Review | Urban Decay Primer Potion

Why, oh why, have I not tried Urban Decay Primer Potion before now?

I have quite oily eyelids and recently I have tried to combat this with many other eyeshadow primers... They were all useless! In fact, my eyeshadow stayed on better when I just used a cream eyeshadow underneath (Maybelline 24hr Colour Tattoo being my favourite) rather than the cheap primers I'd tried.

But alas, I saw sense and bought the eyeshadow primer that every beauty blogger and vlogger has raved about since it was released. Urban Decay's Primer Potion.



So the product itself: You know when you go to a counter and they reel off reasons x, y and z why their product is going to revolutionise your life and you just won't be complete without it? Well this time Urban Decay are actually telling the truth!

I kid you not dear friends, my eyeshadow goes on more vibrant, doesn't crease and stays on all day! It's incredible stuff. Seriously good, and for the quality of the product, I really don't think the price is too bad. The Primer Potion comes in two or three other shades but I stuck with the original which dries nude. The packaging is great, it has a small nozzle so only a small amount is dispensed and I love the whole potion-bottle, mystical and magical vibe! I bought the travel size tube as a tester which cost £8 and considering how little you need for each eye, I can see this tube lasting me a decent length of time.

So yes, Primer Potion will now be a firm staple in my make up bag and I can't recommend it enough, especially if you have oily eyelids! You can pick it up from Debenhams and House of Fraser in the UK.

Have you tried Primer Potion? What do you think? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo and Conditioner

Apologies for the lack of posts this last ten days or so but I do have a good excuse, honest! I went on holiday to Cornwall with some family and friends and it was marvellous. I didn't realise how much I needed to get out of London until I left and I feel so much better for doing so, but I'll save that story for another post.

As I was in Cornwall I donned my wetsuit and did some body boarding in the sea, which of course means hair drenched in salt water, which means hair like straw ordinarily. Which leads me on to what I wanted to talk to you about today is the simply stunning Miracle Moist shampoo and conditioner from Aussie.

I picked up some Aussie shampoo and conditioner for my holidays for three reasons:

1) My ordinary shampoo/conditioner is the Tigi Curlesque range in giant salon size bottles which are less than practical for travel!
2) I'd used Aussie before at a friend's house and was really pleased with the results on my hair.
3) It was on offer. *Confession time* Most of the things I buy are because they're on offer - I can't help it, I can't resist a bargain!

I am so glad I bought this shampoo and conditioner - it was like a refreshing drink for my hair after the salty sea water had dehydrated it everyday. I washed my hair everyday on holiday (I couldn't not with all that salt!) but the Aussie range didn't make my hair greasy from over washing. The conditioner in particular was brilliant for rescuing my salt-ridden locks.

There's more to life than hair but it's a good place to start
- The Aussie Philosophy

Furthermore, my hair is dyed, with bleach, which also dries out hair and using Miracle Moist really felt like my hair was being nourished. My hair felt soft, shiny, lucious and healthy. I am definitely going to use this again - I'll probably use these once a week or so to inject some moisture into my hair. And I think I'm going to try out the 3-Minute Miracle Recontructor (aka hair mask) too.

If you're suffering with dry hair or heading to the beach (and want your hair to be manageable) I would really recommend giving the Miracle Moist shampoo and conditioner a go. Plus, they're usually on offer in either Boots or Superdrug which makes them a little cheaper!

Have you tried Aussie shampoo and conditioner before? What did you think? What do you use to inject some moisture into your hair? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Review | Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover

You may (or may not) have noticed from earlier posts that I'm quite pale. I'm fair skinned, blonde and generally very pasty. Whilst I enjoy being fair and blonde it is a royal pain in the arse on two counts:
1. I burnt like a bitch. Seriously, the sun hates me. The first sign of sun and I start burning, and after 24years you'd think I'd learn how to deal with such things but no, year on year I get caught out by the sun!
2. I have ridiculously pale eyebrows and eyelashes which means if I don't apply mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow etc so my eyes don't look sunken into my head!

As I personally think my eyes are my best feature I'm keen to define them and show them off. For a standard day I would use a little bit of shadow through my crease to define (usually Mac's Mystery or Sable) then slick over some black eyeliner (my current favourite being the Rimmel Glam'Eyes liquid eyeliner) and finally some black mascara. Once I've done all that it looks like I have eyes! Yes!

So anyway, getting to the point of this post, everyday I have to taken a lot of eye make up off and my favourite eye makeup remover is the Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover (as if you hadn't already guessed!)

This stuff is brilliant. I just pop some on a cotton pad, and take off my make up with it. It loosens your make up really quickly, it's very gentle, it just feels like water on your eyelids - it's not chemically or abrasive in any way. It removes all my make up quickly and easily - a great product! Plus, the bottle is quite big - you only need a few drops of the stuff for each eye - so it lasts ages!

I don't like to use make up wipes as they can be quite drying on my skin so I love this separate eye makeup remover. It's just a wonderful product. It costs £8 from the Body Shop.

Have you tried this? What did you think? What is your male up remover of choice?? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Clinique three-step skincare

My skin has been looking a bit lack-lustre of late (ooh alliteration) so I thought I'd change up my skincare regime. One of my good friends raves about the Clinique three step regime. This skincare range is one of Clinique's most famous and well know ranges. And as the cornerstone of their product range I thought I would give it a go.



I have skin type two (dry combination) and I bought the trial, tester size pack to start. The kit lasts 4-6weeks according to the nice lady at the counter.

You get:
Liquid Facial Soap Mild
Clarifying Lotion
Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion

I used the range last night and this morning - the first two days on my month of Clinique. So far in two days) it seems good, the wash is nice and the moisturiser is rich and feels quite nourishing, the clarifying lotion does seem a little abrasive but, I've never used an exfoliant like it before o tat ay just be me!

Anyway, I will report back when I've used up the kit to let you know my verdict!
Make sure you follow my blog and then you'll be notified with the results as well as all the other things I'll be writing about in between!

Rx

Emirates Air Line

The Emirates Air Line is losing money, rapidly. And I can understand why. The Air Line links North Greenwich, which is home to the o2 and Royal Victoria Docks, which is home to virtually nothing. There is hardly anything at Royal Victoria, just some houses and remnants of the London's dock yards - which are quite nice to see but not worth a day trip to. But regardless, me and a friend had a spare day so thought we'd go ride the Air Line to see what its all about.

We boarded at North Greenwich, went over the river to Royal Victoria, stayed in our cable car and went back to North Greenwich. It was a beautiful day and the views were stunning - you can see all of Canary Wharf, Greenwich, the Olympic Park, the Thames Gateway, it's pretty spectacular.

