Haircare Essentials

Haircare is a tricky one, I find it hard to find products that really make a difference to my hair without making my hair full of product or greasy looking. 

My hair is dry and curly but I have finally found products that make my hair smooth and shiny. All of my haircare products are from Lush, I love Lush for being cruelty free and for making products that genuinely work and contain lovely ingredients (defo not a sponsored post btw- I wish haha)

Shampoo- Lush Honey Shampoo Bar

I think the concept of a shampoo bar is incredible, more brands need to release packaging free products, it is such an eco-friendly way to buy haircare.

That said, the actual shampoo is also incredible, the bar lathers well and since converting to using a shampoo bar my hair has felt lighter and healthier. I don't know if it is because the shampoo is not so thick and so you are applying less product or if it is the fact that the honey leaves my hair light and shiny.

This is great for dry hair like mine however Lush has a range of shampoo bars for a variety of hair types so you should definitely check them out!

Co-wash- Avocado co-wash

This can be used as a shampoo and conditioner in one however i use this in between my shampoo and conditioner which may seem excessive however for me it is worth it. The avocado is super softening however for me this is not intense enough to be a conditioner so I like to use it in-between. Since adding this into my hair routine, my hair detangles easier! Also if I am totally honest,  the smell is irresistible!

Conditioner- Lush retread 
Possibly one of the thickest conditioners I have ever used, this feels more like a hair treatment- which I adore. I apply this all over my hair and leave it on for 2-3 minutes which is not necessary but for me, I like leaving my conditioner on for maximum effect. I have never found a conditioner that works so well for my hair.

Hair moisturiser- R&B

R&B is an excellent product if you have dry hair, it makes such a difference to my hair, it makes my hair feel soft and tame. The only con is that the smell is not my fave and if you apply too much your hair may appear greasy. That said, this lasts such a long time as you need a small amount!

I would love to hear about your favourite or go to hair care products, be sure to let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Ellie

Skincare Saviours

Skin/body care is a really important part of my life, I really enjoy trying out different products and looking after my skin. However, there are some products I have discovered that I really adore and will always re-buy so I thought I would share them with you!

Mario Badescu drying lotion

Ok so maybe every blogger and youtuber has spoken about this 100 times already but now I finally get the hype- this thing is just amazing. I never believed that this could actually make spots disappear so quickly, but it definitely can. I apply this before bed whenever I have a blemish and normally it has gone by the next day or after a couple of applications. This is going to be one of those products I buy time and time again. The only con I can think of is the fact that it really does dry the skin around the spot so try to only apply this where you really need it!

Mario Badescu facial spray 

Normally with these kind of sprays I feel like they are doing nothing but making me feel refreshed. However, this spray really makes a difference to my skin. Since using this, my skin has felt softer and   hydrated. I especially love spraying this throughout the day to help give my skin a quick boost of hydration! It definitely helps balance the skin too seeing as rose is a gentle and calming ingredient.

Liz Earle deep cleansing mask

I use this mask once a week to purify and deeply cleanse (as the name would suggest) my skin. I feel so clean and fresh after using this and my skin always looks brighter. Sometimes I use this more often if my skin is being problematic however normally once a week and my skin is good to go! If you want something to balance and purify your skin then this is the mask to go for.

Ro's Argan body conditioner (LUSH)

This may be pricey but is so beautiful, I use this body conditioner in the shower, wash it off and my skin stays beautifully soft! Who wants to have to moisture after the shower when you can do it in the shower?! The smell of this body conditioner is gorgeous too and the ingredients are beautiful (almond oil , argan oil and shea butter being just a few).

L


et me know your skincare/bodycare holy grails in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

Ellie

A few things I have been loving:

 I thought I would share some of the things I have been loving recently as I realised that I had a few new discoveries that I have been using and obsessing over! I always love reading others blog posts which include new discoveries so I thought- why don't I do the same?! 

