Eyeko 20% off and Free Gift Code

Hope you all had a lovely festive season and a happy new year!

Just had an email i thought i would share with you -

www.eyeko.com save 20% on all Eyeko plus receive a FREE SURPRISE GIFT!!

Simply enter code E6670

Feel free to pass onto family and friends :)

xx

NOTD - Cherries in the Snow by Revlon

Hi sorry im late posting this but this is my nail of the day that i wore on Christmas Day this Year....Cherries in the Snow by Revlon. I applied this polish over my stick on nails which id had on for over 2 weeks and i think it looked great. I used the Nailene non-chip nails incase you were wondering.

What are your favourite festive shades to wear this winter?

Revlon Double Twist Mascara Launch Event

The Friday before I went to New York I was kindly invited to The Revlon Event to launch their new Double Twist mascara held at the Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair. When I arrived at the hotel it was beautifully decorated and felt very Xmasey. I also felt underdressed as everyone was wearing fur, cocktail dresses/suits so I was relieved when our gathering was in the bar which had a more relaxed atmosphere.

I had a lovely afternoon and was nice to meet other bloggers. Alessandra from Revlon talked through the history of Revlon and ideas and concepts behind the new products. Christian Loubotion is a fan of revlon and his famous red soles were inspired by revlon red nailpolish - so im dying to try out Revlon Red as it looks like the perfect red!

We had a specially designed red and black cocktail which was gorgeous, dainty sandwiches, cakes, scones with jam and cream and Champagne. The staff were so kind and boxed up the leftover cakes to take away (although mine didn’t survive the train journey home :()

We were presented with goody bags which included….A case of Dorchester Tea, Revlon Pedicure set (similar to the Ped Egg but pink!); makeup brushes, sweets, nail polishes, lipsticks, eye shadow quad, several tubes of foundation and not forgetting the new Revlon Double Twist Mascara! I was so pleased to recieve a Cherrys in the snow nail polish and matching lipstick as its my favourite revlon shade.

I was given a couple of tubes of darker shade foundations that isn’t suitable for my skin tone so I thought I would do a giveaway to my lovely followers. Also stay tuned for a review of the products once I’ve had chance to properly try them out!

I would like to thank the girls at Revlon for organising such a wonderful afternoon, it was a nice treat and great to feel appreciated.

x

NOTD OPI Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

Nail of the Day (painted on the train whilst drinking my PJ Tips to warm up!) is OPI Feeling Hot Hot Hot! I LOVE this colour and normally only wear it in the summer but since its so cold and dull outside i felt the need to brighten myself up....What do you think?

P.S the Cream Cocktail Ring is from Topshop :)

Hair Growth Experiment

Apparantly hair grows around 1.5 inches every month, although my fringe grows out so quick i never see much difference in length as my ends tend to go whispy. As of Dec 2009 my hair although cut into different layers measures approx. 29cm and im planning to measure it again in 3 months time and see how much it has grown (may do monthly updates).

In order for my hair to be looking in better condition I have started doing a number of things such as:

1. I have started getting my hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks to get rid of split ends

2. Not dying or bleaching my hair as often and giving my hair a rest (even tho my roots are starting to look terrible as its about 3 months since I last got it coloured!) I am also gradually going darker so it looks more glossy and in better condition (also the roots wont show as badly)

3. I am using less heat on my hair – if im not in a rush I will let my hair dry naturally after washing

4. I am using a mix of good (expensive!) shampoos and conditioners by loreal professional and keratase.

5. I only wash my hair never more than twice a week – my hair doesn’t get greasy and is naturally curly and dry so doesn’t need it.

6. I am also using dry shampoo if my hair is looking a bit dull and slightly greasy inbetween washes.

7. Once a week I use a strethening treatment by either loreal professional or ketatase.

8. I am using a heat protective spray before I straighten

9. Im only using straighteners on my hair after I have first washed it or if I am going out. Sometimes If im just in the house I just tie my hair back and leave it without styling.

10. Using bumpits instead of backcombing.

11. Drinking more water and better diet

12. More excercise

13. Planning to detox in Jan 2010

14. Weekly Deep Treatment

15. Vitamin Supplements and Herbal Tea

Do you have any top tips for making hair get in better condition?

