Festive Essie Picks

I just can't resist Essie's seasonal glittery picks, they're always released sometime around my birthday and so each year I treat myself to a few shades (there's always a 3 for 2 deal on in Boots or Superdrug too!). This year didn't disappoint, Essie's Luxe picks for 2016 are a dream - glittery, festive and gorgeous hues. I picked up two glitters and a gold from Essie's winter range...

The glitters are divine, tiny micro specks that translate beautifully on the nails - like sparkling stars in glittering night skies. Best applied and dabbed on with the middle of the brush (as is holds and distributes the most glitter!) and paired with a topcoat to smooth over, they last well on the nails and look gorgeous on!

The first shade that I picked up was Essie Glow Your Own Way, a heavenly polish that Christmas dreams are made of! It's sparkly and bronze gold with tiny white specks, reminiscent of falling snow - a little snow globe-esque! Ideal for the party season, this works beautifully scattered over the nails, or layered up as an accent nail. I'm smitten with this polish, it's so pretty!

The next glitter that I reached for was Essie Disco Doll, a delicate silvery pink. This wintry polish is gorgeous, a cool-toned blush rose with micro flecks of silver, again perfect for the party season and for the New Year. It's so flattering on the nails and looks beautiful paired with a mauve polish!

Lastly I opted for Essie Getting Groovy, a metallic palladium gold. This opulent polish is unreal, under a light or in sunlight it glitters and sparkles a dazzling gold. I bought this for gilded tips, but it's so beautiful worn alone too - it's a must-have for December!

I'm so in love with these luxe picks, I may have to go back for the third glittery shade, Essie In The Mood Ring, a glittery onyx and gold!

Have you spotted the new range yet?

A Few More Beauty Tips...

I thought that I would share 12 more beauty tips (see my first instalment here!) - there's nothing better than learning a new trick or technique to add to your beauty routine! Here's a few old staple tips, new discoveries and quick fixes that I've picked up!

1. Use a light to see how much product is left in opaque bottles, this works like a treat on the Oskia Renaissance Cleanser!

2. Take note of your cheek colour when you're flushed to find your perfect blush shade.

3. Place a towel under the handles of your make up brushes whilst they're drying. I angle mine quite high so that if any water has worked its way into the ferrule, it should simply run back out again to stop damage to the glue and prolong the life of your brushes!

4. Blow dry your hair upside down. Flip your hair over and dry for maximum volume, keep the hairdryer constantly moving to reduce/minimise heat damage.

5. Look out for the little picture of the pot on the back of your make up/skincare packaging, it should have the number of months that it lasts once opened (e.g 12M).

6. Opt for a natural lip balm - considering the fact that we probably ingest quite a lot of lip balm, especially over the colder months, it's best to keep things natural! Love EOS lip balms.

7. Whilst applying a second coat of polish, run the brush along the very tip of the nail to seal in the colour for a longer lasting mani.

8. Use a Jade Roller or try Facial Yoga for improved circulation and elasticity.

9. Place make up you want to use up in acrylic storage so that it's easy to see and reach for. 

10. Keep Q-tips and micellar water close to hand to clean up any mistakes, great for liner and mascara smudges!

11. Lean on your elbow whilst applying liquid liner for a steadier hand.

12. Keep your iPhone clean. Touching your phone and then your face/talking on the phone can increase the chances of breakouts, it's best to keep it as clean as possible!

I hope you liked these tips!
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Autumn Beauty Picks

The crisp, autumn days have finally arrived!! My skin is already in serious need of a hydration boost and so I've swapped out my lighter night cream for the Kiehls Ultra Facial Balm - a luxurious balmy version of the cult Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream, but without the addition of parabens. This rich, creamy balm is ideal for the gloomy autumn days, it leaves skin plump, smooth and super hydrated. To use, I simply warm up a very small amount between my fingers, tap on my forehead, cheeks and chin and then smooth upwards and outwards over my face and neck. 

