The Christmas Tag

Credit

What is your favourite Christmas movie/s?

This is one of my favourite parts of getting ready for Christmas. I could be here all day listing Christmas films but a few of my favourites are - the Muppet's Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause, The Grinch, Jingle all the Way, Jack Frost and The Nightmare Before Christmas. I first watched most of these when I was young so they really remind me of my childhood!

Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Me and my family always open our presents on Christmas morning. We've always had a tradition where we first sit in my parent's room to open our stockings, then my parents go into the front room while me and my brother wait outside. We then have to knock on the door to see if everything's ready and then my Dad films everyone opening their presents!

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

I don't think I have a specific Christmas memory that's a favourite, all of our Christmases tend to be quite similar each year. Although, I did used to love everything that came with believing in Santa - putting out mince pies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer and trying hard to go to sleep because I knew Santa would come once I'd drifted off!

Favourite festive food?

I'm not actually a fan of typical Christmas food like mince pies and Christmas puddings, but I do love the things my family only have at Christmas like Roses and Quality Street chocolates. I also love parsnips, which I know you can have at any time but it's my favourite part of a Christmas dinner.

Favourite Christmas gift?

It sounds corny but my family are so generous and lovely with their gifts so I don't have a specific favourite. Also my birthday is the month before Christmas and I always get confused what I got for my birthday and Christmas!

Favourite Christmas scent?

This relates to winter as well, but I love the smell of the cold. I can't describe it at all but there's a certain scent to the air when it's biting cold outside. Also I just love the smell of my house at Christmas, we always have a real tree which smells so festive and my mum only uses candles at Christmas so the house smells really good around that time of the year.

Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

We have a real coal fire in my front room so I love to sit by the fire and watch Christmas films. Also, we're an unorganised family so usually everyone goes off to different rooms of the house to wrap their presents!

What tops your tree?

At one point we had an angel I made out of a toilet roll when I was little haha. But now we have a big glittery star that we always struggle to get to stay straight!

As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I genuinely don't think I've ever asked for anything insane for Christmas! When I was little my lists were probably way too long but I think I always asked for toys. Any special presents I've got have been planned by my parents and not asked for by me!

What's the best part about Christmas for you?

Now that me and my brother are older, our family are busier and we don't always spend a lot of time together, I love Christmas because we get to spend the whole day together whether it's watching films or playing board games. Also my tiady (that's what we call my grandad) comes for Christmas and as he lives in North Wales I don't see him very often. I just love the feeling that everyone's happy!

I found this tag on Kemples' blog - check her out, her blog is great!

What are you some of your favourite Christmas traditions?

Hollie

The At Home Drugstore Manicure

The Nail Polish

Regardless of whether I'm wearing nail varnish, I like to start off by sweeping some nail varnish remover over my nails. This ensures that any remaining nail varnish is fully removed and that the nail is entirely clean of dirt and oil before you begin the manicure.

 The Cuticle Removal 

I then use a cuticle removal cream (I'm using one from Boots) as I've personally never liked the idea of cuticle scissors. My cuticles just need some neatening up rather than completely cutting back. As you can see, I place a small amount of the cream onto my cuticles. massage it in and leave it for 1-2 minutes. I then wrap a cotton wool pad around an orange stick (you can get 10 from Superdrug for 99p!) and use that the gentle push back my cuticles.

The Filing

After pushing back my cuticles, I wash my hands to get rid of any cream that may be leftover. My nails tend to maintain their natural shape as they grow but I use an emery board (five from Superdrug for 99p) to make sure all my nails are an even shape and length. Personally I think it's best to stick to your natural nail shape as it's quite easy to get carried away with filing (like plucking your eyebrows). Now would also be the time to cut your nails if you prefer them short. 

The Cuticle Oil

After putting my nails through filing and cuticle removal, I like to replenish and moisturise with a nail/cuticle oil. I particularly like the Nail and Cuticle Oil from Boots as it comes with a roller ball which I just swipe across my cuticle. I then take some time to massage the oil into my nails and go on to apply a hand cream. This is my favourite step of the manicure as it's relaxing and my nails feel so smooth and nourished. This step is particularly important during Winter, especially if you get dry and flaky nails. 

