5 Aug 2019

July Favourites - 2019

Here it is, my favourites for the month of July. You can catch my previous favourites posts here:


Beauty

Lush Products: Curly Wurly Shampoo, American Cream Conditioner and Marilyn Hair Treatment

I have been wanting to try out the Lush Hair Products for a while, so over the summer months I decided to treat myself and see how good they are for myself. I had Curly Wurly and American Cream recommended to me by friends, and Marilyn was another product that caught my eye. Here are the products with links available to order them and my thoughts about them individually.


Marilyn Hair Treatment -  Click here


"This hair mask contains an army of shiners and brighteners including lemon, chamomile and saffron infusions, giving the impression your hair has been kissed by the sun. Marilyn can also help blondes (natural or bottled), to maintain their hue that has the potential to become brassy over time. Linseed mucilage softens and lightly moisturizes without weighing hair down. Meanwhile, olive oil increases the tensile strength of hair, meaning it is less prone to breakage. Not just for blondes, anyone wanting a treatment that gives bags of shine and does not weigh down the hair can use this product."

This is a product that I have loved including into my hair care routine. I use it once a week, and apply it before washing my hair. Since my hair is very curly, I brush out the curls as best as possible and section the hair off to make sure there is an even coating of product on my hair. After leaving it on for twenty minuets, I was it out and then apply shampoo and conditioner as normal. 

The hair mask does make my hair feel a lot softer after use and does seem to bring some shine, however, I am unsure if it does anything to the colour itself. However, it has kept my hair nice and healthy over the couple of weeks that I have used it. It also smells amazing - like everything from lush, I just wish it came in a bigger pot! I would not recommend leaving it in for more than an hour though (from experience) as it can make the hair appear to be a little greasy and does not have the nice affect that it has when the product is left on for about twenty minuets. I also would not reccomend using it more than once a week (depending on your hair care routine), since the effects are lasting on my hair until the next week when I use it again, plus it means you are saving product so you won't have to buy more at Lush too often.


Curly Wurly Shampoo - Click Here


"Spirals, kinks and coils - whatever you're flaunting, all curls allowed here! Plunge headfirst into an exotic pool of softening extra virgin coconut oil and let the warm vanilla, vetivert, and benzoin work their comforting wonders. Protein rich linseed infusion, silken tofu and aquafaba strengthen your locks, add softness and encourage shine. Embrace your kinky side and go nuts for moisture boosting coconut and avocado butter for bounce, strength and shine. Gently work through wet hair before thoroughly rinsing away and conditioning as normal. It's time to get your bounce back!"

I heard a lot about this shampoo before I bought it, and wow does it meet my expectations! The shampoo Smells amazing, with flakes of coconut mixed into the formula. The shampoo has added more volume to my hair which is great as it was starting to fall a little bit flat. 

A common complaint I have heard about this product is the flakes of coconut, as people have stated in their reviews that the coconut will not come out of their hair. While I am unsure of the purpose of the coconut in the product, it easily comes out of my hair when I use conditioner or when I comb through my hair. I would recommend using this product in the shower though rather than a bath since there will be lots of coconut floating in the water.

American Cream Conditioner - Click Here

"A strawberry-loving, milkshake-scented cheerleader for silky Hollywood hair. Warning: has been known to bring boys to the yard. Indulge in this rich and divinely perfumed hair conditioner for shiny, addictively sweet locks you'll want to swish all over town. Fresh strawberries gently cleanse the hair, while a splash of orange juice encourages the cuticles to lie flat and reflect more light for seriously gorgeous gloss."

This was another recommendation from a friend, and I have to say I am very pleased with the results I have seen from using this conditioner. It smells amazing, and it lasts in my hair for days after using it. At first I was scared that I had not washed the product out of my hair properly, but after using it a few times, I realised that it was just the scent sticking to my hair. 

I love this product paired with Curly Wurly Shampoo, especially as it helps any rogue coconut flakes come out of my hair after using the shampoo first. It also isn't heavy in my hair after use and leaves it looking incredible in combination with the other products that I use.

Revolution Pride: Proud of my Life Eyeshadow Pallet

"Show your Pride with 32 shades of eyeshadow, including alluring neutrals and splashes of vivid shades. The perfect palette for those who want to show off with pops of colour but dial it back for every day with a range of gorgeous natural shades."

If you truly know me, you will know that I am obsessed with Revolution Make-up and Eyeshadw Pallets, so when I found out that Revolution were creating a Pride Pallet and that they were donating money to The Human Dignity Trust, I had to check out the collection. I bought the Proud of my Life Pallet since it seemed to be the product I liked the most out of the collection and something that I would use the most in my day to day makeup routine.

I love the colours that come in this pallets, there is a lovely mix of brighter colours and more neutral colours which is what I love to see in an eyeshadow pallet. This particular eyeshadow pallet actually has come away with me on Holiday to Orlando Florida, and although I have not used it everyday due to the fear of it melting off in the heat, it has lasted surprisingly well in the weather conditions. 

