Sunday 23 September 2012

New-Beau

Hey beauts, I wanted to write about a few new things I have got this month so far in this post. One of which was a present from my loveeeely friend Emma. She knows how obsessed I am with nail varnish, nail art and new products so she got me the Ciate Caviar Manicure set for my birthday which was sooo thoughtful of her. I'm sure lots of you have heard of it before but it is a relatively new idea. The idea behind it is that you get a unique 3d nail effect. You apply the nail varnish as normal but when they are still wet you pour the microbeads over your nails over the provided plastic tray (handy!). You just need to gently push the beads into the nail varnish so they stick properly and leave the nails to completely dry for 20 minutes, I made the mistake of having a bath after about 10...don't do that as they will just come off. Then all you need to do is pour the excess beads back into the bottle with the provided funnel (even handier!) 

There is a black, white and rainbow set and my favourite is definitely the rainbow so Emma knows me well! I have put a photo of my Caviar manicure accent finger, it doesn't take long at all but I didn't have time to do them all and allow them all to completely dry! I love it, I think it looks unusual and unique. Next time I'll make sure my whole nail is covered in beads as there are a couple of small gaps this time round. Practice makes perfect.


I also went on a bit of a splurge at Warehouse with my staff discount. I bought this dress, a sleeveless silk shirt and some nice thick treggings for Winter as I live in them...I love floral dresses and this is no exception. This one is particularly good for this time of year because it is still feminine but the florals are a bit more wintery. I have been seeing loads of winter floral articles in magazines lately so I think they will be everywhere soon. 

Warehouse: £50
I saw this in Boots and it was on offer as there is 1/3 off Dove body care. I am a total sucker for 'Limited Edition'  products so I snapped it up, it smells delicious and I figured I should accept the fact that Summer is coming to an end and that I should start moisturising in preparation for Winter. I definitely get dryer skin in Winter so I'm sure this will be a staple in my skincare routine during the colder months.

Boots: £2.19

I love finding new products, are there any new things you have bought recently that you love or can recommend?

Tuesday 18 September 2012

Outside The Box

Hello lovelies...another nail post, I just can't help myself! The photos I have used below include two designs on my natural nails and two on false nails. I decided to buy some false nails as I spend so long on my nails sometimes and then my nails chip within a day, which just feels like a waste of time! False nails don't chip for ages and even then it is hardly noticeable and obviously they don't break like natural nails. I bought a pack of 200 from Boots, they come in 10 sizes but then if some are too big you can file them down if you want to use as many as possible, then you're just wasting ones that are too small. I had to cut my natural nails down short as the false nails I bought are quite short and they look a lot better if you don't have natural nail underneath. I really like the square shape of these ones and they make me feel very glamourous for some reason! I'm back to my natural nails for a little while now but I really like using false ones purely because my nail varnish lasts so much longer but then obviously you have to flaff around with glueing them on. Mine lasted about 10 days without coming away from the natural nail, which I thought was really good! I was naughty and pulled them off which will have ultimately damaged my natural nails but I didn't have any remover, oops...not recommended!

From Top Left Clockwise: Essie Fiji with Models Own Ibiza Mix accent ring finger, Essie Fiji with metallic (OPI Designer De Better) leopard print nail art,  Mix and match coral, metallic and black nail art and Ciate Caviar Manicure in rainbow.



These are my favourite nails I have ever done, I was so proud of them! The coral coloured base is Peach Daiquiri by Essie and the metallic parts is OPI Designer De Better, the glitter is Models Own Ibiza Mix but I think golden glitter would have tied in better with the look.  Believe it or not I used a black liquid eyeliner for my black bits rather than my black nail art pen as it is easier to control, as long as you let it dry and put a clear top coat on top it will stay put just as well as black nail varnish!

1.  Apply base colour to all nails, it is best to use a light colour as a base if you are using black details as the contrast is more effective. You will need two coats with most colours. Allow nails to dry.

2. Use metallic nail varnish to do roughly spaced dots on thumb, a vertical stripe on index finger and a diagonal stripe on little finger. This doesn't have to be perfect because the black line will straighten the lines out. Allow nails to touch dry. Second coat of metallic may be needed,  allow to dry again.

