September Favourites

It's been a while since I last blogged, but September was a hectic and fun month, especially for beauty! It's that time of year where summer transitions into autumn, yet the weather still stays reasonably warm and humid....and so the make up dilemmas begin. 

Below are some beauty items that I have been consistently using during the past month and will continue to use in the coming months. 

Nails

 Maybelline Forever Strong  nail polish in Rose Poudre, £4.49

When you can't decide on nude or pink, this dirty pink shade is the perfect autumn neutral tone. It stays on for ages and the colour doesn't fade easily- the label states 'Super Stay 7 Days', and I was honestly about 5 days in before I had to top up the odd chip here and there. I love the shade, love the quality and love the price! 

Lips

Elizabeth Arden Beautiful Colour Luminous Lipgloss in Sunset, £17.00

I received a sample for this a while ago and instantly fell in love, so I had to purchase the full version. While it's on the pricey side, it is worth the money - the colour is gorgeous, it's long-wear, it smells amazing and most importantly moisturises my lips too. My lips get dry fairly easily and some lipglosses/lipsticks come off easily and leave my lips feeling rough - this means I constantly reapply them throughout the day, which can actually worsen the problem. This product is a lip balm and gloss in one as it keeps my lips hydrated throughout the day, which means that a little goes a long way as I don't have to keep reapplying it. 

The lipgloss is sheer and Elizabeth Arden have a great selection of colours for all skin tones. Did I mention it smells like heaven? Although if you're not into sweet vanilla scents you may not agree. 

Sunset is a pinky coral colour which I love and my next colours to purchase are Precious Petal and Red Door Red. 

Face

No7 Match Made Concealer in Warm Ivory, £7.50

I tend to use liquid concealers during the summer so that my face doesn't feel so cakey. However my under eye circles are quite dark so I prefer thicker concealers for covering them. This product is perfect for covering large pimples and dark under eyes as it gives full coverage. I also use it on my nose to cover imperfections and larger pores.

For under eye application I would recommend applying eye cream and primer beforehand in order to reduce creasing.  I also have sensitive under eyes and so eye cream acts as a protective layer too. Apply a light layer of this product under your eyes, leave it for a couple of minutes and then pat it in with a concealer brush or beauty blender - this will allow the product to settle in and reduce creasing or fine line appearance. I'm wearing it under my eyes in the pictures above (in Lips).

It's a great price for a concealer and is really creamy which means that it doesn't feel too thick on my skin but still gives great coverage. 

What will you be rocking this autumn? 

G x

MASCARA REVIEW: No7 Extreme Length Mascara

I never normally buy lots of different mascaras as I like to use one for a set period of time, meaning that the others that I don't use dry out. However my Benefit They're Real mascara was starting to run out and I thought it would be nice to try something new. I also had a voucher for No7 (one of those £3 off ones) so I hit two birds with one stone and bought No7 Extreme Length Mascara (normal price £12.50). 

My eyelashes are quite thick, which is why I don't buy volumizing mascaras as it causes them to clump together. If like me you want longer lashes without overly thickening them then this mascara is perfect. 

The wand is really delicate with small and thin bristles therefore I can get into all those awkward inner corners nicely. 

The mascara comes off quite easily with make up remover which is really useful as I hate scrubbing my eyes clean and seeing my lil' lashes fall out!

If you have fine and thin lashes then I wouldn't advise this mascara for dramatic results. It's more for creating a cute doll-eye look with long, defined lashes. 

Rating: 8/10

G x

It's A Summer Smoothie

I love the effect of summer on my skin - a natural tan looks healthy, and a good amount of sunlight makes skin glow. However, the sun can dry out skin too. As bad as pale legs are, flaky legs are that bit worse. The UK has harder water than the rest of Europe, which not only causes lime scale but dries out hair and skin too. That's why you may have noticed how much smoother and silkier your skin and hair are when abroad in other European countries, for example Spain, Holland, Germany and Italy. 

I'm sure most of you know that the best way to get smoother skin is to exfoliate and moisturise. However, I have quite sensitive skin on my legs therefore wanted to find a scrub that wouldn't irritate them. 

I love the different Body Shop ranges - I normally shop their cocoa butter, olive oil and tea tree lines. I'd heard good things about Body Shop scrubs, so thought I'd give one a go. I don't like scrubs too fragranced as I find they don't exfoliate as well as non fragranced ones. Also, added fragrance can irritate sensitive skin like mine.

