My top 10 nail varnish choices

I've shared my top 10 lipsticks, so I thought I'd also share my top 10 nail varnishes - I'm rarely without colour on my nails, and there's so many that I love it was hard to choose! Without further ado, then...

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 620 How Do You Lilac It? // I love the formula of these nail varnishes - dunno about 60 secs but they do dry pretty quick, and lilac is my fave colour if you couldn't tell by the title of my blog. This is a pinky-toned lilac and looks so pretty.

O.P.I in Are We There Yet? // I'd not tried any O.P.I til last year when I picked some up pretty cheap online - and boy am I glad I did, because they're a dream. This one's a reddy-coral and I loooove it.

Essie Vested Interest // This looks kind of like a sludgey colour in the bottle and I'm not sure what drew me to it, but it looks well sophisticated on the nails. Definitely a summer-autumn transitional shade. Fancy words.

Azature Black Diamond Nail Polish in Pink // This is such a luxury - mine was a gift, there's no way I'd be paying around £20 for a nail varnish, but honestly it possibly is worth it. It's the sparkliest thing I've EVER seen. Bugger to get off, though.

Ted Baker nail varnish in Coral // This one doesn't actually have a shade name so I'm just making it up if I'm honest, but I proper love this shade and it's a damn good polish too. There's even a matching lip gloss, which I own. And love.

AVON nailwear pro+ in Mint // Again, no shade name - but it's a mint green so u know. It's more on the bluey side, but that suits me better than green so I'm not complaining. Another great formula and I know they do soooooooo many shades.

Maybelline super stay in 265 Divine Wine // These are some of the best nail varnishes I've tried, and maroon shades are my favourite for Autumn. Enough said, really.

Barry M nail paint in Mediterranean // This is part of the Aquarium collection, and it really is the most perfect mermaid shade - who doesn't want mermaid nails? Chips like a bitch, of course, but kinda most definitely worth it.

Essie The Lace is On // If you know me, you'll know I have an obsession with Essie nail varnishes and it was hard not to just put 10 of them in this post - but alas, I had to share the love. This really is a gem from my collection though. Shimmery darky pink. Perfect.

Nail HQ Gel Top Coat* // These were in our goody bags for the North West Blogger Meet Up, and although I'm often too lazy to use a top coat when I do - this is THE ONE.

Please tell me your fave nail varnishes - I already own way too many but I'm still always on the look out for more!

Want to see my top 5 nail varnishes from way way back? 'course you do

Your life is hype, your love is hype

*Credit to Tegan and Sara for their lyrics which form the title of this post* Today I'm gonna share with you the beauty products I've bought/recieved/tried that I think are worth the hype - and I'll do a follow up posts about the ones I think definitely aren't. Capiche? Let's go.

I know, I know, it's a crap photo. Waaaah.

Hoola bronzer by Benefit - this is one that I salvaged when Sam was chucking away all her unwanted make-up and boy am I glad I did. The packaging is a bit of a novelty and also kind of annoying, but the bronzer itself is just incredible. I use it to contour with and it's safe to say I love it.

Essie nail varnishes - are these hyped? I think so, a bit, and rightly so because all the shades are beautiful and they last soooo well. Plus, most of them are pretty opaque. This time last year I shared my ever-growing Essie collection here.

Estee Lauder double wear foundation - again this is something Sam was throwing away (she's a gem like that) so it's a little bit too dark for me; I mainly wear it on nights out and I absolutely love it. It's lasting power in phenomenal and it's such good coverage which is the dream for spotty girls like myself.

Rimmel Apocalips - I remember there was a huge hype around these when they first came out, and they were sold out errrrywhere so I didn't get my hands on one 'til quite recently when I spotted it in good old B&M bargains (if you don't have one near you, you're missing out!!!). I'm a matte-lip lover and I hate stick lip gloss situations, so these are perfect for me. I couldn't find my one for the photo!

