It's Snow Joke: Create a Christmas Themed Festive Nail Art

Okay so it's not snowing yet but give it a month or two and we'll have our mandatory two inches. Whilst we wait however we can get into the Winter spirit with these snowy nails.

To create you will need a striping brush, a spotting tool, red, blue, white, orange nail varnish and a black nail art pen. The blue pen by Barry M can be used to touch up any mistakes.

1. First pain your nails in a blue shade for the sky.
2. Next use a striping brush to paint a medium sized white blob for the snowmans body and a smaller blob for his head. Grab the spotting tool dip it in the white and slowly pat it onto your nail, alternating the size of the snow by using the whole tool and half of it for smaller flakes
3. Once your snowman body is dry you will need to paint on the detail. Use the striping tool to paint a small red scarf on each snowman and the black nail art pen to paint his eyes and buttons
4. No snowman is complete without his nose! Use the striping tool to very carefully add a small line for a carrot just under the eyes.
5. To complete the look use the black pen to add a little hat to your snowman. This point is completely optional and you could have a few snowmen with and a few without. 

The Dogs Trust Collaborate with Models Own to create a Limited Edition Festive Nail Varnish: 10 to giveaway!

With Christmas almost over there are many families that spoil their children with lots of new toys, games and perhaps even a new puppy. Sadly once the Christmas period is over and the novelty factor wears off children often get bored with their new pet, and with the parents unwilling to look after it many get abandoned.

To help stop this sad tradition 35 years ago the Dogs Trust came up with the slogan, "A dog is for life not just for Christmas". They petition tirelessly to raise money to support animals that are abandoned and as part of this pledge they have collaborated with  Models Own to create a Limited Edition nail varnish.

The golden varnish is a fun way for supporter to make their own paws sparkle this Christmas whilst showing support for a worthy cause. The activity coincides with their latest #pressforpaws campaign where the charity is asking people to think "Am I in the position to socialise, train and look after a dog for the rest of its life."

The varnish is a fantastic colour and one coat is more then enough for full coverage. The gold really sparkles in the light and is a fantastic colour for the festive season. To show my support to the Dogs Trust I created my own paw design.

 Dogs Trust cares for over 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs each year. This Christmas, staff will be working around the clock looking after the 1,500 dogs that are based in their 18 rehoming centres across the country at any one time.

The limited edition Dog Trust Models Own varnish will retail at £5.50 (plus £1 p&p) from Dogs Trust. Remember, they are for human paws only, as dog paws are perfect the way they are!

As part of this launch I have 10 nail varnishes to give away. To take part simply enter via the Rafflecopter. Prize draw ends on 26th January 2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How to do: Cherry Delight Nail Art

They're not just great for putting in pies, they also look really cute on your nails too. What am I talking about? Cherries of course!

To recreate this really simple nail art first paint your nails in a sheer white. I used Primark's white nail varnish which came as part of a Glitter 3D manicure set. I appreciate white isn't the easiest colour to get hold of but you'll find it in a french manicure set.

Next get a spotting tool and create two cherry shapes on each nail. Apply more colour as required but try not to flood the tool or it may smudge.

Finally get a light green to create the stem. Dip your striping tool into the varnish then slowly paint upwards from each cherry and meet in the middle. It's simple as 1,2,3 you're done!

Win a fantastic Tints of Nature hair dye kit

 Hair dye is great for transforming your look or touching up any grey hairs, but too much use can sometimes have an adverse effect on the hair.

Many hair dyes contain Ammonia or other harmful chemicals which works by opening the hair particle to allow the dye to nestle in. Despite its benefits in aiding the dying process it smells horrible, sets sensitive scalps on fire and leaves hair prone to long lasting damage.

Tints of Nature is a range of permanent hair colour and care products that aim to use up to 60% certified organic ingredients eliminating the need for Ammonia.

The brand has followed its ethos of providing healthy hair care for over 20 years providing constantly high performance results with brand new packaging that are as recyclable as the ones they replace.

A printed hair swatch on the back of each pack makes it easier to choose the right colour for you.

The recommended retail price of Tints of Nature Permanent Colour, including Highlight and Lightener kits, is £8.99 per pack. The supporting care range included shampoos, conditioners and treatments are priced from £6.99.

