Hi everyone,

Sorry for not posting so frequently in the past few days - things have been turned upside down!

But I'm coming at you with a really interesting little post for beauty on a budget.  Here is my top picks for getting an entire look for much less than you think!

1. Collection 2000 Naturally Radiant Foundation

This beauty steal from Collection 2000 offers light-to-medium coverage with a lightweight feel. It contains SPF 15 and is transfer-proof for a flawless finish.

Luxury treat:CHANEL Pro Lumiére Professional Finish Make Up

2. Natural Collection Lash Length Mascara

For a lavish lash look, try this mascara that defines and lengthens even the stubbiest of lashes without clumping.

Luxury treat:
Dior Diorshow Mascara 

3. Maybelline Watershine Lip Gloss

You don't need to spend a lot to get a fabulously glossed pout. This one has a gel base and is formulated to give spectacular sparkle and shine without stickiness.

Luxury treat:
Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Pur Lip Gloss

4. Barry M Blusher

A light dusting of this blusher will go a long way for your complexion. Use it to warm up the apple of your cheeks and apply a dab to the bridge of your nose to create a flattering, warming effect.

Luxury treat:
Benefit Coralista Blusher

5. Miss Sporty Cover Stick

Target your skin bugbears with this concealer that will hide dark circles and blemishes. Use it alone or on top of foundation for that bit of extra coverage.

Luxury treat:
Clinique All About Eyes Airbrush Concealer 

6. Rimmel Soft Kohl Eye Pencil

There's nothing like a swipe or smudge of kohl to define eyes. Leave your line sharp and precise or soften it out with a cotton bud. This soft pencil doesn't disappoint with its long-lasting, jet black pigment-packed colour.

Luxury treat:
Estée Lauder Double Wear Eye Pencil

7. NIVEA Visage Daily Essentials Moisturising Day Cream

This moisturiser ticks all the boxes: it contains an SPF, it's easily absorbed and oil-free, so it won't clog your pores. Mix it with foundation to create a light, dewy finish with plenty of moisture, or wear it alone for a fresh look.

Luxury treat:
Clarins HydraQuench Day Cream 

8. 17 Lasting Fix Lipstick

For satin-like lip colour that will go the distance without drying out, take your pick from 17's impressive range of lipsticks. Choose a statement red shade to get more impact for your money.

Luxury treat:
Lancôme Le Rouge Absolue

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

xoxo,

Angelique

Autumn make up trend: Jewel tones

Yes, diamonds are still a girl's best friend (take note, gentlemen) but we're getting better acquainted with the deep, jewel tones that are so hot this season. Rich, luxurious make up shades such as amethyst, emerald and ruby are seriously catching my eye in my local Boots Store and are perfect for creating stunning smoky eyes and statement lips, this autumn and winter. I've selected a few of my favourites to share with you...



Eyes:
Use deep purple shades for a modern twist on the classic smoky eye - Bourjois Smoky Eyes Eye Shadow (£7.99) in Violet Romantic is perfect. Start by applying the medium shade across your whole eyelid before dabbing the lightest shade into the corners. Finish off the look by sweeping the darkest shade outwards, towards the temples and into crease of your eyelid.


Lips:
A strong red lip never goes out of style and I just can't get enough of the gorgeous claret shades that are currently sweeping the fashion nation. This season brings a vampish edge to the look, reminiscent of rubies and garnets - think vintage Hollywood meets gothic glam! Lancome Rouge Absolue 154 (£19.50) is bang on trend as well as being super-moisturising and long-lasting, for a decadent finish.


Nails:
I'm still loving magnetic nail polishes - a sleek, sophisticated nail art look that's easy to achieve? Yes please! Barry M have just added a new emerald shade to their magnetic polish range, it's flecked with sparkles for nails that are just like precious gems - perfect! (Available in store at £4.99).


So with all that said, maybe it is time to get gemmed up?

xoxo,
Angelique ;-)

New Product: Barry M Gelly Nail Paint

Hi everyone,

I was so looking forward to reviewing the 17 Switch colour nail polish today, but the fates have conspired against me.  The working week has kept me far away from my local Boots store and thus I haven't been able to get my grubby mitts on the delectable shades and thus will have to postpone that particular post until after the weekend.

