Estee Lauder Metallics - Embrace you're inner Snow Queen!!!

Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow - Artic Zinc, £27

Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer - Chaos, £14.50

Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer - Chrome Violet, £14.50

When you think of Christmas sparkle it's usually golds, reds and greens that spring to mind evoking all the richness warmth and decadence that Christmas inspires. I, however, also love silvers, blues and mauves, instead creating a shimmering frosty wintery feel. Luckily for me Estee Lauder have also been inspired by icy shades and have come up with these lovely rich glittery metallics that I can fully embrace and indulge myself in.

Firstly, the gorgeous eye trio, Artic Zinc, part of this seasons Estee Lauder Metallics Collection. The pallet comprises of three beautiful sparkly shades that can be worn separately of blended to create a smokey eye. The handy protector even gives you a guide in where to apply the different colours to achieve this effect. It was really easy to apply and, as usual with Estee Lauder products, lasted throughout the day with little need to reapply or touch up. I would most lightly wear this in the evening with blacks, navys and greys, a welcome change from my usual warm browns.

With a frosty silvery eye it's only natural to use the same shades on the nails. Again Estee Lauder have come up trumps. One of my favourite varnishes from last year is Chaos. Its silvery glittery tones, with a slight hint of lilac go perfectly with the eyeshadow. You need a good couple of coats to achieve an even application but it's well worth the effort as it last for ages and looks amazing. This varnish is still available this season so hurry up and check it out!

Secondly is Estee Lauder's Chrome Violet, again part of this seasons Metallics Collection. This has more of a satin effect, less sparkly than Chaos but still a beautiful shade. Two coats are needed for an even coverage and it lasts pretty well, very minimal chipping!

These shades provide a welcome change from the usual golds of the festive season, I will definately be going for the silvery glittery option with my LBD, the perfect accessory to enhance you're festive look!

Are you a glorious gold or an shimmering silver?

XXX

Christmas giveaway - and the winner is.....!

 These are a selection of the entries in my Nails Inc Snowflake giveaway, thanks guys, you came up with some stunning ideas!!!

 From bottom to top entries by Rhea, Paige Joanna and Hannah

 From left to right entries from Courtney, Lisa and Katie

As promised, I have tried to recreate some of you're brilliant ideas, but please remember my A-level in Art and Design does not qualify me as a nail technician!!!

Firstly Lisa, who unfortunately doesn't qualify as she's my lovely daughter, suggested a festive red base covered with the Snowflake effect. I used Chanel's Rouge Rubis, part of this years Christmas collection to create her entry.

Next Hannah suggested a gorgeous cobalt blue, very much in style ATM. For this I used Chanel's Bel Argus. This reminds me of a dusky winter evening, very effective.

Coutney came of with the idea of using a darker shade to create a snowy night, for this I used  Chanel's Noir Ceramic, bring on the Christmas carols!

I loved Paige's idea of using a icy mint green as the base gives the impression of a frozen snowy landscape. For this I used Barry M's Mint Green, a must for anyone's nail collection. Check out Paige's comment as she also has an outfit suggestion to match her nails.

Katie's gold glittery nails looked really festive. Here I've used Chanel's Golf Fingers, a personal favourite, it embraces all the richness of Christmas.

Finally, Rhea came up with my favourite, and therefore my winning suggestion. This festive red french manicure effect looks brilliant. I used Chanel's Holiday with white tips which I loaded with Snowflake to achieve this festive effect, it looks like the snow is gathering on the tips of the nail. I loved this idea as it was not only effective but also a little different from the other entries, which again were all great!!!

And the winner is Rhea Hooper, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

THANK YOU again to everyone who entered and for you're follows, it is very much appreciated!!!

As its the 1st December I can now officially wish you all A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

XXX 

Yankee Candles Christmas Advent - I can not wait till 1st December!!!

Yankee Candle Advent Calender, £21.99

 A festive tealight behind each door!

