Spice Age

 

Mumma Bovary has long been raving about the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel formula, and so when Spice Age arrived I took more notice of it than I otherwise would have. The colour is definitely beautiful to look at in the bottle but the chocolate tones aren’t something I’m too comfortable with when it comes to nail colours, I tend to veer towards deep blue tones when it comes to dark shades like this. It wasn’t until I tried it on the nail that the true beauty was revealed though, cliché though that may be!

 

This is stunning, and something that I definitely recommend using a high shine topcoat with as the gloss factor will definitely ramp up the appeal of this shimmer-laden shade. It’s got that deep set shimmer that I find quite hypnotizing in a nail shade, and I quite like how it appears to be naught more than a warm black from a distance, but intense and complex up close. As much as I enjoyed wearing this shade, I know Mumma Bovary will wear it more frequently and adores the formula, so this is on my desk ready to give to her soon.

This post has reminded me that I really need to collaborate on a post with Mumma Bovary soon – what sort of post would you like to see? Her favourite nail polishes? What’s in her makeup bag? A makeup look for autumn? Let us know!

-Emma

*Polish provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Festive Five #3 - polishes to adorn your fingertips for Christmas Day

Last year I went a bit left of field on Christmas Day and wore a bright summery pink nail polish to match the Tokito dress I bought for the occasion (check my post here to enjoy some swatches, it's my all-time favourite pink polish!) This time around I think I might go down the more traditional route of reds, greens and glitters - I've rounded up my five Christmas Day contenders and will pop a picture of my final choice on Instagram (@emmabovary) when I get my nails done this week!

1. Australis Glitter Top Coat in Eureka

I find it quite hard to wear a straight up metallic gold against my pale skin, so a nice top coat like this is the perfect way to inject a bit of my favourite festive metal into my nail look. I have gold tinsel on my tree each year and a stack of golden ornaments about the house, so I like that this ties into my overall Christmas theme!

2. Australis Metallic Edition in Red Hot Chilli Pepper* from the AC loves Me Collection

First of all, awesome shade name from the stars that keep the Priceline shelves full of on-trend and affordable beauty products! This rich dark metallic red is that classic Christmas colour that my polish collection was surprisingly lacking, and one that I think will be very popular for the Aussie brand.

3. Essie Hors d’Oeuvres from the Encrusted Collection*

Yet another mention for my current polish shade, the stunning chunky glitter that is my favourite Essie glitter to date. The fact that this shade manages to lean cool and warm at the same time is brilliant, but my frustration at not being able to accurately capture the shade on camera is driving me crazy! Trust me though; it is stunning on the nail and something that I think I will get a lot of wear from.

4. OPI Christmas Gone Plaid

Gwen Stefani has teamed up with OPI once again around the holiday season and as soon as I saw this dark forest green in a magazine, I knew I had to have it. I’m not one to buy polish all the time but after a few free drinks in Vegas, Mister and I visited the apothecary there and I took this baby straight to the counter. Stunning, I’m in love.

5. Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Snow Globe*

A gorgeous nail topper filled with various holographic flaky hexes and glitters – if there ever was a time to wear a sparkly stunner like this, Christmas certainly fits the bill! I believe this one was a limited edition around the spring carnival season here in Australia, but I saw it on the shelves during the week so if you’re interested in rocking this on Christmas Day you should be able to get your hands on a bottle.

Snow Globe!

 

Do you dress up for Christmas Day, or is it a totally casual affair? Have you chosen your nail shade yet?

-Emma xx

*Provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

Makeup Look : Peach Pop & Rendezvous

(I am off on my honeymoon until December so this post is a scheduled one. Would still love to read comments and feel free to hit me up on Instagram @emmabovary to see holiday snaps along the way! - Emma)

Each time the warmer weather rolls around it's like a switch in my brain is flicked and screams 'rock orange and peach, baby!' I don't mean to roll with the cliché seasonal makeup but when it works, it works, you know?

