give your roots a boost

as a sworn hair volume lover I naturally have had my fair share of volumising products from Elnett hairspray to the essential hair comb over to my Schwarzkopf OSIS hair powder. I am an experimenter by nature, I am not always loyal to beauty products and thats why I rinse through so many and ended up writing a blog about my product experiences! Currently, and not in the least bit surprisingly I own 5 root lifting and texturising products.. so I am here today to review them for you and let you know if they are good as they say they are...

Color Wow Raise the Root, £16.50

Spray this on your hair before you blow dry - concentrating on roots. The results are what you expect, volume but not too much oomph. This product isn't too sticky, is easy and light to use, and smells like the hairdressers (which I love). I really have nothing bad to say about this product, good results, lovely product. This is the more expensive option, but given how long it lasts and that you only need a few spritzes to get great results I would say it is worth the investment.

Blow Pro Blow Up Root Lift Concentrate, £9.99

This product is used in the same way as the Color Wow product - spray directly on roots and blow dry upwards.  The advantage with this one is that it has a special pointed nozzle to make it easier to concentrate on spraying your roots. The texture of it is quite sticky compared to the lighter Color Wow one, however it gives more lift. - again this product smells great so when I blow dry my hair it smells & looks just like the hairdresser did it!

VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Texture, £4.19

I've reviewed this product in my April Favourites, so it is obviously up there with the best of the best. the cream of the crop. I love this product, because it gives you an instant lift with dry hair - so there is no need for the effort and sweat of blow dry. I reallllyyy recommend it for girls with thin/flat hair. No backcombing necessary just powder beneath your top layer - scrunch and bumpf - and done. It's also in a handy tiny bottle so you can take it in your handbag on a night out too!

Blow Pro Textstyle Dry Texture Spray, £10.99

This spray has a dry powdery texture so it acts like the VO5 dusting powder and can be used in the same way, but you can also lightly mist it over your hair if it is feeling flat and silky to give it some juice and life! It's not as compact and full on as the VO5 so if you only need a light lift I'd go for this product instead of the more intense VO5 powder.

KMS California Hair Play Texture Spray, £11.99

This texture spray isn't really for just concentrating on lifting your roots, it is for those of use with naturally thick hair who just want to be able to style and lift our hair out of its 'just blown dry flat and too silky' coma. Honestly, it is perfect for that and I will definitely be buying this product again.

What are your favourite root lifting and texturising products?

the nail art update

So, as it is quite long and complicated to do tutorials for all the nail art I do they don't all get post on here as I think just posting them without any deets is a tad boring.. But then if you don't follow me on Instagram you won't get to see all my nail art. Hence the nail art update comes into play. Once a week I am going to post a nail art update with my latest nail art, the inspiration for it, and maybe a little bit about the technique/tools and polishes I used. How's that sound? Sounds good to me.

Nail art challenge May by @califonrnails on IG - Aztec

I have done aztec style nails before, they took a very long time while I was cooped up in hospital and so turned out terrible haha, so I was going to just go with this design again but with funkier summer colours. Then I decided - something different is always more fun. So I googled 'aztec design' and looked at all the different designs and where aztec pattern actually comes from to create these -

They took me an hour and half for this hand alone! - I took my time as it is a very complicated design with a  lot of colours and a few mistakes may have been made. I used my nail art long thin brush for all the art work except the black, where I used my nail art pen - with needle. The rule with this design is to neaten with black. So apply all your colours and if they aren't perfect, don't worry - apply your black with a  precise needle/pen like this one to neaten up your design! and remember a nice top coat smoothes out everything. I used a LOT of polishes for this design so I'm not going to list each one.. (sorry!)

