Minty Fresh

There is something so refreshing about this hue. Whether it's on my nails or wrapped around my body, I am definitely enjoying this shade. It's very spring-like, and on trend for this season.

I wouldn't say this is my perfect mint-coloured varnish - this is something that I am yet to find, but nevertheless it is very appealing to me. It's a little bit too green. I love the way this goes on. The brush is U-shaped, so fits neatly around my cuticles, giving the perfect professional finish. I never paint my nails all the way down to the cuticle; ever since I started getting manicures, I realised that this looks so much neater and polished.

The application is good, considering with pastel-y shades it can become streaky. Two coats provide an opaque finish, and it finish is pretty long lasting. I decided to add some sparkle, so went for this 'rainbow' glitter that sends of different colours in the light and seems to complement the mint wonderfully, that I picked up in a supermarket in Kenya... So random, so me.

Thanks for reading!

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?