CND RAFW 2011 Gail Sorronda inspired half moon manicure

Today's manicure is inspired by nails which featured at the Gail Sorronda 2011 show at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) this year. Now you might already know from reading my blog that I don't tend to follow trends and fashion very closely. Sure I'll try to keep up to date with the latest trends but I dress the way I like and not according to what's "in" and the same goes for my nails. However, I loved the look of the beautiful nails created for the Stem the Flow collection and had to try the look out for myself. For the international ladies, Gail Sorronda is an Australian brand created by Brisbane based designer Gail Reid.

Photo courtesy of Pages Digitial
The collection:

"Stem the Flow is inspired by the bulbous shape of liquid and the flow of aqueous movement intercepted by time. It’s an exploration of fluidity and freedom versus restraint. Sometimes a trickle, sometimes an avalanche. Staying true to her signature black & white theme which is all the better to showcase her intricate tailoring. Gail Sorronda’s collection combined sheer, pleating, blousing and fine knits, with striking mini hemlines."
The nails:

Six6Photography, courtesy of Pacific Nail & Beauty
CND created the look by keeping nails short and rounded and used CND Putty for a demure nude base and CND Brilliant White for the moons to highlight. Below is my (not very good!) recreation of the look!! Don't laugh ok x) I took these pics right after a long day of work so I look very tired!


I was very kindly sent a bottle of CND Putty to try. I've never tried out CND colours so I was super excited as I've only tried their Stickey base coat. Putty is a soft beige-y nude and is described as a "warm semi-sheer". It's not TOO sheer but you'll still need 3 thick coats for opacity which is pictured below. This would be a great shade for "mannequin hands" for some girls but unfortunately not for me, I'm still yet to find the perfect shade for me! Putty leans somewhat orangey (?) on me and gives me lobster hands in some light but I LOVE the colour anyway. There's something about it I just really like!

Putty applied well and had minimal dragging which is great as it's a common problem I find with sheer polishes. It dried quickly to a glossy finish and I was impressed with the wear. Unfortunately I'm not a huge fan of the CND brushes at all. I find the brush quite stiff and the end is shaped very straight making it difficult to apply polish without having to do cuticle cleanup. Not a huge deal as practice makes perfect when it comes to application with different brands!


I then freehanded white moons on the base of my nails using OPI Alpine Snow. I then topped it off with a coat of Poshe topcoat. Not my neatest application as you can see as the moons are far too big but oh well! Just don't look too closely ;)



For Australian ladies, CND nail polishes are $19.95 and can be purchased from www.cndshop.com.au and SA Hair, Nail & Beauty Supplies.
For International ladies, CND nail polishes are $9 and can be purchased from goindulge.com
.
A big thank you to Ellie for sending me the above product to sample! I was sent the above product for my consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion.

What do you think of this look? Would you try it yourself?

Thanks for looking as always!

Priti NYC Ruffled Velvet Iris and Soy Nail Polish Remover review

Hi ladies! I hope you've had a good start to the week =) I'm going to be busy for the next week or so which means I won't be blogging as much unfortunately. I won't be gone for long don't worry! I'm very excited today to show you a beautiful polish and nail remover from a brand that is new to me called Priti NYC.


The idea behind Priti NYC came about when its founder Australian-born NYC based Kim D’Amato was pregnant. D'Amato had started to eat organically and like other new mums became worried about her unborn child's health. She frequented a nail salon full of chemicals and wondered why she couldn't beautify herself organically as well. In 2004, she opened New York's first organic spa Priti and her line of non-toxic nail polishes Priti NYC was created with the simple mission "to support organic farmers and to decrease the amount of chemicals poisoning the earth- and it’s inhabitants-one manicure at a time."

Priti NYC polishes are Big 3 free meaning they do not contain toluene, dibutyl phthalate (DHB) and formaldehyde which are all known carcinogenic ingredients. The range includes over 100 different shades and are completely safe for use on mums to-be and children too. The brand has since grown to include other products such as the Soy Nail Polish Remover, foot soak, scrubs, a recycled glass nail file and a line of non-toxic nail polishes for children called the Priti Princess collection.


