bloomzy /

Review: Collection Gothic Glam Nail Polish

 

Collection Gothic Glam Nail Polish in shades: Dramatic, Phantom, Deadly*
 
If you remember my Pegasus Beauty Showcase post you’ll know of these.
I was so excited for this range to be released so of course I had to review it.
There are 4 nail polish shades available in the range, and I was sent three of them.
These are: #1 Dramatic (deep red), #2 Phantom (vivid purple) and #3 Deadly (gold speckled black).
Swatches & one coat of shade #1 Dramatic on my nails
 
Pros:
+ Wide brush
+ Great colours
+ Easy application
+ High-shine finish
+ Opaque in one coat
 
Cons:
– Takes a while to dry
– Not easy to remove
 
Notes:
Overall I am impressed with this collection – I love the shades, and the quality of the polish.
I noticed straightaway that I only needed one coat to get an opaque, high-shine finish, which is not something that I come across very often with nail polishes. The swatches and what you see in the bottle are very true to the colour you will get on your nails. Again, very good. The application was nice and easy, thanks mainly to the wide brush. As for dry time – that was slightly disappointing, but these don’t claim to dry quickly so I can’t say I’m upset. The only other downside is that these are a little difficult to remove so you’ll need to take your time and make sure there isn’t any left over around the sides of your nails etc. That’s to be expected of any dark, glitter colour though. The polishes retail at £3.19 each, which is a pretty average and fair price for nail polish, in my opinion.
You can purchase the Gothic Glam polishes at Collection or in Superdrug stores.
bloomzy /

Review: The Chelsea Day Spa – Manicure

My trip to The Chelsea Day Spa for a manicure*

Last week I was invited to visit The Chelsea Day Spa for a manicure.
The weather was absolutely horrible and I was pretty windswept when I arrived.
Thankfully I was greeted by a beautiful interior and staff with lovely warm smiles. 
The spa itself doesn’t look very big from the outside but they’ve managed to fit a lot in.
As I waited for my nail technician I browsed the treatments on offer and was pleasantly surprised.
As well as offering manicures & pedicures, you can also indulge in massages, facials, waxing and more.
I went for a New York Manicure – I was offered a pedicure, but you guys know I have a foot phobia.
I also had gel nails on at the time, so I had those soaked off for me, to prep my nails for the manicure.
Rodica was my manicurist, and she was absolutely lovely – I really can’t recommend her enough!
There were no awkward silences because she was so friendly and chatty, making it a great experience.
We chatted for the whole hour about Romania (her home country), the culture and history.
You know I’m a culture-nut so I thoroughly enjoyed this.
My manicure was flawless and looked amazing – almost like gels.
The shade range of polishes (normal & gel) was good, as is the brand they use – Jessica.
The polish lasted for a week before it started to chip, which I think is an achievement.
The service and final product were well worth the visit, and the money – only £17!
For the lovely surroundings, staff and manicure I would certainly visit again.
Visit The Chelsea Day Spa for locations and treatment lists.
bloomzy /

Review: Born Pretty Holographic Nail Polish

Born Pretty Holographic Nail Polish*
Another nail polish to add to my ridiculously large collection!
This time it is a gorgeous silver holographic shade, with a very futuristic feel to it.
Left: After 2 coats, Right: After 4 coats
 
Pros:
+ Great shade
+ Applies easily
+ Amazing holographic finish
+ Can be worn sheer or opaque
 
Cons:
– 3+ coats are needed for an opaque finish
– Small bottle
 
Notes:
I love the shade of this polish, it’s so much nicer than other holographic polishes I’ve tried.
It applied very sheer to start with and it took me 4 coats to get an opaque finish (which I prefer).
However that does mean that this is kind of a 3-in-1 polish, meaning you could use to just add a bit of glitter to your fingertips, layer it with other colours, or you can wear it opaque. I was pretty impressed with the selection of shades available on the store too so I’ll definitely be checking out more of the collection.
You can purchase Born Pretty’s Holo Polish here, and view the other shades here.
bloomzy /

