Pinterest is awash with inspiration and ideas; from dreamy interiors to endless wanderlust and of course makeup trends. But one beauty item that has blown up in recent years is nail polish with nail polish shade images overtaking nail art.
With seasonal searches bringing a lot of traffic to the platform it's no wonder beauty obsessor and nail addict alike are on the lookout for the best autumnal nail polish shades to add to their collection.
And when I say dupe this polish is certainly a match in colour and even quality.
Whenever a change of season comes around I'm always on the lookout for new nail polish colours to add to my collection - but on a budget.
Over time I've realised that 'budget' doesn't have to mean scrimping on quality, hence why this post is filled with nail polishes from my favourite more premium nail polish brands - Essie, Orly and Ciate. And in some gorgeous autumnal tones!
Read more for nail swatches along with where to find these 5 budget nail polishes perfect for fall...
For the longest time, I've been a fan of Models Own nail polishes. They apply with ease, come in endless shades and last well both on the nails and in terms of product longevity. I love them that much I have around 50+ Model Own shades!
At normally £4.99 each they are pretty mid-price for nail polish and when a shade I like comes out I'm happy to pick it up. However, when browsing eBay last week I came across an amazing offer I just couldn't resist.
For the past few years, Essie has been my go-to nail polish brand due to their wide range of shades and affordable price tag.
I now have quite the collection of Essie nail polishes which take pride of place at the front of my nail polish stash and get used often. However, with endless Essie neutral shades amongst glitters and dark hues for winter, I surprising hadn't tried one of Essie's most coveted nail polishes shades and the only shade Queen Elizabeth wears on her nails!
I've come to realise that I like to 'faff' when it comes to painting my nails. It could actually be compared to the pretty iconic scene in Love Actually where the character played by Rowen Atkinson takes gift wrapping to a whole new level.
In all, I've counted 8 or 9 steps in my nail painting routine, which I like to spread over an evening and turn it into a sort of pampering. I guess because I enjoy painting my nails it's sort of self-care at the end of the day or week. It's also a good excuse to not watch TV (because I can't seem to do two things at once!) or check my phone every 5 minutes. I simply sit and enjoy the process and enjoying having perfectly painted nails at the end of it.
So I thought I'd share my self-care/pampering manicure routine as it keeps my nails in check and is quite therapeutic.
Summer is most definitely here and I'm pretty sure most of us are painting our nails that bit more often. From pastel tones to neon brights, nail polish choices are endless. But it is easy to go for the same type of shades time and time again. So I'm suggesting a bit of a shake up with a few alternative non-typical summer shades that surprisingly work.
Last Thursday saw the first ever Nationa Nail Polish Day... and guess what, I missed it! Yes, it was just a totally made up day from Essie but as a HUGE nail polish lovers I did initially "ooo" at the news.
However, it did make me realise that in the past year Makeup Savvy has been sorely lacking on the nail polish front. I of course still paint my nails, bi-weekly in fact, but I just don't ever think to mention the shades I'm wearing/loving! I'm not sure what's changed but hey ho, here I am sharing some nail polish goodness today. Maybe this post will get me back into nail blogging, who knows!
With a nail polish collection ashamedly well into the hundreds I sat down and took the time to look through it, picking out the shades I use most often. Below I've neatly categorised them by shade, which was a tricky thing to do because this girl loves a nude nail polish, not to mention a pretty full on glitter.
A few weeks ago I got on the gel manicure train. Well I dipped my toes in first with a nail polish to gel kit from SensatioNail (review post) which allows you to transform any normal nail polish into a gel one - pretty cool, right? But since then I've wanted to try out a full gel nail kit with actual gel polishes - 1. To see if the process was easier 2. To indulge my new love of gel nails!
As you can see here I now have a full gel nail starter kit and lots of wonderful gel polishes from Belle Gel that I've been testing out and today I thought I'd give it a full review and my honest options on gel manicures in general... because it's not all positive (see below)!
