NOTD;

I'm always looking for an easy way to do nail art without actually having to do nail art. I'm also always trying to find ways for my mani to last more that 20 minutes into a bar shift. Today I have used these Avon Nail Art Strips in Mosaic Rose to achieve this.

These are pretty much fancy little stickers to put over your nails. They're surprisingly easy to apply. I just found the size I thought would fit and cut it to be a little longer than the nail. I lined it up with one side of my nail and applied. Then filed off any excess. I found they didn't always completely fit your nails and there were bumps along the edges and I think if the design weren't too busy you'd notice them. After wearing these for a few hours this seemed to go away for the most part, I'm not sure how maybe I pushed them onto my nails more as I went about my day. Application took about half an hour all together which is probably as long as it takes me to put one colour onto my nails including base and topcoat. Speaking of which I didn't topcoat these nail wraps as I wanted to see how long they lasted without. Noticeable chips and peeling only appeared after 3 days of wear, which is really impressive on my nails. They lasted through 3 bar shifts including polishing glasses and opening cans, showers and jean buttoning or how I normally chip my nails. I'm very impressed with their durability and they exceeded my expectations. The little gems in the design didn't fall out or snag which is something I struggle with when applying gems myself. They're also super easy to remove as you just peel them off with no damage to your nails and without spending half an hour scrubbing.

These nail wraps are £8 for a set of 18. I just wish there were an extra 2 and you could cut them to fit and have another set, but I will keep my leftovers as I think this pattern would look really cool as an accent nail. I have to say I probably wouldn't pay £8 unless I was buying them for an event, but I got these for £2.50 in a sale and I would pay that over and over.

Do you know any shortcuts to arty nails?

Simple Spotless Skin Cleansing Pads;

Now I'm not the most clued up person when it come to skin care. I cleanse my face, use moisturiser and the occasional face mask but they're aren't many products that if find make a noticeable difference to my skin. But I will definitely make that claim with this, the Spotless Skin Deep Clean Cleansing Pads by Simple

They look like makeup removing pads, but one side is more bumpy (technical term) to exfoliate. I use these after I've taken my makup off at night using Micellar Water, I use the exfoliating side first and then go back over with the other. This removes any make up you've missed and any dirt hidden further in your pores. I don't use these every day, just because my skin can be sensitive and over exfoliation or deep cleansing doesn't help that. I usually use these every other day. I noticed the difference this makes to my skin in the first week I used it and if I go a few days without it you can tell. I find that if I use this when I have active spots in the morning they've reduced in size and look less red, it even works on those pesky below-the-skin buggers and they're even less painful the morning after using this. I also find break outs and blemishes heal a lot quicker when I'm using this. This is because it exfoliates the skin, it is also nice and gentle on the skin and doesn't irritate mine. The exfoliating also helps to smooth dry patches. I find my skin is over all clearer and better looking just from adding this to my routine.

This costs just £4.99, which I think is brilliant for something you can actually see results from. I've been using these for at least 2 months and I've used just over half so I definitely think you get a good amount for your money.

What are your budget skincare favourites?

Concert FOTN;

My 21st birthday is this week and as an early present me and my family went to London to watch McBusted, again. I saw them twice last year and I've seen McFly and Busted seperately multiple times. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you my makeup look and a few snaps.

Here's the mess I made in my hotel room before we left and apologies for iPhonography I have this awful habit of leaving my camera in my desk drawer...

Products used:

Face

Simple Light Moisturiser, Body Shop Instablur Primer, Mac Prolongwear Foundation, Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, Makeup Revolution Blush Stick in Matte Malibu, Topshop 

Brows

Makeup Revolution Brow Duo (Pen side), Collection Clear Mascara

Eyes

Revlon Photoready Eye Primer, 'No Photo's Please' Palette (shades Lights, Discrete, No Comment and Adoration), Soap & Glory Supercat Liner, Avon Mega Effects Mascara

Lips

Essence Lip Liner in Wish Me a Rose, Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss in Punchbowl

 McBusted were of course, absolutely amazing and their stage was an enormous arcade machine so what's not to love?

