Easter Nails

Happy Easter! Here are some Easter inspired nails for you to feast your eyes on!

Some cute little chicks for my cute little sister

These little chick-aroo's were done using cocktail sticks and just a yellow nail paint by Rimmel (I think)

These one I did using my Model's Own nail pens in black, white and hot pink

Mavala Spring 2013

Another new Spring collection for you to feast you eyes on! This is the Mavala 'Chilli and Spice' spring collection, and they have gone very bright which is unusual to their usual pale and shimmery type. I think I have to say, that this is possibly my favourite Spring collection. As you may know, I recently went on the Mavala training course to become a manicurist, and this has HONESTLY not influenced my opinion at all. I genuinely think that the range of colours are a bit different from some of the other collections that have come out this spring! Although they still have their bright oranges and pinks that seems to be the spring trends for nail colour, they have an unusual twist on blue, green and purple. I like this collection because there are not too many colours, and the small six colours they have chosen, are really ones to die for! This picture below gives a better idea of the colours because my camera doesnt like up close pictures!

A really unussal purple colour that is a bit wacky. It looks really cool on and draws attention straight to the nail.

My Camera is not very good at picking up colour but this is actually a really bright post box red. It's like a classic red but brightened up for the Spring.

Again a really unusual colour but probably my favourite in the collection. Its a deep sea green but still bright enough for the Spring. I haven't really seen a colour like this before and I think that's why I like it.

The hot pink colour that is trending this summer. Bali is another great example of it. It looks great on and is perfect for the summer

My close second favourite is the Orange Jaipur varnish. I painted this on a friends nails and it looks so good on. It gives the skin a really warm glow and makes you look really tanned.

Trinidad is another unsual colour. I was sceptical about navy blue on nails but it actually looks really nice! Again I painted it on a friend, and on the nail, the colour isn't to dark and has a brightness about it so it looks quite chic.

Mavala colours are only £4.75 and little bottles so great for travelling and taking with you on holiday

*I do not own these colours, these pictures were taken at my place of work.

Caudalie Facial

I was lucky enough to be used as a test subject for a Caudalie facial the other day. Unfortunately I have no pictures for this post but I thought it would quite a nice thing for me to tell you about, and I will also leave some links to the website so you can take a further look! 

The facials are done using the products they sell on the shelf. It is a way of giving you an opportunity to see how to use the products, so you can walk out and buy exactly the same product rather than spend a small fortune on a spa product.  It is also worth noting that Caudalie have changed a lot of their packaging to a new green colour so take a look here to see the new products.

The first part of the facial was a cleanse, and they used the foaming face wash and mixed it in with the gentle buffing cream, to give a creamy exfoliator.

Next they spritz over the grape water to clean then use their famous beauty elixir to tone.

The next step was using a concentrate oil, which they use to do a facial massage which felt lovely. This was followed by a moisture mask which was left on for 5 - 10 mins depending on dryness. Whilst this was on, you receive a hand and arm massage using my favourite divine oil, which lets you explore some of their body products as well.

The last steps were wiping away the moisture mask, and following with the Caudalie premiere Cru eye cream and the tinted moisturiser. The premiere cru goes along the eye contour and feels nice and cool, and the moisturiser leaves you with a warm glow.

 What I liked about the facial was that it is to relax you, as well as educate you with their products. Before application of a product, they hover it under your nose so you can get a real sensation of the smells that the grape gives off. It lets you appreciate the smells of the brand when you are in a relaxed state and can focus on that, and nothing else. Another highlight for me was that my eye make up stayed in tact, and the tinted moisturiser made me feel like I was still covered up after. My skin felt so fresh and clean though I didn't want to put anything on it, and my circulation was boosted from the massage so I felt more radiant. I would definitely recommend a Caudalie facial if you get the opportunity, and if you really want to treat yourself, visit one of their beautiful spas.

http://uk.caudalie.com/spas/our-history.html

My Hair Care Routine

Today I am going to talk you through my daily hair routine, and the products that I use. I have really thick, frizzy hair, so this post might not relate to everyone, but it is always fun to have a nose into someone else's beauty regime!

So to start, I wash and condition my hair with TRESemme. I tend to alternate between moisturising and colour protecting, but to be completely honest, I just use what's there because my Mum buys it! I found TRESemme was huge when it first came out, but the hype has maybe died down a little bit now. I have to say that TRESemme is one of the only conditioners that I can really feel conditioning my hair whilst its on, and I find a little goes a long way.

Once I have towel dried my hair, I brush it using my Tangle Teezer, as this is the ONLY hairbrush you can use on WET hair! Due to its fine teeth, it won't pull out hairs which is more liable with wet hair. I then spritz some Frizz Ease Heat defence spray and then blow dry. My hair naturally has a bit of a wave to it, so sometimes when I want to excentuate the curls more, I use Frizz Ease Dream Curls Styling Spray. Once applied I scrunch my hair whilst drying it.

