Percy & Reed No-Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo

Happy Jubilee Monday! Whilst everyone is enjoying this long bank holiday weekend here I am bringing some grump to my blog. Apologies but it has to be done!

Now I hate starting the week on a bad note and I'm not one to blog about products I don't like. If I don't like them or find them so so then I won't mention them - that is unless something that really stands out in the water as being rubbish. So rubbish the world needs to know about it's rubbishness.

Today's victim is the Percy and Reed No-Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo. I picked this up from Space. NK and you can get a small hand bag size can for £4 or a full sized one for £12. Being a sucker for all things dry shampoo I figured that the £4 can was a great way to try out an expensive dry shampoo without forking out the entire price, it also meant I had one to carry around in my handbag. Perfect. I eid the usual check with the sale assistant 'Is it invisible', 'Does it smell okay', 'Will it leave my hair feeling really gritty'. I got the green light from all my questions and went ahead with the purchase. 

Off I trundled home excited to try out this new dry shampoo wondering if this could even become a new HG product. After giving the can a good old shake I proceeded with spraying it into my hair. What I was not expecting to be met with was pretty much bright white hair. Okay I may be exaggerating a little bit but this dry shampoo did not just dull my hair or make it a bit grey, it full on made it white. I thought this was impossible, shook the can again and tried again. No such luck. I even went to the point of doing the hand test - and there you have it. A white circle.

Percy & Reed you let me down! For a new haircare brand I thought at least you would have got this right. Needless to say I will not be buying the bigger bottle and the mini can has gone straight in the bin. Batiste get back in my life!

My Week In Pictures

Happy Jubilee weekend! I am a true Brit and the festivities have taken over and I am like a kid at Christmas! We got Jubilee hats and scones at work on Friday to get us into the spirit and today I have been spending it with friends celebrating the queen and using any excuse to eat more scones! This week has been my last week working in London (sob). Am off to Bournemouth next week hopefully with some sun =) Also did something rather exciting today! If you follow me on Twitter @girlbeautyblog and Instagram @girlbeautyblog you will have already seen but I've gone blonde! Not full on blonde but lighten my hair to a honey light brown/blonde. I am really happy with it and have talked about doing it forever and finally taken the plunge!




1. Who knew my local pharmacy had such treasures!
2. Hair saviours for big volume
3. Cheeky online order
4. Skincare shelf after a bit of a change up
5. Ciate nail polishes with Marie Claire
6. Jubilee excitment at work
7. Scones!
8. Getting into the spirit with the Ciate Caviar Manicure Red, White and Blue
9. Leaving party makeup
10. Jubilee nails
11. Getting my hair did!
12. Blonder :D

Hope you have a great bank holiday weekend!

May Favourites

It's favourites time again! I quite like doing these favourite posts and it's nice to see what I have been loving from time to time and also to show some love to some great products.

1. Gucci Flora Gorgeous Gardenia. I have been pretty obsessed with perfume! It is such a lovely light, floral and fruity fragrance that I just can't get enough of it.
2. Batiste Lace* - this has quickly become my new favourite Batiste can as it is a clear dry shampoo that has a delicious fragrance. That's a Batiste winner for me! My review of this can be found here.
3. Osis Texture Dust It Mattifying Powder* (review here) is a favourite from last month that I am still loving. This texture dust adds instant volume that has been great with my shorter hair.
4. MAC Fix +. With the weather getting warmer and summer looking like its on its way this has been a saviour to stop my makeup from looking cakey. Although it can be seen as just glorified water I find it really helps my makeup to look fresh and more natural.
5. Origins Drink Up Intensive mask (review here) is just amazing. If you don't have it in your life and part of your skin care routine do so now. This mask is great to add extra hydration to your skin and leaves my face glowing in the morning.
6. Caudalie Beauty Elixir.  I am almost half way through this beauty water and although I haven't done a review of it (as there are already loads around the bloggersphere) I have been loving using it. I carry it around my handbag to spitz on after the commute to work. It has skin care benefits whilst calming my skin (and myself!) down. I also like to keep this in the fridge to cool down my skin in the warmer days.
7. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Serum. I haven't had this serum very long but I love it! I don't know whether my mind is imagining things but I swear it makes my hair appear thicker! I have been applying this night and day and a full review will be up on my blog soon.
8. MAC Prep+Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer in Neutralize. This is another favourite from last month and a product that I have been using every day. I don't get along amazingly with the Benefit Porefessional but this primer I do. It balances out any redness in my skin and also has a pretty decent helping on SPF 35.
9. Pai Bergamot Lip Balm (review here). This is the best lip balm that I have found in a long while. It is moisturising whilst not being greasy and really hydrates your lips.
10. Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Colour in Peach Whisper. This is a matte soft peach blusher that is the most stunning colour. It has been my go to blush this month and can see it being the same next month!
11. Laura Mercier Lip Glacé in Bare Naked. Perfection in a lipgloss! Nothing more can be said! (Review and swatches here).

