Topshop Nails

These two stunners are my first try of Topshop's beauty range, I know I'm waaay behind but my local Topshop isn't big enough to stock it so I've rarely seen it! On a little shopping trip this weekend in a bigger town I came across the new Smoke and Mirrors collection, Topshop's AW11 seasonal collection.

I was instantly drawn in by the mustard yellow shade on the left. Miss Marmelade, I think they've spelt it wrong because I also notice they spell duffel, duffle which is wrong, but I'm quoting from the bottle. I wasn't sure if the colour would suit me but I knew I had to try!

I actually love it, it makes my hands look a little pink but I don't care! What I like is it is a soft yellow which suit me a lot more that the bold vibrant yellows of the summer. I know the colour will divide your opinions but I'm obsessed! Application was perfect, the brush was little thin but two coats gave a nice even glossy finish.

The second colour is called Fallen Leaf. How appropriate for the change in season!

The two looked so perfect together on the shelf I picked up this one too! I love the dusty tone of the green, it's like looking into a forest from a distance. I felt like this colour offered a nice contrast to the mustard clothing that is in the shops, I'm sure I'll end up with a mustard coloured cardi this winter! Application was fab too, two coats was all that was needed.

I adore the packaging, I prefer it to the normal range which is also very cute. I love the bronze lettering and Aztec style brush handle.

I'm impressed with the quality and I will surely look at the rest of the range. The Smoke and Mirrors collection also featured some very nice lipsticks, not in the store I was in though, and bronzers. I haven't seen these two particular polishes online but there is a very attractive dark brown shade. They were £6 each.

Tell me what you think of Miss Marmelade!

xoxo

Nails Inc Battersea Power Station

Nails Inc's Battersea Power Station was recently very kindly and generously sent to me by the fab Leanne from  the Obsessive Cosmetics Disorder blog. We have bonded over our love of Nails Inc and shopping on QVC and Leanne had been watching my Nails Inc video and tweeted me that she had the perfect polish for me in her stash. Unused by Leanne, she offered to send it to a new home!

This polish was in a set on QVC that was designed to go with a range on handbags that they were selling. I loved the polish at the time but didn't commit to the whole four piece set. This particular one was designed with tan handbags and accessories in mind, another obsession of mine! 

I adore the colour, I'm reminded of milk chocolate as well as my favourite tan handbag! This colour is also perfect for complementing the rust colours that are featured in every high street shop this season and according to Pantone a complimentary shade to the Spring 2012 palette. I bought a teal coloured dress yesterday and this will work perfectly as a contrasting colour for my nails!

I know this polish will split opinion and have have seen less than rosy descriptions of the shade however I am quite smitten. The application was fab as usual, two coats, glossy finish and no colour dragging.

So thanks again to Leanne, you made my day!

xoxo

NOTD - Nails Inc Seven Dials

Seven Dials from Nails Inc is a bright shade of turquoise that leans more toward green than the blue. I've wanted this polish for a long time, I love the hue and it's totally different from other minty or blue polishes I have. My only issue, and it's not the polishes fault, is that my top coat tends to yellow the colour. I think it's something to do with it being a fast drying one. Love this for the winter! 

xoxo

Chanel Graphite Dupe-ish!

Ok so this isn't really a dupe but more inspired by!

OPI Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous from last years Swiss collection is a gorgeous gunmetal grey packed with shimmer. I have to admit this isn't my own bottle, it's my Mums hence no swatch as she has taken it back to her house and she lives abroad! I did borrow it while she was here and it looked stunning, very shimmery and clearly grey not black. 

I also don't have Chanel's Graphite to show you a comparison as I went to buy it earlier this week and it was already sold out! I have seen the polish and person, it has more of a gold tone to it along with the silver, hence not a direct dupe. If it doesn't come back into stock I'll get my own bottle of Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous!

Do you guys have either of these?

xoxo

Autumn Aspirations

Autumn Aspirations

I have been out to do a little shopping today, mainly to have a look around the shops at my leisure and have a gander at the new Autumn clothing! I did buy a couple of things in H&M, pictures to follow! I am so into the rust colours and rich fabrics, wool, tweed and chunky knits!