Nailene Non Chip Stick on Nails Review

Hello guys! sorry i havent posted for a week or so but as you will know if you follow me on twitter that I have just got back this weekend from New York. It was fab and i got a few things i will share with you in a later blog. Before i went away i was really busy with work so have lots of blogs to catch up on!

I just wanted to share with you these fab stick on nails from nailene - im really impressed! I tried out the original nailene stick on nails and the first couple of days i was really impressed with them - but was disapointed that the white chipped off really badly. These new versions promise to be chip free and im pleased to say they work! I stuck these on in the airport whilst waiting for my flight to new york....i filed them more of a rounded shape as i felt they looked too fake square shaped. I have had them on a week now and no chips at all they look perfect - i have had a few girls passing comment on my nails and asking where i had them done!

Here is just after i applied the nails:

This picture is taken after 7 days of wearing them - and i have to say i have been rushing around, shopping, no not taking great care of them and they look perfect and natural! I prefer them to gel nails. Im very impressed and definately recommend them to you all :)

Bumpits - Big Happy Hair!

For those that follow me on twitter we know that last week i ordered some Bumpits after hearing how great they are. I ordered them online for £3.40 including first class postage, and they arrived very quickly i was very impressed with the service. I was that impressed that i ordered another set but in brown - as im thinking of darkening my hair for winter. The Bumpits are basically a plastic hairband/inserts that gives volume to your hair turning it from flat to fabulous in seconds! They promise to be comfortable, self-gripping and simple to use. The pack was cute and came with 5 bumpits of different sizes.

I have tried them in my hair a few times but im yet to wear them for a long period or on a night out - so i shall hold off for a review until they have been fully tested. These are a great concept for creating volume in your hair without needing to backcomb. Apparantly alot of celebrities wear them and they have been a big craze for over a year - im obviously slow to catch on!

The only thing I would point out is im not sure how suitable these would be for someone with very fine or thin hair – I would think it would be difficult to cover the bumpit plastic up and keep it hidden. They are very comfortable to wear – you cant feel them in! The large and extra large stay in perfectly – and the small bumpit for the front section also stays in place, but I have trouble with placing the 2 smaller bumpits in the sides of the hair, they just drop out. Maybe i need more pracising with styling. You really need extra volume at the sides as it can look silly having your hair bumped up at the back and noflat at the sides – blends in better. I would say that it would be find to leave the sides if your planning to wear your hair half up half down with the larger bumpit at the back of thehead and scraping the sides back pinning.

I bought these from ebay for around £3.50 including packaging – howver other places are selling them ranging from £10-25! I don’t think I would pay more than £5 for these- they are good but only a plastic hairband with a comb edge! I ordered 2 packs - the colours of blonde and brown as im always changing my hair colour! I would say even tho my hair is a carmel blonde colour at the moment the brown seem to suit better than the blonde.

The pack of bumpits comes with 2 smaller bumpits for the front section of your hair, and you can also place these at the side of your hair to blend if your placing a larger bumpit on the top of your head. It comes with 2 large bumpits for creating more volume in the crown section. And an extra large (Hollywood) bumpit for full volume!

I love having voloume in my hair and have recently been backcombing and hairspraying my hair to create my desired look. I find this doesn’t last and tends to fall flat especially if im on a night out. I have also noticed that the combination of regularly bleaching, dying, straightening, using heat along with backcombing my hair has left the section at the top of my hair extremely dry and damaged. My hair around this section feels extremely dry and almost afro like it gets tatty and matted very easily! I can only put this down to backcombing as I don’t have that problem in any other section other than the section I normally backcomb. The rest of my hair feels soft and shiney and in good condition. I have always used a good hairdressers professional shampoo and conditioner, and really notice the difference on the odd occassion i have used cheap or drug store branded shampoo, my hair just feels so dried out and straw-like.

