NOTD - Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Countess

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have a NOTD Post for you and my NOTD is Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Countess. This is part of Barry M’s new Royal Glitter Collection and a few weeks ago I got this one and Duchess which I posted about here.

This is the most gorgeous dark purple colour with lots of sparkle in it and I absolutely love it and think it is perfect for this time of year. The nail polish is quite thick and the brush is also a nice big thick one that means it is really easy to apply. You could get away with just one coat, but I like to apply two. When it dries it is like Barry M's other Textured Nail Paint and not smooth, but if you apply a top coat it makes it more sparkly and glossy. I think if you applied more than one coat of a top coat it would be even smoother and glossier. 

In the photo I have applied a base coat of Rimmel’s Nail Rescue, then two coats of the Barry M Nail Paint followed by a coat of No. 7's Stay Perfect Top Coat.

Have you tried any of these?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa - My Gift

Hello Lovelies,

You may have seen that I recently took part in the John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa. I was so excited to be invited to take part and I had to choose a gift for Charlotte from Confessions of a Small Town Girl. I chose her a Ted Baker Tyro Crystal Bow Bobble Patent Purse in Black. The gift she chose for me arrived at the weekend and I was really excited to see what she had chosen for me. 

Charlotte chose for me a Ciaté Mini Nail Lacquer Advent Calendar and a Ciaté Red Velvet Manicure Set. I was really pleased when I saw that she had chosen these for me. I paint my nails at least twice a week at the moment because I find that if they aren't painted they tend to break more, so these really are excellent gifts for me.

I think Beauty Advent Calendars are a lovely idea and I have already treated myself to the Boots one, so now I have two to look forward to opening and I can’t wait until 1st December! I haven’t looked at the back of the Advent Calendar and I'm not going to so when I open it, the colour/type of nail polish will be a surprise.

I haven’t tried a velvet manicure set before but I love red nail polish, especially at this time of year and this looks gorgeous. This was a perfect choice as a gift for me and I can’t wait to try it! 

Thank you Charlotte for choosing me these gifts and to John Lewis for sending me them!

Did you take part in John Lewis’ Blogger Secret Santa?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

Primark Christmassy/Winter Throw

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I wanted to show you something I bought on a recent shopping trip to Primark and that is this gorgeous Christmassy/Winter Throw. 

There is nothing I like more at this time of year than snuggle up in front of the telly after a day at work when it is cold, dark and wintry outside and this throw is perfect for this. I know this Throw is quite Christmassy and it is only November but I already have this on the corner of my sofa and will probably keep it there until the weather starts to get warmer.

It is quite big (125cm x 150cm) and is made of a fleecy material that is really soft. This was only £5 which I think is really good value and would be a lovely treat for yourself or make a lovely Christmas present. 

Have you got a Christmassy/winter throw that you really like?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x 

Another little Elf Haul

Hello Lovelies,

I was really impressed with the things I got in my Elf Haul earlier this month, which I posted about here, and so when I saw Elf had an offer of 30% off and free postage when you spent over £25 I couldn't resist trying some more things and I thought I would share with you what I got. 

The first things I chose were four Luscious Liquid Lipsticks in the shades Pink Lemonade, Ruby Slipper, Nude Pink and Raspberry. In my first order I got one of these Liquid Lipsticks in Pink Lemonade (I posted about this here) and loved it so much I got another and I really wanted to try some other colours and I'm looking forward to using these. These are only £1.50 and I think they are amazing value for money. 

Pink Lemonade - Nude Pink - Raspberry - Ruby Slipper 

Recently I have been looking for an eyeshadow that I wear  as an everyday eyshadow and I decided to try two of the Baked Eyeshadows, I chose Toasted and Bark. These were £3.75 and look really shimmery and I am looking forward to trying these. 

Bark - Toasted 

I also got a Baked Blush in Passion Pink that was also £3.75. This is a gorgeous pink/nude colour with a darker pink running through it with a little bit of shimmer in it. Before I chose to order this shade, I looked at some swatches on other Blogs and this looked like a gorgeous colour and I am excited to try this. 

Passion Pink 

I have been wanting to try a concealer palette for a while, because I like the idea of being able to mix some different shades to find your perfect shade and Elf had one that was only £3.75 so I decided to try it. I chose the lightest shade of the Complete Coverage Concealer Palette, although these don't look that light so if you have really fair skin they might be too dark for you. They look a bit more yellow toned than the photo shows and I normally go for pink toned concealers so not sure how I will get on with these, but I will try them and I am hoping the colours match my skin tone if not I might have to try them next summer when I have a bit more colour. This comes with a mirror in the lid and a little brush which I think are nice little extras.

