LookFantastic Haul ft. Benefit, Redken and Korres

I received a little performance related bonus through work a few weeks ago and as part of this I had a few pounds to spend at one of my favourite beauty sites - LookFantastic.  Along the lines of FeelUnique et al, this hub stocks a huge array of beauty products - the classics and newly hyped - with most at a reduced price compared to the RRP.  There are literally hundreds of brands and thousands of products to swoon over but these were the ones that worked their way into my basket:

Redken Extreme Anti Snap - £12.64 (RRP £18.85)

I spoke about this product way back in 2010 in my Hair Routine post and although my love affair with extensions has faded, my feelings for Anti Snap remain as strong to this day. Used post-shower after I've combed through my wet hair, this gorgeous smelling treatment helps to keep my ends in tip top condition, whilst leaving no sticky residue. For a hot tool addict like me, this is truly a holy grail product and one I will repurchase time and time again.

Korres Jasmine Lip Butter - £6.40 (RRP £8)

I have to hold my hands up here - I already have far too many lip products and definitely didn't need this but I'm a girl and have heard lots of good things about this so resistance was futile.  I was lured in by the milky finish and moisture enhancing formula and so far, it's living up to its promises. 

DUO Lash Adhesive - £7.95 (RRP £10)

After watching numerous YouTube videos, I purchased a tube of this on a whim many moons ago. What can I say?  Once you use this glue, the tiny vials you get in eyelash packs will never be the same. This stuff is of industrial strength and will ensure your lashes last the whole night, even if you don't. Try it; you won't regret it.

Tweezerman For Benefit Slant Tweezer - £19.50

I finally caved and spent £20 on a pair of tweezers. I haven't given them a whirl yet - Cara has inspired me to grow out my brows - but I am sure they will be as wonderful as everyone says they are. Fingers crossed.

Benefit Sun Beam - £19.50

Never one to get along with High Beam, I didn't think it's younger, sunkissed sister Sun Beam would work for me either. Oh, how wrong I was. This highlighter is a dream to apply, blends seamlessly and leaves the cheeks with a beautifully delicate, golden glow. Although a summer favourite to enhance bronzed features, it works just as well now my tan has faded and can tell this will be an all-year-round favourite.

Benefit They're Real - Deluxe Free Sample (Worth £9.50)

Although Benefit products aren't discounted on LF, currently when you buy any two products from the range you get a free sample of their cult mascara. I've wanted to try this for a while but I'm always a bit reluctant to splash out on new mascaras as I have a trusty MaxFactor favourite. Will this give me the eyelashes of my dreams?  I'll let you know...

Like, Love, Hate

Thank you Caz for tagging me to do this!  I thought I would use it as my first in/out sort of post. So here are the things I'm liking, loving and hating as of right now...

LIKE

RedKen Anti Snap – If I could only use one product on my hair for the rest of my life, this would be it. It has seriously made the world of difference to my hair and it smells gorgeous too.

Revlon Lipgloss in Peach Petal - I bought this a week or so ago and I have used it every day since. It is basically GOSH Darling but in a lipgloss and therefore a little bit easier to wear.

Receiving Blog Awards – I will get round to posting about them tomorrow!

Xen-Tan Deep Bronze – I've applied this twice now and I really do like it. I don't LOVE it though. It does give an amazing colour but even though I left it for 8 hours a lot of colour still rinsed off in the shower. It also stains your hands so badly and if you do mess a bit up it seems impossible to scrub off. Not HG material but I do like it. I may do a more in-depth review next week sometime.

LUSH sugar scrub - The scrub is really abrasive and left my skin so amazingly smooth. It doesn't smell all that great – slightly medicinal due to the fennel and ginger it contains but I can deal with it considering the way it made my skin feel. This costs £2.60 and I got 4 applications out of it. I would therefore definitely re-purchase for those huge body blitzes we all need now and then, especially with summer fast approaching.

LUSH Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter – This stuff is just amazing. The tiniest bit can do both hands and so £5.50 for a pot is amazing. I have also been using it on my feet over night and I wake up with soft, supple feet – what every girl needs!

Pastel Polishes – I seriously cannot get enough. Currently I have on OPI's Panda-monium Pink but this will change tomorrow I should think! I'll definitely post some NOTDs this week.

Heated Rollers – I completely forgot that I own a set of Babyliss heated rollers – how awful is that? I decided that they need some love and so I used them before I went out last night. I love how easy they make doing your hair, they take 10 minutes to pop in and then you can forget about them and do something else. No faffing around in front of the mirror for half an hour with tongs. I feel they may make a welcome return to my hair routine from now on.

