Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Blue
NOTD: Barry M Glitterati ‘Fashion Icon’
0
7 years
When it comes to nail products, Barry M are one of my favourite brands, so when they announced a flurry of new shades for Autumn/Winter 2014, I was incredibly excited! As well as adding new colours to their Gelly, Silk, Classic and Aquarium ranges, and releasing some gorgeous Christmas glitters, Barry M have also launched the new Glitterati collection. Glitterati features six ‘blinging’ glitter paints, and they really caught my eye when I first saw them on Instagram.
So far I’ve only picked up three shades from the new selection – Rockstar and Fashion Icon from Glitterati, and the new Aquarium Glitter, Atlantis. I’ll be posting about each shade individually over the coming weeks, plus any more that I end up buying, but today’s NOTD is Fashion Icon.
Blue and purple are two of my favourite and most worn colours, so I was immediately drawn to this beautiful shade. Fashion Icon has a purple base with a blue duochrome effect, and is packed full of micro glitter, some of which is holographic. I find this shade so mesmerizing as it looks different every time I look at it. It goes from electric blue to grape purple to bright violet in one movement, whilst all the time remaining strikingly sparkly.
All of my swatches show three thin coats, with no base coat or top coat, which I think looks great, but I bet it’d look just as gorgeous layered over a deep purple shade.
I’ve also found Fashion Icon to be impressively hard-wearing. Despite spending the whole day cleaning, unpacking boxes and generally being busy, my nails look just as good as they did when I first painted them.
I can really see this wonderful shade becoming one of my all time favourite glitters, and I can’t wait to swatch Rockstar to see if it’s as stunning as this one.
Barry M’s Glitterati nail paints cost £3.99 each, and are available in store and online from Superdrug and Boots, and online from Barry M.
Naomi x
Limited Edition British Summer Barry M Nail Paints
1
7 years
by Naomi in Nails
To celebrate the slow but sure arrival of the British summer, Barry M have launched two limited edition nail paints, exclusive to Superdrug. Both shades have a pastel bright colouring, which is very on trend this season, and a shimmer finish which looks stunning in the summer sunshine.
Promenade is a gorgeous pink shade, which is reminiscent of the candyfloss and sticks of peppermint rock that you find adorning the British prom. It’s such a happy colour, and really gets you in the mood for a fun day on the seafront!
Seaside, my favourite shade, is a glistening blue that brings to mind the sea and skies of a hot day in July. It’s so pretty, and I can just imagine a mermaid wearing this one.
As with all Barry M nail paints, Promenade and Seaside both apply like a dream, and dry incredibly quickly, which means more time outside enjoying the sun!
Barry M’s British Summer nail paints will be available in Superdrug, whilst stocks last, between 4th June and 1st July, and you can choose one for FREE when you spend £6! Which colour will you be snapping up?
Naomi x
*These Barry M Nail Paints were sent to me by Superdrug for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
ResinSparkles Pendant and Ring
9
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
I recently came across a great little Etsy store called ResinSparkles, which is owned by the lovely Sara. Sara creates unique pieces of jewellery out of resin and glitter, a lot of which have a fab geek-chic theme, with Dr Who, Star Wars, steampunk and comic books regularly featuring in her designs. Sara very kindly offered to send me a couple of pieces to review, and after browsing her store the magpie in me chose a Sparkly Ring and a Steampunk Clockwork Pendant.
Both pieces are really well made, and they are both very generous on the glitter. They’re so eye-catching, especially in the sun, and both make a real statement. They came packaged in cute matching gift bags too – perfect if you want to give them as a present (and trust me, the receiver would not be disappointed with their sparkly surprise).
The pendant comes on an 18″ silver coloured chain and is nice and lightweight, so though it’s a fairly big piece, it’s incredibly comfortable to wear and hangs well. I chose purple as it’s my favourite colour and this particular shade is stunning, but these pendants are available in a wide range of colours. I absolutely love the steampunk theme too, as the little cogs and metal bits suspended in the resin give it an added edge.
