Autumn Bucket List

So apparently, the real dates of Autumn are the 22nd of September to the 20th of December. Technically I'm a month late, but only over the past few days have I really began to feel all autumnal.

Image from MilkBubbleTea

Every year I always make a mental list of the things I want to do over the cosy season, but I never really get around to doing most of them. This year, I decided to make an official Autumn bucket list which I can look back on at the end of the season and check off everything I got around to doing. I've even decided to take pictures of each thing, so at the end of Autumn I can write another post which will (hopefully!) consist of this entire list, but in picture form!

- Get crafty with a pumpkin 

- Visit a bonfire or fireworks display 

- Have a movie night in, complete with a bowl of popcorn and hot chocolate

- Go for a walk in the country

- Make a wreath for Christmas

- Bake a pumpkin pie

- Pick out a real Christmas tree to decorate

- Buy Autumn scented candles

- See a scary movie at the cinema

- Buy a wooly jumper to live in

- Visit a car boot sale and find a bargain 

I think that should be enough to keep me a little busy. 

Please feel free to join me and let me know how you're getting on with your Autumn bucket list!

S

Empties #1

My first ever empties!

So, I'm moving house in just less than two weeks and I'm trying to use up as many products as possible so I have to pack less! It also means I get to treat myself to a load of new things when we finally move into our new place ;) 

So let's get this ball rolling! Here are most of the things I finished up during September...

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Shampoo

Okay, we're off to a bad start. I was cleaning the shower one day and once I finished I put the little shelf back up on the wall and apparently I did it wrong, because a few hours later I noticed everything lying on the shower floor surrounded by deliciously smelling pink goo. The cap broke and the entire contents was on my shower floor. So no, I didn't use this up. But it is technically empty, so it counts, right? 

I've got the conditioner in my shower at the moment, and I'm really liking that, if that's any consolation! 

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone Correcting Shampoo

I purchased this to use on my journey to becoming a blonde. My ends were so brassy and I needed something that worked wonders. This didn't do everything I needed it to do but it certainly helped a little. I used this twice a week and people were constantly asking me if I had my hair done or if I've had it highlighted again. Must have been doing something then!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Colour Renew Tone Correcting Conditioner

I bought this just so that I'd have the matching set that I'd use together. I don't believe it had any effect on the colour of my hair, although it did do an adequate job at conditioning it. If I were to repurchase the shampoo again, I probably wouldn't get this too.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor

If you don't have one of these in your bathroom at the moment, go out and get one. Right away. Seriously, I can't knock this product. It's cheap, its easily accessible, it smells incredible (like bubblegum!), and it conditions your hair like no other. Obviously going to be picking another one of these up next time I'm at Asda.

Head and Shoulders Hydrating Smooth & Silky Conditioner

I bought this a little while ago when my scalp was particularly sensitive and have only just got round to finishing it off. It's nothing out of the ordinary, just a regular conditioner that's not going to irritate your sensitive skin.

Be warned though, I've heard that H&S is notorious for fading your hair colour (not your natural colour, of course).

L'Oreal Ever Pure Shampoo & Conditioner

I received these in the post and was excited to try them as I'd never tried sulphate free hair care before. Unfortunately these only only provided one use so I can't comment too much. I am interested in trying more sulphate free products though.

Etat Pur B23 & B26

The French skincare company were giving away samples of their face moisturisers from their Facebook page. You were able to select 2 out of 5 and these were the 2 I chose. I enjoyed using them, and after looking through their website, I really want to try out a few more of their products. 

Simple Soothing Facial Toner

I don't always use a toner, but I had this in my cupboard so I used it up. I can't say it made a difference to my skin, and since I've stopped using it, I can't say I've missed it. The only benefit I can think of is how it sometimes removed any makeup my cleanser might have missed. However I'm pretty sure it isn't its prime purpose.

Johnson Face Care Night Cream

I really loved this cream! First of all, it had a really lovely pearlescent colour to it. I know that shouldn't be important, especially for a night cream, but it's the little things! Secondly it was relatively thing for a night cream, which meant that it soaked in really quickly but moisturised really well.

Garnier Pure Deep Clean Cream Wash

I didn't particularly enjoy this product. It had an odd scent which I didn't favour, but I pursued. It stayed in my shower and eventually I used it all up.