There we have it! My May favourites. What have you been loving this month? Any stand out products you can't live without?

Also it has to be said - 4 DAY WEEKEND! I am very excited! During this weekend I will be going blond and moving to Bournemouth! Eep! I also really want to go see the big fleet of boats down by the Thames and do some other ridiculously British things =) Hope you all have an amazing bank holiday weekend and the weather stays nice!

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If you enjoy reading my blog it would mean the world to me if you could nominate me for the Cosmo blog award under the category Best New Beauty Blog. You can nominate here

Boudoir Lashes - Update

I have now had my Boudoir Lashes* lash extensions for 4 weeks and 2 days. My original post on the process of getting lash extensions and how they initially looked can be found here. I was going to do an update post at 2 weeks but my lashes looked no different from when I first got them done! My lashes are still looking in great condition and I am getting comments on how amazing my lashes look 4 weeks on. I have lost a couple of lashes now, more so on my left eye then my right eye as that's the side I sleep on at night!

Left Eye

Right Eye

Both Eyes!

I haven't experienced any problems with the lash extensions and haven't noticed any problems with my natural lashes. I am still being careful when removing makeup and try to avoid getting water on them. I am probably being over cautious but the better you look after them the longer they will last! When I first got the extensions I completely avoided any type of eyemakeup. I have now worn some with the lash extensions but I go for a much more natural look as I think with the extensions your eyes already look quite dramatic.

When I have been wearing eyemakeup this is the process I follow to help prevent the extensions from getting damaged. I pop a cotton wool bud into  some Bioderma and use the bud to remove the eyemakeup. This removes any makeup quickly and effectively and prevents you from rubbing at the lash extensions. I have already debated getting my extensions filled in before I go to Bournemouth but sadly time is working against me at the moment! Alongside looking great these extensions have been a lifesaver in the mornings as it now takes me 5-10 minutes at a push to do my makeup. Anything that gives you an extra 10 minutes in bed in the morning is a must in my book!

Have you tried eyelash extensions before? Would you consider getting some?

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If you enjoy reading my blog it would mean the world to me if you could nominate me for the Cosmo blog award under the category Best New Beauty Blog. You can nominate here

GHD Ceramic Ventred Radial Brush in Size 3

Who knew hairbrushes could have such technical and long names? Try saying that quickly 6 times in a row ;) The GHD Ceramic Ventred Radial Brush in size 3* is a large barrelled brush that is best for blow-drying longer hair. This brush comes in 4 sizes ranging from small to large with 4 being the largest. Now I no longer have long hair and I don't put any effort into blow-drying my hair (unless you call me expertly throwing my head upside as effort :P) but as soon as I see a big barrelled brush images of glamorous and voluminous hair comes into my mind and I find myself coming round with said product in my hands!

The GHD Ceramic Ventred Radial Brush* retains heat to allow your hair to be dried quicker. GHD advise you blast your hair with a hair-dryer until it is about 80% dry and then using medium sections, place the brush at the root area and focus the heat from your dryer directly at the barrel of the brush. Work this through out hair and voila instant blow dried perfection! Now I don't know about you but even with short hair that sounds like too much of a faff. The Vidal Sassoon Ultimate Styler* (review here) has become my new goto buddy for easily and quickly blow-drying my hair. Instead I love using this brush to create move root lift through my hair by brushing through any products I have spritzed into my hair. This works perfectly and I find the big barrel means I am able to work through my hair quickly whilst creating a lot of volume.

In hindsight a smaller barrel would probably be better for my hair as it is now shorter and because I have fine hair - however I am still in the mindset that bigger is better! This GHD brush can be bought directly from the GHD website for £17.50)

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If you enjoy reading my blog it would mean the world to me if you could nominate me for the Cosmo blog award under the category Best New Beauty Blog. You can nominate here

Naked Skincare

I have recently been trying out the Naked Skincare range. They are a 97% natural range that are very reasonably priced and can be bought directly from their website which can be found here or from Superdrug. I have been using the Perfect Getaway Cream Cleanser* (£4.49), Up Tone Girl Toner* (£4.49) and Bare Faced Cheek Softening Face Wash* (£4.49). I got a little bit OCD when it came to trying out this skincare range to ensure that I gave it a thorough testing and didn't cheat with any of my other products! My skincare routine for the past couple of weeks has been the following:

AM
I use the Perfect Getaway Cleanser* to remove any grime from my nights sleep. I then tone my skin with the Up Tone Girl Toner*, spritz on some Caudalie Beauty Elixir and pop on my La Roche Posay Effaclar M moisturiser.

