the sun is shining, the weather is sweet

Here in London we have amazing weather! Our usual grey and gloomy skies have been replaced by bright blue, clear loveliness!!

However, all this beautiful weather highlights how terribly unprepared our city is for heat!  Our underground (metro/tube) has no air conditioning. So i will just leave it to your imagination how pleasant a rush hour train journey (squished together with a thousand other people) is at the end of a long hot day!  You really can end up looking like a hot mess!

But I have a handy set of beauty tips and products which help me stay looking fresh and feeling cooler.

At home:

- I steer away from foundation in the summer months, and use a tinted moisturizer/BB cream (or just concealer where necessary).  A lot of us girls become really dependent on foundation, when we actually don't need it!  You will really feel much fresher throughout the day without a heavy foundation!

If you do however prefer to use your usual foundation, make sure you apply a good primer before, and use a setting spray after! Primer and setting sprays are regularly available now from most make up brands in drugstores etc.

A friend once told me that she opens the freezer and pops her head in right after applying her foundation - this apparently helps set it too!!  (well it will at least cool you down! haha)

Out and about:

- Blotting sheets: There is nothing that icks me out more, than seeing sweaty faced ladies piling on powder!  I always carry a little pack of blotting sheets in my bag during the summer months, to gently blot and absorb the extra moisture on my face before applying any powder to matify. You can find these in everyday supermarkets, drugstores and high end make up brands. You could also just get a facial tissue, peel the layer sheets apart and blot your face with this!

1. Bobbi Brown blotting papers.  2. The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Facial Blotting Tissue.  3. Boots Skin Clear Shine Blotting papers.  4. Clean&Clear Oil absorbing sheets


- Facial mist: After I've 'blotted' any extra unwanted moisture from my face, I then spray a mist of wanted moisture! haha..it cools you down straight away and absorbs into your skin in an instant!  I would recommend a water based mist, rather than the cream based options - more cooling and refreshing!You can find a variety of options, but I would recommend then Avene Eau Thermal Water Spray!

- Water: keep a small bottle with you all the time, and sip regularly throughout the day to keep hydrated.  But it's actually better to drink cool room temperature water, rather than very cold water, as your body will generate heat after to compensate for the heat loss.

 

You can also hold your wrist under a cold tap for a few seconds, this is a main pulse point so cools your blood down, which can help you feel cooler.

 

An one last random tip - the temperature of our feet really affect how hot/cool we feel.  So forget about any closed shoes, and embrace sandals/flipflops (anything strappy and airy) whilst you can!

 

 

 

Hope this was helpful! Enjoy the weekend!! : )

 

xxx

On a mission to better hair!

I have recently been following my friend's fairly new blog Hair Envy by Alicia, which is all about her transition from relaxed hair, to natural hair.  She is documenting her journey, sharing tips along the way regarding styling and treatment.  She also delves into the 'science' behind some products, and our hair itself! Very interesting regardless of your hair type, go read!

http://byalicia.blogspot.com

Her posts have inspired me to take better care of my own hair! Particularly with regards to the use of treatments.  She has blogged about different oils we can use to treat our hair (natural Coconut Oils, Castor Oils etc.) and methods of washing (co-washing).


To get the ball rolling on my new 'better hair mission', I have ordered 2 hair oils from Amazon:  100% pure cold pressed Almond oil and Pure Peppermint essential oil.  I intend on creating a oil mask to use weekly, by mixing the Almond Oil (to nourish and moisturize my hair), with a few drops of peppermint oil (to stimulate my scalp).  I will update you on how this works out for me after I do this for a few weeks



I also picked up a new Shampoo and Conditioner whilst browsing in TK Maxx (you can also find this on Amazon US).  The set is by the Italian brand Phytorelax; and is from their Olio di Argan range. 

They say it:

Deeply restructures hair

Protects hair from external agents

Softens and nourishes hair

Performs an anti-aging action

Performs an anti-frizz action & protects against humidity 

Gives extreme shine to natural reflections

I have really been wanting to use an Argan Oil based shampoo/conditioner; so although I haven't heard of these products before, I have high hopes!  The products contain no Sodium Sulphates or Parabens. 

 

"Argan Oil is extracted from the Argan tree "Argania spinosa", which grows only in southern Morocco. For thousands of years, Berber women have used it as an elixir of beauty. It's one of the best known remedies for ageing of the skin, and is specially prized for its anti-oxidant, emollient and hydrating properties."

