New room, more blogging, more makeup.

So the reason I haven't been blogging much lately is because my room is the most unorganised den of disaster I've ever known! Basically I have too much stuff and too little storage for it.

Being that there's barely any room to move or breathe in my room due to all of the clothes and makeup and general mess, there's also no good place to take pictures of products to review, therefore less blog posts happen! 

I've just organised the new furniture I'm ordering from Ikea which is a nice big white wardrobe and a big white desk which will also serve as a dressing table. At the moment I'm using some shelving in my wardrobes to contain all my beauty products and I use the mirror on my wardrobe to apply my makeup because that's where the best light comes from. I do have a dressing table but it's just full of my jewellery and old makeup bottles and stuff that just looks good for decoration! I love it because it's pretty but I'm going to have to say goodbye to the pretty and say hello to the practical! You'll hear lots more from me once my room has been done and I have a lovely big desk from which to do blog posts and maybe even Youtube videos (who knows!)

My old dressing table - I'll miss it!

See you soon!

Sophie 

xoxo

25 things about me...

I've seen loads of bloggers do this ever since I entered the blogging community and I think it's a great way to get to know the person behind the blog. I searched my brain for some things about myself that make me different to the next person. 

Enjoy!

1. I am only 5 foot in height (which is obviously teeny weeny!)

2. I can do pretty much any accent you throw at me

3. In my spare time I'm an avid novel and script-writer

4.I have a big fat cat called Bertie and he's my absolute world (as is my boyfriend, obviously!)

5. I have done a bit of acting with Jack P Shepherd, Brooke Vincent and Sasha Parkinson from coronation street and can confirm they're all babes!

6. I have a terrible addiction to crisps (any kind, I ain't fussy!)

7. I have very blue eyes, some say they're so pale blue they're 'scary'

8. One of my absolute favourite things to do is brush my teeth...

9. My favourite films are The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Pretty in Pink and Les Miserables (a new addition)

10. I sing pretty much ALL the time, even though I can't.

11. I am useless when it comes to doing anything exciting with my hair and have never had it done in a salon (lazy!)

12. I have 11 hairbrushes

13. I like sketching but only seem to enjoy sketching horses...

14. I have a major girl crush on Audrey Hepburn and Michelle Keegan

15. My absolute favourite female performer of all time is Nicki Minaj (guilty pleasure!)

16. I have a fear of vomit and moths and an especially chronic fear of mould, to the point where I scream and cry if ever in contact with it

17. My only flares in the kitchen are millionaire's shortbread, brownies and mini quiches and I can't cook anything else!

18. Pink is my favourite colour and always has been, to the point that I have a pink sewing machine...

19. I have an obsession with the programme Friends and have watched at least 5 episodes a day for 3 months after my boyfriend made the mistake of buying me the box set for christmas

20. I can't eat cake and it remains the only thing to ever make me gag

21. I constantly sit on my knees (even at a dinner table) and struggle to sit properly and have done so since I was a little girl!

22. I'm a night owl and therefore more awake at night than I am in the daytime

23. I have to ensure my toast is virtually charcoal (extremely burnt) before I eat it

24. I have absolutely zero rhythm and can't dance to save my life

25. I am the bomb when it comes to spelling tests and can spell near enough every word! (I even used to enjoy them as a child, what a loser!) 

Sophie. 

xoxo

My 3 Favourite Perfumes

One of my favourite beauty products is a good perfume and having quite a big collection, it makes it hard to choose a favourite. So I've whittled it down to my three favourites, not in any order, to give you a little low-down of the scent. Please note though that it's very difficult to describe a smell unless you're a professional perfume-maker (I guess?), but I'll try my very best!