The Polishes

I like to apply a base coat before any polish in order to completely smooth out the nail and to protect my nails from staining (particularly a problem with dark colours).  I particularly like this Rimmel Nail Nurse polish as it acts as a base coat and top coat and it sets out to make your nails smoother, stronger, longer, moisturised and shiner. 

I'd recommend waiting as long as you can between coats to fully ensure each layer is dry and thus, no smudging. While waiting for my base coat to dry, I had a cup of detox tea and caught up on Made in Chelsea! I then applied two coats of Rimmel Salon Pro in Urban Purple (this was featured in my autumn/winter nails post - here). I think this is a gorgeous berry shade for Autumn and I love the gel effect it gives to the nails. 

These are steps I've followed for a number of years as I've personally never been able to justify the price of getting my nails done professionally! Let me know if you follow these steps for your own at home manicure!

Hollie 

 Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert/professional in this area, these are just the steps I personally take. This post is written in order to share with my readers the things which I find work for me. 

The Autumn/Winter Nails

Carry on reading to find out about the top 5 nail colours I've been loving for Autumn/Winter!

Rimmel - Salon Pro Nail Colour in Urban Purple (402)

We're starting with a typical autumn colour here - a purple toned berry shade. This is the type of colour I tend to reach for as soon as a chill creeps into the air. Potentially the most feminine colour in this post, I think this would look great for winter date nights. This particular polish has a thick formula which leaves a gel-like finish on the nails.

The Salon Pro nail varnishes are slightly more expensive (£4.49) compared to the standard 'I love lasting finish' polishes (£2.99), but with good reason. Due to the gel-like formula, these polishes aim to give up to 10 days chip resistance. While I wouldn't say they quite last up to 10 days (particularly on long nails) they do have good longevity.

Barry M - Nail Paint in Grey (293)
This polish is a standard steel grey that's cool toned and reminds me of typical English winter weather. This is probably the most masculine colour out of the five and thus I think it's best suited to edgy, street style type outfits. I'd likely reach for this for gigs or smaller, gritty clubs in Bristol.

I'm particularly drawn to Barry M's deeper shades as I think they have great colour pay-off and glide on well. The brush is long and thin which allows great precision, particularly good for darker colours.

Essie - Smokin' Hot

This colour is described by Essie as a 'stone-cold fox grey' and I can see a definite purple running throughout the grey. I love this colour as I think it's quite unique and is the perfect mix of edgy and feminine. This is a colour that I'd reach for regardless of the event - it's not too dark or too girly, it's a good twist on typical winter colours.

This is the first Essie polish I've tried, it was given to me as a gift, and I'm really impressed. I was never sure if they were worth the price (£7.99) but I definitely think I'd purchase them now!

H&M Nail Polish in Purple

I wouldn't describe this as a purple like the name suggests, it's definitely more of a inky indigo. This ink colour looks really sophisticated on the nails and makes a nice change from typical berry/burgundy colours we usually see. I think this colour would suit a deep red dress for more grown up parties. 

I've never dared to wear blue on my nails before, I didn't think it would suit me. But I picked this out of my collection purely because I felt guilty that I'd never worn it. Once applied I really loved how this look on the nails, I genuinely couldn't stop looking at my hands!

Unfortunately I was gifted this by a friend a few Christmases ago and it's no longer in stock. However, there's comparable colour by Barry M in Indigo (312). 'Indigo' leans towards a blue whereas H&M obviously leans towards purple but otherwise they're pretty similar. I think the Barry M polish would actually be better consistency too! 

Radley Nail Varnish in Cardinal Red

Red is by far one of my all-time colours for the nails, I always think it looks so elegant. While I love bright pillarbox reds, I like to deeper it up for the colder months with a rich blue-toned or true red colour like this one.

I won't get your hopes up with this one - I'm almost certain this was a one-off gift with purchase from Radley. However, I included it for it's lovely colour and Rimmel have a similar shade called 'Venus' in their Salon Pro Range. It's darker than Cardinal Red but you can't fault that it's a stunning shade.

