The NPLQ is the qualification you need to lifeguard in a pool in the UK, and it's a week long course that I've just completed. Basically, they teach you how to save someone in the water, CPR, First Aid and all the sorts of things you'd need to know to do your job effectively. And we were in the water for hourssss each day (OK, perhaps not 9 and a 1/2. But a LONG TIME.) Naturally, I couldn't NOT wear makeup where other people were around...but I had to improvise.

Behold:



We have an Active Cosmetics Eye/Lip palette, a Barry M 3 in 1 (supposedly) Nail Strenghthener, Base Coat and Top Coat, an MUA nail polish in 'Shade 9', a NYC top coat, an Urban Decay 'Zero' eyeliner and an MUA Pro twist up eyeliner. Apologies for the somewhat natural background, as we've moved house I'm yet to find another suitably brightly lit, flat white surface to photograph products on. Until I construct a light box (or miraculously locate such a surface) photos will be taken outside...



The soft texture of the MUA pencil makes it easy to blend, which is why I use it primarily for filling in my eyebrows. It's not the blackest black, which means that I can overapply a little and I don't look scary/angry. It's slightly oily texture means that it holds up decently in the water, as long as it's not rubbed, and I was too busy desperately trying to follow instructions and swim while dragging big heavy teenage boys to the other side of the pool to start fiddling with my eyebrows, yo. The two lines underneath are the MUA pencil. The big 'UD' is the Urban Decay one...sensible to wear a waterproof pencil in the water, no?



I was planning to have painted nails all week, but these were my hands by the end of the first day - not great! I remember the teacher trying to teach us how to do a spinal board (google, because it's too long to explain here) and we had to support the casualty with our palms facing down. I was staring at my hideously chipped nails as opposed to worrying about the 'casualty' with a potential spinal injury...

At first, I suspected it was merely the brand (even though I'd had no problems with chippping using MUA polishes in the past) so I then painted them with a Barry M polish the next day (same thing) and finally a Nails Inc one (not even a freebie, a genuine, £11 bottle of Nails Inc polish) and the exact same thing happen. Clearly, no brand is immune to prolonged immersion in the toxic soup of chlorine, baby vomit and piss that constitutes poolwater.



Please excuse my photographing of hideously used and abused makeup (I guess that vouches for it's effectiveness? Lol...) but we've misplaced the baby wipes in the move so it's not even like I could clear this up. Regardless, I used one of the lip colours as a blush and a lip tint in the pool, because it's waxy texture meant that it's somewhat water resistant.


A tiny dab like that, mixed with a little moisturiser on the palm of the hand, then BLEND BLEND BLEND like it's the UN truck out of a war zone once applied to the cheek. Then you're good to go. Apply to the lips as normal, though I think I stopped bothering with lip colour after the second day.


 I never had it quite that bright, though...


 This cloud is a seven.

It was actually rather pleasant taking photos and blogging outside. Might become a regular thing!


The mini trampoline which I was lazing around on while taking photographs.


 New garden!



I stumbled upon some rare, highly sought after blue grass. It doesn't look at all like it's been painted with MUA's Shade 9...

I nearly always include a photo with my blog posts, but I felt there was no point with this review as, I mean, it's clear. And with the current photo uploading situation it's probably best not to. After less than a year of blogging, I've managed to max out 1 GB of my Picasa Web Albums (I had no idea one had a limit, lol) and am currently storing my photos on a Flickr until such a time when I find a better alternative. I've already used up 20% of my Flickr bandwith for this month, and it's only the 6th! Anyways.

I first discovered this "topcoat" on Sammersauras's nail blog (article of discussion is linked). The word "topcoat" is in quote marks because while it is not stated on the bottle that it's specifically made for topcoat purposes, no one (or very few people) paint their nails clear. That's pointless. Why would you do that?
When brands include a clear nail polish within their line, I take that as a topcoat unless it is stated otherwise (such as Barry M's 3 in 1 polish which does all sorts of things). Yeah.

Anyway, I do like this. It has what I'd term a watery consistency, which doesn't smudge my nail designs and is touch dry in the minute promised.  It doesn't chip unless you're very rough with your nails and it doesn't seem to be shrinking, either, but after about three to four days there is some tipwear.

Other people have reported that it pulls the classic quick dry top coat trick when it's halfway down the bottle and thickens up. Currently I'm nowhere near that point but when it does happen, I'll have to add some Seche Restore. Can brands please fix this problem? I shouldn't have to purchase a second product because the first doesn't do it's job properly!

Call me superficial, but what I love most about this polish is the gorgeously luxe bottle. This is only £2.59 from Superdrug and yet the bottle is slightly reminiscent of an OPI one. The matte black handle and the generous bottle size (you get 9.7 ml of product, which isn't bad for a high street brand) make it a delight to use.

Hey guys! After this post, there is one more (of the purple glitter polish) that was pictured in the very first haul and another Boots purple one that wasn't pictured, and then we can swatch the newer ones :P
This is from the Colorama collection by Maybelline. The colour is called "Jelly Bean"

The very first photo lies. The colour is a LOT more green. It's a bluey-tinged turquoise in shade and a greeny one in sunlight.
I had reservations about this colour originally. I painted a coat on and was just like, what? Is this going to be another Tropical Peach? It went on meh. A tad runny, and it looked really sheer on my nail which irritated me. It opaqued up while it was drying though (which took a hella long time). Despite the drying time, once it was dry, it really was dry - no amount of knocking could dent it, which I appreciated. And the brush was whack - splayed out everywhere - but I think that was due to the previous owner rather than any fault of the polish :P In the photos you see I've applied two coats. It has a foily finish and green shimmer. Yeah, it's grown on me.

Mascara time! These are two mascaras that I bought from TJ Hughes the other day.  
I got NYC Lengthening Mascara and Maybelline Define A Lash Volume Mascara.

 The NYC was really not good. I put a coat on my lashes and was like, "Eh?" It barely made any difference to my lashes apart from making them look slightly darker, which hello, I need no help with, because they're black already? I waited five minutes then mushed another coat on. And another. After loads of vigarous shaking and pulling, my lashes looked a little longer. A little. What a fail. The brush was soft and didn't really feel like it was doing anything. Not my thing at all.

The Maybelline was a lot better, though the brush felt a tad odd because it was so short and bristly, almost painful. Once you get used to the sensation, though, this is by far the superior product. It instantly seperates your lashes and actually makes them look longer and fuller, and I didn't need to put on a million coats.

*I paid for all these products myself. :D