Sales, sales, sales.....

January is a difficult month for my mild shopping addiction. You can't seem to walk around anywhere without noticing the huge SALE signs trying to lure you in, making it impossible for me to resist all the amazing bargains! And then these days it's not only on the street we have to resist temptation from, no, also the web shops are doing their best to tempt me to spend, spend, spend! FeelUnique recently had their big winter sale and I ended up caving to their 30-50% discounts and got the following beauty purchases!

Kérastase - Ciment Thermique

St Tropez - Gradual Tan

Narciso Rodriguez - For Her 

Kérastase Resistance Ciment Thermique Heat-Activated Reconstructor Milk (link) is an oldie but a goodie! I used to always use this product pre-blow dry on my hair but the last year I have hooked on Argan Oil. When I spotted this product in the sale it made me want to go back to an old favourite for a while. I seriously love this product! All I do is squeeze a small (coin size) amount in the palm of my hand, I then rub my hands together and run them through my hair to distribute the product. Then I just brush it to untangle and blow-dry as usual. Ciment Thermique a heat protector but also makes your hair shiny, smooth and super healthy looking! Oh and it smells pretty damn good too :)

The fragrance 'For Her' by Narciso Rodriguez (link) is one of my all time favourite perfumes. I always make sure I have a nice big bottle stashed at home but it's also convenient to have a smaller version that you can put in your handbag to refresh yourself with when on the go. For when I go out at night time I usually bring a perfume atomizer, which fits into my clutch nicely, but this 30ml bottle will be perfect to carry around with me anytime!

I wasn't so fond of the little white ghost I kept seeing in the mirror looking back at me in the recent months (Ahhh I need myself some SUNSHINE!) so I decided I could do with some gradual tanning lotion to give me a bit more of a healthy glow! I apply St Tropez Gradual Tanning Lotion (link) in Light/Medium about 1-2 a week only to my chest, arms and face area. Hey, its not like I'm parading around in a bikini anytime soon right...? I love this gradual tan because it doesn't have a very strong smell and doesn't stain my clothes but helps making me look a bit less vampire like during these cold winter months. 

Did you buy anything in the recent online beauty sales?

Vintage Hairstyles & 1920s Party Photos

When I posted some personal photos on Instagram back in December from my work 1920's themed Christmas Party, some of you commented on how you loved my hairstyle! Well as I admitted here; a lot of us ladies had our hair professionally styled by Jess from Powder Puff & Pin Curls who specialises in vintage hairstyles. We recently received the professional photos from the party and thought I'd share some of the gorgeous black and white pictures that really add to the whole vintage feel of the event :)

More photos after the jump....

ghd pink cherry blossom styler

People often ask me how I style my hair and I always give all the credit to my beloved ghd styler. Their multi-award winning ghd styler is my go-to tool for quick, effortless straightening or for making easy curls (video here) and waves. I have had my current ghd IV classic styler for over four years now and it still works brilliantly for my everyday styling.

This year ghd released a new limited edition Pink Cherry Blossom styler which supports Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Over the last 9 years ghd has actually already raised almost £6 million for this great cause from the sale of their pink stylers. Now I was a very lucky girl recently because the lovely people at ghd were so kind to send me this brand new Pink Cherry Blossom ghd to play with, woop woop!

This Gold Classic styler has shimmering pink plates and has the same features and gives the same salon-style results as the ghd Gold Classic styler and is perfect for styling all hair types. The pink accents on this styler are a bit of a girly novelty but it is great to know that for every Pink Cherry Blossom styler sold in the UK, £10 is donated to Breakthrough Breast Cancer!

Plus the Pink Cherry Blossom styler comes with a matching heat-resistant satin storage bag with pretty floral embroidery detailing. Just like my old ghd the quality of this new styler is unbeatable, heating super fast and providing long lasting results (whether it be curls or straight) on my hair! As much as my old ghd was still working well I have to say that I can definitely tell that maybe it was time for a new one because this new styler is even quicker and better than my old one. Some people might feel that £99-£129 is quite expensive for a styler but seeing how mine has latest for over four years and it gives me perfect results everytime; I think it is a worthy investment!

Also did you know that on the ghd website they have great section full of 'how-to' hair tutorials?

I love the 'how-to waves' and the 'bouncy blow-dry' videos! Check out all their tutorials here.

My ghd stylers are probably one of my can't-live-without products! 