What are your favourite colours for Autumn and Winter?

Look out for my favourite Christmas party colours coming soon!

Hollie 

The No7 and More Haul

No7 Midnight Lash - Black

This mascara was quite literally waved in front of my face by a sales assistant and as I listened to the features of it, I was completely taken in. I followed the assistant over the counter where I purchased this mascara, received gifts with purchase and booked in for a make over. 

This mascara is described as "a dazzling combination of black pearl and sapphire" with black pigment that forms "dramatic black lashes". This is a volumising mascara with a medium-sized curved wand - great for wiggling between lashes. It has an extremely lightweight formula which means it's easy to build up a good few coats. Plus - it's hypo-allergenic, great if you ever get sensitive eyes!

No7 Stay Perfect Foundation - Calico

After purchasing the mascara above, I chose to book in for a makeover with No7. This particular foundation was chosen for me as I wanted something that would last hours throughout my night out later on that evening. Also, my skin was recovering from a bad reaction to a unknown product so I wanted something that wouldn't further irritate my skin (this is where the hypo-allergenic bit comes in). The match made device (check it out here if you haven't heard of it) chose a slightly darker shade for me but we picked a lighter shade in order to accommodate the colour difference between my face and neck.

I could talk forever about why I love this foundation so I'll leave that for another blog post. But I will say this - it's medium coverage but lightweight so it's buildable. It blends well into the skin and gives a natural but really flawless finish. And it lasts for ages. 

No7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream - Normal/Oily

Another product used during the makeover, I purchased this as No7 understood the skin troubles I was having a picked out a suitable moisturiser that suited me. This day cream uses a multivitamin and mineral blend to hydrate, energise and mattify for radiant skin. It also has zinc to regulate oil production and thus prevent breakouts. It's also hypo-allergenic and has SPF15. Sounds pretty good to me!

The consistency of the cream is quite thick so it feels quite luxurious but it still sinks quickly into the skin. While I tend to use a primer in my morning make-up routine, I found there hasn't been a need for one with this moisturiser. As I mentioned before, it mattifies and it just generally creates a good base for foundation. I need to leave some time to see how my skin takes to this but so far. no complaints.

No7 Pop&Glow Cream Blush - Rose Blossom

This was another product that was used on me during the make over and was applied with a fan brush. Personally I've been applying this straight from the tube onto the apples of my cheeks and using my fingers to blend the products up towards my temples. The make up artist at No7 described this at a cream to powder finish and it feels extremely lightweight on the skin when compared to other cream blushers I've used.

This blush is highly pigmented (a lot more baby pink than it seems in the photos) but using your fingers allows you to warm the product up when blending and gives a lot more control. It gives a lovely winter flushed look when blended! 

No7 - Stay Perfect Eyeshadow
Sample Size

I was given this as a sample when I purchased the mascara during my first trip to No7. Unfortunately the colour name isn't on the packaging but I think it's the colour 'mink'. I'd describe it as a purple grey with high shimmer. I am yet to use this eyeshadow but I think it would like really nice involved in a smokey eye - especially for brown eyes.

No7 High Shine Lipgloss in Coral Kiss

This was a gift with purchase during my mascara purchase and I think it's a huge shame I didn't receive it during summer! The lip gloss is a coral peach with a subtle shimmer and has an extremely thick consistency so I think this one would look great on it's own. No7 describe this as a collagen boosting moisturising gloss that contains vitamins so I can image this being really nourishing on the lips. 

No7 High Shine Lip Crayon - Delicate Pink
Sample Size
This lip crayon was another sample I received during my second visit to No7. I find the formulas of lip crayons tend to be quite moisturising and it seems this one is no different. It gives a sheer wash of colour but is somewhat buildable. This colour is a soft, delicate pink (if you hadn't already guessed by the name) and has a high shine with underlying gold shimmer. I think this would be a great lip product if you're just getting into make-up as it's not too bold and doesn't require much effort to apply. 

