Picking Up Some Essentials.. #2

These days I've been buying a lot more beauty 'care' products than make-up, and because a lot of them are feeling like they'll be essentials, I decided to do a second part of a post I did ages ago about picking up some essentials :)

Sally Hansen Hard As Nails in Clear - £4.75

Tangle Teezer - £11.99

Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturizer - £8.16

The BodyShop Lip Roll-On in Orange - £3 (introduction price)

The BodyShop DeoDry in Fresh & Floral (refill) - £2

LUSH Grease Lightning - £5.65

The Good Things Miracle Mattifier Moisturiser caught my eye on Ellie's Beauty Blog's May Favourites and as the summer was making oilier than usual I had high hopes! I love that it has such good ingredients, very light and the smell is berry-like. It lingers for a short while, and is quite strong so if it wasn't as fruity I probably wouldn't like it, but because it's a very natural smell I don't mind it. As for the mattifying effects, I don't find it amazing - I find it reasonable. For that I'd recommend Boot's Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Mattifying Lotion, but that one smells horrible! So I think I'll be sticking with this :)

After not being able to locate my hair brush, I bit the bullet for the Tangle Teezer which I've been lusting after for ages! It's a lot lighter than I thought it'd be, but the results are about what I expected. I didn't expect a 100% WOW factor, and while I was right, I'm still impressed! My hair does feel softer, and brushing my hair is easier - I love the idea of protecting my cuticles and the instruction leaflet was so helpful. I'm not sure if it was £12 worth, but other than that, no regrets here at all! :)

When I got my nails done in Malta, the nail woman told me my nails were weak, and recommended Decleor's treatment oil.. for £52. I quickly refused and went on a search in Boots yesterday - as you can see I haven't opened this Sally Hansen Hard As Nails yet, partly because I'm not 100% sure how to use it.. most people recommend it as a base coat, so I'll be doing that soon :) A bit concerned that it's not natural and doesn't promise an infusion of nutrients.. anyone have any cheap recommendations? :/ But I did learn that when you paint your nails you have to leave a gap at the bottom because that way the live cells on your nail can breathe :)

I had no plans to get the new BodyShop Natural Lip Roll-On in Orange but I'm so glad I did, I am in LOOOOVE! Again, the natural ingredients are a major plus for me and the applicator is a metal ball that applies the oil onto your lips. And I LOVE the idea of applying oil onto your lips because that way your lips actually absorb the oils, instead of a cream that just sits on your lips, and so they feel moisturized from within. This deserves a post of its own really, but definitely recommend picking up while it's on introductory offer price! It comes in Orange, Mint, Rose, Coconut and Grape :)

The BodyShop DeoDry in Fresh & Floral is my staple deodorant - full review here :)

I first heard about LUSH Grease Lightning from Vivianna and I've been quite impressed! While I was a bit skeptical because the tea-tree oil from the BodyShop never worked on me, this one has been great! It's an antiseptic, with a gel-like consistency and a pump, and smells like a mix of tea tree oil, lavender and rosemary - gorgeous. I had two under-the-skin pimples right next to each other on my chin, which made me look like I had a Siamese chin, but since I've applied it each evening underneath my night moisturizer it's been getting a lot smaller - very impressed :)

So there it is! My recent essential purchases :)

What have you been buying/loving in your essentials recently? :)

<3yu

I'm On A Haircare Kick!

A week ago I got my hair cut for the first time in a while, and I had lots of layers put in to boost my volume and to get rid of my insanely dry ends. Determined to make a new start and really take care of my hair, I've invested in some products I usually wouldn't have, and have stuck to this routine to keep my hair soft, bouncy, moisturized and shiny.

Here are the products I use:

Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Shampoo

I bought this after reading Roseanne's post, because her hair ALWAYS looks so nice, shiny and smooth. It was on offer at Boots so I snatched it up, and so far I love it except for the fact that at 900mL it's so heavy and I feel like it'll slip in my hands and hit my toes in the shower :P It's usually about £5.50 I think!

Matrix Biolage Fortetherapie Strengthening Conditioner

I was told by a hair dresser a month or so ago that it's better to invest in a high-end conditioner, and that it's a myth that your shampoo must match your conditioner. She said that she buys cheapo shampoos, but always buys good quality conditioner. I took her advice - have NOT looked back. This conditioner is simply amazing. Left in for a couple of minutes, it works MIRACLES - definitely deserves more attention in the beauty community! I work this into my hair with a wide toothed comb. Cheapsmells stocks the conditioner for about £8.10 :)

Umberto Giannini Mask

I bought this after reading through many hair mask tubs in Boots, and after trying it once I can feel a big difference in how soft my hair is, in addition to what the rest of the products had been doing until I used this. I got this for about £5.60, Leanne has a proper review on it here.

Asience Hair Treatment Oil

This was bought in Japan, and I'm almost tempted to ask my Mom to buy me another bottle and bring it over when she visits. It works so well in damp hair, and helps to keep my ends very soft.

Now it's hard to distinguish whether one product among the 4 is doing all the work, or if the 4 combined are a match made in heaven, but either way it's working. My hair is bouncy, smooth, supple, untangled and softer than it's ever been. I LOVE running my fingers through my hair, I can only describe it as finally feeling some life in my hair! :P The bounciness is addictive!

I'm almost out of my hair oil, and am thinking of switching to Lee Stafford's Arganoil - has anyone tried that or have any other suggestions? :)

What are your hair miracle products/routine? :)

<3yu