Do you own a ghd styler or do you prefer another styler that you use daily? I'd love to hear! x

ghd hair inspiration & celeb hair style icons

When it comes to hairstyling, my can't-live-without item would have to be my ghd styler. I bought my first one when I was about 18 years old and I have not looked back since. I personally think its the best quality iron out in the market place and I use mine daily for straightening or curling my hair! I've tried other irons over the years which have been good but the ghd's remain on top because they heat so quickly and they are the only stylers that can make my curls last all day without them falling out too quickly. You can watch my 'vintage' ghd hair curling tutorial that I filmed two years ago here (link).

I recently discovered that ghd have now a launched a hairstyles page on their website where they demonstrate images and videos of styles that are on-trend or for special occasions. But I particularly like to browse their celebrity hairstyles page (link) for the latest hair inspirations!

These are some of my favourite looks at the moment....

When it comes to celebrity hairstyles Blake Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are definitely three girls whose hair I always love! Who are your celeb hair style icons? xoxo

Your top five beauty investments by Veronika

Hi! I’m Veronika and I write the style, beauty and home décor blog, Veronika’s Blushing.  I’m delighted that Roz has asked me to guest blog for her while she’s on holiday and I’m here today to share what I think are your best “beauty investments.”

When you’re a style and beauty blogger, it’s tempting to try a lot of different looks and products. Over the years, I’ve had different hair colors and makeup routines, but I’ve noticed that as I get older, I’m more focused on creating a signature look and enhancing my appearance in the areas where I’ll get the most return on my efforts, both in the short and long term.

Sometimes, it’s tough to evaluate what you should spend your time (and money) on when it comes to beauty products and regimens. Here’s what I think are your best beauty investments:

Full, polished hair- Maybe you can’t afford to get a blowout like the lovely Duchess of Cambridge three times a week, but what you can do is learn how to give yourself a fantastic blowout. There are plenty of great tutorials on YouTube or, if you feel comfortable, ask your stylist to show you how to blow out your hair or go to a blow dry bar and observe the techniques that they use. The best part? A well-done blowout gives you incredible return on your investment---those 20 to 25 minutes you spend styling your hair make it bouncy for days---meaning you can skip daily washes and touch up your hair with some dry shampoo.

Kerastase Cristaliste Lumiere Liquide, one of my favorite blowout products!

Smile- The days of overly-bleached, Hollywood-perfect teeth are over---but a great smile has never gone out of style. Maintain your oral health by flossing nightly, using a whitening or stain-removing toothpaste (I like Crest Vivid White or Colgate Whitening) and if you can, invest in an electric toothbrush. I love my Sonicare toothbrush so much that I even travel with it! I also whiten my teeth once a year to maintain brightness and remove stains. I use professional trays I had made at my dentist’s office, however Crest Whitestrips Professional are also a wonderful an effective option.

Skin- Everyone wants clear, glowing, even-toned skin. For some of us, it comes naturally and for others (like me) who struggle with acne or other skin issues, keeping your skin clear can be quite the challenge. Investing in great skincare products is important---but so is prevention. In your early to mid 20’s is when you should start thinking about using eye creams and moisturizers that will help prevent premature aging, including sunscreen, which you should wear every time you’ll spend any significant amount of time in the sun. Establishing a preventative skincare routine now will be an investment that you’re still patting yourself on the back about 10 and 20 years from now. I used tanning beds a lot when I was in college and once I became aware of not only the increased risk of melanoma but also how much it prematurely ages you, my skin never touched a tanning bed again. Ten years later, I’m still reaping the benefits---at 29, I’m pretty happy with my skin and don’t have a lot of wrinkles.

Probably my most “glowing” day---at our 2009 wedding

Bright-eyed- They say that the eyes are the windows into the soul and I think they’re also one of your most important features to highlight. Bright, defined eyes can make your entire face look balanced and awake. I always use concealer on my lids as a base to even out my eye area and then I use Maybelline’s Eraser Dark Circles in the light pink “brightener” color under my eyes to perk up and lighten the entire under-eye area. I also use Benefit’s Eye Bright on my lower lash line and in the inner corner of my eye. I have a tutorial of my entire eye makeup routine here. By far the most impactful part of brightening up your eyes is curling your lashes. I feel like it instantly makes you look youthful and rested. I heat my eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a few seconds and it locks the curl in all day (and, if you want it to last extra-long, always use waterproof mascara because the formulas are drier and help lock in the curl).

