NOTD: Nude + glitter + sheer top coat

I love nude and peach shades of nail polish combined with gold. It feels very elegant and classy.
I used nails inc. peach sorbet as a base, added a coat of Saffron's chunky glitter and finally two coats of OPI Care To Danse?
PS. Excuse my dry cuticles and a messy pinky :/ I keep forgetting to use cuticle oil :O

 

Deborah Lippmann Happy Birthday dupe- Technic Carnival

Hello ladies,
First of all, I don't know what I was thinking buying DL nail polish. I bought Mermaid's Dream (£18) first, followed by the "Get this party started collection" for £28 (for 3 bottles), so it was quite expensive. I will do a review with swatches of the full set soon and share my thoughts. It was an impulse buy and I don't think I will spend this amount of money on nail polish ever again.

After seeing many dupes for "Happy Birthday" I decided to finally buy one, so I can show you the difference. I got the one  from Technic in a shade called Carnival. I paid £2.07 for it including delivery (I got it from Amazon but it seems to be sold out now). I need to admit, they look very very similar. They are both multicoulour glitter nail polishes and that's enough for me to call them dupes ;) Happy Birthday has got more green and orange glitters and Carnival contains more blues and pinks. In the bottle they look different, but once applied they look very similar. Another thing I need to mention is the smell. Carnival smells really really strong and very unpleasant and gave me headache. DL Happy Birthday's smell isn't as strong and is manageable.

EDIT: I seen a few pictures of the Technic nail polish on other blogs and it looks a little bit different,  I think that it depends on the batch, as I don't think anybody would attempt to make a fake of a £1 nail polish.

L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate range: EDT, lipsctick, lipbalm and shimmering powder

I can't describe how much I love the Pivoine Delicate range from L'Occitane. The packaging is simply beautiful and I think I will keep it forever, as it is just too pretty! :) This post is picture heavy, because I took far too many photos of all the beautiful goodies I received.
There is plenty of products to choose from, so If you would like to treat yourself to something  lovely, here is a link to the full Pivoine Delicate range.
The Peony collection contains a Peony extract from the Drôme region in the south of France. According to Greek mythology, the Peony was once a beautiful nymph named Paeonia. She received so much attention from the gods that another jealous nymph turned her into a flower! 

 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Eau de Toilette 75ml* £35.00 link

INFO: The Peony is a symbol of beauty and femininity. Every spring, when it comes into bloom, it puts on a dazzling show of colours and scents. The Pivoine Délicate Eau de Toilette celebrates the most tender garden Peony, with its pastel shades and large, luscious petals. Its fragrance blends the delicateness of Peony petals with delicate and fresh green scents of Rose and Lily of the Valley. Made with a Peony extract from the Drôme region of France, this fragrance has a luminous floral accord with a soft powdery trail.

MY OPINION: Floral fragrances are on the top of my list. I used Flower By Kenzo for the past 5 years and I will always love it. I try to be more adventurous with perfumes, but I keep going back to the same one. I think I might have found a new love. L'Occitane Pivoine Delicate EDT smells absolutely beautiful, with Rose being the most noticeable from all the notes, followed by Peony and Lily of The Valley. It is a powdery feminine scent, perfect for summer and romantic dates. 
The scent lasts for over five hours, before I need to spray some more on.

 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Lip Balm Pêche Subtile 9g* £10.50 link 

  INFO:The Pivoine Délicate Pêche Lip Balm leaves lips subtly tinted in an iridescent peach colour for a beautiful, feminine look. Packaged in a pretty round tin with a floral design, it is perfectly sized to keep in your handbag. Apply to the lips with a finger.

MY OPINION: This lip balm is a very nourishing formula, perfect to keep in your handbag. It is very easy to apply on the go with a finger and it helps to soothe dry lips. I use it all the time, it is non sticky and gives my lips a lovely natural look. The packaging is very simple and pretty at the same time.


 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Lipstick Pivoine Délicate 3.5g* £12.50 link 

  INFO:This lipstick enhances lips with a delicate pink veil of colour.

The rich texture, delicately perfumed and enriched with softening Peony extract, gives an instant feeling of comfort and leaves lips feeling light, and smooth.
Dermatologically tested.

