Matti May Hardie

Hey!

So I'm finding myself just spending money to occupy myself during isolation, and yes that is probably the worst way to occupy myself but what can I say? Expect many many hauls and reviews coming because I'm literally so bored.

I've been seeing this hair mask all over Instagram and I must admit I've always wanted to try it, it's just a bit out of my price range, but I've wanted it for months and just bit the bullet and just went 'fuck it'.

So let's just get down to things, shall we?

Right, it costs a bit of money, I'm not going to lie to you, I don't know if it can be classed as an "investment" (first world problems, Jesus Christ), but it kind of is. I bought just the basic "Like A Virgin" hair mask that comes with a tangle teaser that's actually pretty cute, that apparently prevents breakage and hair damage more than usual hair brushes. They cost 39,90€ and I also used the promo code "BUNNY" and got a hair wrap and a travel sized hair mask, but I think that promo code has expired? But go check out the site because they're releasing promo codes left right and center at the moment. With shipping (that varies depending on the country you're shipping to), I spent 45,80€, just to give you an idea of prices. To be honest with the promo code, I'm inclined to say "fair enough". Still a bit expensive, I agree, but I've wanted this hair mask for ages so I figured it's fair enough.

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PACKAGING

It arrived in this super cute packaging, I have to say, they have a really a knack for cute packaging. The pink and the green really work together, and it's so nice to look at? Everything was intact and traveled really well.

Staying on the packaging, I was happily surprised while touching it. It's way more robust and good quality than I thought it would be? I must admit I was really nervous about it arriving and actually just being some cheap-to-make product that's actually just a massive cop-out, so it was very much a nice surprise and maybe even a relief, seeing it was such good quality?

The hair wrap is a little confusing when you first receive it but they explain it really easily. I also liked how it came with a little bag that you can keep the hair wrap in that makes it super transportable.

HAIR MASK

Of course, I immediately opened the hair mask because to be honest, put anything coconut scented in front of me and I'm yours. It actually smells nicer than I thought it would. It's not overpowering or overly sweet, but a really subtle scent that is really enjoyable.

I used it (because who wouldn't?) as soon as I bought it, and it was actually surprised. I expected it to supercharge my hair and make it really heavy, but it didn't! There's a little panflet that comes in the box and it suggests you use it either as a deep conditionner (10 minutes after both shampoos) or a full on hair mask (apply and leave overnight), but personally I left it for about an hour while I pottered around, and even before I rinsed it off you could tell it wasn't really heavily dosed in product, and even once it had been rinsed off it still seemed very light and not greasy or heavy which is a massive bonus for me because my hair has a tendency to get greasy super quick, especially because I touch it a lot, so if I use a conditioner or a mask that's too heavy and rich then I might as well wash my hair again.

HAIR WRAP

I've never used a hair wrap before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I'm not obsessed and use it all the time, even when I'm not using the mask. It's made out of microfibre which makes it really absorbant and they claim that it reduces drying time of the hair, and I have to admit that my hair does seem to dry quicker.

It's really comfortable, and feels secure on my head, which is a bonus because I hate with a passion when you put something on your head and you spend the entire time convinced it's going to fall off.

****

I've only used it once so I can't really give a full opinion, but as a first impression I'm actually happier than I expected to be? I might report back, and I'm still waiting to see on more of a long term what it looks like and if it lives up to what they claim and also on longer hair as for the time being my hair is a little bit too short to really seen the difference like it would if it were long. That makes no sense but I'm okay with it.

I would definitely recommend to people who have damaged/dry hair. I don't actually know if you need this mask if you have "normal" hair, it's probably the kind of product you can use to treat yourself and your hair once a week, though I wouldn't say it' a "need"; However, all that being said, if you have oily hair, you do not need this kind of hair mask. It is going to weigh down hardcore your hair and not going to nourish it in the way you need.

I hope this gave you a bit of insight of the product if you're like me and you've been like me and have been hesitating for months.

Let me know your thoughts, hopefully I'm going to try and do a bit more of this, I'd really missed blogging actually?

Take care of yourselves and stay indoors,

M x

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I'm going on an impromptu holiday to the coast with my Dad tomorrow. And as excited as I am, I'm also panicking because I'm bound to forget something. Because let's face it, if you don't want to look amazing and take 245654 photos for Instagram then what's the point? To avoid you getting into this kind of a situation (and also very casually looking like a very small troll in a bikini), I'm going to be giving you a list of my most important holiday beauty preps.

