Valentine's Inspired Nails

 

If there's one thing I like about Valentine's Day (other than sale chocolates the day after) it's the chance to get creative with a bit of nail art :)

 

To create this look, I used Red Carpet Manicure's LED Gel polish in 'Draped in Rubies' for the base colour and Leighton Denny's 'Pure White' for the nail art hearts. Draped in Rubies is a deep, luxurious, sparkling red, available from redcarpetmanicure for £12.95. I bought their professional LED kit when it was on 'today's special value' from QVC but it's also available to buy from redcarpetmanicure. From the very first application I fell head over heels with the gel and have rarely reverted back to using a normal nail polish since. I love the salon quality results I can achieve with every application. My nails are smooth, shiny and chip resistant for up to 2 weeks!

To create the white love hearts, I simply drew little V shapes on my ring finger's, using a cocktail stick.

Done any Valentine's inspired nail art yourself? Leave a link to your blog and I'll check it out :)

 

 

Rachel - x

50 Random Facts About Me

1. I feel naked if my nails are without polish.

 

2. When I’m at home I live in my pyjamas.

 

3. I have 1 tattoo.

 

4. I have 4 piercings.

 

5. Cotton wool makes me cringe, as does raw meat.

 

6. I love a good rom-com but also into my action films.

 

7. I won’t let anyone see me without makeup on, unless I love them.

 

8. I never used to paint my toe nails, now I can’t stand to see them unpainted.

 

9.  I hate sleeping out (I’m a big home bird).

 

10. I love animals, especially dogs.

 

11. I love going to zoos/ sea life centres.

 

12. My jaw clicks everytime I move it.

 

13. I have never been on a proper date.

 

14. I come across quiet but if I’m comfortable around you I won’t shut up.

 

15. I worry about my future.

 

16. I’m very forgiving but I don’t easily forget.

 

17. I don’t believe in horoscopes but everytime I come across mine I read it anyway.

 

18. Sometimes I feel like the only girl in the world who hasn’t thought about/ planned my wedding day.

 

19. I love mini adventures/ days out/ long drives.

 

20. I have an irrational fear of moths. Butterflies are no better!

 

21. I love reality T.V. Big Brother, TOWIE, Made In Chelsea, Geordie Shore, Jersey Shore etc.

 

22. My favourite chocolate is a Cadbury’s Crème Egg – I once got a box of 50 for Christmas.

 

23. I secretly wish that one day someone will surprise me with a bunch of flowers.

 

24. I believe a cup of tea and a hot bubble bath can make almost anything seem better.

 

25. I love a cheesy musical. Les Miserables is now my all time favourite!

 

26. I’m very organised and enjoy writing lists so I can tick things off as I do them – sad I know!

 

27. I’m genuinely unsure of what my natural hair colour is.

 

28. I like being tanned but the smell and stickiness of fake tan disgusts me, so I’m usually pale.

 

29. No matter how late it is or how tired/ drunk I am, I will always wash my face and brush my teeth before bed.

 

30. I have 2 dogs and a budgie.

 

31. I’m 22.

 

32. I’m the middle child – I have an older sister and younger brother.

 

33. I love testing out new beauty products and nail polishes.

 

34. I currently work as a lingerie consultant.

 

35. I love holidays. What’s better than sun, sea and sand?

 

36. I have a slight obsession with leopard print.

 

37. Everytime I walk into a shop I bypass the clothes and head straight for the accessories.

 

38. Going to the dentist freaks me out – but I suck it up!

 

39. I love face masks and try use one once a week.

 

40. I also try to exfoliate my whole body once a week.

 

41. I enjoy cooking recipes within my comfort zone but don’t like experimenting.

 

42. I believe everything happens for a reason, to help us learn and become stronger, better people.

 

43. I can drive but I have no car.

 

44. I love pasties. Anything pastry related is a winner for me.

 

45. Although I love splurging on cosmetics from time to time, I’m usually a saver not a spender.

 

46. I love hummus and practically anything with garlic in it.

 

47. I have wanted to start blogging for a long time but always put myself off it.

 

48. My main goal in life is to be happy and successful in whatever it is I do.

 

49. I hate horror films. Why anyone would want to be scared out of their wits end is beyond me.

 

50. It’s taken me far too long to write this!

I hope you enjoyed getting to know 'the girl behind the blog' better. I've really enjoyed reading other blogger's 50 Random Facts About Me posts so please feel free to leave a link to yours in the comments :)

Rachel - x

 



February Wish List

If you're anything like me (and use being single on the dreaded V-day as an excuse to buy everything on your wish list) then being single isn't going to save you any pennies this month! It will however prevent you from buying naff, overpriced cards, teddies, chocolates, and enable you to treat yourself to something much more alluring! So here's my February wish list to banish the Valentine's blues :)

 

1. I love... Strawberries & Milkshake Bath Creme - £2.05 Superdrug
A thick, creamy bubble bath with an extremely tantalising aroma.
 

