Beauty Comes From Within...

I love trying out new beauty products, whether we are talking makeup, skincare or haircare. But something I really believe is that you also need to look after yourself on the inside in order to make the most of yourself.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am no saint. I do not live in the gym, and I like nibbling chocolate in front of the TV and going out for a few cheeky cocktails as much as the next girl. But I do like to do some things to try and counteract all those naughty little things I do to myself, and to just generally feel good, as well as benefitting my hair, skin and nails.


Green Tea

I drink absolutely buckets of this stuff. I used to drink a lot of coffee, but I went through a stage of having panic attacks and found that caffeine tended to set me off a bit, so I swapped it for green tea. Now, I only have a coffee every once in a while. I have always liked green tea, and find it to have a pretty neutral, refreshing taste on it's own, but it's available in lots of flavours. My favourite is this Orange and Lotus Flower flavour, from Twinings.

So, why drink green tea? Well, it's full of anti-oxidants, for a start. On top of this, drinking three to five cups a day is said to speed up the metablolism - whoopee! Well, it can't hurt, can it?

Other benefits are that it apparently helps to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular diease and cancers, slows down signs of aging and boosts the immune system.

What's not to love?

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Word on the street is that Organic Coconut oil is great for your hair and skin, helps to fight off a number of health conditions, keeps your blood sugar stable and your metabolism running high. In fact, this delicious-tasting stuff is an all round good egg, because it also improves digestion and provides a quick source of energy, as well as a whole host of other things. And there are A LOT. If you would like to see the full list, then you can do so here.

I usually take a couple of tablespoons of this each day, more often than not at breakfast time. It actually tastes really pleasant, so I just take it on it's own, but you could also use it for cooking by exchanging it with your usual cooking oil, or you can put it on salads or in smoothies. You can also rub this stuff into your nails and it will help to lock in moisture, making them lovely and strong and healthy.

Your call. If you are still thinking that this is not really your bag, then here are some celebrities who love the stuff:

Angelina Jolie

Denise Richards

Gisele Bundchen

Miranda Kerr.

You can get your hands on some of this stuff by going to a health food shop, such as Holland and Barrett. You can also find it in big supermarkets, but just make sure it's organic.

Chia Seeds and Linseed

These bad boys are both packed with Omega 3, and let's face it, we could all do with a bit more of that. Omega 3 helps keep the brain and heart healthy, as well as helping with weight maintenance and giving us glowing skin, strong,shiny hair and healthy nails!

Both are also great sources of slow-release energy, and Chia seeds, when wet, swell and form a kind of 'gel'. Imagine them doing that in your stomach and it's easy to see why they keep you fuller for longer.

I usually have about two teaspoons of Chia and one of Linseed in my morning yoghurt.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix this with honey and you've got an energising tonic as well as a healing Elixir.

Personally, I take two cap-fulls diluted in a glass of water every day, usually after lunch. You can put a teaspoon of honey in to sweeten it if you can't stand the taste, and remember to clean your teeth after finishing this drink to get rid of any excess acid hanging around in your mouth, as it could damage your teeth otherwise.

Apple Cider Vinegar helps with digestion and keeps blood sugar stable, and it's loaded with Potassium, to help treat brittle nails, teeth and hair. It also has properties which counteract free radicals and help to break down fat. Again, though, you must go organic to get the full health benefits.

The lovely Alex over at The Wallflower also recently shared a hair conditioning tip with me, which is to spritz the hair with Apple Cider Vinegar and leave it for a couple of minutes before washing. I am looking forward to giving that one a try this week, and hope it goes better than the time when I was ten and rinsed my hair with Malt Vinegar. I smelled of the stuff for a week!

