Quick and easy galaxy nails?

Use Models Own's Thunder and Lightening! 

Just a black base coat and 2 coats of the polish and here you go!

Autumn Nails

Just thought I would show you what I am wearing on my nails as the weather has turned!

Revlon Brilliant Strength - 160 Dominant - This is a rich chocolate brown and is an alternative to a black as it is quite dark. I love the brush on this as it is quite thick so you can cover one nail in one sweep!

Essie - 43 It's Genius - This is a burgundy purple with lovely gold shimmer. This is so opulent and will carry you through Autumn and the festive period.

Nails Inc. - Victoria - This is my all time favorite autumn winter colour.it is a deep red/burgundy colour which looks really classy and last a week on my nails.

When it starts getting towards December I tend to start adding a glitter top coat to my nail polish too. If you cant wear glitter in December when can you wear it!?

NOTD Rainbow

I have only ever tried this Marks and Spencer Long Wear Nail Lacquer but I love it! The formulation is just right, not too thick or thin. It drys mega quick to a high sine finish.

This shade is Rainbow and gives a gorgeous hologram effect!

Love it!

Though I think it may have been discontinued as I can't find it on their website! I hate it when that happens!

Swapsies with Smoking Peaches!

So I posted on twitter a while back that I wanted to do a swap with some. 

1. Because I love buying for others and 2. Because who doesn't like receiving things through the post right?!

The lovely Carlyn of the blog Smoking Peaches replied to my tweet and wanted to swap! We messaged each other with some likes and dislikes, set a limit of £10 -15 (I think?!) and away we went!

I have had mine packed and read to send for 2 weeks but because the postal service has been cut to nothing I haven't been able to post till today. I live in Sheffield when I am at uni and could I find a post office near me?! Even Doncaster has a central post office! 

Anyway...

I came home yesterday from university to my parents house to fine my parcel from Carlyn sat on my bed. 

I sat with my mum when I opened it and the first thing she said was 'Oh she must know you well because you would have picked those things for yourself', when I told her I'd never met Carlyn she said she must be psychic (my mother is rather special!). 

So this is what I got!

Yankee Candle Tart in Lemon Lavender - I love these tarts! I think they fill a room up better than the candles. I am going to save this till I move back home in July so I can get the full effect. I can't use candles in my flat and to be quite honest its probably a good thing or I would burn the place down!

Pen and Mini notebook - I love stationary so I am well chuffed with this. I will be using my pen when I am back in lectures and the notepad is perfect for having in my pocket when I am out on placement! 

Key Ring and Lip balm  - I love keyrings and I think this one will go nicely with my Hello Kitty ones on my car keys. I also have a lip balm holder on my keys too so I think this one will look better in it than my rubbish old chapstick!

Revlon Nail Enamel 211 Charming - Pretty lilac colour for spring! I love the formula of Revlon colors, I bought a yellow one last year and had it on my toes all spring and summer. Think this will replace that one this year!

Some cute Japanese (?) sweeties! I have no idea what these are but the are super tasty! I have munched them all already!

Thanks Carlyn! 

I hope you like yours when you eventually receive it!

All in all I have really enjoyed my swap experience! I don't think I could ever be disappointed by swaps because I am so easy to buy for. 

I don't have many dislikes.

I have one other swap on the go at the moment but if anyone else is interested, maybe from overseas, then just get in touch!

Hyde Park Mews and Nails inc bargains!

Procrastination earlier led me to paint my nails!

Nails inc. - Hyde park mews.

You can get this colour for only £6.95 (+ £2 p&p).

*HERE*

What a bargain eh?!

My Nails Inc. Collection

I love Nails Inc. (And no I haven't been paid to do this post!)

Just thought I would share my love of Nails Inc. with you all! I have been a fan for some time now. I just love how easy they are to apply, how the colour is exactly as it looks in the bottle and how long lasting they are. 

I do have a lot of drug store nail polishes and do use them but I really enjoy applying Nails Inc.

I find the consistency of the polishes just right, thick but not too sticky and thick that they are hard to work with or take ages to dry. They nearly always go on evenly and most only need one coat.

Here are the polishes I own so far. I did have more but I have used them up (and some I have misplaced!).

Top row - 

1. hydepark corner / 2. hyde park mews / 3. fulham palace road / 4. cromwell road / 5. sydney street / 6. bruton street.