I've always said I wanted to try fake tanning but I'm a bit scared of it and I'm far from up to looking like a tangerine on the beach.

Face

I always have the worst skin in summer. I find myself with spots and bumpy skin galore because a) I don't drink enough and b) because I sweat like I've just run a marathon. So, to look glowing and potentially kill any spots that are thinking of showing their faces to enjoy the sun, too. I like to use either a clay mask or make my own (v much enjoying Pinterest for the ideas for DIY face products). I also have been using the Neutrogena Shine and Pore exfoliant scrub to try and get some of the crap off my face. I tend to let it set for a little bit to really let it get to work.

Feet

This is probably the step where I curse myself most about. You see, I don't wear sandals or open shoes. I'm that person who walks around in Vans in 30-degree heat. I also walk a lot so I kind of find myself with pretty crusty feet, but not this year! Even though I forgot about them until last week, and I'm finally taking care of them, and like to slather them in cream whenever I think on (ideally about 5 times a day to make sure they're super smooth - but that NEVER happens). I like to use Shea Butter but any rich body or even face moisturiser will do the job.

Exfoliate and Moisturise

I try and exfoliate as often as I remember to, but over the summer I've really tried cracking down on it. I don't bother buying anything to exfoliate with because it's so ridiculously easy to make some - here's the recipe.
To make enough to exfoliate my whole body:

5 tbsp of brown sugar
3 tbsp of olive or coconut oil
2 tbsp of lemon (optional)

Generally, I play around with the measurements but the point is that you want all the sugar to be covered in oil but that you can't see any excess oil in the bowl. The lemon isn't essential but it helps to prevent any bacteria coming and aggravating the area you're shaving. I wouldn't recommend it as a face exfoliant because it's quite harsh on the skin but the harshness feels kind of nice on the body. I try and do that the week before I leave and then I find a little receptacle and make a batch enough to last me through the week while I'm on holiday too so I can keep doing it. Also, the beauty of using oil is that your skin is also moisturised after which is practical.

Shaving

I'm going to be honest, and say that I detest shaving. It gives me rashes, even when I do all the fancy stripper techniques they tell you to do on Pinterest, and it's such a long job I just can't be bothered to be honest. But I do it because yanno, when you're on the beach the last thing you want is an eyefull of your own pubic hair. I know a lot of people wax but I'm not prepared to put myself through that kind of ordeal thanks. I'll tend to try and remember to exfoliate and moisturise intensively about a week before I leave and then shave the night before or even the day I arrive.

Eyebrows

My eyebrows are very quickly becoming small caterpillars that are just hanging out on my face, which usually I'd just ignore a maximum, but since I'm going on holiday I tend to make an effort. I generally don't touch the shape, and just pluck above, below and between.

Water

I don't drink enough, as mentioned before, but I know that it's such a benefit to a person, so I make a special effort to drink more water (and hope it'll stick!).

Cold sore cream

I feel like very few people know this but cold sores can be caused by the sun. The heat and the UV rays break you out, and I get them so often that I prefer to be safe than sorry. I use a product that is a lip balm that I apply morning and night as a preventative method, and it kills any bacteria that may give me one too. There's no specific brand but I'd definitely trying over the counter products at a chemist.

Nails

I mean I'm all up for getting my nails done professionally and all that, I just don't really have that kind of a budget. I tend to stick to a darker colour but sometimes I'll go for red which just makes me feel like a millionaire's wife.

M x

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Here, have a very old photo of me I took next to my Nan's house. It was in March and I was freezing my tits off but did it for the fAsHuN.

Exam season has started in France, and it's been a mixed bag of emotions for the past few years. Generally sad, two years ago it was stressful as I was in the midst of exams, and now it's a bit weird.

For those who don't know, I've been in college for a lot longer than the usual person in France. I didn't follow the usual course for my education, I started on a hairdressing course, and then passed my exams, got my degree and then changed paths entirely and went into the course I'm currently in, which is a costume design degree. I decided to take the full course again rather than starting in the second year, so I was with 15/16-year-olds which, as much as it isn't a massive age gap, was a bit weird.

