LFW Inspired: Tortoiseshell Nail Art

I should really start by apologising for my long absence from the blog, I've been incredibly busy with uni, I have pretty important exams coming up in a few weeks so something had to give and it was blogging.

However I have been following some of the London Fashion Week coverage and read the House of Holland post by Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup (here) and could not resist a little procrastination in the form of tortoiseshell nail art, I mean who couldn't?

I rummaged through my nail colours looking for something along the lines of beige, yellow, orange and brown... This is the best I could come up with, not bad but not fabulous, so if anyone has any colour suggestions I would love to hear them!

I started with 2 coats of a Ciate Nail Varnish in Cookies and Cream, I then used a hair pin to add random dots in Big Yellow Taxi, Speed Dial and Jack Wills Clayton Nail Varnish in Moss. I finished with a dab of gold glitter on my ring finger and the Top Coat I used was Sally Hansen Diamond Shine but any glossy polish will do the trick!

What do you think?

Advent: Ciate Mini Mani Month

So today is the first of the Month, and also happens to be my birthday... I'm 20! How do I feel about this? Slightly scared, I no longer have the excuse of 'being a teenager', I guess I have to start taking a bit more responsibility, but hey, I don't feel all that different and I'm about to hit the town for some shopping with my lovely mum!

I was lucky enough to get this wonderful Ciate Mini Mani Month advent calendar this morning, I opened up the first window to find the beautiful Cupcake Queen! This really is a treat for beauty lovers and I can't wait to work my way through all the polishes. If you can still get your hands on one it is a great deal, it also includes 4 of the mini caviar pots which I can't wait to try out!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Christmas Wish List

1 - Babyliss Big Hair (here)
2 - Chantecaille Just Skin (here)
3 - Nars Cream Blush in Penny Lane (here)
4 - Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Serum (here)
5 - Ciate Mini Mani Month (here)
6 - Zara Black Velvet Slippers (here)
7 - Mulberry French Purse (here)
8 - Mulberry Tamara Scarf (here)
9 - Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask (here)

I've actually got my birthday just before Christmas (Dec 1st) so there is some overlap, hence the advent calendar but I thought I would put together my wish list to give people a few ideas!

What are you asking for this Christmas? 

NOTD: Ciate Purple Sherbet

Just a quick post for some lazy Saturday afternoon reading. I recently picked up the Ciate nail polish, free with Marie Claire, in the colour Purple Sherbet. I think this is limited edition with the issue however looking at their website, the colour Sugar Plum looks very similar. Ciate polish is a consistent high performer, they have fantastic brushes, dry quickly and only need 2 coats. I also find they last on my nails for 4-5 days without chipping if you use a base and top coat which is very good in my books! This is a perfect colour for summer and I urge you all to try it! I apologise for not being able to show the colour on my nails as I have just them done for my holidays, but I can assure you it's the same colour as seen in the pot, a great alternative for those of you who find Lilacism from Essie too pale!

Have you got any colour suggestions for summer? Let me know in the comments!

Don't forget to enter my MAC eyeshadow giveaway, it's open til Monday 2nd July.