Quite a while back I posted about the holy grail beauty products that bloggers just can't live without. Well now I'm talking hair care and jesus christ have I got a list for you! I asked the blogging experts about the hair care products they love and they delivered. I'm not sure you're ready for this list of goodies because I definitely wasn't!
But first here are the hair care products I personally think are fab...
TRESeme Heat Defence Spray - I would be very surprised if I hadn't already spoke about this on the blog before but I don't care because its great. I've been using this spray to protect my hair from daily styling since I was a babby and I haven't found anything that beats it yet! It has slowly been going up in price but I don't think I've ever paid more than a fiver for it!
Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo - "But Grace you're not blonde anymore!" I can hear you shouting at the screen, and whilst that is partially true I do still have a head full of highlights that don't show up that well on camera. I use this every few weeks to give them the treatment they deserve. Although I'm not the blonde I once was, after using this bad boy my highlights are much lighter and brighter.
Batiste Plumping Powder - How I managed to get to the ripe old age of 24 before I tried this little beauty out I will never know! It gives my hair an unreal amount of volume and its ideal for travelling too it's not a liquid like most of my other styling products. I don't care how thick you think your hair is, you need this product in your life! Just be aware that brushing your hair can be a bit of a struggle the day after using this, but you can't have it all!
Now here are the hair care products that bloggers swear by...
Holly from littlepicklesmom.com - I've got a bit of a thing for Tigi Foxy Curls cream at the moment - I can run a little bit through my hair when it's wet, and can get away with letting it air dry. Without it, my hair looks like a frizzy, wavy nest unless it's blow dried.
Sarah from boxnip.co.uk - Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+ Capsules. They make my hair thicker, shinier, stronger and it grows so much quicker too! They are these clever capsules that you take at night & they go to where they are most needed. They're brilliant for your hair - I know because I lost all of my hair Dec 2017 & these have helped it come back, thicker than ever! As an added bonus they are fab for skin & nails too! Honestly, if I had to go to a deserted island this is the one product I'd not want to be without!
Emily from www.emilyaagaard.com - As someone with a lot of hair (and I mean A LOT), I’ve found the Tangle Teezer to be an absolute miracle. I have the type of hair that will manage to entangle itself within 3 minutes (my mum calls it velcro hair!), so imagine how it gets after a single night of sleeping on it. Painful, that’s how. Which would always lead me to putting off brushing it even longer to try and avoid the pain. Which leads to more pain! With the Tangle Teezer, I literally just grab hold of a portion of my hair and have at it. Hey presto. And no pain or damage at all. I’m now 1000x more likely to brush my hair every day as I’m no longer subject to that pain!
Annemieke from beautyonreview.com - I love my Fudge Urban Sea Salt spray and could not live without it! It's the only thing that really works for my fine hair. It protects my hair from the heat of my hairdryer, it adds texture and volume and it smells divine!
Naomi from tralisty.com - I’ve got naturally curly hair so I have to find products with no sulphates or nasties and need to try loads of different products to see which ones suit my hair best. So far, I’ve found Shea Moisture Manuka Honey conditioner and Curls Unleashed leave-in conditioner to be the best ones I’ve found!
Laura from missljbeauty.com - As I have very blonde hair. I use bleach London silver shampoo every other wash to keep my hair from any brassy yellowing. It’s by far the best silver shampoo in the market. After I always use a deep conditioner as any sliver or blue shampoo can be very drying. I love Aussie 3 minute miracle.
Emma from beemoneysavvy.com - I absolutely love Herbal Essences bio-renew Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo! I’ve been using it for a month now and and it has completely repaired my dry and damaged hair! I’ve never had a shampoo like it! I got it on offer at Superdrug for £2.50!
Suzi from raisingbadgers.com - I love OGX shampoos and conditioners. My hair walks on the wild side and these are the best, non-super-pricey products I’ve used for keeping it in line! I'm using Coconut Milk at the moment, which keeps the frizz under control, but I haven’t tried one I didn’t like!
Katie from studentskint.com - For hair care I would say a microfibre towel! It reduces frizz and is a lot better for your hair. I use a cheap Claus Ohlson sports towel that cost about £3.
Poppy from poppymayy.co.uk - My favourite hair product is the Phillip Kingsley elasticiser hair treatment. After dying my hair for so many years it had become weak and brittle. After just 3 months of using this my hair had become thicker and stronger with less breakages. It also smells wonderful too and is super easy to use!
