2014 Beauty Favourites Part 2: Hair & Skincare

2014 Beauty Favourites Part 2: Hair & Skincare

Monday, 19 January 2015

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Welcome to part 2 of 3 of my 2014 Beauty Favourites. This post, as you can probably tell from the title, is all about the skin and hair care that I was loving in 2014. 

Skin Care:

It's no secret that my skin was not at it's best last year, a lethal combination of stress, the eating habits of a fussy toddler and even worse sleeping habits have really taken it out of my skin. These 5 products have been incredible in my fight for better skin. 

Quick Fix Facials PurifyingCharcoal Mask for Congested & Lifeless Skin

I've been using this mask once a week to decongest my skin and prevent blackheads developing and it's really helped to contain the problem. Containing such spot fighting lovelies as Cinnamon, Charcoal (duh!) and Dragon Fruit it leaves my skin feeling so clean and fresh and it always looks so much better afterwards. 

Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche deBeaute 24HR Soothing & Hydrating Face Mask

This mask is a gift sent from the Skincare Gods! And my skin just laps it up. I've been using it every week and it has made my dry, scaly skin feel beautifully soft and nourished.

No7 Essential Moisture DayCream 

 I've been using this moisturiser every morning for months and I just love it. It melts into the skin, leaving me with soft, nourished skin and a perfect base for makeup.

Witch Naturally Clear Blemish Stick

This is my go to spot treatment for any particularly big juicy spots. It dries them up like it ain't no thing. I just pop it on the offending blemish at night and by morning it's gone or greatly reduced depending on the size of the spot. Now I'm not gonna lie to you lovely people the Witch Stick is not without it's faults. It is very drying on the skin, which is why it works so well on spots, but it does mean you have to be very precise when applying so you don't dry out your  skin.  Even so it's great for emergency giant spot situations. I'm breaking out at the moment and I'm so gutted I don't have it with me. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil

Another excellent treatment for spotty skin. This tiny bottle is amazing, it lasts forever and the tiniest bit makes all the difference to my badly behaved skin.  Like the Witch Stick, this gets rid of spots like nobody's business, unlike the Witch Stick it's not even remotely drying on the skin. I love it. 

Hair Care:

L - R: Frizz Ease Daily Miracle Leave-in Conditioner, Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum & Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment

My hair is difficult to say the least, when it behaves (which is rare) I love it, when it doesn't I seriously, seriously hate it, like chop it all off and start wearing wigs hate it. These 3 are absolute staples in my frizz fighting arsenal and the reason I currently have longish hair and no wigs.

Frizz Ease Daily Miracle Leave-in Conditioner 

I've used this almost everyday for the past 3 years or so because it's amazing. I spritz it onto soaking wet hair and it makes my hair behave itself. It's a really conditioning, light weight spray that leaves my hair crazy soft and virtually frizz free. For a while I was worried that it would stop working if my hair got too used to it, so I stopped using it and the condition of my hair changed drastically. It was dry, frizzy and completely unmanageable. I started using it again and it improved my hair straight away. It really is a miracle.

Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum

I dread to think what my hair would look like if I didn't use this serum. Seriously it is that good. I run 2 pumps of serum through freshly washed hair, avoiding the roots,  and it completely tames my hair leaving me with defined, shiny curls. Love it. 

Avon Advance Techniques 360 Nourishment Moroccan Argan Oil Leave-in Treatment

AKA the best and most beautiful argan oil I have ever come across. It's really light weight and just leaves my hair looking and feeling amazing. It calms down frizz, defines curls, protects from the heat and it just does everything. I love it. 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or dropping me an email. Also make sure you're following me on instagram, facebook, Bloglovin & pinterest.

It's gonna be a bit quiet on the blog front for the next couple of weeks or so because I have 2 very long uni assignments due in in a very short space of time. But I will try to update you guys as and when I can.  

Until then...

Love love love xxx

November Favourites 2014

November Favourites 2014

Sunday, 7 December 2014

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 Top Row L - R: Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask for Congested & Lifeless Skin, KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Crème, Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute & Rimmel Glam Eyes HD eyeshadow palette in Brixton Brown. Bottom Row L – R:  Benefit They’re Real Push Up Liner, Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in Berry Much, Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Dealer's Choice, Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Base Coat & The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Butter

Last month I was trying out a lot of new products so I don’t have loads of favourites for November. Having said that those I do have are corkers. Let's do this! 

Benefit They’re Real Push Up Liner 

I was a big fan of this when it first came out (read more about that here) and then forgot all about it. But recently I've had the urge to wing my eyeliner and of course this is what I've been reaching for. The formula is blacker than black, ridiculously long lasting and doesn't crease, so we're already onto a winner! But what makes it particularly amazing is the applicator. Now I'm no slouch when it comes to winging my eyeliner but this is amazing. All you have to do is stamp the nib at the corner of the eye and... VOILA perfectly winged eyeliner everytime. It's amazing.

