BAYLIS AND HARDING GREAT HAIR SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER REVIEW

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Hair, well hair is sort of my thing. I have had long blonde hair for as long as I can remember and I plan on keeping it this way. I have been blonde for so long that it is vital I keep my hair looked after with good hair products. It ain't easy being blonde as I found out on my recent trip to the hairdressers when she revealed it would be a good idea for me to take three inches off and let your hair grow back healthier. Three inches is a lot of hair for me to lose but after years of bleach the damage was beginning to show. 

After this trip to the hairdressers I decided my hair is my pride and joy and I want to keep it in tip top condition. After searching around for new shampoos and conditioners to help me do this I stumbled upon a new launch from Baylis and Harding. This new launch immediately caught my eye with its stunning packaging and amazing claims of making my hair nourished and hydrated. I was lucky enough to be sent the nourish + hydrate shampoo and conditioner from the great hair range to do this review and let me tell you; it is amazing.

Great Hair nourish & hydrate shampoo and conditioner duo
 - 500ml bottles :


One of the first things I always do when buying a new shampoo or conditioner is the smell test. A smell test you say?! yes I know this may sound weird to some of you out there but if im putting something on my head it has to smell good. I opened the bottle and OMG it smells insane it has a coconut fragrance which reminds me of being on holiday sunbathing on the beach. 

So when applying the shampoo I did notice that it didn't foam as much which I like because not only does it mean that the product doesn't contain any harsh chemicals it also means residue doesn't get stuck in the hair as it can do when a shampoo is overly foamy. I did work the product into my hair a little more with it not being as foamy but that I didn't really think that was an issue. After rinsing my hair it smelt amazing and felt nourished. I believe the softer feel is due to the coconut extract in the product. My hair didn't feel dry or straw like which I have found has been an issue with some products in the past.

After shampooing I applied the conditioner. I always condition every time I was my hair as with it being bleached it needs a little extra TLC. The conditioner worked like a dream and left my hair feeling smooth and nourished. My hair wasn't knotty or tangled which can sometimes happen with other products.

I really do think Baylis and Harding have done a great job with these products. They are great value for money and great for your hair so its a win win!.

Whats your favourite shampoo and conditioner?

That's all for now, Amber xox














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NAIR HAIR REMOVER NOURISH RANGE - HAIR REMOVAL MADE EASY!

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Hair removal is always at the top of my list as soon as Summer comes around or in my case as soon as a holiday is booked!. So with my summer holiday just around the corner I thought I would give some Nair hair removal products ago to see if they where a easier alternative to shaving or waxing ect. The thing is if your anything like me you want to be hairless and silky smooth but you also want it to be quick, easy and painless. When it comes to hair removal even mentioning the words quick, easy and painless in the same sentence seems ridiculous. 

So I decided to give some Nair hair remover products ago! what have i got to loose I thought to myself well apart from all the hair I desperately want rid of nothing really. I just want to be able to go on holiday throw a bikini on and not have to worry about any unsightly hair appearances. Nair is probably the one of the most well known hair removal brands out there. I have always found the problem with hair removal products is the stigma that follows them around. When people think about hair removal they always remember the ghastly smell that used to come with those types of products but not anymore!. Nair has created a new nourish range of products which all contain argan oil for softer smoother skin and no nasty smell. 


 Nair Nourish Glide On :


This has to be the easiest product I have ever used. I never in a million years thought hair removal could be this easy. Nair Nourish glide on should be used exactly as it says simply glide on and let the magic happen. Literally all you need to do to use this products is twist the product up apply to the area in which you want to remove the hair, wait five minutes and rinse. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I used this product and my hairs just washed away. My skin was left feeling silky smooth with no irritation. As someone who suffers from irritation after shaving I was amazed as I didn't have any discomfort after use. I usually have to slather my legs in moisturiser to stop them from itching. 

The glide on can be used to remove hair from legs, bikini line and underarms. No mess and no fuss and no bad smell!. I will definitely use this product to get my self silky smooth and holiday ready. 

Nair Nourish Shower Power Cream :



















Nair shower cream is also another amazing product. You just apply it to the area of hair you wish to remove 2 minutes before showering enter the shower leave it on for another 3 minutes then remove the cream with the provided spatula. It can be used on the legs, arms and bikini area. Quick effective and easy hair removal guaranteed for up to 7 days.  

