Manicure And Pedicure

NOTD: Flowers and Dragonflies

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sun, 3 Jul 2011 02:49:00 -0700

Good morning my lovelies :) This week's nail tutorial features the nails I wore to the wedding I had last Wednesday. I chose a glittery pink base and did he design on my ring fingers to keep it simple.

1. Prep your nails by applying a base coat and proceed with applying two coats of a shimmery pink nail polish on each nail. Make sure to allow enough drying time between coats. I used Rimmel 60 Seconds in 400 Starlet.

2. On the nails you are going to do the design, choose a slightly darker yet sheer nail polish and put on a very thin coat. I did this on my ring fingers with China Glaze Awakening.

3. For the design, stamp or draw a half flower at the side of the nail with black nail polish and place a little baby pink coloured pearl in the centre.

4. The dragonfly is very easy to do: with a medium sized dotting tool, put a drop of peach nail polish for the head and subsequently place another three drops of the same nail polish with a small dotting tool for the body. I used China Glaze Sunset Sail. With a detailing brush, paint the wings in black nail polish.

5. When dry, seal with a top coat and you're done!

Review: Lioele Korea Triple the Solution BB Cream

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Fri, 1 Jul 2011 06:02:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) Today I'm going to review the Lioele BB Cream I won earlier this month on a YouTube giveaway hosted by shampoop118. If you do not already, make sure to check out the lovely Stephanie :). Anyways, with all the hype surrounding BB Creams lately, it is no wonder that this review was highly requested, so finally here it is! For more information about BB Creams and their various functions, please check out this post :)

As stated previously, BB Cream has been very much hyped about lately and I wanted to try it out myself to see what all the raving is about but with shipping being overly expensive, I gave up on it so needless to say, I was thrilled to learn I had actually won one!

I really like the packaging of this Lioele BB Cream as I think it is so girly. The BB Cream itself comes in a tube with a pump at the base and a replaceable cap so it is a very hygienic type of packaging. Also, the pump makes for good control of how much product you get out. In turn, the tube is supplied in a pink and gold box as you can see in the picture. The tube holds 50ml of product. It is a very generous amount considering that a little goes a long way with this particular BB Cream.

The texture is quite thick and has a slight gray undertone to it. Don't worry though, the BB Cream will oxidize in air and adapt to your skin tone. I'd say that this particular one has a light to medium coverage... it is not as light as a tinted moisturizer nor is it thick as a foundation. In fact, it feels like you have nothing on. The best way to apply BB Cream is to gently tap it on your face with your fingers to blend it as with a brush it can look cakey.

I like this Lioele BB Cream as it contains SPF 30 and I don't need to apply moisturizer, primer and concealer when I use it so it is a great all rounder for when you're in a hurry. This one in particular has a slight pleasant smell of flowers with a hint of strawberries that gradually fades away. It also contains hyaluronic acid to moisturize and nourish the skin.

This particular BB Cream is designed for oily and combination skin and it only comes in one shade, Natural Beige so I'm afraid it is not suitable for people with darker skin tones. I find that on me, it lasts well especially when I set it with a little Sheer Mineral Booster from e.l.f. cosmetics.

Overall I'm very fond of this BB Cream and from the very first time I used it, I could instantly understand what all the raving was about.

Have you tried any BB Creams ladies? What do you think of them? If not, are there any particular ones you would like to try out?

Monthly Favourites: June 2011

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:45:00 -0700

Time for Monthly Favourites again ladies :) Here are the stars of this month!

Body

Come summer, we all want polished skin so I use Scholl Rough Skin Remover on my feet to prepare them for sandal season and The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Scrub to polish the rest of my skin. I was using a combination of two body moisturizers this month, The Body Shop Spiced Vanilla Body Butter and La Roche Posay Lipikar Lait.

The Attirance Strawberry shower gel was also a fave of mine this season cos I really love its smell along with Impulse Deodorant in Goddess and Hawaiian Tropic After Sun Lotion for those days when my skin needs some TLC after a lot of time in the sun.

Make-up

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream and e.l.f. Sheer Mineral Booster were firm favourites this month along with my H&M Lipgloss in Queen of Peach, Maybelline Water Shine Lipstick in 02 Beige Glace, Primark Beauty pink lipgloss, e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine in Goddess and the Mineral Blemish Kit.

With regards nail polish, I have really been enjoying my new China Glaze, Sunset Sail & Broken Hearted Pink Crackleglaze as well as Rimmel 60 Seconds Starlet.

Jewellery

What were your favourites this month ladies?

