Artsy Wednesday - Vintage

Hellooo! It's AW time! This weeks theme is vintage nails! I was going to do a lace design but for some reason I couldn't get this design out of my head.. it's not wholly vintage but it definitely reminds me of characteristics of a vintage 50's dress or head piece. The colours I used are 2 coats of Sportsgirl - Tangerine (a very bright neon canteloupe colour) for the base, Orly - Liquid Vinyl* (black creme) and China Glaze - Blonde Bombshell (a gold glitter with different sizes). I sealed it all off with 1 coat of Wicked Fast. I did a sort of abstract funky french mani for this look. I hope you like it!

Check out these lovely ladies in this weeks AW!

Michelle - Lab Muffin
Melanie - Nail & Polish 
Maria - Marias Nail Polish Blog
Jessica - Beauty Gnome 
Emily - An Accent Nail
Catrine - Unnakednails
Ameerah - Valiantly Varnished  

Wendy - M.A.S.P.O.O.A.S.E.

 

Emily DeMolly - Simplicity

Hello! I have Emily DeMolly's - Simplicity to show you today. I'm really loving EDM shades, they are so unique and just generally so lovely. Simplicity is a gorgeous pastel light purple/lilac creme with small and large white hexes. It gives a great jelly sandwich look and I love it! I used 2 coats followed by 1 coat of Wicked Fast. I had no problems applying this polish and overall this polish lasted for about 5 days straight without chipping!

Shimmer Polish - Natalie & Karen

Hello everyone! Today I have a couple of colours by Shimmer Polish to show you and I have another 8 more to show you within the next 2 weeks! Today's colours are Jennifer* (a dusty pastel purple, copper and light aqua mix with micro glitters and slightly larger holographic hex glitters) and Karen* (a lavender pink mix with holographic hex glitters). I layered both of these over base colours as I wanted a subtle yet striking effect. I finished it all off with 1 coat of Wicked Fast. Both these glitters were very easy to work with and I had no issues with them but they are hungry so I would double up on the top coat next time!

2 coats of OPI - Mod About You and 1 coat of Karen

2 coats of OPI - In My Back Pocket and 1 coat of Jennifer

I'm really loving thinking of combinations that completely clash with the colours or compliment it! Which Shimmer polish do you own and what's your favourite combo? I'd love to know!

Sanctuary Spa - Brightening Facial In A Box

Hello helloooo! Today i've got a review of the Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial In A Box* ($39.00). It is a 30 minute step by step pampering treatment to enhance your skin for a radiant glow. It includes 5 sample size products; Moisture Boosting Mask, Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser, Radiance Exfoliator, Illuminating Moisture Lotion and a Brightening Eye Gel (not to mention a hot cloth to be used with the cleanser and a coupon to save a few dollars off your next Sanctuary Spa purchase). Here's a quick overview of each product and what I thought of them.

Polishing Hot Cloth Cleanser: This is a very creamy, soft product that deep cleans the skin when used in conjuction with the hot muslim cloth provided. You wet the cloth with warm water and cover your face for a few seconds with it to open your pores, then apply some cleanser, rubbing in circular motions and take the product off by using the cloth wrung out in cold water (to close the pores). I have used similar products to this before and although I know some people really love cleansers I just don't feel like they actually clean my face properly. I need something a bit more evasive and rough so I can actually feel it working. It has a nice, herbal scent. Would I purchase this product? No.

Radiance Exfoliator: This is a  really cool exfoliator with pieces of broken down apricot seed in it. This is such a lovely exfoliator and smells of mandarins and lemon. It feels so good when you apply it on your skin and I have used it everyday for over a week now and have noticed how much clearer and brighter my skin looks. This is something I can see myself using for a very long time. Would I purchase product? Yes indeed!

Moisture Boosting Mask: This mask I was apprehensive about because when I first opened the sachet and felt the texture, it felt like a seriously thick moisturiser, not a regular mask. But, when I actually put it on my face and let it sit for a good 10 minutes I was pleasantly surprised to see that not only had it completely absorbed into my skin, but, as the name suggests, it left my skin super moisturised and I usually get pretty dry around my nose area. When you wash it off with warm water it reappears making your face look creamily moisturised but it is very easy to wash it all off. Would I purchase this product? Probably not because I prefer deep extracting masks.

