Nail Varnish Collection 2017

I have just (and I mean in the last five minutes) finished going through my nail varnishes and having a bit of a sort and clear out. I used to keep them in a tub, but I didn't really like that, so I am planning to buy one of those big plastic mason jars (or something along those lines) to keep them in, but for now they're just on my desk.

However, I don't really talk about nail varnish very much and I thought that it might be nice if I shared my collection with you. First of all, you must know that I am absolute crap when it comes to nails. I'm not one of those people with beautiful long nails who does all kinds of fancy nail art, my nails are short and horrible and weak (so they never grow) and I don't even paint them as much as I would like - blummin school rules. So my collection is based on me being an absolute cheapskate and novice, and not because I'm trying to show off - there is absolutely nothing to show off about!

So first up are some of the first nail varnishes that I ever got. Father Christmas dropped these in my stocking years ago and I've kept them because I actually really like them. They're by a brand called Flutter (which I think is only available at Christmas?) and all of the colours are actually really nice and wearable. I really like the burgundyish colour, and I also wear the blue quite a bit because it's not too ostentatious for school. I have no idea what the names are, and I doubt that they are still available, but I kind of love em because they show where I came from.

Next up are my Rimmel nail varnishes. I actually love Rimmel polishes, they are probably my go to brand and the only one that I have ever tried in great depth. I especially love the Rita Ora festival ones (which are the three on the left). I have 878 (Roll In The Grass), 880 (Port-A-Loo-Blue) and 450 (Daisy Days). I basically lived in these three colours last summer, especially the yellow. They're really quick drying which is good because I'm super impatient and although they aren't particularly long lasting, they have that special one-stroke brush which is really thick, and I really like that. I then have a 405 (Loafer Love For You) and a 500 (Caramel Cupcakes), which is a great nude for school because it dries so fast and has a nice finish. Last of all, I tried out one of Rimmel's Super Gel range, in 021 (New Romantic). I wore this quite a lot last spring, those I wasn't particularly crazy about it.

I then have a couple of nudes which I have gotten from various Glossyboxes, a Ciate paint pot in Iced Frappe (which I have just used for the first time and so far, really like - fast drying and very opaque with one coat!), and a Revlon 705 in Gray Suede. I think that I've only used that one once, but I don't think that I was very impressed because it took ages to dry. However, I will be using it again because I can't really remember.

Then I have a couple of Maybelline polishes which I actually got in a set together last year I think. There are some crystals and a bright red. The red is actually really good, fast drying (you can really tell what I look for in a varnish cant you?) and a really strong colour. I have only used the crystals once or twice, but I never have any problems with them coming off, they stick pretty firmly.

Next I have two MUA ones which I was given. I think that these are literally £1 each, so you cant expect much from them. However, they do have a really nice range of colours, even if you have to use about 400 coats to be able to see them! I think I might buy a few other colours and give them a go, and let you know what I think!

Lastly, I just have two random ones, a red one that I was given and I have no idea what the brand is or what colour it is and I don't actually think I've ever used... and the other which is my only Barry M one, and I think I inherited from my sister and is some glitter particle thingys. If I ever get invited to a party, I think that this will become very appropriate!

Then in the way of top coats, I have three: the Revlon Diamond Top Coat, which takes agesss to dry, the Rimmel Super Gel Top Coat which gives you the gel effect and my favourite, the Barry M Basecoat, Topcoat and Nail Hardener. It's pretty bog standard but it does everything you want it too!

So that is my nail varnish collection, I know that it's not huge, I am just too impatient most of the time to make a good job out of my nails!

See you soon!

March 2017 Glossybox

Today I've got another little Glossybox post for you! I have to say, I am really excited about this one, there are lots of products that I've never tried before and look AMAZING!

The first thing that I received is this Sleek Eye and Cheek Palette in A Midsummer's Dream. I have heard so many amazing things about the brand Sleek, and I've always wanted to try some of their stuff. I know that their cheek and contour palettes are particularly raved about, but they don't actually stock Sleek in my Superdrug, so, I was very excited when I found this is my Glossybox. I think there were four shades that I could've chosen from, but I missed the email, so I just got sent this one by default. First of all, I absolutely love the packaging. It reminds me really strongly of NARS packaging. I love the big mirror and the fact that its magnetic. As for the actual palette, it contains two blushers and four eyeshadows. The eyeshadows look great, three really wearable matte nudes, and one amazing plummy bronzy shimmer that I cannot wait to try out! As for the blushers, I think that they may be a little dark for my skin tone, especially the more shimmery one. However, I am going to try them out regardless and I am really excited about this palette!

