HIGH STREET HITLIST

Living within the confines of a constant budget is BLOODY HARD, especially when one of the biggest pleasures in my life is blowing cash on makeup and cosmetics. Which, when I read that back, makes me CRINGE inside. There's got to be more to life than moisturisers, serums and lotions at upwards of £50 a pop, right? RIGHT????!!! 

The past few months I've found a few actual GEMS in the likes of Boots and Superdrug - most for under a tenner...

Tresemme Split Mend Intense Recovery Masque 

Buy it here for £3 when you place a total order for £10, or usually £5.75 at Boots

Replaces: Joico K-Pak Revitaluxe Bio-Advance Restorative Treatment £26.95 at Feel Unique

Rarely have I been wowed by a hair mask or conditioning treatment. After going blonde, like BLEACH blonde at the end of last year, then dying it back to brown in February, my hair was pretty much ruined. Lots of it snapped and fell out (at the hairdressers. I ALMOST cried), and the hair left was weak, brittle and damaged beyond belief. THAT'LL TEACH ME! 

This is the first thing I've used that made a visible difference after just one use - and believe me, I tried just about EVERYTHING. Even the Philip Kingsley Elastacizer failed to impress, but this budget baby gave me noticeably smoother, softer, less unruly hair after the first go. It claims to actually FIX existing split ends and reduce new ones over time, and while I don't believe in hair WIZARDRY of this kind, I can vouch that it's doing SOMETHING for my poor, poor hair. 

One of the first ingredients is hydrolyzed Keratin, which, for a high street product under 6 quid, is pretty amaze.

Another happy side effect from regular use is that I've noticed my hair is starting to feel a little thicker and more lustrous. It's bouncy, shinier and altogether BETTER. It doesn't tout volume as a result, but it's another happy accident, as well as locks that smell delish. Try it out, I bet you love it.

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Secret Agent Perfecting Creme

£5.59 from Boots (newly rebranded, but mine looks like this one above)

Replaces: Morrocanoil Hydrating Styling Cream £23.75 at Feel Unique

Sticking with hair, this has ALSO been a saviour of sorts. I actually think I've mentioned this on here before, and I know I've used it for years, but over the last 3 or 4 months I'm never without it in my bag.

After aforementioned hair disaster (you could definitely call it that) I've been left with lots of damaged hair, broken off at different lengths, and stupid flyaways that stick out all over the crown of my head, giving me an unattractive HAIR HALO should I be unfortunate enough to be lit from behind.

If you're not one for hair oils (I have oily skin, scalp and hair - slathering oil onto my hair is about the last thing I want to do), this is a great option for smoothing over a finished, dry style without weighing it down or greasing it up. Rub a decent squirt between hands, smooth through from top to bottom, and BOOM, flyaways be gone. 

I also find that throughout the day, my ends get drier and drier so that by the evening  it's absolutely desperate for a drink. Rubbing some of this through the ends refreshes it really nicely, again without overloading my hair with loads of product. 

Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque

£3.25 from Amazon

Replaces: Origins Clear Improvement Mask £22 from Origins counters

I must have tried literally THOUSANDS of clay-based face masks, and this is ALWAYS the one I reach for first. A thick, gloopy, minty green mask that dries hard and does that weird cracking thing on your face if you try to move it, but honestly one of the best things ever at sooking out oil, dirt and grime from the skin. For this price, it's a STEAL, and it's super effective. It can dry out the skin a bit, so follow up with a good moisturiser, but if you've got oil issues, stubborn plooks and open pores you have GOT to give this a go.

I coaxed my bf into giving this a try last night and I THINK he gave it the thumbs up. I asked him if his skin felt any different and he said no, but when I inspected it at closer range there were definitely fewer open pores on show. SO WHAT DOES HE KNOW?!

La Roche Posay Effaclar K

£13.00 from Boots

Replaces: Paula's Choice RESIST Skin Transforming Multi-Correction Treatment £38.80

A little pricier now, but totally worth it. I, like everyone else, tried the LRP Effaclar Duo and liked it, but wasn't blown away. I found that, despite being targeted at sensitive, imperfection prone skin, sometimes it would sting, and now and again I'd get these weird dry, flaky patches where I'd used it. Plus, it didn't do what I really wanted - EXFOLIATION. 

This Effaclar K lotion from the same anti-blemish range contains AHAs and very little alcohol so it gets rid of dead skin cells daily, but isn't as drying or irritating as the Duo, and I prefer its slightly mattifying effect as a makeup base for daytimes.

