Hair Refresh

I feel that we have all been there.. Making that one hair decision that we always wish we had never done. Whether it be trying a new cut, styling it differently or being brave and trying a new colour. Back when I was in year 10 at school, I had my first lot of highlights. I loved them! A nice subtle blonde running through the length of my hair. I loved it so much so that I decided next time I went back to the salon, to add a little bit more blonde. I did the same the next time that I went.. Until I was pretty much bleach blonde. 

Now being that age, looking back, I definitely did not look after my hair at all. I would wake up at 6am every morning, to wash it and style it before heading off to school for the day. That being said, the amount of product I would put into my hair was horrendous! It was so dry, it could have literally just been hay used to make a birds nest. Not a good look.. 

As you can guess, it didn't last for very long. Maybe a couple of weeks at max. She was back dying it to be a brunette once more. Even more damage to my hair.. It took years to grow out the bleach underneath the home box dyes, under the semi permanent dyes done at the salon. It was such a long process. The colour never stuck to my hair due to the bleach stripping back any sort of colour or pigment. Of course, there was nothing for the dye to cling too! I always remember being wary of being out in the direct sun as you could see how my roots were growing through. 

Since then, I have always been a bit against doing anything with my hair that's different. Other than minimising the amount of product used on my hair.. After seeing the balayage trend coming in, where colour was added to look natural, or the opposite if you fancied, I was obsessed! After umming and arring, I took the plunge and decided to go for something super natural, with no colour anywhere near my roots. I wanted that look of natural highlights from spending time in the sun. 

I have been over the moon with it! Even a month on from having it done, I still wish that I had done it sooner. Don't get me wrong, I am not going to go back as blonde as my school days (I am not going to insert any photos, to save myself the embarrassment haha), but I am in love with it!

Do you have any hair regrets?

Amber X

Winter Styling Edit

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I'm not great when it comes to buying clothes. I'm never one to quickly add an item to my basket or to walk into a shop, find something and go straight to pay. I always end up deliberating over whether I will actually get wear out of the item, and if it will go with the very few clothing pieces that I have in my wardrobe. Yes, I am a nightmare when it comes to buying new clothes haha. Dressing for Winter is definitely my favourite if I had to choose between all seasons. Give me some pointy boots, an oversized jumper and a pair of jeans, and I'm ready for the day. There have been a few items of clothing that I have been loving and I cannot wait to wear them out and about when the time comes.

>This< jumper has been one of my favourite buys. I have been trying to add a couple more knitted jumpers to my wardrobe as they are a piece that goes with everything.. Jeans, work trousers. skirts, and leggings. The quality itself is lovely and it goes so nicely with a thick scarf, on a cold day. The cable knit design always makes a jumper look super cosy and this one is no exception. It's also currently discounted!

I have wanted a pair of leather look leggings for a while, but couldn't seem to find any with a quality that would last. I used to have a pair of leather look jeans from Topshop, but can remember putting them in the wash and the waxed, leather look, just disappeared. I ordered from BecauseOfAlice when Alice first launched collection number 1 and fell in love with the light wash mom jeans. She released >these< leather look leggings and my dreams were finally answered. They're not flimsy in their fabric and don't cling to the legs. They fit just right and the high rise design is beautiful. 

Lastly, the most incredible pair of biker boots you have ever seen. Boots are a love of mine, and >this< pair are just beautiful. Another item that I think will be so versatile - they could be worn with my pair of leather leggings, jeans, skirts, and dresses.. I cannot wait to be able to wear these out properly!

What fashion pieces have you been loving lately?

Amber X

Nars Blush Palette - A Review

It's been a while. I know, I know. Apologies for the lack of posts over the last month or so. I think with all that is currently going on, motivation was lost along the way. I'm sure that many have felt this way through one lockdown to another. I won't carry on, I know we are all in this together. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we will return to some form of normality sometime soon. 

