My Winter Nail Polish Picks 2012

It's time for another seasonal nail polish pick post, yay! And what better way to start Christmas month than with a nail polish post:)

Essie Berry Hard, Chanel Rouge Noir, Essie Bahama Mama.

My first favourite colour theme to wear in this winter  are plummy-purple-reds. The 3 that I know I will be wearing frequently are Essie Berry Hard, Chanel Rouge Noir and Essie Bahama Mama.

Essie Stylenomics, Revlon Rainforest.

I love greens anytime of year but the 2 above are super pretty for winter. Essie Stylenomics is a very dark, blackened green. Revlon Rainforest is a shimmer forest green.

Revlon Royal, Chanel Blue Satin, Dior Glacier.

Next up is some blues. Revlon Royal is my current favourite blue of that shade. I have a number of bright, rich blues in my collection but this is the current favourite. Chanel Blue satin is the ultimate, deep, nearly liquid navy blue. And of course the blues wouldn't be complete without an icy blue for winter. Dior Glacier is the perfect icy blue.

Chanel Noir Ceramic, Chanel Vendetta.

The final 2 polishes I've chosen are Chanel Noir Ceramic, which is a lightened black with subtle shimmer. Chanel Vendetta is a beautiful deep jewel-toned purple.

What polishes will be adorning your nails this winter?

Some Autumn Favourites

Today's post features some of my favourite products for lips and tips that I've been wearing a lot of during these past autumnal months. The perfume I included is Flower by Kenzo and it is one of my all-time favourite perfumes. It's a heavier floral scent, perfect for this time of year.

Nail polish wise, I have loved wearing these 5 shades - when I'm not trying out new polishes of course! I'll link to previous post swatches if I have them. 

• China Glaze Riveting is the ultimate orange polish.
• OPI Vampsterdam is a great, deep purple.
• Chanel Fantastic is a mauve pink with and intense shimmer undertone.
• Chanel Particulére is my favourite mushroom brown.
• Finally Essie Bahama Mama is a new but instant favourite of mine. A gorgeous plum-pink.

I have three lip colours that I have reached for over and over again these past few months and I can see this trend continuing for the next few! 

If I just want a quick wash of berry colour I've been using the Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie. Very easy to apply and is my current favourite daytime colour. Unfortunately Berry Smoothie is one of the lip butters unavailable here but I managed to get it for a good price on eBay (Brand new of course!!)

My next favourite is another Revlon lip product, this time one of their Just Bitten Kissable lip stains in the shade Crush. This is a highly pigmented berry colour and is perfect for wearing at night. I really like all of the Just Bitten lip products that I've tried, I'll do a review post soon. Very impressed with so many of their products releases this year.

The final product is a lipgloss by MAC in the shade Dreamy which is a purple/pink colour with slight gold reflects. It's a colour that I never would have gotten myself but my mum picked it up for me when she was away and I love it. It is beautiful layered over the berry shades. Although it does mute the berry shade slightly, the combination that it creates looks fantastic.

What have your favourite products been this Autumn?

Unearthing My Make-Up: Shopping The Stash Vol.3

So what have I unearthed from the stash for this week? 

First up is the Too Faced Romantic Eye palette. I had high hopes for this when I got it and while I found it okay at the time, it wasn't that amazing that I reached for it over and over. I plan to get good use out of it this week!

Also for the eyes is a Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P. This was actually one of my first foray into higher end make-up. 

For the cheeks I have a Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick in Pink Quartz, which is a beautiful shimmery blush/highlighter/bronzer product. Again this was one of my very first make-up products and I used it so much when I first seriously ventured into make-up. I chose MAC Immortal Flower blush as well, even though I use it quite regularly already as I thought it might go nice with Pink Quartz.

I also want to use more of Benefit's Moon Beam this week, it's definitely been neglected of late.

For lips I intend to try and use MAC's Half n' Half lipstick, Revlon Gold Dust lipgloss and MAC's Strange Potion lipgloss.

