Nails Of The Day - OPI Never Have Too Mani Friends

Isn't it always the way? the minute your nails start to grow, one snaps, so you need to file them all down and start again. That's what happened to me last week, so annoying but I thought I'd take advantage of my little short nails and paint them in gorgeous dark colour.

I don't know why but I love the look of dark polishes like this one on short nails. Obviously from the OPI Hello Kitty collection, Never Have Too Mani Friends, is a deep glossy black, if you want a goth, metal look then this is perfect, but for me a black, glossy nail can be quite sophisticated.

Like most OPI polishes, this one applies perfectly, the wide brush covers the nails in just one or two stripes, and this particular shade was pretty much perfect after one coat, but as per usual I've gone with two.

What impressed me most about this colour, was the glossy finish. It has super, shiny almost wet look finish, without the use of a top coat. Black nails aren't for everyone but I love the look and it also makes a perfect base for nail art or general nail play ;) x Are you a fan of black nail polishes? I'd love to hear your thoughts x

Benecos Nail Care Pen - A Review For My Pure*

I don't know about where you are today but it definitely doesn't feel like spring. Although the snow we've had didn't lie, it's damp, grey and freezing outside. I know I seem to be talking about the weather a lot lately - typical Brit I know, but the weather has such a huge influence, on our skin, our hair and our mood.

For as long as I can remember I've suffered from dry hands and nails. I use hand cream as though it's going out of fashion, and ever since I started wearing nail polish, I've used either a cuticle oil or a cuticle cream. If your cuticles are dry and ragged, and if you have hangnails then there isn't really a lot of point in wearing a pretty nail polish, after all there is no point in hanging an expensive painting in a rubbish frame.

Hand creams help, but if you want healthy cuticles and nails then you need to use an oil or a product specifically for the skin around your nails. I've tried a lot of cuticle oils, balms and creams over the years and at last I've found something that I love but like a lot of cuticle oils it comes in a glass bottle. Glass bottles are fine for home use but when you're on the go they really aren't that practical, and like hand creams, cuticle products should really be applied every time you wash your hands. Thankfully though there are few products on the market now that come in more travel friendly packaging, including a new product that I picked up from My Pure.

German brand Benecos is one of the newest brands in the My Pure stable and it's by far one of the most affordable. They produce a huge range of products ranging from skin, body and haircare items, to natural make up products and nail polish. They are certified by BDIH which is a German certification awarded to companies whose products contain natural ingredients and no nasties. Bencecos' philosophy is to produce affordable natural products, that aren't tested on animals, with beneficial ingredient that are organically grown wherever possible.

There are so many products that I want to try from the brand but given the state of my cuticles at the moment I decided to try out the Benecos Natural Nail Care Pen. The ingredients list reads like a who's, who of natural moisturisers and includes jojoba, coconut and sweet almond oils, shea butter, beeswax, and candelilla wax, and it also contains soothing chamomile extract.

Packaged in a pen style applicator, all you do is remove the cap and your great with a brush tip, simply twist the top of the pen a few times to prime it and then slowly the product will start to dispense.

Perfect for when you're on the go, this isn't a runny oil by any means and if anything it actually comes it looking more like a yellow toned, waxy balm.

Give it a couple of seconds though and it melts down to a fine oil, which you just massage into your nails and cuticles to give them both a moisture boost and to help stimulate nail grown.

It sounds strange to say it but this isn't the oiliest of oils, it isn't too thick or too heavy, and after a small amount of massage, it sinks in leaving the cuticles and nails looking healthier in a matter of moments. Oh and I've also used it on my toes too, my toe nails are dry and vile, and a bit of this oil really has made a difference to their appearance, even if it's just in the short term.

