• Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara •

Mascara is my thing. For some it's blush, for others it's base, but I'm all about the lashes.

And this means that I spend most of my time in Boots looking at all of the different mascaras and on blogs looking for mascara reviews. I've tried so many different ones from high end (my favourites being Benefit They're Real and Georgio Armani Eyes to Kill) and drugstore (Max Factor Masterpiece is amazing) but never have I found one that gives me the volume and length I'm looking for as the Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara does.

The photos speak for themselves and you can see the difference in my lashes from the before and after shots. For £7.99 you're getting very similar, if not the same, results as Benefit They're Real - both mascaras are super black, my lashes still look amazing after a day of wear and they both provide the same lengthening and volumising effect. The only difference is the wand. The Maybelline wand is curved, so you can reach all of the tiny lashes in the inner corner of your eye as well as the lower lashes, whereas the Benefit mascara has a straight wand with a bobble on the end, so you can again reach the tiny lashes, just in a different way. I would say that the Maybelline mascara is better when it's dried out a bit, so I'd open it and then use it a week or two later as the formula is better. I really love this mascara (if you hadn't guessed!) and if you're perusing the aisles of Boots or Superdrug, it's worth picking up. 

I'm thinking of doing a comparison post between Benefit They're Real and Maybelline Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara to show just how similar they are. Let me know if you'd be interested in reading that! :)

Daniela xo

• FOUNDATION DUPE // L'Oreal & Maybelline •

Oh I do love a good dupe, me!

L'Oreal Eau De Teint and Maybelline Dream Wonder Liquid Foundation are basically the same thing. Simple. They both have the same very watery, light, liquid consistency, both have medium/buildable coverage and both leave a matte-ish/powder finish. The only different is that the Maybelline foundation has a dropper, making it a little easier to apply onto my face, whereas you have to place your finger over the top of the L'Oreal bottle and tip it upside down to get the product - but that's no biggy, as I'm obsessed with the L'Oreal foundation (and you can read all about it in this post).

 

The foundations blend out so well and I love the fact that they cover my scars and my under eye circles. I also spot conceal with both foundations as the liquid is so pigmented that it can double up as a concealer. You can't get the Maybelline foundation in the UK (as far as I'm aware) so if you've been lusting over it, you can just grab the L'Oreal foundation as it's pretty much the exact same thing. For reference, I'm in the shade 'Warm Ivory' in the L'Oreal and 'Classic Ivory' in the Maybelline.

A quick one from me today, but I just had to share this with you. I'm planning a 'get ready with me' soon, featuring the Maybelline foundation, but if you wanted to see what the L'Oreal base looks like on, you can read this post.

I hope you enjoyed!

Let me know if you've tried either of these foundations; I absolutely love them both.

Daniela xo

• #ALipADay // #18 - Maybelline Velvet Beige •

A pinky brown, glossy, 90's lip which is perfect 

for both daytime and evenings out.

I'm a 90's kid but unfortunately I was never able to rock the brown lip back in the day, as I was in my early childhood when the trend was most prominent! Now, however, I'm grabbing this opportunity with both hands as I'm obsessed with browny pink, nude lips. Maybelline Velvet Beige is my answer to a nostalgic memory and I definitely feel like my mum when I wear it (alongside my 'Mom' jeans, I actually feel like I've travelled back in time...). This lipstick in particular is one of my most worn as it's so pigmented, creamy, long-lasting and moisturising. Pretty much a tick in every box in terms of lipsticks, in my book. And a cheeky little find here: it's the most perfect dupe for MAC's Creme in Your Coffee... I literally swatched the MAC lipstick, went to Boots and swatched this lipstick and I genuinely could not tell the difference. The only difference is the formula, as this one is more of a satin finish and the MAC lipstick is more matte, but you could always matte this one down by powdering it with translucent setting powder. You're welcome...

Daniela xo

• #ALipADay // #1 - Maybelline Tantalizing Taupe and Chocolate Pop Lip Liner •

My paired-down version of the all-too-famous Kylie Jenner lip.

