Review: Champneys Mulberry nail polish

Now I'm not a fan of painting my nails.  I hate waiting for them to dry, thinking they are dry and then chipping them, so annoying.  BUT! once my nails are painted and look pretty, I like it again.

I was bought a Champneys nail polish set for Christmas last year, maybe even the year before. Since then, I have mostly used the Nude, Cherry and the base and top coat but also included were Mocha and Mulberry.

L-R Base/Top coat, Cherry, Mulberry, Nude, Mocha

For an event I worked recently, I thought I would try the Mulberry shade to give a nod to autumn/winter and compliment the black lace dress I was to wear (see below).

Mulberry

I painted my nails the day before the event and 13 days later it looks like this!

I didn't realise quite how long I had had this polish on until a beauty vlogger was raving off a 4 day polish.  I think this Champneys formula must be a really good one but my tips for a lasting coat are:

1. Wash and dry your hands to get rid of any nail polish remover/grease etc

2. Start with a clear base/top coat

3. Use a thin first layer so it dries quicker

4. Another clear base/top coat

5. A second coat of the colour

6. A third layer of the clear base/top coat

7. Sit and let the nails dry completely

8. Use a hairdryer to speed up the drying

9. Run the nails under cold water

10. Use the quick drying spray

I think mine were purchased at Boots but they don't seem to be online this year so here is a link to the Champneys website where you can buy 24 shades of nail varnish including Mulberry.  

I have had compliments on the colour and I am impressed how good it still looks nearly a fortnight on.  I would rate Champneys Mulberry 4/5

Just incase you're curious, this is a picture of the dress I wore to the event.  It is from the range Somerset by Alice Temperley which is exclusive to John Lewis.  It is beautiful and would make a perfect dress for over the party season this Christmas.  You can find the dress online here.

What is your favourite brand of nail polish?

What shades are you using this autumn?

Kitty x

YSL gift set

Way back in the January sale, I picked up a little bargain!  I think it cost me £21 or something wonderful like that.  It is a YSL mini makeup bag with a full sized Touche Eclat, a full sized Volume Effect Mascara and a 15ml Forever Youth Liberator Serum.  For me, I don't usually pick much up in the sales but this I couldn't resist.  At the time I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it until I next needed a gift for a friend's birthday or use it myself.  Most of my friend's birthdays seem to be in the latter half of the year and when I ran out of mascara and asked around for a recommendation, my friend Victoria recommended a YSL one which reminded me of the set I had gathering dust.  

YSL Touche Eclat shade 1

I used to use Touche Eclat as a teenager and student (funny that now I'm working full time I don't stretch to such high end products!) and loved it.  I was told at a No7 counter in Boots once that the exact prodcut was put in both their pen concealer as was put in the YSL once, scandalous!  It is a highlighter so I believe I use it incorrectly as a concealer.  I would recommend it to lighter the eye area, on your cupids bow, down the bridge of the nose and under the eyebrows.

YSL Volume Effect Mascara in Black

I love this mascara! It lengths my lashes and isn't sticky.  By sticky I mean were my top and bottom lashes stick together with mascara and drive me mad! This mascara makes my lashes look long and defined.  I really would recommend trying it!

YSL Youth Liberator Serum

I have no idea what to do with this, how much to use, how often nor when I am meant to use it!  Have you tried it?  Is it any use to a 27yr old?

If you fancied getting your hands on the set, you're in luck!  As it happens, the set has been released again for this Christmas with a different, larger makeup bag but the same products.  Mine was a real, end of January sale purchase but the newer version is currently 10% off which always helps.

YSL gift set

Kitty x

Review: Simple Kind To Skin range

 

Simple, the "sensitive skin experts" Kind To Skin range. 

 

From left to right, top to bottom: Soothing Facial Toner, Hydrating Light Moisturiser, Purifying Cleansing Lotion, Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser, Brightening Eye Make-up Remover Pads.

 

 



Eye Make-up Remover Pads

I thought I would try these Eye Make-up Remover Pads as when I buy a liquid remover it runs out within a week and I don't fancy buying 4 a month.  I usually use the Purifying Cleansing Lotion to take all my make-up off but I had run out and it had been sold out for a while.  When I went to buy it again and saw it was once again out of stock I was actually just looking to pick up face wipes and was just going to use them to remove my eye make-up only.  They dry my skin out if I use them everyday but for eye make-up they would of been just fine.  Then I spotted these pads and thought I'd give them a try.  I think for the days when I just use a swipe of mascara they will be ok but I usually line my eyes and wear a few layers of black mascara.  Because the eye area is delicate, I believe you should gently press the pad on the eye and hold there for a short while before carefully wiping away the make-up.  It's like with nail varnish remover, hold it on to let it remove the product to avoid as much rubbing as possible.  At only £1.99 for 30 pads (Home Bargains) I think for a light make-up wearer these will do the job.  For me I would need to use 2+ pads and they probably wouldn't last me too long if I used them most days.  Now I have managed to repurchase the Purifying Cleansing Lotion I will use that to remove my eye make-up.

Purifying Cleansing Lotion

This is a tried and tested make-up remover for me.  It is gentle enough for my sensitive skin.  I usually squirt a penny sized amount on a cotton pad and wipe over my face and repeat until my skin is clean.  I use this product to remove my eye make-up and have not reaction to it like I do with other products near my eyes.  I would thoroughly recommend this to those with sensitive skin.  I buy mine from Home Bargains were they charge £1.99 for it, that is why it is usually out of stock but Superdrug usually have it on offer.  Sometimes I stock up on a 2-4-1 or 3-4-2 deal.  Sainsbury's had a deal on recently so I shop around.

Soothing Facial Toner

After cleansing, I apply this toner to a cotton pad and wipe it over my face.

Hydrating Light Moisturiser

I have started using this light moisturiser underneath my make-up as it soaks in well and does not take my make-up off like heavier ones do.  I use a heavier moisturiser at night if my skin is feeling dry.  This Simple moisturiser should be ideal for my sensitive skin and it doesn't leave my face shiny.  My skin is feeling drier but I think I will stick with this and do an exfoliating scrub once a week and use my favourite heavy moisturiser Nivea Soft each night and see if that helps.

Vital Vitamin Foaming Cleanser

I have recently discovered this foaming cleanser.  It was on offer in Superdrug and as I am a fan of the Simple skincare range, I thought I would try it.  I love it! I take my eye make-up off first and then, with my face make-up still on, I wet my face and pump two squirts of the foam on to my hands.  I rub the foam cleanser onto my face avoiding my eyes and then rinse off.  It removes all traces of my make-up and leaves my skin feeling very clean.  It does tighten slightly so I always follow with moisturiser as I don't like that sensation.  My skin perked up after using only a week.  I don't use it everyday as some days I like to use the Purifying Cleansing Lotion.  I like both equally so I switch between the two.  I would thoroughly recommend this Foaming Cleansing.

Do you use any of these products?  Which other Simple products would you recommend?

Kitty x