AVON: Gel Shine Nail Polish

I love a good nail polish, especially those with a gel finish. I prefer a gel-look as opposed to matte, without the huge price tag or damage to my nails. Previously, I was a little addicted to using Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine nail paints. Not only do they come in a fantastic array of summery shades but they have a great colour pay-off that lasts for ages. A friend of mine recently introduced me to Avon's nail polishes and I was instantly converted. For a budget brand, the formula is fantastic and there is such a wide range of colours to choose from.

When I saw that Avon had bought out these 7-in-1 Gel Finish polishes, I knew that they would be worth purchasing. The 7-in-1 formula is the selling point for these polishes, with Avon claiming they are made up of shine, a gel-like finish, vivid colour, base coat, top coat, protection and strengthener. A great combination for anyone that is too busy for a full manicure but likes their nails to look professionally done.

The three shades I chose (pictured below) are Lavender Sky (a summery shade of lilac), Marine Blue (a greenish navy) and Barely there (a nude/flesh colour). The paint goes on easily, looks opaque and bold in colour and the finish is super shiny. I applied two coats of the polish with drying time in-between and was left with a great looking manicure for seven days. I am most impressed with Barely There as I often find it difficult to find a nude polish that doesn't make my nails look poor and brittle. 

With this polish currently on offer on the AVON website at just £3.50 (usually £7), this is a brilliant buy. I can certainly see myself taking advantage of the current discount and buying myself a few new shades for my ever-growing polish collection. 

Barry M: Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint

A self-confessed polish addict, there is nothing better than finding a nail paint that ticks all the boxes and still costs less than a tenner. Barry M is a brand that has been in my life since I started visiting Superdrug with my pocket money. As a teenager, it was the various kohl liners and smooth lipsticks in kaleidoscopic colours that caught my eye. In the last few years, however, it is the never-ending varieties of polishes that has enticed me. One of the first brands to produce the innovative Nail Effects paints, Barry M have continued to bring out new styles, colours and consistencies to stay in line with the ever-growing popularity for nail art.

Looking to capitalise on the trend for gel manicures, they have released new shades of Hi-Shine Gelly nail polishes just in time for summer. Easy to apply (even using your left hand!), quick-drying and with great consistency, these polishes dry with a high shine finish and a vivid colour. Worn with two coats a clear top-coat, these polishes have stayed put for a good five days and are of brilliant quality- especially with their budget price tag.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint: £3.99 

My current favourites in the range (pictured above) are Greenberry (a wonderful bright aqua shade that looks great with a tan), Grapefruit (a punchy pink shade) and Prickly Pear (a vivid lavender shade and great for pastel nails).

Have you tried the Gelly Hi-Shine polishes? What is your favourite shade?

Dear Santa...Lust list

The build up to Christmas seems to bring the child out in me. This week, I have had a lot of fun sourcing the best mince pies, visiting the Coca-Cola truck on tour and painting ceramic Christmas tree decorations. I also managed to get the entirety of my Christmas shopping done! It is around this time of year, of course, that most of us will be posting our lists to Santa. Here is one winter wishlist for the cosiest, comfiest and most stylish christmas yet...

These cute Topshop reindeer pyjamas are perfect for wearing with a warm knit and some long socks to cosy up on the sofa after a long day. As someone with a penchant for fairisle print, I love these festive shorts!

As someone who lives in ankle boots all year long, I am always on the look out for a new pair to add to my collection and these studded ones were unique enough to catch my eye. Currently with £20 off the full price in the sale, they are practical and stylish.

Winter is also about stocking up with lots of yummy food and drink to get you through the season. Whittard's hot chocolate is indulgent enough to be a treat but also contains 70% cocoa and is fairtrade. Guilt-free hot chocolate! Yum.

This cosy Fairisle cardigan from H&M is a real favourite of mine. Perfect for layering over dresses or jeans as well as covering up on a night in front of the telly.

I have recently bought Great Expectations. A perfect present for anyone, this novel is a wonderful read in the build up to Christmas and these Penguin Classics look good on a bookshelf too.

Finally, this Aztec snood from Topshop is a lovely little cover-up for chilly walks through the country.

Here is my week in pictures...

(L-R: Ceramic Christmas tree decorations, Painting a christmas plate at Fun pots, Fairisle knits, peppermint tea and french onion soup, cosy slipper boots, Rimmel Ruby Crush nail polish, hot chocolate, Holidays are coming...)

Beauty Bargains for under £10

Ever since I can remember, I've been spending all my pocket money in Superdrug. A sucker for a beauty trend, I love trying new products and adding to my ever-growing collection. However, being a bit of a beauty junkie does not have to equate to splashing a lot of cash. Instead, I try and hunt out the special offers and bargains to make sure I'm getting the best deal possible. This week, I thought I'd do my top five recent beauty bargains, proving that looking fantastic can be done for under £10.


