Argan Oil for Healthy Hair

As you can see, my hair is EXTREMELY long so it is very important I keep it looking healthy and tame. Recently I have discovered hair oils, which have made a massive difference to the appearance and feel of my hair, making it softer, smoother, shinier and easier to manage.

I apply a hair oil after washing & drying my hair (I don't use any heat on it, so this can take some time!) by rubbing a few drops between my fingers and brushing it through. If I have a lot of flyaways or frizz I also find a hair oil can work wonders to smooth my hair down again for a sleek finish.

Argan Oil is a plant oil originating in Morocco, which  has massive benefits for the hair due to its anti-oxidants, fatty acids, omega 3 and vitamin E which all work together to repair split ends and damaged hair while strengthening weak strands.

 

I am currently using some samples sent to me from Argan Dew of their Miraculous Oil* and Replenishing Hair Mask*. Argan Dew use pure Argan oil as their primary ingredient to provide high quality hair care products. The lady who sent me the samples said "Argan Dew products help protect your hair from daily damage, while maintaining thick, full, shiny and healthy hair" so obviously I was very excited to try them out!

I applied the Replenishing Hair Mask to my wet hair after washing & conditioning, than brushed it through and left it to dry as usual. I noticed a significant difference in how easy it was to brush my hair, my usual tangles were far more tame. I think I might have been meant to wash the product out, as it left a slight residue in my hair, but it wasn't noticeable at all to the eye. 

I applied the Miraculous Oil to the ends of my hair once it had dried fully. Like most hair oils I use, it made them shiny and smooth. I love how hair oils instantly tame the ends of your hair and make it look healthier, even if you have a couple of split-ends. I was pleased with the results but I am currently in love with my L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil and probably will continue to use that.

If you have never tried using Argan Oil on your hair, I would really recommend it as I have found it has drastically improved the look and feel of my hair and certainly made it look healthier. The lovely people from Argan Dew have given me a 20% off discount for you if you follow this link to their site and enter the code argandew at the checkout. If you'd rather pick up a product from your local Boots or Superdrug, there are plenty out there which also work wonders!

Interview with Petals of Perfection!

Me and Sophie from Petals of Perfection decided it would be a fun idea to interview each other on our blogs so you guys can get to know us a little better. Below is her interview, and you can visit her blog to read mine (but only after you've read this one!)

1. What made you want to start blogging?
I have always loved reading other blogs e.g. Zoella, DollyBowBow, Anna SacconeJoly... the list goes on and I wanted to try it out myself because it looked like so much fun! I also wanted to find a hobby that I'd be really passionate about and that could possibly help me in the future... which it has, because I was able to put my blog on my personal statement when I was applying for unis, and this made me stand out from everyone else... and now I have a place at Uni! I can also put it on my CV and having a blog is great practice for the style of career that I want, as I would like to work in the media industry! 

2. What's your favourite thing to blog about?
I love writing reviews on products... I love how simple the posts are but they are also very fun to write and enjoyable to read (I think)! I also enjoy writing more lifestyle posts, such as; blogging tips and tricks and general life advice! These kind of posts enable me to help others, which I love doing, and I also find it nice to just sit down and talk to my followers about life... It's the only time when I can really let my thoughts be expressed in a safe place online! 

3. What are your holy-grail beauty products?
I swear by any kind of lip balm! I am obsessed with the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Skin Protectant ones... but for a more cheaper option, I love the Nivea ones! I hate having chapped lips and I'm constantly getting cold sores, so I always like to have a lip balm on me! I also swear by powers... I have really oily skin, so I need to matte it out and the Rimmel London Stay Matte powder does the job perfectly! 