I love nothing better than a nice easy neutral eye and a super glowy cheek highlight when I wear peach and oranges on my cheeks and lips, and you can't get much better than TheBalm's Mary Lou-Manizer and the Too Faced Chocolate Palette. Still swooning over the cocoa scent of that palette, by the way, just wish the packaging wasn't so bulky so it was easier to travel with!

Was this look spurred on by my recent Sally Hansen Kook-A-Mango gel manicure? Possibly! I think that peach tones warm up my features enough to make me look healthier than normal, so that is always a positive thing. The Revlon Balm Stain in Rendezvous is seriously amazing - dare I say my favourite orange lip shade?! I've been wearing Clinique's Cheek Pop in Peach Pop a whole lot lately too so of course that had to be rocked in this look.

Nothing like a wee bookshelf shot to enhance a makeup post - what do your bookshelves look like? What is your ultimate orange lip shade?

 

Emma x 

Sally Hansen Kook a Mango - Gel Nail Colour & Complete Salon Manicure

Sally Hansen and I are getting along marvellously at the moment - I've long been a fan of the Complete Salon Manicure and back in June I hauled the 'gel polish' version of my very favourite SH shade, Kook a Mango! (Here is my haul post, and here is my original Kook a Mango post!) Having the shade for days when I feel like a quick swipe of colour is perfect, and I'm contemplating using my at home Sensationail kit with the gel version before we head on our honeymoon with the shade to brighten up my nails in celebration!

The Kook a Mango colour went on easily and I cured it under the LED light just as I would my other gel shades, and so far I've been happy with the quality of the Sally Hansen gel nails that I've tried. I'm currently using the Sensationail branded base/top coat, and after that I have a Gelish set that I'm going to try out.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure retails for $9.95 and the gel version for $19.95 (currently $14.96 on sale), both available at Priceline!

It's a nice bright colour for a holiday, dontcha think?
I'm tossing up between this, a hot pink or a nice metallic shade for(we hit up LA and Vegas before Hawaii, with a mani change or two in between!) Click on your choice in the poll I've popped up to the right in my sidebar, would love your input!

Emma x

I purchased this on sale at Priceline. Honesty, always.

Sugar Coated Candies

Sweet as sugar nails aren’t always my thing, if I’m going to be honest about it. You’re more likely to see my tips a shade of orange or a metallic deep blue (like my very favourite polish shade, L’Oreal Color Riche in LuxembourgGarden) than something pastel or baby pink. That said, when I was making a cheeky haul at Chemist Warehouse I saw the brand new Sally Hansen Sugar Coat display, and Cotton Candies leapt out at me immediately.

The perfect medium shade of pink, this definitely needs two coats to get the perfect ‘sugar crystal’ effect that you are going for. This feels a little different to the OPI Liquid Sands for me in that OPI’s formulation sort of glides on as per usual, before drying to a sandy finish. This is more like crystals captured in the polish itself, but ultimately the ideas are quite similar to one another. I really like the sweet and girly take that Sally Hansen has with their collection though, and I have my eye on the white variation which is something I never thought I’d go for.

The textured finish can be a little scratchy, particularly if you’ve not tried the OPI Liquid Sand formulas or the other textured finishes on the market yet. I find that this doesn’t last any better on my nails than regular polishes and still flakes off, but that happens with every one of my polishes so I know that it is my nails and not the formula to blame. I’ve heard great nail bloggers mention how hard wearing these formulas are, so I definitely think you should take my experience with a grain of salt. Having a textured finish to the nail is really on trend at the moment (and a little more natural than caviar on your nails…just sayin’!) and is a bit more subdued for those of you who don’t like ‘in your face’ nails and nail art. They are also crazily easy to apply, so they are wonderful for any little girls in your life who adore painting their nails! My nieces would be all over Cotton Candies!

Ultimately I’m a fan of this new release from Sally Hansen, and plan on picking up the white ‘Sugar Fix’ and perhaps the black ‘Lick-O-Rich’ as well. (Okay, I’m pretty much eyeing up the whole range because I really like the look of the minty ‘Sour Apple’ also – I have polish problems!) They are quite affordable at $9.95 a bottle and they are regularly on sale, so I highly suggest you check them out.