I love both of these products as they are easy to use and super effective. I think the glide on is great if your in a rush and don't have much time to spare. I love the fact that they leave your skin feeling nourished and in my case that my skin isn't irritated. 

What is your experience with hair removal products?

Thanks to Nair for sending me these products to review!


That's all for now, Amber xox


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Follow me on my weightloss journey...

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It's that time of year again when Summer is upon us and I'm still sat hibernating with the weight I gained in Winter to keep me warm. Who am I kidding I gained weight because to put it politely i'm a greedy bitch who loves food a little bit to much- just a little to much.  

Getting on the scales and discovering youv'e gained more than a stone is no fun and I certainly do not want to be gaining anymore weight. So at the beginning of the year if you watch my YouTube channel you may have seen that I did a video where I outlined my goals for the year and losing weight was one of them!. This weightloss journey has been an uphill battle for me since January and although I am making progress it is very slow at best. I have tried everything but I just look forward to cheat day on WEEKEND where I get to binge on unhealthy foods and a good old takeaway. I have discovered that this is clearly not the way to do it. I just haven't felt the motivation to lose weight- and I love food but I'm not to keen on the gym.

I woke up on Monday of this week and something just seemed to have clicked - I had a spark of motivation. I just said to myself I am sick of saying it and never doing anything about it- if you live life like this nothing will ever change. 

I had already started to make small changes to my everyday routine which included:
  •  Going for a jog - with friends on a Tuesday night
  • Drinking more water - as I have relied far to much on getting hydration from fizzy - drinks which as part of a healthy lifestyle is a big NO NO!
  • Cutting out full fat fizzy drinks - if I do fancy something fizzy I always now turn to diet drinks but try to avoid them at all costs if possible
  • Cutting down carbs - I love carbs way to much and now try to avoid having double carbs so like bread and potatoes for example
  • Using the stairs - not being lazy and using the escalators at work or the lift
  • Being more aware of what I am eating- This was a big one for me because my problem with food is that I struggle to say NO! and like a lot of people I always have the mind set that one won't hurt. A lot of the time people don't realise the calories and fat content of that little fruit scone or that ready meal lasagna you bought for an easy tea.
  • Cutting down on snacking- Similar to the last point If I used to see it I would eat it! Especially with my job now working at Marks and Spencer as a food taster is hard because in order to sell a product you have to know it tastes good- she says half a packet of chocolate biscuits later. 
  • Replacing snacks with healthier alternatives- Instead of the chocolate biscuits I now reach for healthier alternatives like fruit its still sweet but so much healthier.
  • Cooking from scratch and adding veg to every meal- this one is the hardest as it is most time consuming but if you plan what to eat on a weekly basis at least you know what your cooking! this way you can make different recipes each week and not get bored. Also adding veg to your plate can really help to fill you up more than what you would think.
  • A clothing goal - Get yourself an item of clothing that you want to aim to fit into and once you hit that goal buy something else until your happy with your weight loss but don't make your goal to unreachable or you will be dissapointed when your struggling to reach it. One of my first goals was when I started work at Marks and Spencer- the lady asked me what size trousers I would need so I replied size 12 as this is normally what I buy in most clothes. I couldn't even get them past my hips this actually really upset me knowing I would have to get the size up but guess what the size 12 fit now!.
Making small changes really helps because this is when you mind frame begins to change - if you rush into it and set your self targets that are unreachable to begin with you will end up giving in. 

My Weight Now:

This is hard for me to discuss because I find talking about weight hard so being open and honest with you guys about what I weigh is a whole different level for me. So currently I weigh around 11st 10 but with a holiday to Spain booked, I need to shift some of this weight. In an ideal world I would love to get back down to about 10st but this isn't going to happen by the end of August when I jet off to Spain. So my aim for my holidays is to get down to 11st, I want to look good and feel good in a bikini. I just want to be BIKINI BODY ready!. 

I am going to continue with my small changes to try and hit my goal weight. I am also cutting out all takeaways from now until I go on holiday. 

I will update you guys closer to my holiday with how I am getting on and a weight update!

what are your weightloss tips?

That's all for now Amber xox












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50 Things You Probably didn't know about me...

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After searching for inspiration on blog posts I could write. I had a thought what way to better get my blog back up and running than to do a factual post about myself featuring things you probably didn't know about me. I have let my blog slip after putting focus into my YouTube channel. This post will give you an insight into my life and help you to get to know me better. 