Now, I know there will be a lot of skeptics out there, and I have to admit that even I am not sure if these things really 'do what they say on the tin', as most of the work goes on inside the body, where we can't see it. But I do know it makes me feel better to think that I am trying to do something positive for my body, and I generally feel better in myself and more uplifted when using these products. I don't know about you guys, but I would rather go for a natural product over a chemical one any day of the week, having seen first hand what terrible things those chemicals can do to us. I lost a family member due to a blood disorder triggered by strong antibiotics, and since then, I am very reluctant to take any medication unless I have to. Whenever I feel a cold coming on, or I feel a bit sick, I reach straight for the herbal remedies. Yes, ok, I love my makeup and hair/skincare products and couldn't go without them, but ingesting something is another thing.

Hope everyone is having a delightful day!

xx

Beauty Truths

                                                                    Gorgeous day.......


Hello lovelies. I had a whole host of wonderful posts planned for you this week, starting with today, as I have just got over my illness and finally feel up to being creative and appearing in pictures where necessary again!
However, unfortunately, I didn't have time to get any snaps taken in the daylight, and my camera is really not the best for taking photos without natural night. Add to that my lack of tripod and/or camera person, and things become a bit of a pain! Anyway, my purpose here is not to moan about that, but to tell you that a) I will have some free time in the day tomorrow to get a huuuge stack of pictures taken, which will hopefully leave me sorted for the rest of the week, and b) to bring you THIS post, which is a little bit risky, but I'll do it anyway.

So, today's post is something that scares me a little bit, but I thought it might be a bit of fun. I'm going to tell you five beauty truths about myself, those being five things I probably would not usually want people to know about! These may be bad habits or things to do with my appearance - anything really. Basically, the idea is to totally expose myself by being completely honest. I thought of doing this because I think that often, us beauty bloggers might feel slightly inferior in some way when we come across amazing blog after amazing blog. There are so many beautiful bloggers, so many who are amazing at applying makeup or styling their hair, or doing fantastic designs on their nails. But I am pretty sure that, despite appearances, NO ONE is perfect, and it's time we all admitted that!

Right. So, I'm going to tell you my five beauty truths, and then I'm going to challenge five other bloggers to do the same. It would be nice if, after that, each of those who are nominated could then set the challenge for five more bloggers, and so on and so forth.

Without further ado, here are my five guilty secrets....drumroll, please!

1. I have two dark hairs which grow on my chin. There, I said it. That's the worst one out of the way. I know for a fact that this one applies to many, so don't pretend it doesn't! I don't leave them there though, obviously!

2. I don't wash my makeup brushes often enough. At all. I always mean to, but whenever I think about it, I am just about to use them, so I can't! That said, I have set myself a goal to improve on this!

3. I'm rubbish at giving myself a pedicure. I don't know why, but it seems to be so much harder to get my feet looking nice. To be honest, though, I have only really learned to do my fingernails within the last couple of years - I used to be an absolute shocker at that, too!

4. I never blow-dry my hair, even though it looks a zillion times better when it has been. I just can't be bothered, plain and simple. It makes my arm ache.

5. I never seem to put lids on things properly and get makeup finger-prints everywhere.

Well, that's me, laid bare. I hope that you won't think less of me after reading these truths, but I am a firm believer that honesty is the best policy.

The five people I would like to nominate to reveal their most closely-guarded beauty sins are:

Clouds and Cuticle Oil

Fifty Six Freckles

Fiona Loves...

Dolly Daydream

Life and Loves

Go on, lovelies. Don't be shy!

If anyone else would like to take on this challenge then please also feel free!

xx

Favourite Hair Care Products: Conditioners and Treatments

Well hello lovelies, today it's time to continue with my 'Favourite Hair Products' series, so let me introduce you to my favourite conditioners.

I'm sure these first two will come as no surprise if you've already read about my favourite shampoos! For the record, I am in no way affiliated with Aussie and am featuring them because I genuinely enjoy their products!

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

(Approx. £4.48)

I like to use these in conjunction with my Aussie shampoos. 

