POLISH OF THE WEEK #4

(L.A COLORS Color Craze in Moody Red)

Moody Red is a great dupe for Chanel's 'Holiday' polish, but its literally a tenth of the price. I picked this up from a store in London (which I can't remember the name of) last year for about £2 and I can't tell you how much I love it!

It's such a gorgeous bright pastel red that has a great formula that's easy to apply and long lasting - more so than any of my Essie polishes.

I've had this bottle for just over a year and its only just starting to get a little tacky - which is pretty god damn good for a cheapy nail varnish huh?

L.A COLORS is an American brand and more widely available in the U.S. but you can pick these polishes up online and in particular boutiques.

I'm so impressed with this nail polish its up with all my higher-end polishes - its such a beautiful colour, perfect for spring and summer.

Has anyone else tried L.A COLORS polishes?

STYLE SNAPSHOT: THE SUNDAY EDIT

Sundays are best spent chilling with your loved ones and a great excuse for a long lunch or a mooch around Debenhams. This Sunday I visited the beautiful Oxford - with not so beautiful English weather!

I opted straight for a cosy oversized jumper to accompany my dark-wash skinnies. One of my best friends recently introduced me to the most amazing skinny jeans that have literally been replacing my Topshop Leigh's this week. They're from Marks & Spencer's - which is a shop I'd never think to buy my clothes from but, I'm absolutely loving them - they're slightly thicker than Topshop Leigh jeans but just as skinny!! Thumbs up from me especially at half the price! See them here.

I wrapped up in my favourite mac and popped on my leopard print studded pumps - which I soon regretted after stepping outside into the rain, longingly wishing for my allegras! 

I kept my accessories minimal; wearing my Pandora bracelet and Topshop cross rings. I also sported neon red nails to add some colour to my look - I absolutely love this polish, it's a great dupe for Chanel's 'Holiday'. Keep posted as I'll be mentioning this polish soon! 

As usual, I keep Sunday-makeup simple. I teamed a bronzed lid with a peach lip - Mac's Peach Blossom to be pracise! 

What did you Sunday consist of? 

THE WEEKEND POST #4

Instagram - Find me @lottybeau

Dr Jart+ Beauty Balm // Quote Of The Week // Zara Outfit // Wrapped Up // Smashbox Shadow Liner // Elle Reading!

Product Of The Week - Burberry's Lip Cover in Rosewood. What can I say I love it! I mentioned this lipstick in my last post - It's a very natural warm pink that leaves a satin finish on the lips. The only downside with this lipstick in my opinion, is that it has that real distinctive lipstick smell/taste, unlike most nowadays. 

Must Read Of The Week - The Lazy Day Style Post. HelloOctober is one of my favourite blogs, written by a girl called Suzie. Her style of writing is so easy to read and relate to. As well as being mega-beautiful, she's also got great style and I particularly enjoyed this style post!

Weekend Want - Topshop. Yes that's right, I want Topshop! Tomorrow I'm taking a trip to Oxford town with the boy and what a perfect oppunitnty to indulge in a little Topshop time! I have a growing list of goodies to pick up; from lipsticks to skater skirts. As you can probably guess I love Topshop.

What's on your weekend-want list? 

MINIMAL MAKEUP: LUMINOUS SKIN

(Burberry Lip Cover, Dr Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm, Smashbox Shadow Liner, Diorskin Nude Tan)

Everyone wants a flawless, luminous face with minimal effort, right? These are some of the products I use to achieve exactly that.

Dr Jart+ Water Fuse Beauty Balm creates a dewy, bright complexion within minutes. The formula is so lightweight on the skin and easy to apply. I blend it into the skin using my Real Techniques Buffing Brush. The formula lasts all day but allows the skin to breathe.

To add a warm natural glow to the face, I use Dior's Diorskin Nude Tan in 002 Amber. This is a brilliant bronzing powder, with light reflecting pigments to give a real 'glow' - perfect to perk up dull skin during winter.

I've recently been reaching for Smashbox's Waterproof Shadow Liner in shade Hollywood. I smudge the cream based product into the roots of the lashes. The warm golden colour really brightens up the eyes, whilst adding warmth to the face. See my full review here. 