Despite all the rich oils and butters this product doesn't have too much of a scent but it doesn't really matter, it does exactly what it's supposed to, and it's both handbag and holiday friendly. It isn't the most exciting of products but it works and that's the main thing, and unlike some high street alternatives it's sensibly priced. The Benecos Natural Nail Care Pen 2ml retails at £6.95 from My Pure. Are you a cuticle oil fan? Let me know x

*Sample

Trimming My Stash - February 2016 Edition - Empties And Mini Reviews

Hey everyone x Welcome to the first day of spring and guess what a weather warning is in place for the North East for ice and snow! Well lets hope the old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb is true and that warmer weather is on it's way.

Even with the extra day thanks to leap year February is still the shortest month and it's another one that I'm pleased to see the back of. From today though I'm going to try and think more positively and try to look forwards and focus on the good things in my life rather than the bad bits. Before I do that the I'm going to take a quick look back at February's beauty empties.

Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish - 30ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes
The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser - 200ml
The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel - 60ml
The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter - 50ml
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - 400ml
Cien Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 200ml
Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes
Total - 8 Items 

It's only the 1st March and we've already got a positive, I managed to finish 8 items in February which is one more than I did in January. I didn't manage to finish any make up items but I managed to finish quite a few body care and skincare items, including a few things that had been lingering on, so all is good.

1. Evolve Tropical Blossom Body Polish - 30ml

When I was choosing products for my My Pure reviews why oh why didn't I chose the larger size of this scrub, I love it and I'm really sad that I've used it up. I love sugar scrubs at the best of times but the scent of this one took it up to the next level. A lovely combination of natural oils, and sugar with the most beautiful tropical floral scent. If you love monoi oil or  the fragrance of  the Elemis Tahitian Tiare line, or if you fancy been mentally transported to a tropical island, then you need this product in your life. You can read a full review here x

2, Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes

You're probably sick of seeing these in my empties posts but I seem to go through packets and packets of these. Last month I mainly used them for quick and easy swatch clean up, and the fact that I used two packets should perhaps show you how many make up posts I have coming up so if you love make up reviews you're in the right place!

3. The Body Shop Vitamin E Cream Cleanser - 200ml

This was something that I received in a goodie bag when I attended an event at The Body Shop way back in 2014. You can read more about this product and the event here but this product is a real classic. This creamy textured cleanser has a lovely rose scent, it removes make up and dirt with ease and it leaves the skin feeling silky soft. I've really enjoyed using it and whilst I wouldn't repurchase at the moment, it's something that I would consider using again.

4.The Body Shop Glazed Apple Shower Gel - 60ml

5.. The Body Shop Glazed Apple Body Butter - 50ml

It's 3 in a row from The Body Shop, and their Glazed Apple fragrance is something that I've fell in love with over the last few months. Whilst not traditionally apple scented, this a sweet, sugary, mouthwatering, fruity scent that I've really grown to love, so much so in fact that I may have even licked my own arm! Don't try this at home folks eating body butter isn't good and unfortunately it didn't taste as nice as it smelled. These were just mini sizes, and thankfully I have a few full sizes to use up. If anyone from The Body Shop is listening please bring this back next Christmas - pretty please!


6. Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - 400ml

I've talked quite a bit on the blog about micellar water's and of the ones that I've tried so far, this was is by far my favourite. It removes make up with absolutely no effort and it's really economical - you get a lot of product and it isn't expensive. Would I buy it again? I already have x -

7. Cien Nail Polish Remover Acetone Free - 200ml

This acetone free nail polish remover is from Lidl's own brand Cien. I love the dispenser and it works without drying the nail but I just can't stand the marzipan, almond scent it leaves on the nails, so unfortunately I won't repurchase. I will however reuse the pump action bottle with my favourite Superdrug remover.

8. Primark PS Love Your Skin Oil Balancing Facial Cleansing Wipes For Combination Skin - 25 Wipes

Blah, blah' blah - what else can I say about these - they're  cheap and they have tea tree in them.

