Nail Polish Of The Week - Essie Fiji

This week I am wearing Fuji by Essie. This have been a much talked about colour in the beauty blogger world, and with Boots currently running their 3 for 2 promotion I thought I would give it a go.

I am not sure if I like it yet!! I normally go for dark reds or purples, or bright pinks, not usually a fan of light pastel colours, I think it might suit me more when I have a bit if a tan.

Do any if you love or loath this colour?

Cat xx

Nail Polish Of The Week

This week I am wearing Lincoln Park After Dark by OPI. The weather is so cold at the moment, I keep looking at all my light pastel polishes but it would just look wrong right now!!

This is my favourite dark polish, I also like Desire by Rimmel but that has more shimmer than the OPI and I like my nails quite matte.

This also a pretty good dupe for Fedora by Shellac, so this is great if you are giving your nails a break from Shellac, or you can even use this for touch ups!

What are you wearing on your nails this week?

Cat Xx

Outfit Of The Day

Morning peeps!  Not a fan of Mondays and I keep hearing the word "snow" i.e. something I hate!  It's when it gets icy, I am so clumsy and one of these days will probably break a bone!!

Anyway, here is what I am wearing today:

I am totally obsessed with these jeans from Topshop.  I saw a similar pair on Lily Melrose's You Tube channel and I had been after a black pair of jeans for AGES!  I am normally a Diesel jeans girl, but these are amazing and go with everything I am wearing at the moment.

Topshop Leigh Black Skinny Jeans 

You can't beat a slouchy tee at the moment and sleeves are definitely needed!  I got this one from Primark along with a couple of other ones in different colours.  They are very sheer so you need to wear something under them, but they are cheap and I think they were only £4 each.......a fraction of the price I would pay in Topshop for a similar garment!!

Again, my poor boots!  I got these in winter 2011 and I think I had to get them re-heeled and soled within 4 weeks ha ha!  I have the flatter ones I showed yesterday now, as sometimes these aren't great for me when I am running about due to the heel, but I love them and the leather is so so soft.

Dune Rye Leather Slouch Calf Boot

Another obsession of mine, SCARVES!  Again, I have loads of them in my drawer and wear them all year round.  I love wearing them just with a vest top and jeans.  But as it's so cold at the moment they are also good for keeping warm.  I got this one from Warehouse which I love and you can wear it in different ways.

Warehouse Butterfly Scarf

And lastly, my All Saints Belvedere leather jacket.  Oh my gosh, let me tell you I am not lying when I say I have been looking for a leather jacket for 5 YEARS!  That's right people!  I am curvey and whilst I have been blessed to have big boobs, let's be honest, they are a pain in the arse when it comes to fashion!!!  Don't get me wrong, All Saints leather jackets are on the pricey side, but I have been wearing this every day since I got it and I know I will have this for many years to come.  Again, goes with everything from jeans to dresses.  Love love love <3

All Saints Belvedere Leather Jacket

What do you think of my combo?  What are you wearing today?

Cat XXX

OOTD & Make Up - Sunday 17th March

Evening all, hope you had a lovely weekend!

I am hoping to diversify with this blog a little bit with an aim to improve my photography skills and get back to blogging.......I haven't made a lot of time for myself recently and that's going to change!

I went to a family meal today with my husband and the in laws and put together this little combo!  It's still freeeezzzing in the UK, so boots are essential!

I LOVE my blazer......probably a little too much!  I also have it in the grey colour.......I just think they instantly dress up a casual outfit and are great from matching with anything from jeans to dresses.....LOVE LOVE LOVE <3

Clothes

Boots - Dune - no longer on website :-(
Blazer - Topshop
Leggings - Topshop
Dress - Primark
Scarf - River Island

Make Up

Mac Studio Sculpt Foundation NC20
Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Volume Mascara in Black
Mac Omega Eyeshadow (brows)
Benefit Dandilion Blusher
Mac Minerlize Skin Finish Soft & Gentle
Nars Bronzer Laguna
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Shadow Stick Golden Pink
Chanel Coco Rouge Shine Lipstick 54 Boy
Clinique Gel EyeLiner in True Black
Nails Inc nail polish in Porchester Square

This is my first OOTD so let me know what you think!!!

Cat XXX

Nail Polish Of The Week

Hi all!

This week I am wearing Porchester Square by Nails Inc.

