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Sunday, 25 October 2009

Katie Price Standing Out Style Book Review

Im not embarrased to admit im a fan of Katie Price, even though i think some of her jordan outfits are horrendous, i love her hair and makeup and dresses she wears for red carpets so i bought her lastest style book 'Standing Out' last week as it was on offer half price in Tesco for £10 instead of the usual £20. I personally wouldnt call Katie Price/Jordan a style queen but was a fun read overall. I have to admit its an easy read it didnt take me long to get through as its mainly full of pictures but is nice to read with a cuppa tea! Perfectly girly read!

In the introduction Katie says its not a book telling people how to dress, it just tips to give you idea on how to stand out, and tells fans what her favourite things are.... It's written in a chatty style, with lovely glossy pictures and pages, I loved the look of the book and the pictures!

I have got the Victoria Beckham fashion book too and found Jordans book to be similar, however not as detailed. The major flaw with Katie's book is that she doesnt go into detail on where she buys outfits from or what brands of products or makeup she uses. I like how Katie isnt afriad to be honest and say what she thinks but I thought she was quite catty and bitchy in some parts in this book – making digs at people she doesn’t like....didnt think that was very grown up and there was no need in it as this is suppost to be a style book!

She does give some cool tips and information into what she likes and some products but to be honest in was hoping for more information on the exact products she uses and she could of written next to each photo where her clothes were from. Since she is best friends with her MUA she could of listed the exact products she uses or what shops she gets her hair extensions, wigs, clothes from. A directory at the end with all her favourite places to shop would of been helpful. I did notice a print error too lol - there is a section with her favourite nail varnish colours and there is one photo that doesnt match up with the nail colour!

Overall it is a good fun read and the photos are so girly but i was expecting more in depth information into where she buys things from and exact products she uses to achieve makeup and hair looks.

Have you read this book, what did you think? Are there any other style books you would recommend for me to read?

Feel free to comment below x

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Bargain Nail Polish Set


I picked up this nail set from primark for £2 at the weekend. It would make a great gift for xmas or bdays. It comes in a mirrored case with 4 nail polishes - the polishes dont have names unfortunately. But there is a hot pink shade, a deep red, a bright lilac purple and a bright red. Here is a picture of how the polishes look when applied....
What do you think?

How to remove false nails without damage to your natural nails!

Im going to show you how to remove false nails without any damage to your natural nails alot cheaper than what you would pay in the salon - here I am removing Stick On False Nails, but you can use this method to remove UV Gel, Arylic or any other type of nail extension.

I’m pretty certain that a lot of you will be tempted and guilty of pulling or biting off your fake stick on nails (and even UV Gel or Acrylic Extensions!). Please If you pull off the fake nail, this can be very damaging to your own natural nails and leave them brittle, soft and in poor condition. A lot of people seem to think Gel damage your nails but it is in fact when you pull off the nails which causes the damage. Following the good aftercare advise that you can find here (LINK) on my blog also prevents damage to your natural nails. I would always recommend you get your nails removed professionally or for a much cheaper option is to learn how to remove them safely at home as removal at salons can be very costly. There several different options to remove false nails. I shall show you how to do two different ways which are quick, simple and cheap to do at home! At a salon they would normally remove the nails and then give a quick manicure or tidy up and apply some nail strengthen – I have already posted a blog also show you how to do a quick 10 minute manicure.

What you shall need for removal Method One:
Acetone
Orange Sticks
Thick Nail Files
Vasaline (optional)
Nail Buffer
Nail strengthener
Cuticle oil
Small Soaking Bowl (either a kidney bowl or ceramic NOT plastic – as the acetone will melt it!)
Method: Step One: Get all your tools ready and pour a generous amount of acetone into the soaking bowl.
Step Two: (Optional) If you have sensitive skin, as the acetone is abrasive and extremely strong chemical you can apply a layer of Vaseline around you fingers and around the nail cuticle to protect your skin.
Step Three: Place your hands and nails into the soaking bowl and make sure there is enough acetone covering your nails completely.
Step Four: Leave to soak for 15-20 minutes.
Step Five: The fake nails should of lifted off from your natural nail plate and become soft. You can file the fake nails down and buff them completely off.
Step Six: If you find some of the nails haven’t lifted you can soak again in the acetone for a further 5-10 minutes and repeat step five.
Step Seven: Once the fake nails have been removed, buff your natural nails with the 3 way buffer until smooth and shiny.
Step Eight: Apply cuticle oil to replace the lost moisture and apply a coat of nail strengthener….continue with a mini manicure if needed.
What you will need for Method two:
Cotton Wool
Tin foil
Acetone
Orange Sticks
Thick Nail Files
Vasaline (optional)
Nail Buffer
Nail strengthener
Cuticle oil

