PRESENTS & APOLOGISES

Okay so I need to start by saying sorry... I seem to have been M.I.A for the last week, due to living at the top of a ridiculous hill in Cheshire, and the internet playing up- so for that, I apologise! Anyway, thanks to Mr BT I am back! And have a LOT of catching up to do.

I've just done my first guest post for www.charlottesobsessions.com which should be up soon, pretty exciting so keep having a look at Charlotte's lovely website !

Also, my gorgeous pal Alice (check her fashion blog here: www.fashionandcircus.blogspot.com) sent me an AMAZING package from New York recently (she's been interning at Nylon magazine- yep.. cool eh?!) ... a bag FULL of beauty products right from the Nylon beauty department itself!

So expect lots of reviews in the upcoming week, as I have a lot to get through! THANKS PAL!

XO Chloe

How to... Fishtail Plait

1. Start by pulling hair round to one-side - I find it's easier to do a fishtail plait on the side, however with more practice you could always do one to the back.

2. Split hair into two even sections

3. Start by taking a piece of hair from the back section (I've selected large pieces so it's easier to see but you can always use smaller pieces)

4. Pull the back piece around to the front section

5. Take a piece from the front section

6. ...and pull that around to the back section

7.8.&9. Carry on taking pieces from front to back

10. And secure!

XO Chloe

GLITTER BUG

What do you guys think about nail art? Or anything other than your straight-run-of-the-mill mani? Well, I'm kind of bored of block colour and decided to get creative.. result? Glitter nails. Verdict? I'm asking you! What do you think?

 
 What you need:
1. Block colour of your choice - I used '17 Lasting Finish Nail Polish' in 'Midnight Sapphire'
2. Base & Top coat - I used 'O.P.I Start to Finish'
3. GLITTER - I used gold.

1. Start by applying a base coat to your nails - especially important if you're using a dark colour (like moi) as this will stop your nails from staining and going that lovely yellow colour!

2. Apply your block colour - I had to apply two coats of the Lasting Finish nail varnish to get the really deep blue colour.

3. Now whilst the nail colour is still drying, dip your nails into the glitter lightly- the nail varnish being slightly wet and tacky still will allow the glitter to adhere to your nails.

4. When the nail varnish is dry, apply two coats of top coat, which will help to seal the glitter and prevent chips.

Whaddya think!?

XO Chloe

Oh! Lola .. Marc Jacobs review for Cosmo on Campus

So being a University student can at times be a pain... no money being the biggest blag! However, when opportunities come up for STUDENTS ONLY to review new fragrances for Cosmopolitan... it makes being a student a little more worth while!!

The fragrance I was sent (thanks to Cosmo's gorge beauty assistant Cassie Powney) was the new Marc Jacobs Oh! Lola perfume... and I am LOVING it!

Here is a snippet of my review for Cosmopolitan's student spin-off 'Cosmo on Campus' :

It is sweet, fruity and floral, yet a little sexy with the vanilla undertones. Both my sister and my mum have been stealing squirts and I’ve noticed the Oh, Lola! summery scent wafting through the house! The bottle is gorgeous, with a pink peony lid reflecting the fruity floral fragrance… definitely one for the dressing table.

Priced at £37 for 30ml Oh, Lola! isn’t exactly in the ‘student friendly’ price range, however the perfume is super long lasting therefore a small bottle goes a long way. It’s young and flirty, fresh but sexy- I’ll definitely continue to wear it… And hey, what’s a student loan for?!

What's your fave summer scent?
XO Chloé

SUN-(less) TAN

 photos: cupofcouture, littleplastichorses.blogspot.com

Okay so it's August, but looking out the window it seems like November. There has been SO much rain this week, and no sun at all... so this can only mean one thing: time to get fake tanning. There are so many brands of fake tan out there; and then when you finally establish the brand there's the dilemma of lotion or pump-spray or mousse or airbrush...ARGHH!

So I thought I'd share with you MY personal favorites when using fake-tan (although I haven't actually decided on my favorite) ...