I went for the Coconut scrub as it smells nice but not too strong, and the scrub itself has the right consistency - it's fairly milky and creamy but has plenty of exfoliating beads to scrub away dead skin cells seen in flaking skin. It's gentle enough to use all over the body, but I don't use it on my face as I have St Ives Apricot Scrub for that purpose.

I loved the results and immediately noticed softer and healthier looking skin. I use it once a week, or twice if I've been wearing skinny jeans that have been rubbing against my legs all day - oh how we suffer. Additionally, the coconut scent oozes a tropical summer vibe, so it's basically a holiday in my bathroom (...I said 'basically'....). 

This product is a must for those looking for smooth summer skin, and I would definitely continue to use it during the winter as it really nourishes skin in areas like my legs, which tend to be a problem all year round. 

It's time for that summer scrub y'all. 

G x

Get Lippy

So it's been a while since my last blog post (nearly a month, oh dear)......

I started a new job at the beginning of the month so between that, returning from my holiday, seeing friends and actual decent summer weather I haven't had time to blog. So then, it's about bloody time!

I haven't been wearing much make up recently because of the heat but more importantly, the humidity. When the air is really muggy and sticky I avoid foundation and most other face make up as I break out in a series of spots (or as my mum calls them, 'sweaty spots'). I went to the music festival Lovebox in east London last Friday, which also happened to be on the hottest day of the year so far at 32°C. Trust me, 32°C is hot for the city let alone a festival, it feels like Londoners are trapped together in a giant greenhouse.  It was the first day I had worn foundation and powder in three weeks and the next day my face erupted in pimples. 

As a general rule (especially from now on!), I tend to opt for tinted mists, serums and moisturisers in the summer as they don't clog my pores as much on hot summer days.

I tend to go for dewy, fresh faced looks during the summer and I find that the best way to brighten up your face without using highlighter is through your lips. A slick of the right lipstick or gloss enhances the most minimal amount of make up.

My favourite lip brand? While you cannot fault MAC for lipsticks, I have never been consistent in using their lip glosses except for Clear Lipglass. 

However, I felt to treat myself one day and stumbled upon the MAC make up counter in my local shopping centre (as you do) and tried their Cremesheen Glass in Just Superb. It's a slightly dirty pink that I knew would look amazing layered over a nude lipstick. I like mixing neutral/pinky lipsticks and glosses to create a magnified effect. Cremesheen is fairly thick but without being sticky (no hair stuck to lips incidents ladies). 

It's not too bright which means it can adapt nicely to the lipstick beneath it without making the look too Barbie-esque. Just Superb goes really well on top of Brave, a brown-pink Satin lipstick. Brave is on the darker side of the nude scale, so Just Superb softens it really well.  I had to top up the gloss quite a few times (Cremesheen is not known for its staying power), but it protected the lipstick which managed to stay put!

Below are swatches of Just Superb lipgloss (top) and Brave lipstick (bottom).

The Result:

Do you like to mix glosses and lipsticks? If so, what shades and brands? 

G x

How To Wear: Bright Make Up

Before I properly begin this post, it's worth noting that anyone can pull off bright make up: be it lips, eye shadow, lashes - you name it. I'm not going to go into step-by-step detail on how I achieved this look as my make up may not necessarily suit you, but it just provides an idea on how to get the colourful ball rolling. I've named the most important products needed to get the look and little tips and tricks on how to pull off bright make up. 

I wore this look on a night out to Camden Town recently. I find red lips extremely elegant and timeless, but for this night I wanted a fresher, more playful make up look. Hot pink it was. I used my favourite pink lip shade, MAC's classic Girl About Town, £15. I love this lipstick because it does not budge from my lips all night - it saves me running to the bathroom to check my lips every five minutes. Ain't nobody got time for that on the dance floor. Now I'm no stranger to a pink lip - I wear it more than my red lipstick simply because I think it work day or night, dressed smart or casual. I may be wrong, but it feels so right. 

 As you can tell from the pictures, I didn't do anything particularly bold with my eye make up as it would look too intense (*messy*). Think of your eyes as legs and your lips as cleavage: it's one or the other. I just used a thin slick of liquid eyeliner and pumped up my lashes using mascara (from past experience, falsies and Camden have never ended well).

What really pulls this look together is the Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Rose Gold. Be it make up or jewellery, rose gold goes well with my complexion as it creates a richer look without being too obvious. The product is on the pricier side at £19, but you need so little of it that it lasts ages. 

