Nails Of The Day - Barry M Holochrome Holographic Effect Vegan Nail Paint - Pixie Pink*

There is nothing that I love beauty wise than a holographic nail polish. The way they change colour and sparkle when the light changes just soothes my soul, and makes me happy.

It's fair to say that over the last 12 months I've been on a bit of a journey with my finger nails - from outright destruction and damage central in January and February, to health and length and then back to just a bit healthier - it's certainly been a case of two steps forward and 3 steps back at times, but I'm on the right track again, and I've found a few products that given regular use, time and patience can really make a difference.

Something that definitely helps is painting them and keeping polish on at all times - I'm yet to brave gels again so normal polish it is, Despite several half hearted attempts to weed my own personal polish mountain, I've still got way too many bottles of nail colour - I have been good though and I have pretty much stopped buying new polishes but earlier this year I saw that Barry M had a released a new nail polish range and it really was love at first sight.

Although Barry M has changed a lot since I first started buying from the brand (and the prices have gone up!) one of their mainstays is still their nail polish in those familiar square bottles. Colours and finishes have came and gone over the years but I can'r honestly remember them ever producing a holographic polish before, so I guess the release of their Holochrome Holographic Effect range was long overdue.

The range comprises of four polishes and yes  you've guessed it, I bought every single one of them, the four shades are - a silver, a lilac, an aqua blue / green and of course a pink named Pixie Pink.

This polish comes with a nice wide brush which curves to the cuticle perfectly making it a really easy polish to paint.

The coverage is excellent - with careful application you could probably get away with one coat but for the full on sparkly, rich finish I went for two.

Now as you can see I've taken some photos with the flash and some without, and some even ever so slightly out of focus, so you can get a real idea of both the colour and finish, and just how this beautiful polish reacts to the light.

It's a lovely warm pink crammed full of holographic rainbow sparkle, that reacts to movement and the light and creates flashes of every shade you can think from gold to blue, to purple .

As I say application itself was a breeze and I didn't need to do any real touch ups, and if you're impatient or you can't sit still it also dried pretty quickly.

As much as I love a holographic polishes they do have a bit of a reputation for poor wear time - in fact if you remember the original holographic polish GOSH Holographic, they eventually used to label it 24 hour wear! Thankfully I didn't need to change this polish the next day, I applied it on top of two coats of a nail growth treatment and I added a coat on top and I easily managed a week with only minimal chipping and even then it was pretty easy to fix with another coat of polish ;)

 

I honestly don't think that any of these pictures do this polish justice, it so pretty I'm actually wearing it at the moment and watching the colour change and as I'm moving my fingers is actually really distracting lol.

If you're fan of sparkle this holiday season or even like me all year round, but you aren't a fan of the rough finish that you can often get from glitter polishes, then holographic polishes are the way to go. Barry M Holochrome Holographic Effect Vegan Nail Paint in Pixie Pink retails at £4.49 and is available from Superdrug, and direct from Barry M.

Are you a fan of holographic polishes? Let me know in the comments and I'll see you soon with another catch up empties post x 

*This Post Contains An Added Affiliate Link

Operation Get Back On Track - A Very Late Trimming My Stash - April To December 2023 - Monthly Empties, And A 2023 Summary

Hey everyone I'm back, and before we go any further I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone that commented or sent me a message anywhere on social media after my last post x To say that I'm still numb is an understatement I really don't think it's sunk in yet - life has been pretty full on since and to be honest I think I'm just in protection mode, where I'm just numb to anything good and bad - it's a strange feeling and I don't think things are going to get better anytime soon so I'm just trying to make the best of it and just get on with things, and find a few distractions here and there.

It goes without saying that the blog has been on the back burner for most of 2025 but in the last couple of months of the year I'm going to try and get back on track, starting with what will be the first of the three Trimming My Stash catch up posts

I last posted a proper Trimming My Stash post was back in 2024, and even that was a catch up covering the first 3 months of 2023, and whilst I haven't been publishing posts, I have been diligently updating my empties lists and collecting all of my empty packets, tubes, and bottles but enough is enough - I have two cardboard boxes and a bag or two that are full of empties that are now just taking up space.

