NAILS | Like A Virgin: 2014 Spring Summer Nail Trends

Spring is fast approaching in the Northern hemisphere and with it an inevitable change in colour palettes that will be dictating the season's trends. (On a side note, I always feel a little strange being in the tropics and following seasonal global trends, when generally, it's summer here all year round!) The Spring/Summer 2014 catwalks were predictably awash with soft, subtle hues. And the colours on the fingertips were no exception: fresh whites, pale pinks, soft browns.

Fellow nail art lovers, don't despair. You can still get away with some pizazz, but keep it grown up and demure. A thin stripe here, a half moon mani there. I'll definitely be working in a nude/glitter combo onto my tips in the next couple of weeks.

MUSE | LUPITA. LUPITA. LUPITA

Ralph Lauren

Unless you've been hidden under a rock, you cannot have missed Lupita Nyong'o's dominance of the world film stage. It's award season and everyone is slating her for a big scoop across the board for her role in Steve McQueen's 12 Years A Slave. The movie just bagged the Best Picture Drama prize at the Golden Globes and is lined up for more accolades in the coming weeks.

And unless you're been blind, our Kenyan born beauty is doing noting less than SLAYING on those red carpets. I mean just take a look below - hit after hit after hit! And I am here for it.

SCENT | YSL MANFIESTO

I LOVE PERFUME! And thanks to my mum's efforts from the age of around ten, I have never touched a body spray again. I've got around 5 classic perfumes that stay in heavy rotation and I usually take a little convincing to step out beyond this. The bad boy above is such a move and boy am I glad! This is Yves Saint Laurent's Manifesto - 90ml of yummy perfection. Don't you just love the bottle? I think I might start a bottle collection.

EYES | MAYBELLINE VOLUM' EXPRESS MASCARAS

Hi all! Back with some make up talk for you today, and in the spotlight is make up brand Maybelline. Maybelline launched in Kenya earlier this year (along with power house brand Revlon). It's great to see international make up companies embracing the Kenyan market as the HUNGER is out there. I have got to admit though, I'm only a recent convert to Maybelline. I actually used to walk past their counter in make up shops for a long while, not quite seduced by their products, until around a year and half ago or so. I don't know what persuaded me to do it - maybe it's a rebranding and clever new marketing -  but since trying out their products, I am a huge fan and there is no going back!

So you've wandered down to your nearest stockist, and you're confronted with a shelf full of product. Where to start? Look no further than the Volum' Express mascara range.

SKINCARE | SIMPLE EYE MAKE UP REMOVER

There is probably nothing more annoying than trying to shift that stubborn eye make up from your eyes after a big night out. If you've ever made the mistake of trying to get rid of your eyeshadow/mascara/eyeliner/glitter with a baby wipe (like me), you'll know how bad of an idea that is. You only manage to move about 1/2 the product off your face, and the rest kind of gets ingrained in your skin and you wake up in the morning looking like a panda.