Holiday packing: hair care

On Tuesday, I'll be going on my first cruise. I'm incredibly excited as I haven't been on holiday for a while, and also there are eight other family members going. For me, the best part about going on holiday is picking up miniature beauty products. They look adorable, and you get the chance to try out new things. So although I have another week before I go away, I have already packed my beauty bits (minus fragrance and make up) so I thought I would show you.

Shampoo and Conditioner

When choosing a shampoo and conditioner to take on holiday came around, I really struggled. Some days my hair is extremely oily and fine, but other days it's very dry and in need of a bit of love. So I decided to take two products I've never tried before; the Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo* and Conditioner* - full size £22 & £24.50 and two products I have tried before; the Bumble & bumble Surf Foam Wash - full size £18.50 and Creme Rinse - full size £20. The Aveda products will be perfect for when my hair is in need of some TLC and the Bumble & bumble products are wonderful at injecting a bit of life back into my hair. They also smell incredible.

Style

Bumble & bumble Surf Spray - full size £21.50

I absolutely adore this product and if I could afford it, it's one that would always end up in my collection. I got this and the shampoo and conditioner in a little travel-sized set from Boots' clearance section. It cost me a measly £4.50 (plus staff discount!) even though it currently retails for £18. Bargain.

Macadamia Control Hairspray* - full size £15.70

I've never tried this hairspray before but I love Macadamia so I doubt it'll let me down. I don't really style my hair, just straighten it every now and then, so I tend to use hairspray to add a bit of volume and lift. This one claims to resist humidity and also has UV protection in it. Perfect for my holiday.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Cherry* - £1.50

A dry shampoo is a must-have for me. I use them mainly to inject volume into my hair, but considering I have oily hair, they're an absolute staple. I haven't used this scent before but in terms of affordable dry shampoos, you can't go wrong with Batiste.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir* - £9.99

I can't live without hair oils and the only reason I'm packing this one is because it comes in a plastic bottle. It's also a lovely hair oil that doesn't weigh the hair down or make it greasy. It is, however a little bit large so if anyone has any decanting ideas, please do let me know.

Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing Spray* - full size £16.50

Originally I was going to take a Bumble & bumble volumising spray but this one is much smaller. I haven't used it before but I did get it used on me at an Aveda consultation. It added lots of body and movement to my hair, and hopefully I'll be able to do the same with it.

Treatments

Aveda After-Sun Treatment Masque* - full size £21

Of course, I had to pack this little hair mask. I can't remember how my hair reacts to the sun so I'm taking this just in case. I'll use it as a mid-week pick me up to nourish and repair my hair. It also smells absolutely delicious.

#1 Holiday Packing: Skin Care

#2 Holiday Packing: Body Care

#3 Holiday Packing: Hair Care

Are you going on holiday this year? What beauty products will you be packing?
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What's inside my summer everyday essentials bag?

Ooh isn't the weather lovely today? I've been into town for no reason at all and I had to come back after a couple of hours because I couldn't handle the heat; I'm definitely not a sun-fan at all. But regardless, I can't complain. With the sun showing its face, I've mixed up my everyday essentials bag and in case you're wondering, the bag is an old one from Primark. I'm keeping my eyes pealed for one of the smaller London bags from Primark but I can't spot it anywhere. I have the medium sized one but it's too big for everyday use sadly. Anyway, the keyring is from Clinique and it's one of the first items I ever received as a PR sample. It came with their 3 Step System and it's now four years old. It also doubles up as a small mirror.

Pebble Grey LED Cosmetic Mirror* - £24.99 (currently on offer for £19.99)

I'm not going to go into too much detail about this mirror as I do have a full blog post (+ giveaway!) coming up very soon. But basically, I don't know how I've gone my entire life without one in my handbag. It lights up when opened using LED lights and is just perfect in everyway. It's nice and compact and fits into my everyday bag perfectly.

Orla Kiely Bergamot Hand Cream* - £10.00

The hand cream pictured above is actually a teeny 10ml bottle which sadly, I can't find a link for. The full sized bottle is 50ml which is still a nice size for your handbag. I've been loving using this hand cream. Not only is the bottle beautiful looking, but the scent is gorgeous and the cream itself sinks into the hands almost instantly, leaving behind minimal residue.