What you receive in the Belle Gel starter kit
Portable LED lamp, USB lead & mains plug, fabric travel wrap, protector base coat, glossy top coat, 'Ripe Raspberry' gel polish, cleanser & wipe off 30ml, nail file
Price - Belle Gel Starter Kit £54.95 here or Peel Off Gel & Lamp (gel colour not included) £34.95 here. You can also buy additional items from the Bella Gel website such as - nourishing cuticle oil, cuticle pusher, cleanser & wipe off 100ml, gel remover 100ml, foil wraps and 12 gel colours.
My First Gel Manicure
For my first gel manicure I decided I wanted ultra pink nails with Malaga Magic and as you can see it turned out pretty shiny and lovely. Below I've detailed the process, which I found pretty easy and took around 5 minutes per hand. As for how long my nails lasted, it was a good 9 days before a few edges chipped and I had to remove it (which is a longer process of around 20 minutes!). You can also find swatches of the full gel colours to the bottom of this post.
Gel Application
- Prepare: Light buff nails to remove shine. Cleanse to eliminate dust and natural oils.
- Protector Base: Apply a thin, even coat and cure for 60 seconds.
- Colour Coats x 2: Apply a thin, even application of 2 coats of colour, curing each for 60 seconds
- Glossy Top: Finally apply a single glossy top coat and cure for 60 seconds
- Finish: Wipe over nails with the cleanser on a paper towel and voila, your nails are dry and finished!
Thoughts on the starter kit
My instant thoughts of this gel kit as soon as I set it up (all of 5 seconds) was focused towards the LED lamp with how portable it is, it's slightly bigger than a deck of cards, and how bright the LED lights were... which I'm sure helps with a quick and more solid gel manicure. I also loved the addition of fabric travel wrap as the LED lamp fits into one of the pockets as do all the accessories - so you can ditch the box and when it comes to doing your nails you can roll the wrap out on the table and have everything instantly to hand.
As for the gel colours, I do think most gel polishes are of the same standard however the colour range with Belle Gel is good, I'm in love with the two shades above, and I like that the starter kit does come with a gel colour in Ripe Raspberry. You can see swatches of the full gel colour collection below which are all priced at £12.50 for 8ml. But of course you are free to use an brand of gel polishes with the LED lamp - I personally love Elite 99 shades which start from only £2.50 on eBay here.
The not so positives to gel nails
If you are a nail polish picker then gel nails are seriously not for you! Even though gel nails last 8+ days you can always find an edge to peel/lift up and peel off. This will seriously damage your nail bed, especially over time as you will end up peeling parts of the surface layer of nail off and end up with weak brittle nails!
Gel nails aren't something that can be relaxingly done in dull lighting at night. The LED lamp, especially this one, is bright and from personal experience and asking others it can cause headaches. LED/UV light isn't supposed to be looked at directly however there is a certain amount of glow that comes off the lamp when it's in use that you really can't avoid looking at when doing the gel process.
Belle Gel - Full gel polish swatches (left to right)
£12.50 each here - All shades apply streak-free and cure to a ultra smooth, glossy finish
Row 1 - Saturday Night Red, Cassis, Sunset, Malaga Magic
Row 2 - Oyster, Cafe Creme, Mint Cream, Ice Pink
Row 3 - Foxglove, Denim Blues, Driftwood
Overall this kit is ideal if you are new to gel nails! It's easy to use and I still can't get over how compact the LED lamp is. I also love that there is a peel off option which is perfect if you don't have the time to soak off your gel nails.
A really good Gel nail kit here that I would recommend.
Fee xo.
If you've read Makeup Savvy for a long time you may have noticed a lack of nail posts this year. That would be because I'm become fairly lazy with my nails. Gone are the days I change my nail polish bi-weekly and I've even stopped buying them!
These days I like my manicure to last as long as possible - basically I'm a normal nail polish wearer and not an obsessed nail blogger anymore. FYI - I still love nail polish, don't worry!
These days I like my manicure to last as long as possible - basically I'm a normal nail polish wearer and not an obsessed nail blogger anymore. FYI - I still love nail polish, don't worry!
