Batiste dry shampoo | Review

Dry shampoo is one of those products that I just don't know what I'd do without. I always go for Batiste because I find it works best for me (I've tried others and they just aren't for me). One of the things I love about the Batiste dry shampoos is that they come in so many different scents/flavours. I have three different ones at the moment: Blush, Oriental and Cherry but there are so many to choose from and you can buy ones designed for different coloured hair too.

Batiste (from left to right) Oriental, Blush and Cherry

Dry shampoo is great for people who have oily hair and is quick and easy to use in between washes. Batiste is designed to target any oil and grease that's in your hair, making it feel and look fresher. Just spray throughout your hair (mainly at the roots), massage into your hair and then you're done. The only annoying thing is that it can leave a white powder in your hair so if you have very dark coloured hair you'll probably want to go for the ones that have a hint of colour in them. Aside from that, dry shampoo is a staple for me and I think it's worth a try if you hate that dirty hair feel in between washes.

Thanks for reading.

xxx

2014 beauty resolutions.

As it's the new year everybody is talking about their resolutions. Let's be honest, we all make them but how often do we really stick to them? I've made some and I feel pretty confident that I won't be breaking them so here's a few of my beauty related resolutions...

1st resolution: save money on as many beauty products as possible. 

This is probably my main beauty resolution this year. What I mean by 'save as much money' is that before buying a product I'm going to check out it's prices in other shops and see which is best value. I'm also going to try and stock up on products when they're on offer and I'm not going to buy products that I simply don't need. Although, I got quite a few body butters, shower gels and body sprays for Christmas so I don't need to worry about buying more any time soon!

2nd resolution: clean my makeup brushes more.

Keeping your makeup brushes clean is very important because, when they're dirty, they can be a breeding ground for bacteria and germs which can then lead to breakouts. Yes, I find it such a chore and usually moan whilst I'm cleaning them but there's nothing better than clean, soft, makeup brushes, the next day. Just washing them with a shampoo/soap weekly will eliminate any dirt on your brushes and help keep your skin clearer.

3rd resolution: take better care of my nails. 
Painting my nails is, basically, one of my hobbies. At the moment I'm really into dark, vampy, shades but I've never been that great at taking care of my nails.  I bite them, when I'm bored, pick at them and just don't look after them very well. However, this year, I want to change that, so I'll be stocking up on nail files, cuticle creams and nail treatments to help keep them in shape.

4th resolution: try out new styles.
I think I can speak for us all when I say this. I find a style and stick to it, everyday I reach for the same old products without even considering using a different eyeshadow or lipstick. Now, I'm not saying I'm going to start sporting a bold green eyeshadow and neon orange lipstick on a daily basis, but I am going to try and step, ever so, slightly out of my comfort zone and opt for a lipstick I would normally avoid.

5th resolution: stick to a skincare routine.
This isn't very high on my list because I've, actually, been quite good at sticking to my skincare routine but it's so easy to slip. Some nights I haven't bothered doing anything (not even moisturiser) and sometimes I half-do my routine but now I'm sticking to it.

6th resolution: blog more.
I wasn't sure whether this really fitted in with my beauty resolutions but my blog is a beauty blog, so I guess it does, right? Anyway, I've decided I want to dedicate more time to my blog (if possible) so that I can post more frequently and I've also started recording when I post (again) so I can keep much more organised.

Thanks for reading! What are your new year's resolutions?

xxx

2013 beauty favourites.

Whenever it comes to monthly favourites and, in this case, 2013 favourites I'm never really sure where to start and, in case you haven't noticed before, they're usually put together a bit last minute. It doesn't feel quite right saying it's 2014 and I'll probably still be writing 2013 as the date for a while but I'm positive 2014 is going to be a good year.

So here's a round-up of my 2013 beauty favourites;

bareMinerals original foundation - Since buying the 'Try, believe, love' kit earlier this year I have been addicted to this stuff. This foundation provides more coverage than any other I've tried before and it's a powder. In fact, the only similar product I've found to this is Benefit's 'Hello flawless' powder but they're both around the £25 mark anyway. Aside from it's amazing coverage it also feels so lightweight on your skin and, in the Summer,  this is all I'd really need.

Batiste dry shampoo - I won't talk much about this product because I have a review of the Batiste dry shampoos coming up soon. However, what I will say is that this product has been a life saver at some points and really has helped my hair, not only, feel but also look fresher.

Bourjois healthy mix foundation - This is the best foundation I've ever found from the drugstore and I'm definitely going to carry on repurchasing it for years to come. This foundation is perfect for me because it provides me with a medium but build-able coverage and it's available in very fair shades.

Benefit porefessional primer - I've been using this as my primer on and off through 2013 but the thing I love the most about it is how lightweight it is. You can't even feel it's on your skin and after applying a thin layer your skin feels so velvety soft. It leaves you with the perfect base for the rest of your makeup.

