Thursday 27 November 2014

Monthly Favourites: November 2014

 
I can sense that a lot of favourites will be a bit premature this month as it seems that everyone is highly anticipating the new one to begin! I've held on for as long as I could but November is almost over which means its nearly time for my favourite month of the year and it also means its time to talk a brand new bunch of favourites! I'm so excited for December and all the festivities to really kick in. In November I didn't have many makeup favourites as my skin has been playing up lately so I've been toning down the makeup and skincare in a bid to restore it back to a happier state. However I've been really loving lots of bath and body products over the last month as you will see when I get into all of these lovelys.
 

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter.
If you caught my recent Body Shop haul you may already know that I picked up their new Glazed Apple body butter. I'm a sucker for TBS body butters, there's always one (or two) on the go in my bathroom so I was very excited to learn about their new festive collections hitting the shops with three limited edition body butters being introduced.  I never thought that the Glazed Apple scent would float my boat however I surprised myself and it was the scent I liked most - sharp but sweet - I've written a full review on this here if you want to find out more about it, but basically I've been loving it.

The Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector.
Another item from TBS I have loved during November has been their Hemp hand cream. I received this as part of a gift set for free when I spent over £30 in store recently and I've been using it daily on my hands since. Even though we haven't really experienced harsh winter conditions so far yet in England, my hands are always the first tell-tale sign that my skin is becoming dry and a bit neglected. This Hemp Hand Protector is probably the least greasy feeling yet moisture giving hand cream I've ever tried. I'm not even sure if that makes sense, but basically this isn't at all sloppy and yet it makes my hands so soft and nourished. I've got a full product review coming up with this soon so stay tuned.

Lush Snow Fairy Massage Bar.
Talking of greasy feeling products links me in nicey to my next product, Snow Fairy Massage bar which is the complete opposite of the Hemp hand cream as this is extremely greasy feeling. Generally speaking I'm not really one for excessively oily products, however on saying that I have really noticed the benefits of using a massage bar. I carry quite a lot of weight in my hips/lower body which can quite often lead me to getting back ache and when applying this to my lower back it helps release some of that tension. Its also a really nice treat for when your muscles are a bit sore after working out too. The only down side I would say to this is that it isn't cheap and you don't really get a lot of uses from it - I've already had to stock up on a second one of these. This also has a glittery bit to it too which doesn't bother me too much but might not be for everyone's tastes.

 
Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel.
Another product from Lush and hands down my favourite shower product of the month was their Rose Jam shower gel. This is absolutely gorgeous, and for those of you who are familiar with the Snow Fairy shower gel but find it too sweet, Rose Jam is a milder more flowery alternative to enjoy in your showers before Christmas. I really love this rosy yet festive shower treat from Lush.
 
YSL Black Opium.
My final 'smelly' favourite of November is my most recent perfume purchase and this is Yves Saint Laurent's new release Black Opium. I've been absolutely obssessed with the gorgeous smell of Black Opium since getting it and its definitely become my latest winter fragrance, particularly for evening wear - its going to be well used with the upcoming party season. I also think that the bottle is stunning, I love the glittery packaging it looks super chic and quite festive too. Obviously describing scents is a personal thing but I've written a full review on the perfume here if you want to find out my thoughts on it.
 
Nars Luster Blusher.
My only beauty favourite of the month is Nars Luster blush, as I mentioned above my skin is acting up big time so I've been trying to limit the amount of products I'm using while I try and figure out exactly what the problem is. However on days when I think my skin is looking like it needs a bit of a healthy boost this blush has been perfect. Described as a 'sheer golden apricot' Luster gives me a nice wash of colour. I would say Luster is a subtle peach blush without those strong pinky tones that a lot of blush has, instead it does have that gold shimmer to it which looks very beautiful. This is also a really versatile shade, you can pair pretty much any lip/eye combo with it and it goes.
 
 
QOTD: What have you loved in November? Are you excited for the new month to arrive?

 

Tuesday 25 November 2014

The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter


 
The Body Shop recently introduced their limited edition Christmas collections which this year saw the release of Glazed Apple, Frosted Cranberry and Vanilla Brulee to festively tease all of the beauty lovers out there. After having a look (or should I say smell?) at the new Christmas ranges my favourite was the Glazed Apple. Starting with the packaging and this is not usually something I bother discussing when talking TBS body butters as they are always the same and you kind of know what you're getting with them, but the Glazed Apple tub comes in the most gorgeous seasonal shade of green which I think is so pretty and festive. The apple on the lid has a little red bow for an added embellishment and theres also twinkling stars bordering the edge. I really like what they've done to the packaging as it makes me feel all festive.
  