Urban Decay Naked Palette - I have the original Naked Palette which was a birthday present last year; I use it on an almost daily basis because it has all the right shades which can be mixed and matched and the like. It makes eye make-up easy for dorks like myself who are rubbish with a blending brush. 10/10 would recommend.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette - oh me oh my; this is a pricey one, but honestly, I might have to grit my teeth and tell you it's worth it. The powders feel like bUTTER on your skin, I swear to god. I either use it the normal highlighting places (cheekbones, brow bone, down the nose, yada yada) but sometimes I go wild and use it as an all over powder. So pretty.

Which products do YOU think are worth the hype? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter! 

Want to see my review of the LUSH bubblegum lip scrub? 'course you do

My Party Prep // Routine

I've literally had no motivation this week so blog posts have been seriously lacking, but I'm back today and I'm excited because my gorgeous best friends from home are coming to visit me at uni and we're having a girly night out! I thought I'd share my typical getting-ready routine for going to parties or on nights out...

Of course, getting ready starts the night before - I always wash my hair in advance so that it's easier to style, which saves me from getting stressed out! I've been using the L'Oreal Fibrology shampoo because my hair is so weak, and I actually love it. You only need a tiny amount as it lathers up soooo much, and it smells divine. I usually follow up with a conditioning mask if I have a night out coming up, just so my hair is in as best condition as it can be: I sometimes make my own but I love the Herbal Essences ones too (review here).

On the day, depending on how much free time I have, I like to do a face mask - I'm a huge fan of the Montagne Jeunesse ones, and I've made my own too: find out here how you can!

After my face mask it's usually time to paint my nails (or have a nap... so lazy), and most of the time I choose an Essie nail varnish because they're my ultimate favourite nail brand. When my nails are dry I usually spend around an hour trying on everything I own until I find something that looks okay.

When I've finally got dressed I normally put my dressing gown back on because I'm always cold, and then it's on to my hair and make up. I prefer to wear my hair straight because it's quite long, I think it looks witch-like if it's wavy or curly! I've been using the Argan Oil heat protect spray lately, which I will be reviewing soon as it's fabulous.

I don't tend to do any wild make up looks, because I have really small & hooded eyes so eyeshadow looks quite weird on me at the best of times! When my face is done I spritz on some Lady Gaga 'Fame' perfume and I'm ready to start on the cocktails.

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you have any post requests let me know over on Twitter or Instagram, both of which are @katygilroyblog

My Christmas Beauty Wishlist // 2014

I feel slightly hypocritical writing Christmas-related blog posts, because I don't love Christmas like everyone else seems to, and I think November is way too early to be talking about it if you ask me - but nobody ever does. That being said, I understand that people need to stretch their money over a few months when buying presents, which is why my Christmas Gift Guide series is now well under way for the girls, the boys, and the Secret Santas! Today I thought I'd stray away from what other people might like, and tell you what's on my actual Christmas wishlist: the beauty version. Enjoy!

1 - Make Up Revolution Contour & Blush Palette in Golden Sugar // What can I even say about this?! It's beauty speaks for itself I think. Honestly if I was to only receive one thing off this list, I'd want it to be this palette. It's the perfect all in one, and the shades are stunning. Make Up Revolution are one of the friendliest brands around aswell, which makes me want it even more. click here

2 - NARS Audacious lipstick in Greta // Whew okay, this one's a splurge I know. But this is a wishlist after all! These lipsticks are limited edition so they're more expensive than the usual NARS lippies, but they're all sooooo beautiful. Greta is randomly one of my favourite names, and I actually love the shade as well - a match made in heaven? click here

3 - Daisy by Marc Jacobs perfume // I'm a perfume lover, and I've never actually owned a Marc Jacobs fragrance before *slaps own wrist* - but my old house mate had this and I always knew when she was wearing it. It's definitely a classic! click here

4 - Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette // I have the first Naked palette, and I'm sure I've mentioned wanting this one before. Eyeshadow palettes are just so versatile and I think they're perfect for travelling, or going back and forth between being at uni and being at home. click here