Illuminating Moisture Lotion (SPF 15):  This moisturiser was awesome. It smelt fresh, it wasn't heavy, it was light with probably a bit more oil in it then cream (which I prefer) and it absorbed very quickly. One little characteristic to this product is that it actually has illuminating shimmers in it. Very subtle shimmers mind you but I really liked that a lot. I also love that it has SPF in it. I know this is seriously bad but I rarely wear skincare with SPF in it (hello Rose hip oil as my moisturiser). Would I purchase this product? Definitely. 

Brightening Eye Gel: To begin with, I was hesitant when I saw this product because my mother has always told me never to use things like this, just use face moisturiser and that's it. But I gave it a go and even after trying it it didn't really grab my attention. It made my eye area slightly tight and was cooling and soothing but nothing about it really screamed out at me that I should use it (plus i'm still young and don't have wrinkles). So, would I purchase this product for myself? Nope!

So there you have it! Overall this box was awesome and it was such a great way to try a variety of products and now I have a new exfoliator and moisturiser to add to my face care routine! Let me know if there are any particular Sanctuary products you are loving right now? I've also tried the warming microexfoliant (it literally warms once activated) and I love that product so much! Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Lanolips - Rose Balm Intense For Dry Hands & Nails

Hi guys today I have a Lanolips product to show you! If you haven't tried or heard of Lanolips here's a run down about the story behind the products.

The lanolin used in Lanolips™ is Ultra Pure Medical Grade Lanolin. To achieve this the lanolin goes through a stringent refining and cleaning process; cleansing the raw lanolin of all external impurities, scent and colour, making it the purest, most natural form of lanolin available.

Numerous beauty products use lanolin. However none of these products can say the following: they are 100% natural, they are 100% pure or they contain nothing other than 100% Ultra Pure Medical Grade Lanolin. Lanolips™ can.

The benefits of the Ultra Medical Grade lanolin:

• There are no chemicals
• No additives
• It’s hypoallergenic
• It’s colour free
• Odour free
• It’s so safe it can be used on the mouths of new-born babies
• It is used in hospitals after surgeries to help open wounds heal
• It is 100% pure, cream of the crop, concentrated and refined lanolin

Also, it is extracted from the fleece of an unharmed sheep sharn so no sheep are hurt in the process, which is a huge sigh of relief!

I've never actually shared my profound love for Lanolips and today I will. I have been using Lanolips 101 Ointment for many years now and it is the only ointment that truly keeps my dry lips, cuticles or elbows moisturised, for over 8 hours at a time. But today I am sharing with you the Lanolips Rose Balm Intense* (RRP $15.95 for 50ml) which has lanolin, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, wheat germ oil, rose oil and natural antioxidants in it. It is a very thick balm and feels like it would not be absorbed very quickly by the skin but infact this is the fastest absorbing, thickest and nourishing hand cream/balm i've ever used and how appropriate that I'm using it, just in time for the cold, dry winter months ahead! This is definitely a new MUST-BUY on my list and I don't think I can see myself without it ever again. I have used it every night before bed for the past week and it has made my hands and cuticles super soft. If you have very dry skin then this is for you!

30 seconds after rubbing it in.

Will this balm be a part of your new winter nail care regime? It is definitely in mine! Let me know your holy grail hand cream for dry, cold winter months!
Thanks for reading.

Giveaway Winner is....

The winner of my 500 follower giveaway is.... 

Polish & Prejudice!! 

Congratulations!

I have already emailed them but if they do not respond in 24 hours I will pick a new winner!!

Thanks everyone for entering! Don't worry, I will have another awesome giveaway very very soon ;-)

Glam by Manicare - Express 3 in 1 Nail Art Pen

Hello hello everyone! I hope you entered my giveaway! There's only 1 hour to go so here's the link to enter! 

