June beauty favourites

June has just gone, and I discovered a few new beauty products in the last couple of months that I wanted to give a little shout-out about in a feature here on the blog.

The last beauty favourites post I did was in the end of March (you can read it here), and with it turning out to be really popular I’ve decided to make these features recurrent. I’ve had plenty of time to test some new products since Spring, so without further ado, let me present to you my June beauty favourites!

There are a total of 7 beauty products featured this month, but let’s start with the products for body and hair…

Herbal Essences Dry Shampoo Uplifting Volume

I kept getting tired of dry shampoos like Batiste that gives you really matte and dull looking hair due to the white powder they use in their products. The dry shampoo by Herbal Essences is nothing like that! When you spray it on it almost feels wet, but when having massaged it into your scalp and brushed through your hair, your hair simply looks clean and fresh, without the powdered look. The dry shampoo still gives you a volume boost though (just like Batiste does), and it smells amazing!

Whitetobrown Exfoliate

This product was really designed to be used in combination with a fake tan lotion to prepare your skin for an even tan, but it obviously works just as well as a normal exfoliator. It’s a sweet almond scrub that smells delicious, and it leaves your skin really soft and smooth. I also tend to use it on my hands when I’m preparing my nails and cuticles for a new week of nail polish.

Fake Bake Original Self Tanning Lotion

When I first tried the self tanning lotion from Fake Bake I was shocked! It was almost black!

But I needn’t have worried. I’ve not used a lot of fake tans before, but the ones I have tried have been cheap and I always end up with a streaky or uneven colour. The dark brown colour you get when applying the Fake Bake lotion is simply an indication colour so that you can see exactly where, and how even, you have applied it. Brilliant! This washes off in the shower the next day, but you still end up with a nice and natural looking tan. 

Unlike most fake tans that look a bit orange, I believe Fake Bake must have a tiny bit of green pigments in it to stop this from happening. It’s the most natural fake tan I’ve ever used, and the indication colour made it so easy to apply it. I can definitely recommend it, and at the moment you can get this otherwise quite expensive product at less than half prize from JustMyLook.

On to the face products, and I’ve got a mix of makeup, skin care, and makeup remover.

Bronzing Powder by H&M

A really random one, I know! But I’ve tried so many bronzing powders from various makeup brands, and they always turn out to be too orange, too red, too pink, too heavy, or too glittery.

I find the bronzing powder from H&M to be just the right colour. It’s a neutral brown, with just the right amount of sparkle. I’m not saying it’s the best one quality wise, cause it probably has nothing on other professional makeup brands, but it is by far the best colour!

Nutriganics™ Smoothing Eye Cream

I’ve not really given much thought to eye creams before, but I’ve just used whatever really. However, during my last shopping haul at The Body Shop I took the time to speak to one of the experts in store about what eye cream to use, and she recommended the smoothing eye cream from their organic range. I’m not really showing signs of ageing yet, but it’s good to use a cream like this in order to prevent fine lines showing up. It’s a really smooth yet light cream that feels nice on my skin. It’s also suitable for sensitive skin.

Camomile Waterproof Eye & Lip Make Up Remover

Another fantastic product from The Body Shop that has really impressed me is the Camomile Waterproof Make Up Remover. What can I say? It’s just perfect! As a heavy makeup user I simply use this on my eyes before washing the rest of my face at night. I start by dabbing some water on my eyes first, then hold a cotton pad with a bit of makeup remover on my eyes for about 10 seconds. Wipe once, and tadaa! Not a trace of makeup left – not even that stubborn waterproof eyeliner! It’s a must-have! The Camomile is really gentle, and it doesn’t irritate your eyes one bit.

All In One Instablur Eye

You know how your eyeshadows sit in the creases of your eyes after a day at work… Well, not with this little beauty from The Body Shop! This primer works both as a base for your eyeshadow, as well as smoothes out your fine lines around the eye for a flawless look. The yellow colour also neutralises the redness around the eye so that you get a perfect base to start with when applying your makeup. However, you can really see a difference when using it on its own without any makeup as well. It’s a great little find, and I’m so glad that I convinced myself to get it.

