H&M Nail Varnish Review and NOTD (Nail Of The Day)

Hi my little Cherubs (..ok so I was attempting the whole name your followers thing aka Lady Gaga and her little Monsters.. maybe not so much??) anyhoo I just wanted to talk about my new nail related discovery - H&M Nail Varnishes. H&M have been making nail varnishes for ages now, but I have recently bought a few shades and decided to do a mini review and NOTD.

My three favourite shades are:

1. Dust and Diamonds

This is a dusky, muted taupe colour with no sheen or glitter and I guess the inspiration  has to be the Chanel 505 Particuliere which was released in Spring this year. The muted nude nail shades are still really in season at the moment and I really wanted the Chanel shade when it was sold out, so was glad to see this shade at H&M for a mere £2.99. On to the review:

Colour - did not disappoint and looks almost exactly as it does in the bottle as on the actual nails. It darkened very slightly on drying but overall gave me that taupey nail I was going for.

Application - Fairly thin consistency and the first stroke certainly went on a little streaky, 2 more coats on and I got the creamy coverage I needed.

Longevity - Not great.. at all.. I was a bit gutted as it lasted, (with a Sally Hansen clear topcoat) all of one day before the first chips started appearing!

Overall - 3/5 Angel Wings for this product. That may be a little harsh given that it is a gorgeous colour, good price and of course cute name, but for the same price you can pick up something similar with much better application and longevity from Barry M.

Ok so you are probably asking why I would bother reviewing two more H&M varnishes after writing the above? Answer - Consistency.. or rather the lack of consistency in their formulation as I have found..

2. Summer Coral

 

This is a mini nail varnish bottle and completely and utterly irresistable at a paltry 99 pence! Stocking Filler ALERT!! I am going completely off season for this as it was THE shade for summer - Corally pink! However, I much prefer girly, pretty colours on my toenails year round - an attempt to feminise a part of my body which I find frankly,odd.. I mean toes?? YUCK! Haha! I would so wear this on my hands in the summer though as it looks killer with a tan.

Colour - Beautiful corally pink.. Again, very little variation when dry.

Application - Unfortunately, sheer, streaky and uneven. Needed 3 coats to get the opacity I required.

Longevity - Pretty much the same as Dust and Diamonds with chipping-galore..

Overall - No prizes for guessing .. a 3/5 Angel Wings for this one. The colour is just too gorgeous, although the application is poor, however, for 99p I can live with it.

3. Envy Me

Envy Me is a truly beautiful emerald green pearlescent sheen varnish.It is really in line with the winter season colours - dark, sultry and ever so Christmassy. Again, such a cute name! And cute price of just £2.99.

Colour - Perfect. Exactly as in the bottle, very vibrant and no different when dry.

Application - Surprise! The first coat was very opaque, not too thin, and no streaks at all. One more coat was all that was needed but as I was concerned about chipping,I went for one more just for good luck and of course a top coat.

Longevity - Surprise Surprise! Lasted a week with very minimal tip wear, 2 weeks and yes it was chipping but nowhere near as much as is normal for me. In fact, it was a bugger to remove this stuff and my natural nails were an unhealthy shade of green for a day after (my fault for not being patient enough to apply a base coat.)

Overall - 5/5 Angel Wings. Would highly recommend this shade although it could look a little kitsch nearer to Christmas (although what would Christmas be without kitsch hey?). Really pleased with the longevity and well worth the price.

It could be that the formulation varies from cream finish to shimmer finish, but either way, for a bargainous price H&M do some really nice colours which are worth checking out.

I, of course, had to choose Envy Me for my NOTD. So here you go (some of you may have also noticed me wearing this in my Sable and Carbon FOTD).. the totally beautiful Envy Me!

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

IMATS London 2011 Here I Come..!!

Hi all!

Today I am SUPER excited as I just purchased my ticket to the London IMATS i.e. the International Make Up Artist Trade Show! Now, I am not a makeup artist however the show is open to the public and for those of you who are interested in makeup artistry there are some amazing exhibitors, classes and shows at this world famous two day event. IMATS is held in 4 countries and the Toronto show was this weekend. I have been hearing from some of my fellow beauty bloggers in Canada that it was just fantastic and more importantly they managed to pick up some goodies from the exhibitors too. The London IMATS is held over 2 days (Sat and Sun 29-30 January 2011) and I will be going on just the Saturday, so if you are also attending let me know! If you are interested just check out the info below and if it sounds appealing try to purchase your ticket before December 17th as the prices go up after that date.

