Review: Kiko White French Manicure Pen

With all the bright nail varnishes around lately I've forgotten about the humble (and classic) French manicure. I was reminded when I walked into Kiko and looking at their nail varnishes I found their White French Manicure Pen. I bought one a few years ago when I was in Paris and thought it was great then but sadly lost it. So, picking one up I remembered how good it was and thought I'd do a review on it. 

I love a French manicure it just makes my nails look so fresh and I'll definitely be carrying on throughout the winter to go with the ladylike trend for A/W13. Whilst you can go to a salon to get it done properly it's easier than you think (and a lot cheaper!) to do it yourself.

So to create my manicure I did two base layers of O.P.I Nail Envy, a single layer of Nails Inc. Soho Silk, used the Kiko pen for the tips and a top coat of Nail Envy
.

Soho Silk is actually supposed to be a base coat but it has a nice creamy colour, not too pinky or peachy which makes it look really natural (I don't like to see ridiculously fake looking French manicured nails). 

The Kiko pen makes it so easy and quick to do the tips of your nails. I used to use the Bourjois French manicure white tip polish which was good but required a very steady hand and seemed to dry out quickly, going gooey and thick, and hard to apply. With the Kiko pen you simply click the top of the pen a couple of times and then draw onto your tips. My hands aren't that steady so I went kind of slow but being able to see exactly where I was drawing helped me to be neat with my nails.

I've found that without a top coat the pen can last around 3 days and with a (good) top coat up to 5 days, very respectable! 


The pen is £8.90 in store (in the UK only at Westfield Stratford and White City). Alternatively you can buy on the Kiko website for a discounted price of £6.70.

Ready For A Rainy Day

With the British Summer you can guarantee any good weather isn't going to last very long and sure enough looking ahead to this weekend's weather forecast, it's going to rain, a lot. So being prepared as always I'm already planning rainy day outfits.

In summer when it rains I always go bare legged - skin dries quicker than material. Especially in the summer as it's still going to be warm when it's raining you need to keep cool. So I'm thinking a skater skirt and plain t shirt. Simple but you can still dress it up with accessories. This plain white tshirt from H&M is a steal at just £3.99 and this mint skater skirt from Topshop in mint will take you right into autumn (£34).

To Die For........Malteaser Cake

Oh. My. God. I'm in love with a cake. If that's possible. On the recommendation of a friend I had a go at making one today and would recommend you do the same! 

Its so simple and so delicious, read on for the easy 4-step recipe!

Updo Accessories

Leaving in around two months for South East Asia, This hot weather we're having has got me thinking about hairstyles for hot weather. My hair goes flat and lifeless in heat and humidity and as a result its better if I style it in and updo for the day and set it with a lot of hairspray.  

I get a bit bored of putting it in a ponytail, plait or bun and not being very inventive or good with hair I've been looking at ways to accessorize simple hairstyles. 


Limited Edition Premium Burst Jewel Hair Brooch, £35 at ASOS




This hair clip from ASOS is a little bit pricey compared to similar pieces out there but it is beautiful and has that art-deco feel to it. It would look great in the evenings but is maybe a little too sparkly for everyday use.

Lanolips Lip Ointment Review

So I've been using this Lanolips Lip Ointment in Apple on and off for about two months now and I can honestly say this is one of the best things to happen to my lips! 

It's a thick, rich ointment that you need to apply with a finger. Surprisingly its not too sticky and goes on really nicely. According to the Lanolips website its a derived from Lanolin, a natural substance from sheep's wool. The medical grade lanolin used is a natural moisturiser and is hypoallergenic for those with sensitive skin. 

The red Apple shade is a great colour, unlike similar gloss products it's not too transparent and gives the lips a really nice red shade without having to apply too much - great for in the day or evening. The apple shade is the deepest of the colours available, the others are more natural and it won't be long before I try them too.