Because I colour my hair, it is sometimes left feeling dry and brittle on the ends, and just generally in need of a good treat, so at these moments I slather my locks in Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner (above). You really do need to leave it on for the full three minutes to let it work it's magic, and it does a great job. On the bottle, it says: 'Safflower Seed Oil smooths rough cuticles, helps restore manageability and adds shine', and I can certainly see the evidence of all three of things after rinsing. My hair is much happier when I use this, which I do about twice to three times a week to keep it in tip top condition.

Aussie Luscious Long Conditioner

(Approx. £4.48)

Aussie Luscious long is more of an every-day conditioner, so this is what I use most of the time to keep my hair nice and soft and smooth.

Personally, I condition my hair every time I wash it, because if I don't, it's horribly knotty and difficult to brush through afterwards. It also dries frizzy, which is not a look I am ever going for! My hair is quite long, and I feel that these two conditioners are a really quenching treat for it.

You really have to leave it on for the full three minutes (both) to get the full benefit. As is expected, I think they smell delicious, but be warned if you are someone who does not like scented products!

Now, sometimes, if my hair is really, really in need of some extra nourishment (like, for example, when I had caramel highlights and it really dried out), I will splash out on Tigi Bed Head Chocolate Head.

Tigi Bed Head Chocolate Head Massive Hair Repair Treatment (£10.49)

I LOVE this stuff! It smells ah-mazing, like pouring hot chocolate sauce onto my head! Now, I am aware that this will not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is definitely mine, and it is worth the extra pennies if your hair is really in need of a little extra help in restoring it's lustre and shine. Unfortunately, it does come in a rather small bottle, but you only need to use a small amount of it, so it doesn't run out all that quickly, especially as it's only designed for once-a-week use.  Leave it on for ten minutes for a really deep treatment.

What's your favourite conditioner or deep treatment?

Let me know in the comments, I always love to try new things.

Happy Monday!

xx

Weekend Favourites and Little Catch-up

Hi everyone, hope you've all been outside sunning yourselves, or alternatively, sipping a cool drink in the shade on this gorgeous weekend! Sunny weather must have the most made of it!

Sadly, though, I have not been able to do so myself, as I have been holed up in bed with a nasty cold all weekend, and it's showing no signs of letting up any time soon! Not best pleased about that, as besides the sunshine, I had several beauty review blogposts planned for you lovelies, but as you can imagine, I didn't really think my face was up to being photographed at the moment, and I really want to show you the products in all their glory! So, for now, I will just share my usual Weekend Favourites with you, and will press on with reviewing those goodies as soon as I am feeling better.

 To give you a taste of what to expect, I've got some L'oreal Colour Riche lipsticks, an Urban Decay Midnight Emergency palette, L'oreal Volume Million lashes mascara, Mac Mineralize blush in Dainty, and a Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart all ready to go, plus a Mac foundations comparison post, an Ebay Haul and the remaining two posts in my Favourite Hair Products series. Phew! And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

I also just wanted to say a quick sorry for letting the frequency of my posts slip over the last few weeks. I have been having a really busy time of it, what with working more hours, moving house, and life just generally getting in the way. From now on, I hereby promise that you can expect five posts from me per week - no excuses!

So, on to my Weekend Favourites.

This week, the theme of my little selection for you is my favourite products of the moment!

So here are a few of my top picks.

Favourite Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser:

Estee Lauder Invisible Makeup in shade 2WN1.

I actually got a sample of this free in a magazine (I think it was Glamour?) a few weeks ago, and to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Despite Estee Lauder being a high end brand, I have never really been one for tinted moisturiser type products, as though I have good skin, it does still need evening out in tone, and all the tinted moisturisers I've tried before have been disappointing (bar Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint).

How wrong could I be? I used this little beauty over the space of a week and was wearing it every day, and I can honestly say that I absolutely love it. Of course, it was good luck that my sample shade was the perfect match for my skin tone. But when this goes on, it literally disappears into your skin, somehow seeming to take all the little imperfections with it! It is a really light, liquidy formula, and really doesn't feel like you've applied anything more than a moisturiser. It evens everything out and gives you a really pretty, healthy glow. I was devastated when the sample ran out, and am going to be buying myself some more immediately! When I do, I will provide you with some photographic evidence of how lovely this is, as I stupidly didn't think to take any snaps at the time!