I've thought and thought about what I can do, and the simplest way would be to just fill up my recycling bin, and call it quits on the whole empties thing but since I've been adding every finished product to my sidebar and saving them for over two years now I've came to the conclusion that would be a bit of a waste. So instead I'm going to share all of those empties, and monthly totals with you, all be it in most cases without individual pictures, and in all cases without any reviews. I'm angry at myself for not doing proper posts but I really need to put this to bed so to speak x 

So lets take a trip back to 2023 - my last empties post covered January, February and March, so we're starting from April and taking a little trip, right through to the 31st December x 

 

Sooo Cocoa! Cocoa Butter Salt Scrub - 270g
AVON Nutra Effects Matte Micellar Water - 400ml
Bean Body Coffee Scrub - Manuka Honey - 220g
Bath & Body Works Snowy Peach Berry Shower Gel - 295ml

Total - 4 Items

1. Sooo Cocoa! Cocoa Butter Salt Scrub - 270g

2. AVON Nutra Effects Matte Micellar Water - 400ml

3. Bean Body Coffee Scrub - Manuka Honey - 220g

4. Bath & Body Works Snowy Peach Berry Shower Gel - 295ml

O'Keeffes For Healthy Feet Foot Cream - 91g
Beauty Formulas Vitamin E Wax Strips - Legs & Body - 40 Strips
Nair Wax Strips Face - 12 Wax Strips
L'Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water - 200ml
Boozi Cheeky Woo Woo Body Wash - 50ml
Bath & Body Works Snowy Peach Berry 24 Hr Moisture Ultra Rich Shea Body Cream - 226g

Total - 6 Items

1. O'Keeffes For Healthy Feet Foot Cream - 91g

2. Beauty Formulas Vitamin E Wax Strips - Legs & Body - 40 Strips

3. Nair Wax Strips Face - 12 Wax Strips

4. L'Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water - 200ml

5. Boozi Cheeky Woo Woo Body Wash - 50ml

6. Bath & Body Works Snowy Peach Berry 24 Hr Moisture Ultra Rich Shea Body Cream - 226g

That's it for the pictures, now just words and numbers and a couple of pretty indents that I hope you'll appreciate ;)

June 2023

Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Friends X Revolution Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub - 260g
John Frieda Radiant Red Red Boosting Shampoo - 250ml
Sensationail Gel Cleanser 14.6ml
Bath & Body Works Peach Bellini Gentle Foaming Hand Soap - 259ml

July 2023

Nivea Q10 Multi Power 5 In 1 Firming + Cellulite Gel - 200ml
Tresemme Heat Defence Styling Spray - 300ml
Cuccio Naturale Professional Manicure Cuticle Revitalizing Oil With White Limetta & Aloe Vera - 75ml

August 2023

Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Revolution Pro Hygiene Sanitising Solid Brush Cleaner - 100ml
Stericlens Sterile Saline Spray - 240ml
Vita Coco Coconut Shampoo Scalp Coconut & Guava - 400ml

September 2023

Moksha Advanced Salicylic Avid & Sulphur Scrub Soap Bar - 100g
Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple Aloe + Vitamin E Shower Gel - 295ml
Dead Sea Collection Himalayan Salt Scrub With Natural Dead Sea Minerals - 660g
Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
111 Skin Harley Street London Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask - 1 x 30ml Sheet Mask

October 2023

PIXI Glow Tonic Glow Tonic 5% Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner - 100ml
Derma V10 Deep Moisturising Hand Pack Argan Oil - 1 x Treatment
Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Beauty Pie Renewed Density Anti Hair-Loss Ampules - 14 x 8ml
Bath & Body Works White Barn Cranberry Peach Gentle Foaming Hand Soap - 259ml
Vitamasques VO Charcoal Gommage Peeling Gel - 20ml
Garnier Ultimate Blends Glowing Lengths Pineapple Hair Drink - 200ml

November 2023 

Veet Easy Gel Wax Strips - Sensitive Skin Bikini & Underarm - 30 x Wax Strips And 3 Perfect Finish Wipes
Sauvasine Tumeric Scrub For Face & Body - 150g
Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Victoria's Secret PINK Mango Scrub Nourishing Body Scrub - 283g
Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Eau De Toilette - 50ml

December 2023

Jolen Face Wax Strips - 16 Wax Strips
Sence Pre Treated Facial Sheet Mask - Moisturise And Refresh - 1 x 23ml Sheet Mask
Bath & Body Works Champagne Toast Gentle Foaming Hand Soap - 259ml
T.J. Morris Ltd. Sleigh Bells Santa Printed Sheet Mask - Hydrating & Cooling - 1 x Sheet Mask
Skin Techniques Penguin Moisturising Foot Mask - Honey & Almond - 1 x 28ml Pair Of Booties

