NOTD: Scarlet Leather

It makes me feel like a total newbie to admit that this is my first ever 'texture' nail polish, but if I'm honest I just haven't been that blown away by the look of most of them. However,  I've seen the Nails Inc Leather Effect polishes floating around in the blogosphere and decided it was time to break out of my matte/shiny comfort zone.

When I first put it on, I really loved the colour and effect, but it was so strange to feel my nails being so dry! Despite the weird dryness, I think the colour of the polish and its effect are really beautiful. Makes me feel pretty in an old-school glamour way.

However, unfortunately, even with 2 coats, it started chipping almost immediately and has got worse as time goes on. You would think that a textured polish wouldn't chip as easily as a 'normal' one, but it makes me sad that every time I check my nails there is another chip! What's a girl to do? 

Overall, I'm glad I got the polish and made my my first trip to textured effect world, but I don't think I'd buy another one. Unless I come across any beautiful liquid sand polishes some time soon, and something tells me I will!

What do you think of this leather effect nail polish? xxx

FOTD: Sixties But Pixie

Skin care

Lush Ocean Salt Facial Scrub

Skinceuticals Blemish + Age Cleansing Gel

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream 

SkinScription HydroPlenish Moisturizing Cream

Skinceuticals Sheer Physical UV Defense SPF 50

DHC Pore Essence 

Face

Daniel Sandler Retexturizing Face Primer

Benefit Fake Up Concealer

Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Cream Foundation

Benefit Hello Flawless Custom Powder Cover Up

Lush Emotional Brilliance Liquid Lipstick in Glamorous (as a blush)

Eyes

MAC Eye Kohl in Fascinating

GOSH Cosmetics Growth Mascara

Lips

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm in Natural Mint & Shea Butter

Benefit Sugarbomb Ultra Plush Lipgloss

What do you think of my FOTD? xxx

Saturday Beauty Steal #3

The start of the bank holiday weekend means it's time for another Saturday Beauty Steal! 

This week I have chosen Revlon's Scented Parfum Nail Varnish in Grape Fizz (14.7ml), which is selling at a bargain price of £1.59 over at Direct Cosmetics. 

What is it?

According to the product description, the polish is chip-resistant and its scent comes to life once your nails have dried. And the best bit is, if this purple isn't rocking your world, there are two other colour choices for the same price - pineapple fizz (a shimmery yellow) and watermlon fizz (an orangey red). 

What do I like about it?

After trying my first Revlon polish the other day, I am sold on the formula and it was a dream to apply. Not only that, but just look at the gorgeous deep midnight shade of this polish - it's so beautiful! And with all this talk about scented polishes following the launch of the Model's Own fruit pastel collection, the fact it has a grape fragrance is a total bonus.

Why is it a steal?

Considering that the Revlon polishes usually cost £4.64 per 10ml, and this one is 14.7ml, this one really is a stand-out beauty bargain. Then compare £1.59 to £5 per Model's Own fruit pastel polish, and again you have yourself a gem for less than half the price! 

You can buy the Revlon nail polishes in Grape Fizz, Pineapple Fizz and Watermelon Fizz here.

What do you think of this week's beauty steal? xxx

Oxford Street Cosmetics & Confectionery Haul

I've done it again. And by I've done it again, I mean I have bought every product imaginable on pay day and feel incredibly guilty/ecstatic about it!

Believe it or not, this haul was actually the last of the day for me; however, as it included a couple of my essential go-to make-up products, it was actually the most important spree. Or that's what I'm telling myself anyway!

I'm so excited to show you what I bought, so I'll just get straight to it.

COSMETICS

Guerlain Parure De Lumiere Cream Foundation in 02 Beige Clair

Those of you who have been following my blog for a while will recognise this product, as I bought it a couple of months ago. I decided to repurchase this foundation as I totally love everything about it - from the packaging to the formula, it really is such a dream to use and works so well with my Real Techniques Stippling Brush.

It does come at a pricy £38.50, but as it was 10% off on all beauty products at John Lewis today I got it for £34.65. Although 38 smackers is a lot to fork out on a foundation, it lasts so long and is really hydrating. 

Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream 

I've been on the hunt for a new eye cream, and this one has had rave reviews. However, the first thing I thought when I saw this was OH MY GOD IT'S TINY. I did question the purchase because of the 15ml size, but as I spend a lot on my skin care anyway, I thought I would go for it and take the risk.

But I'm really glad I did, because as soon as I used the tiniest amount of this luscious lotion around my eyes, it instantly revitalised the area. I also massively overestimated how much product I needed for both eyes, so you don't need much at all per application. Which is just as well as it cost me almost £19!