To kick things off, I had to start with my go-to lip of the moment. Maybelline's Tantalizing Taupe is the most gorgeous beige - it's a browny pink, not too light so it doesn't wash me out, and is a gorgeous satin finish. I'm so impressed with the Coloursens Nude line and I'm slowly adding more and more to my collection, which you'll see later on this month in another #ALipADay post. I also used Maybelline Chocolate Pop lip liner around the edges and blended in to give me more of a defined lip. This look goes with any make up but I tend to wear it with a slightly smokier eye and peachy, bronzed cheeks. I also love that it's perfect for work, too. It takes a little more time in the morning, as I have to make sure my lip liner is right, but it's so worth it. I think it's so pretty.

Daniela xo

• Summer Date Night Get Ready With Me // Face of the Day •

A quick, simple look, perfect for an evening of
 sushi eating and green tea drinking.

I went on an impromptu date night the other night and had a bit of time to do my make up. I went for a little winged liner and pink lips, and tried out a few bits that I've picked up recently; the L'Oreal Eau de Teint which is amazing (I reviewed it here) and the L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 201 'Rose Symphony' which survived an evening of talking, drinking and eating, and did not smudge once! Cue the naked face -

I always start with my base and I dotted the foundation onto my skin, then blended it in using a buffing brush. I bronzed my face up, skipping the contour, by placing it on my cheekbones, around my hairline and over the bridge of my nose. Then I highlighted using a cream highlighter and my ring finger, blending it on top of my cheekbones, the tip bridge and tip of my nose, and cupids bow. A girl's gotta have her brows! So I filled them in lightly using a dark eyebrow pencil - I always start by filling in the gaps then shaping the front of them. I went for a champagne cream eyeshadow as a base to lighten up the eyes and give a little sheen, then use a champagne colour on top to intensify it. I also popped this into the inner corners of my eyes to brighten them up, too. To further brighten up my eyes, concealing under my eyes was next, using a liquid and medium/full coverage concealer. I then used a realllllly thin eyeliner to create a teeny tiny wing on my eyes and applied one layer of mascara (with a funky wand) after curling my eyelashes with an eyelash curler. Lip scrub was then used to scrub away any dead skin and create a smooth canvas for my lipstick, which was a really pigmented pink liquid lipstick.

I used:

L'Oreal Eau de Teint Foundation in 'Warm Ivory' // review here

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Benefit Watts Up Highlighter

Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in 'Black Brown'

Benefit Cream Eyeshadow in 'Bikini-tini'

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in 'Sin'

Ecotools Eyeshadow Brush

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer in 51 'Eclat Clair'

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner

L'Oreal Superliner

Accessorize Paradise Eye Mascara

LUSH Lip Scrub in 'Bubblegum'

L'Oreal L'Extraordinaire Liquid Lipstick in 201 'Rose Symphony'

Have you picked up any of these products lately?

What do you think of the format of this post?

It's quite new to me, I would so love some feedback :)

Daniela xo

• GUEST POST // Broomfie // My Top 4 Favourite Mascaras •

In my opinion mascara is a very personal product.

I have conversations about mascara with many different people and always come to the same conclusion - different people want different effects. Whilst my friend quite like long, thick, spidery lashes I much prefer volumised, elongated but clump free lashes that look more natural. I've spend a lot of money and a lot of time in the past buying mascaras of varying prices and now have my top 4 that I'll head back to time and time gain and here they are!

Maybelline Falsies Volum' Express

This in my number one go-to mascara. I have been using it now for at least five years and keep going back to it. Usually, I'll try a new mascara that is on introductory offer - hate it - and go back to Falsies. It gives long, volumised lashes with minimal clumping and flaking. I find it's quite hard to use when brand new. I'm not too keen on the runny, liquid formula. After two weeks of use or so, the actual mascara is much thicker and clumps much less. You can build it up or apply it very lightly depending on the look you want. It's brilliant!

Too Faced Better Than Sex*

I fortunately got this tester at the recent Company Style Blogger Awards and I am in love. Again, it is quite easy to build up long, voluminous lashes in just ONE coat. It flakes a little bit (quite a lot) and is very prices but I do really like it. It also is removes very easily by make up remover. It's nice not to have to rub my eyes raw removing a mascara.

