The Lone Glitter Nail

I cannot recall when this tradition first began. But, it is one that I often find myself going back to. The lone glitter nail is a subtle alternative to a full hand of glitter nails. It is the easiest nail art for lazy girls. There’s just something about it that makes me ooo and ah at my glitter finger. I reserve the lone glitter nail for special occasions or those days when I need to add a little sparkle to my day.

Have you ever rocked the lone glitter nail?

My Lip Saviours

This weather isn't doing my skin any favours and in particular it’s my lips that have been suffering the most. They’re always the first to fall and show the tell tale signs of neglect. The combination of indoor heating and chilly outdoor conditions is causing them to dry at an alarming rate. It’s at moments like this that I look for the saviours in my stash, those products that will help to restore them to near perfect condition.

Lush Mint Julips

I discovered Mint Julips last year whilst out shopping with my friend Francesca. We were both curious and picked up a pot each and we’ve never looked back since. I am now on my second pot of the scrub.

Lush’s Mint Julips is infused with jojoba oil meaning that after you've scrubbed away at any dry, flaky patches, you’re left with a little moisture and a perfect base for any other products to adhere to.

At £5.50 this little pot does seem a bit overpriced, but a little goes a long way. I recommend picking this up from Lush if like me, you don’t have the patience to make your own lip scrub.

Blistex

As it suggest on the tube, this offering from Blistex is a moisturiser for the lips. And unlike regular lip balms the Intensive Moisturiser doesn't just coat the lips, it deals with the problem. Cracked lips are a thing of the past and it helps to restore the lips to perfection. After use my lips are left looking plumper and feeling softer. 

I recommend trying this if you’ve tried and tested all the lip offerings in the drugstore, yet your lips are still left lacking moisture. You can pick up the Blistex Intensive Moisturiser from Boots for £2.63.

Matte Nails

Matte Nails at Alexander Wang

Image via Glamour

This year matte nails seem to have graced many runways including Badgley Mischka and Alexander Wang during New York Fashion Week Fall 2013. The matte finish on these nails makes talons look super sophisticated. And going matte would certainly be an alternative to the common glossy finishes. However, it seemed impractical for me to go out and purchase several matte nail polishes and I came to the conclusion that it would only be appropriate for me to go matte in the colder months.

I soon found a solution to my problem and I browsed through my varnish collection for a matte top coat. Using a matte top coat meant that I could wear whatever colour of polish I desired. The top coat in question is one that I picked up last year from Rimmel.

However, a word of warning, matte nails don’t last long. So if you don’t mind painting your nails a little more frequently give a matte top coat a go for an instant beauty update. And if you get bored of the matte finish you can always paint over your nails with you usual top coat.

Unfortunately I've searched high and low for Rimmel’s Pro Matte Finish Top Coat and I'm unable to find it anywhere. However, Bourjois are offering up their own version. You can pick up Bourjois So Matt Top Coat in Boots for £5.99. 

Have you gone matte?

Christmas Reading

Christmas means sleeping in, spending countless hours cooking, five minutes eating and sitting on the sofa glued to the TV. But, this year I plan to break this tradition. I will be spending my down time flicking through the pages of a few of the titles that are on my ‘to read’ list.

The Devil Wears Prada

Is it right to assume that we have all seen the film? And that we all dream of being Andrea and acquiring a hoard of designer wear from work. I will be picking up The Devil Wears Prada before I go to sleep, to help me forget all my woes.

Paris StreetStyle: A Guide to Effortless Chic

Those Parisian girls know how to dress chic, by keeping outfits minimal. The minimalism results in a polished and sophisticated look. I will be reading this book in hopes that I might learn how to nail that less is more look from the most stylish women in the world.

The WAH Nails Book of Nail Art

When it comes to nails I’m lazy and I rarely experiment. For me, nail art is supporting a glitter nail. But, apart from the odd bit of glitter I’ve never dabbled in nail art as it seems complicated. I am no artist and the fact that there’s such a small canvas to plot your masterpieces on makes me a little. So, let’s see if I can calm my nerves and at least create one design.