Topshop Metallic Two Tone Nail Polish in Mermaid

It's official - I'm in love! This polish is just so gorgeous. You really can't fault topshop when it comes to nail colours and this one couldn't be more bang on. It costs £6 and must be popular as it's actually sold out on the John Lewis website at the moment. I'll definitely be trying this out for an NOTD post in the near future.

Benefit Fake Up Hydrating Crease-Control Concealer

I won't bother describing this product to you, as it really needs no introduction. Everyone who tweets me will know that Erase Paste is my go-to concealer, but as I love hydrating products I thought it was time to try Fake Up. My only bug bear with the Benefit concealers is the price - I feel like it should be at least £10 cheaper than its current retail price of £18.50. But I can't wait to do my make-up tomorrow so I can try this beauty out.

CONFECTIONERY

I also had a bit too much fun in Kingdom of Sweets. I just love retro sweets and have a bit of a soft spot for Lucky Charms cereal!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites

Peanut Butter? Check. Chocolate? Check. Cookie Dough? Check.

Is this what dreams are made of? I totally love cookie dough and Reese's cups, so the combination of both is totally rocking my world!

Extra Dessert Delights, Lemon Square

I just had to pick up one of the Extra Dessert packs - there were so many to choose from (including mint choc chip and orange creme) and they are just so different.

Ice Breakers Sugar-Free Mints

I love mints in all shapes and sizes, so I thought I'd give Ice Breakers a shot. I was a bit disturbed by the overwhelming dentist smell before I even opened the packet, but at least I can be sure they will be fresh!

What do you think of my cosmetics and confectionery haul? xxx

Once Upon A Bathtime: Bomb Cosmetics' Harajuku Girl Bath Creamer

I've really missed doing my Once Upon A Bathtime posts, but life has been hectic at the moment and I've been sticking to quick-fix showers. Well, until today when I unwrapped this little beauty!

Bomb Cosmetics' Harajuku Girl Bath Creamer has been waiting patiently in my stash of exciting bath products for quite some time now, so it was only fair I let it fizz away. 

Harajuku Girl is a tiny, beautiful ball of pink joy, which is infused with yummy moisturising shea fruit butters and ginger essential oil. Its top notes include orange, pineapple, jasmin, ylang-ylang and gardenia. 

As it dropped into the water, its pink coat fizzed away slowly, revealing a white, creamy centre. Like the First Love Bath Mallow, I really would have loved this product to turn the water pink; however, as this is a bath creamer, I realise its main function is to moisturise and not blow up the bath with bright colours.

Looking at the finished product, the water had a creamy, opaque appearance, which made it a bit like bathing in still lemonade! The only thing that struck me was that I wasn't blown away with the smell of the bath once I was in it - I loved using the brand's Lavender Musk bath blaster because it looked and smelled gorgeous, so I think I'll stick to blasters in the future.

Although I do think this petite creamer is a total steal at little over £2 and has great ingredients for moisturising the skin, I was a bit underwhelmed by this product and I need great smells and visuals as a prerequesite for investing in bath bombs twice. 

But do give it a try if you like a more soft and subtle bathing experience! 

Bomb Cosmetics' Harajuku Girl Bath Creamer is available for £2.09 here

What do you think of this bath creamer? xxx

TAG: Procrastinating Beauty Blogger

Fab fashion blogger Alice from Tea and Lead has nominated me to take part in the Procrastinating Beauty Blogger tag! She must know me so well :)

The rules of this tag are:
1. Copy and paste these 'rules' into your post
2. You must state this tag was created by Laura from The Beau Bow
3. You must thank the person who tagged you at the start of your post, follow them if you're feeling nice and at the end of your post state who you tag and comment on their blog to let them know you've tagged them.
4. Title this post 'The Procrastinating Beauty Blogger Tag'
5. Have fun :)

 QUESTIONS

1. Name a beauty regime that you barely do
I am ashamed to say I pay almost no attention to my eyebrows. I don't know why - I just never have! When I was a teenager, I thought it would be a good idea to shave my eyebrow, which it wasn't. I literally just tweeze every now and again when I feel like it.

2. Is washing your make-up brushes something you do regularly?
Yes it is - I am conscious of spreading bacteria around my skin so I like to wash them as often as possible. Baby shampoo works a treat and leaves the brushes soft and clean.

3. How long will you last with chipped nail polish?
Sometimes if I am really busy I will leave it on for way too long! Until the chips start getting massive and occupy an entire nail - then I need to do something about it. But at the moment I have been chopping and changing nail colours for blog posts - so they look neat most of the time!

