Artsy Wednesday - Halloween Nails

I am a big fan of the supernatural genre. TV, movies, books, I love them all. There's a lot of vampire based offerings around at the moment and I've based my Halloween mani on that theme.

Dripping blood, a scary red iris, puncture wounds and a bloody fang.

I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out and I'm keen to give the dripping blood and the eyeball another try in the future.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what awesome manis the other Artsy Wednesday girls came up with. Check them out!

 

Lab Muffin

 

Pretty Purple Polish

 

Maria's Nail Art

POLiSHED*GENiUS

Unnaked Nails

 

Nail and Polish 

Beauty Gnome

 

An Accent Nail

 

Valiantly Varnished

 

October Lunacy

Here are the polishes I acquired this month

 

oops!

BYS:

Glow in the Dark

Chi Chi:

My Bad

China Glaze:

Afterglow

For Audrey

Pelican Gray

Glimmer By Erica:

Punky Patty

Rainbow Star Sprinkles

Satellite Shine

 

Hello Kitty:

Firegirl

Rose Eden

Kleancolor:

Afternoon Picnic

Chunky Holo Black

Sugarcoat

 

Models Own:

Beth's Blue

Edamame

Fuzzy Peach

Ibiza Mix

Jade Stone

Lemon Meringue

Lilac Dream

Pink Blush

Prussian Blue

Thunder and Lightning

 

Loreal:

Magic Croisette

Mystic Blue

 

Rimmel:

Bonzai

 

Sally Hansen:

Sonic Bloom

 

Seche:

Vite

Restore

Soft

 

Ulta 3:

Earl Grey

Models Own - Beth's Blue and Ibiza Mix

I'm so happy to finally have my hands on my new polishes from Models Own. They'll probably feature quite heavily over the next few weeks!

This is 2 coats of Beth's Blue and 1 coat of Ibiza Mix. I love the different colored and sized glitter in Ibiza Mix. I can see myself using it over many base colours.

Have you used Ibiza Mix? What's you favourite combination?

Models Own Haul

I recently got a bunch of polishes from the Models Own Sale. What a bunch of beautiful shades. I can't wait to try them out!

Artsy Wednesday - Cling Wrap Nails

I am very excited to be joining the Artsy Wednesday group this week! I enquired about joining a month or so ago and was put on their waiting list. Last week I got the good news that there's a space available. Yay! I'm very excited to be on board with this great bunch of nail bloggers.

Every week each member of the group posts a manicure based around a set theme. This week we are doing Cling wrap/Saran wrap/plastic wrap manicures. Here is mine.

 
I have never tried this technique before. I spent a bit of time looking at tutorials and discovered that there are a few different methods. I experimented a bit and settled on the following:

1. Apply base colour. I used Chi Chi - Show Me The Money, a dark metallic green.

2. I couldn't help myself and so I added a coat of Kleancolor - Sugarcoat.

3. Allow to dry completely.

4. Scrunch a bit of cling wrap into a loose ball, making sure there are some interesting looking folds.

5. Paint your secondary colour roughly onto a section of the cling wrap. I used Models Own - Golden Green.

6. Splodge it onto a bit of paper to remove excess polish.

7. Splodge artistically onto your nail.

8. Apply topcoat.

9. Admire :)

I love the way the glitter peeks through.

 

Thanks for welcoming me on board ladies!

Check out posts from the other Artsy Wednesday contributors!

Lab Muffin

Pretty Purple Polish

Maria's Nail Art

POLiSHED*GENiUS

Unnaked Nails

Nail and Polish  

Beauty Gnome

An Accent Nail

Valiantly Varnished

Lust Have It - October 2012

Ahh, the long awaited LHI box has arrived!

This month I received:

Waxaway:
Ready To Use Strips
Sample. 4 strips and 1 aftercare wipe.
Hypoallergenic, ready to go wax strips. I don't really know what else to say about these.

Elizabeth Arden:
Red Door Aura EDT
5ml mini
Scent is a very personal thing and is difficult to choose for someone else, even if its someone you know well. This fragrance is pleasant enough, but it isn't for me. The description on the card is quite accurate, it is a 'bright floral'. I have had enough of fragrance samples lately. I wish LHI would give them a rest for awhile.


Say It With Scent:
Rose Hand and Body Lotion
30ml mini
I will review this properly as part of my hand cream series. Smells lovely, if you like roses. Lightly moisturizing.

Star & Rose:
Rose Confetti Soap Petals
3 x 4g. Full size.
Lovely rosey scent. I will probably give this to my mum, along with the Red Door.

Montaser:
Renitence Eye Revival Cream
Unknown size mini.
Claims to visibly reduce dark circles, wrinkles and puffiness in 14 days. I don't like the look of this product, but I will try it anyway. The cream is a yellowish brown colour that looks yuk. Like the last eye cream I received in a beauty box, I'll be trying it on one eye only. If it works I will post about it again. The little container it came in is cute, but the labeling could do with a more professional finish.

I also received two promotional cards. I don't really like getting these cards, it seems like a cheat to boost the value of the box. Just my opinion.

