[BEAUTY] MoroccanOil Hair Care Treatment

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Shopgirl

During LFW, Handpicked Media again created the perfect place to relax at One Aldwych for their bloggers. The suite was ideal for kicking back, posting a little, recharging a little (camera batteries/phones/ourselves!), indulging in a hand massage (or two!), eating a tonne of mini chocolate bars and discovering some new brands. One of the brands included in the generous goody bags was MoroccanOil. I’ve read so much about this brand and even had a go with some of the products at different salons but to be able to try the Original Treatment and the shampoo and conditioner is a real treat that my hair is currently thanking the fashion gods for!

To be honest, I like to change my shampoo and conditioner every time I finish a bottle as I’ve found my hair quickly stops liking a brand if I use it too much. But so far, my hair is liking these. As a daily heat styling addict and someone who dyes their hair on a fairly regular basis, the moisture repair shampoo and conditioner can only be a good thing! Both the shampoo and conditioner have a tropical, musky scent. The shampoo is thick and oily and so, you need to use only a little, while the conditioner is a lighter formula. Both leave hair soft and manageable.

My hair is thick and quickly gets greasy (hence, my love of dry shampoos!) so getting the MoroccanOil Treatment right has been something of an experiment. I definitely used too much on the first go and despite putting it on damp hair, it looked a little limp when dried. I have found that I only need the tiniest amount to make my hair glossy, rather than greasy. But when used right, my hair feels wonderfully soft and healthy!

Have you tried any of the MoroccanOil hair care products? What did you think?

[LFW AW13] Zoe Jordan AW13 Beauty by Bourjois

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Shopgirl

London Fashion Week’s Autumn Winter 2013 season was opened by designer Zoe Jordan’s show at the BFC Space at Somerset House on Friday morning. The collection for AW13 featured a fairly muted monochrome palette which was accented with brighter neons in hot pink and orange.

The beauty look for the collection was clean and simple and feminine. With an emphasis on a subtle sweeping cat-eye liner. Bourjois were the brand behind the look and I was lucky enough to meet up with two of their make-up artists on Saturday whilst at the Handpicked Media suite and get a little demonstration of the look:

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[BEAUTY] Boots 17 Doll’d Up Mascara

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Shopgirl

I’m something of a mascara-addict. There, I said it. I hate wearing make-up. Really, I do. But I refuse to leave the house without a little mascara on my lashes! So I’m always more than happy to try out the newest offering. Particularly from bargain beauty brand 17 who really do make amazing mascaras for a fraction of the cost!

This latest mascara, Doll’d Up comes in a shapely bottle and features a delicately curved applicator brush. I’m not sure if it’s just me (quite possibly!) but I find curved brushes are best for a more natural covering while the bigger chunkier brushes are better for full-on lashes. So this mascara is definitely my new daytime go-to.

Have you tried this new mascara yet? Any other mascaras you would recommend?

[BEAUTY] Bad Hair Day Kit

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Shopgirl

As a woman, bad hair is the worst thing that can happen. The worst. I might have put together the best outfit for my day ahead but if my hair’s not playing ball, I can pretty much forget feeling good, all day.

A woman’s hair is totally tied into her whole identity too. As a woman who for some years seemed to not conform to this stereotype, I know the pain of deciding to chop all of your hair off, only to find days later that you miss your long flowing locks. I have learned my lesson and now, when I feel like an image change, I add a brighter lipstick or a bigger necklace – something less permanent than a pixie crop.

Still, sticking to a style which suits is no guarantee against bad hair days; there’s still plenty of opportunity for your hair to find a new and irritating way to stick out or for the humidity to turn it into a frizzy mess akin to Monica’s attractive look in Friends.

Instead, I have spent the past few years collecting an arsenal of products and implements to help to combat bad hair days:

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[BEAUTY] Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Shopgirl

This week, as the snow has fallen outside, I have been dreaming of warmer days and summer dressing. Despite the fact that we might still be months off being able to even think about baring our legs, there’s no better time to start preparing our pins for those sunnier days. Currently, I’m making sure my legs are silky smooth with the help of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion. A popular choice with mums-to-be to stop those dreaded stretch marks and with its potent signature scent, it’s unlikely you’ve not come across Palmer’s before.

The thick lotion is indulgent and rich but soaks quickly into the skin. I have also noticed that it doesn’t leave a greasy film over the skin as some thinner creams sometimes do.

Whilst the smell can be overpowering, it sends me right back to holidays. Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is the ideal post-tanning lotion to keep skin moisturised after a day lying by the pool. But if the scent is too much for you, the lotion now comes in a fragrance free formula.

Even better for holidays, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Lotion now comes with added SPF 15, so you don’t have to give up on your favourite lotion in the summer.

