Essie Smooth Sailing Swatch

 This gorgeous Essie shade is called Smooth Sailing.

I like the creamy formula, but one coat looks a bit patchy, so I  needed two thin coats to get a lovely opaque finish. I love the colour as well. It is a dusty blue shade, but purple at the same time with a little bit of shimmer to it. I am not an expert in describing colours, so here is a swatch.

 


NEW IN: Essie Minis in Braziliant, Super Bossa Nova and Smooth Sailing

I really wanted to try Essie nail polishes, but I am on a tight budget at the moment, so I checked ebay and found three lovely minis from this ebay seller. I will be adding posts with swatches very soon.

DIY: How to make a galaxy nail polish ring

I love to make jewellery and when I seen nail polish rings on etsy, I decided to make my own. I thought it will be fun to make a Galaxy inspired ring. Here is what you will need:

1.A flat clear gemstone ( I couldn't find a clear one, so I used a pink/peachy colour)
2.A ring base (available on ebay)
3.Nail polish of your choice: I used Essence Blue Addicted and Edward, DL Mermaids Dream
4.Superglue.
 

Unreal Tan review: Rapid Bronzing Mist, Body Buff and Body Silk

Hello everyone!
I am doing a series of fake tan reviews and today I would like to introduce you to a brand called Unreal. I have never heard about this brand, until lovely Elizabeth contacted me asking if I would like to review some of their products. I love trying new self-tan products, so I was very happy when I received Unreal bronzing mist, body buff and body  silk.

 Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist 150ml* £24.00 link
INFO: The latest in tanning technology Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist delivers an amazing natural looking colour without having to wear the colour guide all day/night.  This means after 2 hours you can go to the gym, go out to dinner and not wear it in bed worrying about rub off on your sheets. What does Unreal Rapid Tan Bronzing Mist offer? A fast tan in 2 - 4 hours. A realistic natural looking bronze colour (no orange tones). A long lasting tan which fades evenly. No fake tan smell. An exclusive hydrating skin conditioning formula with potent anti aging, skin firming properties. As if that isn't enough we also have powerful antioxidants of Green Tea Extract and Algae which give you a skin treatment all in one.  You choose the colour depth you want to achieve by showering off at 2 hours for a medium tan, 3 hours for a deeper tan and 4 hours* for a darker intense tan. * A light colour only is visible after 2 hours whilst the tan continues to develop up to 12 hours.

MY OPINION: I really like using fake tan in a spray or mist form. This one is a mist, that turns into a liquid in contact with skin, so I had to spray it onto my tanning mitt. I found it the most convenient and efficient way to use this product. It sinks into the skin right away and if you exfoliate before, there will be no streaking, no patching. It looks fabulous! The colour is quite dark, the longer you leave it on the darker it gets. You can see the difference on the pictures below. It doesn't look orange, it is a deep bronze shade that looks very natural. You can leave it on for about 2 hours to get a medium tan, or like me, leave it on for longer or overnight for a very dark tan.  The formula is packed with goodness to leave your skin soft and nourished and it really works. Most sprays would leave my legs really dry, this one leaves them soft to the touch. Like most new self-tan formulas, it doesn't come with the horrible fake tan smell that everybody hates. It fades evenly, especially if you use the Body Silk.
I really enjoyed using it and I will probably purchase more in the future, as a little goes a long way and the effect is amazing!

 
Body Buff Exfoliator 180ml* £12.61 link
INFO:Featured in More Magazine - Body Buff is the must have skin preparation product essential for preparing your skin before professional application or your own application of fake tanning products.  Not only that but Body Buff is becoming a cult product for those who want to keep their skin in "tip top condition" throughout the winter as well and not just for fake tanning.  It's fantastic hydrating properties keep the skin moisturised counteracting the drying effects of central heating.  It's gentle exfoliation allows you to use it on the face where it will help brighten facial skin by removing dead skin cells revealing younger skin cells beneath.  For fake tanning use it effectively sloughs off the dead skin cells leaving beautifully prepared skin which will allow your tan to fade more naturally and evenly giving longer lasting results. Contains micro poly beads to ensure gentle exfoliation without scratching the skin. Mango, Shea, Coconut butter whipped in shower gel base along with botanical extracts and amino acids effectively washes off without drying or stripping the skin. This unique pH balance formula allows you to exfoliate on the day of your spray tanning session as it washes off without leaving any residue on the skin. Helps to create smooth skin surface for even application of our Unreal sunless tanning products. Citrus fragrance from essential oils.

