REVIEW - THE HOLY GREY OF HAIR DYE

Well hello there!

It's been a while, please excuse my laziness, but I come bearing great gifts in the shape of a review of the best silver hair dye i've ever tried!

Now, I've been dying my hair since I was 14, and i've tried an awful lot of different brands during that time, and I also like to think that I now know what i'm doing (ha!)

Silver hair is difficult to achieve, unless you're someone with magic hair that just does what you ask it and behaves all the time, but who has hair like that? No one, and who would ever be that lucky? Not me. But fear not! I have the solution!

Colour Freedom Metallic Glory is the answer to all of my grey silver shiny granny hair problems, and hopefully yours too now! It's available in Superdrug stores, or online (but sells out quickly) and probably on other sites too, but I haven't checked, because i'm lazy (see paragraph 1).

This hair dye claims to be permanent, and comes in 5 shades, from a slight silver tint all the way through to basically black, so there is a shade to suit everyone.

This brand of dye is the only one that really works for me. I have incredibly stubborn hair, that either drinks up hair dye like a flower in a drought and ends up too dark, or simply rejects the dye all together and ends up patchy and uneven, the result is literally dependent on my hair's mood. Let's get on to the praise singing:

As illustrated by this painful photograph, my hair, once bleached, is a shade I like to call "Unwanted Barbie". I have very dark hair naturally, and once bleached my hair is very stubborn. Before using this hair dye I used to use various toners which took months to build up any colour on my hair and help to blend my roots seamlessly, it was safe to say that back then I was just around for the party and not taking my grandma hair seriously.

Colour freedom actually dyes my hair grey (shock horror, can you believe it!) and blends my already grey hair into my roots seamlessly. I honestly at this point, can't complain (but just wait, i'll get there).

When applied to my "Unwanted Barbie" roots, it looks very dark, and stains my hair instantly, and upon first using it I had a small panic and skipped around my bathroom debating whether to wash it off but I didn't, and thankfully my silver hair problems were all finished that day.

The result is always very good, even, shiny, all you could wish for. I won't use another dye again while my hair is still grey, and that speaks volumes as i'm very fussy! And as a bonus, it smells amazing and doesn't stink out your bathroom - win!

Now on to my complaints - I said i'd get here.

1) Price - For those of you with short hair, this won't be an issue. For me, with hair thicker than Kim K's butt and 26" extensions, it is. One box covers my roots, but for an overall colour touch up, it's not so cost effective, which brings me to another issue:

2) Longevity: This product claims to be "permanent" - IT ISN'T. Within 3-5 washes you will notice that the grey has left your hair and it's more silver blonde, which for some will be great, for me it isn't, as it means I have to do a full head retouch in-between root bleaches, which makes my purse unhappy.

With every product comes negatives, and for some these won't be a problem. Overall this product is the best one i've found, if you have any suggestions please let me know, they would be greatly received!

Bye for now,

Amy 

x

REVIEW - FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE PALETTE

Hello loves! It's time we discuss an impulse buy of mine, my friend Evie is to blame for this one though, for enticing me with it during boring lectures (Check out her blog, she's amazing! www.misseviesite.wordpress.com) and it arrived a few days later. So let's get to discussing!


Okay so first impressions. Packaging - gorgeous. It feels and looks a heck of a lot more expensive than it is, it's classy, with an edge that gives it an upmarket feel. It also has a huge mirror, perfect for travelling with or for when you're packing light.

The eyeshadows themselves come in a beautiful range of earthy, warm tones that make this palette incredibly versatile, this could take you from a natural daytime nude to a seriously dramatic night out look.

The brush that comes with the palette is surprisingly good, i'm not usually impressed that easily, but the longer, fluffier side for blending does actually pull through, and the packing side is great for your lower lash line.

the best part of this palette for me is the glittery swirled eyeshadows that literally transform when you apply them to your lid, my favourites are Skylight, Lonely Planet and New World. They are AMAZING. Even better when applied wet, I used a few sprays of my setting spray on my eyeshadow brushes before applying and they pack on really well.

The quality of these eyeshadows for the price are amazing, they blend like butter and the colour pay off is brilliant. I've used this every day since it arrived and it's safe to say i'm in love!

ciao for now,

Amy x

10 MAKEUP BAG ESSENTIALS

I have whittled down the contents of my own make-up bag to bring you a short list of the 10 things everyone should keep in theirs. This list is great for travelling, for when you need to save space and is really versatile. So, here is my 10!

•  Tinted moisturiser is one of my staple makeup bag favourites, mainly because it has so many benefits in one bottle. It's hydrating, provides light coverage, and in most cases provides SPF too, which is great for space saving and your skin!

