Galleries

Nails of the week: red with leopard print

red and leopard print nail art - somanylovelythings

If you know me, you will know I have more than a soft spot for animal print. I just can’t stay away from it. Finally, I braved into doing something I wanted to do on my nails for a very long time: leopard print spots.

I am very surprised it took me this long. I thought it would be very difficult so always gave up before starting. Little did I know it was going to be quite easy and I would be very pleased with the results of my first attempt – amazingly with no huge mistakes!!!red and leopard print nail art - somanylovelythings

Red nail polish is my first and true nail colour passion. For me, there is no better colour on my talons. So I used one of my favourite reds, Colorama’s 40 Graus, a vivacious and shiny orangey red. I applied two coats and let it dry for about an hour.

red and leopard print nail art - somanylovelythings

I then used Barry M Foil Effects nail polish in gold (another favourite of mine!) with a fine brush to create the spots in only half of each nail and finalised with Barry M’s nail art pen in black. This pen is great, fine, precise, fiving just the right amount of polish, so making the dark marks around and between the spots was a breeze. Applying with the left hand was a bit more challenging, but it worked well! I am thrilled with the result. After I let it dry for a few minutes, I applied a topcoat.

Truly in love, I feel these nails are really me.

colorama 40 graus and barry m nail polishes, nail art pen - somanylovelythings

Rating:

5_star

Product review: Simple eye make-up corrector pen

simple eye make-up corrector pen - somanylovelythings

Even for proficient hands, we all know it is still hard to create the perfect eye liner flick. With me, when it goes wrong, it is always one side. It’s wonky. It’s too long. It’s off-centre. Well, Simple to the rescue with their magical wand: the eye make-up corrector pen.

The best use is indeed to fix the eyeliner: not only the flick but also the fatter-then-I-wanted line.

It is also a great weapon for all of you that haven’t yet mastered the art of applying eyeliner (although is almost intangible, really, I use it everyday and consider myself very good with it, but some days it goes wrong. There is no other way about it.). Instead of causing an even bigger mess, this little beauty wipes off the memories of that mistake and gives you the much needed fresh break.

simple eye make-up corrector pen - somanylovelythingsThe precise tip offers detailed correction. It is dead easy to use – but always remember to old the pen upside down for 10-15 seconds before use and clean the tip after using, for optimal results. Cleaning the tip (I used a bit of tissue) is very important especially if you are removing black eye liner – you gotta do it between strokes, otherwise diluted liner will transfer onto your face. having said that, the smudges were easily removed by pressing my finger on it, so very easy!

simple eye make-up corrector pen - somanylovelythings

What a tool for any make-up bag – especially on those days you top up make-up after work in the office – eyeliner is bound to go wrong when you are in a hurry.

Retired are my cotton buds+eye make-up remover for small fixes. This is the thing. It will also help you with that cut precise look on smokey eyes. Just swipe at a 90 degree angle from the outer corner and voilá. Hello sharp, defined shape.

Also, if you sneeze after applying mascara (who never?), this will help you get rid of the mess without interfering with the make-up!

It contains no alcohol or oils, no fragrance and vitamin B5. It’s a little make-up miracle for just under £5. You can get more information about the Simple eye make-up corrector pen on the Simple website. You can buy it from retailers nationwide!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Stella & Dot by Cintia Gardner jewellery trunk show

stella & dot by cintia gardnerPretty, quality jewellery. Shiny and sparkly. On a table for your consumption. This was exactly what happened at the Stella & Dot by Cintia Gardner trunk show.

Cintia is a very good friend of mine and recently she became an independent stylist for Stella & Dot. The prerogative of an independent stylist is to obviously sell the jewellery, but advising on the pieces that might suit you better! She also sets up what they call “trunk shows” – a much glitzier version of a Tupperware party really – where she takes the displays to a host’s house and demonstrates the items and makes sales.

Stella & Dot provides a great structure, so all invitations are customised for the the event and Cintia organises it all – all the host needs to do is to give her the email addresses of the invitees and open her door on the day!

The host gets great deals: a free gift, heavy discounts against purchases depending on the amount sold at their event and of course, a lot of fun – the atmosphere was great!