Tips and Hints

Inserting some sparkly eyeshadow by your tear duct and under your lower lash line immediately gives a more wide awake, vibrant look. Paler skin tones should opt for white, rose gold or vanilla shades, whilst darker skin tones will suit golds, bronzes and coppers. Think of it as contouring for the eye. 

If you're feeling brave, try contrasting colours: blue eyeliner and pink lips, emerald eyes and coral lips, yellow eyes and purple lips. However, when using coloured eyeliner, less is more. The brighter the colour, the thinner the line. It's easier to add slightly more on than to take loads off. 

If you make a mistake applying liquid liner, put a splash of eye make up remover on the tip of a cotton bud and gently rub it off. 

When rocking a bright lip, don't forget lipliner. You may think you can get away with it, but pictures the next day will be very unforgiving. You'll end up looking like a rainbow rash has attacked your mouth area.

To create a matte look, dab some of your powder onto your lips after applying lipstick. 

With bright make up, keep your eyebrows groomed and filled in but natural looking. A strong Elizabeth Taylor or Audrey Hepburn brow does not merge well with 80s eye colours. They were different eras for a reason. Same rule applies to false lashes - if used, keep them subtle. 

Ponytails and up-dos look amazing with bright make up - your face becomes the star attraction.

I love bold make up with all black outfits: it's such a style statement and gives the wildest make up looks an elegant finish.

Make sure you have somewhere special to go and then paint away! 

Hope you enjoyed this look and want to try it for yourselves.

G x

Review: LUSH Mint Julips Lib Scrub

When it comes to exfoliating and moisturising skin, I'm a preacher. However, I recently found that whenever I applied lip gloss or lipstick, I would get dead white skin developing in the corners of my mouth over the course of the day. This is mainly caused by dehydration, but sometimes no matter how much water I drink, lip products just don't take to my lips as nicely as I would like. 

As a result, I've been contemplating lip scrubs for a while now but was always put off by the thought of a grainy, scrubby texture on my lips - surely it's not natural? But then something changed: I walked into LUSH. While I've liked LUSH products for a while now (the store smells better than what Heaven probably smells like - I want to eat everything in it and bathe in it at the same time), a lot of hype in their cosmetics can be more about smell and appearance rather than effectiveness. 

Whilst I was browsing, I came across some lip scrubs in Bubblegum, Popcorn and Mint. I picked up the Mint Julips one (mainly because I like the smell of mint, but also because bubblegum smells nauseating to me, like an eight year old chewing Hubba Bubba for hours on end...). LUSH have natural, handmade cosmetics so in my eyes what could possibly go wrong? Also, did I mention that it's EDIBLE (or should I say lickable?)? Smooth lips and minty fresh breath in one (slightly overpriced) £5.50 pot. 

Now I know that anyone can make a 'homemade' lip scrub using sugar, but in all honesty I'm too busy (i.e. lazy) and also want an excuse to walk into LUSH. But in all honesty, the product isn't amazing - it doesn't exfoliate excellently so I generally end up using quite a lot of it. I'm also not in love with the packaging, it's not the most practical or sanitary for getting product out of. Grains of minty sugar end up getting all over obscure places in my face, fingers and bathroom.

 Additionally, I could probably learn to make it myself if I bought some sugar/made an effort. It tastes and smells nice, but I always end up needing to use quite a lot of it (and not because I have particularly big, luscious and pouty lips). I tend to apply lots of Vaseline on my lips after I use it anyway, so that's the reason why they feel softer and hydrated.  

Overall, it's a cute novelty buy and would make a nice gift but I don't think I would buy it again. It is a good starter product for lip scrub virgins like myself, but if you want a cheaper and more powerful alternative hop down to your local supermarket to buy a bag of sugar and with the power of Google, make your own product and scrub away. 

Rating: 5/10

G x

Drugstore Make Up: Liquid Eyeliners

Obtaining the perfect Cleopatra flick is never easy. However over the years it's been a trademark look of mine, so I thought I'd share my favourite liquid liners from the drugstore that in my experience work well for creating the perfect winged look.

Rimmel Glam'Eyes Professional Liquid Liner

This was my first liquid liner and while I tried others, I always went back to this. The wand is thin and long, so it's easier to vary and build up the length and thickness of the flick, depending on the look you want to achieve. 

