My Current Hair Product Favourites

Oh hello there! Long time no see... (well, it's been a week but for me - in blogging time - that's an absolute eternity) It's not that I haven't wanted to blog - more that I haven't been able to access the interwebs properly since my laptop finally croaked it. It's been a long time coming but stupid me had only backed up my uni work - I have all the important 'work-related' stuff on external hard-drives but I never really thought about the sentimental things that I'd miss if they were gone.  Every cloud has a silver lining though as I've now used this mishap as an excuse to upgrade to a Macbook Pro... I've also learnt my lesson and promised myself I'll be much more organised (and less lazy when it comes to backing up my files) from now on.  It just so happens that I now have a tonne of blog photographs that I need to re-take (for once, i had them all sorted for the month of November and cleared out my memory card just before my laptop died - typical) - amongst the ones that I lost, I had a batch that I'd taken for my October favourites, but since I seem to have missed that boat now, I've decided to type up a few generic ones instead. The majority of the products featured were all hair-related anyway so it seemed silly not to group them all together and create some sort of hair-themed post! Without any further rambling, here's my newest additions to the hair product cupboard and why I think they're the bees knees...

The Mousse // Percy & Reed | Abundantly Bouncy Volumising Mousse | £12.00* | Link

I received this in one of my Love Me Beauty boxes (post here) and it's fast become my favourite mousse. So much so, it's blown any others I've previously used out of the water.  It's much more creamy in consistency than your average mousse and comes out a little more runny as opposed to foamy. However, it doesn't compromise on volume and adds so much body to my hair - after I've dried it, it feels so weightless and bouncy. I love that it seems much more moisturising too - I'm never left with crispy hair even if I do go a little bit overboard and my hair looks glossy and polished despite having product in it. I also love the packaging and design - always a nice little bonus!

The Heat Protection Spray // Neal & Wolf | Heat Guard | £7.61 | Link

I love the scent of Neal & Wolf products so I always spend a little more on their heat protection spray. For me, it's such a necessity and although they all essentially do the same thing, nothing compares to the lovely, musky scent that Neal & Wolf's version leaves my hair with.  It just smells so expensive and luxurious. It leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and I've noticed that the ends feel much softer to the touch since I've been using this - definitely worth the extra bit of money for me and I love that the salon-like scent lingers for a while afterwards.

The Shine Spray // Neal & Wolf | Glow Super Shine Spray | £8.08 | Link

I've never really used shine sprays before but due to my love affair with Neal & Wolf, I decided to give their version a go. Just a few spritzes after styling and my hair looks glossy, smoothed and polished without looking greasy.  It's a nice addition to my collection, especially through winter when my hair can have a tendency become a little dull.  I wouldn't say it makes masses of difference but for me, it has the added bonus of the signature Neal & Wolf scent! It kind of doubles up as a subtle hair perfume for me - I'm left with glossy hair that smells salon-fresh and doesn't feel weighed down. It's a nice little treat if you're a fan of the brand like me...

The Shampoo // Lush | 'BIG' Seal Salt Shampoo | £12.25 | Link

I've recently done a full review of this shampoo here.  I mentioned that it didn't lather too well on me, but since I've used it again I have too eat my words - I'm not sure whether I just didn't use enough water but I bloomin' love it! It smells so fresh and delicious, and the sea salt really does seem to help lift the hair.  For me, it's more of a cleansing shampoo with volumising benefits as opposed to an 'every day' product, as it really does leave the hair squeaky clean and removes build-up. I love the unique texture too - it's actually quite relaxing to massage this in to the scalp and once dry, my hair is left feeling (and smelling) super fresh.

The Deep Conditioner // Lush | 'American Cream' | £4.50 (100g)  | Link

Ok - so Lush don't market this as a deep conditioner as such but that's what I've been using it as.  It's incredibly moisturising and even though it doesn't have an overly thick consistency, it really does work itself in to the hair and you only need a small amount. My hair always feels incredibly soft after using this and always appears much more healthy. It completely revives my hair if it's feeling a bit worse for wear and injects some much needed moisture into the mid-lengths and ends.  It also smells incredible. Honestly, if you love 'creamy' scents you'll absolutely adore this because it's good enough to eat - it lingers on the hair for ages afterwards too. I have a full review here.

