Grey is the new black

Firstly I want to apologise for using the stock image – I had the worst time trying to photograph this product. In fact, I didn’t even get as far as photographing it because I managed to smash it all over my kitchen floor, sending grey paint flying everywhere. I did, however, manage to get a sneaky shot of my nails after I had painted them. Apologies again for the lighting, it was taken just before bedtime and I wasn’t planning on using this photo at all.

Despite my mishap I still wanted to share this product with you because I absolutely adore the colour grey. I love how versatile it is and how it allows you to tone it down for daytime chic as well as mixing it up for night time glam. Either way the colour grey is hot and looks even hotter on nails too.

Maybelline’s Colour Show nail polish in Cool Touch is fantastic for wearing day and night. It has a slight blue-grey tone to it, neither looking too dark or light and will suit any skin tone too. After two coats it is fully opaque and it has a pretty good shelf life. It is safe to say that this colour has certainly made its way onto my list of summer shades, despite now having to repurchase again because of my clumsiness!

I bought Maybelline Colour Show nail polish in Cool Touch for £2.99/7ml from Boots.

Can you recommend any other grey colours that I should add to my collection? Leave your comments below!

Bad beauty habits

(image credit)

We all have a bad habit (or two) and I’m no exception, especially when it comes to the beauty side of things. So, after sitting down and contemplating this post, I soon began to realise that I have far more beauty habits that would seem necessary, so instead of dwelling on them I decided to share them with you in the hope that you would agree that they aren’t so bad after all…

Why scrub, when you can wipe…
I hate to boast but I’m pretty darn good in the mornings. Once that alarm has gone off, I’m up and ready for the day to begin. However…I am so god damn lazy, especially when it comes to my skin.

Pass me a face wipe and the moisturiser and I’m good to go. There’s no washing, water, creams or serums involved which is probably doing my skin more harm than good. But don’t panic, my skin does get some TLC at bedtime.

Little pickers wear big knickers
One of my mother’s favourite sayings when I was younger – from food to cuts and grazes, eyelashes and nails, I was always picking something and could never leave anything alone. It seems that I have carried this rather disgusting habit into my adult life too and it all comes down to one thing – nail polish! A good polish will last two days max on my nails before I scrape, scratch and pick at it until it’s virtually gone.

To get over this habit I recently tried gelish. This time it lasted a total of 7 days before it was gone…

Don’t break a bad habit
This has to be one of my most annoying habits to date. Not annoying for others, but more annoying for me. I am the most unadventurous person ever when it comes down to beauty. I often re-buy the same products, stick to the same colours and never have I ever stepped out of the house in a really daring lip colour. You want an example? Throughout most of my early twenties I was still using a foundation and moisturiser aimed at late-teenage skin. It took some persuading (by myself of course) to branch out and opt for more mature products.

Keeping it dirty
I am 100% guilty of not washing my make-up brushes regularly and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone too.

Washing make-up brushes should be an integral part of my beauty regime, however much I tell myself, it is not. Not only do they keep bristles softer for easier application but it stops them from spreading dirty, nasty germs too, which can cause niggling spots and blemishes.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post just as much as I enjoyed writing it. I would love to read your comments on whether you can relate to any of my bad habits or read your own bad beauty habit posts - put your links below!

My March favourites

This month I’m keeping it short, sweet and very simple – just like the three products that I have been loving this month.

L’Oreal’s Skin Perfection Purifying Gel Wash

Recently I rediscovered my love for facial cleansers and I’m pretty sure it’s because I’ve noticed a subtle change to my skin. Since using them more frequently (rather than just a face wipe) my skin is in much better condition. This is why L’Oreal’s Skin Perfection Purifying Gel Wash made it to the top of the list.

When I’m having a particularly grubby skin day, or when I simply don’t have the time, I find myself using this product for a quick pick-me-up. The gel-like product quickly turns into foam when mixed with water and is perfect at removing everyday dirt and grime, and even stubborn eye makeup too. It is also super light and washes off easily, leaving skin feeling refreshed.

What makes this product even more appealing is the price. It’s super cheap (at only £4.49/150ml) and you don’t need much at all – just a 20p sized dollop is plenty. L’Oreal Skin Perfection Purifying Gel Wash is available from Boots £4.49/150ml.
 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water

The second facial cleanser to feature in my monthly favourites is one that may not come as a surprise to you. What was once France’s best kept secret, has now found its way into British hands and by the looks of things it hasn’t let us down.

Pronounced as me-sellaire, the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water isn't as harsh as a standard face cleanser, which is why its great for sensitive skin. It also acts as a toner too, meaning that it becomes two skincare steps in one. The clever bit is the science behind it - like a magnet, the cleansing agents capture and lift away dirt from the skin meaning that you no longer have to scrub deep down to remove all of your make-up and daily dirt. 

