Countdown to Christmas...

After a very messy work party on the Thursday, thankfully we could all keep cosy in our Christmas Jumpers on the Friday, me and some of my colleagues opted for some festive hair too. 

My Month In Pictures | December 2012

I just got Bloglovin. 

Snowday

Golden Nails

This Christmas my friend Grace bought me the Front Cover Nails set. Straight away I had to try out the gold glitter nail paint 'Guinea'. I can't remember if I used 3 or 4 layers of varnish but I wanted a really strong coverage... here are the results:

I didn't actually have the camera flash on but the nails are so shiny with all the glitter that they throw back a lot of glare into the camera! Not sure if I will be keeping them on for long, but I was very happy with the results!

Add a little sparkle to your Christmas! - gift ideas and inspiration

Remember being about 13 and thinking body glitter was like the best thing ever! Well re-live your youth with Barry M glitter stacking sets - I was in the big Topshop in London a few days ago and had so much fun trying out all these cute little pots, my favourite had tiny little red hearts in it (though if I put these on my face I'm pretty sure it'll resemble a tropical disease rather than look all cute and lovely!). Even still, being fully aware that I will look horrendous wearing them, I want some!!!

This isn't the actual set I tried out, I was using the pre-mixed ones, they're in a sort of jelly so you just rub it straight on to your skin and it dries almost instantly. I only tried the pots out on my hands, but ended up covered in sparkles and glitter! I think you'd have to be super careful on application for fear of looking like a child playing dress-up.

Add some sparkle to your Christmas! Barry M also do some very nice glitter nail polishes, the red one is very festive!

Be warm this Christmas!

I feel like I spend half of my time over the festive period taking on and off different layers of clothing. So I was very pleased when I got sent a Haramaki - I tested it out on a freezing cold day in London this week. 

The haramaki is a Japanese garment worn for health and well-being. This modern version is double layered and super comfy to ensure you stay nice and toasty! "Keeping the abdominal organs warm helps the body distribute warmth and energy all-round. Circulation is improved, so even hands and feet feel warmer."

The Haramaki also claims that it can, aid digestion, ease menstrual cramps, give support during and post-pregnancy and soothe common abdominal ailments... I'm not sure about all of these but it certainly is warm and comes in a wide range of colours so you should be able to find one to suit! I also like the fact that it just looks like you've got another top on under rather than obviously being some sort of thermal old lady vest. Be careful when deciding what size to get, I had the medium one and it was huge! The fabric is super stretchy so I'd imagine that the medium would fit most people.

Blogger, Elizabeth x (me)

Christmas Nails! - great little stocking fillers

Sorry for the lack of blog yesterday! My internet went down until about 11pm and I was too sleepy to write by then... but I did do lots of nail colour swatches :) ... Because, every Christmas outfit needs great nails! (I've use two layers of varnish on each nail so you can see the difference between the brands and colours).

ASOS nail varnish in Olivia, yes it's a very bright colour, but it goes on so evenly and is a rich orange rather than a brassy one so still looks great. D'Awwwww look it even has a little bow on it!

ASOS

I can't remember seeing anyone wearing such black nails since the emo kids at school. However, I bought this one at halloween (Star Gazer 129) , I can't remember from where exactly (sorry!) but it was very cheap! I paid £1-2 for it, and for that money you'd think it'd be awful, but really it's quite good. The brush keeps its shape so applying the colour evenly is easy. Only problem I had was - I was in a bit of a rush when I used this one and I didn't put an undercoat on, my nails were stained for a week!!! GRIM.

Star Gazer

Boots always seem to be giving away those £5 No7 vouchers, I usually buy a nail varnish with it... that way you're getting a good quality varnish for a couple of quid. I love this one, Oyster 50, it's great for everyday wear, a little bit mumsy perhaps but goes with almost anything!

No7

My Barry M bottle was a little camera shy! Every photo I tried to take was out of focus and this was the best I could manage.  A gorgeous varnish, NP 292, it has a little sparkle to it - just enough so as not to look tacky... but allowing for a slight shimmer in the light. Beeaaaautiful.

