Dry hair? This is what I use...

I thought I would do a blog post on my current favourite products to combat dry hair. I used to have extremely long hair which took a lot of work to keep healthy. Now my hairs shorter, its 100 times healthier and these are the products I use to keep it silky and soft. I don't use all of these products one after another when I wash my hair, I just switch them round every so often or however I feel at the time.


REDKEN - ALL SOFT CONDITIONER

This conditioner smells of coconut and makes my hair silky soft after I've washed it. Its my normal every day conditioner but I do like to occasionally change my conditioner. Conditioners do not last me long and this bottle is quite small so I have to repurchase quite often. £11.40

TRESEMME - NATURALS

This conditioner makes my hair feel so soft. I had never tried Tresemme products before this one and I am very pleased with the results. As a plus it contains no silicone which as we all know isn't good for your hair. I have a feeling this may take the place of my Redken's conditioner as my favourite conditioner. £4.05

JOICO - K-PAK MOISTURE

This is a hair treatment used after shampooing. You leave it in your hair and then wash it out. It smells amazing and leaves my hair feeling silky. The bottle is also a really good size lasting me a long time. £13.95

AUSSIE - DUAL PERSONALITY CURL DEFINITION + SOFT FEEL SERUM

 I like to use this when I leave my hair naturally to define the curls and reduce the frizziness I sometimes get. The texture of the serum reminds me a little of the texture of Moroccanoil and I often take this on it's own on holiday when I cant take too many products. Like all Aussie products, it smells really good! £4.99

 MOROCCANOIL

 I've been using this for months now and absolutely love it. If I ever forget to apply this, I feel a difference in my hair. It an orange oil and I find that 1-2 pumps is enough for my hair. I like to apply this to my hair when it is damp after I've washed it, but occasionally I apply a little when its dry day to day. Personally I love the smell, which I know isn't for everyone. £30.45

ORGANIC ROOT STIMULATOR - OLIVE OIL

 I bought this on a whim when I was absolutely desperate to find anything that could sort out my dry straw-like hair. Its a thick pale green cream that smells of olive oil (surprise surprise). Olive oil has been known to improve elasticity and hydration to the hair. It's such a fantastic product that I'm so surprised its not more well known in the blogging world and Youtube. £4.90

AUSSIE - DUAL PERSONALITY ANTI-FRIZZ + CONDITIONING MILK

This conditioning milk I like to mix with the previous Aussie serum above. It controls my curls and also helps to define them, reducing the frizziness. I can feel it also has a hold (rather like a hairspray) which hold my curls in place. £4.99

V05 - MIRACLE MIST

This miracle mist sprays evenly over the hair (unlike some sprays that just targets its spray in one area). Its really light and I don't feel as though I'm piling products into my hair. I spray it on when my hair is dry (but you can use it when it's wet too). £4.39

• All bought from either Feel Unique or Boots

NUXE PARIS: Rêve de Miel, Ultra-nourishing Lip Balm Review

I saw this lip balm going around on Youtube and many people have said how fantastic it is. I have a couple of Nuxe products which are lovely so I thought I'd try it out!

Firstly I should probably give you a little bit of information regarding the state of my lips generally.

I suffer from ridiculously dry lips due to a mix of Eczema and just a complete lack of hydration. All year round they split at the sides (gross I know) and flake constantly. I have gotten completely fed up of products promising to hydrate and smooth out lips when they don't help at all. Normally, I use vaseline or a Burts Bees lip balm which seem to temporarily hydrate my lips. 

After the first few times of using this lip balm my lips felt instantly different. The soreness and flakiness has gone! My lips feel soft and hydrated, so I'm really pleased with this product. I've found myself less and less needing to moisturise my lips during the day and enjoying more wearing lipstick.

Appearance/Smell

The lip balm has a strong citrus-orange\grapefruit smell and it has a thick solid-like consistency that when applied forms a milky clear layer thicker than a normal lip balm (therefore I recommend applying at night time). The pot is made out of glass.

It costs £9.50 for a pot that contains 15g of product. I've barely made a dent in mine after using it for nearly a month now, so I think it will last me a long time. I would really recommend anyone with dry chapped lips to try this out.

• 'This concentrated formula helps nourish, repair, soothe and protect lips (Honey, Plant Oils, Shea Butter, Grapefruit Essence)' (quote from the box).
• 80.2% of the ingredients  of natural origin.
• It also says on the box that this product has been tested in the extremely cold conditions in Canada.
• £9.50 - 15g.
• Link to purchasing it on Feel Unique

The Core Collection from Real Techniques

It is a set of 4 brushes that are used for the face.

The contour brush - which is a small domed shape fluffy brush used for blush and to contour.
The detailer brush - which is a tiny brush that can be used for concealer or lipstick.
The buffing brush - which is a highly compact flat brush which can be used for mineral/power foundation.
The pointed foundation brush - which is made to be used with liquid foundation and/or concealer.

Firstly I wish the brushes that come in the collections were also sold separately because I didn't necessarily want to buy one or more brushes within the collection, but had to buy it for the brushes I did want.

• The detailer brush is meant to be used for concealer, when I use it, it doesn't apply the concealer in the same way that other concealer brushes do. Its so small that it takes such a long time to get a coverage, especially under the eyes. When I've used this brush for the lips, its alright but not defined enough at the ends for the edges of the lips.

• The contour brush, I solely use to contour my cheek bones and it perfectly fits in the hollows of my cheeks. This is one of my favourite brushes in the collection. It can also be used to apply a little blush onto the cheeks.

• The pointed foundation brush I have used about four times and have been really disappointed with it. Its too small and not compact enough for me to use as a foundation brush because it takes even longer to apply it and just feels cheaply made and as though its going to fall apart any minute. This is the most disappointing brush from the collection.

• The buffing brush which I use everyday to apply my liquid foundation is amazing! I would buy this collection just for this brush. It's so soft and buffs my foundation into the skin so well and I don't know how I survived without this brush before!

• The case they come in is quite useful. Its quite compact and ideal for travelling, there are also spaces for other makeup brushes. It can be used as a stand (which I haven't tried) but seems like a good idea if you didn't have anywhere to store your brushes. 

• Link to main post on Real Techniques
• Link to previous post on The Stippling Brush & The Blush Brush from Real Techniques
• Link to previous post on The Powder Brush from Real Techniques
• You can buy the make-up brushes from Boots (if you're in the UK), or Real Techniques Website