I had to put all my findings together in Polyvore and I am using this as my inspiration for my winter wardrobe! I love summer, I really do but it has suddenly turned a bit chilly and it's so hard not to get swept up in the new seasons fashion when they come into the shops so early!

Most of the clothing in the picture is from Monsoon, as is most of my wardrobe!!

Have you seen anything you have to get for the winter yet?!

xoxo

Bath Time with Umi!

Whilst doing a little bit of food shopping last week in Waitrose I perused the toiletries aisle and my eye was caught by the classy packaging of these Umi products.

On the left is the Fig and Walnut Bath Soak. This smells divine, it's very manly and rich smelling. It comes in a glass bottle which on the one hand I'm always nervous about around the bath but I also the love the luxury feel of the bottle. My skin feels soft and I feel relaxed after a bath.

On the right is the Rice, Honey and Tamanu Shower Milk. Again this smells amazing, it smells soothing and it reminds me of clean clothes and fabric softener! If you are wondering, as I was, what is Tamanu? After a little Googling I can tell you it is an oil that is increasingly being used in skincare and bathing products. It helps to smooth the skin and can help with scars and marks although this product does not make those claims. I really enjoy using this in the morning and I'm sure I saw a body lotion that I may try too.

Umi is made by Waitrose although there is little branding to tell you this, which I also like about the packaging.  To me it feels like a high end spa brand but these products were less than £5 each! Umi uses ingredients from food, plants and flowers to "indulge the body and ease the mind".

Have you tried any Umi products? I know I'll be trying out something else from the range soon!

xoxo

OOTD!

I think I may have found one of my favourite outfits of the summer, shame we are coming to the end of it!

I just bought the cropped denim jacket on Friday, I have worn it with three different outfits in two days! It has been the perfect cover up as it's not exactly a hot summer here right now! It's from Topshop and it was £42, I chose the lighter colour as I'm not really a fan of the more blue toned denim jackets. My skirt you've seen before, from Monsoon, belt from H&M, probably my best purchase this summer! I love the colour of this simple vest top from H&M, its a pinky nude colour and the colour makes me look very tanned, or naked in the wrong lighting!!

I'm wearing this again ASAP!!

xoxo

Nails Inc comes to Sephora!

After much anticipation Sephora has now started to stock one of my favourite polish brands, Nails Inc. I am very pleased for my American friends as I really feel the brand deserves more success. I know there are split opinions on the brand but I personally love their colours, the quality and the exciting things to come from this British brand.

To help out newbies to the range I have taken pictures and done a little video on the polishes that I own from the basic range that Sephora are stocking, I was originally given the idea by a couple of You Tube followers!

Sephora are stocking 42 of the main colours in the Nails Inc line and they will have seasonal limited editions and special effect polishes throughout the year.

I have 19 of the main line, the topcoat and base coat and one of the special effect polishes.

Belgravia, Brook Street, Cadogan Square, Carnaby Street

Belgravia is one of those "Blurple" shades, I feel it's quite a recognisable shade from the range and I have noticed it on friends, I have to admit to only wearing it a handful of times.

Brook Street is a gorgeous summery coral, quite bright.

Cadogan Square I would describe as a true camel shade, it's not beige, greige or any other taupey colour, it's more yellow based and I find it very flattering, perfect for the upcoming season.

Carnaby Street is a vibrant egg yolk yellow! A statement polish for sure but unfortunately one that doesn't flatter my skin tone despite many attempt to get it to work!

Chelsea Square, Devonshire Row, Floral Street, Jermyn Street

Chelsea Square is a stunning sparkly rose glitter, I have loved wearing this on my toes and want to try it as a ring finger polish a la Lorraine of TheCurrentCustom!

Devonshire Row is a more pink based purple, I have to confess to preferring this type of purple that blue toned ones, I'll be wearing this one soon!

