Moroccan Oil

I have found a gem of a product here. A few years ago back in 2010/11 whilst I was studying hairdressing I went to Salon International in London.  Moroccan Oil was there and they gave out a goodie bag with a sample size of this. At the time I just put it to one side and never got round to trying it until recently (It wasn't out of date surprisingly and had a long expiration date.)

I have been missing out big time here! I wish I had used it sooner and as soon as I finished it I had to buy the full size product.

Moroccan Oil is 'A unique formula rich in antioxidant argan oil that instantly absorbs into hair to immediately enhance manageability, shine and deliver long term conditioning without leaving residue.' It also 'de tangles and 'speeds up drying'. It is alcohol free.

What made me decide to use this was that the ends of my hair still go quite dry and frizzy from the time I ombre'd it, so I wanted to put something on it to help and this was all I had really.

To use you only need a small amount, a little does go a long way, my miniature bottle lasted me ages and so this big one is going to last me forever too. Then apply it to damp or dry hair.

I apply this to my hair when its damp and it has improved my hair so much! It doesn't frizz when I use this, the condition just feels amazingly better and now if I don't use it I can tell the difference.  My hair is a lot softer and feels stronger. It doesn't make your hair greasy and absorbs so well. I can't really say I have noticed my hair speed up in drying but my hair is so thick that it will always take a long time. It does help with tangles too.

I bought this from Zest Beauty for £31.85 , I know this sounds expensive for a hair product but for all that it does plus how long it lasts, it really is worth it. I do recommend to give this a try!

Emma

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Alexander McQueen's Most Ground breaking shows

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Hi everyone! I hope you are all well, I am so excited for Christmas, it's so close now :)

I have been sent this illustration of Alexander McQueen's most ground breaking shows from Farfetch. This was sent to me as the V&A exhibition: Savage Beauty is coming up in London. The V&A exhibition: Savage Beauty is going to be 'the first and largest retrospective of McQueen's work to be presented in Europe'.

I love Alexander McQueen's work and this illustration is beautiful. I can't even decide which show I like the most!  Alexander McQueen had amazing runway shows and this event looks very exciting.

Emma

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P.s I have recently reviewed a top over at Thesedetails.com , go check it out and give it a vote :)

Sleek Make up Brow Kit

I have found my new favourite brow product and it isn't expensive too! At £8.99 from Boots (Sleek products are also available at Superdrug) The Sleek Make-up Brow Kit is amazing! It comes in 4 shades 'Light, Dark, Extra Dark and Black'. I have very dark brows and I use 818 Dark which is a great match.

Before this I use to use my Naked Palette to fill in my brows which worked fine but I wanted to try something new, I love Smashbox Brow Tech but I didn't want to pay out too much, so this really suited me.

The Sleek Make-up Brow Kit comes with a brow wax and setting powder plus tweezers, angle brush and setting brush. On the Boots website it has a step guide on how to use it:

'Step One:

Using the tweezers enclosed, clean up any stray hairs.

Step Two:

Apply the shaping wax with the angled brush following the natural shape of your brow to define the brows’ shape, pressing gently as you go to ensure you do not get hard lines, blending as you go.

Step Three:

Using the setting powder, apply using the same angled brush, filling in any sparse areas, blending the wax as you go to achieve picture perfect brows.'

When I use this I have to admit I don't really use the powder not because it isn't good but I just favour the wax as I prefer the look it gives and I apply it using the angled brush. I love that it comes with an angled brush because I don't know about you but I really struggle to find angle brushes! It stays brilliantly and is just as good as the Smashbox Brow Tech in my opinion but half the price! It is everything I need in a brow product!

Have any great Brow product recommendations?

Emma

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Ariane Poole Cosmetics Website Relaunch

*Ariane Poole Cosmetics have relaunched their website at http://arianepoole.co.uk . Ariane Poole is an international make up artist with over 25 years experience. Ariane has worked with many celebs, models and royalty! Her philosophy on make up is that 'you should notice the woman not the make-up' - I love this. These cosmetics have been created to be quick and easy to use and fashionable. The Concealer Palette has been voted best product by She magazine and Ariane Poole Cosmetics were the first to launch a liquid mineral tint foundation in 2004.

There are many exciting things happening with Ariane Poole Cosmetics at the moment such as they are rebranding and repackaging products, Crystal Taupe is coming back and they are launching Christmas packages which at the moment, a free make up bag comes with the Christmas packages over £50.00.