MY OPINION: Preparation is the key to a nice looking tan! If you love self-tan you already know, that exfoliating is a step that you can't skip! Body buff is a very creamy and gentle exfoliator. It smells lovely and citrusy. It removes dead skin cells and leaves my skin perfectly smooth and ready for fake tan application.  I use it with Soap & Glory exfoliating gloves to make my skin as smooth as possible, but you can use it with your hands or any exfoliating gloves.

 
Body Silk Moisturiser 180ml* £12.82 link
INFO: The Unreal Body Silk moisturiser is a naturally inspired, paraben free daily moisturiser lotion, which uses a combination of plant oils and rich butters to nourish the skin, plus plant extracts and amino acids, and vitamin E to fight against the daily environmental effect on our skin.Nurture and indulge your skin with our rich creamy quick absorbing lotion, made with exotic shea butter, nourishing jojoba and olive oil; infused with Milk Thistle Extract, Green Tea Extract and Oat Amino Acid, Rice Amino Acid and Soy Amino Acid for soft supple skin.Very hydrating formula for all skin types. Leaves skin feeling soft, supple, moisturized and refreshed. Citrus scent from essential oils.

MY OPINION: My first impression was- Wow! It smells amazing. I love anything with a green tea and citrus fragrance to it. It is packed with plant extracts and vitamin E. It leaves my skin perfectly moisturised and very soft. I use it every day after fake tan application to keep my skin looking lovely. If you moisturise every day the tan will fade gracefully and it won't go patchy.
I also use it on dry areas of my body (elbows, feet and knees) before I apply fake tan, to prevent them from going really really dark. You know what I am talking about, if you used self-tan before.
 
*PR samples

L'Occitane Shea butter hand cream review

Today I am reviewing a hero hand care product. An award winning L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. I fell in love with it and I am already planning buying more, as I want the smaller size for my handbag. It smells amazing and makes my hands feel really soft.

 
L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream 150ml* £18.50 link
INFO: Enriched with 20% Shea Butter, this super-creamy hand cream penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturise hands. Honey, almond extracts and coconut oil are blended with shea butter to create this extremely effective care. The rich texture is rapidly absorbed to leave the hands soft and smooth with no oily traces. Voted BEST HAND CREAM-SHE Beauty Awards 2011. Best Hand Cream- 2011 Harper’s Bazaar "Beauty Hot 100 list”  BEST CLASSICAL BEAUTY Product of the year - UK BEAUTY AWARDS 2010.

MY OPINION: Imagine the most luxurious hand cream you can think of! This is it! The best hand cream I've ever tried. The formula is rich and creamy and it sinks into the skin really fast, leaving my hands silky soft! Now I know why it won so many awards. It smells absolutely beautiful, kind of nutty but flowery and sweet at the same time. Every time I use it, I keep sniffing my hands. A little goes a long way. The amount you can see on the pictures above is enough to moisturise your full hands and elbows. I always moisturise my elbows when I use hand cream :) You can also use it on your knees and any dry areas of your body. I use it on my ankles- they are really dry for some reason...
I love the packaging- a simple aluminium tube that allows you to squeeze every bit of the cream out, unlike plastic tubes. I know that it is an expensive hand cream and many people wouldn't pay £18.50 for a hand care product, but I think I found "the one" and I will definitely buy it in the future, starting with the 30ml travel size for £8.00.
*PR sample

FOTD: Red lips and natural eye makeup + new necklace

When I think feminine I think red lipstick! I was always scared of red on my lips, but since I got a mini Lancome lipstick in a lovely bright red colour with my order, I started to like it :)
The key to success is to keep eye makeup natural, so you don't end up looking like a clown :)
The lipsctick I used is L'Absolu Rouge from Lancome in shade 132. It is a lovely creamy lippy, long lasting and non sticky.
FACE: Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in shade 02 Beige*, Liz Earle Natural Finish Loose Powder in shade 01 ivory*, Liz Earle Perfect Fix concealer in shade 02 Fair*, NYR Mineral Blusher in shade Peony*, LIPS: Lancome L'absolu Rouge in shade 132, EYES: Urban Decay Naked palette, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara, Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner
I absolutely love my new necklace* from OASAP. It looks amazing!  

here is a link to it.

