It seems summer has finally arrived, well on my nails at least. What is your go-to shade when your skin's got a little tan?
Showing posts with label nails. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nails. Show all posts
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
It seems summer has finally arrived, well on my nails at least. What is your go-to shade when your skin's got a little tan?
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Despite Gel nails being a huge beauty trend, I've never had mine professionally done. I've always thought of it as too expensive and I don't particularly enjoy visiting salons! I'm much more of a 'do it yourself' kinda girl when it comes to most beauty related things. If you are too, you're going to love what I have to show you today.
Sensationails is a gel nail kit you can do in the comfort of your own home. The kit comes complete with everything you need to create super glossy and durable gel nails. I found the instructions that came with the kit were really easy to follow. The process can be a little time consuming but when you think the results last around 2 weeks I don't mind spending 30 minutes doing my nails!
I love the shade 'Raspberry Wine' which has some subtle shimmer to it and looks gorgeous on nails. 14 days after application, they are still going strong as promised. There is a slight chip on my thumb but overall I'm really impressed with the longevity of Sensationails.
The price tag sounds a little scary (�69.99) but it's reasonable when you think how much you would pay each time at a salon for gel nails. The kit allows for 10 applications so you can assure you'll get your moneys worth. After 10 uses you can purchases an Essentials Kit (�25.00) which contains all the products you'll need,minus the LED LAMP, to create 20 more perfectly polished manicures.
The only downside to Sensationails is the removal process. Even after following the instructions and leaving them to soak in acetone for 15 minutes, they were still a struggle to get off. It can be a bit damaging on nails so I tend to use this kit every other month or for special occasions and holidays.
Overall, this kit is a must have if you normally get gel nails done professionally or you're just simply sick of chipped nails. This kit is well worth the price tag plus it's on offer at the minute, hooray! With most things, this does take practise so don't worry if it takes a few goes.
The Sensationails Starter Kit* retails for �69.99 but is currently of offer for �45.00 at Boots here. Let me know if you have any questions at all about this!
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
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.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
December is the month for red, from bright reds to deep burgundy shades - anything goes. 'Pillarbox Red' by No7 is from their new Gel-Look Shine range which promises to deliver complete coverage with one coat and a durable gel-look finish. If you want something with more shimmer, JN Beauty has got it covered. This shade in '006' has a opalescent finish to it which looks stylishly subtle worn alone or great as a topcoat. Looking for a gorgeous golden shade suitable for all skin tones? Let me present you with 'Golden Sands' from No7, an opaque colour that only needs one coat.
Every girl should own a bottle of gold nail polish. This cute duo from Ted Baker is perfect for the festive season and would make an adorable stocking filler. Barry M are on top form when it comes to releasing new textured polishes, for Christmas i'm loving '336' which reminds me of tinsel! If you're looking for some grown-up glitter, No7 'Twinkle Glitter' contains shots of shimmer shards and looks beautiful on top of grey or navy blue.
So whether you're an hardcore glitter lover or prefer some subtle shimmer, I hope this post will be of some help! What's your favourite look for a Christmas mani?
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Dark, berry shades ooze Autumn sophistication. I like to incorporate these autumnal shades into my wardrobe, on my face and on my hands! Here are a few Autumn nail polishes that i'll be reaching for this season..
Jacava London in Toffee Apple* �14.50 (LINK)
Not only is this shade (and name) perfect for Halloween, the formula is 8-free - it contains no Formaldehyde, Camphor, Toulene, DBP, Parabens, Phthalates, Cellophane and is also cruelty-free and vegan friendly. The super classy packaging looks great on display and even better on nails. The brush touches the bottom of the bottle meaning no more wastage!
BeautyUK Gel FX Posh Polish in Crimson Rose �3.49 (LINK)
An intense velvet red with hints of burgundy. This new polish for BeautyUK is a delicious colour that looks glossy and gel like once applied. These polishes are great value and they come in loads of lovely shades!
Revlon Nail Enamel in Bewitching �6.49 (LINK)
A truly bewitching nail polish. The classic dark red suits all skintones and glides on smoothly. I love wearing this on my toes in the colder months.
No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Temptress �6.00 (LINK)
This is the prefect colour if your looking for a dark nail polish but don't want to go for black. The crimson red needs two coats and dries quickly. Ideal for channelling your inner goth!
