Friday 10 August 2012

Pastel Ombre Nails

I've been experimenting with different nail art techniques lately and I've struggled to find anything that actually looks good.
I found this tutorial and thought I'd give it a try, although I completely forgot to mix the blue colour with the clear which stopped it blending as much. However I'm in love with it and can't wait to try it with different colours.

Here I used Barry M colours with a coat of Nails Inc Nail Jewellery over the top.

Has anybody got any other nail designs which are simple to do? I'm looking for ideas for my holiday :)



Tuesday 24 July 2012

Ombre Hair

I've been lusting after dip dye for ages, and I've been meaning to book an appointment with my hairdresser to get it done so I kept putting it off until I decided to attempt to do it myself at home. After a quick search I came across Llymlrs blog which had a tutorial on it. I followed the instructions she gave with the same product and I'm extremely pleased with the outcome...

To achieve this using the product mentioned in the blog previously I did two applications of the product...once for all the blonde you can see and once for the tips just to make it appear more dip dyed. I originally planned to use a ash blonde hair dye over the top of the bleach but I don't think I'm going to try that yet as for the moment I'm loving it this colour. I'd definitely recommend this method as it's so easy and looks amazing! 




Thursday 19 July 2012

Before and After

I've decided to do a post based on celebrity's before and after drastic makeovers....as sometimes I feel those in the spotlight don't always manage to get it right....

Anne Hathaway:

Before:







After:


My Verdict:Anne has an incredibly classic look which requires minimal effort in order to get her looking fabulous, however after cutting off most of her hair for a film role I no longer see her as somebody I admire as I feel it makes her look frumpy and quite boring. I also think that the cut is too drastic for somebody with such soft features.
Emma Watson:
Before:


After:

Although Emma looked gorgeous before she went for the crop afterwards it was a bit of a shock, however once you get used to the shock you can see how much the style suits her. She has a very striking face and her eyes stand out even more with this style and it has helped her to become the fashionista that she now is and shed the Hermione look. 
Jennifer Aniston:
Before:


After:

Verdict:

I honestly can say that Jennifer Aniston looks amazing no matter what....long hair, short hair who cares she's hot! Women want to look like her and men want to be with her! What's not to love!



Katy Perry:

Before:

After: 

Verdict:
There is no denying that Katy Perry is beautiful, however when you compare the different hairstyles she's had it's clear to see how amazing she looks with dark hair in comparison to this faded pink style which makes her appear quite washed out and not her usual striking self.

Abbey Clancy:

Before:


After:


Verdict:
She's gorgeous....but the lip fillers? No need at all...or at least not to that extent! After rewatching an old episode of Britain's Next Top Model that Abbey was on I realised just how much of a natural beauty she is and that she doesn't need any surgery...especially not surgery that leaves her with fish lips!

Lindsey Lohan:

Before:


After:

Verdict:
Lindsey was a stunning teen queen...now look at her! Although she might have used just a bit too much fake tan before it suits her a lot more than her new ghost like look teamed with her awful hair! To me she looks like somebody who is twice her age (Mutton dressed as lamb anyone?) Really wish she hadn't turned into such a mess!









Sunday 10 June 2012

Wish list and Polish Remover

I've been neglecting the blog, mainly due to the fact that I can't afford many new beauty products. However I went shopping yesterday and whilst I only purchased one item I have a wish list as long as my arm now.
I hate cotton wool with a passion, which makes taking nail polish off horrible for me. I've seen reviews of Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover so I thought I'd try it.
I love the colour of the container, nail polish remover always looks boring so this is a welcome change.


Upon opening the container I was greeted with a black sponge with a hole in the middle - this is where you insert your nail and twist before removing without any nail polish on. When I tried this product out I had a glitter polish on so wasn't expecting much from this product however it only took a few twists before it came off - much better than using cotton wool which ends up being a complete nightmare. My nails have been left soft and moisturised due to the product having almond oil in it and it left a delicious fragrance of red fruit and vanilla. Although this is a bit pricy at £4.99 I would definitely say its worth it depending on how long each container lasts. I can't wait to try it on normal polish to see if the 1 second it advertises is true. 