Cordially Invited- Book

Since Cordially Invited arrived in the post, I have been endlessly reading it and staring at the gorgeous imagery in awe. We all know Zoe has an eye for design and detail but this book expresses that at another level. The pure detail in each image and the effort that has been put into this book is actually unreal. Zoe really does show us how to make an occasion out of everything- as well as sharing some incredible recipes and tips. I have been particularly enjoying the autumn section, of course, it is really getting me in an autumnal mood. I can imagine this book being the perfect coffee table book as you could seriously spend so much time just looking at the images alone.

Buche de Noel- Cleanser 

Lush is one of the brands I absolutely love, their ethics, ingredients, products and even their shops. I especially love Lush in the autumn- a bath bomb is basically an essential aspect of a bath right? Now Buche de Noel is not a bath bomb but is actually a cleanser, apart of Lush's Christmas range *yes the C word already*.  It is basically Angels on Bare Skin with a bit extra. I take a small piece and work it  into my face with water, to create a paste. The ground almonds gently exfoliate, whilst the citrus brightens my skin. I find this cleanser really gentle, whilst also making my skin feel polished and soft. I do not use this to remove makeup, but as a step after removing makeup to make my face feel completely clean, I can see this becoming a staple- what will I do after Christmas!!

 Pumpkin Cupcake- Hand Gel

Whilst in America, NYC, I managed to get to a bath and body works. Which was so exciting, to those who live in America, this will seem so silly, but to those who do not have a bath and body works accessible to them, you will totally get my excitement! Now clearly this hand gel is very fitting for this season, hence why it hasn't left my handbag. It smells incredible, whilst making sure my hands are clean- perfect!

Blistex Med Plus- Lip balm

Possibly the most boring product in this post but a very necessary one, lip balm.

My lips are not loving autumn at all, they felt dry, chapped and sore- already. It hasn't even really become that cold yet! 

Now I love the lip balms that smell incredible and have cute packaging but I really needed a lip balm that was strong and would work, which is why I picked up this more 'medical' lip balm. It smells like medicine but it does the job, it has made my lips feel like lips again, definitely pick this up if you are suffering from dry lips too!

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post! Be sure to share your current favourites with me too :)

Ellie x 

My Staple Skincare Products

Skincare is my favourite, I love taking care of my skin and feeling refreshed is really important to me! Skincare is the foundation to a good base, when I slack on skincare, I really notice the difference in my makeup and even the way I feel in myself- which may sound dramatic but is honestly true!

This post is about all of my top holy grail skincare products, I use more/different products however the ones I will always repurchase are the ones in this post!

Let me just tell you a little bit about my skin first: I have mostly normal/dry skin, I rarely get blemishes and my skin is sensitive.  I like to stick to the body shop and brands which I know I can trust, hence why so many of the products are from the body shop, I promise this isn't a sponsor ( I wish!).

1) The Body Shop camomile cleansing butter

I use this to remove all of my makeup and honestly it is perfect! Some cleansers do not fully remove your makeup or need a double cleanse however this cleanser melts away all of your makeup with one application. As you rub it in, it turns into an oil- which is perfect for my dry skin. The only disadvantage is that I do not have an excuse to use facewipes anymore because this is so simple and quick!

2) Liz Earle Instant Boost skin tonic 

I have mentioned Liz Earle's products before on my pamper routine post (here) but I will mention them again because this product really is one I will always buy! I am yet to find another toner that that will make my skin feel so clean and radiant, without being to harsh. I never used to understand toner, I thought it was just like putting water on your face- this was because I was not using the right toners. This one really does make a difference to my skin, its part of my daily routine, my skin looks visibly more hydrated and feels cleansed. 

3) The Body Shop vitamin E gel cream

I seem to enjoy Vitamin E ranges because I am also a fan of Superdrugs range. Vitamin E works on my sensitive skin, this moisturiser hydrates my skin without being sticky, it soaks in quickly. The fact that it is a gel formula makes it even more refreshing, I especially like to use it in the summer. I hate it when creams take a long time to sink in and feel heavy (when applying in the morning) it can be hard to find a moisturiser that works on my dry skin without being thick and heavy- but finally I found one!

