SEVENTEEN PHWOARR PAINT HEAVY DUTY UNDER EYE CONCEALER

If you're like me, and quite often stay up too late - you will know that it ain't a pretty sight the next morning. My skin is very pale and around my eyes I have blue undertones that can cast a noticeable shadow under my eyes if I haven't had enough sleep, so a good under eye concealer is essential for me.

My favourite one of the moment is by Seventeen and it's their Phwoarr Paint, a "heavy duty under eye concealer". They aren't kidding. I've tried under eye products like this in the past, and to be honest i've never found one stand-out product that i've been impressed with. Plus, whenever I see a product labelled as "heavy duty" all I immediately think is "cakey". However, I was pleasantly surprised by this little gem.

I'm in the shade fair, which does match my skin tone but I do wish it was just a touch lighter. Personally I just prefer under eye concealers to be slightly lighter than my foundation, but I can overlook this because the product itself is fantastic. It covers the discolouration under my eyes in seconds and stays put all day. On my skin is has an almost-matte finish and doesn't crease at all, so I don't have to worry about touching it up during the day. I also use it around my nose area and it completely covers any redness there too. 

This product is under £6 and if you struggle with discolouration or dark circles under the eyes, you might find this to be worth a try!

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE: SUNDAY SHAMPOO

Bumble and Bumble products have been catching my eye a lot in 2014, and after reading countless reviews about the Sunday Shampoo (£17), it had to be next on my hit list.

I've been looking for a really good clarifying shampoo to use once a week to get rid of all of the product-build up, pollution and general grime that can accumulate during a busy week. Prior to purchasing the Sunday Shampoo, i've tried various other clarifying shampoos - all of which made my hair as dry as sandpaper and very difficult to manage.

It's a fine balance, my hair type is dry/very dry but for someone with more of an oily scalp, they may not have that problem. I realise that the job of a clarifying shampoo is to give your hair an intensive cleanse but it defeats the purpose if you have to then immediately bombard your hair with oils and conditioners just to get some moisture back in!

I did my research before purchasing the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo and I am so glad I purchased this product. For a clarifying shampoo, it feels very gentle on the hair and scalp, and smells very fresh and invigorating.  I love that it didn't leave my hair in a big tangled mess after washing (which has been my experience before with similar clarifying products). Instead, my hair felt very light, soft, and squeaky clean from the first I used this product. I knew it was love from that moment. 

So, what makes it so good? Well, the Sunday Shampoo contains a number of ingredients such as astringents with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties such as Rosemary Leaf Extract, and Sage Leaf Extract to cleanse the scalp. It also contains a detoxifier, giving the hair the ultimate cleanse from root to tip.

I would highly recommend this product. It has made a permanent move to my hair care routine and is already one of my favourite products of 2014.

THE BODY SHOP: TEA TREE FACE MASK & VITAMIN C MICRODERMABRASION

Whilst at The Body Shop recently I picked up the Vitamin C Microdermabrasion and the Tea Tree Face Mask. The Body Shop, for me has always been my go-to place for the blogger cult favourite body butters (mmm!), natural haircare products, and good-enough-to-eat gift sets but this time I was keen to branch out and try more of their skincare ranges.

Tea Tree Face Mask: Tea Tree is a fantastic, spot-fighting ingredient. I don't have particularly problematic skin, apart from it being quite dry, but I occasionally get blocked pores around my nose and just above my top lip so I use a mask once a week to keep my skin clear. I read a couple of reviews for the Tea Tree mask before I purchased it, and although it says it's suitable for blemished skin, I thought it was great. The product itself is a green, clay-like mask and I usually find the best way to use this product is in the shower since things can get quite messy! The only thing I didn't like about this product was that it wasn't very smooth so it's not the easiest mask to apply evenly. However, sometimes I even mix this mask with my Neutrogena Visbly Clear 2 in 1 Wash and Mask and this turns it into a smooth, light green mask for an intense pore cleanse. 

Vitamin C Microdermabrasion: There is nothing I love more than giving my self a home-spa facial once a week. This product has tiny micro particles that gently buff your skin, removing dead skin cells to reveal a more radiant complexion. After my first use, I could feel my skin was noticeably smoother, and my makeup applied like a dream. It really smoothes and polishes the skin, and a little goes a long way. I use this product twice a week whilst in the shower, rub it over my face and neck in circular motions and use a muslin cloth to remove it. Vitamin C is great for protecting the skin, and it promotes the production of collagen. I think this would be great for any skin type, even if you have very oily or very dry skin, it's important to remove all the dead skin cells and give your skin a good, deep clean at least once a week.