The Hair Oil // Shu Uemura | Essence Absolue Oil | Travel Size - £12.00 (Full - £29.60) | Link

This is not a recent discovery for me but I have to include it - it's been my holy grail favourite since I first discovered it over a year ago now and I kid you not, no other hair oil compares. Not even close.  I recently had to use my Moroccan Oil instead when I went away recently and I really did realise just how good the Shu Uemura version is. I missed it so much.  I'm surprised that it's not more well known on blogs because seriously - once you've used one drop of this you'll never want to use anything else. It's so moisturising and my hair never feels weighed down or greasy when I've used it - it's perfect for using on dry hair too and I often run a drop through to kill frizz or add some more moisture to the ends (it also revives hair extensions extremely well). It instantly polishes off your style.  I owe so much to this oil - i truly believe that it's made my hair grow considerably and it's looked and felt so healthy since I switched to using this. I recently picked up the travel size (shown in the photographs) which is sadly a limited edition.  If you've been wanting to try it for a while but didn't want to pay the full whack I urge you to pick one up. I'm so tempted to stock-up on some more to keep by me for when I go on holiday next year because I really can't live without it. It's completely transformed my hair.  I really hope they make the smaller size a permanent thing - it's fab to pop in your handbag for on the go! I have a full review here. 

The Daily Conditioner // Dove | Pure Care Dry Oil Conditioner |  £5.99 £2.97 | Link

I picked up a few bottles of this on a whim for just over £2 each. It's become my new go-to daily conditioner and I love it.  It's so moisturising and smells beautiful. I get through conditioner extremely quickly and a bottle of this lasts me quite a while because the consistency is rather thick.  I love the fact that it's tailored towards dry hair and contains oil - the moisturising benefits are instant.  My hair is left feeling silky smooth and easy to manage - I've found it styles really well after use too as it doesn't leave it feeling 'fluffy'.  Really recommend! 

What are your current hair favourites? Have you tried any of the products featured?

HUGE Beauty Haul | Drugstore & High-End Products

Oh dear. Look what happened.  Once again, I strolled past the beauty counters one too many times and came home with more than I anticipated. #StoryOfMyLife.  Fear not, I didn't go completely bonkers and buy all of this stuff in one go - (jeez I'm not that impulsive ;)) but I do seem to have accumulated a rather sizeable amount of stuff over the past 3 weeks.  Of course, being a blogger - I can't use anything properly until I've photographed it so I figured I'd swiftly put together a haul post. Who doesn't love a haul? I know I certainly do! I have a mixture of high-end and drugstore products so I've tried to categorise this post as best I could - feel free to skip on through and pick and choose the bits you're interested in til your heart's content. Expect to see a few of these beauty treats popping up on my blog over the next month or so - I'll be individually reviewing some of them so do let me know if there's anything you'd particularly like to hear more about.  Anyway, I guess I should quit my rambling and actually get cracking. Grab a cuppa, this certainly won't be a post of the 'short and snappy' variety...

Tanya Burr | Lipgloss in 'Chic' | £6.99 | Link

I've had my beady eyes on Tanya's range for quite some time now.  Admittedly, I'm really not a lipgloss person, but after seeing them on so many blogs and, of course, being a fan of the lovely lady herself, it would have been a crime not to give them a whirl! After a bit of umming and arring and some rather in-depth swatch-googling sessions, I settled on 'Chic', a beautiful brown-y nude shade with a hint of peachiness - perfect for everyday wear and for applying over the top of my neutral lipsticks. First impressions are really good - it's ever so slightly a little too sticky for my liking but I'm happy to overlook it for the gorgeous pigmentation and beautiful scent (I adore the sweet, strawberry smell!).  It applies really smoothly and easily too. I'm definitely going to be picking up some of the brighter shades in the near future.

