Everyday Makeup #1

As a beauty blogger, popping to Boots for a new product is just as common as a dash to the corner shop for a pint of milk. However, as our makeup collections rapidly accumulate, how much of it is actually used on a regular basis? I see so many blog sales consisting of blushers and eyeshadows that have been swatched once, which is why I tend to look to 'everyday makeup' posts to really see what is considered a staple.

So, today i'm going to start a series of everyday makeup posts .. showcasing my favourite looks and go-to products!

 

Base: Smashbox Photo Finish primer, Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat in 'BR10', Bourjois Paris Healthy Balance unifying powder in '52 Vanilla' (Not photographed)

Cheeks: Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Nars 'Deep Throat' blush

Eyes: Rimmel Exaggerate eyeshadow primer, 'Virgin' and 'Naked' from the Urban Decay Naked Palette, Benefit's 'They're Real!' mascara, Rimmel Khol & Contour eyeliner

Brows: 'Medium brown' from the Foxy HD Brow Kit, MAC Brow Set in 'Clear'

Lips: Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Loreal Glam Shine Reflexion lip gloss in '174 Sheer Peach'

As you can see, I like to keep things pretty natural looking (which is strange with the amount of products I use!). I'm all about groomed brows, so as long as they are filled in and arched I don't mind what goes on with the rest of my face! This is what I would usually wear to work, or in today's case going out for sushi. I usually go for a lot of highlighting and contouring, but I think 13 products is enough for a 'simple' look. 

On a more personal note, i've finally started my Easter holidays, meaning I have about 5 weeks off from university! Yes, that does sound amazing until I tell you I have 5 assignments to do. Easter break over. 

My Essential Volumising Hair Products

I've been going on about tackling fine hair recently, writing in-depth reviews on individual products. However, how many of these have remained a favourite of mine after I hit the 'publish' button?
Here is a compilation of my favourite products that I use on a daily basis to give my hair that much needed volume boost:

(1) Percy & Reed Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse - Percy & Reed, £12
This is one of my favourite volumising mousses due its weightless feel. The lift isn't as drastic as others, but it achieves a substantial amount without leaving your hands feeling sticky or your hair feeling heavy. It's the mousse I use the most regularly, as it leaves my hair feeling versatile and lighter than air for when i'm rushing to lectures every day.

(2) Charles Worthington Front Row Rough and Tousled Sea Salt Spray - Boots, £5.49
This is the perfect product for when you want to add effortless texture to a polished style. With a few sprays, a light mist quickly brings out your natural waves and adds a bit of depth to fine, limp hair. I like to tip my hair upside down, spray salt spray into the roots and rough my hair up a little after I curl or straighten it - it gives it that tousled 'bed head' look.

(3) Batiste Dry Shampoo Big and Bouncy XXL Volume - Boots, £2.99
I don't know of a single girl who hasn't tried, or at least heard of, Batiste dry shampoo. However, this combination of dry shampoo and volumising spray makes this an essential product for me. Usually my roots and the shorter hair that frames my face gets greasy quite easily, due to being constantly touched and swept to the sides, therefore this shampoo is perfect for keeping my hair looking 'fresh-out-the-shower' clean as well as give it the lift it so desperately needs. I usually keep this can in my bag for whenever my hair falls a bit flat during the day.

(4) L'Oreal Professional Tecni Art Full Volume Volumising Mousse - Boots, £10.50 (250ml)
Being one of the strongest holding volumising mousses I own, there's no surprise that this was a stylists favourite at Fashion Week. Although it took me a few tries to get the amount I needed right before it made my fine hair heavy, I loved just how huge it made my hair look after blow drying. I use this mousse in wet hair before a night out, when I want extra lift that lasts until the lights come on.

(5) Roots Hair Treatment - Lush, £9.95
This is one of the most irritating but most effective volumising hair treatments I have come across. Its instructed to be worked into your scalp for 20 minutes which essentially activates the treatment, which as you'd understand can be quite annoying. However, the end result leaves my fine hair feeling heavier (but not unmanageable) and gives my roots the boost they would have if my hair was naturally thick. I use this pre-shower treatment as part of my preparation for a night out, helping my flat roots lift up ready for even more volume with the addition of a mousse!

