U.S Drugstore Buys

So we were in the states over Halloween and I of course had to stop at both a Sephora and several pharmacies for make-up. Drugstores over there (CVS, Walgreens etc) are not like our own; they sell everything from painkillers to ice cream with children's toys and random touristy crap in between.

There are also, of course, several make-up brands that we don't have in Ireland and ones that we do but with products we can't get here. 

Hence, a little splurge:

I had plenty of other things on my to-buy list, including the It Cosmetics CC cream, as recommended by the lovely @AinePrendo (on Snapchat) but I couldn't find a nearby Ulta so that was out. I did get plenty of other things however, including this super pretty Milani Rose Powder Blush.

I haven't tried anything from Milani but I knew I had to get a blush- what they're best known for. I had a baked blush in my basket but then I saw this beauty and sure it was too aesthetically pleasing to leave behind. I got the shade Tea Rose and it really is the perfect pink hue. It's ideal for pale Irish skin tones, although I will admit to being tempted by Coral Cove, also lovely but way too bright for me. This was around the $7 mark.

I had originally put a couple of Milani lipsticks into the basket but then I saw this Katy Perry collaboration with CoverGirl and I had to try them out.

While I'm not the biggest Katy fan in the world, I have danced my socks off to plenty of her hits and I enjoyed her movie on Netflix, especially the part where we were introduced to her cat; Kitty Purry. Granted, that is, somewhat egomaniacal but it's also quite cute so obviously I got that shade, which is a mauve and Cat Call, a brighter pop of coral. 

These are matte, which is good news for me as that's my current favourite type of lipstick finish.

These were, strangely also $7 each (I swear I didn't just buy things that were $7. My Sephora receipt will attest to that) but I thought these were great value for the price.

This was also an Áine/snapchat recommendation and although I've yet to try it, I am excited by the concept of a product that contains moisturiser, primer, foundation, SPF, colour correction and pore blurring. I'll be honest, I always thought that last one was pure nonsense but apparently, my pores don't agree with me. I know we have Physicians Formula in Ireland now but to be honest, I can never find a stand and if I do it's been ravaged by youths. 

This was an @SkinnyDoll (again, snapchat!) recommendation and I'm loving it! There were actually three variations in the Maybelline Master Primer range- one for oily skin and a colour corrector I think but I have dry skin and tend to always go for the illuminating primers. This fella also has that blurring property and an SPF 30. This works. My foundation has a healthy glow-from-within look to it with this underneath and it provides a nice base. I'd liken this to Benefit's That Gal except that this is way cheaper, obvs. This was $9.

These Kylie for Sinful Colours polishes were only $1.49 each, so I couldn't leave them behind. The cobalt blue shade, Kosmos (bloody K's everywhere) and the pale blue, Magik Touch are both colours I love and Sinful Colours are generally great quality so I could get over the Kardashian-isation for that alone.

This lot are far less exciting but due to our bags not arriving from JFK to New Orleans with us, we had to pick up a few essentials. I can't shower and not apply moisturiser afterwards so this massive yoke of Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Soothe lotion was a must and worked well in the stifling heat. I couldn't have imagined lashing on a body butter in that humidity so this was ideal. Back in an Irish Winter however, and this loses some of its attraction so I'll be bringing it out again next Summer instead. 

Speaking of heat, SPF was a must and this one from Banana Boat was super handy; it sprays on clear and absorbs practically instantly plus it's factor 50. Perfect!

The Burt's Bees Ultimate Care Body Lotion for Very Dry Skin was purchased towards the end of the holiday. I love this brand and couldn't resist browsing the shelves for them at a slightly reduced price! I'm hoping this particular product is available here cause I am nearly finished and I love it! Containing Baobab Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Green Tea extract, this both smells incredible and leaves my super parched skin softer than anything I've used before. Big thumbs up!

As I didn't have any hair products for a couple of days, I had to get the smart girls best friend; dry shampoo. I didn't know much about a lot of the brands they had on this shelf so I went for Pantene; ye olde reliable. Anyway, this works grand. It smells pleasant enough and does the job. Having said that, my scalp felt slightly itchy (not sure if that was down to the glaring sun also) and I think we have better options on this side of the water.

Lastly then is a packet of Burt's Bees Cucumber Face Wipes. 