Real Techniques Retractable Kabuki Brush - £11.99

This isn't my favourite Real Techniques brush but it's good for keeping in my bag with me for day-to-day touch ups as it nicely blends concealer into the skin. Like the name suggests, it's a retractable kabuki brush and the bristles get covered up by the lid, which is great for stopping bacteria. 

Cuticura Antibacterial Hand Gel in Lemon Sherbet* - £1.00

I always have to carry an antibacterial hand gel around with me. After all, you never quite know what situation you're going to end up getting yourself into. I LOVE these sweet ones from Cuticura as unlike most hand gels, they don't have a nasty chemical smell. Instead they smell absolutely gorgeous and don't dry the hands out.

Piz Buin In Sun Lipstick SPF 30 - £6.00 (currently on offer for £3.00)

The sun's out in the UK, hooray! For me, SPF is my must-have beauty item throughout the year. I have fair skin and I'm without a doubt scared of the sun, so I'm constantly protecting myself. This lip protection isn't that moisturising and it's quite thick and hard to use, but it does smell/taste nice and it's great knowing that my lips are protected throughout the day.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Suncare Cream SPF50+ 50ml - £4.00 (currently on offer for £2.00)

Like above, I always carry SPF around with me. I apply it in the morning and keep a smaller one with my for on the go touch ups. This one is an absolute bargain and it smells nice and provides SPF50+ protection. I also love using Soltan products because they have a 5 star UVA protection rating.

KIKO Kiss Balm in Strawberry* - £5.90

I absolutely adore this lip balm. It adds a hint of colour, sheen and moisture to the lips and also protects them from the sun with an SPF of 15. It tastes delicious and there are seven different flavour/colour combinations to choose from - I need to own them all! Someone take me to the London store?

Benefit The POREfessional: Agent Zero Shine* - £23.50

I have a love/hate relationship with this powder. On the one hand, it's wonderful at eliminating pores and my scarring, but on the other hand, it's ridiculously expensive as you only get a teeny 7g of product for your money. I carry it around in my handbag because of how compact and easy to use it is. It comes with a mini kabuki brush and you pour the powder into the lid, simple! 

John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99

Now my hair is shorter, I don't find myself using this as much. But it's still a handy product to keep in my bag (and I love it because it smells delicious). This Touch-Up Tamer looks like a mascara and applies like a mascara. You simple comb the wand through any flyaways and it instantly sticks them down without weighing your hair down or leaving behind any residue.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - £4.19

And of course, the god of all concealers is kept in my handbag. This is without a doubt my favourite concealer as it provides long lasting, full coverage that never looks cakey on the skin. I've gone through tubes of this stuff and it's something I'll definitely continue to repurchase.

What products do you carry around with you on a day-to-day basis?
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BRAND WEEK | Affordable hair care with John Frieda

If I'm ever in need of an affordable hair care product, this first brand I'll always look at? John Frieda. As a brand, I trust them - they seem to know their stuff - and their range is incredibly extensive. Recently, the Frizz Ease range has had a bit of a make over and at first, I wasn't that keen on the packaging. But after trying a few products out, I've found them all splashed across my dressing table...

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Go Curlier Heat-Activated Spray* - £6.99

As someone with naturally poker straight hair who loves a bit curl and wave, I covet curling sprays. I'm always on the lookout for the perfect one and this one is nice, but sadly still not perfect. You use it on wet hair (around 10-16 sprays is recommended), blow dry with a diffuser and finish with curling tongs. It leaves my hair looking nice, and holds the style for a couple of hours longer than it would usually stay. 

John Frieda Frizz Ease Original Strength 6 Effects Serum* - £6.29 

Oh this serum is something else. I'm used to using serums as the finishing step in my hair care routine, but this is supposed to be used on wet hair. At first, I didn't know how it was going to react with my hair, but after one use I realised how incredible this product is. It eliminates frizz, leaves the hair feeling silky soft and looking glossy and also resist humidity, which is absolute perfection. I just can't find a fault in this product, it's truly lovely.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir* - £9.99

I do love my oils and this is no exception. In all honesty, I can't tell the difference between Moroccanoil's, L'Oreal's and this one's offering (they all leave the hair beautifully soft and nourished), but the reason I prefer this to the other two I've tried is because of the bottle. I'm someone who moves around a lot; uni, friends, home etc. And this one is perfect for travelling as it comes in a plastic bottle with a pump lid. No mess and no breakages. 

