Nails #8

This weeks nails come in the form of Deborah Lippmann's Modern Love. This is a slightly darker than neutral shade, but still quite sophisticated and classic. I love the consistency of these polishes and it lasts a good 4 days without signs of chipping.

Deborah Lippmann nail vanishes - nails #7

Just need to take a second to honour TKMaxx once again. I really don't understand why people shun it. If you take the time to rummage through all the crap, you really can find bargains! Especially on the beauty front. Go in weekly and just browse, you soon learn when they get their deliveries and what week they discount what section. It normally rotates from Women's, Men's, Shoes, Handbags, Homewear and then Beauty - but this can differ. I saw these in store when they first came in before Christmas priced at £12.99 for the three. Now I know this is still less than "Across the Universe" (far right) which is on sale here for £17. However I do not need nail vanishes, so I left them, only to stumble across them this week for £3!! This I could not refuse. In the set I got (in order shown) "Hit me with your best shot", "Modern love" and "Across the universe. I haven't tried the first two yet as it isn't quite the right time of year for "Modern love" but primarily I couldn't wait to try the sparkle top coat the last has to offer. I paired it with a Barry M Gelly paint in 351 "Blue Grape". Oh my it is stunning. I have got so many compliments this week. The aqua sheen and metallic pieces are truly gorgeous! These are probably the best bargains I have ever bought out shopping, I'm a very happy bunny. 

Bourjois 1 second gel polish review - nails #6

Now, I gave a mini review on the brush in my last nails post and stated I would only buy more if the lasting power was acceptable. It wasn't but I did. I wanted to see if there was a difference in shades from what I experienced with the pink. I used to frequently get the Jessica geleration manicure while working for a salon. We found that with a 30 second led lamp, some colours experienced a shrinkage. No matter how close to the nail beds you went, and how careful you were to paint along the top edge of the nail, the polish would shrink and you're left with a gap around the whole nail. This is what happened with the pink. The polish shrunk back around 5 minutes after finishing with my seche vite top coat. So, I decided to try again without the top coat and used an essie one instead. It still shrunk back. At this point I decided to purchase no. 22 turquoise block. Again, the colour is gorgeous! They are so opaque after one stroke that it is there only saving grace for me. Again, this one shrunk back, not as much, but enough for them to chip in the first 24 hours. It's a shame as I love these colours so much!!

I know so many bloggers rave about them, so maybe it's the natural oils of my nails that these don't get on with. But if you do have little fingers, I would stay clear. The brush is just a little too wide for this to be an easy manicure.

Pretty in Pink - Nails #5

I ran out of time to photograph my previous nails. Possibly my favourite polish of all times... Jessica's FX 2000 Ruff & Ready. This bright pink is so sparkly in just one stroke. I love it. Pink and glittery!! The point of the range is that they are rough on your nails, which without a top coat is really quite irritating. You find your nails stuck to everything! However with a top coat and just by using your hands, the roughness smooths out slightly after a day or two. I think it looks incredible!

However, after yesterdays purchase, I could not wait to try what Bourjois had to offer with their 1 second gel polish. Now  whereas it isn't 1 second at all, it is fairly quick, especially when paired with the Seche Vite top coat. I finished my nails about 5 seconds before typing this. They are fully touch dry, which is pretty darn amazing. I adore the colour of this polish but I really dislike the brush. I have narrow nail beds and I could not put any pressure on the brush with the fear of coating my whole finger. Depending on the lasting power of this polish will determine if I purchase more of these.

Haul time (again)

Oh dear, I've been naughty again. When I said to myself this morning "what do I actually need from today?" My answer was simply "cotton pads and a potato masher". Well I have come back with the cotton pads (I'm sure boots do a constant buy one get one half price on them) but no masher, and bag fulls of more stuff! I personally love reading haul posts, and as everyone says, yes I sort quite a lot of money today, but I am not trying to brag. I work and have worked since I was 15. Some people spend their money on nights out, being a student, but this is how I chose to spend my money. It makes me so happy!

