How I Look After My Balayage Hair

Over the years I have dyed, bleached and stripped my hair multiple times. You would think my hair would be tired and damaged by now, right? Wrong! I went through a phase of using just Aussie haircare to get it back to its normal state again, which thankfully worked. I vowed to never touch my hair again after that, but that went out the window last year. I got so damn bored of the same brunette locks, and I decided upon getting a big change. I got blonde balayage, and I honestly have zero regrets. Just in case you're not sure about what balayage is, it's a technique where the colour is 'painted' straight to the hair to create a lovely, natural looking effect.

 I do not use box dyes anymore as they left my hair feeling so dry and just urgh, not nice at all. I hadn't visited a hairdresser for years, up until last year, although there was the odd occasion that my aunty(who was previously a hairdresser) cut my hair, but that was it. I am such a shy person when it comes to meeting new people, and it takes a lot for me to trust someone with my hair too, so visiting a hair salon for the first time in years was such a huge deal to me.

A High End Beauty Haul

A little over a month ago myself and Josh took ourselves off to Exeter for a day out to do a bit of shopping, without the kids, for the first time in a long time. I was so apprehensive about leaving them but I kept telling myself they'll be fine and we needed the time to ourselves. It's so daunting leaving them, especially Harrison as he's just over three months old now, but we rarely have time where it's just us doing things together. It's certainly not selfish to have some time to yourself to just relax or do things with your partner away from the kids. It's nice to have a breather. 

Anyway, during that shopping trip, we decided to start on the Christmas shopping a little bit earlier than usual, but also I couldn't go to Exeter and not pop into the makeup stores. I don't have many stores near me, other than my local Superdrug and Boots stores. It's so annoying, so of course I took full advantage of being near all of the High End makeup stands while I was there.

Maskorea Too Many Late Nights Sheet Mask

There is nothing I love more at the end of a long day than a nice, warm bubble bath, a face mask and a catch up on my favourite blogs. I need at least one pamper night a week so I can just relax and forget about all of the stresses of the week and the lack of sleep that a three month old baby brings. A face mask is a pamper night essential for me. I have a few favourites that I like to use but they're mostly clay masks, though I do like a sheet mask too. Admittedly I haven't tried many sheet masks, but I've always had fantastic results from them.

Dr Botanicals Cocoa Noir Time Reverse Facial Serum

Ever since I introduced a serum into my skincare routine, my skin has just been drinking it up, and I truly believe that my skin has got better for using it too. I have tried many serums and oils over the course of the year for different purposes but sadly I haven't managed to find one that is my 'holy grail' so to speak. The serum I have been trying out lately is the Dr Botanicals Cocoa Noir Time Reverse Facial Serum. I have only ever tried one of their products before, the Advanced 8-Hour Overnight Renewal Cream, and I absolutely loved it, so I was so excited to try this out.

August Beauty Favourites

Since the weather has gone from bright and sunny to dull and rainy, I think we can safely say that Summer is long gone. Now, although I do love the sun, I simply cannot cope with the heat, but Autumn, I absolutely love. I absolutely love seeing the leaves fall from the trees, layering up my clothes and getting warm and cosy on the sofa with a blanket or two, with a hot chocolate in hand. I am totally not meaning to sound like a cliche but it's really one of my favourite seasons. I'm surely not the only one that feels that way, right?

Anyway, throughout the last month or so I have been trying to get myself out of a makeup rut. I tend to always use the same products time and time again, but I decided to change it up and try new things, and see if I found any new favourites, and of course I did. Let's see what's made it's way into my makeup bag, shall we?

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation

As much as I love a high end foundation I have a soft spot for drugstore foundations too. I have a few favourites from the drugstore that are literally a quarter of the price of my beloved Estee Lauder Doublewear. One of those favourites comes in the form of the Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless Foundation. I first spotted it when it was released in the US but it was only released in the UK late last year I believe.

I have to admit I haven't used a Maybelline Foundation in years since the good old dream matte mousse. Anyone remember that? It used to be my 'go' to foundation. I used to slather it all over my face(with my fingers, urgh) on a daily basis, and boy did I think I looked good. In reality, I looked horrendous. It was cakey, it brought attention to my pores and lastly, it clung to all my dry patches. Who knows what I was thinking back in the day. That was around seven years ago now. Isn't that bizarre? Feels like longer since I left school.

The Setting Spray That Will Make Your Makeup Last

A few years ago when I first started wearing makeup, I would only ever set my makeup in place with powder to ensure my makeup stays put throughout the day, but over the years the beauty industry has changed and improved and as well as setting our makeup with powder, we are also using a setting spray too. Well at least I am. I have tried a number of setting sprays over the last few years, from the Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Setting Spray to the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist, but there is one in particular that I will always, and I mean always repurchase. That is indeed the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray.

L'Oreal Hydra Genius Aloe Water Liquid Care

Ever since I gave birth two months ago, my skin has gone back to it's usual state which I hugely dislike. Throughout the last few months of my pregnancy my face was clear, spot-free and glowing, but lately it's been looking dull and I have had breakouts popping up left, right and centre, thanks to the change in my hormones, urgh. To help get my skin back in order I've been trying out some new moisturisers, one of which is the L'Oreal Paris Hydra Genius Liquid Care.