(£27 for a full size bottle).

Favourite Mascara

L'oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

(£10.99)

Now, I'm not going to go into too much detail about this one, because I have a full review with demonstrative pictures coming up this week, and believe me, you need to see those pictures to see how good it is.

What I will say is that I am rarely impressed with a mascara, as I feel that they never do what they profess to, and I feel like I have found a mascara for life here. I have no need to change because this one is just great. 

I use brown for day and black for night.

Favourite Lipstick(s)

Mac Amplified in Vegas Volt

(£13.50)

Sorry, but it's going to take a lot to knock this one off my topspot. I got this back in March and I still can't get enough of the gorgeous coral shade. The formula is creamy, moisturising and long-lasting. What more could I want?

Favourite Nail Polishes

Essie Sure Shot

Essie Mint Candy Apple

A gorgeous, long wearing raspberry metallic polish with subtle flecks of blue glitter and a cute Spring pastel. I can't decide which one I like the most! 

Essie Polishes are £9.95 from Nails by Mail.

Favourite Highlighter (liquid)

Clinique Up-lighting Liquid Illuminator

(£20)

I am currently using shade 01 (Natural) mixed in with my foundation, and I love the dewy glow it gives. Liquid highlighters are so versatile, and that's what I love about this one.

Here's a swatch for you (below right). (On the left is Clinique Almost Makeup Tinted Moisturiser, which I have yet to experiment with).

I think I'll leave it there for now, as I don't want to make this post ridiculously long - so many lovely blogs for you to catch up on!

Please feel free to let me know what you'd like to see in my favourites next weekend, you are always welcome to leave suggestions in the comments box below, and I'd also love to hear your thoughts on this week's picks!

xx

11 Questions Tag

I have been tagged by  Tasmina at Life and Loves to do this little 'question and answer' post for you. Go over and check out Tasmina's blog right now if you are not yet acquainted, as it is a marvellous read, and she's a very lovely lady!

Onto the rules:

1) Each person must state 11 things about themselves.

2) Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, plus eleven facts about yourself.

3) Choose 11 people and link them on your blog.

4) Go to their page and tell them.

5) No tags back.

6) You legitimately have to tag.

  Essie Mint Candy Apple (favourite nail polish)

So, here are my eleven facts:

1) I am currently holed up in bed with a nasty cold :-(

2) I have recently got really into being more experimental with doing my nails and am really enjoying it!

3) My current favourite nail polishes are Essie Mint Candy Apple, Essie Sure Shot and Topshop Hidden Treasure.

4) I own quite a lot of Brazilian beauty products!

5) A lot of you may know this, but my favourite lipstick shade is coral!

6) At the moment, I am working on setting up my own online store! Excited.

7) I want to visit so many countries! Top of my list at the moment is are Belize and Malaysia.

8) Two of my best friends have just had babies, and I'm freaking out about everyone growing up so quickly! Haha.

9) Speaking of babies, I hate it when all people post about on FB is how long their child has slept for and how many ounces of milk they have had...it's not that I'm mean, it's just that some people really congest my newsfeed so that it's all I ever see!

10) I have a dog and a cat. They are best friends, and curl up together to sleep!

11) I am so glad I discovered blogging and blogs, and I love settling down to read my Bloglovin' feed with a cuppa on a rainy day!

Belize - place I'd love to go

Next up, here are Tasmina's questions:

1) If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

If health wasn't an issue, then I'd definitely go for Chinese! If I have to be specific, then crispy duck pancakes.

2) Have you got any tattoos? If not, would you like one?

No and no. I did used to want one when I was younger, but now I am so glad that I didn't get one. I know I would get bored with it too quickly if I had one!

3) What is your one staple clothing item?

Ooh, this is a toughie. I would probably say a pair of high-waisted shorts, but don't ask me which one!

4) Do you have any bad habits?

