Sunday 31 July 2016

NOTD: Color Club "Don't Kale My Vibe"


I had seen some swatches of this floating around, so of course I needed it. It's green, shouldn't be another reason really.

I thought for some reason this would be holographic, sort of? It's not. Or mine's a duff one. It's a chromey, metallic green with a slight purple duochrome. It's lovely, but it's not holo.

I used 2 coats here and Sally Hansen Megashine top coat. It wore fantastically actually, and two weeks on it still looks flawless on my toes!

Love this with my summer tan! :)

Monday 18 July 2016

MASK MONDAY: L'Oreal Pure Clay Glow Mask


So I decided that I needed to try the new glow offering from the new L'Oreal masks. I wasn't fussed with the detox and such, but glow, at my age, is always a winner.

The mask comes in a glass jar. Not sure how I feel about the packaging... The mask is a weird pinkish brown colour and has a smell almost like cinnamon?.. Or something like that? Quite strong. When you put it on, it looks like you've gone overboard with a really awful bronzer :) I did find that quite amusing for some reason...

Despite being a clay mask (also you spelled kaolin wrong on the packaging, L'Oreal) this is almost a non-drying mask. It has scrub grains in it so take care when removing if you have delicate skin! It says to leave on for 5-10 min so I left it for 10 minutes. When you take it off, scrub lightly to get the exfoliating element of this mask.

Is that a bad bronzer or a face mask?! :)
I enjoyed this mask a lot! It definitely adds a fresh feeling to the skin and my skin was very soft. As I have more dry and sensitive skin I think I will only use this once a week despite the packaging claiming you should use it 2-3 times a week.

This retails for £7.99 for 50ml, but it's on introductory offer right now for £5 in Boots. It claims you get 10 uses out of this - we shall see :) If you only get 10 uses and use it 3 times a week, it won't even last you a month - not sure about them economics... But I will likely only use once a week so should last me a couple months!

Sunday 17 July 2016

NOTD: Zoya Pixie Dust Seashells collection 2016 "Cece"


It's no secret I love a textured polish :) but seriously, a grass-green textured polish??? I nearly died.

I got this as soon as the Seashells collection launched in the UK a few weeks back, then as we all know, life gets in the way. I finally got around to putting this on.

And what a cracker for a dreary Monday! I used 3 coats here, no top coat. I could have got away with 2 but I just felt like loading on the glittery goodness. Drying time was decent on this but it was a good hour before I felt safe to go do some art stuff...

I need to do a post on all my textured polishes. I think they are underrated. They glitter like crazy and they wear really hard. I guess people just don't like them because they feel a bit like sand paper. I think that's a small price to pay for the joy they bring :)

What are your thoughts on textured nail polish - fad or fab??

Saturday 16 July 2016

REVIEW: MUA Luxe Power Brow Long Wear Sculpting Brow Gel

 

So there's no stopping the power brow trend. And I'm totally OK with that! The little beauties are basically drugstore copies of the newly launched Benefit Ka-Brow. Love the Ka-Brow but I am all for finding affordable alternatives!

I love how these come with the little brushes in the lid just like the Benefit one. I love the NYX Eyebrow Gel but it doesn't come with a brush (I use an angled eyeliner brush from Makeup Revolution, no E104, with it). I can't claim to actually know how to 'sculpt a brow' using any gel so I had to YouTube some tips. I liked this video from YouTuber Kayla Hagey. Also loving her lip colour :)

Just like the Benefit Ka-Brow and NYX Eyebrow Gel, this is not for a natural brow. I suggest a pencil and setting gel for that. This is for a more dramatic brow, for when you have a full face on!

This is definitely wholly waterproof - tested it on a site visit in the pouring rain. This is very long-wearing. VERY long-wearing. No seriously. VERY. To remove, I used some Shu Uemura cleansing oil neat on the eyebrow, waited a few seconds then wiped off with a Garnier Micellar wipe. This won't wash off with face wash, don't be fooled! Be gentle on the brow, melt the product with something greasy before you try a makeup remover wipe. For goodness sake don't tug or rub! I also found the Garnier Oil-Infused Micellar water was effective if you let the soaked cotton pad rest on the brow for a few seconds before you wipe (the normal Micellar from Garnier wasn't as effective).