An Ode to Matte Lips

My makeup look is incomplete without a slick of colour upon my lips. It pulls everything together and offers a polished look. I often find myself using lip products to easily update my look from day to night. For me, lips are the key ingredient in my makeup routine and this year it seems that beauty trends have focused on framing the lips.

A go to trend has been a matte lip, which seems to have graced many catwalks this year. So, why choose matte over other formulas? Well matte lipsticks are highly pigmented and last longer in comparison to other formulas. They are universal and suit any skin tone. Whether you are fair or darker in complexion a bold matte lip is an elegant way to add a kick to your makeup. For an added bonus matte shades can be worn day to night so there’s no need to change your lipstick!

Even so be warned, your lips may need a little extra preparation. They need to be in near perfect condition in order to take full advantage of the beautiful finish matte lipsticks have to offer. The formulas of these lipsticks sit dry on the lips, thus every imperfection tends to show. So buff away because flaky lips will always fail to be hot.

And if bright shades don't appeal to you then you may be tempted by red or berry shades?  Berry shades are perfect for the colder months and reds will always be fashionable in any season.

Are you tempted to go matte?

Golden Eyes

This festive season I will being adding sparkle to my eyes for those never ending evening soirees. In order to achieve an effortless golden, glittery eye I will be using the L’Oreal Color Infaillible in 021 Sahara Treasure which is a finely milled powder that offers a foil like finish. It's not the easiest to work with, but it offers the sparkle that I wish to achieve. The texture of this eye shadow is unlike any I've tried before. L'oreal describes it as a hybrid, a powder shadow that feels creamy. 

This shadow is highly pigmented and can be worn over other shadows in order to add a touch of sparkle, or it can be built up to provide an opaque finish. I'm not one to shy away from glitter eye shadows, but during Christmas it's always a necessity to add a little twinkle to my makeup.

I will be pairing my glittery eye with a black winged feline flick and lashings of mascara. And to take the look to new heights I may just wear a bold matte lip and some false eyelashes.

Party perfect eyes... what do you think?

Last Minute Beauty Shopping in London

As Christmas draws closer it’s time to panic and rush around to find all those last minute presents which we all forget to buy. So, I thought I’d compose a list of places I’ll be heading to for some last minute Christmas shopping.

Selfridges

The king of all beauty halls, Selfridges, is a particularly chaotic in the period leading up to Christmas, but it offers its customers many exclusive items.

In September, artist to the stars, Charlotte Tilbury launched her beauty range exclusive to Selfridges. With many of her products on my wish list, it’s definitely worth heading in store to swatch them. It’s very rare to come across a range of makeup that never disappoints.

If makeup is not what you’re looking for, then maybe a set of nail polish will tempt you? New into Selfridges is NAILS INC Message in a Manicure nail polish set for £45 which includes 18 mini polishes. The set is a bargain as it can often be a challenge to finish a full bottle of polish.

Space NK

Space NK is my Pandora’s Box and whenever I step into the store, I’m unable to leave empty handed. It contains a selection of the best beauty products in the world, and the friendliest staff that help to make your shopping trip as pleasant as they can.  At Space NK you will find rare gems such as By Terry, Chantecaille and Lipstick Queen, as well as a selection of limited edition Christmas gifts. When in doubt, head to Space NK.

John Lewis

The famous brush makers Japonesque have recently released a makeup collection into John Lewis. The makeup is highly pigmented and is all under £25. Quality and price aside, it’s packaging that truly makes a statement with no two items packaged alike, this would be a unique gift to give. I have my eyes on the Velvet Touch Eye Shadow Palette in Shade 2.

Benefit

I often pick up a Benefit set or two for my friend’s birthdays throughout the year, and the Benefit team have added many more selection boxes to their shelves just for the festive period. I have had their little love potions set on my Christmas wish list as it contains a few minis of products I have wanted to try. Please Santa, please can I have it?

MUJI

For some easy organisation I would suggest visiting MUJI in order to buy one of their many acrylic boxes. Any of these boxes would make a great gift for any beauty babes who have way too much makeup to keep track of. The clear packaging means that the makeup is easier to find and it looks appetising housed on any dressing table.

