Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo and Conditioner

I mentioned in my blogger awards post that I use the Bleach Blondes range by Lee Stafford so I thought I would do a quick review!

I'll quickly describe my hair so you can have an idea of what I'm working with. I'm naturally a mid-ginger to auburn hair colour but I have been getting blonde highlights (bleach and colour) for the last 6 years (so my hair is not in the best condition), it is also naturally curly so I tend to blow-dry and straighten it after washing it. I also only wash my hair every second day as it gets dry if I do it more often.

 

The shampoo is a purple shampoo which cancels the brassy tones that often come hand in hand with bleach based blondes! It is quite an alarming dark purple but don't be put off by this. Apply like a normal shampoo and allow it to sit for a minute or two before rinsing it out and then follow with the conditioner as normal. It does not lather up as well as I would like but the effect it has is worth it, and it does leave your hair feeling clean! I would recommend using this 2-3 times a week and alternate with another shampoo that you like that doesn't contain purple pigments otherwise you run the risk of going grey. It smells amazing, like passion fruit, which lasts on your hair all day long!

The conditioner is lovely and I think it is quite moisturising, I like to use a mask once a week, usually the Wella SP repair mask, just to keep my hair lovely and soft, but for day to day this conditioner is perfect!

They are priced at £6.49 each but are often on 3 for 2 at boots so I stock up when I see that offer on. I think it is worth spending about £6/7 on shampoo and conditioner as I think that little bit more gives you a much higher quality product. I've also used the John Frieda purple shampoo and conditioner which is a good product but not as effective on my hair.

You can see here my natural colour is sitting up against my neck (full head of highlights but there are always bit not coloured) and because I have such a warm colour it can be difficult to stop the blonde going brassy, but I hope you can see here that the actual blonde in my hair is a soft, not yellowy, blonde.

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser

    

 I have finally finished my exams, I say finally, they only lasted about 4 days but I feel like the whole process has been dragging on forever! However, this now means I'll be able to focus on my blog a bit more (yay!) so if anyone has any suggestions of things you would like to see me review then pop them in the comments below.

Today I'm going to be talking about Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser. This product claims to offer a skin perfecting, natural finish whilst hydrating your skin. It contains an SPF 15 which is ideal for early spring onwards, but you may want to wear something stronger underneath when the weather heats up a bit. 

I first discovered this product when I returned a Super Balance foundation that I had been incorrectly colour matched for. The lady was difficult and quite frankly I wanted to get away without causing a scene so after trying to get me to buy another foundation, she ended up giving me a tester of the tinted moisturiser to try. I thought I might as well give it a shot as I do like a light coverage and this sounded like a good product. She matched me to Shade 01 (which was wrong... won't be going back to her again!) but despite the slightly light colour I really liked the consistency so I decided to buy the full size in Shade 02.

This product is not heavily fragranced, it smells a bit like other Clinique products if you're familiar with those, so if you have sensitive skin like I do this shouldn't cause you any problems.

From a moisturising point of view, I don't think it did very much for my skin. I have dry - normal skin and I honestly would say it offered no form of extra hydration to my skin compared to normal liquid foundations. It did feel good on my skin but I feel it's important to point out it wasn't providing the extra moisturising qualities that I expected. If you have oily skin I think this would product would be fine as it is also oil free. In fact, if you have tried the Moisture Surge cream, it's the same idea (funnily enough, they share the same name!) but I don't find that cream moisturising either so maybe it's just my skin.

It provides a demi-matte finish and evens out the skin tone. I would also say it offers light - medium coverage, from this respect I was actually very impressed; in the past, my experience with tinted moisturiser has been that they are just an orange/flesh toned cream that mearly offers colour rather than coverage. The finish looks very natural, particularly if buffed in to the skin with a brush. It also looks lovely applied with fingers. It does not cling to dry patches and I have not noticed it oxidising. I find I need to use quite a bit of product though, 2 - 3 pea sized amounts, as the formulation is quite thick. I find it lasts well on my skin and I wouldn't tend to use any powder with it. Touch ups required after 6 - 8 hours of wear which is not bad in my books.

The packaging is sleek and handbag friendly, at £21 for 30ml I think it's quite a good deal. If you forget that this product claims to be moisturising, it's actually a really good light coverage 'foundation' that will even out skin tone with a little SPF on the side.

I am now on the hunt to try out a few more tinted moisturisers as I really like them for day-to-day wear. I am unbelievably tempted by the Chantecaille one but at £55 I may need to wait for Christmas to come round again! If anyone has any suggestions please let me know! Also if you've tried the Clinique one, let me know about your experience. 

