Tag: Hair

MY CURRENT FAVOURITE HAIR PRODUCTS

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date October 11, 2019
1 Comment on MY CURRENT FAVOURITE HAIR PRODUCTS

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! Today’s post is all about hair products. I have to admit, up until halfway through university I pretty much ignored the whole haircare thing. Obviously, I washed it regularly and occasionally spritzed it with heat protectant when I remembered. Other than that, I barely knew anything about how to look after it properly and I very rarely invested in new hair products. One afternoon I was doing my usual lap of my local TK Maxx when I realised that they weren’t just selling shampoos and conditioner. There were hundreds of serums, masks, sprays and treatments too! I grabbed a few bits to get me started and since then, I’ve never looked back!

I thought it would be a nice idea to share my current favourite hair products with you! As usual, if you have any suggestions, go ahead and tell me in the comments – I love hearing about your favourites too! I’ve also written a post about some of my favourite face masks – check that out too!

*This post contains gifted products and affiliate links

Herbal Essences – Daily Detox Conditioners

I usually try be as sensible as possible with shampoo and conditioner and go for products that actually work and don’t just smell good . These do both! They smell absolutely incredible and they keep my hair really healthy. The Crimson Orange & Mint conditioner works on making your hair look fuller whilst the Golden Raspberry & Mint conditioner works on giving your hair a deep cleanse. I also use the shampoos in the range too and my hair has never looked or felt better!

Lee Stafford – Cactus Crush MUCHo Moisture Mask*

I love a hair mask but this has got to be one of the best that I’ve tried. The Lee Stafford MUCHo Moisture Mask provides “instant and long lasting hydration to quench hair’s thirst”. I like to curl and straighten my hair a lot which means the ends of my hair can often feel quite dry. This mask has not only helped my split ends but it has made all of my hair look glossy and healthy again! It’s the perfect mask for anyone that wants to give their hair the moisture boost that it needs.

Schwarzkopf – Gliss Shine Tonic

The Schwarzkopf Shine Tonic has been one of my favourite hair products for a couple of years now. It’s basically a spray that adds a shimmering shine to your hair in just one spritz. I like to use it right after I’ve straightened my hair to give it a sleek and shiny finish. It literally completes the look for me. I don’t go anywhere without this stuff! Also, it smells amazing too.

Pantene: Repair and Protect

The Panetene Repair and Protect Dry Oil was something I discovered earlier this year. I’d heard a bit about hair oils before, but I just couldn’t shake the whole greasy strands thing from my mind (thanks but no thanks). That was certainly enough to put me off for a while. However, after I’d done some research, I realised that some oils don’t actually leave any residue. I decided to invest in this little bottle of goodness and I’m so glad I did! I apply three pumps of oil to the middle of my hair down to my roots. It dries without a trace! No stickiness whatsoever! My hair looks so much healthier which is absolutely down to this stuff.

Lee Stafford – Cactus Crush THirsty SPRay

The Lee Stafford THirsty SPRay has been a real saviour for my hair. As I’ve mentioned, I use a lot of heated tools so I’m always looking for products to keep the ends of my hair hydrated. This spray contains cactus, wild lime and kalahari melon oil to give hair a moisture boost and that, it absolutely does! My hair no longer looks dehydrated thanks to this stuff. It made for the perfect holiday companion after my hair had been exposed to a lot of chlorine and sunshine. It’s also really lightweight and can be applied to wet hair – no oiliness. It also smells absolutely flipping delicious. You know those products that you can still smell hours later? This is one of those!

What are your favourite hair products? Let me know in the comments! I’ve put links to all of my social media down below and I’d love it if you would come and say hi!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags BEAUTY, Beauty Blogger, Favourites, Hair, Hair Products, Haircare, Photography, Photos, Review

LIFE LIFESTYLE REVIEWS

GET ORGANISED WITH THE MINKY STYLING DOCK

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date July 6, 2018
14 Comments on GET ORGANISED WITH THE MINKY STYLING DOCK

This product was sent to me in exchange for a review

Hey Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well! I’m counting down the days before I go on holiday and I’m so excited! Are any of you going on holiday this summer? Today, I’m going to be talking about a very cool storage solution that I was kindly sent in exchange for a review and as usual all thoughts are my own! If you’re looking for something to keep your life more organised, keep reading…

This is the Styling Dock by Minky Homecare! It’s the perfect storage solution for anyone that hates tangled wires and derelict hair tools. It’s heat resistant silicone body helps to prevent any accidents, which is super important, particularly if you have any kiddies running around. It’s made up of three storage compartments for hairdryers, tongs, wands and brushes and it includes two storage pots for any small accessories like clips, grips and hair bands! I’m always unsure of what to do with my straighteners or curlers after I’ve turned them off as they’re still extremely hot so it’s really helpful to have something to put them into whilst they cool down. Fun story – at Christmas, I stood on my straighteners and I couldn’t walk properly for a week – AGONY I TELL YOU – so I can’t stress enough how much I love this product (plus how much I need it obviously).