So onto the product itself, well if you've tried one body butter you've tried them all in terms of consistency - there isn't really much difference in them so you can expect to get that usual creamy, skin nourishing goodness from the new Glazed Apple body butter. You can't really see from the picture above but the colour of the butter is actually a light green which rather decievingly makes me think of mint green. In terms of the fragrance this is so delicious and has easily made its way in with my favourite body butters, its very tangy yet fresh with a yummy bitter sweet edge to it.  This is definitely a product for the fruity scented lovers out there. Although I wouldn't usually associate apple scents with Christmas the smell of this really does make me feel festive, I'm not sure what it is about it but I've been loving covering myself in this before bed. The scent also lingers for quite a while too so you still get a whiff of the festive tangy goodness in the hours to follow.
 
 
QOTD: Have you tried any of The Body Shop's new limited edition collections?

Monday 24 November 2014

Lush Rose Jam Shower Gel


Lush is a beauty brand that you cannot avoid during the winter months especially with Christmas round the corner. I recently picked up the highly popular Snow Fairy and although I enjoy it I think its definitely the sort of product you have to be in the mood for as it is so sickly sweet. I popped back in to Lush and noticed the Snow Fairy's neighbour on the shelf which was the Rose Jam shower gel. Rose is a scent which I love, but it can be a bit hit or miss - nobody wants to associate rose scents with old grannies, no offence grannies.

However Rose Jam is a perfect blend of rose flower petals and zingy fruitiness, its got a very warm scent to it which you could almost call spicy. This shower gel has a rosy yet festive scent which I think is an unusually gorgeous combination. I definitely prefer this to the Snow Fairy shower gel as although its sweet its not as headache-inducing. Rose Jam is again part of the limited edition Christmas range so if it sounds like it could be up your street I'd recommend a visit to Lush while its still in stock - I'll probably stock up on another small bottle of this before it disappears for another year!

QOTD: Have you tried Rose Jam?
 
 

Thursday 20 November 2014

The Body Shop Haul: Love Your Body 40% Off Event

 
UPDATED: 30/11/14
The Body Shop will be hosting their next 40% off event in store & online 4-5th December!

Oh hello two blog posts in one day - but don't worry you might thank me for this one as I knew I had to spread the word about TBS two day 40% off event which lasts today and tomorrow (Thursday 20th Nov - Fri 21st Nov)  don't worry its online too! You guys know know how much I love TBS so when I received an impromptu text message today from them telling me about their 40% off event I knew I had to take a cheeky detour - if only to check out their brand new Christmas range. To enjoy 40% off you have to be a member (T&C linked here) and the savings I made today were amazing plus its especially handy in the run up for Christmas as some of their gift ideas are lovely.

I definitely went to town today, stocking up on some essentials from my favourite Vitamin E and Tea Tree ranges and then I got a couple of items from the newly released Glazed Apple festive range-which smells delicious of course.  In total the amount that was due before my savings was worth a whopping £82 which in the end came to under £35! Such a good saving! Here's a quick break down of what I stocked up on below:

Tea Tree Foam Cleanser
Vitamin E Night Cream
Vitamin E Moisture Cream
Camomile Cleansing Balm
Glazed Apple Body Butter
Glazed Apple Lip Balm
Hemp Gift Set
___________________

Total today £34.20 (worth £82)








QOTD: Will you be taking advantage of TBS Love Your Body 40% Off Event?
 PS a cheeky heads up that there may also be another 40% off at the beginning of next month too so keep a check if you miss this one.


Nars Copacabana Illuminator


 
One thing that I've noticed of late is that my skin seems to play havoc when the seasons change and especially as we enter winter I know that I'm prone to dull, lifeless looking skin. However I'm doing everything in my will power to prevent that this time round, and a product that has been a little life safer is Nars' Copacabana Illuminator. I've struggled to get on with powder highlighting products in the past as I find that they just tend to make me look way over done, however Copacabana is an illuminator so it does more than merely highlight.
 
