Step by Step Half Up Beehive With Loop Detail

Today I thought I'd run through how I achieve this half up, beehive hairstyle, with the loop detail at the back. It's a really cute look and is really simple to do. It usually takes me about 5 minutes.

All you need is a comb, some hairspray, some hair slides and a hand mirror. 

Step one: Back-comb the hair

This is the first and vital step to getting the volume for the beehive and especially important for me, as I have quite fine hair. So I take the top area of my hair and separate into sections and back-comb the roots as much or as little as you'd like, depending on the type of hair you have and the amount of volume you want in your beehive. Then, spray the roots with hairspray and comb gently over the top, to smooth out any fuzzy, visible edges! Add a little spray to the top of your hair, to hold in place.

Step two: Divide hair & start to create beehive shape

Take hair from both sides of your head, at the same time and pull towards the back of your head, whilst taking the hair from the sides and back with your fingers, at the same time. Like you would if you were putting your hair into a 'half up, half down' do. Pull it back to a slightly lower point than you want the loop to sit.

Step three: Create beehive

Now you are holding the hair at the back of your head, push it upwards to a place where you are a) happy with the amount of beehive (you can go crazy here, or just have a gentle beehive like I have) and b) are happy with the level at which you will pin the hair and create the loop detail.

Step four: Pin the hair

Using your hair slides, pin each side of the hair, at one point on the back of the head. Make sure the hair is secure and you are happy with the appearance of the beehive. Spray.

Step five: Create the loop detail

Now you can start to create the loop. Start by taking the section of hair that has been pinned back, making sure to remove any straggling hairs from the rest of you head that have caught up in the hairspray. Loop the hair in your fingers and divide the hair into two sections, taking one to one side and the other to the other side, whilst pulling it up over the pins already in place (so that the loop covers this). This is where you need eyes in the back of you head, as you need to feel the loop and adjust the size as needed. If you can hold the loop and sides in one hand, you might be able to manage to have a sneaky look in the mirror, which will help this stage.

Step six: Pin the loop detail

Once you are happy with how the loop looks, take a couple of hair slides and pin it through the loop, from outside, towards the centre. Do this on both sides. Spray.

And you're done! Pretty easy! It gets easier with practice too and you can get more and more adventurous with the size as well!

What do you think? Is this something you'll try?

Check out my bun and side plait step by step too!

My Holiday Beauty, Hair, Nails & Makeup Musts; Post 2

This is the second of my two posts showing you some of the beauty, hair, nails and makeup products I will be packing in my suitcase.

This second post will cover makeup, nails and perfume.

Fraulein, Concealer Palette

This is a little gem of a product, especially if your skin is prone to vast colour changes like mine. During the winter I'm quite a light olive and even with sun screen, I can change about 5 shades during the course of the summer, especially when I go on holiday. So this palette is perfect, as it covers a variety of skin shades, plus the must have pink, white, purple and yellow correction concealers. I wouldn't go away without it.

Maybelline, Dream Fresh BB Foundation, Medium

This is a relatively new product for me but I'm finding it gloriously light and definitely makes my skin feel radiant. I'm taking this away with me for those nights on the town, when I'll want to wear more than just a powder foundation but don't want anything too heavy. This also has an SPF of 30, which is great for helping protect your skin on holiday too.

Maybelline, Fit Me Pressed Powder, 220 Natural Beige

I wear two shades of pressed powder, one around the eyes and under the eyes and the second over the face. To minimise the size of my makeup bag however, on holiday I will probably just take this one, which is the darker of the two shades. This powder has a super light feel to it. It doesn't block my pores and it looks really natural.

Benefit, Bronzer, Hooola

I'm taking this sample size Hoola bronzer with me. I don't want to take the full size version, for risk of it getting knocked and breaking. This sample size will be perfect. I love Hoola as it's the only bronzer I know of that doesn't have orange tones in it, so it looks really natural.

