NOTD: Essie's Ballet Slippers

As you well know, my collection of Essie polishes is growing faster than a chain reaction. I picked one up in America, and ever since have been sneaking them into my basket whenever I can.

On a trip before Christmas I picked up the infamous Ballet Slippers, the pinky nude that everyone raves over and is a staple in any nail wardrobe.

The colour is gorgeous and creamy, though quite thin in some places, requiring three coats for completely full coverage which is what I think looks the best.

I wasn't prepared for this as i expected it to be opaque in two like others, nevertheless the colour applied easily and I think it really is a perfect nude!

The only thing I can think of is that I like a range of nude shades so Ballet Slippers wouldn't be my one and only nude, and so calling this a 'one stop nude' for everyone isn't quite right....
But Essie has obviously thought this through as they have the biggest range of nude coloured polishes that I've ever seen!

I've seen a lot of posts on Fuji recently which looks gorgeous and looking on their website just baffles me!

What's your favourite Essie nude? Which one would you recommend?

L xxx

Review: Benefit Dandelion

I was lucky and for Christmas my other half cleverly consulted L on what I would like. L gave him some ideas and I'd been hinting after this blush a lot after purchasing Erase Paste (Review here) and the girl on the counter using it on me. I'd said Feeling Dandy to him most mornings for about 2 months as that was a Christmas Gift Set version I wanted. Bless him, when he went shopping he'd forgotten the brand so wondered round boots asking different counter girls for Feeling Dandy, unfortunately it had all sold out by the time he went shopping. I don't mind though as I've ended up with a bigger version of the blush.

I've never had a benefit blush before but had used a few of L's when I've been doing my make up round hers. At first I was sceptical of the cardboard boxes as I thought they'd get damaged and look tatty quickly. 6 weeks in and it still looks pretty good. I like that it's a flip back lid as it won't get lost and that it has a mirror in. 

I personally love the brush that comes with it. It's not the softer of brushes but it is amazing for applying the blush. The shape of it makes it really easy and I use the brush most days over my Real Techniques Blush Brush. I keep the little tray that comes with it to keep the brush and the blush separate.

Dandelion is a gorgeous soft pink colour. It is perfect on my rather pale skin. It goes on really easily and while it's pigmented it's perfect for building up. This blush is also perfect if you don't where blush much or are new to it as you can't over do it. As much as I love my Sleek Palette of blushes where they are super pigmented I have to be careful. With this it just looks like a gorgeous natural flush.

The swatch shows the gorgeous colour of it. It looks amazing on the apples of the cheeks and literally has been on my face almost everyday since I got it. I probably pick this one 9 times out of 10. 

As you can see it just gives a little flush of natural colour to the cheeks. I also have my Liz Earle Bronzer in the hollows of my cheeks. Another love of mine. I'll be reviewing it next week!

I literally couldn't be without this now. Dandelion Retails for £23.50 which is a reasonable price for the quality and you get a little brush too. The Feeling Dandy gift set I really wanted is on £24.50 and you get a smaller Dandelion Blush, Dandelion lip gloss, and mini's of high bean and posie tint. These set would be great gifts!

I really want to try another benefit blush. I love the look of 10 and Benefit Watt's Up. What is your favourite?

Love M

xxx

Spending Ban Update 4

Whooooo I finally have internet back in my flat. Now to get my blogging mojo back as I have lots of fab products to share with you all.

Firstly the bad. I have bought a shampoo and conditioner this week. I couldn't stand my hair. At the moment it's so dry at the ends and rather damaged. I have basically run out except for a product I bought for both L and I that I don't really like. So I'm donating this to her and bought myself new stuff. As my hair was is in such bad conditioner I didn't want to leave it another 70 days using a product that didn't agree with me. Plus I allowed myself as I got a free hair cut so saved the money there. Do you used a protein enriched shampoo? I'd love to know what you use on damages hair.