Fear not...I have another bit of cool news though, which I'm kindly going to be sharing with my lovely subscribers and followers.  It is all about a new nail polish that Barry M is launching verrrry soon!  I can't wait for this, because fall is a very exciting time for nail polish and the new textures and feels that are being launched month on month.

It is the Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Polish!   Loads of people have become obsessed with UV-topcoats and gel-based nail polish.  For those that are unfamiliar with UV-topcoats, it is a gel-based nail polish that is painted on to the nail and then cured (dried) under a UV-lamp.  The coat stays beautifully glossy and extra shining. 

Barry M have managed to create this amazing shiny texture in the Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Polish.  And the range of colours is beautiful ranging from pretty pastels to those forest greens, royal purples and tango oranges.  Absolutely phenomenal. 

The beautiful range of colours in the Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Polish

Gelly Nail Paints! Here we have Blackberry & Grapefruit. Only one coat is needed for an extra glossy shine

Prickly Pear Gelly Nail Paint

These polishes are available from most local Boots and Superdrug stores from 26 September 2012 and will retail for £3.99.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend filled with many wonderful moments.

xoxo,
Angelique

OOTD: Passion

Hello beautiful shining stars!

Today is my debut on outfit of the day, and I've decided that if it goes well with this outfit, I'll show you some more!

Jacket: Zara (similar here); Silk Vest:  River Island (similar here);  Jeans:  Matalan (found here); Shoes: Zara (sold out, except for on Ebay);  Clutch:  Next (currently obsessed with this clutch)

I knew that the restaurant that we visited was going to be smart and I didn't want to look boring.  My main aim was to remain playful but have key pieces that played the colour down.  Monochrome was the answer, along with a playful pallette of red and purple.  I loved wearing this outfit and got loads of compliments. 

My nail polish was red with a playful glitter drip effect to break up the colour slightly.  I used Rimmel base and top coat, Rimmel Cherry Red Nail Varnish and Barry M's multi-coloured glitter polish.

What do you think of this outfit?  Nom or vom?

xoxo,
Angelique

NOTD: Barry M Tangerine

Ahh friends, it is monday once more...but do not despair, we should be happy to see the dawn of a new day.  With that it is high time for another nail of the day.

I chose carefully this time -- looking both for functionality and matches for the weather.  As the weather here in the UK is cold and rainy at the moment, I wanted to choose a nail polish from my collection that could be worn in both cooler and warm, summer days.  With that said, Barry M's Tangerine is the perfect solution.

NP136

Nail Paint - Tangerine

RRP £2.99

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you like this choice of polish?  Have you have a favourite 'double-act' nail polish, that can work in winter and summer?

That said, I'm sad that summer never really arrived in the UK.  I'm watching the movie 'War Horse' sitting under my little blanket.  I've just had some crepes too!  Fingers crossed we'll have a few more warmer days before winter hits us again.

Enjoy your week!

xoxo,
Angelique

Christmas Nails

There are only 12 days until christmas and I'm absolutely over excited about it!  Right now is a prime time for christmas parties and going out, and that means that you might be stuck for ideas on how to have your nails.

I really like a festive look over christmas, and think I have just the idea for you!  I've actually got a beautiful red glittery nail tutorial that might be right up your street!

1)  Firstly I started off with a good fast-drying bottom coat.  This could be anything like Rimmel, Sally Hansen or whatever you might have in your arsenal.

2)  Then I really wanted to make the glitter pop, so I actually put a very light coat of Essie's Lollipop on my nails.  One coat is enough and it doesn't necessarily have to be opaque.  And let the coat dry thoroughly before moving on to the next step.

Essie's Lollipop

One light coat of Essie's Lollipop (Number 703) on the nails

3)  Once that layer has dried you can add some beautiful glitter to the mix, I used Barry M's 150 'Red Glitter' or as I like to call it 'Ruby Red Slippers'.  Again one coat should be enough and it really doesn't matter if the coat is a little thicker then normal, because the glitter coats dry fairly fast. 

Barry M's 'Red Glitter' (number 150)

4)  Add a good top coat to seal in the polish and to give the nail some beautiful shine.  Clean any bits off the cuticles and side of the nails with a cotton bud and nail polish remover.  And et voila, you have a stunning nail-look for christmas!

