Nail of the Week: Barstool

This week I had to ditch my coral nails for a shade better suited to autumn, but I didn't want to go for your predictable burgundy or khaki, so I went for this beautiful teal shade called Barstool. Its from Urban Outfitters and just provided me with that something different I was craving.

I started with OPI's Ridge Filler, which is a life saver for me where my nails are concerned, it prevents me having to do a million coats. Next, I applied my first coat of Barstool, at first I was really disappointed with how sheer it was. However, after a second coat I achieved that lovely opaque teal. This was followed by my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, which is my favourite top coat.

The last thing I would like to rant about is this little bottle of magic. You see, the one thing I hate about doing my nails is I always seem to smudge them, usually just after I have finished my top coat because I'm starting to get a bit fidgety. This Elegant Touch Rapid Dry Spray has your nails dry in 60 seconds and it really does work. Its £3.05 from Boots.

I love this colour and I think it will compliment different skin tones, what do you think?

Parabens: What's all the hype?

Parabens are fast becoming a controversial topic in the beauty world, but what are they and why are they causing such a stir?

Ok, so here comes the scientific bit; parabens are used for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties, in English, they are preservatives. They are widely used in the cosmetic industry in products such as; shampoos, make-up and fake tan. If you want to check if they are in any products that you use, take a look at the ingredients list and look for anything that ends in 'paraben' e.g. Butylparaben. There has been a buzz about parabens because they have been found in breast cancer tumours and have the ability to mimic the hormone estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancers. But, enough scaremongering I hear you say, it is important to remember that the jury is still to deliver a verdict on the safety of these ingredients. After all, some parabens are found naturally in blueberries.

Whichever side you are on, this debate has seen the emergence of 'paraben free' products, containing alternative natural preservatives such as; grapefruit seed extract. If you are interested in trying out some of these new products, here are some I would recommend...

Bliss Body Butter - as well as being paraben free, this product smells great. I like the Blood Orange and White Pepper version, it kind of reminds me of Christmas as summer at the same time, weird huh?! I would say this product is more of a moisturiser than a 'butter' though as it just doesn't have that thick consistency. £18.45 for 200ml.

King of Skin - this is perfect for girls (or guys) who are on the go, or just a bit lazy (I like to call it efficiency). Basically, you slather it on in the shower, get out and your skin is silky smooth. This stuff is so good they have patented it. Anyway, I find it a lot less hassle than a lotion and it's pretty reasonable at £5.25 for 75g from Lush.

BareMinerals Warmth and Mineral Veil - I love this brand, I think it's especially suited to those who have hyper-pigmentation, as it allows your freckles to show through rather than masking them. They are priced at £16.15 and £17.00 respectively.

Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water - so I originally bought this product for the nifty gadget on the top of the bottle which prevents spillages, something I was always doing with my Clinque cleanser (and that stuffs not cheap). But it's actually really good, it removes all of my makeup and leaves my skin feeling hydrated. Only problem is Sephora don't ship to the UK and I'm not sure when I will next be going to the US. Who else wishes Sephora would come back to the UK? Let me know if you guys can recommend any cleansers for when this finishes.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - a life saver on those 'in between washes' days, they do a huge range with different scents to different colours which are great for covering pesky roots. It won't break the bank at £4.99 for 400ml and it's always on offer at Boots.

Vita Liberata PHenomenal Tanning Mousse - I don't think this tanner lasts the three weeks it claims but it does last longer than any other tanner I have tried, which makes it more economical than it sounds. It's 24.99 for 125ml, saving 1/3rd at Boots at the moment.

What is your view on parabens? Can you recommend any 'paraben free' products? Thank you all for reading :)

What's in my make-up bag?

Ok, so here is my first blog! Hey everyone! I thought I would do a "What's in my make-up bag?" blog, as if you are like me, (rather nosey) then it will be something you guys will want to know.

So, first things first, this is my make up bag...

  I know, its big right? I change my make-up bags all the time because I find they get really dirty as product always seems to find its way out of the packaging somehow. I won't show you everything inside it in this post, as I don't want to bore your socks off, so I will show you what I am  using at the moment.

So here it is:

Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid Moisturiser - £31.25 for 63g. This sounds like a lot for a moisturiser but I have to say it really does leave your skin feeling and looking amazing and will always be a re-purchase for me. It is available here online.
NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo - £30. Two of my favourite shades Orgasm and Laguna in one easy palette to put in your handbag. Available at your local NARS beauty counter or online here.
BareMinerals Mineral Veil - £17.00 and available here. I use this to mattify my face.
YSL Touche Eclat - £25 here. A cult product, I am shade number 1.
Origins Vitazing - £27 for 50 ml and available here. I have been using this product in the place of my foundation whilst on holiday and since I have been back in the UK because I have a tan, but it is a good primer too. It leaves my skin looking fresh and adds a healthy glow, enabling me to avoid that heavy foundation feeling.
Dior Diorskin Airflash Spray Foundation - £31.60 for 100ml available at your Dior counter or online. If I need a little more coverage then this is the foundation I am reaching for. It is surprisingly easy to apply and you can build up coverage in those areas that need it. My only qualm is that I have a feeling it isn't going to last me too long.
YSL Shocking Mascara - £23.00 here. This is the best mascara I have used to date, both high end and drug store. My eyelashes are pretty straight and not particularly long so a good mascara is a must have. With the help of my trusty eye lash curlers, this mascara provided me with curl, volume and length.

Thank you all so much for reading, please follow me and leave comments if you would like me to do a full review of any of the above products!