Cool Britannia Nail Pop

Look Beauty Limited Edition Nail Pop* - 'Cool Britannia' £5 available online & selected Superdrug stores

Well, incase you didn't know, the Olympics 2012 have begun and I am well and truly caught up with the buzz of the games and thrill of watching our athletes compete. And of course, like with any notable occasion, to celebrate the Olympics the Olympics-inspired cosmetics have come out in force. So with a slick of liner or a gloss of polish we can all triumph and adorn ourselves with bronze, silver or gold! If you are cheering on Team GB this summer then what better way to fly the British flag than with Look Beauty's Cool Britannia nail pop! This silvery-grey base is densely studded with a patriotic mix of red, blue and white glitter creating a unique shade; a blurred icy pink from a distance yet distinctly more pixelated up close.




The consistency of this nail pop is smooth, yet dries quite gritty, and is tightly packed with multi-coloured flecks of glitter. It only takes two coats to become completely opaque and with a clear top coat applied on top, it will give your nails a glossy and even finish. So if you nail art skills don't quite allow for a Union Jack masterpiece on each nail, then maybe Cool Britannia is the patriotic polish for you!

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What if I had never met you?

Dress* - Romwe

Clutch* - Romwe

Shoes - New Look

Hair extensions* - Luxury for Princesses

"I am someone who is looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love." - Carrie Bradshaw

This post is dedicated to a very special friend, Miss Holly Burnett, whose hen party I attended last night. In just three weeks time Holly is to wed her beau, her darling Ben in Italy and I feel extremely blessed to be sharing their special day with them. You may remember Holly and Ben (and the huskies) from earlier this year when we went to visit them in Sweden and spent an incredible few days knee deep in snow; dog-sledging and sampling the delicious Swedish cuisine.

The theme of the night was Sex & the City so we all donned our heels and cocktail dresses and prepared for a night of Cosmopolitans and the obligatory arrival of the Ann Summers' lady. For the occasion I decided to wear this beautiful mint green dress from Romwe, clashed with a hot pink clutch and nude heels. It all felt very Carrie Bradshaw. I shunned her trademark curls and opted to recreate the sleek side ponytail she sported with her Prada dress on the back of Berger's motorbike. I plan to do a more detailed post about my new clip in hair extensions but in short, they are great! I received the Super Deluxe 180g set in Medium Blonde and was pleasantly surprised at how good a colour match they were and how luxurious the hair feels. My hair is thick, and I have a lot of it, but even I didn't need to use all of the ten pieces in the pack and achieved my style above using just half of them. I wrapped my real hair around the ponytail to conceal the hair tie and to blend the extensions in seamlessly with my natural, much shorter hair.

Back to the hen party and the whole evening was an absolute hoot and superbly organised by Holly's sister Sadie who, I'm excited to say, has recently taken the plunge into the great sea of blogging. It was the perfect way to celebrate Holly and all she is - a beautiful friend and very soon to be, a beautiful bride. I know you're probably more accustomed to seeing me gush about lipstick or my latest hair colour on my blog, but this post is for Holly and everything she means to me.

Love you Holly - see you in Italy x

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Korres nail colours

Korres Myrrh & Oligoelements Nail Colours* £9 - available from ASOS and Harvey Nichols
Bright nail colour with Myrrh extract, Oligoelements and Provitamin B5 from strong, healthy nails

As a complete convert to Korres's skincare, the yoghurt moisturising cream being an absolute must to try, I was very intrigued to test out their new range of nail colours. Keeping true to their homeopathic routes and natural preparations, this new nail range has been developed with mild solvents so is kind to the nail and skin area without compromising on colour efficacy. The formula of these polishes is stunning - intensive colour, high-shine and brilliantly long-lasting. It is a joy to apply, so smooth and light and only requires two coats to reach an opaque finish.





There are 20 gorgeous shades in the Korres nail range, from soft pinks, deep reds and dark brown, as well as a top coat and a base coat. My personal favourite from the few I tried is 88. Midnight Blue. After two coats of this exquisite colour you are left with a rich, daring shade - a blackened-blue with an incredible glossy finish. Love!

