ARA LONDON 24K GOLD BEAUTY OIL

Hello my loves,

Hope you all are keeping well! So today I have something so exciting to share with you all. I tried ou the Sativa beauty oil (24k gold) by ARA London and my oh my has it changed my skin game. Before we get into that, I just want to share some background info you guys might be interested in.

So what is ARA London? 

ARA London is a luxury skincare brand that uses ancient remedies with modern science to bring the best ingredients into one bottle. They have 3 products currently out, but the one that I have tried and tested is the Sativa oil.

Why is it so good and what are the benefits?

So this bottle is packed with all the goodness you can think off. This includes amino acids, minerals, vitamin A, B, C and E as well as antioxidants and fibre. As well as treating the skin long term with these ingredients, there is also added omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help to defend your skin from everyday pollutants and infections. Who doesn't love an all in one product? The product is finished off with flakes of pure 24k gold which not only looks stunning but also is known to get rid of fine lines and prevent the effects of ageing. 

The product is packaged in a beautiful glass bottle (again, getting your monies worth) and is very travel-friendly. It fits into any bag, I love to keep this in my makeup bag when I'm travelling cause I love to apply this as a base before my makeup and can I just say, my foundation applies seamlessly with this oil! You get 15ml in each bottle, but trust me, a little goes a long way so you will only need the tiniest amount to cover your face and neck.

What has your journey been like?

So I started using this oil more than a month ago, and I can see a noticeable difference. Everyone has been complimenting on how natural and glowy my skin looks. I would class my skin type as combination and this oil works really well for me. The great thing about this oil is that any skin type can use this, even if you have oily or dry as the oil absorbs quickly into the skin leaving just a dewy finish. This oil is more aimed at problematic skin (acne and scarring), and for me, it has worked wonders. I have been breaking out less and my skin texture has improved (very smooth and fewer pimples). Some of my old scarring from previous breakouts have gone and has left an even skin tone all over. I use this product day and night, every time I wash my face, I apply this all over my face as the last step to my skincare routine. I have honestly just replaced my daily moisturiser with this oil and I can never go back to anything else. 

Cost?

The Sativa oil retails at £29.99 and every penny is worth it. The oil lasts you ages, up to 2-3 months as a little goes a long way. 

Ingredients: 24K gold, papaya oil, black cumin seed oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil, tea tree leaf oil and limonene. 

*It is also important that I mention, as the website advises, that you do a skin patch test 48 hours before use as it does contain fine organic ingredients*

I promise you, you won't be disappointed, if you have problematic/ pigmented skin then look no further. This product will work for you! 

Hair Full of Secrets

Hello guys and girls! Welcome back to my blog. Today I have a new post for you guys and its all about my hair. I get questioned about my hair all the time, whether its to do with how I grew my hair so long, how I keep it looking shiny and what type of shampoo I use. As it was so highly requested, I thought I would spill the beans. If you haven't already seen my post on my balayage process, check that out first!

Before I wash my hair...

To be fair, I don't really do much before I wash my hair but I do make sure I apply coconut oil in my scalp and ends of my hair the night before I plan to wash my hair. It stimulates hair growth and reduces dandruff as well as adding shine and softness to the hair. It is also great for the prevention of hair breakage and split ends, contributing to hair length. Make sure to use organic, cold-pressed, raw coconut oil (this is basically the purest form of coconut oil which contains all the goodness you want). Check out my post on coconut oil if you want any good brand recommendations!

Products I use to wash my hair...

1. L'Oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo

Repeated washing can damage coloured hair, so it's best to invest in a good colour protectant shampoo. This one smells gorgeous and it does the job. It contains 'cationic polymers' which claims to care and protect the hair so that it retains the colour vibrancy and intensity. It leaves my hair feeling nourished and smooth which is important as coloured hair can get dry! I work this only on the ends of my hair as this is where most my hair is dyed.

2. L’Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Coconut Shampoo 

I use this shampoo on the scalp of my head and really work up a lather to remove all the coconut oil. This is a perfect shampoo for those with normal to dry hair. This gives you that L'oreal 'you're worth it' hair. The formula contains fine coconut oil (yea I can't get enough of this stuff) which again nourishes the hair follicles and smells absolutely divine!

3. Aussie Repair Miracle Conditioner 

We use shampoo to clean our hair, which means we sometimes wash out the good oils, but we need to restore the hairs natural oils and give it back some moisture! This is why conditioner is important, we don't want to overdry the hair. I love this one from Aussie, it smells great and it is packed full of hair magic such as Australian Macadamia Nut Oil, Jojoba-seed Oil and Avocado Oil! I take a generous amount and start working it into my ends and work myself up and whatever is left on my hands I work onto the scalp as well. If you're someone like me who styles their hair often or you generally just suffer from dry hair then try this, I promise you it will change your hair game! It leaves your hair insanely silky smooth and ensures damage control. Also, conditioner works a dream at removing coconut oil from your hair more than shampoo!

