bloomzy /

[Nail Week] Review: Ylin Colour Changing Nail Polish

Ylin Colour Changing Nail Polish*

Here is the next post from ‘Nail Week’, introducing a colour changing nail polish!
This probably sounds like a bit of a gimmick, but I was seriously impressed with it.
I haven’t been a fan of the cracked polish & magnetic polish looks, so this is my fad of the Summer.

 

As you can see from the photos above the nail polish changes colour when exposed to different temperatures.
At room temperature the nail polish has a nice gradient effect to it – this bottle is a blue base with purple gradient tips.
When it’s warm (see circled nail) the polish reverts back to blue and finally when it’s cold the polish changes to purple – I only placed the tips of my fingers in the freezer to quicken the process, that’s why it’s more of a gradient in the photo.
Oh, and don’t worry about the white dot on one of the nails – I caught it when applying the polish.
Pros:
+ I loved the gradient effect
+ Opaque in one coat
+ Fun and a bit of a party trick
Cons:
– Matte finish
– You don’t have much control over how/when the colour changes
Notes:
It is a novelty, but I found it fun to wear a colour changing nail polish.
The fact that you can achieve a simple gradient effect without having to spend hours on your nails, or use various sponges etc. is worth buying this polish alone. Of course depending on the temperature you don’t have much control over the look of your polish, but I didn’t find that too bothersome, actually it was quite fun checking up on my nails during the day to see if they had changed. As for the matte finish, I felt a bit sad about that, but I guess it’s down to the formula.
The price isn’t too bad either at around £5 (with free shipping).
ETA: Yes, a glossy topcoat can be applied and it will still change colour. I did it with a Barry M topcoat.
You can buy the blue/purple Ylin Colour Changing Nail Polish here.
Or browse BornPrettyStore for other colours in the range.
10% off with code: BLOOMZYK31
bloomzy /

Japanese Nail Art | Nail Week

Japanese Nail ArtA selection of Japanese nail art

‘Nail Week’ has just begun and we’re diving into the deep end. Today’s post is all about nail art, of the Japanese variety. Why? Well nail art was one of the first things I fell in love with in the Japanese beauty industry, and with nail art becoming more popular in British fashion and beauty (Company magazine can’t get enough right now) I thought it was quite fitting for me to honour the reigning country of nail art. Fashion magazines in Japan constantly feature nail art in their beauty pages, whilst whole magazines are dedicated to it, such as: Nail Up, Nail Venus and Nail Max. Young girls and Women alike are obsessed with expressing themselves through their nails, and in Japan there are no limits to what you can do with your nails.

Some are simple, feminine and short:
Japanese Nail Art

Whilst others can be intricately decorated, edgy and insanely long:
Japanese Nail Art

Japanese nail art is well known worldwide for its creation of mini 3D artworks, use of various adornments and delicate designs. Nail salons have popped up all over the world trying to re-create the popularity and stylish nails seen on the streets of Japan – London-based Sohotrightnail can offer you some more detailed and embellished designs, whilst WAH NAILS can easily feed your simpler design needs. Of course the originals don’t come cheap. Prices usually start at around 10,000円 for a basic set, that’s about £80! It may seem expensive but when you see the work that goes into them, and the time that it takes, you can forgive them for charging so much. Getting your nails done in Japan is definitely an experience, and the end result is worth the money spent – but if you don’t have the money to spare then you can always make a stop at Donki for some of their press-on nails (photo here), which are just as amazing, for around £15.

Mitsu is a good friend of mine who not only dresses fabulously but styles her nails to match.
You can check out the various Japanese nail art she has had done here.

Source; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

bloomzy /

[Nail Week] Review: Dear Lee Gold Multicoloured Glitter Nail Polish

Dear Lee Gold Multicoloured Glitter Polish*
Those who follow me on Twitter will know that I have dubbed this week on the blog; ‘Nail Week’.
Why? Well this week’s beauty posts will all be related to nails – polishes, art etc.
So here is the first post for ‘Nail Week’, a review of my new favourite Glitter polish, from Dear Lee.
Dear Lee isn’t a well-known nail polish brand, but they’re one of my favourites.
Their polishes have a great consistency, apply well, are long lasting and have great cover.
This polish is no different, and for fans of glitter polishes (like myself), you won’t be disappointed.
Pros:
+ Thick consistency for a glitter polish
+ Good application
+ Glitter showed up well
+ Loved the rainbow sequins used
+ Works well with various base colours
+ Removed easily with nail polish remover

