Nail must haves and must avoids!

What I think are the best/worst of my collection

I absolutely love nail polish and hate not having it on, having recently gone through my collection and have picked out some things which I think are really lovely and worth spending your money on and which items really aren't.

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine- I've been exploring this whole range of polishes for a while now and can definitely decide that even though they are cheaper they are actually really bad! The range of colours is amazing and the initial finish is really lovely but they chip horrifically! Probably the worst chipping I've ever seen sometimes within the hour that they're painted. I also had a problem with the whole thing peeling off and even though they look good and cheap they are just not good quality and it's such  a shame. All my friends have similar problems and no one knows why!

Bourgois Magic Nail Polish Remover- This is one of my favourite nail purchases of the year, all you have to do is pop your polished finger into the pot scrape it gently against the sponge and then pull it out completley clean! It literally takes a few seconds to do your whole hand. The great thing about it is that it also leaves the scent of vanilla and red berry on your fingers rather than that acetone smell. Only £4.99 and a great time saving buy.

Ciate Cream Soda- This is my shade of 2015, it is just the perfect grey colour. Sometimes greys are too blue or too dark but this is a perfect slightly creamy light grey that just looks stunning and flattering on anyone. The brush is really easy to apply the polish with and the formulation means that it doesn't chip. I simply love it!

WAS London Press On Nails- I chose the marble zone nails thinking they would be really cool for a party or something and I saved them for a special occasion just because they looked so cool. However they really aren't. I used a nail glue that I've been using for years and really trust but they just didn't stick right, there were no slightly smaller ones and as I have quite small hands they looked huge on me and because of the almond shape and thickness they were awful to try and file down a bit. Really wouldn't recommend them instead I like the elegant touch ones or the little fingers ones. 

Hope this will help direct your buying and make sure your nails look flawless all day ;)

Bella X

Stocking Filler Ideas

With Christmas just around the corner I thought I would share my ideas for great gifts either for stocking fillers or for smaller gifts to give to people.

Christmas is my favourite time of the year and I absolutely love giving gifts to others and so here are my ideas for the perfect little gifts.

For her

•  Yankee Candle Large Jar in Christmas Cookie- £21.99 from Boots- This is a really great gift for a girl who has it all, these candles smell amazing and last a really long time 
• Cable Knit Faux Fur Bobble Hat- £7.99 from New Look- These come in many different colours and are so cute and comfy, perfect for the winter months 
• The Little Book of Positivity- £5.99 from asos- This is the perfect little book will boost anyones day and is lovely for the coffee table 
• Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm Tree decoration- £10.00 from Space NK- THis is one of the best cleansing balms on the market and this is a great trial size to give as a gift 

For him

• Ted Baker Mens stocking filler- £5.00 from Boots- A great set of shower gel and body spray that smell amazing and would be great for any guy to pop in his gym bag 
• Dark Grey Knitted Rib Scarf- £8.99 from New Look- Stylish and warm, this gorgeous scarf comes in a variety of colours and would be a really thoughtful gift 
• How to survive anything book- £14.99 from asos- This hilarious book will provide hours of great reading and I'm sure he would love sharing these situations with friends 
• Cedrat Pure Cleanser- £16.00 from L'occitane- An exfoliating cleansing lotion that has a lovely strong scent and is suitable for all skin types  

   Fun things/ Younger people 

• Worlds smallest laser gun- £5.00 from Debenhams- Highly entertaining for all ages with 8 different sounds and lights 
• Kellogg's cereal tin lip balm set x 5 lip balms- £10.00 from asos- a great all round fun gift with all  the classic cereals we ate as kids (or still eat now!)
• Aroma Home Cat Hand warmers- £10.00 from Boots- Adorable little cat shaped hand warmers to warm up the winter months 
• Ginger Fox Mensa- riddles & conundrums- £8.00 from Debenhams- Give them something to wow all their christmas guests with these interesting cards  

Hope this gave you some ideas on either what to buy for your loved ones or to get some ideas for yourself and that you enjoy the run up to the christmas season being very merry and bright ;)

Bella X

Got a Cold? Have no fear..

Here are my top tips to get you over those sniffles and sneezes as quickly as possible 

A few weeks ago I wrote out my tips for not getting a cold (link will be at the bottom) and also promised to do a part 2 to help you if the unfortunate illness struck so here it is...

1) Don't sniff!- your body is trying to rid itself of all the nasty bugs in your system so the least you can do is help flush them out, keep blowing your nose as often as possible to keep your head clear and reduce the infection faster

2) Eat right- certain foods can really help to replenish your body, oranges contain lot's of vitamin C that can help clear your head. Other beneficial foods are foods high in fibre and iron and carbohydrates such as rice

3) Medicate- take as much medicine to help yourself out as possible, paracetamol, decongestants and lemsip along with vitamins all build up your immune system and will also help at night to dry everything up so you can sleep easier

4) Get Steamy- Steam can really help to relieve sinus pain and unblock your nose, having an extra long shower or soaking  in a lovely warm bath will help to make you feel rejuvenated and little more normal! Even if it's only an extra 5 minutes  you can spare I'm sure your nose will thank you.

