Hi Everyone!

For the launch of the Archie’s Girls Collection MAC Cosmetics invited Dan Parent, Illustrator for the Archie comics to Selfridges (and Archie himself!).

Archie & Betty hanging out! But where’s Veronica?

Key artwork for the collection

Dan Parent was kindly drawing Archie characters for customers (using Copic pens I might add, I would love to own some one day)

Ben asked Dan to draw Jughead, Archie’s best buddy.

I picked up two items from the Veronica part of the collection and they were giving away these heart tins with heart-shaped sweets with any Archie purchase

Dan kindly agreed to sign my palette!

MAC Lipstick in Daddy’s Little Girl
MAC Eyeshadow Palette in Spoiled Rich

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone

You know when you just get that urge to dye your hair purple (or is it just me?) well I went ahead and did it. This is after  I dyed the tips pink during my break and let that fade out.

I originally went to the hairdresser for an Ombre effect which lightened my hair enough to try some bright colours on it. The colour I used here was actually Lilac from Directions, so on first application the purple is quite dark, but I expect it to fade out to the soft lilac shade.

To match my purple tips I went for MAC Cosmetics Pearlglide eyeliner in Designer Purple.

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone! Check out the news on the latest promotional picture for the new OPI collaboration with Disney’s new release Oz The Great and Powerful.

Disney’s Oz The Great and Powerful” inspired these 7 great & powerful limited edition lacquers, due out in March 2013!
The range includes three mega glitters, three pearly sheers, and one bold Liquid Sand hue. Which are you wishing for? – OPI facebook

Until next time!

Hi Everyone!

It’s been a while! But I’ve had a lovely rest and I’m bright-eyed and brushy-tailed. I’ve dusted off the cobwebs and I’m ready to party. Please do bear with me while I get back into my swing, I’ve recently moved (again) and still have boxes to unpack.

I’d heard about the new  Apocalips Lip Lacquers from Rimmel and finally picked up a few shades on the Boots 3-for-2. My Lips-of-the-day is:-

Rimmel: Apocalips in shade Apocaliptic

I don’t really have many lip lacquers (although Temptalia really sold me Chanel Dragon) as I’ve been put off by the promises of lip stains and glosses in the past, but these apply and wear a dream. Really soft and buttery on the lips. They really stain the lips and last through my countless cups of tea all day!

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone! 

Working in Video games is really hectic with the run up to Christmas so I’m just taking a summer break from blogging.

I’ll be back in the Autumn!

Until then, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

As Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns (3DS & DS) is out today I’m celebrating with special HM related nail art!

I’m a HUGE Harvest Moon fan and would spend countless hours playing the game… inside.. when its sunny outside… *coughs* yes just a little bit addictive, but this version is on handheld (Nintendo 3DS & DS) so I can sit in the glorrrrrrious sunshine and play it instead! *looks outside to pouring down with rain* ahh darn.

Anyway, what is this magical game of which you speak of? Well to learn more check out the launch trailer!

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone,

The Beauty Department never cease to amaze me with great how-tos on cool make-up geekery, check out this great how-to glitter polish tutorial!

Until next time, have fun!

Hi everyone!

I can’t believe I picked up this baby ages ago and haven’t tried it until now!

Excuse the mess, this is before I had to tidy up! having a kitten running around your feet doesn’t help for neat nail polishing!

Natural light- indoors

Natural light -outdoors

Artificial light

None of my pictures taken outside show off the gorgeous green-blue shimmer that appears in this polish also when shifted in the light, but under artificial light like the picture above you can see the cool shimmers come through!

Application:
I used 2 coats of China Glaze First Mate as a base because this polish is very sheer on application. Once that was I dry I threw on 2 coats of Fantasy Fire to add this beautiful finish.

Finish:
In the light the golden pink-bronze is very apparent which then shifts into a blue-green duo-tone shimmer. Really beautiful. I’m not sure if it is the base coat of First Mate or the combination of the two polishes that really helps this polish last.

Overall:
This is truly stunning, I picked up 2 bottles as it is a tiny polish (hence being called “Max Effect Mini Nail Polish”) and my advice would be to grab a bottle when you can before it disappears!

• Packaging: 3/5
• Formula: 4/5
• Staying power: 5/5
• Value for money: 5/5
• Repurchase: Yes

Did you pick up Fantasy Fire? What colours have you been using as “underwear” for it?

Until next time, have fun!