My Wish List:

Barry M Chameleon Nail Polish
I saw these in Superdrug for the first time yesterday but I stopped myself from buying them as I wasn't really sure how they worked. However after reading several blogs I have learnt that they change colour when you put a top coat on which enables you to create instant nail art. I'm hoping they bring out more shades than just the 3 advertised as they are all I saw in Superdrug too. Definitely going to purchase some next time I go shopping!

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

To be honest I'm still not really sure about BB creams and what they're supposed to do but after swatching this on my hand yesterday it was clear that although it is light it covers perfectly - maybe its more of an advanced tinted moisturiser. I'm definitely willing to try this one and if I like it I might get a more upmarket one as there is a really nice looking Dior one (and luckily for me one of my friends has just got a job working on a Dior beauty counter).

Revlon Lip Butter

I suffer from ridiculously dry lips. Whenever I want to add a bit of colour to my lips I'm either left choosing between lip gloss or the lip balms with the 'frosty' colourings. As soon as I saw the advert for these I wanted every colour but unfortunately on my shopping trip yesterday Superdrug had sold out of them and I completely forgot to look in Boots for them. I'm ideally wanting to try out a red shade first as I do love a red lip but with my dry lips wearing normal lipstick is out of the question. Has anybody tried these? Which are your favourite shades?

Maybelline Illegal Lengths Mascara



I used to love Maybelline mascara - every one they brought out I'd buy and worship. However recently I've stopped buying them - for no reason in particular as they're always good which is why I'm wanting to try their latest offering. The packaging looks a bit bland for them although it is slightly curved which makes it a bit more exciting. Definitely my next mascara purchase!

Katy Perry Eyelure Eyelashes

I really want to try these - Eyelure are fantastic and they're collaborations are amazing. I love the Girls Aloud ones and these look just as good. I'd probably avoid the really thick "Oh My" set as for me they'd be a bit too much as my eyes are quite small but I definitely want to try one of the other sets out.


Has anybody tried the products on my wish list? What did you think? 








Friday 1 June 2012

Primark Nail Foils

After a shopping trip in Primark I came across these whilst queuing to pay...for £1 I decided to give them a go...mainly for a practise run before I use my Nail Rock ones, as I wanted to get a hang of the technique before using them. I have to say I'm quite impressed by these Primark ones. 


The nail foils went on quite easy and look pretty good with the snake print pattern. One problem I encountered was the sizing,  on my left hand some of the foils don't fit as well because I didn't think to use bigger sizes and cut them down but they still don't look ridiculous. I'm unsure of whether they have any other designs in these but I'm definitely going to keep my eyes peeled on my next shopping trip. The next set I buy will be tested on my toes as I was considering getting Minx done for my holiday but if I can do something similar myself then there's no point in wasting money that I don't really have.
I can't wait to try my Nail Rock ones out now, although if I like the Nail Rock they will only be for special occasions as they are extremely pricy compared to these!

Has anybody else tried these foils? Or seen them in different designs?




Edit: Just noticed my thumb has chipped already after a few hours, all I've done since applying them is type and read a magazine so I'd hate to imagine what doing hard work would do to them.


Agent Provocateur Perfumes

I have just received some Agent Provocateur perfume samples so I thought I would share these with you...
Now obviously because they are samples they are not in the packaging they would normally come in so I cannot comment on that!


The first one I'm going to start with is Agent Provocateur which is the light pink bottle. I'm not a fan of this one at all, I find it quite musky and spicy smelling which isn't something I go for with perfumes. Although I don't personally like it, I know that on some people it would smell really nice.
On the Agent Provocateur website it is described as a "vibrant accord of citrus notes teamed with red fruit" with "fresh new florals such as Muguet and Orange Flower" with "gentle base notes of Myrrh, Vanilla and Tonka Bean". If I'm being perfectly honest I cannot smell any of this floral that they are describing...obviously everyone has different noses so that's not to say that they're not there.

