MAC 'Lady Danger' Matte Lipstick | Review & Swatches

MAC Lady Danger Lipstick - £14.00 (Link here)

Hello Girls! I took myself along to Westfield in Stratford on Thursday and only intended to do a bit of window shopping and pick up some hairspray and a few toiletries; of course this didn't happen, and I ended up coming home with bags and bags full of stuff. I finally got my hands on my first YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick too which I'm so excited to share with you all soon, but one thing I had to show you all was the newest addition to my MAC lipstick collection, 'Lady Danger'. I've been on the lookout for a matte red for as long as I can remember, and after swiping this on the back of my hand it was love at first sight. 

I dipped my toes into the 'Matte' finish lipstick pond a few weeks ago when I purchased 'Please Me', and I really love the formula of these. It makes a lovely change from the usual Cremesheen finishes, and I don't find them to be drying either. Lady Danger dons the regular black bullet style MAC casing which I really like, along with the silver band around the tube. The colour itself is described as a fiery orange-red which is definitely accurate to me. Because it has orange undertones, I reckon this would suit people with all skin tones and I love the little pop of glamour it gives to my make-up. I personally think that red lipsticks look alot nicer when I use a lip liner. I used my MAC 'Redd' lip liner to do the job yesterday and the colours really complimented eachother without looking too obvious.

I wore this all day yesterday and was super impressed with its staying power. I did use my Lush Bubblegum lip scrub to prime my lips before I applied it, and it took me up until about 3pm before I needed a top up - I didn't use any Lipcote with it either! Although I love the finish of Matte lipsticks, they do have a tendancy to dry in the cracks of my lips, but this had a way of avoiding that. Over the course of the day, it turned to a slight sheen rather than point blank matte, which still looked lovely. I can quickly see this becoming yet another favourite, and I think it will be great in Summer too. I've got my eye on 'Morange' as my next purchase, which I'll definitely be sharing with you all!

Have you tried MAC's Lady Danger?

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Polishes | Lychee & Dragonfruit

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint - £3.99 (Link here)

Hey there dolls! It's finally the end of the week so I'm definitely in high spirits. It seems that Spring is well and truly on its way and you know what that means - it's time to dig out the pastels and florals! Well, maybe not quite yet as the weather has other ideas, but the Barry M 'Gelly Hi Shine' range definitely says otherwise. I don't think you can ever go wrong with good old Barry M. They have such a large range of colours, and at £3.99 a pop where can you go wrong? I'm quite the nail polish whore and these two little beauties have been such a lovely addition to my ever growing collection. 

Gelly Hi Shine's have a very glossy finish, and as I've been donning matte nails over the past few months it was a gentle reminder as to how much I love gloss finishes. I was spoilt for choice in terms of colour, but after oomphing and aahing for several minutes I went for 'Lychee' and 'Dragon Fruit'. Lychee is a gorgeous muted beige which is super wearable and super versatile. I don't know about you, but I'm a huge fan of nude and brown nails, they go with any outfit you can think of. Barry M's 'Mushroom' has got to be one of my all time favourites, and I like to think of Lychee as its little sister - is that maybe a bit weird? Dragon Fruit is definitely a colour you can't go wrong with either, especially as Springtime is underway. I have an entire box of pink polishes, and these particular shades are the ones I most prefer. A candy pink which reminds me of Barbie, which isn't too in your face but still looks beautiful. 

I do find these to be that little bit gloopy when it comes to actually applying them, but having said that you can't become picky when you're paying under £4 for a product which will last a  hell of a long time. I always apply a base coat before a fresh pop of colour along with a top coat, so I never find that my nails chip anyway but the staying power of these is great too. Some polishes begin to fade and just look a bit unhappy after a few days, but these colours continue to look fresh with that just painted look. Sure, I still need two coats of both colours, but I don't expect a miracle - I haven't yet found a nail polish which I only need the one coat!

Have you tried the Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Polishes?

Real Techniques | My Favourite Brushes

Left to Right: Powder Brush, Blush Brush, Expert Face Brush, Stippling Brush

Hey Dolls! Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you'd have heard of the legendary Real Techniques brushes that are sold in Boots and most recently Superdrug. These are so popular among the beauty blogging community and it's clear to see why as they're so great. I've built quite the collection over the last few months and thought that I'd share my favourites with you as I'd just cleaned them. Hoorah for freshly washed brushes!