Floral Street was originally purchased for French manicure tips however I personally found it too thick for this use, it's great for using on a full nail for a nail art base or if you are confident enough to wear full on white manicure!

Jermyn Street is Nails Inc's You Don't Know Jaques. Their own version of the taupey nude colours. This one leans purple and is like than YDKJ.

Haymarket, Maddox Street, St John's Wood, St James

Haymarket is a gorgeous duck egg blue, amazingly pigmented and a one coater! One of my top ten polishes.

Maddox Street is a gunmetal grey, perfect shade for this autumn, it has a subtle shimmer to it.

St John's Wood is an interesting shade of purple, it definitely has a blue tone to it too, quite unique and I can't think of anything similar to compare it to.

St James is a classic pillar box red, a good staple if you have nothing like it.

Shoreditch, Tate, The Thames, Victoria

Shoreditch is my one of my original purchases, a vibrant bright pink. One of the only polishes I have re-purchased!

Tate, again one of my firsts is a classic deep burgandy, another good one if you have nothing like it in your collection.

The Thames, a grey creme, not too cool a shade again another fabulous colour for the next few months.

Victoria is a timeless blood red shade, one of Nails Inc's best sellers.

Warwick Avenue, Warwick Way, Wellington Square

Warwick Avenue is a sheer pale pink, one of those shades that you would use for a French manicure, I'll be honest I have never used it but I am keen to try it for a French mani soon!

Warwick Way is one of their newest shades, I have yet to try it but am excited to wear this bright teal shade soon, I must emphasise the brightness of this polish it's quite amazing!

Wellington Square has been one of my favourites from this summer, again a recent addition to their line it is a soft yet still noticeable peach.

Farringdon Crackle

I am so excited to wear this gold glitter crackle despite not being totally convinced I like the crackle trend yet, this is somehow different. I think it's because it's a glitter and not a solid colour. I will be wearing this over brown shades and teals this autumn!

Kensington Caviar base coat and top coat

Finally the start and finish of any of my manicures, which ever brand I am using. I love these as they have conditioning elements to them and the top coat in particular is amazing. 

It dries in 45 seconds and allows me to quickly change a polish if I want to but the best aspect of this top coat is the glossy, wet look finish it gives.

ALU has a list of all the colours in the line and at which Sephora stores they will go to, the whole range is online too.

Of the other colours on the list I can highly recommend Fouberts Place, this will be my next addition, it's an olive toned taupe and I love it! Sephora also has the new Autumn Winter four piece collection that I will be buying this week. I have also seen the special effects polishes that are coming this Christmas and they are blooming amazing!! I can't wait to get my hands on one!!

I hope that helps a bit, I know it was a bit of a long post but here's the video of me banging on about the polishes mentioned above!!

xoxo

NOTD - Essie Cute As A Button

Essie's Cute A Button is a summery, salmon, coral shade. It remains bright yet is demure and very attractive. I purchased this on my most recent polish buying binge and I am really pleased with the colour. It applied thinly and needed three coats. The colour is from Essie's Summer 2009 and collection but is a perfect colour for this summer too!

xoxo

Summer Smoky Eyes

I had a little play around with my new Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell palette today, I'll admit the first time I used it I was a little disappointed, that's because I went straight for the gold colours which I normally favour. They left me a little flat and upset at my purchase.

Today I experimented with colour on my hand first and went for the darker shades in the palette, colours I don't have in my MAC palette.

I love this look!

I used Bronze on the inner corner and Copper Cocoa on the rest of the lid, then I tried a bit of Gold Nugget in the crease and centre and it lifted the look for a really bronzed summer eye. I then used MAC Fluidline in Dipdown, a brown liner, which I adore but mine is sooo dry I really must get a new one!

I finished off with MAC Dressmaker Dressmaker on my lips, and I can honestly say this is one of my favourite looks ever! I've felt quite glam, tanned and a bit sexy today! Unfortunately I was a bit all dressed up with nowhere to go but nevermind!

