June Favourites

This month has been a funny one weather wise with rainy days and temperatures soaring close to 30C. I've relied heavily on MAC Select Sheer Loose Powder in NC5 to deal with my shiny face in the heat and Caudalie Eau de Beauté to keep me cool and refreshed. 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in 34 La Raffinée is an old favourite than instantly makes me feel more glamorous. A slick of lipstick can make such a difference to my confidence, and this colour is perfect for Apero in the late evening sunshine.  I've been using Clarins Éclat Minute Instant Light Complexion Perfector in 03 Bronze Shimmer to make up for the fact that my tan is still not quite in existence. It adds a subtle glow to my skin without being overly sparkley.  What are your favourite products this month? Xo

Coping With Stress

Source: Link

I'm very guilty of letting stress take over and coming very close to having a meltdown on a regular basis. We all have things that threaten our calm, whether it's exams at school or stretching our salaries to cover all our bills.  I've had an awful lot of upheaval in my life over the last couple of years, all of which was a result of choices I made, not that it makes it any easier to deal with! I'm currently trying to juggle ongoing issues with our French residency at the same time as planning a move back to the UK. Moving house is an absolute pain in the bum, which is multiplied by a million when it's an international move. I've recently had a few sleepless nights and found myself really distracted at work because i've got too much weighing on my mind and I had to take a step back and try and figure out how I can cope with the stress and deal with everything calmly. I have a teensy tendency to freak out when things don't go to plan or I don't get my own way. Childish, I know, but I consider myself to be very organised and like to plan far in advance so when things do go off piste I get quite upset.  I mean, it feels like a complete waste of time spent planning when things go pear shaped. My mum has told me that you can't plan for every eventually, sometimes you just have to get on with it, which is great advice but not so easy to put into practice. I have a sincere dislike of being in a situation where I don't know what's going on which is probably a little OCDish and linked to control issues... These are my tips for coping with stress and finding ways to cope with anxiety: Sleep This might seem like an obvious one but sleep can affect our overall wellbeing massively and alter our decision making ability so it's vital that you get a good night's beauty sleep every night. If you're struggling to get to sleep a soak in a hot bubble bath and lighting a scented candle can do wonders. I use some lavender essence on my pillow and take a melatonin supplement to help me drift off at a reasonable time. 
Move I find yoga really helps me relax my muscles and my mind, which in turn helps me sleep and feel sane enough to deal with my problems. There are plenty of yoga tutorials on youtube if you're a novice- all you need is somewhere quiet with space for a mat/towel on the floor. Regular, mild exercise - like going for a walk- keeps me focussed and makes me feel better about myself too. 
Plan I don't mean meticulously timetable everything within a second of your waking hours, I find having something to look forward to has really helped me deal with what's on my plate at the moment. Knowing that after I get through everything that there is something good, light at the end of the tunnel, is a great motivator. Whether its a trip with friends or a new outfit, a little incentive to keep going and not brush everything under the carpet makes me want to get it all over and done with with minimal fuss and worry. 
Separate Dealing with what's stressing you out one step at a time is the most effective way. I make lists for everything which means that I can see exactly what needs doing and when and what takes priority. Several hills are easier to climb than a mountain! If you feel really overwhelmed ask somebody close to you to go through it all with you and divide it up. Don't be afraid to ask for help, you'd be surprised at how willing your friends are to help out with the little things.
Forget Let it Go! If there is absolutely nothing you can do about it and it's completely out of your hands just put it into your imaginary pensieve and don't give it another thought. Working yourself up about something that you cannot change uses so much energy that you could use to tackle something you have the power to improve.  When it all gets too much, a temporary distraction is in order. There's nothing wrong with a little procrastination if it means we can come back bright eyed and bushy tailed. Go out for ice cream, take up a new hobby or have a few cocktails with friends- they are all temporary breaks from reality that make life easier for us all. 
I hope you have found this helpful, let me know your tips for keeping calm in the comments below!
Xo

Serious Hair Care: Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor

I recently destroyed my hair completely by bleaching it to the grave and was desperately searching for a quick fix online. Unfortunately hair cannot repair itself so all I can do is make it appear half decent whilst I grow it out, which will take years. 

