Be Back Soon

Monday.
Last year 2 university assignment is submitted.
Woo Hoo!!
Therefore, more posts
Double Woo Hoo!!

xx

Loves - Summer Nails Right on the 'Button'

It's May. In England. It is meant to be summer, although it is currently sunny, it won't last long. And I need that little summery boast to remind me that it is in fact Summer.
By Gosh, I found it.

Essie 'Cute As A Button'

'Cute as a Button' is the most gorgeous  bright coral-ly, pink shade that screams summer, and happiness and sunshine. Can you tell that I love this colour?
Availible from the Boots/Superdrug diffusion line for £7.99, this polish makes me want to try out more of the shades. It applies with ease, is opaque enough to give good coverage, and after 5 days of wear (which include cleaning, a night out, shopping, washing my hair etc) still no chips!

Essie, Stop it. I think I'm falling in love!!
If you are even considering buying some of the Essie shades, I suggest you try this one. It is a beautiful polish, and it even gets the seal of approval from my housemate. Each one of them are currently wearing this.

After this, I need more. Next on my list is 'Mint Candy Apple'.
Any recommendations for Essie Polishes? I'd love to hear them, because clearly I need more
D xo

Love - All Aboard the Ombre Train

Unless you've been living under a rock and had no access to any photographs, then you've probably heard of the 'Ombre'trend.
If you haven't heard of it, you will probably have seen it. Imagine darker roots fading to lighter ends - as my mother so nicely put it 'it looks like she's let her roots grow out'.

You can't look in a magazine, on the internet on TV, basically anywhere, without seeing it.

If done right, the fading is gradual and isn't just a block, its a subtle and refreshing way to update your hair without losing any length, or having to retouch colour constantly.
Sounds perfect.

However to achieve the sophia bush look, can that woman do no wrong, my hair dresser decided it wasn't possible (?), so after much internet research, I've done it myself.

The results?

The only half decent photo I could get!

I used the L'Oreal Paris 'Perfect Blonde Creme' Highlight Kit as all the blogs/videos told me you need a bleach (very important)and it worked really well. As a home hair dye newbie, I was a little scared. So scared I bought a spare hairdye just in case it all went wrong.

Heres the method. Blink and you'll miss it.
Mix, Scrunch, Wait, Wash, Repeat.
Repeat is a little complicated, you want to 'scrunch' the bleach lower down, to create the fade.
By scrunching you don't get a line, and you really don't want a line.
Literally that simple.

My only tip? Be prepared to buy a good conditioning mask. The bleach makes it damaged, so to keep it from looking 'dead and gross' and more 'shiny and new', a conditioner is needed! Once I've Tested mine out for a bit longer, I'll do a review, but at the moment I'm liking lots!

How do you get that quick update look? And how tempted are you to jump on the bandwagon?

D xo

Empties - The Hair Edition

If you hadn't noticed from yesterday's post, I'm trying to grow my hair. Sure it falls about 3 inches past my shoulder, but I want more! And to help it on it's way/ repair it from the damage I regularly expose it to (damn you straightners/curlers/hair dryer!), I bombard it with conditioners and masks.

Now, Hair history time. I have dry hair naturally. Dry, dry hair that needs all the help it can get to regain any kind of moisture; I wash my hair to put moisture back it.
Within the past few years, I've gone through pots and tubes and tubs of the stuff, and normally in my shower there at a good 3 or 4 on the go. As I've just returned to University after my easter break, I checked the shower to see how my on-the-go ones were going, and was shocked to see 4 had finished!

So why not do a quick review on them?

Superdrug Coconut & Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner, Herbal Essence Beautiful Ends Split End Protection Intensive Mask, Aussie 3 Minute Miracle, Lee Stafford Treatment fo Hair that never Grows past a certain length.

Superdrug Coconut & Sweet Almond Intensive Conditioner
This cheap and cheerful conditioner was souly bought for the smell, yummy coconut with a sweet hit. Love! I'm a sucker for anything coconut, so it had to feature in my shower.
It cost no more than £3 (can't find it on the website, but pretty sure it was about £2ish), and definiately does condition my hair leaving it more manageable. It's nothing groundbreaking, but as I use this as a replacement for normal conditioner it works just fine to finish the ends of my hair off.
Will I be repurchasing? Probably not. Mainly because I want to try some of the others that are on offer on the highstreet, but if needs be I wouldn't mind this reappearing in the shower.