 I can not wait to see what the surprise is behind door number 24!

 A pretty festive tealight holder from Perfect Scents

I don't usually have my own advent calender any more, prefering instead to leave that to the kids. However, all that changed when I spotted this amazing calender from Yankee Candles. I am a very big fan of their products anyway and this calender seemed to embrace all my Christmas scent requirements in one exciting product, what more could I wish for!!!

Although, at £21.99, it may appear a little expensive for some budgets, I think that it's really good value. You get one of six different festive tealights behind each day with a special surprise behind door number 24. The scents include Snow in Love, Balsam & Cedar, Merry Mashmallow, Red Apple Wreath, Snowflake Cookie and Sparkling Cinnamon (one of my favourites, yum!) There seems to be a fragrance to suit just about everybody's personal tastes.

I can not wait to find out what the surprise is behind door 24, will let you know on Christmas Eve. In the meantime I have a charming festive tealight holder ready to burn each days treat. This pretty one came from my local Yankee Candle suppliers, a wonderful shop full of incredible treasures called Perfect Scents, very aptly named!

With this advent my house is bound to have a continual warming, welcoming seasonal aroma this year, December just can not come quick enough!

What festive candles will be warming you're mantle piece this year?

XXX

Christmas Wish List - I've been a very good girl!!!

Lulu Guinness Leopard Izzy Satchel from the Wild Cat Collection

 

Most definitely top of my Christmas wish list is this lovely little treasure from the Lulu Guinness Wild Cat Collection. I have several bigger tote style bags that are useful for everyday but sometimes you need something a little more 'subtle' when going out in the evening.

 

Two of my favourite evening clutches are both Lulu Guinness, including a classic Lips Clutch, however, they are only capable of holding a phone and a lipstick at most. I know, what else does a girl need when being treated to an evening out with her man? My problem is that I invariably also need my glasses these days, particularly when trying to read a menu. It's a little embarrassing when I have to get someone to read it for me, don't laugh, it will happen to you too one day!

 

Pandora silver present charm

 

Next on my list would be a lovely Pandora charm. My kids and their partners all clubbed together and bought me a lovely Pandora leather bracelet and first charm for my 50th last year and in doing so created an avid collector! There are so many pretty charms to chose from and one to suit just about any occasion, even Christmas!

 

Christmas reindeer socks from Accessorize

 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a pair of festive socks, as always Accessorize have come up trumps with this cute pair. There are several different designs to chose from and at 3 pairs for £8 you could get a pair for yourself too. Accessorize is always a good place to go for a Christmas gift, there is so much to chose from suiting all sorts of budgets.

 

Although I love girly gifts I would also love a couple of 3DS games for my console. This year I have my eyes firmly set on Zelda, A Link Between Worlds and Lego Marvel Super Hero's, sometimes it's good to be a kid again.

 

Thornton's Chocolate Reindeer

 

My Christmas list wouldn't be complete without my favourite Christmas chocolate. These reindeer's from Thornton's are great value at the moment at 3 for 2, handy if, like me, you have three kids to buy for!

 

Presents aside, the best gift I could receive this Christmas is to have all my family at home for dinner. They are all grown up now, some living away from home with partners so it becomes increasingly difficult to all get together and celebrate.

 

 I look forward to a warm Christmas evening, fire and Christmas candles lit, Christmas music playing (not sure everyone enjoys that as much as me!) and the silly family games out, the perfect end to a perfect day!

 

How will you be celebrating this year?

 

XXX

 

 

 

Chanel Rouge Allure Radieuse, a rose by any other name!

 Chanel Rouge Allure 217 Radieuse, £25

A beautiful shimmery pink!

 

When I first saw this new lipstick from Chanel's Collection Nuit Infinie de Chanel, Christmas 2013, I knew it had to be part of my make up collection!!!