I know, I know. Face wipes; the devils own beauty spawn but needs must and these worked a treat for the couple of days. After that I ended up using them up for perfecting our Day of the Dead face paint for Halloween. These were surprisingly non-abrasive on my skin.

And that is the lot!

I will go into further detail about my Sephora purchases at a later date but for now, have you tried any of these?

Anything there that you'd like to see a more in-depth review on?

To the comments!

XX

An "It's Almost Summer" Haul

There was a strong hint of Summer there one of the days recently and as I sweltered in my Winter coat and sunglasses (cause you can never be too well-prepared in Ireland), I was lured into a Boots by an offer of buy-one-get-one-half-price on every make-up brand and sure you can imagine what happened next. 

(I bought all of this stuff, is what happened next.)

First up is this very pretty bronzer/blusher from Maybelline in 09, Sun Tropics. Dream Sun features two matte products in one to provide your skin with a nice warm glow. So far I'm really loving the bronzing part- it's subtle enough that you won't look like you've been tangoed but can be built up for extra contouring. I love that it's shimmer-free cause I do prefer a more natural looking glow. That pinky/coral is a very pretty design but the colour pay-off isn't fantastic. You definitely need to really work your brush in there to get a good result but either way, I quite like this one and I do think it's handy for travel etc. 

Bourjois recently brought out City Radiance; a foundation with SPF30, radiance boosting pigments and an anti-polution screen. This is actually my second tube! I haven't even finished the first one but I love it so much I said I'd get it, plus it worked out nicely with the offer that was on (the concealer, below!). I'll do a proper review on this soon cause I need more space to rave about it but for now, if you have somewhat dry skin, need a light daytime foundation that makes you look really well, then, look no further!

The offer on Barry M could only for me, be used on their nail polishes, which I love and tend to stock up on every Summer, thanks to their fab range of pastels, neons and nudes, all of which look great with a tan! 

So, these two are both new; Coconut infusion contains a blend of Coconut water and oils to hydrate and nourish nails, as well as leave a glossy finish. I got the shade Flamingo, because I couldn't not get a shade that tropical with that name! I've so far only worn this on my toe nails and it's holding up well there. The colour is a lovely smooth, creamy pastel and is indeed nicely shiny. 

Mani Mask is a major favourite though. I've again, only worn this once but it held up well on my fingernails and leaves such a gorgeous finish; semi-matte that takes care of your nails and makes them look super healthy and classy too! Two of my friends that saw my nails immediately wanted to buy a bottle for themselves! I got the shade Birthday Suit, which is a nude but there's also Bashful; a baby pink that I may need to pick up too...

I was actually originally just looking for this newbie from Bourjois; Radiance Reveal Concealer and then of course, I bought ALL the things. This is really good. It's designed to correct, illuminate and provide 24hour hydration so from that you can decipher that it's ideal for under the eye. It's a similar product to the Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer except that this is much lighter. If you liked the Nars but felt it settled in fine lines, this may be a good alternative for you. You may find yourself compromising slightly on coverage (I think nothing really beats the Nars) but this is a very good alternative and well worth trying- I really like it so far.

The Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Eraser Eye is a repurchase. I'm just finished one of these bad boys and would recommend buying the light one whenever you see it as they tend to sell out pretty quickly! I will do a proper review on this one too because it's really excellent for concealing under-eye dark circles. 

Have you tried any of these? 

Anything catching your eye?

XX

American Drugstore Haul!

Last week I went through what I bought in Sephora and Ulta (HERE) and today I'm looking at the slightly more affordable bits and pieces I picked up whilst Stateside!

I love a bit of Revlon and their lipsticks in particular; this Super Lustrous Shine in Plum Velour is gonna be an Autumn/Winter winner I think! I really like this Photoready Eye Art Duo also; one end is a cream metallic shade and the other is a glitter liner. Festive party season, here we come! Speaking of perfect Autumn/Winter lipsticks is this Smart Shade Butter Kiss from Almay. They all looked gorgeous but I got the shade Berry.

