Take Cover This Autumn @ MyStudentStyle

Read my article on the must have coats you'll need this autumn and winter over at MyStudentStyle.co.uk or click HERE :) Enjoy!

Products worth the hype | Mini reviews

Real Techniques Brushes - These brushes feel like everything i've ever been looking for when it comes to makeup application. They're super soft, leave no brush strokes on the face, don't malt and leave skin looking pretty much flawless. Single brushes retail at around the £10 mark which is a bargain when compared to the price of brushes from brands such as MAC when the quality is just as good. 

MAC Lipsticks - Perhaps the product that MAC is most famous for, the brands lipsticks come head and shoulders above any others i've tried. Depending on the finish these lipsticks do not budge and I rarely find myself having to top up throughout the day. Albeit slightly pricey (they retail at £15 now) I believe that they are definitely worth the money and their shade range is unbeatable. 

Esteé Lauder Double Wear Foundation - My number 1 holy grail makeup product and the one that I think I will repurchase until the day I die. The coverage is thick and heavy so if you usually opt for a light coverage foundation I would avoid this, however it will erase any imperfections and leave your skin looking flawless. A little product goes a long way and once on the skin it literally does not budge making it perfect for long days and nights out. Love it, cannot fault it and definitely worth every penny!

La-Roche Posay Effaclar Duo - A product that I only recently purchased but have already fallen in love with. The gel-based formula moisturizes into the skin seamlessly and leaves your skin feeling light and not caked in product. The skin is left feeling super smooth, and although I don't have 'severe imperfections' my skin is by no means perfect and I can already see improvements after only a few days. Heard this is also a great base for makeup and at only £13 is an absolute steal for a skincare product that actually works! 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Perhaps the most raved about concealer out there, Collection lasting perfection concealer is definitely worth the hype. The consistency is pretty thick and can look 'cakey' if you apply too much but covers any spots or dark circles pretty much flawlessly. One of my all time favourite drug store products and for someone who was never a big concealer wearer, this product has definitely converted me into using it daily. 

Hair Oils - One of my all time favourite hair products i've ever used is the healing oil treatment by Macadamia Hair. Macadamia oil (and all hair oils in general) leave the hair feeling conditioned and soft. If you're in two minds about splurging on a hair oil - they're not the cheapest of products - i'd say do it. All hair oils are worth the investment as they improve the condition of over-styled, coloured and dry and damaged hair brilliantly.  

My weekend at V festival 2013

image from instagram.com/bethcheevers

(Disclaimer - this post is very light hearted and nothing more than a fun way for me to re-live and reminisce on a hilarious weekend. Please don't take it too seriously. That aside, I hope you enjoy reading about my weekend as much as I enjoyed being a part of it.)

Finally the day was here; one of the most anticipated weekends of my year had arrived and on 16th August me and three of my closest friends packed a suitcase full of necessities and headed three hours down south for V festival. The journey down to Weston Park was a car crash short of a nightmare. A journey which should have taken 2 and a half hours, in fact ended up taking us nine (NINE!!) and after setting off at 9am, we finally got parked up at 6pm. Thank you traffic, we owe you!

We finally found a pitch after the dreaded trek through the campsite with all our stuff (let's not talk about that! I need to learn how not to over pack) and it's safe to say that we were all definitely ready for the weekend to begin. Deciding on an early night - it's weird how tired sitting in a car for half a day can make you - we settled down for the night at 1am and soon realised that the concept of a peaceful nights sleep was definitely easier said than done. To the boy a few tents down with the megaphone chanting about police until 5am, i'd like to thank you. 

Saturday morning soon arrived and what better way to start the day than with a can of fruit cider. If you can't do it at a festival, when can you?! After that, it was time to explore. We headed down to the campsite, had a mooch around the stalls and soon decided it was time to head back up to the tent and refuel ready for a day of music. 

A few (ahem) shots and cocktails ('on the beach' - hilarious!) later we headed down to the arena, complete with bottles of alcohol hidden around out bodies with no other intention than to have the best time. A personal highlight? A friend - naming absolutely no names -  falling over the tent and not being able to get up due to the alcohol stashed down her pants. I could tell already that this weekend was going to be a laugh a minute. 