'Miss Dior'  by Dior Eau De Parfum 30ml 

First up is a perfume my boyfriend bought for me as a surprise one day, without me having tried it before. He did very well as I absolutely loved it and used it up almost instantly. Being a Dior product its obviously going to be pricey. Mine, the 30ml retails for around £46, the 50ml for around £64, and the 100ml for around £89. There are many different varieties and I would say to sniff as many of the Dior perfumes as possible to find the right scent for you as they smell very different. I would describe this scent as sweet and sugary, with the ability to be either a night time or a day time scent. I have only ever had one bottle but try it every time I visit House Of Fraser and am still lusting after another bottle!

Viktor & Rolf 'Flowerbomb' 20ml

Another of my favourites is one which I've only ever had one of and have failed to re-purchase despite feeling desperate for another! This is Viktor & Rolf 'Flowerbomb', a fairly new, fashionable scent which I got as part of a set. The usual shape of the bottle isn't like this, but as this was part of a set with a body cream in the same scent, the bottle is obviously smaller. I bought this from The Perfume Shop in Leeds with some leftover birthday money last year and as it was summer time, the scent was really clear after applying the body cream as well. The set cost me about £48 and is called the 'Petite Flowerbomb'. I'm not sure if they still sell this exact set but they sell others like it. The 30ml retails for around £48 also, the 50ml around £65 and the 100ml around £90, varying with different shops. I'd advise looking around before buying this as prices can vary dramatically. There isn't really a way to describe this scent other than it is musky and has a lot of undertones, but its also fresh and pretty and definitely what I would call a summer scent!

Jimmy Choo Eau De Parfum 40ml

This was a perfume I received as a present from my Mum after asking for it. My sister had the perfume before me and I absolutely loved it, so I asked for it myself. It is a beautiful scent, quite similar to 'Flowerbomb' by Viktor & Rolf (mentioned above), and as you can see, comes in the most gorgeous bottle, inside a pink, snake-print box. I believe it retails for around £35 for the 40ml, around £45 for the 60ml and ariund £62 for the 90ml. It is also available at a cheaper cost for the Eau De Toilette however I wouldn't recommend going for that just because you're strapped for cash as the scent is completely different, much unlike a lot of EDT's, which tend to just be weaker, this one smells completely different and to me, not as nice. The scent is musky but fruity and although I do wear it in the day, smells much nicer on cold, wintery nights out. 

So that's it. My three favourite perfumes broken down for you in description of scent, price and availability. All the perfumes are available at pretty much any perfume counters as they're quite popular scents and prices will always vary (look for the best deals!). I hope you enjoyed my post and you'll hear from me again very soon! 

Sophie. 

xoxo

Perricone MD 'No foundation foundation' review

I recently took the plunge and forked out for the 'No Foundation Foundation' from Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals. It has a hefty ol' price tag and retails for around £47.00

It's only a 30ml bottle and obviously, for the price tag, doesn't look worth it, but once you get past the first impressions and give it a go, it is SO worth it! I took a while to decide whether or not I wanted this or the 'No Concealer Concealer' which retails for £37.00, but seeing all the rave reviews in magazines I went for the foundation. 

The idea of these products are that they're more for 'wakening' the skin, rather than masking it. They look like foundation on first glance but once used on the skin, appears like more of an oil or a gel. It suggests rubbing it into the skin using soft, small, circular motions until well-blended. It reacts with the skin pigmentation and creates a glowy, dewy effect to really wake up the skin. It will look different on every skin type as like I said it reacts with the skin, rather than covering it up like most foundations. (hence the name)

When I applied it I really felt like it was doing something for my skin, and although it doesn't give you completely flawless skin, I can imagine that somebody with a good complexion and skin pigment all over their face (somebody with olive skin for example) would be able to use this to bring out the best of their skin. However, as I have a very poor complexion and a miss-match pigment I would need to use a bit of foundation or concealer together with the product in order to cover any blemishes or problem areas. It comes in a little smooth glass bottle, with a screw-cap lid and an additional pump lid. This is great because the pump is easy to use and much more hygienic, but also because when you're running low, you can just stick your finger in and screw the lid back on afterwards. Easy!

