Batiste Dry Shampoo...

Okay so i know this is absolutely raved about online but i'm going to give my take on my favorite dry shampoo as well as my favourite scent from the line. This is the Batiste dry shampoo in Tropical.

I'll talk about the scent first because the texture and effectiveness is all over the internet so i see little point in going into it in too much detail. I know Batiste do so many scents now, there is literally a scent for everyone's tastes now. This one is super coconutty and fresh which is always good and it is really something that i don't mind putting in my hair in terms of scent because at the end of the day you don't want to be putting something in your hair that smells awful because it does last all day and you will get sniffs of it here and there throughout the day. Before all the different flavours came out, i  ended up spending half my time trying to cover up the distinctive smell of dry shampoo with anything else that smelt of anything other then the smell of in essence, dirty hair. So these different scents have been a god send for me as there is so many scents there is no distinctive dry shampoo smell anymore that is recognisable and i think it's such a good way of making your hair last between washes.  But when you do dye your hair, like me, and it does tend to get super dry the more you wash it, there has to be a balance between the amount you wash it in order to keep it looking and feeling somewhat healthy.

So in between washes, two to three day old hair can still be worn up or even down with a dowsing of this stuff. It really does what it says in the tin and really is oil absorbing and makes your hair look and feel fresher. I'm not sure whether i particularly like the feeling of it in my hair but then i'm very fussy about anything in my hair, i don't even like heat styling it because i can't put up with the slightest change in texture so i'm not really a fair judge of the feeling. However, i can tell you that it's not too heavy. It doesn't feel drying or uncomfortable and it definitely adds some body and volume to your hair so i even spritz a little of this in my hair when it's clean to give it a little extra volume if it's looking a bit drab. For me, it does many things rather then just the bog standard dry shampoo.

I can see one thing about this however that some people won't be a fan of. And that is the powdery residue that you are left with afterwards. For people with medium to dark hair, this could be a problem as it leaves a very visible white powder that needs blending in properly to the rest of your hair. It is worth noting however that there is one for brunettes that i haven't tried which is supposed to be a different colour residue which could make an improvement if this is an issue for you. However for blondes of even light brown haired people, it's easily blended in and for bleach blondes it even hides roots to some degree.

I really love this dry shampoo and this is my favourite for refreshes in between washes and for adding volume and body without it feeling gross in my hair. It also brushes out super easily and doesn't feel sticky or horrible in the hair which is perfect for me. These are all super cheap and i have them in literally all the sizes in the tropical scent and i use them for on the go and at my boyfriends and at home and everywhere i can't be without them.  Have a try sometime and see if you can find a flavour you love, if you do let me know if there is anything you think i should try as i'm thinking of getting a different fragrance next time.

Thanks Guys x

Madame Tussauds...

During our recent adventure to London to see Ed Sheeran play live in Wembley (IT WAS AMAZING) , we had a bit of time the day after to have a little wander round London and we thought why not head over to Baker Street and go to Madame Tussauds. Now we went on a Saturday and it surprisingly wasn't too crazily busy, like don't get me wrong the queue to get in was a bit mad but we had pre-booked tickets and only had to wait five minutes to get in actually. They were really sound about storing our little suitcases too and it was super cheap and actually we managed to leave them there for most of the day which was nice that we didn't have to carry them around.  

We pre-booked tickets like i said, which was not only cheaper but was so so so much quicker to get in and much less waiting time so if you're thinking about going i'd recommend booking online in advance to save yourself a hell of a lot of time and money. When we eventually got in, we walked straight into perhaps the busiest bit of the whole visit which was the initial room with all the actors and TV personalities in set out like a party. Although this was sort of busy, it wasn't to the point where it was impossible to see anything so it was manageable. We got all the photos we wanted and what was really excellent was that you were able to spend as much time with figures as you want and your able to touch and pose with the figures to your hearts desire which really enriches the experience rather then just wandering round taking photos from afar. 

The figures themselves were just incredible, truly amazing. They all looked scarily realistic and were so perfectly made you couldn't even begin to imagine how much time and effort had gone into making them. And there was something for everyone, it wasn't just all really up to date modern celebrities, there was everything from Bollywood to Royals through the ages to politicians to musicians which really made it a good family day out.

I also think that there was enough to see for your money. Like it took a good couple of hours to get round but that wasn't super tiring or draining or anything, honestly there was so much to do, even to a 4D cinema experience which was incredible, the Pride of London ride which was really cool, a exhibit on how the figures are made and then there was the Chamber of Horrors. 
The Chamber of Horrors is where the models of criminals and 'bad guys' throughout history were displayed  and when you first go in, you are told to either get in the 'Scary lane' or the 'Not so scary lane'. Me being a wuss just went straight through the not so scary part and although my friends were willing to go in, the queue put them off so we all decided to just skip it. However, when i came to the other side i'm very glad i did, there were people coming out in floods of tears and even the tiny part i saw was enough to freak me out so it really wasn't for me. But i know that people do rave about it and it really is an experience if that floats your boat. So, if you're a thrill seeker or love shocks and surprises of people jumping out at you and dark and scary stuff, i'm sure you'll really enjoy it.

