Matti May Hardie: Beauty

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.

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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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Okay. Hold the phone. I'm actually wearing make-up again. I know. I can't believe it either.

And it's actually got effort gone into it. I KNOW. So I wanted to share what I'm currently wearing. There are various make-up looks that I've been doing, so I’ve decided to make it a bit different and do two different looks, so there’s going to be two different eye looks, one for the morning and one for the nighttime, but that could potentially be a daytime look, too, I guess?

Anyway! I hope you guys enjoy this make-up overload.

Prep

First things first, I like to put some moisturiser on, I use the Nivea 'Soft' Face and Body moisturiser. Even though I will have already put some on at the start of the day I like to give it a little drink before putting my make-up on, and I feel like my make-up goes on better than if I didn’t. Next I spray on some MAC ‘Lightful Softening Lotion Spray’ (which they don't sell anymore) which I don’t really understand the use of, I just like to put it on because it smells nice and my skins always just feels nicer after I’ve sprayed some on. Then I’ll put some Elisabeth Arden ‘8 Hour Lip Balm’ on so everything feels nice and moisturised.

Eyes (Day)

I do eyes first now because I’ve had too much fall out ruining my base for one lifetime. I’m going to do daytime first, and it’s basically my go-to make-up because it’s perfect for blue eyes.

I’m using, shocker, the TooFaced ‘The Chocolatier’ palette because I mean, what am idea? Changing make-up? Madness!

I’m going to start by using ‘Honey Dip’ on most of my eye, then I’m going to put ‘Butterscotch’ and put it in my crease and then just blend as if my life depended on it. Then I’m going to just do a teeny tiny eyeliner. I tend to use a wet eyeliner brush and some black eyeshadow and that allows me to do eyeliner without having a mental breakdown, which is fun. Then I’ll put ‘Butterscotch’ again on my waterline.

I’m also going to highlight the inner corner of my eye with ‘Dessert’s On Me’.

For my mascara I’m using my new favorite, which is the Bourjois ‘Push Up Volume Glamour’
waterproof mascara.

Eyes (Night)

Right, for this night and/or day look, I’m going to be using a mix of a Sleek 'I-Divine' palette and the TooFaced palette. So for the base I’m using ‘Cake Batter’ on most of my lid, and the red sparkly one from the sleek palette and really build up the pigment to make it nice and shiny. Again, I’m going to do a little eyeliner, just to make my eyes stand out, then do mascara like the daytime look and also highlight the inner corner as well.

Base

I still don’t have any concealer or foundation (I don’t bother with foundation because of my freckles), but I do put some Nivea ‘Cellular Éclat’ which basically smooths and adds some oomf to your under eyes, then put some Sephora ‘Matte Perfection’ powder foundation (though it has literally no coverage so I just use it as a powder) to matify everything.

For the daytime look I’m going to be using the Soap and Glory ‘Love At First Blush’ blusher, and for the nighttime I’m going to use the blush in the TooFaced palette called ‘Chocolate Covered Strawberries’.

For contouring I’m just going to contour my cheeks and my jawline (and very slightly my forehead for the nighttime look) with the bronzer in the TooFaced Palette yet again.

Highlighter-wise I’m going to be using the highlight in the TooFaced palette.

Brows

To fill in my brows I’m going to use the shade ‘Toffee Crunch’, and then use an unnamed brow gel which I find a shame that it’s unnamed because it’s bloody good but there you are. It’s actually a shade darker than what I would use but I really like it because with having bright red hair now it looks better when I have slightly darker brows.

I’ll highlight my brow bone with ‘Glaze’.

Lips

I don’t actually do all that much for lips when it’s hot. Though I do re-apply some 8 hour lip balm and then put some highlighter in the middle to give it a shimmery effect which I find rather cool.

What's your go-to make-up at the moment?
Mx

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I mean, I say get ready with me, what I mean by that is 'see what I put on my face and how I dress myself to look like something of a human for once'. To be totally honest I don't know how this post came about since I'm trying to bargain my way into wearing pyjamas every day and even when I have to wear actual clothes, absolutely no one is getting me to wear make up.