I absolutely love discovering new nail polish brands so I jumped at the chance to try out the polishes! I was very kindly sent a bottle of Priti NYC Ruffled Velvet Iris to sample from the range. Ruffled Velvet Iris is a stunning dark purple with lots of purple and blue microglitter. It is just beautiful and I got so many compliments when I wore it! Application was a dream - it applied extremely smoothly and dried very quickly to a glossy finish. The brush is very easy to use - the bristles are firm but flexible - and no cleanup was needed. The polish still smells somewhat chemically but definitely not as potent as many other brands.


Close up:


I really like the shape of these bottles too which are described as "apothecary-style" and are recyclable too which is fantastic. The only downside? Ruffled Velvet Iris wore terribly on me. I could only get about a days worth of wear before it started chipping which is disappointing. Perhaps my body chemistry? Other reviews I've read say the polishes last at least 3 days so it's most likely just me! These days I hardly ever wear a manicure for more than 2 days so it's not a huge deal.


I was also kindly sent a Soy Nail Polish Remover wipe to sample which I was excited to try. I seriously hate removing my nail polish and anything that will make removal easier and/or more fun is always welcome! The Soy Nail Polish Remover wipes come in packs of 10 and are packaged in a biodegradable Priti NYC muslin bag. They are 100% Readily Biodegradable, non-toxic and non carcinogenic. They are derived from farm crops and do not contain any petroleum ingredients and are approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency.



The remover here is packaged in a very handy portable wipe that makes them perfect for traveling. They look and smell quite like the KFC moist towelettes actually! The smell of the wipes is lemony and very pleasant which wasn't what I was expecting.


Normal nail polish remover usually makes my cuticles quite dry but there's no chance of that with the Soy Nail Polish Remover! They are infused with coconut, soybean esters, and essential lemongrass oils which leave your fingers smelling and feeling lovely and hydrated. This also means your fingers are quite oily by the time you finish removing your polish which some people might not like.


The wipes are quite large and very easily removed nail polish from all 10 of my fingers. I probably could have removed my pedicure too with the same wipe actually! Not having acetone in it, I expected to have to rub my nails very vigorously to remove my polish but it came off surprisingly easily and quite quickly. I'm not sure how these would scrub up against the dreaded glitter though.


Overall: I'm a sucker for purples and Ruffled Velvet Iris definitely won me over! The formula and brush were fantastic to use and I would definitely try out the other colours in the collection. The Soy Nail Polish Remover wipe was fantastic to use and I would definitely take it traveling with me. No mess, no chance of spillage and they smell fantastic too! There's no chance of passing out from remover fumes when you use the Soy Nail Polish Remover that's for sure! I also love that fact that Priti NYC is eco-friendly, non-toxic and that the brand has such a great philosphy.

For Australian ladies, Priti NYC polishes retail for $17.95 and Priti NYC Soy Nail Polish Remover wipes are 10 for $12. Both can be purchased online from GAIAM, ikigai and Fingers & Toes. The Princess Polish collection retail for $14.95 and can be purchased from Ashnjuls.

In the US, Priti NYC polishes retail for $12.50 and Soy Nail Polish Remover wipes are $9.99. They can be purchased from the Priti NYC site. For a full list of international stockists, click here .

A big thank you to Rossana for sending me the above products to sample! I was sent the above products for my consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion.

Have you tried Priti NYC products? Or for ladies in the US, have you had the chance to visit the Priti spa?

Thanks for looking as always!

Clinique Milly Pretty in Prints Palette - Swatches and Review

When it comes to makeup I am a neutrals and pink kinda gal - I just love the simplicity and ease of a neutral eye with a pretty pop of pink for lips and cheeks. Any palette that can accommodate my 2 favourite looks will always get my interest so I was very excited to try out the Clinique Milly Pretty in Prints Palette and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Milly Pink. I was lucky enough to receive this when I got a sneak peek of upcoming Clinique products a few months back. I know it's Winter here in Aus but who can resist a pretty Spring palette with sweet colours in this freezing cold?? I've been using the palette regularly since I received it and I have to say from the start that I LOVE IT!