Another saviour for parched skin is Lush's Dream Cream, with oat milk, rose water and chamomile blue oil, this soothing, hydrating cream treats and clears up dry, sore and unhappy skin!

Lush's The Comforter shower gel is a shower staple, the perfect treat on cold autumn days. The bright yet comforting cassis, bergamot and vanilla fragrance is warming and uplifting - the ideal fix to perk you up if your feeling a little under the weather!

My skin always looks a little lacklustre during autumn and so I'm relying on a couple of make up faves to perk up my tired complexion. The Nyx Born To Glow Liquid Illuminator in Sunbeam is divine, a creamy, shimmery pearl highlighter with a touch of pink to brighten and give a dewy glow. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blusher in Mood Exposure is also ideal for autumn, this finely milled, silky soft blusher sculpts the cheeks flawlessly. The dusky mauve pink hue works well paired with a vampy lip and the swirls of ambient lighting powder brings light and radiance to the skin. 

For eyes, I've pulled out Illamasqua Jubilance a new, dreamy, rose gold shimmery pick and By Terry Misty Rock, a blendable lavender taupe with silver glitter running through it. Both look gorgeous blended on the lids and under the lash line with a slick of mascara and winged liner!

For lips, I've pulled out a selection of autumnal hues, Nars Walkyrie - a creamy, wearable, muted matte terracotta pick, Mac Rebel, a bold, rich berry and the Nyx Soft Matte Lip Cream in Copenhagen, a chic long lasting and gorgeous deep burgundy red.

Lastly, on my nails I'm obsessed with these two beautiful hues from the Leighton Denny AW16 Roaring 20's collection. I've opted for Moonshine*, a dreamy soft nude with mauve tones and a subtle silver shimmer and Rebellious Heart*, a divine rich plum shade!

What are your beauty picks for autumn?

Mani Essentials

I have pretty lacklustre nails naturally, they're dry, weak and flaky - not ideal. After testing out different nail oils, treatments and base coats to try and tackle my brittle nails, I've finally found a mani routine and a collection of products that I'm SO happy with. My nails are stronger, longer and nourished, nail polish applies better and lasts a little longer too. I've also been making an effort to keep my nails polish free for at least two days a week, normally three, It's completely transformed my nails!

I used to flit between using a daily treatment, strengthener, base coat, oil and growing treatment, now I've completely stripped back my routine, using minimal, essential products that really work for me. The only thing that I'm left to find is a good base coat!

To start off, I file my nails with the Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File, a worthwhile investment (which comes with a 25 year guarantee) this leaves nails incredibly smooth and strong, it turns the nail edge to dust in a few quick swipes and is instantly refreshed with a quick rinse under warm water. I can't ever see myself using another nail file, it's honestly the best!

For nail polish, I'm obsessed with Essie. I love everything about Essie nail polishes - the easy application brush, glossy finishes, quality and the chic shades. The Essie Gel Couture range is divine, a long lasting formula that boasts impressive wear time. They're a game changer for me, most nail polishes only last around 3 days on me as I'm always pottering around, fidgeting or cleaning and therefore chipping my nails. I initially tried the Essie Gel Couture Polish in Take Me To Thread with Topcoat (see me wearing it here), which stayed put for days and didn't budge, I took mine off after 11 days and it was still going strong! The shade above is Essie Sew Me*, a pretty peach nude, I've currently got this with the topcoat on my nails - I'm on day 7 now and there's minimal chips! 

Once my nails are polished and dry, I apply the Lush Lemony Flutter Buttery Cuticle Balm to my cuticles. This buttery balm is full of heavenly ingredients to keep cuticles soft and supple - coconut oil, mango butter, lanolin and beeswax to name a few! Throughout the week I use a combination of Lemony Flutter and the dreamy Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil to keep my nails and cuticles nourished and hydrated. 

What are your mani essentials?

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An Essie Haul - Two Dreamy Picks

After visiting as many Essie counters as possible to try and track down these two dreamy shades, I walked away disappointed and took to my laptop instead. A few clicks later and after an online order raced it's way to me, I finally laid my hands on these beautiful shades.

