Elegant Touch Launch: Little Mix Do NAILS!!

You ladies might have noticed that, in recent months, there has been a major upping of the nail posts on this blog! A) Because my nails are finally back to their former pre-kitchen-job glory and B) Because there are so many exciting new nail products being released this year and I just can't help myself!! Last night I went along to see the latest Elegant Touch and New Look collaboration with the lovely girlies from Little Mix and couldn't wait to play with the range!! Little Mix are a complete mash-up style wise and each girl has her own individual style within the group. I didn't know what to expect!

I was greeted by each girl's designs laid out with New Look outfits selected to complement each girl's individual style. The girls worked very closely with nail artists and New Look stylists to create their ranges and had input on every level so the nails and wraps themselves are completely personal to them. I just love this outfit above that was selected for Leigh-Anne! I'm adoring monochrome print with pastels this season! I may have to make another trip to New Look hehe. Anyways, I was thrilled to go home with the full product range and I'm here tonight to share them with you!

I'm going to take you through each girl's products one by one and give you a bit of a rundown of what inspired the designs and what they represent for the girls. 

  Leigh-Anne

Leigh-Anne wanted her range to be all about 'Fresh and Funky Glamour'. It was important to her to pay tribute to her Jamaican heritage, but also to express her love of urban street style. The obvious salute to the Caribbean comes with the press-on nails she chose. Leigh-Anne's choice of wrap designs is obviously a reference to her more playful side.

 Jade

Jade chose pretty, girlie, multitonal designs incorperating her favourite things including hearts, bows and braces. I totally approve of her love of black and gold as a combination and her press-on nails are perfect for nights out. The wraps are obviously aimed at seriously GIRLY girls. She's not scrimped on the glitter thats for sure!! It was important to her that no nail was the same and that her designs represented her unique style.

Jesy

I think most would agree that Jesy is the bolshy, urban child of the group. She's gone all out in her nail designs incorporating everything from chains to spikes to street art. It's a style all of her own and makes her selections perfect for those who like to go the extra mile to make a statement. Jesy took inspiration from the likes of Gwen Stefani and Missy Elliot to create a set of products that were both fresh AND fierce.

 Perrie

Out of all the girls' choices, it was definitely Perrie that got it spot on for me. Perrie loves to combine elements of hippy boho AND rock chick, so it was no surprise that she came up with a fantastic combination of designs. She's thought of everything and not left anything out. The girlie galaxy press-on nails are soooo on trend and who doesn't love an edgy combo of roses, skulls, studs and glitter?? I also love that, like me, Perrie openly admits to being very clumsy when it comes to fiddly nail art and her nail wraps are a great solution!

It was Perrie's nail wraps that I opted to have applied at the event last night....

I'm very impressed with how sturdy these wraps are and I love how glossy the finish is. I really hope I can apply them on myself just as perfectly. I have limited experience when it comes to nail wraps haha.They seem very easy to apply and remove though so I have high hopes. I love that they're not just aimed at younger fans of the group. There are styles to flatter a 30yr old like me too!!

Elegant Touch Little Mix Press-On Nails and Wraps retail for £6 and are Exclusively Available from New Look stores and were launched TODAY!! So, whatever your style, I'd definitely recommend having a play. They really are a great accessory and finish off any outfit perfectly. Also, because they're Elegant Touch, you know they're durable and great quality.

 

 

Do you like your nails to make a statement?? Which of these styles and products best represents your style?? Will you be trying them out?? 

Instant Obsession: DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

It's not often I'm rendered gobsmacked by a product after a first use. Usually, if I'm sceptical or suspicious of a product, its for a good reason and I'll analyse it over and over and try it every which way before I commit to make a final judgement (I'm a Virgo, what can i say). I should tell you, I was a complete unbeliever when it came to oil cleansers. In fact, I've had a sample size of this very product tucked away in my cupboard for a couple of months now and had never given it a second glance but, now I've had my eyes forcibly opened on the subject, I'm here today to tell you about the wonder that is....

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil*

For those of you unfamiliar with DHC, I'll give you a little back story...

DHC are a Japanese-born mail order cosmetics brand who are MASSIVE in Asia and in the States and have recently been making a similar splash here in the UK with their extensive range of skincare and cosmetics which you can order online via their website, or by phone. 