I had a visit on the website which is very easy to use and navigate. There is a page which talks about the brand and also Ariane's Story. I love that her story is on the website as I love reading people's stories to how they have made it where they are today. There is an ask Ariane coming soon and you can book classes too. All the products look great and there are some really nice gorgeous colours. By visiting the website it's made me want to buy and try everything!

Take a look at Ariane Poole Cosmetics and at the moment there is free shipping! Yay!  Also one more thing is that shortly they will be  announcing a Free entry Selfie promotion with a £250 worth of Ariane Poole* makeup. All the lucky winner will have to do is share their promotion link on Facebook and upload a Selfie (later this week).

Enjoy!

Emma

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Detoxifying Dead Sea Mud Face Mask

I love winter but it's at this time of year when my skin is at it's worst, so to help it out I bought myself a face mask from Superdrug. Ideally I wanted to try an Origins one but they are quite expensive! So I bought the Dead Sea Mud one as I have previously used a Superdrug face mask before and really liked it and they are so cheap too at £2.59. 

Superdrug do two other face masks as well the Dead Sea Mud one for the same price. These are the Aloe Vera Mud Mask and Cucumber Peel Off Mask but I chose the Dead Sea one as this gives a 'smooth, invigorated complexion'.

The Mud mask contains ' Ultra-purifying Dead Sea Mud, which effectively unclogs pores and draws out dirt, oil and impurities, leaving skin feeling soft and revitalised.'

I apply this once or twice a week even though it does suggest to use 2-3 days and leave on for 10-15 minutes. It's a dark grey colour and it has a nice perfume scent to it and I'm not very good at describing scents but it does kind of remind me of the smell of the beach.

I once again am impressed by the Superdrug face mask, it leaves my skin so so so soft and smooth and does take away the oiliness. My skin feels really refreshed afterwards and my skin looks great. One of the things I love about Superdrug is that they are against animal testing! This product is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

If you want to try a cheap face mask, try and pick this up! Can you suggest any other good face masks?

Emma

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Rimmel London Apocalips - 304 Eclipse

The Rimmel London Apocalips is a lip lacquer which is £6.49 from  Boots. 

'The earth-shattering lip lacquer from Rimmel London combining the intense colour of lipstick with a lacquer like shine, Apocalips Lip Lacquer is an explosive make-up phenomenon that represents the end of colour as you know it. Packed with pure colour pigments, its lusciously creamy, conditioning formula promises a never-before combination of colour, shine and comfort that last and last. Available in 8 shades, from subtly sexy to spectacular.'

I bought this as I read a good review on it on someones blog (I'm really sorry but I can't remember whose it was! Slap on the wrist for me!) I love lip products and I always have to have a bit of colour added to my lips otherwise I think I look odd lol. At £6.49 I think this is a great price and so I bought the shade Eclipse, this is a dark berry colour.

I do like this apocalips, it has a great doefoot applicator and the colour is the best thing about this product. It is very pigmented which I love and a little is all you need. It has a nice shine and lasts too. The one thing im not so keen on is the smell. It has to me that cheap lipgloss smell that you use to get in magazines, remember those? I also find that you have to make sure you apply this very neatly and precise because it can look messy very easily!

I probably do prefer other lip makes like Revlon to this but this is still also great because I like the shades available.

Have you tried these?

Emma

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Farfetch - Important Figures in Fashion A-Z

I have been sent this amazing infographic by the wonderful people at *Farfetch. Farfetch is ' a global community of over 300 visionary fashion boutiques offering an inspirational shopping experience to fashion-forward consumers. '

This is an A-Z of some of the most important figures in the Fashion industry. As you can see it shows the fashion figure, a famous quote and also the year they was born and country. I absolutely love how this looks, so pretty! 

I think this is a great way to learn about these important fashion figures and I hope you enjoy!

Who is your favourite?

Emma

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Find Similar

Don’t you just hate it when you find an outfit you really like but can’t find where it is from?

Technology has a big impact now days and it’s having a big impact in the fashion world!  I was recently told about a company called Cortexica who have created a software called *FindSimilar. The software FindSimilar is an image recognition software this software  is sold to retailers and app builders.  So what does this mean to us? Well…

The FindSimilar software has recently launched with US app Style Thief (the software will be shortly coming to the UK!) and here is the exciting stuff, say you find an outfit you like from a magazine or see someone’s outfit you like in the street if you take a photo and upload it on the app it will  show these items or similar items to you and where you can buy them from!

 It gives a range of similar items based on things such as colour and shape (which no other image recognition software companies have been able to add the shape algorithm) and broadens the choices for you and gives you high street alternatives too. You’re then able to purchase straight away in a few clicks!