The Sweet Scent of Perfume

In my blog awards post yesterday I mentioned that I was going to do a review/post about my favourite perfumes. If there is one luxury product I couldn't live without, it would definitely be this. There is something to be said about having a signature scent or the way a smell can evoke, often quite powerful, memories from our pasts. The smell of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, for instance, will always remind me of my first day at school (yes I can remember that far back) because it was what my mum wore at the time. So before I ramble anymore, let's move on to what perfumes I have chosen to review today!

 

My all time favourite, without a doubt, has to be Pomegranate Noir Cologne by Jo Malone. It is a spicy fruit infusion which Jo Malone aptly describes as having the 'sensuality of a daring red dress'. This is not a scent for the shy, retiring type. It's ever so slightly masculine to begin with, but in a good way, who doesn't love a sexy smelling man?! It then softens off in to the warm spiced pomegranate smell which I described. It is perhaps more of an autumn winter scent, think of Christmas and mulled wine, but I don't let that stop me wearing it all the time. It's very unique and I always get people asking me what I'm wearing. If you're a fan of YSL opium and Dior Poison then you'll love this.

My other favourite, rather unoriginally, is from Jo Malone as well (they do make the best!). Blue Agava and Cacao is a beautiful, light yet decadent, floral scent that is described as 'the rhythm of Latin music -- sexy, edgy and persuasive.'  It starts of a little zesty, lime and grapefruit according to their website, and as it settles in to the skin, the flora element comes through, which is just gorgeous! Honestly, I can not quite convey how amazing this perfume smells, and it only gets better, the base note is Cacao (the basis of chocolate) so as the scent wears on your skin the amazing warm sweet (but not too sweet) scent remains. I'd liken it to Angel by Thierry Mugler but better! It's perfect for summer and I just know I will wear it for years to come.

Some other Jo Malone scents I would recommend are 'Nectarine Blossom and Honey', 'Dark Amber and  Ginger Lily' from the Cologne Intense collection and 'Vintage Gardenia'. I would suggest going to a JM shop and trying out a few of their perfumes as there is bound to be one to suit you. They last all day long, I never need to top up. They do come in at the higher price range, with a 30ml bottle setting you back £36 or a 100ml bottle for £72, but so worth it! The bottle is very understated and looks chic sitting out on the dressing table. I was lucky enough that my Jo Malone addict mother bought me my favourites as a gift at Christmas time but you can slowly collect them and I guarantee you won't regret it.

Other fragrances I love are...

• Miss Dior Cherie
• Coco by Chanel
• Ellenesia by Penhaligons
• Malabah by Penhaligons

Any more questions? Pop them in the comments below!

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Blogger Awards

I guess I should start this with a massive THANK YOU to Mollie (mollie muses) who has nominated me for 5 blogger awards, which on day 11 of my blog, is a massive surprise, to say the least! I quite honestly don't know how I have anyone following me so early on but thanks to all of you as well!

I'm going to follow on from Mollie by tagging people for all 5 awards because I don't think I could come up with enough people to tag individually!

I'm new to this so bare with me. If you get tagged, copy the awards over to your own blog and answer the questions or state some random facts (depending on what is asked). Remember to link the person that tagged you and to tag 10 more bloggers to share the award (post on the blogs to tell them)!

Lets get started.

7 Random Facts About Me

1. I'm a medical student in Aberdeen

2. I have a gorgeous fluffy grey persian cat called Teddy

3. I refuse to wear heels on a night out, they make my feet sore!

4. My favourite perfume is Pomegranate Noir by Jo Malone (review coming soon)

5. I went to London to see Helen Mirren in Phedre at the National Theatre in 2009... slightly obsessed!

6. I couldn't live without eyelash curlers

7. I'm addicted to Cadbury's Dream white chocolate

Tag bloggers with under 200 followers

1. How long have you been blogging?

Literally for 11 days, as I said above.

2. What are the 1-2 reasons you started blogging?

I'm pretty sure I have bored my friend's to death with all my ramblings about beauty products haha and they usually come to me for advice so I thought blogging would be a good outlet, from that respect.

3. What type of blogs do you like to follow/read?

Mainly beauty and fashion blogs. I also love blogs about arty things, like craft, baking... anything with pretty photos.

4. What is one thing you would like to improve on as a blogger/on your blog?

Well as I've only just started I should maybe set a goal... to be reliable and consistent with my blogging.

7 Random Thoughts About Myself

1. My fashion 'style' is quite simple, a little preppy, but also lots of florals and prints with basics.

2. I always wear faux pearl earrings because I can never be bothered changing them.

3. I'm lusting after a new cream Mulberry Bayswater for summer.

4. Talking about summer, I'm going to France at the end of June (bring on duty free!!)

5. My favourite food is Thai

6. I'm a closet ginger, which is crazy because I love ginger hair on other people.

7. I have exams this week (so this is a really good thing to be doing NOT ...)

1. Pink or red nails?

Red

2. Who is your role model?

The women in my family

3. Your favourite cereal?

Apricot shredded wheat!