After shower care...

So some of you might skip this step, but my ends get insanely dry, so I always use a hair serum as well as a hair conditioner.

First thing I do after I towel dry my hair is to apply a serum, and you guessed it it's by Aussie (fav)!

4. Aussie Dual Shine & Coloured Hair Serum Treatment

This treatment can be used either on wet or dry hair, you only need 1-2 pumps for your whole hair. It contains Australian Jojoba Seed oil, which protects coloured oil and adds that beautiful shine that everyone wants.

Next, I go in with a hair conditioner.

5. Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner 

This is a lightweight, leave-in conditioner so there is no need to wash this stuff out. It helps to detangle your hair which I suffer quite badly with! Again, it is infused with that miracle product Australian Jojoba Seed oil. 

What I use to style the hair...

When I do style my hair, I always make sure to use a good hair protectant. The one that I have always used and have been loving is by Tresemme.

6. TRESemme Protect Heat Defence Styling Spray

This hair protectant is the bomb, it does exactly what it tells you and is such good value for money. It contains heat activated complexes which help protect hair when you're styling your hair with heat, it protects up to 230°C. It prevents hair becoming brittle and dull as well as a UV filter. It is the ultimate shield of protection for your hair all in one bottle. 

No-one likes limp, flat hair, so when I do suffer from this, I go in with a volumizing powder.

7. VO5 Instant Volume Powder

This powder is absolute magic. It gives the hair that instant root boost, however, it does make your hair feel stiff so if you don't like that, then this product isn't for you. It gives your roots a matte finish and gives that just came out of the hair salon effect.

So that's all folks, that's all my hair secrets for you! 

Please take into consideration that these products work well for me and may not work for you as everyone's hair type are different! You just have to play around and see which ones work for you but I hope that this gives you an idea of some products to try out! I'm always up for trying new products, so if you've tried any and have some recommendations then please leave a comment or tweet me!

Until next time, take care guys x

Mustard hues

Hello everyone! Hope you all are having a great week. Who's loving Autumn so far? I certainly am! There's something about falling leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes and cold evenings spent watching movies.

So for today's post, I wanted to jazz up an LBD (little black dress) that had been sitting in the back of my wardrobe for quite a while (I'm pretty sure you have one too). 

I was doing some online shopping on Boohoo when I came across this beautiful mustard coloured duster coat. This particular colour was something that was definitely missing from my collection and I thought it would be perfect to throw on over the dress, with a pair of booties, so that's exactly what I did.

This colour will work well with all skin tones and I think it will become very popular this year. You can wear this duster coat over a plain black jumpsuit and even wear it to work over a white shirt and black trousers.

These pair of heeled boots are one of my essentials, and if you don't own a pair like these already, then girl, get them! They work perfectly with any outfit and can be worn during the day as well as night.

I kept the accessories pretty simple, with some plain dainty pieces but off course you can pair this look with some statement earrings or necklace.

Items worn:

- Isabella Turn Up Cuff Duster Coat - £18.00

- Black High Neck Low Black -Bodycon Dress (Similar) - £15.00

- Mid Heeled Chelsea Boots (Similar) - £35.00

OOTD: The Official Colour of Fall

Hi guys! Autumn is officially here which means it's time to embrace the more cool weather by stocking up on knitwear and feeling super cosy. What way to start the season than buying cute autumn clothing pieces to update my wardrobe (any excuse to shop). Boohoo has been killing the fashion game recently (as you may know from my previous posts) and I'm obsesseddd with this outfit which is an autumn staple outfit.

P.S- Don't forget to look out for my Autumn Clothing Haul which will be coming soon to my YouTube channel...



 

Nothing screams Autumn than this burgundy knit jumper dress from Boohoo which I have completely fallen in love with! The roll-neck jumper keeps me extra warm as well as the dress being a perfect length (not too long or short). It is perfect for the colder seasons and is super comfortable which is perfect for me to throw on but still look effortless and chic. This dress is a staple for anyone's autumn wardrobe!

These knee high boots were so dreamy and I was so happy to find them on the website. I was impressed with the high quality suede material and shows that you don't need to spend an ludicrous amount on nice boots. The lace up detail adds a feminine touch and this means that you can loosen or tighten the boots to get the perfect fit. The heel was comfortable to walk around in without feeling like I need to taken them off after five minutes (which I have experience with other boots). These knee high boots are definitely a wardrobe staple for the colder months and can only be used as a transition piece into a night look.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post as well as letting me know what staples do you guys have in your autumn wardrobe? x

Outfit

Jumper- Boohoo

 

Boots-Boohoo

*This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own*

Hair Story + Update

Hi Guys!!!

 

Hope you all are doing well. First of all, can I just mention that Autumn/Winter is officially here. I'm wrapped up in my blanket with a cup of tea while trying to type this up. Anyway, back to why you're here, if you follow me on snapchat or instagram you would have seen that I got my balayage re-done.