What colour appeals to you the most when it comes to textured nails?

 Emma @ emmabovarybeauty

Dirty Snow

 

 

It has been well documented that I have a weakness for glitter polishes, and as I mentioned in my BYSpolish post one of my very favourite bottles is Cold as Ice from the ultra-affordable brand. The beautiful mix of silvery fine shimmers is so addictive for me, and I adore it when thrown over a cement grey like Wet Cement from Sally Hansen.

 

 

Sadly my Seche Vite is super gluggy and in need of resuscitation, but I think I will end up switching to a Sally Hansen topcoat and just deal with it later on. What top coat do you use?

 

*All bottles purchased by me. Honesty, always.

Top 4 Hand Creams That Soothe and Smell Great!

Seriously, I have a truck load of half used hand creams floating around my place and I just can’t seem to stick it out with just one. These are my top 4 right now, and I love slathering them all over my hands (and elbows, don’t forget!) as I sit at my desk writing or reading blogs.

 

The Jojoba Company make some rad facial products, and this is the first body product I’ve tried from them. The Lemon & Coconut hand cream* ($22.95/50ml) comes in the cutest pink squeezy tube, and even though I have the travel sized 20ml tube, I still think the regular size would be perfect to keep in your handbag. It smells just like lemon meringue pie to my nose, and I’ll be honest and say that is isn’t my favourite scent, though everyone I’ve shared it with has absolutely loved the smell so perhaps it is just me. Not too thick and sinks in fast, good job Jojoba Co!

For seriously dry hands or an overnight treatment, I reach for my Burt’s Bees Almond Milk Beeswax Hand Crème* ($19.95/57g). The crazy thick texture and sweet almond smell are highlights of this one, and though some might dislike the pot hygiene issue, I think the glass and cream labels look expensive and nice on my desk with my other night time goodies. Cute cow on the lid, too, how can you say no!?

The Sally Hansen Nails & Cuticle Hand Cream* ($9.95/96g) is fresh and citrusy, and feels quite velvety on the hands after it sinks in. I first used this during the racing season when I was in Federation Square getting a SH manicure (post here if you want to check that out) and I was enthralled by the smell of it. I think scents like this work all year round, either to perk you up on a chilly day at the office or to let you feel tropical on a warm summer day.

 

I've definitely saved the best for last, because although I enjoy the other hand creams for various reasons, my heart truly belongs to my Endota Spa Lavender and Alpine Pepper hand cream* ($34/90ml and $10/20ml). Amazing scent mix, best formula I've come across, classic and compact packaging...the list goes on. My original review is here if you want to check it out (a very old post indeed! but suffice to say that this cream is my very favourite.

 

Which of these scents tickle your fancy? Do you have a hand cream recommendation for me? I'd love to hear what hand creams you love most in the comments below, and also the ones that disappointed you!

 

 

*These products were provided for consideration and all opinions are mine. Honesty,always.

beauty week at a glance #1

When I saw the concept of beauty at a glance on Larie’sblog, I knew it was a series I would love to install on the blog. After getting the A-OK from Larie (whose posts I adore whole heartedly!) I began snapping pictures of the main players for a week’s worth of makeup looks. This won't be a weekly series, but will occur when I feel like sharing some makeup shots with you. I hope you enjoy seeing what I wore during the week!

 

Monday:

Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universel, Tarte Exposed, Face of Australia Lychee Crush*, L’Oreal Metallic Lilac, MAC Moth Brown, Face of Australia Impact Curl, Barry M Toffee lipgloss.

Loved the combination of purple toned eyes with a flush of natural bronze cheeks! I am still getting the hand of the Chanel Bronze Universel, it is so unlike anything else I own. 

 

Tuesday:

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, L’Oreal Metallic Lilac, MAC Moth Brown, MAC Sheen Supreme  Asian Flower, essence I like Candy gloss, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat*, MAC Rosy Outlook, Poison Apple Apothecary White Rabbit (thanks Dee!)