Some blurb from the website:

"The International Make-Up Artist Trade Show is the make-up world’s biggest gathering. Thousands of make-up artists, vendors and enthusiasts discuss, display and collect the best the industry has to offer. Make-up pros from fashion and film (including Oscar, BAFTA and Saturn award winners) provide education and demonstrations at IMATS, and new products often debut there. "

Here is a link to the official website http://www.imatsshow.com/london/london_index.php

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Beginners Guide to Primers

I am so amazed at the number of people who enjoy wearing makeup but who know almost nothing about primers. Taking that extra step and applying primers can make your makeup last longer, look more vibrant, prevent creasing and smudging and provide a smooth, flawless canvas upon which to apply your makeup. Primers allow you to make the most out of your makeup.

The main types of primer are

Foundation primer

Eyeshadow primer

Lip primer

Lash primer

1.       Foundation Primer

Foundation primers are perhaps the most important type of primer for someone like me with oily, uneven skin. There are broadly two categories of primer – brightening primers and smoothing primers.

Brightening primers are better for dry and dull skin and possibly also slightly more mature skin too as it moisturises, brightens and plumps up the skin. These primers can be worn alone or under foundation. Personally, I don’t use brightening primers as my skin is fairly oily, plus I don’t really feel I need the “plumping” effect just yet. I have tried a sample of the Benefit That Gal primer but felt that although it helped my foundation go on smoother, it was no different to using a super moisturising cream. In terms of brightening, I felt I could get the same brightening effect from mixing a small amount of my MAC Strobe Cream into my normal foundation. MAC Strobe Cream is a gorgeous pearlescent cream highlighting product. Similar products are Benefit’s Moon Beam or High Beam or BodyShop’s Glow Enhancer.

If, however, you feel that a proper brightening face primer is for you, check out Benefit’s That Gal primer or Urban Decay’s Complexion Primer Potion. My recommendation is to try samples of primers before investing.. but if I were to choose, I would recommend the Urban Decay primer, I just found that Benefit’s primer did absolutely nothing for my skin.

Smoothing primers contain silicone – so if you are a fan of organic or natural beauty products this is probably not for you. Also, beware that although silicone does not clog pores as such, it can in some cases cause secondary acne if you have particularly problem skin. Again, it’s a case of being sensible and trying things out before buying and of course, not wearing heavy makeup everyday. The silicone, however, is the KEY ingredient in smoothing primers. The silicone basically fills in all the lines, large pores and other uneven patches in your skin to create a smooth base. Additionally, it also mattifies your skin and therefore ensures not only a smooth canvas to apply your foundation, but ensures the foundation really “sticks” to your skin and stays on by preventing natural oils in your skin “melting” the foundation. Personally, this is the primer of choice for me when I am going out for the evening as it just ensures such longevity. The most highly rated primer is by far the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. It constantly receives rave reviews and I have personally tried it and can confirm that I have never used a better primer. I received a sample and at that time was suffering from a really bad breakout of pimples on my forehead, I used the primer then my foundation and my mother (who never notices things like makeup) said she was really amazed at how clear my skin looked. I actually don’t yet own the primer, but I do have the Smashbox targeted pore primer which is also awesome. The photo finish primer is next on my wishlist! In the meantime, to get my much more affordable silicone primer fix, I use something called Lanacane Anti Chafing Gel.. Yes you heard right an anti chafing gel. I got this from Boots and it is basically a gel used to prevent chafing from erm sports and other activities etc! haha!!! It cost less than £6 and is suitable for use on the face.  I just smooth this over my skin, leave it a couple seconds to set and then apply foundation and concealer as normal. Smashbox products are available in Debenhams and are fairly pricey but so worth it. But if your budget just won’t stretch, I urge you to try Lanacane gel. There are many many other silicone based primers out there – if you can get samples beforehand do so.