January - 5 Items
February - 4 Items
March - 5 Items
April - 4 Items
May - 6 Items
June - 6 Items
July - 3 Items
August - 4 Items
September - 5 Items
October - 7 Items
November - 5 Items
December - 5 Items

Total - 59 Items 

After all of that wait and hype 2023 turned out to be a bit of a damp squib. I managed to finish just 59 items, which made this my worst year since I started this whole thing way back when, in fact I was managed to finish 8 less products than I did in 2022 which was my joint previous worse year. Never mind my recycling bin is a bit fuller and I probably created a few little spaces in the cupboards and drawers of my beauty stash, which to be honest I've probably filled back up again lol. I am definitely buying less than I used to but I seem to be using things up at a much slower pace, and my make up use at the moment is pretty much non existent - in fact I wore a full face of make up at my Godmothers funeral for the first time in ages, and the foundation that I used to be honest was probably off - not great, but I didn't finish it so I can't class it as an empty ho hum.

Anyways it goes without saying that I continued to trim my stash in 2024 and of course well into 2025, and in the next week or so I'll be sharing my 2024 totals in this same format and then at the beginning of January I'll be sharing my 2025 totals ahead of a new start in 2026 - Don't forget you can keep up to date with all my empties updates by checking out the lists in the sidebar x 

If empties catch up's aren't your thing don't worry I've got some more varied beauty content coming soon including some budget friendly nail posts, all shot and ready to go, and a little Primark beauty haul that you won't want to miss x 

Thanks again for sticking with me and if you haven't already, I'd love it if you'd subscribe or follow my blog, and my other social media channels all of which you can find in the sidebar, including my new Tik Tok page, and don't forget if you have any questions on any of the products that I've mentioned then please leave me a comment, send me an email or just say hey on social media x 

When I'm Feeling Blue - Nails Of The Day - Sensationail Colour Gel Polish - Steel A Kiss*

Hey My Darlings - It's been a while again but I thought I'd ease myself back into the whole blogging thing this Bank Holiday Monday with a little nails of the day post.

I'm not going to lie I actually photographed this manicure a couple of months ago now and it's been sat in my drafts for goodness knows how long but it's too pretty not to share. My nails are currently super short again, but there are some signs of growth there, and when they are long enough to paint and stick under the lamp again, I will more than likely be applying this shade again.

Sensationail Colour Gel Polish in Steel A Kiss is by probably the most used gel polish in my collection, and I'm sure you can see just why I love it.

There are two things that I really love when it comes to nail polish, the colour blue, and sparkles, and this particular shade ticks both of these boxes. This gorgeous almost denim blue shade is crammed full of almost holographic sparkle - I'm probably not showing it in the best light here but wiggle your fingers in strong sunlight, or even a really bright indoor light and watch those sparkles flash! 

Application was a breeze, I used all of the Sensationail prep products and their top and base coat, and a full manicure probably took me less than 20 minutes. The finish is smooth and  super glossy and the wear time as you would expect from a gel polish is excellent - I got nearly 2 and a half weeks out of this particular mani with only minimal tip wear, and a couple of tiny chips.

Obviously the one drawback of gel polishes is the removal but despite the shimmer and sparkle this was pretty easy to remove without any chunky of glitter with both gel polish remover (acetone), and the gel polish remover liquid that looks like nail varnish. Both methods as you would expect are a bit drying on the nails and cuticles but I usually just load up on cuticle oil and hand cream for a few days to counteract any dryness. 

As the Phil Collins song goes "when I'm feeling blue all I have to do is take a look at you, then I'm not so blue" and for me that certainly applies to this nail polish - It just makes me happy every time I wear it and I will definitely be picking up another bottle.

The original Sensationail polishes are quite hard to find now but in my opinion they're worth tracking down. This particular polish the Sensationail Colour Gel Polish in Steel A Kiss, is still available though on Amazon for the pretty bargaintastic price of just £5.96. Obviously you need an LED lamp etc. but if you have all that, for me it's a no brainer x Are you a sparkly polish fan ? Let me know in the comments x 

*This Post Contains Affiliate Links

Collaborative / Partnered Post - Ways To Make Your Eyes Pop And Boost Your Self Confidence*

Whenever people say that they don't like a body part it usually something like your stomach or your thighs, and whilst I definitely have a love / hate relationship with those parts of my body, for me thanks to my facial paralysis it's my face, and in my particular my mouth and eyes.

They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and whether that's true or not, your eyes are definitely a prominent feature and learning to love them  for me at least has been a real work in progress - they're not exactly something you can hide people look into them when they want to hold your attention, and avoid them when they don't. As well as performing an essential job, you're eyes play an important role in defining you, and showcasing the person who you are. 

