NOTD - Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Nails


Raspberry ripple ice cream nails

I wasn't going to post today as I have been so ill and in bed most of the day. However I couldn't not quickly post about my nails which turned out better than I could of hoped! 

The idea for this popped into my head a few days ago from nowhere... I have never seen anything similar (though I am sure someone else has though of the same thing) so I decided to go for something a bit summery. But really the colour combinations for this are endless! 

I am dying to try this effect with white and two types of blue nail polish so they look like bubblegum ice-cream nails! I think that would look really cool. 
 
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As this is fairly easy to do I promise to write-up a tutorial on these next week showing a different colour combination as well! 

For the base I used Models Own Concrete Mixer and then for the swirly effect I used Models Own Pink Punch and Deborah Lippman Razzle Dazzle.

Really excited about these as they just look so interesting and slightly galaxy nails-esque! 

Fee xo.

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NOTD - Peach & Gold Striped Nails

peach and gold striped nails

I'm very nearly at the end of my 30 Day of Nails challenge (all NOTD here) so I thought for the last few days I would try some new things out! 

For today's nails I decided to buy some gold Striping Tape from eBay as I have seen many nail bloggers use this for french manicures and other different things. So I thought I would give it a go!

Sadly I failed to realise how long this would take me to do and I should of just opted for a spring slant on the classic french manicure (I think this would actually be really great to conceal wonky lines if you aren't go good at french tips). But once I had started I was determined to finish all 10 nails which did actually take me over an hour! 

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However I am still SO glad that I bought the striping nail art tape as I know I can use it for all sorts of nail related things. I actually bought the silver and gold striping tape as a set from an eBay seller for only 99p plus free delivery! You can find the listing here. Like most nail art supplies on eBay the item was from Hong Kong so I was expecting it to wait awhile for it to arrive but surprisingly delivery took only 10 days! 

The tape is very easy to use with it having a sticky backing so you can cut it and just stick it directly onto the nails if you wish. However like sellotape finding the end is a nightmare... I swear this is why my nails took so long to do, as I kept on losing the end of the tape!

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How I achieved my stripey nails... 

To be honest I did find it more tricky than I thought it would be... basically I took on too much for my first ever attempt at using the striping tape. But here is how I did it. 

1. First paint your nails and let them fully dry. Now I mean fully dry as you may need to reposition your tape and so you don't want the polish to be pulled up by the tape if it isn't totally dry. 

2. Next you want to roughly pre-cut all your strips of tape and stick the edges of them on to something that you have close by. If like me you are doing stripes then you will want 4 pieces of tape per nail so you will need to cut 40 pieces in total. Trust me, cutting them all in one go will save you time. My two tips for cutting the pieces would be to give yourself more length than you think you will need and also don't cut the tape at an angle as this will mean you will need to cut the tape twice when it's on the nail. 

3. With each nail I started at the tip, using were my nail mets up with my skin as a kind of guideline for my first stripe. I then place down the tape on to my nail with the edge of the tape lining up with the left side of my nail so that I didn't need to cut that side. Then when I was happy with the position of the tape I pressed it down. 

4. Next with the edge of a pair of tweezers I just lightly pressed them down on the right hand side of my nail giving me an indentation mark which would be my guideline of were I needed to cut the tape. You could however use a pen just to mark this instead. 

5. For the last step I then lifted the tape part way off my nail again and cut the excess off at the indentation I had made. I then of course repeated this for each stripe... which is why my nails took so long to do! 

Of course four stripes per nails is not only time consuming but also faffy! So you could maybe do this as just an accent on both ring finger nails or just a single stripe across each nail as a modern take on the french manicure. Or you could even place a single piece of tape vertically down each nail. 

Basically you can do so much with  striping tape! 

Fee xo.


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NOTD - Revlon Lilac Pastelle

Revlon_Lilac_Pastelle

As today was another lovely day here in the UK I thought I would try out a Revlon nail polish that I recently purchased from Cheap Smells! 

Revlon Lilac Pastelle is a lovely light lilac cream nail polish that is ideal for spring and even though still available in Boots & Superdrug it can be found on make discount sites for under £3. 

I did purchase this from Cheap Smells for only £2.99 however it is now out of stock but can be found on Shop4Makeup for only £1.74 here (delivery £1.49) or from Boots.com for £6.49 here.

But the bottle in some cases is the old style bottle when bought on discount sites. 