Using light pink under your eyes really brightens your entire face!

Trim and Toned- By far one of the best beauty investments of all is keeping your body strong and toned. From a physiological perspective you’ll have more energy, sleep better, be stronger, more flexible and have more endurance---and from a mental perspective you’ll feel balanced, happier and more satisfied with your overall appearance. My favorite toning workings include The Bar Method, Ballet Beautiful and Pilates. I find that these types of workouts really target such a wide array of muscle groups and they work muscles you didn’t even know you had! There are also fantastic workouts available on YouTube (for free!) by the girls from Tone It Up and BodyRockTV.

On my way to the gym! All gear by Lululemon

What are your best beauty investments?

Leave a comment below or come visit me over at Veronika’s Blushing.
Thank you for having me!

(No Thank YOU Veronika - what a great post. It's easy to see why I love her blog right? xoxo Roz)

Argan/Moroccan Oil aka Liquid Gold for your hair!

One of the biggest hypes in 2011 in the hair-care world seemed to be Moroccan & Argan Oil. The hype was kicked off by the brand moroccanoil, who did some brilliant marketing that led to a frenzy sell out of their products and got many salons and beauty professionals raving about this miracle-working ingredient. After the initial hype calmed down a little I noticed that other hair care brands and salons also started incorporating this oil; often dubbed ‘liquid gold’ for your hair into their products.

What is it?
Basically Moroccan Oil hair styling products contain Argan oil which has been a beauty secret for hundreds of years. The oil is extracted from kernels of Argan fruit that comes from, you guessed it, the Argan tree that grow in the desert of South West Morocco

Some of the stated benefits of Argan/Moroccan oil for hair are:
♥ Hydrates the hair naturally
♥ Penetrates into the hair pores or shafts and enhances the elasticity of hair
♥ Very nourishing for the growth of hair
♥ Adds shine, gives hair a silky soft feel making it more manageable
♥ Fights the frizz, lightweight, absorbs instantly, no oily feel
♥ Contains vitamin E which is a fabulous agent for hair treatment, protecing your hair from flat irons & other heat-styling tools.
♥ Cures the brittle hair and increases the life of color treated hair.
♥ With rich content of unsaturated fatty acids like Omega 3, it will strengthen the protein bonding structures in hair thereby improving strength of hair and healing the split ends of hair.
 
After hearing so many positive feedback about the results of using Moroccan/Argan oil I was definitely keen to give it a go but just hadn’t gotten round to it yet! Then Gielly Green, a chic London boutique salon, produced Argan Rescue and asked me if I wanted to give this product a try…now how could I say no to that? ;)

Argan Rescue is just one of the hair care products they have launched as part of their ‘Boutique Collection’, a range based on the world’s finest natural substances. This is an intense oil that, although is predominantly Argan, combined with Neem oil (great for brittleness and dandruff) and Sea Buckthorn (protects hair from sun rays and promotes tissue regeneration) becomes even more impressive. It effectively smoothes out frizz, revives dull hair and leaves a noticeable non greasy shine.

After I have washed and towel dried my hair, I apply a small drop of the oil to my hand, rub my hands together to spread and slightly warm the product and smooth it throughout my hair. Then just brush it though and style as usual.

I have been using Argan Rescue for almost two month now and I am completely hooked on the stuff!!

Why? Simple:
1) it smells A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! Very fresh, actually it smells a bit like cucumbers. And yum I love cuc's ;)
2) even though I was concerned about putting an oil in my hair for the fear of it looking greasy, the Argan rescue oil absorbs instantly and gives my hair a lovely natural shine without turning my hair into a greasy mess! and 3) it manages to transforms my dull, boring hair into lusciously soft locks whilst protecting and conditioning it at the same time! So what's not to love! :)

Gielly Green - Moroccan Argan Oil Rescue is available online here for £19.50
Have you tried any of the Moroccon or Argan oil products yet? xoxo

New hair with Balayage highlights!