The Body Shop Vanilla Bliss Body Butter

I love The Body Shop Body Butters anyway but last month I was particularly loving the Vanilla Bliss Body Butter. As the weather has gotten steadily worse my skin has been in dire need of some TLC and the Vanilla Bliss Body Butter was just what the Doctor ordered. It has an amazing thick, creamy texture that feels lovely on the skin and is so moisturising. It leaves the skin feeling soft and nourished. Not only does it do incredible things for the skin but it smells so good, I want to eat it. I won't though. 

Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Base Coat

This is the most incredible thing I've ever used on my nails ever. Ever! Essentially it's a base coat that hardens the nails so they don't break as easily. As a recovering nail biter I have the weakest nails. So even though I don't bite them anymore they are so weak that they just break all the time and I can't get them to grow. But this... this is amazing, the thing I was most impressed with is the fact that you can actually see it working. 

Week 1 

Week 2 

Week 3

You can see that there is a noticeable difference week to week. Also, somewhat pathetically, this is the longest my nails have been in my entire life! Sadly my nails don't look like this anymore because I had a particularly nasty assignment for uni and I picked them all off. BUT I've been using it as a base coat since and they're quickly growing back. I only have one slightly negative thing to say about this and that is that you need to wait about 15 minutes for this bad boy to dry before painting your nails or they dry with a really weird, bumpy texture. 

Rimmel Glam Eyes HD eyeshadow pallett in Brixton Brown 

This nifty little pallette graced my lids pretty much for the entirety of November. Why? you may ask, well it's bloomin' marvellous that's why. The Brixton Brown Pallette is made up of 4 incredibly pretty and easy to wear neutral shades and 1 stunning brown red shade that try as I might I just cannot pull off. But together they create a really wearable smokey eye like it ain't no thing! The shadows themselves are quite finely milled and so buttery and soft in texture. They're also really long lasting and don't crease at all. Winner. Apparently this is a very good dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita Eyeshadow Quad and as far as I can tell - not actually owning the Charlotte Tilbury quad - the only differences are 1. the price and 2. the Rimmel pallet has an extra shadow but not the copper glitter shade. Overall I think it's lovely and I will be getting a lot of wear out of it. 

Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in Dealer's Choice 

I have raved about the magic that is the formulation of the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy Nail Enamels and that is simply because they are the closest thing to perfect a nail polish formula can get so I won't bore you with the details (read more about it here and here). The colour is lovely and much like it's sister polish Up the Ante  is super versatile being both summer and winter appropriate. I love it.

Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencil in Berry Much

Rumour has it that the Maybelline Color Drama Velvet Lip Pencils are a dupe for the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. Now being a particularly broke student I don't know if that's true but I can definitely tell you that I am OBSESSED with this beautiful, beautiful lip pencil. It is incredible! Now I'm not a major fan of Maybelline under normal circumstances but this might be (whisper it) my favourite lipstick ever. Unlike a lot of other lip pencils this is not at all drying on the lips, in fact I kept forgetting it was there because it is so comfortable to wear. Add to that a beautiful, autumnal berry shade, a ridiculously long lasting formula and a student friendly price tag and you have got a winner on your hands. 

Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask for Congested & Lifeless Skin.  

Now it’s no secret that my skin has been going through something of a teenage rebellion recently. Which is incredibly annoying considering I'm actually 23 and (sadly) no longer a teenager! There have been blackheads, there have been mass breakouts and it's just been horrible. Even now my skin's not great but I honestly dread to think what it would be like without this mask. I've been using it twice a week for the past month and the difference it makes is just amazing. My skin is looking so much better, again not great, but there is definitely a noticeable improvement. 

Nuxe Masque Creme Fraiche de Beaute 

I've been using this after the Quick Fix mask and it is wonderful. I normally use masks when my skin is misbehaving and hormonal rather than for dryness and this is unlike any mask I've ever used. It feels incredible on the skin, the texture is that of a really beautiful moisturiser, it's really silky on the skin and is just lovely. It is so nourishing and takes care of any dry patches like it ain't no thing. Gorgeous.

KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Creme

If you're a regular reader you will know all about the struggles I have with my hair. If you're new to my small corner of the internet then all you need to know is that my hair is... well it's insane (read more about that here). No matter what I do it just has the tendency to frizz out Ronald McDonald style, which is not a good look for anyone, BUT particularly bad if you're incredibly pale and love a bold lip... like me. 