Ever since starting this blog, I can remember lusting over Nars blush palette posts. Seeing these blog posts, with gorgeous flat lay's showcasing the packaging and the product, made me fall in love. I can remember adding it to my wish list right away, and thinking that one day I may treat myself to one of these beautiful palettes. My dreams came true this Christmas after finding this beauty in my stocking (thank you so much Sam).

Firstly, how pretty is the pink metallic outer packaging?! It's so striking and reflects the light at all angles. The compact itself is slightly weighty, and contains a perfectly sized mirror which will come in handy on the go and when travelling makes a return. The palette contains 6 shades, 3 blusher shades - Let It Burn, Get Lost and Body Talk, with 3 highlighting shades - Tied Up, Deep Down and Drift. I have loved mixing the blush shades together and creating different variations that I can wear on my cheeks. Similarly, the highlighting shades also make such pretty eye lid eyeshadow shades.

The pigmentation of each of these shades is just out of this world. The highlights are so creamy in their texture. If the kind of highlighter you like to wear is more on the blinding side, these shades may not be for you. They're very natural looking on the skin, almost a your skin but better kind of vibe. But I love them for that reason. It's lovely to have the option to wear something more subtle on the daily, but they are definitely buildable, making them more reflective when the light hits the high points of your face. With the blushers, a little goes a long way which is amazing. 

Since opening this on Christmas Day, I haven't put it down. Nars is slowly becoming one of my favourite higher end make up brands. I can 100% see this palette becoming one of my staple make up items in my routine.

Have you tried any Nars products? What are your recommendations?

Amber X

Makeup Picks For Sitting In Your Christmas Jumper

Let me be honest, I intend to spend my Christmas Day doing nothing but eating and sitting around in my Christmas jumper. For those of you who also plan on doing the same and taking in all of the Christmas TV that is planned to be showing, I thought to share some of my makeup picks to add a little bit more glam to sitting on the sofa. 

Huda Beatuty Matte Lipstick

How gorgeous is this shade?! Nothing speaks Christmas like wearing a red lip and I am so glad that I have come across this one. I wore this yesterday whilst we went on a walk to watch the Christmas lights being switched on, and I didn't reapply it all day. It didn't budge, it didn't bleed which I find that so many red lipstick shades can. The formula was so comfortable to wear - it didn't dry out my lips or go all clunky around the edges. It was truly gorgeous. If you feel like a festive treat, the shade of this matte lipstick is 'El Cinco de Mayo'. I cannot wait to carry on wearing this through the festive season.

Mac Soft and Gentle

An all time favourite of mine. I love the sheen this highlighter gives to my skin. It is definitely not on the subtle side of highlighters but it doesn't contain chunky glitters either and I love it for that reason. It melts into the skin and gives such a healthy looking glow. Definitely a way to add a bit of sparkle in your makeup routine for Christmas.

Too Faced Natural Nudes Palette

One of my makeup favourites of this year has to be this one. I have used it every day since I bought it back in the summer. The matte shades are so pigmented, and similarly, as are the shimmer shades. There are so many looks which can be created with this palette - subtle natural looks, but also put together, night out type looks. If there is one palette which you want to treat yourself too, I would 10000% recommend this one. It's so beautiful. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

If you're looking for a concealer that blends really well, brightens up your under eyes and has a high coverage, this one is for you. A firm favourite for many, there are reasons why this is a top pick of mine. It's super brightening and lasts all day. I also find that this concealer doesn't sit in any fine lines underneath the eyes either. It's just a win win. 

What make up products will you be using to create your Christmas day makeup?

Amber X

NYX Worth The Hype Mascara

Anyone who has read any of my older blog posts, will know that I am a massive lover of the Nars Climax Mascara. However, with it being £22 a pop (that is quite pricey in my eyes, specifically for a mascara), I have been on the hunt to find something that I love just as much, but doesn't have such a high price point. I am definitely one of those weirdo's who rather's a mascara as it starts drying out - is it just me? That's when I feel that a mascara really adds volume, and is easier to build upon with just one coat. That being said, I was scrolling through Asos as usual, and thought to have a look at the beauty section, in the hope I could find a mascara that I would enjoy.