So today, blogger Lucy and I went to Southampton again on a little beauty gander (soton has mac, need I say more?) and although I'm not going to photograph every item I'll show you a collection of everything, with reviews to follow on soon!

First off I started in Zara. Now I had said that I wasn't impressed my Christmas sales, and I still stand by that, but I couldn't resist these two items. Firstly is the massive tartan scarf, and the other, the maroon/ mustard/ black bag. I think it's beautiful! I'd eyed up the scarf on a blog I'd read a few months back (sorry I can't remember who's) but it was always out of stock back home. Luck was on my side with it being in the sale!

Next was John Lewis. Oh dear oh dear. This was where the damage happened. From Mac I purchased:

- cremesheen lipstick "hot gossip"

- a large pro eyeshadow palette

- eyeshadows "sable" and "tempting" 

- studio fix fluid foundation in NW20

Then it was on to Liz Earle where I purchased the skin repair light moisturiser for combination/ oily skin. And from Laura Mercier, a set of 5 mini long wear creme eyeliners in; sage, espresso, cobalt, noir and violet. They were reduced to £15!! 

Boots was slightly more restrained with many brands featuring a buy one get one half price offer. Again sorry for the list, but :

-Maybelline colour tattoo in "on and in bronze" (wanted this for ages but it's always out if stock) 

- Maybelline sculpting brow mascara in dark brown

- Max Factor lip liners in "pink petal" and "mauve moment" 

- Bumble and Bumble mini surf spray and their bb texture (I want to try them out before I purchase full sizes)

- Bourjois 1 second gel vanish in "rose cupcake" (so gorgeous, and raved about by Liana)

- Bourjois colour booster in "red sunrise"

- Sally Hansen instant cuticle remover

- cotton pads

Tkmaxx - shocker. Lucy wanted me to show her how I shopped in there to find bargains and, luckily, I did it again! I picked up a Nars eyeliner stylo in "nabucco" and a pink Kilner jar which I'm going to use to keep my cotton pads in! 

Lastly, Next. Now I wasn't expecting to pick anything up, but Lucy was interested in a few of their candles, and after smelling their New York scent, I couldn't resist their room diffuser from the same line. However, after closer inspection (do not know how I got this so mixed up) I picked up their eau de perfum instead, so I'll have to exchange that at some point.

Few, I'm exhausted just reading through all that. If you want more information on any of the products mentioned, or perhaps one review quicker than another, please just leave a comment!

Pay Day Haul

So I did the inevitable. It was pay day and I couldn't resist the beckonings of the Cosmetics Company, Boots and Asda. So I decided to go a little crazy. I can't say that it wasn't needed, I really don't have a huge make-up collection and there are (were) definitely gaps to fill. 

 MAC satin powder blush in "Immortal Flower" and Smashbox blush in "Pop of Pink"

 Smashbox be legendary lipstick in "Posy Pink" 

 MAC cremesheen lipstick in "Speed Dial"

 MAC paint pot in "Mooncake"

 MAC electric cool eyeshadow in "Dynamo"

 Smashbox reflection high shine lip gloss in "Pop of Pink" (Sorry for the dodgy picture)

 Smashbox full exposure mascara

 Essie "So haute!" nail stickers

Essie 2013 winter collection "Shearling Darling", "Parka Perfect" and "Toggle to the Top". Essie "No Chips Ahead" top coat. 

 Clairol Nice'n easy, perfect 10 hair dye in "6 light brown".

This was a near perfect day of beauty shopping. I easily stood talking in the Cosmetics Company for an hour. As I mentioned in my Smashbox foundation review, Portsmouth is new to embrace Smashbox, and I think quite rightly so! It is quickly establishing itself between the likes of MAC and Bobbi Brown, minus the hype! It's niche is obviously in the primer market, so I thought buying a box set of items, I would have bought separately for double the price (The whole box set cost 24.50!). On first impressions, I love the lipstick, which is very similar in texture to the MAC cremesheens, the blush is soo pigmented and soft on the skin and whereas the mascara may not be the best for giving volume, the huge brush separates and curls beautifully. The lip gloss is however fairly sticky and really difficult to handle, seeing as if you squeeze from the end, you're then a log way away from your lips and control is lost. 