Nyx | Xtreme Lip Cream in 'Peach Fuzz' | £7 | Link

When I discovered that Next stocked Nyx, I was over the moon! If you've always wanted to try the brand but prefer to swatch in-store rather than taking your chances online, it's the perfect excuse to give them a go.  I've been a big fan of their cream blushes in the past so I had high expectations for their lip products. I've always wanted to try one of their ever-famous Lip Creams so that's exactly what I came away with. 'Peach Fuzz' is one of the most talked about shades and it's easy to see why.  It's a stunning peachy pink with intense pigmentation and a slight glossy finish.  I'm planning on a full review of this soon.

Barry M | Lip Liners | £2.99 each (unsure of shade names!) | Link

Barry M had one of their offers on so I picked up a couple of bits.  I got one of these lip liners free - which in hind-sight is a very good thing because I picked the two most similar shades I could have possibly picked! My beloved Estee Lauder double-wear lip pencil in 'Spice' is running low so I wanted to see if I could find a cheaper option for the time being (i reckon my Estee favourite will be a birthday present.) Barry M had these 2 nude shades so I picked up both.  One is slightly darker and more reddish in tone - very much a 'brick' sort of shade, and the other is a little more neutral and leans more towards a brown, mid-toned natural shade.  I really like the Barry M lip liners - I must have the majority of their shades now and I really recommend them if you're after a cheapy!

Sinful Colors | Nail Polish in 'Snow Me White' | £1.99 | Link

If you've never checked out the Sinful Colors range in Boots, then you need to re-evaluate your life. Ok, maybe not that drastic, but you seriously need to go and have a nosey.  They have to be one of my favourite nail polish brands ever and I seem to be building up quite the collection! This one is a gorgeous glossy white - nothing overly special about it but I'm loving white nails at the minute and this one applies really smoothly and evenly and is also amazingly opaque. A lot of white polishes take forever to build up but this one is perfect.

Barry M | Gelly Hi-Shine Polishes in 'Passionfruit' and 'Blue Grape' | £3.99 | Link

Ohhhh do I have a story behind this purchase... *face palm* I did the whole 'walk into Superdrug for one thing and end up waltzing around balancing a sizeable tower of stuff in just one hand' jobby. I seem to have really perfected this technique over the years (who needs baskets? Not me, apparently!) and I felt quite confident in my abilities to skillfully shuffle my way to the till. I almost had it nailed, however, it seems that I must have gotten a little bit cocky - because with an accidental nudge on the edge of the Rimmel stand and a little wobble of the elbows, my nail polish bottle had taken a dramatic tumble and promptly smashed all over Superdug's newly refurbished, perfectly polished floor.  Yep. I was that girl. It wasn't just a little drop of it either - ohhh no - it was the full works... a complete swirly mess all over the new dark wood flooring complete with massive dollop in the middle. Some might say I'd dropped it so amazingly well that it created a beautiful spiral effect to rival the likes of Van Gough but all I could think of was how long it was going to take to get it to come off. Everybody around me turned to stare... and then edged away pretty sharpishly whilst dodging the sea of bright coral nail polish that seemed to be spreading across the floorboards at my feet. You couldn't have scraped any more polish out of that bottle if you'd tried. I proceeded to shout over the sales assistant, my skyscraper-beauty-product tower still half in-tact and perched delicately in hand as she stared for a few seconds at what a mess I'd made. Somebody should have got a basket. It all turned out fine though - Superdrug's floor was restored to 'good as new' status after a few wet wipes and half a bottle of nail polish remover - nobody would ever know about my mishap and all traces of bright coral were successfully removed. I was lucky enough that the sales assistant was absolutely lovely about it (although she wouldn't let me help clear it up no matter how many times I asked - awkward - try standing there for a good 5 minutes whilst somebody else works up a sweat trying to scrub your nail-polish spillage off the floor...) She thanked me for being so honest and we had a bit of banter about customers who spill stuff - apparently it happens all the time with nail polish and people just walk off and leave it?! Needless to say, after working in retail for 5 years that fact doesn't shock me one bit. I've had to scrub all sorts off shop floors, let me tell you. Gregg's sausage rolls ain't so appealing when you've had to scrape them away piece by piece from carpet fibres...