Avon Supershock Max

My Mum constantly buys Avon products and every once in a while I pick up this mascara whilst it's on offer (prices range from £5-10 depending on the issue!). Rather than a bristle brush it is a plastic brush but the plastic bristles are so small, application is still easy. It takes a lot more  time to build up to longer, volumised lashes due to the smaller bristles but there is no clumping what-so-ever. It gives a very, very natural look very easily. I often use it as an undercoat to a mascara I know clumps to reduce the presence of dreaded spider lashes!

L'Oreal Mega Volume Collagene 24H

This is again another recent addition to my collection. At first I absolutely hated it but now I love it. It has a massive brush and gives long, thick lashes in just one swipe. If you are careful you can get a semi-natureal look but generally I use it for a dark smokey eye. It seriously adds volume and lasts for absolutely ages. If you want a long lasting mascara and aren't afraid of spidery lashes I'd pick this up. It's long lasting properties also means it is awful to remove. It takes me about 3-4 minutes to remove it completely of an evening (I'm not exaggerating) but that makes it perfect for a night out where you don't want to be reapplying your make up every 10 minutes.

So they are my top 4 mascaras. Have you used any of the above and loved/hated them? Let me know!

Rachael from Broomfie xoxo

PS. I want to give a special mention to the No.7 Lash Adapt Mascara which has mysteriously gone missing in my house and appears to be discontinued. It has the most simple brush but layers so well so you can create perfectly natural to full, extraordinarily long lashes with just one brush and a few coats.

*The above product was gifted but all views are my own.

If you would like to guest post on Daniela Scribbles, drop me an email on dannidiraimo@gmail.com

or tweet me @danielascribbs

Make sure to check out Rachael's blog - Broomfie - and tell her I said hi!

Daniela xo

• Empties #1 // make up, skincare, haircare etc // reviews & would I repurchase? •

It's so satisfying when you finish a product, especially something that you've been working on for so long. I've been saving (rather, trying to remember to save) my empty packaging from things I've been using recently and I've finally gathered enough to make it post-worthy! So I thought I'd share with you what I thought about the products and whether to not I'd repurchase them - this is kind of a mixed bag, some things I love and some things I really wasn't a fan of.

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
Currently £12.46 (on sale!) from Amazon, click here to be directed to the site.
I bought this mask after reading so many amazing reviews about it and after using the whole tub, I'm definitely ready to give my opinion on it; I really like it. I must say that I'm not in love with it and I'm definitely on the look out for a new mask, but it worked well whilst I had it. At first, I used this as a mask, putting it in my wet hair and leaving it for 10-20 minutes, but after a few applications I started using it as a conditioner as it's still effective this way. It made me hair feel so soft and manageable, not at all knotty and so easy to work with. My hair was super silky and felt really clean and nourished after use. The smell of the product is amazing and my hair still carried the scent a few days after using it, which is a massive bonus. So really, this is a lovely hair mask - I'm just not sure it's worth its normal price tag at £26.95, and I'm certainly on the hunt for something similar as I don't think it's one in a million. Unless it's on sale for under a tenner, I wouldn't repurchase this.

Alberto Balsam Coconut and Lychee shampoo
Currently 99p from Superdrug, click here to be directed to the site.
This smells incredible. It's a true coconut smell with a hint of lychee and the scent really fills up the whole of your bathroom. The shampoo lathers up really well and is a thick consistency, it cleans my hair well and doesn't leave any type of residue. I'm not entirely sure what else I can say about shampoo other than that, but I did like it and I would repurchase!

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Tropical 400ml
Currently £4.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
We all have those days where we just can't be bothered/it isn't feasible to wash our hair, and I'm not going to lie, this happens to me more often than not. I tend to wash my hair about twice a week which sometimes means my roots need a quick pick-me-up in the form of Batiste. This dry shampoo does leave a white talcum-powdery cast at first, but I always spray it, wait about 5 minutes then gently massage it into my scalp which gets rid of any white residue. After flipping my hair upside down and messing it up with my fingers, it looks as if it's just been washed and is styled without effort. It's not sticky and gives me loads of volume, resulting in me looking like a lion and having to tame it dow slightly, which is what you want out of a dry shampoo essentially. I keep repurchasing this product and will continue to do so.