Nivea SOS Relief Body Lotion

I honestly can't remember buying this, but I found it in my cupboard and it had about enough left to do my legs. So I done my legs and that was that. It was neither here nor there really. I didn't notice any instant relief, not that I needed any, but my legs did feel kind of soft for a short while afterwards.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub

I haven't heard a lot of people talk about this scrub and I really don't know why. It smells delicious (sweet and citrusy) and is so dense and gritty that it does an amazing job at exfoliating. It's also packed with oils so it doesn't leave your skin dry and craving moisture afterwards.

Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Soothing Lotion

I've heard Miss Budget Beauty rave about this and I seriously know why. It's perfect for people like me who are too lazy to use body lotion every day. It keeps my skin feeling soft for days! If you're a slacker like me then I defiantly recommend you pick this up.

Phew. That was a lengthy one. Hopefully my next empties post is quite as long as I won't be pushed against time to finish things up!

S

Poundland Haul?!

When was the last time you went into your local pound shop? I hadn't been in one for quite some time but I was in town the other day and had a few moments to kill so I had a wander around the closest Poundland. Ohhh man, I've been missing out!

I kept it small, just because I didn't have much time, but I'm super pleased with the things I came away with.

Stila 4 Pan Refillable Compact

This was the first thing I spotted and it got me pretty excited. I've been hum-ing and hah-ing about buying this from Cheap Smells for soooo long and I'm so glad I didn't! I found a huge bundle of them, all in perfect condition too. This means I get to go out and treat myself to some Stila eyeshadows now ;)

Stila Angel Light, Whitening Powder Foundation Refill with SPF 26

Firstly, sorry about the blinding flash.. my bad!

This is just the refill so I'm going to have to find somewhere safe and snug to keep this, but i'm excited to try it out! It comes with a little round sponge too, but I'll probably not end up using that.

I got this in the shade B.

Stila Oil Free Sheer Colour Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 30

This here is like a little God send. I've been looking for a light coverage, high SPF foundation to take on holiday with me and I think this might be it! You get a whopping 50ml in this so it should last a really long time! I'm excited to try this out.

I got mine in the shade Light 03.

Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Shampoo + Conditioner

I was looking for some shampoo and conditioner to take away with me which would help combat the sun, sea, and yucky chlorine. It's been voted Product of the Year so I have high hopes for these two! They also smell amazingly good which is always a plus in my books.

Allura Microfibre Hair Wrap

Now, I already own a hair towel but being over 4 year old, it's starting to look a bit grubby. Countless hair dying sessions has left it stained and ruined. Not a great look for a little white towel. I picked this one up because it's microfiber (my white one is just regular towel material), and it's black so it can happily hide all of the dye! :)

I picked up all of this for a mere £6. Six Great British Pounds! No more, no less. Impressed? I was!

Have you ever found any poundland bargains?

S

Shampoo Like A Pro!

My hair is far from healthy at the moment. A week long attempt of changing my hair colour has left it in the worst possible condition and I point blanc refuse to get the yucky ends cut off. I figured I should start looking after it properly to try and get my mane manageable again.
I’ve got the top 7 tips for shampooing hair that will make your hair shiny, soft and totally manageable!

1. Brush before you shower.
Brushing your hair beforehand gets out all the tangels and knots and it seriously helps your shampoo to lather up!
2. Shampoo twice.
Always noticed your shampoo bottle's bigger than your conditioner? This is why. The first shampoo washes away all the products that you have in there, and the second is to finally allow the product to work.
3. Rince with cool water.
The cold, or at least cooler, water closes up the cuticle of the hair, locking in the conditioner goodness and giving off a tonne of shine.
4. Wring your hair before you condition.
This is a major tip which I've been doing for years and really helps. If you try to put conditioner onto wet, wet hair then the conditioner's just gonna get watered down and possibly just slip right off. So girls, wring out the excess water out first!
5. Just shampoo your roots.
The job of your shampoo is to cleanse your hair and get rid of anything yucky. Consequently it's a little drying so you want to keep it away from your ends. By just shampooing your roots you're going to concentrate the product where you really need it, and just let the diluted shampoo run down the ends when rinsing.
6. Just condition your ends.
Your scalp is already producing natural oils. So much that it doesn't need any more. Just condition from your ears downwards (or whatever would hang in a pony tail) and you'll definitely notice a difference.
7. Condition for 2 minutes, at least.
The minimum length of time i leave my conditioner on for is 2 minutes. Not only will that lock in any moisture to your hair, but it will allow the conditioner time to set. But of course, if you have time, leave it on as long as possible for maximum benefits.




There we go. All the tips for shampooing that I have. Do you have any other tips to add?