Morning Wedding Make-Up & Hair

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:06:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) As some of you are aware, I had a morning wedding yesterday :) It was spectacular... simple yet elegant and everyone had a good time :) I do not have pictures of the outfit yet as we only had some professional photos taken (we know the photographer hehe) so I guess you'll have to wait for that :) In the mean time, here's the make up (pics taken at the end of the day) and hair :)

After the wedding reception, we headed home to wash and dress in more comfy clothes and headed for some relaxing time at the beach with some other friends of ours who were also guests at the wedding and soon after we joined the newly-weds for some casual dining and back at their hotel room to chat over a glass of wine. It was a very full day but we enjoyed every second of it! The best thing make-up wise, was that all my make-up lasted for more than 12 hours straight - from 10am to 12:30am!!! It didn't melt in the heat and I was really pleased :) The hair was courtesy of my aunt and it too held all day :) Here's a list of the products used:

Face

Inglot Make-Up Primer

NYX HD Foundation in HDF02 Soft Beige

essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige

NYX Concealer in a Jar in CJ12 Green

e.l.f. Sheer Mineral Booster

e.l.f. All Over Colour Stick in Pink Lemonade & Persimmon

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

e.l.f. Studio Make-Up Mist & Set

Eyes

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

e.l.f. Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Berry Mix (light pink shade)

e.l.f. Everyday Brights Eyeshadow Collection (glittery pink/light beige)

Collistar Eyeshadow in shade no. 20

Wet 'n' Wild Coloricon Single Eyeshadow in Brulee

Estee Lauder Eye Defining Pencil in Deep Brown

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Coffee

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black Black

Lips

Maybelline Water Shine Liptsick in 02 Beige Glace

Up-style, courtesy of my aunt :)

Mid-Week Beauty Masterclass: How to clean and care for your False Eyelashes

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) I scheduled this post as I will be at a wedding while you're reading it :) This week, I will show you how I clean my false eyelashes and preserve them for another few uses rather than using them just once and dispose of them. This is also a great tip for saving some money with the more expensive falsies. I honestly do not wear falsies much but when I wear them, I tend to clean them the day after as after a night out I would be too tired to clean my falsies :p

What you will need:

~ Paper Towel

~ Brow/lash Comb

~ Small fan brush

~ Tweezers

~ Eye Make-Up Remover

~ Small plastic container

~ dirty false lashes

Method:

1. Pour a little eye make-up remover into the plastic container and put in a pair of the dirty lashes.

2. Leave the lashes to soak in the make-up remover for a couple of minutes.

3. Carefully, take one lash out at a time by means of tweezers and place on the paper towel.

4. Dip the small fan brush in the make-up remover and remove mascara from the lashes. Put the lash back in the container and repeat until no more mascara comes off. Do the same with the other lash. Remember to clean the underside of the lashes as well.

5. Take off any left-over lash glue with your fingers.

6. Brush the lashes through with the lash comb to separate them.

7. Store the lashes back in their original case and voila'! Lashes are clean again and ready for another use!

Steps 1 - 4

Steps 5 & 6

Step 7

I hope you found this post informative :) If you have a different method as to how you clean your falsies, do let me and other followers know :)

Top-Ten Tuesdays ~ Ways to beat stress and relax

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 07:12:00 -0700

Good morning all :) I know I haven't posted a Top-Ten Tuesdays post in ages but I have been really busy as most of you know so right on cue, today's post will deal with methods to de-stress yourself and unwind :)

10. Have a hot or cold bath at the end of the day to suit your preference. Drop in some bath confetti or a bath bomb and some essential oils to really make the most of this time. Why not put the lights off and light some candles instead for the ultimate spa experience in your own bathroom?

9. This is most appropriate for students... take a break from studying and do something you like. For me it is nail art. This will help you concentrate even more when you get back to your desks!

8. Give yourself a foot massage! If you don't have much time to spare, just roll your feet on a chilled can of beer or soda!

7. Have a haircut or do whatever boosts your mood!

6. Have a favourite perfume that reminds you of better times? Smell it and you'll soon be in a much better place :)

5. Go for a walk/jog in some fresh air. 30 minutes are more than enough to keep yourself fit and feel better.

4. Do take power naps to boost concentration levels and rest at the same time.

3. Massage your head! Start at the back of your head and work your way up from the nape in circular motions.

2. Spend time with your loved ones! They are your best bet for fun and giggles :)

1. OK, so this may sound totally insane but for me, it actually works! Do you have a nice eyeshadow palette with all sorts of beautiful colours you want to spend the whole day looking at it? Yes? I actually have some and whenever I feel under the weather, I just look at them and the bright colours brighten up my mood!