My only complaint is that the liner itself is not the best quality. If you wear liquid liner daily this product can irritate your lash line after a while. People with a sensitive eye area may feel a slight stinging sensation if they continually use this product. I personally don't wear liquid liner every day, but for a while I used this product all the time (I was obsessed with the flicks) and found that it irritated my lash line and outer corner of my eye. It is great for creating various looks from a thin and subtle line to big statement flicks, but if my eye area were extremely sensitive I don't think I would use this product all the time. 

Rating: 8/10

L'Oreal Superliner

I recently got into this product (after many years with my trusty Rimmel) after one of my favourite YouTubers, Shirley B.Eniang used it flawlessly in a recent Get Ready With Me video. Shirley is amazing at applying make up (shout out time) and seeing her use Superliner so easily and perfectly just made me want to try it out. I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. The wand is firmer than the Rimmel one which is good if you don't have a steady hand and/or are new to liquid eyeliner. It's great to get in the inner corner near the tear duct and generally stays put all day. However, I do need to put on a few layers and shake the tube a bit to get enough product out. Other than that, so far so fab (sorry).

Rating: 9/10

G x

My Day and Night Creams

Day

Lacura Aqua-Complete Moisturiser 

£1.99 (available at Aldi)

I've tried many moisturisers in the past, but I always go back to this one. And at only £1.99, who can blame me! It may sound too good to be true, but remember that Aldi's skincare brand Lacura produced an award winning anti-wrinkle cream that went flying off the shelves a couple of years ago. The key to Lacura's success is simplicity (and price, but mainly simplicity I promise...). It doesn't overwhelm products with overzealous chemicals and far fetched ingredients. The formula seems as 'natural' as creams can be, forming a really hydrating moisturiser and make up base for skin. 

My skin is oily to combination (with a problem T-zone, as per). Aqua-Complete is really light so it doesn't weigh down my skin- this is important when applying make up as you don't want to clog up your pores with too many layers. I even wear this cream on make-up free days, as it keeps my skin hydrated and feeling fresh without producing too much oil. 

Night

No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream

 (£13.50, available at Boots)

Before trying to convince you that this cream is the Holy Grail of the night (after sleep, obvs), remember that it clearly states 'Normal/Oily' on the front. If you have dry skin look away now. Only joking, the No7 range has other fantastic lines and products for sensitive/dry/ageing etc skin. 

Once again, I've tried other night creams but this is my favourite. The day cream version is also good, but I'm satisfied with my Aldi cream (think about the monies too!). 

What's so great about this night cream is that it absorbs itself really easily into skin. In the past, a lot of other night creams have ended up smeared all over my pillow as opposed to my face. Youthful, plump pillows aside, the cream has a good consistency and is really hydrating. However, I do sometimes wake up with oily skin, especially around my nose - don't apply too much cream around your T-zone if like mine it's particularly oily! 

Other than that, I can't complain: it both tones and softens my skin at the same time. Night creams are generally more expensive than day creams, but luckily £13.50 isn't at all steep (unless compared to my Aldi cream!). 

Admittedly, my skin has never been particularly problematic (odd spot here and there, bit of oil, you know the usual). I've never had rough or acne prone skin thus far in life *touches wood*, therefore wouldn't be able to recommend good creams from personal experience, only from what people have told me. However, if you're not happy with your skin I would definitely give the Lacura line from Aldi a go, as unlike No7, everyone I speak to praises it and I'm yet to hear a complaint about it. 

Moisturisers and creams are a tricky nail to hit -experimenting with make up and skincare products is always great fun, but when it comes to day and night staples, if it ain't broke, do not even try to think about attempting to fix it. Just joking....but seriously, you only get one skin and once you have the winning formula, hold onto it. It can change over time, but jumping from one cream to the next won't have the same effects as sticking to a loyal brand. 

G x 

New Balances

I've been contemplating getting a pair of New Balance trainers for a while but kept putting it off as I'm so used to Nike trainers. However I eventually decided to give them a go - I really liked their simple design as it means they can go with a lot of different styles and outfits. They're not 'statement trainers' like Air Maxes, so they're fairly adaptable and versatile.

I know that the New Balance 574s are really popular, but I chose to go for the 373 pair in Navy, £49.99. Their shape is more feminine and they're extremely lightweight and comfortable! They're also cheap as far a trainers go - the 373s are around £50, and the 574s around £60-70. 

I find that I wear them everywhere and not as a conscious choice but because they're so easy to throw on and dash out the house with if you're in a rush. They're great for sightseeing with too, as I can walk around in them for hours and not get sore feet or blisters. 