Naomi from www.ohsixeleven.co.uk - My favourite is the OUAI Leave in Conditioner, as it is a quick and easy alternative to conditioning in the shower, perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle! It tames flyaways, helps combat frizz and also protects your hair from the heat of dryers and styling tools. I've noticed a huge difference in my hair since I started using this before blowdrying, my hair looks so much more shiny and so healthy.
Jenni from www.misstillyandme.co.uk - At the moment my hair is struggling with me being pre menopausal and I have discovered L'Oréal Elvive clay shampoo. It is perfect for my greasy roots and dry, bleached ends. It's the only shampoo that was affordable that I could find.
Jenny from mamafoodie.co.uk - Mark hill shampoo, conditioner and argan oil. My hair never looked so good.
Sam from gridcoregraphics.co.uk - The Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo and Conditioner is great to grow out your hair (it actually works and you can expect to see results in a month!) It also smells nice and can be found on offer in most places so pretty affordable too!
Sarah from sarahjennajayne.com - I mess with my hair pretty much constantly! Forever dying and bleaching! Because of this I need protein treatments! I love the aphogee 2 minute protein treatment and the bleach London reincarnation mask. Both are miracle workers! I think my hair would of all snapped off by now if it wasn't for these products!
Helen from www.naturalbeautywithbaby.com - Tabitha James Kraan haircare has transformed the way I care for my hair. No more stripping natural oils from my hair by washing every day! This system respects my hair and scalp and my hair gets better over time.
Claire from www.dailydealsblog.co.uk - As a money saving blogger I always research everything to ensure I'm getting the best buy and for my hair masks I swear by Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - It has the exact same ingredients and results of the similar masks that are being charged £30+ except you can get it for less than £5. I use it once a month and my hair feels amazing.
Frankie from thoroughlymoderngrandma.com - I’m trying to reduce our plastic waste so have switched to a solid shampoo bar. My favourite is Wild & Sage’s Rosemary and Lavender. It’s 100% natural with Rosemary infused Extra Virgin Oil so leaves your hair really soft. It lasts for ages and there’s no plastic as it’s wrapped in recycled paper.
Amy from shessowilsy.com - Argon oil is my favourite hair product right now. I got compliments about how shiny, smooth and healthy my hair was after using it just the once. And guys... my hair is naturally course, frizzy and wavy! You can buy pure argon oil for around £5 a bottle and it lasts me for several months. I massage it in to my scalp and run it through to the ends of my hair and leave it on for as long as I can. I often put it on before I go to bed and wash it off in the morning with ordinary shampoo and conditioner. It's such an easy addition to add some healthy goodness in to your hair. Even if you only have it on your hair for an hour when you get home from work to the time you wash it, every little bit helps! Weirdly, I'm also able to wash my hair even less after adding argon oil in to my hair routine. It's a bargain really and you know it won't have any nasty chemicals in it - I've been using it ever since!
Lucy from www.lucyearnshaw.co.uk - I love the Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam - I suffer with seborrheic dermatitis (also known as adult cradle cap) so this is much better than an aerosol dry shampoo which irritates my scalp. It’s easy to use and smells amazing!
Emma from themoneywhisperer.co.uk - As a naturally curly girl, my hair is quite dry. Water based lube (yes you heard me right!) is great for my hair.
Ruth from ruthmakesmoney.com - I've got very thick hair that's prone to being dry and quite wild, and it needs a ton of conditioning. The best solution that I've found is using a little coconut oil. The supermarkets' own brands are great. I use it sparingly on the ends, and a little goes a very long way. It's also great to have in the bathroom for removing makeup or tackling dry skin, and it smells amazing!
Jane from www.shoestringcottage.com - This may be a tad unusual, but I love Lush's solid shampoo bars, particularly the Godiva bar. It leaves my hair lovely and soft, smells lovely and - bonus - no plastic waste!
Dorota from www.beautydramaqueen.com - For me it’s all about Philip Kinsley Elasticizer! I can’t imagine my routine without it! It’s just pure magic. Especially now that my hair has been highlighted so much, it’s a miracle worker. I currently add toner to it, stick it in my hair for 30-60 mins then wash it off. Hair’s super soft and manageable afterwards. Coconut scent is the best too!
If you made it to the end well done, I know that was a hell of a lot to get through! I hope you managed to take away some hair care recommendations from this post, there were certainly enough of them!
What are your favourite hair care products?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But first here are the hair care products I personally think are fab...
TRESeme Heat Defence Spray - I would be very surprised if I hadn't already spoke about this on the blog before but I don't care because its great. I've been using this spray to protect my hair from daily styling since I was a babby and I haven't found anything that beats it yet! It has slowly been going up in price but I don't think I've ever paid more than a fiver for it!