What is your favourite way to relax ladies? List them in the comments below :)

New China Glaze nail polishes!!!

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:53:00 -0700

Mr. Postman just delivered a little package a few minutes ago and I was really surprised at the contents... he two China Glaze polishes which were shipped last Thursday from the US!!! Oh the joy! I always tend to get my China Glaze polishes from the same ebay seller as they dispatch the orders quickly and offer combined shipping as well, apart from having a good supply of polishes as well :)

This time, I got one of the Crakleglazes, Broken Hearted as well as Sunset Sail from the Anchors Away Spring 2011 Collection. I am very late on the crackle polish bandwagon but I'm pleased I managed to get one of the China Glazes and the result with it is awesome!! Here are a few pictures:

Sunset Sail & Broken Hearted

Broken Hearted layered on e.l.f. Pearl Pink (thumb) & Rimmel 60 Seconds Starlet (ring finger)

Sunset Sail ~ a gorgeous nude peach with a silver shimmer running through it :)

Which one is your favourite ladies?

Sigma Beauty launch 3 Eyeshadow Palettes!

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:41:00 -0700

Hey all! Sigma Beauty have launched 3 new eyeshadow palettes: Dare, Bare and Flare all featuring fantastic shades to suit every occasion and individual! Here's what Sigma have to say about their palettes:

Introducing the new Sigma Beauty makeup line: the DARE, BARE and FLARE eye shadow palettes! You will now have every color you need to go from day to night, from neutral to bright, and from casual to formal in just a few minutes! Each eye shadow palette comes with a different dual-ended brush featuring Sigma Beauty’s all time best-selling brushes.

Click the picture below to get yours now! What's more? You also get a free gift with every purchase of a palette!

e.l.f. Haul :D

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:21:00 -0700

Long time no e.l.f. haul! Until now that is!! Today my little box of goodies arrived yayy! I ordered at noon on Wednesday as soon as they put up codes for free shipping and received a dispatch email & SMS three hours later and today my little box arrived :) I just couldn't resist and got a few items for now (a larger haul will follow as soon as they restock and bring the new goodies from the US). Here's what I got this time:

Nail Polishes in Desert Haze (I smashed the first bottle I had bought so I had to replace it!), Pearl & Pearl Pink

Professional Blending Eye Brush (I just love this brush and had to get another one)

Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Berry Mix

Mineral Booster in Sheer (small - wanted to know what all the hype is about)

Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Rosy Beige (re-purchase)

Here are swatches of Pearl and Pearl Pink nail polishes (both 2 coats) and the eyeshadow cream:

The darker shade looks more brown than it actually is. It is more of an aubergine purple.

Have you bought anything from elf lately ladies?

Gel Nails for a Family Wedding Guest

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:01:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) This morning, while a movie shooting (involving Brad Pitt whom I did not manage to take a picture of) was taking place in my street, I was doing a gel nail refill for a client who has a family wedding. Here's the final manicure:

On the ring fingers, I used some moss coloured steel beads so as not to have an all dark manicure and give it a subtle summery feel as well (click pictures to enlarge them).

And here's a bonus pic of a movie scene I managed to capture from my roof:

Review: kkcenterhk ES A500 10 Different Pairs False Eye Lashes

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 04:51:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) Today I will be reviewing some false eyelashes I was sent by kkcenterhk to review. They let me choose which lashes I wanted to try and I opted for these ES brand ones which are basically 10 different pairs of falsies! How cool is that? You get different styles to complement different make-up looks and occasions in one box! Apart from false eyelashes, this company sells wigs, make-up as well as some accessories.

Delivery was somewhat fast so I pleased with that. The only thing that bothered me was that they were supplied in an envelope which is closed by some string and therefore anyone could have easily opened it. Having said that, they all arrived intact and in perfect condition.

The packaging consists of a little black box with the ES logo on the front and instructions on the back of the box. The instructions though seem to have been badly translated by some translation tool so if you want more clear instructions, please check out this post. When you open the box, the lashes are all neatly put on a separate tray with curves for the eyelashes to retain their shape. Here are a few pictures:

All the lashes have a thick black band which I think it is a plus as it is less tricky to blend with eyeliner. Also, it is quite flexible and therefore easy to fit your eye shape. Here are a couple of close-up pictures to show you the different styles of eyelashes:

Till now I have used the fourth pair from the top in the second picture. I really liked the results as they made my lashes look longer and more defined and I didn't need to use any mascara to blend my lashes with them. They feel really comfortable on the eyes and the size was just right for me. Here's a picture of when I wore these lashes:

If you care for these lashes, like all others basically, they can last you a pretty long time and can therefore be re-used.