Cons:
– Gold could have been more prominent
– Doesn’t look great with a white base coat

Notes:
If American Apparel’s Galaxy Glitter & Models Own’s Gold Finger had a baby, this would be it.
This is the glitter polish I have been waiting for. I haven’t been able to find a rainbow glitter with a gold glitter base anywhere. I’m sure I’ve seen plenty but not at a price I can justify for a nail polish. The price for this? Around £2.70 ($4.22)! That is a ridiculously good price, especially when shipping is free. As you can see from the photos above, I tried it out with a dark base, a white base and on plain nails. I’m not a massive fan of how it looks on a white base coat but I am in love with it paired with the other two. I can tell that this will be worn A LOT.
You can buy Dear Lee’s Gold Multicoloured Glitter Polish here.
Or browse BornPrettyStore for other colours in the range.
10% off with code: BLOOMZYK31
bloomzy /

French Beauty & Skin Care Haul

Some French beauty products that I picked up on holiday

Whenever I go away on holiday I always spend about 90% of my money on gifts.
However this time after the fiancé kept pestering me to ‘treat [myself]’ I decided that for once I would.
I knew I wanted to buy a few French beauty products and luckily for me the well-known ones, which we also have at home, are slightly cheaper in France. Also they carry some brands that haven’t made it to the UK yet.
French pharmacies are amazing, and much better than British ones, in my opinion.
Even the smallest of pharmacies carry lots of well-known beauty brands, and their new products.
So I paid a quick visit to the pharmacy and spent a good 30mins trying to decided what I wanted to pick up.
I finally decided on a few things:
+ Avène Eau Thermale – Micellar Lotion (make-up remover)
+ Avène Eau Thermale – Eau Thermale (thermal water spray)
+ Evian Brumisateur (facial spray)
+ Caudalíe Eau de Raisin (grape water)
+ Belle à Croquer Rosée de Concombre – Sérum Plaisir des Yeux (Cucumber Eye Serum)
+ Avène Eau Thermale Crème Nutritive Compensatrice Riche (extremely rich compensating cream)
+ Avène Eau Thermale Micellar Lotion – Travel size
+ Avène Eau Thermale Lait Corporel Hydratant (moisturising body lotion)

As you can see I went a bit crazy with the facial sprays.
I’d been wanting to try out Evian’s for a while, and then I was drawn in by Avène’s & Caudalíe’s too.
I plan to try them all out and then do reviews, then later maybe do a comparison post featuring them all.
The Belle à Croquer Cucumber Eye Serum was a last minute item that sounded nice (I love the smell of cucumber, and I remember always putting cucumber on my eyes at sleepovers etc.), so I thought I’d give it a try.
I will try to review all the items as I use them, but feel free to let me know if there is one you’d like to see sooner than the others, and if there’s a general consensus I will put that one at the top of my list.
bloomzy /

Review: Naked Skin Face Wash

Naked Skin Bare Faced Cheek Softening Face Wash, with Rose Oil – For Sensitive Skin*

Naked is probably a brand you’ve all heard of, either for their hair or skin care.
Their products boost that they are 97% natural (the rest are preservatives etc.), with some of their products even being 99.5% natural. The main point being: their products do not include parabens, sulphates or petrochemicals. Naked are a brand known for their honesty as well as their products.
The Bare Faced Cheek Softening Face Wash uses rose oil which is extra soft on the skin, and has an amazing smell to it – I’m not kidding you, I can’t get enough of it! I was drawn to this as someone with sensitive, combination skin and I was not disappointed.
Pros:
+ Very gentle on the skin
+ Leaves my skin soft
+ Doesn’t dry out my skin
+ It’s a massive bottle.
+ Only £4.49!
Cons:
– Doesn’t combat spots specifically (on my skin)
Notes:
Ok, I felt like I was reaching a bit on the cons there.
Of course no one is going to expect a face wash to combat spots (unless it claims to) by itself, but I just couldn’t find anything else to be negative about…even then I’m not upset about it. This is my new favourite face wash! I can’t use regular soaps as they dry my skin out, and since this is made for sensitive skin I had no worries. I’ve been using this day and night, as part of my regular skin care regime and I’m very happy with the results. I also had to mention one last time just how much I adore the scent – so if you’re a fan of rose scented products you need to try this out.
Unfortunately it is currently sold out, but keep an eye out here.
You can also browse Naked’s other products here.
bloomzy /

Guest Post: Top 5 Summer Hairstyles

Today’s final, and wonderful guest post comes from freelance blogger Brooke Samsonite (she blogs here, and tweets here). She will be sharing her take on the top 5 latest fashionable Summer hairstyles for you to re-create – enjoy!

