New Hair

If you read my blog regularly, you probably know that I'm a fan of pastel colours and have previously dyed my hair lilac and pink, however the colour faded so easily and I decided to give it another go! I loved my blonde hair, but the reason I had bleached it originally was to go lilac. Here's another attempt!

I used the Bleach London bleach on my hair and it worked really well. My hair went from this: 

To this:

I then used the Bleach London 'Violet Skies' semi-permanent colour, and it turned the top of my hair a lovely lilac shade, but the ends were only toned! I've used the Bleach London colours before and for me they've only lasted one wash, which is a massive shame as they do some amazing colours. I didn't actually get a photo at this point as I knew I was going to re-do it with something else.

I ended up finding this Schwarzkopf bright pink / purple colour, and since I didn't want a colour this bright, I mixed it with white conditioner before applying it to my hair.

I needed a white conditioner to mix the dye with, so I used this one by John Freida. If the conditioner you mix the dye with isn't white, you won't have a good indication of the colour the dye will turn out. I gradually mixed tiny amounts of the dye into the conditioner with a spoon until I achieved the colour I wanted.

I love my hair now! Hopefully this dye will stay longer than ones I've used previously, but if it doesn't I still have 90% of the dye tube left since it takes so little to achieve a light colour.

🌸 Indy 🌸

September Birchbox

My September Birchbox arrived today!

I absolutely love the colour scheme and prints on the box, it's so cheerful (as is the whole theme of the box itself). 

I'm very pleased with the selection of products as well, a mixture of makeup / food / tools / hair care and home things.

This drawstring bag held all the products and it's really cute! I'll definitely use it to keep some of my favourite products in.

This Benefit eye cream is SO good. It's a light formula packed with peptides, instantly lightening underneath your eyes and even making you feel more awake. After a long day at school I've put some on and I really don't look as tired any more. I might have to invest in the original size, but this little sample is a cute version of the normal packaging!

I've always wanted to own some Korres products after finding out about them on Polyvore. It's a Greek brand that uses only natural ingredients that are highly concentrated (and all their packaging is fab). I can't wait to use this shower gel as it smells super fresh and clean.

This ModelCo power lash mascara has a brush designed specially to reach even the smallest lashes, making an even bigger impact than usual. I applied it over the little amount I had on from this morning and it really has made a difference:

Before / After

These baked mango things don't look too appetizing for something that's meant to be 'sweet,' as to me it actually looks like meat. But I tried one and it was lovely! It actually tasted just like a dried sweet, no meat flavours involved.

This hair healing oil by Agave smooths frizz, tames volume and polishes dry hair. It's made from the agave plant, as its amino sugars lock onto the hair to hold moisture, with other natural ingredients like coconut, sunflower and vanilla. I'll use this tonight!

This was by far the most interesting product I received. I actually thought it was some kind of stress ball at first glance, due to its unique egg shape and packaging. It's actually a makeup blender, with a cleansing soap! So cool. You're meant to wet the sponge, squeeze out the water and dab it into your foundation and then your face for a flawless base. I'll use this when I do my makeup in the morning.

I'm also using the 'Happy Days' photo holder in my bedroom.

Did you like what you received in the September Birchbox? Did you get anything different?

🌸 Indy 🌸

White Nails

White nails used to remind me of being bored in lessons and using a Tipp Ex pen as a makeshift nail varnish, though they are really 'in' at the moment. I decided to paint my own - using actual polish this time!

Before applying the base coat.

I always use a base coat for multiple reasons:

• it makes your nails smoother for easier application
• prevents discolouration of the nails
• ensures that the polish will last longer
• promotes healthier nails (most base coats contain calcium, vitamin E and aloe vera)
• adds shine

I use Barry M's all-in-one base coat, top coat and nail hardener. It's really easy to apply and dries so quickly!

This is my nails after applying the base coat. They look way healthier than in the photo above, and they're shiny and smooth.

I painted my nails using the white nail varnish that came with an old manicure set I found in my collection. It wasn't my first choice but I didn't have time to go out and buy a new one, and it did work!

You can also buy white nail varnishes from a number of brands I love; Maybelline, L'Oreal, Rimmel London (their 'Hot White Love' colour is by Rita Ora, Barry M and Opi (they have a whole range of white shades!)

As I am rubbish at painting my nails and always end up covered in nail varnish, I use a cotton earbud dipped in nail varnish remover as a kind of pen to remove any excess polish around the edges of my nails (and face or wherever it usually ends up)!

It's still not a perfect manicure, but my little perfecting trick makes them a lot better than before. I won't post a photo of the mess I made as it's more '5-year-old painting session' than '17 year old girl with years of nail painting experience'...