Touch of Silver Brightening Shampoo - "But Grace you're not blonde anymore!" I can hear you shouting at the screen, and whilst that is partially true I do still have a head full of highlights that don't show up that well on camera. I use this every few weeks to give them the treatment they deserve. Although I'm not the blonde I once was, after using this bad boy my highlights are much lighter and brighter.
Batiste Plumping Powder - How I managed to get to the ripe old age of 24 before I tried this little beauty out I will never know! It gives my hair an unreal amount of volume and its ideal for travelling too it's not a liquid like most of my other styling products. I don't care how thick you think your hair is, you need this product in your life! Just be aware that brushing your hair can be a bit of a struggle the day after using this, but you can't have it all!
Holly from littlepicklesmom.com - I've got a bit of a thing for Tigi Foxy Curls cream at the moment - I can run a little bit through my hair when it's wet, and can get away with letting it air dry. Without it, my hair looks like a frizzy, wavy nest unless it's blow dried.
Sarah from boxnip.co.uk - Ingenious Beauty Ultimate Collagen+ Capsules. They make my hair thicker, shinier, stronger and it grows so much quicker too! They are these clever capsules that you take at night & they go to where they are most needed. They're brilliant for your hair - I know because I lost all of my hair Dec 2017 & these have helped it come back, thicker than ever! As an added bonus they are fab for skin & nails too! Honestly, if I had to go to a deserted island this is the one product I'd not want to be without!
Abi from whatabigailsays.co.uk - My absolute must have is the Living Proof restore hair mask - it leaves my hair so smooth, reduces frizz and sorts out my split ends!
Amy from www.writingintotheether.com - I always use MUK hair products to dye my hair - the colours are just so so vibrant! And Aussie for my curls (Gets rid of the frizz).
Emily from www.emilyaagaard.com - As someone with a lot of hair (and I mean A LOT), I’ve found the Tangle Teezer to be an absolute miracle. I have the type of hair that will manage to entangle itself within 3 minutes (my mum calls it velcro hair!), so imagine how it gets after a single night of sleeping on it. Painful, that’s how. Which would always lead me to putting off brushing it even longer to try and avoid the pain. Which leads to more pain! With the Tangle Teezer, I literally just grab hold of a portion of my hair and have at it. Hey presto. And no pain or damage at all. I’m now 1000x more likely to brush my hair every day as I’m no longer subject to that pain!
Annemieke from beautyonreview.com - I love my Fudge Urban Sea Salt spray and could not live without it! It's the only thing that really works for my fine hair. It protects my hair from the heat of my hairdryer, it adds texture and volume and it smells divine!
Naomi from tralisty.com - I’ve got naturally curly hair so I have to find products with no sulphates or nasties and need to try loads of different products to see which ones suit my hair best. So far, I’ve found Shea Moisture Manuka Honey conditioner and Curls Unleashed leave-in conditioner to be the best ones I’ve found!
Laura from missljbeauty.com - As I have very blonde hair. I use bleach London silver shampoo every other wash to keep my hair from any brassy yellowing. It’s by far the best silver shampoo in the market. After I always use a deep conditioner as any sliver or blue shampoo can be very drying. I love Aussie 3 minute miracle.
Emma from beemoneysavvy.com - I absolutely love Herbal Essences bio-renew Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo! I’ve been using it for a month now and and it has completely repaired my dry and damaged hair! I’ve never had a shampoo like it! I got it on offer at Superdrug for £2.50!
Suzi from raisingbadgers.com - I love OGX shampoos and conditioners. My hair walks on the wild side and these are the best, non-super-pricey products I’ve used for keeping it in line! I'm using Coconut Milk at the moment, which keeps the frizz under control, but I haven’t tried one I didn’t like!
Katie from studentskint.com - For hair care I would say a microfibre towel! It reduces frizz and is a lot better for your hair. I use a cheap Claus Ohlson sports towel that cost about £3.
Poppy from poppymayy.co.uk - My favourite hair product is the Phillip Kingsley elasticiser hair treatment. After dying my hair for so many years it had become weak and brittle. After just 3 months of using this my hair had become thicker and stronger with less breakages. It also smells wonderful too and is super easy to use!
Naomi from www.ohsixeleven.co.uk - My favourite is the OUAI Leave in Conditioner, as it is a quick and easy alternative to conditioning in the shower, perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle! It tames flyaways, helps combat frizz and also protects your hair from the heat of dryers and styling tools. I've noticed a huge difference in my hair since I started using this before blowdrying, my hair looks so much more shiny and so healthy.