Revlon_Lilac_Pastelle_swatch

Like many light pastel shades this isn't the easier of polishes to apply as it is slightly watery, though it is fairly opaque with two coats which is what I applied in the images and the second coat does apply a lot nicer than the first. 

Also today I wore Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely perfume as it is such a pretty spring fragrance (£15.95/30ml Eau de Parfum - Cheap Smells here) and got the chance to wear my new stripey shorts from Tesco F&F which were only £6! 


I think I need to hurry up and do my Spring Nail Polish Picks with all this lovely weather. 

Fingers crossed it continues like this all week! 

Fee xo.


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Bargain Macadamia Deep Repair Masque!

Macadamia Deep Repair Mask

As some of you may know I received a sachet of the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque in the February Joliebox (review of the box here) and absolutely loved it! I think it may actually be the best hair product I have ever tried in fact! 

However at £19.50 for a 250ml pot it would of been a bit of a splurge for me. So I decided to hang fire and look around to see if I could find it any cheaper. The cheapest I could find it was from Cheap Smells at £16.60 with free delivery but I was still a bit hesitant to buy it. 

But then the lovely and very helpful @Saraisbeauty (she also has a blog - Beauty Nook) tweeted me that the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque had been reduced to only £9.99 at Cheap Smells (here). Within 5 minutes I have bought the hair mask as I knew I wouldn't be getting it that cheap anywhere else!

Macadamia Deep Repair Mask Cheap Smells

As you can see this is a thick pearlized hair mask with a little going a long way. The masque is just so perfect for over processed, dry or damaged hair and will tame the wildest of frizz. I kid you not, this made my hair look like I had just got back from the hairdressers... so smooth and shiny and for once no split ends sticking up! I was amazed at the results. 

As this is so thick and luxurious it is only suggests that you use it twice a week but for me once a week is enough so hopefully the 250ml pot will last me quite some time. 

 If you are looking for an amazing deep conditioner I really do urge you to try the sachet of this which is now £3.00 for 30ml from Beauty Bay (here) as gives you around 2-3 applications on medium length hair. 

Or of course if you are already a lover of the hair masque then you can get it for the bargainous price of £9.99 for 250ml from Cheap Smells (here)! 

Fee xo.

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NOTD - Models Own Indian Ocean

Models-own-Indian-ocean-swatch

As today has literally been like a summers day I thought I would show you a recent purchase that is an ideal summer nail polish! 

Last week in Boots I spotted the new additions to the Models Own Beetle Juice collection - Copper Pot, Tropical Sun and Indian Ocean. I was pretty tempted by Tropical Sun (a vivid shimmery coral/orange) but Indian Ocean just looked so different to anything I had in my collection. 

Thinking about it now I should of really applied two coats of this over bare nails to see how it looked instead of using a base shade. But it is just habit to used a coloured base when I buy quite a sheer nail polish. Though I will do a post showing what Indian Ocean looks like on it's own. 

 You can find Models Own Indian Ocean for £5.00 from Boots, Models Own site (here) or Effortless Nails (here). 
 
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Models Own Indian Ocean is a beautiful sheer turquoise blue with gleaming a violet/gold shimmer. This definitely could be worn on it's own however I do prefer an opaque finish so I applied 2 coats of Models Own  Jade Stone as a base. 

I then applied two light coats of Indian Ocean which applied very easily and also dried pretty quick. So I think without a base it would need 2-4 coats depending on how sheer or opaque you like it.

The finish of this is just so lovely and very much reminiscent of when the sun beams down on perfectly clear ocean water.

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It is rare for me to like a sheer nail polish this much but it is just so unique that I can't not love it. Plus I am dying to try this over a coral shade as I'm thinking it will look lovely! 

If you love pearly/shimmery nail polish that just dazzle in the sunlight then this is definitely a must for summer! 

Fee xo. 

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Lifting the Lid... First She Said Beauty Box!

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Woo, the first ever She Said Beauty box! 
Only last week I was thinking about how over saturated Beauty Boxes are in the UK as it was only one year ago we were all lusting after the U.S Birchbox because we had nothing like it in the UK. However since last week Carmine have 'closed' and merged with Glossybox (actually not too sure on the facts). So now we have Glossy Box, Jolie Box & the She Said Beauty Box and if you are into your natural and organic products the Amarya Beauty Box

So we still have a lot of choice but I think they all offer something a bit different from each other and Glossy & Jolie are definitely going from strength to strength! Plus She Said Beauty have already grown a great online community around their website.

