RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

Mascara alone is never going to give me the gorgeous fluttery lashes I want and my eyelash extensions were a bit of a pain maintenance-wise (they're always amazing when you first get them done, but I'm always disappointed after an infill appointment as they never last as well or look as good) so I decided to try something else - RapidLash. Now this doesn't promise to make lashes grow but is marketed as a lash conditioner to improve the condition and appearance of your eyelashes. It has a long list of features (ingredients) and their benefits listed in the instructions.

You apply it every night to the base of your lashes for 8 weeks - I'll chart my eyelash progress (fingers crossed) by fortnight. This is how short my naked lashes are, don't you feel sorry for me?

Eek, I could probably do with a brow appointment too...

So...do you have a blog?

I need some new blogs to read so thought it might be a nice to ask you lot if any of you have any blogs or know of any fab blogs I should follow? My interests are beauty and nails (obviously!), shopping, travel and food - that's pretty much me in a nutshell to be honest! So feel free to leave your blog links below (even if I already follow it as other people might not), and hopefully we'll all discover a few new gems.

My contribution is Cynful Nails - a Singapore based nail tech who does some gorgeous acrylic and gel nail art (like this pic below). I always look forward to seeing posts from her in my blog feed, as the designs are so intricate and pretty!

Pic courtesy of Cynful Nails

In terms of essays, I've submitted two out of the four I want done before January ends, I've nearly finished my third (just waiting to submit it) and I've started my fourth and final one (until the end of February anyway). Phew! Roll on my new module starting in February...

What I always buy whenever the Boots No 7 vouchers are going...

...No 7 Cleanse and Care Eye Make-Up Remover. No matter how much I linger over the cosmetics or think about trying something else, I always stock up on this if there's a 3 for 2 or voucher going.

I just like it - all of my make up (including my tricky eyelash primer) comes off really easily, it doesn't irritate my skin in any way and feels really nourishing. Those of you that don't like the feel of oily products on your face may want to give this a miss though.

I also missed out on the Clinique mascara swap, Debenhams were all out when I popped in, booo!

Grey Nails with Pearls, Studs and Diamantes

I've had these little pearls, studs and diamantes for ages (another Ebay buy) and only just got round to using them! I was originally going to do this with a pale, sheer colour but I decided to go for contrast instead and used Models Own Grey Day, with Essie Matte About You topcoat (which has gone very thick and glue-looking but still did the trick making my nails matte).

I started thinking about adding Barry M Nail Effects in there too for a real contrast between the grey, black crackle effect and delicate pearl and crystals but I decided that was probably a little bit too much for work. I tend to like accent nails better than doing a full set of nail art too, I think it stops it from being TOO much (though I secretly love really ghetto OTT nails but more in an arty way than actually wearing them), on my left hand I only had the embellishments on my middle nail.

I used my trusty Nailene Brush On Nail Glue and an orange stick with a bit of blue tack stuck on the end to pick the gems up and apply them to the nail. Technology! I'm not sure how long everything will stay attached - because I made the polish matte, I didn't apply a topcoat over the top of the gems too - and I suspect I might wake up tomorrow with a couple missing.

I think this would look better with something darker in it as well, like a black crystal or bead or something, maybe the Nail Effects wouldn't have been so bad after all....

Good news! Free Clinique sample mascara when you swap it for an old mascara!

From tomorrow, you can get a free sample of Clinique High Impact or High Lengths mascara when you trade in your old mascara at a Clinique counter in Debenhams. It can be any brand of mascara and it can even be empty!

To get the freebie, simply visit the Clinique counter in Debenhams and hand in your old/empty mascara. Then choose which one of the two Clinique samples you'd like. The offer ends Sun 30 Jan and is limited to one per customer.

I like Clinique mascaras anyway but I didn't get round to doing this last time it was on and I'm sure (ok, I know) I've got some old mascaras lying around somewhere. Sales and discounts are basically the only good thing about January!

Red and Black Tip n Moon Mani

I did these nails really quick on an impulse in about 5 mins before bedtime - what do you think? The red is Illamasqua Ruthless, I did the stripes and half moons freehand with a (fairly crappy) striping polish I bought from Ebay. I think those Models Own Nail Art Pens (which I have yet to try) would be a lot easier and better for something like this, hopefully I'll get my paws on some soon!