4. Is there any advice you would give to newbie bloggers?
BE PATIENT! You can't start a blog and expect hundreds of people reading it straight away... and if you do ... WHAT IS YOUR SECRET?! I have had my blog since 2013 and it is only recently where I've had people following it and interacting with it... I would have to say that this may be because I have used other existing platforms (Twitter, Bloglovin', Instagram), to promote my blog and interact with other lovely bloggers. Also, blog for you and no one else! As soon as you start to not enjoy it as much/at all, then stop! There's no point doing something that does not make you happy! :) 

5. How/has blogging changed your life?
Blogging has definitely built my confidence as I now feel like I am good in what I do! It has also helped me interact with brands and other bloggers, which has opened up massive opportunities for me! I have also made great friends through blogging :) The blogging community really is great! 

6. Where do you see yourself in the future?

Well, in September I am going to Greenwich University to study Advertising and Marketing (BA Hons) and I am thinking about doing a placement year during that time as well, hopefully in somewhere like the BBC or Gleam Futures... this will hopefully open a lot of doors for me, and who knows, maybe I'll be in the media industry in no time! I would also like to find someone and start a family, but obviously I am in no rush to do that any time soon! 

7. What's your best piece of advice?
Don't over think things too much! I am guilty of doing this all the time and after, I question myself as to why I have excessively thought of something that usually is small and not worth worrying about! Life is too short, so try not to worry as much! There are solutions to everything :) 

8. What quote/motto do you live by?
"Never underestimate the power of being you!" "Don't let negative thoughts cloud your mind - with positivity comes sunshine!" "If you can dream it, you can do it" - Walt Disney

Visit Sophie's blog, Petals of Perfection to check out her post and find out my answers to these questions! Her blog is one of my favourites and I always find myself checking back, as I love her content, photographs and just her in general!

KIKO Haul

I have seen KIKO mentioned many a time during my beauty blog reads, so I thought it was about time I gave the brand a try. The minimum order total was £25 so I ended up purchasing quite a few items which took my fancy.

1. Photo-age Sunscreen Cream SPF 30 - I have been looking for a facial sunscreen for quite some time; I am very aware that the sun can permanently damage your skin and darken acne scars, which I definitely don't want! Ensuring you always wear SPF on your face is also meant to prevent/postpone aging and wrinkles. I am going to try to apply this every day, before my primer.
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2. All-In Marker and Kajal - I wasn't too sure about what this product was, but it intrigued me and was in the sale so I decided to give it a try as I often use eyeliner. I'm not too sure what the "kajal" is meant for so please let me know in the comments if you have any idea!
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3. Purifying Mask - I am always on the lookout for face masks to help with my acne-prone skin, and this one sounded simple and appropriate for my skin as it "absorbs excess sebum", reducing blemishes.
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4. Smart Lipstick (912 Crimson Red) - I couldn't do an online beauty order without adding a lipstick to my basket, as they are probably my favourite product! This lipstick has amazing reviews and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it. I love this colour; it is bold and red but also slightly pink which gives off a softer look. The formula is really good and it has fantastic colour payoff while not drying your lips out!
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5. Face Skin Glow - I stumbled across this product and was intrigued about what it was. It is a moisturising cream which claims to even out complexion while also stimulating cell renewal and collagen production (goodbye acne scars!). It contains SPF and is recommended to be used before applying make-up as a sort of primer, but I think I will probably use it on it's own in the summer months when I don't want to have a face full of melting make-up!
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6. Pearly Kiss Balm (104 Passion Fruit) - My love for lipsticks also extends to lip balms as I think it's important to treat your lips well for any lipstick to look good! This balm is a lovely smooth, moisturising formula with impressive colour, I got a purple shade with a slight shimmer.

My first impressions of KIKO are extremely positive and I'm really excited to use all of these products! I will be doing a future post reviewing these items in more detail once I have had enough time to try them all out.

Valentine's Day OOTD, Make-up & Dates

I don't fully agree with the whole hype around Valentine's Day - I am one of those people who say "you should show people you love them every day of the year!" I think it is ridiculously over commercialised and there is far too much pressure on couples to do the cliché things associated with the event. However, I do think that sometimes we get caught up in our own busy lives and forget about things that really matter, such as appreciating your loved ones. For that reason, I think Valentine's Day is a nice tradition to remind people to step back and show the people you care about how much you actually care (this doesn't mean you need to buy them roses, chocolate lingerie and jewellery, but you can if you like! (especially the chocolate)).