Tempest necklace
Earrings
Gorgeous necklaces
More necklaces – all goldenn!
Beautiful wrists
Lucia pearl necklace
Pretty things
More gorgeous jewellery
Pegasus necklace
Lots of gorgeous bracelts
Necklaces and trngs
Chelsea tech wallet i black snake
A catalogue
Maldives necklace
Geneve lace ring in silver
Gorgeous delicate necklaces
Cintia shows how it is done with the Sutton necklace
Sutton multiway necklace instructions – wear it all ways!
Mercury necklace
Lucia detail
This way!
Exclusive discounts for each party!
Cintia makes it easy for you to find a bargain!
Perusing…
Checking the jewellery
Cintia demonstrates the products
Does it look good on me?
Checking the catalogues
The buzz
Party in full swing
Checking the goods

I went to check out the trunk show at the lovely Rachel. The trunk show was a great chance of actually touching and trying the items before committing. It is also a good opportunity of getting to know other people – it is a lovely girly night in!

stella & dot by cintia gardnerThe items are lovely – you can take a peek at Cintia’s page over at Stella & Dot.

If you want to host a trunk show, get in touch with Cintia via her page on Facebook or Twitter and she will be able to organise it for you, being at hand at the event!

Nails of the week: metallic neon yellow

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This week I decided to try this acidy, bright metallic neon yellow from Star Gazer. With weather this miserable, I needed something to brighten up my days!

I had never tried their polishes before. I found this number 102 quite sheer. Having said that, two coats gives an alright coverage and three is enough to make it quite solid, although I can still see through my nails against light, which is not really a problems.

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It doesn’t disappoint as a neon, it is beautiful! In direct light it looks great, it almost has a neon “aura” to it, reflecting light very well. It was surprisingly good to apply, given that light metallics are usually a bit painful for brush strokes – they are there, but very little.

It dried pretty quickly and lasted well! The only thing is that I rarely use one single colour on my nails, so changed pretty quickly – you know me! But overall, a good colour in a good polish.

Worth remembering these polishes sell for only £2.50 to 3.00 – yes, you heard it right!!! BARGAIN alert! And they have a multitude of AMAZING colours!

You can find more information about Star Gazer nail polishes on their website. There is a UV topcoat I just need to try! They also have an extensive range of make-up!

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As I am not a plain colour nail kinda person, I ended up adding a topcoat – the chosen one was Confetti from L’Oréal.

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Rating:

4_star

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Product review: L’Oréal Paris Super Liner Brow Artist

loreal brow artiste - somanylovelythings

This little pencil from L’Oréal has everything you need to create a sharp, strong eyebrow; yes, I am talking about the new eye brow liner Super Liner Brow Artist.

The double ended pencil is one side brow pencil, the other side setting wax, with a neat brow brush on the cap. Very practical.

loreal brow artiste - somanylovelythings

I’ve been filling in my brows for quite a few years now, and whereas the first time I had it done I found it really odd, now I find there is something missing in my face if I don’t. It really frames your eyes, drawing attention to then – a nice arch will also open up the eye.

loreal brow artiste - somanylovelythings

The pencil side

I am using the 03 Brunette colour and it suits me very well. It makes creating a strong, sharp brow easier. The brow pencil is soft and well pigmented so it took me sometime to get used to making lighter strokes. If you are looking for a super statement brow, then this is your tool.

loreal brow artiste - somanylovelythings

The wax side

First, you fill the brow on the desired shape – I follow my natural shape, which is quite thick but sparse in terms of hair – I quite like it, and filling makes it very nice. Then, you use the brush to tidy it up and soften the colour. Finally, you set with the wax side of the pencil, especially around the edges, to stop it smudging and keep he hairs in place.

The durability is great and the effect is fantastic.

It costs less than £6 from various retailers in Fair Blonde, Blonde, Brunette and Dark Brunette and you can get more info about it on the L’Oréal Paris website, where they also have very useful how-to guides!

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Product review: Simple Kind to Skin+ Perfecting Beauty Balm (BB cream)

simple bb cream - somanylovelythings

Love the Kind to Skin+ package designs!

I must say, before anything, I am not a fan of BB creams. For someone like me, who looks for a full coverage, BB creams just don’t quite cut it.

I was, however, pleasantly surprised with Simple’s very first BBC cream, part of their Kind to Skin+ range.

What I really like about it is that, even though they only have one colour, it did blend extremely well on my face. And over at the event, there were a few bloggers, with different skin tones and they all seem to share this opinion. Also, the coverage is very good. One day, I even wore it on its on (with a bit of powder to set) and it was fine!

It blends very well, absorbs quickly and the finish is very sheer and natural; in terms of colour and coverage is great!

I also tried it as a primer. This worked alright, it didn’t actually make the make-up last longer (which is not really this product’s job, but hey, gotta try!), but made it look good.

simple bb cream - somanylovelythings

Well pigmented, very good coverage

The thing I don’t like about this is that it has light reflecting particles. Although I am a massive fan of the glow they give, because of my skin condition, any shimmer will only make scars more evident, so I have been using matte products only for a very long time now.

