Sparkly Nails

Sporting some very glitter OPI nails today after raiding my sisters nail varnish box yesterday. Not sure of its name (my OPI app crashes when I try and open it and I don't have the bottle on me) but its a cold glitter with red and green glitter, quite Christmassy!

Nail Rock Wraps Durability Update

I've had the Nail Rock Nail Wraps on my toes and on my thumbs since Tuesday night and so far my toes are fairing very well! (even though this pattern reminds me more of spiderman than black lace)

My thumbs on the other hand (no pun intended) are starting to get a bit bashed up, although I have to say they are so much better than Nail Inc wraps! I must admit to I've been non-stop writing and typing at work so have been using my hands a lot and doing some housework (majority of it tomorrow...joy) but they are lasting better than expected!

November Glossy Box

I had a sneaky look at some blogs to see what people were getting this month and many (of the blogs I'd seen) seemed disappointed with the products.
I had decided if I got the bath salts I'd give them to my mum as I don't have a bath but they didn't out me off the box.

I then saw the different products people were getting and saw the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer which I'd heard about before and really hoped I would get it.

My box was delivered yesterday while I was out so this morning (in my day off) I got out of bed, put the kettle on, pulled my sheepskin boots on over my PJs and walked next door to the post office...still half asleep.

I hoped the box and was really happy as had no foot cream and no bath salts! (hope on the preferences soon Glossy Box have a 'do you have a bath or shower' question so we don't end up getting things we can't use)

 So was really happy when I opened the box and found this:

 Arbonne Ultra Hydrating Hand Creme - I've not tried this yet, only smelt it but it does have quite a strong smell which is quite an odd smell and as I have a headache I thought I would wait to try this.

Dead Sea Spa Magik Delicate Boosting Mask - Tried this within 10 minutes of opening the box! It has a lovely delicate smell and is very gentle. I have a scar on my nose which can get irritated but this is great on all of my face. You put this on and leave it for about 10 minutes before washing it off and you are left with a lovely feeling on your face.

Illamasque Freak Eau De Parfum - I was a bit wary of this due to the name as sounded really heady however when I saw it contained frankincense I gave it a try and it was really nice. I actually gave this to my mum as she loves the smell of frankincense and opium (which is also one of the smells in this).

Nail Rock - Designer Nail Wraps - I received the red with black lace and wasn't to sure of these as I've had nail wraps before (Nails Inc) and really didn't like them as they were fiddly to apply with the hairdryer and didn't last, however these don't need a hairdryer and are so much better! I have them on my toes (kindly applied by my mum) and then a wrap on each thumb with the rest of my nails painted red (Revlon Red). The only problem with these wraps are that they are very round at the base and my nails are more square at the base so there are a few gaps.

The final product I got was the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer. I really wanted to try this so was glad I got it. It said to put on wet hair and leave on for 10 - 20 minutes before rinsing out then shampooing and conditioning so I chucked my head over the sink and wet my hair then put the elasticizer on, placed a shower cap on over it (then I put my Dead Sea Salt mask on too) then after 20 minutes washed it out in the shower. I wasn't really sure what to expect but after washing and straightening my hair my head seems much stronger and straighter and then this morning (I washed it yesterday) I didn't need to straighten my hair! Great! As my hair is thick it suggests to use it once a week so I'll be using this weekly and see how my hair improves.

Overall I am very happy with the products this month and can't wait until next months box!

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick / Wedding Lips

While at Bluewater last week I popped into Boots as I wanted to look for a lipstick for my Wedding next year but nothing that was drying, sticky or too in your face. I love Elizabeth Arden's (or Elizabeth Hardon as my fiance says) Eight Hour Cream so went to see if there were any lipsticks with it in.

Elizabeth Arden do a Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick with a sheer tint (and SPF 15) in a 4 colours: Berry, Plum, Blush and Honey (think there may be different colours available in America)

Blush Lip Tint

I originally picked up honey but while speaking to the Elizabeth Arden assistant she said that she would probably use 'Blush' on me due to my colouring and eye colour. Blush is a pinky colour, but I was a bit worried as it looked a bit too pink, however it just gives a wash of colour and has more of a reddy pink colour to it.

It's such a nice natural colour and had a slight sheen to it but is also great for your lips.

She also advised me that Elizabeth Arden do free wedding make-up trials/makeovers and took my name and number to give me a call in February (when they will be doing an offer on products in store so that I can buy some bits if I want cheaper or with freebies) to do a makeover if I want. She also suggested going to other cosmetic counters to so I can see what products I prefer.