WAH nails inspired Spiderman Design for Shauna the Spiderman fan

My little Irish friend Shauna is the biggest fan of Spiderman I've ever come across. And when our friend Ella came across Spiderman nail art by the WAH girls of Topshop, it had to be done. Et voila - 

Using my black nail art pen again and GOSH nail polish in Lambada. All this design takes is a steady hand and half an hour :)

My new dotting design

Always wanting to do something new, after the epic, my new all time favourite, aztec nails I knew I had to do something new, but didn't have the time to match the aztec. So I went with this new simple dotting design - 

I used a small dotting tool to do the dots, easy peasy, one colour at a time. The base coat is NYC In A NYC Minute 325 Raindrop Quick Dry Nail Polish and the dots are in Models Own Dinky Pinky & Pukka Purple, GOSH Peachy & Balloon & Lambada.

Then my little friend Chloe insisted I do the same for her - 

So there we have it - the first ever nail art update.

Hope you enjoy! And are inspired to try some yourself, because they aren't as hard as you think!

oiling up for summer

do not be fooled by my witty title - I am not here to talk about sun oil's, or applying vegetable oil on the beach, no no, I am white as the snow and unfortunately I am destined to stay that way. So these oils are the ones you may enjoy, like I do, and feel necessary in the run up to summer. Getting you all prepped and ready to show your hair, skin and nails :)

as you can see my new found brand is Aromatherapy Associates. Lush made to measure oils for every occasion seem to be my new love. It started in all honesty with the De-Stress Body Wash (not featured in this post as it is one of Aromatherapy's non-oily products!) that grew on me quicker than I expected, and their miracle in a bottle - Intensive Skin Treatment Oil. This oil is made to rejuvenate and repair the skin, perfect for scars/mishaps in the skin that you are unhappy with. I apply a few drops to my stretch-marks and operation scars and on my tattoo post-shower twice a week and I've seen results already. Needless to say I am in love, it also smells absolutely divine and is all natural and non-chemically aromatherapeutic goodness. And guess what is in it? - the one and only vitamin E, who'da thought?! (me hehe)

My next find in the Aromatherapy Associates collection of oils is the bath & shower oils. Pick which you think you need and soak yourself in a pool of wonderful aroma's and perfect harmony - or something like that. I have a few sample pots I got free when I treated my mother to their De-Stress Mind Bath & Shower Oil (which is her new found love) and I've also got the Essential Bath & Shower Oil set of mini bottles that I'm actually yet to crack open! - This is purely because I am so in love with the De-Stress Wash and am scared to layer my aroma's in case I overwhelm myself. I never would have thought I would like scents like these, I am a strawberry fluffy fruity pinky wonderful creamy kinda girl. Always going for your coconuts, vanilla's and berry bursts. But I may be becoming a woman and venturing into brave aromatherapy scents with these new shower oils. (I only use the shower so I rub on my arms and chest and tummy so the steam smells lovely and my skin feels just as). I have used the Support Lavender & Peppermint and Support Breathe oils so far, Breathe being my favourite - it is so decongesting and fresh! I am venturing into the Revive Morning tomorrow, hoping it will stop me feeling like death on my journey to work and think after my busy week at work I'll be needing the De-Stress Mind OR Deep Relax. I'm so excited! (And will be reviewing each one in a Bath & Shower Oil post once I've used them all).

The last Aromatherapy Associates product on my slippery list of oils is the Nourishing Face Oil. Not something I would usually go for to be honest, and the smell isn't something I would like but given that I am a new woman and all - I am really liking this product. I have combined skin, I get a really oily nose and this oil seems to help balance that out - nourishing and hydrating my dry skin patches and neutralising my oily patches. I have to say the strong smell of this product does frighten me when putting it on my face but I brave it because it works and it ain't as bad as you think it's gunna be, it's actually quite nice. 

Aromatherapy Associates is a rather expensive brand - but trust me. It is worth it if you want to splash out, whether on yourself or on a friend/family member. they will appreciate it and so will you.

