10 top budget beauty tricks

Looking and feeling good can be an expensive task and sometimes a quick trip to Boots can turn into an hour-long beauty haul resulting in your bank account being £50 down afterwards. 

However maintaining your appearance doesn’t have to break the bank and you may not realise that some of the best beauty products available are actually already in your kitchen or bathroom cupboard. 

Here’s 10 top tricks for looking great on a budget.

Lemon water

Start each day with a cup of warm water and lemon juice, and you will notice a flatter stomach within 2 weeks. Lemon alkalizes the body, kick-starts the metabolism and improves digestion which in turn reduces bloating and aids weight loss.

Baking soda

For a smile that sparkles replace your toothpaste with baking soda 2-3 times a week. The soda will reduce plaque build-up, freshen breath and help to remove stains caused by smoking and drinking tea and coffee.

Sudocrem

When you feel a spot forming apply a dab of sudocrem before bed and see it disappear overnight. The antiseptic cream is also great for treating cold sores, burns, inflammation and rashes.

Coconut oil

Apply a thick layer of coconut oil to hair at night before washing off in the morning to reveal silky soft, super smooth and nourished hair. Coconut oil also makes a fantastic makeup remover, moisturiser, cuticle oil and shaving cream.

Talcum powder

More effective than dry shampoo, use talc to refresh hair in between washes. Sprinkle a little powder on the roots and be sure to rub it in properly to avoid white hair.

Apple cider vinegar

Mix 1 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar with water and gently apply over the face with a cotton pad. The solution will firm and tone, reduce acne and leave a clean, clear complexion. After washing, rinse hair with cold water and 2-3 tbsp. of vinegar to create a super glossy shine.

Yoghurt

For the ultimate skin firming, anti-aging face mask mix 3-4 tbsp. of natural yoghurt with 1 tbsp. of organic honey and a squeeze of lemon juice. Leave for at least 20 minutes before washing off to reveal tighter, brighter, more radiant skin.

Castor oil

Known for its ability to promote hair growth, castor oil is the perfect remedy for thicker brows. Apply generously over eyebrows at bedtime and you should notice thicker, model-worthy brows after 1 week.

Egg whites

One of the best natural skin care remedies, egg whites effectively tighten skin, reduce wrinkles and remove under eye bags. Apply 1 beaten egg white to the under eye area and leave for 30 minutes before washing off to reveal fresher, brighter skin.

Cinnamon oil

An active ingredient in many lip plumping serums, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow and enhance lips for a fuller look. Mix 2 tbsp. of cinnamon essential oil with 1 tbsp. of brown sugar and rub in a circular motion for several minutes to create a softer, plumper pout.

Do you have any budget beauty tricks? Share them below!

Holly xx

Inecto Naturals Coconut

Inecto are a British beauty brand who focus on 100% natural beauty using only sustainably sourced ingredients and organic oils. 

All of their products are vegetarian and vegan friendly, and are never tested on animals.

Having already tried several products from the Inecto Naturals Coconut range I was extremely excited to try the new Deliciously Rich Coconut Bath and Shower Cream and Super Scrub Coconut Body Scrub.

Both products smell equally delicious and automatically transport you to an exotic destination with their sweet tropical scent.

The Super body scrub is the perfect combination of small exfoliating beads and nourishing organic coconut oil which boosts circulation and buffs away dead cells leaving skin feeling silky smooth and sporting a healthy glow.

The bath and shower cream is exactly what it says on the bottle - thick, creamy and deliciously rich. The cream forms a luxurious lather that you can feel moisturising your skin as you wash leaving it clean, soft and smelling good enough to eat.

Both products have become an essential part of my summer skincare routine and are a definite must for getting beach body ready and preparing to slip into those sexy summer shorts.

Have you tried any products from the Inecto range? Which ones are your favourite?

Holly xx


*PR Samples

Healthy Homemade Coconut Almond Granola

As someone with a major sweet tooth, granola is a firm favourite on my list of breakfast foods.