The dock also includes removavle cable reels – perfect for travel and a hook that allows the entire unit to hang from a rail. I love that I can tidy my cables away without having them all over my floor. I’m possibly one of the most clumsy people that I know and I’m always tripping over, so it’s definitely for the best that I’m using this to keep everything out of my way!

CHECK OUT THE STYLING DOCK HERE

This is such a fantastic product. It doesn’t look clunky or ugly and it stores all of my tools in one space. It’s meant that my dressing table is clear and tidy and it’s also made my bedroom floor a much safer place for my feet! I love how versatile it is and how easy it is to adjust to my needs. I use every compartment and I can chop and change what I’m storing, whenever I want to! I really recommend this to anyone that needs to keep their hair tools safely stored and out of the way, it’s a 10/10 from me. How do you store your hair tools? I’ve linked all of my social media below so come and say hi!

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

N xxxx

Tags 2018, BEAUTY, Bedroom, Hair, July, Lifestyle, Organisation, Photography, Photos, Storage, Style, Summer

BEAUTY BIRCHBOX

BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

Post author By Nina Louise
Post date June 15, 2018
4 Comments on BIRCHBOX JUNE 2018: 5TH BIRTHDAY – REVIEW

This post contains affiliate links

Hey Everyone,

June is flying by and that means another Birchbox review is coming your way! I’m enjoying the freedom from exams now and I feel much more like myself again. I keep catching myself watching TV or lying on the sofa and suddenly panicking, thinking I should be doing revision instead! I get my results in a couple of weeks so I just want time to move a little faster so I can find out and put those horrible exams behind me. Does anyone else feel like the exams aren’t quite over until the results are in? Anyway, below I’ll include some info all about Birchbox, who they are and that they do, so if you just want to see the review – keep scrolling!

Birchbox is a UK beauty subscription service that sends beauty boxes to their subscribers containing 5 goodies every month. You don’t have to worry about lifelong commitments or any contracts, you can cancel anytime with a monthly subscription – no fuss whatsoever! The monthly subscription costs only £10 per month! You can edit your beauty profile on their site in order to ensure you get sent products that are suitable for your skin/hair type and personal preferences. Birchbox is so great for discovering new brands and products. I have been subscribed to Birchbox for over a year now and I look forward to receiving their boxes every month. I’ve gone on to buy lots of the things I’ve received because I have loved them so much. Every box you receive is beautifully packaged, some months are designed and inspired by artists and companies. I use some of the older boxes to store makeup in too as the designs are too pretty to throw away!

CLICK HERE TO READ MY MAY BIRCHBOX REVIEW!

*RRPs correspond to full-size items in the Birchbox shop!

You may have noticed, June’s box came in a tin. I’m so used to our cute little drawer-like boxes that this came as a bit of a surprise when I first saw it but I actually quite like it. I’ve already got it displayed on a shelf in my room because it’s just so cute! It reminds me of the biscuit tins I would find in my Grandma’s kitchen if you know what I mean?!

This box is all about Birchbox’s 5th birthday! I love the British tea party vibes, perfect for some summer evening shindig inspiration. As usual there’s a great variety of productsincluded in this box (there’s actually 6 this month). We have some makeup, haircare and even tea bags!

Ella Eden – Compact Eyeshadow “Julia” – £12.99

I am a sucker for a shimmer shadow so I was super excited to receive this! As usual, we were offered a choice between two products and in this case it was between the shades “Faith” or “Julia”. I usually wear something light and shimmery on my lid so I chose the shade “Julia” just because I can see myelf wearing this a lot! It’s so easy to apply and it’s extremely pigmented which means it hardly takes any effort at all. Not only is the colour-pay-off incredible but it’s also really long-lasting and stays put all day. I’ve been applying it with a wet brush and it’s just mindblowingly sparkly as a result. It’s also cruelty-free!

