Tuesday 31 December 2013

December Favourites

























December, in one word, has been absolutely exhausting for me. As much as I love the festive period, I'm actually looking forward to the new year and getting back to normality. Even though December has been extremely hectic, it took me no time at all to pick my favourite products this month. I've been addicted to all five of them!

First up is the Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo (£6.99), a product that, I must admit, I am pleasantly surprised with. I honestly had no expectations of this as I was pretty skeptical that a shampoo could make my hair grow faster. I got my hair cut at the end of November, and even though it needed a good amount chopped off the ends, my hair just looked so much shorter than I had anticipated. I was really happy with the length before I got it cut and I've been longing to have my longer locks back, so I purchased a few bottles of the shampoo to try. 
It works by stimulating the metabolic activity of the hair follicles, which encourages blood flow to the roots, therefore helping the hair to grow faster. I've been using this shampoo every day for almost a month now and I have to say I have noticed a huge difference not only in the length, but the condition of my hair. I wouldn't say my hair was in bad condition before, but this shampoo has made it stronger and there's less breakage at the ends. I've read mixed reviews of this product, and I think I've managed to get such impressive results because I started using it after getting my hair cut. I don't normally stick with the same shampoo, but I'm loving the results of this one. It's a keeper for sure. 

It's very unlike me to stray from my morning and evening skin routines, but with this month being as busy as it was, I've been skipping on applying my usual lotions and potions and my skin has been suffering because of it. Thankfully, the Origins Out of Trouble face mask ((£22) has been my saviour lately and I always turn to this when my skins not looking it's best. I'm on my third tube of this now and it's one of the best face masks for when your skin is in need of a detox. This works wonders on my complexion when I'm suffering from clogged pores and oily skin, leaving my skin noticeably clearer and healthier looking.

I've discovered a couple of new favourites this month in the form of the Clarins Eye Revive Beauty Flash (£29) and Essie Nail Polish in the colour Bahama Mama (£7.99). I'm constantly hunting down a good eye cream as my dark circles can be horrific and I'm so self conscious of them. I have been trialing this Clarins one for the past few weeks now and I'm happy to announce that my dark circles have reduced slightly and overall my eye area is much brighter. This little wonder releases toxins to minimise dark circles, tighten eye contours and reduce puffiness. In my experience you have to be patient with eye creams as it can take a number of weeks to really see the benefits, but I'm pleased with the results so far.

My nails have been coated in this rich, deep plum shade by Essie all month. I love these purply hues, they're so perfect for winter and the staying power of these nail polishes is amazing. I've not had this shade off my nails all December, I just adore it! 

Lastly, I have rediscovered my love for the Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder (£33). This has been a favourite of mine for years and years, I've never really came across another powder that compares to it. It controls shine and mattifies my skin beautifully without that horrible 'chalky' look that you can get from many powders. My complexion always looks so natural and radiant when I use this, it's a make up product I simply can't live without.

What have you been loving this month?
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Thursday 26 December 2013

Origins High-Potency Night-A-Mins Renewal Cream


I have so much love for Origins. They are easily one of my favourite skin care brands, and I can always rely on their products to work there magic on my skin, no matter what crisis it may be up against. I've been looking to shake up my evening skin care routine by adding some lovely new additions to it, and with the Night-A-Mins (£34) being on my wish list for some time now, I decided it was time to finally purchase it.

The Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream is available in two formulas; one for normal/combination skin and the other for combination/oily skin. Fortified with a system of time released resurfacers and moisture rich replenishers, plus vitamins C, E and H (ooft), these pots of goodness are designed to target dullness by sloughing away dry, dead skin layers while you sleep. My skin is far from dry and never looks flakey, however my skin can look dehydrated and lifeless, especially if I've been lacking sleep or been feeling run down. 
I apply this cream all over my face shortly after cleansing and applying a facial oil before I go to sleep every night. This cream is very rich, but sinks into my skin beautifully and feels so luxurious on application. The smell is also divine; it has a wonderful citrusy scent that is just so fresh but calming, and makes me feel relaxed every time I use it.

Like all Origins products I've tried this does not disappoint. When I wake up in the morning, my skin gives the impression that I've had a full nights sleep, even when I've not. My complexion looks radiant, brightened and healthier looking. It's safe to say that this has firmly secured a place in my evening skin care routine.



Have you tried this night cream?

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Thursday 12 December 2013

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo

When it comes to applying make up, doing my eyebrows is the part I enjoy the most. A beautiful pair of eyebrows can complete your whole look; I just love to see my brows transformed after I have filled them in as they appear fuller looking and more defined. Annoyingly I wasn't born with perfect Cara Delevingne type brows, so I have to make do with using a brow product to help me achieve my desired look.

I had been lusting after Anastasia Beverly Hills products ever since I spotted them in Sephora while I was on holiday in California over the summer. I finally got around to purchasing the best selling Brow Powder Duo (£17) and the angled brush (£13) a few weeks ago and I've been using them both ever since. I am loving them! Up until I purchased the brow powder I have always used a pencil to fill in my brows. This worked fine for me, but I sometimes found that using a pencil could leave them looking quite harsh and ‘blocky’. I had been considering opting for a powder and hoping that would make my eyebrows appear more natural.

The duo consists of a pair of complimentary shades providing sheer to medium coverage. I purchased the duo in the shade Ebony; this suits me perfectly as I have black hair but I prefer my brows to be a more browny-black colour. My method for using this is to use the lighter shade to fill in any sparse areas where my eyebrows begin, then fill in the tail end and the lower inner brow with the darker shade. I finish them off by blending the two shades together and going over them delicately to even out the shape and add more colour where needed. The brush makes application so simple as it is the perfect shape and size, allowing me to fill and define where needed with minimal effort. The end result is wonderfully natural looking and defined brows.

Powder is definitely my preferred method of eyebrow application now after using this product. I've been converted!


What products do you use on your brows?




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