Essie A Cut Above 

Essie Buy Me A Cameo

Maybelline Color Sensation Rose Chic

This is where glitter comes in. For the less talented nail varnish appliers amongst us, glitter is a true lifesaver. Slap it on. Let it dry. Keep it on your nails until it begins to flake off (I am guilty of doing this, constantly). Eventually succumb and remove it all, only to reapply a few days later. And repeat. 

I have a whole host of glitter polishes but my current favourites all fall into a pleasing rose gold inspired shade that when layered, works surprisingly well! Essie's A Cut Above is a gorgeous metallic pink glitter with large chunks. I received this from my mum in my Christmas stocking and it hasn't left my nails since - such a beauty! I was inspired to pair it with Buy Me A Cameo (also Essie) after spotting this in my sister's collection and falling in love with it. It's a really lovely pale gold/taupe shade with a rose sheen, and looks stunning on its own or layered under others as I have done here.

Finally, I decided to really ramp up the glitter by using a coat of Maybelline Color Sensation in Rose Chic. I actually think this polish has more of a silver tone to it but it lasts really well for such a cheap product!

Now I'm not going to win any prizes for nicest nails or best application but I'm happy with it and enjoying experimenting with different glitters. I really want rose gold nails for my wedding day - are there any other shades out there I should be adding to my collection? I noticed a rose gold shade in the new Models Own release, I foresee a purchase being made in the near future...

Love Dani

xoxo

So it's been nearly two months since my last outfit post and I haven't progressed much beyond massive jumper and sensible boots... In fairness, I had the best of intentions with this outfit. The dress is a beautiful gold and black sequin number I spotted in H&M some months ago and obsessed over, as I am wont to do...then by a miraculous twist of serendipity found it on the sale rack for 15€ over Christmas - score! It's so comfy despite the shapeless shift style, but due to short sleeves it's just not quite suitable for these nigh-on Arctic temperatures we've been experiencing...so I found myself reaching for my trusty sequin jumper. Cosy times abound!
The boots are another sale purchase, snapped up on a whim from Dorothy Perkins. I had a hankering for some wedge heel ankle boots and these do the job perfectly - they're high enough that I can reach the overhead rail on the tube (tall people have NO idea what a challenge this is!) but comfortable enough that I can totter around all day without wanting to slice my feet off. Good stuff. They certainly served me well on Saturday for a stroll around Carnaby Street, with a delicious Hawaiian lunch at Kua 'Aina and my very first Back to MAC experience...

I had never heard of Kua 'Aina before but can hand on heart say I will definitely be visiting again! The Carnaby Street location is rather cosy but comfortable, with servers darting around in brightly coloured shirts (they are very appreciative if you turn up with a flower garland adorning your neck, as we did!) and the food is well worth a visit. They serve a variety of burgers and sandwiches, with plenty of mahi mahi and spicy chicken if that floats your boat! I opted for the seared ahi tuna salad with extra avocado and it was enormously tasty, with sesame and ginger dressing to give it an extra kick. Admittedly I couldn't stop myself pinching some sweet potato fries along the way, but I really struggled to clear my plate! It's in a fab location too, opposite Choccywoccydoodah and a stone's throw from Liberty if you fancied a wander afterwards (we did!).

As it was Jon's mum's birthday, I decided to go for quite a polished make up look, with defined eyes and my new favourite MAC lipstick (more on that later... I am planning a dedicated lipstick post because why not?). I am still absolutely loving Nars Sheer Glow - kicking myself for not purchasing it sooner, really - and I used a fab cheap-as-chips eyeshadow stick from Collection which surprisingly has not been reviewed yet, but rest assured it is fabulous. I have a fair few beauty posts in the pipeline, all half-finished, but raring to go - just waiting for my skin to clear up a little bit so I feel somewhat less self-conscious when posting close ups...

I hope you all had a super weekend too, I for one am struggling with the fact it's almost the end of January... where is this year going?

Much love,
Dani xoxo

So here's a tale only a beauty blogger could tell... Once upon a time, a make up aficionado went on holiday and remembered every single item in her beauty arsenal except for a blusher. After unsuccessfully attempting to use Chanel liquid lipstick as a replacement, she gave up and asked to borrow her sister's blusher. And fell in love...

Alas, the blusher in question, Fenberry by Sleek, revealed itself to be that nightmare for all beauty lovers - Limited Edition. But it was oh so perfect, providing the ideal winter flush for her cheeks... She could not fully enjoy all of life's delights without calling this blusher her own. So she began the valiant search for a dupe.

The stalwart of information that is Google swiftly informed her that Bobbi Brown Cranberry was a suitable dupe, then equally swiftly brought the tragic news that this too was discontinued. All eBay searches proved barren; all blog swatches were fruitless. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she organised a hasty trip to the nearest Sephora, Fenberry in hand, to compare it against all other blushers.

The search was not in vain. A replacement (albeit a rather expensive replacement) was found. And thus concludes the tale of how I purchased a 30€ dupe for a £5 blusher... Thank goodness for Christmas money, eh? I don't think I could have entertained the purchase otherwise!

In fairness, NARS Dolce Vita is beautiful. A rusty red that, when applied lightly, provides the ideal come-in-from-the-cold flush to cheeks. Funnily enough my other sister owns this blusher too - which proves that really I ought to have consulted her make up collection before prancing around Sephora like a ninny. But none of that matters now. 

Is it worth the cash? Well, in my opinion, yes. It lasts a good deal longer on the cheeks than the Sleek offering, although I must stress that you only need a very, very light hand. Pictured are my usual artless methods of swirling a brush in the pan and dumping it all over my cheeks. I blended it out properly post photography, I promise. The packaging is smart (although I've managed to blot mine already, sigh) and looks great on my dressing table. I also appreciate the inclusion of a mirror. Who even needs blushes without mirrors, I ask you?

I can't lie, a little part of me did weep when handing over the cash for this, but now that it's mine I am fully giving into the indulgence of owning such a little piece of luxury. My NARS love affair is now in full swing and I see it lasting well into 2015!

Are you a fan of NARS? Let me know!

Love Dani

xoxo

NARS Dolce Vita Blush retails at £22.50/€30