Now that cosmetic companies are catering to all shades of people a lot more now, I feel that I no longer have to go on an expedition just to find foundation to suit my skin colour. However one product that I always have trouble with finding,  is the perfect nude lipstick, but I think I have found it and its cheap! 
Availability & Price 
Due to a huge PR push and new stands in Boots, you just can't escape NYX lately, but I am not complaining. I love that the products have really cute packaging and are great sizes, but are also affordable, this product is £6.50 and has 12 different shades. You can find it here. 

Applicator & Formula  The lipgloss has a doe foot applicator which is my favourite type for a lip product, it is soft and really works with the type of glossy formula it comes out as. The only issue I have is that it soaks up a lot of the product so there is a lot on your lips. What I do is use a small makeup brush to make sure it stays within the lines of my lips.  The formula comes out glossy and then dries matte within a few seconds. It is infused with avocado oil and vitamin E, and I can really feel the benefit of this when I wear it as it isn't drying for me at all! 

Colour  I bought mine in the shade Sandstorm and its perfect for a natural, soft makeup look. I have dark skin but I also think it would look nice on any shade. The colour is so pigmented for the price, and it lasts a long time, sort of like a stain which is a good thing for this shade. Also as it is quite neutral it goes with most lip liners. 

January is possibly the best month to read (and watch on YouTube) all the bloggers favourites, as it follows Christmas and everyone has time to test out things they are loving. 
This is a quick post to show the things that I have been obsessed with in January. 
First of all my 2016 Cath Kidston calendar is sooooo pretty and helps me to stay organised now that final year is getting stressful. With birthdays and deadlines looming now until May is quite honestly going to be the most stressful time of my education so far, but keeping organised and writing everything down is one way to stay sane. This was a birthday present and my birthday is in September so I have been waiting a long time to use this! 
Eco Styler Gel has been a lifesaver this month whilst I have been cutting back on styling my hair with heat. It is SO windy right now in Birmingham so this helps to keep my hair in place (as much as possible) I have tried both the green Eco Styler and this one that has Argan Oil in. I'd recommend this as it isn't too drying and it holds your hair right in place quickly. It is also quite affordable. 
The Scrub from Soap and Glory is actually the Scrub of My Life like it says on the bottle! It smells amazing and makes me feel like I have just had a massage. LOVE. 
My favourite scents this month have been Cashmere from Next and Lady Million by Paco Rabbane, both were gifts. I am into really strong warm scents and these both are. That is the best way to describe them. Also, don't underestimate perfume from Next, the scent lasts so long and I always get complimented on it! 
The Ice Twins was a completely different type of book to what I would ever usually read but it was definitely one that made me sit back and think. I will be uploading a review at some point! What are your January favourites? 

Hair Chat... I am not usually one for Hair Masks, only due to laziness because once I am out of the shower I don't want to get all nice and warm and then have to go back in again, especially in Winter!  But I am currently trying to refrain from using heat on my hair, because honestly I was just bored of wearing it straight all the time, and it is natural but really doesnt look it because I press it all the time. I have a bit of heat damage at the front of my hair where I straightened it the most so I have to make sure I put rollers in the ends so that it doesn't look straight where the rest of it curls. That was the main thing stopping me from just washing it and leaving it rather than blowdrying and straightening etc.  So thats the current situation. I will eventually start taking pictures and document different styles etc... But for now I am just finding my feet in managing my fro (and blogging!) because I have A LOT of hair and it is very thick so its pretty time consuming leaving it in a natural style.  I realise that the most important thing to do with hair especially during any transition is to keep it moisturised, and water is the best there is, so all week I have been wetting my hair constantly and by doing that I have realised that I do actually have a curls! I have had mini twists in my hair for a week, this was a protective style because I was getting bored of styling it, but I undid that today (Sunday pamper day) and washed my hair. Following that, this is where the Vatika Deep Conditioning Hair Mask came in! Last week I did the Aphogee two step protein treatment and quite honestly I have never seen my hair that curly, so that inspired me to keep trying new products. I will definitely have to do a review with pictures, but it is quite expensive at around £16.99 (stolen from mums hair draw) so that will have to wait!  Keep reading if you want to see how I got on with this mask. Vatika Naturals Black Seed Deep Conditioning Hair Mask Review...  This mask cost £5.99, just from a local hair shop but you can also get it online here! It is supposed to promote hair growth, moisture and shine. 
On first impressions, it is a really gross colour, its a dark green colour and the texture is just like conditioner but a bit thicker. It smells really strong and soapy, which is more encouraging than the look of the product. 
Pros: 

• Its a decent price for a lot of product, I think all of the tubs are 500g which is a good amount.
• The packaging is quite nice and it just does what it says on the tub. You could also reuse the tub for something else. 
• The best thing I like about this mask is that my hair felt really moisturised and light after using it.
• The smell makes you feel like you are really doing something for your hair, but it doesn't tingle or feel like it has any harmful chemicals in. 
• It completely detangled my hair after washing and made it super wavy.