Steering away from aromatherapy and into hairtherapy - Again I wouldn't normally think to get oil for my hair, afraid of how greasy it might get, but this is lovely and if you are worried about greasiness too - don't be! no matter how prone to grease your hair is. This One Gets You Silky Smooth Light Hair Oil, really does get you silky smooth, Just put it on the ends to avoid greasiness and get rid of the horrible dry look of split ends and grown out hair (my problem - I am growing my hair so reluctant to cut it! ipso facto .. dry, split ends!) and voila, shiny luscious smooth hair :) without having to soak it in conditioner or a hair treatment. Easy peasy.

Here we go - nails - Avon Nail Experts Strong Results. I rub this on my nails before my base coat when my nails are feeling particularly battered and bruised from all the polish I use. It's really light and not greasy, but isn't really like a polish at all so I class it as an oil. If you polish your nails as much as me I suggest you use this as well as a strengthening base coat.

I know Aromatherapy Associates took up a lot of room there - but they inspired the post AND deserve the credit as the products are just that good.

Which oils do you use?

PS any spelling mistakes I apologise for - I am tres tres tired. And remember all the names of the products link to where you can get them! - and follow me on twitter and instagram :D @curiousitybty

time saving in shower miracles

today I am reviewing two in shower moisturisers - one belonging to a well trusted brand and with one of the best smelling & softening ingredients ever and another own brand product with the skin healing & recovering ingredient i adore.

the first is Nivea In Shower Moisturiser with Cocoa Butter, £3.55

as soon as I saw the advert many months ago for Nivea's in shower moisturiser I was taken. I knew I had to give it a go - I always have to moisturise my skin and I often don't out of laziness. If I shower before a night out I always do my legs and forget about my arms, that do itch a lot. If I shower in the morning before work I just don't have time to do my whole beauty regime so I cut it way down to your basic shampoo and conditioning. Annoyingly, these are my favourite times to shower - so when this product was in a 3 for 2 offer in Boots I jumped at the chance.

not only are the results brilliant - I only have to moisturise my face post shower now! - it contains cocoa butter, which I'm sure has more benefits than just smelling fantastic. Given that my family are fans of Palmers Cocoa Butter I basically swear by the stuff, (looking up technical jargon now...), just as I thought - it is thought to have benefits such as reducing stretch marks and treating sensitive skin kindly. Two things I cannot live without in my moisturiser. 

the only downsides to this product is when I put it on it seems to disappear so quickly I have to dollop a load more on to really get it all over my skin, it also feels rather greasy at first (obviously acting a lot like a conditioner, you are supposed to wash it away) but I'm not 100% keen on that feeling.

the second is Superdrug's Vitamin E In Shower Moisturiser, £2.99

well well well.. who knew? Superdrug's vitamin E range has rave reviews as far as I can see, and if you read my blog on the regular you will know that I adore anything with vitamin E. Like I have said many times it is the best healing ingredient of all healing ingredients. Beating cocoa butter with a barge pole and laughing in it's face kinda good. I only know this fact and swear by it, because my lovely auntie is a masseuse, so when I was having issues with my hips and arse growing to three times the size, and as a result of such, having major stretchmarks, she suggested I get a product with vitamin E in it and massage it into my stretch marks every night. I did and they went from nasty purple to white so quickly (I still do anything to get rid of them as they are still visible and the worst things ever).

this product in particular does split when you start to apply it, but it smells clean and fresh and has many proven to be great benefits from its wonderful ingredients. 

I can't decide which I prefer between the two - I have been switching between them for weeks to decide and I can't for the life of me. All I can say is - buy one (whether the slightly cheaper option or the trusted branded one I dont care). But if you know what's good for you, you will try one. And there are more out there! I've spotted one by Olay somewhere before, I'm sure there are more.

Happy hunting :) & Remember the names of the products will link you to where you can buy them.

april favourites

so april is well and truly over - it went so fast - and over the course of the month I gained many new favourite products. Ranging from make-up to exfoliators, I have it all in my little beauty hoarding corner.