The Pride Eyeshadow Pallet is available to buy off the Revolution Website here.

Revolution Renaissance Flick eyeliner

"Flick it. Wing it. Draw It. Whatever your eyeliner level, you can achieve any desired look with this black felt tip liquid eyeliner pen. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, the pen glides on seamlessly to complete the perfect flick, wing or graphic eyeliner look. A luxurious addition to any makeup bag with its unique rose gold pen design."

Usually I use a Liquid Eyeliner rather than a pen, but I thought that I would try out something different when I go on Holiday as I would need to get ready quickly to go out - which means there's no time to redo eyeliner wings if they go wrong!

I have not used an eyeliner pen since I was about 15, but this is a really great quality pen compared to the ones I used to use. The eyeliner colour comes out very bold and the line drawn is nice and straight. It is very easy to use and would be perfect for anyone starting out with eyeliner who may be a little bit intimidated by liquid eyeliner. 

The Renaissance Flick eyeliner is available to buy off the Revolution Website here.


Shopping

Instax Mini 9 Polaroid Camera and Case

 The Instax Mini 9 camera is something that I had bought to get some cute snapshots of me and my family while we were on Holiday in Orlando, Florida. I love how cute the camera itself looks and have wanted a Polaroid camera for quite a while, so it seemed to be the right time to by myself an instant camera.
Obviously I could not purchase the camera without buying myself a case to put the camera in, and I have to say that this case is really cute! I have received many compliments from carrying it around. It even has a little pouch inside to store all of your Polaroids after you have taken a picture. Furthermore, the top of the case is detachable, so you don't even need to take the camera out of the case to be able to take a photo.

I bought my camera off Amazon, since I had a discount code that allowed me to take £10 off the original price. When looking at the different bundles and colours, I noticed that it was cheaper to get a green Instax Camera with 20 free shots rather than getting, say, a pink camera, so it was definitely worth getting the green camera since instant film is rather costly. 

The camera is available to buy here, and the case is available to buy here.

Floral Doc Martens


I have a terrible habit of buying pre-loved items, but I wanted some patterned Doc Martens and these were too good to turn down. They are canvas and are a bit more like sand shoes than the traditional Doc Marten bots, but they are brilliant for the summer weather. They feel just as supportive as the leather Doc Marten boots and it has only taken me a couple of days to get used to them as opposed to buying brand new ones which take months to break in. Plus they were the same good quality shoe for a fraction of the price because somebody has worn them before me. Next time you need to hop for an outfit on a budget, do check out charity shops and eBay, you will find some bargains! Plus its better for the environment!


Floral Dress: New Look



I am absolutely obsessed with this midi dress that I bought from New Look. I was skeptical when I first picked it up, since the fabric pattern is a bit of a weird one, but I loved the design of the dress so I thought, why not give it a try. I am so glad that I did because this dress has become one of my favourite holiday pieces. It looks so unusual and does make me look a bit like a really young grandma, but maybe that is my aesthetic, don't judge me for my life choices!


The whole style of this dress sort of gives me Disney Princess vibes, I love the lace up front on it, and I also love that it is of a longer style (since fair skin burns easy! Us fair skinned people need some coverage from the sun now and then!). It also came in the same style with block pastel colours, but I decided I liked a bit of pattern in my life! Also, who could say no to a sale rack bargain.


New Bedding 


Home-ware has sort of become a new obsession of mine ever since I moved out of my Parents house, and my room in the student house I will move into in September has a double bed, meaning I had to say goodbye to the single bed-sheet I loved so much (can be seen on the Last Days at University post, link to the post is here. I am genuinely sad that I could not find these bed covers in double bed form). However, these new bed-sheets are so pretty that I have bought! This isn't a photo of my room (unfortunately, its so pretty!) since I have not moved into my new house and the bed sheets are currently packed away, but trust me, they look just as pretty as they do in the photo.

I have a love for things with a vintage vibe to them, so this patchwork quilt is right up my alley! Plus it goes with the accessories that I had in my room in student halls, which is an added bonus! I will make sure to update you guys on how they look in my new room when I move in (which as I am writing this it is 6 weeks till I move it, it is probably a little bit less than that though by the time this has been posted!)



Movies

The Favourite


I love Emma Stone, and I love period movies, so this seemed to be the perfect movie to watch! I loved the story that it told and the focus on gay women, and how one character manipulated another character for power. I didn't think it was possible to dislike a character Emma Stone would play, but damn I hated her character in this (definitely in a good way though, the acting was spot on and she was written really well). It was a weird movie, but it was a weird movie I enjoyed!

Spider-man: Far From Home (Spoiler Warning)

Keeping up with the MCU, I went to see Spider-man: Far From Home at the Cinema and it has easily become one of , if not, my favourite Spiderman movies. Before this movie, the Amazing Spiderman Duology were my favourite Spiderman films, and although I did enjoy Homecoming, I was still a little salty that they had decided to discontinue the Andrew Garfield Series. This movie changed it all.