I keep in direct contact with no one I used to go to high school with, yet I see them graduating high school, and moving out and getting their driving license and going to uni, and sometimes I wonder if I didn't make a horrible mistake. They're my age, right now I should be preparing for midterms, but I'm actually gearing up for a month of work placements. I've taken such a different course to them and it feels really strange and almost making me feel less than? I know I shouldn't compare but I just feel a bit weird. I'm so unlike most people my age that I wonder why. Is there something wrong with me? Should I be doing something different?
This feeling is intensified when my friends in their final year of my course talk about exams, and I realise that I saw them arrive in the first year, and when they were in their first year I was in my last, and now, next year I'll be in the same position as they are. It's a very strange feeling and it makes you feel quite awkward at times.

I try and avoid comparing myself to people as I know first hand that that shit's toxic and bad news central, but sometimes you just can't help yourself?

I was talking to my Mum about a decision I'm preparing myself to make and about life-changing decisions, and that generally, you don't realise quite how massive it is until later on. I think changing my mind and going into the course I'm currently in (even though it nearly gave my Mum a stroke, oops), was definitely one of those moments. I never really realised it but thinking back I realise that this is what I was meant to be doing, and even though I don't regret going to hairdressing and finishing my degree, I know that this is the right path to be on.

As a general rule, it doesn't tend to bother me much, but especially during these times I try and make sure I remember that just because I've taken a different path doesn't mean I'm less valid.

Good luck to everyone who's going to be passing their exams. It'll be fine, if I can do it and come out the other end sane then so can you.

M x

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Side note: Hello everyone! I haven't posted since Christmas, I apologise, I'm hopefully going to get posting more regularly now as I have a load of content in the works, notably one post that is massive that I'm really looking forward to sharing with you that I really hope you'll all enjoy! I'm looking forward to sharing more content with you soon!

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(Alternative title “how to get your shit together when your shit has never been together”.)

I’ve never been organised. As much as I’d like to be a little blond Californian girl with straight As and a tan, I’m not, and have accepted that I never will be. So I decided to share with you guys the list that I generally make at the beginning of the school year and try to sticks to for the rest of the year (now, whether that happens or not is a totally other debate) to help myself get myself organized and hopefully avoid any mental breakdowns. I wasn't very organised at the beginning of this year and just realised I haven't done it, so since I made it recently I figured I would share it with you guys.

This is also a list I tend to go back to when I'm feeling like quite a mess, when I can't get myself organised and I'm a bit all over the place, or when I need to get myself back to my productive self again - all of which are the case at the moment after the last few weeks of college that were hardcore, which is what inspired this blog post.

Beauty

Do nails
Hairdresser’s
Find new outfits
Find new make-up looks
Eyebrows

I like using the start of the school year to start fresh, so I tend to make a point of getting my hair cut or colored, and to find some new outfits and make-up looks. I’m not the most confident person in the world and it allows me to feel a bit more comfortable in my own skin. Then I’ll do my eyebrows and my nails just to make sure I look decent and human (obviously I pretty much give up this facade about a week into term but that’s just a detail).

Selfcare

1L minimum of water everyday
Moisturize whole body after shower
Shave
Exfoliate
Face mask

This kind of falls under the beauty category but I wanted to take it’s own category because generally I do this with the specific reasoning of making sure I feel as good as I can. My anxiety can really play up at this time of the year and it helps no end when I take care of myself. Anything in this category is what I would consider self care rather than simple beauty steps.
I make my own exfoliant (sugar + olive/coconut oil - mix 1 spoon of oil to 1 and 1/2 spoons of sugar and then keep adding until you've got enough to exfoliate your whole body) and I like to do it before and after shaving, and then moisturise my whole body, both so I feel nice and my skin feels hydrated but also to avoid any razor rash which I get so easily (even with shaving cream!).
I always turn to my La Petite Lune clay face mask at the moment because it's just so good, I might cry when I run out, my skin just feels so clean and refreshed after!

School

Put all lessons into folders
Sort folders
Make sure there's nothing missing (pens, books, ect)
Do contents at the start of books
Start notepad

I try and make sure everything's in order so I can start off as I mean to go on, which means sorting my lessons into folders and to make sure all the folders are in order. I also make contents pages at the start of my notebooks so I don't need to fight my way through a ton of papers and notes flying around everywhere. I number the pages and then at the start of the chapter I'll note down the pages, ect ect. I find it easier to get my head around that way. I tend to keep a notepad that's exclusively for school stuff. I used to rip off a page and toss it in my bag but I can let you imagine how that worked. I tried bullet journaling but I'm just more of a simple list girl.

Let me know if I missed anything (please for the love of god, organised people of the internet, HELP ME).

M x

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