I love wearing neutral shades during the week as they are perfect for work - polish but not over the top!

This is one of Nails Incs Hero Shades as it's one of their best sellers. I do love this but I think I love Basil Street a teeny bit more :0)

What are you wearing on your nails this week?

Cat Xxx

Skincare Challenge - Update!

Hi all,

Last week I did a post on my skincare challenege with Soap & Glory and I have a bit of an update!

I can be a little impulsive sometimes when I buy things, so it was only after I did the 3 for 2 at Boots with Soap and Glory.........I remembered I wanted to try the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish as well some Origins products, whoops!!!

I have liked the Soap and Glory so far, and when I compared their hot cloth cleanser to the Liz Earle sample........Liz Earle smacked it down as it did remove more make up........LOL!

In addition to this, I managed to bag a Clarisonic on Ebay for £50 which I thought was a bargin!  So I should also be getting that in the next couple of days. I also saw Tanya Burr recommend the Elemis Balancing Lavender toner, and for some reason I had been really struggling to find a toner!  There seems to be a lot of cleansers but not as many toners around. 

So, I am still re-doing my skin care challenge but have made some amendments.  I am going to try this new routine for the next 2 weeks and let you know my progress.

I go through weird stages with my skincare routine, sometimes I can't be bothered and just use face wipes (which I have sworn I will never ever do again!!!!) and other times I have tried high end products.  I would say I have normal/combination skin.  I have never had severe acne, but I have suffered with spots since my teens and STILL get them and I am 30!!!!  I say the main brands I have tried are Clinque, Clarins and Simple.....but I have yet found a routine I am 100% happy with. 

So, as I have been really into beauty blogs & vlogs for almost 2 years, I have learnt so much about make up, and now more recently I have been watching videos and reading about skincare, I feel I have educated myself and come to the conclusion that I need to sort out my skin care pronto!  As in the long run my skin is going to be better and I will stop getting horrible breakouts.  Sometimes they are so bad I have to get anti biotics from the doctors.  Also a few years ago, I had such a bad and persistant breakout on my forehead, I had to get a fringe!!!! Bad times.

So, below is what I am going to try out over the next couple of weeks:

Origins Never A Dull Moment Facial Cleanser (morning only)
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (evening only)
Elemis Balancing Lavender Toner (every morning & every other evening)
Clarisonic Mia with Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (every other evening)
Alpha-H Liquid Gold (every other evening)
Clarins Multi Active Day Cream (every morning)
Clarins Multi Active Night Cream (every other evening)
Origins Eye Dr Eye Cream (every morning & evening)

I don't want to over do it which is why I am for example going to do Monday Alpha H Liquid Gold, Tuesday Clarisonic and then Wednesday use normal cleansing and repeat, as you don't want to over exfoliate your skin!  That's why above I have "every other evening" for some of the products.  The only thing I am debating is the Soap & Glory serum as I am thinking the Estee Lauder Night Repair Serum and I also have a Clarins sample!!  But Estee Lauder is sooooooo expensive!  Going to try and get a sample first I think. 

I will let you know how I get on!  Do you use any of the above?  What do you think?

Cat XXX

Review - Dior Rose Diamond Highlighter

Hi everyone :0)

I have been meaning to review this for some time but not had chance!  There was a lot of talk online about the Dior highlighting powers, mainly the Ambre Diamond.  Because I have Mac Soft & Gentle, I thought it would be a waste, which it why I went for the Rose Diamond  - a lovely pink highlighting powder.

The packaging with Dior as always is gorgeous!  It does come with a velvet pouch, but I find it gets mucky in my make up bag :0(

The thing I like about is there are 4 colours in the powder - so you have the option of mixing them all altogether or just using one of the colours.  For this reason I would say the Ambre Diamond is good if you don't have a similar highlighter like me - because you can use these also on your brow bone & tear duct.

For applying this, I find my Real Techniques Stippling brush is best, as I find highlighters work when pressed into the skin rather than brushed.

I do love this, however I do prefer a more bronze toned highlighter, so I tend to use my Mac one more, but this one is great for nights out, and also looks fab if you have a tan! When I am a bit pale, it can look too bright on me - fair skinned gals note!  I would also say these are similar to the Bobbi Brown Shimmer bricks.

You can find the Dior Rose Diamond here

Do you use this?  What other highlighters would you recommend?

Cat XXX