31 Day Challenge day 7 - Black and White

Howdy!

Today's mani theme is black and white nails, and to start with I had no idea what to do. Polka dots? Zebra stripes? Both of those are covered later on in the challenge, so I thought I'd do some stamping. I looked through my stamping plates and found a keyboard image - perfect for a black and white theme. So, I duly painted all my nails with 1 coat of Wet n Wild Black Creme, except the ring fingers which I did with 2 coats of Wet n Wild French White for accents. Then it all went horribly wrong. Could I get the blasted stamp to work? First time it transferred ok (not perfect but I could have patched it up) but totally wonky, and then every time after that it just wouldn't work. I think I need some pure acetone for cleaning plates inbetween stamps because I'm sure the moisturising ingredients in polish remover play funny with the stamp. Anyway, instead of having crappy stamps or none at all I reached for a trusty fail-mani-saver. Good old crackle. I actually LOVE this look, it got lots of compliments and it's held up through a day of intensive housework with just a little tipwear (which is a good thing because I had a meeting tonight and didn't get time to change it...). I used W7 Earthquake white and MUA Jailbreak crackles, then Seche to shinyfy it. You definitely need topcoat over white crackle or it looks like you've been at the tip-ex.

Excuse the cat hair *shakes fist at fluffy fiend*

This would have been a super fast way to get a  really striking mani if I hadn't faffed around with the stamp. Somehow I can never get WnW Black Creme to stamp well, although I've seen it used successfully on other blogs. Well I ended up loving this anyway, so it seems I'm not over crackle yet. I think it looks great when done properly.

Hx

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31 Day Challenge day 6 - Violet!

Hiya :)

Today I have an awesome polish to show you, but you'll have to take my word for it due to the lovely weather and my appalling camera skills. Yes, it's a holo! I took "violet" to mean purple and chose Glitter Gal Dark Purple 3D Holo from my recent swap with Jasmine of Colour Coated. Thank you so much Jasmine! Unlike my other holo, a silver from M&S, this one looks ok when there's no light bouncing on it, just a pretty shimmery purple. Formula was a bit of a pain, as I think holos tend to be, but I got it even enough in two coats and added Seche to make it shiny. It didn't last long though :( my left index finger peeled completely off! So I am already wearing my black and white nails for tomorrow :)

Anyway, pics!

Blurry holo is blurry!

What do you think? I really really REALLY want Glitter Gal Light as a Feather, it looks awesome! You can see jasmine wearing it here *drool*

Hx

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October Favourites

Evenin'

I gave my nails a break and kept on my blue mani for an extra day, so today I have my October favourites for you. I didn't buy an awful lot this month, due to being penniless! So there are just a few bits that I've picked up or rediscovered that I'm loving.

Polish first, of course!

2true Fast Dry Colour Quick Shade 10, 17 Magnetised Green, China Glaze Ruby Pumps, Accessorize Baby Blue

My favourite mani this month (although I didn't like the formula of the base colour)

17 Fast Dry Fury, Stamped with 2True Fast Dry Colour Quick Shade 8, Maybelline Orange Couture and  BM04. Full post here.

Brunette eyebrow pencil by Vital Radiance, Beauty UK Pearl Eyeliner in Eclipse, Garnier BB Cream in Light, Rose and Co Apothecary Rose Petal Salve

I always used to use a matte eyeshadow to fill my eyebrows when I needed it - which wasn't very often - but I saw this eyebrow pencil in Poundland and thought I'd try it. Now I know what a difference it can make to "do" your eyebrows. It makes my whole face look more defined and really frames my eyes.I don't do it everyday, but when I'm doing my "full face" or a strong eye it completes the look.

I now have 5 of Beauty UK's pearl eyeliners and can't recommend them enough. I got Eclipse as an "extra" from a blog sale and love it. It's a very dark slate grey and is great for lining a smokey eye.

I wasn't sure about buying a BB cream from Garnier - at £9.99 it's a lot more than I'd usually pay for foundation or tinted moisturiser, so I sent off for a sample to try it. The first time I used it I used way too much and ended up super shiny and felt like my make-up was sliding around my face all day. The next time I made sure I used it over primer and didn't use as much and it was much better. Somewhere in between a foundation and tinted moisturiser is perfect coverage for me as I have good skin and barely ever get spots, but have a few uneven patches of colouration and freckles. I'm still not sure if I would buy this for a tenner, but it's on offer in Tesco at the moment for £8, or I might try 17's one for £5.99 next time I'm in Boots.

I got the Rose and Co Apothecary Rose Petal Salve in my October Boudoir Prive box and it is fast replacing my Lemony Flutter as my favourite cuticle treatment. It doesn't have the grainy texture of lemony flutter and turns into more of an oil on the skin. I even use this on my lips (I do this with Lemony Flutter too). I wasn't sure if the scent would put me off but it just reminds me of Turkish Delight. I'm not a great fan of Turkish Delight, but it's bearable! And makes my lips feel great. I want to try their Cherry Salve too, but I will wait until I've finished this one and the Lemony Flutter (which I feel is never gonna happen since it's HUGE!)

L'Occitiane Shea Hand Cream Hibiscus Flower, Original Shea, Desert Rose, Kleenex Facial Cleansing Wipes

Last month in Marie Claire they were giving away a L'Occitiane Shea Hand Cream in four different "flavours" (am I the only one who calls scents and varieties of beauty products "flavours"? You wouldn't eat it...). I picked up the original shea butter first, and when I used it almost all up within 2 weeks I picked up two more! Yes, I bought 3 copies of the same magazine...and still haven't read it! I can honestly say that it's the best hand cream I've ever used and my hands and nails have felt so much better, especially now the weather is getting cold - which is tough on my hands. If I don't get a huge bucket of this stuff under the Chrimbo tree I will be buying one in the new year!