For this reason alone,  I don’t think this product is particularly suitable for me. Had the particles not been there, I think Simple could probably have made me change my mind about BB creams. Now, that is something!

As other Simple products, it is suitable for sensitive skin; it has no fragrance (love that – again!), SPF 15, ginger root extract, bisabolol, sweet almond and sunflower seed oils.

If you have much better skin than me (which most people do anyway), I think this is a little gem – and for an RRP of £8.99, you should definitely try (currently at Superdrug for £5.99!!!). It is an item of make-up that also cares for your skin and will give you that nice glow!

simple bb cream - somanylovelythings

This is the kind of lovely glow this product gives your skin!

You can find more information on the Simple website.

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the products and reflects my honest opinion on them.

Nails of the week: vintage inspired nude and red heart tips

vintage inspired nails - somanylovelythings

For a very long time I wanted to try this lovely manicure. But I ALWAYS had square shaped nails, since I can remember. And this “heart” tips don’t really look good on a square nail, after all, no hearts have a square bottom, right?

Not sure why but I woke up one morning really feeling like changing the shape of my nails and I took the plunge and filed them on to this oval-pointy shape. Have to admit the first 24 hours were quite odd, and I still feel they are more fragile than before….

I used the beautiful (probably one of the prettiest nudes ever) L’Oréal Paris Color Riche Macaron Noisette nude as a base and after two coats used Spicy Orange, a very orangey red (or reddish orange?!) to create the effect.

vintage inspired nails - somanylovelythingsI did a bit of practicing the days before on naked nails and found the easiest way for me. First, with a nail art brush, I marked with a small line the middle of each nail on the tip and then using the polish brush itself, touched the end of the brush away from the centre on both sides of the tip, as if drawing a V with sticks, creating the shape. It does help that the L’Oréal brush is rounded at the end, so perfect for this design – it really cut out my work and It was actually much easier than I thought.

I am thrilled with the final result, love it and the shape is actually growing on me, although I feel sometimes I have claws!

Rating:

5_star

Product review: Osiris glasses from Specsavers

You probably noticed from one of my outfit posts that I am a specs wearer, and I was very happy to be invited by Specsavers to try one of their fabulous glasses and picked a lovely Osiris frame.

The glasses mecca is very well-known nationwide and I ended up in their Tottenham Court Road branch, in London. With the specialist help at hand, I was able to pick my favourite frames which then received my prescription lenses (I had an eye test with Specsavers in March anyway, so I didn’t have to have a new eye test). The lovely Laura from Beattie Communications was also there to provide much needed girly advice.

Specsavers frames - somanylovelythings

I had already decided I wanted cat-eye shaped glasses and wanted to stay away from my always reliable black frames. So I mentioned that to the assistant and he was very thorough in finding all the frames in the shape I wanted.

In the end, I was between three frames: two from Osiris and a Karen Millen – two involving leopard print – and ended up settling for the gorgeous Osiris B39, a dark purple cat eye shaped frame. I chose that as it was the biggest shape of the three and I thing bigger frames look best on my face, which is heart shaped with not so delicate features, so the bigger frames balances it out quite well.

Osiris glasses from Specsavers - somanylovelythings

The frame is of excellent quality, very well finished, with a flexible hinge and fashionable – I hear this on has just arrived and at the moment they are on a 2 for 1 offer, and they price on the sticker already includes single vision lenses! 🙂

My lenses weren’t available immediately; in some cases, they can do that for you straight away, which is great! My non-reflective lenses took only a couple days to be put on my chosen frame and upon collection the service was impeccable – quick, friendly, attentive, even though the shop was full. I had a little adjustment to the legs, which got done pretty quickly, and the assistant told me I could take them to any shop to have any others done after I wear them for a bit – which I did for a small adjustment to the nose bridge. It is great to count with some after purchase service!!!

Osiris glasses from Specsavers - somanylovelythings

So, I am in love with my frames and really impressed with the overall service received at Specsavers – a great start to this intimate relationship, I am sure me and my specs are going to be happily ever after.

To check the Osiris range and the extensive glasses, sunglasses and contact lenses offers, check the Specsavers website.

This post contains PR samples. This review, however, is based on my own true experience with the product and reflects my honest opinion.

What I’ve been wearing – 03/08/2013

My wardrobe is quickly morphing into a more sober autumn selection, and although I am very excited about the new season collections, I am really upset I have barely put my legs out and they already need to go back into tights… sad…

Here is my latest outfits selection:20130818-183059.jpgRoyal blue crop top from New Look, midi full skirt from Topshop, nude peeptoes from Jimmy Choo, necklace from Forever 21, rings from Forever 21 and H&M.

