FAVORITE HAIR PRODUCTS

I use a good handful of hair products in my routine. It doesn't mean I'm any better at hair styling - I have incredibly fine and limp hair that is an ongoing struggle to work with - but it does allow me to keep things 'under control'. I haven't included any shampoos or conditioners in this post (mainly because I just couldn't decide), but there's still quite a few products featured so bear with me!

HAIR TREATMENTS

Moroccanoil Treatment & Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is relatively new to my routine, but I've been using it a lot and it's a much loved addition to my collection. It more or less feels the same as Moroccanoil - it's easy to spread, does not weight my hair down, and leaves it soft and smooth. Both are also great in speeding up the drying process when applied to wet hair.

Lush Roots Hair Treatment
I was a little hesitant about including this - I don't love the smell of it - but it's a great mask to help add a bit of lift and volume to fine hair like mine. The results are not drastic on initial use, but it improves when applied on a regular basis. I've heard a lot of good things about Lush Hair Treatments, if you have any recommendations, please let me know! ;)

HAIR PREP

Tresemme Keratin Smooth Heat Protection Spray

I've gone through numerous bottles of this, it's my absolute HG heat protectant spray. I'm not fussy - all I need is something that protects my hair against heat styling tools, and this does just that, at a very reasonable price. I'm also a little addicted to the smell of this stuff!

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Hairspray
Not many 'thickening' or 'volumizing' products have an effect on my fine limp hair, so I was really skeptical when I first tried this. I finished my first travel size version back in January, and have since bought the full size bottle because it actually works! I spray this to the roots of my hair while it is still wet, and after a good blow dry, my hair is instantly fuller and has more body - LOVE!

HAIR STYLING

Liese Frizz-Free Styling Milk
I picked this up randomly on my trip to Hong Kong last year. It was hot and my hair was getting all frizzy from the humidity. Liese Styling Milk tames frizziness without wearing heavy, it also helps sculpt the ends of my hair after I style it with a heating tool. It pretty much works on the same basis as a sculpting cream, but with moisturising properties!

L'oreal Elnett Satin Hairspray
I've been using this for a good couple of years now, it's perfect for holding down flyaways or keeping curls defined without feeling like there's any product there. The overall result is very natural, and it keeps my curls all day long!

THE LIPSTICK TAG

I know this tag is long gone and dusted, but I've always wanted to do it and since I'm kind of in a rut about what to post I thought I would just go for it. It's also another excuse for me to ramble on about lip products so why not! ;)

How many lipsticks do you own?

Lip products are my ultimate weakness, so I own a heck of a lot….definitely somewhere in the 3 digit mark. But hey, who's counting right?!

What was the first lipstick you owned?

I honestly cannot remember. I think one of the first official lipsticks I bought (by that I mean something not from Lip Smacker) was MAC Blankety. Absolutely terrible colour on me, but I loved it back in the day!

What is your favourite lipstick brand?

YSL hands down. The Rouge Volupte Shine range is probably my favorite lipstick formula of all time,  though Tom Ford Lip Color also holds a dear spot in my heart.

What is your most worn lipstick?

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Liberté, followed closely by YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in 12 Corail Incandescent - both had to be corals of course! Swatches can be found here.

What is you favourite finish?

Anything that has a balmy, slightly glossy finish. I crave a matte finish once in a while too.

What was the last lipstick that you bought?

Revlon Colorburst lacquer & matte balms, as seen in my previous post!

How many lip products do you currently have in your bag?

2 tinted balms, 1 gloss and 2 lipsticks. I always make sure to bring a red lipstick with me, it's kind of my 'secret weapon' when I need to jazz things up a little.

What is your favourite red lip colour?

I recently fell in love with Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy in 400, but my most worn red lipstick to date is Maybelline Red Velvet. It's on the darker side, but it applies quite sheer so you can build up the intensity to your liking.

How do you store your lipsticks?

I store the majority of my lipsticks in my The Makeup Box Shop makeup organiser unit (as pictured above). I also have 2 lipstick stands to house my high end products.

Which lipstick are you currently lusting after?

Anything from TOM FORD! I would also like to try a few more lippies from Burberry. Oh and I'm always welcome to more YSL in my collection.

If you've done this tag, let me know or put a link down below so I could drop by and have a look. And if you haven't, please do this tag! Thanks so much for reading! :D

REVLON COLORBURST LACQUER & MATTE BALM

I have never been too impressed by lip crayons/balms I've tried in the past (i.e. Clinique Chubby Stick - I know, it's me), I don't find them particularly moisturising, and the pigmentation is a real hit and miss. I honestly thought I would give Revlon Colorburst Lacquer/Matte Balms a pass, but seeing them on a buy 1 get 1 free special the other day, I decided to take the plunge. So here I go again! ;)

One of the 2 goodies I picked out is the lacquer balm, in 115 Whimsical. It's a deep, pinky purple when swatched on my dark pigmented lips, though I've seen it wear a lot lighter on other bloggers. There's a lovely shine to the finish, and despite a high amount of glitter in the bullet, it does not transfer too much when worn. Like most lipstick/lip balm hybrids, the colour applies quite sheer, but can be easily built up for more intensity. I don't find the formula very hydrating, but it's comfortable to wear and lasts about 3-4 hours on me. 

I can't find anything to fault with Whimsical, though I must admit I was not super wowed by the range so far - that is, until I decided to try the matte balm in 210 Unapologetic.

NEW SKINCARE LOVE

I can't believe a week has flown by. It's been particularly stressful at work these past couple of days, I made my first major presentation yesterday, which thankfully went very smooth - I feel like a big weight has been lifted off my shoulders! I do apologise for not being able to drop by lately, I'll be catching up very soon! ;)

Now that winter is fast approaching (for those of us who live down under), my skin is acting up again - it's breaking out, dehydrated, oily and irritated all at the same time. I have skincare staples that I go back to (see post here), but have also discovered a few new products I've been really loving recently. Some of the items featured are cult faves, so it's nothing new, if you have tried any of them let me know what you thought!

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
I only discovered this not so long ago after the range popped up at the local drugstore. I've seen Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse in a lot of blogs but never really understood what it is used for - until now. I use rose hip oil from time-to-time on my face, but this can be used all over the face and body (including cuticles), as well as on hair! It's not as thick as my usual rose hip oil either, so it's relatively easy to spread. I've been applying this on my face, elbows, knees, the ends of my hair - pretty much anywhere that needs a little added moisture - and it's been such a miracle worker. Did I also mention that I'm addicted to the smell? It's divine!

Eve Lom Dynaspot (Acne Treatment)
My longtime favourite for acne treatment has been Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. However, with my sensitive skin at the moment the formula is simply too harsh and drying. I haven't tried anything from Eve Lom, but this was highly recommended by a colleague so I thought I would give it a go. Dynaspot consists of botanical ingredients such as fennel, chamomile, tea tree oil and yarrow extracts, so the formula is relatively gentle yet still effective against unwanted blemishes. The results are not as dramatic as Mario Badescu, but it's probably the next best thing without being overly drying!

CLINIQUE CHEEK POP IN BERRY POP (03)

How cute are these new Clinique Cheek Pops? Even the name is adorable! I've always been a fan of simple, clean packaging, and Clinique gets it so right with the clear acrylic snap compact. The daisy pattern on the blush itself is simply beautiful - hence the image overload - I'm almost hesitant to ruin the design!