Last week it was time to make a decision, to cut or not to cut? I am talking about my hair, do you know that feeling, just a day or two before your appointment at the hairdressers and you think I really would love to chop it all off and have a new start. But then the other voice in your head is shouting out loud, saying don't do it just get a little trim.

Well I didn't listen to that shouting voice, or maybe it was just the hairdresser that really convinced me to cut off a good 3-4 inches. To my surprise I really like it, I love how thick and bouncy my hair feels. Now that all of my old dye is out of my hair and I am an all natural again, I feel like its time to really take care of my hair and have a new beginning!

As I was chatting to the hairdresser asking her what I could do to get some much needed moisture back into my hair she recommended me the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. I have heard great things about this mask and tried a sample size before, so I thought I would buy a bigger size and upgrade my hair routine and become serious about looking after it.

So far I have tried it twice and I am really impressed with the results. Its a pre shampoo treatment that you work into wet hair with your fingertips, or I like to use the Tangle Teezer. Then you cover your hair with a plastic cap, in my case it was a plastic Salisbury's bag as I didn't have a plastic cap (need to get one!) and leave for 10-20 min. I personally think its better if you leave it in for at least one hour to see better results or even sleep in it if your hair is super thirsty and needs moisture. Then all that its left to do is to rinse it out and wash your hair like you normally would with shampoo and conditioner.

Afterwards you are left with super soft and bouncy hair that has some amazing shine. The only think that I was hoping for and this treatment did not do was to control my frizziness. It was not as frizzy as it normally be but my hair was not frizz free ( a good blow dry sorted that out). I though I would let you know if you are looking for a frizz taming treatment. But non the less I still love how this product transformed my tiered and dry hair into some lushes locks, I am completely sold on it. I might even buy the 500l bottle, I wouldn't want to be without this stuff!!

LITTLE TRIP TO SPACE NK

So apparently I can not go to town without spending a little in my favourite shop SPACE NK. I don't know what it is that lures me in but once I am in, its hard to escape all the amazing products that they sell. And the sales assistant must have smelled that I didn't need anything specific but still wanted something and as she caught me in the hair aisle, she started talking and I started buying.

She told me about this amazing brand Percy and Reed and what they are most famous for is their shampoos and conditioners for super fine hair like mine. The one product that really stood out to me for its uniqueness is the Lovingly Light Foaming Treatment Mask, its not like a normal mask that has heavy oils and waxes in their masks, no this one is a light foam that works just like a normal mask but doesn't weigh your hair down.

With it I also got the Bountifully Bouncy Volumising Shampoo, which claims to deeply cleans your hair and leaves it with more body than Miss M. Monroe!! Sounds all good to me!

I can't wait to try these products out and see if they really do the job they promis. Have you tried any products from this brand, if you have I would love to hear what you think!!

YSL YOUTH LIBERATOR SERUM FOUNDATION

Here is what YSL have been saying about their new Youth liberator Serum Foundation!

This product is a combination of the technical expertise of YSL SKINSCIENCE committee and the innovation of Yves Saint Laurent colour team. It revives the skin's youthful brightness and enhances the complexion's natural colour tone. The skin looks smoother with a healthy glow. Dull zones are neutralised creating a more uniform complexion.

So I am sure you all have heard about this new foundation that YSL has come out with last month. The YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation is a hybrid of foundation, it combines some key ingredients that you would normally see in a serum with your everyday foundation. If you like me and like to wear your foundation on a day to day basis and feel guilty about not giving your skin a break, this is meant to make you feel a little bit better about it! I am not quite sure if it can life up to all the anti wrinkle claims but one thing is true. It is a wonderful foundation!!

This was a love at first sight ( or first try better) kind of affair. It comes in this very stylish glass bottle with a black lid and has a pump, making it ever so easy to use and not waist any product, mess free!!

I like to use one and a half pump, applying a little bit more on the areas where I need more coverage but if you haven't got problems with your skin, one pump would be more than enough as its really easy to blend into the skin.

One of the main things that I love about this foundation is that it's a medium coverage but it does not look heavy on my skin. Its like the best of both worlds, you get a flawless complexion and at the same time look natural! It also gives a nice glow without making you look greasy, even on my oily skin.

The only thing that I would say that is a bit of a shame, is the colour choices that it comes in. I was matched on a YSL counter and the lightest shade was to light on me and the shade that I bought in the end ( B30 Beige) is just a little bit to dark for me at this moment. I can still make it work but I wish they had a shade in between.

It last on me for about 5 hours, not the longest I have seen some other foundations can do but good enough for my oily skin and nothing a bit of powder can not sort out. It would last even longer on a dry or normal skin!

Overall I am really loving this foundation and I have to say its the best one yet!! I just love the finish this foundation gives and that its so easy to apply, it has made my morning routine pure bliss and I love how luxurious it feels to apply it on my face!!

Have you tried this foundation yet? I would love to know what you think about it!

HAIR AND SKIN SUPPLEMENTS

When it comes to hair and nail health I am definitely one of those people that are not blessed in that department. My hair takes forever to grow an inch and when it does its very thin and fragile. Same thing one the nail front, they are always brittle and peel ever so easily. It really can get me down some times especially when I see pretty girls with thick long luscious hair that goes all the way down to their waist. Oh how I long for that look but if I am honest with myself I don't think I will every be one of those girls. When ever my hair gets past my bra strap it starts splitting and cries out to be cut no matter what I do.