I also got a Eyelash & Brow Wand because it was only £1.50 and I like to brush my eyebrows with one of these and the one I have at the moment is quite old, so I thought I would replace it. 

Elf have some Lipsticks that are only £1.50 so I decided to try one of these and I chose the shade Posh which looks like a berry red colour, which is the sort of colour I like wearing at this time of year and I am looking forward to trying this.

Posh

Lastly I ordered a Duo Eyeshadow in Butter Pecan, these both have a bit of shimmer in them and I think they will look lovely on their own and nice together and this was only £1.50 so I couldn't resist trying this.

All the prices I mentioned above are the normal prices, but when I placed this order I got 30% off these prices, so these were even more of a bargain. Elf seem to be having lots of offers like this at the moment, so if you want to try any of these or anything else keep a look out for future discount offers. 

Have you taken advantage of any of Elf's discount offers recently? What did you order?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

My November 'Icons' Birchbox

Hello Lovelies, 

Today I wanted to share with you what I received in my November Birchbox. The theme for this month's box is 'Icons' and the Birchbox Team have taken their 'motivation from the icons that help inspire us to be the best possible versions of ourselves' and I think the products chosen for this month are from what they consider iconic brands.

Inside my Birchbox was…..

Weleda Citrus Creamy Body Wash - 20ml

This Body Wash has moisturising sesame oil and I really like using body washes that are also moisturising, especially at this time of year. It smells really fresh and I will look forward to using this. It is quite a small sample size, but I guess if you were going away for the night it would be perfect to take with you. 

Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle Leave in Conditioner - (I can't see what size this is)

This is a leave in conditioner that is also a heat protector. I received one of these samples in my July Birchbox (which I posted about here), so I was a bit disappointed to receive another one this month, although I do like using it and it smells really nice. I tweeted Birchbox to mention this and they told me to email them and they will replace it, because you shouldn't get the same thing twice in only a few months, which I thought was excellent customer service and reassured me that I shouldn't in the future get the same things I have previously received. 

Chella Ivoory Lace Highlighter Pencil - 1.4g

I love using highlighters and this pencil is a gorgeous colour and feels really soft and I am looking forward to using this.  Birchbox posted an article with 10 different ways to use this, which I found interesting and you can find it here.

Laura Mercier Long Lash Mascara in Black - 5.67g

Last month I received a Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser and was really excited to receive this Mascara this month. The card that came with my Birchbox says this is 'smudge-free and lengthens lashes for a wide-eyed, fluttery look' and I can't wait to try this.

English Laundry Signature For Her Eau de Parfum - 2ml

I'm not always so pleased when I get little samples like this in Birchboxes and Glossyboxes, but they are handy to keep in your bag and I guess a good way to discover fragrances you might not have otherwise. I am really bad at trying to describe scents, but this smells quite sweet but is also fresh and is really nice, so I will use this and try this if you get a chance to because it does smell really lovely.  

Pukka Herbs Selection of Teas - 3 x 2g.

These smell quite strong and the smell of these was the first thing I noticed when I opened my Birchbox. The flavours I got were Gorgeous Earl Grey, Three Cinnamon and Elderberry & Echinacea, but I do not like teas like this so will give these to someone who does. 

Birchbox Pencil Sharpener 

I really like when you get little extras like this and I was particularity pleased when I saw this because I have been needing a pencil sharper for bigger pencils for a while and I hope the eyeshadow pencils I have fit this. 

Overall I am really really pleased with what I received this month and I think Birchbox have done really well again this month and have done for the last couple of months. 

If you fancy trying a Birchbox, you can find more details here.

What did you get in your Birchbox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

The 2013 Christmas Tag

Hello Lovelies,

I have been feeling really Christmassy for the last few weeks and when I saw Georgina's Christmas Tag on her Blog Makeup-Pixi3 I thought it would be fun to do it myself. I am especially excited about Christmas this year because it is the first year in my new House and so the first time I will get to decorate it :) Also my Niece will be 14 months old at Christmas and I am really looking forward to spending time over the Christmas period with her because this year she will be more aware of what is going on than last year. 