Which is your favourite?

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What a darling!

Dress* - Darling Clothes

Bando - Accessorize

Wedges - Faith

I am probably quite predictable when it comes to clothing. Everyone has their personal styles which they are instantly drawn to and for me it is all about the colour cream, cinched waists, pleats, florals and feminine fabrics. This dress from Darling ticks pretty much all these boxes with its draped sleeves and floaty, ethereal finish. It is the epitome of grown-up girliness and its cross-over style with the exaggerated sleeves and tied waist are quite reminiscent of a kimono. Needless to say it is perfectly cool and breezy to wear during these unexpected yet gratefully appreciated summer days. Despite my inner loathing of the expression, you really can "dress this piece up or down", casual enough for picnics in the park yet easily given a height of sophistication with some heels and a fancy up-do! I am already thinking this could be the perfect dress to wear to a very English wedding I am attending later on in the year. :)

I hope you are all having good weeks and enjoying the glorious sunshine.

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ombre fringing

Bralet* - Lavish Alice

Leggings - Topshop

Boots - Topshop

Blazer - H&M

Lipstick - MAC Violetta

I like clothes that have a little bit of pizazz. Items that transform an outfit with a shimmy of movement and an injection of colour. This ombre fringed bralet from Lavish Alice is the epitome of all these things and gives you this incompressible desire to sashay and swish everywhere you go! With my love of all things dip-dyed, I knew it wouldn't be long before I was welcoming ombre into my wardrobe. I wore this bralet out for dinner last week with Rob, simply paired with some wet-look leggings and an oversized blazer to maintain a bit of my modesty!

Hope you are all having fabulous weekends and making the most of this lovely sunshine!

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What a Blast!

MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil* - What a Blast! - £14

I have had this lip liner lurking in my collection for a while now, unopened and unloved purely because I am not really a lip liner kind of gal! However I couldn’t deny this gorgeous shade any longer so I thought I would try it out worn all over the lips as a statement lip colour. What a Blast! is unashamedly bold with bright orangey-red tones. I received this along with Good to Go lipstick after I attended the latest MAC Masterclass earlier this year and the two products are very complimentary when worn together. On the lips they almost give you the same colour payoff however What a Blast! lip liner is a lot more opaque with a powdery-matte finish.




Bright orange-red lips are such fun way to give you a fresh spin on the classic red lips which can look a bit dark and dated, especially during the sunnier months. The consistency of this lip liner is smooth and creamy and applies nicely onto the lips, but I would definitely recommend coating them with a balm before and after to help gel the colour together. The matte finish of What a Blast! can be a bit unforgiving on dry lips so it is imperative that your lips are primed and smooth before application otherwise the dense colour will only further highlight any flakes or dry patches. This is a really lovely liner and as the name would suggest, it stayed vivid and unfaltering on my lips for ages!

Are you a fan of orange lips?

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Vaseline Lips giveaway

Giveaway - Vaseline limited edition Union Jack Lip Pouch
"There has never been a better time to celebrate being British. To mark this momentous Summer, Vaseline has teamed up with Pearls & Poodles for a fun giveaway offering ten readers the chance to win this cute, very patriotic lip pouch"

A little Friday treat for you all! Vaseline are offering ten of my readers the chance to win this pink faux-leather pouch which houses a handy little mirror as well as a tin of the cult favourite Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips. Rosy Lips is a prettily-pink tinted balm infused with almonds oils to keep lips moisturised as well as giving you a pinch of colour for that English Rose look. More information on Vaseline's range of products can be found on their Facebook page.

To enter:
1. Please be a follower of Pearls & Poodles via GFC or Bloglovin'
2. Leave me a comment letting me know what your favourite lip balm is?
3. Include you email address/twitter handle in your comment so I can contact the winner

GOOD LUCK!