From everyday beauty to glamorous "going out" looks, emphasising your eyes really draws people in and can really increase your self confidence. A lot of people really do feel that their eyes are their best feature, and even if like me you don't then maybe you can learn to love them, or at look at them a different way with the right techniques.

Give Your Lashes More Oomph

Nowadays when you look at someone a lot of the times the first thing you notice about their eyes are their lashes! Bigger and bolder than ever before lashes are the focus point for anyone who want to highlight their eyes. Whether your a fan of the current super long and thick tarantula look or not, everyone wants longer, darker, thicker and more curled lashes. As well as protecting your eyes from dirt and debris, when your lashes are on point then will both emphasise and frame your eyes. If you're not lucky enough to have naturally fabulous lashes, there are some great mascaras on the market, but if you really want that wow factor and that extra oomph, then try some premium lash extensions. They'll lengthen your lashes even further to get that ultimate long-lashed look that even the best mascara on it's own just can't do. Temporary lash extensions are easy to put on and just as easy to remove too, so you can use them whenever you like.

Find the Right Makeup

If you want to draw attention to your eyes then a little bit of Makeup can really make them pop. You don't need a make up collection like mine but if you really want to make a highlight your eyes then a little bit of make up can make all the difference. Now as you know I'm not really a liner fan but if you're confident in using it, team it up with some mascara, or some lashes, and a bit of eyeshadow to make your eyes really stand out. Add a bit of light reflection concealer here and then to hide those dark circles and add a bit of light around your eyes, and a bit of highlight or shimmery shadow to make them instantly look brighter and more alive. Stick to neutrals for an easy everyday look, but add a bit of sparkle or create a smokey, glam look for evenings, or be brave and play with some colour. As I always say make up is supposed to fun, there are no rules, play and experiment till your heart is content, and if you don't like it you can always wipe it off and start again!

Play with Glasses/No Glasses

Now I've been a glasses wearer for over 20 years now, and whilst at first I hated them with a passion, and they can still be pretty annoying at times, I've really embraced them, they've become a part of what I look like and I feel naked without them.If you wear glasses, don't think you have to ditch them to make the most of your eyes, and don't hide behind them, let your glasses highlight your eyes, and use them to your advantage. The key to making glasses work for you is finding a style that suits your face. Although oversized frames are popular, they're not right for everyone and could draw attention away from your eyes, I must admit I've experimented with frames a lot of the years (have a look way back to the very early days of the blog to see some examples of my glasses wearing journey!), from wire frames, to thinner letterbox styles, to the slightly over sized ones I have now, and I've loved them all for different reasons, and for the different looks and impressions that I've created with each frame. Choosing frames can be a minefield, there is just so much choice, the key thing is to not only choose the right frames for your prescription, but it's also important to choose frames that work for your face shape and colouring. Whether you're picking glasses for the first time or whether you fancy a change, try a few pairs on to find something that you love and that fits your personality and lifestyle.

I personally love my glasses, and whilst I'm personally not a fan of them, contact lenses are great for a change, and going glasses free gives your look a new dimension and can really help make your eyes the centre of attention.

Pay Attention to Your Eyebrows

Probably one of the most important part of framing your face and making your eyes stand out, if of your eyebrows, your eyes are the picture and your brows are the frame. Since I'm a glasses wearer for years I ignored my eyebrows, and let them go their own way, they weren't really on show so I just forgot about them, and then when I did start paying attention to them, I jumped on board the skinny brow trend, and over plucked them and destroyed the shape. 

Thankfully I have learnt from the error of my ways, and my brows and fuller, and occasionally a touch wayward, but by and large I keep them groomed and under control. Fill in your brows and define their shape to make them more attention-grabbing, and if you aren't sure what you're doing head to a professional for some advice, and once you've groomed them add a little bit of highlight on your brow bone, and a touch of concealer to make them really stand out. Whether you want dark magazine brows or something a bit more natural when your brows look good, they'll complement your eyes and make sure people know where to look.

Whether you love them or like me you're a bit more indifferent, making the most of your eyes can be a real confidence booster. If you look in the mirror and you see nice full lashes, a nice smokey eye, or a perfectly groomed brow, you're bound to feel better yourself, so whether you're going to job interview, on a date, or even to take something back to the shop, always try to make the best of yourself and even if you don't feel brave or confident, use the tools that you have to hold your head up high, make eye contact, and use those eyes to their full advantage!