Over the few months I've been using this I can say that I've noticed a reduction in new scarring, and the overall surface of my skin is smoother. I'm still cursed with the odd breakout, but I find this clears things up fairly quickly and smoothes over any raised areas a peach. It's moisturising enough during the day to be used alone, but at night I slap on a cream over the top, or alternate it with oils and serums. Nevertheless, a necessary step I wouldn't be without now.

It smells weird though. Like, be prepared. It's odd...

Korres Wild Rose Brightening and Line Smoothing Serum

£9 from TK Maxx (or £26 from Amazon, £30 from LookFantastic.com)

Replaces: Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Complexion Correcting serum £42.75 from Feel Unique

So, this is a bit of a cheat. OK, a total cheat. RRP for this seems to be around the £30 mark online, which is why, when I spied it in TK Maxx for less than a tenner, I just HAD to get it! 

It's designed for older skins - hence the anti-wrinkle claims - but of course it was the word BRIGHTENING that attracted me. On a never-ending quest to brighten and perk up my sallow, sometimes dull skin, anything that claims to do this is OK by me. Happily, this serum is a nice, creamy consistency which takes around 5-10 mins to soak in fully, and adds a lovely extra layer of moisture. I do notice that it plumps up my skin nicely, and leaves it feeling really...juicy, without leaving a sticky film. It seems to appear more nourished, and any latent redness fades quickly after massaging this in. I'm really not a huge fan of the smell though, but as it doesn't contain any artificial fragrance (or prabens or mineral oil or any of those nasties) I can't complain really. 

TK Maxx often has the odd gem in their skincare section, mostly from brands like Lavera, Melvita and Korres. I've even seen a REN hand cream! Basically, you can often be lucky with a nice selection of natural/cruelty free brands usually only available online or in Whole Foods, at a FRACTION of the RRP. Definitely check one out if you can.

Avene Skin Recovery Cream

£9.37 on Escentual.com or £12.50 at Boots

Replaces: Antipodes Vanilla Pod Hydrating Cream £26.00 from Feel Unique

I KNOW I've mentioned this guy before, but he's still a total favourite I always repurchase. Now and again, despite having pretty hardy, oily skin, I'll develop the odd dry, flaky patch. LOVELY! Seems to spring up for no reason, often on my cheeks, or just under my eyes. I don't use an eye cream (though I know I should) and I just take my normal moisturiser under there and over my cheeks, and 9 times out of 10 this is sufficient, but for the days when patches of my skin is irritated, seemingly for no bloody reason at all, I ALWAYS come back to this and it sorts it right out. 

It's 67% spring water and the rest of the ingredients (only 13 in total) are designed to calm inflammation and intensely moisturise. It's weird, because the second ingredient down from water is mineral oil (Paraffinum Liquidum) which I've literally JUST told you is a NASTY ingredient, causing breakouts and offering no visible skin benefits, however I can categorically say that I've had ZERO negative side effects from using this on isolated areas on my face. Quite the opposite, actually. My sore, dry skin loves it.

Burts Bees Ultra Conditioning Lip Treatment

£3.69 at Boots or £4.95 at Feel Unique

Replaces: By Terry Baume de Rose £38 at Space NK

 I am a die-hard 8 Hour Cream fan for a lip balm as I just don't think ANYTHING works as well as that (although I've yet to try Lanolips and I've got a good feeling about it!), however it's pricey, and this Burts Bees alternative is ALMOST as good, and certainly better than Vaseline, or even any of the other Burts Bees chapsticks in the range. 

The silver-lid variant is described as "ultra moisturising" and it definitely is. The other flavours (versions?) I've found to be too waxy to actually penetrate the skin, instead creating this thick, sticky barrier over the lips. Yes it prevents more moisture leaving, but it doesn't absorb well, or actually fix flaky lips at all. This version DOES all of that, thanks to its slippier, lighter texture which glides on much easier and really feels like it's doing something. A winner if you're strapped and can't justify the likes of the By Terry Baume de Rose or Dior Creme de Rose, or any of the rest. At the end of the day, this does the job and does it well.

PHEW. I mean, yeah, none of this stuff is MEGA cheap, but all do what they say WELL and are, for the most part, readily available. I don't know about you but there's some things I'm happy to go without when I'm skint, but skincare/makeup/cosmetics isn't really one of them. Substituting expensive products for these more affordable babies has been no detriment to my skin or hair, and a big advantage for my bank balance.  I know I am the saddest person alive, but I'd rather eat beans on toast a week out the month than give up slathering my hair/face/body in good things. Is there a support group I can go to?

