Nails Inc - Victoria

Victoria is a shade that I don't wear very often during the summer months.
It really is a timeless, classic shade and effortlessly classy. Each time I go back to it I remind myself that I should wear it much more often.
Its a deep cherry red  that I think looks best with 3 coats. I find 2 coats can still look a little uneven, which is so unusual for the Nails Inc brand, but using their Kensington Caviar top coat, drying time is minimal.
Its the very first Nails Inc shade I bought, its very chic and I don't think it will ever go out of fashion.
The colour pay off is rich and glossy just as you would expect with Nails Inc.

Autumn/Winter Fragrances

I love the changing of the seasons, and moving into Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year. 

It's a time where I start to think of winter fashions, a richer skincare routine and Christmas (*there* I've said it, and we're still only in the month of September).

Its also a time where I move away from lighter fragrances to something a little more heavy....more wintry.

Pure Poison by Christian Dior and Angel by Thierry Mugler have been my favourite fragrances at this time of the year for a long time. 

I'll admit they're not for everybody. They're fairly strong and heady - most people I know generally have a love/hate relationship with these two, but I  love them both.

Angel Eau de Parfum Spray

This is the first fragrance that was launched by Thierry Mugler, and seems to be the most recognisable of my two favourites.

Reactions are either 'Eugh you're wearing Angel' or 'You're wearing Angel, I love that'

You really only need to 'walk' into one spray of this as it is very strong, but the fragrance really will stay with you for hours and hours.

''Angel has top notes of bergamot and helional, mid notes of honey, dewberry and red berries combined with the rich, sensual base notes of vanilla, caramel, chocolate and patchouli''

I mostly pick up the base notes when I wear this (no florals here.....just food - ha ha).

Looking at the beautiful star shaped bottle makes me think of swimming in the warm crystal clear waters of the Maldives, before drinking early evening cocktails whilst staring up at the stars.

Angel is truly unique and I would urge anyone to give this a try or revisit it.

Pure Poison Eau de Parfum Spray

There have been a few versions of Poison, none of which I particularly like, except for Pure Poison which was introduced in 2004.

This is floral and fruity, based on orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia, amber and sandalwood.

It isn't so heavy that it can't be worn in the day and is just perfect when it's cold outside. It feels comforting,  like being wrapped in a warm blanket.

I generally spray onto my wrists (but never crush it) and onto the back of my neck. I don't need to top up during the day, as again, the fragrance lasts for hours.

Not quite as heavy as Angel, Pure Poison is the warmer, sweeter fragrance of the two - its fresh and clean.

It's my husband's favourite, apparently it's feminine, elegant and intoxicating - he does know what he's talking about after all :))

I adore Pure Poison, it's become my signature fragrance. 

Do you have a favourite fragrance for this time of the year?

In the shower

Shower products are my thing at the moment and I've found some lovely fragranced bath/shower gels.

Although a much lower price point, these all lather beautifully and are not at all drying on my skin. Although I always do, I don't feel the need to moisturise afterwards and the scent lasts for a good couple of hours after my shower (especially when using the matching body butters)

Here are 4 of my on the go's.

• Treacle Moon - my coconut island (a dead ringer for nspa Coconut ice cream which has sadly been discontinued (review here)
• nspa - fresh sweet raspberry. This is so fruity and sweet. Think cherry flavoured menthol tunes. I have made that sound very unappealing, but believe me it's gorgeous
• nspa - intense passion fruit. Nice, but I probably wouldn't repurchase. Smells a little artificial.
• The Little Bubble Co - vanilla biscuit. Just like amaretto biscuits. I think this is my current favourite.

I picked all of these up from my local supermarkets (Asda, Tescos & Waitrose).

All have similar packaging with similar 'please don't eat this product' statements - wonder if they are all manufactured by the same company?

Any other recommendations gratefully received :))

Liebster Award

I was tagged by Ellie who has a fabulous blog.

Rules:

1. Each person tagged must post 11 random facts about themselves

2. They must answer the 11 questions posted by the previous blogger

3. They must create 11 more questions to ask their tagged bloggers

4. They must tag 11 blogs with less than 200 followers

5. The bloggers must be told

6. No tag backs

Here's 11 random facts about myself:

1. I'm an account manager within an insurance company.
2. I'm a qualified nail technician
3. As well as Savannah, I have another cat, Puddy, but she hasn't yet made it onto my blog 
4. I have a phobia of crabs
5. My heart belongs in the Maldives 
6. I'm scared of the dark
7. I spend too much on nail polish
8. I'm so grouchy with less than 8 hours of sleep each night
9. I wear make up even when I'm not going out
10. I've never tried dry shampoo
11. I have a bit of a 'thing' for Ricky Gervais

