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Showing posts with label Nail Polish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nail Polish. Show all posts

Friday, 3 July 2015

Tutorial | How To Make Your Nails Stronger


How to Make Your Nails Stronger

Over the years I've always struggled with my nails because they are so fragile. It seems as soon as I got them to a length I was happy with one would break and it would start a domino affect. Before I knew it they had all broken and I was back to square one which gets very frustrating! At times my nails are so fragile they are also pretty bendy which means they are even more likely to snag and break so this year I decided enough was enough and I'd try some new ways to make them stronger and healthier. They are by no means the perfect nails but there is definitely an improvement so I thought I would share my tips with you in case any one else has been struggling with weak nails like I have!

1) Hard as Nails - I use Sally Hansen Hard as Nails weekly which has definitely helped strengthen them. I apply 1-2 coats depending on whether I am going to apply other nail polish over the top. Make sure you apply it all over your nail, including the edges and let it dry properly between coats.

2) Don't pick your nail varnish - I have a bad habit of picking my nail varnish when I am stressed and I've come to the conclusion it is making my nails weaker because I'm pretty sure it often takes off some of the nail too. This is definitely a no no when it comes to getting healthier nails!

3) Don't pick your nails - If you want strong and long nails don't pick them! It's not something I do but it's an important one to note because it will weaken your nails and make them look uneven.

4) Weekly manicures - I do a weekly manicure which at first started off to be a bit of a chore but after seeing the results week on week I actually began to look forward to it. Included in my mani I remove my nail polish, buff, file and clip my nails, reapply hard of nails and my nail polish.. done!

5) File your nails - I mention filing my nails above but I think it has really helped. My nails look so much better having a defined shape and the more you do it the easier it is. Remember to only file your nails in one direction and have one in your bag to file any snagged nails that occur while your out.

6) Apply nail polish - This is a controversial one as some people say that nail polish makes their nails break more but for me it's the opposite. I found whenever I had chips that's exactly where my nails break so now I always make sure my nails are completely covered in polish. If I get a chip during the day I make sure I touch it up or reapply the varnish to the whole nail as soon as I can and it's definitely prevented getting breaks!

Following the above has made my nails look and feel far healthier and stronger. I'm by no means an expert but these are things I've have done and what has helped me! 


What are your tips for stronger, healthier nails?

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Friday, 3 April 2015

Review | Essie Allure and Eternal Optimist Nail Polish


Essie Allure and Eternal Optimist
Essie Allure and Eternal Optimist
Essie Allure and Eternal Optimist

When I went to the National Wedding Show at the end of February they had a Essie stand which was filled with more polishes than I have ever seen. It was lovely to be able to look at the different shades but I was instantly drawn to a duo packaged neatly in a box as they are my wedding colours - pink and white/ivory.

One of the polishes in the duo is a blush pink called Eternal Optimist which was the first one that caught my eye. It is a pale neautral shade which is described as spiced tea rose with a splash of cream. The formula of this one is lovely. With just two coats you get a flawless finish and when combined with Seche Vite as a top coat after five days it hasn't chipped at all. This polish was worn by Millie Mackintosh on her wedding day and I can see why.. it's  very pretty neutral shade which is perfect for Spring and Summer.

The second polish is Allure which was worn by Kate Middleton on her wedding day. I thought it was funny I unknowingly chose a nail polish Kate wore as of often told I look like her! Anyway, this polish is a very pale pink, in fact it is the palest polish I own. It some lights it looks off white but in others you can see the hint of pink which is very pretty. The formula of this polish isn't as good as Eternal Optimist. It's far thinner and even after three coats you can still see the white tips of my nails underneath which won't appeal to everyone. Again, when combined with top coat it easily stays chip free for several days.

If you want to buy this duo which funnily enough is known as the bridal duo you can purchase it for £12.00 from Boots

What do you think of Essie Allure?
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Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Review | Essie It's Genius


Essie It's Genius

When I was re-organising my makeup collection last month I came across some nail polishes I forgot I had and one of these is this beautifully rich shade It's Genius which is by Essie. I was so excited when I saw it because even in the bottle it looks lovely and I couldn't wait to apply it. In fact, I did that same afternoon.

Essie polishes are one of my favourite brands of nail polish because they have a huge range available, most of the formula's are consistent so you know what you're getting when you purchase a new one and the price is reasonable. It's always fun scanning the shelves in Boots or Superdrug to find a hidden gem and this shade is definitely one of those.