The Powder Brush - I suffer with combination skin, so tend to get quite oily around my T-Zone. This makes me that bit more powder happy than other people but this brush works so well for me as it doesn't leave me looking chalky or patchy. I love the size of it, it coats my face with ease and picks up enough product at one time for me to work with not to mention it is ridiculously soft and feels unbelievable against the skin.

The Blush Brush - I may shock a few of you girls here, but I don't wear blusher. I never have and unless I find one I really like I probably never will. I'm much more of a bronzer type of girl and switched from my kabuki brush to this beauty. It's a relatively new purchase but it's been a staple when it comes to my foundation routine and applying bronzer. 

The Expert Face Brush - Out of my entire brush collection this is definitely my favourite! It's the newest addition to my little brush family and I'm completely head over heels in love with it! I recently bought the infamous Estée Lauder Double Wear Foundation (which I'll definitely be reviewing in full sometime soon!) and it applies to the skin using this like a dream. It doesn't leave brush strokes and glides easily to cover problem areas so is perfect for more heavy foundations. 

The Stippling Brush - This was my first ever Real Techniques brush! I've said in the past I don't like BB Creams as they don't do anything for my skin, but on lazy days I'll wear tinted moisturiser instead of foundation. This brush applies it so well, and I also apply my primer using this brush too. I must admit this doesn't wash as well as my other brushes do, I have no idea why but it's still lovely to use!

MUA Undress Me Too Palette | Review & Swatches

Undress Me Too Palette - £4.00 (Link here)

Hello Ladies! Being a fan of a brown smokey eye for my everyday make up, I was so excited for MUA to launch their new palette, 'Undress Me Too'. I already own the infamous 'Undressed' palette, and this one is the follow up to it, but with new packaging and an introductory price. Just like the original being a Naked dupe, this is an amazing dupe for the Naked 2 palette by Urban Decay, and I thought I'd buy this to try out the shades before I splurge on the Naked 2 palette. Something fellow MUA fans may notice is the difference in packaging. Instead of the classic glossy black plastic casing, it's now matte white with a reflective logo on the front. I personally prefer this to the original, as it's nice and refreshing and something you can easily find in your make-up stash. I could hardly resist the mere £4 price tag either, it's every bloggers dream to find a good bargain. Something else which left me jumping for joy was the fact MUA have named their shades this time round, which makes it so much easier when naming colours and picking them out. Well done MUA! 

The pans themselves are arranged in colour order, from a pale matte champagne to a deep off-black matte. I love the arrangement of this palette. It makes it alot easier to make a colour choice and I personally think these all work together really well. Something I won't be using in this palette is the applicator. It's nothing against MUA but I'm happy using my Real Techniques shading brush to pat in the pigments and my Avon smudge brush to blend.

Naked - A matte pale champagne nude

Devotion - A shimmer medium toned gold beige

Shy - A pink toned nude matte

Fiery - A shimmer copper with pink undertones

Lavish - A matte chocolate brown

Dreamy - A shimmer deep brown with 

Tranquil - A shimmer alternative to 'Lavish'

Exposed - A shimmer grey, off silver

Reveal - An off pik pearl shade, perfect for highlighting

Wink - A shimmer off gold brown

Obsessed- Dark chocolate brown with hints of shimmer 

Corrupt - Dark matte black

Left to Right: Naked, Devotion, Shy, Fiery, Lavish, Dreamy

Left to Right: Tranquil, Exposed, Reveal, Wink, Obsessed, Corrupt
Sorry about my tangerine coloured arms! The setting on my camera makes me look really orange!

Something which impresses me every time with MUA is the product quality. All of them are unbelievably pigmented (apart from 'Naked' and 'Lavish') and the staying power is definitely above average. I use the MUA Pro Base primer on my eyelids everyday, so this may have something to do with it as I've noticed products from the same line have a way of complimenting eachother. I don't find that they crease or drop onto the skin, but admittedly you may need a few swipes for your desired colour pay off. Overall I am beyond impressed with this new addition to MUA. At such a small price tag I can definitely see it as a staple essential in my make up bag and I'm excited to see new product being launched soon. I've planned to do a post comparing the MUA Undressed palette and the Urban Decay Naked palette soon, so keep your eyes peeled! Have you tried the Undress Me Too palette?

