So ok I might have gone a little mental in Boots and Superdrug last week. I only went in there to return a nail varnish I wasn't happy with and before I knew it the three for two offer had sucked me in...

Anyway I'm actually really pleased and impressed with all of these products so wanted to share them as I feel they are really good value for money. Just goes to show you need not spend a fortune to get good quality products providing you make an informed choice.

First off I got myself three new Rimmel lipsticks. I am a big fan of their lipsticks (and Maybellines but I've already got most of theirs) as they last a long time and give a great buildable colour. I got two from the Kate Moss range in shades 01 (far right) and 30 (far left) which are a bright red and a berry colour. My favourite though is from the standard line and is shade 016 called Heart Breaker (centre) and is a lovely rose pink.

I always end up with nail varnishes and I am really loving Barry M ones at the moment. I picked up two from their new Speedy Quick Dry range in Pole Position (far right) and In a Heart Beat (far left) as well as an iridescent shade called Pacific (centre). This looks amazing over my Gelly Hi Shine in Blueberry.

As an extra nail varnish I got an Essie one in Bikini So Teeny which I've been waiting all winter to get. Its such a lovely pastel blue and is perfect for Spring. I've had my eye on the Bourjois cream blushes for ages now so got one in Rose Tender and it comes in the cutest little pot! I'm currently wearing it at work and it just gives the most natural looking flush I've ever seen which is perfect for Spring. The second blush I got was the Max Factor Creme Powder blush in Seductive Pink. I am loving this so much and I've worn it to work twice this week.

In addition to make up I also got some more Nivea extra gentle eye make up remover as its such good value for money and a Boots essentials 3 minute clay mask. At only £1.50 this is a bargain for anyone with oily skin. I also decided it was time to lose my waxing virginity to got some wax strips (not pictured) and sweet jesus does it hurt! Won't be doing that again in a hurry.

Thank to a combination of Boots Points and the Three for Two offer I got the Essie Nail Varnish, 1 Barry M Nail Varnish, 1 Rimmel Lipstick, the Make up remover and the wax strips for free. Boots, you really are the best.

I also dropped into Superdrug to pick up some blackhead removing strips after trying one for the first time last week (soooooo satisfying!) and to grab the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer as they had ran out of my shade in Boots. Have you tried any of these products? Do you have any favorites?

Why is everyone hating on the French Manicure?

B

So as we all know, yesterday was Valentines Day and no I am not going to write a post on it because couples who post their relationships all over the internet make me want to vom (but thats a post for another day).
I love nail varnish, like almost as much as I love lipstick and I wanted to make them look pretty for my Valentines Dinner.

Normally for a big occasion I like to paint my nails red to match my lipstick (I'm a feisty kinda gal), but as I was staying in I wanted something a little less in your face.

So I decided on the trusty French Manicure. While on the bus on my way to town to purchase a new white tip pen I did an idle google on French manicures for some inspiration. I got back a ton of pages, blog posts and fashion articles on how to 'update' the french manicure and on 'fun new twists' to put on it.

Now I am all for trying something new but a lot of these ideas were Pinterest worthy and looked tricky. I wanted the standard French manicure so I started to narrow down my google search and got back tons of stuff on how it has 'gone out of fashion', is 'so overdone' and is 'cliche and passse'.

I was stunned by this. Maybe I am not very hip and down with the kids any more but as far as I was aware the French mani is a classic. And classics never go out of fashion. Thats kind of the point of them.

You never hear about people saying a bold red lip, or the classic LBD is 'tired'. Instead it is praised for being a classy and put together look.

What is not to like about the French mani? The whole point is it is so unoffensive and subtle. If it is done well it just looks like you have healthy, well looked after nails. There is a reason it is the top choice for most brides and most people in the know advise it so as not to make your wedding photos look dated in a decades time. Plus the understated look does not detract from the dress.

Maybe it is because in the mid 90's it was massively popular and was the mani of choice when people got acrylics and this probably was tacky. Long overdone nails never look good to me.

In my opinion I say it is time to welcome back the French look and I for one will not stop wearing it just because some fashion magazine has told me to. I want to look elegant from time to time and this goes hand in hand with simplicity. That is exactly what the French Manicure is: simplicity at its best.