Keeping hair beach healthy with NUXE

Hey Sweeties, 

If there's one thing which long hair hates, it's the beach.  All day long with the sun bleaching it, the salt drying it out and the wind ravashing it. It tends to leave it dry, split and for the most part, dead.

This is a bit of a problem for someone like me, as lots of my time is spent in Italy...invariably at the beach.  So to keep it nourished, healthy and rich I slather the ends in dry oil after washing and towel drying my hair.  I've been using NUXE Huile Prodigieuse (link) as it is a super rich dry oil that leaves hair supple and I've found restores it after a day in the elements.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse

I find that a deep conditioner isn't enough to make my hair feel healthy again, and this oil really seems to add that moisture back.  It smells nice and gets absorbed easily but a word to the wise -  don't put too much in your roots otherwise it will look greasy. Don't worry about overloading it on the ends of your hair though, it will bring it back to life.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse can also be used on the body, but I personally find it too precious to waste on my skin when it could be used on my hair haha!

Adriatic Coast - my favourite coast in the world

As you can see my hair looks shiny despite being in the sun and sea.  It's been absolutely slathered in oil after washing it the night before.  It made me feel like my hair was being restored and protected and was an absolute holiday must.

NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is available from LoofFantastic for £17.00 (link)

*Product sent for consideration and review

OOTD Zara Pink Jacquard Coat with Pockets

Hey sweeties, 

Those of you in London have probably seen that this August is pretending to be Autumn already.  The weathers turned, and it's pretty much freezing the whole time now.  I needed a jacket which was great for Autumn as all my heavy Winter ones were far too much for August - whipping out the fur trim is just a bit too far.

So I snapped up a bargain in the Zara sale, purchasing for just £29.99 (from £89.99) this pretty pastel pink Jacquard coat with double side pockets (link).

You can see best in the picture above how nicely this coat just sits with its beautifully cut round neck line and long cut. The material is just beautiful made from almost pure cotton and is in a lovely pink and cream shade

 

Zara Pink Jacquard Coat with Pockets

The three quarter sleeves are just perfect for keeping you warm without being too stiffling but what I really love about the coat is the cut.  The neckline is so elegant and the front just drapes down.  There are no fastenings, so it's just a light, throw on coat.  I also got it a size larger than usual as it looks great a little over sized as it sits loosely on the shoulders.

What to wear it with? This Zara Jacquard Coat looks great dressed up or down.  I dressed it down with some black J Brand skinnies and leather boots, but I can even see Zara coat going with cute plain summer dresses.

So, that's my OOTD, don't you just love snapping up a sale coat from Zara! Let me know if you got anything! 

xxx

Lord & Berry black eyeliner for smokey eyes

Hey there ladies!

My favourite day makeup is a light smokey eyes.  It's achieved by a light shimmery eyeshadow on the lid and then lining the eyes with a smudgey black eyeliner.  I find this sort of look much easier in the day as it really brings the best of your eyes out, however, it isn't heavy at all so you don't look OTT.

I achieved the look below so simply, all I did was apply a light finely shimmery chanel eyeshadow in 46 Lotus (here) as it is almost skin coloured but adds a nice shimmer.  I then lined the inner waterline with Lord & Berry soft black pencil eyeliner (here).  Using the same pencil eyeliner I also went thickly underneath the lowerlashes.  This helps your eyes to look more defined and winder.  Then, very lightly I lined the top lashline too and gently smudged it with my finger.

What makes Lord & Berry eyeliners different to other liners is its consistency.  It is almost waxy. This makes it perfect for smokey eyes as it is smudgable and then sets.  This creates a really beautiful smokey effect which isn't too harsh.  It's therefore perfect for my natural smokey eye look above.  It can also build up colour by going over  again.

It can be purchased (here) from LookFantastic for £9.00

Rimmel Lasting Finish with Orly Glosser top coat

Morning you beauties!! 

Today I decided to give myself a quick manicure before work as the sun was shining and I wanted to go in wearing a fun, summery shade.  I chose a coral colour by Rimmel from their 'Lasting Finish' range in No Tan Lines.  This is a bargain at just £2.99 and is a great shade for these summer months.  I then decided to go over the top with Orly's Glosser Top Coat (£10.99) in order to give it a bit more shine and for it to last longer.

