so I simply cannot live without it!

I've had my eyes on the Le Couvent des Minimes range ever since they launched in Boots but I've never wanted to buy any of the products due to how expensive they were. On a recent visit to my local store, I noticed that majority of the range was reduced in price which is because I'm assuming they'll be getting rid of it altogether so it seemed only fair I picked up the pieces that I've had my eyes on for quite a while! The Gardener's Hand Healer Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser is something that I've wanted to try out for ages as it's very similar to my beloved Sanctuary Radiance Exfoliator except for the hands! I also had to get the matching Ultra Cleansing Foam to use alongside it for days when my hands are feeling really dry. Lastly, I got the Hiker's Foot Healer which I'm hoping will help with my dry feet as it seems that anything I apply doesn't help even the slightest.

It's A 10!

I've had quite the love affair with leave-in conditioners over the years and seem to stick to one for a few bottles before moving onto a new product and doing the exact same. It's a vicious cycle that seems to happen whenever I find something that works brilliantly the first bottle or so but after that, it no longer seems to impress me as much as it first did. Recently, I've found myself breaking that habit and instead of sticking to the same product every time I finish a bottle, I've been switching it up and using a new product altogether each time which has been working wonders for my hair. Recently, I've been reaching for the It's A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product which has been quite literally the saviour.

The It's A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product (£11.75+) is an American product that has slowly been making it's way across the waters and finding itself on UK soil. It's a spray on product that does ten things instantly including preparing dry and damaged hair; adding shine; detangling hair; controlling frizz; sealing and protecting colour; preventing split ends; stops hair breakage; creates silkiness; enhances natural body and can double up as a heat protection spray. 

Whilst I have had this in my stash since America, it's only been recently that I've been reaching for it to give my hair an extra shot of conditioning after washing my hair. Since I've been using it, I've noticed that my hair has definitely appeared shiner and silkier to the touch and I haven't suffered with a lot of breakage too. Despite the fact that I do straighten my hair on the regular basis, it hasn't helped a lot with the split end situation but it definitely has helped transform my dry locks completely. I don't necessarily agree with it's claim of being used as a heat protection spray as it doesn't state which temperature it protects your hair up to however after straightening, I do like to spritz it in generously and then brush it out. Whilst it may be slightly pricey for a leave in conditioner, I do definitely think that it's worth it especially when you have coloured treated and heat damaged hair that needs a little something to bring it back to life.

No7 Skin Illuminator

I love nothing more than having a dewy, radiant base as it just makes you look more awake even when you haven't had the best nights sleep. Whilst I do tend to stick with radiant foundations, I find that they are simply not radiant enough for my liking so I often add a little something into the mix whether that be a liquid highlighter, skin illuminator or even another radiant foundation. I recently finished up a few of my skin illuminators so I decided to treat myself to the No7 Skin Illuminator which has not long been repackaged and relaunched.

The No7 Skin Illuminator (£12.50) contains light reflecting particles that not only enhance your complexion but gives naturally gorgeous radiant skin. It comes in the shade nude that is a one shade suits all kind of deal that every skin tone can get away with wearing. It can be used in a multiple of ways including as a primer before applying your foundation, used lightly as a highlighter on the tops of your cheek and brow bones and mixed in with your foundation to add some luminosity.

As I have naturally dry skin, I find that if I don't apply a lot of primer then my skin will literally drink up my foundation so I like to apply this after my normal primer to help create a more luminous finish that looks natural on the skin. As it is the same consistency as a regular cream based primer, it does take a little while to blend it all in but the results are definitely worth it! I also mix it in generously with my foundation before applying it with a damp beauty blender which just adds even more radiance to the skin. There has been a few occasions where I have gone in afterwards and just applied it directly to the tops of my cheek bones as a subtle highlighter if I'm not happy with how radiant my base is. Overall as much as I like the Revlon Photoready Skinlights Face Illuminators, I much prefer this as it looks more natural on the skin due to the added light reflecting particles.

A Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Dupe?

I'm pretty sure that everyone at some stage of their life has used a variety of Aussie's products before as they're forever on some sort of offer wherever you look and have a wider range of products to suit anyone and everyone. I used to be obsessed with their 3 Minute Miracles in particular their Reconstructor, Shine and Take The Heat offerings which are quite literally the bomb! However recently, I've had a huge overhaul on what I use on my hair so sadly, I've had to stop using their products altogether. So instead, I've been reaching for the Carino Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment which is from Aldi from time to time which is practically the same but just a fraction of the price!

The Carino Moisture Deep Conditioning Treatment (£2.49) is targeted towards dry/damaged as it contains Australian Jojoba Oil and Mint Extract that promises to leave your hair silky soft and shine as well as being completely manageable with results in as little in three minutes. It helps to deeply condition your hair whilst leaving it looking healthy and full of life which I'm sure is definitely what we all want from a conditioner!

I tend to use this mainly when my hair is feeling a little worse for wear which is normally on a  Sunday night after a week's worth of heat styling so I tend to dispense a generous amount and massage it into my hair before leaving it in for a lot longer than the recommended three minutes before washing it out entirely. Once washed out, it reveals beautifully soft hair that feels nourished and is manageable once dry. Whilst it may not smell like it's more expensive counterparts, I much prefer the scent of this as it smells more sweet almost like bubblegum. Overall, I do much prefer the Carino offering over Aussie's purely because of the fact that it comes housed in a squeeze tube and smells slightly better however it's only downfall is not offering enough varieties to suit a number of needs which is something that Aussie do cater for.

