Lavender & Coral

By Sarah Redman

Lavander macaroon & coral nails

Our summer weather seems to be dwindling a bit so I thought I would share a bit of colour and a summer memory.

This arty food photo is obviously and instagram snap – my summer has been full of colour, sun and macaroons.

My nails are painted in Really Rio from Clinique’s A Different Nail Enamel range – retailing at £12.00 for 9ml.

The lovely lavander macaroon comes from a bakery in northern France and was part of a few sweet treats my parents bought back for my sister and I.

I hope you’re all enjoying the last of your summers!

As always doop us a comment here, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

NOTD

By Sarah Redman

This is my first Nail Of The Day post for a while now. I have been partially distracted with cuticle tattoos (Tattoo Trends) and also by exams, etc (Cheating on Blogging with Magazines) to paint my nails.

That hasn’t changed – right now I don’t think I have the patience to do a half decent job with my nails. So I’ve made things a bit easier on myself and gone back to an old favourite. Nail Wraps.

On my nails at the moment are Elegant Touch’s Envy Wraps Bling Candy Sprinkles. Retailing at £5.00, these textured nail wraps are modern and fun. You can add a splash of colour underneath these clear films or just keep with your base coat for a simple yet striking effect. This ice-cream coloured, gem-encrusted design mixes a combination of pink, purple, blue, green and silver multi-sized dots – and each dot is surrounded by a simple gold ring.

In the past I have found some of these things a tad fiddly and if there is a straight-line to be found then I may as well pack up and go home. But with these wraps being clear asides from the design, even I found it hard to get it wrong.

My first one took about three attempts, but I think that was purely down to my lack of practice because the rest were simple. Just peal off, press down, shape to size and you’re ready to go.

I love this easy way to get super jazzy nails and have gained a few compliments in the days since having them on. These beauties last up to ten days, I’m on my third day with them and mine are doing pretty well so far.

What do you think of my super speedy nails? Do you like nail wraps or would you rather just wait for you polish to dry? Let us know and leave a comment below, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

insideKENT magazine – July issue

By Sarah Redman

I am officially incapable of blogging when the new magazine issue actually comes out – but better late than never…

The July issue of insideKENT magazine is well and truly HERE (Seriously click on the link and a world of wonderful writing is at your fingertips – pun not intended for all you table/phone viewers!)

Picture taken from insideKENT magazines website (link above)

This month I have a few fabulous pieces, one of which insideKENT Exclusive Interview with Josh Doyle is available on the website. You can also check out my beauty piece, Summer Make-Up Colour Trends, my Spotlight on Deal piece and right at the back, 10 Best Summer Garden Games.

You can view previous issues HERE or check out TSSB’s post Cheating on Blogging with Magazines.

Finally as usual, if you want to get in touch or have any ideas you want us to try out here at The Sarah’s Style Blog then don’t hesitate to get in touch. Either comment below, Tweet us@thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook Page.

This Works

By Sarah Redman

I have tried many brands and products in the quest for clear, healthy skin. My skin is extremely sensitive so it didn’t take long for me to realise that natural products where much better and my skin was more likely to react the more chemicals in the product. I have been a fan of Liz Earle, a natural skin care brand for a while, so it was a logical step to take a look at the brand This Works. Beauty bloggers have been raving about their products for ages and I have finally taken the plunge. To be perfectly honest I am never that optimistic when it comes to skin care as I know how easily my skin reacts, but This Works does genuinely seem to work.

So far I have only tried three of their products, one from their skin care range and the other two products to aid with sleep. I first got into This Works after receiving their deep sleep pillow talk set, which includes both their deep sleep pillow spray and deep sleep less stress roll, for Christmas and recently I have tried their in transit first aid roll on.

(Review coming later this spring)

In transit first aid is my go to miracle product at the moment. I am prone to the odd break out especially when deadlines are looming so I really need something that can calm my skin down without me worrying. This roll on is packed full of natural oils from rosewood to lavender and works on everything from spots to cuts, grazes and even bites.