NEW IN: Ecotools 5 piece brush set

I started buying lots and lots of makeup brushes lately and this new travel set arrived 2 days ago.
I bought it, because I needed a travel set that I can keep in my bag for applying powder and blusher when I am out and about. The set includes:
Mineral powder brush - for applying powder or mineral foundation
Concealer brush- for applying concealer- duh! :)
Eye shading brush - this brush applies and blends powder eye shadows effortlessly.
Baby kabuki - buff powder over areas that need more coverage or use to apply bronzer.
Cosmetic bag is made from 55% hemp linen and 45% cotton.

The bristles are very soft and I quite like using the brushes.You can get the set from Boots here for £19.99.

LIZ EARLE COLOUR review: Natural Finish Loose Powder, Powder brush and Perfect Fix Concealer

I can't describe my excitement about this post! I love Liz Earle Skincare and I was counting the days before the launch of Liz Earle Colour collection. It is finally here and we can all enjoy it! I wrote a review of Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint before and you can find it here. Today I am reviewing three products from the new collection: Perfect Fix Concealer in shade 02 fair, Natural Finish Loose Powder in shade 01 Natural Ivory and a Powder Brush. I love all of them and I can honestly say, that the Liz Earle Colour Collection was worth the wait.

 
Natural Finish Loose Powder 01 natural ivory 12g* £19.50 link
INFO:Our velvety soft, lightweight formula is a revolution in powder technology. Containing four types of powder and many different sized particles to help smooth and even out the appearance of your skin, leaving it with a natural finish. Enriched with our own blend of natural source of vitamin E, borage and avocado oils.Available in three shades
MY OPINION: This powder feels feather light on my skin, but gives beautiful coverage and a natural looking finish at the same time. Shade 01 natural ivory is perfect for me, it blends into my skin tone perfectly, leaving my complexion looking flawless. I used the Liz Earle powder brush to apply it over Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint and this combination works perfectly for me.
If I apply it in the morning it stays on my face for over 6 hours, after that a quick touch up will make it stay on for the rest of the day.
The packaging is very sturdy and you need to unscrew the lid and twist a protective cover inside to get the powder. I really like this design, it prevents making a mess, something that loose powders are known for, so you can put it in your handbag without worrying.

 
Powder brush* £20.00 link
INFO:Our full and rounded brush head has a feather-light feel. It allows you to effortlessly apply and blend your powders and bronzers for a smooth, even finish.The cut and shape of our brushes have been uniquely designed by our make up artists to help you achieve truly professional results. Each hair is both individual in length and cut to help pick up and apply just the right amount of your product. Our two-tone brush head is made from 100% man-made fibres so is animal-friendly, and the clear acrylic handle gives the brush a clean, stylish design.
MY OPINION: I really like it. I love the simple, yet stylish design and the way it feels in my hand.It helps to achieve a flawless finish, I use it for applying loose powders and mineral bronzers and blushers. I love the fact that it is animal friendly!

 
Perfect Fix Concealer 02 Fair 2g* £13.50 link
INFO: No make up bag should be without our highly-pigmented, lightweight concealer to disguise blemishes, minor skin imperfections and dark circles. Our creamy formula blends easily, without dragging the delicate under-eye area. Enriched with a derivative of natural source vitamin E.
Available in seven shades.
MY OPINION: I don't own many concealers, but I really needed to get a good quality one to reduce the appearance of dark circles, small imperfections and redness around my nose. This concealer is exactly what I was looking for: a very creamy formula that glides onto the skin and feels very very light. It is perfect for camouflaging dark circles and it does a great job at hiding redness and blemishes I have got on my face.
The packaging is absolutely beautiful and looks very luxurious. The price is very affordable and if you are looking for a good concealer you should try this one.
 