The ring I received has come to be known as my mermaid ring, as the layers of bright blue glitter are so pretty and remind me of a mermaid’s tail, or the surface of the sea sparkling in the sun (how romantic!). Like the pendant, the dome of the ring is quite large so really stands out, and it sits securely on a silver coloured adjustable metal band. I have quite slim fingers so it best fits my index or middle fingers, which is where I prefer to wear rings anyway. These are also available in a wide range of shades, with some combining two different glitters.
Considering all of Sara’s pieces are handmade and great quality, they’re also very affordable. The pendants are £7.50 each including the chain, and the rings are just £3.50. So, if you’re a fan of sparkle, or know someone else who is, be sure to check out ResinSparkles on Etsy, and on Twitter.
Naomi x
*These pieces were sent to me by ResinSparkles for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Hard Candy Cosmetics
0I was recently given the opportunity, by an online discount make up store called Xtras, to choose some Hard Candy products to review. I’d seen Hard Candy online before and had been wanting to try them out, mainly because their nail polishes come with a cute little ring, so I made my selection and everything arrived within a day or two, which is extremely quick service these days!
I received four Hard Candy items in total; Split Personality Cream Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Psycho’, Just Nails Nail Polish in ‘Mr Right’, Just Nails Matte Top Coat, and World Balmination Tinted Lip Balm in ‘Good Girl’. I must admit, as a nail polish hoarder I was extremely tempted to only order nail products, but I thought I’d give some of the rest of the range a go too, and I’m pleased I did.
Just Nails Nail Polish in ‘Mr Right’ and Just Nails Matte Top Coat
‘Mr Right’ is a gorgeous deep blue shade with a delicate shimmer finish, that looks really elegant on the nails. Though the brush is a bit smaller than I’d like, the polish still applies easily and evenly, and gives completely opaque coverage in two coats. My only real issue with it is that it takes a while to dry, so I managed to smudge it whilst impatiently applying the matte top coat too early, but at least I’ve learnt for next time. The ring that comes with the polish is a fab little bonus too. I was half expecting it to be too small for me and not very good quality, but it’s actually nice and chunky and fits well.
I’d been looking for an affordable matte top coat for ages so choosing this one was a no brainer for me. Unfortunately there’s no ring with it, but the product inside the bottle makes up for that. It applies smoothly with very little streaking, dries a lot quicker than the polish, and as you’d hope, gives a matte finish. Luckily, the formula is fairly thin too, so it doesn’t look or feel too thick. I only applied it on my ring finger as an accent nail so you can see the difference.
At £1.99 each, Hard Candy’s nail products are a real bargain, and I’d definitely recommend them if you’re willing to wait a few extra minutes for your nails to dry!
World Balmination Lip Balm in ‘Good Girl’
Hard Candy’s World Balmination Lip Balm comes packaged in a basic twist up tube, but the packaging is really pretty, so it stands out from the abundance of blacks and silvers in my make up drawer. I do have one little problem with the packaging, though. For some reason, quite a lot of the product sticks out over the top of the tube, even before it has been twisted up (as you can see in the picture), so it’s hard to get the lid on without damaging the balm, unless you have a really steady hand. Not ideal!
The first thing I noticed when I opened the balm was its scent. It smells like a mixture of vanilla and lemon, and even tastes sweet, so if you’re a fan of scented lip products as I am, then this is definitely for you. The balm applies nicely, and a has a creamy texture that isn’t greasy, so it feels nice on the lips and has a long-lasting moisturising effect. I applied it this morning, and even after my Sunday lunch my lips still felt lovely! It’s also very slightly tinted with a light peachy pink shade, and though it doesn’t add much colour to the lips, it does emphasise your natural lip colour.
At £1.99 it’s a definite thumbs up from me.
Split Personality Cream Eyeshadow Duo in ‘Psycho’
I don’t tend to wear eyeshadow that often (I’m more of a thick black eyeliner kinda girl), but when I spotted this I thought I’d give it a go as one of the shadows in the duo is, you guessed it, black! The other is white, and both have a bit of shimmer to them.
The duo has a cream eyeshadow at either end of the stick, which sits in the screw lid that covers each applicator. The applicators themselves are soft and spongy, and seem to be loaded on a spring, so they move and mould to the shape of your eyelid nicely, making application smooth and easy. The two colours compliment each other well, and make for an impressive smoky eye that’s quick to do.
If these shades aren’t for you, there are plenty of other colours to choose from, and they cost £1.99 each, which is £3.00 cheaper than the RRP.
