D.I.Y. Nails

I bought myself some false nails to do at home. They are often called press on nails or full cover nails and do not require an acrylic or gel overlay. In the video I share both an acrylic kit and full cover press on nail kit. Very affordable and keeps me frugal. 

Glamour Mag and Nails Inc Kate Spade

The December issue of Glamour magazine UK with Katy Perry on the front cover comes with free nail polish. Nails Inc collobarated with designer Kate Spade New York to create these limited edition shades.

You are able to choose from the four following shades: Uptown Glamour (gold), New York Noir (black), Soho Silver (silver), Big Apple Red (red).

I do not normally wear black polish but for £2 a magazine verses £11 cost to buy the polish in a shop I decided why not buy all four. They look so pretty.

Grab a bargain while you can.

Acrylic Embedded Nail Art

I have not had any form of nail extensions for a few years. So seeing that the Sis in law had some offers on I decided to treat myself. I chose to have some embedded nail art. If I was to get bored of these designs, they can simply be painted over. I am also seeing 3D nail art around but would have to forget about kneading dumplings for soup Jamaican style. Using my BB and some general day to day things are proving tricky but I will adjust to all that in a few days I hope. 

Lushes Nails – Iced Mocha

I was reading Lipglossiping post about Boots Vouchers. Every so often Boots gives free money to spend on various things. The current campaign which ended 28th March was for Boots No7 range and Ruby and Millie. I tend to only buy either the nail polish or face wipes. Only because No7 does not really appeal to me the way other brands do.

So this time I bought Iced Mocha by No7. Its a metallic polish that looks really good on me. This type of polish does not last that long and after 2 days started flaking and chipping. I was able to remove loads in the shower without using a remover. I am no expert but I will assume that I need to use a primer for such polishes in future. Though it does look good despite my very short nails.

Glamour Magazine and Nails Inc

I received my months subscription of Glamour Magazine this week. Thankfully the postal strikes have not affected this delivery. I was very surprised to see that it included a free full size bottle of Nails Inc nail polish. I do wonder if Glamour and Nails Inc have a partnership going as this is the second free Nails Inc polish I have received free. I am not complaining.

The colour I received is called “Shoreditch”. It is a beautiful hot pink and is very gorgeous. I applied to two coats and so far so good. I cannot complain.

I love a freebie especially when it is something I will definitely use again and again!!

Acrylic nail art

I managed to get my nails filled and shortened. I now know for sure that shorter nails are far more practical. I was not too impressed with this particular nail salon. They usher you out when nails are just dry and not fully dry. So I have smudged nails. You have to look closer to see. If at the time I was not on my way to get my kids I would have walked back and said “Yo! re-touch these £19 for in fills and design. The design I copied from my friend and the nail technician re-jigged it so it was more of an inspiration.

These nails need re-doing again. So if you look close enough you can see the gap between the acrylic and my cuticles. I am stretching these boys out. One more thing. As I had them shortened they now look a bit on the thick side. So I might have to force myself to get a full new set when I finally go to the nail shop again.

Acrylic nails and designs

I love acrylic nails. I tried gel and it just didn't work. They popped off like popcorn. Maybe it was the length I choose. I just don’t know. The first set you see I did for my holiday. I was going for the American Independence Day theme, red, white and blue. If only I knew that you did not get many Americans in Ibiza.

Last year I was stuck on the black tips trend. I Think I will definitely do coloured tips as the basic me look. As the nail shops charge too much I will endeavour to bring my own nail colour unless I can find a shop that has one price and no charges for extras.

PS - The length of these current set in the first picture is making it hard for me to type. I will get them shortened asap.

NYC Polishes

I bought some nail polishes the other day. If you remember back in April this year I spoke of caring for my nails. Which I feel there is no better way to do so than by glamming them up with some polish. I have yet to try doing acrylic nails myself but for now doing my own French manicures and polishing should be enough.