I did not receive additional products with my VIP membership this month.

I'm a bit disappointed again this month. When you compare the contents of recent LHI boxes to some of the older ones the quality just isn't the same. The insert this month focused very strongly on the Pink Ribbon Hamper, not the box itself. I wish LHI would focus more on their core business. The Pink Ribbon Hamper was also sold out before any monthly boxes were received.

There is a growing degree of negativity on their Facebook page that I believe LHI needs to address immediately if they want to remain a major player. Bad publicity is bad.

What did you get this month? Did you like your selection? What would you like to see more or less of in your box?

Bellabox - October 2012

This month is the first birthday of Bellabox! Congratulations ladies, you've made it through your first year.

Of all the beauty subscription services that have come and gone this year it's no surprise to me that Bellabox are still going strong. Their customer service is impeccable, their products are high quality and their team is fantastic. I have never had a negative interaction with this company. I hope they continue to provide a premium service for many years to come. I'd also love to see some more specialized boxes come out like a hand and nail box, hair care boxes where you can specify your hair type, or a dedicated fragrance box.

I've decided to post about boxes a little later this month, once I've had a chance to try all the goodies out properly.

This month I received:

Chocolatier:
Pink Heart Chocolate
This was the first item I tried from this months box. Delicious! It was very good motivation to get the photo done so that I could eat the chocolate ASAP.

Sally Hansen:
Insta-Dri Nail Polish - Sonic Bloom
9ml full size
Nail polish! Woot! I love getting polishes. Sonic Bloom is a BRIGHT neon pink. Good coverage, smooth application. The pic below is two coats.

Carmex:
Moisture Plus Ultra Hydrating Lip Balm in Sheer Pink
2g Full size
I'm not usually a big Carmex fan because of its fragrance but this pretty, soft pink balm may just have converted me. It applies smoothly, leaving a hint of gorgeousness and just the right amount of shine. Beautiful.

DKNY:
Fresh Blossom Eau So Intense
1.5ml sample
Floral, citrus and apple blossom notes in this fragrance sample. Whenever I try new scents I tend to find them very strong and this one is no exception. Considering the name it's not really surprising. Having said that, I quite like this fragrance and will definitely use this sample to the end.

E.L.F:
Essential Brightening Eye Colour - Nouveau Neutralis
Full size
A neutral eyeshadow quad. If I hadn't just bought a bunch of NYX eyeshadows (which are amazing!) I'd probably be more impressed with this. The glitter particles in two of the shades are a bit large for my taste and the colours are not quite as highly pigmented as they could be, but at $3.99 you cant expect perfection. The other two shades apply nicely with a brush and are useable daily colours. I think this product is good value and a nice addition to your neutral palette.

Estée Lauder:
Resilience Lift instant Action Lift Treatment
5ml mini
Claims to lift and firm skin, boost collagen production and elastin retention. To be honest, I don't have any areas on my face that need lifting and firming, so I can't really comment on those claims. However, this cream makes my skin feel very smooth, it's not too heavy and it absorbs rapidly. As it isn't really suitable for my skin and the full size product costs is quite expensive I will not be buying this item in the near future.

Clinique:
Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer
7ml mini
I'm excited to see Clinique featured in this months box and I hope to see more samples from them in the near future. After using this product for the past 5 days I think my skin feels softer and smoother. I will probably buy this product next time Clinique have a gift with purchase promo.

Cedel:
Blow Dry Faster Heat Protector
165ml full size
I don't blow dry my hair. I don't even own a blowdryer, so you'll have to look elsewhere for a proper review of this product. The can was also dented, but as I won't be using it I'm not really that fussed.

So many goodies! I am very pleased with this months box.

What did you get this month? Were you pleased with your pack?

Polish Us Pink - Glitter Bomb

It's week 3 of Polish Us Pink!

I almost couldn't write this post. My computer is dead, my Internet has gone down. I'm reduced to writing solely on my iPhone. So there's no links, no fancy pics, just a quick post.

This week I have gone for a glittery mani. I used 2 coats of Sally Hansen Insta Dry in Sonic Bloom as my base colour. It's really, really bright neon pink. I topped it with 1 coat of Kleancolor - Afternoon Picnic and 2 coats of Glimmer By Erica - Rainbow Star Sprinkles.

Sparkle, sparkle. My partner said it hurts his eyes! Thanks honey.

Models Own - Pinky Brown

The Beetlejuice collection were the first Models Own polishes I owned. They have a special place both in my helmer and my heart. My partner bought them for me as a surprise gift. Nawww. I recently got myself a 'few' more from the Models Own 50% off sale and you'll see those featured in upcoming weeks.

In the spirit of wearing more pink today my nails are adorned with Pinky Brown. It's a gorgeous glass fleck polish that shifts from purplish to pink to bronzey brown. The look is very reminiscent of a shiny beetle shell. It's a beautiful polish, as the pictures show. Look at that colour shift!

The whole Beetlejuice collection has boring yet accurate names. It's almost as though the Models Own team used up all their creativity creating stunning polishes and had none left for the names! Regardless, this is lovely. Three coats here for opacity. I used Seche Vite topcoat and as you can see the polish shrank back a little from the tips. Oops.