Jenni from www.misstillyandme.co.uk - At the moment my hair is struggling with me being pre menopausal and I have discovered L'Oréal Elvive clay shampoo. It is perfect for my greasy roots and dry, bleached ends. It's the only shampoo that was affordable that I could find.
Jenny from mamafoodie.co.uk - Mark hill shampoo, conditioner and argan oil. My hair never looked so good.
Sam from gridcoregraphics.co.uk - The Lee Stafford Hair Growth Shampoo and Conditioner is great to grow out your hair (it actually works and you can expect to see results in a month!) It also smells nice and can be found on offer in most places so pretty affordable too!
Sarah from sarahjennajayne.com - I mess with my hair pretty much constantly! Forever dying and bleaching! Because of this I need protein treatments! I love the aphogee 2 minute protein treatment and the bleach London reincarnation mask. Both are miracle workers! I think my hair would of all snapped off by now if it wasn't for these products!
Helen from www.naturalbeautywithbaby.com - Tabitha James Kraan haircare has transformed the way I care for my hair. No more stripping natural oils from my hair by washing every day! This system respects my hair and scalp and my hair gets better over time.
Claire from www.dailydealsblog.co.uk - As a money saving blogger I always research everything to ensure I'm getting the best buy and for my hair masks I swear by Aussie Deep Treatment 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor - It has the exact same ingredients and results of the similar masks that are being charged £30+ except you can get it for less than £5. I use it once a month and my hair feels amazing.
Frankie from thoroughlymoderngrandma.com - I’m trying to reduce our plastic waste so have switched to a solid shampoo bar. My favourite is Wild & Sage’s Rosemary and Lavender. It’s 100% natural with Rosemary infused Extra Virgin Oil so leaves your hair really soft. It lasts for ages and there’s no plastic as it’s wrapped in recycled paper.
Amy from shessowilsy.com - Argon oil is my favourite hair product right now. I got compliments about how shiny, smooth and healthy my hair was after using it just the once. And guys... my hair is naturally course, frizzy and wavy! You can buy pure argon oil for around £5 a bottle and it lasts me for several months. I massage it in to my scalp and run it through to the ends of my hair and leave it on for as long as I can. I often put it on before I go to bed and wash it off in the morning with ordinary shampoo and conditioner. It's such an easy addition to add some healthy goodness in to your hair. Even if you only have it on your hair for an hour when you get home from work to the time you wash it, every little bit helps! Weirdly, I'm also able to wash my hair even less after adding argon oil in to my hair routine. It's a bargain really and you know it won't have any nasty chemicals in it - I've been using it ever since!
Lucy from www.lucyearnshaw.co.uk - I love the Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam - I suffer with seborrheic dermatitis (also known as adult cradle cap) so this is much better than an aerosol dry shampoo which irritates my scalp. It’s easy to use and smells amazing!
Emma from themoneywhisperer.co.uk - As a naturally curly girl, my hair is quite dry. Water based lube (yes you heard me right!) is great for my hair.
Ruth from ruthmakesmoney.com - I've got very thick hair that's prone to being dry and quite wild, and it needs a ton of conditioning. The best solution that I've found is using a little coconut oil. The supermarkets' own brands are great. I use it sparingly on the ends, and a little goes a very long way. It's also great to have in the bathroom for removing makeup or tackling dry skin, and it smells amazing!
Jane from www.shoestringcottage.com - This may be a tad unusual, but I love Lush's solid shampoo bars, particularly the Godiva bar. It leaves my hair lovely and soft, smells lovely and - bonus - no plastic waste!
Dorota from www.beautydramaqueen.com - For me it’s all about Philip Kinsley Elasticizer! I can’t imagine my routine without it! It’s just pure magic. Especially now that my hair has been highlighted so much, it’s a miracle worker. I currently add toner to it, stick it in my hair for 30-60 mins then wash it off. Hair’s super soft and manageable afterwards. Coconut scent is the best too!
If you made it to the end well done, I know that was a hell of a lot to get through! I hope you managed to take away some hair care recommendations from this post, there were certainly enough of them!
What are your favourite hair care products?
Thanks for reading!
x
If you liked this post don't forget to click here to follow me on Bloglovin!
