#NOTD Essie Ballet Slippers with Models Own Pink Paradise and Essie Matte About You Topcoat

Today's #NOTD is Essie Ballet Slippers (reviewed here) - it's a bit whiter than I'd like so I added Models Own Pink Paradise, a pink toned flakie polish (also reviewed here) to pink it up a bit.  I thought it was a bit too girly so I added Essie Matte About You, a matte topcoat to flatten it out.

It looks like icing paste now!  This was one of those polishes that I can't stop looking at on my nails!

Models Own Hed Kandi Beach Party Nail Polish - neon orange!

If you follow me on Twitter (@LucyBATB) you might have already seen a swatch of this polish.  This is one of the polishes I bought in the Models Own 50% off sale.  I'm not going to say much really as I think the pics speak for themselves!  It's a gorgeous neon orange that will look great on tanned feet in summer!

Buy Models Own Hed Kandi Beach Party here.

Models Own HyperGel - is it worth the hype? (Red Lustre swatch)

I went a bit crazy in the Models Own 50% off sale.  One of the polishes I bought was one of Models Own's HyperGel, their new gel effect nail polishes.  I did have several of them in my basket at one point but I did a bit of basket editing bearing in mind I didn't even know if I'd like the HyperGel formula.

I kind of get annoyed by "gel effect" polishes - they're just shiny and most of the time you can just get that effect with a high shine topcoat like Seche Vite*.  I have to say I don't really think this polish is any different - this is 3 coats but I probably could have done with a fourth.  I was a bit worried as the first two coats looked really sheer but it evened out on coat 3.

Overall it's a nice enough polish but I'm not in a big rush to buy the other colours in the range but for £2.50 in the sale I can't complain!

You can find the HyperGel range here, currently 5 for £20.  Look out for more of my Models Own sale haul coming up!

New discoveries...

Over the last month or so I've made some new beauty discoveries that I want to keep in my repertoire:

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Oriental* - I love Batiste and use it a couple of times a week, it's a godsend when I don't always have time to wash my hair in the morning.  I was in Boots stocking up when I spotted they'd brought out some fragrances I haven't seen before.  Oriental is my favourite out of the new ones I've tried though it hasn't quite beat Batiste Wild (the leopard one) as my overall fave.  They're currently on Buy 1 get 2nd half price at Boots*.

Weleda Skin Food* - I tried this as a sample before Christmas (a 10ml sample which I'm only just about to finish as you only need to use a tiny amount) and fell in love.  It's a rich moisturiser that isn't greasy which is perfect for putting on overnight to combat the cold weather which, combined with heating etc, tends to dry out my skin.  I actually thought this would be way more expensive than it is but it's only £9.95 for 75ml and as I said it lasts ages as you only need a tiny amount!

Tresemme Heat Defence Serum* - I've been toying with the idea of going platinum blonde (eek) or at least much lighter and I've been watching loads of YouTube videos about the process of getting your hair platinum and taking care of it.  Anyway, I saw this mentioned in one of the videos I watched and decided to give it a go.  It's a good serum that protects your hair up to 230 degrees without making it greasy at all - important when you consider how hot straighteners go now!

Orly Bonder* - I'm a bit hit and miss when it comes to using a base coat, I sometimes find them a bit of an unnecessary step when I'm in a rush to get my nails dried and out the door.  I got this in my Boots Beauty Advent Calendar as a sample and I've fallen in love.  It seems to reduce chipping and stops any staining.  Plus if you're using a glitter it's way easier to remove it!