While I was there she also gave me a tester of Elizabeth Arden Intervene Makeup (foundation) to try and suggested it for my wedding day as it had a glow to it so it wasn't a matt foundation. It wasn't until I got out the store I realised the trial foundation was 25 ml and the full size is 30ml and costs £27.58

The foundation is brilliant. I love the bottle, its a squeezy bottle and think I actually prefer it to the normal bottle their foudations come in! It goes on really well and has great staying power. The only thing is my forehead did get a bit shiney but a bit of powder and non-shine moisuriser should easily fix that!

Bare Escentuals - Bare Minerals Get Started Complexion Kit - Update

Back in August I posted a blog post about the Bare Minerals Get Started Complexion Kit I brought but I never did post a follow up or the results. Original Blog Post

To be honest I wasn't overly impressed with it. After watching it demonstrated on QVC (well the products not the kit) I thought it looked easy enough and had good coverage however using it was a different matter!

The foundation is good but I seem to use more than they say and it doesn't really build up. It's nice in that it's very natural but doesn't really give much cover if needed. Also I wish the lids were bigger as when you swirl and tap the product goes over the edge of the lid.

The 'warmth' product is good and does give a bit of colour to your face (I'm usually quite pale so this is brilliant to give me a healthy glow.)

The concealer brush didn't really do much concealing, I tried using both the Bisque and the foundation powders with the brush but it didn't conceal darkness or the lack of pigmentation on the scar on my nose.

I've not really noticed much from the mineral veil but then it's not something which is seen and is supposed to just soften your face.

All in all I like the foundation it's self, and is probably the best mineral foundation I have used, but as for the other products in the pack I'm not sure I would buy them. It's ok for day wear but I don't think I could use it for special occasions or evenings out as I would need a bit more coverage.

It's a good kit to get started with and I can see the warmth pot lasting quite some time and I may buy the foundation again but not the bisque. I would also suggest using another type of concealer if you have scaring or darkness rather than trying to use the bisque.

I did enter a competition on QVC to win a makeover / tutorial with Bare Minerals as thought it would be great to see how to use it properly to cover scars (mine is now just pale white on my nose) but unfortunately didn't win :o( I'll just carry on with my Laura Geller concealer (also from QVC lol)

I've not added any photos of me with this foundation etc on as it gives a very natural look so it would look like I had no make up on anyway (which is good in a way).

Molton Brown Shopping Event

Went to Molton Brown at Bluewater for their shopping event with my Mum. We've been invited before but have never been but I took the day off to go Christmas shopping today.
I had the most amazing hand and arm massage with Sensual Hanaleni moisture bath & shower and body cream as well as the Warming Eucalyptus and Ginger scrub. The sensual hanaleni is lovely and is a mix of essential oils of orchid, Madagascan ylang-ylang, Egyptian neroli and Chinese cinnamon.

I then purchased more of my favourite shower gel (warming eucalyptus) and Mum brought the new hand wash (even more as it smells so good) and the sensual hanaleni shower gel so we got 2 smaller shower gels free (Relaxing Yuan Zhi) plus goody bags!

The goody bags contained a mix of products and in the one I have it had:
50ml Enlivening Toko-Yuzu
50ml Relaxing Yuan Zhu
30ml Bracing Silverbirch
30ml Invigorating Suma Ginseng
PLUS £20 gift coin from Dower & Hall

Amazing! Can't wait to spend the £20 on some lovely wing earrings!

Lipstick Help Required for Wedding

I'm not getting married until April but I need suggestions and advice re lipstick.

I'm having my makeup done by a beautician on the day (and a trial before) but want to find a lipstick soon to try out for the day.

I don't wear much lipstick only lip stains or balms.

Things I want out of the lipstick:
Non-Drying
Not mega shiney (I dont want glare on my lips in photos)
Long lasting

I want a pale pinky colour so it still looks natural.

I'm thinking of trying Elizabeth Arden lipstick when I got shopping on Thursday or trying Lipcote (I've never tried it before). I brought a max factor moisturising lipstick on Monday in English Rose but haven't got round to trying it properly yet (only once I got it and then went into the shower but will test it and put a review up)

NOTD Nails Inc - Basil Street

Nails of the Day

Today I've painted my nails with Nails Inc Basil Street, a lovely beige colour. This was free with Glamour magazine. I don't usually buy Glamour unless on holiday (great size mag for my handbag) or if the free gift is any good (they do some great gifts).

I saw it in WHSmiths and I had all the other colours already (or similar ones) but really fancied a beige colour.

This is such a nice colour if you don't want a full on colour or want something to go with anything you wear. It reminds me of LK Bennett shoes as its a very similar colour and this colour is very in at the moment due to Dutchess Kate's love for her LK Bennett shoes.

I have Nails Inc Soho Silk as a base with Nails Inc Kensington Caviar top coat.

I love this colour so much...tempted to put this on my possible list of polished for my wedding next year....

