Fashion: Celebrity Inspired Ear Cuffs and Ear Crawlers

Cara Delevinge wearing Chanel (Source), Jennifer Lawrence (Getty Images, Source) Lara Bingle (Getty Images Source)

 

Pretty and Elaborate Ear Cuffs

 Top Row

Love Rocks Pearl & Sparkle Ear Cuff ASOS

Mood Pearl and Crystal Navette Ear Cuff, Debehams 

Love Rocks Sparkle Leaf Ear Cuff ASOS

Leaf Shaped Crystal Resin Ear Cuff, Amazon

Bottom Row

Occasion Ear Cuff, ASOS

Crystal Rhinestone Spike Ear Cuff, Miss Selfridge

Shining Butterfly Full Crystal Ear Cuff, Amazon

Crystal Leaf  Left Earcuff, Amazon

Diane Kruger (Source) , Emma Watson (Getty Images Source)  Rihanna (Source)

 

Small and Simple Ear cuffs

Top Row

Ice Athena Earcuff, Bauble Bar

3 Pack Hammered Metal Ear Cuffs, Claires

 Sterling Silver Mini Crystal Ear Cuff, Asos

Shakti Ear Cuff House of Harlow 

Bottom Row 

Pave Brace Ear Cuff, Bauble Bar

Love Ear Cuffs Rings and Tings

Sterling Silver Ear Cuff Multi Pack, ASOS 

 Lucky Eyes Double Band Ear cuff

Priyanka Chopra (Source) Miley Cyrus (FayesVision/WENN.com  Source)  Lilly Cole (David Fisher/ Rex Features Source

Ear Cuff with Chains

Top Row

Festival Hook Ear Cuff, ASOS

 Festival Feather Ear cuff, ASOS

Faux Pearl Chain Drop Ear Cuff, ASOS

Shell and Feather Earrings Accessorize

Bottom Row 

Orelia Draped Chain Shell Ear Cuff, ASOS

Reclaimed Vintage Cross Cuff and Chain Earring ASOS

Leaf Detail Ear Cuff and Crawler ASOS

Cross with Chain Ear Cuff, Rings and Tings

 

Ciate Nail polish in Strawberry Milkshake and Topcoat Review

Recently I picked up Marie Claire magazine which had two free Ciate nail polishes. The shade I choose was Strawberry Milkshake along with a clear topcoat. This is my first Ciate product I've tried and I hope it's not representative of their other nail polishes since this one nearly drove me crazy while I was applying it.

 

Firstly the name Strawberry Milkshake is perfect for this shade, in the bottle it's a milky pale pink but on the nails it's a brighter, slightly darker pink if a topcoat isn't applied on the same day (as seen in the photo above far left.) In general I found that Strawberry Milkshake takes a long time to dry properly and set. The first time I wore this I didn't apply the topcoat for three days and by then the nail polish had time to dry and the topcoat didn't fully change the colour. The second time I wore this I applied topcoat about 80-90 mins later and the polish hadn't completely dried and the topcoat made the nail polish look lighter- a milky pale pink shade like you see in the bottle. The polish is opaque in two coats which isn't bad for such a light shade. However you will need three coats to stop it looking streaky. It also goes on unevenly as well. I realise this is mini sized nail polish and so the brush may not be as good as the full sized version, but I have read a few other unfavourable reviews for this particular shade.

The polish had some good points, the finish is very shiny and the second is that it lasts for quite a long while without chipping. The first time I painted my nails I went three days without a top coat, with only minimal wear and no chips  (including typing and washing up dishes without gloves - I really should know better by now!) The Ciate Top Coat dries very quickly, much faster than my usual Butter London P.D. Quick topcoat and sets as hard as a rock. However it doesn't really protect your manicure from surface scratches and marks which was disappointing. My first manicure lasted 6-7 good days wear with less chipping than I normally experience with other polishes. The second time I used this applying the topcoat the same day the manicure lasted around 4 days before chipping.

 

For such a high end brand I expected the application to be much easier and the formula more easy to work with. However the lasting power does make up for this a little. I'm hoping that it might just be that this shade that isn't as good as the others. It hasn't put me off trying Ciate's other nail polish shades.