Burt's Bees is a lot cheaper over there so I got a Wild Cherry Lip balm for about $2 and this Lip Crayon in Napa Vineyard for about $8 ( I think). I love their balms- they're super moisturising, perfect for Winter. The Lip Crayon is surprisingly pigmented but a bit drying, so I'll be combining it with the aforementioned balm! I also picked up a set of four of the balms in lovely flavours and a couple of EOS sphere balms, all to give as gifts, so I won't show them to ye here. I'm mentioning them just to point out how much better value they are over there; the EOS balms were two for $7, far less than what we pay here.

I can however show you this EOS Hand Lotion which was again only a few dollars. This is Berry Blossom; it smells divine and feels super moisturising.

I also wanted to try a drugstore foundation and CoverGirl seemed like an obvious choice. This is a hydrating foundation, perfect for dry skin. This is actually really nice on but you need to add a bit of glow yourself as the foundation is a bit on the flat side. Still, very good quality for $6.

Ulta had a massive NYX stand and being honest, I've never actually found a properly stocked stand at home. It was a struggle just to decide on the two things but I plumped for a High Definition Blush in Taupe (which is always out of stock in Dublin) and a Gel Pencil Liner in Brown, because I'm obsessed with smudgy brown liners at the minute.

Speaking of brown liners, I really liked the look of this brand, Flower in Walmart. It turns out that it's actually Drew Barrymore's company and having bought this Kohl Liner in Espresso and Blush/Bronze Duo in Gloriously Golden, I kind of wish I'd bought more!

I had this Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser for Dark Circles and struggled to find it over there. I have the regular concealer of this- this one is a brightener/illuminator and only available in America.

I hadn't seen these L'Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blushes over here so I said I may as well try one. I got it in Soft Peach. 

I really like this Essie Autumn/Winter collection so I went for a beautiful dark plum shade, In The Lobby.

I found a full ELF stand but there was nothing I really wanted other than a few brushes, so I picked up a fan brush, an eyeshadow brush and a Blending Eye Brush. They were all 1-2 dollars each.

Lastly, is this ridiculously cute mini pot of Vaseline Rosy Lips, which, if I'm honest, I only bought because of how dotey it is. Squeeee!!!

Let me know if there's any of these that you'd like to see reviewed in more detail!

XX

Sephora & Ulta Haul!

So, here it is at last! I know, I'm desperate. I haven't been feeling the best lately and that combined with jet lag and being run down have left me a bit slow on the blogging uptake. I'm getting there though, I promise! 

Anyway, you may recall I had written a whole post on what I planned on buying while in the states (HERE) and overall I did pretty well! I didn't get everything on it but I also got things that weren't on it in the first place so, that kind of works out even I guess?!

Make-up

Sephora Favourites: Give Me Some Lip. A great way to try different brands, I love this set of six lip products from Tarte, Marc Jacobs, Make Up For Ever, Kat Von D, Sugar and Sephora.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Light to Medium. I have yet to use this but I'll get on it and report back!
I was determined to try some bits from Tony Moly, I never have and they're just so cute. So, I got; Panda's Dream Brightening Eye Base, Mini Cherry Lip Balm and Mini Peach Lip Balm (I got totally suckered by the shelves of tiny cute things at the counter).
These Lip Pencils from Nars were my free birthday gift (thanks, Sephora!), I'm thrilled as I really wanted to try classic red, Cruella and Rikugien looks like a great everyday shade.
I had a few bits from Becca on my list that I wanted to try (I swatched the Jacyln Hill highlighter but it just wasn't me) and found this great set from Ulta. I had to throw out the box to make room but that aside it contained; Under Eye Brightening Corrector, Shimmering Skin Perfector Spotlights in Opal, Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal and Beach Tint Lip Shimmer Souffle in Raspberry Opal. I'm going to try these out properly and get back to ye!
Sephora Rouge Infusion Lip Ink in Peony and Cherry Nectar. Peony is actually one of the mini sizes in the give me some lip set & I loved it so much I had to get it in full and try another shade!
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Black and Lock-It Concealer; it's actually a miracle that I didn't buy more from Kat Von D. I was tempted by the contouring palette and the foundation but decided against both on swatching. I LOVE both of these though.