On to MAC. "Dynamo" is a beautiful burnt orange, which on me is really warming and great for my paler complexion at this time of year. I fear in the Summer, it may look a bit more terracotta and I'll start blending into Spanish villa's, but we'll see. Next is the blush. This really subtle colour is great for a "I'm not wearing make-up" kinda day. Giving your cheeks a hint of colour but not taking focus from a simple eye and lip feature. My highlights have to be my first ever paint pot and the lipstick. I adore the colour and the cremesheen isn't as drying as their matte finishes, but I'll have to wait and see how long it lasts on my lips. And the paint pot. Wow. No primer necessary and it lasted a whole 8 hour shift of me being in dish-wash and getting a steam facial every five minutes. I am so impressed, and when layered (like the swatch) looks more golden, but with a fine layer, your eyelids are just left sparkling and festive!

Finally, as you may glimpse from the pictures, I am currently wearing all of these Essie polishes and will upload a following post of my chosen accent nail. And also, the hair dye. I dyed my hair wash in wash out purple for halloween and it is STILL there. I've had enough, I hate it, it doesn't suit me and it is going! These hair dyes were on offer in ASDA for £4 so I bought two to make sure I cover my whole head. I'll let you know how it goes!

30/11/13 - nails #4

So it would appear my previous Rimmel polish lasted about 4 days without chipping, so not too bad but definitely not the best!

Anyway, it's almost the count down to Christmas so I thought I'd go for another Christmas themed nail - a girl can never do to many of those, right? I used Nails Inc. Whithall and Barry M's 297 blue glitter to attempt a French  tip look. Now I normally have a steady hand, but trying to persuade pieces of blue glitter to go where you want them to, proved to be my downfall. never the less I finished them, and from a distance, they don't look too bad!

I am still waiting for them to dry a bit more before I tidy up the edges and add a top coat, so excuse the excess that is covering my fingers!

25/11/13 - nails #3

Got to the time of the day were my nails have finally dried and it's time to blog. I decided to go with a Rimmel Pro polish, 391 celebrity bash. It's got a really wide brush, which I'm not actually a huge fan of, I find I have to take more time to paint my nails, although this one prides itself in its maxi brush, so I'm not too sure why I bought it! Anyway I love the deep red colour and from memory (have taken a break from this over the summer due to the colour) it lasts well too!

17/11/13 - nails #2

Seeing as it's such a horrible day I thought I'd do a quick manicure whilst having an essay writing break. I decided on a pre-Christmas theme, with a bright red and subtle gold. The Mary Quant nail vanish was once my Mum's and is old, really old. From the rubbed off writing I can say it's the shade "red scorcher" and is slightly a bluer shade of red rather than orange/ pink based. It hasn't gone gloopy and lasts fairly well! The gold is Ciate in "Sand dune 085". I believe I got this free with maybe a Vogue/ Elle magazine... But don't hold me to that! I love it because the metallic is still highly pigmented, so does not require more than two coats! I apologise for my hands, I was in dish wash yesterday at work, and ran out of phenomen oil, to which I don't have the funds to buy any more at the moment. 

What do you think? Have you done a Christmas themed manicure yet?

26/10/13 - nails #1

I haven't owned an Essie nail polish before but seeing as my parents are visiting I thought I'd buy a neural grey to go with any outfit. Essie nail polishes retail for £8 at Boots so not the cheapest but I'd heard from a friend that they last for ages! I used Sally Hansen "Hard as nails" for a base coat and Jessica's "Brilliance" as a top coat.

Master Plan has good coverage and the wide brush means you can almost cover your nail in one stroke. However this does mean that you have to pay extra attention as to where you direct the brush as the wide bristles mean you can easily coat half your finger as well as the nail if you aren't careful. I applied two coats to make it more opaque. I'm really happy with the colour and I'll keep you updated as to how well it lasts!

Have you used any products by Essie?