If you're looking to change up your skincare/cleansing routine, The Body Shop is worth a visit as it has some great, affordable options for all skin types and concerns.

CHARLES WORTHINGTON VOLUME & BOUNCE TEXTURISING SPRAY

If like me, you haven't been blessed by the voluminous hair goddesses with a thick mane of gorgeous hair, you're going to want to keep reading this post...

My hair strands are very fine and have a tendency to break easily, so even after i've blow-dried my hair you can guarantee an hour later my hair will be flat against my head again. I've tried everything from having layers cut in, to using countless "volumising" mousse products, to backcombing (I know, not good!) all with very mediocre results. I'm also trying to avoid using heat on my hair in an attempt to make it as healthy-looking as possible, so getting any sort of volume in there is a challenge!

However, i'm finding more and more that the secret to my hair is not to bombard it with volumising products as soon as i've washed my hair...

Recently I finished up the Oribe Dry Texturising Spray that i've had since Christmas, and as much as I loved the lightweight feel and finish of the Oribe spray, I was keen to see if I could find a slightly cheaper alternative as £38.00 is quite expensive for a texturising spray in my opinion.

I then started hearing the hype about the Charles Worthington Volume & Bounce Texturising Spray, so needless to say the next day I was roaming the aisles of Boots looking for it and at just £6.99 I couldn't say no to giving it a whirl.

The product is a very fine spray and feels lightweight in the hair. It adds volume from the roots in an instant and is perfect if you have limp, lacklustre hair at times like me. I wash my hair in the morning which can be a nightmare for styling as it makes it so soft, but this product gives your hair instant texture and that 'second day hair' feeling, so that you can create any hairstyle quickly and with ease. I also like to spray a little of this into the mid-lengths and ends of my hair when my hair is up - gives an average ponytail that edgy, effortless, yet glamorous look. It also has incredible staying power and washes out easily. Initially, I was a little concerned this product would cause some pulling and tugging when I tried to brush my hair after I'd applied it, but that was actually not a problem. As with any dry spray product, just be gentle when combing/brushing through it.

If you can get your hands on this product, I highly recommend it. Whether it's an up-do or down straight, this product will be able to add that extra bit of volume to any hairstyle and won't let you down halfway through the day. Plus, the bottle is pink...What's not to love?!

BENEFIT HIGH BEAM: MY HOLY GRAIL HIGHLIGHTER

I've purchased High Beam by Benefit (£19.50) twice in the past and I would definitely put it in my holy grail list of products. It takes a lot for a product to be considered holy grail for me so I thought it was about time I shared my thoughts on why I love it so much!

The product itself comes in a nail polish style bottle and has a similar brush applicator. As always, the Benefit packaging is very visually appealing in keeping with that old school, retro style vibe which I love. It comes as a light pink liquid with a satin sheen to it which I prefer as glittery highlighters have a tendency to make me look like a disco ball!  

If you struggle with dry skin like me this product is great for giving your skin that healthy, dewy glow that we girls are always after. This is also why I prefer liquid highlighters to powder ones. All you have to do is simply dab the product on the tops of your cheekbones and over the brow bone and blend with a light hand. What I love about this product is how subtle it looks on top of your foundation, it blends like a dream and literally gives your skin boost in seconds. If you're in a rush in the morning - definitely reach for this!

I also love the longevity of this product, I have used High Beam for years and it is by far the best highlighter I have ever used. You would think, having used it for years I would have bought loads but I have only needed to repurchase this product twice before - that's how long a single bottle lasts! I will definitely continue to repurchase High Beam again and again and again. It lasts all day long and gives my skin a very fresh-faced, youthful look like no other...

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REVIEW: MAC MATTE POWDER BLUSH

If i'm completely honest, I haven't really ventured into Mac much over the years. I've purchased the odd product here and there but if you were to take a peek into my makeup collection, very few products I use are from Mac. However, recently i've been on the hunt for a perfect matte brown blush shade, with not much luck until I came across "Prism"...

I was stood gazing at all the colours, and had countless swatches on my hands and arms - the girl that worked there even offered me her arm to swatch on too! One thing I do love about Mac is that the products are always on show and available for you to swatch. After much deliberation I settled on Prism, which happens to be one of their bestsellers. I loved that it was a warm brown shade with just a hint of pink and it was matte - exactly what I had been searching for!

The shade is also ideal for me as a contour as I have very pale skin. I know what you're thinking, it looks quite dark for someone with pale skin (I thought that too) but with a light hand and the right application it blends like a dream. I love accidentally stumbling across multi-purpose products! The pigmentation is fantastic so I only need a tiny amount on my brush, and although the product was £18 I know it will last a long time and I would definitely go back and pick up some more shades.

Love. Love. Love.

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