Dress - Boohoo

Leather Jacket - Oasis

Bag - ASOS

Over-the-knee boots - ALDO

For Valentine's Day this year, I went down an edgier route with my outfit as I wasn't really feeling pinks, reds and heart patterns. I paired a fitted floral skater dress with my leather jacket and my beloved over-the-knee boots to create a look which lasted me from day to night through the two dates I went on with my boyfriend (a little extreme, I know!).

I haven't actually mentioned these boots on my blog yet, but I have had my eye on them for quite a while, so when ALDO had a sale and these were included I really couldn't resist! They were quite pricey but I've had them for over two weeks and have worn them almost every day, so I'm definitely getting my money's worth. I love how I can add them to any outfit and they instantly give me a more sophisticated and 'sexy' look without being too risqué. I'm going to do a future post all about how to style over-the-knee boots, so keep an eye out for that!

I kept my make-up quite natural as my boyfriend is very vocal about how he prefers it when I don't wear any. I used The Body Shop's Tea Tree BB Cream in Light as my base as it is perfect to even out my skin tone without completely masking my natural skin's glow. As my outfit was so lacking in colour I decided to go with a pop of pink on my eyes, using the MUR Iconic 3 Palette and an e.l.f Baked Eyeshadow in Toasted to create a subtle and shimmery effect. I flicked out the darker shade in the corners of my eyes to create a winged effect without going in with a black liquid liner, which I think turned out really well. I lined my upper lash line with Soap & Glory Smoulder Kohl in Cocoa Bean, a nice natural alternative to using a black pencil or liquid liner. I topped off my eyes with a few layers of my favourite mascara, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast, and then finished the look with a "your lips but better" shade of lipstick, MUA Lipstick Shade 11 (I can't recommend this enough for the price of £1, but I have been disappointed with the other shades in the range).

Firstly, my boyfriend & I went to one of my favourite places to eat/drink in Cardiff, Cocorico Patisserie. I am obsessed with all things French, and this little patisserie allows me to indulge in my fantasies of sitting in a real French patisserie, drinking coffee and eating little cakes and pastries, without having to travel so far! We spent a few hours there, just talking, playing cards and enjoying each others' company. 

In the evening, we went out for dinner at Kasturi, an Indian restaurant which we had never been to before. Both me and my boyfriend are really keen on Indian food so when we realised we hadn't tried a restaurant so close to our houses, we had to book a table! When we arrived we realised that one of our friends from high school works there and was actually our waiter which was really funny. I didn't manage to snap any photos of my food but it was GORGEOUS. We had poppadoms and chutneys to start, then I had a Chicken Tandoori Sizzler dish as my main with a Chapati, and Owen had Chicken Madras with Rice. We both agreed that it was one of the best Indian meals we have ever been out for, and I definitely think we'll be returning as regular customers! 

If you'd like to stay more regularly updated with what goes on in my everyday life, or if you just REALLY like photographs of food, head over and follow me on Instagram at @jodievoss!

Gifts from my French Exchange

I am taking part in a French Exchange with my school and another in Rouen, France. Last week, my correspondent from France came over to Cardiff for 5 days to experience our language and culture. She was one of the sweetest girls I have ever met, really polite and helpful around the house and so happy and smiley. When she arrived, she was extremely excited to give me some gifts she had brought over from France. They consisted of a lot of food; chocolates, nougat & macarons, as well as some beauty items too, purely by chance! I thought I'd make a quick post showing you the generous gifts she brought, as I thought they were too pretty not to mention on my blog!

I am really excited to try out the L'Oréal Colour Riche lipstick she got me; it looks like the perfect pink colour to transition into spring! I love L'Oréal Paris products and I will be sure to pick her up a few Rimmel London products before I go to Rouen! While we were out shopping in Cardiff on Saturday, we decided to buy matching friendship necklaces to remember each other while we're apart. We chose some beautiful dainty gold necklaces with intertwined hearts.

