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.

Get Pompous in 60 Seconds with Rimmel London

Sometimes I just get gripped by the thought of a new polish, and the obsession won’t leave until the shade has coated my tips. I was hauling at Chemist Warehouse’s infamous 50% off sale when I spotted Rimmel’s Pompous at the checkout. Rather than go down the sensible route and just tack it onto my order, I told myself I never wear purple polishes and moved along. In my spare moments during the week I kept thinking about the multi coloured shimmers in the purple base, and succumbed to the pressure before work one night and set out to hunt it down.

After seeing the Pompous spot empty at Priceline (where Rimmel polishes were 2 for $10) and on the My Chemist shelf (where Rimmel was 50% off!) I managed to snare a bottle for the lovely price of $3.98 (usually $7.95) from the other My Chemist in the area, right by my work! I was elated at my purchase, and love the way that this applies and looks on the nails. I really need to love a purple shade for it to make it onto my nails, and this hasn’t disappointed. I definitely prefer the deep and glossy complexity that a top coats adds to this colour (Seche Vite, for example) as I tried a thinner top coat and (the Skin Food pictured below) it just didn’t have the same appeal.

 

Have you ever become obsessed with the thought of owning a beauty product? What lengths have you gone to in order to track it down?

*Purchased by me, and the Skin Food top coat was a much appreciated CP from the stunning Emily Quak from Emily’s Anthology. Thanks Emily!

Lover & Shell

I wear this eye combo quite a lot, and it is most likely my favourite colourful eye look I’ve come across. I use two Inglot shades from my most colourful palette to make a shimmery deep orange eye, and though I know that some might think it over the top, I like to play matchy matchy and since I wear orange so much, it just works for me.  

 

I used to struggle to pair a blush with this eye look, but since I bought the Illamasqua Duo, Lover has been my go-to orange toned cheek colour. MAC Coquette was thrown through my brows and smudged under my lower lashline to ground the look, and I used TheBalm’s Mary Lou Manizer atop Lover to get myself glowing.

 

oh Mary Lou!

 

Still loving the nude lip trend, I chose fall back shade Nude Delight from Rimmel. Addicted to glossy lips, Mineralogie’s lipgloss in Shell* was plucked from the depths of my handbag and paired with it. I have been wearing this paraben-free shade a stack lately, and I love the way it is pigmented for a gloss, and takes my lips into a pretty nude realm rather than a sheer lip look like my other pale glosses can do.

 

Are you a fan of orange and peach tones? What blush do you recommend I try next to go with a look like this?

 

*Marked item was provided for consideration. Honesty, always. 

An Opulent Valentine

Even though my man and I aren’t doing anything fancy for the most romantic day of the year, I am still planning on wearing a nail shade that makes my heart flutter. Without a doubt, the polish that never fails to make me ooh and aah is OPI’s DS Opulence, from the Designer Series. A permanent but pricier nail range, the bottles are topped with sexy silver lids and have a luxe feeling.  I’d say that this shade is my one true polish love, even though the bottle actually belongs to my mother in law. It is a stunning pink with a mauve tone, filled with holographic shimmer. The effect is subtle, but makes the polish something really special.

 

 

 

 

Now it is your turn! Share your one true polish love in the comments below, and we can polishgasm our way through Valentine’s Day together!

Latex Nails // Rebelizer from essence

 I decided to grab this latex effect nail polish from the recent essence Rebels collection even though I wasn't completely sold on the theme of the collection. Rebelizer is an acid green colour and quite vivid, and because I am out there in my nail colour choices I didn't mind the shade.

 The shade is shot through with pale green shimmer which makes for a very pretty visual.

Despite the back of the bottle highlighting the long wearing claims of this particular formulation, I am sad to say that this was not the case on my nails. This chipped quite badly with a regular old top coat, and though most polishes don't last long on my unkempt nails, this had an even shorter lifespan. Having said that, I haven't tried this with Seche Vite yet, and it may fare better with it.

 Quite yellow in some lights, which adds to the sort of neon edge this has. I do think that this has a latex look to the finish, much like the Illamasqua renditions from collections past. I can't say I am a big fan of the look on my short nails, but I think that some nail art would look wonderful with the bright acid green of Rebelizer.

 

Would you wear this bright shade?

What are your thoughts on the new nail textures coming out- caviar, velvet, matte, latex?

 

*I purchased this polish myself. Honesty, always.

 

 

Shimmering Mint // Missha Lucid Polish in GR02

 

As part of my Missha haul, this spring-appropriate shimmery mint green polish floated its way into my basket and I applied it that very same day!

 

I have quite the fondness for mint nail shades, but all of the ones I own are creme formulas and this shimmer filled darling was different enough to make the cut. I found it easy to apply, but as I've misplaced my Seche Vite (since writing this I have found it, hurrah!) it chipped quite quickly on my unkempt nails.