Bourjois, Cream Blush, Rose Tender

I'm taking this blush, as it's really compact and unable to get damaged in transit. I also really love this colour, especially for holidays. It's really beautifully pink and girlie. I just love the packaging too. Super cute!

MUA, Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter

This highlighter is perfect across the top of my cheekbones, contouring the shape of my face and gives it that extra shimmer. I'm looking forward to seeing what it looks like when my face has seen a little sun!

Barbara Daly, Eyeshadow, Tuffle

Although this is an eyeshadow, I actually use it for my eyebrows, so this is a must have wherever I go! I find the shade is almost perfect (I'm not sure there is a perfect shade) for my eyebrows. It's been kicking about in my makeup bag for a couple of years, so it's an old favourite.

H&M, Glitter Eyeshadow Palette

This is a really great palette to take on holiday and possibly just what it was created for! The pretty blues, pinks, golds and purple shadows are really beautiful on sun kissed skin and I can't wait to give it a try this year and try out some different looks!

Maybelline, Diamond Glow Eyeshadow Palette, Coral Drama

This is another favourite of mine at the moment. Again with the shimmery golds and bronzes, it looks great on sun kissed skin and is super sexy for sizzling summer nights! I can't wait to try this out this year. I really like the way it has a little tutorial on the back of the palette, on the best way to use all four shades too. Cute!

MUA, Undress Me Too Eyeshadow Palette

This is a lovely natural shade eye shadow palette and since buying it just a couple of months ago, I am starting to wear out a couple of the light shades. It's really natural and 'Naked' provides a lovely base to most other shades. I also love using 'Shy' in the corners of my eyes, to make them pop!

Ardell, Fashion Lashes, Demi Wispies

I always like to take a pair of false lashes on holiday, but more often than not, I come home without having used them. But, as always, I will be taking my favourite style with me; Demi Wispies. These are lovely and natural, just adding extra volume, without looking really obvious that you're wearing any!

Revlon, Precision Dark Lash Adhesive

Over the years I have tried various lash adhesives but this one is currently my favourite. With the white ones that dry to clear, you always seem to get the bit of glue that doesn't dry clear and you end up blobbing some eyeliner over the top to colour it in, which can end up looking clumpy. This adhesive in precision dark is black on application, so although it's a little harder to see where you've added it and where you haven't, you do end up with a much more professional finish.

MUA, Pro-Base Eye Primer

This eye primer is going to be a must on holiday, as it will help my eyeshadow to stay put! I haven't tried it in hot weather yet, so I will let you know how I get on!

Benefit, Eye Bright

This is great all year round for helping your eyes to pop, when a little inside the eye. With sun kissed skin, it's especially beautiful and I can't wait to use it.

Maybelline, The Falsies Volume Express Waterproof Mascara

This is a staple on holiday, as I'm one of those people who still likes to wear a little mascara around the pool, sorry! So a good waterproof one is essential and for me, this one is great. I also love the shape of the curved brush, as it helps to coat all the lashes.

Maybelline, Gentle Precision Eyeliner

This again is a staple, as you never know when you might need a touch of eyeliner, whether it's above the eye or inside the eye. This is my favourite eye liner at the moment. It's really soft and glides onto the skin, without dragging.

Benefit, They're Real Mascara

This was a little freebie I received with June's issue of Elle magazine and I'm in love! At the moment, I think as mascaras go, this is my favourite  I especially lover the bristled brush end, as this helps work the product onto even the tiniest of hairs. This is definitely going with me and probably in my hand luggage too, just in case!

MUA, Lipstick, Shade 3

This is a gorgeously pretty shade of pink and I love it. I'm especially looking forward to taking this with me for evening wear. It's so bright and colourful that it will liven up any outfit and what perfect place to wear something bright and cheerful, than on a sunny holiday!

Loreal, Rough Caresse Lipstick, Nude Ingenue 501

This Loreal lipstick is a really nice nudey/brown shade and lovely for everyday wear, so something I'll definitely be packing.