For now, I’m keeping a tube of Palmer’s Concentrated Cream in my handbag to make sure my hands, elbows and anywhere else are continuously moisturised.

What do you use to keep your skin moisturised in the cold?

[BEAUTY] Best Budget Beauty Buys

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Shopgirl

Beauty products don’t have to be exepensive to work and looking in my bathroom cabinet at the weekend, it turns out many of the products I rely on every day cost less than a fiver:

For travel, I swear by Nivea Soft Lotion to keep my hands, legs and face moisturised. This great multi-purpose lotion is gorgeous and thick but absorbs quickly to leave limbs smooth.
I love the feeling of a clean face in the morning and so use Clean & Clear’s Exfoliating daily wash each day in the shower to wash away any remnents of yesterday’s make up.
Carmex is an oldie but a goodie. This medicinal scented balm is the best thing for painfully chapped lips in the winter. And also works well on cuticles and dried hands too.
Premium brand mascaras may have fancy looking packaging but Boots 17′s Blow Out mascara is one of the best budget mascaras on the market. It adds volume and conditions lashes at the same time too.
If you’re looking for a product that moisturises your lips and adds a subtle hint of colour too, look no further than Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm.
Finally, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter is much loved by celebrities and beauty editiors alike. The thick formula and that instantly recognisable scent are enough to remind me of summer holidays in the sun. I keep a tube of this in my handbag for emergencies, like dry heels or knees or elbows.

Which budget beauty products are your favourite?

[BEAUTY] Five Winter Must Haves

Posted on January 19, 2013 by Shopgirl

As the cold weather really bites this weekend in the UK, I’ve put together my top five beauty picks that you should have in your bathroom cabinet for the winter:

The cold weather plays havoc with lip condition, so make sure you regularly moisturise your lips with a good quality balm (4) and on a weekly basis, make sure to exfoliate too. I swear by Bliss’ sugar lip scrub (1) to rid my lips of any dry and flaky skin.
In the winter, I keep a tube of hand cream (2) everywhere – on my desk, in my handbag, on my nightstand, in the kitchen, in the bathroom – nowhere is safe! There’s nothing worse than dry, chapped and painful hands in the cold.
Likewise, use the winter months to keep your body moisturised so that it’s ready for the sun when it comes later in the year. It feels ever so luxurious to smother yourself in a rich creamy body lotion (4) every morning and night.
Finally, don’t forget your face too. In the winter months not much is exposed but those parts that are, should be given extra special attention. Benefit’s Radiant Skincare intro kit (5) is just £10 and contains everything you need to keep your face looking beautiful!

What are you favourite winter beauty products?

[BEAUTY] Rituals Eve’s Kiss Lip Gloss and Lipshine

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Shopgirl

In the winter, the cold air outside and the central heating inside do nothing good for my lips and they often end up chapped and sore. It often feels like a constant battle to keep them moisturised and healthy. I’m always on the lookout for new lipcare options. So when I was sent Rituals Eve’s Kiss Lip Gloss and Lipshine for Christmas, I couldn’t wait to try it out.

Whilst the name suggests this is make-up, it is actually much more than just a lip gloss. According to the website, this silkening lip treatment: moisturises and protects, adds a sensual, shiny touch, contains SPF, has a subtle, mouth-watering apple flavour and has a long lasting softening effect.

I’ve been trying it out over the Christmas and New Year period, both alone and over my lipstick when the occasion has called for it! My lips have been feeling moisturised and happy and the gloss adds a nice touch without the need for anything else.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Rituals’ make-up collection.

[CARDIFF] Guy Christian Hair Salon, Cardiff Bay

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Shopgirl

Last month Guy Christian, already the owner of one very successful hair salon in Cardiff, opened his second salon, in Cardiff Bay. I was lucky enough to be invited to try out their services and be rid of my nasty split ends in time for Christmas.

The salon is hard to miss if you’re in Cardiff Bay, whether walking or driving, as the floor to ceiling windows give full view of the minimalistic interior with large vintage-style mirrors filling the walls:

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[BEAUTY] The Lazy Girl’s Guide To Festive Party Hair

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Shopgirl

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your hair for the festive party season, you’ve come to the right place. This post is dedicated to up dos of different descriptions. For parties, I have realised after years of experience that an up do is just more practical. I can spend hours curling my hair, or straightening it, with the idea of wearing it loose but within five minutes of dancing, I have tied it back anyway and my time would have been better spent, putting it up in the first place. So here are my cheap and quick tricks to the perfect party up dos:

1. Add embellishments:

However you plan to put your hair up, it’ll always look party-ready with a few well-placed sparkly clips for added embellishment, like this pretty crystal hair slide.

2. Choose a simple top knot:

A top knot might seem like the simple – and possibly boring option – but if you use a hair donut ring and place it high on your head, you’ll find it becomes something a little bit special for your big night out!

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