Classy Christmas Nails

I spotted this OPI Polish recently and realised I'd never worn it. It's perfect for Christmas-a deep dark red with tiny specks of glitter. It's sophisticated but still festive. Ticks all the boxes. 

The Season For Sparkle

When the decorations are unpacked and on the tree, the lights strung up and the tinsel on every surface, you know it’s time for some sparkle on your fingers.

A glitter polish is a really quick, easy way to get the festive spirit on your nails. These are my favourites this Christmas.

Barry M has a very good range of glitter nail polish which are easy to apply and last for around 5 days. Their only disadvantage is that they take a lot of effort and polish remover to get off (like most glitter polishes) but I reckon it’s worth it. Both of these work well layered up on their own, or as a top coat. The green is a recent buy in time for Christmas-it reminds me of a Christmas tree and has little silver stars in it-how could I resist?

The Barry M polish with the lovely glittery lid has recently vanished from my room (really need to have a tidy) but it too works very well on a bare nail as the glitter is pretty concentrated. 

I like to wear this OPI silver layered on top of a dark red or purple, or to add an accent nail.

Similarly, this Ciate silver is great for layering. The glitter in this one is more concentrated than the OPI so it could be worn on its own.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas

Helen x

Books Of The Month

My mum recommended this months book to me-The Little stranger by Sarah Waters. It's not something I would normally read because I'm a bit of a wimp when it comes to reading and anything scarier than Paddington is likely to give me nightmares (Okay, I'm not that bad, but it's pretty close.) I really enjoyed it however and literally couldn't put it down. Its set post war and is focused on a large country hall in which there's some spooky goings on...

What I found really interesting however is the observations about social class that are scattered throughout this novel and the idea of changing classes, or belonging to more than one. The momentum builds up until the very clever ending which took me completely by surprise

Sarah Waters written quite a few books, which I'm now going to have to borrow (steal) from mum.

Helen x

Beauty Bargain Of The Month

I never tried anything from the Skincare brand Witch before, but recently picked up this Blemish stick.

As the name suggests, it contains Witch hazel which is a natural ingredient that soothes and tones the skin. It also has alcohol, to target and prevent blemishes, as well as Glycerin which calms the skin. It claims to break down excess oil and prevent the recurrence of pesky spots. Although its a slightly alarming colour, it applies clear and isn't sticky at all, so could probably be worn under makeup. 

I've only been using this for a week or so, but can already see an improvement in my skin.

What I'm Currently Loving

Firstly, sorry I've been neglecting my blog recently. I started sixth form recently so haven't had much spare time.

Recently I've really got back into using this cute Lorac Pro eyeshadow pallette. It has two shimmer shades: Nude and Pewter, and one matte shade aptly named Espresso. The pigmentation of all three is great, and even for someone with fairly oily eyelids like me (eww) it lasts all day without creasing. The packaging is really good as it has a little mirror so is handy to have in your makeup bag.

Next is TV. There's lots of crime dramas on at the moment, but the one I'm loyal to is Lewis. It's now on it's eighth series and still perfect to snuggle on the sofa and watch. The storylines are always very clever and complicated and keep you guessing till the end. It's on ITV 1 on Fridays at 9.

I don't own many pairs of leggings, but recently I've been wishing I did. They're great for days when you open the wardrobe and realize actually all you want to do is stay in your pjs. The Topshop patterned leggings are my favourites, as they're a bit thicker than normal leggings and the bright patterns mean you don't have to try too hard with the rest of your outfit.

Helen x

P.S I promise I'll try and post more regularly from now on!

Books that make you think

Occasionally what you fancy is a book that has a nice easy plot and doesn't require much concentration. Sometimes however it's good to read a book that leaves you feeling a little less secure in what you take for granted. These are my favourite books that do just that:

Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell

This is a classic, and rather well loved in my family as you can see from the well worn cover! This was first published in 1950, but still feels relevant. The book is centred around Winston Smith, who lives in a country governed by Big Brother-a dictator like figure who is never actually seen but drives fear into everyone. Every aspect of peoples lives is controlled, and this becomes quite scary in places as it is so shocking. More worryingly, however, is that when reading it you start to recognise elements of the book in actual countries and it does not seem so unimaginable that parts of the Big Brother regime could at some point happen in real life.

