The Lo Down - March/April Favourites

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I can't believe another two months have flown by, it's insane. You know what that means it's time for my favourites and I'm so excited to show you guys what I've been loving this month. I have quite a few so lets get started.

Lee Stafford Coco Loco Shampoo and Conditioner

As I've told you in a couple of posts already, I love trying new haircare and I get the opportunity to try these two products over the last months. I love them both and I was so impressed. They smell of coconut which to me is so yum!! They also leave my hair looking amazing and squeaky clean, just what I want from any shampoo and conditioner. I highly recommend them both and I can't wait to try some more products from this line once I recover from my head surgery. I did a review recently which you can check out here.

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick and NYX Lip Lingerie Liquid Lip Glosses

I have two lip products to share with you guys this month. First up is MAC's Velvet Teddy lipstick. This lipstick has a huge following and is definitely one of the most popular MAC lipsticks that they have to offer. It's so easy to apply and looks beautiful on the lips. It has a matte finish and just goes perfectly with any makeup look which is why I love it so much. I'm almost all out of mine so I will definitely be repurchasing it really soon. A review of this product can be found here. The other lip product favourite of mine is from NYX Cosmetics which is one of my favourite drugstore brands at the moment. I haven't tried a product that I didn't like yet which is really good. My favourite product of theres at the moment is their Lip Lingerie Liquid Lipsticks. They are just amazing, I adore them. They apply as a liquid and dry to a matte finish lipstick. There are so many shades to choose from and I have quite a few that I couldn't pick just one. It's definitely worth your while to go to your local counter to have a mooch if you ask me. If you want to check out my full review you can find it here.

Uriage HandCream

I love a good hand cream as my hands do get so dry as the weather is so changeable out there at the moment. I've been using a new handcream from Uriage lately and I think it's really good. It's nice and thick but it sinks into my skin right away. I carry this everywhere with me and I'm forever pulling it out of my bag when my hands are needing that extra bit of tlc. I recently was sent that intense version of this so I'll definitely let you know my thoughts soon. This handcream smells lovely too by the way. I posted a review of this a couple of weeks ago which you can see here.

Blank Canvas Makeup Brushes

I like having good tools to apply my makeup and I've looked no further than Blank Canvas Cosmetics brushes lately. This is an Irish brand and they are such good quality. I owned a couple of their brushes then when I seen that they had a sale over Christmas I purchased the Dimension Series Hamper and I'm so glad I did. It contains so many amazing brushes from face to eye so it gives great variety. I have been using these so much lately and I definitely want to pick up another set soon. If you want to see my post on these brushes you can check it out here.

Reading

Yes you read it right, I love to read! I've been reading just about anything I can get my hands on lately. I think it's so important to keep your mind active and I love being transported into another world that I made up after reading a good book. I've been reading since I was about 6 and everyone in my house calls me the reader, I'm definitely a bit of a book nerd. I've read quite a few books over the last while so if you look back over my blog you'll definitely find a good few book reviews and there'll be more to come in the next while aswell.

College

Since I did my last favourites post I started college, I actually did a post on it already a couple of weeks back. It had to make it into my favourites as I'm enjoying the course so much at the minute. At present I'm chilling out after getting minor head surgery on Thursday but I seriously can't wait to get back into college when I'm better next week. I'm learning so much and the course is full with interesting content so I'm loving it. If you didn't know I'm studying Social Media for Business in a college in Dublin and I think this course will really help my blog in the future. It's not fully focused on Social Media all the time though which I like, there's alot of marketing content. I studied Marketing in college before so I definitely have an advantage at the moment as I love the module alot. I'll definitely keep you posted with how I'm getting on with the course. Another post about my college life is actually going up on Monday or Tuesday so keep an eye out for that for sure.

That's it, my favourites for the month of April and May. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it, which is alot by they way.My next favourites post will be up in July so definitely come back for that.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Lee Stafford Coco Loco Shampoo and Conditioner

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've never tried products from the haircare brand Lee Stafford until I was recently sent their shampoo and conditioner to try. I was really excited to try these products as I'm always looking for new great products for my hair.

