Summer shades for your nails

Recently I have stopped painting my nails in favour of having one of Jessica's 'Geleration' manicures. They're really great and are chip resistant, lasting for about 2 weeks. Although they are not as damaging to your nails as Acrylic or Gel nails, I still like to have a bit of a break from them.

I also use this as a good excuse to dig out all my polishes and have a change of colour. I must admit, for ease I do generally tend to stick to either a french manicure polish or a very dark brown, however with the lovely sunshine over the last few days I have been experimenting with some brighter colours to match my summer wardrobe.

Like with most beauty products, I am obsessed with buying nail varnish and love stocking up whenever I hit the shops. So I thought I'd share with you my top ten summer shades. Most are available either online or at the major drugstores.

Just to add, before painting your nails it's always best to prep them by applying a base coat, this will not only allow a smoother application but will also help prevent nail discolouration. If your nails are already slightly stained then try soaking them in lemon juice and buffing them gently with a buffer. Buffing will also remove any natural ridges on the the nail. I love Nails inc polishes and use both their 'Soho Silk' base coat and 'Miracle' nail buffer-which is both effective and pretty! After painting I seal the polish with a strengthening top coat, such as Nails inc 'Albert Bridge' or the amazing Seche Vite top coat, which also dries varnish in seconds, so is perfect if you're forever painting your nails just as you're about to leave the house (like me!).

1. Nails by Topshop in 'Paint it on'

2. Nails inc in 'Cadogan Gardens'

3. Nails inc in 'Electric Avenue'

4. Chanel Le Vernis in 503 'Inattendu'

5. Creative Nail Design in 521 'Tropic Coral'

6. Nails inc in 'Atomic' by Fabulous

                                     

7. Creative Nail Design in 348 'Hot Pop Pink'

8. Revlon Nail Enamel in 'Pineapple Fizz'

9. Nails inc in 'Omp!' by Fabulous

10. Creative Nail Design in 365 'Toxic Perfection'

Happy painting,

Olivia xxx

Mac presents Hey Sailor!

I have long been a fan of Mac make-up, which means I am always keen to see their limited edition collections. In preperation for summer they have launched their fun and beautifully packaged Hey Sailor collection-one which won't look out of place in your summer clutch-and I love it.

The red lipstick just speaks for itself and may well be a hot competitor for the very popular 'Lady Danger' lipstick, whilst the navy blue eye make-up is a brighter and more playful alternative to your evening smokey eyes.

Here are just a few of my favourites...

Lipstick in 'Red Racer'
£14

Bright, fun and seriously sexy. A great shade that can be worn night and day. Even better with a tan and bronzed make-up. Add a slick of gloss in for an evening and use a red liner to stop the colour bleeding.

Nail Varnish in 'Vestral White'
£9

A brilliant white glossy nail varnish. A definite summer shade and one best worn on short, square nails on tanned hands and feet!

To the beach bronze body oil in 'Man Rays'
£15.50

Must have. A golden, shimmer oil to highlight those bronzed pins and décolletage.

Eye shadow in 'Nautical Navy'
£12.50

Navy eyeshadow. Perfect worn with big lashes for an evening look. Apply lightly near the corner of the eye and darken towards the outer eyelid. Blend upwards to the brow with a blending brush.

Pigment in 'Old Gold'
£17

A gold, shimmery pigment. Wear with the 'Nautical Navy' eyeshadow, applying to the corner of the eye and underneath the bottom lashes to brighten up eyes and add sparkle.

High-Light powder
£21.50

Sweep this highlighter along cheekbones for a gentle, pinky-coral sheen. It's gentle hint of colour is perfect for the day when you want a fresh, wide-eyed look. Use an eyeshadow brush and sweep under the brow to accentuate the brow arch.











Olivia xxx

Brighten up your wardrobe with this season's candy colours

If you are tired of looking through a wardrobe that's dull and drab or feel like you need to add a pop of colour to your collection in preparation for summer then it's definitely worth investing in some of this season's beautiful and on trend pastels and candy colours.

Whether it's by bagging yourself some bright and attention-grabbing staple items, think colourful jeans and jackets, or choosing a select few 'stand out' accessories to give a new lease of life to your favourite outfits, it's guaranteed to get you in the mood for summer. And not only that, but it's a great excuse to try out some new shades of blusher and lippy to tie in with your new buys.

Here I have picked out a few of my favourite finds. I have tried to include something for everyone, so from the ultra brave to the colour shy and for those who want to spend just a little or a lot.

Enjoy!

Olivia xxx

Zara's gone all Black & Gold!

As metallic jeans and jumpers become all the rage, Zara gives us a fab range of clothes and accessories in black and gold. Perfect for the party season, I think everybody loves black, it is one of the most flattering colours, and what better way than to jazz it up with a dash of gold. Visit the Zara website for prices.


Music Courtesy of NickNova on Soundcloud

Hope you enjoyed,

Olivia xxx

What's in my make-up bag

Delving into my make-up bag is like delving into Mary Poppins carpet bag. There are things in there which I didn't even know existed. However after much rummaging around I have selected four of my current favourite items. So here they are...

1.) MAC  Mineralize skinfinish in Soft and Gentle- This looks lovely when applied to the cheekbones on top of your usual bronzer/blusher. It really highlights and adds definition.