I've been drawn towards muted tones this spring which is a change from the pastel and brights that I normally pull out at this time of the year! These soft hues are so flattering on the nails and ideal paired with delicate, dainty silver or gold jewellery.

My first pick, Essie Cabana Boy is part of the limited edition retro revival collection. A soft, pearl white/grey with a hint of lilac, this heavenly shade is a new staple. It's such a shame that it's a limited edition shade, I already know that I'll get tons of wear from this - paired with floaty dresses, soft fabrics and midi rings, it looks so pretty!

Next up is Essie Ladylike, a creamy muted mauve and perfect year-round neutral shade. The smooth formula makes application a dream, opaque in just one coat it's incredible for a minimal, simple, polished mani. It's one that I can see being great for all occasions, interviews, weddings or lunch dates!

I'm so in love with my new Essie picks, they were a steal thanks to the buy one get one half price deal thats currently on boots online! Ladylike isn't one that I've ever spotted in store and so it was well worth an order to get my hands on this gorgeous shade too.
I'm tempted to splurge on another Essie polish or two, I love the look of Essie Birthday Suit from the revival collection, Starry Starry Night has been on my wishlist for the longest time too!

What do you think of these shades?

UPDATED ESSIE COLLECTION

Having been around a year since my last Essie collection and with 3 for 2's, kind gifts and far too many treat yourself moments over the past year, my Essie collection has grown quite a bit. I though I would revisit my collection for a little update!

My most recent Essie polishes were actually a gift from Alex - I adore this dreamy Bridal collection set that he picked up for me. My next planned purchase is Essie Starry Starry Night, as soon as it's available again I'm snapping it up, it's been on my wishlist for the longest time - I'm so happy that Essie are bringing it back again!

After looking at my collection as a whole I seem to be missing a few lighter, summery shades, maybe next time boots have a 3 for 2 offer... I'd love to know your favourite picks!

The Berries

First up is my absolute favourite shade to wear, berry. There's something about autumnal hues, rich berries, plums and mulberry tones that I just love, they're flattering on the nails and work so well as the base for a glittery mani!

Essie Sole Mate is one of my top picks, a glossy, vampy shade, Essie Bahama Mama, a rich plum is another of my most worn polishes, then there's one of my latest additions Essie Fashion Flares, a magenta bar glitter that looks pretty simply brushed over the nails, Essie it's Genius - a violet quartz shimmer and Essie Angora Cardi a creamy, dusty mauve.

The Blues/Greens

I'm fairly surprised how many blues I have in my collection! I own - Essie's Midnight Cami a deep blue with twilight shimmer, Essie Aruba Blue, a flattering sapphire foil, Essie A Stroke Of Brilliance, a frosty periwinkle blue glitter, Essie Maximilian Strasse Her - a firm favourite of mine and the cult favourite Essie Mint Candy Apple.

The Pinks/Corals

Next up are three pinks, Essie Peach Daiquiri a dreamy vibrant coral, Essie Cute as a Button which is similar to Peach Daiquiri but a little more pink and Essie A Cut Above, a chunky, soft pink glitter.

The Nudes

Most of the nude shades that I own come from this dreamy bridal set, Essie's Vanity Fairest being the only exception, I've owned and loved this shimmery nude pink for a long time now!

From the set there's Essie Allure aka Kate Middletons Wedding day mani pick, Essie's Ballet Slippers (another cult shade) and Essie Sugar Daddy, one that I've coveted for a while now after spotting it a lot on Pinterest!

The Reds

Mainly pulled out at Christmas, Essie Leading Lady is a gorgeous, sparkly deep red that has flecks of raspberry glitter running through it, perfect for the festive season. Next up is Essie Bordeaux, a deep burgundy and my ultimate favourite shade. Lastly Essie Aperitif is a cherry red that makes the perfect red mani.