Really want to get a similar OPI version of this (I only wear one brand at a time and like my Nail Envy) although I have asked for OPI Warm and Fozzy for Christmas which is a glittery beige (it looks like).

Testing Testing ... Twitter Feed

Just testing to see if my blogs will now be linked onto my twitter account... fingers crossed!

Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus

I love Molton Brown products and brought this after smelling it in a Molton Brown store. This has become my winter survival product! The warming eucalyptus scent helps me to clear my head and nose when suffering with colds and is really comforting. It's not harsh on the skin either and a little goes a long way when use on a shower puff, although I just lather it up straight onto my skin when suffering with a cold to get the most out of the scent.

This along with Molton Brown Cracked Black Pepper are my favourite Molton Brown products (yes I am female and use cracked black pepper rather than the pink pepperpod)

OPI Shatter Polish - Black

I brought this when it first came out along with the Katy Perry polishes. (photo above with alternate nails painted with OPI Last Friday Night and OPI Teenage Dream with the Shatter polish on top, sorry for bad photo, this is an old one from when I first used the polishes)

It is a great effect and works when painted onto dried nail varnish (it won't crack on bare nails).

I like to put a glitter polish as my main colour such as Teenage Dream by Katy Perry as the glitter then shines through the gaps in the black shatter. You then put the shatter onto the dry polish (it has to be dry or it won't shatter properly.) You have to apply this quite quickly as it starts to dry straight away. The thicker you put it on the bigger the gaps made in the polish, ie you get less islands of black but they are bigger and more like animal print, if you put it on thin it goes more stripy and smaller streaks, more like the effect shown on the bottle. The shatter then gets to work and once dry will be matt. I then finish my nails with an OPI topcoat to keep it shiney and also to reduce chipping.

I think of all the colours the black is my favourite and this effect works well on both short and long nails.

The only thing with this polish is that it does go a bit lumpy as obviously its fast drying so make sure you put the lid back on straight away. You may also find it beneficial to wipe the brush off on some kitchen paper to get the lumps of shatter polish off.

OPI RapiDry Top Coat

I wear a lot of OPI products and brought this as it drys quickly. It helps keep my polish perfect for a few days however the only downside to this product is after a few months it goes very thick and gooey. This means that it goes on too thicky and not smoothly.

It's a good product but is only worth buying if you are going to use it a lot in a short period, ie not great if you wear other top coats or if you only paint your nails every now and then. I much prefer using Nail Envy as a top coat or the OPI Start to Finish Base and Top Coat.

OPI Nail Polish Start to Finish Base & Top Coat

I use to use OPI Fast Dry Top Coat but after a few months the top coat gets a bit sticky and gooey and I found this product while looking to purchase a new Fast Dry Top Coat.

I have a huge make up bag/box full of OPI and Nail Inc polishes and anything to help cut down on the number of product I have makes me (and my fiance) very happy! (ie less products left laying around the living room while I do my nails)

I usually use my OPI Nail Envy as a base coat but this product also has a strengthener in which is nice. My nail varnishes never last long on my nails as they chip within 24 hours usually (I am very hands on person so my nails always get bashed etc) but this top coat is great as it does give me a longer wear and doesn't take massively long to dry either.

This is usually the product I use if I want to sit down with my fiance to do my nails but don't want to turn the coffee table into a nail salon. This plus a nail colour is all I need.

It's also great as it works out much cheaper that buying a treatment, top coat and base coat and I would really recommend this to someone who wants to try OPI but doesn't have a huge OPI collection or for someone who wants to take OPI polished on holiday but doesn't want to fill their makeup bag with too many products.

OPI - Original Nail Envy Review

I've used this product on and off for a number of years and it's the best nail care product I've ever used and I'm a HUGE OPI fan!

I usually use this product when my nails are a bit weak and flaky although I always use it as a basecoat whenever wearing OPI polishes.

The way to use this product is to put 2 coats onto bare nails, then apply a colour polish if you wish, then either use a top coat or you can use nail envy as a top coat (which I recently have started doing and find it's very hard wearing.) Every 2 days you should then put a coat of nail envy over your nails again (over polish or just on top of the nail envy you already have on if you have bare nails)

I've only ever used the Original Nail Envy but I am looking to try the Matt version.

I did see a pink maintenance version of Nail Envy a while ago which I fancied but it seems to be out of stock everywhere so I think they may have stopped doing it but I'm going to carry on my search so that I can wear Nail Envy with a hint of colour as I prefer to wear a coloured polish on my nails.

Some people think that Nail Envy is expensive (its usually around £18) but keep and eye out on QVC as they usually do deals on Nail Envy sets for much cheaper. Word of warning though, I've heard that there are OPI fake products out there, ie products made to look like OPI but they're just imitations so I would try where possible to buy from official stockists.