Sorry but I think posts will be a bit sparse this month - I've got loads of products etc. to write about, but unfortunately I've got loads to write about for uni at the moment too! Boo, I'd rather write about nails and false lashes than law and management any day...

Deborah Lippmann - Bad Romance

I've coveted Deborah Lippmann polishes for quite a while now and Bad Romance is right up my street - a black base filled with various sizes of purple glitter (larger hexagonal pieces and normal glitter). And this didn't disappoint, I wore it for New Years Eve and I've been reapplying it ever since. This really isn't like me, a few weeks ago a woman at work joked that I was the only person she knew who wore a different colour nail polish every day!

I love the bottle that this comes in, is that really sad? I just think it's a really pretty and classy bottle, a little bit different from other brands.

Application of this was easy, the glitter placed quite well, the consistency is good and it dries reasonably quickly between coats - I've got three coats on in these pics as well as Seche Vite on top, as it didn't dry quite as glossy as I would have liked, but I think I could have got away with two. It doesn't feel totally smooth on the nail, but no worse than any other glitter polish; and like all other glitter polishes, it's a bit of a pain to remove when you want to change it (or in my case, reapply!).

I've just noticed these are definately not the neatest swatches I've ever done, and my nails are short at the minute but that's what happens when you're trying to write essays and do your nails at the same time I suppose!

My only criticism of Bad Romance is that it doesn't last that long before it chips, even with Seche Vite I'm lucky to get a day or two out of this. I suppose this is because of all the glitter?

Nevertheless, I love this polish...it may even be my new favourite. I definately would buy more Deborah Lippmann polishes, there are some really gorgeous ones. My faves are definately the glitters - Ruby Red Slippers would be my next polish of choice I think, though Boom Boom Pow and Across the Universe are gorgeous too!

P.S. Hope you all had a good new year and hello to the new (and old) followers I seem to have picked up :-)

Ooh, how exciting, I've been included in 365 Days of Nail Art!

There's some amazing nail art on the 365 Days of Nail Art blog, so I'm really really pleased to have been included as Day 363 for my nail piercing nail art I did back in October.

What a nice way to round off 2010, Happy New Year everyone!

My latest new discoveries/products I like:

So, we're nearly in 2011 now - it's that slightly dodgy time between Christmas and New Year where nothing really happens and everyone feels a bit grumpy! I got some brilliant presents (I'm a lucky girl) and had a really nice time over Christmas.

I thought I'd do a little quick round up of new things I'm liking at the minute:

Rimmel Colour Show Off Lipstick in Pink Gossip - this is a nice "inbetween" pink for me, it's not shockingly bright but it does add a nice bit of colour to my lips. The texture of this lipstick is lovely too, I'm not massively keen on the fake watermelon scent of this lipstick but I do secretly quite like the OTT metallic pink packaging. I've been using this a lot since I got it and I'll definately be looking more into these Colour Show Off lipsticks!

Beverly Hills Formula Sensitive Whitening - while this isn't going to make me have shiny veneered gnashers, it's definately helping make sure my teeth stay white as well as leaving them feeling nice. It isn't abrasive either and actually has a nice taste.

NSPA Vanilla Creme Brulee Shower and Bath Gel - this was a cheap and cheerful shower gel I picked up in Asda I think, I didn't expect much from it but I really like the smell of it - it's really really sweet, as you'd expect from something Creme Brulee scented and sad as it sounds, I actually enjoy using this in the shower. I've got loads of shower gels etc. to work my way through (everyone knows me well enough to give me stuff from Lush, Philosophy etc for birthdays and Christmas) but once I've used them up, I'll definately be buying this again!

Clinique Airbrush Concealer - I got given this for Christmas and it could not have come at a better time! I've basically had a cough and cold for all of December and I look pretty run down. I have dark circles (I've never had dark circles before!) and this is helping me to disguise them thank god.

Avon Color Trend in Delicious Berry - I didn't have any real expectations of this lipbalm, I thought it would just be another cheap lipbalm to keep in my desk at work but I'm really impressed by how moisturising this feels. It's really sorted out my sore, dry lips and it smells/tastes quite nice. It doesn't really colour my lips either, which I tend to prefer in everyday lipbalms. This was a lovely stocking filler!

