Nail Rock Nail Wraps

I love the look of Minx nails but as is the story with most things, I can't really afford them. Then I read about these nail wraps on BritishBeautyBlogger which seemed like a good and affordable substitute.

I bought mine for £6.50 from Topshop but you can also get them on Asos. I originally wanted leopard printed ones but they didn't have any so settled for these plain silver wraps.



Application is simple - place the wrap on your finger nail, apply heat from a hairdryer to activate the glue, press down firmly and file off the excess. However it's so fiddly and time consuming. It took me a good 30minutes to do one hand and I managed to burn my cuticles with the heat from my hairdryer :(



I have to say I'm a bit disappointed with the outcome. My thumb, forefinger and middle finger came out so crap and I couldn't smooth out the wrinkles. I think this is because my nail beds are more curved on these fingers than on my ring and little finger which came out great. That's what I'm telling myself anyway!

They didn't last long, about two days? The edges became flappy and I ended up peeling them off because they were irritating me so much. I won't be repurchasing these because they're too much hassle for me. But for special occasions they would be great.

Things I've been loving this week (in photos)

1. Barry M's instant nail effects polish.
2. Big clumpy boots for winter.
3. Mac's Plumful lipstick.
4. Eldora lashes.
5. Black XS - my new favourite perfume.
6. Fuggs as house "slippers". My feet have never been so toasty!

Free tickets to Britain's Next Top Model Live

There are 10,000 free tickets up for grabs for the Friday and Sunday show (the 22 and 24 October). Click here to head over to the Money Saving Expert website for full details on how to get your free tickets!

HELP! How do I get rid of puffy eye bags?

This photo is from last year and I've kept it small as I didn't want to subject any of you to a massive close up of my face. The bags under my eyes are horrendous and they seem to be permanent. They look even worse now and no matter how much sleep I get, I wake up with them every single day. I've tried cooling gel eye masks, cold spoons, eye creams and eye strips but all the ones I have tried haven't done a thing.

It's something that really upsets me and is one of the main reasons I don't post photos of my face, as they look so awful. I'm worried that they'll get progressively worse as I get older. There are millions of products out there but I don't know where to start, nor do I want to waste my money on something that does naff all.

Is there anything you have tried and can reccommend? I'm willing to try anything! :(

The power of....contouring?

Okay so you HAVE to watch this video. Using only makeup, this girl transforms herself into Jared Leto . It probably helps that she has a similar facial structure? But the resemblence is so amazing it's slightly creepy!

NOTD: Barry M Limited Edition 030

Sorry for two nail polish related posts in a row but I found this Barry M polish today and I had to apply it as soon as I got home. I actually went into Boots to see if I could find their new Instant Nail Effects polish but also spied this beauty. I can't find it on the website but the sticker says "Boots Limited Edition 030" so perhaps you can only buy it there? Anyway I got both for a fiver (don't know how long this offer lasts).



Like every other Barry M polish, it's a two coat job (but one would be okay too). I'm hoping this will last because I loooove the vibrant glossy colour and I really think it suits my skintone.



At first I thought it was too similar to Blueberry Ice Cream, which it appears to be judging by the bottle. However I compared swatches along with Revlon's Plum Seduction and you can see the results for yourself - it's between a plum and lilac colour.

oh Barry M, you never fail to disappoint with your nail paints.

Who needs Seche Vite when you have Barry M?

I have never tried the much raved about Seche Vite topcoat nor do I feel the need to since my Barry M 3 in 1 basecoat, topcoat & nail hardner is so brilliant. Remember my leopard print nails I did last week? Well today is day 8 and there is minimal tip wear and not a chip in sight.



See? Amazing I tell you!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Image: Google

If you weren't already aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Many brands are selling pink items with a percentage being donated to charities such as Cancer Research UK. I'm not going to do a post on these but will refer you to Lipglossiping, where Charlotte has featured a variety of pink beauty products on sale this month.

Last week's Stylist magazine (which you can read online) also has a two page spread with other pink products, detailing the exact amount being donated. These include cupcakes and rubber ducks! The entire issue is devoted to Breast Cancer Awareness and is well worth a read.

Other links to consider:
http://www.coppafeel.org
http://www.pinkribbonfoundation.org.uk/
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/breastcancer/

(Ballet) Pump it up

I know, I know...lame title, but I couldn't think of anything else that wasn't boring.

Just showing off my footwear of the moment. These New Look flats are exactly the same as the ones I have from Topshop but sturdier and half the price (£8). I first saw these on Sarah's blog and rushed out to get a pair in black. Sadly there were none in my size so I settled for these gold ones.



Grainy photo courtesy of my phone.

They're still in stock online (not sure about instore) and come in 5 different colours. If you're looking for a simple pair of ballet pumps these are a great buy - even more so if you're lucky to be blessed with a student card.

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in "Excite"

I've been coveting some Illamasqua blushes for quite a while, but at £16 each I was a bit hesistant. I'm glad I bided my time, as I managed to get this from the lovely Karleigh in a recent blog sale.



Described as "vivid apricot", this matte colour looks really orange and scary in the pan but the trick (as with any highly pigmented product) is to build up the colour in layers.



On my skin it's not as loud and far more muted. In terms of longevity I don't think it's superior to any other brand (high end or otherwise)- every blush I wear disappears after a few hours on me anyway. However I do adore this, especially the packaging which is a bit chunky but swish! I can't seem to get enough of colours such as Excite.

Do you have any Illamasqua blushes you can reccommend? Although I think I want them all!

Impulse purchase of the summer

...and the award goes to this funky beaded/sequin necklace from Primark. A steal at £3 but I don't know how to wear it and pull the look off successfully. Bah - perhaps I'll save it for next summer.