LUSH Tea Tree Toner Water 250g
Currently £7.50 from LUSH, click here to be directed to the site.
I really do go on about this a lot here on the blog, and for good reason. It's so refreshing when sprayed directly onto the face throughout the day and it keeps my skin feeling and looking clear when spritzed onto a cotton pad and swiped across blemish prone areas (mainly my chin and jawline). It contains tea tree oil which is great for blemishes but it's not as concentrated as pure tea tree oil, making it really gentle on the skin. The scent is so light and inoffensive, the spray is so fine so you don't end up with a big wet patch on your face and it really is a lovely product. I will repurchase this again, as I have done many a time, as it's a staple product in my skincare routine.

LUSH Enchanted Eye Cream sample
Currently £11.95 from LUSH, click here to be directed to the site.
I tried this teeny little tub out as I received this as a sample in my recent order from LUSH. I'm not overly crazy on eye creams as I usually just use vaseline on my eye area and that works perfectly, but this product did leave my eyes feeling really moisturised and plump in the mornings. The consistency is quite thick but sinks into the skin really quickly and easily which is lovely. I'd recommend this product but I'm happy with my vaseline routine so I don't think I'd purchase this.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanilla
Currently £10.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
This is the loveliest foundation I've ever used and easily one of my favourites of all time. It covers my scars and evens my skin tone, is light enough for every day but build able for medium coverage, I'm so impressed with it. I've written a full review with a demo in this post, so check that out if you'd like to know me. Oh and it goes without saying - repurchase!!

Maybelline The Volume Express Flared Falsies Mascara
Currently £7.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
There is just so much hype around this product and unfortunately I can't understand why. It didn't volumise my lashes nor did it really lengthen them at all and it was kind of a dud for me. I may have had high expectations for it but it genuinely did nothing for my lashes - I always found that I had to layer it with another mascara, and that was just for daytime wear, which personally I think is just too much hassle and faff. I was quite happy when this dried out as it meant that I could move onto other mascaras and get rid of it, I really wasn't impressed at all. Mascaras are quite a personal thing so please don't let me put you off, this product may even work for you, but for me, I definitely wouldn't repurchase.

Sure Woman Crystal Invisible Pure Deodorant
Can't find this product anywhere - which is probably a good thing.
Whoever knew that there could be a deodorant that makes you smell even more? ...found it! It stinks like you wouldn't imagine. I'm really sorry if you like this smell but that's not even the real problem if I'm honest - when on the skin, it makes me smell terrible and I swear it enhances natural odours. Definitely not great when you're having a stressful day, running errands or just generally running all over the place! I don't know what on earth's going on with this deodorant but the fact that I can't find the exact one anywhere on the internet to provide you with a link kind of tells me something. I'm thinking that perhaps it's been discontinued, and if that's the case, then good riddance. I don't mean to end the post on a negative but...it's just awful! I'm so shocked because I never thought that a deodorant could do this. I found myself sniffing my underarms all day and really worrying about it - not what you want out of a deodorant! Anyway, do I even need to say it? I totally would not repurchase this.

I hope you enjoyed my empties - again, sorry to end on a downer! I have used up some amazing products recently though, so it's not all bad. I'd love to see your empties, link me some posts in the comments if you have any!

Daniela

• Maybelline Colour Tattoos // review •

Everyone and their cat (not literally, I hope) has tried and reviewed this product, but for what it's worth, I thought I'd throw in my two cents. The Maybelline Colour Tattoos have been around for a while and I've loved them for a while, so let's me start by saying this review will be a very positive one.

They are currently £4.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.

Packaging
The pots are dinky which make them perfect for travelling or just popping in your handbag for either a touch up or for a day to night look.

Colour
• Metallic Pomegranate - a deep burgundy, usually worn either in my crease or as a pop of colour in the center of my lid.
• On and On Bronze - a metallic-y bronze, perfect as an all over the eye colour.
• Permanent Taupe - a grey/taupe, I tend to wear it either smoked out onto my bottom lash line or very softly all over the eye.
The colours are buildable and you can either tone them down or build them up to your desired intensity - they cater to so many people, both for the natural make up lovers and for those who are more daring.

