Monday 27 May 2013

Models Own Pukka Purple

For any girl that works in an office or spends her days at the mercy of a keyboard, you'll be familiar with chipped nails and repainting two or three times a week. This is me, and every third night or so, I'll curl up into bed all ready to turn out the light, and then realise that my nails need a fresh lick of polish. I love Essie and Nails Inc for their pigmentation, as anything that speeds up the process (one coat that looks great?) is a winner with me. However, Models Own are my absolute go to brand for affordable polishes, and their extensive range of beautiful colours always manages to catch my eye when walking into Boots.


Pukka Purple is nothing new to the market, it's part of their neon collection that came out earlier this year. It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous colour, so I thought it was about time I grabbed the camera and wrote up a blog post on it. It dries matte, and you only really need one coat then a good top coat afterwards to keep your talons in check. I don't personally like the matte look, so I use a glossy top coat to make my nails patent again.

In general, Models Own is a brilliant brand, and ticks all the boxes of a drugstore brand that you need in your life. Affordable - check, Diverse range - check, pretty colours - check, good quality - check. A few other favourites that spring to mind are Utopia, Blueberry Muffin and Green Tea, so be sure to check those out too!

Do you own any Models Own polishes? Which is your fave? 
xxx

Saturday 25 May 2013

Summer nails!


Today the sun decided to peek out from behind those pesky dark grey clouds and put a smile on everyone's faces! For once it actually felt like May and not mid-winter. With summer well and truly on it's way, I'm in the middle of decluttering my wardrobe and eBaying gilets, heavy jackets and generally anything that I haven't worn in the last six months. Part of this summer overhaul includes my nails, and I'm keen to start wearing brighter and bolder colours to brighten up my days!

& Other Stories Twill Blue is a gorgeous royal blue shade, not dissimilar to Nails Inc Baker Street. Despite the formula not being amazing (we're talking chips on the second day), the colour is enough to make me love it and for £5 who's complaining? On the other hand, I have always found Jack Wills nail polishes to be amazing quality, and Butter Yellow is a beautiful bright and summery colour. I love how the two clash but "go" so well together, what do you think?


ONE COAT


TWO COATS

xxx

Wednesday 22 May 2013

MAC Chatterbox Review

I've been a little under the weather this week and have had two days off work due to food poisoning :(. I'm finally starting to feel better (honestly, I thought I was on the verge of dying!) thanks to my boyfriend nursing me back to health (buying me Grazia and topping up my flask of very diluted Ribena) but sadly it meant I missed my usual "Tuesday Reviewsday" post this week. I didn't want to continue as if nothing had happened, so I've decided to write up a post on my favourite MAC lipstick; Chatterbox.


Chatterbox is a gorgeously pigmented bright pink shade, and is part of the Amplified creme range, which means it has fuller coverage than the cremesheen collection but is not as matte as the matte or glaze finishes. As the range name suggests, Chatterbox has a really creamy texture and doesn't dry out your lips at all. I find the colour lasts around 3 hours before you need to reapply, but as with every pigmented lipstick it does tend to stain your lips a little and doesn't completely fade away throughout the day if you don't have a chance to reapply.

Just like all the other MAC lipsticks, Chatterbox smells gorgeous! This little vanilla scented bullet is one of my favourite lipsticks, and retailing at £14.00 is perfect for those of you who want a higher end lipstick but don't have the disposable income right now to splash out on your YSL's and Lancome's.

If you are just getting started on wearing lipsticks, I would highly recommend watching this video by Lily Pebbles. It has some great tips for preparing your lips for lipsticks and provides a short guide on building up the right finish for you!

xxx


Monday 20 May 2013

The Great Gatsby

I never thought I would see the day that I actually got excited about re-reading and going to watch a film adaptation of a book that bored me to death at school, and was the bane of my life during year 12. The Great Gatsby is one of the classics, a beautiful love story written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, depicting love and the glamour of New York during prohibition, the jazz age and the roaring twenties.


