Saturday 25 January 2014

NOTD: Burns' Night Manicure


I am going to a Burns' Night Supper tonight so 'needed' to do a themed manicure, of course. A Saltire flag came to mind. But I pondered all day about blue. It seems I don't actually have a lighter blue creme polish... That's right. A polish colour I DON'T have!

I suddenly remembered however my beloved Boots Seventeen Rock Hard Couture Nail Effects! I decided I would do "Cameo Crush" and paint the stripes with "Celestial Pearl". I love these polishes so much - this is 1 coat of "Cameo Crush" and pretty much one coat of "Celestial Pearl". Supremely glittery! :) I haven't seen these lately in Boots, guess they really were limited edition. If I see them again it's definitely back-up purchase time!!

Wednesday 22 January 2014

NOTD: Leighton Denny "Tempt Me"


This was one of the purchases I got with my Xmas gift card from Marks & Spencer. It is a purple with a green duochrome in the bottle. I am not sure if I like it, but it has a kind of satiny finish even after putting on top coat, not metallic as I expected?.. It IS slightly duochrome, you can just hint the green tint on the strangely dull purple. I had to do 3 coats as well, as it was a bit 'thin'. I feel a bit hard done by actually, it cost £11.50. I have never been been into Leighton Denny but thought this one looked cool on the shelf... Hmmm, it doesn't 'tempt me' anymore...


Moving onto something more exciting, I finally scored the new Tresemme Keratin Smooth 7 Day Smooth System today!! I will be starting my 7 day trial as of tomorrow, with photos of  before and then each day. I am not a hair stylist so don't hope for snazzy styles :P

I also spotted the Revlon Matte Balms and various new cosmetics but was a bit pressed for time so didn't have time to investigate. SensatioNail also announced on the Facebook today that they have brought out a hybrid gel system - Fuse. You can buy it on Boots.com right now, and they confirm that you can use your existing SensatioNail equipment for curing it but double time to cure it (60sec instead of 30sec). They are rather expensive, £15 but I'll be getting some of this once it hits the shops cause I don't like ordering things I've not seen swatches of...

Sunday 19 January 2014

NOTD: Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Textured "Pink Shimmer"


This is the pink coloured texture from the new M&S Limited collection - and it's awesome!!! :D It seems to want to show more peachy in the photos than it is in real life? I just used a base coat then 2 coats of polish. I've been busy building a new computer so please excuse the hideous torn cuticle :( Hurts like hell. I got really bad sore bits on my thumbs as well from the thumbscrews for the 'screwless' computer case and cut fingers from cheap metal casing... Never mind, it runs like a dream so was worth it :)

Thursday 16 January 2014

NOTD: Maybelline Vintage Leather "Turquoise Temptation"


Going for some more pain killers for my ear infection I scored a mega-haul in Boots tonight - a shelf with various bargain bucket items, some more attractive than others! And some sweet prices. I got two of the Vintage Leathers for £1.50 each and a tub of the Seventeen Deconstructed nail studs for £2. Awesome :) I wasn't sure which of the two colours I should go for first so I let Elvis-Cat decide... And he chose teal!


This is one thick coat of the polish over base coat, no top coat. I am not sure what the purpose of the little 'glitter-bits' is, they are maybe to make it a bit more textured?.. Not sure if I think it looks like vintage leather but hey! I do like it, but I'm a sucker for mattes and textures just now. Well worth it for £1.50! :)

EDIT: I decided the glittery bits are to annoy you when you try and remove this polish....

Tuesday 14 January 2014

NOTD: Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Textured "Green"



Oh wow, this one may not match my skin tone very well (sorry for lobster-fingers) but I looooove this polish!! I can't wait to try the pink one - you'll be glad to know I think that might be a better match to my skin tone as well! It isn't sheer as such but being such a pastelly colour, I did 3 coats to maximise intensity of the colour. I didn't use a top coat as it's a textured polish. Wow! :D I am soooo going to get the lilac one tomorrow!

I had a haircut today. I've not had one since just before the wedding (yes, it is almost a year ago...) and it was getting so dry. The hairdresser despaired as he cut off almost 5 inches... It looks good now though but I am never good at recreating fancy 'dos at home!

"Dear Lord, won't 'cha make me a better hairstylist..."

