Haircare for a Special Occasion

October 10, 2016January 28, 2018 - Vicki Leave a comment

I went to my brothers’ wedding last weekend and I don’t really do the whole dressing up all glam, I’m 100% more comfortable in a casual setting, so when it came to styling my hair I knew I was going to go for a look that was simple. My Mum, Bride & a few other girls went to the salon to have their hair put up or styled but I like to do my own, that way you get exactly what you want. I thought I would share a few of the products I used on the day.

Pureology Fullfyl Shampoo & Conditioner

This duo is so good at giving your hair a really good clean but leaving it with a little volume and a gorgeous healthy shine. It is more for colour treated hair but I always think haircare that is formulated for that is gentle and less striping and this range is perfect for that. It also leaves my hair with fewer flyaways and gives it a nice texture once styled. I have the full sized versions but how could I resist taking these minis away with me. Pureology is 100% vegan and sulphate free so your hair is in good hands.

Shea Moisture 10 in 1 Multi-Benefit Hair Masque*

If I am honest when it comes to hair masks I am a little lazy and more often than not it is a step I skip. I do have my favourites that I use when my hair is looking lacklustre or when I need my hair to look its best for a special occasions. This Shea Moisture SuperFruit Complex one is one that never lets me down, its rich formula gives your hair a boost of hydration and just leaves it feeling silky soft. I leave this on for as long as I can, generally about 45 minutes, it contains so many lovely ingredients and the positive results are not only visible immediately but also long-term.

Superfruit–a blend of red raspberry, ketones, goji, acai and guava extracts rich in anti-aging antioxidants
Marula oil–contains natural plant peptides that help support hair’s elasticity
Biotin–nourishes individual strands for thicker, stronger hair
Shea butter–deeply moisturises while conditioning hair and scalp

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection

My hair is naturally wavy so when it comes to styling it for special occasions I like to wear it as natural as possible. If I try and straighten it I know that a few hours later it will have kinks in it & if it gets wet its pretty much a frizzy mess & game over. If I add a little curl to it I find it holds really well and looks better throughout the night. I love OGX haircare and this Curling Perfection Cream is fantastic to help my waves/curls look natural and doesn’t weight them down. It’s not going to leave your hair crusty or heavy with product, so if you like more of a natural effortless wave to your hair this product is for you.

**Nicky Clarke Supershine Iconic Steam Conditioning Tong* £39.99**

As I said my hair is naturally wavy but to ensure it looked a little more polished and like I’d made an effort I used this pretty swish black & rose gold curling tong from Nicky Clarke. I like that this tong is super lightweight, the barrel is 25mm which is perfect for creating subtle, natural curls and you can vary the temperature to suit your hair type from 130c to 210c.

Ceramic finish barrel gives fast, even heat and smooth, snag-free styling for soft, silky styles
Ionic conditioning locks in moisture to keep hair healthy and frizz-free
Automatic safety shut-off after 60 minutes.
30 seconds heat-up time.
5 settings up to a maximum of 210ºC, with digital controls and LED display

There is a little reservoir at the tip of the tongs which you fill with water so you can release a little steam to lock in moisture and help your curls have a little more structure to them. I also run my fringe through these to give it that slight curl under. All in all, this is a great quality styling wand and it looks very luxurious too, my hair kept its curl all day and night. There is also a hairdryer and straighteners in this Supershine range & if like me you often forget to turn them off this range has an auto shut-off after 60 minutes for safety, such a great safety feature.

I didn’t take many photos from the Wedding of my hair but I do have this one of me & my husband towards the end of the night.

*PR Sample

Five Under £5 for October

October 6, 2016October 16, 2016 - Vicki 8 Comments

October is my favourite month, mostly because it is my Birthday month and this year to celebrate turning 38 we are heading to Amsterdam for a week. I am so excited to be heading back to my all time favourite city. I have missed a couple of months of Five Under £5 posts but I am back with a bang this month & I think I have a pretty good selection of things for you.

If you want to get involved and link up your monthly 5 Under £5 finds then head over to Julia’s blog at Rainbeaubelle and join in.

Primark LED Lights £1.50

I have a few of these string fairy lights from Primark – they’re battery powered which I like otherwise I tend to go out & leave them all turned on and panic I’m going to burn the house down. I use these all over the house just to make it feel more cosy and they look so pretty. I can’t go into Primark without buying at least one box.