To view the full range of Hard Candy products that Xtras have to offer, visit their site here.
Naomi x
*These Hard Candy cosmetics were sent to me by Xtras for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
NOTD: George Quick Dry in Boom
6
8 years
by Naomi in Nails
Whilst getting something for dinner from Asda yesterday, I stopped by the cosmetics stands for a quick browse, and was pleased to find that the George nail varnishes were on offer for £1 each, down from £1.75. I can never resist a nail varnish bargain, so having read many positive reviews about the range I decided to pick up a shade to see whether they live up to the hype. The colour I settled for is called ‘Boom’, a brilliant blue with a glossy creme finish.
I’m happy to announce that George’s varnish completely lives up to the rave reviews. The brush is narrow, but it’s fairly long and the decently-sized lid makes it easy to control the application. The varnish applies smoothly, and gives amazing coverage even in one coat, but as always I applied two coats for a flawless finish. As you’d expect of a quick dry varnish, it dries incredibly quickly, and a day later it is still free of any smudges, dents, chips or scratches. It looks like it’s going to last a lot longer, too!
Here’s how it looks on the nails…
‘Boom’ is a gorgeous, bold shade that really catches the eye. The pigmentation of the varnish is incredible, and the colour has a real depth to it. I’ve always liked blues, but seem to be lacking in blue varnishes, so this is a great addition to my collection.
For such a budget range the quality of George’s quick dry nail varnish is very high, and if you’re a fan of nail products I recommend you try them if you can, especially as they’re currently only £1. I’ll definitely be going back to Asda to buy more! I spotted a lovely pink shade that I’ll be picking up next time.
Have you ever tried any varnishes from this range? What do you think of them?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Cool Summer Weekends
13
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
July’s heat and sun seems to have given way to a much cooler August, so a lot of my summer clothes have taken a back seat and my spring skinny jeans have made a reappearance. Last weekend was particularly rainy, but it’s not quite cold enough for jumpers just yet! As such, I’ve been making compromises, and have invested in a dip hem shirt which is perfect for the recent unsettled weather. The long length and sleeves make it great for those cooler days, but it’s sheer and light so not too warm. I think this is a look that will work well in early Autumn too.
So, here is my go-to outfit for this month’s not-so-summery summer days. I wore it recently to see a band play at a pub, and I’ll be wearing it tonight with comfortable flats for a meal out with my partner.
Dip Hem Shirt, Vest and Skinny Jeans – Primark
Suedette Shoe Boots – New Look
Studded Skull Bag – Everything5Pounds
Handcrafted Silver Bat Skull Necklace – Birthday gift from my Dad (bought from Etsy)
What have you been wearing on these cooler summer days?
Naomi x
Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Greenberry
12
9 years
by Naomi in Nails
Last week Barry M launched four more Gelly Nail Paint shades as part of their Spring collection – Lychee (nude), Dragon Fruit (pink), Greenberry (green) and Papaya (orange). When I saw the new colours advertised on their Facebook page I instantly fell in love with Greenberry, and since I’d never tried a Gelly before I made a special trip into town to pick this up not long after the launch. Barry M’s Gellies are supposed to have a gel effect finish which is highly glossy. I find Barry M’s standard Nail Paints are already very shiny, so I couldn’t wait to put the Gelly to the test to see whether it lives up to its name.
Barry M’s Gelly varnish has a thick but creamy consistency, which applies extremely smoothly with no streakiness. However, if you have too much varnish on the brush it can apply a bit too thickly, so its best to apply as thin a coat as possible and build up from there. I made the mistake of applying fairly thick coats at first so the coverage was instantly completely opaque, but I applied a thinner second coat over the top for good measure. As with all Barry M Nail Paints, the Gelly dries to the touch rather quickly. I put this on not long before I went to bed, but I didn’t wake up with fabric imprints on my nails, which is always a good sign with me!
Greenberry is an extremely beautiful greeny turquoise shade, and is delicately bright. It’s almost a pastel neon if that makes sense! It has a creme finish, and of course, an intense shine which you can almost see your reflection in. In my experience, it’s quite rare for a creme varnish to have such a shiny appearance, so it definitely lives up to its name. It doesn’t even need a top coat!