The Style Thief app is free and can be downloaded here. I gave this app a try (even though it’s US) and thanks to this it will save so much time searching! I prefer online shopping  and so this app was right up my street, anything made quick and simple I am there! By not having to search by word it helps get more accurate result.  Plus I love that I can find similar products and they don’t have the hefty price tag.   

Here is my search on Jourdan Dunn dressed in a green Ermanno  Scervino.

I can't wait until this is launched in the UK! All those Instagram photos of outfits I like will be used on this!

Emma

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Whats On My Face - Updated

As it's coming more into Autumn I have changed up the make up I use. First off I am not longer wearing BB cream and have gone back to foundation, I have to admit I have missed the nice coverage foundation gives! I am using two foundations mixed together and the other slight changes are that I am using more lipstick now instead of crayons - I am loving Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait.  Finally I have started to contour more and so I am using Illamasqua in Hollow plus two concealers!

1.  Rimmel Wake me up Foundation and HD Forever Foundation -  When I first got the wake me up foundation I didn't like it all but now I am enjoying it. It gives a great glow to the skin and is a great coverage. I have also been mixing it with my HD Forever as it has such good coverage and as I am still using my He-Shi  tan (love this so much) that the colour now matches yay!

2. Soap and Glory Heck of a Blot-  This is still one of the best powders I have used and now I am getting the tin bit show through and the powder is breaking apart....noooo.  It makes my foundation last and prevents shine.

3. Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow- You can get these in so many different colours but hollow is good for pale skin. I have used this as I have been attempting to contour my face (I will get the knack one day)  but at the moment I have just been focusing on my nose haha.

4.  Soap and Glory Love at First Blush -  I am still using this but I am also started to use my Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Blusher as I think the shade is great for Autumn.

5. Rimmel Wake me up Concealer and Collection 2000 Concealer - For under the eyes I use the Rimmel Wake me up concealer but for those annoying spots I use the collection 2000 as it has great coverage and doesn't add a glow like the wake me up concealer as I want to hide my spots not let them stand out!

6. Soap and Glory Supercat -  This is still my favourite eyeliner because of how easy it is to use and create flicks.

7. Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara - I haven't found any other mascara that I like that adds volume to my eyelashes. They are quite stubborn little lashes. This doesn't clump and this purple one is meant to be suitable for contact lenses wearers.

8. Rimmel Lip Pencil and Revlon Lip Butters - I always line my lips with this Rimmel Lip pencil in 063 because the colour matches my lip colour which is great to even out the lips with. I also have been loving my Revlon Lip Butters again especially the shade Peach Parfait.

So there you have it guys but no doubt this will change again! Most of these products in Boots are on offer at the moment too! Wahooo.

Emma

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Garnier Ultimate Blends Conditioner - The sleek restorer

I have come to the realisation that any bath/body/hair product with coconut in I LOVE. I think coconut has such an amazing smell which is weird because I hate coconut related food!

I only bought this because it had coconut in and the 'sleek restorer' part was just an added bonus to me.  I got this when it was only £1.50 too and this is such a good conditioner!

Garnier have 'carefully created' this blend with Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter. The Coconut Oil is 'India's original hair secret for smoothness' and Cocoa Butter from the Ivory Coast 'for it's nourishing virtues'.  This blend tames frizz and flyaways so hair looks smoothed and transformed.

Since using this my hair is alot smoother! I didn't think that was quite possible but it is! My hair looks so much healthier and smooth since using this and it smells so divine. This has to be my favourite conditioner at the moment though I have got my eye on the new Loreal nourishing shampoo and conditioner ;)  so this may change but it is a favourite.

If you have frizzy hair or want some added smoothness then give this a go! You can get this anyway from supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug, you are sure to find it!

Emma

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Schwarzkopf got2b beach matt salt spray

I got this because I wanted the mermaid looking hair! Who doesn't? There was a few sea salt sprays to choose from and I wasnt too sure which one to pick but I chose this one as I see it advertised a lot and it was on offer. Plus the colours got me ;) You can get this is Boots for about £4.07 the 7p is a bit random!

This is meant to give you 'beach waves-mermaid style' and provide your hair with texture and a tousled finish without the crunch. You spray this on to dry or towel dry hair then scrunch or blow dry. I have tried this on both dry and towel dry hair and prefer the look it gives once I have applied it to towel dried hair.

 I was expecting great results from this but to be honest its just ok to me, I cant say it wows me. I have fairly long hair which is also thick and I think thats why I dont quite get the waves I want from this. The other downfall I am not keen on is that it does tangle my hair and hurts when I brush out even when using a tangle teezer!