RECENT PURCHASES: MARCH

It's been AGES since I've done a recent purchases post. Like I mean months and months. Don't be fooled, it's not been because I've not been BUYING stuff... AS IF! I guess I've just been lazy about keeping track of it all. But over the past few weeks I've made a consented effort to keep a note of where all my money's been going... To GUILT myself into a spending ban, if nothing else because SERIOUSLY, it really is out of control.

Anyway, yeah, here we go.

Antipodes Apostle skin brightening and tone correcting serum

Sigh. Yes, another brightening serum - they are my own personal brand of heroin and I am DEEP into my addiction. I'd run out of my REN Radiance Perfecting serum (did I even mention that in a blog somewhere?) and to be honest I wasn't wowed at all. I never DON'T use a radiance/skin tone correcting/brightening serum though, so I guess it's hard to gauge results. But retailing at over £30, I had expected to see SOMETHING happen and, honestly, I didn't. Thankfully the same can't be said for this! It's dispensed via pipette (like ANR) and the weird red fluid and smells like crushed up fruit, because basically that's what it is. It smells GENUINELY like you could eat it.

After patting in twice daily for about four/five days now I can say that some annoying scarring from a few recent breakouts has definitely reduced. Also, a few minutes after putting this on, any residual redness on my skin has completely vanished. It can leave your face feeling a bit tight so a moisturiser on top is a must, but overall I'm really loving it so far - feels and looks like it's actually doing something. Yay!

Caudalie Eau De Beaute Beauty Elixir

This is a firm favourite I've gone without for ages and I don't really know why. Well, I do really - the price. It's basically some lovely oils dissolved in water that smells heavenly and can be spritzed under or over makeup, but it's not cheap.

I caved though, because I love it so much. I use this in place of a toner, which I always felt was a bit of an unnecessary step, but this definitely wakes my face up a bit (wow, clarity), closes pores and makes whatever you put on next (the serum usually) sink in much quicker. I don't know exactly how it works but it does and I love it.

Caudalie Divine Oil

I blame Estee from Essie Button on this ENTIRELY. I have no idea what video it was but I was watching one of hers on YouTube (actually I think it was a winter favourites or something) and she mentioned this multi-purpose body oil and how it smelled AMAZING and that was it. Hooked.

I've been using a Soap and Glory body moisturiser for a while - God knows what one, there's hunners! One that comes in a squeezy tube not a tub - and it's been working OK but nothing to write home about. The sweet scent is nice but after weeks it can start to grate a bit and I've been after something a little more sophisticated smelling for a while. This is DEFINITELY it. I used the NUXE multi-purpose oil a while back and loved it, but this is even better since it comes with a spray pump and smells ACTUALLY heavenly. Sweet, woody, rosey, mmmm just actually SO GOOD! For best moisturising results I spray it all over when I'm still a bit damp after a shower and it sinks right in.

[Every time I write the word "multi-purpose" I have to fight my fingers not to type multi-porpoise. FACT.]

Joico K-Pak Reconstructor

This was a totally random, last minute basket-addition on Feel Unique. I had in the back of my mind that I was MAYBE looking for a nourishing hair mask of some kind, but I'd done no research and I'm pretty sure I just bought this cos there was some money off. Like £5 or something, but still....

My hair has been kind of dry and damaged recently. I had some highlights (how 90s) put in a few months ago and then decided to lighten the ends myself a bit for a sort of UBER soft ombre effect. I used the L'Oreal Wild Ombre kit in number 2 by the way, and I was really pleased with it. It didn't make a massive difference but I wasn't looking for one so it suited me fine, but if you were looking for a dramatic ombre effect you might be disappointed. AAAAAAAAANYWAY, as a result my hair hasn't been in the best condition. Some days are better than others but it's generally a bit dry, tuggy and breaks easily.

I've only used this once and I liked the results. It made my hair feel smooth and nourished without weighing it down, but it smells REALLY weird, like over-ripe bananas and oats or something. Kind of like it was once a "fresh" product that went off. Not sure if I can really stomach it to use it often... Every time the wind blows and you get a waft - BOKE. We'll see.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 hour eyeshadow

Jumped on the bandwagon and bought On and On Bronze. Can you believe this is my first foray into cream eye shadows? I like it I guess, but I never normally have a problem with eye shadows creasing anyway so I wasn't looking for it to solve any particular problem really. It's very creamy, blends nicely and lasts all day. Am I BLOWN AWAY? Nah, but it's decent enough. Although it's a bronze, it's quite cool-toned which doesn't work brilliantly with my colouring so bear that in mind, and it's SUPER shimmery.