The Price  
The She Said Beauty box contains 5 luxury beauty samples for £9.00 a month plus £2.95 delivery or you can pay 3,6 or 12 months in advance with a saving. However there are lots of codes to receive an even better discount. If you are new to She Said Beauty you can receive 25% off your first box with 'SSB25OFF'. Or receive 10% off a 3 month subscription by entering 'SSB03' or for 20% off a 6 month subscription enter 'SSB06'.

 You can view all prices & subscription details here.

The Packaging
The packaging is something a little bit different from all the other beauty boxes with it's lovely Tiffany blue box with magnetic close and pretty straw stuffing. I actually think a stack of these or them lined up on a shelf would look so pretty as they are such a nice shade. Also I have actually used the pink ribbon in my hair!  

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The Products 

 Collection 2000 Cream Puff Lip Cream (in Powder Puff) - Full size
(Full size - £2.99)
When you go out and purchase another product from the range of the product you received you know you have received something great and this is exactly what I did with the Collection 2000 Cream Puff! If we are being picky this lip product isn't at all a luxury product however I had never got round to trying these so I was really pleased to see one in my box. The product is just so different from anything I have tried before - think a creamy if not slightly greasy (not too, mind) product that has a lovely caramel/toffee scent to it.. that creates a matte finish without drying out the lips at all. Really great stuff! I received Powder Puff with the box and purchased Cotton Candy from Boots.. but now I am thinking I need another one!

 Orly Manicure Miniature (in Ancient Jade or Black Out) - Mini full size
(Full size 5.3ml - £5.00) 
Now if I could of picked Ancient Jade over Black Out I would of done. HOWEVER I have used Black Out so much already - probably more times than I would of used Ancient Jade. I have used it as a black base for countless glitters already and for lots of nail art. Just a really great quality black that is opaque within 2 coats and is super glossy. I don't own any other Orly minis but I will definitely be trying out more! 

Orly Nail File medium grit 
 (Full size - £1.10)
Can't say I have too much of an opinion on this product as it's just a nail file! Not an amazing product but as a little extra in the box it is pretty handy. I have thrown this in to my handbag in case of emergencies but for me it is slightly too coarse than I would have liked so not the best for every day use. But handy all the same!

Comfort Zone Renight Recover Cream
(Full size - £52.95)
This is the one product that really didn't interest me... due to the two words 'night' and 'cream' (I am one for going to bed with nothing on my face) and also the full retail price! You see I really think the idea of samples of high end skincare products is pretty flawed as the samples generally never contain enough product to see any real effects or to warrant a splurge even. So I think beauty boxes should maybe avoid really high end luxe samples and stick to mid-range to high end ones. Such as Glossy Box did with the Clarins samples in the Valentine's box so that they can provide a decent sized sample. So for this product I cannot even comment on it really.

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We Are Faux False Eyelashes (in Roux Sixteen)
(Full size - £9.00)
As a non-false eyelash wearer/lover these surprisingly made my eyes light up a bit. I had spotted the We Are Faux range on ASOS last month so I knew of them but of course it wouldn't be a brand that I would buy from as I just don't wear false eyelashes. Though it is nice to receive a good quality pair that I can wear if I am ever going out somewhere special, because obviously they will last forever. Not sure on the style as they do look a little heavy for what I would wear if I was to go for false eyelashes but I know that I will try them out and I am really pleased they are from such a new yet popular brand. 


Aveda Smooth Infusion Shampoo, Conditioner & Style-prep Smoother
(Full size from £15.50)
I am in two minds about this little trio of Aveda samples. I have used all three products up and enjoyed them, but again the samples were just too tiny to judge how good the products are, so they could never really result in a purchase. Both the shampoo and conditioner were single use and the Style-prep Smoother lasted around 5 uses (a bit better). Would of really liked to of seem just one bigger sized sample instead of the little kit really! But a nice change for my hair from a brand I had never tried before.


Jing Flowering Dragon Eye Tea - 1 bulb (makes 2 cups)
(Full size 50g 14 cups - £9.00)
If you have read any previous Beauty Box reviews I have done you will know my dislike in receiving samples of tea! I mean, really is it beauty related? I think not. But at least this was something totally different and not tea leaves for once! As a non-tea drinker I only really enjoyed the process of the opening up (it was pretty amazing) and gave the tea to my boyfriend. However I am so glad I received the sample as it  is ideal for someone that I know and would make the most perfect present for them. So come their birthday or at Christmas I plan to purchase a 50g bag of the Jing tea along with a glass teapot. So I am super glad I received this sample now!