———————————————-
Top 5 Summer Hairstyles
At the peak of the summer season, we’re seeing several hair styles that are making waves—literally.
In most cases, it’s not surprising to see where some of these trends got their starts, but like them or love them they’re the hot hairstyles of summer 2012.
If you’re looking for a new style or just wondering where your current style fits in with today’s fashion, we’ve got you covered. Without further ado, here are this year’s top five summer hairstyles:
1. Side braid

A lot of celebrities are opting for various renditions of the side braid, from fishtail braids to loose, flowy wraps. Loose side braids are easy to accomplish and look better with a lot of body. Volumizers, mousse and setting your hair with rollers first can help achieve this. Fishtail braids are a little difficult to achieve (tutorial here), so they may take practice to get the right look, but their summertime appeal is off the charts.
2. Side chignon

A popular hairstyle for brides, the side chignon has a relaxed, yet elegant, appearance. But this isn’t a wedding-specific hairstyle. There are plenty of settings where the side chignon can come off beautifully. It works for holiday parties, nights out and can even be a quick-fix when you’re in a hurry. And getting the look is simple enough that virtually anyone can put it up and pull it off.
3. Ballerina bun

Dream of being a Bunhead? You’re not alone. Part of ABC Family’s summer lineup is “Bunheads,” a popular television show about the ballerina life. Whether duplicating the show’s hairstyle is intentional, girls are donning the ballerina bun. To get the look, many girls use a hair donut accessory (buy one here) to get a tight, even wrap on their bun, which can be secured into place with bobby pins.
4. Beachy waves

Does long, wavy hair ever go out of style? Not on the beach, and certainly not in the summer. Blonde highlights are a staple color pop for beachy waves, but this hairstyle looks great with any hair color.
5. Shades of red

If you’re up for trying a bold hair makeover, try going with red. But before taking the plunge, make sure you get the right color for your skin tone and are diligent about maintaining red hair. You can’t lose, because if you don’t like your color choice, you can always dye it again.
This list doesn’t imply that creativity has no place when it comes to your personal style. But if you’ve been searching for some direction to bring your hair up to speed with the season and the trends, you should be set for a little experimentation and a lot of summer fun.

Sources; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 
bloomzy /

Guest Post: Re-Buy or Buh-Bye? Avon Anew Rejuvenate

Today the lovely Charlotte of Musha-Moi will be guest posting. She has been kind enough to share an original post from her ‘Re-Buy or Buh-Bye?’ series. She will be reviewing the Avon Anew Rejuvenate Revitalizing 2-in-1 Gel Cleanser – enjoy!

———————————————-

Re-Buy or Buh-Bye? Avon Anew Rejuvenate Revitalizing 2-in-1 Gel Cleanser

Up until about a year ago I’ve been quite happy washing my face with soap…I know..shock horror… I actually washed my face with soap! In my defence though didn’t get what al the fuss was about when people would vow never to wash their face with a bar of soap – soap is for cleaning…my face needed cleaning…soap seems like a pretty viable product to use. around about a year ago my sister became an Avon rep and introduced me to the wonders of Anew products (yes they’re anti-ageing and yes I’m only 24 but I’m not going to get into the whole “why use anti-ageing products?’ thing now). She gave me a little starter kit of Anew Rejuvinate products, the kit is marketed as a 2 week trial kit with enough of the products to use everyday, morning and night (they are very generous with the sizes as I managed to make mine last at least 4 weeks using it religiously!). The cleanser is the same consistency as shower gel and it has small beads in it, the directions say to work a small amount into damp skin until the beads dissolve, it produces a good foam and you can feel it working on your skin almost immediately! It makes it tingle slightly (but not in a cooling menthol way as some cleansers do) it’s hard to explain but it just feels like you can feel it lifting all the nasties from your skin.

After rinsing it off my skin feels smoother and softer and any spots that may be brewing feel slightly reduced (it doesn’t stop spots coming to a head if they do develop but it does help reduce the dull ache you sometimes get from the particularly nasty ones).
Re-Buy or Buh-Bye? Re-Buy – I LOVE this cleanser! I’ve just finished my last tube of it and already have another on order, I’m trying to work my way through my sample drawer at the moment and have a few other cleansers to try out but I can’t wait to get back to using this!