The Best Shower Gel Ever?

I think that I may have died and gone to heaven. 'Rose Jam' from LUSH Cosmetics is sweet, addictive and utterly luxurious from top to toe. I first fell in love with this scent from using 'Rose Jam Bubbleroon' and 'Ro's Argan Body Conditioner'- which are both other products from LUSH Cosmetics which smell exactly the same or similar. This pot of joy is the antidote for all things dry and sensitive, so indulging yourself with this pink beauty this winter will surely leave you feeling 'sweetly' hydrated. One of the main ingredients in this product is Argan Oil, and boy does it leave your hair feeling extremely healthy! Whether you take a shower at morning or night, you will smell this product on you for at least 24 hours. So TRY TRY TRY!

500g- £15.95, 250g- £9.25, 100g- £4.65

Also containing Vanilla Pod Infusion, Cypress Leaf Infusion, Goji berry Juice, Argan Oil, Organic Rose Absolute, Rose Oil, Egyptian Geranium Oil, and Sicilian Lemon Oil. All helping with the reparation and softness of the skin.

Do you have a favourite shower gel?

Much Love
Eltoria x

Why not follow us on Twitter and re-tweet one of our posts to enter our November competition? A Rose Jam shower gel may be up for grabs!

Read more »

How to Make your Teeth Whiter

Personally I do not believe in 'teeth bleaching' unless it is done by a professional ie: a dentist. Not only is it safer, it is however illegal for anyone carrying out the service without a qualifying certificate. So watch out for those dodgy salons! Some home kits have been criticised for not containing enough whitening product or the mouth-guard not fitting the mouth properly. As a result, some of the bleaching gel may leak onto your gums and cause blistering or in some cases, damage to the enamel... not good!

So instead of taking this risky manoeuvre I have opted for a much more 'mintier' experience- toothpaste. I know thousands of us in the UK use 'whitening' based toothpastes, however I personally put it down to a routine too! Since starting my new routine four months ago, I have had so many compliments on how much whiter my teeth were looking. As a self confessed 'serial tea drinker'- these statements surely did confirm my faith for natural products.

**Before I start, I am in no way a dental professional or anyone who holds a qualifying certificate. These are just some of my own tips **

Step 1- Morning Routine

So out of the two toothpastes I use, I shall start with the first one. Colgate Advanced White. I like to gently brush my teeth in circular motions for a good few minutes. Then I will rinse my mouth with Listerine 'Stay White' mouthwash which will help reduce tartar and stains.

Step 2- Mid-day

Sometimes (if I am at home around lunch time) I will give my teeth a gentle brush or a swish of mouthwash. This shouldn't be done too often as brushing your teeth too much can actually damage your teeth. This is only if I have eaten/drank something sugary.

Step 3- Evening

Firstly I will gently brush and floss my teeth in circular motion before using Pearl Drops (pro-white) tooth polish. I personally believe that this product is THE best tooth polish out there on the market. 'Pro White' makes your teeth x5 whiter in 6 weeks if brushed x3 times a day. Personally I felt my teeth didn't need this intense treatment but if your teeth do, then give it a shot! I will then only rinse off with mouthwash if I do not happen to have my Pro White polish.

Step 4- Tan!

In the summer I usually skip out this this step as I naturally tan quite well. However in the winter months, I like to subtly bronze my face with Garnier Ambre Solaire 'dry mist'. Darker skin will always make your teeth appear whiter. Usually wearing foundation will make the skin on your face appear much lighter from the rest of your body- so adding a 'summer kissed' mist won't hurt at all. I do not do this everyday only once in a while. Looking orange wouldn't be natural.

So there you are guys, do any of you have a top tips in keeping those nashers pearly white?

Much Love

Eltoria x

Teeth after 2 months use

Read more »

How to Prevent Split Ends

The threat of the split ends is an ongoing battle which has been lost time and time again. Unless you see your hairdresser every 6 weeks without fail for a trim or never use heated tools or use chemical dyes- then I'm pretty sure the odd split end is inevitable. You can drench your hair with a deep conditioning treatment or shield your hair with heat protection spray but there are many other things you can do to treat those thirsty ends. But firstly here is my ultimate 'cuticle thirst clencher'!

Shine So Bright- LUSH Cosmetics

 

This product contains: Extra Virgin Oil, Shea Butter, Candelilla Wax, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Neroli Oil, Grapefruit Oil and Rose Oil which are all excellent at re-hydrating your ends. The key ingredient is Free Range Eggs which contains protein which helps to add strength to your hair. All you need to do is apply to the ends.

Eltoria's Top Tips!

Tip One- Use a wide tooth hair brush/comb.

Tip Two- Brush your hair correctly- work from the end to the root. Carefully brush through your ends first, then slowly work up to the midsection. In a final stroke, you can pull your brush through the entire length of your hair.

