Throwback Thursday: O.P.I Kiss Me on the Tulips

This was my first ever O.P.I Polish, and I bought it just over a year ago now, and found it in my little (I have two of these 'little' boxes) nail polish box, and thought it was perfect for the sunny weather we were having.

Kiss Me On The Tuplips to be is pretty much a fuscia pink, with a bit of neon about it, and I love it. I forgot how much fun it was to wear bright colours on the nails, opting for nudes due to their ease, and dark colours due to the weather.

I know feel fully ready for summer.

What do you think of this colour?

Laura xoxo

Essie: Beach Bum Blu

I was at my local Boots back home, which, let's just say is rather modest in size, and I was amazed to find an Essie stand there. Without even hesitating I glanced around and looked for a colour to take home with me. And this one hit me hard. 

The name is Beach Bum Blu, but for some reason it reminds me of mermaids, can't you just see them swimming around with this little beauty on their nails? Just me? I would call it (and in my head do,) A Mermaids Tale.

It is a gorgeous bright almost aqua blue colour with a hint of duo chrome silver in it. This makes it a different colour in different lights, which makes it even more fun. It is a bit 'in your face' on finger nails, but I reckon it will be perfect on toe nails for summer. (Note: I have now tried it on my toes, a-mazing.)

So what do you think? Too out there, or super cool? 

Laura xoxo

What's all the fuss about?

It appears that I am doing a lot of 'worth the hype' type posts at the moment, that is obviously where my head's at, at the moment, but this will be the last, for a while at least.

Today's post is about the Bourjois Magic One Second Nail Polish Remover, which I'm sure you're all familiar with. However, as it took me forever to find one, I also picked up a Pretty Quick nail polish remover which works under the same pretense, stick your finger in, twist and remove (that sounds so elegant, no?)

First up the underdog so to speak. On my nails I had Essie's Mademoiselle, and a glitter accent nails.

Now the Essie colour, was not the best to show you, I admit, so I have done another one, which you can see in a minute, but it did remove it no bother. But when put to the test, after a couple of twists, it only removed a fraction of the glitter nail polish.

(Essie Cute as a Button)

Next, the item in question, the Bourjois Magic Nail Polish Remover.

As you can see with this polish remover it removes the main colour perfectly, and the glitter polish pretty much perfectly too, with just a couple flecks left, which were erased after another dunk. However the glitter remained in the pot, and comes out when I use it now too!

Now, the nitty gritty. They do have pretty much the same results, the Bourjois one is defintely more soothing to my nails if that makes sense? And does do it quicker, but it didn't live up to the one second claim.

The Borjouis one is double the price, but almost double the size too. It definitely has a nicer smell, but they both smell extremely strong.

So overall, I like the idea behind these products, but I don't understand why the shelves are empty of the Bourjois one, when the same thing is out for a cheaper price. I also think, my perfectionist ways prefer a good old cotton pad and remover 'cause it means I can reach everywhere.  So good for maybe travelling, but overall, I'm not blown away.

Another cheaper alternative can be found in Rach's post here!

What do you think? Worth the Hype?

Laura xoxo

Essie Nail Varnish

Essie is a nail varnish brand that carries a very good name within the blogging community, alongside the loved O.P.I. However until recently it has been very hard to get a hold of. However they have now created a diffusion line that retails in both Boots and Superdrug. It took me forever to find a store with a stand, so I took advantage and got three. 

Cute as a Button

This is definitely my favourite shade out of the three. A classic Essie colour, a nice pink toned coral which is just so lovely and girly when on. It was pretty much opaque in one coat, but I put two on just to be safe. I really, really love this colour and think I'm going to be wearing it a lot these coming seasons.

In a Stitch

I like this colour, it has come off slightly darker in this picture. It is a nice pink/brown colour that could look very sophisticated.  Again this opaque within the first coat, and I actually left it at the one for this picture.

Mademosille 
This is a very nude, almost your nails but better colour. Unlike the other too this one is very sheer, and even with three coats you can still see the natural nail come through. This would be perfect if you aren't allowed nail colour at work or school.

Overall I'm very impressed with the quality of these polishes. They lasted around three days on me, which is amazing, and they are so simple to apply, which I hear is something to do with the diffusion line.

I haven't done a NOTD for a while 'cause I've been using the Nail Envy from O.P.I and I couldn't recommend it enough. It has done wonders for my nails. They are so much stronger now, and polish lasts so much longer.

What are your favourite Essie colours?

Laura xoxo

A Post All About Nails

Over the last couple of weeks I've been using my Save The Nail Treatment, as it was intended, a treatment. I've been applying a coat a day in the attempt to help strength my nails, hopefully to fill out some broken ridges and allow them to grow.

Alongside my Save The Nail, I also used Lush's Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter. I've got to say, this product is amazing. I also place it on my elbows, knees and cracked heels and have seen a massive improvement. It gets a definite thumbs up from me

                          .

Here is a before and after shot of my nails, and I've got to say, there isn't a hell of a lot of difference. My nails, definitely feel a lot stronger, but they are still breaking and my ridges haven't really been filled, so I think I'll definitely be sticking with this polish as a base coat.

I do think that my nails needed the break from colours, however Buyapower put up this  O.P.I set just in time.

 L-R: Strawberry Margarita, La-~Paz-itively Hot, Dim Sum Plum, Cajun Shrimp

I love always these colours and think they are perfect for summer!

Also, feel like I need to add this last picture to show you how cute and tiny these bottles are.

Now that I'm back to painting my nails, I've got some nail pens I want to give a whirl, so expect some more NOTD's in the near future.

What's your favourite nail treatment? Is Nail Envy really worth the money?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - O.P.I !!!!!!