The next thing that I got, I am very excited to try but a little dubious about. It is this Got2b styling PRIMER. I am so super lazy when it comes to my hair, I wash it and bung it into a pony tale, and that it literally it. I also have really crazy curly hair which, to be honest, never really needs a huge amount of tending to because it really just does it's own thing. I think that the idea of this is to give your hair pliability and grip, as well as lasting control, all of which are supposed to make styling easier. I am trying a little harder at the moment to do more interesting things with my hair, so I am definitely going to give this a go, and I will let you know how I get on!

The next product in my Glossybox is the thisworks in transit camera close-up. Again, skincare is something that I am so lazy about, and since I've been putting in more effort, I've noticed a huge change. I never use a primer before doing my makeup (shock horror, right?) and that is how I am going to use this, and I can't wait to see if it changes anything. It's also meant to reduce redness, which believe me, can only be a good thing for me!

I was going to talk about this product last, but I don't want to end on a sad note, so I'm talking about it now instead! My least favourite thing in this months box is this FRUU.. Fruitilicious Coconut Lip Balm. My reservations about this have absolutely nothing to do with the actual product, and more with the fact that I hate the smell of coconut. I don't know what it is, it just makes me gag and I can't stand it. However, I'm sure that the brand make loads of other amazing lip balms which I am definitely interested in trying, especially as they are all PETA-certified cruelty-free and vegan friendly!

And last but my no means least is this oOlution Eye Love. Confession time again, I have never used an eye cream, but I am so excited about this. I have noticed recently that I've begun to get some pretty dark circles under my eyes, and I can't wait to see what happens if I give my eyes a bit more love! Plus, this has some great reviews, so I have pretty high hopes!


So that was everything that I received in my March Glossybox. As always, I really recommend Glossybox, its really cheap and give you the chance to try out loads of great new brands and products and discover some new favourites!

See you soon!

Unicorn Horn Makeup Brushes

I received so many lovely things for my birthday last week and I am so super grateful to all my friends and family for their thoughtful gift - I was spoiled rotten by everyone!

I have gone back and forth a lot on whether I wanted to do a 'What I Got For My Birthday' haul post, but I think that it would probably best if I don't do one. However, I will probably be talking a lot about what I got in upcoming posts (including this one), so if you're absolutely desperate to find out then you wont be too harshly deprived!

Today I am going to be talking about a gift that one of my friends got me that is possibly the most amazing invention in the history of the universe. Period.

Unicorn horn makeup brushes.

A little bit of context might actually be helpful here. I love unicorns (who doesn't?), and for my birthday, I decided that I just wanted to have a bit of fun with my friends and have a unicorn and dinosaurs themed evening. I don't know where it came from, to be honest, most of the inspiration was from Pinterest. Everyone got really into it and we ended up having a great time!

So, unicorn makeup brushes. Are there are words? I love makeup, and I'm really happy with the size and contents of my collection, but the one area that I have been seriously lacking for so long is makeup brushes. I have already used them (and trashed them) and they are absolutely amazing! They are really soft and easy to use and just the most fantastic things ever.

However, they didn't actually really come with a guide as to which brush did what, so I have kind of had to work it out myself based on what the internet says and what I think I will personally use them for. I have probably got this completely wrong, but oh well!

The first brush is the largest one that came in the set. I think that this is probably meant for blush, based on the size of it. However, I think that I will probably end up using it for powder, or maybe even bronzer. This one has got to be the softest of them all, I just want to constantly be stroking it!

The next brush is a stippling brush. I've never had one of these before, and I really liked it when I tried it. The only brush that I have ever really used for foundation is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, and I think this is actually quite similar in the job that it does. However, it's going to take me a little while to get the hang of it!







The next two are quite similar. They're both angled brushes, except that one is flat and angled and the other is more curved. I think the curved one is meant for blush, but I will be using it more for contouring because it is much thinner and I am a complete contour rookie. The flatter one (which probably is meant for contouring) I used for blush, and absolutely loved it.

The next brush is this fan brush. There's something about these types of brushes, they're just so aesthetically pleasing to look at, it makes me so happy. I think that this is good if you want a lighter, more natural looking highlight. When I tried it, it definitely wasn't as powerful or blinding as when I laden my highlight on with a trowel - but that's not a bad thing!



There are then two fluffy poofy ones, a smaller and a larger. The smaller one is good as an eyeshadow blending brush. It's quite large for a blending brush, but really flexible, so it is really good for a dramatic smoky eye. The larger one, I don't really have a use for yet. I thought that it might be quite nice for highlighting smaller areas, such as the nose and cupids bow. I also thought that it might be good for sharper, more precise contouring.