It doesnt leave a crunch which is good and the little bit of look I can get from the spray does stay all day. All in all I probably wouldnt purchase this again but only because I dont think its suited towards my hair.

Have you tried any good seal salt sprays?

Emma

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Etsy- The Violet Stars

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Can I just note the trouble I have had trying to get this post up lol!

First things first my original post was going to be how to make whole wheat pancakes but the recipe I used wasn’t very nice so I wasn’t going to share that!

So instead I thought I would let everyone know that my sister is currently making and selling jewellery/cushions etc on etsy! Here is the link to check some of her items out TheVioletStars.  There  will be more items going up soon and im afraid at the moment she does only post  to the UK.

Emma

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Whats on my face

Hey guys :) So todays post I thought I would share with you what I currently wear on my face. Its been so hot and humid in the UK lately that I dont like wearing much make up! But I have to wear something because I dont want to scare people lol!

1. Maybelline Pure BB Cream - I am really enjoying the fact that I can now get away wearing BB cream (thank you skin!) I bought this a while back but never used it because my skin wasnt great but as my skin has improved I thought Id give it a go as I find it too hot to wear foundation. This one is suitable for oily skin and contains Salicylic Acid and has an SPF15. It gives a nice light coverage and lasts well however I do find I have to powder a fair bit as it makes my skin look very shiny! But for the price of £6.99 it isnt bad at all.

2. Rimmel Wake me up Concealer -  This is a great full coverage concealer and is great for covering dark circles and only costs £5.49.

3.Soap and Glory Supercat - I absolutely love this eyeliner as it is so easy to use! Its great for creating flicks because its shaped like a pen. It lasts well but I do find I have to go over with my Rimmel eyeliner too for a darker colour. £6.00.

4. Revlon Matte Balm - I have this in the shade Elusive and its my all time favourite shade because its a pretty natural pink colour. I love the look of matte balms and its only £7.99.

5.Soap and Glory Love at First Blush - This is a great colour wheel of 4 different shades of pinky blushers plus a white. I just use my brush all over them for a nice natural colour. £11.00

6. Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot - As I said the Maybelline BB Cream makes my face look quite shiny so to prevent that I use this which is fab and helps it stay longer too. £11.00.

What make up do you like to wear when its really hot?

Emma

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Exciting News - Karmisa

Hi guys! So I was approached by the people at Karmisa to partner with them! I think this is a really exciting opportunity :) 

 Karmisa is a fashion accessory store based in Ireland, Dublin.  They trade in the UK and globally.

A little bit about Karmisa :

'Karmisa is an independent fashion jewellery brand founded in 2014, created out of a passion for the latest catwalk trends and a love of jewellery.We understand the importance of the perfect piece to complete your look. We are all about fashion forward pieces, that are unique, special and stand out from the crowd just like the Karmisa customer.'

Karmisa have some really  gorgeous pieces, I could buy loads! 

 Here are just a few of their gorgeous pieces:

Now heres the great part for you lucky lot - Karmisa have given me a 10% discount code just for you guys KEJ10 , enter this at checkout and receive 10% off! Have fun shopping!

Emma

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He-Shi Tan

For such a long time now I have been looking for a great self tanner that doesnt leave me looking orange (I'm very pale!) I saw that Pixiwoo put on Instagram  a He-Shi tanner. Then after doing some research as I hadn't heard of this brand before I found that He-Shi has loads of great reviews I gave in and bought some to try!

This is now my favourite self tanner! I even got my friend to try some and within a couple of days I bought another one to try! The two I bought were the Rapid 1 Hour Liquid Tan and the Face and Body Tanning Gel .

Rapid 1 Hour Liquid Tan is £22.50 for 150ml and can be used all over the body. This is the first tanner I bought off He-Shi and loved it instantly. As the name suggest it gives a nice colour in just an hour and if you want a deeper tan you just leave it on longer the deeper you want. This lasts between 7-10 days but I have found mine lasts longer! The great thing about both these tans is that you can see where you are applying it and if you miss anywhere which is what I need in a tanner as Im good at missing places lol. It dries quickly and I just love the finished result as for me its not over dark or looks fake and it gives a nice glow which is what I wanted. It also doesnt smell! You dont moisturise before applying and make sure to exfoliate, I also bought the He-Shi tanning mitt to apply and its the best mitt ive ever used! 

Key ingredients are:

'Ecocert approved DHA (active tanning ingredient). By using organic DHA our products are now more natural than ever.

Pentavitin (Moisture lock tecnhology) for results lasting up to 10 days.