YOGI Tea – Classic £2.99

Yes, yes I know that almost every month I include a tea, but what can I say I am a tea addict. This Yogi Tea is my latest obsession. I spotted it in TK Maxx and its actually a tea tin full of delicious Yogi Tea Bags, all individually wrapped. It reminds me of Chai Tea because its full of spices & cloves – its a great tea to welcome Autumn in (my favourite season).

YOGI TEA Classic is the tea that Yogi Bhajan originally served to his yoga students. This unique blend is a combination of the traditional Ayurvedic spices cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves and black pepper. Heart-warming, relaxing, delicious, spicy and wonderful. Best enjoyed in the Indian tradition: sweetened and with a little milk or milk substitute. The essence of this tea is: ‘Comfort and abundance’.

Vaseline ltd edition LULU Guinness £2.99

These Vaseline tins are great to throw in your handbag, they’re so durable and stand the test of time. I have used up so many over the years and love it when they release their limited edition lip therapy tins. This October Vaseline have teamed up with British designer Lulu Guinness to release this super cute LuLu Doll Face tin. Now that we are heading into the colder months my lips get so dry & Vaseline is a great way to keep my lips looking their best and Its such a great affordable option.

B&M Marshmallow Fireside Candle

B&M is like Aladdin’s cave, you just never know what you are going to come out with, I saw quite a few bloggers talking about their new Autumnal candles being great dupes for the popular (and very hard to get) Bath & Body Works ones. I think there are 6 scents in total and they have always been sold out when I visit, but I did manage to get my hands on the Marshmallow Fireside one which smells so damn good. Its perfect for the darker nights and has such a cosy but sweet scent. It seems to burn quite clean and for a £2.99 candle it kicks out a good amount of scent. I am still on the hunt for the other scents & really want the Radiant Red Maple and Pumpkin Pecan Waffle.

The Vegan Kitchen E Book £5.00

You might not be aware but in my house we eat a plant based diet and have done so for 3 years now. I knew that Gemma from Hello Gemma had been busy writing her E Book for quite a few months and so I was super excited to finally be able to purchase it a couple of months ago. Gemma is a fellow Vegan and is a bit of a wizz in the kitchen so it’s no surprise that her E Book is nothing short of fantastic. Its so well written and the accompanying photographs are beautiful. You get a 40 delicious plant based recipes as discussing some of the ethical and environmental reasons for adopting Veganism The Vegan Kitchen also gives an insight into why Veganism is so important, dispelling myths and misconceptions along the way. Even if you’re not Vegan but like to eat healthy this is a great E Book and its always lovely to support a fellow blogger.

BIBA Vanity Case from House of Fraser

October 3, 2016April 20, 2025 - Vicki 2 Comments

BIBA Vanity Case*

If you are into luxury luggage and like me have always wanted a swish vanity case for all your cosmetics, then I think you are going to fall in love with this BIBA Vanity Case. BIBA are a luxe luggage brand, they have an extensive selection of beautiful suitcases and handbags. They’re also celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, so it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about travelling in style.

I’ve been trying out the stunning purple Vanity Case which is moulded with the iconic BIBA jacquard design on a beautiful high shine finish, with metallic gold detailing. It’s incredible quality and although it’s lightweight (which is what you want when it comes to luggage) it feels very strong and durable so you know all your treasures are going to travel safely inside this. It’s functional whilst looking stylish, of course.

The interior is divided thoughtfully with zipped, meshed and elasticated pockets to make this the perfect compact organiser. You get two very good-sized compartments on each side, these are deep and allow you to pack the bulk of your toiletries in here, knowing they’re protected by the hard case. They zip closed so they are secure, and I managed to fit full sized toiletries inside with room to spare.

You also get a zipped mesh pouch, which is ideal for items that you may need to reach for before you get to your destination. There are also handy elasticated pockets which you can slide in things like makeup brushes, sunglasses and hair tools. So you have lots of options and for someone that loves organising their makeup and skincare it’s perfect.

Hard sided case
5 year guarantee
Capacity 21 L
Depth 18 cm
Height 32 cm
Luggage Weight 1.2 kg
Width 36 cm

This case keeps everything organised and neat and because its a hard case it ensures you get to your destination with all your makeup / products intact. It has a few carry options, one being a sturdy detachable over the shoulder strap, the second is a great handle on the top and the third being the rear strap which allows for it to perch securely on top of your suitcase. I am heading to Amsterdam next week for a Birthday Celebration & I can’t wait to take this with me, I will be able to pack all my favourite cosmetics and not worry about them getting damaged.