Looking for something to new read lately? Why not head over to 30 something Mel and check out her review of the Ivy series

Get your clothing customisation on with D.I.Y. studded collar tutorial over at That’s So Yesterday

Have you checked out the OPI Amazing Spiderman Collection swatches yet? really? then check it out over at Fashion Polish

Dropped a powder make-up item and have it shatter into a bazillion pieces? Never fear with this D.I.Y. Makeup Fixer Upper at The Beauty Department

Did you hear about Mac Cosmetics’ new Heavenly Creature Collection?  Check it out over at Musings of a Muse

I’m loving the look of the new Jessica Gelato Mio polishes, I want them all! See what I mean over at Nails Beautiqued

Until next time! Have fun

Hi Everyone!

I’m honestly truly sorry for the lack of updates lately. Work has been super busy as I work in Video Games at the beginning of a cycle there are lots to do! Forgive me

For my  birthday I picked up the Model’s Own Neon Brights Collection and decided the first thing to do was to try the super bright yellow “Luis Lemon”. This polish is super bright, like how I would expect the inside of a highlighter pen to be (or the inside of the sun!)

(Excuse the low-res photo!)

The best way to work with neons is to use them over the top of a base, so I used OPI Alpine Snow for a base and applied 2-3 coats over the top.

• OPI: Alpine Snow
• Model’s Own: Luis Lemon
• Konad Special Polish: Black
• Konad Image Plate: M71 

This post wouldn’t be complete without an updated picture of Ash

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

Model’s Own Disco Heaven is the second polish I picked up from the Hed Kandi collection. I thought it would all be about the Ibiza Mix but oh no, this polish is gorgeous!

Model’s Own: Hed Kandi Disco Heaven

The subtle gold glitter is laced with an iridescent blue glitter which is subtle (sneaky!) enough to add extra sparkle to your mani without even noticing (yes, sneaky ninja glitter!).

Sadly these photos can’t show the ninja blue glitter (but then that’s the whole point of ninjas!)

The glitter is quite sparse in the clear base so it’ll take a good 3-4 coats for an opaque finish, usually I prefer the opaque finish but this polish looks gorgeous with just a few coats. This is how I’d expect my nails to look if my dipped my nails into pour sunshine!

Only downfall? It stinks! Literally. Model’s Own is not Big-3-free.

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

It’s been hot hot hot!! And so the head and found its way on to my nails. I can’t believe it wasn’t that long ago I was posting my hail stones mani!

• Bourjois 10 DAYS NAIL ENAMEL: 25 (Coral)
• Illamasqua: Purity
• China Glaze: Lemon Fizz
• Barry M: Mint Green (304)

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

I’d spied this Peter Pan collar design on Pinterest and thought I HAD to try it!

• Illamasqua: Boosh
• Paper Hole Re-inforcers (WHsmith)
• OPI: Alpine Snow
• Dotting Tool
• China Glaze: 2030
• Seche Vite: Topcoat

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

It’s been raining and pouring the last few days – we’ve even seen some hail stones!

I was feeling something to cheer up the horrible grey day – so I grabbed my The Make Up Store Strazz crystal stones in Aquamarine for a little sparkle.

Natural light – outdoors

• Models Own: 3-in-1 base coat, top coat and gloss
• Illamasqua: Caress
• Rimmel: Grey Matter
• The Make Up Store Strazz Crystal Stones: Aquamarine
• Seche Vite Top Coat

Natural light- indoors

I started with a 2 coats of Illamasqua Caress on the ring finger and went on to paint the other remaining nails in 2 coats of Rimmel Grey Matter. I then used a coat of Seche Vite as a base for the gems on the ring finger and used my dotting tool dipped in Seche Vite and carefully placed the gems on one by one. I then finished off with generous helping of Seche Vite.

Until next time, have fun!

Hi Everyone!

Don’t get my wrong, I love my Konad plates, but sadly there are those patterns/designs that you just can’t get -unless you take a trip over to eBay and pick up some faux-nad plates. I picked up 3 of these plates as they were cheap. Looksie- HELLO KITTY! and I also couldn’t resist the geeky transformers design.

These plates were cheap – but you can also tell in the design. They are thin so it makes the edges quite sharp. They are covered in a blue film to keep them scratch-free just like the bundle monster plates.

So far I’ve tried two different designs, for the first one I used Butter LONDON: All Hail The Queen as a base and used the polka dot design on QA12 as a guide (as the dots transfer quite small) then went over them with my dotting tool. I then used the larger bow all over on my ring finger.

On the second design I used OPI: Alpine Snow for a french tip and used the Hello Kitty face from the other plate, filling in the bow and nose with a red and yellow polish – simple and easy!

These practice runs as the plates were good fun, I look forward to trying different designs and combinations!

Until next time, have fun!