I usually wash my hair in the evening because my hair takes so long to dry, it needs a whole night! Once dry though, I use Frizz Ease serum, to literally, ease the frizz. I really like this product and will always have it as it really does work, and within seconds of applying it, my hair is frizz free! I do not apply the serum to wet hair, as I was once told by a hairdresser that the serum penetrates dry hair a lot better!

A very recent addition to my hair care routine is the Caudalie Divine Oil which I blogged about a few days ago here. It hydrates the ends of my hair, and smells really nice and lasts for a long time.

When I want straight hair, I use my GHDs, and straighten in sections. I'm more of a 'rough and ready' girl when it comes to actually STYLING my hair, and I don't tend to put a lot of products on it. It's pretty much straight, wavy or tied up with me. On the rare occasion I attempt to try a style in my hair, I fix it with TRESemme hair spray.

* My shampoo and conditioner was bought by my mum, and the Frizz ease collection I have was bought buy myself. I won the Caudalie oil for an incentive at work, and my hairspray came in my recent Glossybox which I am subscribed too.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer

I have been really excited to use this product as I have heard really good things about it, one of them being "it makes your hair feel brand new". I have had my little of sample of this for a while and have been waiting for the right moment to use it. As my hair was stripped of the brown hair colour the other day, I thought now was the best time to use it as it is feeling a little abused!

Elasticizer was the first ever pre-shampoo treatment in the world, and has won loads of awards, including the InStyle award for 'best deep conditioning mask' for two years running, the evening standard beauty award in the hair mask category, and bazaar beauty hot 100. Elasticizer was originally created specially for Audrey Hepburn, designed to revitalise and moisturise her hair that was exposed to damage, from being constantly styled when acting. It works by moisturising the hair cuticle, and adding suppleness and elasticity but without weighing it down with product. It has been a round for 26 years, and is definitely Philip Kingsley's hero product. 

Shiny Hair! - taken from google images.

You have to wet the hair before you apply the mask which is a little annoying but not too laborious. You apply it to the hair in sections, whack on a shower cap and leave it for 10-20 mins. My hair is quite dry so I left it on for 20 mins. It is a perfume free product but I thought it smelt a little chemically, but nothing horrible, just standard hair dressers smell. I washed it out and I could tell instantly that my hair was softer and more conditioned. Your meant to use the mask regularly so I can imagine with prolonged use it would do its job even better. My hair felt softer, and generally healthier once I'd dried my hair, and it looked shinier too. The elasticizer also contains sunscreen so prevents hair from burning when being styled or in hot weather, which also helps maintain colour. I really like this product and for £26.25, it is quite steep for a hair mask, but it is pretty much the best one around! There is also the elasticizer extreme which is for afro carribean hair or seriously damaged hair. It is the same product, just higher doses of everything!

If your looking for a hair mask that isn't in a sachet and actually works, I would really recommend spending the money! If it was good enough for Audrey Hepburn, it is definitely good enough for me!

Philip Kingsley Fact: healthy hair stretches when wet, and really healthy hair can stretch up to 30% its length as well as being able to support 23 tonnes of weight!!!!

*I was given a free sample size of Elasticzer at my work place, but have taken a picture of the full size product so you can find it on the shelves!

Caudalie Gentle Conditioning Shampoo

The Caudalie Conditioning shampoo is an antioxidant shampoo that strives to strengthen, protect and deeply cleanse. It is designed for all hair types, including coloured and is 100% plant based. The grape seed an jojoba oil have nourishing properties, and in true Caudalie form, the product smells amazing.
Personally, I wasn't amazed with this shampoo. I had to use quite a lot to get through my thick hair, and it claims that you can use it as a conditioner but I just did not feel that I could leave the shower with my hair feeling so dry still. Its a shame as I love Caudalie, but I think  maybe it should stick to skin care!

 I want to know which brands or products YOU want to know about! There's no point me reviewing stuff no one wants to know about!! So comment and share and let me know for future reference, what you want to know about, and why!

Dead Sea Spa

Today I will be doing another review from the Dead Sea Spa range. If you read my blog then you will know I am a huge fan of this company. To read about my top 3 products then please click here. Now onto the hair care!

Dead Sea Spa Shampoo and Magic Serum

 This shampoo is best used for irritated scalps that cannot take perfumes from usual shampoos. It alleviates dandruff, revitalises damaged hair and normalises oil and moisture balance. This shampoo actually left my hair feeling quite dry and a bit knotty. It smelt really lovely and it didn't fade my dyed brown hair which I was worried it would, and it just lathered slightly unlike a normal shampoo due to it not having any foaming agents. I think the reason it left my hair feeling so dry was because it actually gave my hair a really good clean! And I think it felt so dry because it had just taken away all the residue of any products used in it.

