Big Hair Days

My hair and I, we don't get on. At all. We're like frenemies. Ever since I can remember, my hair has been big. And not in a good way. More like a fuzzy way. So as soon as I was old enough to care, I used to straighten it with my faithful GHDs.

Since then, my hair has definitely changed. In the sense that I chopped it all off, much to the dismay of my mother, and I haven't looked back. My hair is no longer fuzzy, although it does tend to go a little unruly when left to it's own devices (very rarely) or in extreme humidity.

I've grown out of the straighteners phase too. Actually I despise them. They make my thick hair look flat and lifeless. Never a good look. For the past two years or so, I have been using Babyliss Big Hair Hot Styler Brush, and I can honestly say I love it. It gives you that just walked out of the salon look that makes you feel shiny and happy.

I must admit that I am rubbish when it comes to my hair. I don't follow any particular regime, and I don't treat it to any fancy treatments. I feel a little guilty now. The only thing I do once I've washed my hair, is to Babyliss it.


"Use on damp or nearly dry hair and let the large rotating barrel easily create that all-essential volume, while the soft bristles give your hair an amazingly shiny finish."

I started off using the previous model, which didn't have the rotating barrel. That worked like a dream, and when it died on me, I upgraded. It retails at between £40-£45, and I got mine on Amazon. I'm hopeless at blow-drying my hair the regular way, ( lack of hand co-ordination, especially when looking in the mirror) so this is perfect for me. It takes some getting used to, let me tell you. It rotates in both directions, and I can't say I haven't pressed the wrong button at the wrong time, resulting in a little bit of a mess... but once you've practised some you'll become quite the dab hand at it. It takes me about 20 minutes to do my whole head now, and I get a little bit of a work out on my arm. I don't think my short hair makes the most out of the wide barrel, but it still works a treat. I'd say it's worth a go!

*cheese*

Have you tried the Hot Air Styler? What did you think?

Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24 Hr

Considering I only have two eyes and I only wear eyeshadow when I'm going out, I own an awful lot. Nevertheless, when something new and shiny comes out, I just can't say no. I saw these Maybelline cream shadows on several of my favourite blogs, heard good things about them (here and here) and so was keen to try them out for myself.

They are £4.99 each, and were 3 for 2 in Superdrug. The colours I got were On and on Bronze, Endless Purple and Eternal Gold. On and on Bronze is definitely my favourite out of the entire range. The colours are very pigmented, and they apply very easily (I used my fingers) and then set to a dry finish.

I was going out for dinner with some friends after work on Friday, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to trial the longevity of these eye tattoos. I did feel a bit overdressed on the underground that morning, but it was all in the name of science...

My hopes were high after everything I read. And I was sorely disappointed. I opted to wear Endless Gold on this particular occasion, and although I'm a bit iffy when it comes to gold on my eyes, I was initially impressed. But along with the shadow, this didn't last. After about 6 hours, my eyelids were crease central. Luckily I took it along with me in case of an emergency, so I topped up to cover the damage. My eyelids aren't particularly oily, and I applied primer before the cream, so I'm not sure if this had anything to do with it. I won't be striking this product off just yet as I do love the colours, and am hoping it was just an unfortunate incident!

Have you tried any of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos? What did you think?

Pink Pop

"What colour shall I paint my nails?" - one of the most common questions I find myself asking every few days. Having now put this in writing, I do believe it makes me sound like a bit of an airhead, which, I reassure you I am not... But when you have over 100 colours, it can seem like the most difficult question of the moment. So after asking my entire household (when I say entire, it's only 4 people) it was a unanimous decision.

Ta-da!

I love love love this colour! It looks amazing on tanned skin, and on depressing days all I need to do is look down at my bright talons and POP, smiles all round! This nail varnish is by LA Colors, which you can get from Beauty Base for 99p. Bargain! Now obviously at that kind of price, you're not going to get the best quality polish, but beggars can't be choosers. In all honesty, it's not too bad, I have tried some other more expensive brands that have been worse.

