#TheWinterProject #1: Winter Nails

Hey beauts! Welcome to my first post for #TheWinterProject.  If you missed my introduction or don't know what I'm talking about, you can read my intro post here.  Week 1 concerns Winter Nails!!  For me, winter is all about ditching the brights and the pastels of summer time and digging out the deep burgundys, reds, dark greens and blues.  I actually did a post at the beginning of Autumn about my perfect nail collection for Autumn/Winter by Mavala. You can read that here.

I've been dabbling in Nail Art for well over a year now (since I was on maternity leave and needed to fill in my days before the baby was born) and I really enjoy it.  I love trawling the web for ideas and 'attempting' to try them out.  I must say I'm much better at doing them on a false nail wheel than on my actual nail, although I'm sure that's the same for everyone! Anyway, for this post I have attempted to recreate some Christmassy nail art designs that I have seen across the web* on a nail wheel.  Along with some of my favourite colours for this season.

1. Mavala Nail Colour Pearl.  Candy Pink
2. Mavala Nail Colour.  Sparkling Red
3. Mavala Nail Colour Cream.  St-Germain
4. Models Own Pro Limited Edition.  Matt Green
5. No.7 Stay Perfect.  Totally Teal
6. 17 Lasting Fix.  Royal Indigo
7. Sinful Colours.  Nirvana
8. Maybelline Forever Strong Pro.  Golden Brown
9. Collection 2000 Hot Looks.  Show Off
10. Angelica.  Spoilt Rotten
11. Snowman
12. Santa Suit
13. Santa Hat
14. Snowflakes on Red Nail
15. Christmas Pudding
16. Snowflakes on Blue Nail
17. Silver Sparkles.  (17 Fast Finish.  Moonstruck  + Topshop NAILS. Ice Crush)
18. Christmas Jumper Tips
19. Mavala Nail Color Cream. London.  With white polka dots.
20. Mavala Nail Colour Cream. Bordeaux

I've also included 2 photos of some nail art I created last year and had instagrammed.  I think they are lovely for the Party Season;

Glitter Pink with a Ring Finger Bow. Cute!

These aren't perfect but not bad for my first attempt.

Hope you've enjoyed my first post on #TheWinterProject.  One thing I have learnt from writing this post is that I have a limited amount of 'winter' colours.  I have my Mavala Collection and not many other dark colours from different brands.  Most of my nail polishes are summery colours.  I need to change this right away! ha!

Hope you've enjoyed my first post.  I look forward to reading everyone else's posts and getting some ideas on all of the new polishes I need would like to buy. ;-)

*I am in no way trying to pass these designs off as my own.  Just having a dabble! ha.

#TheWinterProject

Heyy!  After the success of #theSOproject, the lovely Kellie over at bold95beauty decided to create a follow up series especially for Winter/Christmas called #TheWinterProject.  This series will begin tomorrow (Tuesday 12th Nov) and run for 7 weeks (up until Christmas).  Yes, thats right there really is only 7 weeks until Christmas, EEEK!  The lineup will be as follows:

• Week 1: Winter Nails
• Week 2: Winter Accessories
• Week 3: Winter Scents
  Christmas Theme Starts...
• Week 4: Christmas Present Ideas (Beauty & Fashion for Males and Females)
• Week 5: Christmas Accessories
• Week 6: Christmas Makeup Looks
• Week 7: Christmas OOTD

I'm really excited to get involved in this project and know that it's gonna get us all sooo excited for Christmas!  As many people as they like can get involved.  Don't forget to include the tag #TheWinterProject on twitter so that everyone else can read your posts!

Much love!

Pai Skincare Trial Pack

Hey lovelies!  I just wanted to share with you all a cute little purchase I made t'other day online from Pai Skincare!  I'd heard a lot about this brand (particularly the rosehip oil) and was browsing the website when I came across this lovely trial pack with 6 samples with a FREE muslin face cloth for £5 and FREE P+P.  Great idea or what? I have quite sensitive skin and I'm always hesitant to try new skincare when it's on the more expensive side, so I think this is a perfect way to try before you 'buy' (whats a fiver really?).  I reckon more brands should do this!!  Anyway, here's what I got inside..

How cute?  I haven't tried any of them yet but I'm excited to try the cleanser and the sensitive skin cream!  Obviously there's a cream for each skin type so my skin won't get along with them all but for £5 you really can't go wrong.  Pai are experts in sensitive skin, so they are definitely a brand I've been eager to try!

Can't wait to give them a go and do a little review!  You can get the Trial Pack here.

What do you think of this pack?
Do you own anything from Pai?

October Favourites 2013

Hey gorgeous ones.  Another month has been and gone, which means one thing... another monthly favourites post!  Here's a rundown of what I've been loving in the month of October...

• Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in 51 Rose Vanilla
  For me, Bourjois are the bosses of the highstreet foundations.  They just seem to know exactly how to make them.  They certainly win my vote and their new Happy Light range didn't disappoint.  I've been wearing this on my face pretty much every day since I bought it and I'm loving it so far.  See my review here.
• L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Mist for Fine Hair
  I posted a review this month on this amazing oil!!  If you don't own this (either this or the normal pump version) then you are really missing out!  I'm chuffed to bits that I finally found an oil that will soften my dry ends and leave my hair feeling weightless and flowing.  I'll be definitely repurchasing this.
• Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me Yesss, I jumped on the bandwagon.  But who can blame me?  The new Maybelline Baby Lips are so cute and perfect for winter!  I chose Cherry Me as I LOVE anything cherry flavoured, plus the subtle tint is lovely.  I've been keeping this in my handbag since I bought it and using it pretty much every day.  Beaut! 
• Seventeen Skin Wow 3 Way Highlighter
  Who doesn't love a good highlighter? I've been loving this recently.  I haven't used it '3 ways', but simply using it as a classic cheekbone highlighter and it works really well and leaves a really subtle glow.  Try it out if you haven't already.
• Lush Shampoo Bar in Jumping Juniper
  I was on the lookout on google and twitter for a good shampoo for greasy hair.  My hair is quite fine and doesn't last more than 2 days between washes which is sooo annoying.  Even by the 2nd day I usually have to use dry shampoo on it.  A few people mentioned the shampoo bars in Lush so I thought I'd give one of them a go.  Jumping Juniper is aimed at greasy hair as it's a clarifying shampoo.  I'd never used a shampoo bar before and was a bit sceptical about the lather but it works really well and my hair feels really clean (it actually squeaks when I first rinse it off, lol).  I'm not sure it's made it last any longer than usual between washes, but the second day it doesn't seem as bad so I could probably get one more day out of it.  Been enjoying it so far, keep your eyes peeled for a full review.
• Primark Black and White Tartan Scarf - £5
  I was actually in Primark for their classic Red Tartan scarf but they didn't have any in (boooo), and then I spotted this bad boy.  It has now become my favourite scarf.  Its a great size, and lovely and soft.  Perfect for autumn/winter! 

What have you been loving recently?

Wishlist #4 || November 2013

What's on my 'most wished for' list this month?

Yankee Candle Christmas Wax Tarts - £1.25 each
Origins GinZing Energy-boosting Moistuizer - £23
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation - £29
Essie Good To Go Rapid Dry Top Coat - £8.99
Sleek Brow Kit - £8.49
Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Fruit & Seed Oil Blend - £20

What's on your November wishlist?