(6) Big Sea Salt Shampoo - Lush, £11.25
Out of all of the products mentioned, this is by far the favourite. It's packed with sea salt, has the consistency of sleet and lathers like you wouldn't imagine. After the advised two shampoos my hair feels well nourished, extremely soft and my hair resembled an untamed lions mane. I achieve all-over lift that lasts all day, along with the adopting the lingering scent of mandarin and vanilla. I've attached the link to a full review of this product - I won't bother repeating myself with how much I love this product!

So there you have it, my favourite volumising hair products. What are yours?

Review: Loreal Everpure Reinforce Intense Mask

Ever since being introduced with the Aussie 3-Minute-Miracle reconstructor, i've been such a big fan of intense hair masks. I love the idea of leaving it on for a period of time for it to work its magic through your hair, leaving it in the best condition it can be - a lot more thorough than simple wash- in wash-out products.

 

This Reinforcing Intense Mask is part of the new Everpure range from Loreal, which features a 'No sulphate colour care system'  - with sulphate being a key component in stripping hair of its colour. It's aimed specifically at coloured & dry hair, and although my hair isn't dry I love to give my hair the most moisture as possible. Its focus is to reinforce the strength and quality of hair that is over processed through frequent colouring. The shampoo from this range is now permanantly part of my shower routine, so I was excited to try this!

 

*Sorry about the shadow-y picture!*

 The mask contains botanical oils rosemary and mint, which was slightly off-putting as I don't really like the inclusion of mint in anything other than chewing gum! However, the fragrance is not overpowering as the rosemary balances out the strength of the mint - it's really refreshing! 

It is advised to use after shampooing (The accompanying shampoo is recommended, but it's not necessary!), spreading a walnut-sized amount carefully through the hair and leaving for 3-5 minutes. To further intensify the product, wrap your hair up in a hot towel after application for 5 minutes.

The first thing I noticed after drying my hair was the fragrance, reminding of how hair smells and feels after leaving a professional salon. My hair felt gorgeously smooth, strong and healthy - much like other hair masks, but the difference with this product is that it also protects coloured hair so I don't have to be worried that it will dull my hair with regular application. The product comes in a generous 200ml pot, meaning that the £6.99 price tag is quite reasonable. I have naturally fine hair that gets greasy easily, so I was worried that the thickness of the product will be too heavy on it - but that wasn't the case, my hair felt just the right consistency. 

Overall, I would recommend this for anyone who has coloured hair - red in a particular, as it requires the most upkeep. It gives my hair the nutrition it needs to be able to cope with the products I use on a regular basis. I currently use this once a week, and wouldn't recommend using it more than twice due to its thickness and intensity. I've found that this range in general be the most suitable for my hair type, and i'm actually looking forward to when I use this mask again!

You can purchase Loreal Paris EverPure Reinforce Intense Mask for £6.99 at your local pharmacy, Boots or Superdrug, along with the rest of the Loreal Paris Ever range. 

Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

Review: L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Everpure Shampoo

Have you ever wondered why your freshly dyed hair colour can’t stop running when you’re in the shower or bath? That's because you’re using the wrong products.

My hair is regularly dyed red, and as you are probably aware, it’s one of those shades that fade really quickly, so I need to go to lengths to ensure that my hair stays as vibrant as possible for as long as it can. Therefore, I must ensure that I only use products that are designed specifically for coloured hair (Or red hair, if possible).  One of the key ingredients in regular shampoos is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS for short), which is notoriously known for stripping colour from the hair – hence the water turning a lovely shade of brown, red – or whatever colour your hair should be! It's used in over 90% of shampoo products, and is used to ensure the product lathers quickly and produces lots of bubbles. As well as stripping the hair of essential oils, it can also result in skin irritation, hair follicle damage and dandruff - it is essentially a chemical. And a nasty one at that.

