Maybelline Super Stay 14Hour Lipstick

I love pink lipstick, mainly because it suits me and I just think it can really brighten up any outfit.  I picked this up in the shade infinitely fuchsia - a rich bright fuchsia pink.  I was looking for a long lasting lipstick.  I was never expecting this to last 14 hours, but it does live up to it's name.  It passed the food and drinks test, and lasted a good few hours at least.

This states that it is:

• Ultra lightweight formula 
• Rich pigmented colour
• Long lasting finish 

Unlike some long lasting lipsticks this one isn't drying and doesn't flake.  It feels really smooth, applies evenly  and is very pigmented.  It feels much more expensive than a high street lipstick.  These are available in 20 shades and priced at a very reasonable £6.99 in Boots and they are currently included in the 3 for 2 offer.

Topshop Bronzing Illuminator

I wanted a peach toned illuminating powder and came across this one in Topshop.  This is in the shade - reflect - it says it is a shimmering, illuminating powder which creates a deep, bronzy glow for a beautiful, sunkissed look.

You can either use all three colours together or separately to contour. This gives your skin a lovely glow, without looking like a glitterball.  The colour is stunning - not too orange, so perfect for lighter skin tones and the peach shade is really flattering. This was just £12.50 from Topshop

Lee Stafford professional haircare

When you have quite fine, light blond hair it can be quite a challenge to find hair products which are not too heavy, or don't make your hair look greasy. I like to look after my blonde highlighted hair, so it is really important for me to use a range of hair products which, condition and protect my hair from the heat.  The Lee Stafford professional range have products which do exactly that. They cater for all hair types, smell delicious and if you like pink, these products look amazing.

Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Mist 200ml. 

I have used so many bottles of this, I have honestly lost count how many.  I've tried many heat protecting sprays, but nothing is quite as good as this one.  The Lee Stafford Poker Straight Flat Iron Protection Mist Protects your hair from the heat of straightening irons and leaves it with the most gorgeous shine. 

We all know that heat styling damages your hair.  This contains Green Tea, an antioxidant which the products claims to help to eliminate free radials formed from UV and heat styling. The spray is really fine and doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky.  It is just so light and leaves your hair protected and the scent is just gorgeous.  This product is really good value for money and costs just £5.99 from Boots.

Lee Stafford Hair Growth Leave In Treatment

It took me a little while to really love this product.  I was using too much when I first started to use this product. The Lee Stafford Hair Growth Leave In Treatment  says that it will increase micro-circulation to the scalp and help create the best possible environment for hair to grow. 

I was attracted to this product because you don't have to wash it out. You just simply spray it onto the roots of your hair.  My hair definitely felt thicker when I was using this product and in good condition.  It's a really good product and can be bought for just £11.99 from Boots 

Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Detangling Spray 150ml

I have also just started to use the deep conditioning in this range too and so far I'm impressed.  This product is basically what is says it is - a detangling spray.  My shoulder length hair can often get tangled especially if it is feeling a little bit dry.  This is so easy to use, just simply spray onto the hair and comb through.  I like to take this in my gym bag and use at home just to keep my hair tangle-free whenever it has been washed.  It is really light-weight and moisturising, without feeling greasy.  This product is just £6.99 from Boots. 

I've just so many products in this range and have been a fan ever since this haircare range first hit the shelves.  It is really affordable and all of the products I have used, from the styling products to the shampoo, conditioner and treatments have been really impressive.  

Glow Tonic Beauty Elixir - PIXI Beauty

Glow Tonic Beauty Elixir - PIXI Beauty

This exfoliating facial glow tonic helps tone, firm and tighten the skin. It says it removes dead skin cells for healthier looking skin.  The Pixi Glow Tonic contains no alcohol and absolutely no oil. Ingredients include Glycolic Acid (5%), Ginseng, Fructose, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera and Horse Chestnut Extracts.

These ingredients are excellent for normal to dry skin and aging skin to help tone, firm, tighten, and exfoliate skin gently for a brighter appearance. Glycolic Acid works to remove dead skin cells and also to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

I pour a small amount onto a cotton pad and swipe it all over my face, followed by my serum and moisturiser. This leaves my skin with a nice glow and has quickly become part of my skincare routine. I picked this up from Pixi for £18.

Fad diets

With the latest diet crazes it’s easy to become confused about what we should and shouldn’t eat. I have always stayed away from fad diets and stuck to a healthy balanced diet which is easy to maintain and ensures you get the vitamins and nutrients you need, while maintaining a healthy weight.

And this is why ..

• Fad diets offer a quick fix. Often you will be restricted from eating certain food groups, for example carbohydrates. This makes it difficult to maintain and can put your health at risk by cutting out nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your body needs
• They can often leave you feeling hungry, with an urge to snack on unhealthy food during the day
• Fad diets don’t help you maintain healthy eating habits. You need to ask yourself – will you still have these eating habits in the next six to nine months? If not, it is likely that this is not going to be successful or healthy.

People often blame certain foods for weight gain. However, it is not one food group that causes you to gain weight, it is anything in excess. It is simple, basically, if you have too many calories than you need, you will put on weight.

My top tips 

1. Make permanent lifestyle changes, as the key to successful weight loss is consistency
2. Reduce your total calorie intake while keeping your physical activity levels high
3. Eat a balanced diet with protein to keep you feeling full, carbohydrates for energy and fresh fruit and vegetables
4. Simply eat healthy wholesome food in the right sized portions and limit refined foods, for example cakes and biscuits.
5. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. Take a little time to plan meals and snacks so you’re less likely to go hungry and make an unhealthy choice. Freeze any leftovers to save you time and money another day or take leftovers to work for your lunch the next day.