So they were my February empties, here's hoping I can keep up the good work and finish even more beauty products in March and maybe even a make up item or two x Thanks for reading and if you have any questions please leave me a comment xx

Benefit Do The Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit For Complexion, Lips And Eyes

Although a date doesn't really mean anything, tomorrow marks the official start of Spring, and I for one can't wait. I know it hasn't been the coldest of winters, but it's been damp, dreary and windy and I'm seriously craving a bit of sunshine. If you're a Brit though, for most us the warmth and sunshine is still long way off but there is a way to make yourself look a bit more sun kissed even if you don't necessarily feel it.

Like most pale and pasty peeps out there, in winter time my skin alternates been bright pink, grey, white and blue! At this time of year more than any other people always seem to think that I look ill, and do you know what I probably do, so I do what most of us do and I reach for my make up bag. Many moons ago I was terrified of bronzer - yes it gives you that instant glow but on most of us ghost like people, it just looks wrong, it's either too brown, too orange or just too dark. I found a few that I vaguely got  on with but then I discovered Benefit Hoola and I finally realised just what a difference bronzer could make.

As well as having the full sized boxed powder version of Hoola, I also own a couple of minis that I've got in various Benefit kits. I think I may have mentioned it once or twice ;) but I'm a huge fan of Benefit's mini kits and one of their newest releases is Do The Hoola.

Benefit Do The Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit For Complexion, Lips And Eyes, is another one of their kits that's boxed to look just like a little book.

Open the box and inside you have a small, cardboard book shaped box with a magnetic clasp, that contains everything you'd want to give yourself that healthy bronze glow.

Containing a full size fixed mirror, and  a fold out leaflet with full instructions and application tricks, this kit contains removable, mini sizes of some of Benefits best selling products, and something new, and just a little bit exciting.

The kit contains 2 lip products, 1.4g size of Benebalm, and a 6.5ml size of Hoola Ultra Plush Lip Gloss. It also contains a 3g size of the Hoola Bronzing Powder, and a mini powder brush, as well as a 3g size of They're Real Mascara in Black and a 7ml size of the brand new, and yet to be released in the UK, Dew The Hoola Liquid Bronzer.

Hoola Bronzing Powder - 3g And Mini Powder Brush

I've already talked about Hoola in a previous post ( read it here) but for me it's obvious why it's one of the most popular bronzers in the UK. When you look at what's wrong with bronzers, two of  the things that people normally say is that they are either too orange looking, or they don't look natural. Hoola is a matte bronzing powder that contains no orange, so you get a natural looking colour, with out looking orange or sparkly or as though you're actually wearing a bronzer.

I normally just sweep it over my face in the 3 and E motion to give me face a little bit of shape but in the summer, I play it up a bit more and sweep it over my nose, my forehead and anywhere where the sun would naturally hit my skin. This powder though is perfect for tanning those bits that you may have missed so you can also use it to create a fake tan look, as I've done below or you can also use it to fill in strap marks :)

This is a pretty pigmented powder , so you need a light hand particularly if you're pale like me, apply a small amount, blend well and reapply as needed, to build up the colour that you want.

Dew The Hoola Matte Liquid Bronzer - 7ml

I don't think powder bronzer will ever go out of fashion, but times change and lately there has been a surge of both cream and liquid bronzers, and this kit contains Benefit's version Dew The Hoola. Not launched in the UK in the full size, until the end of this month, this was the product that really sold this kit to me.

I love my powder Hoola but sometimes you just want the moisture and glow, that a liquid or a powder brings. Although Dew The Hoola is a matte liquid bronzer, it seems to give the skin, a healthy glow, and a freshness that it's powder cousin doesn't.

I must admit it looks terrifying when you first pump it out, and whilst it does seem to have a touch of a orange, yellow tone to it, please give it a chance. It has quite a creamy feel, and a heady floral scent, but it blends into the skin like a dream. I really like Soliel Tan De Chanel Bronzing Make Up Base but sometimes on me it just needs more blending then I have the energy for, whilst Dew The Hoola does need to be blended into the skin to avoid any harsh, demarcation lines, it takes no effort and boy does it put the colour where it isn't.