No7 Skin Illuminator - Peach

Sample Size

Yet another sample given to me at the makeover! This is a radiance boosting beauty fluid, very different to any highlighting products I've tried before. The consistency is almost water like, which makes it easy to work with, in a pearlescent gold. No7 suggest placing this under foundation which is something I've never thought of doing and I can image it makes you look lovely and glowy. I think it would also look gorgeous swept across the cheekbones for more of a bold look - a good one for Christmas parties! 

No7 - Extreme Length Mascara (Waterproof)

Sample size

I received this sample with the products I purchased from the make over and I'm glad I got a lengthening mascara as the other one I purchased was a volumising one. It aims to give fluttering lashes which are my favourite everyday lashes and it's easy to build layers without creating clumps. It has a plastic wand (which I also prefer for day mascaras) and is flexible with lots of fine bristles making it easy for coating the smallest lashes. 

Let me stop the post here and talk about the service I received at No7. As I mentioned before, I was swept away with the mascara and the sales assistant (Sedat at Boots in Cribbs Causeway) took time with me to explain about the features and also book me in for a make over. The make over itself was a such lovely experience, all the staff made me feel at ease and I didn't feel at all rushed. All of my skin concerns and personal make-up preferences were taken into consideration and Sedat talked through all the products being used on my face. Furthermore, No7 are one of the most generous companies I have come across it terms of giving samples and gifts with purchase! 

 Nyx Butter Gloss in Tiramisu

I've heard these glosses, particularly this colour, raved about in the beauty community and was so excited to see my local Next stocked Nyx products. The colour is a brown/peach nude and the formula is extremely creamy and moisturising. I actually find the consistency similar to Tanya Burr's lip glosses (see a review here). I wore this gloss to my graduation which I think proves that it's a winner! Bonus - Nyx are cruelty free! 

Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil - French Fries 609

I slack on eye products as a general rule. If I'm running late - I always chose lip products over eyeshadows. I tend to reserve eye products if I want to look more put together. But there's something about jumbo eye pencils that make an eye look seem so easy to do. The colour is a deep bronze colour with a slight sheen to it. I can't help but gravitate towards browns as they make blue eyes pop! I also used this in my graduation make-up along with Urban Decay's Naked 2 palette to create a subtle brown smokey eye.

 Topshop Tipi Slip On Skaters

Since completely wearing out a pair of slip on trainers, I've it at the back of my mind to buy some more. Originally £20, I found these slip on skater shoes in the sale section of |Topshop for £10 and when I got to the till they were £7! This particular pair are a mock croc material which I wouldn't usually go for but the print looks very subtle in white. 

I first wore these on a trip to the hairdressers and paired them with the trousers below, a white lace t-shirt and a black leather jacket. The shoes felt a little stiff when I put them on and as I began walking I could feel them digging into my heels. By the time I had finished at the hairdressers and begun walking home, I genuinely had to take them off and walk barefoot as I was in so much pain. I'm hoping that they're just a bit difficult to wear in and that I'll eventually be able to wear them again. I'm thinking of putting them in the wash on a low heat to soften them up - if anyone has any tips for wearing in difficult shoes, let me know in the comments! 

Topshop Trousers - Tall Range

I've always wanted a pair of trousers like these but wasn't sure if I could pull them off.  I love the off-duty look these have and I think they'd look great paired with wedged trainers and a leather jacket. I was more than happy to see these in the sale at Topshop for £20. Another bonus - these are from the Topshop tall range which is designed for women 5'7" and taller. Being 5'11", finding the right length trousers can sometimes be a struggle. Let's just say I have a lot of 7/8th jeans without intending to!

The trousers have an elastic waistband and bottoms with deep pockets. There's a main pattern down the front/back of the trousers with a more intrinsic pattern at the sides but it doesn't look too busy. I've been wearing these a ton recently - they're so comfortable and easy to throw on. Oh, and I also couldn't help throwing in a photo of my bunny Benjamin exploring the new things on the front room floor!

Have you tried any products from No7 or Nyx? Is there anything you would recommend?