MY OPINION: I used this lipstick in my FOTD post here and it quickly became my "go to" lipstick. It is the most beautifully packaged lippy I have ever seen. It would make a perfect gift that will loved forever! It it slightly scented, very creamy and leaves my lips soft and nourished. The finish it gives is sheer, but buildable and it's the most natural looking lipstick I have ever used. It is perfect for everyday use and it will suit all skin tones. 

 

L'Occitane Pivoine Délicate Shimmering Powder 8g* £22.00 link 

  INFO:Sublimate your body and hair with a pearly and perfumed veil. Formulated with natural-origin ingredients, the Pivoine Délicate Shimmering Powder releases a fine mist of pink and silver iridescence to beautify the body and hair and leave a silky, satin finish on the skin.

MY OPINION: This must be the most beautiful item from the Peony collection. The bottle with a cute pink pump looks amazing on my dressing table and adds a vintage/shabby chic feel to it. The shimmering powder is delicately scented with a subtle rose fragrance and gives a lovely pink/silver shimmer to my skin. I spray it onto my neck, décolletage and hair and every time I do it I feel like a princess :) I also use it to highlight my cheekbones. 



*PR samples

DIY Neon Earrings with Rhinestones and Dip Dye tassels

I promised to do DIY Mondays, so here is a simple 5 minute DIY makeover.
I transformed 2 pairs of boring earrings into perfect summer pieces.
You will need old earrings with rhinestones, nail polish and some kitchen roll (to protect the surface). Simply paint the earrings with nail polish of your choice (I needed 2 coats) and let it dry. Et voila! :) I am really happy with both pairs I made. They are perfect for summer.
 
YOU CAN ALSO MIX THE COLOURS TOGETHER FOR A GRADIENT EFFECT:

NEW IN: Summer jewellery from H&M

As soon as I seen this post on one of my favourite blogs (With Love, Ana) I went straight to the H&M website to get the gorgeous pastel pink necklace and the neon orange/coral bracelet with little spikes.
I also got a white bracelet with rhinestones and gold detail. I am in love with all my new purchases.
I found links to the bracelets, but unfortunately the necklace is not available online anymore. 
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Laurens WayTan: Glam Tan, Tanning Lotion and Mousse review

 
 LAUREN'S WAY SELF TAN* available from BEAU BOUTIQUE
INFO: Lauren’s Way Self Tan provides an instant and long lasting bronzed glow. For an even tan you need clean, smooth skin. Ensure that you exfoliate first with Lauren’s Way Body Polish paying particular attention to dryer areas such as elbows, knees, ankles and feet. Apply a small dab of Lauren’s Way Tan Enhancing Moisturiser to dryer areas including eyebrows and hairline before applying the tan. Dispense the lotion on to a mitt or use gloves and sweep from top to toe making sure all skin is well covered.Wash palms with soap and water thoroughly after use. Wait for 60 seconds or more before getting dressed. Try not to get wet or sweaty for at least four hours after application. Moisturise daily and gently exfoliate with Lauren’s Way Body Polish every three days to ensure your tan fades evenly. Repeat the application everyday to increase the intensity of colour.

MY OPINION: I decided to do one review of all the products together, because they are very similar. Like with every self tan, you need to exfoliate prior to application. I use a gentle body scrub and Soap and Glory exfoliating gloves. I applied all the products with a tanning mitt, but you can also use disposable latex gloves. The colour outcome is the same for the mousse, spray and lotion so it was really hard for me to pick my favourite :) I like all of them.
When it comes to the application, I think that the mousse was the easiest to work with for  me and dried really fast, giving me a nice instant tan. It didn't go streaky and faded evenly. Pictures below show my skin before and after using the mousse. I didn't add seperate pictures for the lotion and spray, as the colour outcome was exactly the same. I left some of my skin tan free to show you the difference in the best way possible.
The lotion is very similar to the Xen-Tan's Dark Lotion. It is a little bit less creamy and smells totally different. The smell of Lauren's Way tan is a lovely fruity scent, so you won't be left smelling like a biscuit :) It left my skin really smooth and moisturised and was also very easy to apply.
The spray must be my least favourite, as I accidentally sprayed it allover my bedroom wall for some reason (a couple of times...) When I was using my left hand to spray it onto the tanning mitt the cap kept twisting and I was spraying it in the opposite direction :) I wiped the wall with a baby wipe and it came off easily :) I still like it though, as the colour outcome is lovely and it dries really fast.
Another thing I wanted to share with you: try to avoid applying self tan when the weather is really really hot. I used fake tan last week when it was extremely very hot and I ended up looking patchy because I was sweating. I will stick to applying it at night and showering in the morning. It always works for me.
 SUMMARY:
COLOUR: When you first apply it, it looks quite dark, but after showering it turns into a lovely olive colour and it looks very natural.
APPLICATION: Very easy, no streaks, no patches, dries fast and fades evenly.
PRICE: Very affordable, compared to other popular brands.
WOULD I REPURCHASE: Definitely!


