Quick update and some manicures

Hello my lovelies :) I'm sorry for not posting regularly this week but I started work last Tuesday and I still have to get used to this new schedule. I have scheduled some posts though so as not to neglect the blog completely.  Anyways, here are two manicures I did for two of my friends this week.  First up is a gel manicure that consists of a plaid design on the tip and a half flower on the ring fingers and thumbs.  See if you like the colour combination:

Next, I did a corset manicure for another friend today. I like how girly it looks!

Have you ever tried any similar designs?

Review: Born Pretty Store Dried Flowers

I have been wanting to try dried flowers on nails for ages so when Born Pretty Store offered me to try any of their products, I jumped at the chance to try out their dried flowers.

You get 12 different flowers (which they randomly select themselves) for $7.08 and free shipping which I think is a reasonable price.  The flowers come in individual plastic pots neatly wrapped in packs of 6 in a re-sealable plastic bag as shown in the picture.  Moreover, you can use the containers to put other nail supplies in them such as rhinestones when you are done with the flowers.

Some flowers may look too big to use but you can always cut them with a pair of manicure scissors to fit your nails which is exactly what I did in the pedicure photos that follow.

First, let's look at all the flowers I got:

You get a small amount of each type so may want to consider buying them in bulk especially if you are a nail technician or you plan to use multiple flowers to create a nail art design in the same manicure. Usually, you get 2 of each of the branched flowers (the tiny ones) and 5 pieces of each of the individual ones. I do like the selection though as it contained a nice balance of the smaller and multiple branched flowers and the individual, bigger ones, all in different colours.  Here are some more detailed pictures to give you an idea of the size of the flowers.  You can also tell from these pictures that the flowers are real ones.

I used the small blue ones in a pedicure last week and this is what they looked like:

To use these dried flowers, all you have to do is apply the base colour of your choice and leave to dry as usual, then apply some clear polish where you want to put your flower, and lay the flower down on the nail gently.  I like to use a pair of nail art tweezers for this.  To make the flower flat on the nail, simply press the petals down gently with a dotting so they won't stick out.  Finally, apply some top-coat to seal them in for longer.

I found the smaller flowers really fragile so be careful when handling them and always try and get them by the stem instead of the petals to avoid them falling off.  However, with some clear top coat, they stayed in place for a whole week and they are still there!  If you use them with gel, they will last much longer since gel is a thicker medium so they should last until the next refill.  Also, I haven't had any problems with the top coat not reacting well with the flowers and ruining them.

I think this is all I have to say about these dried flowers and if you want to get some for yourself, just click here and remember to use the code below for 10% off your order!

EDIT: I have removed the flowers on the 21st of August and I can now say that they are very easy to remove; you just need to rub in some more polish remover and they're gone! 

Toe Nail Art of the Week: Colour-Blocking with Dried Flowers

Hey dolls :) This week, I will be showing you the nail art I wore on my toe nails instead of nail art of my finger nails as the latter are having a break from polish.  I decided to use the dried flowers sent to me by Born Pretty Store as they really add a nice touch to the nails and I can test how long they last so I can give you a full review about them.  I think the design resembles a garden trellis :) Here's what my toes look like:

...and here's the tutorial!

1. As with finger nails, apply a base coat and let dry.

2. Proceed by applying two coats of a colour of your choice and allow enough drying time in between coats.  I used China Glaze Lemon Fizz.

3. With a striper brush and a contrasting nail polish colour, paint a grid on your big toe nail. Start by painting the vertical ones: first, paint a stripe down the middle of your nail, then do one on each side.  Let them dry thoroughly before proceeding with the horizontal ones.  Here I used China Glaze Second-Hand Silk. 

4. Apply some clear polish where you want to adhere your flowers and affix them as you like.  I used some small blue ones to further bring out a contrast.

5. Apply a layer of top coat on all of the nails and you're done!

Review: La Roche Posay Effaclar M Sebo-Regulating Mattifying Moisturizer

Hello my lovelies :) Here's a review on this ace moisturizer that I have been using as part of my new skin care routine.  In my on-going battle against excess oil production courtesy of my T-zone, I have tried a vast array of products and tips to try and control the amount of oil my skin produces and most of these were in vain as I would still shine in the wrong way by mid-day.  However, thanks to this moisturizer, I can kiss blotting papers and translucent mattifying powders goodbye! Yes, that's how good this moisturizer is! Read on to find out more about it! 