What they say:

Clinique's collaboration with the international fashion label Milly created a must have spring makeup collection. Michelle Smith, renowned design of the women's fashion and accessories line, played a pivotal role in developing the limited-edition makeup collection of essential eye, cheek and lip colours for Spring 2011. The rich brown and sweet pink makeup palette is adorned with a signature Milly pattern that is housed in a custom patterned pouch.

Now I have to admit that I had no clue about the brand Milly or who Michelle Smith was until I laid eyes on this gorgeous palette but oh boy am I coveting her designs now! Her designs are flirty, fun and feminine - something Smith associates with Clinique. Smith describes her collaboration with Clinique as a natural one having used the products since she was 12 and in this collaboration brings us two gorgeous limited edition Spring items.

Pretty in Prints Compact:


The sleek silver compact is adorned with the signature Milly print and contains a Limited Edition Color Surge Eye Shadow Quad in Printed Pinks paired with Blushing Blush in Precious Posy. It comes in a very cute custom patterned pouch (seen in my first picture) which makes it great for taking with you on the go.




The shadows are pigmented and are very easy to blend just like other Clinique Colour Surge eye shadows I own. And when I say they're easy to blend they definitely are because I suck at blending! I don't think the colours are new to Clinique as the shimmery brown and pink look familiar to colours found in the Like Mink and Strawberry Fudge Colour Surge duos but are very pretty nonetheless. Precious Posy blush is quite pigmented and is just beautiful. It gives the perfect pop of peachy pink to my cheeks.

Swatches of the eye shadows. Apologies for no blush swatch!
Full face:


The palette even comes with a handy instruction card on how/where to apply the products which is very helpful for eyeshadow newbies like yours truly!


Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Limited Edition Milly Pink:


Milly Pink is a warm-toned melon shade which makes its debut in Clinique's signature lip gloss formula. I am such a sucker for pink so you know I love Milly Pink! It gives me just the right amount of pink to my lips and is seriously THE perfect pink gloss!! I used to use the Long Last Glosswear's quite a lot before I discovered lipstick and other brands so it's reassuring to return to the same great formula and gorgeous shine.


Overall: I absolutely love LOVE the palette and gloss. Can I say it anymore? Neutrals + pinks are a definite winner in my book and especially when housed in a cute palette and pouch! I love the Colour Surge eye shadows and the Printed Pinks Quad does not disappoint in any way. Milly Pink gloss is just gorgeous and yes the PERFECT pink gloss.

I know some of you ladies will find these colours a bit safe or boring but I think the colours are a must in everyone's collection. The colours are appropriate for all seasons in my opinion which is fantastic. I love the fact you can create different looks with the one handy compact which is great for travelling. I took these with me when I went on holiday to HK last month and they served me very well! The palette would be best for those wanting a conservative look or for those just starting to get into makeup or those who just love neutrals!

I adore this palette and my only complaint is why oh WHY do things I love have to be Limited Edition??!!

Details: The Clinique Pretty in Prints Compact retails for $70 and Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 in Milly Pink is $35. Both are available from Clinique counters Australia wide from June 26 - July 10 2011. Hurry before stocks run out!!

Unfortunately for international ladies the palette has already been released and therefore no longer available.

Thanks for looking!

Feeling the blues manicure

I'm not actually feeling blue but I was in the mood for a blue mani a few days ago! I wanted a blue mani to showcase my Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe glitter I hauled in HK so I thought it was the perfect excuse to break out some gorgeous blues!


I started off with a base of China Glaze Up All Night which is a navy blue polish with hints of shimmer that unfortunately doesn't really translate on the nail. It's beautiful though so it's OK! It applied very smoothly and easily in 2 coats which is pictured below. It's so glossy too and a perfect shade for Winter.


I added 2 coats of Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe to my ring fingers and thumbs only as I don't want to use up my bottle too soon x) I then stamped full image design from Konad plate m83 using China Glaze Awaken and topped it off with a coat of Poshe topcoat. My Color Club topcoat is unfortunately reaching it's last legs and I have to preserve it until I can purchase more bottles *cries*


A close up of the gorgeous Across the Universe!!! Special mention to Abby for pointing it out in my post yesterday!! ;)




I decided to matte-ify my mani on yesterday by using Essence matt topcoat which Christina sent to me in one of our swaps.


