#SBBC Day 5 – Good Skin Starts From Within

Foods for healthy skin

As the daily prompts are optional and I wasn’t having any inspiration for either today I decided to do a post that was suggested by our very own Megan on foods that are super good for your skin. It doesn’t matter how many lotions and cleansers you use your skin will always be better if you eat well. Taking care of the inside will naturally take care of the outside.

Water

First up and the one I feel most important is water. Your skin needs to be hydrated to be healthy. Hydrated skin not only has fewer spots it has a natural glow and tans easily and safely when using sun screen. Water will keep your skin young, soft and beautiful.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt contains vitamin A which is vital for good skin. Just be sure to make it a low-fat version.

Blueberries

Blueberries are my personal favourite super-food. They are rich in antioxidant which fights the anti-aging process and helps to protect your skin from the effects of pollution in the air.

Salmon

I’m not a fish eater, I can’t stand it but I wish I could. It’s rich in Omega and Essential Fatty Acids, these are responsible for healthy cell membranes and the general healthy of cells throughout the whole body. If the cell walls are tough cookies they’ll keep more water in and thus give you healthier cells and healthier skin.

Almonds

And no I’m not talking about the sugar-coated variety! Almonds are jam-packed full of vitamin E and are rich in monounsaturated fat (good fat!). This also keep cells strong and lowers cholesterol too.

Spinach

I love spinach. Mainly in fresh mixed in with mash potato so it is just lightly steamed. (My recipe for the day!) Spinach contains beta-carotene which  helps to repair skin and maintain its youthful appearance.

Avoid!

Too much milk, bread, pasta, cakes – These are all linked to causing acne.

Salt – This can cause your skin to look puffy and can also cause acne.

Candy – This can damage the collagen and elsatin in your skin. These both keep your skin firm and wrinkle free so ditch the candy and hit up the blueberries!

Alcohol – It dries out your skin and causes so many problems and can also lead to more serious skin conditions.

#SBBC – What I Take When I Travel

Day 3 of the September blog-a-day challenge started with the exciting news that I now have 300 wonderful followers. I think I’ll do another giveaway at 500 followers. I’ve been blogging 10 and 1/2 weeks and I still can’t get pver the fact that people actually read what I write!

Anyway, into today’s post. I take so many things when I travel so I decided to just show 7 of them. I tend to over-pack and take everything including the kitchen sink, you just never know when you’re going to need that bright pink eye liner you bought when you were 13.

• The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream is multi-purpose, I use it in place of my moisturiser and foundation in the morning saving my precious space in my bag and time for enjoying my time away.
• I always have a concealer with me, I’m currently using an MUA one and it’d be one I took travelling as it’s cheap and easily replaceable.
• Nail polish, I always take the nail polish I’m wearing seeing as I’m prone to chipping and I’m guaranteed to need to touch them up.
• They’re Real – this mascara literally goes everywhere with me, I may be busy travelling but that doesn’t mean I can let my lashes go!
• L’Occitane Hydration Cream – I always take a sample size moisturiser with me for night time skin-care. I take a full skin regime but this is the most important part for me as I get really dry skin.
• DKNY Be Delicious Perfume – This is my all-time favourite perfume and it holds a lot of memories from weekends away so I always refill and take along my sample size one whenever I travel.
• Lip Balm – The Figs and Rouge Lip Balm is a current favourite as it works really well but can also double up as a cheek tint,

There are literally so many more products I take but we’d be here all day! Hope you’re all having a good Tuesday!

It’s in the Bag – Show-stopper Edition

Hannah is a busy lady indeed. She’s used to going from every day wear to show-stooping performances and therefore needs a loyal kit that won’t let her down on the stage.

At first glance Hannah has a plethora of good quality products, from Estee Lauder to MAC and Benefit and I was excited to see how she gets a look that won’t melt under the bright stage lights. Today we showcase the top 3 as selected by Hannah.

