Nail Varnish Collection Downsize…

I've noticed in recent months that my style is getting really minimal. My go-to outfit has been jeans boots and a grey t-shirt, my hair is left natural, and as long as I have lots of lashes and a bright lip I'm good to go out the door. So when I went to pick a nail varnish out of my collection recently, I was a bit overwhelmed with all my pinks, glitters, brights, nail effects etc etc etc. Don't get me wrong, I love pastels and brights and lots of colour on my nails, but I just felt I needed a real de-clutter. And by de-clutter, I mean throw all my glitter polishes in the bin. My life is too short to remove glitter nail varnish regularly. So, here's my collection post-clearout…

l-r Essie Grow Stronger base coat, Seche Vite top coat. 

Everyone needs a good base and top coat. I've been using both of these religiously for about 12 months, and I wouldn't use anything else. 

l-r Rimmel 60 Second Rita Ora collection in Pillow Talk, Lose You're Lingerie, Orgasm

These are my favourite new drugstore release by far. I adore all of the colours, plus it's in conjunction with Rita Ora, who I happen to have the biggest girl crush on. It's also worth noting that the middle shade above is a great dupe for Essie Fiji.

l-r Models Own Purple Grey, Rasberry Crush, Purple Passion, Purple Blue from the Beetle Juice collection. 

I used to have in excess of 40 Models Own polishes but I re-homed most of them with friends and threw away the ones that had gone gloopy and here's what I'm left with. The two pink colours I've kept specifically for toes especially with a tan in the summer. 

l-r Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in I Pink I Can, Midnight in NY, Mermaids Tail, All Fired Up

I love the formula and brush on these, they apply with one stroke down the nails and are almost opaque after one coat. I'd go as far as to say All Fired Up is probably my favourite nail colour. Ever. 

l-r Essie Mint Candy Apple, Fiji, Lilacism, Peach Daiquiri 

Ahhhh the classic Essie love on a blog. Who'da thought it?! I think Peach Daiquiri is quite a standard shade and wasn't too overwhelmed with it, but Lilacism is so beautiful and understated. 

l-r Sportgirl Aubergine, Collection (don't know the shade name, it's just black) Sportgirl neon pink, Gosh Lavender Love, Barry M Lychee 

These are my odds and ends that don't fit in any categories. A bit like Models Own, I threw away or re-homed most of my Barry M nail varnishes as I thought they chipped too easily but I do quite like the new Gelly formula so if you have any colour recommendations from this line I'd love to hear them!

Loves

xxx

Beauty boxes...my first experience with BellaBox...

Back home I admit I was a big fan of the beauty box craze that went on, and I felt I was missing out a bit being out of the loop over here in Australia. I did my research and decided to subscribe to bellabox http://bellabox.com.au/. It's $15 per month and I'm only subscribing for 3 months, before I go home to the UK. This month was the February 'shimmer and shine for Valentine time' box. Sounds promising!

First up: packaging. Basically it's cute, but the colour doesn't interest me at all. I'm much more a pink, glossy, girlie fan when it comes to these boxes and this just didn't do it for me at all.

 

Inside, same kind of story, just a bit of love heart tissue paper, and the little card with all the products on, neither of which 't really fit in with the theme at all. Sorry bellabox, just not feeling you so far.

 

Inside, it got a little bit better...

  

What bellabox say: Batiste Dry Shampoo- Must Have! Our bb favourite Batiste is back  in their new pretty in pink packaging- we guarantee it'll be the new love of your life next time you need fresh locks fast!

Back in the UK there was some controversy when a mini Batiste dry shampoo appeared in one of the monthly subscription box. My opinion? When this stuff is SO expensive on the other side of the world, I'd class it as a luxury product! So far, so good. 

 

What bellabox says:U skin solutions clean and go exfoliating gel cleanser - super skin care. This two in one cleansing and exfoliating solution is perfect for keeping pores clear and clean. Caldendula, anti bacterial tea tree oil and super fine bamboo beads leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.

Forever on the look out for the magical perfect cleanser, andything that may be taking me one step closer to it is a winner for me. Tiny downside is that the product sample is, literally, tiny. 

Bioderma crealine H2O - cult! This cult cleansing water removes every trace of makeup (even waterproof mascara) as well as the impurities in your skin at a cellular level. Plus, it's safe on eyes. Wonder product alert!

There are no words to describe how much I have wanted to try this, it's provably the product in the box I was most excited about. I'm just a little bit worried that it's going to make me want to buy the whole thing, I don't think my purse can handle it!

 

Sally Hanson complete salon manicure - colour product. No time for a salon mani? No stress! Achieve the at-home trifecta: a gel-like shine finish, fast and easy application and chip resistant. 

Mine came in Mermaids Tail, a gorgeous blue polish with green and blue chunks of glitter. It's at least a three coater but so far it's lasted two days chip free - unheard of on my terrible nails!

 

Be in awe skin Samskrta skin polish - Luxe. Designed to remove dead skin cells and leave skin looking (and feeling!) soft and radiant, this polish combines cranberry extract, gluconic acid, vitamin B3 and co-enzyme Q10 with micro jojoba beads. Hello vibrant shimmering skin.

Again, anything that can help me on the path to the perfect complexion is a winner due to the fact I'm to stingy to buy full size products in the fear that they won't work and I'll have wasted money. 

Bonus product was a sachet of sun screen, always a good shout in the Australian sunshine!

In my honest opinion, too much skin care and not enough makeup. The packagine does put me off but I guess it's what on the inside that counts! Can't wait to get next months box and see what's in there (fingers crossed more makeup....)

Loves

xxx

My current obsessions....

I've done quite a few OOTD posts recently so thought I'd throw one of these into the mix to spice things up a bit...

Office boots. I've really turned my back on my high heels and pretty shoes in favour of these as you may have notices in my outfit of the night pictures recently. They look cute with skinny jeans, denim shorts and even dresses. 

Babybels: Literally can't stop muching on these!

Reading in general, but this book has got me HOOKED. It's all about gangs, prostitutes and murders. Lovely. 

Vanilla scents are my absolute favourite right now, and this body spray is only around £2 from Boots. The smell stays on my body for ages and I can smell it on my clothes days later! 

This is the second 'current obsessions' post in a row that this has turned up in. I do not know why I'd never dabbled in hair oils before, my hair is seriously thanking me for it right now!

I'm usually quite a lazy highlighter but I'm loving it recently, especially this VIVO highlighter. It's around £5, comes in a massive tube so will last forever, and applied with a small blush brush to the top of my cheek bones looks lovely!

Topshop makeup is one of my favourite brands right now, and I've been loving these glittery eye crayons. I may do a review on these and some face of the days wearing them, let me know if you want to see them!

Looking after my nails. Since I had my gel nails taken off a couple of months ago, my nails have been a mess. I swear by these tablets from Holland & Barrett, and this Sally Hansen Maximum Growth is one of my holy grail products!

Love Nero right now, this makes me wanna go outside and dance in the sunshine.

Loves

xxx

July favourites....

Here comes my favourite time of the month! I've done a video for you this month, as last month I was feeling really rubbish and under the weather and only posted a couple of crappy pictures and hardly had any favourites! This month though I could have gone on and on and on! My main thing this month is hand and nail care, I've really trying to look after and grow my own nails, and with that has come a whole load of new additions to my nail varnish collection!!

Anyway here's the video so take a look....lots of lovely things that I can't get enough of!

Loves

xxx