To finish the look I apply Burberrys Satin Lip Cover in Rosewood. I love this lipstick as its one of those 'your lips but better' shades. The formula is rich, smooth and adds a muted plum shimmer to the lips, whilst staying very natural and polished.

This is my quick fix makeup to achieve glowing skin, whats yours?

POLISH OF THE WEEK #3

(Essie - Merino Cool)

This week I'm rocking (I like to think) Essie's Merino Cool. I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of Essie polishes like I know, a lot of beauty bloggers are. I find them quite awkward to apply but I love the colour ranges so I always find myself back at the Essie stand!

This is one of my favourite shades - Merino Cool is a cool grey with a lilac undertone. The shade is quite eye catching because its different, but also very easy to wear. 

What's on your nails this week?

MOST LOVED #2 SMASHBOX WATERPROOF SHADOW LINER

(Smashbox Waterproof Shadow Liner in Hollywood)

I've only tried a few products from Smashbox, but so far I've been impressed! This Shadow Liner can be used as an eyeshadow or an eyeliner (the name gives it away a bit eh?) The creamy formula is very pigmented and soft which allows it to be very easy to blend, surprising for an eyeliner type product. 

The colour Hollywood is a rich woody brown with a gold tint, I've been wearing this colour in the day as a smudged-out eyeliner or in the evening blended over the lid. 

This Shadow Liner is incredibly long lasting and surprisingly doesn't crease. Recently, I wore this on a night out as a smokey eye, when I got in (naughty I know) I fell asleep with my makeup on but when I woke up, it looked as perfect as it did when I first applied it!

I'm a big big fan of cream eyeshadows as they're so easy to work with, and this one having eyeliner properties too, makes it even more versatile, a big thumbs up from me!

I would love to try some other colours from the range.

(Swatch - Smashbox Shadow Liner in Hollywood)

RECENT PURCHASES

 (Stila Convertible Colour Cream Blush, Diorskin Nude Poure De Soleil)

So January's come to an end, the weather is still miserable and summer feels like a life time away, right? As if I need an excuse to self-indulge, but this seems like the perfect reason to treat myself...

First up, I admit I eventually caved at the Dior counter and picked up Diorskin Nude Poure De Soleil. I've been after this very beautiful bronzer for a good few months now after spotting it on Ruth Crilly's blog - amodelrecommends. Yes I lapped it all up and had been lusting over it ever since! 

It's perfect for adding a soft, warm glow to the face. I use it under my cheek bones to create a natural sunkissed look. I use shade 002- Amber.

I also picked up Stila's Convertible Colour Cream Blush in Peony. I'm a complete cream blush newb so I decided to start with one I've heard a few things about.

 I've been really impressed with this blush, it takes two seconds to apply and blends really easily into the skin. The colour is a very natural warm pink that sets semi-matte after a minute or so.  It has a very subtle plummy undertone too which sits really well with my skin tone. I think they come in about 6 shades and I would definitely  pick up another. You can also use the product on your lips, if you like a natural looking lip it makes a great multi-purpose little product!

Thank you for reading, please subscribe! 

(Diorskin Nude Tan Poure De Soleil - 002 Amber)

(Stila Convertible Colour Cream Blush - Peony)

THE WEEKEND POST #3

Instagram - Find me @lottybeau
Diorskin Nude Tan // Blog Design // Elle Reading // Evening Snuggles // Daily Face // Afternoon Activities // Mummy's Pie // Cocktails With The Girls!

Product Of The Week - Dior's Diorskin Nude Tan. I've had my eye on this gorgeous bronzer for a while now and I finally caved at the counter and treated myself. The powder gives such a natural warmth to the face and is great for a subtle contour. My shade is 002 - Amber.

Must Read Of The Week - Dr Jart+ Water Fuse BB Cream: Review. Annas' opinion is one that I trust and due to her endless ravings of this little tube of sunshine I picked it up and am now having a BB Cream love affair. Selected Dr Jart products are currently on offer at boots for a 1/3 off, click here. 

Weekend Want - Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. This product sounds like the heaven of all tinted moisturisers! It contains potent antioxidants which help allow congested skin to breathe - although its pretty pricey I haven't heard anything but good things about this! Is it really that good to justify spending thirty pounds on yet another base product? 