The formula is just right, not too runny or too thick, although I have had mine for quite a while, and what is left in the bottle is drying out a little. It doesn't really last longer than a few days, after which you will start seeing some tip wear. There are so many different colours in this polish, from creams to glitters to shimmers and frosts. For 99p you really cannot go wrong.

I always paint my nails before I go to sleep, and to avoid that annoying quilt print you get when your nails aren't quite dry, I use China Glaze Fast Forward Top Coat, which literally has them dry within minutes. This grandma does not have the patience for drying nails!

Have you tried any LA Colors polishes? What do you think of them?

Gaga Eau La La

The latest offering from Sleek is the Eau La La liner, a smudgeproof and waterproof multifunctional pencil that comes in 20 vibrant shades. Each pencil can be used on the lips, eyes and eyebrows, although having said that, I'm not sure who would want to try out a green brow...but each to their own!

I spotted these in Superdrug, and Melba and Red Sky Night were the two that appealed to me most. Both shades are perfect for spring, whenever it decides to show up! I would use them on my lips, either as a liner or to fill in my whole lip, rather than as an eye liner.

The formula is quite creamy, however to fill in my whole lip I did apply some lip balm beforehand, as it was rather drying. I also rubbed in some of my L'Occitane Moisturising Lip Balm over the top, as the end result was slightly sticky. This also gave a glossy finish. Sleek have dubbed the Eau La La range as the 'ultimate in liner luxury'. Although the range offers a nice variety of hues, I don't think I would go that far.

Melba is an aptly named peachy number, perfect for a pop of colour on a rainy day. Which we seem to be seeing many lately.

Red Sky Night may deceive you by the name, as it is actually a rosey pink, with no hints of red. I'm quite partial to this shade on my lips; it goes well with my skin tone, and it is a nice alternative to a nude, when you fancy some colour without being too much.

I would be quite interested in picking up one of the darker shades to try out on my brows. What do you think of the Eau La Las? Have you tried out any other shades?

Spikes and Things

I am in love with this necklace! I don't really wear much jewellery, but I will always wear a chunky necklace to bring an outfit together, or dress it up a little. This actually showed up on my Facebook news feed, on the Look magazine page, and as soon as I saw it I had to get it! New Look have got some lovely neck pieces in, and I've bagged a few lately. I'm not really into silver jewellery, I definitely wear more gold.

It comes in white/gold and black/gold, and although I was originally drawn by the black, I thought I'd go for the white as it was more summery, and it made a nice change. The gold spikes give the necklace a little bit of an edge, and lend it some drama.

I wore this out shopping today(any excuse really). I always like to be comfortable when going shopping, and keep my handbag as small as possible. Who wants to be hoarding the weight of the world on their shoulder as well as carting around all their purchases?! I fell over the other day *cringe* and sprained my ankle so my lovely friend went and got me these pumps so I could get home in one piece. I have become so clumsy lately and have developed a very embarrassing habit of falling over in public.

Top - Topshop
Trousers - H&M
Pumps - H&M
Bag - Matalan
Sunglasses - Chanel
Ring - Topshop

What is your accessory must have?

So Fresh, So Clean

When reading through beauty blogs, there are some products which you see over and over again, because they work so well and everyone loves them. One such product is the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish. And I jumped right on that band wagon.

Flawless and glowing, the two words everyone wants to hear about their skin. I am on a mission to have such skin, and have it I will! I have normal skin with a few dry patches here and there, so I am quite lucky. I have never suffered from acne, and only get the odd blemish here and there. But as ever, that is not quite good enough.

Cleanse and Polish comes in a pump bottle, with two muslin cloths. Silky in texture, the product has a very herbal scent, which automatically alludes to cleanliness and freshness. It's ingredients include cocoa butter, known for its moisturising effects, and eucalyptus, chamomile and rosemary essential oils. 

You start off by rubbing the product onto your face and neck with your fingers, removing any traces of dirt and make-up; the cleansing stage. Then you use the muslin cloth to remove dead cells and polish your skin for a radiant finish. 