The Metallic Glitters

Some of the most aesthetically pleasing of the bunch, my copper/silver/gold glitter collection has grown rapidly over the past year, I just can't get enough of these shimmery shades!

First off there's Essie Sparkle On Top (the last polish of the Bridal set), Essie Frillin' Me Softly, an icy silver bar glitter with flecks of frosty blue, Essie Rock at the Top - my top pick for gilded tips, the divine Essie Summit of Style, a chunky copper glitter and Essie Tassel Shaker, a gorgeous Copper and Bronze glitter.

The only treatment that I own from Essie is the Essie Nail Treatment Apricot Cuticle oil, it hydrates and nourishes the nails and cuticles with a blend of moisturising oils, just one quick swipe leaves my nails feeling supple and strong.

Phew, that's a lot of polishes! What are your favourite Essie Picks?

NEW IN: FESTIVE ESSIE POLISHES

Each year, I eagerly await Essie's festive collection. With dreamy hues and mesmerising glitters Essie polishes are usually snapped up as soon as they hit the stores.

As soon as I spotted Essie's 2015 Luxe collection I rushed to boots with the intention of picking up just one shade but ended walking out with 3 (3 for 2 at boots, how could I not?!) I'm even tempted to go back for the last shade too!

The initial shade I that picked up and the one I originally went in for is Tassel Shaker, a beautiful copper and bronze glitter. Worn as an accent nail and paired with a deep berry like Essie Sole Mate it makes the perfect autumn mani. I only needed one coat to give me a good distribution of glitter and it translated on the nails to a beautiful burnished shade.

Essie's Fashion Flares drew my eye in store and lead me onto opting for 3 polishes instead of just the one. A stunning deep magenta glitter with a slight raspberry hint to it and black glitter particles running through it, this looks like it will be well suited for the Christmas period. I'm not sure what to pair this with yet but I can imagine it will look super festive beautiful built up as an accent nail or over a white shade like Essie Blanc.

Lastly, I picked up Frillin' Me Softly, an icy silver with frosty blue specks of glitter which looks perfect for winter. Swept over dusky pinks or dark hues or worn as an accent nail I can imagine this luxe silvery/platinum hue will see me right through Christmas to New Years. There's something about this glistening polish that I feel completely embodies winter, it reminds me of snowflakes, Frozen and frosty mornings, it's such an appealing shade!

Which is your favourite shade?

A FEW NEW THINGS FOR AUTUMN

With cosy knits, festive decor and beauty sets galore I find it hard to resist spending a little more throughout Autumn & Winter. I buy most of my homeware, clothes and beauty palettes during A/W as I just love the style, shades and decor at this time of the year!

Festive things have been streaming into the shops and I couldn't resist picking up a few things to decorate my home with. I have plans to hang this Sparking Snowflake Decoration from The White Company on my window, I love the way that the glittering beads catch the light and I think it will look so pretty in Winter twinkling on the window pane.

I also picked up these Copper Bells from Paperchase, I'm not quite sure what to do with them yet but I just couldn't resist them!

I love to spend my Sunday Autumn evenings with a cinnamon hot chocolate, flicking through magazines and painting my nails. I hunted high and low for this Rose Gold shade from Orly which is free with this months Elle magazine. After a week of looking (it seems like it's a popular shade!) I finally found it nestled away in the back of a store. It's such a pretty shade, you can't really go wrong with rose gold!

My skin has really taken a hit with the colder weather and my regular morning moisturiser just hasn't been cutting it on these biting, chilly days. After watching Lily Pebbles vlog I popped into L'Occitanne where they offered me a spiced apple tea, a complimentary facial and handed me a sample of the Precious Cream. I've been using it day and night and my skin has been drinking this rich, creamy moisturiser up. They've also popped in a £10 off code for skincare which I'm planning on using for the full sized version when I run out!

I've also been practically living in Lush, with hot bath's becoming a staple for me on cold autumn nights, Lush bath's are the ultimate comforting treat. I'm so excited to test out the Sparkly Pumpkin, with uplifting oils, soft bubbles and a hint of sparkle, it looks perfect for this time of year.

