Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Nail Laquer - Helene*

"I don't feel dressed without nail lacquer. It's as essential to me as lipstick"

                                                                                                                   
This quote comes from probably one of the glamorous women of modern times. She's an actress, a businesswoman, an author, a Dame and an icon. Who am I talking about? Joan Collins of course. Like most people my age I remember Joan Collins from the 1980's soap opera Dynasty. There was no doom and gloom in Dynasty, it was all about cat fights, shoulder pads, and glamour. and it's heart was the queen bee herself, Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington / Colby / Dexter.

Although her work on Dynasty is only a small part of her illustrious career, the whole glamour and style aspect of it sums up the woman herself. Although she's now a grandmother and in her 80's, she's still as beautiful and as stylish as she ever was, and is showing no sign of slowing down.

One of the mantras that she lives by is the idea that beauty isn't just for the young, and she's a firm believer that you can still look good at any age, as long as you have the right products, the right tools and the right outlook.

Over the years Ms Collins spent a lot of time learning from stylists and make up artists, and now Joan has decided to pass on all of her expertise and the tips she's learnt by releasing her own line of beauty products, Timeless Beauty.

The range comprises of a wide range of luxury make up products, accessories and fragrances, that are designed to appeal to women of all ages. A little while ago now I was lucky enough to be sent two products from the Timeless Beauty range to try, a lipstick and in case you hadn't already guessed from the quote above, a nail lacquer.

The lipstick post should be up later this week but today I'm sharing a beautiful and classic nails of the day with you. There are 17 shades of Nail Lacquer to choose from in the Joan Collins Timeless Beauty line, and I was sent Helene.

The polish comes beautifully packaged in matte black, and gold box, with images of both Joan and the product on the back. Open the box and you're greeted with probably the most chicest bottle of nail polish that I've ever owned. The faceted glass bottle is topped with a long ridged, gold tapered handle which gives the polish a real vintage look. I remember going through my grandmas dressing table drawers when I was younger, and spying a similar bottle, so this one brought back a lot of happy memories. The handle isn't just for show though, it's perfectly weighted for ease of application, and the ridges mean that it's really easy to hold.

All of the polishes are named after glamorous women and this one is Helene. Helene is one of those colours that everybody needs to own, it's a classic blue based red, that goes with anything and that you can wear for any occasion, and whether your nails or long or short.

The brush was good, and because of the specially designed handle it was really easy to paint. The polish was very pigmented, and the coverage was excellent. It was also very self levelling, so I got no streaks, and it dried quickly. If you were in a rush you could probably get away with one coat but as per usual I went for two coats which as you can see produced a glossy, almost wet look finish. Although the shine did fade a little after a day or so, the wear time was still pretty good and of course you could always use a top coat to extend the wear and to bring back the gloss.

Nothing screams glamour more than a red nail polish, and this one takes the word glamour to another level. From the involvement of the lady herself, to the vintage style packaging and the formulation, this polish give you that chic movie star look, even if your wearing a pair of jeans rather than diamonds and an evening gown! This shade is perfect for the festive season but I think that any product from this line would make an ideal gift for anyone in your life be it your gran, or even for a friend that loves that vintage Hollywood look and style. Joan Collins Timeless Beauty Nail Lacquer in Helene retails at £13 for a 12ml bottle. The Joan Collins Timeless Beauty range is available from various retailers in the UK including QVCUK,  selected M&S stores and online, from Urban Retreat and from the Timeless Beauty website. Have you tried anything from the Joan Collins Timeless Beauty line? and are you a fan of red polish? Let me know your thoughts below x

*Sample

A Haul and A Big Thank You xx

I have to say I love you guys - the post I put up early this morning was a bit of a sad outpouring of grief, a bit non sensical but something I just needed to get off my chest. So many of you have left comments, and messaged me on twitter and facebook and I have to say a huge thank you to you all for your good wishes, I feeling a bit better now, we didn't go to the cemetery today the weather is a bit horrid so we are going to go next week, and instead I'm using the defrosted veg from the broken freezer to make a huge batch of curry x

Anyways onwards and upwards, forward not backwards as they say :) so I though I would cheer you and me up by showing you some pics and a video of a little haul I made on Thursday.