Skincare

I had the Kate Somerville Goat's Milk Cream on my list before I went and had the Fresh Black Tea Overnight Mask on my Pinterest list (I should explain this; I created a list of Sephora things I wanted in my "likes" section, which I was then able to refer to whilst shopping. Handy!)
Both were pretty pricey but I'm loving them so it's been well worth it so far!
I wanted to try some Boscia and a sheet mask so I combined the two with this Tsubaki Oil Deep Hydration Hydrogen Mask. I also really wanted to try the Sephora Eye Masks and so I went for this Green Tea one.
Ole Henriksen was on my list but I didn't want to splash out on any full size without trying them first. I love Sephora for these mini sets, you actually get a lot with three different small products for the price of one. It's ideal for someone like me who likes to mix up their skincare a good bit! Included in the set is Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Sheer Transformation and Invigorating Night Treatment. 
Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light. This was a free gift with purchase in Sephora. I've only briefly tried this but I love it- super comforting!

Miscellaneous!

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5 in 1 Treatment. I had this on my list and it was a good purchase; I've been using it since buying it and I'm really liking it. I'll have a full post soon.
Caviar CC Cream 10 in 1 Complete Correction Leave In Hair Perfector. Another gift with purchase; make sure and get yourself a Sephora card, you collect points super fast!
Blow Pro Faux Dry Shampoo & Conditioner. These were a free gift with purchase in Ulta. Haven't tried a dry conditioner before so that's quite intriguing!
Perfect Formula Nail Essentials Duo; includes a protein rich Gel Coat and a Pink Gel Coat. Both seal, strengthen and protect nails. I bought this thinking it'd be a good alternative to my Dior Pink polish but with the added benefit of a nail strengthener.
Lancome La Vie Est Belle Rollerball Eau de Parfum. I wanted to pick up another rollerball after losing my Flowerbomb one somewhere (gah) & I love this perfume. They have a good range of rollerballs in Sephora actually. I also picked up this set of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Rollerballs. I've written about all three of these scents in more detail HERE.

I haven't gone into too much detail here because I will be writing individual reviews. Let me know if there's anything you'd particularly like to see reviewed though!
XX

A Look At Fabulous Flormar!

Greetings! If you follow me on any social media platform you'll have spotted I attended the recent Flormar Ireland launch!

We've been really lucky in Ireland over the last couple of years for getting access to pretty cool international cosmetics brands. Added to the list of Wet n' Wild, Physicians Formula and Bioderma, we now have Flormar; an affordable, fun brand packed with colour and lots of choice (seriously, the nail polishes comes in 1,000 shades!!)

The price range is €2.95 to €12.95. I KNOW, right?!

I have renowned make-up artist Leonard Daly's top picks from the brand to show you:

Illuminating Primer

Primers are the brand's hero products and I was particularly delighted to see the word 'illuminating' on there as I tend to gravitate towards a dewier look. This is designed to 'smooth out fine lines and create a mattifying canvas to ensure make up stays put for hours'. There's also green tea and acacia in there to soothe and nourish the skin, so no fear of it drying out on you. This is €9.95.

Bronzing Powder

Would you look at the size of that compact?! Good lord. This is a soft, highly pigmented, ultra-sheer bronzer, making it buildable and flattering for Summer skin and will work well on the very pale amongst us. This is the shade Gorgeous Bronze and it's €9.95.

Colour Palette Eye Shadow

I have this in 07, which is called Nude Dude. It contains five matte nude shades ranging from a cream base shade to brown for the crease. Lookit, I don't want to be a typical blogger and say these are "buttery soft", but…these are buttery soft (you can slap me the next time you see me) and although there is a little bit of fallout, they are overall lovely to use. It does come with one of those awful 80's double ended sponge applicators but sure that's off to the city tip so no worries there. I will say that for me, this is missing a darker shade to add stronger definition but as it is it works very well for a daytime look and at €9.95, you can't go too far wrong.

Wearing the illuminating primer (underneath foundation), Bronzing Powder, Colour Palette Eye Shadow and the Revolution lipstick. I wanted to show you this look with glasses because I think a bold lip and slightly smoky eye work really well for glasses wearers!

Revolution Lipstick

These are a "new generation of lip loving formulations and colours..that deliver softly textured colour that glides seamlessly on the lips to create mega impact and shine". I have this in the shade Provocative Orange, and it certainly is that. You might need to be brave for this one but there's no better time- orange lips are really in at the minute with everything from lip stains, gel glosses and full on mattes available in summery tangerine shades. A word of warning- make sure your lips are in good condition cause this lipstick will show up every crack and dry spot!
The good news is you won't feel too anxious about spending money on a trend product like this as they are only €6.95. There are other shades too by the way…you don't have to get orange. You should though.