4. How long do you put off buying/replacing a beauty or nail polish product even if you need it (i.e. new top coat or foundation etc)?
If I need it, I'll buy it straight away. I can't live without concealer and foundation, so if I've got the money I will grab my go-to products ASAP. If it's a nail polish or eyeliner, I won't be in such a rush as it's an 'extra' in my eyes. But my skin is a priority and it boosts my self-esteem to always have the right products to hand.

5. What is your worst beauty habit?
Picking spots - I just can't leave them alone! If anyone has got any great tips on leaving this habit behind, I need to hear them, so please leave me a comment below.

6. Name something non-beauty related that you put off doing all the time?
I almost always put off looking at my bank balance! I'm a bit too impulsive at times and get pangs of post-shopping guilt - but I really need to get on top of my finances and hope to do that this year somehow (after I have bought every lipstick, nail polish and skin care product EVER).

7. When going out somewhere, do you leave getting ready until the last minute?
Definitely not - I always start getting ready a good hour before going out, if not before. I like to take my time and have a nice shower before doing my hair and make-up - there's nothing worse than going out feeling like you aren't happy with the way you look. Spending time on getting ready makes me feel confident and ready to go

8. Can you commit to spending bans?
As mentioned earlier, I am awful when it comes to spending money on things and can be really impulsive. If I absolutely had to go on a spending ban, I would, and I really need to. Watch this space on that one...

9. How organised is your make-up and nail polish collection?
It's kind of organised but not in 'storage' as such - it's in the same place on my desk all the time but it is a bit like organised chaos with different colours flying about everywhere.

10. What is the longest amount of time you have gone without writing a blog post?
I think the longest I have gone is 2 days, but I mostly blog every day. I'd love to start blogging more than once a day in the future, but this isn't really possible while I have a full-time editorial job!

WHO I'M TAGGING
Sandy at Absolute Beaut
 Jessica at All Dolled Up
Charlotte at Carlotta's Beauty Spot
Kat at Tales of a Pale Face
Cat at Outside Beauty Inside Health

 Big love and thanks goes to Alice for tagging me! xxx

Sneak Peek: Korres Black Pine Face Serum

There's nothing I love more than a skin care product with some serious science behind it, which is why I had to get my hands on the brand new Korres Black Pine Face Serum before it hits the shelves in April.

Korres Black Pine Face Serum is an 'anti-wrinkle, firming and lifting' formulation, which is suitable for all skin types. Its 'USP' ingredient is black pine polyphenol, which has been found to increase the skin's firmness, enhance contours and decrease the appearance of wrinkles.

What I particularly love about this serum is that its content is 93.7% natural, and has not been made with parabens or silicones. Active ingredients include hyaluronic acid (which moisturises and hydrates), soy fibers (which boost collagen levels in the skin and restore smoothness) and oat polysaccharides (which lift the skin and act against muscle relaxation).

As you can see, the serum comes with simple and sophisticated black and white packaging, which really sets it off as a high-quality, luxury skin care product.  In terms of application, the product comes with a pipette and instructions for use advise you to apply the serum to the face and neck, avoiding the eye area.

One thing I will say is that I was concerned that the serum would be black or slightly tinted because of the name and its packaging, but I am pleased to report it is a clear light solution.

Although it looks thick quite thick initially, once you blend it into the skin it is fairly thin and light. I really couldn't believe how easily just two drops of the serum spread over my hand. I think this would last such a long time; it really is a dream to apply and, although I can't put my finger on an exact fragrance, I can tell you it smells lovely.

I really think this serum will be a skin care staple and can't wait to see what you think!

Korres Black Pine Serum retails at £39 for 30ml. It will be available exclusively at Waitrose from 15 April and selected stockists from 1 June.

*This post contains a PR sample, but all views are my own

I've been tagged by a lovely lippy lady!

Big love goes to the wonderful LiLi at Let's Get Lippy for tagging me! I love a good beauty Q&A - what's could be better than learning about other fab bloggers' beauty secrets?!

I'm having so much fun with my beauty blog and it's nice to get to know you all better, so I hope you enjoy finding out more about little old me :) You can read LiLi's answers here.

BEAUTY BLOGGER TAG QUESTIONS

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
Naturally wavy - I used to have ringlets when I was really little, but now I have waves. I think I do like having naturally wavy hair as I have the option to straighten it or leave it in its natural tousled state.

2. What is your natural hair colour?
Medium brown - I think! Have lost track over the years, but it's definitely brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
I ALWAYS say I will go to a salon and ALWAYS end up in my local Boots or Superdrug scanning the shelves for chocolate browns. I'm currently loving Garnier's Olia hair dyes.

