5 Ways your Hair-Care Routine Should Change for Autumn

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE autumn. I adore bundling myself up in cosy knitwear, drinking far too many cups of tea and hot chocolate and indulging in comfort food (no surprises as to what exactly... *ahem macaroni cheese*) but the change in temperature can be seriously confusing on your hair. Not just the texture, a change in dryness or frizz-levels, but also the colour! So here are some of my top tips for keeping your hair looking and feeling fresh and healthy over the coming months!

Up the Moisture!

You know how your skin gets dry and kinda itchy when the temperature drops? It's not sexy, I know, and the same goes for your hair. The transition between Summer and Autumn is when it is so vital to add a hair mask and switch up your shampoo and conditioner to help your hair adjust to the change in temperature. The Ojon Moisture Therapy Conditioner does exactly that, and it's packed with 7 nourishing oils which leave even the driest of locks feeling soft and hydrated after just one use. I find that it really prevents my ends especially from drying out, and all of the seriously luxe ingredients such as African Shea, Mango Seed Butters and Jojoba Oil work wonders to my stressed out hair. Another range which uses oils to keep the moisture levels of your hair in tip top condition is the Oleo Radiance range from TRESemm� - I've been using this three times a week to keep my hair consistently conditioned.

Use Natural Ingredients

Products with natural ingredients will prevent your hair from drying out, as they don't strip your hair of oils like some synthetic and alcohol based ingredients do. I love to use the Aveda Thickening Tonic to amp up my hairs volume, and it's made from naturally-derived ingredients which my hair just loves! 

Go Darker

Summer is synonymous with sun-kissed hair, but colder weather means less time outside, and those highlights fade! You can beat nature's effects on your hair by taking your hair darker by a shade or two, which means the transition happens more evenly. I recently spoke to the colour experts at Paul Edmonds who advised that I added a mocha tone to my bright blonde locks, to tone it down a little but without loosing that vibrant blonde shade that I absolutely love. Coloured hair needs extra attention, and I always have a little pot of the Toni & Guy Serum Drops in my handbag - you only need the tiniest amount to prevent flyaway hairs, add shine and also condition and protect hair from dropping temperatures when you're out and about.

Look after the Ends!

By upping your shampoo and conditioner game in the ways I mentioned above, you'll already have a head start with the condition of the ends of your hair. Sometimes though, it is just too late!!! I've actually discovered a product which works to seal and repair split ends, not just prevent them, so if you've already let your hair get a little out of control, then I highly highly recommend the Loreal Expert Sealing Repair serum. I add a couple of pumps before I blow-dry and then again when my hair is dry, it seals the ends straight away so your hair looks and feels smooth and frizz free.

Amp up the Oil

I think we've just about tackled the stigma around using oils in your skincare routine if you've got oily or combination skin (oil reduces oil production and all that), and the same goes for your hair. Don't be afraid of using products with oil in, your hair needs the added moisture and nourishment provided by hair oils as the temperature changes and by adding oil to your routine, your hair follicles won't need to create so much - meaning your hair is conditioned but not greasy. Another product in the TRESemme Oleo Radiance range which I love is the Radiance Oil Elixir. It adds such a beautiful illumination to your hair that makes even the driest locks look as though they've had a pricey hair treatment, and it never, ever feels greasy. 

How do you Switch Up your haircare routine in Autumn?

xoxo

The Style High Club : Travelling in Style!

Just because Summer is over doesn't mean that holidays are too! Recently I've been lucky enough to head off on a couple of city breaks, and have managed to master the art of travelling in style thanks to a few quick and easy tips and tricks! From keeping your makeup simple, to ensuring that your baggage is as stylish as your outfit, give these tips a try and before you know it you'll be a fully fledged member of the Style High Club!

1. Keep your makeup simple, and moisturising!
The easiest of all of my tips for travelling in style is to skip out heavy foundations, and go for a tinted moisturiser instead. The air in a plane is incredibly drying, so a tinted moisturiser will stop your skin from drying out and can easily be touched up before you land. I love to fill my in-flight beauty bag with a mini mascara, and cream and tinted lip balm too, even for short flights.

2.  Dress comfortable but fashionably.
The secret is pretty much black clothing. If you want to look effortlessly chic and stylish even after being curled up for hours in a minuscule space then stick to one colour palette and there's none more flattering than black. If you're craving some fashion inspiration then you need only look at cabin crew - has anyone else noticed how stylish they've become recently?! With Julien MacDonald teaming up with British Airways and Vivienne Westwood working with Virgin, there's no wonder they look so fabulous after 12 hours in the sky! Take a peek at this infographic that Cheapflights put together of the most stylish stewards in the skies!