Benefit 'coralista' blush - Another product I've been using on and off during 2013 but mostly in the Spring/Summer. Coralista will always be a favourite because it's a stunning mix of coral, peach and rose. It also contains some shimmer so, depending on how much you use, it can save the need for highlighter. I'm surprised I haven't hit pan yet, actually, but I can definitely see myself having to buy a new one sometime this year.

Essie 'mint candy apple' nail polish - This has been in quite a few of my blog posts already and, I promise, I'll try not to go on about it too much in the future but it's one of my, all-time, favourite Spring/Summer nail polish picks. It's the perfect mint green shade so, if you've been on the hunt, look no further.


Rimmel stay matte powder - Again, another product that I've mentioned a lot on my blog previously. It isn't often I hit pan and, if I do, you can tell it's a well-loved product. This is my favourite powder to help fight against a shiny/oily face and is super cheap too, what more could you want?


Soap & Glory peaches and clean face cleanser - This is great for removing any last traces of makeup left on your face and smells good too. I apply a couple of pumps onto my face and massage into skin, then rinse and my face is left feeling fresh and makeup free! Soap & Glory is such a brilliant brand with so many beauties to offer.

Dove leave-in conditioning and care spray - I try my best to take as much care of my locks as possible. I apply a heat defence spray before using any heat on my hair but the ends of my hair always end up feeling dry and spraying this on the ends has really helped. My hair is left feeling soft, smooth and hydrated.

Clarins instant light natural lip perfector - I'm not a huge gloss fan but, unlike other glosses, I find this so easy to wear and find it doesn't wear off too quickly. At first, I felt pretty bad for buying it (since I had a drawer full of lip glosses at home) but I'm glad I did.

Thanks for reading! What's your 2013 beauty favourites?

x

Goodbye 2013...

Happy New Year everyone! I know everybody says ''hasn't it gone so quickly?!'' but I don't think it has, really. I'm looking forward to 2014 and all the new memories it will bring, hopefully good ones. I'd love to say that I've already got everything organised and sorted out for a 'new year, new me' but I haven't. If I'm honest, I still haven't put all my Christmas presents away yet... whoops. The only thing I have done towards getting ready for the new year is buying a new calendar and I've begun to write a list of future blog posts.

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2013 has been a good year and I've learnt a lot. I don't feel like anything really major has happened, this year, but I've made changes to my life that I'm glad I have done. Yes, 2013 has had it's ups and downs - as every year does - but it's also full of memories that I shall cherish.

I wish you all a fantastic 2014 and, before things get a little boring here, thank you to everyone that has been reading my blog in 2013. It really does mean a lot.

Thanks for reading x

What I got for Christmas 2013.

I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas! I enjoyed taking a short break from blogging to enjoy Christmas with my friends and family. I wasn't actually going to do this particular post but, after seeing many YouTubers and bloggers doing them, I thought I may as well jump on the bandwagon. I didn't get anything really expensive/extravagant this year because I didn't ask for anything huge and I was happy receiving small gifts and some money. Just to put it out there, I'm not trying to show off in any way and I'm so grateful for everything I received from my family and friends.

 As always, I get al LOT of chocolate and sweets at Christmas. I would've taken a photo of all of them together but my family and friends have already started helping me eat them!

Lush 'Snow fairy' shower gel // Burt's Bees gift set // Lush 'Sweetie pie' shower jelly // Vanilla scented hand wipes // Bath and body works 'Winter candy apple' hand sanitizer // Yankee candle in 'Merry marshmallow' // Impulse body sprays in 'Sweet smile' and 'True love' // Blue floral blanket/throw

Diary of a wimpy kid 'Hard luck' // Percy piglets // Home sign // Floral pen set // Cath Kidston soap 'Honeysuckle' // Milkybar polar bear // Various nail polishes (Rimmel 'Purple reign', Maybelline 'Ceramic blue' and L'Oreal 'Crystalissme')

My mum bought Marc Jacobs 'Honey' as more of a shared present between me, my mum and my sister and it smells amazing! 

 Batiste dry shampoo // Soap and glory 'Clean on me' shower gel // Soap and glory 'The righteous butter' body butter // Flower pharm 'Orange flower' body scrub // Balmi 'Coconut' lip balm // Milani Glimmer stripes // Chocolate coins in a bauble // 2  hand creams (these came in a set of four between me and my sister: so we divided them)

 I got this really cute doughnut cushion/toy thingy which I think I'll put on my bed.

When I opened this present I was so shocked and surprised! I'd been asking my dad for a Jack Wills book bag for ages and I was so pleased that he had got me one.

I did get other things for Christmas but it was mostly just more body creams, body sprays etc and food so I didn't think there was much point in taking pictures of them all. Again, I hope you had a good Christmas, thanks for reading! x

Christmas stocking fillers #3

This is the last Christmas stocking fillers post I write, but I wanted to fit one more in before Christmas, for those of you who still have a few bits and bobs to pick up, for friends and family.