All in all we managed to sneak through a bottle and a half of shots, not before we had to take shelter under the cover of a burger van for five minutes while the rain passed (we are girls, after all!). While this may not seem much when shared between four girls, it didn't even take half of the bottle before we were feeling tipsy. I like to blame the fact that we'd barely eaten and not at all that all four of us are cheap dates and ridiculous lightweights! Still, that didn't stop us heading to the arena bar and stocking up on yet more ciders - honestly, at £4.50 a pop you'd think we were made of money - and by the time Olly Murs hit the stage we were, well, drunk! Shout out to the girl with the bag of wine who shared it with us, also! Think I perhaps got more down my chin than I did in my mouth but still, it's the thought that counts. The clouds had parted, the sun was shining and spirits were high.

Singing and dancing our way through his set, Olly Murs put on a brilliant show and definitely kept us in the best mood. We even managed to make up some dance moves (however basic they may have been!) that would go on to define the weekend. These included the 'welly dance', which basically involved us sticking one leg in the air and shaking it about, and pretending to pump an air bed and spread bird seed. Well, I did say they were basic (I wish I was joking - the looks we must have got).

The rest of the day pretty much continued like this until we felt ourselves sobering up and so headed back up to the tent to stock back up on alcohol. Many ciders, shots and some kind of schnapps, woo woo and malibu cocktail later (thank you, rebecca!) we decorated our faces with neon paint - probably not perfecting it as well as we would have liked - and headed back down to the arena ready for the headlining acts. 

By the time Kings of Leon were ready to hit the stage we were all rather merry. For whatever reason, we thought cracking a bunch of discarded glow sticks we'd found on the floor so we could decorate our bodies with fluorescent ink would be a good idea. In turn, I managed to aim it directly in my left eye (OW I THINK I'VE GONE BLIND. IS MY EYE NEON PURPLE?!) and we also managed to annoy everyone around us by getting more ink on their clothes than our own bodies (DON'T WORRY, IT WASHES OUT!). Oops! I also thought asking, who was possible the best looking man at the festival, how tall he was would be the best idea - it wasn't - however, I do pride myself on not fainting as the mere sight of him until after he had left! 

Kings of Leon put on an amazing set and while using a glow stick as a mustache has its advantages, the novelty soon wears off and they were thrown into the crowd within 10 minutes. And before we knew it, it was time to head back to the tent and prepare for the second day of music.  

Sunday rolled around and we awoke to bright blue skies - a relief after the rain and grey skies of the day before - I even managed to burn, I thank my ginger skin for that. After another cider and cereal bar breakfast and cracking out some of my better innuendos ('I like them big and chunky' 'just bite it and blow, that'll do it' - make of them what you will) we prepared ourselves for the day ahead. The day passed by with ease and as the night started to draw in and after forcing the most disgusting cheap amaretto and warm cranberry down ourselves we made our way into the arena ready to see the queen (Beyonce). 

Jessie J kicked off the night and was my biggest surprise of the weekend. Admittedly not the biggest fan, she managed to get me jumping around and making an even bigger fool of myself than I already had the day before, while she insulted all her haters in the crowd - harsh, but I guess she had a point. 

The Script were up next and definitely know how to get a crowd going. After being joined on stage by Labrinth for a rendition of 'Earthquake' and 'Hall of Fame' (a lot less awkward to watch than that 'The Voice' performance), Danny proceeded to join the crowd and then ring a girl's ex and haul abuse at him down the phone telling him how little he was worth. Brilliant!

A quick toilet stop later and it was nearly time for Queen B to hit the stage - or so we thought. After a chorus of boo's, Beyonce finally started her set 35 minutes late. Well, it was worth it. Kicking off her set with 'Who Run The World' Beyonce turned Weston Park into one big party and I didn't stop dancing (yes, the welly dance was included) until she hit her last note. 

The weekend had barely finished and I already missed it and as we made our way back to our collapsed tent (I still don't know how it managed to stay up so long, us girls are not cut out for camping life) a serious case of festival blues were already starting to hit. 

The walk back to the car park the morning after was slightly better than the one on the friday, however the car journey back was just as traumatic as the one there - for a group of people that live in the north east, I don't know why the sat nav decided to direct us south west... I think it's best if we leave it there. 

Despite some things not exactly going to plan, i'd do it all over again in a heartbeat and I already can't wait for next year. Bring on V FEST 2014!!

Hello jumper season! @ MyStudentStyle

Jumper season is upon us! Read my article on all things knitwear over at MyStudentStyle.co.uk or click HERE to be taken directly to the piece. I hope you like it.

