Recent Purchases

It's fair to say I went a little mad with spending lately, a recent weekend trip to London was enough to empty the bank account. I've decided to live for the present and say 'I deserve it' so without questioning anything (oh dear) I treated myself.

Ren Skincare Clarimate Toner// £15.50

I've been lusting over acid toners for a while and it was time to finally decide which one to go for. I'm one of those, 'I don't believe in perfumed water' people but trusting in Ren skincare I couldn't resist trying the Clarimate Toner after reading some great reviews. It was cheaper than most at £15.50 but after a couple of weeks trying it I can't say I've seen much of a difference. The gentle acids are designed to slough off any dead skin cells and speed up cell turn over. I'm persevering but can't say I'm a fan.

Vitamin E oil//£4 - eBay

As you know I'm a massive oil fan and wanted to try vitamin E for it's famous healing properties. The oil is very heavy and isn't ideal as a facial moisturiser but dabbing it on any scars or areas of dry skin is quite effective.

Weighted Hula Hoop//£7 

My quest for abs is never ending and I've seen some definition in that area recently which has made me much more confident. To boost results I ordered a weighted hula hoop from eBay to use during the ad breaks of lazy TV evenings, (productive!) You can feel where the hoop has hit your tummy and back after the first use but you quickly get used to it and I believe it is tightening the area, it isn't too strenuous either.

La Roche Posay Corrective Fluid Foundation//£15  

I bought this on impulse after reading about the coverage and great ingredients, as you know I'm not a foundation fan, especially not in liquid forms. It was risky to order online as I wasn't sure of the colour and I can confirm that it is a bit too dark for me but a little really goes a long way so it can be sheered out! The finish is great but moisturising first is vital or it will cling to dry areas.

Lush Angels on Bare Skin//£6.75 - repurchase 

I've fallen in love with this cleanser a little bit. It really wakes up my skin after a sweaty workout (so glamorous.) It's perfect for a morning cleanse but I tend to dabble in and out of using it in the evenings if I need to exfoliate.

Almond Butter (monster tub) // £12.99 - Amazon

I'm addicted. The other day I actually had almond butter with every meal! It's perfect stirred into porridge or smoothie in the morning, makes an excellent partner with apple as a lunch time snack and is lush on toast with some chocolate spread and nuts as a healthy dessert.



So with all that retail therapy out the way and a much lighter purse I have well and truly treated myself. I hope you do the same! We're worth it.

Little Lottie 

XO

April Favourites

In true blogger style I've decided to do a favoruites post. I can't believe how quickly May has rolled round and that means summer is coming! My bank account isn't looking too healthy after watching many favourite videos on YouTube and giving in to temptation so my April favourites are budget friendly, enjoy!

Beauty.

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 08 ~ Rossetto 

This has been a must for me this month and I've been sporting it almost everyday. It's close to a Kylie Jenner colour and leaves a gorgeous stain on the lips. It also smells gorgeous and has a lovely formula with a matte finish. It can be quite drying after a few hours so be sure to carry it with you for re-application.  

Lush Angels on Bare Skin Cleanser

This has been a total game changer for me. After hearing the gorgeous Freddy My Love rave about it I couldn't not try it, if it's good enough for a model it's good enough for me! The product is totally rave worthy, it smells of calming lavender and is made with amazing ingredients like crushed almonds. It's a manual exfoliator which I usually hate but it's super gentle and deeply cleanses my skin after a morning workout. 

Olive Oil cleanser ~ Homemade

I've had a very on and off relationship with the oil cleansing method but using a 50/50 mix of olive oil and castor oil is my new obsession. I've been using this in the evenings to take off my makeup and removing it with a hot flannel. Bliss. 

Naked hair care 

The Naked hair care range is super natural, made with 97% natural ingredients and it really works. I don't need to wash my hair as much and I'm not half as frizzy! The scents are also incredible and the product range is great to mix and match with like I have with the rescue/care collection. 

Book.

My latest venture is clean eating and I've got to say I will never turn back. Deliciously Ella's book has really helped with dinner and lunch ideas which are all really easy to make! Believe me I'm no chef and really don't enjoy cooking - just the eating part. Ella teaches to count nutrients not calories with plant based ingredients but you can switch things and add things if you want. 