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All in all, the views are amazing but I'm not entirely sure why they built the Air Line. It doesn't connect useful points - I mean as good as the o2 is, you only go when you're going to a concert... It's not got great tourist appeal as it is all the way out in Greenwich; there are much more interesting things to do in central. Unfortunately I don't see the Air Line making money any time soon as most of the cable cars were empty (and we weren't charged for our trip!) I'm just not sure what they can do to improve traffic... I had a lovely time though, seeing great views in the sunshine, so if you're out that way and you've got a spare half an hour, give it a go!

Have you been on the Air Line? What did you think? Would you go all the way out to Greenwich to go on it? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Review | The Great Gatsby

I went to see the Great Gatsby last night. I realise I'm a little late to the party with this one, but last night was the first chance I had to go see it, and wow, oh wow, I loved it.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaBVLhcHcc0&w=640&h=360]

*SPOILER ALERT*
If you don't want to know what happens, look away now.

Firstly, this film is very Baz Luhrmann, it's very flash, loud, over the top and fabulous. But if Baz isn't your thing, you probably won't enjoy this film (my friend hated it!). But if you loved Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet I think you'll enjoy this.

[caption id="attachment_667" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby[/caption]

The film sticks to the book very accurately, which I think is great. I hate it when books-into-films ignore the books (such as the Harry Potter films!) The stand out performance in this is Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. DiCaprio is one of my favourite actors of all time, I think he is incredible and here he does not disappoint. He captures the endlessly hopeful Gatsby brilliantly; his devotion to Daisy despite her selfish ways and the pain he feels when he starts to lose control. His performance was filled with so much emotion, I shed a tear for him at his end; his portrayal is a great testament to F. Scott Fitzgerald's protagonist.
Joel Edgerton is wonderful as the selfish, brutish Tom and Carey Mulligan's Daisy is carefree, sweet, false and fickle, just as she should be. Tobey Maguire is questionable... he's not the best and it doesn't help he is the narrator... thankfully, the other performances make up for him.

I loved the special effects. The zooms in and out of West and East Egg and New York City are exhilarating and visually stunning. Although, my friend who I saw Gatsby with, hated this. I also thought the old 20's footage interspersed with the modern, CGI footage was great; I liked the contrast a lot.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_1aF54DO60&w=640&h=360]
There is brash contrast between the 20's New York scene and the very modern music score. At first, I found this a bit weird but after a while I totally got it and really enjoyed Jay Z, Lana Del Rey and Beyonce singing the score. The use (and omission) of these brilliant songs created amazing tension which I think made the film. Also since watching the film I can't stop listening to Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful (above).

[caption id="attachment_671" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and Jay[/caption]

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. For me, the sign of a good film is how long afterwards I keep thinking about it - and I dreamt about Gatsby last night. I loved the book so I was keen to see the film and I think it was a great tribute to the book. I can see why some of the reviews are mixed, if Luhrmann isn't your thing, you'll probably hate this film, but I loved it.

Go see it! Check out the website for more pictures, music, video etc.

Have you seen The Great Gatsby? Did you enjoy it? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Review | Maybelline The Falsies Mascara

You may have noticed in my recent make up posts that my current favourite mascara is Benefit's Bad Gal Lash (though I do cringe at the name everytime I have to write/type it!) And it is a fabulous mascara, it gives volume, length and a generally gorgeous lash when you've finished applying it! However, the downside is the price. At £18 a pop it does not come cheap!

So I thought I'd try out a cheaper high street mascara. Having heard many bloggers and vloggers rave about the Maybelline Falsies range I thought I'd give it a go too. Here is my verdict: IT'S AWESOME

I totally understand the hype.

[gallery type="circle" ids="637,638,639"]

I have very fair eyelashes and I feel awful without mascara as my eyes look sunk into my head (well I think they do anyway, it is perhaps my biggest failing.) So everyday I use black mascara to define my eyes. And the Falsies is just brilliant. Great colour pay off (I have the colour Black Drama) I usually just use one coat of mascara and I think that is the nicest look (above centre picture). Also, when I applied the second coat it became a little clumpy towards the end - so one coat looks better (on me anyway).



The rubber wand is scoop shaped so it really fits around your eyelashes well, defining them perfectly, giving great length. The formula is brilliant too - it doesn't imprint at all (unlike the new Volume de Chanel mascara which ended up all over my face!) It last all day too - I wore it for a good 13/14 hours yesterday and it looks as if I'd just put it on when I came to take it off.

And for £7.99 I think the Falsies mascara is a bargain - such a good quality product for a snip of the price of high end mascaras. I can't recommend this enough!

What is your favourite mascara? Have you tried the Falsies - what do you think to it?

Rx

Handbag essentials

So I don't really live near my work. And I don't really go out near where I live either. (I know, I need to move) This massive geographical error on my part means that when I go out after work, I have to go straight from work. I blame London, its just too big for getting around anywhere in a hurry! So yes I've hit pubs, bars and clubs straight from work on one or two Friday nights...
*cough* EVERY Friday night *cough*
Who said that?

Anyway, to help myself look and smell presentable after a long day at work I have a handy little bag of tricks in my handbag and I thought I'd share it with you:



The bag itself is from MUJI and has a handy metal bar running along side the zip which, when closed, forces the bag into a more compact shape - perfect for squeezing in my handbag!

Now to the contents of the bag:

Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser - This stuff is brilliant and the thing I use the most frequently in the bag. After work in an air conditioned office, my skin can sometimes get quite dry; so this is perfect for giving my skin a little drink!

Dove Invisible Dry Roll-on Deodorant - pretty self explanatory; it makes me smell nice and the roll-on is great as it is small and helps the planet too!

Vaseline Cocoa Butter - I use this throughout the day as a lip balm to keep my lips kissably soft ;)

Carex Moisture Plus Hand Gel - This is a really brilliant hand gel as it doesn't dry my skin out like some others can do. I have eczema so I really want to not dry my skin out! This stuff is great.

Hask Argan Oil - I got this from Primark, for like a pound at the till. I was quite dubious at first but it makes my hair glossy and smooth, ready to hit the town.

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Collection Blush and Highlight Duo - THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! I implore you to get something like this to have in your travel make up bag. The cream blush is brilliant, very pigmented and easy to apply with your fingertips. The colour lasts really well and the highlighter adds the perfect glowwy-ness for a night out. I love this stuff!

Maybelline Fit Me Powder - Once I've moisturised and blushed etc I powder my face to prevent unwanted shine and set and touch up my make up. This little compact also has a mirror in it. Win.

Loreal Superliner Perfect Slim - If I need to touch up my eyes I use this, its like a felt-tip pen so dead easy to apply. Winged out eyeliner in a matter of seconds? Done.

Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie - If I want a dramatic lip I always have this on standby, especially if I'm hitting a club and I feel a little under-dressed. Have a look at it on my face here.

Finally I have my Flo travel perfume dispenser thing. It's full of Christian Dior's Miss Dior which is just fabulous. The handy travel perfume is great for making me smell nice!



I also have other essentials like tissues, gum, tampons, pens, paper etc knocking around in my handbag but the above items are my make-up and beauty essentials!

What are your handbag essentials? Leave links and comments below as I love having a read and, frankly, a nosey!

Rx

Willy Wonka Mug

Roald Dahl was, by a country mile, my favourite author as a child. His books meant the world to me when I was growing up and I truly look forward to the day when I can read them again with my own children. My favourite books of his were, George's Marvellous Medicine, The Twits, Danny, the Champion of the World and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Reading Roald Dahl books as a child was instrumental in igniting my love of books and ultimately, my career as a writer. His stories were so brilliantly told and so superbly illustrated by the wonderful Quentin Blake - his drawings brought the books so vividly to life.

So when it came to me purchasing a new make up brush holder (bear with me) I was considering the usual pen-pot type thing but as I was wandering through TK Maxx, again, I spotted the mug section and this wonderful mug, amongst perhaps 200, jumped out at me.

I could only see the picture of Willy Wonka at first and I instantly grabbed the mug off the shelf. I turned the mug over and there was the most magical of quotes, shown above. I just had to have it and at only £2.99 I thought it was a it of a bargain! As soon as I got home I gave it a quick wash and stuffed my brushes in it - it looks amazing. It serves as a wonderful make up brush holder as well as reminding me of some cherished memories.

How do you store your make up? Mine is currently all over the place (only my brushes are organised!) and I need help/advice! Please leave links and comments below so I can have a read! Thanks!

Rx

Travelcard Holder

Ok, ok, ok. I realise this is not the most enticing of blog posts but I really thought I should tell everyone about this gem.

Now you may think I'm silly for buying a travelcard/Oyster card holder as you get them for free from ticket offices and everytime a new film comes out. (Absolutely gutted I didn't manage to get the Skyfall themed travelholder!) But, I genuinely think mine is brilliant.



It has the tube map of London on it, with central London on the outside and outer London on the inside. I use my oyster card virtually everyday and despite us being in the 'age of technology' and all that, it is so much quicker to just grab this and look up my route.

[gallery type="square" ids="591,590,589"]

What's more, my friends LOVE it. Everytime I'm out for dinner or drinks and it comes to the end of the evening, my card holder gets passes around as everyone figures out their way home!

It may seem small, it may seem trivial but this really does make my life easier. I can't recommend it enough! You can buy them from the Transport for London Website for £5.99 or in Waterstones on Oxford Street (opposite Selfridges) for £3.99.

Rx

Met Gala 2013

It was the Met Ball yesterday! The prestigious annual fashion event hosted by Vogue and the devil-wears-prada-inspiration Anna Wintour looked as spectacular as ever. The 'night of all nights' for fashion is a celebration of all things fashion, god knows I'd love an invite one day! Now each year there is a theme - this year's was punk - and obviously some stars didn't get into the spirit and instead dressed in the latest designer dresses but others actually embraced the wonderful theme.

Here are some of my favourite gowns from the night:
(pictures from Glamour/Rex Features)

[caption id="attachment_561" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Newly blonde Anne strikes a pose in vintage Valentino[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_562" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Cara Delevingne looked amazing in this Burberry number[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_563" align="aligncenter" width="592"] Well it wouldn't be punk without some Vivienne Westwood would it?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_564" align="aligncenter" width="592"] The gorgeous Sienna Miller in Burberry[/caption]

Oh they look amazing don't they? Now I know there were a lot of fashion disasters last night *cough*Madonna*cough*Kim Kardashian*cough* oh please excuse me I'm getting a terrible cough... And if you search 'Met Gala' loads of worst dressed lists appear, which I just think is a bit sad. I'm not going to bitch about the worst dressed of the night here because this is 'A Lot of Lovely Things' not a lot of bitchy, natsy things. There's too much hate in the world for my liking so lets just celebrate the good. And these ladies certainly looked fabulous!

Who was your best dressed of the night? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Design Museum, London

So me and my friend went to the Design Museum!



I wanted to see the winners of the Design of the Year Award as they always fascinate me! So here are some pictures I took along the way:

[gallery type="slideshow" ids="544,545,546,547,548,549,550,551,552,554,555,556"]

I would really recommend going to the Design Museum - it is so interesting! I could have spent hours in there, I loved it. I found it fascinating to discover how each of the pieces were made - for example, the anti-gravity chairs were made using iron filings which has a magnet suspended above it, moving around, determining the shape of the stool. Just brilliant!

Here's also a little video I made of the Postcard Player which just blew my mind - my favourite thing in the museum.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068Ne_tIuA0&w=560&h=315]

Also, the museum is right on the Thames by Tower Bridge which is just lovely, it's one of my most loved places in London. Things like this happen there...

Anywho, to sum up: the Design Museum is bloody awesome.

Have you been to the Design Museum, what did you think? What's your favourite museum in London? Leave links and comments below.

Rx

Coral

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Coral is my new favourite at the moment and here are some of my favourite coral products. I think coral suits me quite well as I am fair and have blue eyes - complimentary colours on the colour wheel right there! And the picture above is them all on my face.

Firstly, the eyes: I wear a nude eyeshadow base with a winged out black gel eyeliner (Maybelline) and mascara (Benefit Bad Gal Lash).

Then for my cheeks I've used Coral by Sleek. This is such a beautiful product, a gorgeous coral/brown colour which is warm and not muddy in tone. It is well pigmented but not so pigmented that it is a nightmare to work with!

For my lips I've used Revlon's Juicy Papaya Lip Butter. The Revlon Lip Butters are my very favourite lip product at the minute - they are moisturising, full of colour and give a beautiful shine to the lips. I love them! I adore this coral colour and I also love the Raspberry Pie one which I wore in my Face of the Day post.

For the nails I tried the new Barry M Gelly Nail Polish in Papaya which is just brilliant! The formula is amazing, so thick and glossy, I think it looks like I've just had a gel manicure. Definitely worth a try.

So that's a little run down of my favourite coral make up and how I like to wear it - I have no doubt I'll be wearing this look throughout the Summer months!

What's your favourite summer products? Are you in love with the coral trend as much as I am?? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Battersea Park, London

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I love the parks in London. They are so beautiful, so well maintained and cared for and they are truly loved by their residents. St James' Park is one of my very favourite parks but last week I visited Battersea Park and it is definitely in close contention for the top spot in this, frankly ridiculous park chart which is emerging in my head. To read about St James's Park read my blog post here.