Who doesn't? I tend to make a bit of a mess when deciding what to wear in the mornings! But I do tidy it up later. I'm also a bit careless with my belongings, which I hate because I don't even realise I'm doing it!

5) If you were to be reincarnated into an animal what would you be, and why?

Ahhh, this is hard! I think a cat, because I could still live in a nice cosy house, and I wouldn't have to kill anything to eat it. I know cats do kill things anyway...but I wouldn't.

6) Do you think money is happiness?

In the past, I would have said 'absolutely not',  but certain situations have made me realise that unfortunately, whether we like it or not, money is important, to some extent. Lack of it can keep you apart from those you love, for example. But I don't believe that winning the lottery would make you happy if you had no one to share it with, no.

7) Are you OCD about anything?

I'm a little bit obsessed with checking Ebay!

8) Have you ever been abroad?

Yes, many times, and I have also lived in Brazil.

9) Do you speak any foreign languages?

Yes I do. I am fluent in Brazilian Portuguese and I also speak a little bit of Spanish and French.

10) What is your favourite colour of nail polish?

Hmm, I have already answered this in my 'eleven facts', so let me tell you something else about nail polish...I'm really enjoying trying out crackle polishes at the moment.

11) If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be and why?

I would be happy just to be myself, but with a teleport!

Mmm, Crispy Duck Pancakes!

My 11 questions:

1) What is your favourite place you have ever been to?

2) What is your favourite lipstick (brand and shade)?

3) Do you like Marmite?

4) What is your favourite pass time?

5) What do you like most about blogging?

6) What's your favourite food?

7) What would you do on your perfect Saturday?

8) Where would you most like to go on holiday?

9) What are you most scared of?

10) What is your worst beauty sin?

11) What foundation/tinted moisturiser do you use?

And the eleven people I tag are:

Rambling Beauty

Emily Fierce

Emsipop

Everything's Rosie

Glitter Cheeks

Lucyy Writes

Pastel Rainbow

She Shops A Lot!

Lipsticked Louise

Cupcakes and Cosmetics

Caught Up In Cake

Looking forward to reading your answers.

I also have one extra question for all my readers:
What sorts of posts would you like to see on my blog in the near future?
Please leave a comment letting me know.
Thanks!

Hope everyone's having a fantastic weekend!

xx

Favourite Haircare Products: Shampoos

Hello pretty ladies, hope everyoneis well today!
I thought I would talk to you today a little bit about my favourite haircare products. Now, I don't want to make this into a ridiculously long post, so I thought that I would do this in three parts, today's being about my top shampoo choices. I will then do a couple more posts for you later on (one a week?), which will encompass all styling and finishing products. I  hope you enjoy this little hair mini-series, and do let me know if there are any other hair-related topics you would be interested in hearing about.

So to start with, a little bit about my hair type.

                                                                (Sorry, same pic again!)

 My hair is reasonably 'normal', I would say. It is long, gets a bit dry on the ends if I go overboard on the heat styling/colouring/sunshine, and tends to become slightly greasy in the fringe area and the roots on day two after washing. I usually wash my hair every other day, because doing so more often seems to do it more harm than good. Don't worry though, I do have have a shower every day!
I have been dying my hair since I was about fourteen, and have tried various different shades. Naturally, I am a brunette, and the closest I have ever been to blonde was having lots of caramel highlights, which I did really like, but it reeeally dried out my hair, especially on the ends, and it also seemed to lose it's shine. In fact, this was only last year, so I am now trying to give my hair a chance to recover and have been using only semi-permanent colours for about the last six months, as I'm trying to grow out whatever is left of those highlights.
Currently, I have L'oreal Casting Creme in 'Brownie' on my hair, which is about my natural colour, and I'm really enjoying being back to that shade, so I intend to keep it like this for the foreseeable future.

So first of all, let me introduce you to my favourite shampoos.

I LOVE Aussie's products, and I think they are really reasonably priced. For me, they are streets ahead of other shampoos and conditioners in the same price range, and for this reason, they have become my 'go to' products.

