Hair Refresh.

From this:

To This:

My hair has been in dire need of a refresh for months now, so I was superrr excited to finally have it done on the weekend! I went to Colour Nation just off of Oxford Street and had a lovely relaxing afternoon.

At the moment I seem to be salon-hopping in my quest to find the perfect salon for me. ColourNation isn't perfect location wise and was at the top end of my budget, but I did love the cut and colour I got there. Even the boyfriend said it was the best cut I'd had a in a while - high praise let me tell you!

I actually went in asking for a refresh of my ombré. Only to be told that because of how subtle the graduation in colour is in my hair, what I really have is balayage. Aside from being hard to say, I'm okay with that! I've always been very fearful of having an obvious split of the colours in my hair, so if balayage means 'more natural' then I'm all for it!

I had Senior Stylist Kristina working on my hair and aside from being really lovely, she really listened to what I wanted and checked every step of the way if it was all okay. Thats something I haven't really found before. Usually you have a brief consultation at the start, and thats it. You're left at the mercy of their hands!

I wanted the colour to stay quite ashy rather than a bright 'in your face' kind of blond, so she added a toner whilst washing my hair. Cut wise I didn't have anything drastic, just a trim off the ends and a bit of layering to frame my face more.

I realise the pictures above don't make my hair look toooo different, but I really just wanted a refresh of what I already had. The ends of my hair look so damaged in the top picture, so I'm soo glad I've had that all chopped off now! I also am a little windswept in the 'after' pictures, but I wanted to show you it fresh from the salon!

What do you think? :)

Aimée
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Glastonbury: "The Best Festival in the World"

Glastonbury, the so-called "greatest festival in the world" was.....basically the best festival ever. No word of a lie, everything about it is just awesome and I can totally see why it sells out in a matter of hours every year!

It may be muddy, the toilets (and by that I mean pits of death) may be grim and you may smell by the end of it but its absolutely worth the trouble! I thought I'd do a little round up of my experience for those of you interested in going. I have a few photos to insert, but I didn't manage to take many as I was trying to save my phone battery.

We arrived on the Wednesday and pitched up quite near the coach entrance. It was actually really nice and chilled there, rather than the campsites right on top of the stages which were awful. They got soo trashed by Monday morning, so the extra 5 minute walk to our campsite was definitely worth it.

Note in the picture above how clean all the wellies are....that didn't last long. Everyone talks about the glastonbury mud, but oh my you don't truly get it until you experience it. Its ridiculously sticky yet somehow still slippy. Seeing people coated head to toe in mud soon became a regular occurrence, but luckily for us we didn't have any casualties.

We went as a group of five, although we were originally meant to be around the seven mark. From going to Bestival last year as a three, I definitely think bigger is better. It was so handy when we wanted to see different people to be able to split up and keep everyone happy. Also, more people equals more lols which is always a plus!

On that note though, I would say having a working phone is a godsend when trying to meet up with everyone again. This year EE sold festival power bars which meant you could charge up your phone and exchange it on site when it was dead for a new fully charged one. If you get to go next year, buy this!! Best 20 quid I spent.

Aside from all the amazing music going on there was loads of cool things to do in the day too. We went to the top of the Ribbon Tower on the Friday and could literally see for miles across the site. It was so cool, although properrr windy! The food at Glastonbury was amazing too. There were so many stalls to choose from; a highlight being the pulled pork and bacon jam sandwich in a brioche bun above! It was from a stall called HotBox which I'm hoping I'll be able to find again.

Another note to add, everyone at the festival is SO friendly! We met so many people over the weekend and they were all lovely, if slightly high/drunk too. You can definitely tell the original hippy vibe is still lingering at the festival, and everyone is more than up for a chat.

Music wise, my highlights were definitely John Newman, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons (above!), Ed Sheeran, London Grammar, Lily Allen, Lianne La Havas, Foxes, George Ezra, The Kooks (surprise set!), Arcade Fire andd Elbow.

This is a really long post, but I really wanted to express my love for Glastonbury. At its core, Glastonbury is a performing arts festival and its really apparent in the range of things going on over the weekend. From comedy acts, cabaret, raves, acoustic sets and pizza making classes to american diner's and a speaking tree book stall, Glastonbury really does have it all. We were there from Wednesday to Monday and we were still finding new places to explore. I feel like we didn't even scratch the surface of the festival.