I finally bought my first O.P.I nail varnish. I was so happy when I happened to be just wondering around town and saw a shop with a whole stand of O.P.I nail varnish. How had I never spotted it before? Now I know £10.50 is a lot to spend on nail varnish, and you can get it cheaper on other sites, such as cheapsmells, but I'm a see it, want it type of person. I was drawn to the new collection and choose a gorgeous hot pink call Kiss me on the Tue-lips. I love the name O.P.I give to their polishes and will definitely be adding more of them to my collection.

This did so well with not chipping and you can definitely tell it is worth its money. It was opaque in one coat (the pictures have two,) and lasted at least 3 days with only slight chipping. I must say, O.P.I have won my heart.

Usual base and top coat:

I also experimented trying to do leopard print nails again, here were the results:

Here is what I used:

Save the Nail, No.7 Hot to Trot, O.P.I Kiss me on the Tue-lips, Models Own Mushroom, Sally Hansen Insta Dri, Models Own Nail Art Pen.

What are your favourite O.P.I colours?

Laura xoxo

NOTD x2

I have two nail posts today for you, aren't you lucky?

First off I have a lovley lilac shade which I have bought in anticipation for summer from MUA. It cost a pound! It wore quite well, lasted about a day and half, and it looked really pretty too.

Usual top and base coat:

Now, I'm sure most of you are aware that this month's Glossybox, contained a set of stick on nails. I decided to use mine last weekend, however I really couldn't get used to the length, and was constantly scared they were going to break off, so I took them off before I went away. However here are some pictures of how they looked when I was actually wearing them:

What are your favourite nail colours?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Rimmel Cranberry Zest

A nail varnish that smells of fruit? What will they think of next. I bought this nail varnish purely for the colour, however it does have a slight fruity smell, which does stay with the nails which I find, well, rather cool. Unfortunately you can't smell it through this, but here is a picture of the colour!

Usual top and base coat:

Have you tried any of this range?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Leopard Print

Okay, so since I've got my nail art pen, I've been kind of obsessed with playing with it, and thought I'd share with you my latest little 'artwork.' I feel the need to add that I have always been terrible, horrifically so, at art (my art teacher even said so!) I like to think I have the right ideas, and things always look great in my head, then I put pen to paper (or to nail in this case.)

Now I must say that I think I managed to pull off my left hand quite well:

Not perfect, but adequate.

Now we have the right hand:

As you can see it looks like my 2 year old cousin did this, sadly he probably would've done it better. It means that I'm going to have to remove it before my lecture tomorrow (they might place me back in nursery if I don't.) But it also means I can have another play, yay!!!

For the base I used Rimmel's Smokey Canvas (which you can see on its own here.) For the spots I used a mixture of Hot To Trot by No.7 and Models Own Mushroom. For base and top I used my usual (I feel like I'm at a bar. I also feel like I'm using brackets a lot again?)

Do you enjoy messing about with your nail art pen? Also do you have an idiot proof one? I think mine is a little too mature for my skills.

Laura xoxo



NOTD - NYC Downton

I thought I'd add to the list of Valentines day nails. Just a little V day effort from me, mainly so I could play with my new nail art pen from Models Own.

I drew a little heart in the corner of each of my thumb nails (as you can see) and then a full heart on my little nails.

The colour used is from NYC and it is called Downtown. I choose this colour as it is a deep pink, almost purple colour, and I wasn't feeling the stereotypical red.

Usual base and top coat:

Happy V day everyone.

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Highland Mist

So today's nails are following the same beige-y type theme. This is a more muted pink colour from the No7 range. Ofcourse I got it with my £5 off voucher making it only £2. I'm not a big enough fan off these nail varnishes to pay the full £7 for them.

So here it is. It's a nice mix of pink and beige and I think it is a nice subtle colour for everyday wear.

Ofcourse I used my Save the Nail and Sally Hansen Insta Dri with it.

Do you have this colour?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Beige Babe

I'm still in my nude-esque colour phase for my nails, but wanted to go slightly darker than the pale pink I was sporting in my last NOTD. So the conclusion, Rimmel's Pro Collection Beige Babe.

I would just like to say that I love Rimmel's Pro Collection. It is so easy to apply and the brushes are amazing. They also last quite well, which for me is such a plus.

As you can its quite a dark brown colour, which I really like. It looks smooth and feels the same. I put it on yesterday afternoon, and there is not one chip as I'm typing this now, which for me is a miracle. It's such an easy nail varnish to apply, and I think it looks classic yet slightly edgy at the same time.

What colour are you loving at the moment?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Nude Rose

After wearing dark shades for a bit too long a feel as if my nails needed a break. I decided to go for a light pink colour from Maybelline's Forever strong range. This colour is called Nude Rose and I think it looks really good, it has also lasted quite well without chips, winner.

Again I used it with my Nails INC Save the Nail base coat and my Sally Hansen Instra Dri top coat.

What are your favourite nude colours?

Laura xoxo

NOTD - Rouge Diva

I am really loving deep mahogany colours on my nail at the moment. I have two nail varnishes that colour.
The one I've chosen to show for today's post is Bourjois Paris Rouge Diva 22. It is said to be an ultra shine polish and I can say that I agree. My nails look nice and glossy and feel super smooth.

The one complaint I have is that it says that it lasts for seven days, well I painted mine last night and they are already chipped, but as I've said before I do have very brittle nails, plus now I'm back at uni I have to do MANUAL washing up (it's a hard life isn't it?)

Overall I would give this an 8/10 as it is an easy smooth application and two coats does the job nicely, though you can get away with one.

I used my Nails Inc Save the Nail as a base and my Sally Hansen Insta-Dri for a top coat.

What's your favourite nail colour?

Laura xoxo