New in: Summer Highstreet Hair Care Haul and other bits

Hi lovelies, I hope you all are well. I am back with a tiny haul. 

In February/ toward the end of March I made 3 changes to my hair care routine. Before I would shampoo and deep condition my hair twice a month (usually on a Saturday morning. I have always done that, ever since I have taken care of my own hair. "To have a change, you need to make a change." With that in mind I decided to shampoo and deep condition my hair 3 times a month (instead of only twice) and  I have added a pre -poo step to my hair care routine. 

Pre-poo-ing  (pre-conditioning before shampooing your hair) is not a new concept all the naturals I know pre- poo and a fair amount of the relaxed/ texlaxed girls. It is just something I haven't made a part of my hair care routine until now. For the last month or so I have been using the L'oreal Extraordinary Oils shampoo and hair mask. the shampoo has been lovely on my hair, not stripping at all and the hair mask has been great on its own as well as mixed with oils as a moisturizing hair mask. 

If you know me you know I like a good bargain, I saw that Boots and Superdrug were having 50%  off sale on L'Oreal hair products. I thought let me try a few of the other products, since I have been having a good experience with the Extraordinary oils range. 

I picked up a few other hair care products as well. plus some bits and bobs. 

1st Row

Tresemme Breakage Defense Restructuring Treatment Masque - this replaced the Herbal Essence Bee Strong Intensive hair mask as my pre-poo.

Vatika Virgin Oilive Deep Conditioning Hair mask - moisturising deep conditioner. This was 50p in Superdrug, total impulse purchase. 

2nd row

L'Oreal Elvive colour Protect Masque - moisturising deep conditioner 

L'Oreal Elvive Full Restore 5 Repairing masque - Protein/ strengthening deep conditioner. 

3rd Row

Trevor Sorbie Colour Enhance Mask - moisturising deep conditioner. 

5 conditioning masks might seem like a lot but, deep conditioning is the foundation of any good hair care routine. Plus I am conditioning my hair more often now. 

Gold packaging - L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil in cream leave in - all hair types. 

Brown packaging - L'Oreal Elvive  Extraordinary Oil in cream leave leave in - dry, rough, hair

Holland & Barrett

Avocado Oil

Peppermint Oil

Lavender and Coconut Hydrating Mist (don't do it)

Superdrug

Astral soft Face and Body Moisturiser - this is super light, absorbs quickly, perfect moisturiser for summer holidays. 

Marks & Spencers

Lemon Verbena Room Spray 

Well there you are my lovelies. 

My tiny haul of hair care and other things. 

If you have bought anything new hair things for the summer,

comment below and let me know. 

xx

Travel Mini Me

   

As the weather heats up, we embrace the spring.

Throwing off the layers of winter, our wander lust kicks in. Long weekends, mini breaks, city breaks, girlie holidays, the travel chatter begins. With  many people (like myself) opting to travel light i.e no checked luggage. Finding suitably sized products to keep you looking, as fabulous as you  would at home can take the joy of of preparing for a holiday/vacation. 

 Here enters the travel mini. 

One unlikely source of travel minis is your local chemist. 

There are many items sold in our  everyday high street (Boots / Superdrug)  which do not require agonizing over which items are best suited for us to use our 3 for 2 offer. 

This Astral cream is lightweight and very suited for the super hot temperatures. It is also 100ml and falls within the airport liquid requirements for flights. Any 30ml fragrance (with a sensible cover) is suitable travel mini in my book. Avene thermal water 50ml perfect for a spritz, to refresh your makeup or a cool down. A bar of soap like this Dove bar is a great way to save liquid space (weight in your handbag), pop in your carry on, zip and go.

Spf, should have a top spot in all summer travel kits and so should an effective remover. Soap and Glory Ultimelt (recommended to me by the skincare goddess Caroline Hirons) and Botanics Hot cloth cleanser are two travel (sized)  products you can find in your nearest Boots. 

  which are always suitable for travel. 



Christmas gift sets are an overlooked  source of great travel  minis.
The Boots Extracts mini body butters set, (the Soap & Glory body butter wheel gift) and the Ren Mini Travel set are great Christmas buys which make great travel minis. 




If you follow my blog, dropped in here and there, said hello occasionally, you know that I am a lover of a magazine freebie. Now I love a magazine (3 cheers for the revamped Cosmopolitan UK, it was long over due, doing very well so far). However I like a magazine with free stuff especially if it  is a magazine that I read all the time. The photo below shows the travel minis, I have collected from magazines over the last 6 months.  