Like L's mum my mum has been good to me this week too. She's bought me a few bits including a skipping rope which has weightless ends so you can skip indoors without a rope, a new eye shadow primer (both of these are room Avon and my mum is a Rep so she tends to get me a few little bits from here) she also kindly picked me up a how to knit book and some wool and needles. If you've read my 101 things in 1001 days (you can find this in out pages tab) you'll have seen I wanted to be able to knit. I really want to be able to make me own things. If I can do it I'm planning on making a scarf, arm warmers and a snood ready for next winter. Thankfully I have time to learn. My mum is good to me.

My Wishlist:

Mac Brick-o-la lipstick

Urban Decay Setting Spray

MUA Eyelid Primer

Illamasqua Pigment base

Origins Cheeks and Balance

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo

Daniel Sandler water colour blush

RT brush set I don't have I can't find it in boots :-(

Elf brush cleaner

Elf blush and bronze duo.

This week I'm adding:

Stocking Tights (I love these and I've now laddered mine) and Studded Tights

Maybelline Colour Tattoo (I'm yet to own these and I think it's time I did)

Rimmel Appocolips (I love love love the look of these.

How have your bans gone this week? 

Love M

xxx

Spending Ban Update (4)

So another update for you today...

I haven't done too badly again, but when pay day came I did splash out and buy myself a replacement for my poor DVD player which broke a few weeks ago.

After consulting with my geeky brother I decided on a Samsung Blu Ray player, as my brother has a lot of them that I could borrow and it wasn't too much more than the DVD player. Plus as it matches my TV I will be able to use the one controller for both!

I'm so excited for it to turn up, I was gutted when I couldn't watch films after Christmas and in the long run it will be cheaper than me spending my evenings going out.

I was also lucky enough to go shopping with my mum.

I was helping her pick up presents for complicated family members who are turning 18/50 etc.

We went into Zara for a wander and saw some sale items which I loved but refused to buy, my mum was LOVELY and bought them for me, I was so excited!

She bought me a lush wide black belt with gold studs and rivets which is quite small and didn't look quite right in the shop as I had a baggy blouse and jeans on, but I can't wait to match it up with some dresses.

She also got me a make up bag with a horse hair cover and union jack print. I absolutely love British themed items and this will be a perfect addition to my work bag. And maybe even on a night out as it seems to be the perfect size for a clutch bag too? We will see!

I have also signed up to a fitness magazine (Women's fitness) as it cost me £16 for 9 months of magazines which are keeping me going with my inspiration and motivation for the gym.

It also comes with a free pack of Vitamins worth £25 from MyVitamins which should help me kick start my metabolism. 

So as you can see I have spent some money this week....but I've found that investing my time and money in things to do as opposed to clothes, make up and alcohol is a better use of my cash.

I've just had my new gym program this morning and am really excited to get into it again.

I've booked on gym classes and plan on shifting a few pounds and toning up.

So here's my wish list, with some new additions!

1) Macadamia oil hair mask. Having used a sample of this it is quite honestly one of the best and I need to get my hands on it and make my hair feel like silk again!

2) An Origins serum. I feel as my 25th birthday looms ever nearer that I need to take better care of my skin, as mentioned in lots of previous posts. I would like to invest in a serum to prevent further wrinkles and damage to my skin so hopefully I can pick up one of these soon.

I have actually got a sample of the Perfect World serum to try this week!

3) Benefit boxed blushes. I clearly missed out on a few years of new products and now feel like my blush collection needs updating and revitalising with additional Benefit products.

4) A number of DVDs. I really want to update my DVD collection having not bought many in the past 5 years, I'm thinking Game of Thrones TV box sets along with others as well as ones like Magic Mike for some eye candy!

5) A new dress to go out in. I have my birthday coming up so I will be needing a new dress! No idea what type as op yet.....but I'm sure something slinky and figure hugging will be just the ticket!

6) Urban Decay Oz Palettes. The palettes are absolutely gorgeous and I want my hands on both the Theodora and Glinda looks, both serve my split personality for pretty pastels and smokey neutrals. I'm devastated that these have come out during the spending ban and I'm actually considering buying them and screwing over the ban.

7) Liz Earle Bronzer. I've seen M's and its such a gorgeous colour, I need it in my life for contouring for every day use!

Watch this space as it might really happen! Urban Decay why do you do this to me.

How are your spending bans going? What's on your wish list?

L xxx