So when Sensational asked if I wanted to try their affordable Polish to Gel Starter Kit (currently £34.99 saving £15.00 at Boots here) I literally jumped at the chance because even though I've never experienced gel nails I've often admired my sisters ultra glossy talons after coming back from the nail salon plus I really wouldn't mind keeping my nail polish on my nails for long than 4-5 days. I also don't think I could fully get on board with gel nails and leave my extensive nail polish collection to collect dust and dry up!
 |
| The LED lamp can either be plugged into a wall socket or with the USB lead to your laptop! |
Which is why the Polish to Gel Kit makes sense if you already own a lot of nail polishes you still want to use. In the kit you receive pretty much everything you need to achieve gel nails at home but with the addition of the polish to gel transformer which you can use it two ways.
The simple gel top coat method
Paint your nails as normal (with a normal nail polish) and then once fully dry, we are talking 2+ hours here, apply the transformer top coat and cure under the provide UV/LED lamp for 15 seconds. Amazingly glossy and smooth nails that will last you 7+ days.
Paint your nails as normal (with a normal nail polish) and then once fully dry, we are talking 2+ hours here, apply the transformer top coat and cure under the provide UV/LED lamp for 15 seconds. Amazingly glossy and smooth nails that will last you 7+ days.
The longer mixing method
Mix your own nail polish with the transformer polish in the mixing pot provided and apply two coats, curing between each coat and then apply a single coat of the transformer as a top coat and cure again. This is more faffy however if you are someone that can't wait for your nails to dry and often smudges them you will be pleased to know once you're done they will be rock solid and won't smudge. This longer process also means you get an even longer wear time! My nails (below) using this method have been perfect and have lasted 10 days so far - amazing right?
Mix your own nail polish with the transformer polish in the mixing pot provided and apply two coats, curing between each coat and then apply a single coat of the transformer as a top coat and cure again. This is more faffy however if you are someone that can't wait for your nails to dry and often smudges them you will be pleased to know once you're done they will be rock solid and won't smudge. This longer process also means you get an even longer wear time! My nails (below) using this method have been perfect and have lasted 10 days so far - amazing right?
What method is best?
Personally I know I will use both methods for various reasons. Most of the time I can see myself using the simpler method of applying the transformer top coat and curing them once under the lamp as I'm generally ready for a change after a week. However I'll be certainly using the longer mixing method to create full on gel nails when I go on holiday and I'll be using this method on my toes so I can keep them in perfect condition for 2 weeks plus... yes, I'm lazy but I'm sure we're all a bit lazy when it comes to pedicures!
I'm also thinking both methods are great for that nail polish that always chips, everyone has one in their collection I'm sure! For this reason I'm excited to transform some of my amazing duochromes that chip so quickly, plus I'm already ooo'ing at the thought of the smooth glossy finish under bright lighting - I'm still nail obsessed deep down!
I'm also thinking both methods are great for that nail polish that always chips, everyone has one in their collection I'm sure! For this reason I'm excited to transform some of my amazing duochromes that chip so quickly, plus I'm already ooo'ing at the thought of the smooth glossy finish under bright lighting - I'm still nail obsessed deep down!
Removal
As for removal, just like gel nails or even stubborn glitter nails, they need to be soaked in acetone with tinfoil wrapped around them for 20 minutes and then the excess removed with a wooden stick. This does take a bit of time but having done it twice now I'm getting use to sitting with alien fingers whilst watching TV!
I should point out that if you aren't new to gel nails and already have a lamp and supplies then I'd highly recommend picking up just the Sensationail Transformer Polish to Gel Refill (small size £8.99 here or larger size £12.00 here) and using this method to get back to using some of your old non-gel nail polishes but as gels!
Side note - I also love that water nail decals can be used or just cut up temporary tattoos (what I used on my nails in this post) or even painted on nail art and then sealed in with the Gel top coat. I just can't get over the smooth feel and how they stay perfect for so long!
Overall I really think this is an extremely affordable kit that can also be used as a standard gel kit and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone that wants a longer lasting manicure or to save money by ditching the nail salon.
Let me know your thoughts on the kit and if you've ever thought about transforming your standard nail polishes into true gel nails.
