Nail Haul with Nailpolish.co.uk

November 27, 2015

As most bloggers out there are just like me, in the sense that we bloody love nail polish and I'm sure like myself you're always hunting for a right bargain when it comes to beauty products and nail polishes especially so I thought I'd let you all in on my latest bargain find and that is NailPolish.co.uk!

As a self confessed nail polish hoarder, you can probably understand my pain when it comes to having to pay full price for a nail polish especially when it's from the likes of O.P.I, Essie and China Glaze. Even though £15 for a nail polish really isn't all that much, it really does add up if you purchase as many nail polishes as I have over my time.

When Nailpolish.co.uk got in touch to review a few of their products I was excited to see what they had to offer and to find out that the majority of the stock they have was at least half the standard price, often more I was absolutely shocked and also thrilled! Nailpolish.co.uk is an online store that stocks a wide range of higher end nail polish brands and of course all of which are absolute favourites of mine. The main brands they stock include, Essie, O.P.I, Elegant Touch, China Glaze, Orly and many more along with a wide selection of nail art tools and nail treatments.

As I'm a huge lover of O.P.I nail polishes, I picked out a few shades that I knew I didn't really own anything similar to and I'm really pleased with the shades I did pick. The first shade I picked was O.P.I 'Barfoot In Barcelona'* (£6.95), which is this lovely nude peach shade that I never thought I would pick but I really like it especially for a more muted and subtle nail look. This next shade is my favourite by far, this is O.P.I 'Just Be Claus'* (£6.95), which I believe is from a previous Christmas collection and it is the most perfect winter red shade and I've worn this to death recently! Lastly I picked out O.P.I Japanese Rose Garden* (£6.95), which is your typical Barbie pink shade of which I'm surprised I didn't own a shade similar but it's a lovely shade, and it has little flecks of shimmer running through that adds a lovely touch of sparkle.

Also within my little package I received the Elegant Touch Toughflex Base Coat* (£3.95) and I've never really given base coats a chance but this one is really good and helps to give a nice base before applying any colour. Now I just need to find a good top coat to stop my nails from chipping! Along with the top coat, they threw in a few nail art tools of which I haven't had a chance to use as I suck at nail art, but I'm really excited to try the MoYou nail art stamper!

If like me you're a huge lover of nail polish or you're shopping for Christmas presents, I'd highly recommend visiting Nailpolish.co.uk as the have such a wide selection of nail polishes and nail polish sets that you're bound to find something you'll love!

What is your favourite nail polish?

beauty

The Forgotten Beauty Products

November 24, 2015

As an avid reviewer of many beauty products I always find myself reviewing products that I love, but also products that I know you, my readers will also love and often I realise that I don't really talk about the everyday essential products. We all use them and we all probably have our favourites as we know they work for us, but I thought i'd let you in on some of the forgotten beauty products that I love and have for years.

Now, like myself you're probably thinking 'why would I want to read a review on a deodorant, we know how they work?!' but I find that it took me years to find the products that I now use on a daily basis and still to this day there are products that I chop and change around to see if they work better, but I always come back to these same products. So I thought it was about time I shared some of my long time favourites!

When it comes to keeping my pins looking lovely and hair free I always opt for the simple method of shaving, it's quick, it's easy and pretty much pain free unless you have a bit of a disaster - we can all share our drama stories i'm sure! As my skin can be sensitive to some products I always turn to products that I know aren't going to irritate my skin too much and for me the Gillette Satin Care Radiant Apricot Shave Gel (£3.49) has been my go to for a long time. It's really gentle on my skin and really helps to stop my legs becoming really dry after shaving, which is great if you're in a rush and you don't have time to moisturise! I also like the scent of this as it smells so fruity, yet really refreshing! Also when it comes to shaving my pins, I always turn to the Wilkinson Sword Beauty Disposable Razors (£3.99) as they are so easy to use, they're really affordable and they last a lot longer than cheaper disposable razor options.