In order for my hair to be looking in better condition and also wanting to grow my hair I have started doing a number of things such as:

1. I have started getting my hair trimmed every 6-8 weeks to get rid of split ends

2. Not dying or bleaching my hair as often and giving my hair a rest (even tho my roots are starting to look terrible as its about 3 months since I last got it coloured!)

3. I am using less heat on my hair – if im not in a rush I will let my hair dry naturally after washing,

4. I am using a mix of good (expensive!) shampoos and conditioners by loreal professional and keratase.

5. I only wash my hair never more than twice a week – my hair doesn’t get greasy and is naturally curly and dry so doesn’t need it.

6. I am also using dry shampoo if my hair is looking a bit dull and slightly greasy inbetween washes.

7. Once a week I use a strethening treatment by either loreal professional or ketatase.

8. I am using a heat protective spray before I straighten

9. Im only using straighteners on my hair after I have first washed it or if I am going out. Sometimes If im just in the house I just tie my hair back and leave it without styling.

10. Using bumpits instead of backcombing.

Which products do you swear by for your hair? Have you used bumpits before?

Want to find out how to save money on everything you buy online?

I just discovered a brilliant site yesterday that i wanted to share with everyone - im gutted i didnt find this before i could of saved SO much money!

How the site works is you sign up (which is free), then login each time you wish to buy something online then click onto the links to each store - there is every shop imaginable on this site ranging from M&S, amazon, lastminute.com to even ebay! There are no admin fees so you have nothing to loose! The amount of cashback varies from 5%-75%. I was a little suspicious at first but its through advertising how the site makes money, just checked got paid £1 already in my account for signing up yesterday! This site is fabulous especially in these credit crunch times!

Simply click on this link to sign up http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/ref/catherinemaughan

Revlon - Plum Night & Va Va Violet

These products are from Revlons New Autumn/Winter 2009 collection Plum Trend. This is very different from the makeup i usually wear which is lots of bronzer, neutral colours hot pinks, corals and heavy dark smokey eyes. The lipstick is shade no. 663 - Va Va Violet and it a creme lipstick. Nice packaging and i particularly like that the top of the lid is clear so when you store all your lipsticks you can quickly at a glance pick out your prefered colour. I Really like the texture of this lipstick its really creamy, i think this shade works well with pale skin and dark smokey eyes. I know this colour wouldnt be everyones cup of tea - and it seems a bit on the gothic side. However, i also applied the lipstick yesterday and blotted alot of the colour off with a tissue then applied some pink gloss over the top - it really worked well and left a subtle stain on the lips turning them a dark pink shade which is more wearable for every day.

The nail varnish is 025- Plum Night which is a lovely dark plum shade - This really works well and is a change from my normal dark red or dark brown shade. The colour is very pigmented and easy to apply. I applied 2 coats here.

What do you think? Do you go for Daring dark colours?

NOTD - Cherries in the Snow

Today I painted my Nails Cherries in the snow by Revlon - its the perfect Cherry Red colour i love it :)

Have you tried it? What do you think? Do you like any of the other Revlon Polishes?

Origins Facial

Last weekend i took advantage of the Grazia Magazine offer whereby you could get a free Origins facial which should normally cost £15. I have not tried any origin products before so i thought this would be a great idea to give them a go and get some advice before splashing out!

To start with the lady gave me a skin consultation and asked if i had any skin concerns. The facial was performed on the Origins Counter in Debenhams in a chair that looked a bit like a deck chair but was surprisingly comfy and it stretched out and lowered when i sat down. The only peeve i would have about the experience was that the atmosphere wasnt as relaxing as being in a salon or private closed off space as i could hear all of the shop noise, and wasnt very private as shoppers could walk past me and view the facial. As it was a busy saturday the girl kept being interupted by shoppers asking questions and needing to serve customers so my facial took a little longer than expected, over an hour.

She used perfect world cleanser which stung my face a little and i was worried that it was going to irriate my face and end up being red at the end. Also she removed this cleanser with cotton wool pads that were slightly damp, i would of prefered to use clothes or a flannel as i didnt feel all the cleanser was off my skin. She then used perfect world toner/tonic which i really liked, it didnt sting my face and left my skin feeling really clean and soft. It contains white tea and also smelt lovely and wasnt harsh on the skin like i have found my other toners to do.