BRAND WEEK:

#1 freshskin by Elemis
#2 Clean & Clear
#3 John Frieda
#4 Rodial

Have you tried anything from this brand before?
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HAIR | Latest loves

This past month has been an absolute nightmare. You know when people say that third year of university is stressful? It turns out they're not lying. Despite the fact I've only had three deadlines, they've all been huge assignments and I've barely had any time to myself. But with Christmas coming to an end, I decided that it was time to sit down and write about my current haircare loves. I've really been into haircare products recently which is something that doesn't happen often. I'm much more of a skincare/make up lover so at the moment, I'm embracing all things hair.

Nanokeratin RE-VITALISE Revitalising Mask* - £57.29

Now this is a pricey hair mask! But you do get a massive 500ml tub. Seeing as the weather has been getting colder, I've been pampering my hair a lot as it's been drying out. This hair mask is a real luxurious treat. It contains biomimetic ingredients which aim to mimic and replace lost keratin to leave your hair feeling strong, smooth and looking shiny. There are three different masks included in the range and the Revitalising Mask is for "natural/virgin hair." I've been loving using this. It feels like a thick balm but despite this, it doesn't weigh the hair down. Instead, hair is left feeling incredibly soft and soothed and looking beautiful. It's most definitely worth the hefty price tag - my mane adores it.

Unite Volumizing Boosta Spray* - £14.85

I suffer with lacklustre hair that falls flat as soon as I step outside. But this volumising spray has been working wonders on my hair. It smells delicious - like coconut - and it reminds me of summer. It doesn't weigh the hair down but instead, injects the hair with a volume boost that gives you dreamy Chezza hair. I use this before blowdrying and straightening/curling my hair and really, I don't think I can be without the stuff. What's even better is that Boosta Spray is paraben free and 100% vegan - no nasties will be working their way into my locks.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Illuminating Shampoo* and Conditioner* - both £5.99

I've never believed in the whole "shampoo-for-your-hair-colour" for some reason but since using these two from John Frieda, I think I might be converted. The Liquid Shine Illuminating range aims to increase shine in natural, colour-treated or highlighted brunette hair. Both of these together leave the hair unbelievably soft - so soft that I actually can't tie my hair back which is bad for days when I'm at work. But wonderful for every other day. If I've used this wonder duo, you'll see me swishing my hair around so make sure you don't stand too close.

What hair care products have you been loving recently?
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HAIR CARE | Current styling favourites

More recently, I've been getting into styling my hair. Not styling it any differently than usual - I either leave it natural, straighten it or curl it - but I've been looking after my hair more. And my hair is without a doubt loving the extra attention. It's in extremely good condition at the moment and the majority of the time, it does exactly what I want it to. In case you're wondering, I have fine hair that's flat and prone to oiliness. 

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Cream - £4.79

I've gone through many split end creams in my time but this is the one that I always end up coming back to. Not only does it smell divine - like raspberries - but it does a wonderful job at smoothing split ends down and preventing new ones from forming. I have long hair and I don't get it cut very often so this cream is a godsend for me. It doesn't weigh the hair down either which is a must have for my fine hair.

YUKO Repair Through* - £15.00

This leave-in conditioning spray is perfect for protecting against split ends and heat damage. I spray this onto wet hair before blow drying and after styling, my hair feels beautifully soft and bouncy. It sprays out as a lightweight mist that detangles the hair using moisturising agents and amino acids. These both help to maintain moisture and prevent damage.

Love Boo Natural No More Knots Detangling Spray* - £11.99

This range is aimed at mothers and babies/children however, I've been loving using the Detangling Spray on my fine hair. As I have long hair, it tangles up easily and this spray quickly detangles the hair, adds shine and leaves it feeling soft. It uses papaya and coconut extracts to add shine and hydrate and argan oil and fig to help release knots and de-frizz the hair. I should also add that this smells absolutely gorgeous.

Schwarzkopf Osis+ Body Me Fullifying Volume Serum* - £9.75

I'm not the biggest fan of mousses as I find them tricky to use so this volumising serum is a godsend for me. I apply this to my hair before blowdrying and it significantly increases hair body and fullness. It offers medium control so it holds throughout the day but with natural movement. The serum element of this means that it smooths the hair shaft down so you can say goodbye to frizz.

John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99

This on-the-go mascara wand-esque treatment is perfect for carrying around with you on a daily basis. It quickly smooths down flyaways and adds shine. I have a random piece of hair on the left hand side of my head that always sticks up. I could never tame it until I found this product. 

Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment* - £13.45

This really is a little godsend and regardless of your hair type, it's something I believe that everyone should own. It fixes a multitude of sins including frizz, dry hair, tangled hair and more. I use the light version because I have oily/thin hair and this lightweight formula doesn't weigh the hair down or make my hair appear greasy. It leaves the hair looking shiny and feeling hydrated and soft. It's one hair product that I definitely couldn't be without.

TRESemmé 24 Hour Body Sky High Plump Powder* - £5.50

This is a product that I've owned for years but never used. I'm extremely glad that I "discovered" this as it's wonderful at adding volume to the hair. My hair is really lacklustre and a couple of shakes of this underneath my roots leaves my hair looking crazy - in a good way, of course. It does leave the hair feeling a bit bleugh but it's easily washed out the next day. I use this every time I go out at night to ensure that my hair is volumised and full.

Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Hot Styler Spray* - £5.61

Quite simply the best heat defence, ever. It protects your hair against heat damage, smooths the hair down, fights frizz and holds your style like a light-hold hairspray. I use this every time I use heat on my hair and it's wonderful. It's a 3-in-1 product (serum, heat defence and hairspray) and if I'm curling my hair then it holds the style for a lot longer than normal heat defences. I also love the way this sprays - like an aerosol and not a spritz bottle - as it makes it easy to evenly coat the hair.

Bumble and bumble Surf Spray* - £21.50

I've mentioned this beauty many times on my blog before and I stand by everything I've ever said. Yes, it's damn expensive, no I won't be able to afford another when this one runs out but my oh my, I absolutely love it. For effortlessly sexy hair, this is my "go-to" product. It adds texture, body, bounce, waves - everything I could ever want in a hairstyle. And it smells beautiful too. But that little big price tag, oh I hate it so much.

What are your favourite hair styling products? Do you use any of the above?

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The bag of essentials

I'm not someone who touches up their make up throughout the day. Mainly because I don't really go out anywhere for long periods of time - a quick workshop here, an hour long lecture there and I'm back home. However, I do like to carry a bag of essential products and items with me everywhere I go. I've done this since the beginning of summer and I believe it's about time I showed you the products that have ensured my life is that little bit easier.

Lady essentials

Of course, these had to be in there. The case comes with Bodyform packs from Boots which are currently on offer for £1 - a bargain if you ask me. The case makes sanitary towels discreet, pretty and easy to carry around with you.

Soap & Glory Mini Hand Food - £2.50

My hands don't tend to get all that dry but I do like to keep them moisturised and nourished. This is my favourite ever hand cream as it smells delicious and sinks into the hands pretty quickly. I love the mini version as it's perfect for carrying around with you and just to let you know, I have two bigger tubes of this dotted around the house as well. I just can't be without the stuff!

Halo Handy Hygienic wipes* - £1.09

A definite must! If you're going out for the day then you aren't always guaranteed a sink to wash your hands in. These hand wipes come in handy all the time and I love the Halo ones because they aren't drying on the skin and smell delicious. I love how convenient they are and although I was worried about the pack drying out, I haven't had any issues with it thus far and I used these all the time whilst on holiday. I've also stocked up as they're currently on offer at Boots.

Toothbrush Holder - £0.50

I do have braces so carrying a toothbrush around with me is most definitely essential. Inside my holder I carry a Boots Expert TePe 0.7mm Interdental Brush - £3.09 and a Wilko Kids Toothbrush - £0.70. The kids toothbrush fits inside the holder better and allows me to get a close clean when it comes to my braces. I also carry around a Boots Smile Mini Toothpaste - £0.50 as I like to brush my teeth after meals regardless of where I am.

John Frieda Full Repair Touch-Up Flyaway Tamer* - £10.99

This product is quite new to me but I absolutely adore it. As a fan of the Full Repair range, I was dying to try this out when I saw that it was released. It uses Inca Inchi Oil to smooth down flyaways and frayed ends to ensure that your hair is looking healthy and full of volume throughout the day. The applicator is the same as a mascara wand which makes brushing the product through your hair easy peesy and the small tube is perfect for my essentials bag. I have little baby hairs around my fringe and when I haven't blowdried my hair properly, they stick up like crazy which looks awful. This smooths the flyaways down without weighing the hair down or leaving it feeling crispy - perfect.