Middle row -

8. belgrave place / 9. denim / 10. henrietta street / 11. tate / 12. savile row / 13.  victoria / 14. union street.

Bottom row-

15. candy street / 16. the hurlingham / 17. hans road / 18. monmouth street / 19. shoreditch / 20. oxford circus.

Others -

 Left to Right - Kensington caviar basecoat, Kensington caviar 45 second topcoat, Albert bridge topcoat, Matte effect top coat.

I am also a fan of their base and top coats. I have definitively seen an improvement on the longevity of my polish if I wear both the Kensington Caviar top and base coat. I would say I get an extra 2 days wear than if I didn't use it. Both the Caviar and the Albert bridge top coats give a gorgeous wet look shine. The matte effects top coat does exactly what it says! I find I can wear brighter colours all year round with this rather than saving them for summer!

I have purchased all of these myself, 7 and 9 were from the Diet Coke promotions they have done in the past.

I am not a huge fan of the mini bottles that I bought as a collection because I find them a little fiddly but they are good if you want to try out a variety of colours.

I do think these polishes are quite pricey at  £11 a bottle and £12 for the top and base coats but in my opinion they are the best out of the high end polishes and at the moment there is a SALE!

I think a good and cheaper alternative are the Models Own, I own a fair few of those as well!

I would say the most worn out of these have to be number 1,7 13!

Is there any colour out there that I just HAVE to try?!

Loves xxx

Fulham Palace Road

Love this gorgeous milky beige. 

Reminds me of Caramac! 

Nails Inc. - Fulham Palace Road

(My Nails Inc. collection to follow.)

Loves xxx

'It's Time to Rock!'

Very impressed with this nail varnish. 

Great thick brush and 2 coats was plenty! 

I wish I could buy more!

Sephora - It's Time to Rock

Loves xxx

OPI Nail Envy Matte Review

My nails are and always have been rubbish! Until I tried OPI Nail Envy Original. When using it correctly and religiously it makes my nails long and strong. However, I came to the end of my bottle and I could not face spending the £18.55 price tag for another bottle! So I just went a bit crazy with nail polish for 2 months. Now my nails are in a poor state.

On Christmas day I opened this little beauty and jumped for joy! Now I can try the matte version and get my nails tip top for the new year!

OPI Nail Envy Matte - £18.55 (*Click*)

As you can see the Matte version is a whitish cloudy polish where the Original is clearer but a little yellowy. With the Original I found that by the end of the week my nails did look a bit discolored from all the layers of polish.

How to use -

With both products you have to apply 2 coats onto bare clean nails, then every other day apply another coat. After a week of doing this remove with OPI Nail Polish Remover (£7.30) with cotton wool and start again.

My nails before applying the OPI Nail Envy Matte -

Short brittle, splitting and pealing!

After applying 2 coats onto clean nails -

As you can see my nails do look a bit neater but aren't overly shiny. With the original they go a lot glossier. You get a much more natural look with the Matte, if anything they just look buffed!

Nails after a week of applying every other day -

Looking longer but a little bit shabby! I have been to Rome sight seeing in the cold every day and forgot to take hand cream!

Removed with OPI Remover -

Nails after filing and re-applying -

My nails had grown longer but because they had peeled before I applied the first coat of Nail Envy, when I removed it I needed to file the tips down where they had flaked. The next time I have to remove the treatment I don't think I will need to file them as much so they will start to look longer. I think you can see from the first picture to the last a definite improvement. Less peeling and they look healthier. 


I think I do prefer the Matte to the Original as it gives a more natural look and doesn't go as yellow as the Original. As for the performance...I feel they both do exactly the same job.


I will definitely be purchasing the Matte once I have used this bottle up no matter how much it pains me to pay the price!

Loves xxx

2011 Favorites

So another year is nearly down (cries!) and many products have been used. Here are the ones I have discovered, rediscovered and adored!

Make Up

MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC15 - This lives in my handbag. Perfect for touch ups!

MAC Powder Blush in Coygirl - In my make up bag all year. Perfect subtle pink for day and night.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation (Combination/Oily) in Ivory - The foundation I have been searching for all my life! Perfect colour match.

ELF Studio Powder Brush - Used for applying my foundation leaving a flawless finish.

