Festival Hair Accessories

Ah...June is here at last and maybe the UK will get some sun fingers crossed! With two of the biggest festivals taking place in June- the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury, not to mention all the smaller festivals up and down the country- here are my favourite festival hair accessories.

Top Row (L-R)
1. ASOS Draping Faux Pearl Hair Crown £12 ASOS
2. Limited Edition Petal Headband £8 ASOS
3. River Island Over sized Chain and Coin Crown £12 ASOS

Bottom Row (L-R)
4. Limited Edition Rope Headband £8 ASOS
5. Short Brim Felt Fedora Hat £18 ASOS
6. ASOS Mixed Flower Blooming Hair Garland £12 ASOS

Top 12 Best Lipstick Packaging

We can all agree that beauty packaging needs to be fit for purpose but I think it definately helps a sale when it's beautiful too! I've put together the lipsticks that I thought were the prettiest and most unusal.

I chose YSL's Rouge Volupt shine lipsticks as the distinctive packaging feels opulent and somehow reminds me of the French palace of Louis X1V: luxurious, gilded & a touch excessive.  The pink and gold Entoinette collecton from Korean brand Etude House is influenced by French Royalty specifically Marie Antionette and the gold logo plaque looks very pretty. My overall favourite is the one from Peripera it has a very ethereal, feminine feel to it. The Dior's Addict lipsticks are a similar design just simpler and more classic. Estee Lauder's lipstick has a very classic vintage vibe to it. Besame was created by designer and cosmetics historian Gabriela Hernanez to replicate the vintage 
lipsticks her grandmother wore. Each lipsticks come in a red velvet bag. My best friend lipstick also have that vintage feel with the intricate bejewelled pewter case which looks like it could be from the Victorian era.

Paul and Joe are famed for their pretty and retro packaging mainly featuring animals and flowers.  They adopted recyclable cardboard lipstick tubes early on and while buying the packaging separately can be annoying it does encourage people to reuse the tubes and not watse more resources. I really love Kat Von D's asthetic- dark florals with a rock and roll vibe, we don't have access to the brand in the UK so it will always be you love what you can't have situation! I loved the ribbon on the Givenchy lipstick tube so I had to include it.Guerlain G lipsticks are in a sleek, futuristic packaging with a double mirror that shields the lipstick looks really convenient for applying lipstick on the go. It makes it look more expensive, I've only seen lip glosses with a mirror on one side of a lipgloss but the Guerlain one looks more elegant. Finally I had to add Smashbox's lipstick ring! How cool is it? It looks like it would be so handy to touch up! It looks like a magical ring with powers that could transport you to another world or give you extraordinary powers!


1) YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick £25 YSL Beauty £30
2) Peripera My Color Lips £12.90 Yes Style
3) Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Lipstick £20 Currently £18 House Of Fraser
4) Etude House Princess Etoinette Crystal Shine Lipstick  £16.90 Yes Style

5) Guerlain Rouge G Le Brillant Lipstick £31.50 Feel Unique £26
6) Your Best Friend Royalty Collectible Pewter Lipstick $28.80 ybf beauty

7) Kat Von Dee Painted Love Lipstick $19 Sephora

8) Dior Addict Lipstick £19 Look Incredible

9) Besame Lipsticks £20 Beseme

10) Givenchy Rouge Interdit Lipstick £19.90 Look Incredible

The added ribbon makes it look extra special.

11) Paul and Joe Lipstick £7 Beauty Bay

12) Smashbox Santigolden Age Be Legendary Ring £39 Smashbox

TRESemme Split Remedy Conditioners Review

Both of these Split Remedy conditioners promise 'to repair split ends by up to 80% after just three uses.' So armed with 10ml samples I tested this claim. I used TRESemme Split Remedy Conditioner four times over two weeks. A month later I used the TRESemme Split Remedy Leave -In- Treatment four times over two weeks. My hair is straight, long (almost down to my elbow) and thick. At the moment I wash my hair and blow dry about 2-3 times a week, don't use any other products or heat on my hair and I haven't had a cut for about 5 months..whoops!