3. Pack the essentials in your carry-on.
There are some things I just can't live without to ensure that you look and feel fresh and stylish throughout the flight. I love to have a small Jo Malone fragrance with me, a little hand sanitiser and a soft pashmina (perfect for when the air con gets a tad too nippy!).

4. Bags of Style
Once you've mastered your outfit for travelling in style, make sure you've picked out some fabulous luggage to complete the look! On my recent trip to Amsterdam I took my new Radley suitcase which I absolutely adore - the fun Radley dog print adds such a fun and lighthearted element to this outfit and theres even a matching holdall which is perfect for those shorter trips!

5. Wear cosy socks!
Not just for on the plane but also, is there anything worse than having to tiptoe through security with bare feet?! Definitly not!

6. Fight the Jet Lag!
I wrote a whole post on my tips for fighting Jet Lag a little while ago, and it's worth making these small changes to your inflight routine even on short flights to make sure you're feeling fresh when you land.

Do you have a fail safe in flight outfit? Or any tips for travelling in style?

xoxo

. Meeting regulation size, it�s the perfect fit for the overhead 

The Bellevue Palace

The Bellevue Palace in Bern attract's the Swiss capital's most discerning visitors; we were told during our tour of the presidential suite how ever President had stayed in the hotel over the years (apart from Barack Obama), and as the most luxurious five-star hotel in the city it made the perfect base from which to explore the capital. 

We let out an audible gasp when we reached our hotel room, towering over the river valleys, the balcony boasted unparalleled views of the countryside surrounding the city, with chalets sprinkled across the hills. From the larger than life floral display in the grand lobby to the entire wall decorated with gin bottles (full ones at that!), the style is grand palace meets Soho House, and as well as a fine afternoon tea, there is also a smaller much more cosy long bar where the cocktails are the best in the city (so we decided!). The area is packed with sofas and small table sections that give a welcoming club feeling; the perfect setting for enjoying some Swiss wine & charcuterie.

Just steps away, the Federal Palace of Switzerland became a light show spectacle; unlike anything we'd seen before, the opulent building was transformed into a burning building, or melting mansion, all by projectors beaming from across the square. If you're heading to the Swiss Capital between now and Christmas, it's an experience not to be missed!

SHOP THE LOOK

Plaid Dress by Superdry   |   Faux Fur Stole by Monsoon   |   Watch by Caravelle   |   Boots by Russell & Bromley   

We stayed at The Bellevue Palace in Bern, with flights from London Southend via SkyWork airlines.

xoxo

Falling for Bern

The last time I visited Bern, I was probably about 14 (I'll no doubt get a text from mum if this is in fact not correct!) and most definitely more interested in where my next Trolli Burger or Milka bar was coming from rather than being on the lookout for great food and cute little boutiques, so this trip was an eye-opener. I saw Bern for the first time, and, I think I fell a little bit in love with the city!

There was something so familiar about Bern, each corner we turned revealed another adorable cafe or view of chalets nestled onto the mountain side; the locals were all so friendly and eager to show off their city, and there is something so elegant about the Swiss. We were invited to a Matin�e concert performance in the Old Town's Konzerttheater - an experience that transported me back to a time when  we didn't need technology or fancy pyrotechnics to be entertained. A hefty city guide is on it's way for you, but until then, here's the outfit that I wore for our second day of exploring the beautiful city...

Gilet by Topshop   |   Roll Neck by Topshop   |   Skirt by ASOS   |   Fur Headband by Superdry   |   Bag by Mulberry    |   Boots by Russell & Bromley   

How would you dress for a day exploring the city?

xoxo

Bern Old Town

Last weekend I was invited to Bern, Switzerland, to discover the Art & Culture within the Swiss Capital - a trip I quickly accepted as not only would I be able to indulge in my Swiss Chocolate cravings, but also discover more to the city that I'd always seen glimpses of during ski holidays when I was younger, but never properly explored.

A capital city is usually a bustling city, larger than life with an unmistakable buzz and mayhem, but not in Switzerland. Bern is tiny, it has an unmistakeable Swiss charm - imagine Farrow & Ball green-grey buildings, sleepy clock towers and cobbled streets, wrapped up by the River Aare. In fact with a population of just 180,000 the streets are never busy, you'd never guess that it's the Swiss capital. Despite its cosy size, Bern lacks nothing in character - with majestic views of the Bernese Alps and boasting former inhabitants such as Albert Einstein and Paul Klee.

We spent the first day exploring the Old Town, wandering the wide scobbled streets lined with beautiful shuttered buildings - we could almost have slipped back a few centuries as we watched the sparkling fountains (including a rather disturbing one of an ogre snacking on a baby.) and explored the inner workings of a clock tower. 