I've blended out quite a lot of it here, but a little goes a long way, apply a little bit with your fingers and blend it out into the cheeks, or on the forehead and nose, and your left with a healthy glow, with no glitter or shimmer. In the pictures towards the end of this post I've used it over a tinted moisturiser and a touch of powder but you can use this product equally well on bare skin, especially I would imagine if you have a darker skin tone.

 Ultra Plush Lip Gloss - Hoola - 6.5ml

This is something else that I've already talked about on the blog, in my review of the Benefit The Bronze Of Champions Total Bronze Kit but I like so I'm more than happy to talk about it again.

Although it looks quite dark and bronze toned in the swatch below, this is a proper nude lipgloss, that's non sticky, and tastes lovely and fruity. I've fallen out of love with lipglosses over the years, but I'm a huge fan of this formulation and taste.

Benebalm Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm 

I only own one of these tinted balms from Benefit and while it was nice it wasn't amazing but after trying this one I think I just went for the wrong colour.

Benebalm is the coordinating lip balm to one of Benefit's first ever products Benetint. It has the same rose scent and taste and it gives the lips a hint of the rose colour that you see on the left in the picture above. The pigmentation is a little bit better on this one so as well as giving your lips some moisture and a bit of gloss, you're also giving them that my lips but better colour.

They're Real Mascara - Black - 3g

The final item in the kit is a mini size of the UK's best selling mascara, They're Real. I'm not going to say too much about it here as I've got a full review coming soon but this kit gives you a chance to either try it out or to get a mini one for your on the go make up bag.

I don't think you can really judge a make up item till you try it out on your face so I've done different looks with this kit to give you an idea of what you can achieve. They aren't the best photographs I've ever taken by any means, my facial palsy was playing up, and believe it or not it was just way too sunny and my face looks washed out ! As bloggers we spend half the year complaining about bad light and the other half complaining that it's too sunny and it's creating too many shadows - you really can't win lol

For this first look I've gone all out and created a tanned face, courtesy of the Hoola Powder Bronzer. I've used it over the top of my base of foundation, and powder to give a matte tanned look, I've even used on the eyes and I've also going with a heavier more defined brow, lots of They're Real and Hoola gloss on the lips. You can see another look I've created with Hoola Bronzing Powder and several other Benefit products in different lighting here x

Here I've gone for a fresher glowy look, I've used Dew The Hoola over a tinted moisturiser and just a touch of powder, no shadow, a lighter brow, one coat of They're Real, and Benebalm for a rosy tint to my lips.

Not perfect I know but hopefully these pics give you a bit more of an idea. Yes this kit will be ideal for holidays and for the summer months, but with careful application there is no reason why you can't wear it at this time of year to warm up your face and make you look a bit healthier.

These kits are idea for trying out new looks and new products and now that you can remove the individual items they're great for your travel or holiday make up bag, or even for when your on the go and you need a quick touch up. I've had a little look round and this kit doesn't seem to be that easy to get hold of but you can currently buy the Benefit Do The Hoola Beyond Bronze Kit For Complexion, Lips And Eyes online from both Boots and John Lewis, and the Benefit website for £28.50.

If it's just Dew The Hoola that you're interested in, then you haven't got too long to wait, the full 30ml size officially goes on sale in the UK on the 26th March but I think it's available on Benefit Cosmetics UK from the 12th March. As well as Dew The Hoola though there are also lots of other goodies coming out from Benefit next month including the full size of Dandelion Shy Beam. Dandelion Dew Liquid Blush and a Hoola Body Bronzer, so if you're a Benefit junkie like me you better start saving x Are you a fan of Benefit Cosmetics? Let me know your favourite product x

Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water - A Review For My Pure*

At the moment we're slap bang in the middle of all of the fashion weeks, we've already had New York, and London, this week it's Milan and then finally Paris. As well as clothes and accessories, the various fashion weeks also showcase some of the key beauty and hair trends for the upcoming seasons, I love seeing the clothes and the bags but I also love seeing sneaky peeks of new make up and beauty products and new beauty trends.