I was very impressed with TRESemme Split Remedy Conditioner, (white bottle) this did what my usual conditioner does but more; there seemed a big reduction in split ends, I would say about about 70% -75% less, this was noticeable even after the first use! I usually only apply conditioner to the ends of my hair because I have hair that gets greasy at the roots but dry at the ends. Since this targets split ends, I applied to the middle to end of my hair. This is a lightweight conditioner than felt no different than my normal conditioner (Patene Classic Care.) After using my hair was softer, smoother, nourished and looking healthy without any frizz. This also smells absolutely divine! From reading reviews on Boots and MakeupAlley this product is like Marmite you either love it or hate it! From what I've read this doesn't perform as well on curly hair and continued use can cause build up and heaviness from the silcones ingredients (Dimethicone and Amodmethicone) so I'd recommend using this as an occasional treatment (maybe once a week or every other week) and rotating it with more 'standard' conditioners.

Does it really repair split ends? Well both conditioners contain PEC Technology (PolyElectrolyte Complex*) so instead of just coating the outside of the hair like standard conditioners do,  the PCT molecules can go into the split ends of the hair and create bridges across the open end of the split. When your hair dries, water evaporates and the contraction pulls the split ends back together Once the PCTs are dry they bind the split end closed-easy! So they do repair split ends, but to get rid of 100% of split ends permanently a trim is probably needed. Apparently PECs are heat activated so you will get the best results by blow drying.

I was less impressed with the results from TRESemme Split Remedy leave in treatment.  This is the first time I've used a leave-in conditioner treatment (which has a more subtle smell.) which I applied and combed through the mid length and ends of hair. I used this with a hair drier and without leaving my hair to air dry, and got the same results.  I found it good at good at dangling and smoothing my hair. However it left the ends of my hair feeling very dry, so I won't be purchasing  this.

*PCT Complexs has a negatively charged ion (PVM/MA copolymer) and a positively charged ion (Polyquaternium -28) Both positive and negative charges together produce a single complex with the special ability to stick to damaged hairs and to itself.

Garnier Oil Beauty Lotion Review

Garnier Oil Beauty Body Lotion contains four oils: Argan, Macadamia, Almond and Rose as well as Shea butter. It is marketed as a lotion that 'nourishes like an oil and absorbs like a cream' which explains the texture -very soft slightly melted butter in a pastel yellow colour. It combines the rich hydration of oils but without the mess or heaviness of oils, but with the ability to absorb quickly and easily into the skin.

Garnier claims this lotion will 'prevent skin feeling dry. Your skin will feel softer and silky smooth.. and more visibly radiant.'  According to their study, clinical scoring found after a week dryness was decreased by 53% in 41 people. A consumer test on 41 people reported that after one week 95% agreed that their skin was noticeably smooth. Out of the 41 people 78% noticed a visible difference to their skin which Garnier uses to support the lotion's claim of a radiant finish. Skin radiance seems to me very subjective and just skin care jargon, do they mean healthy? Glowing? Better? How?

Anyway using a sample I tested this lotion for a week, applying every day on both my arms.   

At the end of 7 days my skin definitively feels softer and smoother and it has made a difference to my super dry elbows, they are still a little dry but the lotion has made a difference in the 7 days which hasn't happened with other lotions I've tried previously. 

Its other claims are 'fast absorbing, non-greasy, non-sticky and dermatology tested.'After applying my hands weren't very greasy and any lotion left over was quickly absorbed, it didn't feel like I had to wash it off my hands immediately. The lotion is definitely non sticky which is more comfortable to apply and wear. It has a subtle fragrance, which to me smells like sweet cocoa butter (not chocolate)  but personally I don't like, however it is very subtle so you can wear other fragrances and it wouldn't interfere. However it does contain mineral oil/petroleum which may be a problem for some people but is paraben free.

I feel that this lotion brings the best of oils and lotions together and is a great product that is also fairly good value for money, currently it's on offer in Boots for £3.33. If you want a hydrating rich moisturiser that's also light this is it! 

6 Ways to make your eye make up last longer

1) Use an eye shadow primer
These provide a base for the eye shadow to grip onto and not wipe and fade away. They keep your eye shadow locked down as just as good as when you first applied your make up. Some can make eyes shadow colours appear more vibrant. I use  Too Faced Eye Primer. Other popular ones are Urban Decay's Primer Potion and  ELF eye Primer.             

2) Use waterproof liner so that it won't smudge or budge.
I recommend Make Up Atelier Paris Gel eye liners for high end because they do not budge at all, I mean nada. I've also heard Make Up For Ever Aqua liners are brilliant too (image from Sephora.)  For low end I recommend Maybelline Gel liners and Soap and Glory Smoulder Kohl pencil (it's waterproof and has a nifty pencil sharpener in the lid.)

