Friday 9 January 2015

dry january: [week 1]

It's been a while since I've written here, and for that... My sincerest apologies. Fashion blogging can be pretty exhausting when all you want to do sometimes is just sit around in your pants and watch Netflix. Despite the fact I have lots of lovely new things sitting around, I never get round to blogging about them and eventually... they simply stop being new. Drat.

But anyway, this is a different kind of blog post! I never thought I'd say it but I've actually decided to make big changes in my life. Since coming to university in 2011, I've loved having a drink. Several drinks. I've loved getting drunk. When the novelty of drinking wore off after the initial 'freshers'
period, I was pretty quick to turn to the vino when I got stressed out, upset or simply bored. Coming to think about it, the amount I actually drink weekly was pretty astounding. It was too much. The result of this was pretty obvious, I went from being around 8st in first year to just under 10st just before Christmas 2014. My mood was crap, I couldn't fit into my favourite clothes and my skin had aged to the point where there was definitely a noticeable difference. Makeup couldn't revive it and my fine, limp hair was lacklustre and rebellious.
To top it all off, I loved a good smoke. It didn't become a serious problem until I met my close group of friends in early 2013 who were all smokers at the time. We would lie around in our bedroom with ash trays rested on our stomaches and smoke because we were bored, and because it had become a problem. Even when I moved into my new house with a bunch of anti-smokers, I still found myself shivering outside in the freezing cold and pouring rain with my Doc Martens pulled over my slippers, a leaky umbrella over my head... simply to have a smoke. My clothes stank, and my skin just continued to get worse.

Enough was enough.

Eventually all it took was a run down immune system and a hefty dose of antibiotics to draw the line. Two weeks ago I became, quite literally, sick of alcohol. Dry January was on the menu!



I wont faff around about how 'difficult' it was to give up alcohol, how it was 'such a strain' to not have a sip of wine in the evenings. It wasn't hard. In the slightest. I just got up on new years day and threw away the empty bottles, laughed at everyones hangovers and that was that.

And I don't look back. It's been over a week off the booze and the fags, and I am feeling better than I've felt in... well, years. I think a few simple bullet points will sum up neatly how I feel now.


  • Absolutely brilliant. Literally. My mood has skyrocketed, I don't struggle with getting out of bed anymore in the morning. I've struggled with depression in the past, and often resorted to drinking as an answer for it, and now I just feel a billion times better now it's out of my system. I can actually go to work for three hours and then go straight on to the library without crying for a nap! 
  • My skin is radiant- and my boyfriend likes to tell me so! 
  • I just managed to squeeze back into my jeans for the first time in months. BRB I'm just gonna go and rub my awesomeness in someones face.  
  • My hair is feeling a lot more voluminous and healthier. Sure, it's still full of split ends and broken sections but it's got a bit of shine to it and no longer clings to my skull and makes me look like Kate Moss's cocaine episode.
But.... I'd be lying if I said it was all Dry January no-alc-no-fags that was responsible for this. No, it's not really. I've been attending the gym and going to classes like never before, as well as having a massive cleanse of everything unnecessary in my life.
First alcohol and fags. 
Then... Cutting out excessive use of hair products, reducing them down to just a shampoo and condition in the shower then blow dry. That's it. I don't scrub my face anymore, just wash it with gentle Tea Tree wash, followed by a tone, moisturise and using my new Clinique Serum for pores.

Like drinking, when you line up how much crap you use on your hair and face and see the quantity, it's no surprise that sometimes promises of multiple products improving your ailment will fall short of your expectations. Piling it all on, every cream, potion and lotion will just send you in the opposite direction of what you actually want. 

So that's my extremely positive and over the top week 1 of Tilly's Dry January! 

I will hopefully write back again next week, or failing that, a recap at the end of the month. 

In the meantime, here's a photo of me celebrating my new, clean skin! 

Matilda Jane xx



       

Saturday 11 October 2014

beauty review: my first ever GLOSSYBOX!!

Oh em gee I don't think I was this excited about receiving something in the post for ages!! After stumbling across Glossybox on Twitter, I was extremely tempted to try one for myself. The concept is brilliant: monthly deliveries of beauty product samples from brands both familiar and unfamiliar, and all for £10 or less! Say whaaat...?!


The packing itself was gorgeous, I felt guilty tearing off the outer Royal Mail layer alone! 




eeee! 

I was lucky to receive a limited edition version of the box, designed by Karen Millen and had a lovely illustration of the London city skyline done in watercolours. So far so good...!! 