Lush Haul | Skincare & Bath Bombs

Hey Dolls! Just like most other beauty fanatics, I can't get enough of Lush products. I can't think of one product I've tried and haven't loved, and it's an absolute bonus that they're made with 100% natural ingredients and aren't tested on animals. I was out shopping yesterday (shock horror) when the familiar scent of a Lush store came my way and I gave in. With the intention of only having a look around I didn't expect to come out with a full bag of products but hey, you can never go wrong with a Lush haul! Since having my face mapped by Dermalogica at the beginning of the week, it dawned on me that I needed a whole bunch of new skincare products and I thought what better place to start than at Lush?! Of course I sneaked a few cheeky bath bombs in there too because what trip would be complete without them?

Not only do I love the products from Lush but the staff in there are so lovely and helpful. They never pressure you into buying things and are always willing to answer any questions you have. For what they are, I think Lush have very reasonable prices. I picked all of this up for under £25, and I also found out about the '5 clean pot free face mask' offer which means I'll be back down there in no time as I have countless empty pots of product. As you may know if you read my blog, I'm very much into my skincare. I have so many products I don't know why I even picked up more to add to my collection. Skincare wise, I picked up the 'Cupcake', 'Oatfix' and 'Mask of Magnaminty' fresh face masks, the 'Tea tree Water' toner and the 'Grease Lightening' spot treatment. Both the 'Cupcake' and 'Mask of Magnaminty' face masks are re-purchases for me. I absolutely swear by them for keeping oily skin and blemishes at bay, and I religiously stock up whenever I run out or they pass their sell by date. I picked up the 'Tea Tree Water' after hearing about its antibacterial properties and its ability to eliminate oil around the T-Zone, and the 'Grease Lightning' spot treatment after hearing so many great things about it. As I mentioned previously, the staff in Lush are so unbelievably helpful. The woman in there told me that 'Grease Lightning' can also be used as a serum after cleansing and before moisturising. I've never included a serum in my skincare routine so this is definitely something I'll be getting back to you lovely lot about. Luckily I have pretty good skin but do get the occasional spot, so I'm almost excited for this to happen (dare I say it) to give this a bash. 

Who can resist a bit of Lush pampering at bath time? I've raved about how much I love their 'Sex Bomb' but I felt I needed to branch out a little more and try something different. Being faced with such an array of options, I was stuck for choice but eventually I went for 'The Comforter', 'Melting Marshmallow Moment' and the cheap as chips 'Ickle Baby Bot'. All of these carry the most amazing scents, and you really get your moneys worth as they've all been designed to break apart which means more bath bomb bubble baths! I particularly love the marshmallow one as the scent is absolutely to die for but am looking forward to giving the other two a go. Recently I've been suffering with sleepless nights, so I'm hoping the camomile in 'Ickle Baby Bot' can help me out. As for The Comforter', it's something very popular among the blogging community so I'm hoping it lives up to its expectations! As always, if anything impresses me I'll write a review in full. I can't get enough of Lush and I definitely feel another haul coming on soon as I spied alot of products I simply must try. What are your favourite Lush products?

Monthly Favourites | February

Hey there lovely ladies! Can you believe we're now in the third month of 2013? That's crazy! Time flies when you're having fun, and I've had a pretty busy month. The highlight of my February was the Professional Beauty exhibition (read my post here) and getting news through that I'll be spending a month in Australia with family at the end of the year which I'm of course super excited about. At the end of each month I love reading what everyone's been loving and also share with you lovely lot what have been my favourite products from the last 30 days (or 28 as were in February!).