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If you haven't already been bored to tears with my latest holiday photos on Instagram then I'm sure you will be soon. For anyone who missed it, back in January I spent 3 amazing days in the beautiful city of Belfast all on my own. It was amazing and little bit scary at the same time but I am SO glad I did it
I got the chance to walk around most of the city, and I ticked a fair few things off my list. Three days however is not a massive amount of time to really see the guts of a city so there were also quite a few things I didn't get chance to do.
But before we talk about that, what are the top 5 things I think you should do in Belfast?
- Free walking tour - If you know me you will know this is the first thing I usually check myself onto in a new city. Virtually all small cities will run a free walking tour and in my opinion they are the best way to not only get your bearings in a new place, but to also meet people from absolutely everywhere!
They are also super budget friendly which is always a bonus in my book, just tip the tour guide what you think the experience was worth at the end!
- Drink at the crown - So this is probably one of the most beautiful pubs I've ever seen, honestly it's unreal. I won't go into too much detail as I think this is one of those things you need to see with your own eyes, but believe me when I say this is worth stopping for. Another bar I would highly recommend is the 5 points. It's slightly out of the city centre but there is live music on every night and the atmosphere is fantastic!
- Tour of Falls Road - Whether you walk it alone or with an organised group, a wander around this residential area is a must. The history here is unreal and it will likely shock you, especially if you've grown up in mainland Britain as it's not really talked about at all. Brits, take note of what happened here because you won't be taught about it at school. There are multiple memorials in this area so please think about that and be respectful whilst touring the Falls.
- The Giants Causeway - Okay so not technically in Belfast but it's just too close to miss! The Causeway will probably be like nothing else you have ever seen before and it is well worth a trip in my opinion. It's so beautiful I actually teared up a bit whilst I was there and I'm not even ashamed to say that. Yes it's touristy but who cares? It's amazing.
- Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge - Again not in Belfast but virtually down the road from The Giants Causeway so you might as well do them both. This creeky little bridge is suspended around 100 ft above sea level and is owned by the National Trust. Whilst you'll likely have to queue to cross, no trip to this area of Ireland is complete without tiptoeing over to Carrick-A-Rede Island.
- Wander around the cathedral district - Filled with bustling pubs and bars, a quick trip to the cathedral district is a must. Here you will find the most famous pub in Belfast - The Duke Of York. It will probably be busy but it has everything you could want from a little Irish pub.
As I said, I didn't really have time see everything I planned to. This usually happens when I go travelling to be honest, I always find more and more things I want to do whilst I'm out there and no amount of planning would help me fit it all in. So what do I do when I fall in love with a place and still have half an unchecked to do list? I go back. And that is exactly what I'll be doing this Wednesday!
So what am I going to make sure I see this time?
- Crumlin Road Gaol - A must for any history geek, Crumlin Road Gaol was in operation for 150 years. In this time it had housed over 25,000 prisoners which included men, women, and even children.
- Titanic Museum - I actually missed this museum off on purpose whilst I was in Belfast last month as I had heard nothing but bad reviews. That being said they were mostly from Belfast residents who had likely been a thousand times before on school trips and such, so I'm going to give it a go and see what it's all about.
- Political Tour - Whilst on my free walking tour I was told about the Political Tour which can also be taken. The tour is lead for the first half by an ex IRA member and in the second half it is lead by an ex Loyalist. I would really like to make time for this next week as it would be very interesting to hear about The Troubles from people on both sides who were actively involved in it.
- Kelley's Cellars - This was firmly at the top of my to do list in January so I'm not really sure how I missed it but this time I am going to prioritise a trip to this 250 year old pub.
As always I would love to hear what you would recommend I see whilst in Belfast. What did I miss from this list? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter!
Belfast Town Hall
I got the chance to walk around most of the city, and I ticked a fair few things off my list. Three days however is not a massive amount of time to really see the guts of a city so there were also quite a few things I didn't get chance to do.
But before we talk about that, what are the top 5 things I think you should do in Belfast?
- Free walking tour - If you know me you will know this is the first thing I usually check myself onto in a new city. Virtually all small cities will run a free walking tour and in my opinion they are the best way to not only get your bearings in a new place, but to also meet people from absolutely everywhere!
They are also super budget friendly which is always a bonus in my book, just tip the tour guide what you think the experience was worth at the end!
- Drink at the crown - So this is probably one of the most beautiful pubs I've ever seen, honestly it's unreal. I won't go into too much detail as I think this is one of those things you need to see with your own eyes, but believe me when I say this is worth stopping for. Another bar I would highly recommend is the 5 points. It's slightly out of the city centre but there is live music on every night and the atmosphere is fantastic!