I bought two shades, because, for the price (£4) you can so do that. I chose the shades "Mid Brown" and "Chestnut". "Chestnut" is like a more warm version of NYX Eyebrow Gel in "Chocolate" (far right in the photo below). "Mid Brown" is difficult to describe, almost like a warm blonde colour. Neither shade matches me perfectly, but they both work for me and give slightly different looks.

L to R: MUA "Chestnut" and "Mid Brown", NYX "Chocolate"
I would only wear these occasionally because they are likely to be slightly drying due to their nature. But for a killer power brow, these are da bomb! :) So well done MUA!

You can get these in Superdrug or MUA's own store online and they are RRP £4 each.


Wednesday 13 July 2016

REVIEW: NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream "Ibiza"



I picked this up during my ginormous NYX haul the other week. NYX has an insane amount of lip products and it's seriously hard to choose. Somehow this was the first Lip Cream that caught my attention and it went home with me!

"Ibiza" is a vivacious bright, warm pinky-coral. I love a bright lip in the summer so that's why I was attracted to this. Unfortunately it has the dreaded fake vanilla smell that is so popular right now in these types of lip products and that I loathe.

Maybe I expected it to be a liquid lipstick when it's actually more like a matte lip gloss? My only disappointment is that it is not transfer-proof. It goes on very nice and opaque, no patchiness. And it feels soft and comfortable on your lips, didn't dry them out at all and has a lovely velvety look instead of the unflattering flat matte (I guess that's why it's called 'soft matte'). It redistributes nicely if you have had a coffee without having to top up the colour. And you won't need industrial solvents to remove this either, like most liquid lipsticks...

I did have to reapply this after having my morning breakfast biccies and coffee. And it was nowhere to be seen after lunch. But it's easy to reapply even without a mirror so not a deal breaker.

However after having tried the Lip Lingerie liquid lipsticks I'm now very fussy about transfer-proof lips; I think that NYX should make this exact colour in the Lip Lingerie formula. I'd buy 6 of them straight away!!

This is a great statement lip for those days when I have time to reapply but I wish it was more transfer-proof. However with the vast array of colours to choose from, you're bound to find something you love and you can overlook reapplication!

But please, could everyone please stop using that horrible scent in lip products!?

Sunday 10 July 2016

REVIEW: NYX Lip Lingerie "Bedtime Flirt"



After my gigantic NYX haul, I have been wearing the brand constantly for the last week or so to give it a good go! When I discovered that the Wonder Pencil in 'Light' was too ghostly for me, I went back and bought the 'Medium' shade instead but of course, one does not just go to Boots and pick up one thing...

I also got this liquid lipstick. Let start off by saying I am not a fan of matte on me, be it skin, nails or lips. I also don't feel I suit nude colours very well and maybe this pulls a bit brown on my skin tone. So why the hell I would be swayed by a NUDE and MATTE liquid lipstick??


I have highly pigmented lips, something I've only just come to realise. Always just thought everyone's lip colour were the same. Not so! The lipstick colour is just that little bit lighter than my natural lip colour but the opacity and formula of the lipstick is so good that it doesn't look weird at all.

Seriously, I freakin' love this! NYX Lip Lingerie is all I wanted the Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolor to be (and it's cheaper!). It dries matte. It doesn't smell. It's completely transfer-proof (tested it on Husband and my friends new baby) and it lasts well, even through a pizza and a Pepsi for lunch! And coffee. And chocolate. Then I notice it's starting to wear off in the middle of the lips but it doesn't look weird or patchy and I doubt anyone but me can see it. So I just touched it up and it didn't look lumpy. It actually came off relatively easy at the end of the day with my trusty Garnier Oil-Infused Micellar Water (the bi-phase version) as well.

I am hoping that NYX will bring out some more shades with this transfer-proof formula, some more fun, non-nudes perhaps? :) I am considering buying the darker terracotta red "Exotic" as well as it looks like it would suit me.