MAC's Satin Taupe

I've wanted this FOREVER but the stupid MAC concession in Silverburn has been out of it for weeks and I've given up trying to get anyone to serve me in Frasers - actually a shower of rude, ignorant eejits working in there and I don't care who knows it. SO many times I've had a bomb burning a hole in my pocket ready to drop on loads of stuff, but no one has approached me even though I'm OBVIOUSLY mooching about totally clueless, or sales assistants have blatantly ignored me and carried on their own conversations behind the till. I've walked out loads of times absolutely fuming and spent the money elsewhere.

Rant asise, I finally manged to get my hands on this and I'm completely underwhelmed. The formula is lovely, typically of MAC shadows it's high quality, soft, blends like a dream and lasts all day, but the colour is totally wrong. I should have known it wouldn't suit me - GAHD! When will I learn, I only suit warm-toned bronzes and browns on my eyes and this is very grey and ashy, it almost leans a little purple in some lights. Basically it makes me look like I haven't slept in a week/have the beginnings of a shiner forming. Not good. If you have brown eyes go get it though, bet it would lovely.

MAC 217 brush

I've been using a cheap No7 version of this for donkeys but finally got the real deal and it's as good as the hype - blends amazing, feels sturdy and solid but can be really gentle and subtle. Never picks up too much product and reduces fallout. It's pure good.

L'Oreal Rouge Caresse 301 Dating Coral

This looks super pink in the picture but in reality it's a lovely soft peachy coral colour. Still obsessed with coral lipsticks and this is just the latest edition to an ever-expanding collection. I'm really loving creamy lipsticks at the moment, as opposed to matt, drying ones, and I prefer the formula of these to the Revlon Lip Butters as I find them a bit sticky whereas the Rouge Caresses are much more moisturising. I do find that this acts as a slight stain on my lips as after the glossy/creamy finish has worn off the colour hangs about for another couple of hours. It's a subtle shade but warms up the skin and looks amaze with a tan. Love it.

black Topshop playsuit £40

Another whim, but you can never have enough LBPs for going out, right? Topshop is the only place I can buy playsuits that actually fit me thanks to their petite line - everywhere else, and even the regular line in Toppers, playsuits are cut for GIANTS. Saggy-crotch is not a cool look guys! Anyway, this fits nicely - the sleeves are quite tight and the shorts are VERY short but with tights it's all good. It's tight enough to fit me properly at the waist as well and not BAG out which is always nice. Bit fancy, bit goff, bit bangin. Done.

Stripe Topshop dress £38

I bought this without trying it on as I was pushed for time and figured it might be nice for work but I REALLY should have bothered because it's a very weird fit. I got a 10 but it's cut really big so the shoulders and waist are stupidly baggy. Obviously, because it's me, the ass bit fits fine but it's everywhere else that it's too big. Comically so. An 8 will be out of the question due to my BOOTAY so I think it's going to need to go back. It's such a frustration when dresses that look like they're cinched in at the waist aren't quite cinched enough. Proper grinds my gears. If you are boyish I'd say this would probably work much better but go a size down to be safe.

Kurt Geiger leather Winchester Chelsea Boots - £50 in the sale

Such a bargain, these were originally £130! Spotted them in T5 when I was down in London but they had sold out in 5s and ordered me one of the last two pairs left to be delivered to the Silverburn store. They're really comfy and shiny and (though you can't tell from the pic) VERY pointy which makes me think/act like I'm one of the Horrors circa 2007. Mind them? Anyway, yeah, love. I'm not convinced they suit me massively cos they come up quite high and cut my wee legs off right at the bit when my calves start to get a bit fat but C'EST LA VIE.

Volkswagen Polo S white - PURE HUNNERS

Yassssss! Actually so excited for this! I've had a lovely wee yellow VW Fox for about 4 years now but it's getting a bit past it and I'm doing more driving with my job so I wanted something a bit more sturdy. The Polo is inbetween the Fox and the Golf and my new wee one is white and has amazing, mind-blowing things like CENTRAL LOCKING and a bit for your IPOD and AUTOMATIC WINDOWS and lots of fun things like that which the Fox, bless it, never had. I pick it up on Friday and I'm so so so so pumped I can't even wait. Jesus, I am so sad.

So there you go, reasons why I've been skint recently. I also went on a mini break last weekend which was SUPPOSED to be a romantic getaway but because my life is ACTUALLY a farcical chick lit plot, THAT fell apart and I ended up going with my awesome pal Laura instead. We stayed at the Isles of Glencoe hotel in Ballachulish next to Glencoe and it was honestly so beautiful, I've never seen scenery like it. Hutch and I are not big OUTDOORSY types but we managed a walking trail thing up a big giant hill and did lots of boozing and sleeping and laughing and eating and it was generally brilliant. So yeah, I guess that counts too cos it wasn't cheap either.

