New Year, New Nails

I'm not really one to do a 'beauty post' as such, as generally make up trends and beauty regimes are something I don't really keep up with or hardly have time for! That said I love nail polish and think it's a brilliantly simple and inexpensive way to change the way I look and feel, when I can't afford to buy the shed loads of clothes that I really want! I'm a big fan of classic red in Spring and Autumn, and in Summer I like to take it a notch brighter with more of a fluro red. But in Winter it's got to be a deep, dark red, verging on oxblood colour, don't you think?!

I don't normally splash out on expensive nail polish but it was Christmas and my lovely mum thought I was deserved of a treat so she bought me this wonderful YSL nail polish no.6 which is just the colour I was after. I spent Christmas eve drinking baileys and painting my nails (and watching Elf), which was just the sort of start to Christmas I needed!

YSL Rouge Dada No.6, £18

Another nice little surprise was getting this Essie nail polish in Chinchilly in my stocking from my lovely husband (I mean Father Christmas!). I have to admit at first I wasn't sure, grey might be very on trend but would it look ok on me?! (I have enough grey sweatshirts by now, what was I worrying about!) And of course it's turned out to be very cool and I'm definitely into my grey nails right now... who'd have thought my husband would be blazing the trail for me in nail polish trends! 

Essie Chinchilly, £7.99

So now I'm going to try and at least once a fortnight make time to give myself a mini manicure and colour my nails, a little bit of me time amidst all the chaos!

Fabulous Fashionistas

I've just been watching the Cutting Edge documentary Fabulous Fashionistas on Channel 4, and I really enjoyed it. I have to say I'm quite curious about ageing, and without sounding like a young, naive thing I often wonder about what I'll be like when I'm older - where life might take me (or more to the point what life might throw at me!) and how I might change inwardly and outwardly as I get older. It was great to see and hear from a group of such diverse and engaging older women (well, most of them, a couple were a little kooky!), and to believe that I might have the confidence to worry less about my appearance and lifestyle as I get older. I'd much rather watch a programme like this than the recent Channel 4 series How Not To Get Old!

My secret (ridiculous and totally unrealistic) role models for ageing are Meryl Streep and Diane Keaton, as I love the aura of self confidence and style they exude, but on a more down to earth level I just hope that as I get older I will be able to adopt the same energetic approach to life as these women seem to have, it looks fabulous to me!

Images via channel4.com

Neon Nails

American Apparel Neon Red Nail Polish, £9

Maybelline Orange Attack, £2.99

The sun is barely out but I've still got summer on the brain... I can't stop thinking about neon red nail polish! I don't really do manicures - as much as I'd love to get them on a regular basis, I generally can't justify the spend and so instead with a little bit of effort (and time, that's the tricky one!) I try to do just a good a job myself.  So, I did a quick scour of the internet and found just the ticket for amazing neon red nails - American Apparel's Neon range, for £9. Or for a bit less I reckon this Orange Attack from Maybelline at £2.99 could look just as good.  I think I might do a bit of experimenting this weekend!  Well, we all need a bit of me time and a shot of neon would look so great with that denim tee... 

Update: Rimmel Salon Pro in Hip Hop was the perfect shade!

Dare To Wear: Red Lipstick?

Would you, or do you, wear red lipstick?  I love red lipstick and have always been slightly envious of those who can pull it off.  It always looks so glamourous and daring!  I'm normally more of a lip balm kind of girl and so to wear any shade of lipstick feels like I'm making a big effort in the beauty department, but recently I've been tempted to give it a go.  I've heard a rumour a few times that there is actually supposed to be a shade of red for everyone, you just have to find the right one to suit you... so with this in mind and a spring in my step, off I head to Boots!  I'm not entirely sure I've chosen the best shade to suit me, or if indeed I'll pluck up the courage to wear it, but I'm feeling a little more daring already just having it in my makeup bag!

Boots No.7 Wild Volume Lipstick, Forever Cherry, £10