2. Eyeshadow Primer 

This is also one of the most important primers for me. Don’t you just hate getting those weird crease lines in your eyeshadow a couple of hours into wearing it? Don’t you just hate it when you buy an eyeshadow which looks really vibrant in the pan and looks chalky, dusty and dull on your eyelid? If the answer is yes to both questions you SOOO need an eyeshadow primer! It provides a smooth, crease-free base to apply your eyeshadow to and ensures the colour is much more vibrant even with the cheapest eyeshadows. My ultimate favourite has to be the highly acclaimed Urban Decay Primer Potion. It is around £11-13 I think and available in Boots or Debenhams. I cannot live without it! Another fantastic primer is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. For a cheaper alternative, try ELF (www.eyeslipsface.co.uk) mineral eyeshadow primer. For an even more budget option, you don’t even need to go out and buy anything, just smooth a  very thin layer of your concealer over the eyelid up to the browbone, and set by dusting a very small amount of loose powder. The effects are similar, although not as long lasting as the Urban Decay or Too Faced primers. I would honestly say that if you can save up for the Urban Decay primer you will not be disappointed and in terms of value for money, it lasts an absolute age.

I will ALWAYS use a foundation primer and eyeshadow primer when applying a full face of makeup. The difference in how my makeup applies and looks is massive.

3. Lip Primer 

Lip primers kind of do the same thing as silicone foundation primers in that they ensure a smooth canvas for lipstick to stick to and prevent creasing and smudging. Revlon, MAC, Urban Decay and ELF all do lip primers. Laura Mercier’s Lip Silk is a fairly expensive but highly regarded option. A QVC product called Laura Gellar’s lip spackle is another slightly harder to find but excellent option. Also, a cheaper option would be to apply a thin layer of concealer or foundation under your favourite lipstick. Now, I actually do not use a lip primer. The reason for this is that my lips get really dry really quickly and generally lip primers tend to dry out my lips.  Again, I don’t do this due to drying out my lips HOWEVER when wearing a particularly bright or strongly coloured lipstick – I’m talking those bright, blue toned pinks like MAC’s Please Me or the gorgeous 1940’s old Hollywood glamour reds like Revlon’s Really Red, I would take a small amount of concealer on a lip brush and use it to clean up the edges of the lipstick and prevent “bleeding” of the lipstick outside of the lip line.

4. Lash Primer 

This is a clear or white lash coating which makes your lashes appear longer and fuller. Some also contain ingredients to help lash growth over time. Clinique’s Lash Building Primer is really famous for being an excellent primer. Maybelline XXL Intense is a dual ended mascara with a primer on one end and mascara on the other. I have used Bourjois Coup De Theatre which also is a double ended mascara with primer. I loved the dramatic effect but felt it was a little clumpy. I like to have really separated lashes so I just use my favourite mascara which is L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black mascara and then use a clean spool/mascara brush to separate the lashes. I actually (when I can be bothered) use a different mascara for my lower lashes to really grab on to them and pull them out as they can kind of curl under. For that I use MaxFactor Masterpiece and when it runs out I will use L’Oreal Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black. I do have fairly long lashes so just found that worked for me better than using a separate lash primer. However for shorter or thinner lashes I would highly recommend a primer- for a more affordable option try the Bourjois one and then if you think that works you could save up for the Clinique one. Having said that, I am also a fan of false lashes for a special night out or particularly dramatic look. Curling lashes is also another way to get a wide-eyes long lash effect.  So there are a few different options there to achieve thicker and longer looking lashes.

Hope that was helpful, sorry for such a long post but I really wanted to give as much info as possible, particularly as I do more tutorials on this blog, it will be easier to follow if you know what the products are and how to use them.

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

FOTD (Face Of The Day) - Sable and Carbon Simple Look

This is a simple look I created with essentially just 2 eye colours. I kept it really simple and didn’t smoke out the black eyeshadow too much. I love MAC’s frost eyeshadow in Sable as it is a warm reddish-brown that I can imagine would suit many skin tones. I wore this look recently to my good friend’s birthday dinner. The lighting in the pictures is natural hence the slightly washed out tone so apologies if you can't make out the reddish quality to the Sable eyeshadow.