My top five festival accessories

First things first, if you're not yet bored of my festival posts then congratulations; but it's less than two weeks until my first festival of the year and my excitement levels are reaching an all time high! 
We all know that as the years go on festivals are, and to the disgust of many, centering as much around the clothes as they are the music. However, as much as looking the part at a festival is important, the little extra bits that accompany you can add that ever needed edge. Which is why i've made a list of the top five festival accessories that will make your experience that extra bit more fun. 

1. Hip flasks

hip flasks @ urban outfitters

Hip flasks are a great way to carry your poison of choice around the campsites at festivals, and even greater for sneaking alcohol into the arena without being found out by security - pop them down your wellies or in the back of your pants and they'll be none the wiser (you didn't hear it from me!). Retailers such as Topshop, River Island and ebay offer a great selection of hip flasks, however it's Urban Outfitters for me that have the edge. Coming in a variety of great styles including those that feature a bunch of light hearted slogans such as 'Everybody Loves A Drunk Girl' and others covered in glitter or floral patterns, Urban Outfitters are guaranteed to have a hip flask that suits you. 

2. Novelty glasses

novelty glasses @ ebay

Everyone loves to look good at their festival and while ray-bans are the go to glasses of choice for many, adding a bit of fun to your outfit with a pair of crazy, novelty glasses is a great idea and shows everyone that you have a brilliant sense of humor. Again, urban outfitters offer a cool range, however, with a quick ebay search page after page of different styles of glasses are available, and from as little as 99p, a pair of novelty glasses make for a fun and cheap extra to your festival wardrobe. 

3. Slogan flask/glass

slogan cups @ urban outfitters

Sitting around your campsite throughout the day chilling with friends preparing for the night ahead is a great way to relax at a festival and these slogan cups are a great way to look cool whilst staying refreshed - and they make a great change from the standard plastic cup. Urban Outfitters (again!) is brilliant for this sort of thing and stock cups with a variety of light hearted, funny slogans such as "It's Just Water I Swear" (above) and "One Thirsty Bitch". Granted the slogans won't appeal to everyone, and at £12 a pop the price tag may appear a tad too expensive for something that will be used mainly for only one weekend of the year. If this is the case for you, why not head to hobbycraft and pick up a pack of 'american style red cups' for less than £1.50 for 8! A perfect solution. 

4. Hair/face accessories

 feather ear cuffs @ river island

Accessorizing my hair and face a festivals is perhaps one of my favourite parts (music aside, obviously), and as the years go on the high street is catering more and more towards this aspect. Floral hair garlands are perhaps the most obvious accessory of choice for festival goers; they top off an outfit perfectly while concealing less-than-perfect hair after, in my case, day one! However, high street stores such as River Island are stocking a bunch of feather ear cuffs that add a brilliant touch to your festival attire. My favourite has to be the 'gold tone feather ear cuff' (above centre), however any cuff would be a brilliant way to add the edge to your outfit. Similarly, neon paint is a great way to decorate and add patterns to your face. Neon paint is usually available at the festivals stalls for around £4 and (usually) available in 5 colours allow you to create a number of different styles and patterns.

5. Disposable camera

Perhaps i'm cheating a bit as a camera isn't necessarily classed as an 'accessory', but a camera is a must have for a festival and I always opt for a disposable over a digital. I've been a fan of using disposables at festivals for around three years as I think the outcome looks a lot better and suits the style of festivals down to a T. Plus, there's no need to worry about it getting lost, broke or stolen. Disposable cameras average at no more than £10 per camera, an absolute fraction of the price compared to digital cameras, making it easy to not worry about throwing them into your bag with worry of them breaking, and making it no great loss if if gets broken or left somewhere accidentally. I love capturing the atmosphere of a festival and it's great to look back on your memories; sometimes too much happens that it's hard to remember every single detail! Still, whether you use a disposable, a digital, or your phone camera, capturing your time at a festival is essential. 

Moroccan Oil vs Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

moroccan oil treatment and macadamia oil healing oil treatment

The thought of putting oil onto your hair is probably a concept that scares many, however over the past 18 months the popularity of hair oil treatments, and in particular 'Moroccan Oil', have absolutely soared. Hair oils are designed specifically to nourish the hair, make them silky, soft and repair any damage done to the ends.