Made in the heart of the New Forest and sold in over 40 countries throughout the world, Tints of Nature is

available from organic and health stores, selected department stores and independent pharmacies, or at Tints of Nature. 

Thanks to Tints of Nature I have 3 to give away to my readers.Each prize will include a hair colour of the winners choice, some care products and a mixing bowl worth over £25. To enter simply follow the Rafflecopter instructions. Giveaway ends on the 25th January 2014. Good luck.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Kardashian launch a fantastic new makeup range Kardashian Beauty: Touch Tones Eyeshadow review

They have a hit TV show and a clothes range, now the most talked about family on the planet have launched their own beauty range.

Kardashian Beauty, the brainchild of the Kardashian family is now being sold in Lipsy stores and online. The range has a full selection of makeup products from lipglosses to false lashes and eyehsadow palettes. With products starting around £7 the range is great for the pocket and comes in really attractive shades and styles.

For the purposes of this review I am testing Kardashian Beauty Touch Tones Gradient Eye Colour set in Mirage.

The set comes with 8 colours consisting of two matte, five satin and one intense sparkle. I love how sparkly most of the shades are and how just by looking at the palette I can see the amount of shimmer and pigmentation. On swatching the satin shades maintained their sparkle but the colours weren't as intense as I would have expected. The matte shades are very faint but would be great as a eyeshadow primer. Finally the intense sparkle shadow has a fantastic glimmer which really twinkles in the light, almost like diamonds.

For £13 you get 8 eyeshadows and two double ended brushes which is fantastic value. The colours can be worn alone or blended together to create a fantastic look for a night out. For this review I blended a cream eyeshadow onto the lid, intense sparkle brown on the brow bone and a matte white just under the brow.

I give it 4/5.

Get yours here

Advantages

• Fantastic range of shades with a eyecatching sparkle
• With 8 colours the palette is really good value
• The highest priced item in the range is £15 which means you can treat yourself without worrying about spending too much

Disadvantages

• At the moment Kardashian Beauty is only available at Lipsy online and in stores

Turn back the time: Win a fantastic Stem Cell recovery drink

With images of celebrities like 56 Madonna looking better then she did in her 30s it does make us mere mortals wonder how do they do it?

With so many lotions and potions on the market how do we choose the right one for us? They all claim to remove wrinkles and fine lines by up to 50% but most of the time do very little.

With science progressing all the time we no longer have to rely on creams to turn back the clock. 

Start your new year off with a bang with the revolutionary new FTN Stem Cell product which comes in Citrus or Berry flavour. FTN is the worlds first wholefood nutraceutical stem cell recovery drink. Taken everyday the potent blend of five key ingredients has been proven to work with body's own natural repair and renewal systems - allowing the body to slow down the ageing process, speed up recovery times from training and also protect against degenerative diseases.

Completely natural and free of any chemical or stimulants the unique properties of the blend have already been documented in five published independent research papers. The product is already favoured by superstars like Sir Elton John and his partner as fans along with model/actress Agnes Deyn! 

Ingredients include: 

• Green Tea extract helps support the health of the digestive and respiratory system and enhances the proliferation of cells within the skin
• Wild blueberry extract further promotes maintenance of healthy brain, cardiovascular, vision, joint and urinary tract function
• Vitamin D supports adult stem cell renewal and helps these cells become immune cells for naturally fighting infection

Buy FTN online here. Currently stocked at Win Naturally, the product will be available at Holland and Barrats and Boots in the new year.

Thanks to FTN I have three of these fantastic products to giveaway! Each prize will last for a month so you have the chance to decide if it's working for you. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the RaffleCopter. Giveaway ends on the 21/01/2014.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go behind the scenes with Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Lipstick

Tried and Tested:Bourjois Happy Light concealer in Ivory review

Bourjois Happy Light concealer is part of the new range brought out by Bourjois. Designed to even out and smooth the skin without masking it, the Happy Light concealer gives a rested and luminous finish to dark circles and blemishes.

The concealer has a creamy consistency that blends in easily to the skin. I sometimes find concealers are way to light for even my fair skin, but felt this masked my imperfections well without making me look like a panda. It has a slight light diffusing effect but not as much as highlighters like YSL Touche Eclat.