Moving onto how I have been keeping my teeth looking white and healthy for the past few months, as dental care seems to be the hardest thing to get right, for me anyway. For years i've always used budget toothpastes and i've never really batted an eyelid as i've always pretty good dental health but as you get older i've learnt that you really do have to look after your teeth and after trying the Janina Ultrawhite Sensitive Whitening Toothpaste* (£10.99) i've noticed such a difference to my teeth. Since using this toothpaste i've noticed how white my teeth look and also how less sensitive they are, which i've never really noticed with previous toothpastes and i'd definitely say that using a slightly more expensive toothpaste definitely gives better results to budget brand toothpastes out there.

Onto the last couple of beauty products that hardly ever grace my blog and when it comes to deodorant, i've probably tried every single brand out there and I always come back to the Sure Crystal Clear Diamond Deodorant (£3.39) as it is the only deodorant that i've found to never cake and crumble just after applying and it never leaves white marks all over my clothing, as previous 'anti white' deodorants have! Also all in all it is a pretty decent deodorant as it keeps me feeling fresh all day and works really well for when i'm in the gym, which is all you really need from a deodorant! Lastly is my go to nail polish remover, now all nail polish removers do the same job but I find the Cutex Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover (£1.60) is by far my favourite. Although I do use it for the fact that it is acetone free, as I do wear false nails from time to time but I also find it to be a lot less harsh on my nails and it doesn't dry them out like acetone nail polish removers do, so all in all i'd highly recommend this to anyone who is similar to myself.

So those are some of my favourite and go to beauty products that we often forget about because lets be honest, what is glamorous about perspiration and hair removal?!

What are your go to daily beauty products?

fashion

Yoins Autumn Clothing Haul

November 18, 2015

With the autumnal weather slowing creeping in (I say this as it's currently blowing gale force winds outside), I thought it was about time I started adding some new autumnal pieces into my wardrobe. As I already own a fair amount of thick chunky knits from last year I knew i'd need a few items that I could easily layer up to keep myself warm, so gift card in toe I headed over to Yoins to see what they had to offer!

For any of you who aren't familiar with Yoins, they are an online clothing store based in Hong Kong that provides the latest trends at really affordable prices, but still at a really good quality. When it comes to transitional pieces I always like to save where I can, as I know that I will probably only wear the items for a year or two before I either donate them or pass them down and with fashion trends changing as much as they do I think it's wise to be a little conscious with what you're spending.

As you can see I stuck to quite basic pieces that I knew i'd be able to style these quite easily by dressing quite casual or dressing them up slightly with accessories and heels, so the pieces I picked out were quite versatile. The first item I picked out was this lovely Stripe Cami Dress (£9.43) as I really liked the neckline of this, as well as the simple cami slip dress shape to it. I thought it would be perfect to layer with a polo neck, as i've styled it here or on it's own with some dainty black heels on a night out.

As i'm a sucker for stripes, I went a bit stripe mad on this haul but when I saw this Blue Stripe Colourblock Sweater (£14.84) I was instantly swooning over it. I don't own many patterned knit wear pieces and I was in need of a lighter knit wear option, as my office at work can get quite warm. As a usual lover of monochrome, I really liked the blue tones to this jumper as it allows me to add a little colour without it being too much. What I also love is how soft this jumper is, it's so snuggly especially on lazy days!

The last item I picked out is this basic Side Split Stripe Top (£13.48) that I just loved when I saw this on the model on the website. I've really been loving the side split trend that seems to be everywhere at the moment as I like how it adds a little extra detail, especially to a really basic piece like this. I really like wearing this top quite casual but I sometimes dress it up with a pair heeled boots and chunky necklace. Again, they jersey quality of this is really lovely and so soft - I just love!

So those are a few pieces that I recently ordered from Yoins! If you haven't checked out their website before, i'd highly recommend as they have some lovely pieces especially their chunky knits - I had to restrain myself!

Have you been purchasing any new autumn/winter pieces?

I was kindly gifted a $40 gift card to spend on Yoins.com and the remainder was paid for by myself.

review

Recent Skincare Favourites #6

November 16, 2015

It's been a little while since I shared some recent skincare favourites and as I've been trying a fair few new skincare products recently as well as the weather changing, and my skin changing a lot with it I thought it was about time I updated what skincare products I'm loving as of late.

