Redken Fashion Waves 07 Texturizing Sea Spray Review

Redken Fashion Waves 07 Texturizing Sea Spray
Redken Fashion Waves 07 Texturizing Sea Spray* @ The Salon Look

I have a natural wave in my hair so I'm always on the lookout for products that promise to tease out that shape while adding texture. I've tried sea sprays before that promise to add texture with varying levels of success but there's always been a huge downfall with these types of products... stickiness. If there's one thing I can't stand in my hair it's icky stickiness. No matter how good my hair looks I still want it to be soft and touchable.
So I was a little dubious when I started shaking up this bottle ready to spray on my freshly washed and blow-dried hair. Would it leave my hair feeling icky and sticky until I could wash it again? Thankfully not. This spray adds a dry texture that you can scrunch and rub through your locks to add that lovely bed-head-style grit to your hair without leaving it sticky. I didn't even need to wash my hands after using it. It was that un-sticky. It also smells really really good.
I used the spray on freshly washed and blow-dried hair and it added a nice bit of texture and movement. It doesn't make your hair quite as wavy as other products I've tried, but I just love the texture and feel of the dry spray. It would also be great for prepping the hair to give it a bit of grip before attempting an up-do or messy topknot. All in all a great product that I'll certainly be adding to my regular hair arsenal!

Hair care specialists, The Salon Look are currently running a Moroccan Oil Competition. All you need to do is create a new account with them and you'll be entered straight into a free prize draw to win a 5-night stay in Marrakech. Click here to enter.

Fossil's London Flagship Store blogger event

Fossil's revamped London Flagship Store on Oxford Street opened last week and I got a sneak peek at all the goodies on sale at their blogger event. My favourite purses were these luxurious Hair Calf wallets. The Memoir Flap Checkbook (£69) comes in leopard print and the The Erin Tab Clutch (£55) in a versatile Dalmatian print.
These Sydney Frame Coin snap-shut purses (£29) and cute penguin print Bifold purses (£19) also caught my eye. They'd make perfect Christmas presents!
We snacked on cake-pops and drank yummy mojitos as we perused the store.
We also had a go at creating our own wrist parties using Fossil watches and bracelets. I found these lovely Hair Calf bracelets to match the wallets. Meanwhile, Emily found this adorable pencil charm to make her charm bracelet.
Fossil also have a whole wall of Christmas-themed tins for you to choose from which would make lovely keepsakes. All that talk of presents and gifting has put me in the mood for Christmas shopping already!

Beauty Review: Perrie's Blush It! Little Mix by Collection

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Perrie's Blush It! by Collection*, £2.99 @ Superdrug & Boots

I may not be the perfect target market for the new Little Mix by Collection make up range. I know Perrie from Little Mix has lilac locks, sometimes wears something cute in tartan and she's engaged to Zayn from One Direction, but that's probably about as far as my knowledge on the pop icon goes. Screaming tween fan I am not.
Nevertheless,  I certainly am always in the market for a new hidden make up bargain and I won't let a little bit of cheesy pop-collab get in my way. So lets give this moderately-priced blush a go...

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The packaging is what you'd expect in this price bracket - nothing special - but it is functional and snaps shut well. When applied to the cheeks, the finished result is a lovely soft pink that is close to my usual MAC shade. What's more, it stayed all day without going blotchy or patchy.
So whether you're a Little Mix fan or not I'd definitely recommend this as a bargain drugstore blusher. Best of all it's great for carrying around in my makeup bag as there'll be no tears if it cracks or crumbles!