Really loved this purple look, the lips didn’t compete too much with the eyes, which I think was thanks to the blush which tied it all together. 

 

Wednesday:

Sally Hansen Complete Care*, Illamasqua Freak*, L’Oreal Infallible Endless Chocolate, YSL Touche Eclat*, Rimmel Scandaleyes in Nude, Rimmel  Nude Delight, Barry M Toffee, Sportsgirl Give some Lip in Stardust.

Nude central today, I adore the L’Oreal Infallible’s and don’t give this chocolate shade enough love. Barry M Toffee is such a winner as well.

Thursday:

essence Asian Sensation blush, MAC Painterly paintpot, essence quad in Dreaming Under a Cherry Tree,  Inglot teal shadow, Urban Rituelle CottonCandy*, Maybelline Dream Matte Powder, Face of Australia Impact Curl mascara, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous.

Was quite obviously trialling out the new essence products I bought on this day, and I ended up really loving the warm and pretty coral look. Rendezvous needs to come out in Australia, it is an amazing shade! For the eyes I used the taupe shade from the essence quad all over the lid, with the peach and the coral blended into the crease. The teal Inglot shade was a lower lashline colour to tie the look in with the dress I had on.

 

Friday:

Guerlain Champs Elysees, Revlon Balm Stain in Rendezvous, Face of Australia Impact Curl mascara, MAC Painterly paint pot, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat*, BYS Fierce Fuschia, Face of Australia Loose Powder in Outback Translucent*.

Finally getting around to using my Color Tattoo, and am really enjoying the ease of it all. The Guerlain is my favourite perfume, such a stunning scent and I’ve gone through bottle after bottle of the stuff.

***

I really enjoyed taking some quick snaps after I finished my makeup in the morning, and I hope you enjoyed taking a peek into my beauty week!

*Marked items were provided for consideration. Honesty, always.

The Sheen of Ivy League // Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color

 

When Mumma Bovary sees me holding a bottle of polish and snapping away with my Nikon, she sighs and always mentions how she wishes her nails were painted so she could do that, too. As we were having a Once Upon a Time marathon the other afternoon, she yelped and realised her nails were painted, and that the lighting was perfect for a Mumma Bovary nail of the day! 

 

Mum had been wearing this Sally Hansen shade for almost a week, and as you can see it holds up well to house cleaning and light gardening. We picked up this shade when Priceline had their big sale on, and because Mum is always drawn to metallic green shades like this, the choice was easy for her. I love the Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear formula, and as it turns out Mum does, too.

 

Ivy League is a beautiful shade, and reminds me very much of the infamous nail family that includes Chanel Peridot and OPI Just Spotted the Lizard.  It is much brighter than those shades, and I think that is very flattering on the nail. It works well with the tan my Mum is sporting at the moment, but I have no doubts that it would suit my lily white skin as well.

 

Are you a fan of shades like this, or do you think them too ‘out there’ for you? What are your favourite Sally Hansen nail colours? I am very excited about the new shade releases they have coming in 2013!

 

*This shade belongs to my Mum, who purchased it herself. Hand is also her own! Honesty, always.

Last Haul of 2012

 

Happy New Year to all of my beautiful readers, I sincerely hope that 2013 holds great things for all of you! I thought I would make my first post for the year a haul post, showing you the things I picked up during the few days after Christmas, my final purchases for 2012.

 

Chris and I spent NYE AM at Chadstone looking at handbag options for my birthday, and he treated me to a Burberry shadow I’d been interested in for a while. Rosewood is such a stunning colour, I’ll be sure to have a full post on this along with swatches of Pale Barley as well. The Burberry SA was also nice enough to apply Rosewood in store for me, and popped a sample of the concealer in with the eyeshadow. The Covergirl palette was a sneaky supermarket basket treat, and Maybelline’s Sparkling Wine was a cosmetic warehouse bargain.

