Smith and Cult Nail Polishes

A brand that seemed to explode over my social media of late is Smith and Cult. Created by beauty veteran Dineh Mohajer, the voice of our beauty junkie, who revolutionized the color cosmetics industry when she launched Hard Candy. Several years and creative collaborations later, Mohajer is bringing about the next evolution of beauty with Smith & Cult.

Smith & Cult’s Nailed Lacquer consistently delivers both flawlessly smooth coverage and brilliant shine.  Split into four sections you have base, top coat, colour and glitter to choose from and it is custom tailored to provide high performance, the exclusive 8-Free formula is formulated without Dibutyl Phthalate, Toluene, Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide or Triphenyl Phosphate.

These polishes scream luxury and at £19 each they need to. Encased in a heavy duty glass bottle with a really weight lid, the brush being short and fat - my ideal nail polish brush admittedly.  The lid is also designed in such a way that there is a grove or indent if you prefer to make gripping the brush much easier.
I got my two polishes - Tenderoni and Dirty Baby from John Lewis who have a huge selection of colours to choose from. I chose Tenderoni because it is a really pretty Opaque Taupe Brown and it stood out on the shelf. 

Its description is as follows: "‘He’s like a white hipster version of Ice-T in his original version of 99 Problems’ is the inspiration behind ‘Tenderoni’ – a flattering, opaque taupe brown. Completely irresistible, Smith & Cult’s to-die-for Nail Lacquers are not only swoon-inducingly good looking, they also star impressive staying power. With a broad, flattened brush for easy, even application, this pigment-rich shade is opaque with one coat – perfect for achieving an enviable, streak-free manicure in minutes".

Then standing next to it on the shelf was Dirty Baby which admittedly did make me snigger because of the name but the glitter caught my attention. It has ultra-fine silver glitter suspended in a stunning, obsidian base, which in this case is jet black.

Its description is as follows: "With ultra-fine silver glitter suspended in a stunning, obsidian base, ‘Dirty Baby’ strikes the perfect balance between edge and elegance. Completely irresistible, Smith & Cult’s to-die-for Nail Lacquers are not only swoon-inducingly good looking, they also star impressive staying power. With a broad, flattened brush for easy, even application, each pigment-rich shade is opaque with one coat – perfect for achieving an enviable, streak-free manicure in minutes"

I am so incredibly impressed with these nail polishes that I am eager to check out the rest of the range which includes Lip Stains, Eyeliners, Eye Shadow Quads (totally stunning), Mascara, Lip Lacquers and much more.  There are many shades to choose from within each product line and the packaging is just absolutely beautiful, the kind you want to spend hours polishing rather than getting your grubby fingerprints on.

Have you tried the Smith & Cult range?

this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

I Love... Christmas Gifts

I am a big fan of the I Love Cosmetics bath and shower products, they come in all shapes and sizes, they are fun, smell divine and have the most amazing scent combinations.  I was sent a huge box of the beautiful Christmas Gift Sets and before I had even taken the lid off the box, the aroma was just absolutely phenomenal!

Whether you have a bath or a shower, like body creme, body lotions, hand cream, spritzers, scrubs or a mixture of everything, this is what is on offer right now!

Let's Get Fizzy - Brand new from I Love comes 3 delectable I love... Bath Fizzers in each lovely pack! Each will excitedly dance around your bath water, leaving it deliciously scented. Enriched with skin loving naturals, whilst you soak your skin will be nourished and you'll emerge beautifully fragranced. 

Plus, each bomb comes in 2 halves, that's 6 uses per Let's Get Fizzy pack! Available in amazing flavours Chocolate Truffle, Strawberries and Cream, Yummy Caramel and Raspberry& Blackberry. You can find these in Boots priced at just £8 right here.

Mini Treat Box - This Mini Treat Box is filled with sheer miniature joy! It's little treats are delicious tasters of I love? heaven. Perfect for pampering, these skin kind delectables are the ideal gift. Inside the box you will find a mini Shower Creme, a nourishing Body Butter and a shower puff. 

Available in 2 flavours you have the choice of Chocolate Truffle or Raspberry and Blackberry. This set is exclusive to Boots and you can find it here priced at just £4.

