Confessions of a Beauty Blogger

 

While reading blogs It would be easy to assume the beauty blogger behind the blog is perfect in regards to their makeup, skin care and hair routine.

Well I thought I would do a little post today to show you that in my case any way (and I am sure I am not the only one) this couldn’t be further from the truth

. I am not perfect, no one is and thought it might be nice for my readers to get to know a little bit more about me and my flaws. 

Hopefully you will all still continue to read my blog, after admitting I don’t religiously stick to every beauty rule out there.

1.       Sometimes (just sometimes) if I have had a long day and I feeling lazy before bed, I am very naughty and use a face wipe to remove all my makeup. Not even a nice high end face wipe, we are talking the £1 wipes from Primark! 

 

2.       I hardly ever get my full 8 hours of beauty sleep a night.

 

3.       I am so impatient when it comes to painting my nails. I cant sit still for very long so normally end up smudging, re applying do the same again, have a paddy and take it off. To stop any possible melt downs I tend to go for Shellac nails at my local beauticians.

 

4.       I quite often forget to use heat defence on my hair before blow drying or straightening.

 

5.       I am a little bit clumsy when it comes to tanning,  I manage to get fake tan everywhere. I have ruined so many towels, desperately scrubbed carpets and walls to remove evidence and permanently stained quite a few parts of both my mum’s and my bathroom.

 

6.       Thankfully I have discovered contouring and highlighting, I am no expert but I have definitely moved on from the days of furiously applying bronzer all over my face. Cringe!

 

7.       I still haven’t mastered winged eye liner, I have tried and tried and tried, but failed. No matter what I do one eye always seems different to the other, maybe it’s because I am perfectionist and that 1mm different really does bug me, but I just can't get it right. 

 

8.       I am not very good at relaxing, when I do decide to have a pamper and a bubble bath I can quite often me found applying a bubble beard 5 minutes in.

 

9.       I very rarely curl my lashes, maybe it’s the lash curler I use but I really cant see a difference when I curl them or don’t, maybe I am doing something wrong, or maybe they just don’t work for me, who knows. 

 

10.   Finally, I am dyslexic, I can’t spell very well at all and I rely heavily on spell check and reading my writing numerous times to correct my many mistakes (sometimes I spell so badly the spell checker can’t even try and figure out what I am attempting to write), but no matter how many times I check my work there still seems to be some errors or even whole words missing. So yes some of my post aren’t perfectly written or spelt correctly, but I just try and write naturally and think about how I would talk to a friend and if there is  mistake here and there I am sure it’s not really going to hurt anyone is it? Being dyslexic does put me at big disadvantage as it takes me twice as long to complete any kind of learning or writing task. However, I don’t let it stop me and when I think about it, it actually makes me really proud for starting and writing my blog and not letting dyslexia stop me from doing something I enjoy. 

 

So there you have it that’s me and my imperfections. I would love to hear your beauty confessions, because well nobody’s perfect are they.

 

John Frieda luxurious volume

Growing up watching Disney films has really given me an unrealistic idea of hair, after years of gazing princesses with long thick flowing locks; of course I thought my hair should look like that. 

Unfortunately I was blessed with limp thin hair, fantastic! 

I am sure you can appreciate my excitement when I find a new volume promising hair product.

For the last month I have been using John frieda luxurious volume touch ably full shampoo and conditioner.

When it comes to hair products I don’t have much volume expectancy, I just have struggled to find many products that give my hair the lift and volume I desire, hence my love of clip in hair extensions. 

However I have been pleasantly surprised by the results of my John Frieda luxurious volume shampoo and conditioner. Now don’t get me wrong this did not give me extreme volume as I so desire, but I have finally accepted my hair will never magically become thick and flowing but I definitely saw immediate and noticeable results from this range.

I noticed after blow drying that my hair appeared much fuller, bouncier, softer and more voluminous, very impressive so far! The clear gel formula of the shampoo meant my hair still felt light and was not weighed down by product. 

The conditioner had a creamy consistency and left my hair really soft and shiny but still with added volume, so far so good. 

Then the scent, this combination smells so nice left my hair with a clean, fresh aroma and even my fiancé commented on how nice my hair smelt after using this, and I have since noticed he has been using it too. 

Than finally the price, I really struggle with paying lots of money on shampoo and conditioner so for the tiny £5.99 price tag it’s a bargain.

So overall the John Frieda luxurious volume range is a winner in my eyes and I will definitely repurchase. 

It has given my hair noticeable added volume and bounce without weighing my hair down, it smells divine and with the high street price tag its very affordable.

I would love to know if you have tried this range and what you think of the shampoo and conditioner. Thanks for stopping by

Bridal beauty checklist

Today I thought I would share with you my Bridal Beauty Checklist. I created this when I first booked my wedding being the over organised, beauty and make up lover bride I am ,it was important for me to keep in check with all my appointments and at home treatments. I think it's important to consider your beauty treatments and what looks you want to try for your wedding, because well it's the biggest day of your life and we all really want to look the best you possibly can. 

