Tutorial: Reindeer

Last year I attempted some reindeer nail art, this year I have changed things up especially the colours so it should show up better. I intentionally used all ELF nail polishes which worked well. Thought I would share what I did...

So this gif might not make it clear what I did which is why I am going to explain a little more

Start off with a base, I used ELF innocent

Used ELF smoky brown to add a splodge

Used smoky brown again for the ears

Then I used ELF brown for the antlers 

With ELF white I dabbed on some eyes

With ELF Mod Mauve I dabbed on some glowy cheeks

Using the brown polish I painted on a nose shaped blob

Finally using ELF black I dotted on some eyes

And of course on one of my nails I just had to use ELF light red for a red nose

(who looks worse for wear, too much eggnog perhaps?)

Using a lighter base meant that my design showed up so much better than my 2010 version!

52 Week Challenge: Week 9

Week 9's challenge was 'rainbow' and it was a challenge!

Thumb: Essence - Let's Get Lost

Index: ELF - Fluorescent Pink

Middle: ELF - Teal Blue

Ring: BeautyUK - Lilac Girl

Little: Collection 2000 - Hip Hop

All too bright for me so I ended up toning down the brightness with a little comic book action.

Much better!

Swatch: 17 - Magnetized Polish in Lilac

Please excuse the terrible paint job on this swatch, I did this at a friends house really quickly as I don't own this. Wish I did though as the colour is beautiful! Although I really wouldn't describe the colour as lilac.

52 Week Challenge: Week 8

So I appear to be getting behind a touch with the challenge, I put that down to the wedding. I will keep going though so don't worry! The challenge for this week was 'taping' and while I didn't really tape I did use tape as part of the manicure so, I think it counts!

Base: 17 - Peacock

Red striping tape

Comparison: Revlon Colorstay - Ivory V's Rimmel 25 Hr - Ivory

"How do the two ivory shades compare?"

While the photo isn't overly clear in my opinion revlon colorstay - ivory is a much lighter pink undertoned foundation. The rimmel lasting finish - ivory is a darker colour and is yellow undertoned.

Swatches of Rimmel 25h Lasting Finish in five shades: here

Review of Rimmel 25h Lasting Finish Foundation: here

Tutorial on how to make your Revlon colorstay in to a pump action foundation: here

Review: Lush - Snowglobe Soap

They say ~ Although this is a refreshing citrus soap, it has a different blend of sharper citrus oils to give you an invigorating wash morning or night. We've used organic lemon myrtle for a fresh, slightly herbal citrus note, and lemon grass to complement the fragrance. This soap goes perfectly in a bath cocktail with Uluru, Avobath or You've Been Mangoed to shake the cobwebs off your tired brain.

I say ~ Love this soap! I didn't think much of it originally as I got it as a freebie but when I opened and used this the scent is lovely, along the lines of minty, peppermint with a little mango. It isn't drying at all and the scent lingers on your hands for a while which is always nice.

If this product comes out again, as it was a 2010 Christmas item I will be purchasing a nice chunk of this!

10 / 10

Lush

Nails: Snowflake

Embracing winter, fairly easy to do and looks much more sparkly to the eye than in the photo.

Nails: Robotic

Base: NYX - Robotic

French: NYX - Purple Ink

Stamp: BM 208

Stamping Polish: Nails Inc - Electric Teal

Nails: Purple Giraffe Print

Base: ELF - Purple Dream

Stamp: BM 208

Stamping Polish: ELF - Black

Anyone else think this looks a little like a giraffe print?

Nails: Half Moons

No.7 - Violetta

Rimmel - Hard Edged

Swatch: Kleancolor - Holo Chrome (94)

I have no idea why this polish is called holo chrome because clearly while it is a holo it isn't a chrome colour!

I do like this polish, although it does seem a little bit scary on my nails which is why I have painted a black tip on. Holo's are quite special I think.

Finish: Holographic, more of a lilac than a chrome

Opacity: Four coats needed, better for layering

Brush Type: Flat and wide, not as wide as OPI

Scent: Quite Potent!