Anyway, storytime over.  I don't have any of the darker shades in the Gelly polishes so I figured I'd grab a couple.  Passionfruit is a gorgeous sunset coral/red shade (which will look so much nicer on my nails than on Superdrug's floor) and 'Blue Grape' is a gorgeous deep royal blue.  It reminds me very much of Topshop's 'AWOL' polish... except a few quid cheaper (every little helps don't you know?!) I can imagine these will look amazing with a tan!

B. | Flawless Long-Lasting Concealer | £5.99 £2.99 | Link

I went into Superdrug specifically to look at their 'B.' range of beauty products.  I've never ever tried anything from there so I really wanted to have a good browse.  I was over the moon to discover they had a 50% offer on all of their products (they still do if you're interested so hop to it!)  I decided to try their Flawless Concealer - I adore my Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer but wanted a shade or two lighter to use on those days where I need a decent bit of brightening up and I didn't fancy shedding out another £20. I usually hate the twist up 'stick' form concealers, but I was blown away at just how creamy this one was.  I haven't tried it under the eyes yet so I'm reserving judgement but I really was impressed at how creamy, pigmented and easy to blend it was.  It seems like it has amazing coverage too so watch this space!

B. | Rich Intense Colour Lipstick in 'Toffee' | £7.99 £3.99 | Link

Wow. These lipsticks certainly aren't telling porkies - they really are rich and intense in colour! I'm obsessed with browns at the minute (not for everyone but if you find the right shade, believe me they work a treat at whitening your teeth!) so I settled on 'Toffee', a mid-browny nude. It has a hint of shimmer in the tube but it doesn't transfer to the lips - it just gives the lipstick a lot of dimension.  It's so creamy and smooth - quite similar to Mac's Amplified finishes. It isn't glossy, it isn't completely matte - just a lovely in-between 'satin' like finish that feels comfortable to wear. Again, I won't say too much as I've used it once but so far, so good.

Rimmel | Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner in 'Black' | £3.99 | Link
Whyyyy on earth have I never tried these liners? I don't often wear a liner in my waterline but if I'm going out somewhere special I do like some extra definition.  I'm not sure if it's my eyes but I seem to be put off applying liner in my waterline because it smudges almost instantly and looks ridiculous within an hour or so - so I'm holding out hope that this one stays put a little better.  I heard Tanya Burr raving about these in a few of her tutorials so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Loreal | Superliner Perfect Slim | £7.99 | Link
My favourite liner of all time.  I will forever re-purchase this beauty and it's featured in so many of my posts now.  Easy to use, long-lasting and one pen lasts me months. Well worth every single penny! I urge you to try it if you haven't already!

Dove | Purely Pampering Body Cream in Shea Butter and Vanilla | £4.99 £2.49 | Link

My new favourite body butter was on offer for £2.49!? Amazing! This tub is huge and lasts me quite some time. I promptly picked up a back-up for when my current one runs out as it was too good to miss out on the offer.  I spoke about this in my recent favourites post which you can read here, if you're interested! 

Arran Aromatics | Lavender Tea Tree Facial Wash | Link

I bought this off AllBeauty a while back for a fabulous bargainous price - but it's not on there now for some reason. Well worth shopping around for as it seems to vary in price quite a bit! I received this a while back in one of my first Love Me Beauty boxes and I've loved it ever since.  I speak about it a little more in one my 'Best of 2013' post here. It's such a lovely gel-like consistency and it's really soothing to use.  It has a very gentle exfoliating effect due to the little beads in it and always leaves my skin feeling really refreshed and clean.  

Arran Aromatics | 'After the Rain' Eye Gel | £5.50 | Link

I like the brand so much, I decided to pop their eye gel into my basket too.  I adore their range of facial washes and their body butter has to be one of my favourites too, so i figured I couldn't go wrong with their eye cream.  It's really lightweight and has a cooling, soothing effect on the skin.  It smells really fresh too. 

