Nail Polish: Drugstore Nudes

Have you ever been in that situation where you want to paint your nails but you're not too sure which colour to go for? You just want a bit of colour but also want to keep it natural. You want something you can wear for at least a week and not get bored of it. Well, what I usually do is go for a nice nude shade.

Nude coloured nails have always been an all-time classic and can be worn during any season which is what I love about it. They're natural looking, fresh, sophisticated and can go with literally any outfit for any occasion.

There are different shades that suit different types of skin tones. Here are five drugstore ones from my nail polish collection and I'm pretty sure there is at least one that would suit you.

I have applied a base coat (the Barry M one which I previously did a post about) which creates a nice base for better application. I then only applied one coat of each nail polish so you are able to see whether they're opaque or sheer with just one layer, and how glossy the finish is. Normally with a base coat, I prefer one coat of the nude colour as I don't like the feeling of too many layers on my nails. However, if you want more colour then apply two coats.

Max Factor: Desert Sand, £5.99

This one has a creamy tone to it. It is sheer enough for the tips of your nails to be visible so it gives you that manicure look. It's almost like wearing clear nail polish but with a subtle hint of colour which enhances your nail colour. It gives you a natural and clean look and a glossy finish. However, this one takes the longest to dry.

Barry M Gelly: Lychee, £3.99

This is more of a beige tone nude. The most opaque compared to the others. It has a very glossy gel like finish. However, due to the formula being quite thick, it takes longer to dry. If you're not bothered with a base coat, apply two coats of this to get the full effect and to get rid of any imperfections and streaks and you're good to go. I haven't been wearing this much as I feel that it doesn't really suit my skin tone.

Rimmel: Let's Get Nude, £2.99

This one is a medium tone nude. One coat gives you a very neutral colour that blends nicely with your natural nail colour. Compared to the others, it dries the quickest and has a nice glossy finish. 

Maybelline: Latte, £2.99

This is a neutral creamy nude. It is similar to the Max Factor one but has a hint of pink in it. It goes on like a dream and literally just needs one coat for that natural look. It has a glossy finish and dries super quick too. This is my favourite one out of the five as I feel that it suits my skin tone more. I love this colour so much I'm actually on my second bottle!

Maybelline: Love this Sweater, £2.99

This is another one from Maybelline but has a pinky tone to it. I would describe it as a muted pinky taupe shade. 

I feel that the ones by Maybelline last the longest (5-7 days) compared to the others with the Max Factor one chipping the quickest. However I usually finish my nails off by applying a clear top coat for extra gloss and longer lasting nails. 

Are you a fan of nude nails? If so, which one is your favourite?

Sì, Giorgio Armani

It has been a while since I have come across a perfume that I have really liked. I'm not normally too fussed with perfumes but I am usually drawn to sweet scents. I came across Si by Giorgio Armani when I was browsing around for a birthday present and was given a sample. I instantly fell in love with it and knew it was going to be one of my favourites. A few weeks later, I went and bought it!

I was intrigued by the name of the perfume and love the story behind it. 'Si' means 'yes' in Spanish and the fragrance is dedicated to femininity, to the strong beautiful woman who says yes to challenges in life, to courage, love and dreams. This makes it a very feminine and elegant fragrance.

At first it smells fruity with blackcurrant as one of the top notes. It is sweet but not to the level where it is unbearable but is fresh and uplifting. Once it settles, the hint of rose comes through which brings sophistication and elegance. The floral notes are subtle which is really nice because I'm not really a fan of strong floral scents as they remind me of the dreaded hay fever season. You are then left with warm musky undertones which include vanilla that lingers nicely on your skin throughout the day. 

Whenever someone wears this perfume, I instantly recognise it because there's something unique and special about it. It's very different compared to others which usually smell quite similar to one another. 

I also love the packaging. It is in a clear glass bottle which is simple but classy at the same time. It looks and feels quality. 

I find it rather interesting how a particular fragrance can create certain images or trigger certain memories in your life. Funnily, I have a perfume that reminds me of scary job interviews. However, with Si, I am reminded of those bright warm sunny days where you're taking nice walks in the park on freshly cut bright green grass. It is definitely a summer fragrance for me.  

Have you tried Si?

What do you think of it?

The Best Cake Shop in Chinatown

For me, a trip to Chinatown is never complete without a little visit to my favourite bakery, Golden Gate Cake Shop. It's a small and cosy shop that has beautifully made traditional Chinese cakes. I can just stand there looking at their display for ages and admire the beautiful designs. The cakes not only look amazing but they also taste delicious!

My family and I have been coming to this bakery for over ten years now and they have always been consistent with the quality of their cakes. They have a wide selection of cake designs for you to choose from for different occasions and you can personalise them too. 

Their cakes are made in store with fresh cream and fruits. They're not too heavy but light, fluffy and airy. They're not overly sweet either which is good as this means you can have a cheeky extra slice without getting that sickly sweet feeling afterwards. The reason why I always end up coming back to this particular bakery is because they never fail to impress me and the prices are reasonable too.

Not only do they do whole cakes but they also have other sweet treats like tarts and slices of different flavoured cakes such as cappuccino, chocolate mousse and strawberry. I would highly recommend the simple fruit sponge one as it's my favourite, plus it has fruit pieces in the sponge so it tastes fresh and healthier! I couldn't help but pick up a few slices the other day when I was passing by. 

For those who haven't got a sweet tooth, you'll be glad to hear that they also do a wide range of savoury cakes and buns which also taste delicious. My all time favourite has to be the char siu bun which I can't get enough of!

If you're in Chinatown and feeling peckish, why not pop in and grab something!

 It is definitely worth a visit!

What is your favourite cake shop?

The Best Eyelash Curler!

You're probably thinking 'What's so special about an eyelash curler? An eyelash curler is simply just an eyelash curler.'

At first I wasn't really bothered about them and thought what's the difference? They all do the same job. Until one day I accidentally nearly yanked off some of my lashes because they got caught on the curler I was using. I then thought it was finally time to invest in a better one that would actually last and be comfortable to use.

I went online and googled 'best eyelash curler' and the one by Shu Uemura came up. I had never heard of that brand before so I read some reviews and watched some YouTube videos. It had a lot of positive reviews and it was said that it would work well with Asian eyes so I thought why not give it a go?

I have to start by saying that it is one of the best eyelash curlers I have ever used. I have been using it everyday (whenever I put mascara on) for around six months now, so I thought it would be a good time to share with you the reasons to why it has worked for me, bearing in mind I have short straight stubborn lashes that usually refuse to stay curled.

It fits nicely on the eye so I am able to get to the base and curl all my lashes, even the ones that don't want to be curled and hide right in the corner. It gives my lashes a natural curl compared to others which can leave a dent and make them shoot straight up, looking unnatural so the whole world knows you tried to curl your lashes. The curl lasts all day long which is amazing even with a few coats of mascara on them.

The curler itself feels very sturdy and comfortable to hold giving you full control. I feel confident when I am clamping down my lashes as it feels comfortable and I don't need to put that much pressure on it. For the months I have been using it I have not once got my lashes caught on them which is great, fingers crossed it stays that way!

The silicone pad feels durable and good quality as I have been using the same one since I bought it and it is still in tact. It comes with an extra pad but the sad thing is that you unfortunately cannot repurchase them separately which is annoying. Let's hope the ones provided last a very long time!

The curler costs £20 and you can purchase it online or at any department store. I remember as I was walking into Selfridges, I was thinking 'Am I really going to spend £20 on something so simple?'. It is pretty pricey for a tool that does such as a simple job but it really does make a big difference and I certainly don't regret buying it!