It comes in a handy little compact case with a mirror which is perfect for tucking away into your makeup bag.


The product lasts a couple of hours without powder, so it's not one of the most long lasting products, however I do find that most concealers don't last very long anyway.

Overall a nice little product that blends nicely and gives good coverage.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Blends in easily
• Gives good coverage
• Good match to my skin tone

Disadvantages

• Coverage only lasts a few hours before it starts to fade

Tried and Tested: Avon Diamond Sparkles eyeliner Metallic Blue review

Avon Diamond Sparkles Eyeliner in Metallic blue has a rich metallic blue with a hint of sparkle. The colour appears light blue on the brush but once applied appears to be more of a turquoise shade.

The eyeliner has a really thin brush which makes for easy applying if you don't have a steady hand. I did find that the colour was quite thin on parts and it took a few attempts to completely draw the line as it came out really thin.

I did think the eyeliner wasn't quite as sparkly as the product describes itself and the colour was more matte then shimmery.

I wore this with a turquoise eyeshadow and felt the eyeliner made my eyes stand out.

I give it 2/5

Get yours for £6 at Avon

Advantages

• Can be worn alone or with eyeshadow
• Has a slight sparkle

Disadvantages

• The colour does apply quite thinly and it will take several attempts to get full coverage
• The eyeliner isn't as shimmery as you would think

Tried and Tested: Rimmel Lip Lacquer in Stellar review

It's not quite a lipstick or a lipgloss it's Rimmel's Apocalips Lip Lacquer. With the rich colour of a lipstick and the shine of a lip gloss it has the best of both worlds.

Available in 13 shades, Rimmel's Apocalips is bound to have a colour to suit you whether you're fair or dark.

For the purpose of this review I am testing Rimmel's Apocalips in Stellar, a gorgeous pinky red shade. The product comes in a long tube which has a real resemblance to lip gloss with a long wand for application. There is enough product on just one sweep of the brush to cover all my lips and even more if I need to touch up any areas. The colour is so rich it really warms up my skin tone and it has a real glossy sheen to it that most lipsticks just don't have.

Unlike lipgloss I didn't think the lip lacquer was sticky, yet it has the thicker consistency of a lipstick. The only real downside would have to be the length of time of which it stays on. Within about a hour virtually all of the lip lacquer had worn off, which is disappointing, however this may be down to drinking shortly after applying.

I really love the intense colour and gloss of Rimmel's Lip Lacquer and feel it works really well as a combi product.

I give it 4/5

Get yours for £6.49

Advantages

• It has the qualities of both a lipstick and a lipgloss which makes for the perfect combi product
• Comes in 13 shades
• Has a gorgeous gloss and intense colour
• Warms up your face

Disadvantages

• The longevity of the product really lets it down

Win a fantastic tea time prize

With the long cold winter nights upon us there's nothing better then snuggling up on the sofa with a good book. Well that and a bar of chocolate.

Today I've got a fantastic tea time prize up for grabs - a book of Love Comes Knocking and a bar of the new Cadbury's Dairy Milk Winter Wonderland. If you're feeling Christmassy this yummy bar of milk and white chocolate Christmas Trees will have you in heaven.

If you love romantic stories then you'll really find yourself rooting for Ben in this witty tale. Love Comes Knocking is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of a big guy trying to find love in a image conscious society. Follow Ben Dover as he embarks on the journey of his life to find 'the one.'

I based the book loosely on a old friend who had many hilarious incidents with women. Not to worry all is well with women in his world now :)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Budget Mascara That Will Define Your Eyes: George Faux Lash False Lash Effect Mascara

George Faux Lash is a budget makeup brand mascara claiming to give that ever desirable false lash effect.

With a curved brush it almost eliminates the  need for eyelash curlers. The brush bristles are soft and don't scratch my eye and fit nicely into the curve of the lashes with the curled brush. I did think it was slightly more difficult to apply to the bottom lashes and had to turn the brush around to get some product on. The brush did feel slightly dry and could have done with more product being available so I didn't have to keep applying more.

There was no clumping and my lashes fanned out really nicely with a slight curve. With its curved brush and slight curl effect it could be considered the cheaper sister of Dior's Iconic Overcurl mascara.

