Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Holy Grail: Nail care products
I am an absolute nail polish junkie/hoarder/addict/lover - call me what you want. I know my weaknesses and I really can't help it! It's been a long process to find my basic loves for a remover, top coat and base coat.
The newest to this HG list is the Nails Inc Express Nail Polish Remover… think a miracle in a little tub, your best travelling friend, no-fuss off in less than 5 seconds nail polish remover. Bonus… it's acetone free and smells absolutely amazing also leaves your nail beds and cuticles nourished. Best £6.95 spent in the longest time. I get mine from look fantastic.
Now you can tell me how bad Seche Vite is for your health, but it is seriously the glossiest, fast-drying top coat out there. It is amazing. A lot of people complain about it becoming gloopey half way through the bottle, I didn't find this so. My tip: just tighten the top properly every time and you shouldn't have that problem. One bottle lasts me absolutely ages - even with my once or twice a week manicures and pedicures it has lasted 7 months. Amaaaaazzing!
OPI Nail Envy… this is still my first bottle from 8 months ago and I haven't even hit half way. I use it both on my toes and fingers have I have seen a complete improvement with the strength and health of my nails. I don't get discolouration as much as I used to. The story behind this product was that I began using it after I had a gel manicure done - which completely left my nails weak and thin. They would always break - which made me really sad. I do not recommend gel manicures for this reason, I rather have gel finishes from polishes I use myself or if I do go to a salon - Shellac manicures. All in all, this is my favourite base - it has done wonders to fix my nails.
Labels:
base coat,
Beauty,
dpsbeauty,
holy grail. HD,
Nail envy,
nail health,
nail polish,
nail polish remover,
nail strengthener,
nails,
nails inc,
OPI,
remover,
seche vite,
top coat
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Budget buy: Bourjois Happy Light foundation
I have always been apprehensive about drugstore base products, but this year has seen me venture into the world of budget buys like never before. I think it was because I had acne prone hypersensitive skin I could never trust cheaper alternatives and would always stick to my high end.. But for every day wear I have stuck to my Cover Outlast Stay Fabulous 3n1 foundation and now this Bourjois Happy Light foundation with 8h hydration.
This photo was the first time I ever tried this foundation. I had left my MUFE HD foundation at home by accident and I was getting ready for a wedding at a friend's place. After watching and reading several reviews on this foundation I already knew that I wanted to try it. It was the perfect opportunity, so I picked it up at Priceline for $29AUD that afternoon, I guessed my colour was 52 beige Clair, which turned out to be a complete perfect match.
Pro's:
- Long lasting (although I do wear the illasmaqua hydrating primer underneath and set it with my Hourglass Ambient powders in Diffused Light and Dim Light)
- Hydrating (this foundation claims to be 8h hydration - I don't know about that but it is perfect for dry to normal or normal to combination skin and doesn't essentuate any dryness but gives the skin a nice glow and subtle luminousity
- pretty affordable.. $29 is a hefty price tag for overseas readers but that is similar prices to Revlon and Loreal foundations in Australia. Compared to higher end foundations that are around $50-110AUD
- doesn't separate.. Not that I have oily skin at all - but this would be good for even my combination skin readers
- light to medium coverage but can be built up to full coverage without looking cakey.. It looks absolutely beautiful built up
Con's:
I really don't have any complaints although I will say that the foundation colour range for Bourjois has always been limited and lean towards very yellow. So if you prefer pink undertones or for my darker skinned readers - I'm sorry you can't try this beautiful foundation.
Overall, I adore this foundation in terms of colour for my skin, finish, buildability and the longevity. I highly recommend this for dry to normal or normal to combination skins with light to medium colouring.
Labels:
Beauty,
bourjois,
bourjois paris,
budget buy,
budget makeup,
foundation,
happy light,
holy grail product,
hydration,
luminous,
makeup,
rave,
review,
skin
Budget buys: Beauty Haul
I know - I have a problem.
There's no denying that I love high end make up, although this year I have grown to appreciate and love budget buys - I think a lot of products in the drugstore are comparable to high end, and some categories I prefer to stick with more affordable products.
My top picks are the Bourjois Happy Light foundation (my shade is 52 Beige Clair) - which is a backup because I love it so much and is my top pick for a light but buildable summer foundation, and I'm excited to try the Bourjois Happy Light luminous primer from the same line and the Bourjois Healthy Balance powder in 53 beige Clair (which claims to be 10h mattifying and as Amelia Liana claims a dupe for her favourite Giorgio Armani Luminious silk powder). What an enabler! I definitely have a nail polish problem - I can't say any are my favourite picks.. I'm excited to have all colours on my nails. But I do love Essie's formula and longivity the most.
Products I purchased:
Bourjois Happy Light Foundation - 52 Beige Clair
Bourjois Happy Light luminous primer
Bourjois healthy balance powder in 53 Beige Clair
Maybelline Fit Me concealer in Sand
Revlon Super Lustrous in Pink pop
Essie nail lacquers in Fiesta and Fiji
Rimmel London Salon Pro with/avec Lycra in Cocktail Passion
Australis Nail colour in K-pop
Bourjois Blush in Rose d'Or
Bourjois flower perfection translucent smoothing primer
Labels:
affordable,
Beauty,
bourjois,
budget makeup,
drugstore,
Essie,
foundation,
happy light,
haul,
lipgloss,
makeup,
maybelline,
nail polish,
powder,
primer,
Revlon,
Rimmel
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