Shu Uemura | Art of Hair Essence Absolue Oil | £29.60 | Link

My most favourite hair oil of all time - EVER.  I've used all kinds of hair oil brands and this one tops all of them by a mile.  I have a full review of it on my blog here if you want to read more about it, but it really has revolutionised my hair routine!  I use it every single time I wash my hair without fail, and have also used it on dry-hair through the day to revive my style.  It's not heavy in the slightest but it's incredibly moisturising - if you find Moroccan Oil far too greasy or heavy then I really do recommend Shu Uemura's offering.  I actually find this more moisturising and it doesn't weigh my hair down half as much.  A bottle lasts absolutely ages too because all you need is 1-2 pumps per use.  You can also use it on hair extensions if they're feeling a little worse for wear - little tip for you there!

Nars | Sheer Glow Foundation in 'Fiji' | £31.00 | Link
Another repurchase for me. I've had 3 bottles of this foundation now and it's still my favourite - it's going to be a tough one to beat! It is, without a doubt, a little on the pricey side but it's well worth every penny.  I have a full review on my blog so I won't say too much about this one but I really do recommend checking out the Nars stand if you're after a long-lasting, medium-full coverage foundation with a satin finish.

Nars | Matte Multiple in 'Altai' | £30.00 | Link 
The star of the whole post! If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I made an impulse purchase on one of the new matte multiples! As soon as I heard about them I knew I'd end up buying one - I'm such a sucker for contouring products and when I saw the matte brown/bronze shades I was instantly sold.  I was sold even more once the assistant had applied it to my face - WOW. I was speechless.  She made a very quick, easy sale there! I'll hold off from saying too much about this as I have a full review planned very, very soon! I also haven't swatched it for the purpose of this post as I wanted to keep it pristine for my full review... (sorry ;))

Lola | Foundation Brush | £14.00 £11.20 | Link

And finally, my newest addition to my brush collection - this foundation brush by the brand 'Lola'. I was so excited when I heard that Marks and Spencers were going to stock the brand in store. A while back, I discovered 'Lola' on a trip to Lanzarote and was so sad when I found out I couldn't get my mitts on it here in the UK (I have a post on one of their blushes here - amazing pigmentation!). Honestly, I really hope the brand becomes more well-known in the blogging community as it really is such an unsung hero of the cosmetic world! I bought this because the assistant in SpaceNK applied the Nars Multiple with a flat foundation brush and I loved the finish it provided - I don't really own one like this so I promptly took it to the till. It's one of the softest brushes I own and it seems really good quality for the price (it was on offer at the time) - definitely one of the more luxurious brushes I've come across!  I'll definitely be checking out more of their things in future now that they're more accessible. The brand is definitely more mid-high end and their products aren't the cheapest, but they're well worth getting to know.

And there we have it.  I must apologise for this rather meaty post! But I really wanted to feature everything together rather than splitting it up into two halves and I haven't done a haul in a good while. I will be doing full reviews on some of the products featured in this post so keep your eyes peeled! 

Anything here that tickles your fancy? Is there anything you'd like to hear more about?

Monthly Favourites | September

Happy October my fellow birds! Ok. I have to admit. Even though I'm really not an autumn/winter person, I have to admit that I really do enjoy October. There's something about turning the clocks back and the slight chill in the air that makes it quite a 'cosy' month before real winter-y weather sets in.  There is nothing like coming home from work, snuggling up in a baggy jumper with a cup of tea, and putting on your fleecy reindeer print leggings. (yep..that's right. Who said it's too early?! As soon as John Lewis whip out the Christmas baubles, I bring out the festive attire in a swish)!.  September has been a bit of a hectic month for me.  I'm now into my final year at uni which has also meant a big step up in workload and a little extra stress on my shoulders.  There's no more room for 'mistakes' now - what I get for my modules this year is what will determine my degree. Yikes. But even with all my essays (yep, they threw one upon us on our first day back for jokes and giggles...), lectures and overflowing to do lists, I have still managed to find time to try new beauty products. A beauty obsessed female will always find the time to discover new cosmetics, right!? Here's what has been floating my boat in September...

Loreal Ever Riche | Nourishing and Taming Conditioner.