Not everyone is a fan of the roller ball top, but it makes it easy to use the right amount of this product and if you really are worried about bacteria you can always roll the remedy onto your finger and then apply to where it is needed. Although, this is a natural antiseptic so it should keep the germs at bay, just make sure to always clean your skin before applying. This product comes from the range In Transit which was designed to be portable, unbreakable, un-spillable and multi tasking and that’s certainly what they’ve done. Although you only get 10ml for your £16 this little bottle lasts for ages, so don’t worry about it’s running out too soon.

Have you tried This Works? How did you get on? Let us know and leave a comment below, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

Spring glamour

By Sarah Redman

I have been experimenting with nail polish skills again. Surprise, surprise.

This time I have gone with a subtle lilac hue from Ciate: Sugar Plum. I gave my usual manicure a little twist with glitter tips in Confetti, also from Ciate. I loved this look, its simple yet adds a bit of party glamour to your every day spring nails. The glitter also goes rather well with my ring. Bonus.

I am always looking for new ways to experiment with my nails and think I have found my next favourite thing…

I have seen Ciate’s cuticle tattoos floating around social media and various blogs recently and they popped up on my Instagram feed the other day. Elle magazine’s post is in agreement with me, now I just need to save up and buy them. Weirdly enough cuticle tattoos are not in my weekly budget!

What are your favourite new twists to your traditional manicure? Will you be trying either of these styles? Or do you think cuticle tattoos will be the next big thing? Let us know and leave a comment, Tweet us a pic of your nails @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

Bourgois colour edition

By Sarah Redman

Bourjois is a make up brand I have really gotten into recently, starting with their healthy mix foundation and then healthy mix concealer (Love, Love, Love); I have even tried their flower perfection primer (Not bad I must say – and a handy pot!) Now I have moved onto their eye shadow, as you do, so with the release of their Colour Edition 24 Hour Eye Shadow I had to have a try.

This is a cream-to-powder formula, which is really handy – no smashing of a powder pallet – the cream stays together even when travelling. This product also boasts a metallic sheen, which is eye catching during the day and can be built upon with their darker shades for an impact eye statement look for the evening. Bourjois also claim that “94% of woman found Colour Edition 24 Hour more luminous than their regular eye shadow” (See their website).

Available in six shades ranging from every day lighter shades to blue and purple hues. These hues are perfect to take you through from Autumn / Winter 2013 to Spring / Summer 2014 with Nudes, Navy’s, and Berry shades being very popular.

I purchased the Colour Edition 24 Hour Eye Shadow in both 03 Petale de glace and 05 Prune Nocturne.

These shades are great for a day time look with a little metallic sheen or you can build up the colour for a smoky eye style evening look. This product is easy to work with and has great staying power. It can be applied using your fingers but I have found the best result with a variety of eye shadow brushes as the pick up the most pigment and make the products easier to blend. I’m looking forward to trying more colours from this range.

Have you tried Bourgois’ creme eye shadow offering? Let us know and comment below, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or post on our Facebook page.

My new favourite outfit

By Sarah Redman

This year I decided to avoid the sales as much as I could. I took one look at my wardrobe and thought seriously this needs a clear out. Frankly, that bright idea of mind is still sitting on my to do list, but I have done what I consider to be very well in the sales. With only two clothes purchases and one pair of shoes… and a little bit of make-up. But in fairness Boots had some kind of major reduction flash sale just as I finished work… would have been rude not to really.

My new favourite outfit comes from a couple of different places. My first sale purchase was the shoes, with my collection hovering around the 60 pairs I figured one more pair couldn’t hurt. I was right my lovely new Nine West courts definitely don’t hurt my feet! I found these lovelies in the Fenwicks sale for £39.00 reduced from £125.00.