Finish
These colour tattoos form a great base as they're thick in consistency yet still creamy enough for powder shadows to adhere to; I use them in place of a primer nowadays as they do the job perfectly whilst enhancing the colour of my powder shadows. They vary in finish; the shade 'Permanent Taupe' is matte, whereas 'On and On Bronze' and 'Metallic Pomegranate' both have almost a metallic sheen to them. Although they look shimmery in the above photo, this doesn't transfer onto the lid.

Longevity
They just last..and last..and last. The colour doesn't fade throughout the day, they don't crease and they don't go patchy. As the name suggests, they are just like tattoos as they really do stick to the eye. It's hard to smudge them (I've tested this!) and it does take a good - but gentle - rub with make up remover to fully remove the product.

Opinion
I just reach for these allll the time. The colours are so wearable and I've never had a bad eye-make up day when I've used these. I trust these products as they always deliver, and I've not heard a bad word about them since they were released. I've read reviews that have said that these dry out after a short period of time, however I store mine upside down (with the colour of the product facing upwards) and I haven't experienced them getting any drier. I'm so excited to pick up some more shades as I'm seriously impressed with these, especially as they're so affordable; I've heard along the grapevine that there will be a nudes collection coming soon to the UK which is great as I'm really interested in trying the beige shade.

Have you tried any of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos? Which colours are your favourites?

PS. Don't forget to enter my MAC Giveaway!

Daniela

• Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser // review •

I went into the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser with an open mind. As I said in my previous beauty haul post, I wasn't going to compare it to the benefit Porefessional Primer as I wanted to give it an honest review in it's own right. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from this but I've been trialing the product for a good week and a half, everyday, so I feel like I'm ready to give you all my opinion.

You can purchase this product for £7.99 at Boots, click here to be directed to the site.

Packaging
The colours are cute, I like the blue and pink, it's simple which I like. It definitely matches with the whole "Maybelline Baby" range. I was surprised at how tiny this tube is, but for £7.99 it's not too bad, especially considering that you use less than a pea-sized amount for a T-zone amount of application. I just assumed that the packaging would be larger from the reviews I had read on the product. But hey ho, let's get into the nitty gritty.

Finish
The product finish is matte and you certainly have to leave it for a good 5 minutes for it to dry before putting on your make up. For some, this would annoy, but for me, it doesn't bother me too much (I just get started on my eye make up). The product is silicone based and has an almost gel-like consistency which is very light on the skin. My face feels soft to the touch after using it, which is rather nice.

Effectiveness
After 5 hours of wear, my T-zone starts to look oily. I know that might seem a long time to some people, but I think that the whole point of a primer is to keep you matte all day long. In terms of longevity, then, I have to say that it's not great. I would say, however, that I would start to get oily after 3 hours without a primer, so it does increase the time it takes me to get oily. The primer is also meant to "vanish pores" but I can safely say that it does not do that. I've tested the product by using half on one side of my face, and nothing on the other, and my pores looked exactly the same on both sides. This is a shame, but I do have large pores, so I wasn't too surprised by this.

Opinion
So in all honesty, I'm thinking "what does this product actually do?!" Instead of starting with negativity, though, I will start by giving you it's pro's - it keeps me matte for a few hours longer than if I had not worn a primer, the packaging is small so handy to travel with, and it's silicone based which I like. Now onto the negatives...I'm not sure what this product really does. It's certainly not a "can't live without it, holy grail, love you to the moon and back" type of product. For £7.99 it's not bad, but I was kind of expecting more from Maybelline, since I love them as a brand in general. There isn't much to the product and it isn't anything to write home about. I'm still in search for the perfect, do-it-all primer!

What do you think of the Maybelline Baby Skin Primer? Have you found your perfect primer?

Daniela

• Oops... // beauty haul •

So I know I said in my last haul that I was on a spending ban until February...

This happened.

I specifically ventured into Boots last weekend to get my hands on a few of the infamous Revlon Matte Balms, but I have to say that after endless swatching and half an hour of browsing, I really wasn't overly impressed. Instead, I ended up filling a basket with other goodies.