The T&Cs
Open to UK residents aged 18 or over except employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion. To enter answer the competition question above Closing date for receipt of entries is 30th July 2012. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, or corrupted entries will be accepted. Entries will only be accepted if they comply with all entry instructions. Promotion limited to one entry per person. In the event of any dispute the decision of the Promoter is final. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative of equal or greater value. No correspondence will be entered into. The winners may be required to participate in publicity arising from this promotion. By entering the promotion, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by the rules and consent to the transfer of their personal data to the Data Controller for the purposes of the administration of this promotion and any other purposes to which the entrant has consented. All entry instructions form part of the rules. These terms and conditions and any issues or disputes which may arise out of or in connection with these terms and conditions (whether such disputes or issues are contractual or non-contractual in nature, such as claims in tort, for breach of statute or regulation or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Entrants hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts to settle any such dispute or issues. Prize is a Vaseline Limited Edition Union Jack Lip Pouch with Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips inside and delivery to a UK mainland address. There is no cash alternative. UK 18+. Closing date 30/07/12. See Lexis the Recommendation Agency, 8 Bolsover St, London W1W 6AB for full terms.

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time after time

Dress - H&M

Wedges* - SoYouShoes

I bought and featured this crotchet H&M dress the very first time it came out over a year ago and have worn it time and time again ever since. It is definitely a staple of my wardrobe, a safe choice that I can wheel out come rain or shine. It has seen wintery days paired with tights and boots as well as summer barbecues worn simply with sandals and a glass of Pimms in hand. I love the sixties feel to it and wish I had picked up some of the other colours they brought out recently. 

I seized the slither of sunshine we had over the weekend and decided to whack on my new wedges from SoYouShoes. Wedges are my faithful friend during the warmer months, gratefully giving me instant height without the toe-curling pain of heels. I am not a heels girl at the best of times but wedges I can handle, and these floral strap sandals are a summer garden party for the feet. Evidently I can’t say no to flowery prints, so these were an obvious choice for me amongst all the other platform heels and JC Lita style boots they have to offer which really don't float my boat! I like the raffia-style wedge that adds an element of softness to the chunky platform and with a slightly cushioned sole, they are surprisingly comfy.

I hope you are all well and having good weeks. Have you whacked on the wedges yet this summer?

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Cocosa Sale - Super by Dr Perricone

Super foods are our super heroes. Their bounty of nutritional benefits seems never ending and no sooner have you finished your punnet of blueberries and downed the dregs of your ginseng tea, another new super food is making an appearance! Dr Nicholas Perricone, the medical brains behind the skincare brand Perricone MD has created SUPER, a nourishing collection of formulas that feed our hungry skin with all the super food goodness we need. The range marries together patented sciences and true nature to offer us an indulgent array of products that are free from parabens and silicones and packed full of powerful properties to treat the face and body. And from tomorrow you will be able to pick up your dose of super goodness from the SUPER sale at Cocosa.com.

Sun Kissed Tinted Moisturiser with SPF25 (was £33, now £15)
'Perfects, reflects, protects'
The Sun Kissed Tinted Moisturiser has brought a real breath of fresh air to my makeup collection and, for want of a better word, is truly super! Tinted moisturisers are such a summer essential product for a lighter, dewier finish on the skin and this one seems to tick all the right boxes. It smells deliciously fresh and despite being quite sheer, it does wonders at evening out your complexion and giving you a sun kissed glow. It isn’t full coverage by any stretch of the imagination, but it does give you that fresh-faced look that is so hard to achieve from normal foundations. I have been applying it directly onto cleansed skin in the morning, finished off with a dusting of powder. The formula is enhanced with the super food turmeric which delivers UV protection as well as giving you that natural, golden glow. The liquid is surprisingly quite thick but instantly sheers out and sinks into the skin like a dream. I usually favour a stippling or foundation brush when applying my base but I found this tinted moisturiser looked best when smoothed on with my fingertips. The natural minerals within this moisturiser reflect the light and leave you with a radiant complexion. The only downside is that it only comes in one shade. For me, and my skin tone neighbours, this is fine but those fairer and darker toned that me may find it less of a good match.