My second sale item is this lovely burgundy pencil skirt from Dorothy Perkins, actually bought on my lunch break whilst I was shopping for someone else but it was just sitting there in my size for a tenner. So I snapped it up and even got student discount on my sale purchase – bonus.

The last addition is a staple black t-shirt. This is a H&M number I’ve had for a while, although it hasn’t seen many outings. I first bought this in a cream at the beginning of summer and wore it to death, so at the end of the season thought a black version would come in handy for Autumn/Winter. I love the subtle detail of the mesh shoulders and around the neck, this tee also has a gold zip running from the back of the neck through to the end of the mesh.

Finally I accessorised with black opaque tights as its winter and there is some serious chill in the air right now. Alongside one of my amazing Christmas presents from my parents, my gold chain and black rope statement necklace.

Unfortunately I can’t find my mum’s camera anywhere and for some reason this was the only one in use the night of our belated New Years gathering with old friends of the family, so no photo’s of me on the night! Sorry, although I will post an update when I find a decent photo – or even wear this outfit again.

Did you like any of my sales purchases? Or would you have styled this differently? Leave a comment below, Tweet us @thesarahsblog, or comment on our Facebook page to let us know.

‘Tis the season to party

By Sarah Redman

For this festive season and because I am receiving a nail polish a day from one of my advent calenders (post coming soon) I have gone all matchy matchy on my nail polish.

No gimmicks, no falsies, not even a teeny little bit of nail art. No this time I have gone old school and just painted my nails.

My colour of choice if from Ciate and is called ‘Fit for a Queen‘. Difficult not to paint your nails with it when your nail polish is called that! I love this colour is has all the sparkle a silver should have without verging into glitter territory yet it’s not a nail foil. This nail polish is part of Ciate’s ‘Shimmer’ collection and it does just that, shimmer and shine when it catches the light (even with no top coat). I actually haven’t worn a top coat with this polish yet and much to my surprise and delight is not chipping or flaking as I find more mettalic nail polishes can.

Ciate: ” Think liquid platinum, full of glamour and seduction.”

This polish retails at £9.00 for a standard pot. Its well worth the money for something that will last on your nails as well as in the bottle. I loved this look so much I went all matchy matchy and painted my toes too.

Are you a fan of silver polish or do you like Ciate’s collections? Leave a comment and let us know, Tweet us @thesarahsblog or leave a comment on our Facebook page.

On the tenth day of advent…

By Sarah Redman

On the tenth day of advent Ciate have a great nail polish tip for you all:

Keep your mani/pedi looking fresh by adding a new layer of topcoat every other day.

What you you think of their Christmas tip? Let us know and leave a comment or Tweet us @thesarahsblog

Bluuuurrrrrrrrrrrr

By Sarah Redman

Garnier 5 Second Perfect Blur. Sold out almost everywhere when it was first released. It was the high streets new miracle primer for only £12.99.

This little pink tube promises to reduce wrinkles, imperfections, open pores and shine – all in one smooth, pink, gel like swoop. Whilst my house mate kindly pointed out that I’m not old enough for wrinkles, shine really winds me up and imperfections are rife. Being very pale even the slightest mark shows easily on my skin, so I was pleasantly surprised with this product. I did a half and half face test and I noticed an actual ‘blurring’ of imperfections and shine was reduced, leaving my skin with a soft silky feel and looking nice and matte. This product also created a great base for make up, which definitely stayed on for longer.

I have been using this product since it was first released and love its consistence performance. It really does work well for the price, whilst it may not be a super duper skin primer it is good if you need a little staying power in your make up or want that ‘blur’ effect, but you just aren’t too interested in the technicalities (and the price range) of the upmarket make up brands. I recommend completing your morning skin care routine as normal and waiting about five minutes after applying your moisturiser to let it sink in, then apply this primer and then continue with your normal make up routine. This is a great high street skin perfector which is suitable for all skin types.

Have you tried Garnier Perfect Blur or would you use a high street primer? Let us know and leave a comment or Tweet us @thesarahsblog