The Giants Causeway
- The Giants Causeway - Okay so not technically in Belfast but it's just too close to miss! The Causeway will probably be like nothing else you have ever seen before and it is well worth a trip in my opinion. It's so beautiful I actually teared up a bit whilst I was there and I'm not even ashamed to say that. Yes it's touristy but who cares? It's amazing.
- Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge - Again not in Belfast but virtually down the road from The Giants Causeway so you might as well do them both. This creeky little bridge is suspended around 100 ft above sea level and is owned by the National Trust. Whilst you'll likely have to queue to cross, no trip to this area of Ireland is complete without tiptoeing over to Carrick-A-Rede Island.
- Wander around the cathedral district - Filled with bustling pubs and bars, a quick trip to the cathedral district is a must. Here you will find the most famous pub in Belfast - The Duke Of York. It will probably be busy but it has everything you could want from a little Irish pub.
Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge
So what am I going to make sure I see this time?
- Crumlin Road Gaol - A must for any history geek, Crumlin Road Gaol was in operation for 150 years. In this time it had housed over 25,000 prisoners which included men, women, and even children.
- Titanic Museum - I actually missed this museum off on purpose whilst I was in Belfast last month as I had heard nothing but bad reviews. That being said they were mostly from Belfast residents who had likely been a thousand times before on school trips and such, so I'm going to give it a go and see what it's all about.
Bobby Sands Mural Falls Road
- Political Tour - Whilst on my free walking tour I was told about the Political Tour which can also be taken. The tour is lead for the first half by an ex IRA member and in the second half it is lead by an ex Loyalist. I would really like to make time for this next week as it would be very interesting to hear about The Troubles from people on both sides who were actively involved in it.
- Kelley's Cellars - This was firmly at the top of my to do list in January so I'm not really sure how I missed it but this time I am going to prioritise a trip to this 250 year old pub.
As always I would love to hear what you would recommend I see whilst in Belfast. What did I miss from this list? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter!
Thanks for reading!
x
If you liked this post don't forget to click here to follow me on Bloglovin!
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Well I've been single for quite a few months now. It's not something I really expected to happen but I think it's safe to say I have been absolutely loving single life! The shake up over the summer was a bit dramatic to say the least but I'm here, I'm fine, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
So in celebration of my first valentines day out of a relationship I thought I would talk about my favorite things about being a single pringle (shoot me for using that phrase please).
I can starfish to my heart's content - There really is something beautiful about waking up on a saturday morning in a big cosy double bed and not having to share a single inch of it with anyone else.
My $$$ is my own - I am saving money like an absolute trooper. Okay that's a bit of a lie because I'm actually spending a fortune on travel (see here for details) but I don't have to fork out for dinners, presents, or anything else that comes with being in a relationship. I'm still saving for a mortgage but when the time does finally come to buy a house it will be mine and mine alone.
I can start and actually finish a whole series - There are so many TV shows I've watched in the last few months that I know I just wouldn't have had chance to watch all the way through If I had a boyfriend.
Absolute freedom - There's something terrifyingly amazing about having the freedom to do whatever you want. Do I want to go to the shops on my own? Yes? Great, off I go! Do I want to take a little city break on my own? Yep? Fucking go for it! For someone who could barely get on public transport of their own last year I have come a bloody long way.
I can sleep with who I want, when I want - This doesn't always mean sex. I can spend endless nights awake putting the world to rights with friends, family, and people I've only just met. The best conversations happen when you're eyes are full of sleep and your body is crying out for rest. Also the one penis for life club rejected me so there is that...
I've been given the chance to rediscover who I really am - And I'm now planning out who I want to be. It's very easy to give all of yourself to someone else and lose who you really are when you're in a relationship. I will never again lose the beautiful brave girl I've become.
Getting those qualifications - Somehow I manage to have time to go to college. I know I moan like hell about my college course and believe me I can not wait until it's over, but by the summer I will have a qualification in marketing and I will be one step closer to having my dream job. I'm going to be a rich lady one day.
It's been a crazy time but it's been amazing. I've bloomed into a happy, independent, confident person, and whilst my life isn't always smooth sailing I can honestly say that losing a partner and finding myself has been the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Happy valentines day to every loved up couple out there, and also to every single person falling in love with themselves ♥
Thanks for reading!
x
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A year or so ago I stopped exfoliating my face. I didn't stop completely but I reduced the amount I exfoliated my face massively. I used to give my chops a good scrub once a day, sometimes even twice if I felt a little bit meh. Initially my face felt amazing, it was just so smooth, but I soon realised that this hard treatment was actually drying my skin out and making my breakouts worse too. So I said 'no more!' and cut down my exfoliating to just once a week.