Then lastly, there are three flatter shading brushes in different sizes. The smallest one I used for eyeshadow, though the bristles are very stiff which made it a little difficult. The medium sized one, I used for concealer. I have never used a brush for concealer before, and although I struggled a little, I am sure that I will get the hang of it with practise. The largest one, I actually have no idea what to do with. I think that I got possibly use it for highlight or even contouring at a push. The bristles are very flexible, and I have a feeling that it may be a very small foundation brush which you could use if you wanted a really airbrushed finish.

I love all these brushes so much and am so thankful to the person who gave them to me! You know who you are and I am forever indebted! My makeup game is going to hugely step up now that I have all the right tools and I am so excited!!!

See you soon!

February 2017 Favourites

Hi everyone! I really enjoyed writing about all my favourites last month and I hope that you did too, because I have decided to do it again!

The first thing that I have been loving in the later days of February is this Makeup Revolution eyeshadow pallet. Makeup Revolution is definitely my favourite brand, I love anything and everything they come out with. They recently released a series of My Sign pallets, pallets based on a persons star sign. I personally don't really believe in astrology, but I needed some green eyeshadow for a dressing up makeup look that I was doing, and it just so happened that it was my star sign! I have been trying really hard to incorporate more colour into my eyeshadow looks especially, and I think that green really suits my colouring, so I hope that I'll be getting a lot more wear out of it!

The next thing that I've been loving is this JML Straightening Hairbrush. I have wanted one of these for a while because I thought that it might be a good option for the days I wanted to calm my crazy curls. I actually bought my sister one for Christmas, and borrowed it once to see what it was like. As it turned out, I loved it, so I decided to save up and buy myself one. Luckily, bought it at a time when there was £10 off at Superdrug, so it was only £30! I love this thing so much. I normally don't bother with straightening my hair that much because it is so much effort (seriously, it takes me about 3 hours), but this brush makes it so easy! It takes me around 20 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time for the mornings. Although it doesn't make my hair slick straight like the flat irons do, it creates a much more natural straight-wave combination that I love. I also like to think that it isn't as bad for your hair because instead of clamping you hair in heat, you're just gently surrounding it with heat - however that may just be wishful thinking!

The next thing that I have loved through February is actually this midi skirt. We all know that I love midi skirts and can't stop buying them, but this one take my obsession to a whole new level. It's from the New Look, and to be honest, I'm never really that impressed with stuff from New Look. The only things that I've bought from there in the past few years are sale (because the prices have rocketed) Blue Vanilla items. I think that Blue Vanilla is an internal brand, and I just love everything that they make. I bought a dress in the summer by them and I lived in it all summer because I loved it so much. This midi skirt is just amazing. Although it's a little big for me, I just couldn't leave it. I love the way it moves and hangs. It's really heavy and thick, making it feel like it's amazing quality. I'll admit, I was at odds when buying this because I couldn't really afford it at a whole £15 (!!!), cut down from £30, but I'm so glad that I did buy it. I have actually had a couple of instances recently where I have majorly regretted not buying something that I really love just because it's the top end of my budget.

The next thing that I have been loving is in the food category. I am obsessed with rice cakes at the moment, and I don't know why. They are all I've been eating for all of February and most of January. I think that they are a great little snack, and a really good alternative to crisps or something like that. I personally love Tesco's own brand salt and vinegar flavour. Some people have tried it and told me it's revolting, but I love it. It tastes like a big salt and vinegar snack-a-jack (shockingly), and I have been having three in my lunch everyday. I really recommend them if you've never tried them - though, they can be weirdly moreish!

The next thing that I have been loving will probably make a few of you grimace or shudder in disgust. I have been loving running recently. For two weeks now, I have got up half an hour earlier and gone out for a run. Although it's horrible and the last thing that I want to do when I wake up (and believe, the weather at 6:00am in February sucks), it's the most beneficial thing ever. I love the feeling when I start running, when all my muscles stretch out and start moving, and I love the triumph at the end when I get in and I've made it and I've actually done something amazing whilst the rest of the world has been sleeping. So, I've made a decision. Previously when I've been running, it has never lasted very long because I didn't have a goal. I have decided that I am going to start working towards a half-marathon. I'm writing it so that you can all hold me to it. I've never done anything like it before, and I'll start with a 5k and 10k, to build my fitness - believe me, I am no runner!

The last thing that I just wanted to mention is that it was my birthday recently. I got so much love and was thoroughly spoilt by all my friends and family, I just wanted to say a super big thank you to everyone who made my birthday so special. I was going to write several posts on it, but I've been so busy that I haven't had the chance, so I'm adding it here. I have loved my birthday so much that I think I'll have another one next week, just to keep you all informed!

Those are all the things that I have been loving through February, I'm sorry, I rambled on soooooo much! I was thinking about writing about the February fails, things that I've tried and haven't liked, but to be honest they would be really short posts! I also don't like feeling like I'm being mean, but please let me know if that's something you want to read!

See you soon!