Where to Save: Makeup Edition

I love a bargain. It's the best feeling when you can find a product where the quality vastly outshines the price. I own a mixture of luxury and affordable makeup and I have tried and tested all different categories of makeup to give you my picks on what makeup items are worth heading to your local high street for.

Mascara

I have tried my hardest to find a high-end mascara that curls my eyelashes, makes them thicker and fuller without weighing them down and I have not found one yet. Thing is, you can't trial a mascara out properly before purchasing it and so whenever I have purchased one from a luxury brand that claims to be the holy grail of mascaras, I'm always disappointed with the end result.
With mascara that is more affordable, I find that I can trial more out without spending a fortune, and so I do have a few go-to favourites that give me the results that I want - I will list and link them below!
-  Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara (£8.99/9ml)
- Kiko Unforgettable WP Mascara (£7.20/9ml)
- L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Waterproof Mascara (£10.99/9ml)

Eyeliner
I think it's so easy to find a brilliant eyeliner without spending too much. Eyeliner only lasts a few months, so I think if you can find something you like for under a tenner then you are definitely winning. From liquids to pencils - the high street has so much variety that I don't feel the need to look elsewhere! I've now found my holy grail liquid eyeliner for under £3, which I can create a thin and defined line, to a more bolder statement look:

- Collection Fast Stroke Eye Liner (£2.99/3.8g) 
- L'Oreal Paris Super Slim Eyeliner (£6.99)
- Rimmel London Scandal'Eyes WP Eyeliner  (£4.49)

Nails

If you are like me, and like to chop and change your nail colour weekly, then the high street can provide a variety of colours, textures and formulas to please anyone. I love finding the needle in the haystack when it comes to shopping for nail polishes, because I think every brand can vary so much (luxury polishes included!). Just because you might pay over £15 for a nail polish, doesn't mean that it's less likely to chip - nails are one thing that is affected by general wear and tear of your daily living. I've found some formulas in the high street that I would wholly recommend to anyone looking for nail polishes that can last for up to week without chipping. 

- Maybelline Forever Strong Gel Nail Polish (£4.49/10ml)

- Kiko Perfect Gel Duo (£7.99/2 polishes)

Lips

Similar to nail polishes, I think you can find a really nice selection of lip products on the high street, again with different textures, formulas and colours. I think because lip products are something that you will tend to reapply throughout the day, regardless of the price, you don't need to spend too much cash, whether you want to is a different story! I'm a massive fan of nude lip colours, and I'll list a few of my favourites below: 

- Nip and Fab Makeup Matte Liquid Lipstick (£7.95/2.6ml)

- Revlon Ultra HD Gel Lipcolour (£7.99)

Brushes 
No matter what makeup you purchase, it's so important to ensure that your tools are just as good as the products. In the last decade, we can see a massive increase of affordable but high quality makeup tools. I believe makeup tools are worth investing in, and finding the right ones for the right price can be difficult, but not impossible. Anything by Real Techniques is an automatic win - I've never been disappointed  in their products and they are so multi-purpose, sometimes I use them for what works for me, rather than what they are meant to be used for!
- Real Techniques Blush Brush (£9.99)
- Real Techniques Sculpting Set (£19.99)

- Kiko Blending Brush 200 (discontinued)
- The Body Shop Eyeshadow Brush (£9.00)

So that is my round up on all the makeup products that I think is worth getting for an affordable price tag. I would love to know if this is something you agree with, or whether there is something else you think is worth sticking on this list.
If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date!

The Nail Polish For Every Skin Tone

If you have seen me in the past 6 weeks, chances are that you have seen me with this nail polish on. Painting your own nails does require a bit of maintenance but the result is always worth it - and when it means that you can watch Netflix whilst they dry, it's a win-win situation!

The nail polish is the Maybelline Forever Strong Gel Nail Colour in the shade '130 Rose Poudre' (£4.49/10ml). The funny thing is that I bought this shade a few years ago and finished it, but now this is just my go-to shade. 