Unfortunately store-bought granola can contain huge amounts of added sugar and hidden ingredients which make the seemingly 'healthy' breakfast, anything but.

After searching the internet for a healthier alternative, I felt inspired to make my own - and was extremely impressed with the results.

The recipe can be easily modified to suit any taste with endless ingredient options to create a variety of different flavours.

Here's my super easy recipe for a deliciously healthy granola that you can enjoy for breakfast, dessert or as a guilt-free treat when you need a little pick-me-up.

Ingredients

400g rolled oats

10g flaked almonds

4 tbsp dessicated coconut

1 handful of raisins

2 tbsp runny honey

2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)

100ml almond milk

A generous sprinkle of cinnamon

Makes 500g of granola (10 portions)

Preheat oven to 180C

Place all ingredients except the dessicated coconut in a mixing bowl and combine well using a large spoon or your hands

Spread evenly on a greased baking tray and place in the oven for 10 minutes

Carefully turn over the mixture then bake for a further 10 minutes until the oats are golden and crunchy

If you prefer a more 'baked' taste leave for a little longer - just make sure it doesn't burn

Remove from oven and leave to cool

Once cool, transfer mixture into a bowl and add the dessicated coconut and a little more cinnamon to taste

Store in an alright container and serve with almond milk, Greek yoghurt and blueberries. Mmm.

Feel free to share your own tips and recipes and let me know how you get on!

Holly xx

July

Another month over... only 4 months until Christmas!! *eek*

We are bang in the middle of summer and although the weather has been a little hit and miss I have enjoyed the little bit of sunshine we have had.

This month I said goodbye to my old uni flat and moved back home for summer. 

Home cooked food, a double bed and no laundry = heaven!

I have been back for 2 weeks and so far, so good, although knowing me it won't be long until I'm pining for my own space and counting down the days until I'm living alone again!

Last weekend we welcomed a new member to the family... meet Ralph the staffy!

He is an adorably cheeky bundle of joy and truly lives up to the name 'Wreck it Ralph', but we are in love with him and can't picture life without him now he's here.

As well as being licked, bitten and chewed to death, I have been enjoying long walks in the park, spending time with family and relaxing as much as possible before the hard work commences in September.

Over the next few weeks I plan to do more catching up with family and friends as well as taking part in my share of the puppy duty.

What have you been up to this month? Any exciting plans for August?

Holly xx


Here's a few pics from the last month...

Luxury showering with L'Occitane

Summer salad

#FreeFrom goodies from Holland and Barrett

Green smoothie goodness

Loving these flavoured lip balms from TK Maxx

Afternoon tea

Ralph with his big brother Spike

Homemade coconut almond granola

Sleepy Ralph

Coffee O'clock

Summer stripes

#ELLEinspire


For more pics follow me on Instagram @misshollyamber

Style Crush: Chrissy Teigen

If I could swap wardrobes with anyone for a day - without a doubt it would be Chrissy Teigen.

Whether she's dressed down and rocking off-duty chic or glammed up for red carpet event - she simply nails it every time.

On top of her amazing style, her down to earth, witty personality make her impossibly hard not to love. 

Chrissy is my ultimate girl crush!

Here are some of my favourite looks from the lady herself...

Which look do you like best? Who's your ultimate style crush?

Holly xx

Inecto Naturals Coconut range

I was recently contacted by Inecto to try out their newly-launched Naturals Coconut range.

Inecto are a British beauty brand who focus on 100% natural beauty using only sustainably sourced ingredients and organic oils. 

All of their products are vegetarian and vegan friendly, and are never tested on animals.

The Naturals Coconut range includes products for both the hair and body which aim to smooth, nourish, cleanse and add shine while indulging your senses in the delicious scent of natural coconut oil.

Very Smoothing Coconut Body Oil

Being a lover of all things coconut I couldn't wait to try out the Very Smoothing body oil. 