Here's my answers to Ellie's questions

1. What's your favourite film? 

Confessions of a shopaholic - obviously :))

2. If you were stranded on a desert island, what make-up item would you take? 

Waterproof Mascara 

3. What is your favourite skincare brand?

Gatineau

4. What is your favourite drug store/high street make-up brand? 

Loreal

5. Blusher or bronzer? 

Blusher

6. Name the 5 products you would replace first if you lost all of your make-up. 

Laura Geller Balance & Brighten, Laura Geller wow mascara, Loreal gel eyeliner, corn silk face powder & an ultrasun lip balm

7. What's your favourite type of blog post to write? 

Beauty related reviews

8. Who's your favourite beauty youtuber? 

Lisa Eldridge

9. Name your style make-up icon?

I don't have one but in the words of Coco Chanel 'a girl should be two things, classy & fabulous'

10. What are your career aspirations? 

To be the best that I can be

11. What is your favourite brand for lipstick? 

Revlon (Lip Butter)

Now for those I have tagged, these are your questions:

1. What is the one product you cannot live without
2. Lipstick or Lipgloss
3. Who do you most admire
4. What  was your last beauty related purchase
5. Favourite TV programme 
6. Why did you start blogging
7. Favourite shop
8. What one piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking of starting a blog
9. What's your earliest memory
10. What 5 words would your best friend use to describe you 
11. What is your skincare routine

The bloggers that I picked are:

Wendy

Katie

Liz

Charlie

Aqeela

Jenny

Vic

MayT
Emma
Exciting Beauty

Bhavi

Make up bag daily essentials

After doing my full make up each morning, like most, I carry a make up bag (leopard print of course) with me throughout the day. I don't carry things like foundation or eye make up, but there's always shine touch ups to be done, or lippy to be applied.

• Clear eyes maximum redness relief eye drops (I work on a computer all day)
• Kleenex shine absorbing sheets
• Tangle Teezer hairbrush
• Botanics hand cream
• Corn Silk face power
• Laura Geller fan brush for a light dusting of powder
• Revlon lip butter in Crème Brulee
• Ultrasun lip balm
• Amazing Cosmetics concealer
• Glossybox lipstick in glossy pink
• Christian Dior  lipgloss
• Laura Geller retractable baked powder brush (loaded with Balance n Brighten)
• Figs & Rouge balm (review here)
• Mirror

I'm fairly surprised by this post as I thought I carried a lot more it - certainly feels like it!

What's in you daily make up bag?

Bling

Blingy rings ... I think you either love them or hate them. I certainly love them and think in a previous life I must have been a magpie, as I love sparkly things :))

I've admired Alison Young's (QVC) design from afar for a long time and when I finally decided to order it, had to wait months for my size to be re-stocked.

However, I have it now and wear it a lot. 

Its a beautiful big bold design, is extremely comfortable to wear and sparkles loads.

Its platinum clad sterling silver, with round cut, straight baguette and tapered baguette diamonique (of course) stones.

If ever I'm lucky enough to win the lottery, or meet a rich, a very rich man (sorry Mr Beauty Tails) I will have this made with real diamonds -  a mere 2.1 carats.

This is definitely my signature piece of jewellery.

Avon Chest & Neck Serum

One of my Paranoias (one of many my husband might say) is the possibility of  my neck ageing resulting in me looking like a turkey!

A true Gatineau throat gel devotee, I was looking out for something that gave me the same results on a cheaper basis (believe me, the suggested Gatineau pea size amount of product is not enough, I slather this stuff on).

Flicking through a colleagues Avon book I saw the Planet Spa (Avon) Chest & Neck Serum and decided I had nothing to lose for £3 for 50 ml's (it's £5 when not on offer).

I didn't expect too much to be honest ... but, I have been pleasantly surprised.

I have been using this for around 4 weeks now twice a day and I really love it (I do go over the top with my body moisturiser)

I haven't notice a decline in the skin on my neck and decollete  and I am still left with the silky feeling that my Gatineau product always left me with. 

The consistency is clear and fairly watery, it glides on easily, but it is sticky to touch until it dries, but this is usually within a couple of minutes so isn't an issue to me. There is also a mild tightening feeling upon application.

I can't get my head (or nose) around the fragrance. There is a very light smell of something, nothing offensive though. I want to say tangerine, but it's certainly not citrus.

The product claims to  reduce crêpiness and the appearance of lines and wrinkles, while re-texturising the skin, making the neck and chest appear younger. 

It contains antioxidant olive leaf extract and olive oil. 

I'm not saying I will never use Gatineau again, and will probably repurchase when the time is right and it is on offer via QVC, however for now I am happy with my Planet Spa - definitely no complaints from me and definitely one that will be repurchased. 

