my percy & reed needs .. amongst other hair essentials

So, I made a courageous decision a couple of weeks ago to invest in receiving a beauty box every month.. After feeling particularly pooped about being so skint I thought 'Why the hell not?' and it worked out to be pretty worth it. I got some really nice bits and pieces that I will blog about once I've had the chance to use and abuse them all. I have to say, I am most excited to try the Beautify Me supplements as my skin has been really bad lately, you can look out for that in a month when my current pack has run out!

One product I used straight away and instantaneously loved was the Percy & Reed Dry Conditioner. My hair as I have said before gets itself into bad condition fairly quickly despite the fact I hardly ever blow dry it or straighten it - so I was pretty eager to see what it was like seeing as the piles of oil I've been putting on my hair is starting to give me an uncomfortable oily feeling on my face. I LOVE IT. It just makes my hair super soft - just like the Keratin did the other day - but with no need to start from the beginning. It's brill if you have - like me- spent the day trekking around Manchester in the wind and rain, hunting something down for your niece after 3 hours on tubes and trains from London, right before you run out of time to get ready for a night out with the girls! (and breathe) - it's a really good quick fix (and I don't particularly like that phrase however this time it's true!)

I have also found out how amazing the one minute transformation is by Color Wow after kindly getting a little sample from a feelunique event for LFW this week. It was pretty magical when I slapped it onto my 'fro to see just how good it was - but don't apply too much! (my major product tip when it comes to hair, avoid over usage or you will end up washing your hair daily and that isn't good for the natural oils that make your hair grow).

These aren't the only amazing instantly transforming - from work to night out - products I use. I obviously am a massive fan of Batiste Dry Shampoo (pairs well with the dry conditioner I think) and am head over heels for the new oriental scent as it is right up my alley (and prepping me for my trip to Thailand/Vietnam).

Then, once all creams and spritz's and sprays have been applied, you can quickly comb through with the amazing Tangle Teezer (which I have always avoided due to the fact I NEVER brush my hair but I am happy to say it is well worth the wait) and voila, instant hair in an instant for a night out, instantly. 

Good luck ladies xxx

tough choices

I know I know I know.. where have I been? Well since 'The slump is over' I went to Manchester to see my family and the lovely lady Danielle for her 21st birthday.. one wild night, big hug with my baby niece and a hop skip and a 3 hour journey later I was back in the big smoke. 

2 Days of tiring work and an early night have fueled my fire and I am back with inspiration and many plans for fun posts for my lovely followers (however few they are).

So today what I've got for you is a tried and tested post. Since I started my new job, I've had to get back into the swing of breaking down boxes (my absolute favourite job of all time... ) on a daily basis. Meaning cuts, scratches, scissor danger mainly, and general rough stuff. Okay so granted its only cardboard boxes and the dangers aren't that bad but when you are a nail nerd like me loverly hands are kind of essential.

I tested: Nivea Express Hydration For Normal to Dry Hands (I'm sure it was free), Nip & Fab Yoga Blend Body Lotion (With Lavender and Rose and Coconut and other Special Stuff that smells amazing), GHOST SWEETHEART Body Lotion (A Christmas Present) and E45 Cream (from when I have a foot rash, yes, a foot rash).

So without further adieu I give you a little moisturizer tried and tested post for those of you who would like to know what moisturizer I use - because yes, I think that people need to know this kind of thing about my v.i.p life and hand care.

Smells grrrrrrrreat!

Ghost Sweetheart Body Lotion

As part of a Christmas Present (That I asked for ) from the wonderful Santa Claus aka My lovely mother, I thought of it as nothing but an extra bit of crap to go on the old dressing table in my East London bedroom. However, given I LOVE the Ghost Sweetheart smell I started using it and it is now nearly empty! The only downside is it's not very well moisturizery for me. I can get quite dry skin and this doesn't really solve that problem it just smells absolutely amazing! And.. Saves wasting precious perfume! :)

The posh one :)

Nip & Fab Yoga Blend Body Lotion With Lavender, Coconut & Rose

This one is another one that smells fantastic - and I know, like Ghost, it is a body lotion so it probably shouldn't be able to stick it's nozzle into my hand cream tried and tested post, but I love using it on my hands these days. It is one of those moisturizers where you get a little bit out because it smells so lovely and you see the size of the bottle and decide to put more on.. then more.. then more until you smell like a rose bush. It's also really silky and smooooth, and light which I have found to be good qualities in a moisturizer.

Does the job

E45 Cream

Now this cream was a desperate buy when I started my internship working for B&Q's press agency, I was so run off my feet they felt like they were going to burst into flames every night and I longed to get home and scratch them until I started coating them in E45. It's something you know will do the job - when my cheeks got dry over Christmas it was a go to and so now it just seems entirely appropriate for when my hands are feeling extra dry and in need of some really medical attention.

Current Favourite

Nivea Express Hydration Hand Lotion

Currently, this is the lotion I can't keep my hands off, or keep off my hands for that matter. It absorbs super quickly which is extra convenient when you are trying to open a nail polish, and it smellss really quite nice to say it isn't fragranced, it also actually does the job by making your hands super soft, so much so you feel like your hands will slip right off the rails on the tube! (That totally didn't happen and even if it did I am so not blaming it on the hand cream...) All facts aside it is currently the best I have, perhaps as it is the only actual HAND lotion I have but that doesn't stop me from using it on my face... :)

Even though one of the key ingredients to a lovely pampering manicure is a good lotion, this post isn't really much about nails - I am considering doing some beauty posts after looking at the hoard of products I own, it could be fun.

Ciao bella

PS Click the names of the lotions to see them on their available websites :)

@pawsandclaws101 INSTA ME

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lace & frills tutorial

So.. I missed out on posting yesterday and I feel terrible! I was doing so well.. so to make up for it here is a tutorial...

Todays tutorial is my simple lace design...

This design is so easy to do.. all you need is below:

• 3 colours of nail polish (preferably one colour for the base and two shades of one colour for the detail) 
• a dotting tool/needle
• base/top coat
• a steady hand

For my 3 colours I chose GOSH polish in High school flirt, Max Factor Gloss Finity in lilac lace and B. polish in Mulberry.

Step 1: Apply generous coat of base colour. 

Step 2: Using the large dotting tool add a cloud of your second colour to the tip of the nail. 

Step 3: Using a very small dotting tool/needle dot two lines of small dots along the edge of the cloud in the third colour you have chosen. 

Step 4: Add medium dots of the base coat to the cloud at the tip of your nail to create a 'holey effect'

Step 5: Using a the small dotting too again, in the third colour, dot and drag to create teardrops at the edges of your design.

Step 6: Top coat and breathe ..

Tah dah!

Let me know if you have a go at it @pawsandclaws101
Check out my instagram for more designs and other fun bits and bobs :)

Abigail xxx