In terms of the colour, it's a lovely dusky pink colour that also has a nude undertone, so I know it will flatter a lot of skin tones. It's one of those shades that you can wear for weeks on end without getting bored of it and also one that compliments most outfits!

In terms of the formula, I always imagine this as a liquid elastic when applying it. I find that I don't really make any mistakes - it clings to the nails but is not so quick drying that you feel like you are racing against time. It's a thin consistency that still manages to be opaque. I do find that you do need two coats to get the perfect finish though. I am a fan of the brush, which is again just that perfect medium of not being too big, nor too small and can apply the product evenly. 

Although this product says '7 days', it's more like five. Five days of your nails actually being more or less perfect before they actually do start chipping, so at '7 days' it's mostly intact but it's probably time for a refresh! 

One product that is new (to me at least) is the Maybelline Forever Strong Gel Nail colour in '25 Crystal', which is basically a clear top coat. I like this top coat, I find that it doesn't disturb the polish underneath and does give a nice finish to the nails. The nails are practically dry to touch after 30 minutes, however beware of sleeping for a few hours otherwise you will get texture on the nails which is the worst!

All in all, I really like this product, especially on my skin tone - I just find it so flattering! I would love to know more recommendations on staple nail polishes, so be sure to let me know in the comments below!

If you would like to read more posts then be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date!

Birchbox: June 2017

I was lucky to receive the June Birchbox as a late birthday present this month. I love the concept of this brand, delivering new and upcoming, or well loved beauty products to try and test. This months Birchbox came in a bag, which is perfect for days at the beach as the material of the bag is easy to clean and very durable.

The first thing that popped out of this bag was the Scrub Love Coconut Mango Body Scrub (£12.95/200g). This product is so ideal for summer, I feel like sometimes we worry about facial skincare rather than body care! Still I was prepared to dismiss this product, as who wants to spend a lot of money on a scrub that you wash away right? When I used this product, I was completely blown away, I used around a tablespoon of the scrub and that was enough to scrub my whole body. The scrub itself is mostly particles with no gel or liquid which makes the scrub really do its job properly. It does have oil in it, so it's not all just grit. The smell is incredible, it did not overtly smell of coconut nor mango, but just a nice tropical scent, enough to make you wish you were in a tropical paradise!  The scrub was vigorous, but the coconut oil left behind just made me love this product even more, as my body was just ready for the day once I stepped out of the shower. For anyone who is looking for a real scrub, this is honestly the best product I have tried! 

I was also so happy to receive the Cowshed Cowpat Moisturising Hand Cream (£8.00/50ml), just because I haven't tried anything from the brand before, and I've heard such good things about it. This hand cream is a good staple for any handbag, it absorbs well into the skin and doesn't leave any greasy residue. The scent is really different, this product strives to be unisex which I find refreshing! This product contains Grapefruit oil and Coriander oil to help circulation and also Shea and Cocoa butter to help to nourish dry skin. In terms of texture, this feels like a lotion, however has the power of a heavy duty cream! I actually stick this product on my feet too because it really is good at hydrating dry skin. 

The amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo (£20.00/232ml), is a product I didn't think I would get much use out of. However, a week after the box arrived, I slept in after my alarm went off, and only had less than half an hour to get ready and this product literally saved my hair. I don't really use dry shampoo as I was my hair every day. I know, it's so bad for my hair. But what I especially liked about this dry shampoo was that it didn't leave a build up of product in my hair, and it just added an extra few hours of wear back into my hair. This would be great for anyone who likes to use dry shampoo period, but also those who like to use it over a period of days, as this is such a light spray.

The last few bits that were in the Birchbox was an Eyebrow Pencil from Meech and Mia (£12.99/1g), I haven't heard of this brand before but I was sceptical of trying an eyebrow pencil as I hadn't tried one in a few years! Once I tried this one though, I was sold. It's lightly pigmented, and has a slightly waxy feel to it, and just looks natural on the brows. It's weird, it's like a new generation of eyebrow pencils, that accentuates brows rather than drawing them on! This pencil is designed for sparse brows, and so if you are like me, and are not naturally gifted with full brows this pencil could be a game changer for you!