Now don't get me wrong, I do still get dry skin occasionally, and I don't think I will ever be blemish free but for me limiting the amount I exfoliate works a hell of a lot more than scrubbing away ever did! There's a thousand and one opinions on exfoliating so feel free to do your own research but today I'm going to spill the beans on what I love using on my mush.
So what do I use now?
Simple Kind To Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel - Me and Simple skincare go back as far as I can remember. Their products saved me through my teen years and even now in my 20s (cry) they're still a firm favourite with myself and all my other lady friends. This facial wash in particular is a prized product of mine as it contains good vitamins, is soap free, and it's super gentle too. It leaves my face feeling squeeky clean and is pretty purse friendly coming in at just under £4 for a 150ml bottle. It is also fragrance fee which doesn't bother me as I love a good scent, but I know for a lot of people with sensitive skin this is a must!
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Facial Wash - Another budget friendly product is this little Neutrogena beauty. It was a complete impulse buy to be honest but the cute colour caught my eye and the amazing scent sealed the deal. I love anything grapefruit scented and whilst I can see this being a bit too overpowering for some, I'm smitten. It promises to cleanse, purify, and invigorate which I would generally agree it does, all whilst sitting pretty in my bathroom. You can pick this up in most stores for between £4 - £5 although I swear I paid about £3 for my 200ml bottle in Savers!
So those little gems are my current favourite facial washes. As always I am open to any face wash recommendations you guys might have as I am forever trying out new products. What's your go to facial wash? Let me know in the comments or over on twitter!
Thanks for reading!
x
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Of all the fancy little handbags I own, nothing makes me happier than chucking on my battered and bruised backpack ready for my next adventure. I don't think I will ever bin that little beauty, after all its visited more countries than the average person has! But I'm not going to talk about that beat up rucksack today, nope, I'm going to share exactly what I fill it with!
So what is in my travel bag?
Camera - I would honestly rather leave my purse at home than leave my camera. For me a big part of travelling is capturing my memories and I know a lot of people say you 'should live in the moment' but I'm a firm believer that you can do both. Now there are so many different cameras on the market so it's important to do your research before making any purchases. One camera that recently came to my attention is the fairly new Lumix mirrorless camera from Panasonic. It features the best image quality of all the Lumix cameras, the ability to capture slow motion video, and can record 4k video too making it ideal for vloggers. It also has Wifi which is something I think we can all agree modern cameras should have.
Spare SD card & Tripod - So what's the use in having a banging camera if you don't have the necessary accessories? I will always take at least one spare memory card away with me just incase I fill the first one or, worst comes to worst, I somehow break it. I wouldn't purchase anything less than a 16gb memory card if I'm honest, that way you can snap away without worry.
I've also been using my baby tripod a lot more recently. I have a full sized tripod but it's no good for travelling. When I'm out and about I like to take my minature one which can quite comfortably fit in the bottom of my rucksack. This teenie tripod came in especially handy last week while on my solo trip as it meant I could easily take full length photographs of myself and even use it as a more sturdy selfie stick - would recommend!
Headphones - Does this even need an explanation? Bored? Pop your headphones in and listen to the sweet music you likely downloaded in a hurry the night before. Worried that strangers might talk to you? - Pop your headphones in. Desperately need to watch cat videos? Headphones in!
Plasters - Again an obvious one but one everyone seems to forget? I am the blister queen which means I'm a plaster hoarder. I'll take about 7 different types away with me just incase!
Portable Phone charger - Live on instagram like me? For Christs sake invest in a portable phone charger. That way you can scroll to your heart's content and still have enough battery to load up your boarding pass at the gate!
Lip Balm - Okay so I'll likely take a minimized version of my make up kit but I could go without all of that as long as I had a decent lip balm. It doesn't matter where in the world you're going, you need to keep them lips looking lush. No-one wants dry cracked lips in their holiday photos, am I right girls? I would strongly recommend picking up a lip balm with SPF in it, even if you're going on a staycation in the UK, we do occasionally get sunlight too!
Document wallet - I have a little A6 sized document wallet that comes on all of my travels with me. It just makes it easy to have everything I need in one place and I'll always check its firmly inside my bag before heading off. What do I keep inside you ask? Well I'll pop in my passport, travel insurance certificate, hotel details, flight details, any tickets I've purchased, and the life saving EHIC card. For anyone unsure an EHIC is a European Health Insurance Card which entitles you to free healthcare in Europe, for now...