White nails tend to make skin look like it has a healthy glow, as well as being a shade that goes with absolutely everything you wear. I'll definitely be repainting my nails white when it comes off.

August Birchbox

Birchbox is a beauty / lifestyle subscription service that sends samples of high-end products picked to suit you every month. I decided to subscribe as soon as I found out about Birchbox, as I love trying new products and finding things I love. Each box also includes a fold-out card full of DIY beauty tips and things relating to the month's theme.

My Birchbox arrived today and I was really excited to open it. I'd already seen samples of the August Birchbox on various blogs and on the Birchbox website, but September's box will be a complete surprise to open. The box is a lovely sturdy cardboard one that you can use again for various things!

Here are all the products from my Birchbox. I think everyone receives something slightly different each time - here is what you could receive in August's Birchbox (you can still order one now).

It included;

Travel cosmetics bag

Big enough to fit all of this month's products yet small enough to easily fit in your hand luggage! The colour scheme is also really lovely and summery. (This month's theme was 'Away We Go!' so everything is perfect to use while on holiday.)

Miracle Skin Transformer

This is a mineral-infused exfoliator that is safe for sensitive skin. It smells slightly like fresh lemons and after using, you can actually feel the difference it makes on your skin - a lot softer and with a cleansed feeling.

The first chapter from The Proposal by Tasmina Perry

This romantic novel is set between mid-50s London and modern New York, following two girls in a story of love, betrayal and adventure.

Number 4 Prep & Protect spray

You can feel how conditioning this spray is just by rubbing some into your hands! It detangles, strengthens, repairs and tames damaged hair, leaving a soft and healthy feeling, as well as being 100% vegan!

Supergoop Daily Correct CC Cream

I used some of this Supergoop cream and was amazed with the coverage it gave. It's SPF 35 so helps keep skin looking youthful and flawless, and works as both a primer and foundation. I received the light - medium colour and the cream self-adjusts to your shade! It uses 100% natural ingredients and minerals to smooth the appearance of pores and soften the skin.

Whish Three Wishes Lavender Body Butter

This body butter smells so gorgeous and leaves skin feeling super moisturised and soft. I used it on my hands and unlike most hand creams even, this stuff is non-greasy so that I can actually do things after using it!

Wild About Beauty Multi Purpose Tint

This is my favourite thing out of this month's Birchbox. It's really versatile cream-based product as it can be used as an eyeshadow, bronzer and a lip tint! It gives you a great golden glow and is the full-sized version so will last a while.

In the above photos I am wearing the CC cream as foundation and the Multi-Purpose cream on my lips. I love it!

Pastel Hair

I'm one of those people that can't get an idea out of my head without doing it.
So when I spontaneously decided I wanted lilac hair instead of my boring dark brown, I went through the process and achieved the colour I wanted, all within a day!

Here's what I did:

Bleaching

My hair was quite a darkish brown colour, so it needed bleaching (multiple times, it turned out) to achieve the platinum blonde needed for a pastel colour to work. I went into town and found three different highly recommended bleaches - I do not recommend this all in one day! Many hair stylists will advise you to bleach your hair maybe once a month. But my hair had not been dyed and barely styled with heat products for about three years, so I just went ahead with it - Schwarzkopf Live XXL Absolute Platinum was first. I made the mistake of applying to the roots at the same time as the rest of my hair though, so I ended up with platinum blonde roots and ginger tips. You're meant to apply to the tips of your hair first and gradually work your way up.

Then I use the L'Oreal Preference Extreme Platinum dye, and that lifted my shade even more to a blondey gingery colour, still with platinum roots.

After that I used Garnier Nutrisse Creme in Ice Blond. This made my hair an overall lighter shade that I could get away with, though the roots were still a bit lighter.

Lilac...

It still had a brassy tint to it so I used a lot of Pro:Voke Touch of Silver products to get an ashy blonde colour, before using L'Oreal Feria Lavender toning conditioner to turn it slightly lilac (your hair needs to be pretty much white for this stuff to work, so it didn't work too well on mine). I so recommend the Pro:Voke range if you're wanting to keep your hair a lovely blonde/platinum shade! It has immediate effect and I swear by it now. Some people complain that if you leave it on too long, you are left with a lilac tint to your hair - but that was perfect for me as it was the colour I was trying to achieve! Yay! I even left it on overnight a few times once I'd dyed my hair lilac, and it brought out the colour even more.

 These are all the Pro:Voke products I own, and I aim to buy more because they're so fab. I recommend using the 'once weekly' range if you want to maintain a lilac colour, but use the daily stuff if you want to stay blonde.

Shade of the weekly maintenance shampoo compared to the rest of the products. The more purple the product, the more it tones your hair, so I use the weekly shampoo a lot. The conditioner is also lovely to leave on overnight (wrap your head in a towel) to achieve a toned but not completely lilac look. It also conditions your hair so well.