With regards packaging, it is the standard La Roche Posay packaging with everything conveying an image of cleanliness with the white bottles and all.  Moreover, the product comes in a box that bears the information as the bottle (directions and company info) as well as a list of ingredients amongst which are Zinc Pidolate (neutralizes shine at source) and Vitamins CG and E (to prevent sebum oxidation).  There is also a leaflet which explains the whole range of Effaclar products as to which product is the best one to treat the different problems experienced by people with oily skin.  The bottle itself has a pull-off cap and comes with a pump which is not only much more sanitary, it also allows control as to how much product you pump out (for me, it is three short presses if you know what I mean).  You get 40ml of product which I think is enough for me considering how little I need so I think this will last me a long time.

Texture-wise, this moisturizer feels velvety smooth and doesn't feel greasy at all! In fact, it is oil-free and is enriched with absorbing microspheres for a long-lasting matte finish.  This product is non-comedogenic.  It is also marketed as an excellent make-up base and I can confirm this! I used this moisturizer for the very first time last June for a morning wedding in the hot, humid Maltese summer and I was really impressed with the make-up lasting well over 12 hours and my skin wasn't oily at all! So this moisturizer really lives up to its name!  Furthermore, it makes use of Sebum Targeting Technology (TM) to target sebum-clogged pores and clear them.

It hasn't broke me out or anything but I cannot say that I have seen any difference in the pores being more tight as I don't have visible pores so I cannot really comment on that.  However, my skin has been behaving much better in this humid weather we have here which makes oil production worse and I'm really pleased with the results delivered by this little product.  I don't have to worry anymore about my skin looking and feeling greasy and my make-up melting away anymore!

I paid €11.89 for this product which may be a bit pricey for some and nothing at all for others but since it does its job well done I'm happy to pay for it! In fact, I have already bought a back-up cos I wouldn't want to imagine myself going through without it! Note to La Roche Posay: do not ever ever discontinue it! :P

Have you ever tried this moisturizer cupcakes? Did it make a difference to your skin like it has done to mine?

*UPDATE*

La Roche Posay have now changed the packaging of this moisturizer and it is now marketed as Effaclar MAT. Luckily they didn't change the formula though!
 

Left: old packaging; right: new packaging

Mid-Week Beauty Masterclass: Corrective Make-up {Part IIIb - Eyes}

Good afternoon beauties! To catch up from last week's post, here are the rest of the eye shapes that are most commonly encountered and which are the best ways to apply make-up in order to portray them to their full advantage.

Deep Set Eyes: in this case, the eyes are deep set into the socket and therefore, the crease is not really naturally defined so we have to cater for that to make the eyes appear larger.

~ eyebrows have to be shaped in an arched fashion and always highlight this area to open up the eyes.

~ glittery/shimmery eyeshadow can be used all over the lid and create the crease with a dark eyeshadow. Take care to blend the crease eyeshadow and highlighter.

~ apply eyeliner to the outer corners and finish off with several coats of mascara.

Down-turned eyes: as you can see from the above picture, such an eye shape is characterized by a sad look imparted to the eyes due to the fact the eyes are lower at the outer corner than they are at the inner corner.  Thereby, the aim here is to 'lift' the outer corner.
~ have the brows shaped in an arch and highlight with a shimmery highlighter.
~ apply a pale eyeshadow to the inner 1/3 of the eye and on the rest of the lid, apply a darker eyeshadow.
~ apply mascara on the upper lashes only.

Narrow eyes: these are typified by a lot of space between the eyes themselves and the brows.
~ eyeshadow should be applied as follows: light in the center; medium shades in the inner corner and darker shades in the outer corner. Careful not to extend it more than the natural shape of the eyes.
~ apply a matte eyeshadow in the are between the brows and the eyes and highlight just under the arch of the brows.
~ use an eyelash curler to make the eyes appear wider and apply 3 - 4 coats of mascara.

Oriental eyes: these are basically the opposite of down-turned eyes shaped-wise.
~ make the crease appear more defined by using a medium coloured eyeshadow and apply a matte colour in the area over the crease to emphasize it and give the eyes a more rounded shape.
~ eyeliner is to be applied to the lower lash line and emphasize it with eyeshadow.  Finish with several coats of mascara on both upper and lower lashes.

So that's the end of the Corrective Make-Up Series ladies! Try out the different techniques discussed according to your own needs and let me know if they work for you!