Faux Snakeskin Nails

If you want something snazzier than greige this Autumn, I recently wore these grey snakeskin design instant manicure nail wraps. I've had them for a few months and always thought they were a bit too showy for every day wear. I am not brave enough for animal print nails for an every day look.

However, this Autumn I plucked up courage to wear them and now they have become a favourite. I feel a bit of a prude for overlooking them for so long, and a bit silly as they've received so many compliments.

The best thing I like about this design is that they just work with every outfit and occasion. I just prefer them to nail polish, which is why I haven't reviewed any nail polish for the longest time. I don't feel like wearing it and when I do it chips within a nanosecond or smudges!

So my advice this Autumn if you're not quite ready for bold colours, is to go with this sort of design, it speaks volumes in terms of style. It certainly beats the latest craze sweeping the US for using naturally shed snakes skin embedded in clear polish or gel nails.

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Available from Rebel Nails for £7.99 per set for fingers or toes.

These nails were reviewed as a PR sample.

My stress-free make up choices for every day

I thought you might like to see my current day to day make up. If you have a collection of make up, it can be a daunting in the morning deciding which items to choose. I find it a bit paralysing and sometimes I just need to grab what I need and will perform well.

So let's start with the face!

Foundation versus tinted moisturiser? That depends on the weather, how my skin feels and where/what I am doing during the day. This Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint is only used on days when my skin is super clear as it offers no coverage but used sparingly is a nice SPF15 moisturiser. My advice with this product is to figure out the threshold amount to use, because if you are generous with this product you will end up with, as GetLippie likes to call it and I agree, "sticky face" and no amount of powder will tamp it down. I went for the darkest colour which is still a little light for my skin tone but blends away easily enough.

The foundation is by Daniel Sandler and is the dark shade. It has a screw top and integrated spatula. The flip top is the concealer and mirror. I find the foundation works really well with my skin and moisturiser which is oil based. My sister cannot use this foundation as she uses a water based moisturiser. The two simply don't work together without using a primer to separate the two layers.

The yellow powder is a setting powder that I prefer to use instead of a translucent or skin coloured pressed powder. I find that it adds luminosity without draining my skin of its natural undertone. It is made by Lumiere cosmetics.

The blush is a current favourite by Sleek MakeUP and is the nude shade. It's pretty perfect in terms of colour and pigmentation. I am still hankering for a cream/gel version that will last throughout the day as this will fade as it is a powder.

I favour a lip stain, and this one is quite unusual because this range offers colours I can't find anywhere else. This one is called Tropic by Lipstains Gold and is an orange/spice shade. Perfect for day wear and it lasts and lasts for hours even through eating and drinking. It does not bleed so you don't need to use a barrier or lip pencil and looks great with gloss.

Finally on to eyes, I like to keep it simple. I don't use a primer as I use concealer and powder which, in my opinion and experience, works just as well if not better than an eye lid primer. It is also quicker

I am a big user and collector of "neutral" palettes, I think they are incredibly versatile if they are made up of mainly matte colours with a couple of shimmers. This is the Nude collection by Sleek MakeUP.

I use a cocoa coloured pencil, brown doesn't show up and black can be a little harsh so to find a mixture is really good. This one is by Inika and is called 02 Coco. I also brush a little through my brows and set with a dark brown eye shadow from the palette.

I then curl my lashes and apply a mascara. This has to be one of my favourite mascaras and is by Beauty Without Cruelty. It's simply perfect for me. No clumps or flakes, it gives great length, separation, a bit of volume and it is very black.

I use what I think is a minimum number of brushes; two for eyes, a foundation/stipple brush, powder brush and blush brush.

Some of the items have been purchased by me and others were sent as samples for my review. Nothing makes it into this box unless it performs well, I don't have time for tricky products these days!

I like to change my make up as I discover new loves and faves. I always make sure I keep day to day items in a separate box like this. I expect when baby is born, this will become my saviour in terms of time and brain capacity!

Where do you keep your favourite, every day make up items?