 

I really like the difference the shimmer makes to this sweet mint shade, I think it will look really nice when I layer my new silver glitter polish from Jordana over the top.

 

Do you like a shimmery pastel for your nails?

Have you ever tried a Missha polish?

 

*This polish was purchased by me. Honesty, always.

 

dolling up a little one

My beautiful niece turned 7 over the weekend, and celebrated with a glamour party with all of her friends. My sister set up a (fake) tattoo parlour, hair curling, coloured hair spray, a nail salon and a makeup spot for the kids to explore, with someone manning each section. Can you guess which I was in charge of?

I gave the kidlets choice when adding some sparkle to their party looks (and don't worry, everything was sanitized and no sticky fingers smooshed my makeup-phew!) They liked having the power to decide what they could wear, and I think overall it went well.

Biggest hit was definitely the BYS Diamond Shadow palette in Miami Beats*, which is chock-full of glitterific pastel shades (the kids went nuts for the pink, lo and behold) The essence Swirlpool blush also went down well, the sheen this gives is a sight to see, one of the prettiest blushes I own for sure. No love for MAC's Full Of Joy blush, the kids aren't fond of lavender it turns out. You learn something new every day!

The only ones who went for the Clinique Strawberry Fudge palette were my older niece and her friend, who weren't excited by the glitter and wanted to wear ladylike shades. The Gold Rush shade in the bottom left hand corner is such a stunner, FYI.

I gave all of the kids the choice of two Vera Wang perfumes (Princess and Glam Princess) and four lipglosses (which I applied onto the back of my hand and then onto their lips with a sanitised brush) The only one that wasn't chosen was the Mirenesse shade, they all wanted brighter pink shades so this fell by the wayside. Hello Kitty's Baby Lip looked great on, and as always my love for the essence stay with me glosses knows no bounds.

What would a 7 year old makeover be without a ton of shimmer? The new L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate Shimmering Powder* comes out with the nicest little 'puff' and the kids thought it was awesome (I think it is awesome as well!) The Vani-T Diamond Dust in Moon & Stars* is something I use on my cheekbones, and when I was finished with them the kids were all glowing like little rays of golden sunshine!

What would you do if asked to make over 30 children?

How often do you shimmer up your makeup routine?

*Marked products were provided, but used in this makeover because they are lovely and suited to occasion perfectly. Honesty, always.



Models Prefer Special FX Box Set! // Photos, Swatches, Nails

 I have had some good experiences with Models Prefer since they reinvigorated their product line, so when I stumbled upon this Special FX box set of polishes I thought I'd give it a go. All swatches are without topcoat.

 The box contains 5 different mini polishes, each with their own special effect.

Quake is your typical black shatter polish, but it applies so much nicer than all of the other crackles I have tried. One sweep and the perfect amount is on my nails, and it dries to a matte finish. This is what I wanted from OPI, but that they failed to deliver.

Ruby Slippers is best worn over another colour in my opinion, and is a mix of fine red shimmer with larger chunks of silver and red glitter pieces. This makes me yearn for Valentine's Day manicures, I think it would look nice over a cherry red polish or even maybe a black or gunmetal shade.

Disco Ball is hands down my favourite from this set, it is a super fine silver shimmer which has a holographic edge to it. It covers well and pigmentation is excellent for a polish like this, I still have visible nail line with 2 coats but it doesn't bother me. I would wear this all by itself all year round. A nice, subtle shimmery sort of look.

When I first delved into the set I was confused as to why Beam Me Up was included, but I suppose metallic could be considered special FX! It isn't my sort of nail shade but much more beautiful than any of the other purples I own. This applied well and though I won't get wear out of it, I think it could be a hit for those who do like purple nails.

I will be honest and admit that the thought of another flaky in my collection was what pushed this purchase into my Priceline basket. I was captivated by Chain Reaction and wanted to compare it to my Australis flaky, but alas this was just a glittery mess disguised as a flaky. I had to do 4 (4!) coats of this over Beam Me Up to get those measly glitter chunks on my nail, which is why the finish is so chunky and gross. The fail of the set, in my opinion.

The Special FX box set of mini polishes is yet another hit from Models Prefer, and they continue to steal my heart with their affordable but beautiful products. Although Chain Reaction was a flaky fail, the rest of the polishes exceeded my expectations and impressed me immensely! Disco Ball and I are off to snuggle and speak sweet nothings to one another (I may be considering buying another whole box just to have two of that shade!)

I picked up the Models Prefer Special FX box set from Priceline for the tiny price of $7.99 AUD.

Which shade is your favourite?
Have you tried anything from Models Prefer?

*I personally purchased this product. Honesty, always.