The three brands I can always rely on :      1. St Tropez

                                                                           2. Xen-Tan

                                                                           3. Fake Bake

St Tropez is my first thought when considering fake tan. I personally go for the pump-spray 30ml bottle (which is sometimes quiet hard to find) and apply it with a fake tan mitt. I find the mousse a little drying for my skin, and the lotion doesn't go deep enough, so for me the spray is the best.

I first used Xen-Tan when my friend recommended it at work, she swore by the mousse and even though I don't particularly like the St Tropez mousse I thought I'd give it a go - and I'm glad I did. The first thing you notice when using Xen-Tan compared with other fake tanners is the smell. There isn't that gross 'old buscuit' smell you can get with fake tan, instead it's a sweet, marzipan smell. And then there's the colour- when first pumped out it almost looks green (don't freak out) but when applied it's the most natural olive brown colour ever... and unlike the St Tropez mousse, I didn't find Xen-Tan at all drying... fab!

Fake Bake was recommended to me buy a sales assistant at Selfridges. I bought the airbrush version which is also instant, so I could literally 'spray and go!' Like Xen-Tan, Fake Bake has a much nicer smell to it and dries super quick. The colour is deep and dark but not at all orange so is perfect for a quick fix.

Try them and let me know what you think!
XO Chloé

How to... Ballerina Bun

photos: piniterest we heart it, padgett hoke

Ever since the release of Black Swan earlier this year, the ballerina craze has been huge. Here is my 'How to..' guide for the perfect ballerina inspired bun. 

What you need:  

• A 'donut' hair piece in your shade of hair (you can buy these from Boots for around £2)
• Hair pins, again in the shade of your hair
• A hair tie
• Some hairspray (I love L'oreal Elnett)

1. Tie your hair in a high pony-tail. Brush and tie it tight if you want a slick glam look, or keep it loose for a messier finish.
2. Pull your pony-tail through the middle of the donut so that it sits at the base.
3. Wrap your hair all around the donut, tucking in the ends underneath.
4. Use hairpins to pin the hair into the donut.
5. Finish with spraying lightly with hairspray.

XO Chloé

O.P.I Kardashian Kolours

I may be in the minority but I'm pretty damn excited for O.P.I to release their range of 'Kardashian Kolours' nail varnishes in the UK. Colours such as "Khloe had a little lam-lam" and "Kourt is Red-y for a Pedi"........... KOOL EH?! 

BACK TO BLONDE.

Being a student and keeping up with highlights is a tricky game, and after months of sporting the OMBRE look with dark roots and blonde tips, tomorrow morning I am visiting the salon and getting my much needed blonde put in..... Can.not.wait.

Photos: pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com, fotoalbum.ee, michael williams

BEACH BRIGHTS.

 Photos: Elle France. March 11

My favorite BEACH SUMMER BRIGHTS

For fab fingers...

1.  Maybelline New York, Forever Strong Pro: in Orange Couture 460
2. Barry M, Nail Paint: in Bright Pink 279                                             
3. Rimmel London, Pro: in Coral Romance 317                                     
4. Rimmel London, I love fruities Lasting Finish: in Lemon Drop 058      
5. Maxfactor Nailfinity: in Disco Pink 704                                              

For a pretty pout...

1. Mac Lipstick in Morange                               
2. Bobbi Brown pot rouge in Pink 11                 
3. The Body Shop Born Lippy in Mango Peach 
4. Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Bubble Bath          
5. YSL Pure Lipstick in Rouge Pur 138             

And for my number one summery scent....



Marc Jacobs, Oh Lola! Currently doing a fragrance review for Cosmopolitan so will post when it's up! XO

FINALLY!

zeynep oztayinci for thebeautydepartment.

After months of searching I've finally found it!!!

The PERFECT nude nail varnish shade

and of course, I just had to share it with you...

Chanel nail colour in INATTENDU 503. 

The perfect combination of pink and brown.
LOVE it!

Oh and also- try wearing it with O.P.I Start to Finish Base and Top Coat. I managed four shifts behind a busy bar with no chips or cracks... and trust me, that's good going!