• Neutral eye shadow palette. This is for me, the most important. I use a palette with a few different shades of browns, and you can use them to create an everyday light smokey eye, line your eyes with the darker brown, use a brown shade that matches your brows to fill them in, even use one of the brown shades as a bronzer to bring depth to your cheekbones. So incredibly versatile! 

•  Concealer is a favourite of mine, great for spot treating problem areas, covering blemishes, even cleaning up lipstick outlines and eyeliner.

• Cleanser/makeup remover is something everyone who wears make-up should own! A good cleanser is essential for properly clean skin, and for keeping your skin in good condition. 

• Tinted lip balm.  Great for soothing cracked or dry lips and keeping them hydrated, especially in winter. A tinted balm will add a hint of colour, saving space in place of lipsticks and lip glosses.

•  Tweezers are a really important tool in my makeup bag. They can be used for removing any stray eyebrow hairs, to help put false eyelashes on if they don't want to behave and stick down, and even remove splinters. wonder tool!

• Clear mascara is something I never used to purchase, but now i'm obsessed. it's great for days where you feel like going au natural on the makeup, but your lashes need a little pick me up. It's even great for taming unruly eyebrows when you're running low on brow gel. 

• Powder. Great for setting shiny skin, concealer and buffing away eyeshadow fall out. 

• Foundation brush.  A Good foundation brush is the key to flawless skin. You can use it to apply tinted moisturizer, foundation, or a bb/cc cream.

• Makeup wipes are something that i shout at myself for using when feeling lazy instead of cleansing and toning properly, but are still something i use everyday, and are great for on the go. 

big hugs x

REVIEW - FOO FIGHTERS 'SAINT CECILIA' EP

Okay, so I completely understand that a music review probably doesn't sit all to great on a fashion or beauty blog, but I love the Foos, and this has to be done.

As I love the Foo Fighters with every inch of my heart, this may not be the unbiased review you would hope for when new music is released, but it will be honest.

Let's get down to business.

So, The Foo Fighters have just finished their world tour (which I was lucky enough to attend!) and how do they honour the end of a world tour? Release a free EP, of course.

The EP, (which i will mention again is FREE!) is titled 'Saint Cecilia' and was recorded in an impromptu studio in the Saint Cecilia Hotel in Austin. I would highly recommend that anyone who has an iTunes account downloads this, I mean it's not costing you a single penny, and the chances are that you will love it.

In usual Foo's style, the music is well put together, yet edgy. Its an EP that is rough around the edges, its sharp, it's loud, it's everything that you want in a Foo Fighters record. The lack of polish and the impromptu nature of this EP make it almost special and intimate to any Foo Fighters lover, new or old.

The first track, 'Saint Cecilia' is like a comfortable slipper. As soon as Chris Shiflett's catchy guitar riffs hit your ears, you know you're listening to a road tested, legendary band just simply do their thing. This track is wonderful, and it encapsulates the Foo's for me.

'Sean' is faster paced, and takes me back to the older, punk style the Foo's had years ago. It's nostalgic, it's like a journey through the history of the Foo Fighters for your ears. (I told you this wouldn't be biased whatsoever...haha!)

'Saviour Breath". Where do I start? Chris Shiflett's guitar playing in this is outstanding. Actually it's face melting. Grohl's voice is raspy, it's loud, and it's bloody brilliant.

The fourth track, 'Iron Rooster' is potentially my favourite. It's slow, it's got a country vibe about it that makes me feel like I could drive to this sound forever, the perfect driving song. It's Grohl exploring something complex in a manner so simple, and i'm still yet to fully understand this song. It's beautiful.

Finally, and last but most definitely not least, "A Neverending Sigh'. Oh my word. What a song. It literally demands your attention. Taylor Hawkins is incredible on the drums as usual, (After witnessing him drum live i'm forever convinced he is a robot with super speed arms) and the song feels familiar, yet it's completely new. It almost reminds me of All My Life. Epic, loud and anthemic.

This band is one that has proved the test of time. They give, (and give again. Sorry...) they they never fail to impress, and they definitely live up to their reputation as one of the biggest rock bands of all time. Award winning, legendary and a band full of history. This EP is definitely worth your time.

You can download the EP 'Saint Cecilia' from iTunes for free.

8 BEAUTY HABITS TO KEEP

Now all of these will more than likely be obvious to most of you, but some of us can be forgetful (me) or very lazy (also me) when it comes to keeping on top of a beauty regime. With that in mind, here are 8 beauty hygiene habits to keep. All the time!

• 1  ALWAYS take your makeup off before you sleep! This one is so important, you have to let your skin breathe at night! let your skin repair and take all your wonderful contouring and exceptional eyeliner off, trust me, you’ll thank yourself eventually

• 2 moisturise moisturise moisturise! This one is super important too! i know for us lazy girls out there it feels like a huge effort to moisturise post bath or shower, but it really is a must do to keep your skin soft, supple and hydrated! Word on the street is, it keeps you looking young too!