Hey everyone,
For the last few weeks I felt it was really getting about that time that I got some highlights in my hair again. During the summer months I don't tend to highlight my hair at all because luckily my hair naturally gets more sun-kissed over that time. But with the winter month's fast approaching my roots really need fixing! However with so much on recently; moving, trips and work I hadn't had time to fit this in. This week I desperately tried to get an appointment to get my hair done this weekend but most salons were fully booked. Since moving to London I haven't really found my go-to salon, I've more been trying different salons on the search to find my favourite. Struggling to get an appointment my friend was so kind to recommend her hairdresser to me and he was able to fit me in on Friday evening after work, perfect! :)

My friend had found her hairdresser in London, after moving here from Beijing, because he was recommend by her hairdresser in China. She was specifically looking for someone that could give her 'french' highlights like she'd always had done in Beijing. Before my appointment on Friday she told me; don't expect much of the salon, it's nothing flash but she raved about the talents of her hairdresser Cedric.

Credric works from the City, Cuts & Colours salon in Victoria, which is indeed nothing flash but promises experienced top hairstylists without the high price tag. After a consultation with Credric I decided to try comb highlights instead my standard foil ones. Comb highlights, or also known as 'Balayage' is the hottest thing in highlighting right now. Instead of applying foils it's a freehand technique where a stylist 'paints' on highlights giving the client a natural sun-kissed highlight look. I'd read quite a bit about this technique already (with celebs like Jennifer Anniston being a fan) so was definitely keen to give it a go!

This is me while getting my highlights done!

As you can see Credic painted stripes of highlights throughout my entire hair to get a more natural look. I only have colour on my roots because I wanted my roots to match the ends of my hair, which means no need to take the colour all the way through to the ends (as this would only damage your hair!)
After applying the colour, he placed me under the heat for about 10 minutes to let the colour fully develop. Then he washed out the colour and gave me a quick cut (nothing special, because I am still growing out my fringe) and TADA here I am with my finished new hair:

I have to say I love my new hair! It feels so nice to be all blonde again & I think the painted highlights look FANTASTIC! Balayage is also popular because your re-growth should be more forgiving; not providing that harsh re-growth line that foil highlights can give but I suppose time will tell with that :)

Cedric actually has a great website and besides working at the salon in Victoria he also does mobile hairdressing, which means he can do your hair from the comfort of your own home at a great price! 

Check out his website here. I think maybe I have found my to-go-to hairdresser in London? ;) xoxo

How to create a messy bun with Goody spin pins!

A few month's ago I saw this advert on TV for the product 'Goody Spin Pins' and I was instantly intrigued and knew I just HAD to get myself some of these pins. They said 'now available at Boots' so the next day I rushed myself to my local Boots store, but no luck :( Over the next few weeks, every time I was near a Boots store I would go in full with excitement only to be disappointed....I couldn't find them anywhere! Turns out I wasn't the only girl who had been intrigued by this advert because the Goody Spin Pins were pretty much sold out everywhere in the UK. So yes after a few weeks of searching the excitement eventually wore off and I'd pretty much forgot all about them until I actually spotted some in Boots accidentally few months later! There they were the Spin Pins right in front of me for only £4.99.....and so the love affair with these pins began ;)

Now some of you might be thinking, what on earth is she going on about?! Well let me tell you about these brilliant pins. Would you like to create simple messy bun's like this but have always found it too tricky to do?
Well than the Goody Pin Spins are the answers to your prayers!! It's super easy to twist and style with the Simple Styles Spin Pins. They come in a pack of two (available in shades blonde and brunette) and each pin has the equivalent hold of 20 bobby pins!

These are the Blonde ones!

"All you need to do is wrap hair around itself into a top knot, bun or romantic side bun. Then simply twist the Spin Pin through the bun to insert, and untwist to remove. It glides smoothly in and out of hair, without snagging or tangling thanks to the double dipped ends. A compact six-layer coil design with the hold of 20 bobby pins, smaller than a lipstick it fits perfectly into make up bags.

The flexible tension spiral moves smoothly through all hair types. The Spin Pin adjusts in size for optimum hold in fine to super-thick, straight or curly hair to create free-floating suspension."

Here are the instructions provided on the back of the packet!


I am seriously in love with these pins and have been telling all my friends about them. It's such a brilliant concept and it works with thin or thick hair and you'll be amazed how only two pins can hold the bun so tightly all day long! Here is another look I created using the pins....

And to show you how SUPER SIMPLE it is to create this look I have filmed it for you!

Here's my little turorial video :)
UPDATE: If the below video is blocked in your country, here is the link for a version without sound so hopefully you can view that one! Let me know if any problems....

I honestly think these pins are such a FAB invention and would recommend them to any girl that wants to create fun and simple up-dos :) You can purchase them at Boots online here now!