Monday 13 January 2014

NOTD: Barry M "Fuschia"


I decided to just try something random from the Helmers last night as I had no inspiration. What I pulled out was an old Barry M from years ago. It goes on butter-smooth and this is 2 coats with a coat of Seche-Vite to seal it quickly! I was after all finishing the gruelling last half hour of the Elder Scrolls Online beta test at the time... :)

I had a sh*t day today cause I was arguing with Yodel about a delivery they should have made on Saturday but failed to do, and was in a foul mood when I just decided to go into the beauty department of Marks & Spencer at lunch. And what do I find? Just the most gorgeous-looking new nail polishes from Markies own Limited collection... Textured shimmer polishes in to-die-for Spring shades :O

Guess which shades I had already picked up to buy at this point... :)
I decided to buy two with a Christmas gift card I had. They are £4 each! There are also some cool glitter and metallic polishes but I'm such a sucker for texture nowadays...

Tuesday 7 January 2014

NEWS: Revlon Parfumerie polishes coming to UK on 19th March!



It's official - Revlon UK confirms that the coveted Revlon Parfumerie polishes will be launching in Boots stores from 19th March!!!

Sunday 5 January 2014

NOTD: OPI Extravaganza


Looks like there is a lot of stuff this year I am looking forward to trying, such as Tresemme 7 Day Keratin Smooth system (rumoured for January release in Superdrug!!) and OPI's Gwen Stefani collaboration. After watching this OPI tutorial video, I decided that I was going to make a special OPI manicure for myself today to "celebrate" going back to work tomorrow...

So here it is - I did the base manicure in OPI "It's Coal Outside" (charcoal shimmer, 2 coats) and an accent nail with OPI "Goldeneye" (gold glitter, 3 coats) and an accent nail with OPI "When Monkey's Fly" (charcoal shimmer with gold multi glitter, 2 coats glitter).

This should keep me motivated at my desk :)

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Happy 2014!


I have been wondering what to write about for this years review, seeing as it was rather eventful one with my wedding, honeymoon and lots of new exciting stuff coming out. But mostly it was a good year, so I am grateful :) I learned how to rock climb and snowboard as well in my old age!

My best wishes for you all to have a great 2014!

Polish of the Year 2013


Hands down, it's the amazing Revlon Parfumerie "Wintermint" - minty smelling and perfect application. I went through a lot of trouble to get this all the way from America as well. This attracted a lot of interest from people who don't normally show an interest in nails, just proving  my point it is the best polish of 2013 :)

Top Manicures of 2013
So, onto some of the other most exciting manis of the year! In no particular order...
Depend Gel Lack "#163" - loved this purple gel polish :)

OPI "La Paz-itively Hot" Matte with L'Oreal Confetti top coat and
Seventeen Concrete
- it's textured and pink, what's not to love??

Isadora "Macchiato" - a nude makes the top manicures, why I never :)

Maybelline ColorShow "Rainforest Canopy" - I love these polkadot polishes and this was my first one!

Sephora "Manizer" - a highlight of my honeymoon was a rummage in the large Sephora in Copenhagen!

Seventeen "Cameo Crush" - last year introduced the 'liquid sand' polishes but the jeweled ones from this year were the highlight of my year :) I bought this whole collection (why I never!).  

OPI "La Paz-itively Hot" Matte with glitter gradient - awesome. Just awesome.

Isadora Sugar Crush "Pink Crush" - the year of the Sugar Crushes. If I could I would have them all!!

Cutest Halloween manicure EVER!!

Nude gold glitter gradient - one of the most adored manicures of the year, surprisingly! 

Xmas NOTD: Color Club "Revvvolution" with Xmas tree accent nail
Isadora Sugar Crush "Ocean Crush" - amazingly duochrome jeweled liquid sand polish that attracted a lot of interest
Essie "Vanity Fairest" French Manicure - my wedding manicure...
Some other stuff that was exciting this year...

Vichy Idealia Life Serum - I was amazed how good this was. If you haven't tried it, do!
Bleach London home colouring range - radical hair colours at home, don't mind if I do
Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream - I loved it, surprisingly!
Seventeen Doll'd Up mascara - a repurchase, why I never!
Bourjois So Perfect gel base coat - my new HG base coat
Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder "Brightening Nudes" - I trialled this for my bridal makeup and fell in love!
Maybelline Baby Lips - they finally arrived!

What newfangled stuff will 2014 bring I wonder?? :)