She then applied modern friction - nature's gentle dermabrasion scrub mask. It was stinging my face for about 5 minutes then settled. This took a while to remove as she was using small damp cotton pads. Next she applied clear improvement face mask which is a charcoal mask to clear pores. She mentioned this is best to put on whilst having a hot bath as it opens up the pores. I really liked this mask, it felt cooling and left my skin clean feeling. There was a little boy came over after she had applied the mask (as its a dark grey charcoal colour!) and asked if he could have his face painted too!! :)

Next she applied Perfect World Serum and i felt my skin afterwards - it felt baby soft all over! I have never felt my skin so soft! I was extremly impressed! The moisurior she used was Perfect World which was nice but im happy with my current stack of moisurisers so dont feel the need to buy another! The eye mask she used was Ging Zing, again this was nice but i wouldnt consider buying.

Overall the products are pricey but some were worth it - im definately considering purchasing the toner and charcoal face mask (however i believe i shall be able to find a cheaper alternative charcoal mask!). They are on my wishlist for now until i use up a few of my products, they have some lovely sets for christmas which work out a bit cheaper than buying them separately!

Have you tried Origins products before? Did you like them? Feel free to comment below. x

New York Shopping List

Hey guys sorry its been a while since i last posted- i have been mega busy with work! :(

Well i am excited as in less than 3 weeks i am off to New York for 4 days with my friend! I went last year for nye and went for 10 days but i found because the exchange rate was crap (1.4 to the pound) it wasnt as cheap as i was hoping and alot of the shop assistants were under the impression that us brits are still getting 2 dollars for a pound and had put their prices up :(

I have wrote a small list but if anyone else has any suggestions of clothing/beauty items/makeup or any good places to eat/drink/shop please leave a comment below !

x

Katie Price Standing Out Style Book Review

Im not embarrased to admit im a fan of Katie Price, even though i think some of her jordan outfits are horrendous, i love her hair and makeup and dresses she wears for red carpets so i bought her lastest style book 'Standing Out' last week as it was on offer half price in Tesco for £10 instead of the usual £20. I personally wouldnt call Katie Price/Jordan a style queen but was a fun read overall. I have to admit its an easy read it didnt take me long to get through as its mainly full of pictures but is nice to read with a cuppa tea! Perfectly girly read!

In the introduction Katie says its not a book telling people how to dress, it just tips to give you idea on how to stand out, and tells fans what her favourite things are.... It's written in a chatty style, with lovely glossy pictures and pages, I loved the look of the book and the pictures!

I have got the Victoria Beckham fashion book too and found Jordans book to be similar, however not as detailed. The major flaw with Katie's book is that she doesnt go into detail on where she buys outfits from or what brands of products or makeup she uses. I like how Katie isnt afriad to be honest and say what she thinks but I thought she was quite catty and bitchy in some parts in this book – making digs at people she doesn’t like....didnt think that was very grown up and there was no need in it as this is suppost to be a style book!

She does give some cool tips and information into what she likes and some products but to be honest in was hoping for more information on the exact products she uses and she could of written next to each photo where her clothes were from. Since she is best friends with her MUA she could of listed the exact products she uses or what shops she gets her hair extensions, wigs, clothes from. A directory at the end with all her favourite places to shop would of been helpful. I did notice a print error too lol - there is a section with her favourite nail varnish colours and there is one photo that doesnt match up with the nail colour!

Overall it is a good fun read and the photos are so girly but i was expecting more in depth information into where she buys things from and exact products she uses to achieve makeup and hair looks.

Have you read this book, what did you think? Are there any other style books you would recommend for me to read?

Feel free to comment below x

Bargain Nail Polish Set

I picked up this nail set from primark for £2 at the weekend. It would make a great gift for xmas or bdays. It comes in a mirrored case with 4 nail polishes - the polishes dont have names unfortunately. But there is a hot pink shade, a deep red, a bright lilac purple and a bright red. Here is a picture of how the polishes look when applied....

What do you think?

How to remove false nails without damage to your natural nails!