I am very lucky that my cousin is a beautician and it was fairly easy for me to book in for regular and try treatments and products. She has also given me lots of advice on the best times to have different treatments, and I think I will be seeing a lot of her in the lead up to my wedding. So I thought it might be helpful for me to share my check list and help out any other bride's to be out there. 

If you can think of anything I could add to my check list let me know in the comment box below I would love to hear your ideas. 

 

My wedding beauty checklist:

 

6- 12 months before:

·         Decide on a beauty budget so you know exactly what you can spend and what treatments you get booked.

·         Book your hair stylist and makeup artists and pay any deposits.

·         Start a beauty folder; collect some makeup and hair looks you like. I have found Pintrest great for researching bridal makeup and hair styles.

·         Book in all your pre wedding beauty treatments.

·         Go to the dentist and start any dental work you want doing before the wedding.

·         If you want to change your hair style or colour, do it now. This gives you plenty of time to dye it back or regrow if you don’t like it.

 

 

4-6 months before:

·        Book in your hair and make trails, get together the pictures from your beauty folder and narrow down your favourite hair and makeup looks. If you don’t like a style or look tell the stylist, it’s your big day and you don’t want to look back at wedding pictures and not be happy with the way you looked.

·        Start having regular facials ( I am having one a month starting 4 months before) and at home pamper nights with a good face mask to get your skin looking flawless for the big day.

·        Test out any skin and body products, once you have found a good routine, stick to it and don’t change it again before your wedding, you don’t want your skin to react to any new products.

·        Make sure your drinking lots of water

·        Start going to Yoga, ok so this isn’t really beauty related, but Yoga is great for distressing your mind and body so will, so less stress less spots, well that’s what I find anyway.

1 month before

·        Get a trim so your split end free. 

·        Start any teeth whitening, if you’re having them done professionally go to the dentist, I have heard lots of salon horror stories. If you can’t afford to go the dentist why not try at home teeth whitening kit, just do some research on different kits. I really liked whitening lightening dial a smile kit.

·        Have a facial and manicure.

 

 

2 Weeks before:

 

·         Get your hair coloured, I have the top of my hair dyed platinum blonde so two weeks gives me enough time to use any toners to keep it looking white and ashy, but a short enough time period that I won’t have any dark roots.

·         If you can pay your hair and make artist pay them now, that way you’re not rushing around in the morning sorting out cash.

 

1 week before the wedding:

·         Have your browns tinted and shaped in your desired shape colour, I personally have HD brows. If your trying out a new look, have a trail done a few months to make sure you like the finish look,  last thing you want is your eye brows going wrong because they shape your whole face.

·         Any waxing, legs, bikini etc. Having it done now will eliminate any redness or sores caused by waxing, to heal in good time.

·         I have personally booked a massage for the week before, I am predicting I am going to be pretty stressed and/ or flustered by this point so a nice relaxing massage will be just what I need.

·         I am staying in the hotel where the reception is being held the night before my wedding with all my family.  So I will be packing my overnight bag with all my essentials. I imagine the next week is going to be a hectic one this is something I can prepare now to make life a little easier and also I am far less likely to forget something.

·         Have your final facial today, a good facial will leave you looking a bit red and sore, and this wouldn’t be a good look too close to your wedding day

 

1-2 days before the wedding:

·         If you’re having a spray tan today is the day (2 days before) to do it, don’t try and do it in the morning and please and please go to a professional and have a trail first.

·         If you’re having individual false eye lashes have this done today (2 days before), but please have the patch test before a swollen eye would not be a good look in your wedding photos.

·         Manicure and pedicure time, make sure your nails are in tip top condition everyone will be looking your newly placed wedding ring and chipped nails would not be a good look. I am personally having gel nails in a neutral colour.

·         Final hair wash before the big day, used a deep conditioning treatment to leave your hair silky soft. I am considering going to the hair dressers for a wash and blow dry, my hair always looks much more voluminous and bouncy after a trip to the hairdresser so this might be a better option than me getting annoyed with my limp, fine hair. However, this will be dependent on my beauty budget by this time.

·         Apply an at home brightening face mask, do not use any kind of pore opening mask, you don’t want any pimples showing up on the morning of the biggest day of your life.

·         Don’t drink too much but enjoy a glass of bubbly with your bridal party.

Your wedding day:

·         Have a shower 4-5 hours before makeup and hair stylist arrives; use a good shower cap to ensure your hair doesn’t get wet. Some brides may wash their hair on the day but hair is much more likely to stay in my desired style if I wash it the day before.