I recently tried out one recipe but used wholemeal pasta and added salmon. It was a hit with the family and was super delicious!  

YouTuber.

Louisa Wendorff is an incredibly talented and beautiful singer who deserves a lot more subscribers. She has incredible tracks of her own and mashes up well known songs, my favourite being the Taylor Swift tracks. Go and check her out, guaranteed you will be as hooked as I am.  

Blogger.

Madeline Shaw is fairly new to the world of YouTube but is a well known yoga instructor to beauties like Millie Makintosh and Tanya Burr. Her book Get the Glow has just hit the shelves and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. I have been scouring her blog for clean eating recipes and inspiration all month, they all contain ingredients your body will love! 

I hope you had a wonderful April, bring on May!

What's your April favourite?

Little Lottie

XO

My Secret Skincare Weapon

Natural skincare is the best. I can't even fathom to think of the crap I put on my skin. I've definitely learnt my lesson and switched things up over the years including vital ingredients like Aloe Vera!

Aloe Vera gel comes from a plant, when you peel an aloe leaf apart you will find the pure gel inside. It is an incredible at healing and soothing. I discovered it after a bad case of sunburn and the redness turned to tan overnight, I couldn't believe it, no peeling or soreness. The cold gel felt lush, so I thought hey, I'm going to slap this on my face and I have been doing it ever since.

If you don't have an aloe plant hanging about then you can pick up the gels pretty cheap, just make sure there aren't many added ingredients to the gel. I use the Aloe Pura range which is 99.9% pure aloe! You can pick it up for around £5 in Superdrug and Holland and Barrett.

The gel dries very quickly on the skin and I usually pop some moisturiser over the top but stick to a routine of using the plain aloe during the day and the gel with added tea tree at night. You can also use it in your hair for a mask or on any burn to cool and heal it.

I love budget beauty treasures. Share yours in the comments.

Happy Friday beauties.

Little Lottie

XO

DIY Foundation

As most of you know I don't wear foundation, it's just the feeling of having an unnatural layer over my skin that I don't like and I haven't yet found a foundation that I'm in love with, so, I made my own. 

It's hard to find a foundation free of nasty chemicals that's also in a pale shade for an "English Rose" like me. Parabens are one chemical that is now banned in several countries but works as a preservative for liquids cosmetics to stop them growing bacteria. A natural alternative would be lavender oil but the beauty industry hasn't caught on yet. 

Using mineral makeup means that the products don't need to contain preservatives as they are mostly dry. A lot of people therefore use mineral makeup and it is great however doesn't always provide very full coverage and often clings to dry patches so the alternative is to mix it! 

Combining a natural/organic moisturiser that doesn't contain a load of unnecessary rubbish with a mineral powder/concealer makes a lovely foundation! 

All you need is a little pot to mix it and store it in, like these. You can pick these up online and in most drugstores. 

To make the mix I used my favourite moisturiser by Faith in Nature with a bit of Lily Lolo concealer in Blondie. This was a little too pale for me so I added some Bare Minerals Multi Tasking Concealer in Bisque to warm it up. The beauty of making your own foundation is that you can keep going until you reach your perfect shade! None of the tester rubbish needed. 

Then simply apply with a makeup brush. Voila! A lovely, dewy foundation is right at your fingertips. 

Comment with your favourite DIY recipe and don't forget to follow for more from me. 

Little Lottie

XO

Hair Care Routine

After switching to using more natural skin care and makeup products I turned my attention to my hair. My main problems were dry ends from my old blonde days and a sensitive scalp.

SLS is a foaming agent used A LOT in the beauty world, especially in cleansers and shampoos. I knew it dried my face skin out so I decided to cut it out of my shampoo too. Silicone is another ingredient to avoid as it can leave a coating on the hair and scalp.

I must admit it took me a while to research and come up with a product that actually had good reviews that didn't have all the "nasties" in it but Faith in Nature was a brand that came up repeatedly. I already trust the brand and their moisturiser is a must in my skincare routine so my lovely fiance bought me the Aloe Vera set.