And Finally...

5) SLEEP- sleep is the best thing for any illness, your brain needs to take the time to rewire and help cure itself. At least 7 hours is recommended when you are feeling under the weather and is vitally important for both your physical and mental well-being.

I hope you enjoy these tips and I wish you a speedy recovery  if you are struck down by the winter blues ;)

Bella X

Part 1 to this post- http://talkmakeuptomenow.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/lets-avoid-getting-those-winter-bugs.html

Revolution Sugar and Spice Blush Review

Review of some very blushing blushes 

I had been looking for this palette for a long time after seeing a review by Dolly Bow Bow Kate but sadly the superdrug in my local are doesn't stock Revolution products so on my trip to Barcelona I found a drugstore that did. Hooray! 

The palette contains 8 beautiful shades and the price is £6:00 from most superdrugs (if you can find it). The pigmentation on all 8 is absolutely perfect, personally I never like an incredibly heavy blush as I'm very pale but you can use a light hand with them and build them up to your preference. I also love the fact that they blend really easily making them great for quick application on the go. The layout is really well done and very attractive which I think makes me reach for it everyday which lately I have been doing. There is a real mix of colour in this palette with two metallic shimmery shades ( one almost white to use as a highlight), two bright pinks, one coral, one mauve and two darker, browner shades. Even though I am extremely pale the two browner shades actually create a very neutral look and brings out my natural colouring. My favourite two so far are the coral shade which gives a beautiful summery warmth, and the highlight shade that gives an intense highlight on the cheekbones. As the Autumn continues I'm hoping to try out more of the darker shades and create some more wintery looks. 

For £6:00 I really think you cant go wrong with this palette, all 8 shades are really pigmented and there are some really stunning colours. The case itself as it's very sleek and simple meaning easy for travel and I have taken it away with me on my trip to the lakes. Overall I would give this palette a 10/10 as all shades are wearable and would work on all skin tones ( there's something for everyone in this case of wonders!) and it's so affordable! 

So if you happen to see this palette on your travels do give it a whirl and blush away! ;)

Bella X

Let's Avoid Getting Those Winter Bugs!

Here are my tips for avoiding that dreadful cold bug that goes around this time of year and how to protect yourself against it as best you can! 

Having recently suffered from the worst cold I've ever had so I thought I would share my tips for avoiding getting sick, after this post will also follow a tips for how to get better quicker if you do get struck down. Enjoy these tips and I hope they help you to stay healthy...

1) General raising of personal hygiene- This is probably the best thing you can do for yourself, washing hands regularly and using hand gel when on the go (especially if you are using public transport or touching door handles). Also washing general things such as makeup brushes, sponges, washcloths and towels. 

2) Take appropriate Vitamins- These can help to boost the immune system during these winter months, Barretts do ones that cater to different ages, genders or conditions in some really great flavours so it's just a case of checking out which ones may be right for you. 

3) Wrap up!- Keeping dry and warm is especially important in these winter months and is key to not getting sick, I personally love wrapping up all cosy with hats and scarves in the winter ( I recommend turtlenecks).

4) Caring is not sharing!- Keep away from people who have the sneezes! Don't share any food or water bottles with others to keep the germs at bay! 

Finally...

5) If you do feel some sniffles coming on I highly recommend the Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray, It helps to flush out all the germs and may keep from a full blown cold developing 

So I hope that you find these useful and that if you keep these tips up you'll be keeping your airways clear and feel like dancing your way through the best season of the year ;)

Bella X

Colab With Extract Beauty!

So fellow blogger Extract Beauty and I decided to swap some beauty and general life questions so here are the 15 questions she asked me 

1. Drugstore makeup or high end?- I really like both but if I had to choose I would pick drugstore as I think it has really great things for great prices 

2. Favourite Drugstore brand?- I really love Rimmel London, I think they do great face products and their lipsticks are amazing 

3. Favourite store to shop at?-  I'm really odd and love looking at homewear shops like Laura Ashley, big lover of buying candles and cute nick nacks 

4. Favourite Clothing piece for autumn?-  turtle neck jumpers have become my new obsession especially in grey or dark colours 

5. How old were you when you started wearing makeup?- I started wearing the cheap lip glosses and mascaras around the age of 9 or 10 and then properly started collecting and wearing a full face at around 13 or 14

6. What is one hair care product you cannot live without? (other that shampoo and conditioner)- Hair oil is my absolute life saver, if I'm having a bad hair day a few sprays of lightweight oil can fix everything and I use is after washing to tame any immediate frizz 

