OPI- I Don't Give a Rotterdam!

I recently purchased this polish at a local cosmetic store. I felt the need to purchase a new polish (even though I own more than enough!) and this was what caught my eye at the time. It's a blue/grey with a lot of opalescent shimmer. I really love this colour! As with most OPI polishes it paints really well with a nice consistency, however I have only used two coats and I haven't achieved complete coverage, however I quite like it this way. I would really recommend this colour as I can see it becoming one of my favourites because I love the way it looks, especially for these cold and rainy days in the England!

xoxo

Nail Polish Collection- OPI

I've always been a big fan of OPI, but I've never been able to walk into a store and look through the colours. As I find using the on-line swatches don't display the actual colour- until a few years ago when a small independent cosmetic store opened in a nearby town.

These polishes are available on-line at BeautyBay

Although the polishes retail at £11, they can often be found for around £9-£10 in store. With this in mind, they are well worth the money! With a good top coat applied, the polish will last for (as I have found) up to a week. They are well pigmented and few coats are needed to achieve a full coverage.

L-R Clubbing Till Sunrise, Koala Bear-y, Dutch Tulips

Clubbing Till Sunrise: Shimmery orange, this is one of my mums favourite colour to wear, however it doesn't compliment pale skin tones.
Koala Bear-y: Deep pink, I haven't found a colour similar to this. I love the colour and it looks very nice on it's own for a summer shade.
Dutch tulips: Similar to Koala Bear-y but a tiny bit redder. Can be a dupe for No.7 by Boots 'Pink Grapefruit'

L-R Your Web or Mine?, Bright Lights- Big Colour,
Nothin' Mousie 'bout it

L-R Thanks a Windmillion, Who the Shrek are you?

Your Web or Mine?: Shimmery pink'purple polish, from 'The Amazing Spiderman' collection. Perfect for winter evenings.
Bright Lights- Big Colour: Opalescent glistening coral from the 'Brights' collection.
Nothin' mousie 'bout it: This very bright pink looks extremely lovely over black. The pink heart sequins look very pretty however they are difficult to get out of the bottle.



Thanks a Windmillion: This pastel green/grey is a prefect girly winter colour, although not the normal colour it will look great with a cosy knitted jumper out in the cold.
Who the Shrek are you?: This bright green is a very nice colour for the spring, however it can stain the nail even when a base coat is applied. I would recommend a coat of white underneath the polish.

L-R The Living Daylights, Pirouette My Whistle

The Living Daylights: This gold, silver, bronze and turquoise glitter looks great over a coat of Thanks a Windmillion. I have found the OPI glitters very useful as more product is left on the nail than other brands.
Pirouette My Whistle: I bought this colour to wear at my year 11 prom as it matched the sequins on my dress, and I have found it a useful glitter to own as it had a great effect on snow on some winter designs.

L-R Rapi-Dry Top Coat

Rapi-Dry Top Coat: I have loved using this top coat. It has the perfect consistency and prevents chipping like nothing else. However, on the downside I was unable to finish this bottle as the brush became detached from the inside of the lid; unfortunately I haven't as of yet been able to purchase a new one.

L-R Maintenance, Original, Original (Nail Envy)

Maintenance and Original: I know that everybody on the internet raves about Nail Envy, but it really is the shining star of all nail products. I am currently on my third bottle in less than a year, and it works wonders. It has strengthened my nails so I am able to wear nail polish almost every day without my nails starting to split of feeling soft and weak. Unless someone can create a better nail product; there will always be a bottle of this in my collection.

Overall I really love OPI nail polishes. They are all perfectly pigmented and have the right consistency. Although they are more expensive, they are well worth the money! I can't wait to take a look at the new liquid sand polishes!

xoxo

Best and Worst High Street Products of 2012 TAG

I have been asked to join this TAG by my friend Ella. I was apprehensive to answer these questions at first- as I don't tend to wear much make up. However the few beauty products I do own, I know what works for me and what doesn't. It have been lovely looking through all those who have already replied to the TAG as I know what I'll be looking out for to purchase these coming months! Here goes...

Q1: What was your favourite high street make up brand of 2012?

I haven't purchased that many beauty products this year, though of all of it I really am loving No.7! Although at the more pricey end of the high street brands out there, it can be purchased throughout all Boots stores! I have really impressed with the consistency of their liquid products, however the pigmentation on their more vibrant eye shadows can sometimes let them down! 

Q2: What is your least favourite high street product?