Revlon Grey Suede

One of my very first Revlon polishes; I bought it along with Minted in a Boots in London in Summer 2010. Oh what a trip that was. It was my first time in London and I went buck wild. I saved up all summer for that holiday and bought loads of clothes, shoes and make-up. It was my first proper venture into make-up and I had a well-researched list with me going into MAC in Harrods. I’ve certainly come on leaps and bounds with my make-up consumption since than, hah! That’s when it all started with nail polish addiction to follow that November!

Anyways, I digress with my nostalgia. Grey Suede is a darkened nude shade with the slightest hint of micro shimmer. This was 3 coats and it was a little bit streaky to apply

A lovely shade to have but I have so many amazing nudes/neutrals that I don’t quite think it’s my favourite.

Unearthing My Make-Up: Shopping The Stash Vol.2

I was delighted with how last week's Shop The Stash went. I used some of the products from last weeks post every time I did my make-up, it really is a great way to fall in love with your make-up products all over again.

Now onto this weeks products!

My eyeshadow base of choice is going to be Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin. It's a great base but I often pass it over in favour of the Original or Eden.  I also want to get some more use out of MAC Paintpot in Genuine Treasure. It can be a bit patchy and does require a little effort so that's why it is often forgotten about. Eyeshadow wise, I am solely going to use the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I have a wonderful neutral MAC palette which I tend to grab instead of this. Also when I lived in America last summer, this palette contained the only eyeshadows I had with me so after such continuous use I think I just automatically go for other shadows now for a change!  I have chosen to use my Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Bourbon. A fabulous colour but I nearly always end up going for black. Definitely need to mix it up a bit!

Cheek wise I want to use MAC Creme Blush in Ladyblush. It was my first ever MAC blush but I've leaned towards powder blush as of late. I also want to use MAC Crew Powder, I haven't used it nearly enough.

On the lips is going to be Revlon Colourburst Lipgloss in Strawberry, it's definitely pigmented enough to wear alone. YSL Rouge Volupte in Lingerie Pink and NARS Turkish Delight Lipgloss.

And that's this weeks stash picks!

Feeling A Little Bit Like Revlon

I came across these 2 beauts in a bargain basket in a pharmacy - 99c each? Yes, please! They are Star and Galaxy and I don't recall ever noticing or hearing about either of these shades before.

Galaxy is a blue-toned glitter polish but layering over an opaque colour is required. (Well, it looks better, it's not that you're not allowed to wear it by it's self).

I wore Galaxy layered over Rimmel's Blue Vogue

Star is a purple-themed glitter and like Galaxy it needs to be layered over an opaque colour.

I can't properly remember what colour I layered this over but I think it was OPI's Funky Dunky. I don't like it though, I think it would look better over a deeper purple. Like Essie's Sexy Divide. Nice.

Revlon's No Name Gold

I didn't get this with the others but it was in my Revlon album and it looked a little lonely so I thought I would add it in here:)  It's a pretty gold but a little bit sheer. Nice and subtle.

Revlon Blue Lagoon

I bought Blue Lagoon last summer and I didn't wear it nearly as much as I should have.

It's a bright, bright, baby blue complete with a little bit of microshimmer to give it that little pizazz.

The formula was fine and it applied hassle free:)

My Summer 2012 Nail Polish Picks

It's the 1st of June so what better way to celebrate Summer, than show some of the polishes I will be wearing on my nails. I will still wear a lot of the pastel shades that I showed in my Spring picks but on a scorching hot Summer's day all I want to wear on my nails is bright, bright colours.

L-R Dior Rivera, China Glaze Papaya Punch, No7 Tangy and Models Own Tropical Sun.

L-R No7 Cheeky Chops and Sally Hansen Wavelength.

L-R Revlon Beach and POP Yellow

L-R China Glaze Towel Boy Toy, Chanel Coco Blue, Wet n Wild Caribbean Frost and China Glaze Turned Up Turquoise.

I love the look of the China Glaze Neons collection as well, I'm definitely going to get some of them to wear this Summer when they're available.

What are some of your favourite Summer polishes?

Some New Stuff From Boots!