I came across the NYX Worth The Hype Mascara. Anything that claims it is volumizing, and easy to build upon ticks the mascara boxes for me. My kind of mascara is one that fans out my lashes, doesn't make them look clumpy or spider leg like, but gives them enough oomph. Not too much too ask for, I know. The description of this mascara contains both of those, and it also has a tapered brush, which is great for those harder to reach outer corner lashes, or the tiny lashes found on the inner corner of the eye. For only £9, I thought I must give it a go.

Packaging:
Nothing overly special with the packaging in my opinion. Yet, you know it's a mascara, and it clearly states that it is volumising on there. I definitely don't see that as being a bad thing. Simple yet effective.

Wand:
100% the most important part of a mascara. I love a plastic wand with lots of bristles. Not one that is too skinny, or too thick. I love this mascara for the wand. It coats evenly, and I definitely think that it does add volume to my lashes. One thing that I do tend to find with cheaper mascara's, is that they don't hold a curl so well in comparison to more expensive ones that I have tried. But this one does give it a good go.

Overall:
For £9 I don't think you can go wrong here. It lasts all day. It doesn't transfer onto my eyelids, or my under eye area. After a long day at work, the Nars Climax does transfer to my under eye area, and leave black slodges. This one doesn't, tick! It defintiely adds the right amount of volume, and if I feel I need a bit more, it allows you to build upon what is already on there, without giving you cumply lashes.

What's your favourite mascara?

Amber X

Curling With a Straightener

First things first, I am NO hair stylist. Trust me. I am definitely an advocate for, spend as little time as I can to style it. But every once and while, I do like to spend the time to make it look lovely. I have always had long hair. Ever since I was a child I always remember it being long. My Dad would wash it for me, and plait it before I went to sleep, so it was all wavy for school the next day. But recently, it was getting a little bit too much. I always found that I had to put so much effort in to it for it to look half decent, which was a definite no. That being said, I booked a hair appointment and decided to give it a good old trim. I walked out the salon, super happy with the outcome. It doesn't take half the time to do my hair in the morning now, and it looks so much happier. (Although I truly do miss the length shhh! Haha) This is how I achieve curls, with my straightener, when I am willing to give my hair some love.

The photo above is my hair freshly washed from the night before. We can blame that lovely kink through it, on the hair band it was tied up with. From here, I section my hair off, running my index fingers from the top of my ears, round to the back of my head and tie up the top section in a bun on top of my head. I then take a small section of hair, and get the straightener ready.

There are different ways that you can hold the straightener to achieve a curl, and I tend to switch it up as I do it, to give my hair a different texture. For example, starting near to the root of your hair, point the straightener downwards, clamp the hair and twist the straightener a half turn away from the face. Pull the straightener through the hair, slowly, until you reach the end of the section you selected. Carry on doing the same throughout the bottom layer of hair. You can switch up the way you rotate the straightener to give your hair some depth. When you get to the section around your hair, rotate away from the face, to shape your face.

Once the bottom section has all been curled, hair spray in place. I then let down the top piece of hair and section it off again, with a second layer, ready to be curled. Repeat this until all of your hair has been curled into sections. Run your fingers through your hair, loosen up the curls, sort out your parting to how you like to have it, and you're all ready to go.

The second technique that I like to use if I really don't want to spend long making my hair presentable is the one below. Starting the curl lower down the hair, with the straightener pointing towards the root of the hair. Rotate the straightener with the hair in, a half turn away again in whatever direction you wish, towards the face or away, and slowly drag the curler through the length of the hair until the end of the section. Repeat.

Once I've ran through all of the hair, I'm left with something that looks like this! There are loads of great tutorials, step by step guides with photos and videos on the GHD website, which I have had a little browse through from time to time, just to have a look at the hair styles you can achieve using their stylers. I swear by GHD and have been a long time user of their products. They're amazing.

Hope this inspires some of you to give your hair some love. What is your favourite hair style on yourself?

Amber X