Coming in a liquid form with ever so subtle milky pink tones, Copacabana can be used in a number of ways either under makeup or mixed in with your base product to create that gorgeous lit from within glow. I have also been enjoying using this as a highlighter because unlike powdered products I've used this doesn't expose my pores. What I love about this product is that its not in your face, its definitely not shimmery - it doesn't make you look like a glitter ball - however it has almost like an iridescent sheen to it that is very subtle and gives your skin a healthy looking boost. With the addition of this my face no longer has that dull twinge that gives away my winter skin woes, it looks fresh and luminous - and I mean come on who doesn't want to achieve healthy looking skin in the depths of winter?
 
 
QOTD: Have you tried Nars Copacabana Illuminator?

Sunday 16 November 2014

Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade (Blonde)




 Me and my brows have been on a bit of a journey this year and I've really been on the hunt for that holy grail brow product. There have been many hits and misses, some of which have made their way on to the blog: I'll leave a link to all my other brow product reviews here incase you're interested. However I have finally found the perfect product for me and that is all thanks to the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade. I first saw this product mentioned by one of the Pixiwoo beauty gurus and since then it has popped up quite a bit on the beauty blogging scene. I was intriguied and definitely willing to try something a little different to the normal since all the other brow products I had tried had left me a little underwhelmed to say the least.

The Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade is somewhere in between a gel / mousse formula and as you can see comes in quite a generously sized glass container. Best applied with a fine angled brush like this one from Real Techniques, this unique mousse formula effortlessly fills in your brows in the most natural looking way. Although gel like the product is still workable meaning its creamy enough to set it in the right place without any fuss. With this its easy to achieve realistic hair-like strokes to make your brows look naturally full and beautiful. You can create really defined brows without looking like your eyebrows have been drawn straight onto your face. Waterproof and bugdgeproof this product is going to last you all day, although I do recommend setting with a clear brow gel over the top for that finished look.

The colour blonde is absolutely perfect for me and mimicks the colours of my actual brow hair. I don't think I've found a brow product that has matched me so well and what is great about the dipbrow pomades is that they come in so many different shades, its not just light, medium dark kinda jazz I think there are about 5 or 6 colour options so there will be something to suit everyone I imagine.

Overall I'm so, so impressed with the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade as its finally given me brows that I can be happy with. Plus I think its actually amazing value for money, this costs £15 (I got mine from Beauty Bay with free delivery) and the jar will last you ages as the amount of product you have to use for great results is minimal. I would 100% recommend this product for all the brow product lovers out there and especially those on the hunt for that holy grail product as this could very well make the mark.

QOTD: Have you tried Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade?




Tuesday 11 November 2014

Fragrance Focus: YSL Black Opium

 

The perfume hoarder in me strikes again. I'd heard a lot about this new release from Yves Saint Laurent and of course I had to take a whiff of it for myself to see what it was all about. I wasn't expecting that Black Opium would be for me, since I knew that the classic Opium from YSL was something that's popular amongst the likes of my mum's generation. However Black Opium has been revamped and comes in a stunning black glittery bottle that sings out that the festive season is approaching - I can imagine that this will be on many a Christmas wish list this December.
 
The scent of Black Opium is one that I can only describe as sexy and a little bit out there it definitely has an edgy feel to it that fits in well to the idea of 'black' in its name - the perfume has a slightly dark and mysterious vibe to it. Although Black Opium is quite a bold dare to wear scent, don't be fooled into thinking that its not for you because it has just the right amount of sweetness, with a hit of floral and also a spiciness to it which combined together makes for a very alluring signature. The warmth and spiciness of Black Opium make this an ideal fragrance for the fall months, as I think you can better appreciate the rich, powerful notes to it. This is exceptionally beautiful once its heated on the skin for a few hours too and adds to that enticing, mysterious nature of the perfume. 
 
The wear time is exceptionally good because of how strong the scent is - its one of those perfumes that will sink in gracefully to your clothes or hair and lingers for hours. However if you're anything like me and always feel that a freshen up is necessary The Perfume Shop are currently selling this as part of a gift set with a 10ml handbag size edition which I think is absolute genius! For the same price as the 30ml bottle [£43.50] you can get an extra 10ml worth of perfume and it comes in a stunning gold gift box. I think that this would make an ideal gift for someone or a festive treat to yourself to wear to all those upcoming festive celebrations.
 
QOTD: Have you tried YSL Black Opium?


Monday 10 November 2014

Manicure Monday: Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Top Coat


Are you too busy to faff around with nail polish? Have no time to sit and wait for paint to dry? Or maybe you're just impatient and get bored of the whole 'manicure' process? Well this top coat from Sally Hansen could very well be just for you. This product is the solution to a quick hassle free manicure. Having tried this top coat multiple times now I can confirm that this really does set your manicure 'instantly' and dries it within a matter of seconds. This is an absolute godsend and saves you so much time as it minimises your waiting time dramatically.