Method: Step One: Get all your tools ready and soak cotton wool pieces in acetone - you may you the soaking bowl to help with this if you wish.

Step Two: (Optional) If you have sensitive skin, as the acetone is abrasive and extremely strong chemical you can apply a layer of Vaseline around you fingers and around the nail cuticle to protect your skin.

Step Three: Wrap the soaked cotton wool pieces around your nails covering them completley. Then wrap a piece of tin foil around the cotton wool to secure.

Step Four: Leave on for 15-20 minutes. You are able to have a cuppa whilst your waiting!
Step Five: The fake nails should of lifted off from your natural nail plate and become soft. You can file the fake nails down and buff them completely off.

Step Six: If you find some of the nails haven’t lifted you can wrap the soaked cotton wool around the nail again and leave for a further 5-10 minutes and repeat step five.

Step Seven: Once the fake nails have been removed, buff your natural nails with the 3 way buffer until smooth and shiny.

Step Eight: Apply cuticle oil to replace the lost moisture and apply a coat of nail strengthener….continue with a mini manicure if needed.



Hope this has been useful for you. Please feel free to comment below or ask any questions x

Monday, 19 October 2009

Chery Cole X Factor Fight for This Love

I absolutely loved the overall look Cheryl Cole went for on sunday night's X Factor. Her flawless MAC makeup dark eyeliner,smokey eyes with bright red lips, lots of bronzer her outfit and overall dance routine were amazing too-however its dispointing that she doesnt sing well and is a shame she was miming on the night!

Saturday, 10 October 2009

MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner Petting Pink SPF15 Haul

I absolutely love this MAC Lip conditioner SFP 15 i picked up in the shade petting pink a few weeks back. It is really conditioning and leaves a slight tint of pink to the lips - ive been using it alot. Lovely really nice sheen, smells lovely and i find it plumps up the lips! Its nice to wear underneath lipstick to stop your lips drying out or becoming flaky.



FOTD - MAC Look That Look Violet Smokey Eye

Makeup used:
MAC Pearlglide eye liner in Rave from Love that Look collection,
MAC eye shadow - fashion groupie
MAC Stuido Mositure tint SPF 15 in shade medium/dark
MAC Prep + Prime Powder
MAC Lashes
Rose Bud earings are from Urban Outfitters


What do you think?

Sunday Morning cupcake breakfast at Hummingbird bakery Portobello Market


Sunday morning breakfast at Hummingbird bakery, Portobello Market, London.

I adore the painted houses along portobello road;
The market stalls;

and
my favourite Red Velvet cupcakes!



:)

Sanctuary Spa Beauty Box Haul

Today i picked up the Deluxe Beauty Box from Sanctuary Spa. This was on offer, reduced to half price - £35 to £17.50. It was also on the 3 for 2 offer, so i ended up getting 3 - for xmas presents! It contains everything a girl needs to pamper in style and is really good value as the tub of body butter retails at £10 alone. All the products came in a really nice set of drawers which will be really handy - im thinking i might re-cover this and store some of my jewerly inside. I absolutely love pampering myself and im a fan of sanctuary spa products! It came with the following: body lotion, mande lular body souffle, luxury bath float, salt scrub, body wash, body scrub, classic perfume EDT, luxury shower cap, body butter and a smooth skin wash mitt. Absolutely fab!
I also got given a £5 voucher when i bought this to spend on Ruby and Millie or Boots No. 7 makeup - so i had a quick look and noticed this Boots No. 7 'eyeshadow blend and contour' brush that looked very good quality and very similar to the MAC No 217 brush. It was £6, so only cost me £1 after using the voucher - such a bargain! I tried it earlier and its extremly soft and blends really well - really good dupe for MAC No. 217!! I havent used any boots No. 7 brushes before but im extremlely impressed with this find.