What better way to do this then to simply write a bullet pointed list of facts about myself this way it is easy to read and concise. I mean this list may consist of somethings that you do already know maybe through watching my videos but I am hoping a lot of these facts with give you some new information about myself.

Here goes:
  1. My childhood dream job was to become a fashion designer - I used to have books filled with clothes I had drawn up and designed.
  2. My favourite subjects at school where textiles and art.
  3. My favourite holiday destination is America - I been to Florida a fair few times but would love to jump in a camper van and travel round America it would be amazing.
  4. I can't stand any type of Seafood - when I was younger I used to love crabsticks, fish fingers and fish cakes but now the thought of any seafood makes me feel ill.
  5. I love rap music - I have learned to memorise the words to so many rap songs as some sort of party trick. I love Tupac and Jay Z.
  6. I'm a girl gamer - hand me a PlayStation controller and I will sit playing for hours.
  7. I have always wanted to visit Italy - I have been lucky enough to have traveled to a fair few destinations but Italy isn't one of them and its somewhere I have always wanted to go.
  8. I love food way to much! - pretty self explanatory really
  9. I love a good TV series but when I get hooked it becomes an addiction- I have seen myself get through 5 seasons of a tv series in a week if I have got hooked.
  10. CSI used to be my guilty pleasure - I still love the series now but when I was younger I used to watch it 24/7 and it even inspired me to look into becoming a crime scene investigator.
  11. I love a bargain - 9 times out of 10 I only buy things on offer or in sales - some may say cheapskate but I say thrifty.
  12. Upon until recently I have only ever had Blonde hair- I recently popped a silver non permanent dye onto my hair.
  13. I love having long hair and hate getting it cut - Ive seen me cry if hairdresser trys to take as much as an inch of the ends of my hair.
  14. I worked as a cleaner for my first job to gain some pocket money while attending college.
  15. My favourite actor is Denzel Washington followed by Will smith and Idris Elba.
  16. I only passed my driving test this year! - after years of starting and stopping lessons I decided to go all out and put in my all which led to me passing this year.
  17. My favourite game is Bioshock - I have most of the collectors editions of this game
  18. I invest far to much emotion into the characters of tv shows I get hooked on - I feel like I know them on a personal level.
  19. I have one tattoo which is a dreamcatcher with a quote above which reads - "never let go of your dreams"
  20. I have been to see Usher, Ne-yo and Beyonce live in concert.
  21. I love candles! - particularly ones with Christmas themed scents they always seem to smell best.
  22. I love a nice hot bath with a bath bomb and bubbles.
  23. I cant stop buying make up - I have an excuse for this now I am a beauty blogger.
  24. I went to University to study Early Childhood to become a teacher 
  25. I have worked in retail for nearly 7 Years - I worked for Clarks shoe shop for 6 years and currently work at Marks and Spencer.
  26. I would love to travel - I want to see the world you only get one life so why stop living it!.
  27. I am accident prone - I have a history of being very clumsy.
  28. I was born in 1993 on the 28th of December which is 3 days after Christmas - my star sign is Capricorn.
  29. I drink far to many fizzy drinks and no where near enough water - Coca Cola is a guilty pleasure.
  30. I love to cook for other people to get their opinion.
  31. I spend far to much time checking social media.
  32. I can talk for England - Once you get me going I never shut up!
  33. I love blogging and hope one day it becomes my full time job.
  34. I struggle to tell the time on an analog watch - it takes me a good 10 minutes to work it out.
  35. I love to be warm and cosy - on a night time you can usually find me snuggled up on a sofa with a big blanket.
  36. I tend to be a good judge of character - I can sense negative and positive vibes from people; they are normally right.
  37. I want to move abroad or to a big city
  38. I am a big kid - I am normally described as having my head in the clouds but I just love having a good imagination.
  39. I love keepsakes and always keep hold of nik naks of places I have visted.
  40. I am a hoarder and always find myself collecting something - from stickers to badges.
  41. Turquoise is my favourite colour.
  42. My mum named me Amber after she had watched the film Mo Money where the actress Stacey Dash plays a character named Amber Evans.
  43. I’m not a fan of hot drinks at all! I don’t drink tea or coffee, just the odd hot chocolate with tons of cream and marshmallows or a cup of tea every now and again but just to dip my biscuits.
  44. My favourite tv series include CSI, vampire diaries, luther, the originals, how to get away with murder and I Zombie among many others.
  45. When I was younger my celebrity crushes included Orlando Bloom and Zac Efron.
  46. I have never broken any bones and don't plan on doing so any time soon.
  47. My bad habit is biting my nails - yes ive tried everything to stop.
  48. When I'm nervous I sit and rock or shake my legs - Its not because I need to pee.
  49. I am a little short arse at only 5ft 3.
  50. I have a minature jack russell named Buster who is my baby!