 

 

Following the 'beautiful insides make beautiful outsides' mantra, I am also determined to start drinking more water during the day and have started taking a 'Skin, hair and Nails' supplement, which contains a range of vitamins and minerals to improve the health of your hair and skin. You can find this type of supplement almost everywhere; mine is from Holland & Barrett

 

 

So to summarise, as of now I will be washing my hair every other day (or every 3rd day if I can get away with it) with my Olio di Argan set, followed by applying a small amount of leave in conditioner (either Morrocan Oil or Uniq One: all in one hair treatment).  Then once per week I will apply a oil treatment (as above), wrap up my hair in clingfilm or a towel and leave it on for a few hours (or overnight if I can).  Let's see if this small change in my routine will show any improvements to my hair! 

 

After I have been doing this for a while, I will post a more detailed routine and review of the products mentioned here, and let you know how I get on!

 

Megan xxx

 

 

 

Bargains!

I absolutely love hunting for cheap, great products.. where the price is definitely not a reflection of the quality!

Here are some of my favourite ones, which I love and repurchase constantly!

Makeup:

Elf Powder Brush:

I love this brush!  Although it is marketed for use with face powder or blush, I actually use it with liquid foundation.  This blends my foundation perfectly and as it is quite large, it takes next to no time to do my entire face.  Get it here!

Collection 2000 'The hlighlighter'

One of my favourite highlighters.  It is described as a multi purpose illuminating cream stick for cheeks, eyes, lips and body.  I have 2 of these - in 'Maldives' and 'Riviera' and use one of them literally every day (mainly as a highlighter on my cheekbones).  This product is so easy to apply, and blends effortlessly leaving a beautiful sublte shimmer.  They are also very cheap alternative to the Nars Multiples!!  However, these are no longer available in stores :(  but are always easily found on ebay

Collection 2000 'Last perfection concealer'

I have been using this concealer for about 4 months now, after hearing nothing but good things about it.  Although I don't think it actually last for the 16 hours that it claims to, it most definitely does a great job of covering any blemishes/flaws I have, without looking cakey. Love it!

MUA Heaven & Earth Palette

This is a great palette of 12 neutral shades which are very usable!  They may not be the best quality wise, but great for every day wear. These shadows blend well, and when applied over a base, last all day on my lids! At £4, why wouldn't you?! Check it out here

Skincare:

Johnson's facial cleansing wipes

I love these wipes! Although I would never recommend using wipes over your daily facial routine, we all have those times when we really cannot be bothered! This is for those times! I have used these wipes for years and have nothing to fault them on.  You can also usually find them on offer at Boots!

Vaseline

Another product which I have used for years!  However, I never apply this to my lips as I find it quite drying.   Instead, I use this product on my eyelashes and also on my cuticles at night before bed. Never without it! Find it here

Do you have any cheap essential products you love?

Megan xxx

What's in my travel make-up bag?

Us ladies have the prerogative to carry around all our essential make up items for touch up’s during the day.  To be honest, if I could, I would carry my whole bathroom cupboard with me!  But, for the sake of my shoulders, I try to stay restrained and only carry around the necessities.

My travel make up bag (from Primark a while back) is 2 sided – I love that its clear so I can see exactly what I want and where it is.

For my face:

 Mac select cover-up concealer in ‘NW30’ (which I apply with my fingers).
Mac Mineralise Skin Finish Natural in ‘Medium Dark’
Angled powder brush (for face powder)
Rimmel powder blush in ‘004 – Pink rose’
Jemma Kidd Stippling brush (for blush)

For my lips:

EOS lip balm
YSL Rouge pur lipstick in ‘128 – Tyrian purple’
Lipcote
Mini lipbrush

For my eyes:

Eyelash curlers
Bodyshop Eye definer in ‘Carbon Black’
Lancome Liner Design in ‘02’

General items:

Rose water
2 mini perfumes (YSL Elle and CK Shock)
Blotting sheets
L’Occitance hand cream
Hair slide
Extra gum
Tweezers
Mirror

This is generally what stays in my travel make-up bag all the time, however I usually have a range of different lipsticks stashed around my handbag!!

What make-up product can you not leave home without?

Megan xxx