I love Tom Holland as Spiderman in this film, he was okay in the previous installments, but this movie is where he truly began to feel like Spiderman/Peter Parker to me. Also the appearence of (not) Nick Furry was a nice surprise (I avoid trailers so I had no idea what this movie was going to be before I went in to see it.) 

 Also, Mysterio was such a good villain for this movie! I have known of the character before this movie, but didn't really know too much about him, so during the first half of the movie, I was wondering how the hell this guy was supposed to be bad. And then I realised. It's so weird that a normal guy could have such a huge impact on Spiderman with a couple of projections and no real power, and it a concept that I have really fallen in love with. I will be disappointed if Marvel have permanently killed him off. 

The relationship between Peter and MJ in this movie was brilliant too, it reminded me of a lot my awkward teenage relationships which was a great thing! It felt realy natural and realistic, and it was cute to see them get together in the end.
Obviously I got the traditional slushie (RIP Tango Iceblasts) and popcorn to watch the movie, which obviously is always a favourite, and it was a really good day! I am really looking forward to the next movie we see Spiderman in, especially after the end scene!

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

This is the first time I watched this movie in a while, and I forgot how good it is. I love how this movie and the first film flip the spy genre on its head and completely break the conventions put in place. Its things a simple as the protagonist staying committed to the same girl and having a British accent while the villain has an American accent.

The fight scenes are beautifully shot and edited together, it is really impressive an really pulls you into the action. It is unlike any fight scene I have seen in any other movie. At the same time, the film has a ridiculous comic book vibe about it which adds to the fun of the movie.

This is up there as one of my favourite film series, and I cannot wait to see the third installment when it comes out in cinemas later this year.


Games

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild



I've had this game since it came out in 2017 and have played through and finished the story mode and some of the DLC. But I have not 100% completed the game, and going back to it after not playing it for a while has reminded me of just how beautiful this game it. 

The shrines have now been 100%completed, and I have completed two levels of the sword trials. The mechanics in this game are outstanding, and the weather changing and the ragdoll modes still amaze me to this day. 

A fantastic game to play overall, and I am really looking forward to being able to play the sequel!


TV/Shows

Avenue Q

This is the second time this year that Avenue Q is making an appearance on my Favourites list, rather than it being a University Production, this is the Production that is currently touring the UK. I saw Avenue Q at Sunderland Empire and was very impressed!

What was really mind-blowing to me was how small the cast was and how many roles they each took on. I know Avenue Q is a rather small cast anyway, but these actors were playing 2-3 roles each, and they all did a fantastic job. It was a hilarious night that I will never forget, and if you do get a chance to see it before the Tour ends, make sure you get tickets!

Escape the Night: Seasons 1-3

With Escape the Night Series 4 coming up and the previous series being made free on youtube for a limited time, I binge watched the first three series of Escape the Night, which is one of my favourite series, despite not really being up to date with a lot of youtubers. I love escape rooms and murder mysteries, and this show does a brilliant job of creating a story and keeping you engaged whilst also being funny at the same time.

Season 1

This season has my favourite costumes. I love the 1920's studying it throughout my time in my history classes. I love how these costumes look so much like the 1920's fashion style, but yet also maintain some sort of modern look to them. 

The cast is fantastic and I really didn't know who to route for out of everyone in this series, even the outside actors are fantastic. One character that really stood out to me was Sarah the Maid. I love how she maintained mystery and creepiness throughout the season, and I remember hoping that this would not be a one off show when I first watched it back in 2016.

Season 2



Again, I really loved the costumes in this season, and I don't think there is one person that looks out of place. I feel like the introduction of the lieutenants limited the story in a way in this series, but I loved the character of the Sorceress and how powerful and intimidating she seems. Although in my opinion, this is the weakest season, I still thoroughly enjoyed this season, and with Joey dying, it just proved that anything can happen in this show. 

Season 3

This season in my personal favourite season of Escape the night. In my opinion it has the best cast and the best acting - which apparently many of the youtubers in this season has a theatrical background, which really shows - plus this season seemed to raise a lot of the stakes for the show. 

Although I am not as much of a big fan of the costumes in this season, I feel like they really improved on the lieutenants in this season and really brought a lot more emotion to the show.

This show is almost like a guilty pleasure to me, its something that I'm probably out of the target audience for but I still think it is fantastic. There are great twists in each season and many baffling puzzles. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next season of Escape the Night. 

Other

Butterfly World

A place where I had wanted to visit for the majority of my childhood; I'm glad to say that I finally got there! I had so much fun wandering around butterfly world and getting to see all the animals that lived there! Being completely honest, it is probably somewhere I wouldn't go back to, as it is one of those places where if youv'e seen it once you've seen it all, but it was a very enjoyable day!

Unicorn Embroidery


I have had so much fun getting back into textiles and embroidery. The boredom of being off from Uni led me to this creation, which is very pretty!


Well, that is it for my July Favourites! Do have a look at my other favourites posts and keep an eye out for any future posts.

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