Barry M

A pink nail varnish is an essential! This one is by Rimmel, 331 Speed Dating, it claims on the bottle to last up to 10 days - I've never managed to keep it looking good that long, even with a top coat. Not the easiest of varnishes to apply but it does dry quite quickly!

Rimmel

I was really disappointed when I bought this Bourjois So Laque! Bleu Violet 31, it's really gloopy and almost impossible to apply. A very pretty colour and bottle - just a shame I can't wear it :( (though I never learn and keep trying it again!)

Bourjois

If you hadn't guessed by the shape of the bottle this one is by OPI - the colour is so rich that I can't actually read the black etching on the bottle! The colour is a very deep purple and looks great with vintage wear. Just be careful when applying as with this one being so dark messy application is amplified!!

OPI

Which one is your favourite?

Christmas gift ideas - for Mum!

Mum's can be difficult to buy for, they don't want chocolate (the usual easy choice when in Christmas present idea hell) for fear of even more calories over the festive period... they've already got a house full of photo frames and little nick-nacks and buying booze for your mother is just plain wrong! So what do you do? Pampering products never fail! (Just as long as you steer well clear of the anti-wrinkle creams... yes Mum, we can see straight through that forced oh-isn't-that-lovely-thanks-smile!)

Create your own little pamper-hamper and be the favourite child this Christmas! 

Always a great place to start for any pamper gift, Lush. Have a look in-store or online for present inspiration:

What does every bath need? Candles of course! This one is from Pevonia:

I just love the look of these patchouli scented soap flakes, the glass jar and the label have an antique look, they're not just to be great for the bath but also as your fancy guest soap or to gently wash fine linen, get them here:

No pamper-hamper would be complete without a body scrub! Grab this one from ASOS. It's organic and just packed with essential oils to soften your skin!

Finally, a luxurious body lotion - how about this one from The Body Shop. Keep the festive cheer going well in to the New Year with this berry scented shimmery lotion, it hyrdrates normal to dry skin leaving it feeling soft and smooth.

Of course you can add more to your pamper-hamper, how about some exfoliating gloves, pretty nail varnishes or some indulgent face-masks?

You've got just 7 days to go, happy shopping!!!!

Gorgeous Nails - Stocking fillers

Mr and Mrs Claus

Reindeerland

Somewhere Very Cold

Lapland

SAN TA1

Dear Santa,

I'm not a nail biter... honest! Yet I can never seem to grow my nails to any sort of length. So please could I have some more of these lovely Cosmo nails for Christmas?

These please Santa!

I'm not too sure if you make them in your toy factory or not, but if you don't perhaps you'd have time to pop to Superdrug before then to pick me up some more? They come in such lovely colours but my favourite are the ones pictured, Secret Rendezvous. Instant nails without the hassle of all the maintenance, or the cost of going to a salon to have them done - fantastic! I bet Mrs Claus would like a pair too - would go well with the Santa Suit!

Beauty Grooves nails (sorry for the shadow!)

I also like the beauty grooves range - the nails are quite a bit shorter so they're really practical and once they're on you really don't notice they're there (until someone says Ohhh nice nails!). I was pleasantly surprised how well they lasted - I only lost one little gem and managed to reapply it with some of the nail glue.

I'll be sure to leave you out a mince pie and some carrots for the reindeer.

Love, Elizabeth

Beauty Essentials - good brushes! Christmas gift ideas.

As any make-up lover knows, it's not just about the product you use, it's the way you apply it that counts. For those beautifully blended blushers, crisp contoured eyes and lushes full lips you need the right tools!