The Deep Cleansing Oil incorporates a blend of Vitamin E and Olive Oil (an ingredient put to great use by DHC is all manner of products) and claims to unclog pores and remove all makeup and impurities from the skin to leave it clean, fresh and free from free-radicals. I'll admit now that, with my combination skin, I would avoid this like the plague if I hadn't had it explained in detail to me at an event held by DHC this week. I initially believed that it would turn me into a total grease-monkey. How wrong was I?!?!

The cleanser itself is like a very thin oil and you only need a couple of pumps to do a whole face (in my limited experience of using it). I've been smoothing it all over before wetting my face with water and massaging the product into my skin. The product turns milky on contact with the water and leaves no oily residue whatsoever when rinsed off. It removes ALL of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling the cleanest it has felt in a LONG time! 

I've been using this product in tandem with my Elemis Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser (review HERE) just because I am still a little wary of it.... There has to be a catch somewhere, right?? Perhaps wrong, but time will tell. It is thoroughly effective at removing all traces of makeup and leaves the skin feeling silky smooth as well as clean. 

The cleanser comes in 3 sizes. 200ml, which is featured here, 70ml and 30ml. The largest size retails at £21.50, however, through until 30th March, you can get it at a discounted £18 on dhcuk.co.uk. If, like me, you're a little sceptical and would prefer to give it a road test before committing to such a massive bottle, the 30ml size is only £4.50 and well worth a try! Since sharing this product over Instagram, I can't believe how many ladies have popped up saying how much they love this product. Safe to say, I am now one of them and will be repurchasing the hell out of it! 

How do you feel about oil cleansers?? What products do you rely on to get your skin REALLY clean?? What skincare products can't you live without??

Mystery Solved: BeneFit Fakeup!

Hello there my lovelies!

Last night I was super excited to go along to Spitalfields in pursuit of the Mysterious new product known as BeneFit Fakeup* which launches nationwide from 30th March! Now, I'm excited about this launch BIG time as, just lately I've found myself feeling very tired and yuck and my skin is reacting horribly, and in a way which I have never really experienced before. What perfect timing to go and learn about and unravel the Mystery behind BeneFit's new baby. 

 (iPhone images from the event. Apologies they're a little grainy)

There has been a big build up to the release of this product. The BeneBabes have been on a whirlwind tour up and down the country of late, to educate Bloggers far and wide about the new product they are so proud of. They kept the Londoners waiting until last so we were all very keen to get the scoop on this fantastic new concealer...

The lovely Lisa did a demo with the product, whilst we enjoyed pink fizz and canapes, and put us through our paces with a pop quiz for prizes. As usual I was too slow, but I was very interested to learn a few fantastic facts about Fakeup, its uses and the whirlwind journey it has been on just lately. So I'll share them with you!!

Fakeup comes in 3 Shades:

Pretty standard for a concealer, you might think, but the shades (Light, Medium and Deep) are intended to be used together and at the same time. Using a combination of these shades you can hide dark circles, smooth your skin and diffuse light to create flawless perfection. I'm actually very excited to use the darkest shade as a contour. And the pale will work a treat on my undereye circles (which seem to becoming a permanent fixture of late - Boooooo). Kimmy K eat your heart out! 

Fakeup has amazing Hydrating properties:

The creamy core concealer is surrounded by a layer of moisturising loveliness containing a blend of Vitamin E and Apple Seed Extract so provide immediate hydration that lasts up to 6hrs and does not crease. The formula is lightweight as well as long lasting with a silky texture. I've only got as far as the swatching stage so far, but the product feels lovely on the skin and blends very well. 

Fakeup was used on models at the recent Matthew Williamson show for LFW:

In fact, Cara Delevigne was so taken with it, she insisted on taking one away with her. Lisa admitted to us that, as time was so tight to get the models ready, the BeneFit artists ended up using Fakeup ALL OVER the faces of the models in place of a foundation. 

Fakeup can be applied to treat dry patches:

For girlies with dry, sensitive skin this could be a breakthrough! Use Fakeup to conceal these areas whilst providing instant hydrating relief.

The shades are super creamy and blendable and, for a change, i just KNOW that I will get use out of all 3 of these. I suppose, by definition, my official shade would be Medium, but I look forward to playing with Light and Deep to create different looks and help brighten up my tired face. I haven't been featuring my face very often on the blog recently and I hate it! I've just felt so tired and pale and have a couple of troublesome facial cysts so I just haven't felt like I wanted to share those with the world. It may well be all in my head but I hope Fakeup can help me find the guts to start doing makeup looks again soon! I really miss doing them.