I'm writing this towards the end of the day and the shadows have lasted fantastically well on a hot stuffy day, I'm off to Zumba now so we'll see if they hold up during that!

xoxo

NOTD - Neon Leopard

Woah!

I thought I'd freshen up my China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy with a spot of leopard. I first did this look on my cousin in France, she loved it and so did I! 

I don't really know how to describe my feelings about this look other than amazing, tacky, cool, trashy and glitzy all at the same time! It reminds me of something WAH nails might do on a trendy girl going to Ibiza for a posh clubbing holiday! I bloomin' love it!!

Of course my camera can't capture the brightness of the neon base colour or the sparklyness of Orly Luxe but what do you think? Too much or the perfect summer manicure?!

xoxo

Post Holiday Blues Haul!

In an attempt to cheer myself up post holiday I did a little shopping this week! Some necessities that I had run out of whilst away and some major sale bargs!

I actually got this in France from Esprit, well my parents bought it for me as a birthday present! It was in the sale with 50% off then another 20%! It worked out at about 30 Euros. It's a very fine stripe that could be either blue, black or grey it's so fine I can't tell and it seems to work with all three colours! I love the lining pattern too, a grey floral design.

Wrap top from Monsoon. I love this cute top, I bought it to wear with linen trousers and it was a total barg! Reduced from £45 to £22 to £13! The lady was just changing the prices, I would've bought it anyway! It's lilac, a colour that I didn't realise until recently really suits me! It has butterflies and birds on it, needs a vest top underneath as it's completely see through!

Rings, left one from H&M, coral veined effect stone it was about £3.99 I think, need to put some clear polish aroung the ring before I wear it, all my H&M rings have left a lovely green mark on my finger after a couple of hours! The gold rubs away too and it doesn't look quite as nice! Right one from Accessorize obviously bought to go with previous top! Another 70% off item too, it was about £3!

Elemis All About Eyes set from John Lewis, I ran out of eye cream while I was away and had to wait until pay day to purchase another, I probably had about 5 or 6 days with no eye cream and I really felt it! I did enjoy the Decleor one that had run out but this set was a good price, it was £58 in total, fairly expensive but the Pro Intensive Eye and Lip Contour Cream is that price alone, then the Eye Serum which I have bought many times is worth £27 and then a travel size of my favourite cleanser and I reckon there is probably about £12 worth in there! 

Elemis Frangipani Monoi  Shower Cream, a whim purchase but one that I am thoroughly enjoying nonetheless! I used to HATE the smell of this product but since using the Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt oil in the bath I have fallen in love with its rich scent. It reminds me of luxury spa's and tropical islands!

Nails Inc Special Effects in Farringdon Crackle, this is a gold glitter crackle that I thought I'd wear over coral and peachy shades, I get in a bit of a tiz when JL gets new nail varnishes in and this was one of those instances, I'm not sure if I even like crackle that much yet!

Hmmm, I have the most buyers remorse over this purchase! Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell Eye Palette in Bronze I absolutely loved this collection of palettes when the first pictures surfaced but these are expensive. It was £48.... The quality is fab and the palette feels special, I love the tortoiseshell effect but I still can't really justify it to myself, ahh well too late now!

xoxo

NOTD - H&M Going Bananas

Today I'm wearing a polish that was very generously and kindly sent to me by the lovely Katherine aka ProductPixie. After posting that this colour did not suit her on Twitter I expressed an interest into what it was and Katherine kindly offered it to me and it was waiting on my doormat when I got back from holiday on Friday! Lucky me!

Fortunately for me this is a colour that suits me! 

I really like it, it's a shade stronger that my favourite yellow, Nail Inc Spitalfields. In the top picture you can just see the beautiful shimmer in the polish, green and pink shimmer that is very visible outside, it gives it a different dimension than a flat creme polish.

I have mentioned before that I like H&M polishes, not expensive, high fashion colours, quick colour changes and fairly good wear.

Thank you Katherine!

xoxo

Birthday NOTD - Candy Apple Leopard!