Supper glossy finish from the Orly Glosser

I'm not the best at putting on nail varnish so you'll have to excuse the poor handywork.  But I hope you can see what a great colour it is and how glossy it came out after the Orly Glosser.  I was most impressed with how quickly the Rimmel polish dried as in a couple of minutes it was rock solid with no 'gooeyness' that you can get with some other polishes.

As for the Orly Glosser, this was a really fine top coat that also dried in a flash and gave considerable gloss considering how thin the actual polish was.  All in all, my how manicure was probably done in about 7 minutes which is great when your in a rush.

Orly Glosser and Rimmel Lasting Finish

These are a great duo to have this summer and despite the difference in price, they really did a good job.  My only negative with the Rimmel, is that it was a little streaky on the first layer, but by the second layer this all evened out.  As for the glosser, it was just perfect.  It does what it says on the tin, giving the nails a great 'gloss' as well as drying quickly and of course extending the life of the manicure.

Rimmel's Lasting finish is available from HQ Hair (here)
Orly's Glosser is available from HQ Hair (here) 

*products given for consideration and review

Redken Pillow Proof blow dry express primer

Good Morning, 

I've had the pleasure to try out Redken's pillow proof blow dry express primer.  I've always been a massive fan of Redken products as they always leave my hair feeling nourished and protected. 

This handy bottle aim's to do a number of things:

1) Protect your hair against heat styling up to 450 degrees (absolute must if you want to look after your hair and for it to grow)

2) To cut the blow dry time

3) Reduce breakages

4) Add volume to your hair for 24 hours.

Now that's quite a lot for just one bottle and really does cut down on the amount of products you need to use if if does everything it says it can!

Redken Pillow Proof blow dry express primer

Review:

Right, so for the heat protection, I believe it does heat protect your hair.  I worry it doesn't give you the full protection as other products aim at only providing heat protection.  However, if it does then this product is absolutely awesome and cuts out my need to purchase a separate heat protector.

As for Cutting blow dry time? Yes, I can definitely say that my blow dry time was cut in half.  Absolutely great as I have tonnes of thick long hair that takes for ever to dry.  This product is a miracle time saver, especially for when you're in a rush.  I, however, would save it for when your in a rush and not as an every day product.

Reducing Breakages I can't be certain, but I'm sure it does as it primes your hair for heat styling and therefore automatically protecting your hair and reducing breakages.

Add volume - yes, again, I did have added volume.  I usually preffer to add volume when I've finished stlying as my hair becomes massive anyway when I blowdry.  But, for all you with need for volume this will definitely do the job.

So BOOM.  Redken Pillow Proof blow dry express primer delivers on all four counts.  Heat protection, cutting blow dry time, reducing breakages and yes adding volume!!  This can really cut down your need to purchase 4 seperate products as it does it all in one.  A slight downside?  You can feel the product in your hair.  However, this is the same for me with most products.  But, a very small price to pay considering all that it delivers!

Redken Pillow Proof blow dry express primer is available (here) from HQ Hair for £12.60.  This is an awsome price considering it is a quality brand delivering essentially four products in one.

*product sent for consideration and review

Hey Pompeii!

Hello Lovlies!

As you guys have probably may have seen, I've been travelling around the Amalfi Coast a bit.  But, I couldn't help but go on a day trip to Pompeii.  I'm an absolute geek for archaeology and after countless documentaries on  Vesuivius' 79AD eruption, I knew I'd have to go check it out and look at those perfectly preserved bodies. Gawd, I can be such a sicko. 

Obviously, going in mid summer in the searing heat with no hat on is probably something I wouldn't recommend. Luckily, I'm like a lizard and really enjoy uncomfortable heat, but I reckon coming here late late Spring or early Autumn would be absolutely perfect. 

Suprisingly, so much was preserved perfectly of the ancient city of Pompeii.  But there's been a lot of hard work by archaeologists removing the ash carefully.

Perfectly Preserved bodies in Pompei

The remains of these bodies was absolutely increidble.  You can literally see what they were doing the moment the ash cloud covered them.  It's tricky to find when walking around the ruins, so make sure you ask a guide for directions.  There was no way I was missing out on seeing these!

The view of the culprit itself!  Must have looked terrifying for the city when it started erupting.