However, now and again I do get myself together and wear something other than sweatpants, and here's what that looks like.

I'm the first one to admit I'm not the most adventurous with my make-up, I like to keep things simple as I feel that's what looks best.
Starting off with primer I'm using the TooFaced 'Hangover' primer, and on top I'll be using, as always, the BareMinerals 'Complexion Rescue' cream gel tint. I'm setting that with the Estée Lauder 'Perfecting Loose Powder'.

For contour and highlight as always I'm using the TooFaced 'Chocolatier' palette that I am still totally in love with despite the fact that I've severly hit pan on the bronzer! (I would link it but it was a limited edition, even though I've heard they're bringing it back this Christmas *violently crosses fingers*). Blush-wise I'm using my new love, the Soap and Glory 'Love at First Blush' which is just the prettiest thing in the world.

For my eyes, I'm just doing a simple cat eye with the Lancôme 'Liner Plume', and then lining the top of the it, and my bottom lashes with either 'Butterscotch' or 'Honey Dip', depending on my mood. Generally I use the Chanel 'Dimensions' mascara. I'm going to highlight the corner of my eye with 'Desert's On Me' and my brow bone with 'Glaze'. I'm filling in my eyebrows with the Benefit 'Goof Proof' brow pencil and then setting them with 'Gimme Brow'. I'm going to use a nude eyeliner to open my eye up (Rimmel 'ScandalEyes' eyeliner in Nude 005).

Recently I've gone off lipstick. It's not something I reach to, probably because with the changing seasons and the cold my lips have become chapped, flaky messes, that I've been trying to combat with the Elizabeth Arden '8 Hour Cream' lip balm.

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In other news, it's Christmas in a week! And even though I'm a total Grinch I hope you guys enjoyed my attempts to festive-up my photos! Anyway, like every year, I'm leaving it up to you lot to decide if you'd like me to do a Christmas haul/what I got for Christmas-type post. I personally am not the biggest fan of them but if you guys would enjoy snooping around my presents, who am I to stop you? So I'd really appreciate it if you could vote in the poll, there's one on Twitter (link to that tweet here) or you can vote in that one there - it's as you wish!

M x

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I've decided to take my skincare into hand over September. Because over the summer, pitiful is not the word. I wasn't even moisturising, guys, I WASN'T. EVEN. MOISTURISING! Because of that shameful fact, I decided I needed to do something asap. I'm going to just show you the products rather than do a point by point run through of my actual routines.

I try to keep my skincare fairly minimal, since I don't see the point of using fifty different products and make my skincare routine take half an hour every time, since I need it to be quick and efficient with college.

Neutrogena 'Visibly Clear: Black Head Eliminating' Exfoliating Cleanser

I'll use this first thing in the morning. It's a cleanser with little exfoliating beads in it, but it really doesn't feel like an exfoliant as it has a really silky smooth, almost creamy texture to it which is a really nice texture on the skin. I've definitely seen a difference since I started using this, after I use it my skin looks so much brighter and just generally healthier.

Neutrogena 'Hydro-Boost' Water Gel Moisturiser

This is the brand new fancy moisturiser from Neutrogena, and when I first tried it out I was a bit skeptical. I like nice creamy moisturisers because it actually makes my feel like I have something on my face and it's this isn't quite that. It sinks into the skin rather fast which can sometimes make you feel like it hasn't done anything, but I really like how soft and plump my skin feels after.

Nuxe 'Anti-Fatigue Moisturising" Eye Cream

Nuxe is the kind of brand you probably wouldn't hear about otherwise, but my god it's good. I tried the eye cream and it's the stuff of miracles. Immediately after I put it on my eyes looked brighter. And every time I use it it's the same.

