London has been FULL of celebration today with the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton!

By no means am I a Royalist, but when you live right in the heart of the capital you can't help but get caught up in one of history's big events :)

To join in the celebrations I painted my nails with Leighton Denny's "Royal Collection".

A trio of patriotic colours with nounce of glitter for good measure, the polishes also come with a nail buffer/filer, in a lovely presentational box. 
Absolutely LOVE "caught red handed", beating OPI's "I'm not really a waitress" hands DOWN. It's a gorgeous shade of satin red, super plush and just divine. If metallics isn't normally your thing, I'd highly recommend you to check this particular shade out. Goes on easily and streak-free too.
You can purchase the collection for £30 from www.feelunique.com

Last but not least, here are some photos from today. My bf and I decided at the last minute to head down to the palace, missing the first kiss by 5 minutes...gutting!









 

I've been meaning to set a Facebook page up for AGES!
If you have a Facebook account it would be super amazing if you could please like my new page :)
It's still in it's very early stages as I've been doing a lot of upgrades to my blog and social networking which I hope will make Hellcandy a hell of a lot (ha pardon the pun!) better!

You can visit my Facebook page HERE and don't forget to "like" it as I'll be doing some giveaways soon :)

Thanks SO much!

How was everyone's Easter break? Hope you all had a good one!

So it's Royal wedding week and London is gearing itself up for a huge celebration and Lush have decided to bring back one of my much loved ballistics for the occasion!


Now I remember when "Street Party" first came out, years and YEARS ago and I have such fond memories of this ballistic. 
Drop one of these lovelies in the tub and you'll not only have a lovely citrus fragrance perfume the air, you'll also have a ton of confetti sprinkle your bath water! So much fun!


The Street party ballistic is available now for £2.95. 
Visit the Lush website for more details
 

***

With the glorious weather that's hit London recently I thought it was high time to bring out the summery polish!
Introducing Estee Lauder's limited edition "Shimmering Bronze" polish. Taken from the S/S 2011 Bronze Goddess Soleil collection, it's a beautiful coppery metallic shade that has a wonderful glimmer to it. 


(pr sample)

Poppy King, aka The Lipstick Queen, has teamed up with Boots No7 to release an exclusive range of seven lipsticks and seven lipglosses.
Originally hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Poppy's fascination with lip products started from a young age with the "Magic of Lipstick" range inspired by the different eras of make-up. 
Below is a short video from Poppy King introducing the collection:





I was recently sent the "Intrigue" lipstick to try which is described by Poppy as "...a great universal shade that suits everyone".
Upon first inspection it's not the type of shade I would usually pick for myself. However, once I applied it I found it really flattering and ideal for day time wear. It's a very subtle colour, giving a lovely pretty pink tint to the lips so would be perfect for anyone who is lipstick shy!
Top pic shows my bare lips, second pic with "intrigue" on.

First seen as part of the Venomous Villains collection late last year, Mac's Magically Cool Liquid Powder makes a permanent comeback this Summer.

A strange oxymoron hybrid of a powder that looks like a powder, yet feels wet on application, it's such a strange texture that you really have to try it to understand it!

Yesterday I popped into the Filthy Gorgeous event where I got the chance to have a fabulously bright and cheerful mani!
I don't often have manicures so when I do it's a real treat  and there is something so nice about having your nails painted by someone else. No smudges, no painstaking paint job...it's WIN WIN!

I opted for a pretty peach shade called " L-Jay" topped with "Tipsy" a gorgeous creamy lilac. So pretty together and fab to work the colour blocking trend that's hot this Spring!

Estee Lauder have some fab new products out for this Summer, and I was kindly invited to attend their recent bloggers event for a sneak preview of their Bronze Goddess Soleil Makeup Collection.

Estee Lauder has been a brand I have been familiar with ever since I was teeny tiny and their Day Wear moisturiser has been a staple for me for over 10 years now!

This Summer sees the release of some beautiful products such as the double ended Shadow Sticks which I LOVE. 
Applying super smoothly, they glide onto the skin without dragging the delicate eye area, allowing you to either use it as eyeshadow by smudging and blending it, or simply using it to line your eyes. The best thing about these sticks is that they really don't smudge or crease and are water resistant. Fab for beachside fun!
The collection also includes a fab Bronze Goddess Island Oasis eyeshadow palette which contains some gorgeous shades perfect for complimenting a tan and ideal for the warmer days ahead. The palette will retail for £31.00 and is slimline and light, so fab for those on the go.