 The real success of this shampoo is when used with the very aptly named, magic hair serum. It has been voted 'best conditioner' by woman magazine for its anti-frizz and hydrating properties. It advises to wring any water from hair before you apply, and to massage in from roots to tips. It advises putting a towel or cling film around for 2-5 minutes to really concentrate the serum. I personally just rolled my hair up tightly and left it on whilst I washed my body. After the drying effect of the shampoo, I was a bit sceptical about how well it would condition my hair. I have really thick, frizzy, dry hair that needs about a big handful of conditioner every time! I was very happy with the results from the serum. It felt really soft and I couldn't stop running my hands through it. It sounds strange but it also made my hair feel thinner, like it had got rid of the frizz and like didn't have loads of product in it, just really fresh and free flowing. It claims to add balance and shine, and to saturate every strand of hair with minerals and vitamin B5 for added shine. It can also be used on dry hair to style and to promote extra shine, and it great for de-tangling (good for kids too as it is natural). I really liked it and would probably use it again as it is only £16.60.

Would you be interested in using dead sea spa products?


*I was given a sample size of these products from my training with the brand. My pictures are of the full size products to make it easier for you to find them on the shelves!

Hair Care Week

I have recently accumulated a lot hair products, and as last week I (attempted to go) back to my true blonde self (ginger, oh so ginger), I've decided this week I'm going to celebrate hair and everything about it! Enjoy!

Monochrome Mix and Match

This Spring 2013, black and white is in! All over the catwalks and high streets, monochrome is the trend of the season so I thought I would carry the trend onto my nails.

I had a lot of fun doing these nails as I used a lot of new tools I haven't used before!

I used Barry M white and black polish for the base and also used the Barry M white and black crackle polish for my index fingers.

Barry M crackle paints and Barry M nail colours

For my dotty thumbs I used the thin nib on the model's own nail art pens, and the thin striper end for the french tip on my 'ring' fingers. I used some nail tape for the first time on my little fingers to create the straight stripes. I had a bit of trouble using it so filled in any problems with the little nib.

Nail tape and model's own nail art pens

Finally, my zebra print middle fingers were done using my new MoYou stamper set which I purchased at the Beauty Show a few weeks back. The kit included a black nail paint, the stamper, and 3 metal discs with a variety of patterns on them. This took a few goes and even then I am still not perfect at it, but it looks really cool and is something I want to practice! My kit is quite a high end one and I paid £22 for it and that was a bargain! I know that Claire's accessories do similar kits with one disc and the stamper for £9 so may be worth a purchase.

I used my Leighton Denney 'One For All' as my base and top coat, and finished with my Mavala quick dry oil.

*everything in this post I bought myself. The MoYou set, oil seal drier and Leighton Denney one for all polish, were at a discounted price due to the beauty show I attended.

Caudalie

This week at the shop I work in, the french brand Caudalie, relaunched they're new and improved product called 'Premiere Cru'. Caudalie is a natural brand that make all they're products from grapes and their extracts. The vineyards in France produce fantastic wine, as well as fantastic skin care. Each part of the grape has different affects on the skin such as anti-aging, hydrating, and radiance. The premiere cru cream is the 'everything' cream, that has all the ingredients mixed into one, to make this wonder cream!  At £92.50 a bottle though, it really does test your morals on how much you should spend on skin care! I have not actually tried the product myself due to it's price, but I can tell you it smells beautiful and has a really fruity grape smell, and is somthing I will try and get my hands on in the future! Here are a few snaps I took from the day!

Premiere Cru Launch

This post does not stop here though! I have however tried a few things from the range and was really impressed at the general feel about its fresh and natural ideas. The whole idea of creating a large beauty range from just one small fruit, blows my mind! I have lots of products to try from this range but here are some ones I have been using!

Peche De Vinge Shower Gel

I was lucky enough to get this as a birthday gift from the lovely girls I work with, as I had my eye on it for ages! The peach smell is so fresh and sweet, and I look forward to having a shower just so I can use it, and at £9 it is not an extortionate price for a natural shower gel. Unfortunately the smell doesn't last on the skin for very long, but because it is natural it is not perfumed. It will just have to be a little love affair you have in your shower.

Divine Oil

This is by far my number 1 product EVER! I cannot express to you just how much I love it. I will definitely buy this over and over again because it it lovely. This dry oil can be used everywhere. On skin, in hair, as a cuticle oil or even as a perfume as the smell is gorgeous! This is going to be my summer saviour, as it absorbs into the skin really fast leaving it smooth and looking flawless. If I was trapped on a paradise island and had to choose one product, this would most certainly be it!