If your skin needs a little help when it comes to adding warmth and colour, why not try the Silk Pro 4 Piece Bronzing Brush Set. Priced at £29.50 it's cheap for 4 brushes yet a good enough quality to ensure even application. The brushes included are:
1 natural hair SILK bronzer brush, 1 kabuki fan brush which is great for blending, 1 angle brush for blending in your foundation and 1 baby dome brush which allows you to add just the right amount of blush or bronzer to the apples of your cheeks. Oh - and this set comes complete in it's own little black travel bag.

www.qvcuk.com

One of the most essential parts of my make-up kit has to be my eyeliner and eyeshadow brushes. Laura Mercier brushes never fail me. The flat eye liner brush priced at £22 allows you to use your eyeshadow as an eyeliner, giving more versatility and a softer look than your usual pencil or liquid eyeliner. The brow grooming brush in this range priced at £10 is great, not only for taming those brows, but if you've a loose hair or bit of glitter on your face you can lightly brush it  away with the grooming brush. Have a look in store and ask one of the make-up artists for help picking out the brushes you need. Consider these brushes as an investment, treat them with care and they'll serve you well!

www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Clinique pro-style lip brush, priced at just £10! Apply your lipstick the professional way for precise definition and even coverage. Clinique's retractable brush allows you to apply your lipstick evenly and the long handle gives you more control, "Clinique's unique, long-lasting antibacterial technology helps ensure a high level of hygiene." Make sure you wipe clean your lip brush after use, or the lipstick will dry to the brush and separate the hairs.


Keep an eye out in the January sales, I got my Laura Mercier set last year for about half the normal price! 

Face masks - stocking fillers

Winter can be harsh on your skin, coming in from the bitter cold winds to the hot office your skin has to cope with a lot, as a result may be looking a little dull - so treat yourself this Christmas to a pampering face mask!

I'd love to go all James Wong on you and give you recipes for making your own face masks, but I'm not a Ethnobotanist!  Instead, I'll share with you a couple of my favourite shop bought ones :)

www.growyourowndrugs.com

Priced at just 99p, and more often than not on special offer, I give you: 

www.boots.com

Natural Collection face masks, this range includes wild strawberry and rosemary and witch hazel masks. These little face mask sachets are great for girly nights in too, you can squeeze 3 applications out of one pack if you're not too wasteful!


No self-respecting bathroom cupboard would be complete without a mud mask or two floating about inside. I give you:

www.superdrug.com

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Masque. This anti-stress and ultra poor cleansing mask will leave your skin feeling silky soft in no time. The Dead Sea has long been known for it's health and beauty benefits, the minerals in the dead sea are said to help heal skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis and acne! With all these health benefits, and priced at just 99p, I'd class this one as the Queen of the face masks!


Finally, my if I win the lottery face mask choice:

www.selfridges.com

Priced at £100 NATURA BISSE: Diamond Ice Lift transepidermal DNA cryo–mask" is the stuff that face mask dreams are made of! For the price you get 100ml of "The perfect blend between conventional facial masks and transepidermal patches. Natura Bissé's award winning Diamond Ice Lift works in synergy to create an innovative ‘cold–lifting’ effect with a unique Ice Lifting System formulated with high concentrations of marine DNA that nourish and hydrate the skin throughout the day." I've been very good this year Santa!

Make sure you apply plenty of moisturiser after - these cleansing and purifying face masks can also take away some of the moisture from your skin so you need to replace it right away.

Flawless finish - stocking filler

With less than 2 weeks to go until Christmas, let the shopping commence! Everyday from now until Christmas Eve I'll be posting you stocking filler/Christmas present ideas. 

Get the celebrity airbrush look at home for just £4.95 with Cosmopolitan's Blend Perfection Sponge. You might think the best part of a fiver is a little steep for just one make-up sponge, but give it a go and be converted!  Cosmo say "This innovative new sponge allows smooth, patch free application of foundation to give a truly flawless finish." and it really does.

How to use: dampen the sponge ever so slightly and then apply a little of your foundation and stipple on to blend in your foundation. Use the pointed tip of the sponge to blend your foundation in to the corner of your eyes and nose.


Unlike most make-up sponges I've tried this one doesn't absorb half your foundation, it merely aids application - and with a less porous feel to the sponge I'd imagine it is much more hygienic. If you're wondering where to buy the Cosmo sponge - you can buy it from Superdrug :)