Where will you be heading to for those last minute beauty buys?

Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Portable Palette in Natural Nudes

When I stepped into Space NK, my dreams had come true and I was fortunate to stumble upon the Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Palette in Natural Nudes. I had been on the hunt for a compact travel friendly makeup palette and this was my answer.

This sleek palette is separated in to two tiers, in the top tier you’ll find four eye colours, three eye shadows and one tight liner, everything you need to create a day and night look, minus mascara of course. Housed at the bottom of the palette are two cheek colours, one bronzer and one blusher, and as an added bonus there is also a lip glace included in the package.

The Colour-To-Go palette is an all round winner with eyes, cheeks and lips sorted, all I’ll need to remember to take away with me now are any base products and a mascara. I think I’ll be travelling lightly from now on.

The Laura Mercier Colour-To-Go Portable Palette is currently available in two shade selections Smokey Violets and Natural Nudes at Space NK for £31. They are limited edition, so if you’re in need of a travel friendly palette I recommend purchasing one of these before they all go.

Hand Eczema Be Gone

Never before had I had eczema, but last year the tables were turned and I developed a nasty bout of hand eczema and ever since, it has been a reoccurring condition. I had tried every cream under the sun, well that's a lie; I had tried every cream in the drugstore when I was beginning to give up. I was considering resorting to premium products, but then I discovered Aveeno Hand Cream, the only cream that seems to be working!

Having eczema on your hands isn't one of the most ideal places to develop the condition. My hands are always in use, so often their healing process is interrupted. The skin on my hand is prone to itching, drying and bleeding. Before I began using Aveeno, I found that other products weren't helping me deal with the problem, they were coating my hands, but they did not offer any moisture. However, since using Aveeno Hand Cream my skin looks significantly better. It has helped to deal with the problem by providing enough moisture to penetrate the skin, as opposed to just coating the skin.

If you have eczema or you’re just looking for an effective moisturiser head to Boots and browse through their Aveeno offering. As for me, I’ll be sticking with the Aveeno Hand Cream from now on. 

Essie Limited Edition Festive Fingertips Box

Oh yes I did. I got it Essie’s limited edition beauty box fully stocked with four full sized Essie nail polishes and nail stickers. Now I have to admit that I am late on the whole Essie band wagon, this box is my first purchase. I saw this as an opportunity to try the brand and all in time for Christmas. The beautiful box comes packed with every shade I need to see me through the Christmas party season.

Let’s begin with sole mate, my favourite of the collection a deep burgundy red. The perfect shade for vampy nail lovers, it’s just a shame that I can’t wear this in all seasons.

The second shade fishnet stockings is the brightest of the bunch. I believe that bright reds are not shades that are just suited to the colder months, and I for one love a good red all year round.

There is no better way to describe the third shade eternal optimist other than referring to it as a bold neutral. It is a warm rose shade that offers a sophisticated finish. I can see myself wearing this colour into spring.

Beyond cozy is the perfect glitter for the party season. This has definitely filed a void in my nail wardrobe as it is a glitter that can be worn with any outfit. In my opinion every girl needs a gold/silver glitter.

The sleek stick nail stickers in 04 love to love you are stunning. Intricately detailed with words of love I think I’ll reserve them for a special occasion or a day when I need a pick me up.

I suggest you get your Festive Fingertips on this beaut because I predict that she won’t be around for too long. To purchase these products separately would set you back £42, so it is a steal retailing at £24.99 exclusive to Boots. And if that hasn’t convinced you, I was so pleased to find that the box included a £2 voucher for any Essie product. Nail polish suggestions are welcome J. 

