May Favourites.

Another month is very nearly over, is it just me or does every year fly by even faster?  We'll soon be entering June, an exciting month for me as I start my internship next Monday.  I love May favourite blog posts or youtube videos and decided to jump on the bandwagon.  I have quite a few favourites this month, so we best get started!

Beauty Favourites:

Skincare

(L-R)

Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish

La Roche Posay Effaclar M

Soap and Glory Hand Food 

Avon Solutions Perfect Tone Night Cream

I've had a great month, skin wise and I think it is thanks to my new routine.  Liz Earle is now a must have in my collection, I really look forward to taking my make up off at night, and it has helped my skin no end!  As I cleanse in the evening, I was looking for a nice night moisturiser and came across the new Avon solutions range.  It has helped even out my skin tone, but it's not 100% there yet.  During the day I use my La Roche Posay to sort out any oilyness before I apply make up.  Summer is all about being soft and supple, and my hands always seem dry so I've been loving my Hand Food, plus it smells amazing.  

Haircare:

(L-R)

Umberto Giannini Sex Bomb Mousse

VO5 Give Me Texture Oomph Powder

Elnette Hairspray

VO5 Miracle Concetration

Trevor Sorbie Heat Protection Spray

I'm all about trying to get beautiful bouncy locks, and all of these products have helped.  I use the mousse most days and it works a treat, but for days I don't use it, i've found the VO5 powders been a great alternative.  I've gone back to my hairspray love, Elnette and been loving it's lightweight feel on my hair.  Dying to try out argan oil i've been using this every time I wash my hair, I'm not sure how much of a difference it's made but my hair soaks it up and it smells gorgeous.  You should never attempt to blow dry or straighten hair without heat protection and this product smells great and really protects your hair.  

Fashion Favourite:

Primark

These shoes have been my go to heel for pretty much the whole month.  I love the colour, it's pretty versatile and goes with a lot.  

Now onto some lifestyle favourites...

TV Favourite:

One Tree Hill Seasons 1-7

I love my Tree Hill collection, and as season 8 has just finished in the US, I've been watching old episodes to hold me over until season 9 starts up!  

Book of the Month:

Alyson Noel; The Immortals: Shadowland

Since finishing university I've had more time to read fiction over fact.  I love anything to do with the supernatural and have been loving this series, which is completely different to Twilight (which I love so very much).  I really recommend this series if you enjoy easy reads that are along the same lines as Twilight/True Blood/The Vampire Diaries.  

So there you have it, what have been your monthly favourites?

Please comment below if you'd like any further reviews on any of the products mentioned or even a book review/TV series review!

Tips, Tricks and Cheats: Voluminous Locks

Ever looked at Cheryl Cole and thought, I want your hair?  Do you ever get sick of your limp and lifeless (say in the Tweedy accent if you must) locks?  Well I for one know I do.  

I used to have extremely thick hair, until I had a pair of straighteners bought for me.  It was around the time that GHDs were becoming popular and I had begged for them each year for christmas and birthday, only to be bought cheaper equivalents that claimed to be better.  Of course, they weren't any better, instead they ripped out my hair as I straightened, which I was unaware of until one day my mum pointed out a bald patch.  That christmas I got rid of the hair murderers and got given a pair of GHDs.  I'm not saying that GHDs are good for your hair, excessive use can seriously damage it, but they don't rip out your hair.  

This blog is going to be a mixture of reviews of products and also tips to get that extra volume or bounce to your hair.  First up we have a shampoo and conditioner from the Umberto Giannini 'Glam Hair' range which claims to be 'catwalk glamour in a bottle'.  

£5.61 from Boots

This shampoo has glitter in it's formula to help give a great glamourous shine.  It preps hair for products and hair styling tools.  My first impressions have been great, although it does dry your hair out a bit, so I only recommend this for a big night out.  

£5.61 from Boots

Next, you should use this conditioner, to stop hair feeling extremely dry.  

TIP:  Concentrate applying this product on your ends and the lengths.  Avoid roots, as this will weigh down the hair leaving you with limp, flat hair plus it can encourage your hair to get greasy quickly.  When I first used this I was impressed with its thick consistency which moisturised my hair nicely, although I was disappointed with the lack of glitter!