BIBA Vanity Case

*PR Sample

Special Occasion Beauty Products

September 28, 2016February 13, 2018 - Vicki 3 Comments

My brother is getting married next week in Scotland (I live in Cornwall) so I’ve tried to be organised by packing my makeup, skincare and other essential products so I don’t forget them. I’m not in the Bridal Party but I want to look my best and use some of my favourite products on the day. Over the past week I have been setting aside products I know I want to take up to Scotland and because its a special occasion I want my makeup to stay in place all day/night. I will be doing a full post on my Scotland Makeup Bag next week but I wanted to share a few of my must-have products.

Stella McCartney POP EDP*

I love Stella McCartney perfumes and was so excited when I heard there was a new fragrance being added to the selection. This POP scent comes in a simple but quite fun bottle, it has a bright metallic pink lid with Stella McCartney embossed around the edge. I think this latest release has a fresher youthful feel to both the perfume and the bottle. The scent is quite light but complex and I like that it isn’t overpowering but is quite uplifting and fresh. It has some notes that were surprising (like tomato leaves) but that actually really work well together,

Top notes: Tomato leaves, Violet leaves, Green Mandarin
Heart notes: Violet, Tuberose, Plumeria
Base notes: Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Musks

At first, it has a sweet, fresh scent then it settles down to be warmer and the woody, musk notes come through. It’s quite a beautiful scent and despite not being too heavy it does have quite good staying power, although I don’t mind having to spritz throughout the day. You 100% need to add this fragrance to your Xmas list, its a very easy to wear scent and I’m excited to wear it to my brother’s wedding.

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Compact*

I’m taking this because its compact, the coverage is fantastic and very long wearing. It will easily fit into my handbag & the fact it has a mirror & a cute applicator means I will be able to keep my makeup looking fresh all night long. This is a full coverage foundation but it doesn’t look cakey, so I won’t have to build up the coverage with this. It does have quite a high SPF but I am not part of the main Bridal party so I am not worried about the photos, I would rather my makeup looked flawless and fresh all night long and I know this Lancome Cushion Foundation won’t let me down.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Products

No one does lips like Charlotte Tilbury and I wanted to keep my lip colour quite natural but still pretty and feminine so this nude/pink trio is perfect. I have the Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk, K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Penelope Pink and the Lip Lustre in Seduction and they look beautiful together. The lip liner gives the lips a nice shape and the lipstick is a subtle but beautiful pink toned nude and it feels so comfortable on the lips. I think I will apply the lip gloss over the lipstick in the evening just to change the look slightly and give it more of a nighttime feel. The gloss is a gorgeous, not too sticky and not too high shine, just that perfect amount of gloss.

Kleenex Shine Absorbing Sheets

These are a must if your skin starts to get a little oily and they just fit so easily in your handbag. I always carry a pack with me. These ones don’t lift off my makeup but they absorb oil and help me look less shiny. Not a glamorous product by any means but one that always saves the day. These kleenex ones are discontinued now (you can sometimes find them in Home Bargain) but there are quite a few brands that do them. I like to use these to blot away the shine before powdering.

Becca Backlight Priming Filter

OMG, this is just a beautiful illuminating primer, it helps my makeup stay in place and also gives my skin that healthy, radiant glow. I only have a small sample size of this and I am 100% going to invest in the full size, it works so well under my makeup and I really like the finish it gives to my skin. For special occasions, I like to wear a primer and this one really does a fab job at giving my skin that soft focus look. This has been one of my favourite beauty discoveries of 2016.

Urban Decay de-slick Makeup Setting Spray

When you need your makeup to still look good long into the night there is only one product you can trust with this job & that’s the Urban Decay de-slick Makeup Setting Spray. This mist is a miracle worker, a few sprays over the top of your makeup will ensure your foundation doesn’t melt away and your t zone remains shine free. It is a lightweight mist and it doesn’t feel sticky or like you have an extra layer of product on your skin.

So looking back over most of the product I have picked out, they’re mostly for getting my makeup to stay in place all night. I hate it when you have an important event and you catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror halfway through the night & think ‘Where the hell has my makeup gone’. So I am hoping that I avoid that disaster.

*This post contains PR samples

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