I'm really quite impressed with this mascara, and at only £3.00 it's on of the best budget beauty boys. Grab yours here 

I give it 4/5

Advantages

• The unique curved brush means there is less need for eyelash curlers
• Doesn't clump lashes
• Lashes are fanned out and lengthened 
• Fantastic budget buy

Disadvantages

• At £3 you can hardly quibble!

Are you struggling to control your flyaway hair? Envy Dual Fix 12 may be the answer

Envy Dual Fix 12 is a professional salon treatment that helps repair all skin types. With a perfect balance of silk proteins and Keratin Amino acids the treatment targets damaged areas and attracts moisture to give long lasting results.

Like it's name the product claims to have 12 fantastic long lasting effects:

• Amazing shine
• Helps repair damage
• Weightless silk effect
• Easier detangling
• Helps rehydrate hair
• Improves styling and blow dry results
• Thicker fuller feel
• Helps reduce frizz
• Rejuvenates tired colour
• Hair feels stronger
• Reduces the appearance of Split ends
• Last for weeks

The product has a eye catching container with bright colours that really attract the eye.

The Envy Dual Fix is a multi functional products that can be applied in two ways. You can do a monthly intensive treatment, applying Envy Dual Fix 12 from roots to ends on dry, unwashed hair, rough dry with a hair dryer until completely dry. Rinse thoroughly then shampoo twice and condition as normal. Alternatively you can use the product regularly with your normal hair routine, leaving the product on for one minute after shampooing and conditioning.
 
With so many positive effects there was no stopping me from trying this product. On my first use I shampooed and conditioned my hair before leaving the product on for one minute and rinsing. The product is expressed in a foam like consistency and has a pleasant citrus smell. I did feel it made my wet hair less stringy then normal and quite soft.

Generally my hair type is normal so I'm unable to say if it's re-hydrated my hair but I did think it gave my hair a little volume boost that I wouldn't normally have.

I do like Envy Dual Fix 12 and think it has a lot of potential. Many of its effects are something that will probably come with use over a longer period of time and that's something to certainly look forward to.

At £19.95 some may consider it quite a expensive purchase but if you consider the potential hair revitalising effects it's well worth the investment. The Envy range also consists of a Gentle Cleansing Shampoo and Perfect Blowdry.

Get the Envy Dual Fix 12 here

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Has a dual use - either as a regular treatment or monthly intensive treatment
• Has a large number of effects that will help improve the condition of your hair 
• Has a pleasant smell

Disadvantages

• The only real disadvantage that may put people off is the price

*This was kindly sent to me to test as a sample

The perfect eyeshadow for Christmas: The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes in 23

With Christmas literally around the corner it's time to think up the perfect makeup routine for the annual Christmas party.

The Body Shop Shimmer Palette in 23 has a lovely combination of purples and pearly white to create the perfect smokey eye.

The shades from bottom to top (left to right) are 1. Velvet Plum, 2. Candy Pink, 3. Pearly White and 4. Orchid Purple.

You can take the cubes out and use individually or altogether as a whole. They even come with little lids so they don't get damaged if you choose to use them separately.

I love the sparkle in each shade and how they look when swatched. I applied the shades dry and did feel that a few like the Candy Pink were very light and hard to see which is disappointing. The shades go really well together and have a lovely shimmer.

The Shimmer Cubes are also available in Warm, Blue/Grey, Pink and Green.

At £16.00 the Body Shop Shimmer cubes are quite pricey but you can use them individually or together so considering the prices of individual Body Shop eyeshadows they're actually a bargain!

Get your Body Shop Shimmer Palette 

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• The shades are quite pigmented
• The cubes can be used individually and taken out of the quad box or used together for a smokey eye

Disadvantages

• Some colours don't appear as strongly as they appear when swatched
• At £16.00 it could be considered pricey to those who want to save the pennies. 

*This was kindly sent for me to test as a sample

Meet The Body Shop's White Musk Older Sister: Body Shop White Musk Smoky Rose

If you grew up in the 90's there was one perfume that stood out amongst the rest and that was the Body Shop's White Musk.

