Ciate Mini Mani Month - Advent Calendar Review

As it is coming to the end of the Christmas period *cry* I thought I'd update you all on my Ciate Calendar, despite the fact that I failed miserably to inform you throughout the 24 days! Better late than never aye!!

I really really enjoyed this calendar and couldn't wait to open the next day! I was pretty chuffed with myself and resisted the urge to open them all up in one go!! I've created a little montage of the nail polishes and extra that I discovered along the run up to Christmas day. I'll list the names below so you can go out and have a little purchase if you find one that catches your fancy!

Day from left to right

Names of Varnishes by day;

Day 1 - Snow Globe
Day 2 - Boudoir
Day 3 - Hopscotch
Day 4 - Bracelet
Day 5 - Hoopla
Day 6 - Sugar Plum
Day 7 - Fit For A Queen
Day 8 - Caviar Pearls - Deck The Halls
Day 9 - Kiss Chase
Day 10 - Pillow Fight
Day 11 - Amazing Gracie
Day 12 - Hidden Gem
Day 13 - Loop The Loop
Day 14 - Party Shoes
Day 15 - Glitter - Glitter All The Way
Day 16 - Chinchilla
Day 17 - Members Only
Day 18 - Kncikerbockerglory
Day 19 - Caviar Pearls - Ice Queen
Day 20 - Apple & Custard
Day 21 - Iced Frappe
Day 22 - 3 Glittery Nail Files
Day 23 - Sequins - Mistletoe Magic
Day 24 - Talent Scout

I've found that the Ciate nail varnishes are really lovely, not at all streaky and long lasting when using the Lori Greiner by Orly's Manicure Keeper base coat and Seche Vite top coat.

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and have a very lucky 2014!

Lots of love,
Alice xx

Balmi Lip Balm - The British EOS

So I've been pretty obsessed with trying to get hold of the famous EOS lip balm without the hefty postage cost! Since it is unavailable in the UK, you'd literally be paying so much more for postage rather than the EOS balm itself! So I was doing my usually browsing in Boots and found what seemed to be a cube version of EOS called 'Balmi', although it is pretty costly, being £4.99 for a little lip balm, I managed to get is for free! How you say? Well it was simply just part of Boots' 3 for 2 deal, so I thought id make the most of the deal and avoid the large cost and get it! 

So cut a long story short, this was about 5 weeks or so and I'm now onto my second Balmi, now there is quite a lot of actual lip balm in the little cube so it just shows how much I've used this! There are four 'flavours'; mint, coconut, raspberry and strawberry. The first one I got was coconut and I'm now using the strawberry one. And oh my days, they smell incredible!!! I could eat them, except they're not exactly ediable! But the strawberry literally smells like an old fashioned sweet shop!! So delish! 

Now the question is, are they overly moisturising? I'd say they're not the most effective lip balm I've ever had, but thy do the job for down one who has moderately dry lips during these winter months! 

Additionally they're super easy to carry around, you can pop them into your handbag and they're nice and easy to find, unlike most tube lip balms that seem to love hiding right at the bottom of your bag! They also have a little key ring where you can attach them to your car keys, which is just super handy!! 

Overall I'll definitely be purchasing my 3rd one once my strawberry one has been fully used! I'm thinking mint! Also, get your hands on it now as it's on offer in all Boots store for £2.99! Go go go! They're also fab gifts as a little stocking filler!! 

Lots of love,

Alice xx

(I've literally written this in Boots opticians waiting room, waiting for my eye test!! Taking years, at this rate Balmi will probably not be on offer when I post this!)

Rihanna's MAC ChristmasCollection Eyeshadow Palettes!

So I have been a very lucky girl and received both of Rihanna's eyeshadows palettes that are in her new Christmas Collection; 'Phresh Out' and 'Dare X2'. I have to say they're both absolutely gorgeous, which is expected of MAC! I absolutely adore their eyeshadows and when mixed with Rihanna, well, what more could a MAC lover ask for?!

All the eyeshadows included in both of the palettes are wonderfully pigmented and go on so nicely!! They have a stunning highly shimmery and glittery finish that is just perfect for Christmas time!

