New In: Chanel Eclats Du Soir Christmas 2012

Chanel Eclats Du Soir Collection - Le Vernis in Malice 637 £18 &  Rouge Allure Velvet in L'Impatient £25

Chanel's latest collection, Eclats Du Soir is absolutely stunning, as we've come to expect from Chanel. The collection includes beautifully embossed eyeshadow quads, shimmering tones and deep plums, all perfect for the festive season. Out of all Chanel's Christmas offerings I've been giving the Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in L'Impatient and Le Vernis Nail Colour in 637 Malice a little road test. 

As Chanel's Rouge Coco Shines are one of my favourite lipsticks (post here) I was intrigued to see how the Rouge Allure Velvet would compare. The shade L'Impatient looks rather scary in the bullet, but is much more wearable than expected. The stick is pigmented enough for an easy full coverage lip, or just patted on to create a berry stain. I'm pleased to report the formula isn't drying, is buttery soft and in fact hardly feels like you're wearing lipstick at all. 

Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in L'Impatient

In my eyes Chanel is the queen of the polish world, their shades are always on trend, bringing out the most unique colours every season and they have not let me down this Christmas.  The shade Holiday from their Summer collection, Summertime De Chanel (post here) was by far my most worn polish this Summer and no doubt Malice will be the most worn this Winter. 

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 637 Malice

It's unlike any other shade I own or have seen, at first glance it looks like a deep plum but has a gorgeous ruby shimmer running through it. I absolutely love the colours ability to appear different in different lighting, in some almost wine coloured and in others very ruby. Despite not lasting particularly long on the nails there's no shade like it! Its even got the dads seal of approval       

Wearing Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in L'Impatient

The Chanel Eclat Du Soir Collection is available here. Has anything caught your eye from the collection?

50 Shades Of Pink

Essie Fiji, Avon Nailwear Pro + in Pastel Pink, L'Oreal Colour Riche in 202 Marie Antoinette, Essie Chastity, Essie Splash Of Grendaine, OPI If You Moust You Moust, Essie Status Symbol, Essie Calypso, Ciate Jelly Bean, Revlon Cherries In The Snow, Essie Raspberry (left to right)

Whenever I'm near a nail polish stand I always end up gravitating towards the pink shades, it's the little girl in me! Even if I go out aiming to pick up a totally unusual shade for me (Essie Mint Candy Apple I'm talking to you) I'll end up picking up multiple pink polishes too.

Since I've gotten into looking after my nails and they are finally growing I've been buying polishes left right and centre to celebrate! These are some of my favourites, the shades we brought on holiday, you know because you need 11 different shades of pink for one holiday...of course.

From left to right,

Essie Fiji

Avon Nailwear Pro Plus in Pastel Pink

L'Oreal Colour Riche in 202 Marie Antoinette

Essie Chastity

Essie Splash Of Grenadine

OPI If You Moust You Moust

Essie Status Symbol

Essie Calypso

Ciate Jelly Bean

Revlon Cherries In The Snow

Essie Raspberry

Essie Fiji, Avon Nailwear Pro + in Pastel Pink, L'Oreal Colour Riche in 202 Marie Antoinette, Essie Chastity, Essie Splash Of Grendaine, OPI If You Moust You Moust, Essie Status Symbol, Essie Calypso, Ciate Jelly Bean, Revlon Cherries In The Snow, Essie Raspberry (left to right)

What's your favourite pink polish?

Nail Therapy

We all have our regrets when it comes to the beauty regime, whether it be not taking makeup off before bed or not applying an SPF. One of mine would be Gel and Acrylic overlay on my nails. I’ve had either one for as long as I can remember, barely giving my nails any time to ‘breathe’ from acrylics, extension tips to gels both bioscuplture and shellac.

They are something I have quite a love hate relationship with as I love the way they last on my nails without chipping but hate the condition they leave my nails in. After I finally took them off a couple of weeks ago my nails were thinner than paper - that's probably an understatement. In fact it's pretty disgusting how much they flake and break.

While I'm away on holiday I've decided it’s goodbye to gels for me and I am giving my nails some TLC with the aim of getting them back to a semi decent state.