Trevor Sorbie Tease Comb - £4.79

I have long hair that gets tangled easy and lacks volume so a comb is a must. I'd love to have a brush in my essentials bag but unfortunately, one won't fit. This comb is compact and does a good job at backcombing my hair throughout the day. It takes a while to get the knots out of my hair but I can cope with that.

Fake Bake Bronzing Powder Brush* - £10.00

Like I've mentioned, I don't top up make up throughout the day but I do take a face powder and brush with me to eliminate any shine that manages it sneak its way onto my face. I love this bronzing brush as it comes with its own carry case so it doesn't get dirty in the bag. My face powder of choice is the No7 Crème Touch Face Powder - £8.50 basically because I need to use it up. It isn't my favourite but it does eliminate shine and add a teeny bit more coverage.

Dirty Works Emery Board and Case* - £2.99

My nails are pretty brittle which means that unfortunately, they break easily. This tends to happen when I'm out and about and for me, there's nothing worse than an uneven nail - they just look so awful and it makes me want to bite them even more, disaster! So I carry this nail file around with me for emergencies. I also love the fact that it comes with its own carry case.

Compeed Heel Blister Plasters* - £5.99

I suffer from blisters badly regardless of if I've been wearing heels or new shoes. I recently went on a Twitter rant about blister plasters as I've always used and bought Compeed ones which are quite expensive. I picked some up from Wilkinsons the other week and they were an absolute bargain at £1.35. However, they aren't the same as my trusty Compeed ones. The Wilkinsons ones were essential plasters but bigger and they needed changing everyday. Compeed Blister Plasters last forever and they won't remove themselves until the blister has heeled itself and disappeared. A complete must have.

Disney Princess Lip Smacker in Snow White* - £3.00

An essential bag wouldn't be an essential bag without lip balm and this is my current one of choice. It nourishes the lips, adds a bit of a sheen and tint and smells and tastes delicious.

Swiss Army Knife Victorinox travel spray holder*

This was a limited edition item that  PR company sent me and I absolutely love it. Not only is it pretty but it's also convienient and I use it to top up my perfume all the time.

Other essentials: a mirror, hair band & grips

Of course! My mirror is a Hannah Montana one that I've had forever, my hair band is from Primark and my grips are from Boots. Definite essentials.

What essentials do you carry around with you on a day-to-day basis?
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REVIEW: John Frieda Frizz-Ease and Full Repair

John Frieda is a hair care brand that I absolutely love. I use the Full Repair range religiously and my mum has started using the Frizz-Ease range recently. I'm someone who doesn't tend to stick with the same hair care products however, since I started using the Full Repair range I haven't switched (other than for reviewing) yet. You can see all of my posts on the range here.

Full Repair Full Body Conditioner*:

This product is wonderful. I have long, thin hair that is prone to oilyness and tangles - basically, it's a nightmare. This conditioner (as well as the shampoo) cleanses the hair beautifully without weighing it down. It also helps to revive over-styled hair which is something that I have a problem with. Because my hair is so long and I used to use a lot of heat on it without heat protecting spray, it's prone to breakages. But since using both the shampoo and conditioner  I've noticed an improvement in the way that my hair looks and feels. I've also been able to stop washing my hair every single day as this doesn't grease it up whatsoever.

Frizz-Ease Original Formula Hair Serum*:

Until recently, I hadn't been able to using hair serums on my hair because of how quickly it produced oil and also because of how flat my hair gets. But since switching to the Full Repair shampoo and conditioner, I've been loving hair serums and oils. This serum is infused with silk proteins which aim to deliver a layer of crystal clear gloss that leaves you with shiny, frizz-free hair. I use this after I've washed my hair and before blow-drying it and it works a treat. My hair feels beautifully soft and it also does a wonderful job at making it look glossy and shiny. It doesn't weigh my hair down and it doesn't make it greasy either (I only use it at the ends). This serum is also safe to use on permed and coloured hair.

Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Crème*:

This Smoothing Crème is perfect for those of us that love straight hair! My hair can sometimes be a nightmare. I go through all of that effort of washing, blow-drying and straightening my hair for it to just look like a curly frizz ball in humid/damp weather. This crème aims to hold the hair straight without any heaviness. The formula is very lightweight and just like the hair serum, it doesn't weigh my hair down it make it greasy. It contains sweet almond oil and milk protein which aim to smooth and condition the hair, smoothing away frizz and keeping the hair straight. It also contains a ThermaGuard™ Complex which protects against heat damage so you don't have to apply this and also your heat protection. You use this on wet hair and blow-dry it straight and then style as usual and you're left with beautifully, glossy, straight, bouncy hair!