This Nail Paint lasts really well too. I first applied Greenberry on Sunday, without a top coat, and didn’t remove it until yesterday, and after four days of wear chipping was minimal. There were a few nicks at the ends of my nails on my right hand where I caught them on the zip of my bag, but other than that the varnish still looked as bright, shiny and smooth as it did when I first applied it – just like a gel manicure!
Overall, I am suitably impressed with Barry M’s Gelly Nail Paint as it looks great and lasts long, and to top it off Greenberry is a gorgeous colour. The Gellies cost £3.99 each in Boots and Superdrug, which is £1.00 more than most Barry M’s varnishes, but its well worth it for that extra shine and staying power.
Have you ever tried a Barry M Gelly? What did you think?
Naomi x
My Budget Beauty Swap Parcel
9
Early last month I launched my Budget Beauty Blogger Swap. The budget for the swap was £10/€12/$16, and the aim was to buy your swap partner as many beauty products as you could within the budget – quite a challenge, but not impossible! So far, I have already seen quite a few posts from bloggers sharing their swap parcels, and everything sent and received has been brilliant.
Today it was my turn to receive my parcel all the way from Beverly Hills in LA. My swap partner was the lovely India, a US beauty blogger who runs beautynthbrains. I answered the door to the postman this morning to see him holding a box with the US postal logo on it, and I knew what it was straight away. As I’m sure you can imagine, I was really excited to see what was inside the parcel so I opened it in a hurry, and was met by this pretty pink, spiralled package, packed full of amazing products.
When I saw this little haul I was over the moon! Everything India sent is exactly my colour, and I was really happy to receive products from so many brands that we don’t have in the UK. I will be reviewing each of the products separately in the coming weeks once I’ve had a chance to use them properly, but here are my first thoughts on everything…
Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Collection in Shimmer The Night Away
I was incredibly happy to receive a Wet n Wild eyeshadow palette, as I have heard a lot of good things about them and they are highly sought after in the UK. The palette I received is Shimmer The Night Away, which features eight shimmery shades – four suitable for a smoky eye look, and four pinks and purples which are my go-to colours – perfect.
Everyday Minerals Stay Cool Matte Eyes Eyeshadow
Everyday Minerals isn’t a brand that I’m familiar with, and I don’t own many mineral eyeshadows, so I’m really looking forward to experimenting with this. The colour is a deep grey with a lovely violet undertone, which will incorporate well into my usual colour palette.
Sephora Nano Eye Pencil in Midnight Black
India and I told each other a few items that we had been lusting after, and Sephora Nano Eyeliner was one of mine. I adore bold, black eyeliner looks so this is ideal for me. I’ve swatched the liner on my hand and, as the Sephora website says, it is highly pigmented and glides on easily as it’s enriched with shea butter.
Sephora Ultra Vinyl Lip Pencil in Fuchsia Pink
Sephora’s Ultra Vinyl Lip Pencil in Fuchsia Pink was another of my requests, and it hasn’t disappointed. I wore this today and it applies smoothly and lasts a very long time. The bright pink shade is absolutely stunning, and the micro-glitter finish gives incredibly shine. I think it’s reminiscent of Barry M’s Lip Lacquer Crayon in Party Pink. Gorgeous!
Sephora Pencil Sharpener
I’ve been meaning to buy a new pencil sharpener for ages now as my old one is on its way out, so this was a great little accessory to find in my swap parcel. India must have read my mind!
Model Co Lip Gloss
Model Co is another brand that I’ve never used before. The gloss doesn’t have a name or colour labelled on it, but it’s a bright shimmery pinky red with a sheer finish. I didn’t find the gloss overly sticky when I tried it on earlier, and it has an intense strawberry scent and flavour which I love. The mirror on the tube is so handy too. I’ll definitely be using this gloss on a regular basis.
Beauty So Clean Cosmetic Sanitizer Wipes
India also sent me four cosmetic sanitizer wipes which are for cleaning cosmetics before or after use. Another nice little addition which will be carried in my make up bag for cleansing on the go.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with what I received in my swap parcel. I imagine India went over the budget with her buys, so thank you India for being so generous and sending me so many fantastic treats. I feel well and truly spoilt today! Unfortunately, I forgot to photograph everything I sent, but hopefully India will share everything in a post of her own when her parcel arrives. I posted almost two weeks ago so fingers crossed it will reach the US soon!