SHOP THE LOOK

Our city walk took us riverside to the Nydegg Bridge, where we passed Bern's famous brown bears in there B�ren Park, before we climbed up to the Rosengarten. When I posted a snap that I was in Bern up on my Instagram, Swiss locals were quick to recommend the restaurant which overlooks the city, surrounded by a rose garden with more than 200 varieties of the flower. We enjoyed a three course lunch while overlooking the silhouetting city's spires and glassy green river.

WHAT I WORE

Jacket by Lipsy   |   Jumper by Jaeger   |   Leggings by Millie Mackintosh   |   Boots by Emu   |   Bag by Mulberry   |   Headband by Superdry   |   Glasses by Ray Ban   |   

Have you ever visited Bern? Let me know your favourite spots in the city!

xoxo

Discovering Tom Ford

There's something decidedly old school about Tom Ford makeup. Whether it's the luxe black and gold packaging which evokes thoughts of the couture ranges from the man himself, or the timeless colour range of the products which feels as though they were designed with me in mind. Perhaps that's the magic of Tom Ford beauty - it's luxurious, almost inaccessible, and yet you instantly feel as though you were meant to wear it. It's more pricey than other designer beauty ranges, so I just had to put the products to the test to let you know if they're worth the splurge! 

I began with the mascara (applied to the left eye in the image above), which promises to transform lashes with optimal glamour and drama. I have small eyes, so rely on mascara to intensify my makeup look, and it has to be long lasting! I found the wand very easy to use, it's tapered and has a slight angle, and delivers plenty of the mascara to each lash, instantly adding length and volume in just a couple of strokes. The finished result is a dramatic yet delicate lash, and thankfully they lasted all day with no crumbling or smearing, surviving even my runny eyes on a chilly Autumn morning!

Before we continue, I must apologise for the airbrush effect that I've used for my skin in these photos! If you watch my vlogs you'll have heard me complaining about a strange reaction that I've been suffering from on my cheeks, and I didn't want this to detract from the makeup which I wanted to focus on, so I decided to just blur it out!

Back to the brows. I used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in the shade Taupe. I'm not typically a fan of this type of brow pencil - a calligraphy type waxy pencil tip, I usually prefer a very thin pencil type brow product like the Anastasia Brow Wiz, but the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor changed my mind. Easy to apply and create natural looking shape and depth to the brows, I found the colour match incredibly natural, and even in the areas where my brows are very sparse, the Brow Sculptor added colour and definition in the most natural way. The packaging is stunning, and in the opposite end is a handy spoolie to neaten brows once you've finished shading, as well as a sharpener hidden inside.

- Deep Mink -

- So Vain - 

Ah the lipsticks! This is where I truly feel that the beauty products were made with me in mind! Tom Ford beauty has all of my favourite lip shades covered, for an everyday but glamorous lip colour, the Deep mink and So Vain shades are amongst the most beautiful lip colours that I've ever tried. The colour payoff is gorgeous - an intense colour payoff with a surprisingly balmy soft texture. A natural shine but without being glossy is a nice change to my usual matte finish, and much more comfortable to wear now that the weather is getting cooler. At �38, they are most definitely a splurge for most of us, so these incredibly wearable shades are the ones that I'd be most tempted to splash out on - they are timeless classics which add a priceless elegant finish to even the simplest of makeup looks.

And finally, Lips & Boys. I mean, what a great name! They're hard to get your hands on, but with 50 shades to choose from it's worth searching for them because you're bound to fall in love with a shade or two! A personal favourite is this deep red, plum, autumnal shade named 'Wes'. It's fortunate that it's so tiny, perfect for popping in your clutch bag - as the lasting power is not fantastic. It's my only fault with this lipstick, and when you're used to matte lip products which don't need touching up for hours, it's more noticeable when wearing a glossier shade that needs frequent reapplication. The colours work well when you blot with tissue, and this helps with the lasting power without softening the colour.

Another beautiful shade which i'll be picking up more frequently when we reach spring time is Addison - a very girly pink shade but without the 'cheap' look that so many pale pinks can give. So often I avoid the girly shades, worried that they detract from an otherwise elegant makeup look, but Tom Ford have developed a shade that ticks all the boxes for a perfect pretty shade while still looking classic, and beautiful.

Also in the images above, is the Tom Ford Nail Polish in the shade Toasted Sugar. While I'm yet to apply it (never have I regretted my Shellac decision so much!) the shade is beyond beautiful, and destined to become my everyday colour.

Overall, a luxurious and beautiful range, from the packaging to the product inside. Tom Ford has encapsulated the exclusivity and desirability of his couture ranges in his beauty range and it's most definitely one to your 'must try' list!

These products were kindly sent to me for review purposes and so that I could share them with you! Find out more on my Disclaimer.

Have you tried Tom Ford beauty? Which products would you most like to discover?

xoxo

SHOP THE RANGE