Debenhams Beauty Press Day

I popped along to the Debenhams Beauty Press Day tonight with my friend Jemma. We were greeted by a lovely bright pink and white room jam packed with the latest beauty goodies on offer at Debenhams.
After a quick whizz around the room with a PR we were left to our own devices to spritz, sniff and have a good old nose at everything on offer. 
One of my favourite things we saw were these adorable Nails Inc crackers, each containing a different nail polish. I'd much prefer to crack one of those over my turkey then end up with any more golf tees and mini sewing kits!
Continuing with the beauty/Christmas mash up theme was this AMAZING Benefit advent calendar (£50, available at Debenhams from 27th October). Miniature versions of Benefit champion products are ready and waiting behind those tempting little doors.
The other collection I'm dying to get my hands on is the latest colours from CK One. I've already tried their mascara and lipstick and I love love their innovative take on packaging and wearable colours. This sparkly eyeshadow palette looks perfect for the festive season!
When I got home I couldn't wait to pour the goody bag out on my bed and see what treasures I have to try! As you can see there are plenty of cult beauty products and jazzy new bits and bobs for me to sink my teeth into. Expect reviews up on the blog very soon...

Bleach London DIY Dip Dye: Review

Bleach DIY Dip Dye
Bleach London DIY Dip Dye, £7 @ Boots
Bleach London White Toner, £7 @ Boots

When I heard Bleach were releasing a series of home dye kits I couldn't wait to try them out. The very nature of dip dyed hair is for it to look undone, so why fork out over £100 at a salon to get that dyed-at-home look?
I've previously used Loreal bleach kits to achieve this look at home with the help of YouTube tutorials and other blogs. But I thought, why not hear what the experts at Bleach have to say...?

When you open the kit you'll find:
  • 1 bottle of developing lotion
  • 2 x sachets of bleaching powder
  • 1 sachet of blending lotion
  • 1 conditioning repair mask
  • 1 tint brush
  • 1 mixing bowl
  • 1 pair of gloves
  • 1 instruction leaflet
Bleach DIY Dip Dye Opened

Preparation

To prepare the mixture you need to mix it all together in the mixing bowl. While it made me feel like a professional using a mixing bowl and tint brush to prepare the bleach, I found it quite hard to mix. After a few worrying moments and some vigorous mixing, the powder eventually disappeared into the lotion to create a smooth mixture, but having used other dyes, I missed the traditional shake bottle!

Application

The instructions told me to apply the bleach in inch-wide sections of hair using the tint brush. While dying the first strand I lost my patience and reverted to my usual fail safe dip dye method: dunk the bleach on the ends and using gloved hands, move the dye up on separate strands to create an even fade. There was also another unfamiliar process to tackle: the blending lotion which I had to massage onto the fade area. I don't know what it was supposed to do or how, but it smelled nice, which was a welcome respite from the overwhelming smell of bleach!

Bleach DIY Dip Dye results

Result

The result was a well-mixed dip dye with a lovely golden colour. I had bought the Bleach White Toner to combat any brassiness but I'm really happy with the tone so I'll save it for a few weeks until the freshly dyed blonde starts to fade! I have very long hair so I only used the kit on the mid-length and upper sections on my hair - but it blended in nicely with my already dyed lower lengths of hair. I'd definitely recommend getting more than one pack if you need to dye long hair from scratch.

Bleach Super Cool Colours
Bleach London Blullini Super Cool Colour, £5 @ Boots
Bleach London Parma Violets Super Cool Colour, £5 @ Boots

What's next?

Next I've got the Bleach Blullini and Parma Violets Super Cool Colours to try. I'm planning a blue into lilac fade on the ends of my dip dye. I might leave it a while before I take the plunge though!

Have you tried any of the new Bleach range? How did you get on? Let me know in the comments below!

Vagabond Grace ankle boots and other recent purchases...

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1. Breton top @ Muji
2. Vagabond Grace ankle boots @ Urban Outfitters
3. Polka dot jeans @ Urban Outfitters

Here are a few of my favourite things I've bought recently. They're also the things I find myself repurchasing again and again. Striped tops, black ankle boots, skinny jeans. Repeat.
This breton top from Muji (1) is made from thick organic cotton so it's more like a jumper than a tee. I love to smarten up striped tops with a navy blazer for work or wear with a leather jacket for shopping on the weekend.
I was ummming and ahhhhhing over all the black ankle boots in the world this autumn. I finally settled on these clumpy boots from Vagabond. I love their chunky shape and find their simple zip much more wearable than all those fussy buckles and cut outs.
I practically live in jeans both in and out of work so I'm always looking for a new pair to add to my growing collection. These polka dots (3) were on sale in Urban Outfitters and I couldn't resist their quirky charm. I've worn them with plain jumpers so far but I can't wait to clash them up!