At the end of the whole journey, there was a gift shop which strangely was not massively expensive and as a result i picked up a teddy bear (Yes i am 17 shush) and off we went. It really was a really excellent day out and i feel like i haven't quite got the point across of how much i loved it but seriously it was a real highlight of trips and places i've been over the years. If your in the area and have a few hours to kill i'd completely suggest you have a trip round because i'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I'll insert some pictures from the day if anyone is interested.
Thanks Guys x

SuperCat....

This is a post about my all time, go-to, go-back-to, repurchased, tried, tested, absolute favorite eyeliner. Honestly i cannot go on more about this,it's just my perfect eyeliner and i've tried so so many and nothing has ever lived up in my expectations and results as this.

I had heard mixed reviews on this eyeliner before now and i have had about five lots of this now and i might have just been lucky but i have never had one dry up quickly or that has lost its pigment or any of these usual complaints that people have with eyeliners. It automatically wont be for everyone because from the off, it's a felt tip pen style liner. The pen is also reasonably thick too, and i don't mean, for me anyway, too thick. I've been able to achieve very thin dainty lines with the pen as well as been able to build it up to a much thicker line also. But then i've known someone that is an utter whizz at makeup be completely unimpressed with the thickness and having to buy another liner for thinner lines. I guess it is just totally down to personal preference and what one person may love, another person may hate. It's really not clean cut, even if i love it, you might not.

But, for me, i really really love this liner. I find it really easy to control in the 'felt tip' sort of format to start with but the nib on this is neither too long or too short or too stiff or too flexible. Much like the three bears, this eyeliner is just right on all those accounts, for me at least. When a new one is bought, it's super smooth and doesn't drag in the slightest and this lasts for such a long time without drying up and dragging, i cannot complain about buying a new one. As someone who does wear eyeliner every single day without fail, an eyeliner that dries up really quickly just doesn't make the cut. But with this one, it can last months and months and still work beautifully which is just such a huge tick in favour for this product. 

Another great feature is that unlike many other liners with the felt tip that i've tried, the nib has never split or bent or become too soft at the very tip which, those of you who are regular liner wearers will know, is a massive massive pain as it deems a eyeliner totally wasted. And it's not even like you can replace the felt tip or use a brush instead which of course, is a massive let down with many products. But like i said, i've never known this to succumb to this and i always end up throwing mine away only if they are literally dried out or totally empty. 

Okay, this liner is not the cheapest on the market but compared to the others, it's totally worth the money. Not long ago i decided to branch out and try a Rimmel eyeliner that i used to love- and which was a bit cheaper, but it really disappointed me as i was so used to the SuperCat. Soap and Glory isn't a brand i've tried a lot from, but what i have tried i've been generally pretty impressed with and i definitely want to try some more products. 

As a side note, i genuinely went back to my old pretty much dried out SuperCat instead of the new Rimmel one, i missed it so much. Yeah i'm that obsessed. 
So if your into the same sort of liner as me, with the felt tip, i'd definitely, without a shadow of a doubt have a try with one of these. Soap and Glory is available in Boots and this liner seems pretty popular as it always seems to be on the stand even if it's a pretty small display. I believe it's about £6 and there is an offer on at Boots at the moment, at least online where Soap and Glory is 3 for 2, so it might be the time to have a try. 
Thanks for reading guys, i really appreciate it and i'm trying to keep a steady flow of posts at the moment as my summer is just about to start and i can genuinely say i'm enjoying blogging more then ever at the moment, so hopefully my content will reflect this.

Jo x 

Go-to perfume.....

I'm not really one for perfumes, I just don't really have the money to spend on something that just smells nice.  I normally just rely on presents and ask for the ones I really want for my birthday and Christmas presents. 

This one was no different. My sister bought this for me a couple of years ago and I was really happy with it when I first opened it. My friend had the green one and I knew I loved that one, so when I opened the red one I was really happy that I loved it even more then the green. 

It fast became my everyday staple and I chose this one over any other I had. 

The smell itself isn't super sweet, but it is fresh and as the bottle suggests without a doubt smells like apples. 

It's not that expensive (she says) as perfumes go and I can make a perfume last a really long time and this one is quite potent so once it's on, it's the sort of lipstick that lasts on your clothes and skin and you can smell it next time you put that jumper on. 

Soooo, what I'm saying is, there is no need to rush out and buy this but I'd defiantly recommend a sniff if you spot it in Boots sometime, it is usually on offer as well which is always a bonus. 

The perfume is called 'Red Delicious' by DKNY and I've seen it in pretty much every boots I've been in so its really readily available. I also know there are so many variations on this specific type of perfume but this is my definite favourite but i really love this line for its variety as it kind of means that to some degree there is something for everyone which is always a bonus. From Boots it is available for £45 for 50ml  but i know for a fact that a quick google shows it for much better prices so my advice is definitely to shop around a little and see what you can get because you can get really good deals on pretty much anything if you check online first if you do decide to buy.

