Ombré: for highlighted hair

So, for the last 12 years my hair has been far from my natural colour. In fact, I'm not quite sure what my natural colour is anymore. When I was 13, my mother and I decided it would be a really good idea to put red streaks in my hair and to be honest, it didn't look half bad. Then I decided to go blonde and it stuck ever since.

But for the last 12 years, my hair has had the same battering and apart from the length and a few fringe changes, it has pretty much stayed the same. This is why I decided to completely change it up and go back to my natural colour, ready for an ombré style.

I was really tempted to ombré myself. After watching a few YouTube videos I figured it was pretty easy to do. But one problem I came across was the fact that all the girls in the videos had natural coloured hair to start with, and considering I had highlighted hair, there was no way I was going to ombré the ends with an inch of re-growth on my roots. So I headed to the salon.

One of the main reasons for going to the salon was to get rid of my highlights, which apparently, isn't an easy task. Because of the bleach, it's difficult to colour brown as there's a chance that it could turn your hair green. In order to avoid this problem, a subtle ash blonde had to be mixed in with the brown, which didn't give me my exact natural colour, but it was near enough.

After applying the brown to 3/4 of my hair, bleach was applied to the ends to give a dip-dyed, ombré effect and here is the final result...

Admittedly, the underneath of took to the colour a lot more than the top layers of my hair, which is why I have taken a picture of the underneath. The top layers of my hair are still quite light, so I am considering going over with a DIY kit.

Ombré hair is such a great way of adding a subtle change to your hairstyle, especially for colour virgins. It allows you to add a touch of colour without going the whole hog.

If you have highlighted hair like I did, I would most definitely recommend going to a salon to have this done. It pays to have an expert do it first. It might be pricey the first time round, but at least you have the option to use a home dye kit next time.

What's in my bag 2012

Apart from beauty reviews, my second favourite blog post to read are nosy blog posts around people's  make-up storage, interior decoration and make-up bags, which is why I have decided to share with you again, what's in my handbag and here it is...

My handbag was a treat from myself, to myself, and bought from Accessorize. I have no idea how much, but I'm guessing it was around the £35 mark.

My purse is Fiorelli and was a birthday gift from my best friend. It's the perfect size and fits all of my rubbish inside.

You might notice a few items of clothing on the left. After visiting my sister the other day, I realised there were a few items of clothing - a pink cardigan and leather skirt - she has 'borrowed' from me. So I quickly snuck them back. At the time I decided to write this blog post, I had forgotten that these were in my bag.

I don't tend to keep anything interesting in my handbag, but I always carry around with me my notebook, diary, pens and my glasses. Four of the most essential things in my life. Believe it or not, I don't actually carry around much make-up, just the odd lip product for when I might need it. The only reason for this is I don't have time to reapply my make-up. As crazy as that sounds. My week day is pretty hectic, so the last thing I ever find myself doing is rushing off to the loos to apply another coat of mascara.

Please link in the comment box your blog posts of the same nature. I'm always interested to read them!

Blistex Cold Sore Cream

No one likes them, no one wants them, in fact they're probably one of the most dreaded blemishes. Yes, I'm talking about cold sores. Mostly caused by stress, exhaustion, ill health and tiredness, a whopping 70% of the UK population experience them. But Blistex have launched a brand new product to help combat the pesky little things.

Blistex Cold Sore Cream is an over the counter cream that works differently to your standard cold sore cream. It works by helping to stop the virus from spreading, by penetrating the skin deep in order to block the virus from entering the other healthy skin cells. What makes it more of a bonus is that while tackling your cold sore, it also helps to protect and moisturise your lips too - a 2 in 1!

Blistex Cold Sore Cream is priced at £6.99 and available from most over the counter pharmacies. For more information visit www.blistexcoldsorecream.co.uk.

*PR

Sanctuary Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser

When you think of the words hot cloth cleanser, the first two words of everyone lips - Liz Earle - the ultimate leader in the market. At nearly £15 for a standard product, it might be a little expensive for some, especially if you're trying it for the first time.

This is why I wanted to share with you an ever so slightly cheaper version - The Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser, priced at £10.20 from Boots.

Just like the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, the Sanctuary's version came with a muslin cloth and cleanser. After following the instructions carefully, I was surprised at how clean my skin felt afterwards. It claims to deeply cleanse the skin, as well as helping to stimulate circulation and leave you with a glowing complexion. I wouldn't exactly say my skin was 'glowing' but it certainly felt refreshed and a lot cleaner compared to when I use my everyday face wash. I'm not sure if this is down to the fact that it asks you to apply both hot and cold water to the skin, while massaging the product in too, which helps to wake your skin up.