I am always looking to create a bit of extra volume in my hair. It's long, and is reasonably thick, but not hugely so. I often backcomb the crown to give it a bit of extra 'oomph', so Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo was an obvious choice for me. This stuff smells absolutely amazing, so much so that I caught the Mr. sneaking a little use of it on more than one occasion! I'm not sure he understands that he can just enjoy the smell of it on my hair, rather than lathering up his own!
I'm not really sure how to describe the smell, but it always seems to make me think of sweet berries and custard! Yum. It leaves a nice scent on the hair after washing too, but nothing overpowering. You can only smell it if you are trying to, if you know what I mean!
I do think that this shampoo helps boost volume, but to my mind, a shampoo can't do that job alone, so how you style your hair after washing and what follow-up products you use is key.
Aussome volume leaves my hair feeling nice and soft, and looking shiny.

Another favourite of mine is a close cousin, Aussie Mega Shampoo. The Mega Shampoo is designed for everyday cleaning, and doesn't leave any build-up on your hair, so I use this about three times a week and exchange it for the Aussome Volume for the other washes. The Mega Shampoo leaves my hair feeling really soft, clean and shiny, and like all Aussie shampoos, lathers up brilliantly, which I feel makes for a better, more thorough wash. This one also has a pleasant smell, though it reminds me a bit of Calpol....remember that? (For anyone that doesn't know, Calpol is a sweet, purple medicine for children to take when they are feeling under the weather). I know that some of you won't be Calpol lovers, but I can remember actually looking forward to having a cold so that I could have some! Haha.
Now, I don't currently have any of Aussie's Miracle Moist, but it really deserves a mention, because I have been using it for several years, on and off, and am always satisfied with the results. I wouldn't go as far as saying it's a 'miracle', but it definitely leaves my hair feeling supple any shiny. The only reason I have bought different shampoos from the range instead more recently is because I wanted to try out the new additions and see what I thought.

Tigi's Catwalk Honey and Oatmeal shampoo is absolutely amazing, and when my hair has been over-coloured and is in need of a real treat, I like to splash out on this. It's not cheap, but you can buy it in huge industrial-sized bottles, along with the conditioner, which saves you a few pennies in the longrun. Now, I have to tell you, this is the most delicious smelling shampoo I have ever, ever used! It is just delicious, good enough to eat!

This shampoo is described by Tigi as 'comfort food for your hair', and is designed especially for damaged or chemically treated hair. When I use the shampoo and conditioner together, my hair is left wonderfully silky and smooth, and again, the gorgeous scent remains on my locks, which is absolutely fine by me!

Something I really love about the jumbo-sized bottles (did I just say jumbo!?) is the pump dispensers, which make them ideal for when you are in the bath or shower. Fiddling around with shampoo lids with wet hands is not my favourite thing to do.

So, there you have it. My all-time favourite shampoos.

Which one do you use? Would you recommend it?

xx

Monday Morning Mishap!

Hello, hope everyone is having a splendid Monday. Personally, I am not, but before you click the 'x' in the corner of the page, thinking I am going to have a right old moany groany one on you, I'm not, but I just wanted to share this morning's brief ordeal with those of you who would truly understand - beauty bloggers, of course!

So, I was getting ready for work, putting my makeup on, as you do. And then I reached for my blusher brush, and what happened?? Yeah, that's right, I accidentally knocked my brand new Mac Studio Fix onto the tiled floor, where it smashed into a zillion pieces, and, just to add insult to injury, splashed ALL OVER the brand new jeans I was wearing. Argh!!

So now, I have no foundation (not happy about having to fork out for a new one!) and ruined jeans (couldn't get the stains out....any ideas?)

Oh, hello Monday!

But, on the upside, this DOES appear to give me an excuse to splash out on some Mac Matchmaster - anyone tried it?