Coco Loco is a coconut oil based haircare line which as you all know is amazing for your hair. First off before I talk about the product itself, just look at that packaging it's so pretty love it. As I said I'm always on the lookout for new products and these tick all the boxes for me. My hair can be quite quite sensitive at times and Lee Stafford products don't aggravate my scalp at all. I am really fond of these products even after using them once on my hair it is left feeling silky smooth and looks amazing. A little bit goes a long way aswell, I use the smallest amount. After trying these two products I can't wait to try some more products from this brand, I'll definitely keep an eye out for these the next time I'm in Boots. 

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Mane 'n Tail Hair Strengthener

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I've been using Mane 'n Tail haircare recently and I've been liking it lots. You can find all the reviews I've done so far here. I've been really impressed with the products I've tried so far. The latest product I've tried is their Hair Strengthener. This is a Daily Leave In Conditioning Treatment that you can use in dry and wet hair, it actually smells amazing.

Basically this product helps to provide essential protection to the hair to achieve longer, stronger and healthier looking hair. This product does so much so it's pretty much a all in one product. It also protects hair strands from heat and chemical styling which is exactly what I need as I am forever straightening my hair. I use this whenever I wash my hair and I'm about to blow dry it or when my hair needs a little pick me up. So far it's been working really well and I see a bit different in my hair, My hair tends to fall out sometimes when I'm brushing it and that doesn't seem to be happening lately at all which is always a good sign.

This product comes in a 178ml bottle so a little bit goes a long way. I just spritz some in my hair, about 2 to 3 sprays and that's literally all I need but this probably depends on the person. When I spray it in dry hair it doesn't become greasy at all which I happy to tell you guys as some products tend to do just that. I'm definitely a big fan of this brand and I'm looking forward to trying some more of their styling products soon.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Mane 'N Tail Shampoo & Conditioner

Hey Guys and Dolls,

I like to keep my hair in tip top condition all the time. I have pretty thick hair but I can have a pretty sensitive scalp so I have to watch what haircare I use.

I've been using Mane 'N Tail products recently, a brand I'm new to but like alot. The shampoo and conditioner I've been using is called their Body Shampoo and their Texturising  & Moisturising Conditioner and I've been using this stuff a hell of alot. Once you scrub your hair with both products it leaves it look fresh and squeaky clean plus so shiny just the way I like it. This stuff also smells so amazing!

I like haircare that hydrates my hair aswell as thickens it and this haircare duo does just that. I'm used their Detangler for ages now to keep my unruly hair at bay. You can check out that review here.

These products retail for around the €15 mark which is pretty good for haircare products that you need to keep your hair looking good and healthy. I'm definitely going to be on the look out for more products from this brand.

Laura<3

The Lo Down - Mane 'N Tail Detangler

Hey Guys and Dolls,

My hair is hard to manage sometimes it can get quite messy and tangled which can be pretty annoying I'm not going to lie. I got my hair cut in a long bob towards the end of last year. It's alot more manageable but of course it still gets tangled.

A product I have been using to combat this issue is Mane 'N Tail Detangler which I believe is a bit over the €10 mark so it's not too pricey either. I've been using this product for ages but I haven't gotten around to reviewing it yet. First off I wash my hair and then after quickly towel drying it I spray a couple of spritzes into my hair and brush it through with my tangle teezer. My hair instantly feels and looks alot less knotty. I then blow dry my hair and it couldn't look as good.

I seriously don't know where I'd be without this product, my hair is so thankful for it. It definitely gets two thumbs up from me and I'm definitely going to check out some more products from this range soon.

Laura<3

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Event

Last week I headed along to the relaunch of John Fried's Luxurious Volume range at the Morrison Hotel. I'm a big fan of the brand, there's always a few of their products included in my everyday haircare routine. I like how the products are very affordable and won't break the bank, plus I've always been super impressed with what I've tried from them. Full Repair and Luxurious Volume are my two favourite ranges from John Frieda. My hair is quite damaged from years of using my old trusted GHD way too much and its really flat so I find products from both these ranges really help alot. 

The full Luxurious Volume range has been repackaged, I'm loving the new green look it's electric! These new and improved products contain volume boosting technology that gives the hair body without weighing it down, what more could a girl ask for? I'm really looking forward to using the new product in the range, the Fine to Full Blow-Out Spray. My hair definitely needs all the help it can get so I'm looking forward to giving this a whirl. If you haven't tried their Volume Refresh Dry Shampoo already, it's worth investing in a can in my book. I've never been the biggest fan of dry shampoo, every brand I tried before had irritated my scalp badly that was until I discovered this gem. It doesn't have a heavy scent like Batiste and it doesn't leave my hair looking ashy.