Uglies by Scott Westerfield

This book is clearly written to appeal to the 'hunger games/divergent/gone' audience, but the idea it contains is very interesting. Set in a future world, it talks about how the 'rusties' i.e. the current human race died out as they failed to adapt and create new technologies and so experienced a crisis. It also explores the idea of the obsession for perfection in society, and what happens when people reject this idea.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I have just finished reading this and whilst I wouldn't say I liked it, due to the really quite sinister plot, I know I'll be re-reading it. The American government uses extremely low birth rate and an increase in sexual assaults as an excuse to radically change the way society functions-people are ascribed a role and are effectively brain washed into believing this is their duty. Out of all these books, this one left me questioning things more, and the warning it carries really affected me.

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

This book looks at racism but flips it so that to be black is to be considered right, and desirable. It's very fast paced and leaves you looking at things a little differently to how you might have previously. 

Quick, Fast Drying Polishes

My favourite polishes are the ones that you can wear without a base coat and dry quickly but still look great after a few days. A hard task? Not for these polishes, the ones I come back to when I want a pretty nail without the effort.

Nude or pale pink polishes are great when you're in a hurry as they can be worn without a base coat and it isn't obvious if they chip a little. The gold looks very different when on; it seems to have a pink undertone and needs only two coats to get a colour that will last for days. 

I love Rimmel Polishes as they have wide brushes which cover your nail in two strokes. Their '60 Seconds Dry' range is great-lots of colours to choose from that really do dry in 60 seconds. This one is
 a slightly metallic, shimmery pink. The blue is in '503 Mind The Gap, Victoria' a lovely powder blue.

This Maybelline 40 seconds dry is in 'Turquiose Lagoon' and really does dry in 40 seconds. 

Helen x

A Shamefaced Post

I did it again. I bought more Nail Polish-three more bottles to be exact. There's no more room in my storage now but they were so pretty, I couldn't resist. I'm blaming this one on my friend. She posted a photo on Instagram a couple of weeks ago of a trio of Nails Inc polish which she said she'd picked up in Savers for under £5. I was impressed, to say the least, so when I saw a Savers recently on holiday I went straight to the makeup. 

There was a couple of different sets but I was drawn straight to this eye catching one. It contains 3 polishes-Kensington Park Road, Connaught Square and Hyde Park. Kensington Park Road is a 'neon' polish in a lovely blue. I don't have any polishes in this vibrant shade of blue so I was excited to try it. It's definitely not for those who like something more sophisticated or subtle on their fingers. I went for three coats to build up a really intense colour but it would have looked good with just the two coats as well. 

I tried to use the 'crackle' polish over the top but couldn't get it to work. I used it as a topcoat after the blue had dried but couldn't see any effect. I'll try again but this time putting it on top of a wet layer of polish to see whether that works. Has anyone tried crackle polishes. What's the best way to use them? 

My mum went for the '3-D glitter' in Connaught Square. This is a really lovely glitter polish with blue, purple and green glitter. She used a couple of coats on bare nails which was perhaps a little too glittery (is there such a thing?) so I tried layering it on top of Kensington Park Road which looked really good.

This is my first time trying Nails Inc and I'm really impressed. When I used them with a base and topcoat the staying power was good and they lasted around 5 days before I had to remove them due to chipping. For £4.99 these sets are amazing so if there's a Savers near you I'd recommend having a look!

Helen x

Books of the month

I recently picked up a few books for just a pound each at a charity book shop, and started reading them straight away, despite the fact I was meant to be reading Jane Eyre in preperation for next year. 

My first Book of the Month is The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. This book follows Georgia who runs a knitting shop in New York and daughter and friends. A knitting club gradually forms, and so draws all different types of people together. Their stories are cleverly interwoven as they become closer. The ending is not a typical 'happily ever after' as I expected, but many of the characters stories are nicely tied up in a fairly un-imaginative way. I enjoyed this, in a nice, easy, comforting way but will not necessarily be re-reading it. 

                                

My next book is Handle with Care by Jodi Piccoult. Jodi Piccoult's books are, I think, very similar to the well loved James Bond books. They are fairly predictable, hugely popular and almost impossible to put down. They all follow a similar pattern-the introduction of the characters; the development of whatever 'issue' this particular book is about; and then a large proportion of the book spent on the court case. Handle With Care is no different, but I liked it nonetheless. Piccoult's books may be something of a blockbuster but they are all very well written, heart wrenching and with well developed characters. What I like most about them is the often controversial issues which they explore, and so get the reader to think more about. 

Helen x

Nail Polish Storage

I used to house my nail polish addiction in the top shelf of my bathroom cabinet but as I bought more and more, it stopped working as well. It became more difficult to see what colours I had, and therefore, where the gaps were. 

