My top 10 of 2011 by "M"

As all the new year antics have now passed, I thought I'd share with you my top 10 beauty products from the past year.
All these products I have used again and again since purchasing them

1: NYX BLACK LABEL LIPSTICK IN "SAND"

I bought this during one of nyx's discount weekends and have not stopped wearing it. it is a beautiful natural brown and is the perfect "I'm in a rush" lipstick which is a must for the school run.
Available from www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk


2: NYX BLACK LABEL LIPSTICK IN "TRIBUTE TO MARILYN"

I'll be honest with you, I only bought it for the name as I LOVE Marilyn Monroe and it turns out that this red totally suits me, it looks a lot more orange in the photo than it really is, but really it is rather nice.
Avalible from www.nyxcosmetics.co.uk


3: MAYBELLINE FALSIES WATERPROOF MASCARA

My summer must have!!! especially with a rainy British summer always on the cards!!! gave me the false lash effect I wanted.
Available from www.boots.com or in store and www.superdrug.com or in store.


4: COLLECTION 2000 EXTREME 24 HOUR FELT TIP LINER

An absolute gem of an eyeliner, all of the colours look good but if I had to choose two then it would be the purple and the teal.
S done a review on them back in November, take a look for all the info on where to get it
www.sm-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/11/collection-2000-extreme-24-hour-felt.html?spref=tw

5: OPI ORIGINAL NAIL ENVY

After removing my gel nail warps last year this was an essential on getting them back to a healthy state, I don't really use this as a treatment anymore has my nails are now quite strong but I do use it as a base coat whenever I paint my nails and they have never been stronger.
You can get nail envy from quite a few places but I recommend you get it from www.qvcuk.com they do a great value duo set for under £20.

6: RIMMEL SCANDAL EYES MASCARA

I have to admit I was a bit sceptical about trying this until I read S's review on it. I now use it at least twice a week. Take a look at the review and details where to get it here:
www.sm-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/11/rimmel-scandal-eyes-mascara-new.html?spref=tw

7: MAC LIP PENCIL IN "MAGENTA"

On a vist to Westfield White City during the summer with S, we visited MAC and one of the sales assistant was wearing this and it looked stunning,  a week later I brought it.
It's a deep hot Pink with purple tones, which of course can be worn with lipstick but it looks unbelievable on its own which is how I choose to wear it.
You can get it from www.maccosmetics.co.uk or one of their many store or concessions for £10.50

8: MALLY VOLUMIZING MASCARA

I only just recently got this but S has been clued up on this for a while, take a look at the review here:

www.sm-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/07/mally-volumizing-mascara.html?spref=tw

9: "DALLAS" BY BENEFIT

This is amazing, it's the perfect blush for my skin and gives a nice dewy natural effect.

Not only do I use this on my cheeks but if I'm having a day when I don't want to wear foundation this over my concealer works perfectly.

You can get Dallas from www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk for £23.50

10: BARE MINERALS ORIGNAL SPF 15 FOUNDATION IN "MEDIUM DARK"

I only staring using this around a month or so ago. I was getting tired of the foundation I was using as I felt that it wasn't giving me enough coverage. S had spare and gave it to me to try and I honestly don't know what I would do without it now, it is AMAZING!!! it gives great coverage without having that "caked on" feeling, the brush that comes with it is great too, this is one I would buy again and again.

You can get this foundation from www.bareminerals.co.uk for £23.

And there you have it, my top 10 of 2011.

I'm really looking forward to trying lots of new products to review for all of you in 2012.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Mx

New year Party Nails

Hello there!!! hope you all had a very merry Christmas and got lots of lovely gifts.

This is just a quick post on my nails which I done last night, I was so impressed with them I thought I would share with you how I done it.

Very sparkly!!!!

Firstly I used OPI's nail envy for my base coat - applying a thin layer - there are so many places you can get this from but I recommend getting it from www.qvcuk.com as they do a great value duo set for under £20.

Then once it had dried I applied my colour.
I went for a black colour from collection 2000, now I did buy it around 2 years ago from the Maxiflex range. I'm not sure if they still do this range or how much it is, if they still do it the colour is 87 in ebony.

This is where it gets fun, once you have applied the second coat of colour you squeeze the glitter tube and it puffs some glitter on to your nail, to get in to the tricky bits at the nail edge you just hold the tube at an angle and squeeze.

The gold glitter i used came from this little set by i found in superdrug just before Christmas.

It's the Gold finger red hot glitz set by Andrea Fulerton nail boutique.
I got it for £2.99 down from £5.99 but don't quote me on that, as I was full of flu when I brought it!!
You can get the Andrea Fulerton range from superdrug and you can find out information on all of Andrea Fulerton's nail boutique range at www.andreafulerton.com 

Once you have applied the desired amount of glitter, gently tap your nail on a hard surface to get rid of any excess glitter, then proceed straight away with applying the top coat.
For this I used models own 3 in 1 base coat / top coat & gloss.

Apply a thick layer from the tip down to the base, dragging the glitter as you go, make sure you wipe off the brush before putting it back in the bottle or you will end up with bits of glitter floating about in the bottle and possibly ruining a future manicure!!
You can get this top coat from either boots in store or at www.boots.com or from www.modelsownit.com for £5.

Once it has dried apply a cuticle oil. and there you have it!!! super sparkly new year party nails!!

Now as a little experiment I decided to make a short video showing how I did it (no words, just music, just showing each product)
It was  done on a whim so please be kind, and if enough people like it we will do more videos in the new year.

I hope you all have a great new year whatever you get up to, bring on 2012!!!

M x

OPI's "ORIGINAL NAIL ENVY" natural nail strengthener

Let me start of by saying sadly I had never even heard of OPI  false stop! until late last year! if I had known about this product I would've never put my nails through the traumatic experience of getting gel refils every month for a year! (tut tut tut) .

Experience

I had been getting gel refils for a year, one day I just got fed up of them and just wanted to look after my natural nails. I was telling my friend (aka the wife!) about another nail product ( which is also very well known) and she looked at me like i'd just told her i, was, having triplets! (shock, horror, with a pinch of pity!)...then she informed me about "opi's nail envy" and thank goodness she did, as i would be lost without it, and yess i do have back up bottles of the stuff!

After taking my gel refils off,(sausage fingers spring to mind!) my nails were very weak and paper like, after using opi for 2weeks i could see a difference, my nails were stronger, after two months my nails were fantastic!

Directions

Apply two coats of the nail envy, then one coat, every other day on top, for seven days..then take it off and start from fresh..do it do it NOW!

verdict :- I really do adore this product, if you are thinking about giving your nails a break from refils, or taking them off all together...two words "BUY IT" sorry make it three words "buy it NOW!" 
 
You can get nail envy in clear, matt or pink, it comes in a 15ml bottle.


You can buy opi's nail envy at www.boots.com  www.qvcuk.com  or www.amazon.co.uk 


Qvc tend to sell nail envy as a duo or as part of some sets which work out better value.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION:- as you will become ADDICTED

Prices start from £15 


S x