Saturday 22 November 2014

NOTD: Primark Press-On Nails "Christmas"


I have a nice trip planned to a friend in Edinburgh tomorrow for Xmas crafts and the switching on of the Xmas lights :) So of course, I needed a nice nail! I bought these falsies a few weeks ago in Primark for the very decent price of £1 and decided to wear them. The nails come with nail glue but I won't use nail glue anymore as it's so damaging to soak the nail off, so instead I use Elegant Touch Super Adhesive Pads. They're like double sided tape for false nails. They don't last 7 days as it says on the packaging (did you really believe that?) but they do well for a couple of days of wear. The main thing is to be wary of your hair - as nails become slightly raised they snag your hair! Careful hair washing ahead... Best part is that when you're fed up, the false nail just slides off with no residue or damage to the natural nail :)

I applied the tabs as per instruction. You need to make sure you secure it to the nail before you peel off the protective film and try not to trap air bubbles. Apply the false nail making sure you apply the false nail the right side round - the thinned down side at the cuticle end! Gently press down on all sides for it to seal tight. Done.

I like these - very naff and festive! Not sure that the longer length will do well for crafts but if it gets too annoying all I need to do is slide them off :) I'm bringing spare tabs just in case. These falsies from Primark come in a staggering array of different designs including these cat ones. If you haven't already, check them out now.

This manicure cost me a festive £3.49, and I will get another set of falsies on with the tabs left over! After that saving I think I can treat myself to an expensive coffee tomorrow :)

Primark Fashion Nails £1

Elegant Touch Super Adhesive Tabs, Boots/Superdrug £2.49

Friday 14 November 2014

Recent NOTDs!

So for some reason I didn't upload my last couple of NOTDs?! Probably was far too busy doing felt crafts... Anyway, here they are!

In artificial light

In daylight
Barry M "Arabian" looks amazing in the bottle, AND equally amazing on the nail :) I did 3 coats but could have got away with 2. It does have brush strokes if you don't have patience applying it - leave it to dry for 5 mins between coats and don't faff about going over areas a lot. I finished with a coat of Seche Vite and it lasted through half a week of office typing and then a whole day of badger sett surveying!

After seeing the natural beauties hiding in the "Cutie Cravings" gift set I wanted a greige polish. So I dug out that old Chanel "Particuliere" dupe (almost) - No7 "Beanie". I just love this kind of colour, it's chic and retro at the same time :D I used 2 coats here and finished with a coat of Seche Vite as I have no patience for waiting it for polish to dry...


Here's a sneak peak of the goodness that is "Cutie Cravings", I can't wait to slap it on tomorrow :) I love that it comes in a metal tin!!

Cute metal tin :)

Inside the tin, with instruction booklet

Benefit Brow Bar visit!

So I finally decided I needed to visit the Benefit Brow Bar... I apologise in advance as I am not of the 'selfie generation' and don't actually really know how to take a selfie, so photos are a bit crap. Perhaps I should take off my glasses next time. I also apologise for the windblown look, I was out on site visits all morning gazing at trees in 40mph winds. And because I feared rain + wind this morning, I have only waterproof mascara on, no other makeup...

BEFORE brow bar ,,,
AFTER brow bar
 When I arrived at the Brow Bar in Debenhams beauty hall I was plonked on a precarious bar stool (my ass is plus-size, I worry about chairs a lot) and chatted too while some paper work was filled out. I signed a disclaimer. So far so good. They wax above the eye brow too, is that OK? Well, I've signed the disclaimer now so yeah?.. As I am not actually bothered about trying new stuff I was like 'pfft, yeah whatever'. Apparently it gives a nicer shape but in my mind it's always touted as a massive no-no... I was measured for my ideal brow with a plastic stick of some kind. Then I was cleaned and preened, then the wax went on. Not too hot, no double dipping. It was all rather quick and a bit of tweezing and brushing and you've got eyebrows the Goddess Venus herself would be proud of. As I was rather red I was treated to concealer application (using Boiing concealer).

The very nice brow stylist then offered to put on a new product on my freshly trimmed brows - gimmeBrow. It's a fibre gel to volumise your brows. I was like 'holy shit I'm gonna come out looking like Brooke Shields in the 90s!'. But in the spirit of trying new stuff I was again like 'yeah go on'. It wasn't as dramatic as I thought, just a rather nice finish :) But I'm all for low maintenance brows so I won't bother with such fripperies. I'm rather happy with my Rimmel eyebrow pencil + brush.