I am a facial wipe fan, and these ones from Kleenex are really good. Apparently Kleenex as a company started as a way for women to remove make-up, so their new range is going back to their roots. These wipes are soft and quilted, so they're strong and don't make my skin feel dry and I don't feel like I have to scrub at my eyes to get my mascara off!

So, there are my faves of the month. I am on a self imposed spending ban so Novembers favourites will be things I'm rediscovering and digging out from the stash! The spending ban wont be too hard I think, there are only 2 polishes that I think I want (Barry M's Croc Effect crackle and the green/gold one from the Models Own Beetlejuice collection) but I can hold off on those since I don't have a place for them in my 31 day challenge! And then December will be all about Christmas, so maybe my faves for that month will come from Mr Claus!

What have you been loving this month? I tell you I'm not loving this cold weather! Am avoiding putting the heating on for as long as possible...it's chilly in here I tell you!

Hx

PS This post meant to go up last night, but it seems I neglected to hit "publish". Ooopsie! The 31 day challenge will resume this evening!

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31 Day Challenge day 5 - blue, I think...

Teal. Is it blue or is it green? I can't decide, but I chose some teal-blues for today's manicure, even though Mr NN said it was green I like it so I'm sticking with blue!

I've been enjoying wearing plain colours the last few days but fancied a change so glittered it up a bit. I used 2 coats of Rimmel 60 Seconds Sky High to all but my ring finger and thumb, then topped it with 2 coats of Kleancolor Chunky Holo Teal. For the accent nails I used 3 coats of Wet n Wild Fast Dry Teal of Fortune and topped it all with my beloved Seche. I got the Kleancolor and WnW from an awesome swap with Jasmine at Colour Coated :) Thank you Jasmine! I am going to use another of the polishes she sent for the next days challenge ;)

I'm not taking this off today - it hasn't chipped and I want to give my nails a break from the acetone - they're in okish condition right now but I can see some peeling starting. Also we're going to a fireworks display tomorrow and I think this is appropriate! I bought a new base coat today - Sally Hansen Nail Quench as I think it's lack of moisture more than anything that's causing my peels. Trying to moisturise as often as I can and I think it's helping too.

So anyway, since I'm not doing day 6 yet I'm going to try and get an October faves post up tomorrow :)

So, what do you think, is it green or is it blue?

Hx

PS Be safe if you're heading to fireworks over the weekend!

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31 Day Challenge day 4 - green!

Onto day 4, and it's green nails. I have a few greens in my untrieds and I went for Suzi Takes the Wheel from O.P.I's 2011 fall collection. According to Scrangie it's "a very, very grey light green" and I think it's super pretty. It's warm, which suits me, and has satisfied my craving for Essie Da Bush. This is two coats plus Seche, although it was super shiny on it's own, and there is a little bald patch on my left index finger so I should have done 3 coats. Shhh, I wont tell if you don't....

Do you like it? I am really growing to love murkey shades like this. Give me a dusty purple or a muddy red over a neon anyday :)

I've not got a nail wheel of greens today, I probably only have around 8-10 greens, but I quickly compared Suzi Takes the Wheel to two other similar colours in my collection, Models Own Grace Green and MUA Shade 23. Definitely not dupes, but I also definitely don't need all three!

Off to do my blue nails for tomorrow - it's a sparkly one!

Hx

P.S I won an awesome giveaway, I'm so happy! If you don't follow Spellbinding Nails go and check her out, she's a sweetheart!

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Crackle isn't over just yet...

Bored of crackle? Barry M have released a new "Croc Effect" crackle. You apply it over slightly tacky nail polish rather than completely dry, and it takes about 3 minutes for the effect to appear.

It looks quite good, I wont be rushing out for it, but if I happen to see it in the shops I'm sure it might fall into my basket ;)

Have a peek at the video, see what you think:

http://www.barrym.com/make-up-tutorials/video-tutorial.asp?vid=113

Is crackle over for you or will you give this a try?

My 31 day challenge post will be up this evening!

Hx

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31 Day Challenge day 3 - the dreaded yellow!

I very rarely wear yellow nail polish, and that is for a good reason. It just doesn't suit me. I have done a couple of manicures using yellow as mu base and both time I have been "meh" over them. This is no exception. The yellow I chose is Miss Sporty Taxi, which is a sunny yellow with fine golden shimmer. It's ok, I guess, but there is no other way to describe it other then "meh". I can't stop looking at my nails though, but that's just because I'm trying to decide if I like it or not... Pics show 2 coats, no topcoat.

Are you getting anything other than meh? I left it without topcoat because I was going to add something to jazz it up this morning, but even though it was 2 hours after I painted my nails that I went to bed last night I woke up to sheet marks and bubbling. Not a good look. So it will be coming off tonight and I will replace it with tomorrow's colour - green.

Here are my yellow polishes swatched on a nail wheel - all three of them :D

Rimmel I <3 Lasting Finish Fruities Lemon Drop, Barry M Yellow, Miss Sporty Clubbing Colours Taxi

I think that with my 3 yellows I cover the yellow spectrum quite adequately!

Have you had trouble with yellow?

Hx

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