3 Quick + Simple Hairstyles ft. Cloud Nine

Back in October you may have seen my halloween mermaid look featuring Cloud Nine which is a brand I have wanted to try for so long so I was very excited to work with them! I was very kindly sent the *Cloud Nine Original Curling Wand (£99.95) which is a multi-award winning curling wand. 

I have created three very simple, quick and easy hairstyles for the winter months as I don't know about you but I don't want to spend a very long time on my hair as it is exposed to heat for a long periods of time and my arms start to ache after about ten minutes! The wand is so easy to use, it creates lovely waves and it is quite versatile too as depending on where you wrap your hair around the wand, the tighter or looser the effect will be. 

Firstly, just curling my hair transforms it and makes it look so much more presentable than straightening it or leaving it natural. I have no idea why my hair looks purple in this photo! I love the waves I get with this wand. I use a small about of the Bumble and Bumble Thickening Creme Contour to my hair to add definition and to smooth down flyaways. 

Next, I leave my hair to dry naturally then add Moroccan Oil to the lengths which makes brushing out tangles easier and it adds shine and moisture to my naturally thick and unruly hair. I then curl two small sections on either temple and pin away from my face as sometimes I want to have my hair down but I don't want it in my face. 

Lastly, I randomly curl sections and set with my hairspray, I use the Kerastase Laque Couture Hairspray. Then I tie it into a ponytail with a cute hair tie - this rose gold bow hair tie is from H&M. Adding a small amount of hairspray means that the curls or waves will last all day and into the next. 

Overall, I love the Cloud Nine Original Wand, it is so quick and easy to use and the heatproof mat and heatproof glove are so useful and prevent me from burning my fingers or the carpet! I'd definitely recommend the wand and I hear nothing but good things about their straighteners too. 

Have you tried the Cloud Nine wand? What do you think of my super simple hairstyles?

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October + November Beauty Favourites

Yes, this post is very late but I've had so many christmas posts to publish first, anyway enough with the blogger excuses. Todays post is all about the products I was loving throughout October and November and some of them I've been loving throughout December too. There's a mix of makeup, skincare and bodycare so let's get started!

Makeup

The one makeup product that I have been using almost every time I wear makeup over the past three or so months has been the amazing Mac Sculpt and Shape Powder in Accentuate/Sculpt (£26) from the Macnificent collection a while ago so it isn't available anymore but it's amazing. The contouring shade is just perfect for my super pale skintone and it isn't too pigmented.

Sticking with the more expensive products, I've also been loving the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light which just makes my skin look better, that's how I'm describing it. It adds a subtle glow, it blurs pores and it doesn't mattify my skin but it sets my makeup.

Now brows, I have been completely faithful to my Eye of Horus pencil and gel for so long but throughout October and November I used the Billion Dollar Brow Pencil (£17) so much as it is just so quick and easy to use.

Lastly for makeup is the Burts Bees Lip Gloss in Ruby Moon (£8.99) which I've had for ages and I always bring it back into my collection for the colder months as it diguises the look of dryness and it adds a lovely berry gloss to the lips but it isn't too dark/pigmented.

Fragrance 

There are two fragrances that I've been wearing everyday, firstly the Roger and Gallet Fleur de Figuier EDP (£40.50) which I reviewed fully back in September. It's a lovely autumnal fragrance and the bottle is so pretty! The second perfume is one that I received in a set from Klout as a perk *Klout perks are the best thing ever* and it is Giorgio Armani Si EDP which as with the Roger and Gallet fragrance smells musky and autumnal - although Si is definitely stronger and richer.

Skincare & Bodycare

My final two products are ones that instantly became my autumn staples and I am still using them now; the Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Body Lotion (£25) which has to be the most heavenly smelling body lotion ever! Lastly, the Oilixia Brilliance Facial Oil (£37) which is a product I haven't been able to stop raving about since I received. I used it mainly in my evening skincare routine and it leaves my skin so moisturised, plump and smooth - also it doesn't ever irritate my eczema which is amazing!

I won't have a Decemeber favourites post this year as I will have my big round up of all the beauty products I've been loving throughout 2015 at the beginning of January so stay tuned. However here's my list of the products I haven't stopped using this month: The Wet Brush, MooGoo Skin Balm, Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb, Antipodes Mineral Foundation and The Body Shop Frosted Plum Body Butter.

Do you have any of these products? What were your favourite autumnal products? 

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La Roche Posay Rosaliac Range

When it comes to my skin, I have to be a little cautious as I have eczema prone skin so it can be at times very sensitive and dry; my skin loves french skincare and I would definitely recommend french skincare brands such as Bioderma, Vichy and of course La Roche Posay. 

I've been kindly sent a couple of products from their Rosaliac range which is designed for those with sensitive skin prone to redness, which definitely describes my skin. One of the main things that I love about french skincare as that it is all so gentle and they have such specific ranges for minority or overlooked skin types. 

*La Roche Posay Rosaliac CC Creme (£19.50, 50ml): I am over the whole BB, CC and now DD creams as they seem so redundant and they don't appear to be very different. However, I was intrigued by this CC cream as it a brand famous for their sensitive skincare products and it is designed to correct all types of redness. The CC cream contains SPF 30 which is fantastic for me as I always forget to apply any SPF either in England or abroad - it's awful I know! 

