LEE STAFFORD BLEACH BLONDE PURPLE SHAMPOO

Hi all! So today's post is all about the hair and the one product that helps to keep my hair looking salon fresh! 

I can assure you that it's not a myth when us 'bleached blondes' say that bleached hair is hard to maintain because my god it is! But I've found a little gem that helps to keep my hair looking salon fresh even when those pesky roots are appearing once again. 

I can't stress how super important it is to look after your hair whether it's been bleached or not. I visit the salon for a refresh every 8 weeks as this is about the time when my roots are just about unbearable and I have to admit I do pay a hefty price to have this done ££. 

So, it is in my best intentions that I keep my hair looking and feeling fresh and in order to do this I need to tone my hair once every two weeks. I've tried a fair few toners before this one and found that they've made my hair have a slightly blue/ grey tone to it especially on the finer hairs. This was something I simply couldn't stand so I went on the hunt for something better and stumbled across the Lee Stafford Bleach Blonde Shampoo 250ml £6.99 in my local Boots. I liked the look of this because it was a different tone to the other colour correcting shampoos I had used before.

With a toning shampoo I usually use it twice a week whilst incorporating it into my normal washing routine and afterwards I will always finish off with a hair mask just to restore a bit of moisture as this can be quite drying. The result? My hair has never looked better! The slightly blue/grey tones that I was experiencing in previous toning shampoos are now no more! This shampoo has more of a pinker tone to it so it keeps my hair looking amazingly fresh.

It's an amazing investment for bleached hair!

BARRY M GELLY HIGH SHINE NAIL PAINT

Hi guys! I'm so sorry for my lack of posts recently but I've only just got over having the dreaded cold/flu that goes around every winter- usually i'm lucky enough to escape it but not this year. 

Anyway, now that Christmas and New Year are over I am super excited for Spring! This is usually the time when I like to start dipping into my pastel coloured nail varnish and so I thought I'd do a blog post talking about one brand that I absolutely love! 

Glossy, fast drying, well pigmented and long lasting are all traits that I look for when purchasing a new nail varnish and after slowly building up a collection over a few months I have to say that the Barry M Gelly High Shine Nail Paint takes that title. 

(from left to right: Huckleberry, Mustard, Papaya and Key Lime) 

The formula claims to emulate the look of a gel manicure without being stuck with the same colour for weeks on end. I find it extremely glossy without a top coat, and for me it lasts 3 or 4 days without chipping which for a £3.99 nail varnish you can't complain. 

(from left to right: Pink Punch, Kiwi and Prickly Pear) 

All of these shades scream Spring/Summer to me but there are plenty of other shades to keep you happy all year through! 

What do you think of the Barry M Nail Paints? What's your favourite colour? 

BEAUTY FAVOURITES OF 2014

Can you believe it's 2015?! Happy New Year to you all. For today's post I thought i'd go through my beauty favourites of 2014.

SKINCARE 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo £15.50 

Now I know the price is a tad off-putting for this product but in all honesty it has been my absolute go-to face cream to banish those pesky blemishes throughout 2014. It seems to do something magical to my skin and the formula isn't too drying either unlike most spot treatments. 

The Body Shop Seaweed Iconic Clay Mask £13

I purchased this a while back with an offer I had received through The Body Shop but I have literally used it non-stop ever since. I wanted something that I knew would draw out any blemishes from under the skin and all of the muck that comes along with them and this does the perfect job! 

The Body Shop Vitamin E Aqua Boost Sorbet £12

This the miracle face cream in a pot! It has specifically helped me during these colder months as it really quenches the thirst of my dry skin and is the perfect base for make up application.. An absolute winner! 

MAC Strobe Cream £24.50

I have loved using this as a primer throughout the year as I feel that it really boosts the appearance of my skin on days when I am not feeling so great. It also comes in a fairly big bottle from which you only need the smallest bit meaning that it'll last a very long time which is a bonus.  