Perhaps the most popular of the hair oils is Moroccan Oil. Moroccan Oil contains argan oil, a plant oil which is valued for its ability to moisturize and nourish the hair, and immediately absorbs into the hair to enhance shine and give the hair an extra bit of conditioning. 

I received Moroccan Oil as a christmas gift last year and instantly fell in love with it. After washing my hair I pumped a coin sized amount of the product into my hand and smoothed it through the bottom quarter of my hair. The results were amazing; my hair was left shiny and felt the softest it had in years. Seven months down the line and i've even noticed a considerable amount of growth in my hair, something that i've struggled with since 2010! 

The beauty of Moroccan Oil, and hair oils in general, is that they can be used on both wet and dry hair. If, after a couple of days of your hair being washed your hair is looked rather dry, dull and limp, simply pump some oil into the palm of your hand and smooth through your hair for instant revival! And the best part? Unlike what many may think, Moroccan Oil doesn't leave your hair looking greasy or feeling sticky to touch, just smooth, silky and everything you could dream of your hair being. 

Another popular hair oil is Macadamia's healing oil treatment. I've purchased Macadamia products in the past and always been thrilled with the results on my hair; the way they left my hair smooth, tangle free and shiny was amazing. Macadamia hair combines two of the world's most luxury oils to create the ultimate hair products. The Macadamia healing oil treatment provides everything you would want in a hair oil, however an added bonus with this specific hair oil is that it reduces drying time by 50%, preventing unnecessary heat damage to your hair!

The consistency of Macadamia healing oil treatment is slightly more runny than Moroccan Oil, however is still thick enough to control and run through your hair with ease. Also, unlike Moroccan Oil, only one pump of product was needed to smooth through my hair, whereas I needed two-three with Moroccan Oil. The Macadamia packaging also trumps Moroccan Oil, in my opinion. Available in their signature green and brown bottles, the Macadamia packaging is stylish yet practical, and with a pump that twists to close, makes the product travel friendly by preventing any spilling or leaking away. 

Both products smell amazing and leave your hair with that 'professional' smell that you get after a visit to the hairdressers, however if I had to chose between the two, Macadamia has my vote!

Leaving my hair that extra bit softer than Moroccan Oil, Macadamia healing oil treatment also leaves my hair looking more sleek and split end free than Moroccan Oil, and while I can't comment on how much it speeds up hair growth, I can't see it hindering it any time soon. An added bonus comes with the price of Macadamia oil. For an extra 25ml and almost £6 less in some instances, Macadamia healing oil treatment has it all and has definitely overtook Moroccan Oil in one of my favourite hair products of all time. 

Make your own festival headband

my home made festival headband. image from instagram

With perhaps the most well known and greatest music festival in the world coming to an end tonight, Glastonbury showcased some of it's best fashion, and in particular, headgear to date. Attending a festival of my own at the end of the summer, it got me thinking as to what my headgear of choice would be this year. I've always been a fan of floral garlands/headbands/crowns and after my ever loved purchase way back in 2010 from Leeds festival sadly started to fall to pieces, and with none below the price of £30 grabbing my attention in the slightest, I decided to take matters into my own hands and make one of my own. 

This year I thought bigger would definitely be better. Despite only attending a two day festival, my hair has to last the best part of four days without getting greasy; this is perhaps the greatest challenge of all during my festival weekend. So, with a plan of action to find the biggest flowers I could to conceal my less-than-perfect hair after day one, I headed to my local hobbycraft. 

Making my own headband, admittedly with the help from my younger sister - who in my eyes is a complete arts and crafts genius, but perhaps that's just because i'm so embarrassingly bad I struggle to draw a stick man - wasn't as much of a struggle as I thought. I picked up two bunches of perfect for summer coral coloured roses, each of which contained five roses, and one 10 pack of smaller white roses. 

Knowing how to start to headband was possibly the most difficult part, however in the end we chose to take one large rose (each of these come with attached sticks which ultimately joined together to make the headband base) and attach three smaller roses onto its stem next to it. To attach the second coral rose we basically entwined its stem to the stem of the existing rose and started to build onto it, adding a selection of smaller white roses as we went. 

The beauty of making your own festival crown not only lies in knowing that you will be the only one at your chosen festival with it, but also in the fact that you can design it however you like. I chose to break up each large coral rose with either two or three white roses and continue in that pattern. As you can see from the image above, a small space where the crown is attached is left blank, this comes down to the fact that I have a huge moon head and we didn't buy enough flowers to fill the full band. However, extra roses can be added with ease by simply wrapping their accompanying wire stems around the base and superglueing them into place where necessary. 