I absolutely love this product from Garnier. It's so simple and extremely cheap to use - I picked up this one for £4.99 for 400ml in Boots. It's certainly worth the money and will last a heck of a long time too. 

Last but not least is the Stronger Nail Polish from Rimmel. 

Over the last month or so my nails have taken a bit of a battering. I have been applying, removing and reapplying nail polish like it is going out of fashion, which has meant that my nails have become really dry and brittle as a result.

Before heading out on Saturday night, I applied a layer over the top of normal polish. Although this was completely by accident (there was me thinking it was a top coat) and completely ruined my polish, I couldn’t help but notice how strong my nails were when I removed the colour. So after removing I applied it again on its own and a week later my nails are in the best condition they have been in a long time. They’re stronger and look ten times healthier, plus I’m bridesmaid for my friend on Thursday so this stuff has been a god-send. 

I wouldn’t advise applying on top of your normal polish though as it is in fact a heavy duty base coat. Enriched with calcium and Keratin, it adds strength to weak nails and helps to increase their strength against further damage. The Rimmel Stronger Nail Polish is available from most cosmetic stores (£4.49/7ml).

My January favourites

Back before I lost my blogging mojo I would give a round-up of my favourite beauty products that I'd been using that month. I’m not quite sure why I stopped, but I’ve decided to give it a whirl again. So here’s a quick recap of the products I’ve loved throughout January.

 

 

Soap & Glory Clean on Me Bath & Shower Gel
I received this gigantic product for Christmas as part of a gorgeous gift set from my best friend and I've not stopped using it since. I shower everyday and I'm not even a quarter way through yet - it really is huge!

 

Every beauty junkie knows that Soap & Glory products smell delicious and this product follows the same suit. It's floral, pink and girly, what more could a girl want? You can read my full review here.

 

Benefit Erase Paste
This miniature product was a sneaky treat for myself from Feel Unique a couple of months ago and it is ever so slowly replacing my trusty L'Oreal Touché Magique Concealer - my go-to concealer that I never thought I'd change.

It has taken me a little while to get used to the consistency of the concealer, as I have always been more comfortable using a lighter, creamier product. But after seeing how fantastic the coverage was, it has soon transformed itself into a real staple in my daily make-up routine. Not only does the Erase Paste completely cover blemishes and pesky fine lines I've recently discovered (!) but it has real staying power too. Usually a product as thick as this runs away from my face, but so far it has passed the test with flying colours. Now the real test will be in the summer!

Toni & Guy Hair Meets Wardrobe Shine Gloss Serum
Hair products have featured quite heavily on my blog recently and maybe it’s because of the weather. The damp, wet weather wreaks havoc on my hair causing a sleek and straightened look to turn into a frizzy mess within a matter of minutes. That was until I discovered this beauty in my Glossybox a couple of months ago.

 

I've always assumed serum was to be used as a way of protecting hair before styling, but this super lightweight formula controls frizz, smoothing flyaways and giving the illusion of a sleeker look that even Jen Aniston would be envious of.

The Shine Gloss Serum by Toni & Guy has soon turned into one of my daily essentials and a recommend must have purchase for the damper, winter months.

Barry M Matte Nail Polish
After seeing one of my closet friends post a picture of her matte black nails on Instagram, I can pretty much say I fell in love. I love how chic a good black nail polish looks and for me matte trumps gloss any day. The staying power of Barry M polishes can be a bit hit and miss but after 3 days there's not a chip in sight and that's without a top coat!

What have been your favourite products you've used during January? Can you recommend any? I'd love to see your links below.

nails inc. Lucky Dip #2

If any of you are signed up to the nails inc. newsletter, you would have seen the other day they were offering seven nail polishes for £18 - a bargain that I couldn't possibly miss and considering I've purchased from the nails inc. Lucky Dip before, it wasn't long before my bank card was out of my purse and I was typing the digits onto the screen.

My lucky dip this time around was just as good as the last. I love how they really mix up the colours.

Left to right: mortimer street, chancery lane and sloane gardens.

Left to right: richmond terrace, mayfair, pembridge crescent, mornington crescent.

I'm loving mayfair - a gorgeous pearly white;  richmond terrace - a rich, deep brown; and sloane gardens - a dark, glittery navy, perfect for the Christmas party season.

Nails inc. nail polishes are priced at £12 each. For more information visit www.nailsinc.com. 

Models Own Fruit Pastel Collection - Strawberry Tart

I love a good scented nail polish. In fact the first one I ever used was a Revlon product a couple of years ago. I love Models Own too, so naturally this was a match made in heaven for me. The only problems I find with pastel polishes, is they're incredibly hard to make perfectly opaque, especially when painting yourself, but Models Own haven't done half bad...