Fee xo.
Ahhh Christmas nails, I love you so!
For my last post before Christmas Day I thought I would sign off with a few Christmas Day Nail Ideas because even if you don't often paint your nails the big day is a great time to sport some super festive or glittery nails.
I've tried to keep my glittery suggestions to a minimum are glitter nail polish is the worst to remove and no one wants to be sat wasting 30 minutes of their life post Christmas when they could be eating chocolate or creating a mini cheese platter (I'm sure that's not just me). So here is a mix of ideas that you can re-create/inspire you!
1. Subtle gold glitter nails - This nail polish is for the glitter lovers out there that hate the removal process of glitter nail polish as this is a fine glitter that is opaque on the nails but easy to remove! I absolutely love how the Avon Magic Effects Molten Metal nail polishes (£6 each - Avon brochure) look and the above gold one is my favourite. Rimmel do similar Precious Stone nail polishes if you want to get something like this before Christmas Day!
2. Glittertastic! - However if you don't mind the annoyance of removing glitter nail polish then a full of glitter like this Ciate Tinsel Town mini is the way to go. This mini is part of the Ciate Paint Pot Duo To Go set which you can find on Very for £12.99 here or ASOS have many single glitter mini polishes for £5.00 here.
3. Snowy scene nail art - On to some festive nail art now which was actually pretty easy to create! Here I simply started with a light blue base and using an old makeup sponge stippled white nail polish on the tips. Then to create the little trees I used a nail art brush and created messy Christmas tree shapes and then finally I used a dotting tool to add a little bit of snow. I love nail art like this that doesn't need to be neat as you can have it done in under 10 minutes while watching TV. Another favourite of mine is Christmas pudding nails as they are so so easy to do - lots of quick tutorials can be found on Google.
4. Easy red & silver polka dots - If you fancy doing a bit of nail art but just haven't the time or patience then this nail art is for you. Here I've used Essie Russian Roulette as I love a vibrant red but you can use any base colour - white, black, green etc. Then you simply dot on the silver dots with a silver Sharpie pen! It really is that easy! My only tips would be to start with a vertical line of dots down the centre of your nails then work outwards for a neat look and to finish with a top coat as the Sharpie will wash off if you don't. Super easy and festive!
5. Salt & pepper glitter nails - Lastly for my Christmas Day nail ideas I thought I'd include another glitter favourite of mine, well two in fact. These two nail sequin nail polishes are limited edition at The Body Shop (£5.00 each) and can be worn as a single coat over the nails like I've done here or built up for an even glittery finish. I went for a white base but next time I think I will be trying the nail sequin nail polish over a gold or black base. Just really pretty and perfect for this time of year.
Hope this has given you a few nail ideas for your Christmas Day nails!
As this is my last post before December 25th, I hope you all have a very lovely Christmas!
Fee xo.
Last week I decided it has been too long since I'd ordered from Fragrance Direct, so I hit up the website and placed a savvy order of all things nails just in time for the festive party season.
I really wanted to share with you what I picked up, especially all the glitter nail polish as they are all totally gorgeous and were such a bargain! I also picked up an interesting nail product that I'd never seen before so that also swayed me to write up this haul post.
Essie nail polish in Sumit of Style and Pinking About You
£2.49 each - Fragrance Direct here
Whenever I shop on Fragrance Direct I always pick up a couple of Essie nail polishes as they are amazing value at only £2.49 (compared to £8 everywhere else - Superdrug, Boots etc) and they have such a colour choice to pick from. As I was feeling particular festive I had to pick up some glitter shades as these are always my favourite from Essie! Essie Sumit of Style is just a gorgeous old gold coloured glitter that I know will look particularly amazing over nude and black nail polishes and just on the very tips of the nails.
As for Pinking About You this is the most subtle light pink glitter that actually looks like snow on the nails! This will certainly be going over red manis this Christmas but also one I know I will use all year round. So pleased with both these buys.