Casey Holmes' video on the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge sold it to me. I'd been eyeing up this product for months, since I love the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, so when I saw it in Boots, staring up at me from the shelf, I had to nab it. More influenced purchases were the Bourjois Happy Light Concealer and the Seventeen phwoarr Paint (thanks to Kate at gh0stparties). That woman could talk to me about drying paint and I would still look at her in awe, open mouthed, believing anything that she says. I've very nearly run out of both my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and my Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer - why is it that when things run out, they take a partner with them?! - so I had to buy two more (there's my justification...) I got them both in the lightest shade so I could use them for under my eyes, but the phwoarr Paint looks as though it could also be used on my face, which is rather lovely. And finally, the Soap and Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash...drooooool. This literally smells heavenly. Like actual heaven. A mixture of lime and sugar, this will knock your socks off in the morning with its zesty scent. It's amazing!

I'd really been enjoying the Soap and Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser so I knew I'd be repurchasing this one. I have a few cleansers on the go at the moment (blog post coming soon...) but I always find myself coming back to this one. It's really creamy, gentle and smells fresh - it's the perfect morning cleanser. A shopping trip isn't complete with a trip to LUSH, so I had to repurchase my LUSH Tea Tree Toner Water as I was so close to running out. I always make sure I have another one to hand - I'm not sure how my skin would react if I didn't! This really is a lovely toner, so gentle on the skin and all natural. I use it on a cotton pad after my cleanser, and I sometimes just spray my face with it as a little "pick-me-up". My cotton pads of choice are the Boots Baby Large Cotton Wool Pads. I like to use them when removing my make up with coconut oil (blog post here) as they are so big and cover a large surface area, cutting down make-up removing time significantly. (Does anyone else hate removing their make up or is it just me...?)

I was so excited when I saw the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate as my local Boots doesn't usually have it in stock, and I'd been lusting over it for weeks! I haven't even swatched it yet as it's too beautiful-a-colour to just swatch and rub off, so I think tomorrow morning may be the morning that I try this beauty on my eyes. Another gorgeous purchase was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe, another shade that I'd been struggling to get my hands on - I was starting to think that this shade was just a myth, and didn't actually exist. I feel like I've searched high and low to find this, I will guard it with my life! The Maybelline Coloursense Nude Lipstick in Tantalizing Taupe really caught my eye as it's unlike any other nude that I own. I swatched it in the shop and found it to be more of a peachy brown, which is nice, because I only own pinky nudes. This is a glossy formula which is also unlike any other nudes I own, so I'm really looking forward to trying this one out.

There have been mixed reviews about the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser so I thought I'd pick it up and throw in my two cents. I didn't even get a chance to swatch it in the shop as this one was the only one left (and when this happens, it only makes me want the product more...) It's been compared to the Benefit Porefessional quite a bit, but I think that I'm going to go into it with an open mind - I'm not going to compare it to other primers, and I'll just take it for what it is. A review will be up on that soon, I'm sure. The Bourjois Java Rice Powder is also another hyped product and has been likened to the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder. I can't say I'll be able to compare the two, as I've not tried the Hourglass Powder, but from what I've heard about this Bourjois one, it's meant to be a pretty good dupe. The idea is that the powder sets your make up but doesn't leave a matte finish, and gives a glowy look to the skin (particularly when light reflects on your face). I'm looking forward to trying this one as I've never tried anything like it! Lastly, I got the Bourjois Liner Feutre for free as I'd spent a certain amount of money on Bourjois products. I'm not usually one for felt liners as I find them to be messy and unforgiving, but since it was a freebie, I'll give it a go - who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised.

And they're all the products that I bought...argh, I was SO close to February (7 days to be exact) but I just couldn't manage it. It's not easy having a Boots nearby, OK. And if you're wondering about the random pairs of shoes in the first photo, my friend is having a baby so one of the presents I bought her were these cute little shoes from Boots (they were in the sale so I can't find the link, sorry!) The other pair are from John Lewis and were £40 reduced to £19.50 - again, in the sale, so no link I'm afraid. I've been wearing them everyday for work and they're sooo comfy, and I'm really into brogues at the moment! That's it now though - no more buying til birthday month (which is March for me) so I really need to restrain myself - these little goodies should keep me going up until then!

Have you treated yourself to anything lately?

