Big bouncy waves that last for days: 3 products

Since getting all my hair lopped off I've been experimenting with lots of different products, styling tools and looks. One of my go to creations now for a weekend night out is the big bouncy wave with a deep side parting. 

This look takes about an hour from start to finish and involves some cooling time which is why it's a weekend style. But if I do it on a Friday, I get wear out of this look with the curls still looking great until Tuesday/Wednesday just by freshening up the roots with some dry shampoo. 

Here's what I use: three products: John Frieda frizz ease on wet hair, I then blast hair upside down until 100% dry. I then spritz all over with Kevin Murphy Hair Resort Beach Look texture spray which has a delicious, not too strong, coconut scent. I then let this dry slightly- don't touch your hair! 

Then I take hot curling tongs and tong small sections of my hair all over. The curl will 'set' and will be stiff and crispy- this is fine! Once done, leave your hair to cool completely, go and sort your make up. The curls will feel kinda solid as they cool because of the spray. 

When cool, take Kevin Murphy Powder Puff volumising powder and shake a fine layer of power all over my hair, making sure at the front it gets on my roots. Then I turn my head upside down and use my fingers to vigorously shake all the curls out, scrunch a bit and really go for it! 

Flip your head back up and be amazed by the huge volume! By the bouncy yet amazingly well held curls! And style how you like by parting or pinning or sweeping all over to one side. 

Then when you are happy you are good to go because you don't need hairspray. The texture spray and the powder set the curl and it just stays put, for days! And it's not at all crispy or crunchy to touch - it is textured but soft. Every time I do my hair this way I'm impressed with volume and sheer staying power. 

Above are pics of just done hair, below are pics of four day old hair where I've just put some dry shampoo on the roots. The curl has dropped slightly but still lovely shape and good volume going on! 

And if you want to 'reactivate' the curl if you think it's a bit flat, then spritz some Resort Spray onto the ends and scrunch up and then wet your hands, shake excess and scrunch in too. I find the combination works well and then the curl holds all day. Brilliant. 

A week of work day looks: lipsticks

Switching up your make up every morning is a challenge, especially if like me you'd rather stay longer in bed but wearing a different shade every day is super quick and super easy.  Below are some of my favourite lipsticks for work- staying power, not too bright or in-your-face and easy application and re-application. 

Every day I used the same products which are, in order of application: Laura Mercier under eye, Benefit boiing, Mac select sheer pressed powder, Mac eyebrow pencil fling, benefit they're real mascara in black or blue, sleek blusher in fenberry or pink or red, Mac lip liner in subculture. 

So a week in work looks- focusing on lipsticks goes as follows:

Mac matte Lady Danger - an amazingly longn lasting orange red 

Make Up For Ever rouge artist intense in 32 - a soft natural pink

Rimmel Kate lasting finish in 113 - a creamy matte nude 

Giorgio Armani lip maestro in 501 - a subtle matte red that lasts all day and feels like velvet to apply 

Mac Amplified in Impassioned - a classic pink 

So there you have it- a week in lippies! It's easy to keep things fresh just by switching up your lipsticks. Enjoy experimenting :-) 

Neom candles, mists and bath oil review

Whilst visiting England a couple of weeks ago my friend and I decided to go for a spa day at The Woodland Spa in Burnley, Lancashire and I opted for a Neom de-stress treatment, a full body massage lasting just over an hour. 

It was divine and I came away feeling totally relaxed and chilled out. It was the first Neom treatment I have ever had and I fell in love with the scent of the mist that is spritzed at the start of the treatment and which is the same as the oil that is used. 

Turns out that there is a de-stress range of products with the same scent as well as other collections. My friend opted for the happiness treatment and her scent was more uplifting. 

The de-stress 'smell' is a combination of essential oils including lavender oil (known for being ultra relaxing), jasmine oil (which lifts the spirits and inspires optimism apparently) and Brazilian rosewood oil (comforting, warming, helps to balance mind and body) plus a combination of 21 others.  I picked up the candle, home mist and bath and shower oil. If I've had a long day at work I light the candle, spritz my sofa with the mist and breathe deeply for a few moments before jumping in a bath with a few drops of the oil. It's heavenly! Perhaps it's just my imagination but it definitely calms my mind! 

I also picked up the perfect peace candle which is for Christmas as has sparkles on the glass. It also smells incredible, more powerful and spicy than the other candle and to me it smells a bit like cola bottle sweets = heaven! 

And lastly I purchased the Tranquility perfect night's sleep pillow mist which is a blend of jasmine, lavender, chamomile, patchouli and 14 other essential oils known for therapeutic benefits. I spritz twice on either side of my pillow immediately before I put my head down and take a few long breaths in and out through my nose to appreciate the scent and then pretty much fall asleep! Luckily I've never had a problem sleeping but I do feel this aids the deepness of my sleep and helps me drop off a bit quicker. 