*Collaborative / Partnered Post

Life Lately - Another Year Older, Outfits, Piercings And A Few New Purchases*

Well hello there, it's been a while I know but since my last post life really has got in the way again, nothing major just the usual trials and tribulations of someone struggling with chronic illness, and life in general. Exhaustion is something I’ve gotten quite used but over the last couple of months I’ve genuinely felt as though I’ve had the life sucked out of me - on most days I’ve managed to do the bare minimum and that’s it - I’ve had weeks when I haven’t left the house and socialising, blogging and anything that’s involved using my body or brain has been put on the back burner. I was at the doctors yesterday for bloods so hopefully that will give me some answers even it’s just a flare of existing conditions at least I’ll know!

So apart from sleeping, and lots of rest what have I been doing with myself? Well I completed another trip around the sun and celebrated my birthday in the middle of May. I didn’t do anything or go anywhere, instead I spent it with my two favourite people in the world, my mam and my godmother eating my mams homemade carrot cake, and playing with my new iPhone 15. My mam contributed towards the cost and since I mainly got money the plan was to pay for it, and to have a nice little solo shopping trip and whilst the intention was to go as close to my birthday as possible surprise, surprise that didn’t happen so I ended up ordering a few things online and I eventually made it to the Metro Centre a fortnight ago

I haven’t really been buying a lot of beauty and make up so I decided to really treat myself to a few high end products including the new Clinique Pop Black Honey Lip & Cheek Oil, the Dior Rosy Glow Powder Blush in Pink, some Sol De Janiero Bum Bum Cream, a mini Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Dewy Liquid Blush in Happy and a Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Memerise Cream Eyeshadow in Champagne. 

I will definitely be talking about some of these products in due course but if there is anything you would particularly like to see then please let me know. I’ve also picked up a few more affordable bits including the Bum Bum Cream Dupe from Home Bargains, and some of the lip oils from Aldi so again if you’d like to hear my thoughts let me know in the comments section below x 

The first place I actually went into when I went into the Metro Centre was Primark. The new extended store opened on my birthday and this was the first opportunity I’d have to have a look round, and to be honest I was a bit underwhelmed - yes it’s bigger, self checkouts, more items, but there just wasn’t much that I actually wanted  or maybe I should say needed. There was barely anything above a size large, and some of the stuff was well, ugly! I only ended up buying a new duvet set, some slippers for my mam, some rubber Birkenstocks dupes, some chub rub shorts, a Hello Kitty t-shirt, and some beauty bits. I have to say the beauty section was decent and it wasn’t as wrecked as it usually is so  I picked up a few summer themed bits, and some skincare.

After I’d been to Primark and spent way less than I’d anticipated I thought I’d treat myself to something a little more permanent and I headed straight across the mall to Doc Black Ink. 

When I got my daith done nearly two years ago now I definitely reawakened the beast, and ever since then I been playing planning out what piercings to get next. Initially the plan was to add another two helix’s to my right side but instead I went for another helix and a flat. Taking me to 7 in each ear, and 14 in total! Head piercer Kelly was an absolute angel as per usual, and whilst they were a bit nippy at first and they’ve been a little bit uncomfortable, the irritation is easing off now and they don’t feel too bad.

I was only in the Metro Centre for a few hours and whilst I was only there for a short time I certainly paid the price and I was literally useless for about 4 days afterwards - it’s definitely one of the most frustrating parts of chronic illness, acting like a ‘normal’ person for a few hours, having fun, and then feeling worse then you ever did.

Although I’ve been quiet on here I have been flirting with my other more instant, easy access social media channels, which has mainly involved arguing with people, expressing my frustration with football, and despairing at the state of the world on twitter,  (it will never be X to me !) and when I'm not living in shorts or leggings, posting the odd outfit pic on Instagram, some of which you can see here. 

I’m not in a good place body confidence wise at the moment, but on the journey back to some form of self acceptance I’m putting my animal print clad self out there, and saying this is who I am. For some one who originally started out posting fashion content on online forums I’m enjoying even this small return to my fashionista roots, and I’m looking forward to hopefully creating lots more fashion content in the future.

So there you have it I’m still tired, my blood pressure is a little bit higher than it should be, and I’m still on the lookout for an NHS dentist, but I’m back feeling a bit more reenergised at least blogging wise, and I’ve got plenty of things to review and to talk about x Thank you as per usual for sticking with me and if you’re in the UK today don’t forget to VOTE! 

*This Post Contains Affiliate Links