I went to Turkey shortly after dying my hair lilac and it ended up turning a lovely blonde colour instead, which I didn't mind, but I wanted to go back lilac anyway.

Pink...

Yesterday I went into town hoping to buy some of the lilac Bleach London dye, but it was out of stock. :(
I spotted the Rose colour and bought that instead. I went home and used Directions white toner to get rid of any brassiness after my holiday, and it worked really well.

The instructions recommend that you leave the product on for 15 minutes - but when I used the lilac Directions dye, I left mine on for about an hour and it still didn't work completely well (again, your hair has to be snow white in order for it to take full effect). So I left this white toner on for 30 minutes and it worked great! My hair turned out a lovely blonde / white colour.

Then I used the Rose colour.

I used about half the bottle and it seemed to cover my slightly below shoulder-length hair, but I think I should have used the full bottle as there's still a blonde tint.

It turned my sink and hands this lovely shade of pink with a slight lilac colour!

Overall, I'm really pleased with my colour now, and although I'll have to top it up regularly as it's only semi-permanent, the Bleach product worked really well. I'll probably end up trying some of their other colours too, like 'Washed up Mermaid' and the 'Violet Skies' I had originally been hoping to find. They also sell temporary colour chalks if you're not willing to commit to something so daunting! I'll probably even try some of their actual bleach products when I top up my roots.

Today's Purchases

Today I went into town with my Mum and Nan for some school stuff and ended up buying a few of other things I don't actually need (as usual). But there's no point in me having money and not spending it... ;)

I bought this lilac Barry M lipstick from Superdrug. I love Barry M lipsticks as they come in cool colours that I usually can't find anywhere else, and they are also really good quality. The first (and favourite) one I ever owned is this very matte pale pink one.

I got this eyeshadow palette as well as it reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked ones, minus all the blue shades I'd never wear, and this set was £30 cheaper. The colours look so easy to wear and it even comes with gorgeous pink blush. I never usually wear blush but might have to try this one. I'll probably post more on these products later!

Here is the set of school stuff I got. I love stationery so I love when it comes to this time of year and I actually have an excuse to buy it. I am still lacking a pencil case (any recommendations of pretty ones would be much appreciated) but I'm quite happy with what I bought today. I didn't include the ton of biros / lined paper / folders that I also have because they are super boring. These four things are from WHSmiths.

The Chinese lantern diary was the cutest one in the shop (I'm sick of seeing owl-printed stuff) and it's colourful too. I definitely need a diary as when I don't have one I turn into an unorganised mess and basically forget what homework is.

I thought the fox notepad would be perfect for making revision notes (as well as the set of revision cards, but they are pastel so they are cool too...) in a way that will actually make me want to do so. It's really chunky as well so you can fit loads in!

I also got these magnetic memo pegs (I can't find them on the website) for £1.49 because they look cool on my fairy lights and will be helpful when it comes to remembering stuff.

I bought these amazing shoes from New Look for just £30 (I can't find them online but here are some similar ones)! I tried them on multiple times to check that I could walk fine and decided I must have them, much against my Mum and Nan's advice... But they're really comfy for shoes so high and they look fab. I also spotted a pair of nude heels that I loved, and just found that they do a lilac pair too! I'm way too tempted to order them now.

ASOS Orders

When we got home I found that my ASOS orders have arrived!

I fell in love with this Lazy Oaf Kitty backpack as soon as I saw it. It's super soft and cute and completely worth the £45! I don't imagine that it will be much good in the rain (and it rains all the time here), but I had to have it! It's actually really big so will fit all your school stuff in as well.

I have wanted a pair of flatform trainer type shoes for ages, but never found any I liked enough. These ones are a velvet-ish fabric and look really cool, and for only £22! I do recommend ordering a size larger than your usual size though, as I ordered a size five like I usually wear and these are a bit too small. I reckon they'll stretch though because the fabric is soft.

The rest of the stuff I ordered was really cheap so order now it if you like them!

Black cutout dress - £5

Stretchy fabric. They actually sent me a size too big in this one, so I'll have to shrink it in the wash. :(

AMAZED at the price of this bodycon dress! £3.50! It's not rubbishy fabric either, it's quite thick and fits well. Available in pink (wearing above), orange, magenta and teal.

This ostrich waist belt is lovely and was only £2.50.

This boyfriend vest was only £4 and is my favourite colour. I ordered it quite big and it fits kind of like a dress!

I genuinely love ASOS for its cheap sales yet perfect clothes. I can never go on their website and leave without ordering something, unless I have literally no money. Internet shopping is the reason I can't save my money...