The fact that Inecto products are made using all natural ingredients that are not tested on animals is an added bonus - I am always keen to use products made using good quality, ethically sourced ingredients when possible.

The Very Smoothing body oil did not disappoint. Its sweet, nutty scent is utterly delicious and left my skin smelling good enough to eat! Unlike some coconut flavoured products which can smell highly synthetic and more like an air freshener than the actual fruit - this oil is the opposite and smells rich and decadent just as a coconut should.

The oil absorbed instantly and wasn't at all greasy which meant I could get dressed more or less straight away. My skin felt soft and nourished after use and was left with a healthy glow which made me look and feel instantly better.

Hello Hydration Coconut Hair Treatment

I usually wash my hair 1-2 times a week and always use an intense conditioning treatment on the ends. It gets dry and knotty very easily so I find that products specifically for dry/damaged hair work best for me.

The Hello Hydration conditioner is the perfect consistency - not too thick but not too runny - the texture is nice and creamy and a small amount goes a long way so I can imagine one bottle will last a while. 

The scent is just as delicious as the oil and made my showering time all the more enjoyable. I left the treatment on for 4 minutes before rinsing, then applied the hair oil when my hair was 70% dry before finishing with a hairdryer.

My hair had fewer tangles after using the treatment which made styling quicker and much less of a chore.

Divine Shine Coconut Hair Oil

I am always wary when using oil as my hair can get greasy easily. I started off using a small amount of the Divine Shine oil and applied it through the mid-lengths and ends of my hair when it was damp before blow drying and styling.

I tend to let my hair air dry around 70% then finish with a hair dryer and use a smoothing product to avoid it being too frizzy. This oil delivered a similar result to the OGX Keratin treatment I usually use and left my hair looking sleek and frizz free, and not weighed down or greasy.

The oil is dispersed using a small pump which makes applying very easy and prevents too much coming out at once, which can often be a problem. The scent is almost identical to the conditioning treatment and body oil, so again smells absolutely delicious -I could still smell it a few hours later.

Once dry my hair was beautifully soft and nourished, and both the oil and conditioning treatment delivered their promises and left my hair smoother, softer and more manageable after use.

I would definitely recommend both products to those with fine/normal hair like myself, who require products that nourish and de-frizz without weighing it down.


Have you tried any products from the Inecto range? Which are your favourites?

Holly xx



*PR Samples

June

As far as records for world's fastest month since records first began go, I think we have found a new contender.

Seriously, WTH did June go?!

The last month has been pretty awesome. To kick things off it was my birthday on June 4th. Another year older, another year wiser...

I had a fab weekend back home with my family which included a fun trip to an animal farm, a day out in the beautiful Cotswolds, a pamper day at the salon and being treated to lots of amazing presents, delicious food and birthday cookie!

Uni has now finished for the summer so I have been enjoying the free time and generally mooching about in the sun, indulging in some good chic lit and maybe a little bit of shopping - well who can resist all of those summer sales?!

I am excited to go back home for a couple of months in July. A change of scenery will be greatly welcomed as will the chance to spend more time with friends and family before the new term begins in October.

What have you been upto this month? Anyone else feeling envious of the endless holiday pics on social media? *sobs*

Holly xx


Here's a few pics from the last month...

 With my twin on my birthday

 Birthday cookie mmm

Pizza and cappuccinos in the sun

Now to burn it all off haha #Gym

Currently reading... I do love a bit of chic lit

Delicious healthy summer food

Love my #AdidasOriginals and #NikeFreeRuns

Home-made sweet potato and butternut squash curry... call me Nigella ;-)

Ready for an early morning workout

#ELLEinspire

Feeling Mediterranean with lunch

Summer essentials

No Sunday is complete without eggs and avo on toast!

Holding baby rabbits at the farm, SO cute!

A pink sparkly mani makes everything better

My Birthday...

For more pics follow me on Instagram @misshollyamber