Hope this is useful, feel free to write any comments below :)

Best Divorce letter, ever!

Dear wife:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you forever. I've been a good man to you for 7 years & I have nothing to show for it.These last 2 weeks have been hell.Your boss called to tell me that you quit your job today & that was the last straw. Last week, you came home & didn't even notice I had a new haircut, had cooked your favorite meal & even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers. You ate in 2 minutes, & went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps. You don't tell me you love me anymore; you don't want sex or anything that connects us as husband & wife. Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me anymore; whatever the case, I'm gone.

Your EX-Husband

P.S. don't try to find me. Your SISTER & I are moving away to West Virginia together!
Have a great life!

Dear Ex-Husband:

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter.It's true you & I have been married for 7 years, although a good man is a far cry from what you've been. I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining & griping Too bad that doesn't work. I DID notice when you got a hair cut last week, but the 1st thing that came to mind was 'You look just like a girl!' Since my mother raised me not to say anything if you can't say something nice, I didn't comment. And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY SISTER, because I stopped eating pork 7 years ago. About those new silk boxers: I turned away from you because the $49.99 price tag was still on them, & I prayed it was a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed $50 from me that morning.

After all of this, I still loved you & felt we could work it out. So when I hit the lotto for 10 million dollars, I quit my job & bought us 2 tickets to Jamaica But when I got home you were gone.. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted.

My lawyer said that the letter you wrote ensures you won't get a dime from me.

So take care.
Signed,Your Ex-Wife,
Rich As Hell & Free!P.S.

I don't know if I ever told you this, but my sister Carla was born Carl.

I hope that's not a problem.

Friday, 9 October 2009

Nailene

Nailene contacted me after reading my blog posts about nails and kindly sent me a few sets of fake stick on nails to try out ! I must say i was very impressed with the lovely package that arrived from USA all wrapped up nicely and presented in silver and purple paper tissue and a gift bag. It included 4 sets of nails - 'so real nails', 'so natural nails', 2 different couture runway design nails and a set of bedazzled fashionista nail art stickers.

Tonight I tried out the 'So Real Nails' set which I am extremly pleased with the result - they feel and look very natural. Usually i have found in the past stick on nails feel quite uncomfortable on and are sharp - and look fake as you can see the edges around the cuticles! These nailene nails have a natural fit, and light-weight. The pack comes with 24 nails and everything you need - orange stick, nail buffer and file, nail glue and instructions.


So to begin with I removing my old nail polish - and pushing back the cuticles with the orange stick. Then buff the nail so the nail adheres better to the natural nail.apply glue to the articial nail, apply glue to natural nail -press and hold! Simple as that!

Limited Edition Jemma Kidd / Bodyform Offer!

From the 12th October limited edition Bodyform packs will come with a free, deliciously gorgeous lip gloss from the Jemma Kidd Make Up School range.

Worth £10 each, these highly sought after limited edition lip glosses come in two stunning shades Orchid and Rose and are perfect for re-creating autumn’s hottest looks. Designed by Jemma Kidd, internationally renowned make-up artist and founder of one of London’s leading make up academies, her make-up range is based on the ethos of revealing a woman’s inner beauty. Using her expert knowledge to create products that achieve a delicate, fresh and dewy look, Jemma has developed a lip gloss with a silky formula that will have lips looking glossy without feeling sticky, so now you can get a gorgeous pout just by purchasing special packs of Bodyform.

Jemma comments: “Lip gloss is a staple in my make-up bag, it can transform and lift your face in an instant, so you not only look good, but feel good too. Make-up, like Bodyform, really is a confidence boosting product.”


JEMMA KIDD’S CONFIDENCE BOOSTING BEAUTY TIPS:


  • To create the perfect pout, line and fill the lips with a liner first to define them. This will also help the gloss stay on for longer.