4. What are you wearing right now?

Dark blue skinny jeans, white vest top, navy cable knit jumper from crew

5. What is your next post going to be?

Hopefully a review of my favourite perfumes.

6. What is your favourite song at the moment?

Bronte - Gotye

(all time favourite has to be Jolene - Dolly Parton haha)

7. What are your bedsheets like?

Plain cerise pink just now

8. Name your top three films.

Calendar Girls

The Long Good Friday

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

9. What shape sunglasses do you wear?

Wayfarer, definitely seems to suit me best!

10. What is your haircare routine?

Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo and Conditioner

John Frieda 3 Days Straight occasionally

Aussie Leave in Conditioner spray

any heat protectant

(my hair is destroyed from bleaching haha!)

11. Who is your favourite band/singer?

Adele, hands down!

I tag...

Its Beauty Within

Bella Rae

My Monster

Makeup By Elysa

Frivolous Pretty Things

Pink Freeze 113

Pretty Little Peggy

A Blonde Mess

I love all yours blogs for different reasons! It's clear a lot of effort goes in to them. Keep up the good work :)

CLARINS 'Eclat du Jour' - Daily Energiser

I was recently at my local Clarins counter buying my mum some of her Multi Active cream which she has used religiously, along with other Clarins products, since her twenties. I have always loved pinching some of her night cream or cleansing milk as their products are gorgeous! So when the lady offered to throw in a few freebies for me to try I was actually quite excited!

The 'Eclat Du Jour' or Daily Energiser range is designed for young skin that has to battle with late nights, partying and the stresses of work or studying amongst other things! It is supposed to be suitable for all skin types and claims to brighten and hydrate your skin whilst leaving a matte finish. (You can read the blurb-y bit on their website if you click above)

I was given the 'Wake-Up Booster' toning lotion (£15.50) and the Daily Energiser Lotion (£20) which is a moisturiser. 

  

First off I'm going to start by pointing out the products are all fragranced with a lovely fresh apricot scent, which for me is fine, lovely in fact, however if you have super sensitive skin I don't know if this is the best range for you. Anyway, that was the first thing that hit me, so I'll move on.

The toner has a beautiful, velvety texture and is best applied with a cotton pad all over your face, after cleansing. I have to say I'm never sure if there is actually a point to using toner, I can't say I noticed it did anything major for my skin, but it felt a bit moisturising and left my skin smooth and matte. It smells amazing so I would use it for that alone, however for the price, I could skip it.

The moisturiser has a very light, gel-like texture which feels lovely when applied. However as I have dry skin I felt like it absorbed very quickly and didn't quite quench my skin's thirst! I think this would be lovely for anyone with oily skin as it's still very important to moisturise. The range does offer a richer cream moisturiser which I think would be far better for normal-dry skin if their multi active creams are anything to go by.

For young, yet-to-be-damaged skin, that is not too sensitive, I think this range would be a wonderful introduction to the Clarins range as it is not hideously expensive. Although I feel personally, despite my age (19) it's not quite enough for me, I do believe my skin may just be a little haggard from everything I put it through so personally I would go for the Multi Active range, which for anyone over 25, I would highly recommend, even if it is almost double the price.

Any more questions? Pop them in the comments below :)

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

In my first post I mentioned that I would be reviewing the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, a cult skincare product that has been taking the beauty world by storm ever since the company started in 1995. It is a 'one size fits all' product as the cleanser is suitable for all skin types and is made from lots of natural ingredients that nourish and cleanse your skin without leaving it stripped of natural oils.

In the past I swore by REN Ultra Moisture Cleansing Milk which is a fantastic product and I would definitely recommend it for dry skin but I fancied a change and I have only heard good things about the Liz Earle.

I purchased the starter kit which consists of 1 x 100ml pump cleanser and 2 x muslin cleansing cloths. In the UK this is priced at £14.25.

The idea of the cleanser is that it acts as a 2 stage skincare programme. You cleanse with the cream on dry (not wet) skin and then buff it off with the muslin cloth (steeped in hand hot water) which gently exfoliates the dead skin cells off your face. It can be used over your eyes, it does not hurt my eyes and I do have quite sensitive eyes from that point of view, and it removes most mascara's I own.