Stila, Lip Glaze, Kaleidoscope & Grapefruit

I'm going to take just two of my Stila lip glazes; Kaleidoscope is perfect for a holiday, with it's shimmery/peach tones and Grapefruit is a really flirty and girlie pink. These make my lips feel really nourished, so I expect I'll be wearing these a lot; even around the pool for that extra little bit of glam! Well, why not!

Quickies, Nail Varnish Removed Pads

Nail varnish remover pads are a must in any suitcase. I can't think of anything worse than a liquid acetone spilling over your maxi dresses and sandals. What a horrible way to start off your holiday! So these pads are super useful. There's 20 in this pack, and they're quite large, so it'll be more than enough.

I'm taking four nail polish colours with me:

Barry M, Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint, Greenberry 332

Loreal, Color Riche, Acid Watermelon 827

Maybelline, Color Show, Coral Craze 342

Barry M, Nail Paint, Shocking Pink 272

Barry M, Nail Art Pen, White

I'm also taking this really cute nail art pen, so that I can add the odd little design to my nails if I wish! Again, this might be a bit frivolous item to take, like the false lashes, but I'm taking it anyway!

Ralph Lauren, Romance

This is my favourite perfume of all time. I bought it for my wedding day and will always remind me of it! So, when I go on holiday or go out for special occasions, this is what I take/wear. So this is definitely coming with me, in my hand luggage!

Perfume Sample Wipes

Recently I have gained a load of lovely perfume wipes, which I'm going to take away with me this year. These two pictured are Givenchy, Very Irresistible and Givenchy, For Her. These are perfect for when you're out and about as they slip in your handbag and you actually get quite a lot of perfume from the one wipe. Sometimes I've slipped the wipe back into the packet after use, so I can use it again later in the day. I'm loving these, so will be sad when they run out!

So, that's about it! Obviously I haven't included shampoo etc, but these are a bit boring!!

Do you use any of these products? Are you going on holiday soon and thinking of trying any of these?

Maybelline Color Show Coral Craze Review

This is the third of my Maybelline Color Show nail varnish reviews. The first was Lavender Lies, the second Marinho and this one is the striking orange; Coral Craze, 342.

This colour is super summery, which is why I wanted to review this one last; in the hope that summer might finally be here! I love bright coloured nail varnish but have never tried anything with yellow or orange hues, so this is a first!

This colour is exactly how it appears in the bottle, as are all of the Maybelline Color Show varnishes I've tried so far. I love the fact that there are no surprises!

This particular varnish had been sitting on my dressing table for a couple of weeks before I went to apply it and I did notice that some of the orangey/yellow colouring inside the varnish was starting to separate a little, just where it had been sitting stationary for a while. 

You always want to make sure that your colour is perfectly mixed together, so I used a cotton bud to stir the varnish gently and then gave the bottle a good shake as usual. That sorted it!

As you can see, the colour of this varnish is stunning. It's bright, colourful and because my hands have caught a little sun lately, it makes them look super brown!

I can definitely see myself rocking this on the beach in a few weeks time!

What do you think of Coral Craze, Lavender Lies or Marinho? Have you tried any of the Color Show range?

Deetz; A Label to Love

Flicking through a magazine today, I came across a really cool label that I'd not heard of before; Deetz. This print-led line, created by Scottish designers Amy Currie and Lauren Milligan and inspired by Winona Ryder's character in Beetlejuice, launched earlier this year.

The collection includes playsuits, dresses, tops and scarves and with the cost of these gorgeous pieces starting from £205, it's not something I'm going to be able to afford to rush out and buy, BUT, the pieces themselves deserve some attention. It's no wonder in my opinion, that Harvey Nichols has already snapped up the line for it's stores.

I've picked out a few of my favourite pieces, starting with the La Famille Top, £265. This top is made from 100% silk crepe de chine and digitally printed to enhance the brightness of the graphics. 

It has a snakeskin embossed pattern on the front of the top and (my favourite), a detachable leather collar! Wearing it here with a leather, pleated skirt and pointed black boots, it's such a cute, wearable look.

