Hello Glitter Nails

I am obsessed with glittery nails, perfect for a NYE Party. I love glitter nail varnishes but can never be arsed with the 5 coats they take. Instead prefer using loose glitter. One coat of clear nail varnish and then dipped into a pot of glitter topped with Seche Vite. Though my flat and boyfriend are covered in glitter.

Hope everyone has a lovely New Years Eve, it will wonderful not working it. Bring on 2012

Zoey xox

Do Blemish Balms Work?

So BB Creams are everywhere! They are also olddd news. They all promise to be a foundation, tinted moisturiser and everything else inbetween in one tube. Amazing right? Well not really. The lighting in my flat is particularly bad at the minute (hello Manchester winter, dark by 4pm) so you can't see the orangeness on my skin but it is there. As always the light shade doesn't work for us with pale skin.

Now going to warn you now, nice photos of my skin! I have struggled with bad skin all my life, it is actually getting a little better but frequent changes in hormones is messing around with it again. But the easiest way to see if it works!
 

First up 17's take on the Blemish Balm, it is slightly thicker than Garnier's. Now this photo failed a little as I got the angle of the second photo wrong, but concentrate on scar from a nasty cigarette burn (thanks horrible man in a nightclub). It does calm the redness down, doesn't make your skin too greasy. Does it reveal flawless skin? No not really. My usual combination of Q10 Anti Wrinkle Serum (yes, I'm 23) and Botanics Pore Perfecting Day Cream works just as well. 

Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector offering is even more orange. It is useless on oily skin, as you can see my skin is more greasy than it was before (I owe Lush's Fresh Farmacy for a wonderful matte base for makeup) and doesn't really do anything. It does even out the skin a little bit, leaves a lovely moisturised base for foundation but that's nothing a good moisturiser doesn't do.


Just to prove I do have a nose and eyes here is my full made up face! I currently am in love with Angels on Bare Skin. If I don't use it for a day my skin misbehaves but another post on that soon!

So to recap? Are Western BB Creams an amazing product? No. I'll stick to my usual routine.

Zoey xox

Oh Christmas Tree

Oh Hi there. Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas. I had a quick two day visit home, now back in Manchester and back to work Thursday. Regular posting will eventually occur here, lots of cocktail recipes and make-up reviews lined up!

Zoey xox

SHOES SHOES SHOES

TopShop leather wedge boots / TopShop suede wedge shoes / Leather shoes / TopShop ankle strap heels / Platform shoes / TopShop high platform shoes / Bow shoes / TopShop leather wedge / High heel shoes / TopShop platform high heel pumps / Leather flat shoes / Studded shoes / Bow shoes / Suede shoes

Platform heels, £36 / Leopard print heels, £36 / Gretta platform heels, £36 / Julet Leopard Lace Up Platform Shoe Boots, £41 / Imi Suede Block Heel Ankle Boots, £27 / Fayy Platform Boots, £37 / Wesna Velvet Quilted Panel Boots, £41 / Ginette Cut Out Detail Platform, £30 / Kaela Platform Court Style Heels, £44 / Maurine Suede Look Platform Shoe Boots, £41 / Ravenah Shearling Cuff Ankle Boots, £36 / Jovana Super High Platform Shoes In Leopard £35 / Simone Platform High Heeled Shoe, £25

I'm still bed bound, so all I can do is look at pretty shoes. However pretty the Topshop shoes are in the first set, there is no way I can afford to spend £60+ on a pair of shoes. So I found myself on the MissGuided website and fell in love with the shoes. As you can see I love anything leopard print, anything with a massive heel and studs.

Zoey xox

Galaxy Nails

I am currently stuck in bed with the worst cough in the world, fortunatly it is my day off but dreading having to go to work tomorrow. Working in a call centre with a horrific cough is awful, poor customers are put on mute constantly so I can cough. But nails! I have always wanted to attempt galaxy nails, so when I was home alone saturday night with just X Factor and some wine squash I had a go. They are reasonably easy to do, used a corner of a sponge from the kitchen to sponge on the different colours.

Now must go watch some awful television, oh and tidy the flat like I promised.

Zoey xox

Photo Dump 14

- Won an amazing give-away from Sarah at Friday is Forever, the chocolates were amazing.

- Drunk cooking is something I should have left behind with my student days, alas no. Pasta eaten out of a jug and pizza eaten on a chopping board.

- Have at last joined the gym, my skin has gone completely mad since moving to Manchester so hoping some exercise and lots of water will help my body go back to normal! 

- Sidekick out of Champagne glasses? Why not.