Daniela

• Top 10 nail polishes // glitter & colour block •

When the lovely Rachel from RachiiRawr asked me to collab with her on a nail post I jumped at the idea because a) her blog is cute and b) I can't get enough of nails.
I have chosen 3 glitter polishes and 7 colour block polishes, ranging from drugstore and what could be considered high end (the likes of Essie and Jessica).
2 coats of polish have been applied to each nail and I'll go into a little more detail about why I love them.

POPBeauty Nail Glam in Aquatic Glitz
Currently £6.50 from POPBeauty, click here to be directed to the site.
This was one of the first glitter polishes I ever purchased, and I fell in love with the formula, the colour, and quite simply the amount of glitter that they have packed into it. This little nail polish really packs a punch and goes on so opaque from the first application. I love the turqoise/baby blue/greeny colour, and the name Aquatic Glitz really is very fitting. I loved it so much that I bought another a few days later (bit of a nail polish horder, me) along with some other colours from the range - Lavender Glitz, Confetti Glitz and Pink Glitz. This one really stood out to me though and I would go as far as to say its my favourite glitter polish of all time - ooh controversial. As with all glitter polishes, it is a bit of a bugger to get off, but to be honest I tend to pick my glitter polish off anyway (shhh, we all do it). Go get you some!

Maybelline Colorshow Brocades in 220 Knitted Gold
Oooh now this is just bloody lovely, isn't it?! It's no wonder all of the beauty bloggers rave about it. It's different from normal glitter polishes - it has a gold underlayer so can be worn alone rather than over a base colour. In some lights the polish is a real true gold colour, in some it's a pinky rose-gold colour, and in others you can't see the base colour at all, just the glitter on top. It's such a strange and beautiful product and I've never seen anything like it. Now onto my favourite bit, the glitter. The size of the chunks varies and if you apply 2 or 3 coats it sort of finishes with a duck egg/snakeskin effect (in a pretty way, promise) - I'm not selling it, I know, but you'll know what I mean if you've tried it. I have to say that the absolute best thing about this polish is that the chunks of glitter are evenly distributed over the whole nail (said for effect in italics, because this is kind of a big deal). It annoys the hell out of me when I find my perfect polish, it looks all fine and dandy in the bottle, then I apply it onto my nails to find that it's a wild, patchy mess. Not great. This, on the other hand, applies like a dream. Unfortunately, it is sporadic in it's appearance in Superdrug, so you'll have to keep an eye out for it. But if you haven't picked it up already, it's worth going through the hassle of finding it.

Rimmel Space Dust Nail Polish in Moon Walking
Currently £3.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
Rimmel just never lets me down for nail polish. They seem to have it spot on with their colours, glitters, base coats, top coats - you can never go wrong. So when I received this little beauty in my stocking, I was pretty chuffed as I already had an inkling of what was in store for me. The purple/lilac polish is packed full of silver glitter, as similarly to the Maybelline Knitted Gold, the glitter is distributed evenly on the whole of my nail. The polish is so opaque even after one coat and I often just leave it at that (with a top coat, of course). At £3.99 I think it's an absolute steal as I've tried higher-end polishes that haven't matched up to this! I'm excited to try the other colours in the Space Dust range - I'm off to Boots tomorrow, watch this space...

Avon Nailwear Pro+ in Orchid Splash
Unfortunately I couldn't find a link for you to buy this product, so I suggest you make it your mission to find a local Avon representative and snap this one up. I've been on the hunt for the perfect pink for what feels like forever, so last year when my housemate was wearing this on her nails I had that moment where it feels like time is slowing down and all you can focus on is the nail polish. I don't even care how dramatic that sounds, because it is exactly what happened. After swooning/screaming out of excitement (I'd found the one) I was all over that Avon catalogue like a rash. The colour is just...oh the colour. Its a cross between the best pink and the best lilac. Job done. Just. Just get it. Please. You so wont regret this one.

Barry M Hi Shine Gel Effect Nail Polish in Lychee
Currently £3.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
Now I'll admit, I jumped on the bandwagon with this one. It was allll over YouTube, blogs, Pinterest and lots more internet thingy-ma-bobbys. I was a victim of obsessive product watching and reading. The gel effect polishes are in general all fantastic; I'm sure you know all about them, but just in case, I'll say that the formula is really thick and really opaque. Sometimes I get a bit riskay and only wear one coat, without a top coat, dun dun duuuuun (I know right, what has happened to me?! Changed woman). It's pretty much what it says it is - it leaves a gel effect with a high shine. If you've ever had gel nails done professionally, the finish is very similar to that. The longevity of the polish isn't too bad, but to be honest I'm mainly into it for the colour. It's so hard to find the perfect nude that doesn't make your hands look pale and doesn't make you look like a granny. Well this is it. You're welcome.