Estee Lauder Deluxe All-Over face compact

This product is a total life-saver for Hannah. As she does go from a hectic schedule to a performance in very little time it’s so important that she has a good compact in her life, and this is it.

It is long-lasting and resists the heat of the stage without any problems. I love the shades in this compact, they will give a rosy but bronzed look for a natural healthy glow, perfect for energetic and passionate performances.

It’s a great size to fit into a handbag with a thousand other things Hannah will need throughout the day. These can easily be used as eye shadows as well as the blusher and bronzer’s they are meant for.

MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation

Hannah gushed about this foundation, she loves it. It’s so light the she doesn’t even feel like she’s wearing foundation, fortunately this doesn’t stop it giving a full coverage. It lasts all day and has saved Hannah during pre-show photo-shoots on a number of occasions. It covers all break-outs and gives a flawless finish.

It comes in an amazing 39 shades so there really is one for every skin tone. I’m personally dying to try this product and have been a while, hearing Hannah’s thoughts has made me even more eager to splash out on it.

The coverage is buildable so you can use as much or as little as required and it provides a matte finish. Perfect for those of us with oily skin.

MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash Mascara

This is an everyday go-to item for Hannah. It doesn’t clump and it’s waterproof. Perfect for beautiful natural-looking lashes that will survive when the going gets tough mid performance. Hannah says she can go from subtle natural lashes during rehearsals to bold and striking lashes for a night out in just a few extra coats.

This is always in Hannah’s bag, simply because it takes her look from day to night in seconds. Hooray for our Handbag Hero!

Hannah looks amazing all the time anyway but it’s always fun to see how other people achieve their makeup look and I’m excited to try al of these products at some point. Thank you Hannah for letting us take a peak today!

I do need a volunteer for next weeks edition, if you’d like to volunteer either comment on this post, email me on tams.watt@hotmail.com or contact me on Facebook!

If you’re a blogger or have a website I will link back to that in the post too.

 

It’s in the Bag – Melissa

I love Mondays for one reason only, and that’s that I get to share someone’s makeup kit with you all. I asked Mel to do this week’s one as I admire her unique style and confidence. She has a very punk look and is the lead singer of local (to me) metal band Hollow Heaven, check them out on Facebook.

Mel’s makeup look is striking, she definitely stands out in the crowd, and in an incredibly good way.  Mel is clearly a Rimmel fan and it is doing well for her. I also love her awesome Soap & Glory makeup bag. Without any more waffle let’s look at her top 3 products.

Barry M Nail Paint in NP47

Melissa loves to finish her look with a black nail polish to tie in with her punky outfits and makeup. This Barry M is her favourite because it gives a perfect finish. It also dries really quickly and doesn’t require too many coats, perfect for a busy teen looking for fantastic gothic nails.

I say: Add some nail glitter for a glamorous evening look.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

Melissa has found that this foundation suits her dry skin perfectly. It is a slightly moisturising foundation and gives a good even, full coverage when used with a makeup sponge. It also lasts through hot and energetic stage performances which is vital for Melissa. It comes in a wide range of shades, Melissa uses Ivory and it matches her skin a dream.

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Eyeliner

Melissa tells me this felt tip eye liner is amazing for when she goes with a rockabilly flick line. It has a neat finish and is super easy to use. It dries really quickly and doesn’t smudge, it also stays put throughout the day/evening so doesn’t need to be continually touched up.

Thank you Melissa for letting us all see how you get your unique look, and I also love your pink hair right now too.

If you’d like to showcase your kit and top 3 products drop me a comment or an email on tams.watt@hotmail.com, I can link back to your blog or website too. 

Related articles

• It’s in the Bag – Professional Special (nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com)
• It’s in the Bag! (nakedbeautyblog.wordpress.com)

TRESemme Platinum Strength 60 Second Treatment Shot Review

Hey all!