I read about Aphogee hair products on a hair care forum and there was a 2 step treatment that was really raved about. I couldn't find any sites that offered postal options for France so I went for the Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor instead. It smells like sweet coconut which is lovely and summery. 

The instructions say to towel dry hair as much as possible before application and to leave it on no longer than 5 minutes. My hair feels stronger after use which is miraculous and it looks less like old straw when dry. I'm not sure whether it really reconstructs hair but I've been using this 1-2 times a week for a month and my hair seems to be better than when I ruined it with bleach.

I'm definitely going to try and get hold of some of the 2step treatment as I'm keen to see if it will work as well for me as this 2 minute treatment has.

What are your tips for ruined hair?

Xo

Luxury Lipstick Lustlist

I'm using any excuse to wear lipstick recently, I feel like I really can't justify buying them if I don't use them. If i'm really underdressed for an occasion, a swipe of lipstick quickly brings me up to scratch or If I'm looking particularly rough after a night out some bright lipstick and sunglasses makes me feel human again.

 I've treated myself to a few new ones in the last couple of weeks and thanks to Sephora's 20% discount promotion it hasn't been too traumatic financially. There are quite a few I'm looking to try and my main excuse is that I already have one from the collection and it looks odd in my make up storage without  a matching pair! 

1 Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Aventure available here for £25. I love the formula of this lipstick, it feels very lipbalm-y but with quite a bit of colour. Aventure is such a lovely, creamy pink too. I'm not usually one for shine lipsticks because I like strong colour pay off but I really want to get my hands on this. 

2 Tom Ford Lip Colour in Wild Ginger can be bought for £36 here. The packaging is stunning and I've been wanting to try a Tom Ford Beauty product for ages. I love that there is the logo engraved in the lipstick itself, just like the Chanel lipstick to the right. Wild Ginger is a beautiful orange red which is perfect for summer and would look stunning with a good tan. 

3 Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Luminous Matte Lip Colour in La Malicieuse is £26 at Selfridges. The velvet finish is to die for and I really want another lipstick from this range in a slightly more daring colour. La Malicieuse has just the right amount of orange to it and looks really wearable. 

What lipsticks are you lusting after this month?

Xo

Back to Cat Liner

I went through a phase a couple of years ago of wearing liquid eyeliner everyday and just alternating between a black and dark brown. I have really sensitive eyes which makes application a bit tricky and often half of it will come off in teary streaks because my eyes just won't stop watering. I've decided to be braver and leave my gel-liner comfort zone and get back to using liquid eyeliner. It's perfect for creating cat eye flicks and I find is more precise than gel eyeliner.

I chose the Seventeen High Drama Intense Liquid Eyeliner in Black as I prefer to dip into the liquid liner than have it in pen form as it gives me more control over the saturation of the brush. As you can see it's got the typical liquid eyeliner felt point which is easy to use. 

So far, my experience has been good, but I do have to carry it around with me for touch ups. Using an eye primer has helped me hugely and this liner doesn't 'crack' the way some liquids do when you get a bit carried away with application. This was an absolute bargain at £3.99 and can be bought here. I must say it doesn't measure up to the Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner but it is purse friendly! 

Are you a fan of liquid eyeliner?

Xo

Make Up For Ever Cult Products

2 years on and I still haven't got the hang of my camera!

I've been wanting to try more make up for ever products now that they are so accessible. They have a store less than 200m from my front door and it feels like there's a Sephora on every street in Paris. I have never been disappointed with any of the products I've tried so far and decided to go and treat myself to a new mascara. Instead, I came away with this beaut: the Pro Secret Make Up For Ever Set. It contains a miniature  primer, foundation, finishing powder, eyeliner and mascara which was great value for money as I has 20% thanks to my loyalty card. 

