October has arrived ... along with a bunch of great new beauty products. From nail polish kits to entire cosmetic collections, the beauty world has a lot of great offerings this month, and they're all about making a statement. This month, you can turn your nails into a disco ball with a fun sequin manicure, paint your lips Marilyn Monroe red with one brand's newest venture, and perfect the cat eye without dealing with eyeliner. To see just what I'm talking about take a look inside.

Along with the regular batch of new products, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year beauty brands create limited edition products, and donate money to breast cancer research in exchange for your purchase. But with so many out there, how do you know which products to buy? You just check out my top two picks inside.

And who can forget Halloween! To get in the spooky spirit, I've gathered a few products that you'll need to have this holiday, like spider nail stencils and "Monster Mash" nail polishes. It might be only one day out of the month, but something tells me you'll love these products year round.

Ciate's Sequin Manicure

Ciate takes the cake when it comes to inventive manicures. After all, they did create the caviar and the velvet mani. This month, Ciate is back with a brand new nail kit. It's the sequin manicure, £15, and I am in love. Available in three different versions -- Harlequin (multi-colored), Tutu (pink, red, and champagne) and Super Duper (black, silver, and gold) -- these sequins have just the right amount of sparkle, making them perfect for the upcoming holiday season. The only problem will be deciding which version to choose.

The Colossal Cat Eye

Creating an amazing cat eye isn't the easiest skill to master. Besides a great eyeliner, you need a steady hand (and lots of patience) to get that iconic look. Luckily, it just got easier with The Colossal Cat Eyes Volum' Express Mascara, £7.99, from Maybelline New York. With a claw brush and a collagen-infused formula, it coats and separates your lashes while extending them outward. This means that next time you can skip the eyeliner and apply a few coats of this new mascara to recreate that feline vibe.

Sultra's Temptress Power Dryer

When it comes to great hair tools, Sultra knows a thing or two. I'm already a huge fan of their curved flat irons and rod curling irons, especially the Bombshell Cone, £100. This month signals Sultra's latest release, the Temptress Power Dryer, £150.

Just what makes this hair dryer so special? It uses an advanced drying system that produces tons of infrared rays and negative ions -- great for drying your hair in lightning speed while defending it against heat damage at the same time. Sounds like a win-win to me.

Revlon Sweetly Sinister Nail Art Stencils

Nail art is about to get a lot easier. Revlon has just released a line of Nail Art Stencils, £4.50 each, with designs perfect for Halloween. This Sweetly Sinister collection features spiders, skulls, stars, and even funny little moustaches. All you have to do is stick one of the stencils onto your nail (bare or with dry enamel), then paint over it with polish. Once dry, simply peel off the stencil, leaving behind your own tiny masterpiece. Now you have to decide: Sinister or sweet?

Nars Andy Warhol Collection

We're used to seeing Nars Cosmetics in its signature matte black packaging, but that's all about to change. This month marks the release of the Pop Art line from the Nars Andy Warhol Collection, and the makeup (along with the packaging) is as vibrant as the pop artist himself.

The Pop Art line includes eyeshadows, lip glosses, and nail polishes in fun, playful colors. (I'm in love with the purple "New York Dolls" nail polish shade!) Plus, the makeup comes in Warhol-inspired packaging, like a soup can container covered in the famous "Interview" lips. In November Nars will release the second half of the collection, called The Factory, which features a more subdued palette than the Pop Art line -- even more to look forward to.

Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Stila Cosmetics are showing their support with a new beauty palette. The Stila Courage and Beauty Travel Palette, £12, may look tiny, but it comes with a wide variety of products, including five matching eyeshadows, a lip and cheek tint, and a small mirror. And if you're unsure about how to use them, the product comes with a face chart to help you out. But the best part is that for each palette purchased, £1 of the proceeds will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Shopping never felt so good.