It's safe to say over the summer I really neglected my skincare routine that I'd stuck to for such a long while and it's safe to say my skin really suffered from it, which made me learn that my skin was more important than those few extra minutes in bed. After promising myself to never neglect my skincare routine again, I decided to strip it all down and to start a fresh with some new products, as i'd found my skin had gotten used to the products that I was using and they weren't really working for my skin anymore.

When it comes to skincare, Organic Surge are a brand that I really enjoy using because their products are so gentle on my skin but also do exactly what I need them to do. As my trusty Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish had sadly ran out, I thought i'd give the Organic Surge Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser* (£13.95) a go as i'd heard some really great things and it good to switch up your cleanser every now and then. This cleanser is quite similar to many hot cloth cleansers that i've tried in the past, quite creamy and thick but works a treat to remove your makeup whilst also giving your skin a really deep clean. What I love about the natural shea butter enriched formula is that it leaves my skin feeling really nourished with a lovely natural glow that makes my skin look really healthy.

A couple of other new products in my skincare routine come from the brand Salcura, who i'd never really heard all that much about before but I thought i'd give their products a go as they are aimed at more serious skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Although I don't directly suffer from any skin conditions anymore, my skin can get really dry during the winter months and I wanted to see how their products worked for me. As i'm a big lover of serums the Bioskin DermaSerum* (£11.99) has been a lovely addition to my skincare regime as its an everyday serum that is designed to moisturise the skin and also soothe any dry areas on the face whilst being really gentle. In addition to the serum, i've also been loving their Bioskin DermaSpray* (£16.99) which is a lovely nourishment spray containing almond oil that helps to give the skin an instant nourishment fix for those who suffer with dry skin that can often become itchy. I don't really use it for those reasons, I tend to use this if i'm having a makeup free day or after i've taken my makeup off to give my skin a refreshing yet moisturising fix, especially if it starts to become quite dry. If you suffer from some more serious skin conditions or like me quite dry skin, i'd definitely recommend trying out Salcura's products especially as they are so easy to get hold of.

Finally onto the face mask that has been giving my skin life at the moment! For some reason my chin has been a little diva recently and it hasn't really acted up since suffering with acne when I was younger, so it was strange to have a sudden break out when I haven't for quite some time. I initially saw Lily Melrose using the Origins Out of Trouble Mask (£23) and after hearing all about it I decided that I needed it in my life, but it turned out I already owned it after buying a mask trio back at the beginning of the year! As my chin was acting up big time I needed a quick fix and this 10 minute mask does just that, with all of ingredients bonding together to fight away any unwanted blemishes and after using this three days in a row my skin has finally gone back to it normal self!

So those are a few skincare products that I have been loving as of late and i'd highly recommend trying them out of you suffer from dry skin that can often have a sudden unwanted break out!

What skincare products are you loving at the moment?

christmas

The Perfect Holiday Gift with Daniel Wellington

November 13, 2015

With the Christmas season fast approaching i've been working really hard to bring some exciting gift guides and Christmas related posts to you guys, as Christmas is one of my favourites times of year and I couldn't not share this amazing time of year with all of you lovely readers! When it comes to Christmas present buying, I know the struggle to find good but special gifts so i've teamed up with one of my favourite brands, Daniel Wellington for my first gift guide post!

When it comes to shopping for Christmas presents, now that i'm a little older I always want to give gifts that are special and have a lot of thought behind them as it's so lovely to see someone really appreciate a good quality gift, as apposed to the cheap tat that we see everywhere at Christmas time. If like me, some of your loved ones are a little more difficult to shop for i'll always turn to the timeless classics that you know would suit anyone and everyone, and a watch is one of those items that would be the perfect gift for anyone at Christmas time.

One of my favourite watch brands, Daniel Wellington have a wonderful range of elegant high quality watches that would suit anyone and would make the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one this year! What I love about their watches is that they are all of such affordable prices for both men and women, with all of their watches made from the highest quality 100% leather and coated stainless steel, so you know that you're paying for really good quality that will last for years to come.