How creamy are these swatches!! The texture is so smooth and the hydrating layer feels almost Vaseline-like when applied. I cannot WAIT to play with these on my face and bring you a full review as soon as time (and my face) allow. I'm also interested to see how it compares to my Boi-ing concealer. 

Thank you so much to the lovely ladies from BeneFit for inviting me to their lovely event. I was gutted that I had to miss out on the previous event for Fine One One, but this more than made up for it! I bumped into a few blogging faces that I hadn't seen in AGES and it was a pleasure to meet Lisa, Joanne and the team from BeneFit. 

Fakeup launches in BeneFit Boutiques and Counters from 30th March and costs £18.50, however you can get your mitts on it ahead of time at benefitcosmetics.co.uk

Are you excited about the launch of Fakeup?? What are your facial dramas?? What coverup products can't you live without?? 

Vintage Vision with Atrixo

Evening lovelies!

Just over a week ago my lovely friend Grace and i were invited along to the STUNNING Home House for some late afternoon tea and a vintage knitting class hosted by the beautiful ladies from The Vintage Patisserie and old school hand cream experts Atrixo

(Apologies for the grainy images. I captured most of the evening on my iPhone and the light wasn't brilliant.)

The event was held in the White Marquee and had been beautifully laid out like a vintage afternoon tea party. There were allsorts of thoughtful little touches and details. More than your average event and it was so much fun to be there! 

So while we ate sandwiches and cakes and sipped tea we were instructed by Catherine Hirst of catherinehirst.com as to how to knit a flower. Now i'm a crochet fanatic but have always struggled when it comes to knitting. I do feel like i've turned a bit of a corner after that night though and i've just about mastered the knit stitch haha. I must say Grace and i had a few giggles and a fair bit of stress while we tried to wrap our brains around it though. 

Not bad eh!!! I didn't get to finish my flower on the night as i was too busy gossiping and drinking tea, but i continued to practise once i got home!!

The Products:

Atrixo Enriched Moisturising Cream (£5.40 for 200ml)

With Camomile to pamper, sooth and soften hands. Restores smoothness to weathered hands

Atrixo Intensive Moisturising Cream (£5.40 for 200ml)

Glycerin enriched formula to intensively restore hands. Perfect in this harsh, cold weather! Forms a protective barrier against dryness and irritation.

Atrixo Regenerating Treatment (£5.46 for 100ml)

Delivers an intensive dose of skin conditioning ingredients including Panthenol. Nourishes and provides instant relief and smoothness.

Not everybody remembers Atrixo from old. I do, but there were a fair few at the event that were completely new to it. I just remember it being the hand cream in the green packaging from when i was little. Would you believe that Atrixo is now over 55 years old?? It's come a long way and now has a whole range of luxurious hand treatments to choose from in all shapes and sizes. I can't wait to put them to the test. I've got particular high hopes for the intensive protecting cream, as my hands can take a battering in the salon and behind the bar with water and chemicals! 

How cute is this little hand cream Victoria Sponge cake!! Almost too good to eat!!

What really impressed me about the evening was that everything was so well thought out and the little touches that had gone into everything, including the goodies we got to take home with us. Everyone i spoke to said it was one of the best events they had ever been to!! It was just so different from the events i usually go to and i'm sure nobody will forget who Atrixo are for a long time to come! 

How ADORABLE is this little teacup! I actually Squee'd when i pulled it out of my bag when i got home. I just loved all the thought that went into the evening. It was so great to see how an old school brand has evolved over 50 years and that we can still enjoy vintage pastimes and products in our crazily-paced modern lives. I will definitely be reviewing some of these products in the very near future. 

Who remembers Atrixo?? Are you a lover of all things vintage??

Texture and Embellishments for S/S'13 at Nails Inc

Good afternoon beauties!

A couple of weeks ago i was lucky enough to be invited along to see what heavyweight nail brand Nails Inc have in store for us in the new year. I've left it a little while before writing this post as i wanted to wear a few of the beautiful polishes i took home that night and include a few of the shades in order to showcase them properly. 