Here, you can see the entire John Frieda Frizz Ease range and the Full Repair range here. 

What is your favourite range from the John Frieda collection? You can also check out their YouTube videos which has videos full of expert hair styling tips and also step-by-step styles!

xxx

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Hair Care Routine

I don't think I've done a hair care routine in a really long time and recently, I've been loving the products mentioned below and I've stuck to them for a good few months now. I must also add that my hair type is long, fine and is very prone to oilyness. So I look for volumising products that don't grease up my hair.

I always use the John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo* (£5.89) and conditioner* (£5.89). I really don't think this will ever change. I've mentioned both of these products a lot before and I really love them. They're great at cleansing the hair without stripping it of its natural oils. I also love that they don't weigh the hair down and on their own provide natural volume. For inbetween washes I use the Batiste Cool & Crisp Fresh Dry Shampoo (£2.50). I really like this scent but I do tend to just pick up a random scent when I'm in need of a new one. Batiste do so many and I want to try them all out! I've tried a lot of dry shampoos before (including more recently Superdrug's own which fyi, I hated) but I always come back to these ones. Probably because of the low price! My hair mask of choice is the TRESemme Split Remedy Split Mend Intense Recovery Masque* (£5.69). I've actually had this tub for around a year now and it's still going strong (although I don't have that much left). It's really nourishing and moisturising but it doesn't weigh the hair down or make my hair look more oily. I only need a tiny bit of this and I use it 2-3 times a week. Another product from the Split Remedy range that I love is the TRESemme Split Remedy Sealing Serum* (£5.69). I use this after every wash on the ends of my hair to make sure that my hair doesn't split. I have very long hair which means that my hair is prone to breakages but with this serum, my hair still ends up looking and feeling healthy. A classic product that I love is the Avon Advance Techniques Frizz Control Lotus Shield (£7.50). My sister actually bought this for herself and seeing as I'm the person who typically blowdries/straightens her hair, she gave it to me. I absolutely love it! It makes sure that your hair withstands the nasty, humid weather and it's great for taming frizz. I also love how smooth and soft this leaves me hair looking and feeling. I use this before I blow-dry my hair.

Heat defence for me is so important and I always use the TRESemme Heat Defence Styling Spray (£4.69) when I blow-dry/straighten/curl my hair, without fail. I've tried a few other heat defences but nothing compares to this one. I love the way it sprays out like a fine mist which means that it evenly coats your hair without weighing it down or making it greasy. Before blow-drying my hair I use the TIGI Bed Head Candy Fixation Totally Baked Hair Meringue* (£12.50) which is a mousse that adds volume. I love the smell of this! If you know me or you read my blog often enough then you'll know that lemon meringue is not only one of my favourite smells but also my favourite dessert so this takes me right back to that! Like all of the products in my hair care routine, this doesn't weigh the hair down or make it oily - I feel like a parrot as I'm repeating that a lot! But it's a must have for me. When I'm finishing off my hair I'll use either (or both) the TIGI Bed Head Candy Fixation Sugar Shock Bodifying Sugar Spray* (£11.75) or my Umberto Giannini Incredible Body Full Volume Hairspray* (£5.49). The Sugar Spray is great for adding volume and texture to the hair and I pair this with back combing and mainly use it throughout the day when I want a not so 'done' and polished look. The smell of this is also incredible. It reminds me of childhood and I love it so much! The hairspray is mainly what I use at night as it does a wonderful job of adding volume to the hair and keeping it in place all night long. It's also easy to brush out and doesn't crisp the hair up at all. Finally, I'll use the Percy and Reed Flawless Finishing Polish (£4.00) when I want a smoothed down look as it's great at taming frizz and flyaways.
What are your favourite hair care products? Have you tried any of my favourites?
xxx
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VIDEOS: John Frieda Full Repair

As you may or may not know, I've recently fallen in love with the John Frieda Full Repair range and thanks to this, I was contacted by digital agency. They introduced me to a series of four videos which show step-by-step guides which are hosted by John Frieda celebrity hair styles Jake Davis and Giles Robinson. The content highlights their fabulous Full Repair range which protects the hair from heat damage without weighing it down which is perfect if you're looking to achieve a light, natural look for summer. 