 

I am a big fan of Chanel's Rouge Allure lipsticks as they always last so long and don't dry out you're lips. The colours always retain a good level of intensity too. Although quite expensive at £25, I think it's sometimes false economy to use a cheaper brand.

 

This pink is a change from my usual colour choice of a pinky red matte but sometimes, particularly when wearing a darker shade on the eyes, you need to go for a lighter lip colour. It didn't last quite as well as Chanel's more matte lipsticks, a common problem, I've found, with a shimmery satin shade. I thought it was a little reminiscent of the 60's, a touch of Mary Quant even, a good excuse to get out that bold black liquid eyeliner! 

A pretty, easy to wear pink!

 

Have you found any 60's inspired pink lipsticks this season?

 

XXX



Clarins Limited Edition Essential Eye Palette - a must have!

Clarins Limited Edition Essential Eye Palette, £35 

Beautifully packaged!

Handy size for travel.

One of my favourite buys this autumn is this lovely eye shadow palette by Clarins. It has covered just about every shade of autumnal brown possible and therefore, as the name suggests, it has quickly become an essential part of my make up collection.

It is very easy to blend the colours to achieve the effect you are after, the double ended brush is both soft and easy to use. I like to apply a lighter base colour then use the thinner end of the brush to added a darker shade just above the eye line before applying my eyeliner. This gives a soft effect that can be made to look more dramatic for an evening out using the darker shades.

I would definitely take this item away with me rather than several different eye shadows as it would just about cover any look I wanted to achieve.

I found that the shadow stayed in place for the best part of the day needing just a little touch up in the evening if going out. It also didn't crease, a real bonus! I didn't think the price was too high either considering the amount of different shades you get, it should last for quite some time.

If you want to get hold of one of these little beauties then I would hurry as they are selling out quickly. I know both Boots and Debenhams stock them, but not for much longer I fear!

 

Lighter shades.

Darker shades, all incorporating both matte

and shimmery tones.

Even has a handy guide for blending.

This has quickly become a make up essential in my kit, what make up essential could you not survive without?

XXX

Nails Inc Snowflake 'giveaway' - You can have a White Christmas!

#ALERT!!! Christmas Giveaway#

 

Nails Inc Limited Edition nail varnish, £12

Applied over (from left to right) Chanel Graphite, Chanel Attraction, Estee Lauder Oyster Cult and Nails Inc Covent Garden Ballet 

 Chanel Le Vernis in Graphite & Attraction, Estee Lauder Oyster Cult and

Nails Inc Covent Garden Ballet

From left to right Chanel Le Vernis Graphite & Attraction, Estee Lauder Oyster Cult

and Nails Inc Covent Garden Ballet

 

I thought it was time to have a little 'giveaway' competition and what better than one of these limited edition Nails Inc Snowflake nail varnishes, just in time for the festive season.

 

I tried it applied over four different silvery varnishes to test the effect of the product. I think you will agree that it definitely added a touch of snow to the nail making it look very Christmassy!

 

I achieved these results using two coats, building up flakes until I had the look I wanted, I think they really do have a snowflake effect. My favourite was the Snowflake varnish over Chanel's Attraction, it creates a lovely snowy scene.

 

Snowflake and Attraction

 

This is where the competition comes in.

 

 I have been quite safe in my experimentation and am sure you guys can come up with some far more interesting and wacky ideas as to how you would use the Snowflake varnish if you won it.

 

All you have to do is follow me on 'Bloglovin' or Twitter and leave a comment describing how you would create a Christmassy effect using this product, all before the 30th November. I will have a go at some of you're suggestions and let you know which one I think is the best, the more imaginative the better!

 

Unfortunately I can only accept entries in the UK as you'd be unlikely to receive the prize before Christmas if elsewhere, so sorry!

 

I will announce the winner on Twitter and my Blog on 1st December so get those creative juices flowing, I can not wait to hear all you're ideas!!!!

 

How would you wear Nails Inc's Snowflake varnish?

 

XXX