NOTD: Fair Isle

Good evening!

I've been trying to keep my nails in good condition whilst working with all manner of cardboard boxes and wooden palettes, which when stocking toys at Christmas is no easy feat.

However I have found that painting them helps a lot to stop the nail from flaking and breaking off.

I normally stick with a nude colour and then smother the tips in glitter nail varnish.

This can mean it lasts well over a week without additional top coats etc, but is also a NIGHTMARE to get back off.

But having said that, here's a design I've been rocking the past 2 days....

My favourite festive China Glaze, Ring in the Red.

I absolutely love this as it was my first Christmassy glitter jelly and its absolutely beautiful.

I think this was last year's Christmas range from China Glaze and it will last me a few years yet.

This time however I got out my trusty Models Own white nail varnish pen and attempted a fair isle pattern on the nails.

My original design idea was just the one print on the ring finger.

I just couldn't leave it at that though!!

I ended up covering all my nails with different patterns, some easier than others and some I regretted trying when I had to do them on the other hand with my non-writing hand!

All in all though it was fun to attempt something different and I would definitely try them again with different patterns and colours!

What do you think of my Fair Isle nails??

L xxx

A/W NOTD: Nails Inc's Regents Palace

Another nail post in my A/W series!

This week's is a GORGEOUS shimmery metallic purple which whenever I use am surprised why I don't use it more often.

Regent's Palace is beautiful in every light and perfect for the party season.

It looks amazing whether you're wearing it to work or out in the evenings, therefore making it perfect for day to night events!

I personally love the red/blue/purple shimmer running through this and it applies really easily with 2 coats.

Couldn't help myself but take looooooooooooooooooads of pictures, it really does look a treat in the light.

What do you think of Regent's Palace? Do you have a similar purple in your collection?

Also, did you pick up Motcomb Street after it was free in Glamour magazine?! Love it as much as me??

L xxx

All I want for Christmas... (6)

Having put up with Christmas songs for a month already due to Boots blasting out all manner of festive cheer I have firmly got Mariah Carey's 'All I want for Christmas' playing in my head 24/7.

So because of this I am constantly thinking about what I want for Christmas (whilst stocking up Peppa Pig, Hello Kitty and Star Wars obviously!)

There are a few things I'd like in terms of make up, DVDs, clothes etc but there are others that I really would like that aren't so easy to come by.

1) I would do absolutely anything to get a job related to forensic science, analytical chemistry, toxicology etc.

I've quite frankly worked my butt off for 5 years, working up to 95 hours a week for a year just to get another qualification.

So far, it would seem that although my MSc has helped get me noticed more, my lack of experience is still holding me back, yet I can't get any unless I am employed due to the nature of forensic science (can't leave important samples in the hands of a temp!)

I've been so stressed out about it all that I've given myself IBS and now I have acne.

Please someone give me a job in a lab.

2) Follows on from number 1 really. My skin is absolutely awful at the moment.

When I got back from America after spending 7 weeks in the sun it was the best it has ever been.

Shortly afterwards for no particular reason I started getting loads of really painful red lump type spots, white heads and really attractive scars to go with it.
Lots of people seem to be having the same problems but at 24 and about to graduate you would hope your skin would be the last of your worries!

3) I have 2.5 weeks before I graduate and having luckily found my dress I am hoping to get a flatter stomach in time for it.
However having started a new job recently my meal times are all mixed up as I have to work over them being in a shop and often end up eating multiple meals.
I've so far stayed the same weight but this hasn't improved any further because its so hard to get to the gym when you've worked til 7/8/9pm.
So I'm looking for any tips to get a flatter stomach??
Any tea drinks or fat busting foods/fruits/snacks you can think of?!
I'm not looking for miracle weightloss, my dress is a smaller size already (a 10 woohoo!) but I would like a smoother silhouette at the front.
Ill also be planking and crunching every evening I can to help keep it more toned.


So that's my Christmas wish list.

Probably a little different to any others you've seen as there is for once not a single product or item of clothing on there!
But never the less, if I got these for Christmas I'd be the happiest person alive.

Any tips, ideas for far busting, skin clearing or scientific job hunting please feel free to leave a comment or get in touch!

L xxx

Review: Origins Clear Improvement

I picked this up over a month ago when L and I went to a beauty event at John Lewis. Lots of the counters were offering good deal when things were purchased. Origins was one of them. I wanted a new mask and had heard so many great things about Clear Improvement I decided to pick it up.

Clear Improvement is a mask aimed to deep clean skin and unclog pores. You get 100ml of product for £20 which I think is quite reasonable as it is a large tube and better than lush products as it lasts longer than a month. I've found lush counter staff are great to chat to about skin issues and are happy to give you samples of products to try.

I like the packaging. A tube for a mask is easy to just squeeze out when you are in the bath. My does look a bit dirty in some of the photos are the mask is black so that does stick around the lid.

I tend to use it after using my Liz Earle cleanse and polish so my skin is clean and the warmth of the muslim cloth means my pores are open. This mask dries onto the skin as it's a clay mask. I like to use it in the bath so I can really sit back and relax and keep my face really still. The addition of charcoal to this mask helps to draw out the impurities in the pores.

The ingredients contain nothing that stands out as immediately bad for the skin. As you may know both L have certain chemicals we try to avoid in products. Origins is a company both L and I love. It has such a great range of products that really work. We are both loving the enzyme pads we got free and will be reviewing them soon.

Attractive mask shot. I love this mask it really cleans out my pores and leaves my skin looking much better. I really want to try out of trouble and modern friction soon as L raves about both of these.

What's your favourite mask? Are you an origins fan?

Love M

xxx