This might be the only time I’ve ever washed my brushes and extensions while traveling. I was in extra need of some girl-time. Also… Sephora haul video to make tomorrow 😁💅💄💋 #beauty #sephora #makeup #cosmetics #hair

Have any of you tried this curly brand i found on Sephora?

I’m drawn to them if only for the fact that they have a product called No-Poo.

I’ve always loved the brush displays in Sephora and finally did a little research into what those little nuggets are- bean bag filler!

Not the polystyrene kind but little hard plastic ones like these pellets.

The 16oz bag filled three little vases.

They’re perfect for makeup brushes but would be cute for paint brushes, pens/pencils, nail art tools, (fake) flowers or even candy canes at Xmas or suckers. Love it!

As if the weekend never happened 💄 #beauty #makeup #sigma #mac #realtechniques #sephora

Want one of the Naked palettes but can’t decide which or think you won’t use all the colors?

Check out their new basics palette on Sephora for $27

As a lot of you know, its breast cancer awareness month so what better way to help the cause than by treating yourself to some new sephora goodies? 

I’ve had a lot of questions lately on how to revive damaged hair after coloring or extensions or just thicken up naturally thin hair so heres everything i know! Try one or try them all..

-Hair ties

A lot of drug store hair ties now have some kind of rubber on them to improve the grip, while this will keep your pony tail in place, every time you remove it you’re dragging against your hair and most likely damaging it.

I definitely noticed a different in how healthy my bangs seemed after switching to softer ties.

Although they probably will let your pony sag, i really like the soft ribbon ties from sephora. They barely leave a kink in your hair.. its the next best thing to a scrunchy. Never thought i’d say that.

-Combing

If you have to comb through your hair wet, definitely use a wide tooth comb. If your hair is extremely damaged from bleaching, i would recommend not combing your hair wet at all but, if you must: thoroughly detangle your hair with moroccan oil or a leave in conditioner.

Here are a couple of great wide tooth comb options but you can also pick them up at any drug store/walmart for cheap! The moroccan oil comb is infused with the oil, i’ve never tried it but it sounds pretty damn awesome.

-Hair brush

Particularly for people with extensions i’d recommend a soft, bristle brush to prevent snagging. I can really be as rough as i want when brushing through my extensions with my fekkai brush and it never snags or pulls.

I like Denman or sephora for paddle brushes.

Amazon has a great selection of Monroe round brushes that are great for blow outs. Their shape means you can get closer to the scalp when drying.

-Shampoo/conditioner

After coloring, extension damage or even if you just have very dry brittle hair: a non-lathering, conditioning shampoo could be your new best friend!

My sister had mentioned to me that she’d bought a l’occitane shampoo to try in hopes of helping dry scalp which got me thinking about the infamous sulphates in traditional, lathering shampoos.

Sulphates in your shampoos are said to strip color, dry your hair and scalp and wreak havoc with curly hair. Since i’m not a chemist, i can’t say whether this is totally true or not but i am definitely a sulphate-free convert.

Initially i tried Macadamia Flawless after taking out my extensions and feeling like my hair needed a boost and i was so impressed! It left my scalp feeling clean and gave me the perfect day-old hair. You put it in dry hair and rinse it off in the shower and you’re done.

Since then Rachael gave me a Wen set that she’d been given and i think i might prefer it slightly. I only tried the shampoo, not the other styling products but my hair has felt great!

I rinsed my hair in the shower and applied the product to my roots and really massaged it in then pulled it through the ends with my fingers. The bottle tells you to use some ludicrous amount of product every shampoo but don’t listen to it, you don’t need a lot and you can always add another pump if needed. I leave it in a while then rinse it out. If my hair is feeling particularly crappy i run a second helping through the ends and let it sit for as long as i can, finishing with a rinse of cool water to close the follicle. 

- Argan oil

I probably don’t even need to say more but i love the stuff.

When i have extensions in i run it through the ends every night and put my hair up in a bun, the next morning my hair feels wonderful and keeps my extensions soft for ages.

I also run it through clean, damp hair and let it air dry as often as i can which really seems to help the frizz and pouffiness.

As if this product couldn’t be any more of a beauty essential… it also doubles up as a great skin treatment. If i’m fancying myself some shiny legs on a night out i run a couple pumps down the fronts of my legs and rub it in. So shiny and soft.

Moroccan Oil also make a “light” version for those lucky things with naturally shiny hair.

I also love the brands Josie Maran and Macadamia for argan oil products.

-Sleeping

I find if i get too hot in my sleep, the back of my hair turns into a big curly frizz ball.

To remedy this i rub moroccan oil through my hair and put it up in a loose bun on top of my head. That way my hair is still super soft and sleep in the mornings.

-Scalp energizer

There are all sorts of these and i’m not sure if they work but i’ve heard lots of good things about Phyto scalp stimulants.

-Heat styling

Always use a heat protecting spray when you’re going to use any heat stylers. S Factor make a great one but it can get a little greasy if you use too much, its great for VERY bleach damaged hair though.. you’ll get your shine back!

Oscar blandi is great for every day use and doesn’t leave your hair greasy. You can also apply it before you even blow dry your hair… just to be sure :)

I bought these three products this weekend and LOVE all of them.