Long Wearing Lip Gloss

This is a new gel technology, packed with vitamins C and E to protect and moisturise your lips while still providing a sheer shot of glossy colour. I have the shade Backstage, which is a stunning fuchsia gel with flecks of glitter. I can't get over this colour- it's not what I'd normally go for but I love it! What a fab shade! These are €5.95.

Wearing the illuminating primer (underneath foundation), Bronzing Powder, Colour Palette Eye Shadow and the Long Lasting Gloss. 

Jelly Look Nail Enamel

Like I mentioned earlier, there are actually 1,000 shades in the range with various different formulas including matte, quick dry, neon and of course, jelly. 

I have the shade turquoise green which is the perfect Summer colour. These are only €4.50 each. I haven't had a chance to use this yet but I'll get back to you!

Are you looking forward to picking up some Flormar for yourself? Good news- it'll be in pharmacies nationwide very soon (and at some stage a stand alone store)!! 

Anything here catching your eye?

XX

*This post contains press samples and as aways, my own opinions!

SoSu Nail Polish- Put To The Test!

You might remember my blog post from a couple of weeks ago about the launch of Irish super blogger Suzanne Jackson's line of gel nail polishes; SOSU by Suzanne Jackson. I was given the shade, Blue My Mind to try out, here's how I got on:

Firstly the positives; this particular shade of polish is STUNNING. I've always been a fan of darker shades that have a glorious shine to them, as this one does. It's a deep navy blue with a kind of metallic finish and oddly, small silver glitter pieces. These all sink to the bottom of the bottle so you have to give it a good shake when applying. On the nail I don't think they really add anything- the polish is beautiful enough on it's own so for me it's just gilding the lily.

The brush isn't particularly wide but the application is still easy peasy. I have to say that it does not apply like a gel polish however. Gel polishes are all the rage at the minute with high street brands like Barry M, Sally Hansen and Max Factor bringing out their own versions so it's not surprising this was marketed that way too. I think though that it would have been better if this was sold as just a regular polish as it was disappointing to find that neither the application nor the finish were that of a gel. 

Longevity wise, I wore a good base and top coat (OPI, not from the SoSu range) but only got to day three before noticeable chips appeared. I had maybe one or two on the second day. I left the polish on 'til day five for blog research purposes but by then all bar two of my nails were badly chipped and I was itching to take it off. I was disappointed that it didn't last longer but as I'd already figured out that it wasn't a gel polish, I didn't really expect otherwise. Day three is standard for me with most good polishes- the poor quality ones are gone before then so I don't actually think this is that bad (for a regular, non-gel polish that is).

Day 3 on my left hand, my right hand was worse again. My ring finger and baby finger on my left hand stayed pretty much perfect though!

Priced at €7.99, these are on the higher end of the scale for a polish like this but there's a really good range of colours (the pastels in particular look fab) and there's some fun glitters too. These are already a big success, having sold out in some stores so obviously there's a big market for them. The bottom line for me here is if you buy these knowing they won't wear like a gel polish then work away and God speed! Otherwise you'll risk disappointment.

I think it's wonderful to see a fellow blogger doing so well and I wish Suzanne much continued success but I was hoping this polish would last longer than it did. Hopefully it's an issue that can be addressed for future additions to the range.

Have you tried any of the SOSU range? What did you think?

XX

SOSU By Suzanne Jackson

Irish über blogger Suzanne Jackson has created a range of gel nail polishes and I was delighted to attend the launch last week. Featuring 25 shades of gel nail polish in high pigment mattes and shimmers as well as a base and top coat, the range should have something for everyone.

Having given the colours a good peruse on the night, I think the shades are perfect for Spring/Summer with everything from mint, blue and pink pastels to darker purple, blue and teal shades and gorgeous glitter packed gels for balmy Summer nights out. Suzanne's favourite shade is "I Do" which was designed with brides in mind, a nice touch I think!
Personally, I love the look of this glittery polish but then I am quite the magpie:

The SOSU by Suzanne Jackson Nail Collection is now available in pharmacies nationwide, Penneys stores and selected nail salons and all polishes are priced at the RRP of €7.99.