So today has been my birthday! I haven't done anything today and have mostly hung out with my family and eaten.... a lot!!

I wore a plain black maxi dress from H&M and wanted to something cool with my nails, it was a choice between this look and China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy!

 

I went with Essie Mint Candy Apple and Nails Inc Portobello Market for the leopard dots, I love the summery feel of this leopard and I ADORE the combo of minty/turquoise with peach/coral. 

I'm keeping this look for tomorrow when I'm off to the cool city of Toulouse for a spot of lunch and shopping with the fam on my last full day on holiday!

xoxo

NOTD - Nails Inc Portobello Market

An older Nails Inc from my collection, Portobello Market is a gorgeous peach coral. No red in this one, most definitely peach toned. I can't really compare it to anything else I have, less orangey than OPI Hot and Spicy and more orangey than Nails Inc Wellington Square.

I've not worn it before and I have loved it, it has been a perfect holiday shade, I wore it with OPI Stranger Tides on my toes, an amazing combo of colours! It originally came in a pastel four piece set a couple of years ago. This was two coats. 

xoxo

OOTD x2!

Bonsoir! 

I hope you don't mind me posting these but I have been enjoying everyone else's, I thought I'd contribute!

First up in this double post is last nights outfit, hugely over the top for the occasion but I enjoyed wearing it! We went to a little restaurant for dinner, it was a little bit posh but not enough for sequins! I've had this top since Easter and this was it's first wearing!

Top - Monsoon Fusion

Trousers - Monsoon

Wedges - Clarkes

Lipstick - MAC Gulabi

I bought the cropped trousers in the Monsoon sale the day before coming to France, I'd been looking for a pair for aaages! The shoes are a pair of black patent peep toe wedges that I got in the Clarkes sale a couple of years ago but have never worn them. They were one of those purchases where I stuffed my feet into them because of the price! Now I've lost weight they fit fine!

Top - Monsoon Fusion

Trousers - Laura Ashley

Sandals - Accessorize

Today's outfit also features a top from Monsoon Fusion! I love this top and bought it with the other one, I have worn this twice now and continue to enjoy it! I love the sleeves and the little print.

Do excuse the seriously dodgy hair, I tried to curl it today for the first time since having it cut and it's still a bit short to achieve a good look! Apologies for the blurry pictures too, not sure what's going on here, different camera and laptop!

 It is freezing here today and as I type my dad is lighting the wood burner downstairs IN JULY!! I brought one cardi that has gone on now!

Anyway, hope the weather perks up it has been rubbish this week, wet and pretty cold! 

xoxo

Evening OOTD

This is my outfit from last night, we went out for dinner in a local town. It was a smarter restaurant so we got a little dressed up, normally the French are fairly casual around here.

Top - Monsoon

Trousers - Laura Ashley 

Sandals - Accessorize

Bangle - Accessorize

I love to wear white linen trousers in the summer but I am terrified of sitting in something, spilling something or generally touching anything with them on! I would like to add that these are a size 10!!

Also the first outing of the green top, it has little butterflies on it and I have to say I am getting more comfortable with sleeveless! I know you can't see my sandals, I did crop the photo but for some reason it won't upload the cropped version, but they have Swarovski crystals along my foot, love a bit of sparkle in the evening!

xoxo

French OOTD's

Salut!

I thought I'd share a couple of my OOTD's, I only have two pictures so far but I will try to take more as my holiday goes on! 

I wore this on Tuesday, it was the outfit I tweeted about last week saying that I was unsure about the amount of leg and arm that was on show but I was surprisingly comfortable with it! We had gone to watch the Tour De France go through a local town, as usual on one's first day I got quite sunburnt!

Top - H&M

Skirt - H&M

Belt - H&M

Sandals - Accessorize 

Sunglasses - Accessorize

Excuse my brothers dopey look! This was Thursday, Bastille Day and market day. It was a little chilly in the morning but it turned out to be a lovely day so I removed the cardi!