To bring the crown together I simply twisted the wire stems of the last rose together with the stem of the first rose used and superglued it appropriately. This ensured that it was completely secure and wouldn't follow the same path as my Leeds festival headband and start to break apart. 

Personalise your crown to suit your personality by adding glitter, ribbon and extra flowers in either a different style or colour. The sky is the limit when it comes to designing your floral headband and when it comes to festivals, the crazier the better!

(The time taken to make my headband was around 30 minutes and cost under £8 in total)

Perfect playsuits

playsuits from river island and topshop

My summer clothing item of choice for the past two years has definitely been a playsuit, and it seems this year is no different. The playsuit has been a staple in my wardrobe for years now and I own probably double the amount of a normal person. If in doubt, I buy a playsuit.

The reason I love playsuits so much comes down solely to their versatility; a playsuit can be worn in so many different ways and on so many different occasions and I tend to opt for a playsuit while i'm on holiday. Dressed up with a big watch, a statement necklace and a pair of jeweled sandals (and a tan), the playsuit is the perfect holiday outfit - not too dressy, however smart enough to look as though you haven't just rolled in from a day at the beach. Plus, they make a great alternative to a standard short and t-shirt combination and are equally as comfy.
And it's not just on a holiday night out that playsuits are my favored look. A light t-shirt material playsuit can be thrown on over a bikini for a walk along the beach during the day. This gives you a slight edge, however remains casual enough to prevent you from looking like you're trying too hard. Comfort and style? A winning combination!

Still, after your holiday has ended there's no need to pack up your playsuits and put them away for another year. Worn with a pair of heels and clutch, the playsuit becomes a perfect outfit for a night out back in blighty all year round. A pub lunch, a beer garden, an evening meal. You name it, depending on the style and print, there's a playsuit for it.

My pick of the playsuits this year have got to be from River Island. Varying from cotton bandeau styles perfect for lazy days around the pool, to those covered with embellishment that will look perfect on a night out, River Island offers a playsuit for every occasion, and priced at around the £25 mark, you can achieve the look without breaking the bank.

Maybelline Color Show nail polish - 'Winter Baby'

It's a truth universally acknowledged that a girl cannot just pop into Boots or Superdrug, have a quick look around and then leave without purchasing anything. I visited my local boots on a bit of a whim today with the idea that i'd go, check out the price of a hair product i'd been toying over buying and then leave. This, of course, didn't happen.

Make-up brand Maybelline have recently launched a new line of nail polishes called 'Color Show'. Having been on a ban since January to have acrylics applied to my nails, mainly because of the price, more so because after over a year of having them they completely wrecked my nails, my obsession with nail polish has grown. Six months down the line and my nails have gone from strength to strength, along with my nail polish collection.

I'd never tried the colour show range before and so the novelty of trying something new automatically attracted me to the Maybelline stand, along with the array of perfect for summer colours that they have to offer. I, perhaps slightly boringly, opted for a standard white colour in shade 'Winter Baby'. I am a sucker for a product with a good name, and with names such as 'Wine & Dined', 'Sweet Clementine' and 'Shocking Seas', the color show range offers exactly that.
Winter Baby applies like an absolute dream and differing from white nail polishes that I have previously owned, did not leave brush strokes within the colour on my nail - definitely one of my pet hates when it comes to nail polish! The colour is slightly sheer on initial application, however layers up with ease and becomes opaque within three coats. 'Winter Baby' was dry within five minutes and left a high-shine finish on the nail, making it a perfect combination and exactly what I look for in a nail polish.

I've been wearing 'Winter Baby' for three days now, and while the formula for different shades may differ, this particular shade shows no signs of chipping and has even survived a shower and hair wash combination - something that never fails to get my nail polish chipping (which perhaps says more about my nails than it does the polishes)! I am definitely very impressed.

At only £2.99 a pop I have to admit that my expectations for this product weren't all that high. However the color show nail polishes have definitely pleasantly surprised me and with a colour collection that I am desperate to try, and with Boots currently having a 'buy one get the second half price' offer, I can see myself popping into town to pick up a couple more of these amazing nail polishes very, very soon!

