My Essie Mini Collection

I've done a nail polish collection, way back here. Obviously, since then it's been edited down a few times and new polishes added here or there. But I've never really touched on my mini Essie collection. Isn't it adorable?

Essie Winter 2013 Collection

I think I'm not the only one in saying I am down for any of Essie's seasonal collections, no? Here's the deal though, I usually only pick two a year - either between the summer or resort and likewise fall or winter. There is usually a similarity between the colours after all and it helps saves the pennies. This year, you've already seen I chose the Summer collection, and for the more colder months it had to be the winter collection...

In this years mini cube (there are two more shades available not in this cube,) you get four delicious shades, pretty beautiful for this time of year. First up is 'Mind Your Mittens' which is a deep (almost navy) teal. Second is Shearling Darling (for which the collection is named,) which is a super glossy plush burgundy red. The glitter of the bunch is called 'Toggle to the Top' which is described as a 'sparkling crushed garnet red' - pretty spot on. Last but not least is 'Sable Colar' described as a 'pearlescent cocoa plum' - this almost looks like a greige/aubergine/purple concoction (pretty similar to Rimmel Hot List,) and has a slight shimmer running through. 

As with all Essie polishes, wear time is great (a full seven days with Seche Vite as your top coat before any sort of chips appear,) and the finish on all of these polishes is literally the most beautiful. Yes, I'm in love.

This collection is pretty beautiful and I'm glad I picked it up, I got mine from ebay here, which has sold out but you can still get some here or pick the three cube collection at Boots and Superdrug, so I'm told but they are selling out quick! 

Have you tried the Essie Winter 2013 collection yet?

Peace!

Essie Summer 2013 Collection

Essie's mini collections can be something like an enigma...

For instance - the Resort 2013 collection, so hard to find and when you do people are over charging like nobodies business and it really makes you hate collections and especially limited collections, so on and so forth. 

The problem was that I wanted/needed (not really though, it was pure colour lust let me assure you, no one needs nail varnishes in every single colour,) the resort collection until I spotted the Summer Collection Mini's... Then I was like, well damn it - which one to go for?

In the end, thanks to beloved e-bay again, I went for the Summer 2013 collection and oh god - I am in lurve, let's take a look at the colours, shall we?

From left to right on the swatches;

Full Steam Ahead - A pretty pearlescent lilac with subtle shimmer.

Naughty Nautical - An amazing blue-green with shimmer, I'm dubbing this the 'mermaid' shade.

Sunday Funday - A hot pink/tangerine coral-y blissfull shade with shimmer running through, probably my favourite and will pretty much be my new go to for summer.

The More The Merrier - A juicy lime green shade - this looks amazing on and I love it, surprisingly. 

There are two more colours that weren't included in this set -  but you can check them out here.

The polishes are the old brushes but surprisingly I'm becoming a fan of them - it means I concentrate more and tend to have less slip ups when I'm doing my nails, not so great if I'm in a rush, but totally perfect for the weekly mani/pedi session. 

Have you got your eye on any Essie collections?

Peace!

Favourites & Constants

I'm picky most of the time. With food, with interior choices and of course with beauty products. If I find something that works for me, especially for my body - I'll stick to it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

Some of my constants that I couldn't be without, the top three that are always to hand are the E45 Intense Recovery Lotion - perfect for dry skin and sufferers of eczema alike this product is a god send. Although there is that unique E45 scent, I couldn't care less as it soon goes away, I always come back to this if my skin flares up. The Toni & Guy Sea Salt Spray is my best friend. I rarely style my hair in any way and just spritz this on for a tousled beachy look. Applied on damp hair over night whilst it's in a plait? Genius. Of course no one can be without Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. It's just that product. The scent is bloody awful, but it lasts ages and I couldn't do without it. When it runs out I'll pick up the scent-free concoction but I swear by this for dryness, impromptu lip scrubs (use a cotton bud and go crazy,) and even on nail cuticles. Truly a life saver.

Second to these, a tub of Carmex for pre-bed time soothing, Burts Bees Hand Salve for particularly bad cuticles or dry areas on the hands, a good hand cream - I either use any L'Occitane hand cream because they are just beaut, Body Shop Hemp Hand Protector during winter but at the moment it's Neal's Yard Bee Lovely hand cream. It smells incredible. My favourite shower gel is Creightons Vanilla and Macadamia Cocoon (available at Morrisons,) - it smells so so amazingly yummy and really hydrates and under £2 - who the hell am I to argue with that? I've just ordered a case of them. Oh yes, I'm in love... and for post shower/bath feet treats it has to be Soap and Glory Heel Genius. What's there to say? It's a classic, smells divine and really works. 

The new up-and-comers are Bioderma's Sensibio - I love, I adore. I purchased a bigger bottle. It gets rid of all make up before a thorough cleansing and honestly my skin is grateful. Lastly, Burts Bees Facial Cleanser - it feels partially like an oil, partially like a balm and has really gentle exfoliation to it too - perfect for mornings when you want a burst of orangey-goodness to wake you up.

What products can you really not do with out?

Peace!