A hairy post! - My hair update

Just a quick update on my hair, as in an earlier post I said that my hair was SO dry and fluffy. It was so unmanageable and horrible looking so I decided to use my new products that I spoke about in that post, you can read it here.

Here are some photos just to show you how shiny and smooth it looks, I'm so impressed! It feels so soft and silky and looks healthy, not dry in the slightest!

The products I used are:

Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask

James Brown Rich Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner - LOVE these!!!

Toni & Guy Prep Leave In Conditioner

 Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Princess Purrfect Hot Styler Spray

V05 Miracle Concentrate with Argan Oil (On my ends)

Lastly I styled it slightly with the Umberto Giannini Glam Hair Backcomb in a Bottle - I have mixed feelings on this but will keep testing it!

And lastly a snap of me being a weirdo - excuse the bare face and dressing gown, I went to bed after this :-)

Those products seemed to really improve the look and feel of my hair and I am very impressed! For someone with afro-caribbean hair this is really satisfying that I can wear my hair straight without it looking unhealthy and damaged.

A few days off: Epping and Blogging.....

Just a few snaps of my relaxing time off work spent at my boyfriend's Dad's house in Epping. Mmm look at all that fresh snow - sodding white stuff.

Boots Haul: Hydraluron and Haircare

So I popped into Boots today when I was supposed to be banking in town - whoops! It never ends well for my bank balance when I enter Boots, especially now my local is stocking Hydraluron *screams*!!!

I have been squeeeeeeeezing my tube of Hydraluron to death for a while now so it was about time that I picked up a new tube. I stopped using it for a little while when I noticed it was running out, wanting to save it for when I really needed it. Truth is, I need this stuff everyday. When I started to get extremely dry skin last week due to the weather, this little bad boy was slathered on before bed and when I woke up my skin was so soft, supple and plump - really plump. I think sometimes it takes going without a product for a while to really appreciate and know for certain that it works - and this stuff WORKS! I cannot sing it's praises enough, *sings*.

Then I picked up some much needed haircare products as my hair has not been behaving itself what so ever for the last few days, it's been really dry on the ends and fluffy - ergh! The 3 for 2 promotions in Boots always suck me in so I ended up getting six items. 

I picked up the Lee Stafford Blinding Brunette Conditioner for natural or coloured brunette hair, as I dye it to keep it glossy and bright, so I thought this conditioner will help to keep it really chocolatey.

I also picked up the James Brown Rich Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner as I need some hydration in my hair, desperately!

I also picked up two Umberto Giannini products - The Glam Hair Backcomb in a Bottle and the Glam Hair Princess Purrfect Hot Styler Spray. I got these because both my heat defence spray and texturising spray are on their way out. I also got my favourite leave-in cream that I use for styling my hair - the Toni & Guy Prep Leave In Conditioner, this really makes a difference to how smooth and sleek my hair is when I'm blowdrying and straightening it. It's nice to be able to keep the hair moisturised and hydrated without having to wash the product out. 

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What are your recent beauty buys?

Review: Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara

Lancôme Hypnôse mascara in 01 Noir

It's safe to say that I love this mascara. I did have a MASSIVE relationship with Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara, however this one has beat it on a few factors. This is the non-waterproof version as I don't get on well with waterproof mascara formulas. Although they are long wearing, I hate getting them off and they always make my lashes feel stiff and unnatural. Despite this being non-waterproof, it wears extremely well and doesn't flake off or melt when my eyes get watery.

For starters I love the wand, I've always preferred bristle brush mascara wands despite the Max Factor having a large plastic one. This wand teamed with the inky, creamy texture of the mascara just does wonders. It coats the lashes with a plush and almost creamy layer of mascara which dries quite quickly and sets, preventing clumps. I have not had a clumpy mascara day with this one once!

The fact that it dries quickly allows you to be able to do more coats without it caking up and getting clumpy - so important. The brush is long and thin which is great for reaching the smaller lashes in the corners and the fact that it sets so well means that it doesn't flake all day. Some mascaras set quite dry which means they go flaky during the day, this one dries but doesn't make the lashes feel stiff, they are still slightly feathery to the touch and look quite glossy.

It's not the most volumizing mascara, however I prefer length over volume so this is perfect for me. It holds it's own when I wear it with eyeliner or a smokey eye, still making my lashes look lengthy and thick.