These lashes are quite affordable as they retail for $7.96 for 10 pairs and can be found on sale from the kkcenterhk website.

Do you own these lashes or any others from this company? What are your thoughts about them?

Collective Haul: Beauty, Clothes, Accessories and some stuff from ebay

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:34:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) Here's another collective haul for you all :) This time I have quite a few items so let's get right into it! I'm gonna start with accessories first as there are quite a few... First up, are the earrings, necklace and bag I bought to match the dress I'm going to wear for a wedding I have next Wednesday (will post an OOTD featuring the dress) I also bought a pair of pink feather earrings as I really wanted some and finally I managed to find a pair that doesn't look OTT.

Oversize clutch bag with lace overlay, Dorothy Perkins

Gold and pink studs ball earrings & Flower necklace, Accessorize

Pink feather earrings and wooden studs, Orsay

I also got a stack of rings which I have been wearing ever since as they go with everything; as well as this gorgeous necklace from ebay. The flower was a bit too big for me so I took it off:

Stack of rings, Orsay

Shell & flower necklace, ebay

Next, my neighbour gave this floral top from Pull & Bear she has never worn (in fact, the tag was still attached) and it fits me like a dream :)

Finally, here are the beauty products :D I mostly got nail polishes and I also picked up a few extra ones from essence for a giveaway I'm planning so stay tuned for that :)

Let's start with what I got from the pharmacy first:

La Roche Posay Effaclar M moisturizer & Purifying Foaming Gel (new skin care products)

nee make-up white nail polish

essence quick dry top-coat, high shine top-coat & glitter top-coat

essence colour & go nail polishes in 23 Sundancer & 34 Trust in Fashion

essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige (backup)

Thin black hair elastics

Hello Kitty Sanitary Towels (free samples)

close-up of nail polishes

essence Sundancer (left) & Trust in Fashion (right)

nee white & essence glitter top-coat

I really wanted the Better than Gel Nails top-coat from essence but seeing that the supply of products was limited, I got one of each of the top-coats that were available. I also wanted another concealer but this was the only one in stock.

Going on with nail polish, this morning I bought another one to wear for the wedding (good excuse eh :P). It is by Rimmel London and is called Starlet. It came out much darker in the pictures than it is in real life:

If you recall some posts ago. I said I broke one of the shades in the Cover Girl Cafe au' Lait trio. Well, I have found a close match :D it is Wet 'n' Wild Brulee and I got mine from ebay. It is my first ever Wet 'n' Wild product and so far I'm impressed! It is a bit darker than the one I broke but it is quite good and it is more pigmented :)

Lastly, Dad got me some samples of a Nivea Organic Body Lotion and Day Cream. They contain bio Argan Oil and I did some researched on this much hyped about ingredient and I'm impressed with all the medical properties is possesses so expect a bottle of it to feature in a haul in the near future :)

That's all for this haul ladies :) tomorrow I'm expecting an order from elf cosmetics so stay tuned for that. What have you bought lately?

Mid-Week Beauty Masterclass: BB Cream

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:18:00 -0700

*Yesterday Blogger decided it won't let me upload pics so that is the reason I am publishing this post today*

After an absence of a number of weeks, the Mid-Week Beauty Masterclass returns! I know I have gone through the basic make-up products already but I just couldn't skip on BB Cream which seems to be the latest hyped about product on beauty blogs and the beauty community on YouTube. After I have recently won one myself, I can totally understand what the hype is about but I will tell you more on that in a separate post where I review the actual product.

BB Cream stands for Blemish Balm Cream and it is widely popular in Asian countries such as Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong to name a few. In fact, it was first used by laser surgery patients as an after care product to cover up the redness and scars this type of surgery tends to leave behind; but it soon gained popularity and Asian actresses starting using it to create that particular flawless look synonymous with East Asian girls.

The BB Cream formula has since been reformulated to suit this new demand for it and nowadays, there is quite a vast number of Asian cosmetics brands that offer BB Cream. However, unlike foundation, it doesn't come in a lot of shades, often presenting 1 or 2 shades so it is not particularly suited for darker skin tones. You may also find that BB Cream has a greyish undertone to it but it adapts to your skin tone as it gradually oxidizes. BB Creams usually come in tubes and are either supplied with a pump or you just squeeze the product out. Personally, I prefer the pump as it makes for less waste of product and is more hygienic.