And radiant it was. Well, sort of. My skin automatically felt so much softer, and it looked, well, clean. I removed my make-up with a wipe before using the cleanser, and there were still traces left on the muslin cloth, which just goes to show that the wipes do not remove everything. I use it twice a day, morning and night, and I think it has definitely made a difference.

I would must definitely recommend this product to anyone who hasn't tried it. What are you waiting for? 

Have you tried any Liz Earle products? What is your favourite cleanser?

Blue hair days

The closer we get to spring, the worse the weather gets. Today was definitely a day for tights. I love the ribbon neck tie and the floral embroidery on this mustard blouse, and the leather panelled skirt vamps up any outfit. I decided to wear my granny patent loafers, which probably wasn't a good idea in this torrential rain.

Blouse - ASOS

Skirt - Topshop

Shoes - Dorothy Perkins

Having looked through the photos after I've had a shower and removed my make-up and put my jim jams on, I've realised my skirt is twisted and my hair isn't right. And if you hadn't noticed yet, you have now. Oops.

Rings - Topshop

You might be able to tell from the photos that the ends of my hair are blue. This is because I allowed my niece to colour the ends with a wash-out spray she bought from Claire's. I must be going soft in my old age. The can then decided to run out on us halfway through my hair. Epic fail. But, anything for the kids. It certainly kept us amused for 10 minutes.

See you next time!

Short and Sweet

Carrying on the pastels theme, I went for a bubblegum pink, called Blancmange. This Filthy Gorgeous polish went on like a dream. Some lighter pink shades are prone to streaking, but I had no problems with this one, two coats were enough for an opaque finish.

Filthy Gorgeous nail polishes are available online and in Debenhams, and retail at £9 each.I picked up four for £10 at the Vitality Show last month, which was quite a bargain! I've never worn any of their polishes before, but I have to say I'm quite impressed with the colours I got.

I've had it on since Friday, and as you can see there's been hardly any tip wear. Laziness meant that I gave a topcoat a miss, so it gets the thumbs up from me!

What do you think of Filthy Gorgeous polishes? What shade are you wearing at the moment?

Flower Power

As soon as I saw these floral beauts in the H&M ads, I wanted them. I was like a mad woman wandering around the shop in my lunch hour every day trying to track them down and then walking out empty handed; I wouldn't be surprised if they thought I was a shoplifter!

So I finally found them the other week, and I snapped up my size before you could say sold. I've worn them once before, but when I put them on this morning, they felt really loose. Oh well. So I decided to keep them pretty simple by pairing them with a white shirt, and then added an orangey peach blazer for a pop of colour.

I'm sick of wearing boots and other such restrictive footwear, so I decided to brave the elements and wear some peep toes. Bad choice. It may have been sunny but it most definitely was not warm. My original intention of taking some pics outside soon evaporated - just the thought of it made me shiver. I've had these shoes for years and I just love the fringing.

Shirt - Next

Blazer - H&M

Trousers - H&M

Shoes - Faith (old)

Necklace - Topshop (old)

What new things are you loving at the moment?

Get on your dancing shoes!

I have been on the lookout for the perfect pair of black heels for what seems like ages. Not a shoe, but not quite a sandal, not too high, not too chunky... the list went on. And after months of searching, I finally stumbled upon the perfect pair from Zara. Surprisingly enough, I didn't snap them up straight away, but instead waited a couple of days (what was I thinking?!).

I finally succumbed and ordered these bad boys last Monday, and because of the Easter weekend, it feels like I've been waiting forever for them to arrive! But what's a few more days after many months?

I ordered them into the store, and I literally could not wait to get home and get my tootsies into them. Et voila!

The upper is suede/leather and at first try, they feel so comfortable! The elevated platform means they're not actually that high, which means (hopefully!) I can last the whole night in them. I'm going to Vegas next month for a hen-do, *woop* so shall definitely be taking them with me! They're available online in black and a lovely orangey red.

There are so many things I want from Zara right now, including another 5 pairs of shoes! Twittersphere has been blowing up with everyone discussing Zara and I don't blame them! Their spring range looks good enough to eat, with all the pretty pastels and neon brights, and I can't wait to get back in there and have a proper look around.

