One for the Blondes

So here's one for all you blondies out there. My hair is naturally a dark ashy blonde colour, and these are the products I like to use to stop my hair looking dull and add some life back into my locks. I have tried so many products that claim to lighten and brighten blonde hair, and these are the best ones I've found, and the best part is they don't break the bank! These products are marketed to both natural blondes and those who use dye, either way I hope you find this post useful!

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray Let's start at the beginning. I have been loyal to this product for four years now (a testament to its amazingness) and repurchased it more times than my fingers allow to count. This is how I get my colour from dull dark blonde to light, sunkissed blonde that leaves people asking if I've made a trip to the salon. I smugly tell them no, it only cost me £6.99 and I did it in my pajama bottoms. Simply spray on wet hair and blow dry. Yes, that's it. And I'm tellingyou, this stuff rocks.

Lee Stafford Bleach Blondes Shampoo & Conditioner Next up to tackle the brassy yellowy tones that can appear from time to time. This is a purple shampoo that acts as a toner to diminish this and get my hair back to light golden blonde. I use this once a week along with the conditioner and this really refreshes my colour and leaves my hair looking bright and the colour refreshed. I wouldn't recommend using this more than once a week as it can be quite drying on the hair, which leads me to my next favorite...

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner I use this once a week, often after the Lee Stafford shampoo as a double treat for my locks. I leave it in for 3-4 minutes then rinse, and it makes my hair feel so soft and hydrated, particularly the ends of my hair.

So these are the hair products I use to maintain my mane, have you got any favorites?

Love Em x

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter

I'd been loyal to the St Moriz for years so when I saw mixed reviews on the Cocoa Brown 1 Hour Tan I thought I'd shake things up in the tan department and give it a go. At just £6 from my local Primark I didn't have high hopes, but I'm pleased to say I've been proven wrong and my tan stocks have been replaced with this bad boy.

The tan comes out in a mousse form in a lovely caramel colour which acts as a guide - not that you can tell from this photo. I promise in real life it does not look the colour of sick, but actually rather delicious. Imagine whipped caramely foamy goodness. The green element does prevent you looking like a walking wotsit however.
 I like to apply mine with a mit, and this is where I was won over. It blends into the skin absolutely effortlessly.  Gone are the days of frantically rubbing yourself all over to avoid streaks and pale patches. One smooth swipe and voilà, you're left with a natural bronzed glow that doesn't leave your skin dry.
 Next the timings. The back says leave on for 1, 2, or 3 hours depending on the intensity desired. I tested all three and I have to say I think leaving the tan for 2 or 3 hours gives the best result. When I washed it off after 1 hour I was left a nice even tan, though the colour really only lasted a few days, though it would be perfect if you need a quick fix. When I wash it off after 2 or 3 hours the colour lasts about a week and doesn't go patchy or flaky.
 The thing I love the most about this tan is the colour it leaves. If applied sparingly it gives the appearance of a healthy glow, and more liberally a gorgeous sunkissed tan. 

Looking for a new tan to try this summer that won't break the bank? Marrisa's got us covered. 

Have you tried the Cocoa Brown tan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Love Em x

What's in my Makeup Bag // Summer Edition

Makeup Bag by Cath Kidston

So I thought I'd kick things off with a beauty post. Personally I find these one of the most interesting posts to read, a) because I'm nosy and b) it's a sure way to see which products actually made the cut and found themselves housed in the everyday makeup bag. They like it. It makes the other makeup jel.

In the Summer I'm all about a light coverage, dewy base that gives just enough coverage to hide my (many, sigh) imperfections. My favorite for this is the Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua. It blends into the skin like a dream and goes almost undetectable, while still giving enough coverage not to need a ton of concealer. The SPF 15 is also a bonus. I pair this with the Benefit Porefessional for a flawless base that lasts all day. Then to cover those pesky under eye circles I reach for the Bobbi Brown Corrector. You don't need alot of this stuff to do the job (luckily for my bank account) and it with a little powder it really does last all day. Life saver. To set this in place I reach for the Rimmel Stay Matte all year round. It does the job without being cakey and makes my makeup last longer. And it's super cheap. Need I say more?

 With my base complete I like to add some life back into my face with the Nars Laguna Bronzer. Since buying this on a total whim a few months ago I havn't looked back, and my trusty Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer has been relegated to Muji storage. It can look muddy on the skin so a light hand is definitely advisable, but the natural sunkissed glow it gives is comparable to no other I have ever tried. I like to take a little down my neck in the summer time and it's also great for contouring.
 For cheeks I've been loving the Natural Collection Blush in Peach Melba for a peachy glow to the skin, then I grab my all time favorite highlighter, the Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme in 01 Iced Gold, sadly discontinued and even more sadly I have just hit pan. This just gives the most gorgeous glow and blends seamlessly into the skin. I really don't know what I will do when this runs out, so if any of you can reccommend a creme highlighter that is just as good please let me know in the comments! I will be eternally grateful.

For eyes I love using a white eyeliner on my bottom waterline to give the appearance that I am more awake than I really am, another life saver for the morning after the night before. I really just use whichever takes my fancy in Boots, and this time it was the MUA Eyeliner in Snow White. Finally after curling my lashes I grab my holy grail mascara, the Loreal Telescopic Waterproof. Ah I love this mascara. It gives length, definition, and volume. I like the waterproof as it holds the curl much better than the non-waterproof.

Finishing with the lips Angel by MAC is my go to everyday lipstick. A soft pink with a frost finish it's the perfect summer shade, and for evening looks I'm really enjoying the Revlon Colourburst Matte in 250 Standout for a corally red lip.

What are your favorite makeup products for summer? I'd love to hear your comments!

Love Em x

Welcome to Emciaga

Hello there! Welcome to my brand spanking new blog, my corner of the internet, my creative outlet if you will. Here you will find posts on beauty, fashion and lifestyle, with the odd recipe post here and there (I can proudly say after much determination my cooking skills now go beyond toast and omelettes). First let me introduce myself. I'm Em, a twenty year old undergraduate living by the sea with a love for beauty and fashion, and this blog has been a long time coming. Prior to the past week or so I had no idea how much technical stuff was involved in starting a blog and for a tech noob like me it wasn't the easiest of things. Or maybe it is easy and I'm just that much of a technophone. Over time you will most likely notice my penchant for pretty things and the everlasting search for the perfect MLBB lipstick- I can't be the only one...?