Let me know what other Ciate nail shades should I try in the comments. 

BEAUTY TRENDS- The Bubble Nail - A Do or Don't?

Bubble nails have actually been around since 2009 but it's only recently that bubble nails have become more popular, appearing on Instagram feeds and sent many others copying the trend.
Bubble nails are created by layering lots of layers of acrylic in the middle of the nail to create a 3D dome or bump on the nail. Basically they look like half a marble stuck onto a nail. The difference in nail length separates the two similar styles: when the nail is kept short these are called Bubble nails and when nail tips are longer they're called hump nails. Bright colours, patterns and jewels are then painted on to finish the manicure.


Top left Enderkate4 Top Right Mermissues Bottom Left Nailedxlucy_  Bottom right- Nails by Ann

Generally both Bubble and Hump nails have to be done at a salon and since bubble nail manicures aren't covered in beauty school, nail technicians have developed their own techniques by trial and error and online tutorials such as those on Youtube. Neither styles are recommended to be worn for too long as the huge amount of acrylic can damage the nail. However celebrity nail artist Pattie Yankee says hump nails are safer for the nail because the ball of acrylic can be balance on the natural stress points. The nail on the bottom left was done by adding false nail to the bubble tip so it curled over.

Top Right and Bottom Right Nails by Ann. Top left Body Wrap Mona Bottom left Aesthetic beauty Liverpool

To me this fashion trend was made for Lady Gaga and fans, I'm not sure if Kylie Jenner will be joining in and I've yet to see these nails in real life. I would imagine basic everyday tasks like  texting, tying shoe laces and applying makeup and creams would be difficult with bubble or hump manicures! What do you think are they a do or don't?  

Champney's Perfect Pedicure Intensive Foot Butter Review

When it comes to summer my dry and rather neglected feet need some pampering to be sandal ready. Champney's Intensive foot butter claims to leave your feet moisturised and soft, just what my feet need and can be used all year round. It usually comes in a 200ml tub but mine is in a tube from a Champney's gift set. It contains shea and olive butter, ingredients known for their moisturising properties, as well as vitamin E, orange and peppermint essential oils. It smells mainly of peppermint comes out as a light blue/green mousse. This foot butter is dermatologically tested and fairly gentle, it did not cause any irritation to my sensitive skin. (I also suffer from eczema too but did not apply it on those parts.) Although it took awhile to absorb into the skin and dry (about 10 minutes) it did leave my feet softer and moisturised. It's not a very heavy cream but left my feet feeling very moisturised, much more than I expected and so I would say it's an 'intensive foot butter' level of treatment. You don't need to use much, the amount of product on my hand in the photo above was enough for both feet.  The peppermint gives a very slight tingly refreshed feeling after applying. If you suffer from hot or swollen feet in the summer this will cool you down and pamper your feet at the same time. In the autumn and winter this can be used as an intensive overnight treatment under socks. It's a cheap but effective at moisturising your feet and leave them feeling soft and one that I would repurchase and recommend to others. Champney's Foot Butter retails for £8 in Boots and Champneys online.

 

 

 

 

Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo Mega Instant Review

There are three dry shampoos in Aussie's Miracle range: Aussome Volume for bigger hair, colour mate for dyed hair and finally Mega instant which I'm reviewing today. Aussie Miracle Dry Shampoo Mega Instant is for normal or greasy hair and promises to 'ward off' grease and revive your hair.  While the normal Aussie shampoos are priced slightly more expensively than other brands, their dry shampoo range is cheaper. They are all available in two sizes: 65ml for £2.29 and 180ml for £4.71. When I went to buy this the 180ml was the only size in stock but price wise £4.71 is pretty much an average price for a dry shampoo.

Aussie Mega Instant is the first dry shampoo I've tried. As a teenager I developed and still have hair that gets greasy really quickly and dry shampoos would have been a lifesaver back then. My hair tends to get greasy roots and be dry at the ends.  Generally it gets greasy the day after washing my hair on day 2 and 3. I usually wash my hair every other day (day 3). Also I am a dark brunette and wanted to avoid any obvious white powder/spray left in my hair that sometimes happens with dry shampoos.