Me and my mum had been planning a little trip to the Metro Centre for a few weeks but some how it had never happened, I'd felt poorly, we waiting in for plumbers, the freezer defrosted itself, yeah you get the picture, but on Thursday afternoon we decided to make it happen. We checked out the huge new Primark store, the made over Superdrug, and of course Boots, my mum bought me a few things that shes put away for Christmas and being flat broke I bought nothing bar some Starbucks Mocha Praline Latte's which were on buy one get one free!!!!. My mum was kind enough to get me a few bits, I had a look at the make up in Superdrug and Boots but nothing really rocked my world - am I reaching saturation point again? hmm, anyways everything I picked up in Primark my mum is keeping for Christmas which I don't mind it wasn't anything I desperately needed now, so nail varnish it was - first up two I wanted from Boots`

Yes I got it Revlon Facets of Fuchsia, I heard a few people lately saying that they don't like this, but how could you not, I can't wait to give it a go :) I also got one of the 17 Magnetized Polishes, in Green, It looks like it's more of a teal shade actually, again I can't wait to try this, and I definitely want the blue one too (I may be getting similar colours from Nails Inc so that's why I don't want the rest ;)

We then went to check out the new revamped Superdrug store, I have to say I'm not sure yes the make up and perfume stands look great but it seems as though there shoving the rest of the products out, in the 10 minutes I was in the store I heard 3 people complaining that they could find things or why did they no longer stock something? we'll see I guess. All the cosmetics products were still on 3 for 2 but again their was nothing I wanted, so yup more nail varnish

I got an MUA polish in 24 a lovely dusky lilac, a Beauty UK polish in 54 Gun Metal, as you'd expect a lovely gun metal / pewter shade, and finally a 2True Crystal Nail Polish in Shade 1, a lovely glittery blue. If your interested in 2True check back in a week or so for a full post on the brand in my Budget Beauty Series.

Finally if you buy this months Glamour you can get a full sized Nails Inc nail polish, I can't remember the colours you can chose from at this moment in time but I know the only one I didn't have was Basil Street

A little lighter than Jermyn Street, it one of those perfect mannequin hands nudes, a real go to colour and an absolute bargains at just £2.

If you have any questions please ask, and thanks again for just being lovely xx

Pressies, Freebies and Goodies From A Fellow Blogger x

Despite my saying I wouldn't really be hauling, here is another what is in essence a haul post. It's a haul post with a difference I guess. First up the things that I paid for myself, and something your probably sick of seeing - yes the Benefit freebies from Glamour

I only picked up two copies and got the mini Posietint and Benetint. I already have half a full sized High Beam, and two mini ones from sets so there was no need to get one of those. I haven't actually tried Posietint or Benetint instead I have a couple of the high street dupes so it will be interesting to see how they compare.

Next a parcel from one of my fellow bloggers the lovely Charlotte - I'd already purchased something from her blogsale and yes I went back for more - I got a Harajuku Lovers Sunshine Cuties Fragrance and a Top Shop Lip Polish in Poetic for less than £6!!! - Definitely check her out if you haven't already xx

Poetic is gorgeous I don't know why I didn't buy it when it was released - it is gorgeous -a beautiful milky pink shade with a gorgeous vanilla taste and fragrance x
So that's me over my limit already for June eek I really need to be good from now on - HELP!!!!
LOL a tiny shred of salvation came this week from Momma Lou - yesterday we popped to IKEA to get some new storage for my bedroom and on our quest for a copy of Glamour we popped into the Asda Superstore. I love this Asda it is sooo much bigger than my nearest one, it's on two levels with a full George clothing and cosmetics section. I went to have a look at the cosmetics section and my lovely mummy treat me to a few bits. First up a couple of nail polishes - they are currently on special and are only £1 each - the colours I went for were 70 Shipwrecked - a gorgeous Aqua / Turquoise and 10 Indigo Dazzle - a gorgeous indigo blue with multi colour reflects

She also got me a lipstick  01 Natural Metallic which is a gorgeous shimmery mauve and was only £3.50

I will do some swatches of these in my upcoming George make up post as part of my Budget Beauty Series x If there are any brands that you would like to see featured in this series please leave me a comment or let me know x Any questions on anything else please leave me a comment xx Next up a product review xx

Glamour / Clinique Freebies - My Haul

Hi Guys - I'll start by saying your probably sick of these posts but you know me I love a magazine freebie :) This month sees the 10th Anniversary of UK Glamour, and to celebrate they have teamed up with Clinique to offer 10 different products as cover gifts.So far I have bought 5 magazine eek bad LouLou, so what freebies did I get, well first up two skincare products

A 30ml size of their famous Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, and a 30ml size of the 7 Day Scrub Cream. The DDM is something I have to say I've used before and I did quite like so I was happy to pick this one up, and the scrub is a new product for me and it's suitable for sensitive skin so I can't wait to give it a go.

The next thing I picked up is something which is actually already a bit of a staple for me the All About Eyes cream in a 5ml size. I first tried this about 3 years ago in the same trial size which I got as a GWP. I really liked the cream gel texture and I've subsequently gone on to purchase and use the full size (15ml) jar as one of my regular eye products

The next two bits I got were both make up items, they were technically free so I'm not counting them for project 10 pan ;) I got the High Impact Mascara in 01 Black which is 4g again this is something I've used before and I actually have a full sized black / brown one somewhere. It's a really decent mascara and I'm happy to have one. Lastly was the surprise item, to be honest in all the pictures I'd seen this didn't look promising but it was the Long Last Glosswear SPF15 2.3ml in the colour Air Kiss.