Have you heard of these Spin Pins before? Hope you enjoyed my little video xoxo

Volume Refresher Spray - Beauty Junkie London!

"Hello lovely readers of Dutchess Roz, I’m very happy to be doing a guest post as this is a blog I absolutely love. So hope you enjoy!

First off, please can I just ask that you excuse the angry face… the ‘before’ picture shows that I was clearly very unhappy at how much the volume flops out of my hair over the day... 
Sadly, vanishing volume is something I ‘suffer’ from on daily basis (being a tad over dramatic there…) but I do have fine hair, and whilst I do what I can, I do need an extra helping hand. As the day goes on it does tend to flop. This is why the John Frieda Volume Refresher Spray has become my new savior and earned a place in my handbag.

The reasons I like this over other dry shampoo is that it manages to add volume but without making hair all crispy or dirty feeling – when some other brands do. There is another product I'm going to talk about over on my blog soon does deliver amazing volume but I don't like to use it too often as I don't like the ‘dirty’ feeling.

The final result of a quick spritz around the roots and a ruffle with my hands - hence the messiness. But that's what I'd do to refresh at the end of the work day if I was going out, so it's a fair idea of the difference it would make. It definitely gives my hair a boost, but not to the point where I'll be mistaken for Dolly Parton... which is a good thing for me.

Plus the can is only a little bigger than a small hairspray can, so easily fits in my handbag. Any bigger and it wouldn't be practical.

So there we have it, a speedy review of my currently volume boosting essential!
Thank you for having me as a guest blogger Roz!"

Thank you SO much Jen - Make sure check out Jen's fantastic Blog 'Beauty Junkie London'  now ♥
Jen is one of the bloggers I have been following for yonks; I love her honest reviews and am so lucky that I have got to know her in person since moving to London because she's one of the loveliest bloggers around! Mwah thanks again Jen xoxo

Fresh at Wireless Festival! :)

From Friday 1 July to Sunday 3 July, the Wireless Festival 2011 took place in Hyde Park London with some great acts lined up for the three day event. Me and my friends got tickets for the Friday which featured artists like Bruno Mars, David Guetta, Alexis Jordan, Tinie Tempah, Far East Movement, Chipmunk and the Black Eyed Peas!!

It was such a great day out in the sun sunshine, drinking, eating, dancing & singing our little hearts out :)
Here some pictures:

Outfit wise I went for something casual, summery and fun. I wore a ZARA silky blue jumpsuit that I got last summer, matched with black flat sandals, aviator sunglasses and curly hair with side braids! You can see my 'festival look' in the below picture which is one of my favourite photos of the day!

In this pic is Tanya, a close friend of mine, who beside being a super cool chica is also a super talented photographer ;) She was working at Wireless that day for Barclay/Unwind to film and photograph the event. She's recently launched her own photography website www.tanyaphoto.co.uk and you can check out her brilliant pictures of Wireless here ♥

Also a great product I've discovered recently is Sweet Breath Micro Mist! It's this handy little spray that offers you fast (sugar free) fresh breath whereever you are, because you can connect it to your key ring! It has a highly concentrated formula which means you only need 1-2 sprays to kill germs and freshen breath instantly after eating, drinking or smoking and each little spray contains over 120 sprays. Perfect for days out and about like festivals!
Available at leading pharmacies nation wide retailing at £1.99. A bargain for sweet smelling breath right? :)

Have you attended any fun festivals this summer? xoxo

Put your friend on Cloud Nine!

Just wanted to share with you all this great competition Cloud Nine is currently running!

Basically the folks at Cloud Nine are giving two friends the chance to win a visit to a Cloud Nine salon of their choice, for a lush and lavish pampering session! Both of you will be given an all-over expenses paid make-over, courtesy of Cloud Nine.

So if you fancy a trip to Cloud Nine, this is all you need to do to be in to win:
♥ Go to the Cloud Nine Facebook Fan Page
♥ Upload a picture of you and your friend to their wall
♥ Explain why you and your friend are deserving to be put on Cloud Nine
♥ Then get all of your friends to 'Like' your photo because the person with the most 'Likes' will win!

Now not only will the winners get seriously pampered, your friend will receive 'TheO - Gift of Volume' (worth £199.95) and for being such a great friend you can choose your favourite Cloud Nine Iron to have all to yourself!

The competition will run from 4 July until 31st July and the winner will be announced 1st August 2011.
So will you be entering your friend?? xoxo

A little bit retro...

