Dry your nails instantly

Nobody has the time to wait for a manicure to dry, especially at home. You paint your nails then the phone rings, or you decide to have a cup of tea... A top tip to avoid smudging your nails is to dip your nails in ice cold water after you painted them, I usually leave them in for about 5 minutes just to be safe.

Above is my nails drying in my lovely oversized tea cup from Next, which I love!

Below is my nails after I painted and dried them in ice cold water. 

I used Nails INC Markham Square, which is a cream nude with a hint of grey.

I used the Nails Inc Westminster bridge matt topcoat, for a matt finish on my nails. This is a really good buy, you simply put on top of any colour to achieve a matt finish on your nail colour.

InstaLove

Also please follow my page on Instagram...you can find me @Anniesworld_x

Autumn Favourites

With Autumn in full swing and winter well on its way, I have been looking for the right skin care products that will keep my skin looking somewhat radiant. The Espa Optimal ProCleanser is the latest product from Espa. I have been using this cleanser for almost 3 weeks now and it is maintaining my summer glow and my skin is definitely feeling softer. This is a gel cleanser, now gel cleansers do not usually sit well with my skin as I do not have particularly oily skin, so therefore I personally find they can be to stripping for my skin. So when I first started using the Espa Optimal ProCleanser, I was a little bit apprehensive, but I can reassure you I was pleasantly surprised. I won't bore with my opinion for much longer, Here is a break down of the product.

"This Tri-Phase multifunctional gel cleanser, exfoliator and mask will leave your skin feeling beautifully clean, nourished and visibly radiant." According to Espa (2014)

Yes! That is right, you get three products in one, your cleanser, a exfoliator and a mask. Espa claim  "Moringa seed extract cleanses and removes make up." Moringa seed is also a very good skin conditioning agent, which is partly why I think this gel cleanser isn't as stripping as other gel cleansers. Espa also state "Jojoba spheres gently exfoliate". These are little tiny balls in the cleanser, while massaging your cleanser into you skin the jojoba spheres melt and leave your skin nourished. The last key ingredient in the Optimal ProCleanser is Pumpkin enzymes. I love fruit enzymes in  my products, not only do smell great, but they remove dead skin cells and ultimately giving your skin a radiant, healthy glow.

To activate the mask leave on your skin for 15 minutes. 

This is a great multi functional product. 

Next in my Autumn regime is the Espa Hydrating Floral Spafresh Spritzer, now if your anything like me then a toner is one step in your routine that you will often skip, however it is still an important step. Toning helps to close your pores, preventing build up product, which can lead to congested skin and black heads. 

Espa Hydrating Floral Spafresh Spritzer is a product which has lasted a while now, I have had it for a couple months. All of the Espa toners are available in two forms a bottle or a spritzer, I personally prefer a spritzer as a can just very quickly spritz. This  toner is suitable for all skin types, but especially dry and dehydrated skin. There is also a Espa balancing Herbal Spafresh Spritzer, which is also suitable for all skin types, but especially for combination/ oily skin.

Espa Optimal Skin Proserum is a product I can't not live without, I have blogged about it before on my blog, which you read HERE. So I am not going to into too much detail, however this is a must have product, I use it everyday, sometime twice a day.

Espa Skin Radiance Moisturiser is a product which I knew about, but I have never purchased until now. To be honest it does what it says on the tin really, which is all I want out of product. This product contains,

 "Mulberry, Bearberry and Liquorice act together to help visibly brighten and even out skin tone, while Hawaiian Algae dissolves dull cells clean away. Revitalising Meadowsweet gently stimulates cell renewal for fresher, softer skin." Claims Espa (2014)

At the Moment my skin feels great, I am wearing less make up than usual which is always a good thing. 

Espa Optimal ProCleanser - £30

Espa Hydrating Floral Spafresh Spritzer - £19

Espa Optimal Skin Proserum - £48

Espa Skin Radiance Moisturiser - £38

Whole Health Source: Grains and Human Evolution

Whole Health Source: Grains and Human Evolution: [Update 8/2011: as I've learned more about human genetics and evolution, I've come to appreciate that many Europeans actually descen...

A little Lipstick never hurts: Lipsticks for Autumn/Winter 2014/15

This season bold lips are back! So put your nudes away and dig out your favourite bold lipsticks from last summer. Bold pinks, dark reds, vibrant oranges and metallic earth tones are all over the catwalks for autumn/winter 2014/15. I have picked out three lipsticks which would be great for this season. The first one of favourites is MAC Lustre, second is the classic Chanel Rouge Allure, last but not least is the bold Tom Ford Bitter Sweet.

MAC Lustre  is a lipstick that you may or not be able to tell from the picture that I have had for a while, it is one of my favourites to wear on a casual day but when I want subtle a bold lip, it is important to point out that this shade is not dark. It is very subtle and has quite sheen finish, it is a lot like a tinted balm. This is a great shade for those not brave enough to try something to bold just yet!

This lipstick costs £15.50 and you pick one up in any MAC store or order online through the MAC Website

Ahhhh Chanel Rouge Allure! A beautiful timeless classic from Chanel, this is actually a new one to my collection but one I think every girl needs in here collection. Application for this lipstick is very easy, it does not drag like some other lipsticks, it feels very moisturising and has a lovely finish. I absolutely adore Chanel packaging for lipsticks, as the pop out they do not tend to knock against the lid, which sometimes damage or just make you lipsticks look dirty.