Polishes (l-r): Devonshire Row, Sloane Square, The Thames, Stonehenge, Richmond Terrace

On the night we got to ogle all the new releases for the next year and got to pick 5 polishes to take home and play with from a VERY tempting table along with their bestselling Caviar Topcoat as an extra treat. Check out London Lipgloss and Lily Melrose diving in (i'm not stalking them by the way, i only noticed after that it was them in the photo haha). There were also some lovely Nails Inc girlies working VERY hard to give us all stunning new manicures. 

For my own manicure on the night, i gravitated immediately towards the new Leather-Effect polishes which Nails Inc are releasing as gift sets (including swarovski crystals and skull decals) this month in time for Xmas priced at £19. The individual polishes will then be available from March 2013 priced at £12 each. 

The shade i chose for my own nails was Shoreditch Lane (Mulberry Leather Effect). They even stuck on a couple of little skullies for a good measure! 

I'm so surprised at how long this manicure lasted for! Even the skulls lasted a whole week at work and i actually had to physically remove them in the end, when the polish finally DID start to chip. But it was perfect for the best part of a week. That was with basecoat, 2 coats of the leather polish and nail glue to adhere the skulls. I will be buying this polish when it comes out. I absolutely love it!

Texture was a big theme throughout the evening. Here are some examples....

Uber pretty Feather Effect polishes (released March 2013), also available in a loose dust form to be used with other colour polishes. They almost look like sweets! 

These Concrete Effect polishes were released this month and this is definitely my favourite of all the polishes i took home with me. The shade is Stonehenge, but there are 3 other colours available including Marble Arch (a brilliant red), London Wall (a beigy nude shade that i am kicking myself for not picking up as well) and Monument (a flourescent lime shade). Again, 2 coats of this polish lasts a long time and it dries super quick!! 

One that i didn't get to road test was the Denim Effect polish which will be released in June 2013. I got a little confused when i walked in and saw all the jeans, but once i clapped eyes on the polish i got the idea. 

As we're in December now, i couldn't resist throwing in a bit of glitter for this post. As one of the polishes i picked up was Sloane Square, i decided to try it out last week.....

So my first hint of festive sparkle comes on top of the, not so festive, The Thames which is murky grey in the bottle, but leans slightly green once on the nails. I actually love the shade and i'm not surprised its one of their top sellers. Sloane Square brightens it up a treat though and the colour of the glitters compliments it perfectly! This mani also lasted a week! I'm on the same train i was on last week as i was when i did this manicure and i'm only just feeling the need to repaint. So impressed with the longevity of these polishes!! 

I could go on and on and on about everything i saw that night, but i'll let you discover the rest as 2013 unfolds. Needless to say it involves sparkles, crystals and some serious COLOUR!! You really can't fault Nails Inc for product innovation. They always come up with something spectacular! 

Are you a fan of texture on your nails?? What do you think of Nails Inc's latest innovations?? 

New Discoveries at Paul & Joe

Hello there beauty seekers!!

I was introduced to the wonderful world of Paul & Joe just recently. I'd heard the name and a little bit of info about the brand, but had never actually experienced their products for myself. This has now all changed and i thought i'd share my thoughts on the products with you!

I recently went along to an event at their store just off Sloane Square in London. There, i was treated to a bottle of Champagne (through a straw, which made it even better haha), and a masterclass from the lovely Craig-Ryan on how to create the perfect red lip. He actually changed my mind about red lips. I have struggled to find a shade of red to suit me, but he just seemed to KNOW and transformed me into a red lippy lover. 

As well as all the tips and tricks and treats i got to take home some amazing products! I can safely say i've now had the complete Paul & Joe experience and i'm totally a new fan! Here's what i came home with along with some swatches.....

Firstly, how GORGEOUS is Paul & Joe packaging?!?! I just love how dainty it is and all the little detailing that is on it. This is definitely a brand to have on display on your vanity! 

Nail Polish in Shade 014

I'm slowly coming around to glitter nail polish this year in the run up to Xmas, and this one is STUNNING!! I haven't had chance to wear it yet as i've been seriously sidetracked by my recent new Nails Inc additions (more on those to follow soon), but i'm really looking forward to rocking this over the party season! 