Caudalie 'Deep Cleansing Exfoliator'

I tend to use this when I need a bit more of a deep cleanse. I really love this product but you can really tell that it works, you can almost feel it working into your skin. There's not a whole lot to say other than it feels really nice on the skin and works bloody well.

Matti x

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So on Wednesday, in the dorms, I turned my friend Marion’s hair from a dark blond-ish colour, to a vibrant (and bloody gorgeous) bright blue with touches of purple. I had taken loads of photos and I decided to turn it into a blog post in case anyone was interested to find out how I did it.

In this post I'll be covering every aspect, from the bleaching to the dying to the aftercare so I'd suggest you get yourself a cuppa before hand.

Just for a point of reference, this is what Marion’s hair looked like before we decided to bleach the fuck out of it (It’s actually a bit lighter since her roots had come through. (Dark blond and her ends were black since she still had the remnants of her dark brown dye on them)

Bleaching

I’m using the Coiffeo “Oxydant creme” in a 40 volume and a powder bleach.

First things first, like 90% bright, artificial colours, you have to bleach your hair. However, you don’t just rub a bit of bleach on you hair, rub it in and wait 20 minutes. Do that and you’ll burn your scalp and you’ll end up with burn marks all over your head and you can kiss goodbye to doing anything with your hair until they heal up.

To prepare your hair for the bleach, make sure it's not freshly washed. Leave it for 3 days I'd say, depending on if you have easily greasy hair or not.

First off, you have to do a first bleach. I would recommend you go to the hairdresser’s for the bleaching since it’s pretty delicate but some people (like some people *coughcough* me *coughcough*) can’t afford to, or they have a friend to do it so I’m going to go through it anyway. As I was saying, you need to apply a first bleach, but only on the lengths of your hair (as you can see in the photo, the bleach is only applied to the lengths and you can still see that the roots are untouched, this is what you’re going for). The bleach will see to take pretty quickly, but you have to leave it for 45 minutes so that you get the lightness you’re looking for.

About 30 minutes in, take a bit of bleach off the hair with a cotton pad or a tissue to check the hair is taking the bleach properly. If not, then reapply the bleach onto the piece of hair.

As you can see, the bleach takes well if it’s applied properly and you should be pretty light by the time you’re finished. Once the 45 minutes are up, rince the bleach out thoroughly (don’t shampoo) and dry equally as thoroughly. The hair has to be totally dry before you move on to the next bleach.

If you have hair like Marion’s, your hair will probably look a little something like this:

Your hair should be a bit of a brassy blond and the roots should be unchanged.

Next you need to do the second bleach, which you apply all over the hair, even on the roots. You need to do it quite fast so that the bleach takes evenly all over the head. Pre-warning, it’s going to be itchy. Don’t worry, it doesn’t last long at all. Leave the bleach on for 5 minutes, and check every minute or so to see if the bleach has taken. (Note: It’s during this bleaching that we bleached Marion’s side cut, too, since it’s too short for us to do just the ends.)

Again, once the waiting time is up, do the same as before and rinse thoroughly (again, don’t shampoo, just rinse it out) and dry really well, so that the hair is totally dry. It needs to be properly dry before you even think about the colour because if it’s not the dye won’t take properly and it’ll look a bit weird.

(Unfortunately I don't have a photo of Marion after the second bleach - soz about that.)

Keep bleaching and leaving it for 5 minutes until it’s platinum white (there or there abouts, don’t bleach your hair off trying to make it perfect!)

Colouring

As I said, Marion wanted blue all over her hair, her side-cut and the edges of her fringe purple. For the blue, I’ll be using La Riché’s “Directions” semi-permanent colour in “Violet” and for the blue I’ll be using Star Gazer dye in “Sky Blue”.

So once your hair is dry apply the blue all over your hair, whilst avoiding anywhere you want to put the purple. Then, simple take a new brush and apply the purple wherever you want it. You don't need to be too precise when adding the purple since I feel it looks better when there isn't

One thing I would point out is that you need to make sure that the dye is distributed properly all over the hair, if not, then the dye won’t take properly and it’ll look weirdly pastel, like and just generally it won’t look right.