Bearing all this in mind, L'Oreal Paris have recently released a line of sulphate-free cleansing haircare products, designed to protect coloured hair, and provide moisture to dry hair damaged through regular hair colouring. I, obviously, could not wait to get my hands on a bottle. This range has been created using a new care system for colour damaged hair, developed after decades of carefully conducted research – and this is the outcome!

There are nine different products in the Loreal Paris Hair Expertise Everpure range (Wow, that’s a mouthful!), but these are the three basics, available in both shampoo and conditioner:

-       Care & Moisture

-       Care & Smoothing

-       Care & Volume

There is also a selection of heat protection sprays and hair masks to indulge in!

I decided to opt for the care & moisture shampoo (I wanted to test it out before purchasing the conditioner aswell), as I’m a sucker for anything that gives me glossy, super-soft locks.

Each product has essential rosemary and juniper botanical oils in it, which have been added to ‘energise the senses’, as well as giving it a unique and vibrant fragrance.

I love the sleek, metallic bottle as I think it compliments the purety of the formula and the fact that it includes a revolutionary new colour care system, and it most definitely stands out on the shelf amoungst other Loreal products.

It comes in a general 250ml sized bottle, and comes clearly labelled highlighting the ingredients that ensure that the shampoo protects colour weakened hair.

 Just to clarify, I am aware that this product is swatched quite heavily, I got a bit distracted! I was really excited to try this product, and it did not disappoint! The only way I can describe the scent, is that it smells like a hair salon. That may sound odd, but the products that hairdressers use on you in professional salons have a certain professional/industrial scent to them, and this is no exception.  It is also designed to generate a high-foaming lather, meaning that you only need a small amount during application – so 250ml really goes a long way!

As soon as I applied it in the shower, I noticed one thing … the dye wasn’t running! Usually my shower looks like the shower scene from Psycho, but the water ran clear and my hair stayed just as vibrant!

Afterwards my hair felt soft, looked glossy and generally well looked after. My hair is really thin, so i'm really selectve with the products I use as i'm afraid they'll be too heavy and cause my hair to look greasy, but this was just enough to keep it gorgeously smooth and regain that 'fresh-out-of-the-salon' feel.

I cannot recommend this product enough for anyone who has coloured hair. For someone that has to colour their hair once a month due to it fading and becoming dull, this actually elongates the colour and re-dying wasn’t needed for another two weeks afterwards – I’m not so great at maths, but it’s pretty obvious that it saves you money! The shampoo retails for £5.99, which is excellent value for what it provides. 

It's not just about dying your hair a pretty colour and waiting for your roots to need re-doing, it's about the appropriate aftercare - and this new range is perfect.

You can purchase any of the products in the L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Everpure range at your local chemist, Boots, Superdrug or supermarket.

**On a more personal note, Sophie-Says has been shortlisted for the 'Newcomer Blog Award' sponsered by Next - part of this years Cosmopolitan Awards. There will be updates as soon as the voting goes live, but thank you so much!**

Inside my make-up bag!

I've seen a lot of beauty bloggers do this. And i've always found it interesting because obviously we review these products, but how many of them actually make it into our make-up bags? So I thought i'd empty mine out and show you all. Sometimes it changes, depending on the occasion, but this is generally what comes with me whilst travelling back and forth from Bournemouth to Southampton (As it would be impossible to bring all of my makeup back with me, but i'll wait for another post to show you that!). So here's what's inside my make-up bag:


(1) I personally believe that if you're going to spend the money on buying quality makeup, what you carry it in is equally important. That's why I swapped my tiny Clinique freebie makeup bag for the gorgeous Romiley Make Up Bag (Jack Wills,£19). It's spacious and is made of oil cloth, making it easy to wipe clean and protect your make up brushes etc. from gathering bacteria.

(2) For anyone who doesn't know, I consider the carbon footprint of everything I buy and care deeply for the environment. That's why when I had to buy the Ecotools Bamboo Powder Brush (Boots, £9.99). It uses the highly-sustainable bamboo plant for the handle, and recycled aliminium for the ferrule. The synthetic taklon bristles are cruelty free (As opposed to other brands' make-up brushes that use real animal hair?!), and they're super soft so my loose powder glides on evenly.

