Top 5 Winter Nail Polish Picks

The winter is officially upon us! I just love this season because to me it means lots of cozy sweaters, an abundance of starbucks cappuccinos and flavoured lattes, nights in cozied up on the sofa with my kindle and cup of tea, but most of all, the endless options of gorgeously rich nail shades to choose from. Here are a few of my current top polish picks.

Hair Grabs Of The Moment

So a few weeks ago I decided I was in need for some serious hair inspiration. It seemed like my hair was looking lifeless, dull and lacking that "oomph" factor. Of course, the general remedy for this usually tends to be a good chop (which I'm way overdue for), but I decided to wring it out a little see what I could do if I put in a little more effort.

   (Instagram: @diariesofabeautyj)

Makeup up of the Day #MOTD - Fall Makeup Look No. 2

For my second everyday fall makeup look, I wanted to go for a more of a mocha eye, dewy skin (which the camera didn't seem to capture.. #fail) and muted lips. For dewy skin, I used the glowy-est foundation I own - the Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation. And for the eyes, I used a combination of the infamous Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze as well as two different Bobbi Brown eye shadows to give a little more depth in the crease and along the lower lash line. Of course, my daily dose of liquid liner and mascara followed. I kept the cheeks kind of neutral with just a subtle contour using my favourite bronzer of the moment (go Jouer!) and just a tiny dab of the Bourjois Cream Blush in 01 just for that barely-there touch of colour. The lips were understated - I dabbed on some Mac lipstick in Kinda Sexy which is a beigey brownish colour. Below is a detailed list of the products I used:

Product Review: Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UB Defense

Since turning 29, I've been more conscious of my skin and aging in general. I'm aware that my freakouts may be a tad premature, but I'm deathly afraid of waking up one day with wrinkly, 'no turning back' skin. Plus, with the fine lines that are increasingly popping up around my eyes, it was high time I looked at MORE preventative measures. Gone were the days of soaking up the sun with baby oil lathered on my skin. And no more was I to rely on the measly "SPF 15's and 20's" in my foundations and tinted moisturizers. Nope, drastic measures needed to be taken... (I know, dramatic much??)

Topshop Beauty Haul

It's funny, Topshop would never really be my 'top-of-mind' store of choice when it comes to beauty products. We do have a Topshop in the UAE but a) they don't carry their beauty range and b) they're furiatingly overpriced. Topshop UK? Not so bad! I actually love their clothes here and decided to make the most of the fact that I was in their shop in London by doing a little mini beauty splurge (if you would call it that, as their beauty items are quite affordable).

Boots Haul ... (didn't take me long)

So it took me about 5 hours since I landed in London to find my nearest Boots and pick up a few items (give me credit here, this would be considered 'reasonable' no?) that I had been itching to try. Also, none of these products were available in the UAE so I jumped at the chance to get them. First off, the L'oreal Ever Riche range has been on almost every beauty blogger's monthly favourites lately so I knew that was a must try. I got the Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Fine Hair (there is another version for thicker more rebellious hair). Also, since it was on a '3 for 2' offer, I snagged the Smoothing Mist Heat Protection spray as well. I have to say it's quite nice. Makes the hair nice and soft, PLUS it's Sulphate free. I wouldn't classify it as the BEST hair range I've ever used, but its definitely worth the price. My shampoo of choice is still the Kiehl's Amino Acid Shampoo - which I highly recommend you snatch a sample of the next time you're in the vicinity of a Kiehl's store.

Product Review: Illamasqua Nail Polish in Harem

Isn't she just a stunner? I've had my eye on the Illamasqua nail polish in Harem for a little while. After scoping out the drug store counters for a good dupe and failing miserably, it was high time I bit the bullet. So, off to Bloomingdales I trotted (well, more like drove). The colour is a beautiful blue-toned pinkish purple (though on the website it looks way more pink than it does in real life). Very flattering on the nails.