    Which fact are you surprised to know ? 
    What random facts have you got about yourself?

    Thats all for now ... Amber xox






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    WHY I STARTED BLOGGING...

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    I still struggle to believe it has been over a year since I decided to set up my own blog and this got me thinking about my reasons why I decided to do so. This blog started off as hobby like most do and has since developed into what you now read today. This blog started out as a way for me to help people in a similar situation to myself as when I started this blog I was a student with a huge love for beauty and fashion but trying to love beauty and fashion when living off a part time wage and student loan can be difficult. I firstly developed my blog with a money saving angle aiming to help others save money or grab a few freebies.

    As my blog began to develop and grow along with my other social media I began to focus more on the things I love such as beauty and lifestyle. My followers began to grow across all my channels and my relationships with brands blossomed. My love for the creative process grew so what I once thought was going to be just another one of those fad things that I would start and never finish is still going and still growing today.

    I think the main  reason I started this continuous journey was to inspire others to be whoever they want to be and to encourage every single one of you to follow your dreams whatever they maybe. I have been that child who was told you wont ever become anything, I have been that child that struggled to make and keep friends. You take me for who I am or not at all... so I look at where I am now and just smile and think I knew one day I would prove them wrong, look at me now!. 

    If your thinking about starting a blog or YouTube channel just do it, what have you got to loose. I still struggle to get my head around the fact people want to follow my day to day life, that people listen to and want to hear about my opinion. If someone would have told me a year ago I would be working with brands like Urban Decay I would have fallen through the fall but I am now because I worked hard to get my blog where it is today. You don't get anything for nothing so stick at it and see where it takes you, whatever your dream maybe!. 

    If you want to find me anywhere else look here:
    Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/amberhowexox/
    Twitter -  https://twitter.com/AmberHowexox
    Youtube  –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUA_ouZmcFaIPQE-MtHXqZw
    Facebook  –  https://www.facebook.com/AmberHowexox/?fref=ts
    Snapchat - xxamberashleyxx


    That's all for now Amber <3 xox 



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    MY MUST WATCH TV SHOWS ON NETFLIX

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    I like most have gained a love for online streaming subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. I find it the best way to chill out, get snuggled up and watch what you want when you want. In fact I don't really watch live TV anymore unless its something i feel like i cant miss. With all the shows on Netflix and it being updated on regular basis there is always something to watch. So much so I am normally spoilt for choice. 

    If you have Netflix but have no idea what to watch or your thinking about getting Netflix then look no further than this list for some great shows to watch. I thought that it might be good to give you a list of my favourites to read through.

    The Vampire Diaries:

    If you haven't already watched this then you really are missing out especially if your a fan of vampire fiction like Twilight but this is better. I myself missed out on watching the show when it was first released and didn't get into it until 3 seasons had already been released. It takes a couple of episodes to get into and set the story line but after that I was hooked and had watched all three 23 episode seasons within a week 😮. It follows a teenage girl named Elena whose parents died in a freak car accident. The series takes place at the beginning of the new school year upon her return to school after the accident. This is where she meets new student Stefan Salvatore little does she know that he is a vampire. Animal attacks keep happening in town but it is clear that this is a cover up and vampires are the cause in enter Stefan's seemingly evil brother Damon; the story spirals from there. The thing I love about this series is there are so many twist and turns and shocking moments; it isn't your average vampire story but it does contain witches, werewolves and various other supernatural beings. 

    The Originals:


    You can't watch Vampire Diaries then not go onto watch The Originals. The Originals is a Vampire Diaries spin off which can be watched alone or after watching Vampire Diaries. It follows the family of original vampires as they struggle to hold their family together. It takes place after the Original family leave Mystic falls the town in which Vampire Diaries is based and head back to New Orleans. New Orleans was once home to the original family and run by them. The main protagonist of the family Klaus returns home to find his once protegee has  taken to becoming ruler of the french quarter. All I have to say is that Klaus isn't happy and wants his kingdom back. 