So with that in mind, on the morning that the 2015 tickets are released you'll be able to find me continually refreshing my computer screen. Let me know if you went this year, or are thinking of going next year! :)

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Spotlight On: Rimmel

Back in February I started a little series where I put the spotlight on a particular brand. Its now April, and this is my second installment - oops! Lot's of other posts got in the way, but it's back now with the spotlight placed firmly on Rimmel. When I was deciding which three Rimmel products were my favourite I was surprised to realise that I didn't have a signal eyeshadow, blush or bronzer from the brand! Apparently, I favour their base and lip products, as can be seen above!

My first favourite is one that I've repurchased time and time again; the Stay Matte Powder in Translucent.

It keeps my makeup in check all day, literally and keeps me looking shine free! I do always fear looking shiny, so I love using this across my T-Zone to make sure everything stays in check. Its a really lightweight powder and doesn't give you a cakey look at all. It's definitely been a permanent fixture in my make-up bag for a longggg time now and I can't see it leaving anytime soon either!

The Wake Me Up Concealer in True Ivory has also been a firm favourite of mine for quite a while now. I'm pretty sure I'm on my third or fourth tube of the stuff now, and I won't be stopping any time soon! I find it so easy to apply, its really creamy and blends out really well. Its really high coverage and stays in place for a good 8 hours or more!

Finally, a lipstick! More specifically the Moisture Renew lipstick in In Love With Ginger. As the name would suggest this lipstick is packed full of moisture ensuring dry patchy lips are not an issue! The lipstick glides on really well and sits super comfortably on the lips. The shade is a really lovely orangey-red, perfect for Spring/Summer in my eyes and it'll look even better with a tan! It lasts for a good few hours, and leaves a nice stain on the lips.

So that's my top three Rimmel picks! What're your favourite Rimmel products?

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Review | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+

Back in February I posted a review on the original Effaclar Duo and deigned it holy grail status. Since then I have been road testing the new and improved Effaclar Duo+* and unsurprisingly I'm still in love. So whats changed?

The original Effaclar Duo treated my spots, blemishes and clogged pores with ease. My skin was visibly brighter and any spots were zapped immediately. So why fix what isn't broken right?

Well, I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that spots and blemishes leave us with red marks and scarring long after the spot has actually cleared up. My skin in particular is SUCH a slow healer so any blemish or spot will stay with me for a long time after. This is where the Effaclar Duo+ comes into play. It contains a new ingredient which rebuilds the skins surface ensuring you aren't left with any of these marks. Amazing news for anyone with skin like me!

It literally is a skin saviour; helping to prevent spots appearing in the first place, targeting them straight away if they do arrive and cleaning up after them so that no scarring is left behind.

I find that the texture of the Duo+ is slightly thicker than the original Duo but it still sinks in really well and leaves my skin feeling super moisturised. You can use the Duo+ with or without a moisturiser over the top, its completely up to you. I find that in the morning it really helps to prime my skin before I apply my make-up and so I only use the Duo+. But in the evening, I also use my Emma Hardie AM/PM Treatment Moisturiser.

All in all, the Duo+ is still HG status for me.

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*This product was sent to me as a PR sample for review consideration. Despite this my review remains 100% honest and true to my own opinion.

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Review | Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Striking

Its official. I've found my go-to Spring lip. Initially I wasn't going to buy any of the Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm's as to be honest I already have lots of balms from different brands in my collection. But, a few good reviews here and there and I was sucked in. I picked up the shade Striking and I'm literally in love with it.

Its a beautiful red, that has slight orange undertones on me. Its quite a bold colour, but is definitely buildable to create a subtler or stronger look depending on your preference. Its such a great colour I really think it would suit most skintones!

Despite being a matte finish the formula is super moisturising as the balms are made up of a Triple Butter Complex - shea, mango and coconut butters. I've found that the balm lasts really well throughout the day, and I only had to reapply once or twice after eating! The balms also have a (really) slight peppermint scent which is great for the mint lovers out there, myself included.

I think its such a perfect shade for spring/summer, and they're great to use on the go. Can you tell I love it? ;) Now my only question is which shade I should try next! Any suggestions?

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Review (and Tutorial!) | Enrapture Encode Totem Styler

I've always struggled to curl my hair with straighteners. I can never seem to make it symmetrical on both sides and it also takes me about 25 minutes to do it all! Not exactly handy when you're rushing out the house! So when I received the Enrapture Encode Totem Styler for Christmas I was a very happy girl indeed!!

The styler has three different heat sections, which is amazing for creating loads of different styles without buying lots of different attachments. It creates really smooth, sleek curls and waves and comes with a travel case-come-heat mat which is super handy!

I filmed myself creating my go-to hair look at the moment, using the heat setting 1-1-1. The whole process only takes me about 10-15 minutes and the curls stay in all day, which in my hair is a big bonus.