Rimmel Lasting Perfection Review;

I haven't reviewed a foundation on my blog yet and I don't really know where to start. I mean a lot goes into making a good foundation and I'm kind of fussy. I've yet to find the mother of mother's 'I will only use this' foundation because I've struggled to find one that stays matte all day without drying out my skin. I picked the Rimmel Lasting Finish 25Hour Foundation up last month and have been enjoying it so far.

I only bought this after spending half an hour traipsing around Boots and Superdrug, to find about 4 foundations that carried a shade light enough for me. I got mine in the shade Light Porcelain. This foundation has been altered from the original as it now has comfort serum to moisturise and keep it comfortable for long wear. I tried the original and I have to say it makes all the difference. The original was really hard to blend as it had dried as soon as you put it on, which left me with and uneven finish and looking a little cakey. I also found it to cling to dry patches, which the new version really doesn't I've found it nourishing on my winter dry patches. Even with the comfort serum I do find it's a little thicker than other foundations so it takes a bit more work to blend out, and I think you'd finish a bottle of this quicker than others. But once blended out it gives a lovely finish which is worth the extra buffing. I'd say the finish is natural/satiny, I mean it doesn't make your skin look flat or completely matte but not dewy either. It gives the look of beautiful and flawless skin... but still skin. As far as coverage goes, although it looks like skin the coverage is on the medium-high side. I would say that I don't think it covers redness from breakouts as well as it does other things, but that's why I have concealer anyway. 

And here's how it looks on the skin

The bottle claims this has 25-hour wear and to be transfer proof. I've read review after review asking why you'd need a foundation to last for 25 hours. Albeit accidentally I have tested this by falling asleep in my makeup, in the morning the foundation managed to cover up my gin induced hangover (or the reason I slept in makeup) an although it had faded it did so evenly so it still looked natural. And there was no foundation stains on the pillow. I would also say this is fairly transfer proof as I often lean my hands on my face when applying liquid liner and I don't get any finger prints on my cheeks with this. This foundation happily lasts all day and I think it improves during the day rather than oxidising, and there's always a fair amount of foundation on my cleansing pad at the end of the day so there's some gross proof it doesn't evaporate away.

The only quam I have with this foundation is oil control. When first applying it's ok, and I set it with a powder but throughout the day oil does creep up. It means I have to top up my powder throughout the day, but to be brutally honest I have to do that with most foundations. The only ones I've found that succeed at all-day mattifying generally dry out my skin, catch 22.

If it wasn't for my oily skin I would probably think this foundation was perfect, but it hasn't quite stolen my heart as something I'd label 'holy grail'. That being said I got this with a coupon and paid £4.99 so I'll count my blessings and use this happily before I continue my search for the one...

March Favourites;

I haven't written a favourites post in a while but I thought I'd just share a few items that I've been loving throughout the month of March.

First is this Micellar Water by L'oReal. I usually use the Garnier one but it wasn't available in my Boots so I picked up this. I want to rave about this because I have noticed no difference in using either brand... in a good way. It removes all my makeup, doesn't irritate my skin or sting my eyes. I recommend trying Garnier's or L'oReal's Micellar Water as they're both equally as good.

I bought Rimmel's 25 Hour Foundation recently and so far I'm really enjoying it. It's medium coverage and feels comfortable on the skin. I also managed to find this in a pale enough shade, hallelujah! But I will say no more as I'm planning on writing a full review soon!

I also picked up the SEVENTEEN Phwoarr Paint Concealer, which I firstly want to say the name and packaging are
so adorable. SEVENTEEN is a brand I usually overlook but I was recommended this and I'm really glad I picked it up. I find that cream concealers can look cakey or be greasy and slide over the skin, but this does neither. It does crease a little under the eye, but on blemishes it is foolproof. Alone it has a considerable amount of coverage, but it can be layered to hide pesky pimples altogether.

My last favourite is Justin Bieber's first perfume, Someday. I know he isn't to everyone's taste, but the Biebs has always been my guilty pleasure. I bought this when it first came out and only started using it again to get rid of it because I hate the bottle. Seriously, a plastic flower bigger than the bottle itself why JB?! The scent is girly, sweet, floral and smells like a lot of pre-teen scents but that's why I like it. It's an easy to wear daytime scent and when I apply this in the morning I can still smell it in the evening!

What are you loving this month?