1. Do you prefer a real Christmas tree or synthetic?

Both my Parents have always had real trees and I do prefer a real tree. I love going to choose one and I also love the smell and look of a real one, but this year I am going to have a synthetic one. I got a synthetic one for a real bargain in the January sales this year, it is a green 6ft pre lit tree and it was reduced from £80 to £20!

2. You're in a coffee shop, it's December, what do you pick?

I don’t drink tea or coffee, so for me it would have to be a hot chocolate. I love going Christmas shopping when it is cold outside and warming up with a hot chocolate. Last year I tried a white chocolate hot chocolate in a Thortons Café and it was amazing!

3. What is your favourite colour scheme for decorating the tree?

I love trees with gold decorations mixed with another colour and this year the colour scheme for my tree is going to be gold, bright pink and bright purple :)

4. Giving or receiving?

Of course I like receiving presents, who doesn't, but I love choosing presents for people and there are some I have bought already that I know people are going to love, I just wish I didn't have to wait until Christmas to give them to them!

5. To mince pie or not to?

I'm not a huge fan of mince pies, so for me it’s ‘not to’.

6. What's your traditional Christmas lunch?

We never have turkey and tend to have lamb or beef with all the trimmings of a traditional Christmas lunch. 

7. Christmas Day fashion

I like to wear a Christmas jumper on Christmas Day and this year I have bought a wine/burgundy one that has cream reindeer on it that have a little bit of gold running through them. Have you bought a Christmas jumper this year?

8. What's your favourite Christmas song?

I don’t know how I could choose just one, I love all the Christmas songs that you hear on the radio and in shops all the time around Christmas like Mariah Carey – All I Want For Christmas Is You, Wham! – Last Christmas, Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody, Elton John – Step Into Christmas, Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas?. Hearing these sorts of songs always makes me feel really Christmassy!

9. What's your favourite Christmas film?

This is really hard as I like lots of Christmas films, but I guess if I had to narrow it down I would chose Elf and Love Actually. 

10. Open presents before or after lunch?

My Christmas Days are different each year, because sometimes I spend them at my Dad’s and sometimes at my Mum’s, but at both we would probably open presents before lunch. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you are reading you're tagged too! I'm looking forward to reading your answers. Tweet me the link to your post and leave it in the comments below and don’t forget to mention Makeup-Pixi3 too!

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

NOTD - Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Duchess

Hello Lovelies,

Today I have a NOTD Post for you and my NOTD is Barry M Textured Glitter Nail Paint in Duchess. I love anything sparkly and when I saw Barry M’s new Royal Glitter Collection I couldn't resist getting a couple. I got Duchess which is a lovely nude/silver/gold colour with lots of sparkle and Countess which is a dark purple colour with lots of sparkle.

This is a lovely thick nail polish with a nice thick brush that applies really easily and you could probably get away with just one coat, although I applied two coats. Once applied it is like Barry M's other Textured Nail Paint and not very smooth, but when you apply a top coat it makes it more sparkly and glossy.

I absolutely love this and the Countess one too (I will do a NOTD with this one soon) and think they will both be nice for this time of year and particularly around Christmas. In the photo I have applied a base coat of Rimmel’s Nail Rescue, then two coats of the Barry M Nail Paint followed by a coat of Rimmel Finishing Touch 3D Plumping Top Coat.

Have you tried any of these?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

Elf Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade

Hello Lovelies,

Today I wanted to tell you about something I bought recently and have been really enjoying using and that is Elf's Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade. I posted about what I ordered here and until this order I hadn’t tried anything from Elf, but so far I have been really impressed and have already placed my second order! I just wish I had taken advantage of their recent 50% off offer!

When I bought this I wasn’t really sure what it would be like and although it is described as a liquid lipstick I think it is more like a lip gloss than a lipstick. It is quite sheer, but this one gives your lips a lovely pink colour and it has gold shimmer in it too, which I really like. Although this is more like a lip gloss than a lipstick it is not sticky like some lip glosses can be and feels quite moisturising. It also has a slight minty scent which I really like. I have used this on its own and over a lipstick and really can’t fault it and my friend tried it when we went out last weekend and she also really liked it.

photo taken inside 

photo taken in natural light

To use this you twist the bottom of the tube and the liquid lipstick comes out of the sponge applicator at the top. I really like this sort of applicator and it is really to apply. Elf say this has ‘Intensive hydrating agents along with natural pigments leave lips with Long-lasting colour and moisture’ and I would agree with this.