But my favourites make it to my dressing table, where I keep the best of the best. And here it is my first monthly favourites post, I'm also going to give away some hints on upcoming posts I have planned for the month of May.

body

I Love... Strawberries & Cream Exfoliating Shower Cream

Smells like a bottle of heaven, I get quite bad spots sometimes on my back and chest and this exfoliator has really worked wonders in making them go down! It is also handy to have a body exfoliator for when you start to get the fake tan out. Keep your legs, arms and torso free from dry skin and dead skin cells so your tan is smooth and perfected - it is very important.

Hugo Boss, Boss Orange Eau de Toilette

My staple perfumes are Prada Candy or Ghost Sweetheart (cheaper option), I've stuck to these scents for a couple of years and on really special posh grown up occasions I use Vivienne Westwood Let it Rock. This perfume however has taken over as my day scent - it is a little different to the super sweet and fruity scents I normally go for at first, but the fragrance develops into a really light and sweet one. It is definitely a  new favourite.

Aromatherapy Associates Intensive Treatment Oil

A bottle of miracle oil that I don't want to ever run out of. I used to use Bio Oil for the stretchmarks and scars I have (from growing quickly on my hips to operation scars) but no difference was ever made and someone told me it is mineral oil, so doesn't actually do anything. This oil however is designed down the the last ingredient to treat scars. My stretchmarks are looking so much better these days and I am hoping will be practically gone by the time I go to Thailand!

hair

VO5 Volume Dusting Powder

I have previously bought the Schwarzkopf OSiS Dust it, Mattifying Powder form my hairdressers and I loved it in my college years where my volume was always ten times the size it probably should have been. These days volume is back and bouncing (I am going to review my favourite root raising products soon so look out for that) and this particular VO5 product has made the favourties list this month. Whenever I raid Juliette's cupboard (see more about her stash here) I hunt for this bottle of wondefullness and this month I invested. It's perfect for flat hair days and handbag size too.

KMS California Hair Play Playable Texture Spray

This product has become something I use every day. I have hair that goes frizzy and wavy with  a touch of static if I don't blow dry it and when I do blow dry it, it becomes flat and 'too straight' within half an hour. This spray ensures that whether I blow dry or not it works with me. I love it - I combine it with a lovely oil I'm going to post up to have a textured and smooth look (I'll show you what I mean later this week).

hands & nails

Nourish Skincare Anti-Ageing Argan & Kale Hand Cream

Never found myself looking for anti-ageing products but recently as I am officially out of my teens and into my adult years I find myself panicking about getting old and wrinkly. Given the benefits of this cream, especially with it's wonderful ingredient of Kale, (which I will expand on soon in an upcoming hand creams post - look out!) it is perfect for my mani regime and preventing me getting super old hands like my dear old mum. The scent also reminds me of climbing trees as a kid and biking around the woods - always helps with the anti-ageing process.

Sally Hensen Gel Cuticle Remover

You may have seen this product in the back of my nail posts or mentioned in them - but it is a new addition to my collection this month. I have a few oils and creams for my cuticles because they are terrible so I am always looking for new and wonderful ways to keep them prim and proper. This product is the best I've tried for removing cuticles during my mani process - it's definitely a keeper and so easy to use if you aren't a regular with cuticle removing.

Rimmel Matte Finish Top Coat

Having used GOSH's and George @ Asda's matte top coats in the past few months I have developed a love for them - it means there is no need for buying all your fave shades in a matte version, you can transform them with a quick coat of this polish. This one is my favourite because it isn't as thick as the others, but I would recommend GOSH's top coat too if you are looking to invest in a decent mattifying polish.

face

Aroma Actives Purifying Clay Mask

A down-priced collection by the wonderful makers of Aromatherapy Associates (a newly loved brand of mine you will see popping up here and there on curiousity), the Aroma Actives collection is full of treats. I particularly love this face mask, I've always been a fan of mud and clay on my face is appeals to my weak spots and works wonders on my skin. I am going to test it against another couple of my favourtie clay and mud masks to see which is truly the best and see what benefits they have, but for now this is the best one I own.