Another interesting product was the Arrow Enhance Waterproof Eyeliner + Brightener (£12.00/0.8g), which is a light pink eyeliner, which is perfect masking tired, red eyes! So although I love the concept of this eyeliner, and the longevity is also brilliant, the product itself slightly balls up on my eyes, and leaves residue in my eyelashes, which isn't ideal. Also I probably should address that on my eyes, the colour is quite noticeable, just because of how tanned my skin is. I think on lighter skin this product might look more natural! What I have been doing with this product is using this on my waterline and then adding my eyeliner of choice over it, as it extenuates the colour of my eyeliner, as it's such a light colour. So if I am wearing brown or green eyeliner, priming my waterline with this eyeliner is perfect as the colour just looks more vibrant and the eyeliner actually has something to stick to too, and so doesn't disintegrate as easily!

I was super happy with this Birchbox, as I just think the selection was things I needed but just didn't buy for myself! I would love to know if you have tried Birchbox and your experiences of it! Also be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

5 Tips: How To Maintain Healthy Nails

So I've always considered myself quite lucky to have nails that grow fast. However for the past four years I have been actively maintaining my nails, and I wanted to share my top tips and tricks for how to keep your nails in the best shape.

1) File to Shape

So I hardly ever really cut my nails, I only reach for my nail clippers if I have seriously neglected my nails that they have grown so long and eventually broken into a variety of shapes and sizes. I think we need to start from scratch sometimes and file our nails down to all have the same shape. When I first did this I was left with seriously short nails but they were all the same shape and size and just looked a lot more pleasing. Additionally, nails are easier to maintain when they are shorter as they are less likely to break and chip. So every week you can begin to file where you need to file, and in no time you'll have longer nails that are the same shape!

2) Identify your problems

This is a weird one, but I think we all have a problem point when it comes to nails; you may bite your nails, wear so much nail polish that you are suffering from nail yellowing, or have nails that break easily. The list goes on and on. So if you suffer from biting your nails, perhaps invest in those bitter nail polishes. If you are suffering from yellowing nails, then I suggest taking a break from nail polish, because it's always good to air your nails out! If you have nails that break easily, it might be good to file them a bit shorter so that you can focus on making your nails a bit stronger.

3) Moisturise!

So I've recently done a post all about hand creams, I think it's good to keep your hands moisturised as they are one of the areas of your body that shows the signs of aging first. When adding hand cream, it's easier to massage your cuticles, and push them back. My favourite hand cream for when I am doing my nails is the  Sanctuary Spa Velvety Hand Cream (£3.00/30ml), it's super luxurious formula and leaves a super subtle but lovely scent behind. 

4) Avoid too much water

Drinking lots of water is good, however exposing your nails to lots of water isn't the best thing. Have you guys ever noticed that when you finish washing the dishes or coming out of a long shower that your nails are bendy? So if you are prone to nails that snap off for what seems like no reason, this might be something to look out for. Also avoid filing your nails when they are still wet, your nails are at it's weakest, and you are probably doing more damage than good.

5) Invest in treatments

Sometimes we all need put in a bit more effort to maintain our nails. This may be investing in nail hardeners, if you have brittle nails, or cuticle oil if your cuticles are hard to manage. I remember when I suffered from yellowing nails, I bought a base coat because I didn't want to stop wearing nail polish, and low and behold, my nails returned back to their usual colour. It's normally the small, simple steps we miss out that can have an effect on our nail health the most. Diet and water is important, and this should probably be the first factor you look at. Another thing I like to do is to get my nails professionally manicured once in a while, because if the nail technician creates the shape I want, all I have to do is maintain it.

I hope this post was helpful for those of you who are having a bit of trouble maintaining the healthy nails you want! If you have any tips and tricks that I missed out then I would love for you to share in the comments below. Also be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

3 Highstreet Hand Creams

Happy new years guys! So unlike many others, I haven't done my 'Best of 2016' beauty products post because actually much of what I share on here are my favourites or my regular routines, so I thought there would be a lot of repetition. Anyway, today I wanted to share with you three affordable hand creams that will protect your hands this winter, so on with the post...