MAC Marilyn Monroe Collection

Andy Warhol isn't the only pop culture icon to get a makeup collection. This month, MAC is releasing its limited edition Marilyn Monroe Collection. The collection contains 30 pieces and features eyeshadows, nail polishes, lipsticks, eyeliners and much more, each packaged in famous Marilyn imagery. (Products range from £10 to £30.) With these products, you can get Marilyn's famous red pout or recall her Hollywood glam vibe with shimmery pale eyeshadows. And with names like "Preferred Blonde," "Deeply Adored," and "Charmed I'm Sure," you'll have just as much fun memorizing all the shades.

Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet

Missing summer's warm rays? This fall, reclaim your sun-kissed cheeks with Youngblood Crushed Mineral Blush in Sherbet, £18.12. This peachy-hued powder will add a nice shimmery glow to your cheeks, and can double as an eyeshadow if needed. And this is another purchase you can feel good about: For each blush sold, £2.20 will go to the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Orly Spellbound Collection

Spider nail art isn't the only way to show your Halloween spirit. Orly has created the Spellbound Collection, £8.50 per polish, just in time for the holiday. The four polishes include "Liquid Vinyl" (a rich black), "Monster Mash" (glittery green), "Right Amount of Evil" (glittery orange), and "R.I.P" (a glittery red and black mix). You can wear the glitter polish alone for a sheer effect, or layer over the black polish for a darker vibe. I don't know about you, but these hues have me extra excited for Halloween.











These are nine reasons to absolutely love October and embrace the colder weather.  Sure, it gets darker sooner at night, and sure we're having to start switching on the heating...but what a fabulous collection of new beauty products to tittelate our tastebuds!

Have an absolutely stunning day.

xoxo,
Angelique

Revlon Nails Tutorial

Good day all you gorgeous people!

I've got a great little post lined up for today.  I haven't prepared this tutorial myself, but rather found it on the Revlon Facebook page.  I thought that I'd share it with my viewers, especially for those who haven't ever seen this tutorial previously.

This is a great show of this seasons biggest nail trends and Revlon seem to be hitting all the right trends with their wonderful nail polish collections.  This particular trend combines metallics and glitter, two of my favourite things!

So I take no credit for this tutorial, it is not my nails and the whole tutorial can be found on the Revlon Facebook page. I've taken the time to find all the necessary products on the Boots.com website so that you can buy any products that you like.   But for those that haven't seen it yet....here it is:

1. Start with your basecoat – this will help the nail enamel adhere to the nail better, making it last longer!

2. Apply two coats of Gold Coin, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.

 
3. Start by painting 1 coat of Radiant at the base of your nail near the cuticle. Only paint about a third of the way up the nail.

Wipe off the brush slightly and ‘drag’ some of the Radiant polish upwards to create a faded effect.

4. Now add a final coat. Focus around the cuticle – to keep this layer intense, ‘dot’ colour on rather than dragging it with the brush.

 
5. Finally 'float' your topcoat!

The Final Product

 I hope you've enjoyed a look into this tutorial, and please link in any pictures if you've given this a try!

xoxo,
Angelique

Three Polishes to Perk Up Your Pedicure

Ready for open-toe season? I've chosen three shades that are sure to put you—and your toes!—in party mode this spring. Whether it’s day or night, there’s a polish to match any occasion this season.

At a picnic

Keep it relaxed with a soft, muted lilac. The color will make your toes look dainty and feminine, but not too girly to hang out with the boys! These cute new polishes are from the UK, and we love the miniature bow adorning each bottle.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Ciaté Nail Varnish in Sugar Plum

Rocking out at a festival

Embrace your inner festival goddess and paint on the boldest color in your paintbox: Canary yellow! The tone will help you stand out from the crowd and looks fantastic with summer sandals.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Models Own Lemon Meringue

For evening cocktails

Your toes are missing out on the fun if you stick to red or baby pink shades, so amp up the twilight happy hour with a vibrant fuchsia lacquer! It looks just as gorgeous with a little black dress as it does with a white suit.
SexyatMidnight recommends: Revlon Colorstay Longwear Enamel in Wild Strawberry









Enjoy!

Budget beauty buys under a tenner

Nobody loves budget beauty as much as I do.  A good bargain absolutely makes me salivate and my greedy little fingers itch to remove my debit card from my wallet, ready to push those buttons for the machine to confirm my purchase.