What new purchases have you made lately? Are you loving Zara at the moment?

Nailed it!

I went through a phase where I was obsessed with nail art, and if I wasn't doing something to my own nails I'd be doing my sisters' or my friends' nails. So when I saw The WAH Nails Book of Nail Art on Amazon, I snapped it up in an instant.

If you haven't heard of WAH nails, then you must be living under a rock. Based in Dalston, Topshop Oxford Street and Westfield Stratford, they specialise in nail art, and their designs are all free hand. If you haven't been down to one of their salons already, I suggest you make yourself an appointment pronto!

MAC Steamy & No7 Poolside Blue

It's a dinky little book, with a brief history on the store, and 25 step-by-step nail art designs you can try out for yourself. I had a go at the 'Camouflage' design, partly because I already had the yellow base coat on! I used a nail art brush I got off eBay, and it was really easy as it doesn't require you to be really neat.

What do you think of nail art? Do you prefer a simple nail or are do you like them wild and wacky?

Morning madness

Anyone who knows me will know that I love my sleep. I would much rather spend an extra fifteen minutes in bed than get up when my alarm tells me to. As you can imagine, this means I have to get ready at a supersonic speed. So that I don't waste time in the mornings, I usually choose my outfit the night before. If I didn't, I would be umming and aahing the entire time!

Onto my everyday make-up routine. I don't really wear a lot of make-up during the day, so if I'm lucky, it takes me a maximum of 10 minutes. There have been so many times where I just cannot be bothered, but my bare face may be enough to frighten some unfortunate commuters, so I like to think I'm doing my best for mankind.

After cleansing, I moisturise. I've recently started using the much-raved about Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentre. I can't say I've noticed a huge difference in my skin yet, but it has only been a few days. After this I apply a thin layer of Illamasqua Skin Base on the areas that really need it. The only cake I like is edible. I use Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, and although it covers well, I find it quite creasey.

The one thing I probably can't go without is eyeliner, as this really opens up my eyes. I've been using Clinique cream liner for ages, but have now switched to L'Oreal Super Liner as I find this much quicker. I've never really been a fan of pen liners, but I would definitely recommend this one. The tip is firm but not hard, and the colour is very black. Sometimes with the Clinique I find it can go sheer and I need to apply more coats.

As I'm lazy, on most days I give mascara a miss. If I have a few seconds to spare, I use Rimmel Scandal Eyes mascara. But curl first, otherwise it goes clumpy!

Depending on my mood, (and the weather), I either pop on a pink blush or a bronzer. And there we have it. I did put a clock in my bathroom so I can keep an eye on the time, but about a week later the batteries died and I haven't replaced them since. Epic fail.

Fifteen minutes later I'm running out the door with a snack to eat on the way, thinking why didn't I wake up on time?! Maybe I'll wake up earlier tomorrow, but then maybe I won't...

*insert cheesy photo here*

How long do you spend on your morning routine? Do you find it difficult getting up?

Let the sun shine

If there is only one thing you need to know about me, it is this. I love nail polish. Almost to the point of it becoming an obsession. When it comes to nails, there is nothing i despise more than chipped polish. No polish is definitely better than badly groomed talons.

So on this miserable grey day, I decided to shine some light by adorning my nails with OPI's Banana Bandanna. Rather than a bright yellow, this is more of a muted tone, and definitely easier on the eyes. I tend to shy away from yellow polishes as I don't think they suit my skin tone, but this one may be an exception to the rule. In the bottle it has a subtle pearlescent effect to it, however this does not pay off on the nail.

It is quite a sheer polish, so two coats are required for an opaque colour. I'm loving the pastel colours that are out at the moment, they remind me of sweets and hot summer days.

Let's hope my nails encourage the sun to come out tomorrow! What do you think about yellow polish?

The first step is always the hardest...

...or so they say. After hours of sitting here trying to get to grips with this blogging malarkey, i think I've finally managed to figure it out! Here's to hoping it gets easier.

As this is our first time meeting, I won't keep you too long. This blog will feature several of the things I love, so expect to see lots of make-up, clothes and shoes.

Until next time!