Loreal Paris Studio Line Hot and Big Hair Spray Review

Hi everyone!

This week I'm featuring one my new favourite hair products from Loreal Paris. This is from their new line and they have a selection of different products to suit every hair type.

I went for the Hot & Big Spray to help try and give my long and thin hair a boost of volume. Now I have tried a lot of different volumising products but haven't gotten on with a lot of them as they can tend to weigh down the hair or make it appear greasy.

This works by spraying it into towel dried hair and spraying it directly onto the roots. You then use your hairdryer to dry your hair and flick your hair upside down to help boost the volume that much more.

Once dry and brushed you're left with wonderfully thick hair, it is amazing!!

I can't say I've seen such amazing results by any other volumsing products before, even those I've tried at the salon! Also as this is a highstreet/drugstore purchase it doesn't break the bank and is only £3.79!!

I absolutely love this and won't be buying anything else for volume now!

If you have thin hair or would just like to add a bit of a boost to your hair give this a try!

Thanks for reading!
Jess x

Finding The 'Perfect' Foundation

 Hello again!!

I'm one of those people that once I get an idea I need to follow it through... Probably something to do with OCD but hey ho.

This month I decided to set myself the task of finding the 'right balance' from my foundation. Now I'm in a funny old place with my current foundation (Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum) after my husband said it would get really shiny at the end of the day, less dewy and more oily than it previously did. Now I think this is because my skin in the Summer naturally gets a little more oily and so dewy foundations won't give me the finish I'm happy with anymore. Thus my search for a new foundation.

So I trialled... a load of different foundations to try and figure out what is best for my oily skin and what would pass my little 'tests'.

First of all, what I was looking for out of my foundation:
- Something easy to apply, quick and painless. I don't have time to buff for 15 minutes anymore.
- Something that matched my skin tone
- Something preferably budget friendly

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin
£8.99
Pros: Budget friendly.
Cons: Sticks to imperfections and dry patches.
Summary: I wouldn't buy this again as it just doesn't sit on my skin very well.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation
£8.99
Pros: Budget friendly. Gorgeous finish.
Cons: Not enough shade range.
Summary: I love the gel formula of this and although the colour doesn't quite match me I find myself buying this over and over. A great budget friendly foundation!

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation
£31.00
Pros: Great shade range. Gorgeous finish.
Cons: Expensive. No pump.
Summary: The finish of this is beautiful. As quoted by many other Sheer Glow fans, 'It's my skin, but better'... It really is! It's a medium coverage but with a super light feel - I love it. I feel as if my skin can breathe and look natural, yet this magical foundation covers all my redness and imperfections.

Loreal Infallible 24H Stay Fresh Foundation
£9.99
Pros: Budget friendly.
Cons: Not enough shade range.
Summary: The finish of this is quite nice but I wouldn't say it competes with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. Also the shade range isn't great meaning that this takes a LOT of blending to look match my skin tone. I think for the really fair skin types though this one may be great as the lightest shade is super light! I think I may try it again in the Winter when my (very slight) tan has faded.

Mac Pro Long Wear Nourishing Waterproof Foundation
£25.50
Pros: Waterproof. Great shade range.
Cons: Expensive.
Summary: This one is great but very thick so use only a tiny amount! I wouldn't want to use this on a daily basis because of the price and how much blending is required (once it's dry, it's dry and there is no budging!). But for Summer, holidays and the beach - this would be fantastic!

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
£29.50
Pros: Great shade range. SPF 10 included.
Cons: Expensive. No pump and heavy glass bottle.
Summary: This is very similar to the one above by Mac in that it needs a lot of blending as it dries and then doesn't move! It doesn't claim to be waterproof however I imagine it would stay put pretty well as well. I think I prefer the finish of this one slightly more over the Mac Pro Long Wear but again the blending is just too much work on a daily basis for me. I would use this one for either holidays, special occasions or big nights out as I'm sure it would stay put really well.

Honestly after trying all these I still seem to be going back to Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum. I just love how easy it is to apply and how long lasting it is, with a nice medium coverage. My only issue with this foundation is that the shade is a little too dark for me (even the palest shade). If I have a heavy day I can get shiny but that's where I would just have to touch it up with some blotting paper or powder. For a big day out I would switch to the Nars Sheer Glow as this foundation is just beautiful but it does require a little more blending than the Bourjois foundation.

