Vintage Valentine Nail Art

Woohoo, more V-Day nail art! Today's mani is by far one of my all time favorites. I just love vintage-y nail art for Valentine's Day... anytime really. This mani is just so simple but still so elegant. :)

This mani was done with polishes from my Valentine's Day collection (Victorian Romance) and a little help from Born Pretty Store rose decals. I started with a base of My Own Sweet Valentine with an accent nail of Parchment & Lace. Once MOSV was dry I sponged on some Cheeks Tinted Red and a little more MOSV to really blend it together. The shimmer on this gradient was insane! I used top coat on Parchment and Lace and then used a Born Pretty Store water decal. (These decals are only $0.88 right now! Plus if you use the code BPS2014 you'll get 15% off sitewide! I say these are more than worth every penny!!!)

The decal was so easy to use. Just cut it out, dunk it into water (warm water if it's winter) for 10-15 seconds and the decal will slip right off the paper and be easy to position on your nail. I lightly wet the nail and placed the rose. I used a paper towel to blot the excess water and then gently used a finger to press the decal down, getting rid of wrinkles and bubbles until the decal dried completely. Then I topped it with more top coat and it was perfect!!

I couldn't resist trying the glitter of Love & Devotion over the gradient. It's nice, but I found I preferred the simplicity of the gradient alone.

What's your go-to nail art for Valentine's Day?

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Valentine's Day Rope Scarf GIVEAWAY!!

This is non-nail related, but it's a giveaway!! I mentioned on my Facebook page that I had found a scarf tutorial on YouTube, that obsession took over and that I was suddenly overflowing with scarves. I made a mention of maybe hosting a giveaway (or 2) but never expected such excitement! So here's the giveaway!!

This is a very simple infinity rope scarf that I wrapped and tied for easy on and easy off. It's as simple as slipping it over your head and 'fluffing' the front to get it to lay just the way you want. I had no trouble getting it on and off this way; however, if you're worried about this, it is an infinity scarf and carefully cutting the tie holding it together will let the scarf unwind so you can wrap it on yourself.

Giveaway Starts: 12:00 AM EST 29th January 

Giveaway Ends: 12:00 AM EST 3rd February 

Winner will have 24 hours to reply to the winning email. If winner doesn't claim their prize by replying a new winner will be chosen. 

Giveaway is open internationally. However, before entering be sure your country accepts the shipment of clothing. It will also be up to the winner to pay any taxes and fees their country may impose on such shipments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Limited Edition Cuticura Antibacterial Hand Gel

Antibacterial hand gel is a handbag must-have for me. I've taken a little trip to antibacterial gel heaven with these sweet inspired gels from Cuticura. The limited edition flavours include Lemon Sherbet and Sugar Candy. I'm not a fan of the traditional scented hand gels as the alcohol scent can be a bit overpowering but these are a refreshing sugary spin on the usual gels.

Both hand gels leave skin with a delicate sweet scent. As these are mainly alcohol based you can still smell the alcohol at first but that quickly settles to a delicious fragrance. A mixture of vanilla and pink grapefruit makes these good enough to drink (not recommend).  Who knew hand sanitizer could be so enjoyable?

I've popped one in my hand bag and keep the other in my car to ensure my hands are kept germ-free all day, especially vital with all the winter colds going around at the minute!

Cuticura candy inspired hand gels are exclusive to Primark and launch in February , these are �1.00 for 50ml.

Pr samples

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Laced Up Corsets - Valentine's Day Nail Art

Valentine's Day is closing in quickly and I figured it was time to start posting some of my Valentine's Day nail art. First up - corset nails. :)

I've always wanted a corset (and the confidence to actually wear it). I guess having them on my nails is the next best thing.

I started with a base of Spellbound Nails Cheeks Tinted Red and drew a quick line down the middle with Spellbound Nails I'm All Aflutter. If I had thought this through I would have started with a base of I'm All Aflutter and taped off the middle for neater lines but the end result wasn't horrible. The laces of the corset actually helped disguise the imperfect lines so I call it a win!

A close up look of the corsets. I used Spellbound Nails Steel Wool for the metal and some unaltered white base for the laces.

Overall, this is not a hard mani at all! And if you don't feel up to doing all 10 nails as corsets these work perfectly as accent nails as well. :)

Until next time,
? Ashley ?

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An Ode to No7 Nail Varnish

No7 nail varnish - a product I don't think gets talked about enough on beauty blogs. I love No7 polishes; the smooth formula, creamy and wearable colours, wide brush, a cornucopia of shades and the sleek packaging makes these far too appealing. I just want to buy every colour!

The newest additions to the No7 Nail Colour collection come in the form of glitter top coats, layer these on top of your favourite shade or to wear alone for a full on glitter mani. The brand has also jumped onto the gel bandwagon with their Gel-Look Shine Nail Colour. Eleven different shades which offer complete coverage with just one stroke and the gel formula gives them a beautiful shine with extra longevity.