Jake Davis, John Frieda's Senior Stylist was there on the evening to talk us through the new range as well as doing a demonstration. I found it really helpful, we saw how to create natural volume in the hair and how to get the most out of the products. I certainly took a lot from this event and I'm really looking forward to putting these products to the test. With my flat hair, they definitely have their work cut out.

Have you tried any John Frieda products? Will you be checking out the new and improved Luxurious Volume range?

Laura<3

Loreal Elnett Satin Heat Styling Sprays Launch

I've become big into haircare as of late, when you straighten your hair as much its a must. I've been using lots of shampoo and conditioners recently, two in particular stand out so I'll have a review up on them very soon. When a email arrived into my inbox inviting me to come along to the launch of the new Elnett Heat Styling Sprays in the Dylan Bradshaw Salon, I couldn't say no. I was in a bit of a rush to get there as I had to run straight from work but I'm glad I made it in the end. I had never been to the Dylan Bradshaw salon and boy is it beautiful as you'll see in the pictures below. The atmosphere is so nice and I'll certainly be popping in there again when I get paid. I may treat myself to a Christmas haircut at the end of the month. What everyone was there to see was the new Elnett Satin Heat Styling Sprays and they certainly didn't disappoint. I know branching out like this was quite a brave move as when you think Elnett, hairsprays come to mind but I can see these products doing very well.

We were talked through the new heat styling sprays which comes in three different variations, curly, straight and volume. I think this is a super idea as if you have dull flat straight hair everyday you could try the volume or curly options. The lovely Cheryl Cole is the face of the campaign and wow she looks amazing in the ad, I think after seeing it alot of people will want to try this stuff. Keep an eye out for it on your TV screens for sure. The styling sprays are said to lock out humidity and flyways aswell as holding your chosen style be it, curly, straight etc. for three day that remains to be seen for me. Alot of products state this and most of the time they don't deliver. I'll have to test out the products a bit more but straight off the bat after trying them in my hair at the launch, I do really like them and the next day in work alot of the girls commented on my hair. The packaging looks very luxurious and the formula itself is very lightweight so it didn't weigh my hair down. The lovely stylist Sinead was looking after me for the evening and after explaining to her a bit about my hair (alot of hair but quite fine), she told me the style she'd like to go for. The look we went for was alot of volume on top with lots of lovely loose curls. In my hair she used the Loreal EverPure range which I may pick up for myself soon as I actually quite liked it. It doesn't contain any nasty ingredients either which can only mean good things for my hair. After washing my hair Sinead took all the heavy wet out of my hair and sectioned it off while using a couple of sprays of the volume heat styling spray. The hard bit started then, putting all the barrel brushes in my hair to make the curls. I wish I had of taken of photo of this as I literally had about 10 brushes in my hair but I couldn't be happier with the finished look. I wish I could achieve this look at home, I know it won't be easy but I'm still going to try to recreate it soon. The Heat Styling Sprays have already launched instores in the UK and Ireland so they shouldn't be too hard to find. At €8.99 I don't think there too pricey at all, I actually want to pick up the volume option the next time I'm in Boots.

In breezy old Dublin, I'm already all wrapped up for Winter!

What do you think of the new Loreal Elnett Heat Styling Sprays? Will you be trying them yourself?

Laura<3

VOYA Organic Voyager Travel Set

I wish I knew about this gorgeous set when I was doing my Summer Must Haves/Essentials post on travel kits as I absolutely adore it. VOYA is a Irish brand which started life as a successful family run seaweed bath  business in Sligo and from there it's grown and grown. I love finding Irish brands as I haven't come across to many and it's nice to discover  them. This Travel set contains four mini products from their range, a shampoo, condtioner, body wash and body lotion. They are all perfect sizes for travelling and come in a this gorgeous wash bag which is made from 100% organic cotton. I love this bag as it can be used again to hold makeup products as it's a nice size.

