Big Hair

In my quest to transform my fine hair into a big volumised bouffant, I've tried many methods to achieve it. However, having very fine, silky hair, and not a lot of it, means this is a struggle. But I think I have now managed to perfect my big hair routine, and I've achieved as much volume as I ever will. Here are my steps to big hair:

1) Wash hair with a volumising shampoo and conditioner.

I'm not sure if these actually make a difference, but it's nice to pretend

2) Apply volumising mousse to the crown

I currently use VO5's Perfect Length's Bodifying Styling Mousse which seems to do the trick

3) Slick on some Tigi Bed Head Superstar Blow Dry Lotion

At around £10, I thought this was a little pricey at first, but it definitely works and I can see this product lasting a long time as only the tiniest amount is needed. I put this on the crown and spread it through the rest of the hair before blow drying. It smells delicious too!

4) Spray Tigi Bed Head Superstar Queen For A Day to the roots

This is a similar price to the blow dry lotion. Equally lovely smelling, this claims to give some oomph to the hair, and I think it really does. This product doesn't last as long as the lotion, but a little still goes a long way.

5) Blow dry hair upside down

6) Use a large round brush whilst blow drying

It took me a while to get the hang of this, but using a large barrelled brush really helps add height and bounciness to the roots of the hair

7) Clip hair in a big bouffant half-up do

...and leave it to fully dry that way. I think this gives the biggest boost in bounciness, due to the way the hair dries.

8) Back-comb like crazy!

although I find even after creating a birds nest, my hair drops back very quickly to being flat so I...

9) Spray with a lot of hairspray

This helps hold the hair in place. I'm still on the look out for a good hairspray that is inexpensive.

Most Used Skincare Products - Facial

Following on from my post on body products, here are the products I rely on to keep my face soft, smooth and clean.

Luckily I have normal skin, so I don't have to try and combat any sensitivity or dry or oily skin. My only problem area is my nose, which is prone to blackheads and roughness.

Cleansers:

Simple Purifying Cleansing Lotion

This has remained a favourite of mine for a few years. The thick, creamy consistency is soothing and cooling, leaving my skin feeling refreshed and completely clean. I massage this onto my face with my fingers (including my eye makeup, no need for a separate eye makeup remover), leave it to settle for a few moments then remove with a baby wipe. This removes every trace of makeup, whether it's waterproof mascara or the steadfast Revlon Colourstay.

Sensitive Baby Wipes

Any brand will do. I wipe off the cleanser with these instead of cotton wool as I find the added moisture makes it easier. I also prefer these to facial wipes because not only are they a larger size, there are more in the pack and at a much lower cost.

The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Facial Wash

Occasionally I'll use this facial wash. It's super creamy and effectively removes all traces of makeup. A little gem to keep by the shower.

Moisturiser:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Sink-In Moisture Mask

This pale pink moisturiser has a soft, delicate scent, and although the jelly like formula doesn't look too appealing, this is my favourite moisturiser. Only a tiny amount is needed for the whole face. It really hydrates my skin and leaves it baby soft. I use this every night at bedtime.

Exfoliators:

The Body Shop Vitamin C Micro Refiner

This is really efficient at removing all roughness on my nose and making it smooth and soft. The micro fine particles do a very thorough job at resurfacing the skin, so I just use this weekly for deep exfoliation.

Natural High Gentle Exfoliating Face Scrub

This smells delicious, it reminds me of yogurt. This is a gentle scrub so more suitable for frequent use.

Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips:

I'd been eyeing these up for years, but at £7.99 for 6 strips, they seemed a little pricey. I'd had experience of nose strips in my teen years to no avail so I was a bit sceptical. Fortunately, I was recently sent some to try, and they completely amazed me. I won't disgust you with a picture of what the strip looked like after I'd used it, but they work, it was incredible! These weren't too painful to remove, but left my nose a little itchy afterwards.

Overall, I'd really recommend the Vitamin E range for normal skin. After receiving it a few months ago in a goody bag from The Body Shop event, I've not felt the need to explore other products as these perform so well. I've heard so many good things about it that I'm keen to try more products from the line, particularly the facial oil and moisture serum.

What are your skin care must-haves?

The Body Shop Makeup Brushes

Around 6 months ago I received a few of The Body Shop's makeup brushes to try. Half a year on and I feel I've used them enough to review!

For me, one of the most important aspects of a brush is how soft the bristles are. The Body Shop's brushes have synthetic bristles that are super soft on the skin, so I was very pleased! Equally important is how the brush fairs in regards to shedding and withstanding washing.These are the only brushes I have ever used that haven't shed. Not a single hair in six months! Which can't be said for my recently purchased MAC brush (my first ever) which shed all over the place the first time I used it.

Blusher Brush - £11.25

This is a great little brush for applying blush or contouring. The slightly pointed tip is ideal for applying a soft stripe of colour which can then be buffed out.