Sorry for my absence over this weekend, I had an amazing time at V festival and I’m back fresh and ready to blog again now. Don’t miss tonight It’s in the bag episode and we have plenty of new reviews coming up this week too. Also importantly I hit 200 wordpress followers while I was away, 207 to be precise so hello to all my new wordpress followers and those who have followed through bloglovin’ and She Said Beauty too, thank you for your continued support.

I decided to use this 60 second TRESemme treatment shot before going away as my hair was looking and feeling a little bit fragile. I loved that it was so quick to use and smelt really nice too. It also has an awful lot in the shot, plenty to do long hair, I think with my length hair I probably could have got two uses out of it, if I’d thought about it at the time!

You simply shampoo your hair and then massage this into the ends of your hair, avoiding the roots. Sit back and relax for 60 seconds then rinse well.

The results were really good, my hair looked shiny and perked up quite a bit. It was also incredibly soft and straightened really easily and stayed straight all day, which is amazing considering I was at a windy Hylands park all day.  At just £1.50 a time I definitely think I will continue to use this each week, repeated use can only have even better results.

Soft, shiny and wonderfully straight hair

10 Festival Beauty Essentials

With less than 2 weeks until I head to V Festival at Hylands Park with one of my favourite people my attention has turned to what I need to take with me. So here’s my list of the 10 essentials that I’ll definitely have with me!

1 – Antibacterial Hand Gel – With the toilet facilities lacking and being out in the open for 2 whole days (even though I’m heading home and not camping) this is the thing I could never attend a festival without.

2 – Sleek Pout Paint – This is a festival favourite, it can be used for cheeks and lips but for me it will be used to create pretty designs, perhaps flowers for a cute festival makeup.

3 – Water – If you want to keep your skin in top condition and not be the one passed out under a tree by 3pm then you need to stay hydrated! Most festivals only allow you to take a small bottle of water into the arena with you but have taps to refill, make use of this and drink plenty of nature;s good stuff!

4 – Sunscreen – You’re outside all day, even those of us who tan are at risk in those conditions, keep your sunscreen topped up and head for shaded areas when possible.

5 – BB Cream – Save space and take a BB Cream in place of a foundation and moisturiser, a BB Cream will double up as both and stop your skin from drying out. The Body Shop All-in_one BB Cream is my favourite!

6 – Fudge Urban Sea Salt Spray – With shower facilities limited and the expectation if rain at some point there’s no point in paying out to have your hair straightened while you’re there, instead spritz in some sea salt spray for a gorgeous boho, festival look, you could add some flowers to your hair too!¬

7 – Figs & Rouge Lip Balm – The is hygienic and easy to use without a mirror, it can also be used as a cheek stain and eye shimmer. Multi-taskers are the way forward when at a festival!

8 – The Body Shop Vitamin C Face Spritz – Ideal for a quick freshen up and to keep your skin looking radiant throughout the whole weekend!

9 – Makeup wipes/ wet wipes – Don’t forget to remove your makeup in the evening and wipe your face in the morning, also a good idea for a quick wet wipe bath to stay smelling a little fresh at least!

10 – Sunglasses – Protect your eyes whilst out in the sunshine, I swear half the time you site with the sun in your eyes! Plus sunglasses will always make you look that little bit cooler. Why not select a new fun pair just for this occasion?

I hope this quick guide has been of some use to you. What are your festival must-haves?

Coola Face Mineral Sun Screen Review

Reviewed by Megan

After seeing our Megs sunburnt this year I knew she was the perfect person to test out this sunscreen. The one she tested was the unscented version but it is also available in rose. It was factor 20.

It’s designed especially for the face and protects against the signs of aging too. It’s also hypoallergenic and paraben free. It is water resistant for around 40 minutes so it probably isn’t the best one to use when in and out of the pool.

Megan reported back that it is quite an effort to rub in due to it’s thickness. She looked more like a snowman than a sun-kissed goddess while she waited for it to soak in. However, once it was soaked in it worked well. Megan usually prefers the convenience of spray creams but feels that may have been why she was getting burnt!