Lip Lacquer in Shade 10

How perfect is this shade for Autumn/Winter! This product is not technically a lip gloss, nor is it a lipstick. It's something in between. It does feel like a gloss on application but offers a much more opaque finish than most glosses. I've been using it over the top of my MAC Spirit lipstick to ad a bit of extra shine. 

Lipstick in Shade 205

These lipstick shades do have individual names, however they only show the shade number on the packaging so i can't give you much more than that at the moment. This lipstick feels lovely on. The shade is lovely and warm and also very on trend for the season. It's just a little bit on the sheer side for me. Don't get me wrong, i LIKE the effect it gives. Like a wash of colour for a more subtle, glowy hue. I just prefer my lippy to jump out at me more haha. 

Lip Pencil Duo in Shade 03

There are 2 ends to this lip pencil. Both are versions of the same shade, just that one is more pigmented than the other. The lesser of the two is designed for a more subtle effect, whereas the darker (which is pictured here) provides a stronger line. I have been using this pencil a LOT with shades such as MAC Spirit, Myth and Honeylove. It really makes nude lips stand out more. 

And here are the swatches for everything (except the polish of course). I've shown both shades of the lip pencil here followed by the lip lacquer, then the lipstick. These shades all complement each other really well. Credit to the Paul & Joe team for putting such thought into their goody bag! 

I don't think there's one product here that i won't enjoy using. There were some other beautiful shades in the range that i am DYING to get my hands on, including the amazing lipstick in 'Rouge' and 'Cherry' lip pencil that Craig-Ryan transformed my lips with on the night. 

You can snap up Paul & Joe's AMAZINGNESS at ASOS, BeautyBay and Selfridges as well as by popping into one of their stores. Prices are mid-range and quite similar to the likes of MAC so you won't feel TOO guilty to snap up a couple of pre-Xmas treats.

Have you tried Paul & Joe products?? What are your favourite shades?? Are you a Red lippy convert like me??

Getting in the Xmas Spirit with Motel!

Hello again!

I've had the maddest, busiest week i've had in a LONG time this week! I attended some AMAZING events, which i am only just now starting to be able to write up because, as well as events, having friends visiting from back home and work, i am actually bloody EXHAUSTED!! But it's been so much fun and i've seen some amazing and exciting things. So here's the first installment of my crazy week! 

I was invited to go along to the Motel Rocks Xmas Bloggers' Party on Monday night, held at Floripa bar in Shoreditch! I went along with Alice as we'd been to other events together that night also (more on them to follow later this week). I'm so glad i was able to go as i got to catch up with a few blogging faces that i hadn't seen for way too long! I also got to see the latest booty from Motel along with pretty makeup from MyFace cosmetics and some practical hair demonstrations from someone VERY exciting indeed........

 What I Wore......

Playsuit: River Island

Belt: Primark

Brooch: Came with playsuit

Eyes: Sleek Avoir La Peche Palette, Maybelline Gel Liner, 17 Peep Show Mascara

Lipstick: MAC Chatterbox

Hair Extensions: Halo

I had a good old rummage through all the clothes on display. I'm now totally obsessed with getting myself some velvet trousers as they looked sooooo warm and comfy and PERFECT for the party season. I also loved the long-sleeved playsuits that were on offer in several different colours, but i think my ultimate lust item from the evening has to be the studded biker jacket (see top left above).

First thing Alice and i did when we got there (after furnishing ourselves with a cocktail of course) was make a beeline for the photobooth. Gotta love a photobooth! There were all manner of Xmas and other themed fancy dress items to choose from. I went as Santa Claus/Dame Edna haha! Don't we look like a pair of NUTTERS ;P

Now HERE is the highlight of the night, and year, for me! I got to be face to face with one of my all time most respected hair gurus, Mr Lee Stafford HIMSELF!! As a stylist myself, i got a bit giddy and may have attacked him a little bit for this photo. I had all kinds of questions for him, but he was very busy making lots of ladies look gorgeous so we had to part (sob). 

Motel did a fantastic job on the night! I think we got there a little after the main action had died down, unfortunately, but there was still plenty to see and bloggers to chat to and PRESENTS! I went home with some adorably gift-wrapped So...? perfumes that i haven't had since i was a teenager! They're lovely! Thank you Motel Rocks! 

To see all the latest collections from Motel visit their website HERE! They've got all your Xmas party wear requirements sorted! I think i'll be ordering that playsuit in the not too distant future!