It's a Genius is is a stunning violet quartz which has rich berry tones and a subtle shimmer running through it. The formula is smooth and you can easily achieve a flawless finish with just two coats. When combined with base and top coat this shades lasts around 5-6 days without chipping and is very wearable throughout the year but particularly in Autumn and Winter when this type of shade is most popular.

Since re-discovering this polish I have worn it a lot. Instead of switching my polishes weekly like normal I have just reapplied this one and wherever I go someone seems to comment on it. This shade is definitely a winner from Essie.

Essie It's a Genius is available at Boots for £7.99.

What do you think of Essie It's Genius?
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Monday, 12 January 2015

Review | Rimmel French Manicure Nail Products


Rimmel French Manicure
[The photos were taken on my phone hence why the quality isn't quite as good]

When it comes to painting your nails you can't beat the classic French Manicure. It's my absolute favourite so I decided to take some time painting my nails like this to celebrate the New Year. All you need to achieve this look are:

- Clear Base Coat (I used Rimmel)
- Clear Top Coat (I used Barry M)
- White polish for the tips (I used Rimmel Nail Tip Whitener)
- Light pink polish (I used Rimmel French Rose)

I guess everyone's technique may be slightly different and if you're not too confident with getting a nice curve on the white tip don't give up, it just takes practice and you can also get stencils to help with as a guide although personally I find it easier without these as they can peel the polish off at the edges if you don't wait long enough for it to dry.

Anyway, getting onto my technique, I firstly use a simple base coat to protect my nails and also allow the other polishes to apply better. I then move onto the tips. One by one I move long each nail and paint the tip of it white following the natural curve. This is much easier if you file your nails down before hand so they are even as you can use your natural nails as a guide. The Rimmel nail polish is a nice bright white which makes you nails look healthy and it applies nicely. 1-2 coats is plenty as the formula is quite thick and doesn't streak, however, I do find it chips pretty easily.

Once my white tips have dried I simply do one coat of the pink over the whole nail, add top coat and I'm done. I like to do the pink last as this way I can re-do any of the white tips I'm not happy with without having to start the whole thing again. I also think it looks more blended and natural than painting the white over the top but each to their own.

The French Rose pink by Rimmel is a very pretty, natural pink but again it chips quite easily so my nails only usually last two days max without chipping which isn't great. I'm definitely on the look out for some alternatives which are longer lasting but similar shades.

What do you think of my French Manicure?
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Pink Champagne: Beky Lou
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Tuesday, 2 September 2014

Review | W7 Black Cherry Nail Polish


W7 Black Cherry Nail Polish
W7 Black Cherry Nail Polish

I recently attended the W7 Christmas Launch event where we had the opportunity to view lots of amazing products as well as have a play around with a large array of nail polishes. I had tried W7 polishes before and was already a big fan (read my review of Debris here) so as you can imagine this event was a lot of fun! 

We were each given a colour wheel and could paint it in any way we liked using the batch of nail polishes in front of us and the pretty glitters. When it comes to nail polishes I tend to stick to the same tones which are pinks, berries or nudes as I find they go with my outfits more. I particularly like the latter two as I find them much easier to wear at work as they tend not to be as bright although I do like to mix things up from time to time.

One of the stand out nail polishes for me was called *Black Cherry which in the bottle looks very dark, black in fact but when you can apply it you can see there's a lot more to it than that. After the first layer it has a red or purple tinge to it depending on the light and the depth of this colour and the black deepens the more layers you add. In total it needs 2-3 to get a completely opaque shade that is perfect to wear during the Autumn and Winter months. The formula isn't too thick or thin so glides over the nails perfectly without going streaky and remains smooth so you can achieve a flawless finish. As for the staying time? When combined with a base and top coat it lasted around 4-5 days chip free which isn't bad considering the tiny price tag!

Once again I have been very impressed by the products W7 have to offer and I will definitely be investing in more of their polishes. The only downside is they aren't more widely available.. I'd love to see them in Boots or Superdrug!

If you want to buy this Black Cherry polish you can find it at Amazon for £3.93 they also often appear on Fragrance Direct!

What do you think of the W7 Black Cherry nail polish?
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Saturday, 21 June 2014

Review | Ted Baker Nail Polish Duo in Sweet On You & Champagne Sunday


Ted Baker Nail Polish Ted Baker Nail Polish Ted Baker Nail Polish

If I'm honest when I think of Ted Baker I always think of their lovely clothes rather than cosmetics but recently I realised they actually have much more on offer and since trying the *Sweet On You and Champagne Sundays Duo I'm completely sold.

