Wednesday 27 November 2013

L'oreal Micellar Water



Hi everyone!

I'll be honest, this was a band wagon I was not up for jumping on. Everyone went crazy for this and I was seeing blog reviews here, there and everywhere but it just never interested me. I think I never trusted that a water could actually take my make up off properly. That is until one day I was out shopping when I saw this in Superdrug for about £2 something so I thought I would give it a go and actually, i'm glad I did.

I feel like this is an upgrade from make up wipes, I use this soaked into cotton pads and it takes my make up off with 2-3 pads including eyes. I still feel like it's not as deep a cleanse as my usual Cetaphil cleanser but I love using this when i've come in from a night out or I just can't be bothered. I have super sensitive skin and this is absolutely fine for me, I don't get any irritation from this even on my eyes.

For the price this really is pretty good and I would recommend it to replace make up wipes in the can't be bothered times. I will continue to use my cleanser day to day but maybe this would be perfect for those of you that wear a lighter foundation than me and my double wear!

Have you tried this? Do you think it's worth the hype?

Emily xxx

Saturday 23 November 2013

Instagram!

Hey guys!

Just a super quick post to let you know I finally have Instagram! It's the same name as my blog so search for emilykebeauty if you fancy a look. Also leave your Instagram links below so I can get following some more accounts!

Emily xxx



Wednesday 20 November 2013

Lush | Candy Mountain



I love Lush and I love Christmas. So basically Lush Christmas products are just my idea of heaven. I love all the cute products they come out with, penguins and snowmen and all things sparkly. I honestly could spend so much money in Lush, every time I have a bath I use a Lush product. When the sales start after Christmas I will be straight there to stock up on Christmas products to last me through at least a few months. There will be withdrawal symptoms by next Christmas..

So onto the product I'll be telling you about, 'candy mountain'. If you love the smell of the snow fairy shower gel as much as I do (think pear drops and all things sweet) you will love this, it smells exactly the same. Candy mountain is a bubble bar which basically is a solid version of bubble bath I suppose, you can either swirl it around in the bath or hold it under the tap. I find the second option works a lot, lot better. The picture above is when I swirled it around in the bath, as you can see there's not all that many bubbles. However hold it under the tap and you will be left with masses of sweet smelling, shimmery bubbles to relax in.

I've used this for 3 baths now and I still have more than half left so it's amazing value for just £2.65. I will definitely be re-purchasing this and will be continuing to use it in all my baths! I've also got a few other Christmas products from Lush to get using so no doubt there will be reviews up and coming for those!

What are your favourite Christmas products from Lush?

Emily xxx

Thursday 14 November 2013

Tartan + fur




Hey everyone!

Just a quick OOTD post, I thought I would show you what I wore today because i'm quite in love with my new skirt and furry cardigan! I've had the day off so i've spent it with my dad doing a bit of shopping, having some lunch and getting my blood taken, oh the joys!

After the bbloggers chat last week I decided I didn't have enough tartan in my wardrobe so when I saw this skirt I literally had to have it! I love that it's not your typical skater skirt, it's a pleated one. It is a petite one and i'm taller than average so must be worn with super thick tights ha! This cardigan has been on my wishlist ever since I saw it but my local Primark, along with lots of others I hear, is always out of stock in the black colour. So when I went in and saw 3 left I had to get it!

T-shirt | Missguided months ago
Necklace | Primark £4
Skirt | New Look £16.99
Cardigan | Primark £10/12
Fur lined tights | Primark £3.50
Chelsea boots | H&M £24.99

It's also on lookbook if you fancy a look on there ;)

Emily xxx

Tuesday 12 November 2013

The hair story! Tips for long & healthy hair



So as you may notice from the pictures above, my hair has changed a lot over the past four years! I've gone through a fair few different colours, lengths and styles before ending up where I am now with fairly long bleach blonde hair. My hair is not in the best condition at all but I am really trying to care for it more and improve it's condition. So I've teamed up with Viviscal to bring you some top tips for caring for your hair and helping to grow long, luscious locks!