Positives 
For a first box I am really pleased with the products - a nice mix with some new brands/products and a few familiar ones as well. I am so glad I received the Collection 2000 lip product and of course the black nail polish from Orly but also the Jing tea was a great discovery that I am so pleased about. 

Negatives 
The only real weak product in the box for me was the Comfort Zone cream as it just seemed not such a unique or either popular product. Also I would of preferred one bigger Aveda sample instead of such a small trio of samples though I did use and enjoy all three samples so I can't complain to much. 
 
When I come to judge how I feel about a box I look at the products that are still left sitting in the box and also how many products I want to purchase at full size. 

For this box the We Are Faux are still in the box waiting an occasion to be used and also the Comfort Zone product as it just didn't interest me. As for future purchases there are three! The lip cream which I have already bought another of, the Orly mini... I will be purchasing more and the Jing Tea which will be purchased as a gift!

So all in all I would say a pretty successful box! 

Fee xo.
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NOTD - Max Factor Fantasy Fire + Giveaway!

Max Factor Fantasy Fire Nail Polish

Every man and his dog has mentioned this nail polish now. But I really couldn't resist trying it and seeing the beauty of it for myself. 

Now this is far from a perfect polish as it is very sheer but for me that is perfect as I love nail polishes that can be used like top coats to add a different finish to nail polishes . So I have applied this over two different shades to show the results that you can achieve with this lovely polish.

If you have been living under a rock and haven't seen or heard of this nail polish before then this is a fairly recent addition to the Max Factor Max Effect Mini nail polish range (£3.99) along with quite a few other shades (I also bought Graffiti an amazing ocean emerald shimmer but more on that in another post). However as Fantasy Fire has been so popular quite a lot of stands just don't have it. Your best bet is to look in Boots as I have been looking in Tesco for the longest time and they definitely hasn't received any new stock of this were as Boots have!

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First I decided to try Fantasy Fire over a nude base so I applied two coats of  Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Rose Poudre. I then applied 2 quite thick coats of Max Factor Fantasy Fire. 

Over a nude base Fantasy Fire is just lovely. Kind of a cream jelly finish with all the different shades in there coming through when it hits the light. This is probably the most similar to how it looks in the bottle. Just a soft purple-y blue that has them wonderful flecks of red and gold with the odd tinge of green. 

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For a dark base I applied just one thick coat of Barry M Navy nail polish as it is quite opaque. I then applied three coats of Max Factor Fantasy Fire so that all the amazing colours in the nail polish would show up. 

Now this is pretty but definitely more red tones show up in this with a slight tinge of green. I really do love how this can be placed over different bases and gives totally different effects like this. Though for me as I don't tend to go for dark shades I would wear this if I was going out somewhere at night or in winter.

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Personally I prefer Fantasy Fire over a lighter coloured base as I think it just looks more unique and eye catching. However over a red shade is equally lovely. Though I have yet to try it over a black base and then apply a matte top coat, which I sure would make it look really different! 

Of course some people may be disappointed in how sheer this is if they applied it to naked nails but for me a sheer nail polish like this means endless possibilities. For example when you have got bored of the nail polish you have on you can alwaus just apply a coat or two of this over the top and totally transform the look of the nails! 

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This really is such a lovely nail polish and as I know how hard this is to pick up I have two nail polishes to give away! 

To enter the giveaway simply leave your first name and email address in the Rafflecopter form.

   Good Luck 
Fee xo.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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NOTD - 17 Revenge & George Starry Eyed

17-revenge-nail-polish

As some of you may have noticed my blog has been down since Wednesday as I have been having some serious domain issues with my host. However as I was just about to give up all hope as I seriously don't know what I am doing, Maria from Miss Drifted Snow White  came to my rescue and fixed my domain settings for me. So lovely of her and I am more than pleased. 

So as I thank you please do have a look at her beauty/fashion blog as she really is just lovely!

This is probably the cheapest manicure I have featured so far in my 30 Days of Nails challenge as 17 Fast Finish nail polish in Revenge is £2.99 (Boots - here) and I purchased the George glitter nail polish in Starry Eyed in Asda for £1.00 (though I'm sure the George @ Asda polishes are now £1.75)!