All and all it was very quick and nice results. I'm really pleased and I won't be keeping up my brows myself much from now on - I'll just go see the Benefit Brow Bar lady again :) Next time I'll ask if she can use BrowZings palette on them to give me power-brows! I even got a loyalty card, and apparently next time I get a free tint. Dangerous territory, think I'll just stick to the waxing...


And what did my 'loving' Husband say about my 'new' brows? "Eyebrows? They just look like eyebrows to me'. A tenner well spent, then...

And it was (til Sunday) 10% all beauty in Debenhams, so unfortunately I bought a couple of Benefit Xmas gift sets which I will be reviewing in the next few days... :)

Oooh just wait til you see what's inside :D

Aaah! :)



Sunday 9 November 2014

NOTD: Isadora Holographic Nails "Rocky Ruby"


I decided the only way to deal with a Monday is to bling out after I found this insane glitter bomb in my Helmer drawers, I also have a green version called "Glowing Beetle". I think my Mum bought these for me last year? I seem to remember these were released along with the Isadora Peel Off Base Coat, which horribly stained my nails until they grew out...

I used 2 generous coats over MUA Peel Off Base Coat, hoping it will pop right off on Tuesday... If not I will cry!! I sealed it all with a coat of Seche Vite to smooth off the glitter grittiness and speed dry it so I can pack my handbag for tomorrow. And have some icecream... This is just what I need for going back to work :)

Saturday 8 November 2014

Harvey Nichols pre-Xmas haul!

I had to go to Edinburgh yesterday for a MRI scan for my duff knee, so I decided to pop into Harvey Nichols before my train back to browse the beauty hall! I ended up buying *some* things, had a few product testing make overs and a nice dinner of sushi and beer at Yo!Sushi on the top floor :) And this is definitely the best 5p carrier bag tax I've spent since it was introduced!! Here are some photos of my haul...


So I bought my very first Deborah Lippmann nail polish! I've wanted this particular shade since it was first released a few years ago. I intend on getting some fancy paper and wrapping it now for my birthday in January! "Happy Birthday me, from yourself!"

Deborah Lippmann "Happy Birthday"
I also scored a tin of SteamCream; I've been wanting to try this cult cream for ages and when it has gingerbread men on it, who can resist?? I have tried it last night and this morning and my skin hasn't reacted so far (sometimes that happens quickly...). It has a lovely gel-cream texture, I can tell it's going to last ages. The smell is quite strong and herbal, but it evaporates fairly quick. It isn't a mattifying formula, there is quite a dewy result, so if you have oily skin I wouldn't go there. As I am dry, it's fine and feels very soft. I also used it on my rather scaly upper arms and my hands. I will report back in 2 weeks on longer term results!


Finally, the pièce de résistance - the Shu Uemura Karl Lagerfeld Limited Edition 'Shupette' lip trio. I saw it, had it applied (along with a whole face of Shu Uemura, ahem) and NEEDED it. It's amazing!! I am not sure if it's love or just lust, but who cares?! C'mon, it even has Karl's white cat on the packaging!! Please excuse the white cat hair in the left colour, from my own white cat Elvis-Cat, I only opened it once to take some photos but unfortunately I did so in the window he likes to sit... I didn't see it till after the photos were uploaded but have since tweezed it out of there.

Shu Uemura Shupette Rouge BonBon Fantasy Lip Trio 'Parisienne Chic'
The cat even has shiny blue eyes like Karl's kitty Choupette! :)



I am going to do some swatches of the lip trio but can't be bothered today - I will make some custard and red currant Danishes instead...

Wednesday 5 November 2014

NOTD: Nails Inc "Tate"


It's another month of a free Nails Inc nail polish in Glamour magazine which means £2 for a Nails Inc :) Love it! The colours this time were a bit too vampy and dull for my taste, apart from this one which is the perfect Xmas red! I can see myself blinging this up with some holographic glitter for Xmas eve :) This is 2 coats with a coat of Seche Vite to speed dry it!

My cuticles are going nuts just now - I am really busy crafting felt stuff for Xmas and at work I am doing a lot of cold outside stuff :( I promise they will be better soon...

Monday 3 November 2014

Halloween NOTD: China Glaze "But Of Corpse"


I saw this polish and knew I had to have it for Halloween! :) I dressed up as a witch with green and black eye makeup and the new awesome dark green lipstick from Makeup Revolution called "Serpent". Photo at the end of this post :)

I used 2 thicker coats over my Bourjois So Perfect! base coat and it behaved like a crackle polish :( Not sure why. You can't see the splits here as the second coat didn't crackle but quite noticeable on the other hand. Quite annoying. When I wear it again I will wear over a matter base coat.

Evil witch...

Upper lip: Makeup Revolution "Make it Right"
Bottom lip: Makeup Revolution "Serpent"