I really couldn't help getting a few snappy snaps of the interior of the box before I opened it. I was just so immaculate and beautifully finished. And finally, the contents of the box included... (pictured above)

- L'Oreal Professionel Mythic Oil 
- GOSH Chubby blush stick 
- nails Inc Matte clear nail polish 
- More Brows Eyebrow Mascara 

Hands down, my favourite has to be the GOSH chubby blusher stick. At first when I received it I couldn't help but think 'hmm, eh?' And just HOW am I supposed to smear this chunky gooey thing across my face? 
I'm a bit of a rookie on the beauty scene (I get most of my beauty tips from reddit.com/r/makeupaddiction, soz! But if you're a beauty noob like myself, it's a forum seriously worth checking out) but after a few practices and attempts, this little item has worked its way into my daily beauty routine. I would recommend it to everyone! 

The L'Oreal Mythic Oil was a bit of a spoil, it is currently retailed at £13.20 so having it to pop up in my box made me feel all giggly and spoilt inside. Sort of like Christmas! It really is a bit of a jack of all trades! Smoothes down fizzy hair like no other product I know, adds shine, softens and according to my boyfriend "smells like a summer". What a QT. 

Sadly, the remaining two products fell a little bit short of my expectations. I'm a serial nail biter so nail Inc Matte clear nail polish had little-to-no effect on me. However, watch this space because I am dapper with a set of false nails and might post a review or two in the future. 
And with very fair blonde eyebrows, and a fan of the sculpted eyebrow look, I've never warmed to eyebrow mascara, so sorry, More Brows! This time round you don't win the trophy.

But all-in-all, Glossybox, you were an absolute delight and for a first taster box I think I'll definitely be coming back again! 

Cheers all!

Matilda Jane   
xx



Tuesday 9 September 2014

haul highlight: Urban Outfitters, ASOS and a bit of charity shopping.


I am so glad I waited for my paycheck to come in this time! Nothing is more satisfying than waiting for two months and then buying the things you've spent ages fantasising about! My 'Saved' basket on ASOS was full to its bursting point but I'm pretty glad I settled for the right things. For example, this amazing Lace Gypsy Sleeve Playsuit (ASOS) proved to be worth every penny. In fact, I was so desperate to have this item in my wardrobe I didn't care that my size was out of stock! I'm a size 8 and opted for a size 14 but luckily it's relaxed fit and drawstring waist means it's really comfy, really airy and I can't stop wearing it! It also fits nicely with two of my favourite wardrobe pieces.




jacket: Vintage // granny square cardigan: Charity shop // necklace: Topshop // bag: Urban Outfitters // sunglasses: ASOS // hat: Topshop 




Second item of my ASOS haul was a nifty little knitted dress. Gorgeous and sturdy looking crochet across the sleeves and breast (you know how crochet sometimes gives the impression that it's just going to snag and give away?) and a bobbly 'worn-in' knitted texture across the dress. And, joy of joys! It's not itchy! My skin is super sensitive to most wools and knitted fabrics but none of that nastiness here. 
Since it's navy, it fits in nicely with the rest of my planned autumn wardrobe too which consists of browns, berry colours and leathers. Nice one! 


dress: Textile Federation // bag: Urban Outfitters

Also, thanks to the beauty of payday I took a customary trip to Urban Outfitters! Huge thanks, UO for this gorgeous and silky midi-dress by the amazing Textile Federation. I've wanted a Textile Federation item for so long and luckily this one was up for grabs in my size on the sale! That's my going out outfit sorted for a while.
And while I was there I managed to snap up this amazing little black leather rucksack for £20 on the sale too. Perfect size for all my handbag junk!


Thanks for having a read! Until next payday, eh?!

Ciao bellas!

Matilda Jane x

Monday 8 September 2014

beauty review: I'm a porefectionist! A bunch of products for tackling fair skin problems



Alright, ladies and gents, I have a confession. I am a porefectionist. I'm kind of cursed with less-than-perfect post-pubescent fair skin which features a variety of problems: large and visible pores, redness, sensitivity and shininess. All of these things are on my mind when I go through my daily skin routine and when I'm shopping for new products. There is simply no fix-all product!
Around about a year ago I decided to give my beauty shelf an overhaul and start buying products that focus on specific problems rather than weak ones that tackle problems in a broad sense. So here I am a year on and I can safely say that the following products have been tried and tested and have rightfully won their place on my shelf!

