Rituals - Yogi Flow

Rituals Yogi Flow Shower Gel - £7.00

rituals was a brand i have avidly loved for months and months, but it was one i hadnt been dieing to try. i first received a full sample of this shower gel in one of my glossyboxes last year, and instantly fell in love with the creamy texture and the divine smell.

i would describe the smell as rather sweet, but musky at the same time therefore its suitable both throughout the winter and the summer months. it is on the pricey side, but i must say the quality of this product is amazing. the smell lingers on the skin for ages after its been washed off, which to me makes me feel as if its really cleaned my skin but done so in a gentle way.

this shower gel comes in a range of different scents, so dont be put off if your not into 'indian rose and sweet almond oil' (how could you not!!!) as there are tons of other smells, and i can gaurentee one is bound to take your fancy. rituals was a brand until a few months ago i didnt know much about, but i now own a fair few products. one thing i love about the brand is that they do a range of different products but they all come under the same smell, for instance the indian rose and sweet almond oil also comes in other products such as bath oils so if you find a smell you absolutely adore, you dont have to mix products/smells but you can stick to that particular smell! that to me, is a superb idea.

this product is pricey, and i did buy/receive a few for christmas so i have stocked up but i would say a little does go a long way. be careful when squirting it out as it does come out quickly and can lead to wastage of precious product, other than that i would recommend this to anyone and everyone. i am an avid fan, as is my mum which just goes to show the scents are not just limited to a certain age range that would prefer certain scents, over others - rituals is a brand that appeals to the masses.

lots of love, elle xo

'purple shampoo' for blondes!

Touch of Silver - £3.09

this product is specifically aimed at us girls, who have bleached/died their hair a lighter colour, typically blonde. as it says it is a brightening shampoo, therefore it works in conjunction with your daily hair care and works to get rid of any brassiness that your typical shampoo has left on your bleached hair. this neutralises the hair, and therefore leaves it the colour you intended on having it when you first bleached the hair.

i think the brand is very well known when it comes to hair colour aimed at bleached hair, therefore to suggest it is a reliable product would be matter of fact. everyone i know who has bleached their hair, tends to use this brand when it comes to trying to find a 'purple shampoo'. i personally have only used this one, so i cannot compare it to any others. i have had the bottoms of my hair bleached for about two or so years now and i have repeatedly purchased this product, time after time. i think it works brilliantly in getting rid of excess shampoo and any left over product that your normal shampoo has been unable to wash out.

i do tend to find it is a rather weird texture, and is rather runny so you have to be careful when pouring it out of the bottle. once on the hair, i tend to rub it into the bottom where my hair is bleached and then i brush this through leaving it on for a few minutes to get the full effect. i do tend to find my hair does feel a bit blurgh after ive washed it off, rather stiff and not as soft as a normal conditioner, but i guess this is because this product has got ridden of all that 'goodness' that makes your hair feel soft and luxerious and has restored it back to the basic bleach colour.

i wouldnt recommend using this more than twice a week, because your hair just doesnt need it! i think it works great if you use it once, or twice a week to restore the bleach blonde colour. i however, prefer my hair to feel soft so i always condition it tons after ive used this product, which to be honest defeats the object of using it sometimes! i would recommend this to anyone though who has bleached their hair as it does restore the colour and gets rid of any excess product!

lots of love, elle xo

St Ives - Blemish Fighting

st ives blemish scrub - £4.29

this product has been part of my cleansing routine for many years, and has never failed to impress when i need a deep scrub that will get rid of the dry skin on my face, especially in the winter months. i love the new packaging that st ives have recently introduced, i think it brings a new look to the brand and it definitely is easier on the eye.

the scrub itself has a gorgeous smell to it, and although its specifically aimed at blemish prone skin i think the product is ideal for the majority of people looking for a cleanser that not only gets rid of dry skin, but also purifies your pores which will lead to less oil/dirt getting under the skin. i would recommend only using this product roughly twice a week, three times if you believe your skin definitely needs it. i think if you overuse the product it could irritate your skin and you wont notice the benefits of using it occasionally.

one thing i would recommend is use this of an evening before going to bed, because as it is a scrub if your skin is sensitive like mine it can leave your face looking slightly red... which is never a good look when your about to apply your make up, or leave the house. 

for a drug store product, i definitely think for the price and the quality it is definitely worth trying. some may love it, some may hate it but for £4.29 its definitely a risk id be willing to take. ive tried several high end facial scrubs that have not had nearly as good as an effect on my skin, which just goes to show how good st ives actually is.

lots of love, elle xo

20 random facts about oneself.