I had an amazing time with my correspondent, Solveig, and I really missed her when she left. I am so excited to travel to Rouen next month to experience her culture and spend more time with her, as she was so lovely and we got to be really good friends. I'm looking forward to practicing my French - she warned me that hardly anyone can speak English there, and everybody greets you with a kiss on both cheeks! I will be taking my camera to France with me so I can take some photos of Rouen and obviously the beautiful Paris, and then I'll write a blog post documenting my time away!

 instagram.com/jodievoss

Solveig (left) and I (right) smiling away at Roath Park Lake!

St Kitts Herbery Cleanser for All Skin Types*

St Kitts Herbery - Cleanser*

Due to the nature of my combination skin, I have never really ventured into trying cream cleansers which you apply using cotton pads (apart from Lush 9 to 5) as I have always opted for facial washes and cleansers designed specifically for acne-prone skin, as that was my concern. However, I have been on the lookout for a new cleanser since my skin has drastically cleared up. I was willing to give this product a try as the St Kitts Herbery website says it is "gentle" and also that the active natural botanicals it contains (neroli and frankincense) stimulate cell activity and encourage skin cell growth. This sounded good to me as I have a fair bit of discolouration and acne-scarring left over from when my skin was in worse condition.

The first thing I noticed when I pumped the product onto a cotton pad was the smell. Personally I loved it, as it smells very exotic and musky while also smelling fresh, if that even makes sense. I used the cleanser after removing my make-up with the Garnier Micellar Water which I usually think is quite effective but I had a huge surprise; there was still a significant amount of make-up left on my face even after using the micellar water! This cleanser felt cool and soft on my skin, and also removed the excess make-up from my face effectively. After using the cleanser I also used a different product with hot water to open my pores and deeply cleanse them as I only ever feel as if my skin is properly clean after doing this, but you could definitely go without if you don't love washing your face!

The cleanser is aimed at "all skin types" but I would say it is probably not suitable for actively blemished skin (new spots) as there are many more products on the market which are far more effective as they are targeted specifically for action against blemishes. However, I would say that this cleanser would be perfect for dry/normal/combination skin as it is very hydrating and refreshing. I would also recommend it for use on sensitive skin as it is extremely gentle.

As I have been using this cleanser alongside the rest of my skincare routine, I have seen my acne-scarring become slightly less noticeable. However, I'm not sure whether that was down to this product in particular or a combination of those I use. I will be continuing to use this bottle up to see if it does make any difference and if anything else, to remove the excess make-up that was being left on my skin previously!

*I have always been very into skincare as I have had to deal with acne-prone skin for all of my teenage life. It is one of my favourite things to write about on my blog as I love to share my experiences with others who may be looking for advice, as I know I would have appreciated that when I was younger! So obviously, I was extremely excited when St Kitts Herbery contacted me and sent me their cleanser to try. This product was gifted to me by St Kitts Herbery but all of my opinions are 100% honest and my own.

Get The Look: Blair Waldorf

If you don't already know, Gossip Girl is my favourite TV show, ever. I literally watched the entire 6 seasons in under 2 weeks (I didn't get much sleep) and am re-watching it again dubbed in French, telling myself it counts as revision. Blair is definitely my favourite character; I love everything about her glamourous and extremely confident, strong and independent nature, even her scheming, which is always so fantastically planned I have to applaud her. My favourite thing about Blair is that she knows what she wants and will do whatever it takes to get it for herself. Some of my favourite quotes from Blair include: 

"If you really want something, you don't stop for anyone or anything until you get it."

"I'm not a stop along the way. I'm a destination."

"Destiny is for losers. It's just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happen."

Blair definitely has a true signature style; classy, preppy and feminine. Her main influences are her idol, Audrey Hepburn and of course, the city of Paris which is featured heavily in the show as one of her favourite destinations. She wears tailored blouses, ribbons, colourful coats, hardly ever wears trousers and is known for her famous headbands. I found it very easy to imitate Blair's style as it is so defined, and I dress in a relatively similar way myself anyway.