20130818-183120.jpgBlack crop top from Topshop, beqach print skirt from a little shop in Stratford (bargain alert!), white block heel sandals from Topshop, necklace from Forever 21 and rings from H&M and Forever 21. 20130818-183133.jpgBlack, white and grey tartan blouse from Primark, black skater skirt from H&M, black patent court shoes from River Island,  rings and bracelet from New Look. 20130818-183146.jpgBlack and white carton print crop top from primark, black trousers from H&M, white stilettos from River Island, necklace from Primark, bracelet from Miss Selfridge and  rings from H&M, Primark and Forever 21.

20130818-183211.jpgLeopard print crop top from Primark, black skater skirt from H&M, black fringed booties from Primark, necklace from Topshop and rings from H&M, Topshop and Primark.

What about you? What have you been wearing? Are you also feeling thorn about the weather change?

If you like this, you might also like:

What I’ve been wearing 17/08

What I’ve been wearing 02/08

What I’ve been wearing 17/07

Product review: L’Oréal Nails à Porter stick-on nails

One of the fabulous new products unveiled at the L’Oréal Paris Nail Art Masterclass was Nails à Porter – their spin on stick-on (or false) nails.

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Nails à porter in Neo Couture
Nails à porter in Femme Fatale
Nails à porter in Drama Queen
Nails à porter in French Touch
Nails à porter in Killer Nude

First of all, the designs are lush! They have classics such as red (Femme Fatale) and French manicure (French Touch), as well as some lovely designs: geo grey and minty green (Neo Couture), black and gold (Drama Queen – my fave!) and black an nude (Killer Nude), all very lovely.

You have twelve sizes to choose from, to match your nails shape. What I really love about them is that they are VERY flexible and feel quite natural!

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They come with sticky gel pads to be applied on the nail and a little file to smooth the edges.

Sadly, my natural nails are too long for them (and somehow, I am gutted!!!) so to try these beauties I have recruited two lovely volunteers from my office, designers Charlotte and Claire.

loreal nails a porter femme fatale - somanylovelythings

Charlotte unleashes the Femme Fatale

Charlotte had never applied or used any false nails before. I sent her off with the set and she applied them on a Saturday. She tells me she managed to do so quite easily – and she did a fantastic job, they looked great on her hands!

She had a birthday to attend and went wearing the red Femme Fatale Nails à Porter on her talons. She reported losing two on Sunday, but used remaining sticky pads from the pack to stick them back on.

She thought wearing them was a bit weird, and that she was very aware of them, feeling the need to be very careful all the time, which is natural for the first time you wear something false – I was like that with nails, lashes and hair! She liked the way they looked and removed them without problems after three days. She also mentioned some finger nails looked better – more natural shape-wise – than others.

Personally, I think they looked great in her hands, but it seems the false nails just bothered her, and I don’t think she will be wearing them again – this brand or any other!

loreal nails a porter - somanylovelythings

Claire goes funky with Neo Couture

Claire has used various brands of false nails before, usually resorting to them for special occasions. She used Neo Couture and says they were easy to apply – in a matter of minutes.

For this particular design, as there are different patterns, Claire didn’t manage to make her ring finger the accent, which she’d liked to, as no size match was possible.

She also mentioned the sticky pad appears to be stickier than other brands she has used; the nails themselves are fairly flexible and don’t appear to be a hard plastic. They file really nicely (this is a big issue for Claire, as she wears contact lenses and needs to file one index finger nail shorter than the others – with long nails she can’t get then out). She also added that the paint didn’t chip or flake when filed down, other brands have always disappointed at this stage as they have chipped or flaked after filing.

She did lose two nails, but in all fairness she put them through the ultimate testing – packing up boxes for moving house. She actually caught one nail in-between a draw and a rail and it marked the nail but after a few minutes the line it created lessened and you could hardly see it!

She buffed the natural nails where she had the two losses then stuck the pad on to see if this made a difference, re-applying the lost nails. Claire tells me she has naturally oily nails and glued or stick-on nails never last the lengthy the box says.

She noticed that after 3 days of wear they started to wear a little on the paint, but they don’t appear to have chipped at all but have worn a little. Removal was very easy and clean; nails feel fine afterwards.

At the end of her trial, she tells me she would definitely buy Nails à Porter to wear for a dinner and dance party or wedding types of occasion. She actually took French Touch from my hands too!

I think I am sold. Next nail chop, I will be all over Drama Queen.

Nails à Porter is available from retailers nationwide from September and the RRP is £7.99.

You will also be able to get more info at the L’oréal Paris website when the product launches!