I wouldn't say this polish has an overly strong strawberry smell or that it lasts very long. But I'm a sucker for a gimmick. Plus it's a gorgeous colour too!

Nails Inc. Lucky Dip

I’m not sure how many of you have heard of Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert website, but recently it has become my go-to place for finding out how I can get more for less. Whether you’re after beauty product, the best savings accounts or vouchers for money-off, it offers a mine of information in one place.

Each week, Martin’s newsletter lands in my inbox and I scour it to see if I can bag myself a bargain. Two weeks ago I struck gold when I saw an offer from Nails Inc. – A lucky dip offer which allowed you to purchase 6 nail polishes for a total price of £19 including P&P. A fantastic offer, considering a single Nails Inc. nail polish costs around £10-£12. But what made this more exciting was the 'lucky dip' aspect - the 6 nail polishes were picked completely at random and not by me. I was a little apprehensive that they might not be the nicest colours, but for £19 I couldn't turn it down!

I waited two weeks for the package to arrive and I wasn't disappointed by the colours either...

Left to right: St Marks Square, Royal Ascot, Blenheim Terrace, Fitzroy Square Special Effects, Boltons Place and Camden Special Effects.

So far I have only worn Blenheim Terrace so far but I can't wait to try the rest.

www.moneysavingexpert.com
www.nailsinc.com

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Dark Denim

I love the Olympics. I mean, literally LOVE! When that time comes around every four years, I'm fixated to my TV. So I felt I should show how patriotic I am, through my nails.

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro Polishes are one of my favourite nail polish brands. The colours pop and the paint lasts a lot longer than most others I've tried.

I bought mine for £4.09 from Boots.

Models Own in Red Red Wine

Models Own in Red Red Wine

I've recently started a new job, which means I'm now working in a building 5 minutes walk from town. This is quite dangerous for my purse. And this was proven the other day when I managed to spend £30 in Boots on my lunch break.

One of the purchases was this gorgeus deep red nail polish from Models Own - a brand I've never bought anything from before. I'd been after a red nail polish for ages, because I didn't own one, but I'm not a huge fan of the bright, traditional red polishes. So this one, which is slightly deeper in colour, is perfect.

While I picked this up, I noticed that at the moment if you buy two items from the Models Own brand you get a free gold nail polish too.

Available from Boots for £5.

Are there any Models Own shades you'd recommend?

Little BU Nail Polish

My niece (who's three years old...) is always diving into my make-up bag. Digging out the latest blushers and lipsticks, ready to decorate her own face with. Unfortunately for me, this means my lipsticks end up with teeth dents and my blusher is damp (she thinks everything is lipstick...) But not only does she like make-up, but she loves having her nails painted too, which is why I was extremely excited to hear about this product.

Little BU was designed with little girls in mind. A nail polish that's non-toxic, water-based and odour-free and it's safe for even the smallest of girls to use. So I gave the nail polish a go myself...

I was quite surprised to find that the consistency was quite thick and it took rather a long time to dry. But once dry, it was a perfect shade of purple metallic, with a lovely sheen too. The nail polish doesn't come with that awful toxic smell - infact, it doesn't smell at all, which is fantastic for young girls. However, after doing the washing up I'd noticed that the colour had faded and on some fingers, disappeared completely. Although this was bad for me, I think it's a really good idea for children. It means the nail polish will come off in the bath and you haven't got to worry about using harsh nail polish remover on their tiny nails.

Priced at £9.95, I think it's a little steep but its such a fantastic idea. You haven't got to worry about using any harsh chemicals on your little girl's nails. And with eight colours to choose from, I'm sure you can find a colour in your collection that'll match.

I got a free gift...

...with my October issue of Cosmopolitan - this gorgeous black and gold shimmer nail polish from Missguided.

Perfect for Christmas!

Barry M in Peach Melba

Summer may be over, but I'm certainly not putting a damper on my nails. Love this colour and it's perfectly streak-free after two coats.

OH MY GOSH again...

Before I head off on holiday, I wanted to quickly share with you two other colours from the GOSH Cosmetics OH MY GOSH nail polish collection.

L-R: 009 Colbolt Blue and 008 Bright Yellow

Again, I'm really impressed with the colours, especially the yellow because it gives great coverage after two coats. 

Quick update on my previous GOSH post - so far my nails have stayed chip-free, wahoo! I would certainly recommend this nail polish to anyone - the colours are bright, they give great coverage and they've lasted a lot longer than more expensive ones I've tried. Plus they're less than £3! It's such a shame they're only available for a limited time, so hurry!

OH MY GOSH

OH MY GOSH in Peachy Rose from GOSH Cosmetics

I'm SO impressed with the colour of this polish. It's bright and vibrant and the perfect consistency too. For £2.99 I think it's a fantastic price - I've tried a lot worse for high prices. This was after two coats and you can see the coverage is brilliant too.

