Spring has Sprung! - My Top 5 lip products

Hola blogging world! Lets crack on with the next of my spring themed posts :)

So lets talk lips. I love choosing what to do with my lips when I am getting ready for a night out, work, or just a casual day doing not much. Keep reading for my spring must haves:

1. Lush Lip Scrub in Mint Julips: If you are anything like me, and your skin is affected by any kind of weather change then a lip scrub is essential! Sersiouly, as soon as there is any change in weather type (it was the wind that did it this time), my skin just goes dry and horrible, and my lips are no different. One thing that really depresses me is going to put your lipstick on and realising that your lips are so chapped that you look like you have some sort of disease. Cue lip scrub! I admit you can make lip scrubs relatively easily, and at £6(ish) this is very overpriced for what is essentially a small glass tub of sugar but I know that if I tried it myself I'd just end up with a messy kitchen and no lip scrub. This Lush scrub is great, tastes amazing and really does the job for me, so it is numero uno on my list!

2. Soap and Glory Smooch Operator Lip Butter: I luuurve this! After the lip scrubbing is over, obviously you need to put something on to help repair and rejuvenate them and this is my first choice. I am not so keen on the fact this is in a tub because I really don't enjoy having to get my fingers all lip balm-y but the smell of this, along with the fact it really does the trick wins me over. Apologies for the slightly manky pic but it lives in my bag so it is a bit battered!

3. Maybelline Baby Lips in Peach Punch: In my opinion, the Baby Lips range is one of the best things to come out the drug store in the past few years. It is such a simple idea I don't know why other brands haven't done this before. I know there have been a few attempts (i.e. Nivea pearl and shine etc) but nothing is as good as these babies. I like the peach one for spring because it is orange toned but not in your face (which I think is more of a summer lip colour) and also, it obviously, helps with those darned chapped lips I was talking about.

4. Soap and Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Bashful: Another S&G product, I promise I'm not sponsored by them!! I blogged about this not so long ago in my Boots hall and it has fast become a staple. I think a subtle pink lip is a great look for spring as it gives a natural but cute look. These gloss sticks are probably my favourite 'drug store' version of the   Clinique chubby stick-esque lip products that are available at the moment. Mainly because this one is super moisturising but still has a good colour pay off.

5. Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate in 107: Now this may be slightly controversial as I know it is more of a wintery shade. But recently I have been wearing it lightly dabbed onto the lips, rather than building the colour up. It comes out as a really pretty light red colour, with a hint of pink. I bought this around Christmas time with big hopes but I'm still unsure as to whether I can pull off such a bold lip colour so I am uber glad I have found a way to make this colour wearable for me. Also, I really do prefer more autumnal/wintery colours to spring/summer colours so I had to sneak this one in.

What are your top five spring lip products?

Until next time :)

Spring has Sprung! - My Top 5 nail varnishes

Since spring is beginning to show itself here and there (I went on a shopping trip to Harrogate today and there were some gorgeous crocuses just peaking out from under the grass on the stray, yay!) I thought I would start a bit of 'top 5' mini-series where I can share my spring essentials. I have cleverly entitled this 'Spring has Sprung', oh yeah, points to me for that one please!

As an avid nail polish-er I always have my nails painted, and as much as I love the darker colours that are perfect for winter it is always refreshing once spring rolls around to be able to brighten up your nails with pretty, fresh colours. So read on my loves if you want to know my top 5 nail colours for this time of year:

(Disclaimer: this is quite a Barry M heavy post! Apologies)

1. Models Own Hed Kandi - Baleric Cool: This is a gorgeous shade and I love the fact it isn't a clear cut baby blue, it has a grey tinge to it which is what I think makes it a great spring colour. It's not too in your face and still has a bit of that wintery vibe to it.

2. Barry M Gelly Lychee: This is one of my all time favourite nail varnishes. I love the Barry M Gelly polishes anyway because of the formulation but this colour is divine! I remember when the Gelly polishes first came out and this colour caught my eye immediately, but I was in a sort of limbo as to whether I actually liked it or not so I didn't get it.  But every time I went into Boots I'd end up staring at it trying to work out whether I loved it or hated it. So one day I just bit the bullet and, it turns out I bloody love it!

3. Barry M Confetti Effects in Dolly Mixture: This is a good one for putting over the top of other colours, but it also looks just as good on a naked nail. The first time I wore it, it was over a naked nail and I got so many compliments (even from men!) I was very impressed. The pastel shades are what makes it a good polish for spring and it just adds a bit extra to a mani without having the in your face look glitter sometimes does.

4. Barry M Gelly Prickley Pear: I don't even think I have to say why this is such a perfect varnish for spring. Its lilac, what more can I say.

5. Rimmel 60 Seconds Rose Libertine: I. love. this. colour. (although unfortunately, it's come out a bit on the coral side on the above picture), but it is a beautiful rosy pink. Again, as with the Models Own colour it's not a sickly pastel. It's subtle and adds a nice touch of girliness without making you think of a Barbie.

And just for good measure here's two that almost made the Top 5 but narrowly missed out....

6. Barry M Gelly Greenberry: A fresh, minty green. Although it is a pastel it's not overly pastel which is probably why it just missed out on the top 5 but I still think it's a spring colour, after all spring is when everything starts to get green again so it's a no brainer really!

7. Barry M Silvery Lilac: I really love this polish but it loses points for such a shoddy name. It's iridescent and shines lilac to green. The colour payoff is actually quite sheer so again, it's not in your face which I think is the key to a spring nail.

What are your top five spring nail colours?

Until next time :)