So really I guess to find a 'perfect' foundation my search is still ongoing. How did you guys get on with these? Do you have any suggestions for me to try?

Thanks for reading!
Jess xox

Summertime Haul

Hi everyone!

This week I'm going back to basics with a little beauty haul for you all (I love doing these! wahoo!).

Now instead of doing monthly hauls I thought it would be nice to show you what goodies that have caught my attention. These products I have bought either on the high street or online over the past couple of months in preparation for Summertime.

So... here is what I've bought:

Loreal Paris Studio Line Hot and Big Hair Spray

Elemis Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm

Revolution Matte Eyeshadow Palette

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Peach Club

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Hot Pepper

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Pink in Paris

Loreal Mega Volume Manga Mascara

Collection Eyebrow Kit in Dark

Bourjois Maxi Delight Bronzer in Number 2

Loreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Mist for Fine Hair

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Lipstick in Peach Passion

I'm excited to try these products out. A few of them were 'researched' before I purchased but others were just complete impulse buys.

It should be interesting to see how I get on with all of these as it's too often I just impulse buy something now.

I will come back with a review soon on how I get on with all of these.

What did you guys treat yourself to for the Summer?

Thanks for reading!
Jess xox

My Current Haircare Routine

Hi again and welcome back to my blog!

This week I thought I would do something a little different and show you everyday haircare routine.

Now I don't use these products every day and in fact I actually wash my hair every 2/3 days as it doesn't need washing too often. I have fine/normal hair and this is the routine that works for me and in fact since I've started using these products my hair has gotten stronger and longer.

First I start with my Label M Honey & Oat Shampoo & Conditioner.  I've mentioned these on my blog before but they really are amazing! Not only do they smell gorgeous (sweet honey/syrup) but they leave my hair fresh, weightless and smelling yummy! I'm sure that switching to this shampoo and conditioner has made a huge difference in the strength of my hair too and allowed it to grow much longer.

Once I've washed my hair I use my beloved Tangle Teaser to get through any knots and straighten out my hair ready to dry or put product in. If you haven't invested in one of these, please do! They are amazing! With soft bristles on the brush it doesn't snag your hair, which means less breakages = healthy hair! Worth. Every. Penny!!

To follow I protect and strengthen my hair with Kerastase Nectar Thermique. Now this stuff is a touch pricy for serum (£17.99) but it is amazing!! You only use a small 20p size amount and run it through the ends of your hair. The heat activates it's power, so use a hairdryer to finish and you're left with soft and manageable hair that looks very healthy (even if you dye your hair!). If you want something to help your dry ends on your hair then look no further. Seriously, I've had this about a year and am almost needing another - I won't use anything else!! LOVE!!

If I feel like styling my hair I use the Tigi S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray. This stuff is fabulous. Now I can't say for sure how much it protects your hair from the heat but I can say I have noticed less split ends after using this. The other plus on this product is the scent, it smells of strawberries!!! I love using it for that reason alone to be honest! My only issue with this product is use sparingly as if you use a little too much it can weigh down your hair and it looks a little greasy (boo!). So yep, if you're after a nice heat protector that smells amazing and does seem to help keep your hair safe from the heat then yep, this is a good one!

Finally if my hair is looking like it needs a little tlc I use my beloved Loreal Elvive Full Restore Hair Mask. I've used many of these pots over the years. Simply add to wet hair and leave in for a few miniutes (I leave it on in the bath) and then wash out. I definitly see a different in my hair after I've used this. It helps it stay strong and feels silkier too. For the price tag of £3.99 it's an absolute bargain too!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my current hair routine. What is your routine, is there anything you would recommend for me to try?

Jess xox

Mini December/January Haul with Reviews

Welcome back beauty lovers!

Now this week I thought I would post up my latest beauty buys. These have I bought over the past two months; some in December and some in January and so I have made it into a dual haul for you.