My favourite shade from the range has to be 'Temptress' which is the perfect 'I want to wear black, but not black' nail varnish. The colour for this is build-able; one coat will give you blood red nails but a second coat reveals a more vampy, deeper red shade.

No7 Nail Colour is available from Boots, prices start from �6.00. I like to snap up new shades when I have a �3 off voucher - currently available to redeem until 2nd February! 

So, my No7 obsession continues, any shades you recommend? 

Illustrations by me.

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Get Glowing Skin With These Skin Brighteners

January isn't normally a good month for our skin. Too much alcohol, one too many late nights and lots of chocolate has caused our skin to throw a tantrum. New year celebrations have resulted in a dull complexion, tired eyes and sudden breakouts. Time to ready,set,glow with these skin illuminaters to suit all budgets.

No7 Instant Radiance Highlighter �9.95
A newbie from the No7 make up range. This stick highlighter is the first of it's kind and I think it's going to do really well. Extremely easy to use, simply swipe on and blend with finger tips for a subtle glow. The formula isn't greasy or sticky and is perfect for touch-ups on the go.
Revlon Photoready Skinlights 200 Pink Light
This can be applied over moisturiser or mixed in with foundation for some dewy goodness. It contains a subtle shimmer so you can rest assure skin won't look shiny or glittery. I find this works best on cheekbones and below the brow to add natural radiance.
L'oreal Lumi Magique Pure Light Primer
A pearly white primer which helps make up look fresh and healthy all day long. You can use this in the same way you would with the Revlon Skinlights. The shimmer is this is very fine so it never looks Edward Cullen-esque. Some days I use this alone without foundation for a supercharged glow.
Benefit Sunbeam Highlighter
Benefit know their stuff when it comes to highlighters. I'm a fan of HighBeam but I love using SunBeam when I want a bit of colour. The bronzed liquid looks natural add a lovely boost to skin. Focus it on browbones, cheekbones and cupids bow to illuminate features.
JN Beauty Sheer Glow Lotion in Paradise �14.00
Housed in a glass bottle with pump applicator, this liquid highlighter is going to last you ages! Mix this in with foundation for a radiance boost or I prefer to use this as a body highlighter. I apply this to my legs for a subtle sheen before a night out or add a pump of this in with your body moisturiser for a healthy glow.

What do you go to for a glow?

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New Year, New Hair

I've been umming and arring about going for the chop for a few months now. My Pinterest board is full to the brim with hair inspiration pictures and last week I finally made the plunge.

If there's ever a good time to try a new hairstyle it's at the start of a new year. So, last Thursday night I was feeling reckless. After oogling at photos of Zooey Deschanel and Suki Waterhouse I was ready to join the full fringe crew. I've never cut my own hair before but thanks to this YouTube video the process was a lot easier then I expected. Here's the finish result...

I'm really happy with how it turned out, new hair means new make up/clothes...right?

Anyone else fancy a new 'do this year?

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New Beauty Bits For 2014

A new year welcomes new products to fall in love with. You may have received some new beauty products at Christmas or treated yourself to some new items in the sales, either way I'd love to know what products you've discovered! Here are some new beauty bits that i'll be testing out this month and hopefully re-purchasing...

After trailing the BB cream from the Vichy Idealia range I couldn't wait to try out other products from the collection. I enjoyed using the Idealia Life Serum and have just started to use the Idealia Soothing and Illuminating Cream, so far so good! A new make up product from No7 in the form highlighter stick. This is a really unique product and unlike anything I've tried before, full review and swatches to follow soon. JN Beauty is a brand I have only recently discovered and after trying a few products from the company I've been really impressed. The JN Beauty Gel Eyeliner and Lipstick are products I've been reaching for daily. Cocoa Brown is a tanning range by Marissa Carter. The first-of-a-kind formula combines hi-tech acceleration agents which are activated upon contact with skin and speeds up development. A new rival to my beloved Xen Tan? I'm not really one for taking supplements or vitamins but I was given these Beautify Me Vitamins to test which claim to improve skin, hair and nails - i'll let you know how I get on! Steamcream is a lovely product with even lovelier packaging. Here's one on their new designs for 2014, so pretty! Sensationails in an at home gel manicure kit. It's perfect for those who get gel nails at the salon or just if you are sick of regularly having to paint your nails! I've got a few shades to play with, currently loving Raspberry Wine. I do love a good eye cream and i've been reaching for this eye roll-on from Thalgo lately. For a beauty blogger, I'm pretty lazy at grooming stuff like moisturising and shaving. I attended a blogger event for Ipluse in November and was lucky enough to be given a device to test out. Ipulse Smooth Skin using intense pulsed light to permanently reduce hair. I've only tried this out once but it promises results just after 4 treatments so will keep you posted! 

