Nail Wraps

So nail art appears to be a trend that is sticking around... And with that has come the introduction of various nail wraps! Even Myleene Klass has her own range at Asda. The wraps are generally in a metallic finish and offer a great cheap alternative to Minx nails. However in all honesty nail art has been a trend I have some what shied away from. I would have never have usually picked up nail wraps especially not animal print ones but as the lovely Kirsty Matthews picked up some I could hardly decline the opportunity to try them out.

Now... I took one look at the wraps and thought there is no way I want to cover every nail with those. (I think a plain metallic is more my style) nevertheless I soldiered on and opted for just my ring finger to display the metallic delights of the nail wrap.

First to try was the leopard print design and I teamed this with nails inc. Fenchurch Street polish.

I then opted to team the zebra print design with nails inc. Maddox Street polish.

The wraps were easy to apply and the instructions straight forward to follow. The only additional steps were to trim, file and apply a clear top coat. Fool proof!!

Great if you are in a rush or aren't great at applying polish and straight forward enough to remove (peel off and remove residual glue with nail polish remover)

I'm not sure if I could wear them for more than one night as they aren't my personal style but there are plainer colours and finishes available.

Rhian
Xx

Pretty Green Eyes

Today I was going to blog about 3 different Illamasqua pigments, but as I was at a loose end this afternoon I have decided to blog about each of them individually and show you the looks I have created using each one.
To start I have opted to show you the first Illamasqua pigment I ever purchased, which was Conquer.
I am a fan of any kind of teal/turquoise shade so this one immediately caught my eye.

I has always been a fan of Mac pigments previously and loved the extra sparkle and sheen they gave my eyes beyond what a normal eyeshadow does.The Illamasqua packaging is also far more user friendly than Mac's. I have lost count over the numerous times I have tipped over my pots of Mac pigment resulting in a carpet covered with colourful sparkles.
I will admit that the pigment isn't the cheapest on the market (£15.50 for 1.3g) especially if it is a shade that you are not going to use very often, however the finish is second to none and a little goes a long way.


Application

• I would always recommend using a primer prior to applying any sort of pigment to the eye. This ensures that the colour stays more vibrant on the lid and will also make it last longer.
• When using pigment always apply eye make up before you apply your foundation to your entire face, this ensures that any drop out bits can be easily brushed or wiped away using a cleansing wipe.
• Application of the pigment should be in a pressed motion rather than a sweep ensuring the product has the intense finish that you desire.
• The colour can also be amplified when applied over a dark base for this you could use any dark grey/black cream eyeshadow or a black kohl liner.
• The pigment can also be applied with a sealing gel and a thin brush to create a shimmering eyeliner.

The Look


The look I have opted for is an intense graduated green eye with pink cheeks and lips.

•  I start by applying a small amount of foundation to my eye area ensuring all necessary areas are covered.
• I then take an eye shadow primer and apply it to the entire eyelid.
• Then I applied a black kohl liner to my lash line, including my lower lashes smudging outwards to create a smokey effect.
• I then used a natural eye shadow to cover my entire eye lid and today I used Mac's All That Glitters, which is a shimmery champagne colour.
• Then to the inner corner of my eye I applied a light but vibrant green shade and for this I used Mac's Overgrown. Later to intensify the colour I applied a Mac pigment in Chartreuse.
• To the remainder of my lid I then applied a dark green shadow which I took up to 3/4's of the lid just below my brow in the outer corner ensuring I blended towards to the outer corner to again create a smokey look. The colour I used for this was Humid by Mac.

• To the centre of my lid I applied Mac's Teal pigment which is a hint more blue that the Illamsqua Conquer. This allowed a great graduation between the shades on my eye.
• Finally, I used the Illamasqua Conquer pigment on the outer corner of my eye following the line I had earlier created with the Humid shadow, finishing off the outer corner of my lid with a black shadow to deepen the look.
• I finished the look off with a stroke of liquid eyeliner prior to applying some false eyelashes. The eyelashes that I used were Illamasqua number 14. These lashes retail for £12 but you will get many wears out of them due to the thickness of the band. I think I have worn mine 6-7 times and they are still perfect, the glue which is also supplied is very good and is extremely long wearing. There is no comparison between these lashes and the eyelure ones which you can pick up in Boots or the supermarkets so it is well worth the added investment. One final coat of liquid liner over the lashes and the eyes are complete. :-)

• Removing all of the excess shadow from your face you can then start your foundation regime as normal. I chose to apply bronzer all over my face and then opted for a matt candy pink blush for my cheeks. For this I used Illamasqua's Nymph powder blusher.
• For lips I chose two looks, one with a basic clear sparkly gloss - I used Benefit's California Kissing gloss which is perfect for both day and night and it promises a teeth whitening effect. The other look I chose was a bubblegum pink lipstick with an additional coat of gloss at the end.

Hope you like the finished look.
Let me know if you prefer the look with the lipstick or with the clear gloss.

Rhian x



A Few Of My Favourite Things

I thought I would take this opportunity to show you the products that always remain within my make up collection. These are my 'everyday' products and the products that I cannot live without.