Here is my FOTD with Liz Earle Colour.
FACE: Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint in shade 02 Beige*, Liz Earle Natural Finish Loose Powder in shade 01 ivory*, Liz Earle Perfect Fix concealer in shade 02 Fair*, NYR Mineral Bronzer in shade Golden Bronze*, NYR Mineral Blusher in shade Peony*, LIPS: NYR lipgloss in shade Goji Berry*, EYES: NYR mineral pressed eyeshadow in shade Silver Birch*, Urban Decay Naked 2-bootycall, Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara, Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama gel eyeliner
  
*PR Samples

Late Night Nail Art

I just love nail art!!! I am becoming slightly obsessed with it :)
I thought I will share some of my new creations with you. What design do you like the most?
I used: Revlon Emerald City, Barry M Silver foil effect, Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream

Simple Pleasures Scented nail polish set review.

I got a few requests and questions about the scented nail polish set I bought from TKmaxx.
I need to disappoint you- It is totally rubbish! The nail polishes are meant to be scented with melon, mint, cherry, mango and pineapple... They don't smell of anything except a strong nail varnish odour. Once applied and dry I still couldn't smell anything at all! Weird...
Another problem- one of the bottles was damaged, I was going to open it and the neck of the bottle snapped! I am not Incredible Hulk and I didn't break a glass bottle with my fingers. It must have been broken already, as there was some dried up nail polish on the bottle. I was all excited about the melon scent etc... just to find out it doesn't exist...
All the colours are lovely, especially mint and pink, the formula is ok, but the wow factor is missing.
I bought this set for £3.99, I found it online here for $12.
Have you ever tried scented nail polish? What was your experience?

Green and turquoise glitter nails: Catrice ACid/DC + Essence Edward

I love the names of both nail polishes I used today! I love when nail polishes have got quirky, funny, interesting names. It makes me want to buy them more. Today I am wearing Catrice ACid/DC no 810 and Essence Edward-06- a glitter topper from a twin set. The Catrice nail lacquer glides on beautifully and smoothly! I love the formula and I only needed one coat to get a nice opaque colour. I can't wait to try more polishes form Catrice.
I got both of them from Ana in my swap package, if you want to have a look, here is a link to my swap post. Again, if you have got an opportunity to swap with somebody from another country, go for it! :) It is  a great experience.

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask Review

Hello ladies,
Another amazing Liz Earle product arrived at my doorstep. It is the Brightening Treatment Mask. It quickly became my favourite face mask! It works really fast and you can see the effects right away. I love to pamper my skin with face masks, I find it very relaxing.

LIZ EARLE Brightening Treatment Mask 50ml pump starter kit* £14.25 link

INFO: Problem: dull, lacklustre skin.Solution: our fast-acting mask instantly revitalises. Containing stimulating camphor oil and toning witch hazel to help give your skin a natural-looking radiance.
Use in the morning or whenever a quick fix is needed.Naturally active ingredients include aloe vera to help cool and soothe, toning witch hazel and purifying white clay.Not suitable for sensitive skin.
Use whenever your skin needs a quick fix to leave it radiant and revitalised.
Apply to clean, dry skin. Leave for between 30 seconds and 2 minutes. Soak the pure muslin cloth in hand-hot water and gently wipe away residue.Follow with Instant Boost Skin Tonic and your choice of Liz Earle moisturiser.You will experience a slight tingling sensation. This is normal. However, as a common sense precaution, do not use on sensitive skin and avoid the lip and eye area.

MY OPINION: This mask quickly became my favourite and it is my go-to mask at the moment, if I am looking for an instant boost of radiance. I received the starter kit including 50ml pump(very convenient) a muslin cloth and a handy storage bag.
I love the fact that the mask works quickly, you only need to have it on for 30sec to 2 minutes to benefit from all the natural ingredients, including aloe vera, witch hazel and white clay. Sometimes I leave it on for 5 minutes, just to enjoy the smell and the feeling :) The texture is light and creamy and it smells amazing!
If you don't like masks that need to stay on your face for a long time, this is a perfect mask for you.
It gives my skin a healthy glow and can be used every day or once a week, it is totally up to you. I use it about 3 times a week, sometimes instead of Cleanse & Polish in the morning and the effects are great. Use the muslin cloth to wipe it off and it will also gently exfoliate your skin leaving it fresh and radiant. I can assure you that you will notice the difference right away. It also helps to reduce the appearance of blemishes and dark circles.
The mask is not suitable for sensitive skin, although I read many reviews saying that it doesn't irritate sensitive skin at all. Again- I am very impressed with Liz Earle skincare range. It deserves all the awards under the sun!

*PR SAMPLE
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