So top marks for NYX Lip Lingerie - I can see myself wearing it in the office every day for the next wee while! And I think it's already earned it's spot in the annual Top Ten!

A word of warning; this product is not for those with super-parched, flaky, sore lips. The matte formula will accentuate every flaw in your lips, and it will likely make dry lips feel more dry!

Saturday 9 July 2016

NOTD: Barry M Boots Limited Edition "Golden Sands"


I freakin' love a limited edition Barry M so when I saw this latest launch I had to have this one! You can see swatches of both of the Boots and Superdrug Limited Editions on BritNails. This needs to be seen close up to fully appreciate it's glow.

When this is dry, this really does look like golden sand!!! I did 2 coats here but it's extremely opaque so you could maybe get away with 1 coat? This polish is meant to dry to a satin finish, so I didn't use a top coat.

I love this, even though it may not be a great match for my skin tone! :) I think I need a beach holiday to go with my golden sands nails... Also can we appreciate how tanned my cuticles are? Until I started to do nail photos back in 2008 I didn't realise cuticles tanned so much!

Thursday 7 July 2016

REVIEW: Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster


So when I was seriously pale and the summer just wasn't happening a couple of months back, I bought something no one seems to be writing about? It is a 'made to measure' self tanning for your face (can get a version for the body too apparently). It was rather hyped when it was first released but there are not really any reviews other than sponsored posts. So here is a proper review!

Let me say this is not a traditional self tanner and it will not give you a dark tan. It produces a natural, golden glow as opposed to a tan. It is a gradual tanner, and a light one at that. But use this a few times a week at night, and you start to look more alive pretty quickly!

The instruction is to use 3 drops in your normal moisturiser, I used it in a night cream from Botanics. I've hardly made a dent in the bottle after using it 3-4 nights a week for over a month! You basically put your moisturiser in your palm, drop on the product and mix thoroughly. Then just smooth it ooooon...

It does have that tell-tale cookie smell though as it's developing, but maybe I am the only one that can smell it because it's on my face?.. It didn't break me out at all which was excellent. It doesn't wear off in patches either. And it never makes you orange, just makes you look a bit more glowy! Will definitely use this again come winter! :)

Negatives? I forgot to wash my hands one night after putting it on and woke up to a brown palm... :(

Oh and the price. I had £5 gift card and it was on a 10% off in Debenhams when I bought it, but RRP for this tiny 15ml bottle is a whopping £19!

UPDATE: Cali over at Polishtopia has advised of a Marks & Spencer dupe - Autograph Self Tan Glow Booster Serum - I shall be checking it out! :)

Monday 4 July 2016

NOTD: H&M "Nocturne"


This looks nothing like the photo on the website, but it is rather stunning! :) Damn you H&M, bring your makeup to stores already so we don't have to guess the colours??

But don't get me wrong, this colour is amazing! This is 2 coats and a coat of Sally Hansen MegaShine top coat. This was a bit messy to apply as you can see due to the highly pigmented base and super-sparkly glitter particles, but man, it's awesome!!

It's blue, but also kinda green - like mermaid scales! Or as the name implies, like a starry night sky?? Me likey! :)

Sunday 3 July 2016

NOTD: Collection Cosmetics 2 Step Solar Shine "Sunset Pink"


After I did my first run with this no-UV light polish I just needed this shade. And for the price, c'mon, it's a no-brainer :) And I bought this in Asda for even less than RRP...

I forgot to take a photo on the first day so this is day 3, oops :) Looks great still though, right??

This shade for some reason wasn't as easy to apply as "Biarritz"! It is very neon pink however, I think the bright pigments are a bit more unwieldy. But this is 2 coats, so it was definitely opaque. Just took a bit more work to get right. I did a matching pedicure and it's still looking flawless.

This lasted 5 days before I had my first big chip and of course I had to take it off (eeek, chipped nails make me so anxious). And worse, I forgot to take a photo before I took it off, grrr!!!!

It is an eye-catching, super-bright summer colour, and it looks amazing on tanned skin! :) I am so pleased with these, I will probably get the nudey-mauve one too for autumn!

Love you, Collection Cosmetics!! ðŸ˜˜