Sally Hansen Complete Salon in Strawberry Shields and Cheery On Top
£1.99 - Fragrance Direct here
Whilst looking at nail polishes I spotted some fab new Sally Hansen glitter shades and was lured in by the prices of them! I was instantly drawn to the wonderful cranberry coloured glitter that is Strawberry Shields, in fact it reminds me of a slightly lighter version of Deborah Lippman Ruby Red Slippers when paired with a deep crimson red base. I've already been wearing this over Essie Bahama Mama (again bought from Fragrance Direct!) and totally loving it and it's Christmas-y vibes. This definitely is a glitter that suit a deep coloured base for a vampy nail look. Obsessed!
I also picked up Cheery On Top on a bit of a whim because I felt I couldn't just buy one Sally Hansen nail polish. This interesting shade contains a mix of pink, purple and turquoise glitters in various sized pieces and as I wasn't sure what shade I'd wear it over I took to Google and looked at a few nail swatches. From looking at different nail blogger swatches and reviews I will now be pairing this with grey nail bases and deep purple shades (probably Essie Bahama Mama, actually) and applying a matte top coat over it as it looks stunning when mattified!
L'Oreal Le Jewel Shaker
£2.99 - Fragrance Direct here
This was the item I mentioned about never seeing before in shops or online, I'd love to know if any of you knew that L'Oreal came out with this product actually! This is basically an easier take on caviar nail trend with the little golden tube containing micro clear beads. You simply paint your nails, open up the tube carefully, insert a finger, and shake! Sadly I couldn't find any clear swatch images of the Jewel Shaker but I thought I'd see how I went with it... if the results are nice I will have to show you!
Rose & Co Patisserie De Bain Sugared Violet Hand Cream
£2.99 - Fragrance Direct here
Lastly I picked up a none needed hand cream in my favourite ever scent - parma violets. I've previously bought the glass pot version of this and it was total love but I can't say I loved having to dip my fingers into it to use the hand cream, so this time I went with the more hygienic version with a tube of it. This really won't be many people's cup of tea and only suited to people that love the smell of violets as this is incredibly scented and does linger for quite some time, but I totally love it! It also leaves your hands silky soft within a minute of applying it. Just lovely.
Hope you enjoyed this haul!
Have you ever picked up any bargain nail polishes from Fragrance Direct before?
Fee xo.
After a summer of bright hues it's time to tone it down with warm deep shades and I for one am excited by this!
Autumn for me it a time for layering and comfort but also looking chic. This of course extends to the nails and though each year we get told what this year's 'trends' are, you really can't go wrong with deep berry shades, anything with a hint of copper and a neutral grey.
Autumn for me it a time for layering and comfort but also looking chic. This of course extends to the nails and though each year we get told what this year's 'trends' are, you really can't go wrong with deep berry shades, anything with a hint of copper and a neutral grey.
Here I have just that for you in the form of five inexpensive nail polishes that will take you right through until Winter. Hope you try a few of these out!
Sally Hansen Gilded Lily
£1.99 - Fragrance Direct here
This stunning glimmering shade from Sally Hansen is an all time favourite of mine for Autumn. With a subtle duo chrome this dazzles in the light both gold and copper hues. Though this does require a base colour or a few applications to get a good enough coverage this is well worth it, as it's truly autumnal.
NYC Red Melody
£1.79 - Superdrug here
For me NYC is the stand to visit for on-trend shades as at £1.79 they are such a bargain but also really great quality. Here I have the stunning Red Melody, a deep berry shade with a subtle shimmer. This is not only perfect for Autumn but also Winter and Christmas with a little glitter top coat to finish it off. What I also love about this nail polish is that it dries fast and doesn't require a top coat as it dries with a glossy finish.
Essence Gel Polish Amazed By You
£1.60 - Wiko
This is new shade for Essence and one I'm totally digging for the colder months; I can see myself wearing it often. Deep berry tones such as this one never go out of fashion and look great with any outfit. This is an impressive one-coater however both a base coat (it stains!) and top coat is needed. If you are near a Wilko store anytime soon their Autumn range is definitely worth checking out!