2.) YSL Ombres Duo Lumieres Eyeshadow in 1- I bought this eyeshadow last Christmas because I just loved the bronze shadow. It is a gorgeous alternative to using black and grey colours when wanting to achieve the smoky eyed look. It can be blended together with the white for a more daytime bronzed sheen, or apply the dark more heavily on the outer eyelid and under your lower lashes, for a more dramatic evening look. Apply the white shadow to the very corners of the eyelid to brighten.

3.) MAC Prep+Prime Skin base visage- This cream should be applied to clean skin prior to applying make-up. It is ideal for creating a lovely, even smooth base which will allow for a better overall finish. It contains small, reflective pigments which catch the light, giving your skin a soft glow.

4.) Shu Uemura Eyelash Curlers- The best eyelash curlers I have ever used. The end.

Hope you enjoyed the sneek peek into my make-up bag, I will do it again, looking at some different items soon!

Olivia xxx

A glance at Topshop's SNO skiwear collection

From fab jackets to stylish faux fur headwear, this years SNO collection at Topshop is as good as ever. Featuring a range of classic styles in white and black, with a dash of yellow thrown in for those of you who want to bring a bit of sunshine to the slopes!

All the items below can be purchased online from the Topshop website.

Get Festive with the Top Christmas Beauty Buys of 2011

It is November and so finally I can start talking about Christmas!

Although I shall try not to overdo it...

I thought I'd start by mentioning some of the festive beauty treats, currently hitting the shelves.

Chanel's Christmas Collection has launched and this year it features a new eye palette, Les 4 Ombres "Tentation Cuivree", offering two light and two dark shades, in bronze and rose colours. For a seductive evening look, wear them damp, creating a smokey-eyed effect, for a daytime look, wear dry and blended together. Although it isn't necessarily a bargain at £35, it will last you a long time and so is definitely worth splashing out on.

Meanwhile, Mac is turning all glitter and ice, as it launches its holiday collection. My favourite is Dazzlesphere!, with mini kits for lips, eyes and nails. Packaged in clear, bauble-like spheres, they are ideal Christmas gifts or unique tree decorations with an added bonus! The colours range from cool silvers to warming bronzes, and at just £25.50 each, they are well worth it.

If it's the perfect rouge lipstick you're looking for, try YSL's Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre in Pur Hellios. A festive shade, great for the Christmas party or for brightening up a winter outfit. They retail at £22.50 and are available in a variety of different colours. This shade shall sit alongside Mac's Lady Danger in my make up bag.

 For tips on how to wear your red lipstick, watch this video with Sali Hughes , the Guardian's beauty expert...

                                                                                                                                                                            

If you're not feeling brave enough for vixen lips, then red nail varnish could do the trick. This Christmas duo from Illamasqua 'Untold & Ruthless', can be worn individually or applied together for a more glitzy evening look. Give those talons some power and passion with these fab polishes. At £20 I can justify the price, knowing I'll be getting a set of polishes which are long lasting and remarkably chip resistant.

I am a self confessed addict of Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess body oil, so was delighted to find that Guerlain have brought out something similar for Christmas. Meet Vol de Nuit Powder Spray. It is based on the scent of the original perfume, which was launched in 1933, but it has been relaunched with a twist. The packaging is a more glamorous version of the original and contains a light pigmented powder, which when sprayed on the skin leaves a shimmer. £49.50 for 17.5g.

Each Christmas I always end up buying something from Urban Decay's holiday collection, and this year will be no different. The 2011 collection is as good as ever and I have already set my eyes on the long awaited, Book of Shadows IV and the Sparkling Lickable Body Powder, yes that's right it is edible! The Book of Shadows are always popular but this edition tops the lot, featuring a mini speaker so you can plug in your phone and listen to music as you beautify yourself...genius. The book features 16 shadows in a variety of shades, and includes 10 exclusives, available only in this palette. It also features an eyeshadow primer, black liquid eyeliner and mascara, for just £46. If this isn't enough, the palette comes complete with a 'Get The Look' QR card, which offers step by step tutorials on how to use the eye shadows to achieve different looks.

The Sparkling Lickable Powder is also amazing. Although it has existed long before now, the new snazzy packaging hasn't. The new, smaller and sleeker boxes make these perfect gifts. Available in two flavours/scents, honey (golden shimmer) and marshmallow (silver shimmer), costing £14 each. They're an exciting alternative to your standard shimmer body dust and the fact you will be edible makes them all the more fun!                                           

There's nothing better than soaking in the bath on a wintry Christmas evening, and Philosophy do the best and most delicious smelling bubble baths. I love the Gingerbread one, but if you want to get into the festive spirit, then Tinsel Town, which has a berry scent, is perfect. Lovely packaging always wins me over, and the box for this one is no exception. It is £14 for the full sized bottle, or alternatively get the set, which includes a smaller bottle and a high shine lip gloss for just £16. Again if you're stuck for gift ideas, these make ideal presents.

I hope this has given you some festive ideas for gifts and beauty treats for you and your loved ones! Just remember they may not be around for ever so it's best to snap them up quick and in time for Christmas!

Bye for now,

Olivia xxx