Nail Polish collection/favourite colours

 Introducing...my nail polish collection! Housed in one of my empty Glossyboxes (although at the rate I'm collecting, another box will be needed soon!) which are perfect for storage. As you can see, lots of them have little stickers on top, showing me what the colour in them looks like- very useful tip if most of your nail varnish lives in identical black-topped bottles.

 My collection is mostly a combination of Barry M, Models Own and cheap high street brands, although now some Essie is working it's way in ;) I think my best brand to go to is a mixture of Barry M and Models Own, both are good for consistency and offer a great colour range. I find Barry M lasts well on my nails, although there are a few exceptions (hello Mint Green!) but I guess there are in every brand.

 If you haven't already tried Essie's diffusion line, available in Boots & Superdrug, then I can really recommend it, they offer a lovely colour range, a good brush applicator and I think the polish has good longevity on the nails. Worth the money.

 Anyway, here are my best polishes in my own collection, some I reach for often, some I rediscover, wear to death and then forget about again for a few months...I forgot to include the Models Own/Wah Nails nail art pen in the picture- I love this product and it's really easy to use and add a bit of interest to your nails :)

 Top picture, L-R: Nails Inc- Victoria & Albert, Beauty UK- Aztec Gold, Barry M- Peach Melba, Models Own- Grace Green, Essie- Turquoise & Caicos, Barry M- bright blue, No7- Cheeky Chops, Essie- Watermelon, Models Own- Utopia, Ciate- nude, Barry M- Wine, Rimmel- Disco Ball, Sally Hansen- Hard as Nails base coat & strengthener.


 These are just some of my favourites and to be honest, I have too many to include them all! I also have put down possibly my best one somewhere and forgotten where it is (Barry M- Coral), boo!

 In other news, my Topshop boots arrived today and I love them, I hope they last me ages and they seem light enough to wear on damp summer days (well, this is England...). I will post up a picture soon!

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Agfa Optima 1a

Picked this little 1970s film camera up on ebay last week, a real little gem. Doesn't require a battery, only a roll of film and good light. It's way more basic than my Pentax, but no less charming. The carry case is rather cute too- real German leather. I'm looking forward to getting this film developed, although I'm not sure that I have the correct film for the ASA/ISO settings...oh well, the unpredictable joys of film!

I worked for an hour today- didn't seem worth it at all, but it's double pay so not all bad. Going Christmas shopping tomorrow, and I'll be having a cheeky look in the new Urban Outfitters, just might have to buy something out of principle ;) I've also got a ton of MAC stuff coming in the post, they also sent me a free mascara which I'm looking forward to using. Might also have a peek at the Barry M Lip Paints tomorrow too, there's a particular nude shade I'm interested in- sorry bank balance.

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Little things

Primark cardigan, ASOS dress, Barry M Mint green nail polish

Dorothy Perkins jumper & dress

Eylure 107 lashes, Barry M silver foil nail polish and Nails Inc. Basil Street polish (free)

Duac Skin lotion (prescription only), Garnier BB cream in Light

Just a few new things I've accumulated over the past weeks, also got some more new stuff coming from ASOS haha... Work has been busy this week, and so has my life to some extent, with doctors appointments and family arguments over moving house, but I still feel quite dissatisfied with my situation at the moment, everyone else seems to be moving out/away from here, doing interesting stuff and getting interesting jobs. I just seem to be floating around with no real purpose or direction, I think I'm missing the freedom and independence of University. Anyway, enough moping, I just hope that this time next year I'll be somewhere different and more exciting...
I finally got somewhere to sorting out my 'problem skin'. Apparently my hormones are faulty, so they can't really do much about that but I now have some seriously strong antibiotic gel (Duac Once Daily- on prescription only) to help keep spots at bay. It really dries the skin out, making it tight, flaky and itchy- I feel so sorry for people who have this all the time. These symptoms should disappear in 2 weeks though as my skin should get used to the peroxide (bit scary). To help my skin along (you can't use oily makeup while using the gel), I invested in the BB cream from Garnier, it's very moisturising and smells lovely. It doesn't really cover up blemishes but gives light coverage to the skin without any 'cakey' feeling. I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good tinted moisturiser, or a light foundation that helps counteract dry skin. I apply it using a foundation kabuki brush, but you can use your hands if you prefer.
I also got some new eyelashes today, 107s from Eylure. I accidently hoovered my old ones up! I also picked up the Barry M silver foil nail varnish, to be honest I wanted a silver and this happened to be on the shelf, can't say it resembles tin foil, but it is a lovely silver shade. If you get Glamour this month there's a free full size Nails Inc. varnish included, I already had the red shade from a previous collaboration, so I opted for a nice nude/brown (actually nicer than how I've described it...). I'm also contemplating on going back to blonde now I have money. Decisions, decisions!

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