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Split End Protection Intensive Mask
As I said, my hair is naturally dry and has become damaged from constant heat abuse, so if a product promises me protection from those devilish split ends, I'm gonna try it!
I was really let down by this mask. The other herbal essence masks and products normally work so much better for my hair, and for their price, you can't complain! But this one, let me down big time. I used it up because I can't bare to see a mask go to waste and it did give my hair slightly more moisture than normal, but I wasn't impressed with the product at all!
Will I repurchase? Guess? I would recommend if your hair isnt too thick and you just want a slight moisture injection. Just don't expect too much from it.

Aussie Lusciously Light 3 Minute Miracle Reconstuctor Deep Conditioner
Phew! Mouthful of a name!
This part of the empties review is going to be short and sweet.
Awesome. Buy it. Incredible.
This makes my hair soft, manageable and happy. Yep, My hair is happy after using this, it is possible to have happy hair!
No need to ask the question ... I'm off to buy it now.

Lee Stafford Treatment fo Hair that never Grows past a certain length
Tub number 3476 finished.
I love this product so much it has it's own post here!

With the shower cleared out, that means new tubs! Sadly, that makes me a little too over excited.
What Hair conditioners do you swear by? I'd love to know!!
Lots of Love,
D xo

Love - 'If the earth's not nourished you'll never grow beautiful flowers'

I should start this post off with a disclaimer.
If you can pull off short hair, I commend you and am slightly jealous.
But I'm not one of them.

I crave long hair. I dream of the Victoria Secrets curls.
This craving steams from a horrific haircut at the age of 11, pre-emma watson, frankie sandford and pre victoria beckham, that left me feeling more like a boy than chic.

And for the past 8 years, I've been growing my hair so I feel like a girl.

My secret weapon from the last 3 years? This bad boy

Lee Stafford 'Treatment for Hair that never Grows past a certain length'

A protein based treatment used in between shampoo and conditioner, this product is thick and creamy and gives hair that boast that it needs to become like rapunzel's. The tub tells me (and it would never lie!) that it improves health, has a soothing formula and improves the feel of hair.



I've been using this for about 2/3 years, and has it made my hair grow? Urm, I'm not sure, my hair has grown, but I don't actually know if it is down to this product, but it definiately has helped!
I have shamefully dry hair, both naturally and as a by-product of straightening, and I love how this leaves my hair feeling soft, and manageable, and like a proper girls hair.

I really recommend this, it is expensive, but it's normally on a deal in Boots, so stock up then and it won't hurt your bank balence too much, and that is exactly what I intend on doing.

Now, I've got another 2-3 inches to go before I'm truely happy with my hair, and I need ideas of how I can speed this process up.
And if you've got any suggestions for any conditioner, I'd love to hear them, I'm alway looking to try new ones!
Lots of Love,
D xo

Love - Just Haul-ing

Anyone else enjoy a well stocked Boots?
Puts me in such a lovely mood when I'm able to buy everything I want, and everything I didn't know I want.

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser, Bourjois Nail Varnish Remover, Maybelline One By One Volume Express, Models Own 'Hedonist, Essie 'Licorice'

No7 Beautiful Skin Hot Cloth Cleanser
Oh what a mouthful to say, and even harder to get hold off! My local Boots is not so well stocked on the skincare front, it could really do better! They taunted me with a tester bottle, but never stocked it. Cruel!
The Boots take on the concept made famous by Liz Earle, A creamy cleanser used with a muslin cloth. I was really curious to try one, and after reading lots of blogs comparing the No7 one with the Liz Earle, so many people raved about this one!
I've used it twice so far so can't really say how well it works with my skin, but I really enjoyed using it and am excited to see if there is a difference in my skin.

Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover
I love a good coat of nail polish, in fact as my mother nicely put it when she saw the full collection 'thats just silly', and I'm incredibly partial to a sprinkling of glitter. But hands up who finds Glitter polish a b**** to get off? And I'm hoping this is the answer.
This little remover soaked sponge promises 1 second removal. Nope, not a typo, ONE second. Crazyyy stuff!
As the manicure is due to come off tuesday,I'm still one the nail envy routine I will be putting this to the test.