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I really do like the smaller 17 nail polish bottles from Boots - just the right size as lets face it we hardly ever finish a bottle of nail polish unless we are in love with it. Also I find the shade range always really good... I plan to pick up a few bright shades soon for summer as Boots 17 is 3 for 2 at the moment so 3 polishes for £6 really isn't too bad at all!

17 Revenge is a two coat nail polish with the first coat applying quite watery and streaking but the 2nd coat makes up for it and gives a lovely smooth finish. However I did find the finish wasn't as glossy as I had expected which is why I felt I needed to add a top coat. 

I was going to go for a clear top coat but then decided to go for George Starry Eyed as it's such a delicate glitter that just adds something a little bit different to the nails without being too much at all. I really do like it!


For tomorrows nails I am thinking Max Factor Fantasy Fire! 

Fee xo. 


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Nail Polish Tag & NOTD - OPI & Nubar

Nail-Polish-tag

As I am all about my nails at the moment I thought I would do the nail polish tag that has been floating around recently!

Plus this can count as my NOTD for today as well! 


1. What's your favourite nail polish company?
Oh this is a tough question as I go on shades rather than how long it lasts or applies. But the nail polish brand that excites me the most is China Glaze so maybe that is my favourite even though I don't own that many polishes from them. Lower end it has to be Models Own and Revlon.

2. Glitter or no glitter?

If you read my blog on a regular basis you will definitely know the answer to this! I absolutely love glitter nail polish and own quite a lot... I'm thinking around the 20 mark.

Glitter-nail-polishes

3. OPI, China Glaze, or Essie?
Never tried Essie as it's just never appealed to me for some reason. But I love OPI for their mini sets and I love China Glaze for their Christmas gift sets and also I feel they have a lovely range of shades. So it would have to be China Glaze.

4. When do you change your nail polish?

Well at the moment as I am current doing my '30 days of Nails' challenge I am of course painting my nails daily! But in general I normally paint my nails every other day which is still quite a lot really!

5. What's your favourite colour on your nails?

I am quite boring really and love nude shades on my nails as they always look polishes and pretty. But I do like my nails looks really different so it also has to be duo chrome or glitter nail polish. 

Here are some polishes that I'm loving at the moment... 

Current_favourite_nail-polishes

6. Darks or brights?

Brights all the way! There is nothing better than pulling out all my bright shades (normally oranges and pinks) in summer. Even in winter I hardly wear dark shades as I just don't think they suit my skin tone so I opt for nude or red nails instead.

7. What are you wearing on your nails right this moment?


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OPI Let Me Entertain You from the Burlesque collection with Nubar G188 2010 Top Coat.

8. Matt nails in or out?
When matte nail polishes first hit our shelves I really wasn't that interest and didn't think I would like them really. However once I tried a limited edition one from No7 I realised matte nails can looks really good and can be so versatile (matte nails, french glossy tips, nude matte nails, matte nails glossy leopard print) so I definitely think if you love painting your nails you need at least one matt top coat!

9. French Manicure?
A classic french manicure has never really interested me. I'm not really sure why exactly but for some reason even though it makes the nails looks really neat it also looks quite fake and sometimes not elegant at all. Though I do like a play on a french manicure such as spring french nails and neon french tips look great. I don't even like french manicures when people get married even!


10.  Favourite summer colours?
Anything super bright! I'm not a huge lover of pastels in summer so I'm more about hot pinks, bright orange, reds and everything that is bright and glittery! 
Here are some of my favourite summer shades...

Summer-nail-polishes

Of course the tag is open to anyone so if you do the tag then let me know in the comment as I love reading them! 

Fee xo. 
 

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Lifting the Lid... January GlossyBox

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Now I may seem very behind with my beauty box reviews but as I say I do like to try everything out thoroughly so that I can give a review of the box as well as mini reviews of the products in the box. 
 
The Price
  With the GlossyBox you receive 5 high-end samples for £10.00 per month plus £2.95 p&p bringing it to £12.95 per box per month. Like all the other boxes you can cancel at any time but it is worth noting it is on a direct debit basis. Website - here.

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 The Packaging  
After the red Christmas Glossy box in December I really wasn't expecting another themed box (Valentine's Day Edition), so this was a nice surprise! I think having different coloured and themed boxes is a really good touch for Glossy Box as it does make them stand out from the rest. Though it would of been nice to see a products that were more Valentine's day related.

The Products 
Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Emerald Green, Clarins Extra Firming Day Cream, Clarins Extra Firming Night Cream, FAB Body Moisturizer, Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting primer.