The second perfume is the Agent Provocateur Maitresse in the red bottle. This is subtle fragrance which appears quite floral to start with but also has a hint of freshness about it. I wouldn't go and buy this perfume but if I received it as a gift I definitely would wear it. On the website it is described as having "accords of Rose, Jasmin Sambac and Iris with delightfully green notes of Acacia" whilst also having "green notes of Granny Smith Apples" with base notes of "Amber, Sandalwood, Tonka and gourmande elements". You can definitely smell the florals in this scent as well as the apples kicking in a bit without being overpowering.

The last scent is the black bottle which is Agent Provocateur L'Agent. This is definitely my favourite of the trio...it's fresh and floral whilst maintaining the sexiness associated with Agent Provocateur. It's a subtle but strong scent...a little goes a long way! This fragrance has "Bergamot, Leaf Accord, Mandarin, Apple, Melon and Peach" showing it is quite a fruity scent. It has a "seductive heart full of Rose, Jasmin, Tuberose, Magnolia, Freesia and Ylang" whilst having a base of "Musk, Patchouli, Sandalwood and Amber Crystals". This fragrance is packed full of ingredients making it very unusual smelling, but in a good way! I've need smelt a perfume as unique as this and I will definitely consider it next time I need some new perfume.

All these perfumes are available to buy for £39 for a 50ml bottle (prices from agentprovocateur.com)


Wednesday 30 May 2012

I'm back

I'm sorry that I've abandoned this blog for a bit as I've been rushed off my feet finishing off my final essay, packing my room up, moving back to Leeds as well as starting driving lessons! 
I've been experimenting with different nail polishes recently, trying to see what works well with other polishes etc. Months ago I bought "17 Magnetized Nail Polish" in Blue but wasn't blown away by the magnetic effect. However on its own this shade is gorgeous...almost like a denim colour and incredibly shiny (in the pictures below I haven't even used a top coat) On my ring fingers I layered the Nails Inc Nail Jewellery Burlington Arcade over the top of it...this is fast becoming my favourite beauty product, it's fabulous over every shade I've tried with it! Definitely well worth the £11 price tag!


A shopping trip into Leeds earlier this afternoon led me into Primark and I came across these snake print nail foils for £1. I ordered some Nail Rock foils from ASOS but as they are yet to arrive I thought I'd give these ones a go especially seeing as they're so cheap. I'll probably review these on Friday as that's when I next have some spare time, hopefully they'll be alright as a cheap fix.



I'm considering discussing plus size fashion and showing you the purchases I've made in this blog/items I want but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to stray away from the beauty. Does anybody have any thoughts on this?



Friday 25 May 2012

Packing

After finishing my last essay of my first year of university I decided it was time to start packing up my room for my move home on Monday. I didn't realise just how many hair and beauty products I owned until I started packing...this is just what I've packed so far into my suitcase - not including the things that I'm still using and what I already have at home! Definitely need to cut down on purchasing new things but it's so hard to resist the temptation. 


The sad thing is most of this stuff hasn't even been used - shoved to the back of my cupboard and forgotten about for months. I'm planning on attempting to use each product at least once over the summer so I can see what is good and what isn't. I also have a Schwarzkopf Got2B Straightening Kit which I've been dying to try out but just haven't had the time so hopefully I will give that a go and review it on here!


Thursday 24 May 2012

Sun

Haven't had much time to blog lately - mainly due to the fact that I have an essay due on Monday that I have no idea what to write for. I also have left most of my beauty products at home as I'm beginning to move out of my university house for the summer.
One of the products I have left at home is my suncream...and as you can see I suffered without it yesterday! I really wasn't expecting such nice weather in my last week of university so I was pleasantly surprised to see the sun shining and with temperatures soaring up to the high 20's I definitely needed sun protection.