Now it's back and with a sexier, grown up feel relaunched as White Musk Smoky Rose. The Body Shop describe it as a: daring and mysterious fragrance, featuring a cruelty-free musk with notes of black smoky rose and tobacco flower'. 

The bottle is quite simple and the scent comes in both Eau De Toilette and Eau De Parfum. 

The scent is very deep and whilst the first notes are quite fruity I did feel the tobacco flower really weighed it down  so it didn't remain as fruity as I would have liked. It does have a very grown up feel to it and would be great for a meal out or a formal event.

Whilst the scent is not my cup of tea, it would be great for those who prefer perfumes more muskier then sweet.

What do you think of the new relaunch?

I give it 3/5

Buy your White Musk Smoky Rose 

Advantages

• Has a grown up feel
• Great for formal or evening events

Disadvantages

• For those who prefer sweeter scents this may not be the perfume for you

Glam up your look for the Office Christmas Party with Barry M Glamour Puss Eyeshadow and blush palette

 Barry M Glamour Puss is one of two new compacts launched by Barry M for the winter season.

With six eyeshadows and a blusher each compact is designed to reflect a certain look or style. For the purpose of this review I'm testing Glamour Puss Eyeshadow and blush palette, a compact with colours designed to reflect the sexy inner goddess waiting to burst out.

The compact comes with a mirror and two double ended eyeshadow brushes for easy application.

From left to right I swatched the white, blue, purple, green, brown and grey eyeshadows. Each shade has a lovely shimmer to it, especially the blue, purple and green tones. I did feel once swatched the colours did change slightly and became a lot lighter then they appear in the palette.

Using the blue, purple, white and grey eyeshadows I designed a style that would look great on a night out. To recreate this simply follow the directions in the picture.

The blusher is a lovely addition to what could be considered mainly a eyeshadow palette. The blusher sweeps on really well and really brightens my complexion. Despite being quite a deep pink I don't think it is too heavy on my skin, and most importantly I don't end up looking like a clown. The effect is very much like the rosy glow you get after going for a run or being out in the cold too long which is great for that natural effect.

I love the versatility of this palette and how I can create so many different looks with the various eyeshadows. Each shade is really pigmented and once applied gives more of a shimmery effect. The blusher is a nice addition and means you can travel light when you're out and about.

Advantages

• With six eyeshadows and a blusher you can create lots of different looks and save a bit of money in the process
• Each eyeshadow is highly pigmented and gives your eyes a lovely shimmery effect
• The blusher is really natural looking
• This compact product means you can travel light

Disadvantages

• A few of the colours don't really go well together which is quite disappointing

Reduce oily skin by using Barry M Flawless Matte foundation

Barry M's Flawless Matte Finish is the latest foundation in the Barry M range.

With a oil free formula, the new Flawless Matte finish claims to be super blendable and hydrating to the skin with unique skin healing properties. It comes in five shades in a opaque bottle with a easy to use dispenser pump. The opaqueness of the bottle means you can easily see how much product is left in the bottle.

I am testing one of the lightest shades, Ivory to match my pale skin tone.

The foundation is really light and matched my skin tone really well so there are no obvious orange streaks. The product gave good even coverage and even helped to mask oily patches so there was less need to cover with powder.I did still need to use a concealer to cover dark circles so I would say the coverage was medium rather then heavy.

Whilst I can't say if the foundations skin healing properties help wtih problematic skin, my skin did feel dewy and natural like I wasn't wearing any foundation.

With a natural effect and a slight glow, Barry M's Flawless Matte foundation performs well to provide an even coverage.

I give it 3.5/5

Get yours for £5.99 at Boots 

Advantages

• Helps to mask oily patches with a oil free formula
• Blends well
• Even coverage
• Reasonably priced

Disadvantages

•  It doesn't completely conceal blemishes so you will still need to use concealer for things like dark circles
• With limited shades available those with darker skin may struggle to find a shade that matches their skin tone.

Celebrate Christmas 2013 in style with Furniture Plus fantastic dining sets

With only four weeks till Christmas the pressure is on to get everything ready in time. Whilst many may think the focus of Christmas are the presents or the Queen's Speech many forget that it is the image of family gathering around a dinner table that really represents the idea of Christmas. The festive season brings family together after what may have been a long and hard year, to eat a delicious meal of turkey and all the trimmings. So what if your dining table isn't up to scratch? Don't let your cousin and your nan sit on a cold garden chair this Christmas, splurge up your dining room and make Christmas 2013 one to remember.