Im going to show you how to remove false nails without any damage to your natural nails alot cheaper than what you would pay in the salon - here I am removing Stick On False Nails, but you can use this method to remove UV Gel, Arylic or any other type of nail extension.

I’m pretty certain that a lot of you will be tempted and guilty of pulling or biting off your fake stick on nails (and even UV Gel or Acrylic Extensions!). Please If you pull off the fake nail, this can be very damaging to your own natural nails and leave them brittle, soft and in poor condition. A lot of people seem to think Gel damage your nails but it is in fact when you pull off the nails which causes the damage. Following the good aftercare advise that you can find here (LINK) on my blog also prevents damage to your natural nails. I would always recommend you get your nails removed professionally or for a much cheaper option is to learn how to remove them safely at home as removal at salons can be very costly. There several different options to remove false nails. I shall show you how to do two different ways which are quick, simple and cheap to do at home! At a salon they would normally remove the nails and then give a quick manicure or tidy up and apply some nail strengthen – I have already posted a blog also show you how to do a quick 10 minute manicure.

What you shall need for removal Method One:

Acetone

Orange Sticks

Thick Nail Files

Vasaline (optional)

Nail Buffer

Nail strengthener

Cuticle oil

Small Soaking Bowl (either a kidney bowl or ceramic NOT plastic – as the acetone will melt it!)

Method: Step One: Get all your tools ready and pour a generous amount of acetone into the soaking bowl.

Step Two: (Optional) If you have sensitive skin, as the acetone is abrasive and extremely strong chemical you can apply a layer of Vaseline around you fingers and around the nail cuticle to protect your skin.

Step Three: Place your hands and nails into the soaking bowl and make sure there is enough acetone covering your nails completely.

Step Four: Leave to soak for 15-20 minutes.

Step Five: The fake nails should of lifted off from your natural nail plate and become soft. You can file the fake nails down and buff them completely off.

Step Six: If you find some of the nails haven’t lifted you can soak again in the acetone for a further 5-10 minutes and repeat step five.

Step Seven: Once the fake nails have been removed, buff your natural nails with the 3 way buffer until smooth and shiny.

Step Eight: Apply cuticle oil to replace the lost moisture and apply a coat of nail strengthener….continue with a mini manicure if needed.

What you will need for Method two:

Cotton Wool

Tin foil

Acetone

Orange Sticks

Thick Nail Files

Vasaline (optional)

Nail Buffer

Nail strengthener

Cuticle oil

Method: Step One: Get all your tools ready and soak cotton wool pieces in acetone - you may you the soaking bowl to help with this if you wish.

Step Two: (Optional) If you have sensitive skin, as the acetone is abrasive and extremely strong chemical you can apply a layer of Vaseline around you fingers and around the nail cuticle to protect your skin.

Step Three: Wrap the soaked cotton wool pieces around your nails covering them completley. Then wrap a piece of tin foil around the cotton wool to secure.

Step Four: Leave on for 15-20 minutes. You are able to have a cuppa whilst your waiting!

Step Five: The fake nails should of lifted off from your natural nail plate and become soft. You can file the fake nails down and buff them completely off.

Step Six: If you find some of the nails haven’t lifted you can wrap the soaked cotton wool around the nail again and leave for a further 5-10 minutes and repeat step five.

Step Seven: Once the fake nails have been removed, buff your natural nails with the 3 way buffer until smooth and shiny.

Step Eight: Apply cuticle oil to replace the lost moisture and apply a coat of nail strengthener….continue with a mini manicure if needed.

Hope this has been useful for you. Please feel free to comment below or ask any questions x

Chery Cole X Factor Fight for This Love

I absolutely loved the overall look Cheryl Cole went for on sunday night's X Factor. Her flawless MAC makeup dark eyeliner,smokey eyes with bright red lips, lots of bronzer her outfit and overall dance routine were amazing too-however its dispointing that she doesnt sing well and is a shame she was miming on the night!