I start off with a thin coat of my desired nail colour and allow that to dry naturally before going in with a second coat which you are meant to leave for two minutes and then go over with the Insta-Dri top coat. Don't worry this doesn't come out red as the packaging might suggest! Your manicure is touchable within about half a minute and the top coat also leaves your nails with a lovely shine. I would say don't go too overboard with the top coat or it won't dry as effectively, you only need a minimal amount on the brush - just enough to cover the nail polish underneath.

The Sally Hansen Insta-Dri is incredible value for money, you can currently pick this up at Boots for £5.99 and its on a 3 for 2 offer at the moment. I haven't tried Seche Vite but the Insta-Dri is a few pounds cheaper and does a brilliant job at rapidly drying your manicure and leaving it with a glossy shine so I would definitely recommend picking this up! I don't know how I survived so long without this little miracle top coat...


QOTD: Have you tried Salley Hansen Insta-Dri top coat?

Sunday 9 November 2014

Products I've Used Up | Empties #5

 


 
 
My bag of empty products has gotten ridiculous lately where I've been accumulating so many things. So this post is a bit of a backlog of products I used up throughout the summer months and without further hesitation I'll give you a little rundown of the stuff I've finished alongside a mini review of each product.

Palmolive Shower Milk.
When I run out of my Soap & Glory shower creams I buy something cheap and cheerful and usually go with whatever is on offer at the time which must have been Palmolive. I quite like Palmolive shower stuff as its normally only a few pounds, it smells pretty average - its never going to be anything too fancy but it keeps you clean and gets the job done. I would repurchase this again but its not something I would run out to the shops to stock up on once it was gone.

Simple Kind to Skin Body Wash.
As I used to suffer with really sensitive skin as a child I always like to have a back up shower gel in a cupboard somewhere that's super kind to my skin for times where it might be acting up. I don't use this on a regular basis but sometimes I can tell when I've been using more heavier scented shower gels or creams and its nice to have a gentler alternative. I must say I'm not a fan of the smell at all, I can't really put my finger on what it is but I put up with it because it doesn't irritate my skin.

Marc Jacobs Lola Shower Cream.
Nobody could ever accuse me of not taking a shower if you read my empties posts :P yep another shower cream to add to the empty list. I used this in conjunction with the matching Lola fragrance to layer it up and used sparingly it can totally last ages and ages.

Marc Jacobs Lola 50ml.
This is about the third empties post that has featured a Marc Jacobs fragrance, so you can definitely see a theme arising here that I'm kind of out growing these fragrances a bit now. I loved them at the time, obviously enough to use them all up but I think my tastes have changed a lot and I crave something much different these days. I would say that Lola is an appropriate fragrance for someone looking for a flowery yet sweet scent, it also has that air of 'oh that's a Marc Jacobs perfume' to it. If I got it as a gift I would wear it but it wouldn't be something that I asked for or would go out and buy myself.

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.
Ah the trusty old Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. How many of these do I get through a year? This beauty product is just such a reliable makeup staple, it covers blemishes, imperfections and dark circles with ease and it costs you less than a fiver. Obviously with a price tag like that its not going to be the most glam product in your makeup collection, the writing smears off after about two uses but the actual concealer itself does an amazing job. Although this is not the emptiest of empties and by that I mean I probably could wrangle a smidgen more product out with the doe foot applicator but its sort of beginning to dry up and show its age. I repurchased this the minute it started getting a bit dry and old.

Soap & Glory Flakeaway Scrub.
It was a good change to try a different scrub as I tend to always use the same old one. I used this a while ago but from what I can remember Flakeaway was a pretty  'gritty' scrub so exfoliated the skin nicely leaving it soft and smooth however it didn't replace my favourite Scrub Of Your Life.

Sure Crystal Invisible Deodrant.
Can't live without a spritz of deodrant every morning. Well you can but chances are you won't be so fresh and sweet smelling... I like Sure deodrants as they last really well, keep me from stinking and generally speaking don't leave nasty white marks.

The Bodyshop Blueberry Body Butter.
As a big lover of TBS body butters the Blueberry one was a product that I was really looking forward to trying out, its so gorgeously fruity smelling which was perfect back in the summer. Its a special edition product but I think they bring it out quite regularly so I would recommend this to all the fruity fragranced lovers out there. This didn't quite make its way to my favourites (I love the Raspberry and Coconut body butters best) but I did enjoy it a lot and would probably pick it up again in the summer months.

Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Blonde.
This brow product from Benefit was the first 'higher end' one that I purchased back in the Spring. I really like the colour on me its not got a gingery tint to it that you can find with some blonde brow products. The only thing that I disliked about this really was that it required a lot of sharpening and therefore it didn't last very long at all. It got small very quickly and its not really very easy to use where its become short. I think that if this was a little cheaper or lasted a bit longer then it would be a lot better value for money.

Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede tester sample.
When making an online order from Jo Malone I received a tester sample for the Peony & Blush Suede cologne which I did enjoy trying out however I think that I much prefer a lot of the other colonges that Jo Malone offer so I doubt it will be one I pick up.
 
QOTD: What products have you emptied recently?



Thursday 6 November 2014

Book Recommendation | The One Plus One by Jojo Moyes


Something a little different today on my blog, I'm bringing to you a book recommendation. I made a promise to myself that I would read more often once I finished my studying and its been so nice to pick up books that I actually enjoy and want to read for a change. I thought that I would write a few recommendations of books that I particularly enjoy and so I definitely knew that I would have to share my thoughts on Jojo Moyes' latest one which is called The One Plus One.

Having read a lot of Jojo's other books and loving them (particularly Me Before You) when I read the blurb of this latest one I've got to be completely honest it didn't entice me in as much as some of her others have done in the past. However I don't really pay too much attention to blurbs and I went ahead and got it as soon as I saw it in paperback which was around the summer time.

I had a few other books to read first but I started The One Plus One after my holiday so the end of September earlier October. One of the biggest mistakes I've made with Jojo's books in the past is that I read them too quick - I've finished most of the others over the space of a weekend and so this time I wanted to make this one last. Making this book last is harder than you would think especially when you enjoy it and its difficult to put down so its an accomplishment in itself that this book lasted me so long! Anyway onto what I think about the book...

You can read what the book is about from the link I've left above but its basically based on four characters who, as always with Jojo's characters are all totally likeable and relatable to. I always feel like I'm losing a friend once I finish one of her books as I become so hooked up and emotionally attached to the characters. I would say that the main themes of the book are family, relationships, love and hope. The chapters switch between narratives, which is a quality I've come to love in Jojo's books, so basically each new chapter will tell the story of events from a different character's perspective. This keeps things fresh and interesting in the way it hops from the point of view of say Jess a grown up woman to Nicky a teenage boy.

I'm really glad that I didn't let my initial feelings on the blurb put me off reading this book because I really enjoyed it. The One Plus One made me laugh out loud in places, it warmed my heart, gave me a lump in my throat and basically ticked all the boxes of an all round satisfying read. I was sad to finish this and hope that Jojo has another one on the way for us soon! Definitely a book to snuggle up with this winter and read if you haven't already.
 
QOTD: What book are you reading at the moment?

Wednesday 5 November 2014

MAC | Cyber Lipstick


Mac Cyber aka the scariest lipstick I own to date. I don't think I would have even picked Cyber up to swatch if it hadn't of been for Shanxo's fall tutorial which featured this lipstick where it looks surprisngly wearable. In its bullet form you can see Cyber practically looks black however on the lips its more of a deep purple shade that really has that vampy feel to it. There is no hiding the fact that this lipstick is daunting and you really could go wrong with it, however if you're careful and keep the rest of your makeup quite minimal there is no reason why Cyber can't be a wearable bold lipstick.

It hasn't had its debut out the house yet but I've had a good play around with Cyber to see how I can wear it best. I definitely think that the look should primarily focus on the statement lips so a very neutral eye - you can probably get away with a bit of liner if you wanted if it isn't too dramatic. A flawless while healthy looking base is a must for this bold look - you don't want to look too washed out or 'gothic' for want of a better word. It isn't a lipstick I would wear during the daytime however it is a fun going out lipstick if you're brave enough to go for a vampy look. Cyber has me really excited for  Bonfire night this weekend - I think it would really dress up a jumper and tartan scarf on those chilly nights where you want to make a bit of an effort but know you need to chose clothes to keep you warm!
 
 QOTD: What do you think of Cyber? Would you ever wear a lipstick like this?

