Barry M Instant Nail Effects

So, my dear friend Vicky read about this new Barry M nail polish that creates a crackled effect on your nails, and set us up on a mission to search every Boots store we happened upon to find this magical stuff. Eventually, she spotted it in the tiniest Boots store you could imagine, funnily enough. With a 3 for 2 offer I also bought two other colours, and have just put the Instant Nail Effects to the test with the 'Mushroom' Nail Paint as my base, and I'm pretty impressed and in awe of the results.

I'm pretty awful at painting my nails neatly - I end up with a mess all around my finger tips. Cleaning up with nail varnish remover and cotton buds does most of the job, but for the corners that are a little too close, cotton buds end up wiping off half my nail varnish. Another friend of mine pointed out a product she has used before when we went to a Sephora store in Rome a couple of months back (really, England, we have Victoria's Secret and Forever21 on board now, give us Sephora already) and it was just the thing I needed. This handy little correcter pen has a pointed tip perfect for getting up close and personal with your messy nails, without wiping half the stuff off.

All images my own, if you plan to repost my ugly hands then please credit FantasticalFashion.

The Art of Beauty

If you ever feel like your make-up routine is a bit mundane, then don't look at the following pictures.

Every now and then I like to admire the craft put into these looks, and kind of consider experimenting, then I think, 'Hmm I'll get laughed out of my lectures if i waltz in with feathers hanging off my eyelashes'. They're such beautiful works of art though! Like the face is a canvas and the make-up artist is wondering 'What can I create this time?'

It just encourages me to hang around the Boots make-up department - putting all sorts of wonderful colours on the back of my hand - probably resulting in me buying some wacky make-up from Barry M that I'll never dare to wear.

And ohh if only prolonged use of fake eyelashes didn't ruin my real lashes so much...

Here are some pictures for inspiration...

For more, go on Style.com and check out the Details/Backstage sections of your favourite designer's catwalk shows. A lot of the images featured are Dior/John Galliano and a bit of Viktor & Rolf.

All images: Style.com