    Luther:

    Well where do I start with Luther, what a series!. The one thing I can say about Luther is that I wish I had watched it sooner and I'm not quite sure why I didn't as my parents kept telling me it was worth the watch and they weren't lying. I love cop dramas so when I did get around reading about I knew I was going to love it. That meant there where no surprises when I was hooked from the first episode. Luther is a detective played by the very handsome Idris Elba who works to solve a series of murders while battling his own demons. The acting is phenomenal and it is a edge of your seat watch no matter how many times you've seen it. I just hope and pray that Idris will reprise his role for another series. 

    American Horror Story:


    This is definitely worth a watch if you love the horror genre and would like to see a refreshing twist on it. I would say if your faint at heart then this one isn't for you. It can be scary, jumpy and unsettling but it makes for an amazing watch as it is so different to any other TV series I have ever watched. Each season has reprising actors and they take on a completely different story which loosely link back to each other. First season is called "murder house" and it is a great twist on a traditional haunted house. Second season is called "asylum" and is set in a mental asylum at times it can make for uncomfortable watching. Third season which is one of my favorites is "coven" which follows a bunch of young witches coming to term with their powers. Fourth season which I am not a massive fan of is "freak show" which follows a circus which consists of people who are known as freaks. Fifth season which I think has to be my favorite is "hotel" it has to be by far the bloodiest season to date but I just love the complex story line. This season also sees Lady GaGa play a sexy vampiress who tries to seduce males and females alike. The acting is unbelievable and it really showcases how talented each actor is.

    How to get away with murder:

    If you like murder mysteries you will love this. This is also perfect for those who love to get to the end of an episode and think no way!. I was hooked from the get go as this series has such a great concept and it jumps back and forth from past to present. It's about a criminal defense attorney know as Annalise Keating who teaches a class at law school called "how to get away with murder".  It then follows a group of her students who are given the opportunity to work with her at her law firm this is where things take a dark twist because the student really do have to find out how to get away with murder. 

    I Zombie:

    If you a Vampire Diaries or Teen Wolf fan you must give iZombie a go. The lead protagonist is Liv Moore, a successful medical resident with a doting fiance and an exciting life to look forward to - that is, until she attends a boat party and gets turned into a flesh-eating Zombie. Fear not, though - in iZombie, zombies don't become braindead, lifeless beings who slowly stumble about looking for brains - if they get their human brain fix, they act just like normal humans - aside from not actually being alive and having an extremely pale complexion. iZombie follows Liv as she's forced to leave her fiance and become a medical examiner at the morgue in order to get her brain fix. Once a zombie eats a brain, however, they acquire the memories of whoever's brain they've eaten, and so Liv teams up with detective Clive Babineaux to help him solve crimes. This is a really funny show because Liv also takes on the character traits of the person whos brains she has eaten this can be anything from a high school jock to a radio sex expert. I watched the full two seasons in 3 days as it had me hooked.
    Gossip Girl:

    Gossip Girl, a ruthless and mysterious blogger reveals secrets about teens in upper east side New York. With roller coaster romances and piles of secrets hiding away for Gossip Girl to find, this show is sure to bring the upper east side and its drama into our lives. Gossip Girl follows the lives of privileged teenagers on the upper east side. Serena Van Der Woodsen is a blonde and beautiful socialite, Everyone knows Serena. Blair Waldorf is Serena's best friend but it's always about Serena not Blair. Nate Archibald is Blair's boyfriend but ever since Serena came back from boarding school Nate has been acting strange? Chuck Bass a rich and arrogant person. Daniel Humphrey a lonely boy from Brooklyn, NY who nobody knows. Follow the lives of this guilty pleasure show.

    Narcos:

    Narcos tells the true-life story of the growth and spread of cocaine drug cartels across the globe and attendant efforts of law enforcement to meet them head on in brutal, bloody conflict. It centers around the notorious Colombian cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar and Steve Murphy, a DEA agent sent to Colombia on a U.S. mission to capture and ultimately kill him. Pablo Escobar, A Columbian Drug lord is the primary target for DEA agents and the government. He obtains a lot of money but couldn't change his fate.Despite of his crime, he loves his family and his associates and proves he is nothing but a human. It is partially subtitled but stick with it as it is well worth the watch.



    Hope you find something on this list you would like to watch.
     What TV series is your favourite? 
    What would you recommend I watch 

    That's all for now, Amber xox












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