NARS Promiscuous – Lip Pencil Coffret

Mini Velvet Matte Lip Pencils: Sex Machine, Dolce Vita, Cruella and Never Say Never

Mini Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil: New Lover

Yes, I am guilty of this happening every year. In the run up to Christmas I panic and think that I will miss out on receiving many limited edition sets. And after browsing and resisting the many treats that the beauty world has lined up for us this year, I gave in. I ran into Space NK in order to find any remnants of NARS holiday collection with Guy Bourdin and I wasn't disappointed. By the time I managed to pull myself out of Space NK, I was the proud owner of the Promiscuous – Lip Pencil Coffret, and there’s not been a minute of regret since.

The set is what lip lover’s dreams are made of. For many months I had heard beauty babes rave about the NARS lip pencils, but I was yet to try them. This set feels like a steal rather than a splurge. It includes five of their best-selling shades, all in miniature form, of course. If the lip offerings were not enough the collection comes presented in a satin and patent pouch that channels the likes of Lulu Guinness.

As for the products, the reviews don’t lie. Theses pencils are highly pigmented and easy to wear. NARS infuse their lip pencils with vitamin E meaning that even their matte offerings don't dry out the lips. I just wanted to add that I don't recommend chomping your way through a burger while wearing the matte lip offerings, the shame of having Cruella all over my face will haunt me for some time :(.

In terms of longevity these pencils stick around for some time. The four Velvet Matte Lip Pencils last on the lips for over 6 hours without the need to reapply them. However, the Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil needs to be applied more frequently due to their high shine finish which is understandable.

This set can no longer be purchased online, but you might be lucky enough to find a set in store.

My Sister's First Makeup

Recently my baby sister told me that she wanted to begin to wear makeup and I was only too keen to take her to get the goods. We were on the hunt for a few basics to start off her collection. Before we set off on our little adventure, I asked her what she wished to gain from makeup and we came to the conclusion that she wanted a young and natural finish; a no makeup, makeup look so to speak.

We made a list and off we went.

Once we were in Boots, we headed straight to No7. I often find that with my tone it can be tricky to find a base in the drugstore as many brands do not have a vast colour range to suit my Asian skin. Although that being said, No7 has never seemed to fail me. I was particularly pleased with their colour match service the shade was neither too light nor too dark for my sister’s skin tone, but a perfect match that blended in seamlessly.

Once we returned home we put out the bits and browsed through our purchases.

Base: No7 Essentially Natural Foundation in Deeply honey

Concealer: MAC Select Moisturecover in NW30

Powder: No7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder in Dark

Blush: No7 Mineral Perfection Loose Powder Blusher in Soft Damson

Mascara: L’Oreal Paris Telescopic Extra-Black

Lip butter: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Pink Truffle

Brushes: Real Techniques Expert Face Brush and Blush Brush

Let's Make a Statement

£2.50

£4.00

£4.00

I have had a love-love relationship with Primark from a young age. It was the only place I would go to spend my pocket money. Since then, Primark have upped their prices, but I’m not one to shy away from picking up a thing or two.

When I visit their stores I always head straight to jewellery section in hopes that I might snap up a few gems, and Primark seem to be supplying them. During the colder months I spend the majority of my time lounging about in woolly jumpers and in order to accessorize these jumpers I pair them with statement necklaces. And this year I've found and fallen for the above.

1. The first is a long line arrow piece which can be mixed and matched to accompany any outfit. It’s effortless and beams ‘I didn't try too hard’.
2. The second is a cream necklace which I have been wearing to accompany my white, cream or beige knits. This has helped to add a little sophistication to my plain jumpers.
3. The third is the chunkiest of the mix. I will be wearing this in the evenings to add an element of glamour to my outfits. Just in time for those Christmas parties!

Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas

Yesterday Diwali or the ‘Festival of Lights’ was celebrated by many Hindus and Sikhs across the globe. As a Sikh I knew the reason behind the Hindu celebrations, the triumph of good over evil. It is the celebration of Ram returning home with Sita after defeating the demon Ravan, who had kept Sita as a hostage. But, what is the reason behind the Sikh celebrations?

How it began...

The Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, had imprisoned Guru Hargobind Ji on political grounds. Jahangir believed that Guru Ji, due to his increasing popularity, was becoming a threat to his empire. However, the initial threat came once Jahangir realised that by imprisoning Guru Hargobind Ji, he himself had turned many against his thrown.