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Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer 
(full size - £29.00/30ml)
Then I first tried this out I was quite surprised to see that this was a tinted product and it did seem quite dark. But once this is rubbed into the skin the tint isn't really noticeable at all, well it looked quite similar to a tinted moisturiser on my skin as I am fair but I'm sure for most the tint wouldn't be there at all. I have found I have been using this quite a lot instead of foundation on days that I haven't been wanting a full face of makeup. It just gives a nice glow to the skin and makes it look even and radiant, even when it's not. I have also tried this under foundation and feel that my foundation applied nicer. This is pricey for only 30ml but if you are wanting a more sophisticated in between to foundation then this would be perfect. 

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner (full size)
(full size - £9.50)
I feel firstly I must admit my feelings on the re-branding of Eyeko - I don't like it basically. I think when any company decides to re-brand/change their products they have to be careful and remember to keep some similarity. But clearly Eyeko have decided to change their image completely from something really fun and unique to something entirely different. 
As for the eyeliner, it is okay and it does last on the eyes 
but hmm, I am just not sure about it... it's just nothing special really and I think for £9.50 full price it needs to be. Sadly just another green eyeliner to add to my collection. 

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FAB Body Moisturizer
(full size £10.00/226.8g)
I think for most people this would be quite a bland product with it being unscented but this was definitely my favourite product in the box and I have now used it all up! For me this felt so fresh and light on my skin but really hydrating which is my ideal formula. Also I was quite pleased to see the price of this as £10.00 for over 200ml seems pretty good for such a lovely moisturiser. This is now on my 'products to buy' list for summer!

Clarins Extra Firming Day & Night Cream 
(full size - £46.50-£48.00/50ml)
Not really too keen on receiving two products from the same brand in one box but oh well! Sadly I couldn't fully enjoy these as they are just too hydrating for my combination skin (I really would of loved to see Clarins Flash Balm instead) so I have been using both creams as a neck/chest cream at night and so at least I have been using them. But of course can't judge how good both creams are though I am pretty sure anyone with more mature skin would really enjoy these. 
 
Positives 
 For me the main highlight of the box was the FAB body moisturiser as this isn't a product I would of been able to try out at this size or even a product I would of imagine liking so much. I also really enjoyed the Murad primer though I won't be purchasing it due to it not really being within my budget for that type of product.

Negatives 
My main criticism with this box is that is contains 4 skincare products and only one makeup product which isn't very balanced at all. Also I think the Valentine's day theme with the products being pamper products it a bit weak as they aren't products I would associate with pampering myself.. I would of maybe liked to of seen a sample of a face mask or a relaxing bath product maybe. 
 
Overall I didn't dislike the box but nor did I love it. I just think the contents could of been thought out a bit better with less skincare and been more Valentine's day related. 

Fee xo.   


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NOTD - Cherry Blossom Nails

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As promised... better nails today! 

I thought as it is feeling more and more like Spring I would do some Cherry Blossom inspired nails because they will be in bloom soon enough and they are quite pretty indeed! I really do love blossom trees in spring but for some reason in the UK we don't make a big deal of them... were as in Japan is it a different story all together!
 
As with most of my nail art this is super easy (though you all tell me if don't seem easy!) and I really do mean it, especially with my secret weapon which I shall reveal below!

ooooooo

If I was being a bit critical I would say I could of used a lighter blue shade for the base as it is a bit too vivid and maybe also drawn the branches on slightly thinner for a more dainty look. 

But over all for my first attempt AND not looking at an image whilst I did it I am fairly pleased! I think these would be ideal for April/May when it is finally spring as they are fun but also quite elegant looking nails. Plus the colour combination goes really well together I think.

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Yep, you guessed it! I used a rubbish eyeshadow applicator (that we all hate and throw away) to create the flowers.

So first you need to paint your nails, I chose Models Own Jade Stone but you could use any light blue or a pale pink or nude. Then once that is FULLY dry you can draw on your branches. I used my L'Oreal Super Slim eyeliner but you would use any eyeliner that is really black or a black nail art pen. Again may sure this is fully dry before creating the flowers or else you will lift off what you have already done. 

Next it is time to create the little flowers. With your nail polish brush with not too much nail polish on (I used Natural Collection Hibiscus) lightly dab a small amount on the eyeshadow applicator. Then you just have to dab small random splodges on to each nail - if you do find you apply too much to one nail you can turn over the applicator and dab a bit to soak up a bit of the excess and make the splodge more flower like. 