4) The Body Shop soothing rescue cream mask (Aloe)

In the winter, when I am looking for something that is really going to sort out my dry skin this is the product. It definitely 'rescues' my skin, having dry skin- the winter is not the best, I put this on a couple of evenings a week and it makes all the difference. It is heavy and very thick, it does wonders for my skin! I would highly recommend this if you also suffer in the winter. Though I do not like heavy creams, I apply this at night so that by the morning it has soaked in! 

5) The Body Shop elderflower eye gel

I do not have a lot to say about this but I use it every single morning without fail. I get dark and puffy under eyes, this does not help with the darkness (concealer does that..!) but it does help with the puffiness, as well as making me feel fresh and awake- it is very cooling!

6) Freedom spot gel

I really do not get spots often, I have been lucky with my skin, however when I do, this is the first thing I reach for. I put it on in the evening and by the morning I notice that the spot has either gone completely or has calmed down. I try to put it on as soon as I notice a spot to stop it getting worse and that really works for me. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you also love skincare be sure to let me know your holy grail products so I can have a browse and try some out!

Ellie x

The Perfect Autumn Makeup Look

Makeup is back. 

After a summer of tinted moisturiser and minimal makeup, I am not sad for it to be getting a bit cooler, allowing me to experiment more with makeup, without it melting off my face!

Some of these products I have used for over a year, others are new to me, but all together they create a flawless- but not heavy- makeup look. I hate makeup that feels heavy on the skin, I like to look fresh and healthy with a decent amount of coverage.

The eyeshadow palette is by revolution, I already have an in depth review of it on my blog, which you can find here. But as you can see, the burgundy, pinks, oranges and browns are all very autumnal,   I love to use brown as a base and orange or burgundy in the crease, my go to look at this time of the year!

Lets have a look at my faves:

When I was in New York City- read about my NYC trip here- I picked up this L'Oreal infallible pro-glow foundation and the NYX 'gotcha covered concealer'.  And let me tell you, I 100% do not regret my purchases because this foundation is perfect for me, it still allows my skin to breathe and look fresh but gives a medium to full coverage. Now I am quite lucky with my skin and I do not have many blemishes so I cannot really give a verdict on that side however I can say if you are looking for a foundation that has decent coverage without being cakey this is one to consider! It covers any red patches and gives my skin a flawless base.

I struggle with very dark circles (one thing I am not so lucky about...) however this concealer really does cover them. It brightens my under eye and hides how tired I actually am, whilst being dewy- nothing worse than cakey undereyes. 

Becca Champagne pop, practically known and raved about by every living creature.. but I am going to rave anyway. Oh my garwwwdd it is stunning! The glow this gives is unreal, not one for those who like to be subtle with their highlight, however, but definitely one if you like your highlight to POP. It is very pigmented and I love that it isn't glittery, just glowy. This would also look absolutely incredible on darker skin tones! 

Soap and Glory thick and fast mascara was raved about a few years back, did I listen- no, should I have- yes! I finally got around to trying out this mascara and it is honestly incredible considering the £10 price tag. With maybelline mascaras and this soap and glory one, I do not see the need to ever purchase an expensive mascara again to be honest!

It is lengthening, it gives my eyelashes volume and it is really dark black. This may seem like an odd point but you know when you get those mascaras that need so many layers because they aren't dark enough, well this one is dark enough, with 1-2 layers. It's perfect because your eyelashes are given a boost of volume, without being clumpy. The only thing it doesn't do is give my lashes as much of a curl as other mascaras but we can't have it all, haha.

Revolution is one of my go to cheaper makeup brands, I trust their products, and this eye brow 'cushion' did not let me down. It sounds weird but it is such an incredible brow product. It's so easy to use, with an angled brush I fill in my brows (in sparse areas) and it blends in so well with my natural hair AND lasts all day. I have already purchased 3 times and guess what it is £4. Cannot go wrong!

