Party Prep!

Tis the season to be jolly, and with Christmas and New Years and all the impending parties right around the corner, now is a great time to be getting in that nail care. If you change your polish like I do frequently and for specific outfits it is important to make sure you take care of your hands and nails just as you would your health and body. So follow my quick and easy tips to healthy nails that will provide a strong base for those glitter, party fabulous nails!

1. 'In the BUFF' 

Buffing your nails keeps them smooth and shiny, it is pain free and you can pick up a buffing block from Body Care for £0.99, so you can file, smooth, buff and shine your nails. This is perfect for tired looking nails and for those who love french mani's, as buffing before you apply the french pink will help create a beautifully soft smooth look.

2.  'CUTIE-cles'

Your cuticles really shape the nail, if they are uneven or have over grown simply pop down to Superdrug and purchase 10 cuticle pushers for £0.99 jump in a lovely bubble bath, soak, relax and when your cuticles are nice and relaxed like you from the heat, simply gently push them back into a nice crescent shape. If you wish to go one step further in cuticle care, invest in some cuticle removal gel and some cuticle clippers and gently clip the excess cuticle from the nail. Clippers and Sally Hansen cuticle removal gel can both be bought in Superdrug, Boots and Body Care.

3. 'IRON't you pretty'

Having a healthy balanced diet is something we should all strive for anyway, but iron has been proved to help stimulate good hair and nail growth, so if you want some extra length make sure you have plenty of iron in your diet for strong hair and nails. Whether you find that source naturally through foods such as Salmon and red meats or through supplements, if you start now, you'll reap the benefits when it comes to that Christmas Party you've been planning.

4. 'Having the MOIST fun'

Moisturising your body and face is, I'm sure in your everyday skin care routine, but most of us forget the hard work our hands go through with daily chores. Washing up liquid can reek havoc on hands making them dry and allowing the skin to crack. Invest in a great hand cream to help your hands fend against the drying cold winds and the chores we deal with day to day, for better looking hands and nails. For one step further invest in some cuticle oil to keep nail beds soft and supple.

So enjoy this tips to healthier nails, and I hope you find it helpful!

The Ease of the Nineties.

Nineties could never be cooler than it is right now. Whip out your scrunchies and Clueless DVD for inspiration. Plaid plays a big part in this seasons looks right now, so pop along to Primark to grab up the odd plaid statement that you can easily add to your wardrobe without spending the big bucks. 

Team with another hot trend right now of big chunky necklaces, mine here is from Newlook sale for £4 and you're ready to go. If you're really feeling nineties then pop your hair in high little buns, something which the likes of Kylie Jenner has been sporting lots of lately and you're ready to go. (Lower image.)

Slap on your fav red lip and you'll be right on trend. I paired this top with my Doc.Martens look-a-likes by Primark at £15 and felt right at home as a Nineties kid. Next thing you know everyone will be walking round in shell suits! 

Baby Lips

Anyone else as excited as me that Maybelline Baby Lips are finally in stores in the UK? I have seen bloggers and youtubers alike in the U.S raving about them for ages, and finally I can sing their praises too. I am now proud owner of each variety available at my local Superdrug; available in various scents and tints, they provide a wonderful smell and gentle tint of colour as well as providing a great lip balm. With some designated purely for its lip healing and moisturising abilities the range provides something for all. My favourite is Peach Kisses, it has a light beige tint to it, so is a great light winter alternative to nude lipstick, to help protect your lips against the cold weather we've been having.

Plus the packaging is super cute and delightful! Baby lips are a steal at £2.99 and upon purchasing them, Superdrug had 'Buy one get one Half Price' on Maybelline products.

Great for a stocking filler or for your daughters highschool friends christmas presents!

Holographic Wonder

I am always amazed at the new polish you can find simply by accident. I came across holographic nail polish accidentally whilst searching for something on eBay (of course). The price and the package was too good to miss so I bought a pack of 12. I have Perfect Polish brand and they are not quite perfect but the holographic effect will blow your minds.

The consistency is a little weak and you do need to apply one thin base coat and then one or too liberal coats on top to create  the effect. I also found that it was essential that each coat were distributed evenly or else the effect was somewhat lost in the gentle uneven surface. I also found that my clear top coat somewhat dulled the shine, and a holographic print with no shine is pretty useless!

The colour range was somewhat limiting I was supposed to have a light and dark shade of each colour, blue, pink, purple, red and orange. But the differences were slim to none and could not really tell the difference.

One final tip, shake well to make sure you have perfect balance between shimmer and colour, and just have fun. These holographic nails will look great on their own or as a statement nail as part of a mix for the holidays as we now lead up to Christmas!

So search eBay if your interest has been peaked. There are plenty of reputable sellers selling holographic nail polish for decent prices. Most ship from the far east though so expect long wait from dispatch to receiving the item!

Happy shopping, Happy nails and Happy Halloween. (Belatedly)

Winter Wonderland

With Autumn nearly behind us and Halloween out the way, whispers of Christmas are echoing in the air. It saddened me that I heard my first Christmas song on the radio on the 1st of November. Bonfire night has barely had time to be planned, and already Christmas songs are playing and stores are piling in the tinsel and baubles!
Having said that, there is something lovely about snuggling up in blankets and jumpers around the fire to keep warm, the dark cold nights bringing families and friends together. Which will mean plenty of time to do your nails, and your friends nails, in the name of the holiday spirit!
In this post I will be sharing a much loved nail design of last winter, all my friends wanted me to do their nails like this and it is super easy with a steady hand!
Snowflakes can be transferred onto a range of different background and can be jazzied up with a few sprinkles and sparkles here and there. Once you have mastered drawing the snowflake you can then run with it and really become creative in how you deliver that snowflake.

Simply follow the link to my instagram account to see my monochrome snowflake nails that I did for a friend last winter!