T-Shirt - Laura Ashley

Skirt - Monsoon

Cardigan - Zara

Sandals - Accessorize

Sunglasses - Accessorize

Bag - Tabitha

We haven't been out for dinner yet so I haven't gone any evening outfits but I am looking forward to wearing some of the other clothes I have brought so I will get some pictures! I loved my first outfit so much, I have washed it and am wearing it today!

xoxo

Holiday Maquillage!

Bonjour!

I am writing this from my parents house in the south of France, I am sitting outside enjoying the sunshine at the moment and having a lovely time with my family. 

As usual I have packed too many clothes and brought too much makeup but I did carefully select some lipsticks to bring with me. I hate getting ready and discover that I could have brought a certain colour with me! So I have tried to cover all colour groups! When selecting things to take on holiday you really narrow down your favourites and think these would be mine as of now!

MAC - Gulabi, Dressmaker Dressmaker, Lady Gaga, Ever Hip, Candy Yum Yum and Hibiscus

Chanel Coco Rouge - Romance, Sari D'Eau

Okay, so I brought eight lipsticks for a 14 day holiday, but a girls gotta have options!

As for nail varnish, I couldn't quite control myself quite as well!

OPI - Black Onyx, Diva Of Geneva, Can You Tapas This, Hot And Spicy, Sparrow Me The Drama and Mermaids Tears

Nails Inc - Eaton Square, Blandford Street, Portobello Market, Maple Street and Cadogan Square

Orly Luxe, Jessica Sexy Siren, No7 60's Mini Skirt, Essie Mint Candy Apple, CG Flip Flop Fantasy, CG For Audrey.

Umm...... yeah.

That's 17 nail varnishes!

Well, I have toes and nails to paint and I brought some for my Mum to use as she didn't bring any *justifying this craziness*

I have changed my polish a couple of times and as I write this I am waiting for Portobello Road to dry and this is my view!

Is there anything you can't control yourself around when packing?!

P.S I have also brought 8 pairs of shoes......

xoxo

Yellow Fever!

This summer I have been drawn to anything yellow, I realise this is not completely a choice made of my own freewill as there are many gorgeous yellow items popping up in the shops this year all coaxing me to buy them, at which they have been successful!

The yellow coloured items in my wardrobe have gone from virtually nothing to five items with two more to come hopefully!

First up my Tabitha handbag!

I know you have all seen it but this has been a pretty major accessory for me in the month that I've had it. I have used it almost every day. I promised myself I wouldn't use it for work but I have been as I just can't put it down!

O.S.P by Osprey purse.

I had my eye on this for a little while but I was waiting for a 10% off weekend, the wait was worth it as it had 20% off in the end! I adore the colour and the lining is beautiful it reminds me of a silk scarf or dress. I love a big purse, I don't like fiddly little ones!

Skinny belt from Accessorize.

I bought this earlier in the year, my first yellow purchase! I wear it with a white tunic and blue leggings, it gives a little bit of colour on an otherwise plain outfit. 

Zara scarf.

My most recent yellow item, I bought last week in the Zara sale. I looove it! With just a white t-shirt it looks so summery and fresh, I just bought a plain black H&M maxi dress today and this will be perfect as a cover-up for the evening!

Nails Inc Spitalfields polish.

A previously unloved polish in my collection now has pride of place on my bedside table! I've spoken about it loads but for me it's the perfect shade for my nails. I would like to try a stronger shade but have yet to find one I like!

There are two more items on my yellow wishlist, this skirt from Topshop,

I have only seen it in a magazine and have been in the shop and checking the website daily but I don't think it's in the shops yet, I hope I haven't missed it!

Monsoon Fusion Skirt

In the new section of the website this pleated skirt is hitting two trends! If it's long enough on me I'll be buying this when it gets to the shops, I had a look today and it's not out yet. I think it will amazing with a white t-shirt tucked in, a skinny black belt and my chunky patent black heels. I just love the accent colour around the zip! Shame I couldn't get it before I go on holiday, it would have been great for the evening!

Well I think that's enough yellow for now! Have you added anything yellow to your wardrobe?