Added primarily for its moisture retention, regulating and binding properties. Protects dry skin against symptoms such as brittleness, roughness, unevenness, faintness and itching

Clinically proven – tests have shown that PENTAVITIN improved hydration of the skin by up to 40% '

After loving the He-Shi Rapid 1 Hour so much I went and bought the He-Shi Face and Body tanning gel this is £17.50 for 150ml. This is ideal for people who have dry skin but I bought this to use mainly on my face as it can be used as a foundation. This again is non scented and lasts for 7-10 days, I used this first on my legs to see what the colour was like because I didn't want to risk my face going wrong! I found this to me turns out darker then the Rapid 1 hour so I haven't used it on my face as of yet but don't get me wrong its still a fantastic golden glow colour! You leave this one of for 6-8 hours. It does glide onto the skin as they state and it does feel moisturised after use. I tend to use this one mainly for my legs.

Key Ingredients:

'Ecocert approved DHA (active tanning ingredient).  By using organic DHA our products are now more natural than ever.

Pentavitin (Moisture lock tecnhology) for results lasting up to 10 days.  Added primarily for its moisture retention, regulating and binding properties.  Protects dry skin against symptoms such as brittleness, roughness, unevenness, faintness and itching

Clinically proven – tests have shown that PENTAVITIN improved hydration of the skin by up to 40%

Isopentyldiol also works alongside Pentavitin. Primarily for its moisture retention – helping to maintain high moisture content in the skin

Clinically proven – tests have shown a 110% increase in moisture content 5 minutes after application'

  

I really love this He-Shi tan as it gives a fab golden glow and not an orange look. The price isnt too bad as I still have lots left as you don't need too much, I just really cant recommend this enough!

P.s The photos I took of my arm and legs dont give it much justice lol!

Emma

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Sexy Mother Blusher - Soap and Glory

I am not sure if you guys have picked up on this yet but I am really loving the Soap and Glory make up range ;)

I bought this Sexy Mother Blusher as I wanted a new blusher and because I thought the packaging was different so this little one caught my eye. This is £9.00 from Boots which I have to say for me the price is expensive for a blusher but if they have a 3 for 2 on maybe this could be the free one?

This comes in 3 shades - Pinker Belle, Berry Jamm and Onomatopeacha . I bought this in Pinker Belle because it was the shade I much preferred out of the 3. Its a cream blusher and is meant to 'glide effortlessly onto the cheeks with intense colour and a creamy finish.'

I dont put this directly onto my face as knowing me I would put too much on and become a clown! So instead I put a bit on the back of my hand and rub it on with my fingers. It goes on like a treat and lasts great too and Pinker Belle is a great shade for me.

I am a big lover of Soap and Glory Love at First Blush which I use on a daily basis! You can find that here  and this Sexy Mother Blusher is a great cream blusher!  I am very impressed with the Soap and Glory range and find myself trying more and more of their products.

Emma

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Clean and Clear Exfoliating Daily Wash

I bought this in my local Tesco's garage as I needed to get a face wash for when I went away. I didnt have enough time to pop into town and the Tesco's garage was my last hope. Now in this Tesco's they didnt have my usual face wash and only stocked 2 different brands! I opted for this one because it was oil free. 

This is one of them products I didn't think much of but actually turns out I really love it!

I find it very hard for me to find a nice face wash that doesn't upset my skin and what not. I had been using the Garnier Charcoal Face Wash for the Charcoal to help fight against the ol acne and before that clearasil as it didnt make my skin breakout.

As you can see this contains gentle microbeads and this is 'formulated to effectively remove dirt, oil and dead skin cells that can block pores and lead to spots and blackheads. This will leave skin beautifully smooth and clear.'

I love the price of this as its only £3.00 at Tesco's and also can be bought pretty much anywhere. Boots is currently selling it for £2.78.   I also love that its oil free and gentle. My skin is looking great at the moment with this and it feels nice, refreshed and clean after I have used it and doesn't cause breakouts.

If you're looking for a nice cheap face wash then this is really great!

Emma

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Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

The Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water £3.99 for 400ml=200 uses, is my favourite cleanser since Bioderma! I much prefer this to the Loreal one.

Garnier states that this is any easy way to remove make up and that you do not need to rub.
Its great for sensitive skin  and doesnt contain perfume. It does have a nice faint sweet smell though. The Micellar technology is 'like a magnet and the cleansing agents capture and lift away dirt from the skin'. it also hydrates whilst cleansing.

I have been using this for a good time now, way over a month and my skin feels great after using this and it lifts make up away straight away. My skin is left feeling soft and cleansed and it has lasted me for ages and £3.99 is a great price!

That was a short and sweet post lol!

Emma
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