So what does this BB Cream do that is so special you might ask? Basically, it is a foundation with healing properties as it offers a better coverage than a tinted moisturizer and at the same time help heal blemishes and also aids in the skin's regeneration process. Thereby, BB Cream can be seen as a product to replace your make-up primer, foundation and concealer. I can actually confirm this from my own personal experience and it therefore makes up for days when I'm in a hurry and do not have time to apply a lot of make-up. BB Cream also offers protection against UV rays as it contains SPF and it also helps control oiliness. However, due to its skin whitening properties, I do not recommend its use in the summer.

Common ingredients in BB Creams include Ginkgo extract (anti-oxidant), Licorice (helps even out skin tone), Vitamin C (whitening & anti-oxidant) as well as Green Tea (oil control).

With regards application, I find that the best way to apply it is with your fingers and remember that a little goes a long way! Avoid the use of brushes as they will make it look cakey and also, pat it onto your skin for better coverage and maximum absorbance. Most of these BB Creams dry to a dewy finish but there are others that dry matte. For dewy ones, I prefer to set them with a little powder so as not to make them look shiny.

Another way to apply BB Cream

I hope you found this post useful and that you now have a clearer idea on BB Creams and their uses. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to leave them as a comment or drop me an email :)

Top Ten Award

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 04:18:00 -0700

Yesterday, the lovely Zarina from Marshee awarded me the Top Ten Award :) Thank you so much sweety :)

Rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you and link to their blog.

2. Put the Top 10 Award logo on your blog.

3. List your top 10 cosmetics.

4. Choose 10 bloggers to tag, link to their blogs, and let them know.

Here are my current Top 10 Cosmetics in no particular order:

1. e.l.f. Studio Complexion Perfection

2. NYX HD Foundation in HDF02 Soft Beige

3. Maybelline Water Shine Lipstick in 02 Beige Glace

4. e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Tan

5. e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine in Goddess

6. Napoleon Perdis Protege Lipgloss

7. e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

8. e.l.f. Lengthening & Defining Mascara

9. Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

10. e.l.f. Everyday Brights 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette

I'm gonna cheat a little and award this award to you all my lovely followers :)

OOTE: Ahoy Sailor

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 11:38:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) Today I went shopping :D I have a wedding coming up next week and so I bought a dress (which you'll have to wait till the wedding photos to see :P) and some accessories to go with it and other random accessories. I will share everything in a collective haul post soon though :) In the mean time, here's what I wore yesterday evening:

Top & Necklace, Tally Weijl

Shorts & Bag, Mango

Shoes, Zara

Belt, Bershka

With regards make-up, I didn't use that much so as to keep the look natural and give my skin time to breathe. Here's what I used for anyone who wants to know:

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Coffee

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Ripe Rose (just dabbed)

e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF15 in Malt Shake

OOTN: Laced Up!

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 03:16:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies :) How was your weekend? Mine was much more relaxed than the past two even though I have some small amendments to do with my thesis but I plan to finish those this morning and get over and done with them... then I can enjoy a few days of rest and prepare for my final thesis presentation :) Anyways, here's what I wore yesterday night:

Pink lace top, Tally Weijl

Pink spaghetti straps top (under lace one) & Belt (came with a jacket), Zara

Skirt, Stradivarius

Shoes, Marks & Spencer

Cluth, Accessorize

Bracelets and earrings, Peacocks

And this is the make-up:

I felt really girly in this outfit and what better way to complete the look than shimmery eyeshadow? I only used the e.l.f. Blending Eye Brush to create this look as it is perfect to build up the colours and blend them together. Here's a list of all products used:

Face

Lioele Triple the Solution BB Cream

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

Eyes

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

e.l.f. Duo Eyeshadow Cream in Black Licorice (grey shade)

Miners Megadust in 14 Ethereal Glow (pink) & 4 Gentle Radiance

Ultra Glow Shimmer Pot in Icicle

e.l.f. Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black Black
Technic Kohl Eye Pencil in Black

Lips
Maybelline Water Shine Lipstick in 02 Beige Glace
H&M Lipgloss in Queen of Peach (nude shade)
Primark beauty pink lipgloss

Don't forget to like my facebook page for more beauty codes and stuff :)

NOTW: Flowery Sea Spray

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:00:00 -0700

Good morning my lovelies :) I hope you all had a great weekend :) Here's the manicure I have been wearing this week:

I actually created this manicure with my bf in mind as it was his birthday last Thursday. I used China Glaze Sea Spray polish which he bought me himself as well as turquoise, dark blue and orange which are his favourite colours. I did flowers as they are his favourite nail design. It is a very easy design to re-create so let's get started :)

1. Prep nails with a clear base coat and when dry, apply two coats of our choice of polish on the ring fingers and do a French tip on the other fingernails. I used China Glaze Sea Spray.