Maybelline One by One Volume Express Mascara
As you may have guessed by the fact I've started a blog, but I shop and like my beauty products. But surprisely, I don't buy a lot of mascara;they never seem to run out!
My sister uses this one, and I was shocked how nice her lashes looked so I felt it necessary to try this one out.
One coat gives defined lashes, with just enough volume for day time and it looks like it could be made really buildable to create big ol'lashes.
Expect an update

Models Own Hedonist + Essie Licorice
Awkward. Went in for the cleanser, the remover and the mascara, and accidently walked away with two new polishes!
'Hedonist' is a in-your-face neon pink toned coral. It's Bright, It's bold and it will be used as a reminder that this is infact May and that summer will happen!
'Licorice' is a black. Nothing special. Just fancied a black polish, that doesn't have any underlieing tones to it. Bog-standard Black. This is part of the new essie polishes that have been brought out to the british high street. And no doubt it'll just be the beginning of a white-top invasion in my collection.

So happy I was able to get these items and can't wait to use them.
Oh, and I also 'accidently' bought these little neon, pink beauties from the topshop sale. £1.50 goodness. WooHoo!

One Haul finished, time to start researching the next one ... Any Ideas?

Lots of Love,

D xo

...

Right, So I'm feeling really clever right now.
I forgot my Camera. Left it at university didn't I?

But I'm being reunited with it on sunday ... WooHoo

Until then, here's the most beautiful alexander mcqueen clutch bag that I am more than happy for people to buy for me

Image from google

Until Sunday,
D xo

Wishlist - Oh River Island, You Tempt Me!

River Island - £30

Oh hello!! This dress is literally meant to be in my wardobe.
Meant to be I tell you!
Collared, Striped, Belted.
Now I just need to think of a logical reason to tell my mother ...

Love - Giving me 'Nail Envy'

Everyone has their kryptonite. Shoes, Bags, Cute teacup pigs.
Mine? Nail Products. You stick the word 'Nail' in there and I'm all over it.

But I was naughty, normally I take care of my natural nails,try and put them through as little stress as possible, however I was brainwashed and twisted into getting acrylics.
Now they were shiny, they were lovely, they held polish incredibly, but they're an expensive habit to keep up, and as I was about to embark on teaching placement, they had to come off. Sob.

Left behind were horrific, thin, flakey nails, and this needed to change. Fast.
Enter Nail Envy, OPI's mircle cure for thin nails that need strengthening.

Sorry for the horrible picture, Left my camera at uni, so couldn't take a better one, this one was kindly provided by Google.

 

I had read from both Vivianna's and Gwen's reviews, and was desperate to try it, hoping it would restore my nails back to health. Unfortuanately, my poor, little bank balance couldn't stretch to the £18 price tag.
And as if by magic, BuyaPowa heard my prayers and it winged its way into my possession.

My thoughts? Currently, I love it. A clear nail polish that applies is true OPI style; effortlessly. Since using it, my nails have efiniately improved in their condition, still not great, but there is improvement. It has worked best out of all the nail strengtheners I've tried, and there has been a few!!

Will I repurchase? Yes, if it appears on BuyaPowa again, I'll snap it up and stock up on it just in the off chance OPI do something stupid and discontinue it.

What are your tips for 'good' nails?
Lots of Love,
D xo

Project Unread

I'm a Haul-er
I buy, and I buy, and then I buy some more.
Well this problem needs to stop, because the pile of untouched items is making me sad.

The pile of unread books is making me really sad, and also is taking up a lot of room on my nightstand.
So here I begin my mission to read all the books I've been putting off, and hopefully by blogging about them I will actually finish them!

First on the list 'One Moment, One Morning' by Sarah Rayner.

This particular book has been on my shelf for forever, I've always found the first chapter hard to get through, I've powered through and it actually seems rather good.

A full review will come soon

To reading!
Lots of Love,
D xo

Wish List - I Heart London

Words do not even come close to describing how excited I am for this book.

Lindsey Kelk is fast becoming my favourite authors. The whole 'I Heart' series is brilliant, with each book being an amusing, heart-felt read, and 'The Single Girl's to-do list' has even sparked me to right my own list.

You should, if you have twitter, follow her @LindseyKelk. She's rather amusing, and has even replied to me a few times (Such a fan girl, it's almost upsetting) so we're definiately 'friends'.

'I heart london' is released June 7th, just in time to be the perfect Happy Birthday Me present.
I'll be excitedly waiting, Will you?

Lots of Love,
D x

Love - The Awkward Moment Rescuer

I love a good hand cream.
Always have one in my handbag, and it gets brought out in all kinds of moments.
Awkward moment that you can't distract yourself with your phone? Hand cream is the answer. Literally best distraction. Also stops any unnecessary hand touching. Working in retail has taught me so much

My current hand cream is beautiful! It smells incredible, isn't greasy and leaves my hands feeling soft. Everything you could ask for in a hand cream.
And the answer to all your hand cream needs ... drumroll please ...

Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Conditioning Hand Cream, what a mouthful!

Retailing for £15, this isn't something I would normally purchase because my poor student budget wouldn't stretch that far, but luckily it appeared under the christmas tree, and after testing it liberally for a few months, I feel that it is a great recommendation for anyone who wants to splash a little bit of extra cash on a truly lovely, smooth hand cream that actually works.

Would I buy it again? Probably not, solely for the reason that I can't afford it.
Would I argue with it being bought for me? Hell No! I will definiately be 'requesting/hinting' for this for my birthday

All that typing has completely dried out my hands, feel another application is completely necessary ;)

If anyone has any hand cream recommendations, I'm all ears!
Lots of Love,
D xo

Love - Adding Glitter to Lincoln Park

A collective 'Ahhhh' please for the multi-colour glittery delight that is 'Spark-taculor' from the Sephora by OPI range.
The magpie in me made my aunt hunt this down on a trip to the states(ehh, Sephora, Us english folk would very much enjoy a store here thanks) and I'm rather glad she succeeded in her mission.
It is a b-e-a-u-tiful polish laden with mulit-coloured glitter suspended within a clear gloss. Techniqually, it is a top coat, but I tend to use it over colour and then sealing it with another top coat.
Applies well, is a b***h to remove, but it's a glitter what do you expect: if you use the foil method, it's really not that big-a-deal.

And Spark-taculor's best friend? A Neutral.
It can be dark. It can be light. Just give it a neutral and it shines like the beauty it is.
'Lincoln Park After Dark' is just that. The cult deep, blackened purple by OPI is possibly the only dark polish I could wear and not crave something more 'Barbie-esque'. And that is something.
Don't own it? Buy it. You need it. It will make you happy. Favourite Polish. Fact.

Just beautiful, and exactly what is needed to get me through an easter holiday of working.

What's your favourite glitter colour? As if I need more, but I'd love to know!

Lots of Love,
D x

Introductory Loves and Wish List

Everyone has the things they love and the wish list of things they would love to have.
Some are deep, meaningful and can't be bought, and others, well others are rather on the shallow side.

This is an account of the shallower side of things.

I'm a 19 year old student who spends far too much time on the internet, reads too many blogs, shops that little too much and is always wanting more. And why not share my loves and wants with the whole world.

Think Beauty, Think Fashion, Think Pink, Sparkly things and everything in between.

Shall we begin?

Loves ...
Twitter
Sadly, I'm a bit of Social media fan, it's like stalking but legal. No, but really, twitter is becoming a real part of my day that I love catching up with the going-on's in the world. From bloggers to celebrities to friends, I follow them all!

Nail Polish
I warned you it would be shallow, and it doesn't get much shallower than my love for nail polish. It's a problem. My mother owns 2 (of which I bought her 1), my sister owns about 10, my housemate owns none. Me? I own close to, and with my head dipped in shame, 80-ish. Does anyone need that many colours? No. Will I buy more? You bet your bottom dollar. Expect to see many posts about the ones I'm loving and the ones that are on the wish list.

Books
I'm a reader. Not of the classics (wish I had the patience, but I'm easily distracted and can't cope with long words), but of the fluffy love stories that capture you quick, take you on a ride, and leave you craving a relationship with the leading man, the life of the leading lady and the crazy adventures that they go on.

And because I'm always dreaming of more, adding to the 'Love' list, the Wish List exists and is ever growing.
Currently on it
More Books often chosen using the phrase 'Always judge a book by its cover'.

Topshops 'Vectra' Slippers. The world and their dog (?) has these, and I'm well and truely wanting to jump on the bandwagon.

Boots No7 'Radience Boosting' Hot cloth cleanser. I crave better skin, like many girls, I wouldn't say no to looking like good ol'Kim K or any of the Victoria Secrets angels (who would?!) and their skin is impecible, sure it probably is airbrushed, but I'm hopeful/naive. (Please note- the VS angels will be a recurring theme, I <3 them muchly and would possibly kill for their hair!)
(Also, Boots,why you not restock this more often? Don't leave me hanging!)

Of course there is more, horrifically a lot more. But can't give it all away in the first post can I?

Until the next post (it's coming soon!),
Lots of Love,
D x