What do you think of dark nails?
I love everything about Autumn, make sure you check out my other autumn related posts if you missed them!
Autumn Skincare Additions
Autumn Eye Make Up Trends
Autumn Berry Lipstick Favourites
Autumn Berry Ombre Lips tutorial
Saturday, 7 September 2013
I'm the sort of person who loves nail art but isn't very good at it! If you're like me, fear not i have the answer. 'Sophie Does Nail Art' is an online shop by the Sophie Hamer. She hand paints bespoke and personalised nail designs. She is incredibly talented, some of her unique designs include Mickey Mouse prints, Pac Man and these cute little panda's! Each set costs just �5 and Sophie ships worldwide (Yay!). I was kindly sent these amazing SpongeBob SquarePants nails to try out!
You can purchase Sophie's nails via her Etsy shop here or on her website here. Make sure to follow Sophie on twitter (@SophieHamerMUA) and her nail art account (@so_nailed). Sophie also paints onto natural nails, so if you're based in the Taunton area check her out!
Sunday, 18 August 2013
I like buying beauty products, it's a bit of an unhealthy addiction really. Most days i have a 'go hard or go home' approach to beauty - primer,foundation, highlighter,multiple concealers, two mascaras, blusher,bronzer oh and all the brushes! Sounds awful, but i weirdly look forward to doing my full routine! However some days beauty isn't fun and I just go back to basics.
Sometimes, beauty is boring. I don't buy deodorant based on it's fancy packaging, i buy it because i need to and probs wouldn't have any friend if i didn't. Toothpaste and mouthwash are monthly re-purchases for me but they don't get my heart racing like a new foundation (omg have you seen the new Bourjois Happy Light foundation?!). I wanted to share with you my beauty essentials - ok, so they aren't very exciting but these products DO work and i reach for them (nearly) every day.
Oral B Precision Clean Brush Heads x4
I invested in an electric toothbrush this year and i haven't looked back since. I much prefer using this now to manual brushes, these do make your teeth feel so much cleaner. I pick up my brush heads from Amazon as they are a lot cheaper online then in shops.
Revlon Quick Dry Base Coat
With a new colour on my nails each week they need protecting with a base coat to prevent staining. I picked up this one from Revlon recently because it dries quickly and has a nice thin brush.
Wilko Cotton Buds x 300
I've blogged about these before, 39p for 300 in the Wilkinson baby section - can't go wrong with that!
Listerine Stay White Mouthwash
I never really used to use mouthwash but i'm trying to up my teeth cleaning routine. Stay White from Listerine does what it says on the tin. My teeth get white spots on them after using this so it must be doing something!
Mitchum Advanced Control Roll-on
My current deodrant of choice which works fine for me. I have no favourite when it comes to anti-perpsriant, but i want to try the Sure one that you put on before bed next.
Boots Clean Off Nail Polish Remover
The.Best.Nail.Polish.Remover.Ever. Seriously, this stuff is good & it's so in-expensive.
Lidl Cotton Pads x120
I'm not fussy when it comes to cotton pads, i don't care if they are quilted, double faced or made from natural fibres hand-picked by fairies- i just use them to pour on toner so i don't want anything fancy. I have no idea if they are any better or worse than other brands but they do the job nicely.
What are your everyday essentials?
Friday, 16 August 2013
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
Stuck for where to store your nail polish? So was I. Make up/nail varnish/beauty product storage is my little obsession. I love browsing through Pinterest at how others store their cosmetics & also homeware posts are my favourite to read at the minute. I've been a bit carried away with buying nail polish lately, someone stop me! I needed a new place to store my nail polishes neatly and I found this old cabinet in our house. I knew this would make a perfect nail polish wardrobe but it didn't look very pretty so i had a search through the garden shed for some bits. Here's a tutorial on how to create your own nail polish display!
1. Find yourself an old cabinet, you can pick one up from a charity shop, car boot or maybe you have an old one at home.
2. You will need; Gloss paint. Go for gloss finish over matte as this wont flake off, i went for white but you can choose any colour you fancy. White spirit to clean your brush with. Lastly an old rag to dust the cabinet with.