This lipstick is £26 and you can pick one up from most Chanel stations in house of Fraser or Selfridges. 

Tom Ford Bitter Sweet is another one of my personal favourites, this is a great lipstick for the evening, weather it is dinner or going out. Bitter Sweet is my earthy/chocolate brown lipstick. This is definitely a must have for this season, the application is also very similar to the Chanel, very easy to apply and has a very nice smooth finish. Tom ford lipstick packaging is just like the rest of brand glamorous, loud and sexy! A great looking lipstick to have in your purse.

This lipstick is £36 and you can get it from any Tom Ford station in Selfridges or house of Fraser, you can also order it online via the House of Fraser website.

What I am Listening to this week!!

The much anticipated debut album from Jhene Aiko was released  in the UK on 8th September, and it lived up to every expectation. I became a fan of Jhene Aiko after her album sail out and I could not wait for this album to release.

 Her vocals are like sweet angels singing in my ears with her intimate songs about her brother, broken hearts, to falling in love and even the struggles of being an artist and a mother and also the pressures of life in general. Her album is an inspiration.

Track list

1. Limbo Limbo Limbo
2. W.A.Y.S
3. To love & die (feat cocaine 80s)
4. Spotless mind
5. Its cool
6. Lyin King
7. Wading
8. The Pressure
9. Brave
10. Eternal sunshine
11. Blue dream
12. Promises (Namiko & Mayagi)
13. Remember
14. Pretty Bird (freestyle)

It is so hard to pick a favourite song from the album, I am just absolutely in love with her and her music. But if I had to pick a few tracks it would be W.A.Y.S, I love that I feel so much strength and motivation in her voice to keep going and never give up. Promises Is also one of favourites, featuring her daughter and late brother, a personal favourite I just love it. Lyin King is also one of my favourites. I could go on forever the whole album is great!

Her first single from the album is The pressure, I have put the video below, have a listen...enjoy!!!

Prime Time

With so many primers on the market to buy, it can be difficult to distinguish which one to get and why you should get it. But first why is it important to use a primer? A face primer is a product which should be applied to your skin after you have moisturised and before you apply your foundation. 

The first purpose of using a primer is to make your foundation easier to apply. Whatever you use to apply your foundation weather it is a foundation brush, a beauty blender or your finger! There is nothing more annoying than streaky foundation and gravy lines, so initially using a primer before your foundation should prevent this from happening. 

The second purpose of a primer is to help your make up last for longer, so hopefully you leave work with the same face you arrived with.

Some primers can also help conceal fine lines, wrinkles and pores. Some primers can also help to dull the appearance of oily or combination skin types. Your chosen primer should also help to eliminate small defects on the skin given your skin a more radiant appearance.

My favourite three primers at the moment is:

1. Max factor face infinity primer 
2. MAC prep + prime face protect
3. Benefit the POREfessional

The Max factor face infinity primer is cream base primer, it leaves a nice sheen on the surface of the skin given your skin a radiant appearance. Although it is a cream based primer I do still use a moisturiser before applying this primer, do give your moisturiser a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin before applying your primer. I have tried using it without a moisturiser and my skin did not feel hydrated enough through out the day. This is a great primer for combination skin types as it contains micro correctors for excess oil. It will also be suitable for normal skin types as it is quite light. This primer has a SPF 20 so it is protecting your skin through out the day, therefore it would be a great primer to introduce to your routine if your face moisturiser does not contain a SPF. The Max factor primer is great value for money, one of the cheapest at £10.99 and it is also a generous size of 30ml. You can pick up one of these primers from Boots or Superdrug.

It is also on offer in both stores at the moment. In Boots if you buy one then you get one for half price.

And also in Superdrug it has been reduced from £10.99 to £7.99.

MAC prep + prime face protect is also a cream based primer but it has a thicker consistency than the max factor primer, although it has a thicker consistency compared to the max factor it still is light on skin and easy to apply your foundation on top. As it comes out quite thick, so use this primer sparingly otherwise it leaves you with a slight white sheen on top the skin, similar to when you have used too much sunscreen. Again I would also use with a moisturiser underneath but you can get away without using a moisturisers as it quite hydrating. This primer is suitable for all skin types but it would be great for sensitive and fairer skin types as it has a high protection factor of a SPF 50. It is also an oil free primer so if you do have oily skin it would be fine  to use, especially if your skin is quite irritated from breakouts and you want something to protect your skin and act as barrier. MAC also claims that it "provides high-level broad spectrum sun protection. Worn daily helps guard the skin against discolouration, premature ageing, dryness and other effects of sun exposure".

It costs £24.00 and you can pick up this primer from a MAC store/counter or online via the MAC website.

The Benefit POREfessional has a totally different consistency, the texture feels quite sandy and it leaves your skin with an almost porcelain appearance. It also slightly tinted which should help to eliminate the appearance of pores, fine lines and small defects of the skin. According to Benefit you should  "Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skin tones and helps makeup stay put". This is fantastic primer if you have oily skin and large pores, it really helps to minimise the appearance and keeps your make on too.

This primer costs £24.50 and you can pick it up from a Benefit store/counter or online via the Benefit website.

Overall my favourite out of the three is Max factor face infinity I love the texture and consistency, my make up lasts through out the day and it also gives me a bit of glow.

However I do have a combination skin type, but if I had sensitive or dry skin I would lean towards the MAC prep + prime face protect and if my skin was oily I would definitely go for The Benefit POREfessional.