Another benefit of the product is that it has an SPF 30 sunscreen, meaning that it is the perfect foundation to wear while sunbathing. The face is an area a lot of girls forget to protect when sunbathing (I hold my hands up, I do too!), because a lot of makeup doesn't contain any sunscreen or SPF, meaning a fully make-upped face is completely unprotected in the summer time. I think this would be perfect for those days when you can't be bothered to wear makeup but feel your skin needs 'a bit of help', or to wear on sunny days when makeup just slides off your face. After all, with the SPF, there's more than one great reason to wear it under the heat of the sun!

Although its pricey, it is a fantastic product, a 5 star rating in mine, and many other people's books. I'm unsure as to whether I would ever fork out for another bottle but I think that depends on how long this one lasts me. If it goes on for ages, it's worth it! 

I hope you enjoyed my review and I hope you feel the same about the product if you've tried it. A definite beauty must-have! 

Sophie. 

xoxo

Positivity opens new doors...

(image: Google Images)

This is a bit of a different post for me but with a lot of things on my mind I thought I would conquer the problem that many people from many different walks of life face every single day. Bad things happen to lots of people and no matter how big or small the problem, everybody is allowed to 'grieve' in some way. 

I've always thought of myself as quite a lucky person in that I live quite a comfy, cosy life, have an awesome family and lots of people who really care about me, and I've always done my best to teach myself to be positive, even when I'm having one of those 'off days'. 3 years ago, I sadly lost my Dad and my life changed somewhat. It was an accident and a shock and therefore unexpected, which made it a little hard to dig up any positivity I might have had shortly after losing him. Like every person in this world, losing a parent is possibly the worst thing imaginable and being positive is the last thing on your mind after experiencing such trauma. However, my Dad was a brilliant role model and a real life-lover and go-getter. He did near enough everything in his life he always wanted to, never hesitated and was always extremely positive and upbeat. There was rarely a time you'd see my Dad without a smile on his face or without him cracking some ridiculously un-funny joke. 

I taught myself after losing him that no matter how much grieving I allowed myself to do, I would live the rest of the years which he unfortunately couldn't, myself. I promised myself that when I felt really lousy and like I wanted to just give up, I would open a new door in my mind and walk through it, just to see what was on the other side.

This may sound like a stupid metaphor but when you think about it, it kind of makes sense. I imagine that when I'm feeling negative and crappy I'm in a dark room, and positivity gives me the key to a door to a bright room. Okay, sometimes the brightness in the next room might not be very 'bright', or may not be bright for very long, but it helps. 

Metaphors don't help some people, and nobody would ever be able to tell you how to cope if you were going through a rough time, you have to figure that out for yourself. But you should never let somebody tell you that what you're going through isn't "that bad", because if it means something to you, that's all that matters. Once you learn how to cope with a negative situation, and what makes you feel better about something, you'll find it much easier to be happy. 

Another thing which really helps me to cope with negativity, even now, is writing lists. It may sound a bit silly and irrelevant but it works for me, and it may well work for other people. When I begin to hate myself and wonder why I'm even on this earth, I write a list of 'Ways to be my better self'. The lists are only occasional, are written on different pieces of paper or in different notebooks or journals (I have many!), and they eventually end up discarded or lost but ultimately they are about altering my current mood and lifestyle, NOT being something completely un-me. It's about making yourself a bit better and therefore bettering the energy you're giving off to other people, because its so easy to tarnish the moods of others with your negativity. 