Having already two beautiful Daniel Wellington watches within my watch collection and Christmas present buying in mind, I've picked out two beautiful watches both with family members in mind of who I know would be so pleased and appreciative if they were to receive such a lovely watch this Christmas. As my Dad is an avid watch collector, I knew a watch would be ideal for him but as he doesn't own many casual watch options I thought the Grace Selwyn Watch* (£179) would be perfect for him. As navy is one of his favourite colours, I thought a striped cord strap with a lovely hint of colour would suit him quite well and would be a new addition to his watch collection, as he doesn't own any watches similar to this particular style. What I also love about this style is the leather accents to the strap, as it still has a lovey smart and elegant feel, whilst also being casual at the same time.

As for my Nan, she has worn the same watch for quite a few years now and although there is nothing wrong with her trusty watch, I thought it was about time she had a bit of a switch up as she really trusts my choice when it comes to handbags and accessories. As my Nan is pretty easy to please but still likes to think she's somewhat fashionable I picked out the Classic York Watch* (£159), which is a pretty simple watch but the croc effect to the leather strap just adds that stylish flare that I think my Nan would absolutely love and would still make her feel young and stylish! Also, with the rose gold watch face being the bigger option of 36mm, it means it's large enough for her to able to tell the time without having to struggle as she often does with her watch now.

If you're like me and often struggle with present buying and you think a watch would make a lovely gift, I'd highly recommend Daniel Wellington as I wear my DW watches all of the time and I love them! They're so wearable for any and every occasion, and the quality of them is just superb. If you do decide a DW watch would make a perfect Christmas gift, then make sure to use my discount code 'styleandsplurging' for 15% off any order until January 15th! Also, if you suck at Christmas wrapping DW offer an amazing gift wrap service, which takes all the hassle of wrapping presents away!

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

beauty

Collection #BlushAndGlow

November 10, 2015

When it comes to multi tasking products, palettes are usually your way to go and a lot of brands as of late are all jumping on the blush and contouring palette bandwagon what with contouring and highlighting being a newish beauty craze. Now i'm a sucker for palettes, especially affordable high street palettes and a recent release from Collection has caught me somewhat off guard and I just had to tell you all about it.

Collection is a brand i've known and loved since my early teens, and still to this day their Fast Stroke Eyeliner (£2.99) is my holy grail and go to eyeliner. They're a brand that has been round for years and I still remember when they discontinued one of my favourite mascara's and over the past few years i've kind of ignored and neglected them as a brand but when I saw Victoria's post raving about some new releases I just i'd be all over them!

For me when it comes to blush and bronzing palettes although i'm a sucker for a high end limited edition palette, I will always turn to the high street because there are certain products that you can definitely save on, instead of splurging and palettes are one of those products. With the recent releases from Collection, their #BlushAndGlow Palette (£4.99) is one that rivals some of my favourite higher end palettes with it professional feel and amazing finish.

This particular palette is a cute yet handy quad containing four different shades, a bronze, a highlight and then two blushers to choose from, all of which would work for all skin tones. Currently this palette has replaced my favourite Nars palette, as the bronzer is a lovely universal shade that gives a lovely bronzed glow, whereas it can also be built up really nicely for a natural contour. As for the highlighter, again this can be quite subtle but built up to give a lovely glow to the skin that I really love. As for the blushers these are really wearable shades, with your peachy pink and then a more rose pink just to give a lovely flush of colour.

What I love about this product is that it combines three products into one and just makes the blush and highlighting part of your daily routine that little bit easier. Again, it's so handy as it a product that you could easily chuck in your handbag for quick touch ups throughout the day, the only downside is that there isn't a mirror but you can look past that when the product itself is as good as this!

If you're on the look out for a good quality, yet affordable blush and highlight palette then i'd highly recommend giving this one a go! You won't be disappointed - trust me!