Label M Honey & Oat Shampoo & Conditioner
I loveeeee this shampoo and conditioner but as it's so pricey I only get it as a treat now and again. First of all the smell... oh my! It's maple syrup on pancakes and all things sweet... I used this while on our holiday to New York too so whenever I use it now it makes me feel ultra glam! Secondly, yes it's also an amazing shampoo and conditioner combo. It always leaves my hair ultra soft, silky and shiny. All round, my favourite shampoo and conditioner... and if I could this is the only shampoo/conditioner I would use!

Loreal Elvive Full Restore Hair Mask
Another hair product for you... this time a hair mask. This mask doesn't smell particularly good, however if my hair needs an extra boost of hydration this is the product I go to. I've had it before and it never lets me down. The plus side is also the price too, only £4.99 for a massive pot!! :)

Maybelline Super Stay 24h Lip Colour in Rose Dust
I bought this as it was recommended to me by a friend, Sandie (thank you!!). I wanted to try another long lasting lip stain/colour and see how it paired up against the Bourjois Velvet's. This one didn't let me down and in fact I think is a little better than the Bourjois (in my opinion). The thing that this lip colour has that the others don't offer is a nice balm to keep your lips moist and as if you've reapplied the whole colour again. It also lasted better on my lips, in fact hours on end and even by the time I was going to bed I was still rocking the colour. I did find I needed to do a small touch up after food but that was it! The only thing I would ask for is more brighter coral shades for Spring time as there didn't seem to be a lot of nude/coral/peachy shades as yet. Great product though and one I can see myself buying over and over.

Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Lip Colour in Happy Nude Year
Now I wanted a slightly brighter shade than the Nudist one I have already. This one is perfect! It's a gorgeous coral/nude shade and adds an extra shazam of colour to your lips. This would be great for Spring/Summer time but honestly I'm using it already as I'm longing for the Summer months now! ;)

Barry M Nail Polish in Ruby Slippers
There isn't a lot I can say about Barry M nail polishes as I've said it so many times before but I love these nail polishes! Always great colours, easy to apply and they stand the test of time! This colour was perfect for the Christmas season and was a little more berry red than Christmas red which was a nice change also.

Models Own Nail Polish in Oval Plum
This nail polish is also easy to apply and long wearing but this shade is just gorgeous! I wanted something a little brighter for the cooler months and thought this was the perfect shade. It's a deep, yet bright purple with small flecks of glitter in it. I have this shade on my toes at the moment and am loving it!! :)

Lush Therapy Massage Bar
This massage bar was actually given to me as a gift but I just had to mention it as it's such a great product. First of all, I love the Lush massage bars anyway - they are great to add moisture to your skin and give your skin a lovely silky feeling after using them. This one however has a something extra special as it smells divine!!  The only way I can explain the smell is a spa... it smells of a spa... luxurious, classy and sophisticated. Just yummy!! This one I will be buying again for sure!

Thanks for reading!
Jess xox

My Skincare Routine

Hi again and thanks for visiting my blog!

This week I have decided to show you my current skincare routine (face only). I'm a big fan of Liz Earle products, so a lot of what I use is Liz Earle however I do use a few others. Anyway, lets get started!

My products on choice are currently...

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish
I love this cleanser, it's rich and moisturising and removes all traces of makeup, even tough waterproof mascaras. It's very gentle so it's good for most skin types. I have normal/combination skin with my t-zone being a little more oily than the rest of my face. I also love that after only a week of using this it left my face feeling silky smooth. I have been using it now for about a year and don't think I will be changing any time soon!

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic (Toner)
This is the toner that comes with the Liz Earle 3 Step Routine. I love the smell of this toner, its light and refreshing. I always feel that if I skip this step my face doesn't quite feel as refreshed as it does when I use it.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser (Normal/Combination)
This moisturiser again comes with the 3 Step Routine, but I don't find it too oily for my skin. In the Summer I find it helps hydrate my skin perfectly and not leaving me with any oily patches, however in the Winter it can make it a little more oily - seems a bit backwards if you ask me! I think this Winter I may switch the lighter moisturiser from Liz Earle and see if this helps.