The first hand cream is the newest in my collection, and it's the Sanctuary Spa Velvety Hand Cream (£3.00/30ml). My cousin gifted this to me for Christmas because she noticed that I didn't own anything by Sanctuary Spa, which was very thoughtful! So this hand cream is light in formula, slightly more thicker than a lotion but has a similar blend-ability to it, and so it's quick to put on and sink in. It doesn't leave any greasy residue and it's just a lovely hand cream, you can feel that it has that luxury, spa-like aspect to it. So this is an absolute treat to put on, especially when you are doing your nails. The scent of this is amazing to, it's a light citrus scent which is what adds to the luxury feel as it isn't too potent, but it's definitely discernible. I feel like I would have paid more for this item, so this is an absolute bargain in terms of price.

Soap and Glory Hand Food (£2.50/50ml), is a cult favourite, it has a sweet marshmallow-like scent that is addictive, and moisturises the hand nicely. Despite this, I think this is my least favourite hand cream. I know, I know, how could I say that? For me, I need a hand cream that will sink into my skin, and this is the only hand cream I own that sits on my skin the longest, which is okay when you are at home, but out and about, I feel like my hands are slippy and I have the urge to wipe my hands on my jeans. So although it is the most affordable for the amount you are getting, this is my least reached for product. However, it's a cult favourite for a reason, and that might be because my hands don't get super dry, so perhaps that's why I don't like the feeling of it.

So this last product is actually my favourite, it's Patisserie De Bain Sugared Violet Hand Cream*(£3.99/50ml). I personally contacted this brand to tell them that I loved their products, they have such a niche idea using candy as inspiration, and they were kind enough to send me a few products from their range. I also know that the scents won't be everyone's favourite, however it's the formula that I am absolutely in love with. This is the thickest consistency, however don't be fooled by this because this actually sinks into the skin so quickly, that you can't even remember if you put anything on! It's one of those which is ideal for travel because you can carry on with your day not hindered by sticky hands. The scent of this is also so nostalgic for me too, it smells like the sweet Violets which it's inspired by, so if you have the chance to sniff this, it's definitely worth it. Their range can be found in Superdrug, and you'll love their products if you like scents to stay on your skin!

I would love to know what your favourites are and if you have tried any of the ones I have mentioned! Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with my posts!

* This post contains a PR sample. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 polishes you need to buy!

I don't know about you, but I love looking at product empties. I think they are the most truthful way of seeing whether someone really did like a product. Today, I'm going show you the nail polishes that I've used up and need to stick back on my 'to repurchase' list...

If you've read my blog before, you might have gathered that I'm a slight hoarder. For me, products are also associated with memories, for example the first nail polish I bought myself was actually Essie's 'Naughty Nautical' (£7.99/13.5ml) in Summer 2013 when I was in the US. This polish is especially amazing for the summer months and an all year round toenail colour because it's a brighter sea-foam green colour. However, what makes it special is the subtle shimmer that runs through the formula and so glistens nicely in the sun. Essie formulas are great and so this was just an all-round product!

Another polish I have used up was 'So Much Fawn' (£4.99/14.7ml) by Sally Hansen. This colour was brilliant for catering to any type of occasion, from interviews to casual days. It's the perfect mid-tone pink, with a hint of coral and so looks amazing with a tan. Sally Hansen polishes have an awesome wide brush which means you can paint one nail in two strokes! 

-

Chinchilly (£7.99/13.5ml) by Essie. Need I say more? This is a fan favourite because it's both edgy and neutral at the same time. Whoever thought that painting nails grey would look so good? The reason I love this Essie one is that it's the perfect tone of grey that it looks great with all skin-tones. The formula is also not too thick, nor too thin and dries super fast. What's not to love? 

The last polish I am going to mention is one I have raved about every since I first tried it. The The Maybelline Super Stay Formula is one of the best I have ever tried in terms of longevity. This polish will seriously stay on your nails for a solid 5-6 days without chipping. It's bleeping crazy. The only catch is that you have to wait for it to dry properly, and so when I put this on, I'm probably on some kind of TV series binge. The colour I have used up, which is called Surreal (£4.49/10ml), is a vibrant purple that's just so wearable! I never thought that I would ever wear purple on my nails but this shade is just the perfect balance of wearing something different, without it looking like it's too much. 