I've been lurking in my local Boots for the past few weeks waiting for them to stock the new Revlon and Maybelline items. I was  getting angsty as I saw on Twitter that all the Dublin and larger stores seemed to have them all in stock already. Oh, the joys of country living!

Eventually, I went in last Thursday evening and there they were, the Revlon Lipbutters and Maybelline Colour Tattoo eyeshadows. And as a bonus, there was new shades in the Revlon Colourburst lipgloss range! Delighted.

I was relatively restrained with my purchases but I know I'll be picking up some more soon.

Colour Tattoo Eyeshadow in On and On Bronze, Lipgloss in Bellini, Lipbutters in Candy Apple and Cotton Candy.

Swatches - On and On Bronze, Bellini, Cotton Candy and Candy Apple.

Have you picked up any of the new items yet?

Revlon Whimsical

Squeeeeeeeeee! I love love love this! I was so excited to get this. It is of course Revlon's Whimsical.

It's pink and blue glitter particles suspended in a dusty, sparkly, baby blue jelly. Phew!  

It is a bit on the sheer side, so I layered 2 coats of this over one coat of China Glazes Sea Spray.

I think that it is a  kind of subtle sparkly nail polish but it definitely makes you look twice at it! 

It's so pretty in the bottle.

I hope this is released here soon, like Facets of Fuchsia was. I was given this by a friend in the States but I don't see why it shouldn't arrive in stores here soon.

Revlon ColourBurst Lipglosses

L-R Gold Dust, Sunset Peach, Rosegold, Peony, Crystal Lilac, Hot Pink, Strawberry, Paypaya and Fire.

With all the current craziness about the Revlon Lip Butters now that they have finally reached this side of the world, I thought I would to a quick post on another member of the ColourBurst family – the lipglosses.

I think the ColourBurst lipglosses may be my favourite lipglosses of all time!

Why may you ask? Well I think they:

• have great colour payoff
• are non-sticky
• are moisturising
• are long-lasting
• they are not extremely expensive and
• they have a great colour range!

I think that all those points warrants a top place in my favourite lipglosses!

L-R Gold Dust, Sunset Peach, Rosegold, Peony, Crystal Lilac, Hot Pink, Strawberry, Paypaya and Fire.

If I had to choose favourites I would pick Sunset Peach, Peony, Strawberry and Paypaya.

The lipgloss wand

I honestly cannot think of one single reason why I would dislike these lipglosses. I think Revlon are on a roll with their ColourBurst line.

Have you tried any of the ColourBurst Range?

Pretty in Pink

I couldn't do a nail varnish swatch post on pink varnishes without a reference to one of my favourite brat pack movies 'Pretty in Pink' :)

Rimmel Icing Sugar. A light, frosty colour.

Rimmel Pop Rose. A medium, warm-toned pink.

Rimmel Shocker. A bright, blue-based, shiny pink.

Revlon Passion Fruit. A purple pink.

OPI Come to Poppy. A beautiful bright shimmery pink.

Kiko 167. A deep pink with glitter.

No7 Cheeky Chops. A salmon toned pink.

Revlon Beach

I like yellows. Even if some of them are reminiscent of puke. Like Beach.

Beach is a greeny-yellow. A Chartreuse shade perhaps? 

Quite the sheer shade, you can still see my nail line.

Oh and the scent? Me no likey:(

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia

Me and my hyped up addictiveness. Whenever any beauty/nail product causes waves over the interwebs I'm all over it like a rash. 

Revlon Facets of Fuchsia was no execption. When I first started hearing about it on US blogs/youtube  I thought oh another product we won't be able to get here. (Revlon is available but we don't have the same range). 

When I walked into my local Boots about a week later, you could have knocked me sideways with a feather when I saw Facets of Fuchsia perched on the Revlon stand. 

And here it is in all it's glory.

Facets of Fuchsia is jam-packed with large hexagonal pieces of purple glitter suspended in a black jelly.

Be warned, when the first layer goes on you will look at it and be like 'seriously, this is it?' but don't be alarmed, carry on painting and you will be rewarded. 

This is one colour that is definitely worth the hype!