PM
In the evening I have been using the Perfect Getaway Cleanser* again to remove my makeup, followed by the Bare Faced Cheek Face Wash* and a muslin cloth to cleanse my skin. I then use the Up Tone Girl Toner* again, spritz on some Caudalie Beauty Elixir and moisturise with my Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser in Light*. I have also been using my Origins Drink Up Intensive mask a couple of times during the week for some added hydration (have I said I love this mask enough times yet :P).

My skin has recently been (as I like to say a lot!) an angry teenager. I have had a lot of spots and a number of bumps on my forehead that just did not want to disappear. I don't know what was causing this mini eruption but this skincare overall with the Naked Skincare line has seemed to have solved the problem! All the little bumps have pretty much gone and I only have a couple of spots left they are on their way out. They say you should change your cleanser every 6 months so maybe my skin just needed a bit of a change. I have also been more careful with what I eat, drinking less alcohol and I have been taking fish oil tablets and vitamins again. A mixture of all this has made my skin behave a lot better! It's very true whatever you put inside your body is a direct reflection on what's on your face.

Onto the products themselves. I have been loving using the Perfect Getaway Cream Cleanser*. It is a white cream that you don't need to use with water and I apply a decent 50p size onto a cotton wool pad and wipe it all over my face until clean. This cleanser is really cooling and is great in the warmer weather. It contains aloe vera to sooth and hydrate the skin and ginseng to add radiance. It smells really refreshing and I've loved it so much that I haven't even missed using my Clarins Water Purify One Step Cleanser in the mornings. Now that's saying something!


The Up Tone Girl Gentle Toner* (which by the way what an awesome name!) contains witch hazel to condition and tone the skin. This is a really nice toner, nothing too special or stand out in my books but it does the job well and really refreshes my skin.

Last but not least is the Bare Faced Cheek Softening Face Wash*. This cleanser contains rose to smooth the skin and is a clear gel cleanser that once mixed with water goes creamy. Because you wait for it to go creamy I find that I spend longer washing my face which means I end up cleaning my face better. I do find this product leaves my skin feeling a little bit dry after using it but after toning and moisturising its soon back to normal.

Overal I have loved using this range and considering how affordable it is you get really great quality products! I can see myself using the Perfect Getaway Cream Cleanser* instead of my Clarins cleanser in the summer mornings which I never thought would happen! I have also been using this instead of any micellar waters in the evening. Naked Skincare welcome to my skincare routine =)

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If you enjoy reading my blog it would mean the world to me if you could nominate me for the Cosmo blog award under the category Best New Beauty Blog. You can nominate here

Philip Kingsley Maximizer Review

For the past few weeks I have been trying out the Philip Kingsley Maximizer (£13.20). After seeing it on Laura's blog and after hearing great things about the Philip Kingsley brand I knew I had to give it a try. The Maximizer is a spray that you put on after washing your hair to give volume to fine hair. This spray claims to create body and bounce whilst adding control and shine. One thing I especially like about this spray is that it contains UV protection which helps to prolong the life of colour treated hair (which mine has been for quite a while!)

I apply this after I have washed and towel dried my hair. Once my hair is damp I section through my hair with a comb and spray the Maximizer a couple of times directly at the roots. Once finished I then spritz a couple of times throughout the lengths of my hair and then head for the hair dryer. After blow drying my hair (which usually involves my head upside down and me wishing for volume!) I noticed that this spray does add more volume to my hair. The Maximizer gives the appearance of more lift at the roots and my hair doesn't lie so flat. Yes this isn't a miracle 'instant back-combed' finish but I find this product does help to add more volume and give my hair more life. You don't get the feeling of any product build up and it helps to give more texture and hold when styling.

You can buy this directly from the Philip Kingsley website or I picked up mine in Fenwick near Regent Street. Have you tried this spray before? What is your favourite hair volumising product?

If you enjoy reading my blog it would mean the world to me if you could nominate me for the Cosmo blog award under the category Best New Beauty Blog. You can nominate here