If you're looking for the perfect double act for Summer nails look no further than the nail polish duo's by Ted Baker.  There are three duo's available in the range:

  • Pretty Perfect & Midnight Miracle - A mix of naughty and nice with a pale pink/nude and jet black polish
  • Silver Lining & Delightfully Dusk - A pair of iridescent precious metal polish in two pretty silver shades. One is more blue toned and one more of a taupe.
  • Sweet On You & Champagne Sundays - Summer is here with a Tropical Flamingo Pink & Sparkling Pink Glitter


Firstly, the packaging on these duo's is so adorable. I love that the cardboard box mimics a sweet shop and what better treat to be hidden inside than these gorgeous polishes? 

Sweet On You which is pictured above sports a gorgeous bright flamingo pink which is a deep rich shade. The formula is quite thin but the coverage is very good and it applies smooth and even. Despite the thin formula if you're in a rush you can probably get away with just one coat of this but for perfection you need two. The colour of this polish is just stunning. It's perfect for Summer, super glossy and would look really lovely with a tan. I've been wearing it a lot over the past few weeks and really enjoying it but unfortunately I broke a couple of nails this week so I decided to take a picture with the wheels instead of my own nails... they are looking a little worse for wear just now.

Being a big fan of an accent nail the glitter polish, Champagne Sundays included in this duo couldn't be more up my street. The glitter is large and a really pretty metalic pink which isn't as intense as Sweet On You so it works as a really nice contrast. I really love this combination and will be wearing it a lot especially on my holiday! The formula is thick so you get good coverage and it looks great when layered or used sparingly over the top of the flamingo pink.

I've been really impressed by the Ted Baker Sweet On You and Champagne Sundays duo. The colours are gorgeous, the application flawless and they are pretty long lasting too. They offer everything you need in a polish.

If you want to try out these Ted Baker Sweet Shoppe duo's you can buy them from Boots for £8.50.

What do you think of this Ted Baker nail polish duo?
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Wednesday, 21 May 2014

Review | Superdrug 50th Birthday Products


Superdrug 50th Birthday

Being a beauty blogger I'm a big fan of Superdrug as they sell a wide range of products from beauty to skin care and hair care and I'm pleased to say they are currently celebrating their 50th Birthday! 

This means they have re-vamped the packaging for a variety of products to sport their eye catching trademark pink branding and I have a few here that I want to share with you:

*Max Factor Mascara  - I love the polka dot design on this clump defying mascara and I can't wait to give it a try. I haven't actually tried a mascara from Max Factor for years so I can't really remember what they are like if I'm honest...I'm interested to see the results!

*Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish - You can tell from my blog design I love a bit of pink so I adore this hot pink nail polish by Rimmel. These polishes are really good because the formula isn't too thick or thin and they dry really quickly.

*Fruit Sorbet Face Masks - These face masks sound absolutely divine... fruit sorbet! Yum! They are suitable for all skin types and contain raspberry, cranberry and red grape fruit extracts to help revitalise and help protect your skin.

*Superdrug Intense Volume Lashes - I don't use lashes very often because I'm terrible at applying them. I rarely seem to be able to get them in the right position and as I don't wear them very often I don't really get enough practice to master how to do it! As I've got these new ones to try that will all change, I hope!

*Superdrug Firm Hold Hair Spray - I often style my hair so I'm a regular user of hair spray but haven't tried Superdrug's own version yet. I'm interested to see how it compares to my favourite which is Urban Fudge Iced Raspberry and Vanilla. I love the small packaging of the Superdrug one, though because it is perfect to pop in your hand bag and even contains pro-vitamin B5.

There are many other products displaying the Limited Edition 50th Anniversary packaging so keep an eye out for it in stores and online. Some of your favourite products may have even been given a make-over!

What do you think about the Superdrug 50th Birthday range?

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Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Review | Fairy Pants Vegan Nail Polish


Fairy Pants Vegan Nail Polish in Buttercup Fairy Pants Vegan Nail Polish in Buttercup

Today's review features a *nail polish with a twist because unlike all of the others in my collection this one is guaranteed to be completely vegan friendly. Being an animal lover I like to use animal friendly products where possible so when I came across Fairy Pants I was interested to see what their products are like.

