Nail colour of the week

I had to do my own nails today. Yes. What is the world coming to? My lovely lady was all booked up and couldn't fit me in. So I trekked home, had a much-needed bath (will tell you about my new bubble bath soon) and painted my nails in a colour I picked up in New York called Miami Nice. See what they did there?

It does bring to mind beautiful beaches and sunshine so it is suitable to cheer me up on a grey miserable February day. More of a toe colour perhaps? Am liking it so far though.

Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel

I haven't bothered blogging about this year's In Style Top 100 Beauty Buys as they don't have much new in. However, this little beauty caught my eye. Probably because when I was reading it, I had a spot. They say dab this on, go to sleep and wake up to a much reduced spot. It had to be tried.

I ordered some online and it arrived just as I had another spot. What is going on? Anyway, for once I didn't mind as it meant I could road-test this. I can confirm it worked brilliantly. I dabbed a teeny bit on the spot and woke up to find it almost gone.

I hope this lasts me for the rest of my life as I don't get many spots. It wasn't cheap so here is hoping!

Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus

How do they come up with these names? I bought this back in November and haven't reported back. A friend requested I did so. What do I think?

Well, this is something you have to put on twice a day before your moisturiser and wait for at least a month before you can expect to see results. Everything about that sentence is contrary to my personality. I am all about instant results and very little time spent in the bathroom. It's why I like 5 minute face masks instead of those 20 minute jobs you have to chisel off your face.

So, obviously I have not been doing this religiously which is why I can't give you a proper review. However, I have noticed that when I am feeling a little below par skin-wise and I apply this, my skin does look a little better the next morning. I really should make an effort and get involved more enthusiastically. I have friends who have more patience than me and they give very positive reviews of this.

It's worth noting though that if you did follow the instructions, you'd get through this in about six weeks. Which would be £45 spent every six weeks plus the rest of your skincare routine. It's a little steep to be honest. I would rather spend the money on monthly facials. So I doubt I'll buy this again but if you are prepared to cough up the money, apply it regularly and wait for results, then yes, it does work.

The joys of Sephora

Yesterday I had a few hours to kill in Manhattan before my flight. I know, what a drag eh? As I was only there a few weeks ago, I didn't feel the need to buy clothes. So I had a very nice mani/pedi and then wandered into the mothership known as Sephora.

Sephora opened in the UK a few years ago but didn't survive. It's such a shame as it's easily the best beauty shop in the world. If I was locked in Sephora for 24 hours, I'd be fine with that and not get even remotely bored. The one in Times Square is huge, it has a brow bar, it has its own DJ, it's full of teenage girls in Ugg boots. In short, it is heaven.

So I spent an hour in there looking at stuff. What I love about Sephora is no sales people bother you and ask if you want any help. You can play with all the high-end brands in complete peace. It's beautifully laid out and it is the ultimate beauty shopping experience.

So, what did I get? First up, some Tweezerman Tweezers, you can never have enough and when they are polka dots, well, who can resist?

Then, mindful of the flight coming up and any excuse to buy a primer, I bought this little set. Fresh is a popular brand stateside. I am very impressed with the illuminator part of this.

You can never have enough hand cream especially when Bliss makes it and it only costs $8.

And how cool is this? A teeny bag full of emergency repair kit. Full list can be seen on the link. For $13? Only a fool would walk away without it. I got it in gold. I might give this as a present,  it is such a cute idea.

I actually think I was quite restrained. The challenge in Sephora is not going mad but I'd love to win a supermarket sweep in there. I was very interested in the Nars Orgasm nail varnish but figured I had bought enough varnish for one week and left it there but it's a great colour. Maybe next time...

Russian nails

Two nail colours to report and both are from the Opi Russian collection. First up, Vodka and Caviar. I love this colour so much and being the control freak that I am, I made my sister wear it to my wedding. It's a gorgeous deep red. I had that colour on my nails last week.

Then yesterday I had a colour change manicure in NY ($7!) and went for Russian Navy which is the most beautiful blue with a purple tinge. I am loving it. I have it on my toes too. New York is the best place for a mani/pedi - cheap and so efficient.

I bought some other bits and pieces while I was there too. This time I did make it into Sephora...

Nail colour of the week

Essie's Decadent Diva which I bought in NY where it was called Decadent Dish but it is, in fact, the same colour. How confusing. It's a nice shimmery brown with an almost purple undertone. Not usually what I would pick but I am liking it.

Exclusives all round

Back in the summer, I splashed out and bought an exclusive Chanel perfume for my wedding. I justified it as being worth it for my wedding, and indeed it was, I absolutely love it still and am only about a third of the way through it. However, there is another Les Exclusif I have wanted for the last six months: No 18. Another bottle of 200ml perfume at £173? I just couldn't bring myself to do it especially since I am not exactly suffering from a lack of perfume in my life.

Then I heard a rumour. Bendel's on Fifth Avenue stock the exclusives in 100ml. Be still my beating heart. So this trip to NY, I hot-footed it to Bendel's and raced up to the Chanel counter. By the way, Bendel's is the nicest department store I've been to. Yes, it's even nicer than Fenwicks on Bond St. I just wanted to move in. But disappointment awaited. Only regular old Chanel perfume at Bendel's. However I was told Bergdorf's had it. Luckily Bergdorf's is right next door so off I went (dragging my poor friend with me) and YES! It was there. All the exclusives in 100ml. For $119 (including tax). At current exchange rate, this is £74. Not bad. So I bought No 18. You can read more about it here. It's not a scent for everyone, it's quite a challenging one but I simply love it. It really grows on you and I can't stop sniffing myself when I wear it. Also, it has a magnetic lid. That's worth it alone, right?

From the sublime to the ridiculous. I bought a new Essie colour in Walgreens called Dive Bar. I didn't think I'd come across it before so I Googled it and it's exclusive to Walmart! That made me laugh. It's a very pretty colour - like a peacock.  You can see a swatch here. I am amazed Essie is doing an exclusive with Walmart but I had heard they had been bought by L'Oreal so maybe that's why.

Also, there was an Essie sale on in another pharmacy I was in - $6 a bottle. That's is so much cheaper than here in the UK. It makes me angry how much we have to pay over here. Anyway, I bought three bottles to celebrate such a bargain.

Finally I bought a packet of Sally Hansen Nail Effects for a friend who asked me for them. They must be the hot ticket in town as they were sold out everywhere. But I am no quitter and I tracked them down for her. She wanted the butterfly ones. You can read more about them here.

I didn't even go into Sephora. Shocking I know.

Shopping on the plane

And why not? Flicking through the duty-free magazine on the flight is a wonderful way to waste half an hour or so.  I've just come back from New York and I have plenty of beauty news to report but first up is my duty-free splurge.

I got two Smashbox products. First up is the foundation primer. I was seduced by the offer of a free travel sized sample with it. I love travel sized products, anything that has travel sized written on it, I tend to buy. This is a weird product, it feels like plastic on your face. I am not sure what to make of it. My skin is always a bit weird in New York so I shall see how it performs back in London.

I also bought O-Glow - an intuitive cheek colour. I've had my eye on this for a while. It reacts to your skin and gives you a pink glow. Regular readers will know my obsession with blusher. I adore this. It looks like a clear gel, you put a tiny bit on and instantly you look all dewy and healthy. It's wonderful. Recommended.

I also bought an old favourite that I've not used for ages. Clarins Beauty Flash Balm. I still love this, in fact I had forgotten how much I like it. It's a perfect pick me up for jet-lagged skin.