I received a stunning dark midnight blue with a shot of silver glitter called "Blue My Mind" which I'll be trying out this week and will have a separate post on to let you know how well it applies and wears. 

Have you tried any of the polishes from the SOSU range yet? Are any of the colours catching your eye?

X

Duty Free Purchases!

I escaped Ireland recently for a week and popped into the Loop on my way and then the Duty Free on the way back. There was nothing I actually needed but sure you know yourself, like a kid in a sweet shop and all that. 

First up was a visit to Victoria's Secret for a body spray. I thought this would be handy for work as it's a lightweight bottle and although it's not super long lasting, it's also only €12, so I'm not going to feel guilty for coating myself in it several times a day. I went with Aqua Kiss, which contains "rain-kissed freesia and daisy". It's a lovely fresh scent, summery but not sickly sweet. I liked it so much that I picked up the matching body and hand lotion on the way back. I actually prefer this to the spray as the scent lasts longer on the skin. The next time I'm in the airport I'll be stocking up on more of these. 

Love it.

Lastly, on the way back I also picked up a Pink body spray in Sun Kissed. This is pure coconut and vanilla goodness, like Summer in a spray. Nom.

I needed both a new base and top coat so this 3-in-1 from one of my favourite nail brands, OPI, seemed ideal. It's also a nail strengthener, which is great for the likes of me with my weak nails and so far I'm really liking it. This was around the 14/15 euro mark.

I also spotted this set of two full size Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfectors in the original pink and peach shades for a measly €22. One of these on their own is €18.50 so I did pretty well there. I recently ran out of the pink one and have never tried the peach so it's all coming up Millhouse. 

And that's my lot! I was as always tempted by the perfume, MAC and alcohol (although my sister in law kindly took care of the latter for me. Brandy cream for the win!) but I talked myself down! 

Are you an airport shopper too or do get too overwhelmed by all the many brands?

XX

BarryM Sunset Daylight Curing Polish

Being an absolute sucker for a gimmick of any sort, I had to buy the new Daylight Curing polish from BarryM to see if it was any good. There were five shades available in the Boots I was in and I was tempted by the navy blue and a classic red but I went for Like A Nude instead, a creamy matte shade. Regardless of the shade of polish you opt for, you'll need a bottle of the Daylight Curing topcoat. This is a clear topcoat that uses "natural daylight curing to create long lasting hi gloss nails". So it's designed to replace your trip to the nail bar and it's a cost effective way of getting shellac in your own home. But does it work?!

Recommended use is to paint a thin coat of your nail paint (it has to be from the Sunset range, regular polish won't work apparently) and allow to dry. Then apply a second thin coat. I found this part tricky enough and I think that may have been my own fault for applying a base coat- it doesn't say not to on the instructions and I always do to protect my nails but I think it made the application a bit harder. The brush definitely dragged a little bit, which it probably wouldn't have otherwise. My advice would be to go without if you can, although that may be harder with the darker polishes where you'll risk staining the nail bed.

When the nail paint is dry, you apply a thin coat of the Sunset topcoat (again, it has to be this, other topcoats won't work). Your nails are then supposed to cure naturally in daylight. The topcoat itself applied smoothly, like any normal topcoat really. Overall it probably took longer to dry than an average nail polish but I ended up applying some of the coats too thickly so once again, that may have been user error. 

Of course, I cleaned up around the nail, after the photos were taken. Best. Blogger. Ever.

I think they look very pretty, that nude is a gorgeous shade and would be perfect for work, an interview or a wedding. I didn't have anywhere to wear it to but enjoyed looking like a lady nonetheless!

Longevity wise, it definitely lasted longer than a regular nail polish. 

Unlike Shellac though, there's no way you'd get a full two weeks out of this without chipping. I got to day 2-3 before minor chips appeared and by day 5 each finger had at least a small chip, while some were definitely the worse for wear. Observe:

It's hard to tell from that photo but there are actually chips on every nail, not just the more obvious middle finger. Because it's less obvious that they're there though, it means you could get away with it for a bit longer if you could get over that middle nail, which I personally couldn't. Five days was definitely the limit for me for the daylight curing. 