Fairy Pants is small company that not only makes vegan cosmetics but also hair accessories, jewellery and handmade clothes. At the moment they have limited items on their website but it is definitely worth still taking a a look and they have a new range coming out soon too.

The nail polish I will be speaking about today is called Buttercup which describes this shade perfectly. The formula contains numerous black specks which are suspended in a subtle yellow liquid which looks very pretty on the nails. I'm loving the speckled polishes that are on the market at the moment and this is no exception.

Buttercup has a thin formula which applies a little patchy at first but after 3-4 coats you get a pretty opaque finish which lasts a good few days without chipping when teamed with a good base and top coat. The end result also has a slightly pearl affect which is perfect for Spring and Summer.

You can buy the Buttercup polish from Fairy Pants for £3.99 soon as well as the other colours in the range Bluebell (blue), Rose (pink), Lilac, Mint (green).

To get a 15% discount off all purchases enter the code '2014' at the check out.

What do you think of the Fairy Pants Vegan polish?
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Tuesday, 18 March 2014

Barry M Pink Silver Polish Review


Barry M Barry M

Everyone knows I love a bit a sparkle and pink so why not combine the two in a polish? I picked up Barry M Pink Silver Polish in my most recent haul and I've worn it almost every day since.  Unlike other glitter polishes in my collection, this one is very fine so it looks subtle and pretty on the nails even when you wear it on all of them rather than just on an accent nail. I also love the pretty pink shade in this polish as it isn't so pale you could call it a pastel but at the same time it isn't bright and in your face. Without doubt Pink Silver Glitter is definitely one of my favourite polishes at the moment!

Pink Silver Glitter applies beautifully and after two coats you get a gorgeous opaque finish and after a third a flawless finish.  The staying power is also pretty good as it lasted around five days before chipping, however, when it came to removing it naturally it was a nightmare as it's a glitter polish.  I seem to remember reading a trick for removing glitter polish sometime ago but I can't remember what it was now... if you know please leave a comment below as I'd be very grateful!

Priced at only £2.99 this polish is a bargain and one I will definitely be using a lot over Spring and Summer. You can buy it in your local drugstore, such as Superdrug.

For anyone who is wondering, the other polish pictured above is Essie Hors D'Oeuvres which is a very pretty silver glitter suspended in gold liquid.

What do you think of Barry M Pink Silver Glitter?
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Monday, 17 March 2014

GOSH SS14 PRODUCT LAUNCH


GOSH SS14 GOSH SS14
Hi Guys! Last week I attended the launch of the Spring/Summer 2014 collection for GOSH cosmetics with the lovely Rachel from Beauty Queen UK so in today's post I would like to share what we got up to.

I was really looking forward to attending this event because I hadn't actually tried any GOSH product before so I was intrigued to see what they were like and of course it's always exciting when a new range is launched.  When we arrived we were greeted by our lovely hosts as well as a glass of bubbly and quickly introduced to one of the make-up artists who was giving make overs using the new products. This gave us a really great opportunity to learn more about the products whilst having our own little make-over. 

After browsing and swatching the other products on offer we headed over to the nail area where we both had a manicure.  After taking some deliberation I decided to have a manicure with Frosted Plum which is a gorgeous deep, matte plum with specs of gold and red glitter. I've had this polish on my nails all week and a lot of people have commented on how lovely it is so this one is definitely a winner!

The GOSH Cosmetics Spring and Summer collection is full of bright and playful colours which I was very impressed with.  The collection includes eight very pigmented lipsticks in a range of colours so whether you're into nudes or brights there is something for everyone.  During my make-over they applied 'Yours Forever' which a bright red which I really like because it is a true red rather than being orange toned.  It left my lips with a beautiful shine, felt very comfortable to wear and surprisingly it stayed in place all evening.. very impressive! These lipsticks also include vitamin E and oils to protect the lips and keep them nourished.  

The new collection also includes eight lip lacquers which are a hybrid between a lipstick/stain and lip gloss. This is definitely a product you could wear on it's own or over a lipstick to give it a more glossy finish and the range includes highly pigmented colours as well as more sheer shades.  The lip laquers are enriched with vitamin E and Argan oil too so they don't dry out your lips which is great because these are products you would wear for many hours at a time.  I had the red shade 'Hot Lips' over the top of my lipstick and it finished off the look really one.  Anyone who likes to add a beautiful shine to their lips should definitely check these out.