Battersea Park is quite close to my house but I only visited it for the first time last week. I think it helped that I went on a beautiful day but the park is stunning. There is a huge boating lake where pedalos can be hired, a big duck pond and a children's zoo (which me and my friend were too old to go in!) There is a huge amount of green space - some huge fields, some smaller flower filled gardens and everything in between!

The park is perfect for a picnic - we sat by the cricket ground which I imagine gets very busy during the Summer. It borders the Thames so you can walk along the river and its easy to get to from either Battersea Park or Queenstown Road stations. Here's a handy map:



All in all, a beautiful park which I will definitely visit again!

Rx

Review | Crazy, Stupid, Love

Yet again I'm really behind the times with my film watching...
I watched Crazy, Stupid, Love last night. Whilst I usually prefer a more, shall we say 'challenging' film, I was in the mood for an easy watch and this seemed perfect.

[gallery type="square" ids="479,481,480"]

Crazy, Stupid, Love follows the lives of Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) and his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) during their impending divorce. (Don't worry that's not a spoiler) the big spoiler comes during the garden party and I just did not see it coming! Carell and Moore are brilliant in this - they capture the heart-breaking pain of divorce so well and having closely witnessed a divorce myself, I can vouch for that.

The supporting storylines and characters are also well thought out and compliment the main drama: Cal meets Jacob (the ever so gorgeous Ryan Gosling), a charismatic womaniser who wants to help Cal get back in the game. There's Hannah (the beautiful Emma Stone) who is stuck in a passion-free relationship with Josh Groban and later gets to lock lips with the stunning Jacob. And finally the sweet, heart-wrenching tales of unrequited love round off this movie perfectly. As the stories unfold they intertwine with one another, culminating in a rather dramatic scene which, like the rest of the film is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster!

Its very charming, it's funny and witty yet deals with real emotions without getting too heavy. I think this is a great film. My only bug bear with this film was that Jacob's character wasn't explored more - we started to find out more about his past, his father and how he became the womaniser he is and then it just stopped - I think there was a real opportunity missed there. But anyway, overall I really enjoyed this film and I would recommend it for a feel-good easy watch anytime! Have a look at the trailer:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK68Y3oMEk8&w=560&h=315]

Have you seen this film? I'm sure you have as I'm very late to the party, but what did you think of it? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Spring nails

It seems that Spring has finally sprung in London!
Dance around and celebrate because what feels like the longest winter ever is on its way out! So as a salute to Spring and to going out without a coat on I painted my nails. (Wild child to the core) I love pastel shades when the sun is shining and I picked my two favourite shades for Spring to show you:

The green shade is Seven Dials from Nails Inc. Nails Inc are my favourite makers of nail polish - the formula is just stunning! With two coats you get a perfectly smooth, shiny and glossy nail, which once completed with a top and base coat will last for about a week without chipping - perfect to wear during the working week! Nails Inc have a huge range of colours and effects available on their website and they often have sales and offers popping up - for example this week you could get 7 lucky dip nail polishes for £18 - bargain! So if you haven't checked out Nails Inc I would highly recommend it!



The lilac shade is Parma Violet from Topshop. Topshop make up is great - I love it all but the nail varnishes are brilliant. At only £5 each they are super cheap. They don't last as long as the Nails Inc ones and I needed three coats of the lilac to match up to the vibrant pastel green. However, the selection of shades is brilliant and perfect for polish you only need on for a few days. Check them out on the Topshop website.

As for my top coat and base coat I use Save the Nail and Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri which is AMAZING! Such a good top coat - I cannot recommend it enough. It makes your nails look like they've been professionally done and, as the name suggests, it dries so quickly!

What are your favourite colour nails for Spring? Which is your favourite brand of nail polish? Leave links and comments below as I'd love to have a read!

Rx

Miss Dior by Christian Dior

This is my very favourite perfume.



It's Miss Dior by Christian Dior and I was lucky enough to get this for Christmas last year. It smells fanatastic! It is so beautiful. I would say (in my most un-professional opinion) that is is quite floral, fresh and a little bit of a sweet scent... I really have no clue about describing perfume!

Here's what the experts say:

"Miss Dior is an audacious chypre with a citrusy freshness and a jasmine heart. Sprinkled with fruity notes and underscored by the elegance of patchouli, this chic and daring fragrance is a new classic" Sephora

"Miss Dior is a chypre that develops step by step. It glides from the sharp charm of a fresh, fruity, citrus prelude into blossoming floral notes, then on to the noble elegance of patchouli, before finally concluding with musk, the last trace of memory." John Lewis

Yeah. Yeah I get all of that. Uh-hu, patchouli sure is elegant.

After sifting through the PR waffle it is basically a beautiful perfume which will definitely be a staple in my collection for a long time to come. Pop down to your nearest fragrance shop and gift it a smell!

What is your favourite perfume(s)?? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Face of the day

So this my face for the day. I was really pleased with my make up today so I thought I'd share...

Products used and links to find them:
Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation (read my review here) http://bit.ly/10tyUF6
Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer http://bit.ly/11ebhLL
Maybelline Fit Me Powder http://bit.ly/11eblLr
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush http://bit.ly/ZHLWZd
Benefit Dandelion http://bit.ly/11ebte6
Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk (this shade is not available in the UK so bought mine off ebay from the States - great seller!) http://bit.ly/ZfRfCS
Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara in Black http://bit.ly/14J0PT1
Benefit Waterproof Bad Gal Eyeliner in Black http://bit.ly/17RQqDe
Revlon Lip Butter in Raspberry Pie 010 http://bit.ly/17IpRh3
Miss Dior perfume (read my review here) http://bit.ly/ZJ1Fq1

Finally, my shirt is from H&M.



Now the weather is finally starting to look something like Spring, what make up are you wearing?? Leave links and comments below as I'd love to have a read!

Rx

This is why I love London

I was walking past Tower Bridge yesterday and stumbled upon this. Spanish folk from Barcelona doing a human pyramid. This doesn't happen in my home town. Such diverse, amazing people crop up in this city and I love it! It really made me smile.



What things have you seen in London, or any other city for that matter, which makes you smile? Leave links and comments below.

Rx

Review | Gillian Flynn - 'Gone Girl'

I finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn last night. Wow, wow, wow, WOW! What an amazing book!

So a brief synopsis - We meet Nick and Amy on their fifth wedding anniversary. Then Amy disappears. Vanishes into thin air. From then onwards we read about the struggles of marriage, family pressures and how some things are out of our control, no matter how hard we fight it.