At night I like to do a double cleanse to make sure my skin is properly clean, and to do this you just take a small pea sized amount after you finish your first cleanse and repeat the process. In the morning I just single cleanse unless I was naughty and slept with my make up on (SHOCKER!!! not advisable) 

I've noticed a massive improvement in my skin since using this product. It has most notably, balanced my skin because whilst having dry skin, I do occasionally get an oily T-zone, and this just does not happen for me now. It has also reduced any redness I have on my face, which can often be quite noticeable around my nose. My skin looks brighter and feels softer. So much so that I would consider going make up free during the day which is something I would never normally consider. I honestly don't have a bad thing to say about the product... I'm converted!

Any more questions? Pop them in the comment box below!

MAC Shopping Haul - 'In Extra Dimension'

I took myself off to MAC yesterday as I fancied treating myself to a few bits and pieces! Everyone always raves about how amazing the eye shadows are and every beauty blogger out there swears by them! I own a mineralise eye shadow from a few years ago and it's the best one in my make up bag so I was quite happy to buy before trying!

I was also looking for a cremeblend blush after hearing about them in Tanya Burr's videos (pixi2woo on youtube) so I bought one of those to try as well.

I love the eye shadows because they are so pigmented and application is like a dream. They go on like a cream and don't crease on your lids. They blend beautifully and stay all day long.

Havana is a beautiful bronze colour from the 'In Extra Dimension' collection. The shadow is baked so it can be used dry as a powder, or wet as a liquid (mix with fix+ on the back of your hand). It looks gorgeous blended into the crease with some Woodwinked on your lid.

Woodwinked, Cranberry and Satin Taupe are all fantastic too for all the reasons I outlined above however Carbon, whilst still a great black shadow, is a bit trickier to work with. It does not blend as well as the shimmer/metallic shades and does need a dark base underneath it to get the darkest black colour. I would however still recommend it but I'm on the lookout for something better!

The cremeblend blush is a beautiful formulation, it's so easy to blend in to your foundation with just your fingers. The colour Something Special is a soft, warm toned light pink. It looks very pretty on the cheeks and will be perfect with a little highlighter for spring/summer.

 

'Something Special' Cremeblend Blush

'Havana' Extra Dimension Eye Shadow

'Woodwinked' Eye Shadow

'Cranberry' Eye Shadow

'Carbon' Eye Shadow

'Satin Taupe' Eye Shadow

I hope the review was helpful! Feel free to post more questions below if there is anything I didn't cover. I'll do a few tutorials on how to wear the colours in the next few days!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

For the last few months I have been searching for the perfect foundation. I have tried out many; embarrassing my friends by asking for millions of testers at counters, from Clarins, Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauder... I tried a lot! I was looking for something light that made my skin glow and I certainly found it with Chanel.

I guess I was slow to catch on with this as I've heard so much about it but the £32 price tag put me off trying it. How wrong I was! This is, without a doubt, the best foundation I tried.

It offers a light to medium coverage with a soft satin finish. It's not too dewy and basically looks like your skin but better.

It is quite a watery formulation so it needs a good shake but once mixed up, it glides on perfectly and does not cling to any dry patches. I have a normal to dry complexion and it is prefect for me. I don't know how well it would sit on an oily skin, but I reckon with a bit of finishing powder it would be fine. It lasts pretty much all day on my skin, perhaps needing a touch up late afternoon if it was a warmer day. I apply it with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush, I find this the best way as a sponge absorbs too much and it looks amazing when buffed in to  skin, a look which I don't find I can achieve with a traditional flat foundation brush.

The packaging is cute and very handbag friendly as it is made of plastic.

The only downside to this foundation is the colour range. I have fair skin and wear 20, 30 or 40 Beige depending on the time of year, and it only goes up to 50. I believe the compact version now has colour 54 but again this is not likely to suit darker skin tones which is a real shame!

If you can find a shade to match your skin, I guarantee you will adore this!

If you have any questions I didn't cover in the post then please feel free to comment!

So I guess this means I'm blogging?

I finally took the plunge (at 1am) to start up a blog that I've been meaning to do for a while now! Procrastination has reached new levels... I have exams coming up soon so clearly blogging is the best way to deal with all the work I have to learn... yep!

Anyway, my aim is to review products I'm using and loving or hating so, if anyone is interested, you'll hopefully be able to make better informed decisions! I know I certainly am addicted to researching products before I make the big commitment and part with my money! Sometimes feeling and looking pretty can be hefty expensive, can't it? So, if nothing else, I might save you some moolah! Yipee!!

I don't have any juicy beauty gossip just now (it's 2am...) but tomorrow I shall start off with a few reviews and get this blog moving.

Things to look out for:

• Chanel Vita Lumiere Aqua
• Max Factor 24 Hour False Lash Effect Mascara (almost as difficult to type as it is to say)
• Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser SPF15

If you have any requests, do not hold back! I'll see what I can do.

Goodnight xxx