The whole routine itself takes no more than a couple of minutes and the cleanser is really easy to use. You don't need a lot either, which means that £10 tube will last you quite a while. The only downside I guess, is that the muslin cloth can get quite mucky. I tend to take my eye make-up off beforehand, otherwise I'd end up spreading it across my face and that's not hygienic at all.

Due to how fresh your skin feels afterwards, I imagine this product would make a great cleanser for mornings. But I love my sleep too much and cut my skin care routine down to a mere make-up remover wipe and moisturiser, so I have mainly stuck to the evenings. I would also like to point out how few blemishes I have had since using this product too. During the last couple of months I have started to gain a few spots around my hairline, but these have cut down dramatically since using the product. I can only assume it means I am cleansing my skin properly and my pores are no longer becoming blocked.

I would definitely rate this product as an alternative high street version compared to the more expensive ones. So go on, give it a go! Let me know how you get on.

What's in my make-up bag 2012

Back in 2011, my make-up bag looked like this. Considering we're three months away from 2013, I thought I was due another one and to see how much my make-up routine has changed - apparently not so much. I guess I'm a creature of habit.

First of all my make-up bag is Cath Kidston and was bought as a Christmas gift from my beautiful Sister. It's a lot smaller than the last one I had, so I've had to cut down on a few products, leaving room for just the essentials.

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream (Light Skin Tone) - My current make-up essential, you won't see me go a day without this product. To read my full review of this product, click here.

L'Oreal True Match Touché Magique Concealer - I have never, ever found an under eye concealer that works so well with my skin tone and hides those pesky dark circles as good as this one. It's a fantastic product and almost a cheaper version of the Yves Saint Laurent's Touché Éclat. Price, £7.19 from Boots.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector Daily All-in-One BB Cream (Light) - I bought this quite a while back, back when I wanted to try a BB cream that wasn't going to cost me the earth. I loved this as a starter product, but wanted a BB cream that did a little bit more. I still keep this one in my make-up bag for days when I don't feel like wearing too much make-up. Available from Boots at £7.49.

Powder FX (E40) - I was given this at a press show around about a year ago and unfortunately I haven't kept any details on the brand. For the last year I have sworn by bareMinerals, but after running out and realising I had no other foundation, I fell towards this. The lovely gentleman who I spoke to at the time, matched my skin perfectly, which I guess is why I haven't stopped using it. The only problem is it doesn't last that long and by midday, it's worn off. But the consistency is lovely and feels ever so light on the skin.

Benefit 'that gal' Brightening Face Primer - I received this as a sample from a magazine. It smells amazing and feels really light and as a primer itself, I think it's okay. I haven't really used it enough to get a full grasp on it yet. Full sized product cost £21.50.

bareMinerals Prime Time Brightening Pearl Eyelid Primer - I haven't yet used an eyelid primer that trumps this one, but if you have any to rival, let me know. It helps make your eyeshadow pop and won't budge at all. To read my full review, click here. Price, £16 for 3ml.

Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner (black) - I believe that every woman should own a liquid eyeliner. It's an essential product for creating a completely different look in one sweep. The great thing about this eyeliner is the size of the wand - it's quite long, as is the brush, which makes application really easy and seamless. A must have product of mine that I have been buying for years. Price £5.29.

Bourjois Eyeliner Pencil (black) - I think this product has been discontinued because I can't seem to find it anywhere. But needless to say, it's pretty much a standard eyeliner pencil. Stays put for most of the day, but tends to bleed under your eyes. Price is unknown.

L'Oreal Volume Million Mascara - I don't often buy a mascara more than once, but this one has been an exception to the rule. In fact, I think I have bought this twice over. What I love about this mascara is the wand and how well it coats all of your lashes.

Barry M Nail Polish (shade NP318) - One of my favourite Barry M nail polish shades, slightly too bright and summery for the Autumn months, so I will be swapping this with a darker navy or deep red shade instead. Price, £2.99 from Boots.

Clinique Instant Life for Brows (soft brown) - Quite possibly one of the best eyebrow crayons I have used, it's really subtle and easy to apply. The highlighter on the other end of the crayon gives a great lift to the brow bone too. Available in three colours, soft blonde, soft brown and deep brown, and available from Clinique for £15.

Benefit Posy Tint - This was a mini sample from a magazine, that I'm still trying to scrape the remnants from. It's a great little product and add a slight pink tone to your cheeks. This is a lip tint too. Price for the original size is £24.50.