Swimsuit vs Bikini

Summer is well and truly on the horizon which can mean only one thing, I will soon be packing my bags and jetting off on my jolly's. Perhaps the main wardrobe dilemma I have when packing my suitcase is the question of what swimwear i'm going to be wearing this year?! I am by no means confident enough with my body to go parading about in a tiny bikini, however in the past I've never felt comfortable in an unflattering costume either, which only ever seem to be available in prints that are suitable for those that are above the age of 50.
That is until this year where the swimsuit is definitely ruling the roost; and with celebs such as Rihanna donning a one piece, the swimsuit is finally becoming cool again and an item that is becoming a must have in every girl's wardrobe. Due to the ever growing popularity of the swimsuit, swimming costumes are now filling high street stores in a variety of different styles such as backless, side-less and even versions of the infamous Borat 'mankini' - an option I can't see becoming very popular, but each to their own! This means that if the idea of covering up completely isn't something that thrills you, you're still able to show some skin whilst still covering up parts of you that are least preferred. A perfect solution!
The added beauty of a swimsuit is also the fact that they are suitable for all ladies, regardless of their figure; whether you're a size 8 or 18, the swimsuit is available in a style that can suit and flatter all.

Still, the age old dilemma that you don't get as tanned in a swimsuit is still present and won't be forgotten by many in a hurry. It's universally known that bikini's are a firm favourite amongst young adults, especially those who have been working hard at the gym all year round for no other reason than to look good in a bikini. What's the point of spending a lot of time and money perfecting your bikini body, only to cover it up for the duration of your holiday? The variety of the styles of bikinis also trump the swimsuit by a mile; string bottoms, briefs, shorts, triangle tops, bandeaus, are to name but a few, just some of the styles that the ever loved bikini is available in. It seems that while swimsuits flatter all, the bikini also offers a variety of styles to suit you whether you're a hourglass, a pear or an apple.

In the end it looks like the type of swimwear that a person is going wear will come down to nothing other than personal preference. Regardless of what's considered the swimsuit of the moment, there's always going to be people that disagree and believe that there's nothing better than a tiny bikini on the beach, whereas others will prefer nothing more than to cover up in a flattering swimsuit. With both types offering a range of styles and prints for everyone, it seems that whichever style people opt for, they're going to look great and find something to suit them perfectly.

How to dress for festival season

Image from google

Dressing for festival season is possibly my favourite and least favourite thing of the year all rolled into one. The fashion that accompanies festivals is everything I love the most about clothes - a lot of fringing, embellishment, crazy makeup, hair accessories and layering! The downside is that I can never quite pull of the perfect festival look quite the way I would like to, which is why, three months in advance, I have started to plan my festival wardrobe. Slightly excessive? Possibly! Although in my eyes, completely necessary.

As anyone living in the UK will understand the Great British summer is, well, never really that 'great'; England sees a hell of a lot more days of rain and grey skies than it does sun. Therefore, the most important thing to remember when packing for a festival is to dress for all types of whether. The sun may be shining on day one, but it can be almost guaranteed that by day three the heavens will have opened and if you've packed nothing but shorts and vest tops you're going to find yourself very wet and very miserable. Meaning essential item number one is a coat! My festival coat of choice this year has got to be a parka; perfect for cooler days, however still light enough to wear for the full weekend regardless of if the sun decides to pop out for a couple of hours or you spend the full weekend trying to shelter yourself from the rain - a more likely option. Meaning, essential item number two has to be a pair of wellies! Regardless of if the festival fields are full of mud or not, a pair of wellies add to your look and give you the perfect festival attire. The high street is full of wellies with a variety of different patterns with an accompanying price that won't break the bank. However, if you're willing to pay that extra bit more, a pair of Hunters are a perfect investment piece (if like me you attempt to visit at least one festival a year) and will make you look like a festival pro! Not to mention they'll also see you through the winter months once festival season has come to an end and the streets are lined with 6 inches of snow.

Practicality is essential at a festival, so when packing your bag be sure to leave out anything that may cause problems when it comes to using the port-a-loos! Yes, playsuits, i'm looking at you. While playsuits may at first seem like a good festival outfit, when it comes to needing the toilet they become a problem even at the best and most convenient of times, not to mention when you're trying to maneuver yourself in and out of one in a festival toilet while avoiding the sides and performing a balancing act with all your essentials that just have to be taken down to the arena, you know, just in case! Stick to shorts ladies, much more practical and you still end up looking great!