Like a lot of people I've been surfing the net, and checking out magazine and blogs for behind the scenes pics from some of my favourite designers catwalk shows, and I have one word manic! The preparation that must go into the shows, and  the stress backstage is something that looks way beyond me, everything needs to be done quickly and perfectly and that includes the skincare and the make up.

There is no time for a full cleanse in between outfit changes or shows, so a lot of make up artists tend to use the quick fire option. In the old days a lot of artists used to use baby wipes and I'm sure that many still do but something that you now see backstage at a lot of shows and shoots is micellar water.

Whilst I still buy wipes for swatch clean ups and emergencies I've really grown to love the convenience, speed, and skincare benefits of micellar water, and I for one am grateful that it's something that's now available to all and at all price points. I've tried quite a few micellar and cleansing waters now, and whilst I've found a couple that I love I'm always looking to try new ones just in case I find something better. I've tried a couple of micellar waters from My Pure now, but recently a new one popped up on the site so I decided to give it a go.

Back in November I tried my first product from Australian, brand Sukin, and I was impressed not only by the product but also by the fact that they are a ethically run family business that are committed to producing high quality, affordable and effective beauty products using only the finest botanical extracts, essential and natural ingredients. Their range encompasses a variety of hair, body and skincare items and I was delighted to see that they produced a micellar water.

The Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water is suitable for all skin types and is designed not only to gently cleanse the skin, removing make up and impurities but it also contains a variety of ingredients to help soothe and soften the skin including chamomile, cucumber and aloe vera.

The cleansing water comes packaged in a quite, utilitarian plastic bottle with an easy to use flip top cap. It might not be the most attractive bottle ever but it's certainly practical, with the dark plastic protecting all of the natural extracts inside.

Although it looks quite blue is this picture it's actually just a clear liquid, that looks and feels a little bit like water, but strangely it has more of a moisturising feel than water on the skin.

Micellar waters are simple to use and this is no exception, just pour some out onto a cotton pad, and gently wipe it over the face to either freshen and cleanser the skin or to remove make up. I've been using this are my morning cleanser for the past few weeks but I've also used it to remove both a light, and a heavy make up

Before

You can't get a fuller make up than what I'm wearing here, not the best pictures I'm afraid thanks to a strange thing called sunlight, but I'm wearing a full base - foundation, concealer and powder, powder bronzer to create a tanned look on the face and eyes, a heavy brow product, lip gloss,and a mascara that's supposedly so difficult to get off that the brand actually sells a specific remover. A pretty big test I'm sure you'll agree but how did this micellar water perform?

After

Arghhhh scary no make up face but as you can see this ordinary looking bottle of clear liquid did the job and it did it well. It took just four large double sided cotton pads, and a gentle sweeping motion to remove all of my face make up, and my eye and brow make up. I held the pads on the eyes for a few seconds to loosen the mascara and then with just a few gentle wipes, the mascara just melted away, with no eye bogeys left over if you what I mean. 

The product felt pleasant and cooling on the skin, and it had a pleasant fresh, vanilla scent, thanks to the inclusion of vanilla in the ingredients listing. My skin looks a touch pink in these photos but that is completely normal for me and nothing to do with the product which does feel gentle and non drying on the skin. The skin was also feeling super soft and above all clean and fresh. The only issue I had was a bit of tingling when I used too much of the  product on my eyes, my eyes can be quite sensitive so this unfortunately is a pretty regular occurrence for me.

Whilst I'm not sure whether I would purchase this product again for that reason, I would thoroughly recommend it if you want to remove a heavy make up and long wear mascara quickly and easily and if you prefer to use ethically sourced, natural products. The Sukin Micellar Cleansing Water comes in a 250ml bottle and retails at £9.99 from My Pure. Are you a fan of micellar waters? Let me know x