·         Arrival of hair and makeup 3 hours before, give yourself plenty of time, you don’t want to be rushing as rushing will lead to stressing.

·         Ask one of your bridesmaids to look after a small bag for you with any touch up products you want to take along to the venue. I am actually getting ready at my venue so this isn’t an issue for me.

·         Last thing before you walk out the door, a spritz of perfume! Then you are on your way to meet your Groom and enjoy the biggest and most exciting day of your life.

 

Good luck and Enjoy

Xxxxx 

---

 

Wedding Hair

So it's 2014, so it's officially the year I am going to be a bride. As you got imagine my excitement for the big day is sky high at the moment and wedding planning has gone into over drive.

Today my wedding thoughts and planning has been focusing on wedding hair. I am far too indecisive when it comes to my hair, do I want it up or down, straight or wavy, flowers or tiara....the questions go on and on. I am having a trail in next few months and I am going to narrow it down to three or four styles to try out,so need to narrow down my favourites. 

Here is the styles and ideas that have caught my eye so far.. 

*pictures not my own found on pintrest.

Thank for reading lovelies, if yoi have a favourite hair style from any of the pictures would love to know your thoughts. 

Empties

Hi Everyone, so today I thought I would share with you some hair, make up , skin and body products I have used up, what I thought about them and if I would repurchase. 

Pro- Voke Touch of Silver Shampoo

I have been using this purple shampoo for years and its my favorite shampoo for my blonde hair, I use it twice a week ( anymore can damage your hair and give it purple, grey tones). You don't need to much of the product as it lathers up really well. This tone correcting shampoo leaves my hair looking really white blonde and removes any horrible yellow brassy toned, which is never a good look. For the £3.00 price tag it is a bargain.

Would you repurchase? Yes already have a new one in my shower. 

Aussie  3 minute miracle shine conditioner

 This conditioner left my hair feeling soft, conditioned and smelling really nice. However having blonde hair I didn't find it made my hair shine in anyway, but with my bleach blonde locks I should have expected that. 

I think this would work well on brunettes for achieving the shine result. 

Would you repurchase? No, purely because of my hair type

Body shop, banana shampoo and conditioner. 

This collection had a mixture of fruity scents and honey mixed with the banana, and I loved the scent it left on my hair after shampooing and conditioning. Now this is very strange for me because I hate the smell of bananas but I loved this. I think I preferred the shampoo to the conditioner, I just have tired  other conditions I prefer and found they left my hair softer. But I loved the shampoo, as did my fiancé, i noticed he kept using it :p 

Would you repurchase,?shampoo yes, conditioner no. 

L'oreal elvive crystal sparkling shampoo,

 I love loreal products, but this shampoo wasn't for me. It smelt good and I loved the idea of the pearl and micro crystal formulation but it just did nothing for my hair, it actually left it looking slightly greasy. Again I just thing this was wrong for my hair type, I am sure it would work better on darker hair. 

Would you repurchase? no 

Batiste dry shampoo

 I am a big fan of dry shampoo and go through bottles very quickly. Even on days when I have washed my hair I find myself reaching for it, my hair is quite limp and fine and I find a quick spray of dry shampoo really gives my hair body and volume. I have also found this using dry shampoo my helped my hair grow loads, because my hair gets greasy quite easily I had to wash it lots but now I just wash it three or four times a week, so its in much better condition. 

Would you repurchase? yes 

Bioderma Sensibio H20 - Micelle Solution

now i don't need to go into too much detail about bioderma every blogger and its blog has raved about this product. I got this travel sizes bottle for my last holiday and it was a really handy size, also really good if you just want to try it out. Until now getting hold of bioderma has been a nightmare I got some in Dubai, but other then that I have had to rely on ebay, but finally bioderma has reached the uk. I find this product really gentle and cleansing on my skin and has really calmed my imperfections, defiantly a favorite product in my skin care routine. 

Would you repurchase? yes already have but this time gone for the Sebium H2o. I will do review in a few weeks. 

 Grease lighting, spot treatment from lush

Now I have a love hate relationship with this product. On one hand I find it is really good for getting rid of spots quickly, but it leaves the skin around the spot really dry and flaky, bleughh . So I am torn. But I think for now I will be saying good bye to grease lightening and try and find other alternatives that don't dry up my skin. 

Would you repurchase? no not right now. 

Lush popcorn lip scrub

 I use this lip exfoliated every night and before apply lipstick, I find it leaves my lips really soft and smooth and removes any dry skin. I love the taste of the popcorn flavor too. 

Would you repurchase? yes, still have one from a Christmas gift set I got in my lush drawer, yes I have a lush drawer. 

Rimmel wake me up foundation

This is one of my favorite drug store foundations, I adore the glowing and dewy finish it leaves on my skin. It applies really easily and smells lovely, defiantly a staple foundation in my collection. 