3. If you can separete the cabinet peices, this will make it easier to paint. Lay it on some newspaper before painting.
4. Use a smaller brush when painting near glass to make it easier. Gloss take a few hours to dry so put the kettle on and catch up with your favourite blogs!
5. To decorate the background i ripped up a Cath Kidson catalogue and glued it to create a patterned college.
Ta-da! This would look really nice with lipsticks in too. Let me know if you decide to give it a go, would love to know how you store your beauty bits!
Monday, 29 July 2013
Nail art not for your nails? Cuticle art is the next new thing in the intricate world of nail art. I first spotted it here and knew straight away i wanted to give the look a go. It's so different, i've never seen anything like it before! I found some temporary tattoos from a SkinArt, you can pick them up from Boots, they do a wide range of designs(check them out here). I went for a little love heart and placed it just above my nail. I think it looks quite cool and subtle, however it's a shame they aren't very practical as they don't last long after washing your hands.
Finger nail art kinda reminds me of when i was at school and you would draw tattoos on your hands but i like it! I also tried it on my knuckle cara delevingne style. I think these would look really cool on fingers at a festival. If you wanted to give this a go try to find small, simple temporary tattoos.
Tuesday, 23 July 2013
If the 'mannequin manicure' s/s 2013 nail trend isn't for you, then you'll be happy to hear orange nails are the shade of the season. Hot orange nails scream pool parties, beach sunsets, BBQ's, hot nights, pina coladas and look great against tanned skin. This summer, beauty brands from Collection to Essie have launched an array of oranges to a-peel(sorry) to your tastes!
(L-R)George Quick Dry Nail Varnish in 'Sunset Orange'. Orange doesn't have to be scary, if you prefer your nails to look more subtle opt for a pastel orange like this one from Asda, they have a great range of shades & don't cost the earth. Revlon 'Make Mine Mango' is a similar light shade.
MyFace Lil Bling Polish in 'Tequila Sunrise' -if you fancy something a bit different why not try a metallic orange? Opi Goin' Ape-ricot is another metallic orange you should check out.
Next, a classic orange from Rimmel in 'Tangerine Queen'. Wear this one on your fingernails to enchance your tan! Nails Inc Porchester Place is another great zesty polish.
If you remember last year, ELLE were giving away free Mavala nail varnishes & this is one of them. This creamy red-orange shade looks great emblazoned on nails, i'll be wearing it on my toes all summer! I've heard so many good things about the Barry M Summer Gelly paints; 'Passionfruit' is a good dupe if you don't have the ELLE polish.
Max Factor Mini nail polish in 'Deep Coral' is a fire-bright red orange which looks even better with matching lipstick. Essie 'Sunday Funday' is described as a 'Tangerine coral crush shimmer' & looks really similar to the Max Factor shade! Out of the five above, i think the last two creamy red-orange shades are my favourites!
Will you be wearing the zesty orange nail trend this summer? What sandal-worthy nail varnish will you be going for? :) x
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
'Lights of Emerald City' is a glitter polish with large white square chunks and smaller iridescent squares in a clear base. This top coat would look great with any nail varnish and i'm really impressed with how long it's lasted on me(6 days!) Is it really weird that I think this would be a good nail varnish for a bride?
If you're into your softer nail varnish shades you'll love this new collection. There are 7 shades in total ranging from glitters to liquid sand. You can purchase the collection online here. Retail price �11.50 or try the mini collection for �13.95!
Witch(pun intended)shade from the OZ collection is your favourite? I love the look of 'When Monkeys Fly'!
*pr samples
Sunday, 10 March 2013
A new season is always bad news for our banks. New product launches reflect's what looks have been created on the catwalk and every brand brings out new,exciting products to tempt us with. I love seeing what trends come out as it gives me new looks to try out!
This Spring/Summer is all about the 'Mannequin Manicure'. To create this look you'll need a flesh toned polish that is similar to the undertones in your skin so your nails blend with your skin creating that shop dummy look. This trend makes your nails look really elegant and it's great if you've got short fingers as it elongates them!
But Ultimately, a trend is;n. tendency, a current style or fashion and you don't have to follow them. Wear what makes you feel good regardless of what magazines, brands,celebrities are saying. I will be adapting this trend to suit me as pale nude varnishes can make my already pale hands look a bit dead. I'll warm my skintone up by wearing corally nude shades, 'trendadapting' if you will.(i just made that word up)
Above: No7 So simple, Mavala Vanilla(wearing), No7 Practically Perfect.