Lastly, I've pulled out my opaque black tights and over the knee boots and have been looking for the perfect skirt to pair with them, this Asos Jacquard number caught my eye in the Asos sale, it's monochrome and so will work perfectly with most of my wardrobe!

Have you picked up anything new recently?

METALLIC NAILS FOR AUTUMN

Although I'm normally drawn to berry shades for autumn, this beautiful metallic nail polish has been adorning my nails non stop lately. It's a great choice if you want something that's still autumnal but a little different from berries, deep reds and dark hues.

Leighton Denny Nail polish in Queen Hera* from the A/W I Am Goddess collection is a stunning metallic antiqued gold. With hints of green and gold this beautiful duo chrome shade changes as it reflects the light and looks so flattering on the nails.

There's something quite divine and ethereal about this shade, which is reflected in it's name 'Queen Hera', the Queen of Olympus and the Goddess of Marriage. It's also quite mermaid-esque and so would be perfect over Halloween and also for the transition from Summer to Autumn.

I've had this on my nails for 5 days now and there's minimal chips and wear. It's a great formula, fast drying and opaque in just two coats. It's a modern shade that's inspired by this seasons latest trends and such a pretty shade for autumn.

n.b the Salted Caramel Muffin from Costa was incredible!

AUTUMN BEAUTY

With my bright and coral hues tucked safely away for another year, I've pulled out some of my favourite autumn shades to wear for the upcoming months. My dressing table is looking a little more autumnal and I'm excited to embrace burgundy, plum and berry shades.

With darker nights and mornings slowly creeping in I've been left feeling quite tired and my skin has been looking a little lacklustre. Origins High Potency Night a Mins is great for autumn as it's a thick, creamy moisturiser that helps to combat dull, tired skin. It contains vitamins E, C and H, helps to fade acne scarring and gives a boost of radiance to your skin.
Nuxe Reve De Miel is my lip saviour for the colder months, it contains honey, sweet almond oil, shea butter and calendula to keep lips soft and supple.

For blusher, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure is so perfect for autumn. It's a beautiful rose/plum shade with swirls of ambient lighting powder running through that leaves you with a flawless, radiant finish. Nars Orgasm (worn here) gives a warm, golden pink flush of colour to your cheeks that helps to keep your make up looking fresh and glowing on gloomy days.

On my eyes, I've been gravitating towards MAC Quarry, a muted plum and MAC Sable, a bronze with plum pearl. Both look great smudged under the lower lash line for a hint of colour or blended through the crease for definition.

I'm a huge fan of autumn nail polish shades and so it makes me so happy to be wearing berry shades again. Essie Bahama Mama is a divine rich plum and one of my favourite nail polishes, it works so well paired with Essie Summit of Style, a bronze chunky glitter to give you gilded tips.

Autumnal lipstick shades are some of my favourites to wear, Topshop Beguiled (worn here) is a beautiful berry/red with slightly shimmery undertones, it's velvety formula glides easily onto the lips and is such a flattering shade to wear. MAC Rebel is a gorgeous autumn berry lipstick that's perfect for blustery autumn days as it stays put for hours. I opt for MAC Plumful (swatched here) if I want something a little more subtle on the lips, it's a pretty mauve berry that's buildable and feels soft on the lips.

Lastly, I've been running a little Beauty Protector Protect & Oil through the ends of my hair for silky soft tresses. This smells incredible - like candyfloss, doesn't weigh down my hair at all and a little goes a long way, I only need to use a couple of drops for glossy, bouncy hair.

What are your beauty picks for autumn?

MY ESSIE TOP PICKS

It's no secret that Essie are my favourite nail polish brand. The quality, formula and pigmentation are incredible, the brush applicator makes application so effortless and the shade selection is dreamy. Here is a collection of my most worn, failsafe shades, I'd love to know yours!