To give a bit of dimension to the flowers I repeated the process but with less nail polish with Revlon Nude Chic. I didn't clean the applicator just added a bit of nude polish and it was fine. Then before it was dry I added a clear top coat. 


See, I told you it was that easy! 

You can view all the other nails in my 30 Days of Nails Challenge - here

Fee xo.

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NOTD (yesterday) - Gradient Pastel Glitter Nails

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Arghhhh, no. Failed my nail challenge!! Well kind of! But at least I am posting yesterday's nails and not just skipping them.. though I wish I could as I really don't like these nails. 

Yesterday was a bit of a rubbish day, I'd had no sleep and was feeling just blurgh... so I was lacking all inspiration. But them I decided I wanted to do pretty gradient nails but then realised I had no sponges (normally I use the foam No7 makeup sponges cut up) so I tried kitchen towel and it just didn't work. But at least I tried! 

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However I do like the idea and the shades in this manicure, so when I do get some sponges I think I am going to re-attempt this and I'm sure the gradient will look a lot smoother which will look pretty! 

As for the shades I used I didn't in fact use Barry M Mint Green but Models Own Jade Stone... this is actually how tired I was yesterday! Also as you can see I used Collection 2000 Hot Looks Dynasty (a really good range if you are looking for budget nail polishes) and a glitter KIKO nail polish that I have forgotten the number of!

 Going to try and do something a lot more fun and nail art-y for tomorrow/today's nails (it's currently 3am as I write this)! But we shall see!

Fee xo.


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NOTD - The Luck of the Irish ♣

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Firstly thank you to all that commented on my Stop! Grammar Time post. I really do appreciate all your kind words and it has made me feel really supported which is a nice feeling as I had been feeling frustrated by the whole thing for some time! 

Anyway, on to today's nails!

 I thought I would do something to celebrate St. Patricks Day and even had the idea of using the green glitter to create little shamrocks but it was just too time consuming and so I gave up?! I also think I may have gone for the wrong shade of green as Barry M Mint Green isn't very green really! Even though it is green, hmmm!

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As for the glitter this is a JRB glitter nail polish in shade 172. Sadly I can't find this anymore but if you search for 'JRB Nail Polish' on eBay there are so many different glitter nail polishes for around £2.50 including p&p. I think my favourite shade has to be the JRB Cerise Mix Glitter (here) which I would buy if I hadn't of just purchased some amazing Meteorites polishes (also on eBay). I really am obsessed with glitter nail polish aren't I?!

If you are a fan of glitter nails and want a bargain definitely search for - Saffron, JRB or Meteorites glitter nail polishes on eBay! 

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I kind of wish now I had spent the time creating little 3 leaf clovers with the glitter nail polish (with the help of a tooth pick ofcourse) but I know it would of taken me forever and a day. Much like the time when I decided to find a four leaf clover in Ireland. I did it... but it took forever!!

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend and have a lovely Mother's Day tomorrow! 

Fee xo. 


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Stop! Grammar time

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I have decided to listen to my own advice of "it's your blog, write what you want" for once! I am always telling people this when they are pondering whether to write about something a little different or if they are considering placing adverts on their blog and don't think people will approve. Because I really feel that is the main beauty of blogging - it is your space and you can write and do as you please... to a point of course. 

I have had Makeup Savvy and been beauty blogging for little over 2 years now and can 100% say that I truly love it. I love beauty products, I love taking the images, I love coming up with post ideas and writing them down in my little red polka dot notebook, I love all the friends I have made through beauty blogging and the daily chats I have with other beauty bloggers. I could go on but I think you get that I love most aspects of blogging! 

But there are also things I don't like. Like my constant confusion between different image file types, receiving so much junk email, HTML, the drama that goes on between bloggers on twitter, how bloggers honesty is constantly questioned if they receive PR samples etc etc. However I can put all that to one side as it really is just the nature of blogging. But there is one thing that I really dislike and that is when readers (most bloggers themselves) pick out flaws in others or try to correct them on mistake. I dislike seeing it and I also dislike it happening to me. 