All products are 100% natural, made in UK and come from sustainable sources. I love the clean, simple packaging and I will definitely purchase again - very happy with each of the products I picked and will certainly try out other Neom treatments and products if I see anywhere in Dubai :-) 

Hair inspo: deep side part and ear tuck

So am not entirely sure what this look is technically called but I've seen it recently on Kirsten Stewart, Jennifer Lawrence, Evan Rachel Wood and Charlize Theron and I like to call it the deep side part and ear tuck...

And now I have short hair, it is super easy to recreate and looks super chic. 

I wash my hair, add some Frizz Ease serum and a couple of spritzes of Mark Hill heat protector spray to the ends, brush through and then blast dry upside down until 80 per cent dry. Then I add Catwalk by Tigi your highness root boost spray to the roots in sections and turn upside down and blast dry until dry as the Dubai desert! 

Then I let it cool down slightly before using my ancient Boots own brand curling tongs and tong small sections all over with the curls going in the same direction as much as possible- which is curling away from the face. Takes about 30mins to do full head. I then leave these to cool completely and put on my make up in the meantime. 

Once I am very nearly ready to leave the house I then turn my head upside down again and gently shake out all the curls. Then I style my look to the side I want and continue to pull apart the curls. I use a teeny amount of Redken all soft argan 6 oil on the very ends and then spritz with Bed Head Tigi Biggie massive hold hairspray to keep in place. I use a kirby grip (sometimes two) to clip back one side behind my ear and voila! 

Mac retro matte all fired up lipstick review

So I officially love Mac's all fired up retro matte lipstick! 

Purchased on a whim when out with my bad influence mum (me to mum: hmmm can't remember if I already have a similar shade, mum to me: who knows! but am sure one more lipstick won't hurt, me: ok I'm buying it!) and I'm soooo pleased I took her advice. 

I have a number of matte and amplified lipsticks from Mac which I love and wear loads (lady danger number one choice in my lipstick bag). I have tried other finishes/textures/formulas: including gloss, pro longwear lipcreme and lustre and hated them all- seriously not impressed! So was a little skeptical about trying a 'retro matte' especially as looks so dry in the tube and drags when you test on your hand. But I loved the deep yet bright raspberry/fuschia-ish shade. 

It is definitely more matte than the matte finish (honestly, you'll know what I mean if you see or try or own a matte and a retro matte!!) and could potentially get bitty and cakey. And dry out your lips.

BUT it actually doesn't! I apply to well moisturised lips over a dab of blotted lip balm and after I've lined my lips with Mac subculture pencil and -wow- it's an eye popping, opaque, highly pigmented colour that's lasts all day with no flaking, migrating into lip cracks or bleeding. I top up after eating and it lasts and looks awesome! 

Every time I wear it I get compliments and people ask me where it's from or say after a long work meeting where I've talked for hours: "your lipstick still looks perfect- how is that?!"

It also smells divine- Mac's trademark vanilla scent plus I feel I can *trust* it. 

Believe me, I've binned lipsticks after one wear that have "let me down"- how emotional! But it is trust- if you are going to wear a stand out colour, people are going to look at your lips and if your lips are not perfect and looking a mess then you lose all confidence!! (Well I do anyway!!). 

So if you want to try a lipstick that makes you feel like a 40s or 50s siren then give this one a try! 

Btw: below is a work day look, so v simple and not too heavy. Mascara: Benefit they're real 

Benefit they're real! beyond blue mascara review

Wow - I'm obsessed with the black mascara and now I'm obsessed with the blue!

Went into Sephora to pick up another black and then saw that Benefit has introduced blue and brown. After seeing the fabulous beauty looks on the Mary Katranzou Spring Summer 2016 fashion show where models wore bright blue, turquoise or purple mascara, I thought why not as this will likely be a trend for next year! 

And I'm so pleased I did because I LOVE it! Goes on perfectly like the black and has a slightly wet look to it. Lengthening and not clumpy. It lasts all day and doesn't smudge or run and even lasted perfectly through a tough snowrobics exercise class in minus four degrees at Ski Dubai! 

It's a bright blue and the colour is true when you coat your lashes, staying the same strong shade.  When the light catches it, it really pops. 

I have blue eyes and I thought it might make them look dull or small but on the contrary- it brightens them! A perfect way to add some colour to your everyday work look. 

I teamed the mascara below with Rimmel Kate lasting finish lipstick in 32- a gorgeous long lasting peachy orange shade and peach blush from Sleek as wanted a warm colour to balance out the cold blue. 

Messy waves for short hair

Recently I had my long hair lopped off and I've been enjoying experimenting with different products, looks and tools. 

One of my favourites is this messy, close waves look which is textured, has great volume and lasts all day and into day two! 

Here's how I style it and what I use... 

On freshly washed hair use a couple of pumps of John Frieda Frizz Ease Extra Strength serum before brushing with a Tangle Teezer. 

Then blast dry with a hairdryer until 80 per cent dry. Split the hair along the roots and spray in Catwalk by TIGI volume collection your highness root boost spray right along the parting and not on the mid or lengths. It's like a mousse foam in an aerosol can with a small nozzle to direct the product right where you want it. I go from back to front and then at the sides and then massage my roots quickly all over.  Then I spritz the mid section and ends all over with Mark Hill turn up the heat extreme heat protection spray.