The book is so well written - each chapter cleverly alternates between real time events, as seen through Nick's eyes and diary entries from Amy which fill out the pair's past. I am a huge fan of this type of chapter construction - in fact one of my favourite books from my youth, Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses used the same technique and that book pretty much changed my life.

The change in pace as we swap from Nick's point of view to Amy's creates a huge amount of tension in the book. Filled with suspense, there are plot twists everywhere - just when you think you're on steady ground Gillian Flynn rips the rug up from beneath you again, and again, and again. This is - apologies for the clichéd phrase - a real page-turner! I finished the book in about a week, reading it at every chance I got.

Furthermore, the book has created such a furore around it that whilst I was reading it on various modes of London's public transport, three strangers asked me about it. Three strangers broke commuter convention and spoke to me! Three! Needless to say I was shocked to my very core - the silence was broken! I jest, of course, but it really does illustrate that the interest in this book is huge and I fully understand why.

Flynn focuses on the relationships between the characters in Gone Girl. The main focus is obviously between Nick and Amy, she explores the stresses of a long-term relationship and how (seemingly) easy it is to deceive and manipulate these relationships. I also particularly enjoyed the way Flynn portrayed the media's reaction to the events within the novel - whether this is because I work in the media I'm not sure - but I think she got it pretty spot on. The way the media manipulate and distort stories for their own gain in the book is pretty much what happens everyday in news rooms all around the world. It was a great depiction.

If you haven't read this book I implore you to do so. If you enjoy truly gripping and thrilling novels with more twists and turns than Alton Towers then this is for you! I've told so many people about this book already and now I'm telling you - READ IT! You won't regret it!

What good books have you read recently? I need a new book to read what would you recommend? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Picture Frames

My new favourite shop is TK Maxx.
So I've been trying to spruce up my room recently and I've found TK Maxx is brilliant for all things homeware. The first thing I bought is this gorgeous picture frame for £6.99 which I think is an absolute bargain! I just love it!

[caption id="attachment_398" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ooh camera effects...[/caption]

Whilst TK Maxx stock just about everything in their homeware section, from dog beds to spatulas, for me their picture frame selection is just brilliant. They have a huge range and because of the nature of the store, there are different items in each shop meaning you'll end up with something that most other people won't have. You can pick up some beautiful homeware items at bargain prices which I love!
If you're looking to jazz up your home a bit, I highly recommend having a look at your local TK Maxx!

Do you know of any other unique homeware stores I should be looking at to do up my home? Leave links and comments below, I'd love to know your thoughts!

Rx

April Fools!

So yesterday was April Fools day and I have to confess I kind of missed it... I got a little bit drunk whilst celebrating a friends birthday and spent most of the day in bed - except for a glorious 8 hours when I had to work.
._.
Seriously, one of the hardest days of work in my life. I was so tired and probably still a bit drunk, in hindsight...
Don't drink kids.

Anywho, moving on from my bad lifestyle choices I've been looking up some of the best April Fools pranks and this by far is my favourite:


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H542nLTTbu0&w=560&h=315]

Youtube HQs dedication to the cause went to this... 12 hours of reading out the nominations for the 'winner'. Just wow!


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGeMGqVKD6A&w=560&h=315]

What an amazing prank. And finally have a look at these amazing Guardian Goggles: http://gu.com/p/3enq6
The future is here.

Rx

Harry Potter Studio Tour

I'm going to square with you from the start: I love the Harry Potter books - they are my favourite series of books and I have read them far too many times to mention! However, I don't love the films that much. Mainly because the films don't portray the story how I'd imagined it when I was reading the books - I created this amazing world in my imagination and the films didn't come close to what I'd developed over ten years of reading about this magical world. It was always going to be a difficult task, a nigh on impossible task, to satisfy fans with one film, one interpretation of the books which had ignited the imagination of millions and millions of readers.
(Also, I think Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe ruin the films with their appalling, wooden acting, but that is another story.)

So, the tour. After a painfully awkward intro video by Watson and Radcliffe the tour began. We started of in the indoor sets; the Great Hall, the Boys' Dormitory, Gryffindor Common Room, the Burrow etc. and the most striking thing for me was the utterly amazing attention to detail which was taken over everything. Each potion bottle has a handmade, handwritten label. Each of the 17,000 wands in Ollivander's was individually boxed and labelled. The Daily Prophet was created and written! I could go on and on and on, the details were simply staggering!


We drank Butterbeer! As was repeatedly mentioned, you can only get Butterbeer in Watford and Orlando so we gave it a go. It was strange but nice. A bit like a coke float but with cream and it kind of tasted buttery/caramelly... It was strange and definitely not to everyone's taste!

After the butterbeer we headed to the art and prosthetics department which was fascinating and my favourite bit of the day. Beautiful concept drawings lined the walls, stunning scale models of Diagon Alley and Hogwarts filled the rooms and it was just amazing. The amount of work, passion and dedication into the designs was something to be admired.


The final step of the tour is a 1:24 scale model of Hogwarts which, as I rounded into the room, made my jaw fall open. Again, the superb and intricate detail was incredible. I took about 100 photos of this model (and everything else!) but I won't put many of them on here because I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for anyone going to visit! Then we walk into a room full of wands. Each individually crafted and labelled for every cast and crew member of the series. A touching and dramatic reminder of how much work went into the films.

[caption id="attachment_336" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A white card model of Hogsmede[/caption]

Last but not least, the gift shop... £25 for a wand, £25 for a scarf, £25 for the Marauders Map... see a pattern emerging? It was frightening how much money was spent in that gift shop. Truly mindblowing how much visitors can spend on memorabilia. There were a set of replica Dumbledore robes on sale for £495. Four HUNDRED and Ninety-Five pounds. I hope you're as gobsmacked as I was... Maybe I'm just not rich enough to spend that kind of money on things other than rent... But after shocking myself into submission I bought a postcard for 95p.

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It was wandering around the art department when I realised how many people truly loved and cared for the Harry Potter series. (The picture of Dobby above was painted by one of the chaps in the art department.) I understood that so many people worked so hard at the minute details of the films because they wanted to show their love for the series through their creative skills. No-one who worked on that film wanted to let Harry down, let the fans down or let JK Rowling down; because the books mean so much to so many people and that is the most significant thing I take away from the tour. It didn't make me want to watch the films again, it made me want to read the books again and become submerged in the magical world that I created once more.

Have you been to the Studio Tour? What did you think?? Leave links and comments below!

Rx

Review | Topshop Lipstick

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Topshop lipsticks are lovely! I recently bought the shade Innocent from Topshop and I completely love it.