I think I prefer this mani matte! What do you think?

Thanks for looking as always! =)

Beautysnapz review

Hi ladies! How has your weekend been? Sorry for the lack of posts last week but if you follow me on Twitter (and if you don't perhaps you should!) you'll know I've been sick all week. Gosh I am such a weakling haha.

Unfortunately I've been very behind on product reviews lately so I'm trying to get through them slowly but surely. I have so many exciting products I want to share with you all! I was very kindly sent a selection of Hawley Beautysnapz to try out an embarrassingly long time ago and here is my review of them for you finally!


What they say:

"Beautysnapz are a clutch hit. Indispensable and clever beauty fixers, Beautysnapz go anywhere you go to tackle every job and solve all beauty emergencies.. Fuss free, carry on safe, compact, convenient and always ready without the need to refill containers or waste product."

Now these may look like normal cotton tips but boy they do so much more! Beautysnapz are cotton tip applicators filled with liquid and there are 7 products in the range which include:

Eye Makeup Remover & Corrector,
Waterproof Mascara Remover & Corrector,
Overnight Lip Revitalizer,
Instant Lipstick Remover/Corrector,
Cuticle Conditioner,
Eyeliner Sealer and
Wet Tips.

Each pack comes with 24 applicators and the applicators are filled with a pre-measured dose of advanced formula for a handy one time disposable use. They come packaged in a clear plastic container which is small enough to pop into your makeup bag or evening clutch.


They are EXTREMELY handy and are very easy to use! To use, all you have to do is hold the applicator with the coloured band upright and bend the tip to the side until it snaps. The liquid will then flow to the opposite end and fill the tip and then you're ready to apply!


For the purposes of this review, I thought I'd tell you about my two favourites and most used from the range which are the Eye makeup remover & corrector and Cuticle conditioner.

I have quite oily lids and my eye makeup ALWAYS seems to smudge and end up on my lower lash line. Without fail X( I used to carry cotton tips for cleanup using water but the Eye makeup remover & correctors are a lifesaver! They contain Aloe Vera and Vitamin E and remove the unwanted makeup from my lash line easily and quickly. They leave my eye area feeling smooth and are fine for my sensitive skin.


The cuticle conditioners are fantastic for on the go as well. I use these usually on the way home from a hard days work (HA!) for a quick moisture boost for my cuticles. They contain Aloe Vera and the oil is surprisingly quick absorbing and leave no greasy feel like creams and other cuticle oils can. I love using cuticle oils but the greasy feeling it leaves makes using it on the go difficult so these are very welcome in my collection. EDIT: 1 applicator is just enough for all 10 of my fingers. For those with smaller nail beds there is more than enough oil!


Overall: I think these are fantastic for on the go and are a staple in my makeup bag. Beautysnapz are so convenient - they fit nicely in my makeup bag or even a small evening bag which means I don't have to lug around a bottle of cuticle oil/cream or clean up my eye makeup dodgily. You can use these everyday or only occasionally which is the beauty of one time use products.

Would I repurchase: Definitely! I just repurchased the Cuticle Conditioner ones for myself and the Overnight Lip Revitalizer for my sister. She hijacked a few when I received the samples you see!

Details: Beautysnapz are $5.99 each and are available from Big W stores across Australia.

A huge thank you to Wendy for sending me the above products to sample! I was sent the above products for my consideration but this in no way influenced my review in any way. As always, my reviews are my 100% honest opinion.

Thanks for looking ladies!

Some Winter shopping finds!

Hi ladies! How was your weekend? Here in Sydney we had a 3 day weekend to celebrate the Queen's birthday but unfortunately I spent most of it sick. I did manage to squeeze in a spot of shopping at World Square on the weekend though with my sis and D in the city! I thought I would share with you a few Winter finds I stumbled across!

We started off with breakfast at Palate cafe which I've wanted to try for ages. My sis gets lunch from Palate most days she's working and she RAVES about the green tea latte. My sis and D both got the Palate big breakfast while I had eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and a chai latte. Unfortunately my poached eggs were a little overdone but all in all it was delicious and very reasonably priced too!