Sanitary towels - Better to be safe than sorry!
Medication - Boring I know but I will always have a stash of medical goodies. You can guarantee I'll have a selection of paracetamol, diarrhea tablets, heartburn tablets, and maybe more depending on which mystery illness I'm suffering from at that time.
A pair of pants and socks - You know the 'take enough pairs to piss yourself twice a day' rule? Well I take it very seriously. Not only will I have 17 pairs of pants in my case for a 3 days break, I will also keep another spare pair in my hand luggage. Honestly I'm probably not going to have an accidental wee, but there's every chance my suitcase could get lost and I would like to have some clean undies for the next day.
So that's what I cram into my very worn, slightly falling apart, hand luggage bag. What do you always take on your adventures with you? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter!
Thanks for reading!
x
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* This is a sponsored post however all thoughts and opinions are my own. I would never promote anything I didn't believe in.
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Where the fuck did 2018 go? Considering last year was an absolute bag of shite it flew by! To put it mildly last year wasn't the best, but I did visit some incredible places.
From the Battlefields of Belgium, to the largest brick castle in the world, and even Ben Nevis, I saw a lot. I ticked off three new Hard Rock Cafes and I met up for real life drinks with friends I'd only ever spoken to online before. I left the UK 4 times last year and went camping a hell of a lot too, but I want to smash that this year.
Chanonry Point, Scotland
In 2019 I plan to go on weekend break every single month of the year. Yep you heard right. I have no idea how I'm going to physically do it or finance it but I'm determined. I've not got a massive amount planned yet but there are a few places I know I want to tick off the list.
So where shall I go in 2019?
Belfast, Ireland - This one is planned, actually it's more than planned, its booked. And I leave in 7(!!!) days. But that's not all. I'm going alone. "Why?!" I hear you cry! Well I haven't got a fucking clue if I'm honest but it's happening. All I've ever wanted to do is see the world and if I have to do it alone, well I guess that's better than not going at all.
But in all seriousness I'm shitting it and I would really appreciate your Belfast travel tips and moral support at this point.
Things I want to see while in Belfast: Titanic Museum, Giants Causeway, Crumlin Road Gaol.
Falls of Dochart, Scotland
Bruges, Belgium - Lovely little Belgium, it's one of those countries you can't help but fall in love with. The history, the architecture, and the people, Belgium has it all (especially the people though, Belgians are ridiculously friendly).
A few days ago I booked a trip to Bruges with my Mom and Sister and I AM SO EXCITED. I've wanted to visit this fairytale town since forever and now I'm finally going!
Things I want to do while in Bruges: The Belfry of Bruges, eat 500 merveilleux cakes, visit some of the many museums.
Prague, Czech Republic - Prague is another place that has been on my list for ages. Anyone I've ever spoken to about this pretty city only has good things to say about it and just from looking at photos I can tell it's a beautiful place. Maybe 2019 is the year I drown my sorrows in cheap Czech beer?
Things I would do in Prague: Explore the old town and see the astronomical clock, visit Terezin Concentration Camp, Prague Castle.
Loch Lomond, Scotland
Sheffield & Durham UK - Not as exotic as some of the other places on this list but still places I hope to see. I figured I could probably visit both of these northern towns in one long weekend if I tried hard enough.
I spent my childhood exploring the southern coast of the UK and I very rarely travel any further North than Birmingham city centre so it will be nice to see a different part of the UK.
Things I would do in Sheffield: The Winter Garden, Millennium Gallery.
Things I would do in Durham: Durham Castle, Museum of Archeology.
Lisbon, Portugal - Teenage Grace was a complete beach bum. A holiday to me back then meant endless hours lounging on the sand and splashing about in the sea and, whilst I still enjoy that today, I'm much more of a city girl. That's probably why Portugal is the only 'hot' country to make the list. Even though its surrounded by water I doubt I would have much time to nip down to the shore if I did visit Lisbon.
Things I would do in Lisbon: Wander around the Alfama district, Castelo de S Jorge, Torre De Belem.
Ben Nevis, Scotland
And that's it! My travel list is forever expanding and I have no doubt that I will be adding to this list as the months go by. I need to pick at least 7 more places to visit if I'm going to have a little break every month.
As always your tips and recommendations for places to see/ things to do/ things to eat are always welcome. This year is going to be a year of adventure and I am so ready for it!
Where are you planning to visit in 2019?
Thanks for reading!
x
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