Insta catch up...

1. Fluffy cloud sky, meeting the dolphins in Portugal
2. Jurassic Park 3D, Kate's return to society 
3. The Kyoto Garden in Holland Park

After a four-month hiatus I'm back! A lot has happened this summer so I won't even try to sum it up, but here are some of my favourite Instagrams from the last few months. I've now gone and got myself a job as an Online Journalist so I'm writing stories and using social media every day. But I'm still really interested in blogging so hopefully creating posts in my spare time (even if it is slightly sporadic) will just add to everything I learn in work!

A few of my favourite things...

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1. Vintage Surplus Russian Stripe Navy Shirt @ Urban Outfitters
2. Natural Denim Circle Skirt @ American Apparel
3. Moto Shift Denim Pini Dress @ Topshop
4. Babe Jelly Shoes @JuJu Jellies
5. Rimmel Instant Tan Water Resistant Light Matte @ Superdrug
6. MAC Marilyn Monroe Lipstick in Scarlet Ibis @ Mac Cosmetics

These are a few of my favourite things to wear right now. (1) is my favourite basic striped T-shirt and I love to wear it under this playful pinafore dress (3). This high-waisted circle skirt (2) goes with everything and works well with my growing collection of crop tops. I bought my JuJu's (4) last summer and they're still going strong!
My skin still hasn't seen enough sun this year so (5) is my favourite last minute tanning fix from Rimmel. It's easy to apply for nights out and washes off so I can stay au naturel for daytime. I love red lipsticks from Mac but (6) is my favourite bright and easy-to-wear shade. It's from the Marilyn Monroe collection so I'm hoping they stock a similar shade now the collection is sold out!

What key items do you find yourself reaching for time and again?

Moodboard: The Virgin Suicides

Virgin Suicides Moodboard

Scallop Hem Lace Dress, £50, Topshop
Peep toe High, £123, Swedish Hasbeens

It might be the summer of crop-topping 90s throwback, but after reading The Virgin Suicides I can't quite get that sepia-70s vibe out of my head. Forget the beanie hats and creepers, I want vintage sundresses and clumpy mid-heel tan sandals.
 The high neckline and demure skirt of this lace dress from Topshop would be great for lazy summer days paired with Swedish Hasbeens clogs - perfect for stomping!

Pastel glitter tip nails


Superdry Palest Purple Nail Paint, W7 Multi Dazzle Nail Polish

To create this look I painted two layers of the base colour. I then gradually built up the glitter tips and finished with a top coat.
Probably the easiest nail art I've ever done. I can't wait to try it with some other colour combinations!

Recently on Instagram: Snow Story


(1) First glimpse of the snow outside my Mansion window, (2) Matilda the Musical, (3) My new camera at work, (4) My favourite silver skull rings, (5) Pop Quiz night at Immediate Media, (6) #TeamTina, (7) Snow day trek home from work, (8) Hampstead Heath, (9) Parliament Hill, (10) Me and my snowman Liz Lemon.

Style Picks: Matalan SS13

I don't usually pop in to Matalan but when their SS13 Lookbook landed on my desk, quite a few pieces caught my eye. So I've pulled together my favourite styles. Take a look and let me know what you think...

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Grey Jersey Skirt £10
Chiffon Tie Dye Shorts £12
Warrior Necklace (left) £10
Spike Necklace (right) £8
Fringe tops (price unlisted)

I love these Tie Dye Shorts, they remind me of the tie dye I use in my blog header. They'll look great in the summer with tanned legs and creeper-soled sandals.
The fringed tops have that summer holiday feel and would add great texture to this basic jersey pencil skirt.
The Tribal style of these silver spiked necklaces would jazz up any plain tee.



MatalanSS13-Dresses




Left to right: Shift Dress £16
Stripe Dress £15
Shift Dress £16

Dresses dresses dresses. Need I say anything more? The stripy peplum is my favourite. I would wear it with black ankle boots and a slick of red lipstick.