Then the girl at the till will almost readily pushes my purchases into a plastic bag, and shove it towards me.  With a mad glint in my eye, I'll take the bag and go home to try out everything I'd bought. 

It made me look at some of the best budget beauty out there at the moment, and makes me assess what is worth buying.  Here on my guide, I'll show you what is worth it and what is not. 

1. Violent Lips natural leopard temporary lip tattoos, £7.99
They may look a bit wacky but temporary lip tattoos are the hottest way to liven up your look. From Jessie J to Kelly Rowland, Violent Lip tattoos have taken the celebrity world by storm and you can also get the look and stand out from the crowd. Easy to apply and remove, not only is the finish smooth and glossy but each tattoo is enriched with vitamins so your lips are left feeling soft. Choose between coral giraffe, red glitteratti, pink polka dot or show off your wild side in natural leopard.

2. Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure, from £7.99
Quick and easy, Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure has already been making waves in the beauty world and the former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger is also said to be a fan. The main selling point of this salon-perfect manicure is that it is so instant. All you do is peel the false nails off and press them onto your nails. The gel-like manicure lasts for up to a week and protects your nails at the same time. Available in a range of different styles, Broadway ImPRESS press-on manicure is a revolutionary way to update your nails.

3. Bourjois Shadow & Light Duo Noir & Blanc, £5.49
How much do I love Bourjois' new shadow and light duo Khôl and Contour eyeliner pencil? Let me count the ways -the white shade illuminates and opens up the eye (it's a common trick to use white on the inner rim of your lower lid to make your eyes sparkle) and then you can use the black matt shade to outline your peepers and intensify the effect. Hypoallergenic and ophthalmologically-tested, this double-ended eyeliner pencil is also suitable for contact lens wearers (like me!). Add to your make-up bag and style your eyes with shadow and light.

4. Burt's Bees lemon poppy seed facial cleanser, £9.75
Put some zest into your beauty regime with Burt's Bees lemon poppy seed facial cleanser. This duo cleanser/exfoliator combines the cleansing properties of lemon oil to remove make-up and impurities with the exfoliating properties of poppy seeds. Rich in botanic oils, this facial cleanser does the job without over-drying the skin surface. The result is clean skin that is soft to the touch. It also smells sweet enough to eat so why not treat yourself this spring in a way that doesn't involve any calories?

5. L'Oréal Hair Expertise, from £5.99
Indulge your hair with L'Oréal's latest non-sulphate cleansing system. Enriched with natural products, including rosemary and juniper oils, L'Oréal Hair Expertise range will help protect over-processed hair. Recent reviews on the boots.co.uk site suggest L'Oréal Hair Expertise really does leave your hair feeling soft and easy to detangle. If you're suffering from straw-like hair after too much bleaching or colouring, try this latest hair innovation from L'Oréal, which is available in a whole range of different products.

6. Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts wash and mask, £4.99
Instead of simply banging on about how good their new range is, Clearasil set up a blind test so that beauty journalists and readers of the magazine Glamour could give their verdict on this mystery product. Clearasil asked users to guess the ingredients and brand with very good results - eight out of 10 Glamour magazine readers recommended the Clearasil Vitamins & Extracts 2-in-1 mask. If you're looking for a product to help keep spots at bay without drying out your skin, check out the new range. Boasting both soothing and pimple-fighting ingredients such as avocado and salicylic acid plus skin-nourishing vitamins, the new range is not just aimed at teenagers.

7. Johnson's skin perfecting oil, from £9.99
Are you suffering from stretch marks? It's a common problem that affects many women but now, thanks to Johnson & Johnson, you can visibly reduce the signs of them. Not only does Johnson's skin perfecting oil work to moisturise and improve the appearance of these marks but this moisturising formula can also improve skin suppleness and elasticity.