Soap and Glory The Righteous Butter £10.50

In terms of moisturising I have to admit that it isn't something I particularly enjoy but have to do especially throughout the colder months of last year. My absolute favourite body moisturiser has to be this one from Soap and Glory- not only does it smell delicious but it really helps those pesky dry elbows. 

Soap and Glory Hand Food £5.00

Once again this has been an absolute saviour throughout the colder months and smells divine- with extracts of shea butter, macadamia oil and marshmallow I just could not put it down. 

PERFUME 

Viktor and Rolf BONBON Eau de Parfum 30ml £50

Since my dad kindly picked this up for me from Duty Free back at the start of last year I have adored this perfume and it soon became my everyday scent. I am not the best at describing scents but this perfume gives off notes of caramel meaning it's slightly sweet. 

Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream Eau de Toilette 50ml £45.99

This has been another signature scent of mine, but it's much fresher than the other perfume. I've found myself using this when I'm wanting something a bit lighter and more subtle. 

COSMETICS 

L'Oreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Shampoo 400ml £2 

I only have one haircare product in my favourites for 2014 but that is only because nothing else has managed to impress me. I picked this up on a complete whim as it was on offer in my local Sainsbury's and I am honestly not planning to change again any time soon! I am usually someone who likes to change their haircare products often, but this has really made a difference to my usually thin and brittle hair making it feel more texturised and noticeably thicker wash after wash.

Essie Good to Go Top Coat 13.5ml £8.99

Once again, something that is quite pricey for a top coat but this has been a gods send when it comes to keeping my nail varnish in-tact throughout a busy week. Before I was using the Sally Hansen 'No Chip' top coat but it just wasn't cutting it for me so I set myself a little mission to find something better and I'm so glad I found this little baby. 

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 NC20 £21.50

I also discovered this at the start of the year when my skin was an absolute nightmare and I was on the hunt for a medium to high coverage foundation. Even though my skin has noticeably cleared up since then I just can't pull myself away from this amazing foundation- it literally makes my skin look flawless! 

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder £3.99 

This powder is not only cheap and cheerful but it actually works which is quite hard to find when using slightly cheaper make up. I have combination skin which can become quite shiny in the hotter months and with a fine swoop of this over the Studio Fix Fluid after application I am set to go. 

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (Chocolate) Medium £7.99

Last year I really got into bronzing my face and felt like it really added something to my overall make up. I went through a fair few bronzers whilst trying to find one that suited my pale complexion and eventually came to find this one. Not only is it fairly cheap but it doesn't seem to make me look orange which most bronzers do, not to mention it smells like chocolate which is just an added bonus.. yum. 

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lipstick £8.99

Another very popular product from Bourjois here and a firm favourite of mine are the Rouge Edition Velvet Lipsticks, I have managed to collect 4 of these so far but 2 of my favourite shades are Pink Pong (as pictured) and Nude-ist. I particularly love them as they have an amazing staying power and the colour range is just fab. 

Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette £37

I don't know anyone who hasn't tried one of these eyeshadow palettes and not fallen in love with them! Admittedly they are slightly pricey at around £37 each but they are amazing. I love all 3 of the palettes but if I had to pick one favourite from last year it would have to be number 2 which just scraped it's way in. 

MAC Matte Lipstick in 'Kinda Sexy' £15.50 

An everyday lipstick for me last year was one of the matte formulas from Mac in the shade 'Kinda Sexy' it's the perfect slightly brown-toned nude which for me is perfect for everyday. 

Maybelline The Rocket Volum Express Mascara £7.99

Last year I discovered one of the best mascara's I've ever used! That being this one from Maybelline, it works wonders for my lashes and really makes them the perfect length and volume without clumping and is something I will certainly continue to use in 2015. 

So that's it! My beauty favourites of 2014. What were your beauty favourites of last year? All the best for 2015! I can't believe Christmas is over already.