Is there any polishes that you would repurchase again? If so, then let me know! Be sure to subscribe on Bloglovin' so you don't miss any of my posts!

3 nail polishes for the girl on the go...

We have all been there; you have an event coming up in the evening and your nail polish is chipped like you've been wearing it for a week when it's just been three days - what do you do? I hate those situations! You need a polish that looks worthy of coming out of salon,  that is quick in the application and also the drying time. Well, I have you sorted. I don't have one polish to share with you guys, but three! Take from this the colours that I usually go for in these situations and more importantly the formulations of the polishes themselves, because when the clock is ticking, you can't be playing around...

1) Sephora Formula X Nail Colour 'Brain Power' ($10.50/12ml)

The Sephora Formula X polishes are awesome when you are in a hurry, gliding on smoothly which makes applying another layer of polish is ridiculously easy. You know when you are in a hurry and when applying another layer of polish you end up dragging the last layer a bit because you didn't have enough product on the brush? Just me? Well anyway, applying this product is just a piece of cake and very very fool proof! This is in the shade 'Brain Power' which is a lovely nude colour that will save you for any occasion! I would recommend this to anyone who has difficultly applying polish!

2) OPI Nail Lacquer 'Not so Bora Bora -Ing Pink' (£12.50/15ml)

I never really got the hype around OPI, they aren't exactly the cheapest product. But when I got my hands on this product, I could see why people gravitate towards it. The formula is very thin, but in a good way because it dries in no time at all - I would say this is the best, out of these picks, for drying time. However, I don't think you could just work on one coat for this, it's not that pigmented. But even then two layers of polish would still be done in less than 5 minutes. So if you are really late to something, then I would suggest grabbing a bottle of OPI to get you through the day! The shade I have is a rouge pink colour - something that adds colour and femininity without going overboard!

3) Rimmel London 60 Seconds Nail Polish '313 Rita Rouge' (£2.99/ 8ml)

This colour is for the special occasion evening. It's a deep red toned mahogany that just oozes class and confidence. It's the cheapest out of all three polishes, and is just an awesome polish for both nails and toenails. What I love about this polish is that it creates a gel effect on the nail, so it's thicker than the last two polishes but has the best finish because you are left with this glossy, pigmented shade in one coat. Despite being thick, this dries down quickly too and so you can rely on it - I love taking this one on holiday! I don't think you can go wrong with a dark colour for an occasion! 

These nail colours will work well for lots of skin colours and they also suit most occasions too! So it's a win-win situation, whether it's a meeting with your boss, shopping with the girls or having a night out, your nails can be in tip top condition!

I love Essie and BarryM as brands but I was really focusing more on the quick drying aspect and the polishes I gravitate towards when I'm in a rush! Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed reading my picks for the girl on the go, I would love to know what your top picks would be!

If you enjoyed this post, then be sure to subscribe on Bloglovin'! 

Review: Rimmel London 60 seconds Nail Polish

It's kind of strange, but changing up my nail  polish really gets me ready for the season. Lucky for me, I have already found my perfect nail polish for me this Winter and it is the Rimmel london 60 Seconds Nail polish in the shade 313 Rita Rouge (£2.99/ 8ml).

To me, this polish is an all rounder, it's super quick at drying (in 60 seconds the polish is dry to the touch), so excellent for those last minute occasions. The brush is also a bit wide, so the application time is reduced and the pigmentation is amazing! One coat can do it all, however I still like to do two thinner coats. The result is a  nice and even layer of polish that is almost gel like in appearance and so a top coat isn't really necessary!  Longevity-wise, this is pretty standard, it lasts nicely for around the 3 to 4 day mark before chipping. But what I love about this is that it's the perfect colour for toenails and also the hands too! It's a lovely deep burgundy that is more brown toned, and so will suit a huge range of skin tones. For me, the colour and the ease of application is the best selling points as there are days in which I just want to do my nails as quickly as possible, and the more fuss free the better. This is the first polish I have in the range, but I would certainly be interested to buy more and at £2.99, you can't really go wrong! 