The sizes of the products are by no means small like some travel minis can be, they are all quite generous 75ml tubes. This also means if you haven't tried the brand before you'll get a really good idea of what they have to offer. I couldn't pick my favourite product from this set as I love them all. I was expecting the shampoo and conditioner to dry my hair out but I can swallow my words as neither did. My hair was left lovely and soft, with the little bit of added body which my hair is lacking at the moment. I love the Softly Does It body moisturiser, it's quite rich a little bit goes a awfully long way. I'll  probably get a lot of use out of this one tube, the Squeaky Clean Body Wash has the exact same lovely fresh scent as the moisturiser. When you think seaweed, you automatically presume the scent won't be the best but I truly love it. All the products contain essential oils so this is probably wear the nice scent come from too. This set is expensive at €40, but it's well worth every penny in my opinion. I really like the idea that you can get a feel for the brand without spending mega bucks on products. This will also make a lovely gift for friend or even as a sneaky gift to yourself. I've only seen this brand in one store in Dublin, House of Fraser but I seen on their website that it's also available in Avoca. I'm looking forward to trying more products from this gorgeous brand, I already have my eye on the skincare.

Have you heard of VOYA? What do you think of this travel set?

Laura<3

March Magazine Freebies!

Three amazing gifts are included in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire and Glamour this month. I enjoy getting products with magazines as it's a great way to decide for yourself what products you like before forking out money for them.

Here are the three magazine gifts I got...

Last but not least in Glamour, there are four Percy & Reed hair care products to choose from. I went for the Quite Franky Flawless Finishing Polish (100ml). This is a really generous sized product, so I can see this lasting ages as you only need to apply a pea-sized to your hair. I'm expecting really good things from this as I did a review on their No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo recently which I really liked. There's also a seperate beauty guide in the magazine this month which shows gorgeous products that were used to create red carpet looks.

There's four luxury Clinique gifts to choose from in Cosmopolitan. To be honest I'm not the biggest fan of this brand. I had a bad reaction to one of their products back in my school days. I chose the magazine with the Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. It's advertised towards people with oily skin so I'll see how it goes. I think the fact that this product can be used in different ways drew me towards it. I'll let you know how I get on with this.

Last but not least in Marie Claire, there's a full size Neal's Yard Rehydrating Rose Daily Moisture cream for normal skin. This is a brand that I've heard great things about but never tried before. I'm looking forward to trying this moisturiser but bear in mind I do have oily skin, so I don't know if this will be right for me. 

What magazines have you picked up this month??

Laura<3

Liz Earle Haircare Range

Im always raving about Liz Earle's Skincare range. I absolutely love everything from their Hot Cloth Cleanser to their Skin Repair Light, all the products I've tried so far have done wonders for my skin. 

So when I was given the chance to try some products from their Award-Winning haircare range I jumped at the opportunity. I've seen alot of great reviews so I couldn't wait to use them myself.

 After using Botanical Shine Shampoo & Conditioner my hair was left feeling so soft and shiny. I could notice the difference after washing my hair once. My hair is a very dull dark brown shade, so I was surprised to see it was left looking so glossy. This hardly ever happens when using other haircare products, let alone after one wash. Even my Mom passed a compliment which doesn't happen alot. The shampoo itself lathers really nicely and gives my hair such a nice cleaning. Having coloured hair myself I was concerned at first that this may strip my colour, alas it didn't. I shall update this after time and let you know if it does long term, I doubt it will though. While being only one shampoo in the range that suits all hair types, there are three  Botanical Shine Conditioners each for a particular hair type. I went for the one that was suitable for dry or damaged. My hair is quite damaged as I tend to straighten it alot, which is bad I know. This conditioner left my hair feeling soft maybe not as much as my favourite but I still really like this. I see both the shampoo and conditioner lasting a very long time. I use up a bottle of shampoo in no time, with Botanical Shine Shampoo you literally only need a walnut sized amount. Both products have nice fresh scents which I like.

I couldn't wait to try the Botanical Shine Treatment, the newest addition to the Liz Earle Haircare range. I have really over the top frizzy hair, the only way I can describe it is out of control. I always find products that claim to leave hair frizz free and I'm always left disappointed by them. After using the Botanical Shine Treatment, I was so impressed. My hair looked so beautiful, not a bit of frizz in sight which is unusual for me. I use this in my hair once a week, leave it in for thirty minutes and then wash the treatment out. I read a book to pass the time which usually flies by. This treatment can also be left in for ten minutes, but I prefer to leave it in longer to give my hair a extra boost. Again I didn't notice my hair colour fading after using this product, all three products contained apple extract so I was worried it would happen.