Initially, I only put one of these plastic nail polish stands in my basket, but quickly realised what good value they were, and just how much nail polish I have! These say they hold 30 bottles each on average, but I have 64 bottles and have only just run out of room, though obviously it depends on the size of the bottles.

                              

I've arranged mine in colour order, which not only looks pretty, but has the advantage of enabling me to see what colours and shades I'm lacking in (and so gives me an excuse to buy more!) When they're all laid out like this, I don't think it looks like I have that many and so I've carried on buying more polish with the result I've now run out of room. I think another Amazon order may need to be placed soon...

                                  

Does anyone else have a weakness for nail polish? 

Helen x 

Tea Tree:The wonder ingredient

After an extensive clear out of my bathroom cabinet a few days ago, it's now really easy to see all my skincare and I realised how much of it is tea-tree based. Tea tree is an essential oil, used to treat various medical conditions, including Acne, Dandruff and Lice. Whilst I don't have any of those (thank goodness) I do have oily/spot prone skin that tends to breakout if I don't follow my usual skin care regime. I like Tea Tree based products because I find that they do combat breakouts, but aren't full of chemicals like some products that prevent spots. In fact, a 5% concentration of Tea Tree is thought to be as effective as the same concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide, a chemical commonly used to treat severe acne. See, I told you it was good!

The Body Shop do a really good range of Tea Tree products designed to help prevent and reduce spots. Here's the Tea Tree skincare I use and love:

Pure Tea Tree oil: Tea Tree in it's purest form. I use this to apply directly to any spots before I go to bed and when I wake up the redness is reduced. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion: Good everyday moisturiser (I use this when going away as it's such a cute size)

The Body Shop Tea Tree Pore Minimiser: A good primer with a gel like consistency that makes pores look smaller and visibly mattifies the skin, so is perfect for those with oily skin.

T-Zone Skin Clearing Face Moisturiser: I use this every day and it has fast become my favourite moisturiser. It smells great (another benefit of Tea Tree) and also contains Eucalyptus to help prevent spots. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask: I use this once a week (when I remember-I'm quite lazy when it come to face masks) and it leaves my skin slightly tingling which makes me feel like it's doing something and makes it feel really smooth. It does make my face a bit red when I take it off but this calms down and it does help angry looking spots look less red and calmer. 

The Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser: This is a best seller on The Body Shop website, so I bought it one evening when I was desperate for something that would improve my skin. I haven't been using it for long but it is quite refreshing. 

 Does anyone have any Tea Tree products they'd recommend?

Helen x

Summer/Holiday Nail Polishes

The sun is shining (and we seem to have the back end of a hurricane here in the UK at the moment, but that doesn't sound as good) and it's the time of year when lots of people jet off on their holidays or wish they were!

These are my favourite nail polishes for summer (but I'll happily wear them all year round)

                                          

       Barry M 'Key Lime'              M&S 'Golden Glaze'

       OPI White                     Soap and Glory 'Pink Soda'

           Rimmel '503 Mind the gap, Victoria' (What a random name!)

                Barry M 'Bubblegum'

                    Sally Hansen '500 Razzle-Berry'

All of these polishes look great with a tan and are just really lovely colours. I think that  textured polishes, such as the Barry M confetti or sugar range are great for holidays, as they don't chip as quickly, so you can spend more time enjoying your holiday!

Helen x

Going blonde: Lightening spray

I wanted to do something a little bit different for this post, so roped in my sister to help. 

She has naturally light brown hair, with blonder streaks that become more obvious in the summer, but for a while has wanted to go a bit blonder. She didn't want something as permanent as dye or highlights, so, after some research, went for this John Frieda 'Sheer Blonde Go Blonder Lightening Spray' (£6.99 from Boots)

After shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual (Emily uses the John Frieda Go Blonder shampoo and conditioner) spray all over the hair, before hairdrying it-make sure to use a heat defence spray! Use the Go Blonder shampoo and conditioner in between using the spray to prevent your hair looking brassy. The spray contains Hydrogen Peroxide, so don't use it too much- Emily uses it every few weeks. 

The spray has worked really well with Emily's hair, and made it look visibly blonder but others have had less success. Has anyone else used a lightening spray, and if so, has it worked well? 

 Before

After 

I'd like some new blogs to follow, so leave yours below, and I'll check it out! 

Helen x

Books of the Month

I've been reading more this month as I have finished school, so have lots of time to do absolutely nothing. 

One of my books this month is by the same author as my April books of the month. I just love Kate Atkinson's books! Luckily she's written quite a few, so I still have lots to work my way through. 