Aloe Calming Toner 

The Body Shop

Best for... redness

When I hop straight out of the shower having washed my face, I'm usually confronted by it being bright red. No surprises there, really. To combat this I douse a cotton wool pad in The Body Shop Aloe Calming Toner and give my face a gentle all over wipe with it. Instantly soothing and instantly taking away the tightness of hot skin, I put this product on straight after the shower and leave it for a short while for my skin to calm down. 
It's alcohol free if your skin is sensitive to that like mine, and also smells lovely and refreshing. Only thing I would whinge about is the price tag, 8.00 pounds sterling is a bit dear for this bottle that runs out quite quickly because I use so much of it. But seeing how it instantly does the trick and calms my skin, it's worth the pennies.  

Rosaliac Skin Perfecting Anti-Redness Moisturiser 

La Roche-Posay 

Best for... redness. 

This is a godsend for people like me who are cursed with red skin that flares up at the smallest thing. I haven't worked out yet whether it's the chemical wizardry in this moisturiser that cancels out redness or if it's the green pigment but I don't care. This stuff works. And for that reason I am more than happy to shell out £16.00 a pop for this wonder product. I've seen a huge improvement in the redness of my face in the winter months AND in the summer months.
Only downside apart from the price tag is the fact that this is a very heavy moisturiser and sometimes adds a little shine to my nose and T-zone. Also, the fact that this product is unperfumed is more of a con than a pro in this case, since I find the smell a bit off. But once it's on your face the smell fades after a few seconds.   

Seaweed Pore Perfecter

The Body Shop

Best for... open pores. 

When I apply my foundation, I get pretty cheesed when most of the product seeps into my pores and gives me a dusting of small spots around my nose and between my eyebrows. But applying this nifty serum from The Body Shop between toning and moisturising actually seems to work on that problem! The product is lightweight, I can hardly feel it sitting on my skin and smells absolutely gorgeous. My skin automatically feels softer and smoother to touch and the deep pores suddenly look a little smaller and tighter. Wins all around! 

Dream Smooth Primer 

Maybelline 

Best for... Shiny skin 

This is quite literally a primer with no bells and whistles attached. I rub this product liberally across my T-zone and cheeks and forehead before I do my make up and leave it for some time to settle. It provides a very unusual sensation- dry and powdery but at the same time is in a cream/jelly form. It smoothes over any imperfections and makes it easier to effectively apply make up.
I haven't been doing much research on primers since I've only been using them for about 6 months, but so far I have been impressed with the results of this little pot from the Maybelline section. 
My biggest complaint would be the fact that you seem to need a very generous big blob of this jelly stuff to effectively smooth over all problem areas. And then you need to leave it to settle before applying your make up. Maybe it's just me and maybe I haven't quite mastered the art of priming my face yet!   

The Fab Pore 2-in-1 Pore Purifying Mask and Peel

Soap and Glory

Best for... large pores. 

Wow a product that actually does the trick... AND doesn't cripple my bank balance?! I considered briefly the sciency products over at Clinique but at £20.00-40.00 for a small vial of serum, I decided to renew my research and keep looking! And thats when I stumbled upon this little face mask! I've had such bad luck with facemasks over the years (allergic reactions to clay for one...) that I was delighted to find that there was no stinging sensation when I put on this mask. It smells technical and minty, which was a surprise since I was expecting the usual heavy perfumes that Soap and Glory are famous for. As the mask dries it sucks out the nasties out of your pores and by the end of fifteen minutes this little thing has not only cleaned your pores inside and out but also tightened them. Visible results after the first use.  

Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water

Lush 

Best for... Everything else.

After all of this heavy stuff I'm putting on my face, perhaps it's time to just kick back and go for a product that is just a general feel-good thing. A Breath of Fresh Air is an aromatherputic toning water made from 100% vegan products by Lush and quite literally... feels like a breath of fresh air. No sciency nonsense, no heavy chemicals or alcohol. I spritz this on my face whenever my skin starts to feel a bit greasy or heavy and boom, I feel AND look better.
Nice one, Lush!


beauty review: Silver Hair edition


As a blondie,  I have always dreamt of pure silver hair. But as a student, I haven't quite got the budget that goes with it! Over the years I have tried many different methods for toning my hair away from brassy blonde, I've had my bleaching disasters and I've had my blue hair days. But I think, after all this time, I'm finally knuckling down on what achieves a nice silvery sheen to bleached blonde hair.

They've wrecked my bank account but goodness I am fond of my silver shampoos! So I thought I'd share a little knowledge I've picked up along the way...