Probably my favourite purchase of the year so far was the Urban Decay Naked Palette (read my review here). I still can't believe it took me so long to take the plunge, but it is most definitely my favourite make-up product out of my entire collection. The colours are so versatile and wearable for both day and night and ideal to create the perfect smokey eye. I don't want to bang on too long about this little beauty, so I'll move swiftly onwards. I also got my hands on the Solar Powder bronzer from Soap and Glory, which has meant I can save my MAC 'Give Me Sun' bronzer for special occasions or when I want to glam my face up a bit more than usual. It is a half matte and half shimmer block so leaves the skin with a gorgeous dewy finish on the cheekbones without being orange or going patchy throughout the day. I've also been obsessing over my newest Victoria's Secret lipstick. They've only just introduced these in-store and were previously only sold online, so I took advantage of the situation when I was last there and picked up several shades, my favourite being 'True'. It has a much lighter colour pay off than what it appears as, and the finish is amazing. It's so moisturising - think a MAC Cremesheen mixed with a lip butter and you get the idea.  I couldn't possibly have a monthly favourites post without mentioning some sort of Soap and Glory product! It just so happens that this month I've been loving two of their bath and skincare products, the 'Rich and Foamous' body wash and the 'Feel Good Factor' facial moisturiser. I have a huge thing for almond, vanilla and shea butter scents, and the body wash has all of these combined. I may review this product in full sometime soon, but until then all you need to know is this - it's amazing! I'm not a massive fan of the Sugar Crush products as I don't particularly like the scent, but this is a great alternative. The 'Feel Good Factor' is a lovely consistency, but don't worry I haven't parted ways with my 'For Daily Youth' moisturiser. I mix the two together to get the best of both worlds. Something I've been lusting over for as long as I can remember is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. This thing is a lifesaver! Out of all of my brushes, this is definitely my favourite. It applies foundation so easily without leaving brush lines, not to mention it washes like a dream too. No more malting brushes! I have an upcoming 'Favourite Make Up Brushes' post, so make sure you check back if you're interested.

What have been your favourite products in February?

Tag | Confessions Of A Blogger

Image: weheartit (edited by me)

Hello Lovely Ladies! There's not much more I love than the occasional tag post from fellow beauty bloggers - it gives you the chance to get to know the girl behind the words and the pictures. This is also my 100th post! I've recently seen this post circulating around my favourite blogs so decided to join in and do my own. This particular one is from the lovely Kayleigh over at Couture Girl (if you haven't checked out her blog already make sure you do, it's a good'un!), so without further ado I'll get started.

When did you start Your Blog?

I started writing my blog last June. I was bored one afternoon and always wanted to make one so I did. I'm so glad I did now! I've met some lovely girls through blogging, and I've also taken the plunge with products I'd never have thought twice about.

Have you Had any online presence before? Another blog, Youtube etc?

I did have an old blog but I didn't like it - all of the HTML codes were messed up, so rather than fixing it, I went ahead and made a brand new one. I've never really thought of doing a YouTube channel. Something about just sitting there and filming myself petrifies me. Plus, I absolutely hate the sound of my voice when it's recorded, not to mention I'd be worried incase nobody went to watch them either!

Why did you start a blog?

Ever since I was little I've always loved make-up and all things beauty. I used to raid my mum's make up when I was younger (I think were all guilty of that) and it developed into a passion as soon as I went into my teens. I started my own because after reading through countless other blogs it looked like something I really wanted to be involved in. Why do something if you don't enjoy it? As I've said in the past, if the passion for what you're writing about isn't there then there isn't much point in doing it. I'm passionate enough about beauty to write about it.  

When did you become serious about starting a blog?
I became serious about blogging as time went on really. Back when I first started it was more of just something to do with something I love to fill up time, but now I see it as a hobby and really do enjoy it. I think I must have become serious about blogging around last November when I started thinking more about how to take better photos, planning posts and talking to other beauty bloggers. 

What was your First Post?
Ohh I actually ended up deleting my first ever post! It was the most cringe worthy thing on the Internet. It went something along the lines of 'Hi my name is Kendal' and blah blah. Now my blog just starts with some random review, so not best but I felt I had to save myself from embarrassment!

What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?
I wouldn't say I've faced a particular 'challenge' as my blog is still small compared to others. Actually saying that, I think one of the challenges I've faced is comparing my blog to others. I do enjoy writing my blog otherwise I wouldn't do it, but I also admit that I sometimes feel pressure to buy new products if I see loads of people blogging about something in particular. 

Where do you see your blog in one year?

In a years time I definitely see myself still writing my blog, and hopefully people still reading and enjoying it. I'd like to have discovered loads of new products, and fingers crossed I also hope to have met some of my fellow bloggers in person too at an event or a meet up.

What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?

Although my blog is small, I love receiving comments or tweets from people. It brings a smile to my face to know people out there actually take the time out to read my ramblings and listen to me! Something else I see as rewarding is the fact I've met so many lovely girls with the same interests as me doing it. In my own group of friends, we all love make-up and all thins girly, but none of them are 'passionate' so it's so nice to know that my blogging friends are only a tweet or comment away.

What is the most discouraging thing that happens to you?