To file my nails and even out any breakages I've been using these fantastic Stylefiles, which are curved and make filing nails so much simpler. Something so small yet makes such a big difference! For cuticles I've been applying Neals Yard Remedies Nail Balm at night as it’s a very rich hydrating cream and Sally Hansen Cuticle Eraser and Balm in the mornings. I’m not too keen on the Sally Hansen balm but it’s early days and a Sally Hansen product has never failed me so I'll keep ya posted. 

For stumpy little nails I've been applying coats of Sally Hansen Nailgrowth Miracle daily. I'm unsure of the correct way to properly apply this treatment but it seems to be working pretty well just slapping on some coats whenever I feel needs. Another little Sally Hansen treatment is the Nailgrowth Miracle Serum, which I've been massaging into my nailbeds every other evening – I’d say the combination of the two has really helped give my stumpy nails an extra boost as they seem to be growing!

Now onto the star of the show, Dr Lewinns Renunail Nail Strengthener, after having no luck with OPI Nail Envy I got second time lucky. This stuff in an absolute gem, something you’re supposed to apply two coats of and then another coat everyday but I've been applying two coats every other day and have seen a huge difference in the strength of my nails. They aren't as strong as I'd like them to be yet, still a couple of breakages here but definitely a huge improvement.

To top the whole thing off I've been appling a super nourishing handcream by Balance Me, which I've been keeping by my bedside as a lovely treatment.

We aren't back to normal nail strength yet but the finish line is definitely in sight! What are some of your beauty regrets?

New In: Mavala Jeans For Genes Day Collection

Going to a primary school where wearing a uniform was fully enforced Jeans for Genes day would always be extremely exciting. Not having to wear a itchy pleated skirt and being able to choose from my collection of comfortable flares. Jeans for Genes day, being a non-uniform day, also meant no usual rules apply so nails were allowed to be painted. If I was to go back in time Mavala 178 Denim Blue would've been my colour of choice.

Mavala Jenes for Geans day collection £10

Currently on Beauty Bay until the 5th of October is a three piece collection featuring a base and top coat and a perfect metallic blue polish, all for £10. £1 of which goes to support Genetic Disorders UK. All purchases will enter in an automatic entry for a chance to win your office a manicure day by celebrity manicurist Jenni Drapper (she's amazing - such a perfectionist!)

I love brands that help me support charities as well as my addiction      

Find them on Beauty Bay here

Top 5: Summer Nail Polishes

I'm all about the pinks and the reds, especially in Summer! Here are my top 5 polishes I'll be wearing this summer (from left to right)

1. Ciate Mistress

2. Essie Splash Of Grenadine

3. Chanel Holiday from their summer collection (full post here)

4. Ciate Jelly Bean (free in this months Red magazine)

5. Essie Haute as Hello

What polishes will you be wearing this Summer?

Currently Loving: Essie Nail Polish

This post should probably be called Currently Re-loving Essie Nail Polish as  thats pretty much whats happened. Over the past couple of years between my sister my Mum and I we have ended up with a pretty sizeable Essie collection and had named these our favourite brand of nail polish. There was just one huggge problem, especially for my sister and I  - the brush. We just simply couldn't paint my own nails with such a small brush so we moved onto OPI as the brushes were wider and easier to use. Recently much to my great pleasure Essie have relaunched and now have a new diffusion line in Boots and Superdrug for £7.99, over 70 shades to choose from and with wider brushes! 

Left - Essie Polish New Diffusion Line Brush Right - Essie Original Brush

Recently I've picked up (from left to right below) Muchi Muchi, Mint Candy Apple, Status Symbol and Splash Of Grenadine. The thicker brush makes it so much easier to paint my own nails!  I'm guessing they changed the formula and I don't think it lasts as long on my nails. Another little annoying thing they've changed is the name of the polish is now on the side of the lid as opposed to the bottom. 

While on the topic of nails...if you're in Boots or Superdrug make sure to check out Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish Remover if you like to change your polish a lot like me! It will save you tons of time and so many cotton pads. All you do is whirl your finger around in the pot of sponge infused polish and all gone!

What are you favourite Essie colours?

New In: Summertime De Chanel - Summer Collection 2012

Chanel Summertime De Chanel Collection

This summer Chanel have released a new collection named Summertime De Chanel that features two bronzers, three nail polishes, one eyeshadow duo, two pencils, two rouge coco shines and two lip glosses. I always look forward to a good Chanel collection and this one was no failure! I managed to pick up a few bits including the Soleil Tan De Chanel Harmonie Poudre De Soleil in 917 Sable Rose, Ombres Contraste Duo Eyeshadow Duo in 37 Sable Emouvant, Rouge Coco Shine in 437 Empreinte and Le Vernis Nail Colour in 607 Delight and 617 Holiday.

