NOTD // Models Own Hyper Gel

Hello lovelies! For my latest nails of the day I have been trying out a recently purchased Models Own Hyper Gel gel effect polish in Lilac Sheen. As I was madly in love with my Hyper Gel Turquoise Gloss I bought a 10 piece set containing a gorgeous variety of colours (you'll see the rest in my haul). 

The first to try out from the set if this lovely pastel lilac shade, perfect for Spring time.

 Having high hopes after being so impressed with my last Hyper Gel I was extremely disappointed with this one! Surely you would think the formula would be the same across the range? Unfortunately apparently not! The consistency was nowhere near as thick and I had to apply 3 coats to achieve an opaque finish, which of course added to the application and the drying time. Managed to go for a few days without chipping, but nothing above average. Although I love the colour (and would wear the polish based on that) I was really hoping it would be easy to apply and have the anticipated shiny gel-like finish which it was kinda lacking. Nevertheless, I will work through the set and hope for the best.

Has anyone else found this problem with some of the shades from the Hyper Gel range?

Christmas Day NOTD // Barry M and Nails inc.

Merry Christmas y'all! Hope you have had a great festival season eating lots of food and spending time with your family.

 

Christmas is one of my favourite times of your when it comes to experimenting with beauty products as there is glitter and sparkle everywhere, with a constant excuse to wear sparkly nail polish. For my Christmas day nails I used the Barry M Superdrug Xmas 2012 Limited Edition polish (a silvery blue shade) as my base colour with the Nails Inc Nail Jewellery polish in Piccadilly Arcade - which is a gorgeous glittery green. I have a feeling that the gorgeous Piccadilly Arcade is soon to become my favourite nail polish of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

I am now off to enjoy the boxing day sales - hope you are too!

 

 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

 

NOTD // Christmas Party nails with Jack Wills

 

In the run up to the New Year I like to sift through all of my make-up boxes, drawers, bags and any other random places to dig out forgotten treasures that tend to get saved for special occasions but  then seem to be hidden forever. In my recent find I discovered a 'Holiday Season' nail varnish set by Jack Wills, with 5 gorgeous colours to choose from. Purchased some time ago, I think I've only ever managed to use one of them, with 4 more autumnal/fall colours yet to play with. With my work Christmas party coming up next week I decided to go with a gorgeous glitter fuchsia combination in the shades Cerise and Pink Glitter, as a trial run.

 

Here is the finished product:

 

 

(It looks much shinier in person, I promise)

 

 

Glittery pinks and purples are perfect for the party season and now is the time to dig yours out! As much as I love this colour combo I was really not impressed with the quality of these polishes, especially Cerise. Not for writing negative reviews usually, but I think that nail varnishes are definitely not JW's strong point. The base polish tried with translucent finish, which in my opinion doesn't look nice at all with darker colour. Two coats later the covering still wasn't too my taste. The pink glitter disguised this so well and I was initially very happy the finished effect. unfortunately on the second day of wear I noticed some chipping! Quick chipping polish is a big issue for me and happens fairly quickly no matter which brand I use, but to only make it one day in perfect condition, was a bit much. I will keep rooting through my collection to find a similar shade to go with the pink dress I will be wearing to my Christmas party.

 

What colours are you wearing this party season?

 

 

 

 

Discovery // Cosmetics Fairy!

I first found about the Cosmetics Fairy website probably a few months, whilst watching one of Miss Budget Beauty's lovely haul videos. Already a massive fan of Fragrance Direct I'm always on the look for new discount websites with a good product offering. Although the choice was limited in my opinion, I managed to find some brilliant bargains. At the moment there is free delivery on orders over £10 (not sure if this a promotion or a permanent fixture) so I just couldn't help myself and picked up a few bits. Believe it or not... all but one of the items were 99p or less! What a bargain? I was one very happy girl! Here is what I purchased:

Bourjois Effet 3D Les Nudes Lipgloss in 37 Rose or Chic,  L'Oreal Project Runway Ltd Edition Blusher in 625 Audacious Amazons Blush, L'Oreal Project Runway Nail Polish in 291 The Queens Ambition, L’Oreal Infallible Lipstick in 112 Unending Kiss , L'Oreal Infallible Lip Balm Refill, Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Polish in 901 Golden Conduct, Bourjois Brush Foundation in 32 Rose Clair (tester size), Lash Perfect La La Lashes False Eyelashes in Desire. Maybelline Color show Fashion Nail Stickers in 05 Fierce Snake. And lastly, I don't think it is possible to browse a discount cosmetics website and not pick up an Essie nail polish (stocks permitting) so I got two Essie Mini Nail Lacquer Nail Polishes in Smooth Sailing and Braziliant.

 

I also picked up the Bourjois Ombre A Paupieres Eyeshadow Intense in T08 (not pictured) which is a shimmery dark chocolate brown shade. This came in tester packaging and was only 50p!

Overall I was very pleased with my shopping experience, as the website was easy to use and the products arrived well before the estimated delivery date which was a lovely surprise. With such unbeatable prices I will definitely be shopping on Cosmeticsfairy.com again!