A list would usually look a little something like this: 

* Get more sleep

* Do more regular exercise, eat healthily and drink more water

* Smile more

* Take care to help others

* Value the great things in life

* Don't hesitate (life's too short)

* Do what you enjoy

* Listen to upbeat music

* Never compare yourself to anybody else

* Take chances (say yes)

* Don't think, just do

The last one is my favourite and ultimately the one that is pretty much always on every list. Its a small portion of lyrics from my favourite band and one of my favourite songs: Snow Patrol - You could be happy. Listening to music is a great way to effect your mood, especially upbeat music to lift your spirits. However, although Snow Patrol's songs sound quite sad and depressing, when you really listen to their lyrics it all begins to make sense. The message they send out in most of their songs are positive messages aimed at altering a person's perspectives on life. 

Remember, no matter how big or small the problem is, if it effects you, its worth thinking about. But positive energy is obviously better than negative, and so ignoring the problem is never the right idea, but dwelling so much on the problem isn't either. So find an inbetween, allow your mind to focus on the problem in a more positive light. Use metaphors and lists, music or exercise, anything you feel helps YOU. Nobody knows you better than you know yourself. 

I hope this may have helped in some way, because I know that when I'm going through a tough time, the positive words and energies of others help me to focus on the best of life. 

'Life's too short' - My Dad

Sophie. 

xoxo

My 8 Favourite Miniatures

When it comes to beauty products, I have my fair share of them, much like many girls my age. I was once a subscriber of Glossybox monthly beauty boxes which consists of a pretty pink (or other colour depending on the time of the year or occasion) box filled with around six different up and coming or not so well known products from the high end of beauty, usually in a miniature version for Glossybox's subscribers to try. There are many other monthly beauty box companies that do the same thing but I chose to join Glossybox after hearing a lot of other bloggers rave about it. I must say I was incredibly impressed that after spending just £12.95 a month (£10.00 for the box, £2.95 for postage and packaging), I could have a lovely, sturdy box full of great little products that I'd either heard of and wanted to try or that I'd never seen before. You would enter your details, whether it be skin type, the product category you're deiring or your favourite perfume scent, all your details would be processed by the team and your box would be chosen specifically for you. Occasionally, as a treat, Glossybox would throw in a full-sized product which really excited me as I felt I was being spoilt. 

Unfortunately, I had to unsubscribe because money was getting a bit tight and I needed that extra ten pounds a month but hopefully in the future when I've saved up a bit more money I will be able to re-subscribe and get all my little monthly treats again! In the mean time though, I thought I would make the most of the miniatures I already have and cherish those by writing my thoughts on my favourite ones. I've chosen 8 of my favourites from the many I have and have given my thoughts on each individual one. 

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

First up is the Daily Microfoliant from the well-known, model's favourite brand Dermalogica. They've cleverly created an exfoliant in dry powder form which reacts with water to create a grainy paste. This way you can really feel the grains of the powder working into every pore to clear any impurities as well as scrub any dry or dead skin and leave your skin feeling smooth, soft and nourished. I use it once a week as I'm running low and want to make the most of it! The full-size retails for around £40.

Lipcote Longlasting Lipstick Seal

Next up is the lipstick seal from Lipcote. I'd never heard of Lipcote as a brand or product before and I have never owned any product that promises to do what this product does. You apply the Lipcote on top of freshly applied and blotted lipstick and wait, mouth-opened for it to dry. Once dried it promises to offer long-lasting lipstick protection even while eating, drinking and talking. Perfect for a night out and it works very well with red lipstick!This product retails for around £3.99

Burberry Body Perfume

It's unusual to receive a fragrance product in a glass bottle as a sample which is why this miniature excites me the most. Burberry Body 35ml usually retails for around £40, the 60ml for around £50, and the 85ml for around £70 (varying with different retailers). There is little more than 10 drops in this little bottle but the fact it is literally a miniature of the original product feels like such a luxury, compared to the usual perfume samples which consist of a tiny plastic container and a small spray cap. Not to mention the fact that the perfume has a rich, earthy scent, quite heavy and perfect for a night out, and smells incredible. One of my absolute favourite samples ever!