Other makeup products featured in the picture:

- Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick in the shade valentine , this pink/nude lipstick gives me a "my lips but better" kind of look, I prefer natural looking shades as they need less touch ups throughout the day (lazy life haha).

- Max factor Bronzer (light gold)- one of my all time favourite bronzers, I don't always wear bronzer but when I do, this is the one I go for!

- Hourglass blusher (ethereal glow), pricey but gives you such a natural healthy look and is very pigmented so you only need a tiny amount!

I hope you enjoyed this post and have discovered some new products.

Let me know what products you are loving in the comments!

Ellie x

Want to take all that makeup off and unwind...?
Check out my pamper routine: here

The Perfect Pamper Night | Self Care

Pamper nights are the perfect way to dedicate a few hours to self care and relaxation. We all need down time and a 'recharge', especially when feeling stressed.

(I have tried to link as many of the products as possible to help you out!)

Skincare:

I personally cannot relax and have a cosy evening with makeup on, so my first step is to use my favourite body shop cleansing butter to make sure my skin is all fresh and makeup free! I find the body shop skin care in general gentle and perfect for sensitive skin, I would highly recommend. This cleansing butter removes makeup really well and is a perfect dupe for the Emma Hardie cleansing balm. *Though if you have oily skin this may not be for you*
The toner I love at the moment is by Liz Earle, like it says, it gives my skin a well needed 'boost' of hydration after wearing makeup all day!
Finally, I have recently been loving the Simple skin quench moisturiser, however I have not used it for long enough to give my full thoughts, though I must say the formula is great, its like a gel so it feels light on the skin but also like it is working. 

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask

A deep face mask once a week is a staple for me, though I have clear skin, I believe that if I didn't use face masks like this, maybe my skin wouldn't be so clear, taking the time to really care for my skin is something I actually really enjoy doing. This mask unclogs my pores (hate that phrase but the only way to describe this mask),  it gives my skin that "clean" feeling, (though I must say the smell is not my favourite, but bearable for the results!)

*Liz Earle does not recommend this mask for sensitive skin, however from personal experience, I find it does not have any negative effects on my skin, I tested a small patch first so maybe that is the best thing to do.

Holler and Glow

If I am feeling over the top, to rehydrate my skin after using a deep cleansing mask, I will use a sheet mask. Lets face it, I picked these Holler and Glow masks because the packaging is stunning! However, I must say, they do really make your skin 'glowy' and hydrated. There is a lot of 'liquid' in the masks so they do leave my skin quite wet, I massage the mask into my face and then pat my face dry with a cleansing cloth/flannel. 

On this particular pamper night I used the "bling ting" face mask but next time I am excited to try the "money honey" one- I cannot get over the names, haha.

Bath time:

I am secretly excited that it is now getting slighter colder, meaning I can run a warm bath in the evenings and actually enjoy it, rather than feeling baked because it is also 30 degrees outside! 😂

Seriously though, can you beat soaking in a warm bubble bath after a busy day? I think not!

A bath without bubbles? Just not the same. I am not overly fussy about which bubble bath I use as long as it smells nice and creates lots of bubbles. At the moment I have been reaching for Zoella's Bath Latte, it smells fresh and not overly sweet (vanilla), I think it is a universal scent! It creates big bubbles and when I get out of the bath, I can still smell it on my skin, which I don't mind one bit!

Post bath, moisturising my skin is a must. As the weather gets cooler, my skin gets significantly drier. I wish I could say that I moisturise my body daily but unfortunately I don't, most days I cannot be bothered or forget to, but recently, I have been actively trying to moisturise  more as I really do hate having dry skin! On pamper evenings, however, I do always take the time the moisturise- like the bubble bath, I am not too bothered about which one I use as long as it smells nice and feels hydrating!
Recently I have loved the Victoria Secret 'Amber Romance' moisturiser, purely because of the smell if I am honest!