You like?

52 Week Challenge: Week 7

The challenge this week was to come up with a manicure based on a tutorial 

I chose a frenchy dot tutorial as explained by Leslie from polishartaddiction

Sleek - Poisoned Ivy (green)

Sleek - Royalty (red)

Sleek - Oxford (blue)

Review: Studio Powder Brush

Thank you to everyone for your kind wishes for my wedding, everything went really well :)

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A very delayed review on this brush, but seeing as everyone else and their brother has done one I didn't feel the need to rush out and review this. But I totally recommend it!

ELF state that ~ "This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Creates a professional sculpted look-Full coverage color. Use for powder or blush for perfect contouring"

My thoughts ~ I really like this brush, its perfect for applying liquid foundation. I tend to use it in a stippling motion to get a good, even coverage. For liquids which dry fast (like Revlon Colorstay) I like to spritz ELF's Mist and Set spray on the brush. This also helps the coverage to be lighter. The brush is densely packed with brush fibres which gets a really good coverage when used with liquid foundations.

More traditionally the brush can be used for powder, I prefer to use it in a dabbing motion to set powder over foundation. I don't suggest you use it as a brush for applying a powder, unless you are after a thick coverage.

Down sides of the brush are mainly that ELF claim it is good for contouring, but I think its too big to give any definition to the cheek bones. It's a little difficult to clean as well, but washing through with olive oil and then brush shampoo does work well.

10 / 10

£3.50 - ELF

Swatch: Accesorize - Aztec Polish

I thought I ought to review this polish rather than just swatching, simply because its such a difficult one to swatch accurately!

This is primarily a purple duo chrome, which does need two or three coats in order to build up an opaque nail coverage.

With the first coat it seems to be a green toned polish but once you have applied more coats it looks purple. I think that this polish and Orly's Space Cadet are very similar in tone.

I really like this one, it seems to be a polish similar in colour to the oil on water effect you sometimes see.

The talented Helly managed to take some more colour accurate photos here, if your interested

10 / 10

£4 - 10ml

Accesorize | Superdrug

Review: ELF - Studio Eyeshadow - Charcoal

I own both Raspberry Truffle and Amethyst which I really like and have swatched and reviewed. I was expecting this shadow to be of similar quality which is why I ordered it. The packaging is nice, has a little mirror for touch ups and a good amount of product (2.75g) for the price.

Eyes Lips Face claim that their studio eye shadows are "beautiful soft texture melts into the skin for a vibrant color that lasts. Apply wet or dry for a fabulous look that never creases or fades"

All sounds great, however for this particular shade I have to disagree as the eyeshadow is incredibly lacking in the pigment department as you can see from the swatch (without) primer below

Leaving a very disappointing grey, and yes you can build up the colour however it would take a very long time and effort in order to achieve the colour in the product promotion photos provided by ELF. I realise this is a charcoal shade rather than a black shadow, but this still doesn't redeem the product in my eyes.

The lack of pigmentation is the reason for the low score. I hope I got a dud one though as the other studio eyeshadows I have tried have been faultless. Shame because I really don't like to do negative reviews.

3 / 10

£3.50 - 2.75g

EyesLipsFace

Comparison: OPI - Nevermore V's NYX - Purple Ink

I was looking at my polish collection the other day when I noticed that these two polishes looked similar, and after swatching them next to each other I have to say I think the NYX and the OPI are very similar.

Nevermore seems to be a little bit more of a gritty texture, which would be smoothed out with a top coat. Apart from that Purple Ink and Nevermore are identical, well other than in price!

What do you think?

52 Week Challenge: Week 6

Getting married tomorrow, ahh!!!

This weeks challenge as the title suggests was a brown / beige theme

Base: ELF - Mod Mauve

Tips: Barry M - Dusky Mauve

Top Coat: Maybellene Express Finish - Cosmic (840)

So I got a little glitter happy with this, but still think it counts as muted!