Have you tried out any of the new Collection palettes?

fashion

Recent Accessories Favourites

November 06, 2015

Following on from my last post (which was my October Favourites) I thought I would talk about some other recent non beauty favourites, my accessory favourites! If you've been reading my recent posts you'll of seen i've really been getting into accessorises as of late as I find them such a quick and easy way to dress up an outfit, especially when i'm in a rush first thing in the morning!

Over the years i've really had some right style disasters, especially when it comes to the accessories department, I won't go into it but Claire's Accessories was my haven, but as of late i've really started to find my own way when it comes to my own style. When it comes to accessories I really like to keep it simple with more daintier pieces but I will admit I do love a good statement necklace every now and then to dress up a casual outfit. However, I thought i'd share some of my recent accessory favourites!

One of my favourite places to shop for accessories is Body Jewellery Shop, as they have a lovely yet wide range of all sorts of body jewellery from different types of ear piercings and body piercings. As I have a few different ear piercings, I love to browse their site for studded earrings mainly as they have so many options and the metal that they use is just ideal as i've never had any sort of reactions and all of their jewellery is super affordable! Some recent additions to my studded earrings collection is the Heart Glitterline Ear Studs* (£1.99), which are a little different to my usual crystal studs but I really like these and the glitter detail to them brings a little extra something to an outfit. Another addition to my earrings collection is the Two Rings Ear Cuff* (£1.49) and i've been wearing this non stop! I never really thought i'd get onto the ear cuff trend but these are a great way to fake piercings and they're so comfortable to wear!

When it comes to rings, I always wear the same ones and only ever really stack a few midi rings here and there but on a recent trip to Plymouth, myself and my Dad found ourselves in a little antique store and i'm a huge lover of antique jewellery. I spotted this beautiful Amber Ring (£10) in Parade Antiques, which I instantly fell in love with but i'd convinced myself that it wasn't going to fit, so when it did I was over the moon! I absolutely love this ring, I wear it literally everyday and I just find it instantly spruces up my outfits!

Lastly, my love dainty necklaces doesn't ever end or so it seems and this recent addition from Happiness Boutique has got me obsessed with anything marble! I've been wearing the Marble Stone Boho Necklace* (£10.56) non stop recently as it is so simple but the marble effect is so on trend at the moment and I honestly love it! Happiness Boutique is a website that specialises in statement jewellery including a wide range of necklaces, earrings and vintage inspired clothing that is absolutely beautiful, i'd highly recommend checking out their website as they have free shipping, which is so useful especially with the holiday season coming up!

What are your current favourite accessory favourites?

beauty

October Favourites

November 04, 2015

It's been a good few months since I posted my monthly favourites and I don't really have a reason other than I haven't really been enjoying many new products recently, so I didn't see the point in a wasted post. Any who, this month I have been enjoying a few new products and I thought i'd finally sit down and type up a favourites post!

The past few months I haven't really been trying many new products or ones that haven't wowed me enough to really talk about in a favourites post. However, I have been purchasing a few new products over the past month and i've slowly but surely started to find some amazing products that I just couldn't not tell you all about!

Call me crazy, but i've never ever tried out the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (£4.19), mainly because I have never been able to find the lightest shade in stock for a good two years now and I finally found it in Boots whilst visiting my Dad in Plymouth a few weeks ago. I've never really been wowed by a concealer before as i've never come across a concealer that actually covers blemishes but this one is up there at being the best concealer that I have ever used! It's pretty full coverage and does an absolutely amazing job at making my face look ten times better than it actually is - definitely should of bought more than one! Also from Collection I picked up their new #BlushAndGlow Palette (£4.99) as i'd seen a few reviews knocking about and as it was pretty affordable, so I thought why not?! Safe to say I bloody love this palette! The pigmentation of the powders within the palette are incredible, especially the bronzer as it has currently replaced my well loved Nars palette and i'd highly recommend this palette if you're looking for a handy and affordable contour/blush/highlight palette all in one.

On a recent trip to London I decided to stop by the Lush Oxford St Store, as I wanted to check out some of the limited edition products after hearing some really good reviews. An obvious purchase was going to be The Comforter Shower Cream 250g (£9.75), as the original bubble bar is one of my all time favourite Lush products, so I knew this wouldn't disappoint. It has such a sweet scent to it and is a lot stronger compared to the original, which makes it all the better and the bright pink colour just instantly brightens up a shower or bath! I just wish i'd purchased a bigger bottle, although you can now purchase this online!