My face will be happy. My bank balance will not.


xx

Chloe Green for Topshop Shoes

Chloe Green's debut range of shoes for Topshop was launched this week, available to buy directly from Chloe's own website, CJG, as well as, of course,  from Topshop itself, with prices starting at £115.

I'm not going to lie. I'm a bit disappointed. For a start, £115 is really pricey for shoes from Topshop (I was annoyed enough about how the store's prices have been creeping up over the last couple of years, and now it seems that they really are trying to become something else), which is, essentially, a high street store. 

Secondly, the shoes themselves are a bit of a let down. Now, I'm sure there will be lots of you out there who will disagree with me and be head-over-heels in love with them, but for me, they really are nothing special. The only thing that makes them stand out from the crowd is the ridiculously high heels (good luck to anyone who fancies trying to walk in them), and this is coming from someone who does, in fact, wear heels of some sort on a daily basis. Frankly, I find the wedges in this collection quite ugly. For me, the collection's saving graces are this pretty suede coral pair (above), with gold studs lining the backs of the heels, and this lovely pair of gold shoe-boots - I like the contrast with the mint-green soles. I also love the pretty black lace up boots and the white high heels with chain detail ( first pair in the picture of six). However, while the coral ones ring in at the lowest available price of £115, the shoe-boots and the black lace-ups will set you back a hefty £150. It gets worse, with the white ones coming in at a whopping £175!

I'll give them a miss then - for that price, I would be expecting to come away with a truly amazing pair of shoes from an established designer, and even then I don't think I would really want to pay it! Topshop needs to stop getting too big for its' boots, if you'll excuse the pun, and bring us great fashion at affordable prices, as it always used to. And as for Chloe's collection, there is no other reason for the sky-high asking prices than that she is the boss' daughter. Well, sorry, but that doesn't make her a top designer, whichever way you look at it, and I don't think it's right to be putting such high price tags on her offerings without proving herself first. 

So to sum up, yes, there are some pretty offerings, but no, I don't think the prices are appropriate, nor will I be paying them.

Bit of a rant for you there, but that's my two pence worth.

What do you think of the range, are they your cup of tea?

Do you think the prices are fair?

xx

Weekend Favourites

So, being the weekend, it's time for another Weekend Favourites post, and this week I have chosen my favourite clothes and accessories from across the online stores' 'New in' sections, as well as some of my current makeup must-haves.

S

Floral Drop Arm Top, Topshop. £26

I love this gorgeous drop arm top, and seeing as I already own a similar one from Topshop (the same, but black with white palm tree print) I know how lovely it looks on. These cropped tops can be worn loose with a pair of high-waisted shorts, which is my favourite look, but for those of you who prefer a tighter fit, it does have a tie at the back which enables you to change it up a bit.

Studded Bralet, Topshop. £38

I never get bored of black studded things! The rock chick look is still going strong in one way or another.

I haven't tried a bralet yet, and there are loads of pretty options out there for Spring/Summer. I'd love to get my hands on this one, along with a more colourful tropical print version. 

What do you wear your bralet with?

Frog Drop Earrings, £14

Cute! Enough said.

Moto Tapestry Contrast Hot Pants, Topshop. £38

Gorgeous. High waisted. Printed. Comfy.

What's not to love?

Tie Front Cropped Shirt by Oh My Love at Topshop, £25

Another of my current obsessions is cropped, sleeveless, tie front shirts, and this one would be more than welcome to join my collection, with it's mint green and coral combo - incidentally, two of my favourite colours of the moment.

Paisley Print Shirt, Miss Selfridge. £38

                                          I must have this. That is all.

Aztec Triangle Earrings, Topshop.£10

                                     Lilac Maxi Skirt, Miss Selfridge, £38

Clinique Long Last Lipstick in Runway Coral (Limited ed.), £16

This one will come as no surprise to the majority of you, who will be well aware of my love for all things coral, particularly where makeup is concerned. I just cannot get enough of coral lips and cheeks, and I am getting excited just looking at this one. I really need to get out more.