MatalanSS13-Jumper-and-Jacket
Jumper £18
Military Jacket £35

These are two items that would slot seamlessly in to my wardrobe. The holey grunge knit would look great over a white shirt for work or with high-waist jeans for the weekend.
I'm glad to see khaki jackets with contrasting sleeves are still going strong for next season. This hooded jacket would be handy for those April showers.

What's your favourite item? Are you looking forward to Spring styles already too?

Tim Walker: Story Teller at Somerset House

art

During my recent visit to the Tim Walker: Story Teller exhibition at Somerset House I felt like I was stepping onto the pages of the most wonderful fashion story you could imagine. Either that, or I was tumbling down the rabbit hole...


Tim Walker

As I wandered through rooms filled with flying saucers and jelly hats, giant snails silently climbed the walls and I spotted a bee playing the cello and a grasshopper on violin. You might mistake this as a tale from Through the Looking-Glass, but I was in fact being swept away by the surreal imaginings of fashion photographer Tim Walker.

A bed made from bones with skulls as bed-knobs caught my eye and I realised that behind each fantasy, stark mortality looms. Walker portrays both the wonder and fragility of life through his enchanting photographs. Breathtaking props and unworldly models are captured with a click of the shutter.

Placing the unexpected in mundane situations, Walker captures the imagination and creates a story for the clothes. My favourite pictures were a series of photographs taken with Tim Burton in Colchester, Essex in 2009 when a giant skeleton sat in a field full of red roses and models dressed up as Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands.

Admission to Tim Walker: Story Teller at Somerset House is free and the exhibition runs until Sunday 27th January, 2013. I highly recommend a visit if you get the chance.

Have you seen any good exhibitions recently? Are there any coming up that you're looking forward to?

Recently on Instagram...


(1) #Edelweiss, (2) Me wearing Motel sequins & Laura in Topshop sparkles on NYE, (3) Wearing vintage faux fur on the party tube, (4) More NYE party party, (5) Vintage army surplus shirt, (6) Leopard fur coat & American Apparel chiffon shirt.

Burgandy at the British Museum

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Beanie: American Apparel
Jumper: H&M
Levi shorts: Urban Outfitters
Creeper boots: Deena & Ozzy
Pendant: Vanessa Mooney
Leopard print coat & bag: Vintage

Today me and my housemates all got up and wanted to wear the same thing. Burgandy. Emily started it with her dress and Kate was soon to follow with her socks and pom pom scarf. I wore my burgundy shorts so that we could look like a girl band.

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We went to the British Museum to look at the Ancient Egypt galleries.

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We also found this fertility tablet. Mega LOLZ.

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FIST BUMP.

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New Years Day 2013 Shopping

New Years Day Shopping

Lace dress: H&M
Diary: Cath Kidston
Pendant: Vanessa Mooney at Urban Outfitters

We may have partied hard at the Mansions last night to celebrate the New Year, but today's hangover feels infinitely better than the norovirus I've been suffering with for the last week. So, today I left my housemates to The Mighty Ducks and headed to Seven Dials to do some sale shopping. First stop was Cath Kidston for my new diary. I wanted one that was small and light enough to carry around every day but still pretty enough to tempt me into actually recording some goings on inside. This fits the bill nicely and also has a handy zip pocket for any loose things I want to keep hold of.

Then I headed across the road to Urban Outfitters and steered myself wisely past the shoes and clothes (I have so many new things from Christmas I haven't got round to wearing yet!) and went to look at the jewellery. I picked up this Vanessa Mooney pendant reduced to £25. I love its unusual shape and its the long length of the chain. It'll look suitably gothic with a long black jumper and jeans.

Finally I popped into H&M and couldn't resist this dress reduced from £29.99 to £7. The bright pop of colour is just the thing I need to kick start the New Year so I'll wear it to my first day back at work on Thursday. 

That was a pretty mild sale indulgence - I blame the hangover!
Have you picked up anything good in the sales this year?