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner Petting Pink SPF15 Haul

I absolutely love this MAC Lip conditioner SFP 15 i picked up in the shade petting pink a few weeks back. It is really conditioning and leaves a slight tint of pink to the lips - ive been using it alot. Lovely really nice sheen, smells lovely and i find it plumps up the lips! Its nice to wear underneath lipstick to stop your lips drying out or becoming flaky.

FOTD - MAC Look That Look Violet Smokey Eye

Makeup used:

MAC Pearlglide eye liner in Rave from Love that Look collection,

MAC eye shadow - fashion groupie

MAC Stuido Mositure tint SPF 15 in shade medium/dark

MAC Prep + Prime Powder

MAC Lashes

Rose Bud earings are from Urban Outfitters

What do you think?

Sunday Morning cupcake breakfast at Hummingbird bakery Portobello Market

Sunday morning breakfast at Hummingbird bakery, Portobello Market, London.

I adore the painted houses along portobello road;

The market stalls;

and

my favourite Red Velvet cupcakes!

:)

Sanctuary Spa Beauty Box Haul

Today i picked up the Deluxe Beauty Box from Sanctuary Spa. This was on offer, reduced to half price - £35 to £17.50. It was also on the 3 for 2 offer, so i ended up getting 3 - for xmas presents! It contains everything a girl needs to pamper in style and is really good value as the tub of body butter retails at £10 alone. All the products came in a really nice set of drawers which will be really handy - im thinking i might re-cover this and store some of my jewerly inside. I absolutely love pampering myself and im a fan of sanctuary spa products! It came with the following: body lotion, mande lular body souffle, luxury bath float, salt scrub, body wash, body scrub, classic perfume EDT, luxury shower cap, body butter and a smooth skin wash mitt. Absolutely fab!

I also got given a £5 voucher when i bought this to spend on Ruby and Millie or Boots No. 7 makeup - so i had a quick look and noticed this Boots No. 7 'eyeshadow blend and contour' brush that looked very good quality and very similar to the MAC No 217 brush. It was £6, so only cost me £1 after using the voucher - such a bargain! I tried it earlier and its extremly soft and blends really well - really good dupe for MAC No. 217!! I havent used any boots No. 7 brushes before but im extremlely impressed with this find.

Hope this is useful, feel free to write any comments below :)

Best Divorce letter, ever!

Dear wife:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever. I've been a good man to you for 7 years & I have nothing to show for it.These last 2 weeks have been hell.Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today & that was the last straw. Last week, you came home & didn't even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal & even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, & went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps. You don't tell me you love me anymore; you don't want sex or anything that connects us as husband & wife. Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me anymore; whatever the case, I'm gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. don't try to find me. Your SISTER & I are moving away to West Virginia together!
Have a great life!

Dear Ex-Husband:

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter.It's true you & I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you've been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining & griping Too bad that doesn't work. I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the 1st thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!' Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment. And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago. About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, & I prayed it was a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed $50 from me that morning.

After all of this, I still loved you & felt we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for 10 million dollars, I quit my job & bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica But when I got home you were gone.. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted.

My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from me.

So take care.
Signed,Your Ex-Wife,
Rich As Hell & Free!P.S.

I don't know if I ever told you this, but my sister Carla was born Carl.

I hope that's not a problem.

Nailene

Nailene contacted me after reading my blog posts about nails and kindly sent me a few sets of fake stick on nails to try out ! I must say i was very impressed with the lovely package that arrived from USA all wrapped up nicely and presented in silver and purple paper tissue and a gift bag. It included 4 sets of nails - 'so real nails', 'so natural nails', 2 different couture runway design nails and a set of bedazzled fashionista nail art stickers.

Tonight I tried out the 'So Real Nails' set which I am extremly pleased with the result - they feel and look very natural. Usually i have found in the past stick on nails feel quite uncomfortable on and are sharp - and look fake as you can see the edges around the cuticles! These nailene nails have a natural fit, and light-weight. The pack comes with 24 nails and everything you need - orange stick, nail buffer and file, nail glue and instructions.

So to begin with I removing my old nail polish - and pushing back the cuticles with the orange stick. Then buff the nail so the nail adheres better to the natural nail.apply glue to the articial nail, apply glue to natural nail -press and hold! Simple as that!