Lee Strafford: Bleach Blondes



Buy me from: Boots
Price: Not the best (£6.99 each)
Smell: Nice!
Base pigment: Purple
Does it work?: To an extent

Well, I've been going back to this product again and again so I suppose something must be working. The base pigment is purple which is best for cancelling out the fresh brassy orange tones that are associated with newly bleached hair and the product doesn't go haywire when you accidentally leave it in for too long! But it doesn't quite seem to get down to those subtle yellow tones that annoy me so much. For this, Lee Strafford seems to recommend buying another one of the pricier items in their blonde collection... Lee Strafford's Hot Shots 4 Blondes Shampoo Treatment comes in at £7.49. Ooft. But, they have hit the nail on the head when it comes to the scent of the shampoo! The scent is edgy with subtle burnt undertones but reminds me of professional hair salons. The big bottles are great if you can't see yourself having the time for a shop over the next few months, and it spares you that 'leave in to see results' malarkey.

3.9/5


Pro:Voke: Touch Of Silver 



Buy me from: Boots or Superdrug
Price: Great! (£3.09 for the small weekly brightening shampoo bottle and £2.09 for conditioner)
Smell: Hmm... blergh.
Base pigment: Blue/deep violet
Does it work: Yes... sometimes a bit too much!

Arguably the best silver shampoo on the British market, I have been using this little bottle of joy since before I bleached my hair white. BUT... I just cannot stand the smell! It smells cheap. I've tried improving the scent of this shampoo by mixing it with others or adding perfumed oils but nothing seems to work.
However, this product does the trick when it comes to toning your hair... and sometimes goes the extra mile! Watch out for the patches of your hair that have been over bleached because these will absorb the blue pigment of this shampoo like a sponge. Also timing is a headache for something so great. I usually leave this product in for about 5 minutes and the results really do come right down to the second. A second more, you're as blue-headed as Marge Simpson and a second less you won't see any results. This is massive hassle when you're running late or have limited amounts of hot water. But, all in all, this is a great little shampoo for maintaining silver hair.

4.2/5


Bleach: Silver Shampoo 


Buy me from: Boots or at Bleach London
Price: Satisfactory (£5.00 for both conditioner and shampoo)
Smell: Umm... unusual.
Base pigment: Violet
Does it work?: Hella yeah!

After reading so many great reviews about this little bottle I just had to give it a go. And straight away I was impressed! My hair has been pulled this way, that way, forwards and backwards over the years so I was expecting some odd colours to appear when I used this shampoo for the first time. But I was really pleasantly surprised. No shocking blue streaks or disappointing patches of yellow, even when I stepped straight out of the shower and checked my wet hair in the mirror, I was pleased with the results. Although it's not really silver-grey, I'm happy to say that this product has granted me a brassy yellow free 'do. I also love the fact it's as simple as wash-in-wash-out. None of that 'rub-in-leave-for-5' nonsense.
Smell has room for improvement. I can't tell if I like it or not! It definitely has a strong natural floral vibe (it says 'thistle' on the back of the bottle... hm.) But I can definitely tolerate it. The results are totally worth it!

4.8/5


Phillip Kingsley: Silver Shampoo 


Photo credit to: The MakeUp Mouse

Buy me from: John Lewis
Price: OUCH!!! (£16.00 for a tiny winy bottle!)
Smell: Pretty! Lavendery!
Base pigment: Lavender
Does it work?: Erm... no.

I accidentally left this shampoo at my boyfriends house so I'm unable to take a photograph of it myself (I have borrowed this photo from The Make Up Mouse).
But here is a shampoo which I really can't seem to make my mind up on! The price tag is cringeworthy, and after the first use I was extremely upset to see that the yellow tones around my parting actually came back. Bah! I shoved this shampoo and it's equally naughty conditioner brother into the bathroom drawer never to look at them again... for 6 months.
Grumpy times behind me, I decided to give this shampoo another go recently and after about two weeks of bright yellows materialising out of nowhere, they began to fade and my hair slowly went back to being silvery white. I guess it's worth being patient with.
The smell of this shampoo is lovely and the conditioner is virtually weightless and leaves my hair soft and fluffy. I have heard some very positive things written about the conditioner, but not so much about its shampoo sibling. So the jury is out on this one.

2/5  


My hair adventure has taken me along a long, twisting path over the years. I hope I've helped to shed some light on some of the most reviewed silver hair products on the British market at the moment! Any products you'd like me to do a review on in the future, give me a shout.

Much love

Matilda Jane