CHECK OUT THE EYESHADOW HERE

Benefit – POREfessional Pearl Primer – £27.50

Right so let’s get it out in the open, I’m not sure about this primer. It’s not that it doesn’t work or that it isn’t a good, product but the price is just far too much for me. I have found drugstore primers do just as well if not better so I just can’t justify spending that much. However, receiving it as a sample was a lovely treat! It’s pretty much the same as the original POREfessional primer, except it contains pink pigment to brighten the skin. I’m all for a dewy look so I’m totally down for this primer however the price is a real put off for me. If you’re looking for a dupe, check out the Natural Collection Hydrating and Radiance Primer (it costs £2.99 plus you get more product so you can’t go wrong really).

CHECK OUT THE POREFESSIONAL PEARL PRIMER HERE

Number 4 – Jour d’automme Smoothing Balm – £24.50

You know that episode of Friends where Monica’s hair goes absolutely nuts due to the heat? Well, that’s usually me in summer so this product was a winner in my eyes before I’d even tried it! This balm targets frizz by restoring softness and by protecting against humidity and heat damage. It’s like my dream hair mask! It works a treat during the warmer and muggy weather – speaking of muggy is anyone else finding Love Island really dull this year?! I’ve been watching the Australian one (traitor I know) and it’s actually really good! Anyway, I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a frizz free summer!

CHECK OUT THE SMOOTHING BALM HERE

Polaar – Velvety Sun Fluid Face & Body – £25

I think I’ve always used the highest factor of suncream possible on holiday because there ain’t no way this girl is gonna burn thank you very much (I also want to take care of my skin). Seeing as this sunscreen is pretty high at 30, I’m definitely willing to give it a shot – probably on the really hot days we have here in the UK (if we ever get any again). It offers high UVA and UVB protection, it fights sunburn and premature ageing as well as being super moisturising for the skin which is exactly what you want when you’re spending a day in the sun. It was definitely a good idea to include this in the June box as I’m sure lots of people are getting ready to go on holiday and will need some sunscreen in their travel bag!

CHECK OUT THE SUN FLUID HERE

Amika – Bombshell Blowout Spray – £14.99

I already absolutely love Amika and their products as they smell freaking AMAZING and the packaging is gorgeous to (plus they actually work of course). This spray works on damp and dry hair and BOOM you’ve got yourself some volume as well as heat protection, which I definitely need! It’s so lightweight and easy to apply that it’s super easy to add it into your usual routine. I won’t even attempt to describe how good this smells but all I can say is that it’s extremely good!

CHECK OUT THE SPRAY HERE

Whittard of Chelsea – Teabags

This month we were treated to these lovely goodies from Whittard of Chelsea! I am a tea drinker through and through and I probably spend hours every week just sitting and sipping so there are perfect for me! The three flavours included are; Earl Grey, Mango & Bergamot and Lemon & Ginger. I’m actually a lover of Earl Grey and I’ve been drinking it since I was little, I just find it helps me relax and it makes me feel all cosy and chilled out. I love fruity teas during summer too so I’m really looking forward to trying these!

CHECK OUT THE TEA HERE

I was really happy with this month’s box and I reckon I’ll be using all of these products within a couple of weeks. I would have liked to see some more skincare in this box but then again we can’t have everything every month so I’m not too fussed. However, I do love that they included another gift in this box and switched things up a little to celebrate! I’ll definitely be keeping the gorgeous little tin and I think I’ll fill it with my polaroids from summer. What do you think of this box? Would you be happy with it? Let me know your thoughts in the comments as usual, I love to hear from you! I’ve linked all my social media below so come and say hi!

N xxxx

CHECK OUT LAST MONTH’S BIRCHBOX REVIEW

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

*RRPs correspond to full-size items at birchbox.co.uk/shop

Tags 2018, BEAUTY, BIRCHBOX, blogger, Cosmetics, Hair, Holiday, June, Makeup, Photography, Photos, Review, Skincare, Summer, Tea

LIFE

MY FAVOURITE WOMEN IN TV*

Hey guys,

Seeing as it was International Women’s Day last week, I thought it was more than fitting to write a female focused post! It’s on International Women’s Day that I’m reminded that I don’t have to settle for the catcalling, pressure or any form of sexism – nor do I have to keep quiet about it! It was so amazing to hear so many men and women promoting and discussing equality. I found myself inspired by so many strong women speaking out and sharing their successes and I thought it was only right that I discuss some women that I love on my tv screen!

*Paid AD

As an absolute Netflix junkie, I thought it would be fun to talk about the iconic female characters in TV that I love the most and how they have inspired me – whether that’s in terms of my attitude or even my wardrobe. Today’s post is in collaboration with Panasonic and I feel that TV and all that it has to offer, is a much more enjoyable experience if you have a great screen to watch it on. Currently, we have two Panasonic TVs at home. We’ve always had Panasonic TVs as we’ve found them to be the most reliable and also have great picture quality!