My main shopping objective of the day was to get the Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol but unfortunately they didn't have any in stock!! I've put my name down for one and fingers crossed they'll be in stock by the end of the week. The makeup artist tried it on me and it is SUPER pigmented and gave me a wonderful glow - perfect for Winter. It also lasted all day until I took my makeup off at 11pm which is fantastic!

Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol and Bronze Patrol
Napoleon Perdis Blush Patrol:


Next stop was Priceline to check out the sales. Lanolips are currently having a buy 1 get 1 free sale (A STEAL!) so I picked up the Lemonaid lip aid for my sis and one for a friend too. I have about a million lipbalms but I love the smell of Lemonaid so it's a staple in my handbag.

Pink and gold rose manicure

I've been really into doing rose manicures lately (see here and here for examples!) so here's another one to add into the mix =) I hope you don't get bored of seeing my rose manis! My mani today is pink, gold and white themed and uses one of my favourite glitters - Milani Jewel FX Gold.


Here's what I used:


Pinky: I used 2 coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme wear in White On as base colour. I then konaded rose design from fauxnad plate B01 using China Glaze Passion and added a coat of Essence glitter topcoat.

Ring: I used 1 coat of OPI Glitzerland then added 2 coats of Milani Jewel FX in Gold.

Middle: I used 2 coats of China Glaze Something Sweet as base colour. I then konaded full rose design from Konad plate m56 using Konad Special nail polish in white.

Index: I used 2 coats of Sally Hansen Xtreme wear in White On as base colour. I then konaded double rose design from Konad plate m76 using China Glaze Admire and added a pink half pearl to the centre of the roses and added a coat of Essence glitter topcoat.

Thumb: I used 2 coats of China Glaze Something Sweet as base colour. I then konaded rose with chain design from Konad plate m65 using China Glaze Passion. I topped if off with a coat of Essence colour & go in Space Queen.



What have you been inspired by lately? I hope you're all having a lovely weekend! Thanks for looking as always =)

Kit Cosmetics - Shop Loves Sunset gold NOTD

Hi ladies! How are you all going? Thank goodness it's nearly the end of the week! Here in Sydney we have a long weekend coming up to celebrate the Queen's birthday so I'm looking forward to 3 days of relaxing. I plan on doing some swatching, working on blog posts and squeezing in a spot of shopping and maybe a movie! Today I want to share with you a mani I did last week that I was intending on wearing to my interview with the World Square Fashion Insider. Unfortunately I couldn't meet with the Fashion Insider to talk trends and fashion (I was very disappointed!) but I still rocked this mani! I am loving coral this Winter and it's been so cold lately and I wanted something bright and cheerful.


I started off with a base coat of Color Club Vitabase Nutrient Nail Strengthener to protect my nails. I then used 2 coats of Kit Cosmetics Shop loves Sunset for all my nails except for my accent fingers. Shop Loves Sunset was a freebie with the May issue of Shop Til You Drop and is a gorgeous orangey coral creme. The polish is highly pigmented and very easy to apply.

For the stripes of glitter I used Art Deco nail art lacquer in Gold Glitter. I then added half pearls from Born Pretty Store and assorted coloured rhinestones and dazzlings. For my middle finger I used a gold butterfly water decal I picked up in HK last year and for my accent finger I used a coat of OPI Glitzerland and added 2 coats of OPI Bring on the Bling. I topped it all off with a coat of Poshe topcoat.




For my lovely Sydney ladies, don't forget that this Sunday 12 June is your last chance to win some great prizes in World Square's LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? fashion competition! The campaign is coming to an end this week so head on over to the World Square site for all the details. I love the look of the Silk sleeveless ruffle top in yellow from Oxford and I think the boy would look great in the navy blue‘Elvis’ shirt and the black 'Laser Cut Oxford’ shoes from MARCS =)


What colours will you be wearing on your nails this Winter? For the lucky international ladies I know it's Summer but do let me know what colours you love for the cold season! Thanks for looking as always ladies =)