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