Botanics Organic Face Soothing Cleansing Balm

When things are going so right, I don't understand why our beloved beauty brand companies change the products we love.
Boots Botanics cleansing balm is a prime example.
The previous version had so many good reviews on the Boots website that I fail to understand why they would change the product to the extent that they did - afterall, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I loved the previous version. A beautiful rich balm which removed every scrap of make up. The cloth was next to useless, but I have many other muslin cloths which I used as a replacement.  Some found the fragrance a little odd, but I have to say, I liked it - a kind of citrus mixed with a medicinal smell.
I loved this cleanser.
When I found Boots had taken if off the shelf, my heart sank, there was sheer panic when I couldn't replace my last pot, however, I was delighted to find it on their website a few weeks ago having been repackaged - or so I thought!

Although the newer version still removes every scrap of make up, the smell and texture are both very different. The consistency is still the same, a hard waxy cleanser, but is now much more greasy on the skin once it has melted. It's not as easy to remove. Having oily skin I feel the need to use a toner afterwards. The scent has almost definitely gone now and I can only describe the smell as slightly 'fatty'

I tend to spend a good 10 minutes each evening massaging the balm, containing Shea Butter, Rosehip and Jojoba oil into the skin on my face and neck before removing with a cloth soaked in warm water to draw out make up, dirt and impurities - the whole process is a bit like a work out for the face.

I haven't tried other balms such as Eve Lom or Emma Hardie so I really don't have another balm I can compare this too, however with a price point of £5.99 for 70ml's, I think I will continue to use this despite my negative comments above, as long as I follow with a toner (on my non Alpha H Liquid Gold nights) to remove the greasy feel and smell.

What is your favourite night time cleanser?

Tiffany & Co

I spent a couple of hours yesterday watching Breakfast at Tiffany's with the beautiful Audrey Hepburn.

I love this film. I also love the song Moon River from the film - always takes me right back to being a little girl again.

I'm lucky enough to have been to New York twice now and have visited Tiffany & Co both times :)) the most famous jewellery store in the world. So many floors of so many beautiful things, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Reaching for my Essie Mint Candy Apple polish I felt a Tiffany style inspired manicure coming on - I also used Nails Inc Hammersmith to accentuate my ring finger.

I hope you have been lucky enough to see the film, if not, I hope you will watch it some day.

''It should take you exactly four seconds to cross from here to that door. I'll give you two''. 

''But I am mad about Jose. I honestly think I'd give up smoking if he asked me''. 

''I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's''.

''Of course, personally, I think it'd be tacky to wear diamonds before I'm 40''.

Shoes of the moment

Loving all things leopard print, these have to be my shoes of the moment

Very pointed with a 4 inch heel, these look great dressed down with jeans, or dressed up with a little black dress.

August Empties

I've got through a few products this month, and as I love reading about what others have been using, I thought I would share my August empties

• Original Source Shea Butter and Honey shower gel . I love anything that contains Shea Butter. This smells just like Baileys, so I can forgive it for not lathering that well.
• L'oreal shampoo and conditioner. Already re purchased. 
• L'Occitane Verbena liquid soap. An all time favourite. 
• Soap & Glory The Fab Pore Hot Cloth Cleanser. I have a few cleansers to get through but will probably re purchase this. Very comforting and in my mind, it gives Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish a run for its money.
• N-Spa Creamy Coconut Shower & Bath Gel. Disappointed with this. I loved the Ice cream version which has now been discontinued, but this smelt a little to synthetic for my taste. Good news though, have found other N-Spa shower gels that I love which I'll review at a later date.
• Planet Spa (Avon) chest & neck serum. I really like this and buy it when on special (around £3). The feeling I get when using rivals Gatineau Firming Throat Gel. I will be re purchasing this.
• Ultrasun 30 SPF  Face. An all time favourite, would never ever be without this.
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold. I'm planning to review this later. I've used it for a few months now and have already re purchased in the full size.
• Botanics Organic Cleansing Balm (old version). Love love love this for a night time cleanser. A definite re purchase, although this has since be repackaged. I believe the product has changed too. Will review the new product soon.
• Soap & Glory Face Soap & Clarity. I used this in the morning in the shower. It felt nice on my skin although I probably won't repurchase. It lathered up lovely and my skin felt clean afterwards, but the product did feel kind of  heavy and soapy afterwards.
• Radox African Savannah handwash. I just had to get this for the kitchen. My adorable Savannah cat (called erm Savannah, yes I'm lazy) wouldn't have forgiven me if I didn't. Would love to re purchase, but this was a limited edition and  I can't find it anywhere.

I hope you enjoyed my August empties - same time, same place next month