This look is extremely easy to re-create yourself. I wore a basic white shirt, which you can find almost anywhere if you haven't already got one tucked inside your wardrobe. I tied a regular black ribbon in a bow around my neck to imitate Blair's signature neck bow. Blair often wears similar tops to this in the first few seasons, when she is still rocking the preppy school-girl look. I left my hair natural, although I could have curled it if I had more time to make it look even more like her perfectly styled locks! I should really have added a hairband too - make sure you don't forget like I did! I had to opt for trousers as the weather was so cold but I made sure they were simple and black, however Blair's style is often far more feminine and she would probably pick to wear a tailored black skirt and colourful or white tights. I topped it all off with a red tartan coat, very similar to some of the ones she wears on the show! If you don't want to spend a huge amount on a stand-out coat, Primark often have lots of choice at a low price.

Let me know if you like this type of post and if I should do more! I'd be happy to take any recommendations for characters from your favourite films & TV shows.

MUA Make-up Haul

I popped into my local Superdrug to have a quick look at the MUA counter as I've never used any of their products, and I left with all of this! The brand is extremely reasonably priced and has been recommended to me by friends and fellow bloggers, so I'm really excited to try out all of these products!

Undress Your Skin Highlighting Powder - Iridescent Gold (£3)

The first thing which caught my eye was this gorgeous highlighting powder. Recently, I have been experimenting with contouring as I've never really done it before. I have discovered that I absolutely love using highlighters, they really make me look radiant and bring the light to the right areas of my face! I swatched the tester of this product in the shop and it looked so breathtaking against my skin that I couldn't leave it on the shelf; it is the perfect shade and shimmery but not glittery. I can see highlighters becoming a little obsession for me in the future!

 Lipstick - Shade 16, Shade 14 & Shade 11 (£1 each)

I have a liiittle obsession with lipstick, to say the very least (I even love photographing them). I couldn't try out a new brand without picking up a few of their lipsticks! I swatched all of the colours as I couldn't pick between the huge range, but I settled for these three. The formula is really creamy & moisturising and the colours are bold, but the staying power is not fantastic. 16 is a coral pink/peach shade which I think will be perfect to transition into spring, 14 is a classic nude which I decided to pick up as I don't really experiment with nude lips, and 11 is my favourite as it's sort of a "your lips but better" shade and it really compliments my skintone, plus it seems to last the longest on my lips.

 Lip Liner - Red Drama & Caramel Nougat (£1 each)

Lip liner has never been something I thought I needed, as my lips are naturally very large, plump and well defined. I read online recently however that lip liners increase the staying power of your lipstick so I decided to give them a go. I picked up a pink/nude colour and a red which I hope will cover all of the lipsticks I own. I think it's really clever that the lids have a built-in sharpener, as I can never find one suitable for eyeliners and it'll be perfect for on-the-go!

 Eyebrow Pencil - Blonde (£1)

I have recently started paying more attention to my eyebrows, although they are already quite thick so I tend to just brush them into place. I plucked them quite far apart when I was a little younger and have decided to grow them back in, so I picked up an eyebrow pencil to fill in-between the growing hairs so my brows still look neat and groomed. I haven't been too keen on brow products in the past as I find they are too red-toned for my brows, but this pencil was the perfect tone for me as it's more of a light grey/brown colour.

Undress Your Skin Under Eye Concealer - Luminous (£3)

I have always used the same concealer product both for under my eyes and on blemishes, but there was an offer to get this free if you spent over £6 on MUA products, and I wasn't going to leave a freebie behind. I'm looking forward to trying this out as I get nowhere near enough sleep most nights due to late nights on the internet and early mornings for college!

I'm absolutely loving all of the MUA products and will definitely be going back for another look next time I'm in Superdrug! It surprised me how cheap all of the items were, as so many people rave about them and they seem to be such high-quality. I guess it just goes to show that you don't have to spend a ridiculous amount on beauty products, you just have to find the right ones!