• 3 Throw out old cosmetics. Now I know a lot of us probably forget this one (I’m guilty!) but most cosmetics have a use by date, so try to keep a note of when your cosmetics will expire, if you haven’t already used them up by then! Out of date cosmetics can be harmful to skin, and no one wants that!

• 4 Clean those make-up brushes and sponges. Regularly! This is something i’ve always enjoyed, i have no clue why. Dirty brushes and sponges can harbour bacteria, which could give you spots and blemishes! give them a good scrub, at least once in a while.

• 5 Floss those teeth. Now for me this isn’t something I forget, because I have a strange love for dental floss, but surprising amounts of people forget! Floss your teeth at least once a day, and clean where your brush can’t reach. Please!

• 6 Avoid rubbing your hair and skin dry after your bath or shower. I know a lot of people do this, and it’s a habit you should train yourself out of! Rubbing your hair dry can cause breakages, so squeeze out excess water and pat dry! Same goes for your skin, pat dry, don’t rub! 

• 7 For those of you who have a pumice stone, this one is for you. Give your pumice stone a good boil to remove germs and bacteria. Because the stone is full of holes it’s essential to give it a clean to stop bacteria or any germs hiding in there!

• 8 Clean out your brushes. I’m all to guilty of this, but keep on top of hair brushes and clean the hair and hairspray etc. out of them regularly, you don’t want a dirty brush going through clean hair!

much love 

x

(I do not own any images used on this post)

CRAZY FACTORY | REVIEW

Okay, so I've had piercings (other than my ear lobes) since I was 14, and I've lost a lot of jewelry for my various piercings over 6 years, which i don't even want to imagine the total cost of. 

I've never actually found anywhere that cheap for jewelry for my stretched ears or various piercings, as I've always bought them from shops, and never online, until I stumbled across www.crazy-factory.com, which is the first time I've bought anything like this online. 

I didn't go to crazy, (although I was incredibly tempted) because Crazy factory IS SO CHEAP IT'S UNREAL! I was seriously surprised by the price of everything. I calmed myself down and rationally bought a new nose ring (center) which was £1.30, which I'm so pleased with as I've paid £4 before now for a nose ring when mine decide to leap out of my face! I also purchased two continuous rings for my septum (left and right), which were 94p each, which is just so affordable. The quality of everything I received was amazing too, all were packaged in bubble wrap to protect them and they arrived incredibly quickly too, was around 5 days after I ordered! 

Crazy Factory also offer free shipping if you spend over £10, and offer a cool reward scheme called 'Crazy Cash Points' which essentially are points that you get every time you shop, which you can then use up when you next shop, or save to use another time, which is brilliant for the price you're actually paying!

All in all, i'm incredibly excited about this website, i honestly can't sing enough praises about it. So if you have any piercings yourself and are looking for cheap jewelry, i'd highly suggest you check it out!

This is not a paid review/post, all opinions are my own.

BALMAIN X H&M - THE MOST EXCITING COLLABORATION IN FASHION

Balmain's much anticipated collection as a guest designer for H&M lands on Novermber 5th in 250 stores and online, and I can safely say i've never been so excited for a collection in my entire life. Here's why:

Balmain's Reputation: Balmain is known around the world for the beautiful, striking and opulent creations seen on many famous faces such as Kim Kardashian (who could forget the Paris Dress?), Rosie Huntington-Whitely, and even Jared Leto. The French fashion house has been worn and loved by the worlds best dressed for years, and is now collaborating with a well known high street brand to offer fresh and beautiful clothing to high street shoppers. Can I get A Hell Yeah?!

H&M as a brand: H&M has been a firm go-to brand for me for many years. It's affordable, fashionable, and everything you need in a high street store (and the choice of music to shop to is always great). H&M also have a Eco-commitment: 'H&M Conscious' which helps sustainability within the fashion industry, with the aim of being climate smart, helping to reduce, re-use and recycle, and also helping to improve thousands of lives for cotton farmers. With this and H&M's already excellent reputation, I have a feeling we're in for something really special with BALMAIN X H&M.

That sneaky red carpet reveal:  Okay, so Jourdan Dunn, Olivier Rousteing and Kendall Jenner show up together at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles in May. Which is all cool, until you realise that Jourdan and Kendall are WEARING BALMAIN X H&M. I need a minute...

This allowed everyone that was already anticipating the collection to get a not-so-sneek peek at what is to come, and it looks incredible. Not to mention the fact that this is the first time a high street label has announced a designer collaboration on a red carpet! This is all so exciting. 

Excuse me while I patiently (not) wait for this collection to drop. 

Big Hugs x