4. Do you wear the same style every day or do you change it?
I used to be a bit more 'out there' with my style, but now I go for simple staple items and dress them up with accessories when I need to. I see my face as my canvas to change every day, and not so fussed about the clothes I wear. But I am loving peplum tops at the moment - I just bought a lovely polka dot one from Love Label on Very's website.

5. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
I used to do my nails at home all the time, but now I like to treat myself to manicures every so often after work. I love just having half an hour or so to myself and it always feels good to have clean, pretty nails - not to mention the hand massage!

6. How often do you change your nail polish?
I'd say I change my nail polish weekly, unless one I have applied has chipped straight after and I take it off and use another polish.

7. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just in the summer?
I get a bit lazy in the winter with my feet, which I probably shouldn't do! Especially this winter, or spring?!! I've lost track!

8. How long does it take for you to put on your make-up?
About 20 minutes on a daily basis, but if I am going out then 30 minutes.

9. What do you do first, face or eyes?
It really depends what eye look I choose to do. If it's eyeshadow, I will do this before my face; however, if it's just a case of liquid or pencil eyeliner, I will do this after my face.

10. Do you collect make-up or just buy what you need when you need it?
I'm a bit of a hoarder and I'm not sure I know what need means! Apart from when it comes to concealer, I always buy that and need it for my self-esteem. I'm pretty sure I've got a few too many lipsticks and nail polishes...but don't we all!

11. How often do you wear false eyelashes?
Not going to lie, I never wear false eyelashes unless it's a special event or fancy dress. I'd like to wear them more, but I don't have the steadiest hand or the time.

12. Do you do a full face of make-up every day?
Yes - although it is a natural look. I don't do lipstick and/or eyeliner every day, but I always wear foundation, concealer, powder, blusher and mascara without fail.

13. Do you wear make-up when you are home alone or with family?
At home alone, no. With family, I would if I was going out somewhere or going over to see them, as that means going outside and I am conscious of my skin.

14. Will you leave the house without make-up?
I have done before - if I am just going round the corner this is OK, but never if I am outside of the house for a long period of time. I need it to feel confident and have got into the habit of liking my face more with it on!

15. How many high-end products do you have?
Ahem...far too many! I am a total beauty snob, as many of you will know. I really like to spend a lot of £ on skin care especially, as from experience I know you get what you pay for. Same with foundation.

16. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you're getting dressed?
Bit of both - if it's a normal day I will decide in the morning, but if it's an event or meeting, I will have something in mind the night before to save me stressing in the morning.

17. How often do you change your handbag?
Not very often at all. But for some reason my bags always break - so that definitely motivates me to invest in more bags! I want to be a millionaire so I can have a crazy collection of Michael Kors bags.

18. What time do you get up and go to sleep?
I get up at 7 for work after 3 snoozes, and I go to sleep between 10.30 and 12 every night. It always varies depending on how hectic my day has been.

19. How often or when do you work out?
Good question - remind me to ask my neglected gym pass in the morning!

20. Left-handed or right-handed?
Right-handed

21. How tall are you?
I'm a tiny - 5 ft 2!

22. Do you speak a foreign language?
If you count learning French at GCSE speaking a foreign language, then yes. If not, I speak Tasha, which many people consider to be a foreign language :)

23. How many pets do you have?
Nada! Used to have fish but they are no more.

24. How often are you on Blogger?
I try to post every day and check my stats often. I also reply to comments as soon as possible. I reckon I am on Blogger for most of the day on and off, but I am never on there for that long if I am not writing a post.

25. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
Depends on the post - if the blogger asks an interesting question or raises an exciting issue, I'll check out the comments. If not, I will probably leave a comment and then go.

26. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
If I did, I would be in serious money trouble! If I want it that much, I'll remember it. But I really should start making a list so I don't miss out on a few underdogs along the way.

27. How did you come up with your blog name?
It was just a random thought before I went to sleep! That happens to me for some reason.

28. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?
Just my iPhone camera and edit on Instagram.

29. How often do you clean your house?
As often as possible, but I have been so busy lately I really need to have a good spring cleaning session!

30. What is your favourite colour?
Red. It's passionate and vibrant, and it makes an instant impression.

31. Do you swear?
It's a bit of a reflex unfortunately...but it doesn't really bother me.

32. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
Seen as it's late, I'll be snuggling up in bed trying not to get hypothermia. I would advise you all to do the same!

WHO I'M TAGGING

I would like to tag the following beauty bloggers:
1. Saskia at The New Girls
2. Nalini at The Made Up Maiden
3. Katrin at Tarte Aux Fraises
4. Joanna at Mademoiselle Lala
5. Megan at Megan Box Nails

Did you enjoy this post? xxx

Beauty Looks A-Z: Burlesque

It's make-up monday and this week I am sharing my product list for a 'B' beauty look, where B stands for Burlesque.