Spot the difference

I apologise for the giant picture of my face! Anyway a lot of hair products made specifically for frizzy/curly hair either really weigh down my hair or leave my curls crispy and/or greasy looking. This does none of those things. It has a really light, creamy formula (that smells of vanilla!) that calms frizz and makes my hair more manageable. I just run a pea sized amount through wet hair or when it's being difficult and BANG the frizz is gone! Or greatly reduced anyway. 

So those were my November Favourites. Have you tried any of them? What did you think? Love them? Hate them? Let me know on twitter, by commenting below or even by dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. I'll be back on Tuesday with Lola Rocks #2 The Chrismas Edition. Until then have yourselves a wonderful week and if you feel like checking me out on instagram, facebook, Bloglovin & pinterest feel free ;)

Love love love xxx

2 Stars & A Wish #1

2 Stars & A Wish #1

Wednesday, 4 June 2014

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2 Stars & A Wish is a new weekly feature on rocknroses. Every Wednesday I will be reviewing/raving about two beauty products I love and talking about one that disappointed me.

My First Star this week goes to No 7 Beautiful Skin Blemish Defence Serum for all Skin Types.

No 7 Beautiful Skin Blemish Defence Serum for all Skin Types

My skin has been so awful recently, mostly due to lack of sleep, an abundance of stress and the worst attack of hayfever that I've ever had. The near constant eye watering has left the delicate skin under my eyes puffy, red, swollen and unbelievably sore. It's just been terrible, leaving me desperate to find something that will fix it and make the blackheads and redness go away FOREVER. Sadly no such magical product exists as of yet and if it did it would cost an absolute bomb. Anyway this serum acts as a preventative rather than a cure. Even so I think it's awesome. It's a silky smooth serum that feels absolutely beautiful on the skin. As an oil-free formula it promises to, and I quote, 'unblock pores and clear excess sebum to give smoother, blemish free skin.' and as far as my experience goes it totally does that. I so love it when stuff does what it says it will. You'd think it would be a given but it so rarely is. I picked this up in Boots over the weekend for £11 (usually it costs £16 but I had a voucher) and have been using it every day, applying it before moisturising but after washing my face. Since I've been using it my face is definitely clearer and smoother. I think it's amazing.

My Second Star goes to another skin care product Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask for Congested and Lifeless Skin.

Quick Fix Facials Purifying Charcoal Mask for Congested and Lifeless Skin.

I can't emphasize how awful my skin has been of late, my dissertation really did a number on me (I know, I know I can't keep blaming everything on my dissertation, last time I promise). I picked this up in T.K. Maxx a couple of weeks ago for the ridiculously low price of £2.50, and tried it for the first time last night. Already there is a noticeable difference in my skin, my face is clearer, my pores look smaller and it left my skin feeling smooth and slightly tingly. Containing Charcoal, Dragon Fruit and Cinnamon Extract - ingredients known for their awesome skin clearing properties - this face mask targets spots, blackheads (my main problem) and clogged pores. It has quite a thick consistency and looks a bit like cement which I admit is a little bit off putting, especially when I forgot that I was wearing it. I got one hell of a shock when I looked in the mirror and my face was grey but it kinda smells like Christmas which is amazing. I am so impressed and am sure it will be making a weekly appearance in my skincare routine. I love it.

  

My Wish goes to Maybelline New York's Dream Satin Liquid Foundation in 10 Ivory.

Maybelline New York's Dream Satin Liquid Foundation in 10 Ivory

My first impressions of this foundation were not good, it promises a 100% poreless look and air-brush perfection but it doesn't really deliver. Initially I thought it left me looking really shiny, but then I realised that because my skin is super dry I usually have to moisturise before putting on a base and this was causing the shininess. So I tried it without moisturising and the finish was much more matte but I still found it to be lacking. The formula is really thick and doesn't blend very well and the coverage isn't great either. I was so disappointed because I had heard good things but it just left me feeling a bit...meh. Obviously I will still use it because I cannot stand waste but I need to use a lot of Collection Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder in 02 Medium to make it work for me, which is such a faff. 

I think in future I will stick to L'Oreal Paris True Match foundation in Rose Vanilla because it is my absolute favourite foundation. It is just the best and does exactly what it says it will. It is super-blendable and matches my skin tone and texture perfectly and has a built in SPF. I am in love with it. Sadly I have run out, hence the Maybelline.

L'Oreal Paris True Match foundation in Rose Vanilla

I kept the bottle because that's the kind of loser I am but I will be repurchasing the next time I have money.

Anyway that's my 2 Stars & A Wish for this week. What did you think? Anything you agreed with? Disagreed with? Let me know on twitter using the hashtag #2StarsandAWish or by commenting below. If you do comment I always try to reply so do check back. Also I am all over social media so if you feel like checking me out on twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest and giving me a cheeky follow/like or whatever feel free :)

Love love love xx