3) Go over eye liner with eye shadow (in the same colour) to set the liner. 
Use an angled brush to do this or a flat edged eye liner brush e.g.Mac 212 or 266. (This principle is similar to using setting powder to set your foundation) This has the added bonus of enhancing and correcting the original liner. 

4) Heat up your eyelash curler.
For metal lash curlers only- gently warm up the metal head of the lash curler with a hair dryer. Be sure to test the temperature against your arm or back of your hand before using it. Place on your lash line and hold for 20 seconds. If you are serious about curling lases there are also heated ones available

5) Use gel liner to anchor the base of the eyelashes in a lift position and keep the curl for longer.
Get hold of an eyeslash curler. Run gel liner across the rubber pad. Leave for 20 seconds to become tacky. Finally curl your lashes right at the base of the lash, hold for 20-50 seconds.( It is recommended to start with 20 seconds first and see what effect you get (to prevent pulling your eyelashes out.) This is a tip from Goss Make Up artist. I've explained this technique as best as I can but you can also see Goss 's Tutorial HERE

6) Use a waterproof mascara because it will hold lash curl.

Spring Flower Hair Accessories

Nothing says spring quite like flowers do, adding a floral hair accessory gives that fresh, flirty feminine vibe. Here are my favourite picks from ASOS.

1) Asos Limited Edition Garland £8  2) Asos Lace flower headband £8  3) Asos Flower Hair Clips £8

4) JohnnyLovesRosie headband £16  5)Asos Vintage Flower £4  6) New Look Rose Garland £5.99

Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette celebrating 50 years of Superdrug

Superdrug have re-leased the Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette to celebrate Superdrug's 50th birthday along with limited edition packaging. This palette was limited edition and came out in 2013 so if you missed out here's your chance to get your hands on it. The 12 eye shadow shades are named after popular i-divine palettes.

             (L-R Paraguaya, Sunset, Me Myself & I, Bad Girl, Noir, Ultra Mattes V2)

              (L-R Oh so Special, Bohemian, Storm, Sparkle, Au Naturale and Graphite)

In this palette Sleek have included satin, matte and a glitter finish with varying degrees of success.
The satin shades offer the best quality and there are 6 in total. Sunset is a burgandy-pink, Me Myself and Eye is silver with a blue tinge to it, Bad Girl is olive green and Noir is dirty petrol blue. The satins on the bottom row are Sparkle which is champagne and Graphite a dark brown. Sparkle and Me Myself and I are perfect for an inner corner highlight, while Graphite would be good for a smokey eye. I love Noir it's the shade I've been looking for years to create a rock chick look.

The mattes are not so good, the darker ones being better for their pigmentation. Paraguaya a light peach would be a useful light neutral colour if it wasn't so chalky. Paraguaya hardly showed up against my skin tone (despite having no problems with similar shades in the past) and was very difficult to swatch and work with. Ultra Matte V2 black is better, more richly pigmented but still very matte and while this shade is included in many of Sleek's palettes it's still useful to have. Oh So Special is a cool toned grey which wasn't easy to swatch as it's a little chalky and patchy. Bohemian is a bright salmon colour, it was a little chalky but with excellent pigmentation. Storm is a dark blue and richly pigmented.

The Single glitter shade Au Naturale is a deep purple colour it is extremely pigmented but I didn't find that the glitter showed up much when swatched.

As far as packaging goes apart from the limited edition cardboard packaging the palette is matte black with Sleek's logo as usual and contains a good sized mirror. The palette contains 12 shadows (13.2g) and costs £7.99 from Superdrug.

Out of the twelve, three shadows were disappointing (Paraguya, Au Naturale and Oh So Special) but on the whole it's a reasonably good palette with a eclectic mix of colours that aren't often seen together. This palette is versatile offering neutral, bright and dark looks suitable for work, relaxing or a night out.
Sleek idivine Showstoppers Palette is not a must have but it's worth it for the price if you're building up your eye shadow collection or have fallen in love with one of the shades belonging to a previous palette that is no longer available.
                                                   

Rock Chick Look

I used Noir (petrol blue) for the lid. I mixed Oh so special (Grey) and Ultra Matte V2 (Black) for the crease.

I lined my upper lash line and added a wing with L'oreal superliner pen in black then lined the lower lash line and tight lined the upper lash line with Rimmel Exaggerate black liner. I used Avon Mega Effects Mascara in black.

Burgundy Brown Autumn Leaves look

Sunset applied to lid, then Graphite applied to the crease and outer corner.
Then I used Bourjois liner Pinceau in brown and Avon Mega Effects Mascara in Black.