Don’t fall for the fad diets. Be prepared and be consistent. Follow a healthy eating plan and take regular exercise and you’ll slowly get and maintain the results you want.

Indeed Labs skincare

I wanted to share some of my favourite products I've been using from Indeed Labs.  These are all part of my skincare routine.

Indeed Labs retinol reface™ retinol skin resurfacer

I apply this to my skin on a night after I have removed my makeup and cleansed my skin.  This contains retinol, which is a derivative of vitamin A. It is said to be one of the the most effective ingredients in helping to reduce the appearance of visible signs of ageing. This contains not one but three forms of retinol to help deliver softer, smoother looking skin. You can buy this for £19.99 from Boots

Indeed Labs hydraluron™ moisture boosting facial serum

I'm onto my second tube of this miracle product.  This promises to give you better hydrated, glowing, plumped up looking skin. This serum uses hyaluronic acid that is 100% free from animal-derived raw materials and organic solvent remnants. It contains a pure form of hyaluronic acid, an incredibly hydrating ingredient that holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water!  My skin feels much more hydrated since I've been using this. I use a very small amount before my moisturiser every day. You can find this in Boots for £24.99 - it is honestly worth every penny.

Indeed Labs hydraluron moisture jelly

This is the latest addition to my Indeed Labs skincare collection.  I've been using this for a month now and I love everything about it (including the packaging).  Hydraluron moisture jelly uses a combination of five scientifically proven ingredients to help provide instant and sustained moisture to skin.  It is suitable for all skin types, easily absorbs into the skin and a little goes a long way, to give you soft, moisurised, plump skin.
You can pick this up in Boots for £24.99.

Look out for the offers in Boots.  I picked these up when they were just a third of the price and they are quite often on the three for two offers.  I'm absolutely loving this brand, are you?

Grow gorgeous hair serum

This product claims to have a  unique, advanced formula containing a complex blend of seven technologies to help your hair appear visibly longer, thicker and fuller looking.

I've been using the grow gorgeous serum from Deciem for a few weeks now and although I'm not expecting miracles, my hair does appear to feel thicker and in a much better condition.  However, I thought that if I was going to put the effort in with this I would cut down on heat styling my hair too, so I know that that will help too.

This product smells so good and is really easy to use.  You simply apply 20 drops once each day to the scalp and massage evenly until the serum has been absorbed.  I'm really enjoying using this on an evening and I don't find that it leaves my hair sticky or greasy.

My hair has been stuck at mid-length for a while now so I guess I'm hoping that treating my hair a little kinder for a while may just give it the boost it needs while I continue to use this over the next few months.

You can buy the serum from Boots for £29.99 for a 60ml bottle.

Summer skincare favourites

Now that summer is almost over, I wanted to share some skincare products that I have been loving to keep my skin moisturised and glowing. 

I'll continue to use these over the coming months in my skincare routine and when I need to give my skin an extra boost. 

Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre

A fantastic French pharmacy creme Embryolisse is a well known product seen backstage at fashion shows. The light creme instantly absorbs into the skin, while nourishing any areas of dryness, it creates the perfect base for foundation. It can also be used to cleanse the skin or remove makeup.  You can pick up this beauty wonder for just £20 from Cult Beauty

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch 

When it comes to smoothing wrinkles its hard not to get drawn into the hype of a miracle product.  Now, you're  never going to get rid of wrinkles but this product makes a big improvement. The pale pink soft creme has an invisible texture which smoothes the skin by leaving a veil over its surface. You will see your wrinkles and fine lines are minimised to give you a soft focus look. This creates a perfect base to foundation or for summer days, I found it perfect with a light BB creme or tinted moisturiser.  You can buy this from Boots for just £26.  Don't be put off by the small pot - a little goes a long way.  

Alpha-H Liquid Gold

Alpha-H Liquid Gold contains glycolic acid and liquorice extract to revitalise the skin.  It really does leave it glowing.  If you don't have much time on your hands but you want results this is perfect.  It also helps to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles or scarred, dull or sun damaged skin. I use this product all year round.  You simply apply  it three or four nights a week to your face, neck and decollete after cleansing and before going to bed to wake up with super glowing skin! You can buy this on quite a few online stores, but QVC often have a good deal.

Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Mask

For an instant boost of moisture this is my go-to mask. Simply apply this overnight mask and remove any excess the next morning.  You can get a small tube for just £12 from Origins, but you are guaranteed to love this product. 

NUXE Reve de Miel Baume Levres Ultra-Nourrissant Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm

This lip balm is rich, nourishing and tastes delicious! The repairing,balm restores suppleness and soothes dry and chapped lips. I love to try out new lip balms, but I wouldn't be without this.  Maybe a little more on the pricey side, but it lasts and gives results.  For £9.50 you can buy online from FeelUnique.

I love to find new skincare products that really work.  Hope you enjoyed this post and leave any comments below if you have any recommendations. 

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog

I have been enjoying watching You Tube videos and reading blogs for some time now and have decided to start my own blog! I am really happy to be part of the online community. I will be sharing my love of all things beauty, makeup, fashion, health and fitness - because to look great you need to feel great. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date!

Please feel free to ask me any questions or for any requests.

thebeautynotes xx