Would you repurchase? yes 

Maybelline the falsies mascara

This again is my favorite drug store mascara. It really volumes and separates my lashes amazingly, I love it. 

Would you repurchase? yes I always by back ups on the famous boots 3 for 2 offer. 

Maybelline dream lumi touch highlighting concealer

I wouldn't use this as a concealer as its very bright but I love this as part of my contouring and highlighting  routine, I use this under my eyes, down my nose and around my forehead (sounds ridiculous I know), I love the bright finished look it gives me. It's very similar to YSL touch éclat but costs less then half the price. 

Would I repurchase? yes but right now I am using mac prep and prime for highlight, so after that's all gone. 

Benefit heart throb blush. 

This blush has lasted me ages, I love the light pink shade of this blush, its very wearable and lasts on my cheeks really well, but it's no longer available, so if anyone can recommend a good alternative please let me know. 

Would you repurchase? would if I could, boo 

 Aqua Mirabilis lush body butter, 

This did a really good job at scrubbing away dry skin and left my skin smooth, this does have a strong nutty almond smell which I really like but might not be to everyone's taste. My only negative about this body butter is it melts quite quickly, I had it in my shower and it shrunk loads, so store in a cool place. 

Would you purchase again? yes but not for a while trying out some soap and glory scrubs at the moment. 

Phewww, That was a long post, but I hope you found it useful and ejoyed reading, Hope you all hav a lovely Easter weekend, and get lots of Chocolate.

Thanks for reading

Emma Louise xx

My hair story

Growing up I was obsessed with Disney princesses and dreamed of having long blonde princess hair.....Now that I have grown up not much has changed, I have experimented with countless numbers of styles and colour. I have been white platnuim blonde to jet black and pretty much everything in between. I love changing my hait up, I get bored very easily and always want to try something new.

Now my own natural hair is a dark blonde colour, I think but I have been colouring since the age of 18 so I not 100% how it would look if I striped it completely of colour. Unfortunetly I was not blessed with the thick long princess hair I dreamed of, in reality my hair is quite fine and mid length (currently), so I to enhance the length and thickness I use hair extensions. I know there not everyone's cut of tea but I love clip in hair extensions they make such a difference to your hair and so easy to put in once you get the hang of them. The only hair extensions I use are foxy locks hair extensions. I have tried numerous brands and these are defiantly the best on the market. The quality of hair is amazing they are so silky and soft, and I love how thick and full they are. I do tend to trim the extensions as they are very very long.

So here is my hair story from once upon a time, to right now...let me know what you style and colour you prefer, I love getting everyone's opinion

My trade mark very long blonde hair.

Decided to give my hair the chop, love my hair a bit shorter but I get to bored with it.

When I first went to the dark side

Kept getting darker 

When I went jet black, I do love this actually, just cost me a small fortune in fake tan

When I had my hair stripped from black to start the journey back blonde 

High lights and low lights, This is one of my favorite looks, minus the army fancy dress though

Darker blonde

More natural blonde, got too bored though

How I currently wear my hair, I use hot rollers to achieve this voluminousness look . 

A rare sight but this is my hair  au natural, extension free, longest its been in about 5 years, Going to keep growing till my wedding.

Thanks for Reading

Emma Louise x 

I Love Lush

I am big lushie....for anyone who doesnt have any idea what i am on about, basically mean lush addict, lover, obsessive and so on. Now, I try and make sure I have a pamper night and some 'me time' at least once a week and I love running a bath, lighting my candles and using all my lush treats to help me unwind.

My lush drawer...

When it comes to lush shops I don't know if it's the distinctive smell or the beautiful array of colours on display but something takes over me and draws me in and I loose control normally resulting in me leaving Lush with a heavy bag and a lighter purse.

Now I must admit me and Lush did not get off to the best start. I had been given a few bits  and bobs from family members at Christmas and I always enjoyed using the products,but when it came to the shop I became very overwhelmed, mainly down to the amount of products on offer and I had no idea the difference between a bath bomb and a bubble bar and it was all too confusing for little old me, so I waved the red flagged and gave up. (Slightly dramatic I know :p) 

However after seeing beauty bloggers and youtubers rave about Lush cosmetics I really wanted to give Lush another go. So being the organised girl I am, I spent hours browsing their on line store, and researching different products, to make sure I found the right products for me. So once I felt prepared and ready I went to Lush (with my list in my tow) and made my first Lush purchase, and their have been many, many more since.

Here is a few of my favourite products, I will do some more in depth reviews very soon.

Buffy, enchanter bath bomb, twilight bath bomb,Dorothy bubble bar and snow fairy shower gel.

Honey I washed the kids soap, French kiss bubble bar, pop corn lip scrub, miranda soap and Big shampoo.

Thanks for reading and I would love to know your favourite Lush products :)

Emma Louise x