What colours are you gravitating towards this winter? I would love to know, so leave me a comment down below!

Summer Nail Polishes: Collaboration with Becki!

So Summer is finally here! For me that means popping out the bright and bold nail colours that have been hiding away for the past few months. Since I have tanned skin I thought I would share with you my favourite summer nails colours that I think suit my skin colour perfectly! This post is a collaboration with Becki from Beauty and the Brunette, who is doing this post also but for fairer skinned girls, so between the two of us, we have your nails covered for before you head out into the sun and after! Becki is super nice and always has good recommendations so go check her out!

The first polish I want to speak is the  Lola Barcelona (€10/8ml) nail polish in the shade Rambla which is a bright orangey coral colour and it is beautiful. I was really sceptic about it first, having received it in the April Birchbox but once I had applied it I fell in love. This is one of those colours that really emphasises a tan and so is perfect for this summer. It has a gel like formula and lasts a fair few days, the drying time is fairly standard but I think this one is a must have this summer for your nails and toenails! You can purchase this here. 

If you prefer quicker drying times then the BarryM Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint (£3.99/10ml), may be more to your liking, I have the shade Get Set Go which is a bright, slightly neon pink  colour and is suitable for any occasion. This stuff seriously dries so fast, you can finish your manicure in under 15 minutes. What I love about this is that it has a gel like finish even though it's quick drying. Also I actually really like this for my toenails. I have done a full review on this, which you can read about here! 

I love nude nail polishes in summer because it means that you can wear any colour and your nails will complement your outfit rather than clashing. The Sephora Formula X New Neutrals Nail colour (€12.90/12ml)  in the shade Brain Power is the one I currently have. It's a lovely sandy brown shade which complements my skin-tone and I just love that this is an easy to colour to wear. It's just something that you can throw on and not worry about. This doesn't stay on super long for me, it lasts around 3- 4 days before it begins to chip, it dries quite quickly though, it reminds me of the Essie nail polishes. I think investing in a neutral colour is something that will benefit you all year round. I've done a full review of this product here.

If you like long lasting nails then maybe the Maybelline Forever Strong Super Stay Gel Nail Colour (£4.49/10ml) may be more to your liking. I have the shade Surreal which is a quasi-neon purple and it's so pretty. If you want something that's bold without being too loud then this is the colour I would recommend. It's just the perfect colour that will compliment tanned skin without being too overpowering or ostentatious. It lasts more than 5 days on my nails and that's really quite the feat because my nails chip like no tomorrow. This also has a gel like finish which is super nice and glossy, however the wait time is slightly longer, however if you can bear with it your nails will last so I think it's a good compromise. I also have a full review of this product here if you would like more information on the product. I wear this polish all the time because I just think it suits me, especially if I do feel like wearing some colour! 

I just realised that all these polishes offer something different, from the shade,  the longevity and the drying time. These are honestly the colours I am going to be wearing throughout summer and I hope you check them out because they are all great :) Remember to check out Becki's post!
Have you tried any of these? What are your Summer nail recommendations?

Review: BarryM Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint

So I love nail polish but it sucks when you have to wait for it to dry. So when BarryM launched their quick dry formula I jumped at the chance to buy it...for, you know, the blog...(and my ever growing collection).

So I got the BarryM Speedy Quick Dry Nail Paint (£3.99/10ml) in the shade Get Set Go . I was instantly attracted to this colour, it's neon pink and a great choice for summer for both your nails and toenails. What I love about this is that it was true to it's word, my nails were dry in 10 minutes and that's including two coats. It blew my mind. Also. like all BarryM nail polishes it had the same gel like finish and also the same low price. I like that the brush is rounded too, so it fits the curve of your nail nicely and it isn't too big either, so it works nicely for your pinky finger too!