Benefit 'The Porefessional' Pro Balm, £23.50

I have been hearing SO many good things about this of late, that I just have to empty my piggy bank and give this a try. I think me could probably all do with a bit of pore reduction, and I know I could on my nose. I am usually a bit skeptical of these 'wonder products', as they often don'tlive up to the hype, but we shall see.

Topshop Nails in Eclipse, £6

Clarins Instant Light Liquid Blush in 02 Coral Tonic, £19

I think after my explanation for the Clinique lipstick, you're pretty clued in on the whys and the wherefores of this one!

As you can see, if I was to buy all of this little lot then I might be left with quite a substantial dent in my bank balance, so for now, they shall remain on my 'Wishlist', especially after my recent splurging on Ebay! Seriously, I am actually dreading not being here when the packages arrive and the Mr having to sign for them, he is going to want to have a word with me! Haha. Before anyone gets the wrong end of the stick about that one though, no, I am not a kept woman, and yes, I do work hard for my money. But you know what men are like, they never see the need for half the things we buy!

What is on your wishlist at the moment? I'd love to know what your selections would be!

Did anyone get to see the Olympic torch today?

xx

Mohda Nail Polishes and Dupes!

Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you've all got that Friday Feeling - I know I have. This week has been really hectic and tiring, so I am all for having a couple of days of down time. I think I've got a bit of a cold coming on, too, which is definitely not my favourite, but at least I've got some time to snuggle up at home with endless cups of tea and write a few blog posts!

The topic of today's post is my new favourite nail polish line, from Brazilian brand Mohda. Now, before you say anything, I do know that these are difficult to get hold of in the UK (I'm not sure about the US/Oz etc.), and for that reason, I have hunted down the best dupes of my favourite shades for you, so while they might not be the cheapest polishes around, you  too can play with these gorgeous hues. In the meantime, I will be keeping my eyes open for any UK suppliers and will let you know the very second I find one!

So, a bit of background for you on this fantastic brand. Mohda has been producing polishes since 2008, does not test on animals, and make it their mission to release a constant stream of new, innovative shades. 

All together, there are thirteen different lines available, including Frosted, Color and Gloss, Creamy, Creamy Look, Glitter, Lights, Lights Holographic, Pearly, Transparent , Treatment, Crackle Polish, Flecked and HD.

All Mohda's polishes are fast drying and contain Nutri-Active calcium to keep nails strong and healthy.

I can't get enough of the Hi-Definition line, and my favourite polish of all is definitely the Hi Definition Multichrome in North Pole. It is a gorgeous, gorgeous multi-tonal metallic green, so it looks different in different lights. It is really similar to Topshop's Hidden Treasure, which had had my eye on for ages before I tried Mohda. It's also a pretty good dupe for Chanel's Le Vernis in Peridot, which is handy given that Chanel varnishes come in at around £15 ($26 on their US site)! I wouldn't go as far as saying it was exactly the same, but it's a pretty good substitute.

I have been wearing this shade along with Topshop's Ice Crush, which is a pretty clear polish with silver holographic chunks in it) on my ring fingers.

Mohda Hi-Definition Multichrome in North Pole

Topshop Hidden Treasure

Chanel Le Vernis in Peridot (531)

The second shade I am currently loving is another Hi-Definition shade, this time called 'Glass'

Here it is, in all it's glory..

Mohda Hi-Definition in Glass

As you can see, it's a beautiful shimmering Magenta, not dissimilar to Essie's 'Sure Shot'. I only purchased it today and am already wearing it on my nails, admiring it every time it catches the light! Just gorgeous.

Essie Sure Shot

I really do think it's a shame that these varnishes are not readily available in the UK. In Brazil, they are a steal at around £1! That is, with the exception with the Multichromes, about £4.

However, if you do like the look of these shades then you know where you can find something very similar! If you would be like me to review any of the other Mohda shades then please let me know in the comments box.

What's your favourite nail polish?

 I hope you are all able to get out and enjoy the sunshine this weekend, if it sticks around!

xx