Baylis and harding beauticology mini trio - boots

Daisy studs - forever 21

Barry m glitter nail paint - boots

Burt's bees gift set - sainsbury's

Laptop case - asos
This works dream team - feel unique
Cranberry joy body butter - the body shop
Tangle teezer - feel unique
Victoria's secret body mist - ebay


I think all of these are great for stocking fillers of as a little gift to a friend. The Body Shop's Cranberry joy body butter really does smell amazing: I've added one to my Christmas wishlist now! I've seen loads of other beauty bloggers talking about the This Works Dream team set and, even though it's small, it's said to work wonders. As for that laptop case, I don't think it could be any more beautiful and I think it would be a great present for any students. I've heard tangle teezers last a long time and are very good quality so, for your best friend or your sister, this would make a great gift. So that's all my picks, I hope you've enjoyed these posts!
What's on your Christmas wishlist?

The Sunshine Award.

Although the sun may not be shining right now, it's actually really cold, I was nominated by Maddie to do this award and thought it was a good post for you to find out a little bit more about me. So here we go...

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Here's the rules for each nominee:

• Share 11 facts about yourself.
• Answer 11 questions by the nomination blogger.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers.
• Include 11 questions to ask your nominees.

11 facts about me...

1. I'm in love with the band Hurts.

2. Cats are my favourite animal.

3. I hate my things being untidy/messy, I'm pretty sure I must have OCD!

4. Christmas is my favourite time of the year.

5. I must own, at least, 30 nail polishes and yet I still buy more.

6. I took business studies for one of my GCSE options.

7. I'm good at saving up my money.

8. I love vintage/shabby chic things!

9. I used to play the recorder, when I was at primary school.

10. I hate creepy crawlies, especially spiders.

11. When I was younger, I used to have a huge collection of my littlest pet shop toys.

My 11 questions were...

1. How is the weather where you live and what are your current favourite clothes to suit it?

The weather where I live isn't great, it rains quite a lot. My current favourite clothes to suit the weather are either super cosy tights and a skater skirt with a top or some jeans with a plaid shirt.

2. How did you come up with your blog name?

I just wanted a very simple and easy to remember name for my blog, sometimes I wish I had a more creative name though. Although I quite like the name 'Amy's Beauty Journal' because it's like I'm writing a diary of products I've tried out.

3. Name something on your bucket list?

The thing right at the top of my bucket list would be to travel around various places in the world and just explore new places. 

4. What is your favourite brand of clothing?

The main places I buy my clothes from are Newlook and Primark, with the occasional thing from Topshop or River Island. I know Primark is Atmosphere but I'm not sure about Newlook?

5. Jeans or leggings?

It depends on what kind of day's ahead but, if I had to pick one, I'd go for leggings.

6. Do your family and friends know about your blog? If so what do they think?
No, actually, my friends and family aren't aware of my blog but if I told them, I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

7. What is your favourite candle scent?
Hmm, this one is tricky because candles are one of my obsessions. I'm loving the merry marshmallow and fireside treats Yankee candles at the moment.

8. If you could pick any three make up items to get for free what would they be?
Firstly, I'd pick a MAC foundation because I'd feel so guilty buying one for myself. The second would be one of the Hourglass ambient lighting powders, after seeing Anna (from ViviannaDoesMakeup) rave about them so much, I would love to get my hands on one! And finally, I'd pick the Ciate mini nail polish advent calendar, it looks amazing plus I just couldn't spend £42 on an advent calendar.

9. What is your favourite pair of shoes? Why?
My favourite pair of shoes are my white high top converse because they go with anything and are great to wear any time of the year. They also last for ages.

10. Heels or wedges?
I don't really wear either of these but I think I'd go for wedges because I think they look gorgeous and wedges go with a lot of different outfits, even on casual days.

11. Mac or Urban Decay?
Even though Urban Decay have the famous Naked palettes, I'd plump for MAC because I like a lot of their products for face, eyes and lips. Whereas with Urban Decay, I only really use their eyeshadows.

The nominations...

1. kkkiranxoxo
2. Ros Tinted
3. Ashleigh Beauty
4. A Day in Beauty
5. A touch of velvet...
6. A Is For Ayla
7. Style & Starbucks
8. Carrie:Brighton
9. Talk Pretty
10. My Vintage World
11. Laura Through The Lens

My 11 questions...
1. What's your favourite TV program?
2. What's one thing you can't stand?
3. Who's you favourite singer/band?
4. What is at the top of your Christmas wishlist, this year?
5. Do you have a pet? 
6. Do you love or loathe marmite? (random question there!)
7. What's your favourite shop to buy from?
8. What's your favourite perfume?
9. If you could pick one piece of technology to use, for the rest of your life, what would you pick? (For example: iPad, laptop, camera)
10. What made you want to start blogging?
11. Who's your favourite blogger?

Thanks for reading this, incredibly long, post!