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel 917 Sable Rose

First up in the bronzer, Soleil Tan De Chanel in 917 Sable Rose, that includes seven (yes seven) shades, with a hint of shimmer. The shades are all really warm and compliment my complexion well even though I'm fair skinned and this is the darker palette of the two. I used them below blended together and swept across the cheeks for some radiance and sculpting. This will definitely be my summer staple as the shades are perfect for a day or an evening look and are so easy to use!

Left - Chanel Holiday 617 Nailpolish. Right - Chanel Delight 607 Nailpolish

I think everyone anticipates the Chanel nail colour shades, Holiday 617 is a bright coral and will definitely be gracing my nails this summer as well as Delight 607 which is a gorgeous shimmery bronze. I've been wearing Holiday on my nails with Delight on my ring fingers - lovely!

Chanel Eyeshadow Duo 37 Sable Emouvant 

The Chanel Eyeshadow Duo is very pigmented, very creamy and blends lovely! The shade 37 Sable - Emouvant is right up my street and will definitely be using this on a daily basis! Soft beige/cream all over the lid with some slight definition using the brown shade in the crease and under the eye and all sorted!

Rouge Coco Shine in 437 Empreinte

Last up, the Rouge Coco Shine - Hydration Sheer Lipshine in 437 Empreinte. I absolutely love the formulations of the Rouge Coco Shines, they are very hydrating while adding a sheer wash of colour and are very subtle. I love this shade, it's a soft beige with a slight shimmer to it that gives a 'my lips but nuder' effect.

Wearing Eyeshadow Duo 37 Sable - Emouvant on my eyes, Soleil Tan De Chanel 917 Sable Rose on my cheeks & Rouge Coco Shine in 437 Empreinte on my lips! 

So those are all the items that caught my eye from the limited edition Chanel Summertime De Chanel Collection (and I sense the collection will be a sellout!) Do you have you eye on anything?

New In: Mavala Delicious Collection

When it comes to staying on trend with colours I think the leading nail polish brand is Chanel. However as much as I love the colours the polish doesn't last and the price is very high for something I would wear a couple of times a season and then put away. This summer my nails are definitely going to be graced with some pastel shades, especially these ones from Mavala. I had these shades above on my nails for about a week and these colours proved to be very popular wherever I went, my nails have never got so much attention!      

The Delicious Collection features 6 pastel shades, If you're someone like me that wants to change their nail polish colour all the time you'll love the small Mavala bottles as it's perfect to satisfy the pastel trend without feeling like you're wasting by buying a big bottle!

From left to right - Blue Mint, Candy Floss, Fresh Melon, Frozen Berry, Lemon Cream, Pistachio 

Mavala Nail Polish is £4.30 and available from John Lewis and Debenhams

The Perfect Nude Nails?

Thanks to May from Smoochblog (love her!) I recently got intoduced to this nail polish by Deborah Lippmann. Since Kate Middleton's wedding I've been obsessed with nude nails! They look so elegant and look like your natural nails but better. The colour is called Naked, and is the perfect mix between opaque and transparent, so it will cover the colour of your nails by evening it out but still let your nail shine though. I love!

You can purchase Deborah Lippmann from House of Fraser here (where I bought mine!) there are so many wonderful shades to choose from I may have to purchase a few more!

Lustworthy: Models Own & Hed Kandi

Fantastic brand Models Own have teamed up with Hed Kandi to give us 5 fabulous polishes inspired by Ibiza! From left to right...
Beach Party
Balearic Cool
Disco Heaven 
Ibiza Mix
Hedonist
I'm lusting after Balearic Cool & Hedonist! What about you?
All £5 and available here. 

New & Noteworthy: CID I-Polish

A concept so simple yet so effective that I can't help but wonder why it took so long to come up with! Introducing nail polish - with a light, i-polish! Turned on by a button located on the top of the lid that highlights lightens your brush strokes so you know exactly where you're applying the product. 

My first thought was who paints their nails in the dark? After just trying this once, with the light on, I found that tiny light made a world of difference! It enables you to be so much more precise and see the layers of nail polish much clearer!

Available in 24 shades below from Debenhams, £10.