The second piece I particularly like is the Direction Playsuit, £295. With it's all over triangle print, candy colours and green silk collar, it looks really cute with a waist belt and boots. 

I really love the playsuit look and this one is certainly different, which is a huge plus in my opinion. Again, this is made from the highest quality 100 per cent silk crepe de chine and therefore must be dry cleaned, but who cares when the piece is so cute! It's worth the dry cleaning bill, right?

The last piece I particularly like from this collection is the Pixel Parfait Cape Dress, £365. The soft hues of this lavender and pale green dress, plus its detachable 100% leather belt and elasticated neckline, makes this dress truly stunning. 

This dress has so many ticks, it even has an elasticated hem so that you can adjust its length! It's such a shame that the price is totally out of my league!

I really love this collection and think it has something for everyone, so dig deep ladies!

What do you think of this little gem of a label? Would you invest in a key piece for your wardrobe?

Festival Outfit from New Look

It's festival season and with the weather showing some hope for summer, I thought I'd put together a summer festival look, all for under £105, from New Look. 

Tousled Hair

The perfect festival hairstyle is one that doesn't need much maintenance and this look is perfect. The tousled waves are easy to maintain with a 'scrunch and go'. They look relaxed and effortless, letting you enjoy yourself without worrying about where to plug in your straighteners!

Light Blue Dress

This Light Blue Floral Crochet Neck Sleeveless Dress, for just £19.99, comes in brown and navy as well as blue and is really girlie and flirting. The high neck is really cute and I love the crochet detail.

Suede Fringe Bag

You always need somewhere to put you phone, purse, sunglasses, sun cream and rechargeable torch (!) and this cute Tan Suede Fringe Back Pack, £29.99, is perfect for holding all your necessaries.

With this bag being a back pack too, your hands are free! Perfect! The fringe detail is really lovely and adds a sense of festival chic!

Ethnic Necklace

This White and Gold Ethnic Bead Statement Necklace, £14.99,  would look gorgeous layered over the crochet neckline of the light blue dress. Statement necklaces are so on trend right now and with this piece, a statement would definitely be made. 

Leather Boots

These are adorable! Sensible footwear is a must on a festival field and these Tan Leather Glitter Back Ankle Boots, just £25 (reduced from £54.99!), are perfectly girlie, to team up with the light blue dress. 

I love the fact that these boots are plain to the first glance and incredibly sparkly and a feminine on the back. Love these! You'll be the envy of your friends when you have dry, comfortable feet with added sparkle!

Sunglasses

These Nude Diamanté Square Frame Sunglasses, £7.99, are a must for the festival season, especially if the sun stays out! You want to be able to see you favourite bands without squinting and looking pretty cool at the same time. So, what better way than with these cute sunnies!

Cuff Bracelet

I love cuffs and stack bracelets and this Gold and Orange Zig Zag Stretch Cuff, £6.99, is perfect for this festival look. The colour beads tie in with the back pack and boots and finishes off the outfit, with a touch of glam. Perfect!

Let me know if you've bought any of these and whether you're wearing them to a festival this year!

MUA Plum Noir Nail Polish Review

Today was a new toe nail polish day and I decided on MUA' s Plum Noir, which is just £1 and available from Superdrug.

MUA's new nail polish range has new shades, a new bottle, which is cleverly similar to Essie nail polish and a new and improved brush. 

I applied two coats of Plum Noir to my toe nails and was really pleased with the colour and coverage. 

As is quite usual with most nail polish, the colour looks different on the nails, compared to the bottle. The bottle looks like a pink/plum and in reality the colour is more purple/plum, which wasn't a disappointment, as it's just as pretty. 

I think the look of this nail polish is great. It's easy to apply with the new, improved brush, really smooth in application, dries quickly and has a super shine to it. And, it's just £1, which is fantastic value if you're anything like me and like to change your nail polish A LOT!