1. my name is elle, pronounced like the letter 'l' but people continously call me ellie, and when i tell them its just elle, they seem to believe its short for something such as eleanor
   
2. i am only 5 ft 2, which is incredibily tiny compared to most people i know and i take a size 3 in footwear, which means shoes can sometimes be increasingly difficult to find
   
3. i have a little sister called daisy who is 2, and a little brother who is 5 called dylan. they are both wonderful little kids, and mean a lot to me as i love being their big sister
   
4. i am half irish, and half english. my mum is english and my dad was born in raised in northern ireland, which means i suffer from very fair skin and freckles throughout the summer
   
5. i am currently in my first year of university studying for a ba sociology and criminology degree, at the university of brighton. i absolutely adore my course and love living by the sea
   
6. i am a natural blonde, but 'dip dye' the ends of my hair to give me a bit of 'edge' to my hair. having long hair can sometimes get a bit dull and boring, so this is a useful way to change your hair
   
7. i never, ever ever go out without having my nails painted. i dont quite know what it is but i just hate the look of nails without something on them, even if its just clear nail polish
   
8. i am a clean freak, and i tend to feel rather ill when i enter an environment that isnt deemed as clean, this means i tend to be very picky when i stay at other peoples houses
   
9. 80% of my wardrobe is from topshop. i know this is an awful lot but it tends to be the only shop that caters for my needs without having to properly search the high street for what im after
   
10. i have a cockapoo, which is a cross between a cockerspaniel and a poodle. he is called ollie and he will be 4 in march. he is my world, if anything happened to him i dont quite know what id do
    
11. my mum is my best friend, no matter how i treat her and what i say to her she will always be there for me and vice versa
    
12. i have been single for quite a while, this is because i tend to find im a happier and healthier person when i am alone as i can get quite jealous and insecure in a relationship
    
13. sausage rolls are one of my favourite snacks, i just hate how many calories they contain. i would live off these if i could
    
14. i have done my eyeliner the same way since i was about 13, some people absolutely love it and others tend to find it quite perculiar but the reason i havent changed it, is just because i am very used to seeing myself like this
    
15. lipstick is one of my favourite products, i think lipstick can really turn a 'dull' face into something magical. it draws attention to a primary feature on your face and draws attention away from flaws that you dont want people to notice
    
16. i dont have perfect skin, and im always searching for that 'perfect' foundation. if i had one wish it would be to be one of those girls who had naturally flawless skin and a great complexion
    
17. ive always had an insecurity of my weight. i am by no means overweight or fat but i have always been very critical of myself and have always wanted to be skinnier than i am
    
18. i tend to have low self esteem, but i dont talk about this very much because its not a matter i feel defines who i am and i definitely dont want people to think im seeking attention
    
19. i am absolutely obsessed with tea. i have drinking a cup of tea since i was about 3, and the bare minimum i will have per day is atleast 5 cups. i really dont understand how anybody can live without a good brew
    
20. i love receiving mail and this might be the reason why i love being a subscriber to glossybox. i love receiving things that i dont know what is going to be in them. every month when my glossybox arrives both me and my mum open it together and share the products out.

MAC Zoom Lash

MAC Zoom Lash - £14.00

 

this mascara, has got to be my all time favourite mascara. people continuously rave about benefits 'they're real' and although i own the mascara, and do enjoy using it, i dont feel like it has nearly as much of an effect with just one coating.

 

the only downfall with this mascara is the packaging, as can be seen from the above photo if you have the slightly bit of foundation on your hand and you touch this product, you turn it from jet black to a grey colour which without hard core scrubbing is hard to get back too. the mascara itself, is a god send.

 

the bristles are aligned in a row of around 8, and thank god they are not plastic bristles (pet hate). i find the formula of this product makes the mascara apply easily and its not gunky so it doesnt take ages to dry. it makes your eyelashes look extremely long and one thing i love about this product is that you can apply one coat for an extension to the lashes, or you can apply several coats for a fuller effect but it never looks clumpy.

 

if your looking for an ideal mascara, that will never let you down which can be used religiously then i would suggest you invest in this lovely product! i am not the biggest MAC fan, but i must say their brushes and this mascara are products i religiously buy.

 

lots of love, elle xo

collection concealer

lasting perfection concealer - £4.19

 

this is a cult product that has undeniably been a hit amongst the beauty blogging community, putting concealers such as high end mac products to shame and also saving us lots of shillings!! this concealer is without doubt, very good at what it is meant to do.