5 - Mary Lou Manizer from theBalm // For starters, the packaging is beaut. Even better than Benefit. I've seen a few people raving about this and while I'm not normally one to give in to the hype, this just looks stunning. click here

6 - Bobbi Brown intensifying long-wear mascara // I'm always on the hunt for a good mascara - my lashes are pretty much non existent, and I love Bobbi Brown make up in general so I'm sure this would be fabulous. click here

7 - Sanctuary Spa lip balm // I don't think I've ever mentioned lip balm on my blog before; it's not something that I tend to think about much. But my aunty has this, and when I stayed at her house I tried some and fell in love. It smells divine and it left my lips feeling lush. Winner! click here

8 - Essie nail polish in Jazzy Jubilant // There's no brand I love more than Essie when it comes to nails. I own soooo many of their shades but I'm always looking to add to my collection. This one is so sassy and gorgeous, as well as being perfect for the Christmas party season. click here

9 - Smashbox photo finish primer // I tried this a few years ago when my mum bought some mini tubes of it on the plane once, and I LOVED it. But it's just too pricey for me to buy on a regular basis. Sob Sob. click here

I hope you liked having a nose at what beauty bits I'm after for Christmas this year! What's on your wishlists? Let me know in the comments or over on Twitter @katygilroyblog

Christmas Gift Guide #3 // Stockings and Secret Santa

Something I really struggle with at Christmas time is Secret Santa gifts, so I've put together a guide of cute and quirky items that would be perfect for your office Secret Santa, or if you're putting together a stocking or hamper for someone! It can be so easy to just buy a gift set from Boots, but by putting together your own set of stuff, it makes it so much more personal.

1 - Fair Trade Sari Notebook by Paper High, £3 // These notebooks are the perfect stocking size, although they come in a larger size too if that's what you're after. They just look so pretty, and there's a huge range of colours to choose from. click here

2 - Yankee Candle sampler in Snowflake Cookie, £1.80 // Obviously there's a huge range of scents to choose from, but this is my favourite of the Christmas ones. For £1.80 they're actually really good value, because they burn for around 15 hours according to the website. click here

3 - Essie nail polish in Funny Face, £7.99 // I love Essie nail polishes, which is no secret if you've seen my Essie Collection post! Again there's loads to choose from, so if you know the favourite colour of whoever you're buying for, that's definitely a good starting point. Little things like nail varnish, lipstick and single eyeshadows are perfect for stockings and Secret Santa. click here

4 - Black RI mini pouch purse, River Island, £5 // Everyone needs a coin purse, and I think this one looks so chic considering it's only a fiver! Black goes with everything too. Fabulous. click here

5 - Floral socks, New Look, £2.99 // These socks are my favourite thing in the world, last time I counted, I had about 20 pairs of frilly socks. Who even needs that many?! Clearly me... But they're so cute, and there's always a range of different designs in places like Primark and Topshop too. click here

6 - Pink scrunchie, New Look, £1 // I am so glad scrunchies are back in fashion; I already own loads, and I think they're an amazing way to jazz up a plain and boring hair style when you're in a rush! You can get them pretty much anywhere now. click here

7 - Olaf iPhone case from eBay, £3.99 // I'm a massive fan of the iPhone cases that incorporate a character holding the Apple symbol, I think they look so cute. And who doesn't love Frozen? Plus, for less than a fiver these cases are an absolute steal - I've never had a problem with the quality of cases from eBay either! click here

8 - Hello Kitty nail files from Amazon, £2.65 // Anyone who knows me in real life knows how much I love Hello Kitty .. As I write this, I'm wearing my Hello Kitty onesie! Cute nail files are a definite must for stocking fillers, and there are loads out there. click here

9 - Cute quote magnet from eBay, 99p // Little gifts like this are so sweet and you can find a quote that really suits the person you're buying for! I love this one: the message is lovely and the picture is really cute too, and for 99p I might have to buy one for myself... click here

