NOTD: Max Factor Mini

One nail colour I have been avidly searching for is a gold nail polish, which NOWHERE seems to stock (in Boots, that is!) So eventually, I resorted to buying the gold nail polish in Max Factor's new range of mini nail polishes.

Application wise, it is pretty standard, with a good brush and spreads the polish well. I did need a couple of coats however, to get the desired depth of colour - I put two coats of the gold and a basecoat on too. Chipping wise, it has a few, but not too bad - other reviews have said at least 1 week's wear, so we will see how that one fares.

The dinky little bottle! 

The polish in natural light

I would absolutely love to try this as a glittery topcoat for pinky-reddy hues, to make the nail a lot more spring-like!
I think, however, one of the downsides to this range is the price - £3.99 for one tiny pot of polish? Not Max Factor's best work, although I acknowledge they tend to be at the higher end of the price range.

(N.B. As far as I am aware, the shade is called Ivory - how bizarre!)

NOTD: No7 in Beanie 20

So being a recent nail polish convert, I can happily say that many an hour has been wasted on painting and experimenting with different colours and effects on my nails - much to the detriment of my purse!

I bought this No7 shade as part of an offer which I believe has just finished in Boots - 3 for 2 on all No7 products. Being the cheapskate I am, I opted to spend as little money as possible on this offer, so I bought three nail polishes, in midnight blue, bright blue and grey. I will review the other two colours at a later date! It cost me £14 overall, saved £7 - still a lot of money for three nail polishes! One of the only downsides to the No7 range is the price; at £7 per 10ml bottle, it is not cheap.

But hey ho, on with the review! One thing I love about this nail polish, and No7 polishes in particular, is the fact that only one coat is needed. I know this may be against the standard nail-polish commandments, but hey, I'm branching out. I have had mixed reviews on the colour - some say it is elegant, whilst others say the exact opposite. I personally like the colour, it has a hint of mushroom, and it is an neutral colour to wear daily. 

The polish bottle - Beanie 20

An example of it on my nails

The colour is exactly the same as in the bottle! Stupid I know, but I've had this problem in the past!

So, overall, I give the No7 Stay Perfect nail polish in Beanie 20 a 4/5 - I love the colour and the need for only one coat, but the price puts me off a little. 

My Skin Routine

I suppose one of my redeeming features, make-up wise, is my clear skin. I personally put this down to a strong dislike of any fizzy drinks when I was a youngster, but as I've become older, the perils of late nights and alcoholic beverages have caught up with me. So it is even more important for me now to start looking after my skin, while I am still (relatively) young.

For my face, I use two main products. Firstly, every 2-3 days, I whip out the amazing exfoliating glove. I bought it from Boots many months ago - I suggest replacing your gloves every 3 months or so, just to keep them fresh. They are a staple product for my skincare routine as they make my skin so soft. I normally use Dove Cream Soap Bar.

My (lone) exfoliating glove.

The glove in more detail - you can really see the texture.

 You can find them here: http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Exfoliating-Gloves_1228627/ (at £2.66, a definite bargain!)

After exfoliating, I use the miracle moisturiser which is Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula. This is a pretty thick formula, and smells absolutely divine - a beautiful blend of cocoa and shea butter. I normally put this on after my skin has dried a little. I tend to use this on my face, but can be used all over the body. It works well for stretch marks too.

The packaging of the moisturiser.

The consistency of the moisturiser. It's yellow in colour.

You can find it in all major Boots stores, and online at http://www.boots.com/en/Palmers-Cocoa-Butter-Formula-Lotion-250ml_2327/ It is £3.77, and definitely worth it for the amount of time it lasts - I've only had to buy two in the last year!

Finally, a problem I often have is dry hands. To combat this, my lovely mother bought my family different products from the "Gorgeous by Gok" range, which is currently in Boots (can you see a trend?!) Luckily for me, I got the hand balm, and I have to say, it does the job well. You don't need a lot to keep your hands moisturised, but I get the impression it doesn't last as long as I would have hoped - a couple of hours tops. Top-ups throughout the day are necessary. However, it smells nice, and the consistency is lovely too. Overall, a good product, although unsure if I would buy again. 

Here we have the packaging of the product - easy to use and very squeezable!

Only a small amount needed, and you can see it is a bright white colour.

And there we have it! My skin routine, for the world to see.