I can hands down say I may not stray from these products ever again, my hair is so manageable now! My scalp isn't irritable or itchy anymore, my hair doesn't get greasy for at least 3 days and it is super soft and frizz free.

My hair is layered and was ombred using Jerome Russel 

I love the smell and so does my other half, I've even got my mum using it. The shampoo and conditioner also comes in some many more scents I'm keen to try like the lavender one for night showers, the pineapple set for morning showers and the chocolate for a pamper night.

Buy yours here!


I'm using a few drops of Jojaba oil on damp hair after a shower for extra shine and frizz taming. I also pop this on my ends between washes which works wonders!

Buy yours here!

Top tips:
Use a wooden hair brush to drag oils from your scalp down to your ends and promote hair growth
Never brush hair when it's wet
Tie your hair up over night so it isn't dried out by your cotton pillow cases
Don't wash your hair every day, it strips the natural oils from your hair and scalp

I hope this can help some of you solve your hair dilemmas. 

Follow for more beauty and lifestyle tricks.

Happy Friday

Little Lottie  

X

Product of the month

I can without a doubt name this the product of the month without hesitation. Nothing else even entered my mind.

After feeding my latest blog crush and binge reading Emtalks, who is beautiful and raves about this product, I couldn't resist picking it up when I saw it in Primark, of all places. The Palmers Cocoa butter gradual tan smells good enough to eat and sinks in so quickly! I've always thought that gradual tanners took a million coats to take affect (& I'm too lazy to apply it all the time) but after just one application I noticed a difference! 

I'm not one for fake tan, it comes off on the bed, looks orange and streaky half the time and is a bit of a chore to slap on. Lately I've been getting dry skin and razor rash, (not a good look) so I figured cocoa butter will battle dryness and the tan will hide the rash, the theory worked out pretty well. 

I also didn't notice it come off on my clothes, (only the yummy chocolate smell) and it didn't all instantly rub off in the shower, even after exfoliating! Have I convinced you yet? 

Having a tan is like having a super power... I feel more confident, healthy, wear less makeup and get my skin out more. It's genius. 

Try it yourself for just £4 at Primark or at feelunique.com 

What's your product of the month? Leave a comment!

Little Lottie 

XO

Winter Hair Care

From going abroad to 30 degree heat (read post here) to coming back to 4 degree winter air, then bleaching it for my Ombre look (read post here) my hair has definitely taken more of a beating than usual. The dry winter air is taking it's toll and frizz has arrived for the season.

I had to get out the big guns and take control of the situation, for the sake of my locks. First of all I had my dead ends taken off, after using bleach on my hair the splits became much more noticeable and a trim was WELL overdue.

My love of natural skincare has spread to my love of natural hair care and more big brands are cutting out perfumes, parabens and other chemicals that strip hair of it's natural oils. Herbal Essences have released their Naked range and Garnier have cut parabens out of their Ultimate Blends products. When an offer came on in Boots I couldn't resist trying Garnier's 'The Sleek Restorer' Ultimate Blends set and grabbed both shampoo and conditioner for £3. I have found this to be much less drying than my previous hair care routine and my hair is lapping up the moisture this time of year.

My staple hair oil has been Jojoba oil as it is light however coconut oil is much thicker and usually leaves my hair greasy but recently after a wash I have been applying small amount of coconut oil to damp hair all over my lengths and it has worked wonderfully. My hair is bouncier and looks shiny again, it has also helped keep frizz at bay during the day. It is easy to go over the top with the oils but a bit of dry shampoo hides those mishaps.

Dramatically reducing heat in my routine has been key this winter, although it may be hard it has allowed me to be creative with up-dos. I have also been curling my hair with no heat and love the look of it! I've ended up doing it every night throughout Christmas, read my post on heat free curls here.

Investing in the right hairbrush has never occurred to me before but by switching from plastic to wood you can lose less hair and the wood spreads moisture from your roots to your ends, helping hair grow and be extra shiny, even in winter.

Switching from cotton bedding to a silk pillowcase of head scarf can prevent dryness as well, not only do we roll around and tangle our hair at night but cotton is a material that naturally sucks moisture from our skin and hair, make the switch and see the difference.