This was only £1.50 which I think is a bargain and if you buy it when Elf has an offer on you can get yourself even more of a bargain. I liked this so much that when Elf had an offer last weekend of 30% off and free postage when you spent over £25 I bought another one in this colour and three other colours and I can’t wait to try them. The only downside I can think to this is that this only contains 1.5g and so won’t last very long, but for the price I don’t mind.

Have you tried these?

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

My November 'The Glossy Wishlist' Glossybox

Hello Lovelies,

I received my November Glossybox yesterday and wanted to share with you what I got this month. I have always been really pleased with what I have received in my Glossyboxes but the last two months I haven’t been as excited.

The Theme for this month’s Glossybox is 'The Glossy Wishlist' and I think Glossybox chose the products for this month's box from things on their wishlists for this time of year?

Here is what I got this month…..

Vichy Idealia Life Serum – 2 x 3ml and Vichy Idealia - 1 x 3ml

I haven’t tried these before but I have used other things from Vichy and really liked them, so I was pleased to see this inside my box. They are described as ‘an all-round skin saviour’ and I am really looking forward to trying these. I really liked that these came in a cute pink drawstring bag and in fact it is probably my favourite item this month.

Emite Make Up Micronized Eyeshadow in Dams - 1.48g

This eyeshadow is suitable for sensitive eyes and gives an ‘even and lasting result’. I always like when I receive makeup items in a Glossbox and I think I would have been more happy to see this if I had received a different colour, because I don’t really wear black eyeshadow much, but I may try using this as a smoky liner.

Yves Rocher France Cocoa & Pistachio Nut Hand Cream - 75ml

Hand cream is something I seem to have a lot of and never use up, so I wasn’t so pleased to have received this. However it smell really nice so I will probably use this and just hope it is a hand cream that absorbs quickly, because I really don’t like ones that leave your hands sticky. I may keep it on my desk at work so I remember to use it. 

Elegant Touch Rapid Dry for Nails -125ml

This spray claims to dry your nail polish in 60 seconds as well as condition your cuticles. I already have this product and don’t use it that often, because I've never been that impressed with it. However after talking to some bloggers on Twitter who recommended it I will try and use it more to give it another chance and at least now I have another one when the one I already have runs out.

B. Long-lasting Nail Polish in 180 Midnight - 8ml

This claims to be a long lasting nail polish that has a ‘high-shine finish’ and at the moment I paint my nails at least twice a week because I find having them painted makes them grow better and I love trying new nail polishes. Initially when I saw this I wished I had received a different colour, because it is not one I would normally choose, however after looking at some swatches of it online I am coming round to it more and I guess the whole point of things like Glossyboxes is you get to try things you wouldn't normally and you might like them.

Overall I wasn't that excited with this month’s Glossybox but I think that is partly because after reading what other people received I would have preferred to receive some of the other things included in Glossyboxes this month or the eyeshadow and nail polish in different shades. 

What did you get in your Glossybox this month? Leave me your link as a comment if you have posted about yours.

Thanks for reading :)

Nyss x

John Lewis Blogger Secret Santa

Hello Lovelies,

I know it is only November, but I love this time of year and the countdown to Christmas. This year is my first Christmas in my new house and I have been excitedly buying Christmas decorations as I see ones I like for a few weeks now and I can’t wait to decorate my house for Christmas for the first time.

This week I have been feeling quite excited about the lead up to Christmas, including putting up my Christmas decorations, opening my Beauty Advent Calendar and finding out what treats are inside and being part of the Christmas Beauty Box Swap I am organising. So when I was lucky enough to receive an email this afternoon inviting me to be part of John Lewis's Blogger Secret Santa I was really excited. I had seen a few posts about this Secret Santa earlier in the week and thought it looked like so much fun.

I have already done some of my Christmas shopping and love buying presents for other people, especially when I see things that I know (or hope) they will love and I am hoping that the gift I pick for the blogger I have to choose for really likes it.  

On 11^th November I will be sent details of another blogger who is taking part in this Secret Santa and I will then have two days to read their blog and find out about them and the sort of things they like. I will then be able to choose a gift for them from a list that John Lewis will send me.

On 25^th November I will receive the gift that someone has chosen for me and the blogger who I have chosen a gift for will receive theirs. Once we have received our gifts, I will be able to share with you who I chose a gift for and what was chosen for me. I really like that John Lewis have decided to send the gifts in November so we have something to look forward to before Christmas.