3. The nails need to be touch dry before the black eyeliner is used or it might bleed into the nail varnish. For the thumb, draw random C shapes and lines around the edges of the metallic dots and add a few random black dots. Draw a vertical line on the edge of the metallic index finger nail and little finger nail. For the middle finger nail draw a heart shape with liquid eyeliner and fill in. Allow to dry.

4. While the nails are drying you can apply glitter nail varnish to the ring fingers of both hands. When all nails are dry you can apply a clear top coat, preferably a quick drying one as there is quite a lot of coats on the nails by this point.

Hope this helps! Doesn't actually take as long as most people think! What do you think?



My next post will be on the Ciate Caviar Manicure.

Monday 17 September 2012

New treats: MAC

Hello beauts, I have been meaning to write about these since I got them last month but other things keep coming up. I got these two as some late birthday treats and I went into MAC without anything in particular in mind, I wanted a new lipstick but wasn't sure what colour or type. I swatched lots in the shop but really liked the colour and texture of this Sheen Supreme Lipstick, which are described as:

"Combining the colour impact of a Lipstick with the shine sheen of a Lipglass, Sheen Supreme creates the perfect hybrid – with no compromise. Lightweight, non-sticky, slick to apply and comfortable to wear. This is a must-have for all those who have craved this kind of fusion." 

I picked up Full Speed which is described as a bright clean yellow pink. The colour of Full Speed is quite similar to Impassioned which I LOVE but due to the lipstick type being so different they look completely different on the lips. Full Speed does not stay put as long but feels lovely on the lips due to the glossy aspect of it. It is my first Sheen Supreme lipstick and I'd definitely consider getting more of them, I also really like the different packaging but due to the consistency these lipsticks are flat and not a pointed bullet shape so are slightly more difficult to apply precisely. 

The second item I got from MAC was the "Superwatt" eyeshadow from the limited edition Electric Cool range. All the eyeshadows in the range had a frost finish and were described as:

"A soft, lightweight, springy formula delivers hue-rich colour in a modern mode. One touch and you'll be wired into its sensational blending power. Medium-to-high coverage transforms eyes."

I fell in love with these and really wish I'd got a couple of others as the texture of them is amazing and now all but two of the colours have sold out online and there are not in store anymore, gutted! The consistency is creamy and 'spongey' when you apply the eyeshadow but then as it sets it goes to more of a powdery eyeshadow. It does crease a little on me but I don't really mind this as the colour is gorgeous and can be used as a base and so good for blending into other eyeshadows and for a smokey eye.


I love MAC packaging





Swatched on my hand in natural light (indoors)
Swatch in natural sunlight (outside)
Eyeshadow in natural light (indoors)
Both £14.50 from MAC. Also available online.

What do you lovelies think of the Shine Supreme Lipsticks? Did any of you snap up any of the Electric Cool eyeshadows? I really love them both, so happy with my treats!


Sunday 16 September 2012

Busy B

Hello lovelies! I realised today how long it had actually been since I did my last post and how much stuff I have done in between then and now. I'm not very well at the moment, with my first cold of Autumn/Winter season I'm feeling a little sorry for myself...I think I jinxed myself the other day by saying I "liked winter but I wasn't looking forward to the colds"...cue cold and no voice when I woke up. I'm writing this tucked up in bed when I could be driving to London to go out for my last ever freshers...but no. Anyway! Just after my last post was my 21st birthday and I wanted to share a few photos as I had a great time. I had a lovely morning opening presents, having a yummy breakfast and an afternoon of YO! Sushi and shopping. My aim was to find a dress for my birthday night out the weekend after but I am so easily sidetracked that did not happen for another few days of shopping. In the evening we went for a gorgeous meal out near the coast for dinner which was very posh and made my 21st feel really special. As you can see the cake my mum ordered for me was BEAUTIFUL.


I got some money for my birthday and I really want to buy something that I have wanted for ages but haven't been able to justify. My purse got stolen from my bar from my bag about four years ago, the day after my 17th birthday actually and I haven't been able to find one I LOVE in all that time. I have decided to splurge and get a Ted Baker one, patent with butterfly print lining...just my thing.
Just wondering if anyone else has got a Ted Baker purse? Do they last well?