Wednesday, 9 October 2013

MAKE UP | glo-minerals Lipstick in Coral


Over the past three weeks, if you've seen me out and about during the daytime then you'll have seen me sporting the glo-minerals lipstick in Coral.* Established in 2002, glo-minerals is a brand that use only pure pharmaceutical grade minerals and anti-oxidants chosen by dermatologists, making the brand paraben, dye and perfume free. The lipstick combines great colour with a wonderful formula that nourishes and protects the lips. Vitamins A, C and E ensure that the lips stay moisturised throughout the day and the added UV protection means that you can wear the lipstick with confidence knowing that you're protected against the sun.

The colour wasn't what I was expecting at all. It's a muted down nude-coral with lots of shimmer that luckily, isn't too overpowering. I expected a vibrant coral which is something that I struggle to pull off, however this one is beautiful. It's perfect for the daytime or paired with a smokey eye and really pulls the entire look together. Despite the lipstick itself being moisturising, it stays on the lips for a good couple of hours before wearing away. I do find that the lipstick is quite hard to apply - possibly because of the shimmer - but the extra few minutes of effort pay off as the colour is stunning and very wearable.

You can buy this lipstick (and many other shades) here for £15.00. If pigmentation isn't your thing then glo-minerals also have a Sheer Lipstick on offer which you can view here.

Have you tried anything from glo-minerals before?
*PR Sample
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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?
*PR Sample
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday, 5 October 2013

Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant Cream in Everyday Fresh




Deodorant is a necessity and when you find "the one" it can change your life. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic with that but it certainly does help. Through my life, I've gone through deodorant can after deodorant can, usually buying whatever is on offer. I've never fully committed to a certain brand but when I started using Sure Maximum Protection Deodorant Cream in Everyday Fresh* my entire perspective on deodorants changed.

Sure claim that this deodorant is 2x stronger than the leading antiperspirant and it used a tri-solid™ formula which is made up of three components. These components are: extra strength dryness protection, patented fragrance technology and skin conditioning ingredients. All of these components work together to make sure that you are protected and smelling fresh throughout the day while ensuring that your skin is protected from irritation. The deodorant cream is mild enough to use every day and also available in four fragrances (which you can view here).

I've been using this deodorant for a couple of weeks now (including throughout the dreading Freshers Week). Partying every night in sweaty, overcrowded clubs can be an absolute nightmare but I didn't have to worry with this deodorant. It's actually perfect. It smells fresh and clean and the protection is outstanding - much better than any other deodorant I've tried. I was a little bit worried about this being a cream as for me, they tend to be quite wet but this one dries straight away which means that you can get dressed instantly.

I highly doubt that I will stray away from this deodorant. It is more expensive than your usual deodorants but it's incredibly good and despite using it daily for a couple of weeks, I've barely used any of it. You can buy this deodorant here for £5.30.

Have you tried this deodorant before? Which deodorant is your favourite?
*PR Sample
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, 4 October 2013

Save or splurge: Salt sprays



Summer has well and truly been and gone but despite the drab weather that's currently spreading across the UK, there's no need to say goodbye to sexy, beachy hair just yet. As a student, sometimes I can be strapped for time and a great way to create effortless volume, body and texture is to use a salt spray.

The Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray* is an absolute classic. It's the original. The best. And it's without a doubt a wonderful product. A few spritzes into wet hair and a quick blast of the hair-dryer will transform your locks from dull to "beach-perfection" in an instant. At £21.50 it's pricey but if you're not willing to splash out and invest just yet, they do offer a 50ml alternative which retails for £9.50.

Since the explosion of the salt spray, many different brands have brought out alternative (and much more affordable) options. Umberto Giannini’s Glam Hair Tousled Salt Spray* requires a bit more work but as it retails for £5.61, the extra effort is worth it. A similar concept to Bumble and Bumble's offering; a couple of spritzes into the hair, a blast of the hair-dryer and a tiny bit of hot iron curling and you're good to go for the day.

The better of the two? Nothing comes close to Bumble and Bumble's version in my opinion - it's so effortless - but when Umberto Giannini's offering saves you £15.89, it's hard to resist a good bargain. You can buy the Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray here and the Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Tousled Salt Spray here.

Do you use salt sprays? Which ones are your favourites?
*PR Sample
This post has been edited and adapted from this one by The Linc as I am the Deputy Style Editor of the publication.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, 2 October 2013

MAKE UP | Eyes Lips Face











ELF is a brand that I've delved into before. In the past, I've been impressed by their mineral blushers, a couple of their lipsticks and a few eyeliners. However, it's a brand that I've neglected a lot over the past few years. You see, I'm someone who likes to physically buy things - I still regularly go into HMV and buy a CD for example - and it's no different when it comes to make up. I like to see the product in front of me, give it a little test out and with ELF, that's something that isn't possible in the UK. After receiving a couple of products from the brand, I've become a tiny bit annoyed at myself as the quality - and price - is outstanding.

Studio Matte Lip Colour in Rich Red* - £3.75
As someone who is a big fan of lip crayons, I had high expectations for this. The colour itself is stunning and it's a true red with a hint of pink. The lip crayon glides onto the lips, making it easy to apply and the lightweight formula means that it feels comfortable to wear. I get around 4 hours wear on the lips with regular eating and drinking which isn't half bad at all. The lip crayon is enriched with Vitamin A, C and E to moisturise the lips and I haven't had a problem with this drying my lips out. However, I definitely recommend using a lip scrub and balm beforehand to ensure they stay hydrated. I've ended up being a big fan and despite the vibrant colour that scares me off sometimes, it's a lip colour I'm sporting often. I also have my eye on Coral and Tea Rose - they look more wearable and more "me."

I could literally rave about this palette all day long. As someone who is new to highlighting the skin, I was extremely excited when the postman graced my morning (or afternoon considering he doesn't usually arrive until 1pm) with this little beauty. The packaging is once again lovely and has an expensive, luxe feel to it. It includes a mirror and a brush - and the brush is quite decent. The shimmers themselves are stunning, which I'm sure you can see from the swatches above. They're nicely pigmented, creamy and really complete a make up look. I use these in my tear duct to brighten my eyes up, on my cheekbones and on my cupids bow and they give my skin a healthy and natural glow. What's even better is the fact that these last and last. I applied the champagne pink before a night out at 8pm and when I arrived home at 3am, the shimmer was still there. Intact and looking as vibrant as ever.

Have you tried anything from ELF before? What products would you recommend?
*PR Sample
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________