Naughty but Nice Nails

When I was younger, I just could not stop biting my nails. I used to turn up at school with plasters on different fingers because they'd got so sore! Yet funnily, without really noticing it, I stopped that terrible habit a couple of years ago and have since become proud of my neatly shaped talons (still not too long though or I accidentally scratch myself!). So, just like when I got my ears pierced at the late age of 14 and became addicted to earrings, I now LOVE nail varnish in all colours, patterns and effects. My nail-knawing history means it took me a while to learn how to apply it properly. I started with REVLON, in my opinion the absolute best medium priced nail varnish range, in PINK NUDE, a sheer colour that has a slight tint and is impossible to get wrong, needing only one coat. However, my NAILS INC professional manicure (see previous post) got me all excited about colour, so I grabbed REVLON'S new season pastel shades - LILAC PASTELLE (milky pink) & MINTED (pale green) - and started practicing my technique. I've finally got to be a dab hand at it, with one thin coat followed by a second thicker coat being my technique of choice. So when TOPSHOP launched their make-up range a few weeks ago and I spotted a 'PARMA VIOLET' varnish, I decided to branch out and try a new brand - SO glad I did, it's just as good as REVLON and the range is packed with more on trend hues such as greys and taupes. Now as much as I love a straight forward at home manicure using one shade only, sometimes you might want something that extra bit special. Celebs such as Katy Perry and Rihanna are among the many seen sporting MINX NAILS, 'a solid nail coating with an adhesive backing that is heat activated and sealed using an infra-red lamp' (check out Katy's leopard and floral designs below). You can get this amazing service at 28 NAILS INC stores, but if you're after something about more down to earth but with a twist, try one of NAIL INC's own 13 Nail Art designs. Just launched, they start from just £7 on top of the normal manicure price. My fave is the nautical stripe design, perfect for summer holidays!

Lou x

Today's Outfit - 20th May 2010

After a gruelling 2 and 1/2 hour exam yesterday, I gave in to the urge to dress up for some much needed retail therapy this morning. As you know from my earlier post, I'm not sold on the whole double denim trend, so I thought I'd take the concept of wearing denim in a new way and buy this pale denim waistcoat from Topshop, a first for me in its not being jeans or indigo coloured. I really love it with this short flowered dress, a Tesco bargain, with a belt to give shape at the waist and this sequined silver headband from Topshop for a jazzy feel and to cover up my second day greasy hair! A festival look I think - wish I was going to one, they're full on trend-fests!

Lou x

Spring Scarves

If you're anything like me, you're probably wondering where the hell summer went. If you're a little bit more like me, you probably stashed away your winter coat in dust-proof polythene (ok, so I inherited the neat freak gene) weeks ago and pulled spring top after summer shorts out of the deepest darkest corners of your drawers, erasing that last remaining trace of bedroom carpet. Oh, and if you've worn strappy flats at least once this season and started to consider what factor suncream to buy this year, you're so like me it's scary. After all of this sun-induced frenzy, I was more than a little peeved to hear on the radio this morning that it would be 9 degrees today. 9 DEGREES!!! I started to feel just a bit premature in my optimism. It looks like we've got this see-saw weather to contend with for a while yet - as the folks would say, in that wise old matriarch manner, 'Ne'er cast a clout till May is out!' In light of this sage proverb, an article in this month's GLAMOUR magazine, entitled 'Instant Style DO, a Summer Scarf' seems particularly relevant. Want to wear that sundress but worried about neck chill? Throw on a scarf! Fancy shrugging off that jacket? Go on, layer up in a scarf! Getting the message? I adore my scarf collection, and the absolute best high street store to pick up light, shimmery scarves that still keep in warmth but don't look like you're off on an arctic expedition, and come in all of the season's hot prints and shades, is OASIS. Make like Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba and Rosie Huntington-Whitely, and choose one of their on-trend scarves to pull together your spring outfits and fight of the British Brrr factor. The one I can't live without is this cream Deco Jacquard Scarf, £20. The muted yet warm shade goes with anything, but especially this season's nudes, it won't clash with anything, and the subtle metallic threads add extra luxe. Who needs summer anyway?

Lou x

BOOTS health & beauty mag

I think we're all a little bit guilty of taking Boots for granted. I know I often saunter in, grab a few toiletries I've run out of ('I swear I only bought some of them last week!'), maybe treat ourselves to a luxury treat from a favourite brand. But do we ever acknowledge the ground breaking new products landing on their shelves every day? The one thing I'd encourage all beauty afficionados to do without fail is to grab a copy of the Boots health & beauty magazine. Aside from the few pages of self promotion bigging up their own brands, this is THE place to read about all of those hot of the press wonder buys that will fly off the shelves as quixk as they land, and will become a staple in our beauty regimes before we can say 'poly-peptides' (did I just make that up?!?) So here are the highlights of the new May / June issue. Take heed beauty geeks!

• p.23 - Green Goddess: The new Une Natural Beauty cosmetics range looks to be a fantastic bet for sensitive skins, or eco-warriors. Organic, and made with 100% natural ingredients, the range includes foundations, blusher, lip gloss and brushes, and looks sure to be kind to skin.
• p.54 - Happy Birthday No7: and I thought I was old. To celebrate its 75th birthday, No.7 has launched a range of cosmetics taking inspiration from beauty trends over the last 7 decades. For 40s vamp, try the sexy red Judy Lip Gloss (£6.75), or for an 80s vibe, mix the neon shades of Electric 80s Eyeshadow Trio (£9.75). Available from 6th May, while stocks last.
• p.71 - Get Suncare Savvy: Not innovative, but an area of confusion for those of use who want to stay sun safe. Sun cream bottles are pasted with tons of info that can be hard to follow. This guide tels each skin type what to look out for to get the max protection. Take note!

So next time you're in Boots, whether you're shopping for toilet paper or eau de toilette, pick up your copy of this great mag - it's free to advantage card holders, and who doesn't love a freebie!

Lou xxx