DAILY FACE #2

(Laura Mercier Black Caviar Eyeliner, Maybelline Cream Eyeshadow, Mac Blue Stripe Eyeliner, Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder, Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua, Ted Baker Lip Crayon, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and A.I Targeted Breakout Corrector) 

Recently I've been pairing a flawless base with a graphic eye and neutral lip.

I recently picked up La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo (which I searched high and low of the sold out shelves, for weeks) But to my great disappointment; due to huge expectations, I have to admit that I am a little 'on the fence' about this product. Recently I've been wearing it lightly under my makeup. I've also been using La Roche Posay Effaclar A.I Targeted Breakout Corrector, which has a higher concentrated formula designed for more specific use, I will keep you posted on my progress but I wouldn't reccomend for sensitive skin! The whole Effaclar range is on offer in Boots at the moment, check it out here.

For my base; I've been using up my little tester samples of Chanel's Vitalumiére Aqua foundation. I don't think its going to make the cut as my 'holy grail' foundation but it evens out my skin tone whilst leaving the natural skin texture to be seen - which I'm a big fan of! I do find that it benefits from powder to give it a bit more staying powder. For this I use Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder.

To finish my complexion - I'm still in high rave of Kevyn Aucoin's Sculpting Powder, which creates natural contour within minutes.

For my eyes I've been applying Maybelline's Cream Eyeshadow in Caramel Karma and Laura Mercier's cream based eyeliner to the roots of the lashes. I've been using a blue or purple toned eyeliner at the corner edges before applying mascara, my favourite at the moment is a dark navy eyeliner by Mac. 

To finish off this quick, everyday look I've swept a Lip Crayon over my lips for a subtle hint of colour.

Perfect 10 minute makeup! 

POLISH OF THE WEEK #2

(Jessica - Doubled Dipped 437)

On my nails this week is a gorgeous gorgeous shade from Jessica - Double Dipped, a rich chestnut brown colour.
I've been wanting to try this brand for a while after hearing great things from the Pixiewoo girls - plus they do great dupes of pretty much every Chanel nail Varnish!
The formula is really nice, easy to apply and yet to chip! But the best part is the colour, I absolutely love the colour! Double Dipped is quite different but very easy to wear, it could probably be mistaken for a dark burgundy at a glance.
To sum up - I'm in love.

What's on your nails this week?

MOST LOVED #1 LAURA MERCIER CRÉME SMOOTH LIP COLOUR

(Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Deco Rouge and Sienna)

I've been using Laura Mercier products for a year or so now but recently my makeup collection is being taken-over with the brand! I can honestly say I haven't come across a product which I haven't liked yet, although this one, I really really love!

This lip colour has a really lightweight texture and although they're both obviously red shades, they're really wearable and comfortable on the lips. The crème smooth formula is incredibly easy to apply and really moisturising too. Pure olive oil, jojoba wax, rose seed and vitamin E nourishes the lips for a gorgeous semi-lustrous finish. It's also pretty long lasting and can go for about 5-6 hours before needing a quick re-sweep, plus you get a chance to flash the modern and elegant casing!

This is a regularly reached for choice for the perfect, low-maitenace red lip. 

I really want to get my hands on a lighter, everyday shade from this collection, such as Crème Coral or Spiced Rose.

Laura Mercier's Crème Smooth Lip colour is available in 18 shades and priced around £20. 

Find at Selfridges here. 

(Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Sienna)

THE WEEKEND POST #2

Instagram - find me @lottybeau

Laura Mercier Lipsticks // Thisworks Sleep Balm Cracker // YSL Blue Nuit // Shopping Recents // Fruity Snack!

Product Of The Week - Ted Baker Lip Crayons. I received these in a christmas gift box set, they're perfect for adding a subtle hint of colour. My favourite is a berry pink shade, I haven't been able to get this of my lips this week! They're very similar to Clinique's Chubby Sticks, available here.

Must Read Of The Week - Cosmopolitan Beauty Magazine. Ok, so I probably should dedicate this space to a great blog post or online read but, after getting my hands on this glossy baby, I haven't been able to part from it. A chunky 180 pages packed with beauty! What more could you want? Available from Selfridges and WHSmith.

