New Year's Eve Party Nails

2013 has been and gone, and it's time to end it in style.  There's still time (just) to get those nails looking glam, so thought I'd post a bit of 'nailspiration' using my current party favourites...

1. Mavala Nail Colour Cream in Bordeaux + Barry M Nail Paint in Superdrug Limited Edition 347
2. Bourjois So Laque! in Rouge Escarpin + Barry M Nail Paint in Rose Quartz Glitter
3. Barry M Nail Paint in Cappuccino + Barry M Nail Paint in Rose Quartz Glitter
4. Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Plum + Barry M Nail Paint in Rose Quartz Glitter
5. Mavala Nail Colour Cream in St Germain + Mavala Nail Colour in Sparkling Red
6. Topshop NAILS in Crystal Clouds

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Plum paired with Barry M Nail Paint in Rose Quartz Glitter

I absolutely LOVE this coupling.  I think they are perfect for the party season, I couldn't stop looking at them when I had them on my nails last week!

For tonight however, I'm having a night in with the hubby and some family for some games and nibbles so I opted for a plainer nail (but I had to add an accent nail to glitz it up a little)...

Mavala Nail Colour Cream in St Germain with a Topshop NAILS in Crystal Clouds accent nail!

Hope you all have a fabulous evening whatever you do, and wishing you all the best for 2014 xxx

What I Got For Christmas...

My blog seems to have taken a back seat recently, what with Christmas and a 15 month old to run around after... I seem to have let it all get on top of me and have been struggling to get back into it.  There seems to be so much I want to blog about, that I haven't known where to start.  I figured showing you all the beauty bits I got for Christmas seemed like a good place to start!

*Boring disclaimer alert* - I'm not in any way bragging/showing off with the pressies I got, just simply that I love reading what other people got so thought it would be a fun post to do.  Sorry about the amount of photos.. I got excited!

I won't go through them all or I'll be here all day - I'll stick to the beauty bits...

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

Soap&Glory The Yule Monty Gift Bag

Origins Merry Moisturisers Gift Set

Benefit Hot2Trot Gift Set

LUSH Out Of This World Gift Set

RiRi <3 MAC Bad Girl Gone Good Blusher

Woohooo!! Finally got the Urban Decay NAKED 1!!!

None beauty related but I couldn't leave these out, 2 more to add to my ever growing Disney collection :) ...

Sorry again for all of the photos, I got carried away!  I'm so chuffed with the gifts I received this year; A makeup manual to rival all others; the annual Soap&Glory must-have set; A set of Origins lovelies, my first ever Benefit boxed blush, an amazing smelling LUSH gift set; Limited Edition Riri <3 MAC blusher, THE palette that everyone who is anyone should own, Body Shop goodies; for the child at heart - Disney blurays; pyjamas, dressing gown, slipper socks, clothes, a satchel, a bracelet, Black Cherry Large Yankee Candle, a Gregg's Gift Card (lol) a bottle of amaretto & not to mention money and a crazy amount of choc/sweets! heheh!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all the best for 2014.

Here's a cheeky little photo of my boy George opening some of his presents on Christmas morning...

My Essential Nail Kit!

Want to get your nails ready and looking special in time for Christmas?  I have the solution (that's worked for me anyway).  I've been playing about with nails and nail products for so long, and I've finally found a set of products that can do no wrong in my eyes.  They work so well together in making my nails strong and healthy...

I don't do this whole step EVERY time I paint my nails, as buffing and using cuticle gel too often isn't good, but every other time I like to do a complete manicure using all of these steps....

1. Remove any existing nail polish with the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover.
2. Remove any gunk from underneath the nails using pointy end of cuticle tool.
3. Wash hands.
4. Remove cuticles.  Apply Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover and leave for a minute or so.  Push back and remove dissolved cuticles with cuticle pusher backer (lol).
5. Wash hands again.
6. Clip nails to desired length using scissors/nail clippers.
7. File to shape (I'm loving square nails at the moment) using the BEST nail file in the world - the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File.
8. Buff & Shine using any nail buffer, mine has seen better days and really needs replacing.
9. I like to do one last dip in the nail varnish remover to remove any gunk and dehydrate the nail (this helps your nail polish to really cling to the nail.
10. Apply OPI Nail Envy as a basecoat/nail strengthener.  This product is truly amazing in repairing and strengthening weak nails.  It's actually supposed to be used as an intense nail treatment to repair nails over a week (which works by the way), but`I find it also makes a fantastic base and strengthens at the same time.
11. Apply polish.
12. Apply topcoat.  I use Essie's Good to Go, as it dries RAPIDLY and leaves a lovely shine.

And finally... I'm on the lookout for a good cuticle oil to add as a final step, so if anyone has any recommendations - send them my way!

Mwah xx

Wishlist #5 || Christmas Edition

Christmas is coming!! Every beauty lover has a massive wishlist! Here's just a cheeky few from mine.. (a girls gotta dream, ha)...

ASOS Large Satchel Bag - £28 (or any similar black satchel would do lol)
Urban Decay Naked Palette - £36
Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual - Around £15
YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation - £29
nails inc. The Editors Collection - Around £16
New Look Black Jersey Front Waterfall Leather-look jacket - £39.99
Smashbox Try It Kit - £19
Origins Mask Marvels Set - £25
Topshop Black Satin Overlay Shorts - £30

What's on your Christmas list??
Hope you've been good this year!!

November Favourites 2013

Another month = another monthly favourites post... (a little bit late)

• Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation in 103 True Ivory
  This foundation is probably my second favourite (after Bourjois' Healthy Mix Serum of course), and I recently bought it again and have been loving it for every day.  I haven't actually done a review on this foundation so I might just have to!
• Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant*
  I was contacted by the lovely people behind the website beauty900.co.uk, who asked if I would like to try some Dermalogica skincare samples from their website.  This is the only product I've tried so far and I've been absolutely loving it.  Once I've had a good try of all of the items I received I will do a full review.
  The Daily Microfoliant comes in a powder form, which, when mixed with water turns into a white paste.  I've been using this on an evening after my cleansing routine and I've truly noticed a difference in the appearance of my skin.  The product aims to unclog pores, gets rid of surface skin cells and reveal a brighter complexion.  I usually shy away from harsh exfoliators, as my skin is so sensitive - but this is perfect.  It exfoliates without feeling like it is scrubbing your skin.  I might even splash out on the full size!!
• Nivea Daily Essentials Express Hydration Primer (dry/sensitive)
  I've been using this every day, and it's been doing a good job at providing a nice smooth base for my makeup.  I won't say anything else as I wrote a full review (here).
• GOSH Cosmetics Eyebrow Kit
  I won't say too much on this product either as I wrote a review (here), except that I have used this every single day since I bought it, haha!
• Maxfactor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in 14 Soft Pink
  Ohhh I just LOVEE this blush!!  I do love a good cream blush, and I've been using my beloved Bourjois Cream Blush for a good few months, but I thought I'd give this a go as I'd heard lots of good things.  I honestly think I prefer it to the Bourjois one.  It's a bit more of a sticky consistency, but I find it works much better in achieving a dewy look.  Winner!
• Maybelline Baby Lips in Mint Fresh
  I got this in the Glamour Beauty Edit box (which I wrote about here).  Obviously I only received this at the end of November, but I have been using it every day since, so wanted to include it.  It's a really lovely lip balm, with a menthol-style freshness that just feels and tastes gorge! mmm ha!

I'd love to know what your November favourites were...