8. Maybelline Nude Dream Airfoam, from £7.99
If you're looking for light coverage with the added benefit of SPF16, then Maybelline's new Nude Dream airfoam is your perfect beauty buy for spring. The lightweight formula and mousse-like texture delicately covers the skin surface leaving you with a flawless finish. You can, of course, build up the layers to provide better and longer-lasting coverage but overall, this latest addition to Maybelline's extremely popular range is a good choice for that fresh and natural look.

9. Revlon ColorBurst lip butter
Inject some colour into your make-up regime with Revlon's glorious new ColorBurst lip butters. Available in 20 different shades, including raspberry pie and tutti frutti, these lip butters add a lovely sheen to the lips. Plump up your lips and make them shine while keeping your pout hydrated thanks to the combination of mango, shea and coconut butter found in the lip butter sticks.

10. E45 intense recovery lotion fragrance free, from £4.49
Dry, flaky skin? It happens to the best of us, especially after months of hiding our bare legs under tights. Ensure your body is in tip-top condition for spring by introducing a suitable body lotion into your beauty regime now. E45 intense recovery lotion is just the ticket as even the most sensitive of skin sufferers can benefit from its skin-softening formula. Enriched with intense moisturisers, the Recovery Lotion helps prevent the viscious dryness cycle by replenishing and locking in moisture, which in turn helps to restore the skin's natural moisture levels.

Which products do you like from my list?  Are you willing to try any of them?

NEW REVLON COLOR Lip Butter

I've never been a huge fan of lipsticks until recently!  I'm in love with beautiful rich colours on my lips as well as soft nudes.  It thrills me that Revlon has combined my two favourite things:  Lipstick and Lip Butter!  Together these two things combine to become an unstoppable force to be reckoned with!

Revlon describes these as:

- Buttery Balm + Shiny Color
- Buttery balm with beautiful shiny color to give you baby soft, healthy glowing lips 94% of women felt lips were softer, smoother, and instantly hydrated.

- Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
- Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
- Sheer to medium colour with buttery shine
- Available in 20 luscious shades

Left to right:  Pink Truffle, Sugar Frosting, Raspberry Pie, Tutti Frutti, Brown Sugar, Peach Parfait

Left to Right:  Fig Jam, Candy Apple, Red Velvet, Cotton Candy, Berry Smoothie, Cupcake

Left to right:  Gumdrop, Creamsicle, Cherry Tart, Lollipop, Strawberry Shortcake, Sugar Plum



Left to Right:  Sweet Tart and Creme brulee



The first thing that struck me about these beauties was the colours available!  There are 20 beautiful shades to choose from and some colours give more colour payoff than others.  It would seem that these lip butters wouldn't give you an opaque look to the lip, but you couldn't be further from the truth.  The lip butters glide onto the lips to give a dewy finish of colour on your lips in one sweep.

I personally love the packaging of these. The quilted effect on the case has a distinctly Chanel-like feel about it which I think looks really chic. I also love the fact that the top is clear so you can quickly see the colour and how much is left.



They apparently don’t have great staying power, but then considering they are lip butters that is not really surprising. They also wear down quickly, again not surprising considering they are so soft.



All our American friends have already been privvy to this amazing product and have gone bananna's for it!  Most colours have been sold out in drug stores for weeks on end!  So it is a definite must to pencil the release date of this product into your diary! 

Revlon releases the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters on 14th March 2012.  They will retail at approximately £6 each. 

Which shade is your favourite?

Love

Angie xxx

Lipbalm Smipbalm....

G'day matey's

I'd like to apologise for blogging so late at night....but things have been decidedly busy today. 

I'm talking lipbalm today....it is the one beauty product I cannot live without.  I'd give up mascara/foundation/blush but NOT lipbalm.  I actually collect balms.  :)

I've got to say that my favourite at the moment is the Rose Petal Salve by Rose & Co Apothecary for the simple reason that it is beautifully scented, very nourishing and moisturising and is multipurpose.  You can use it as a lipbalm, moisturiser for dry spots on your body, as a browtaimer and even to mix with a highlighter.  It is pricy at £5.50 but you get a huge tub that can easily slip into your handbag.

I like all the rest of the lipbalms and would repurchase all of them.

What are you interested in?  What lipbalm can you not live without?  Let me know!