Don’t forget to check out the amazing HD televisions Panasonic have to offer*

BLAIR WALDORF

Image Source: The CW

Yes, I’m kicking it off with Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf and yes, I’m that predictable. I couldn’t not mention this incredible woman, I just LOVE her. Blair is portrayed by the gorgeous Leighton Meester and is definitely one of the biggest characters in the entire franchise. She’s pretty much every “it” girl in every American movie but ten times better. Blair strives to be the best at everything she attempts and any less than this is simply unacceptable (I kind of like this attitude) and she will ruin anyone that threatens her success. She’s bitchy, snobbish and extremely difficult and she may sound like your worst nightmare, she’s certainly mine, however I’ve completely fallen in love with her and she quickly became my favourite character in the series. Her socio-economic status is normally top of her priorities however she can show a softer side every now and again when it comes to her close friends and family. Blair’s attitude is perhaps not always too inspiring but her fashion sense definitely is. She always wears the most amazing outfits, both preppy and luxurious and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her looking rough (this is most likely down to how unfairly beautiful Leighton is). Leighton claimed she was asked to be “bitchy and nice, ugly and pretty, young and old, stupid and smart, innocent and slutty, blonde and brunette” so she had quite the task on her hands. Blair is a cocktail of all of those things and I reckon you’ll love her if you haven’t come across her yet!

NANCY WHEELER

Image Source: Netlix

Portrayed by Natalie Dyer, Nancy Wheeler has to be one of my favourite female characters in Stranger Things. She’s so determined and she’s so oblivious to her own beauty that she’s just such a loveable character. Natalie is absolutely stunning too – if you’ve seen season 2, you’ll know the jaw dropping moment that is her entrance to the Winter dance (second image). She wore a gorgeous crimson plaid dress and her hair was styled into a messy up-do. I love the 80’s vibes that Stranger Things oozes but particularly in the wardrobe department. I love all of the bright and vibrant colours as well as the hairstyles (not so sure about the mullets though) and I particularly love Nancy’s style. Her outfits are always so cute and preppy, I wish I could pull some of them off.

HANNAH BAKER

Image Source: Netflix

I really enjoyed watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. It sparked a much needed conversation globally, about bullying and suicide and I think that’s why so many people enjoyed it. Although the plot is very upsetting and at times difficult to watch, it’s honest and it’s raw and I like that. My favourite character has to be Hannah Baker who is played by the fabulous Katherine Langford. Hannah is a high school student who is struggling to cope with how difficult school has become for her. She’s such a witty, quirky and gorgeous girl, yet she is treated so terribly by so many. Her story is not only incredibly powerful but it’s also telling the story of so many other students across the world that are struggling too. I can relate in so many ways to Hannah’s story, especially when it comes to school but most of all I admire how she stays true to herself and she doesn’t change for anyone. 13 Reasons Why is an incredible series so if you haven’t seen it already, you need to!

CHERYL BLOSSOM

Image Source: Netflix

Cheryl Blossom, played by the goddess that is Madelaine Petsch is one of the main female characters in the Netflix series Riverdale. I love this girl. She owns every scene that she’s in and she could probably run the whole series on her own to be honest. She can be manipulative, rude, nasty and selfish and she can also be sympathetic, loyal and hilarious. Cheryl is practically swimming in years of family secrets and wealth and she’s extremely proud of this. Her lifestyle is super dramatic and extravagant and she’s always extremely entertaining to watch. She’s just too attractive and fun to hate! She wears the most amazing outfits and seems to look good in everything. Red is definitely her colour.

SISTER JUDE

Image Credit: Netflix

Portrayed by Jessica Lange, Sister Jude is the one of the lead female characters in the second season of American Horror Story. I think the reason I love this character so much is because I love Jessica Lange, and this character just shows how versatile she is as an actress. Sister Jude runs a mental asylum (Briarcliff) based on her belief that “mental illness is just the fashionable explanation for sin” so as you can imagine she’s not the nicest of people. However, episode by episode, she grew on me and I begun to wait for the scenes that she featured in. Although she’s extremely stern with the patients she can occasionally show a glimpse of compassion for some of the characters. My favourite scene is 100% the where Sister Jude and the patients sing the name game (look for it on Youtube, you won’t regret it).

I hope that you guys enjoyed this post and that you enjoyed celebrating International Women’s Day, no matter who you are! I would love to know what you think of my choices but also what your favourite characters in TV are! Let me know in the comments!

N xxxx

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

Tags FASHION, Feminism, Gossipgirl, Hair, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Makeup, Netflix, Riverdale, Strangerthings, TV, Women