I opted for a red glossy lip and winged eyeliner look the other day and for some reason I felt a little retro hehe but I loved it :) Check out my Face of the Day:♥ Face
Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer
Revlon PhotoReady Foundation
MaxFactor Translucent Loose Powder
NARS Laguna Bronzer
Body Shop Blush in Tea Rose
MAC Charcoal Brown e/s fill in brows
MAC clear brow gel to set brows

♥ Eyes
NARS Abyssinia eyeshadow (Makeup Your Mind Palette)
Urban Decay Naked & Buck eye shadows blended into crease
MAC Fluidline in blacktrack applied with MAC 210 eyeliner brush
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

♥ Lips
Bourjois Effet 3D Balm Action Gloss in 06

Hair wise I was inspired by a post on The Beauty Department which featured the lovely Marianna (she's got a fab blog!) See the post that inspired my twisted, textured hair-do here. It comes with instructions on how-to create it yourself - super duper simple!

What do you think of my 'a little bit retro' look? xoxo

Soft Grey Smokey EOTN $

Hey my lovelies,

About two weeks ago I was so lucky to have an opportunity to get all glammed up for a black-tie dinner out in the countryside. The company I work for had organised two amazing 'Away Days' for all their employees and partners at the b-e-a-u-tiful Four Seasons Hotel in Hampshire. For the black-tie dinner I chose to wear an electric blue dress so I decided on a soft grey smokey eye. Check out my FOTN:

(click on image to enlarge)

♥ Face:
MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC20
Bourjois 10hour sleep effect Foundation
MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Medium Light
NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Orgasm blush (apples of my cheeks)
MAC Vanilla Pigment (lightly dusted on high cheekbones as highlighter)
MAC Charcoal brown eyeshadow to fill in brows
MAC Brow Gel (in clear) to set brows in shape

♥ Eyes:
NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base (primer, all over lid)
MAC Vanilla Pigment (applied inner third of lid and lightly underneath browbone)
MAC Scene eyeshadow (padded onto the mid of the lid, blended into crease and on lower lashline)
MAC Haux eyeshadow (blended in outer V and crease to soften the grey)
MAC Carbon eyeshadow (lightly in outer corner to slightly darken outer V of crease and lower lashline)
Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner pen (winged along top lash line)
MAC Lashes #33
Bourjois Effet Smoky Pencils in Ultra Black (waterline)
MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara in black

♥ Lips:
Estee Lauder Liploss in Sugar Rush (44)

Think this is a really nice soft smokey eye! We had such a fun night :) Here are some more pictures:

I love this bright blue dress. I got it about 3-4 years ago when I was on holiday in Noosa (Australia). It's by Zimmermann, an Australian swimwear & fashion designer. Also if you are wondering, wow roz your hair is looking really long.....well it's because I cheated :) I recently found my old clip-in hair extensions again and decided to give my hair that little bit extra oomph and length for the night, do you like?? xoxo

Aussie Angels: Lusciously Light

I recently got some really exciting news that I got selected to become an Aussie Angel! What this means is that I am now part of a selected group of bloggers that get invited to some amazing Aussie events plus receive Aussie's hair care products! It's such an honour and I'm so thrilled that I can now finally call myself an 'Angel'. It's as close to fulfilling my dreams of becoming a Victoria Secrets Angel I will ever get! Haha ;)
Once you get selected to be an Aussie Angel you have to complete this fun little quiz that decides what Aussie Tribe you will become part of. I ended up being a mix between Miracle Moist & Luscious Long but Miracle Moist won out in the end!
Yesterday I received a huge surprise at work! A massive box with a giant purple bow showed up at my desk and of course everyone wanted to know what was inside (embarrassed much??....)! Haha so what did I find inside my box?

A helium balloon and a bottle of the Aussie Lusciously Light Miracle Moist Conditioner.

 In true Aussie style this conditioner smells lovely and I can’t wait to try it!

The package also contained a letter with an offer from the Aussie team for us to ‘Lighten up this Spring’ with two choices; a healthier you or a fresh hair style or look for Spring.
So now I need to chose from one of the below:
♥ Lusciously Lighter Self; meaning fun challenges for a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy hair, or
♥ Lusciously Lighter Style; meaning getting to try out some different hair styles and colours then when you and your community have decided which is the best we'll cut / colour / style your hair for a new you!
Please help, I can’t decide! I’m leaning towards a Lusciously Lighter Self but the Style one could be fun too but I fear I am too much of a coward to try any different colours or hairstyles. Wimp much?? So let me know, what option do you think I should go for!! xoxo

You spin me right round, baby, right round!