Models Own Grey Storm
£5.00 - Models Own website here or Boots
Another new shade here for Autumn with the Twilight collection. This is a lovely semi-deep grey that looks effortlessly chic on the nails and will go with pretty much everything. Although grey isn't everyones cup of tea I feel Autumn weather sometimes calls for it and it can look great against an autumnal outfit. I also highly rate the HyperGel formula - so glossy and long lasting.
Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Paprika
£3.99 - Boots here or Superdrug
Lastly another favourite that is just spot on for Autumn. You seriously can't go wrong with this shade! Along with a great shade that's only suits colder months the formula applies with ease and doesn't require a top coat as it dries to such a lovely gloss finish. Also worth looking at the entire Gelly Hi-Shine range as there are a few other great autumnal shades.
Hope this has given you a few idea for autumnal nails!
Let me know what shades you love to wear in Autumn.
Fee xo.
This month there's a fab amount of freebies to be had in the main fashion/beauty magazines! A bit of skincare and quite a few nail polishes.
My favourite freebie by far and the one I'm most excited about is the free Jessica nail polishes with this month's Red Magazine August 2015 issue. Here I have a beautiful coral shade called 'Confident Coral' but there are 3 other shades to chose from - a summer red, a hot pink and a pretty nude. All worth £10.50 each!
I personally feel like this is a great free gift as Jessica really is a high quality brand that you would normally see being used in salons. I'm not very temped to pick up 2 of the other shades available!
Above is two coats of 'Confident Coral' without a top coat and so far it's lasted 4 days chip-free! Just a little tip wear, but that's to be expected. All in all I'm so pleased with this as a freebie! Plus I do enjoy reading Red magazine.
Which magazine freebie have caught your eye this month?
Fee xo.
So far this summer blue nails have been my staple go-to nail polish shade. Maybe blue is just a summery hue or it could be the fact I've been procrastination on Pinterest looking at the beautiful blue and white building of Greece as of late! Either way I'm loving all shades blue - from milky pastel tones to vibrant cobalt blues and every shade in between.
I also think blue nail polishes whether light or dark stand out against any skin tone and darker more vivid tones work especially well on the toes. So here are just 6 nail polishes I've picked out from my collection that I truly love.
Left to right
& Other Stories "Indienne Sky" £5.00 online store here
W7 "Sheer Blue" £4.50 eBay here
Model Own "Blue Skies" £5.00 Nail Polish Direct here or Boots
Bourjois "Blue no blues" £5.99 Feel Unique here or Boots
Leighton Denny "Get Your Cote" £11.00 Nail Polish Direct here
Essence "Electriiiiiic" £1.60 Wilko in-store
Light Pastel Blues
Two favourites here, both new and old. My newest blue is this lovely sky blue shade from & Other Stories which applies lovely in 2 coats... though this does remind me of a shade from Collection and in a very similar style bottle... hmmm. But pretty and summery none the less! I'm also a huge fan of W7 Sheer Blue which isn't sheer at all but a lovely opaque baby blue shade that is ideal for sunny days. Trust me, never overlook W7 nail polishes, they are amazing!
Mid-tone Sea Blues
On to more mid-tone blues with a classic blue from Models Own in Blue Skies. This is a shade to suit all skin tones and can be worn on both the fingers and toes and looks great! A staple blue for me. Another gorgeous shade is the Bourjois Blue no blues 1 Seconde nail polish which I actually got complimented on by a sales assistant only last week. This is a truly happy/sunny shade that is also a dream to apply (love the brush)... plus you can get away with applying just a single coat if you're in a rush!
Deeper Vivid Blues
Deeper blues for me also make me happy and again I think they suit both pale and tanned skin well. I also love to wear vivid blue nail polish when wearing white - them Greek vibes again! Leighton Denny's Get Your Cote although not the cheapest of nail polish is another classic blue that can be worn anytime of the year and has such a perfect formula. I've also owned this for quite some time now and it's yet to go gloopy! Lastly a stunning colbalt blue with Essence Electriiiic. Annoying shade name aside, this is an amazing nail polish for the price and is that extra bit shiny being a 'gel' like nail polish. Essence always impress me, but this is a true winner of a shade.
