colours

A good mani.

A girl with a good manicure projects confidence and professionalism. You can’t hide your hands, we use them for everything from greeting someone to simply scrolling through our phones.

I like to paint my nails just as much as the next girl but I was struggling to find the point. I would always choose a nice shade and it would look great for the first day but after a while and after I’ve washed up a few dishes and tidied the house twice my nails would always be left chipped and broken. I would then struggle to find time to redo them so they just continue to slowing chip away till I’m left with that horrible little patch of colour in the centre of each nail.

nude nails

I have just started a new job and shabby nails were not an option. First impressions matter even down to the colour of your fingers and toes. So I decided to get my nails done. I’ve never thought it was worth it before but now seemed as good a time as any to give it a go.

shades of nude

I had my nails shellacked. Basically its the same as painting your natural nails like you would at home, but the special formula sets like rock under UV light leaving your nails feeling super strong and so glossy. The brand I used was CND Shellac -they come is a huge array of colours. I am wearing Field Fox its a gorgeous dusky nude pink shade. If I wasn’t at work I would probably try a darker mauve colour, or a striking red or black. CND claims it will last chip free for 14 days, It’s currently day 4 and so far it looks as fresh as the day I had it done -Yay Sucsess! Hav a found a polish that actully lasts? I will keep you posted on how it looks on day 14 and whether I feel it is worth spending the little extra money on it.

For inspiration and my favourite shades check out my nails board on Pintrest.

Thanks for reading everybody. A follow up post is to come shortly. Have you had any experience with Shellac? leave your comments and views below. Lots of love 🙂 xx

my top two foundations.

Finding the right foundation for your skin tone and type can be an absolute palaver. There are so many out there you have to consider whether you want a liquid or a mouse, light or full coverage, matte or dew finish and then you need to find the right colour- this is the part I struggled with for years.
foundation colour chart

Here are a couple of tips for finding the correct shade for your skin. Firstly decide what coverage you need, if you have dry or sensitive skin go for something light with natural ingredients also consider a dewy finish as this will be more moisturizing than a matte finish that could dry your skin out further. If you have “normal” skin then you have roam of what ever you like but I would recommend a light to medium coverage, anything too heavy with leave you looking caked and blotchy when it wears off.

foundationPicking the correct shade is the tricky part. When you go shopping for a new foundation I would say wear minimal to no make up so you can a clean base to work from. If you can I would recommend going somewhere like Selfridges or Debenhams or any department store where the staff are on hand and able to advise and test the products on your skin for you. If you are testing the foundation yourself then apply a small amount to the jaw line, this is the palest area of your face and if the foundation matches this area it will blend easily into your neck for a flawless finish.

I have fairly normal skin and prefer to wear a medium coverage matte foundation, my skin has a sandy beige under tone so I have found lots of foundations look too pink against my skin but now I have found my two favorites. Mac Studio Fix Fluid in shade NC15 and Revlon Colourstay in 180 sand beige. Both foundations have a similar consistency and apply really well to the skin with a foundation brush. Revlon Colourstay is a slightly deeper shade which is perfect for night or in the summer when I have a little more colour while Mac Studio Fix is the perfect shade for every day.

11271990_851685008242630_840584123_n
These foundations may not be the right ones for you but they are defiantly worth a look. Let me know what your favorite foundation is by leaving a comment bellow.

Mac Studio Fix Fluid £21.50 http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/shaded/158/1231/Studio-Fix-Fluid-SPF-15/index.tmpl?77tadunit=fcb8c5d7&77tadvert=7634424279&77tkeyword=mac%20studio%20fix&77tentrytype=s&cm_mmc=google-_-search-_-brand-_-mac%20studio%20fix&gclid=Cj0KEQjwkIurBRDwoZfi1bGCxocBEiQAmcs-epnSWgx8bwa1z2Lt1-xExAw5Ln0IWG5LKOYe99B144QaAsy_8P8HAQ