Alison Clarke So Remarkable Mango Body Butter

Another brand I've never heard of before, this little tube of Mango flavoured Body Butter from Alison Clarke is a skin must have. Its rich, creamy texture allows for a smooth application and ability to blend and feels great against tired skin. One of my favourite beauty flavours is mango and the smell of this is to die for! The only downside is that the product is so small and doesn't last long. I'm on the last little dregs and I'm having a serious craving to purchase some more!

L'Oreal Full Volume Tecni Art Mousse

This product isn't considered a high end product as you'd expect from Glossybox, and I'm aware that a lot of people weren't happy to receive this. However, I think the fact that its such a great product with fantastic texture and hold de-emphasises the fact that its not a high-end product and in fact is something readily available and well known in high street beauty shops. The mousse is light and fluffy with a nice, mild scent and isn't too sticky on the hands and hair. I find I have to use it sparingly to two reasons. 1. I have very thick hair with which I try desperately to gain volume and too much would drag it down, and 2. as it is a sample size, I don't have many more applications before I have to purchase the full-sized product. Apart from that, I love it! This retails for around £9 for a 250ml bottle.

Skinetica Spot Treatment

This liquid spot treatment from Skinetica is a must-have product for problem skin. It is a tiny container with little more than 20 applications I would imagine, but for somebody like me is perfect when I have one big old whitehead pop up unexpectedly. The fact its a liquid rather than a cream or gel means there is no residue after its soaked in after about 3 minutes. Containing an alcohol it dries the surface of the swollen skin and calms the redness to relieve the pain of an irritating spot. The only downside is that you can't feel anything working, but other than that, it's great! This retails for around £9.99 per 100ml bottle.

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

I've only used this product a few times but I'm already a huge fan of it! Being another brand and product I've never heard of before, I felt a bit dubious about using it, as the packaging isn't spectacular and it looks no more than cooking oil. However, I love the way it feels on my skin after a hot bath as it soaks in and softens the surface of the skin. I could imagine it would come in handy in the summer time after a day in the sun to treat dehydrated skin before sleep. This retails for around £20 - £25 a bottle.

Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream

This miniature is the perfect size for me as I only use a tiny amount at a time. Its a lovely creamy eye treatment to really awaken the eye area when its looking a bit droopy and baggy (attractive!)I find that Balance Me products are always beautifully fragranced, not too expensive and lovely light creams full of nourishment for your skin. I use a lot of eye products and like to mix and match but this one is definitely one of my favourites. It usually retails for around £20.

Despite sometimes being a little underwhelmed with products, I'm usually always pleased with everything I receive and beauty boxes are a great way of developing a lovely collection of well-rounded beauty products. I also find that they're a great way to be first in the queue to try new and exclusive products and finally find a place in your beauty-loving heart for a fantastic new product. I highly recommend purchasing the full-size of these products and will be considering purchasing them myself. 

I hope you share some of the same favourites as me and enjoyed reading my post :) 

Sophie

xoxo

"A girl should be two things; classy and fabulous" - Coco Chanel

My hair care routine

Every beauty blogger knows that with a passion for beauty comes the desire for the most gorgeous hair. Therefore the desire to own the best hair products is top of the list. Whether you're a salon fanatic, always feeling you need to frequently visit the best salon or use salon-quality products yourself at home, or even if, like me, you rarely visit the salon (in fact I'm slightly shamed to say I've never had my hair done at a salon.. shocking, I know!), you'll know that there are thousands of products out there to give you the most beautiful hair, on any occasion. 

I admit I own a lot of beauty products altogether, whether it be skin, body, hair or makeup, I spend copious amounts of money on beauty and expect to get the best out of my money. Admittedly, I have a lot of bad experiences with products, particularly if I  have spent slightly more money on a brand new, raved-about product which turns out to be slightly underwhelming. Therefore, like many beauty bloggers I tend to give more love to products that I've purchased on the cheap which turn out to be incredible! This is almost always the case with hair products. High street vs. bank breakers - there's just no competition! 