Today I am showing you the Express 3 in 1 Nail Art Pen by Glam by Manicare in 3 colours. Unfortunately I can't find a name for the colours but I will be showing you a bright neon pink colour with light pink diamontes*, a caramel-gold metallic polish with yellow diamontes* and a dark blue/emerald (duochrome effect) with black diamontes*. Each individual pen also comes with stencils and a orange wood stick.

These are really cool and are so easy to use. There are 3 ways to use them. Twist off the diamonte barrel to access them, twist off the top 3rd of the pen to access the polish brush or pull off the lid at the very top to access the fine tip pen. The polish is really good quality and applies very easy with no problems. The diamontes are very easy to use and stick on the nail well. I especially like the black diamontes, they look so edgy and fierce! The fine tip pen is so sharp that if your polish isn't completely dry it will just rip it to shreds so make sure you use a fast dry top coat! I really liked using the fine tip pen though as it was so easy to make dots and it works extremely well at a water marble design! Here's a few looks I created with all 3 pens.

I really liked wearing these colours and love that I now have a way of rocking some awesome nail art on my tips! If you would like a tutorial for any of these please let me know but they are all super easy, especially using the nail art pens! Thanks everyone and have a great day!

Clarins - Rouge Eclat Lipstick + Gloss Prodige Review

Enter my 500 follower giveaway here to win 7 nail polishes!

Hello hello everyone! Today I have some really exciting new lip products by Clarins to show you. I have 3 Rouge Eclat Lipsticks and 1 Gloss Prodige to show you. Here's a bit about the new Rouge Eclat Lipsticks

A new anti-aging lipstick that contains the Nutri-Youth Complex, an innovation from Clarins Laboratories which preserves the lips' youthful qualities.

• Intense nutrition, suppleness and comfort in an instant thanks to an innovative combination of 100% plant waxes - mimosa, jojoba and sunflower - and unsaponifiables of cocoa.
• Anti-aging actions on the surface and at all levels of the skin: phytosphingosine reinforces the skins protective barrier, protects against dehydration, boost collagen synthesis and fights the appearance of fine lines.

The highly nourishing cream texture glides onto the lips. With a subtle fragrance of red fruits with notes of blackcurrant and liquorice, the signature scent of Clarins lipstick. The more you wear it, the more nourished, repaired, regenerated, smoothed and visibly younger-looking your lips become.

Rouge eclat is available in 15 different shade but today I have for you; 06. True Aubergine* (as the name suggests but a tad lighter) , 07. Red Wine* (also as the name suggests but slightly with a brown undertone) and 11. Passion Red* (a stunning bright red with orange undertones).  I will tell you that all three of these lipsticks are exceptional. They are unlike any lipstick I have ever tried and although they do come with a high price tag ($38AUD), they are well worth the money, that's a promise! They are so creamy, super pigmented (only needing 1 coat) and leave your lips feeling like cashmere. I'm in love. Here are some swatches! (P.s the packaging is absolutely gorgeous too, bonus!)

 

True Aubergine Pictured

11. Passion Red

0.7 Red Wine

0.6 True Aubergine

Clarins - Gloss Prodige is a lip-plumping gloss with a formula that delivers intense colour, mirror-like shine and long-lasting hold. Leaves lips soft, smooth and fuller looking. Available in 10 fashion-perfect shades: Chocolate, Nude, Rose, Candy, Grenadine, Raspberry, Blackberry, Papaya, Water Lily and Vibrant Rose (two new shades for 2013). Today I am showing you the colour 0.9 Water Lily*, a gorgeous light peachy-pink with subtle shimmer undertones. It wasn't too sticky and it gives my overall appearance such a nice refreshed look. It gave this opacity in 1 coat.

 

 

0.9 Water Lily

I am super excited to use the products all through winter as they are sooo moisturising and I love the dark vampy colours! I also feel all the colours complement my skin tone very well. This is the most indulgent and gorgeous lipstick & gloss I've ever used and I would definitely recommend anyone to pick up at least one or even receive one as a gift. They are definitely well worth the need to make a wish list for! What do you think of these? Let me know!