Losing my virginity...

Ahem...not like that! I finally lost my Beauty Box virginity this month as I got my She Said Beauty box through a few days ago. The blogging universe has been going crazy about these little treasures, so when I saw that there was a new beauty box out I jumped on eeeeeet! I was very pleased with the box and will definitely be getting another one next month. I love the fact that you get a present delivered to your doorstep every month...it doesn't matter that you paid for it yourself...it's too pretty!

Here are the products I got and my mini reviews.

Filthy Gorgeous London Nail Polish (Vamp) - £9

This was the only product I was very disappointed with so I'm going to get this out of the way first. The colour was awful, it stained my nail and it started chipping after a few hours. I can see these being in the bargain baskets in Pound World not a high end store. The company boasts of combining rich cremes, delcate sheers and crystal 3D glitter pigaments in the long wearing (HA!), high shine (Lies!), high pigament professional quality (Lol) nail polish formula...it's all lies! Never ever ever again!

Mischa Barton Luscious Lips - £12

I was adamant that I would not like this because it's Mischa Barton (from The OC) but I was pleasantly surprised. I like the fact it has SPF15 and vitamins in it because I like looking after my lips and that would do the job. It is a hydrating lip protector with a hint (non-existent) of flattering colour; I did not mind this because it seemed to emphasise my own lip colour rather than add anything to it. I found my lips were hydrated but I would not pay the full price for it. Still a good product though!

Bellapierre Cosmetics Shimmer Powder - £12.99

I love love love love love this product and it's a pretty nifty size so I know it will last me all summer! The 100% Mica powder has a gorgeous shimmer to it that lasts for such a long time. I used it as a highlighter when I tested it and it really enhanced my cheekbones and lasted all day. However, you can use it as an eyeshadow, cream shadow (apply with damp brush), blush, eye liner (apply with damp eye liner brush), lip colour (on top of vaseline/clear gloss), or nail varnish (on top of clear polish). The product is very versatile and I will be buying this little beauty again!

Bharti Vyas Face and Neck Polish - £25.50

This is part of an anti-ageing treatment for the skin from this company; it clears the skin of dead skin cells and leaves it feeling refined and fresh. I started off thinking that it was just another exfoliator but this was soooo much more; my skin felt lovely, fresh, moisturised and ah-may-zing! I am going to put this on my wishlist because it is a great product but I can't afford it.

Comfort Zone Body Expert Kit

This little kit has; Body Strategist Cellulite Remodeller which has a thermogenic action, D-Age Body Cream and Fruity Peel Exfoliator, Tranquillity Cream, Mediterranean Shower Gel, and Vital Leg Cream. I haven't used this yet so I can't really comment but I like the idea.

Erno Laszlo The Hollywood Collection 

This sample contained; Ava Gardner Instant Eye Repair, Marilyn Monroe Morning Beauty Rescue, Katharine Hepburn Intensive Porcelain Veil, Grace Kelly Refresh Moisture Infusion and Greta Garbo Velvet Night Cream. I tried this and LOVED it! My skin felt so amazing afterwards and I was practically beaming all day long. However, full size products from this range cost around and over £100 so I'll look into it again after I win the lottery.

And last but not least, there was a little Lindor Easter egg. I would show you a picture but it was in my belly within seconds of me opening the parcel.

Are you on the beauty box bandwagon?

What have been your favourite samples this month?

Hunger Games Nail Art

Everyone has been raving about 'Hunger Games'. The film buffs can't get enough of the movie, the literature geeks can't stop raving about the books, and the blogasphere can't get enough of the nails!

I watched a video by Cute Polish that showed step by step how to get the nail art on Effie Trinket. It is such a simple tutorial and you don't need any materials that you won't have lying around the house.

This is my attempt. Bare in mind that it is past 3am so they aren't as good as they could be.

I used my MaxDactor 'Deep Plum' polish for the base.

I used one of my mini Nail Inc gold glitter nail varnishes for the special star dust effect.

I used the Rimmel 60 seconds clear nail varnish to coat the top.

What nail art are you currently into?

Nailed it!

I finally used one of my Mini Nail Inc nail varnishes that I got as a free gift with my Debenhams purchases a few weeks ago. I used the Warwick Way Polish which is a vibrant teal shade and leaved a glossy finish. I was really impressed with the fact that I only needed one coat and got such great colour. I coated my nails with a clear polish to ensure that the colour lasted (I'm always chipping them). The Nail Inc lady suggested using the 'Farringdon Glitter Crackle' top coat for a more dramatic effect but I'm really not a fan of that trend so didn't bother with it.

The nail varnish was a little sample size but I still have loads left! I'm not one for spending loads of money on nail varnishes but Nail Inc is quickly becoming a strong favourite of mine.