 

i use the colour 'fair' and it is a perfect match for my foundation which is great for us fair ladies which often find that our concealers, foundations and powders are all different colours, leading to a mismatch of products. the formula of this product is rich and creamy which means that the smallest amount goes a very long way, and it is very easily blendable. i find this product is perfect under the eyes, and hides bags fantastically.

 

another great thing about this concealer is its staying power, as it says on the tube it has a 16 hours staying power and this is quite correct. i dont know if it lasts the full 16 hours, but it definitely doesnt slide away after a few hours like a few products i use do. it covers blemishes, red spots, dark circles and anything else that needs to be hidden perfectly!

 

for the price, and availability of this product i do not think any girl has an excuse not to own this product, it is a product that will benefit you and this means i would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality concealer, that conceals to perfection.

 

lots of love, elle xo

no7 shine free makeup base

no7 shine free - £10.50

 

this product is aimed at us ladies who suffer with combination/oily skin around our tzone area which creates problems for our make up throughout the day, leading to us returning home with a sticky chin and a red nose where our foundation has gradually glided away throughout the day.

 

when i use this product i tend to squeeze a pea size amount onto my index finger, and dab it around my nose where i tend to get the most oily throughout the day. the product is white and fluffy but very drying so you must work with it quickly to get the best effect. i tend to find if you use too much product, it tends to peel away and leave like a 'peeling' effect on the skin, which is never a good look - especially in winter when you cant even blame it on sun burn...

 

personally, i dont know whether i love or hate this product. occasionally i use it and feel like its made a tremendous difference and has definitely controlled my oil production, but then on other occasions i use it and think oh my god, its producing an oiler nose. its not a product i use religiously, therefore to suggest to someone that it is an essential would be wrong.

 

i think you should perhaps ask for a tester of this product and see how it works on your skin, as of course it will produce different results for different people. its not too expensive and it does last bloody ages so it wont be a waste of money if it does work for you, but i wouldnt say its something every girl needs, before it most definitely isnt.

 

(note: sorry the packaging is slightly scratched, this product has been thrown about in my bag for months and this has led to the damage haha)

 

lots of love, elle xo 

mac 187

mac 187 £32.50

 

 

this bad boy is my nearest and dearest foundation brush. i am extremely sorry, its not in perfect condition but i didnt have time to wash it before i took these photos - excuse the messyness. this foundation brush, is just wonderful.

 

at £32.50 it is on the rather expensive side, but if you buy expensive cosmetics you need expensive pieces of equiptment to put it on!!! the bristles on this brush are just divine, and feel like velvet on the skin which makes the application process of foundation a pleasurable experience. it works the foundation into the skin so effortlessly than buffing is no problem for this badboy.

 

if your looking for a foundation brush that applies your foundation perfectly and provides that flawless base for your make up, then this brush is definitely worth investing in! i know it is expensive, but if you wash it once a week it will stay it great condition and will last year a long time which will then mean the price is definitely not a problem!

 

lots of love, elle xo

estee lauder - double wear foundation.

 estee lauder double wear £27.50

 

where to even begin with this review, i absolutely adore adore adore this foundation. i have never come across a beauty product that i could rave about for weeks and weeks, hours upon hours. this foundation will change your life, if like me you've been searching for that perfect product for years and years and years.

 

this foundation is definitely on the medium/heavy coverage side, but for those of you who love flawless looking skin (who definitely do not have it) this product is for you. a small amount tends to go a long way, and this foundation will stay in place on the skin for hours without needing to be retouched or powdered. it blends perfectly into the skin, without too much buffing therefore it is also ideal for those of you who do not have too long in the morning to spend in the mirror, buffing away for that natural but flawless coverage.

 

it is a pricey foundation, and wont be in everyones affordability but i would recommend even if you cant always wear it, definitely ask for it for a birthday/present and wear it on special occasions because you most definitely will notice a difference and your likely to fall in love with it as much as myself.

 

the only downfall with this product, i might just have a little cry while i write this (wah!!!) they have changed their colours as of late, and discontinued the only colour that is suitable for my skin tone (shell 1c1) which means that i am having to look after this bottle of foundation with my life. i have tried ecru and yes it does look ok, but it is definitely not shell. nonetheless, if their colours match your skin tone go go go and buy it now.

 

lots of love, elle xo

benefit porefessional

benefit porefessional £23.50

 

a much talked about, and loved product is the benefit porefessional. i bought this primer in the whim that it would reduce any pores that surround my nose/cheek around and hopefully smooth the areas that foundation is most likely to get clogged/look cakey throughout the day. i must say, i was not dissapointed with the results of this bad boy.