Aussie's Miracle Dry Shampoo smells gorgeous (sweet and fruity) as all Aussie hair products do, it's kind of their trademark. It contains Jojoba seed extract which has been used for centuries by the indigenous Australians to naturally condition hair. Before you use the shampoo you have to shake the can, spray into roots from about 30cm away, massage in and brush out well. The spray is fine, it's not sticky and is easy to wash out.

The first time I used this was on day 7 hair (7 days after washing my hair) so my hair was extremely greasy. I sprayed a lot into my roots but the dry shampoo did absolutely nothing and I even ended up with white bits like dandruff in my hair. I put it down to my hair being too greasy for it to work and maybe I got carried away with the spraying. The next time I tried this was on day 3 hair when it was due for a wash. I sprayed much less and made sure I was spraying 30cm away. Holding the can 30cm away is much further than I would naturally hold a can of hairspray. While I didn't get the dandruff effect this time, the shampoo still did not soak up any grease or look any different. The spray was initially dry then it became wet as I was massaging in to my hair. The third time I used this I sprayed 8 times. Four at 90 degrees around my head and four over the top and I made sure to hold the can 30cm away.  My hair did not look or feel any better. On the fourth attempt I sprayed 6 times into my roots on day 3 hair. I waited for a minute before I began massaging it into my roots and I waited another minute for the dry shampoo to work to see if this would help before I brushed it out. Unfortunately there was absolutely no difference to the feel or look of my hair.

I have thick hair and although this could work for somebody else (without thick hair), I really wouldn't recommend it at all, it was very disappointing. The good points are the nice fragrance and the fact that it does not leave white dandruff marks in dark hair. But ultimately it comes down to whether the product works and does what it claims to- and unfortunately this does not, so don't waste your money.

Summer Reads 2015

Always the bridesmaid by Lindsey Kelk

Maddie's two best friends are going through some big life changes, Lauren is getting married while Sarah is going through a divorce and Maddie feels caught between the two. Lauren appoints Maddie as her unpaid wedding planner (as well as bridesmaid) and turns into bridezilla. On top of juggling wedding texts at all hours, Maddie is also consoling Sarah through late night drinking sessions as well as working for the biggest promotion in years. During her work at a wedding Maddie meets Will and Tom who compete for her attention. Each chapter begins with an entry into a bridesmaid journal, this diary format and the thoughts of the main character gave it a Bridget Jones feel. As things get worse it's used as a comic contrast from the cheerful tone of the book to how bad things actually are. I enjoyed Maddie's job as an events planner and Shona her boss, is the boss from hell but she isn't portrayed as stereotypically as she could have been which was good. The three main characters are best friends who argue a lot but ultimately they love each other like sisters. Maddie was a bit passive aggressive and although you can empathise with her, it would have been nice to actually see her saying no to people and meaning it. I did like the texts and emails towards the end of the book which acted as a nice epilogue to the story.
4/5


The Good Girls by Sara Shepard

Mackenzie, Ava, Julie, Parker and Caitlin are wanted for a murder they didn't commit. Sure, they talked about killing rich bully Nolan Hotchkiss, but it's just a coincidence that Nolan died in exactly the way they planned. Except Nolan wasn't the only one they fantasised about hurting in film class that day. Now someone seems to have found their list and is killing the people on it. Who is really behind these killings? 

This book is the sequel to The Perfectionists, but don't worry if you haven't read the first because Shepard covers everything you need to know in the prologue which serves as an excellent recap. The growing list of murders does sound a little far fetched but possible enough that it could happen, especially as the plot is based on the film And Then There Were None which is where the murder mystery began in film studies. It's very hard to talk about this book without giving away the ending, but the twist at the end makes it better than most of the books Shepard's written. It also reminds me of a Russell Crowe film. The ending ties up almost all the loose ends which is unusual for Sara Shepard The Queen of Cliff-Hangers but is much more satisfying for the reader. Another gripping read from Shepard. 5/5

Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot

Let me start by saying that I love Meg Cabot's books and was really looking forward to reading this book but ultimately I found it disappointing. It was slow, boring and a little predictable. I liked Princess Mia's character, she is kind, level headed, funny and considerate. She's also a hypochondriac, but after 100 pages of worrying and moaning and nothing else happening it became very grating and boring. We do get to see from the perspective of a royal, always needing to be on their best behaviour and that anything they do can be misconstrued by the press and just one photo could ruin their reputation. We also see how the press hound her out of her home. To deal with the stress in her life Mia's doctor tells her to write a gratitude journal recording the things she is thankful for which is why the book is written in a diary format. We also get to see text message conversations between the characters which I liked. The proposal is romantic and Mia and her fiancé Michael make a great team, he handles the stress of dating a royal well and they make a sweet couple. But isn't until 40% through the book that things become more interesting when a family secret comes out, yet nothing really happened about this secret until 60% through the book. The reunion between the parents also happens off stage. I haven't read any of the princess diaries but I think if you are a long time fan that's been dying to see Mia and Michael get married or if you have fond memories of the series and grew up with Mia, you will love this book. For me the pacing was too slow and Mia moans too much. People who aren't die hard fans may not like this book. 2 or 2.5/5

Disappointing Beauty Products #5

However hard you try some products just won't work for you, some won't float your boat and when others don't live up to the hype it can leave you feeling a bit disappointed. Here are my five latest disappointing products.

Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Lip and Cheek Tint

While I know this is a beauty favourite amongst many, it left me feeling a bit 'meh.' I don't know if  I expected too much from this because of the hype this has. It gives a nice natural flush but it doesn't last all day and isn't very pigmented. It's a nice colour on the lips though it doesn't last long after a drink or snack. It just seems very overpriced to me. (Benetint isn't actually bubbly like in the photo. I'd just dropped it so it had been shaken up and down before I took the photo.) You can read my full review here.

Balance Me Lip Salve in Sheer Red

Balance Me claim this "lip plumping intensive salve boosts hydration as well as treating to a sheer veil of gloss and colour." It's also petroleum free which suggests that it might be more moisturising than petroleum (such as Vaseline) which only acts as a barrier between the lips and environment rather than truly moisturising lips. However I did not find this very moisturising or hydrating at all. I also didn't like the peppermint taste but I know that some people may find this refreshing. The colour though, is gorgeous and is much more pigmented than I expected from a tinted lip salve. However I think I was allergic to this since it made my lips really sore and dry especially around the cupid bow for about two weeks, after just one or two uses.

Limited Collection Lip Liner in Nude

I was hoping this would be a great Kylie Jenner lip liner but unfortunately it's very pale. Much paler than it looks, while my lips are somewhat pigmented they're not that dark either. It could be useful as a lip eraser when you want to cancel out your natural lip colour but I'd rather just use foundation. If you have very pale lips this may be for you. However if you're after a Kylie Jenner lip liner, this isn't it. There were some good points though, the pencil is soft and long lasting, especially for under a fiver so it may be worthwhile checking out the other colours in this Marks and Spencer's  range.

MUA Eye Primer

I don't know whether this tube was an old one off the shelf or if it had been left for too long in my stash or whether it was from a bad batch, but I didn't find that it kept my eye shadow on at all and my eye shadow creased. It seems to help in the first hour or two but after that it did absolutely nothing. The eye shadow had half disappeared on my lids whereas Elf s mineral eye primer would leave it looking immaculate after 17 hours! I didn't feel that my eye shadow colours looked more vibrant either, this isn't my main concern but it would be a nice bonus. There also didn't seem to be much product in the tube. I don't know whether this was just a one off or not.

Revlon Neon Nail Polish Duo in Fluorescent 150

These nail polishes are watery and streaky. The idea is that you paint your nails with a white base layer which is supposed to make the fluorescent layer you paint on top 'pop' and look more vibrant. However the streaks and brushstrokes on the white layer show through no matter how good you are at painting your nails, because the formula is so watery. If you're looking for a bright neon polish I'd check out Models Own Nail Polish For Tans collection. You can read the full review of the Revlon Polish here.

What products have you been disappointed by recently?

 Thanks for reading!