I'm now on my 3rd bottle of this stuff.  My motherbear actually introduced me to this range a few months ago now, and I've been a fan ever since (big thumbs up, Ma!).  One of it's biggest plus points, is that it contains no sulphates.  If you haven't heard of the benefits of using a 'sulphate free' shampoo/conditioner then it's worth having a look into - it's much more gentle and healthier on your scalp, which in turn can help to reduce hair fall and increase volume and condition of the hair.  I'm such a big fan of this conditioner - my hair has been so dry and brittle of late, and due to the thick consistency, I find this one to be extremely moisturising and rich. It gives me that 'deep conditioned' feel without having to leave it on for much time at all.  It also smells divine.  Really worth the money and works wonders on hair that feels a little 'parched'.

Maybelline | Brow Drama - Brow Mascara in 'Medium Brown'

Now then, I've heard mixed reviews on this one.  But I'm very much in the 'love it' camp.  I love brow gels - and I do prefer them to have some sort of colour to them (Mac's Beguile is my go-to brow gel) due to my eyebrows being so light!  The 360 degree wand allows for a really good application of the colour through the brows and is slightly easier to use when compared with Mac's version.  The colour isn't as intense, but the staying power is pretty much just as good, and it manages to keep my brows looking defined and in place for a good few hours.  A really good finishing touch if you're looking for some extra definition for your eyebrows.

Arran Cosmetics | Lavender and Tea Tree Facial Gel Wash*

A face wash I hear you say? Well - yes. I didn't expect to be raving about a face wash this month either but this product is one of my new additions to the skin care routine.  I received this in August's LoveMeBeauty box (post here) and I've been really enjoying using it.  I'm not the biggest fan of lavender, but I find using this before bed really relaxing, as the mix of the tea tree and with the floral hint works so well together and creates a wonderful, spa-like scent.  You know when you stay in posh hotels and you get a lovely luxurious face wash and a fluffy bathrobe? THIS is that product!  The consistency is quite unlike any 'run of the mill' face wash and the gel texture feels very cooling and refreshing on tired skin.  It also has tiny little beads in it that gently exfoliate but it isn't harsh at all. In fact, you can hardly feel them - but the end result is skin that feels soft and smooth. I've noticed my skin feeling a lot more 'calm' since using this - I really do like it!

Shu Uemura | Essence Absolue Oil*

I've already reviewed this product this month, so I won't bore you by repeating myself.  It's basically my favourite oil of the moment and I will without a doubt be repurchasing in a flash.  It's the only oil I'm able to use on both wet, damp and dry hair and my hair has never felt so soft.  You can find my review here along with a 20% off discount code if you fancy giving it a whirl!

Deborah Milano | Natural Blush*

Again, I've already reviewed this product over the course of the month (link) but it's become my favourite blush of the season.  It has completely blown all my other coral/peach blushes out of the water and I'm finding it really suitable for the time of year due to the slight dusky undertones.  It doesn't look too bright or false, and the texture is so incredibly soft and blendable.

Lord & Berry Kissproof Lip Liner in 'Blossom'*

My trusty Estee Lauder lip liner in 'Spice' is reaching an end *sheds tear*, but I've found my perfect replacement for the time being.  It's a lovely shade to line the lips with - and it is one that compliments my natural lip colour and enhances it slightly.  I use this with a variety of my 'everyday' lipsticks and find it so easy to wear.  It's also incredibly pigmented, soft and long lasting - just what you want from a lip liner!

Hugo Boss |'Jour'

I'm not usually one for including perfumes on my blog as they're such a personal thing and simply impossible to review due to how unique they turn out to be on each individual.  But I couldn't leave this little beauty out.  I adore Hugo Boss fragrances.  'Orange' is my signature scent (i'm now on my 4th or 5th bottle) and I always find their fragrances to be really feminine and sophisticated.  'Jour' is such a stunning fragrance - and it smells gorgeous even when it begins to wear off after the day is done. It's light, slightly musky but incredibly soft and gentle and just has such a calming effect on me.   I won't sit here and continue to throw fancy adjectives at you in order to sell it to you - I don't think that would be of any use - but if you're a fan of Hugo Boss 'Orange' or are looking for a sophisticated, luxuriously smelling fragrance for everyday wear, then i'd really recommend giving this a sniff! Your nostrils will thank you for it...