Don’t us girls always want, what we don’t have? Well, being a naturally straight haired girl, I am always on a mission to find great products that give me that perfect sexy wavy beach hair look that I adore so much! I usually curl my hair with my GHD’s (my straightening iron of choice!) and I have to say I have become pretty quick and good at creating curls this way but I still find the curls a little too ‘perfect’. Sometimes I just crave to have perfectly messy boho hair; like the Olsen twins!

You see what I mean??? ;) Love it ♥

So when over a year ago I kept reading reviews about this blow-dryer that could dry your hair and create a curls at the same time I was intrigued. What were they talking about? Well it’s the Remington Spin Curl Dryer. I read raving reviews and loved the results people were showing in pictures so from then on I was dying to get my little paws on one! But I was out of luck, I couldn’t get it anywhere in NZ or online! Then time passed, and I had kind of forgotten about this product until I stumbled across it at Sainsbury’s (my local supermarket) just before Christmas offered at ½ price! The normal price is £39.99 and I got it for £19.99! Because I needed a UK plugged dryer anyway this was ideal because the Remington Spin Curl is basically a normal blow dryer that comes with a wind tunnel attachment.

Instructions on how to use the Remington Spin Curl Dryer:
♥ Wash your hair the normal way and detangle it, so it’s nice and smooth
♥ Apply some curl enhancing mousse/spray to help create better and longer lasting curls. (I normally use my Aveda's Phomollient Styling Foam) 
♥ Use the nozzle and blow dry your roots & fringe first!
♥ Then attach the spin curl (wind tunnel) attachment..
♥ Section your hair, starting at the bottom and feed small sections of your hair into the cylinder (one at a time) and turn the dryer on its most powerful setting and highest speed. You can use small or chunkier sections, depending on how ‘tight’ you want the curls to be.
♥ Let each section of hair get twirled around for about 20 seconds while you slowly move the dryer up and down.
♥ Don’t be scared (I was initially too) but there’s nothing that your hair can get stuck in. It’s just a tube and the air will spin your hair and twist the sections so they come out looking like dreadlocks!
♥ Continue doing all your hair until you pretty much look like a rastafari! See below :)

Now all you have to do is just let the dreadlocks cool down. When cool gently separate them (with your hands) to create that soft natural wave! So this is me with my Olsen Twin hair!

Makeup I am wearing in these photos is: Bourjois Little Round Pots in #90 (white) #93 (gold) & #74 (dark brown). Blush is Well Dressed by MAC and on my lips is Sephora Super Shimmer Lipgloss in "Apricot Soufflé

So what do you think of my wavy hair?? I LOVE it! With my hair like this I feel so different and almost a bit like Shakira, haha! Definitely would recommend this product if you are after boho beachy hair – it's super easy to use and creates long lasting wavy hair. xoxo

Aveda Smooth Infusion: The Round Up!

Hi everyone,

So after using the Aveda Smooth Infusion collection for almost a month, here it is; my final round up of the challenge! You can read my previous two posts as part of the challenge here and here.

To summarise the range here is another quick outline of the products I have been using:

1. Smooth Infusion Shampoo: softens hair & reduces frizz, priced at £14.50 for 250ml

2. Smooth Infusion Conditioner: includes a special plant infusion that leaves hair silky smooth, priced at £16.50 for 200ml

3. Smooth Infusion Style-Prep Smoother: makes styling easier by producing long-lasting smooth results, priced at £18 for 100ml

4. Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener: for all-day straightness &shine, priced at £18.50

♥ What they say

"With 40 percent of women seeking smooth, straight, frizz-free hair, Aveda’s 4-step smoothing system, Smooth Infusion, was designed to help achieve these results—leaving hair chic, straight and manageable for 12 hours."

♥ Things I loved about the range:

The lovely lemony botanical scent. It smells so fresh which seems to linger in your hair all day!

Being organic and natural products the shampoo and conditioner feel really cleansing and good for your hair.

The products aren’t too heavy or rich which means it doesn’t weigh the hair down.

The products provide a heat barrier which means it protects your hair from heat styling and humidity.