Weekend Want - Chanel's Poudre Signee De Chanel Illuminating Powder. Since spying the new spring collection from Chanel, I haven't been able to win the argument with myself, that I can live without this. Its a gorgeous Chanel embossed highlight powder which is so subtle and luminous on the skin. I have a feeling the Chanel counter will be robbing my wages this payday! Availble from Selfridges here.

What are your weeks must-haves?

POLISH OF THE WEEK #1

(BarryM in 310 Mushroom)

This week, gracing my nails has been a little re-discovery of a nail varnish by BarryM. I bought this gorgeous shade last summer but never really had the right chance to embrace it! This polish seems pretty current right now although it seems like an autumn colour. I'm loving my taupey nails!

What colour are you wearing?

THE WEEKEND POST #1

Hey everyone, so apologies for the lack of originality for this post, but inspired by a few of my all time favourite bloggers, I thought I'd jump on the beauty wagon and do an 'end of week' series!

So to start, Instagram - find me @lottybeau

Elle Reading // Kevin Aucoin Sculpting Powder // Bedtime Reading // Winter Riding // It's Snowing!

Product Of The Week - No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser. This is a brilliant, affordable and frankly great value for money product. I've recently found myself reaching for this in the mornings instead of my trusty Liz Earle, Cleanse and Polish. Although I favour balm cleansers, I like to use a cream cleanser in the mornings and, this thick creamy cleanser leaves your skin hydrated, smooth and radiant! (it does what it says on the tin) You can't complain at £9 for 200ml! Keep posted for my full review.

Must Read Of The Week - 13 Ways To Blog Better Part 1. From having only just started out in the blogging world this gave me a whole pack of inspiration and useful blogging tips, I'm sure it would also be appreciated by those experienced bloggers too. Thanks Fee from makeupsavvy!

Weekend Want - Studded Hunter Wellington Boots. Coming from the country, I've been through my fair share of wellies, but I feel head over heals when I spotted this gorgeous pair on the lovely Anna from viviannadoesmakeup. You can buy these from Amazon here or Anna suggested searching Outnet for their latest discounts!

Thanks for reading and enjoy the weekend

WINTER PAWS RESCUE

(Dermal Therapy Extra Strength Body Lotion, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment & Skin Protectant, The Body Shop Hemp Intensive Hand Butter)

With the wintery blizzards outside and the forecast for more snow across the weekend, the risk of being snowed in is becoming pretty likely.. meaning no getting to work, no getting to the shops, no post, basically this snow is inconvenient and disruptive? But theres always a silver lining right? What about the fact that, this gives us girlies a perfect excuse to put our feet up and pamper ourselves silly? Eh so now it doesn't seem so bad, If you're anything like me, it's hard to find time to justify an hour long hair treatment and its those late nights waiting for your favourite nail polish to dry that leave us longing for another hour in bed in the morning, so thank you weather gods for giving me the best excuse for a bit of me time.
For me, its this time of year when my skin really needs that extra bit of TLC and the one part that always seems most affected is my hands. I'm prone to dry hands the majority of the year as the backs of my hands seem to be very sensitive to any chemical product (i.e- washing fluids, cleaning sprays etc) so this post is dedicated to my holy grail products that keep my mittens polished and nourished even through these winter months.
I think the main saviour is (Dermal Therapy Extra Strength Body Lotion) This was actually recommended to me by a Medical Herbalist for my sensitive and dry hands and its worked wonders! It contains, Urea which allows skin cells to absorb and hold moisture and Hydroxy Acids which helps displace old, dry skin. It also contains Silk protein which improves skin tone and gives a smooth, non greasy feel. I can't rave about this product enough it's made my skin so silky smooth and has got rid of any dry, roughy areas - I love it!
My second hand love (Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment) In my view the 'Eight Hour' range is like Marmite - you either love it or hate it, and from trying quite a few products from the range, I'm definitely a lover! This rich cream is perfect to keep me going between using my Dermal Therapy and great for taking around with me in my bag, I love the Elizabeth Arden packaging, this cream looks great on my bedside table.
From the same range my third product (Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - Skin Protectant) when I first got this I didn't think I had much purpose for the gel-like oil but now it's found its place in my routine I couldn't live without it. This is designed for severely dry patches on the skin but its oily finish can make it pretty inconvenient. I use the smallest amount rubbed into my cuticles and over any dry areas, under my moisturiser, it's great for soothing any rough skin around my nails.
And finally, last but not least (The Body Shop Hemp Intensive Hand Butter) I love this product! I use this intense treatment about once a week - I smother it over my hands before bed and put on my Body Shop Moisturising Gloves on to help lock in the treatment overnight. This heavy-duty hydration treatment contains fair trade hemp seed oil, it's for quite a strong scent but in my opinion it smells really healthy! Which I like, I'm a fan of the whole Hemp range, but if you can't stand the smell of Hemp products, steer clear of this one!
So that's my little routine to keep my hands soft and moisturised all seasons long, if you have any comments or suggestions please leave a comment below!
Happy snow time everyone! 