 

But, what is it you ask? Balayage is a French colouring technique that is applied by hand rather than using the traditional foiling or cap highlighting techniques. It has a much softer, less noticeable regrowth lines giving a natural look to the overall hair.

 

It is probably less damaging than conventional colouring techniques which use foils and heat to set the colour However I did notice with the bleach it can leave the ends quite dry, therefore take aftercare very seriously (lots of hair masks and conditioner)! 

 

The story of my hair...

 

About 2 years ago, I decided I wanted something new with my hair and I heard a lot of people talking about the balayage technique. I was a bit weary at first as I have heard a lot of stories about black hair that turned ginger in the process of trying to lighten it. I decided to go to my trustworthy hairdresser and discuss what they could recommend for me. I wanted caramel/brown mixed in with my natural hair and this is exactly how it turned out! It was achieved through bleaching the strands of hair first and then adding toner of the desired colour of choice. The colour remained for a while but as my hair grew longer the colour started to fade as well. This is why last week I went back to the same place and got it re-done, and here is the before and after picture of my hair (we went with similar tones as before).

BEFORE (hair where the colour began to fade):

 

 AFTER:

The hairdresser did mention that in the following weeks, as the colour settles, it will become lighter!

 

For me this was the best decision, as it gave me a boost in confidence!

 

If you want me to do a haircare video or blogpost, comment down below! (If you haven't already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel davina_uk)

 

And I will be back soon with more posts coming your way :) xx

OOTD: Ruffle Trousers

The sun is out in London for Bank Holiday weekend and what perfect weather for wearing these ruffle trousers which I freaakinggg adore! The ruffle trend has been seen on the catwalk for Spring/ Summer '17 and I am a big fan of this fashion trend. These trousers have a feminine touch as well as being on trend for this season. These trousers are perfect for transitioning from Summer into Autumn as they cover up your legs but still keep you cool with its lightweight material. This can be paired with a sleeveless cami for warmer days or a high-neck tight fitted knit for colder months ahead. At first I was unsure with how the trousers would fit around my hips but I was pleasantly surprised with how nicely they sat on my hips without highlighting any bulges after eating (ladies you know what I talking about) which I'm sure everyone is conscious about. I never usually like wearing trousers but these gorgeous tailored trousers have made me expand my style horizons without it being office-y or boring with the added ruffle...

P.S- Head over to my instagram to see where I shot this look which matches my outfit! 💗💗

 I paired the trousers with a white cropped top from River Island (I'll link similar ones below) which  revealed enough of my upper midriff for me to still feel comfortable in and not feel super conscious. The cut of the top was flattering as well as keeping it simple to show off the detail of the trousers. I kept the jewellery very simple too, as the ruffle detail on the pockets and hem of the trousers act as an accessory already (bonus) and makes the outfit more casual for the daytime.

 

Also these trousers are cropped which means they are perrrfectt for showing off these classy pink heels. I got these shoes a few years ago from H&M which means I can't find the exact pair but I will link similar items below. These shoes are the epitome of class and being feminine (my two favourite words) without them being too office-y for my liking. The heel is not too high which means they were comfy enough to walk through the streets of London. The soft suede material, pointed toe and the heel brings sophistication to the whole outfit and ahhh I just obsessed with this whole look!

 

I hope you guys have enjoyed reading this blog. Please leave me comments on what you want to see on this blog as well as any other items which you think I may love!  x

 

*Not sponsored*

 

 

Outfit Details

Ruffle Trousers- Boohoo

Top-similar

Heels- similar

Sunglasses-similar

Autumn Picks

Hello Guys, today I have a different kind of post. I have picked some of my favourite clothing items that I have seen whilst shopping online and put an outfit together to give you some inspiration for the Autumn months.

1. We definitely need a throw on a jacket this season and I instantly fell in love with this biker jacket I saw online at Zara for £89.99. It is long with collar detail includes silver buckles, long sleeves with trimmed cuffs, front zip pockets, and belt. It is a must have for the colder weather to keep you warm yet still on trend. 

2. Rene mesh top by Brandy Melville £14 - this is a black long-sleeved mesh top that can be paired with any cami/bandeau underneath. It's all about layering in the autumn and this is something that can be dressed up or down. Was unable to get the exact picture, but here is something similar...

3.  Black washed Amelie super skinny ripped jeans from River Island retailing at £42.00, these super skinny jeans with ripped detailing and chewed hems are a perfect throw on, to give any look an edgy look! (Again similar image)

4. Ankle boots with elastic gores from H&M for £29.99. A pair of boots is a must have for the autumn/winter season! This pair is perfect! Black, heeled and pointy, what else could you want?

5. DOLLY Faux Fur Tote Bag from TOPSHOP for £39.00. I can see this bag becoming very popular in the next month or so. How cute is this bag? Perfect to pair with any look.

I hope this has inspired you to step out of your comfort zone and try new trends this Autumn!

New post coming next week ;)