Liz Earle Daily Eye Repair
I got this little bad boy as a complimentary gift from Liz Earle and although I'm sure long term it helps my eyes its hard to see an instant improvement. I don't think it helps conceal my dark circles, but I do feel it helps hydrate the skin around my eyes. I like this but I don't think I will repurchase as I just like to see more results from my eye cream.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator
This exfoliator is amazing, it's so gentle to my skin and doesn't cause any breakouts after I use it. I tend to exfoliate once a week to help keep my skin smooth and clear. There is a subtle yet warming smell to this too because of the cocoa butter in it. I won't be moving away from this one for some time, defiantly a favourite!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
This I use if I have a breakout. It recommends to use it daily but I'm not usually prone to breakouts and so I use it as and when I have any problem areas. I bought this after seeing Ruth from A Model Recommends saying it was amazing and her go to product. I can't say I would say otherwise, it really does what it says on the tube! It helps clear any breakouts and I feel it just stops them in their tracks and reduces the swelling. If you haven't tried it I would say sign up to their website and you can get a free sample to see what I mean.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask
This face mask from Lush contains blueberries to help soothe your skin and any blemishes. I use it as I find it so refreshing on my skin and it calms down any redness. I use this about once a week as a part of my weekly pamper ;-) You can buy this at any Lush store for £6.49, however as its made from fresh ingredients you need to make sure you use it within 3 weeks of purchase.

Decleor Paris Life Radiance Face Mask
I use this face mask if I'm feeling fancy and want that extra pick me up. It's very expensive but it always leaves my skin glowing as if I've just had a facial. I bought this as a little Christmas treat to myself after having it used on my face at my hen do about 6 months earlier. If you're looking to get yourself something a little special that will make your face glow I would defiantly recommend this. I use this about once a month.. in fact I think it's about time to use it again, whoopy! :-)

L'Oreal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
I use this cleanser if I'm in a rush and don't have time to do my 3 steps with my Liz Earle routine. It is very gentle and you can use it on your eyes as well as the rest of your face. It doesn't have any scent either and in fact I can see why everyone is raving about these 'water' like solutions. For something that feels like water, but removes all makeup and unlike toner doesn't dry out your skin! As you can see I've used quite a bit of this, and I will be buying another soon! At only £2.48 in Superdrug defiantly worth a try and much better for your skin than face wipes!

So that's my current routine, what do you guys use at home? Do you have any recommendations or anything you would like to me to try out and review?

Jess xox

March Haul - Beauty & Otherwise (with Reviews)

Hi there lovelies!

I'm back with yet another haul... I'm sure you've figured by now I love my beauty finds! :)

This month I had a lot of items to buy and what a perfect excuse to show you my goodies and what I think so far.

Soap and Glory, Breakfast Body Scrub
I lovvveee Soap and Glory products (I have a few things from them this month!). This body scrub is amazing, not only is it kind to the skin yet removes those horrible dead skin cells, but it also smells heavenly. This one smells like cookies, sugary naughty cookies... and who doesn't want to smell like baked cookies while having silky, smooth skin?

Soap and Glory, Smoothie Star Body Milk
This is a body moisturiser and is lovely. Although the formula is a little more runny than I'm used to, it moisturises well and of course, smells divine. This scent has got to be my favourite out of all three. It's very sweet smelling, and to me smells like popcorn. I love the fact that the scent calms down when soaked into your skin but you still get a hint of it still on you - perfection for me, but this may not be to everyone's liking.

Soap and Glory, Sugar Crush Body Wash
I started to run low on my Sugar Fairy body wash from Lush and wanted something sweet but refreshing. I haven't used this one yet as waiting to use my Sugar Fairy up, but it smells amazing. It's scent is sharp and fruity yet with a slight sweet touch. I'm looking forward to using this one!

Soap and Glory, Righteous Butter Body Cream
Now this body cream I've been using for some time and I love it's refreshing scent. It's also got a thicker constancy than the milk (as the name would suggest), meaning it's better for very dry skin or to give your skin that extra boost of moisture :)

Loreal Elvive Fibrology Thickening Mask
I love this hair mask - I'd heard good things since it's launch this month (here in the UK) so just knew I wanted to pick it up. Plus Boots were having a 3 for 2 offer, it was just rude if I didn't ;-) This mask is not only great for dry ends, but it also helps your hair feel thicker. This made such an impression that even a good friend of mine noticed and made a comment, without me even saying I'd used anything different! Well worth an investment if you have thinner hair and at £5.09 it's a bargain (currently on sale in Boots at £2.54 too!)