I hardly ever buy from Lush, but when their 50% off sale rolls around I make it my mission to try some of their products. I needed a new lip scrub so Sweet Lips is now mine, and I also grabbed two bath melts as I’ve never tried a bath melt before! You’ve Been Mangoed and Melting Snowman were my picks.

Even though the last thing I need is more polish, these were $2 each and I couldn’t resist. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Color in 480 The Real Teal and 460 Wet Cement, K.K polish in 30 and 21.

I’ve always wanted to try the Maybelline palette in Designer Chocolates, and the lipstick in Juicy Bubblegum. Okay, I’ll admit the awesome lipstick packaging drew me right in! 50% off at Chemist Warehouse, sounds good to me! Rimmel Match Perfection Cream Gel Foundation in Ivory is something I’ve used up once before, and was elated to see it on the discount shelf at my local factory outlet.

The last things I purchased in 2012 were some new cheap baubles to dress up my plain clothes. I want to start wearing more costume jewellery this year, I tend to just stick to my regular old diamonds but I’d like to start changing it up a bit! These were heavily discounted from Equip.

What was the last thing you purchased in 2012?

 

 

An Easy Christmas Manicure feat. Essie, BYS, Sally Hansen & Mode Cosmetics

Considering I have tumbled head first into the land of festive spirit, I’m amazed that it has taken me this long to pop a Christmas themed manicure up! I thought I’d start out nice and easy, as we all know I am not great at nail art or anything intricate like that. I used a few festive polishes that have been sitting on my desk staring at me, and I apologise for the sorry state of the skin around my nails. I've been so busy at work and it has taken a toll on my hands more than ever before!

I hope you like the manicure!

 

For my thumb, I chose to use two coats of Mode Cosmetics Vicious Venom. Not a very festive name, but wow is it a festive shade! As soon as my Mum saw this manicure, she grabbed this off me to borrow it. Hopefully I will be able to find it in the discount bins at the chemist and buy another bottle for her! The pointer finger is also a Mode Cosmetics shade, this time in Kiss and Tell. Again, really opaque which is the perfect type of glitter for me.

The middle finger is a base of Mode Cosmetics Cool  As, topped with Ulta3 Charmed, which is a tonne of fine green glitter in a clear base. This pair went nicely together, more than I actually first thought they would. The ring finger is a base of Sally Hansen’s Complete Salon Manicure in Pink Slip* (see it in action here) topped with BYS Cold as Ice*, which is my very favourite polish right now (You can buy it for $4.95 from Fashion Addict) I think my next mani will be a full hand of this icy look, as I think it is cute, summery AND festive, all at the same time! My pinky finger is kept plain with Essie’s Going Incognito, which is a beautiful deep forest green crème shade.

Which nail is your favourite? Do you partake in a little festive nail fun, or do you prefer to keep them classic?

*Marked items were provided for review. BYS Cold as Ice was provided for consideration from F

Pixie Pink Slip

Despite leaning more to the orange loving side of the colour spectrum, pink is still a lot of fun for me to wear, especially when the weather heats up. I’m still obsessed with the Jordana Glitters I bought while in Sydney for IMATS/BBU, and so  last week I decided to use one. Of course, I coated each and every nail with a glitter bomb. Such a pain to get off, but so worth it until then- I got a compliment about my nails while watching Chris play indoor football!

 

 

 

 

 

I used the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in 170 Pink Slip* as a pale base for the glitter chunks, so that they really stood out. I don’t think I would wear Pink Slip on its own as a manicure as it hovers between very pale pink and white, and doesn’t flatter my pale hands very much. I think I will be getting a lot of use out of it as a glitter base though! The Jordana Glitter I’ve used in this look is 05 Pixie Pink, which is a mix of medium pink hex glitter and small glitters in a clear base.

 

How often can you be bothered wearing glittery nails?

Do you have a favourite 'base' shade for wearing under effect polishes?

 

*Marked item was provided at an event, which does not affect my opinion of it, obviously. Honesty, always.