But one thing that I have been doing for over 1 year now is to take vitamins. And not just one multivitamin, no I take a whole bunch to suit my needs.

I know that some of you probably think that I doesn't really matter what you take and that is simply down to genes but I have seen a real difference in my hair and nail growth since I started taking these on a regular basis. My hair went from growing half an inch per month to growing a full inch and my nails have never been as strong as they have been now. You can't fault that!? And another little side effect of taking all these is that I haven't had a cold or flu in such a long time and in my mind its all down to eating healthily and taking those supplements. I know that taking zinc can make a huge difference to your immune system and I certainly have seen those benefits. Are you interested now? Here is what I have been taking.

Biotin is necessary for cell growth and the metabolism of fat and amino acids and its often called "food for the hair" as it can increases the rate of growth in hair and nails.

Folic Acid like biotin is a member of the B vitamin family and has demonstrated lots of benefits in a variety of areas. Folic acid is necessary for the healthy development of our cells, a healthy brain and protection from cell damage that can lead to future cancers. Just one of the many benefits is to increase the growth of hair as it promotes cell turnover and health of new cells.

Zinc

Many people know about zinc for its immune boosting properties but this mineral is actually a wonder of health benefits. Zinc is important because it is found in every tissue in the body and is directly involved in cell division. It is a powerful antioxidant, helping to prevent cancer and the maintenance of ideal hormone levels. It accelerates the renewal of the skin cells and an insufficiency can result in hair loss and hair that looks thin and dull. There are also a number of shampoos which contain zinc to help with dandruff.

Silica is a trace mineral, which means the body only needs a very small amount of it to stay healthy. However this small amount is essential for many parts of the body such as our bones,teeth, skin, tendons, blood vessels, nails and hair. It is essential to build healthy bone tissue and collagen, the framework which makes the body "stick" together! Silica has been know for its help to strengthen nails, hair and keep your skin radiant and healthy looking!

Skin Hair Nails Supplement
If you don't what to take all the other vitamins separately a good skin, hair and nail supplements is a great alternative. It covers most of the basic needs that your body needs to grow strong and healthy hair and can be a great start into taking supplements. I started with this supplements but soon found out that there was more that I could do to improve my overall health of my hair and nails perfect if you don' like swallowing a tone of pills.

One last thing that I must stress is that I by no means know everything about vitamins and minerals and this is just what I personally like to take. If you need more help with choosing supplements for you, I would always advise you to ask a chemist first. They often can help and pin point you to one mineral or vitamin that helps with whatever you want to improve. I for myself like to go to Holland and Barrett, I think they have a wide selection and number 1 class quality ingredients in their products.

NOVEMBER FAVOURITES

Again a month has come and gone in a blink of an eye and its time for me to do my monthly favourites. This month all I could think about was to get ready for Christmas! I know its a little early to start stressing about Christmas presents but when you have a tone of people to buy for and also have to send some parcels back home, there is no time to leave Christmas shopping a last minute affair. One year I send a parcel off to late and it got to Germany 2 weeks after Christmas, not a good look!

But this year I am right on track with December free to enjoy the Christmas season with the children and also get some festive home baking done.

But now lets get one with what products I most loved this November!!

Number one product of the month has to be my new YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation.I looove this foundation. I heard a lot of people rave about this foundation and was super intrigued to try it out myself and was completely blown over. I have tried lots of foundation before and thought I tied some really good ones but nothing can quite compare to this one. It just glides on effortlessly and give me a that flawless complexion with a healthy glow that I have been after for so long. I only have been using it for about a week but I had to have it in my monthly favourites( watch out for a full review coming soon) and I am sure you will see this keep on popping up in a few post of mine.

Next up is Clinique Take The Day Of Cleansing Balm. A lovely lightweight, perfume free cleansing balm that quickly dissolves make up and removes even the most stubborn waterproof mascaras. Using this for a whole month straight has made my skin behave and not break out as much as it normally does. I think its down to this cleanser as its really gentle to my sensitive skin. I like to do a double cleanse with it each night and normally when I remove my make up and I go in with a toner afterwards I can still see make up on the pad but not with this baby!

And that brings me to the next product that has helped my skin stay calm. The Clarins Gentle Exfoliator. First up I want to say that its not as good as the Alpha H Liquid Gold that I love so much, which made me a little disappointed but after trying it for a whole month every night I have to say that this gave me that glow and fresh look that I loved so much with the liquid gold. The difference is that the Liquid Gold give you quick results but you can not use it every day as it is to harsh on the skin but the Clarins toner is a really nice gentle everyday toner that give you the same good results if you use it on a regular basis.

Another skincare item that I have been obsessed with this month is the Una Brennan Tea Flower Deep Clean Facial Scrub. This scrub has been my wake me up dose in the morning, with its lovely cooling and fresh scent its the perfect start into a new day. And after using it you are left with squeaky clean skin that feels fresh and plump.

November was kind of the month of skincare but I do have one make up product that also made it into this month favourites. And its an old favourite of mine that I will be sad to see come to its end of its life. I am talking about Mac Viva Glam Cyndi Lipstick. Its that kind of red lipstick that you can easily wear on a day to day basis. It has slight pink undertones and goes super nice with my kind of skin colour. But it is coming to its end and only was a limited edition, leaving me on a new hunt for the perfect everyday berry red lipstick that I can where during the day and not look like I tried to much!

Don't get me wrong I happily wear a  full on red lip during the day but that can get me the odd look here and there when I drop off the children at their school.