2. On the nails with the French tip, dot turquoise medium-sized dots with a dotting tool all along the border where the tip colour meets the rest of the nail. I used Inglot Nail Enamel no.309 When dry, apply top coat.

3. For the ring finger design, dot four dots in the shape of a flower with a large dotting tool and follow with orange nail polish dots in the centre of each one with a medium sized dotting tool. While still wet, drag the dots towards the centre starting at the centre of the same dots. For the middle of the flower, place four golden-orange steel beads while the nail polish is still wet. I used e.l.f. Dark Navy and a La Femme orange nail polish for the flower. The steel beads, I bought them from ebay.

4. Using the same turquoise colour and a small dotting tool, draw a small 5-petalled flower at the opposing corner of the nail and place a golden-orange steel bead in the middle.

5. When dry, top coat and you're done!

Review: La Roche Posay Lipikar Lait Lipid-Replenishing Body Milk

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 04:58:00 -0700

Good afternoon ladies :) How are you all doing? First of all, I have created a facebook page for this blog and would really appreciate it if you liked it :) Just click here and click the Like button at the top right of the page :) I will be sharing discounts and beauty deals as well as giveaways and other things beauty related that I don't always post on this blog so it's definitely worth a look ;) Thanks in advance xx

On to the review... as you know, I have just finished my final exams and during the time I was studying for them, I can confirm that my body has greatly suffered from the stress... growing or no appetite at all, bad hayfever attacks, sore throat, occasional zits and to top it all off... ta da eczema and dry skin! Thankfully though, it has started to recover and for my dry skin I have been using this body milk from La Roche Posay. (On a side note, I just learned that this brand is not cruelty free but plans to be by 2013).

With regards packaging, there is nothing special, just the usual La Roche Posay white tube with their logo and an explanation on the back that suggests you apply the product once daily after cleansing the skin with a gentle product. The tube holds 200ml of product which is quite a good amount and is supplied in a cardboard box bearing the same information as the tube itself as well as a list of ingredients.

This product works by replenishing the lipid content and restoring moisture to dry skin for that smooth, supple feeling. An interesting feature of this product is that it is Paraben-free and hence you get double benefits; a product that cares for your skin by rehydrating it and at the same it avoids formation of free-radicals which in the long run can cause cancer.

With regards texture, the cream is quite thick and it feels greasy to the touch and does take some time to be fully absorbed especially when the skin is almost hydrated to normal levels. However, when I first started using this product, it was rapidly absorbed in my skin, signifying how dry it actually was and then, on gradual use, it took longer to be fully absorbed. Therefore, I can safely conclude that this body milk has really done a good job at caring for my skin and leaving it soft and hydrated! It also has a very faint scent to it.

As for price, I cannot really comment on that matter as I was given the product from a relative of my bf but as with all La Roche Posay products, it is surely affordable.

Have you ever tried any La Roche Posay products ladies? Thoughts on this one maybe?

OOTN: Denim Flowers & Nautical Ropes

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:37:00 -0700

Another post today to make up for the lack of posting during the last couple of weeks :) I have an outfit post as you can tell from the title and the first outfit is what I wore yesterday for Johan's birthday dinner. I chose a dress as his favourite item of clothing on me is a dress and I paired it with a cropped denim jacket as during the night it is still a bit chilly for me. On to the photos :)

Denim floral print dress, Miss Selfridge

Cropped stone-washed denim jacket, Tally Weijl

Bag, Mango

Denim heels & pearl bracelet (part of a set), Peacocks

Butterfly earrings, Accessorise

And this is the eye-look I paired with the outfit. Actually the colours don't show up that well but I hope you get an idea :)

Products Used:

Face
Inglot Under Make-Up Base
NYX HD Foundation in HDF02 Soft Beige
essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige
Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose
e.l.f. Studio Make-Up Mist & Set

Eyes
e.l.f. Eyelid Primer
cream with turquoise and green reflects creme eyeshadow Revlon Limited Edition Creme Eyeshadow Palette in 02 Warm & Toasty
light turquoise, light green and dark turquoise eyeshadows from e.l.f. Everyday Brights 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette
Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black Black
Max Factor Kohl Eye Pencil in 020 Black

Lips
e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Natural Nymph (just patted)
H&M lipgloss in Queen of Peach (both shades layered starting with the nude one)

Johan and the Snickers cake :)

I also did a mani with his favourite colours (watch out for the tutorial next Sunday)