Since I bought mine I feel like I've noticed EVERYONE wearing NBs in and around London -they look great on guys and gals alike. There are some cool colour combos as well, including blue and orange, pink and grey, green and purple etc. I can't wait to see this trend during our (hopefully) sunny summer, I can picture NBs as festival and rave trainers. 

G x

City Chic

I recently took a short trip to Turin and Milan in Italy. The weather was really sunny and fairly warm, but it wasn't hot enough to walk around in short sleeves. You know those in-between periods, where you're not quite sure what to wear?

I'm happy that I made the wise decision of bringing three items in particular:

Trench Jacket - not as long as the coat version (so we can avoid Sherlock Holmes-type looks), this was perfect as it was really light so I didn't get too hot walking around, the material protected me from the rain, and it was easy to fold up and chuck in my bag when the weather got hotter. I bought mine in a vintage shop but I've found a great replica here. 

Black Jeggings - ASOS Rivington High Waist Denim Jeggings in Clean Black at £25 to be precise. I normally avoid jeggings like the plague as I find that they lose their elasticity after a while and just become baggy and unflattering. However, I've had this ASOS pair for quite some time now and they are (arguably) my favourite trousers. They're stylish, they're comfortable, they can be worn during the daytime or for nights out, and most importantly, they're black. What more could a girl want?

Heeled Boots - Obviously it's impossible to sightsee in scraping stilettos, but I don't like wearing flat shoes all the time as I don't think it's great for my posture and Italian streets are quite cobblestoned and uneven, so I can feel every nook and cranny beneath my feet. These MAMBO Fur Lined Lace Up Boots from Topshop were amazing. The heel is about 3 inches and chunky so it doesn't exert too much pressure. Additionally, the sole is gripped similarly to Doc Martens and the boot itself takes the shape of a Converse. Like the trousers, these were great day to night shoes and I found them the perfect pair of shoes to balance style and comfort! At only £36, I'd buy them again - Topshop also sell the platform version for those who like a bit of chunk in their step!

The first picture below is of me by the River Po, where I just happened to be wearing all three items! The other pictures further down are of myself in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, where the weather was a bit colder and I teamed the look with a scarf and light knit. 

(Apparently it's good luck to put your heel on the lion's balls and turn three times, so when in Milan...)

G x

Seven Dials London

I went to lunch in Covent Garden with a friend yesterday, when we stumbled across a fashion event in the area. It was the Spring Shopping Festival where shops including Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, Bare Minerals and Benefit were offering 20% off all items in store. 

Additionally, there were lots of food stores and free Pimms, ice cream and popcorn! The event lasted from 12-5pm, and I managed to take some pictures despite the hoards of shoppers and sipping Pimms ;)  

The event was organised by Seven Dials London (check out the free tote bag they gave out below!), so be sure to check their website for similar events in the future. 

G x

Second Hand Secrets

I was rummaging in my local charity shop the other day when I stumbled across this beauty. I couldn't resist buying it as I knew it would go with a lot of items in my wardrobe. It's a metal clutch, with a hard box-like shape similar to a jewellery box. I love the engraving and detailing as it reminds me of the 1920's glamour. 

The bag itself is surprisingly big and can fit all my night out essentials. I can imagine wearing this with a flowing chiffon dress or a plunging tailored jumpsuit. 

It's hard to find an exact replica but I've linked some clutches with a similar style below. 

Lucy Gem Frame Clutch, £49

Vintage Orchid Blossom Print Clutch, £35

House Of Harlow 1960 Jude Clutch, £182

It's always worth giving charity shops a quick peek - sometimes you'll find utter rubbish, but as well as this bag a few months ago I found a gorgeous MaxMara coat in a north London charity shop!

Good areas in London for charity shops:

Highgate/Hampstead - on the pricier end of second hand clothing, but they do have great staple items and designer pieces. 

Shoreditch/Dalston- known as 'vintage shops', in true east London style these have quirky one-off pieces and cute accessories. 

Brixton/Clapham - For an eclectic mix of high street and high end at fantastic prices. 

G x 

Natural Beauty Look

This look is quite simple, however the key tool is highlighting. Sorry if any explanations are confusing, but I've linked a YouTube video and all the products if you want to research them further. 