Like I mentioned before, I do admit that I do sometimes compare my blog to others. I think this is just out of habit and I know I shouldn't. I wouldn't say it discourages me so much but it does make me want to make changes to my blog. I suppose you could see that as something positive?

What is your lasting inspiration or Motivation?

My motivation are all of my friends who know I write this blog, although they don't write blogs themselves. They'll sometimes say to me "Oh I enjoyed your post last night" or "I'm buying so and so after reading your review". It sounds so cheesy but this kind of thing makes me so happy!

I'd love to see all of your answers to these questions so I tag all of my lovely readers!

Professional Beauty 2013 | London ExCel

Hi Ladies! So as I mentioned in my 'Tangle Angel' post (read it here), I was fortunate enough to attend the annual Professional Beauty exhibition at London's ExCel on Monday, and this was my third time going. I promised to tell you all about it so here it is! I really did have an amazing day and spent a whole 6 hours having a look at what was on offer. There's just something about being under one roof surrounded by like minded beauty enthusiasts which gave me a buzz - countless make up, fake tan and skincare stands is definitely my idea of heaven. I got to ExCel as soon as it opened, so going into an almost empty exhibition room was great as there wasn't the push and shove to get to the more popular stands. On arrival I bought one of the event guides which was so handy throughout the day. It had all the stand locations and information along with the timetable for live exhibitors on stage - it came in so useful! I made sure I got to the Sleeprollers stand straight away as I knew exactly what I was getting and then I'd be free for the day to have a look at whatever I wanted. As some of you may know, I'm a huge fan of the Sleeprollers velcro hair rollers and their huge XXL bun ring, but I wanted to pick up the black and gold glitter ones which are gorgeous. Along with those I also picked up the 'Massive Fringe Brush' and their 'Roller Hood' which are guaranteed to give me big hair for nights out. I'll be posting a review of these soon, so if you're interested or are thinking of picking some up for yourself then be sure to check back.

As a huge eyebrow fan, I dashed over to the HD Brows stand which was already packed. I've used samples of their infamous brow palette but couldn't part ways with my trusty Benefit 'Browzings' set up until now. I'll honestly never look back again! Again I'll be doing a full review of the Vamp palette sometime soon as I'm so in love with it. I also noticed a crowd around a tiny brunette at the stand so went over to see who it was. It was Billi Mucklow from TOWIE, and she is absolutely stunning in real life. She was so lovely too! That was just the beginning of celebrity spotting of the day - turns out celebs love beauty just as much as us bloggers do! I was also signed up to something pretty exciting - the Guiness World Record for the 'Most People Receiving Spray Tans Simultaneously'. Before you ask, yes, we broke the record! How exciting. I was sprayed almost stark naked infront of hundreds of people which was so daunting but it was a great experience and I'm so glad I done it. The girl next door to me was sprayed by Amy Childs and she was speaking to me afterwards. I've met her in the past and she really is sweet. Each time I see her she gets darker and darker, but I suppose that's her trademark!

Being a Katie Price fan, I also made sure I went over to her make-up artist Gary Cockerill's stand. Gary's a renowned celebrity make up artist and has his own range of eyelashes and was launching his new beauty supplement drink (which was really yummy by the way!). Gary was so lovely and was telling me all about his make up masterclasses in London which I'm thinking of going too. I also met his husband Phil and both of them were so nice. I couldn't have gone to Pro Beauty without stopping at Crownbrush either. They had such a huge collection of their brushes at a discounted price that I managed to fill my plastic box quicker than I thought. I also spotted Lauren Pope stocking up next to me which was quite surreal. I'm currently struggling with storage space in my bedroom for all of my products so when I spotted a stand selling vanity cases I was jumping for joy. Ideally I wanted a leopard print case but they'd sold out of the one I wanted so I ordered one which should be with me in the next few days which is exciting - I love deliveries! 