Today, I gave Johan his gift... a Microlight Trial Flight around Malta & Gozo :) He is very fond of aeroplanes and anything mechanical so this was the perfect gift for him :) He really enjoyed the experience and is still raving on about it :) The instructor was very helpful and explained the trip and procedure thoroughly before jetting off. Afterwards we headed to McDonalds for lunch. Here's what I wore (excuse my hair as it was a bit windy in the shade):

Rope print top with lace trimming, Bossini

Bubble-hem denim shorts, Terranova

Nautical wedges, Marks & Spencer

Bag, Dorothy Perkins

Bronze bracelets, *things

Anchor earrings, ebay

With regards make-up, I kept the look very natural and didn't wear any foundation whatsoever but for those interested, here's what I used:

essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black Black

e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in Midnight (on lower lashes)

H&M lipgloss in Queen of Peach (nude shade)

Collective Haul: Clothes, Jewellery, China Glaze Nail Lacquer, & a Giveaway Win :D

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 09:05:00 -0700

Hello my lovelies! How are you all doing? Yesterday I had my Pathology exam at to my surprise (and relief), it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be :) Today I have another collective 'haul' for you all of some gifts and freebies I got during last couple of weeks. Let's get into it!

First up is this cute silver bracelet that a friend of Mum gave me. I like dangly jewellery so I liked this one immediately with the little dangling beads :)

My bf bought me this China Glaze nail polish from a US based ebay seller. It is called Sea Spray and it is from the Anchors Away Collection released in spring this year. I really like this colour as it is quite particular. I'd say it is a light blue with a greyish undertone to it and a sheer pearly shimmer. Sometimes, with flash photography, it even appears as a light bluish lilac. The formula is quite easy to work with and it is a creme finish. Here are some pictures, which I feel do not do any justice to the actual colour of the polish.

This is how the colour looks in sunlight

Here you can see the grey & lilac undertones

A few days ago, I was lucky enough to win a giveaway on shampoop118 YouTube channel. I won second prize so strictly speaking I was entitled to a face mask but since none of the other two winners said that they wanted the Lioele BB Cream in the comments, I automatically qualified for it :D I have been wanting to try BB Cream for ages and now I won one!! Here are some pictures, review will follow soon :)

Johan's Mum got me this H&M lipgloss that was being given free at an event and she also got me this statement brooch which I love :) Statement accessories are big at the moment and this really fits the bill. With regards the lipgloss, ever since I got it.... I cannot stop using it!! Both the nude side and the coral side are fab!!

Last but not least, Mum bought me these two cami tops from Bossini :) They are very comfortable and stay tuned for an outfit post coming up where I'm wearing the one with the rope pattern.

What have you got lately?

OOTN: Dotty Chic

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:30:00 -0700

Here's another post to make up for the lack of posts during the past week :) This is what I wore yesterday night:

Polka dot cropped jacket, Stradivarius

Corset (just seen) & Belt, Next

White denim jeans, Bossini

Bangle, Peacocks

Bag, Dorothy Perkins

Shoes, local shoe store

With exam stress taking the best part of me, I wasn't feeling very much up to applying make-up and taking long hours deciding what to wear but yesterday was a whole different story. I got fed up of looking so pale and sick lol and did a full make-up and I can tell you it was fun and relaxing :) Anyways, on to more photos and a list of products used :)

Face

Inglot Under Make-Up Base

NYX HD Foundation in HDF02 Soft Beige

essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige

e.l.f. Studio Complexion Perfection

Rimmel Powder Blush in 004 Pink Rose

e.l.f. Studio Make-up Mist & Set

Eyes

e.l.f. Eyelid Primer

taupe eyeshadow from e.l.f. Limited Edition Party Palette

Double Espresso shade from Cover Girl Eye Enhancers trio in Cafe au' Lait

ES False Lashes from A500 set from kkcenterhk

Estee Lauder Eye Defining Pencil in Deep Brown

e.l.f. Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black

Lips

Vaseline

Maybelline Water Shine Lipstick in 02 Beige Glace

Primark Beauty Pink Lipgloss

Here's a bonus picture of how I styled my hair :)

NOTW: China Glaze Sea Spray

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:09:00 -0700

Good morning my lovelies :) Here's a quick NOTW post while I'm having a break with my studies. Since I've been so busy (tomorrow I have my third final exam consisting of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine), I haven't had much time to do nail art but a couple of days ago, my latest China Glaze polish arrived in the mail :D actually my bf bought me this one :)

Sea Spray is a gorgeous greyish, dusty blue with a subtle pearly shimmer and is part of China Glaze's Anchors Away Collection released earlier this spring. I'll leave you to some pictures :)

How's that for colour blocking? ;p

Review: Eyeko London Lips Lipgloss in Knightsbridge

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Tue, 7 Jun 2011 04:55:00 -0700

Hello there my lovelies :) I just had my first exam yesterday morning. It was a bit harder than we expected so let's just hope for the best and that the ones to follow are not as hard :s Next up is Microbiology this coming Thursday but it's one of my favourite subjects so I think I will be OK with it :)

So, anyways, on to the review! I got this Eyeko lipgloss for free when someone used my ambassador code for the first time (for reference, it is E10484 and you can use it with purchases of over €18... and by the way, shipping is free worldwide!)