 
LAUREN'S WAY SELF TANNING BRONZING LOTION (medium) 250ml*  £15.95 link 

 
LAUREN'S WAY SELF TANNING BRONZING MOUSSE (medium) 250ml* £17.95  link

 
LAUREN'S WAY GLAM TAN 250ml* £18.95 link 
pictures taken immediately after application

pictures taken after showering in the morning


MAY EMPTIES


Hi everyone!

I managed to use up quite a lot of products this month and I am really proud of myself :) haha
Here is everything I finished in May.

1.TIGI Rockaholic Livin' The Dream Daily Conditioner- I got it from TKmaxx for £3.99( bargain!) and I am planning to repurchase it here. It is such a great conditioner that gives my hair a boost of energy and smells amazing!!! I can use it allover my hair without worrying that it will leave the roots greasy. I can't wait to get another bottle!

2.Herbal Essences fresh balance shampoo- it is good for removing product build up, like hair spray etc... but it is very drying for my hair and scalp, so I won't be buying it again.

3.Lush Helping hands cream (link)- I really liked the way it made my hands nice and smooth, but I just couldn't cope with the smell. It was very weird, I can't describe it to be honest. I was very disappointed with it, as everything else from Lush smells lovely.

4.Olivella professional Salon conditioner- another TKmaxx bargain, 500ml for £7.99. The best conditioner I have ever tried and it lasted me for over a year! I found a link to it here. It smells amazing and every time I used it I felt like I had a salon treatment!

5.Rituals ZenSation Shower Gel (link)- I loved using it, but I can't imagine the amount of SLS it contains, to get so foamy! I actually thought that Rituals is a natural brand and free from nasty ingredients, until I noticed SLS on the list... It's a shame really, because it is s a lovely products and I would repurchase it if it was made with more carefully selected, natural ingredients.

6.Avon Foot Works Brown Sugar and Vanilla Scrub (link)- it is very effective at removing rough skin and it smells lovely and sweet. I am sure I paid £2 for it from www.avonshop.co.uk. Unfortunately it is not available from their website anymore.

7.Paul Mitchell Smoothing Balm (link)- Unfortunately, this product made my hair feel and look greasy. I had to wash my hair again the same day, because it looked horrible!

8.Yves Rocher Night Lotion- link - I got this as a present from my friend and I loved it! It is soothing and very hydrating - perfect for summer.

9.Optrex Acimist (link)- I love this stuff! When my eyes feel tired and dry, I just spray it onto closed eyes and it makes a big difference. I need to buy a new bottle asap.

10.Lancome Tonique Doceur (link)- I like to use it when I don't wear makeup, as it cleans and tones my skin at the same time. I got it with my Lancome order, as they always send 3 gifts if you spend a certain amount on their products.
 
11.Footworks Cooling Cherry spray (link)- great for summer, when I wear sandals and I need to refresh my tired feet. It has an instant cooling effect and smells lovely!

12.Body Scrub- no name :) the label peeled off when I was using it - it is the one in the right bottom corner. I got it from Tkmaxx. It does a great job at exfoliating, but it smells horrible, so I wouldn't buy it again.

Nails Inc. Bluebell

I got this nail polish as a magazine freebie. Unfortunately the neck of the bottle snapped yesterday :( It is not the first time it happened to me, weird...
The formula is very streaky! I had to be very very careful and precise to get a smooth finish. After a few attempts I finally managed to get an ok finish, but still a little bit streaky.  It needs two coats and the drying tome is about 10 minutes.  I really like the colour- a lovely shade of pastel blue/lilac. 

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