(feel free to have a laugh at the contrast between my true ghosty pale and the fake bisto gravy tan)
Now this is going to be a rather long post, but the more tips to long, healthy hair the better! To start off I have treated you to a big collage of my hair across the past four years, including some rather atrocious photos. The first photo is my natural hair colour, it actually looks darker in this picture but is a mousy brown colour. We then travel through four years of hair changes to the last three photos which are very recent ones of my hair now.

''Hair is one of the first things we notice about each other, with a whopping 150,000 hairs on our head it can be difficult to control all of these and ensure that they are in the best condition. Therefore, here are some tips to help maintain healthy hair and keep your confidence at an all-time high!''

Image from Google

Split ends. I'm pretty sure at least 99% of you reading this will have had split ends at some point in your life. I have had split ends ever since my early teens when I would straighten my hair 24/7 and the straighter the better was totally cool. I find it funny how I used to straighten and squash it down flat as much as I could and now I will put 5 volumising products plus a fair bit of back combing in my hair to make it big. How times change! Whilst I care for my hair a lot more now, I still have a few split ends from the bit of damage I do give my hair.

''In all honesty, the only way to repair split ends is to get them chopped off! There are three types of split ends, the generic type, the hairs that have multiple splits on the same strand and the type that have a split further up where there is a hole in the strand. For all of these, cutting about a quarter of an inch above the first split on the hair will give your hair the chance to continue growing healthily. Although, this may not be as easy at is sounds so it is best to consult with your hairdresser for the most effective amount to chop off.
Once you have said goodbye to the split ends you have a nice clean pallet to work from and let your healthy hair growth begin!''


hair stuff | via Tumblr
Image from weheartit

Heat damage. Unless you've been living in the jungle/under a rock all your life, you will know about heat tools and how much damage they can cause. To be honest, I've never been one for hair drying my hair. I will always let it dry overnight unless I have to wash it in the morning and i'm going out, which honestly saves so much damage. As I said, in my teens I would straighten my hair almost every day. I've laid off the straighteners a lot nowadays and mainly only use straighteners or curlers when I go for a night out or somewhere I particularly want to look nice. I have to wear my hair up for work, which in a way i'm grateful for because it saves me a lot of heat damage!

''These are beautifully disguised weapons of war against your locks! The way they cause this irreversible damage is by overheating the cuticle causing it to break. The cuticle is the outer layer of the hair that is there to protect the inner layer, the cortex, which is made up of proteins. The cortex is what gives your hair the strength it needs to growth and once this is exposed, it soaks up moisture in the air. From this, it will frizz and eventually break off completely.
One way that you can wean away from the heat is to let your hair dry naturally after washing. Hair dryers evaporate the moisture from your hair leaving it dry and more prone to breakage, so try washing it the night before and tying it up in a bun. In the morning your hair will feel nourished and full of life, over time the condition will continue to show remarkable results!
Also, try turning the temperature down on your hairdryer, curlers or straighteners. Whether your hair is thin and brittle or course and thick, the temperature you use can really affect your hairs vitality. If your styling tools have heat setting, then turn these down to the lowest temperature, you’ll still be able to style your hair and be able to gage how hot is too hot.
One way to help this is to use heat protecting spray, it  will give your hair an extra barrier from the scorching temperatures so be sure give yourself a little spritz after washing!''



<3 / color ♥
Image from weheartit

Chemicals. As i'm sure you can tell from my almost white blonde hair, yes I do bleach my hair. In the earlier photos as my hair started to gradually get lighter I just used Clairol Nice N' Easy hair dyes, but as I decided I wanted even blonder hair I delved into the scary world of bleach. At first I used box bleach, the Schwarzkopf one in the lightest possible shade, but as I realised how bad this was for my hair I started getting it done at the salon. I also now only bleach my roots and keep the rest looking fresh with purple shampoo. Whilst I know how damaging bleach is for my hair, I just absolutely love having super blonde hair. Hopefully one day I will decide I want golden blonde, but for now I'm going to continue being a bit naughty and keep my bleached hair.