I'd highly recommend this product to anyone who's after vibrant colour for a budget cost, but you have to get them quick as they're only available from Superdrug stores and online (www.superdrug.co.uk) throughout July. With 20 shades available, you better get there quick!
PR sample

Bourjois 10 Day Nail Enamel

I was super excited when I received this the other day - Bourjois' 10 Day Nail Enamel.

I don't know about you, but I hate chipped nails. It bothers me a lot when on holiday, so I thought this was perfect and couldn't wait to put it to the test.

On first application, the colour is more red than expected (I'm wearing 17 - Bougainvillea, a light raspberry colour). It comes with an angled brush, designed to make touch-ups easy, but I found it hard to get on with. It was difficult to apply a straight edge around my cuticles, which is why mine look a mess. After two coats my nails look like this...

Bourjois claim the nail enamel lasts up to ten days. What they don't tell you is that the colour only lasts up to seven and the touch up brush is used to bring the colour back to life again for another three days. I was interested to see how long the polish lasted without touch ups, so left it on for seven days to give it a fair trial.

Day 3



Day 5

Day 7

When I first received this product, I kind of liked the idea and I must admit, I still do. If I'd used the touch up brush then I'm sure my nails would have looked fab and considering it took 7 days to chip as much as this, then its not half bad - I've worn a lot worse! But it did stain my nails and I'm having to go au naturel to give my nails a break. But that's what you get for not applying a base coat - lesson learnt!

The Bourjois 10 Day Nail Enamel is available now for £5.99 and there are 12 shades to choose from. What do you guys think?

Maybelline Forever Strong in Rosy Sand

Following on from Thursday's post my NOTD is this cute cappuccino colour from Maybelline. I have been wearing this since Saturday and it hasn't yet chipped, which is absolutely fab because I chip my polish after a couple of hours usually.

Please ignore the state of my nails, I'm having huge problem with them breaking at the moment, so if you have any tips they'd be much appreciated!

Maybelline Forever Strong Pro Nudes

l-r Ivory Rose, Nude Rose, Rose Poudre, Rosy Sand and Taupe Couture
If you know me well, then you know I love a good nude/pink nail polish. You only have to look at my collection and you'll spot a running trend. Therefore how excited was I to see that Maybelline were introducing a nude collection of nail polishes just in time for spring.

There are five colours in the collection ranging from a light pale pink to a dark brown, with each one individually chosen by nail expert David Barton.

I had a go at all five and each of the colours are absolutely gorgeous. To make them fully opaque you will definitely need two coats on each and possibly even three with Taupe Couture.

Each polish is £4.09 and the whole range will be available to buy from March

Avon Nailwear Pro in Gunmetal

I've decided to jump on the bandwagon and do a nail varnish of the day, so here you go...

Avon's Nailwear Pro in Gunmetal (£6)

A gorgeous grey shade with a slight hint of blue sparkle. For super quick drying nails I used this handy product (below) from Avon - Liquid Freeze Quick Dry Nail Spray (£6). Its very greasy, as you can see from the photo, but its fab at drying your nails in an instant...and I mean an instant. One spray and bob's your uncle!

I have another three shades of nail polish from Avon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Revlon Scents of Summer

Yes I know, you're probably thinking more nail varnishes? But I just had to share this with you...these scented nail varnishes from Revlon.


I was lucky enough to get my hands on three of shades, (l-r) Pretty in Papaya, Peach Smoothie and Beach.


To start with I was super impressed with the shades, especially Peach Smoothie - my fave - which contains a gorgeous subtle shimmer. Although it took three coats to make it opaque, it’s an elegant colour that will suit any skin tone. As for the smell, Beach stood out the most but only because it had more of a fresh, air freshener smell to it - not that it wasn't unpleasant, it just wasn't expected. Peach Smoothie surprisingly smells like peach and Pretty in Papaya also smells a little fruity, but not too strong. Each nail varnish makes me excited for summer and considering it’s been quite miserable recently, it couldn't come around sooner.

The Scents of Summer collection is available between March and August, with eight shades to choose from - I can't wait to get my hands on Bubblegum and Passion Fruit - I hope they smell as good as they sound.

Have you tried any of the Scents of Summer yet? And what's your verdict?

GOSH Limited Edition Spring...

If you’re a fan of GOSH then you'll be pleased to know they're introducing a new limited edition range of nudes, just for Spring. With gorgeous floral packaging, it makes a change from their trademark black which can sometimes get overlooked.

The collection will brighten up any make-up bag and comes with two current nail varnishes, Miss Mole and Miss Sweety, both are £5 and two current lipsticks Cappuccino and Nougat at £6.49 each.

The whole collection is available from Superdrug stores from mid February.