Barry M Nail Paint in 341 Cappuccino
Currently £2.99 from Boots, click here to be directed to the site.
The only way I can describe this colour is purpley/mauve/brown/grey. It's the perfect Autumn/Winter colour and I think it's very underrated; no-one ever talks about poor little Cappuccino! This one is more for work/school and I found myself reaching for it when I felt like I needed to look more professional the next day. I'd say it's more of a mature colour, but none the less a beautiful one. You don't always want to be sporting bright red or fluorescent yellow; this is just a really classy, really cool polish. It's not trying to be anything it's not and its lovely in it's own right.

KIKO Nail Lacquer in 340 Light Blue
Currently £3.90 from KIKO, click here to be directed to the site.
I actually bought this in Naples, Italy about 3 years ago before KIKO became popular in the UK. I can remember walking into the shop and thinking, England really needs one of these. This polish really caught my eye. I find it hard to pull off blue sometimes because I'm really quite pale, and blue can often make my hands look un-feminine which isn't great. This is such a light colour though, kind of a princess-blue (reminds me of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin) and I think it's a really pretty colour. I swear this polish is unchippable and is made of steal - many brands should take a leaf out of KIKO's book. KIKO has shops in London, 3 I believe, so for those of us who don't live in London we unfortunately have to order online. I really hope that KIKO opens up shops all over the country though, the cosmetics really are excellent quality.

Essie Nail Polish in Geranium
Currently £10.95 from Liberty London, click here to be directed to the site.
I was so excited when I received this polish in my Glossybox at the start of 2013 (a year ago, whaaat?!) as I only owned four Essie nail polishes at the time and loved them. The quality of them is fantastic, they're not thick or gloopy and I've had mine for years and they've not dried out. Just for that reason, I'm willing to pay a bit more for them. Geranium is a very bright red/orange and looks more orange than red in most lights. It goes on glossy and needs two coats for it to be completely opaque, which is what I would expect from a nail polish anyway. With a top coat, this nail polish has been known to last me for a good 5 days which is pretty impressive as I'm never sitting still and I'm always doing things with my hands. I'd love to get my hands on more Essie polishes and will be putting them on my next beauty shopping list!

Topshop Nail Polish in Solar
Currently £6 from Topshop, click here to be directed to the site.
I was gifted this by my lovely housemates as one of my birthday presents a few years back and it's the perfect "me" shade. I love the duo-chrome look of the polish - when it catches certain light, its either a greeny/gold or a rosy pink colour. It's something a little different than you're average Joe gold colour and it's quite an interesting one when you've been wearing more sophisticated, girly polishes during the week. On the Topshop site, the instructions are to use a base coat, two coats of this and a top coat for best results, but I actually think you just need one coat of this. It won't be completely opaque but it will give a softer finish to the nails, a little more girly. It's a lovely colour and I'm looking forward to trying more from the Topshop make up range.

Jessica Nail Polish in Blue Blast
Currently £10.50 from tsbeautyshop, click here to be directed to the site.
Lastly, I've really been enjoying the Jessica Nail Polishes recently. The quality of them is fantastic and they're so chip-resistant its unbelievable. Used in nail salons around the UK, I'm down with the notion that if they're good enough for the salons, they're good enough for me. A little on the pricier side, I do think you're paying for the brand name as there are excellent quality polishes in the drugstore, but I would have felt wrong not including this polish as the colour is just amazing. As I previously mentioned, it's hard to find a good blue polish for people with pale skin, and this one is just such a cool alternative to the generic bright pink or bright reds. I love it on my toes for summer, too. It's definitely one of those polishes where you want to show off your tootsies around the pool.

And that's it! Some beautiful, great quality nail polishes. I hope this has inspired you with your next nail-painting session. Go and check Rachel out if you have a few spare minutes, she writes lovely posts & has her nail post coming up too!

Daniela