For all the bronzer loving lasses out there, there is a new Bronzing blush that is incredibly wearable(£29.00).:
The makeup collection also includes a limited edition nail polish but I'll swatch this properly for a NOTD post so look out for it!

Last but not least! There will be a new addition to the original ltd edition Bronze Goddess fragrance with a lighter scent that oozes freshness. Also limited edition, the fragrance will retail for £38 and is entitled Bronze Goddess Soleil. Love the bottle!
The Bronze Goddess Soleil collection will be available at Estee Lauder counters nationwide and  online at www.esteelauder.co.uk from 2nd May 2011.

We had GLORIOUS sunshine in London over the weekend! London is a different city when the sun is shining, so many people happy and outdoors, lots of blossoms in bloom...and blue skies!

Taking inspiration from the weekend weather I decided to don sky blue nail polish *nods*
You can't really tell from the images below but I love the very subtle blue shimmer in this seemingly creme polish...

I applied three coats to get a opaque finish.
I really like the Eyeko polishes especially the cute slimline bottles and streak free formulation :)

The one thing I struggle with in my whole nail care maintenance is dealing with fugly cuticles. They drive me NUTS and are always flipping drying out and looking all grim and gross.

Fellow beauty bloggers especially will understand the need to maintain good cuticles because NOTD with hangnails and peeling skin...EW!

Over the years I have invested in many different types of cuticle moisturisers, Burts Bees deliciously scented cuticle cream, Qtica Intense cuticle repair, Lush's Cuticle Butter and the infamous Solar Oil to name a few. ALL of which I love but none of them are practical when it comes to using one on the go. 


Nail care experts, Nailtiques, have a super convenient and bag friendly treatment that comes with a very handy rollerball applicator. Just pop the top off and roll around your cuticles, rub it in a hey presto! DONE!
The oil blend of sunflower, safflower, avocado and hemp seed oil feels light and sinks into the skin with ease and most of all without feeling greasy. 
The only thing I am not too keen on is the fragrance. It smells a bit too artifically sweet for me but isn't a deal breaker so won't put me off this product.
I love how small and practical it is and carry it with me everywhere. I think my cuticles love me now :P


Visit the Nailtiques website here: www.nailtiques.com
(pr sample)

The Lip Print gets the Smooth Infusion treament thanks to Aveda and Oscar Oscar salons.

The Pink Sith invites you to marvel at the Givenchy Prisme Yeux Quatour in Candide Garden, which is a nice departure from tired old Spring pastels.

Over at The Glamorous Gleam, Mz. More introduces a dupe for MAC's Ripe Peach blush: Sleek's Life's a Peach!

Got a craving for something sweet? well, Krasey Beauty has swatches and a full look into the MAC Cosmetics Quite Cute collection!

LaaLaa may not have been wearing makeup so much as of late but that doesn’t mean her brushes have been neglected. Take a look on Dolce Vanity how she deep cleanses her brushes.

Tracy@Beauty Reflections got to try the new Sebastian Color Ignite Line and it whipped her hair into condition!

My Lips But Better put OPI Black Shatter to the test under various conditions - see the results!

L from Beautifully Addicted To re-discovers a favourite foundation in Bourjois 10hr Sleep Effect.

Jellyminx shares a super simple Nail Art tutorial.

Kimberly from KimmieKarmaLove learns to tutorial on soft green and purple eyes.

Are you having problems with your foundation? Check out Spiced Beauty's HDsecret.

Alyson at The Gloss Menagerie has some Inglot AMC lipgloss swatches to share with you!

At Music and Makeup Jo can't stop raving about a £1.50 Accessorize eye dust bargain and features it in this face of the day.

Spring is here, so Mariella at Musing on Beauty reunites with her fake tan and reviews Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse.

Daily Polish has teamed up with a top London salon to give away a FREE Minx or Shellac Manicure or Pedicure! Enter now!

theNotice is giving away two rather surprising products that'll get your skin summer-ready in no time flat. Find out what they are!

I was recently introduced to French cult beauty brand, Nuxe, at a fab bloggers event one evening. Their natural approach to skincare has resulted in numerous patents for their fab formulations and they are one of those brands that I have seen and read about everywhere, but never tried. Until now!

For the last few weeks I've been indulging in the gorgeous Reve De Miel, a wonderful lip balm that has a non sticky, non greasy, consistancy to it. 
A little goes a long way and with healing honey and nourishing shea butter, it helps target dry chapped lips, making them soft and supple again. 

Much love! 

You can find this particular lip balm in larger Boots stores and Spacenk.