My final verdict is; these polishes are ideal for a weekend away or an event like a wedding but they don't have the same longevity as a salon professional polish, like shellac and if you're expecting that then you'll be disappointed. However, they are only €7.49 (Boots have a buy one, get one half price on them at the moment too) and they do last a bit longer than a regular pharmacy brand polish would, for the same price so for that I think they're worth giving a try. I know I'll be trying out another shade from the range fairly soon!

Thoughts? Is this too gimmicky for you? Would you rather just get a professional job rather than faff around yourself or does the bargain price lure you too much?!

To the comments!

XX

New! No7 Spring Eye & Nail Collection

You may remember from this Penney's Haul that I'm very eagerly anticipating the arrival of Spring so I was thrilled to see this gorgeous new palette and accompanying nail polishes pop through my letterbox, as they herald the start of brighter days, slightly warmer temperatures and overall, more colour! 

First up is the new No7 Mini Eye Palette*, a beautiful rose gold case housing eight of the brand's most popular eye shadows, ranging from light shades to the darkest of metallics. 

This is a serious piece of eye candy and rivals any of the top selling higher end brands for its lust-worthy packaging. It's a slim palette that would be perfect for your bag; taking with you on a night out or a weekend away or even into work to touch up your make-up for an office-to-dancefloor scenario (I wouldn't know about that as I generally stumble out of work after a 13 hour shift and fall directly into bed. Mmm, bed). 

Inside, there's a large mirror and a double ended eye-shadow brush, which is more useful than most brushes you'll find in similar palettes. Again, the muted pink tones inside add an element of sophistication to this that completely belies its €14.25 price tag. That's right, €14.25!!!

The idea is that you can create a natural daytime look or a smokey eye for night time, so it's a more versatile selection of nudes, basically. 

In case you're a No7 eye shadow buff, here's what each one is:

Top, left to right: The first shade there is a pearlescent pale pink from the Good Earth Trio. It's quite pigmented and would make a good inner eye/brow bone highlighter. 

Next is the Mink shade from No7 Mono. This was a bit of a let down for me, it looks great in the pan but doesn't translate that well on the skin. It takes a fair bit to make an impact and really only provides more of a light shimmer.

I really like the matte taupe shade next to it however. This fella was originally in the In The Navy trio and is a perfect base shade.

Although the last on the top right looks similar to the second shade, it's actually much darker, more pigmented and a very flattering bronze/grey shade. The one is buttery soft and needs little to create a great look. One of my favourites in there. This is from the Good Earth trio.

Bottom, left to right: Again, from the Good Earth Trio is this chocolate brown shade. This is also super soft and super blendable. A dream to work with.

The shade beside it is from the Chocolate Fondant Quad and is a dark grey with some subtle glitter. A great shade for blue eyes.

Also from the Chocolate Fondant Quad is this dark brown with again, subtle glitter pieces and lastly, from the Moonlight Shadows duo is that black matte with yet again, subtle glitter. 

Apologies for the wrinkles in my hand, I took the photo outside and was kneeling on my hands to warm them up before taking the photos! The things we do for make-up, eh?!

Here's the top four shades, I had to swatch these a couple of times to get that level of build up. Out of all four, the last on the right definitely has the most pigmentation and would be quite pretty on its own with some smudged brown liner and lots of mascara.

The first two shades of the bottom four require only one swipe and that's the colour payoff. Good, eh? The last two needed an extra swipe but that's still quite good for darker matte shades like that. 

Overall, I think this palette is excellent value for what you get- its aesthetically pleasing packaging and flattering nude shades will appeal to many, so if you like this, pick it up as it's limited edition!

Next up, are the two new nail polishes* to the brand's already excellent Gel-Look Shine Collection. I was really excited to see these as I have a cobalt blue from this range that I LOVE plus pastels are my favourite shades to wear for most of the year round. 

Here we have Sweet Lilac and Coral Crush. These are €9 each and provide that great glossy gel finish that you would pay double the same amount for in a nail salon. 

I already have an image of that coral on my toes with my feet in the sand..cannot wait!

The lilac will be firmly on my fingernails- it's one of my all time favourite hues for nails.

Gorgeous!

The NO7 Spring collection will be in Boots stores and on Boots.ie from the 28th of January, just in time for payday! 

Anything catching your eye?

Go on, you deserve a treat for surviving the horror that is January!

XX

*Indicates that products were provided for review. All opinions my own, as always.