Tools

(Unknown brand) eyelash curlers - A must-have for any girls make-up bag. I don't go a day without using these!

Vie at Home Double-Ended Eyeshadow Brush - Unsure of price

bareMinerals Wet/Dry Shadow Brush - £13 from bareMinerals

bareMinerals Flawless Application Face Brush - £19 from bareMinerals

Please link me to your make-up bag posts - I love having a good nosey!

Liebster Blog Award

When looking at my emails this morning I was greeted with a lovely comment from Eve telling me that she had nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award - a fab little award given to bloggers, from other bloggers whose blog has 200 followers or less. In order to accept the award, there are some rules, so here goes...

1) Each winner must post 11 facts about themselves
2) The winner must also answer 11 questions the tagger has set for them
3) The winner must then create 11 more questions to ask bloggers they decide to tag
4) They must then choose 11 bloggers to tag with less than 200 followers
5) And lastly, these lucky bloggers nominated, must then be told

So first of all here's 11 facts about myself ...

• I am completely, 100% scared of anything with wings. Be it moths, butterfly's, birds, daddy-long-legs. As soon as one flies into the room, I'm outta there! 
• I trained as a gymnastic for 7 years, where i competed in competitions and trained at the same gym as Louis Smith
• My Dad is my hero
• When I was born I was named Sydney for a week
• I am too honest for my own good, in fact it gets me in trouble more often than not
• I have had the pleasure of spending a morning, discussing beauty with Lulu 
• I won Johnson & Johnson's New Beauty Journalist award in 2011
• I'd rather watch a good action film over a chick-flick anyday
• I love to cook
• I couldn't live without my mascara
• I have never watched Dirty Dancing or Footlose

Now for the questions that I have been asked to answer...

What is your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment has to be when I was 16 years old, working as a waitress in my local pub. It was New Years Eve and very busy. After clearing up dirty plates from a table, I carried them back to the kitchen, only to slip over in front of the whole bar, while a group of sixth form students from school laughed at me.

What is the best film you have seen this year?
This is a really hard question, but I think it has got to be The Help - inspirational, beautiful and funny.

What is your best buy?
This is quite a vague question, but if it was beauty related I would definitely say mascara. I don't have a favourite brand as I like to try different ones as often as I can.

What's the first item on your wish list?
It has got to be a Michael Kors rose gold watch. I'm absolutely obsessed with rose gold at the moment.

Have you got a favourite childhood toy?
My favourite toy growing up was definitely my Barbie dolls.

What is your favourite nail varnish?
My favourite nail varnish brand is Maybelline Forever Strong Pro, but they're really limited on colours. But if I was to go for favourite nail varnish overall, it would be Nails Inc in Haymarket.

Coke or Pepsi?
Coke

What's your most recent purchase?
Was a faux leather skirt and pug patterned top both from River Island.

What's the most expensive item in your wardrobe?
The most expensive item(s) in my wardrobe are both my pairs of Ugg boots - one in chestnut and the other in chocolate - everyone needs a bit of variation!

Is there a TV program you can't miss?
Keeping Up with the Kardashians is a definite and Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model.

Comfort or style?
Style

I have sent my questions to the blogs I've tagged myself in, instead of placing them on my blog. Thank you to Eve again for nominating me.

Lee Stafford Argan Oil: Nourishing Miracle Oil

Since leaving my last job a lot of beauty product have found themselves hidden amongst the depths of the drawers in my spare room. In fact I like to call this room the 'beauty room' because it is pretty much dedicated to samples I have amassed over the last couple of years. As a beauty writer and blogger, I should have known better than to leave beauty products untouched, because they don't last forever, but I just can't bring myself to throw them away.

Since starting my new job, the only beauty fix I get is from the odd browse in my local drug store and applying my make up in the morning, so recently I have found myself rummaging through these products, picking out the ones I want to share with you. Most of the products you have probably used yourselves, or read a dozen reviews on, but I'm still going to share with you my opinion. No matter how new a product is, it's the ones that have been sat on the shelves for ages that are the old favourites.

Which brings me on to my latest blog post. Back when Argan Oil was all the rage, I didn't quite understand the hype. Recently I dug out this little treasure and decided to apply it to the ends of my wet hair one night before drying. My instant thought - why the hell haven't I started using this sooner? 