Bubbles and Butter Takeaway Trio - This box contains three beautifully packaged products from the I Love range. Inside the box is a bubble bath and shower creme, a bath fizzer and a nourishing body butter.  

This gift is available in two flavours which are Chocolate Truffle and Raspberry and Blackberry.  Again exclusive to Boots, you can find this set right here and it is priced at £8.

Lots of Bubbles - This set contains 6 miniature, winter wonderful, bath & shower creme scents in one adorable gift! 

This delectable collection features 4 of the best selling flavours & 2 delicious new fragrances; Chocolate Truffle & Yummy Caramel which sit alongside Strawberries & Cream, Raspberry & Blackberry, Iced Cookie Crumble and Cherry & Almond Sparkle. Priced at £6 you can find this set right here.

Love Heart Soaps - This cute packet of heart shaped soaps is just so incredibly sweet. 

With 5 in each packet you will find the following flavours; 2 x Raspberry & Blackberry, 1 x Strawberries & Cream, 1 x Yummy Caramel & 1 x Chocolate Truffle soap. This set is again another Boots exclusive which you can find here and it is priced at just £5.

Bubble & Love - A cute stocking filler idea again and this box contains a beautifully scented Bath & Shower Creme and a beautifully scented nourishing body butter.   

Only available in one flavour Strawberries and Creme, this set is available in Sainsbury's and is priced at £3.50 right here.

I love... is a bath, body and beauty brand that lovingly creates gorgeous, deliciously scented products. Designed to cleanse, nourish, refresh and pamper your skin, the beautiful range is an everyday treat for anyone who just adores a deliciousness! Mango & Papaya, Raspberry & Blackberry, Strawberries & Cream and Coconut & Cream are the tried and tested favourites but look out for our seasonal limited edition scents! If you need some last minute stocking fillers that won't break the bank, then these are just brilliant and right now are on a 3 for 2 offer which you can find here in Boots.

Eyeshadow Palette you need for Christmas!

Makeup palettes are my thing right now. I love them. Whether it is a contour kit, eyebrow kit, a lip palette or an eyeshadow palette - I love it. We all know they come in all different shapes and sizes and this year I have been introduced to so many amazing brands that I have put them all into one post.

Art Deco Most Wanted Palette to Go is a recent addition to my stash but it is a great palette none the less. I opted for the nude version over the trend version, not that I am sure you will be surprised. 

With eight highly pigmented and super finely milled hues, mostly matte shades, it is a palette that I am enjoying getting to know and use and at £18.50 here, I think money well spent.

Blank Canvas Cosmetics is a brand that I came across only recently and this is a palette I have used constantly and reviewed in full here. The Blank Canvas Master Series Palette One contains 12 beautiful neutral, but mostly matte eyeshadows that can be used to create a range of looks to take you from daytime subtle to evening smokey eyes. 

Of these 12 shades, 11 are beautiful velvety matte shadows and what I love about them is that they range in shade from a palest shade (Lily) which you can use as a base right up to what is the very deepest brown (Corruption). The final shade is a shimmery champagne-toned highlight shade called Goddess which is stunning. At under £30 it is incredible value for money.

Jeffree Star love him or loathe him, he is for certain, Jeffree Star is colourful, very colourful. Just a few weeks ago I went along to the Beauty Bay Carnival in central London where I got to meet and greet Jefree himself. 

The Jeffree Star Beauty Killer Palette does not disappoint. With bright pink being at the heart of the entire brand, this palette houses some of the most brightest and loudest shades I have come across in recent years and whilst I am not cool enough or brave enough to wear them, I can admire them. Super pigmented and simply amazing, this is such a cool palette.

Makeup Geek Manny MUA Palette is again one I got from the Beauty Bay Carnival and it is a thing of beauty. With 9 eyeshadows housed on one mirrored palette, the collaboration with Makeup Geek makes it amazing.

On the palette there are peachy nudes, a foiled copper with dusty mocha undertones and a dark coffee with a forest green shimmer to name a few. It is super pigmented, travel friendly and has been designed to suit all skin tones. Beautifully packaged and priced at £56 it is one to look out for and you can find it here.