I've sadly realised I've only included creme nail polishes here... no pretty duo-chromes or shimmery shades but clearly creme shades are floating my boat right now. Plus I kind of think shimmery blue shades are a bit ageing. But hopefully you have discovered some new shades none the less!
You can also find my top 5 green nail polishes for summer here!
What nail polish colour should I write a blog post on next?
Fee xo.
For months and months I've been eyeing up the Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips and finally I ordered some in a Fragrance Direct order. I bought them mainly because I was intrigued by them and wanted to see how they fared compared to nail wraps - I can report so much better! But these were also my glitzy NYE nails!
The idea behind these is that they offer the neatness and longevity of nail wraps but without the sometimes difficult application and peeling at the edges that they can also bring. As you can see I went the glitter design - "Frock Star" but there are so different designs that you just couldn't achieve with stamping or even nail art. You can find them at Fragrance Direct for only £1.15 here or eBay for £2.45 here. There really as some beautiful ones.
Before trying these out I really couldn't imagine what these were like and how they compared to standard nail wraps which I'd had zero luck with. But let me tell you these differ so much! Think much thinner than nail wraps and stretchy - yes, this wasn't something I expected either. The stretchiness of these actually helps them stretch and fit over the nail perfectly and to be pulled over the nail tip to be easily filed off.
A Rough How-to...
The process includes selecting the correct sized strips for each nail, peeling off the protective cover, pulling off the end tab, peeling off the back to reveal the ultra sticky side, placing down over the nail, pulling the tip whilst pressing down the strip, using the cuticle stick to tear off the excess and then filing the tip down slightly for a totally neat edge. It's as simply as that! No air bubbles to remove, no creasing and no filling down your nails too much as you file off the excess.
All in all the process is fairly easy though slightly messy as the strips are so sticky the excess piece can stick to your finger tips. But that can be overlooked as the stickiness really is what keeps them on for however long you want to wear them for without peeling at all! Finally no ultra annoying pulling at strands of hair as I wash my hair unlike with nail wraps. As for removal (which was after 5 days - they still looked perfect) I sadly gave up on nail polish remover as it wasn't budging them but luckily I chipped them off quite easily without damaging my nails. Hopefully this is down to the fact these are glitter ones but can't say for certain as I'm yet to try out the other opaque designs.
Overall I was really pleased with these and 100% be taking a few designs on holiday with me as the no liquid aspect and the fact they last so long is very appealing.
If you love the look of nail wraps but find they aren't practical then you seriously need to give these a go!
Fee xo.
Today I have for you another wonderful set from Ciate. Ciate have to be the most original brand when it comes to gift set packaging and I for one adore their range of seasonal houses. Haute House is Ciate's third seasonal house of 2014 and contains 5 deep shades perfect to both autumn and winter.
The full set costs £22 and includes - Can Can (deep burgundy), For the thrill of it (molten gold), Sass pot (deep purple), Knee highs (royal blue) and Tickle my fancy (rich emerald). All the shades are standard mini size and of course will last you a long time... in fact I think I prefer mini bottles especially as Ciate nail polishes retail for £9.00 each!
This set is incredibly good if you love deep rich shades on your nails come this time of year, as you have a perfection selection of deep metallic, duo chromes and rich tones here. I personally love the rich metallic red and the royal blue but all the shades are very wearable.
The only let down with this set is Ciate do state these are one-stroke wonders however the molten gold really does require a few coats as does the metallic red. But other than that this set is really lovely if you are wanting a new selection of good quality nail polishes to try out or of course as a gift. I think most nail polish lover would love this, also the little house looks great as a display on a shelf or desk.
You can find the Haute House set at Boots here or Selfridges here (who I've just realised offer a free click & collection service - got to love avoiding paying delivery costs!)
Also Ciate have just released their last house of the year; a Candy Cane House for Christmas?! This can be found on Asos here for £25.00.
Fee xo.
Essie is up there as one of my favourite nail polish brands. The reason for this is their great shade range and their kind of runny formula that makes application a breeze for me (also I'm sure it means they don't go gloopy as fast).
