Essence Grand-Plié in Black

Love relaxing Sundays. And that's exactly what today is going to be:)

This Essence polish is an epic mixture of a jelly like black base with coppery red glitter in it. Superb combination, if a little sheer and in need of 3 coats.

Nail Polish Collection: Breakdown Part 3

We're on to post 3 of this Saturday Series! Today's collection breakdown features what I will call the Best of Boots - namely No7 and Barry M. 

No7

L-R Grey Skies, Beanie, Spun Sugar, Cheeky Chops, Very Petal, Rose Truffle, Salsa, Blackberry, Vivid Violet.

Barry M

L-R Grey, Mushroom, Peach Melba, Berry Ice-Cream, Dusky Mauve, Navy, Raspberry, Spring Green. 

And that's No7 and Barry M accounted for:)

Nail Polish Obsession Tag

I feel like it has been absolutely ages since I have done a tag post and this one seemed perfect. I haven't noticed it on any blogs yet but I have watched a number of people on YouTube do the tag. I don't know who the original creator of the tag was. 

Here we go!

1. What's your favorite nail polish company?


That's a tough one, I love so many but overall it has to be OPI. Honourable mentions include - Catrice, Barry M, China Glaze and Essie.

2. Glitter or no glitter?


Glitter all the way. I know it can be an absolute nightmare to remove but it can be so worth it as the effect it gives is blinging gorgeous.

3. OPI, China Glaze, or Essie?
 

I'll have to go with OPI for this one as well.

4. When do you change your nail polish?


I usually change it 2-4 times a week. I prefer painting them in the morning, just because I don't like the smell of varnish in my room before I'm about to go to sleep, but it really depends what shifts I'm working so I suppose the real answer is whenever I get the chance! But always at least twice a week.

5. What's your favorite color on your nails?


Greens. Absolutely adore wearing greens. And Peaches? No idea why but colours like Barry M's Peach Melba and OPI's Melon of Troy - drool.

6. Darks or Brights?


Mmmm I'm probably about 50:50 on this, I like to wear both with no real preference. It depends on my mood really and whatever I take a fancy for!

7. What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?


OPI's Senorita Rose-Alita

8. Matte Nails-In or Out?

I'm not a huge fan of matte nails but I will wear them from time to time. Neither adore or despise them. Although I do really like the ones where you do a glossy tip.


9. French Manicure?


I know a lot of people think this is  a really dated look but I think it's very classic - when it's done right. To me a good french manicure is a nice light pink or nude with small white tips. Claw like, long white-tipped acrylics? No thanks.

10. Favorite Winter Color

My favourite is probably a deep vampy red/purple like No7's Blackberry or OPI's Lincoln Park After Dark. 

It's just a short little tag that's fun to do:) 

I'm going to tag a few people to do it but obviously go ahead and do it even if I don't specifically tag you, I'd love to read more!

I tag:

Saloule

Lorraine

Viva Adonis

Adoreabubbles

Behind Green Eyes

I Haz A Beauty Blog

All Made Up 21

GirlWithTheSkewEarring

Lovely Girly Bits

Fluff and Fripperies

Bourjois Blue Délavé

I thought I would show one of my oldest nail varnishes. I bought this when I was in love with all Bourjois products. I think it was the French name, it made every thing sound so much more sophisticated and we all know how at 14 being older than you are is the most important thing, ever.

Blue Délavé is an extremely sheer varnish. This is about 4 coats. It really would be best to layer it over another blue varnish. 

I quite like it though, it seems like an icy blue. Cold, like an angry sea. 

I haven't bought any Bourjois nail vanishes in a long long time. I only have two left in my collection. Any other old Bourjois fans out there?

New Skincare Stuff - Clarisonic and Origins

 So my skin and I have being having a few disagreements as of late. Some minor but mostly major disagreements including a housing estate worth of spots that have taken permanent residency on my jawline and chin (without prior planning permission I might add). My favourite has to be the most recent one, though, where my skin went and completely overreacted to some product and decided to flake away a few layers of skin, leaving raw, sore and exposed skin on my cheeks. It didn't care what I thought, it just went ahead and did it. 

I decided that enough is enough. As a permanent separation from my skin is not an option, I decided to bring in a meditator to help bring a balance and happiness between my skin and I. The mediator comes in the form of the Clarisonic Mia. 

I'm sure most of you have heard of this device, which the Americans have been buzzing about for the past few years, but if you haven't, the Clarisonic is essentially a giant electric toothbrush for your face which offers deep cleansing and should assist in acne reduction and discolouration of the skin.