10 - Moon and Sun earrings, Topshop, £6.50 // These earrings are definitely on my Christmas list - I love the new trend of double earrings or whatever they're called. Super pretty. click here

These are all just ideas which can be adapted to suit the people you're shopping for this Christmas but I hope you've spotted something that you can work with! If you have any other stocking filler ideas please pop them in the comments below or tweet me over at @katygilroyblog

A/W Nail Varnish // My Top 5

I've never really been the sort of person who wears certain colours in certain seasons, but as I'm growing up I do find it nice to coordinate things. Autumn and Winter are all about the darker shades, in both clothes and make-up, so I thought I'd have a root around in my substantial nail varnish collection and pick out my 5 favourite A/W nail colours. FYI, half of my entire collection is some shade of pink, so I've done well to have no pink in here...

AVON nailwear pro+ in Cosmic Blue // A friend recommended this range to me, and when my mum had a catalogue last year I placed a cheeky order. I love this polish - it goes on delightfully, although you need a couple of coats, and lasts for a good few days. The shade a gorgeous blue, verging on navy, with the slightest hint of silver shimmer. Just beautiful for those A/W evenings.

Rimmel 60 Seconds in 310 Red Carpet // I am a huge fan of all the Rimmel nail polishes; I have so many of them and you can often pick them up in Poundland or on Fragrance Direct which is always a bonus. I don't believe they truly take 60 seconds to dry, but they are faster than other brands. This one is a gorgeous true bright red, again with a hint of shimmer. It's beautiful, especially for Christmas! (Heartfelt apologies for mentioning Christmas so early on...)

Bourjois 1 Seconde nail varnish in Shade 30 // This nail varnish is a lovely soft tone, very Autumnal and a perfect every-day school or work shade. It's a muted brown, verging on beige but not quite there. The brush is MASSIVE and picks up loads of product, which can get a bit messy but if you're careful it makes for a fast and easy application.

Essie nail lacquer in Orange It's Obvious // I couldn't not include an Essie shade in my top 5 - if you've seen my Essie Collection post then you'll know I have more than any one person needs... And I may have ordered even more online, oops. This shade is really one that works year round, but I just adore orange nails - plus it would make the perfect pumpkin shade for Halloween! It's quite a shiny red-toned orange, and it really stands out on the nails.

Rimmel lasting finish pro in 410 Purple Rain // This shade just sums up A/W for me - dark, luscious and perfectly vampy. It doesn't come out quite as rich and dark as it looks in the bottle unless you truly layer it up, but even just one coat gives a gorgeous deep purple colour. Like I said, Rimmel polishes are a real winner for me so I love this one!

Ps, I always use a hand sanitiser and a hand cream before I paint my nails - currently, the Primark exclusive Cuticura 'Vanilla Fudge' hand sanitiser (OMG, heaven) and the Vanilla Bliss hand cream from The Body Shop. Beautttt.

Want to see my favourite wintery make up? 'course you do

Nail Varnish Remover Pads // Review

I love painting my nails and when I go on holiday that's no exception - but I'm always paranoid of nail varnish remover leaking in my suitcase, plus I like my case to be as light as possible! So when I spotted some 'nail varnish remover pads' in Poundland I thought I'd give them a try and see if they can replace the real thing for when I'm travelling.

I remember getting these years a go from a brand called Quickies or something in a big square pink tub - those were probably 10x better than the ones I bought from Poundland, which are by a brand called Pretty Perfect. The pads are quite small and very thin, however they really do get your nail varnish off well. It only took me 3 pads to remove all traces of orange nails.

Pros // Cheap & cheerful; do a great job; compact, so great for your travels; less waste.

Cons // Greasy residue; smell gross; contain acetone.

So the pros outweigh the cons - just. Some people hate acetone so if you do, they definitely won't be for you. If you can put up with the smell, the greasy residue washes straight off so that's fine too. I'd definitely recommend checking these out or something similar!