FACE

Smashbox Photofinish Targeted Pore Primer just to smooth out any uneven patches of skin

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Syracuse med/dark

Benefit Erase Paste in No. 3 and Mac studio fix concealer in NW35

MAC strobe cream gently patted onto the browbone and tops of the cheek bones

Bobbi Brown Rich Brown eyeshadow softly to fill eyebrows

CHEEKS

Sleek Contour Powder in Light (just the dark shade)

MAC Gingerly Blush

EYES

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin

MAC  Sable eyeshadow all over the lid and under the lower lash line

MAC Carbon eyeshadow in the crease and outer v

MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow on the browbone and inner tearduct

MAC Graphblack Technakohl eyeliner on the water line and upper lashline

L’Oreal Voluminous mascara in Carbon Black on the upper lashes and MaxFactor masterpiece on the lower lashes

LIPS

Kiehls Lip Balm

Rimmel Lipliner in Tiramisu

MAC Freckletone Lipstick just patted on to the lips

Rimmel Vinyl Lip Gloss in Paparazzi just in the centre of the lips very lightly

Hope you like it!

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

How to Get Kim Kardashian's TAO NYC Party Look

Hi all! So, one of my all time favourite makeup icons has to be Kim Kardashian - she is just flawless every time, her makeup is perfect and as she is olive skinned, her looks are acheivable for darker skin tones.

She has been spotted out and about a fair bit due it being her birthday, and her look has veered slightly away from her classic smokey eye and nude lip and instead gone for a more glowy, natural look.

I was really pleased to see that her make up artist has decided to post a tutorial on how to achieve her look, especially as the products she has used are a combination of mostly MAC, Benefit and Urban Decay - all products that are readily available in the UK.

So click on the link below to the tutorial and perhaps I will in a future post try to re-create the look using the steps to see if it really is achievable.

http://kimkardashian.celebuzz.com/2010/10/28/kim-kardashian-joyce-bonelli-makeup-guide-tao-nyc-birthday/

Happy Friday everyone! xoxo

TTIL (Ten Things I Love) Oct '10

 So as my second post, I thought it would be a good idea to do a super long post on ten things I am loving this month as the first in a series. Hopefully, this will give you an idea of my sense of style etc and help you get to know me better.

WARNING *PIC HEAVY* *EXTRA LONG POST*

1. Trousers – Wow.. I remember the days of the old flared black trouser look we all had going on in the ‘90’s with those chunky platform boots .. oh dear. I think those days put me off trousers for the next decade or so.. until this season when I have discovered a sudden love of the humble trouser. Specifically:

Peg Leg Trousers – These have been around for a couple of seasons now, but I think they have become more wearable in the fall/winter seasons as they have transformed from the slightly dodgy, unflattering chino style peg legs, to beautiful wool blends in neutral tones which in my humble opinion, are much more wearable. A perfect example are these gorgeous Ted Baker peg legs worn here with a grey suede pump. That soft charcoal wool looks so comfortable. If I were lucky enough to own these peg legs, I would pair them with a loose white silk vest tucked in and belted with a cropped blazer and statement necklace to finish off.. *LOVE* There are so many around, and I recently tried on and drooled over some fantastic and affordable peg legs over at Zara and H&M. May pick up a pair with my birthday vouchers woop woop!

Cigarette Pants – “Anything he can do she can do better..” or so it goes in the world of mannish tailoring. So classic, so YSL in the ‘60s.. Again, these have been around for a few seasons, but it was when I saw this pic of Stella McCartney’s take on the slim-fitting, tailored and slightly cropped trouser in soft grey, gorgeous pointed patent pumps and the loose “boyfriend” jumper, that I really wanted a pair for myself. That sounds like an odd thing to say – what I mean is that sometimes I can appreciate a trend for what it is, but know I would never buy or wear it myself. That used to be the case with the CP, but now.. what I would do for a pair of Stella McCartney CPs..!

Shorts – Previously another no-no for me, I mean come on, my chunky, stubby legs in SHORTS *gasp*! But with the whole tailored and luxe fabric thing going on, a pair of sky high platforms and opaque tights later and I am all for it! Check out the leather shorts here by Vanessa Bruno Athe (Zara have some leather ones too at the mo) and also, the slightly more toned down woollen pair by JCrew. So yummy!