Pegasus Beauty Showcase

Snaps from Pegasus Beauty Showcase, and the contents of my goodie bag*

Yesterday I attended Pegasus PR’s Beauty Showcase at One Marylebone.
The ladies (are there any gents? I’ve not met one yet) at Pegasus PR are always so lovely.
I am always happy to meet and chat with them as they genuinely love what they’re doing.
They also represent so many wonderful brands, a lot of whom I own and buy regularly.
So I knew there would be some amazing brands at the showcase and I couldn’t wait.
I was literally one of the first to arrive – that’s how eager I was to check it out!
The showcase itself was set out very nicely, making it easy to notice (and chat) with each brand.
Some of the brands I know and have worked with thanks to Pegasus were there: Trilogy, Avène, Klorane, Dr Organic Australian Bodycare, and Holland & Barrett. It’s always nice to see tried and tested favourites. I was also happy to see a few new brands being represented such as Collection (formerly Collection 2000) and Witch. Even though I was impressed by pretty much all the brands there were several that really stood out to me. What were they?
+ Trilogy Sensitive Range – sfor those with sensitive skin. The serum was as light as a feather.
+ Dr Organics Snail Gel – sounded weird enough for me to try it, and smelt heavenly, like lemon sherbet.
+ Holland & Barrett Aromatherapy Oils – over 35+ oils in the range, each with its own purpose & properties.
SHOWCASE WINNER: Collection Gothic Glam Lipstick & Polish
I will be investing in literally all of these when they’re released later this year (apart from #1 Dramatic polish as that was in my goodie bag). The lipsticks are the exact colours I love and I know I would wear them everyday. The polishes also came in 4 brilliant shades that remind me a bit of crushed velvet – love it!
Thanks for such an amazing showcase Pegasus!
I can’t wait to try out the goodies in my bag and review some on the blog.
bloomzy /

Review: New MUA ‘Bright Coral Nail Polish

Recently MUA rebranded their £1 nail polishes.
That meant a new bottle, new brush and new colours.
After trying their old polishes I was curious to see if there had been an improvement.
So when I saw their new shade ‘Bright Coral’ I knew I had to have it.
Pros:
+ Applied easily
+ Great colour
+ Opaque in 2 coats
+ True to colour

Cons:
– Chipped after 2 days
– Bottle design is a rip-off

Notes:
First off, I’d like to mention the new design for these bottles.
I love the simplicity of it, but I really dislike how MUA have ripped off Essie’s bottle.
It’s obvious from first glance that this is what they’ve done, and everyone has noticed.
Anyway, onto the polish! I loved the new brush, it’s much better than the old ones they were using.
It applied easily and the colour was a lot more opaque then previous shades which were too sheer.
It did chip after 2 days though unfortunately, and that was with a bottom & top coat so I was a little sad.
BUT for £1 a bottle I’m not complaining! I just hope they bring out some more interesting shades, as the ones that are out right now aren’t very inspiring. Even so, this is a nice shade and very Summery, I think I’ll be wearing it often.
You can buy this shade online here, or in Superdrug stores.
bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Boots, Bites & Business

What have I been up to lately?

Well my internship with Finchittida Finch is going great!
We’re getting down to the final hours of a very exciting, and big, order.
Of course I still had time to pamper myself and do my nails in some Spring pastel shades.
In the meantime my good friend Anna returned from Norway with treats!
She brought me back some speciality cheese, and a gorgeous neon glitzy necklace.
We made plans to grab some food and catch-up, so we went to a great Turkish restaurant in Islington.
I wore my new boots (spent with my birthday gift card from Sami), which are so cute and comfy.
I also joined Vine this week! You can follow me on: bloomzy
My new business cards for the blog arrived too, featuring my Tatty Devine name necklace.
Then finally this past weekend I popped down to Shoreditch to do a bit of shopping.
I bought a Uniqlo x Keith Haring t-shirt that called to me as soon as I stepped into the pop-up.
I also indulged in some okonomiyaki along Brick Lane – the place for street food!
You can follow me on Instagram to stalksee what I’m up to: bloomzy
bloomzy /

Review: Flash.ON Nails

Flash.ON Nails with Frida Kahlo Print*

Flash.ON Nails is a new, exciting brand on the block.
What’s it all about? It’s an innovative new way to style your nails!
Images or designs are printed onto false or natural nails using machines.
This original concept is a great way to express yourself through your nails.
When I was contacted by them I knew exactly who I wanted on my nails.
It was shortly after my ‘Celebrating Women’ post, so of course I went for for my idol; Frida Kahlo.
I knew that I wanted the picture I sent to be bright and colourful, and prominently feature Frida.
I just can’t get over how well they came out. The image transferred brilliantly and was exactly what I wanted.
To be honest I’m a little scared to wear them as I haven’t worn false (glue-on) nails for a long time.
That said, I really really want to wear them and show off the fabulous image.
It can be pretty tough being so indecisive sometimes.
When ordering you receive nail glue and a top coat along with your nails, so the design lasts longer.
You can choose a design from the range or have a custom image put on your nails for a little bit extra.

I was also impressed that you receive 20 nails, which is great for those who lose or break nails easily.
You can order your Flash.ON Nails online here.
Prices start at £7.95 a set.