  • Applying a primer underneath your moisturiser is great for people who find that their make-up tends to wear off during the day. The primer will absorb any excess oils, even out skin tone and help foundation blend into the skin.

  • If you have tired eyes, curl the lashes and apply a layer of defining mascara. This will really open up the eyes and make you look more awake.

For more info about BodyForm products go to, http://www.bodyform.co.uk/ You can also submit your own tips for your chance to win a day’s make-up course at The Jemma Kidd Make Up school for you and a friend, plus a make-up hamper for you to take home (note that the competition starts from the 12th October 2009).

Hope this is useful for all you ladies :)

Tuesday, 6 October 2009

Morrocan Red Clay Face Mask

I have got a few spots recently due to that dreaded 'time of the month' and feeling a little run down due to the change in the weather, so i thought I would try this really great cheap DIY face mask I have been doing for years. As it is made of clay mud it really sucks up all the dirt and grease and fab for clearing spots! This is a bit different from the normal white coloured clay masks you normally get - this is made from Morrocan Red Clay. Now this wont be suitable for all skin types - you shouldnt use this type of clay if you suffer with sensitive or really dry skin. This clay is wonderful for treating, healing, and even preventing acne and minor scars. It is also good for refining pores, cleansing, exfoliating, mositurising and rejuventation.

There is several different types of clay bases you can buy and i sometimes add a little essential oil to mine like lavender as the mask on its own is very basic. I like to use Moroccan red clay to make my masks as it has excellent astringent properties, making it perfect for clearing spots, as well as it's ability to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, draw out toxins and improve blood circulation - just makes you look more perky.

I got the red clay from a aromatics shop but you could try boots, it was very cheap around £2 for 100g and lasts ages as a little goes a long way! Its a great cheaper alternative to the Dermalogica masks i sometimes use.

To make the mask simply take a little of the clay (it comes in powder form) in the palm of your hand and add a few drops of water to make a paste. It will turn into mud form - now this dries very quickly so you need to be quick at applying to your face! I usually do this when I am in the bath as the steam really helps draw out the impurities. I leave ona round 10-15 mins and until it is completely dry. I wash off with warm water then do a final cleanse - it can take a couple of washes to remove. You need to be really careful when using this red clay as it can stain! It leaves my skin really smooth and soft, not at all drying as you would imagine.




Hope this was useful for you - please leave a comment below and follow me!

Feel free to ask any questions


:)

Sunday, 4 October 2009

NOTD - 1 second innovation Bourjois Nail Polish


Heres a quick photo of my Nail of the Day! I cleaned my old nail polish off using superdrug nourishing nail polish remover, and put a coat of NAILS INC a & e protein treatment as a base coat. I applied 2 coats of 1 second innovation nail polish in the shade 16 - a lovely deep brown shade with a fleck of gold. I absoutely love this polish as it literally takes one second to sweep on due to the fan shaped brush.



What do you think? What are your fav colours for winter?
Bourjois polishes are available from Boots.com and Superdrug
Feel free to comment below thanks for reading :)

DIY Simple U.V Gel Overlay Nails at home Series! French Manicure Gel Nails


hello ladies!
I have been getting alot of requests on how to create UV Gel and Acrylic Nail extensions at home, so i thought i would do a series of blogs and step by step guides with photographs to help you create your own Nail extensions. UV Gel Nails can cost anything from £25-60 in salons so im going to show you how to do them much cheaper at home! I’m going to show you how to create your own UV Gel nails at home. I thought we would start with the easiest U.V Gel Nails to start with and these are U.V Gel Overlays on top of your natural nails which are like having permanent nail varnish applied to your nails that wont chip! I have created a French Manicure look here, but you can also use coloured gel (which i shall do another blog post about), nail art or simply clear over the top of your natural nails. You can of course use acrylic but Gel looks the best as creates a smoother, thinner and shiny end result. I shall be uploading a blog on how to remove your UV Gel without damaging your natural nails.