It's is such a pretty colour a slightly shimmery neutral pink - love it :)
I really fancy trying the Take The Day Off Make Up Remover but that is the only one my mum couldn't find, or at least she says she couldn't hmm I think she felt a bit daft buying 5 magazine lol, still some of my friends and family are going to get a free magazine and I have some new things to play with - result. Perfect for holidays or to try new products I think this is a great freebie to have especially since you have 10 items to choose from - did you pick up a copy of Glamour this month and if you did what freebie did you get ?

Magazine Freebies and A Rant :)

OK you've probably read a billion and one posts like this over the last few days but never mind I just want to make you all aware of some fabulous freebies with your UK magazine. As well as super bags in InStyle and Elle this month, you can also get a free Jemma Kidd lipgloss in Red magazine and these fabulous bits - that your probably sick of hearing about lol
Glamour magazine is giving away a free Benefit pencil in July's issue - you can chose from the "It Stick" concealer, "eye bright" eye brightener, and "Bad Gal" black eyeliner pencil - I of course got all 3 but it's not bad when you consider that each magazine is only £2 and the combined cost of the freebies is over £45 - bargain!
I also picked up another copy of Marie Claire - At the moment I am majorly hacked off - I subscribe to Marie Claire and yesterday my issue came but half the pages were ripped and unreadable:( and as per usual subscription issues don't come with free gifts! I have sent an email complaining but as yet I've had no response - come on Marie Claire IPC Media get your fingers out grrr. Anyway I ended up buying another copy to read and to get the free gift which is a free 100ml bottle of Cowshed bath and shower gel - there were several to choose from so I chose Knackered Cow - Relaxing - with lavender and eucalyptus - yum!
So lots of goodies out there for you UK readers this month - oh and if you get Cosmopolitan this month there is a free novel and inside there is a little twitter quote from me on the cosmo woman - I'm famous lol

Edited to add - I've had a response from Marie Claire - they are adding another issue to my subscription - better than nothing I suppose....

Some Budget Buys + One MAC Goodie

If you follow me on twitter I mentioned yesterday that I had bought a few bits to help cheer me up. First of all I used my £5 No 7 / Ruby & Millie voucher tp buy an automatic perfect lip pencil in 20 Nude which as a result only cost me £1.75 :)

I didn't desperately need it but ho hum - it will come in handy and it was the only thing I liked - my nearest Boots No7 counter was a disgrace half the testers were missing and there was hardly any stock - I liked a few lipsticks but surprise, surprise they didn't have any!
Anyways I also went to a shop I think I have mentioned before called The Factory Bargain Shop - they had a whole load of discount YSL make up in including some Rouge Voluptes but only in really dark or bright colours no good for me :(
What they did have though was a whole load of CK Calvin Klein cosmetics all at discount prices - I picked up a full delicious sheer plumping lipgloss in 205 Enchantment - a gorgeous milky pink with a little bit of a sparkle for only £5 - so pretty


I also bought a few magazines yesterday including this months Glamour which came with a free Nails Inc Nail Varnish - you have a choice of 4 I think and I chose Shoreditch a lovely pink shade which "I don't think I have" lol

This week also saw the launch of the new MAC holiday collection in the UK I didn't buy anything instead I gave my mum a list so she could choose herself what to buy me. Anyways understandably I was a bit down so my mum gave me something she had bought for me - MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo in Devil-May-Care

A gorgeous lilac colour which I absolutely love and quite a chunky silver glitter shade which unfortunately equals poor payoff and loads of fallout

Never mind it's still worth it for the gorgeous lilac which goes perfectly with China Glaze and Avalanche :)
Don't forget to check my monthly spends section in my sidebar - less than a week in and I am over half way down argh!!! less than £15 to go for the rest of the month...

I Heart My Mummy - Part 2

Some good news today my mum will hopefully be out of hospital tomorrow - her physio has been out to assess the house and will be providing us with some things, e.g. chair heighteners, bath boards and so on to prevent this happening again while her hip heels :)She has been warned though, she isn't to do anything!!! Anyways my mum asked me to do a bit of shopping before she comes out and she said if I wanted anything such as magazines, DVDs, etc. to keep me occupied or to cheer me up (she knows how stressed I have been) just to pay for them with money she left me for shopping. I couldn't no matter how much I wanted to let her buy DVDs for me (as much as I want to see Slumdog Millionaire) so I settled for a couple of magazine and used the rest to buy her a bouquet of flowers for when she comes out. I got this months GLAMOUR and Marie Claire both of which came with a fabulous free gift. Marie Claire came with a novel by Cecelia Ahern, author of the fabulous PS I Love You, and even more excitingly GLAMOUR came with a free half size (4g) Benefit Bad Girl Lash Black Mascara worth £9.50- hurrah.
I am a happy and relieved LouLou tonight :)