I plan on linking to everyone’s swap parcel posts in a blog post very soon, so if you’ve received your parcel and have blogged about it please let me know!
Naomi x
Illamasqua Lipstick in Tramp
16
9 years
by Naomi in Lips
Every woman needs a good quality red lipstick in her life to emphasise her confidence, and without a doubt, Illamasqua’s Tramp is mine. I bought Tramp last month in Illamasqua’s January sale for just £5 and instantly fell in love with it, and here’s why…
Firstly, how gorgeous does this lipstick look? I’ve always been a fan of Illamasqua’s classy black packaging, and this is a fine example of such. The packaging is practical too, as the lid is quite large and clicks firmly into place so there’s no chance of it coming off in your bag, which we all know can lead to a messy disaster!
The first thing that hit me when I opened this lipstick was its scent. It doesn’t smell plasticky or chemically like some cheap lipsticks do, rather, it smells exactly like Krispy Kreme doughnuts – delicious, AND without the calories! I honestly spent a good minute smelling it before I even applied it. It’s just that good.
In terms of application, Tramp has it all. I can honestly say this is the creamiest lipstick that I own, which to me is the sign of a high quality lipstick. It smooths on effortlessly and feels extremely moisturising on the lips, and believe me when I say that the feeling lasts… Not once have my lips felt dry whilst wearing this. In fact, they feel noticeably softer after use, and there’s no need to apply a lip balm underneath or over the top. Illamasqua lipstick has decent staying power too. It always survives numerous drinks throughout the day, but it doesn’t stay put completely after eating, so does need a bit of touching up every now and then.
Tramp is a bright rose red, with an undertone of blue – a beautiful, classic shade that makes me feel sophisticated and sexy. Ideal for Valentine’s Day! I have experimented with several red lipsticks in the past and have found that blue reds look best against my pale skin tone and, though it doesn’t really show in the picture above, Tramp really brings out my blue eyes! My eyes are my favourite feature, so I’m always happy when I find a product which shows them off. Tramp also has a matte finish, which I prefer in red lipsticks as I don’t think bold colours need shine as they’re already eye-catching enough.
Unfortunately, I have just discovered that Tramp has been discontinued, which is really disappointing as I have lost it as soon as I found it! So, for now, I will be keeping this beauty for best, and in the meantime I will attempt to find a duplicate, or an Illamasqua replacement shade. Any suggestions?
To find your perfect Illamasqua lip product, you can check out their full range here.
Naomi x
*I bought this Illamasqua Lipstick in Tramp myself. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
NOTD: Models Own Jack Frost
8
9 years
by Naomi in Nails
It’s been a while since I last posted a Nail of the Day, what with only swatching varnishes from my Ciaté Mini Mani Month throughout December, so today I thought I’d show you one of my favourite glitters from Models Own – Jack Frost. Jack Frost is part of the Wonderland Collection which was launched during Autumn 2012, from which I own three of the five colours, as I posted about here.
Jack Frost is made up of a pale, iridescent glitter which changes from blue to purple in different lights, and is suspended in a cloudy varnish. The formula is rather thick and gloopy, but it applies easily and evenly despite this, and dries quickly too. The glitter is so densely packed in you only need one coat over the top of a dark base for amazing coverage. I haven’t used this on its own, but as a top coat it looks incredible and really comes alive. Here it is over two coats of Ciaté’s Power Dressing…
Isn’t it beautiful? Once on the nail, the glitter transforms and bursts with colour, not what you’d expect when looking at it in the bottle! I chose to use Power Dressing as a base as it is a deep navy shade, which really brings out the blue tones in the glitter. It reminds me of a starry sky on a clear, cold night, and the icy colours are perfect for winter. I found it really difficult to capture the true beauty of the varnish on camera, but it changes from blue to indigo to violet with the movement of your fingers, in both natural light and indoor light. I can’t put into words how much I adore this varnish.
If you want to add Models Own Jack Frost to your collection (and why wouldn’t you?), it is available online or in Boots stores, and costs just £5 for a large bottle.
Naomi x
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