As it's now moving into autumn, the wooly jumpers are out and with the leaves changing colour, I always find myself gravitating towards wintery colours, especially when it comes to nail polishes. For the past few weeks I have not stopped wearing the O.P.I 'Just Beclaus'* (£6.95), which is from a previous Christmas range if you couldn't tell from the shade name but this is a lovely deep autumnal red with a hint of purple running through. I've always been a big fan of O.P.I nail polishes, the lasting power is just amazing and this shade is one i'll definitely be getting a lot of wear out of!

The last product that i've been loving as of late is actually a fragrance, which comes as a bit of a shock as I can be quite fussy when it comes to fragrance and I don't tend to steer to far away from my favourite Marc Jacobs scents, however after receiving a sample i've fallen in love with Paco Rabanne Olympea Eau de Parfum (£33.99). The scent is definitely a 'me' scent, as it has a sweetness about it but this has a slight twist that is a bit mysterious that I really like. I also like that this scent is quite strong and it lasts really well throughout the day, unlike some fragrances that wear off after a few hours! If you haven't already, go and give the a test as i'm sure you'll also love it as much as I do!

What products have you been loving recently?

Also, make sure you've entered my giveaway where you can win not one, but two necklaces from FG4!

lifestyle

Beautiful Flowers from Debenhams

November 02, 2015

It isn't often that I get bought flowers and I haven't received any flowers for quite some time, but flowers are always a lovely gift or gesture to and from loved ones in time of celebration, remorse or just because. Nowadays online flower services are becoming a popular option and Debenhams Flower Delivery is one that i've heard some amazing things about, so when they contacted me I couldn't turn down the opportunity to receive some beautiful flowers.

I don't know what it is about flowers but i'm one of those girls that loves flowers, they instantly cheer me up and just brighten not only my mood but my surroundings and they make great backgrounds for blog pictures - blogger problems!

At Debenhams Flowers they have a wide selection of fresh hand picked flowers to choose from to send across the UK with their 7 days a week next day delivery service, which is great if your looking to send flowers to a loved one who lives quite far away, as you can guarantee they will arrive safely and quickly! I was so happy with their next day delivery service, as they arrived in less than 24 hours of placing my order and they came packaged in a really sturdy box with the flowers wrapped and stood in a clever container of water, keeping them fresh and watered. What was great about the packaging was that the flowers weren't damaged what so ever, as I was a little nervous but the flowers were in perfect condition.

The bouquet I chose is the Designer Smoulder Bouquet* (£40.99), which is from their Autumn Flower Range and is a beautiful bouquet of some of my favourite flowers including several different coloured roses all housed around berries and lilac eustoma's. What instantly drew me to this particular bouquet was all the lovely tones of pinks and purples, and because I love roses so I was instantly sold and I just love them! I've had the flowers for about a week now and they are still in amazing condition with the flowers very much alive, and i'm so impressed with how long they've lasted in comparison to previous flowers that i've had. Just goes to show how fresh their flowers really are!

With the holiday season upon us, you're probably starting to think about what presents to give to your loved ones and i've never really considered flowers but Debenhams have a lovely range of Christmas Flowers, which could make amazing yet thoughtful presents for your loved ones, especially those who you may not get to see this holiday season.

Debenhams have also kindly given me an exclusive 25% discount code for my lovely readers, so if you're considering making your own order make sure to use the discount code 'DFBLOG25'.

What are your favourite flowers?

Also, make sure you've entered my giveaway where you can win not one, but two necklaces from FG4!

Pages

Nail Haul with Nailpolish.co.uk

The Forgotten Beauty Products

Yoins Autumn Clothing Haul

Recent Skincare Favourites #6

The Perfect Holiday Gift with Daniel Wellington

Collection #BlushAndGlow

Recent Accessories Favourites

October Favourites

Beautiful Flowers from Debenhams

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