I hope you liked the video! :)

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Review | Maybelline Volum' Express the Mega Plush Mascara

Maybelline really do make some of the best mascaras on the highstreet, and after trying quite a few out of their range I think I've found my favourite. It also just so happens to be one of the longest named mascaras out there! The Volum' Express the Mega Plush mascara - what a mouthful!

The mascara wand is flexible, making it really easy to coat all of your lashes evenly. The wand is super fat too so your lashes are coated really quickly! The only downside with that is its really easy to get mascara under your bottom lashes, but its nothing a bit of make-up remover can't sort out.

I love how much volume it gives my lashes, and it really helps to separate them too. In the picture above I've used about three coats to achieve the look. I have the mascara in Blackest Black, so it really makes a statement of your lashes and frames your eyes well.

At £7.99 its a really affordable option and is a definite favourite in my make-up bag. Do you like the Maybelline mascaras?

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Spotlight On: Bourjois

As a new feature on Dress It Up, I thought I'd place the spotlight on a different brand every few weeks, be it high street or high end and talk about my three favourite products from the range. To kick the feature off I decided to focus on Bourjois, a firm favourite in my make-up bag.

I've dabbled in products across the board at the Bourjois stand and have found favourites in every section. I eventually picked the cream of the crop, starting off with my holy grail status foundation the Healthy Mix.

This foundation has been a constant fixture in my routine for many months now with numerous repurchases throughout. I love the dewy healthy glow it gives, and the medium coverage is perfect for me. It works so well with the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to really give you a flawless finish. Its quite light in texture allowing your skin to breathe, and doesn't sit heavy on your skin at all. If you're looking for a new foundation to give you a really healthy glow, I'd definitely give this a try!

Piles of cotton pads and pungent nail varnish remover bottles are a distant memory thanks to this wonder! Bourjois have created a 'magic' pot where nail varnish vanishes in seconds. I can't say its gone in one second, like it says on the pot, (especially if its glitter polish!) but a few twists of your finger and 5 seconds down you are polish free! It really has changed my life, no joke!

Finally, the Délice de Soleil Bronzing Powder takes the stage. Firstly, I love the design of this compact with the swivel mirror and tiny brush inside. It's perfect for travelling with and is super slim to fit in your handbag too. Likewise with Bourjois' other bronzing powder this also smells deliciously of chocolate. The powder gives you a really nice bronzed look and works as a really nice sheer contour without giving you a 'muddy' look.

So there we have it! I hope you like this new feature and it gave you a little insight into a few Bourjois products. :)

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Review | Soap and Glory Supercat Liquid Eyeliner Pen

When it comes to eyeliner my preferred application is with a felt-pen like nib. I find it super easy to use and I don't have to worry about smudges when I'm first applying. The Soap and Glory Supercat Liquid Eyeliner Pen is my absolute favourite at the moment for this!

I've always loved Soap and Glory's bath and skincare range but I'd never really delved into their make-up before. I have always heard good reviews though so I thought I'd take the plunge and try something for myself! The eyeliner has quite a large nib which can make precise or small lines trickier to create, but with a bit of practice it gets easier. You can create really smooth lines with the pen, that give your eyes a really professional look.

The pen is so highly pigmented, so you get a really dramatic deep black line which I love. I hate it when black eyeliners look grey on the skin. It also stays put ALL DAY. Literally, even with this god-awful weather in the UK at the moment, it does. not. budge. I don't think I've ever used such a long-lasting eyeliner, and at £6.00 it's a real bargain!

I urge you to try it if you're on the lookout for a new eyeliner! :)

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Review | La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

I feel a little silly reviewing this product now considering that the Effaclar Duo+ has now been released! But, as there are only a few differences between the Duo+ and the original Effaclar Duo I thought it was still relevant.

I've been using this product near enough every day for almost two months now and I love it. I've featured it both in my Love At First Use post and my January Favourites video, I love it that much! My skin has noticeably cleared up and is looking better than it has done for a long time now. I hardly ever get a blemish now, and when I do it goes much quicker than it used to. I feel like my skin looks much brighter and clearer now too!

Its a thin serum-like consistency that spreads really easily across the face and sinks in super quickly. I only use two small pea-sized pumps on each application so the tube has lasted me really well. Even with the fact that I use it morning and night! I do like the fact that the tube is small as its handy for travelling! But, I wish it was a pump applicator as I never feel like I can get all the product out and I hate to see wastage!

At £13.00 I think its really good value for money actually, as it'll last you so long! Boots always do really great offers too. It's definitely become a Holy Grail product for me, and I don't ever want to be parted from it!!

Have you tried the Effaclar Duo before?

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