Vaseline fit for a Queen

I really, really couldn't resist this. Pink Champagne Vaseline...couldn't be more up my street. Anything with a little nod of luxury get's my magpie tendencies going loco and I find myself unable to resist. Sad but true.

So, when I saw this little beauty giving me the eye in Boot's, it found it's way into my basket in an instance. A little bit pricier than the original Vaseline (this pot retails at £3.49) but worth every penny.

 It's pale pink packaging floats my boat, and the Vaseline is slightly pink in the pot, but not as vivid as Vaseline Rose. Also, for me it's nice that it remains transparent, which I quite like in a basic lip-balm  I'm not too sold on if it actually tastes of Champagne, but there is a slight hint to it when you apply initially. Like every Vaseline out there it really does wonders to smooth lips which I find a necessity in the freezing weather at the moment.  But don't be fooled, with it's pretty packaging the wonders of Vaseline are not limited to one's lips. This little wonder can be used for nails, to strengthen  and any odd dry spots, such as around the knuckles on the hands and any dry noses after a bust of the dreaded winter cold. 

As this is limited edition I would be quick to snap it up as I'm not too sure how long it will be on the shelves for. It will last you for ever, lipstick application will become a dream, and it's a much flirtier and feminine to pop out of your handbag than the basic and drab Vaseline pots of yesterday. Pink bubbly you are a true dream.

The Red Mani

So, it's come to that time in December when the Christmas party prep really begins. This means that I begin my no-nonsense pampering session on the countdown to the big day...This means eyebrows are seen to, everything is waxed and buffed and the hair is given a good chop. It's an important ritual that I like to stick to when anything is coming up where there are lots of pictures to be taken and it gives me a good excuse to immerse myself in beauty heaven.

This begins with the nail prep. One colour is always my favourite around this time of year, and that's Red. No nonsense, fail-safe and popular it may be, but by no means does this little gem have to be boring. With all the little twists on the classic Red enamel polish these days, it's super-simple to find an original way to make the classic red mani look a little bit more of a statement.

Barry M always seems to be the brand I go to when looking to mix up my varnish collection. I love how long their varnishes stay on the nails and how glossy and healthy the colour looks on the nails. The consistency is always superb and never too runny or too thick (something that seems to be a lot harder to find with Essie polishes...) which makes the application super easy. As a lover of gel nails, I decided to go for the new "Gelly" range Barry M have brought out, as the "hi-shine" promise on the bottle called my name. True to their word, the varnish really is glossy and looks identical to any Shellac I have had done in the past. Perfect for nails on a budget. To mix it up a little bit more ("Woah, calm down..." I here you say...) I chose to apply a red glitter layer onto my fourth finger, a cheeky little accent nail right there. After all, what would Christmas be without glitter?! I've not tried the Barry M glitter varnishes before, although it may seem like I've been living under a rock, I was amazed at how one coat gave such instant coverage, the glitter was more of a nail wrap in appearence which made the nail stand out and looked really cute and festive.

So all in all? Barry M got the gold star once again. Pretty christmassy nails, already getting me excited for the upcoming christmas parties...

Has anyone else got a go-to nail look for the festive period?

Winter #1

I thought I would do a little post today on what I have been loving this week, especially in regard to lips. For me, I have been straying away from my go-to nude pink, and going more towards a brown lips day-to-day. Going back brunette has made me love this shade and as I am all about bronzed skin I find it has been working out pretty well for me.

So today was a quick dash into town to pick up a few bits and pieces, teamed with a salted caramel latte (hail you Costa!) and a big furry coat I was quite happy.

So this is it- the lip combination of the week.

• Kiehl's Lip Gloss in "East Village Vibe"
• Estee Lauder Lip Gloss in "Wild Sugarcane"

No lipstick to be seen here! I have been quite enjoying not using a lipstick in this weather as it helps keep the lips moisturised, and when this combination wears off slightly it still leaves a natural tint to the lips which still feel like you still have a shot of colour on your lips without having to reapply. This week has been pretty hectic so this has been a huge bonus! The Kiehl's lip gloss is very moisturising anyway and has a gorgeous peachy flavour instead of a gloopy nasty taste and doesn't feel sticky so I will definetley be repurchasing. Kiehl's products are always a winner as they are natural and beneficial to the skin instead of being full of nasty chemicals and toxins, which are never nice, especially in winter. I find using this colour first and then sweeping over Estee Lauder gives a good sheeny toffee colour.

Also I couldn't finish this without giving a little happy nod towards the Body Shop. I'm a huge lover of hand creams and moisturisers of any sort, but got the Almond Hand & Nail Cream because of it's strengthening nail properties. My nails are so weak and brittle at the moment they were requiring a lot of TLC, and I've found since using this daily whenever my hands feel slightly dry has shown some slight improvement as I am getting less splits in my nails and they are looking a lot shinier! (also my hands have been smelling yummy!).

Hope everyone has been having a lovely week, happy Wednesday!

Makeup #1

This is a look that everyone adores, a whimsical and ethereal look that oozes femininity. This look was created for a look for Fame Academy for Wella Pro and Trend Vision and was all about making the skin look glowing and light as air. A look that I've since seen at Christian Dior with his use of Swarvoski crystals in SS 2013 show, the application of crystals catches the light and the bold highlighting of the cheek reflects the silver, shimmered outfits. It's one to look out for.

The look was focused onto the eyes and strayed away from the grungy, smoky looks seen in 2012. This look was innovative, and fashion-forward. Eyes were defined, and emphasised by elongating with the crystals, scattered away from the eye, starting in the crease and out. Skin was glowing, healthy and overall beautiful. It was about delicate colours and shades, and not being afraid to use shimmering pigments to make the most of the bright lights of the catwalk, instead of being afraid of them.