Thanks Guys x   

My Mask of Choice....

Sorry for the failed weekly blog posts at the moment. But my excuse is that, following the phone chaos last week where i had to send it off and couldn't post from it (obviously) i FINALLY got it back and it works a treat. But then my absolutely fabulous luck continued and within days the motherboard in my laptop gave up the ghost, so back i am again to relying on one or the other again. And with a HUGE post i was halfway through typing, i was not down with typing that on my phone. So here is a little interim post to keep my blog alive whilst i get my new laptop (ITS ON ITS WAY WOO)!!!

I digress, back to the actual post. Everyone likes a good face mask right? One that actually does something. And with so many duds on the market, not many do enough for me to 1. want to pay for them and most are stupid amounts of money nowadays or 2. to put up with the messy sticky residue mask that just seems to go EVERYWHERE once your done with it as they always undoubtedly do.

But this is one i actually enjoy enough and feel is effective enough to justify the negatives involved in face masks. The Mask of Magnaminty is kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. I'm not hugely interested in Lush products and it goes, although my friends and boyfriend would probably tell you otherwise. Yes, i enjoy a decent look around and a good sniff of some of the products but when i go in, i don't know what it is, but nothing really catches my eye specifically. Some things smell nice but I'm not keen on the actual product type, like the solid shampoos are a novelty but they're a little too fussy for everyday use in my opinion, not even considering the price. And then when i talk to the consultants in the shops, they always show me these amazing products that I'd love to try but are so out of my budget, i would never be able to justify it on a skincare product that no doubt i have something that i love at home that doesn't need replacing especially as the price difference is always so astronomically different.

But when one of my favourite budget beauty bloggers gave a raving review of this mask aimed at people of my skin type, i decided it was worth a shot and i invested in a small pot, and now I'm onto my third. 

The mask itself is supposed to fight breakouts and 'return skin to tip top condition' and i can defiantly back this up. Any  time I've had a particularly bad time with my skin, I've stuck a layer of this on whilst in the bath, left it for ten minutes or so and wiped it off with a flannel. It's tingly on the breakout area, which obviously won't be for everyone, but i must admit i do like it as to me it feels like something is working. And i genuinely think it does. Once I've wiped it off and rinsed my face properly, my skin feels super soft and clean, there is no greasy or sticky residue that i find with some face products which irritates me something chronic as i can't stand the feeling of something greasy sitting on my skin and not absorbing properly, so that is a massive bonus for me. My skin feels softer, meaning there is bound to be some form of  moisturizing agent, reflecting the claim to return skin to good condition and as someone who has dry skin, I'll take any moisture i can get. Plus, most products that are made to reduce spots and breakouts tend to be really drying so something like this is really handy as I'd rather my skin didn't get any dryer if i can help it.
It's also really easy to wipe off, it doesn't 'set' or go thick and gloopy on the skin which makes it difficult to wipe off afterwards. This mask is easy to apply, comfortable to wear and then easy to remove, all big ticks in my book.

Okay, so it's not pretty on but who seriously wears a face mask to nip to the shops in. Let's be fair many aren't the nicest looking.  The mask itself is green and lumpy, not the most appealing sort of look but the liquidy bit (you know what i mean) is actually really smooth so it feels great to apply. The texture is kind of gross to look at and to me it has an incredible likeness to guacamole. How lovely. But it makes me feel like its all natural ingredients which of course is their claim at the end of the day, so i can deal with it. But if the appearance is a big deal to you, which sounds mad but i can understand why, then maybe think twice about this.

Positive however, is the smell. As the name suggests, it does smell of mint. Reminds me of toothpaste if truth be told but as someone who chews gum all the time, this actually reminds me of cleanliness somewhat. But again, if you have a burning hate of mint, steer clear. 

Something i know a lot of people worry about with Lush products is the longevity as, because of the naturalness of the product, they do have a use by date. But as i understand, this mask used to have to be kept in a cool fridge to keep it fresh, and this is no longer the case and the mask lasts around 4-5 months in it's little pot if kept out of the sun as it instructs that the product is 'Self-preserving' which is always a bonus. Who really remembers to take their face mask out of the fridge before their bath? It defiantly would not be me.That being said, I'd still not recommend getting the big pot which is priced at £9.75 unless you are planning on really going to town on the face masks. I wear glasses so i find it a bit of a chore to do a face mask outside of bathtime, and as the frequency of me having the time to have baths over showers is getting shorter and shorter, i would not get through a full large tub in the time period before it goes off and for £5.50 you can get a smaller tub which allows for a quite a number of face masks, I've only completely gotten through one once before the best before date so for me, these are the best value for money when minimizing wasted product and getting my value for money.

Overall, this is without a doubt my favourite mask to use  for my skin. I might find one that is more suited, but this is truly the best I've found and for the price i really can't complain for the quality. I'd defiantly recommend giving it a shot sometime and if i had to pick one product to recommend from Lush it'd always be this.

Thanks for reading guys and if anyone has any questions or want me to talk about any specific favourite category, let me know! 

Jo :)x