Hollie 

The First October Favourites

Lush Bubble Bar - The Comforter

This bubble bar contains cassis absolute, which gives it a powerful berry scent, as well as bergamot oil (a common top note in perfumes) to uplift and cleanse.  The scent reminds me of Parma Violets and is top of my list as far as Lush scents go. Crumbled under running water, this bubble bar creates giant fluffy bubbles whilst filling your bath with a fruity fragrance. Upon stepping out of the bath, I'm greeted with silky smooth skin and a feeling of indulgence.

I've also been loving the 'Brightside' bubble bar which has mandarin, tangerine (basically your bath smells like oranges) and, again, bergamot extracts for an invigorating and vitalising bath. This is a great 'wake-you-up' bubble bar but I wish I'd discovered it in summer!

 Garnier Ultimate Blends Silky Smoother Shampoo and Conditioner
I've never been really impressed with a shampoo and conditioner until now. I've always used shampoos/conditioners which claim to moisturise/revitalise/repair damaged hair, but I never noticed any immediate effect, keeping my fingers crossed instead for a benefit somewhere down the line. This shampoo and conditioner has completed changed my view on what hair products should actually be doing to my hair.

The duo, aimed at mid-long hair and split ends, works to untangle my hair while I'm still in the shower - making it a thousand times easier to brush my hair after. The product contains Madagascar vanilla milk and Brazilian papaya extract giving your hair a long lasting scent. Just a little amount of the shampoo lathers up extremely well, although the conditioner is a milky consistency which means I use a lot in one go. The next thing on my list is the 1 minute polishing scrub from the same range!

Illamasqua Lipstick - Howl

When I want to look a little more put together, this has been the lipstick I've been reaching for. This is perfect from Autumn/Winter as it's slightly deeper than a typical red, being described by Illamasqua as a deep, terracotta red. The formula is matt and whilst it is slightly drying on the lips, your lips don't look dry with the lipstick on. Also, the formula has the best longevity of any lipstick I've tried.

I also have another Illasmasqua matt lipstick in a deep purple with red undertones which I haven't used since last winter and I'm looking forward to bringing it out again. I'm sure it'll have it's place on this blog this season!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - 705 Let's Get Naked 

For the past few months, this has been my ultimate daytime lipstick. True nudes make me uncomfortable as I feel like they wash me out because I'm pale. This nude is a rose-peach colour (swatch below is more accurate) which brings a subtle streak of colour to your lips. As the name would suggest, the formula is extremely creamy and very moisturising on the lips - no drying here. This is a great go-to lipstick for a minimal make-up day or with a smoky eye.

(swatches of illamasqua - howl and rimmel moisture renew - let's get naked)

Ruby & Millie - Fine Line Baked Powder Bronzer 
Ruby & Millie were hailed as one of the biggest UK cosmetics brands to launch in 30 years, however, I recently discovered that they had discontinued a few years ago. My mum bought me this bronzer when I was younger but I put it aside as I never knew how to use it. Now that my beauty knowledge has grown a little, this has quickly become one of my favourite bronzers. It's pigmented but not so strong that you have to be careful with how you apply it. It comes off as a beautiful shimmery (bonus - no need for a highlighter) but definitely not glittery.

(swatch of ruby&millie - fine line baked powder bronzer)

Grey's AnatomyI'm always looking for new series to watch but Grey's Anatomy wasn't something that even crossed my mind, but I was scrolling through the numerous box sets that Sky had added and thought I'd give it ago. Fast forward to 6 days later and I'm nearing the end of series 2. As I write this, it's actually on in the background. The plus side is I've got another 7 series to work my way through! It has the perfect balance of witty humour and tear-filled moments in each episode while maintaining great characters that you'll love or hate. I'd definitely recommend it - especially if you like House!

Music
Check out the Spotify playlist below that shows the songs I've been listening to this month. There's quite the variety there - there's some old songs I've pulled out (sweater weather - v. appropriate) and some new ones that I've stumbled across. Look out in November for a playlist featuring my favourite 'under-the-covers-with-your-headphones-autumn-songs',

                                              

   Not a huge number of favourites this month but I've been quite lazy with exploring new products! What were your favourites this October? Let me know in the comments below!

Tweet me @holliemmiles

Check out my Instagram at holliemaem

Hollie