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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Holiday packing: body 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.

Sunscreen

Soltan Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 30 and SPF 50 - currently £5 each

For me, sun protection is very important and was the first thing I bought for my holiday. I haven't tried Soltan before but the 5* UVA rating really drew me into the product. I also love that it has protection against insects too as apparently, I'm attractive to insects. Nice.

KIKO After Sun Milk* - currently £11.10

I've never tried this before but I was sent it last year and considering I steered clear of the sun last summer, I had no reason to use it. As a brand, I love KIKO so I have high hopes for this aftersun. KIKO claim that this is fast-absorbing, moisturising and that it prevents peeling and prolongs suntan.

Soltan Baby Hypoallergenic Sunscreen SPF 50 - currently £2

I bought this to pop in my everyday bag for touch-ups throughout the day. In case you didn't know, I'm going on a cruise so I won't be sat around the pool all day, I'll be out and about. Because of this, I don't want to be carrying around the full-size sunscreens.

Mouth

Dentyl Active Plaque Fighter Mouthwash* - £1.20 and Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste - £1.25

Of course, the essentials. I had the Dentyl mouthwash laying around and I'd enjoyed using it in the past. The toothpaste is one that I randomly picked up as I thought it was cute in the tube. I'm hoping that it has a nice taste.

Wisdom Travel Toothbrush - £1.49

I did originally want to take my electric toothbrush with me but it's heavy and bulky and it meant I would also have had to have packed my charger. So instead, I bought a classic travel toothbrush. It's nothing special but it is really cute.

Others

Mitchum Advanced Control Deodorant - £2.99

I have no idea why I bought such a big deodorant. But seeing as Mitchum is a great brand, I decided to stick to it. This deodorant is unscented so it doesn't interfere with any fragrances and it's also the most hardcore deodorant I've ever used. Perfect for the sun.

Gillette Satin Care with Olay Shaving Gel - full size currently £2.74

I don't like showcasing my legs very often, but summer is one time when my pins are constantly out. So because of this, I need to make sure they're fuzz-free. I did want to take my RazorPit Bump Foam with me as I'm prone to ingrown hairs but it's too big so this one will have to do.

Kiehl's Creme de Corps* - full size £45

I haven't tried this body lotion before but I've heard good things about it. In fact, I've never tried anything from Kiehl's before so hopefully this product will set off a love affair. It's supposed to have a dramatic effect on skin texture whilst providing intense hydration.

Butter London Scrubbers* - £6 for ten

I'll be painting my nails the day before I go away but in case of chips, I'll be taking the bottle along with me. I've popped one of these Scrubbers in my case as they're perfect for travelling. It's basically a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.

Shower Gel

For shower gel, I could either have taken one decent sized shower gel or three minis. And considering I love having a variety of body washes in different fragrances on offer, I decided to take three smaller ones. The first is the Korres Basil Lemon Showergel* - full size £8 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which smells absolutely delicious. I then have two from Weleda. The Citrus Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 and the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash* - £1.95 which once again smell incredible. 

#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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Holiday packing: skin care

This time next week, 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.

Cleansers

Clean & Clear Truly Gentle 3-in-1 Facial Wipes - £3.05

I'm not someone who uses face wipes often as I'm a big believer in the double cleanse, but they are useful and definitely come in handy. These face wipes are my favourite. They remove make up incredibly well and leave the skin feeling hydrated and refreshed.

Elemis Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser* - full size £29 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

I haven't tried this cleanser before but I'm incredibly excited to. I've heard wonderful things about it and I'll be using this as my pre-cleanse/make up remover each night. It's to be used like the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish - massage it into skin, and remove with a flannel.

Korres White Tea Fluid Gel Cleanser* - full size £15 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67)

I haven't tried this face wash before but I trust Korres as it's a lovely brand. I'll be using this morning and evening to clean my skin and rid it of any impurities. It's also supposed to brighten, moisturise and nourish the skin which is a definite bonus.

Toners

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner* - full size £22 (from the Elemis Summer Set Glow collection* - £49.50)

Once again, another product I haven't tried but this smells delicious. It's quite big for a travel sized toner, but who am I to complain? Elemis claim that this toner soothes the skin to give it a radiant appearance and also say that it's perfect for sensitive, delicate and hormonal skin.

Pur Minerals Miracle Mist Hydrate & Set* - full size $19

For some reason, I can't find this listed anywhere in the UK. I was contemplating whether or not to take this with me but a quick spritz on the face and it was instantly packed in my bag. It's very refreshing and cooling, so it's perfect for the heat.

Treatments/Serums

Soap & Glory Sunshield Superfluid SPF50+ - £15

This is my facial sunscreen of choice as the packaging for it is perfect. It's really small and compact, which makes it a must-have for travelling. The sunscreen itself feels lightweight on the skin, doesn't leave behind a white cast and is SPF50. Perfection.