- I need this car in my life, it is glorious. I keep typing "pink car" into ebay and come up with beauties such as this.

A camera is on the pay day wish list, a £50 job from Asda however. Although it is very much a wish list as Christmas shopping must commence. 

Zoey xx

Leopard Print Tips

£1 Primark Nails / Amazing Ring from Forever c/o giveaway on Friday is Forever / Models Own Gold Rush and Wah Nail Art Pen to paint on Leopard Tips!

Not having to open bottles, carry boxes or push huge cages of alcohol mean I can have false nails on.. all the time. Keep meaning to go to the Arndale and have proper Acrylics but no money, hence the £1 Primark nail. The are however very flimsy, I snapped one off just adjusting the volume on my laptop. 

But, the gold leopard tips are gloriously tacky.. Perfect.

Zoey xox

Matalan Love

 Boots, £25

Hair Band, £2.50

Belted Shirt Dress, £16

 

Pussybow Dress Burgundy Print, £16
Handbag, £10
Lace Up Brogue In Tan, £14
Textured Hoops in Gold, £3

Sequin Swing Dress, £25
Sandals, £20
Hair accessory, £7

My flat is right behind Matalan, which means I can't resist just popping in for a look. I'm currently on a strict budget so no buying, but still love to look much to the confusion of my boyfriend. The first two outfits are perfect for work, I love that my work dress code means I can just wear what I usually would. Nice dresses, tights and a cardigan are all fine. I was scared that it was going to be business business, i.e horrible black trousers and a shirt. 

Currently trying to keep on top of bills and get into a routine. Sitting in my freezing cold flat I haven't mastered the heating in the living room but could no longer sit in bed!

Zoey xox

Photo Dump 13

- I have at last finished training and have now started my job for real. Hello 12-8pm shifts and every wednesday off. I have joined the gym with a friend in order to try and do something more than get home from work, clean, tidy, watch crap on tv then go to bed.

- Meet Bumblebean, we decided to get a little pet to keep us company. He's only little and not very tame but is very cute.

- The second bedroom has turned into my walk in mess. I really need to have a massive makeup and clothes sort out, it is now out of control. Now I'm not leaving the house at 8.30am every morning I have more time to actually put the 10 dresses I try on every morning back in the wardrobe.

- Manchester is cold and it is only going to get worse. Spotted these cute gloves in Tesco for £5 and had to buy them. Sporting the Boots 17 Magnetize nail varnish here, I have since lost the magnet. It must be somewhere, I'm just not sure where.

- I also went to see Claire last weekend as she was in Manchester. Need to pay a trip over the Irish Sea soon and go see her lovely face. The photo has been shamelessly stolen from Claire's facebook, she does after all have a much better camera than my phone.

Love Bad Passion

I needed a cheering up purchase a few weeks ago before I moved to Manchester and this wonderful Skull Bracelet from "Bad Passion" was perfect. Bad Passion is a relatively new jewellery company from the same lovely lady as "This Charming Girl". Lovely packaging, quick delivery and things that you are not going to find in Topshop or Primark. I need this Eagle Claw necklace in my life!


Zoey xox

Photo Dump 12

Nails Nails Nails!

1. Models Own Sophie's Pink and Nail Art Pen

2. Collection of Halloween nails, I took these while drunk and most of them fell of during the night as I also applied them drunk hence no good photographs! But they were fun for the night.

3. Leopard Nails! Following the steps from my tutorial on Scarlet Pout!

4. Models Own Misty Grey with Miss Sporty Sparkle Touch over the top.

5. Rimmel's Disco Ball is identical to the Miss Sporty one but Miss Sporty's version is  £1 cheaper. I have bought a few Miss Sporty nail varnishes now and am very impressed. The black in the Halloween nails is Miss Sporty, two coats and it was perfectly opaque!

We now have internet in the flat! Still searching for my camera battery but looks like I will just have to buy a new one!

Zoey xox

Photo Dump 11

Yes Instagram and the like are over but I have a brand new phone (Samsung Galaxy, it is amazing and my new baby.) so having fun playing with new apps!

1. Boyfriends CDs have taken over the flat, living in the kitchen until we can afford a CD Rack! 2. Spending the evening alone equals creating wonderful Halloween nails. 3. Our view is the whole of Manchester, with an industrial estate / Manchester Fort Retail Park inbetween. 4. New phone equals new case and I got this hipster number from ebay

- So I officially now live in Manchester! Moved into our flat a week ago and love it. I have 5 weeks of training at work which is okay but so much to learn. I will soon be an expert on insurance! A world away from being a retail supervisor / bar supervisor I tell you! Making raspberry lynchburgs was much easier! The flat is perfect for the two of us. We have two bedrooms but the spare bedroom has no bed and has actually turned into my walk in wardrobe. Clothes and shoes every where. When I get paid I will tackle that room but not for now! 