Essie Bordeaux holds a special place for me as it was the nail polish I was wearing when Alex proposed and whenever I pop this on with my ring it takes me back to that time. Despite my emotional attachments to it, it really is a beautiful shade. The deep burgundy/wine red is divine, it's so flattering and glossy on the nails and looks great paired with dark grey, navy blue or striped long jumpers. You can see me wearing it here.

Whilst I try and mainly adorn berry nails around autumn/winter, I tend to reach for them all year round too as it's my absolute favourite shade to wear. Essie Bahama Mama is a beautiful rich plum and quite possibly my all time favourite nail polish shade. Essie Soul Mate, a vampy berry comes in at a close second, the formula is a little better, it's extremely pigmented and long lasting. Also, like Bordeaux it's incredibly glossy which is so complimentary on the nails.

Essie Maximillian Strasse Her is the latest Essie shade in my collection and I've been re-applying it to my nails manicure after manicure as it's such a nice colour. It's one of those shades that looks different on the nails depending on the light, sometimes it's a cement grey and sometimes it has blue or green tones to it. It has a creamy, lasting formula which stays put for around 6 days on me with minimal chips. I wore it recently on my instagram here.

Lastly, my most reached for glitter is Essie Summit of Style. This bronze, chunky glitter works so well as an accent nail or applied as an ombre effect to give you golden tips.

See my full Essie collection here.

MERMAID MAKE UP

There are a few products that I own that are either sparkly, shimmery, aqua toned, chameleon, duo chromed, or pastel toned. Theres something quite ethereal and mermaid-esqe about them, like they wouldn't be out of place in a Disney film or in a fairy tale. I love make up like this, mermaid make up, and I own quite a lot of it!

Although it's not always the most wearable type of make up, I love adding hints to my normal make up routine. Barry M Dazzle Dusts are shimmery little pigmented pots of colour that look beautiful smudged under the lower lash line for a hint of colour to the eyes. Natural Collection have some great  pastels for a wash of colour over the eyes, Nars Outer Limits, a shimmery rose gold eyeshadow (dupe here) looks so pretty when patted onto the lids and Maybelline Colour Tattoos have glimmering aquas and golds for long lasting cream colour on the eyes (see my collection here).

For nails, Topshop & Barry M win every time with their dreamy glitter shades. Barry M glitter polishes like Amethyst Glitter or their amazing mermaid-esque Aquarium Collection are perfect painted on toes. Topshop Glitter Nail Polishes distribute a sprinkling of multi toned sparkles making them a little more suited for a wash of colour over your nails.

Fuchsia pinks like MAC Show Orchid or it's similar highstreet dupe Revlon Wild Orchid are so pretty on the lips, they have pink and blue micro glitter running through them to give a lustre sheen. Cool toned bubblegum pinks like Revlon Showy work so well with winged liner and matte eyeshadows.

Mac Mineralised Skinfinish powders give the skin a glowing, illuminated touch that catch light as you move, Mac Redhead (pictured above), Soft & Gentle and Lightscapade are a few of my favourites. Sleek Rose Gold blusher also gives a similar illuminating effect, it's a beautiful coral pink toned blusher with flecks of gold glitter running through it.

Lastly, my favourite mermaid product is Illamasqua Pure Pigment Powder in Static. It can be used as an eyeshadow and highlighter, It looks so pretty if paired with pinks or dabbed onto the centre of a glossy lip or quite edgy if paired with matte blacks and purples. It's a divine, iridescent pearl pigment with violet and pink micro glitter running through it (swatched here).

Do you own any mermaid make up?

SUMMER BEAUTY

With Summer on it's way, I've placed springs pastels to the side and pulled out creams, brights and lighter bases ready for the warm summer days. 

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a staple for me on sweltering hot days, it contains organic balm mint, rosemary, grape, rose and orange blossom to smooth the skin and give a burst of radiance. Just a couple of spritzes of this refreshing beauty mist perks up dull skin and leaves it feeling cool and fresh.
No other eye cream really compares to Balance Me Wonder Eye Cream for me, it's a rich but lightweight cream that contains virgin coconut, rosehip and carrot oils, brightening lemon oil, cucumber oil and hydrating hyaluronic acid. I've been using this on and off for a couple of years now, it's the only eye cream that's ever made a noticeable difference to my dark circles.