However at £8-11 full price they are a little pricey for my liking but thankfully I've never paid that - ever! With the likes of Fragrance Direct and eBay I've never paid over £5 for a single Essie nail polish - pretty good right?
So with now quite the Essie collection I thought I'd select my top 5 that I feel are perfect for autumn/winter!
Leading Lady
£2.49 dupe shade - Fragrance Direct here
First up my total festive favourite! Leading Lady is the most beautiful cranberry glitter and with a slick of top coat transforms into something magical on the nails. It also only requires two coats which is pretty impressive if you ask me. Plus it's a spot on dupe for Deborah Lippmann's Razzle Dazzle. Leading Lady has been sadly discontinued and now hard to find online but Toggle To The Top is virtually the same just a touch darker. You can find it on Fragrance Direct here for £2.49.
Russian Roulette
£6.95 - eBay here
Russian Roulette is my go-to red. With it's cherry red tone it's bright and cheerful but chic at the same time. Also it stunningly glossy and looks great on both fingers and toes! An all year round red here.
Hors D'Oeuvres
£2.49 - Fragrance Direct here
This is my latest acquired Essie polish and I don't think I could be any more in love with it. I love glitter nail polishes in general but when they come with a glided base and a duo tone it's love! In some lights it looks gold, then silver and then when the light really hits it a beautiful platinum shade that's so so stunning. If you are looking for a Christmas glitter then I fully recommend this! (Also requires only 2-3 coats).
Bahama Mama
£4.44 - Amazon here
A stunning deep plum shade here that is ideal for both autumn and winter. This will look great on all skin tones and definitely doesn't need a top coat. Also this is my favourite shade for painting white nail art onto as the contrast is really there and it just makes for a great base colour. You may think there are shades out there that are similar but this is the cream of the crop as far as rich plum polishes are concerned.
Bikini So Teeny
£7.50 - eBay here
Yes, you would instantly think Bikini So Teeny is a summer shade, and well it is, but come cold weather and snow(?!) this looks great again! Sadly my swatches make this lighter than it actually is, but the softness and smoothness is spot on to how it is in real life. As you can see from the bottle image BST contains very subtle shimmer that can be hardly seen unless the sun catches it. Much like Russian Roulette another great all round nail polish that works well for spring, summer and winter.
What do you think of Essie nail polishes? Have you tried them? If so, what are your favourite shades to wear from the brand in autumn/winter?
Fee xo.
Long gone seem the days where I use to posts NOTD's and love a simple nail post. But for no real reason other than I'm been busying blogging about other things. So today with a new treasure of a nail polish shade I thought I would get back to my roots and write a good ol' fashioned nail post.
Recently Barry M have been one of the main brands for me when it came to new Autumn/Winter releases, releasing some amazing nail polish shades in their Gelly Hi-Shine range. The shade that instantly caught my attention was Paprika - think crisp burnt orange leaves. Much like all the shades in the Gelly range this applies a dream, only requires 1-2 coats and looks perfectly glossy on the nails.
As I'd had a week of wearing this on my nails and loving it I thought I'd re-apply and add a little nail art to see how Paprika looked as a base nail colour. So out came a dotting tool and my favourite opaque white nail polish from Avon - French White from an Avon French Manicure duo set and of course my NYC Clear Top Coat; the glossiest thing you can find on the high street for under £2.
How-to: Neat Polka Dot Nails
After a quick coat of Barry M Paprika (yes, that is only a single coat) I decided I'd give myself simply polka dots! If you are curious as to how to get a neat polka dots pattern instead of just going for it with a dotting tool then simply start with a vertical row of dots down the middle of the nail. Then generally 2 more lines either side inbetween the spaces of the initial dots. This creates an equal pattern and a much neater look that changes your nails from quickly done dots to pro polka dots!
I really like how these nails turned out and will be definitely trying more nail art out over this autumnal base colour.
Paprika, Mustard and Chilli are all shades I'd highly recommend from the new Barry M shades that will give instant autumnal nails!
Fee xo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)