Once the dye has been applied, massage your hair and leave it for 45 minutes to take. Once the time is up, wash it out thoroughly and shampoo with a shampoo specific for colours twice, then you can apply a mask if you want to (I’d strongly recommend investing in a good hair mask since your hair is probably going to be very dry and damaged because of everything it’s gone through!

After-care

The after-care is probably one of the most important steps. If you don't keep your hair in good condition it can ruin the look of your hair and will spoil the colour.

You're going to be looking for a shampoo specific to coloured hair. I would recommend the Elseve "Color Vive" Shampoo because I feel like it helps the colour remain intact for as long as possible.

For conditioning, there are two things I'd recommend: an intense hair mask and a regular conditionner. Use the hair mask once or twice (max) a week, and the conditionner every time you wash your hair.

Marion uses the Franck Provost "Expert Reparateur" for the deep mask and the Petit Marseillais "Intense Nutrition" conditioner.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I really enjoy writing these kinds of posts! And thank you to my friend Marion for modeling for me in the photos (get ready to see a lot more of her, guys, I think she may become my official model so I can avoid looking so awkward in outfit posts!). You can find her on Instagram and Twitter.

Let me know down in the comments if you've ever tried something like this.

Matti x

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I haven’t done a make-up menu in what feels like ages, simply because for ages I was wearing the same thing; but now I have (finally) changed up my make-up routine so I thought I’d share what I’m currently wearing to mask my actual face at the moment.

Base

Until I find a better foundation that fits my skin tone as well as the Rimmel “Match Perfection”, I don’t think I’m going to change. I’ve raved about this foundation on many occasions so I won’t start again, but I really just love this foundation okay?

As a concealer, I’ve been really loving (like most of the world, in fact) the Urban Decay “Naked” concealer. I use it on both my disgusting eye bags and any (all the) blemishes I may (always) have.

For a powder, again, I’m still using the Rimmel “Stay Matte” powder because I love it so very much.

Though I often will also dust a bit of the Caudalie “Teint Divin” bronzing mineral powder to give myself a bit of colour since I can’t use bronzing powder (since whenever I use bronzing powder, the word oompa-loompa generally springs to mind).

Eyes

I have recently fallen back in love with liquid eyeliner. I generally just do a thin line on my lid using the Bourjois “16h Liner Pinceau” liquid liner (that is so old I’d be shocked if they still sell it) (update: they do), though if I’m feeling a bit swish, I may also do a lil’ flick. Then I line my top waterline in with an unnamed pencil liner (again, so used and sharpened I’ve forgotten what the name and brand of it is - I really need to buy some new make-up!).

For my mascara, I’ve been switching between two different ones that I love with equal mesures. The first one is the Bobbi Brown "Smoky Eye" mascara and the other one is the rather more affordable one, Maybelline “Lash Sensational”. I apply a couple of coats on my top and bottom lashes.

Blush and Highlight

For my blush and highlight, well, I’m pretty easy as I only own one of each! I use both the blush and the highlight from the Urban Decay “On The Run” palette (see the review I did of it here). For the blush, well, no need to go in to reems of detail, I apply it to my cheeks, simples. For the highlight, if I’m taking my time and want to do my make-up all fancy, then I’ll apply it to my eyebrow bone, my cheekbone, down the bridge of my nose and on my cupid’s bow, if not, then I’ll just run it down the bridge of my nose and on my eyebrow bone.

Lips

Depending on what I’ve done with my eyes, I’ll use one of two things for my lips. If I’ve gone easy on the eyes, I’ll generally reach for my MAC “Lady Danger” lipstick (which hurts my heart every time because I don’t quite know if I can afford to use it on a daily basis!), and if I’ve gone a bit stronger on my eyes, I’ll use the Urban Decay "NAKED Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss".

What have you been wearing this month?

Matti x

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