The thing I love the most about these videos is how easy they are to follow. I'm not great at styling my hair and especially at getting that perfect blow dry but these have given me the confidence to try it. Especially the full body blow dry and top knot. I love the way that the videos also get the girls who are having their hair styled involved as it shows that anyone can achieve these looks!

Have you tried the John Frieda Full Repair range? What do you think of these videos?

xxx

REVIEW: John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo/Conditioner

When I went on holiday I decided to take the travel sized versions of the John Frieda Full Repair shampoo and conditioner and whilst I was there, I loved it so much that I decided that I needed to buy the full sized versions. Fate must have been on my side on the last day of the holiday as I walked into Boots and there on the clearance section I saw the shampoo and conditioner on off for just £3.00 each instead of the usual £5.89. It was an offer that I couldn't resist so I picked them up. I'm kinda regretting not picking up some of the other products in the range as there were a few on the clearance stand too but oh well.

John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Shampoo - £5.89 and John Frieda Full Repair Full Body Conditioner - £5.89

I've really grown to love this range after just a few days. If you know me or you read my blog posts often enough then you'll know that when it comes to hair care, I mix and match a lot and I can never seem to stick to the same shampoo and conditioner. I used to think it was because I liked trying new products out or because it was what my hair wanted but after using this range I've realised that it was because I just had never found the right products to be using. I know it's only been a few days but I really cannot see myself changing my shampoo and conditioner again (unless it's for reviewing purposes). This range together is wonderful. It smells nice, it lathers well, it prevents build up, it's great for every day use, it repairs the damage that's been done to the hair. It does pretty much everything I want a shampoo and a conditioner to use. The shampoo and conditioner aren't heavy so they don't weigh your hair down and surprisingly enough I've found that I don't even need to use mousse in my hair to add extra volume as this does it well enough alone.

You can view the full range here. And I'd also like to add that currently in Boots the entire John Frieda collection is on offer for 3 for £10.

Have you tried these products before? What other products would you recommend from the range?

xxx

Boots Summer Holiday Hauling

In a few weeks time me, my sister and our friend are going on holiday. It was a birthday present from me to her for her 21st birthday. And of course going on holiday means buying lots of new things. I did want to get a whole new wardrobe to go on holiday with but instead I decided to spend some of my wages on new beauty products - because quite frankly, I'm an addict. So I went into Boots and these are the things that I bought. Of course, I'm taking other things but I wanted to keep it as a haul. Before I go on holiday I'll show you everything that I'll be taking with me. We're staying in the UK so it means that there are no limits!

Clarins Daily Energizers Great Skin Kit - £15.00

I originally went to pick up the Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel but when I saw this kit I knew I had to get it. It contains the Clarins Daily Energizer Cleansing Gel, Clarins Daily Energizer Wake-up Booster, Clarins Daily Energizer Cream and the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. They're all mini sizes but to say they're mini sizes is a bit unfair considering I think they're decent sizes. I thought it'd be better to buy this kit beforehand and see if the range agrees with my skin. And also, I have been wanting to try the Beauty Flash Balm out for a really long time now. Unfortunately, I'm taking this on holiday with me so there won't be a review for a few weeks. I don't know how I'm going to resist using the products.

No7 Anti-Dark Spot Facial Sun Protection SPF15 - £11.00

Sun protection for the face is a big must have for me so it's taken me a while to decide on this one. Like Soltan this has a 5* UVA rating and the great thing about it is that it protects against dark spots which is something that I suffer with due to my scarring on my face. Unfortunately, it's only SPF15 but I am only going away in the UK so it should definitely be enough.

Soap & Glory Mist You Madly Mini Body Spra - £3.50

I have the full size of this and also a mini size that's nearly running out so when I saw that this was on the 3 for 2 offer that Boots currently have on, I couldn't say no. It has the classic Soap and Glory scent and it smells so beautiful. Definitely my favourite body spray.

John Frieda Full Repair Shampoo and Conditioner - £1.99 each

I have been wanting to try out this range for a while so when I saw the mini's I immediately put back the TRESemme shampoos that I was holding and picked up these. I decided to go for two shampoos and one conditioner as these were also in the 3 for 2 and one mini bottle of shampoo isn't enough for me on holiday.

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes - £7.00

I needed some skin care wipes for removing any eye make up and just if I've had a late night and I'm feeling lazy so I picked these ones up. They're great face wipes and one of the best that I've tried. They remove all make up and leave the skin feeling beautifully soft.