Shampoo + Conditioner

My hair washing routine is slightly boring, as I'm not very adventurous when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. I fear that if I buy a really mysterious product which I've heard lots about, it could be completely unsuitable for my hair and leave it feeling rough and heavy - not something you wish for with long hair. 

I've been through some tough experiences with my hair - particularly the 'bleach incident'. In the summer of 2010 I decided to be a little more adventurous with my hair, and thought I'd like to go blonde. However after speaking to my home hairdresser and family friend, she suggested that as my hair was so naturally dark, I'd have to gradually lighten it, and not just go all out blonde. So I began having bleached highlights, and ignoring my hairs' ginger tendencies, I loved it. Every couple of months I'd have more bleach put in my hair, until spring time 2012 when I decided it was just too tough having to buy expensive hair products to take care of the horrible effects the bleach was having on my long, thick hair. I took the plunge and decided to go back to my dark locks, and finally saw that I would always be a brunette, and even though I enjoyed the caramel-coloured hair, brunette just suited me so much more (It turned out cheaper, too!). However as I grew used to my natural dark hair once again, I started to notice the bleach peeping through, and would therefore have to dye it dark monthly with a home-dye kit just to keep it looking fairly normal. It was a huge effort and although its now back to natural brunette and I no longer need to dye it, I still have to use the best, most nourishing shampoos and conditioners to keep it silky. Alternating shampoos is a great way to get your hair looking silky and soft, as if you use the same product again and again your hair will get too used to it and will look more unclean and greasy between washes. I wash my hair every other day, because it doesn't go greasy quickly, but everybody's different and only you can tell how often you'd need to wash yours (it depends on length of hair, thickness, colour and texture). My hair is naturally polka straight, dark brown and very long, this means regular washing but not too much. My favourite shampoo and conditioner at the moment is Aussie 'Miracle Shine' as it gives my hair shine, bounce and volume without it feeling too heavy (it's also incredibly nourishing and hair follicles love it!).

Deep Conditioning

Enough about boring shampoo and conditioner, what really matters for long hair is a great deep conditioner! I enjoy nothing more than that time of the week when I can relax in the bath with my hair wrapped in a towel turban and slathered in deep conditioner, comforted by the thought of my hair gaining all the nourishment it needs. I use Toni&Guy 'Nourish' deep conditioning mask for brunette hair once a week in replace of my usual conditioner, slathered on my hair and then tightly wrapped in a towel turban for around 20 minutes. I then wash it off and dry it how I usually would and enjoy the silky, bouncy hair which comes from the mask. 

This product is one of my favourites and I can safely say I will use it until it completely runs out. You only need about a palmful (depending on the size of your hands and the length of your hair!), meaning that it should last about a year or so if you do it weekly. I use other hair masks and deep conditioning depending on my mood, and occasionally use one of my favourites John Frieda 'brilliant brunette' hair mask in a small packet, which would usually cost no more than a pound from Boots. However this is quite expensive for something you would only use once and then throw away, so to invest in the full tub would be a good idea. 

Hair protecting, styling + brushing

Once I've washed my hair, I like to feel comfortable that I'm still adding volume while drying it. As I have naturally straight hair, it is easy to quickly lose volume and have flat, dull hair that just sort of 'hangs'. I discovered two products which work perfectly together to provide the best volume without feeling any product in my hair at all. I use Tresemme '24 Hour Body' Volumizing spray which I spray on the roots of my hair and work throughout the lengths, remembering not to focus too much on the very ends as this will make my hair heavy and without any volume what-so-ever! After I've applied the spray, I use Lee Stafford 'Volumizing mousse' which is guaranteed not to leave any residue behind, and to just give a voluminous feeling to long hair without it feeling heavy, sticky or crunchy, like a lot of mousses can. I tend to steer clear of mousses as I feel only people with curly hair can get away with them, however once applied, this one feels much more like a balm which disappears once blow-dried. 