- We will have internet in a week, so hopefully some blogging will occur then! I am almost at 150 followers which is huge in my world! Ha. 

Zoey xox

LEOPARD!

I love leopard print, addicted to it utterly and completely. So love when it comes around in trends so it is everywhere in shops!

Topshop "Swagger" Heels / Next Platform Wedges / Next Animal Print Jacket / Red Herring Faux Fur Collar Coat

Went shopping for work / smart clothes last week and just fell in love with so many things. The Topshop Heels are just my favourite shoe, animal print, high and a platform. Will be searching the high street for a more affordable version. I love New Look heels as they fit so well!

 

Amii asked for some wonderful guest bloggers to blog about things we love in Autumn, of course I picked Leopard Print and did a mini nail art tutorial with wonderful matching eye make-up to match. So pop over to Scarlet Pout. (I am scheduling this post and so is Amii so this could go terribly wrong!) see.

Zoey xox

Make-up 2: Lips

(L-R) MAC St Germain / 17 Dusky Pink / MAC Lustering / Models Own Deep Fushia /
Dainty Doll 003 / Natural Collection Cherry Red / No7 Stay Perfect 55

Top to Bottom - 1st Column: Models Own Deep Fushia /MAC Lustering / 17 Dusky Pink / MAC St Germain

2nd Coloumn: No7 Stay Perfect 55 / Natural Collection Cherry Red / Dainty Doll 003

Barry M Bubblegum / Bourjois Effet 3D Brun Poetic /  Avon Plump Pout / ELF Matte Lip Color Tea Rose

Oh if I showed my whole lipstick / lip gloss collection again we would be here forever. These posts however are making me condense my make-up down. I am actually throwing old make-up away! 

My favourites are first Dainty Doll's 003 Lipstick. The range is obviously suited to pale skin lovelies like Nicola Roberts, oh and me. It is such a lovely colour against my skin and is a wonderful lasting lipstick. Models Own Deep Fushia is a new one, I bought on the recommendation of Claire and Hollie and love the colour. The two MAC Lipsticks are no brainers. I really need to increase my MAC collection however I am now POOR. Actually beyond poor. Lastly Elf's Matte Lip Color goes on wonderfully and is cheap. 

Zoey xox

Make-up 1: Blusher

   

ELF Studio Blush Candid Coral - Elf Natural Radiance Blush Glow - Revlon Powder Blush Tawny Peach

Models Own Cheeky Pink - 17 Blush Powder First Flush - Elf Natural Radiance Blush Flushed - MUA Blush Shade 1

Benetint / Posietint from Benefit (free samples from Glamour) - George Cheek and Lip Tint - Max Factor Creamy Blush

Candid Coral / Tawny Peach / Glow / Shade 1 / Flushed / First Flush / Cheeky Pink / Benetint / Posietint / George / Soft Pink

So blusher. I have actually only started wearing blusher in the past two years, I suffer from slight redness to my skin so was all about covering my face in a perfect pale base and didn't think to add blush. Oh how I was wrong. It can completely change the look of your face, from making your cheekbones stand out to dragging your hungover face from half death to looking half decent. This post would be about 5000 words long if I reviewed everyone in my arsenal so have picked my top 3.

ELF Natural Radiance Blusher in Glow - ELF is cheap, even though they are no longer running any 50% off promotions it is still very cheap. This costs £1.50, the packaging is awful. When I have falsies on I can't even open it. Product goes every where but we will ignore these facts. It is highly pigmented, just look at the 3rd swatch along! Gives a lovely glow on even my white as paper skin.

Boots 17 Blush Powder First Flush - I love 17 products and this blush is no exception. I love the colour, it isn't as highlighter pink as it looks in the pot. It blends nicely, I dropped it upside down on the pavement hence mine being slightly chipped. However every 17 blush I have owned has also smashed like this so don't  know if it is a design flaw!

Posietint from Benefit - If you have used Benefit's Benetint this is a little thicker in consistency. It is a wonderful pink colour that suits my complexion. You have to work quick as it will stain your skin (it is a cheek and lip stain after all!) instead of leaving lovely rosy cheeks. It also works well on lips, in fact I always have a pot in my bag. I collected a few from Glamour!

Zoey xox