My Shu eyelash curlers

I always, always curl my lashes before I apply my mascara as it makes such a difference - my favourites are the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers, they are incredible!

Close-up: No mascara, uncurled lashes

Close-up: Lashes curled with Shu Uemura eyelash curlers and wearing two
coats of Lancôme Hypnôse mascara in 01 Noir

I have quite naturally long lashes that are dark and thick, but I am pleased with the outcome that this mascara gives, and I am VERY fussy with mascara! Very. 

What are your thoughts? Do you have an all time favourite mascara?

The January Glow featuring Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All-Over Radiance Créme

 Who says that we can't still get that summer glow in the winter? I have been going back to my Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow in 02 Rose Gold for a few weeks now and applying it on the tops of my cheekbones, my brow bones and down the centre of my nose. 

As well as liberally applying Hydraluron, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream and Clarins Hydraquench Lotion, this product has allowed my skin to look healthy and glowing like it does in the summer. I've been suffering with quite dry skin in this bitter weather, and for someone with combination/normal skin with quite an oily t-zone in the summer, this has been a nightmare for me as my skin kept looking dull, flaky and red - when the Winter hits I just turn into Rudolph!

After addressing my dry skin issue, I would apply a generous amount of a hydrating moisturiser, my foundation, and then pop this on for lovely, luminous skin even in this bitter January weather.

Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow in 02 Rose Gold swatched on my hand - no flash - natural lighting.

This product is fantastic and I was so sad to see that Jemma Kidd went into administration as their products have been highly rated in the beauty world. I love this product for all year round and I just wish that it contained more product! As you can see from the photo above I've hit pan on it, which pretty much happened not long after I started using it *sigh*. This aside, I really love this product and the 'rose' gold shade is a great match for my skin.

How do you keep your skin looking healthy in winter?

My Current Foundation: DiorSkin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup

My foundation choice at the moment has been the Diorskin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup in 040 Honey Beige. I'm always wary about what foundations I use as I have quite a yellow undertone to my skin, and some foundations can look really pink on me and not match my skin well at all. I love my Mac Face and Body foundation in C5 for it's lovely yellow undertone - it's literally my skin colour in a bottle. As much as I love that foundation, it doesn't last as well as I need for long days at work, so I wanted to find a foundation that still had that dewy finish, but is much more long-wearing. 

The Dior foundation in 040 Honey Beige is a really nice match for my skin, the undertone is slightly more neutral rather than yellow, but the shade really works for me. It's finish is semi-dewy I'd say, it looks really nice when applied and without powder it gives your skin a slight sheen. 

I love love love the packaging of this foundation, it feels so expensive! The pump is really good on this bottle, it allows you great control over how much you want to pump out, as I know some make-up pumps are designed quite badly (*cough* Mac Pro-Longwear Concealer *cough*). The bottle pumps softly so you can pump out enough for a whole face, or pump smaller sized amounts to go back in and add a second layer to problem areas.

Me sans make-up -ahh! Natural lighting.

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Me wearing the DiorSkin Nude Skin Glowing Makeup in 040 Honey Beige with no powder, and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream on my lips in natural lighting.

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Rest of make-up done!

This foundation lasts really well on my skin. Depending on what kind of day I'm having, I can sometimes apply this in the morning, set it with some powder, and when I get home my base looks exactly the same as I did when I applied it! This foundation does contain an SPF of 15 so it may give a white cast with flash photography, however I've not had any problems with this as I set it with a powder that has some colour in it. 

I really recommend this foundation, it's so easy to apply, doesn't feel heavy or thick and leaves a lovely, long-lasting finish!

Have you tried any Dior foundations?

Weekly Skin Treatments - Alpha-H Micro Cleanse and Alba Botanica Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask

Alpha-H Micro Cleanse 50ml and Alba Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask 85g

I recently decided to add these two products to my skincare routine as weekly treatments to further better my skin. I believe that masks and exfoliants are so important to keep skin looking healthy, de-congested and smooth. These two products in particular focus on the refinement of the skins texture, something my skin has been needing at the moment.

I am prone to micro bumps and congestion in my t-zone as well as blackheads, I decided to go for a product containing Papaya as I have read lots about it's 'skin-eating' properties. It really helps by eating the dead skin cells that can build up over time.