Lust-have must-have nails for Autumn/Winter

Rebel Nails have done it again with these new Duochrome aka Colour Flip purple & green/blue/gold nail wraps. I've placed this one on a nail stick as I am currently wearing some other Rebel Nails (translucent blue) and I am not ready to take them off yet!

I adore these and think they are perfect for Autumn and Winter. You can achieve this effect with some nail polishes, however this is a one coat wrap, they will last longer (especially on the toes) and I don't need to worry about smudging or chipping!

Buy online here £5.99 for and don't forget to check out the new 22 carat gold nails £14.99 -just released today!

These nail wraps were sent to me by Rebel Nails as part of my consultancy work. I am really lucky that I get to work with businesses and products I truly adore.

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Here are some of my other favourites alongside the Purple flip nails.

Do you have any nail lust-have effects for Autumn/Winter?

Haus of Gloi - Bubbling Scrub

A few of my friends on twitter have been praising Haus of Gloi products for a while now and I was delighted to be given a pot of Litchi Milk Tea Soft Bubbling Scrub by ModestyBrown. Just the name alone sounds wonderful but open the jar and use the product and it just gets better and better.

I'll start with my first impressions, pink fluffy paste consistency that is light and a bit like bubble gum. As you rub it between your fingers it appears to feel grainy which is the organic cane sugar scrub element. You can use this scrub anywhere on the body but I wouldn't use it on the face especially if your skin is on the sensitive side. The scent is described as "tart lychee fruit and black tea met with a splash of coconut milk". I wouldn't have known what this smelled like from the description and probably wouldn't have chosen it but it is fantastic. It makes me want to try more of the exciting products from the range.

When using this on feet I am left with soft and sweet smelling skin, the bubbling scrub disappears in to a lather which rinses away easily.

Haus of Gloi products are vegan and in my opinion of high quality. You can find bubbling scrubs and other scrumptious potions on their website for between $3 - $8 depending on size of pot. When ordering from the US from overseas, please see their shipping policies and bear in mind that Customs charges are likely to apply to orders over a certain value (check with your local post service for charges).

Cover FX Skin Tint SPF30

Cover FX is a new brand to me, hailing from Canada and cruelty free, and you can now find it at the House of Fraser in the UK. I've had mixed feelings and experiences with mineral based liquid foundations and concealers. Often they are too dry for my dry skin and no matter how much moisturiser I use, there is irritating cling on to dry patches of skin. So I tend to stay away from mineral based foundations unless they are powders.

Pictured with the Skin Prep FX primer (top) which I use with other foundations, it's not necessary with Skin Tint FX

So I was sceptical that a sample sent to me would do much for me. After several weeks of use in many different conditions, I feel this is different, different enough to feel positive about. Skin Tint FX is not meant to be used as a foundation however it is good enough for me even on a not so clear skinned day. I quite like the hint of shimmer as it brings an added dimension. I've really enjoyed using this over the last few weeks, no irritation and a whopping SPF30 has made it to my "current make up box". More about that box in a later post I think! It's quick to smooth over the skin with fingers providing nice coverage with a sunkissed look which is effortless. I then pop a bit of concealer around areas still needing cover or colour correction.

I think the formula is excellent, so different to other tinted moisturisers I have used before. It's not dry or greasy but feels like you would expect a silicone-based primer (it contains dimethicone polymers), in that it is smooth and lightweight. It also doesn't melt in humid or sunny conditions. I find that I don't need to powder to set it either, probably due to the mattifying effect of the mineral pigments.

I get an excellent colour match with the C Light shade, so I am not sure whether to recommend it for all skin colours or whether if you are lighter skinned a lighter tone would be more suitable. I think that this would add a bit of a fake tan element if you are trying to extend your summery tan (of if you haven't been on holiday but want to look like it). I don't think it would be suitable for very pale complexions.

At £36 for 30ml it is at the pricey end of the scale however I would buy this as I've not found a tinted moisturiser with such a natural feel and finish. Also a very little amount goes a long way. Based on this experience I will probably explore the rest of the range either online or when I am near a stockist.