Furniture Plus is a online retailer with a gorgeous range of quality oak and pine furniture. Whether you need to remodel your bedroom or your living room you're bound to find something to suit you. There is a extensive range of dining tables and sets available from dark walnut to Provence Oak. Whether you want a table that is suitable for just four people or a table which you can extend out when family come over for Christmas you will find at Furniture Plus every option is covered. If storage space is tight some tables even come with handy drawers to store place mats and even sauce bottles. Prices are very competitive with stand alone tables prices varying from £249 to £1,098 and the table and chair sets from £819 to £1400.

With a genuine oak table to place your turkey on you and the rest of your family and friends will be able to remember Christmas 2013 with a smile. Unlike painted wood products like MFI, genuine wood products are very sturdy and you won't get effects like chipped paint. Make a investment today at Furniture Plus and make your dining room stand out for years to come.

*This is a sponsored post

Maybelline Lumi Touch Concealer Review

Maybelline Lumi Touch is a highlighting concealer that claims to use a gel based formula to diffuse light and highlight as it conceals.

Available in 6 shades the Lumi Touch is allergy tested, noncomedogenic, suitable for sensitive skin and for all skin types.

The concealer uses a twist cap to dispense the product and I initally had to twist it about 15 times before any product emerged. Once you manage to get the concealer to appear you will need to twist it quite slowly as it dispenses a lot of product each time you twist it.

There is a buildable brush extension at the end of the pen which you can use to build up the product. Rather then using the brush I dotted the product on then used a concealer brush to apply.

I chose the lightest shade in 01 Ivory and I really liked how close to my skin shade it was. 

I have quite noticeable dark circles and felt that whilst the concealer does lighten them somewhat I don't feel they were completely eliminated, especially on the right side. I also used this on a small blemish and it concealed probably about 60% of it.

I don't think the Lumi Touch has amazing staying power, but it does last a few hours. If you wear this during the day and go out in the night you will have to reapply as it seems to completely sink into the skin.

If you have dry skin you may need to moisturise before use to avoid the product sinking into the dry skin and making it stand out. 

The product works well as a highlighter on its own but you won't get the shimmery effect from a typical highlighter.

I give it 3/5

Advantages

• Works as a highlighter or concealer
• Effective on light dark circles or blemishes
• Quite light
• Has a brush applicator so you can pack light for travelling 
• Good for sensitive skin

 Disadvantages

• Not suitable for heavy dark circles or blemishes
• May not work very well with very dry skin

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation review

Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation is a semi matte foundation that has a unique combination of apricot, melon, apple and ginger to give a perfectly glowing complexion and toned skin.

I like the unique feel of this foundation which uses fruit therapy for a radiance boost.

Claiming to last up to 16 hours the Light Vanilla shade is both light and soft on my skin. I liked how close to my skin tone shade 51 was, it blended in really easily and didn't leave me looking orange. Unlike some foundations my face didn't feel sticky after use and I felt it did even my skin tone out somewhat.

Whilst the foundations primary aim is to add radiance to the skin I don't feel I achieved as much of a dewy glow as I do with other foundations. Rimmel's Wake Me Up Foundation is a good example. Overall the result is quite flat, which is great for thsoe who just want to achieve a matte complexion.

I didn't feel there was a overly fruity smell despite the ingredients, which surprised me as other reviews reported it as smelling very fruity. 

Despite evening out my complexion I did still need concealer to cover up any blemishes as the consistency isn't heavy enough to conceal.


The product does last well into the evening, however I don't feel it quite achieves its 16 hour claim, as by that point the product would have faded and lost much of its effect.

Bourjois Healthy Mix is a average foundation that gives a matte finish.

I give it 3/5

Get yours for £9.99 at Superdrug

Advantages

• Evens out the complexion
• Gives a matte finish
• Each shade is very closely matched to the skintone it was intended for

Disadvantages

• I don't feel it achieves as much of a radiance finish as I would have expected