An ode to Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara

Ok, maybe ode is too strong, but this is the one product I haven't strayed from in about 8 years. Well, actually, I *did* use one other mascara in that time - I tried L'Oreal's Telescopic Mascara when it first came out and it just reaffirmed my love for the Masterpiece mascara.

So why so good I hear you ask? It's only mascara right? First up, this mascara just.does.not.clump. Eyes are a big part of my look; I have been fortunate and blessed with quite long eyelashes, so I like to make a feature of them, which for me means wearing a lot of mascara while avoiding the spider legs look *shudder*

It's extremely forgiving - I can put on a good few layers and my lashes never look clumped. The brush is a great shape and reaches all lashes easily, right up to the corners.

It doesn't really budge (I tried the waterproof and the Max version, but the original truly is perfection) and most of all - it's a great price! at the moment it's just £7.99 on the Boots website, normally it is £9.99 which I still think is perfectly reasonable for such a great product.

People ask me a lot "where do you get your eyelashes done?" and "are your eyelashes natural?" and they are always surprised when I tell them it's just thanks to this humble mascara - and more than a few I recommended it to said they loved it.


The only additional thing I do with my eyelashes sometimes is curl them - curlers really do open up your eyes! I've tried fancy pants heated ones but find a bog standard traditional curler works best, but for gawd's sake make sure you have the little rubber bits on them! A friend sliced her eyelashes off with curlers, and well, it wasn't pretty...

In the photos I have used curlers before putting mascara on and have left my eyes otherwise bare - normally I wear eyeliner or shadow but I really wanted to fully show off the product in this post. If you really want to go wild you can curl them again once you have put a light coat of mascara on,and then top it up with another light coat of mascara (again - this is why this mascara rocks as it will let you do this without giving you scary lashes) Doing this will just give slightly more impact - great for a night out!

I also don't believe in the zig-zag method of putting mascara on that is so commonly recommended. I just apply in upward strokes and even put it on slightly behind the lashes - it really helps get the mascara on right to the tip of the lashes - sometimes I find just applying at the front gets the root of the lashes really well covered but leaves the ends of the lashes looking a little light.

It really is one of the few products I use religiously - I still flirt with different foundations, blushers, and I am currently on the hunt for a great primer that won't break the bank- recommendations welcome! 

But when it comes to mascara I never use anything else. I tend to wait for it to go on offer at Boots (I only really shop there thanks to their loyalty card, I save up my points for perfume; it's always a joy seeing the cashier's face when I ask to pay for a £60 perfume with my points...) But I digress! 

Do you have any make up products that you just can't live without?

Less is more

For many years I worked for a fantastic clothing and accessories brand (Monsoon Accessorize if you must know), which meant that over the years as well as accruing a rather fabulous jewellery and handbag collection, it also meant I got rather used to being really dressed up, all the time.

Since discovering New Look's supersoft skinny jeans last year my wardrobe has completely changed. As a sufferer of eczema and sensitive skin in general, I often found traditional denim jeans a little scratchy and rarely wore them. For many years I was known as the super girly girl, always in pretty frocks and lovely skirts, never to be seen in jeans. While this girly-ness is still a very big part of my wardrobe, it is nice now that on some days I can fully embrace dressing down.

Love a statement necklace!

Apologies for the terrible quality picture

A couple of weeks ago I popped on a grey tshirt I've had for yonks from the kids section in New Look (VAT free clothing for the win!) with a pair of their light blue supersoft skinnies (which were an ebay bargain)


As it was a warmer day I just rolled them up to wear with sandals and popped on a fab statement necklace.

The colours of the necklace really lifted the outfit then I added a chunky bright blue plastic ring which I've had for years from Accessorize and I was done! Normally there would have been at least one more ring, an arm full of bangles, a hair accessory and no doubt some earrings too. I'm finally learning that I no longer have to wear every accessory available to advertise products for the company I work for and I am accepting that less really is more! 

The other half was also extremely complimentary, liking my more laid back look (and let's face it, most guys are suckers for girls in skinny jeans...)

I know magazines forever harp on about dressing in simple wardrobe classics and this is nothing new to most, but it was just a joy to still feel really good in an outfit I wouldn't have even considered a few years ago.

So here's to looking low key and amazing all at once!

Nailing it

Here it is, a very first blog post, and instead of worrying "gosh will anyone read this?" "and what if they read it and think I'm stupid?!"I'm just going straight in to one of my favourite types of make up: nail varnish.

I love how it can show off a little personality with sparkles, patterns and crazy colours or just look really sleek and chic - think glossy, shiny nude nails...

I thought I'd ease us all in with some of my favourite looks I've painted. I have been to a salon and done the shellac thing, and it was great and did last two weeks of holiday. But for me, I just love painting my own nails, I find it really relaxing and had also got used to them looking different at least twice a week, oops! As the photos show I am far from a pro and A LOT of cotton buds save the day when I get painting, but it is fun and I always get comments about my nails (including "do you change your nails as often as you change your knickers?!")

So without anymore hesitation....

 This week I have started with a lovely purple Barry M gelly polish with a generous top coat (or three) of a Barry M sparkle polish.

They are so colourful and pretty, I keep gazing at them when I am meant to be typing / focusing at work...ahem.

 Love this graffiti top coat! It was from 17 at Boots and a total barg. I was originally playing around seeing what colours looked best underneath it, then finished my hand and loved it as it was! I have used it since with a pink polish underneath which looked fab too.

A top coat is a must with this as I discovered - otherwise the "graffiti" bits catch on EVERYTHING.

This was a little fiddly, using a white Wah Nail Art Pen.

The colour was actually more lavender than blue and it looked super cute. A male colleague even commented on my "Cath Kidston nails"

It did upset me when it chipped so quickly after spending a looooong time making perfect polka dots...one for patient people!

 These were my 1st - of - January - let's -start -the year -with - lots - of -razzle -dazzle nails. 

Navy polish and purple on the feature nail, with matching sparkle top coats (lots of it!)

It looked incredible, SO sparkly, but my god glitter polishes are a sod to remove....

Summer Nails! Another Barry M Gelly Polish base with their confetti effect on top. Really bright and pretty, got lots of nice compliments for these bad boys!








And this is my all time favourite nail effect that is so flipping easy I almost don't want to share...


But as I am just starting this blogging lark it wouldn't be on to be selfish. 




















Pick your colours, either two from the same sort of colour group or a total contrast.

On the right I picked a pale blue Nails Inc and my trusty purple Barry M Gelly, the left was a pearly white with you guessed it...my trusty Barry M Gelly polish!

Paint a thin base coat and let it dry completely. Then paint your base colour again, but a little thicker. While it is wet put a few blobs of your second colour on the top of this. Using a nail art tool / toothpick / pencil just wiggle and swirl it down to the bottom of the nail. It will look dreadful at first, but I promise you, once dry and you paint a clear top coat on they will look sha-mazing (sorry, but I love Nicole Sherzinger and I will never be ashamed of that)

Anyway, the final result will lead people to asking "ooh is that  a nail sticker" and "how on earth did you do that?!", to which you smugly reply "oh it was super easy!", smile and walk away leaving them stunned at your talent.

The one thing I am struggling with is a good top coat, I currently use OPI but my nails still chip the second I turn my back, so any recommendations are very welcome!