Perfume

Caudalie have many strings to their bow, as they also make perfume from grape! These three fragrances are all natural, so great for anyone who gets irritated skin from perfume. They're all light and fresh and are meant to represent the smells of the vineyards at certain points of the day. They also have the fragrances in shower gel form too.

The Yellow fragrance is orange and lemony and named Zeste de Vigne. Great for a summers day for a refreshing, strong scent.

The green one, Fluer De Vigne, is made from a tiny flower that only blooms for a few days every year. It is a fruity smell. It is very fresh and energizing.

The final fragrance and my personal favorite, is the pink fragrance, The Des Vignes. More of an evening scent, its musty and flowery. It is a elegant and sensuous smell and I love it.

I have a goody bag that I received from Caudalie when I was trained on their products so will do a post on the skincare when I have had a try! Until then, if you want to find out more about Caudalie, then here is their website http://uk.caudalie.com/

February Glossy Box

I heard lots of people talking about 'Glossy box' so I decided to invest and applied for a monthly delivery of Glossy Boxes! If your interested in getting glossy boxes, follow this link http://www.glossybox.co.uk/referal?CI=MTEwMDU3 This is the first one I received and I was very happy! This is the Valetine's day edition, and here is how I got on.

1. Fat Cat Mascara

First impressions really do count. I really like the packaging to this Me Me Me mascara so I already decided I wanted to like this! (excuse the picture, it has been in my makeup bag which always seems to give everything a foundation-y layer)

Unfortunately I was not overwhelmed with the actual purpose of the mascara! I usually use Benefit's 'They're Real' mascara which is fantastic. I like mascaras that dry quite hard and actually feel like their doing something. The Fat Cat mascara is jet black and has a really strong colour, but I found it didn't give my eye lashes much of a curl and left them quite straight. I do really want to like this mascara so will persevere, but I will only use it in the week when I don't want such a dramatic lash.

2. Helen E Lipstick

My lipstick is a shade called 'Caribbean' and I really like it! I quite like red and pink lipsticks, so this was right up my street! This lipstick is quite moisturising and doesn't dry out your lips. It also stays quite glossy so you can rub your lips together without worrying about it coming of! The staying power isn't fantastic, about 4-5 hours, but I do like my little lipstick!

3. MicaBella Mineral Blush

I am a bit gutted about this one! When you apply for your glossy box, you put in your skin type etc, and I think I thought I was latino that day because I put my skin tone darker than I should have. Therefore this shade of 'Terra Cotta' doesn't look very nice on my skin. I really want to try mineral makeup though as it is free of parabens and nasty things that age your skin, so it is somthing I want to look into more!

4. Narciso Rodriguez Perfume

This perfume is really fresh and light. I really like the smell and would recommend it for summer, but it also has a sophisticated scent which could be worn to an interview for a crisp, clean smell. Reviewing perfume is actually a lot harder than I thought!

6. Voulez Vous Body Oil

I was unsure of what this was at first as it was in French and just said 'body oil'. After a bit of research, I realised it is actually a sex oil made by a company in Paris, and is flavoured like Margarita cocktails. I would review this one, but it's just NOT THAT TYPE OF BLOG!

Barry M Textured Nail Varnish

I am THE biggest fan of Barry M and I can quite honestly say I think I own nearly every colour that there is! My newest purchases were these new textured colours, which have a grainy sand effect in four cool pastel shades which are very current for Spring (which is taking its time!) They are similar to the Nails Inc concrete and I think they will be really popular. My personal favourite shade is the pastel green which is just a bit brighter than the others. I'm not usually a fan of yellow on my nails because it makes my skin look sallow but this textured effect was quite forgiving! My nails are not in great shape at the moment so it didn't last very long, maybe 3-4 days, but they sand texture doesn't catch on tights or hair which is the question everyone has asked me when they have seen it. I would recommend these if you love your pastel colours, but what something a bit different! Boots have a deal on at the moment when you buy 2 you save a pound, which is great for an already very cheap brand. I love Barry M because it is affordable but also because it is great quality and has the most exciting range of colours.

*I bought all these nail colours myself

Neal's Yard

At the moment Marie Claire magazine are giving away this free Neal's Yard hand cream worth £10. If your really strapped for cash this Mother's Day grab the magazine and give your mum this treat! Neal's Yard is based in convent garden and is a completely natural range. They aim to be completely organic and put in the most high quality ingredients into their products. This hand cream is from their 'bee lovely' range, meaning all money made from the products go to helping save the bees which are at high risk, so that's another plus.

The hand cream is made from organic honey and blended with orange and smells amazing. The essential oils leaves the hands feeling really soft and it is absorbed quickly so no greasy hands! It really is a lovely gift and if you buy the magazine your getting a real bargain!