My hair was super easy to brush (de-tangle) after washing, especially after applying the Style-Prep Smoother.

It made my hair softer, shinier, more manageable, well conditioned and less frizzy!

♥ My overall verdict:

Well basically I have been pretty impressed with the Smooth Infusion range. It promises smoother & sleeker hair and ever since I have started using these products I have certainly noticed a difference in the way my hair looks and feels. Does it make your hair straight and totally eliminate any sign of frizz? Well no, it can’t work miracles but I did find my hair was noticeably smoother, softer and it felt more hydrated. I have naturally quite straight hair already but after sleeping I normally wake up with frustrating ‘kinks’ in my hair (especially at the back of my neck) and I found while using the Smooth Infusion Range that my kinks were virtually gone in the mornings, woop woop! Also my hair remained in a smooth and less frazzled condition even after travelling on the busy London tube, working in air-conditioned offices, walking through wind and rain, ice skating and many more activities! So the big question, would I re-purchase any of these products? Yes, I would certainly re-purchase them! OK the products are a little more expensive than your average high street/drug store brands but then again I feel you get what you pay for and especially with the Style-Prep Smoother and Glossing Straightener you only need to use very little so it would last you ages. The Style Prep-Smoother is definitely my favourite of the line. As much as I know that using the full range of products will give you the best results, I think the Style Prep-Smoother is the star of this collection and you will get smoother results by just using that!

I hope that you girls have enjoyed reading about my Aveda Smooth Infusion Challenge! For more information on The Smooth Infusion line go to your local Salon or visit http://www.aveda.co.uk/

*this was a sponsored post via HandPicked Media for the Aveda Smooth Infusion Challenge.

Aveda Smooth Infusion Update:

Hi everyone,
Back in mid January I was invited to the Aveda Institute in London to take part in their 'Aveda Smooth Infusion Challenge'. You can read my original post here.

Basically the Smooth Infusion collection includes the following products:

1. Smooth Infusion™ Shampoo - softens hair and reduces friz

2. Smooth Infusion™ Conditioner - includes a special plant infusion that leaves hair silky smooth

3. Smooth Infusion™ Style-Prep Smoother - makes styling easier by producing long-lasting smooth results

plus 4. Smooth Infusion™ Glossing Straightener - for all-day straightness and shine

For the last few weeks I have been using the Shampoo, Conditioner and Style-Prep Smoother on my hair to see if it lives up to their promises to protect my hair from heat styling damage, keep my hair free from frizz for up to 12 hours and defend against humidity!

♥ My thoughts so far?
To be honest I have been pretty impressed with the performance of the Smooth Infusion products!
First off, I absolutely love the smell of the shampoo & conditioner! It’s so fresh and clean and really makes me feel like I am getting a salon treatment/wash in the comfort of my own shower ;) You can also tell that the product is very natural and good for your hair because it truly feels cleansing without making it feel so heavy and glossy from lots of added un-natural ingredients.
To describe my natural hair would be fairly straight, thin but I have quite a good amount of it. So normally when I wash & condition my hair and just blow or rough dry it, it comes out pretty smooth and straight but the ‘frizz’ and ‘fly-aways’ are the bits that annoy me intensely! It always looks nice and smooth when I am inside, but as soon as I spend sometime in the outside world, frizz starts appearing :( That's why very often after blow drying my hair I will run my straighteners through it quickly to smooth it down! I have used the products as they recommend in the picture above. What I really like about this line is that it leaves my hair feeling soft & smooth, yet not heavy or weighed down like some other ‘anti-frizz’ products can do. It protects my hair from heat styling and left my hair a feeling lot smoother than I am used to. In the last few weeks I have to admit I have hardly used my straighteners. My new routine has been to blow-dry my hair, using some velco rollers to give it a little ‘oomf’ and creating a smoother, softer and voluminous style, which actually lasts beyond the inside of my house! This is my hair after a full day of work, including walking around London, travelling on the tube and working in an air-conditioned office. Still looks pretty smooth right?

I will continue using these products and will give you a final update & round up of my challenge in the next few weeks. To read more about the Aveda Smooth Infusion range or to buy the products - click here.
For my UK based readers: Download a voucher HERE to get your own FREE haircare consultation plus a 3-piece sample pack of the Smooth Infusion haircare system, at an Aveda salon near you! xoxo
* Small print: this is a sponsored post via HandPicked Media for the Aveda Smooth Infusion Challenge