I have never been one for wearing a lot of lipstick or lipgloss - I usually just stick with Vaseline to give a nice sheen to my lips. This is because I like my eyes, I think they are my best feature so I try to accentuate them as much as possible. (I have an unhealthy obsession with Mac eyeshadow which will prove this point.) But recently I've been trying more and more lipstick and I've found a beauty in the Topshop range.

For £8 you get a really good quality lipstick which is really pigmented and lasts really well on your lips. There is a great range of colours from the very nude Nevada to the bright orange/red of Infrared to the deep plum Beguiled. There is a shade for everyone. The shade I opted for was Innocent:



I think this shade is gorgeous - it suits my skin tone and I just love the colour. The colour goes on beautifully and considering how much it is I think this is great value for money for such a quality product. It doesn't dry my lips out and it lasts for a long time on my lips - perfect for when you're dashing about with little time to reapply your lippy! Yay for Topshop lipstick.

Have you tried the Topshop lipsticks? Do you love them as much as I do? What is your favourite brand of lipstick?
Leave comments and links below as I love having a read!

Rx

Natural History Museum

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So today I want to talk to you about my favourite museum in London. And if you hadn't already guessed from the title or the slideshow above, it is the Natural History Museum.

When you walk along Cromwell Road you will be greeted by the most enormous and magnificent building - I don't think my photos about really highlight how staggeringly huge and beautiful the Natural History Museum is. Once you enter the grounds you come across wildlife gardens to explore and peruse all before you head inside to the glorious entrance hall where you are welcomed by a Diplodocus.

Home to over 70 million specimens the Natural History Museum, there is something to interest everyone. Biological and geological; plants, insects, mammals, birds, rocks, spacedust, dinosaurs, amphibians - and there's even a massive restaurant and gift shop if none of that floats your boat.

Every specimen has a name card and explanation about it, there is so much to learn. It's fantastic. If you, like me, have a career in the arts, you will have probably had to have given up science after your GCSEs in order to specialise and look committed to your university of choice... pft, what rubbish. I hate that I had to give up science at 16 - I think its so interesting which is why I love nature and science programs on TV (Brian Cox is my hero) and I why I love this museum so much - I learn something new every time I go.

In a world so set on destroying itself, having a reminder to what we stand to lose on such an enormous scale really hits home - we need to take care of our planet guys! This is made all the more poignant as you see specimens of Dodos and Dinosaurs. The fragility of life is an important lesson to learn and the museum is so accessible for children as well as adults.

I think this place in incredible - a joyous tribute to our surrounding world. I can't recommend this place highly enough. Utterly spectacular, you will be lost for words at some point along your journey whether it be the sheer size of the Blue Whale, the dinosaurs, the giant sequoia tree or the millions upon millions of insects. Truly a breathtaking experience. And what is best of all, it is completely free. You can wander and learn and draw and explore to heart's content for free.

To find out more about the Natural History Museum and what's on click here... And go, please go its so good!

And when you have been, come back here and comment so we can geek out together about the sheer amazingness of nature.

Rx

Money box

I am awful at saving money. I mean seriously bad.
You know that phrase 'money is burning a hole in your pocket'? I'm pretty sure it's based on me.

But I want to change this. I want to save money because I want to go on holiday so this is my plan:



A money box! I bought this one from Tiger, a store that I absolutely love. It has the most amazing, quirky and fun selection of stock - I'd really recommend taking a look if there is a shop near you. Plus everything is really cheap!

So anyway, the money box for £3 from Tiger and, as you've probably guessed, I have to break the glass to get to my money. That's part one of the 'Rachel-wants-a-holiday' saving scheme. Part two is thus; I always buy things on my card. I very rarely have cash. But whenever I go out with friends I take cash out as its just easier in bars - anywho, I have a habit of just spending notes when I'm drunk... For some reason I can't seem to count up my change to buy drinks very well so I end up with loads of coins which invariable get frittered away. Until now! All my change at the end of everyday will go in the money box!
Part three: no coppers. I hate coppers.

And so the plan comes together. *evil genius laugh*
Current total: £7.75

Are you guys as hopeless as me at saving? How do you save money?? Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Leave comments and links below so I can have a read.

Rx

Review | B. Engergised Eye Cream

I'd been thinking for a while that I should buy an eye cream. Not that I'm getting old or anything, but I'm often reminded that what we do with our skin today reflects on how it looks in the future. I cleanse and moisturise the rest of my face everyday so why not my eyes too? With their delicate and fragile skin, it seems crazy to not give them the attention and care they deserve. Furthermore, on a personal note, I think my eyes are my best feature so I decided to give them a bit of TLC!

Superdrug have a new range launching around the country called B. They make lotions and potions for different ages as well as having a make up range. As far as I'm aware the range is just called B. and the products stem from that eg, B. Energised, B. Active... See what they did there? Because 'B.' is like 'be'... gettit? *rolls eyes in distain/despair*

Aside from the appalling name (which is nigh on impossible to find in google - seriously sack the brand manager!) the range looked pretty good so I thought I'd give them a go... I bought the B. Energised Eye Cream



This stuff is wonderful! I seriously can't praise it highly enough. It reduced my dark circles dramatically - after two days I had hardly any darkness under my eyes. It also reduced the puffiness I was getting from working late hours and little sleep. Plus the whole formula is cooling so perks you up in the mornings!

According to the website the cream has clinically proven results and:
Brightens - Live Yeast Cell Extract helps reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Cools and de-puffs - With Allantoin and Caffeine.
Hydrates - With a delicate blend of moisturisers (including Hyaluronic Acid).



This eye cream is for 'Skin Phase 1' ie 20s and 30s (as I am 23) but there are eye creams available through Skin Phases 2 and 3, and the formulations change according your skin needs as you get older.

I actually couldn't believe how much of an effect this had on my eyes - they look healthier, brighter and much less puffy. I will definitely purchase this again. Also, at £8.99 a tube this is much cheaper than the high end products, and noticeably cheaper that the other drug store creams. Bargain! I love it!

What eye creams do you use? Have you tried any other B. products? Am I silly to be worrying about my eyes at 23?! Probably.

Leave comments and links below as I love checking out new blogs!

Rx

London Fashion Week 2013

Its Fashion Week! Its award season! Its lots of pretty clothes everywhere!

A big trend this season is monochrome. Which I absolutely love! I wear a lot of black, white and greys so I am very excited to have this trend filter down into the high street - as heaven knows I will never be able to afford designer!
We all know black is slimming but an all black outfit can look at bit drab and sombre. Adding a pop of white really livens up and outfit and can create a dramatic statement. I love the J W Anderson piece in the gallery below - so simple yet so striking, its a real piece of art. On a side note, his range for Topshop is amazing! Check it out here...