Jimmy Choo Blossom EDP

We're nearly half way through Spring and I must admit whilst we have had our fair share of miserable weather, it has been pleasantly sunny on a few occasions. On the days when it has been a little dreary, I've been misting on Jimmy Choo Blossom Eau de Parfum - a fragrance that I've been obsessed with ever since it's initial launch into my local Boots store.

The Jimmy Choo Blossom Eau de Parfum* (£36+) is a sparkling and vivacious fragrance which is both floral and vibrant. It opens with bright and sparkling top notes of red berries blended with a citrus cocktail with a delicate heart of sweet pea and rose that compliments the rich and sensual base rates of white musk and sandalwood.

Whilst this fragrance may not be to everyones liking, I personally find it to be the perfect fragrance to wear at the moment whilst we're making the slow transition from mid-Spring to almost Summer. As not only does it fit in nicely with the entire Jimmy Choo range but it compliments nicely when layered with other fragrances especially those that are more citrus based.

The Hair Treatment That ALL Blondes Need!

It would appear that this month I've gone a little hair crazy so each week there will be a review or two of something hair related so I would just like to apologise in advance! The reason behind this is simply because I've had an overhaul on my hair care and I've found a lot of products that work brilliantly for me. On my hair journey on becoming a full fledged ombre that I can't see changing anytime soon, my hair has definitely become a lot drier due to the amount of bleach/colour there is in my hair so to overcome this, I've been using the TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Reconstructor almost every time I wash my hair and it's fast becoming one of my favourite hair masks to date!

The TIGI Bed Head Dumb Blonde Reconstructor (£13.95) is a reconstruction treatment for both blonde and chemically treated hair that is over-processed that just needs a little love and affection. It contains protein booster technology that helps restore damaged hair to a much more healthier state with the added boys of containing wheat, soy, keratin and a pro-vitamin complex to help replenish the hair. With the infusion of keratin extract and milk it helps to protect the hair from further damage all whilst smelling beautifully.

As mentioned, I use this nearly every time I wash my hair which works out to be every other day/three times a week more or less. I tend to use this as an intensive hair mask so after I've shampooed my hair twice - once with my regular shampoo and the second time with my Provoke Of Silver Brightening Shampoo - I apply a generous amount to my hair and massage it in and leave it in for as long as possible whilst I get on with my usual bathing routine. Once I wash it out, my hair instantly feels softer and healthier which only looks better once completely dried. I've noticed that since I've started using this more frequently, not only has my hair looked better in terms of shine and strength but it just overall looks so much healthier. You wouldn't think so with the amount of bleach/colour it has in it but this has truly worked wonders for my hair, so much so that I've already gone out and bought another bottle as I cannot live without it!

PS I got my bottle from B&M's for £9.99!

Favourites || March 2016

March has been a whirl wind month of trying to not spend a lot of money on things that I simply do not need in a bid to save up money to move out in the next two years or so. I believe this probably explains why I've been quiet on the blogging front especially paired with how busy work has been recently. I just simply haven't had the time or the energy to write up a blog post however I'm now back! So without going on too much more, let's delve into what I've been loving during March!

I will admit that I wasn't overly bothered on the NYX Lip Lingerie Lipsticks however the day they were launched in Boots, I caved and bought two. I partially blame my work partner in crime as well as myself for looking at swatches. I picked up the shades Push Up and Lace Detail which are pretty much the same colour except Lace Detail is more of a lighter pink when compred to Push Up. I prefer to wear the two together, layering them up to create my own unique shade which I've been rocking ever since I got them. For a girl who prefers wearing MAC Creme Cup, this is most definitely out of my comfort zone however I'm rather enjoying it.

The Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge will forever be my favourite tool to apply and blend my foundation with as it just blends everything out so seamless and quickly too. However, I much prefer it when it's with a brand new sponge which is exactly what I had the pleasure of using this past month. I tend to have three on rotation that I use one for a couple of days before moving onto the next which results in a deep clean every Sunday. Three on rotation may seem a little excessive however I normally stock up when they're on some sort of crazy deal and I throw them out after two to three months or so, depending on how stained they are, so I like to think that three is the magic number ;)

Now as much as I love a really defined and strong contour, there are a few times where I need to tone it down and blend it out so the Real Techniques Multi Task Brush has literally been a godsend this past month. I much prefer this particular Multi Task Brush which came in the Deluxe Gift Set that they released just before Christmas over the original Multi Task Brush which came in Sam's Picks Set as it just feels so much softer when in reality, they're both the exact same brush. It also blends everything out beautifully too so when I've applied a bit too much whilst contouring, I can simply blend it out and I'm good to go.

I've been dabbling with my highlighters again and I believe I've found the perfect combination to recreate that I've spent forever highlighting and it shows look and one of the many highlighters that I use to create said look is in fact the No7 Eyeshadow in Wheatsheaf.  It's the most beautiful shimmery champagne beige that will give a wash of colour over the lids but when applied to the tops of the cheekbones, it certainly packs a punch and gives that effortless glow. Who would have thought that you could use an eyeshadow for a highlighter?!

My last favourite of the month is completely miscellaneous and childish too but it just describes me perfectly which is of course my Lotso Phone Cover that I picked up from eBay. I have a thing for phone cases that are brightly coloured because then I won't lose my phone however if I have a neutral phone cover on i.e. the phone cover from this particular Birchbox then I am constantly loosing my phone. Whilst this may not be the most acceptable phone cover to have whilst having my phone on me at work, it does make me smile constantly when I pull it out. Plus, who doesn't love Toy Story!

What products have you been loving throughout this past month?