Freshskin By Elemis Face Mask Duo Pack* - £15 for 6 sachets

I decided to take a face mask for a bit of a mid-week treat. I'm taking the Deep Clean Purifying Mask from this set as it's a great way to draw out impurities, balance the skin and reduce pore size. I also get around four uses from this sachet so I'm sure all the ladies in our party will also be trying it out.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+]* - full size £15.50

I've tried the original Effaclar Duo before but not the new version. This one claims to be a lot stronger on scarring, which is perfect for my skin, especially because the sun is deadly when it comes to hyperpigmentation. 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar A.I. Targeted Breakout Corrector - £9.50

I really do like this spot treatment as it's gentle and non-drying yet fast working and hard hitting when it comes to blemishes. I'm going to be taking this just in case my skin reacts to any new products, or even to the weather. You can never be too prepared!

Moisturisers

For me, deciding which moisturiser to take proved to be a pain. My skin is combination, which means that sometimes it can be incredibly dry, and other times exceptionally oily. So I decided to take three different moisturisers which will hopefully help with each skin condition. 

The first is the Korres Wild Rose 24-hour Moisturising and Brightening Cream* - full size £20 (from the Best of Korres Gift Set* - currently £12.67) which I'll be using if my skin is particularly dry and also at night time. I've used this before and I love it. The next two are for when my skin is more on the oily side. Both the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ - full size £17 and the Clarins Daily Energizer Cream - full size £21 (from the Clarins Daily Energizer Kit - £15) are wonderful lightweight moisturisers. They sink into the skin instantly yet leave it feeling hydrating.

Extras

Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair* - £7.75

I chose this eye cream because my two everyday eye creams are quite bulky. This one is great as it hydrates the eye area and helps diminish dark circles. It also contains SPF 10 which in warm weather is a definite bonus. 

Piz Buin in Sun Lipstick SPF 30 - currently £3

And finally, SPF for the lips. This one tastes and smells incredible but sadly, it doesn't add any moisture or hydration to the lips. It does, however protect them from the damaging sun, without interfering with any make up.

#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?
*PR Sample
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MAKE UP | KIKO Unlimited Stylo Lipstick

L-R 04 and 06

I used to be someone who hated lipsticks. I'd buy them, and love the colours and pretty packaging, but never actually wear them. I used to find the formulas awful; they'd accentuate any dry patches, and I really just couldn't be bothered with reapplying them constantly. But recently, I've fallen in love with lipsticks. There are lots of hydrating, easy to wear lipsticks on the market and one brand that you all know I'm obsessed with is KIKO. The KIKO Unlimited Stylos* are fabulous. You can tell how glossy, pigmented and stunning they are from the swatches above. 

KIKO claim that these lipsticks last up to eight hours and although I don't quite agree with the eight hour claim, they're quite long lasting for such moisturising lipsticks. The texture is what I'm besotted with though; creamy and soft. They're a dream to apply and comfortable to wear. These lipsticks are available in 14 shades, ranging from natural nudes to full bodied shades. And at £6.90 each, they're an absolute bargain. I just need to get myself down to a KIKO store...

What are your favourite lipsticks? Have you tried these ones from KIKO?
*PR Sample
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Life after university...

My favourite blogs to read are the ones with a bit of personality behind them. I love getting to know the person who writes the blog, and although I mainly read blogs to find out about beauty products, a few personal lifestyle posts never did anyone any harm. So that's what this post is going to be. A bit more personal, a little bit sad but hopefully it'll be relieve me of stress. After all, a blog is an online diary and a way for me to get things off of my chest.

In case you didn't know, I recently finished my final year at university. For the past three years, I've been studying journalism and working hard, whilst maintaining my blog, having a part time job and having a social life. It hasn't been easy, but it's been an incredible journey and I've met some wonderful people on the way. I didn't want university to end, mainly because my friends are now all scattered across the country, but I never imagined that leaving university would be this hard.

This week alone, I've applied for 27 jobs. Since my last assignment was handed in, I've applied for hundreds. Yes, I've had quite a few interviews for some spectacular publications and yes, I'm still waiting to hear back from a few, meaning that I haven't actually received a no from them yet. But there is nothing harder than finding a job after university. You work your butt off for three years to be told that a degree isn't good enough. A degree simply puts you on a level playing field these days, whereas back in the day, it'd put you ahead of the competition.

Rejections are hard enough, but what's harder is sitting by my phone, constantly checking my emails and waiting for someone to give me a yes. All I want is a chance. And of course, some money. I had to stop my part time job at Boots because it wouldn't have been worth the journey every week. But now I have bills to pay, and no money whatsoever coming in. I'm 21 years old and I'm having to ask my parents for money. I shouldn't have to do that, and kills me. It's something I've always hated doing.

This past week has been exceptionally hard. I've been stressed, bored and waiting. There have been times when I've questioned my life; where it's going and if there's any point to it. Today, I received some good news which cheered me up enough to write this blog post. This post doesn't have much structure to it, or much meaning. It's just a way for me to get a few things off of my chest. If you're currently going through the same thing, then I hope you know that you're certainly not alone. Keep working at it, keep trying hard and something will come along in the end. Hopefully. I have my fingers crossed for both you and I.

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