DIY Gel Nails with SensatioNail

DIY Gel Nails with SensatioNail, £60 for the starter kit with LED nail lamp, £10 for each colour

I've always loved a bit of 'salon at home', so the opportunity to do my own gels was way too much of a temptation to pass. If you've got a steady hand and a bit of patience, then you'll be able to create beautiful gel nails whilst watching New Girl on the sofa/in your PJs/tending to a butternut squash risotto.
I'm no nail expert, but thankfully this kit is as easy as they come. The instructions are really straightforward, it's pretty much: Step 1. Apply base coat and cure for 30 seconds. Step 2. Apply colour coat and cure for 60 seconds. Step 3. Repeat step 2. Step 4. Repeat step 1. Rocket scientists, don't sweat it.

You're not tied to a salon appointment and it works out much cheaper in the long run. The DIY option isn't for everyone (I often relish those hours in the salon - and no doubt the finished effect is more professional) but if you're fed up of chipping and want to step up the hardiness of your varnish, then this is a quick and fuss-free fix. It's rather fun too.
I was also really impressed by the huge range of colours available. I love a dark, glossy gel nail so I opted for SensatioNail's 'Dusk til Dawn' shade for my fingers, and the more summery red 'Spoiled Diva' for my toes. Both looked beautifully bold, gorgeous colours for statement nails.

To remove I used Magis Foil Nail Wraps, £9.95 for 50. Never scrape off the gel - no matter how tempted - as this is bad for the nail bed.

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Tan-talise: The Best of Fake Tan

The Bronzing Mousse Break-Down

Bronzing mousses are easy to apply as you can instantly see where the product has been applied, ideal for those who are a bit nervous about self-tanning. 

St Tropez Self-Tan Bronzing Mousse, £30.64, available from St-Tropez.com

Colour: 5/5

Last-ability: 2/5

Smell: 5/5

Price: 2/5 

I've always been a firm fan of St Tropez when it comes to good tanning. The mousse is so easy to apply (use a tanning mitt for a flawless finish), doesn't streak, and smells great. No old biscuit-smells here, phew! The tan is a sun-kissed golden brown shade, which can be layered up for a deeper colour. 

My only negative points for this product would be the price, which is a touch steep, and the duration which the tan stays on the skin. I find that after two washes it has normally disappeared, even if I leave it 24 hours before the first wash. This can be a blessing in disguise though, as there's nothing worse than old shabby tan remnants imitating a strange skin disorder. 

Lauren's Way Self Tanning Bronzing Mousse (Medium), £17.95, available from LaurensWay.com

Colour: 4/5

Last-ability: 4/5

Smell: 4/5

Price: 3/5

A warmer brown tone, this is a tan for all you glamourous girls and boys. A deeper tan than the St Tropez, it definitely has that Essex-glam feel. It applied really evenly on the skin (again I use a tanning mitt) and dried instantly. What I loved about this tan is the fact that it lasts for days. Friday night glamour lasts right through to the Wednesday evening cinema trip. Perfect!

St Moriz Instant Self Tanning Mousse, £2.99, available from Home Bargains

Colour: 2/5

Last-ability: 4/5

Smell: 0/5

Price: 5/5

Here's a tan for the end of the month, when the luxuries of pay-day are just a distant memory. Okay, it smells pretty hideous. The tone is more of a dirty brown than a golden one. And there is a slight chance you'll develop a rash if you have sensitive skin. 

But hey, it's £2.99. And after a quick rinse-off in the shower, the colour is much improved and the smell isn't that intoxicating. Everyone needs an anti-pastiness contingency plan. This is mine. 

My Fave Wash-Offs
Wash offs are great for stress-free (and pong-free) tanning and they're generally more hydrating than longer lasting tans. Just avoid rain at all costs!

Pictured from left to right: Rimmel, Sienna X, Lauren's Way

Sienna X Instant Bronzing Gel, £12.95, available from FeelUnique.com (includes free delivery!)

Colour: 5/5

Smell: 5/5

Price: 3/5

A lovely golden colour with a slight shimmer, this tan is a thick gel so it doesn't run on application. It also smells fabulous, as it is the most heavily fragranced out of the three. Perfect if you're looking for a very natural, sun-kissed colour.

Lauren's Way Instant Wash Off Glow, £11.95, available from LaurensWay.com

Colour: 4/5 - if you want a darker tan then this is definitely the wash off tan for you!

Smell: 3/5

Price: 3/5

If you're a real tan-addict, then Lauren's Way is the way for you. This wash off is much darker than the others, has a very neutral smell, and was a bit runnier in consistency. 

Rimmel Sunshimmer Instant Tan (medium matte), £5.99, available from Superdrug

Colour: 3/5

Smell: 4/5

Price: 5/5

A good mid-way tan, Rimmel's Sunshimmer is lighter than the Lauren's Way yet has a deeper brown tone than Sienna X. It is however a touch reddy-bronze in some lights, which I'm not a huge fan of. But it is available at a reasonable price, applies well and smells pleasant. 

Crank Up The Volume: My Top 3 Products

My life mission is to create full, voluminous locks. Cursed with hair flatter than that of Morticia Addams, I've backcombed, sprayed, moussed, and tonged until one can tong no more. And it's a dangerous game, let me tell you. One dodgy product and goodbye full, Brigitte Bardot tresses, hello irreversible bird's nest.

Here are my top three volume-enhancing products...

1. Lauren's Way Dream Rollers, £16.95 for a pack of 20, available from LaurensWay.com

I may have recently moved to Liverpool, but I'm still not ready for perusing around the local supermarket with a head full of rollers. Lauren's Way Dream Rollers are brilliant because you can go to sleep in them (albeit not the comfiest of snoozes) and then wake up with luscious bouncy locks.

2. Catwalk by Tigi Volume Collection 'Your Highness' Root Boost Spray and Thickening Gel Creme, £10.85 and £9.55, available from FeelUnique.com (delivery inclusive in price, yay!)

This product is so easy, yet so effective. Simply apply the Root Boost spray to your damp roots and/or work a few squirts of the Thickening Gel through damp hair, and then blow dry as normal. Instant glam volume! It smells gorgeous and doesn't make your hair sticky or matted. It's almost undetectable as a product, except your tresses are packed with oomph! Fabulous.

3. Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Dust It Mattifying Powder, £11, available from FeelUnique.com (also delivery inclusive, yay!)

I've chosen this product because it creates a totally different kind of volume. If you're looking for textured, grunge-glam inspired hair, then this one's for you. Sprinkle a light smattering at the roots of dry hair and work in with your fingertips. It might feel like you've got icing sugar matting your hair together, but the effect is well worth it.

Get Glossy: Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint

If you want glossy gel-effect nails without the 45 minute salon experience and a price tag of £20 to £30, then try Barry M's brand new offering. Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint by Barry M, £3.99, available from Superdrug, is the savvy girl's cheat to super glossy talons.

It might not last as long as a salon cured gel treatment, but this nail polish is a worthwhile purchase. Easy to remove (no need for acetone soaking) and fast drying,  I applied it while on a bus, ladened with several shopping bags, and remained smudge free despite only having a six-stop time frame. That's impressive. Good work, Baz!

My only grumble would be the limited number of shades, but that's mainly because I was seeking a deep, glossy black. No joy. Instead I plucked for Watermelon (pictured) but was also very tempted by the plum shade, perfect for the rapidly approaching festive season.