-Argan balm. I can’t take a shower without slathering on lotion right after or my skin gets so tight through out the day. I love this argan balm for that purpose and imagine it will be perfect for the dry, winter months.

For a balm its surprisingly light and doesn’t need to be rubbed in too vigorously to get a good coverage. It smells amazing and kept my skin moist and supple all day. Definitely try this out in sephora if you can.

- Bohemian waves argan spray mist. I was intrigued by this as soon as i saw it in sephora and had to try it. I sprayed it on my hair damp and roughly blow dried it. 

It gave me really soft, shiny hold and good volume. Of course it smells delish too.

I imagine this would be great for beach/boat days to just spray on right out of the sea/lake and let it air dry for bouncy beach waves.

- Macadamia flawless. This all-in-one product has great reviews so i couldn’t wait to pick up a can at Ulta.

It boasts that it cleanses, conditions, refines and perfects and honestly i think it fulfills all of those things.

It comes out like a gel-mousse and i applied it to my hair dry, starting at the roots and spreading it through the lengths of my hair. You can add a little water to spread it through your hair but i didn’t find it necessary. I left it on for about 10 minutes then rinsed it out in the shower. Even while me hair was still wet i found it felt so much thicker and didn’t retain as much water when i was squeezing it out.

My hair dried fast and didn’t have the usual fluffy, freshly washed effect that makes it impossible to style.

My hair was clean and conditioned with enough weight to style easily.

(perfect for people trying to avoid lathering shampoos due to their drying effects)

This sephora cuticle oil pen is amazing. It’s thick so doesn’t make your whole hand all slippery. Stays where you put it. So nice! #beauty #nails #sephora (Taken with Instagram)

I love getting samples of things i actually like.

Here are my most recent favorites.

This exfoliator is expensive but the sample was awesome. It has really fine granules in it which i always prefer because i feel like they really get into your pores and scrub out all the dry skin and oils. It would probably be pretty harsh on sensitive skin and its definitely not for every day use. I’d say one or twice a week or just as you feel you need it for a boost. I definitely felt like my skin was a lot smoother and my pores were a lot smaller after i used it.

I haven’t used a mask for a while and found this sample in my magic box of sample goodies so gave it a go. The consistency is great, not too thick like a lot of clay-type masks but thick enough to get a good coating. It doesn’t take forever to dry and doesn’t have a lingering sulphur smell like some. Also super easy to wipe off which usually annoys me about clay masks. My skin felt clean and fresh, pores were smaller and it wasn’t super tight and uncomfortable.

The morning of July 4th i was searching through products to find a foundation with an SPF that i could put on fast and go. I found this sample (it doesn’t say which color it was but there are 4 available) and gave it a go. I was really impressed with the coverage which was great but still light. I felt like it left my skin glowing and dewy but not sticky or thick. I’m usually not a fan of tinted moisturisers but i’d definitely buy this! Perfect for days where you want something sheer that still has some coverage and decent SPF.

I’m really not familiar with what is available in the UK but you could ask a dermatologist, doctor or any spas that offer facials what they recommend.

Salicylic acid can be too strong for a lot of people but my favorite cleansers are here-

Figured I should start sharing my beauty finds with you again.

You can find this at Sephora and it’s great for seriously dry skin (think dry, flakey post-cold nose or dry winter knuckles) or just a boost for delicate areas like under eyes.

Carry this in my purse everywhere!

I will forever love this eye make up remover. Gently rubbing a small amount into your lashes emulsifies even the most stubborn waterproof mascara… wipe away with a face wipe or cotton pad and voila.. makeup-free and soft skin around your eyes.

For a good deep down clean, this is my favorite exfoliator. I massage it all over my face in the shower, leave it on while i shave my legs or twiddle my thumbs and then rinse off. Breaks down dead skin, unclogs pores and smells like pumpkin spice. LOVE it!

I alternate the peel & reveal with amore pacific treatment enzyme peel. It’s a powder that you mix with a little water and use like a regular face soap. My skin feels so clean but its gentle and doesn’t dry it out.

For large visible pores, this stuff is like magic. I’ve found i’ve had long lasting results with it too. Just use as a toner after you’ve cleansed your face and let dry for a minute or so..

I got a tester of high potency eye lift and figured i’d give it a go. I didn’t have a huge problem with bags or aging but i definitely noticed a difference after using it a couple of times. The skin was more taught but still soft and supple. Any darkening i did have under my eyes also didn’t seem to be so obvious. The tester is lasting me forever too!

Because i have a massive aging phobia, i decided to try Perricone’s cold plasma when they had a big sale and i seriously love it. I obviously don’t have much in the way of wrinkles to start with but it makes my skin feel soft, plumped up and evened out. (pricey so try and get samples or watch out for sales)

I also love Perricone’s face finishing moisturizer used in conjunction with cold plasma for the softest, most supple skin in the world.

I also alternate moisturizers at times and switch it up with yu-be moisturizing skin cream. If i know i’m going out in the cold or wind i slather this stuff on and it keeps it soft and protected from the elements.

Awesome!

Did you get the kit or the case?

They look great!

Thank you! I always try and answer as best as i can :)

I really like smashbox primers and they carry toners of all different tones: blue, yellow, green, colorless..