The stand out products for me in the GOSH SS14 collection are the Forever Eyeshadow Sticks. All of the colours in this collection (eight in total) are stunning and easy to wear and I love the metallic finish they have. The formula is extremely creamy and soft so they are very easy to blend but when you stop working with the product they settle and are very long lasting. I had swatches of these eyeshadows on my hand all evening and they didn't smudge at all. In fact, it took quite a lot of effort to get them off when I got in, however, the product was removed easily from my eyes using make-up remover. These eyshadows are definitely a must see!

Next in the collection is an assortment of five nail lacquers which are all packed full of glitter but have a matte finish.  I'm not normally a fan of textured polishes but I really like these ones because they have the pretty glitter running throughout them. My favourite in the collection is Frosted Plum quickly followed by Frosted Rose.

Last but not least is a very unique product called Prime 'N Set. This is a fine white powder which can can used to set your make-up as well as a primer too. I love the idea of a two in one product and I'm really interested to see how this works and give it a try as it's so different from anything I have used before. Prime 'N Set is also said to minimise pores, fine lines, redness and imperfections

I will be doing a detailed review on each of the products from the SS14 collection so if you're interested in finding out more about them watch this space!

What do you think of the GOSH SS14 collection?
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Thursday, 13 March 2014

ESSIE HORS D'OEUVRES NAIL POLISH REVIEW


Essie Hors d'ouevres polish Essie Hors d'ouevres polish Essie Hors d'ouevres polish

Today's post will be a short and sweet review of a super sparkly nail polish by Essie called Hors D'Oeuvres.  This polish is beautiful and I just couldn't resist buying it on my last shopping trip as well as some other glitters which also featured in my most recent haul post.

Hors D'Oeuvres is an assortment of iridescent large silver glitter suspended in a light gold liquid which very pretty layered over a different polish or built up as an accent nail.  When I last wore this polish I teamed it with Essie Maximillian Strasse Her which is a lovely duck egg blue shade and this glitter worked perfectly as an accent nail which broke up the colour. I have also seen it teamed with nude shades such as Barry M Lychee, pink, like Essie Not Just A Pretty Face and deeper shades added only the tips which also looks very nice! One of my favourite combinations is Essie Midnight Cami with Hors D'Oeuvres painted lightly on the tips.. it's very pretty!

This polish is very versatile and the formula is perfect so you can get a light coverage with one layer or an opaque finish with three.  This polish isn't as long lasting as some I have tried but I did have it on for four days before there were any signs of chipping. Naturally being a glitter this polish is also very hard to remove with normal nail remover unless you have a little patience!

I think I will get a lot of use out of this polish and I would definitely recommend you checking it out if you are into glitters.  Personally, I don't think the picture does this polish justice as it doesn't seem to pick up particularly well.

You can buy Essie Hors D'Oeuvres from Superdrug for £10.99 which is more expensive than the majority of polishes Essie polishes and for me verging on the expensive side but it is lovely.

What do you think of this sparkly polish?

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Sunday, 19 January 2014

Essie Bond with Whomever and Barry M Magenta Gliiter Nail Polish Review


Essie Bond with Whomever and Barry M Magenta Gliiter Nail Polish

Essie Bond with Whomever and Barry M Magenta Gliiter Nail Polish


During Autumn and Winter I have been wearing dark or nude shades on my nails which I've loved but this week I fancied a change.  After looking through my collection I opted for a shade I would usually wear in the Spring and Summer months which is Bond with Whomever by Essie.

I find the name of this Essie polish to be a bit odd but this beautiful pale lilac shade is a refreshing change after wearing so many deep berry toned shades over the past few weeks.  The formula is thick in comparison to some others in the collection which means you get good coverage after one coat, however for a flawless finish you need two.  As for staying power, when teamed with a good base and top coat this polish lasts around 5 days without chipping.

I am loving glitter polishes at the moment and a particular trend I like is applying the more glitter at the base of the nail than the tip so it fades out.  I think this is a really pretty look and the Magenta Glitter polish by Barry M works perfectly to create the affect.  It is much easier to create this effect if you use a polish which has the same size glitter in and wear the base is thin as it stops the layering looking heavy and noticeable.

Both Essie and Barry M are a brilliant high street brand because between them there is a massive range of shades available at affordable prices.  The quality is also great and whenever I am looking for a new polish these are the two brands I always look at. You can buy the Barry M Magenta Glitter for £2.99 from Superdrug and Essie Bond with Whomever from Amazon for £6.95. The latter was part of the 2013 Spring Collection so won't be available in drugstores.


What do you think of these nail polishes?
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