　

　 

NOTD // Models Own Hyper Gel

 

This has been my absolute go to nail polish for the majority of the summer. Having mixed feelings about previous Models Own nail polishes, I was only too keen to try out this HyperGel gel effect formula hoping this would be the one to win me over. For a very modest price tag of £5 I was very impressed! An absolute sucker for a gorgeous pink polish I did my best to restrain myself and branch out to a lovely mint green shade in Turquoise Gloss.

 The formula was of a good consistency, much thicker than the Barry M Gelly polishes, which I much preferred. It was easy to apply and it gave great coverage after just one coat (I applied two coats). The polish lasted around 4/5 days before any chips appeared, which for me, seemed like magic! To top it off, the finish is gorgeous and shiny as though a high shine top coat has been applied (not very visible in the photo unfortunately). I would love to stock up on these and try out a few more, however the colour selection doesn't seem to be particularly amazing so I am not sure which of the others I would go for. Extremely happy with this product, in fact I would probably have to say it is one of the best polishes I've purchased in a long time!

 

Have you tried any of the Hyper Gel polishes? Would love to hear some recommendations on which one I should get next!

 

 

 

NOTD // Tanya Burr Nail Polish

 

Ahh I was so excited when the wonderful Tanya Burr brought out her Lips and Nails collection, jut couldn't wait to get my hands on a few bits! With so many gorgeous colours on offer it was hard to pick a favourite but I finally settled for the fantastic Be Bright, Be Happy, Be you.

 

 

 

 

Not sure what to expect, I was extremely pleased with how well this polish lasted! Even without top coat I can get around 3 days wear prior to the appearance of any chips. The colour is really bright with a lovely shiny finish. The only issue I found was the consistency of the formula. It was quite runny and difficult for me to work with, especially when applying the first coat. The second is usually easier to apply but still not a particularly easy process, but definitely worth it when you have this gorgeous shade as the finished effect!

 

Have you tried any of the Tanya Burr collection polishes? Which one's your favourite?

 

 

 

A Few Bits from Fragrance Direct...

 

Fragrance Direct is an addiction... and I just can't stop giving in ...

 

Once again, battling with a basket full of abut 40 items I had to be realistic and narrow down my choices to what I actually "needed"... or so I tried to tell myself anyway. This little haul consisted of:

 

Korres Silk Milk Conditioner for Chemically Treated Hair

 

Mark Hill Overnight Miracle Repair Treatment

 

 

 

I seem to have developed a desire to purchase a silly amount of nail products which I never get round to use, but here are some more:

 

Essie Grow Richer Nourishing Growth Base Coat

 

Bourjois 10 Day Anti Choc No Chips Nail Polish in 25

 

Orly Nail polish in Seashell (gorgeous colour, review to come soon!)

 

Rochas One Coat Nail Lacquer in Antique Pink 12

 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Nail Polish in 824 (I already have a similar one in 822, but I couldn't resist and hoping this one will be just as gorgeous!)

 

 

 

Followed by a few eye products:

 

Pupa Extrapearl Eyeshadow in shade 12

 

Bourjois Clubbing Liner in Bronze Dance

 

La La Lashes in Diamond

 

 

And a few random bits to finish off:

 

Lee Stafford Fake My Tan in the shade light to medium

 

L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Pink Fever 285

 

 

 

Have you tried any of these products? Let me know what I've got to look forward to!

 

 

 

NOTD: Rich Red, Ready for Valentine’s Day

Today’s nails are a rich red colour by Urban Outfitters, perfect for Valentine’s Day. I purchased this as part of a set, a loooong time ago in America, so chances are, Urban Outfitters don’t make this one anymore. There doesn’t seem to be a colour or a number on the bottle, but I always refer to it as my sparkly rich red polish. I’ve searched high and low and don’t seem to be able to find the name! One of the other polished which came in the set is a glittery silver call After Hours. If anyone has any clue to which collection this may be from, I would really appreciate it if you let me know J.

 

I love this polish because the glitter is small but thick, making the polish not at all gloopy, but easy to apply evenly. The only downside is the crazy rate at which it chips! Every time I wear it, I can usually spot the tiniest chips of at least one nail, the next day. However when it comes to actually removing it, it’s impossible to shift without giving your nails a good scrub! It is such a pretty colour, so I think I can deal with the chips.

 

Here is a shot with  no filter.

 

 

 

 

NOTD: Models Own Southern Lights

 

 

 

This gorgeous and extremely sparkly nail polish is eagerly fighting its way to the top of the list for my favourite polish already. I have been using it all throughout January and absolutely love it! The Models Own Southern Lights is a stunning pale silvery blue glitter nail polish with multicoloured flecks. I find it is the most effective when two coats are applied. This polish looks absolutely amazing if it's sunny outside or your hands are wet, as it reflects light in such a pretty way. It is nice to work with and I found it is generally chip free for the first couple of days after application, however my nails tips don't seem to last any longer than that. I sort of find I have to keepreapplying the tips often, but i get that problem wth a lot of glitter nail polishes.