 The last source of unlikely travel minis are samples. Do not over look a sample. Those little tubes of toothpaste at the dentist, The 5ml of foundation sample. The free hair shine / moisturizer/ hair gel in the relaxer kits. Even the little sample sprays from the fragrance counter. Samples are a great addition to your travel mini beauty kits.

Safe travels my lovelies.
xx

The White Shirt from 9 - 5 to 5 - 9 and all the time in between

Whenever I buy something new, I get a little tingly feeling, which makes me happy, the shoppers high. ( you know what I am speaking about, lol) Plus if the item was on SALE (50% off or more, anything less is not a sale.) You need to tie string around me to keep me grounded because I will float away on joy. I work hard, and I enjoy spending my coins. At the same time,

 when I buy something I make sureeeeeeeeeeeee  I get my moneys worth. Unless a beauty item is giving me an allergic reaction, I am using that sucker down to the last drop, swipe, squeeze. In relation to clothing,

 I never by an outfit, I buy pieces. A skirt here, a shirt there, some trousers, a pair of shoes. I do not buy an item unless I can think of at least 5 places I can wear it or a few items in my closet I can mix and match it with. 

With that in mind I am putting together my new series named the White Shirt Series ( I still need to finish my MAC series but I will get to that.) Some of the photos will be old photos from blog posts before,  some of the pictures will be new and other photos I have had sitting on my computer for eons (waiting for the inspiration to arrive, or maybe the sunshine. 

Shoes - Office, Jeans - Zara, Belt - GAP, Shirt - T. M. Lewin,
Blazer - Zara, Lipstick - MAC Ruby Woo, Bag - Zara

Boots - Diesel, Jeans - Zara, Belt - GAP, Shirt - T. M. Lewin,
Blazer - Zara

Shoes - Zara, Trousers - Next, Shirt - T. M. Lewin,
Blazer - Zara

Have a great Saturday  my lovelies.

xoxo

February Empties

Hey guys, I haven't posted anything new things in a while, since I have been doing a fair bit of travelling (not finished yet) and also been busy at work. Time just gets away from me sometimes. 

I had a little time where I was searching for inspiration (which never came) so I just decided to go with it. I took these pictures at the beginning of February but kept putting off posting, I know , I know procrastination, procrastination. 

Without further ado here are my February Empties. 

Those of you who have followed my blog for a while, will know that that this has been my staple leave in conditioner for a long time (due to the fact it was such a huge bottle). It worked well for me, even though the formula was intended for fine hair (of course my hair is thick like no ones business). I will miss it because I used it for such a long time, however I am looking forward to trying other things. I already have a bottle of L'oreal leave in conditioner and also a bottle of the Mane n Tail Leave in conditioner (thanks dannie) waiting in the wings. 

I like choice when it comes to shower gels/body washes, I try to keep two in rotation at a time in the shower. Imperial Leather Peony & Raspberry this shower gel smells amazing and  gave such good lather. Right Guard shower gel + lotion it did what it says on the tin, my skin was not dry or overly stripped after I finished bathing. It reminded me of a body cream. Both of these I would repurchase. 

Garnier Ultry dry 48 hour none stop protection (yada yada yada) my armpits were dry all day I have no complaints. Garnier is one of those company's that keep making great products, in my opinion. Soft n Gentle Orchid & Passion flower deodorant - it smelled nice, I would not repurchase. 

I picked this up by chance. To my surprise I liked it. It kept my skin moisturised but was not overly heavy. The texture is lighter than the original formula but not by much. 

                        

Colgate 360 Toothbrush head, I made the switch to an electronic toothbrush about 2 years ago and it has made the world of difference for the health of my gums.Tooth Health is important guys 

Be safe 

my lovelies 

Shop Your Closet: Wardrobe Basics Cluster

Hey lovelies I'm back with another edition of Shop Your Closet.  

These are just  just a few basic items I have pulled from my closet in an attempt to create a cluster.  (Ria Don't kill me, I tried. lol) 

Even though they are basics, they mix and match really well to create various outfits.

 If you have similar items in your closet, perhaps you could give making a cluster a shot.

From left to right Jeans - Zara, Shirt- GAP, Sweater - H & M, Bag - Dune, Trench - GAP ( I also have this in NAVY, Blazer - Zara - I also have this in Black, Shirt - T. M Lewin, Dress - Dorothy Perkins ( I also have this in Green), Green shoes - Office, Black Patent flats - Miss KG, Monochrome Flats - Miss KG. 

Classic Trench 

 Navy Blazer 

 Blue Denim Jeans

White shirt ( This is from the men's sections at the GAP,
 great for a casual, dressed down look)

White shirt ( I wear this to work, on nights out etc.)

