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!

March Splurge

Although the chief purpose of this blog is to sniff out the best beauty bargains, sometimes I have to admit that luxury products are simply superior, and worth shelling out for. My favourite beauty product in the whole world right now is an example of this, so if you're planning to treat yourself to one naughty thing this payday, make it the Molten Brown Mer-rouge Deep Conditioning Mask (£23), the best hair conditioning treatment I have ever used by a country mile.

I got this conditioning mask from my parents Father Christmas this year, having never heard of it before. I'm on a bit of a crazy mission to keep my hair in perfect condition at the moment - I've given up my straighteners for lent and only wash my locks every four days in order to keep them strong and promote growth, so I was excited to try it out. I've been using it for about three months now, and I never want to be without it! Here's the jargon from the Molten Brown website:

- Atlantic Ocean mer-rouge seaweed deeply conditions
- Vegetable proteins help enrich and smooth
- Intensive conditioners help soften, detangle and reduce risk of breakage
- Amino acid to help improve shine,


but all you really need to know is that this mask will make your hair incredibly soft, hydrated and shiny after just one usage, and the natural ingredients mean that the treatment is actually benefitting your hair, rather than coating it in chemicals that trick you into thinking it looks and feels healthier whilst actually drying it out. I try to use this treatment once a week, and my hair really misses it if I forget. Besides the obvious benefits to your hair, the mask has the most gorgeous aroma that I find incredibly relaxing; the perfect addition to a de-stress bath! Although you only need to leave this treatment in for a couple of minutes to reap the benefits, I prefer to leave it on for at least half an hour to give my hair a bit of a birthday. 

At £23, I am willing to admit that this isn't exactly a bargain. What it is, however, is good value for money - the tub is big and you don't need a lot of product to make a real differene to your hair. My clever Mum managed to find this half price in a Molten Brown outlet store in Portsmouth, where it was reduced as they have just changed the packaging, so if you live near an outlet store then go and have a snoop. Even at full price, I don't feel like I have much of a choice but to repurchase this when it runs out - it's as close to a miracle product as I'm ever going to get!

However......

If the Molten Brown is too expensive to be considered, give Mark Hill's Colour Hydration Bomb (£6.49) a go. It may not have quite the same effect as Mer-rouge, but it will still do a world of good to your hair at a fraction of the price.