I bought 3 NYC nail polishes. The one I am wearing in the picture is colour number 206B East Village. Its a a very bright turquoise. I also bought colours 118A Big money frost and 116A  Big burgundy frost.  My cuticles do need some care and my polish application is not perfect but all in good time.

Tag! – What are You using right now?

I always see that people have been tagged on YouTube and on some blogs. So when Yinka of Vex in the City tagged me in her post I was like (all smiles) okay. Let me compile my list and keep this going. So here goes.

Hair >

Shampoo – Twisted Sister shampoo by urban therapy, Dove purifying shampoo and Keracare shampoo

Conditioner – Toni and Guy Model.me Jamelia Enriching Conditioner ( I bought in a bargain shop so thought I would give it a go), Creme of Nature conditioner

Styling products – Organic Root Stimulator Jojoba oil, Keracare essential oils, IC Fantasia Ice, Organics olive oil gel by Africa’s best, ORS Olive oil moisturiser( various other gels and products and oils but these are my main uses at the moment)

Body >

Cleanse – shower gels by Palmolive, Imperial Leather, Dove

Moisturise – Red Fox cocoa butter, Palmers cocoa butter lotion, Body Shop body butters (almond, shea, coconut, peach)

Deodorant – Roll ons by Sanex and Sure. Sprays by Sanex, Sure, Nivea, Palmolive.

Sun care – Calypso carot oil, Calypso aloe vera gel after sun and Nivea Sun Protection

Face >

Cleanse – Dermoligica, Clean and Clear, and sometimes just water and a dab of my shower gel (have very dry skin)

Moisturise – Nivea or Astral cream

Makeup >

Foundation – MAC Studio Fix powder NW43, Iman cream to powder Clay 5, Fashion Fair cream to powder Bruin Brown

Bronzers / Highlighters – Sleek’s One universal loose powder, Max Factor Bronzing Powder, Avon Bronzing pearls, Iman bronzer(but mainly used as a blush)

Blush – Iman sunlit copper, MAC Format

Eye Shadow – Sleek (especially the I=Divine palettes), Mac, Fashion Fair, Barry M and various other brands.

Eye shadow Primer – Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeliners by Avon Urban Decay Rimmel Sleek

Lip gloss – Sleek, Maybelline, Rimmel, MAC, (pinks and browns)

Mascara – Maybelline the colossal, Maybelline Great Lash, No7 Infinite Lash Defining and Diorshow mascara

Nail Polish - Any colour of any make that I like especially if it is a nice purple

Sorry did not list all colours for everything I just know that I use these products.

I tag : Aulelia, OndoLady,Figa DJ, Black Butterfly and all my lurkers, followers and subscribers.

So what about you?

Time to care for my nails

I used to wear nail polish everyday and I do not know why I am slacking. My personal grooming is not like what it used to be for nails that is. I am a constant recovering nail biting addict. I do not bit my nails like when I was little girl. Though I do pick at them on occasion. I recently bought a cute nail file that has its own pink carry case that I now carry in my bag.

I have seen some beautiful nail colours on blogs and videos. Clumps of Mascara always talks about and shows pics of beautiful nail colours. So much so that I dug out my nail polish collection. When I was all about my nails I easily had about 30 different colours of purple. One of my favourite colours. I am happy to try any shade at the moment. I love the look of French manicures too. Black tips with bits of gold or silver always look nice. My new French manicure kit is by L’Oreal and comes with an angled brush to make applying the white tips easy. I tried it and its ok. Though I guess I may need more practice with it.

I am contemplating whether or not to spend £28 on a full set of acrylics or try do it myself. Or simply just shape and polish my own nails myself. YouTuber Goldenchild789 did a video on doing your own acrylics.

Her nails look lovely and I was thinking mmm I wonder if I could do that myself. Then when I went into boots I came across the Kiss Lightening Speed Acrylic Nail Kit. So I am not sure if I should go and buy a salon pro kit or get this starter kit and if it works voila credit crunch nails that look adorable. Undecided but I get my wages soon and I might just treat myself to the Kiss kit or a nail art set or something!!