L'Oreal Paris Nail Wraps

L'Oreal Paris Color Riche Nail Wraps (pictured in Diamond Eternal) £8.99, available from FeelUnique.com

Nail art is seriously BIG right now. And if you're not one to spend half a day sticking gems to your finger tips/eyebrows/hair/fave pair of jeans, then try out this super cute range by L'Oreal Paris. It really is as simple as peel, stick, trim. 

I only put tips on (and then added an extra coat of clear to seal the deal) as the whole nail looked a bit too bling for my tastes. 

The packet claims these transfers last for two weeks, which is rather optimistic in my opinion. I had to peel mine off after one evening as the corners lifted a little. And I did find that the transfers looked a bit bumpy round the edges. But in general, if you want a bit of fun nail art for under a tenner, then give these little transfers a try.

Feel the Magnetism: Barry M's Magnetic Nail Paint Review

I'm not going to lie to you all, I wasn't overly sure on the concept of magnetised nail varnish. In fact, I thought it would look absolutely hideous. But actually, Barry M's Magnetic Nail Paint, £4.99, was quite a hit. A glossy finish, rich colour, good shimmer... And the magnetic effect wasn't as childish as I had feared. It actually looked pretty damn good. I take it all back, dearest Bazza M.

Top Tips For Magnetic Perfection

This is not one for the impatient amongst us. Give yourself plenty on time, and be prepared to concentrate.

Prepare the nail. Trust me, it makes all the difference if you've got a great base to work with. I use Boots' 6 Way File and Buffer, £2.50 to remove ridges in the nail and shine the surface. I then apply one coat of Boots' Save The Nail 45 Second Coat, £6.99.

Take it one nail at a time. Apply a generous layer of the Nail Paint and then immediately hold the magnet (on top of the lid) a millimetre away from the nail surface. Hold it there for a few seconds. This was where my patience failed me, as I accidentally plonked the magnet on my wet nail four times. Seriously. FOUR TIMES.

Repeat this step with each and every nail. Only one coat required, yes!

Get as creative as you like. Here's my tasty 'mint humbug' inspired nails. I applied a black coat before using Barry M's magnetic varnish in sparkling silver.

Have Yourself a Very Glitzy Christmas!

I know, I know, we're not even in December yet. But the sudden wave of festive spirit (namely the John Lewis ad, which I must have watched and then re-watched every day since its release) has got me feeling wonderfully festive.

And then there's all the talk of Christmas parties. The black-tie work do, the informal house party, the meal between old friends. Yep, now is the time to do some fabulously festive beauty prep.

Which is why I purchased these Christmassy delights by Barry M, with more magical sparkle than you can shake a stick at. Last year I opted an overtly seasonal Red glitter, this year I've plucked for Aqua and Magenta. Simply paint a layer of the glitter paint over a base colour of nail varnish (I'd recommend Barry M's Nail Paint in turquoise for the Aqua, and pink for the Magenta.)

Sparkle up your talons as you deem fit; whether just one statement nail on each hand, the tips, or the full blown set.

Pssst! There's also a fabulous black and gold shade 'Gold Mine' which is bang on the current Baroque fashion trend. I love it!

All Barry M Nail Paints are available from Barry M for £2.99