And, not to be a pure cheeseball, but it just goes to show that even if things turn to utter shit it's nothing that good pals, good booze and good times can't fix. FOR. REAL.

JOHN FRIEDA FULL REPAIR

So, I'M SURE many of you will have read a plethora of reviews for the new John Frieda Full Repair line of haircare , but what the hell, I'm jumping aboard the good ship FRIEDA and chucking in my two-pence-worth.

Red. It's a theme.

Back at the beginning of the month I was kindly sent loads of these goodies to give away as prizes at the International Women's Day 2012 event I hosted on behalf of Oxfam. I just want to take a second AGAIN and reiterate how grateful I am for everyone who came along and donated money and to thank Laura from Oxfam for giving us a wee speech about how our money would be going to help. I know I said thanks already but I'm still so grateful there was so much interest in a cause which, as women, I know is one we all feel strongly about.

Aaaaaaaanyway, so yeah, I gave out loads of these Full Repair products in the goodybags and as part of the raffle but I'd never actually tried any of the range... Until now!

I've mentioned before about how unruly my fine hair can be (and I'm still loving secret agent perfecting cream by the way) but normally I just try and deal with it after I've dried and attempted styling it, never really bothering to wonder WHY its so tuggy, frizzy and unmanageable in the first place.

Turns out it's cos it's DAMAGED, PEOPLE! Years of dying, straightening, blow drying, ripping at it with brushes, back combing, hairspraying and generally treating it like crap have caught up on me. Obviously I was thrilled to be handed a range of products that claimed to sort it right out :)

I'll say right now that sadly I didn't love everything in this range, nor have I seen a DRASTIC change in the quality of my hair, but some products did really stand out for me...

Firstly the shampoo. I really, really, really like this. It smells lovely, lathers well and rinses away easily. Shockingly, and don't all faint here, but I don't always like to use a conditioner as my hair can get really easily weighed down and I find it goes up into a top-knot or dohnut bun much easier if it's less slippery. With this shampoo it definitely feels moisturised enough to go without conditioner every time. Also, I don't know if it's just this or a combination of products but I have definitely noticed less hairs falling out in the shower. Like normally the drain is kinda clogged by the end (gross) but not any more. Which is awesome cos losing my hair is like my biggest fear, apart from losing my teeth. I digress... This shampoo is well nice.

Next the deep conditioner. I mean, the normal conditioner is alright, but I kind of prefer to use something like this a few times a week rather than conditioner every day. The best thing about this is that it feels very nourishing but also really light. The weirdest thing is the consistency - it's actually quite runny for being a tub-based deep conditioner (if you're thinking of a think cream you'd be wrong) so it gets kind of messy if you're a BUTTER FINGERS like me and tend to drop things in the shower... But regardless, I really like the shiny, moisturised, swishy effect that doesn't feel slimy or greasy. I use this at night if I know I'm not doing anything the next day so my hair can get a nice rest and by the third day it's got its texture-mojo back for the top knot. If that makes any kind of sense. Which is probably doesn't.

Finally the styling spray. Again, I never use a heat-defence spray or a styling spray. Like ever. But this here is a two in one so it's ALL good and I actually really love it. If, on the rare occasion when I can be bothered to blow dry AND tong my hair into an acceptable style, I use this first, I find the curls stay in for way longer than they normally would. I also find that while I'm blow-drying I can feel some kind of coating on my hair, but in a good way. I don't know if it's all in my head but I feel like I can ACTUALLY FEEL that it's protecting my hair from the heat. It definitely looks smoother and there are WAY less flyaways when I'm done blasting it dry.

#Overall I like the range but in particular I reckon these are the stand-out products. If you have fine, frazzled hair and hate it to feel weighed down by thick creams and conditioners I would definitely recommend these products. If you have thick, very damaged and broken hair I'm not sure how well this would work but you could definitely give it a go. Especially the oil serum which really didn't work for me at all but might be better for someone with very dry hair.

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Also, I just wanted to point out, I was sent these products, along with a few others from the range, for review purposes. On the rare occasion this ever happens (it like never happens) I will always make it clear in the post and OBVIOUSLY I will always be completely honest in my review. If you know me in real life you know that I would never bullshit anyone to keep a company happy. I'm too old and too ugly to play any kind of game like that. Anything you see and read here is the real deal. Peace!