 

the colour of the cream is a light beige/brown colour and it comes out in a smooth line. i tend to dap the little squirt between my two index fingers and smooth both on either side of my face (one cheek, then the other). this makes foundation glide on perfectly and i tend to find it even reduces lines that may appear if you havent blended your foundation properly. it works perfectly at reducing any pores that may have been on show beforehand, which makes your skin look absolutely flawless.

 

this primer is perfect for anyone looking for something that will reduce visible pores on their face and therefore make it seem as if they have perfect, flawless and desirable skin. i dont think this is a primer that needs to be used all over the face, therefore its not something that should just be used as a make up base, it has a specific intention and it does its job perfectly. this product, along with other benefit beauties tend to arise a lot on the front of magazines in miniature versions, so for anyone not sure whether they should or shouldnt buy this, perhaps pick up a miniature version first!

 

lots of love, elle xo 

lush vanishing cream

lush vanishing cream £17.50

 

this moisturiser, is the only and i say only moisturiser that i have ever been able to use on my poor excuse of 'sensitive skin'. i have used moisturisers ranging from clarins to simple and none of them have had any positive effect on my skin whatsoever. moisturisers usually leave my skin feeling wet, oily, and horrible which then leads to an acne breakout and a moody elle. i came across this moisturiser about three years ago, when i was visiting brighton to look around the university (eek!!), i had a chat with the salesperson and told them off my dilemma and they were quite shocked but recommended 'vanishing cream' for me. i was at first pessimistic as nothing before had worked, however i used the sample that was given to me for about a week, and i totally fell head over heels in love. this moisuriser is one of the best, it is au natural as its from lush and it does exactly what it says on the label.

this would best suit someone with combination/oily skin, who is looking for a lightweight moisturiser that will keep their skin soft and moisturised all day, without going too far and leaving your face sticky. it roughly lasts me around 3/4 months and i use this every single day without fail, even if im having a no make up day. i think for the price you pay, your getting a fabulous product which is not tested on animals, is good for the skin, and will if like me you hated moisturisers before hand, will change your opinion.

 

lots of love, elle xo

redken - heat protector syrum.

redken heat protector £14 

 

i thought id do a post on hair syrums seeings as they are last year and more than likely this years craze. i have always been a cosmetic junky/hair fanatic and i am always buying the latest products that are costing me a tremendous amount of money, and not doing what i expected them to do (miracles of course!!!)

 

i got bought this redken heat glide syrum as a gift from my mum, sometime last year. as it says its a protective smoother for very dry/unruly hair and i think this sums up the product perfectly. it is a rather sticky syrum, and you only need 1/2 pumps which you rub together in the palm of your hairs and smooth on. it is wonderful for smoothing down unruly hair and smells absolutely divine. i think it also does a sufficient job at protecting my hair from heat, as i have yet to get any split ends.

 

this product would be perfect for someone who has out of control hair, that is quite knotty as this would work tremendously as smoothing down the hair, and making it easier to manage when styling. one thing i would also say is that because it smooths down, one would expect it to make your hair appear rather 'flat' and blurrgh after, but fortunately as it is a light-weight product, it does not do this in the slightest.

 

lots of love, elle xo



how to create your own princess hair.

 

hey there chuck! i thought i would upload a quick video of me doing what i call 'princess hair' it is very simple, yet elegant. if like myself you suffer with continuous long hair bores, and you want an up-do that is quick and easy to do in a matter of minutes, this look will be just for you!

i have attached two photos, one from the front and one from behind to show what the final look you've created will look like!

i hope this video is helpful and if anyone needs any more tips/advice on how to create it, dont fret to comment :)

lots of love, elle xo

2013, new blog.

1. hello, i thought i would start by saying happy new year to you all. i know it is probably really strange for anyone reading this as i have been one of those 'on/off' bloggers for many years, reverting to tumblr instead of blogspot because it is something i am comfortable with, and know i have a wide following. however, i am dedicated to sticking at this while im at university for the next three years and see where it goes.

2. my name is elle sarah mcdonald, for those that are new to my blog. i am a first year university student, studying in brighton. i study sociology and criminology and i absolutely love my course, and wouldnt want to be anywhere else. i am a make up junkie, and have a clothes obsession. i absolutely adore my pooch and i can gaurentee he will be a regular face on my blog.

3. my blog is mainly going to consist of make up reviews, outfit posts, and days out with my camera. i am not the biggest photo taker of myself, and i do not really enjoy others taking photos of me, so do not expect thousands of photos of myself because it will not happen.

4. any support along the way will be much appreciated, feel free to follow me if your into similar things to me and i am sure your enjoy xo