Face & Body Brush - £13.70

This is a larger version of the blusher brush. When I first took this from the packaging, the brush was quite flat and pointed. However, with use the brush opens up and becomes more fluffy, making it a dream to apply face powder and bronzer to the face, neck and decolletage.

Foundation Brush - £11.25

I'd never used a brush for applying my foundation before this, however I started using this daily as it's less messy than applying with my fingers. It can cause a few streaks and needs a bit of blending at times, so I wouldn't recommend. I'll be using this as a temporary solution until I get my hands on the MAC 187.

These brushes have had great reviews on Makeup Alley and reportedly last years. It seems The Body Shop's makeup brushes offer a happy medium between high end brands which can be very expensive and drugstore brands brushes which although affordable can lack in quality. I'll be heading back to The Body Shop to add to my brush collection in the future.

Anybody else tried The Body Shop's makeup brushes?

Most Used Skincare Products - Body

After years of testing out different body products, I've finally settled on a few favourites that have become a staple part of my skin care. Here are the body products I use constantly and will continue to repurchase...

Garnier Sugar Scrub

This has a fresh lemon scent, a lovely smell to wake you up in the mornings. I find this to be more of a body wash with a few exfoliating beads rather than a hard core exfoliating scrub so I use this daily to keep my tan looking even.


Soap & Glory Scrub Actually

Packed with brown sugar, white sugar and apricot kernel oil to buff the skin, this is perfect for tackling particularly stubborn patches of fake tan or smoothing out rough skin (I've found it's the only thing that gets rid of the bobbly bits on the backs of my arms.) When applied the scrub gradually dissolves, releasing the kukui oil, mango butter and vitamin E leaving super soft skin. I prefer this over the Garner scrub as it's densely concentrated and feels as though it's actually exfoliating so this is the scrub I reach for when prepping my skin for tanning.

Garnier Hydralock

This is a light lotion that is easily absorbed. Perfect as a daily quick-fix moisturiser, this doesn't have a strong scent and is ideal for giving my skin some moisture before I apply fake tan the next day.

Soap & Glory Peachy Cream

Containing Shea butter, peach oil, cocoa butter and beeswax, I use this weekly or whenever I need an extra boost of moisture. The cream itself is very thick, but spreads easily and absorbs quickly. It smells heavenly, has a soft pink colour and feels luxurious when applied to the body. The scent lingers for hours and skin is left feeling super soft and silky. My all time favourite body butter!

Which body products do you use most often?

ASOS Jeans

I realised recently that I hadn't bought a pair of jeans in over four years. Needless to say, the pairs I owned were outdated and I simply didn't like them any more. I was after a pair of tight dark blue jeans that didn't cost a lot. After a bit of browsing, I found the ASOS Iggy Blasted Indigo Skinny Jeans. At £28 they're very reasonably priced and cheaper than high street stores like River Island and Topshop where jeans are generally £40+.

Unfortunately I ordered a size 10, and either I've lost a lot of weight without realising or size 10's are bigger than they used to be, but they gape at the waist and it's too late to exchange them so I'm stuck wearing them with a belt to stop them falling down. Despite that, I love the fit on the legs, the quality of the denim and how there is just the right amount of stretch. As the picture shows, they look amazing with heels but can also be paired with flats or boots. I'll definitely be returning to ASOS for my next pair of jeans.

Has anybody else tried ASOS jeans?

Any other recommendations for a good pair?

Me! Bath

Already a successful brand in the US, Me! Bath has arrived here in the UK. Popular with the likes of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins, the brand offers luxury bath products inspired by ice cream. Priced at £10 for a bath ice cream ball, these goodies are perfect as a lavish treat after a long day. With delicious flavours like sweet peppermint, milk & honey, white chocolate and birthday cake, these look and smell good enough to eat!

I received White Chocolate Heaven to try (pictured above). Each bath ball comprises of 6 unique oil blends, purifying minerals and Epsom salt (known for relaxing muscles and drawing toxins from the body). When submerged in water these fizz and melt, releasing nourishing minerals and fragrant aromatic oils. This left my skin noticeably hydrated, moisturised and silky smooth.

The 'Ice-Cream Sandwich' pumice stone has two sides; one to remove rough skin and the other to buff and soften skin. Not only does this look pretty in the bathroom, I found it to be a lot more effective than the Ped-Egg at removing hard skin.

ME! Bath also offer 'Body Icing,' a moisturiser enriched with Shea and cocoa butter and 'Shower Sherbet,' a sugar-based body scrub that contains jojoba oil and vitamin E. They also have fab little gift sets available, perfect for Christmas presents and an alternative to Lush!

Me! Bath products can be found here

Primark Bedazzlement

I've always been a fan of Primark's jewellery and accessories. They often replicate pieces from Topshop and other high street stores for a fraction of the price. Here are some of my favourites...as you can see I love pearls!