Being a girl it is only expected that we're going to need to pack our bag with a smaller bag, albeit one still big enough to fill with a number of things that are essential for down at the arena (these things usually include the not-so-essential makeup, three different types of perfume, and a number of extra accessories and hair products). Therefore, a big, slouchy, fringed bag becomes festival essential number four. Stick to those which can be easily thrown around your body and that secure well, no one wants the burden of carrying a bag in the crook of their arm for a weekend when everyone else is out there having fun.

Top off and perfect your festival look with a crochet waistcoat, a bunch of fashion jewelry (nothing too expensive, you can never prepare yourself for things getting lost at a festival), a floral headband (perfect for the final day when even dry shampoo can't save your hair!), a pair of sunnies, and a lot of neon paint and you're good to go. I think i'm finally ready for festival season and I can't wait!

John Frieda Luxurious Volume shampoo & conditioner

My name's Beth and i'm obsessed with my hair. There, I said it, and it comes as no secret to anyone that knows me how much of a constant battle I have with my hair and how thick it is. Or isn't. It's commonly known amongst friends and family that the time and effort I spend on my hair, especially on a night out where I will admittedly spend the best part of an afternoon washing, prepping and fixing my hair into an array of heated, sleep-in and velcro rollers in an attempt to get the biggest hair possible, is ridiculous. Still, on a regular day-to-day basis i've found myself almost giving up on my hair. Lacking any form of volume what so ever the fight to thicken my hair has only intensified over the years, and has turned into a battle that I grudgingly have to admit I am painfully losing.

Enter John Frieda. I've always been a fan of John Frieda and the way that his products leave my hair feeling soft, nourished, healthy and manageable. Therefore it was only expected that I would pick up a couple of his latest products, especially as they were aimed predominantly towards those suffering with, and hating their thin hair. These products were perfect for me.  

Differing from previous shampoos and conditioners that promise to thicken hair and leave it with a perfect volumised look, the John Frieda Luxurious Volume products thickened my hair without leaving it looking frizzy and bushy! The shampoo and conditioner left my hair feeling soft, looking sleek AND the most volumised it has in years. My hair looked thick and felt more full without feeling heavy on my head or as though my hair had been drenched in a variety of products. These products had defied the odds and had actually left me with hair that I didn't hate! John Freida - miracle worker.

I am now desperate to try the other products in this range, and maybe one day I will be able to get ready for a night out without the need to spend the day in rollers or the night clipping an array of extensions into my hair. Well, here's to hoping anyway!

Festival fever

image from google

Give anyone the option of staying the weekend in a 5* luxury hotel, or spending it in a field surrounded by thousands of people they've never met for four days, it's almost guaranteed that the majority would pick the former. So why then, do thousands of people from around the UK pack their bags and flock to the fields of England to spend the weekend at a festival? The truth is there's an appeal that comes with festivals that isn't just about the music; meeting people you never before would have, striking up unlikely friendships and escaping reality for four days is a huge part of the fascination that accompanies festivals and it’s for this precise reason why attending one, with nothing but your bare essentials, becomes a yearly must for so many.

Granted, the festival scene is not for everyone. Anyone with a fear of mud, dirt and not washing for a weekend should avoid the fields at all costs. Still, it’s important to understand that once you’re there, and accompanied by many a pack of baby wipes and dry shampoo, the necessity to wash is almost thrown to the back of your mind. Fuelled on alcohol and cheap tasting food – because who wants to waste valuable alcohol space by packing food? – you suddenly feel as though if you’re not donning slightly messy hair and have used actual soap and water to wash, that you don’t fit in. And that’s just the way that everyone likes it.

Although sometimes things might not go necessarily to plan, a leaking tent is all part of the experience, right? And who cares? You spend hardly any time in it anyway. 99% of the time you spend your weekend relaxing at the arena with new made friends, drinking warm alcohol that you’ve managed to sneak in by hiding it in your wellies (no one wants to pay £5 for a beer). Despite the weather almost always being typical for a British summer and rarely topping 20 degrees, being in shorts suddenly seems like a good idea. Besides, there are more important things to worry about, number one being having a good time, and the excitement of seeing some of your favourite bands play gets your blood pumping and keeps you warm anyway.

Regardless of your thoughts about camping or the festival experience as a whole, there’s one thing you should know for sure, you’re going to have a good time. Whether you spend a day there, or camp for the entire weekend, you won’t regret it. So pack your bags, get your shorts and wellies at the ready and bring on festival season!