JEWELLERY PICKS #1

These are some of my throw on jewellery pieces that I'm loving at the moment. Recently I've been drawn to rose gold colours that sit well with my skin tone and are less harsh than silvers and plain golds. I'm enjoying wearing a subtle statement piece.

Necklace - Topshop

Thomas Sabo bracelet, Pandora bracelet

Ring - London market, Cross rings - Topshop

DAILY FACE #1

(Kevin Aucoin The Sculpting Powder, Benefit Blush in Coralista, Elizabeth Arden Good Morning Retexturizing Primer, Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, Benefit You Rebel Lite Tinted Moisturiser)

These are some of my go-to products to create a minimal but well put together makeup, quickly and for everyday wear. Over the summer I became addicted to tinted moisturisers and BB creams; before then I always shied away from such light coverage but they have proved great for creating a quick and natural face. I start by applying a pump of my favourite primer - Elizabeth Arden Good Morning Retexturizing Primer, its silicone based, silky formula smoothes over your skin to create a fantastic base for foundation whilst protecting your skin at the same time. Then I apply my tinted moisturiser, I've found one of my favourites to be Benefit's You Rebel. It comes in two shades and I wear the colour 'Lite' this is so lightweight on your skin and helps to even out your complexion while giving your skin a sense of luminosity, I also like that this tinted moisturiser is buildable. I apply with my fingers then use my MAC 190 to finish blending. After I use concealer to conceal under my eyes and over any blemishes, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer is a great pick at a affordable price. I love to use my MAC 130 stippling brush to blend the concealer under my eyes. For the rest of my complexion I use Kevin Aucoin Sculpting Powder in medium to create a subtle contour, the ashy undertones in this powder makes it perfect for creating a natural shadowing under the cheekbones. I then add a flush of colour to my cheeks using Benefit Coralista, most of the powder products I use, I apply with Real Technique brushes. To finish off - Eyes. I sweep Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Starlet Mosaic over my lids, although this is designed as a blush/highlight the product is so pigmented that sometimes I find it a little overpowering for a natural look. after i've applied my mascara and any pencil I'm ready to go. One of my favourite ways to create a quick, natural polished makeup. 

Kevin Aucoin Sculpting Powder (Medium)

Benefit Blusher in Coralista

Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Starlet Mosaic 

KILLER NAILS.

Typically when it comes to nails, I'm a play it safe kinda girl, wearing dark plums and Chanel navys. But this all changed when I came across Killer Colours - a chic little brand offering fashion forward shades - bringing snippets of the catwalk, right to our nails.
The colour I picked up is 'Belladonna' a vibrant electric blue, I've fallen in love with the shade and I love wearing these statement nails with a simple outfit. 

They launch 5 colours at a time on a limited edition basis, each shade hand picked to match future trends. I think 'Belladonna' was inspired by Chanel's intensive use of blue at London Fashion Week this year. If you're a real nail fanatic you'll be pleased to know that these polishes are Toluene, DBP and Formaldehyde free!

The only negative I have with this product is that you have to apply a few coats to get the intense colour otherwise it can look like a waterd-down version. I also applied Rimmel's '5 in 1 top coat' to give a shiner finish.
You can pick up your perfect shade at killercolours.com for (£9) They also offer free shipping!