Have you tried any Nuxe products? Leave a comment and let me know which ones you would recommend :)

It's been almost a month since the tsunami and earthquake hit Japan and even now the country is still feeling the aftershocks (a 7.1 aftershock hit just today) with numerous people needing aid.

British brand Lush have given one of their best selling soaps a Japanese make over, moulding the coconut scented "I should coco" into the Japanese flag. All proceeds from the sales of this soap will go directly to Peace Boat, minus the VAT, helping them to help more people affected by the devastation in Japan.

Peace Boat is a charity who are organising teams of volunteers, transporting aid goods and cooking hot meals in the disaster zone. You can find out more about them and Lush's campaign here

Lush have strong ties to Japan, with 145 shops in Japan and a factory - with 1,600 staff. Some of these staff and their families have lost everything.

Help support the people of Japan and please purchase a bar (or more!) of "Japanese Aid" (£5 for 100g) by visiting the Lush online store here or by visiting one of the many Lush stores around the world.

Benefit have a knack for making incredibly useful kits. Take for example the "Realness of Concealness", I loved this kit when it first came out as it contained super useful products that helped me look a heck of a lot better in the mornings!


The newest kit from Benefit is the sweetly named "Finding mr bright".
Packed with lots of light reflecting products to help give the appearance of dewy glowing and above all, healthy skin. Well least that's what I think these products do :P


In the kit you will find miniature versions of the following:


girl meets pearl - a face brightening pearly product for dewy skin
posietint - flirty and oh so girly pink cheek tint which I LOVE

high beam - liquid highlighter for giving your skin a natural glow

erase paste no. 2 - a heavy duty concealer to tackle imperfections
I absolutely love the products in this kit and have full size versions of all of them, with each lasting for ages so I think these mini versions would be the perfect introduction to these fabulous products.
However, that being said if I could change one in this kit it would be to replace High Beam for Moon Beam as I often feel it's a product that gets overlooked. I always get compliments when wearing it and just love the peachy golden finish to it...so pretty and super flattering!


Finding Mr Bright is available at Benefit counters now, priced at £28.50 and from the Benefit website: www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

I was super excited to try this new product from Urban Decay as I absolutely LOVE cream blushers. The fuss free, fool proof application of cream blushers has always appealed to me as the natural healthy glow is something I always favour over the sometimes chalky effect powder blushers can give.

The first thing you notice about the Urban Decay Glide-On Cheek Tints is how cute the packaging is. I love the transparent signature purple with edgy snake print. 

As for the product itself, it comes in 7 super pretty shades which look super bright in the pan. The ones I received were "Fetish" and "Indecent". 

Once applied, the colour is more sheer than initially expected. This is fab for those who want buildable colour, but I was a tad disappointed and found it to be too sheer.
Urban Decay state on their website that YOU control how much you want to blush, but I found that I was applying more product than I wanted to just to achieve the colour in the pan.
Indecent on left cheek:
and Fetish on right:
I think I applied each shade three times to achieve these looks. Bit too sheer for me but looking at the other shades I think I'd like to see how "Crush" and "Quickie" apply. They look super bright so would in interesting to see what they look like on the cheeks.


All that aside though the cream blushers have a fantastic formulation where they glide on wonderfully without any stickiness. Perfect for those who usually overlook cream blushers because of this!

Visit the Urban Decay website for more info: www.urbandecay.com 

Have you tried any of these? What do you think of them? Leave a comment and let me know!


(PR sample)

With Winter making a slow but final retreat, I've been welcoming the warmer weather with open arms! The warmth of the sun on my face seems like a long lost friend, and along with it comes the inevitable scent of Spring.
Blossoming flowers and the scent of cut grass are two fragrances in particular that really evoke this new season for me. 
Whilst I was in New York last year I came across some Demeter fragrances in a Duane Reade.
Demeter have some funny fragrances like Laundromat, Play Doh, Cannabis Flower and the one I picked up...Grass.
I love the smell of cut grass and I use to LOVE the Grass fragrance Gap use to have. It smelt exactly that...fresh cut grass...yummy!


However, the Demeter one unfortunately doesn't live up to that clean scented goodness. Whilst it does initially have a grassy smell to it, it's middle and base notes are quite synthetic and chemically which is a huge shame :(
I've only worn in once and doubt I'll be wearing it again because of this underlying scent. 
That being said, Lush does a fantastic Grass shower gel (read my review here) which I adore immensely so shall be getting my grass kicks that way ;)


Have you tried the Demeter Fragrances? Which ones would you recommend? Leave a comment and let me know!