For this look (UV Gel Overlay French Manicure) you will need the following:

A small Towel to protect your table
A sheet of Couch Roll or you can use kitchen paper
A UV Gel Lamp (I use a 36W with 180 sec timer) to cure your nails
Non-Acetone Nail Varnish Remover
Hand Sanisizer
Cuticle Remover (I use a creamy one)
2 Orange Sticks
Nail Buffer
Lint free Paper wipes
Gel Wipe Off Solution
Clear Gel
Pink Gel
White Gel
Gel Brush
4 Way Nail Buffer
Nail Dehydration (PH balanced)
Cotton Wool Pads
Cotton Buds
Nail Files

Step one:
Lay out your towel, with couch roll over the top and get all your products and tools set out ready. I like to place a place mat underneath the Gel Lamp just to protect my table.
Step Two: Sanitize your hands and nails. Remove any nail varnish using the non-acetone nail varnish remover with cotton wool pads. I always wipe the nails with nail varnish remover before starting as this acts as a good base to dry the nails out of any moisture.
Step Three:

Take a cotton bud and apply a small amount of cuticle remover and wipe with a rolling action around the cuticle area of each nail. Then take an orange stick and gently push back the cuticle. If necessary you can cut away the excess cuticle you have pushed back with either cuticle nippers or a cuticle knife.
Step Four:
Once the cuticles have been pushed back you can then buff the nail using the nail buffer to remove moisture in the nail and prepare it for the Gel to adhere to. After buffing you can then rough grit around the cuticle area using the nail file.
Step Five:
Brush on some PH balanced nail dehydration solution onto each nail. Your nails are now prepared for applying UV Gel onto them. You should wipe your Gel Brush using the Gel Wipe solution and a lint free wipe to remove any dust and to clean your brush. I wrap my brush in tin foil when not in use – as it is important to store your UV Gel and brushes in a cool dark place and not to let your brushes or gel get in contact with direct sunlight or your Gel Lamp. It is important to look after them well as they can be expensive to buy and any contact with sunlight can cause your brushes and gel to become solid and damaged.



Step Six:

Start with the Clear gel, and apply a small amount onto the Gel Brush, wiping off the excess. Carefully apply the Gel to the nail starting at the cuticle, you want to get as close as possible to the cuticle but leave a tiny gap in-between the cuticle and where you’re applying the gel. If you flood the cuticle area, this will just create a lift once the nail has cured. At this stage if you have dropped some gel onto your skin or made a mistake you can wipe off with the gel wipe and start again. Practise makes perfect with this –you are aiming to get no air bubbles when you have cured the nails and wanting to create a smooth even finish. The trickiest part is around the cuticle area.
Once you have perfected the nail with the clear gel be careful not to smudge and place hands underneath the Gel Lamp and cure for 180 seconds. (Curing Times vary to which brand of lamp you use and also which gel you use so you should always go with what the manufacturer recommends – or a bit of trial and error – you can over cure and under cure nails) It is best to buy a lamp with a timer so you don’t over cure the nail and end up with lumps or air bubbles.


Step Seven:

Once the clear base coat is cured, apply the second coat of gel using the white gel. Carefully paint on the white gel only on the smile line like you are doing the white part on a French manicure. You can correct mistakes using the end of an orange stick to make the line really smooth and perfectly formed. Once your happy with your smile line, cure under the gel lamp for 180 seconds. If your brush gets a bit sticky or too clogged up you can clean it by using the gel wipe on a lint paper - make sure you dont use acetone to clean as you shall ruin your brushes!


Step Eight:

After you have cured the white smile line, next take the pink gel and apply over the whole nail but leaving a small gap around the cuticle area. Cure under the gel lamp for 180 seconds.
Step Nine:

Once you have cured the pink gel, take a small amount of gel wipe solution on a lint-free wipe and wipe over the nail to remove the sticky layer of gel. File the nail to the shape you wish and buff to smooth down the nail. Be careful not to file too much as the gel will weaken and break off.





Step Ten:

One you have filed and buffed the nail apply the top clear coat of gel and cure for 180 seconds. Once cured take a small amount of gel wipe solution on a lint-free wipe and wipe over the nail to remove the sticky layer of gel. This whole 10 set process should take between 45 minutes to an hour to create a full set of UV Gel French Manicure Overlays.


Hope this blog was useful - please feel free to comment below if you have any questions :)