I always opt for cream or gel based eyeshadows in the summer, Maybelline Colour Tattoo's in Eternal Gold and And on Bronze are so easy to use for a quick wash of colour over the eyes and they last all day on me without creasing or smudging. For an everyday shade I like to wear Maybelline Eternal Gold (swatched here) with lot's of mascara and a shimmery peach lipgloss.

For blusher, Sleek Rose Gold is the perfect summer shade, it's a dreamy coral pink with flecks of gold which gives you a beautiful warm summer glow. Topshop Head Over Heels is a creamy, coral peach blusher that blends seamlessly as a cream before setting in place as a powder. It works so well used with Topshop Glow Highlighter in Polished, a beautiful, almost ethereal highlighter. MAC Gleam eyeshadow - a shimmery golden peach shade, also works well as a summer highlighter, both really help to brighten the complexion and give a pretty glow to your cheeks.

I've been reluctant to move away from wearing deep reds, greys and berry shades on my nails this year but Essie Peach Daiquiri - a bright peachy pink, and Essie Vanity Fairest - a shimmery pastel pink are so pretty for summer. I've been wearing Essie Peach Daiquiri on my toes and Essie Vanity Fairest on my fingers for a soft, pretty manicure.

On my lips, I've pulled out two of my favourite pinks, Nars satin lip pencil in Yu (swatched here), a beautiful bright cool toned pink that works well worn alone or dabbed on as a stain and Revlon Sultry Samba (swatched here) which is a matte fuchsia pink that lasts well on the lips and feels soft and creamy in texture.

Lastly, for fragrance I'm still so in love with Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream. It's a breezy, girly scent with notes of blackberry, jasmine, pear and coconut water that and smells delicate, warm, airy and light.

What are your beauty picks for Summer?

ESSIE MAXIMILLIAN STRASSE-HER

It's not your typical spring/summer shade but Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her is a slight reflection of this gloomy, stormy weather we've been having in the UK. I'm not quite ready to embrace bright nail polish shades yet and I feel like Maximmilian Strasse-Her is the perfect transitional shade for thundery summer days spent reading Harry Potter and drinking hot chocolates.

This is the kind of shade that looks different to me every time I look at it, sometimes it's a cement grey, sometimes it's more of a muted blue and sometimes it has green tints to it. Overall it's a really pretty shade that's flattering on the nails.

The above photo is day 4 of 2 coats of Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her, I'm on day 6 now with minimal chips, it's one of the longest lasting Essie polishes I own and a new firm favourite in my collection.
I've also been keeping my cuticles hydrated with Essie Nail Treatment Apricot Cuticle Oil, it contains a mixture of nourishing oils and leaves my cuticles soft and supple.

Have you tried Essie Maximillian Strasse-Her?

SOIGNE NAIL POLISH IN POMEGRANATE

I've mentioned Soigné quite a few times in my recent posts, I love idea behind the brand and I've always been on the look out for a nail polish that is better for my nails.

Soigné translates to 'take care of' meaning that the polishes are free from nasties and help the nails to stay healthy and in good condition. The packaging is dreamy and the shades available are beautiful. They have a 5 free formula are eco friendly, cruelty free and vegan.

I purchased Soigné nail polish in Pomegranate recently as it's a beautiful, classic red colour that I'll be able to wear all year round. Ever since me and Alex got engaged I've been choosing nail polishes that I think will go well with my ring (soppy, I know!) and I love the way this true red looks. 

Although these polishes come in at £11 each, they often have offers and sales available. I would much rather spend a little more money every now and then for a great quality, eco friendly nail polish, I've already got my eye on the shades Betteraves Rouges and Orge to buy next!

Have you tried Soigné nail polish?