If you haven't read the book but are thinking about going to watch the film, I would strongly, strongly suggest you give it a whirl first. It's very short; it only took me about four hours to read and it's most definitely worth it. The film very closely follows the book; most of the quotes are the same and I don't want to give anything away but the plot is almost identical and in the same order. So, if you have a bit of time on your hands, try it, it makes watching the film so much better when you see just how well Baz Luhrman has portrayed the glitz, glamour and relationship between Daisy and Gatsby.

I went to see the film in 2D, at the late showing on Friday night. As it is 2 and half hours long, I was getting sleepy half way in and despite loving every minute, my bed was calling. My boyfriend and I have decided to go and see it again in 3D tomorrow night... that's how much I loved it!

Oh and just as a final note, the music in the film is exceptional. My personal favourites were Lana Del Rey and Nero, but there are some brilliant pieces in there which really bring Gatsby's legendary parties to life.

Let me know if you have read / seen it also, I would love to hear your thoughts!! 
xxx

Saturday 18 May 2013

Nails on Sunday - Mint Green Confetti

Last Saturday I finally purchased L'Oreal's famous "Confetti" topcoat and a beautiful shale green colour from Topshop. Today's "Nails on Sunday" post combines both of these polishes, and is perfect for brightening up these overcast cloudy days with a bit of spring freshness.


I love both polishes very much, but when combined together I think they're gorgeous! Very unique yet "polished" - excuse the pun - and a wearable look for work, university etc.

What do you think?
xxx

Insta-Fortnight


American Fanta! | Bank holiday Monday dinner and drinks in the sunshine


Catching up on Made in Chelsea | Mmm chinese | Wearing my new neon bracelet to work


Friday cocktails! | Onepiece time | Jogging along the canal


& Other Stories Twill Blue | Caramel Macchiato | Saturday night getting ready carnage


Trying out McDonalds' frappucinos | Reading The Great Gatsby before watching the film | Hot chocolate


Finally found my name! | Cheeky Dominos | After work drinks with the bestie


Maybelline's new colour | Gatsby!! | Sweeties


Saturday Starbucks | Saying goodbye to my old offices (relocating) | Pretty tree

My highlight of the fortnight was The Great Gatsby, if you're in two minds about seeing it... all I can say is, go! It's incredible, very true to the book and Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan are amazing as Daisy and Jay. 

I hope you've all had a good week!
xxx

Thursday 16 May 2013

Loving O.P.I...

It's the worst kept secret in the blogger world; Essie nail polishes are reduced to £1.99 on Fragrance Direct's website. Whilst everyone is rushing to grab a few bottles before they're gone, did you realise that O.P.I is also reduced to £3.99? 

I discovered this the other day and immediately started googling swatches for each other colours, before dropping "Don't Mess With OPI" and "I Brake For Manicures" into my basket. After arriving promptly in second class post, these two babies have been fast tracked into the "must blog about" pile.


I tried both out immediately using my nail wheels, and as expected, love both colours. The pigmentation is very good on the brown "I Brake For Manicures" but two coats is imperative to achieve the desired Green finish with "Don't Mess With OPI". 

What do you think of the colours I chose? Do you love O.P.I too?
xxx

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Maybelline Color Show Nails

During my usual Boots spree this Saturday, my eyes were drawn to the Maybelline counter. Five brilliant new shade of "speckled" nail polish had been released, and were now taking pride of place at the top of the nails section. I picked up 198 Shooting Stars, a gorgeous deep blue and 200 Rainforest Canopy.

Is it just me or are these similar to Illamasqua I'mperfection? I tried them out and despite not being hugely pigmented, I love them! You definitely need at least two coats, but for £2.99, who's complaining?!


ONE COAT


TWO COATS


I really like the way Maybelline have mixed muted black shapes with white ones, it gives the polish depth and is something new instead of standard glitter finishes.

What do you think? Have you tried any of the Color Show nail polishes?
xxx
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