Chill time:

There is nothing I love more than having a relaxed evening, taking time to watch something I love, to cuddle my dog, to watch youtube etc.. allows me to wind down. However sometimes it is hard to just chill. When you are stressed about something, your mind keeps ticking,  you should be doing something it is hard to allow yourself to relax.

Here are some things I like to do to forget about the world for a few hours!

Snuggles with my dog (Teddy) are the best, he is so warm and cuddly and I just love him so much. If you have a dog, you will totally understand💛 Grab a blanket, cosy slippers and comfy clothes! 

I also like to watch abit of youtube because I do get bored very easily, haha.

Youtubers I am loving right now: (links on names)

1) Melanie Murphy: she is honestly hilarious, but also discusses such important topics, I find her videos really interesting. 

2) Lucy Wood: I love that Lucy promotes confidence, also she seems so lovely.

3) Fabulous Hannah: her style is incredible and she is also very relatable. When you watch Hannahs videos, she is the kind of person that makes you think 'I want to be her friend'!

Painting my nails makes me feel good, I just feel 'nicer' when I have my nails filed and painted. This Barry M 'mani mask' gives a nude/natural colour, the main point of the varnish is the help your nails grow and nourish them, which I defo need. Though I must admit, sometimes painting my nails is very stressful, smudges, waiting for them to dry, nails chipping etc... defo depends on my mood haha! (anyone relate?!)

When people used to tell me that colouring helped them be for mindful and was a way of relaxing I listened, but never really used their advice as I thought, 'that won't work for me'. But I promise, give it a go, it really does help you chill out. You are so busy focusing on the colouring all of your worries fade for a little while. ( Let me know if you give it a go, tweet me pictures of your colouring! @_ellabellax )

That is my pamper routine complete. Pamper evenings are so important to me, I love feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready for the next day. When you feel a bit tired, a bit run down and stressed, an evening like this really can make you feel 100% better, trust me!

My favourite day to have a pamper night is a Sunday! How about you? What staple products do you use on your pamper nights? I would love to know!

Ellie xx

My Skincare Routine

Hello Everyone,

This Sunday I am back with my skincare routine.
Without sounding vain, I have pretty good skin, a fingers crossed, my skin has been pretty good all throughout my teenage years.
Seeing as I have managed to keep my skin very clear, I thought I would share with you guys exactly how I do so.

First of all I will give you a brief outline of my skin type: normal skin with some dry patches. I rarely get spots and my skin is extremely sensitive.

Now of course there are days where I used a different face cream, or face wash, or buy a new product to try... however I am going to show you my 'holy grail' skin care products.

Normally the first thing I would do is remove my eye makeup using this micellar water as mascara tends to be the trickiest product to remove.
This micellar water is 'oil infused' which just makes my skin feel absolutely lovely. It is brilliant for my skin type however there are other variations which may suit you more.
My eyes are very sensitive, as are many peoples eyes, however this does not cause any irritation.
I would just like to add that this micellar water is extremely affordable which is always a bonus.

I then move on to my cleanser. This cleansing balm is stunning. It is by emma hardie, it smells lovely and it leaves your skin feeling clean and nourished. I take a small amount and take time to massage it into my face, the more you massage it the more oil like it becomes. Taking a warm wet cleansing cloth that comes with the balm, I removed the oil- and along with it my makeup.
However, this lovely balm does not come cheap at £50 a tub, hence why this is normally on my birthday or christmas list! Although I must say, such a small amount is needed that this lasts for about a year.
The only downside is that if you get this near your eyes it can cause your eyes to feel sticky/sore, which is of course unpleasant, hence why I remove eye makeup before hand.

A cheaper alternative to the balm would be this pair. A garnier cleanser and a NO7 toner. I use a cotton pad to rub the cleansing lotion all over my face and then another pad to remove then cleansing lotion.I repeat this until all makeup is gone! Again I will use a cotton pad to apply toner, however I do not remove the toner.