I have read so many promising reviews of it, so I really hope it makes a difference to my skin. Not that it is important but once I decided to get one, one of the longest decisions I took to make was which colour to get lol! I was torn between the lavender, green and yellow. Green is my favourite colour so I almost went for that but then decided to go for the primrose yellow as it will be like a little ray of sunshine to use every morning:)

Whilst I was on a new skincare binge I decided to go all out and get 2 more cult favourites, both from Origins. The VitaZing moisturiser and the GinZing eye cream.

I'm going to be using these from now on and hopefully in a few months when I do a review it will be of me gushing about how much I love them and how they have given me the most wonderful clear skin!

A word of warning: if you are ordering the Clarisonic online you may be caught by customs. Although I ordered off a UK website (Feel Unique) I was still stung with a €44 customs charge. I was certain that you couldn't be charged customs within Europe, but obviously I was wrong:/ 

What's in my......Shoebox?

So I thought I'd do a different slant on the usual 'what's in your bag' post and instead feature my wonderful shoebox! It's a great addition to any handbag collection. It never loses it's shape, stores plenty and comes with a full removable lid.  

Maybe I should explain a little further. Whilst I stop short of actually carrying the shoebox around with me in place of a handbag (Would be a bit awkward, no?) This shoebox lives on my handbag shelf in my wardrobe within easy reach. 

You see, I change my handbag frequently. I don't use the same handbag for weeks on end for every event. What handbag I'm using depends on if I'm going to work, if I'm just going to town for an hour or five, if I'm visiting people. I change it to complement my outfit. Basically every place I'm going will require different items in my handbag. 

As a result of always emptying out my handbag I came up with the solution of the shoebox. It means that everything I take with me in my handbags, is deposited in the shoebox when I'm not using them on any given occasion. It makes everything easily accessible when they are required. It also houses extras of things that I might run out of or use up, like tissues and lip balms.

Let's take a further look at my shoebox.

The Shoebox

An Inside Look: Some items that can be seen - gloves, extra make-up bag, tissues, deodorant, lint roller, passport, disposable camera that I keep meaning to bring with me and get developed!

Let us move on to the handbag of the day

The handbag that I am currently using. An €11 bargain from Penny's, it was love at first sight.

A peek into the bag. Oh how the excitement is building.

Contents of the bag spread out. (And yes I do carry the ginormous cat around with me in my handbag). 

The essentials that I will always have with me.

Phone, Purse, Earphones, Keys and Small wallet of extra cards that don't fit in my purse :/

I will bring my current reading material with me if I'm going to work or if I know I'll be waiting alone somewhere, like for an appointment. Especially if it's a really engrossing book I just want to be able to read it any chance I get. I'll soon be reading while I wait at traffic lights lol! (Not really people, that would be considered dangerous driving, dangerous driving I tell ya!) I got a kindle for Christmas so it will be great to bring that around with me as it will be so much lighter.

Also in this picture are my 2 planners. The butterfly one is for my blog:) In it I'm keeping track of what posts I post, an ideas list etc. The polka dot planner is for work. I just joined the gym at the weekend so I'm also going to use it to keep track of when I go and when the classes are on.

This next section is my essentials part 2. Here we have an umbrella, pocket tissues, a pop-out hairbrush/mirror combo, Extra chewing gum, a Nakd bar, a pen, tube of Carmex, a Korres lip butter, nail file and a re-useable bag (the yellow thing).

My little make-up/toiletry bag

The only make-up I ever really have with me is my lip combo for the day and sometimes concealer. 

Currently in this make-up bag I have a mini deodorant spray, a lipstick and lipgloss combo, handcream, Migrastick, Fresh Breath fluid drops, Hand sanitizer, hair grip, cotton buds, random tissue, Rennie, Panadol and Migraleve. I know it seems like I have lots of medication but I suffer from migraines, sinus headaches and tension headaches so I always need to be prepared for them! And the Rennie helps with nausea brought on from the migraines (and if I eat too much lol!).

And of course I couldn't end the post with out a feature picture of my helper during the photoshoot! 

How does my handbag fair compare to yours? Do I carry way too much with me or not enough?!

Essie Your Hut or Mine

I have really been into dusty rose pink nail varnishes as of late. I don't really know where the sudden notion came from but Essie's Your Hut or Mine is the current focus of my adoration. Not only is it a beautiful mid-toned pink with the most gorgeous shimmer ever to be seen, it has a slightly scandalous name which just makes me smile that little bit more wickedly when I tell people the name of my nail polish. Ooh Matron!

I had a slightly rocky start with Essie nail polish when I first tried them out, with Chinchilly, but I have changed my mind and yes I am now converted and also an avid follower of their upcoming collections. Yes purse, you may weep.

This is my favourite picture of it. Just beautiful. 

Hope everybody is having a nice lazy Sunday! I'm on my way to join the gym.....yay.