Are there any products in particular you'd like to see me review? What new beauty bits have you come across recently? 

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Spellbound Nails does Valentine's Day with the Victorian Romance Collection (PIC HEAVY)

Hello lovelies! I bring you Valentine's Day polishes!! Being a polish maker means I have to be thinking much further into the future than I ever wanted to ... I sometimes forget what month it is lol.

But right now I know it's January but when speaking in terms of mixing and shipping polish, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. So take a moment and look at the pretties!!

This collection will be available for pre-sales 1/10 - 1/17. This means you'll be able to buy this collection in full and mini bottles (at pre-sale discount prices) starting tomorrow. The full release, meaning the ability to buy singular bottles, will start 1/22. As always, you can buy all Spellbound Nails polishes from my Etsy shop or my Storenvy shop.

I love having some kind of inspiration for my collections; not only do my polishes turn out better but I love being able to point to something and say "look, look, that right there - that inspired me so much that I had to make something awesome!"

Vintage Valentine � Victorian Traditions

This time, that inspiration came from the old timey Victorian Valentine's Day cards and postcards. You know those ones that are all yellowing parchment, lace, and soft and bright watercolors.

First up is Cheeks Tinted Red. This is a stunning bright red holographic.

 This polish has double the amount of holo that I put in my normal holos however I quickly found red eats holo. It adds a lot of depth and shimmer and has more of a lightly scattered holo effect.

And a close up of the bottle in the little amount of sunlight we're getting around here right now.

*There has been a slight increase in the pricing of my holographics. I have started buying a much better holographic pigment, however this does mean an increase in price for me which I sadly have to pass on to you. Holographic polishes using this new pigment will now sell for $9 in my shops. Prices will change on already released holos (only those using this new pigment) February 1st. This was a very hard decision for me since I pride myself on being affordable, and I believe I have managed to keep to my brand even with the price increase.

Next up is Parchment and Lace. This was the base of this collection - the very first polish mixed up and the one everything else was built around. I think the name of this one says it all. It's everything this collection was inspired by. Yellowing parchment, lace, and beautiful watercolors.

I've been told that this is a very flexible polish and would also work well for Easter and summer too.

This is the only glitter topper of the collection. Love & Devotion is a wonderfully romantic glitter in my opinion with it's white, pink and red glitter with lots of rainbow shimmer.

I'm All Aflutter is a gorgeous baby blue with purple and pastel pink glitter.

And last but not least is My Own Sweet Valentine. This is a girly, pearly pink with a delicate golden shimmer that acts almost duo-chrome-y in person.

Did I mention My Own Sweet Valentine also glows in the dark?? There are three different glow pigments hidden behind this girly pink - blue, green, and peach. Together they combine to glow an icy white with just a hint of blue and green. The blue and green show up a lot better in pictures. In person it really is an icy white with just a hint of blue and green. And with so much glow pigment the glow is pretty insane!

You can see a few hints and specks of the peach glow in this picture along with the blue and green. This is a picture of Love & Devotion over My Own Sweet Valentine.

I hope you enjoy these polishes as much as I do and remember pre-sales start tomorrow! :)

Until next time,
- Ashley

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Guide to Networking in The Beauty Industry

If you're reading beauty blogs there's no doubt you love all things beauty related, but have you ever thought about a career in the Beauty Industry? There are so many amazing opportunities within this field from art and science to business and journalism there is something to suit everyone. It can be hard to get your foot in the door so here are some tips for getting into the beauty business!

Engage With the Industry Experts
It's easier than ever to get in touch with the industry experts thanks to social media. It only takes a second to tweet the founder of your favourite skincare company or someone in your dream job. Make sure you're following people in your field of interest and engage with them, you never know what opportunities will crop up!
Keep Groomed
In the beauty industry, a lot of it is based on looks so it's important to keep well groomed. Making sure you don't have chipped nails or bad fake tan is vital for impressing the professionals.
Start Blogging
I definitely think blogging help me to get my job. Putting that you write a blog on your CV shows that you have a genuine interest in your blogging topic. Don't forget to include your social media outlets on your CV/business card such as Twitter and Youtube. Just remember to keep it professional - you never know who's reading!
Get Trained
Having the right qualifications can help you gain experience and introduce you to people already in the industry. Whether your wanting to be a Nail Technician, PR, Hair Stylist, Product Developer, Brand Owner, Beauty Therapist...there are so many great job opportunities in the beauty industry check out Capital Hair & Beauty here for courses on your chosen area.

This is a collaboration post with Capital Hair & Beauty. All views are my own.

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best beauty products of 2013 according to bloggers

I read blogs way too much and I've been loving reading everyone's 'Best of 2013' beauty posts. I wanted to combine the most popular picks from beauty bloggers, because we know our stuff. Well we should do, we've tested enough products! Here's a list of the most popular beauty staples that have become daily essentials for bloggers in 2013...

Have I missed anything? 

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