I love how clean and simple monochrome looks. There's no fuss, just two colours working together in perfect harmony! Another thing is that everyone looks good in black and white - no matter what your colouring, black and white will suit you, so everyone's a winner. I know we're only just coming out of winter but I'm excited for A/W 2013 already!

I've complied a gallery of some of my favourite looks over the last week or so. All photographs are from the London Fashion Week website.

[gallery type="slideshow" columns="1" ids="260,256,259,254,253,261,252,258,255,224,230,229,231"]

What did you think of London Fashion Week? Do you love monochrome as much as I do? Leave your links and comments below!

Rx

Review | (500) Days of Summer

"This is not a love story. This is a story about love."

So I'm pretty sure I'm the last person to see (500) Days of Summer. And I'm not really sure why I haven't seen it until now - I just sort of missed it. But I digress, to start I popped the DVD in and I was promptly greeted by Regina Spektor's Us. One of my very favourite songs (and one that makes me want to start playing the piano again!) the film was off to a good start. And it just kept getting better.

Now I'm going to talk about the film. A lot, so if you haven't seen it, go watch it and come back. ***SPOILER ALERT***



So the jist of the story is boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Girl likes boy but ultimately falls in love with another boy.

Despite the narrator saying at the start that this is a story about love not a love story, I didn't believe him. (Did anyone??) It was the bench scene early on in the film, when the married Summer (Zooey Deschanel) squeezes Tom's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) hand, that I realised they weren't together. And on reflection, I'm pleased we found out so early that this wasn't a happy ending for Summer and Tom. This film is about the journey of love and getting to the happy ending rather than the ending itself.

The film skips back and forth along a timeline of 500 days, illustrating the start, the middle, the demise and the aftermath of Tom, an aspiring architect/greeting card writer, and Summer, a PA at Tom's greeting card company. Along the way we see fights in the rain, homemaking in Ikea, drunken karaoke and kissing in the copy room. We witness Tom's endless struggle to define the relationship and Summer's determined-ness to keep it casual.

Beautiful cinematography is for me what makes this film. The best part for me is the expectation vs reality montage. It was simply stunning, so inspired. Completely relatable, we've all imagined situations about how our fairytale will turn out and more often than not it just doesn't become our happy ever after. It was one of the most touching and painful moments of the film - and credit is due to Joseph, to create such sympathy and emotion is real testament to his acting ability. (I also loved him in 10 Things I Hate About You and Inception.)

The film is taken from the point of view of Tom. So often in rom coms we follow the girl's thoughts, it was refreshing to empathise with the bloke rather than wanting to cut his parts off because, you know, all men are evil.

There are funny moments too - Tom's 'I-got-laid-last-night' dance can't help but put a massive smile on your face. Tom's little sister, Rachel (great name) played by Chloe Grace Moretz provides the unwavering sane advice - not bad for a 12 year old. A stand-out performance by Moretz, whose quips and advice make you chuckle because you know she's right.

All in all, a touching, funny, beautifully crafted movie about love. Well worth a watch.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM&w=560&h=315]

Thoughts on (500) Days of Summer? Leave links and comments below - I love having a read!

Rx

BBC 6Music

Music is a huge part of my life - It always has been and always will be. It consumes my personal and professional life and I basically couldn't live without it

*Shameless plug to my music blog... Untitled Playlist*

Now my favourite radio station is BBC 6Music. After the horrors of local northern radio stations such as Lincs FM (with the birthday shout outs) and Galaxy (the chavviest station known to man) I was desperate to find a decent radio station in my youth. Radio 1 was a favourite of mine for a long time and as was XFM (London branch) but over the last few years I have listened to BBC 6Music pretty much everyday and has come up as my firm favourite.

[caption id="attachment_196" align="aligncenter" width="608"] The family photo - 10 years old[/caption]

Started in 2002, the digital only radio station faced closure in 2010 but after a huge uproar it was saved and has since become the leading digital station in the country.

I listen to Shaun Keaveny every morning without fail - he has the BEST breakfast show around. He eases you into the morning with his witty, self-deprecating manner and a brilliant playlist. It offers a dedicated music news section as well as the normal news to gear you up for the day. MASOs (Middle-aged shout-outs) is the best radio feature. Ever. And my favourite Professor Brian Cox shows up every week too - a perfect morning show!
Aside from Shaun other DJs include among others, Lauren Laverne, Steve Lamacq, Jarvis Cocker, Mary-Anne Hobbs and Guy Garvey. The list of talent goes on and on. Its a real music-lovers heaven - I can't get enough of this station and you should definitely give it a listen if you haven't already.

Now the reason I started writing this post is that is 10 years of this wonderful station and to celebrate they had a listeners poll to discover the top 100 songs of 6Music's lifetime. 10 years ago I was 13 and really getting into my music. The 10 years of 6Music's life have also been the 10 years of my music life so I was desperate to see the outcome of this poll. And here is the list...

The top 10 are:
1 Coldplay - Clocks
2 Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
3 Elbow - One Day Like This
4 The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
5 The Killers - Mr Brightside
6 The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
7 The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize??
8 Johnny Cash - Hurt
9 British Sea Power - Remember Me
10 Radiohead - There There
With the rest of the countdown being here.

I personally voted for Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor because their debut album basically changed my life, so I'm a little gutted they didn't get the top spot. Number 2 isn't bad though and I do love Coldplay - seeing them headline Glastonbury last year was one of the greatest moments of my life, I won't be forgetting Coldplay or that moment in a hurry. Mr Brightside was the soundtrack to my sixth form days when I met some of the greatest people I know, Seven Nation Army has, in my eyes the best riff ever, and Johnny Cash's Hurt brings me to tears every time I hear it. I think the listeners of 6Music have got it spot on.

Have a listen to the list here...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d020hcWA_Wg?list=PLXo96vlNmlLKcHgZEkpZ2lS32kh-h4BAa&w=560&h=315]


Do you listen to 6Music? What's your favourite radio station? Do you approve of the list??
Leave me links and comments below – I’d love to know your thoughts!

Rx

St James's Park, London

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My favourite park in London is St James's Park. Now considering the number of parks around London that is quite a claim, so let me tell you why its so good.

When you enter the park by Buckingham Palace you'll be greeted by the gorgeous rolling lawns and the lake filled with water fowl and plants. There is an island in the lake which is pretty beautiful - full of exciting and interesting plants. Then you can walk the whole way around the lake going past Birdcage Walk, Horse Guard's Parade, St James's Palace and the Mall.

I love all of these monuments and no matter how many times I see these places I get that great patriotic feeling and it reminds me of the Royal wedding and the Jubilee (yes I'm a royalist, get over it.) So no matter how many tourists are flapping about I still enjoy seeing them as I wander through the park. At the other end of the park is Horse Guard's Parade, scene of many a monarch birthday (but probably most memorably the ladies beach volleyball during the Olympics!).