When it came to longevity, I actually paired this polish with the BarryM Basecoat, Topcoat & Nail Hardener (£2.99/10ml). My nails lasted a full five days and for me that is actually an amazing feat. My nails chip like no tomorrow and it usually happens in a domino effect, once one nail chips...the rest go tumbling sooner rather than later. But with this top coat, I did get a chip but that chip didn't get bigger, nor did any of my other nails chip. I'm so glad I bought this polish! If it makes my other polish's last I will be super super happy. Also when you remove this polish it doesn't stain your nails or fingers. That's my top tip for summer, since we start to wear brighter nails, it's important to wear a base coat so that your nails don't get stained. 

Have you tried the quick dry formula? What did you make of it? :) Be sure to follow my blog on bloglovin'!

New Look Pure Colour Review

You may or may not know that New Look has a beauty range, so as you can imagine when I first spotted the beauty stall in my local store, I wasn't coming away with any clothing...

The first thing I spotted was the nail polishes, New Look have a nice range with different formulas and a good selection of colours to choose from (not as wide as the BarryM or Essie range but still a fair amount). I got the New Look Pure Colour Matte Nail Polish (£2.99/11.8ml) in the colour '03 Charcoal'. It isn't the most summery of choices but I really liked the shade! It's a dark grey colour with a violet undertone (looks more violet on camera). Since it's a matte formula it didn't take long to dry (two coats will take around 15 minutes to fully dry), what I really liked about this was that the matte wasn't too matte, it wasn't overly drying and felt smooth, I really did like the finished result. You do need two coats since the first coat is quite transparent but I like to do two coats with my nail polish anyway so it's no big deal. In terms of longevity, it's a standard nail polish, I got chips around the 3-4 day mark which is pretty normal for me. Overall, I was happy with what I got for the price, it's a fuss free nail polish and it came off with no staining too which is another plus!

One Coat of  '03 Charcoal'

Two Coats of  '03 Charcoal'

The second and last thing I got was the New Look Pure Colour Baked Eyeshadow (£3.99/2.5g) in the colour '22 Mid Brown'. I really recommend looking at these eyeshadows because even though they didn't have a huge range (only 5 shades) they were all very lovely shades and all wearable for the day or night. I've been meaning to find a replacement for Urban Decays 'Smog' because I'm running out of that shade, the baked eyeshadow that I purchased is a bit darker than Smog (but not as dark as Dark Horse by Urban Decay! it's a nice in-between colour) but it is just as lovely to wear in the crease or on the entire lid. It's also not as reflective as Smog itself but still contains a slight shimmer of gold but also bronze. It's a nice and smooth formula and really pigmented, the only bad thing (in my opinion) is that it creased on me, but this isn't unusual for powder eyeshadows in my case. So oily skinned people be sure to use a eye primer! Again with this product, I'm really happy with it, it's nice to know I have got a portable eyeshadow that can be used for any occasion. If you are into your brown shades then this is definitely worth a try! The packaging of products is also really classic, a black plastic casing that seems quite sturdy, and the cardboard case that it comes in is quite M.A.C like! Nice job New Look! For more information, click here. 

From left to right: Dark Horse (Urban Decay), 22 Mid Brown (New Look),
Smog (Urban Decay).

If you want some budget friendly beauty products, I really do think New Look has something to offer, even though I have tried only two things I was really impressed that the quality matched the price or was even better for the price offered (in the case of the baked eyeshadow). I saw that New Look did offer a concealer which catered to my skin-tone so maybe I should try that next?

Have you tried anything from the New Look Pure Colour range? If so, what did you think and what did you try? I would love to know :) 

My Favourite Nail Polish - BarryM Textured Effect Nail Paint 'Duchess'

Hey guys :)
Spring is, in my opinion, really here now (the weather may beg to differ though) and so today I wanted to share with you guys my all time favourite nail polish, and yes it is a true favourite. I've been wearing this shade for on and off for two years and I always come back to it. Let me tell you why.

