Barry M Black Red

Hello! So quite a while ago now, I did a blog post about my favourite Autumn nail polish colours. And I thought that it was about time that I did a NOTD featuring one! Now my NOTDs don't tend to be too adventurous, I definitely don't have time to experiment with nail art, what between going to uni, all the uni work I have to do, working 2 jobs AND blogging! So when I'm lucky enough to have enough spare time to paint my nails in, I tend to only have enough time for a plain block colour. But I quite like just plain painted nails, so I don't mind!
Anyway! Enough of that! Barry M's Black Red is absolutely hands down my favourite colour polish (with their navy polish coming in a close second), it's the perfect colour for the colder months, being a burgundy tone. And this sort of shade really does it for me, I'm not a huge fan of the brighter bolder berry colours that so many others favour, and I prefer my berry tones more on the dark side, with an almost vampy and gothic element to them, they just feel so much deeper and more interesting to me.. Not to mention I think they look SO cool, and add a bit more grunge (which I really like) than the brighter berry colours.

So this is what the polish looks like after just one coat (sorry about the quality, these ones weren't taken on a proper camera)

And then I would normally go in with another coat after that, ending up with this! I can't say it enough how much I love this colour! Like I said, it's perfect and so "in" around this time of year, but I really like to wear this in the summer too, because I feel like it adds something more than a typical black to the sort of grunge vibe I often tend to go for. But I think this can work with so many styles, wear it with an evening dress and it can look really expensive and classy. It's such a chameleon when it comes to being styled, and I would highly , highly recommend it!

I wore this with the Sally Hansen Diamond Shine and my nails were suuuuper shiny and they didn't chip for quite a few days! I love the fact that you can get the sort of effect with this polish where it's a smooth colour but there's an almost transparent quality to it, or you can build it up in a coat or two to be completely opaque. As you can tell, I can't rave enough about this, it's definitely my most used colour (when I get the time to paint my nails haha) and I would buy it again and again. I'd definitely recommend anyone to go out and buy this shade, Barry M nail polishes are super cheap at only £2.99 and are currently on 3for2 offer in boots.

What do you think of this colour? Let me know if there are any of the other Autumn Polishes you would like to see in a NOTD/review like this!

Eleanor x

Chamomile Tea Looks Like Wee

Hello! These blog posts are getting far too sporadic for my liking, but I'm in a bit of a jumble at the moment sorting out various admin things with work and uni and making other preparations for going back to uni! So hopefully once I get back into some sort of routine things will smooth out! Meanwhile, amongst the September bustle, it has been my birthday! I am very sad to say that I have now left my teens behind *cry* and I am feeling very depressed about the whole thing, I don't want to be 20! I'm not ready! Old before my time! Could this be the beginning of a lengthy mid-life crisis? Yes I know I'm being dramatic, I just don't feel 20 at all! Anyway, I've been suffering under the binds of a spending ban recently and when I got some birthday money (and John Lewis had a 10% off event) I was a little naughty...

 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks in 24 Fresh Melon £18 £16.20, Dior DiorSkin Shimmer Poudre Compact in 002 Amber Diamond £32 £28.80, Bobbi Brown Creamy Corrector in Porcelain Bisque £18 £16.20.

Yes, I splurged, I feel guilty, but it was my birthday okay?! I had to restrain myself from going crazy at the origins counter, I'll save that for the next event John Lewis have... But in all seriousness these are products that I've wanted for quite some time now and I've been waiting to get some money/a discount event to buy them so when the two crossed over, I couldn't help myself! Also, John Lewis have been out of the Dior Amber Diamond for so long (since their last 10% off event) and they even told me that they thought it had been discontinued (!!) I was a little distraught, and hardly dared to check if they had it in today after I'd finished at Bobbi Brown but I did, and they had it so I absolutely had to get it!

Something else I thought I'd mention just at the end, is that recently I've been really enjoying drinking chamomile tea in the afternoon, it counts towards your daily water intake and it tastes delicious! I like to sweeten mine with a teaspoon of honey, and I have noticed an improvement in my skin since I've been having a cup every day! I noticed the difference pretty much overnight, my blemishes started to go, my skin looked brighter and healthier, it's really true what they say about your skincare only being able to help you so far and the rest being down to your diet and what you put in your body. I can honestly say that I notice reverse effects as well when my diet is poor for a few days, my skin is oilier and blemishes take longer to get rid of. Speaking of which, I definitely notice that my skin is less oily when I've been drinking green tea and herbal tea every day as well as looking brighter and everything else I've already mentioned! I also like drinking from cute little teacups haha!

Have you splurged on anything recently? Or have you tried any of the products that I splurged on?
Eleanor x