 

 

 

Overall: This polish is sooo beautiful and I would highly recommend you all to try it out!

 (As the first pic was instagrammed, here is one of the originals so you can see the true colour)

 

 

Enjoy :)

 

 

 

　

NOTD: Still Feeling Festive with L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Vernis Glitter

Although the Christmas party season is officially over I can't help but feel festive with this black and gold L'Oreal Colour Riche Le Vernis Glitter nail polish in 822 Bronze Parure (from a 2013 collection I believe).

 

 

This was a Fragrance Direct steal which I purchased some time in November for only £1.30!!! Imagine?? But did not have a chance to review it. This nail polish is absolutely gorgeous! I generally prefer lighter polishes but thought it would be nice to true something new. This polish has a thick-ish black base with bits of gold glitter and sparkles, of various sizes. I applied 2 coats and was very impressed with the product! I did feel it was a little more suited for evening wear, but it was nice to admire the gorgeous sparkles and brighten up my day at whilst at work. Lovely, lovely, lovely, would highly recommend it! Will definitely try t pick up some other colours in the Le Vernis Glitter range.
Enjoy!

 

Have you used any of the nail polishes in this range? Go ahead and try them!

Festive NOTW: Special mention - Models Own Catherine Wheel

 

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas with lots of presents and even more food! I am still in the festive spirit and so so excited for what the New Year has to bring!

My Christmas day choice for nails of the day were the beautiful red Nails inc St. James and the chunky glitter Models Own Catherine Wheel.

 

 

 

 

Nails inc St. James

 

  

Models Own Catherine Wheel

　

　

Both of these nail polishes = amazing!

 

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTD: Barry M and Essie Lux Effects

 
Embracing winter and wishing for a white Christmas, these nails reminded me of snowy winter mornings and glistening snow flakes! After neglecting my nails for a while, this week's creation entailed a Barry M Nail Paint in 66 Matt White and an Essie Lux Effects Multi Dimensional Top Coat in Shine of the Times.

 

 

 

The matt white polish was a recent purchase, as I have so many glitter top coats and nothing to wear underneath them. I usually find Barry M polishes to be reasonably nice, unfortunately this one did not impress. I could do purely down to the colour, but I did not feel like the consistency of the polish was sufficient to stop it from being opaque after 2 coats. will stick with it though and attempt to improve my application methods!

The Essie Lux Effect polish on the other hand is absolutely AMAZING! It is gorgeous and so soo versatile! It can be worn over the top of any colour, and would look cute worn on its own if you wanted just a pinch of sparkle.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy :)

 

 

 

Nails Inc. polish // Free with Glamour Magazine

 

December's edition of the Glamour magazine came with a selection of gorgeous Nails inc. nail polishes from the Kate Spade collection, with 4 colours to choose from. By now I suspect many of you have already seen this but I thought  I would share anyway. The choices were black, red, silver and neutral and as I'm a big fan of pale polishes I went for this lovely neutral beigey colour. The colour is lovely and just like the rest of the Nails inc. polishes the formula lasts really well. I was also astonished at how incredibly quickly it dried! Impressive for a free gift.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a bargain price of £2 I might grab another copy as the silver from range looks really pretty too.

If you haven't already got your hands on (at least) 1 of these GO GO GO!

 

 

 

November Wishlist

Just a quick snapshot of the things I've been lusting after this month:

1. A faux fur coat from New Look, which can be found here. Absolute love fur coats! As much as I'd love a real one faux fur will have to do for now. Every year New Look tend to have a pretty collection on coats, especially these sorts. Having had a part time job at New Look whilst at University it's pretty hard accepting the fact that I don't get a discount anymore... however this does not seem to deter me, but takes a hit on my bank balance instead.

2. Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb perfume, which can be found here. Oh my god, this smells absolutely amazing! For lover of Viva la Juicy and other sweet scents I think this will just for you. Although the scent is lovely I  feel it is a bit heavy so may be more suitable for evening/night time wear.

3. Bourjois Volume Clubbing mascara, which can be found here. Being a massive fan of the Bourjois Volumiser 2 step mascara it seems like a good idea to try out another mascara from this brand. Got very high expectations for this one!

4. Barry M eye shadow palette in Natural Glow, which can be found here. A recent release I believe, and  at a very reasonable price... just luring me in to try them out. A girl can't have too many neutral eye shadows... right?

5. Nails inc base coat, which can be found  here. Now that winter is coming - the season for dark and sparkly polishes, it's probably a good idea to invest in a decent base coat to protect my nails. A bit pricey for a base coat but I absolutely love the quality of the Nails inc polishes so hoping this little one works just as well.

6. Topshop lip cream in Daze, which can be found here. There's a really cute selection of colours and after having a play around with the testers, they smell soooo nice! A really sweet vanilla scent, which would be an absolute joy on the lips! Yum yum!

Have you tried any of these products (or have the coat)? Would love to hear what you thought!