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Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfector. I've been using this all-in-one BB cream since it was first introduced to the high-street. A tinted moisturiser with a creamy consistency and good coverage, I use it on make-up free days or when going to the gym. At £9.99, it doesn't break the bank and lasts a lot longer than expected. The only drawback is that due to the colour, it does need some blending- not the sort of product you can just slap on and go. I'm sure, however, this will remain a favourite in my beauty bag

Ciate nail polish in Jelly Bean. As well as being a beauty junkie, I also have a bit of an obsession for magazines. This polish is an ultimate bargain as it actually came free with this month's Marie Claire. These polishes usually cost £9 individually, so grab yourself a magazine and paint your nails in this lovely pink shade for nothing at all.

Benefit That Gal. There isn't a girl I know that doesn't absolutely love Benefit make-up. However, for all it's wonderful products and beautiful retro packaging, it does tend to cost a little more than I'm willing to spend. This month's Glamour magazine, however, is giving away free sample sizes of Benefit goodies for free. Choose between That Gal primer, Porefessional or Bad Gal Lash mascara and you can grab your favourite product along with a great magazine- all for just £2. 

Dove Summer Glow.This lovely beauty staple is currently £3 in Tesco stores and I urge anyone to go and get yourself a bottle of it. Fed-up with the hassle of fake-tan, this week I bought myself some Summer Glow to attempt to make myself look a little more natural and a little less orange. I have been using it for three days now, and the effect is definitely noticeable. My arms and legs are browner with a subtle glow and no orange streak marks. A brilliant product for a brilliant price. 

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Replenishing Lotion. Another brilliant body lotion, this really does what it says on the bottle. Enriched with nutritive mango oil, the lotion made my skin smoother in just a few days. It smells fabulous, feels indulgent on the skin and is great for using after the gym. It is currently on offer in Sainsburys for the bargain price of £1.99, so hop down there and get your hands on this before the price rockets!                                                            

Lust List

This week has been a particularly busy one. In between fitting in gym sessions and working full-time, I also had my first driving lesson. Unexpectedly, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to getting back in a car next week. Liam has been in Aberdeen at a conference this week so I've had some nice me-time to catch up with Skins and New Girl too. I also had a little splurge in aid of my first official wage packet and finally bought those red suede boots I was lusting after. Thankyou ASOS for the free delivery and 25%- it was too hard to resist!

This week's lust list has a bit of a beauty feel to it. Although I've always been a bit of a beauty junkie (the amount of points on my superdrug rewards card speak for themselves), I'm beginning to think that working in Beauty PR is rubbing off on me!

I'm always a fan of the newest beauty fads. Nail art is becoming increasingly popular with the sales of magnetic nail polishes and crackle paints hitting the shelves. This week, however, it was the caviar nail craze that caught my eye. This pretty polish by Ciante is available in three colours- black, white and multi-coloured and gives a three dimensional effect whilst also looking pretty glam. Anyone else think they look just like the hundreds and thousands you might sprinkle on your cupcake?

I have always loved Soap and Glory and my bathroom is now filled with the gorgeous products. I love everything about them- from the retro packaging to the great scents- and what's brilliant is that they really work. One of my favourites is The Righteous Butter- a really luxurious body butter to rival Palmer's Cocoa Butter that smells as good as it looks. Seeing as summer is nearly upon us, I'm looking to make sure I have the smoothest skin possible and I'm sure Flake Away would help. With Soap and Glory's Original Pink fragrance, it is a must-have for anyone who wants to pamper in the shower and feel glorious. 

When it comes to perfume, I tend to stick to the fragrances I love. For the last three years, I have made my way through the Vera Wang Princess range, having originally become hooked on Rock Princess. At the moment, I'm using Glam Princess but have alternated between the fragrances in the range for a while now. Whilst wandering around the duty free on holiday, I came across Vera Wang Princess Night and just had to have a spritz. With wild berries, watermelon and raspberry, it smells wonderful and still has the signature vanilla and musk that makes the Princess perfumes so appealing. Definitely one for the list. 

This product is actually something I already have, but I'm putting it on the list because it is too wonderful not to mention. Pond's Cold Cream has always had good press for being a fantastic beauty staple, used by the likes of Nadine Coyle and Kylie Minogue to name but a few. My favourite in the range is the Hydronourishing day cream which provides great moisturisation and a great base for make-up. It feels pampering for the skin and the scent brings me back to childhood for some reason. I remember my mum using Oil of Evening Primrose when I was a child, and this cream contains an extract, so perhaps that is the smell I love so much. 

I've got to admit that I have always been a bit nervous when it comes to self-tanning. For someone that looks like Casper the friendly ghost the majority of the time, I have always wondered whether I'd end up looking more like Katie Price than the desired Sienna Miller look. Horror stories of patchy skin and orange hands have always meant that I've stayed away from putting any kind of tanning product on my skin. However, L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze comes highly recommended. With a micro-diffusion spray, there is no need to rub in and no need for patchiness. Perhaps this is one tanning product that I should go ahead and try. At least when I feel brave enough!

That's it for this week's Lust List. Happy Weekend, everyone!