Lee Stafford promised to nourish my hair and make my hair look in tip-top condition and feel amazing. So I applied roughly a 2p sized amount to the end of my hair, because this is the area that suffers the most damage. I'm prone to split ends - my hair is quite long, I wash, blow-dry and straighten everyday and have my hair bleached regularly, so it's no wonder it's in such dreadful condition. After rubbing into the ends, I blow-dried my hair as normal. I was completely shocked at how smooth, silky and soft my hair felt afterwards and how quick it took for my hair to dry - it was given a new lease of life! Lee was right, my hair did feel amazing. 

If you're thinking of trying this product, don't be put off by the fact that it is an oil. This nourishing oil is so lightweight, you won't even feel it and neither will it make you're hair greasy.

Available from Boots for £11.99

L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream

 

I love a good BB cream. In fact I pretty much adore them, I don't know how I ever survived without them. Whether you wear it on its own or as a base, they're perfect for giving you an even skin tone without looking caked on.

My first experience with BB creams was one of the first to be launched in the UK - Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector. It was a lot thicker and creamier than I expected, but offered a great introduction to the new product.

Recently I discovered L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream. Packed with smart pigment capsules, it comes in a lighter than light purple formula that can't be felt on the skin.

When first felt on your fingers, the cream feels slightly grainy, but once massaged into your skin it transforms into a very subtle, light foundation, with the grains almost melting onto your skin. Don't let the purple colour put you off. The purple pigments help to brighten dull or sallow complexions, which is why I've found it perfect for using under my powder.

I have been completely won over by this product and overwhelmed at how flawless my skin looks after its been applied. Considering it comes in a much smaller tube too, it lasts a fair amount of time.

Available from most drug stores or supermarkets.

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Dark Denim

I love the Olympics. I mean, literally LOVE! When that time comes around every four years, I'm fixated to my TV. So I felt I should show how patriotic I am, through my nails.

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro Polishes are one of my favourite nail polish brands. The colours pop and the paint lasts a lot longer than most others I've tried.

I bought mine for £4.09 from Boots.

Four months...

Courtesy of Weheartit

...that's how long I've been absent for and I apologise greatly. But I'm now sending you a promise that Jade's Beauty Blog will be up and running again, with plenty of news and reviews on the latest beauty products.

Pinky promise!

No More White Bits

I know I should embrace my English rose complexion, but there’s nothing I love more than having a healthy tan – even if it does come from a bottle. But I’m far from a fake tan abuser. In fact, you’ll only ever catch me wearing it on two occasions: 1) on a night out and 2) during the summer when I’m looking a little pasty and want to wear my prettiest dresses. So this could explain why I jumped at the chance of reviewing this product – No More White Bits, available from Superdrug.

The sample I received came in a mousse formula, a formula I’m used to using and prefer compared to others. I’ve always found lotions and sprays tricky to use. They appear, patchy, too dark or barely noticeable, but mousse formulas always give the perfect consistency without being too messy.

Fake tan formulas have enhanced greatly over the years. You no longer have to sacrifice looking good, by smelling like a soggy biscuit as most fake tan products are perfumed instead – as it this one. The smell is over-powering, but I’m not sure if this is to mask the soggy biscuit smell. However, I’m complaining – eau de soggy biscuit is not kicking off anytime soon.

As for the final outcome of the product I was pleased. I only applied one layer with my hands (slap on the wrist) and once dry, it gave a subtle glow with even coverage. Long gone were my pasty legs and I was left with glowing pins instead. I wouldn’t necessarily say they were brown, but more natural instead, like my skin was a little more tanned than usual.

But I will say that when you first apply the product, it barely looks like there’s anything there. Just be patient – it does work, honest!

No More White Bits is available from Superdrug from 1 April for just £3.99 – a bargain for a fab, high street self-tanner.

The Mascara Monologues: Rimmel Lash Accelerator Mascara

Firstly I want to apologise for my serious lack of blogging lately. The newest addition to our family has really turned our lives around – who’d have thought, having a pet dog would take up so much time. But regardless of her mischievousness, she’s incredibly cute and cuddly and we love her to bits.

But anyway, I’m back now and promise not to keep you guys waiting so long for the next post. I have so much to share with you, some new products and some that I received from the Lisbon EADV conference (that long ago, I know!)

I thought I would start off with another post in the Mascara Monologues though and what better way to kick it off than with Rimmel’s Lash Accelerator Mascara, of which I purchased around two months ago. I’m still using it and do so every day, but I’m due a new one because this one’s pretty much on its last legs.

I’ve never really been a huge fan of Rimmel (excluding their Exaggerate Liquid Eyeliner, which I just LOVE and have used for the past 5 years) because I’ve always thought of them as a younger brand. But for a budget, high-street mascara, I’ve been quite impressed.