These headbands were around £2 each. A cheaper alternative to Accessorize that look just as pretty!

I love this cocktail ring, it looks perfect on a night out when you want to glam-up an outfit

I like to layer longer necklaces so I pair this pearl necklace together with one adorned with clear beads

Not only do Primark make plenty of pretty girly jewellery that looks lovely simply lying on a dressing table, I also love their chunky wooden bangles and statement dangly earrings.

Anybody else a fan of Primark's accessories?

Cloud Nine Hair Irons

I was delighted to receive a pair of Cloud Nine hair irons, the latest brand to hit the hair scene. My current pair were looking worse for wear, I have owned them for 6 years after all. I still remember when I purchased them all those years ago during a school lunch break from what was then a new online store called ASOS. However, I didn't realise just how shockingly bad my old pair were until I tried these out!

The concept behind Cloud Nine is less heat, more style. Designed to give the flexibility to create a range of styles at lower temperatures, the irons have a temperature control panel ranging from 100'C-200'C, giving you the option of changing the temperature depending on the style you want to create in combination with your own hair type.

The irons are beautifully presented in sleek and sophisticated black packaging with flashes of turquoise, a perfect design for a luxury brand...

Along with the irons comes a little guide book, advising on the best temperature to use on your hair and instructions on how to create a variety of styles, from poker straight to voluminous loose curls. As the guide stated it can take a maximum of 20 seconds to heat to the desired temperature, I was surprised and impressed to find my recommended temperature was reached in around 5 seconds. This kind of speed means styling your hair will never be a long chore and won't take up much of your time.

These light weight irons glided through my hair effortlessly, leaving my hair perfectly styled with just one stroke, meaning I completed my whole head in a matter of minutes. My hair was left sleek with a glossy sheen, perhaps due to the mysterious ingredient that has been incorporated into the irons that supposedly gives hair added shine and sparkle each time you use them.

With additional features such as a swivel cord, heat guard, hibernation mode and a dual adaptor, these irons really do seem to be perfect in every way!

These Cloud Nine irons are priced at £129.99 and are available here

Benefit's Justine Case

As a fan of anything miniature, this dinky sized collection of some of Benefit's most popular products was just calling out to me!

Perfect for throwing in your bag to use for refreshing your makeup throughout the day, the kit contains 'california kissin,' a lipgloss to make your teeth look whiter, 'eyecon' to cover dark circles, 'benetint' for flushed lips and cheeks and 'some kinda gorgeous' to perfect your complexion.

Not only is the handy for when you don't want to be lugging around a packed makeup bag (we're all guilty of it!), these little kits are also great for testing how you get on with the products before committing to buying the full size. Perfect for a stocking filler!

Any other Benefit mini kits worth looking at?

FOTD

Face:

-Revlon Colourstay foundation

-Maybelline Dream Matte concealer

-Barry M Natural Dazzle bronzer

-Collection 2000 Pink Cloud blusher

-Rimmel eyebrown pencil in Dark Brown

Eyes:

-Eyeshadow 1 (iridescent white colour) from Maybelline's Smoky Indigo palette used on the eyelid and also as a highlight on the inner corner and on the brow bone

-NYX Taupe applied on the crease and blended upwards to the brow bone

- NYX Dark Brown on the crease and blended outwards

-GOSH Velvet Touch black eyeliner on the water-line

-Rimmel Line Definer Liquid Eyeliner (love this, so easy to apply)

-Maybelline Colossal mascara

Lips: Rimmel's Ambre Rose

Clipinz Hair Extensions-For Big Hair!

It seems everywhere you look these days there's a big-haired woman around. My own hair is very fine, and I don't have a lot of it, so I need all the help I can get to achieve the same look. I ordered some Clipinz extensions about a year ago, after trawling through a whole load of hair sites and discovering Clipinz were the only human hair extensions I could afford. However, I've only just started wearing them, and have to say I love them!

I ordered the human hair half head from here, which consists of 3 clips-ins instead of the full set of 6. I've had a full set before but I struggled to find enough space on my head to clip them all in. I'm not sure if I just have a tiny head or everyone has that problem, but nevertheless, a half head seemed like the perfect solution, and for £30, they were very reasonably priced. The half head is great for girls who already have long hair who are just looking for some extra volume, as you don't need to worry about having enough extensions to cover up the length difference.

Before

(Looking ghostly)

After

I'm not sure how much the photo's show the difference, but they definitely add more volume and thickness to my hair, giving it that extra oomph! The colour match (#6 chocolate brown) was perfect, with the extensions even having the same blonde, copper and red tones as my natural hair when it's in sunlight.

I'm wanting to try out the Clipinz Extra Volume piece next, which is a single clip-in, just 3 times the thickness of a regular clip in.

Has anybody else tried these? Or anybody tempted to try them out?