Soap & Glory Hand Maid Antibacterial Hand Cleansing Gel - £2.50

I've seen this floating around the blogosphere for a while and I really wanted an antibacterial hand gel but I don't tend to like the alcoholic scent of them. So when I picked this up and smelt it I immediately popped it into my basket. It smells like once again, the classic Soap and Glory scent.

Soap & Glory Mini Clean, Girls Creamy Body Wash - £2.50

And finally, a body wash! I was going to go for the Clean on Me one but I already have one mini size of that plus two full sized bottles as it's my favourite body wash. So I decided to go for the alternative body wash as it's one that I've never tried before.

So altogether this cost me £25.79 instead of £47.47. It cost me a lot less than it should've done because of 3 for 2's, staff discount and vouchers. I even shocked myself when I added up the receipt price and the actual price and I can't wait to try out some of the products. As always, I highly recommend going to the Advantage Card kiosks before buying anything in Boots as they have some great offers there.

I hope you're all well. Are you going on holiday this summer?

xxx

University Survival Kit!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Blush - Dry Shampoo is a must-have at university because you will mainly have late nights and early mornings. So if you have to be up early and you wake up late but you don't have time to wash your hair, dry shampoo is a life saver. Also, if you're like me and your hair is often flat, dry shampoo will inject so much volume into your roots.

John Frieda Root Awakening - Hairspray is very important as it will hold your style which is perfect for bad weather! I love this hairspray because it adds volume to the hair and holds the style all day.

TRESemme Split Remedy Split Mend & Protect Leave in Treatment - My hair requires a lot of looking after and this leave in treatment is incredible. It helps seal the hair and fix and prevent any split ends. 

Liz Earle Foot Repair Moisturiser - If you're at university and you love to party then a decent foot moisturiser is a definite must-have. After a night out, my feet are a wreck and I just slaver this all over my feet, leave it to soak in and my feet feel refreshed, soft lovely! 

Liz Earle Foot Spritzer - Same goes for this foot spritzer. It eliminates odour and gives the feet a lovely boost.

Impulse Goddess Body Spray - I adore body sprays and at the moment, this one is my favourite. It smells all citrusy and is perfect for quickly spraying before going anywhere.

Murine Bright & Moist Eyes - A lot of late nights take their toll on you and if you don't want to arrive at a lecture looking half-dead, eye drops are perfect for you. I love these ones because they brighten the eyes as well as moisturising them. They're all really easy to apply and have lasted me a long time. 

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter - When you're going out, there is nothing worse than scaly legs. The Righteous Butter by Soap & Glory is wonderful as it's not only moisturising but it smells gorgeous too!

Dirty Works Pore-fect Face Scrub - Another problem with going out a lot and staying up late is that your skin will probably end up looking dull. This face scrub gets rid of dead skin cells and wakens the skin up. 

Dirty Works Belle of the Ball Face Mask - The same goes for this face mask. You leave it on for 5 minutes whilst it sets and when you wipe it away, your skin will be very radiant and lovely!

Soap & Glory Flake Away - When it gets to winter and your skin starts drying out, there is literally nothing better than this body scrub. It's vigorous but not too vigorous, it smells beautiful and it's also perfect for applying before fake tan.

Johnson's Baby Bedtime Cream - I sometimes struggle to sleep and I apply this moisturising before going to bed. I wake up with soft skin and also the smell helps me get a decent nights sleep. 

Keromask Camouflage Cream - Full coverage foundation is wonderful for when you're taking pictures on a night out/your skin isn't perfect. This is my favourite foundation at the moment as it's the fullest coverage you will get. It's designed to cover up scars and tattoos. It lasts throughout the day/night and is easy to blend.

Diego Dalla Palma Make Up Fixer - Holds make up in place all day and all night. There's nothing more to say except that it's wonderful.

Rimmel Fix & Perfect Primer - Primers are also a great product to keep handy. This one minimises pores, makes make up last all day, brightens the skin and mattifies it.

Blistex Lip Conditioner - Especially in winter months your lips will take a battering. I adore this lip conditioner as it tastes nice and really softens the lips. It's also perfect for throwing in your bag.

Corn Silk Semi-Matt Pressed Powder - I love love love this face powder. When you're up all day and out all night, there's nothing worse than a shiny face. This semi-matt powder ensures your skin looks radiant without looking greasy.

What are your favourite products for nights out etc?

xxx