Will you be going nude on your nails?
*You'll probably know if you follow me on twitter I've been away this week in Paris - it was so much fun! I went away with college for four days and got back this Thursday. I managed to climb to the top of the effiel tower, mobbed cara delevingne, saw the mona lisa, spotted kate moss at Louis Vuitton, meet some nice french soliders, went on a ghost tour, visited Disneyland and ate too many pain au chocolates. It was my first time in Paris & I would really recommend it. Let me know if you want me to post my holiday photo's on here, i don't know if thats weird or not! I've already posted a few here on twitter. Have a good week :)*
But Ultimately, a trend is;n. tendency, a current style or fashion and you don't have to follow them. Wear what makes you feel good regardless of what magazines, brands,celebrities are saying. I will be adapting this trend to suit me as pale nude varnishes can make my already pale hands look a bit dead. I'll warm my skintone up by wearing corally nude shades, 'trendadapting' if you will.(i just made that word up)
Above: No7 So simple, Mavala Vanilla(wearing), No7 Practically Perfect.
Will you be going nude on your nails?
*You'll probably know if you follow me on twitter I've been away this week in Paris - it was so much fun! I went away with college for four days and got back this Thursday. I managed to climb to the top of the effiel tower, mobbed cara delevingne, saw the mona lisa, spotted kate moss at Louis Vuitton, meet some nice french soliders, went on a ghost tour, visited Disneyland and ate too many pain au chocolates. It was my first time in Paris & I would really recommend it. Let me know if you want me to post my holiday photo's on here, i don't know if thats weird or not! I've already posted a few here on twitter. Have a good week :)*
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Barbecues, wide-open windows,sandy feet, ipods, straw hats, sun cream, festivals, hand fans, warm scents, bumble bees, late nights.
We are having none of that here in the UK; the weather has been rubbish recently. I just want some sunshine! Bright bold nails make me happy, and they are a big trend for this summer. I was browsing through my nail varnish collection to see what bright products I had. I found eight nail varnishes to give you some inspiration on what colours to go for!
Are you brave enough to have daring neon nails? I think these are a great way to brighten up your summer especially when the weather is like this! Some brands that have bold colours in their range include - Miss Sporty, Models Own, Essie, OPI and Collection 2000. Also, if your in need of some ideas on how to store your nail varnish just check out this post :) Now...what colour to paint my nails?
We are having none of that here in the UK; the weather has been rubbish recently. I just want some sunshine! Bright bold nails make me happy, and they are a big trend for this summer. I was browsing through my nail varnish collection to see what bright products I had. I found eight nail varnishes to give you some inspiration on what colours to go for!
Monday, 4 June 2012
Hello, hope you're all okay!
I'm not the tidiest person but i do like pretty storage, especially when it comes to beauty products. For my GSCE final project in D.T i made a tall pink bookcase to neatly store my ever growing collection of cosmetics, nearly 3 years on & i still use it! Today I am going to show you 3 different ways to store your nail polish. I love seeing how other people store things so i hope you find this helpful!
That's all the ways I store my nail polish, you could also vamp up a spice rack & display your polishes on that! There are so many ways, have fun with it! If your in the UK i hope you're having a good bank holiday and let me know your thoughts on these storage ideas :) x
I'm not the tidiest person but i do like pretty storage, especially when it comes to beauty products. For my GSCE final project in D.T i made a tall pink bookcase to neatly store my ever growing collection of cosmetics, nearly 3 years on & i still use it! Today I am going to show you 3 different ways to store your nail polish. I love seeing how other people store things so i hope you find this helpful!
This is a Roo nail polish roll. It's a really practical way to store my nail polish. It can store up to 14 polishes and come in 9 different colours. This is ideal for anyone wanting to keep their polishes in a safe and secure place. Next time I am travelling anywhere & want to take some nail polish, i'll be using this!
Boxes and baskets are a good way of storing nail polish neatly. I've just ordered these ones from Argos for my toiletries! The only dilemma with this idea is that it's hard to see what colour the nail polish is without picking it up. I've tried to solve this by painting the nail polish onto some sellotape, then sticking it to the lid. This technique does work and i find it really helpful.