We all have flaws and my flaw in the blogging world is my grammar. It's as simple as that. But hey ho... it is not the end of the world! I think my content is quite good and I love taking nice, clear images of products and giving honest reviews. Yet on quite a regular basis I receive comments and e-mails highlighting that my grammar is on the poor side. Sometimes it's in a 'I really do love your blog, but...' way, other times it's in a 'your grammatical errors piss me off' way, but however it is phrased my heart sinks a little when I read it as I just don't know how to reply or how to even react really.
 I could reply with why grammar is my down fall, explaining how in high school I had a drama teacher for an English teacher who made it her personal mission to 'bring me out of my shell' which did the total opposite and resulted in me dreading English lessons and learning practically nothing for 3 years. But what is the point? The person that commented on my grammar wouldn't care and it would only come across as being very defencive. OR I could apologise for the bad grammar (which I have done in the past) and thank them for highlighting which areas I need to change. Then re-edit the blog post, messing up the HTML in the process, and correct the mistake. But again that person still wouldn't be happy, they wouldn't go back, re-read the post and nod in approval. They just don't want my bad grammar to exist.

 But the truth is I never reply because if I did I would be with 'I DON'T GIVE A SHIT (but please take this in the nicest way'. Which of course wouldn't be received well at all!

Some people are more helpful than others and have suggested things such as writing my posts in Word which would obviously help or get someone to proof read them (not sure anyone would want to do that daily?!). But at the end of the day this would just make the process of writing a post even longer, when as I say it doesn't really bother me if I have the odd mistake here and there in a blog post. As long at it is legible then I am happy!

Do I have a conclusion? No, not really... I just wanted to get this off my chest as I have received countless comments and emails now and have never actually mentioned it here on my blog. I guess I just wanted express my sadness and dislike for people that do pick flaws in others. I won't be cliche and say that flaws are what make people unique but it is part of being human - we all make mistakes, we all have flaws and that is just the way it is.

So in a way there is a conclusion to my little rant.

 If you are someone that notices my spelling mistake or grammatical errors, or if you have previously left me a comment or sent me an email about it. Please do try to care less and remember that there are much bigger problems in the world than a blogger with a passion for makeup incorrectly using 'were/where' or typing 'should of' instead of 'should have'.

I really do hope this hasn't come across as too negative. I just felt I had to get this off! 

Fee xo. 

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NOTD - Polka Dot Bow Nails

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After 15 days of painting my nails I woke up today out of ideas and lacking inspiration. But as I was applying my makeup and using the new-ish L'Oreal Super Slim eyeliner I had a bit of a light bulb moment of using the liner for a bit of nail art as the nib is quite precise.

I decided to go for bows and polka dots for ease and trust me this is easy! The bows can be done with either a nail art pen or an eyeliner pen (easier to use) and the dots can be achieved with the end of a bobby pin/hair grip and some black nail polish or a dotting tool/nail art pen. 

But if you still don't believe me about the bows then scroll down to see how to draw the bows in 4 easy steps. 
 
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For the base nail polish I applied two coats of Models Own Champagne (£5.00 - ASOS) which I hadn't used in so long (Topshop & Max Factor do similar shades). Next it's on to the bows which as you can see below are pretty easy to draw on. After drawing on all five bows and the liner hadn't fully dried (you have to be quick though) I placed on the little Nail diamonds which are from Stargazer (£2.50 - Stargazer site). If you are too slow you could apply a clear top coat once you had finished your nails and place the diamonds on then as of course the top coat makes them stick properly. But of course this is optional and can be totally skipped!

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 I then added the polka dot with the Models Own/Wah Nail Art Pen which I rate and I don't rate at the same time - the tip/dotting tool is great and does the job (this is what I used for the dots) but the brush inside to achieve lines and different shapes etc is just SO rubbish. I think I have had around 4 of these pens now and all the brushes have fallen out. After the dots it is important to leave them to full dry and then you can apply a clear top coat as you do not want the bows to wash off!

They really are that easy! But it you do feel like you struggle with anything nail art related then it is worth practising drawing the bows and getting the dots the right size on a sheet of paper before you start. It is surprising how much it helps actually!

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On a bit of a side note but still very much nail art related, the founder of WAH nails - Sharmadean Reid has wrote her very own nail art book - The WAH Nails Book of Nail Art: Fashion at your Fingertips which includes 25 nail art tutorials! The book is out 1st April 2012 for only £6.79 on Amazon (here - also you can look inside the book) so I have pre-ordered the book for a little giveaway to mark the end of my nail challenge at the end of the month!

 I am officially half way through my 30 Day of Nails challenge now and I really do feel like I need to thank you all for the wonderful comments and tweets I have received. It has been so so lovely and I am so pleased people are enjoying it! 

So thank you!

Fee xo.


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