I think this is a really lovely idea and I am so excited about being a part of this Secret Santa. I think it will be a great way to get to know other bloggers and will also help me with some gift inspiration for the Christmas shopping I still have to do.

Are you taking part in John Lewis's Blogger Secret Santa this year?

Nyss x 

A little Elf Haul

Hello Lovelies, 

I have been wanting to try Elf's Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder in the shade St Lucia for a while, so when I saw on Twitter last week that Elf had an offer of free postage I decided to order it and after having a quick browse on their website I ended up ordering a few other bits too. 

I am so pleased I decided to order the Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder, the blush and bronzer are both gorgeous colours and the blush looks quite shimmery (the photo doesn't really show how shimmery it looks), and I love shimmery blushes. I also really like the packaging and I think it makes it look more expensive than it is and it is great that it comes with a mirror in the lid. It was only £3.75, which I think is a really good price for a duo like this and I can't wait to try it.  

I also got three of their eye makeup brushes, they were only £1.50 each so I thought I would give them a try. I got an Eyeshadow Brush, a Defining Eye Brush and an Eye Crease Brush. I haven't used them yet, so not sure what they are like but I thought for the price they were worth a try and they feel quite soft.  

They had some nail polishes that I think were on offer, because they were called 'Last Chance Nail Polish' and they were only £1, so I got a couple of these too. I got Rosy Raisin which is a gorgeous dark pink and Cranberry which is a dark shimmery red, which will be perfect for this time of year. I haven't tried these yet, but the brushes look quite big and they look like the sort of brushes that are nice to use.

Lastly I got a Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Pink Lemonade. This was only £1.50 and is a lovely pink colour with a bit of gold shimmer in it. I'm not sure whether this will be like a lipstick or more like a lipgloss, but I'm looking forward to trying it. 

Have you tried any of these products? Do you like them?

Thanks for reading :) 

Nyss x

Christmas Beauty Box Swap

Hello Lovelies, 

If you would like to be part of this Christmas Beauty Box Swap make sure you read this :) 

I have been thinking it would be really nice to be part of a Christmas Beauty Box Swap but haven't seen anyone organising one so I thought I would organise one.

I have taken part in a Beauty Box Swap before and I really enjoyed it. I loved reading the blog of the person I was paired with to see what they liked and then choosing the products to send them and I was really excited to see what was chosen for me. I posted about my previous Beauty Box Swap here. It is also a great way to get to know other bloggers better. 

For those of you that don't know what a Beauty Box Swap is I have put the basic steps involved below :)

• You decide you want to to be part of it and let the person organising it know.

• The person organising it will pair you with another blogger and it is then up to you to email/message that person to get to know them a bit and to get to know what they like.

• You then get to choose some lovely things to send to the blogger you have been paid with up to the price limit agreed. 

• Once you have everything you want to send, you package it up (you don't have to send it in a box, I just think its a nice touch, I used a Glossybox when I took part in one before).

• The you post it to the blogger you have been paired with. 

• The person organising the Beauty Box Swap will usually tell you a date when you should aim to have sent your box by and the price limit, although if you want to agree to change this with the blogger you are paired with of course you can :) 

I thought with Christmas coming up it would be really lovely to be involved in a Christmas Beauty Box Swap and we could wrap our boxes in Christmas paper to make them really christmassy :)

I know Christmas is expensive for everyone so I thought we could set a limit of £15 for the contents of the box (not including postage) and aim to post our boxes by 13th December so everyone gets theirs before Christmas. You can wait to open it until Christmas if you want but if you are like me I know you will want to open it as soon as it arrives so that's up to you :) When you blog about the Beauty Box Swap and what you receive in your boxes send me your links and I will do a post with everyone's links on, so we can all see what everyone got. 

If you would like to be part of this Christmas Beauty Box Swap, please comment below with your email address, blog address and confirming you are in the UK by 13th November. Also let me know whether you are happy with the £15 price limit. 

I will then put the names of everyone who wants to take part in a bag (or something similar) and randomly pair you with someone else and let you know who you are paired with and then its down to you :) 

If you are under 18 make sure you check with your parent/guardian because you will need to swap addresses with another blogger. 

Due to postage costs of posting from the UK to another country this Beauty Box Swap will be for those in the UK only. 

This is the first Beauty Box Swap I have organised so if I have forgotten to mention anything that you think I need to include, let me know. 

If you know anyone that you think would like to take part let them knew or share this link with you blog/twitter followers :)

Nyss x