What do you think? Are there any MUA nail polish colours you've tried? I want to try them all!

Check out my other MUA product reviews.

Primark Summer Haul

Popping into the Tottenham Court Road Primark (which is by far my favourite of the Primark  stores in London), I picked up a load of really cute summer bargains, to boost my wardrobe. 

I'm going on holiday soon, so I thought it was about time I started thinking about my holiday wardrobe and thought I'd share some of the bits I bought with you.

The first is this really cute cross body bag, in grey, which was just £7. I like to carry lots of bits and pieces when I'm out and about on holiday, so this bag is perfect, as it has lots of pockets and is cross body, so my hands are free. Always a plus. 

The strap is a good length and is adjustable and I especially like the plait and buckle detail on the front pocket. Very cute. 

I don't seem to be able to go into any store without being drawn to the makeup isle but I have to admit, Primark was not a place I thought I was likely to see any makeup that I would like. However, I did! 

This lovely Eye Shadow & Shades Palette, with eight gorgeous summery shades, mirror and applicator brush, attracted my eye straight away and for just £2.50, I had to buy it!

The colours are gorgeous, ranging through the dusky pinks and greys, to the green, purple and browns. I'm really excited about trialling and reviewing this palette, to see if the shadows are as pigmented as they look!

I also love the fact that some thought has gone into the packaging of this palette, with the cute Japanese inspired pink bird and flower lid. Love this.

The next cute item I picked up and thought I'd share with you is this White & Navy Striped Tube Dress, £8.

The reason I thought I would share this with you is because  if you're like me and under 5'5", you will probably have tried on about a gazillion maxi dresses and skirts and found them all way too long!! 

So when I tried this dress on and found that even when wearing flats, this dress skims my ankles, I leapt into the air and let out a small squeal of excitement! I've finally found a maxi dress that doesn't swamp me! It was a very exciting moment.

What I also love about this dress is the slightly elasticated waist, which creates a lovely shape around the waist and across the bust. I can see how this would look really lovely with a tan coloured belt too, if I want to dress it up a little.

The next item I'm sharing is this really cute Nevada Sunshine Highway Racer Back Vest, which was just £3. 

I bought this item in a much larger size than usual (I'm usually a 10 and I bought a 14), as I wanted this vest to look oversized and relaxed, when wearing it with denim shorts.

I really love printed t-shirts and jumpers at the moment and this vest is the perfect combination of print and gorgeous pastel colours (which are also my favourite as we're coming into warmer months). I'm really looking forward to wearing this with denim shorts, an oversized handbag, flip flops and sunnies at the airport!

The final bargain I'm sharing with you from my Primark Summer Haul are these really cute Paisley Denim Shorts. 

These shorts were just £7, have a really cute draw string waist and turn-ups. They're a twist on the standard denim shorts and I absolutely love the paisley print. 

They're a really light weight denim too, so perfect for hot, sticky holiday days or could be dressed up in the evening with a cute white peplum top or swing vest and white pumps.

I hope you like these bits I've shared with you today. Let me know if you've got any of these or whether there are any maxi dresses or skirts out there, suitable for my height, that I may have missed!

Matalan Aztec Top

I thought I'd share with you a little cheeky purchase I made today from Matalan. I think it's me being hopeful that we WILL get a summer this year, because I was drawn to all the strapless tops, which are so cute when the suns shining and you want to avoid those pesky tan lines!

I'm really loving Aztec print clothes which seem to be taking the fashion world by storm at the moment and my eyes were immediately drawn to this peach and black Aztec print strapless tube top at just £3! I thought it was so cute I just had to have one!

There's no especially exciting design to it, no, it's a straight tube top with a little stitching down the centre of the bust, but it is really cute all the same. I'm picturing it now with black denim shorts and flip flops!

The pattern is really gorgeous and with a hidden support inside will be fantastic for sunny days and sultry evenings. Well, I can wish can't I!

Let me know if you've picked up any Aztec pieces lately!