Sunday 2 November 2014

Sunday Shower With The Snow Fairy

 
 

What else is there to do on a gloomy November Sunday morning? Its a no brainer that these sorts of mornings are the perfect opportunity for a pamper session. Sundays have to be the best time to have a nice pamper to wind down at the end of the week and set you up feeling refreshed and revitalised for a new one. Yesterday when out shopping I went into Lush - its got to be done at this time of the year hasn't it? Lush was as you would expect bustling with an overhwelming concotion of busy smells and excited shoppers that's all enough to give you a headache if you linger there too long and leaves you walking out smelling like an overflowing bubble bath.

I didn't go mad but did stock up on a couple of bits and clearly I was in a bit of a Snow Fairy mood. Yeah you know the one. Bright pink. Girly girl. Sickly sweet. Candy in shower gel form. I only got the small bottle of the Snow Fairy Shower Gel because it is so sweet and not something that I am going to want a great stock of. Snow fairy has got that convention smell that I always associate with Lush - its squeaky clean and really brings home the fact that winter is on the way! Woo!

Surprisingly I didn't end up with any bath bombs yesterday - however I did pick up something new to me and that was a massage bar. I can't say that I had even heard of a massage bar before yesterday but the lady in the shop showed me the Snow Fairy one and I really liked the idea of it - for anyone who like me hadn't heard of these they are basically a moisturiser in a bar form - you massage it into your skin and its really luxurious feeling. As this is a massage bar it is more oily than a conventional body moisturiser however I think that its quite a nice addition when you're pampering and especially in winter I know my skin gets super dry and its going to love this.
 
QOTD: Will you be lured in by the Snow Fairy this winter?
 

Saturday 1 November 2014

Hair Care Routine - How I Rescued My Damaged Hair

  
 
Today's post is something that I've been meaning to put together for a little while now, and that is a hair care routine / current favourite hair products type of post. I don't often talk about hair care on my blog as I'm very minimal when it comes to my hair - I don't do very much in terms of styling and I pretty much have had long blonde locks for as long as I can remember. However I recently had it done a little differently and I've also been using a bunch of different products that have made a hell of an improvement to my hair.
 
So I thought I better give a very quick history - as I mentioned above I've always been a blondie, I'm naturally fair (well dark blonde) but I've had highlights put in to make my hair look lighter for probably over ten years now, luckily for me my dad is a hairdresser. And considering that I've been colouring my hair for over a decade the condition of my hair has always been pretty decent. I also wash my hair every day too, which most people gasp at when I tell them but I just can not stand my hair greasy. Anyways for the last few years I have mostly been dipping in and out of bleaching my hair or if not using really light blonde highlights and again it was in a good condition. However over the summer I tried a different shampoo and conditioner that absolutely ruined my hair - you can read this post if you want to find out exactly what product it was.
 
It was a gradual process but I decided that it was definitely time to rescue my poor damaged hair. Here is exactly what I did; firstly I dumped the offending products in the bin and switched up my products . In particular I choose a lot more wisely with the sort of products I am going to use from now on. I am currently using the VO5 Cherish My Colour shampoo and conditioner which I've really been enjoying as I feel like it protects the colour without stripping it. Another thing that I like about this duo is that they are really affordable - VO5 is always on offer somewhere too. The star product for me has to be the RedKen Extreme Anti-Snap leave in conditioner as I have seen so much improvement in my hair since using this. It effortlessly gives life back to dry and limp ends making your hair visibly look healthier and feel better. Not a cheap product but 100% worth every penny, I get mine from FeelUnique where its a bit cheaper than in the shops.
 
When it comes to brushing I tend to leave things up to my Styler Tangle Teezer, as it does the job so easily without having to forcefully yank and tug at any knots or tangles. A product that I've gone back to using lately is my Tresemme Argan Oil Spray - for special ocassions or days when I want to give my hair a gorgeous shine this is such an amazing product. It makes your hair look so vibrant and glossy. This is probably it when it comes to products - to style my hair I half dry it and leave it in a plait to give me natural looking waves
 
Switching up my products certainly helped my hair, but there was only so much that these could do and my hair really had been through quite a lot so last week I decided it was time for a change up. I got some golden blonde highlights put in my hair, instead of my usual ones and I also had about 3 - 4 inches cut off my ends. I'm really happy with the colour, it has a warmer tone to it that I think will be nice over the upcoming winter months.  Just having the ends cut was enough to make my hair look and feel so much healthier - its got so much more life back in it now and if I continue to stick to the products I've been using it should stay this healthy looking.
 
Fresh from the hairdresser's.
 
QOTD: What hair products do you use?