A tourist outfit in Amsterdam

A month ago we spent the bank holiday weekend in Amsterdam - a mere hour on the flight from Leeds, meaning it's quicker to get there than it is to get to London! I don't know why I've never taken the chance to go before with it being so close, and I'm so glad we went.

So, what to wear when touristing in Amsterdam?

With Amsterdam being a city built on hundreds of canals it would be hard to get anywhere other than on foot, so I knew I had to wear super comfy shoes suitable for all-day walking.

My Gola trainers did the trick! They're not the prettiest of shoes, but with them being black and quite dainty for a pair of trainers, they go quite well with most outfits - even a jersey pencil skirt.

When out and about it's all about layers, because you never know what the weather is going to be like.

Even though this particular day was warm, I opted for a cropped denim jacket to go over the top of my outfit. And I'm glad I did, as it got a bit windy at points!

I've never before figured out how to wear oversized cami vest tops, but I thought I'd give this dark teal one a try. I found that it goes well with a high waisted pencil skirt, especially when you tuck it in slightly at the front. 

I was extremely comfortable in my outfit whilst walking around in Amsterdam, and that was extremely important. I've made tourist outfit mistakes before where I have just ended up grumpy after a couple of hours due to beeing to hot, too cold, or wearing uncomfortable shoes. Practice makes perfect though :)

 

To top it all off I threw on some teal coloured accessories; a pair of circular earrings, and one of my favourite silver rings. 

The mint coloured nails go pretty well with this outfit as well, but was actually just a lucky coinsidence. 

I absolutely loved our 3 days in Amsterdam, walking along the rivers, crossing all the little bridges, almost being run over by crazy cyclists, drinking and eating, and seeing the atmosphere in gerenal. We obviously had to have a nosy down by the red light district, which was interesting but quite sad at the same time. Some of the girls are so young!

I would definitely go back to Amsterdam if I got the chance - it's a great weekend away, and I would really recommend it.

Leeds Tattoo Expo

If you read my recent outfit post where I’m wearing a mint coloured summery top you may have seen my new tattoo peeking out a little bit…

Well, BLK Powder sure saw it, and were kind enough to ask if I wanted to come along to Leeds Tattoo Expo, which took place in Clarence Dock 2 weekends ago.

I had never been to a tattoo expo before even though I have 5 tattoos myself (2 of them being cover-ups/expansions), so I was very curious about this and of course said yes to this offer!

Unfortunately I was away on other commitments on the Saturday and therefore missed all the coolest stuff and the live bands, but I ventured into Leeds on the Sunday afternoon to have a look around the different stalls in the convention centre.

As soon as I stepped into the venue I was hit by the strong smell of disinfectants that tattoo artists use, and my thoughts were brought back to my latest tattoo sitting where I was in constant pain for almost 7 hours straight. Not a fond memory, but it was so worth it cause I am so happy with the result!

A separate post about my new tattoo will appear on the blog very soon, so keep an eye out.
 

Leeds Tattoo Expo mainly consisted of tattoo artist stations, where live tattooing was taking place. I don’t know what I had expected really, but then thinking about it I guess a tattoo expo is the ideal place for a tattoo artist to show off their work.

There were some other stalls around offering printed art, jewellery, etc... 

...And of course tattoo artist supplies!

There is an abundance of different coloured ink for tattoo artists, and so many different brands! I found it quite difficult to choose colours when I had my tattoos done, but then you have to remember that you can actually mix the ink to create that perfect hue. Just ask your tattoo artist.

Do you know what happens to all the excess ink when your work is done? Neither did I!
But that's where BLK Powder comes in. Their product is the safest and most hygenic way to dispose of ink, ink caps, rinse cups, etc. It's very clever, as it solidifies wet waste.

It sure was an interesting experience, but I must say that I felt like the most "normal" person there! There were lots of beautiful pieces being created, but I did question the decision of the guy who had the side of his head inked! Let's hope he doesn't go bald in the future in case he wants to hide the tattoo when he's old! :P