Twinkle Tips

Call me sad, but to me one of the best things about the new season is updating 'the look.'

SURE kicking fallen leaves, breathing in the new crisp air and the return of months of it being so cold you lose feeling in your nose are GREAT.

But they don't beat shopping, do they?!

And sometimes shopping doesn't even have to mean in an actual, well, shop.

It can mean in your own collection. The things you fell in love with last season, or maybe put in a drawer and forgot about or didn't quite take to last time but now your style's evolved and you love it.

 And just as important as updating your clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories and coats (like totally girls)- is updating your make up.

This is something I'll be covering in a few more posts- you lucky things!- because I've got a new lipstick here and there etc....but I've just spent the evening playing with nail polishes and whilst I'm still slightly high, lets begin with fingertips....

SO...if you haven't snoozed off already....these are the polishes my stubby little sausage fingers will be wearing this season

....not all at the same time, obviously. For one there are 11 here, so that would cause a problem.....

I'm genuinely sorry about the shitty quality of the photos- this will be sorted soon, I promise. But even a badly-sighted person can probably see the mix of colours here, right?

One I'm really liking at the moment is the bright, colbalt-esque blue. This is Poolside by Number 7 (I'm presuming they still stock it, but I don't know, because unfortunately I am not Lisa Eldridge *cry*)

 

 

Blue isn't traditionally an A/W colour for nails- but I don't know...maybe that's why I like it? It's du jour 2012/13 innit.

 

And plus I saw a similar colour on Caroline Flak on the Xtra Factor on Saturday and I'm a little bit in love with that woman so I couldn't resist.

 



One of my favourite shades that I will continue to go back to A/W after A/W is the deep plum colour. This is Raspberry by Barry M. And it's LOVE.

This is..well, this is black.

And like the Amy Winehouse song, I keep going back to it.

This isn't the 'coolest' is it, but on skin with a glow in pale winter air, it's nice. I HAVE A VISION HERE PEOPLE, DON'T RUIN IT FOR ME.

I'm thinking Leona Lewis in the UK Bleeding Love Video, but I'm looking more beaten-up panda.

 

 

I love a trad (sorry, watching Made in Chelsea totally ya) red nail all year round- but especially in A/W.

 

This one, howevs, has got a shimmer to it which, I'll be honest, when I first got it, I didn't really like.

 

 

But having dug it out of my polish drawer and put it over a plain red I frickinnnn loveeeeee it.

 

I'm not wearing a top coat in the photograph (I know, I shouldn't be going around naked on the internet!) but look how the shimmer catches the light! Collection, Starlet, £1.99

 



Speaking of sparkle- who doesn't turn in to a five-year-old on the inside as the days approach Christmas and start grabbing at everything remotely glittery?! *tumbleweed*......

Anyway, this year I am NOT spending ridiculous money on sequinned clothing items that make me look like a cheap version of the Pantomime Dame....instead, I'm going for sparkle on the nails. Smaller bits of sparkle and less brassy, more grown up/ sliiiiiightly more acceptable for work....

SO *review coming soon* I've thus far opted for these bad boys......

Collection Beedazzled in 4 Glittersweet, £2.99
Rimmel Precious Stones 001 Diamond Dust £3.99

NOW- Does anyone know of a lovely gold a la Kate Moss in the Rimmel Matte lipstick campaign?!

Nailing it

As this offer combines two of my addictions, I could not resist when I heard about it. Buy two bottles of diet coke from Boots and get a free Nails Inc nail polish. Go. Now.

So, having applied my lovely new nail paint and high on diet coke, I thought I would write about the good stuff.
I don't know about you, but nail polish is something I have to have on. Mainly because I have sausage hands and I (perhaps wrongly) think a well applied enamel will distract from this. (Of course, there's no distracting getting the sausage fingers stuck in rings, bowling balls and various other places for skinny fingers. At most a nail poilsh is going to cost you £10- yes, it's pretty. But it can't work miracles.)

One rather cool new product for those of you who are a bit more daring- Barry M Instant Nail Effects. Apply over a base colour and watch the animal print appear. Don't ask me how it works- I spend far too much time applying nail polish to learn about science! All I know, having just got some (and waiting ages due to high demand) is that it does. Having said that, it will probably last for ages because what are the chances of you wanting animal nails every day? Unless you are an animal. But then I guess you wouldn't know any different. £3.99 Boots
http://www.barrym.com/make-up-tutorials/video-tutorial.asp?vid=107


For a bit of glamour

It has to be Nails Inc. I have 3 of their polishes (thanks to Boots for the third one. And also thanks to my lovely boyfriend who bought the coke :) ) in hampstead heath (a pinky colour), Victoria (dark red/ browny) and camel (nude).  I like these particular colours because they are versatile, they go with anything and it's easy to do touch ups. Unfortunately due to lack of funds and lots of studying to do, my tally will be remaining at 3 for the time being. But then you only have ten fingernails, so it's no big deal.

For high shine, long lasting

This might surprise you- Avon nail wear pro. Seriously, this stuff is good. All you need is two coats and it lasts for ages without chipping and is really shiny, especially in Viva Pink. It's a real summer colour and it will cheer you up a treat as you desperately wait for the summer (NB- if you're not going on holiday and you're staying in the UK, don't kid yourself that summer is a definite).
Best part is, it's half price at the moment.
http://avonshop.co.uk/product/make-up/nails/nailwear-pro-nail-enamel.html

For colour on the cheap

Having an account balance of approximately zero- and no, I have not spent it all on nail polish or diet coke- and feeling a bit stressed, I thought I'd cheer up these winter blues. Scraping around in my pockets I found £2 and thought....what am I going to buy with that in superdrug that a) won't make me come out in a rash or b) bring back that drag queen look I've been so desperately trying to get rid of for years? I shall tell you the answer my friends- Beaty uk glam nails polish.
I think this brand must have had a recent overhaul, they've got a really good range of colours to choose from and what's more is that their polishes are a snip at £1.99
I like Peach Melba and Turqoise Shimmer, because I always over look green for nails but this is a nice shade without being too garish. But I got Coral Suprise, because every time I look at it I remember to keep working so I can go and lie on a beach in the not too distant future!
http://www.beautyukcosmetics.com/products/nails/nail-varnish-glam-nails