Cons:

• Personally I would have preferred the mask if it turned hard like clay because I think it would be easier to wash out and you could easily see if you left any product in your hair. 
• The packaging doesn't tell you how much to apply which is annoying, I think this is a bit of marketing because if you use more than you need you are obviously going to run out quicker.

Overall I had a good experience with this mask and I will use it again.

Let me know if you have used this mask before or if you have any suggestions for more products to review! xxx 

I love a good bargain but I don't often skimp on hair and beauty products, I'd rather wait a while and then buy what I really want or just ask for it for my birthday or Christmas. HOWEVER These £1 nail varnishes by MUA, available in Superdrug or online here are so good!

It takes just 2 coats for full thick coverage which is about the same as any normal expensive nail varnish and the brush isn't like those cheap nail varnishes you can get with the thin wispy brush that can end up painted on your nail!


The range of colours is amazing, and I was surprised that they had trendy nude colours. If I'm going to a last minute party I always end up finding just the colour I need. The only other thing I have tried out from this brand is the neutral eyeshadow pallette which was also good.

I love layering on the mascara, I think it makes your face look softer and more feminine. Especially during the colder weather when you can end up looking a bit washed out, its a great way to make your features stand out.

In the past I usually used the Loreal Lash Sensational mascara to separate and lengthen my eyelashes before using a thicker mascara, but I find that these mascaras apply well and still make your lashes look lengthy. I still swear by Loreal Lash Sensational but these are two new additions to my makeup bag that can add that extra oomph during a dull January.



This mascara is called Thick and Fast by Soap and Glory. If you want big thick black eyelashes this is one for you my friend. With just one coat my eyelashes really stand out, and with two I look ready for a night out. The formula is thick, but doesn't feel heavy on the lashes, and Im sure it will last me a very long time! You can buy it here but I suggest getting the Whole She Bang Kit in Boots which is now just £18 and includes this and a load of other products too!


This mascara is the Clinique High Impact Mascara. The product pictured is just 3.5g, great for carrying in your handbag or for travelling. I got this in the Clinique Bonus Time Gift Set, but you can get the full one here. With this product you can build a really volumised lash, but if you want a more natural look you can achieve this with less application. I find that it isn't too hard to remove either, unlike the Thick and Fast mascara.

Conditioning is more crucial than ever during Winter, it is more likely that the crisp weather will dry out your hair which will lead to breakage and no-one wants that! My hair goal for this year is growth, so here are just two of the products I will be using to ensure that I reach that goal and get through these Winter months.



As you can see from the image, the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner is well used in our house. It's a product that me and my mum just cannot get enough of! In fact you could go as far as to say that it is my favourite Leave In Conditioner of all time. First of all it smells great. This is a real essential for me at the moment as I am trying to refrain from using heat on my hair, and having nice smelling hair is one of the bonuses of giving the straighteners a break.

Secondly it is a really vital product at this time of the year, as it locks in moisture to prevent breakage. At this time of the year with the cold weather it is more likely that you lose hair due to the frosty weather that can dry it out. It's all about conditioning and moisturising.

Thirdly it is affordable at around £3.99 and it does contain quite a lot of product in the tub. I like the fact that you just put your hand in and scoop it out rather than having a pump that you have to press hundreds of times to get enough product, especially if you have thick hair like me.


This Daily Oil Moisturiser has all of the same benefits of the conditioner, but it's more for styling. I wouldn't recommend using this if you have your hair in a straight/pressed style as water is the first ingredient.

It smells amazing and is ideal for untangling hair after a long day of it being open to the elements. I would say that this product can be used everyday if you use a small amount, but a little goes a long way and I guess that depends on how well your hair soaks in the product. It isn't too heavy so that it ruins your style and it is also very affordable at around the £4 mark.

I have seen a lot of controversy around the use of mineral oil in this product, but personally for me it works great!

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I was so excited to receive the 'It's The Whole She Bang' set for Christmas. It was available in Boots for £60 but is now only an incredible £18, much to my dismay even though it was a gift! I highly suggest buying it here.

My new favourite hygiene products come from this set, and after a month of using them day in, day out, I thought it was about right that I did a little review.

Clean On Me- I have been using this EVERYDAY. My favourite thing about this product is that it smells amazing. This shower gel smells so opulent and flowery, it is like having a pamper every morning, even if you are in a rush. The only downside is that it doesn't lather up very quickly but if you really squeeze it into a sponge or a shower puff (I don't know the technical name for it) it makes lots of cloudy bubbles. You leave the shower feeling soft and ready for the day. Sometimes I think that really scented shower gels don't make you feel as fresh and clean, and it might interfere with my perfume but with this I think it just accentuates any scent you may be wearing.  I follow this up with the Soap & Glory Body Butter which makes my skin feel super plump and moisturised. I will be doing a post on my current favourite moisturisers to follow this up, so I won't go into that too much now!

Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - The first things that come to mind when I use this is 'it's nice'. That's all really. The formula is just like any other cleansing milk and I don't feel any tingling sensation when it is on my skin, which may be a good thing, but I do like to feel that the product is really doing something. I haven't noticed any fluctuation in spots or dry skin, which is a plus.