There isn't as much need to wash hair in winter because we aren't as sweaty or greasy (nice) but whilst I have been washing I've only been applying shampoo to my roots and letting it wash over my lengths when rinsing, this means using less shampoo (money saver) and also doesn't strip oils from our oldest strands of hair! It's a no brainer.

Drinking plenty of fluids helps our bodies on the inside and out, I've been particularly enjoying big mugs of lemon green tea and almond milk hot chocolates. Mmm.

Be Merry Mug - Sainsbury's 

Christmas tree decs - Next

I hope my hair care tips can inspire you, they've made my locks very happy.    

Don't forget to follow for more Little Lottie 

Merry Christmas!

XO

Lottie tries: Bblonde Ombre

Lately I have had to urge to change my hair, except when that happens my mind resorts to the most extreme change out of curiosity. For what feels like forever I have been growing my hair after one of my 'urges' turned into a disaster, I went shoulder length and had blonde highlights. Gradually as my hair grew the blonde grew with it and when the Ombre craze hit I had convenient roots. About a month ago my hairdresser said the blonde had to go, the bleach in my hair was years old and doing alot of damage. 2 inches came off and ever since the condition of my hair has been the priority but the boring single tone of my hair made me miss the old look so I was thrilled when Jerome Russell got in contact.

Jerome Russell are a salon quality brand that have created a range targeted at lightning the hair drastically at home! The range called Bblonde was interesting to me because it came with powder bleach and cream peroxide which are mixed together to lighten the hair, I personally hadn't come across this in a home dye kit in the drugstore before and went straight for the Maximum Ombre Kit No1 to finally try out the look properly. 

After reading tons of great reviews about the golden tone the kit gave I couldn't wait to see the results. I will always be brunette at heart and didn't want to go too light which is why this kit is great because you can experiment and leave the dye in until you are happy with the colour.  

It is important to do the strand and skin test to know how long to leave the mix in before you have your desired colour and to ensure you aren't allergic.

On go the old clothes, I'm sporting my fabulous 'Barbie' t shirt throughout so please enjoy the romantic shots of Barbie and Ken.

To prepare for the strand test you don't need much of the mixture just a couple of teaspoons.

Mixing the powder and cream makes this familiar blue colour, don't be alarmed!

The brush provided is so useful and makes even coverage really easy, so no need to be concerned about patches! 

I coated a strand from the back of my hair, concentrating particularly on the ends although the blending lotion does a great job with the gradient look.

For the skin test a cotton bud is the tidiest way to apply the mixture. I ended up leaving the mixture on for an hour, checking the colour every 10 minutes then reapplying until I achieved the colour I wanted. The maximum time is 90 minutes.

I was so impressed by the results and could see a big difference from my natural colour. Time to do it all over!

Firstly applying the blending lotion to achieve the gradient, ombre look. This made application really smooth.

Mixing all the remaining powder and cream gave me a really generous amount and considering the length of my hair I didn't need to buy a second box. If after using the kit you wanted to go even lighter Jerome Russell sell the Powder Bleach and cream Peroxide on their own so you can literally go as light as you want! The price is super reasonable and available at Superdrug.

Using the brush to apply to my mid lengths was so simple, the most difficult thing I found was making sure I started from the same place all the way around my head. Most people use their jaw as a starting point for the Ombre affect but I started at the middle of my neck to make the ombre very gradual, applying from the bottom upwards also helps with the gradient look. Make sure to cover your glamorous old clothes with an old towel! Who said the actual process was pretty...

Once fully coated the dye starts to dry, I left the mixture on for around 50 minutes and chilled out with Netflix.

So here are the results! I'm so happy with the look and have no idea why I didn't do it sooner. After reading so many positive reviews about Jerome Russell I didn't worry about the Ombre looking orange or coming out in a block of blonde it is truly gradual and subtle.

The box was stocked with everything I could possibly need and was simple to follow. 

The kit promises to lighten hair by 8-9 shades and it certainly did!

Thank you to Jerome Russell for letting me review the gorgeous kit!

Browse the range here!

Little Lottie xo