(3) As i've said before I suffer from oily skin, and it isn't uncommon for makeup to just slip off my face, which prompted me to purchase The Porefessional (Benefit, £23.50). It's a balm that you use to minimise the appearance of pores and leaves your skin smooth and even, ready for makeup application. In personal experience it extends the coverage time of my makeup and the oiliness is gone.

(4) I have a lot of different liquid concealers, but for during the day I really just prefer to wear powder so my skin doesn't feel to heavily covered, which is why Correcteur Mineral (Loreal Paris) goes with me everywhere. I've had it so long I can't remember how much it was, but it was bought in Superdrug at a time when I had hardly any money so I doubt it was more than a few pounds! When using this product, a little goes a long way so it's lasted me ages! It definitely does the job of covering my blemishes and spots, without feeling like it's blocking them like liquids can do.

(5) This is the mother of all mascaras. I cannot get enough of this, and cannot praise it enough. I purchased They're Real! (Benefit, £17.50) about 4 months ago, and I cannot believe that I haven't run out yet as I wear it practically every day. It elongates my lashes like no other mascara has ever done, and the spiked ball at the end of the wall is useful for pulling up individual lashes that you have missed while applying. It really opens my eyes and makes them stand out - Now i'm just waiting for Benefit to bring out different colours so I can buy them all!

(6) Well kept eyebrows have always been a top priority for me. Which is why it's important for me to have a handy eyebrow kit to carry around with me so they're constantly looking their best. Brow Zings (Benefit, £22.50) comes with everything you need for perfect eyebrows: Pigmented wax for shaping, natural shaded powder for darkening, a tiny pair of Tweezerman tweezers, a mirror and both a hard-angle and blending brush. It also comes complete with a lesson of how to use everything, and achieve perfect eyebrows in minutes. This will never leave my makeup bag. Ever.

(7) Blusher is the thing that changes most in my makeup bag. Currently, I have Coralista (Benefit, £23.50), a coral blush that I love wearing when I want people to notice that i'm wearing makeup. It's suttle, but has a slight glow which warms up a pale face like mine! When I want something more natural I switch to Benefit's Dandelion, which is a pale pink. It comes with a compact brush inside, and the newer shades from Benefit also have a mirror on the inside too!

(8) I've reviewed this product before so I won't go into it, but Witch Stick is perfect for calming down the redness of a spot instantly, so it's always handy to have.

(9) I have a never-ending collection of eyeliners, ranging from a 99p pencil from Savers to a £17 kohl crayon from Dior, but this is the eyeliner that can't be beaten in my eyes. Khol & Contour (Bourjois Paris), glides on easily and leaves a jet black line for hours. It goes on thick and easily, so I don't have to spend ages colouring in my eyelids!

(10) I cannot stress how important it is to invest in a decent foundation. Cheaper brands may be better for your bank balance, but they aren't always the best for your skin. I use Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (Mac, £18.50) for matte, low coverage that lasts all day. It's light and allows my skin to breath while it covers the redness on my face and leaves my skin feeling refreshed and so smooth it feels as though i've just moisturized.

(11) Liquid eye-liner is only something i've been using in the past few months. I always thought that because I had such small eyes it wouldn't really compliment them by piling on jet-black around my eyes. However, what's amazing about Magic Ink (Benefit, £13) is that the brush is so thin that you don't have to over-do it if you have smaller eyes and eyelids like me. It look me a while to get used to drawing a straight line, but the sleek brush makes it quick easy to line your eyes in one stroke. I'm so glad I tried this product; I can't imagine going without it now!

So, there you go. Those are all my essentials, although I forgot to include any of the lip products I use. At the moment if you must know, i'm using Cherry Carmex because it moisturises my dry lips in the cold weather and smells like sweets :)

I'm constantly on the lookout for amazing products, but these are my makeup staples. What are your beauty essentials?

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