'' Bleaching our hair can be just as detrimental as heat tool addiction – if not worse. So I’m afraid that if you want those Goldy Locks then you need to ensure that you find the right shade that isn’t going to singe your hair off. The best way to do this is to ask your hairdresser for their recommendation for your individual shade and hair type.
To give bleached hair an extra hand, why not try leaving in a deep conditioning treatment to set over night. This will give your hair time to rejuvenate and you’ll wake up feeling pampered with rehydrated hair!''



Fruits
Image from weheartit

Diet. I'll be honest, this topic is one I knew nothing about. Of course I knew that your diet can affect your hair, but I didn't know any of the details. I'm the fussiest person ever so trying to be healthy is quite a task for me and being allergic to nuts and having a phobia of fish straight away cancels some of these straight tips out. But I've learnt something from these and will be trying my best to be at least a tinier bit more hair healthy!

''What you put in your body reflects in your skin, nails, eye and hair. Maintaining a healthy diet will help your hair become stronger and full of life. This is because hair is made up of a protein called keratin and amino acids, so the more protein and nutrients you put in – the fuller and more voluptuous your hair will be! Some foods that are perfect for your hair are;
Lean meat – as one of the best sources of protein available, lean meant will give your hair some serious strength and protection! 
Eggs – these are wondrous little shells of hair goodness. Eggs contain biotin (which you’ll often find on the back of you shampoo bottle!) which is what gives your hair a shiny, healthy glow.
Oily fish – these are full of the acids needed to give your hair a boost. Salmon, mackerel, oysters and the likes are all perfect for hair growth; they also contain protein and vitamin D to grow stronger hair that is less likely to break.
Nuts and seeds – these help to protect the follicles at the root of the hair meaning that your hair has the best head start to grow lusciously long.
Fruit and veg – these are some serious hair heroes! Broccoli, spinach, bananas, kiwi’s and all kinds of other a healthy fruit and veg are packed full of minerals to give your hair a great bounce and fill you up with the minerals needed to get you through the day!''


Image from weheartit

Stress. Stress is a major cause of hair loss and of course everyone, no matter to what scale, has stressful times. So whether it's a huge problem or you're just having a stressful day, do what you can to relax and stay calm. When i'm stressed I love nothing more than a bath with a nice Lush bath bomb and giving myself a facial massage. Facial massage is super easy to do and i'm sure there must be a few videos on YouTube. It really does relax you and give you some time out to refresh, I can't recommend it enough!

''Did you know that stress is the number one cause of hair loss for women?  This is because it causes your hair to enter its third stage of development early meaning that it is ready to shed. Whilst we can magically diffuse the stress points in your life, here are a few tips to help stop you tearing your hair out (literally!);
Take time to relax and unwind - having some you time to yourself can work wonders, so take some away from the world and have an evening to yourself. Baths are a perfect way to restore calm and relaxation to your muscles after a long day!
Go for a run - it’s amazing how much good a bit of fresh air in your lungs can do. Not only will it get the blood pumping round your body and allow you to take a fresh look on things once you’ve had some happy endorphins following around your body.
Spend time with friends – spending some time having fun and forgetting about lifes worries is essential. It doesn’t matter how much work you have on, you need to take a break and have a good time with friends. Not only will this make you feel 10 times better, but it will more than likely improve your work and communication skills!''


''So, whether you want hair as long as Rapunzel or a take the chop and go short, we hope these tips will leave you with a mane that makes you feel great inside with everyday being a great hair day! For more information about hair loss and hair growth visit Viviscal’s website for expert advice. ''

I hope you found out something you didn't know from reading this, I certainly did! Hair care is so important and I just wish I realised this at a younger age. For now, I will continue on my journey of trying to rectify the damage and get super luscious, healthy hair!

Emily xxx

Monday 11 November 2013

MAC paint pot; bare study






Rewind 2 months and there I was making four orders from four different beauty websites. Oops..