St James's is also small. Well, relatively. It is small yet perfectly formed! It has the atmosphere and charisma of a big park yet you can walk around it in half an hour. In the Summer the park is full of groups of friends picnicing and sunbathing - I've whiled away plenty of sunny afternoons in this park!

Despite the park being in the very centre of London surrounded by all these fantastic monuments, the park can be very quiet. Its peaceful, tranquil and quaint whilst being effervescently cool. It has a wonderful atmosphere which isn't drowned by its size. I love this park, it makes me fell calm and happy and it makes me appreciate this amazing city I live in.

So when you're next in London give St James's Park a visit - it's well worth it!
I'm always keen to go to new places so let me know your favourite parts of London!

Rx

Maddox Street by Nails Inc

I have a fair few nail polishes. And my favourite brand is Nails Inc, I have just counted my collection and I have 30 of their polishes! I think I may have a problem!!

But that's an issue for another day. Today I wanted to talk about Maddox Street.

Maddox Street was my very first Nails Inc polish and remains to this day, my favourite. Its a gorgeous gun metal grey with a slight metallic edge. This is by no means a metallic polish in the normal sense of the word, it just gives a hint of depth.



I think this is such a good polish for a whole host of occasions. I wear it as a day to day polish, as its not as harsh as a black (Black Taxi by Nails Inc is the BEST black nail polish around). Its also gorgeous to wear on a night out as the slight metallic-ness and beautiful shine catch the lights in bars and clubs making it intriguing and interesting - I get asked about this polish a lot!

Now you may think I'm crazy for having £330 worth of polish from Nails Inc but here's why I love them so much...



I think their formula is just brilliant. It applies beautifully and levels itself nicely meaning its a doddle to make your nail varnish look good. The colours are also really pigmented, I always put two coats on but in a hurry you could use just one and still have great looking fingertips! The polish lasts for ages! For me, their polishes last at least a week without chipping (but I do work on computers all day so my hands aren't exposed to manual labour or water/chemicals a lot which can reduced the length of time a polish lasts).

Finally £11 may seem a lot for a nail polish, and it is but I think the quality of polish is so so much better than the Barry M polishes of the world that they're worth their dollar. And considering high end brands charge around the £20 mark, I don't think Nails Inc is that bad.

Also, the Nails Inc website offers £5 sale polishes quite often and multi-buy sets (as to TK MAXX incidentally) so have a look at their site here.

Do you like Nails Inc as much as I do?? What are your favourite nail polish brands? I love to try out new things so let me know!

Rx

Review | John Green - 'The Fault In Our Stars'

I'm quite the book worm. I really love reading. Nothing gets me more excited than finding a book which captivates and consumes me. And that is exactly what John Green's 'The Fault In Our Stars' did.



Now I knew John Green from Vlogbrothers way before I read TFIOS as, you know, him and his brother Hank are pretty awesome. Here is their channel. And here is John talking about said book:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FzrUXOZEc&w=560&h=315]

So, I won't give away any spoilers but the story is about 16-year-old Hazel who has terminal cancer. Yes, its a cancer book, and no it is not just about cancer. Its the story of Hazel and a boy she meets at Cancer Kid Support Group called Augustus Waters.

TFIOS is brilliant; completely absorbing, tragically witty and heart-breakingly emotional. It made me laugh, it made me cry and it made me look at life a little differently after reading it. It is one of the best books I've read in a very long time! There is a reason why this book was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, you simply HAVE to read it.



Have you read it 'The Fault In Our Stars'? Did you enjoy it? Leave me links and comments below – I'd love to know your thoughts!

Rx

Sea Otter

This may well be the cutest thing I've ever seen.



This photo is from a Daily Mail article and is of a Sea Otter posing for the camera! Completely adorable - I want a Sea Otter!

Rx

Review | Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation

[caption id="attachment_85" align="aligncenter" width="337"] Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation - Ivory[/caption]

When I was trying to find a new foundation, it was safe to say it was an ordeal!
I'd been in the market for a few weeks and not being particularly happy with my previous foundation (No.7 Stay Matte) mainly because it didn't suit my skin. So anyway, background over I set off in pursuit of the perfect foundation...

My first problem was high end vs high street - I was quite prepared to pay the big bucks of Chanel or Laura Mercier but only as long as the foundation was worth it but when brands like Rimmel and Revlon get such rave reviews online I was a bit torn.

I started of in high end mainly. Chanel's Vitalumiere Aqua was pretty gorgeous and gave a lovely cover on my skin, dewey but without the shine however £32 for a small plastic bottle seemed a bit steep. The packaging really let them down. Next I hit the Clinique counter and tried their Superbalanced foundation. This was much cheaper than Chanel at £21 and the packaging was so much nicer. However the formula dried out my skin a little so unfortunately it wasn't for me. So after wandering up and down Oxford St more times than I care to admit and with multicoloured hands from all different designer foundations I gave up.
There was just too much choice. I felt like I was drowning in foundation and I hadn't even started on the high street!

So after words like 'coverage', 'skin type', 'skin tone' stopped haunting my dreams I braved Superdrug. The store near my flat is very handy, it has all of the make up ranges the store offers. Again I swatched and swatched and swatched away getting lost amongst the brands - how on earth am I supposed to decide?!

And you know what swung it for me? The offers! Rimmel foundation was reduced and I'd heard great reviews about the Wake Me Up Foundation online so bit the bullet and went for it. And boy, am I glad I did.

[caption id="attachment_86" align="aligncenter" width="337"] Shade: Ivory (with the slightest of shimmers)[/caption]

First of all the packaging is really good quality, a nice sturdy glass bottle which is definitely good enough to rival some of the high end brands (Chanel I'm looking at you).

The coverage and feel of this foundation is so lovely and rich - I'd definitely put it up there with its high end peers. It gives a light to medium coverage which I go for - I'm really not a fan of the 'caked on' look! It applies smoothly, I use a brush at first then set it with my fingers.

As cheesy as this sounds it does make your skin feel bright, illuminated and, awake. There is the slightest of shimmers in the formula (not that you can tell once its on your skin) but I think it does genuinely highlight the skin. It gives a dewey, healthy, glowing look to your skin. Its great, well worth a go for the price of it!

What are your favourite high street foundations?? Leave links and comments below - I'd love to have a read!

Rx

Hello World!

Well hello there.

I'm Rachel, it's lovely to meet you. Thanks for stopping by.

This is my brand new blog (my other one all about music is here) where I will share with you all the lovely things I find in my life.

I hope you like it, please comment and share if you like what I have to say and link me to your blogs - I love reading them!

Rx