This mask by Alba Botanica has been a really nice mask to use as its gel texture feels really cooling on the skin and is completely clear, so wearing this won't scare the postman! It says to leave it on for around 5 minutes, however I sometimes leave it on for longer if I am doing things around the house. When I remove the mask my skin feels really, really soft, and I have noticed that with continued use that my skin looks smoother and dry flakes are gone.

I loved this mask especially when I had the flu just before Christmas as my nose gets really dry and flakey when I have a cold. After using this my nose was smooth and all the flakes were gone without having to physically exfoliate it with a scrub, which would irritate my skin further. 

I love a good gritty face scrub and this Alpha-H one fits the bill perfectly. I was drawn to it due to it's 12% Glycolic acid content as I love this ingredient in skincare products. This is perfect for my skin as its so exfoliating. I use the scrub and work it around my face for around a minute, then I leave it on my skin for about 5 minutes to let the Glycolic acid get to work and exfoliate my skin chemically. You must make sure you rinse this off thoroughly as some beads can be left on the skin. After I use this my skin feels firm and smooth, and this scrub really helps to clear my skin of congestion and keep it's texture smooth and soft. 

I love both these products and I find that using them 2-3 times a week helps my skin to stay smooth and clear. What products do you use as your weekly treatments?

Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask - Review

Toni & Guy Nourish Reconstruction Mask for Intensely Nourished Hair - 200ml

Boots - £7.19

Here is a product that I don't think I could live without it, and believe me I did try! I originally picked this up on a trip to Boots for some new hair products, at the time it was 1/3 off so I thought I would give it a go. The mask is from Toni & Guy's 'Nourish' range which claims to give you 'intensely nourished hair'.

Directions for use: Apply to clean, wet hair. Leave for 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly.

The first time I used it, I noticed a massive difference in my hair - and that's saying something! My hair typically is very dry and dehydrated without the right products and care. My ends would often be dry, brittle and frizzy as well of the rest of my hair suffering from breakage and dryness (typical qualities of Afro-Caribbean hair). Using this mask I found my ends were nourished and I can't even tell you how soft. My hair looked shiny and felt sleek and manageable with no signs of dryness. I used the mask all over paying extra attention to my ends and the front section near the roots. I was so surprised at how much this mask had changed my hair in just one use and it continued to perform until I finished the pot.

Once the pot was finished I didn't get a change to pop to Boots to pick up another for around two weeks and I was so surprised how much this made a difference to my hair. The first time I washed and styled it without using the mask my hair was frizzy, dry and brittle. I thought it might have been a shampoo I had used, but the next time I washed my hair with other products, it was the same story. 

Now, I'm not sure if I'm okay with the fact that this product doesn't provide long term effects, however I can't argue with what it does to my hair in terms of it's condition when I use it and how much healthier it looks when styled. It's safe to say that I most definitely did re-purchase this mask - I just can't get enough! As for the price point, I think it's a great price based on the results that it gives -- a definite recommendation from me!

The mask has a lovely, thick texture that applies well onto the hair and feels quite luxurious, very different from lower-end masks I have tried such as Herbal Essences and Pantene for example. It also has the most gorgeous scent which I've found all of T&G's products have.

You can pick up Toni & Guy products from their salons, online or from Boots!

Do you use any Toni & Guy products? 

2013! - New Beginnings

So here we are in 2013, I haven't done a blog post for a good few months now. Truth is I was just lacking the motivation, I lost track of where I wanted my blog to go and what I wanted to achieve with it. After starting a new job and receiving a new camera for Christmas from my boyfriend (Thanks Jake!), I felt it was time to start the blog up again and endeavour to make it grow through 2013. 

I am currently undergoing plans to give the blog a complete makeover and prep for that has already been started. I was going to wait until it's all finished to start posting again, but I was just far too excited! So stay tuned as it may start to change in the very near future.

Aside from that I will also be posting videos on YouTube featuring the same type of content that I talk about in my blog posts, but this will be a much more personal way of me communicating my loves and interests which I am excited to do! Can't say when the first video will go up but I'll post it on the blog so you all can find it!

Another change with the blog which I am so excited about is the domain name - it is no longer cocomykel.blogspot.co.uk but it is cocomykel.com - how fabulous? :-) I am so excited about this change as it really feels like my website now and I hope it makes it easier to access for everyone. You can still access it from the old address it will just redirect you.

So, all that said - wishing you all a fabulous 2013 filled with lots of new adventures and I do hope you will follow me on my adventures by reading the blog and watching it grow.

Lots more new content to come.......love always