The £2 Game-Changer

Hi all! I have recently fallen in love with one product in particular that if you aren't already using, you really need to be - and since it happens to be an almighty bargain, there really is no excuse.

The product in question is Superdrug's own brand Coconut Oil, and will set you back £2.29 for a 125ml tub (£1.50 if you're fast, it's currently on special offer). If you're a student like me, you can use your NUS card to claim an extra 10% off (although the store assisstant may look at you like you're the tightest person on the planet), rendering this product deliciously cheap.
The oil is sold at room temperature meaning that it will be in solid form when you buy it, to use you simply scrape some out and rub it between your fingers to melt it into liquid oil. The oil is fragrenced and hydrogenated,  meaning that it's not the purest stuff on the market, but I can vouch for the fact that it still does the job- plus it smells divine. If you'd rather stick to pure virgin coconut oil then have a look in Holland & Barrett or similar stores, where prices tend to start from about a tenner (albeit for a larger tub).

Superdrug's Coconut Oil is sold and advertised as a 'skin softener', but this is certainly not the only use for this product. Applying a small amount of oil to the very tips of your hair overnight acts as a lovely long drink for the dryest part of your barnet, and the ends will look and feel noticably softer and more hydrated after you wash it in the morning. Rubbing the oil into dry skin will instantly hydrate, and the moisture lasts longer than many body lotions or butters that I've used before. Rubbing a thin layer of oil onto your legs will make them look extra supple, a trick that I will definitely be cashing in on when (if) summer finally arrives and brings bare-legs weather. Finally, applying coconut oil on top of fake tan will help prevent the colour from running too, although make sure you put it on after rather than before or the oil will prevent the colour from taking to your skin.

As promised, this Coconut Oil is also a super-efficient skin softener. For the last week or so I've been rubbing the oil into my feet before bed and sleeping in socks, and the results are absolutely amazing. I've had manky feet for as long as I can remember, but one week in and they are almost unrecognisable; even my heels feel super soft - I will continue to buy this coconut oil for this  reason alone.

5/5 - go buy!

Budget vs Blowout - Hair Strenghtening Treatments

Even though I'm a big-time bargain lover, I always find myself tempted by the bigger name brands which tend to carry the higher price tag. Luckily, when it comes to hair products, I rarely have to splurge to try a higher end product thanks to my Aunt, an ex-hairdresser who likes to sample every shampoo, conditioner and treatment going, then pass them on to me after a few uses reveal that they aren't suitable for her super fussy hair.

 The last time I saw her, she donated a 250ml bottle of Redken Anti-Snap Leave In Conditioner. I was pretty pleased with this result as I'd been longing to try a Redken product for some time, but could never quite bring myself to spend twice as I'd usually pay for a highstreet alternative. At over £13 a bottle on Amazon, I'd usually consider this product to be out of my poverty stricken student budget (sobs).

In contrast, I recently decided I wanted to give coconut oil a try in wake of Moroccan Oil Mania (see my review of Avon's budget friendly version here), as it sounded like it could be a purse-friendly alternative. To quench my curiosity, I picked up Inecto Pure Coconut Oil Hair Repair Treatment from Amazon for £2.36, in the hope that I may have found a new favourite that I can actually afford!

The Redken treatment promises to strengthen hair and prevent split ends, as well as hydrating for instant results. I found that I didn't need to use too many pumps of the conditioner to be able to get good coverage of my ends, and the smell was pleasant too.
I didn't notice a massive difference in the feel of my hair immediately after using the Redken conditioner, but in the long term I have noticed a reduction in the amount of split ends - whether this is down to the conditioner or the fact that I have shorter hair than I used to, I'm not entirely sure. 

The Coconut Oil Hair Repair Treatment is a masque rather than a leave in conditioner, making it more of a hassle to use than the Redken strengthener, which you can just apply to hair and then blow dry as normal. The packaging promises that the treatment will nourish and hydrate hair making it softer and stronger, helping to prevent breakage and split ends. The smell of the Inecto product is divine (providing you like the smell of coconut as much as I do), and the scent lingers on your hair until you next wash it. My hair did feel immediately softer and shinier after rinsing the masque - more so than after using the Redken treatment - but the feeling fades fast, leaving me wondering whether the product is actually benefiting my hair at all in the long run.

Despite promising the same results,  I've found that I've been using these products for different reasons. The Redken Anti-Snap conditioner won't provide immediate benefits but will instead work its magic in the long run, whereas the Inecto conditioner is perfect for using before a special occasion, as it will leave your hair shiney, soft and smelling gorgeous. For under three quid I'd recommend investing in the Coconut Oil masque, but in light of the £13 price tag I probably won't be re-purchasing the Redken treatment when it runs out.