When it comes to brushes I'm a bit of a freak. I have too many to even count and I only really use a couple. I am very clumsy and forgetful and am always leaving brushes round friends houses or my boyfriends, or just losing them in general. So when I see a good brush in a shop I will buy it, thinking it will replace the one I lose, however I actually only end up with a load of unused brushes which don't de-tangle my hair in any way, shape or form. My favourite brush however is one which I have had a bit of a love affair with since I first purchased it. It is a Tangle Teezer - in luminous pink! These brushes are great as they leave hair absolutely tangle free and silky, and are great to just stuff into your bag. I also like that the back comes off giving me a cheeky storage space for hair grips and bands, just in case! I wouldn't fault this brush in any way and use it every time I wash my hair, several times during the day and of course before I go to sleep at night (many people tie their hair up but I wake up with the hair band stuck in my hair so I choose to risk being strangled in the night instead!) As well as a barrel brush for extra volume, I also use a small back-combing brush for when my hair requires a bit more night time volume for going out. The tail end comes in handy for setting my parting too! 

Blow drying my hair almost always means curling afterwards (I dream of naturally wavy hair, rather than my boring dead straight locks), meaning heat applied to my hair in very close proximity. Therefore I find heat protection incredibly important as my hair is so long it is therefore prone to a lot of breakage. To keep my hair growing I have to ensure that any split ends don't carry on to the roots of my hair, otherwise I would have to have a very short bob cut (eek)! As you've probably guessed, I am a big fan of Lee Stafford, and believe that they are the only products I have ever come across which work best when used with the others in that collection. The detangling spray is great for my hair and ensures there's no breakage during the tough venture of brushing my long locks! I also love Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Spray as it smells incredible and really feels as though it's protecting your hair from root to tip without coating it. As an alternative and a firm favourite to slip into my handbag when I'm staying at my boyfriend's house is Tresemme Heat Protection Spray in compact size (I also use it to calm flyaway's in the middle of the day, if I were shopping our just out and about). 

Hairsprays + Dry shampoos

In my opinion, dry shampoo is one of the beauty world's best inventions, as it offers lovely clean hair which smells incredible and looks as though its just been washed, without any water! I'd like to think I'm not the only person who gets this excited about dry shampoo, but nonetheless, this product is my absolute saviour. I have been through the entire Batiste range and decided that my two favourites, depending on what my mood or occasion is, are 'Cheeky Cherry' flavour and 'XXL Volume'. The XXL Volume really does do what it says on the tin - it adds instant back-combable volume perfect for a night out, and even if I have just washed and dried my hair before I go out, I often use it just to take away that 'oh-so-silky-just-been-washed' look which I feel makes my hair difficult to volumize. Like every other dry shampoo in the Batiste range, they both offer an amazing smell, however the cherry flavoured definitely wins for me! Other dry shampoos are just as good, such as Tresemme's, however the smell of these draws me back in to buy them again and again! 

Hairspray isn't something I often rely on as my hair is so naturally heavy I just feel it adds too much heaviness. However for special occasions and days where I feel the curls I've just done using my curling tongs or straighteners are too good to let drop, I apply a small amount of either of my two favourite hairsprays and gently brush through with my Tangle Teezer. The two I use quite frequently are Toni&Guy 'Casual Flexible Hold Hairspray' for casual, daytime looks and Loreal Elnett Satin 'Extra Strength' Hairspray, for the more extreme, night-time occasions. 

There isn't much more to my hair-care routine than that, though you're probably feeling glad there isn't! I take a lot of pride in my hair and my hair care routine really is very important to me, as I'm sure it is for many girls. I don't suggest anybody do what I do to my hair, I just do what's right for my own hair and what I feel works for me. It would be great to know if any of these tips work for anyone else and I love to know I'm passing on my wisdom. Enjoy the rest of my blog!

Sophie.

'The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express' - Francis Bacon