Tip Three- Towel drying- never rub your the ends of your hair as this can encourage split ends.

Tip Four- Blow drying: avoid using the hair dryer on your ends.

Tip Five- ALWAYS condition your ends: whether that being straight after shampooing or once dry.

Tip Six- Do not wash your hair every day: try using dry shampoo if your are conscious of your roots being a little greasy.

Tip Seven- Only shampoo your scalp: never rub the ends of your hair as this can encourage split ends.

Tip Eight: Avoid backcombing the ends. 

Useful Products

In love with my orange tangle teezer! £10.99

No Drought dry hair shampoo- £6.75

vo5 Heat Defensc Spray £3.52

 How do you prevent split ends?

Much Love

Eltoria x

Read more »

Never say 'I Can't Do It'

One of my most popular posts was 'Inspirational Quotes' so I thought that I'd write one a little similar. For those that know me very well would know that I am pretty much a workaholic! Not sure why, but the thought of sitting on my bum doing nothing in my spare time doesn't seem very appealing (but of course I look forward to the odd 'duvet day'!). The world today is obsessed with the words 'I can't do it', usually because someone tells you that you can't. Not only is it selfish but it is cruel. Every single human being in today's world has the ability to succeed in anything they desire. Never say 'I can't do it'. Will Smith in the 'Pursuit of Happyness' illustrates this 'down to a T'

When someone gives me a useless piece of criticism that is vindictive, I usually knock it on the head or interpret it positively. After all why get down because someone else is being negative? People will always pick on your weaknesses and never play on your strengths. Jealousy is a normal trait which looms in many, but once the 'green monster' prevails- that's when things look and get ugly. The biggest lesson I ever learnt was when the first person told me that I wouldn't achieve the grades to get into Law School. Going to Law School was my dream and I almost let one person ruin that. At the time I was only 17, impressionable and obviously extremely vulnerable, the first thing I did was cry. However the more tears that came the more it felt like a red flag being waved in front of a bull. I was determined to prove myself and that person wrong. I need to thank her, because I'm in my final year at Law School now!

 'Never hate people who are jealous of you, but respect their jealously' for me, is completely true. You wouldn't stop eating steak permanently because one person doesn't like the look of it, so why should you stop doing the things that you enjoy over one negative comment? I enjoy writing this blog, but I am sure many out there think I'm being 'superficial' or 'vain' for doing it. But not even one bad comment will ever encourage the abolishment Eltoria's Secrets so that's that. ♥

So finally:

Be brave and try something new and never say 'I can't do it'.

Much Love

Eltoria x

Read more »

How To Grow Your Hair Quicker With NEW Shampoo

This round ‘soap like’ solid object most definitely can be considered my NEW hair drug. Also conveniently named ‘NEW’, this hair shampoo is extremely popular in China and Japan- no wonder why they all have gorgeous hair! To feed my envy for long hair, I started to use NEW shampoo 4 months ago and boy, has my hair grown!

 

Bar- £5.50 Tin (recommended) £2.50

The warming smell of cinnamon oil and clove bud oil is enough to get your nostrils tanging! The oils combined with bay oil work together to stimulate the scalp and hair follicles for healthy hair growth. The bonus ingredient for me is the peppermint oil. Peppermint oil stimulates the blood flow which in turn gives follicles a boost. This product lasts between 80-100 washes (around 2 months) where you would use it just like a bar of soap (but for your hair!). I would also recommend this product to anyone who is off travelling soon, it is perfect for your hand luggage!

Hair after 4 months

What other products do you recommend for hair growth?

Much Love

Eltoria x 

Read more »

Autumn Hair

The leaves are turning, the air is crisp and the jumpers are out- well it must be AUTUMN! Autumn is definitely my favourite season where I also think it's about the right time to ditch your summer hair into a new refreshed look. This year auburn/chocolate brown is in, and ombre is out, so let's take a look into some of those Autumn shades.

Top left: Auburn down to Bottom Right: Chocolate Brown

 Have a play with your hair colour- you can be brave and go 'ultra auburn' or play it safe with a gorgeous chocolate brown. Here are some tips on how to keep those red tones locked into the hair:

1. After colouring wait 24-48 hours to lock it in further.
2. Cold water helps seal the cuticle of the hair whereas warm open the cuticle. Try rinsing your hair off in cold water.
3. Use colour safe shampoos and conditioners
4. Use a glaze (ie: serums) to keep your red look shiny.
5. Apply natural ingredients such as carrot and beetroot juice onto damp hair then (weather permitting) sit in the sun for an hour.
6. If you are going light blonde to auburn, you may need need to take a few trips to the salon to get the desired deep auburn look. If not, rock a lighter strawberry blonde shade.

So today I went to Escape Hair Salon, Calne, and got my red/chocolate brown shade and I love it!