Lastly, I keep some nail polishes in this glass jar, it looks pretty on my dressing table and you can see all the polishes stored in it clearly. It reminds me of a jar of sweets! You can pick one of these up in the kitchen section of most supermarkets & they are around �5.
Friday, 25 May 2012
I'm not sure what your thoughts on beauty product dupes are, but i bloody love them! It's not often a nail varnishes becomes really, really popular in the blogosphere. I can think of a few like OPI Rainbow Connection and Barry M Peach Melba maybe?
Essie has become quite popular lately, especially their shade Mint Candy Apple. I love wearing pastels on my nails and that particular shade does look really nice. I've not tried any Essie products before but I've seen so many blog post's on Mint Candy Apple now, I think this is a good dupe!
This nail varnish only cost me �1.75 and it was from George at Asda! The Shade is called 32 Streamer. I've had this colour for over a year now (sorry!) So the consistency has gone a bit gloopy. It's a minty blue shade like Mint Candy Apple. It has a quick dry formula but doesn't have great staying power. With a good top coat on this lasts around 3 days. Overall not bad for a supermarket nail varnish!
I would recommend checking out Asda's own brand nail varnishes, they have a few nice shades. Sorry I don't have any comparison photo's to Essie's version - but I hope this helps!
Do you want to try Essie Mint Candy Apple? If you've tried it do you think this is a good dupe?
p.s sorry for my appalling nail painting skills, i'm so bad at it!
p.p.s what does P.S stand for anyway?!
Essie has become quite popular lately, especially their shade Mint Candy Apple. I love wearing pastels on my nails and that particular shade does look really nice. I've not tried any Essie products before but I've seen so many blog post's on Mint Candy Apple now, I think this is a good dupe!
This nail varnish only cost me �1.75 and it was from George at Asda! The Shade is called 32 Streamer. I've had this colour for over a year now (sorry!) So the consistency has gone a bit gloopy. It's a minty blue shade like Mint Candy Apple. It has a quick dry formula but doesn't have great staying power. With a good top coat on this lasts around 3 days. Overall not bad for a supermarket nail varnish!
Do you want to try Essie Mint Candy Apple? If you've tried it do you think this is a good dupe?
p.s sorry for my appalling nail painting skills, i'm so bad at it!
p.p.s what does P.S stand for anyway?!
Monday, 19 March 2012
Favourite Nail Varnish Company?I am one of those people who HATE spending over �5 for a nail varnish! So my collection mainly consists of high street nail varnishes. My Favourite Brands are Barry M, No 7 and Collection 2000.
Glitter or no glitter?
Glitter all the way! It can be a bit messy sometimes but i love the way it looks. You can see me wearing the GOSH glitter here (LINK).
OPI, China Glaze, or Essie?
OPI is the only one i have tried from those three so i would have to go for that one. China Glaze and Essie are nice but at �9 a pop i know i'll be able to find a cheaper dupe on the highstreet. With the two OPI polishes above, the colours are quite unique so i don't mind spending a bit extra.
When do you change you nail varnish?
Every week. I take it off on Friday - before work on Saturday. Then on Saturday night/Sunday i'll paint my nails.
Favourite Colour?
I brought it from boots in a city i've forgotten about 5 years ago. I never see this brand any more and i should really through this away but i just love the colour. Yellow just seems to brighten up my mood.
Dark or bright?
Bright all the way for me, dark colours don't really suit me. The darkest i would go is the dark blue above & i normally just save it for my toes.
What are you wearing on your nails now?
I brought this on Saturday with a �5 No 7 voucher. I do like their nail varnishes but i just can't justify paying full price for one! But, maybe one day, i'll go completely crazy and pay �7. This is called 'Highland Mist' & i quite like it!
I think this looks really cool & it's a nice change from shiny nails. You can see me wearing this here (LINK).
French Manicure?
I think it looks nice & professional but.... a bit boring? I'd rather have a splash of colour on my nails.
Favourite Winter Colour?
Every is so grey and dull in the winter I like to brighten things up with a bright colour on my nails. And when it gets close to christmas i go for glittery nails to get in the festive spirit!
My current nail varnish storage, need something bigger! Any ideas?
I could go on about nails all day - i tag YOU all to do this
x
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