7. What is your greatest strength?- I would say I am a very empathetic person and I love to listen and give advice to people, I'm quite maternal towards people I care about so without blowing my own trumpet I think I'm a generally kind person :) 

8. What is your greatest weakness?- Procrastination. Explains itself really.

9. What is your idea of the perfect pizza?- I love pineapple on pizza so much so probably a deep pan stuffed crust pineapple pizza with maybe some chicken or green pepper on there too

10. What type of music do you listen to?- I'm the kind of person that if I like it then I like it so I don't really have one specific genre that I really like, Most of my favourite songs are from a mix of genre's and eras. The only type I don't like is screamo because I find it a little too angry and loud 

11. What brand do you use for skincare?- Mainly Liz Earle but I also actually love the boots own brand moisturiser and night cream as they affordable and really soothing 

12. What is your favourite clothing brand/ shop?- New Look and Topshop are my main source of clothing but I also love going on ASOS and getting a wider range from different brands 

13. Are you a lip gloss or Lipstick kind of person?- Personally I prefer lipsticks, there is something very elegant about them and you can get so many different finishes now the possibilities are endless!

14. What is your favourite perfume?- I love the Elie Saab perfume for special occasions and The Body Shop's Indian Night Jasmine for everyday wear, both are amazing dark yet floral fragrances 

15. Do you prefer messy or sleek hair?- Sadly I'm not one of those people who look good with messy hair although most of the time it is a bit messy so I prefer sleek with no frizz but with soft curls 

Thank you so much to Extract beauty for the questions and if you want to see her answers to my questions check out her blog
http://extractbeautyblog.blogspot.co.uk/

Hope you liked getting to know me a little better (or a lot) ;)

Bella X

50's Pin Up for the modern day

The past gets a present twist with this stunning look! 

I love the style and beauty that was seen throughout the 50's and the classic Pin Up is one of my favourites, here is a step by step on how I achieved this look making it a little more modern to make it more wearable on the everyday occasion.

 First I started by moisturising my skin with a tea tree moisturiser, this not only gives hydration but also tackles any blemishes or areas of redness. I followed this with a Technic Illuminating Primer which is perfect for this look as it begins to lighten the skin and add a lovely glow applying this with a flat head foundation brush to smooth it down. The foundation I chose to use was the Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in 010, normally this shade would be far too light for me but the Pin up look has that porcelain skin look, this foundation also adds luminosity and is hydrating so comes across more natural than almost painting your face white. I always use my Real Techniques Expert Face brush to blend it all in nicely and create a flawless effect. If you need any concealer I would recommend using the Collection 16hr wear as it is really thick and long lasting. For blush I used an angled blush brush and applied the Max Factor Creme Puff Blush in 30 Gorgeous Berries, it is a beautiful dark purple pink colour that makes the cheeks pop and looks stunning on all skin tones. I finished off my face with my Collection Pressed Powder with a big fluffy powder brush to set everything in place.

I then moved onto my eyes starting with a cream base by using  L'oreal Crea Creme 03 Astral Rose giving the shadows something to stick to. Then I used a standard fluffy shadow brush to pack a matte pink shade from the Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case all over the lid. With a pointed crease brush I then blended the colour Frisk from the Naked 2 basics palette to add a slight smokey look. To add a little bit of gentle shimmer I then used a champagne shade back all over the lid, a yellowish white blended into the inner corner and a muted pink dabbed in the center of the eye to give the eye a larger more open appearance, these were from my Hello Kitty X Liberty Of London palette (which is surprisingly amazing).
I find the SuperCat Liner form Soap and Glory is my favourite liquid liner if I want to do a cat's eye but to make this look more modern and less dramatic I only did a very small flick on the outer corner. My Lashes were first coated with the Rimmel Argan Oil Mascara to separate them before I did my final coats with the L'oreal Million Lashes in Extreme Black. This mascara is amazing at lengthening lashes and I found I didn't need false lashes and so made the overall look much more natural and less time consuming. I then placed the Technic Highlights highlighter on my cupids bow, cheek bones, down my nose and on my brow bone before blending it in with my finger to have a strobed glow that made the whole face light up. Finally no pin up look can be complete without the classic red lipstick. I Used the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 01 for this as the whole range is amazingly moisturising and this colour is a sort of dark crimson red rather than bright cherry red which I thought added to the modern twist.

I finished the look by placing a bandana in my hair and fashioning two tiny victory rolls to come out the front. I was extremely pleased with the way this turned out and hope you try it out as it is very simple, quick and stunning. This look is completely down to the individual so if you were going to a themed party you could adapt it to become more classic by exaggerating some of the features. And as Benefit Beauty say " If at first you don't succeed... apply more lipstick!" ;)        

Bella X