B. Brilliant Rich Colour Lip Gloss in Morello

Having not been brave enough in the past to try purple lipstick (and being ever loyal to my millions of red shades) this lippy has been in my draw for a little while waiting to be cracked open. I braved it the other day and asked the lovely people of my Facebook & Instagram world how it looked. It is now my new favourite shade of lippy. This one is quite a dark plum shade and I am going in the deep end with it (I don't do things by halves). If you aren't brave enough to go dark like me then try a lighter softer shade. If you have red hair, go for it because purple and orange are on opposite sides of the colour spectrum so they match perfectly :) 

there you have it, what are your new favourites this month? 

tube strike survival kit

Having suffered through the tedious (yet understandable) tube strikes of 2014 twice now, I have developed a bit of a knack for them. In fact yesterday I was an hour early to work and even though I felt so exhausted I thought I might pass out by 12 o clock - I felt there were some key essential items that really got me through this weeks strike. If you are dreading the three day stint they have planned for next week you may want to take my advice...

1st is food & water (the obvious)

The wonderful and deliciousso Volvic with a Touch of Strawberry really cheered me up and stopped me from fainting in the sweaty crowds of the carriages.

Food wise a breakfast bar or piece of fruit is easiest in the morning as you can eat it quickly whilst (if you are lucky and extremely strategic like me) sat on the tube or whilst stood waiting for one (or if you have the pleasure of having to do a 20 minute walk from Waterloo to Westminster like me (or similar) - scoff it then!

On the way home a yummy chocolate bar actually does cheer you up - it is true what they say about it releasing your happy hormones - and the sugar gives you a little rush to keep you going until you get home to the warmth of food in the oven and your cosy duvet wrapped around you.

2nd is a personalised first aid kit 

Now these items are some what first aidy and medical seeming in their advantages as well as essential for your journey. Once you have fed and watered yourself you need to consider A. Cleanliness - This is where the Carex Refreshing Handy Wipes come into play, also here an antibacterial hand gel or cream would be perfect (I hear Lanolips is launching a new one with aloe, I can't wait to take a whack at it because I hate the alco-gels that smell like the bottom of a vodka bottle) anyway the wipes are perfect for cleaning you up, or moping up the orange juice you got all over your hands from successfully peeling your nectarine on the go.

B. Falling to the floor because your head feels so sensitive newspapers are too loud. 4head - my miracle worker. My all time love and one of those motherly tricks I'll never forget. The tingling sensation makes your headache seem miles away without having to pop pills mid journey. It really helps in the morning when you feel like your head is going to fall off your shoulders, and in the evening when you feel totally out of balance.

C. Puffy eye syndrome. Another thing that helps you feel less like death at 6.30 in the morning, is the Nip & Fab Viper Venom Eye Fix - a cold eye roll on that stops your eyes from making your journey to Westminster stop at Stanmore, and makes your eyes look more Shakira than Puff Daddy...

3rd is the nice smelly beauty things

Vaseline with aloe vera smells nice, does the job on cuticles, lips and sore dry bits (like my nose atm) so HAS to go in the handbag whether there be a tube strike or not.

Speaking of cuticles, once you've cleaned your mucky mits up with your wipes or anti-bac be sure to keep them moisturised throughout your journey with some hand cream (if you have anti bac hand cream - well - two birds and all). This is one of my new fave hand creams (Soap & Glory Hand Food), mainly for the smell and lightness of it. It's like sticking marshmallows up your nostrils - not that I have ever done this but I know my brother has once upon a time, and the image just came into my head... - anyway, it smells nice so I recommend it for all you pink and pretty lovers out there.

Another pink and pretty essential is the I love... Strawberries & Cream Body Spritzer - obviously you need this for when you start to sweat and stink (or smell someone else start to sweat and stink), but you should also use a mist or spritzer on the tube or in crowds because deodorants and body sprays aren't fair on your neighbouring passengers with asthma (so I've learnt). This one smells like heaven in a bottle (reminds me of the strawberry and cream chubba chub lolly).

Take head, and do as I do and say and you will survive the tube strike too. What's in your survival kit?