1) Firstly I moisturised my face with Lacura Aqua-Complete Moisturiser. This item needs a special mention - it is £1.99 from Aldi (also available at some online retailers) and is truly the best and cheapest moisturiser I have ever used. It's light, refreshing and does the trick - I haven't met anyone who has a bad thing to say about it. Even though I used tinted moisturiser for this look, I feel like it never quite has the same effect as a regular moisturiser so I do both. 

2) I applied Nivea Daily Essentials Tinted Moisturiser using the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - there is no place this sponge can't reach (on your face, of course)! I put the moisturiser on the back of my hand first, as it is much easier to control and spread. 

3) I then apply Garnier Roll On Anti-Dark Circles under my eyes and leave it to sit for a few minutes before I blend it in. I find that when I blend it straight away, it doesn't cover my dark circles as well. While I'm waiting for it to set, I do my eyebrows using Beauty UK Hi-Brow Kit - it comes with wax to set the brow powder in place so I don't have to worry about my brows travelling across my face over the course of the day. 

4) I carefully dab the under eye roll on with the make up sponge. I curl my lashes using the Cosmopolitan Maximum Effect Lash Curler and apply Barry M White Kohl Pencil to my eye line to make my eyes seem more awake. 

5) From the Sleek Au Naturel Eye-shadow Palette, I use the Taupe shade (the sparkly beige shade, top right) and blend it in using the Real Techniques Base Shadow Brush. To see all the shades from the palette see my earlier post. Don't go over the brow bone, otherwise the look will be too dramatic. With the Pixel-Point Eyeliner Brush I apply Mineral Earth (bottom row, 3rd from right) just above my lash line. It's a substitute for eye liner, so just apply it like liquid liner. Nougat (a white shade top left) looks great blended into the tear duct for a bright-eyed look. I blended it all in with a Shading Brush. 

6)I applied Benefit They're Real Mascara in a zig-zag movement on my top lashes. In order to keep the look more natural, don't re-insert the wand in the tube to do the lower lashes.

7)  I then ran YSL Touche Eclat in shade 2 down the middle of my nose, just underneath my eyebrows, below my mouth and under my eye. The Real Techniques Deluxe Crease Brush is great for contouring - I applied MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Bronzer in Give Me Sun! down each side of my nose and kept going until both sides joined at the tip of my nose. Then I sucked my cheeks in (pout!) and drew a line cross my cheeks. I did the same with my temples, my hairline and jawline. Carli Bybel has a great tutorial on this technique. 

8) Blend blend blend! I blended my cheeks using the Retractable Kabuki Brush. As for everything else, I use the Stippling Brush. Yes, I do love me some Real Techniques. Using their Blush Brush, I applied Sleek Blush By 3 in Pink Lemonade to my cheeks to give a rosy glow. 

9) To set the look in place, I dusted my face with MAC Studio Fix Powder in NW20 with the RT Powder Brush. 

10) Oh, and I put Vaseline Lip Therapy on my lips. Never forget the Vaseline. 

G x

Essie Nails!

I've been a Shellac fan for some time now, but have recently been too busy to find time to go to the nail salon. I was given an Essie nail polish in Naughty Nautical and was really impressed by it's strong colour and resistance to chipping. I'm not someone who normally has a lot of patience with nail polishes (hence why I prefer Shellac), so it was a relief that it wasn't messy or easily chipped!

As a result, I bought two other Essie colours: Pink-A-Boo (pink bottle) and Lollipop (red bottle). They were both £10.95 each. I have yet to try Lollipop, but I'm currently wearing Pink-A-Boo. It's sparklier than I thought it would be and does need about 3 coats in order to develop that bubblegum pink colour. It does still look nice with just one layer, especially if you're looking for a light and sheer touch. Pink-A-Boo also chips more easily than Naughty Nautical but I've heard that Essie polishes do vary in terms of long wear. I like the colour, but I don't love it. There are better baby pink shades (my favourite is OPI's Mod About You, £11.50). Even with a top coat protection layer, I had to top up the colour quite a few times. It also dries quite streaky and has to be retouched, so it's not the best nail polish to use if you're in a rush. However after a week of wearing it I am slowly falling in love with the colour - it's a cute pastel shade for spring. 

Overall, I would recommend Essie nail polishes as a lot of them have fantastic colouring and stay on your nails for ages, but it can be quite hit and miss. I'm still looking forward to trying Lollipop and will keep you all posted!

G x

Update: Here is what Lollipop looks like! I am in love with this shade, it's the perfect summer red.