Update | inexpensive skin care for clear skin

Since I started this little blog of mine a few years ago, I have done more than a few different skin care routines. The only problem was that they all seemed to be based around high end products. Which present day self can no longer afford (due to house moving and such!) So I thought I would switch it up and try a few less expensive goodies that were easily accessible and low in price. Surprisingly, I'm pretty over the moon with the wonders this concoction has done to my skin. My cheeks are no longer overly pigmented, I have no break outs and there isn't a dry patch of skin in sight! (Which is shocking as it is -1 here in England and usually my skin would go crazy!) So, let's get onto all my lotions and potions!

Evening -

Once I get home from a long day at work there is no better feeling than taking off all that makeup I've been wearing though out the day! So I start off with a few cotton pads soaked in my Garnier Micellar water and in circling motions, I removed most of my eye and face makeup. I usually end up using three cotton pads, two for each of my eyes and one for my face and neck. (RRP: £3.33)

Moving onto cleanser, in the evening I like to wind down with a cream cleanser that will clean my skin but won't wake me up with a strong scent. I've been loving the No7 Beautiful skin cleansing balm and a muslin cloth to remove any left over makeup, dirt and grime. (RRP: £9.50)

Next is a new step I've added into my routine, toner. I never thought I would be a toner lover due to my dry skin, but oh man was I so wrong. Toners can come in many varieties to suit all sorts of skin types, it's a great way to rebalance your ph levels in your skin and really prep your face ready for moisturising. You may just have to keep your eyes peeled for a dry skin one though, as they seem to be like gold dust. (If you are on the hunt for one, look out for rose oil in the ingredients, this usually is targeted for us dry skin folk) Happily for me I found one in the shape of a Glossybox goodie. The Kueshi pure and clean facial toner. (RRP: £6.00)

A few times a week I like to give my new skin cells some life with a lovely scrub. The one I've been obsessed with is the Body Shop tea tree scrub, it has very tiny vigarating beads which really get in there and remove all of that dead skin. It has a really revitalising scent which helps you to wake up in the morning which is a bonus! (RRP: £6.50)

Moving onto face masks, as we all know I am the number one fan of Montagne Jeunesse, all of their masks are to dye for and at £1.00 each there really isn't anything to complain about! 

Moisturises can be tricky at night, as you want them to be light enough to sink in but heavy enough to actually help your skin out. I've been really enjoying the Garnier moisture match for dry to very dry skin, it really replenishes the moisture in my face and leaves it feeling velvety soft the morning after. (RRP: £3.99)

Treatments -

I like to finish off my routine with a thirst quenching eye cream, which I've been using for around 2 years, it is the Simple radiance brightening eye cream, it makes fine lines disappear and brightens up my eyes by removing the dark circles. If a sudden rouge spot pops up, I love the zap! zap! zap! gets that chap spot treatment by Anatomicals. I can easily get rid of it in 12 hours or less with this duo day and night spot treatment, it's a life saver. (RRP: £3.89) Lastly I top it all off with a moisturising lip balm. I usually use any that I can get my mitts on, but lately I've been drawing more towards the Superfruits naked lips to keep my smackers plumped up. It doesn't have an offensive smell like most others and I can really feel it sink in. (RRP: £3.78)

Morning -

As I am neither an early riser nor a night owl, getting up in the morning is a pain in itself. So I like to keep my getting ready time as short as possible to get optimum lie in time. So I usually wipe my face round with some of my Micellar water to wake me up and moisturise with the Garnier moisture match for normal skin to prep my face ready for makeup. (RRP: £3.99) Because who would chose 10 minutes of skin care over 10 minutes extra in bed? Not me that's for sure!

So as a grand total my skin care routine comes to... 

£42.07!

Not too bad considering it used to be over £100! So it costs you just over £40 to have smooth beautiful looking skin! As you know I'm always on the look out for new goodies to try, so if you have any suggestions please leave them below! 

Hope you enjoyed! 

Post soon,

Love Danielle xoxo

Hello 2015 | Happy new year!

So it's come to the end of another great year and it's time to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2014. For me, this was the year I met my boyfriend and I moved to another county just for him. It's also the year I accepted the job offer of my dreams, working with big name designer brands such as Vivian Westwood, Ance studios and Loubouton. And it's been the year where I lost a few friends on the way to where I am now.

Lastly, it was the year I conquered my depression. I am happier now than I ever have been and I want to thank a few close people to help me get where I am today. My mum, Nikki who's been there since day one. My mother in law, Sue who has accepted me with open arms into her family, and finally my rock, my everything, Liam, the guy I kiss goodnight too and who I first person I see every morning. 

It was a great year, I'm not going to lie. But if it wasn't great for you, make 2015 your year. Make it the year you make that change and go to that job interview that seems out of your reach or talk to that person who you've been crushing on forever. Take a chance, take the leap that will push you to be the person you've dreamed of being!

So, 2015, were going to make it a great one! My goals for the year ahead are big but do-able. I want to live in my own place and call it 'home'. I want to start my YouTube again from scratch and make it my own. And lastly I want a Apple Mac... (A girl can dream right!!?) 

So enjoy the last moments of this year whether you will make a toast to an amazing year or put your middle finger up to the sky and tell the world "F you 2014, 2015 is MY year!!!" And make it yours! Personally I am spending the night in a bubble bath planning the year ahead and enjoying the subtle sounds of the fire works out side! But if you are out drinking the night away, make sure to stay safe and HAVE FUN!!

Happy new year everyone,

See you next year!

Post soon,

Love Danielle xoxo

Hair dying routine | How I go from brown to bleach blonde

Just as a quick disclaimer before I start this off I wanted to say that in no way am I professional hair dresser and I am not qualified to do this. So please do not go by my word but go by the instructions in the box. This kit does use bleach and peroxide which will burn and scald your skin if used improperly. I have someone to help me to apply it as it makes the application process much easier. If you are under the age of 18 I do recommend you ask permission from your parents or guardian, as you are under the age limit of use. If unsure about application please see a specialist who will do it properly and it will be much safer on your part. Anyway enough of the legal stuff now onto the tutorial!

The bleach I like to use is the Bleach London Total Bleach kit which includes a disposable bowl and brush, two packets of powdered bleach, a liquid peroxide and plastic gloves. I start off by poring all of the bleach powder into the bowl and then slowly add the peroxide, stirring as I do so. After about 5 minutes of mixing, the consistency should be of thick cream with no lumpy bits. I then comb through my hair to get rid of any tangles and then apply the product all over my re-growth in small sections. 

Before -

During -

After evenly applying it to the treated areas I let it sit on my head for around 30 - 40 minutes checking it every 10 minutes at the progress. I then do my shower routine as normal by washing it out of my hair with two or three shampoo washes. Once finished I towel dry my hair and apply the Bleach London white toner to any areas that are a little yellow still which is usually my whole scalp, keeping that on for a good ten minutes and then once again washing it off. I finish off this routine by applying a conditioning mask all over my head and leaving that on over night. 

I like to keep this lovely blonde colour as bright as I can so I do like to wash my hair once a week with a purple shampoo and using the repairing mask as my conditioner. 

And that's about it! It pretty easy to get light coloured hair from brown but if you are dying your whole head I would recommend you buying two or three boxes of bleach depending on the length and thickness of your hair. These kits are around £10.99 each and you can buy them at your local Boots store or alternatively you can purchase them online! 

Hope you enjoyed this hair tutorial and I'll be back tomorrow for a new post!

Post soon, 

Love Danielle xxx