Makeup Geek Z-Palette is a super sleek magnetic mini palette that stores three of your favourite Makeup Geek shades.

Developed to store three of your best-loved hues, the Mini Palette is an ideal handbag must-have. It comes complete with a sturdy magnetic base to keep your shadows safe from harm. Priced at just £5.50 from BeautyBay right here.

Makeup Obsession is my latest obsession. I am hooked. Makeup Obsession is all about creating your own look and to do that, you create your own palette using shades from a plethora of those currently available to you. You choose your palette, agonise over the shades you want, need and well want and then build your own perfect palette. 

The eyeshadows cost just £2 each and are so pigmented it is a challenge not to grab them all! Whether you like nudes and neutrals or something with a lot more colour, the shades are there for you to find and you can read more about my own customised palette right here.

Makeup Revolution Fortune Favours The Brave Palette is one I havent yet featured on the blog, possibly because I was too eager to open it and use it when it arrived. Most of you will know that this one belongs to none other than Jane frm British Beauty Blogger and it is just superb. 

Featuring thirty shades which are a mixture of matte, glimmer and sheen you will find colours which are light, comfortable bt equally dark and daring, a mix of everything that for just £9.99 it is just incredible value for money and you can find it right here.

theBalm Nude 'Tude Eyeshadow Palette. I just love this palette. It is quirky, kooky and a lot of fun. It features shades such as Selfish, Sexy, Sleek, Sultry and snobby to name just a few and makes for an amazing nude palette which is perfect all year round.

Available on the Highstreet from places such as Topshop and Superdrug, it costs £29.99 and is worth every penny.

The Body Shop is a brand that I had never really associated makeup with until recently when the Down To Earth palette came into my life.

I reviewed it in full (here) and just adore the colours on the palette and love more that I can take the palette to bits and reconstruct my own should the need arise. At just £15 it is money well spent.

Urban Decay XX Vice LTD Reloaded Eyeshadow Palette includes twenty eye shadows that celebrate the brand’s 20-year history. From vintage shades that go WAY back (like Gash, Acid Rain and UV-B) to must-haves from the current collection, it’s all here. 

This is a palette which features so many amazing shades and I use so many more than I expected, it has something for everyone from the nudes and neutrals to the blues, greens and even black. At £43 here it is a palette that is worth its money and is one which might even surprise you.

Zoeva Cocoa Blend palette is another one of those products you just need and it is just delightful. I reviewed this some time ago but have since repurchased it because at £18 it is incredible value.

inside the palette there are 10 absolutely stunning eyeshadow shades which have Matte, Satin, Metallic, Duochrome, Pearl and Matte with Glitter finishes and it is just so divine and so pigmented.

*this post contains PR samples unless indicated otherwise

Microblading - What is it?

Microblading is a brand new technique that you might have come across being talked about on social media, your friends might have had it done and you might even be considering it for yourself. If you didn't know what it was, this post should help. Microblading is a brand new beauty technique and is actually a form of cosmetic tattooing, specifically the eyebrows and it is set to really take off in 2017.

Karen Betts, Has twenty years experience using the Microblading technique and is THE person to go to for the best looking brows in town.She has developed her very own elite team who are on hand to create the best looking but well suited and natural looking brows as possible.

"My technique involves using a small handheld device, with a very sharp blade at the bottom; which is used to draw on small hair-like strokes to the brows.These are drawn on in different lengths and directions using my KBPRO Pigments that are designed to blend in with the client’s natural hair colouring; giving impeccable and unbeatable results. It is incredibly important to me and my team that the brows we create suit the facial shape, thickness and natural colouring of the person; to make the brows look natural."

Celebrities such as Gail Porter have all had their Microblading done and the results do look just amazing.  This is a technique that anyone can have whether you have dark or light brows, have patches in your eyebrows, if you have very little to show for eyebrows and even if you have no brows due to illness.  Friends of mine who have had the treatment have said that around six weeks later you will need a minor touch-up as pigment tends to fade but after that, the results last one to three years.

*This is not a sponsored post.