As I'm a bit of a self confessed tanorexic, I made sure I went to see Victoria who's the head of Fake Bake speaking on the exhibitor stage. She was lovely, and I've now decided to train in spray tanning and then go mobile. So if you live in London and want a cheaper spray than in salons get in touch after Summer! I took full advantage of Dermalogica's face mapping service too and got some great samples too. The woman informed me that the skin underneath my eyes is really hydrated so I'm now on the lookout for a good eye cream. Any suggestions please let me know! I love Nubar and Essie nail polishes - something about their price puts me off buying them online and from Boots, but because it was trade only at the show, they were trade prices. Each polish cost me £4 which is half the retail price, so I stocked up on loads of Summer colours! I was given so many samples from loads of stands, but what impressed me most was the Crazy Angel tanning stand. I'd heard of Crazy Angel before as they're always at trade shows and noticed they'd bought out a new mousse tan really similar to St Tropez. After a quick swatch on the back of my hand (which was a silly idea considering I'd just had a spray tan) it needed to be mine. It's such a gorgeous colour and I'll be reviewing it in full sometime next week. 

I was an Elemis virgin before Pro Beauty which is awful considering I'm a beauty blogger. I've heard nothing but great things about their Fresh Skin range so I took advantage of the available discounts and picked up the skincare kit and the moisturiser. I haven't yet used them but I can't wait until I do, they look amazing. I ended up splurging most of my wages on Monday which has left me skint for a while but it was so worth it. I'll show you all of the products I bought sometime soon as I can't take photos at the moment because the lighting is so awful! I had a great day and eyed up loads of products I'll be buying once I get paid. Halo hair extensions anyone? I'm also looking forward to going to IMATS London in June which I think will be absolutely amazing. 

Were you at Professional Beauty 2013? Did you have a good day and pick anything nice up?

Review | Tangle Angel Professional Detangling Brush

Tangle Angel Brush £14.99 (Link here)

Hey there lovely ladies! Hope you're all well. If you follow me on Twitter then you'll know that I was lucky enough to attend the Professional Beauty show at London ExCel yesterday - I had the most amazing time and picked up bags and bags full of stuff. I've planned to do a little haul in the next few days to show you all what I managed to get my hands on and more about the day itself, but until then I had to show you one of my favourite purchases and tell you all how in love with it I am. 

 

Up until yesterday I hadn't actually heard of Richard Ward as a haircare brand (slaps wrists) which is weird as I'm sure you may have gathered I'm quite the haircare whore. I somehow own a collection of hairbrushes ranging from grooming brushes for up-do's to tail combs for styling. At first glance from the back this looked like a regular hair brush, but it turns out it's a brush with the same concept as the infamous 'Tangle Teezer' only larger with a handle and of course the gorgeous design of angel wings on the back. Don't get me wrong, I do love my trusty Tangle Teezer but felt that this had my name written all over it. As it was trade prices and VAT free, I picked this beauty up for only £10.00 which saved me £4.99 in total. Considering Tangle Teezers range from £10-12, I reckon I picked up a bargain. 

 

 

It's a no brainer I instantly fell in love with the look of the brush - anything boasting Victoria's Secret-esque angel wings in pink is a winner to me. I love the metallic finish of the brush, and because it isn't paint there's no need to worry about it chipping. The heart shape of the actual bristles also add a really girly touch, and the fact there's also a handle attached to the base makes it alot easier to use than your average Tangle Teezer. On the back of the box, it claims that the brush has anti-bacterial properties for hygienic use, boasts heat resistant bristles along with anti-static technology and can stand upright to maintain storage space - what's not to love?! When I wear my hair extensions, I need to brush them through during the day to keep them looking smooth and sleek, and this brush really does work wonders. I've had this only a day but I'm already in love with it and genuinely notice a difference in the look and feel of my hair when I've used it. It's not the most compact brush for on the go but it looks lovely standing up on my dressing table. I haven't yet tried this as a blow dry brush which it says it's also ideal for, but when I do I'll update you with my opinions!

Have you tried the Tangle Angel by Richard Ward? Or did you attend Pro Beauty?

♥

Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance | Leave In Conditioner

Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-In Conditioner 200ml- £4.49 (Link here)

Hey there lovely ladies! If you're a regular reader of my blog then you'll know I define the phrase 'Haircare Product Whore' - I own countless shampoos, conditioners, treatments and everything in between. One brand I've been obsessing over recently is Aussie, I'm sure I don't need to tell you all how amazing each any every one of their products are. I'm a die hard fan of their 3 Minute Miracle (review coming soon!) and I've been using it in my haircare routine for as long as I can remember. I love my hair to feel soft and hydrated, so using a leave in conditioner is essential in maintaining the moisture of my hair in between washes. Step aside Batiste, I've found a new love for Aussie's 'Miracle Insurance' leave in conditioner! 