It comes packaged in a thin shrink-wrap plastic and you will notice the sweet smell of it for sure! With regards the colour, I think it is very suitable for my skin tone but it will also look good with any skin tone as it comes on pretty sheer. I don't know if you can actually see it in the pictures but there are little silver shimmer particles going on all through the gloss.

The actual tube is really cute (hence the brand lives up to its name... Eyeko means cute in some oriental language if I'm not mistaken) adorned with symbols that are synonymous with London. It is a squeezy tube and has a slant applicator end... perfect for when you're on the go and don't have a mirror with you.

This gloss is a bit on the sticky side but I overcome the stickiness by applying a thin layer of Vaseline on my bare lips and then proceed with applying the gloss. Consequently, this has average staying power and you will need to reapply it during the day.

The Eyeko London Lips Lipgloss range is Limited Edition and you can get yours from the Eyeko website for €8 per lipgloss. Remember to use my code E10484 for your free gift with a purchase of €18 or over :)

OOTN: Checked!

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Sat, 4 Jun 2011 03:36:00 -0700

Hello dolls! I hope you're all well :) Here's the outfit and make-up I wore yesterday night. It was very chilly for me but I was deceived by the humid and sticky weather we had in the morning and hence didn't get a cardi along with me :( anyways, here are the photos :)

Shirt, Terranova

Checked shorts & Shoes, Zara

Clutch, Mango

Here's a more detailed photo of the accessories as they are barely visible in the previous one

Earrings, Tenda

Panel cuff, M&S

Face
Rimmel Lasting Finish Minerals Loose Powder Foundation in 100 Ivory
essence stay natural concealer in 01 Soft Beige
e.l.f. Studio Warm Bronzer
e.l.f. Studio Make-Up Mist & Set

Eyes
e.l.f. Eyelid Primer
e.l.f. All Over Color Stick in Persimmon
e.l.f. Everyday Brights 32 Piece Eyeshadow Collection
Cover Girl Eye Enhancers Trio in Cafe au' Lait (Double Espresso)
No7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow in 50 Tender
e.l.f. Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil in Boldly Bronzed
Barry M Shimmering Body Creme in Gold Reflects
Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara in Black Black

Lips
e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Tan
Napoleon Perdis Protege Lipgloss

Review: Rimmel Extra Super Lash Lash Building Mascara in Black Black

noreply@blogger.com (dublek) — Thu, 2 Jun 2011 07:48:00 -0700

Hello lovelies how are you all doing? Finally the sun is up again and shining over here after we had dreadful rainy weather this morning and yesterday! Today I've been up since 6am (!) so I can finish up a couple of subjects of which I have an exam next Monday and Thursday. Soo, since it's been quite a long day, time for a little break and a review for you all!

As you can tell, I will be reviewing a Rimmel mascara which I have been using these last couple of weeks after my elf one dried up (I have actually been using the elf mascara for somewhere round 5 months and I will be repurchasing it soon and do a full review about it. If you want, you can read a mini-review here).

Back to the Rimmel mascara... I quite like the packaging of this one: black, sleek and silver writing.

The wand is your standard mascara wand, no fancy materials or shapes but it starts wide at the base and tapers nicely to a slimmer tip, enabling you to cover all lashes and not miss a single one. In fact this is the catch of the 'Lash Building' part... this mascara is suitable for both natural and the more built, dramatic looks. On a personal note, I quite like how it makes my lashes look all defined and long. The formula is just the right amount of wet and doesn't take long to dry. So far, I have never experienced clumping with this mascara. This mascara is opthalmologically tested and is suitable for people with sensitive eyes.

I'm wearing this mascara in these photos

What is different than other mascaras, is the expiry date of this mascara... 12 months!! I'm very curious to see how long this mascara will actually last!

With regards price, I'm not sure how much it retails for exactly but I think it's around the €4 mark. Pretty affordable since I never got the point of spending €12 or so on a mascara that you will actually throw away after a few months!

Overall, I really like this mascara and I guess my wallet will have the suffer the consequences cos I will definitely repurchase!!

Have you ever tried this mascara ladies? Thoughts?