Do you own any Beetlejuice polishes? Which one's your fav?

Review: Garnier 7 Day Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream

I use a lot of hand cream. I work in a job that requires me to wash my hands MANY times a day and this means that a good hand cream is a must to avoid horrid dryness. I have tried so many different creams that I decided to start reviewing them.

Garnier 7 Day Intensive Nourishing Hand Cream

For: Rough, dry hands

Volume: 100ml

Price: $4.79. I bought mine at Priceline.

Claim to Fame: Mango oil and L-Bifidus. Claims to give lasting hydration, even after you wash your hands.

Scent: 8/10
Fresh, a bit fruity. Noticeable for about 10 minutes after application but not overpowering.

Texture: Thick. Not at all runny. Holds its shape as it comes out of the tube.

Application:
Initial: A little goes a long way. My palms initially feel quite oily. Massages nicely into cuticles. This cream is great for giving yourself, or someone else, a quick hand massage.

10 min: Cream has absorbed well into skin. Oiliness has passed. My hands feel soft, smooth and protected. Cuticles remain well moisturised.

Verdict: I've almost finished the tube, so this one's a winner. The effects of this cream are noticeable and lasting. After a few hand washes the effects are however, diminished. For the price I think this product is great.

I would definitely buy this product again.

Any recommendations on what to try next? What's your favourite hand cream?

Polish Us Pink - French Hearts

It's week 2 of Polish Us Pink, an international blogger collaboration for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

I picked up this cute Cancer Council pen the other day and it inspired this weeks pink mani.

I used Chi Chi - I Don't Do Housework as a base colour and Chi Chi - Only Girl In The World on the tips. Then I used a light pink striping tape and OPI - If You Moust You Moust for the hearts.

 

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and every month) you should check your boobies for changes. It's easy and takes less time than a manicure. There's even apps that will walk you through it and remind you when your next check is due!


Men can also get breast cancer so make sure you take the opportunity to feel up their boobies while you're at it.

Glittery Goodness: Kleancolor - Sugar Coat over Butter London - Branwens Feather

I've had a tiny bottle of this gorgeous glitter polish for ages but I didn't use it very often because I didn't want it to run out. I've finally bought a full size bottle and so now I can use it to my hearts content.

Sugar Coat is a clear polish with medium hex and small iridescent glitter. Because of this iridescence Sugar Coat is very versatile. In the bottle shots you can clearly see shades of pink and purple that aren't visible in the nail shot. There are also shades of blue and green on the nail that can't be seen in the bottle. It's all about the base colour ladies. Sugar Coat will go with almost any base shade and will look a little bit different each time. Over this dark polish it has a strong gold/green/blue colour shift.

I can't wait to test it out over the Models Own pastels that are on their way to me as I write.

If you've never tried Kleancolor I would recommend that you do. There are two things to be aware of though.

One: Kleancolor has a very strong odour. If you're prone to headaches when painting your nails or have a sensitive sense of smell make sure you have more than adequate ventilation.

Two: This and the other Kleancolor polishes I've tried are very slow to dry completely. In my opinion Seche Vite is a must.

I've never seen Kleancolor in an Australian store, but I've heard you can buy them from Paddys Markets. I got mine online from Beauty Joint.

What's your favourite glitter at the moment?

Rimmel - Strawberry Fizz

I don't tend to wear a lot of pink. I don't own any pink clothes. I do wear pink manis sometimes but I'm more likely to go for a green, black or purple. This month however, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I'm trying to wear more pink nails.

Today I'm wearing Strawberry Fizz by Rimmel. It's a scented polish in a medium bright pink. Three coats were needed for good coverage. I think whatever ingredient makes this polish smell nice might also make it a bit streaky. Seche Vite gave this perfect smoothness and evenness.

For the first day of wear the scent was quite noticeable, but by the end of day two it's only smellable if I hold my nails near my nose. This results in me looking rather odd :)

This is a cute colour but I'm still searching for the perfect mid pink. What's your favourite pink?

After a couple of days I had a bit of tip wear so I taped the ends and made this mani into a colourful French.

Polish Us Pink: Cherry Blossoms

This month I've decided to take part in Polish Us Pink, a group of bloggers and polish addicts trying to raise awareness for breast cancer. Each Monday in October we'll post pink manicures.

October is breast cancer awareness month both here in Australia and in places around the world. To learn more about breast cancer or to see how you can help visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation website.

Helping can be as easy as buying pink themed products from participating partners. A list is here.

Or you can host a fundraising event. Get some helpful hints here.

Today I've created a pink cherry blossom manicure. I used Essie - French Affair as a base then painted some branches on with China Glaze - Wagon Trail and a fine brush. Then I used Rimmel - Strawberry Fizz and a small dotting tool for the petals and Ulta3 - Sunset Pink for the middle of the blossoms.

I've never tried this before and I think it turned out pretty well. What do you think?

You can jump to other bloggers posts using the links below or join Polish Us Pink by signing up on The Subtle Shimmer blog page.