Excuse the messy nails but it was past 1am and I was watching a really scary episode of Criminal Minds...

Something else I would like to share with you lovely bloggers out there is a give away by the lovely Beauty Balm. Check out her blog for more details (you won't be disappointed).

Wishing for a money tree...

Letting me loose in Manchester town centre when I have just had my student grant through is the worst possible thing ever! I have a few very hectic months coming up so I thought I'd get a few essentials (and treat myself whilst at it). I spent the day with my little sister smooching around shops and blowing money that really should be kept away from me.

Here are a few of my purchases;

I got this adorable clutch that resembles the Marc Jacobs bag I wanted! I love the bright yellow colour, patent material, the chain handle, and the fact that it over £500 cheaper than the one on my 'wish list'. It was a bargain at just £10.

I gave into temptation and got these Nail Inc Magnetic nail varnishes because they.are.just.too.pretty! I got the green and purple polishes because I felt that they had stronger magnetic pattern to them. At £13 a pop they were expensive BUT it was worth it because....

I got these 10 mini Nail Inc nail varnishes for FREE! There a variety of different colours in the free gift pack. I cannot wait to try these out. 2 magnetic nail varnishes and 10 mini ones for £26 sounded like a reasonable price and completed sealed the deal for me.

I got this bag satchel from Primark for £5. BARGAIN! I have needed a new one for university ever since my leather Jane Norman gave up on me. I hope it is sturdy and doesn't live up to normal Primark standards.

I fell in love with this white lace top the second my gaze crossed it in Primark. I've seen the 'Peter Pan collar' trent in most shops but this is the only top that has really grabbed my attention. I'm planning on layering this over a white shirt and wearing it over black trousers for a smart slash casual look on my new placement. At a mere £6 it was totally within my *ahem* student budget.

I was so happy when I saw this bronzer brush in Primark for £1(!). I was even happier when I got home and realised that the brush was soft against my skin and pretty good quality. I don't like spending too much money on make up brushes because I always tend to lose them or they get ruined.

I also purchased this concealer brush from Boots. It's a No.7 concealer brush and was originally £8 but I got it for £3 because I had one of their £5 off vouchers. Those vouchers are a life saver for me at the moment (I have 3 more) because I get to top up on eye shadows and brushes without making a dent in my bank account.

Even as I'm typing this I can see the money adding up (yikes!) BUT it was worth it (must.justify.this.to.myself). I have heard a lot about felt tip liners on other bloggers pages so thought I'd try one out. I got the one from MaxFactor because it was the ONLY one in store, and then, after finding out that you get a free gift containing a makeup bag, 2 mini nail varnishes, a mini mascara and a mini eye liner if you spend over £12, I decided to add the Creme Puff face powder in Translucent to my shopping basket. I will do a review on these when I get around to trying them out. I am the most excited about the powder because I need something to set my make up especially now that I need to look professional.

I cannot make up my mind about whether or not I like Lipsy; sometimes I find some great bargains in there but other times it just seems a bit chavvy. However, on this trip I saw this cute cloth bag that I have been trying to order on their website (but it's always out of stock) for just £3. It's cute, flirty and funky so I just HAD to buy it.

Being a trainee teacher means that any stationary shop is HEAVEN and that is how I feel about Paperchase. I got the cutest little heart paper clips, cat highlighters, normal 'boring' paperclips (because it's not ALL fun and games), and some star stickers to make marking more fun. I spent over an hour browsing through all their stuff because I wanted to buy EVERYTHING...and it took a looong time to narrow it down to these items...

I am a Glamour girl so was very excited to see that this month's issue came with a FREE Beauty Guide magazine and a FREE hair conditioner. I am looking forward to trying out the conditioner because I'm growing my hair longer and it needs some looking after.

What was your latest shopping spree like?

Enchantment

I woke up this morning to such dim, dull and drab weather that I came to the decision that I needed some colour in my life. Having only a few minutes before I had to make a run for my train, I decided that the fastest and most effective way to do this was splash some colour on my nails in the form of nail polish. I used a NYC deep red nail polish that came alive against my dark blue skinny jeans and grey coat. I have always believed that nail polish is the best way to make an effort whether you're going for a glamorous, chic, vintage or  laid back look. The subtleness and simplicity of it in contrast to the busy and fast moving everyday life has the opposite effect; the nail polish is a flash of colour, a shock of brightness and a moment of enchantment.

This jolt of colour had a positive knock on effect to the rest of my day. The train journey to university would otherwise have been a long, drawn out journey that I would have had to ensure because of the murky morning BUT I sat on the train taking in the beautiful scenery and marvelling at the constant changes of Mother Nature.

How was your day today?