GHD Straighteners (Version 4.2)
I'd sold my GHD's a couple of months ago as I didn't tend to use them but my hair has grown so much in the past few months that now I can see how useful they would be to have (sort out my hair's natural and messy curls at the ends - not cute!). I got these on eBay, but being jet black I thought they looked super sleek. As per usual GHD hasn't let me down - I love, love, love my GHD's! Never again will I betray you!!

NYX Blusher in Pinched
This blusher is a great dupe for Nars' Blusher in Orgasm. It's a gorgeous mix of peach and shimmer, perfect for Spring & Summer makeup looks. I've been using this daily since purchasing. It was also only £6.99, compared to the Nars version RRP £20.25.

Sleek 'Oh So Special' Eyeshadow Pallet
This eyeshadow pallet is stunning, the shades are beautiful romantic shades that are so pigmented  that even using the brushes in the pallet they glide on in one stroke. The only frustration I have is I'm getting a crease in my eyelids when using this eyeshadow. I'm going to try it with another eyeshadow primer and brush and see if this does the trick. At £7.99 a pallet and such a range of gorgeous pallet's they are, defiantly worth a look! :-)

Paper Chase Cupcake Journal with Pens
Now this is my one non-beauty or hair purchase for the haul. I love having a journal and I'm a bit of an an organize freak so when I saw this cute cupcake journal from Paper Chase I knew I couldn't leave without it. It's been a great place to write my thoughts, ideas for blogs as well as memento's from days out.

I hope you enjoyed this haul, let me know what you guys treated yourself to this month also. I would love to hear your recommendations!

Jess xox

February's Beauty Haul with Reviews 2014

Hi everyone,

I just want to say a quick thank you to those of you who are now following my blog! It's very exciting to see that there are some of you who enjoy reading my reviews and updates as much as I enjoy writing them. Anyway, enough touchy feely stuff.. onto my February haul and reviews!

In February I was trying to behave and not buy too much but I did get some exciting new products.

Loreal Paris Skin Perfection, 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution
This stuff is amazing. Now I still use my Liz Earle, but I wanted something that I could use if I'm feeling lazy and don't want to do my usual full routine but on the same token I don't want to use a face wipe. This stuff is so gentle and easy to use, it's like water but shifts all trace of my makeup in just one wipe. If you're looking for something as a quick fix for when you're not feeling yourself than this stuff is perfect.  The bonus is that's it's only £4.99!

Kerastase Nutritive Nectar Thermique
Now this stuff has been a life saver, it's a little pricey but I only use a 20p size blob on my towel dried hair, focusing on the ends. After blow drying my hair the ends are no longer dry and tangled but instead I have what looks like salon, glossy hair. The one downside of the product is the smell, it's a strange mix between melon and mouldy fruit, not the nicest but thankfully this disappears after you dry your hair. I will defiantly be repurchasing this!

TIGI S Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray Heat Defender
I got this as I was running low on my current heat spray and after reading great reviews on this one I thought I would give it a try. On first impressions I wasn't sure of the packaging, for the price tag I think the packaging could be prettier but the results are great. I haven't had any new split ends since using this on my hair with my irons (quite unusual!) & the smell is amazing! It smells of strawberry sundae - almost an excuse to buy it anyway! I think it's safe to say that this one will be replacing the top spot for me on my heat protector - wahooo more mornings with gorgeous strawberry sprays!

Maybelline Anti-Age Instant Eraser
I thought it was time I tried a new concealer and I'd seen this one used on a makeup tutorial and thought it had great results. First things first, packaging - it's simple, small and cute looking, I love the little sponge on the top - it makes applying it so much nicer. I can't say I've noticed any scent in the product either, which I think is a plus, I'm never sure on makeup with scents. I think the results are very good too, but I don't think it will replace my love for the Collection 2000 concealer. I didn't like the fact that also I bought this in Ivory as I have a fair complexion, however this is a tad too dark for my skin tone. I would like to see more colours available for these concealers. All in all, worth a try but I don't think I will be repurchasing this one.

Thanks again for visiting my blog, and I will be posting more soon!
Jess x