All products were winners for me, I can see myself repurchasing all three when I run out. Price wise these products won't break the bank, the treatment is €15.75/£14 while the Shampoo and Conditioner are €9/£8 each. As I said previously a little goes along way with these products so these will last you ages.

Liz Earle's Haircare range is available buy from Wilde & Green, Milltown or online.

Have you tried the Liz Earle Haircare range? What's your thoughts?

Laura<3

Denman D3 Kiss Brushes

Denman's D3 Classic Styling Brush has under gone a makeover just in time for Valentine's Day. The result,the Denman Kiss (£7.31/€8.56), a beautiful pink sparkle brush with a lipstick print design which I love. The brush is also available in two other colours which you can check out here. Denman brushes are much raved about, yet having never used one before I didn't quite know what to expect. So of course when I got the offer to try one out, I jumped at the chance to give it a go.

My hair is quite frizzy, the word I use most to describe it is unruly. When I first brushed my hair with this, I was expecting it to get stuck in the mess leaving an unpleasant feel. I shouldn't of worried so much this brush glided through my hair like a dream leaving it so soft. I'm so impressed with the results, I can see why they call it  The Hairdresser's Brush. One of my Aunties has been using this brand for years. I don't know how I didn't manage to get my hands on one before now. The brush design is beautiful but the quality of the Classic D3 Styling brush alone is amazing so I'd recommend trying one out.

If  the Classic D3 Styling Brush isn't for you, there's the Hairbrush Compact (£2.56/€3.08). As I said above, my hair is a mess so this probably doesn't smooth it out as good as the Classic D3 Styling brush. Have said that, it's still very handy to have in your handbag during the day or if your on a night out to touch up your hair. Plus it comes with a trusty mirror which I'm forever using.

Have you tried Denman brushes? What do you think of this limited edition design?

Laura<3

Batiste Nude Dry Shampoo

I've always been a fan of Batiste Dry Shampoo as it's such a convenient product to refresh your hair on the go. When it came to trying Batiste Nude, I had such high expectations.

Instead of the usual spray can this product is 100% natural/ environmentally friendly and comes in a plastic bottle. Batiste Nude has a nozzle attached which makes for easy application as you can apply the dry shampoo were it's needed most. As Batiste Nude is fragrance-free, it will appeal to people that don't like the strong scents of the spray can. I regularly run out of the aerosol cans very quickly as I get a bit carried away with it. As this is a powder, it lasts longer as less is needed.

 I apply the powder straight from the bottle onto my roots. It's a bit messy using my hands and I feel that I waste alot of product. After leaving the product for a few minutes I wait for it to work it's magic. Then it's just a simple matter of brushing my hair. The finished result is my hair looking fresh and clean. Perfect for a quick fix on-the-go.

If you haven't tried Batiste Nude, I'd recommend trying it out. For the price (€6ish) it's definitely worth it.

Have any of you girls tried Bastiste Nude??..How did you find it??

Laura<3

 I was sent this product by the Batiste PR Team to try out but all thoughts and views on the product are my own<3

VO5 "Revive Me Daily" Shampoo and Conditioner Review!

I've always been fussy about what haircare products I use in my hair as i always like it to be in tip top condition (Who doesn't). Some products have not being doing that for me lately. So when I seen VO5 had a new collection of shampoos and conditioners I thought I'd give them a go. I already use one VO5 product and that is their VO5 High Volume Weather Resistant Hairspray which I am a big fan of and always have one on the ready in my bag, I must be on my 3rd can. I may do a review on it too!!

Back to the shampoo and conditioner,VO5's new range is for all different hair types, dry, oily, normal, frizzy etc. I chose the "Revive Me Daily" set as it is specifically for people with normal hair.The price for this product was very reasonable at about €6 euro each as I think if you find a product you like and it suits the purpose than I think its worth spending money on. Adapive Haircare Technology is used in this product which means the product adjusts to the level of nourishment leve needed to suit everyones hair as it is unique to them. After using the combination, My hair felt nourished and weightless as I was left with no residue in my hair which has been a problem with other products in the past. I also loved this products fruity scent as its nice and fresh.

Finally the result ,my hair was left looking gorgeous, shiny and especially healthy.

Definitely one to try out girlies!!!:)

Laura<3