The Scrub of Your Life - IT ACTUALLY IS! This scrub is amazing, and it's so pretty! It works so well to leave your skin feeling silky, even if you haven't shaved your legs (it's cold out here). It smells just like the shower gel so that if you use both you don't leave the bathroom smelling like a sickly concoction of perfumes.

Overall, these products are perfect if you want to feel like a pampered princess everyday and now it is on sale I would highly recommend snapping it up, as it is certainly cheaper to buy this way than individually. You also get an amazing mascara and a selection of moisturisers.

Sleek is definitely my favourite high street brand so I have three things from them I have been loving.

Sleek True Colour Lipstick, Matte in Exxxaggerate.  Even though it is purple, I wear it on an everyday basis and it is something I would definitely repurchase. It particularly compliments darker skin tones. Surprisingly for a purple toned lipstick it looks good with most outfits also! (here's a swatch to the left) click here to purchase

Sleek Shimmer Blush in Sunrise 924. £4.49 
Sleek recommend this for darker skin tones and I love how pigmented the colour is, although it is hard to capture without natural sunlight! (swatch to the right) It works really well as a bronze as it comes out as a dark blush. Also works well with the Sleek Contour kit for a glamorous look and I use it to make sure I have a healthy glow! click here to purchase. 


Sleek Face Contour Kit in Dark 886 £6.49 
This Contour Kit probably comes up on a lot of beauty guru's favourites!
A lot of people have this palette and at first I was sceptical but I have been converted. The pigment is perfect and I mainly use the Dark Contour powder as opposed to using the highlighter. I am still looking for a plain highlighter that doesn't have glitter, so if you have any suggestions please comment below! I think this kit will last me a long time, and it around £6 its great value as you only need one swift swipe to add some element to your face. click here



MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Natural in Dark Deep. £22 
This is 100% my Holy Grail face product. I Swear by it. Apply a small amount of top of foundation to set it and add a healthy glow, or use instead of foundation altogether and it is just as good! I use this as an everyday face product and I have repurchased it since I bought it the first time. it is a nice chocolately brown that gives you a healthy look!

MAC Matte Powder Blush in Raizin £18
Although it is quite expensive for a blush, you can really see the quality of it when applied , as the pigment is great and it applies nearly as condensed as a cream, but it is a powder! Meaning it will last a long time. It is a really nice undertone deep reddish brown, and compliments dark skin amazingly. available here





Remington Sleek and Smooth Wide Hair Straightener. £36.99
Best buy of the year! and at least 3 people I know have bought them since. The wide plate is especially good for my thick hair and they heat up super fast, they also come with a heat mat and can go up to over 200 degrees. The ceramic plates really make a difference as they slide through my hair without me feeling like its being singed! also the plates are kind of 'floating' so they move with your movements. I also curl with these and love how silky it makes my hair feel, especially after using a tiny bit of caster oil.

Maybelline Fit Me Concealer £5.99
I love to use this if I don't want to wear a full coverage foundation, it is quite heavy coverage so don't use it if you're prone to break out, but its great to use under the eyes and is a nice warm natural tone. What I like in particular is the doe foot applicator it comes with, so you can use it on the go.  find your shade here


MUA Undress Me Too Eyeshadow Palette £4 
This palette is perfect because it has the right mix of matte shadows and shimmery ones. It also has a great range of colours you can actually use together! it sounds obvious but its not always easy to find a palette where you can take just that with you if you're going away for a night out and you know you don't need anything else. Id describe it as a cheaper version of the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, it just costs 10 times less, (literally). click here 

Real Techniques Core Collection Brush Set £21.99
I had been wanting these brushes for so long but couldn't justify spending so much just on brushes! However it certainly works out better to buy the set, and you get the travel case that you can stand up as I've shown in the picture above. I'm so glad I went and got these as you can feel the quality every time! My favourite brush is the big buffing one, I use this for my foundation and the mineralise powder. and then the smaller round brush I use for my dark contour powder. The tiny thin brush I use to conceal my eyebrows, and the flat brush is just multipurpose for me, what I love about this set also, is that they are all different sizes so that you can use them for specific purposes. You can buy the set at boots as a lot of retailers sell the core collection brushes seperately . 

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner £4.99 each
Keratin as you may know is for smoothing and straightening hair, I love to use this because it smells SO NICE! and you leaves my hair without tangles and so soft to the touch, I often think I haven't washed the conditioner out properly as it feels so soft. What I like most about these products is that they do what they say on the bottle and control frizz. Obviously when I wash my hair it is a huge afro bush but it is a controlled bush thanks to these shampoos!

Last but not least…..

Jergens Daily Moisturiser (around £2.99 depending on where you buy it)
I use so many different creams and body butters and could possibly moisturise a small country. However I prefer creams that I can use all over, and as I don't use scented creams on my face and I have dry spots in this area, I prefer to have one particularly for dry skin. This one feels really silky when you apply it so at first I didn't think it would work but it proved me wrong and leaves me nice and silky!

So thats all of my everyday favourites and the things I reach for most of the time. I may do a part two with things I have left out, or a 2013 worst products to review also. Hope this helped! Leave links to your favourites below! See you soon! xx