Credits: Kiera at Escape Beauty Salon, Calne, England.

What will your hair colour be this Autumn?

Much Love

Eltoria x

Read more »

How to Contour

So it’s only been four days since I last blogged but it feels like that it has been forever!
I have moved into my new apartment in Reading which I LOVE- my room even has a red feature wall and my bathroom is now peppered with pink accessories. Home comforts hey.  

The first part of this week’s post shall be on ‘How to Contour’, so all you beautiful people can master your ‘glammed up’ evening look. Some individuals have rounder faces, some have thinner, however contouring is a simple trick which helps to enhance certain features as well as defining those angles.  All you need is a suitable brush, bronzer and highlighter (optional). The products listed below are the ones which I use and think are the best. So let’s get contouring!

NARS ITA Brush

This brush makes contouring so easy! The NARS ITA brush is quite small yet so powerful.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This bronzer is not too orange nor is it too brown- it’s a gorgeous olive/tanned colour. This bronzer does come with a contour brush.

Step One- Base Your Face

If you have oily skin base your nose/t-zone with a powder of your choice. Now take your contour brush and swirl it into your bronzer then tap off the excess.

Step two- The Rule!

THE RULE- always start from the top of the ear down to the corner of your mouth as this is what makes your cheek bones pop. NEVER go above the top of your ear. Take your brush again but now wiggle down towards the corner of your mouth (without going all the way as this will only make your face too sculptured). (Please refer to the red lines on cheek bones).

Step Three- Do the Wiggle

Without adding anymore bronzer to your brush, wiggle up and down gently down your contour line (so you are now blending). Now you can (if you choose to) curl/swoop your brush around your cheek bone (down and up). This will gently enhance your cheek bone. (Please refer to the red lines on cheek bones).

THE HEART- Your eyebrows should act as ‘arches’ of a heart whilst the corners of your mouth act as the point. Inside the heart should be kept light and bronzer free. Please refer to the blue heart to the image above.

Step Four- Hair Line

Now add more bronzer to your brush and then tap off the excess again. Now hit your hair line (just above your temples) and wiggle up and down (please refer to the red lines on temples). Now you can (without any additional bronzer) blend out the rest of your face so there isn't any ‘stark white bits’ (please refer to the green lines). Now you can use a highlighter on the cheekbones to enhance them if you want too (please refer to the purple lines). The highlighter that I have used is MAC's 'gilded peach' highlighter.

What do you like to use?

Much Love

Eltoria x

Read more »

Bucket List

Watching 'The Bucket List' (the movie) the other day made me think- surely we all have some sort of 'bucket list'? So I thought that I would quickly write up a post and share mine with you all!

Learn to speak Italian fluently
Go skydiving
Take a flying lesson
Own a sapphire necklace
Own a diamond necklace
Take a make up artists course
Go to uni
Get published in a magazine
Graduate from university with a LLB
Write a beauty blog
Dance for 10 years and then start a new hobby
Start my YouTube channel
Go and see the Northern Lights
Get acrylic nails
Move to the USA
Go to the spa and get a full body massage
Buy some cow boy boots and hat from Texas
Go and see where Dallas was filmed
Be a charity representative and do something for charity on a regular basis
Travel around the Canary Islands
Go paint-balling
Do a Safari
Throw a big birthday party 
Go skiing
Visit a historic place abroad and take a tour
Walk on hot stones
Go on a cruise ship
Own a micro pig and call it Apples
Own a Osprey bag
Design and build my own house
Swim with dolphins and sharks
Get horrendously drunk in Vegas
Get another piercing
Chill out on a beach in Figi
Take a business management course
Hold a snake
Hold a monkey

Here are some that I have completed:

Get published in a magazine

Go on a cruise and travel around the Canary Islands

Throw a big birthday party (my 18th!)

Throw a big birthday party (my 18th!)

Go to uni

What would be on your bucket list? Have you done any of the above?

Much Love

Eltoria x

Read more »

SHUTTER SONG!

Shuttersong, ShUtTeRsOnG, SHUTTERSONG? What on earth is this new little invention? Well in my opinion this simple creation is the birth of all things musical and magical. Want to find out more? Keep reading!

'Shuttersong is simpler than a video, richer than photos which lets you effortlessly combine digital images with sound and share them everywhere. Use Shuttersong to photograph a moment in time and add its soundtrack by selecting a song clip from your music library or recording live voice or sound through your phone. Then, share your 'Shuttersong!''

Click on the image above to check out Shuttersong on YouTube

 This new app brought to you by iTunes allows you to create more meaning to your photos. Surely a sound clip from a loved is much better than a silent photo? Click here to download your version of Shuttersong for FREE. Have fun spicing up those photos guys! I'm hooked already.

'Out with the old and in with the new- Hello Shuttersong!'

Much Love 

Eltoria x

Read more »