Let me introduce you to BarryM Textured Effect Nail Paint (£3.99/10ml) in the shade 'Duchess'. Firstly, lets all admire the shade, it's just...swoon-worthy! It''s a lovely dusty pink which has flecks of silver and it is definitely a shade which will suit everyone. It also goes with everything, with black it makes you look feminine, with red it looks complementary, with grey it look totally chic...I can go on and on about this...

It's a textured nail polish - although this means that taking it off will be hell, it also means that the staying power is amazing, like no joke, it's phenomenal -as in it lasts more than 5 days. It's actually what I wear when I have an exam as weird as that sounds, because I know I wouldn't need to fuss around with taking off nail polish and reapplying the day before so this it saves me a lot of time. Talking about time - this formula dries impeccably fast, like within 10 minutes it will be dry to the touch and you can start doing things, heck even if you did fidget in the first few minutes it doesn't matter because it's textured and you wouldn't even notice. Because of this, I always take this colour when I travel home on the train, it's foolproof. The price is the most amazing thing, like all BarryM polishes you get such a good standard while paying such affordable prices and that's why I have so many, they just do the job well.

I'm actually gushing over this polish - I never thought I would use that word to describe myself but there you go. I think everyone needs this polish, I'm totally serious about this - once you try it, I know you will be converted. Honestly.

I hope you guys try it, if you do be sure to tweet me!

What's your favourite spring shade? I think you can tell this is mine :)

Thanks for reading,

Anjna

Illamasqua Nail Polish: Perfect transitional shade?

Hey everyone!

So it's spring and that means out with the old and in with the new, (that's my excuse to do a ton of shopping!). Recently I purchased a nail polish from Illamasqua, a brand I haven't tried before and I absolutely fell in love with the colour...

I feel like this colour is something that can take you from one season to another, because it's a block colour it looks nice to wear in spring, but not too bright for summer. I love how it's a nice mix of green and blue (it looks blue on camera, but it is greenish!), it's such a unique shade and also my justification for buying it. At £14.50/15ml, it's not exactly the most cost-effective choice, however it is 5ml more than a standard BarryM polish. The application of the polish was quite a high standard, the first coat was opaque without being overly thick, better than an Essie polish in that aspect. However drying time was standard and so was the wear of it. I feel like this would be a great product to have if you liked to just wear one coat of nail polish, it doesn't really require much maintenance. It also didn't chip crazily, much to my surprise, but when it did chip a bit around the 3rd day mark the rest of the nail polish stayed put and didn't start to come off.

I also loved the skinny brush, which is nice because it gives a precision to the application, sometimes brushes can be too big and so it's easier to mess up!

Overall, the shade of this polish is what got me to the check-out and I hope you can see why I liked it so much! I think the shades of the Illamasqua polishes are great and so is the application, so if those are the things you want from your polish then I think that Illamasqua is the way to go :) What's your favourite nail polish brand? :)

Thank you for reading, 

Anjna

Review: BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint

Hey guys!

So I love nail polishes to the point where I am constantly buying them so today I thought I would share a recent purchase of mine which is the  BarryM Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in the colour Blackberry (£3.99/10ml). 

I've been on the lookout for a dark blue which is not so dark that it looks black but dark enough that it looks evening appropriate and I think I have found the perfect shade. I don't think the name 'Blackberry' does it any justice either - It's like a royal blue which would suit any skin-tone. 

I was impressed by the drying time, I applied 2 thin layers of polish and it dried within the hour (and I mean properly dried). What I did notice was that the first coat wasn't so great but the second coat added that lovely gel-like shine and consistency which was great! You could get the desired effect from just one coat but then that would mean that the thick product would be harder to dry (and easier to mess up!) and so I wouldn't recommend doing that -two thin coats is the way to get the best end result and drying time. The longevity of this polish is standard, it chips around the three or four day mark which, for me, isn't bad but it's not the best either. I love how BarryM always have promotions on their products, it's so hard to resist! The price of this product is great for what you get.

In general I just think that the BarryM polishes are reliable, I have never actually experienced a bad polish from them and I adore their colour selection. If you are looking for a lovely royal blue then look no further.

I hope you enjoyed this review. What is your go-to nail colour? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, 

Anjna x