2. Ash Italia – This is an Italian shoe brand that is available to purchase in Selfridges and online at My Wardrobe.com and ASOS. The brand combines high fashion with classic Italian shoe quality. We are talking soft soft leather and suede shoes which are beautifully crafted. Ash Italia shoes have been spotted on the likes of everyone from Madonna, Carmen Electra and perhaps most famously, Rihanna. I say most famously as you may recall Rihanna was spotted wearing a converse style trainer with a thick platform heel? Those were Ash shoes – although to be frank I am really not a fan of the trainers-with-a-heel  look myself! Check out the pair I bought recently – the suede is so so soft and smooth I had to refrain from rubbing the shoes across my face! The brown leather detailing is really intricately laid into the shoe and I receive compliments every time I wear these babies.. *LOVE*

3. Leopard Print – A splash of leopard print can transform a plain outfit. Leopard print is soooo hot right now particularly in the world of accessories. Think the Mulberry Alexa small shoulder bag, or the Christian Louboutin ankle boots that various celebs have been rocking recently. I, on the other hand, have made do with my grey leopard printed scarf from Forever 21, or my leopard print cropped blazer from H & M. I am also planning on posting a leopard print NOTD (Nails Of The Day) tutorial fairly soon so look out for that if you want to go really incognito with the leopard print.

4. Michael Kors Watches – I have been a bit slow on the uptake with the ceramic band Michael Kors watch as it has been around for ages now but I still love it and was lucky enough to receive one as a 30^th birthday present from my parents. I like to wear it slightly loose on my wrist the way men wear their watches. Talking of which, I am still in the habit of borrowing Mr Angel5ace’s Seikos and Breitling from time to time..

5. Gosh lip gloss – I have found myself hovering around the Gosh cosmetics stand at Superdrug quite a bit recently, but couldn’t really justify buying anything as the prices aren’t that great for what is supposed to be a "drugstore" brand and I couldn’t see anything that really appealed to me.. until I saw the Gosh Intense Lip Colour which I bought in a fuchsia colour. Err it has a built in light and mirror!! How useful is that?? I will post a full review and also an FOTD (Face Of The Day) very soon so also look out for that.

6. Kourtney Kardashian – I am a Kim Kardashian fan. I’m not ashamed of that, even though her initial claim to fame is a sex tape with Brandy’s less famous younger brother. I just love her style, her makeup is just the best and I kind of like her honesty too having watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians for the last few seasons *my guilty pleasure* HOWEVER, although I love her style, her big sister Kourtney has really been edging it up fashion-wise at the mo. I have started following her blog just to check out what she is up to and more importantly what she is wearing.

7. MAC 168 brush – I recently left my last job and my colleagues were kind enough to give me some House of Fraser vouchers as a going away gift. I spent them wisely on a couple of MAC brushes. I got the 224 and the 168. The 168 is a fluffy angled blush brush. I will be doing a post on make up brushes in general soon, but in the meantime I just want to proclaim my love for this soft yet precise blush brush – perfect for contouring cheeks and applying just the right amount of blush.

8. Urban Decay Naked Palette – OMG!! This is my favourite of all the favourites in this long long post.. I don’t know what I did before I got this palette. You will be hearing lots and lots more about this in future posts, however, I would strongly urge anyone who is looking for a fantastic quality (better than MAC quality) eyeshadow palette in the most gorgeous, suits-anyone shades to go out and buy this. As an added bonus, you also get 2 colours in the famous 24/7 liners and a miniature primer potion. My remaining makeup collection has never felt more neglected since I got this.

9. Stila No. 15 brush – Lucky enough to pick this up for a mere £6!! It is Mario Dedivanovic (make up artist to the stars) favourite brush and I can totally see why. You basically get a smudger brush/mini-blender/densely packed shader brush all in one!

10. Monica Rose's Blog – Monica Rose is a celebrity stylist who, amongst others, styles the Kardashians as I recently learnt. Her blog is purely fashion based, and as well as discussing what trends and designers she is loving, she also posts details of what her celebrity clients have been pictured wearing. She is particularly good at focusing on up and coming designers and collections.

http://monicarosestylist.blogspot.com/

*PLEASE NOTE: I am not receiving any incentives of any kind for talking about the above items. These are my personal opinions only.

FIRST POST EVER!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome to my new blog!! This is so exciting for me, I have been umming and aaahhing about starting a blog for some time now, and decided that today is the day! Make hay while the sun shines, carpe diem etc etc

In this blog I plan to post reviews of items I have purchased, from beauty products, hair products, and fashion items, to posting make up tutorials and fashion looks I have created, and just generally all things frivolous that I am loving at the moment!

Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions and also any constructive criticism regarding my new blog - I am keen to learn and improve - ALWAYS!!

XOXO Angel5ace XOXO