The Smoky Extravagant Mascara is fast replacing Benefit's They're Real as my go to daily mascara. It's dramatic, but not over the top and several people asked me if they were my own lashes when I only had one coat of this on. The brush is ideal but it collects a little bit too much product at the end which can result in overloaded lashes. 

The mini Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Black is perfect for a very quick smokey eye and doesn't smudge or transfer after a long day. 

I was already familiar with the HD Microfinish Powder because I use it on a daily basis, so it's nice to have another spare. It costs nearly €15 by itself, so it made me feel like I'm getting my money's worth. 
The HD Microperfecting Primer has made a nice change from using silicone type primers like Benefit's PoreFessional and Make Up For Ever's All Mat. It feels much lighter on my skin and foundation felt a lot less cakey when I used this underneath. 
The HD foundation is, if rumour is to be believed, used by Kim Kardashian who's skin always looks flawless. This foundation is an absolute dream, it has great coverage without feeling heavy and I'll definitely be repurchasing the full size.  Do you have any Make Up For Ever products to recommend?  Xo

In Love With Lipstick: MAC Amorous

I've been really into reds this year and MACs Amorous is the perfect everyday shade. It's deep without being too bold and pairs well with subtle eye make up as well as a dark smokey eye. 

It's ideal for just throwing in my handbag as it's suitable for both day and night. It doesn't smudge and lasts for ages, although reapplication is necessary after eating. I recommend using a lip liner to prevent the colour from bleeding because it isn't the easiest colour to remove. Of course, it has the usual yummy vanilla scent of all MAC lipsticks. This lipstick can be found here for £15. 

What's your favourite MAC lipstick shade? 

Xo

UK Hair Care Haul

Last month I hopped on the Eurostar to London to spend some time with my family for a few days and fortunately managed to squeeze in some shopping. One of the things that I have grown to appreciate after living abroad is the abundance of cheap hair care products in England. Staples that I have been using since my teens are often double the price here or even not available at all. I recently saw some Aussie products for nearly 10 euros a piece and they didn't even have 3 minute miracle!

I've been majorly slacking on heat protectant this past year and as a result I had to have 3 inches cut off to deal with some of the damage. I also bleached my hair which has completely ruined it but i'm still in denial about that and i'd rather blame it on my GHDs. I chose the L'Oréal Studio Line Hot & Smooth Hot Straight Spray because I liked the packaging and I've had good experiences before with L'Oréal heat protectant products. This one claims to be 3 day straight  (I don't think they test on my hair type for this though) and up to 230 degrees heat protection which is brilliant. You can find it here for £3.69. I know I keep swearing off dry shampoo but I swear it's hair care crack, once you've incorporated it into your life it becomes impossible to live without it. There are so many varieties available but I went for the Cherry Scented Batiste Dry Shampoo because it smells heavenly. The scent is described as 'fruity and cheeky'  and it was only £2.99 and available here.

This was recommended to me by a hairdresser to deal with the state of my hair after the Bleaching Disaster that seems to have turned my hair to elastic when wet *sob*. I have used Vo5 Hot Oil before but it was in a squeeze tube/ bottle rather than piddley little vials. Even after having a load of my lopped off I still needed 3 of these to cover my hair (and that's not even saturating it). This makes these tubes a bit of a false economy but I didn't have much choice as it's all Boots had in stock. There was no discernible difference after using this oil but I think my hair is too far gone as I really enjoyed using this product in the past. They were quite pricey at £4.29 for 60ml of product and can be bought here. 

I received one of these hair masks in my Christmas stocking and absolutely loved it, it made my hair very soft and manageable and felt really luxurious to use. Fortunately for my purse they were less than £3 a piece and available at good old Primark. The Hask Argan Oil Intense Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment is supposed to strengthen, restore and smooth dry, damaged hair and I have to agree that it does. The Hask Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner softens & prevents breakage in weak, damaged hair and I felt a real difference in the elasticity of my hair after use.  What hair care products have made it into your shopping basket this month?
Xo