2. The Sofia Bag by Mark B** - £35 Topshop
Sold out?! But I need this bag! I love the tan colour, the buckle detail and interior leopard print lining.

3. Fluffy Towels Medium Jar Candle - £16.99 Yankee Candle
'The world's best loved candle.' A pretty jar with a heavenly scent, even when not lit.

4. Nike Blazer Mid Burgundy Trainers - £70 Asos
I haven't worn a pair of trainers for several years! But lately I've been on the look out for a comfy pair of high tops and think these are just what I've been looking for. Only problem is, they seem to be out of stock eveywhere! Any ideas where I can get my mitts on a pair of these?

5. Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquer - £5.99 Superdrug
With all the beauty bloggers raving about this product, I believe it's imperitive to try it for myself. But which shade to choose?

6. Essie Nail Polish Fiji - £7.99 Superdrug
An elegant, opaque, creamy, pale pink shade. Perfect for V-day nails!


Rachel - x

Leopard Print Nails

Anyone that knows me will know that I love nail polish. I have a big shoe box bursting with nail polishes, each one with a little painted dot on the top of the lid, so that I can see at a glance what colours I have. Organised or obsessive? Either way it works for me! :) Another thing I love is leopard print, so the idea of combining nails and leopard print was bound to tickle my fancy!

 

 

For the base colour, I used 2 coats of Leighton Denny's nail polish in Supermodel - a classy and popular taupe shade, available from Leighton Denny, M&S and QVC from £11. I then used Konad stamping kit to create the black leopard print pattern. I managed to snap this kit up on Ebay for a bargain price, around £6. The Konad nail art image plate is M57. The leopard print can also be drawn free hand with a little brush or cocktail stick, but I find this much quicker and more fun!

 

 

 

Rachel - x

My Makeup Must Haves

1. Estee Lauder Disappear Smoothing Creme Concealer (in light) - £17.50

A great concealer is, in my opinion, one of the most important products to have in your makeup bag, especially if like me you have particularly blemish prone skin. This concealer is without a doubt the best I have purchased yet! It's creamy, easy to apply and blend and instantly covers blemishes and dark circles. Definitely something I will repurchase in the future!

2. Laura Geller Balance n Brighten Face Powder (in fair) - £27.28

I use this baked colour correcting powder to offset redness and 'balance n brighten' my complexion. The product can be used on its own, but I like to wear it over my foundation to achieve an even, flawless finish. After trying this product a few years ago I knew it would become one of my makeup essentials and have been using it ever since!

3. Laura Geller Blush n Brighten (in pink butter cream) - £28

This soft, silky blusher glides effortlessly across my cheeks and gives me a lovely healthy looking glow. I initially thought this was a little expensive for a blusher, but after scouting Ebay I soon found a brand new one at an affordable price. A little swirl of this blusher goes a long long way so the product will last ages.

4. Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (in sand) - £27.50

My mission to find the perfect foundation has been a long and expensive one, but I'm sure I've finally found it! After trying just about every foundation on the market, I came across this one. I'd heard great reviews and decided to try it for myself and was amazed by the results. I found that the foundation has high coverage, contributing towards the flawless finish I've been forever trying to achieve, and stays put all day. The foundation is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable and seems to last a life time!

Rachel - x

Jumping On The Blogging Bandwagon!

Okay, so I've been thinking about starting a blog for some time now, but always thought I'm not 'fashionable enough'. My style is simple and comfortable, but if there's one thing I do know and love, it's nails and beauty! I've always loved makeup, nail polish and accessories, and have finally plucked up the courage to start blogging about them. Watch this space!

 

Any hints/ tips for a newbie blogger would be much appreciated :)

 

Please follow me on twitter @lashnlacquer

 

Rachel - x