Rimmel Matte White eyeshadow - Everyone needs a matte white eyeshadow and this is as good as any I have used.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara in Black - Claims it lasts 15hrs without smudging...it does last 15hrs and I love it!

Estee Lauder Lash Primer Plus - Improved my lashes no end and adds mucho volume!

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Creme Cup - Glides on and looks so pretty. My 'Go to' MAC lipstick.

ELF Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink - MAC Creme Cup dupe if you ask me! This usually finds itself in my handbag in case I forget my Creme Cup!

Skin Care

Liz Earle Smoothing Line Serum - As I am in my late 20's now I am thinking of lines! I'm not sure if this is helping but it feels nice!

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser in Dry/Sensitive - I use this as a night cream after my serum. Skin soaks it in and feels super smooth in the morning.

Elemis Sensitive Cleansing Wash - Replaced my Cleanse and Polish and I love it so!

Elemis Soothing Apricot Toner - Replaced my Liz Earle Skin Tonic...Sorry Liz! But Elemis seems to suit me so well.

The Body Shop Coconut Milk Body Lotion - I hate thick greasy mosturisers for my body. I have dry itchy legs and cannot stand emollients. I have fallen for this product so hard! It is light, milky and soaks in so quickly. Smooth, silky, gorgeous smelling legs!

Ultrasun Face SPF 30 - Just to reassure me I am doing everything I can not to go wrinkly! Great base for my everyday make up too!

Liz Earle Muslin Cloths - Now Liz says they don't work well with other products...I use them with my Elemis and they work better with that! I couldn't live without them!

 Hair

Umberto Giannini Backcomb In A Bottle - Some people really don't like this but when you get it right...its fabulous!

Umberto Giannini Volumising Blow Drying Spray - Not sure they still sell this now or they have repackaged it but it gives an extra lift and protection.

Bed Head Hard Head Hairspray - Shine and hold...perfect :)

VO5 Give Me Texture Instant Oomph Powder - Gives my hair a sexy oomph indeed! Seeing these powders a lot in salons now too.

Batiste Dry Shampoo - A Classic!

Goody Cushion Brush - I got a Tangle Teezer for Christmas and must admit I love it but this is a pretty good brush. I use it every time I blow dry and since I'v started using it haven't had to use straighteners which is very impressive if you ask me!

Nails

OPI Nail Varnish Remover - Super fast acting and has helped me keep my nails somewhat healthier this year.

Nails inc. Polish in Victoria - I have had this for a number of years but this year I got A LOT of use!

Leighton Denny Crystal Nail File - I wouldn't ever think of using a bog standard file ever again.

Leighton Denny Precision Corrector Liquid and Brush - You know those corrector pens you get? Well this is 10x better than those!

OPI Original Nail Envy - Has saved my nails in 2011 without a doubt. On it's own, base coat and top... definitely worth the price.

Randoms!

H&M brown across the body bag - I bought this in August and have worn it every day since (well nearly every day!).

DAB Radio Alarm Clock - Great alarm! It is usually tuned into BBC Radio 5 Live...Yeah I like my talk radio!

Filofax Personal Organiser - This was a Christmas present in 2010 and it has my life in it!

ASOS Silver retro digital watch - Got this for £7 in an ASOS sale. Love it for casual outfits and it was a bargain!

Look Magazine - Bought every week in 2011, my bf is sick of seeing them laying around!

Well that's it...

HAPPY 2011 AND BRING ON A HAPPY 2012!


Loves xxx

Mavala Christmas Nails!

From my previous nail post you can see I like sparkle at Christmas.

I saw this in John Lewis and thought it was a little more delicate than my first attempt!

Mavala Mini Nail Color in 213 Pure Diamond - 5ml (£4.10).

Beautiful multi coloured glitter polish.

Pictures are with 3 coats.

This particular nail varnish came in Christmas packaging which and be hung on a Christmas tree....Cute!

Loves xxx

Christmas Nails!

So most of my polishes are at home so I had to be kinda creative! This is the sparkly mess I made but I like it!

First I used O.P.I's Nail Envy Original as a base coat.

  

Then two coats of Nails Inc in colour Victoria, four coats of W7 Silver Glitter and one coat of Nails Inc Albert Bridge top coat.

I am not looking forward to removing this! I plan on soaking in O.P.I's Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover and hopefully that will do the trick!

 Loves xxx