Lush lips conditioning balm (was £14, now £7)
'Nourishes, quenches, shines'
Sweet and fragrant, this balm is a little pot of holiday laced with the summery scent of coconut oil. The formula is silky not greasy, and melts into lips to soothe and hydrate. It is a real treat for your lips as well as glazing them with a subtle shine, so could be applied onto bare lips or over a matte lipstick. The super-food-super-hero to the rescue here is Tocotrienols, which is found in coconut oil. Awarded the accolade of being the superior form of vitamin E, Tocotrienols nourishes and protects skin whilst reducing redness and relieving dryness. This balm is lovely to use and feels like it is doing a world of goodness to my lips, as well as smelling like a tropical paradise!

For your chance to pick up just what the doctor ordered then make an appointment with Cocosa tomorrow where these products, and many more from the SUPER range, will be on sale. With a maximum discount 57% off it would be rude not to take advantage of this super sale! Let me know if you are tempted?

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chasing the sun

Dress* - Glamorous

Necklace - Spanish market

Lipstick - Revlon 'Love that Red'

I think this dress is impossibly pretty! The colour, the pleats, the waterfall frills and dipped hem finish make it an absolute favourite of mine and is perfect dressed up with heels or worn simply with a halo of flowers, barefoot in a field of daisies! If only the weather would allow. I feel like we are chasing the sun at the moment.

The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that I have dip-dyed my hair again, but this time I went for candy floss pink. I was a bit disappointed with how it came out - no way near as bright and obvious as the lilac. I plan to do a whole review of the Crazy Color range I've used but if you know of any other good semi-permanent dyes, then do let me know.

I hope you are all fine and dandy and having good weeks. I found out yesterday that Pearls & Poodles has been shortlisted in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards and needless to say, I was totally thrilled. I didn't even ask anyone to nominate me so if you did, thank you so so much and if you do wish to vote for me to win then it would mean the world. I am in the 4th category - Established Beauty Blog. :) 

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Liz Earle natural finish loose powder & brush

The Liz Earle makeup collection is undeniably smart and desirable with its simple, elegant packaging and their refined range offering everyday essentials to enhance, rather than mask your skin. I featured a few of their new eye products here and thought I would now share with you two of my stand-out products that work in perfect harmony together.

Liz Earle Natural Finish Loose Powder* £19.50
This lightweight formula contains four types of powder and different sized particles to help smooth and even out the appearance of your skin, giving you a natural finish. It is enriched with a blend of vitamin E and avocado oils and come in three different shades to suit all skin tones. I have been using 01 Natural Ivory, and despite having a medium skin tone, it suits me really well. This powder doesn't deposit a lot of colour onto your skin (which I think is a good thing) but simply evens out your complexion, diminishes fine lines and eliminates any shiny areas. The powder is so beautifully blended and velvety-soft, it is impossible for it to ever feel cakey or heavy on the skin, even with a few touch-ups during the day, especially when applied with the Liz Earle powder brush...

Liz Earle Powder Brush* £20
Currently there are only three different brushes in the Liz Earle makeup range but I have a suspicion they will soon be expanding their accessories collection. The cut and shape of the brushes have been uniquely designed by their makeup artists to help you achieve truly professional results. The man-made fibres are completely animal friendly and are cut individually to ensure you pick up and apply just the right about if product. The powder brush is so stylish sporting a two-toned, rounded head and clear acrylic handle and has a feather-like feel. The brush is ridiculously soft and is perfect to use with powders or bronzers. It works brilliantly with loose face powders as it lightly dusts the product all over, rather than deposits it in one place.

This fine duo has been a staple part of my makeup routine for the past couple of weeks now, forcing me to cast my MAC mineralised skinfinish natural and favourite kabuki cruelly aside. For the time being anyway!

Have you tried anything from the new Liz Earle makeup collection?

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