Hollister – Polo shirts; lumberjack shirts; candy striped cami's; distressed denim mini skirts...enough said really. I won't be able to get away with preppy clothes for much longer so I am embracing them now. They do need to sort out the lighting in their shops though – I always manage to walk into something. And did you know the sales assistant's are auditioned to say 'Hi, what's up?' for when they greet customers? Ridiculous, no?! If they fail they get banished to stock room duties....ouch.

The L'oreal 'Scrublet' – This little baby makes my skin feel refreshed and thoroughly cleansed. The little bristles seem to work themselves into your pores and clean them deep down. I think my skin is definitely look a lot more revitalised since purchasing this bad boy.

Summer Holidays – Seeing as my trip to Crete got cancelled this week I can't wait to get some real sun this summer in France, Spain and possibly Ibiza. I now just need to update my summer wardrobe...

Being back in Manchester – I loved being at home but it is great to be back with all my friends and to feel independent again. Had a fantastic night out last night but completely forgot to take any photos so I can't do an OOTN for you...sorry guys!

LOVE

Rediscovering my old foundation routine. I'm not quite sure why I ever changed as it makes my skin look flawless. The saviours?

Nivea Young tinted moisturiser
MaxFactor Liquid Illusion foundation
GOSH Touch Up Concealer
No 7 Crème Touch powder buffed in with a kabuki

I was at my wit's end a week or so ago when no foundation seemed to sit properly on my face for more than half an hour. I then remembered this routine and swiftly when to Boots to repurchase all the products. Cue semi-matte flawless looking skin that lasts the test of time. I'm not going to bother experimenting anymore with foundations – until I get bored again.

HATE

Leggings with a top that doesn't cover the crotch area – not a good look for anybody! Especially when the leggings are basically extra thick tights and you can see a girl's underwear...come on girls sort it out!

Messy housemates – 2 hours of cleaning mess that wasn't mine? Let's just say my Friday afternoon was not an enjoyable one.

Cracked heels and unpainted toe nails – Pedicures should be free on the NHS. Why bother with pretty flip flops and gladiators if your feet ruin the look?! Argh I hate feet at the best of times!

Looming exams – I should be revising but blogging is such a welcome distraction!

Unblended eyeshadow – one of the worst beauty crimes??!

I was meant to mention 3 more but I guess I'm just in a happy place right now! No other things I'm hating at the moment...

I tag anyone who hasn't done this yet as I know it has done the rounds a bit!

xxx

Hair Routine

For a good few years now I have been obsessed with big, sexy, voluptuous hair.  I decided that my naturally wavy but perma-straightened hair was doing nothing for me and that a big, glamorous 'do' instantly made me feel happier.
Below is a picture of me around this time last year - having just had my hair attacked by a hairdresser.

Admittedly, my hair does look healthy but I just didn't feel nice.  For me, the more hair, the better.

(Excuse my attire - standard University geek night out)

It was only a few weeks after this that I realised how easily attainable the (old) Cheryl Cole look was with the use of extensions.  I always thought extensions were only for the women willing to pay thousands to have millions of pieces of hair glued in.  Cue my introduction to the beauty community and the realisation that a girl can get herself a set of clip in extensions around the £50 mark. 
Result??  Happy George with a full head of long, luscious locks!

Since then, I have hardly gone without extensions - constanstly increasing their quality from synthetic to standard human to remi.  I am also on a mission though to grow my own hair so that one day I will only need my own hair on my head.

Thus, here is my hair care routine which I carry out every other day.... Enjoy!

• I wash my hair usually with a volumising shampoo followed by a heavy duty conditioner - I have quite a lot of hair naturally so I am quite lucky as it does not get weighed down by heavy conditioners
• Towel dry and comb through then apply 2-3 pumps of Redken Anti Snap to the ends
• Spray liberally with Aussie Luscious Long Leave In Condtioner which doubles up as heat protector when blow drying                                            

• Blow dry as straight as possible, which leaves hair looking something like this i.e. an awful hybrid mess of straight and wavy

                                                       

• Spritz hair all over with a heat protectant spray - at the moment a cheapo choice from Boots
• Curl random sections with a large barrrel curling tong until whole head is done

• Add pre-curled extensions - 1 large weft at ear level; 2 smaller wefts at eye level - lighter in colour to give illusion of highlights
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

• Spray with a generous amount of hair spray and voila!
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

I actually really enjoyed doing this as the photos have proved to me how much my hair has actually grown and how my 16 inch extensions don't really make that much difference anymore?!  Time for 18 inch wefts?!  I think so!

Any questions?? Let me know in the comments! xxx