The most exciting of those orders was of course, my MAC order. I purchased a few lipsticks alongside this paint pot, which has been raved about rather a lot in blogging world. I've been lusting after paint pots for a while, but always seem to cut them out of my basket when I know I shouldn't be spending so much (the lipsticks always win). But this time, I decided to go for something different and finally order one.

For my first paint pot I wanted something I would use a lot. This colour is just perfect. It's a shimmery champagney colour that I can use either on it's own, as above, or as a base to keep my eyeshadow in place.

For day to day eyeshadow, I use my cheaper e.l.f. primer, but when I'm off out and want more staying power I will always reach for this. It's the perfect base colour as it's neutral so it won't affect the colour of my eyeshadows and it really does help my eyeshadow stay on all night.

For the days when I can't be bothered or i'm in a rush (9am staff meetings on a sunday), this is super quick and easy to just throw on with my finger. It is very similar to my skin tone but not so much that it looks weird or washes me out. It just adds a nice shimmer and hides any redness on my lids.

Overall, I love this and will definitely be looking into purchasing some more colours. It's super easy to apply, stays put and helps my shadow stay put and doesn't crease at all. A big thumbs up from me!

What do you think of the MAC paint pots?

Emily xxx

Wednesday 6 November 2013

Wishlist: Cute and cosy pyjamas


This post may reveal my true levels of childishness.

Pug slippers | £10.99 New Look here
Red onesie | £15.99 New Look here
My Little Pony slippers | £22 River Island here
Penguin pyjamas | £26 Topshop here
Monster onesie | £34 Topshop here
My Little Pony pyjama jumper | £25 River Island here
Christmas pug onesie | £28 River Island here
Furry lamb slippers | £13 River Island here

I am such a hoarder when it comes to pyjamas. I have two very large drawers full of pyjamas jam packed and squeezed in to the very max, yet they still don't fit. This is also after a huge clear out a couple of months ago when I got rid of about half a bin bag full of pyjamas.. Yet I will still buy pair after pair because 'they're adorable and I can snuggle up in them and they have My Little frickin' Pony on them!!?!'

I think it's something to do with the fact that they allow me to wear cute, ridiculous, furry, patterened clothes with my favourite childrens characters whilst still being borderline acceptable. So above I have made a selection of my favourite PJs I've spotted about the internet that will definitely be on my Christmas list this year.

Which item is your favourite? Are you a pyjama obsessive?

Emily xxx

Monday 4 November 2013

E.l.f.matte lip colours; coral and natural


  Hey everyone!

A couple of months ago I went a bit mad on the e.l.f. website and my favourite items from that purchase were these 'matte lip colours'. Give me a matte, super pigmented lip colour and I am all over it. So at just £3.75 each these went straight in my basket!

These have a lovely, creamy formula and go straight onto the lips without the need to build up the colour. As you can see in the above picture, they are more like a chunky lip liner than a lipstick. Whilst I do find this handy for getting a smooth outline, it does take a few seconds longer to apply (lazy me). They last a pretty long time with the need for a touch up only once or twice throughout the day.

The only downside to these is that they can be slightly drying and will cling a bit to dry patches. However, plenty of lip balm before and after using this works well for me and if I do have dry lips I just avoid them for a few days.



The first of the two colours I bought is 'natural'. For me this is the perfect nude, I hate concealer type lip colours and ones that are too brown. I much prefer pink toned nudes and this is just the perfect shade for me. I love throwing this on when I can't be bothered for the upkeep of a darker or brighter colour but I still want something on my lips.





The second colour I bought is 'coral' which is well, a coral colour. It's not too bright and still a fairly natural coral, again good for days when I can't be bothered with a dark lipstick. When I bought these I thought that 'natural' would be my favourite and even debated getting a different colour instead of this one. However, this one is definitely my favourite, I feel like it suits me well and I love wearing it.

Overall, if you don't suffer with dry lips and you're happy to up the lip balm applications, I would really recommend these.

Emily xxx