I'm standing in front of the Pompeii vinyards.  Volcanic soil is fab for growing grapes, so just like it was 2000 years ago, it is still being cultivated authentically.

My slightly inappropriate Moschino beach t-shirt haha!

This ampitheatre was preserved perfectly.  It really was absolutely incredible.  They held gladiator games in here and everything.

Negatives??  About the site itself.  Nothing.  An absolutely incredible place to look around and you can loose hours here.  The scenery is delicious with views of Vesuvius on every corner you take.  And the architecture itself in Pompeii is just beautiful and hard to believe it was built around 2000 years ago.

The only think to watch out for - the sign saying that 25 years and under go half price.  I went up with my ID, and when it showed I was 25, they  said only people UNDER 25.  So, prepare yourself.  I was definitely miffed for the first 15 minutes because of that haha!

Have you guys been to Pompeii?  Did you enjoy it??

xx

The Tourist

Morning!

Here are a few more gorgeous snaps of the beauty that is the Amalfi Coast.  This is somwhere inbetween Amalfi and Positano as we were driving along the long winding panormaic road which joins the two.

As we were driving, here's another super comfortable beach / driving outfit.  I've got on some red beach shorts by Moschino (they kind of remind me of high school musical) and a white crochet sleeveless stop from TopShop.  All paired with some Chanel oversized glasses.

These sorts of shorts are way more comfy than denim ones in the heat as they are so light weights and stretchy.  Sometimes sitting in the car for a long time in denim shorts really is uncomfortable when it's over 30 degrees outside.

That's it for now!

Lot's of love!

Fiocco xxx

The Importance of Good Makeup Brushes

Hello Ladies

I've done countless posts in the past on makeup, but less so on the tools for actually applying it. It really is like an artist having fantastic paints to work with and then using his finger to paint the picture.  There's nothing wrong with using your finger, but you will never get the precision or the blending that you can with a good makeup brush.

When it comes to eye makeup brushes, it definitely helps to have a couple as they do have different uses.  You don't have to have hundreds, but 2 or 3 good ones will definitely work wonders for you.  It will save you time as they will hold the pigment and apply it well and secondly it will make it easier as its designed for the job.  Oh and lastly, you won't get musky fingers.

I recommend these three to start you off with:

1. Great for applying powder eyeliner and doing eyebrows as it is precise and angled: MAC Angled Brush 266
2. Great for generally applying eyeshadow (please don't use those gross free sponge ones that come with even the most expensive shadows: MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
3. For blending, this is fab, just feather around the outer parts of your shadow so it blends in nicely: MAC 217 Blending Brush

I know they're pricey - around the £20-£30 mark but think how much you spend on eyeshadows, it really is worth having a couple of good tools to apply them with otherwise your stunning shadows are getting wasted.

It really will make applying eye makeup so much easier.  The number of girls I know who don't wear eyeshadow as they're scared / don't know how to put it on.  All I can say is, with a good brush, it will become so much easier! Trust me!

Lots of Love, 

Fiocco xxx

Poker Cup in Montreal

Hello there!

As you know I've been feeling the whole 'Las Vegas' vibe recently and the idea of playing the slot machines and winning at the tables in those impressive hotels.  And I think the reason I've got into it recently is because of absolutely loving Victoria Coren Mitchel.

Being one of the only successful female poker players and being incredible on "Have I Got News for You",  basically ended up with me watching PokerStars Canada Poker Cup final in Montreal.  I'm telling you, it's way more gripping than the Housewives of New Jersey!

Somehow, they had one of the craziest endings - after nine hours of full on playing everything just ended really abruptly.  I mean, in just a few minutes the whole tournament was over and won.  All the players decided to go all-in with their poker hand. Check it out and you'll see what I'm talking about.

 I swear, even if you don't know much about poker you will be absolutely gripped by that last game.  Oh, and the guy who won, Robert Notkin, ended up with $354, 379 in his pocket after qualifying with just $30.  Talk about hitting the jackpot!

Anyway, this has pretty much just inspired me to become the next Victoria Coren Mitchell ....I'm sure it's possible.... right (although I'm lacking her wit and charisma)!? I mean, hey, all you need is just $30 to participate!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed watching the video, I know that I certainly did!

Lots of love!

This post is sponsored by Spreaditfast