Lady Million - I love the packaging, I love the smell and I was chuffed to bits to get this as a Christmas present! It came as part of a gorgeous looking set in a gold metal tin.

Aussie Take The Heat Cream - I really feel like this stuff is helping my hair to feel and look a bit better as well as keeping it's shape.

In other news, I've taken my lash extensions off so along with my dark circles and pale skin from being ill, I'm not looking so great, but never mind. Onwards and upwards to 2011!

Dear Santa...

...I know it's a bit late and that the elves are probably really busy, but I've been really really good this year and I thought of a few extra things I'd like to add to my list please. Basically it's an excessive amount of stuff to carry other stuff in, I don't mind which of these I get but the Alexa or the 2.55 would be nice, y'know...just saying...in case you were struggling.

Mulberry Alexa - £895


Chanel 2.55 - somewhere in the region of £1,500

Lulu Guinness Snakeskin Lips Clutch - £255

Marc B Knightsbridge - £39

Marc B Knightsbridge Elite - £42

Juicy Couture Eyelash Barrel Make Up Bag

Topshop Stud Purse - £28

ASOS Nude Feather Clutch - £26

ASOS Waterfall Clutch - £28.50

So, please add these to my Christmas list (along with everything on my beauty wishlist on the left, plus some ASOS vouchers, and maybe some tickets to go and see Rihanna...oh and world peace please, after all, I'm not greedy or anything).

Thanks

Lucy

x

P.S Any of this vintage Chanel stuff by Susan Caplan for ASOS would also be amazing:

NOTW Christmas Red Snowflake Minx

It's Christmas on Saturday (ok, where has the last month/3 months/year gone?) so of course there has to be some sort of festive nail art!

I love Minx, and with my mani and pedi qualifications I have an account with the UK Minx Distributor, yay! They recently brought out a whole load of new designs - this is why I like Minx more than a lot of the other nail coverings suppliers, they do a much bigger range of designs and are always updating their range.

I bought a few bits from the new designs, top to bottom we have Red Snowflake, Minxlusion Rose and Minxlusion - Minxlusion was so hard to photograph but it's a metallic silver with a holo effect. Gorgeous!

After debating whether or not to apply to my toes or fingers (last longer on toes, more noticeable on fingers), I went for fingers - it's winter, it's freezing, who's going to see my toes? Plus I didn't really want to still be wearing Christmas stuff well into the new year! I did these on 20th December, and they should last me until Boxing Day at least:

I think this is nice and Christmassy and interesting without being OTT or tacky, they just look metallic until you look a little bit closer! I still need more practice with my application, but this is only the second or third time I've actually done my own Minx so I'm still learning and honing my skills.

Next on my list of Minx to try is Oil Slick:

Winter nail polishes

As the weather's got colder, and the nights have got darker, so has my choice in nail polishes - I'm definately favouring darker nail polishes and shorter nails. I've not worn a bright orange or a pastel lilac for months now!

Here's what I've been wearing for the most part (you'll probably have seen most of these on here at some point, I've got a bit of a "thing" for nail polishes):

L-R: Leighton Denny "Monroe" (little bit more brown than it looks here)
Models Own "Grey Day" (love this polish!)
Sephora by OPI "Charge It!"
Eyeko "Cosmic Nail Polish" (a black polish with tiny pieces of multi glitter)

L-R: Leighton Denny "Millionaire" (sheer pinky lilac with gold flecks - not a dark polish, I know! But so easy to wear!)
Eyeko "Vampira Polish" (black with red glitter)
Illamasqua "Ruthless" (longwearing true red)
Diamond Cosmetics "Chainmail Charm" (dark grey holo)

L-R: OPI "Glamour Game" (silver with fine silver glitter)
Rimmel "Pompous" (dark purple with fine multi glitter)
China Glaze "Ruby Pumps"
Nails Inc "Rosebery Avenue"

See? Mainly dark polishes and reds - I feel like there should be more unashamed blingy glitters in there though, it is nearly Christmas! What have you been wearing on your nails? Do you go for dark stuff like me or does it not really affect what you've got on your nails?