These two products work very well together and they work really well when I have had a more minimal makeup day. Days were I am wearing full coverage makeup then this cleanser might not quite reach the needed standard!

This cream is the moisture restore night cream, it has a beautiful gel like texture which is refreshing and almost tightening. My skin just feels lovely the next day. I don't have anything to say other than: perfect affordable cleanser.

Finally I apply my eye cream, which is currently this Kiehls avocado eye treatment. For someone who suffers with heavy eye bags, a good eye cream is somewhat essential. I can assure you that this cream is fab and I am very sad that it is running out. Kiehls, I will be back soon to repurchase.



That is it for todays post. I hope this helped some of you and I hope you enjoy any products you try.
Tweet or comment products you love.

Ellie x

Tanya Burr Cosmetics: Selfie Lash

Hello Everyone,

So this is a bit of a last minute post and a surprise post because today I was lucky enough to come home to one of Tanya Burrs new products: Selfie Lash. I entered the competition, without even thinking I would win and it honestly made my day!
I just had to try out the mascara and I thought why not give your guys my first impression?

As you can see, the packaging to this mascara is beautiful. It is a lovely gold colour with black 'swirly', italic kind of font  (I don't know what it is called haha). The mascara actually feels quite heavy as opposed to cheap/plastic packaging.
I don't actually know the price but from what I see and feel, this product feels great quality.

I think the packaging is very different to any of Tanya's other ranges- but definitely in a good way.

The actual brush is a hard brush and it is quite flexible. For me, this is the perfect brush.
It makes the mascara really easy to precisely apply, avoiding any smudges across your eyelids.
There isn't much more I can say about a brush really, I guess it is down to personal preference.

Now finally here is a picture of me and the mascara. I have go the mascara on and it made my eyelashes long and separated. It only needed 2 coats and my eyelashes were pure black, long, separated and had 'volume'.

Overall, I would highly rate this mascara and it is one that I will be turning to daily and I can imagine myself repurchasing this time and time again.

I hope this review has helped you and if you buy it, let me know what you think via twitter or the comments below!
(@_ellabellax)

Will be back on Sunday with my skincare routine!

Ellie x

Revolution Palette Review: Flawless 3

Hi everyone,

Now seeing as autumn is here, I thought it was only right to share my current favourite "autumnal" eyeshadow look.
I then realised that my favourite look wasn't just a simple look- it was the whole palette because seriously I am obsessed.
I won't lie to you, I always doubted revolution. In terms of eyeshadow I often turned to Mac or Too Faced or Urban Decay and never really considered the more affordable brands.
When I looked at this palette and saw it was only £8 I thought it was worth a try- and boy am I glad that I tried it.
The colours, the pigmentation, the packaging- basically everything- about this palette is stunning.

LOOK AT IT:

The Rose Gold packaging drew me to this palette, its beautiful. Although, it does get rather dirty which is a little irritating. But we can get over that, right?

Now the actual colours:

Seriously, what other colours do you need? Mattes, shimmers, highlights, its got it all.The colours go from everyday wear to a smoky eye. The whole palette is quite warm toned which really suits my skin tone.
Recently I have loved wearing "believing" in my crease and any of the shimmer shade in the middle of my eye as an everyday look. I never thought purple toned eyeshadows suited me, I always kind of thought it made me look like I had a black eye, but again I was wrong. As long as you blend well and choose the right toned colours its all good!

Revolution I am impressed. Affordable, check. Pigmented, check. Variety, check. AND I forgot to mention that there is barely any fall out. There is some colours that have more fall out but no more than palettes which you pay £40 for.
Honestly, I don't think I am going to be able to justify buying expensive eyeshadows ever again. Which is a good thing!

Let me know what you think of this palette and if you recommend any other affordable brands.
Twitter: @_ellabellax

Ellie x