Aromatherapy Associates Nourishing Face Oil

Not even the books I have read about pregnancy prepared me for the changes to my skin. The books tell you to expect either oilier or drier skin as the levels of hormones change. In my case, my skin became as dry as the Sahara and scaly across the cheeks with rosacea. So to add to feeling sick and tired, I was also looking in the mirror feeling sorry for myself and wanting to hide under a balaclava.

I have tried many of my tried and tested products (several face oils and rich moisturisers to no effect). To my rescue came Aromatherapy Associates who sent me their new Nourishing Face Oil. Containing sandalwood (one of my all time favourite scents), rose, peach, jojoba oil and evening primrose oil, I slathered and massaged this over my face in an attempt to bring moisture to my parched and sore skin. It made my skin tingle slightly which was probably the rose oil boosting my circulation, it soon subsided as the oils soaked in and left me with a rosy glow.

After about 30 minutes the short term effects of softening dry skin and soothing sore bits were apparent. If it still feels oily at this point and you need to apply make up or go out then lightly dab with a thin single ply of tissue to remove the excess.

The next day my skin was less dry but I continued to use it for a few days until my skin began to rebalance itself. Then I used it just at night and halved the amount.

You can add this to your current skin routine, in between your serum (if you use one) and moisturiser. Alternatively, you can use this as your moisturiser and facial massage oil. Whether you use this daily or just if your skin suffers an episode, it smells incredible. I was very chilled out after my first use!

A 15ml bottle will probably last months and you can buy it from lots of stockists such as Space NK or their website for £37.

Do you have any must have skin products that have resurrected your skin in times of need?

Exfolia Cloth - An awesome find!

Have you ever considered microdermabrasion for stubborn dry patches, fine lines and deep exfoliation? I've had it and it was expensive, uncomfortable, time consuming (you have to book appointments) and didn't deliver any results.

On a random internet research mission I came across a microdermabrasion cloth and for £10 I thought I'd give it a go. The Exfolia cloth (distributed by Jica) is a light green lightweight woven cloth which feels like a chamois leather.

You can use it in several ways, but you must read the instructions or you will end up taking off too much skin which is quite sore! It is not for the faint hearted but it does deliver unparalleled results considering the price tag and the best thing is that you don't have to change your favourite cleansers or book appointments!

It is that effective that you don't need to go overboard with it. It's very easy to be seduced that more is better but with this cloth you must follow the instructions carefully or you'll be very sore. You may think I am over stating this point, but it's very important and not to be ignored. I use this once a week or fortnight. I wouldn't suggest using this every day.

The cloth can be used dry or wet with cleansing products or not, but make sure to use it on a clean face. I used it to take off make up and it's still got stains all over it that just won't come off!

If you are new to the cloth and microdermabrasion then use it dry and on a dry face. Gently sweep the cloth over the face (not eyes or lips) not more than 5 times in the same place.

If you're feeling braver the next time, use it dampened with warm water when it becomes soft and pliable with your cream or gel cleanser.

If you are completely hardcore and used to it like me then try using it after your cleanser with a dab of your usual cream exfoliator.

You may find that your skin is tingly and tight afterwards which is normal but it should not feel sore. If it is then you've gone a bit overboard - slather some aloe vera on and it should subside.

Afterwards rinse carefully and apply a nourishing and comforting moisturiser or oil. Your skin will drink this up and benefit the next day by being plump and soft.

I tend to use this in a bath and with a moisturising mask afterwards. It's advisable, like with any beauty treatment or facial, not to apply make up for at least 12 hours to get the best effect.

The cloth should last about 60 - 80 uses, which for me is about a year for me. I have two, one for my face and one for my body where it's great for bumpy arms, rough skin and ingrown hairs. It's a great way to exfoliate before applying fake tan (not that I do, it's just a suggestion).

I have already bought or recommended these cloths for friends and family and they love it too. Look out for it on special offer at beauty shows and trade events where you can pick them up half price sometimes.

Otherwise you can find it to order on the Jica website.