In order to rectify his mistakes, Jahangir agreed to release Guru Hargobind Ji from Gwalior. But Guru Ji refused to accept the grounds of his release until 52 innocent Hindu kings were granted their freedom alongside him. On hearing this Jahangir set his own conditions. Only those kings would be released who could hold onto the tails of Guru Ji’s cloak.

As a result of Jahangir's conditions Guru Hargobind Ji soon had a cloak made with 52 tails, one for each king. The day of Guru Ji’s release is known as Bandi Chorrh Divas and it was on the day of Diwali that Guru Ji had finally returned to Amritsar.

In the Georgian calendar Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas are commonly celebrated on the same day.

How do we celebrate Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas?

Family and friends often gather in order to celebrate Guru Hargobind Ji’s freedom. We visit the local gurdwara in order to gain Waheguru Ji’s blessing for the year ahead. In the evening we light divas and share with one another Indian snacks and sweets, this is followed up by a firework display to end the evening’s festivities.

Glossary

Amritsar	“Pool of nectar” Is the spiritual centre of Sikhism located in the North Indian state of Punjab.
Bandi Chhor Divas	“Prisoners’ Release Day” Is the day when Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 kings were released from Gwalior prison.
Diva	Lamp
Diwali	Is an abbreviation of "Deepavali" meaning "row of lamps".
Gurdwara	A Sikh place of worship.
Guru Hargobind Ji	The sixth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism.
Gwalior	City in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Jahangir	The fourth Mughal Emperor who ruled from 1605-1627
Mughal Emperor	Is the term used to refer to those who ruled the Mughal Empire in South Asia.
Ram	The seventh avatar of the God Vishnu in Hinduism.
Ravan	A devout follower of the god Shiva. Ravan is believed to have had ten heads
Sita	Is the consort of Ram and an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi.
Waheguru Ji	Is the term used by Sikhs to refer to God.

An Edge To The Others #5

Blog Post and Video of the Week: When I first laid eyes on Lisa Eldridge’s blog post I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was dedicated to 100 Years of Bollywood Beauties. This post was soon followed up by a makeup tutorial that was inspired by Aishwarya Rai’s makeup in the movie Devdas (2002). Devdas is by far my favourite Bollywood movie and I cannot wait to recreate Lisa's look. If you have not seen Devdas or Lisa's tutorial I strongly suggest that you do.

Aishwarya Rai: Dola Re Dola, in Devdas

Image via http://aishwaryarai-photo.blogspot.com/

An Edge To The Others #4

Blog Post of the Week: Since discovering The Nailasauras I’ve been captivated. Sammy makes nail art look so simple. With her step by step tutorials you’ll be decorating your nails like a pro in no time. Take a look at her latest creation the Nimbus Nail Art Tutorial.

Video of the Week: The second episode of Brand Focus by essiebutton takes a look at Bobbi Brown. Estée discusses the history of Bobbi Brown and shares with her viewers her favourite Bobbi Brown products. I can’t wait to watch the next in the series! 

The Heels - Indian Wedding Raves #3

Finding the right shoes for an Indian outfit is far from easy and the task often comes with a tick list. They have to be comfortable, sturdy, no more than 3-4 inches and they need to match the embroidery on my outfits.

Well, with so many demands being made I can never manage to find the right pair on the high street, as they just never seem to fit the requirements. So when I shop for heels the only place that I seem to head to is an Indian shoe store.

On a recent trip to Southall Broadway I kept my eyes open for two sets of heels, a gold pair and a silver pair. Gold and silver seemed like ideal colours as they would match the embroidery on most of the Indian outfits I own.

After failing in a few shoe stores, I soon found both of these beauties. I was fortunate enough to spot them in the end of season sales, and at £20 each I knew I had found a bargain! The second pair of heels isn’t quite silver, but due to their pewter tone I knew I could get away with wearing them with my pink sari.

I am proud to report that after two days of dancing in these heels my feet have survived. With no pain it’s safe to say that I’ll continue to buy my shoes from Indian stores.