This month I've been loving Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson, available from £6 on Amazon. I actually bought it for my sister, but stole it from her as soon as she finished reading it. 

Atkinson's style of writing is just so unique: the way she weaves tales around each other and goes from past to present and back again without confusing you is amazing. 

Human Croquet is partly a fairytale, partly a mystery, but also about Isobel Fairfaxe, the narrator, as she discovers who she is. The village of Lythe, where Isobel lives, was once set in the heart of a mysterious forest, home to dark secrets, Shakespeare, and runaway brides. A descendent of these forest people, Isobel often gets stuck in time warps, and spends the rest of the time with her mad family; a brother obsessed with finding their missing mother, a war hero turned shopkeeper father, a step-mother who longs for a baby and turns increasingly neurotic and a grumpy aunt hiding a secret. She seeks refuge from her family in her friend Audrey's home, but that too, is not altogether normal. This book contains less of the humour normally found in Kate Atkinson novels, and is a lot darker, and made me cry quite a lot, but I loved it nonetheless. 

I definitely recommend Kate Atkinson as an author!

Helen x

Beauty Bargain Of The Month

I'm so happy I now have time to get back to blogging on a regular basis. However, this week I'm on a residential in Scotland as part of NCS. (At the end of the progamme I might do a post on it, if you're all interested) As I'm going to be away, I thought I'd try using the scheduled posting, so fingers crossed it all works and this is posted at the right time. 

Anyway, on to my beauty bargain of the month. I'm not too sure what happened this month, but I seem to be left with very little money *ooops* I needed a waterproof mascara for my prom, as the one I'm using currently tends to flake, and I wanted something that would last all night without me getting panda eyes. I wanted something very cheap, so avoided Boots and Superdrug and instead headed to Accessorize as I'd spotted their half price sale. The Waterproof mascara I picked up would usually be £5, which is very good anyway, but I got it for £2.50. 

This doesn't claim to be volumising or lengthening and isn't really, but I quite like it anyway. It is a very dark black, and the formula isn't really thick. The brush is quite big and rigid, so if you like a more flexible wand this isn't for you. It does however stay on without smudging for a long time, and the packaging is so lovely, it's reason enough to get it!

For £2.50, I think this is a very good mascara, but I'll be using it in combination with my other mascaras to get a more volumised look. 

Helen x

Prom

On Friday it was my school prom, which was a lovely way to end 5 years with some wonderful people. 

There is no official dress code, and the girls came in a combination of long and short dresses (and one boy came in skinny jeans and trainers) 

I knew I wanted quite a simple dress, and finally found one from Topshop. It's by Jones and Jones, one of the brands at Topshop. Aside from being beautiful, it's also designed and made in the UK, which is great. I paired it with red heels from New Look (these were great as they weren't too high, so I could actually walk in them without falling over, which is always a bonus) My gold clutch was also from New Look. As my clutch was quite sparkly and eye catching, I went for simple red nails-I used the No7 Speed Dry Polish in shade 50 Siren. I didn't want to spend a huge amount on prom, as after all, it is just one night (though admittedly a long one, as I didn't get back till 2am) and found that shops like Topshop, New Look, Boohoo and Accessorize had some lovely dresses, shoes and accessories, so definitely check them out.

My hair took over an hour and a half, due to the amount of hair I have, but it was definitely worth it-I loved it and got lots of compliments.

Prom was an amazing night, and it was so nice seeing everyone dressed up and it was lovely to have an excuse to wear a pretty dress and get my hair done. I didn't want to take off my dress or undo my hair at the night!

Helen x

Packing light: The essentials

To celebrate the end of my exams, my family and I went away for the night to the Yorkshire Dales. Since we were only going for the night, I didn't take my usual make up bag and just took a few things. 

I used a little floral bag which a friend got me. It's laminated, so can be cleaned easily. Since my skin is pretty good at the moment, I skipped out on the foundation and just took my Collection 2000 concealer to cover any redness, and my Rimmel concealer to use under my eyes. I then used my Elizabeth Arden mascara ( I love this mascara-I'll do a review on it later) and my Une blush to give a light colour to my cheeks. For my lips, I took my Neal's Yard lip gloss in Goji Berry. This has a lovely, very subtle colour, and isn't too sticky.

I'd normally take more, but only having room for a small number of products was actually really helpful, as it helped me realise what my favourite items were, and that actually, I don't need foundation, eye shadow etc.

What would you pack if you could only take 5 products?

Helen x