Rimmel claims that the Lash Accelerator Mascara will help your lashes appear 80% longer, due to its combined grow-lash complex. Being the sceptic that I am, I think it’s pretty challenging to measure whether your lashes have grown or not. But I must add, they are much stronger.

The wand is different too, the bristles are much shorter, which helps coat the lashes better making them look thicker and fuller. I've always found longer bristled brushes to be a bit clumpy and they dry up a lot quicker too. Although I said I wasn't a fan of Rimmel, I'd purchase this mascara again. It doesn't give a dramatic look compared to others, but it's great for everyday wear and lasts all day without flaking. It seems to have lasted a long time too, so it isn't one of those products that lasts a few uses and then it's done.

So a big thumbs up for this mascara. Can you guys recommend any for me to try next?

Have you tried this mascara? If so, what were your thoughts? Can you recommend any other Rimmel products I should try?

Apologies...

...for my lack of blogging recently. We've recently gained a new member to our family and shes been keeping me very busy.

Meet Bailey, our beautiful Chocolate Labrador.

She's incredibly cute, very cheeky, full of beans and most definitely going to keep me on my toes.

Check back soon for more beauty blogging. I haven't forgotten about you all, honest!

MUA Heaven and Earth Palette

I cannot begin to tell you how long I have been trying to get my hands on this product. Every Superdrug store I went into it was no where to be seen and the website was out of stock every time I checked. You should have seen my face when I spotted it in the new store in town. So to make sure I didn't run out, I bought two.

I honestly think this is the best selection of neutral eyeshadows I've seen (I haven't yet got my hands on the Urban Decay Naked Palette) and MUA certainly haven't scrimped on quality either, even for a £4.99 price tag.

Top row left to right

Bottom row left to right

Each colour is completely different, with a shimmery consitency and they last for as long as you're wearing them. Even without an eyeshadow primer. I have mostly worn the second shade on the top row and third shade on the bottom row. I can't wait to try a smokey eye with the other shades.

I'll be honest, I always assumed cheaper brands produced cheaper products but MUA have completely changed my mind. They show that you can get budget products that work just as well as brands which are slightly more expensive and compared to similar products produced by more expensive brands, it comes out on top.

Have you tried any other MUA products? Or have you tried any similar products that work just as w

My favourite products of 2011

I can't believe how quick 2011 went. At the beginning of the year I was praying I was still going to have a job by the end of it, let alone buy a beautiful starter home with my boyfriend. As 2012 approaches we're still decorating and finding endless bits and bobs to furnish it with. Slowly, it's starting to look not just like our house, but our home.

Aside from this, I still managed to blog about plenty of products and here's a quick round up of my favourites from 2011:

Skincare

I was given a sample of the Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser (not shown) earlier on in the year and instantly fell in love. Teamed with a few other Dermalogica products, it gives skin a deep cleanse, leaving it refreshed and squeaky clean.
Full review click here

I've been using the bareMinerals Deep Cleansing Foam ever since I was introduced to it in October and I love it. I haven't used another cleanser since.
Full review click here

The Palmers Cocoa Butter Body Scrub smells divine and is the perfect consistency for a body scrub. Some body scrubs can be too soft, which doesn't really do much for the skin. But Palmers have got the consistency right, as well as keeping that good-enough-to-eat cocoa smell.
Full review click here

Clinique SPF 35 Targeted Protection Stick practically saved my skin on holiday this year. I'm fair-skinned so I'm prone to burning, especially on areas like my nose and ears. The protection stick was my ultimate savour.
Full review click here

For me, the Nivea moisturiser was my favourite of 2011. It can be used on any part of your body, from face to hands and body. I currently keep it on my desk at work for whenever my hands get dry.
Full review click here

Cosmetic 

The Revlon PhotoReady Foundation and bareMinerals Mineral Foundation stood out the most in 2011. Although bareMinerals wasn't a new product, 2011 was the year I discovered it. Unfortunately a hotel cleaner smashed my PhotoReady Foundation and I never got round to buying another, but it had a huge thumbs up from me. Both give great coverage - Revlon adds a subtle shimmer with light reflecting particles, while bareMinerals gives a complete matte finish.
Full Revlon PhotoReady Foundation review click here

My favourite nail polish of 2011 was definitely the Maybelline Forever Strong Nudes collection. They may be nude colours, but they stand out and look beautiful on any hand. Plus, the formula lasts longer and doesn't chip, more than any other I have used.
Full review click here

What are your favourite products of 2011?