And so there we have it! Another month, another bunch of beauty stuff!  I just want to thank those of you who took part in my 'Anxiety' survey for my new design project at uni over the weekend.  It's been overwhelming to see the response and it will come in so handy for my design development - I suffer with panic attacks and it's been really useful to see the responses.  Everyone's experience of anxiety really is completely unique - so it is fascinating to see the results pop up on my little analysis chart (wow I don't sound like a geek at all do i?! Pass me the nerd glasses!).  I will be taking the results and using them mid-week, so if you still fancy helping me out (it's just 10 questions, all completely anonymous) all you need to do is head on over >> here << :)  

What products have you been loving this month?

A New Favourite | Shu Uemura 'Art of Hair' Essence Absolue Oil (plus 20% off!)

Shu Uemura 'Art of Hair' | Essence Absolue Hair Oil - £39.50* [link]

I swear by hair oil. I've used it religiously ever since I tried my first one quite some time ago now and I've become somewhat of an addict.  My hair drawer has it's very own little oil section and I reach for one every single time I wash my hair without fail.  I really do believe that using them so often for so long has resulted in me having longer, more healthy looking hair, and I'm never satisfied with the condition of my hair when blow dryed unless I've applied one of my oils.  I simply can't live without them in my hair routine.  So, I thought I'd introduce you to my new favourite - Shu Uemura's 'Essence Absolue' - a nourishing, protective oil that leaves your hair feeling silky soft to the touch.  Grab your glow sticks... I feel a product rave coming on ;)...

Made with camellia oil, the product provides intense moisture without weighing the hair down.   The consistency is surprisingly fairly runny; at first I was unsure whether or not it would be enough for my hair (it's long and fairly thick) - but just 1-2 pumps is more than enough and I still cannot get over how incredibly lightweight it is without compromising on the moisture factor.  The oil also provides UV protection as well as the intense nourishment - fruity bonus!  I use it straight after I've showered, before I blow dry my hair, making sure to coat the mid-lengths to the ends.  When my hair is almost dry, I'll pop another half a pump or so through the very ends just for an extra boost of moisture.  That's what so great about this oil and what makes it a favourite for me personally - you can easily use it on wet or dry hair without leaving your hair feeling greasy or weighed down.  I even use this in the daytime for a little boost if my hair is looking a bit frazzled - it's such a good pick me up and it's perfect for a little spruce up in between washes and for taming frizz or softening up any brittle ends.  It also says that it can be used as a pre-shampoo or overnight treatment.  I haven't used it as a pre-shampoo treatment yet, but am planning on doing so very soon once the colder weather takes hold and my hair starts to get a bit dull. I love how versatile the oil is - it's something I've struggled to find with other oils - they can be a little too heavy to use on dry, styled hair - but with this one I have no problem either way.

It's also worth mentioning how amazing Essence Absolue smells.  It's just divine.  I can still smell it on my hair the day after - a little whiff of luxury every time you swish your hair about. Lovely.   Of course, Essence Absolue isn't the cheapest of hair oils on the market. At £39.50 it's definitely on the higher end of the scale. But having tried all kinds of oils, both cheaper drugstore versions and popular high-end offerings, I can safely say this is one that I will be without a doubt repurchasing - despite the price. It's all I've been using on my hair since it arrived on my doorstep and it ticks every single box for me.  I actually can't fault a single thing about it - they've even nailed the packaging! The handy pump system is much less messy (and clumsy-person proof) that the typical bottles of oils you get and it's easy to control how much comes out.  When you're spending up to this amount on a product - you don't want to waste a single drop!  

Fancy trying some for yourself? The lovely folk over at MySalonLooks have given me a discount code for my fabulous readers for 20% off all Shu Uemera products on the website (excluding duos).  All you need to do is enter the code 'BIRD20' at the checkout! The code will expire 2 weeks from today, so you have plenty of time to choose something lovely!

You can find the Essence Absolue oil on MySalonLooks here, or have a nosey at the other Shu Uemura products on offer here.

Do you like the sound of this hair oil? What Shu Uemera products have you tried and loved?