'Phresh Out' has more warmer, golden, brown shades. MAC quotes that the shades are "soft champagne, peach gold with pearl, blackened plum, pearlescent pink and violet mauve".

'Dare X2' on the other hand has more smokey greys and browns as well as lighter neutral shades for a beautiful winter smokey eye, MAC describes the shades in Dare X2 as "white silver, deep grey blue, beige-grey, cement with pearl and light crystal mauve". Both the palettes have a"highly pearlized frost finish".

I really love the two palettes as I think they're both really versatile and enable you to create looks for both day and night time during this festive period!!

Rihanna has kept the beautiful rose gold packaging that was featured in her previous collection with MAC and I absolutely love it!! It's so pretty and really compliments the shades in both of the palettes. Even the pearl boxes that they come in are wonderfully chic.

Phresh Out (Left) £33, Dare X2 (Right) £33

I would definitely recommend the both of the palettes, either separately or together! They both cost £33, which is pretty good considering MAC eyeshadow is £12.50 a pot and these shades are all packed together, perfect if you're on the go this Christmas!

I hope you're loving the Christmas time as much as I am!

Lots of love,

Alice xx

Christmas Jumpers and Festive Fun.

Happy Holidays guys!

Just returned home for Christmas so I am fully in the Christmas mood! Got home and immediately decorated my room, feels so cosy and smell's delish with my Next 'Festive Spice' diffuser oil and Yankee Candle 'Red Apple Wrath' .

Last weekend a couple of my University girls and I went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, London and it was amazing!! So festive! I highly recommend anyone who is in the London area to have a little wonder around there, although pre plan it as if you want to go Ice Skating or partake in any of the other events as you'll need to book it! We went Ice Skating and it is fair to say, I am no Olympic Ice Skater! We also went into the Magical Ice Kingdom, which was basically like a little village all made out of ice!! Was beautiful! 

On the way to London with our 
Costa Christmas Drinks!

Can't beat a good Christmas Jumper 
when you're going to Winter 
Wonderland! If you can't wear it 
there, where can you?

Ice Skating in Winter Wonderland! 
AND I didn't fall over! Miracle!

Ice Skating! SO pretty!!

After our trip to Winter Wonderland, we headed over to Oxford Street to do a spot of shopping and inevitably ended up at Selfridges in Hix Cocktail and Champagne Bar! Oops!

Selfridges' Iconic Christmas Windows

Hix at Selfridges Cocktails!! So yummy!

So I think it is pretty evident that I'm fully in the Christmas mood!! Definitely my favourite time of the year!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Lots of love,

Alice xx

More Christmas Nails!

Season’s Greetings! Just edited my Christmas nails a tad! Loving all the Christmas nail designs at the moment! Totally getting into the Christmas spirit!! Home this weekend, so I’ll definitely be feeling ridiculously festive after putting up the lights and decorations!

Hope you like them!!

Lots of love,

Alice xx

Christmas Nails!

It’s that festive time of year again!! (already have my little christmas tree up in my uni room!) So I thought I’d share my current christmassy nails!! Inspired by Cutepolish!!



Happy Holidays!!

Lots of love,

Alice xx

Well hello there everyone,

I better introduce myself to you all! My name is Alice Amelia Boulton, I am 19 (20 on the 11th January!) and I study Italian at the University of Reading the UK.

I have decided to create an additional blog here as well as my WordPress one, just to jazz things up a little and see which site I prefer!
I love everything beauty and fashion related, so this blog will (hopefully) cover everything fashion, beauty and well, my life and adventures that I stumble upon throughout my days. I really hope you enjoy reading my blabber and perhaps persuade you to cash out on the various products that I write about, if you’re anything like me, I just cannot stand by and see reviews on make up and read about the new fashion trends and not try them out! No wonder my student loan seems to wonder at times…..oops.Well, I hope you enjoy my blog as much as I enjoy the bits and bobs I choose to fill you all in on!

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and I look forward to blogging with you all!Lots of Love
Alice xx