Megan has also been converted from clear sunscreens to white ones as this one has definitely protected her much better even though it is a lower SPF. Round of applause for Coola!

VO5 – Give Me Texture Shampoo & Conditioner Review

Reviewed by Tams

The last few weeks I’ve been bored with my hair being dead straight, I don’t know if it’s something to do with the sun being out but I’ve been hankering after textured hair that’s full of life. You’ll have noticed that I’ve tried a few different products recently that all aim to add texture to your hair. It started with this one but I like to give shampoo a good try before I cast my verdict.

The VOZ Give me texture shampoo and conditioner were really reasonably priced and I’ve used others of their before. I always like to start a new look from the base up, any products I use later on in my routine will always have a better result if I start with e relevant product. This is why I choose a shampoo and conditioner that add texture to your hair in place of my normal sleek and shine types.

First up, it smells amazing, as all VO5 products do. It has a really fresh and clean scent which I love. It contains a unique blend of collagen and minerals which gently cleanse product from your hair and create a style full of volume and life. The conditioner is also much lighter than most, it doesn’t weigh your hair down.

I found that because I have frizzy hair naturally that if I want to straighten it after this shampoo it’s hard to do so but if I want a bed-head or beach look it’s absolutely perfect. It really works with styling sprays to create a gorgeous textured style. I also don’t need to wash my hair everyday with this shampoo, every other day is plenty to keep it looking clean and healthy!

My husband is also loving this shampoo right now, it’s giving his hair a bit of oomph which he’s delighted with!

 

Fudge Urban Texturising Sea Salt Spray Review

Recently I reviewed Alterna Haircare – Bamboo Style Boho Waves Tousled Texture Mist and I mentioned in the post that it was quite expensive and I’d see if I could find a cheaper version. Since then I’ve been on a mission to just that and I’m pleased to say it’s MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Fudge Urban provides salon standard hair products on the high street, they do everything from matte hair max to volumnising powders, and all in fun, brightly coloured packaging.

I normally spend ages in the morning styling my hair but this provides a huge relief in that routine. This morning, I washed my hair, sprayed this in from mid-length to the ends and scrunched up. I left my hair to dry naturally. It battled well with the frizz and left me with beach-cool hair.

It also smells amazing, it has a delicious coconut scent that just reminds me of holidays. Every time the wind blows I get a whiff of my hair and it transports me back to sunny days even though I’m currently sat in the office with storms raging outside my window.

My hair feels light and it hasn’t caused a huge product build up in my hair like some products do. It can also be used to plump up your hair but applying it before blow-drying. I think I’ll stick to using it in wet hair as it’s so quick and I’m really happy with the result. This is definitely one to take to V Festival with me!

I was originally looking for a cheap alternative but instead I’ve found a new favourite! I’m so over dead straight hair and I’m happy to have a product that allows me to embrace my naturally wavy hair.

On the more technical side of things the unusual nozzle makes it really easy to apply accurately. After all you don’t want huge clumps and sections with nothing in. You also do not need a lot to create the look so I think it’ll probably last a while.

Try it: £6.99, www,superdrug.com (Currently on offer for £3.49)

Schwarzkopf – got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protection Spray

Reviewed by Tams

This product is one of my beauty heroes. I was forever being scolded at the hairdressers for damaging my hair via heat styling all the time. I have frizzy hair, I have no choice but to do something with it every day. Either that or I walk around looking like Cave Girl. That is the options. I’ve never found that heat protection sprays have been all that good and I’ve tried A LOT of them before finding this little friend.

It protects up to 200 degrees and is suitable for blow drying, straightening and curling. It also smells amazing. I’ve been using it for nearly 3 months now, in fact I’m almost all out and the condition of my hair has considerably improved. It also helps to hold my hair straight for longer, meaning I don’t have to do it so often.

My hair is also more manageable when I use this, which is every day now. I don’t think I’ll be trying any more for a while. Cheers to my new BFF.

Try it: £4.05, www.superdrug.com