The collection is bursting with all the rouge products you would expect, including Bobbi Brown's limited edition Pretty Pot, an Estee Lauder Double Wear scarlet lipstick and a rosy Illamasqua blusher.

Not only that, but my edit of burlesque beauty products includes a coal-black MAC kohl eyeliner, a pretty pearl primer and a divine Tom Ford fragrance worth £300, which I can only dream about for the rest of my life.

Here's my best of burlesque beauty products from top to bottom:
 Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Lipstick in Stay Scarlet (£19.50)
Urban Decay Urban Lash False Eyelashes Darlin (£11.50)
YSL La Laque Couture in Rose Futuriste (£18)
Bobbi Brown Limited Edition Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge (£18)
ArtDeco Mineral Lip Styler in Mineral Red (£9)
Dr Hauschka Eyeshadow in Smoky Blue (£12.95)
Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Blackberry (£18)
Givenchy Vernis Please! Nail Polish in Loving Red (£13)
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge Eau De Parfum (£300)
MAC Kohl Power Pencil (£14)
Illamasqua Generation Q Powder Blusher in Sophie (£18)
Benefit Girl Meets Pearl Liquid Face Highlighter (£24.50)

What do you think of this week's beauty look post? xxx

Saturday Beauty Steal #2

It's the mother fricking weekend! This means one of two things - it's time to chill and catch up on the blogs, but it's also time for my second Saturday Beauty Steal, and this week's one is worth waiting for.

I've chosen the Nip + Fab Limited Edition Oily Skin Fix set, which is only £8.50 down from £15.95 on ASOS. That's a whopping 47% reduction for a high-quality range of products.

What's included in the set?

The three-part limited edition Oily Skin Fix set comes with Clean Fix Gel, Shine Fix and Spot Fix. Clean Fix Gel is a foaming gel cleanser infused with apple amino acids, Shine Fix is a mattifying gel that regulates and absorbs excess oil, and Spot Fix is a gel that targets blemishes and reduces their appearance.

What do I like about the set?

I might be a bit biased as I do have oily skin, but I have found gel cleansers to be really great at removing dirt and make-up residue, so the Clean Fix Gel sounds intriguing to me. With the Clean Fix Gel, I also love that it is made with apple amino acids, which is an essential, protective ingredient. What I like about the Shine Fix and Spot Fix is the product size - they are perfect handbag antidotes to skin imperfections and quick fixes in any case. From experience with gel products, you really don't need to use that much per application, which also gives you more for your money.

Why is it a steal?

Well first of all, it's almost 50% off its original price, and it's also a limited edition set for a skin type that many of us have. Secondly, Nip + Fab products such as the Shine Fix usually start retailing at £9.95 and can go up to £20+. That means you are getting three full-size products for less than one on its own as normal. Not to mention Nip + Fab really have great skin care products - what a steal!

What do you think of this week's beauty steal? xxx

Very Haul: Lips & Nails

It all started with a dress - the one item I actually went on Very's website for. 

Ladies, you know the drill - we all intend to buy just one thing we actually need, and come out with at least five things we didn't know we wanted until we saw them! I just can't resist a lip and nail haul, and I've got some real beauties to show you this time around.

Let's start with the lips, shall we? 

On the left is Bourjois Rouge Edition lipstick in Fuschia Graffiti (£8). Just like I didn't think I would buy a Barry M Gelly nail polish, but gave in and bought the lovely Lychee, I also didn't think I would get one of these babies. But that all changed when I saw the 07 shade on the blogosphere and fell in love. Fuschia is one of my go-to lip colours - it totally brightens up my eyes and it's just such a pretty colour too.

Then on the right is Rimmel London's Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick by Kate in Shade 107 (£6), which is such a lovely deep red and the colour looks so fantastic in the flesh too.

I love both of these lipsticks and I can't wait to try them at tweet LOTD pics!

Moving swiftly on to the nail polishes I bought, the first new product in my collection Nails Inc's Shoreditch Lane Leather Nail Polish (£12). This is my first ever 'texture' polish and I couldn't resist buying it. I love the burgundy red colour, although I feel like it's going to be a totally different colour on the nail! Will keep you posted on that one.

Then we have this super sweet Butter London nail polish in Jasper Lemon (£12), which is basically lemon sorbet in a bottle. I instantly fell in love with this polish on the site and decided I needed it in my life! 

This polish also has a lift-open top, which I didn't expect. It's different!

What do you think of the products I bought? Have you tried them? xxx