My least favourite high street product of 2012 has to be the Body Shop cheek and lip stains. I found that the pigmentation of the products was misleading of that shown in the tube. Whilst they look very pretty and have a nice range of colours, I found that with both I purchased, the colour was weak and the product was gone within minutes of applying. 

Q3: What's the best high street bargain you've bought?

My favourite high street bargain this year has definitely been the Revlon 'Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup' As I have a pretty even skin tone and my skin doesn't tend to break out, I don't need a heavy coverage. I found this provided the perfect light/medium coverage whilst being a cheaper version of Soap and Glory's 'Glow Job' which I still love! I believe I purchased this for around £3-4 however I don't think they stock it any more!

Q4: Which high street product did you buy that wasn't worth the hype?

Rimmel 'Scandal Eyes Show Off' mascara! I hadn't bought a new for months and thought it was about time to get a new one as my old ones were starting to run out. I purchased this on the basis of many wonderful reviews- I am sorry to say I was disappointed. I product was too think, far too much came off on the brush and it made my lashes stick together!

Q5: Which product wins your award for the best high street product of 2012?

Bourjois Kohl and Contour eye liners! I know these have been available for a while now, but after purchasing three more this year I have become addicted. I find they are very easy to work with, and the colours of the pencil show extremely well. They are very good to blend and have to win this spot as best high street product!

I tag:
Hermione
Jess
Kasia

Josephine

xoxo

Early Spring Nails,

I know it's too early, but the sun was out and I was feeling like Spring was on the horizon (even though we have a couple of months to go) so I painted my nails to match, I chose a pale blue polish with fimo cane flowers and jewels.

Here is the look I will be achieving:

Step one: clean all nails of any old polish residue, attend to cuticles and file if necessary.

Step two: layer with a coat of your favourite base coat, I have used OPI original nail envy.

Step three: paint with 1-3 coats of a colour of your choice, I'd go for a pastel. I am using Barry M gelly nail paint in blueberry.

Step four: once that has all dried, get your fimo cane and cut into thin enough slices (unless pre-cut), place a spot of clear nail polish onto the areas you will be applying these two on your nail and place onto the nail using tweezers. I purchased my canes from a local beauty store, however they are available on-line on websites such as Ebay and Amazon.

In this design I am only using this for an accent nail as it looks quite extravagant, however you can apply this design to all of the nails is desired.

Step five: do the same for the jewels, placing them in the empty spaces between the fimo cane. I received mine for Christmas, but I believe they are from New Look. However can be purchased on-line.

Step six: apply a top coat over all on the nails to seal in the polish and your design, this won't ruin the effect of the 3D design but it will help to last for longer. I used OPI rapi-dry top coat.

Step seven: If necessary, clean the edges of the nail with a nail corrector pen or cue-tip dipped in polish remover.

You are finished with your design!

Enjoy!

xoxo

New years nails...

So here is another colour choice for the post below, I wasn't too keen on the pink so painted my other hand in blue in the same way :)

 (keep in mind that I haven't cleaned the edges yet)

xoxo

Bright start to the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

This is the first time I have painted my nails in 2013, and I thought that despite the fact it's winter, I should start this year with a bright and sparkly nail design to get me started. I have been inspired by all the ombre nails recently and thought that rather than blending the colours, I would keep them in blocks on the nail. This design will use three shades of the same (or similar) colour.

 Here is the design I will be achieving:

(all products to be listed at the end of this tutorial)

First of all you will need to remove all polish currently on the nail, then cut and file the nail to the preferred length and shape- then you can get started.

Step one: paint the nail with your favourite base coat

Step two: paint the darkest of your three chosen colours onto the whole nail

Step three: paint the middle colour on the tip of the nail at a slanted angle 

(you can use cello tape to help paint in a straight line)

Step four: with the lightest colour, do the same leaving a line of the middle colour showing

Step five: using a glitter polish in your chosen colour, paint over the lightest colour to add a sparkle

Step six: paint the nail with one layer of your favourite top coat

Now is the time to use a nail corrector pen or a cuetip dipped in nail polish remover to remove any excess polish from around the nail

Here is your finished design

Products I used: 

Cutex nourishing nail polish remover

Champneys glass nail file

Ms.Manicure nail file

OPI original Nail Envy

Barry M in Coral

Barry M in Pink Flamingo

Barry M in Strawberry Ice Cream

Barry M in Rose Quartz

OPI RapiDry topcoat

Orly Flawless Fix Nail Corrector Pen

I hope you all had a wonderful new year and enjoy the year ahead with lots more posts to come!

xoxo