My top coat is Rimmel's Super Wear upto 10 Day Topcoat

The finished product, just remember to clean up the sides (not like me!)

You could even do the same on your toes!  (Sorry for the dodgy toe pic!)

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and I hope to see you again soon!

Love and hugs

Summer Time!

So I'm already shopping for my honeymoon and of course summer is finally on its way!  I recently went and bought a few really nice items for the holiday and really can't wait!  My honeymoon is being held in Cape Town, South Africa!

I'm going to be sipping cocktails at the harbour and go to posh restaurants in Grande West Casino!  I've missed my lovely city.

Reality check!  Back to earth....haha.  So here is a list of what I have bought:

These are my pride and joy!  They are from River Island and cost £69.99.  The heels are a soft coral colour and the platform and heel has a cork effect.  But fear not, you will not wobble around on these!  They are going to look awesome with my tanned legs and I'll be wearing them out at night when I go to parties and cocktail bars!

This dress doesn't look like much on the hanger but when worn out you'll be getting complimented left right and centre!  It is also from River Island and costs about £45.  The bold print gives you a delightful splash of colour and will brighten your day!  It is also very floaty and light, perfect for evening or day wear and very sexy due to a low cut bust-line.  It is one of my favourite finds this summer so far!

Another brilliant find (from last summer season) is Rimmel 60 seconds Coralicious, which retails at about £3.50 at all major super markets and chemists.  This is the perfect hue to pull you into a summery vibe without being too clashy with your outfits!  It is definitely one that I'll be wearing whilst I travel, and perfect to cheer you up on those long-haul flights!  Yummy-licious colour!

My brand new nail polish is OPI Grape-fit.  I recently picked up this purhase from Ebay for £5.99 and £1 P&P, to cheer me up from all the revision I've been doing! This shade is so beautiful and the sorbet shade cannot be beaten!  It looks beautiful on the nails and will add a splash of colour to any outfit!

Then these two top colours are my Barry M nail polishes from their pastel/sorbet range.  One colour is 308 in Berry (which is a soft lilac purple colour that looks like it belongs on an ice cream) and the other colour is 309 strawberry (which is the soft pink milkshake colour).  Both need multiple coats for a colour that pops, but for the price of £2.99 is worth every penny!  Gorgeous colour but at a snip!

I bought this particular shade of nail polish last year in South Africa.  It is Essie's version of Mint Candy Apple.  It is a very soft minty green that has been given a slight twist of blue in there as well.  This will truly be one of the major shades on my finger nails this season because it is very subtle and still sexy.  I think most Essie nail polishes retail for around £3 to £8 and have some really gorgeous shades!

Sally Hansen's 18 Hour Protective Hand Creme is one of the richest and most hydrating hand creme's I have ever tried!  It has a delightfully soft citrus scent that will leave your hands smelling very decadent!  I actually discovered the product during the NEC Bridal Fair in Birmingham when I had a Sally Hansen manicure.  This product makes your skin feel like new and your nails will be stronger and healthier due to the minerals and vitamins contained in this wonderful creme! It retails at around £6. This is a new cult product for me and I'll be continuing using it until I die! c",)

Handbag saviour!  I picked these nail polish remover pads up from Savers, and it is just that, a life saver!  If you have to remove your nail polish quickly for whatever reason, these little pads are brilliant!  They have a nice, soft orange fragrance and is acetone free.  The only down side is the fact that your hands feel a little bit sticky after use.  Maybe if you have wipes with you in your handbag this could be remedied?  These cost less than £1.00 and are well worth that investment!

My final item especially during holiday when my cuticles normally shrivel up and die, is Sally Hansen Cuticle and Nail Oil.  I think this product is an absolute wonder!  It really rehydrates my dry cuticles and nourish the nail and nailbed from within.  My nails look 100% healthier when I regularly use the oil.  It is fairly pricey at about £8.95 but is worth it and will last for a long time.  It is also possible to get discounts and to win Sally Hansen prizes when you join the Sally Club at http://www.sallyhansen.co.uk/user/register and there are videos and help for all sorts of nail problems :)

So that really concludes my blog for today.  I'll be sure to use these products and get the most out of my summer time!

Bon voyage x