Turning my head upside down I then continue to blast dry but use my Eideal round brush to brush through the hair upside down to smooth and add volume.

Once fully dry it has some big volume at the roots and a slightly fluffy texture at the ends.

Then I plug in my Remington Perfect Waves hair waver (which I got from Souq.com) and allow to heat up. I use the setting at around 200 but has 150-210 as options if your hair doesn't need so much heat. Once the light goes off I then section my hair and clamp the waver to as near to my roots as the heat allows and then down the lengths. I do back, sides and then a strip down the top. Don't touch the heated hair once done, just allow to drop and move on to next piece. Then- important!- I allow my hair to completely cool to really set the wave.  I go off and do my make up, get dressed, brush my teeth, stand under the air con breeze etc! 

Then when it's completely cool I shake my hair upside down, raking my fingers through the waves to mess them all up.

I part my hair and play around until I get the look i want and then I take a small dirham sized blob of Bedhead for men (yeh right!) pure texture moulding paste and rub it between my hands so all over and then I scrunch it into my hair from the ends up. This stuff is kinda sticky but matt and gives the ends great definition and texture as well as a hold that isn't rock solid but still movable. 

Then I spritz on my TIGI Bedhead Biggie Maxxed out massive hold hairspray whilst my head is upright and immediately turn my head upside down to allow to dry. It's a pump action hairspray that is more liquid than a mist like aerosol hairspray. Flip your head back and hey presto! A voluminous, textured, well set messy waves style. 

I used two kirby grips to clip one side back for a big sweepover effect :-)

Amazing cleanser find...

For years I tried various different cleansers to suit my sensitive, combination, prone to break outs and dry patches crazy skin and then I thought I'd found "the one" in Dermalogica's Ultra Calming Cleanser. Gentle yet effective- seemed to suit my skin and keep my spots and dry chin patches at bay and remove all traces of heavy make up.

Then, I moved to Dubai and perhaps it's the water, air con, the heat, the humidity, the daily use of high factor SPF (or maybe all of the above) but I started getting terrible spots. I once again tried numerous cleansers and also the Foreo Luna mini which helped loads. 

But what has actually changed my face - and my skincare regime - is coconut oil. My friend with beautiful skin recommended it to me and I've been using for nearly six months and wow. Happy skin. Who would've thought that putting oil on spot prone skin would work- but it does. 

I use the purest I can find which is available from my local pharmacy in a big tub. It's organic, virgin, cold pressed coconut oil from Barlean's. It cost 96aed and this one tub has about a third left after six months, so lasts for ages. 

Here's how I use it: every night I take my eye make up off using Bioderma Sensibio H2O first. 

Then I take a cleansing cloth (mine came from when I tried the eve lom cleanser... Verdict: gross smell, overpriced, not for me at all!) and place it under the hot tap in the sink. 

Whilst the water is heating up and soaking the cloth I pour a dirham sized blob of coconut oil into my palms (the oil will solidify if you keep it cold so scoop out what you need but in my flat which I keep at around 23 degrees it is near liquid!). 

Then I heat it in my hand by rubbing them together rapidly and then I massage into my face and neck for about 30seconds, paying attention to any areas that are prone to break outs (around my nose and on my chin). 

Next I turn off the tap, ring out the cloth quickly (careful cos it'll be hot!) and place the steaming cloth over my face for ten seconds until it cools. Then I use the cloth to wipe away all the oil and all the make up comes away with it! 

My face is so clean and soft afterwards! I use my Bioderma Sensibio again as a quick toner (and there is never any make up left!) before I use serum and moisturiser etc. 

I only do this once a day to take off make up. In the morning I just splash my face with plain water in the shower. And then about once a month I use my Foreo Luna mini device for a deeper cleanse with Decleor Aroma Cleanse 3-in-1 Cleansing Mousse before I use a moisturising face mask. (This cleanser is lovely but a bit too drying if I use it every day, so occasional use works for me.)

And so far, so good :-) 

Coconut oil can be used for lots of things, including to cook with, and I also use it on the ends of my hair when they are a bit frazzled and dry. It smells divine and is natural so a winner in my mind. 

Wash out your cloth each time under the warm tap but remember to regularly wash your cloth in the washing machine to keep it super clean and remove all traces of old make up.  

Grey nail polish? Yes please!

Ok I know what you are thinking... "Grey nail polish? Grey??" 

Yep and that's exactly what I thought when I saw this shade- but it's actually a super chic and really flattering colour. A welcome change from the usual pink, red and orange or the little more daring lilac, blue or yellow on the toes.

It's a totally on trend color- grey ruled the autumn winter 2014/15 catwalks and is the new neutral. It goes with anything and everything, adding a nice balance to brights and bold florals or perfectly complementing a more pared down outfit. 

I used the L'oreal Paris collection privee by JLo polish which is a 'true' grey, but if you're looking for something a bit warmer there are some grey mauve shades out there which are a touch more purple. This colour also looks super flattering on the fingers.

This is the first time ever I have used grey nail polish and I'm in love!