I love the simplicity of the packaging with all Aussie products. They don't scream 'Buy Me'  when you walk past them, and you'd probably had to have heard of them to notice them. This little bottle of glory carries the classic kangaroo Aussie logo on a white plastic bottle, so pretty bog standard when it comes to hair products. If you've ever tried any of the Aussie brand, you will instantly associate their products with smell. Oh the smell, each any every product carries the most amazing scent without being somewhat overpowering. This particular product smells like what I can only describe as bubblegum, which is weird as it's infact Australian Jojoba Oil. I love the fact that the ingredients are all natural too. It's proof that nasty chemicals found in some professional brands aren't always the way to luscious locks! This isn't like anything I've used before, people tend to think that serums or creams are better in terms of leave-in conditioners but being a liquid spray, it provides good if not better results. You can never overdo it and leave your hair greasy because it comes in a pump form, which makes application a dream. It isn't a greasy formula at all, I think of it as a conditioning spray rather than a heavy duty leave-in conditioner. I can honestly feel a difference when I use this, the ends of my hair are left moist and hydrated beyond belief. If used after the infamous 3 Minute Miracle, you can just imagine how soft to the touch your hair is, and it sits in the hair without weighing it down. I also find this a life saver when it comes to blow drying. I spray this into damp hair just before I fry my hair with a hair dryer and it makes the world of difference. It's perfect for everyday use providing you don't get a bit spray happy around the root area, and takes away that awful feeling you get with using a dry shampoo. 

As you may have gathered, my hair care routine is constantly changing so I think it's only right I do an updated hair care routine sometime in the near future. I've fallen head over heels for this product and I can't rate it highly enough. Are you a fan of Aussie hair care? What are your favourite products?

♥

Review | Soap and Glory | Smoothie Star Body Buttercream

Soap & Glory Smoothie Star Buttercream - £10.50 (Link here)

 Hi Ladies! There's nothing which stands between me and my Soap and Glory products as I'm sure you already know. I was in Boots over the weekend and noticed they had a 3 for 2 offer on indulgent bathing, so took it upon myself to stock up on products which I was running out of, and to try something I hadn't yet used. If you had the 'Best Of All' giftset over Christmas, then you'll know it contained the Smoothie Star Body Milk, which has quickly become one of my favourite S&G products. I noticed there was a body butter from the same range neatly stacked up on the shelves, so quickly took it to the till so I could get home and give it a go. I'm pretty content using my tub of 'The Righteous Butter' (read my review here)  as a heavy duty moisturiser but there was just something about this little beauty that made it that bit more special. First off, I absolutely love the packaging of this. Soap and Glory really know what they're doing when it comes to their product packaging, but I particularly like this. I think the combination of old school cream and candy pink colours caught my eye along with the witty tagline around the nape of the tub. This retails at £10.50 for 300ml of product which may be a little pricey for a body butter which can be purchased in a drugstore, but it really is worth every single penny. Because this size is the same as my 'Righteous Butter' cream, I'm expecting it to last me just as long after which I'll definitely be repurchasing it.

What I love most about this product is the smell, oh my goodness. I have a real thing for almond, vanilla, pistachio and shea butter scents, I can't get enough of them. This carries the exact same scent as the Smoothie Star Body Milk only stronger, so it definitely isn't for the faint hearted! I've also been using the Soap and Glory 'Rich and Foamous' body wash which also carries the same smell, so as you can imagine the scent will linger on my skin for hours on end. It's also really similar to 'Whipped Clean' in terms of smell, which I've recently rediscovered my love for. Although this is technically a body butter, it feels quite different to 'The Righteous Butter'. It's still a very creamy formula, but alot less thick which feels amazing when applied after a long hot bath or shower. I don't find myself having to wait a few minutes before getting dressed as once rubbed into the skin it sinks in pretty fast. I had a dry patch on my right elbow and this sorted it out after the first use, so it really does give you an idea of how great it is. I've used body creams in the past which annoyingly separated or fell off my skin before I'd even rubbed it in, but this physically sticks itself to the skin so there isn't a worry of product wastage. I couldn't choose between this or The Righteous Butter as I love them both as much as eachother, but in terms of body butters this is definitely amongst my favourites. 

Have you tried Soap and Glory's Smoothie Star Buttercream? Or do you know of any amazing body butters?

♥