It only comes in one universal shade which is my only negative point about this product. The CC cream has a pump dispenser *it couldn't get any better really* so it is quick and easy to apply. It does have light coverage but it is much better than I thought it would be; on my skin it covers redness, very minor blemishes and pores really well! If I want a no makeup day but I still have friends or family round and I want my skin to look better but I don't want to apply a tonne of makeup and I want my skin to breathe and look natural then this is the product I'll reach for. It doesn't highlight dryness, pores or very fine lines and it also doesn't make my skin look oily. I cannot recommend this CC cream enough which is something I never thought I would type! Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.

*La Roche Posay Rosaliac Micellar Makeup Removal Gel (£12.50, 195ml): I have tried so many micellar waters over the past five or so years from higher end and cheaper brands but I have never come across a micellar gel until now. It is such an unusual product but it actually works well on removing my base products such as foundation, concealer and powder as well as blush/contour etc however it isn't as instantly effective when it comes in mascara and brow products. On the whole it is effective and it acts as a cleanser and micellar makeup remover in one as I do remove the excess with a damp flannel (even though you are advised to not rinse it off). I would recommend it if you have sensitive skin, it doesn't irritate my eczema. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5. 

Lastly, if you are still doing your christmas shopping then check out My Derma Center as if you spend over £45 then you will receive a fantastic deluxe gift with purchase including fantastic sample sizes of products from Roger and Gallet, La Roche Posay, SkinCeuticals and Vichy. So you can buy lovely presents for everyone and receive a gift for yourself but hurry as it ends on the 31st Dec!

Have you tried any products from la Roche Posay?

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Merry Christmas

Happy christmas everyone! Just a quick post from me wishing you all a very merry christmas and I hope you all received what you wanted this year. By this time I will have already ripped open my presents and there will probably be a christmas film on!

Have a great day and I will have a new post in a couple of days! x

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Nanogen Root Boost Spray

One problem I have with my hair is that after a day or two of not washing it, it can look flat and weighed down especially as my hair is thick and very long. I've tried a couple of volumizing and thickening sprays as well as shampoo and conditioners that claim to boost volume but they never work for me sadly!

I am always happy to try volumizing products so when the *Nanogen Root Boost Hair Thickening Spray (£9.95, 100ml) arrived I was excited to give it a go. It claims to add volume and bounce to the hair and it also claims to be light and fast absorbing. The spray contains keratin and niacinamide which help care for your scalp.

Firstly, I like the packaging and it think it is very reasonally priced! The spray has a very liquid consistency and it has an almost hairspray scent to it. One thing that confused me about the spray was that it says that it's heat activated but then blow drying your hair is optional; so I've been applying the spray all over my towel dried hair, leaving it to dry naturally overnight as I always do then blasting it with the hair dryer for a minute or so in the morning. I find that the spray does add thickness to my hair even though it it already relatively thick which is definitely impressive although in my hair it does seem to leave a slight residue that feels like I've used a light sea salt spray - maybe I'm using too much!

Overall, I like the packaging, price and the results as it actually does make my hair both look and feel thicker and fuller which is fantastic and it's the only product that has done that to my hair! However it does also leave a slight matte feeling to my hair but that might be my fault as I may be using too much. I think this product would work so well on thinner hair as if it can add thickness and volume to an extent to my thick and very long hair then it would be amazing on thinner hair than mine. Overall rating: ★★★★☆, 4/5,

Have you tried this product? Do you have any product recommendations to add volume or thickness? 

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Cosy Winter Essentials With Wynsors

Autumn and winter are my favourite seasons as I love cosy nights in...well pretty much all of the time! Hot chocolate, blankets, christmas films and fuzzy slippers are some of my winter essentials and luckily I was very kindly sent just that from the lovely people at Wynsors World Of Shoes as well as tealights and paper lanterns.

Being cosy and comfy is one of the best parts about this time of the year, coming in from the cold for a hot chocolate is something that definitely needs to happen at least twice a week, although I would recommend more; also adorable warm slippers are essentials and I chose the *Strollers Tipi Ladies Moccasin Style Slippers (£10, RRP £15) which are made of genuine leather and feature a cute bow, fringe detailing and a cosy faux fur lining as well as a hard/rubber sole. I have been wearing them non-stop as they are incredibly comfy, warm and cosy and I love the design! Although I almost didn't have them as my sister wanted to steal them, so I'm definitely going to get her a pair for christmas.

I also received the *Hot Choc Spoon in the Salted Caramel flavour which sounds amazing as this year I discovered the gloriousness that is salted caramel (I know, a year behind everyone else) so I know I'm going to love this one. I have tried the Latte Machiato flavour and that was nice but I know this one will be amazing! Hot chocolate is the perfect winter drink and I don't know about you but I can easily drink my weight in hot chocolate over the colder months!

Additionally, a cosy winter christmas or night in wouldn't be complete without blankets and candles. I love candles all year round but especially now as the afternoons become dark early and it's getting chilly. Put on a christmas film, candles and grab a blanket and you can't go wrong. Oh and you can't forget your hot chocolate in your cute festive mug, I have an adorable mug with a knitted jumper...as you do.

There are all of the lovely goodies in my #CosyWynsorsXmas package and I cannot wait to try the salted caramel hot chocolate *drools*. What are your cosy winter essentials? Will you be checking out your local Wynsors store or online for slippers this year?

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