£5.61 from Boots

I have ranted and raved about this product.  It really works!  

TIP:  Put your fingers together firmly and pump onto them, rub between both hands and make sure you get it in the fingers.  Then rub the mousse into your roots only - this is where you'll get all the lift and volume.  If you have time, leave to dry naturally.  In a rush?  Blow dry, tipping your head forward using fingers rather than a brush to encourage more root lift.  Style as normal.  

£5.61 from Boots

A lot of bloggers and beauty guru's rant and rave about this product and after getting it right I can see why.  You need to spray on the roots, a bout 15cm away and then massage in to create more voluptuous volume!  

TIP: Cheaper alternative?  I find that dry shampoo's also give a bit of volume when you use them.  Apply in the same way as backcomb in a bottle.  Batiste also now do dry shampoo for coloured hair, great for hiding roots in between colours!

£5.61 from Boots

This is my holy grail hairspray, i'll never ever use another (unless I'm extremely skint and my Advantage points wont stretch that far...)  It has great hold and also gives you instant volume with a quick spritz.  

TIP:  Do you like Blake Lively's voluminous locks? Well her actual hairdresser has told us how he sprays hairspray onto his fingers (not too much, don't want to have sticky hair!) and massages into her roots to give some ooomph.  I've tried this and it does work extremely well!  

If you want to try the Umberto Giannini 'Glam Hair' range, it is currently on 3 for 2 in Boots, bargain!

Have you got any tips or products that you use for extra volume? Please share...

Tips, Tricks and Cheats: Happy Hair Days

Every girls barnet is their number one priority to looking good.  If you're having a bad hair day, you're having a crap day in general.  I'm on the look out for some of the best hair care products and tips out there.  

Whilst shopping in Sainsburys (I know, I'm a Tesco traitor) I came across a new (to me anyway) hair care line called 'Happy Hair Days'.  It was on offer for £2.66 instead of £3.99 and claims to be Parabens (those things that make your cosmetic/hair/medications last longer) as well as SLS (yay for itchy scalps) free. 

As I have highlighted hair, I decided to pick up the colour care shampoo and conditioner in the scent Marshmallow and Coconut.  The first thing I noticed was the smell, it smells good enough to eat.  Secondly, the shampoo lathered up really well, leaving my hair feeling soft to the touch after washing out.  I then applied the conditioner, which was extremely thick in consistency and left my poor old ends thoroughly nourished. 

After only using this product once I was extremely pleased with the results.  They also do a thickening shampoo and conditioner which I wish to try.  

I get this product a 4/5 rating.  

The next range i'll be reviewing will be Umberto Giannini's Glam Hair range.  In particular the shampoo and conditioner.  

I got a little bit excited that I could see myself in the lids...

TIP: To maximise your hairs natural volume, leave to dry without blow drying.  You can still use mousse for an extra boost, but I've found my hair has more body when left to dry.  Of course, this tip's only good if you have time to leave your hair to dry.  

I Spy! Volumising Hair Products

These products have been out for a while now, and until Monday, I had only tried three out of the whole line.  Umberto Giannini have developed a line called 'Glam Hair' - "Every glamour vamp knows that big hair oozes sex appeal".  The most popular product is probably the 'Backcomb in a Bottle', which i've tried and love quite a bit.  

Today I want to talk to you about the most amazing hair product in the world, the 'Sex Bomb Massive Mousse'.  Lately, I've been trying to get a bit more oomph in my hair, and I ran out of the 'Rock n Roll Extreme' hairspray which is equally as amazing.  I popped into boots where the range was on 2 for £7.50 and decided that i'd try the mousse out.  It says to scrunch into the roots and then blow dry, which I did, turning my head upside down to help the volume out, and when I came back up, my hair looked exactly as the top image does, volume to the max.  I really do rate this product, and I will definitely be rebuying. The products also smell incredible.  

This is the kind of body you can achieve.  I used the sex bomb mousse and the rock n roll hair spray!

I am thinking about getting this deal as part of my giveaway so tell me - would you like to see the mousse as one half of the duo?

I'm off now to get ready for an evening in Covent Garden with my best friend.  I'll be seeing this pretty lady and also interviewing her too!