Revlon Colourstay http://www.revlon.co.uk/Revlon-Home/Products/Face/Foundation/ColorStay-Makeup-with-SoftFlex-for-Combination-Oily-Skin.aspx

Tropical.

palm trees

With summer heating up nicely and our holiday coming ever closer. It’s time to talk bikinis. This summer its all about tropical prints- the bolder the better. They are garish but fun and are screaming out to be taken on a tropical beach holiday and I just can’t get enough.

fruit saladThese are my favorites on the high street: First up we have Tropical Fruit bikini- Tesco Clothing. Top: £8 Briefs: £6. You may be surprised but Tesco Clothing has really pulled out the sizzlers for their swimwear this year . This bikini is so much fun and not gonna break the bank, the bright warm colours really complement each other and the print is the perfect scale, another nice touch is the briefs come high waisted or regular so you can really get the fit you are after. This is such an amazing bikini and will look so good against your golden tan.
http://www.clothingattesco.com/swimwear/f+f-tropical-fruit-print-bandeau-bikini-top/invt/jo511348&bklist=icat,4,shop,catgwomens,womens-swimwear

See what I'm loving on Topshop for iOS

There we have moved to Topshop with this pastel floral bikini: £34 for the set it is a lot more pricey but the print is a little more subtle in mint green with pink flowers. The bikini is a classic shape with padded under wired cups and high waisted briefs. This bikini will look perfect on any skin tone but will work particularly on the first couple of days of holiday before your tan has set in.
http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/swimwear-beachwear-3163078/tropical-print-bikini-set-4326138?bi=1&ps=200

Next has also brought us some amazing swimwear this year. This swimsuit really stood out to me. Navy Floral swimsuit with frill: £25 I really like the low back paired with this neck line and the colour combination is stunning. http://www.next.co.uk/g2d64s4#976991g52

And finally -if only I had the money. This large palm print plunge swimsuit is £123 by Revolve Clothing but it is absolutely gorgeous and I am going to keep my eyes peeled for a similar high street copy. http://www.revolveclothing.com/beach-riot-stone_cold_fox-gally-cook-one-piece-in-palm-print/dp/BRIO-WX5/?aliasURL=beach-riot-stone_cold_fox-gally-cook-one-piece-in-palm-print/dp/BRIO-WX5&product=BRIO-WX5&hasCTL=false

You may be a little hesitant to brave such bold patterns but the bolder the better- as long as the print is busy it distracts the eye and can be more forgiving than a block colour piece and they are simply so much fun. For me the fruit salad bikini set from Tesco Clothing is an absolute must have and I will be ordering my set very soon.

If you want to keep an eye on my favorite summer essentials why not follow my summer Pintrest board.

So Nails.

There’s nothing more girly than painting your nails. It looks so pretty and stops them breaking. Wack on some colour and look fabulous all week and then surprise yourself a week later with how much your nails have grown. Also a good colour on your nails finishes your look and makes you feel like you’ve made more of an effect even when you haven’t. Right now I am wearing Barry M Matte in Crush- its a dark burgundy berry colour- the matte finish is so sophisticated, in my opinion its just more subtle than the glossy finish making it more wearable. All the colours in their matte range are so nice and at £3.99 a bottle and often on offer with 3 for 2 they are definitely well worth a try.

Barry-M-Matte-Polish

Another nail vanish range I am in love with is Essie’s Autumn Collection- I know we are heading into spring but theres still plenty of time was those autumn shades. Essie is a little more expensive but the vanishes do last longer without chipping and the colours are so scrummy. I have Sew Psyched which is a neutral pale khaki tone.essie

A cashmere-soft sage pewter nail lacquer is perfectly suited to set off fall and winter styles. dressed up or down, this shade is sure to start a fashion frenzy.

Its something a little bit different and I think it goes really well with my skin tone and being neutral it goes with everything.

http://www.boots.com/en/Essie-Nail-Polish-Sew-Psyched-13-5ml_1347605/

http://www.boots.com/en/Barry-M-Matte-Nail-Paint_1388205/