The shift dress 

Cross body Bag

Flats 

Even though these are basics, don not count them out. 

The foundation of any great wardrobe starts with the basics. 

Basics are great for complimenting those jewel toned/ embellished pieces you are pulling out to attend the Christmas parties.

From year to year, season to season the shapes might change. 

But the basic element of the garment is the same.  

A plain black flat is a plain black flat and a crisp white shirt is a crisp white shirt. 

Happy Holidays 

xx

My Christmas Wishlist 2014

Hey, Hey my lovelies long time no blog. 

I don't know where the time went, one minute it was summer and now it is time for the magic and sparkle, Christmas carols, parties and late night shopping. 

I will be totally spinning the Christmas tunes from tomorrow, and watching the films.I have already had a sneaky watch of Home alone 1 & 2, This Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street, much to my brothers annoyance. 

I have had a look in  the shops and these are  the things which I would not mind finding under my tree, on Christmas day. 

Now I must warn you this is a quite a lip heavy post. lol 

Chanel Chance Perfume

Nars Digital World Lip Pencil Set

Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glace Collection

Nars Tech Fusion Lip Gloss Set

Lord & Berry Library Lip Gloss Set

I've been dipping and dabbling here and there with the new releases on the high street.

 I also picked up a  few things  clothes/makeup/books) in the after summer sales. Unlike list year when my Christmas list was quite extensive. This year my list is short and sweet. 

xoxo

Whats In My Bag: Flight Edition

I am off on vacation on Saturday guys and gals.

 Throw your hands in the air one time for sum sum summer. It has been a while since I had a vacay which entailed leaving the country.

 Last year I had two mini breaks, one to Centre Parcs for 4 days and another one over the August Bank  Holiday. However there is just something about laying about on a beach, with a straw hat and a cold drink. On this trip I can look forward to hanging with my chicas, going to the beach, good food and yeah going to the beach. 

Of course traveling out of the country means I have to make some adjustments when it comes to the beauty products I cart along, decisions, decisions. These are the items I have pretty much decided to will take with me to the airport/ on the flight. 

Face

I will taking along my trusty Garnier Cleansing wipes in absence of my Garnier Micellar water (Garnier needs to make this in a 100ml size. Even if it is only sold in airports.) The 3oz rule, +  no aerosols means I wont be able to carry my trusty Avene Thermal water spray, but no worries I have  my Simple Hydrating Face Mist (GREAT DUPE for the MAC Travel Sized  Fix + Spray) to keep my skin hydrated during the flight along with my Korres Pomegranate Cream Gel/Body Shop Serum in Oil. 

Body

Sometimes my hands feel a bit grimey and travelling/being on the go there might not be an available sink with running water and hand soap readily available. My hand bag packet of Wet Ones will keep my hands feeling fresh and not sticky. My trusty Kleenex tissues are on hand to wipe up any spills or drips that might occur (dab the ob bit of foundation/the end of a mascara wand.) Hand sanitizer is my truth my light and my way (plus it will in handy for cleaning my hand before applying my makeup. This little mini tub of Nivea Creme is going to  come in very handy for moisturizing my arms and legs/feet. L'Occitane Hand cream (full tube) self explanatory. 

Fragrance

Davidoff Cool Water edt, Ralph Lauren Romance edp, Marc Jacobs LoLa edp I love a good scent and I love having a choice. The Marc Jacobs Lola is a gorgeous scent, is sold as a 20ml purse spray, the other 2 fragrances are 30ml sizes so they aren't too heavy. 

Breath

I am very suspicious of those mini tubes of tooth pate they give out on flights. There isn't enough toothpaste to get a good scrub on (my dentists recommends brushing for 2 minutes long) and the texture is just weird. This is a mini 19ml tube of Colgate Total. I got it as a free sample from my dentists office. In the event I eat a hot curry or something really garlicky, I have some Extra chewing gum & mints to keep me going until I can brush my teeth. 

Food

I have some Go Ahead cereal bars, and some Oat cakes to keep me going. I usually buy these as my work snacks, but they will keep me going, if I am feeling peckish and a packet of crisps are not to hand (or the stewardess is being stingy with the snacks. 

Miscellaneous

Shilling oil I cannot really explain what this is for, it covered a multitude of sins. Ipod mini this is for listening to music on the way to the airport and in the departure lounge. Revlon Colour Burst lipglosses to keep my lips moisturized with a bit of colour. 

Yayyyyyyyy. I'm going on holiday.

Shimmy shimmy cocoa puff. 

xx