I'm being sensible today and staying indoors to write my essay, it's definitely much cooler indoors too which is a bonus!


I'm loving my Models Own Hed Kandi Beach Party polish in this weather! Definitely one for the summer days! 


Sunday 20 May 2012

Review: Models Own Hed Kandi Beach Party

As soon as I saw this shade I fell in love - it's perfect for the summer and I can't way to wear it on my holiday to Turkey at the end of August. 
It's bright and bold - some people might describe it as garish but I think it's fabulous! 
The colour itself is similar to that of an orange highlighter and after two layers it was perfect! It's got a matte finish like most neon shades have so a top coat is essential (unless you like the matte finish that is) This is one shade that will really set off a tan but I'm not sure if it will work on extremely pale skin...I'm not very tanned at the moment and it's looking a bit much for me! I've layered some Nails Inc Nail Jewellery over the top of it to make it a bit more special - especially as the weather isn't fantastic at the moment. 
I've only had this on a couple of hours and already received a lot of compliments which can only mean one thing - this polish is amazing!
I've downloaded an app called PicStitch for my iPhone which I think is going to make uploading photos to my blog a lot easier plus help with the presentation.


After looking at the picture I'm thinking that the polish actually looks better without the nail jewellery over the top as it's so bold. Oh well you live and learn!



Saturday 19 May 2012

Todays purchases

I had my driving theory test this morning and as I passed first time I thought I'd treat myself to some new beauty bits. I could have purchased a lot more as I saw several things I wanted but I decided to stop myself so I can save money for my driving lessons!

As you can see I bought a range of stuff including nail polish, lip products, razor, hairbrush and bubble bath.

Out of my purchases my favourites are:
L-R HedKandi Beach Party, Nail Art Pen White and Beetlejuice Indian Ocean. (All Models Own)
I have been wanting both of these nail colours for a while as I think they're both perfect for summer. Boots have an offer on at the moment where you get a free nail art pen (worth £6) when you buy two Models Own products. I chose the white nail pen as I already have a black nail art pen and I wasn't too sure if the other colours available would be as versatile. 

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick - Shade 19
I had a similar shade lipstick to this before from ELF but unfortunately during a drunk night out it snapped in half. I've been searching for something similar for weeks and this is the closest I've come! Definitely going to keep this one safe! 

When I get the chance/use the products I'm going to review them on here so keep checking back for them :)



Friday 18 May 2012

Review: Nails Inc Nail Jewellery

I couldn't wait to return home today as I knew my Nails Inc Nail Jewellery in Burlington Arcade would have arrived. I've literally just finished painting my nails and I couldn't even wait for them to dry to blog about this amazing product. This is why my nails haven't been tidied up in the pictures - I'm far too impatient!
When I opened the package I was a bit disappointed as the glitter in the bottle all looked the same shape and size - completely different to what was shown on the internet. However after painting it on my nails I could see all the different shapes and sizes of the glitter which is what makes this unique. Each nail looks different which I love!


The polish itself is the best glitter I've had by far! I know I said this the other day about the Models Own Ibiza Mix but this one is incredible. One coat covered the full nail without one single bit of dragging which is often unheard of with glittery polishes.
I layered mine over Barry M Black 47 nail polish and I can't wait to try it over different colours as well as trying the other Nail Jewellery shades. 


If you haven't bought this yet then I would recommend that you do! You will love it! 




Thursday 17 May 2012

Nail Wraps

I'm really wanting to try nail wraps at home but the last time I got them I made a complete mess of them. Has anybody got any tips for using them? 
Thought I'd share some designs that I really want to purchase, definitely going to order at least one set once I think I'd be able to get the hang of using them.
As you can see I'm not really fussy with which I buy - these are all available from ASOS for  £6.70. Or if you're lucky and get student discount and get 10% off!