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! 

My top picks for body oil

Body oil is tricky to get right- it offers a massive hydration boost to your skin but can also be greasy, sticky or feel slimy... 

So after trying out a number of different body oils over the years, here are my three favourite products. (I have normal to dry skin on my body that is sensitive and prone to flaking on the shins when really dry.)

Bio Oil 

This pink oil is quite thick with a gentle fragrance that almost smells spicy. It is specifically for very dry skin and also helps with scars and stretch marks. A lot of friends have used it during pregnancy and have always said good things! It is super moisturising but doesn't tend to sink in too well on my skin so I generally always add a few drops to a bath and then rub some all over before I get in to soak.  I then get out the bath feeling that my skin has been well nourished and it always feels softer after use. I've been using this oil for years now and always have some in my bathroom cabinet. 

Nuxe huile prodigieuse

This is multi purpose dry oil for face, body and hair. It comes it a bottle with a pump spray making it so easy to apply. Spray and then rub. It sinks in perfectly with no stickiness and is super moisturising. I only tend to use this on my body as quite rich and heavy for my face. I have also used on the ends of my hair when they are looking super parched. I tend to use this when I'm going out in the evening on legs and arms as it gives a lovely subtle sheen to limbs. I do find the scent quite strong though and can't use at night as it keeps me awake! This stuff lasts for ages, I've had this bottle for a year now and probably use once a week.

Elemis frangipani monoi body oil

This oil has a divine smell, like a spa or exotic flower. It can also be used on hair and nails but doesn't suggest face. It absorbs into my skin well but there is a slight greasy feel. It's super moisturising though and leaves skin lovely and soft. I like to concentrate on my elbows, knees and feet with this oil as so nourishing for those areas that get v dry. As with the Bio Oil I love love love adding a few drops of this to bath water as the smell is so relaxing. 

So there you have it- my top body oil picks, do you use any that you can recommend? X

Glambox foundation brush review

This Glambox foundation brush came in my usual Glambox and I am massively in love with it. A complete surprise as I didn't think I could love another foundation brush as much as my current one! 

It is synthetic dual fibre, has longer white bristles which are soft but quite firm and then shorter black bristles which are a bit fluffy. Of course as soon as you use liquid foundation the white doesn't stay that colour for long! 

I put blobs of liquid foundation all over my face using my ring finger and then use the brush in quick circular movements to blend it all over my face and down my neck. It gives a beautifully sheer coverage, not too heavy and blends product into the skin beautifully. 

It has an easy to grasp handle and is really light making it an excellent tool to quickly and effortlessly apply liquid foundation. 

I used it with my Revlon photoready foundation in the pics below and dusted Chanel loose powder over the top to set the foundation. 

Before any make up, straight after moisturising my face and adding my Daniel Sandler face primer. 

After first use, doesn't stay white for long!

After applying foundation using the Glambox foundation brush... 

After adding concealer under the eyes and a dusting of loose powder...

The finished look- my skin looks pretty flawless! :-)