Liquid Foundation

For years and years I swore by Mac's Studio Fix liquid foundation, (I wear NW20) a product which I still have a great deal of love for and still use on occasion. It was only last year that I was introduced to Illamasqua's Skin Base foundation and it was a revelation. As someone who is paranoid about having full coverage I was at first a little hesitant and never in a million years did I think I could be swayed away from the Studio Fix which had served me so well for so long. The foundation promises a build able coverage something which I am normally a little dubious about -after all nobody wants to appear to be 'caked' in make up. However I was more than pleasantly surprised when after just a light application the coverage was to my liking and did not feel at all heavy on my face... I was immediately converted. The foundation does carry quiet a hefty price tag at £25 but I believe it is worth every penny, especially when you consider a Max Factor or Loreal foundation can carry price tags of between £10-£12 for, in my opinion a far inferior product.

Powder Foundation

Easily the longest standing member of my make up bag is Mac's Studio Fixed pressed powder. This powder has been like a best friend to me through the years. I have lost count of the number of friends I have recommended this product to and everyone has since been converted. I have not yet found a powder foundation that comes close to the desired finish that this foundation gives me and I can see it remaining a staple part of my collection for many years to come - let's just hope they don't ever discontinue it.

Eyebrows

As we all know, it is our eyebrows that frame of face and for that reason I believe they should be cared for a appreciated. For someone like me with very fair eyebrows I find it an essential part of my routine to 'colour in' my eyebrows and for this I use Illamasqua's eyebrow cake. This is again a new addition to my collection as for years I relied on Benefit's Brow zings to take care of them for me - a product which I still have a great deal of love for. Brow zings comes with a a handy carry case consisting of tweezers, a hard angled brush, blending brush and mirror. It also comes with great instructions on perfectly groomed brows so is great for beginners. However there are two applications required when using this. One of pigmented wax and the other a powder used for setting the brows - so not always the most practical when one needs to apply their brows in a rush. In comparison the Illamasqua eyebrow cake requires on simple application and offers great instant coverage. You will need an additional eyebrow brush to apply this, or simply use a lip brush.

Bronzer 

In terms of bronzer I choose to opt for a natural matt look as opposed to highly pigmented sparkly bronzer and for this I use Benefit's Hoola. Hoola produces a soft bronze natural looking tan with yellow undertones meaning the complexion never looks the dreaded orange colour that we all fear! A little goes a long way so you will see the £23.50 as an investment as this product will last a very long time.

Blush

I like to switch my blusher depending on the look that I am going for. Occasionally I will opt for a matt blush but my preference is always a little bit of shimmer (the opposite to my feelings on bronzer) for everyday I choose Nars Orgasm blush, which offers me the perfect blend of pinky/peach tones with a golden shimmer. The packaging is also fabulous and comes with a handy mirror. I also use Mac's Peachykeen sheertone blush as an alternative to this.

Mascara

This is probably the product I fluctuate the most between products and brands, always trying to find one which offers me exactly what I need from a mascara. I think I have tried nearly every brand from Maybelline to Lancome and I have finally found my favourite. This being Benefit's new They're Real mascara which promises to lengthen, curl, volumise, lift and separate. I know what your thinking... surely one single mascara cannot do all of this!? I shared your scepticism until I finally bit the £18.50 bullet and purchased this wonder mascara. Not only does it do everything that it promises but you can also layer the mascara without any clumps forming for a more dramatic look. This for the moment is my number one choice mascara, however other firm favourites include Maybelline false lash effect and also Dior Show Iconic.

Eyeshadow

I am someone who loves to play around with eye colour and my favourite brand to do this with is Mac... there is a great array of colours and finishes available, perfect for any occasion. However despite my love for all things bright and beautiful when it comes to eye make up, the nude muted look is one never to be sneered at and this is why my favourite eyeshadow of them all is Tempting. From the Lustre family of Mac eyeshadows it is a highly pigmented golden brown shade. This for me is the perfect shade for day or night.

Nails

You will learn as I begin to post more that I have a love for nail varnish and at the moment my favourite winter shade is Saville Row by Nails Inc. A deep purple shade perfect for when your nails are short. However if the £11 for a nail varnish is a little steep I have found a perfect alternative available in most supermarkets in Maybelline's Extreme Blackcurrant.

All about Rhi

Well, here I am. Never thought I would say this but this is my first blog entry... Therefore I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you a little about ME! So here goes *deep breath... and... relax*
I'm Rhian, 25, from South Wales. I am hear to talk to you primarily about all things make up and nail orientated. As a Buyer by day I get to see first hand new trends and exciting new product so thought it would be a great opportunity to share my thoughts and feedback on such product and hopefully share a few looks I have worked on for parties and events etc.

Now that introduction is over with... time to have fun with make up and see what this blogging fuss is all about.

Thanks,
Rhian

 *WARNING, the occassional kitchenware product may slip in here from time to time*

Follow me on twitter @miss_rhi_rhi